M.A. (Environmental Management) / Reptiles are internationally one of the least studied taxa compared to all other vertebrates, and even less is known about the large arachnids. This proves problematic as the environmental management of reptile and large arachnid species is generally neglected or only partially considered in environmental impact studies and conservation. Consequently, there is a considerable lack of knowledge on the ecological requirements (dietary and habitat requirements) of reptiles and invertebrates. Furthermore, the environmental management of reptiles and large arachnids in the Leeuspruit Private Nature Reserve is restricted as no data exists on the assemblage of these taxa in the study area. A model based approach was used to examine the ecology of species of reptiles and large arachnids (scorpions and baboon spiders) that were found in the Leeuspruit Private Nature Reserve during this study. The study proposes a baseline analysis between the species found in the study area and the suitability and availability of the ecological requirements necessary to their survival. The ecological requirements of each species were noted and utilised as the variable input categories in a scoring model developed for this study. Each species identified in the study area was allocated points from the scoring model based on favourable ecological requirements for that particular species. Field work was conducted in the Leeuspruit Private Nature Reserve in the northern Free State Province (March 2012 – March 2013) to do a survey on reptile and large arachnid diversity and to record the habitats in which they occur. A list of the reptiles and large arachnids found in the Leeuspruit Private Nature Reserve was compiled. One of the significant results which came to light during this study is that the diversity and abundance of reptiles and large arachnids are dependent on the availability and diversity of habitats with the necessary ecological requirements for those species. For example, the distribution of snake species was largely dependent on the abundance of amphibians and birds for food which coincided with a seasonal wetland in the study area; while rocks and detritus proved imperative to the seasonal functionality of the reptiles.

The study focuses on the development path of a tourism destination area centered around a special nature reserve and adjacent rural communities in the northern part of Serbia. Utilizing evolutionary economic geography (EEG) as an increasingly present theoretical and conceptual framework in the studies of tourism, this research project employs key EEG concepts of ‘path dependence’ and ‘co-evolution’. ‘Path dependence’ examines different social, economic, institutional and sectoral factors that direct, propel and/or hinder destination development, while ‘co-evolution’ analyzes causal and relational exchanges of stakeholders within and associated with the destination. The objective of this study is to trace developmental and relational trajectories of the nature reserve, tourism enterprises in its vicinity, and the place and role of public sector in these processes. The study, therefore, aims to analyze: (1) how the concept of ‘path dependence’ applies to the tourism development path of the nature reserve; (2) the dynamics of co-evolutionary and relational exchange processes in the nature reserve destination area, namely those occurring between actors operating in both public and private sectors. The two combined EEG approaches, previously not applied within the outlined geographical context, serve to illustrate and explain overall development mechanisms within a tourism destination, relevant economically, socio-culturally as well as environmentally for its region and on the tourism market of Serbia. When methodology is concerned, the study is in form of a case study, with primary data drawn from semi-structured, in-depth interviews and supported with complementary data from relevant scientific articles, government documents, web sites and other publications. The study findings show that the nature reserve in its tourism growth displays a path dependence determined by two seemingly diverging factors: (1) rules and regulations pertaining to protected areas such as nature reserves dictate tourism development and (2) the reserve management entrepreneurial skills play a noteworthy role in shaping its tourism growth. Apart from path dependence, the tourism development path associated with the nature reserve displays path plasticity, which represents a new direction in tourism growth based on the existing infrastructural and managerial framework. Moreover, the study outcomes indicate that levels, directions and intensity of co-evolutionary and relational exchanges among all stakeholders included demonstrate several different patterns. While there is detectable relationship between the nature reserve and most local tourism-related stakeholders, relationships among local stakeholders themselves are rather uneven. Similar patterns are found regarding the involvement of public sector. Public sector is closely linked with the nature reserve, however, its association with other tourism stakeholders in the destination area is uneven.  These findings support the idea that each destination area stands as a unique and complex entity, with various endogenous and exogenous factors shaping its growth.

