No description available.

No description available.

The convergence of three young scientific disciplines (ecology, geospatial sciences, and remote sensing) has generated unique advancements in wildlife research by connecting ecological data with remote sensing data through the application of geospatial techniques. Ecological datasets may contain spatial and sampling biases. By using geospatial techniques, datasets may be useful in revealing landscape scale (e.g., statewide) trends for wildlife populations, such as population recovery and human-wildlife interactions. Specifically, black bear populations across North America vary greatly in their degree of distribution stability. The black bear population in Michigan may be considered stable or secure, whereas the population in Missouri is currently recolonizing. The focus of the research in this dissertation is to examine the ecological and anthropogenic impacts 1) on human-black bear interactions in Michigan (see Chapter 2) and 2) on black bear presence in Missouri (see Chapter 3), through the use of black bear reports provided by the public to the state wildlife agencies. By using generalized linear modeling (GLM) and maximum entropy (MaxEnt), I developed spatial distribution models of probability of occurrence/presence for the 2 study areas (Michigan and Missouri). For the Missouri study, I quantified the spatiotemporal shifts in the probability of bear presence statewide. The results from my statewide studies corroborate previous local-scale research based on rigorous data collection. Overall, human-black bear interactions (e.g., wildlife sightings, conflicts), while very dynamic, appear greatest in forested and rural areas where the preferred habitat for black bears (i.e., forest) intersects with low density anthropogenic activities. As both human and black bear populations continue to expand, it is reasonable to expect human-black bear interactions to spatiotemporally increase across both study areas. The results from my studies provide wildlife managers with information critical to management decisions such as harvest regulations and habitat conservation actions across the landscape and through time. The ability to detect and monitor ecological changes through the use of geospatial techniques can lead to insights about the stressors and drivers of population-level change, further facilitating the development of proactive causeocused management strategies.

No description available.

No description available.

No / Mineral waters in Britain show a wide range of 87Sr/86Sr isotope compositions ranging between 87Sr/86Sr = 0.7059 from Carboniferous volcanic rock sources in Dunbartonshire, Scotland to 87Sr/86Sr = 0.7207 in the Dalradian aquifer of Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The 87Sr/86Sr composition of the waters shows a general correlation with the aquifer rocks, resulting in the waters from older rocks having a more radiogenic signature than those from younger rocks. This wide range of values means that the Sr isotope composition of mineral water has applications in a number of types of studies. In the modern commercial context, it provides a way of fingerprinting the various mineral waters and hence provides a method for recognising and reducing fraud. From an environmental perspective, it provides the first spatial distribution of bio-available 87Sr/86Sr in Britain that can be used in modern, historical and archaeological studies

The factor determinants of industry and investment location patterns in transition economies can be expected to differ from those frequently observed in developed countries. Historically, centrally planned economies have suffered from inefficient industrial policies that are generally assumed to have had distortive effects on spatial location of industry. The process of economic transition and regional integration that followed the demise of socialist structures is assumed to have subsequently affected the geographical distribution of economic activities within and between countries of the region. Given the above this thesis capitalises on the quasi-natural experiment setting to further explore industry and investment location decisions in transition economies. In particular, the research presented here follows three main objectives. First, it intends to provide a comprehensive picture of changes in industry location patterns over time. Second, it aims to contribute to the debate on factor determinants of industry location at various levels of spatial aggregation. Third, it seeks to explore location determinants of foreign direct investors in particular, given their pivotal role for economic development of transition economies. In all instances, the research is geared towards a better understanding of the role of institutional factors, such as reforms and policies, in affecting distribution of economic activity across space. Thus, the work conducted qualifies as a further contribution to the analysis of structural changes that have affected the economies under examination. In broad terms, the findings presented here point towards significant changes in spatial location patterns of industry and investments that are leading to increased polarisation of economic landscape over time. Nonetheless, we find evidence that certain institutional factors qualify as viable policy levers, thereby providing ample scope for policy makers to impact existing location patterns of economic activity.

