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In South Australia, overabundant kangaroo populations are managed through commercial harvest. Kangaroo harvest rates over the past decade have averaged only 40% of the harvest quota despite strong demand for the product. With kangaroo populations increasing, the problem of low kangaroo harvest rate in South Australia requires research attention. Previous research regarding kangaroo harvest has focused on questions of biology and ecology and little attention has been directed towards advancing understanding of the human dimensions of kangaroo management. This research sought to fill this gap in knowledge. Qualitative research methods were most appropriate due to the focus on social and institutional dimensions of kangaroo management. Data were collected during interviews with people involved in commercial kangaroo harvest: landholders, harvesters and meat processors. The main topics covered were regnlations and policy, economic issues, the rights and interests of various industry stakeholders and South Australian harvest rates. The views of Aboriginal people were also sought including the significance of kangaroos to Aboriginal people, access to kangaroos for subsistence harvest, kangaroo management and the kangaroo industry. The main findings of this research are presented as a series of peer-reviewed articles: • Article I introduces the research topic and presents preliminary findings of this study. • Article 2 establishes that an increase in South Australia's low harvest rate is needed if kangaroo harvest is to make greater contributions to regional communities, and recommends institutional reform to meet this goal. • Article 3 examines the management regime for kangaroos in South Australia and shows how the informal rules in use are often incongruent with the formal rules established by management administrators. • Article 4 describes the undervalued position of landholders in the kangaroo industry and the obstacles to landholders deriving income from kangaroo harvest. • Article 5 discusses the cultural basis of Aboriginal perspectives on kangaroo harvest and includes suggestions for appropriate ways for Aboriginal people to contribute to kangaroo management. The main findings of this research were applied in a comparative study of kangaroo management with that of moose management in Finland. This study found that similar social and institutional factors impact on the management of moose and kangaroos. The broad lessons for wildlife management drawn from the comparative study are: • mobile wildlife resources require flexible management systems • stakeholder involvement is critical to management • hunters/harvesters are conservative of their resource base • declining harvester numbers need to be addressed through support, incentives and training. These lessons can be applied in part, or in whole, to other overabundant and mobile wildlife species. Thus this thesis makes contribution to kangaroo management by making specific recommendations for the industry, but also contributes to wildlife management in a broader sense through the application of findings to other species. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1298303 / Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, 2007

In South Australia, overabundant kangaroo populations are managed through commercial harvest. Kangaroo harvest rates over the past decade have averaged only 40% of the harvest quota despite strong demand for the product. With kangaroo populations increasing, the problem of low kangaroo harvest rate in South Australia requires research attention. Previous research regarding kangaroo harvest has focused on questions of biology and ecology and little attention has been directed towards advancing understanding of the human dimensions of kangaroo management. This research sought to fill this gap in knowledge. Qualitative research methods were most appropriate due to the focus on social and institutional dimensions of kangaroo management. Data were collected during interviews with people involved in commercial kangaroo harvest: landholders, harvesters and meat processors. The main topics covered were regnlations and policy, economic issues, the rights and interests of various industry stakeholders and South Australian harvest rates. The views of Aboriginal people were also sought including the significance of kangaroos to Aboriginal people, access to kangaroos for subsistence harvest, kangaroo management and the kangaroo industry. The main findings of this research are presented as a series of peer-reviewed articles: • Article I introduces the research topic and presents preliminary findings of this study. • Article 2 establishes that an increase in South Australia's low harvest rate is needed if kangaroo harvest is to make greater contributions to regional communities, and recommends institutional reform to meet this goal. • Article 3 examines the management regime for kangaroos in South Australia and shows how the informal rules in use are often incongruent with the formal rules established by management administrators. • Article 4 describes the undervalued position of landholders in the kangaroo industry and the obstacles to landholders deriving income from kangaroo harvest. • Article 5 discusses the cultural basis of Aboriginal perspectives on kangaroo harvest and includes suggestions for appropriate ways for Aboriginal people to contribute to kangaroo management. The main findings of this research were applied in a comparative study of kangaroo management with that of moose management in Finland. This study found that similar social and institutional factors impact on the management of moose and kangaroos. The broad lessons for wildlife management drawn from the comparative study are: • mobile wildlife resources require flexible management systems • stakeholder involvement is critical to management • hunters/harvesters are conservative of their resource base • declining harvester numbers need to be addressed through support, incentives and training. These lessons can be applied in part, or in whole, to other overabundant and mobile wildlife species. Thus this thesis makes contribution to kangaroo management by making specific recommendations for the industry, but also contributes to wildlife management in a broader sense through the application of findings to other species. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1298303 / Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, 2007

This diploma thesis presents the perspective of a future teacher on mathematical contests and their impact on the development of crucial competencies, with special focus on the contest Mathematical kangaroo. The thesis deals with test questions from categories Benjamin and Kadet from 2015. Furthermore, a set of worksheets expounding similar examples that can be found in this contest, is included in the thesis. These exercises are established to serve pupils with inferior results as a preparation for the contest, or for the enlivening of math classes. Solution is illustrated via pictures, sketches, geometrical constructions, tables and verbal comments that should help pupils to better understand the topics.

