Thesis (diplôme d'archiviste paléographe)--École nationale des chartes, Paris, 2002 and Thesis (Ph. D.)--Université Paris IV Sorbonne, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (p. [519]-522) and indexes.

Thesis (diplôme d'archiviste paléographe)--École nationale des chartes, Paris, 2002 and Thesis (Ph.D.)--Université Paris IV Sorbonne, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (p. [519]-522) and indexes.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Columbia University, 1942. / Published also without thesis note. Vita. Bibliography: p. [217]-224.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Delaware, 2005. / Principal faculty advisor: Ronald E. Martin, Dept. of Geology. Includes bibliographical references.

No description available.

The permeability of surrounding landcover types can influence the probability of animals leaving a patch and dispersing across the unsuitable matrix. The marsh rice rat (Oryzomys palustris) persists in wetlands that are often isolated by upland cover types. The goal was to quantify the permeability of three landcover types (grassland, agriculture, and forest) and calculate the landcover composition of home ranges for a population of rice rats in southern Illinois. Between March 2011 and January 2012, I trapped rice rats up to 95 m from wetlands into unsuitable cover and simultaneously followed individuals via radiotelemetry. I calculated the slope of capture rate (log-transformed) vs. distance from wetland as an inverse measure of permeability and also measured inundation, rice rat abundance, and matrix vegetation density as potential covariates explaining matrix use. I calculated mean home range size for males with the fixed kernel density method and compared landcover within home ranges to what was available in the surrounding landscape. Using generalized linear mixed models, I compared matrix capture rates and permeability levels among cover types, inundation, abundance, and vegetation density. After 13,610 trap-nights, I captured 43 rice rats in the matrix between March and September, with 24 in agriculture, 10 in grassland, and 9 in forest. I did not find permeability differed between landcover types, but did find that rice rats were captured further and more frequently in agriculture than grassland and forest cover. Both population abundance in wetlands and vegetation density < 0.5 m high had positive effects on matrix captures, while lowering water levels increased the permeability of the surrounding matrix. After radio-tracking 25 rice rats, home ranges were 3.01 ±0.57 ha and were the largest for individuals followed in early summer. Emergent vegetation was used proportionally more than would have been expected at random, indicating rice rats preferred emergent wetlands habitat at the home-range level. This study suggests that rice rats are more vagile and move through upland cover types more frequently than previously described in the literature.

Constructed Wetlands are used in many parts of the world for the treatment of wastewater from diverse sources. They are effective, low cost and sustainable alternative to most conventional wastewater treatment processes. They are engineered to mimic many of the same processes that occur in natural wetlands but within a more controlled environment. The need for proper design of constructed wetlands for secondary and tertiary wastewater treatment is of utmost importance in meeting today's stringent water quality standards. Subsequently, numerous design tools have been proposed for the assessment of constructed wetland performance. Currently, applied modeling approaches include regression models, mass loading versus outflow concentration analysis, Monod type analytical models and first-order removal kinetic models. The principal objective of this research was to estimate the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) removal using both the plug flow and complete-mix first order kinetic models. Results obtained by these models were then validated by comparing with published data from the Arcata constructed wetland. This study also investigated the sensitivity of effluent BOD quality to variation in influent concentration, temperature and hydraulic retention time. Analysis of the results revealed that variations in the field conditions influenced the removal rate of BOD in each zone of the wetland. The design reaction rate coefficient for each zone varied and was corrected for using the Arrhenius expression. The BOD removal performance of the Arcata wetland and any wetland operated under similar conditions was found to be better modeled by the plug flow model at zero background concentration. The study also found the BOD removal to be much influenced by the influent concentration and minimally influenced by temperature and hydraulic retention time.

The marsh rice rat (Oryzomys palustris) is a semi-aquatic rodent classified as state-threatened in Illinois due to historical wetland loss coupled with being on the northern periphery of its range. The most recent survey for this species in Illinois occurred in 1988, and this study reassessed its status and distribution. From 2007 to 2009, I used live traps to sample for rice rats at previously occupied and random wetland-dominated sites in 5 southern Illinois watersheds. I captured 132 individual rice rats 192 times in 13,248 trap nights. Capture success was 15.10 captures/1,000 trap nights. I detected rice rats within 3 of 5 watersheds, 16 of 48 sites, and 5 new locations. Most rice rats were captured in permanent or semi-permanent emergent wetlands and rice rat occurrence was strongly related with coal mine-associated wetlands. I collected microhabitat measurements at 10% of trap locations and recorded landcover types within and around sites. I analyzed data using t-tests, logistic regression, and occupancy modeling. Percent herbaceous cover and percent visual obstruction (0.0-0.5m) positively influenced rice rat occurrence and were among the most important microhabitat models. The best model in the candidate set of landcover variables included proportion of upland grass in areas surrounding wetlands as a predictor of rice rat occurrence. I believe insufficient evidence exists to warrant removal of the threatened status of the marsh rice rat. However, current management practices, such as wetland restoration, grassland restoration, and mowing of roadside ditches, likely benefit rice rat populations. Slight modification of these management activities may facilitate the eventual delisting of marsh rice rats.

