The high prevalence of food insecurity experienced by remote First Nation (FN) communities partially results from dependence on an expensive import-based food system that typically lacks nutritional quality and further displaces traditional food systems. In the present study, the feasibility of import substitution by Agroforestry Community Gardens (AFCGs) as socio-ecologically and culturally sustainable means of enhancing food security was explored through a case study of Fort Albany First Nation (FAFN) in subarctic Ontario. Agroforestry is a diverse tree-crop or tree-livestock agricultural system that has enhanced food security in the developing world, as low input systems with high yields of diverse food and material products, and various ecological services. Four study sites were selected for biophysical analysis: two Salix spp. (willow)-dominated AFCG test plots in an area proposed by the community; one “no tree” garden control test plot; and one undisturbed forest control test plot. Baseline data and a repeatable sampling design were established to initiate long-term studies on the productive capacity of willow AFCGs as a means to enhance food security in subarctic FN communities. Initial soil and vegetative analysis revealed a high capacity for all sites to support mixed produce with noted modifications, as well as potential competitive and beneficial willow-crop interactions. Identification of barriers to food security and local food production in FAFN revealed a need for a locally-run Food Security Program (FSP) in partnership with the AFCGs to provide the personnel, knowledge and leadership necessary to increase local food autonomy and local food education and to manage the AFCG as a reliable food supply. Continued research on AFCGs and the FSP may allow wide-scale adoption of this strategy as an approach to enhance community food security and food sovereignty in remote FNs across Canada. An integration of conventional crops and native species in the AFCGs is recommended as a bicultural approach to enhance social, cultural and ecological resiliency of FN food systems. As an adaptable and dynamic system, AFCGs have potential to act as a more reliable local food system and a refuge for culturally significant plants in high-latitude FN socio-ecological systems, which are particularly vulnerable to rapid cultural and ecological change.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Temple Baptist Seminary, 2006. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 183-185).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1996. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 185-200). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1996. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 185-200). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (D. Min.)--New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, 1991. / Includes abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 211-216).

Thesis (M.A.)--Wheaton College Graduate School, 2005. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 162-169).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Temple Baptist Seminary, 2006. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 183-185).

Orientador: Edson Luis Maistro / Resumo: A Salix alba L. (SA), popularmente conhecida como Salgueiro Branco, é uma planta utilizada na medicina popular para o tratamento de inflamações crônicas e agudas, infecções, dores, febre, entre outros. A caracterização fitoquímica do extrato da casca desta planta revelou que seu principal componente é a salicina, com uma concentração de 4,94 mg/mL, um precursor do anti-inflamatório ácido acetilsalicílico. Considerando que existem poucos estudos que avaliam a ação tóxica e citotóxica do extrato da SA, o presente estudo foi elaborado visando investigar o potencial citotóxico, genotóxico e mutagênico da SA em células mononucleares do sangue periférico humano e de hepatocarcinoma humano HepG2 in vitro, e em diferentes células de camundongos in vivo, utilizando alguns dos testes tradicionais na área de mutagênese, como o teste do MTT, o Ensaio do Cometa e o Teste do Micronúcleo, bem como a verificação de potencial citotoxicidade por meio de análises histológicas e histoquímicas. Os testes de viabilidade celular e citotoxicidade (azul de tripan e MTT) permitiram a escolha de 3 concentrações do extrato da SA para serem analisadas nos ensaios de genotoxicidade in vitro: 5, 50 e 100 µg/mL. Pelo ensaio cometa com as células mononucleares de sangue periférico, pôde-se observar que as concentrações de 50 e 100 µg/mL acarretaram um aumento estatisticamente significativo de danos no DNA, em comparação ao controle negativo. Já no teste do micronúcleo, as 3 concentrações avaliadas (5, 50 e 1... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Salix alba L. (SA), popularly known as White Willow, is a plant used in folk medicine for the treatment of chronic and acute inflammations, infections, pains, fever, among others. The phytochemical characterization of the bark extract of this plant revealed that its main component is salicin, with a concentration of 4.94 mg/mL, a precursor of the antiinflammatory acetylsalicylic acid. Considering that there are few studies evaluating the toxic and cytotoxic action of SA extract, the present study was designed to investigate the cytotoxic, genotoxic and mutagenic potential of SA bark wood extract in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and human hepatoma cell line HepG2 in vitro and in different mouse cells in vivo using some of the traditional mutagenesis tests such as the MTT test, the Comet assay and the Micronucleus test, and cytotoxicity in the liver of mice also by histological and histochemical analysis. Cell viability and cytotoxicity tests (trypan blue and MTT) allowed the choice of 3 concentrations of the SA extract to be analyzed in the in vitro genotoxicity assays: 5, 50 and 100 μg/mL. By the comet assay with the peripheral blood mononuclear cells, it was observed that concentrations of 50 and 100 μg/ml resulted in a statistically significant increase in DNA damage, as compared to the negative control. In the micronucleus test, the 3 concentrations evaluated (5, 50 and 100 μg/mL) did not produce significant increases of micronucleated binucleate cells, as well ... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

This study shows the importance of the basic spectro-temporal song parameters in territorial contests between male songbirds. Chiffchaff and willow warbler were selected as model species for their phylogenetic and ecological similarity, strong territorial behaviour, but very different singing styles. We found that bigger males of both species sing lower pitched songs and that males of both species adjust their behaviour according to song pitch of their rival simulated by playback. Thus, it seems that both species use song pitch to acoustically assess the body size of their rivals. We also show that song length and syllable rate are important features of the song, probably signalling short-term motivation to escalate territorial conflict.

Seasonal long-distance bird migration between wintering and breeding grounds is oneof the most remarkable phenomena in the history of life on earth. Migration strategies androutes vary greatly. Some birds migrate in social groups whilst others migrate alone at night,some cross few hundreds of km whilst others cover thousands of km. Avian migration has beenstudied extensively nevertheless numerous important questions remain unanswered. This studyaims to contribute to the understanding of the genetic basis of the innate migratory program ofa common songbird.From results of classical crossbreeding and orientation experiments with captiveblackcaps (Sylvia atricapilla) we can be sure that songbird migration directions as well asdurations are traits that are being inherited genetically and most likely have a multi-locusgenetic architecture. The chosen model species for my project is the willow warbler(Phylloscopus trochilus), one of the most common leaf warblers in the Palearctic. The willowwarbler has a continuous breeding distribution from the coast of the Atlantic to the coast ofPacific. They overwinter in sub-Saharan Africa. Three subspecies have been recognized: P. t.trochilus (breeding in central/western Europe and migrating SSW to western Africa), P. t.acredula (breeding in northern and eastern Europe, migrating SSE to east and south Africa)and P. t. yakutensis (breeding east of Ural Mountains, presumably migrating to SouthernAfrica). Morphological differences across the willow warbler subspecies are subtle and it has been previously shown that genome wide FST is close to zero. The low level of neutral back-ground divergence offers a good system for studying the genetics of passerine migration. This report contributes with novel data on phenotypes and genotypes of the subspecies yakutensisstudied at Chaun river delta, at the very eastern range limit of the species. As a proxy for thewintering location of yakutensis I used C and N stable isotope signatures from winter grownfeathers and inferred wintering range to be in Southern Africa. I genotyped 36 yakutensis fromChaun on four nuclear markers, of which three are located on the only divergent regions thatdiffers between the migratory phenotypes in Europe + CLOCK gene (a candidate for timing ofmigration). Analyzes revealed that yakutensis, despite strong differences in migration direction,distance, timing and wintering ground location cannot be separated from acredula genetically.