Bakgrund: KMC (kangaroo mother care) är en metod där det prematura barnet ligger hud- mot-hud med en förälder. Metoden har tidigare visats vara bra för både barnet och modern. Syfte: Syftet är att, i jämförelse med traditionell vård, beskriva effekten av känguruvård på det prematurt födda barnet både gällande fysiska effekter och barnets anknytning till föräldrarna. Metod: Litteraturöversikt med kvantitativa studier. I studien ingick 12 artiklar varav 10 hade RCT (Randomiserad kontrollerad studie) som metod. En kvasiexperimentell artikel och en överkorsningsstudie analyserades också till resultatet. Resultat: Resultaten visade att KMC kan reducera smärta hos prematura barn vid provtagning, vilket visas genom att barnet gråter mindre och grimaserar mindre i jämförelse med barn som enbart fått traditionell vård. Vid brukandet av KMC sjunker kortisolnivåerna hos barnet, speciellt över tid. Detta betyder att barnet blir mindre stressat. KMC bidrar också till en snabbare tillväxt och stabilare parametrar i form av hjärtfrekvens, saturation och medeltemperatur. Det har även visat sig att KMC kan underlätta och påskynda anknytningen mellan modern och barnet. Alla skillnader sågs vid jämförelse med traditionell vård. Slutsats: KMC har positiva effekter på fysiska parametrar och verkar påverka anknytningen positivt mellan förälder och barn. De fysiska parametrarna blir mer stabila och får bättre värden vid brukandet av KMC. Slutsatsen är därför att KMC bör rekommenderas som metod. Nyckelord: Känguruvård, hud-mot-hudvård, prematur, anknytning, fysiska effekter / Background: KMC (kangaroo mother care) is a method were the premature child lay skin to skin with a parent. The method has earlier shown to be good for both the child and the mother. Aim: The aim was to, in comparison to traditional care, describe the effect of kangaroo mother care on the premature child both including physical effects and the childs attachment to the parents. Method: Litterature overview with quantitative design. The study included 12 articles were 10 of them had RCT (Randomized controlled trial) as design. One qvasiexperimental article and one crossover trial were also analyzed. Result: The results showed that KMC can reduce pain in preterm infants during painful procedures, in comparisson to traditional care. This was evident as the baby was crying and grimacing less. By using the KMC method the babys’ cortisol level decreased, especially over time. This indicates that the baby was less stressed when KMC was used compared to when it was not. KMC also contributed to a faster growth in length and weight, more stabile parameters as heart rate, saturation and mean temperature. It was also shown that KMC can facilitate and favour attatchment between the mother and the infant. All differences were shown when compared to traditional care. Conclusion: KMC have positive physical effects on the premature child and affect the attachment between parent and child. The physical parameters become more stabile and better while using KMC. The conclusion is that KMC should be recommended as a method. Key Words: Kangaroo mother care, skin-to-skin care, premature, attachment, physical effects

O contato pele a pele e a administração oral de sacarose têm se mostrado efetivos no alívio da dor em procedimentos únicos. No entanto, há escassez de estudos que avaliam o uso do contato pele a pele em procedimentos repetidos. O objetivo geral deste estudo é comparar a efetividade do contato pele a pele em relação ao uso de sacarose 25% no alívio da dor e conforto neonatal durante duas punções de calcâneo repetidas e sucessivas, nas primeiras horas de vida. Trata-se de ensaio clínico randomizado e controlado com 40 recém-nascidos >= 36 semanas de idade gestacional e 40 mães no grupo pele a pele (3 minutos antes, durante e após a punção de calcâneo) e 40 recém-nascidos no grupo sacarose 25% (administrada 2 minutos antes da punção), todos internados no alojamento conjunto de um hospital universitário de Ribeirão Preto. Antecedendo a coleta de dados, foi assinado o Termo de Consentimento Livre e Esclarecido pelas