Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Virginia. / Supplemented by: "Index ..." (p. 273-312. 25 cm.) published: Charlottesville, Va., 1908. CALL NUMBER: F232.S5W3 Index. Bibliography: p. 237-272. Also available in digital form on the Internet Archive Web site.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Virginia. / Supplemented by: "Index ..." (p. 273-312. 25 cm.) published: Charlottesville, Va., 1908. CALL NUMBER: F232.S5W3 Index. Bibliography: p. 237-272.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Virginia. / Supplemented by: "Index ..." (p. 273-312. 25 cm.) published: Charlottesville, Va., 1908. CALL NUMBER: F232.S5W3 Index. Bibliography: p. 237-272.

Thesis (PH.D.)--University of Virginia. / Includes bibliographical references ( p. 237-272).

This thesis explores the role of political culture in the secession of two Virginia counties: Augusta and Rockbridge. These two counties, which in 1850 were staunchly loyal to the Union, shifted loyalties late in the secession crisis of 1860 and 1861. Comparing local reactions to national politics with local views on the nature and unity of political communities more generally moves the decision to secede in April 1861 into clearer focus. Specifically, comparing regional attitudes towards the sectional controversies surrounding Virginia's constitution with the national debates on slavery in the territories reveals a general concern with the unity of political communities, and the common interests and values needed to sustain such communities. In the context of cross-cutting borderlands between eastern and western Virginia and the northern and southern United States, these sectional questions took on important significance. Political decision-making in this region emerged from a combination of widely-circulating views on the nature of government in this borderland setting. By placing the Valley's secession within these contexts, this thesis argues that Augusta and Rockbridge seceded when they did because events in the North persuaded them that the moral and political character of white northerners had become suspect relative to the question of slavery. / Master of Arts

The effects of gypsy moth infestation on the Shenandoah National Park (SNP) black bear population and habitat were studied during 1985 - 1991 by comparing radio telemetry, population, and behavioral data from preinfestation years (1982 - 1986) and years with extensive defoliation (1987 - 1991). Gypsy moth defoliation (> 60% canopy loss) increased from 546 ha in 1986 (1 % of the study area), to 2,304 ha in 1987 (4%), 6,227 ha in 1988 (12%), and 17,736 ha in 1989 (34%). Chestnut oak and red oak habitat types received the greatest defoliation; 60% and 45% of these habitat types suffered greater than 60 % canopy loss in the North and Central Districts, respectively. Infestation resulted in a 99% reduction in acorn production in defoliated stands. Maximum daily temperatures 0.5 m above the ground in defoliated stands averaged 4.7 ± 0.3 C, 4.3 ± 0.4 C, and 2.5 ± 0.3 C warmer (P < 0.01) than in nondefoliated stands during peak defoliation, refoliation, and post-refoliation periods, respectively. Bear / Ph. D.

The seasonal movements, food habits, and habitat selection of black bears (<i>Ursus americanus</i>) in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia were studied from May 1982 to April 1985. A total of 47 collared bears, including 25 adult females, 17 adult males, and 5 subadult males < 3.5 years old, was located 3973 times during the study. Adult males had larger (<i>P</i><0.001) home ranges (100% X=195 km², 95% X=116 km²) than adult females (100% X=38 km², 95% X=22 km²). Subadult males had larger (<i>P</i><0.10) home ranges (100% X=542 km², 95% X=289 km²) than adult males and females. Extensive home range overlap occurred among each sex and age group. At least three subadult males dispersed from the Park during the study. Female bears with cubs were less mobile than solitary females during the spring. Fall cubs were large and did not restrict females' movements. Large fall home ranges for females were related to the scattered supply of acorns relative to the concentrated sources of soft mast used in the summer. Two females with cubs and 2 subadult males remained active during the winter months. Adult and subadult males generally had less stable home ranges than adult females. Female bears displayed infidelity to given areas during the fall from year-to-year due to variation in the distribution of hard mast (acorns). Male bears made long excursions onto the Piedmont Plateau east of the Park mainly during the spring and early fall. Females were not exposed to as much human induced mortality as males because they were located within the Park 17% more frequently than males. Males avoided fire roads (<i>P</i><0.001), light duty roads (<i>P</i><0.001), and primary roads (<i>P</i><0.01) year around. Female bears preferred fire roads during summer (<i>P</i>< 0.001) and early fall (<i>P</i><0.01) and avoided heavier traveled roads such as light duty roads (<i>P</i><0.001) and primary roads (<i>P</i><0.001) year around. Both male and female bears preferred foot trails for travel (<i>P</i><0.05). Bears rarely came within 100 meters of campgrounds, picnic areas, and other human disturbance areas within the Park. Both sexes used low (<i>P</i><0.10) elevations during the summer and high (<i>P</i><0.10) elevations during early and late fall. Bears showed the greatest use of small rivers and streams during the driest months of summer. Geographic land forms of specific aspects, contours, and varying steepness were used differently by male and female bears. Twelve stomachs and 854 scats were analyzed for food content. Forbs, graminoids, squawroot (<i>Conopholis americana</i>), corn, and the fruits of trees, shrubs, and vines composed 90 percent volume of the annual diet. Eight percent of the food consumed was animal matter from mammals, birds, and invertebrates. During all seasons, females used yellow poplar (<i>Liriodendron tulipifera</i>) forests more (<i>P</i><0.05) than males while males used yellow poplar forests less (<i>P</i><0.05) than expected; males used black locust (<i>Robinia pseudoacacia</i>) \ black cherry (<i>Prunus serotina</i>) forests more (<i>P</i><0.05) than females and more (<i>P</i><0.05) than expected. Shifts in use of chestnut oak (<i>Quercus prinus</i>) \ northern red oak (<i>Q. rubra</i>) forests and northern red oak \ white oak (<i>Q. alba</i>) forests by both males and females in early and late fall was attributed to annual variation in oak mast production, preference for white oak acorns, foraging strategy, and the importance of mountain laurel (<i>Kalmia latifolia</i>) shrub cover in late fall. Seasonal use of domestic fruits at 330 abandoned homesites was determined. Distance-to-nearest-homesite measurements indicated that males were never closer (<i>P</i>>0.10) to homesites than females or random points during any season while females were closer (<i>P</i><0.001) to homesites than males and random points during summer. Only females were located at homesites (≤ 100m) more (<i>P</i><0.001) than expected during summer and early fall. Bears consumed apples (<i>Malus</i> spp.) and sweet cherries (<i>Prunus avium</i>) at abandoned homesites mainly in summer, early fall, and late fall. Bears used homesites in late fall more than distance measures indicated. Domestic fruits were an important nutritional food for black bears in relation to total soft fruits eaten. / Master of Science / incomplete_metadata

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2003. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vii, 32 p. : ill., map (part col.) Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis--University of Virginia / Includes appendices and index: p. [273]-312. Bibliography: p. 237-272. Also issued in print and microfiche.

Thesis (M.S. in Arts Administration)--Shenandoah University, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references.