No description available.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--New York University, 1945. / "Literature cited": p. 136-138.

Thesis (M.S.)--Marshall University, 2009. / Title from document title page. Includes abstract. Document formatted into pages: contains vi, 113 p. Includes bibliographical references p. 42-47.

"Professional paper presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Wildlife Biology, the University of Montana, Missoula, MT, spring 2007." / Title from PDF title page (viewed on Aug. 12, 2007). Includes bibliographical references (p. 61-70).

Doctorat en sciences sociales, politiques et économiques / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

The leopard, Panthera pardus, is particularly threatened outside conservation areas in South Africa. This has been attributed to a reduction in natural habitat, decreasing natural prey populations, and commercial exploitation such as trophy hunting, and most importantly, persecution by stock farmers (Woodroffe 2001). The leopard population in the Baviaanskloof Mega-Reserve (BMR) has undergone a substantial decrease in range and numbers in the past 200 years, resulting in a highly fragmented population in the Baviaanskloof Mega-Reserve, and is regarded as being insecure. There is thus a need to investigate the nature and extent of leopard-stock farmer interactions to provide the foundation for an effective leopard conservation plan. Here I investigated the ecological and socio-economic factors influencing leopard-stock farmer conflict via landowner surveys and estimated potential leopard numbers using a prey-based density model. Leopards are not necessarily the most important causes of livestock mortality in the BMR. On average, leopards killed significantly less livestock (0.7 percent livestock per year) than black-backed jackals (4.7 percent per year) and caracal (2.5 percent per year), yet 67 percent of farmers had negative attitudes towards leopards. These negative attitudes were not significantly related to stock losses. However, most of the farmers that had negative attitudes towards leopards did not have any stock losses attributed to leopards. Thus if predator-stock conflict is not reduced it will result in the retaliatory killing of leopards. This will have severe consequences for this relatively small population (estimated at 59 – 104 individuals by the prey-based model), which may ultimately lead to the local extinction of these leopards (Woodroffe & Ginsberg 1998).

Two types of ventilation cycle were recorded in unanaesthetised but restrained frogs (Rana pipiens); one concerned with ventilation of the buccal cavity alone (buccal cycle) and the other with lung ventilation (lung cycle). During the former the nares were open and the glottis closed so that only small pressures were generated by the movement of the buccal floor. The onset of a lung ventilation was signalled by activity in the laryngeal dilator muscle and when the glottis opened lung pressure and volume fell while buccal cavity pressure and volume increased. After narial closure the buccal floor was rapidly raised and gas was forced into the lungs from the buccal cavity. At peak pressure in the lungs and buccal cavity the glottis closed and nares opened, the recovery stroke of the pump being passive. Air flow recordings made at the external nares showed two phases of flow during each buccal cycle, while four phases accompanied each lung ventilation cycle. By plotting pressure/volume loops from the buccal pump an analysis was made of the mechanical work performed in one lung ventilation cycle, and the proportion of this work available for lung inflation after various losses against viscous and flow resistive forces in the pump itself; while measurement of the areas of typical sequences of such loops together with respiratory frequency enabled the mechanical work output of the pump to be determined for frogs ranging in size from 24 to 86 grams. Using Hill's classical equation for muscle efficiency, it was possible to estimate mechanical efficiency for single respiratory cycles by calculating the heat of maintenance and heat of shortening of the buccal floor muscles, while simultaneously measuring mechanical work output. Calculated efficiencies of lung ventilation cycles rose as mechanical work performed increased from 7.4% at 0.65 gram.cm/cycle to 19.3% at 2.73 gram.cm/cycle. Diving apnoea in Rana pipiens was induced by the presence of water at the level of the external nares, at which point the nares closed, no water entering the buccal cavity during the dive. Occasional ventilation cycles occurred during the dive in which gas entered the buccal cavity from the lungs, an equal volume then being pumped back into the lungs, but there was no ventilatory exchange with the external medium. Bilateral section of the trigeminal nerves resulted in an abnormal response to submergence, in that water entered the buccal cavity, and in some cases the lungs, while surfacing often did not result in resumption of ventilation. Skin mechanoreceptors in the region of the external narial openings serving the ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal were found to be capable of responding to the minimum stimulus encountered on submersion, movement of a water meniscus across the narial region, while a tonic response to hydrostatic pressure occurred in some preparations. In control experiments cutaneous mechanoreceptors innervated by the spinal nerves were shown to have no response to a water meniscus passing across their receptive fields, suggesting that they possess higher thresholds than the narial receptors. Periods of apnoea could be induced in air in Rana pipiens by bilateral or unilateral stimulation of the cut peripheral ends of the ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal nerve at threshold voltages as low as 30 mv, at a frequency of 200 Hz. Increase in stimulating voltage resulted in longer periods of apnoea before ventilation "broke through", and in these periods the external nares were closed and buccal pressure was held independent of atmospheric pressure. Reduction of the stimulation frequency by a factor of ten after the initiation of apnoea, simulating adaptation of the sensory nerves, proved as effective in maintaining apnoea as continued stimulation at the original frequency. / Science, Faculty of / Zoology, Department of / Graduate

