The aim of this thesis is to define human urban mobility patterns using modern tools and find out what influence human migration. First part deals with history of research and introduces different methods of modeling. Second part consists of own research based on data from application Foursquare and project Rekola. This data is processed using gravitation model and theory of intervening opportunities.

The aim of this thesis is to find methodology or theory to define human urban mobility patterns using modern tools and to find out what influences human mobility. The first part deals with history of research and introduces different methods of modeling. The second part consists of own research based on data from Foursquare application and project called Rekola. These data are processed using gravitation model and theory of intervening opportunities.

The effects of climate change and global warming and the conversations surrounding it are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. The future predictions of the impact of climate change on the planet present daunting challenges for people around the globe, especially for the Mediterranean littoral, which has been labeled as a climate "hot spot". The paper focuses on the effects of climate change on migration patterns in the Mediterranean region to understand what a warmer future in the Mediterranean may look like to develop policies and strategies that may mitigate some of the more negative outcomes. The paper's main objective is to answer the following question; what are the links between migration patterns and climate change in the Mediterranean region? To the question, it is important to first define and place the theoretical framework firmly in the context that the paper is covering, such as the political, economic, social, environmental and demographic factors. Once these factors are defined, they are applied to real-world case studies in the form of North Africa and Syria through Black, Adger, et al.'s framework of drivers of migration through qualitative and quantitative data that comes from secondary resources. After analysing and comparing the two case studies the results showed that...

Universities influence the demographic and social landscape of a city, which has an impact on neighbouring areas. This study analyses migration patterns within the Umeå labour market region and identifies areas that are particularly attractive. By understanding these patterns, we can gain a better understanding of different groups, which can help with planning and attraction strategies in a municipality. Although the study shows a clear trend towards urbanisation, there are also tendencies towards suburbanisation. Couples with children are the group mainly moving out of the urban center of Umeå to the countryside, while singles/couples without children are the group attracted to the urban center. The differences in the migration patterns between the different groups suggest that individuals have different push and pull factors. Looking at family disposable income and labour income also reveals pattern that are supported by theories and earlier research. For example, the rural idyll and slower pace can be seen as influencing decisions. This may also be useful to explore in the future, given the change in behavior following the covid-19 pandemic, where interest in the rural areas has increased.

The high-dose/refuge strategy is used globally to manage insect resistance development in genetically modified crops with insecticidal properties (Bt crops). The “refuge in a bag” (RIB) strategy is also being considered for deployment against several pest species. Busseola fusca, the target pest of Bt maize in South Africa, evolved resistance to Cry1Ab proteins. The objective of this study was to determine whether migrating B. fusca larvae are effectively controlled using the RIB strategy. A field study with a single-gene event (Cry1Ab) and a “pyramid” event (Cry1A.105 + Cry2Ab2) was conducted in which the migration patterns of B. fusca larvae in plots with different seed mixture treatments were studied. The experiment consisted of five seed mixture ratios (5%, 10%, 15%, 20% non-Bt seed and 100 % non-Bt seed as control). Natural infestation was augmented by artificial inoculation with neonate larvae into the central non-Bt maize plant of each plot. Rate of larval survival and migration, measured in terms of increase in number of plants per plot that exhibited borer damage was recorded at weekly intervals until flowering. A laboratory study was conducted to determine larval growth and survival when simulating migration between Bt and non-Bt maize plants. A feeding experiment in which larvae were reared on different types of maize (Bt and non-Bt) was conducted and larval survival and mass recorded after a 7-day feeding period. The incidence of damaged ears, stem damage and damaged internodes per stem were recorded and relationships between these variables determined by means of correlation analyses. A review was conducted in order to identify and discuss similarities and differences between the high-dose/refuge and seed mixture strategies. This was done to determine which strategy would be the most appropriate insect resistance management (IRM) strategy against B. fusca. The rate of survival and migration of B. fusca larvae was significantly higher in the plots with maize expressing Cry1Ab and control plots, than in plots with the pyramid Bt event. Older larvae exhibited improved growth and survival in the laboratory experiment when they were transferred from non-Bt to Bt plants. Positive correlations were found between early and late season damage, although some weaker than others. Plants of the “pyramid event” suffered less late-season damage than those of the single-gene event. Since the increase in number of damaged maize plants over time is associated with migration of older and larger larvae, the observed tendencies may indicate that the assumed high-dose does not kill larvae above a certain developmental stage. The high-dose refuge strategy seems to be the better option for delaying resistance development. / MSc (Environmental Sciences), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The brain drain emerged as a phenomenon in the Sudan in the early 1970's when a change in the political system was followed by a change in the economic situation. The oil price increases created a dynamic process that led to attractive employment conditions in the petroleum producing countries such as Saudi Arabia and to depressed economic conditions in the developing countries like the Sudan. The purposes of the study are to (a) obtain information on the Sudanese professionals working in Saudi Arabia, (b) determine what major factors influence their migration, and (c) to develop policy recommendations on the flow of migration from the Sudan. The population of this study were Sudanese professionals living in Saudi Arabia. Data were generated through surveying a sample of 300 subjects selected randomly from the defined population. A survey questionnaire based on the research questions was developed for this study. Data from 263 respondents were analyzed. The findings of the study suggest that the majority of the Sudanese professionals working in Saudi Arabia are male, between 30 to 40 years of age. They have many years of experience and a high level of qualifications. The factors that led to their migration are: (a) high cost of living in the Sudan, (b) low salary, (c) money shortage, (d) high cost of housing, (e) little opportunity for advancement, and (f) shortage of basic necessities. It is realized that migration has costs and benefits for the Sudan. Government policies should be directed to maximize the benefits and minimize the costs. It is recommended that the government should adopt policies to regulate migration and assure the Sudanese expatriates of the efficient execution of these policies, attract their remittances through exemption and facilities, and work toward eliminating or reducing the causes of migration.

