The Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network (TMMSN) is a valuable data resource for the marine mammal community. Limitations of funding and personnel severely impact the ability of the Network to maintain impeccable databases. This research constructed an application to address database complications and focused on investigating the species identification, temporal and spatial trends for stranding events along the Texas coast. From 1980 to 2004, Tursiops truncatus accounted for approximately 80% of all stranding events. The remainder was 20 additional whale and dolphin species known to reside in the Gulf of Mexico. Tursiops truncatus strand along the entire coastline and are the only species stranding in the bays. All other species stranding are most dense along the southern coastline. The temporal scales of events revealed no linear patterns from 1980 to 2004. A unique cyclic fluctuation occurred from 1992 to 1998, including the highest yearly counts and one isolated mortality event in Port Aransas. Attempts to forecast stranding events beyond 2004 were inconclusive due to multiple factors influencing a stranding event. A bimodal seasonal trend was evident, with events peaking in the spring and fall months. Density distributions by decade isolated three frequent stranding areas: Sabine-Galveston-Brazoria counties, Galveston Shipping Channel, and Corpus Christi Shipping Channel. The final aspect analyzed spatial elaboration of events by creating six location values to describe the Texas coastline. Each event was assigned from the geographical location and the orientation of an event along the coastline. Analysis revealed the segregation of Tursiops truncatus in the bays and confirmed earlier results of density distributions. Examining the locations by time revealed a specific incident connected to a mortality event in 1992, accounting for 59% of the stranding events. Location categories were compared to the TMMSN stranding regions and the regions experienced different location frequencies. This study demonstrated how to construct a stronger database and the necessity for database accuracy. Study conclusions demonstrated the need to better isolate and research factors responsible for event distributions in time and space along the Texas coast to forecast the magnitude and location of stranding events to better aid the TMMSN response efforts.

As changing ocean conditions lead to declining fish stocks and movement of forage fish, sea lions on the Oregon coast are subject to the pressures of declining prey availability and increasing conflicts with commercial and recreational fisheries. An analysis of strandings of California sea lions, Zalophus californianus, and Steller sea lions, Eumetopias jubatus, from 2006 to 2014, included cause of death, changing ocean conditions, and anthropogenic activity. Causes of death included disease, injury, and human interaction, such as gunshot wounds, fisheries net entanglements and boat strikes. Oregon and Washington strandings of California sea lions are primarily adult and subadult males that migrate north from California rookeries, while Steller sea lions are year-round residents and strandings are comprised of males and females of all ages. While the California sea lion population is currently at or near carrying capacity, the Eastern Pacific population of Steller sea lions was designated as Threatened under the Endangered Species Act until October 2013. Understanding impacts to these two pinniped species is vital to implementing effective management and conservation policies. Oregon and southern Washington strandings of California sea lions and Steller sea lions from 2006 to 2014 were analyzed spatially using the geographic information system (GIS), and temporally to identify possible correlations with prey availability and human interaction. Strandings were found to follow seasonal patterns from year to year: Steller sea lion strandings were highest from May to July, California sea lions peaked in September, October, and November. There was a correlation between significantly high numbers of strandings and the three largest commercial fisheries in Oregon: Chinook salmon, Coho salmon, and Dungeness crab. This analysis provides a format for continuing to monitor primary ecological and anthropogenic drivers of pinniped mortality in Oregon and southern Washington.

Marine mammal mass strandings have been documented for centuries, even going as far back as Aristotle. For just as long, the causes of these mass strandings have been questioned. With every species of cetacean known to have stranded, it is important to find trends to understand and prevent these strandings from occurring. With a heightened awareness of this issue, leading to the creation of marine mammal stranding networks throughout the United States in the 1990s, a more comprehensive approach to data collection has helped with the study. Issues such as seasonality, weather, topography, and disease have all been observed as a potential cause of these events. This study attempted to look at the Atlantic Coast of the United States, and its documented mass strandings from 1997-2011. Stranding data taken from the Northeast and Southeast US Marine Mammal stranding network database provided a basis for the study of these mass strandings. Many of the possible causes of these strandings, including seasonality, location, and species were studied. There was some correlation found between seasons and stranding, meaning there are certain times of the year when a cetacean pod may be more likely to strand.

