Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Extirpation'

Peccaries are known to play a significant role in shaping the diversity of habitats and structure of plants in rain forests. However, very little is known about their roles in regulating animal populations. I review the ways peccaries increase disturbance, create habitat diversity, provide resources, act as predators, and might otherwise directly and indirectly affect other animals. To determine effects of simulated peccary extirpation on the detrital food web, I examined the hypotheses that a reduction of peccary density on fenced exclusion plots would cause changes in the amount and quality of leaf litter as habitat for leaf litter reptiles and amphibians. I found that compared to open controls, exclusions had significantly deeper litter and more rapid cellulose decomposition. Exclusions were thus expected to provide more habitat and prey for litter amphibians and reptiles than control plots, but, paradoxically, encounters of reptiles and amphibians were greater on controls.

This thesis investigates the influence of nonrandom species loss on the structure and functioning of trophic floodplain lagoons. Two experiments were conducted based on different realistic scenarios of biodiversity loss using multitrophic fish assemblages derived from long-term survey data. Loss of fish diversity influenced overall ecosystem multifunctionality of these lagoons through complex multitrophic interactions throughout the aquatic food web. These results indicate that biodiversity loss from diverse multitrophic ecosystems can influence ecosystem structure and function and likely deviate from simplified food chain dynamics or patterns that emerged from single trophic level studies.

We studied the characteristics and effects of the Argentine ant invasion on the native ants and other arthropods. Moreover, we assessed the effects of L. humile winter nest aggregations extirpation on its population dynamics. We measured the spread of its invasion and evaluated its nest-site preferences. Artificial nests used as a control tool were also assessed. Results indicate that the invasion causes important changes in the native ant community structure. The invasion spread is influenced by air temperature, and habitat perturbations could be favouring a faster expansion. The extirpation diminished the abundance of this ant and disturbed its population dynamics. In order to make this method more efficient, extirpation should be made in the edge of the invasion, and should focus on nests under larger rocks where mature nests are more likely to be found. Finally, this method is proposed mainly for controlling its invasion in closed or isolated areas.<br>Es van comparar les característiques i els efectes de la invasió de la formiga argentina sobre la comunitat de formigues natives, i altres artròpodes. Es va avaluar l'efecte de l'extirpació d’agregacions de nius d’hivern, la selecció de llocs de nidificació i l'ús de nius artificials com a eina de control, i es va mesurar la seva taxa d'expansió. Es va trobar que la invasió provoca canvis importants en la comunitat de formigues natives. La temperatura ambiental influeix en l'expansió, i les pertorbacions de l'hàbitat podrien afavorir una propagació més ràpida. L'extirpació disminueix la seva abundància i pertorba la seva dinàmica poblacional. L'extirpació s'ha de fer al marge de la invasió, i s'ha de centrar en nius situats sota les pedres més grans que és on hi ha més probabilitat de trobar nius madurs. Finalment, aquest mètode es proposa principalment per al control de la invasió en àrees tancades o aïllades.

Aquatic plants are integral components of freshwater ecosystems and provide essential ecosystem services. However, when invasive species establish in new aquatic environments, there are few natural checks and balances to inhibit their growth and spread. Overabundant aquatic vegetation can harm aquatic systems if left unchecked and negatively impact on agricultural productivity, social amenity and biodiversity values. Prevention and early intervention are recognised as the most cost effective means to manage invasive species that pose a biosecurity risk. This thesis contributes to the development of effective management strategies for one of the world’s most invasive aquatic plant species, known as alligator weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb.). It focusses on developing management strategies in an early stage of invasion, in order to achieve extirpation of this species from catchments and waterways. Developing effective detection and surveillance strategies are required for invasive aquatic plants, as a key impediment to achieving extirpation is the ability to detect infestations, so that control strategies can be enacted. This thesis investigates the effectiveness of aerial surveillance for detection of alligator weed at different spatial scales, using high altitude aerial imagery (orthophotos) and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology. An examination of the growth rate of alligator weed in Victoria, Australia, over a five year period, demonstrates the effective use of orthophotos to detect and monitor large infestations