Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Wollongong, 2009. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references: leaf 146-171.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2006. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes bibliographical references (p. 211-226).

Master of Science / Department of Biological & Agricultural Engineering / Stacy L. Hutchinson / Urban stormwater is one of the leading causes of water quality impairment and stream channel degradation in the United States. In an effort to address the negative effects of stormwater runoff on receiving aquatic systems, Best Management Practices for stormwater, including ecologically-designed stormwater systems, are becoming more common across the urban landscape. Throughout eastern Kansas and the rest of the Midwestern United States, prairie grasses are beginning to receive attention for their potential to enhance infiltration within these systems. However, the function of vegetated stormwater systems and the influence of factors such as vegetation age on infiltration and system performance are not well understood because monitoring data for these systems is limited. When performance data is collected, it often pertains only to the hydraulic and water quality aspects of the system but neglects any assessment of the integrity of the ecosystem functions on which the system's performance is dependent. The objective of this study was to address the need for an assessment tool that considers the ecological integrity, or health, of ecologically-designed stormwater systems, as well as to fill the gap in the literature regarding the function of ecologically-designed stormwater systems in the tallgrass prairie region. Since many of the eco-based stormwater practices in the region rely upon the establishment of native prairie grasses to enhance infiltration on the site, the specific focus of this study was to gain a better understanding of infiltration processes in ecologically-designed systems and the extent of our ability to regain these processes through prairie restoration in previously disturbed urban sites. To address these objectives, two stormwater systems at different stages of vegetative maturity were examined. In general, ecosystem health scores were higher for the more mature system and could be used to guide future management decisions at both sites. Results from the hydraulic analysis indicate the function of the system may improve over the course of the growing season, but statistical relationships between system age and infiltration rate could not be established.

No description available.

Thesis (MSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Understanding the responses of individual plant communities to variations in near-surface water levels and to water quality is a step towards determining the critical or important factors applicable to a Rapid Wetland Assessment System. This thesis describes and discusses factors associated with wetland plant communities, with an attempt to predict changes in a wetland system. This study was initiated with a primary aim of establishing the relationship between plant communities and the variation in near-surface water levels in areas occupied by various plant communities in the Middelvlei wetland system at Stellenbosch. A second aim was to assess whether water quality had an influence on the plant communities. Seven plant communities are identified and described from this particular wetland system using standard Braun-Blanquet techniques (Typha capensis Reedswamp; Cyperus textilis Sedgeland; Pennisetum macrourum Grassland; Juncus effusus Sedgeland; Cyperus longus Sedgeland; Cliffortia strobilifera Shrubland and Populus canescens Forest). The Typha capensis Reedswamp community is found in the wettest parts of the wetlands, with a fluctuation in water table from 0.10 m above surface during the wet season to 0.43 m below surface during the dry season. The Populus canescens Forest is actively invading the wetland replacing the wetland species by modifying the wetland hydrological condition. Water samples from 35 wells, collected on a monthly basis over 11 months, are used to assess sodium, magnesium, potassium, calcium, nitrate and phosphate, pH, redoxs potencial and dissolved oxygen levels in each community, over four seasons. Both multivariate analysis (ANOVA) and regression tree analysis (CART) are applied to evaluate differences between communities or groups of plant communities on a seasonal basis. Direct gradient analysis (CCA) is used to determine the relationship between plant communities and environmental variable gradients. A wide variation in water quality condition between plant communities is present. The Typha capensis Reedswamp community is associated with low nutrient levels (phosphates and nitrates) in all seasons. The