Life Sciences Commons^™

Extending Aerial Surveys Beyond Target Marine Mammal Species: An Application Of Strip Transect Methodology To Humpback Whale And Dugong Abundance Estimation In Exmouth Gulf, Western Australia, Jennah Tucker

Theses : Honours

Aerial surveys are commonly used to estimate abundance of marine mammal populations, to detect trends over time and inform conservation management. Estimating abundance in areas critical to a species’ survival and reproduction is important to assess that population’s status and its vulnerability. Aerial surveys allow relatively large areas to be covered over short periods of time which can be important for highly mobile species with wide-ranging movement patterns such as marine mammals. While aerial surveys are often designed for specific target species, information on additional non-target species is often recorded, as surveys are generally infrequent due to expense and logistical …

A Genetic Investigation Of Anticoagulant Rodenticide Resistance In Mus Musculus Of Western Australia: Implications For Conservation And Biosecurity, Bridget Judith Maria Lucrezia Duncan

Theses : Honours

Human-wildlife interactions have developed since the agricultural revolution that occurred 10,000 years ago, and the expansion of commensal species’ geographical distribution led to conflicts that prompted humans to adopt a wide range of control methods for pest species (Horvitz, Wang, Wan, & Nathan, 2017; Riyahi et al., 2013; Saraswat, Sinha, & Radhakrishna, 2015). The order Rodentia is characterised by a high number of successful invaders, which humans have attempted to manage with the use of anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs) since the 1940s (Capizzi, Bertolino, & Mortelliti, 2014; Ruiz-Suárez et al., 2014). The rise and spread of a genetic mutation that infers …

Snac_Oshc: Exploring A Multifaceted Approach To Develop Outside Of School Hours Care As A Health Promoting Setting, Karen Forde

Theses : Honours

Background: Outside of school hours care (OSHC) services are underutilised as health promoting settings, yet are well positioned to influence health behaviours. OSHC Professionals are ideally placed to become positive influencers in this setting, although may require training to confidently perform this role.

Aim: This research trialed a multifaceted intervention strategy to increase OSHC Professional’s confidence and competencies, to support a health promoting OSHC environment with a nutrition and PA activity focus.

Design and Methods: This exploratory study adopted a mixed methods approach. The three-pronged, multifaceted intervention included: a workshop, a closed Facebook group, and a website. 19 OSHC Professionals, …

Finding Companionship On The Road Less Travelled: A Netnography Of The Whole Food Plant-Based Aussies Facebook Group, Robyn Chuter

Theses : Honours

Chronic conditions are now the leading contributors to the burden of disease and associated healthcare expenditure in Australia. Wholefood plant-based diets are an evidence-based approach to the prevention, management and even reversal of many types of chronic disease. However, numerous practical, cognitive, social and intrapersonal barriers inhibit the ‘mainstreaming’ of plant-based diets (PBDs). Online communities may provide the informational, emotional and social support to help members overcome these barriers. However, there is a paucity of research on both the support needs of people attempting to follow PBDs in Australia, and the role that online community membership plays in providing this …

Analysing Intonation Of The Pied Butcherbird, Jean-Michel Maujean

Theses : Honours

Native to Australia, the Pied Butcherbird has been extensively studied and transcribed by previous composers, notably including Olivier Messiaen. This may be due to richness and diversity in each bird’s repertoire, along with parallels drawn from Western Tonality. Hollis Taylor has conducted extensive study in this field, notably with an analysis of a transcription made by Messiaen, that was incorporated in his piece Éclairs sur l'au- delà (1988-91). Coupled with the original field recording, Taylor’s analysis and Messiaen’s score, this study will reanalyse the original recording from which Messiaen made his transcription.

