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Transformations Of Organic And Inorganic Phosphorus In Estuarine Particle- Water Systems, Jin Bo Zhao

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

This thesis describes methodologies to detemiine organic and inorganic phosphorus in water and discusses biological, physical and chemical controls on the transformations of organic and inorganic phosphorus in laboratory microcosms of estuarine particle-water systems. Phosphorus is an important nutrient and the accurate determination of phosphorus species in natural waters is essential for understanding the biogeochemical cycling of the element. Chapter one reviews phosphorus impacts on water quality and relevant UK legislation, the sources, speclation and fractionation of phosphorus, the sediment/water phosphorus cycle and analytical methods for the determination of dissolved Inorganic phosphorus (DIP) and organic phosphorus (DOP) species In natural …

Nutrients And Eutrophication In The Taw Estuary, Gerald Maier

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

Increased inputs of nutrients to estuaries and coastal waters can cause undesirable effects associated with eutrophication, including nuisance and toxic algal blooms, reduced amenity value, changes in species composition, bottom anoxia and fish kills. The main sources of nutrients to estuaries are river runoff, sewage discharges, atmospheric inputs and possibly submarine groundwater discharges. For the UK, estuarine eutrophication has been shown to occur in at least 16 estuaries (including the Taw in North Devon). Consequently, these systems have been designated as '(Potential) Problem Area' under the OSPAR Common Procedure for the Identification of Eutrophication and also as a 'Eutrophic Water' …

Fitness, Motor Competence And Body Composition Are Weakly Associated With Adolescent Back Pain, Mark Perry, Leon Straker, Peter O'Sullivan, Anne Smith, Beth P. Hands

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

Study Design: Cross sectional

Objectives: To assess the associations between adolescent back pain and fitness, motor competence and body composition.

Background: Although deficits in physical fitness and motor control have been shown to relate to adult back pain, the evidence in adolescents is less clear.

Methods and measures: In this cross-sectional study, 1608 "Raine" cohort adolescents (mean age, 14 years) answered questions on lifetime, month and chronic prevalence of back pain, and participated in a range of physical tests assessing aerobic capacity, muscle performance, flexibility, motor competence, and body composition. A history of diagnosed back pain in the adolescent was …

Understanding Pitch Perception As A Hierarchical Process With Top-Down Modulation, Emili Balaguer-Ballester, Nicholas R. Clark, Martin Coath, Katrin Krumbholz, Susan L. Denham

Professional Services

Pitch is one of the most important features of natural sounds, underlying the perception of melody in music and prosody in speech. However, the temporal dynamics of pitch processing are still poorly understood. Previous studies suggest that the auditory system uses a wide range of time scales to integrate pitch-related information and that the effective integration time is both task- and stimulus-dependent. None of the existing models of pitch processing can account for such task- and stimulus-dependent variations in processing time scales. This study presents an idealized neurocomputational model, which provides a unified account of the multiple time scales observed …

Eutrophication And The Macroscope, Scott W. Nixon

Graduate School of Oceanography Faculty Publications

It is important to view eutrophication as an increase in the supply of organic matter to an ecosystem rather than as a simple problem of nutrient pollution. This emphasizes that eutrophication is a fundamental change in the energetic base that may propagate through the system in various ways and produce a variety of changes. Some of these changes may be desirable (e.g., increased secondary production) and some may not (e.g., hypoxia). Defining eutrophication in terms of changing nutrient concentrations or chlorophyll levels or species composition confuses symptoms with the underlying phenomenon. While nutrient enrichment is the most common cause of …

The Invasive Colonial Ascidian Didemnum Vexillum On Georges Bank - Ecological Effects And Genetic Identification, Nicole L. Lengyel, Jeremy S. Collie, Page C. Valentine

Graduate School of Oceanography Faculty Publications

Since the discovery of the invasive colonial tunicate Didemnum vexillum Kott, 2002 on Georges Bank in 2002, research has focused on investigating the spread of the tunicate invasion, evaluating its potential impact on the benthic community, identifying it to species level, and determining its region of origin. The percent cover of Didemnum vexillum, measured from bottom photographs, ranges from 0-100% in individual photos and between 0-79% when averaged within photo transects. Individual photos represent an area of the seabed measuring ~ 0.39 m2 while photo transects range from ~ 700-1000 meters in length. Hydroids are the second most abundant …

