Copies of author's previously published works inserted. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 222-258). Researches the occurence and inheritance of isolated melanin pigmented wool fibres and macroscopic pigmentation in Merino sheep. The mode of inheritance of key indicators (pigmented leg fibres and pigmented birthcoat halo-hair) of isolated pigmented wool fibres is investigated and confirms an association between isolated pigmented fibres in hogget Merino fleeces and the presence and degree of types of remnant macroscopic fibre pigmentation. These associations could be exploited to improve wool quality in relation to dark fibre risk.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1951. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 188-192).

Mozambique is a semi-arid area with unreliable rainfall distribution; therefore optimal planting dates are critical to ensure that maize is not stressed during critical stages. The objective of this research was to study the effect of sowing date and cultivar on maize (Zea mays L.) yields in Mozambique. A further objective was to establish whether the SWB model could be utilized to help select the optimum planting window for different maize cultivars and localities. An experiment was conducted during the 2007/08 season at the Chókwè Agricultural Research Station, Mozambique, in which a short (or early cultivar, Changalane) and long (or late) season maize cultivar (Tsangano) were sown on three different dates: 5 December 2007 (PD1), 25 December 2007 (PD2) and 15 January 2008 (PD3). Sowing date had a significant effect (p<0.05) on yield and yield components. The 25 December planting (PD2) out yielded (4.3 t ha-1) the 5 December (PD1) (2.5 t ha-1,) and 15 January (PD3) (1.5 t ha-1) plantings for cv. Changalane. However, for cv. Tsangano, PD1 (3.2 t ha-1) out yielded PD2 (2.3 t ha-1) and PD3 (0.7 t ha-1). Cultivars varied significantly in yield potential. The most responsive cultivar to water supply was Changalane, which when planted late in December (PD2), gave a water productivity (WP) of 17 kg ha-1 mm-1, while Tsangano, the late cultivar, performed better when planted early in December (PD1), with a WP of 8.5 kg ha-1 mm-1 The Soil Water Balance (SWB) model was calibrated on the data from one planting date per cultivar and successfully validated on independent data sets from the other two planting dates. Long-term historical weather data sets were obtained for Chókwè and Umbeluzi, two important dry land maize production areas in Mozambique. The calibrated SWB model was used to simulate maize yields for different planting dates to establish the best planting date for different cultivar x plant date x soil combinations. Simulation results for the two cultivars across three planting dates showed that the simulated grain yields per planting date varied substantially from year to year and between the two sites. The SWB scenario simulation results showed that for both Umbeluzii and Chókwè sites, in four out of five years, best yields can be achieved by planting Changalane late in December and Tsangano early in December. It can be concluded that the SWB model can be a very useful tool to help select the most suitable maize cultivars and planting dates for different localities, based on differences in plant water availability during the growing season. Copyright / Dissertation (MSc(Agric))--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Plant Production and Soil Science / unrestricted

This practicum explores the potential role that landscape planning and design can play in improving the relationship between the public and farmers whose method of production involves an intensive livestock operation. The work involves five areas of exploration: bioremediation, odor control, climate mitigation, biosecurity, and aesthetics. Bioremediation is explored in the context of constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment. A new shelterbelt design, an eco-buffer, is reviewed for its applicability in odor control and climate mitigation. Biosecurity is addressed through site planning while design interventions and vegetation selection address aesthetics. The site is that of the Glenlea Research Station (GRS) belonging to the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Manitoba. The GRS is home to a major undertaking of the Faculty, the National Centre for Livestock and the Environment. A new addition to the site is a visitor centre, The Bruce D. Campbell Food and Farm Discovery Centre.