Cyperus textilis Sedgeland is associated with low levels of nitrates and high phosphate levels. The Juncus effusus Sedgeland displays the highest phosphate concentration, occurring in summer, while low nitrate levels occur in this community during all the seasons. Dissolved oxygen in the near-surface water in this wetland is at very low concentrations, and has no significant difference between communities. It plays no major role in determining the occurrence and distribution of the plant communities. Most of the water chemical constituents measured in this study are the result of multiple complex relationships, with constituent variations occurring differently between communities. A remarkable seasonal distinction in the chemical constituents in different communities is present. Despite the complex nature of the relationships between plant communities and environmental factors, the low species diversity levels through the tendency for single species dominance and the strong association of these communities with particular environmental variables, the combination of these factors all add value to the use of wetland vegetation as a good tool to indicate wetland condition. An effort to understand wetland plant communities in relation to determining environmental factors would promote the use of plant communities as user-friendly tools for wetland monitoring and assessment. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Om die reaksies van plantgemeenskappe teenoor variasies in naby-oppervlakte watervlakke te verstaan, is die eerste krities-belangrike faktor die ontwikkeling van ‘n sisteem om vleilande vinnig te assesseer. Hierdie studie se basiese mikpunt is om verwantskappe te soek tussen plantgemeenskappe in die Middelvlei Vleilandsisteem en wisseling in naby-oppervlak watervlakke. ‘n Sekondêre doel is om te bepaal of daar enige korrelasie is tussen waterkwaliteit en die plantgemeenskappe teenwoordig in die vleiland. Sewe plantgemeenskappe is in hierdie vleilandsisteem geïdentifiseer en beskryf deur gebruik te maak van standaard Braun-Blanquet tegnieke, naamlik die Typha capensis Rietmoeras; Cyperus textilis Biesieveld; Pennisetum macrourum Grasveld; Juncus effusus Biesieveld; Cyperus longus Biesieveld; Cliffortia strobilifera Struikveld en ‘n Populus canescens Woud. Die Typha capensis Rietmoeras kom in die natste dele van die vleilande voor, met vrywater wisselling vanaf 0.10 m bo grondoppervlakte, tydens die nat-seisoen, tot 0.43 m onder grondoppervlakte tydens die droë seisoen. Die Populus canescens Woud het die grootste wisseling in watervlak vanaf die grondoppervlakte tot ten minste ‘n diepte van 1.0 m gehad. Dit blyk dat die Populus canescens Woud besig is om die vleigemeenskappe aktief binne te dring deur die vleiland uit te droog. Water is maandeliks, oor 11 maande, uit 35 geperforeerde plastiek pype, sogenaamde ‘putte’ onttrek, om natrium, magnesium, kalium, kalsium, nitrate en fosfate, pH, redokspotensiaal en opgeloste suurstof vlakke se seisoenale wisseling te bepaal. Beide veelvuldige analise (ANOVA) en regressie-analises (CART) is bereken om enige betekenisvolle verskille tussen plantgemeenskappe te bepaal. Direkte Gradiëntanalise (CCA) is gebruik om die verwantskap tussen plantgemeenskappe en gradiënte van omgewingsveranderlikes te bepaal. Groot variasies in waterkwaliteit tussen plantgemeenskappe is waargeneem. Die Typha capensis Rietmoeras-gemeenskap is geassosieer met lae voedingstofvlakke (veral van fosfate en nitrate) in alle seisoene. Die Cyperus textilis Biesieveld-gemeenskap is geassosieer met lae nitraat- en hoë fosfaatvlakke. Die Juncus effusus Biesieveldgemeenskap vertoon die hoogste fosfaatvlakke, tydens die die somermaande, terwyl die nitraatvlakke deur al die seisoene ook laag bly. Opgeloste suurstof in die naby-oppervlakte water in die vleilandsisteem het deurgaans ‘n lae konsentrasie vertoon met geen betekenisvolle verskille tussen gemeenskappe nie. Dit speel dus geen belangrike rol in die voorkoms of verspreiding van die plantgemeenskappe nie Die meeste van hierdie faktore, gemeet om die waterkwaliteit te bepaal, het veelvoudige, komplekse verhoudingsverskille, gebaseer veral op konsentrasieverskille, tussen die gemeenskappe. Ten spyte van die komplekse verwantskap tussen die plantgemeenskappe en omgewingsfaktore, is die spesierykheid laag en kom die neiging tot eensoortigedominansie algemeen in die vleiland-plantgemeenskappe voor. Die sterk assosiasie tussen die plantgemeenskappe en bepaalde omgewingsveranderlikes voeg aansienlike waarde daaraan toe om vleilandplantegroei te gebruik as indikator van vleilandtoestand. ‘n Poging om die verwantskappe tussen vleiland-plantgemeenskappe en omgewingsveranderlikes algemeen te bepaal, sal die gebruikersvriendelike nut van vleiland-plantgemeenskappe vir vleilandmonitering en assessering duidelik uitwys.