Zoomusicology is a practice that represents the …

Freshwater Future: The Influence Of Exposure To Extreme Summer Rainfall Events On The Resistance And Recovery Patterns Of An Estuarine Seagrass, Chanelle Webster

Theses : Honours

Restoring and maintaining the ecological resilience of seagrass ecosystems will be a major challenge of the 21st century. The decline of seagrasses worldwide is attributed to the erosion or elimination of their ecological resilience driven by human impacts, extreme climate events and climate change. Ecological resilience refers to the ability of ecosystems to resist or recover from disturbances whilst maintaining their integral structure and function. Seagrass resilience is influenced by life history, meadow form (transitory or enduring) and habitat type. The purpose of this honours project was to investigate the influence of extreme climate events and meadow form on a …

Investigating The Role Of Dachshund Homolog 1 (Dach1) And Mir-200b In Group 4 Medulloblastoma Pathogenesis, Courtney George

Theses : Honours

Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant childhood brain tumour, and the most significant cause of childhood cancer-related mortality. Recently four core molecular medulloblastoma sub-groups have been identified, with distinct pathogenesis and responses to therapies. Current therapies, do not account for this molecular variation, and many patients may receive inappropriate treatment. To address this, targeted therapies for each molecular sub-group would be ideal. Unfortunately, for the more aggressive Group 3 and Group 4 subgroups, the underlying mechanisms of pathogenesis remain poorly understood. The current challenge is to identify the key tumour suppressors or oncogenes involved in Group 3 and Group 4 …

Self-Efficacy And Nutrition Knowledge Of Parents In Western Australia, Karen Lombardi

Theses : Honours

Background: Poor dietary choices and increasingly sedentary lifestyles mean childhood obesity is an increasing problem. Parents have the capacity to significantly affect the food choice of children; therefore by improving their self-efficacy, their nutrition knowledge, attitudes and behaviour, and by providing access to sound nutritional information, the health of children may be improved.

Purpose: This research sought to gather preliminary information required to inform the development of nutrition education materials for parents, which will parallel those currently under development for teaching children in schools as part of the Australian curriculum. Research has demonstrated that while educating children about healthy eating …

Ecotypic Variation And Plasticity Of Morphological And Physiological Traits Of Eucalyptus Loxophleba Ssp. Lissophloia Along A Climate Gradient In South-West Australia, Vanessa Stylianou

Theses : Honours

The adaptive capacity of plant species will be important for increasing their resilience in a changing climate. By 2070, a change in rainfall of +10 to -40 % of current mean annual rainfall and warming of between +2 to +5 ˚C in south-west Western Australia, is predicted. Plant species may cope with changing climatic characteristics through natural selection or phenotypic plasticity responses. Greater ecotypic variation in traits between stands of a single species may reduce its vulnerability in a changing climate as there is a greater selection of traits to increase fitness. Phenotypic plasticity has been highlighted as a mechanism …

Do Different Levels Of Fishing Pressure, Through Spatial Management, Influence Communities And Ecological Interactions In Seagrass Meadows In South Western Australia?, Karina Inostroza

Theses : Honours

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are internationally recognised as a significant spatial management and cost-effective strategy to restore and conserve the marine ecosystems structure and function from human impact. MPAs have been declared with the aim to address a single or a set of management objectives in response to anthropogenic threats, such as fishing, which can have repercussions on biodiversity through indirect interactions or top-down control within an ecosystem or across ecosystems where consumers migrate to forage. However, this indirect impact of fishing remains poorly understood, and as a consequence, the effectiveness of MP As in conserving those ecological processes and …

An Injury Survey And Biomechanical Analysis Of Strength And Conditioning Exercises And Maximal Hiking Test (Hm180) In Junior Sailors, Wee Wing Kuen

Theses : Honours

In Olympic sailing, the "hiking" position is adopted by sailors to counteract forces of the wind acting on the sail and. improve boat speed. Hiking is widely regarded as the main physical challenge faced by single-handed dinghy sailors and senior dinghy sailors are known to have high rates of low back and knee injury. However, the extent of these injuries in junior sailors is yet to be reported. Although strength and conditioning exercises have been prescribed to enhance performance and prevent injury in sailors, little is known about these exercises in comparison to the demands placed on the sailor's musculature …

Interleukin 6 And 8 Gene Expression Responses To Resistance Exercise And The Correlation To Muscle Mass, Vivien Massie

