Through the examination of four different burial sites located on the island of Öland this essay identifies and interprets different socially constructed age groups present in iron age communities based on the graves of children from the period. This is done mainly by studying the placements, constructions and contents of the graves, as well as the relationships between the graves on the burial sites.

Fire may alter both aquatic and terrestrial habitat used by all amphibian life stages, yet, our knowledge of its effects on amphibians is primarily limited to adult responses. I present an integrated approach to test the response of Cope’s Gray Treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis) to fire by examining responses in tadpole performance and survivorship, adult abundance, and oviposition. Tadpoles raised with burned leaf litter had similar survival, but total mass and total length were 440% and 170% greater, respectively, for tadpoles raised in unburned litter. I assessed terrestrial and aquatic oviposition cues by embedding burned and unburned litter treatments within burned and unburned terrestrial plots. Oviposition was an order of magnitude higher in unburned plots, regardless of the litter treatment. This difference was not statistically significant or driven by adult abundance. My results indicate the need to explore the dynamic effects forest management practices can have on amphibians across life stages.

Alkylphenanthrenes such as retene (7-isopropyl-1-methylphenanthrene) are aquatic contaminants commonly found in anthropogenically-, industrially-, and petroleum-contaminated environments, and have been implicated in crude oil toxicity. In the early life stages (ELS) of fish, exposures to alkylphenanthrenes produce signs of toxicity typical of those observed in exposures to halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons, particularly to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). TCDD, the most toxic congener, serves as the basis of the current mechanism-based risk assessment model. The model assumes that congeners that produce TCDD-like toxicity share a common mode of action and act additively. The mechanism of TCDD-like toxicity is assumed to be mediated by the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), a ligand-activated transcription factor involved in the xenobiotic response (e.g., induction of cytochrome P450 1A enzymes; CYP1A) and in normal development. CYP1A enzymes are not involved in the mechanism of TCDD toxicity. Alkylphenanthrenes toxic to the ELS of fish are AhR ligands, but in contrast to TCDD, are readily metabolized by CYP1A enzymes. The byproducts of CYP1A metabolism have been implicated in retene toxicity. However, the target tissue of retene and the direct roles of AhR and CYP1A in retene toxicity are unknown, but are expected to be similar to those of TCDD. The results presented in this thesis suggest that in the ELS of fish: (1) the primary target of retene is the cardiovascular system (Chapters 2 & 5); (2) retene toxicity is stage-specific (Chapter 2); (3) the mechanism of retene toxicity is mediated by AhR2, and is independent of CYP1A enzymes (Chapter 5); (4) multiple CYP1A-independent toxicities can result from exposures to different mixtures of CYP1A inducing (retene) and CYP1A inhibiting (alpha-naphthoflavone or 2-aminoanthracene) PAHs (Chapters 3 & 4); and (5) multiple concentration-dependent mechanisms of toxicity (i.e., synergism and response addition) can occur in co-exposures of a CYP1A inducer (retene) with a range of CYP1A inhibitor (alpha-naphthoflavone) concentrations (Chapter 3). Thus, retene toxicity is mechanistically similar to that of TCDD toxicity, suggesting alkylphenanthrenes can be included in the current risk assessment model. However, the observed variable mixture toxicities and species differences in retene toxicity raise questions about the effectiveness of this model. / Thesis (Ph.D, Biology) -- Queen's University, 2009-01-13 12:10:31.373

The general aim of this study was to research the relationship between psychosocial functioning and emotional intelligence in a sample of 69 employees in different organisational settings in South Africa. Each respondent completed the Personal Multi-Screening Inventory (PMSI) and the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT). The research findings indicated that there are significant relationships between subscales of the PMSI and subscales of the MSCEIT, in that the ability to manage emotions is associated with low levels of Helplessness, Stress and Frustration, and high levels of Expectation, Satisfaction and Achievement, whereas the ability to perceive emotions is associated with low levels of Satisfaction and Achievement. A relatively high level of the ability to perceive emotions is also associated with Helplessness. It is recommended that employee wellness interventions in the workplace be enhanced through emotional intelligence mediation of negative psychosocial functioning. The study is concluded with recommendations for further research. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M. A. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

