No description available.

Senna comprises c.300-350 species and is one of the most species-rich and widely distributed genera in the family Leguminosae (Fabaceae). It is most diverse in tropical America, with secondary centres of diversity in tropical Africa, Madagascar and Australia. Only a few species are found in South Eastern Asia and in the Pacific Islands. Several Senna species are used as purgatives or laxatives in medicine, and some species are cultivated for their attractive flowers and foliage. The taxonomic revision of Senna species from Arabia presented here is based principally on herbarium specimens from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and on field observations made in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of Yemen. These materials and observations also formed the basis for a review of the morphological features of the Senna species in Arabia, which was undertaken in the context of the morphological variability of the whole genus. The taxonomic revision recognises nine species that occur in Arabia: Senna alexandrina Mill., S. didymobotrya (Fresen.) H.S. Irwin & Barneby, S. holosericea (Fresen.) Greuter, S. hookeriana Batka, S. italica Mill., S. obtusifolia (L.) H.S. Irwin & Barneby, S. occidentalis (L.) Link, S. sophera (L.) Roxb. and S. tora (L.) Roxb. The study demonstrated that a putative tenth species, S. socotrana (Serrato) Lock, previously thought to be endemic to the region, is morphologically indistinguishable from the widespread Senna sophera. Consequently the study presents S. socotrana (Serrato) Lock as a syn. nov. Four taxa, S. alata (L.) Roxb., S. artemisioides (DC.) Randell subsp. artemisioides, S. auriculata Roxb., and S. multiglandulosa (Jacq.) H.S. Irwin & Barneby, are recorded as or cultivated in the Arabian Peninsula. A phylogeny is presented for the genus Senna, including all nine Arabian species, based upon the chloroplast DNA regions matK and rps16 and analysed in a parsimony and Bayesian framework. Sampling new to this study included 118 accessions of Arabian species representing substantial parts of their geographic range within the Arabian Peninsula. Sequence data newly generated from a further 13 accessions were added to 104 generated in previous studies bringing the number of accessions representing other Senna species from across the range of the genus to 117. The phylogeny is useful in a taxonomic context and is also suggestive of the phylogenetic utility of some features, especially the morphology of the pods. Reconstruction of the morphological diversification of extrafloral nectaries in the context of the phylogeny suggests that it may have been more complex than outlined in previously published work. The phylogeny shows Senna species found in the Arabian Peninsula are placed in three separate clades, suggesting that Senna arrived in the Arabian Peninsula at least three times independently. Dating the phylogeny using a relaxed molecular clock in a Bayesian approach indicates that these arrivals happened at different times over the past c. 20 Mya, suggesting that a common geological explanation is unlikely and that dispersal must have played a key role in developing these biogeographic patterns.

The present study is part of the Kaupapa Kereru Programme. The main aim of the programme is to increase the numbers and range of kereru (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae) on Banks Peninsula. Home ranges, movements, diet and habitat use of 15 kereru captured in Hinewai Reserve, Banks Peninsula, were investigated from February 2005 to February 2006. Hinewai Reserve is the largest tract of regenerating native forest in a highly modified urban-rural landscape. Phenology of 11 plant species predicted to be key kereru foods, was studied to determine the pattern of food availability in Hinewai Reserve. Twelve radio-tagged kereru resided in the Hinewai Reserve study site (Otanerito Valley and Sleepy Bay) and three resided in Akaroa. Ripe fruit was available from January to August; the height of the fruiting season was in autumn. The bulk of new leaf growth occurred in spring and early summer although new leaves were available on broom and tree lucerne year round. Peak flowering occurred in spring. Kereru in Akaroa ate a total of 21 plant species; six of these species were native and 15 introduced. Kereru in the Hinewai Reserve study site ate a total of 26 plant species; 20 of these species were native and six introduced. Fruit was preferred when readily available. Native fruit appeared to be preferred over fruit of introduced species in Akaroa, where both types were available. New foliage of introduced legumes and deciduous species appeared to be preferred over new foliage of native species at both sites during winter and spring. These species were important food sources prior to the breeding season and may be selected specifically for their nitrogen and protein content. Food is currently not a limiting factor for kereru survival or reproductive success. Considerable variation in the use and preference of vegetation types of individual kereru made it difficult to identify trends in habitat selection. Use and preference for many vegetation types was seasonal; this was certainly because of the availability of food species included in or close to these vegetation types. Overall, native vegetation communities were used more than communities dominated by introduced species and forest communities were used more than non-forest communities. Kanuka (Kunzea ericoides) was used most often for non-feeding activities and 67% of observed nests were built in kanuka. Annual home ranges and core areas in the Hinewai Reserve study site (mean of 15.9 and 2 ha respectively) were significantly larger than those found in Lyttelton Harbour, Banks Peninsula in previous research (mean of 8 and 0.08 ha respectively). Home ranges were larger when fruit was eaten, than when no fruit was eaten indicating that kereru are more sedentary when feeding on foliage. Kereru from the Hinewai Reserve study site made no excursions >5 km and no daily movements >2 km. Kereru from Akaroa and Sleepy Bay travelled into Otanerito Valley to feed on horopito in autumn, indicating that there may have been a lack of fruit in their local areas during autumn. No kereru in Otanerito Valley travelled outside of the valley. The distribution of high quality food sources is likely to have caused the observed differences in home range and core area size between localities. Kereru in Lyttelton Harbour may have been restricted to small patches of high quality resources in a study area consisting largely of unsuitable habitat. In Hinewai Reserve, high quality resources were spread over larger areas and were more uniformly distributed. The density of kereru was unknown at both study sites, and this confounded assessment of habitat quality. However, it is likely that the Hinewai Reserve study site would support a higher number of kereru. The main factor limiting population growth in the present study was failure of nests at the egg and chick stage. The fledge rate was 17%. Two of fifteen adult kereru died. Control of predators should be the first aspect of management that is focused on, and will almost certainly increase reproductive success of kereru and loss of breeding adults. As the population of kereru on Banks Peninsula increases due to predator control in existing kereru habitat, food may become a limiting factor. Habitat can be improved for kereru by planting a diverse range of plant species that provide food year-round. Native fruiting species are greatly recommended for habitat enhancement and should be selected so that fruit is available for as much of the year as possible. Native and introduced legumes should also be made available as foods for winter and spring. As most land on Banks Peninsula is privately owned, co-operation and enthusiasm of the community is critical for successful management. Information and support needs to be given to landowners wishing to enhance their properties for kereru.