of aquatic alligator weed. The efficacy of unmanned aerial vehicle technology, including the use of automated algorithms, to detect patches of alligator weed growing in waterways is evaluated against current detection techniques. Effective management of invasive aquatic plants targeted for extirpation requires the coupling of effective detection and control efforts to prevent reproduction. To date, development of control strategies for aquatic alligator weed has been limited to evaluating the efficacy of short-term control at a local scale without regard to the effects of management strategies on dispersal of propagules throughout catchments. This thesis determines that viable alligator weed stem fragments are produced following herbicide application, which comprises extirpation efforts. This thesis has gone further than current practice in that it has evaluated the efficacy of current and novel control techniques, in both laboratory and field trials and has developed methods to manage viable fragment production post-herbicide application, to limit dispersal throughout catchments. In this respect, the application of the herbicides glyphosate, metsulfuron-methyl and imazapyr, and their effectiveness when incorporating surfactant systems and plant growth regulators, have been evaluated in field and laboratory studies to optimise control techniques for aquatic alligator weed. Results have shown that our approaches, when used in an early stage of invasion, are capable of eliminating patches of alligator weed in two to three years. Integral to the research is an experiment to determine the effect of herbicide treatments on the production of alligator weed stem fragments and their subsequent viability. Further investigation to determine the usefulness of commercially available plant growth regulators (PGRs) to reduce the number of viable propagules produced by alligator weed post-herbicide application was found to be ineffective. This thesis also evaluates the impact of herbicides and surfactant systems, on all key alligator weed response metrics in aquatic environments including; above ground biomass, below ground biomass and viable stem fragmentation. No previous studies have looked simultaneously at these three important measures for determining the efficacy of a particular control regime, and we have determined that this is essential for effective management of aquatic alligator weed in an early stage of invasion. The thesis has underscored the notion that development of more effective management strategies, based upon experimental trials, will result in an increased likelihood of eradicating invasive aquatic plants that pose a biosecurity risk, and thus move toward the mitigation of the threat that high-risk species pose to aquatic ecosystems. PLEASE NOTE: Portions of the full text have been removed due to copyright restrictions.<br>Doctor of Philosophy

Coastal wetlands are globally important ecosystems, valued for their provision of habitat, storm mitigation, water quality improvement, and carbon sequestration. Coastal wetlands are also one of the ecosystems most likely to be impacted by projected changes in climate, particularly changes associated with sea level rise, altered rainfall patterns, and changes to storm patterns and severity. Coastal freshwater wetlands (CFWs) are amongst the most understudied group of coastal wetlands and are characterised by freshwater dominated hydrology but can also experience periods of salinity associated with their proximity to the coast (i.e. as the result of storm surge and spring high tides). CFWs commonly occur as the most landward of coastal wetlands and many adjoin urban development, exposing them to anthropogenic impacts (nutrient enrichment, clearing, hydrology alteration). This position in the coastal landscape makes CFWs highly susceptible to salinity stress, particularly climate change induced sea level rise. Research investigating CFWs, their ecology, and responses to climate change threats, is greatly lacking, particularly for areas outside the United States of America (USA). This thesis investigates the resilience of CFWs to climate change and aims to address significant knowledge gaps by investigating: 1) the current knowledge of CFW responses to projected climate change globally; 2) the structure and composition of CFW vegetation in southeast Queensland and exploring drivers of vegetation patterns; 3) the role of soil seed banks in vegetation resilience for CFWs in southeast Queensland through contributions to vegetation dynamics; and 4) the regenerative potential and responses of CFW vegetation communities to altered hydrology and salinity regimes simulating sea level rise. To begin, I synthesised the current knowledge of CFW responses to projected changes in climate globally, through a systematic quantitative literature review, with the aim of identifying key knowledge gaps regarding geographic locations and research areas, with particular focus on four key aspects of climate change: sea level rise, altered rainfall, extreme events, increased temperature, and greenhouse gases. In Chapter 2, I reviewed published research on responses of CFWs in observational, experimental, and modelling studies