Lazarus ecology: Recovering the distribution and migratory patterns of the extinct Carolina parakeet.

The study of the ecology and natural history of species has traditionally ceased when a species goes extinct, despite the benefit to current and future generations of potential findings. We used the extinct Carolina parakeet as a case study to develop a framework investigating the distributional limits, subspecific variation, and migratory habits of this species as a means to recover important information about recently extinct species. We united historical accounts with museum collections to develop an exhaustive, comprehensive database of every known occurrence of this once iconic species. With these data, we combined species distribution models and ordinal niche comparisons to confront multiple conjectured hypotheses about the parakeet's ecology with empirical data on where and when this species occurred. Our results demonstrate that the Carolina parakeet's range was likely much smaller than previously believed, that the eastern and western subspecies occupied different climatic niches with broad geographical separation, and that the western subspecies was likely a seasonal migrant while the eastern subspecies was not. This study highlights the novelty and importance of collecting occurrence data from published observations on extinct species, providing a starting point for future investigations of the factors that drove the Carolina parakeet to extinction. Moreover, the recovery of lost autecological knowledge could benefit the conservation of other parrot species currently in decline and would be crucial to the success of potential de-extinction efforts for the Carolina parakeet

Trade-offs between conflicting animal welfare concerns and cow replacement strategy in out-wintering Scottish suckler herds

Since decoupling of the CAP, many Scottish suckler cow farms are facing financial difficulties. In response, many farmers are out-wintering extensively managed suckler cows to minimise production costs. These systems are of animal welfare concern. A range of trade-offs between animal welfare indicators and between animal welfare and farm profitability can be identified. A Dynamic Programming (DP) model was developed to study these trade-offs. Two herds were modelled assuming their feeding regimes were either low (LHERD) or high (HHERD). The objective of the DP was to maximise the expected net margin from a current cow and its successors over an infinite time horizon. Preliminary results showed that the rate of voluntary culling was higher in HHERD than in LHERD. Animals in HHERD had shorter life expectancy. The expected net present value was 58% lower in LHERD than HHERD (-£41.5 and -£24.3 respectively). These results suggest a heavier culling rate and shorter longevity for animals in HHERD that compromises animal welfare. Also HHERD had a greater implied stocking density than LHERD. This increase of the cows’ population may adversely affect the environment. The presented model provides some of the basic information required to explore some of the trade-offs between farm profit, animal welfare and the environment.Livestock Production/Industries, Beef cow, economics, dynamic programming, animal welfare,

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of some novel anti-cancer and anti-HIV chemotherapeutic agents

The work presented in this thesis has been directed towards the synthesis of uncharged, masked phosphate derivatives of the anti-cancer nucleoside analogue araC, the anti-HIV nucleoside analogue AZT and some other modified nucleosides which are of biological interest, that is, 3'-fluoro-3'-deoxythymidine, 3'-iodo-3'-deoxythymidine and 3'-acetylthymidine. It was hoped that this approach would achieve cellular penetration while overcoming some of the mechanisms of resistance to treatment which are observed for the parent nucleosides. The first chapter, the review, presents the background data and knowledge pertaining to cancer (especially leukaemia) and to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. The chemistry and biology of the compounds employed, along with related compounds are described. In chapter two, the synthesis of symmetric 5'-dialkyl phosphate triester derivatives of araC is described, along with a lipophilicity study and biological testing in mammalian epithelial cells. The compounds showed interesting activity which correlated with increasing lipophilicity. An attempted X-ray crystallographic study of l-p-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine-5'-diethyl phosphate is also presented. In the third chapter, the synthesis of asymmetric 5'-dialkyl phosphate triester, phosphoramidate and phosphorodiamidate derivatives of araC are described. The results of biological testing in mammalian epithelial cells are discussed. The attempted combination of the active moiety of the alkylating agent cyclophosphamide with araC is described. The reason why protection of araC may be necessary is outlined and a novel base protected derivative of araC is presented. A Nuclear Overhauser Experiment is corelated with molecular graphics results in order to assign stereochemistry to the separated diasteroisomers of 1-β-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine-5'-ethyl-2,2,2-trichloroethyl phosphate. The fourth chapter describes the syntheses of AZT, 3'-iodo-3'- deoxythymidine and 3'-acetylthymidine and the subsequent use of a modified Yoshikawa reaction to the production of phosphorodiamidate derivatives of the aforementioned nucleoside analogues and of 3'-fluoro-3'-deoxythymidine. In-vitro anti-HIV biological testing was carried out on the AZT phosphorodiamidates. As the method by which the active AZT phosphorodiamidates act as inhibitors of HIV probably involves the hydrolyses of the phosphate moiety to either the 5'-monophosphate or the parent nucleoside, some studies on the hydrolysis of four of the analogues in the AZT series were carried out in human plasma

Is Local Government Addressing The Implementation Issues In Road Safety Audit?

