Th. univ.--Bordeaux 3, 1990. / Bibliogr., 24 p.

Texte remanié de: Magisterarb.--Historisches Seminar--Universität Hannover, 1993. / Bibliogr. p. 185-193. Index.

Arid and semi arid environments are characterised by extreme fluctuations in temperature and low rainfall which present significant challenges to the animals inhabiting these areas. Mammals, such as aardvarks (Orycteropus afer, Pallas 1766), excavate burrows in order to avoid predators and climatic extremes and are termed “ecosystem engineers” as they physically modify their environment and in doing so create new habitats and alter the availability of resources to other species. In this study I assessed the microhabitat conditions (maximum and minimum temperature, relative humidity and seed abundance) of aardvark burrows in relation to paired control sites. In addition, I evaluated the use of aardvark burrows by other vertebrate and invertebrate species and investigated the impact of aardvark burrow mounds on landscape scale floristic diversity. Maximum temperatures were significantly lower (p < 0.05) and minimum temperatures and midday humidity were significantly higher (p < 0.05) inside the burrows at the three study sites, Kwandwe Private Game Reserve (Kwandwe), Mountain Zebra National Park (MZNP) and Tswalu Kalahari Reserve (Tswalu). There were no significant differences between the concentration of seeds, the average numbers of unique individual small mammals, trap success or small mammal species richness recorded inside the burrows compared to outside (p > 0.05). At all three sites, small mammal species diversity was higher in the burrows but this result was also not significant (p > 0.05 for all). Trap success and the number of individuals captured was higher at Tswalu than the other two sites (p < 0.05 for both). The different methods used in this study revealed a total of 25 mammal, seven bird, one amphibian and six reptile species utilising aardvark burrows. There were significant differences in insect community assemblages between the burrows and open control areas at Kwandwe and Tswalu (p < 0.05 for both) but not at MZNP (p > 0.05). The parasitic guild was more prominent inside the burrows than outside but their abundance was not as high as anticipated, possibly due to the placement of traps closer to the burrow entrances than the sleeping chambers. The complex structure of the burrows prevented the placement of traps in close proximity to the sleeping chambers. As expected, the amount of bare earth was significantly higher on active and recently abandoned burrow mounds compared to the old burrow mounds and reference plots at all three sites (p < 0.05 for all), with the exception of the active burrows at Tswalu. Overall, the different plot types were characterised by significantly different plant communities during all the seasons at MZNP, during three of the seasons at Kwandwe and only during winter at Tswalu. The total species richness recorded on the reference plots was higher than on the burrow mounds at all three sites. However, species diversity on the reference plots was not significantly higher than the burrows at any of the sites (p > 0.05 for all sites). Although the results were not significant, the overall species diversity at a site level was greater than the reference patches at Kwandwe and Tswalu (p > 0.05 for both). Aardvarks fulfil the criteria of a significant ecosystem engineer and their presence in arid and semi-arid environments is likely to be critical to the survival of other individual organisms and species, particularly when alternative burrowing animals are either absent or restricted in their activities. Thus, aardvark populations should be considered a conservation priority in arid and semi-arid ecosystems.

No description available.

Three heteromyid rodent species were studied in relation to a large dry wash in Millard County, Utah, during the summer, 1974. Data were gathered with three trapping grids and analyzed to determine if the dry wash influenced rodent movement and distribution patterns. Dipodomys ordii and Dipodomys microps were distributed non-randomly in the dry wash and adjacent habitat, but Perognathus Zongimembris seemed to be randomly distributed. Dipodomys ordii was significantly correlated with wash habitat, but D. microps was found most frequently in upland areas. Soil and vegetative differences and competition were possible causes for the observed distribution. The wash was observed as a source of dispersing young D. ordii. It was concluded that the dry wash had little effect on daily movement of the rodents observed.