Thesis (MSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The majority of South Africans still depend on the use of traditional remedies, as these are sometimes the only types of health care systems available, especially within rural communities. South Africa comprises approximately 400 000 traditional healers and an estimated 60 to 80% of individuals consulting such traditional healers. As a result, the over-harvesting of many traditional medicinal plants has become a threat to the country’s species diversity and has resulted in the scarcity of certain medicinal plant species. The non-sustainable use of traditional medicinal plants stems from their intense harvesting from the wild to supply the high demands from urban and rural markets. As a result of the escalating population growth rate; high rural unemployment; and fundamental value attached to traditional medicinal plants (socio-economic factors), the national and regional trade of traditional medicines is currently higher than it has ever been. Another reason for the increased threat to traditional medicinal plants is the degradation and weakening of customary laws that have previously regulated such resources. This study focuses on the use of traditional medicinal plants by the Setswana-speaking community for self-medication and as a form of primary health care. Research was conducted in Kimberley, Northern Cape of South Africa and focuses on the issue of the sustainability of medicinal plant use in the area, specifically on use and users as well as the acquisition of material sold by a single trader and harvesting techniques. This is to determine whether harvesting of medicinal plants is a potential threat to plant communities in the area. To address the shortcomings of medicinal anthropology the study also investigates the impacts of relocation and resettlement of various communities in the area, on plant use, methods of collection, the sustainability of the natural resource, as well as the transmission of Setswana indigenous knowledge inter-generationally. most abundant under high disturbances. Certain species reacted positively to disturbance and were most abundant in disturbed habitats. These included Elephantorrhiza elephantina and a Helichrysum sp. To minimise destructive harvesting in the Kimberley area and to ensure the sustainable harvesting of plant material, it is important that local harvesters are educated on proper harvesting techniques and that local gatherers are educated on sustainability issues as well as other ecologically fundamental issues. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die meeste Suid-Afrikaners is steeds afhanklik van tradisionele geneesmiddels aangesien dit soms, veral in landelike gemeenskappe, die enigste beskikbare gesondheidsorg is. Suid-Afrika het sowat 400 000 tradisionele geneeshere wat deur ’n geraamde 60% tot 80% van individue geraadpleeg word. As gevolg hiervan hou die oorontginning van talle tradisionele medisinale-planthulpbronne ’n bedreiging vir die land se spesiediversiteit in en het dit reeds tot ’n skaarste aan sekere medisinale plante gelei. Tradisionele medisinale plante word tans nievolhoubaar aangewend aangesien dit op groot skaal in die veld geoes word om in die groot vraag van stedelike en landelike markte te voorsien. As gevolg van die stygende bevolkingsgroeikoers, hoë landelike werkloosheidsyfer en die grondliggende waarde wat aan tradisionele medisinale plante geheg word (sosio-ekonomiese faktore), is die nasionale en streekhandel in tradisionele geneesmiddels tans groter as ooit tevore. Nog ’n rede vir die toenemende bedreiging van tradisionele medisinale plante is die verslapping en versagting van gewoonteregwetgewing wat voorheen sodanige hulpbronne gereguleer het. Hierdie studie fokus op die gebruik