D.Phil. / The endocrine system regulates important physiological processes in an organism. Numerous natural and synthetic chemicals are released into the environment and can disrupt the normal functioning of the endocrine system, influencing physiological processes even at relatively low concentrations. These chemicals are known as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). These compounds are highly persistent in nature due to a resistance to biodegradation, and because of their hydrophobicity. EDCs bio-accumulate especially in the fatty tissue of aquatic and terrestrial organisms. Developmental and reproductive disorders are potentially harmful effects of exposure. EDC sources include agricultural and urban runoff, and industrial effluent discharges that eventually pass through sewage- and wastewater treatment plants. These chemicals degrade at various rates and to varying extents during treatment processes, forming many new chemicals. Methods to predict the occurrence of endocrine disruption include the occurrence of intersex, and changes in spermatogenesis and secondary sexual characteristics (SSCs) of supposedly exposed organisms. The urogenital papilla (UGP) is a SSC whose development and morphology is hormonally controlled and may be influenced when exposed to EDCs. The sharptooth catfish (Ciarias gariepinus) is often used in environmental toxicity studies. Sex is determined by the external dimorphic UGP found only in males. Intersex has been observed in this species in South African freshwater systems. A field study was carried out in the Rietvlei (RVD) and Marais (MD) dams in the Rietvlei Nature Reserve (RNR). MD acts as a sedimentation dam before water enters RVD, and is theoretically more polluted. The RNR system receives effluent from various domestic and industrial sources including agriculture, industries, informal settlements and municipal sewage treatment plants. Four sampling surveys, two low and two high flow, were carried out over a period of two years. Supposedly male catfish (n=97) were collected and identified as male or possible intersex based on the UGP. Water and sediment was collected for target EDC and endocrine disrupting metal (EDM) analyses. Fish length and mass, and UGP length and width were measured. Laparotomy was performed and gonads were inspected macroscopically for alterations. A section of the gonad and the entire UGP was removed and processed according to standard techniques for histological analysis. The gonadosomatic- (GSI), hepatosomatic- (HSI) and UGP length (UGPLI) indices were calculated. Fish fat was removed and analysed for target EDCs.

The Quaternary Paleoecological Analysis of the Soos National Nature Reserve The aim of this proposed diploma thesis is to describe the structure of diatom communities in the diatomite deposits of the Soos National Nature Reserve and compare the finding of this thesis with those of older publications. Another aim was to reconstruct the history of the basin trough with the outputs of diatom analysis accomplished in the 3,4 m long sediment profile. The similarity of diatom communites in individual diatomite types was also tested. Key words: subfossil diatoms, Soos National Nature Reserve, paleolimnology, Late Glacial, Holocene

Naturreservat är en form av områdesskydd som kan användas för att ge värdefulla naturområden ett långsiktigt skydd. När ett naturreservat bildas är tanken att det ska finnas kvar mycket länge och att upphäva ett reservat kräver väldigt starka skäl. Naturreservat är den vanligaste formen av naturskydd i Sverige. Antalet reservat och den totala skyddade ytan har stigit mycket under de senaste årtiondena och anledningen till detta är att man inom miljö- och naturvårdspolitiken har satt upp tydliga mål som ska uppfyllas samt att lagstiftningen som finns är praktiskt tillämpbar. Att bilda ett naturreservat är en process med många steg. Syftet med denna uppsats är att utreda denna bildandeprocess, och jämföra tillvägagångssättet hos kommunerna och hos länsstyrelsen. Denna jämförelse begränsar sig till Stockholms län och reservat som vunnit laga kraft under de senaste tre åren. I undersökningen har skillnader i reservatens storlek, utformning, syften samt tidsåtgång noterats. De kommunala reservaten som ingår i undersökningen är större än länsstyrelsens. De kommunala reservaten är också mer spridda i sin utformning och har flikigare gränser. Tidsåtgången för en bildandeprocess varierar, naturreservaten som har bildats under de senaste tre åren i Stockholms län har tagit från drygt 1 år till 18,5 år att bilda. För de reservat som ingår i undersökningen har länsstyrelsens reservat i genomsnitt tagit längre tid att bilda än vad kommunernas reservat har tagit. Naturreservat kan bildas på fastigheter som ägs av andra än staten, då kan värdering och förhandling om marken bli ett tidskrävande moment. Tidsåtgången kan därför påverkas kraftigt av vem som äger marken som man ska bilda naturreservat på. En annan faktor för tiden det tar att bilda ett reservat är resursbrist, detta har framgått tydligast för reservaten bildade av länsstyrelsen där flera av reservatsärendena legat vilande under någon period på grund av personalbrist. / Establishing nature reserves is a long-term way of protecting valuable environments. A nature reserve is meant to last for a very long time and revoking one takes strong and valid reasons. Nature reserves are the most occurring type of nature protection in Sweden. The amount of reserves and the areal of protected estates have been increasing for the latest decades, due to clear goals and programs from the political field and a practically applicable legislature. The creating of a nature reserve is a multistep procedure. The purpose with this thesis is to investigate this procedure and to compare the method used by the municipalities and by the County Administrative Board. This comparison is limited to reserves that have won legal force during the past three years. In the comparison we have seen differences in the reserves size, shape, purposes and timescale. The nature reserves constituted by municipalities are larger than those created by the County Administrative Board. They are also more fragmented and uneven when it comes to shape and boundaries. The time that passes during the process can vary, for example the reserves in our review have taken from just over 1 year to 18.5 years to finish. The average timespan for the making of the nature reserves has been larger in the County Administrative Boards reserves than in the municipalities’. Nature reserves can be constituted on estates owned by others than the Government. When that is the case, valuing the property and negotiating with the owner may take a lot of time. The timescale can thus be largely influenced by who owns the land that is to be protected. Another factor of the timescale is lack of assets. This is most clear with the County Administrative Board, where several matters have been resting some time during the procedure, due to shortage of human resources.

