vi, 190 leaves [50] leaves of maps, [4] leaves of plates (1 col.) : ill. ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Zoology, 1981

Abatement of damage caused by wildlife is an ongoing challenge throughout the world. Kangaroos are often considered problem species in Australia because they cause damage to vehicles and farm properties, as well as compete with livestock for food and water. Kangaroos are currently controlled in some areas by exclusion fencing, but mostly by shooting. The general public is applying pressure for the use of non-lethal methods of control with minimal pain to the animal and high target specificity. Deterrents are a common non-lethal method to control problem wildlife. (For complete abstract open document)

The hybrids of three members of the viatica group of morabine grasshoppers from Kangaroo Island, South Australia, were studied. These members of the viatica group, which are primarily distinguished by their chromosome complements, have contiguous distributions. Grasshoppers collected from three narrow zones of overlap were studied cytologically. Breeding experiments were also conducted. The results of these studies indicate that a number of different factors contribute to the narrowness of the zones.

Many national parks in Australian rangelands were formerly grazing properties. Even after domestic stock has been removed, the landscapes, especially those near artificial watering points, remained degraded with little or no regeneration of native plants. Congregating large macropods have often been blamed for impeding regeneration of plant communities and rehabilitation of these degraded landscapes. Following a severe drought which reduced densities of large macropods very significantly in Idalia National Park, central-western Queensland, I investigated whether closure of watering points would hamper their recolonisation and influence their grazing distribution and forage selection in the park. I also determined the spatial and temporal pattern of degradation around the watering points, using a suite of indicators. A BACI (Before After Control Impact) type experiment was conducted using two replicate watering points each for impact (fenced) and control (unfenced) treatments. Two watering points were fenced off behind a kangaroo-proof fence in August and December 2002, respectively, in the deepening drought. Walked 4 km line transects were used to estimate densities of red kangaroos (Macropus rufus) and wallaroos (M. robustus) in areas within a 4 km radius of each watering point. The accumulation of dung pellets was used to estimate the grazing distribution of large macropods around water. Abundance and composition of vegetation were monitored on fixed transects using a 0.5 * 0.5 m quadrat 0.5 to 4 km from each watering point. Herbivore offtake was monitored using a movable cage technique. Measures of landscape function (stability, infiltration and nutrient rating) and ant composition were monitored at various distances from each watering point. Monitoring was commenced two to six months before the closure of watering points and completed 21 and 25 months following the closure, every two to five monthly to follow changes in large macropod densities and vegetation communities. Prior to the drought, densities up to 130 large macropods km-2 were recorded in the park. The average density of wallaroos declined by 97.7% during the drought whereas that of red kangaroos declined by 83.8%. The first substantial rain fell in January 2003, but rainfall throughout the study period continued to be much lower than the long-term median, except for January 2004 when more than half the average annual rainfall fell, causing major flooding. Closure of watering points coincident with the drought inhibited red kangaroo recolonisation by 40% in the areas surrounding fenced watering points for up to 21 months following the closure, with distances to alternative watering points being 3.8-6.6 km. Red kangaroos in an area surrounding one of the unfenced watering point recovered to the pre-drought average density. The grazing distribution of large macropods within 4 km from the watering points, however, was determined primarily by where plentiful food resources were, not by the location of water. Large macropods in the areas without access to water did not select forage with higher water contents, compared to those in the areas with water access. Differences in their forage preference between the two areas appeared to reflect the difference in vegetation composition between the areas. Sida filiformis, Cynodon dactylon and Tragus australianus, were identified as grazing sensitive plant species. In some cases, closing watering points helped these plants to increase their abundance following the drought. Most indicators (the percentage of bare soil, biomasses of perennial grasses and round-leaved chenopods, ant functional groups and the measures of landscape function) showed that the exclusion of mammalian grazing for more than a decade from long-term exclosures had facilitated regeneration of perennial grasses and landscape rehabilitation at least at some sites. At one long-term exclosure, where topsoil and seed bank had presumably been lost already, no regeneration occurred. When several indicators were used to determine land conditions around watering points, their responses were not always consistent. Nevertheless, the overall spatial patterns of degradation did not match the spatial pattern of grazing distribution by large macropods around water. Therefore, the current degradation appears to be a legacy of the livestock overgrazing that had continued for more than 100 years prior to the park establishment. The large drought-induced reduction in the large macropod densities did not result in any conspicuous reversal of the patterns of degradation around the watering points.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Rhode Island, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 121-129).

