Thesis (M.S.)--University of North Carolina at Wilmington, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves: 36-40)

Coastal ecosystems provide important resources for social, economic and environmental capital to global and local communities. Socially, coastal ecosystems provide a place for people to recreate and get in touch with nature. Economically, tourism, fisheries, and businesses are dependent upon coastal resources. Environmentally, coasts provide habitat for diverse species of flora and fauna, and protection for watersheds and anthropogenic structures. This research investigates three studies in order to provide information on social, economic and environmental issues in Matagorda, Texas. The first study uses LIDAR (Light Image Detection-and-Ranging) scanning, a remote sensing methodology that uses laser pulses to collect X, Y, and Z coordinates, to evaluate coastal changes after Hurricane Ike. Results suggest that landscape loss occurs immediately after the hurricane, but recovers and fluctuates throughout the year. Also, different areas of the dunes show unique changes during different times of the year. The second study uses questionnaire surveys to collect demographic, social perspectives and opinions and economic information about coastal users on Matagorda Peninsula. The questionnaire investigates the most important characteristics to beach users, opinions and perceptions about beach safety, activities, maintenance and presence of seaweed, information about their trip, cost of their trip and demographics. The results provide broader knowledge about the beach users in Matagorda and indicate that while direct costs of using the beach are minimal, the indirect and intrinsic costs are much higher which result in a greater overall use value. The third study investigates the use of the sargassum, a natural marine subsidy, as a fertilizer for dune plants. Beach raking provides a cleaner, more aesthetically pleasing experience for beach users but alters the natural design of the ecosystem by subsequently moving sand, nutrients, subsidies for habitat and fauna from the fore-beach to the dunes. Results show that sargassum does have potential as a natural fertilizer as it did not negatively affect any of the species. The results could be used to alter management practices in order to capitalize on this natural resource while still providing a clean sandy beach for recreationalists. These three studies together provide ecological information about coastal functions and processes that can help in creating broad holistic science based management strategies.

published_or_final_version / Applied Geosciences / Master / Master of Science

published_or_final_version / Zoology / Master / Master of Philosophy

Mimusops caffra, Euclea netetensis, Olea woodiana and Peddiea africana are tree species associated with different successional stages in a coastal dune forest. Saplings of these tree species were established in four different light intensities. These were full sun, 40% shade, 70% shade and 90% shade. The hypothesis proposed that the species from different successional stages are preadapted for a particular light environment and are disadvantaged in other light environments. Growth, morphological, biochemical and physiological aspects of the four species in the four light environments were determined. Growth rates showed no consistent pattern with respect to light intensity. However, most species, irrespective of their successional status, had the best growth response in either 40% or 70% shade treatments. All the species showed typical sun and shade responses for morphological, anatomical and some biochemical characteristics. Photosynthetic responses were complex and showed no relationship between the successional status of the species and the light conditions in which they were grown. There appears to be very little relationship between the growth responses, the measured biochemical and morphological aspects, assimilation rates and the successional status of the species. Light intensity is therefore not the sole driving force of forest succession but one of the many factors that contribute to the overall process. / Thesis - (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Durban, 1992.

Urban sandy beaches are the primary focus of numerous pressures. Among these are the disruption of sand budgets because of an increasing demand for coastal infrastructure, pollution from landward sources, and recreation and the associated stressors such as trampling and off-road vehicles. More recently, climate change and the manifestations thereof, such as sea-level rise and increased storminess have added to the suite of threats to sandy beach ecosystems. Despite being important natural and economic resources these urban systems have not received adequate research attention and, consequently, the management of sandy beaches has been based on ecologically unsustainably principles. The aims of this study were to provide baseline biodiversity information of urban beaches along the Durban coastline, South Africa, as a step toward the application of improved ecological management procedures for metropolitan beach ecosystems. Macro- and meiofaunal communities of 15 representative beaches along the Durban coastline were quantitatively surveyed using standard sandy beach sampling protocols. This study showed that Durban’s beaches, despite being highly urbanised, harbour rich and abundant faunal communities. This is contrary to previous findings that reported a paucity of life on Durban beaches. A total of 23 macrofauna taxa were identified, with the dissipative Battery Beach having highest diversity with 13 macrofaunal species. La Lucia, a reflective beach, had the highest macrofaunal abundance and was the second most diverse beach, thus departing from global trends that report a poor macrofaunal community of reflective beaches. Twenty higher-level meiofauna taxa were recorded in this study and it was found that meiofauna abundance showed a significant and positive relationship with beach width. Because of the coarse taxonomic resolution, meiofauna diversity may likely be much greater than that recorded in this study. The conventional view that sandy beaches are resilient to exploitation was questioned when it was found that meiofauna assemblages were significantly and negatively impacted by stormwater outlets on two of the sampled beaches, possibly through freshwater intrusion or erosional effects. This raises questions regarding the functioning of beach ecosystems, and the services they provide, when faced with anthropogenic stressors that impact faunal communities. This snapshot survey of aspects of the ecology of Durban’s sandy beaches has provided much needed baseline data for this coastline. These data will be used in conjunction with other available data toward the development of a fine scale systematic conservation plan for Durban to enable the prioritisation of conservation and management efforts. The use of these data will also facilitate the development of guidelines for the integrated ecological management of urban sandy beach ecosystems. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2009.

This study focuses on the ecological restoration of a coastal dune ecosystem on the east coast of Vancouver Island that supports bird migration. The area is also a part of the traditional homelands of the Tsawout First Nation. Because environmental degradation has impaired the functioning of both ecological and cultural systems, the restoration of this ecosystem requires a distinctive approach. An “ethnoecological” approach to restoration is presented that seeks collaboration between ecological science and traditional ecological knowledge in order to restore the ecological integrity and human connection to this culturally significant landscape. Guided by the values of the Tsawout community, and the practice of good ecological restoration, I make recommendations for short and long term restoration actions. A set of ethnoecological restoration guidelines are presented to help guide future projects with the dual mandate of ecology and culture. Finally, opportunities for making connections between this project and other regional initiatives are explored in an attempt to restore links in the migratory habitat chain.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Geology and Geophysics, 1987. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 275-290).

Thesis (Ph.D.). / Written for the Dept. of Geography. Title from title page of PDF (viewed 2007/08/29). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (PhD. (Botany)) - Rhodes University, 2008