Rocky desertification (RD) is a process of land degradation that often results in extensive soil erosion, bedrock exposure and considerable decrease of land productivity. The spatio-temporal evolution of RD not only reflects regional ecological environmental changes but also directly impacts regional economic and social development. The study area, Hechi, is a typical karst peak cluster depression area in southwest China. Remote sensing, geographic information systems (GIS) and statistical techniques were employed to examine the evolution, including the identification of driving forces, of karst RD in the Northwestern Guangxi. The results indicate that RD became most apparent between 1990 and 2005 when areas of various types of RD increased. Within the karst RD landscape, slight RD was identified as the matrix of the landscape while potential RD had the largest patch sizes. Extremely strong RD, with the simplest shape, was the most influenced by human activities. Overall the landscape evolved from fragmented to agglomerate within the 15-year timeframe. Land condition changes were categorized as five types; desertified, recovered, unchanged, worsened, and alleviated land. The largest turnover within the RD landscape was between slight and moderate RD. With regards to the driving forces all RD had been increasingly influenced by human activities (i. e., the stronger the RD, the stronger the intensity of human disturbances). Dominant impact factors of the RD landscape had shifted from town influence and bare rock land in 1990 to bare rock and grassland in 2005. Moreover, the impacts of stony soil, mountainous proportion and river density on RD increased over time, while that of others decreased. The significant factors included human activities, land use, soil types, environmental geology, and topography. However, only anthropogenic factors (human activities and land use) were reported as leading factors whereas the others acted simply as constraining factors.

There are millions of fall-related injuries worldwide requiring medical attention on a yearly basis. These falls place a financial burden on the healthcare system. These falls can occur in the event of disruption in the postural control system and/or a loss of balance while walking. Previously, most gait studies have focused on the assessment of the lower extremities while neglecting the contribution of arm swing as it was believed to be a passive motion. However, it has been shown that there is an active component to arm swing. Moreover, these arm movements have been shown to affect the motion of the center of mass when walking. Therefore, arm swing could mitigate the destabilizing effects of perturbations caused by challenging surfaces. Additionally, no studies have examined the effect of arm swing when walking on a rocky surface. This type of surface causes perturbations in the anteroposterior and mediolateral directions simultaneously, leading to uneven center of mass displacement and spatiotemporal modifications. Hence, the present study assessed the effect of normal arm swing, held arm swing and active arm swing on postural control and dynamic stability when walking on regular and rocky surface. We hypothesized that active arm swing will have a negative impact on postural control and gait dynamics on a regular surface, while rocky surface walking will decrease stability and increase spatiotemporal variability. Additionally, we expect active arm swing to attenuate the negative effects of the rocky surface. Fifteen healthy young adults from the University of Ottawa community (mean age 23.4 ± 2.8 years) were recruited to participate in this study. They were asked to walk using three different arm conditions (normal, held and active arm swing) on the dual-belt CAREN-Extended System (Motek Medical, Amsterdam, NL) on simulated regular and rocky surface. This last is generated using the “Rumble” module (maximum range of ±2 cm at 0.6 Hz vertically, ±1° at 1 Hz pitch, and ±1° at 1.2 Hz roll). Mean, standard deviation and maximal values of trunk linear and angular velocity were calculated in all three planes. Moreover, step length, time and width mean and coefficient of variation as well as margin of stability mean and standard deviation were calculated. A mixed linear model was performed to compare the effects of the arm swing motions and surface types. The arm and surface conditions were set as fixed effects, while the walking speed was set as a covariate. Active arm swing increased trunk linear and angular velocity variability and peak values compared to normal and held arm conditions. Active arm swing also increased participants’ step length and step time, as well as the variability of margin of stability. Similarly, rocky surface walking increased trunk kinematics variability and peak values compared to regular surface walking. Furthermore, rocky surface increased the average step width while reducing the average step time. The spatiotemporal adaptations show the use of “cautious” gait to mitigate the destabilizing effects of both the active arm swing and rocky surface walking and, ultimately, maintain stability.

Checking stations operated during the deer hunting season serve a two-fold purpose. It has long been recognized that such inspection stations aid greatly in the enforcement of hunting laws through the detection of illegal practices, and in many cases have been set up with this as a primary purpose. A more far reaching objective, however, is the collection of information to aid in the solution of the problems of maintenance of the range and the deer herd, and determination of the quality and quantity of the deer removal.