Tätortsnära naturreservat med vandringsleder och stigar bidrar till mycket mänsklig aktivitet. Denna aktivitet kan mynna ut i skogsbränder och naturvårdsbränningar som påverkar mark, träd och annan vegetation och bidrar tillhögre naturvärden och gynnar de få arter som är beroende av brand. Syftet med studien var att inventera brandfält i naturreservat som uppkommit spontant eller av antropogena aktiviteter. Studien innefattade att utvärdera hur träden reagerat på brand och om branden lett till en förändrad biologisk mångfald.Tolv talldominerade brandfält i fyra naturreservat inventerades. Ett brandfält är efter en kontrollerad naturvårdsbränning medan orsaken till de andra är okända. Resultaten visar på lågt antal skadade och stående döda träd samt en låg andel föryngring i flera brandfält. Dessa bränder påverkar biodiversiteten genom att de har gett en förändrad struktur och livsmiljö i jämförelse med obrända miljöer.

Thesis (M.Sc.)--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Science, School of Botany, 1991 / The vegetation of the Nylsvley Nature Reserve situated in the Northern Transvaal, South Africa. is a semi·arid savanna dominated by Burkea qfricana and Eragrostis paUensf interspersed with patches of Acacia s_pp.and E, ie/t(lnumni(.ma. The Butkea savanna is established on soil which is naturally low in phosphorus while the A,,;acia savanna is established on soU with higber phosphorus levels. Spnres of vesictdar~arbusculat mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi Were extracted from soil samples by wet 8i:¢ving and sucrose ("mttifugation after which they.· were enumerated .and identified. Thirteen VAM species were isolated from the savanna regions. The population was composed of three Gloltlus spp .• four .4cQulosp()ra spp., one .Gigaspora sp., three Scutel!ispora spp. and tWQ species of uncertain identity. Root samples were cleated. and stained with acidic glycerol·tcypan blue and assessed for mycoufMal colonization. Significant positive correlations were indicated. between spore densities ar.d mycorrhizal root infection. The total 81)01:'e popUlation was negntively correlated wiUlavailuble P, organic C, K. Ca. Mg, and pH. ~'tldividual specles differed markedly from the population as a whole in their bltemctions with.,soil facrots, these wem. examined using linear regressions. The VA;M root colonization as assessed b)! the mycorrhizal % WassigIlfijcant!y negativr1v: (forrelated with P white. the frequency % was. negatively correlated. Wilh P and K. .The inter-relatidhs!;tips 'between the d.ifferentVA1\i ,species and enviro~~eiita1 factors were further explored using prinCipal com'ponent ana,lyt;ls. the population structure and the factors affecting the population ate discussed. ..bltemctions with.,soil facrots, these wem. examined using linear regressions. The VA;M root colonization as assessed b)! the mycorrhizal % WassigIlfijcant!y negativr1v: (forrelated with P white. the frequency % was. negatively correlated. Wilh P and K. .The inter-relatidhs!;tips 'between the d.ifferentVA1\i ,species and enviro~~eiita1 factors were further explored using prinCipal com'ponent ana,lyt;ls. the population structure and the factors affecting the population ate discussed. / MN (2017)

