Africa is a heterogeneous environment that is affected by natural and anthropogenic processes. This thesis uses a review method to characterize the natural environment of the continent, present possible classifications of natural conditions and to describe the transformation of this environment. The main methodological aim of the thesis was to determine areas threatened by biodiversity loss due to anthropogenic pressures based on a new classification of the natural environment on a continental level. This was executed by methods of environmental stratification and subsequent environmental classification. Thus, this thesis presents a classification of the natural environment on the basis of homogenous units determined by bioclimatic variables and terrain, which are subsequently related to the biodiversity of birds, amphibians and mammals and to an anthropogenic influence represented by anthropogenic biomes. Finally, the share of protected areas is executed in relation to this anthropogenic transformation of the natural environment. Therefore, the thesis is quite a unique approach, as it takes into account a combination of both physical and socio-economic factors at a continental level. The final output consists of a map of the anthropogenic transformation of Africa's natural environment in the...

This thesis investigates the use of Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) for detecting images containing non-natural objects in natural environments and if the introduction of stereo data can improve the performance. The state-of-the-art GAN-based anomaly detection method presented by A. Berget al. in [5] (BergGAN) was the base of this thesis. By modifiying BergGAN to not only accept three channel input, but also four and six channel input, it was possible to investigate the effect of introducing stereo data in the method. The input to the four channel network was an RGB image and its corresponding disparity map, and the input to the six channel network was a stereo pair consistingof two RGB images. The three datasets used in the thesis were constructed froma dataset of aerial video sequences provided by SAAB Dynamics, where the scene was mostly wooded areas. The datasets were divided into training and validation data, where the latter was used for the performance evaluation of the respective network. The evaluation method suggested in [5] was used in the thesis, where each sample was scored on the likelihood of it containing anomalies, Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) analysis was then applied and the area under the ROC-curve was calculated. The results showed that BergGAN was successfully able to detect images containing non-natural objects in natural environments using the dataset provided by SAAB Dynamics. The adaption of BergGAN to also accept four and six input channels increased the performance of the method, showing that there is information in stereo data that is relevant for GAN-based anomaly detection. There was however no substantial performance difference between the network trained with two RGB images versus the one trained with an RGB image and its corresponding disparity map.

The present thesis introduces an analysis of a part of public corporate communication through which large international companies present a positive image of their brands, technologies, operations and, above all, their values vis-à-vis the issue of environmental protection. It would likely not provoke much dispute, shall it be stated that environmental protection has over the several past decades climbed to the top of the list of the world's priority agenda. Yet whether an ecological crisis is or is not a real threat, or whether the parties involved really do or do not take the proclaimed steps necessary for the improvement of the state of the natural environment, is not a matter of importance here. The important thing is that people (companies) are talking about the environment. In the context of a global ecological threat companies are on one hand pressured into accepting green responsibilities, on the other hand in building their green image they actively adopt certain aspects of green discourse and articulate their own environmental diagnoses and propose possible remedies. Using critical discourse analysis this thesis tries to uncover the ways of construction of corporate green responsibility discourse aiming to answer questions regarding the selection of discourse strategies and use of language,...

