Thesis (B.S.)--University of Wisconsin -- La Crosse, 2009. / Also available online. Includes bibliographical references (p. 27-28).

The Slate Islands caribou (Rangifer tarandis caribou) is an insular population which has experienced several population crashes and has been described as likely to succumb to extirpation. While a great deal of research has been conducted on mainland woodland caribou, factors which influence caribou distributions may differ between island and main land populations. In this thesis, I investigate relationships between habitat, landscape, anthropogenic features, population size, predation and spatial distribution of woodland caribou across the Slate Islands Provincial Park (Ontario) at the forest-patch spatial scale. Generalized linear models were used to compare observed caribou locations to available locations across the park, based on data from 1978 to 1995. Results indicated that the Slate Islands caribou selected deciduous cover, larger forest patches, areas further to water, flatter areas, lower elevations and areas closer to anthropogenic features. Population size had a limited effect on caribou distributions. / October 2015

This study investigates the land-use patterns of the Iroquoian populations that occupied south-central Ontario during the Late Woodland period. Its initial objective is to understand their cultural ecology as reflected in the placement of their semi-permanent settlements over time. Its ultimate goal is to ascertain how environmental change and ecological adaptation contributed to culture change and particularly to the historical development of these populations and their long-term settlement shift from the north shore of Lake Ontario to Huronia and Petunia. / The theoretical guide for this study is the premise that an understanding of culture change can only be achieved by considering evolutionary sequences in all their particularistic complexity, taking into account both generalizations about human behaviour and contingent influences. The methodological guide is the concept of multidimensional constraint, the idea that human behaviour is the rational negotiation of objectives that are constrained by both internal and external parameters operating in a nested series of contexts. These principles are used to develop a methodology utilizing detailed environmental description, summary statistics, and careful evaluation and interpretation to investigate correlations between settlement locations and environmental features at the local, regional, and pan-regional scales. The overall objective is a well-grounded explanatory narrative outlining the multiple dimensions of constraint that influenced Late Woodland settlement in south-central Ontario. / The ensuing investigations yield numerous insights into Iroquoian cultural ecology and illustrate the complexity of the long-term settlement shift. In broad outline, it involves an initial phase of settlement, indicating continuity with the Middle Woodland period, an expansion phase, involving the occupation of analogous physiographic zones throughout south-central Ontario, and a final contraction phase, involving coalescence into the uplands of northern Simcoe County. At the local and regional scales, these phases involve slightly different adaptive strategies over time and space, influenced by constraints that included community population size, intensifying food production, temporal and spatial climatic variation, foraging logistics, changing distributions of natural resources, and geo-politics. These results demonstrate the adaptive capacity of these Iroquoian populations, confirm the efficacy of the methodological approach, and establish an ecological context for future investigations dealing with the social aspects of Late Woodland culture change in South-central Ontario.

This thesis addresses the effects of seasonality of grazing on vegetation dynamics. Background to the thesis is provided by the Hill Sheep and Native Woodland (HSNW) project, a system-scale experiment with the long-term aim of integrating upland sheep husbandry within native woodlands. Sheep husbandry in the HSNW project has involved a change from year-round grazing to off-wintering (grazing on upland areas from April to October only). The potential impact of this change on individual plants, plant communities and the landscape is evaluated. A cutting experiment was run to simulate herbivory in different seasons at the level of the individual plant. In grassland communities, where most species are wintergreen graminoids, interaction between species and seasons in response to cutting was minimal. In mire communities, where species with a range of life-forms and phenologies are present, there was considerable interaction between species and lifeform in response to cutting in different seasons. Non-wintergreen graminoid species recovered more rapidly than wintergreen graminoid species following cutting in spring, but the reverse occurred following cutting in autumn. Dwarf shrubs and forbs were slow to recover from cutting in all seasons in both mires and grasslands. The impacts of three grazing treatments in the HSNW project (unchanged year-round grazing, change to off-wintering, and change to zero grazing) on sward structure and species abundance were monitored. Sward height increased in the ungrazed treatment, but changes in species relative abundance were minimal in the short time-scale of the study. Literature suggests that change in plant species abundance in grazed systems is driven by herbivore selection preference for (or avoidance of) plant species and plant responses to grazing. Experts were interviewed to generate a set of seasonal data on herbivore selection preferences and plant responses, and levels of agreement between experts were assessed. Information was also collated on plant response to herbivory from the cutting experiment (above) and plant trait information from the literature. A qualitative model was developed to predict change in species abundance. It was used to: i) explore patterns of interaction between herbivore preferences and plant responses to grazing; ii) compare short-term predictions of change in abundance made using each of the information sources available; iii) make longer-term predictions using plant trait information. The short-term predictions were tested against the small changes in species abundance that had occurred in the HSNW project. Predictions made with the plant trait information were more accurate than those made with other information. A study of levels of browsing on regeneration was carried out in mature sheep-grazed birch woodlands. It was rare to find regeneration at sites grazed only by sheep, but tree regeneration did occur in the presence of sheep. Seasonal variation in browsing was found to be more related to the presence of cattle than to the presence of sheep. Finally, the findings are collated to make management recommendations for the HSNW project and other systems where seasonal grazing regimes could be beneficial.