within those four key aspects of climate change. This review identified that, despite the increasing research interest, knowledge of all aspects of climate change is lacking, particularly outside of the USA. Within the USA, while there is a significant body of research exploring the response of CFWs to impacts associated with rising sea levels, changes to rainfall patterns, and extreme events, the impacts of temperature and greenhouse gases remain unknown globally. Importantly, research investigating the response of CFWs to multiple climate drivers was identified as a significant knowledge gap.The research then focused on field and greenhouse studies of CFW vegetation communities in southeast Queensland, Australia to expand the knowledge of CFWs outside of the USA. Chapters 3 and 4 explored patterns in standing and soil seed bank vegetation assemblages and provides a baseline understanding of the structure and composition of these vegetation communities. In addition, I assessed local and regional environmental drivers (i.e. local hydrology, soil salinity, local land uses, projected sea level rise extent) of vegetation patterns and discussed potential changes to these drivers with climate change. To explore the effects of sea level rise on ground in CFWs, I conducted an in-situ hydrology and salinity manipulation experiment at an abandoned sugarcane farm which has a regenerating CFW vegetation community (Chapter 5). CFWs in southeast Queensland are important for their roles in nutrient cycling and habitat provision for endangered fauna species. My assessment of these vegetation communities (Chapter 3) also highlights that CFWs are home to a diverse vegetation assemblage including at least two flora species of national significance, flagging the biodiversity importance of these isolated wetland patches within a developed coastal landscape. Species composition was distinct between vegetation patches and a large proportion of variation between sites was associated with differences in local hydrology and salinity influence. The importance of hydrology and salinity as drivers of vegetation patterns suggests that climate change could dramatically impact the structure and composition of CFWs. The ability of CFWs to be maintained in the landscape under a changing climate is influenced by their regenerative capacity from soil seed banks or other propagule banks. In Chapter 4, I assessed the composition of CFW soil seed banks and explored potential drivers of vegetation patterns. Through this study, I again found that hydrology and salinity were strong drivers of patterns in soil seed bank composition, as well as, local land use which was associated with the proportion of exotic species. Similarity of soil seed banks to standing vegetation was low, suggesting that soil seed banks have a minimal role in maintaining standing vegetation communities in southeast Queensland CFWs. Rather, soil seed banks could provide a mechanism for vegetation change along four possible trajectories depending on the soil seed bank composition and abiotic conditions. Hydrology and salinity are important drivers of CFW vegetation composition identified in this thesis. In Chapter 5, I explored the impacts of altered hydrology and salinity regimes on CFW vegetation communities regenerating on abandoned agricultural land. Change in vegetation composition and structure was assessed in-situ at Yandina Creek Wetlands (YCW) where vegetation has naturally regenerated into communities typical of CFWs in southeast Queensland during 15 years since abandoment of sugarcane production. This regeneration potential is important given the projected constriction of CFWs between migrating seaward Changes were varied in each habitat surveyed, however, reductions in vegetation cover and species richness were observed over time in response to altered conditions in freshwater habitats. Conversely, vegetation cover increased in the saltmarsh, suggesting that this community is tolerant of the altered conditions and may expand within YCW. The changes observed at YCW suggest that widespread change is likely for many CFWs with increasing sea levels, but careful management could aid in maintaining these ecosystems in the coastal landscape. Overall, this thesis significantly furthers the understanding of CFWs and their vegetation patterns outside of the USA, and explores the future of these systems with climate change in southeast Queensland, Australia. The findings of this thesis highlight the importance of hydrology and salinity as drivers of vegetation patterns and indicates that dramatic and potentially rapid change in vegetation structure and composition will occur as a result of climate change. CFWs in southeast Queensland are important and highly variable vegetation communities, where loss of even single wetland patches could result in local species extirpation. It is unlikely that CFWs will remain in the landscape in their current state and continue to provide benefits from ecosystem services without significant management action. Even with such action, widespread loss or modification is likely and continued research is required to understand the full scope of climate change impacts.<br>Thesis (PhD Doctorate)<br>Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)<br>School of Environment and Sc<br>Science, Environment, Engineering and Technology<br>Full Text