Naturreservat är en svensk skyddsform med syfte att bevara värdefull natur och sällsynta arter, upprätthålla biologisk mångfald och erbjuda rekreation för människor. Den pågående urbaniseringen genom förtätning och expansion leder till att mängden besökare i stadsnära naturreservat ökar, vilket medför att dess naturmiljö utsätts för ett ökat slitage, som i sin tur riskerar att hota syftet med skyddsformen. Ett stadsnära naturreservat som påverkas av urbanisering är Nackareservatet i Stockholms län.  Studiens syfte är att undersöka hur naturmiljön i stadsnära naturreservat påverkas av urbanisering samt hur dithörande negativa ekologiska effekter kan motverkas. Studien följer en kvalitativ explorativ design och datainsamlingen genomförs genom en litteraturstudie och en intervjustudie. Studien visar att urbanisering ökar belastningen på naturmiljön i stadsnära naturreservat, såsom Nackareservatet, genom att mängden besökare ökar. Detta leder till att mark och flora påverkas, vilket försämrar livsmiljöer för djur, växter och mikroflora. Dessutom syns beteendeförändringar och ökade stressnivåer hos djur. Interaktionen mellan människor och djur kan däremot förbättra rekreationsupplevelser och gynna vissa djurarter, men sammantaget kan det konstateras att urbanisering resulterar i minskad biodiversitet. Urbanisering genom exploatering i närheten av reservatet kan även påverka dess inre naturmiljö. I Nackareservatet syns detta genom försämrade ekologiska spridningssamband och livsutrymmen för djur, och det kan ha bidragit till torrare våtmarker.  För att ett stadsnära naturreservat som Nackareservatet ska kunna hantera de konsekvenser som följer av en fortsatt urbanisering krävs förbättring av informationsskyltar med föreskrifter, bättre markering av stigar, noggrannare uppföljning av effekterna från närliggande exploatering samt större hänsyn till de ekologiska spridningssambanden. Ett starkare juridiskt skydd kan behöva införas som avser att bevara reservatet och förhindra oönskad exploatering i närheten. Om vattennivåerna i reservatet ökar till följd av ökade regnmängder orsakade av klimatförändringar och ökad avrinning från exploaterade närområden, kan utredning behöva göras för hur detta ska hanteras. Huruvida dessa metoder är tillräckliga för att hantera konsekvenser som följer av en fortsatt urbanisering går att ifrågasätta. Därmed krävs fler studier som undersöker hur stadsnära naturreservat påverkas av urbanisering och hur dess negativa effekter kan motverkas. / Nature reserves are a Swedish form of protection aimed at preserving valuable nature and rare species, maintaining biological diversity, and providing recreation and nature experiences for people. The ongoing urbanization through densification and expansion increases visitors to urban-adjacent nature reserves, resulting in increased wear on their natural environment, which risks threatening the purpose of the protection. An urban-adjacent nature reserve affected by urbanization is Nackareservatet in Stockholm County.  The purpose of the study is to examine how the natural environment in urban adjacent nature reserves is affected by urbanization, as well as how associated negative ecological effects can be mitigated. The study follows a qualitative exploratory design, and data collection is conducted through a literature review and an interview study.   The study demonstrates that urbanization increases pressure on urban-adjacent nature reserves, such as Nackareservatet, due to a rise in visitor numbers. This impacts soil and flora, which deteriorates habitats for animals, plants, and microflora. Additionally, animals exhibit behavioral changes and increased stress levels. Interaction between humans and animals can, however, enhance recreational experiences and benefit certain animal species, but overall, urbanization results in reduced biodiversity. Urbanization through exploration near the nature reserve can also affect its internal natural environment. In Nackareservatet, this is seen through degraded ecological dispersal links and habitats for animals, and it may have contributed to drier wetlands.  To enable an urban-adjacent nature reserve like Nackareservatet to manage urbanization, improvements are required in informational signs with regulations, better trail markings, enhanced monitoring of the effects of nearby development, and greater consideration should be given to ecological dispersal links. Stronger legal protection may be necessary to preserve the reserve and prevent unwanted exploitation in the vicinity. If water levels in the reserve increase due to higher rainfall and increased runoff from exploited nearby areas, an investigation may be needed on how to manage this. Whether these methods are sufficient to manage the consequences of continued urbanization is questionable. Therefore, more studies are needed to investigate how urban-adjacent nature reserves are affected by urbanization and how its negative effects can be mitigated.

This study primarily focuses on children’s perceptions of the natural environment during a nature camp in Antwerp. The secondary focus concerns the children’s connection to this environment. A theoretical framework of six concepts, based on existing literature in this area was employed as an orientation throughout the research: a) the physical environment; b) actions and experiences; c) the affective dimension; d) the social aspect; e) the human-nature relationship; and f) conceptualization of nature. A dual-method qualitative approach was applied, combining children’s drawings of the natural environment at the camp setting with interviews. Through an abductive process of codebook thematic analysis, two main themes were identified. The first theme was named ‘doing’ i.e. play and the second theme was named ‘being’ i.e. immersion. The first theme indicates that the children perceive the natural environment mainly through doing, specifically as a space to play. Additionally, the second theme suggests that the children perceive the natural environment through being, that is by immersion. Yet, there is no distinct line between these two themes as play is children’s natural way of being. Ultimately, these themes are two sides of one narrative in which ‘doing/being’ is intrinsically entwined in a process of relational interaction and immersion in and with the natural environment.