Orientador: José Maurício Barbanti Duarte / Banca: Paulo Henrique Franceschini / Banca: Claudio Alvarenga de Oliveira / Resumo: Atualmente, o conhecimento sobre a fisiologia e a biologia reprodutiva de cervos-do-pantanal (Blastocerus dichotomus) é escasso e as lacunas existentes aumentam a vulnerabilidade da espécie à extinção. Neste contexto, os objetivos deste trabalho foram: (1) caracterizar alguns parâmetros relacionados à fisiologia reprodutiva de fêmeas de cervos-do-pantanal e (2) fornecer métodos adequados para o acesso às diferentes fases do ciclo reprodutivo. Para isso, seis fêmeas da espécie foram utilizadas para a caracterização hormonal do ciclo estral, da gestação e do período pós-parto. Amostras fecais foram colhidas diariamente para o monitoramento do ciclo estral, duas vezes por semana durante a gestação e em dias alternados no período pós-parto. As dosagens das progestinas fecais foram feitas por EIA. Foram monitorados 16 ciclos estrais completos, cuja duração média foi de 21,3±1,3 dias (6,4±1,2d fase inter-luteal e 14,8±1,3d fase luteal). As concentrações médias de progestinas fecais para as fases inter-luteal e luteal do ciclo estral foram 834±311ng g-1 e 3979±1611ng g-1, respectivamente, e o valor limite entre elas foi de 1457ng g-1. Quatro fêmeas levaram a gestação a termo, determinando um período de gestação médio de 253±4 dias. Houve um aumento significativo (p<0,05) na concentração de progestinas fecais a partir do quarto mês de gestação, o que pôde direcionar o diagnóstico presuntivo de gestação na espécie. Assim, concentrações de progestinas fecais 15250ng g-1 foram indicativas de gestação. No período de 60 dias pós-parto em que as fêmeas foram monitoradas, 75% (3/4) delas apresentaram estro e/ou retomaram a atividade ovariana. / Abstract: The scarce knowledge about reproductive physiology and biology in marsh deer (Blastocerus dichotomus) increases the vulnerability of this species to the extinction. Thus, the aims of this study were: (1) to characterize some parameters related to the reproductive physiology of females marsh deer and (2) to turn available adequate tools for the assessment of the reproductive cycle's phases. Six females and one male were used to the hormonal characterization of the estrous cycle, pregnancy and post parturition period. Fecal samples were collected daily during the estrous cycle, twice a week during the pregnancy and in alternated days during the post parturition period of monitoring and the amount of fecal progestins was evaluated by enzyme immunoassay. The mean length of the estrous cycle was 21.3±1.3 days (6.4±1.2d interluteal and 14.8±1.3d luteal phase) and the fecal progestins concentrations were 834±311ng g-1 and 3979±1611ng g-1, respectively for the inter-luteal and luteal phase. The limit value between these phases was 1457ng g-1. Four females became pregnant and exposed a mean pregnancy period of 253±4 days. There was a significant increase (p<0,0001) in the fecal progestins excretion since the fourth month of pregnancy, that could provide guidelines for the pregnancy diagnosis in the species. Thus, fecal progestins concentrations 15250ng g-1 were indicative of pregnancy. Seventy five percent (3/4) of the females exhibit estrous and/or restarted the ovarian function during the post parturition period of monitoring. / Mestre

Ultraviolet colouration of flowers varies both among and within species. The significance of these patterns and differences among them was usually associated with a visual per- ception of pollinators. In this study we examine the variation of marsh marigold's (Caltha palustris) bull's-eye pattern on a basis of 289 observed individuals from 32 distinct locati- ons. The variation of this pattern is shown to be quite large within separate locations and the pattern is predictably changing according to latitude. This trend of darker colouration towards the equator is an another example of a more widely understood Gloger's rule in the plant kingdom. The effect of ultraviolet radiation appears to be one of the most likely causes of this phenomenon. Hereafter we analyse the weakness of this explanation, the gaps in current knowledge and propose possible directions of further research. Keywords: ultraviolet, bull's-eye, marsh marigold, Caltha palustris, Gloger's rule