Both the natural and civilized worlds establish a context within which I may understand my own existence. My search for “self” and the emotive qualities of life within these contexts provides the impetus for my work. I create juxtapositions: from found art assemblages to, more recently, intimate experiences in public park environments. Within these curated experiences I challenge myself to open up to unknown experiences derived from my relationship to the landscape and the life forms found within. My videos are a kind of self-surveillance fostering absurdly promiscuous behavior when I am alone, in front of a camera. These conjured “secret acts” appear to exist within a realm of magic, science fiction or spirituality. They are sincere attempts at socialization, which more accurately convey the ineffective, naive and pathetic tenderness of a rookie’s efforts.

Many herpetofaunal species are imperiled, and the causes of this are often a synergy of multiple factors. In wetlands specifically, two of the possible determinants of species occurrence and faunal community assemblage are fish presence and wetland permanence, which are not always correlated. Twenty wetlands were sampled in Jonathan Dickinson State Park, Florida, USA to observe how wetland herpetofaunal communities vary with fish, wetland permanence and other environmental factors. Herpetofaunal communities with and without fish were significantly different from one another and differences between herpetofaunal communities were primarily due to the contribution of four species of frogs, two generalist ranids and two specialist hylids. Wetland permanence had no observable effect on community structure. Fishless wetlands were significantly more species-rich and possessed higher numbers of individuals even for species that occurred in both fishless and fish wetlands, regardless of their permanence. These findings have implications for wetlands restoration and herpetofaunal conservation. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2014. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

In the 1950’s and 1960’s, studies of two old-growth forest stands in Versailles State Park, Laughery Bluff and Dogwood Nature Preserves, were designed and carried out by Potzger to provide the baseline necessary to investigate future trends in these forest communities. In 1968 and 1988, Jackson surveyed these stands again and identified changes in attributes and size classes over that 20-year period. In 2011 and 2012, these sites were re-sampled to document change in species composition and stand structure since 1968. Diameter at breast height (dbh) and species identification were recorded for all stems with dbh ≥ 10 cm. Trees between 1 and 9.9 cm dbh were sampled by counting the number of individuals by species. These data were used to calculate density, dominance, and importance values, as well as to provide full-census data on the overstory size classes at the two sites. Notable findings since the prior studies included the continued increase of Acer saccharum in density and basal area as well as the continued loss of Cornus florida and Fagus grandifolia stems throughout both stands. / Department of Biology

Este estudo fornece subsídios para o manejo de parques a partir da análise de aspectos condicionantes de manejo aplicada ao Parque Estadual do Morro do Diabo, como: funções desempenhadas pelo parque, ameaças que atingem ou podem atingir esta unidade de conservação, componentes biofísicos e medidas que possam beneficiar a unidade. A priorização destas questões foi realizada a partir de uma investigação de sondagem, com a aplicação de questionário aos funcionários, ao pessoal da administração, aos pesquisadores e vizinhos do Parque. Os resultados sugerem que esta Unidade de Conservação seja orientada principalmente para a preservação da fauna e da floresta, para a pesquisa e a educação ambiental. Dentre as ameaças identificadas, as mais severas e com maior probabilidade de ocorrência no Parque foram: a falta de recursos financeiros e de planejamento, além daquelas relacionadas com a ocupação humana do entorno (a rodovia SP-613, os incêndios e a caça, dentre outros). Os componentes biofísicos eleitos como prioritários para o manejo e o zoneamento do parque foram: a vegetação e o habitat de espécies ameaçadas. Esta constatação reforça a necessidade de identificar e mapear as principais áreas de uso pelas espécies ameaçadas, a serem integralmente protegidas. As três principais medidas eleitas como importantes para beneficiar o parque foram: a criação de corredores de vegetação, a instalação de cercas de alambrado em trechos específicos da rodovia SP-613 e a formação de uma faixa florestal ou agroflorestal de proteção no contorno do parque. / By analyzing specific aspects which influence park management, such as functions carried out by the state, the threats that affect or may affect the conservation area, the biophysical aspects and the measures that may possibly benefit the park, this study seeks to provide elements that will aid in the management of Morro do Diabo State Park. These priorities were identified by making a brief survey. This survey was made by applying a questionnaire to park administration, other park staff, researchers and visitors to the park. Results from the survey suggest that Morro do Diabo State Park should be oriented toward the preservation of flora and fauna, research and environmental education. The most serious threats that were identified and that have the greatest probability of occurring within the park were lack of financial resources, planning and effects of human settlements on the edge of the park, such as fires, hunting and the SP-613 highway which passes through the park. Vegetation and the habitats of threatened species were chosen as the priorities for park zoning and management. The identification of these priorities reinforces the need to identify and map the principal home ranges of the threatened species that require total protection. The creation of the ocorridors that connect the park to the forest fragments in the region, the installation of chain link fences along specific treks of highway SP-613 and the planting of both forest and agro forest stretches that serve to protect the park borders were elected as the three measures that have been considered of greatest benefit to the park.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:30:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-01-28Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:21:34Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 silva_iv_dr_rcla.pdf: 2344410 bytes, checksum: 953e838306a9803225fdf1ffe2bb0c0e (MD5) / Raízes, folhas, escapos e sementes de Aechmea bromeliifolia, A. castelnavii, A. mertensii (Bromelioideae); Dyckia duckei, D. paraensis, D. racemosa (Pitcairnioideae); Tillandsia adpressiflora, T. didistachae e T. paraensis (Tillandsioideae) foram coletados na região amazônica (MT), visando a caracterização anatômica e a morfologia do desenvolvimento pós-seminal, procurando levantar estruturas úteis para a taxonomia e que representem adaptações. As espécies são epífitas e as raízes apresentam velame pluriestratificado, córtex diferenciado, endoderme e periciclo unisseriados, cilindro vascular poliarco e medula com células de paredes espessadas. As folhas apresentam células epidérmicas com lume reduzido, paredes espessadas e cutícula fina; mesofilo com hipoderme, parênquima aqüífero, parênquima clorofiliano braciforme, idioblastos contendo ráfides e drusas e feixes vasculares colaterais com bainha dupla. Os escapos apresentam epiderme, córtex e cilindro vascular distintos, com canais de mucilagem no córtex, endoderme contínua e feixes vasculares colaterais simples e compostos. As sementes não apresentam dormência e sua porcentagem de germinação é alta, facilitando a produção de mudas. Como estruturas que diferenciam os gêneros, as Aechmea (Bromelioideae) apresentam sementes elípticas, envolvidas por mucilagem; folhas com estômatos situados abaixo ou no mesmo nível das demais células epidérmicas, mesofilo com fibras extravasculares, células braciformes estreladas; e escapos com periciclo descontínuo. As Dyckia (Pitcairnioideae) apresentam sementes achatadas, com alas membranáceas e folhas com células braciformes isodiamétricas e as Tillandsia (Tillandsioideae) apresentam sementes fusiformes, com apêndices plumosos; ausência de raiz primária na germinação; folha com distribuição aleatória de escamas e células braciformes alongadas... / Roots, leaves, scapes and seeds of Aechmea bromeliifolia, Aechmea castelnavii, Aechmea mertensii (Bromelioideae); Dyckia duckei, Dyckia paraensis, Dyckia racemosa (Pitcairnioideae); Tillandsia adpressiflora, Tillandsia didistachae and Tillandsia paraensis (Tillandsioideae) were collected in the Amazon region (MT), in order to describe their anatomical characterization and the morphology of their post-seminal development and to point out structures that are useful for the taxonomy and adaptations. These species are epiphytes and their roots present a multi-layered velamen, differentiated cortex, uniseriate endodermis and pericycle, polyarch vascular cylinder and medulla with thickened cell walls. Leaves present epidermal cells with reduced lumen, thickened walls and a thin cuticle; mesophyll with hypoderm, aquiferous parenchyma, lobed chlorophyllian parenchyma, idioblasts containing raphids and druses and double-sheathed collateral vascular bundles. Scapes have distinct epidermis, cortex and vascular cylinder, with mucilage canals in the cortex, continuous endodermis and both simple and compound collateral vascular bundles. Seeds have no dormancy and the percentage of germination is high, facilitating the production of seedlings. Among the structures that differentiate genera, Aechmea (Bromelioideae) present elliptic seeds involved in mucilage; leaves with stomata located below or on the same level as the other epidermal cells, mesophyll with extravascular fibers, star-shaped lobed cells; and scapes with discontinuous pericycle; Dyckia (Pitcairnioideae) present flat seeds with membranaceous wings and leaves with isodiametrical lobed cells; Tillandsia (Tillandsioideae) have fusiform seeds, with feathery appendages; absence of primary roots during germination; leaves with randomly distributed scales and elongated lobed cells. All these species present structures adapted to the epiphytic habit... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2007. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vii, 55 p. : ill., maps. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 47-50).

