Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 2002. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 85-98). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Florida, 2002. / Title from title page of source document. Document formatted into pages; contains xi, 203 p.; also contains graphics. Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Queensland, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)(Information Technology)--University of Pretoria, 2001.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Oregon State University, 2002. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the World Wide Web.

The ongoing softwood lumber trade dispute between the United States (U.S.) and Canada is one of the most contentious and largest bilateral trade battles over the recent decades. The bilateral trade debate is mostly because of the different forestland ownership systems in the U.S. and Canada, and the alleged timber subsidies by provincial governments to Canadian lumber producers. The Softwood Lumber Agreement (SLA) 2006 between the U.S. and Canada is the latest transitory solution of this dispute, entailing Canada to impose mandatory export charges on its lumber shipments to the U.S. In order to understand this trade dispute from a strategic policy perspective, this study analyzes SLA 2006 using game-theoretic frameworks. A Cournot-Nash duopoly model is developed to assess the possible effects of the export tax on overall lumber price and production of softwood lumber in both countries. The empirical econometric models are estimated to uncover the findings of the Cournot-Nash duopoly model by employing the historical time-series data of the softwood lumber market. Even though the game-theoretic model suggests that the export tax under SLA 2006 could decrease Canadian lumber exports to the U.S., the empirical estimation reveals that SLA 2006 is quite ineffective in restricting the lumber trade between the two countries. This study also develops a two-country two-stage game, and concludes that the optimum export tax under the framework of SLA 2006 is mainly determined by the level of Canadian lumber production costs and the U.S. lumber production capacity. Unlike the actual export tax of 0-15%, the empirical estimation reveals that the monthly optimal export tax ranges from -23% to 30%. Given that SLA 2006 is scheduled to expire in October 2015 and that both countries already started looking for ways forward, this study provides useful information in country-level bargaining and trade negotiations between the two countries.

The processes controlling snowpack mass balance are highly variable in time and space, requiring remote sensing to observe regional processes and intensive field observations to observe hilislope-scale phenomena. This research aims to further understanding of the processes controlling snowpack mass balance through innovative applications of remotely sensed data and statistical interpolations of ground observations. Four advancements were obtained: 1) the sensitivity of regression tree snow distribution models to digital elevation data and independent variables was quanitified; 2) improved ability to upscale point snow water equivalent (SWE) measurements at snow telemetry (SNOTEL) stations was obtained by quantifying the small-scale SWE variability surrounding these stations; 3) spatially distributed snowmelt algorithms were improved by incorporating remotely sensed snow-surface albedo data into snowmelt modeling; and (4) the temporal and spatial continuity of regional-scale estimates of snow covered area (SCA) and SWE were improved by combining remotely sensed data and air temperature data to extend estimates beneath the cloud cover.

Crayfish are important for stability, determining ecosystem structure, and ecosystem functions in freshwater habitats. Louisiana has many endemic species of crayfish, but most are poorly described. This study investigated the populations of some of the lesser known crayfishes in the South Central Plains. Specifically, the goals were to examine movement, movement across anthropogenic barriers, and estimate population size of 10 species reported from the area: Procambarus natchitochae, P. vioscai, P. clarkii, P. acutus, P. zonangulus, P. tulanei, P. kensleyi, Orconectes maletae, O. lancifer, and O. palmeri. In combination with a field team, I sampled twelve wadeable streams with DC backpack electrofishers and traps at least twice at 2-3 month intervals during summer, fall, and winter of 2014. Although all sampled crayfish of sufficient size were double marked, recaptures were minimal, thus, generalized N-mixture models were performed on the three most widely captured species to generate population and transience estimates based on sampling unmarked animals over time. All population estimates were very low and were dependent on river basin, specific conductance, and stream width. Although the relationship among species and river basins has been previously described, relationships with stream size and specific conductance were novel. P. natchitochae and P. vioscai appeared to spatially segregate along a gradient of stream size. Specific conductance, which is an indicator of available calcium, had a positive association with abundance for P. vioscai, P. natchitochae. P. natchitochae and P. vioscai showed the possibility of seasonal transience and potential relationships with dissolved oxygen. These results give conservation scientists and managers more information for conservation of Louisiana crayfishes.

Rates of hybridization between species that do not normally interbreed have increased due to human impacts on natural environments, such as habitat alteration or introductions of non-native species. Human-induced hybridization can be detrimental to wildlife and contribute to species extinctions. In Florida, feral Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) hybridize with endemic Mottled Ducks (A. fulvigula) at rates close to 9%. However, levels of hybridization between these two species have not been extensively examined in the western Gulf Coast (from Alabama to northern Mexico) despite the potential impact on the Mottled Duck lineage. In this study, I examined the degree of hybridization between Mottled Ducks and Mallards in the western Gulf Coast. In addition, I validated a key developed in Florida to distinguish Mottled Ducks from Mallards and their hybrids for western Gulf Coast Mottled Ducks. Lastly, I examined the genetic structure of Mottled Duck populations and estimated gene flow by determining the number of migrants between regions across the western Gulf Coast. I used 36 microsatellite loci to genotype 405 ducks including putative Mottled Ducks, Mallards, and hybrids. Overall, genetic analyses revealed very low rates of hybridization (5.4%) in the western Gulf Coast. The key to distinguish Florida Mottled Ducks from Mallards and their hybrids proved highly effective (97%) for the western Gulf Coast population. Finally, multiple analyses indicated that Mottled Ducks are a single genetic population across the western Gulf Coast, which may be primarily due to dispersal of juvenile ducks. Currently, hybridization with Mallards is not a threat to western Gulf Coast Mottled Ducks; however, Mottled Duck hybridization should be monitored in the future to ensure that hybridization rates do not increase.

The environment within which the South African public service renders a variety of services is always changing. Some needs may be justifiable and some may not meet the expectations of the South African citizens as their expectations increase while the human resource and financial capacity do not increase in the same proportion. A direct consequence of this situation is a backlog in service delivery, unresponsive service delivery and impatience on the part of consumers. Human resources, therefore, need to be managed for optimum service delivery. The public service needs to invest more in human resource and be able to retain skilled employees. This article attempts to define concepts that relate to human resources development. Furthermore, this article pays attention to the policy and institutional framework within which public services have to be rendered. The objectives of human resource development are also explained in his article. A number of challenges that impede human resources development are analysed. Lastly, the article focuses on interventions and recommendations that could enhance capacity building in the public service.