The Jot-em-Down Shelter (15McY348) was excavated by U.S. Forest Service archaeologists in 1986. The present study concentrated on the lithic assemblage, with a particular focus on the chipped stone debitage. The Jot-em-Down Shelter lithic assemblage was compared to assemblages recovered from four nearby sites, open sites 15McY570 and 15McY616, and rockshelter sites 15McY403 and 15McY409; and rockshelter sites located in and near the Red River Gorge, Cold Oak Shelter (15LE50) and Rock Bridge Shelter (15WO75). This study determined that Jot-em-Down Shelter was a multicomponent site utilized by mobile groups of people from the Early Archaic through Mississippi periods. Use of the site intensified around the Late Archaic and Early Woodland periods. Prehistoric peoples who occupied the shelter had contact with other groups from the surrounding area, hunted nearby, and processed hides.

The Owl-Flintstone range in southeastern Manitoba is among the most at risk in the province. Through a series of transects and plots established throughout the study area, this study characterized calving habitat at a fine scale, examined the use of caribou calving areas by large mammals and examined if a calving habitat model correctly identified high quality calving habitat. Parturient females utilized black spruce dominated islands and peninsulas on lakes as well as islands and peninsulas in bogs. Bear utilized both predicted low and high quality sites. Black spruce and lichen cover were significantly greater within known calving sites compared to predicted low quality habitat. Forbs, herbs and downed woody debris values were significantly lower within known calving sites compared to predicted high quality sites. The calving habitat model correctly identified both high quality and low quality calving habitat in the Owl-Flintstone range, however parameters could be refined.

The majority of what is currently known about the Albee Phase comes from mortuary sites, the largest of which is the Commissary site (12-Hn-2), located in Henry County, Indiana. Excavation methods at Commissary left burial context in question and the materials could not be used for research on mortuary patterns. Examination of the skeletal material and supporting documentation led to a determination of the relationship between the two grids utilized during excavation, which clarified burial context and allowed for a more complete description of mortuary patterns at the site. Analysis reaffirmed previous conclusions regarding demography, clarified burial composition, and generated new data on burial orientation. Comparisons of the Commissary site with four other Albee Phase mortuary sites and an Oliver phase site indicate that the sites share a mixture of characteristics and that, due to its immense size, the Commissary site remains a unique example of Albee Phase mortuary patterns. / Department of Anthropology

The intent of this research is to identify through various statistical analyses any features, attributes, or characteristics of Madison points from Albee Phase context that could be used to distinguish them from Madison points made and used by other contemporaneous prehistoric groups. Descriptive statistics for an assemblage of Albee points will be generated to establish baseline data that theoretically characterizes a modal behavior for Albee Phase flint knappers. The Albee Phase data will be combined with comparable data for Yankeetown points and Angel Phase points. This combined data set will constitute the research universe, which will be subjected to discriminant function analysis. Discriminant function analysis is envisioned as a tool to: 1) Identify variables or a combination of variables that are unique to Albee Phase triangular points, 2) Produce a linear function to define an Albee Phase Madison point, and 3) Test that function by successfully allocating the points in the research universe to their appropriate, archaeologically defined cultural group. / Department of Anthropology

The purpose of this paper is to describe the Commissary Site mortuary population in terms of mechanical stress and then to assign possible cultural causes to explain this wear. This consisted of discussing basic anatomy in terms of bones and muscles, then in describing the osteological material excavated at the Commissary Site. Each joint was examined for wear and the entire bone for heavy build up of the cortex caused by the action of the muscles. This information was then interpreted with the aid of the associated artifacts and the burials themselves in terms of the grinding of food stuffs, the use of tump lines, hunting, handedness, and the preparation of hides.