This paper examines some of the issues facing local government in the implementation of the road safety audit process. RSA’s have been accepted and implemented by state road authorities in Australia but there remains a question mark over their acceptance by local government. Local government implementation is essential if the benefits of RSA are to be maximised. Little research has been done into RSA in Victorian municipalities, and it is this area that this paper examines. Much of the literature currently available suggests that RSA’s have great potential to provide benefits both in terms of safety and reduced whole-of-life costs. However, there is a perception amongst many that there is a lack of enthusiasm for RSA amongst local government in Australia. This paper examines the degree and effectiveness of RSA implementation by examining some of the issues of concern. It presents the results of a pilot study of RSA in local government authorities throughout Victoria and makes a number of recommendations to improve the implementation rate and effectiveness of road safety audit in local government

A Comparison of Adaptations via Either a Linear Periodization or an Undulating Periodization Model of Weight Training

BACKGROUND: Resistance training has been proven to have a positive impact on parameters such as muscular strength, hypertrophy and endurance. Periodization is a progressive mode of training that has been shown to illicit greater results than programs that stay consistent throughout. The two prime modes of periodization are linear (LP), which progresses from high volume/low intensity to low volume/high intensity, and undulating (UP) which follows an oscillating volume/intensity design. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of a 12 week linear program to those from an undulating program on strength and body composition when both programs reflect the entire NSCA repetition continuum. METHODS: 10 resistance trained men were matched according to weight-relative strength and randomly assigned to either a linear (N=4, 21 ± 2.5 yrs, 69.08 ± 0.69in, 1178.13 ± 19.5 lbs, 16.9 ± 5.2 %BF) or undulating (N=6, 20 ± 1.7 yrs, 70.27 ± 2.13 in, 180.17 ± 23.98 lbs, 13.67 ± 2.94 %BF) periodization program. Subjects participated in 3 days per week of supervised total body resistance training with repetitions and intensities reflecting the entire NSCA repetition continuum. At 0, 4, 8 and 12-weeks, subjects were tested on body composition via dual energy x-ray absorptiometry, 1RM strength, muscular endurance, vertical jump and anaerobic capacity. Statistical analyses utilized a two-way ANOVA with repeated measures for all criterion variables (p ≤ 0.05). Data are presented as mean ± SD changes from baseline values. RESULTS: Significant main effects for time (p \u3c 0.05) were observed on bench press (LP: 15.03 ± 8.02 lb; UP: 26.10 ± 5.05 lb), leg press (LP:161.07 ± 14.10 lb ; UP: 164.03 ± 55.20 lb), and Wingate peak power (LP: 148.21 ± 78.05 W; UP: 143.22 ± 137.04 W). However, no significant interactions were observed between groups on any of these parameters. Also, no significant group or time effects for time or differences between groups were observed in the measures of percent body fat, lean muscle mass, or vertical jump. CONCLUSION: Both undulating and linear periodization models of resistance training that reflect the entire repetition continuum can bring forth highly significant changes in strength and peak anaerobic power. However, despite the fact that the undulating method resulted in a 43% greater increase in upper body strength, there is no significant difference in the magnitude of the training adaptations that stem from the two methods over 12 weeks

A watershed approach to recovering salmon in changing climate conditions

The Snohomish Basin Forum adopted the Snohomish Basin Protection Plan in 2015 which clearly stated that the survival of our iconic salmon will be challenged by climate change. From that integrative watershed planning effort the Snohomish Basin Technical Committee investigated how locally predicted impacts of climate change affect salmon recovery in the Snohomish Basin and what key actions can be taken to ameliorate those impacts. As the basin continues to implement the Snohomish Basin Salmon Recovery Plan, it will be critical to restore and protect areas that preserve the basin’s hydrologic patterns and key habitat functions that support salmon in their various life stages. Restoration and protection actions implemented will need to remain successful as the changing climate shapes our natural system. It will be critical to incorporate what is known about climate change impacts into our salmon recovery plans and strategies

How Collective Personality, Behavioral Plasticity, Information, and Fear Shape Collective Hunting in a Spider Society

The field of animal personality seeks to understand the potential adaptive value of temporally consistent inter-individual differences in behavior. Over the past several decades, this personality framework has helped behavioral ecologists better understand how social groups structure themselves behaviorally, and how intra-colony variation in personality can shape the emergent collective behavior of groups. While studies investigating how collective personalities interact with their environments and influence group survival are becoming more prevalent, research on this topic is still relatively scant. One important aspect of collective personality yet to be given attention is how group personality composition may influence a group’s response to invasion by a predator, or how the mere threat of predation can alter the collective behavioral phenotypes of groups. Given the near ubiquity of predation as a selective force in nature, it is important to incorporate both the direct and indirect effects of predators on collective behavior. This will lead to a better understanding about the environmental factors that shape the expression of group personality. This dissertation approaches these questions using three experiments. The first investigates how the behavioral distribution of colony constituents influences collective behavior in the context of colony defense. This study found that colonies of mixed personality composition exhibited twice as much defensive behavior as other compositions, and that bold compositions were displayed high degrees of behavioral flexibility relative to mixed and shy compositions. The second study observed how prolonged exposure to predators feeds back to determine the collective behavior of groups, and showed that colonies exposed to predators decreased overall collective aggressiveness by half, and eliminated the relationship between personality composition and aggressiveness. The last study investigated how groups prioritize information regarding predator presence when that information is possessed by the majority, or singleton immigrants that vary in leadership traits. This experiment found that groups operate under a “better-safe-than-sorry” strategy, and exhibit cautious collective behavior when any member of their group had been previously exposed to predators. Together, these experiments demonstrate that collective personality is a highly plastic and complex trait, that is determined by a combination if internal (group behavioral composition) and external (environmental risk) factors. Finally, I conclude this dissertation with a comprehensive review on the current state of collective personality research in insects and arachnids