Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

The Biophysical Resilience Capacity Of The Salish Sea’S Tidal Wetlands To Sea Level Rise, Kenna Kuhn

WWU Graduate School Collection

Tidal wetlands offer significant ecosystem services, cultural identity, and economic opportunities, but the impact that projected SLR will have on tidal wetlands in the Salish Sea is not known. In this thesis, I examine the exposure, watershed-scale biophysical resilience capacity, and jurisdictional variation in resilience capacity of the Salish Sea’s tidal wetlands to SLR. I quantify exposure, resilience, and jurisdictional variation using existing spatial data and analysis techniques. I employ a framework for biophysical resilience capacity developed by NOAA and NERRA. This study’s results indicate that there is substantial variation in wetlands area by watershed, from 0 km² to …

The Importance Of Landscape Position Information And Elevation Uncertainty For Barrier Island Habitat Mapping And Modeling, Nicholas Matthew Enwright

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Barrier islands provide important ecosystem services, including storm protection and erosion control to the mainland, habitat for fish and wildlife, and tourism. As a result, natural resource managers are concerned with monitoring changes to these islands and modeling future states of these environments. Landscape position, such as elevation and distance from shore, influences habitat coverage on barrier islands by regulating exposure to abiotic factors, including waves, tides, and salt spray. Geographers commonly use aerial topographic lidar data for extracting landscape position information. However, researchers rarely consider lidar elevation uncertainty when using automated processes for extracting elevation-dependent habitats from lidar data. …

Assessment And Correction Of Lidar-Derived Dems In The Coastal Marshes Of Louisiana, William M. Lauve

LSU Master's Theses

The onset of airborne light detection and ranging (lidar) has resulted in expansive, precise digital elevation models (DEMs). DEMs are essential for modeling complex systems, such as the coastal land margin of Louisiana. They are used for many applications (e.g. tide, storm surge, and ecological modeling) and by diverse groups (e.g. state and federal agencies, NGOs, and academia). However, in a marsh environment, it is difficult for airborne lidar to produce accurate bare-earth measurements and even accurate elevations are rarely verified by ground truth data. The accuracy of lidar in marshes is limited by the sensor’s resolution …

An Airlifted Tidal Mesocosm For Oil Degradation Studies, Daniel Christopher Alt

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Mesocosms were constructed to allow scientists to isolate variables in a microtidal marsh environment, mimicking the natural conditions found in Terrebonne Bay. The control offered by these mesocosms is given by a process control system that takes user inputs and automates water movement. Twelve mesocosms were constructed, each holding 4.02 m³ (142 ft³) of marsh soil and 3.88 m³ (137 ft³) of water to give 3 experimental levels and a control, all in triplicate.

Each mesocosms that was constructed contained marsh plants in soil plugs 9 feet in diameter and 3 feet deep. These …

Embracing Dynamic Design For Climate-Resilient Living Shorelines, Molly Mitchell, Donna M. Bilkovic

VIMS Articles

As natural marshes are lost to erosion, sea level rise, and human activity, small created marshes, (sometimes with ancillary stabilization structures, and frequently called living shorelines) have gained interest as a replacement habitat; providing both shoreline stabilization and restoration of important ecological functions. These living shorelines enhance ecological function while reducing erosion through the use of marsh plants (Table 1). In all but the lowest energy settings, oyster reefs, low rock structures, or other stabilizing material are frequently used to enhance marsh establishment. Due to their ability to stabilize the shoreline with minimal impact to the ecology, living shorelines are …

Pesticide Concentrations In Water From A Southern Louisiana Marsh Influenced By The Mississippi River, Kara Leigh Callicott

LSU Master's Theses

The pesticides atrazine, chlorothalonil, and fipronil are common surface water contaminants due to their high rates of application and their chemical properties. This study investigates the introduction of contaminants into coastal wetlands via the Bayou Lamoque Mississippi River control structure in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana. A protocol for environmental sampling using Continuous Low-level Aquatic Monitoring (C.L.A.M.) C-18 disks is described, along with effective solid phase extraction (SPE) and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS) methodology for the determination of atrazine, chlorothalonil, and fipronil in surface water. Average concentrations of atrazine and chlorothalonil inside the Bayou Lamoque freshwater diversion structure for the months …

Using Beaver Works To Estimate Colony Activity In Boreal Landscapes, Carol A. Johnston, Steve K. Windels

Natural Resource Management Faculty Publications

Beaver ponds and beaver-impounded vegetation are indicators of past or present beaver activity that can be detected from aerial photography. A method to quantitatively relate these beaver works with the density of active beaver colonies could benefit beaver management, particularly in areas lacking beaver population data. We compared historical maps (1961–2006) of beaver works at Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota, USA with concurrent aerial surveys of beaver colonies. We tested 2 landscape-scale models of beaver colony density previously developed for a period of beaver population expansion (1940–1986), but they failed to predict colony density after 1986, a period of declining beaver …

Bulletin No. 40: Salt Marsh Plants Of Long Island Sound, R. Scott Warren, Juliana Barrett, Margaret Van Patten

Bulletins

No abstract provided.

