This project represents the first comprehensive study applying molecular and genetic methods to study historical contexts such as migration and trade based on human parasites. Using specially developed techniques, the study focused on parasites with minor symptoms which allowed the infected person to go about their daily business. The combination of state of the art techniques in archaeology, molecular methods and phylogenetic analysis enabled us to develop a novel powerful tool to study historic events. Diseases have a considerable impact on societies. Various publications indicate that human intestinal parasites are commonly found in a variety of archaeological contexts, including latrines, graves and mummies. These parasites can be detected by microscopy which focuses the work on samples which do close association to humans; widespread prevalence and the possibility for reliable microscopic diagnostics suggest that these parasites are an attractive study system for human activities. Infectious diseases have a much short generation time which offers greater opportunity to track historical events at higher resolution. Looking at a range of human parasites, their different life-cycles allowed insight into various aspects of human culture, comparing different origins of the samples allows an estimation of the epidemiological burden of ancient populations. Application of a parallel sequencing approach (MiSeq) enabled building a comprehensive database of sequences from various archaeological sites dating as far back as 3630 BCE. Indepth phylogenetic analysis reveals patterns in the genetic signatures of both coding and non-coding genetic regions, taking various levels of selective pressure into account. This project has produced the oldest pathogen sequence and the most comprehensive database of ancient pathogen sequences.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oregon, 2002. / Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 605-636). Also available for download via the World Wide Web; free to University of Oregon users.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oregon, 2007. / Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 339-383). Also available for download via the World Wide Web; free to University of Oregon users.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oregon, 2007. / Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 339-383).

Esta dissertação tem o objetivo de analisar as mudanças ocorridas nas condições de vida da população humana, na comunidade Canto do Mangue em Canguaretama (RN), e as possíveis relações com a introdução da carcinicultura a partir de 1980. Foram utilizadas técnicas de pesquisa qualitativa (análise documental, entrevistas e observações in loco) e quantitativa (análise de tendência central, dispersão e correlação). Constatou-se que as alterações ocorridas no espaço local estão associadas às pressões ocasionadas por fatores de ordens externa e interna, como a implantação e expansão dos projetos de carcinicultura, que levaram ao avanço da especulação imobiliária e intensificaram o desmatamento das áreas de manguezais ao longo do estuário do rio Curimataú/Cunhaú, contribuindo para o abandono da agricultura de subsistência nessa comunidade, além de estar levando também ao abandono da pesca artesanal, por conseguinte, a perda dos saberes da tradição aplicados na realização dessa atividade. Verificou-se, ainda, que as alterações no uso do território e dos recursos ameaçam a biodiversidade e têm contribuído para a redução dos estoques pesqueiros do município de Canguaretama e, conseqüentemente, do Canto do Mangue, sobretudo o estoque de caranguejo-uçá (Ucides cardatus). Os resultados obtidos permitiram concluir que a produção em larga escala numa economia de mercado, como se constitui a carcinicultura, desconsidera a busca de equilíbrio nas configurações territoriais. Assim, as perturbações ambientais decorrentes da carcinicultura têm conseqüências de dimensões sócio-culturais, afetando diretamente o modo de vida dos moradores do Canto do Mangue. As empresas de camarão têm absorvido parte dos pescadores que estão deixando a atividade pesqueira. No entanto, o baixo nível de escolaridade associado à idade são fatores que deixam muitos deles fora do quadro de funcionários dessas empresas. Portanto, há necessidade de se criar condições que possibilitem o desenvolvimento da carcinicultura sem colocar em risco a sustentabilidade da região. / The objective of this research was to analyze the changes occurred in the conditions of life in the human population, at community Canto do Mangue in Canguaretama (RN), and also their possible relationships with the introduction of the shrimp creation in captivity after 1980. Techniques of qualitative research were used (documentary analysis, interviews and observation in locus ) and quantitative (analysis of central trend, dispersion and correlation). It was evidenced that the occurred alterations in the local space are associated to the pressures caused by factors of external and internal order, such as implantation and expansion of the creation of shrimp in captivity projects. This led to the advance of the real estate speculation and intensified the deforestation of mangroves areas at the estuary of the river Curimataú/Cunhaú. It contributed to the abandon of the agriculture of subsistence in this community, as well as of handcraft fishing activity. Consequently, there was a loss of knowing traditional in the accomplishment of this activity. It was still verified that alterations in the use of territory and the resources threaten biodiversity and have contributed to the reduction of fishing supplies boats of the community of Canguaretama and consequently, the decrease of the quantity of shrimp (Ucides cardatus) at Canto do Mangue. The results allowed to conclude that the production in wide scale inside market economy, it disrespects the search of balance in the territorial configurations. Thus, the environmental disturbances caused by the shrimp creation of in captivity have social and cultural consequences, affecting directly the way of life of the Canto do Mangue inhabitants. The shrimp companies have employed part of the fishermen that are leaving the fishing activities, however the low level of scholarship and old age are factors that leave them out of team of employees of these companies. Therefore, conditions should be created to make possible to conciliate the shrimp creation in captivity and sustentability of the region.