mães participantes. Os dados foram coletados em 18 fases, divididos em duas punções de calcâneo, com nove fases cada: basal (FB), tratamento (Tto, 3º minuto do contato pele a pele e 2º minuto após a administração da sacarose), antissepsia (Anti), punção de calcâneo até 15 segundos subsequentes (T0), 15 segundos (T15), 30 segundos (T30), 60 segundos (T60), 120 segundos (T120) e 180 segundos (T180) após a punção de calcâneo. Mensuraram-se as variáveis: mímica facial, estado de sono e vigília, choro (duração e qualidade), autorregulação/autoconforto do recém-nascido e ações de conforto oferecidas pela mãe ao filho recém-nascido. Os dados foram tratados de forma descritiva, comparando-se a evolução das medidas ao longo do tempo, nos grupos de tratamento (teste Freedman), e entregrupos, em cada fase (teste de Mann- Whitney). Não houve diferença significativa (p<0,05) entre os grupos estudados quanto à frequência, duração e porcentagem média da mímica facial nas duas punções de calcâneo. Na segunda punção, o grupo pele a pele permaneceu significativamente mais tempo em sono profundo em cinco fases (Tto 2, p=0,010; T0 2, p= 0,0026; T15 2, p=0,005; T30 2, p=0,018 e T60 2, p=0,012) e o grupo sacarose em alerta ativo em três fases do procedimento (T0 2, p=0,007; T15 2, p=0,007 e T30 2, p=0,035). O choro, na segunda punção de calcâneo, esteve mais presente no grupo pele a pele em todas as fases (Tto 2, p=0,010; Anti 2, p=0,022; T0 2, p=0,004; T15 2, p=0,032; T30 2, p=0,022; T60 2, p=0,022; T120 2, p=0,022 e T180 2, p=0,022), predominando o choro forte a maior parte do tempo em ambos grupos. O grupo sacarose manifestou médias de sugar (frequência, duração e porcentagem média) significativamente maiores que o pele a pele em várias fases da coleta de dados. Acariciar e abraçar foram as ações mais frequentes manifestadas pelas mães. A frequência cardíaca não diferiu entre os grupos, exceto na fase tratamento 2 (p=0,04), sendo maior no grupo sacarose em comparação com o pele a pele. Conclui-se que o contato pele a pele é tão efetivo quanto a administração oral de sacarose 25% no alívio da dor de RN expostos a duas punções de calcâneo repetidas e sucessivas, confirmando a hipótese de estudo / Skin-to-skin contact and the oral administration of sucrose have been effective in alleviating pain in single instance procedures. There is, however, a lack of studies assessing the effect of skin-to-skin contact in repeated procedures. This study\'s general objective was to compare the effectiveness of skin-to-skin contact in comparison with 25% sucrose in alleviating pain and providing comfort to newborns during two repeated and successive heel punctures in the first hours of life. This randomized and controlled clinical trial was conducted with 40 newborns >= 36 weeks of gestational age, and 40 mothers in the skin-to-skin contact group (3 minutes before, during and after the heel puncture) and 40 newborn in the 25% sucrose group all newborn were hospitalized in rooming-in, of a university hospital in Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil The participant mothers signed free and informed consent forms before data collection. Data were collected in 18 phases divided into two heel punctures with nine phases each: (T0), 15 segundos (T15), 30 segundos (T30), 60 segundos baseline, treatment (Tto, the 3rd minute skin-to-skin contact and the 2nd minute after administration of sucrose), antisepsis (Anti), heel puncture until 15 following seconds (T0), 15 seconds (T15), 30 seconds (T30), 60 seconds (T60), 120 seconds (T120) and 180 seconds (T180) after heel puncture. The following variables were measured: facial movements; sleep and wakefulness state; crying (duration and quality); newborn\'s self-regulation; and comfort provided by the mother to the newborn. Data were presented in descriptive form comparing the progression of measures over time in the treatment groups (Freedman test) and between groups in each phase (Mann-Whitney test), duration and average percentage of facial movements for the two heel punctures. In the second puncture, the skin-to-skin group