<p> As eel populations decline worldwide, research tools for scientists and managers to better understand eel populations and dynamics will be vitally important. This research focuses on the relatively understudied silver phase eel, the sexually mature adult life stage that will make the single spawning journey to the oceanic spawning grounds. A non-lethal index of eel maturity was designed based on external measurements and was able to correctly classify individuals into one of seven maturity classes 83% of the time overall, yielding similar results to other non-lethal indices. Habitats above and below barriers to migration, at varying levels of watershed urbanization, and different distances from the ocean were compared in terms of eel maturity, size, age, and parasite parameters. Two methods of bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) were evaluated in their ability to estimate eel lipid concentration, a key factor in eel maturity and successful spawning.</p>

<p> As changing ocean conditions lead to declining fish stocks and movement of forage fish, sea lions on the Oregon coast are subject to the pressures of declining prey availability and increasing conflicts with commercial and recreational fisheries. An analysis of strandings of California sea lions, _{Zalophus californianus,} and Steller sea lions, <i>Eumetopias jubatus, </i> from 2006 to 2014, included cause of death, changing ocean conditions, and anthropogenic activity. Causes of death included disease, injury, and human interaction, such as gunshot wounds, fisheries net entanglements and boat strikes. </p><p> Oregon and Washington strandings of California sea lions are primarily adult and subadult males that migrate north from California rookeries, while Steller sea lions are year-round residents and strandings are comprised of males and females of all ages. While the California sea lion population is currently at or near carrying capacity, the Eastern Pacific population of Steller sea lions was designated as Threatened under the Endangered Species Act until October 2013. Understanding impacts to these two pinniped species is vital to implementing effective management and conservation policies.</p><p> Oregon and southern Washington strandings of California sea lions and Steller sea lions from 2006 to 2014 were analyzed spatially using the geographic information system (GIS), and temporally to identify possible correlations with prey availability and human interaction. Strandings were found to follow seasonal patterns from year to year: Steller sea lion strandings were highest from May to July, California sea lions peaked in September, October, and November. There was a correlation between significantly high numbers of strandings and the three largest commercial fisheries in Oregon: Chinook salmon, Coho salmon, and Dungeness crab. </p><p> This analysis provides a format for continuing to monitor primary ecological and anthropogenic drivers of pinniped mortality in Oregon and southern Washington. </p>

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2015 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Although Community Participation (CP) in Africa dates back to colonial times, it is more oriented towards embracing indigenous knowledge systems. CP encourages self-reliance, community empowerment, capacity-building, social learning and sustainability among community members. This study describes how Collaborative Wildlife Management (CWM) was implemented in Ulukusi, a community on the border of Mount Elgon National Park (MENP), eastern Uganda. It assesses livelihood strategies before and after the implementation of CWM. The study further identifies a wildlife management strategy that would embrace the needs of the local community and the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). Open ended questions were developed and administered through interviews with both household and key informants, and by means of focus group discussions and observations. The findings of the study indicate that the implementation of CWM led to the development of a Resource User Agreement (RUA) which promoted wildlife resource regeneration due to restricted resource harvest and park access. There was general agreement among interviewees and key informants that the relationship between the UWA and the community had improved compared to the time when the park was under the management of the Uganda National Park. Findings further indicate that CWM was inappropriately implemented considering the fact that the UWA used a top-down approach to influence the signing of the RUA. This is evident in that communities did not directly participate in decision-making. Therefore, in order to promote sustainable wildlife management, communities should participate in decision-making since they are the people affected by the mismanagement of wildlife. Conservation authorities should also integrate indigenous knowledge into their management policies and promote continuous sensitisation meetings to empower the community members. Above all, for any development to embrace all stakeholders’ needs, conservation authorities should also integrate the “building blocks” of development to promote conflict resolution. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Alhoewel gemeenskapsdeelname in Afrika terugdateer tot die Koloniale tydperk is die beginsel van gemeenskapsontwikkeling meer gerig op die aanvaarding van inheemse kennisstelsels. Gemeenskapsdeelname moedig selfstandigheid, gemeenskapsbemagtiging, kapasiteitsbou, sosiale leer en volhoubaarheid onder gemeenskapslede. Hierdie studie ondersoek hoe samewerking en gemeenskaplike beplanning beoefen word in Ulukasi, ‘n naburige gemeenskap van die Mount Elgen Nationale Park, Oos Uganda. Die studie assesseer die Collaborative Wildlife Management (CWM) strategie voor en na implementering. Verder identifiseer die studie ‘n omgewingsbestuur strategie wat die behoeftes van die gemeenskap en die van die Uganda Wildlife Authority effektief aanspreek. Verskillende data insamelingsmetodes, insluitend onderhoude, fokusgroepe en deelnemendewaarneming was aangewend. Die respondente was verteenwoordig deur plaaslike gemeenskapslede en amptenary, plus addisionele sleutel informante. Bevindinge van die studie dui daarop dat die implementering van die CWM gelei het tot die ontwikkeling van ‘n hulpbron gebruikersooreenkoms (Resource User Agreement) vir die bevordering van die behoud van wild en beperkte oes en toegang tot die park. Daar was ook ‘n algemene instemming tussen informante en sleutel informante dat die verhouding tussen UWA en die gemeenskap verbeter het teenoor die tydperk toe die park onder die bestuur was van die Uganda nasionale park. Bevindinge dui ook daarop dat CWM onvanpas geïmplementeer was, oorwegend die feit dat UWA ‘n voorskriftelike benadering gebruik het wat ‘n invloed gehad het op die ondertekenings van die RUA. Dit is dus duidelik dat gemeenskappe nie direk betrokke was by besluitnemingprosesse nie. Ten einde volhoubare natuurlewebestuur te bevorder moet gemeenskappe betrokke wees in besluitneming aangesien hulle direk geraak word deur die wanbestuur van wild. Natuurbewaringsowerhede moet ook inheemse kennis integreer in bestuursbeleid en deurlopende sensitisering vergaderings gebruik om lede van die gemeenskap te bemagtig. Bo alles, vir enige ontwikkeling moet alle belanghebbendes se behoeftes aangespreek word en moet bewarings owerhede ook die boustene van ontwikkeling integreer om konflik te bestuur.

