A Stable Isotope Analysis of Faunal Remains from Special Deposits on Ontario Iroquoian Tradition Sites

The deliberate interment of bears, deer, and dogs on Ontario Iroquoian Tradition sites (900-1650 AD) suggests these animals had social and ideological meaning. This thesis uses stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis from bone collagen of faunal remains from both special and refuse contexts on eight sites in Southern Ontario to investigate the possible relationship between an animal’s burial context, diet, and value. Results indicate that most animals consumed a diet typical for their species regardless of context, suggesting the ideological value of specially deposited animals was augmented through human-animal interactions other than dietary manipulation. Bears from the Dorchester site and dogs from the Praying Mantis site did, however, consume unique diets, suggesting diet contributed to the ideological value of these individuals

Identifying Conservation Strategies for Group-Spawning Coral Reef Fish in the Indo-Pacific, Using a Case Study of a Protogynous Giant Wrasse

Fish reproducing in group-spawning aggregations face intense fisheries during spawning events due to increased ease of capture. Other traits often associated with group spawning, such as late sexual maturation and sequential hermaphroditism, cause group-spawning species to be especially vulnerable to population declines, either because fishermen target large, reproductively mature specimens or because they target juveniles that would otherwise have reached sexual maturity and contributed to reproduction. In group-spawning species that are protogynous hermaphrodites, including species of grouper, snapper, and the giant wrasse (Cheilinus undulates) fishing large specimens skews sex ratios towards females, thereby interfering with reproduction through sperm limitation. Unprecedented sex ratio skew could cause aggregations to disappear from their historical sites, with potential evolutionary implications. In this paper, I review the unique threats afflicting group-spawning species, as well as possible resolutions to these threats. I use the highly endangered humphead wrasse as a case study in the deleterious effects of overfishing on population dynamics, in the effectiveness of trade regulations and conservation strategies already in place, and in potential solutions not yet applied. Using the conclusions of this analysis, I extrapolate trends likely to continue in the Indo-Pacific region, where aggregation spawning is unfamiliar to fisheries scientists but familiar to local fishermen, and where aggregation-forming species are apt to benefit most from the implementation of effective conservation strategies

Democracy in Latin America: status and prospects

The purpose of this essay is to examine the status of democracy in Latin American countries as well as the prospects upcoming for the region in the present decade. We will provide a map of the subject that includes a basic definition of democracy, an overview of theories about how democracies arise and may be maintained, as a continuum, and a review of what we know empirically about Latin American democratization. We suggest a model in which political culture and social structure influence each other, and that both directly influence political processes, which in turn mediates between these causal factors and the actual emergence of democratic rules of the political game in every particular country. The approach is completed with a series of lapop Data that shows up how far and in what direction democracy is taking place in Lati

The Effects of Mega-Herbivore Extinctions on Seed Dispersal and Community Structure in An East African Savanna

Herbivory is a prominent top-down force shaping the landscape of semi-arid savannas in East Africa. Herbivores participate in seed dispersal both by ingesting and defecating the seeds of endozoochorously-dispersed plants and by translocating the seeds of exozoochorously-dispersed plants. In this study, we sought to determine how the extinction of large mammalian herbivores would affect the abundance of five focal species of plants that use fruiting as theira primary dispersal mechanism. We also examined how the absence of large mammalian herbivores affected seed predation by small mammals. We counted the number of individual plants for each of the five species in three short-term (5 yearr. old) exclusion blocks and one long-term (15 yearr. old) exclusion block. We found that total abundance of fleshy-fruited species increaseds as successive levels of large mammalian herbivores weare excluded and as the duration of herbivore exclusion increaseds. Within species, we found that C. orthacantha and S. campylacanthum increased in the absence of herbivores, while O. stricta decreased in the absence of herbivores. B. aegyptiaca and B. albitrunca did not exhibit differences in abundance between different levels of herbivore exclosure. We found that small mammals demonstrated a preference for B. albitrunca and O. stricta seeds, which were consumed primarily by the fringe-tailed gerbil, Gerbilliscus robustus. Understanding the interactions between herbivores and vegetation is vital to conserving understanding how plant communities as well as understanding how they may change in the future, as well as how to conserve them

Variations in Elephant (Loxodanta africana) Diet Along a Rainfall Gradient: The Effect of Latitude, Grass Reserves, and Proximity to Water

Global climate change is predicted to bring longer dry seasons and changing rainfall patterns to equatorial Africa, causing range reductions for species such as elephants, whose diets are constrained by water availability. Elephants are facultative grazers whose diets are seasonal, with woody proportion of diet increasing in the dry season. In this study, we sought to identify the factors that predict woody percentage of elephant diet along a rainfall gradient at the Mpala Research Centre in central Kenya. We used elephant dung as a means to analyze the woody content of elephant diet. We found that grass biomass and distance to the nearest river explained the most variability in elephant diet, while latitude was a less influential predictor. Because these local factors were more important determinants of elephant diet differences than rainfall along a gradient, we conclude that climate change will likely affect elephant populations through elongated dry seasons, which may limit availability of nearby water sources