Trophy hunting is often employed as a conservation management tool for large predators. However, in order for this method to succeed, hunting levels must be sustainable. Very little robust population data exist for African leopards (Panthera pardus) in general, and almost no density or spatial ecology data exist for leopards in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe has one of the highest annual CITES leopard trophy hunting quotas in Africa, the sustainability of which has not been assessed, despite large scale landuse changes over the last 12 years. The focal area of this study was within the Mangwe district, in the south-west of Zimbabwe. The region is dominated by cattle and wildlife ranches, with high levels of leopard hunting, making it an important area for assessing leopard population density and spatial ecology. Three population density estimation methods were employed in my study: a spoor index survey, an unbaited camera-trapping survey and a baited camera-trapping survey. Using three calibration equations, spoor indices appeared to underestimate the leopard population (1.28-3.29 leopards/ 100 km²) as the equations were calibrated for areas with different habitats and leopard densities. In addition, the unbaited camera survey only produced six leopard photographs, unsuitable for individual identification and analysis. By contrast, the baited camera survey produced 292 identifiable leopard photographs, from which 13 individuals were identified. Density estimates calculated using the programme CAPTURE and the M[subscript]h model with the Mean Maximum Distance Moved Outside of Study Area (MMDMOSA) buffer method (4.79±0.83 leopards/100 km²), and the programme SPACECAP, using a buffer of 2.5 km (5.12±0.62 leopards/100 km²), appeared to generate the most reliable leopard population estimates. To assess the spatial ecology, three leopards (one male, two females) were captured and fitted with GPS collars. The home range estimates of the three leopards (95% Kernel UD: male 263 km², females 31 and 45 km²) were smaller than those of leopards in more arid regions, but larger than those of mesic habitats. This suggests that the Mangwe area has a higher quality habitat than the arid regions of Namibia, but less suitable habitat than protected bushveld areas (e.g. Kruger National Park, South Africa). My data represents the first robust leopard density and home range assessment for Zimbabwe. In addition, my results indicate that the current hunting quota issued to the Mangwe area is unsustainable. Consequently, I recommend revising the quota to five leopards for the entire area, and halving the current national leopard quota to 250, until a national leopard census is completed.

Magister Artium - MA / The Cederberg is increasingly associated with wildlife and ecotourism. Long-established rural communities practising subsistence farming reside in the Cederberg, some on the very boundary of the Cederberg Wilderness Area. Land uses related to tourism and conservation are currently reframing the Cederberg as a leisure landscape; a development that is not always compatible with sustaining the livelihoods of local inhabitants. Humans often occupy spaces to create a ‘civilised’ place of belonging for themselves and their domestic animals, and may regard certain indigenous wildlife species (such as baboons and leopards) as intrusive vermin. Livestock-keeping communities in the Cederberg are affected in particular by leopard conservation efforts. Livestock (sheep and donkeys in particular) is important to these farmers but often in danger of becoming prey to wild predators. In the Cederberg, the endangered Cape Mountain Leopard moves freely between the protected and inhabited spaces and often comes into contact with livestock owned by local subsistence farmers. This dissertation is rooted in the emerging sub-discipline of ‘animal geographies’. It explores divergent views of the term ‘wilderness’ as well as the treatment of ‘wild’ animals within the areas occupied by local people. It focusses on the community involvement in conservation practices and human-wildlife conflict issues, exploring community responses to their changing context and especially current conservation practices of CapeNature and the Cape Leopard Trust (the provincial conservation authority and an NGO respectively). Interviews with local people about current and historical leopard encounters are drawn upon in the analysis. The study is concerned to understand how conservation is impacting on local communities, and their responses to these shifts. Results suggest that there is substantial gap in the relationship with the communities and conservation authorities, especially regarding leopard conservation and livestock preservation. The communities of Wupperthal continue to suffer significant losses due to leopard predation. As it is now illegal to trap or kill leopards, residents have few strategies to protect their livestock. While some communities have a better relationship with CapeNature regarding the tourism activities within their community and other conservation initiatives, their considerable frustration was evident. The study explores the complex land issues in the region, and suggests possibilities for improvement in the relationship between local subsistence farmers and conservation authorities.

In this diploma thesis I will deal with symbolism and meanings of exotic cat beasts in different spheres of the Roman Empire. First part will emphasize cat beasts in general. Familiarization with species and subspecies of these beasts and their appearance in time of the greatest territorial expansion of the Roman Empire. In the next main chapter, which contain several sections, I will look into their effect on different parts of people's life (art, funerary context, entertainment etc.). Part of these chapters will be also comparation of the impact of cat beasts on cultures around Roman Empire, on the basis of which I want to evaluate which parts of this impact Romans could adopt and which part are their own. In the end part of thesis, I will focus on archaeological findings related directly with exotic cat beasts. In the very end this work contain also bibliography list of used literature and list of illustrations. Key words Cat beasts, Roman Empire, culture, art, propaganda, arena, gladiator, lion, leopard, tiger, impact.