Sensory preferences and personality traits of captive red crowned kakariki (Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae) and Antipodes Island parakeets (C. unicolor) : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Science in Zoology at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

The way in which most animals sense and interpret the environment around them differs from species to species. Even two closely related species such as the red-crowned parakeet (Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae) and the Antipodes Island parakeet (C. unicolor) may respond to the same stimulus in very different ways. Individual birds can also show different personality traits or temperament phenotypes when presented with a novel environment. Despite being closely related, the two species used in this study have evolved in different natural habitats and use different foraging strategies. The Antipodes Island parakeets are naturally found on a group of sub-Antarctic islands known as the Antipodes Islands where they live in the tussock and sledge fields that cover the large islands and feed on the grasses and other vegetation. The red-crowned parakeets can be found on the small remnants of podocarp forests around New Zealand where they can be seen living in the canopy and on the forest floor, where they feed on mostly fruits, flowers and berries with a small proportion of invertebrates. I postulated that the evolutionary selection pressures on these two species will have resulted in differing behaviour and sensory physiology that could be measured in an experimental setting. Five individuals from each species was presented with four options in four different sensory experiments (sound, taste, colour and smell). The four different options were presented on top of a metal pole that was placed in each corner within a 1m3 perspex box. The behaviours shown by the birds over each 20-minute testing period was recorded and analysed in terms of both sensory preferences and personality traits. Each sensory experiment was repeated four times with each of the 10 birds. This mean that each bird was tested a total of 16 times (four repeats for each of the four sensory tests). The Antipodes Island parakeets showed interest in all four sensory experiments and spent time investigating all of the options presented to them, but showed the clearest preference for the olfactory stimulus of carrion. They were overall more active and showed a lower level of neophobia towards the novel environment of the testing apparatus. The red-crowned parakeets showed the opposite reaction to the novel environment of the testing apparatus by being less active and preferring to stay in one place rather than investigating more of the testing box. The red-crowned parakeets also only showed interest in the colour sensory test spending more time investigating the four colour options more than any other sensory option. Both the Antipodes Island parakeet and the red-crowned parakeets were captive bred and raised in the same captive facility. This meant that all the birds were exposed to the same captive environment and may have a low level of genetic diversity. The results of this study showed that even though all the birds were raised in the same conditions there were still measurable differences between the two species in behaviour and sensory choices. This suggests that in each species, some innate behaviours driven by evolutionary selection on their ancestor’s life history have persisted despite their common early learning environment in captivity

The Quality of the 1998 Skillathon and Premier Exhibitor Program as Perceived by Participants, Facilitators, 4-H Agents, and FFA Advisors

This study primarily focused on the skillathon\u27s ability to meet educational objectives as well as an evaluation of the award recognition for participants. The specific objectives of the study were to: (1) Characterize the participants of the 1998 Beef and Sheep skillathons; (2) Characterize the present and past skillathon facilitators; (3) Characterize the 4-H agents and FFA advisors of past and present skillathon participants; (4) To determine the participants’ perceptions of how the individual skillathon stations in Tennessee help increase their knowledge of a specific animal industry; (5) Determine the level of which the following skillathon goals are met: a)To provide a learning laboratory that enhances knowledge of a specific animal industry; b) To develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills; c)To help members gain self-confidence and skill in interpersonal communication; d) To increase the comfort of youth in communicating with an adult; e) To develop greater responsibility for completing a project; f) To provide additional opportunities to recognize youth for their accomplishments; (6) Determine the appropriateness of recognition provided for award recipients; and (7) Describe the differences of perceptions regarding skillathon goals between facilitators, 4-H agents and FFA Advisors

Cell Volume Regulation Studies with the Electron Microprobe

Lumbricals from the hind feet of young rats are dissected free, stretched to approximately 125% of resting length, and mounted on individual, simple plastic forms. After recovery in physiological saline, the isolated muscles are incubated for periods of 40 to 60 min. in one of a series of hypertonic bathing solutions. The composition of each bathing solution is identical, except for osmolality which is increased with lactose. At least one muscle from each animal is incubated in a control solution to serve as a control muscle for that particular set of 5 to 8 muscles. Mounted muscles are removed from the bathing solutions and quickly plunged into chilled liquid propane. Tissue is freeze-dried at low temperature, fixed with osmium tetroxide vapor, and embedded in brominated EPON 826. Dilution of the embedding medium by tissue solids, assessed by reduction of the embedding plastic Br Lα signal, is used to establish intracellular hydration; or conversely, intracellular solids fractions. The Br Lα signal is monitored along with S Kα, K Kα, Cl Kα, Na Kα, and the continuum region from 4.2 to 7.2 keV using a simultaneous ED-WD spectrometer electron probe microanalyzer. This provides sufficient information to present intracellular concentrations in units of mmol/kg wet weight, mmol/kg water, or mmol/kg dry weight. Cell volume change relative to a suitable control is determined from the ratio of sulfur signals from the experimental and control cells. The response of cells to hypertonic challenge is assessed by comparing actual cell volume change with the change expected of a simple osmotic bag. Simultaneously, the intracellular electrolyte data provides information on the mechanism of cellular response to osmotic shifts