Theses : Honours

The post exercise inflammatory response is a key signalling mechanism regulating muscle protein synthesis. The purpose of this research was firstly to determine whether muscle mass in non-strength trained individuals was associated with the inflammatory muscle gene response after a single bout of eccentric muscle loading. Secondly, to determine whether changes in muscle cross-sectional area after a chronic increase in muscle loading (resistance training) is related to the inflammatory gene response to a single bout of muscle loading. Eleven male participants (21.6 ± 4.1 years) volunteered for this study. Each participant completed a preliminary testing session that consisted of two …

The Effects Of Oxidative Stress And Age On Human Spermatozoa, Taryn Mcandrew

Theses : Honours

Male infertility is now recognised as a significant factor in couples having difficulty conceiving. The impact of maternal age has long been known as a limiting factor, however recent research indicates that advancing paternal age can also negatively impact on a couple's chances of conception. One of the major contributing causes of male infertility has now been linked to spermatozoa exposure to reactive oxygen species (ROS). Such exposure induces oxidative stress when coupled with reduced total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Measures of both ROS and TAC are used as tests of oxidative stress status (OSS) which are used together to give …

Is Dance Good For The Body Or Not? : An Examination Of Body Awareness And Injury Prevention For Specialised Tertiary Dance Students, Kylie Murray

Theses : Honours

The purpose of this research paper is to discover more about tertiary dance and the effects that dance has on the body. I will discuss the pressures that dance places on the body, looking specifically at the years during full time study as a tertiary student. I will address dance issues such as common injuries, the reasons these injuries occur, prevention strategies, the effect that dance has on the mind and training conditions generally. Research into tertiary dance education programs, dance injuries, injury prevention, and general dance patterns will be supported by survey responses to come to some conclusions about …

Modulation Of Corticomotor Excitability During Passive And Active Wrist Flexion And Extension, Lilian Min Yen Chye

Theses : Honours

Various mechanisms may alter corticomotor excitability to agonist and antagonist muscles during passive and active limb movement depending on parameters of movement and their functional role. A better understanding of these relationships is important for understanding basic motor control mechanisms, and may be relevant to motor rehabilitation programs after brain injury. The purpose of the present study was to compare changes in corticomotor excitability to wrist flexor and extensor muscles during different phases of movement (flexion/extension), and at rest and during actively or passively-mediated length changes. Motor evoked potentials (MEP) of the flexor carpi radialis (FCR) and extensor carpi radialis …

The Relationship Between Session Rate Of Perceived Exertion Measures And The Volume Load Of Resistance Training, Mirza Abdul Latif

Theses : Honours

The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship between session rate of perceived exertion (RPE) measures and the volume load (VL) during resistance training (RT). Twelve male and eight female participants (24.3 ± 4.2 years) performed three RT sessions per week for a period of four weeks. The RT sessions during the week consisted of strength, hypertrophy and power protocols that included the same four resistance exercises (bench press, squat, shoulder press and bench row). The participants performed 3 sets of 3 repetitions per exercise at a load of 75-90% of their 1-RM with a rest period of …

The Use Of Detached Kelp (Ecklonia Radiata) By Seagrass-Associated Mesograzers In Temperate South-Western Australia, Christopher Doropoulos

Theses : Honours

The movement of nutrients and organisms between habitats provide important spatial subsidies on local and regional scales, resulting in increased primary and secondary production, especially where inputs supplement habitats of relatively low levels of comparable resources. In coastal south-western Australia, the brown kelp, Ecklonia radiata, is produced in large quantities on offshore reefs from where it detaches and passes through neighbouring habitats. This allochthonous resource is present in large quantities in seagrass meadows and thereby potentially influences the trophic dynamics of this habitat, providing an additional food source for grazers to those produced in situ. This study investigated the effects …

The Value Of Oil Mallee Plantations And Revegetated Farm Land In The Southern Wheatbelt Region Of Western Australia For The Conservation Of The Western Pygmy Possum (Cercartetus Concinnus), Marie Short

Theses : Honours

Revegetation has the potential to enhance conservation of wildlife in rural environments, but few studies have tested whether the proposed benefits are realized. It is important to understand the role played by farm tree plantations in the landscape and how the potential biodiversity benefits may be enhanced without interfering with economic goals (Lamb, 1998). The adoption of oil mallee farming systems across the agricultural zone in south-west Western Australia is resulting in large areas of farmland being planted to native perennial tree species (Smith, 2004). While not planted for their conservation benefit, oil mallee systems may nonetheless enhance biodiversity. The …

