The long term contamination of groundwater resources by dense non-aqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs) such as chlorinated solvents is an increasing problem being faced throughout the industrialised world. The transport and eventual fate of these compounds in the subsurface is controlled by the nature of the chemical spillage, the hydrogeological characteristics of the aquifer media and physiochemical properties of the particular contaminant. Geographic Information System (GIS) based risk assessment tools are developed for use with the UK’s Permo-Triassic Sandstone aquifer in order to assist stakeholders make informed decisions on the best use of groundwater in high risk areas and assess the value and management options for resources that are coming under increasing pressure from chlorinated solvent DNAPL contamination. Both semi-quantified and quantified probabilistic methods are presented with associated case studies using the best available data for regions of the UK where high densities of chlorinated solvent users industries combine with valuable groundwater resources. However, attempts at validation of the methodologies are hindered by availability of information on a regional scale, in particular the difficulties in collection and collation of historical land-use data is seen as a major hurdle to the accurate prediction of areas and resources at risk. Nevertheless the tools are potentially useful for guiding regulators and decision makers in the water industry to prioritisation of sites for site specific studies.

Game theory has been used to investigate a wide range of evolutionary questions, and has been important in explaining apparently selfish patterns in animal behaviour, and behaviours that do not appear to benefit the individual. The modelling chapters in this thesis develop new game theory approaches to modelling animal conflict, investigating the acquisition of territories and the trade-offs that occur between behaviours. Many game theory models of conflicts between individuals make predictions regarding the duration of fights in relation to asymmetries in resource holding potential (RHP). Duration is often interpreted as a result of mutual assessment of RHP, allowing the weaker individual to avoid costly interactions. However, the duration of a contest may also be the result of each individual persisting to a threshold determined by its own RHP, in fiddler crabs, Uca mjoebergi, I show that duration of contests increases with increasing size of the loser, and decreases, but to a lesser extent, with increasing size of the winter, suggesting that neither the mutual assessment or individual threshold hypothesis can explain fight duration in this species. Instead, individual cost thresholds may determine duration, but larger opponents may inflict costs more rapidly, consistent with the cumulative assessment game of animal conflict. In animal contests, the larger opponent is often victorious, but contests are often initiated by individuals that have little chance of winning (generally smaller individuals). A number of hypotheses may explain this behaviour, including a lack of alternative options (the ‘desperado effect’). Recent work has suggested that likely losers attack first due to an error in perception: they mistakenly perceive their chances of winning as being greater than they are. Using a game theoretical model, I show that if smaller individuals can accurately assess their chance of winning, if this chance is relatively high, and if they have few alternative options, they are predicted to be as aggressive as their larger opponents. In addition, when resources are abundant, and small individuals have some change of winning, they may be more aggressive than their larger opponents. Using a game theory model, I show that avoidance of a single fight location can be adaptive if the benefits of access to the area are low compared to the costs of fighting. Low fight costs and high population densities lead to the break down of territoriality and the formation of large, overlapping home ranges.

Mode of access: World Wide Web. / Thesis (M.A.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 183-193). / Electronic reproduction. / Also available by subscription via World Wide Web / xiv, 193 leaves, bound ill. (some col.) 29 cm

Research Doctorate - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / How may ancient Hebrew texts be presented to a contemporary audience, remaining faithful to the original and at the same time relevant yet timeless? I am painting four series of watercolours, each focussing on a particular Australian habitat. These artworks form decorative borders to the four biblical texts of Lamentations, Ruth, Ecclesiastes and Esther, four of the Jewish Scrolls, and act as visual metaphors of underlying themes and indicators of structure and literary devices. My research is into the texts themselves, reading and responding to them; into natural subjects that express my response; and into the art-making process from which the final artworks are created. The end product of my research is an exhibition of these watercolour works and an A4-sized book combining the complete printed text of the Scrolls in the English Standard Version (ESV) as I have formatted it, with my illustrations as border designs. My aim is that through the manuscripts’ overall design, I honour the authors’ literary artistry, including symmetry, acrostic and reversal. Through my choice of subjects for each illustration, I aim to suggest themes in the adjoining text.

Thesis (doctoral)--Åbo Akademi, 2006. / Tevens proefschrift Åbo Akademi. Includes bibliographical references (p, 271-287).

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stevens Point. / Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree Master of Science in Natural Resources (Environmental Education and Interpretation), College of Natural Resources.

Final Project (M.A.)--John F. Kennedy University, 2007. / "5 January 2007"--T.p. Includes bibliographical references (p. 114-125).

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.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Pennsylvania, 1924. / Bibliography: p. 165-167.

Thèse complémentaire - Montpellier. / Includes bibliographical references.