A multi-proxy palaeonenvironmental reconstruction from sediment cores, offshore Iran - Natural hazards and climatic change within the Late Holocene

This thesis was submitted for the degree of Master of Philosophy and awarded by Brunel University.During the last millennia, North African and Arabian palaeoclimatic records indicate a number of important climatic transitions. As a direct consequence, terrestrial ecosystems experiences significant changes. Although palaeoenvironmental records do exist in proximity to the north-western Arabian Sea, they remain sparse and provide little insight into environmental and climatic change of this region during the Late Holocene (the dating here is from 2300 cal. yr BP to present). Additionally, the north-western Arabian Sea is prone to natural disasters including recent cyclones and tsunamis such as the Makran tsunami, 1945 and cyclone Gonu, 2007, which leave a signal in the sediment. This thesis presents the results of detailed pollen and dinoflagellate cyst analysis in concert with a range of sedimentological techniques from sediment cores recovered from southern Iran (Chabahar Bay, Sea of Oman, Iran 25° 20’N, 60° 30’E). The data reveal the patterns of vegetation and oceanographic response to climatic change during the Late Holocene in the north-western Arabian Sea. Zonation on pollen and dinoflagellate results divides the last 2300 years into three distinct climatic phases: a wet period (2300 – 1830 cal. yr BP), a dry period (1830 – 1500 cal. yr BP) and a wet period (1500 – 120 cal. yr BP). The wet period (2300 – 1830 cal. yr BP) corresponds with well-known phases of intensive agriculture, including the Sassanid Period. The dry period (1830 – 1500 cal. yr BP) corresponds well with the end of the Beysehir occupation phase in southern Turkey. Moreover, an abrupt event is preserved in a single core and is dated at AD < 1808. Palynological evidence constrains the source of the sediment to be inner-continental but not of coastal origin, with a fluvial flood being the most likely mechanism of transportation

520,000 years of environmental change in West Africa

Global temperatures are predicted to rise by 2-2.5°C by 2065, profoundly affecting the Earth's environment. The response of ecosystems to past climate fluctuations can inform on how systems will respond in the future. This thesis focuses on Quaternary environmental changes in West Africa, a region important because of its high ecological value and role in the global carbon cycle. In 2004, the International Continental Drilling Program recovered c. 291 m of sediments spanning the last c. 1 Myr from Lake Bosumtwi (Ghana). Pollen, charcoal and nitrogen isotopes (ᵟ15N) were analysed from the most recent c. 150m (c. 520 kyr). The latitudinal position and long duration of this core makes it unique for understanding West African monsoon dynamics and vegetation change. To aid characterisation of the Bosumtwi pollen succession, an atlas of present-day pollen was constructed for 364 pollen and spore taxa. The pollen record from Bosumtwi reveals dynamic vegetation change over the last c. 520 kyr, characterized by eleven biome shifts between savannah and forest. Savannah vegetation is dominated by Poaceae (>55%) associated with Cyperaceae, Chenopodiaceae-Amaranthaceae and Caryophyllaceae. Forest vegetation is palynologically diverse, but broadly characterised by Moraceae, Celtis, Uapaca, Macaranga and Trema. Low ᵟ15N values correspond to forest expansion and these are driven by high lake levels. The timescale indicates that the six periods of forest expansion correspond to global interglacial periods. The record indicates that the wettest climate occurred during the Holocene, and the driest during Marine Isotope Stage 7. The vegetation and ᵟ15N records show a strong response to glacial-interglacial variability between 520- 320 kyr and 130- 0 kyr. Between 320- 130 kyr there is a weaker response to glacial-interglacial cycles probably related to high eccentricity during the peak of the 400-kyr component of eccentricity, with high eccentricity resulting in greater seasonality and ultimately drier conditions

The middlescence principal : professional growth in times of increased accountability /

