Interactions between above ground and root-feeding herbivores can be influenced by changes in plant traits, such as tissue chemistry and morphology. Environmental heterogeneity and perturbations also affect these plant-mediated interactions. Climate change is a multi-faceted phenomenon; increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations lead to increased global mean temperature and an associated higher frequency of extreme weather events. These factors can potentially perturb ecosystem function by altering both plant–herbivore and herbivore–herbivore interactions. A detailed understanding of whether above–belowground interactions are affected by climate change remains lacking. In an attempt to fill knowledge gaps in this understudied area of ecology, this thesis investigates, through a series of glasshouse experiments, the effects of elevated CO2 and other aspects of climate change, such as altered phenology, on the interspecific interaction between the aboveground large raspberry aphid (Amphorophora idaei) and the root feeding larvae of the vine weevil (Otiorhynchus sulcatus), mediated by the shared raspberry (Rubus idaeus) host-plant. Under ambient climate conditions, reciprocal feeding facilitation was observed to occur between aphids and vine weevil larvae feeding on raspberry, with the presence of one increasing the abundance of the other herbivore, and vice versa. This occurred regardless of plant cultivar and order of herbivore arrival on the plant. It is likely that this facilitative relationship is driven by over-compensatory plant growth in response to herbivory. Although tougher, adult vine weevils show a feeding preference for leaves grown in elevated CO2. Herbivory may be more influential than CO2 in determining plant–herbivore interaction outcomes. Aphids affect plant intraspecific competition to a greater extent than elevated CO2 by altering plant biomass of both infested and non-infested plants. In conclusion, this particular plant–herbivore system would seem to be relatively robust in the face of possible future CO2 concentration scenarios.

Rocky shore microphytobenthic biofilms are areas of high biodiversity, and are protected under UK and European Union legislation. Despite this, little is known about the photophysiology of these biofilms. This study aimed to provide a new contribution to microphytobenthic research with the addition of photophysiological knowledge focussing on the rocky intertidal to add to the extensive photophysiological research which has focussed on mudflats. More specifically the photoregulatory mechanisms of rocky shore biofilms had not been studied prior to this work. This study aimed to determine the effects of ambient environmental conditions, community structure and grazing on the photophysiology of the biofilms and elucidate the complex relationships between the abiotic and biotic factors which influence the biofilm. The community structure of the biofilm changed seasonally, with larger species (> 40 μm valve length and > 25 μm diameter) such as Parlibellus delognei being dominant during the winter months (December, January and February) and smaller ones (<40 μm valve length and < 25 μm diameter) such as Navicula bottnica during the spring months (March, April and May) indicating an environmental influence on the community structure of the biofilm. The biofilms were found to die-off (biomass below detection levels) in April and May and grow back in the November and December during a ‘reproductive phase’. An observed photophysiological ‘seasonality’ was primarily the result of the timing of the‘reproductive phase’ of the biofilm, with higher maximum relative electron transport rates (rETRmax) being recorded during November and December (on average 85 compared to 60 relative units), when these biofilms were growing after the spring die-off. High temperature and light dose had a negative effect on the rETRmax, particularly for biofilms on the upper shore sites. It was concluded that the combination of increased temperature and light dose, reducing rETRmax, and so productivity, and increased grazing contributed significantly to the spring dieoff with cells unable to replicate rapidly enough to compensate for increased grazing. By exposing biofilms to different temperatures ex-situ it was found that the lower shore biofilms ii were more resilient to high (> 25 °C) and low (< 10 °C) temperature with a smaller reduction in rETRmax, and ΔF/Fm’ observed in comparison to upper shore. Temperature was found to induce movement in the tube-forming upper shore species Navicula bottnica. This was likely to act as a secondary photoregulation strategy as it was found that high temperatures resulted in a reduced ability to induce non-photochemical quenching (NPQ). Biofilms were also treated with Latrunculin A (LAT-A) and DL- Dithiothreitol (DTT) in situ, and by comparing the photosynthetic patterns of response over an exposure period it was found that the upper shore biofilms utilised NPQ as the primary means of photoregulation whereas the lower shore biofilms utilised cell movement as the primary photoregulatory mechanisms. The upper and lower shore biofilms also utilised secondary mechanisms, migration in the upper shore samples, and NPQ in the lower shore samples, of downregulation, which allowed the cells to persist on the rocky shore where the rapid changes in environmental conditions result in a high stress environment. The overarching conclusion from this study is that rocky shore biofilms utilise a combination of photoregulatory mechanisms dependent upon life form in order to survive in an environment where many rapidly changing biotic and abiotic factors affect the community structure and photosynthesis of the biofilms.

