Thesis (Ph. D.)--Oregon State University, 2007. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 247-259). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2006. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on September 13, 2007) Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

The purpose of this study is to validate the ability of the Simplified Surface Energy Balance (SSEB) approach and the Simple Method to provide AET estimates for wetland recovery efforts. The study utilizes the MODIS sensor aboard NASA's Terra satellite and SFWMD solar radiation data to derive AET values for South Florida. The SSEB/Simple-Method approach provided mixed results with good agreement with control values during dry season (rave (59) = 0.700, pave < 0.0005) and poor agreement during wet season (rave(46) = 0.137, pave = 0.304). Further refinement is needed to make this method viable for yearly estimates due to the poor performance during wet season months. This approach can prove useful for short term wetland recovery assessment projects that occur during the dry season and/or long term projects that compare AET rates from a site from dry season to dry season.

Wetlands are an essential part of the water management system in South Florida, providing many ecosystem services. However, the hydrologic connections of many wetlands, including Loxahatchee Slough in Florida, are poorly understood. Loxahatchee Slough is Palm Beach County’s most diverse natural area and a site of ongoing restoration. The primary objective of this research was to characterize the spatial and temporal variability of surface-groundwater exchange at Loxahatchee Slough. The Magnitude of groundwater seepage to the canal varied spatially. Little seasonal variability in exchange was identified in this study. Canal stage had a strong relationship with groundwater levels and slough stage indicating its important influence. This study provides more insight into the heterogeneous nature of wetland-canal exchange and the need for site-specific evaluation at wetlands for successful management. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2021. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

The Prairie Pothole Region, specifically eastern North Dakota, has experienced intense disturbance from agricultural demands and urban sprawl. This study assessed wetlands across the rural, peri-urban, and urban gradient to determine the impacts of urbanization on water quality and vegetation composition. Thirty wetlands were randomly selected and compared based on land use type and the impervious to pervious surface ratio within one mile of each wetland. Water quality samples were taken in 2015 and 2016, and a vegetation assessment was completed at all wetlands. Results indicate disturbance from urbanization impacts wetland water quality and vegetation composition. Rural wetland water quality and vegetation significantly differ from both peri-urban and urban wetlands, whereas peri-urban and urban wetland water quality and vegetation do not differ. Information from this study is useful to wetland professionals across the globe as urban development and sprawl continue to impact wetlands.

Thesis advisor: Heather Craig Olins / Microbes play a critical role in the Earth’s ecosystems, and freshwater microbial communities are underappreciated players in biogeochemical cycles. Vernal pools are ecologically important habitats that are particularly sensitive to global warming. Microbial communities in vernal pools and other freshwater wetlands are both critical to supporting life on Earth as well as incredibly vulnerable to climate change. This thesis describes for the first time microbial community composition in freshwater wetlands in Newton, Massachusetts. Beta diversity analysis reveals that sites host distinct microbial communities, something not always seen at these spatial scales. Sediment samples from the Bare Pond vernal pool were dominated by Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, and Chloroflexi. Analysis of surface vs. subsurface sediment samples reveal taxonomic patterns that cross multiple sites. These findings are a first step towards better understanding ecologically important microbial activity in these local sites, and freshwater wetlands more broadly. / Thesis (BS) — Boston College, 2020. / Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Departmental Honors. / Discipline: Biology.

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Science, School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of requirements for the degree of Master of Science. 14 April 2016. / South Africa has seen a significant loss and degradation of its urban wetlands, all in the name of development. The natural and strategic location of Wetlands, subject these natural systems to a host of extraction processes, leading to the ultimate destruction and demise of these Wetlands. The biggest threats to wetlands are people and their innate exploitative and destructive nature. Anthropogenic activities that lead to degradation and total loss of wetlands in South Africa are: drainage, mining activities, clearing of large tracts of land for infrastructural and agricultural practices and over- harvesting of wetland resources. The drastic alteration of a wetland system has severe and far reaching environmental, economic and social consequences. The value of a single wetland system is so unique and is yet, not stressed enough in legislation governing the protection and conservation of natural ecosystems. A typical example of an undervalued wetland is the case of the Kwa-Thema Ext 3 Wetland, which has been subjected to partial degradation as a result anthropogenic activities. The study concluded that activities such as over-grazing, extraction of natural vegetation, clearing large tracts of land for housing development and extensive farming practices (to name a few) have all contributed to the degradation and devaluing of the Kwa-Thema Ext 3 wetland. Interesting aspects of this study revealed that, whilst some individuals were aware of their prolonged and unsustainable use of the wetland’s resources, little room for choice was left but to utilize the wetland, on account of poverty- stricken living conditions. It seems that perhaps, through understanding why people are using the wetland in such extreme ways, methods of wetland rehabilitation and improvement in the socio-economic dynamic of the community can be attained in the near future. As a result of this study, a number of recommendations are made: (i) Integrate wetland value educational programmes into the lives of all South Africans; (ii) Consolidate and realign policy and legislation that specifically focus on wetland protection and conservation; (iii) Improve communication between governmental and respective local authorities; and (iv) Strengthen the national wetland inventory. / GR 2016