van tradisionele medisinale plante deur die Setswanagemeenskap vir selfbehandeling en as ’n vorm van primêre gesondheidsorg. Die navorsing vir die studie is in Kimberley in die Noord-Kaapprovinsie van Suid-Afrika gedoen en fokus op die kwessie van volhoubare medisinale-plantgebruik in die gebied, met bepaalde klem op gebruik en gebruikers, die verkryging van middels wat deur ’n enkele handelaar verkoop word, en oestegnieke. Die doel van die navorsing was om te bepaal of die oes van medisinale plante ’n moontlike bedreiging vir plantgemeenskappe in die gebied inhou. Om die tekortkominge van medisinale antropologie aan te pak, ondersoek die studie ook die uitwerking van die verskuiwing en hervestiging van verskeie gemeenskappe in die gebied op plantgebruik, oesmetodes, die volhoubaarheid van die natuurlike hulpbronne, asook die oordrag van inheemse Setswana-kennis oor geslagte heen. Selfbehandeling en die gebruik van tradisionele medisinale plante speel steeds ’n groot rol in Kimberley, aangesien die meeste van die individue wat aan die navorsing deelgeneem het steeds tradisionele geneesmiddels as deel van hulle kultuur en tradisie gebruik. Daar word in ’n uiteenlopende verskeidenheid plantmateriaal handel gedryf. Hoewel sommige van die middels plaaslik ingesamel word, word die meeste van ander dele van die land, en in party gevalle van buurlande soos Lesotho en Swaziland, ingevoer. Hoewel die meeste van die materiaal dus nie plaaslik ingesamel word en dus nie bepaald op hierdie studie betrekking het nie, is dit steeds aanduidend van oes- en volhoubaarheidskwessies in ander dele van die land. Die kruiekenner dryf in sewentig tradisionele medisinale-plantsoorte handel, waarvan party beskermd en erg bedreig is, waaronder Prunus africana en Warburgia salutaris wat slegs in beskermde gebiede in die land voorkom. Prunus africana is ’n gelyste spesie in CITES, aanhangsel 2. Ander bedreigde spesies sluit Ocotea bullata, Bersama lucens, Curtisia dentata en ’n Eugenia-spesie in. Die meeste van die plante wat (in Kimberley) geoes word, is in die vorm van ondergrondse bergingsorgane (uitlopers en bolle). Hoewel hierdie plante van stingelskade en die skade aan ondergrondse bergingsorgane kan herstel, vat hulle swak pos indien hulle oorgebruik en oorontgin word, en kan hulle dus mettertyd al hoe minder voorkom. In hierdie studie word die mettertydse afname in plantbevolkings deur die toename in reisafstande na insamelingspunte aangetoon. Hierdie tendens is egter nie in die handelsprys en -materiaalhoeveelhede oor die afgelope eeu weerspieël nie. Die meeste van die studiedeelnemers het bevestig dat die prys en hoeveelheid van die handelsmateriaal deurentyd betreklik stabiel gebly het. Van die teikenspesies wat vir kwesbaarheid of sensitiwiteit vir ontwrigting ondersoek is, het Withania somnifera, Boophane disticha, Dicoma anomala en Bulbine natalensis die laagste oorlewingspotensiaal en die hoogste ontwrigtingsensitiwiteit getoon. Die meeste van hierdie spesies het in baie klein hoeveelhede op die gekose terreine voorgekom. In die geval van Withania somnifera kon die negatiewe resultate egter met die laereënvalseisoen gedurende daardie betrokke jaar in verband gebring word. Hierdie spesie word oor die algemeen as ’n onkruid in ontwrigte gebiede geklassifiseer en kom meestal onder erg ontwrigte toestande voor. Sekere spesies, soos Elephantorrhiza elephantina en ’n Helichrysum-spesie, het positief op ontwrigting gereageer en het volop in ontwrigte habitatte voorgekom. Om vernietigende oestery in die Kimberley-omgewing te minimaliseer en die volhoubare ontginning van planthulpbronne te verseker, is dit belangrik dat plaaslike plukkers in gepaste oestegnieke, en plaaslike insamelaars oor volhoubaarheidskwessies en ander ekologies belangrike sake opgelei word.