The plants of San Quintín (Baja California, Mexico) were documented through intensive fieldwork and the collection of herbarium specimens to create a checklist of species. This region is home to a diverse flora with high levels of local endemism and many rare plants. The flora documented in this study was compared to historical records from the region and shows the impact of agriculture and urbanization on the plants, including several extirpated species. A study of the perennial vegetation using a 1 km grid provides species distribution data for 140 native species, which were assessed to highlight areas of significant species richness for native, rare, and endemic taxa. Several non-native plants were also mapped to provide baseline data. Areas of conservation priority for the flora of Greater San Quintín are discussed in light of these combined findings.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:26:21Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-03-29Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:07:37Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 rocha_mp_me_fran.pdf: 367536 bytes, checksum: 4314ec686d7fda9f3c29d16bd44ef9d9 (MD5)<br>Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)<br>A investigação visa estudar as relações entre o discurso demonológico e colonização no vice-reinado do Peru de finais do século XVI e início do XVII, através dos processos de “extirpação de idolatrias” e a criação de instituições que buscavam a normatização/uniformização dos costumes, como a “casa de Santa Cruz”, um cárcere para líderes religiosos considerados “feiticeiros”, e o “colégio do Príncipe”, uma escola para filhos da elite indígena. Ambas instituições estavam sob responsabilidade do jesuíta Pablo José de Arriaga, que também foi uma referência para as visitas de idolatrias<br>The research aims to study the relations between the demonological and colonization in the Viceroyalty of Peru from the late sixteenth and seventeenth centuries through the processes of extirpation of idolatry and the creation of institutions seeking the standardization / harmonization of customs as the home of Santa Cruz, a prison for religious leaders viewed as wizards and the colegio del Príncipe, a school for children of the indigenous elite. Both institutions were under the responsibility of the Jesuit Pablo José de Arriaga, who also was a reference to the visits of idolatry

Canine oncology has recently reported interest in the detection of occult nodal metastases, and efforts have been made to identify the best strategy for accurate nodal staging. In this scenario, the present PhD thesis was aimed to improve knowledge on the current understanding of the feasibility and impact of sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping with radiopharmaceutical and blue dye in cancer-bearing dogs. Initially, we evaluated the technique in canine mast cell tumors (MCT), given the high prevalence of this tumor type, the propensity for lymphatic spread and recognized prognostic impact of nodal metastases. Thirty client-owned dogs with 34 MCT were included. At least one SLN was identified in all but 3 dogs that had a scar from previously excised MCT, and in 30 cases (63%) the SLN did not correspond to the regional lymph node (RLN). As a second step, we explored the impact of SLN mapping and extirpation in dogs with head and neck tumors, given the well-accepted unpredictability of patterns of nodal metastases. Twenty-three dogs with tumors of the head and neck and absence of clinically evident nodal disease (cN0 neck) were prospectively included and underwent tumor excision and SLN extirpation. Reported detection rate was 83%, with at least one SLN identified in all but 4 dogs with thyroid tumors. In 52% of dogs, the SLN did not correspond to the RLN and at histopathology 42% of dogs had nodal metastases, of which 4 differed from the RLN. As the last step of this PhD project, we conducted an explorative study to identify clinical or pathological characteristics that could allow for identification of dogs with MCT at lower risk of SLN metastases, that could be excluded a priori from the SLN mapping and extirpation. Surprisingly, tumor grade was not able to predict the risk of having HN2-3 or HN3 SLN and the only variables that correlated with nodal metastases were tumor size, number or SLN and subcutaneous MCT. Given low to moderate discriminant ability, however, none of these variables could safely determine the exclusion of patients from the procedure. Results of the present project underscore the utility of implementation of SLN biopsy in the management of dogs with MCT and head and neck tumors, given the low correspondence between clinically expected RLN and SLN and the high rate of occult nodal metastases that could be detected with this procedure. Future research should be aimed at investigating the impact on long-term prognosis and disease free interval of the extirpation of metastatic SLN, and identify variables that could allow for exclusion of low-risk patients from the procedure.

