In June of 2010, two permanent research plots were established in Forest Park, based on their differing proximities to downtown Portland, Oregon. As part of a long-term ecological research project that seeks to explore the ecological status and human thumbprint on this 5,100 acre forested reserve, the 2010 tree data was investigated for emergent compositional and spatial patterns. Stand composition, tree size, growth rates, and spatial patterns were analyzed, along with ecological and land use histories. Results indicate that the Balch plot, more closely located to the urban center, has different stand composition, condition, and vegetation growth rates, compared to the more rural Miller site. This study supports findings from a study done by Broshot in 2009, where more urban plots demonstrate a different stand composition and recruitment pattern than rural sites. The study is an initial step for exploring questions regarding the ecological status of Forest Park and how land use and disturbance, past and present, shape Portland's forested reserve.

Svenska vattendrag har sedan länge utnyttjats och exploaterats för mänskliga behov och vattenkraftsförsörjningen utvecklades snabbt under 1900 talet. Med tiden upptäcktes dock de negativa ekologiska konsekvenser som vattenkraften hade för livet i och kring vattendragen. Trots detta anses vattenkraften idag vara en betydelsefull energikälla då den är förnybar och enkelt kan lagras. På grund av nya riktlinjer från Vattendirektivet samt målsättningar inom miljökvalitetsmålen ”Levande sjöar och vattendrag” samt ”Ett rikt växt- och djurliv”, ska svensk vattenkraft förses med nya miljövillkor som bland annat syftar till att förbättra ekologisk status i svenska vattendrag. Undersökningen ämnar jämföra vilka särskilt betydande faktorer (för ett vattendrags ekologiska status och biodiversitet) som används i tillståndsprövningen av små vattenkraftverk i samband med förändrade miljövillkor. Genom att utföra en litteraturstudie i ämnesområdet, undersöka pågående vattenvårdsprojekt, samt jämföra två olika domstolsbeslut gällande förändrade miljövillkor i små vattenkraftverk, har undersökningen kommit fram till att de mest betydande faktorer som används i tillståndsprövningen är konnektivitet och heterogenitet i vattendragets strömbild. / Swedish streams have long been utilized and exploited for human needs and the hydropower supply developed rapidly during the 20th century. Over time, however, the negative ecological consequences that hydropower had for life in and around streams were discovered. Despite this, hydropower is today considered a significant energy source as it is renewable and can be easily stored. Due to new guidelines from the Water Framework Directive and objectives within the Swedish environmental quality objectives "Flourishing Lakes and Streams" and "A Rich Diversity of Plant and Animal Life", Swedish hydropower will be provided with new environmental conditions, which among other things aim to improve ecological status in Swedish streams. The study intends to compare which particularly significant factors (for the ecological status and biodiversity of a watercourse) are used in the permit testing of small hydropower plants in connection with changed environmental conditions. By conducting a literature study in the subject area, examining ongoing water management projects, and comparing two different court decisions regarding changed environmental conditions in small hydropower plants, the study has concluded that the factors used primarily in permit testing are connectivity and heterogeneity in the draft current.

The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the EcoHealth markers and health promotion interventions in the behaviour and practices of vegetables growers in Addis Ababa. The objectives were to assess the urban and peri-urban community members’ knowledge and practices on the existing environmental health policies/regulations/guidelines, assess the perspectives of women and youth on urban and peri-urban EcoHealth promotions and protections and evaluate the development and implementation of the health promotion activities on waste water use by applying an ecological model aimed at changing behaviour and by providing Bio-sand filter to promote hand wash practice which helps to reduce potential health risks among urban vegetable growers. Both quantitative and qualitative descriptive researches were conducted to identify the urban and peri urban community members’ knowledge and practices of the existing environmental health regulators and the perspectives of women and the youth on EcoHealth. Additional quasi experimental method; multiple baseline survey along with the EcoHealth Stress Process promotion method was employed to identify stressors, measure changes in environmental health promotion intervention and use of hand wash (biosand filter for hand wash). Six woredas from two subcities of the Addis Ababa City Administration were purposely selected, and a total of 845 (98.9% response rate) households participated in the quantitative study, while 142 community members (public sector offices, factories and establishments’ management and employee), participated in the qualitative survey. For quasi experimental method, six settings/blocks (of which 3 sites were provided with a