A Comparison Of Ecological Conditions And Relationships In An Altered Wetland And An Unaltered Wetland, Mark Kiyoshi Hurst

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study is to identify and quantify the hydrologic and ecologic differences between two adjacent sections of Colt Creek; one section unaltered and one section altered by clearing and drainage. These differences were measured by monitoring water levels, groundcover vegetation in each of the two areas, and monitoring numbers and species of birds utilizing the two areas. Surface water levels were measured in three locations: in the historic Colt Creek flow way, in the ditch draining the creek, and in an adjacent wetland strand. In addition, a shallow monitor well in the creek was used to measure …

A Look At The Integration Of Wetlands And Hazard Mitigation Planning In Coastal Louisiana, Kathleen Melissa Bowers

LSU Master's Theses

Due to the destruction of the damaging hurricanes of 2005, Katrina and Rita, more effort has gone into the rebuilding and prevention of future disasters along the Louisiana coast than ever before. This research focuses on the use of wetlands, in the ten coastal parishes of Louisiana, as a mitigation effort aiding in the protection of coastal communities. Using content analysis and decision support software, a wetland ranking was created that represents how wetlands are utilized and protected within each parish. Criteria gathered from the plans include how many times wetlands were mentioned, collaboration with the state and other agencies, …

Developing Tools To Identify Factors That Limit Production In Coastal Marshes, Vanessa Danielle Tobias

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Marsh loss is a problem in many areas around the world. In Louisiana’s coastal marshes, where Spartina patens is the most common plant, restoration and management seek to slow wetland loss rates that average approximately 77.4 km2/year. To combat the problem, scientists and managers require tools to determine local causes and evaluate the effectiveness of management techniques. Current methods for identifying factors that limit productivity in marshes are too time-consuming or expensive for wide-spread, regular use. Critical values of elemental concentrations in plant tissue are widely used to diagnose mineral deficiencies and toxicities in agricultural crops, however. I used the …

Survival, Habitat Use, And Movements Of Female Mallards Wintering In Southwestern Louisiana, Paul Thomas Link

LSU Master's Theses

Little information is available concerning survival, habitat use, and movements of mallards (Anas platyrhychos) wintering on the Gulf Coast Chenier Plain (GCCP). Quantitative data on these parameters would be useful in making effective management decisions by GCCP waterfowl managers. Accordingly, I radio-marked 135 female mallards during winters 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 in southwestern Louisiana. My estimated survival rate for both winters combined was 0.68 ± 0.06 and did not differ by female age. Hazard ratios indicated that radio-marked females were 21-24 times more likely to die during hunted time periods than during non-hunted time periods. Estimated hunting and non-hunting mortality rates …

Development Of A Tidal Wetland Inventory And Assessment For York River, Virginia Watershed, Center For Coastal Resources Management, Virginia Institute Of Marine Science

Reports

As part of the Chesapeake 2000 agreement, the Commonwealth of Virginia pledged to a wetland policy of no net-loss. Through conscientious resource protection and management, Virginia’s non-tidal and tidal wetland permit programs, administered by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and The Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) respectfully, are committed to reaching this goal. In order to assist these agencies in realizing no-net loss of wetlands, the availability of baseline data is essential in defining our existing resources and is the basis from which future status and trends can be evaluated along with the effectiveness of permitting and management …

Slides: The Multi-Species Conservation Program: What It Means For Water Users And The Environment In The Lower Basin, Joe Vanderhorst, Bob Johnson

Hard Times on the Colorado River: Drought, Growth and the Future of the Compact (Summer Conference, June 8-10)

Presenter: Joe Vanderhorst, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.

Respondent on US-Mexico Issues and Other Lower Basin Matters: Bob Johnson, US Bureau of Reclamation.

26 slides.

Private Lands Conservation In Puerto Rico, Elizabeth Mccormack, University Of Colorado Boulder. Natural Resources Law Center

Books, Reports, and Studies

41 p. ; 28 cm

Variability In Growth And Age Structure Among Populations Of Ribbed Mussels, Geukensia Demissa (Dillwyn) (Bivalvia: Mytilidae), In Jamacia Bay, New York (Gateway Nra), David R. Franz, John Tanacredi Ph.D.

Faculty Works: CERCOM

Growth rates, body weight, density and biomass of ribbed mussels, Geukensia demissa (Dillwyn), were determined at Spartina alterniflora marsh-flat sites in Jamaica Bay, New York (Lower Hudson Estuary). Cumulative growth and annual growth increments varied but rates were lower at sites within the central bay relative to peripheral sites. Local variability both in size at Ring-1 and size-specific annual growth rates probably account for the variability in cumulative length. No pattersn were noted in frequency distributions of shell size but congruence in age structure was observed among neighboring sites in some areas of the bay. Mussel densities were greater within …

A Comparison Of Consumer's Surplus And Monopoly Revenue Estimates Of Recreational Value For Two Utah Waterfowl Marshes, C. Holden Brink

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Demand curves were estimated for waterfowl hunting and nonconsumptive recreational use from use rate and variable expenditure data collected at the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge and the Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area during fiscal 1969. Consumer's surplus and monopoly revenue estimates were then derived from the demand functions. Adjusted estimates of consumer's surplus for waterfowl hunting amounted to $7,260 per year at Bear River and $11,400 per year at Farmington Bay. For nonconsumptive recreation annual consumer's surplus was estimated to be $18,700 at Bear River and $3,760 at Farmington Bay. Monopoly revenue estimates were between one-half and one-fourth the …