Québec Université Laval, Bibliothèque 2012

En faisant l’adaptation d’un modèle numérique récemment développé à l’Université Laval, il a été possible d’évaluer le flux thermique à travers une fondation construite dans différents sols typiques. L’étude consiste en une analyse numérique de transfert thermique incluant la conduction, la convection, le transfert de vapeur et le changement de phase dans des conditions hydrostatique pour des conditions de fondations et de sols représentatives. La comparaison des modèles incluant différents modes de transfert thermique ne montre pas de différence significative à l’exception du modèle incluant le changement de phase. Les résultats montrent une augmentation du flux thermique d’environ 0,5 W/m2 au maximum provoqué par le changement de phase. Ce travail comprend également la comparaison des déperditions thermiques dans l’argile, le sable et le silt.

Le présente recherche vise à étudier la relation entre le type d'habitation et la perception des attitudes des couples avec ou sans enfants. La procédure comprend l'analyse de trois échelles de mesure soit, l'échelle de satisfaction conjugale, de la perception mutuelle des attitudes conjugales et de satisfaction de l'habitation. Les 131 couples de notre échantillon sont divisés en deux groupes, les résidents d'habitations verticales et les résidents d'habitations horizontales. Les analyses des échelles de mesure sont comparées chez les deux groupes. Les résultats ne sont pas significatifs pour toutes les variables. Ils ne permettent pas de conclure que le type d'habitation influence la satisfaction conjugale, la satisfaction de l'habitation et le degré de congruence des perceptions des attitudes conjugales. Plusieurs facteurs qui pourraient expliquer ces résultats sont discutés.

Ce mémoire de maîtrise porte sur l’habitation yup’ik semi-souterraine du site de Nunalleq (GDN-248). Il se situe dans le sud-ouest de l’Alaska, sur le vaste delta des fleuves Yukon et Kuskokwim. L’objectif de cette étude est de préciser les modes et les conditions de vie des Yupiit qui ont occupé cette structure entre 1570 et 1630 de notre ère. La méthode employée pour y parvenir est l’archéoentomologie. Treize échantillons qui proviennent des niveaux de sols de la maison ont ainsi été analysés, dans lesquels plusieurs centaines de restes de coléoptères et d’ectoparasites ont été identifiés. Leur répartition dans l’espace a permis de mieux comprendre certains aspects des modes de vie des Yupiit, notamment des pratiques culturelles liées à la gestion des poux humains et la présence du chien dans leur habitation. Les conditions environnementales à l’intérieur de la maison ont aussi été investiguées à partir des restes des coléoptères. L’exploitation des ressources naturelles, particulièrement les plantes, est également un élément qu’il a été possible de saisir. Enfin, l’impact d’un établissement de chasseurs-cueilleurs sur son environnement est discuté dans les interprétations. / This master’s thesis examines a Yup’ik semi-subterranean dwelling at Nunalleq (GDN-248), located on the delta of the Yukon and Kuskokwim Rivers in southwestern Alaska. The main objective of this study is to assess past lifeways of the Yupiit people wholived in this village site between 1570 and 1670 AD. Archaeoentomology is the research methodology used to address the research questions. Thirteen samples taken from the housefloor were analysed and found to contain hundreds of beetles (Coleoptera), lice and fleasremains. Their spatial distribution provides an understanding of some aspects of Yup’ikdaily life at Nunalleq, including practices such as delousing and the presence of dogs inside the dwelling. Environmental conditions in the house were also provided by beetle remains. Local resource exploitation, including that of plants is also documented. Finally, the impact of this hunter-gatherer settlement on the environment is discussed.

M. Tech. Environmental Management. / Aims to investigate the impacts of Montane grassland management practices, particularly through grazing intensity and burning frequency, on ground living spider assemblage structure.More specific aims include:to note any relationship between particular spider species to specific forms of habitat management ; to note the loss of particular species at detected thresholds in management practices ; and to model spider assemblage structure based on grassland management.