bio-sand filter for hand washing) cultivated by 6 to 8 vegetable growers and their family members, were included in the intervention (multiple baseline survey). The findings revealed that about 77 percent of participants reported, knowledge of one or more of the selected environmental health and EcoHealth regulations. Ownership of assets and education tend to influence the public awareness of selected EcoHealth and environmental health regulations. Women and youth found to be significant contributors to better urban and peri-urban EcoHealth conditions and were the ones primarily affected by environmental hazards. The intervention study results also indicated evidence-based IEC interventions and ecological health promotion methods proved useful in promoting EcoHealth in an urban environment. Moreover, the biosand filter used to provide evidence of health promotion was found to be valuable for wastewater treatment and significantly reduced chemical, physical and biological contaminates from the wastewater. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Evidence for widespread ecological impacts due to rapid climate change is on the increase, with further warming predicted over the next century. This increase in warming has lead to organisms adjusting their distribution range and where this is not possible organisms must cope with the stressful environments in a different way. One potential way to handle environmental stress is via a mechanism known as phenotypic plasticity, which allows an organism to express different phenotypes depending on the biotic or abiotic environment in a way that may alter that organism's fitness. Acclimation temperatures can potentially cause plastic (reversible and irreversible) changes in the response of individuals to stressful experimental conditions that could increase their survival. The issue of whether this acclimation will be beneficial to the organism or not remains contentious, with support offered both for and against the idea of beneficial acclimation. The aims of the investigation were to determine the thermal limits of five ameronothrid mite species (Halozetes marinus, H marionensis, H belgicae, H. fulvus and Podacarus auberti) from varying terrestrial habitats and to test whether there is beneficial acclimation on the thermal traits. Along with the beneficial acclimation hypothesis several alternative hypotheses were also tested. In addition, locomotor performance was determined as it has been suggested that locomotion performance is a reliable and practical measure of potential fitness of animals. The same hypotheses testing the effects of acclimation temperature on the thermal limits were tested on three performance traits; performance breadth, optimum speed and optimum temperature. Support for beneficial acclimation was found in the performance breadth and optimum speed traits for all species except for Halozetes marinus. For the optimum temperature trait the prediction for the compensation hypothesis was met and that of the beneficial acclimation hypothesis rejected, with the only exception again being that of H marinus. In the case of the locomotor performance traits the prediction for the beneficial acclimation hypothesis in the performance breadth and optimum speed traits are the same for that of the compensation hypothesis, therefore the overall response of the more terrestrial mite species is one of compensation. However, support for beneficial acclimation was not found in the thermal limit traits of all five species, with the higher acclimation temperatures (specifically 150 C) resulting in negative responses in LLT in H. marinus and H. belgicae, and in ULT in H. fulvus. Phenotypic flexibility varied between marine and terrestrial species. The less variable marine environment showed lower flexibility than that of terrestrial species in the performance breadth trait and optimum temperature trait, but there was a lack of variation between the marine and terrestrial species in the temperature tolerance traits. These results show that the effects of acclimation on various traits, especially fitness related traits, are complex and require more attention if the consequences are to be fully explained. This study therefore provides insight into the effects of acclimation on performance traits and thermal limit traits and has implications for the evolution of plastic responses in terrestrial arthropods. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Bewys vir wye ekologiese impakte as gevolg van vinnige klimaatsverandering is aan die toeneem, met verdere verwarming wat voorspel word gedurende die volgende eeu. Dié toename in verwarming het alreeds veroorsaak dat organismes hulle verspreidings verander, of waar dit nie moontlik is nie, moet hulle stresvolle omgewingstoestande op 'n ander wyse hanteer. Een moontlike manier om omgewingsstres te hanteer is deur gebruik te maak van 'n meganisme wat bekend staan as fenotipiese plastisiteit, wat dit vir 'n organisme moontlik maak om ander fenotipes te toon afhangende van die biotiese of abiotiese omgewing in 'n wyse wat die organisme se fiksheid beinvloed. Temperatuur akklimasie kan moontlik plastisiteit (omkeerbaar of onomkeerbaar) veranderinge in die reaksie van individue tot stresvolle eksperimentele toestande tot gevolg hé, wat gevolglik hulle