The general aim of this study was to research the relationship between psychosocial functioning and emotional intelligence in a sample of 69 employees in different organisational settings in South Africa. Each respondent completed the Personal Multi-Screening Inventory (PMSI) and the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT). The research findings indicated that there are significant relationships between subscales of the PMSI and subscales of the MSCEIT, in that the ability to manage emotions is associated with low levels of Helplessness, Stress and Frustration, and high levels of Expectation, Satisfaction and Achievement, whereas the ability to perceive emotions is associated with low levels of Satisfaction and Achievement. A relatively high level of the ability to perceive emotions is also associated with Helplessness. It is recommended that employee wellness interventions in the workplace be enhanced through emotional intelligence mediation of negative psychosocial functioning. The study is concluded with recommendations for further research. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M. A. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

This research explores the capacity for functional photoreception in larvae of the mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae), an extremely important forest pest insect that is well adapted for development beneath the bark of pine trees. Phototaxis tests, gene expression analysis and development experiments were integrated to assess mountain pine beetle larvae for light sensitivity. When presented with a phototaxis choice test, larvae preferred dark over light microhabitats, revealing that larvae sense and respond behaviourally to light. Long wavelength opsin transcription was identified in all life stages, including eggs and larvae, suggesting that D. ponderosae possesses extraretinal photosensitive capabilities across its life cycle. The long wavelength opsin could function in phototaxis or the development phenology of immature beetles, while the ultraviolet opsin, only found to be expressed in pupae and adults, is likely to function in dispersal via the compound eyes. Results from two development experiments reveal an effect of photoperiod treatment on beetle development rate when reared from the egg stage, but not when reared from mature larvae, indicating that a critical photosensitive life stage(s) must occur in D. ponderosae prior to the third larval instar. An effect of photoperiod on adult emergence rates, however, appears to be independent of larval rearing conditions. The discovery of opsin expression and negative phototaxis in eyeless mountain pine beetle larvae, in addition to an effect of photoperiod on immature development and adult emergence rates, suggest that light and photoperiodism likely function in survival and life cycle coordination in this species. / Graduate / 2018-10-17

Increasing sea levels and anthropogenic disturbances have caused the world’s coastal vegetation to decline 25-50% in the past 50 years. Future sea level rise (SLR) rates are expected to increase, further threatening coastal habitats. In combination with SLR, the Everglades ecosystem has undergone large-scale drainage and restoration changing Florida’s coastal vegetation. Everglades National Park (ENP) has 21 coastal plant species threatened by SLR. My dissertation focuses on three aspects of coastal plant community change related to SLR and dehydration. 1) I assessed the extent and direction coastal communities—three harboring rare plant species—shifted from 1978 to 2011. I created a classified vegetation map and compared it to a 1978 map. I hypothesized coastal communities transitioned from less salt- and inundation-tolerant to more salt- and inundation-tolerant communities. I found communities shifted as hypothesized, suggesting the site became saltier and wetter. Additionally, all three communities harboring rare plants shrunk in size. 2) I evaluated invading halophyte (salt-tolerant) plant influence on soil salinity via a replacement series greenhouse experiment. I used two halophytes and two glycophytes (non-salt-tolerant) to look at soil salinity over time under 26 and 38‰ groundwater. I hypothesized that halophytes increase soil salinity as compared to glycophytes through continued transpiration during dry, highly saline periods. My results supported halophytic influence on soil salinity; however, not from higher transpiration rates. Osmotic or ionic stress likely decreased glycophytic biomass resulting in less overall plant transpiration. 3) I assessed the best plant life-stage to use for on-the-ground plot-based community change monitoring. I tested the effects of increasing salinity (0, 5, 15, 30, and 45‰) on seed germination and seedling establishment of five coastal species, and compared my results to salinity effects on one-year olds and adults of the same species. I hypothesized that seedling establishment was the most vulnerable life-stage to salt stress. The results supported my hypothesis; seedling establishment is the life-stage best monitored for community change. Additionally, I determined the federally endangered plant Chromolaena frustrata’s salinity tolerance. The species was sensitive to salinity >5‰ at all developmental stages suggesting C. frustrata is highly threatened by SLR.