The high-dose/refuge strategy is used globally to manage insect resistance development in genetically modified crops with insecticidal properties (Bt crops). The “refuge in a bag” (RIB) strategy is also being considered for deployment against several pest species. Busseola fusca, the target pest of Bt maize in South Africa, evolved resistance to Cry1Ab proteins. The objective of this study was to determine whether migrating B. fusca larvae are effectively controlled using the RIB strategy. A field study with a single-gene event (Cry1Ab) and a “pyramid” event (Cry1A.105 + Cry2Ab2) was conducted in which the migration patterns of B. fusca larvae in plots with different seed mixture treatments were studied. The experiment consisted of five seed mixture ratios (5%, 10%, 15%, 20% non-Bt seed and 100 % non-Bt seed as control). Natural infestation was augmented by artificial inoculation with neonate larvae into the central non-Bt maize plant of each plot. Rate of larval survival and migration, measured in terms of increase in number of plants per plot that exhibited borer damage was recorded at weekly intervals until flowering. A laboratory study was conducted to determine larval growth and survival when simulating migration between Bt and non-Bt maize plants. A feeding experiment in which larvae were reared on different types of maize (Bt and non-Bt) was conducted and larval survival and mass recorded after a 7-day feeding period. The incidence of damaged ears, stem damage and damaged internodes per stem were recorded and relationships between these variables determined by means of correlation analyses. A review was conducted in order to identify and discuss similarities and differences between the high-dose/refuge and seed mixture strategies. This was done to determine which strategy would be the most appropriate insect resistance management (IRM) strategy against B. fusca. The rate of survival and migration of B. fusca larvae was significantly higher in the plots with maize expressing Cry1Ab and control plots, than in plots with the pyramid Bt event. Older larvae exhibited improved growth and survival in the laboratory experiment when they were transferred from non-Bt to Bt plants. Positive correlations were found between early and late season damage, although some weaker than others. Plants of the “pyramid event” suffered less late-season damage than those of the single-gene event. Since the increase in number of damaged maize plants over time is associated with migration of older and larger larvae, the observed tendencies may indicate that the assumed high-dose does not kill larvae above a certain developmental stage. The high-dose refuge strategy seems to be the better option for delaying resistance development. / MSc (Environmental Sciences), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Species’ ranges arise from the interplay between environmental preferences, biotic and abiotic environmental conditions, and accessibility. Understanding of – and predictive models on – species distributions often build from the assumption that these factors apply homogenously within each species, but there is growing evidence for individual variation. Here, I use movement data to investigate individual-level decisions and compromises regarding the different costs and benefits influencing individuals’ geographic locations, and the species-level spatial patterns that emerge from these. I first developed a new method that uses tracking data to quantify individual specialisation in geographic space (site fidelity) or in environmental space (environmental specialisation). Applying it to two species of albatrosses, I found evidence of site fidelity but weak environmental specialisation. My results have implications for how limited research efforts are best-targeted: if animals are generalists, effort are best spent by understanding in depth individual patterns, i.e., better to track fewer individuals for long periods of time; whereas if animals tend to be specialists, efforts should be dedicated to tracking as many individuals as possible, even if for shorter periods. I then investigated individual migratory strategies and their drivers in nine North American bird species, using ringing/recovery data. I found latitudinal redistribution of individuals within the breeding and non-breeding ranges that generally did not follow textbook patterns (‘chain migration’ or ‘leapfrog migration’). Migratory individuals tend to trade off the benefits of migration (better tracking of climatic niche; better access to resources) and its costs (increasing with migratory distance). I found that birds are more likely to remain as residents in areas with warmer winter temperatures, higher summer resource surpluses and higher human population densities (presumably because of a buffering effect of urban areas). Overall, my results highlight the importance of considering individual variation to understanding the ecological processes underpinning species’ spatial patterns.