Severe declines in biodiversity have been attributed to anthropogenic changes in the composition and structure of our landscapes. Predicting the impact of landscape change on biodiversity is essential to halt further declines. In this thesis butterflies were used as indicators of biodiversity, and spatial assessments of butterflies were summarised at 1 km scale across Warwickshire to assess whether landscape characteristics can be used as surrogate measures of butterfly distribution and community measurements. When determining the optimal scale (grain size) for capturing landscape patterns, a grain size of 25 m was found most appropriate for maximising landscape discrimination and detecting landscape patterns which occur within the perceptual range of butterfly species. Utilising a grain size of 25 m landscape metrics measuring the composition, connectivity and structure of the 1 km landscapes, were extracted from the Land Cover Map 2000 (LCM) and the Warwickshire Phase 1 Habitat map (PH1). Logistic regression analysis based on landscape metrics created predictive models of butterfly distribution for all species and species grouped by their ecological attributes (EAGs). Model performance was improved when the landscape metrics were considered in a combined landscape model, and different combinations of landscape parameters were important for the EAGs. Models derived from the PH1 were most accurate in predicting observed presence-absence and were successfully transferred when tested using temporally independent data. The models were also successfully transferred to collected butterfly data which was spatially and temporally independent. This data was also collected alongside information on the local habitat such as vegetation composition. Probability of butterfly occurrence derived from the presence-absence models was successfully related to butterfly community characteristics and measures of local habitat quality. To conclude developed models provide indications of habitat suitability, which together with successful transfer demonstrates their potential for identifying biodiversity hotspots and facilitating targeted conservation efforts.

The Systematics community works to increase our understanding of biological diversity through identifying and classifying organisms and using phylogenies to understand the relationships between those organisms. It has made great progress in the building of phylogenies and in the development of algorithms. However, it has insufficient provision for the preservation of research outcomes and making those widely accessible and queriable, and this is where database technologies can help. This thesis makes a contribution in the area of database usability, by addressing the query needs present in the community, as supported by the analysis of query logs. It formulates clearly the user requirements in the area of phylogeny and classification queries. It then reports on the use of warehousing techniques in the integration of data from many sources, to satisfy those requirements. It shows how to perform query expansion with synonyms and vernacular names, and how to implement hierarchical query expansion effectively. A detailed analysis of the improvements offered by those query expansion techniques is presented. This is supported by the exposition of the database techniques underlying this development, and of the user and programming interfaces (web services) which make this novel development available to both end-users and programs.

The Imperial Dock Lock Special Protection Area (SPA) in Leith Docks on the Firth of Forth currently supports the largest common tern (Sterna hirundo) colony in Scotland. The nest site, a former lock wall in an operational port, was designated as an SPA for the species in 2004 but very little is known about the ecology of common terns in this man-made environment. This thesis examined their ecology using a combination of long-term data for the Firth of Forth region and field research at the colony. The dynamics of the Firth of Forth breeding population of common terns was linked both to local influences of predators and the regional status of their main food source, the Firth of Forth sprat stock. Colonisation of Leith Docks resulted from relocation of birds from natural islands in the Firth of Forth which were abandoned due to unsustainable levels of predation by gulls. Herring gulls (Larus argentatus) and lesser black-backed gulls (L. fuscus) are active predators in Leith Docks but at relatively low levels. Predation attempts by mink present a serious threat and could be highly detrimental to the colony. Foraging studies revealed that terns are feeding primarily in the Forth of Forth rather than within the docks, and that their diet consists mostly of sprat, but also sandeels and gadoids. The importance of sprat in the diet is discussed in relation to the potential reopening of the sprat fishery. Surveys of birds commuting between the colony and the feeding grounds showed that a range of flight lines are used but to different extents, and found no evidence of collisions with buildings or other man-made structures. Terns were well-habituated to regular human activity but were sensitive to unusual or high-level human disturbance factors. Gulls and crows, rather than humans, were the greatest disturbance factors for nesting birds overall. Currently the Imperial Dock Lock SPA is the only site in the region that could support common terns breeding in considerable numbers, and so the future of the Firth of Forth population of common terns is now dependent on this one site. There are a number of management options available, and the future persistence of the population relies on the continued monitoring of breeding numbers of terns, of predation levels and further assessment of the sprat stock.