No description available.

The aims of this study were to identify alternative mechanisms for financing nongame wildlife management in Arizona and to evaluate the mechanisms based on criteria drawn from the fields of public finance and political science. A public opinion survey was conducted to estimate support for the funding of nongame management and the employment of specific mechanisms. The results of the study indicate that a combination of state general fund appropriations and user charges would provide the best means for financing nongame wildlife management. In order to gain financial support from the public and the state legislature it is suggested that the Arizona Game and Fish Department focus its efforts on enhancing its image as an agency that serves a diverse constituency of nonconsumptive and consumptive wildlife enthusiasts.

The influence of the herbicides sulfometuron and simazine on the establishment of 8 species of tree seedlings was studied in northern Israel. The experiment included three treatments and a control. The first treatment applied simazine at a rate of 5 kg/ha, and second treatment applied simazine at a rate of 5 kg/ha and sulfometuron at a rate of 0.03 kg/ha. Sulfometuron was applied alone at a rate of 0.03 kg/ha in the third treatment. Statistical analyses showed significant effects on the survival of some species treated with sulfometuron. To ensure earlier season survival, the rate of sulfometuron applied should be kept at a minimum level to allow both weed control and adequate establishment of seedling. Low-rate applications are particularly important in arid and semi-arid areas.

I examined movements and habitat use by desert mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus crooki) and collared peccary (Dicotyles tajacu) in the Rincon Mountain District of Saguaro National Monument (SNM) from February 1988 through December 1989. Movements and habitat use by mule deer were closely associated with the distribution of free-standing water during the driest seasons of the year. Deer responded to losses of ephemeral water sources in SNM by leaving the monument to obtain water. Four of 5 peccary herds supplemented their natural diet by visiting houses and/or restaurants on a daily or twice daily basis. The addition of water and supplemental food sources was a deliberate effort by homeowners to attract wildlife onto their property. The current pattern of habitat islands interspersed with low density housing (1 house/2-4 ha) is an effective and highly desirable buffer zone between the monument and the more heavily developed urban areas 3.2 km west of the park.

The Hayden-Rhodes Aqueduct (HRA) extends from Lake Havasu along the California and Arizona border to 40 km northeast of Phoenix, Arizona. The Bureau of Reclamation established water catchments for wildlife, and wildlife bridges to provide access for wildlife across the HRA. I investigated the effectiveness of these mitigations for desert mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus crooki) from July 1989 to July 1990. I examined deer use of wildlife bridges, concrete overchutes, and water catchments; the quality of deer habitat at crossings; and the influence of mountain lions (Felis concolor) on deer at water catchments. All water catchments were used by deer. There was very little use of wildlife crossings by deer. Deer habitat on the north side of the HRA received more use by deer than habitats south of the HRA. I could not determine if mountain lions capture prey more often near water catchments than in other areas.

I sought to determine if brown tree snakes (Boiga irregularis) raised in captivity showed annual and/or subsidiary growth marks corresponding to feeding or shedding events. I injected 25 brown tree snakes with a fluorescent bone marker (calcein or alizarin red) and raised them for one year under constant conditions. Growth marks beyond the fluorescent marker were correlated with shedding events but not with years or feeding events. Shedding events have not previously been identified as a correlate of growth marks in bone. I do not know if the correlation occurs in other species, as growth cycles have not previously been studied in tropical snakes. The correlation between growth marks and shedding events may allow the study of ecdysis in free-ranging snakes, and shedding events may be the cause of the secondary growth marks found in many reptiles.

Measurements of tree characteristics were used as indicators of overstory structure on four oak woodland sites in southeastern Arizona. Three areas harvested at different times and intensities were compared with an undisturbed area to assess effects of harvesting on various structural attributes of woodland overstories. Structural vegetation changes affect habitat quality and thus wildlife populations in modified areas. Significant differences were found for some woodland structural characteristics between harvested areas and an undisturbed area. Structural changes persist, as prolific coppice sprouting produces shrub-like trees, which appear to take a relatively long time to reach mature height and form. Managers might be able to moderate impacts of harvests on woodland structure by adjusting harvest intensity, and multiple-use management objectives for some species of wildlife still might be met.