Orientador: Ana Raquel Marques da Cunha Martins Portugal.<br>Banca: Eliane Cristina Deckmann Fleck<br>Banca: Ivan Aparecido Manoel<br>Resumo: A investigação visa estudar as relações entre o discurso demonológico e colonização no vice-reinado do Peru de finais do século XVI e início do XVII, através dos processos de "extirpação de idolatrias" e a criação de instituições que buscavam a normatização/uniformização dos costumes, como a "casa de Santa Cruz", um cárcere para líderes religiosos considerados "feiticeiros", e o "colégio do Príncipe", uma escola para filhos da elite indígena. Ambas instituições estavam sob responsabilidade do jesuíta Pablo José de Arriaga, que também foi uma referência para as visitas de idolatrias<br>Abstract: The research aims to study the relations between the demonological and colonization in the Viceroyalty of Peru from the late sixteenth and seventeenth centuries through the processes of "extirpation of idolatry" and the creation of institutions seeking the standardization / harmonization of customs as the "home of Santa Cruz," a prison for religious leaders viewed as "wizards" and the "colegio del Príncipe", a school for children of the indigenous elite. Both institutions were under the responsibility of the Jesuit Pablo José de Arriaga, who also was a reference to the visits of idolatry<br>Mestre

Orientador: Ana Raquel Marques da Cunha Martins Portugal<br>Banca: Alexandre Camera Varella<br>Banca: Yllan de Mattos Oliveira<br>Resumo: A evangelização ocorrida no Vice-Reinado do Peru no século XVII representou o projeto empreendido pela Igreja Católica em prol da salvação das almas indígenas e da consolidação de seu poder e influência na América espanhola. A Extirpação de Idolatria, processo político-religioso que se constituiu na busca e destruição dos objetos indígenas ligados a religiosidade ameríndia, como também na supressão dos cultuadores dessas crenças, está ligada a evangelização como uma de suas formas de expressão. Visualizamos que durante o período de atuação do processo de extirpação foi comum à produção de materiais ligados as doutrinas religiosas e a sistematização de informações que pudessem guiar o projeto impulsionado pela Igreja e pelas ordens religiosas presentes no Vice-Reinado. Assim, por meio da análise dos manuais de Extirpação, Extirpación de la idolatría de los indios del Perú de 1621 do jesuíta Pablo José de Arriaga e Carta pastoral de exhortación e instruccion contra las idolatrias de los indios del arcebispado de Lima de 1649 do Arcebispo Pedro de Villagómes, escritos em benefício da evangelização, buscamos compreender, através da comparação dos discursos e da retórica da alteridade, a relação existente entre os escritos de Pablo José de Arriaga e os de Pedro de Villagomez procurando demarcar as suas diferenças e similitudes a fim de sustentarmos nossa hipótese de que as concepções religiosas de cada um fundamentou uma estrutura diferente para o processo de extirpação, modifican... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo)<br>Abstract: The evangelization of the Viceroyalty of Peru in the seventeenth century represented the project realized by the Catholic Church for the salvation of indigenous souls and the consolidation of their power and influence in Spanish America. The Extirpation of Idolatry, a political-religious process that was created in the search and destruction of indigenous objects related to Amerindian religiosity, as well as in suppressing the worshipers of these beliefs, is linked to evangelization as one of its forms of expression. We have seen that during the period of the extirpation process, it was common to produce materials linked to religious doctrines and systematization of information that could guide the project promoted by the Church and by the religious orders present in the Viceroyalty. Thus, through the analysis of the manuals of Extirpation, Extirpación de la idolatría de los indios del Perú, 1621, by the Jesuit Pablo Jose de Arriaga, and Carta pastoral de exhortación e instruccion contra las idolatrias de los indios del arcebispado de Lima of 1649 by the Archbishop Pedro de Villagomez, written for the benefit of evangelization, we seek to understand, through the comparison of the discourses and the rhetoric of alterity, the relation existing between the writings of Pablo José de Arriaga and those of Pedro de Villagomez seeking to demarcate their differences and similarities in order to support our hypothesis that the religious conceptions of each one founded a different struc... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)<br>Mestre

Pendant longtemps, la biodiversité était caractérisée uniquement par sa diversité taxonomique, c'est-à-dire par le nombre et la composition en espèces des assemblages. Cependant, de récentes études montrent que la biodiversité ne peut être résumée uniquement à cette composante, car elle ne prend pas en compte les caractéristiques écologiques des espèces. Pour cela, la diversité fonctionnelle est un outil permettant de considérer les traits fonctionnels des espèces. Peu d'études à larges échelles ont décrit cette facette de la biodiversité et son lien avec la diversité taxonomique. L'objectif de cette thèse est donc de 1) décrire et comprendre la distribution de la diversité fonctionnelle des assemblages de poissons d'eau douce à l'échelle globale et de 2) quantifier les conséquences des activités humaines sur cette facette. Pour cela, nous avons construit