This thesis investigates and documents the existence of preposition stranding in a dialect of Canadian French. The French spoken in the small Franco-Ontarian town of Lafontaine (LFF) allows prepositions to be stranded (i.e. without a following overt complement) in various scenarios. Taking bona fide P-stranding to be derivable only via leftward movement of prepositional complements, I show that LFF has true P-stranding equivalent to that observed in English. I argue that although LFF parallels Standard French in having orphan prepositions–where this phenomenon is best analyzed as non-movement derived P-stranding with the gap following the preposition being the instantiation of a null pronoun (Authier 2016; Zribi-Hertz 1984)–it is incontrovertible that P-stranding takes place under syntactic movement in LFF (e.g. wh-movement). Following Abels (2003b, 2012), I assume that prepositions constitute phase heads and their complements cannot be extracted without violating the principle of anti-locality. My central argument in this thesis is that in order to void violations of anti-locality, PPs in P-stranding languages must contain an extra layer of structure between prepositions and their complements in order to allow extraction. Evidence for this extra layer of structure is found in LFF in the form of the invariant morpheme de-nwhich appears on the prepositions dans, sur and sous when these are used in stranding constructions (e.g. dedans). Again, following Abels (2012), I label the de- element that appears on these prepositions under stranding as a ‘DR-morpheme’; this morpheme constitutes the head of a DRP which intervenes between prepositions and their complements, allowing extraction. I further show that evidence for the existence of bona fide P-stranding in LFF comes in the form of the ability to strand prepositions under ellipsis in this dialect. LFF, like English, allows prepositions to be stranded in swiping constructions, where swiping is a sub form of sluicing wherein a prepositions and its wh-complement surface in inverse order (e.g. `who from’/qui de) as the sole remnants of ellipsis. Given the existence of swiping in LFF, I discuss certain ramifications this has for current theories of sluicing and swiping, ultimately arguing that swiping in LFF is best analyzed as being derived via deleting prosodically redundant material between a wh-phrase which has moved to the left periphery, and its selecting preposition which has been left stranded in its base position.

One of the prominent questions in modern psycholinguistics is the relationship between the grammar and the parser. Within the approach of Generative Grammar, this issue has been investigated in terms of the role that Principles of Universal Grammar may play in language processing. The aim of this research experiment is to investigate this topic. Specifically, this experiment aims to test whether the Minimal Structure Principle (MSP) plays a role in the processing of Preposition-Stranding versus Pied-Piped Constructions. This investigation is made with a self-paced reading task, an on-line processing test that measures participants’ unconscious reaction to language stimuli. Monolingual English speakers’ reading times of sentences with Preposition-Stranding and Pied-Piped Constructions are compared. Results indicate that neither construction has greater processing costs, suggesting that factors other than the MSP are active during language processing.

The size and trend of a population is fundamental to the assessment of its conservation status, yet cetacean abundance data are often biased and lack statistical power to detect trends. As a result, the conservation status of many species is unknown and the population-level effects of conservation pressures such as anthropogenic sound cannot be quantified. Failing to account for cetaceans that are unavailable for detection at the surface during abundance surveys will negatively bias estimates of abundance. Analysis of time-depth data revealed that pilot whale dive and surface interval durations, and availability for detection, varied with time of day, but this bias was accurately estimated using the mean dive and surface interval durations. A global analysis of cetacean density estimates compiled from multiple line-transect surveys incorporated covariates describing availability bias, and other sources of variability, to facilitate the detection of underlying temporal trends. Decadal global trends in cetacean density were detected for four species, while significant yearly ocean-scale trends were detected for six families. Exploratory analysis of data compiled from line-transect surveys found some evidence that trends in the density of minke whales and sperm whales in the northeast Atlantic varied between areas with and without seismic survey effort. However, there were insufficient data to clearly identify chronic exposure to anthropogenic sound from seismic surveys as a driver of population change. Analysis of strandings data from the UK and Ireland identified some evidence that harbour porpoise and sperm whale stranding rates were related to seismic survey effort and wind farm construction, but the results were not conclusive. Large-scale cetacean surveys provide valuable information on the density and spatial and temporal distribution of cetaceans that is vital for monitoring populations, but these surveys cannot replace dedicated studies of the population-level effects of sound on cetaceans.