The Extent Of Interaction Between The Scallop And Prawn Fleets In The Shark Bay Scallop Managed Fishery, John Dickson

Theses : Honours

The Shark Bay Managed Scallop Fishery is Western Australia's most important scallop fishery with an annual value of between $2 and $58 million. In addition to this the fishery is an important source of regional employment with approximately 160 skippers and crew employed during the 2005 season. Two separate fleets are permitted to fish for scallops in this fishery, the first consisting of dedicated scallop fishing vessels (Class A licences) and the second of prawn fishing vessels (Class B licences) that are allowed to take scallops under a catch sharing arrangement. Concerns exist over the interactions between these two fleets …

The Effect Of Irrigation On Soil Water Availability And The Plant Water Relations Of Three Species Growing On Revegetated Bauxite Residue Disposal Areas, Sharyn Burgess

Theses : Honours

The waste product resulting from the alumina refining process consists of residue sand and mud which is laid on bauxite residue disposal areas (RDAs). Once the RDAs have been effectively solar dried they are revegetated to minimise deep drainage and potential groundwater contamination. In this study, two RDAs located at Alcoa's Pinjarra refinery were seasonally monitored to determine the effects of irrigation on soil water availability and plant water use. Three experimental Blocks were established by Alcoa, each with an irrigated and unirrigated site. Since then, irrigation has been applied to the three treated sites to maintain the root zone …

Minimal Exercise, Maximum Benefit? Comparing Incidental Physical Activity With Structured Exercise Participation On Three Measures Of Well-Being In A Group Of Corporate Employees, Warwick J. Mcglone

Theses : Honours

In response to increasingly sedentary workplaces, many organizations utilise employee well-being programmes that include physical activity. Physical activity is purported to have physiological benefits and improve overall mental well-being and is assumed will benefit the organization through reduced absenteeism rates and enhanced job satisfaction. Whilst research found associations between engagement in exercise and increased levels of well-being, conflicting support exists for reduced absenteeism and little support was found for enhanced job satisfaction. Much research has also failed to consider any mediating effects that stress may have had on the outcome. In addition, there exists little research that compared the effects …

Water Stress Vulnerability Of Four Banksia Species In Contrasting Ecohydrological Habitats On The Gnangara Mound, Western Australia, Caroline Canham

Theses : Honours

The distribution of obligate and facultative phreatophytic vegetation reflects the gradient of ecohydrological habitats in a landscape. Preliminary investigations of Banksia vulnerability to xylem embolism have reported that obligate phreatophytes are more susceptible to water stress than facultative phreatophytes (Froend & Drake 2006). A quantitative measure of plant susceptibility to water stress is vital when establishing environmental water requirements. This study investigated interspecific differences in vulnerability to water stress for two facultative phreatophytes (B. attenuata and B. menziesii) and two obligate pln·eatophytes (B. ilicifolia and B. littoralis) at the same position along an ecohydrological gradient on the Gnangara Groundwater Mound, …

The Effects Of Light Reduction Treatments On Mobile Epifaunain An Amphibolis Griffithii (Black) Den Hartog Seagrass Ecosystem, Helen Barwick

Theses : Honours

One of the main anthropogenic disturbances to seagrass meadows in Australia is reduction in light availability, through nutrient enrichment or suspended sediments. Dredging can create suspended sediment plumes from the expulsion of particulates into the water column and in tum reduces light penetration to seagrass ecosystems. Preliminary investigations have demonstrated that light reduction for different intensities and durations results in reduced seagrass and epiphytic algae biomass. The main aim of this study was to determine the effects of different intensities and durations of light reduction on epifaunal assemblages in Amphibolis griffithii seagrass meadows in Jurien Bay, Western Australia. This was …

Genetic Diversity And Gene Flow In Fragmented Populations Of The Rare Shrub, Calothamnus Sp. Whicher, Sean Stankowski