This study aimed to investigate parent-child verbal interactions in Spanish in a group of Latino preschoolers growing up in the United States through a parent-mediated program at home, and the effects of the program on their receptive vocabulary in Spanish. A single subject multiple baseline across participants design was used in the study. The participants were 3 Latino mothers and their sons, with low family income, living in the United States. The intervention taught the mothers strategies to enhance their children’s language through a sharing-book activity. The study lasted for 6 weeks during which baseline and intervention conditions data were collected through videotapes of the Dyads’ mealtimes. The results of the study showed that their verbal interactions were functional, brief, and typically not extended to children’s activities. The number of verbal interactions increased for 2 of the 3 Dyads from baseline to intervention condition and decreased for 1 of them. The children’s receptive vocabulary and school readiness skills increased after the intervention as showed by pre and post intervention assessments. The social validity survey suggested that Latina mothers found the project beneficial since, it not only increased their children’s interest in books, but also their own motivation to share books with them. Research and practical implications were discussed.

(in English): Diploma thesis Genius loci as an aesthetic problem is addressed by defining the concept of genius loci and exploring its aesthetic implications and parallels. After clarification of the ontological nature of this phenomenon its commonalities will be monitored with selected concepts of environmental philosophy and aesthetics, especially the aesthetic dimension of the environmental experience. Publications of Christian Norberg-Schulz and David E. Cooper are used as a starting material.

Introdução: Assentamentos rurais são recorrentes arranjos sociais em expansão na Região Amazônica, que geram perturbações no ambiente natural e na respectiva ecologia de mosquitos vetores envolvidos na transmissão de malária. Objetivos: Elaborar revisão das espécies do gênero Anopheles que foram registradas na Região Amazônica. Para a pesquisa quantitativa, estabelecer potenciais fatores dos ambientes e das características das águas de diversos habitats larvais que possam estar associadas com a presença de espécies de anofelíneos, através de coletas em criadouros de diferentes graus de perturbação ambiental. Métodos: para a revisão das espécies que foram registradas na Amazônia, foram empregados termos de busca, utilizando sete bases bibliográficas de referência. Para os estudos em campo, foram realizadas capturas de larvas juntamente com estimação e mensuração de algumas condições dos habitats larvais, para comparação dos parâmetros analisados entre ambientes naturais e artificiais. Resultados: a revisão mostrou maior quantidade de artigos que notificaram a ocorrência do subgênero Nyssorhynchus, seguido pelos subgêneros: Anopheles, Stethomyia, Kerteszia e Lophopodomyia. O Anopheles darlingi se mostrou a espécie com maior ocorrência nos artigos levantados, muito pelo seu caráter epidemiológico. Importantes vetores auxiliares pertencentes ao subgênero 6 Nyssorhynchus também foram registrados em grande quantidade. Os resultados das análises conduzidas com os dados das capturas em campo demonstraram que as forças de transformação do ambiente natural favorecem o desenvolvimento de habitats larvais de espécies do subgênero Nyssorhynchus, incluindo o An. darlingi, além de um importante vetor secundário, o An. triannulatus. Discussão e Conclusão: projetos de assentamentos na Amazônia brasileira registram índices significativos de casos de malária, devido à ocupação de áreas naturais pelo homem. Este estudo mostrou que o subgênero Nyssorhynchus possui amplo registro na literatura de inquéritos entomológicos do gênero na floresta tropical equatorial, indicando que o agrupamento pode ser considerado endêmico às fronteiras de transformação na região, tendo assim importante papel na manutenção da transmissão da malária. Os estudos de campo apresentaram evidências de que formação de habitats artificiais favorecem formas iniciais de vida dos mosquitos com histórico vetorial para a região. Esses habitats larvais podem ser respostas ao uso do solo e das consequentes alterações provocadas no ambiente natural pelas atividades humanas. As modificações do ambiente natural selecionam e propiciam a formação de habitats para as espécies do Nyssorhynchus. Este agrupamento taxonômico engloba espécies que são consideradas vetores para a malária na região Neotropical. / Introduction: Rural settlements are recurrent social arrangements expanding in the Amazon region, which generate disturbances in the natural environment, affecting the mosquitoes ecology involved in malaria transmission. Objective: A systematic review of Anopheles species were recorded in the Amazon region. For the qualitative research, were establish potential factors of the environment and the characteristics of the waters of several larval habitats that may be associated with the presence of species of Anopheles mosquitoes, by surveys of the samples presents in larval habitats within environmental disturbance gradient. Methods: for the review of the species, were used search terms, in seven bibliographic databases of reference. For studies in the field, larvae were trapped along estimation and measurement of some conditions of the larval habitats, to compare the parameters analyzed between natural and artificial environments. Results: The review showed greater amount of articles that reported the occurrence of Nyssorhynchus subgenre, followed by: Anopheles, Stethomyia, Kerteszia and Lophopodomyia. The Anopheles darlingi proved the species with the highest occurrence in the papers showed, due to its epidemiological importance. Important auxiliary vectors belonging to the subgenus Nyssorhynchus were also recorded in large scale. The results of the qualitative shown that the natural 8 environment transformation forces favor the development of larval habitats of the species of subgenus Nyssorhynchus, including An. darlingi and an important secondary vector, An. Triannulatus. Discussion and Conclusion: settlement projects in the Brazilian Amazon recorded significant rates of malaria cases. This study showed that, the Amazon basin an important determinant of this phenomenon is the formation of artificial habitats that are occupied by early forms of life of mosquito vectors. These larval habitats may be answers to land use and consequent changes in the natural environment caused by human activities. Modifications to the natural environment select and provide the formation of habitats for species in Nyssorhynchus. This taxonomic group includes species that are considered vectors for malaria in the Neotropics. Discussion and Conclusion: settlement projects in the brazilian Amazon recorded significant rates of malaria cases. This study showed that the review of the literature shows Nyssorhynchus subgenre ample record in entomological surveys in the equatorial rainforest, indicating that the group may be considered endemic to the borders of transformation in the region, and thus important role in the maintenance of malaria transmission. Field studies showed evidence that formation of artificial habitats favor early forms of the mosquito vector, with history for malaria in the region. These larval habitats may be answers to land use and consequent changes in the natural environment caused by human activities. Modifications to the natural environment select and provide the formation of habitats for species in Nyssorhynchus.

