Thesis (M.S.)--University of Nevada, Reno, 2007. / "May, 2007." Includes bibliographical references. Online version available on the World Wide Web. Library also has microfilm. Ann Arbor, Mich. : ProQuest Information and Learning Company, [2007]. 1 microfilm reel ; 35 mm.

Thesis (M.S.)--Humboldt State University, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 39-45). Also available via Humboldt Digital Scholar.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 2004. / Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 133-135)

The functions of the elongated tails of birds have been the subject of much discussion in recent years. It is clear that in some cases the tail represents a sexually selected ornament, playing a vital role in mate choice. However. what is becoming increasingly apparent is that the tail can also play vital aerodynamic roles during flight, and can thus be a result of natural selection. Tail length manipulation experiments carried out during this work have shown that elongated graduated tails have an aerodynamic role during gliding flight. A function in the maintenance of stability (ring necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus)) and optimising gliding performance (black-billed magpie (Pica pica)). thus these elongated graduated tails have been shown to be a product of natural selection. The question of whether correlated evolution occurred between the advent of gliding flight and the graduated tail shape was investigated. It was found that graduated tails did not co-evolve with gliding flight. However, it was shown that graduated tails had correlated evolution with tail elongated. It has been suggested that the forces acting on a triangular tail can be predicted through the application of slender lifting surface theory and the tail being analogous to a delta wing. This would predict that the tail functioned as a consistent lift producing surface. This study considered whether the tail functioned as a lift producer or a control surface. Stereo video of Harris' hawks (Parabuteo unicinctus) was used to assess tail function of a triangular tail. However, the results did not provide conclusive evidence for either theory. In this thesis I show that elongated avian tails perform a number of naturally selected aerodynamic roles during flight.

No description available.

In order to create landscapes able to adapt to the constantly shifting demands placed upon it by human and ecological processes, there is a need to incorporate the flux of these human and ecological processes into a physical and dynamic share of the built environment. This will require a perceptual shift in understanding this human/ecological relationship (on the part of both the designer and the user) as well as a change in the design/implementation/management strategies currently employed by designers and planners. Instead of designing landscapes expected to be maintained to look and act in a static manner, the built environment needs to be designed with flux in mind. This thesis' methodology begins with a position paper narrating the current body of knowledge regarding human experience and treatment of dynamic systems within the built environment, focusing specifically on the Outer Banks, a series of barrier islands located off the northern coast of North Carolina. It looks at this relationship through three languages: scientific (or geomorphologic), legislative and design. Next is a sampling of case studies aimed at emphasizing this dynamic relationship between humans and their surroundings. Finally, the design project incorporates the viewpoint developed in the position paper and applies it to a hypothetical site design located in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. The site is currently slated for a Hilton hotel that will be finished by Spring 2006; however, the spirit of the design has the potential to be incorporated into many sites along the coast. / Master of Landscape Architecture

I studied the social organization of the Harris' Hawk (Parabuteo unicintus) in Arizona, 1984-1986. Breeding groups ranged in size from 2-7 and averaged 3.8 hawks. Offspring fledged during previous nesting attempts accounted for 72% of immature helpers. Aggregations averaged 5.9 hawks and were composed primarily of individuals from 2 or 3 neighboring groups. I identified 2 affiliative behaviors and 5 aggressive behaviors that Harris' Hawks used during social interactions. Behaviors that constituted overt aggression were rare in groups, but occurred in aggregations during interactions between hawks from different groups. Groups defended only their nesting areas during nonbreeding periods but defended foraging and nesting areas during breeding. Groups formed aggregations only during nonbreeding periods in specific areas between territories. I observed a peak in aggregation formation about 2.5 weeks before nesting. Open water was used frequently by nesting Harris' Hawks for drinking and bathing. Water sources were not defended and were shared by >1 group.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 2002. / Title from title page screen (viewed Sept. 4, 2002). Thesis advisor: David Buehler. Document formatted into pages (xiii, 100 p. : ill. (some col.)). Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 60-67).

