Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1993. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 49-55). Also available via the Internet.

Bald Eagles in Cedar and Rush Valleys of western Utah were studied from 1975 to 1977. Arriving in mid-November, the eagles departed in mid-March. A statewide Bald Eagle census revealed 200 to 300 birds. Wintering eagle populations have remained stable for the past 10 years. Immatures comprised 35% of the population in 1975-76 and 33% in 1976-77. While Black-tailed jackrabbits are the primary food source of wintering eagles in western Utah, other mammalian carrion serve as supplementary food items. Eagles utilized 4 communal night roosts. Three day communal roosts were located on south facing slopes. The social existence of Bald Eagles on the wintering grounds may have survival value for immatures.

No description available.

This creative project has explored a staging of Eugene Ionesco's The Bald Soprano that incorporated motion-picture film as a technical device. Drawing from the full body of Ionesco's works and their amplification of themes, theatrical techniques and use of language, this study considered The Bald Soprano as an Absurd play. The use of motion-picture film and slides in other theatrical productions was analyzed in order to justify the attempt to marry live actors and film on-stage in lonesco's play. In addition, this study discussed the director's approach to the production of The Bald Soprano: the rehearsal process, the light and set design, the use of film. Finally, it evaluated the attempt in terms of four principles of criticism: unity, communication, truthful projection of the playwright's emphasis and rhythm.The creative project also contains: a copy of the script annotated with the actions of the actors, the stage movements, light and sound effects, photographs of the play; a scenario of the film used and photographs lifted from individual frames of the film.

Trace element mobility in bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) was investigated for a suite of elements using cores from century-old trees from a wetland in Humphreys County, Mississippi. Element mobility was determined by comparing the dendrochemistry of decadal increments over the life span of a tree, and by comparing increments of the same age collected from the same tree during two different seasons. Variability within growth increments at the time of sampling was evaluated by comparing cores from the same tree collected at three points around the bole. Of 42 elements analyzed, eight were found above detection limits (As, Ca, K, Mg, Mn, Na, P, Zn). Clear evidence of translocation of P and Mn to the sapwood and K, Mg, and Na to the heartwood was observed. Ca and Zn were found with higher average concentrations in the sapwood, though evidence of translocation to the sapwood was equivocal. Arsenic did not vary significantly through any individual core. Variation in concentration was not found to be significant for any element with respect to year of sampling, season, location in the wetland, or position around the bole. With the exception of As, variation was significant with respect to increment age (decade) and location within the heartwood or sapwood.

This investigation compared statistical parameters for the blood serum chemistries of free ranging Osprey nestlings from Florida Bay and an Osprey population from Lake Istokpoga, in Central Florida (Chapter 1). Florida Bay Ospreys showed higher mean rank values for alanine aminotransferase (H=6.79, P=.009), alkaline phosphatase (H=6.48, P=.011), and sodium (H=5.7, P=.017), and Central Florida had higher mean rank values potassium (H=13.19, P=.000) and carbon dioxide (H=6.23, P=.013). Serum chemistries values were also compared between free-ranging Bald Eagle and Osprey nestling in Florida Bay estuary in southern Florida (Chapter 2). There were significant differences between serum values of Bald Eagle and Osprey nestlings. Bald Eagle serum values were higher for total protein (H=17.833, P=.00002), Albumin (H=7.449, P=.006), Aspartate aminotransferase (H=113.153, P =.0001), and Calcium (H=7.148, P = 008). Osprey serum values were higher for alanine aminotransferase (H=11.824, P = 0.0005), alkaline phosphatase (H=105.5, P =.0001), creatine kinase (H=13.465, P = 0.0002), carbon dioxide (H=4.443, P = 0.035) and cholinesterase (H=99.3, P=.0001). Sixteen nestling Bald Eagles were fitted with satellite platform transmitter terminal (PTT) or VHF radio transmitter package for a duration of six years (Chapter 3)= to identify their movement and dispersal. One of the 15 eagles migrated to North Carolina, whereas the other 14 (93%) confined their movements to Florida. Tracking duration per individual ranged from 82 to 1,531 days. We estimated first-year survival as 52% and 67% for the period from 1.5 to 3 years. Diamondback Terrapins (Chapter 4) were evaluated by an integrated assessment of physical, chemical, and physiological parameters. Extreme site fidelity of the turtles to mangrove habitat was evident along with a strong female biased sex ratio. There was a significant difference in the total number of individuals collected at the two sites (P =. 01) despite the total size and shorelines of the two sites being very nearly the same. Total recapture rate was 70% for combined population (TLK = 80% and CKW = 48%). We provide blood serum values and microbial cultures as baselines from these turtles in the wild. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2014. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Wetlands are the most important and valuable ecosystems on Earth. They are called “kidneys of the Earth”. Vegetation change detection is necessary to understand the condition of a wetland and to support ecosystem sustainable management and utilization. It has been a great challenge to estimate vegetation (including bald cypress trees) coverage of the wetland because it is difficult to access directly. Satellite remote sensing technology can be one important feasible method to map and monitor changes of wetland forest vegetation and land cover over large areas. Remote sensing mapping techniques have been applied to detect and map vegetation changes in wetlands. To address spectral mixture issues associated with moderate resolution remote sensing images, many spectral mixture methods have been developed and applied to unmix the mixed pixels in order to accurately map endmembers (e.g., different land cover types and different materials within pixels) fractions or abundance. Of them, Mixture Tuned Matched Filtering (MTMF) is an advanced spectral unmixing method that has attracted many researchers to test it for mapping land cover types including mapping tree species with medium or coarse remote sensing image data. MTMF is a partial unmixing method that suppresses background noise and estimates the subpixel abundance of a single target material. In this study, to understand impacts of anthropogenic (e.g., urbanization) and natural forces/climate change on the bald cypress tree dynamic change, the bald cypress trees cover change in University of South Florida Forest Preserve Area was mapped and analysed by using MTMF tool and multitemporal Landsat imagery over 30 years from 1984 to 2015. To evaluate the MTMF’s performance, a tradition spectral unmixing method, Linear Spectral Unmixing (LSU), was also tested. The experimental results indicate that (1) the bald cypress tree cover percentage in the study area has generally increased during the 30 years from 1984 to 2015, but over the time period from 1994 to 2005, the bald cypress tree cover percentage reduced; (2) MTMF tool outperformed the LSU method in mapping the change of the bald cypress trees over the 30 years to demonstrate its powerful capability; and (3) there potentially exists an impact of human activities on the change of the bald cypress trees although a further quantitative analysis is needed in the future research.