O conhecimento das causas de morbidade e mortalidade dos mamíferos aquáticos pertencentes à ordem Cetacea e subordem Pinnipedia no Brasil é escasso. Este trabalho teve por objetivo caracterizar as principais causas que contribuem para a morte destes animais, incluindo dentre outras as enfermidades infecciosas, parasitárias, traumáticas, metabólicas e nutricionais. Foram analisadas amostras provenientes de necropsias de 110 indivíduos oriundos de encalhes naturais e capturas acidentais em redes de pesca ocorridos na costa sul e sudeste do Brasil. Ocasionalmente, amostras de cetáceos e pinípedes provenientes de centros de reabilitação, zoológicos, aquários e oceanários também foram analisadas. As amostras consistiram de fragmentos de 1 a 2 cm3 dos órgãos principais acondicionados em formalina a 10%. As afecções foram diagnosticadas através de exames anatomopatológicos, associados, quando possível a resultados microbiológicos e parasitológicos. Dos diagnósticos finais elucidados para os cetáceos 88,6% (70/79) tiveram a morte relacionada com o sistema respiratório, 3,8% (3/79) de origem metabólica, 2,5% (2/79) de etiologia infecciosa, 1,3% (1/79) com origem traumática antropogênica e em 3,8% (3/79) foi indeterminada. Nos pinípedes as causas de morte também estiveram relacionadas principalmente com o trato respiratório (48,5% - 15/31). A morte decorrente de outras causas incluiu: 29,1% (9/31) de causas metabólicas; 3,2% (1/31) nutricional; 3,2% (1/31) digestivo; 3,2% (1/31) urinário; 3,2% (1/31) físico; 3,2% (1/31) síndrome, colapso; 3,2% (1/31) vandalismo; 3,2% (1/31) indeterminado. A análise parasitológica foi realizada em 15,4% (17/110) dos casos e a bacteriologia em 10,9% (12/110) dos casos. As interpretações anatomopatológicas foram associadas aos demais resultados, quando presentes, e então analisados conforme informações recentes de literatura relativas ao assunto. As amostras utilizadas na realização deste projeto complementam o banco de tecidos de animais selvagens mantido pelo Laboratório de Patologia Comparada de Animais Selvagens da FMVZ, formando dessa forma o primeiro acervo de tecidos de mamíferos marinhos disponível no Brasil. Os resultados alcançados neste estudo reforçam a necessidade da abordagem multidisciplinar dos animais encalhados e também dos capturados acidentalmente em redes de pesca, buscando informações que possam colaborar para uma maior compreensão dos processos patológicos que os acometem e os predispõe à morte. / The known causes of morbidity and mortality of aquatic mammals belonging to the Order Cetacea and Suborder Pinnipedia in Brazil is limited. The aim of this work was to characterize the main processes that contribute to or cause the death of these animals, and included investigating infectious, parasitic, traumatic, metabolic and nutritional diseases. Samples coming from 110 fresh animals were analyzed, including individuals from strandings and incidentally caught in fishing nets along the south and southeastern coasts of Brazil. Circumstantially, carcasses coming from zoological collections, aquariums and rehabilitation centers were also included. The samples consisted of fragments of 1-2 cm3 taken of the main organs and fixed in 10% formalin. All the tissues have been processed according to routine histological procedures and analyzed under light microscopy. Diseases were diagnosed through anatomopathologic examinations, associated, whenever possible, with microbiologic and parasitologic results and then compared to related bibliography. Final results, mentioning the cause of the death, included: cetaceans: 88,6% (70/79) had lesions associated with the respiratory tract; 3,8% (3/79) of metabolic origin, 2,5% (2/79) of infectious etiology, 1,3% (1/79) were human related injuries, and 3,8% (3/79) of the cases were undetermined. For the pinnipeds the main cause of death was also related to the respiratory tract (48,5% - 15/31). The causes of death implicated in the other cases included: 29,1% (9/31) metabolical causes; 3,2% (1/31) nutritional origin; 3,2% (1/31) digestive causes; 3,2% (1/31) urinary tract; 3,2% (1/31) physical causes; 3,2% (1/31) syndrome; 3,2% (1/31) human related injuries; 3,2% (1/31) were undetermined. Parasitological analyses were performed in 15,4% (17/110) of the cases and bacteriology in 10,9% (12/110). The samples utilized in this project were stored to create a tissue bank for further studies. The results achieved in this work reinforce the need for a multidisciplinary view of stranded and by-caught animals, searching for information that can collaborate to better understand the pathologic processes affecting marine mammals and predisposing their death.