Signalspaning har sedan länge varit en förmåga som Sverige genomfört och under kalla kriget blev det klart att ge-nomförandet av dessa uppdrag inte var helt ofarliga. Med hänsyn till att det nuvarande systemet är påväg att bli äldre bör en planering av ett ersättande system vara lämpligt att genomföra i närtid.Syftet med föreliggande Studie är att genom en systemanalys kunna finna en lämplig ersättare till den nuvarande plattformen för signalspaning, Gulfstream GIV-SP. Det system som har använts som jämförande plattform är den obemannade plattformen Global Hawk vilket är en toppmodern farkost framtagen av USA som en strategisk UAV. Plattformarna har för att få relevans jämförts emot de grundläggande förmågorna Underrättelse/Information, Uthållig-het samt Skydd vilket medför att prestandan kopplas till dessa.Resultatet av uppsatsen påvisar att prestandamässigt kopplat mot de grundläggande förmågorna så är Global Hawk bättre än det nuvarande systemet och de skillnader som en UAV medför är positiva. Vad gäller just underrättelse så är systemen relativt lika potenta men när det gäller uthållighet och skydd är den obemannade plattformen framstående.Slutsatsen av studien är att Global Hawk just nu är en plattform som kostnad sett är för dyr för det svenska försvaret och är på så sätt inte aktuell i närtid. Dock bör det beaktas som ett möjligt ersättande system i framtiden då under-hållskostnader sjunkit och användarantalet på systemet har ökat. Global Hawk har en prestanda som är mycket god kopplat mot de grundläggande förmågorna vilket är en framgångsfaktor vid anskaffning av system. / Signal intelligence (SIGINT) has since a period of time been a part of the Swedish armed forces ability and during the Cold War due to events this was not a safe and easy task to perform. Considering that the present system is beginning to become outdated, a plan to replace this system should be at its place in a short amount of time.The purpose with this study is, by using a system analysis method, find a suitable replacer for the present platform which is Gulfstream GIV-SP, carrying signal intelligence equipment. The comparative platform that has been used in this study is the Global Hawk which is a modern strategic UAV. The two platforms that are compared have been linked to the theory of the basic capabilities, the theory is delimited to Intelligence/Information, Endurance and Protection which the performance of the platforms creates.The study result in a conclusion that the Global Hawk fulfills this basic capabilities with most efficiency and the differences of an unmanned platform is positive. In terms of intelligence the platforms is rather equal and causes advantages in their own different ways but in terms of endurance and protection the Global Hawk is more efficient.The study´s conclusion is that the Global Hawk is the more efficient platform for carrying signal intelligence equip-ment but due to the high cost of the system, it is not suitable for the Swedish armed forces. However, it should be considered as a possible replacement platform in the future, as the maintenance cost decreased and the number of user has increased.

The reproductive performance of Sharp-shinned Hawks (Accipiter striatus) nesting in southern Quebec was studied during the 1999 and 2000 breeding seasons. In 2000, 37.5% of breeders (equal numbers of males and females) were immature, whereas none were in 1999. In 2000, clutch size and hatching success were 4.4 and 3.1 eggs per nest, respectively. Of 10 pairs monitored in 2000, six hatched at least one chick and five raised young to a bandable age. However, only three pairs successfully fledged at least one young that year, whereas all seven nests observed in 1999 did so. Unseasonable weather in 2000 may have contributed to this decrease in nesting success. / In 2000, levels of organochlorines were measured in blood samples taken from sharpshin females and their young at five of the above-mentioned 10 nests. While most compounds were not detected at all, or at least not at levels likely to affect reproduction, concentrations of DDE and PCB's in these breeding females were much higher than in female migrants previously sampled in the eastern United States or Great Lakes. Whereas global contamination of the environment appears to be the source of PCB exposure, this population may be accumulating DDE on its wintering grounds. / Habitat assessments were conducted at 12 sharpshin nests over both years of the study. Means of the variables measured (among others) were nest tree height, 15.3 m; tree density, 1052/ha; total canopy cover, 86.7%; coniferous cover, 42.95%; and distance to the nearest opening, 17.5 m. Nests were found in a range of forested habitats, but this population did not exhibit a noteworthy degree of plasticity with respect to the measured parameters. That these sharpshins tended to use structurally older stands with more deciduous cover than other populations did may reflect regional differences in habitat availability and/or in the abundance of competitors.