After European settlement, Australian rangelands especially in South Australia underwent significant changes because of the main land use of pastoralism. Many studies have revealed that the plant communities are negatively effected by herbivory mainly by sheep. The main aim of this study is to separate the different effects of sheep, rabbits and kangaroos. This was examined by survey supported by experimental and modelling research. A 32,000 km² area previously surveyed by Tiver and Andrew (1997) in eastern South Australia was re-surveyed to monitor populations of perennial plant species at sites of various intensity of grazing by sheep, rabbits and kangaroos (goats populations are low in the study area), the most important vertebrate herbivores. Plant population data were collected in both sheep paddocks and historically ungrazed by sheep (road reserves) by using the Random Walk method and analyzed using Generalized Linear Modelling (GLM) to separate the effects of sheep and rabbits on plant regeneration and their regeneration in response to grazing. These data were also compared to similar data collected by Tiver and Andrew in 1992 (1997) to ascertain if the reduction in rabbit numbers through introduction of RCV had allowed increased regeneration. Regeneration of many species inside paddocks were negatively affected and species in roadside reserves neither did not significantly increase from 1992 to 2004. However, some species showed increase of populations in spite of sheep grazing, with some species being less susceptible than others. This research also indicates kangaroo grazing impact on some plant species. Reduction in rabbit numbers following the 1995 release of calicivirus has not been effective in restoring regeneration. Another experiment was conducted at Middleback Field Station near Whyalla to identify herbivore grazing pressure on the arid zone plant species Acacia aneura using unfenced, sheep fenced and rabbit fenced grazing exclosures. This experiment was set up with seedlings in exclosures, ten replicates of each treatment, at plots four different distances from the watering point to identify the survivorship of seedlings. Data were collected by recording canopy volumes of seedling over an 18 month period and analyzed by Residual Maximal Likelihood (REML). Seedlings both near and far from the watering point were severely effected by large herbivores, either sheep, kangaroos or both, and in a separate experiment kangaroo grazing effects on the seedling were also identified. Seedlings browsed by the rabbits were recovered better than the seedlings grazed by the large herbivores. Decreasing kangaroo activities has been noticed when the rabbit movements increased. Computer modelling was conducted to predict the future plant population structure over 500 years using a matrix population model developed by Tiver et al. (2006) and using data collected in the survey as a starting point. Extinction probabilities of populations of Acacia aneura near watering points, far from watering points and under pulse grazing scenarios were compared. Sheep grazing was found to cause eventual extinction of populations in all parts of sheep paddocks. Together, the results indicate that sheep are the major herbivore suppressing regeneration of perennial plant species. Kangaroo and rabbits have an identifiable but lesser effect. The results have implications for conservation and pastoral management. To achieve ecological sustainability of arid lands a land-use system including a network of reserves ungrazed by sheep and with control of both rabbit and kangaroo numbers will be required.

This study explored the lived experience of Gen Z adults in a liminal life-stage crisis where the symbolic meaning of health, identity and brands are in transition. Sixteen ethnographic in-home interviews with college students were conducted and analyzed using Geertz's interpretive and Turner's symbolic anthropology. A hermeneutic textual analysis was used to interpret three types of phenomenological data: text, pictures and collages. An "incubation" step was key in the creative interpretation process where the leap from data to abstract themes was made. Environmental circumstances like money, time, resources and social networks change the quality of health, but the fundamental health explanatory system of a young person is a reflection of their family of origin experiences. Women associate health with mental health-independence and empowerment. Men define health as physical health-food and cooking. Skills such as cooking and shopping as well as the consumption of water, cannabis and other complementary products impact health and identity. Three health worldview themes emerged: health as negotiating identity; creating home; and taking responsibility. Implications for branding and public information campaigns to change the health beliefs and practices of young adults are offered. This thesis closes with a reflection on the "research study," the dominant symbol in the practice of research as a way to analyze the fluid role of consumer anthropology in a capitalist system.

