The development of a late Holocene salt marsh was studied on the inactive part of the Fraser Delta at Boundary Bay, southwestern British Columbia. Present-day vegetation zones near 64th Street, South Delta, in the western part of the Bay, were distinguished in the salt marsh and were related to zones found in cores obtained in a transect across the marsh. A sequence of development, related to elevation, was determined. Salicornia and Triglochin are pioneer colonizers of the tidal flats and are sometimes associated with areas elevated by algal mats. As the area was elevated, sediments were trapped by vegetation and stabilized by rhizomes, and other halophytes grew, including Cuscuta, Sperqularia, Atriplex, Distichlis, Grindelia, and Plantago. A zone characterized by abundant Atriplex represents positions of former strandlines. As further emergence occurred, mesophytes became dominant and, in the landward, most emergent zone, a diverse flora of Maius, Sjdalcea, Aster, AchiIlea, Solidaqo, Elymus, Angelica, Juncus, and grasses developed. A radiocarbon date on Salicornia-rich organic silts at a depth of 35 to 40 cm in core 5 suggests that salt marsh development commenced 320 ± 70 years B.P. (GSC-3186). A former salt marsh peat is now partially buried and being actively eroded where exposed near 112th Street, South Delta, in eastern Boundary Bay. A paleoenvironmental reconstruction suggests the peat started developing in freshwater, with ferns, sedges, Typha, and Nuphar. Later, it was successively inundated by marine water and a salt marsh developed, as seen by an increase in the abundance of chenopod pollen. Subsequent emergence of the salt marsh was accompanied by the development of an increasingly diverse vegetation. / Science, Faculty of / Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Department of / Graduate

This study is a test of a methodology to predict changes in elevation and shoreline position of coastal wetlands in Trinity Bay, Texas, in response to projected sea level rise. The study combines numerical modeling and a geographic information system. A smoothing technique is used on a United States Geographical Survey (USGS) digital elevation model to obtain elevation profiles that more accurately represent the gently sloping wetlands surface. The numerical model estimates the expected elevation change by raster cell based on input parameters of predicted sea level rise, mineral and organic sedimentation rates, and sediment autocompaction rates. A GIS is used to display predicted elevation changes and changes in shoreline position as a result of four projected sea level rise scenarios over the next 100 years. Results demonstrate that this numerical model and methodology are promising as a technique of modeling predicted elevation change and shoreline migration in wetlands. The approach has potential utility in coastal management applications.

Magister Administrationis - MAdmin

Marine protected areas (MPAs) have proliferated in the past decades to protect biodiversity and sustain fisheries. However, most of the MPA networks have been designed without taking into account a critical factor: the larval dispersal patterns of populations within and outside the reserves. The scale and predictability of larval dispersal, however, remain unknown due to the difficulty of measuring dispersal when larvae are minute (~ cm) compared to the potential scale of dispersal (~ km). Nevertheless, genetic approaches can now be used to make estimates of larval dispersal. The following thesis describes self-recruitment and connectivity patterns of a coral reef fish species (Centropyge bicolor) in Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea. To do this, microsatellite markers were developed to evaluate fine-scale genetics and recruit assignment via genetic parentage analysis. In this method, offspring are assigned to potential parents, so that larval dispersal distances can then be inferred for each individual larvae. From a total of 255 adults and 426 juveniles collected only 2 parentoffspring pairs were assigned, representing less than 1% self-recruitment. Previous data from the same study system showed that both Chaetodon vagagundus and Amphiprion percula have consistent high self-recuitment rates (~ 60%), despite having contrasting life history traits. Since C. bicolor and C. vagabundus have similar characteristics (e.g. reproductive mode, pelagic larval duration), comparable results were expected. On the contrary, the results of this study showed that dispersal patterns cannot be generalized across species. Hence the importance of studying different species and seascapes to better understand the patterns of larval dispersal. This, in turn, will be essential to improve the design and implementation of MPAs as conservation and management tools.

No description available.

Flooding can impact a community's social, cultural, environmental, and economic resources; therefore, generating a sound, science-based, long-term decision to improve resiliency is critical for future prosperity and growth. Developing watershed management plans is essential in assisting local communities in reducing flood insurance costs through mitigation and resiliency efforts. This effort, specifically for this report, will focus on the Pensacola Watershed Basin and the development procedures to assess the risks of flooding and storm surges. Utilizing readily available data on topography, ground surface water elevations, tidal data for coastal communities, open space, and rainfall, a framework was developed to facilitate flood risk assessments under various conditions. Such knowledge allows communities to properly prepare and prevent major damages during times of high flooding, such as tropical storms and hurricanes. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (MURP)--Florida Atlantic University, 2021. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

The Bat Ray, Myliobatis californica Gill, occurs from Oregon to the Gulf of California and is common in California bays during the spring and summer. MacGinitie (1935) observed that during its feeding activities, the Bat Ray can dig channels up to 1 meter wide, 50 cm deep and 4.5 meters long in benthic substrates. In intertidal sand flats in Tomales Bay, California, circular pits up to 1 meter in diameter and 20 cm in depth are made by Bat Rays in late summer. In some areas over 50% of the sand flat surface is covered with Bat Ray pits. This recurrent seasonal disturbance of the substrate due to Bat Ray predation on benthic communities may be important in affecting their structure and faunistic composition. In preliminary studies of the effects of predation on benthic communities in Tomales Bay, we were interested in obtaining information about changes in diets of Bat Rays in relation to size.