une base de données de traits fonctionnels de plus de 9000 espèces de poissons d'eau douce. Nous avons mis en évidence que la diversité fonctionnelle mondiale est distribuée de façon très hétérogène. Elle est essentiellement concentrée dans les bassins Néotropicaux, contrastant avec des zones taxonomiquement riches mais fonctionnellement redondantes comme l'Afrique ou l'Asie. Ces patrons pouvaient être expliqués par une diversification fonctionnelle de certains ordres de poissons Néotropicaux. À l'échelle des bassins versants, nous avons montré une faible, mais significative, influence des variables environnementales en particulier des variables historiques pour expliquer l'hétérogénéité des patrons de diversité fonctionnel des bassins versants. Nous avons également montré que les activités humaines, sous l'effet des introductions d'espèces, ont contribué à modifier considérablement les patrons de diversité fonctionnelle par rapport aux changements de diversité taxonomique. Ces changements mettent en évidence la nécessité de prendre en compte les conséquences des espèces non-natives sur le fonctionnement des écosystèmes. Dans ce travail de thèse, nous avons ainsi démontré que la diversité fonctionnelle est une facette complémentaire à la diversité taxonomique chez des poissons d'eau douce. Ces résultats contribuent à enrichir les connaissances de la structure des assemblages et peuvent avoir des implications en termes de gestion de la biodiversité<br>For a long time, biodiversity was characterised solely by its taxonomic diversity, i.e. the number and species composition of assemblages. However, recent studies show that biodiversity cannot be summed up solely by this component as it does not take into account the ecological characteristics of species. For this, functional diversity is a tool for considering the functional traits of species. Few large-scale studies have described this facet of biodiversity and its link with taxonomic diversity. The aim of this thesis is therefore to 1) describe and understand the distribution of functional diversity of freshwater fish assemblages on a global scale and 2) quantify the consequences of human activities on this facet. For this purpose, we have built a database of functional traits of more than 9000 species of freshwater fish. We have shown that the world's functional diversity is very heterogeneously distributed. It is essentially concentrated in the Neotropical basins, contrasting with taxonomically rich but functionally redundant areas such as Africa or Asia. These patterns could be explained by a functional diversification of certain orders of Neotropical fish. At the watershed scale, we showed a weak, but significant, influence of environmental variables, in particular historical variables, to explain the heterogeneity of the functional diversity patterns of watersheds. We have also shown that human activities, under the effect of species introductions, have contributed to a significant change in functional diversity patterns compared to changes in taxonomic diversity. These changes highlight the need to take into account the consequences of non-native species on ecosystem functioning. In this thesis work, we have thus demonstrated that functional diversity is a complementary facet of taxonomic diversity in freshwater fish. These results contribute to knowledge of the structure of assemblages and may have implications in terms of biodiversity management

Large mammalian carnivores can initiate trophic cascades which influence the abundance of species occupying multiple trophic levels in ecosystems. Although these ‘top predators’ often play keystone roles within ecosystems, they have been extirpated from vast areas of the Earth due to conflict with pastoralists and habitat modification. The extirpation of top predators from areas where they were once common has often resulted in ecosystem restructuring and loss of biodiversity. Shrub encroachment is a global phenomenon characterised by increases in the density of woody plants at the expense of grasses. Although top predator extirpation and shrub encroachment co-occur in many areas of the Earth, top predator extirpation has yet to be tested as a mechanism influencing shrub encroachment. In this thesis I explore the hypothesis that the functional extinction of Australia’s largest terrestrial predator, the dingo (Canis dingo), has indirectly benefited the recruitment and ultimately the abundance of encroaching shrub species in areas of the Strzelecki Desert. Specifically, I test the hypothesis that dingoes (12 – 22 kg), by suppressing the abundance of red fox (Vulpes vulpes; 5 – 7 kg) and feral cat (Felis catus; 3-6 kg) mesopredators, facilitate an increase in the abundance and consumptive impact of browsing rabbits and granivorous rodents on shrub seedlings and seeds. Much of my research uses Australia’s dingo-proof fence as a pre-established experimental treatment. The dingo-proof fence is over 5000 km long and was constructed in the early 1900s to exclude dingoes from sheep grazing areas of New South Wales, South Australia and Queensland. The dingo-proof fence provides an ideal setting to test hypotheses regarding dingo effects in arid Australian ecosystems because dingoes have been and remain historically rare to the south and east of the fence (‘inside’ the dingo-proof fence), but have remained common in adjoining areas to the north and west of the fence (‘outside’ the dingo-proof fence).

