In Australia, we have not yet composed a literature of place in which the Australian geographies sing, so in this dissertation, the author goes travelling with some North American writers in their native landscapes, exploring the practice of landscape witness, of ecological imagination. They carry on there,looking for the ways in which the wild music of the land be discerned and expressed in words. He talks with them about the business of writing the life of places. He takes heed of the natural histories in which their works have arisen, looking for correlations between those physical terrains - the actual earth, the solid ground of their work - and the terrain of these writers' prose, wondering how the prose (and sometimes the poetry) may be said to be an expression of the place. This work, in a sense, is a natural history of six nature writers; it is an ecological imagining of their lives and works and places. Writing the Wild is a journey through the light, the wind, the rock, the water, sometimes the fire that makes the land that houses the writers who compose these lyrics of place. Most of what it learns about those writers, it learns from the places themselves. This dissertation takes landscapes seriously. It reads the works of these writers as though the landscapes of which and in which they write might be worthy of regard in understanding the terrain of their texts. It lets places show light on works of words composed within them. / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Thesis (M.S.) in Ecology and Environmental Science--University of Maine, 2002. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 133-134).

Published also as Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Illinois, 1929. / Cover title. "Contribution from the Zoological laboratory of the University of Illinois no. 365." Reprinted from Ecology, vol. XI, no. 2, April, 1930. "Literature cited": p. 426-431.

An investigation was carried out into the relationship between environment and reproduction in the freshwater triclad species. By studying two populations occupying adjacent habitats, under varying conditions of temperature, flow rate and resource availability, the effects of habitat variability on the di~ribution~ density, size structure and the levels of se>:ual and ase>:ual reproduction within each population were assessed. The population occupying a habitat which was characterised by its eurythermic temperature regime, high flow rates and complex macroinvertebrate community, occurred at low densities. Within this population, individuals were larger, on average, than in the adjacent population, and sexual reproduction occurred at high levels throughout the year, with asexual reproduction (by binary and multiple fission) also occurring throughout the yea~, but at lower levels. The seasonal nature of this habitat was reflected within the popUlation of , which exhibited spring peaks in density, followed by summer peaks in the level of sexual reproduction. In contrast, the adjacent population occupied a habitat which was characterised by its stenothermic temperature regime, low flow rates and a less complete macroinvertebrate community, and occurred at much higher densities. Within this population, individuals were smaller, on average, than in the adjacent population, and sexual reproduction was virtually absent, wi th asexual reproduction (by binary and multiple fission) occurring throughout the year at appreciable levels. The lack of seasonality within this habitat was similarly reflected in the lack of any seasonal fluctuations in density, or level of (in this case asexual) reproduction within the population. The level of food availability varied seasonally in both habitats, however, and was generally similar, in terms of biomass, in bath areas. A hypothesis was presented which of triclads within each habitat related the density to the total food availability, measured as stream drift. It was suggested that at low population densities, the relatively higher levels of net resource availability per i ndi vi dual favoured the occurrence of sexual reproduction, in contrast with situations of high population density, where the relatively lower levels of net resource availability per individual inhibited the occurrence of sexual reproduction, thus favouring asexual reproduction. This hypothesis was supported by the results of laboratory investigations in other studies, together with the evidence gained from field observations from this study, particularly the observation that in the low dem::.i ty population, seasonal cycles in the level of sexual reproduction were out of phase with seasonal cycles of a similar nature in the level of popUlation denSity. Further evidence, from the results of .a field manipulation experiment, was presented which supported the hypothesis. In an area of high popUlation denSity, density was reduced artificially, resulting in a significant increase in the level of sexual reproduction within the population. population, It was concluded that in the high density intense intraspecific competition for food resulted in a low net level of food availability per individual, which in turn inhibited the process of sexualisation in triclads from that area. The results from these two populations of ~~~!e~~~, indicating that net food availability controls the occurrence of sexual reproduction in this species, are in marked contrast to the findings of previous studies, in which habitat temperature is implicated as the dominant environmental influence on this process.