Middlescence is a term coined for a professional in mid-career and how this can be "a time of burnout or rejuvenation" (Morison, Erickson, and Dychtwald, 2007, p. 1). This qualitative narrative case study explores the lived experiences and perceptions of a highschool principal in mid-career and the challenges that he, as do other public school administrators, face when confronted with increased accountability and student performance demands across the country. Effective school research, leadership and career development provide a theoretical foundation for this study. Although the study examines the participant's entire professional experiences, much emphasis has been placed on his mid-career period and the school's improvement implementation process. Specific focus identifies the signs of burnout and his desire and need for rejuvenation. The story of one identified principal is studied to understand what lead to burnout and the strategies that supported his growth and rejuvenation. In relation to middlescence, in-depth unstructured interviews allow for an understanding of the lived experiences of this principal and how it relates to career development and professional growth. The principal selected in this study had a historical career change in principal positions every three years during the first part of his career in school administration. What we know about principal retention suggests that school leaders are crucial to the school improvement process and that they must stay in a school a number of consecutive years for the benefits of their leadership to be realized. In addition, emerging research and theory has found that "Principal turnover has direct negative effects on student- and school-level achievement, and that the strongest impact appears immediately after turnover occurs" (Bteille, Kalogrides, Loeb, 2011). The leader in this rural Missouri school found himself on a trajectory of burnout and feeling the need for rejuvenation. Through this narrative study, the principal, in middlescence, was found to be transformed. Now in his 8th year at the same school, he attributes his stability to the leadership within the district and the professional coaching and informal mentoring that occurred. Critical conversations were held that instilled a sense of urgency to improve. In addition, he participated in the Missouri Professional Learning Communities project. Along with his leadership team, the school implemented this model with fidelity and was recognized within the state for deep implementation. Throughout this process, the participant created a network of support and trusted colleagues that continue his professional learning. The major finding from this study found the importance of relevant training, consistent coaching, and the mentor relationship, all of equal importance, for the success and growth of the middlescent principal. This research study can be used by other school administrators, district leaders, and preparation institutions to better support administrators in mid-career. Recognition of the signs of burnout will also trigger the guidance necessary to focus the principals toward rejuvenation. Keeping our quality leaders in our schools is important to the continued success in school.Dr. Juanita Simmons, Dissertation Supervisor.|Includes vita.Includes bibliographical references (pages 119-127)

An updated checklist of scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) of the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

The information available on Coccoidea in the Galapagos Islands is sparse. Data on the species present, their distribution and host plants were compiled using recent information at the Charles Darwin Research Station and from the literature. Up to January 2008, 80 species from eight families were reported, more than doubling the total known in 2001. Of the 63 species whose origin has been determined, 50 are believed to have been introduced inadvertently on plants, fruits or vegetables, nine are endemic and four more are thought to be native. The low number of endemic and native species suggests that scale insects have been poor at reaching the islands naturally

The genetic control of stem mechanical properties in Brassica Napus and Wheat

Understanding what contributes to the genetic control of stem mechanical strength in important crop species, has potential for the improvement of lodging resistance. This may be particularly important given the recent interest in the exploitation of crop residues as feedstock for lignocellulosic ethanol production, where the manipulation of cell wall chemical composition to improve feedstock processibility may lead to reduced stem strength. Lodging is a widespread problem in both Brassica napus (B. napus) and wheat, and is a key contributor to yield loss. The development of genetic markers that could be used in the selection of elite accessions with high stem mechanical strength is an approach that could compliment current strategies in place for lodging control. The level of genetic variation available for stem mechanical strength and related traits was assessed across wheat and B. napus diversity panels. Following the detection of high levels of variation, these traits were analysed using Associative Transcriptomics. Important variation at both the sequence and the gene expression level was identified. This analysis revealed a potential importance of xylan acetylation in wheat. For B. napus a subset of candidate genes were validated in an Arabidopsis thaliana mutant screen, which revealed GAUT5, SAUR72 and a pectin methylesterase (AT3G12880), as key contributors to stem mechanical strength. Xylan acetylation and pectin methylesterification are both known to impair saccharification efficiency of lignocellulosic biomass, suggesting that there may be conflict between feedstock processibility and stem mechanical strength. A subset of markers detected through Associative Transcriptomics were further tested an independent panel of B. napus and wheat breeding material. Through genotyping and subsequent mechanical testing, markers with high durability for the selection of stem mechanical strength were identified in both crop species. These experiments demonstrate the power of Associative Transcriptomics for the identification of durable markers for complex traits of agronomic importance

