This work presents study of parrot nestor kea. It is divided into two parts - theoretical and experimental part. Two chapters are dedicated to the theoretical part. This kind of parrot is connected to culture and relationship of local people. The first capture applies to enviroment in New Zealand, its inhabitants and their relationship between each other. The second chapter operates with detailed information about nestors. It's summary of available information about nestors from Czech and also foreign authors. The purpose of experimental part was to find out the possibilities of testing of cognitive abilities in conditions of zoo. We also passed the testing of cognitive abilities. We tried to define the factors that can involve the results of the testing. At the time we also suggested and proved a new system of experimental facility that can be used in our suggested future research. In the end we managed experimental testing of cognitive abilities of this kind of parrot that took place in zoo in Liberec. Key Words: nestor kea, research, cognitive abilities, zoo

Thesis (M.Sc.)--Victoria University of Wellington, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references.

University, Diss., 2001--Essen.

Cumulate xenoliths erupted with alkalic hawaiite lavas from a postshield cinder cone on Mauna Kea, Hawaii include a variety of mafic and ultramafic rock types. Previous studies of major and trace element compositions of minerals in the xenoliths are interpreted to show transitional to alkalic magma parentages from the postshield stage, although any orthopyroxene-bearing xenoliths are considered to have tholeiitic parents. Major element compositions minerals were analyzed using the electron microprobe and trace element compositions of clinopyroxene grains were analyzed by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. In this study, major element compositions of clinopyroxene, olivine and plagioclase grains and trace element compositions in clinopyroxene grains in xenoliths lacking orthopyroxene indicate a transitional magma parentage consistant with postshield magmas. Trace element compositions of possible parent magmas of the xenoliths were calculated from clinopyroxene compositions using partition coefficients for basaltic liquids from Hauri et al. (1994). Liquids calculated from the clinopyroxene in the xenoliths were compared to Mauna Kea shield lavas and to the postshield Hamakua and Laupahoehoe units. Chondrite-normalized rare earth element (REE) patterns of liquids calculated from both orthopyroxene-bearing xenoliths and those without orthopyroxene were similar REE patterns of both Mauna Kea postshield tholeitic and alkalic lavas. Liquids from a wehrlite and an olivine gabbronorite have REE patterns similar to tholeiitic shield basalts. To better distinguish the transitional xenolith sources as one of Mauna Kea's two postshield substages, the older, basaltic Hamakua unit or the younger hawaiitic Laupahoehoe unit, variation diagrams compared calculated liquid compositions to Mauna Kea lavas from the shield and postshield stages. Calculated liquid trace element concentrations are similar to those of Hamakua lavas.

The performance of astronomical interferometer arrays operating at (sub) millimeter wave-lengths is seriously compromised by rapid variations of atmospheric water vapour content that distort the phase coherence of incoming celestial signals. Unless corrected, these phase distortions, which vary rapidly with time and from antenna to antenna, seriously compromise the sensitivity and image quality of these arrays. Building on the success of a prototype infrared radiometer for millimeter astronomy (IRMA I), which was ued to measure atmospheric water vapour column abundance, this thesis presents results from a second generation radiometer (IRMA II) operating at the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT) on Mauna Kea, Hawaii from December, 2000 to March, 2001. These results include comparisons with other measures of water vapour abundance available on the summit of Mauna Kea and a comparison with a theorteical curve-of-growth calculated from a new radiative transfer model, ULTRAM, developed specifically for the purpose. Plans for a third generation radiometer (IRMA III) are also be discussed. / xii, 143 leaves : ill. ; 28 cm.

No description available.

The New Zealand alpine zone has many fleshy-fruited plant species, but now has a relatively depauperate animal fauna. The key question is, therefore, are native alpine plants still being dispersed, if so where to and by what? I first measured fruit removal rates among nine common species using animal-exclusion cages to compare natural fruit removal by all animals, and by lizards only. Over two years, mean percent of fruit removed by early winter ranged from 25–60% among species. Speed of fruit removal also varied depending on species. Secondly, I quantified which animals disperse (or predate) seeds of those fruits, into which habitats they deposit the seeds, and the relative importance of each animal species for dispersal, in two ways. A 2-year study using fixed-area transects to monitor faecal deposition showed that introduced mammals (especially possums, rabbits, hares, sheep, pigs and hedgehogs) were abundant and widespread through alpine habitat. Of the 25,537 faeces collected, a sub-sample of 2,338 was dissected. Most mammals dispersed most (> 90%) seeds intact. However, possums (numerically the important disperser) moved most seeds into mountain beech (Nothofagus solandri) forest, while rabbits, hares, and sheep dispersed seeds mainly into open grassland dominated by thick swards of exotic grasses (e.g. Agrostis capillaris and Anthoxanthum odoratum); all are less suitable microsites. Kea (Nestor notabilis), the largest and most mobile of only three remaining native alpine bird species, are potentially useful as a long-distance seed disperser, even though parrots are typically seed predators. I found that kea are numerically more important than all other birds combined, damage very few seeds, and are probably responsible for most dispersal of seeds between mountain ranges. Finally, I investigated the effects of seed deposition microsite (shady/high-light), pulp-removal (whole/cleaned), competition (soil dug/not-dug) and predation (caged/ not) on germination, growth and survival of eight subalpine plant species. There were strong positive effects of shady microsites for seed germination and seedling survival to 3.5 years for six of the eight species. Effects of other treatments were less important and varied among species and stages. Hence, both native birds and introduced mammals are dispersing alpine seeds, but the mammals often deposit seeds in habitats unsuitable for establishment. Any evaluation of the dispersal effectiveness of frugivores must consider their contribution towards the long-term success for plant recruitment through dispersal quantity and quality.