No description available.

Lampreys (Petromyzontiformes) are an ancient vertebrate group, comprising 40 currently recognised species that range throughout the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Despite a conserved morphology, lampreys nevertheless express a diverse range of life history strategies. Unusually for vertebrates larval lampreys are filter-feeding organisms prior to undergoing an extensive anatomical reorganisation, and the adoption of either a parasitic or a non-parasitic adult life. Parasitic lampreys consume the flesh and blood of actinopterygian fishes, either in marine or freshwater environments, while non-parasitic lampreys do not feed following their metamorphosis from the larval form. Morphological and genetic similarities between pairs of parasitic and non-parasitic lampreys have led to taxonomic confusion regarding the specific status of many non-parasitic forms, and the suggestion that the loss of the trophic adult phenotype is the result of a single species capable of producing alternative life history strategies. In this thesis it is argued that at least some paired species of lampreys do not comprise two distinct evolutionary lineages; rather, that non-parasitic lampreys represent one extreme in a continuum of life history variation expressed by a parasitic species. Some lamprey species, such as the European river lamprey Lampetra fluviatilis, are morphologically variable, exhibiting divergent phenotypes in response to ecological pressures, such as alternative foraging environments. Loch Lomond, Scotland contains a population of L. fluviatilis that feeds exclusively in the lake and exhibits a reduced body size and an overall morphology distinct from the typical anadromous form. Its foraging strategy indicates that it may be capable of switching hosts in the face of declining numbers of a presumed favoured and formerly abundant host, suggesting a certain amount of plasticity in its trophic ecology that may have ensured its survival in this freshwater lake. This freshwater-resident form, as well as anadromous L. fluviatilis and the non-parasitic species L. planeri, were found to spawn in a single river system within the Loch Lomond basin, and this site is crucial for the continued presence of this life history variant in Loch Lomond. The appearance of sexually mature specimens of three discrete phenotypes in this river, each representing an alternative life history strategy that may, or may not, belong to a single species, provides a crucial opportunity to test the strength of assortative mating between lamprey species pairs. Within this system the strength of assortative mating was found to be weak, and points to the possibility that freshwater-resident L. fluviatilis are mitigating gene flow between large anadromous parasitic L. fluviatilis, and small, non-parasitic L. planeri. As well as weak behavioural isolation, inter-specific sneak male mating tactics were documented among these populations, and represents the first time this phenomenon has been observed between paired lamprey species. Such behaviour indicates a lack of species-specific cues acting between L. fluviatilis and L. planeri, and suggests that hybrid offspring could be common in some systems. Testing hybrid viability (survivorship) between Loch Lomond’s two L. fluviatilis life history strategies and the sympatric L. planeri revealed no post-zygotic barriers to gene flow, at least in the form of gamete incompatibility. Perhaps more convincingly though, when comparing traditional morphometrics and body shape variation, as well as mitochondrial DNA sequences, between L. fluviatilis expressing different foraging strategies with populations of L. planeri, no robust species specific differentiation was observed. In fact, species delimitation between L. fluviatilis and L. planeri appears to be related solely to overall body size, which is itself a function of life history strategy. However, life history strategy was not correlated with current species designation as relationships among mtDNA haplotypes indicate non-parasitic populations have evolved independently multiple times throughout the geographic range of L. fluviatilis in Europe. Therefore, L. planeri should not be considered as a distinct species, either morphologically or genetically. Instead, L. fluviatilis appears capable of expressing a range of life history strategies; from parasitic anadromous populations through to non-parasitic stream-resident populations. The overall research approach employed in this thesis, i.e., the combination of ecological, behavioural, taxonomic and molecular studies, could be used to robustly examine the evolutionary ecology of parasitic and non-parasitic lampreys elsewhere.