Die salzhaltigen Abwässer des Kalibergbaues führen in natürlichen Süßwassersystemen zu Ionenimbalanzen und einer sekundären Versalzung der Werra in Deutschland. Die Auswirkungen dieser Ionenungleichgewichte auf die Reproduktion von Süßwasserfischen wurden unter Verwendung der Modellfischart Danio rerio untersucht. Angepasst an die aktuellen Grenzwerte für die Einleitung der Abwässer aus dem Kalibergbau wurden fünf verschiedene Kombinationen erhöhter Ionenkonzentrationen getestet. Während eines partiellen Lebenszyklustests wurden adulte Fische 35 Tage lang in den Salzkombinationen exponiert. Anschließend wurden die Nachkommen dieser Fische bis zum 8. Tag nach der Befruchtung den gleichen Salzkonzentrationen ausgesetzt. Zusätzlich wurden Early-Life-Stage-Tests (ELST) mit den Nachkommen von nicht exponierten Eltern durchgeführt. Im Vergleich zu natürlich vorkommenden Ionenkonzentrationen und -verhältnissen in Süßwassersystemen war die Befruchtungsrate der Eier für alle Ionenkombinationen signifikant niedriger, die Koagulations- und Deformationsrate jedoch signifikant höher. Die ELST ergaben bei den Embryonen und Larven u.a. vorzeitige und verlängerte Schlupfzeiten, verringerte Überlebensraten, erhöhte Deformationsraten und Herzschlagfrequenzen sowie Unregelmäßigkeiten des Ganzkörpergehalts von K, Mg, Na und Ca und des Ganzkörper-Ionenverhältnisses von Ca:Mg bei erhöhten Ionenkonzentrationen und Ionenimbalanzen. Im Vergleich zu den Effekten auf die Fortpflanzung und Entwicklung der Nachkommen waren die Effekte auf die adulten Tiere moderat. Die Ergebnisse dieser Dissertation zeigen, dass Teillebenszyklus-Tests besser als Fischeitests oder ELST geeignet sind, die Effekte von durch Abwasser verursachten Ionenimbalanzen, auf die Fortpflanzung und frühe Entwicklung von Süßwasserfischen, zu untersuchen. Weder die momentan gültigen noch die zukünftig herabgesetzten Grenzwerte bis 2027 sind danach als unschädlich, für die Reproduktion von Süßwasserfischen, zu betrachten. / The potash mining industry discharges saline effluents which generate ion imbalances in natural freshwater systems and cause severe secondary salinization in the river Werra in Germany. The effects of these ion imbalances on reproduction of freshwater fish were investigated using the fish model species Danio rerio. Five different combinations of elevated ion concentrations adjusted to the current threshold values for the discharge of potash mining effluents in Germany were tested. During a partial life cycle test, adult fish were exposed to the salt combinations for 35 days. Subsequently, the offspring were exposed to the same concentrations until hatch, and the larvae were further reared at the exposure concentrations from hatch until the 8th day post fertilization. Additionally, a standard early life stage test with offspring from unexposed parents was performed. Compared to naturally occurring ion concentrations and ratios in freshwater systems, the fertilization rate of the eggs was significantly lower for all ion combinations, while coagulation and deformation rates were significantly higher. Early life stage tests on embryos and larvae revealed premature and prolonged hatching times, reduced survival rates, increased deformation and heart rates and irregularities in whole body content of K, Mg, Na and Ca and whole body Ca:Mg ratios at elevated ion concentrations and imbalances of ion ratios. Compared to effects on reproduction and development of the offspring, effects on the parental generation were moderate. The results of this dissertation indicate that partial life cycle tests instead of fish egg tests or ELST are needed to examine most sensitively the effects of ion imbalances caused by potash mining effluents on reproduction and early development of freshwater fish. Neither the recent German threshold values nor the future reduced values until 2027 are safe for the reproduction of freshwater fish.