Since European settlement, the woodlands and associated habitats, especially in the temperate zones of Australia, have been extensively cleared and converted to arable land and pastures. Much of the remaining vegetation in the agricultural zone occurs as small isolated patches prone to disturbance and degradation. Apart from habitat loss and fragmentation, altered fire regimes, periods of intense drought, and the introduction of exotic plants and animals, have contributed to the deterioration of most of the natural habitats across Australia, with a negative impact on the native wildlife, including birds. Many woodland bird species have undergone widespread declines, culminating in some local or even regional extinctions. In the mallee woodlands of south-east Australia two closely related species of whistlers (fam. Pachycephalidae) — Red-lored Whistler Pachycephala rufogularis and Gilbert’s Whistler P. inornata — have overlapping ranges, and in some areas they co-exist. These two species are morphologically and ecologically similar. However, despite the similarities, P. rufogularis has undergone greater declines in distribution and abundance than P. inornata. The ecology of these two species is poorly known, which renders adequate management impracticable. The major objectives of this thesis were to determine the key habitat requirements for the two species, to determine their habitat use, and to document the ecology and behaviour of the two species, particularly their foraging, and intra- and interspecific interactions. A sound knowledge of the ecology of the two species is needed to underpin appropriate actions for their management and conservation. Morphological features were measured from skins of P. rufogularis and P. inornata in the South Australian Museum collection, and from captured live birds, to detect if any aspect of the morphology could indicate possible niche partitioning between the two species. Also, the use of biometry as a tool for separating the sexes for P. rufogularis, for determining the species of the uncoloured immature birds and for sexing immatures, was evaluated. No morphological feature suggested niche partitioning. The biometry did not prove a very reliable tool for distinguishing sexes in adult P. rufogularis, but reliably identified the species of the uncoloured immatures. Sexing immatures based on biometrical data alone was not possible. Research was conducted in two main South Australian parks: Gluepot Reserve and Ngarkat Conservation Park. Ecological and behavioural data for P. rufogularis and P. inornata were collected by observing marked (colour-banded and radio-tagged) and unmarked individual birds of both species and sexes, over a two-year period from June 2004 to May 2006. The home ranges of P. rufogularis and P. inornata were determined by tracking the movements of birds in the landscape. Pachycephala rufogularis had much larger home ranges than P. inornata, especially when breeding. The striking differences in home range size between the two ecologically similar species might be related to differences in site fidelity. Pachycephala rufogularis at Gluepot was sedentary, being detected in the same locations throughout the year, and over several years. On the contrary, P. inornata generally showed poor site fidelity, being more mobile, and shifting home ranges between and within seasons. In the field the two species were segregated by habitat. Pachycephala rufogularis and P. inornata showed different habitat preferences, even in areas where they did not co-occur. Pachycephala rufogularis favoured low mallee with Triodia on sand dunes, while P. inornata favoured tall mallee with sparse shrub understorey in interdunes, but also other habitats, such as prickly Acacia thickets and Casuarina woodlands. However, both species used the mallee- Triodia with Callitris vegetation type. The key to coexistence in this habitat was a behavioural one, P. inornata acting as a subordinate species. Pachycephala rufogularis had strict habitat requirements, with the presence of Triodia being critical for the presence of the species. In contrast, P. inornata was more flexible in its habitat requirements, and used a broader range of vegetation types, being more of a habitat generalist. The investigation of habitat use from both a spatial and temporal perspective confirmed that both species actively selected habitat, and that the habitats they selected differed. The core areas of home ranges predominantly contained the preferred habitat for both species. In both species, core areas of home ranges of breeding individuals (where generally the nests were placed) contained preferred habitat in higher proportion than core areas of non-breeding birds. This suggests that during breeding, both species are more restricted to, and/or use more intensely the preferred habitat than when not breeding. The foraging behaviour did not differ consistently between the two species, both capturing insects mostly by snatching in canopy foliage, and also by gleaning on the vegetation, at different heights. However, the two species were already segregated by habitat. Thus the resource partitioning occurred spatially, at the macrohabitat level. In the instances when individuals of both species foraged in the same area and used the same resources, resource partitioning occurred at a temporal scale. Both species were generalists in foraging; therefore, a presumed foraging specialisation as a possible factor related to the decline of P. rufogularis was ruled out. Pachycephala rufogularis and P. inornata are unlikely to be competitors. Support for this argument came from the situation at Ngarkat, where P. inornata was absent. Despite this, P. rufogularis did not use a broader range of vegetation types in Ngarkat, as would be expected under ‘competitive release’. Instead the species maintained strict habitat requirements, specializing virtually on a single vegetation type. The rigid habitat requirements of P. rufogularis, together with its sedentary nature, render this species vulnerable to disturbances, such as wildfires. On the other hand, the apparent flexibility in habitat requirements and greater mobility may explain why P. inornata has been more successful than its sibling species. The information on habitat requirements, preference and use, and also on home ranges of P. rufogularis and P. inornata provided in this study should be included in future habitat suitability models and predictive models for these species, which will assist in their management. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1374821 / Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, 2009