Seminaturliga gräsmarker är en av Europas artrikaste, men mest hotade naturmiljöer. För att rädda och bevara dess arter finns flera olika legala naturskydd med särskilda skötselkrav. Denna studie undersöker om skyddsstatusen gör någon skillnad för mångfalden bland kärlväxter på seminaturliga staggräsmarker. Undersökningen är liten, men trots få replikat pekar analysresultaten ändå på samma tendenser som andra och större studiers resultat. Analyser av insamlade data visar att de skyddade naturområdena har en rikare mångfald av kärlväxter i allmänhet och av naturvårdsarter i synnerhet. Resultaten visar att skötseln av den seminaturliga gräsmarken har betydelse då de skyddade gräsmarkerna har fler hävdgynnade arter. Någon särskild näringspåverkan kan inte påvisas i denna studie, vare sig i skyddade eller icke skyddade områden. De sammanlagda analyserna indikerar att det framför allt är naturskyddet och dess skötselkrav som påverkar mångfalden och artsammansättningen. Upphör hävd som slåtter och bete på seminaturliga gräsmarker leder det till minskad kärlväxtflora, i synnerhet av hävdgynnade arter och slutsatsen blir därmed att legalt skyddade naturmiljöer behövs för att rädda och bevara både hotade arter och hotad mångfald. / Semi-natural grasslands are one of Europe's most species-rich, but most threatened natural environments. In order to save and preserve species, there are several different legal nature reserves with special maintenance requirements. This study investigates whether conservation status makes a difference for the diversity of vascular plants in semi-natural grasslands. The study is very small, but despite few replicates, the analysis results still show the same tendencies as other and larger studies have done. Analysis of collected data shows that the protected natural areas have a richer diversity of vascular plants in general and of conservation indicator species in particular. The analysis results show that the management of the semi-natural grassland is important as the protected grasslands contain more species that are depended on mowing and grazing. The combined analyzes indicate that it is above all nature conservation and its management requirements that affect the diversity and species composition. Cessation of mowing and grazing on semi-natural grasslands leads to a reduction in vascular plant flora, especially species that are dependen on mowing and grazing, and the conclusion is thus that legally protected natural environments are needed to save and preserve both threatened species and threatened diversity.

Human influence extends across the globe, fromthe tallestmountains to the deep bottom of the oceans. There is a growing call for nature to be protected from the negative impacts of human activity (particularly intensive agriculture); so-called “land sparing”. A relatively new approach is “rewilding”, defined as the restoration of self-sustaining and complex ecosystems, with interlinked ecological processes that promote and support one another while minimising or gradually reducing human intervention. The key theoretical basis of rewilding is to return ecosystems to a “natural” or “self-willed” state with trophic complexity, dispersal (and connectivity) and stochastic disturbance in place. However, this is constrained by context-specific factors whereby it may not be possible to restore the native species that formed part of the trophic structure of the ecosystem if they are extinct (e.g., mammoths, Mammuthus spp., aurochs, Bos primigenius); and, populations/communities of native herbivores/predators may not be able to survive or be acceptable to the public in small scale rewilding projects close to areas of high human density. Therefore, the restoration of natural trophic complexity and disturbance regimes within rewilding projects requires careful consideration if the broader conservation needs of society are to be met. In some circumstances, managers will require a more flexible deliberate approach to intervening in rewilding projects using the range of tools in their toolbox (e.g., controlled burning regimes; using domestic livestock to replicate the impacts of extinct herbivore species), even if this is only in the early stages of the rewilding process. If this approach is adopted, then larger areas can be given over to conservation, because of the potential broader benefits to society from these spaces and the engagement of farmers in practises that are closer to their traditions. We provide examples, primarily European, where domestic and semi-domestic livestock are used by managers as part of their rewilding toolbox. Here managers have looked at the broader phenotype of livestock species as to their suitability in different rewilding systems. We assess whether there are ways of using livestock in these systems for conservation, economic (e.g., branded or certified livestock products) and cultural gains.

This project was initiated in an attempt to address the paucity of data on Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus) in Mainland China. Field work was carried out from May 2004 – August 2006 within the Tangjiahe National Nature Reserve in northwestern Sichuan Province, China. Initial methodology relied on trapping and GPS radio-collaring bears, but due to extreme difficulty with capturing a sufficient sample size, I expanded the study to include reproduction, feeding analysis from scats and sign, and occupancy modeling from sign surveys. I documented the home ranges of an adult female (100% MCP = 107.5km2, n=470 locations) and a sub-adult female (100%MCP = 5.9km2, n=36 locations) Asiatic black bear. I also documented two birthing occasions with a total of four male cubs produced and eight bear den sites. I collected feeding data from 131 scat samples and 200 bear sign transects resulting in 50 identified food items consumed by Asiatic black bears. I also employed the program PRESENCE to analyze occupancy data using both a standard grid repeated sampling technique and an innovative technique of aging bear sign along strip transect surveys to represent repeated bear occupancy over time. Conservation protection patrolling and soft mast were shown to be the most important factors determining the occupancy of an area by Asiatic black bears in Tangjiahe Nature Reserve, Sichuan Province, China. / Master of Science