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:29:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2003-12-12Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:58:27Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 moura_smsr_me_assis.pdf: 747183 bytes, checksum: 1545f3f26717d129f05d202d1d54a49a (MD5) / Este trabalho problematiza as práticas discursivas e não discursivas referentes ao papel materno que circulam no âmbito da saúde pública e no contexto da família. Para isso utilizamos um programa de saúde materno-infantil - o Programa Canguru, contextualizando historicamente os elementos envolvidos tanto em sua concepção quanto em sua efetivação: o conceito de maternidade, as práticas de maternagem e as políticas de humanização ao atendimento desenvolvido nas instituições hospitalares. Nosso objetivo foi analisar como estes elementos se articulam na construção de novos sentidos para o papel materno. Para isso entrevistamos dez mulheres usuárias do Programa Canguru num hospital da rede pública e também as observamos durante esta prática. Na análise dos dados utilizamos como método a análise do discurso. A partir de núcleos de sentidos apreendidos nos discursos das entrevistadas, definimos quatro dimensões de análise: família e religião; o impacto do nascimento prematuro; desconfiança e resistência nas relações com instituições e profissionais de saúde; e a experiência com o Programa Canguru. No trabalho analítico buscamos apreender o processo de singularização e as estratégias utilizadas pelas entrevistadas na produção de sentidos sobre a maternidade e as práticas de maternagem. A família, estruturada de forma hierárquica e com rígida divisão de papéis segundo o sexo, aparece como o principal organizador das experiências das entrevistadas e dos sentidos atribuídos à maternidade. O exercício da maternidade é descrito como essencial para a constituição do papel feminino. A religião surge... / This paper question the speech practices and non speech referring at the maternal function that are around the ambit of the public health and in the family context. For that was used a health program of maternal-childish - The Kangaroo Care, putting on the historical context the elements that are involved as much the conception as the effectuation: the concept of maternity, the practices of maternal care and the policy of humanization of the service developed at the hospital institutions. Our goal was analyze how these elements are articulate at the construction of new feelings to maternal play. So we interviewed ten women that was usurers of the Kangaroo Care in a public hospital and we observed them during the practice too. At the analyze of the dates it was used as a method the analyze of the speech. From the nucleus of the senses took at the speech of the subject, were define four dimensions to analyze: family and religion; the impact of the premature birth; suspicion and resistance in relations with institutions and health workers; and the experience with the Kangaroo Care. At the analytic work we tried to took the process of the signalize and the strategies used by the subjects at the production of the feelings about the maternity and the practices of maternal care. The family that has a hierarchy structure and rigid division of places according to the sex, appears as a mainly organizer of the experiences of the subjects and of the feelings attributed to maternity. The exercise of the maternity is descript as essential to the constitution of the feminine place. Religion shows up as an important element to guarantee the emotional support to the family in situation of crises, such as a premature birth of a child... (Complete abstract, click electronic access below)

Structural aberrations induced in chromosomes by irradiation have been described and classified in great detail (Bender, 1969; Arena, 1971). According to Bender (1969), these aberrations appear after exposure to ionizing irradiation following cell division, or persist unmodified and unrecognizable in interphase cells for many years. In either case, these aberrations persist and can be seen years after radiation exposure.

The Northern Pocket Gopher (Thomomyst alpoides) is common on open range lands at high altitudes, and range management personnel have long been confronted with the problem of controlling gopher populations. Although some studies indicate that pocket gophers have little or no injurious effects on range in good condition, other studies show that large populations of these animals can seriously damage seeded ranges and ranges in poor condition (Colorado State University Exp, Stat., 1960). Julander, Low, and Morris (1969) indicate that in areas where gophers have reached populations of 27-39 gophers per acre, forage removal by gophers may be from 4.75 to 7 pounds of fresh weight vegetation per acre per day. This converts to 435-670 pounds of airdry plant material per acre per year. On depleted ranges this represents a large percentage of the total annual growth. Hansen (1965) reported that in 1961 gophers numbered 52 per acre on Black Mesa, Colorado, Such a high density of gophers could have drastic effects on range soils and vegetation.

The purpose of this study was to determine the morphological differences in the osteology and musculature of the thoracic limb of the pocket gopher and kangaroo rat. This was accomplished by first, collection of specimens, second, the preservation and preparation of bones and muscles tor study and illustration, third, sketching and photograph­ing the sketches, fourth, noting and recording origins and insertions as well as any differences in the modification of anatomy with relation to habitat requirements. These two closely related families, Geomyide and Heteromyidae, show great morphological differences. Comparative volumetric measurements show that the forelimb of the pocket gopher is approximately twice the size of the fore­limb of the kangaroo rat. Differences in the myology were found in relative length, thickness, shape, overall size, and in origin and insertion. Variations were also found in the osteology of the two forms. These differences were gen­eral outline, locations of the tuberosities for muscle attach­ment and in the length and placement of the various bone processes.

A systematic study of parasitic mites on kangaroo rats at the Nevada Test Site, Nye County, Nevada, was conducted from August, 1959, to December, 1961. The intent was to determine their kinds, numbers, seasonal occurrence, and ecological relationship with Dipodomys merriami merriami Mearns and Dipodomys microps occidentalis Hall and Dale in nuclear disturbed and contiguous undisturbed areas. Study areas were established in three major valleys -- Jackass Flats, Yucca Flat, and F renchman Flat.