Theses : Honours

Ca/othamnus sp. Whicher (Myrtaceae) is a narrow range endemic shrub restricted to ironstone soils near the town of Busselton in south-western Australia. Due to extensive land clearing for agriculture and mineral exploration, the species is fragmented over the majority of its range. In the present study, microsatellite markers were used to characterise levels of genetic diversity and describe levels of differentiation and gene flow among seven small, isolated road verge populations. Allelic diversity within the taxon over the six microsatellites was high (A = 17.6 ± 1.6). Diversity within populations was considerably lower (A = 5.19 ± 1.27), …

Determining Carbon And Nitrogen Stable Isotope Discrimination For Marine Consumers, Emily N. Gates

Theses : Honours

The application of stable isotope ratios to food web studies is increasing, and the use of generalised discrimination values (0.4±1.4%₀ for δ¹³C and 3.4±1.1%₀ for δ¹⁵N), which are being widely applied to many studies, may not be valid. The broad objective of this study was to evaluate the assumption that these discrimination values are applicable to a range of benthic marine consumers, and therefore appropriate to be used in trophic analyses using carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) stable isotopes in marine food webs. The first aim was to determine if there were differences in …

The Effectiveness Of A Home-Based, Patient-Specific, Functional Exercise Program On Patients With Inclusion Body Myositis (Ibm), Liam Johnson

Theses : Honours

Previous research has shown exercise to be beneficial in the treatment of myositis-affected patients. However, the potential of functional exercises to improve muscle strength and function in the absence of disease progression markers in patient's with Inclusion Body Myositis (IBM) is not well understood. It is believed that the initial exercise dose and patient specificity is of paramount importance in the successful use of this modality in the routine management and long term treatment of such patients. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of a home-based, patient-specific functional exercise programme, including aerobic exercise and resistance training, …

Neural Induction And Differentiation Of Stem Cells Using The Developmental Gene Pax7, Vijesh G. Vaghjiani

Theses : Honours

Neurodegenerative disorders are conditions that mainly affect the brain and the central nervous system (CNS). Each disease type is characterised by loss of function which results from death of a particular region. Interestingly enough, most of the time disease pathology is due to loss of specific cell types in the CNS. These pathological conditions have both high economic costs and social implications for society. To treat such conditions, either the lost cells must be replaced or the cells surrounding the damaged tissue must be induced to undergo repair to replace the lost cells. The former looks more achievable whereas the …

Pollen Characteristics Of Grevillea Species Determined By In Vitro Germination, Rebecca Parsons

Theses : Honours

Germination of pollen in vitro is a common technique used to assess the ability of pollen to germinate under a variety of conditions. The ability to determine the viability of a pollen grain, and optimal conditions for maximum germination and storage are important for hybridisation. A means of storing pollen, while maintaining viability, enables inter-species hybridisation between species that are spatially and temporally (flowering time) separated. The ultimate aim of hybridisation is seed set and in order to increase this in a genus renowned for a very low fruit to flower ratio, maximum pollen germination must be obtained. Therefore, by …

Automated Photo-Identification Of Cetaceans : An Integrated Software Solution, Daniel Griggs

Theses : Honours

This study investigates current techniques used for automated photo-identification of cetaceans (i.e. dolphins and whales). The primary focus constitutes various techniques that can be applied to identify and extract dorsal fins from digital photographs. A comprehensive analysis of these techniques demonstrates the most effective software solution. To further support this analysis, four prototypes are developed to demonstrate the effectiveness of each technique in a practical environment. The analysis bases its final conclusions on test results generated from these prototype software examples. Final conclusions provide recommendations for an effective, accurate, and practical software solution. This software solution allows dorsal fins to …

The Functional Significance Of Multiple Pax7 Isoforms, Chantel L. Burchill

Theses : Honours

The Pax7 gene is critical for specification of both neurons in the mid-brain and skeletal muscle satellite cells. Several alternate transcripts are transcribed from the single gene. Previous studies have shown that the resultant alternate Pax7 isoforms differ in the structure of their paired domain (a DNA-binding domain that influences target gene selection), yet the functional significance of each isoform for specification of neurogenic and myogenic cell types remains unknown. Although previous studies have identified the presence of multiple alternate Pax7 transcripts in both neurogenic and myogenic cell lines, more research is necessary to understand the functional significance of the …