This study investigated the pollutant removal performance of a constructed wetland treating stormwater runoff from a residential townhome complex in Manassas, Virginia. The facility was constructed by retrofitting a dry detention basin to retain a permanent shallow pool and included additional temporary storage to detain roughly the first half inch of rainfall for approximately 24 hours. Vegetation was allowed to establish itself through volunteer colonization, rather than active planting of selected wetland species. Flow measurements showed substantially greater volume passing through the outlet than entering through the single gaged inlet. The extra volume (about 41% of the total) was attributed to ungaged overland flow which drained a wooded/grassy area adjacent to the site. Mass balance calculations employing the rational method with a runoff coefficient of 0.2 to estimate the flow from this area showed good agreement between long-term total estimated inflow and measured outflow. However, this method was not effective in accounting for the discrepancies between inlet and outlet volumes of individual storms. Thirty-three runoff events were monitored between April, 1996 and May, 1997. Because of greater flow volumes passing through the outlet, constituent mass calculations which ignored the overland contribution generally exhibited higher loads exiting than entering the facility. With the results from a limited number of grab samples representing concentrations in overland input, estimated efficiencies improved substantially, showing overall net removal for most constituents. Less than one year after being retrofitted, the basin showed signs of beginning to develop a diverse wetland flora. / Master of Science

Wetland acreage in Southwest Virginia has increased because of formation of wetlands on relic surface mine benches. Prior to the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (PL 95-87) once mining operations were completed the sites were abandoned. These areas presented novel landscapes in the rugged Allegheny Plateau physiographic region. Specifically, flat, compacted areas were created. In microdepression of these sites wetlands have formed. This study investigates the macroinvertebrate community associated wetlands of relic surface mining operations. Surveys were conducted to identify what macroinvertebrates utilize these wetlands, to determine how this community was influenced by the physio-chemical characteristics of surface mine wetlands, and to develop design specifications for creating wetlands for current restoration efforts. Nine wetlands were sampled four times between July 1993 and May 1994. Seventy genera of macroinvertebrates were identified. The wetlands represented a range of physical and chemical parameters. The taxa richness appears to be related to these differences. Canonical Correspondence Analysis suggests that for the nine wetlands, the macro invertebrate taxa distribution is best explained by physical features of depth and duration of flooding, chemical parameters of iron, manganese, and sulfate concentration, and a biotic measure of plant litter biomass. The findings of this study can be applied to ecological restoration. Wetland creation can be incorporated into current surface mine reclamation projects. To maximize the macro invertebrate community of reclamation wetlands, sites must be positioned to avoid water quality problems, excavated to have a deeper portion which will remain inundated during all or most of the year, and have a gradually sloping substrate from the deepest area to the land surface. The final criteria being indirectly related to the macroinvertebrate community by influencing the macrophyte production, richness, and litter. / Master of Science

No / Approaches to projects and development have undergone considerable change in the last decade with significant policy shifts on governance, gender, poverty eradication, and environmental issues. Most recently this has led to the adoption and promotion of the sustainable livelihood (SL) approach. The adoption of the SL approach presents challenges to development interventions including: the future of projects and programmes, and sector wide approaches (SWAPs) and direct budgetary support.This paper `A livelihoods-grounded audit of the Sustainable Management of the Usangu Wetland Catchment (SMUWC) project in Tanzania¿ is the eighth in the series of project working papers. / Department for International Development