Nvods And The Development Of Opendap, Peter C. Cornillon, Jennifer Adams, M. Benno Blumenthal, Eric Chassignet, Ethan Davis, Steve Hankin, James Kinter, Roy Mendelssohn, James T. Potemra, Ashwanth Srinivasan, Joseph Sirott

Graduate School of Oceanography Faculty Publications

The National Oceanographic Partnership Program (NOPP) funded a project to develop the foundation for a National Virtual Ocean Data System (NVODS) that has resulted in a robust data access framework for the exchange of oceanographic data (the Open source Project for a Network Data Access Protocol, or OPeNDAP) and a broad community of ocean data providers that remains vigorous and growing five years after NOPP funding ended. The project produced a number of “lessons learned” related to the design and implementation of distributed data systems that can inform other related efforts. These lessons are presented along with a brief overview …

Integrated Ecosystem Assessments: Developing The Scientific Basis For Ecosystem-Based Management Of The Ocean, Phillip S. Levin, Michael J. Fogarty, Steven A. Murawski, David Fluharty

Marine Science Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Can Health Visitors Assist Clients To Optimise Health-Determining Aspects Of The Indoor Environment Through Provision Of Evidence-Informed Messages?, George Richardson

Other Faculty of Health Theses

The aim of the research was to investigate the acceptability and feasibility of health visitors working with their clients to assess health-determining aspects of their clients' home environments and to provide evidence-informed messages about the indoor environment. The research was conducted within a Soft Systems Methodology framework. Following a pilot study in 2003, a proof of concept, feasibility study was implemented (2004 to 2007) with a convenience sample of eight health visitors conducting 29 environmental assessments in clients' homes, using a dedicated, cost effective tool kit. The health visitors were trained to monitor and provide evidence-based messages on Indoor environmental …

Large-Scale Study Of Calanus In The North Atlantic Ocean: Macroecological Patterns And Potential Impacts Of Climate Change, Pierre Helaouet

Other Faculty of Science and Engineering Theses

Marine ecosystems show natural fluctuation throughout a large range of spatial and temporal scales. Despite the large amount of study devoted to the North Atlantic Ocean, drivers of those fluctuations remain unclear. By changing global climate, polluting, introducing exotic species, expanding and intensifying land uses and overharvesting biological resources, human activities have degraded the global ecosystem and drastically accelerated species extinction rates. Consequences of this human forcing become apparent in the progressive degradation of ecosystem that are used by humans (Schroter et al. , 2005), climate change- induced shifts in species distributions toward the poles (Parmesan et al. , 1999) …

Distribution Of Elateridae And Tipulidae Pest Species In An Agricultural Landscape, Helen Mary Hicks

Other Faculty of Science and Engineering Theses

Wireworms and leatherjackets, the larvae of click beetles (Agriotes spp) and crane flies (Tipula spp) respectively, are subterranean pests of grass, cereals and vegetables and are present throughout the UK and Europe. Soil cores, pheromone traps and water traps were used to measure populations. The populations of larvae were compared to those of adults. Leatherjackets and crane flies were found to be correlated, as were A. obscurus click beetle and wireworm populations. Annual variation in trap catches was observed. Populations were related at a number of spatial scales to cultural, physical and chemical variables. Spatial structure of populations was identified …

Physiological And Whole-Body Correlates Of Contest Behaviour In The Hermit Crab Pagurus Bernhardus, Sophie Lilian Mowles

Other Faculty of Science and Engineering Theses

The series of experiments that comprise this thesis used shell fights in the hermit crab Pagurus bernhardus as a model system to address the proximate physiological and whole-organism correlates of contest behaviour. These correlates of fighting ability ranged from the metal ions magnesium (Mg2+) and calcium (Ca2+), through respiratory pigments and muscular proteins to whole-organism performance capacities and behavioural syndromes. This broad-spectrum approach thus allowed the study of a suite of mechanisms which may influence agonistic behaviour and fighting ability.

Characterisation And Molecular Typing Of Clinical And Environmental Isolates Of Vibrio Parahaemolyticus, Aklak Miah

Other Faculty of Science and Engineering Theses

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a natural inhabitant of coastal waters worldwide and is the leading cause of seafood-borne gastroenteritis. This study reports on the use of several molecular characterisation methods to screen clinical and environmental isolates of V parahaemolyticus to assess whether such techniques can be used to distinguish pathogenic isolates reliably. In a total of 86 isolates mainly of V parahaemolyticus but also including V cholerae, V vulnificus and several other species, serotypes of the more virulent clonal group 03:K6 were identified, but otherwise there appeared no association with serotype and phenotype. The tdh and trh genes encoding haemolysins that …

Physiological Aspects Of The Response To Elevated Co2 In Lentils (Lens Culinaris Medic), Rima Rabah Nasser

Other Faculty of Science and Engineering Theses

This study examined the effects of elevated CO2 and its interaction with drought and nitrogen fertilizer on the growth, production and nodulation of the leguminous crop lentil (Lens culinaris Medic) cultivars ILL7979 and ILL6994 (Idlib 3).