High-severity disturbances are the primary drivers of Engelmann spruce-subalpine fir ecosystems in the southern Rocky Mountain. Recently, an unprecedented, landscape-wide (at least 250 km2) spruce beetle outbreak killed virtually all the Engelmann spruce on the Markagunt Plateau in southwestern Utah, USA. Results from dendroecological analyses suggested the combination of antecedent disturbance history and drought-driven stand development was responsible for creating suitable host conditions prior to the recent outbreak. Multiple and consistent lines of evidence suggested mixed- and high-severity fires shaped the development of the Markagunt Plateau. Subsequent stand development, influenced by species-specific differential tree-ring response to drought, resulted in the gradual increase of Engelmann spruce dominance across the landscape. Spatiotemporal outbreak dynamics included the early, independent and spatially synchronous building of beetle populations in moist sites with large Engelmann spruce across the landscape. As the outbreak evolved over time, it is likely temperature anomalies accelerated beetle population growth, leading to more rapid spruce mortality. In the wake of the spruce beetle outbreak, results from simulated potential fire behavior suggested there was a reduction in probability of active crown fire for one or two decades on near-pure Engelmann spruce sites after the outbreak. This counterintuitive result suggested extreme fire behavior is not an inevitable consequence of spruce beetle outbreaks. Regardless of the occurrence of fire, forest response is likely to be dominated by advance regeneration in the seedling bank. Furthermore, because spruce was virtually absent from the understory, forest reorganization is likely to be dominated by subalpine fir. In response to recent outbreaks such as the Markagunt Plateau, silviculturists are questioning what they can do to limit the loss from these likely inevitable spruce beetle outbreaks. Concepts of resistance and resilience can be used in planning vegetation management intended to indirectly control beetle populations by manipulating their habitat (vegetation). Resilient landscapes will ideally have spruce age class diversity and size class diversity in spatially discontinuous patches.

No description available.

This thesis documents my process as the Costume Designer for the University of Central Florida Conservatory Theatre’s production of Richard O’Brien’s musical, The Rocky Horror Show. The production opened on March 29, 2007 and ran for fifteen performances in the University of Central Florida’s Mainstage Theatre before closing on April 15, 2007. This document presents the analysis, research, and design process that I used to create the costume design for the performance. In this thesis, I document how I combined my own analysis and research with that of the director and design team to take the design from concept, through construction, to completion. This thesis will contain specific information on my design process including an analysis of the script, research, preliminary sketches, final designs, photographs of the production, and all paperwork I generated for the show. A journal of the challenges and solutions that I encountered during the design and construction process are included, along with a self evaluation and reflection on the finished production.

In Spring 2007, the University of Central Florida (UCF) Department of Theatre mounted a production of "The Rocky Horror Show." This thesis focuses on the author's process of using the gospel music style to revitalize "The Rocky Horror Show," a cult musical. The author uses defining characteristics of the cult film genre to establish a set of guidelines. "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" is the movie version of the stage musical and is responsible for the show's inevitable cult status. He discusses the history and journey of "The Rocky Horror Show" and how audience participation was integral in establishing this landmark musical. The reader observes the process used in rearranging "The Rocky Horror Show" score from start to finish and recordings used as influence throughout. Although this is a discussion of a musical process, this portion of the document is written in terms for all to understand, and a glossary of terms is provided for those that are unsure of certain vocabulary. With a show that is well established, one must be careful when making stylistic changes. The author took this into consideration when arranging the score and rationalizes through a discussion of gospel music history, key gospel elements apparent throughout the score, and how the essence of Richard O'Brien's music remains intact.

The objectives of this study were to determine (1) the prevalence of adult ticks of Dermacentor andersoni in national forest recreational sites of Utah, and (2) the incidence of spotted fever rickettsia, Rickettsia rickettsii, in the ticks of these areas. With the use of a white flannel cloth, 358 adult D. andersoni (135 males and 223 females) were collected from 48 recreational sites during the spring and summer of 1964. Ticks from each collection were put in pools, preserved in non-fat skim milk at -30° C, and subsequently tested for the presence of spotted fever rickettsia by guinea pig inoculations. The average collection rate (population density) for all collections was 6.8 per hour, but populations varied between sites. Populations were greater in the middle and southern parts of the state than in the northern. The greatest populations were at elevations between 6,000 and 8,000 feet with the upper limit just under 9,000 feet. The elevational distribution varied with the latitude--greater populations were found at higher elevations in southern than in northern Utah. The season of peak abundance was between the last week of May and the last of June. Populations were greater at lower elevations early in the season and at higher elevations later. Male ticks were more abundant early in the spring whereas females predominated later. The preferred habitat was open, unshaded areas of short, scanty, young grass. Ticks were collected in greater numbers in the afternoon than in the morning. Temperatures between 12° and 38° C apparently had little effect on tick activity. Activity was slightly greater on partly cloudy and cloudy days than on clear days, and increased proportionately relative to an increase in wind velocity. Spotted fever rickettsia were found in 3.6% of the ticks collected. These were from 13 different recreational sites, over half of which are in the northern half of the state near human population centers. Ticks positive for spotted fever were probably infected with avirulent type U or type T strain of R. rickettsii.