remained a significantly longer time in deep sleep in five phases (Tto 2, p=0.010; T0 2, p= 0.0026; T15 2, p=0.005; T30 2, p=0.018 and T60 2, p=0.012), while the sucrose group remained in active alertness in three phases of the procedure (T0 2, p=0.007; T15 2, p=0.007 and T30 2, p=0.035). In the second puncture, crying was more frequently observed in the skin-to-skin group in all the phases (Tto 2, p=0.010; Anti 2, p=0.022; T0 2, p=0.004; T15 2, p=0.032; T30 2, p=0.022; T60 2, p=0.022; T120 2, p=0.022 and T180 2, p=0.022), while strong crying predominated in most instances in both groups. The sucrose group manifested sugar means (frequency, duration and average percentage) significantly higher than the skin-to-skin group in various phases of data collection. Caressing and hugging were the most frequent actions observed among the mothers. Heart rate did not differ between groups, except for treatment phase 2 (p=0.04), which was higher among the sucrose group in comparison to the skin-to-skin group. The conclusion is that skin-to-skin contact is as effective as orally administering 25% sucrose in alleviating pain in newborns exposed to two repeated and successive heel punctures, confirming the study\'s hypothesis

O canguru é efetivo no alívio da dor aguda em prematuros, porém pouco se sabe sobre o papel da mãe na regulação da dor e estresse neonatal. Tem-se como objetivo geral investigar a associação entre os fatores maternos (comportamento, estado emocional e humor e estresse) e a resposta à dor e ao estresse de prematuros submetidos à punção de calcâneo para exame de triagem neonatal em posição canguru. Trata-se de experimento não-controlado, realizado na unidade neonatal de um hospital universitário de Ribeirão Preto-SP. Participaram do estudo 42 mães e seus filhos prematuros, após obtenção de consentimento livre e esclarecido. Os dados foram coletados em três fases: basal - FP (10 minutos), procedimento - FP (coleta do exame) e recuperação - FR (10 minutos). Coletaram-se amostras de saliva da mãe e do prematuro antes e após o exame doloroso e da mãe à noite e ao despertar. Mensuraram-se as variáveis: mímica facial (Neonatal Facial Coding System - NFCS), sono e vigília, duração do choro e frequência cardíaca (FC) neonatal, comportamento materno e interação mãe-filho (Maternal Mood Infant Pain Behavior Coding System), estado emocional e de humor materno (Inventários de Depressão e de Ansiedade de Beck). Explorou-se a relação entre as variáveis maternas e neonatais (análise bivariada), a influência do estado emocional e humor materno nas variáveis neonatais (análises de variância com medidas repetidas) e quais variáveis explanatórias maternas interferem nas variáveis de resposta neonatais (regressão múltipla). O escore médio do NFCS, a porcentagem de duração do tempo de choro e a FC média não alteraram significativamente entre as fases da coleta, ao controlar-se a porcentagem de duração dos estados de sono e vigília basal. As concentrações médias de cortisol salivar neonatal e materno pós-punção em relação a pré-punção não diferiram estatisticamente (p=0,731; p=1,000, respectivamente). Encontrou-se associação entre o escore médio do NFCS na FP e a concentração de cortisol salivar pré-punção materno (r=0,32; p=0,040); a porcentagem tempo do choro na FP e a concentração de cortisol salivar pré-punção materno (r=-0,32; p=0,047); a FC neonatal na FP e as concentrações de cortisol salivar noturno (r=-0,49; p=0,002), pré-punção (r=-0,34; p=0,025) e pós-punção (r=-0,51; p=0,001) materna; a FC neonatal na FR e as concentrações de cortisol salivar noturno (r=-0,45; p=0,004), prépunção (r=-0,41; p=0,007) e pós-punção (r=-0,50; p=0,001), as concentrações de cortisol salivar pré-punção neonatal e noturno materno (r=0,39; p=0,016) e as concentrações do cortisol pós-punção neonatal e materno (r=0,34; p=0,027). A presença de sintomas de ansiedade e depressão e o comportamento maternos não influenciaram a resposta de dor e estresse do prematuro. A concentração do cortisol salivar materno pré-punção foi preditor da variância da concentração do cortisol salivar pós-punção