This thesis explores how Nobel laureate Olga Tokarczuk's 2008 novel, Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead, engages with William Blake's life and his writings on animal welfare and speaks to current conversations about multispecies justice in the environmental humanities. It argues, first, that in recognizing how this novel's protagonist, Janina, selectively reads Blake to rationalize retributive justice, readers should resist a tendency to mistake this character for Tokarczuk's ideal advocate for environmental ethics. Secondly, it asserts that legal scholars' division between retributive and restorative justice offers valuable framework for approaching both this novel and ongoing debates about multispecies relations and environmental justice.

A combination of factors including land use change and fire suppression has resulted in the loss of pine savanna habitats across the southeastern U.S., affecting many avian species dependent on these habitats. However, due to the ephemeral nature of the habitat requirements of many pine savanna species (e.g., habitat is only present for a couple of years after a fire), targeted management of such habitats can be challenging. Moreover, the growing numbers of imperiled pine savanna species can make prioritizing management difficult. One potential tool to better inform management of pine savanna species is satellite imagery. Sentinel-2 satellite imagery data provides an instantaneous snapshot of habitat quality at a high resolution and across a large geographic area, which may make it more efficient than traditional, ground-based vegetation surveying. Thus, the objectives of my research were to 1) evaluate the use of remote sensing technology to predict habitat occupancy for pine savanna species, and 2) use satellite imagery-based models to inform multispecies management in a pine savanna habitat. To meet my objectives, I conducted point count surveys and built predictive models for three pine savanna bird species: Bachman's Sparrow (BACS; Peuacea aestivalis), Northern Bobwhite (NOBO; Colinus virginianus), and Red-Cockaded Woodpecker (RCW; Dryobates borealis) across Georgia. I assessed the performance of satellite imagery in predicting habitat occupancy of these pine savanna species and its potential for multispecies management. I found that models created using satellite imagery habitat metric data performed well at predicting the occupancy of all three species as measured by the Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve: BACS=0.84, NOBO=0.87, RCW=0.76 (with values between 0.7-1 defined as acceptable or good predictive capacity). For BACS and NOBO, I was able to compare these satellite imagery models to field-based models, and satellite models performed better than those using traditional vegetation survey data (BACS=0.80, NOBO=0.79). Moreover, I found that satellite imagery data provided useful insights into the potential for multispecies management within the pine savanna habitats of Georgia. Finally, I found differences in the habitat selected by BACS, NOBO, and RCW, and that BACS may exhibit spatial variations in habitat use. The results of this study have significant implications for the conservation of pine savanna species, demonstrating that satellite imagery can allow users to build reliable occupancy models and inform multispecies management without intensive vegetation surveying. / Master of Science / Land-use changes have resulted in the disruption of natural disturbances such as fires, resulting in the loss of pine savanna habitats throughout the southeastern U.S. Although many of the species that occupy these habitats are experiencing rapid population declines, habitat for pine savanna species can be challenging to manage. Without reoccurring fire, pine savanna habitat can become unsuitable for obligate species within short periods of time, forcing these species to disperse to newly disturbed habitats. The transient nature of the preferred habitat of pine savanna species makes targeting management for these species difficult, as it can be challenging to locate exactly where occupied habitats exist. Furthermore, as the number of pine savanna species that are declining is large, prioritizing management of these species can be difficult especially given limited conservation funding. One potential tool to better inform the management of pine savanna species is satellite imagery. Satellite imagery can capture habitat information across broad areas, at fine resolutions, and at frequent intervals, potentially making satellite imagery more efficient than conducting field vegetation surveys on the ground for gaining information on habitat suitability. Thus, the objectives of my research were to 1) determine if satellite imagery can effectively predict the habitats occupied by pine savanna species (habitat occupancy), and 2) use satellite imagery-based models to inform the simultaneous management of multiple species (multispecies management) in a pine savanna habitat. To meet these objectives, I conducted surveys and built predictive models for three pine savanna bird species: Bachman's sparrow (BACS; Peuacea aestivalis), Northern Bobwhite (NOBO; Colinus virginianus), and Red-Cockaded Woodpecker (RCW; Dryobates borealis) in Georgia. I found models informed by satellite imagery performed well at predicting habitats occupied for all three species. Furthermore, models developed using satellite imagery performed better at predicting the habitats occupied by pine savanna species than models developed using on the ground vegetation surveys. I also found that satellite imagery data provided useful insights into strategies to manage pine savanna species simultaneously. I found evidence that BACS, NOBO, and RCW may have contrasting habitat needs and that BACS may use habitat differently between sites in Georgia. The results of this study demonstrate that satellite imagery can be used to predict the habitats occupied by pine savanna species and inform multispecies management without surveying vegetation on the ground, which is a more efficient use of time and funding.