Le sujet principal de ce texte est une forme très ciblée de ségrégation démographique : la ségrégation selon le type de famille. Cependant, puisque la répartition spatiale des familles mariées, des familles en union libre, des familles monoparentales à chef féminin et de celles à chef masculin ne dépend pas uniquement de leur structure, il faut aussi considérer d'autres facettes de leur identité, notamment leurs caractéristiques socio-économiques et ethnoculturelles. La combinaison de ces facteurs engendre une ségrégation croisée que nous explorons avec les données du recensement de 2006 pour la région métropolitaine de Montréal. Nous utilisons d'abord des indices de ségrégation pour mettre en évidence une ségrégation familiale "brute", puis nous avons recours à des modèles de locational attainment pour déterminer l'effet "net" du type de famille sur le revenu médian du quartier de résidence et sur la distance qui sépare ce quartier du centre-ville. Nous trouvons qu'il existe une interaction importante entre l'appartenance ethnoculturelle, le revenu familial et le type de famille ce qui nous conduit à relativiser les résultats de recherches qui ne prennent pas en compte l'hétérogénéité interne des types de famille. / The main topic of this text is a narrowly defined form of demographic segregation: segregation by family type. However, since the spatial distribution of married, cohabiting, lone-mother, or lone-father families does not depend solely on their structure, we must also consider other aspects of their identity, including their socio-economic and ethno-cultural characteristics. The combination of these factors produces a cross-segregation that we investigate using 2006 census data for the Montreal metropolitan area. We first use segregation indices to highlight a "raw" family type segregation and we then use locational attainment models to determine its "net" effect on the median household income of the neighborhood and on the distance between the neighborhood and the city core. We find a significant interaction between ethnicity, family income and family type which leads us to put in perspective the findings of studies that do not take into account the internal heterogeneity of family types.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal.

Les distributions spatiales des racines fines de Quercus rubra L. (CHR), Populus deltoides x nigra (DN3570) (PEH) et d’une culture fourragère (FOUR) ont été étudiées dans un système agroforestier de culture intercalaire (SCI) du sud du Québec (Canada). L’étude ne révèle pas d’enracinement plus profond des arbres en SCI, mais des profils superficiels à l’instar de nombreuses espèces d’arbres en plantations ou en milieu naturel. Une séparation spatiale existe entre les systèmes racinaires du FOUR et des CHR dont la densité relative selon la profondeur est plus faible que celle de la culture de 0 à 10 cm, mais plus élevée de 10 à 30 cm. Les PEH ne présentent pas d’adaptation racinaire et les hautes valeurs de densités de longueur racinaires (FRLD) de surface près du tronc entraînent une diminution de 45 % de la densité racinaire de surface du fourrage, suggérant une forte compétition pour les ressources du sol. L’étude du rendement agricole a d’ailleurs révélé des réductions de biomasse fourragère particulièrement près des PEH. Cependant, les résultats d’une analyse à composantes principales suggèrent un impact secondaire de la compétition racinaire sur le rendement agricole, et une plus grande importance de la compétition pour la lumière. L’impact des PEH à croissance rapide sur la culture est plus grand que celui du CHR. Cependant, ils seront récoltés plus rapidement et l’espace libéré favorisera la croissance de la culture intercalaire. Cet aspect dynamique des SCI les rapproche des écosystèmes naturels et devrait être réfléchi et approfondi pour leur succès futur. / Spatial distributions of fine roots were studied in a tree-based intercrop system (TBI) with Quercus rubra L. (CHR), Populus deltoides x nigra (DN3570) (PEH) and pasture species (FOUR) in southern Québec (Canada). Results didn’t show deeper root profiles for trees in TBI. Profiles were superficial as commonly found for tree species grown in conventional plantations or in natural ecosystems. More than 95 % of fine roots were found in 25 cm and 45 cm depth for CHR and PEH, and in 35 cm for pasture. However, spatial separation exists between CHR and pasture fine roots systems as CHR allocate less fine roots in the top 10 cm of soil, and more between 10 cm et 30 cm. PEH fine roots didn’t show any adaption when intercropped with pasture and a high value fine root length density (FRLD) in top soil layer near tree trunk reduces pasture FRLD by 45 %, suggesting strong competition interaction for resources. Pasture yield analysis revealed biomass reduction near trees, particularly near PEH. However results of a principal component analysis indicates stronger negative effect of light reduction on pasture yield than the presence of tree fines roots. PEH, a fast growing species, have stronger impact than CHR on pasture yield but they will be harvested sooner and larger alleys should benefit the intercrop. This dynamic aspect of TBI systems is close to natural ecosystems and should be further investigated for future success.