Women Candidates And Councillors In English Local Government, Mary Bernadette Shears

Other Faculty of Science and Engineering Theses

Research interest in gender and politics has been increasing in the UK and intemationally. Much of this research has focussed on the issues surrounding women's underrepresentation to national elected office. However, a vital part of the picture has been largely ignored - women's under-representation in local govemment. This is surprising given that so many MPs still cite experience of serving on local councils before embarking on a career in national politics. This thesis aims to fill some important gaps In our knowledge of the situation affecting the under-representation of women in local govemment In England. It is known that women …

The Effectiveness Of Privately Managed Marine Reserves In Sustaining Nearshore Fisheries In The Tropical Coastal Zone, Bjorn Patrik Mikael Svensson

Other Faculty of Science and Engineering Theses

There is an emergent need to increase protection of nearshore resources from a growing human population, which is deteriorating coral reef ecosystems through coastal development, overfishing and destructive fishing practices. A possible solution involves increasing the number of smaller Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), creating a network of reserves with greater fisheries potential, while locally remaining small enough not to overly impinge on fishers available fishing grounds. Coral reefs are often found in developing countries, where governments financially struggle to establish successfully managed MPAs. A growing number of Hotel Managed Marine Reserves (HMMRs) have partly therefore, recently been established. Hotels arguably …

Community Structure And Dynamics Of The Azorean Rocky Intertidal: Exploitation Of Keystone Species, Gustavo M. Martins

Other Faculty of Science and Engineering Theses

Experimental work has shown the importance of grazing by patellid limpets in structuring intertidal assemblages. Little is known, however, about the effects of a largescale and chronic removal of limpets. Here I investigate the ecology of Patella candei, a seldom-studied limpet endemic to Macaronesia, and how its long-term fishery impacts the Azorean rocky intertidal. The specific aims of this thesis are to: examine the processes that affect the distribution of limpets in the Azores at a range of spatial scales; investigate the role of grazing by P. candei in structuring the Azorean rocky intertidal and if its harvesting has impacted …

Assessing The Impact Of Increasing Seawater Temperature And Acidity On Marine Organisms Using Ophiuroid Brittlestars As An Experimental Model, Hannah L. Wood

Other Faculty of Science and Engineering Theses

Ocean acidification is a consequence of rapidly increasing atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide and, in tandem with increasing sea temperature, poses a significant threat to marine life. A series of mesocosm experiments have been conducted at the Plymouth Marine Laboratory (Plymouth, UK) and the Kings Bay Marine Laboratory (Ny-Alesund, Svalbard) where ophiuroid brittlestars were used as a model to investigate the physiological response of marine organisms to ocean acidification and ocean warming. A 'whole organism' approach was adopted to elucidate the primary physiological responses, trade offs and conflicts that occurred. Three ophiuroid species of differing lifestyle and habitats were chosen …

Genetic Biodiversity Of The European Barnacle Chthamalus Montagui, Sonia Fontani

Other Faculty of Science and Engineering Theses

Biodiversity ultimately is genetic diversity. Genetic diversity within species is eroded before negative trends in biodiversity become evident as loss of species or habitats. Hence, monitoring biodiversity at the genetic level may indicate what will happen at higher levels of organisation if the trend is allowed to continue. There is a pervasive belief that marine ecosystems are less vulnerable to biodiversity loss than terrestrial ones, due to marine species' high dispersal ability and connectivity, large geographic ranges, low genetic differentiation among populations and high genetic variation within populations. Many studies offer compelling evidence that it is not so: loss of …

A Dramaturgy Of Intermediality: Composing With Integrative Design, Kjell Yngve Petersen

Other Faculty of Science and Engineering Theses

The thesis investigates and develops a compositional system on intermediality in theatre and performance as a dramaturgical practice through integrative design. The position of the visual/sonic media in theatre and performance has been altered by the digitalisation and networking of media technologies, which enables enhanced dynamic variables in the intermedial processes. The emergent intermediality sites are made accessible by developments in media technologies and form part of broader changes towards a mediatised society: a simultaneous shift in cultural contexts, theatre practice and audience perception. The practice-led research is situated within a postdramatic context and develops a system of compositional perspectives …