The Longevity of the Magnet Effect: Fire-Herbivory Interactions in Central Kenya

The coexistence of grass and trees that typifies savanna ecosystems is maintained in part by top-down forces including herbivory and fire. Understanding fire-herbivore interactions is an integral step in determining the effect of these forces individually and informs decisions about the use of fire as a livestock management technique. The magnet effect, in which grazers are drawn to an area after it is burned, is one such interaction between fire and herbivores. While the process of the magnet effect has been described, neither its longevity nor the manner through which fire intensity affects its strength is understood. In this study, we explored whether the increase in herbivory pressure predicted by the magnet effect is maintained over long periods after a fire, how fire intensity influences the strength of the magnet effect, and which feeder types are most influenced by the magnet effect. We established five field sites at the Mpala Research Centre in Laikipia, Kenya that ranged in fire intensity and elapsed time since last the burn. We found that the magnet effect is transient on a seven-year scale and affects grazers more than browsers or mixed feeders, though herbivory and grass biomass responses to fire intensity were conflicting. This research clarifies the role of the magnet effect in maintaining savanna ecosystems and can aid agriculturalists seeking to use fire as a management technique by indicating how long after a burn increased palatability of grass can be expected

Explaining anomalous responses to treatment in the Intensive Care Unit

The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) provides treatment to critically ill patients. When a patient does not respond as expected to such treatment it can be challenging for clinicians, especially junior clinicians, as they may not have the relevant experience to understand the patient’s anomalous response. Datasets for 10 patients from Glasgow Royal Infirmary’s ICU have been made available to us. We asked several ICU clinicians to review these datasets and to suggest sequences which include anomalous or unusual reactions to treatment. Further, we then asked two ICU clinicians if they agreed with their colleagues’ assessments, and if they did to provide possible explanations for these anomalous sequences. Subsequently we have developed a system which is able to replicate the clinicians’ explanations based on the knowledge contained in its several ontologies; further the system can suggest additional explanations which will be evaluated by the senior consultant

Parents’ perceptions and experiences of the decision making process when choosing secondary school placement for children with statements of special educational needs: an interpretative phenomenological analysis

Government legislation has promoted parental rights when choosing educational provision for children with statements of Special Educational Needs (SEN) over the past two decades (Department for Education, [DfE], 1994, 2014) and acknowledges the importance of this decision to parents (DfE, 2011). A review of relevant literature suggested that implementation of such reforms may not be straight forward for parents due to the political and economic dynamics within the wider education system (Bajwa-Patel and Devecchi, 2014; Norwich, 2014). A review of research literature on parents’ perceptions and experiences of the decision making process suggested that parents are significantly influenced by information available and their interactions with others, including the education providers and local authorities, through a process of decision making which they described as a ‘struggle’ and a ‘fight’ (Jessen, 2012; Bajwa-Patel and Devecchi, 2014; Lalvani, 2012). Therefore, the current study aimed to develop a deeper understanding of parents’ experiences and perceptions of the decision making process when choosing secondary school for their child with a statement for SEN within a local authority in England. Six semi-structured interviews with eight parents, who had recently been through the process, were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis as the methodological approach. Master themes emerged, which highlighted the influence of emotional reactions when being shown round by staff in prospective secondary schools and the inconsistency of communication with professionals experienced by different parents. Implications are discussed for supporting parents in feeling that they are able to make more informed decisions and in achieving a more consistent approach across professionals to support a more positive experience for parents

The Warrior’s Dilemma: Can Maasai Culture Persist in a Changing World?

The Maasai people have acted as the historical stewards of the land and wildlife of the Amboseli Ecosystem for centuries. Maasai culture and its accompanying traditions compose one of the most well-studied anthropological systems in the world. Currently, Maasai culture and tradition face more challenges than ever before. Through a series of interviews with various constituents of the Amboseli community, we sought to discover which traditions the Maasai continued to find important, what were the most formidable threads to those traditions, and how the Maasai were responding to those threats. Community members identified four primary traditions that continue to be important: social connectedness, dress and ornaments, connection with wildlife and nature, and the practice of Moranism. Threats to these traditions include increased presence of Westerners, tourists, and conservationists; climate change and increased incidence of drought; changing land tenure systems; and the introduction of formal education among younger generations. Maasai community members have responded to these threats by keeping, discarding, or evolving the tradition based on its importance to them. Based on these findings, we detail potential strategies for the maintenance of those traditions which are currently evolving: Moranism and pastoralism. These recommendations will inform Maasai community members about the scope of solutions they currently face, as well as providing insight into more innovative solutions that could be implemented in the future