do prematuro [coeficiente R2 ajustado=0,092; F(1,36)=4,764; p=0,036]; a concentração de cortisol salivar noturno materno, juntamente com a idade pós-natal do prematuro, explicaram a variância da FC neonatal [coeficiente R2 ajustado=0,282; F(2,35)=8,219; p=0,001]. Concluiu-se que a capacidade das mães participantes do estudo em regular o seu próprio estresse pode contribuir para a resposta de dor e estresse do prematuro. Outros estudos são necessários para fortalecer as evidências. / Maternal kangaroo care (MKC) effectively reduces acute pain and stress in the preterm, but very little is known about the maternal role during MKC. The main purpose of the present non-controlled intervention study was to examine relationships between maternal factors (caregiving behaviour, depression and anxiety and maternal own stress) and preterm infant pain and stress response during heel lance (HL) for routine neonatal blood screening while in MKC. The study was carried out in a neonatal unit at a university hospital in Ribeirao Preto- SP and involved 42 consenting mothers and their stable preterm infants. Maternal and infant data were collected during three study phases: Baseline (10 minutes - before HL), HL procedure (during blood collection) and Recovery (10 minutes - post HL). On the day of the infant\'s scheduled HL, maternal and infant salivary cortisol samples were collected at baseline and 20 minutes post-HL. Two additional maternal salivary cortisol samples were collected (night and awakening). Continuous measures of infant heart rate (HR) were collected and maternal caregiving behaviour and infant pain behaviour (facial action, cry and infant state) were continuously videotaped during the three study phases. Within the following week of each infant\'s HL, the emotional state of study mothers was assessed using the Beck Depression and Anxiety Inventories. The Neonatal Facial Coding System (NFCS) and the Maternal Mood Infant Pain Behaviour Coding System were used to code infant and maternal behaviour, second-by-second, from which time based measures of behaviour were generated. Relationships between maternal and neonatal measures were initially analyzed using bivariate analyses and RM-ANOVA was used to examine change in maternal and infant measures. Multiple regression analyses were then used to test which maternal variables predicted neonatal responses. No statistical significant differences in infant mean NFCS score, cry percentage duration and HR were observed across the study phases when baseline percentage duration of infant sleep-awake state was controlled. Also, maternal and neonatal salivary cortisol pre-HL and post-HL did not differ statistically (p=0.731; p=1.000, respectively). However, mean NFCS score and percentage duration of infant cry during the HL procedure were found to be associated with maternal pre-HL salivary cortisol level (r=0.32; p=0.040 and r=-0.32; p=0.047, respectively). Associations were also observed between neonatal HR duration and maternal nocturne (r=-0.49; p=0.002), pre-HL (r=-0.34; p=0.025) and post-HL (r=-0.51; p=0.001) salivary cortisol levels. Further, neonatal HR post HL procedure was related with nocturne (r=-0.45; p=0.004), pre-HL (r=-0.41; p=0.007) and post-HL (r=-0.50; p=0.001) maternal salivary cortisol. In this study, maternal scores of depression and anxiety and percentage of time spent expressing typical and typically depressed behaviour were not found to predict preterm pain and stress response. However, mother salivary cortisol level pre-HL predicted preterm salivary cortisol post-HL [adjusted R2=0.092; F(1,36)=4.764; p=0.036]; and maternal nocturne salivary cortisol together with gestational age predicted neonatal HR [adjusted R2=0.282; F(2,35)=8.219; p=0.001]. Study findings support the effectiveness of the maternal regulatory role in MKC but do suggest that the stress regulatory ability (as reflected by maternal cortisol levels) of the studies mothers may be predictive of alteration in pain and stress response in preterm offspring. Similar studies are needed to substantiate and to build on study findings.