Interspecific interactions have been shown to play critical roles in determining the realized niches of species in marine rocky intertidal (ie Connell 1961, Paine 1966,, Dayton 1971) and terrestrial (i.e~ Harper 1969, Pianka 1973, Cody 1974) communities. In contrast, such interactions have not been clearly demonstrated as determinants of the distribution and abundance of marine intertidal soft-substrate organisms (however, see Levinton 1977). There are great physical differences between the rocky and mud-sandflat intertidal habitats, Some of these are wave exposure, sediment size (boulders to silts), penetrability and organic content of the substrate, frequency of log damage, and exposure to sunlight. Considering these physical differences and the fact that soft-substrate environments often support diverse communities, it is interesting to assess the role of biological interactions in' structuring these intertidal communities. Previous work on this system primarily consists of descriptions of animal-sediment · relationships and of food partitioning (i.e~ Sanders et al.. 1962, Mangum 1964, Reid and Reid 1968, Johnson 1971, Rhoads and Young 1971, Young and Rhoads 1971, Fenchel et al, 1975, Warren 1977). The role of interspecific interactions in establishing and maintaining infaunal distribution patterns on a sandflat in northern California is reported here.

<p>The paper examines the 1985 Farm Bill-version of the Conservation ReselVe Program (CRP) as a potential water-quality improvement tool in the Chesapeake Bay region of Virginia. Participation levels. bidding behavior. land use options and other conditions in Richmond county. a predominantly agricultural county in Virginia's Northern Neck region. were analyzed.</p> / Master of Science

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Arts in partial fulfilment of the requirements for Master's degree in Recreation and Tourism, in the Department of Recreation and Tourism at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2011. / The South African tourism industry has largely been designated as the playing grounds for the previously advantaged communities [PACs] where they acquire many benefits, and not in favour of the previously disadvantaged communities [PDCs]. Various tourism-related government policies and strategies have been put in place so as to improve the status and access of the previously disadvantaged communities into the tourism industry. On the one hand, the tourism policies and strategies are viewed as reverse discrimination by some previously advantaged individuals [PAIs], while on the other hand, they are viewed as an outstanding opportunity and justice for many previously disadvantaged individuals [PDIs]. This is more specifically when the policy of skills development, among others, is designed to improve the living status and employment opportunities of the previously disadvantaged communities [PDCs]. This research study has the intention of investigation the status of tourism skills development practices for the previously disadvantaged communities around Richards Bay á Townships. The study also sought to establish whether there are any emerging opportunities of improving the lot of the black people within the areas where they stay. In other words, this study views the tourism policies and strategies as critical for establishing a demographic representation in the tourism industry. Furthermore, the study believes that in order for these policies and strategies to succeed they must adopt principles of skills development practice that are acceptable and well-regarded among the previously disadvantaged communities in the industry. The main objectives of this study seek to reveal the status of tourism skills development practices for the previously disadvantaged communities, in the study area. This goal may be achieved through objective such as: how stakeholders understand the importance of tourism skills development practices; respondents' access to the tourism skills development opportunities; how the Richards Bay tourism authorities facilitate tourism skills development; respondents' perceptions of the implementation of the tourism skills development policies and practices; and establishing whether there are any tourism skills development practice-benefits for the PDCs in the study area. The methodology of this study deals with the selection of the sample, instrument for data collection in 3 Richard Bay Townships and the analysis and interpretation of data. The form of research approach that was used in this research was the survey method. The face-to-face interviews were used where questionnaires were used to collect data from a sample of stakeholders in Townships. The sample size selected was 132 respondents which are not necessarily representatives of the entire population of Richards Bay and Townships. The sample size was categorised into the following stakeholders: tourism officials [15], service providers [20], and local community [97]. The sampling technique selected was the stratified random sampling techniques. In conclusion the study established that, on the whole, the respondents fully understood the meaning and importance of tourism skills development practices. The respondents also felt that the skills development opportunities were inaccessibility in the study area. The findings also indicated that the respondents felt that the provision of tourism skills development practices and policies in the area were not adequate. The respondents were seen to perceive the implementation of the tourism skills development policies and practices as not up to the required standard. Finally, the respondents felt that the tourism skills development practice-benefits were not adequate in the study area. The research study concludes by offering recommendations, which proposed that all the authorities ranging from tourism, labour, education and municipality must investment significantly in skills training and development practices. Finally, the community must be encouraged to learn more about the benefits of tourism.