O conhecimento das causas de morbidade e mortalidade dos mamíferos aquáticos pertencentes à ordem Cetacea e subordem Pinnipedia no Brasil é escasso. Este trabalho teve por objetivo caracterizar as principais causas que contribuem para a morte destes animais, incluindo dentre outras as enfermidades infecciosas, parasitárias, traumáticas, metabólicas e nutricionais. Foram analisadas amostras provenientes de necropsias de 110 indivíduos oriundos de encalhes naturais e capturas acidentais em redes de pesca ocorridos na costa sul e sudeste do Brasil. Ocasionalmente, amostras de cetáceos e pinípedes provenientes de centros de reabilitação, zoológicos, aquários e oceanários também foram analisadas. As amostras consistiram de fragmentos de 1 a 2 cm3 dos órgãos principais acondicionados em formalina a 10%. As afecções foram diagnosticadas através de exames anatomopatológicos, associados, quando possível a resultados microbiológicos e parasitológicos. Dos diagnósticos finais elucidados para os cetáceos 88,6% (70/79) tiveram a morte relacionada com o sistema respiratório, 3,8% (3/79) de origem metabólica, 2,5% (2/79) de etiologia infecciosa, 1,3% (1/79) com origem traumática antropogênica e em 3,8% (3/79) foi indeterminada. Nos pinípedes as causas de morte também estiveram relacionadas principalmente com o trato respiratório (48,5% - 15/31). A morte decorrente de outras causas incluiu: 29,1% (9/31) de causas metabólicas; 3,2% (1/31) nutricional; 3,2% (1/31) digestivo; 3,2% (1/31) urinário; 3,2% (1/31) físico; 3,2% (1/31) síndrome, colapso; 3,2% (1/31) vandalismo; 3,2% (1/31) indeterminado. A análise parasitológica foi realizada em 15,4% (17/110) dos casos e a bacteriologia em 10,9% (12/110) dos casos. As interpretações anatomopatológicas foram associadas aos demais resultados, quando presentes, e então analisados conforme informações recentes de literatura relativas ao assunto. As amostras utilizadas na realização deste projeto complementam o banco de tecidos de animais selvagens mantido pelo Laboratório de Patologia Comparada de Animais Selvagens da FMVZ, formando dessa forma o primeiro acervo de tecidos de mamíferos marinhos disponível no Brasil. Os resultados alcançados neste estudo reforçam a necessidade da abordagem multidisciplinar dos animais encalhados e também dos capturados acidentalmente em redes de pesca, buscando informações que possam colaborar para uma maior compreensão dos processos patológicos que os acometem e os predispõe à morte. / The known causes of morbidity and mortality of aquatic mammals belonging to the Order Cetacea and Suborder Pinnipedia in Brazil is limited. The aim of this work was to characterize the main processes that contribute to or cause the death of these animals, and included investigating infectious, parasitic, traumatic, metabolic and nutritional diseases. Samples coming from 110 fresh animals were analyzed, including individuals from strandings and incidentally caught in fishing nets along the south and southeastern coasts of Brazil. Circumstantially, carcasses coming from zoological collections, aquariums and rehabilitation centers were also included. The samples consisted of fragments of 1-2 cm3 taken of the main organs and fixed in 10% formalin. All the tissues have been processed according to routine histological procedures and analyzed under light microscopy. Diseases were diagnosed through anatomopathologic examinations, associated, whenever possible, with microbiologic and parasitologic results and then compared to related bibliography. Final results, mentioning the cause of the death, included: cetaceans: 88,6% (70/79) had lesions associated with the respiratory tract; 3,8% (3/79) of metabolic origin, 2,5% (2/79) of infectious etiology, 1,3% (1/79) were human related injuries, and 3,8% (3/79) of the cases were undetermined. For the pinnipeds the main cause of death was also related to the respiratory tract (48,5% - 15/31). The causes of death implicated in the other cases included: 29,1% (9/31) metabolical causes; 3,2% (1/31) nutritional origin; 3,2% (1/31) digestive causes; 3,2% (1/31) urinary tract; 3,2% (1/31) physical causes; 3,2% (1/31) syndrome; 3,2% (1/31) human related injuries; 3,2% (1/31) were undetermined. Parasitological analyses were performed in 15,4% (17/110) of the cases and bacteriology in 10,9% (12/110). The samples utilized in this project were stored to create a tissue bank for further studies. The results achieved in this work reinforce the need for a multidisciplinary view of stranded and by-caught animals, searching for information that can collaborate to better understand the pathologic processes affecting marine mammals and predisposing their death.

<p>This study examines to what extent preposition stranding is used in connection with which, whom and who in three different UK papers. Also what factors influence the use of preposition stranding has been studied. The hypothesis that pied-piping is more common than preposition stranding has been confirmed.</p><p>A factor that has a certain influence on the use of preposition stranding is the style of the paper. The more formal of the papers studied, The Times, did not use preposition stranding to the same extent as the other two, The Sun and Today.</p><p>The subject domain of the texts has influence on the use of preposition stranding, with more informal domains such as sports and miscellaneous (e.g. gossip) using stranding to a higher extent than the other domains, e.g. business, politics and culture. The prepositions themselves also influence the use of preposition stranding with some prepositions, such as on, with, for and into, that are likely to appear stranded and others, such as in that are likely to appear pied-piped.</p>

This study examines to what extent preposition stranding is used in connection with which, whom and who in three different UK papers. Also what factors influence the use of preposition stranding has been studied. The hypothesis that pied-piping is more common than preposition stranding has been confirmed. A factor that has a certain influence on the use of preposition stranding is the style of the paper. The more formal of the papers studied, The Times, did not use preposition stranding to the same extent as the other two, The Sun and Today. The subject domain of the texts has influence on the use of preposition stranding, with more informal domains such as sports and miscellaneous (e.g. gossip) using stranding to a higher extent than the other domains, e.g. business, politics and culture. The prepositions themselves also influence the use of preposition stranding with some prepositions, such as on, with, for and into, that are likely to appear stranded and others, such as in that are likely to appear pied-piped.