Denna empiriska studie har ett fokus på lågstadielärarens arbete med problemlösning tillsammans med de yngsta förskoleklassbarnen och eleverna i årskurs F-3. I studien granskas en internationell matematiktävling som varje år arrangeras av Nationellt Centrum för Matematikutbildning (NCM). Syftet med denna studie är att förstå vad läraren behöver beakta vid iscensättningen av sin undervisning som ska leda till att eleverna utvecklar problemlösningskompetens. Målet är att stärka lärares matematikundervisning för ett likvärdigt och framgångsrikt lärande. Tillvägagångssättet är att genomföra en textanalys (uppgiftsanalys) av Känguruns uppgifter då dessa anses vara utvecklande för alla barn och elever. Det handlar specifikt om att förstå vilken slags anpassad vägledning som behövs i den förberedande undervisningen för att eleverna ska kunna utveckla problemlösningskompetens i relation till Känguruproblemen. Materialet som används i studien hämtas direkt från NCM:s hemsida och i utvalda vetenskapliga artiklar om lärande, problemlösning och socio-matematiska normer. Studiens litteraturbakgrund tar sin utgångspunkt i en systematisk litteraturstudie av Nilsson och Sköldvinge (2020) som behandlar internationell forskning om problemlösning. En diskursanalys med valda delar från en modell för lärande av Selander och Kress (2017) möjliggör en kritisk granskning av texten (uppgifterna). Närläsning sker genom ett diskursanalytiskt (läs-)verktyg som skapas av fyra komponenter i den första och förberedande delen i LearningDesignSequences (LDS-modellen): Learning resources (Potentiella resurser), Curriculum (Syfte/Läroplan), Institutional norms (Socio-matematiska normer) och Setting (Iscensättning). Resultaten visar att en Kängurutävling kan bli till ett medel för att framgångsrikt iscensätta (planera, förbereda och presentera) undervisning i problemlösning. En förutsättning för detta är att läraren iscensätter sig själv som ”problemlösningsagent” i klassrummet. Resultaten pekar också på att problemlösningskompetens består av många olika delar (förmågor/kompetenser). Det betyder att långtgående mer än matematiska förmågor krävs för att bli en bra problemlösare.

Climate change and exotic plant invasions are significant anthropogenic threats to desert community structure and resilience . In the Mojave Desert, the invasive grass red brome (Bromusrubens L) is increasing fire frequency and extent in response to climatic factors. The resilience of this ecosystem will be affected by how plant and animal communities respond to fire. To better understand these dynamics, we studied the environmental factors underlying changes in invasive grass fire regimes in the Mojave Desert and its structural and functional effects on plant and animal communities. Following fire, reestablishment of native vegetation can be preempted by repeated burning associated with the abundant exotic grass red brome. Red brome density is correlated with various climate and landscape variables, but to establish causality, we experimentally assessed germination and growth of red brome. Red brome responded positively to fall precipitation, finer-textured soils, fertile-islands soils, and soils from burned landscapes. Red brome germination is maximized in wet fall periods when adequate water and optimal temperatures overlap . To evaluate landscape responses of pre- and post-fire plant communities and the potential for repeated burning we analyzed vegetation greenness (NDVI) data from 1985-2011 in response to temperature and precipitation. Landscape analysis indicated that the dominance of exotic grasses increases on post-fire landscapes. Following wet fall and winter seasons, high red brome productivity increases fire potential. Without mitigation, the establishment of an invasive-plant-driven fire regime is likely and may drive state transitions from arid shrublands to arid annual grasslands. Potential revegetation of post-fire landscapes will depend at least in part upon the physiological response of surviving vegetation to post-fire landscapes. Plant physiological responses to post-fire landscapes were generally neutral or positive, suggesting that revegetation of post-fire landscapes is not precluded by resource loss associated with fire and may even be enhanced by post-fire conditions. This will likely translate to increased reproductive potential of surviving plants. Alterations to small mammal populations will likely play a role in the reestablishment of vegetation (both native and exotics) as small mammals have strong top-down effects in arid ecosystems. Diversity and species richness responded negatively to burned landscapes as Merriam's kangaroo rat (Dipodomys merriami) increased in abundance while other species practically disappeared from burned landscapes. Merriam's kangaroo rat affects propagule sources through direct consumption, and seed dispersal. Increases in abundance and dominance of Merriam's kangaroo rat will likely alter plant recruitment.