In order to set guidelines that promote responsible wildlife viewing, I quantified the effects of boat-based disturbance to seabirds off Vancouver Island. Field trials recorded the approach distance at which roosting and nesting birds responded to either a motor boat or a kayak. Probability of agitation response was used to evaluate disturbance. At a distance of 40 m nesting Double-crested Cormorants, Pelagic Cormorants, Glaucous-winged Gulls, Pigeon Guillemots and Black Oystercatchers had less than an 8% chance of being agitated with either a kayak or motorboat approach. Roosting birds had longer response distances. Harlequin Ducks were particularly sensitive with a 25% probability of agitation at distances less than 50 m. Agitation distances were reduced by habituation to boat traffic. A set-back guideline of 50 m would protect most nest and roost sites in the study area while allowing viewers to appreciate seabirds. Some sensitive sites would require 70 m set-backs.

Submitted by ANA AMABILE BORDA null (aa_borda@hotmail.com) on 2017-01-23T22:38:46Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Ana Amabile Repositório_UNESP.pdf: 4998721 bytes, checksum: 753461386530662c653885bad493e3d2 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by LUIZA DE MENEZES ROMANETTO (luizamenezes@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2017-01-26T13:49:59Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 borda_aa_me_bauru.pdf: 4998721 bytes, checksum: 753461386530662c653885bad493e3d2 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-01-26T13:49:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 borda_aa_me_bauru.pdf: 4998721 bytes, checksum: 753461386530662c653885bad493e3d2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-12-19 / Nos últimos anos muitos estudos têm sido realizados para investigar o problema da redução da qualidade da água para o abastecimento, lazer, irrigação, entre outros, levando à identificação das fontes poluidoras, bem como à elaboração de propostas para o seu controle. Outra prática bastante utilizada é o estabelecimento de indicadores da qualidade das águas (físicos, químicos e biológicos). A preservação da qualidade da água é uma necessidade universal, que exige atenção por parte das autoridades sanitárias e consumidores em geral, principalmente nos cursos d´água destinados ao consumo humano, visto que sua contaminação por excretos de origem humana e animal pode torná-las um veículo de transmissão de agentes de doenças. Este trabalho avalia a qualidade do curso d’água do Rio Turvo/SP utilizando parâmetros físicos, químicos, biológicos e ecológicos e aspectos referentes da legislação vigente. Foram realizadas análises físicas, químicas, microbiológicas, ecológicas e de gestão ambiental e sanitária em seis pontos específicos do curso d’água do Rio Turvo, localizado na Bacia Hidrográfica do Médio Paranapanema. Aplicou-se um protocolo de avaliação rápida com o intuito de se conhecer o grau de conservação e qualidade ecológica dos pontos amostrados. Os resultados de ensaios físicos e químicos demonstram que a maioria dos valores obtidos estão dentro dos padrões exigidos pelo Ministério da Saúde e Conama, no entanto, os parâmetros ferro, fosfato e DBO demonstraram valores acima do permitido e são causados principalmente pelo lançamento de esgotos domésticos e excrementos animais. Os parâmetros microbiológicos demonstram a presença de coliformes totais em todos os pontos analisados, caracterizando o lançamento de esgotos e possível veiculação de doenças. A avaliação ecológica rápida demonstrou grau moderado de conservação na maioria dos ambientes estudados e as principais causas são as interferências urbanas e o descaso com o meio ambiente. Assim, se faz necessário melhorar a gestão sanitária municipal das cidades por onde o Rio Turvo percorre, com ênfase no tratamento de água e de esgoto e existe a necessidade de continuar os estudos e parâmetros com relação do Rio Turvo para acompanhamento da qualidade ambiental, sanitária, física, química e microbiológica afim de