‘the habitat’ is a Design+Change project which originates from the will to create positive change in the current situation of climate and ecological emergency. The design project takes the Anthropocene and the materialization of nonhumans as starting point and develops further around the possibilities of forming non-anthropocentric and nonhuman-centered mentalities and world-making processes. It aims to highly emphasize the human dependence on nonhuman existence and well-being. Therefore, the ultimate purpose of the project is to de-center humans and challenge the human exceptionalist mentality. In order to achieve that; practices of making kin with nonhumans are explored and practiced throughout the project. This Design+Change project builds its framework within the theories of posthumanism by Braidotti (2013) (2017) and Barad (2008), the vitality of matter by Bennett (2010) and gets inspiration from multispecies ethnography and design, discusses the possibilities of making kin (Haraway, 2016) with nonhumans. Building on the theoretical framework, my own lived experiences of sharing my domestic environment and my attempts to interact, and interconnect with fungi persons, strive to show interdependencies of life, the assemblages weaved in intertangled lives of humans and nonhumans and to overcome human exceptionalist mindsets and lifestyles. ‘the habitat’ seeks to also question the dichotomies of nature/culture, animate/inanimate. The discussion of the nonhuman agency has also been essential throughout the design project.  ‘the habitat’ displays a journey, an intimate autoethnographic mental expedition, rather than being a monolithic and finished product. It presents my bare attempts and generates discussions from them. At the end of the project, it wraps itself up in the form of an archive, a map, and a record of the journey for the audience to walk through.

As living beings, seaweeds exist at the periphery of people’s awareness, and not much is known about what they mean to people, and the relationships we can have with them. They are useful, versatile commodities, and multitask as foodstuffs for people and other beings, as sources of biofuel and medicinal compounds, and the list goes on... but, what else? This work seeks to shed light on the kinds of relations that people can have with seaweeds when relationships of use are purposefully bracketed out, in order to understand their social and symbolic worlds. To this end, during the months of November through January, the author discussed the perceptions of seaweeds with the neighbours of the area of Loch Hourn, a sea-loch (fjord) in the western seaboard of the Scottish Highlands, and some other nearby townships. The present study interlaces participant observation nuanced by the winter and the weather, and interviews, to explore how, through relations of biosociality, companionship, awareness and interanimation of the environment, alternative configurations of knowing, Gaelic tradition, symbolism, and hope, seaweeds embody different aspects of the meaning of‘sanctuary’.

This study examines how product design can promote coexistence between dog and human in an urban environment, to raise the ideology of animal rights. Through theory of user-centered design, speciesism, critical animal studies, multispecies worldings, dog physiology and urbanity beyond humanity with methods of quantitative research, persona, expert interview, observation, functional analysis, brainstorming, user testing, and prototyping, has design for more than human in urban environment been presented. The study contributes of how we explore and design together and for creatures without human abilities in an urban environment. The contribution is exemplified in a product which offers positive, interplay activity of blowing and catching soap bubbles in a public environment between dog and human. / Studien har utforskat hur produktdesign kan främja samexistens mellan hund och människa i urban miljö, för att reformera ideologin av djurs rättigheter. Genom teori av användarcentrerad design, speciesism, kritiska djurstudier, multispecies worldings, hundfysiologi och urbanitet bortom mänsklighet med metoder av kvantititativ undersökning, persona, expertintervju, observation, funktionsanalys, brainstorming, användartest, och prototyping har design för mer än människa i urban miljö presenteras. Studien bidrar med kunskap hur vi utforskar och designar med samt för varelser utan mänskliga förmågor i urban miljö. Bidraget exemplifieras i en produkt som medger positiv, samspelt aktivitet i form av att blåsa och fånga såpbubblor i offentlig miljö mellan hund och människa.

In a town in northern Norway, the sailors on whale-watching boats meet whales in their daily work. Many have up to 30 years’ experience in locating the whales, through sight or submerged microphones, and in positioning the boats in non-intrusive ways that respect the whales’ life in the open water. But in spite of this continued, long-lasting contact, the sailors agree that there is not much that can be known about the whales. This study, based on interviews to the five seamen of one whale-watching company, explores the resources on which the sailors can draw to make sense of the underwater beings they interact with. Departing from the ontological paradigm that sees the world as made up of overlapping realities, the author draws on different aspects of multispecies theory to explore how anthropomorphism, technology, and kinship are key elements that make up the sailors’ relational ontology with whales. This is analysed in the light of the doctrine of opacity, which posits that it is not necessary to know the mind of others to have successful relations. This study hopes to further the exploration of topics within maritime anthropology, and to contribute to a better understanding of human/underwater beings that leads to the preservation of their environment.