A Portait of Three Elementary Music Teachers: Their Classrooms and Self-Perceptions

This study explores the self-perceptions of three elementary music teachers. The areas discussed include musical and educational backgrounds, self-perceptions of teaching, and composing and performing activities. Research pi\u27oviding such an in-depth look at individual elementary music teachers has not been done in the past. Tlie data was gathered through classroom observation and individual interviews of the three teachers to discuss the various aspects of teaching. Each teacher was observed on three separate occasions, at one week intervals, teaching the same three half-hour classes each day. The observations wore made prior to the interview session in order to provide a context for the topics discussed during the Interview. Each teacher was interviewed for three to four hours, regarding musical memories, educational background, teaching experiences, .and personal and professional composing and performing experiences. The study resulted in individual portraits of the three teachers. Commonalities and uniquenesses among the three teachers were noted. Recommendations that emerged from the study suggest that the teacher preparation program for elementary music teachers include composing for children, dealing with a variety of student behaviors in the classroom, and discussing the variety of roles a music teacher must assume. Additional recommendations include reexamining the reality of the expectations placed upon elementary music teachers and studying additional music educators to provide further insight into teacher’s self-perceptions and the use of compositional and performing skills in the elementary’ classroom

Graduate Assistants in Areas of National Nedd (GAANN) fellowship program at Georgia Tech, 1992-1995

Issued as Final report, Project no. E-21-569Final report has author: Mary Ann Ingra

Development of a toxicity early warning system (TEW)

Biomonitoring is a practice that has over time developed into a remarkably accurate form of detecting toxicity in the environment. The Toxicity Early Warning system (TEW) is a Real-Time Biomonitoring system developed to monitor the toxicity of industrial effluent to rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) prior to the effluent entering into the environment. The development of a trout behavioural-response-to-toxicity library can eventually be used to monitor and prevent toxic industrial spills. In the TEW tests trout were exposed to three pulp and paper effluents (KRAFT, NEWS and KRAFT Clean Water Outfall). The TEW test is a 12hr test, consisting of an acclimation period and an effluent exposure period which runs off of an inexpensive, conductivity bridge circuit. Trout behavior was obtained via an oscillating signals produced by the conductivity bridge circuit. This signal was statistically analyzed using a single factor ANOVA, averages, and coefficient of variance. Results show that the normal ventilatory patterns of rainbow trout averaged between a range of 0.013 8v - 0.7895v in ventilatory depth and 2- 4 breaths per second. General activity was monitored as whole body movement (fin and body action). Trout on average were active and sporadic in their movement, averaging 2.39v during the acclimation periods. Exposure to KRAFT effluent resulted in severely reduced body movement at all concentrations, breathing patterns declined to an almost consistent 2.0v ventilatory depth, with a cyclical 2.0v - 3.5v ventilatory frequency. Exposure to NEWS effluent resulted in increased body movement, decreased ventilatory depth (0.0470v) and ventilatory rate (1.47 breaths per second). There were no significant behavioral results exhibited when trout were exposed to KCWO

Effects of polarization mode dispersion on coherent optical receivers

Issued as final reportNational Science Foundation (U.S.

Scan Loss Pattern Synthesis for Adaptive Array Ground Stations

We present several techniques for maximizing the contact time between low Earth orbiting satellites (LEOs) and a ground station (GS). The GS comprises an adaptive array of electronically steered space-fed lenses (SFLs). Each SFL is manufactured as a low-cost printed circuit with the result that it exhibits scanning loss. By differently orienting the boresights of the SFLs in the adaptive array, the SFL\u27s scanning losses can be made to optimally complement the path loss of the LEO, thereby reducing the cost of the GS while maximizing the download capacity of the satellite link. The optimization, implemented with a genetic algorithm (GA), can be viewed as a kind of pattern synthesis. Such arrays will benefit Earth exploration satellite service (EESS) and telemetry applications, promising a decreased cost and increased reliability as compared with GSs consisting of a large dish antenna. We show that a network of these GSs comprising a total of fourteen small antennas can achieve an average daily data rate that is comparable with that of a single large dish antenna for the Earth Observing One (EO-1) satellite, without increasing the output power of the satellite. We also analyze the case in which the satellite transmits with a variable bit rate (VBR). Furthermore, we show that by selectively populating the focal surface of the SFL with feeds, simultaneous communications with multiple satellites can be achieved with a single ground station