Syftet med studien är att undersöka hur coronapandemin påverkat människors boendepreferenser, vilka effekter det fått på intresset för att bo på landsbygden och om trenden för en ny grön våg uppstått, likt den på 1970-talet. Detta för att erhålla ett bredare perspektiv på hur pandemin påverkat samhället, med utgångspunkt i betydelsen av hemmets egenskaper och närmiljö. Studien besvarar följande frågor: ● Hur har boendepreferenserna i Värmland förändrats under coronapandemin? ● Har coronapandemin blivit ett startskott för en ny utflyttningstrend till landsbygden, likt den gröna vågen som inträffade under 1970-talet? Studien grundar sig primärt i en kvantitativ metod i form av en enkätundersökning riktad till urvalsgruppen Värmlandsbor över 18 år, för att undersöka frågeställningarna. Den bygger dessutom på en sekundäranalys av kommentarer till P4 Värmland Sveriges Radios Facebookinlägg om varför folk väljer att bo kvar på glesbygden. Perioden som studerats har avgränsats till åren 2020 och 2021. Utifrån studiens presenterade litteraturbakgrund visar analysen av det empiriska materialet påökad attraktivitet för landsbygden och mindre orter. Större boyta har efterfrågats i högre grad under pandemiåren än tidigare. Även betydelsen av närhet till natur- och grönområden samt tillgång till trädgård, uteplats eller balkong har ökat betydligt under coronapandemin, jämfört med innan. Samtidigt har viljan att bo citynära sjunkit. Under 1970-talets gröna våg var politiken det främsta motivet till utflyttning till landsbygden. Idag är det snarare längtan till naturen och lugnet som ligger bakom, men också att flytta närmare familj och vänner som redan bor där. Dessutom har intresset för odling ökat under pandemin, vilket delvis lockar till ett liv på landsbygden. Det finns även en trygghetsfaktor i att odla sin egen mat och vara självförsörjande i osäkra tider, såsom under coronapandemin. Övergången till distansarbete har för många gjort det möjligt att ta steget att flytta till landsbygden, eftersom arbetsplatsen inte längre kräver fysisk närvaro i samma utsträckning som innan pandemin. Det har dessutom visat sig att majoriteten vill fortsätta arbeta hemifrån i viss mån i även i framtiden. Det är dock för tidigt att säga om trenden kommer bestå. / The purpose of this study is to investigate how the corona pandemic has affected people's housing preferences, how it has affected the interest in living in rural areas and whether the trend for a new green wave has emerged, similar to the one that occurred in the 1970s. This to obtain a broader perspective on how the pandemic has affected society, based on the valuation of different characteristics of homes and their local environment. This study has answered the following questions: ● How housing preferences in Värmland have changed during the corona pandemic? ● Has the corona pandemic become the starting point for a new emigration trend to rural areas, like the green wave that occurred in the 1970s? The study is primarily based on a quantitative method in the form of an internet-based survey aimed at the selection group of residents in Värmland over the age of 18, to investigate the research questions. The study is also based on a secondary analysis of comments to a Facebook post published by the Swedish radio channel P4 Värmland Sveriges Radio about why people choose to stay in rural areas. The examined period has been limited to the years 2020 and 2021. Based on what is presented in the literature background, the analysis of the empirical material shows increased attractiveness for rural areas and smaller towns. Larger living space has been in greater demand during the pandemic years than before. The importance of closeness to nature and green areas as well as access to garden, patio or balcony increased significantly during the corona pandemic, compared with before. At the same time, the desire to live close to a city has declined. During the green wave of the 1970s, political motives were the main reason for moving to rural areas. Today, it is rather the longing for nature and tranquillity that lies behind the decision, but also to move closer to family and friends who already live there. Moreover, the interest in cultivation has increased during the pandemic, which in part attracts people to the countryside. In addition, there is a security factor in growing your own food and being selfsufficient during uncertain times, such as during the corona pandemic. The transition to teleworking has made it easier for people to take the step of moving to rural areas, as many workplaces no longer require physical presence to the same extent as before the pandemic. Besides, the majority want to continue working from home to some extent in the future as well. However, it is too early to say whether the trend will continue.

This thesis deals with systematic revision, evolutionary trends, palaeoecology and migration patterns of crustaceans (Cirripedia and Decapoda) from the Upper Cretaceous of the Bohemian Cretaceous Basin. Thesis is presented as a compilation of 9 papers that were published in scientific peer-reviewed journals and includes not only old museum material, but also numerous crustacean specimens which have been recovered in the last decade. Besides, short remarks on fossil crustaceans currently under study or in the process of being published (Paraclythia, Oncopareia, Acrothoracica) are also included in this thesis. In view of the fact that the fossil crustaceans from the BCB were most recently recorded in the turn of the 19th and the 20th centuries (and partially revised in the first half of the 20th century) and since the systematics and taxonomy have changed significantly, all papers presented here focus primarily on systematic revision and modern description. The essential part of the thesis thus deals with taphonomy and its bearing on the identification of fossil material. Thanks to a modern description, new species of Ctenocheles fritschi (axiidean shrimp), Archaeochionelasmus nekvasilovae (acorn barnacle), Myolepas reussi and Capitulum sklenari (pedunculate barnacles) were erected. C. fritschi is...