Myco-scapes: Multispecies Entanglements in Artmaking is a body of ephemeral fiber sculptures. These weavings and digital fabrications are the result of collaborations with dynamic materials and other species, primarily fungi. The artworks (or artifacts) of the artist's material intra-actions explore the possibilities, challenges, and ethics of multispecies collaboration. Furthermore, in its ephemerality, Myco-scapes responds to the preventative conservation practices employed by art museums. Not only do these sculptures embody the fleeting nature of material entanglements, but they also challenge the capitalist structure of art collecting through their impermanence. The written thesis describes the artist's studio practice by exploring three primary influences: mycelium (the root-like structures of mushrooms), entanglements (the complex interwoven structures in which we exist), and preventative conservation (art-handling protocol designed to preserve artifacts). / Master of Fine Arts / Myco-scapes: Multispecies Entanglements in Artmaking is a body of ephemeral fiber sculptures. These weavings and digital fabrications are the result of collaborations with dynamic materials and other species, primarily fungi. The artworks (or artifacts) of the artist's material intra-actions explore the possibilities, challenges, and ethics of multispecies collaboration. Furthermore, in its ephemerality, Myco-scapes responds to the preventative conservation practices employed by art museums. Not only do these sculptures embody the fleeting nature of material entanglements, but they also challenge the capitalist structure of art collecting through their impermanence. The written thesis describes the artist's studio practice by exploring three primary influences: mycelium (the root-like structures of mushrooms), entanglements (the complex interwoven structures in which we exist), and preventative conservation (art-handling protocol designed to preserve artifacts).

<p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The extinction risk of threatened species has traditionally been assessed by the use of tools of Population Viability Analysis (PVA). Species interactions, however, have seldom been accounted for in PVA:s. The omission of species interactions in risk assessments may further lead to serious mistakes when setting target sizes of populations. Even a slight abundance decrease of a target species may result in changes of the community structure; in the worst case leading to a highly impoverished community. Of critical importance to conservation is therefore the question of how many individuals of a certain population that is needed in order to avoid this kind of consequences. In the current study, a stochastic multispecies model is used to estimate minimum ecological viable populations (MEVP); earlier defined as “the minimum size of a population that can survive before itself or some other species in the community becomes extinct”. The MEVP:s are compared to population sizes given by a single species model where interactions with other species are treated as a constant source incorporated in the species specific growth rate. MEVP:s are found to be larger than the population sizes given by the single species model. The results are trophic level dependent and multispecies approaches are suggested to be of major importance when setting target levels for species at the basal level. Species at higher trophic levels, however, are altogether more prone to extinction than species at the basal level, irrespective of food web size and food web complexity.</p><p> </p>

The extinction risk of threatened species has traditionally been assessed by the use of tools of Population Viability Analysis (PVA). Species interactions, however, have seldom been accounted for in PVA:s. The omission of species interactions in risk assessments may further lead to serious mistakes when setting target sizes of populations. Even a slight abundance decrease of a target species may result in changes of the community structure; in the worst case leading to a highly impoverished community. Of critical importance to conservation is therefore the question of how many individuals of a certain population that is needed in order to avoid this kind of consequences. In the current study, a stochastic multispecies model is used to estimate minimum ecological viable populations (MEVP); earlier defined as “the minimum size of a population that can survive before itself or some other species in the community becomes extinct”. The MEVP:s are compared to population sizes given by a single species model where interactions with other species are treated as a constant source incorporated in the species specific growth rate. MEVP:s are found to be larger than the population sizes given by the single species model. The results are trophic level dependent and multispecies approaches are suggested to be of major importance when setting target levels for species at the basal level. Species at higher trophic levels, however, are altogether more prone to extinction than species at the basal level, irrespective of food web size and food web complexity.

This dissertation is an ethnographic study about ecological displacement, affective encounters, the work of care, and human and animal subjectivities involved in rehabilitating endangered orangutans in Sarawak, Malaysia. Using participant-observation, interviews, archival research, and animal behavioral methods during seventeen months of fieldwork, this work exemplifies Donna Haraway's idea of 'zooethnography' by treating animals and humans as situated subjects. Specifically, I examine encounters between semi-wild orangutans, indigenous Sarawakian workers, Sarawakian Chinese and Malay middle-class managers of the semi-governmental corporation running the centers, and transnational professionals from the Global North who pay thousands of US dollars to volunteer their manual labor. I address the question, how do conflicting concepts of freedom and autonomy get produced at wildlife centers in which animals are restrained and managed for the purpose of an eventual freedom that is unobtainable? I argue that orangutan rehabilitation entails the production of affect between bodies, which in turn generates a global, postcolonial economy of human nostalgia. Despite assiduous efforts to train orangutans for a life of autonomy within the confines of forest reserves, I found that rehabilitant orangutans experience a permanently deferred independence. I offer the concept of 'arrested autonomy' as a way of understanding how subjects are forcibly made dependent while simultaneously regarded as potentially independent. This permanently deferred independence resembles the deferred promises and hopes of decolonization that have yet to materialize. / Anthropology