Fourier transform spectroscopy (FTS) is one of the premier ways to collect source information through emitted radiation. It is so named because the principal measurement technique involves the analysis of spectra determined from the Fourier transform of a time-domain interference pattern. Given options in the field, many space- and ground-based instruments have selected Fourier transform spectrometers for their measurements. The Herschel Space Observatory, launched on May 14, 2009, has three on-board instruments. One, SPIRE, comprises a FTS paired with bolometer detector arrays. SCUBA-2 (Submillimetre Common User Bolometer Array) and FTS-2 have recently been commissioned and will be mounted within the collecting dish of the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope by Fall, 2010. The use of FTS in these two observatories will be examined. While work towards each project is independently useful, the thesis is bound by the commonality between the two, as each seeks similar answers from vastly different viewpoints. / xvii, 123 leaves : ill. (some col.) ; 29 cm

Lead is a highly toxic metal that has been used by humans for over 2000 years. Over this time it has become increasingly apparent that despite its usefulness, lead is one of the most highly toxic substances known to man. Current research into lead exposure of humans focuses on low-level chronic exposure and its effects on learning and behaviour. However, investigations into lead exposure of wildlife are still focussed on mortalities, particularly of waterfowl and raptors, with little known about low-level exposures or the effects on other species. This study examines the exposure of free-ranging kea (Nestor notabilis) from the Aoraki/ Mt Cook village and national park, takahe (Porphyrio hochstetteri) from Tiritiri Matangi, Kapiti and Mana Islands, and the lead associated syndrome of clenched-claw paralysis and leg paresis in harriers (Circus approximans) in New Zealand. Thirty-eight kea had detectable blood lead with concentrations ranging from 0.028 mg/L to 3.43 mg/L (mean = 0.428 mg/L ± 0.581). Analysis of tissue samples found that seven of 15 birds died with elevated tissue lead. Lead exposure may be an important contributing factor in kea mortality. As a result of these findings, lead abatement in areas frequented by kea is being considered. Eighteen of 45 takahe had detectable blood lead concentrations ranging from 0.015 mg/L to 0.148 mg/L (mean = 0.028 mg/L ± 0.042). Analysis of tissue samples from offshore island and Murchison Mountains birds found that all had detectable lead. Despite levels of lead exposure in the population being low and unlikely to result in overt clinical signs, it is widespread and there may be significant exposure of birds living around old buildings. An investigation into the clinical signs, pathology and response to treatment of clenched-claw paralysis and leg paresis in wild harriers was carried out. Harriers with clenched feet had significantly higher blood lead concentrations than those without. In conclusion, lead is a major factor in the expression of this clinical syndrome but other factors not yet identified are playing a role. This study demonstrates that lead is widespread in the New Zealand environment exposing a diverse range of avifauna, and has made some progress towards exploring some of its effects on health and survival.

L’arrivée du spectromètre imageur à transformée de Fourier SITELLE au télescope Canada-France-Hawaï souligne la nécessité d’un calculateur de temps d’exposition permettant aux utilisateurs de l’instrument de planifier leurs observations et leurs demandes de temps de télescope. Une grande partie de mon projet est ainsi le développement d’un code de simulation capable de reproduire les résultats de SITELLE et de son prédecesseur SpIOMM, installé à l’Observatoire du Mont-Mégantic. La précision des simulations est confirmée par une comparaison avec des données SpIOMM et les premières observations de SITELLE. La seconde partie de mon projet consiste en une analyse spectrale de données observationelles. Prenant avantage du grand champ de vue de SpIOMM, les caractéristiques du gaz ionisé (vitesse radiale et intensité) sont étudiées pour l’ensemble de la paire de galaxies en interaction Arp 72. La courbe de rotation dans le visible ainsi que le gradient de métallicité de NGC 5996, la galaxie principale d’Arp 72, sont obtenues ici pour la première fois. La galaxie spirale NGC 7320 est également étudiée à partir d’observations faites à la fois avec SpIOMM et SITELLE. / The arrival of the Fourier-transform imaging spectrometer SITELLE at the Canada-France-Hawaii telescope highlights the importance of having an exposure time calculator allowing the instrument’s users to plan ahead their observing proposals. A large part of my project is the development of a simulator able to reproduce the results obtained with SITELLE and its predecessor SpIOMM. The accuracy of the simulations is confirmed through comparison with SpIOMM data and SITELLE’s first observations. The second part of my project is the spectral analysis of observational data. SpIOMM’s large field of view allows us to study the properties (radial velocities and line intensities) of the ionized gas through the entirety of Arp 72, a pair of interacting galaxies. For the first time, the rotation curve in the optical and the metallicity gradient are obtained for NGC 5996, the main galaxy in Arp 72. Both SpIOMM and SITELLE results are also shown for the dwarf spiral galaxy NGC 7320.