This practicum explores the potential role that landscape planning and design can play in improving the relationship between the public and farmers whose method of production involves an intensive livestock operation. The work involves five areas of exploration: bioremediation, odor control, climate mitigation, biosecurity, and aesthetics. Bioremediation is explored in the context of constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment. A new shelterbelt design, an eco-buffer, is reviewed for its applicability in odor control and climate mitigation. Biosecurity is addressed through site planning while design interventions and vegetation selection address aesthetics. The site is that of the Glenlea Research Station (GRS) belonging to the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Manitoba. The GRS is home to a major undertaking of the Faculty, the National Centre for Livestock and the Environment. A new addition to the site is a visitor centre, The Bruce D. Campbell Food and Farm Discovery Centre.

Muitos países possuem estações de pesquisa instaladas na Antártica. Hidrocarbonetos de petróleo e os esgotos lançados no mar pelas estações são as fontes potenciais de poluição na Antártica. Peixes da espécie Trematomus newnesi foram utilizados para investigar o potencial genotóxico e os efeitos sobre a morfologia de fígado e brânquias da água diante dos tanques de combustível e da saída de esgoto da Estação Antártica Brasileira ?Comandante Ferraz?, em experimentos in situ e no laboratório. No Ensaio de Mn e ANE, observou-se que a freqüência de R foi, em geral, menor nos controles do que nos grupos expostos, tanto nos bioensaios como nos experimentos in situ, porém não houve diferenças estatisticamente significativas em nenhum dos experimentos. As lesões branquiais mais observadas, nos grupos expostos, foram hipertrofia do epitélio e telangiectasia lamelar. No fígado, as lesões predominantes foram a vacuolização lipídica e a presença de macrófagos, principalmente nos peixes dos experimentos in situ. Não foram verificadas diferenças significativas nos índices de lesões histopatológicas entre os grupos expostos e os controles em nenhum dos experimentos. Contudo, os resultados obtidos sugerem que dos dois locais analisados nas proximidades da Estação Brasileira, a saída de esgoto apresenta maior potencial de risco para T. newnesi. / Many countries have installed research stations in Antarctica. Petroleum hydrocarbons and the sewage disposed into the sea by the stations are potential sources of pollution in Antarctica. Trematomus newnesi specimens were used to assess genotoxic potential and histopathology of the liver and gills of the water surrounding the Brazilian Antarctic Station ?Comandante Ferraz?. Fish were exposed to seawater at the sewage outfall and in front of the fuel tanks, in both in situ and laboratory assays. The Mn and ENA assay showed that the frequency of R was, in general, lower in the control groups than in the exposed ones in both in situ and laboratory assays, however there were no statistically significative differences in any of the experiments. The most frequent branchial lesions observed in the exposed groups were epithelium hipertrophy and lamelar telangiectasis. In the liver, predominant microscopic findings included lipid vacuolization and macrophages, specially in fish from the in situ experiments. Exposed groups did not show significative differences in the histopathological indexes from those of the controls in any of the experiments. Nevertheless, our results suggest that of the places studied the sewage outlet may present a greater potential of risk to T. newnesi nearby the Brazilian Station.