Estudos em genética de paisagem, das espécies zootécnicas, podem impulsionar o entendimento dos processos adaptativos, bem como, a maneira que o ambiente afeta o sucesso destas populações. O objetivo principal do projeto foi identificar assinaturas de seleção no genoma populações de suínos naturalizados brasileiros. Procurando obter a maior representatividade da variabilidade genética e ambiental dos suínos dentro do território brasileiros, amostras de DNA de pelo menos um animal e de pelo menos um grupo genético foram obtidas dentro do Banco de Germopalsma da EMBRAPA, totalizando 191 animais de 18 grupos genéticos suínos brasileiras que foram genotipadas, e classificadas de acordo com sua origem dentro de raça ou grupo genético, estado bioma, bacia hidrográfica, tipo de solo, ecoregião e tipo de vegetação. Após um controle de qualidade os genótipos resultantes foram utilizados no calculo das estatísticas F de Wright, equilíbrio de Hardy-Weinberg. Análise de componentes principais, coeficiente de endogamia, analise da variância molecular, testes de Mantel, e a determinação do número ideal de populações. Os dados ambientais foram convertidos em layers através do Qgis e utilizados na detecção de assinaturas de seleção através do BayeScan v2.1 (Foll & Gaggiotti 2008) e do Samβada (Stucki et al. 2014) Os resultados obtidos mostram que as populações estudadas têm uma estrutura variada entre e dentre si. A maior parte da variabilidade genética esta presente nos indivíduos dentro de grupos genéticos, e indivíduos dentro de estados. Existe diferenciação genética dos suínos dentro das variáveis ambientais classificatórias. As raças Monteiro e Marajó foram as que mostraram maiores níveis de estruturação. Os componentes principais mostram proximidade entre as raças comerciais, assim como o elevado grau de variação na composição genéticas das demais raças, com marcante separação dos animais Monteiro e Marajó. Níveis elevados de endogamia foram encontrados. Foram encontrados pelo menos 8 assinaturas de seleção no genoma das raças suínas localmente adaptadas. A freqüência dos genótipos destes marcadores divide o território brasileiro em duas regiões latitudinais distintas. Os níveis de estruturação das populações demonstram uma grande variabilidade genética entre e dentre as raças. As marcas de seleção encontradas demonstram a influência do meio ambiente no sucesso adaptativo destes animais ao território brasileiro. / Study of landscape genetics in livestock species can help understand the adaptive processes and the way that the environment affects the success of these populations. The main objective was the identification of genetic signatures of selection in the Brazilian autochthone swine breeds. We aim the higher representation of genetic and environmental variability from Brazilian territory sampling at least one animal from one genetic group per sampling point. The samples were obtained on CENARGEN-EMBRAPA Germplasm Bank in a total of 191 DNA samples from 19 Brazilian locally adapted swine genetic groups, classified into state, region, biome, hydrological basins, soil type, ecoregion and vegetation type. These samples were genotyped and after a quality control, we calculated Wright’ F-statistics, individual inbreeding coefficient, Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, Principal components, IBD, Mantel test, an ideal number of subpopulations and an analysis of molecular variance. Environmental data was converted in layers through Qgis and used to detect signatures of selection by BayeScan v2.1 (Foll & Gaggiotti 2008) and Samβada ((Stucki et al. 2014) Population studied had genetic structure among different subpopulations, in a same category. The biggest part of genetic variability is the individual within breed and in individual within state. We found different intensity of population structure in the categories studied, been the he Monteiro and Marajó breeds that ones with highest values from population genetic structure. Principal component analyses showed proximity between commercial breeds, as well as the high degree of genetic variation among other breeds, with great detachment of Monteiro and Marajó animals from others. High inbreeding levels were found. Signatures of selection were found on the genome of Brazilian locally adapted swine pig. The genotypic frequency of these signatures of selection divides the Brazilian territory into two distinct latitudinal regions. The population structure levels demonstrate a wide genetic variability inside and among races. The signatures of natural selection found demonstrate the influence of the environment to successful adaptation of swine in Brazil.