One of the most controversial actions undertaken by the Catholic Church in the conversion of the Indians of the New World was the destruction of their pre-Hispanic religion through the extirpation of their objects of worship: clay, wooden and stone idols. In the case of Yucatan, the focus area for this study, the Institution that oversaw the arrest and punishment of the Yucatec Maya for idolatry was not the Holy Office of the Inquisition, but rather the little known and less studied institution of the episcopal court called the provisorato de indios. This dissertation examines the little known institution, its procedures and ministers and their impact on colonial Maya religion Using new sources of primary documentation the dissertation suggests a new trend in the conflict between the Catholic Church and the Maya in colonial Yucatan: specifically an increase in the intensity and an institutionalization of the extirpation of idolatry. The dissertation titled 'The Indian Inquisition and the Extirpation of Idolatry: The Process of Punishment in the Ecclesiastical Courts of the Provisorato de Indios in Yucatan, 1563--1821' analyzes the role played by this episcopal court in the 'spiritual conquest' of the Maya by examining its significance in two parts The first part examines the origin and procedures of the colonial episcopal court [Chapters 1--6]. A second part [Chapters 7--10] examines the impact that this institution had on local Maya religion and its central role in inter-ethnic conflict. This case study for colonial Yucatan offers a new approach to the study of colonial Indigenous religion and Spanish/Indian inter-ethnic relations in the New World. The importance of the public administration of ecclesiastical punishment as a form of didactic missionary theatre is emphasized. The dissertation's conclusions suggest that the punishment inherent in the extirpation of idolatry served as the Yucatec Maya's main means of contact with Christianity. In the face of the repressive measures of the ecclesiastical courts the colonial Maya chose either to resist or to engage in flight. This dissertation concludes that both of these options, previously discovered and studied by various authors, were the outcome of their interaction with the processes and ministers of this ecclesiastical court<br>acase@tulane.edu

In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurden kognitive und psychische Veränderungen im Rahmen neurochirurgischer Interventionen bei Patienten mit erstmaligen intrakraniellen Meningeomen unter Berücksichtigung des Screening-Verfahrens MoCA® untersucht. Die prospektiv angelegte Studie wurde an einer anfallenden Patientenstichprobe (n=14) im Erhebungszeitraum 2013 – 2015 durchgeführt. Hierbei wurde umfangreich das präoperative kognitive Niveau mit zahlreichen standardisierten neuropsychologischen Testverfahren sowie auch das psychische Befinden mittels geeigneter Fragebögen untersucht. Die Ergebnisse wurden mit alters- und bildungsadäquaten gesunden Kontrollen (n=14) verglichen. Im Fokus der Studie stand die Evaluation des MoCA®, eines inzwischen weithin etablierten Screenings. Die Ergebnisse zeigten neben signifikant schlechteren Leistungen der Patienten im präoperativen MoCA® und zumindest tendenziell höherer Lernleistung, schnelleren Detektions- und Umstellzeiten, kürzeren Bearbeitungszeiten und höheren Produktionsmaßen bei den Gesunden in die gleiche Richtung einer eher globalen präoperativen Leistungsminderung. In Bezug auf das psychische Befinden zeigten Patienten vor der Operation gegenüber Gesunden eine deutlich höhere Angst, und zumindest nominal eine höhere Depressivität, die jedoch statistisch ebenfalls nicht bedeutsam war. Das psychische Befinden hatte statistisch keinen bedeutsamen Einfluss auf die präoperativen Testergebnisse im MoCA®. Symptomdauer, Tumorgröße oder Lateralität des Tumors zeigten keinen statistisch relevanten Einfluss auf die präoperativen Testergebnisse im MoCA® oder auf das präoperative psychische Befinden. Der Vergleich der prä- und postoperativen Ergebnisse der Patienten ergab für den MoCA® keine statistisch bedeutsame Änderung. Das psychische Befinden der Patienten änderte sich im Verlauf des postoperativen Jahres dagegen nicht, weder in Bezug auf die Ängstlichkeit noch hinsichtlich der Depressivität. Schließlich konnte für die operationsspezifischen Variablen (Schnitt-Naht-Zeit, Resektionsausmaß) kein relevanter Einfluss auf die postoperativen kognitiven Leistungen im MoCA® bzw. auf das postoperative psychische Befinden nachgewiesen werden. Die vorliegenden Ergebnisse weisen insgesamt darauf hin, dass Patienten mit