Thesis (Ph.D.)--Murdoch University, 2001. / Thesis submitted to the Division of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences. Bibliography: leaves 242-275.

Thesis (M.S.)--Montana State University, 2004. / Title from PDF title page (viewed Jan. 6, 2005). Includes bibliographical references (p. 57-67).

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 305-327).

Thesis (M.Sc.(Wildlife Management ))--University of Pretoria, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2005.

Thesis (M.S.)--Montana State University--Bozeman, 2007. / Typescript. Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Sharon Eversman. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 85-89).

<p> Coexistence with people is one of the greatest challenges to survival for the African savannah elephant (<i>Loxodonta africana</i>), listed as Vulnerable in the IUCN Species Red List (Blanc 2008), in areas where human cultivation borders fragmented habitats (Hoare and Du Toit 1999; Osborn and Parker 2002), and crop-raiding occur. Electric fences are used more frequently. While they are effective at deterring the more risk-averse general population, they do not solve the problem of older, dominant bull elephants known as habitual (crop) raiders (HRs) that have learned to break through the most sophisticated fence designs without getting shocked (Kioko et al. 2008; Mutinda et al. 2014). There is no single solution to stop crop-raiding conflicts with HRs because they habituate to farm-based deterrents (Bell 1984; Tchamba 1995; Taylor 1999) and current novel approaches using chili-based repellents and beehive fences have had limited success but are labor-intensive and impractical for large-scale general crop protection. Further, important migration corridors have been closed off to mitigate conflicts, compromising the viability of local populations. HRs are responsible for causing 80-100% of crop-damage (Jackson et al. 2008; Alhering et al. 2011; Chiyo et al. 2011; Fernando 2011). They are not only singled out for lethal management or translocation by local authorities, they are targeted and killed by affected communities. However, HRs are keystone individuals and their constant removal has profound ecological and population implications. Focus needs to be shifted from constructing evermore elaborate fences to preventing the formation of &ldquo;problem&rdquo; elephants. Current management practices that increase aggression, increase crop-raiding conflicts, increase the risk of local extinctions, and has the potential to degrade the environment should be eliminated. In this thesis, I take an interdisciplinary approach to: (1) further understanding of HR behavioral ecology, the development of crop-raiding behavior and the potentially negative impacts of current management practices; (2) conduct a thorough analysis of HR fence-breaking/crop-raiding behavior in the Laikipia Plateau, Kenya, and suggest alternate methods to stop the conflicts; (3) introduce a behavior modification technique I designed that uses signal and solution learning to discourage HRs from raiding crops. It is my belief that any management approach, to be effective, must be developed with a clear understanding of the animal&rsquo;s capacity to learn, and the causation, development, evolution and adaptive value of the behavior to be modified.</p><p>

<p> Reservoirs throughout the country exhibit degraded shorelines and simplified littoral habitats because of aging. This study evaluated the establishment of agricultural plantings on reservoir mudflats and the effectiveness of supplemental brush pile structures in providing recruitment habitat for juvenile fish. The mudflats of Enid Reservoir, Mississippi were seeded during the winter drawdown in October of 2016 and 2017 with agricultural plantings. Monitoring of plantings found grasses performed best in terms of establishment and providing potential fish habitat. During Summer 2017 brush piles and control sites, without brush, were sampled in Enid Reservoir using rotenone to evaluate juvenile fish use. Juvenile fish exhibited greater abundances and larger sizes, on average, in brush pile sites. Larger brush piles placed in shallower water provided the greatest benefit to juvenile fish.</p><p>

<p> Understanding survival and breeding season length of game birds are important for effective management and conservation. By determining the variables that drive survival and recovery rates for white-winged doves (<i>Zenaida asiatica</i>), I can offer management implications to agencies across their range. There is currently little knowledge about white-winged dove molting and hatching chronology. The objectives of this study were to: 1) investigate annual survival and recovery rates of white-winged doves, 2) determine intrinsic and extrinsic factors influencing them, 3) determine AHY primary feather molt rate and the factors that influence molt rate and initiation, and 4) describe hatch chronology and determine the factors that influence hatching. To understand what influences annual survival and recovery, I examined subpopulation, climate variables, urbanization characteristics, molt, and band type as covariates. I used the Brownie approach in the RMark package of R to compare annual survival and recovery models and generate estimates. I used Underhill and Zucchini models in the Moult package of R to determine AHY primary feather molt rate and the best predictors of molt rate and initiation. I analyzed molt scores of HY doves recorded during annual banding using GLMs in R to determine the factors that influence hatching. I used AIC to select the most parsimonious models for each <i>a priori</i> candidate set. I analyzed 71,675 bands, of which, 3,086 were recovered from 2007 &ndash; 2016. My most supported model influencing survival and recovery was [<i>S</i>(age class x urban intensity) <i>f</i>(age class X MRPP)]. Average AHY primary molt rate across Texas was 13.21 &plusmn; 0.93 days. MRPP subpopulation + Year was the most supported model influencing AHY primary molt rate, AHY molt initiation, and hatch date. Within my sample, 95% of AHY white-winged doves began molting from 7 April to 8 July and completed molt 17 August to 17 November. White-winged doves hatched as early as 6 January and as late as 27 July, with 95% of all hatching occurring between 22 March and 18 June and peaking at 5 May. Urban intensity was an important variable influencing annual survival, which is expected for such an urbanized species. MRPP subpopulations influenced vital rates and should be considered for future harvest management. </p><p>