Life Sciences Commons^™

Stimulation Of Western Australian Sandalwood (Santalum Spicatum) Oil Production Using Multiple Treatments [Thesis], Peta-Anne Smith

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Sandalwood is an important international commodity, recognised for its aromatic oil which is a key ingredient in many fragrances and cosmetics. Western Australian (WA) sandalwood (Santalum spicatum) is known to be a cheaper alternative for the superior Indian sandalwood (Santalum album) as it has a lower oil content and lower quality oil. The natural stocks of S. album have declined due to illegal poaching, mismanagement, and disease. WA sandalwood’s natural stands have also reduced due to historical mismanagement. As a result, WA sandalwood (S. spicatum) has been established in plantations in the southern half of WA to attempt to meet …

Evaluation Of A Mosquito Control Intervention And Recommendations For Development Of Best Practice Protocols By The Shire Of Kalamunda, Kerry Staples

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Abstract

The mosquito control program implemented by the Shire of Kalamunda Environmental Health Service has been assessed. Mosquito species and abundance has been evaluated along with an assessment on the current level of pesticide resistance and downstream S‐methoprene levels post‐treatment. The rate of Ross River virus transmission within the Shire has also been considered, along with the relationship between local species and virus transmission.

Methodology

Floating Emergence Traps were used in 15 storm‐water gullies to determine the effectiveness of S‐methoprene briquets in prevention of adult mosquito emergence over 124 days. Samples were taken monthly from October 2014 to March 2015. …

Understanding And Disrupting Institutional Settings : Using Networks Of Conversations To Re-Imagine Future Farming Lives, Robert Campbell

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Farmers in Australia and elsewhere face the challenge of remaining profitable whilst dealing with adverse structural arrangements and public expectations to better manage environmental degradation. This thesis draws on arguments that dominant paradigms in agricultural science and environmental management have often been ineffective in addressing these apparently competing demands and appear poorly suited to ‘messy’ situations characterized by uncertainty and complexity, and in which diverse stakeholders are motivated by varying goals and values. Engaging with such situations requires a philosophy and methodology that accepts a multiplicity of perspectives and which seeks to learn about and reflect upon novel ways of …

Mining Climate Data For Shire Level Wheat Yield Predictions In Western Australia, Yunous Vagh

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Climate change and the reduction of available agricultural land are two of the most important factors that affect global food production especially in terms of wheat stores. An ever increasing world population places a huge demand on these resources. Consequently, there is a dire need to optimise food production.

Estimations of crop yield for the South West agricultural region of Western Australia have usually been based on statistical analyses by the Department of Agriculture and Food in Western Australia. Their estimations involve a system of crop planting recommendations and yield prediction tools based on crop variety trials. However, many crop …

Information Dissemination For Farming Communities In Thailand, Khumphicha Tantisantisom

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The use of information and communication technology tools has been applied in many disciplines, including agricultural sectors. It may be applied in many modules such as data gathering, data processing, information management and information dissemination. One issue that cannot be neglected is the readiness of technology service users, or farmers in this case. It was found that most Thai farmers were poor and illiterate; therefore, offering them the best available tools and services may not be always what they would like to use. To answer the research questions, action research methodology was selected in this study to find a practical …

The Effect Of Recreational Fishing On Targeted Fishes And Trophic Structure, In A Coral Reef Marine Park, Mark B. Westera

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Recreational line fishing is highly targeted at predatory fishes, making them vulnerable to overfishing. These same fishes play a role in trophic structure by regulating prey species. Despite increasing numbers of fishers, few studies have investigated the potential effects of recreational fishing on fish populations and subsequent trophic effects. This project investigated whether there were differences in fishes and benthos between unfished and recreationally fished areas, and whether the removal of targeted fishes influenced trophic structure. The study was conducted at the Ningaloo Marine Park, Western Australia, which had Sanctuary (no-take) and Recreation {recreationally fished) Zones. Data were collected from …

Time Series Modelling Of The Environmental Factors Affecting The Daily Catch Rate Of Western Rock Lobster, Sukanlaya Srisurichan

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The western rock lobster fishery is one of the most significant and valuable single species fisheries in Australia and in the world. It generates a gross commercial value of $200-300 million dollars per year for the economy of Western Australia. The impact of environmental factors on the daily catch rate of the western rock lobster is of particular interest to the W.A. Marine Research Laboratories, at the Ministry of Fisheries, Western Australia. Considerable time and effort has been invested into building and developing suitable models to measure such impact on this fishery. While past research has focussed on monthly or …

Evaluation Of Revegetation Techniques Used On Degraded Agricultural Land In The Central Avon Catchment, Western Australia, Scott J. Bartholomew

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The agricultural region in the central Avon catchment is declining in both arable land and native vegetation. This decline has been due to the clearance of large tracts of native vegetation and its subsequent replacement by exotic crops and pasture species. The loss of vegetation has led to regional land degradation in the form of soil erosion and land salinisation. Therefore, changes in land management practices are required to make agricultural production more compatible with land conservation. Revegetation using native plants is the only management solution that integrates both land and ecological conservation with agricultural productivity. The continuation of current …

Modelling And Risk Analysis Of The Western Rock Lobster (Panulirus Cygnus) Fishery Of Western Australia, C. S. Yap

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The predictive power for short-term forecasting of selected biomass dynamic models was examined using the standardised catch and effort data from the 1944/45 to 1990/91 season of the western rock lobster. Risk analysis of the fishery based on the predicted fishing efforts with the Deriso-Schnute delay-difference model indicates a high probability of recruitment failure. Some hypothetical management strategies of reducing fishing effort were evaluated by taking into consideration the total catch and biological risk to the fishery.

Comparative Evaluation Of Commercially Grown Lupin And Mung Sprouts, Sant B. Kaur

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

More than one million tonnes of lupin seed are produced per annum in Western Australia. Lupin can be considered as an alternative to staple pulse food items such as soybeans, peas, chick peas and mung beans. This research was designed to provide potential investors with objective scientifically obtained evidence of the feasibility, and marketing potential, of using lupin as a basis for the commercial development of value added foods, in this case commercially grown lupin sprouts. Sprouts were selected because sprouted lupins are comparable with mung bean sprouts, the market leader, as regards yield and consumer acceptance as a food …