Development Of Fermented Fish Silage Derived From Pelagic Sardine And Apple Pomace By-Product For Inclusion In Diets For The European Seabass (Dicentrarchus Labrax), Siddiq Milad El-Ajnaf

Other Faculty of Science and Engineering Theses

The ensilage of fish and fisheries derived by-products as alternative ingredients to fish meal in diets for aquaculture may be an effective strategy to reduce feed and production costs of farmed marine fish. In this context, the production of fish silage by means of the fermentation of whole sardine (Sardina pilchardus) using Lactobacillus plantarum starter culture together with apple pomace co-product as the principle carbohydrate source was developed. Apple pomace is an important co-product from the cider industry in the UK and was ideally suited for this purpose. The minimum of total sugars necessary for a successful fermentation was found …

Nitrogen Dynamics In Integrated Agricultural Systems In Central Mexico, Joel Velasco Velasco

Other Faculty of Science and Engineering Theses

Smallholdings (<5 ha) represent 73% of the total agricultural production systems in Mexico. Many are of low productivity, and little quantitative data has been published on the impact of traditional nitrogen (N) management practices on environmental performance at farm scale. Nitrogen is the most important nutrient for increasing crop yields. While the benefits from the use of N fertilizer are self evident, it has resulted in low efficiency of N utilization and environmental problems. This project aimed to assess N dynamics in Integrated Agricultural Systems (lASs) in central Mexico. Nitrogen inputs, outputs and internal transfers were assessed and the impact of selected management practices on nitrogen flow, productivity and environmental performance were analyzed using nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) indices. A predictive framework tool was developed following whole farm methodologies to quantify N flow, and to assess selected (NUE) indices such as 0/1 ratio, N loss, accumulated N, and the change of N in the soil pool at farm scale. Data used for the development of the predictive framework was derived from experimental evaluations of ammonia emissions during vermicomposting, and integrated with data from the literature, together with data from an integrated agricultural systems prototype in Montecillo Mexico. The main N inputs into integrated agricultural systems in the Texcoco region were estimated to be in the following order of significance: biological N fixation (11 - 532), manure (15 - 225), fertilizer (0 - 140) and rainfall water (30 - 35 kg haˉ¹ aˉ¹). The main N outputs were: N losses (70 - 528 kg haˉ¹ aˉ¹) and exported N in marketable products (72 - 338 kg haˉ¹ aˉ¹). Experimentally derived estimates of ammonia emissions during vermicomposting of sheep manure ranged from 10 - 15 kg Mgˉ¹ DM which corresponded to 42 - 47% of the initial N content in the manure substrate. The impact of current management practices showed 0/1 ratios ranging from 0.30 - 0. 76, N losses ranged from 76 to 210 kg haˉ¹ aˉ¹ and N depletion/ accumulation ranged from -25 - 143 kg haˉ¹ aˉ¹. The effect of selected management practices on 0/1 ratio was as follows: crop sequence > stocking density > livestock type > manure management. Whereas for N loss it was stocking density > livestock type > manure management > crop sequence. Higher productivity together with a more benign environmental impact could be attained in smallholder by implementing simple recommended manure management practices at farm scale.

Selection Of A Chicken Lactobacillus Strain With Probiotic Properties And Its Application In Poultry Production, Soumela Sawidou

Other Faculty of Science and Engineering Theses

One hundred and eleven lactic acid bacteria, of chicken origin, were tested for possible probiotic properties. One organism, Lactobacillus salivarius Salivarius NCIMB 41606 {Lact. "Salivarius) showed rapid autoaggregation ability, maximum co-aggregation ability with enteropathogens, tolerance to acidic pH and bile salts of the chicken Gl-tract, very good antagonistic activity against several enteropathogens and good adhesive capacity to chicken epithelial cells. It was also found to survive in water for 24h and produce fermented feed, of low pH (150 mmol L-1 lactic acid after 24h fermentation at 30°C. This organism was selected as a candidate that could be used in vivo …

Marine Pollution And Echinoderms: A Biomarker Study Integrating Different Levels Of Biological Organisation, Martin Neil Canty