The following chapters presented here use modern ecological data and modern marine systems to evaluate past marine depositional settings and the preservation potential of various environments in the geological record. While the chapters in this dissertation vary in terms of study area, sedimentary systems (carbonate vs. siliciclastic), depositional environment, and organisms, all projects are based on developing and using quantitative models to evaluate the present as a means for understanding the past. Chapter one focuses on the preservation potential of rocky intertidal environments. The rocky intertidal zone is one of the most poorly preserved fossil-rich environments in the geological record. However in most coastal marine habitats today, it is one of the most diversity rich environments. Chapter one also focuses on the analytical advantages of hierarchical sampling of gastropod communities across San Salvador Island, the Bahamas to quantify community and species level preservation potential in rocky shore environments. Chapters two and three are based on the fossil-rich sedimentary deposits from the Po coastal plain in northeastern Italy. These deposits have been widely studied in terms of their sedimentology and stratigraphy, resulting in a highly resolved sequence stratigraphic architecture. The integration of sequence stratigraphy with paleobiology can enhance our understanding of spatiotemporal biotic patterns recorded in the fossil record. Used in conjunction with the highly-resolved stratigraphic framework, biotic patterns can be used to assess depositional cycles and bathymetry through time. Chapter two integrates sequence stratigraphic patterns and paleoecological data to develop bathymetric models across fossiliferous marine successions of the Po coastal plain, Italy. Chapter three evaluates the modern ecological dataset used to derive the bathymetric models. The last chapter also explores water depth distribution for selected taxa recorded in the Quaternary sediments and observed in present-day habitats. The dissertation research explored here demonstrates that modern ecological systems are essential to evaluating past geologic events. Through direct observation and quantitative analysis, I have learned that modern and fossil communities behave differently depending on environment (e.g. energy, salinity, water depth, etc.). These variables affect the distribution of living organisms today and through my research, delineate fossil distributions through time. With these observations, new questions have arisen about the latitudinal variability of rocky intertidal fossil preservation and extrapolating the quantitative bathymetric models to deeper time intervals. These questions will lead to future endeavors and pointedly add to the field of geology and stratigraphic paleobiology. / Ph. D.

