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Theses/Dissertations

2014

Wetlands

Articles 1 - 10 of 10

Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

Predictive Modeling Of Floral Species Richness In Michigan Prairie Fen Communities, Nichole R. Mason Dec 2014

Predictive Modeling Of Floral Species Richness In Michigan Prairie Fen Communities, Nichole R. Mason

Masters Theses

Prairie fens contain high levels of floral biodiversity, including 19 state threatened or endangered plant species, and are classified as rare and vulnerable communities by the Michigan Natural Features Inventory. The objective of this thesis was to develop multiple-regression (MR) models that reliably predict total, native, and invasive floral species richness for use by conservation organizations. Floral biodiversity surveys were conducted in eight southern Michigan prairie fens during the 2012 growing season. Simple linear regressions between fen size and biodiversity were used to optimize sampling strategy and effort (i.e., number of transects and plots per transect) in surveys conducted in …

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Spatial Heterogeneity Of Ecosystem Metabolism In A Shallow Wetland, Daniel Riley Rackliffe Dec 2014

Spatial Heterogeneity Of Ecosystem Metabolism In A Shallow Wetland, Daniel Riley Rackliffe

Theses and Dissertations

Spatial heterogeneity in ecosystem metabolism may play a critical role in determining ecosystem functions. Variation in ecosystem metabolism between macrophyte patches in shallow wetlands at the extremes of freshwater habitats has not been investigated. We estimated ecosystem metabolism in mesocosms containing different macrophytes using 24-hour oxygen curves to test our hypotheses: (1) net aquatic production (NAP) during spring and summer would be similar among algal patches (metaphyton and Chara), (2) NAP in algal patches would be greater than patches dominated by the vascular plant Potamogeton foliosus, (3) heterotrophy and anaerobiosis would be greatest in patches dominated by Lemna, and (4) …

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Utilizing Indicator Of Reduction In Soils Tubes To Affirm A Serpentinitic Hydric Soil On The California Central Coast, Jason Demoss Nov 2014

Utilizing Indicator Of Reduction In Soils Tubes To Affirm A Serpentinitic Hydric Soil On The California Central Coast, Jason Demoss

Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sciences

Wetlands are vital ecosystems that are crucial in maintaining the life of rare and unique soils, plants, and animals. These ecosystems are key players in water storage, water filtration, carbon storage, and harboring unique species. Since the intervention of human development on the Earth’s surface, almost 50% of the Earth’s original wetlands have either been damaged or destroyed. The identification and assessment of both new and old wetlands is crucial in the survival of these precious ecosystems and their conservation. A 3 month-long study was performed to confirm the hydric status of a soil derived from serpentinitic parent material. The …

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Wetland Sediment Nutrient Flux In Response To Proposed Hydrologic Reconnection And Climate Warming, James T. Smit Aug 2014

Wetland Sediment Nutrient Flux In Response To Proposed Hydrologic Reconnection And Climate Warming, James T. Smit

Masters Theses

Wetland restoration and creation are common practices, but wetlands restored or created on former agricultural land may act as a source of nutrients, rather than as a sink. I studied P sediment-water exchange in two flooded celery fields (west and east), which are designated for wetland restoration, in order to assess the effects that hydrologic reconnection of the area to an adjacent creek would have on P dynamics. We also examined the influence of climate change, specifically warming temperatures, by conducting the sediment-water exchange experiments at ambient and plus 2°C temperature conditions. Lab-based sediment core incubations revealed that TP release …

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Potential Susceptibility Of Canna Flaccida And Two Canna Hybrids To Five Species Of Phytophthora, Kristin Van Kampen Jul 2014

Potential Susceptibility Of Canna Flaccida And Two Canna Hybrids To Five Species Of Phytophthora, Kristin Van Kampen

All Theses

The costs and need for clean water are increasing for greenhouse, nursery, and agricultural businesses. Runoff from irrigated agriculture and specialty crops also can take a toll on the surrounding environment, because irrigation runoff water can contain high amounts of nutrients, contaminants, and plant pathogens. To assuage the pollution contributed to runoff water and reduce the overall volume of water used, nurseries are starting to reuse irrigation runoff water. For this to be possible, the water first should be treated before reuse. Constructed wetlands are a biological treatment option that employs vegetation to collect, filter, and store runoff water. Some …