Pilot whales attracted to killer whales sounds : acoustically-mediated interspecific interactions in cetaceans

This study was mainly funded by three naval organisations: the US Office of Naval Research, the Norwegian Ministry of Defense and the Netherlands Ministry of Defense. In addition, WWF-Norway, TOTAL Foundation and the Foundation Bleustein-Blanchet also contributed financially. Authors are employed by government (Norwegian Defense Research Establishment), independent no-profit (Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research and Kelp Marine Research), or academic (University of St. Andrews) research organisations. No authors are employed by naval organisations. The funders had no role in study design, data analysis, or preparation of the manuscript.In cetaceans’ communities, interactions between individuals of different species are often observed in the wild. Yet, due to methodological and technical challenges very little is known about the mediation of these interactions and their effect on cetaceans’ behavior. Killer whales (Orcinus orca) are a highly vocal species and can be both food competitors and potential predators of many other cetaceans. Thus, the interception of their vocalizations by unintended cetacean receivers may be particularly important in mediating interspecific interactions. To address this hypothesis, we conducted playbacks of killer whale vocalizations recorded during herring-feeding activity to free-ranging long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas). Using a multi-sensor tag, we were able to track the whales and to monitor changes of their movements and social behavior in response to the playbacks. We demonstrated that the playback of killer whale sounds to pilot whales induced a clear increase in group size and a strong attraction of the animals towards the sound source. These findings provide the first experimental evidence that the interception of heterospecific vocalizations can mediate interactions between different cetacean species in previously unrecognized ways.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Characteristics of Mentor Relationships in Male and Female University Professors

Graduate school socialization and mentoring are based on adult development theory as articulated by Jung, Erickson, and Levinson. As adults mature, they go through several stages of detaching from family and learning how to live in the world. During this period (which encompasses undergraduate and graduate education), special relationships are often formed to help ease the transition to adulthood by providing advice and mentoring. A mentor is a person who helps guide another person into a profession and contributes to his or her professional development. The mentor may serve as a professional role model and teacher, providing encouragement, direction, information, and friendship. Levinson’s work in particular revealed mentoring to be an important part of adult development. However, a review of the literature revealed a lack of research on the characteristics and consequences of mentor relationships and on male-female differences in mentor relationships A written multiple choice survey was administered to 28 male and 28 female doctoral level faculty members at Western Kentucky University. The results were examined to learn whether subjects had been mentored in graduate school, and whether they had same-gender or cross-gender relationships. The study assessed the characteristics and functions of mentoring relationships, and sought to determine whether graduate school mentoring was associated with differences in productivity, professional satisfaction, and whether they had become mentors themselves. A stratified sample was used to match subjects by academic college, year degree was received (within five years), age (within 10 years), and, where possible, academic department and type of degree. The results were analyzed using the Chi-Square test for significance. It was found that 78.6% of the men and 75.0% of the women had mentors, but women were significantly more likely than men to have had cross-gender relationships. The presence or absence of mentoring was not significantly related to either productivity or professional satisfaction. Although the difference was not significant, faculty members who had been mentored were more likely to become mentors themselves. The findings from the present study were compared to the findings of previous research, and suggestions for future research were discussed, including the need for similar research with a larger sample that includes a wide variety of professional and non-professional occupations. A longitudinal study which follows the professional development of students who have been questioned about their mentor relationships was also suggested as a means toward a better understanding of the possible contribution of mentor relationships to a person’s professional development