Thesis (M.Sc.)--Acadia University, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 132-141). Also available on the Internet via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.Arch.)--University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available in print.

The history and development of National Park Systems in Canada and the United States are traced over the last 120 years, and the policies determining their management are examined and compared to identify basic similarities and differences. Official government reports and policy statements, historical records, and pertinent books, articles, and bulletins were used as references for the study. Emphasis is placed on recent history and existing policies. It is concluded that the philosophies governing National Parks policy have been, and still are, significantly different, and as a result, the National Park Systems of the two countries differ both physically and conceptually. United States policy has traditionally reflected a greater public and administrative concern for the protection of natural environments within the National Parks. As a result, attempts are being made to reduce the purely recreational character of the National Parks, and to divert the recreationists to other types of areas, such as National Recreation Areas and National Seashores. In recent years, concerted attempts to alienate areas within the parks have been defeated, primarily through the existence of a strong preservationist movement in the country. The establishment of the National Wilderness Preservation System demonstrates a widespread recognition of natural area preservation as a nationally significant land use. In Canada, National Parks policy has been much less concerned with nature preservation and protection. The provision of public recreation has gradually become the dominant theme of Canadian National Parks policy, with concern for natural areas only recently emerging. No widespread preservationist philosophy has existed in Canada. Despite Canada's lower population, recreation facilities and accommodations in the parks are generally more elaborate and extensive than in the United States. In general terms, the thrust of policy in Canada has been to preserve a quasi-natural setting for enjoying recreational activities, while in the United States, policy has been directed towards preserving and maintaining natural environments. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of / Graduate

Contemporary efforts to conserve and restore the marine environment are centred on regulating anthropogenic activities in defined ocean areas through marine protected areas (MPAs). This spatially explicit approach is contingent upon a good understanding of the biology and distribution of species. However, our understanding of many rare and threatened benthic species, for which conservation MPAs are currently being designated, is poor. The fan mussel, Atrina fragilis (Pennant 1777), a rare and vulnerable sessile benthic species that shows a reduced distribution compared to historical accounts, was used as a case species. Identifying the larvae of sessile benthic species is an essential first step in informing their conservation. Here, the first description of larva belonging to A. fragilis is presented along with key life-history traits. A point process modelling framework appropriate for the analysis of presence-only data, along with techniques to address both observer bias and uncertainties with historical occurrence records, were employed to successfully predict the distribution of A. fragilis, revealing potentially important drivers in its current distribution. The transport of A. fragilis larva, taking into account key aspects of life-history, habitat suitability and fine scale hydrodynamics, was modelled to investigate potential levels of connectivity within the Scottish sea area, allowing the potential supply of larvae to areas of suitable habitat and the Scottish MPA network to be evaluated. To date there has been no consideration of the likely effectiveness of measures in most inshore MPAs. Here we assessed the siting of MPAs in relation to fishing intensity and seabed ruggedness on the west coast of Scotland. The results suggest little reduction in fishing pressure is effected by current restrictions on activity in the subset of MPAs investigated, with protection principally being applied to rugged areas that may already act as natural refugia for vulnerable benthic species such as A. fragilis.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Queensland, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (MReg & UrbPlan)--University of South Australia, 1998

Thesis (M.U.R.P. 1979) from the Department of Architecture, University of Adelaide.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Depts. of Applied Mathematics, Environmental Science and Management, 2000? / Bibliography: leaves 170-179.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Faculty of Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources, University of Sydney, 2007. / Title from title screen (viewed on August 9, 2007). Includes graphs, tables. Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy to the Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. Bibliography: leaves 304-313. Also issued in print.