erstmaligen intrakraniellen Meningeomen im präoperativen Leistungsbild durchaus schlechtere Ergebnisse erzielen als Gesunde und dass sich diese Leistungen im postoperativen Verlauf mehrheitlich zu erholen scheinen. Dies deckt sich mit den bisherigen Erkenntnissen. Schließlich bestätigt die bereits präoperativ erhöhte Schließlich bestätigt die bereits präoperativ erhöhte psychische Belastung der Patienten die bisherigen Erkenntnisse einer höheren Prävalenz von Stress, Depression, Angststörungen bzw. einer Kombination. Auch zeigt sich, dass das psychischen Befinden keinen nachweisbaren Einfluss auf das postoperative Leistungsbild zu haben scheint.:1 EINLEITUNG 2 THEORETISCHER HINTERGRUND 2.1 Hirntumoren – Ätiologie, Arten, WHO-Gradierung, Epidemiologie und Klinik 2.2 Meningeome – Ätiologie, Arten, WHO-Gradierung, Epidemiologie und Klinik 2.3 Meningeome - Diagnostik und Therapie 2.4 Allgemeine Aspekte kognitiver Diagnostik - Entwicklungen und Standards 2.5 Der MoCA® als kognitives Screening zur Verlaufskontrolle 2.6 Erkenntnisse kognitiver Diagnostik bei Hirntumoren im Allgemeinen 2.7 Erkenntnisse kognitiver Diagnostik bei Meningeomen im Speziellen 2.8 Psychisches Befinden und Lebensqualität bei Patienten mit Meningeomen 2.9 Zusammenfassung 2.10 Fragestellungen 2.10.1 Kognitive Leistungen vor und nach der Exstirpation 2.10.2 Psychisches Befinden vor und nach der Exstirpation 2.10.3 Einflussfaktoren auf die präoperative Situation 2.10.4 Einflussfaktoren auf die postoperative Situation 3 METHODEN 3.1 Zur Vorbereitung der Studie 3.2 Untersuchungsdesign 3.3 Fallzahlschätzung 3.4 Ein- und Ausschlusskriterien 3.5 Organisation und Rekrutierung 3.6 Stichprobe 3.7 Eingesetzte neuropsychologische Testverfahren 3.8 Eingesetzte klinisch-psychologische Fragebögen 3.9 Ablauf der Untersuchungen 3.10 Reduktion der Variablenanzahl für die Analyse 3.11 Statistische Analyse 4 ERGEBNISSE 4.1 Kognitive Leistungen vor und nach der Exstirpation 4.2 Psychisches Befinden vor und nach der Exstirpation 4.3 Einflussfaktoren auf die präoperative Situation 4.4 Einflussfaktoren auf die postoperative Situation 5 DISKUSSION 5.1 Kognitive Leistungen vor und nach der Exstirpation eines Meningeoms 5.2 Psychisches Befinden vor und nach der Exstirpation eines Meningeoms 5.3 Methodologische Würdigung 6 SCHLUSSFOLGERUNGEN UND AUSBLICK 7 ZUSAMMENFASSUNG 7.1 Theoretischer Hintergrund 7.2 Methoden 7.3 Ergebnisse 7.4 Schlussfolgerungen

This dissertation concentrates on those factors which form the doctrine of G-dly reward and punishment. In other words, the philosophical approach amongst Jewish thinkers from the Middle Ages to the above subject, which taken together give expression to the doctrine of reward and ptmishment, or at least to the possibility of determining such a doctrine. The definition of correct behaviour is not of interest for pwposes of this dissertation, nor is human judgement of behaviour, even according to a G-dly doctrine; only the A-lmighty's judgement and implementation thereof The following points are of note. Research into the specific approach of one individual philosopher is not the aim of this dissertation, but rather a collective crystallised viewpoint according to various different Jewish philosophers, in order to reach a harmonious formation of the desir~ goal. Hence the details are also important since they assist towards the goal. The views of the philsophers are of interest and not their source, viz. from whom these views were received or by whom the philosophers were influenced, as is usually the case in research. Nevertheless, this aspect is elaborated upon in the introduction to this dissertation, in the style of the customary academic research approach. An analytical comparison is made between the opinions of various authors, taking into account the finer points of their words, as well as between the differing opinions expressed by a single author in his various writings, and conclusions are drawn, the results of which are highly significant. Besides the fact that it is not within our power to adjudicate between the views of the great Jewish thinkers, this is even more true here, due to the metaphysical nature of the subject, which makes logical, rational-realistic judgement very difficult. Nevertheless, some criteria have been established for making such a decision. In summary, this dissertation is an attempt to research many diverse opinions in the treasury of Jewish thought from the Middle Ages, and to extract those opinions from which a complete system of the doctrine of reward and punishment can be built.<br>Religious Studies and Arabic<br>D.Litt et Phil. (Judaica)