Many early anthropological studies treated pastoralist populations as egalitarian, however there is considerable variation in the resources available to individual households. This thesis considers how resources influence the subsistence system of the pastoral Datoga of Lake Eyasi. The two categories of resources considered are wealth and labour. The labour available to Datoga households does not influence the herding strategies of those households. In turn, the herding strategies do not affect the dynamics of cattle herds. This is because households that are short of labour can arrange for their animals to be herded by members of different households, and there are no discernible costs associated with this. Wealth, defined by livestock holdings, can be measured either as total household wealth, or as wealth per capita. These are conceptually distinct. Among the Datoga, households that are wealthy in terms of total livestock holdings, are also wealthy in terms of wealth per capita, but not proportionally more so. Once households have about five livestock units per capita, any increase in household wealth is used to attract new people to the household, rather than to increase the wealth of existing household members. For many aspects of the production system overall household wealth and wealth per capita have a similar effect, but this is not always the case. In some instances overall household wealth can explain variation between households, whereas wealth per capita cannot. This occurs when the absolute number of animals belonging to a household is important. In terms of provisioning the household and household economics, per capita wealth explains more of the variation between households. Overall the Datoga are struggling to survive. They have been alienated from more fertile areas, and consequently they are poor, and herd productivity is low. This is due to the low reproduction rate of cattle, and the high commercial offtake rate of both cattle and small stock. The high commercial offtake rate is driven by subsistence needs and most income is used to buy grain and veterinary products. However, there is considerable variation between households, and compared to poor households, wealthy households have a comparatively low offtake rate of livestock, in terms of both mortality and sales. Consequently, they are managing to retain their livestock holdings, or in a few cases to increase the size of their herds. However, wealthy households are in the minority, and the majority of households are caught in a declining cycle of poverty, and will eventually be forced to drop out of the pastoral system.

Esta dissertação tem o objetivo de analisar as mudanças ocorridas nas condições de vida da população humana, na comunidade Canto do Mangue em Canguaretama (RN), e as possíveis relações com a introdução da carcinicultura a partir de 1980. Foram utilizadas técnicas de pesquisa qualitativa (análise documental, entrevistas e observações in loco) e quantitativa (análise de tendência central, dispersão e correlação). Constatou-se que as alterações ocorridas no espaço local estão associadas às pressões ocasionadas por fatores de ordens externa e interna, como a implantação e expansão dos projetos de carcinicultura, que levaram ao avanço da especulação imobiliária e intensificaram o desmatamento das áreas de manguezais ao longo do estuário do rio Curimataú/Cunhaú, contribuindo para o abandono da agricultura de subsistência nessa comunidade, além de estar levando também ao abandono da pesca artesanal, por conseguinte, a perda dos saberes da tradição aplicados na realização dessa atividade. Verificou-se, ainda, que as alterações no uso do território e dos recursos ameaçam a biodiversidade e têm contribuído para a redução dos estoques pesqueiros do município de Canguaretama e, conseqüentemente, do Canto do Mangue, sobretudo o estoque de caranguejo-uçá (Ucides cardatus). Os resultados obtidos permitiram concluir que a produção em larga escala numa economia de mercado, como se constitui a carcinicultura, desconsidera a busca de equilíbrio nas configurações territoriais. Assim, as perturbações ambientais decorrentes da carcinicultura têm conseqüências de dimensões sócio-culturais, afetando diretamente o modo de vida dos moradores do Canto do Mangue. As empresas de camarão têm absorvido parte dos pescadores que estão deixando a atividade pesqueira. No entanto, o baixo nível de escolaridade associado à idade são fatores que deixam muitos deles fora do quadro de funcionários dessas empresas. Portanto, há necessidade de se criar condições que possibilitem o desenvolvimento da carcinicultura sem colocar em risco a sustentabilidade da região. / The objective of this research was to analyze the changes occurred in the conditions of life in the human population, at community Canto do Mangue in Canguaretama (RN), and also their possible relationships with the introduction of the shrimp creation in captivity after 1980. Techniques of qualitative research were used (documentary analysis, interviews and observation in locus ) and quantitative (analysis of central trend, dispersion and correlation). It was evidenced that the occurred alterations in the local space are associated to the pressures caused by factors of external and internal order, such as implantation and expansion of the creation of shrimp in captivity projects. This led to the advance of the real estate speculation and intensified the deforestation of mangroves areas at the estuary of the river Curimataú/Cunhaú. It contributed to the abandon of the agriculture of subsistence in this community, as well as of handcraft fishing activity. Consequently, there was a loss of knowing traditional in the accomplishment of this activity. It was still verified that alterations in the use of territory and the resources threaten biodiversity and have contributed to the reduction of fishing supplies boats of the community of Canguaretama and consequently, the decrease of the quantity of shrimp (Ucides cardatus) at Canto do Mangue. The results allowed to conclude that the production in wide scale inside market economy, it disrespects the search of balance in the territorial configurations. Thus, the environmental disturbances caused by the shrimp creation of in captivity have social and cultural consequences, affecting directly the way of life of the Canto do Mangue inhabitants. The shrimp companies have employed part of the fishermen that are leaving the fishing activities, however the low level of scholarship and old age are factors that leave them out of team of employees of these companies. Therefore, conditions should be created to make possible to conciliate the shrimp creation in captivity and sustentability of the region.