This study examined school divisions in the Commonwealth whose percentage African American students in gifted education were proportionate or nearly proportionate to their representation in the general student body in order to determine if there were any commonalities in their selection criteria. The conceptual framework suggests the type of assessments, professional development, multiple criteria, and students' self-perceptions are significant factors that determine the proportionality of African American students in gifted education programs within the Commonwealth. The reader has been provided with information on the historical perspective of disproportionate representation African Americans traditionally endured in gifted education. Data collected from interviews of directors of gifted education in school divisions that reported proportional representation of African American students in the area of General Intellectual Aptitude in gifted education. An analysis of the data revealed participating school divisions provided professional development on identifying underrepresented populations, used at least six multiple criteria options, selected both achievement and aptitude assessments during the screening process, and provided support for students' self-perceptions with a variety of programs which resulted in a proportional or near proportional African American representation in their gifted programs. / Ed. D.

No description available.

The regulatory emigration hypothesis was tested experimentally using the crayfish Orconectes causeyi Jester. Varying amounts of food and shelter were provided to crayfish in tanks with escape routes. O. causeyi rapidly adjusted its numbers in harmony with available resources through density-dependent emigration. Shelter influenced the distribution and abundance of O. causeyi most. Response to food occurred but less and took longer than the response to shelter. The small amount of variance between numbers of crayfish that emigrated during both short-term and long-term replicate tests strongly supports the regulatory emigration hypothesis.

Over the past 40 years, severe population fluctuations in Peary caribou (Rangifer tarandus pearyi) and muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) living in the High Arctic of Nunavut has caused widespread concern. In order to better understand these fluctuations, patterns of population characteristics need to be examined. The best source for long-range information is from Inuit, who have interacted with these species on a regular basis over the long-term. This thesis presents the collection and documentation of observations by Inuit to describe the population distribution of caribou and muskoxen. Interviewees also shared their understanding of factors contributing to changes in abundance, and information concerning the ecology of these species. Interviewees from Resolute Bay have observed severe fluctuations in the abundance of caribou on Somerset, Prince of Wales, Russell, Cornwallis and Bathurst Islands and northern Boothia Peninsula. Interviewees from Grise Fiord indicated that changes in caribou populations on Devon and southern Ellesmere Islands have occurred but have not been substantial. Interviewees also indicated that the populations of muskoxen on Somerset, Prince of Wales, Devon and Southern Ellesmere Islands have increased, whereas muskoxen populations on Cornwallis and Bathurst Islands have been consistently low. Overall, interviewees expressed that changes in caribou and muskoxen populations are normal. However, interviewees continue to be concerned with the possibility of negative impacts caused by significant human disturbance (e.g., petroleum exploration). They also suggest that factors such as weather, presence of forage and the handling of animals influence the distribution, abundance and health of caribou and muskoxen. Interviewees also described the variability in the physical traits of Peary caribou throughout the High Arctic islands. Generally, from Boothia Peninsula to Bathurst Island the bones of caribou become smaller and their fur has a finer texture. On the islands north of Bathurst Island the features that are unique to Peary caribou become more pronounced. Interviewees also explained that overall, caribou are not negatively impacted by wolves and that a large abundance of muskoxen is often followed by the decline in the population of caribou in a specific area. The documentation of this information contributes to our understanding of two unique northern species, and has the potential to aid in shaping the management of human activities that may affect them. / Thesis (Master, Geography) -- Queen's University, 2012-10-12 14:51:42.667

Les Bernaches du Canada établies en milieu tempéré sont souvent considérées comme une source de nuisances dans plusieurs régions de l'est de l'Amérique du Nord. Dans le sud du Québec, une population nicheuse s'est établie il y a une vingtaine d'années et continue de croître depuis. Les oies et les bernaches sont des oiseaux à forte longévité et la survie est donc un facteur déterminant pour la gestion de ces populations. Le premier objectif de notre étude était de décrire la distribution spatio-temporelle de la récolte des bernaches établies dans le sud du Québec. Notre second objectif consistait à estimer les taux de survie de ces oiseaux et d'évaluer l'effet du sexe et de l'âge sur cette survie ainsi que les variations interannuelles. Notre dernier objectif était d'évaluer l'effet de la date d'éclosion, de l'âge au baguage et de la condition corporelle au baguage sur la survie des juvéniles. Des modèles de capture-marquage-recapture combinant des données de recaptures d'oiseaux vivants et de retours de bagues d'oiseaux abattus ont été élaborés en utilisant les oiseaux bagués comme juvéniles entre 2003 et 2009. La majorité des retours de bagues d'oiseaux abattus par la chasse provenait du Québec. La distribution des retours était concentrée en deux secteurs : aux alentours de Varennes dans le sud du Québec, puis le long de la côte américaine entre le Rhode Island et le Maryland. La récolte comprenait majoritairement des juvéniles dans le premier cas et des jeunes d'un an dans le deuxième cas. Au Québec, la récolte durant la période de chasse hâtive totalise 9 % de la récolte totale. Bien que la différence était légère, la survie des femelles était plus faible que celle des mâles. La survie des juvéniles variait entre les années entre 0.73 (95 % IC 0.43-0.90) et 0.90 (0.74-0.96) et était plus élevée que pour les adultes (0.56 [0.44-0.67] à 0.76 [0.68-0.82]) et les oiseaux d'un an (0.54 [0.45-0.63] à 0.73 [0.64-0.81]). Une relation négative entre la date d'éclosion et la survie des juvéniles a été observée mais il n'y avait pas de relation significative avec la condition corporelle ainsi que l'âge au baguage. En plus de n'avoir qu'à parcourir de courtes distances durant leur migration, l'utilisation prédominante d'habitats non ouverts à la chasse par les groupes familiaux durant l'automne pourrait expliquer la survie élevée des juvéniles. D'autre part, l'utilisation d'habitats ruraux où la pression de chasse est possiblement plus grande, combiné au phénomène de migration de mue pourrait contribuer aux taux de survie plus faibles des adultes non accompagnés de jeunes et des oiseaux d'un an. Le taux de survie observé pour les adultes porte à croire que la croissance de la population est supportée de façon importante par une fécondité élevée. L'importance de l'immigration ainsi que des paramètres de fécondité, dans le taux de croissance de la population restent donc à déterminer. ______________________________________________________________________________ MOTS-CLÉS DE L’AUTEUR : âge, Bernache du Canada, Branta canadensis maxima, condition corporelle, date d'éclosion, distribution de la récolte, milieu tempéré, Québec, survie

Thesis (M. Sc.)--York University, 2007. Graduate Programme in Biology. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 83-99). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004 & res_dat=xri:pqdiss & rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation & rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:MR31989.

No description available.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Murdoch University, 2003. / Thesis submitted to the Division of Science and Engineering. Bibliography: leaves 172-188.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Environmental Science and Management, 1999? / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 132-153).

Mémoire de maîtrise (M.Med.Exp.)--Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, 1998. / Document électronique également accessible en format PDF. CaQCU