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The Effects Of Invasive Macrophytes Phragmites Australis And Typha Angustifolia On Nitrate Removal In High Nitrate Wetland Sediments, Lauren Mackenzie Beal Apr 2014

The Effects Of Invasive Macrophytes Phragmites Australis And Typha Angustifolia On Nitrate Removal In High Nitrate Wetland Sediments, Lauren Mackenzie Beal

Theses and Dissertations

Constructed wetlands are quickly becoming inundated with invasive species like Phragmites australis and Typha angustifolia which are capable of changing whole ecosystem function and community composition. We wanted to assess how plants affect dissolved oxygen (DO) and dissolved organic carbon concentrations (DOC), and in turn if they increase nitrate (NO3-N) removal rates relative to barren sediments. Using a NO3-N/Br tracer test, we tested NO3-N removal rates, DO, and DOC concentrations. After the tracer test, we measured above- and below-ground plant biomass and sediment characteristics. NO3-N removal did not differ across the treatments. Phragmites australis microcosms had significantly higher sediment bulk …

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A Factor Analysis Of The Dimensions Of Economic Damages From Tropical Storms And Hurricanes In Louisiana, James Luke Boutwell Jan 2014

A Factor Analysis Of The Dimensions Of Economic Damages From Tropical Storms And Hurricanes In Louisiana, James Luke Boutwell

LSU Master's Theses

Coastal communities are highly sensitive to disturbances from tropical storms and hurricanes. This is particularly true in Louisiana and along the U.S. Gulf Coast where economies are largely dependent on tourism and natural resource based industry. Since Hurricane Katrina and, more recently, Hurricane Sandy, there has been an increase in concern for how coastal communities will mitigate and respond to the impacts of coastal storms. These concerns are made more acute by the increasing population concentrated along the coast and the risk of more frequent and more severe coastal storms in the future. A commonly advocated-for method of storm damage …

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Effect Of Invasive Phragmites Australis And Its Control On Microbial Community Composition In A Freshwater Wetland, Jennifer K. Kirk Jan 2014

Effect Of Invasive Phragmites Australis And Its Control On Microbial Community Composition In A Freshwater Wetland, Jennifer K. Kirk

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Wetlands support great species diversity and perform important ecosystem services like carbon and nutrient cycling, largely facilitated by microorganisms. Invasive plants, like Phragmites australis, reduce biodiversity and alter ecosystem services. I hypothesized that changes in soil bacterial communities would occur after Phragmites invasion and restoration efforts employing herbicide to remove Phragmites would further disrupt communities. This was tested in freshwater wetlands using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of PCR amplified eubacterial DNA from soils dominated by Typha and Phragmites vegetation preceding and following herbicide application. Soil bacterial communities differed by vegetation type and indicated both seasonal and inter-annual effects. …

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Using Gis To Evaluate The Kentucky Wetland Rapid Assessment Method, Douglas Robert Mott Jan 2014

Using Gis To Evaluate The Kentucky Wetland Rapid Assessment Method, Douglas Robert Mott

Online Theses and Dissertations

Wetlands are a vital part of our environment and serve important functions, including water quality improvement, nutrient management, pollution control, storm buffering, flood control, sediment stabilization, groundwater replenishment, fish and wildlife habitat, aesthetics, and recreation opportunities (Costanza et al., 2008; Mitsch & Gosselink, 2000; USEPA, 2006; Woodward & Yong-Suhk, 2001). A number of laws have been enacted to help to protect existing wetlands, promote rehabilitation of degraded wetlands, and encourage the creation of new wetlands. Also, since 1988 all United States presidents have stated a "No Net Loss" policy for wetlands in the United States. There is a need to …

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Wetlands And Greenhouse Gas Fluxes: Causes And Effects Of Climate Change – A Meta-Analysis, Robert E. Ventura Jan 2014

Wetlands And Greenhouse Gas Fluxes: Causes And Effects Of Climate Change – A Meta-Analysis, Robert E. Ventura

Pomona Senior Theses

Climate change is one of the largest problems facing this generation. Anthropogenically caused increases of greenhouse gas emissions is a significant culprit to this problem. Although the obvious problems such as cars, industry, and urbanism garnish a significant amount of the criticism, natural sources such as wetlands are also beginning to contribute to this issue. This is becoming increasingly significant as wetlands shift from being sinks of greenhouse gases to becoming sources as various anthropogenic impacts, including global warming itself, begin to affect the health of the wetlands. The aim of this project is to look at four common types …

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