Introduction: Soft Tissue Injuries (STIs) of the shoulder are common presentations to the Emergency Department but very little is known about the natural history, long-term disability or prognostic factors associated with these injuries. The goals of this pilot study are to describe the three-month outcome of these injuries, to begin to identify prognostic factors associated with poor outcome and to determine the feasibility of a future study aimed at predicting poor outcome. Methods: A cohort of 117 working-age adults presenting to the Emergency Department with acute STIs of the shoulder were prospectively recruited. Patients were interviewed by phone at one week, one month and three months. During the calls, patients completed the Disabilities of the Arm and Shoulder (DASH) questionnaire and provided information about treatments and follow-up that had occurred. Results: Of the 117 subjects, 72.3% had pain and disability above the population norm at one month and that number only decreased to 38.7% at three months. A substantial effect was also seen on Work and Leisure activities. The following prognostic factors were identified as having some association with poor three-month outcome: age, mechanism of injury, ability to rotate arm and abduct arm in ED, pain at one week, whether the injury was work-related, visit with family physician in first week and DASH score (disability) at one week. Conclusions: At the present time, the emergency physician must treat patients with STIs of the shoulder without any substantial knowledge of the morbidity that these injuries cause, which patients are at high risk of poor outcome or what would constitute optimum management. This study has determined that poor outcome is common and it has begun to identify factors that can help predict which patients will have a more complicated course. As it is now felt that the transition from acute to chronic pain begins well before three months, it will be important for future studies to develop a method of early identification of patients at high risk of poor outcome and to determine effective management in an attempt to prevent that transition. / Thesis (Master, Community Health & Epidemiology) -- Queen's University, 2009-08-31 12:12:22.113

By encouraging direct experiences with the environment, the Museum of Natural History, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, has an opportunity to increase visitors' understanding and appreciation of the natural world. A new public program, Exploring Your Extraordinary Surroundings (EYES) is being developed that is intended to encourage visitors to explore local natural environments and share their observations with the Museum. Designed to expand the scope of the Museum's interpretative programming, this new program included an onsite component set in the Nature Lab, and an opportunity to interact with visitors through social media. A preliminary formative evaluation, employing a mixed methods approach, was conducted to assess the effectiveness of the program and the suitability of the Nature Lab as a programming space. Through an online survey and program observations, it was determined that visitors would be interested in this type of nature observation program, and the Museum should proceed with further development.

In MS patients there was a significantly positive relationship between membrane AA and TGF-ß1 indicating that it is the individual long chain (LC) PUFA, i.e. AA that regulate the levels of TGF-ß1. Investigation of the effects of n-6 and n-3 PUFAs on normal healthy PBMC production of TGF-ß1 in vitro showed that PBMC in the presence of phytohaemaglutinin (PHA) supplemented with LA, dihyomo-?-linolenic (DGLA) and arachidonic acid (AA) significantly increase TGF-ß1 compared with non-supplemented PHA-stimulated PBMCs. In contrast, TGF-ß1 levels from PHA-stimulated PBMCs supplemented with a-linolenic (ALA), eicosapentaenoic (EPA) or docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were significantly decreased suggesting that n-6 fatty acids (LA, DGLA and AA) increase in vitro TGF-ß1 production by PHA-stimulated PBMCs and, in contrast, n-3 fatty acids (ALA, EPA and DHA) decrease TGF-ß1 production. GLA-rich borage oil supplementation resulted in significantly decreased ex vivo monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), macrophage inflammatory protein-1a (MIP-1a) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) production from PHA-or LPS-stimulated PBMC compared with baseline. It also significantly decreased cell surface expression of CD36+, CD54+ and CD62L+ on monocytes. In contrast, there was no association between LA-rich corn oil and these adhesion molecules and chemokines suggesting that GLA and/or its metabolites are affecting the chemokines and adhesion molecules studied. Overall, results of this study indicate that n-6 long chain PUFAs may have anti-inflammatory properties and might therefore be beneficial in multiple sclerosis, atherosclerosis and other inflammatory diseases.

No description available.