Kuwait is an arid small country with a severe climate, but an interesting and diverse biological heritage. Historically Kuwait was the home for 28 mammalian, over 300 bird, and 40 reptilian species. Expanding human population and technology are increasingly altering Kuwait's natural habitat. Currently, 8 mammalian species are locally eradicated from Kuwait, but available elsewhere in the Arabian Peninsula. On the endangered list is 4 mammals, 5 birds. The status of most reptiles is unknown. A comprehensive overview of Kuwait's historic and contemporary wildlife is described. Major wildlife habitat types are identified and mapped. A conservation strategy addressing the wildlife and their habitats in Kuwait is suggested. The key to a successful strategy is habitat restoration and protection combined with legal protection of the wildlife. In addition, a program for re-introducing locally eradicated species to their historic range in Kuwait is suggested.

Assessment and reporting (A/R) initiatives such as State of the Environment Reporting, State of the Protected Area Reporting and Management Effectiveness Assessment provide protected area managers and their clients with tools and knowledge to better understand complex human-ecological relationships, and support efforts to achieve more sustainable living. This research reports on the findings of a global survey of 62 A/R initiatives in 19 countries and a corresponding analysis of the application of the ecosystem approach in these initiatives. An organisational culture that supports evaluation and participation is an important ingredient for effective A/R. Survey respondents believe that participatory approaches yield many benefits despite greater complexity of the process and expenditure of time and resources. Benefits include: realising positive conservation outcomes; helping to enrich the organisation’s technical capacity through the contributions of others; improving the accuracy, completeness, acceptance and use of information; and enhancing organisational transparency, cooperation and the capacity of the participants. On average, the A/Rs examined achieve a moderate to high degree of success in implementing the ecosystem approach through their A/Rs, as determined through a proposed composite index to assess application of the ecosystem approach. An integrated planning and assessment model and a priority setting procedure were developed to simplify and improve requirements for protected area A/R while ensuring technical rigor. The results and lessons from field testing elements of the integrated model in four Egyptian National Parks are presented. Overall, the research suggests it is possible to integrate sophisticated management tools and achieve effective and efficient processes for performance assessment in protected areas.

Incineration can reduce the mass and volume of municipal waste significantly but produces solid waste in the form of bottom ash and air pollution control (APC) residues. Landfill is currently the most commonly used disposal option for these ash residues, however, the impact of hazardous compounds in these wastes on the environment during landfilling is becoming more widely appreciated and cheaper, alternative, management options need to be explored. In this research, the treatment of these municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI) residues by accelerated carbonation is investigated and compared with naturally aged ashes. Both bottom ash and APC residues were carbonated in an atmosphere composed of gaseous CO2. It was found that the carbonation of calcium oxides/hydroxides resulted in the rapid formation of calcium carbonate and that silicate compounds were hydrated. The reduction of pH from 12-12.5 to 7-9 observed upon carbonation was associated with a reduction in availability of soluble salts and meals. Carbonated ash had a higher buffering capacity to acid attack when compared to the untreated, non-carbonated, ash. The bottom and APC ashes sequestrated between 6% and 13% CO2 (w/w dry weight), respectively upon carbonation; and this may be important where the reduction of greenhouse emissions to the atmosphere is concerned.