servir como base para melhores políticas públicas e desenvolvimento do manejo com o ambiente. / In recent years, many studies have been carried out to investigate the problem of water quality reduction for water supply, leisure, irrigation, among others, leading to the identification of pollutant sources, as well as the preparation of proposals for its control. Another widely used practice is the establishment of water quality indicators (physical, chemical and biological). The preservation of water quality is a universal need, which requires attention from health authorities and consumers in general, especially in water courses intended for human consumption, since their contamination by excreta of human and animal origin can make them a vehicle for the transmission of disease agents. This work evaluates the quality of the Rio Turvo / SP watercourse using physical, chemical, biological and ecological parameters and referring aspects of the current legislation. Physical, chemical, microbiological, ecological and environmental and health management analyzes were carried out at six specific points in the Rio Turvo watercourse, located in the Paranapanema Basin. A rapid evaluation protocol was applied in order to know the degree of conservation and ecological quality of the points sampled. The results of physical and chemical tests show that most of the values obtained are within the standards required by the Ministry of Health and Conama, however, the iron, phosphate and BOD parameters showed values above the allowable and are mainly caused by the discharge of domestic sewage of animal droppings. Microbiological parameters demonstrate the presence of total coliforms in all the analyzed points, characterizing the discharge of sewage and possible disease transmission. The rapid ecological evaluation showed a moderate degree of conservation in most of the studied environments and the main causes are the urban interferences and the neglect with the environment. Thus, it is necessary to improve the municipal sanitary management of the cities through which Rio Turvo travels, with emphasis on the treatment of water and sewage, and there is a need to continue the studies and parameters related to Rio Turvo for monitoring the environmental, sanitary quality , Physics, chemistry and microbiology in order to serve as a basis for better public policies and development of environmental management.

Thesis (MSc (Botany and Zoology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / South Africa is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world and even with conservation initiatives in place continues to face biodiversity loss. There is a need to prioritise areas for conservation as resources for conservation purposes are limited in South Africa. From prioritisation methods reviewed it was found that prioritisation indices normally use one or a combination of variables that measure stock; and/or variables that measure threat.

Στην παρούσα εργασία πραγματοποιείται οικολογική αξιολόγηση των εκβολικών οικοσυστημάτων των ποταμών Εύηνου και Πείρου που εκβάλλουν στον Πατραϊκό κόλπο. Αποτελούν συνδυασμό χερσαίων και υγροτοπικών περιοχών με σημαντική οικολογική αξία και λειτουργίες. Ο Εύηνος σχηματίζει τυπικό δέλτα σε αντίθεση με τον Πείρο, στην περιοχή εκβολής του οποίου οι συνθήκες δεν ευνοούν μια τέτοια διαδικασία. Στόχοι της μελέτης ήταν: η καταγραφή και χαρτογράφηση των τύπων οικοτόπων στις επιμέρους περιοχές με τη χρήση των GIS, η μελέτη των ανθρωπογενών δραστηριοτήτων και των επιπτώσεών τους στη δομή των οικοτόπων, η εκτίμηση της κατάστασης τους με τη βοήθεια δεικτών οικολογικής αξιολόγησης και τελικά, η ανάπτυξη κατάλληλου διαχειριστικού σχεδίου. Για την πραγματοποίηση της εργασίας αυτής προηγήθηκαν επισκέψεις και στα δύο εκβολικά οικοσυστήματα, φωτογραφήσεις, καθώς και συλλογή και προσδιορισμός φυτικού υλικού από τους κυριότερους τύπους βλάστησης. Για την αναγνώριση των τύπων οικοτόπων χρησιμοποιήθηκε ο Τεχνικός Οδηγός Χαρτογράφησης του δικτύου NATURA 2000. Για την εκτίμηση της οικολογικής κατάστασης των