El proyecto de tesis presentado consiste en el diseño de un colegio público situado en el distrito limeño de San Juan de Miraflores, en el cual se busca estudiar el espacio pedagógico e identificar de qué manera las cualidades arquitectónicas y composiciones espaciales influencian en el aprendizaje del alumno. Asimismo, se busca analizar cómo el enfatizar el ámbito deportivo de un colegio puede beneficiar distintos aspectos del mismo y de qué modo se puede integrar el proyecto a la comunidad. En este sentido, se toma como referencia otros proyectos en los que, el emplear, por ejemplo, los métodos Montessori o Reggio Emilia, implica una configuración espacial particular y una relación con el entorno natural diseñada para el alumno. Para ello, se busca desplegar un ámbito lúdico-experimental en ambientes educativos constituidos en espacios “experimentales”, cuya versatilidad espacial, proximidad a la naturaleza y, por tanto, interacción con el exterior, faciliten que el alumno experimente y aprenda más independiente y creativamente. Por otro lado, para imponer espacios deportivos que beneficien directamente al colegio, el ámbito deportivo pretende manifestarse en una arquitectura representativa e infraestructura de dicha índole, las cuales, además de posibilitar la realización de distintos deportes y actividades, establezcan espacios donde se generen actividades pedagógicas. Por último, para lograr integrar el proyecto a la comunidad, se busca extender, selectivamente, el uso de espacios comunes o deportivos hacia los usuarios ajenos al proyecto sin perjudicar su funcionamiento. / The presented thesis project consists in the design of a public school located in the district of San Juan de Miraflores, in Lima, which seeks to study the pedagogical space and identify how architectural qualities and spatial compositions can influence in the learning of the student. Furthermore, the aim is to analyze in which way emphasizing sports environment of a school can benefit different aspects of it and how the project can be integrated into the community. In this sense, other projects are taken as reference in which, the engaging of, for example, the Montessori or Reggio Emilia methods, implie a particular spatial configuration and interconnection with the natural environment designed for the student. In order to achieve this, the intend is to deploy ludic-experimental aspects in educational environments composed in "experimental" spaces, in which the spatial versatility, the proximity to nature and, therefore, the interaction with the outside, encourages the student to experiment and learn more independently and creatively. On the other hand, as a means to impose sports facilities that directly benefit the school, the sport component aims to manifest itself as a representative architecture and infrastructure of this kind, which, in addition to enable the realization of different sports and activities, it establishes spaces where pedagogical activities are developed. Finally, in order to integrate the project into the community, it is sought to broaden, selectively, the use of common and/or sport areas towards potential users outside the project without altering its operation. / Tesis