Muitos países possuem estações de pesquisa instaladas na Antártica. Hidrocarbonetos de petróleo e os esgotos lançados no mar pelas estações são as fontes potenciais de poluição na Antártica. Peixes da espécie Trematomus newnesi foram utilizados para investigar o potencial genotóxico e os efeitos sobre a morfologia de fígado e brânquias da água diante dos tanques de combustível e da saída de esgoto da Estação Antártica Brasileira ?Comandante Ferraz?, em experimentos in situ e no laboratório. No Ensaio de Mn e ANE, observou-se que a freqüência de R foi, em geral, menor nos controles do que nos grupos expostos, tanto nos bioensaios como nos experimentos in situ, porém não houve diferenças estatisticamente significativas em nenhum dos experimentos. As lesões branquiais mais observadas, nos grupos expostos, foram hipertrofia do epitélio e telangiectasia lamelar. No fígado, as lesões predominantes foram a vacuolização lipídica e a presença de macrófagos, principalmente nos peixes dos experimentos in situ. Não foram verificadas diferenças significativas nos índices de lesões histopatológicas entre os grupos expostos e os controles em nenhum dos experimentos. Contudo, os resultados obtidos sugerem que dos dois locais analisados nas proximidades da Estação Brasileira, a saída de esgoto apresenta maior potencial de risco para T. newnesi. / Many countries have installed research stations in Antarctica. Petroleum hydrocarbons and the sewage disposed into the sea by the stations are potential sources of pollution in Antarctica. Trematomus newnesi specimens were used to assess genotoxic potential and histopathology of the liver and gills of the water surrounding the Brazilian Antarctic Station ?Comandante Ferraz?. Fish were exposed to seawater at the sewage outfall and in front of the fuel tanks, in both in situ and laboratory assays. The Mn and ENA assay showed that the frequency of R was, in general, lower in the control groups than in the exposed ones in both in situ and laboratory assays, however there were no statistically significative differences in any of the experiments. The most frequent branchial lesions observed in the exposed groups were epithelium hipertrophy and lamelar telangiectasis. In the liver, predominant microscopic findings included lipid vacuolization and macrophages, specially in fish from the in situ experiments. Exposed groups did not show significative differences in the histopathological indexes from those of the controls in any of the experiments. Nevertheless, our results suggest that of the places studied the sewage outlet may present a greater potential of risk to T. newnesi nearby the Brazilian Station.

Meteorological parameters determine the physical properties of snow precipitating from the atmosphere, but snow layers also continue to develop within the snow pack after the precipitation event. New characteristics form depending on temperature fluctuations, interaction with the soil, overburden compression, rain-on-snow events and more. As climate change is evidenced across the globe and particularly in the Arctic, understanding the relationship between snow and climate is important. In this project, a set of observed data of snow layer characteristics, collected every two weeks each winter over a 50+ year period at Abisko Scientific Research Station, northern Sweden, is co-studied with a multi-layer snow pack model which is able to reproduce additional snow properties. Data is presented in long time series as well as in high resolution to capture both trends and details. Comparison between modelled and observed data is made where possible. Physical processes are discussed and potential trends in the data are evaluated. Results show good agreement for snow pack depth between model and observations, while modelled snow density is largely confirmed by comparison with other records of density measured at Abisko. Modelled outputs illustrate snow pack temperature fluctuations, percolation of melt water and densification of snow layers within the profiles; observed data show variations in snow layer hardness, grain compactness, grain size and dryness. Long-term trends indicate an increase in snow layer hardness and a decrease in snow grain size since the beginning of the record. / Förhållanden i atmosfären bestämmer vilken sorts snö som fälls ut som nederbörd, men de snöskikt som bildas i säsongspackad snö fortsätter även att utvecklas genom hela vintern. Snölagrens egenskaper förändras beroende på temperaturvariationer, termodynamisk växelverkan med markytan, belastning från ovanliggande snö, regn, med mera. Med accelererande klimatförändringar – särskilt i Arktis – är det viktigt att förstå hur snö och klimat interagerar. I detta projekt analyseras en serie observationer av snöskikt och snöegenskaper, insamlade under mer än 50 år vid Abisko naturvetenskapliga station, jämte en snöpackmodell som ger information om ytterligare egenskaper hos snön. Snödata presenteras både för enskilda säsonger och i långa tidsserier för att fånga upp detaljer såväl som utvecklingen över tid. Där det är möjligt görs jämförelser mellan modelldata och observationer. De fysikaliska processer som ger upphov till förändringar i snön diskuteras och eventuella trender i dataserierna utvärderas. Resultaten visar att snödjup stämmer väl överens mellan modell och observationer. Modellerad snödensitet styrks vid jämförelse med tidiga observationer av densitet som gjorts i Abisko. Snöpackmodellens utdata illustrerar snöns temperaturändringar, perkolation av smältvatten och förtätning (densitetsökning) hos snöskikten. Observationsdata visar förändringar i snöns täthet (hårdhet), snökornens fasthet, kornstorlek samt snöns torrhet. Trendstudier pekar mot att snölagrens täthet ökat och att snöns kornstorlek minskat sedan mätningarna startade.