Tesis por compendio / [ES] El género de copépodos Tigriopus Norman, 1869 se distribuye en todo el mundo en piscinas costeras de rocas y actualmente se considera que incluye 15 especies válidas. Tigriopus fulvus (Fischer, 1860), con su subespecie Tigriopus fulvus adriaticus Van Douwe 1913 y Tigriopus fulvus algiricus Monard 1935, actualmente se informa que ocurren en el área mediterránea, pero actualmente se desconoce la diversidad real del género. Nuestro objetivo fue evaluar la identidad real de las poblaciones mediterráneas de Tigriopus y dilucidar su taxonomía y patrón de diversidad genética. Para alcanzar estos objetivos, utilizamos dos enfoques diferentes. El primero, basado en la morfología, donde las posibles diferencias morfológicas entre muestras topotípicas de Tigriopus fulvus s.s. y muestras topotípicas de las dos subespecies fueron investigadas. Un segundo, sobre una base molecular, donde se secuenciaron fragmentos de dos genes de ADN mitocondrial (subunidad I de citocromo c oxidasa, COI y subunidad de ARN ribosómico pequeño, 12S) y un gen de ADN nuclear (28S) para ser usados como marcador de referencia. En este marco, se utilizaron enfoques taxonómicos moleculares, como el descubrimiento automático de brechas de código de barras (ABGD), bPTP (procesos de árbol de Poisson bayesianos) y la relación K / ¿, para investigar la existencia de las supuestas subespecies de Tigriopus a través de la identificación de Operacional Unidades Taxonómicas (OTU). Nuestros datos sugieren la presencia de una sola especie caracterizada por una notable estructura genética basada en la geografía en toda el área de estudio. El patrón de diversidad observado se atribuye tentativamente aquí a una fuerte monopolización de los estanques de rocas por parte de los primeros inmigrantes que los alcanzan. Sin embargo, tal monopolización se ve interrumpida periódicamente por los eventos de extinción locales, que son frecuentes en los hábitats intrínsecamente inestables de las piscinas de rocas Aquí proponemos para este patrón el nombre de "monopolización periódica" ("Clockwork monopolization"). / [CA] El género de copépodos Tigriopus Norman, 1869 se distribuix en tot el mon en piscines costeres de roques i actualment se considera que inclou 15 especies valides. Tigriopus fulvus (Fischer, 1860), en la seua subespecie Tigriopus fulvus adriaticus Van Douwe 1913 i Tigriopus fulvus algiricus Monard 1935, actualment s'informa que ocorren en l'area mediterranea, pero actualment se desconeix la diversitat real del género. Nostre objectiu fon evaluar l'identitat real de les poblacions mediterranees de Tigriopus i dilucidar la seua taxonomia i patrón de diversitat genetica. Per a alcançar estos objectius, utilisem dos enfocaments diferents. El primer, basat en la morfologia, a on les possibles diferencies morfologiques entre mostres topotípicas de Tigriopus fulvus s.s. i mostres topotípicas dels dos subespecies foren investigades. Un segon, sobre una base molecular, a on se secuenciaron fragments de dos gens d'adn mitocondrial (subunidad i de citocromo c oxidasa, coi i subunidad d'arn ribosómico menut, 12s) i un gen d'adn nuclear (28s) per a ser amprats com marcador de referencia. En este marc, s'utilisaren enfocaments taxonomics moleculars, com el descobriment automatic de breches de codic de barres (ABGD), bPTP (processos d'arbre de poisson bayesianos) i la relacio K/¿, per a investigar l'existencia de les supostes subespecies de Tigriopus a través de l'identificacio d'operacional unitats taxonomiques (OTU). Nostres senyes sugerixen la presencia d'una sola especie caracterisada per una notable estructura genetica basada en la geografia en tota l'area d'estudi. El patrón de diversitat observat s'atribuix tentativament aci a una forta monopolisacio dels safarejos de roques per part dels primers immigrants que els alcancen. No obstant, tal monopolisacio se veu interrompuda periodicament pels events d'extincio locals, que son freqüents en els hábitats intrinsecament inestables de les piscines de roques aci proponem per a este patrón el nom de "Monopolisacio Periodica" ("Clockwork Monopolization"). / [EN] The copepod genus Tigriopus Norman, 1869 is distributed worldwide in coastal rock-pools and it is currently considered to include 15 valid species. Tigriopus fulvus (Fischer, 1860), with its subspecies Tigriopus fulvus adriaticus Van Douwe, 1913 and Tigriopus fulvus algiricus Monard, 1935, are currently reported to occur in the Mediterranean area, but the actual diversity of the genus is currently unknown. We aimed to assess the actual identity of Mediterranean Tigriopus populations and to elucidate their taxonomy and pattern of genetic diversity. In order to reach these goals, we use two different approaches. The first, based on morphology, where the possible morphological differences among topotypical samples of Tigriopus fulvus s.s. and topotypical samples of the two subspecies were investigated. A second, on a molecular basis, where fragments of two mitochondrial DNA genes (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, COI and small ribosomal RNA subunit, 12S) and a nuclear DNA gene (28S) were sequenced to be used as a reference marker. In this frame, molecular taxonomical approaches, such as Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery (ABGD), bPTP (bayesian Poisson Tree Processes) and K/¿ ratio, were used in order to investigate the existences of the alleged subspecies of Tigriopus through the identification of Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs). Our data suggest the presence of a single species characterized by a noteworthy geographically-based genetic structure in the whole study area. The observed diversity pattern is tentatively ascribed here to a strong monopolization of the rock pools by the first immigrants that reach them. However, such a monopolization is periodically disrupted by local extinction events, which are frequent in the intrinsically unstable rock pool habitats. We propose the name "clockwork monopolization" for this pattern. / Vecchioni, L. (2020). Systematics and phylogeography of the genus Tigriopus (Copepoda, Harpacticoida, Harpacticidae) in the basin of the Mediterranean Sea [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/144122 / Compendio