Diurnal time budgets and habitat use patterns of breeding Ugashik marbled godwits (Limosa fedoa beringiae) were studied on the north-central portion of the Alaska Peninsula during spring and summer 1995-1996. Marbled godwits were observed from blinds and behaviors were described for the four phases of the breeding season: pair-formation, egg-laying, incubation and post-hatching. During pair-formation, males spent the majority of time performing flight displays (40.2%), most notably the ceremonial flight (30.7%). Males spent 34.3% of the egg-laying period guarding their mates probably to reduce the threat of cuckoldry. Females incubated during the daytime and males incubated at night. Off-duty males were engaged in maintenance activities (49.4%) or were alert/erect (22.7%). Four marbled godwit nests and the first newly hatched, downy marbled godwit chicks ever recorded in Alaska were found within the study site. One parent guarded the chicks which allowed the other to forage in nearby wetlands. Males performed male-exit flight as they prepared to depart for coastal staging lagoons approximately three weeks after their chicks hatched. Interspecific and intraspecific hostility peaked during the post-hatching period although aggressiveness towards neighboring shorebirds decreased. Godwits may benefit from the aggressive nature of some neighboring shorebirds and more timid species may receive a similar benefit from nesting close to godwit semi-colonies. The scattering of nests in loose semi-colonies may reduce predation by offering both nest concealment and group defense. Cover types and microhabitat characteristics were compared between sites used by marbled godwits ("present") and paired sites where no godwits were observed throughout the breeding season ("absent"), and among sites used for broodrearing, foraging, ground display and nesting. Logistic regression models predicted the probability of godwit occurrence or the probability of a godwit broodrearing, foraging, displaying or nesting based upon significant site features. Results indicate that different cover types were used for broodrearing, foraging, ground display and nesting, and cover types differed between present and absent sites. Microhabitat characteristics were different between present and absent sites, and they varied among the different use sites. The odds of finding a godwit at a site or the odds of finding a godwit broodrearing, foraging, displaying or nesting changed with changes in the significant microhabitat characteristics. As the percent shrub cover increased the odds of finding a brood or a nest increased 2.65-fold and 1.95-fold, respectively. The vegetation at broodrearing sites was taller (1.6 dm) than the vegetation at the other use sites, while the vegetation at nest sites was considerably shorter (1.3 dm) and denser. The probability of finding a godwit foraging increased with increasing forb cover and water depth, and decreasing shrub and moss cover and site roughness. Godwits used the periphery of wetlands for ground display. These grassy areas were typically transition zones between the wetland itself and the drier shrub communities. / Graduation date: 1997

Thesis (M.A. in National Security Affairs and M.A. in International Security and Civil Military Relations)--Naval Postgraduate School, 2002. / Thesis advisor(s): Donald Abenheim, Thomas Bruneau. Includes bibliographical references (p. 93-97). Also available online.

Thèse--Université de Toulouse. / "Bibliographie": p. [5]-8.

Inaug.-Diss.--München. / Lebenslauf. "Literaturverzeichnis": p. [100]-105.

Thesis (M.A. in National Security Affairs)--Naval Postgraduate School, June 2003. / Thesis advisor(s): Donald Abenheim, Robert Looney. Includes bibliographical references (p. 81-88). Also available online.

No description available.

8 fold. maps in end pocket of v.2 / 2 v. : ill. photos ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Geology, 1977