Studies of the phenotypes of animals at different parts of their geographic range often reveal striking variability. It is of considerable fundamental and applied interest to discover the extent to which such variation depends on genetic as opposed to environmental differences. A first step towards disentangling these effects is to use an empirical approach known as the common environment method in which wild-caught juveniles from different regions are reared under common laboratory conditions. I used this approach to determine the population and thermal responses of Atlantic cod, a species with a wide distribution and geographic variation in life history traits. Life history traits were investigated in cod from three areas around the British Isles of differing thermal regimes, namely St Andrews Bay on the Scottish east coast, the Clyde Sea on the Scottish west coast, and from near Lowestoft in the southern North Sea. Concurrently haemoglobin genotype and behaviour were also studied. Spatially significant differences in life history traits and thermal responses were revealed in juvenile and adult growth rate, gonadal investment and behaviour, suggestive of population differentiation. Behavioural differences between cod of differing haemoglobin genotypes were also demonstrated. Results suggested that juvenile growth rates may be modified by competitive interactions. At a group level, growth rate of cod from the Clyde Sea was suppressed in the presence of cod from St Andrews Bay. Pairwise trials demonstrated that cod from the Clyde Sea consumed a higher prey share than those from St Andrews Bay but that those from St Andrews Bay were more aggressive and thus could potentially restrict feeding of cod from the Clyde Sea, resulting in a reduced growth rate. There were no population differences in the distribution of haemoglobin genotype, but haemoglobin genotype did have a strong influence on behaviour in pairwise contests. Cod of the HbI-2*2 genotype displayed a higher level of aggression than other genotypes and this effect was stronger than the population difference. Juvenile cod from the Clyde Sea exhibited a growth rate 24 % higher than those from St Andrews Bay. Cod from the Clyde Sea and from Lowestoft expressed higher growth rates as adults than those from St Andrews Bay. Body size and thus growth appeared to be the main driver of fecundity in the females and body size and liver were the main influences on gonadosomatic index (GSI) in the males. Females from the Clyde Sea invested more into fecundity than those from St Andrews Bay and males from St Andrews Bay had a higher testis investment than those from the Clyde Sea and Lowestoft. Temperature had a large influence on both the juvenile growth and egg development. Growth rate increased linearly and in parallel over the experimental temperatures, within their normal range. Egg development was strongly affected by temperature, resulting in a decrease in hatch time and an increase in embryonic cardiac rate, and a smaller larval size at hatch for a given temperature at higher temperatures. Temperature did not directly influence fecundity or GSI in males but warmer temperatures resulted in higher growth rates and thus a larger body size, which in turn resulted in a greater fecundity or GSI. These differences in life history traits, demonstrated under controlled environment conditions, raises the possibility that there may be a genetic basis to the variation and that cod may be locally adapted to their thermal environments in areas around the British Isles. However, effects of environmental differences prior to capture, including maternal effects, cannot be ruled out. This greater understanding of life history variation in cod will be important in the conservation of phenotypic diversity, vital for the long-term persistence of the species, while the findings of plasticity in response to temperature will enhance predictions of responses to sea temperature rise.

Roman epic authors extended, reinvented and created new wild animal representations that stood apart from traditional Greek epic renderings. The treatment of wild animals in seven Roman epics (Virgil’s Aeneid, Lucan’s Civil War, Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Statius’ Thebaid and Achilleid, Valerius’ Argonautica and Silius’ Punica) forms the basis of this thesis, but the extensive study of other relevant works such as Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey and Apollonius’ Argonautica allows greater insight into traditional Greek renderings and throws Roman developments into starker contrast. Initial stages of research involved collection and detailed examination of almost 900 epic references to wild animals. The findings from this preliminary research were analysed in the context of Pliny’s Natural History, Aristotle’s Historia Animalium, and other ancient works that reveal the Greeks’ and Romans’ views of wild animals. The accumulation of such a range of evidence made it possible for patterns of development to become evident. This thesis focuses on the epic representation of animals and considers a number of questions: 1) How Roman epic authors represented animals’ emotions and employed creatures’ thought processes. 2) How Roman epic authors examined the difference between wild and tame animals and manipulated the differences and similarities between humans and animals and culture and nature. 3) How wild animals were aligned with scientific and cultural beliefs that were particular to Roman society. 4) How animals were employed to signify foreign countries and how some epic animals came to be symbolic of nations. 5) How Roman epic authors represented particular aspects of animal behaviours with fresh insight, sometimes ignoring traditional representations and historiographic sources.