Other Faculty of Science and Engineering Theses

There is growing concern that the invertebrate lest organisms commonly employed in the field of aquatic ecotoxicology may not be sufficient to accurately screen for the possible deleterious effects of contaminants discharged into the marine environment. The use of echinoderms has been proposed to redress this problem, due to their ecological importance and their evolutionary closeness to the chordates. But to date, there is a paucity of data in the published literature which has utilised the adult stages of echinoderms in laboratory based toxicology studies. The present studies aimed to fill this lack of information. A suite of biomarkers which …

A Large-Scale Model Of Spatio-Temporal Patterns Of Excitation And Inhibition Evoked By The Horizontal Network In Layer 2/3 Of The Visual Cortex, Andrew John Symes

Other Faculty of Science and Engineering Theses

Cortical processing of even the most elementary visual stimuli can result in the propagation of information over significant spatiotemporal scales. To fully understand the impact of such phenomena it is essential to consider the influence of both the neural circuitry beyond the immediate retinotopic location of the stimulus, including pre-cortical areas, and the temporal components of stimulus driven activity that may persist over significant periods. Two computational modelling studies have been performed to explore these phenomena and are reported in this thesis. I) The plexus of long and short range lateral connections is a prominent feature of the layer 2/3 …

'Making Whoopee'? : An Exploration Of Understandings And Responses Around Women's Alcohol Use, Patricia Staddon

Other Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business Theses

In this thesis, I explore the different meanings women's drinking may have for them, and the ways in which these may differ from those of the public, the medical profession, and alcohol treatment providers. I consider the sociological factors involved, such as marginalisation by medical diagnosis as a method of social control, involving particularly the disempowerment of women (Ettorre 1997). I challenge conventional views of 'alcoholism' as a 'relapsing condition' .(Szumlinski et al. 2008 p.24) and present an alternative, competing discourse. This recognises how women's social dissonance may be both response and resistance to gendered constraints, drawing upon understandings of …

Art And Technology: Coherence, Connectedness, And The Integrative Field, Carlos Augusto Moreira Da Nobrega

Other Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business Theses

This thesis is a theoretical and practical intervention in the field of art and technology. It proceeds from the re-examination of four specific domains that in the past 40 years have considerably informed the invention of new aesthetic forms. They are: art, science, nature and technology. We have identified that each one of these domains and the way they inform one another reflects the influence of a Western analytical tradition based on fragmentation, dichotomies and dualities. In consequence of this, art of the last decades has suffered from a sort of mechanistic thought which results from a predominantly weary aesthetic …

Dynamically Constrained Ensemble Perturbations: Application To Tides On The West Florida Shelf, Alexander Barth, Aida Alvera-Azcarate, J. M. Beckers, Robert H. Weisberg, L. Vandenbulcke, F. Lenartz, M. Rixen

Marine Science Faculty Publications

A method is presented to create an ensemble of perturbations that satisfies linear dynamical constraints. A cost function is formulated defining the probability of each perturbation. It is shown that the perturbations created with this approach take the land-sea mask into account in a similar way as variational analysis techniques. The impact of the land-sea mask is illustrated with an idealized configuration of a barrier island. Perturbations with a spatially variable correlation length can be also created by this approach. The method is applied to a realistic configuration of the West Florida Shelf to create perturbations of the M2 tidal …

The Roles Of Organic And Inorganic Zinc And Selenium Sources In The Nutrition And Promotion Of Health In Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus Mykiss), Sebastien A. B. Rider

Other Faculty of Science and Engineering Theses

Three nutritional feeding trials were undertaken to investigate the nutritional role of zinc (Zn) ands elenium (Se) in the promotion of health in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss Walbaum). Organic and inorganic sources of both elements were assessed by determining bioavailability, effects on growth, feed utilisation, immuno-competence, oxidative status, fillet quality and interactions with other trace elements. A focus was made on the use of practical diets throughout the study. The first experiment assessed the bioavailability of residual Se and Zn from a white fishmeal based practical diet during a 10-week trial in comparison to diets containing either supplemental …

Estimating Population Change And Dispersal Activity Of Spiders In An Agricultural Landscape, Christopher Woolley

Other Faculty of Science and Engineering Theses

The principal aims of this work were to investigate dispersal activity of spiders commonly found in agricultural crops, and to study the influence of both crop type and farm operations on spider assemblages and populations. Work was also conducted to develop and test an improved trapping method for samplmg aerially dispersing (ballooning) spiders. Objectives were to determine whether common farmland species exhibited species-specific differences in dispersal activity. Behavioural data from wind chamber studies were also related to field data to establish i f seasonality in dispersal was related to seasonal changes in dispersal motivation or variation in ground population densities. …