Observed climatic change may result in modification of the ground thermal regime.The causes of shallow ground temperature variability, however, are not well documented.This thesis reports ground temperatures from Absiko Scientific Research Station, measured ata site currently not underlain by permafrost to illustrate the response of shallow groundtemperatures to changes in climatic parameters. Both air temperature and precipitationincreased at Abisko from 1985-2010. The strongest increase in air temperature occurred inwinter, whereas the precipitation increased mainly during the summer months. There was asignificant trend towards later onset of permanent snow cover, as well as a steadily earlierdisappearance of permanent snow cover in spring, resulting in reduced snow cover duration.Also the snow thickness decreased at Abisko during the study period. The ground experiencedapproximately five months of frost at 5 and 20 cm depth and approx. four, respectively two,months at 50 and 100 cm depth. Annual ground temperatures were found to be increasingfrom 1985-2010 with approx. 0.31 °C, 0.64 °C, 0.82 °C and 0.94 °C at 5, 20, 50, respectively100 cm depth from the surface. The duration and intensity of the seasonal frost cycles weredecreasing, which would reflect the increasing ground temperatures. Changes in short-termfrost cycles were not found to be significant. The changes in mean annual and winter groundtemperature were significantly correlated to the changes in mean annual and winter airtemperature, but surprisingly not to the changes in snow cover. However, seasonally theincreasing trend of ground temperatures was found in autumn and winter, whereas thesummer ground temperatures were decreasing. The cooling of ground temperature in summerat increasing air temperatures may be explained by increased precipitation totals and henceincreased soil moisture due to the so called soil-moisture feedback. From this fact, it can bededuced that the changes in air temperature alone cannot explain all variances in groundtemperatures. However, the results of the study may suggest that in sub-Arctic Swedenchanges in air temperatures may be used as indicator for changes in shallow groundtemperatures. / perioden 1985-2010 ökade både lufttemperatur och nederbörd i Abiskoområdet. Denstörsta ökningen av lufttemperatur skedde under vinterhalvåret medan nederbörden ökademest under sommarhalvåret. En signifikant förkortning i längden av vintersnötäckets existensunder året observerades under studieperioden. Reduceringen av vintesnötäcket skedde genomatt den första snön kom senare och bortsmältningen på våren skedde tidigare. Snötäcketstjocklek minskade också under studieperioden. Marktemperaturmätningarna visar frysgraderpå 5 och 20 cm djup fem månader och fyra respektive två månader på 50 och 100cm djup.Den årliga medeltemperaturen i marken ökade under perioden med 0.31 °C, 0.64 °C, 0.82 °Coch 0.94 °C vid 5, 20, 50 och 100 cm djup. Den årliga längden och intensiteten avfrysförhållandena i marken minskade vilket förmodligen är en konsekvens av de ökandemarktemperaturerna. Ingen trend i förekomsten av kortare svängningar i frysförhållandenakunde observeras. Förändringarna i årsmedetemperaturen i marken är signifikant korrelerademed förändringen i den årliga medeltemperaturen och vintertemperaturen i luften, men ingenkorrelation mellan marktemperaturen och förändringar i snötäckets tjocklek och längdobserverades. Studien avslöjade också att temperaturen i marken ökade under vinternhalvåretmedan den sjönk under sommaren. Avkylningen av marken under sommaren kan förklaras avökad nederbörd under sommaren som ger högre markfuktighet som ger en kylande effektgenom den så kallade jord-fuktighets återkopplingsmekanismen (soil-moisture feedback).Från detta kan vi dra slutsatsen att förändringar i enbart lufttemperatur inte kan förklara denhela observerade variansen av marktemperatur men att lufttemperaturen har en domineranderoll. Resultaten från denna studie indikerar således att förändringar lufttemperatur kananvändas som en indikator på marktemperaturförändringar i Abisko området.

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