εξεταζόμενων περιοχών εφαρμόστηκαν τα κριτήρια της ποικιλότητας, φυσικότητας, σπανιότητας, απειλής και δυνατότητας αποκατάστασης στο επίπεδο των οικοτόπων και των συνδυασμών τους σύμφωνα με την Οδηγία 92/43/ΕΟΚ. Επιπλέον, εφαρμόστηκε η ανάλυση DPSIR σε επίπεδο λεκάνης απορροής των υπό μελέτη ποταμών, με έμφαση στα εκβολικά τους συστήματα, με τη χρήση 45 δεικτών. Οι τύποι οικοτόπων, η αξιολόγηση με βάση τα κριτήρια και οι πιέσεις-επιπτώσεις σε κάθε περιοχή μελέτης οπτικοποιήθηκαν σε ψηφιακούς χάρτες με τη χρήση των GIS. Καταγράφηκαν 322 taxa στο δέλτα του Εύηνου και 225 taxa στις εκβολές του Πείρου, εκ των οποίων τα 112 είναι κοινά μεταξύ των περιοχών μελέτης. Πραγματοποιήθηκε περιγραφή και χαρτογράφηση 22 φυσικών και 3 ανθρωπογενών τύπων οικοτόπων. Οι κυριότερες αλλοιώσεις που καταγράφηκαν ως αποτέλεσμα της μακροχρόνιας ανθρώπινης παρουσίας είναι: η έντονη διάβρωση και οπισθοχώρηση της ακτογραμμής, η επέκταση των καλλιεργούμενων εκτάσεων εις βάρος των φυσικών και η έντονη ρύπανση των υδάτων. Από την αξιολόγηση προέκυψε ότι οι οικότοποι στις δύο περιοχές βρίσκονται σε μια μέτρια έως καλή κατάσταση διατήρησης, με την περιοχή του Εύηνου να λαμβάνει την υψηλότερη βαθμολογία ως προς τα κριτήρια. Το πλαίσιο DPSIR ανέλυσε την επικρατούσα κατάσταση και ανέδειξε τη σοβαρή υποβάθμιση που υφίστανται τα εκβολικά συστήματα. Συμπερασματικά, τα GIS αποτέλεσαν ένα σημαντικό διαχειριστικό εργαλείο, καθώς επιτρέπουν τη συνεχή καταγραφή των διαχρονικών αλλαγών και την εκτίμηση του βαθμού αλλοίωσης των δύο εκβολικών οικοσυστημάτων με σκοπό τη διατήρηση και την προστασία τους. / In the present study an ecological evaluation of the estuary ecosystems of the rivers Evinos and Piros flowing into the Gulf of Patras was carried out. They constitute a combination of terrestrial and wetland areas with significant ecological value and functions. Evinos forms a typical delta unlike Piros, in the estuarine region of which the conditions do not favor such a process. The objectives of the study were: the recording and mapping of habitat types in each area with the use of GIS, the study of human activities and their impact on the structure of habitats, the assessment of their state with the use of indicators of ecological value and finally, the development of an appropriate management plan. For the accomplishment of this study visits to both estuarine ecosystems, photography and collection and identification of the plant material from the main vegetation types was performed. For the identification of habitat types the Technical Guide for Mapping of the network NATURA 2000 was used. To assess the ecological status of the areas concerned the criteria of diversity, naturalness, rarity, threat and replaceability were applied, at the level of habitats and their combinations, according to the Directive 92/43/EEC. Moreover, the DPSIR analysis was applied at the basin level of the studied rivers, with emphasis on their estuarine systems. The habitat types, the evaluation based on the criteria and the pressures-impacts on each of the studied areas were visualized into digital maps using GIS. 322 taxa were recorded for the Evinos delta and 225 for the mouth of Piros, of which 112 are common among the study areas. Description and mapping of 22 natural and 3 anthropogenic habitat types was carried out. The main alterations that were recorded as a result of long-term human presence are: the intense erosion and retreat of the coastline, the expansion of cultivated land at the expense of natural one and the strong water pollution. Assessment revealed that the habitats in both regions are at a moderate to good conservation status, with the area of Evinos receiving the highest rating concerning the above criteria. The DPSIR framework analysed the present state and highlighted the serious degradation that occurs in estuaries. In conclusion, the GIS are an important management tool, as they allow the continuous recording of the diachronic changes and the evaluation of the degree of deterioration of both estuary ecosystems in order to conserve and protect them.