No description available.

Using aerial census techniques, I collected data on the population, reproduction and nesting habits of Bald Eagles in Florida Bay, Florida, for three consecutive breeding seasons (Oct - Mar, 1987 - 1990). For analysis I consolidated my data with those collected by Robertson et al. between 1959 and 1986 for a total of 26 seasons. The breeding population of Bald Eagles in Florida Bay has been stable since censuses began in 1959. However, numbers of subadult eagles in Florida Bay have declined sharply since the early 1960’s. Breeding density was apparently limited by territoriality. Nesting success was positively correlated with early commencement of nesting, number of active breeding territories and the history of individual breeding territories. Success was negatively correlated with the amount of rainfall during the breeding season. Most (87%) nesting failures occurred during the incubation stage. Nearly all nests were built in mangrove [Laguricularia racemosa, Avicenia germinans and Rhizophora mangle) trees and of these more than half were dead. The success of a nesting attempt was independent of changes in nests or nest sites.

The breeding behavior and feeding habits of the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus L.) were studied during 1962 and 1963 on San Juan Island, Washington. The primary aim of the study was to acquire information which would relate to the general decline in bald eagle numbers. Thirteen bald eagle nests were found on San Juan Island. On the basis of the spacing of these nests, the density of breeding eagles was considered to be low. The number of bald eagles varied throughout the year; the highest numbers were present in February and the lowest numbers in October. The change in eagle numbers was caused by the fluctuating numbers of juveniles. Two active nests were kept under observation, one in 1962 and another in 1963. The breeding eagles showed hostility toward intruders such as adult and juvenile bald eagles and man in the vicinity of their nesting site. The birds showed indifference toward intrusions of red-tailed hawks, crows and gulls. The chronology of breeding activities on San Juan Island was approximated with the aid of local information and with findings of former investigators. Egg-laying occurs between March 4 and 19; hatching between April 8 and 14. The young spend 12 to 1 3 weeks in the nest during which time parental attention gradually decreases. During the first 5 weeks of the youngs' life the nest is constantly guarded by one of the parents. Parental attention markedly decreases after the young start their wing exercises at the age of 8 to 9 weeks. In general, the female parent spent three times as much time at the nest as did the male. Food was brought to the nest at irregular intervals by both the female and male parents. The young were fed mainly by the female during the first seven weeks of their life; later the young fed themselves. No appreciable change in the amount of food supplied to the young during their nest life was observed. Young of the same nest were similar in size and indications of maltreatment from the others or from the parents were not observed. Most of the food brought to the nest consisted of rabbit carrion. This type of food item was available throughout the year due to the rabbits' high mortality resulting from collision with automobiles on the roads. Fish was fed to the young during the first six weeks of their life; thereafter, mainly rabbit was consumed. Rabbit carrion was the primary source of food for young eagles in their post-nestling period. The destruction of breeding habitat by real estate developments is the major cause of decline in numbers of bald eagles on San Juan Island. / Forestry, Faculty of / Graduate