This project was a reanalysis of the prehistoric ceramic collections from two important archaeolegical sites in east central Indiana: Mounds State Park (12-M-2) and the New Castle Site (12-Hn-1). Brief summaries of the two sites and their excavation histories are provided as well as summaries of the various pottery types involved. Specific attention is given to the New Castle Incised type.Previous interpretations regarding the ceramics from the two sties are given, and research from this project has provided new interpretations and information. Specifically, a statistical analysis was conducted, and the results show that the pottery from the two sites was made by peoples of the same culture. However, subtle changes were taking place in the manufacture of the pottery, primarily in the plain sherds.Future research goals are provided and include further excavations at both sites, thermoluminescence dating of sherds and additional study of the plain sherds. / Department of Anthropology

In humid environments surface water erosion, rather than seepage water erosion has been considered the major erosional force. The canyons in Starved Rock State Park, north-central Illinois, are not typical in form for eastern United States humid-temperate climate landscapes. In and around Starved Rock State Park the valley cross-profiles are box shaped rather than "V"-shaped with amphitheater heads, steep walls and broad valley bottoms. Other large and small-scale features of the canyons are also largely indicative of seepage erosion.Using field data it was determined that active canyon headwall erosion was occurring in the park at a rate of approximately 0.02 m/year. This is in fact the rate that would be needed to erode the canyons to their current length, showing that seepage erosion, the dominant erosional force in the park, is indeed capable of erosion rates necessary to entirely form the canyons within Starved Rock State Park. / Department of Geology

The objective of the study was to determine how visitors perceive park management method alternatives to preserve scenic beauty in Mounds State Park, and how other factors, such asvisitor characteristics and primary purpose for visiting the state park affected their preferences. Additionally, this study has presented a comparison of preferences for park management approaches between park managers and visitors, and a relationship between visitors' perceptions of scenic beauty and other factors. Furthermore, this study explored the contribution of a qualitative analysis. The result showed that visitor preferences for some park management approaches were influenced by sociodemographic characteristics, while visitor preferences for other park management approaches were influenced by the current state of scenic conditions in the park. Differences were observed between park manager's perceptions and visitors' perceptions. Visitors' perceptions of scenic beauty were related to whether or not they had visited the park in the past. Finally, it was clear that qualitative analysis was worthwhile for obtaining information that quantitative data could not provide. / Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management

Thesis (M.A.I.S.)--Oregon State University, 2009. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 199-206). Also available on the World Wide Web.