Thesis (M.A.)--York University, 2005. Graduate Programme in Psychology. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 80-86). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:MR19717

Thesis (M.A.)--York University, 2003. Graduate Programme in Psychology. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 64-70). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url%5Fver=Z39.88-2004&res%5Fdat=xri:pqdiss&rft%5Fval%5Ffmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&rft%5Fdat=xri:pqdiss:MQ99378

Diploma thesis (Biology)--Universität Hannover, 2004. / "2004"--title page. Title from initial PDF page image (viewed October 5, 2006). Includes bibliographical references (p. 47-53).

Thesis (M.A.) - Simon Fraser University, 2005. / Theses (Dept. of Archaeology) / Simon Fraser University. Also issued in digital format and available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Murdoch University, 2001. / Thesis submitted to the Division of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences. Bibliography: leaves 242-275.

No description available.

Presented as Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1933. / Cover title. Reprinted from American journal of anatomy, vol. 56, no. 2 (Mar. 1935). Includes bibliographical references (p. 256).

Orangutans are the only great ape to live an almost completely arboreal lifestyle, spending the majority of their time in the canopy of the tropical forest. The orangutans’ large size and habitual arboreal lifestyle means they are uniquely constrained by the mechanical properties of their canopy habitat. It is therefore necessary to have knowledge of the mechanics of trees and the wood material of which they are made in order to gain a greater understanding of orangutan ecology. This thesis begins with an investigation into the bending failure of three temperate tree species. Observations and electron microscopy of the fractures of hand bent branches were coupled with mechanical tests of the branch structures and the wood material. It was shown that the fracture mechanisms observed were related to the anatomy and consequent mechanical properties of the wood material. Light woods buckled due to their low transverse compressive strength, whilst denser woods tend to break in greenstick fracture, in which the fracture is diverted longitudinally at the midline, due to the low tangential tensile strength of the wood material. Three neotropical tree species were investigated in the same way and it was shown that all species tested failed in greenstick fracture with the modes of failure explained, at least in part by the differences in their wood anatomy and mechanical properties. These results were used to inform an investigation of orangutan nest architecture. The compliance of the nest structures was measured and the morphology, mechanical properties and modes of fracture of the nest elements were recorded. It was shown that nests were slightly more compliant where the orangutans’ weight was situated. Orangutans built the structural part of the nest by selecting, half breaking and weaving together thicker more rigid branches. However, the nest lining was generally made from completely detached narrower and less rigid branches. This suggests orangutans have a degree of technical knowledge, selecting the correct material for a certain construction role. In order to achieve a greater understanding of the mechanically complex canopy substrate that the orangutan inhabits, a study in to the mechanics of the canopy substrate was performed. Direct measurements of compliance and frequency of oscillation were taken from a range of tropical branches used by orangutans. It was shown that compliance increases dramatically towards the tip of branch and that branch diameter is the most effective branch morphological trait for predicting compliance levels. This study allowed a greater understanding of how these properties may affect orangutan ecology. To address whether conditions are present for energy storage and return during bouts of orangutan bipedalism, measurements of compliance and branch oscillation times were used in conjunction with analysis of video footage of orangutans. It was found that long step times of orangutans fall between the minimum and optimum step times for energy return, calculated from mechanical properties of bipedal supports. These results were supported by videos demonstrating in-phase branch movement and step kinematics. These results suggest that local diameter is the single most useful trait to predict the strength and rigidity of tropical branches, and their compliance and oscillatory frequency. This suggests that this is the cue used by the apes, and helps validate the assumptions made by previous researchers investigating arboreal primate locomotion. They also suggest that the conditions do exist in the natural environment that may facilitate energy storage and return on compliant branches during bipedal locomotion.

This research addressed two important issues concerning conservation of orang-utans in Indonesia, the prevalence of diseases in orang-utans at reintroduction centres and the extent of intra-subspecific genetic variation between isolated populations of Bornean orang-utans. The research was conducted at the Wanariset Orang-utan Reintroduction Centre in East Kalirnantan fiom 1994 to 1997, during which time extensive field excursions were made throughout Borneo, and at the Biomedical Primate Research Centre in the Netherlands in 1998. Analysis of clinical records fiom 1991 to 1997 showed that during this period 339 orang-utans were admitted to Wanariset, of which 96 (28.3%) died and 108 (31.8%) were released. Studies were designed to identify and determine the prevalence of diseases, specifically gastro-intestinal parasites, tuberculosis and certain viral diseases. Further studies defined the factors associated with mortalities of orang-utans at the reintroduction centre. Gastro-intestinal parasites, in particular Strongyloides spp. and Balantidium coli, posed health problems for rehabilitant orang-utans. Strongyloides spp. and Strongyle sp. eggs and B. coli were detected in faecal samples from new arrivals, rehabilitant, released and wild individuals. Trichuris trichura was present in new arrivals, released and rehabilitant orang-utans, whereas Ascaris sp., and Cyclospora sp. were present only in rehabilitants. There was a high prevalence of B. coli in new arrivals (41.6%), rehabilitants (100%) and released individuals (100%) and a low prevalence in wild individuals (12.5%). Faecal egg counts of individuals infected with Strongyloides spp. showed that 47.8% of rehabilitants and 14.3% of new arrivals had egg counts over 1000 eggs/gm, 81.8% of released individuals had egg counts less than 500 eggslgm and all wild individuals had egg counts less than 100 eggs/mg. Strongyloidosis was the primary cause of death (21.9%) of rehabilitant orang-utans, prior to the incorporation of oral ivermectin into the parasite control program. There was a low prevalence of tuberculosis, which was detected in one individual (0.8%) and suspected to have caused the death of two others (2.1% of deaths). Diagnosis of tuberculosis in orang-utans was complicated by inaccuracies and difficulties in interpreting the diagnostic tests commonly used in humans and nonhuman primates. Further research is required to develop more reliable and accurate tests for the diagnosis of tuberculosis in orang-utans. A study of the serological prevalence of a number of viral infections in captive orangutans showed evidence of exposure to hepatitis B virus (42.6%), hepatitis A virus (34.9%), herpes simplex viruses (14.7%), simian D-type retroviruses (11.2%) and human T-lymphotrogic viruses (1.4%). There was no evidence of exposure to simian or human immunodeficiency viruses. Molecular studies to determine the origin of the hepatitis B virus, showed the virus was not of human origin as has been generally assumed, but was an indigenous virus which also occurred naturally in wild populations. The virus was subsequently named Orangutan Hepadnavirus. A molecular study using mitochondrial DNA was undertaken to determine whether there was significant genetic diversity between six isolated populations of wild orangutans within Borneo. It was concluded that there are at least four genetically distinct populations located in East Kalimantan, southwest Kalirnantdcentral Kalirnantan, northwest KalimantdSarawak, and Sabah. The findings of this research are discussed in terms of the implications for management policies for reintroduction centres, as well as for the conservation of wild populations. They will also be of relevance to zoos and primate centres.

Thesis (M.A.)--York University, 2006. Graduate Programme in Psychology. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 117-120). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:MR29584