oorlewing kan verhoog. Die kwessie of hierdie akklimasie wel voordelig vir die organisme is of nie is steeds betwisbaar, met beide steun vir en teen die idee van voordelige akklimasie. Die doel van hierdie ondersoek was om vas te stel wat die termiese limiete van vyf ameronothrid myt spesies (Halozetes marinus, H marionensis, H belgicae, H fulvus en Podacarus auberti) van verskeie terrestriële habitatte is, en om te toets of daar voordelige akklimasie in die termiese eienskappe voorkom. Tesame met die voordelige akklimasie hipotese is daar verskeie alternatiewe hipoteses ook getoets. Verder, is bewegings prestasie vasgestelomdat dit al voorgestel is dat bewegings prestasie 'n betroubare en praktiese mate van die potensiële fiksheid van 'n dier aantoon. Dieselfde hipotese wat die effek van akklimasie temperatuur op die termiese limiete toets, is op drie prestasie eienskappe getoets; prestasie wydte, optimale spoed en optimale temperatuur. Bewyse vir voordelige akklimasie is gevind in die prestasie wydte en optimale spoed eienskappe vir alle spesies behalwe Halozetes marinus. Vir die optimale temperatuur eienskap was die voorspelling vir die kompensasie hipotese korrek maar dié van die voordelige akklimasie verkeerd, met H. marin us die enigste uitsondering. In die geval van die bewegings prestasie eienskappe is die voorspelling vir die voordelige akklimasie hipotese in die prestasie wydte en optimale spoed eienskappe die selfde as vir die kompensasie hipotese. Daarom is die algemene reaksie vir die meer terrestriële spesies een van kompensasie. Bewyse vir voordelige akklimasie is egter nie gevind in die termiese limiet eienskappe van die vyf spesies nie, met die hoér akklimasie temperature (spesifiek 15° C) wat 'n negatiewe reaksie in LLT in H. marin us en H. belgicae, en in UL T in H. fulvus veroorsaak het. Fenotipiese buigsaamheid het verskil tussen mariene en terrestriële spesies. Die minder variërende mariene omgewing het 'n laer buigsaamheid in die prestasie wydte en optimale temperatuur eienskappe getoon as die van terrestriële spesies, maar daar was geen variasie tussen mariene en terrestriële spesies in die temperatuur toleransie eienskappe nie. Die resultate wat hier voorgelê word wys dat die gevolge van akklimasie op verskeie eienskappe, veral fiksheids verwante eienskappe, ingewikkeld is en vereis meer aandag om die gevolge volledig te verduidelik. Hierdie studie verskaf dus insig in die gevolge van akklimasie vir prestasie eienskappe en termiese limiet eienskappe en het gevolge vir die evolusie van plastiese reaksies in terrestriële arthropoda.

Thesis (PhD) -- Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT:Heavy metals are persistent environmental contaminants whose sources of inputs into the environment are both natural and anthropogenic. The levels of heavy metals (cadmium, copper, nickel, lead and zinc) in the False Bay intertidal zone were measured in the water, sediments and invertebrate species between August 2000 and August 2001. The results of the water and sediment analyses revealed that most pollution was associated with the northern shore of the bay between Strand and Muizenberg, where the most populated and industrial catchments occur. Significant spatial variations occurred, indicating the presence of localised contamination, while seasonal variations may be related to changes in precipitation and runoff at different times of the year. The concentrations of cadmium, nickel and lead were occasionally higher than the levels recommended by the South African Water Quality Standards. The possible sources of pollution at the different sites are also discussed. The concentrations of the five metals in the different invertebrate species (Oxystele tigrina, 0. sinensis, Choromytilus meridionalis, Patella oculus, Patiriella exigua and Tetraclita serrata) also revealed significant seasonal and spatial variations, with both the soft tissues and shells accumulating heavy metals. The barnacle T serrata from Rooiels had the highest cadmium concentration (70.67 J.lg/g dry weight), which may be related to historic pollution inputs from the military activities which took place at a weapons testing site at this site between 1987 and 1994, although no evidence was found to confirm this. The periwinkle 0. tigrina from Strand had the highest copper concentration (70.25 J.lg/g) while the limpet P. oculus from the same site had the highest nickel concentration (35.75 J.lg/g). The shells of the mussel C. meridionalis from Muizenberg had the highest concentration of lead (25.75 J.lg/g). Since cadmium occurs as a constituent of phosphate fertilisers used widely in the False Bay catchments, the effects of cadmium exposure on the different species were investigated during 14-day laboratory exposures to 200 and 400 J.lg/LCdCh. The results revealed a general pattern of tissue metal increase in the exposed organisms, followed by slight reductions after decontamination in clean seawater. The viscera and kidneys of C. meridionalis accumulated most of the dissolved cadmium. The shells of the mussels also accumulated cadmium, indicating the possible use of shells as a detoxification matrix. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING:Swaarmetale is persisterende omgewingskontaminante waarvan die insetbronne beide natuurlik of van menslike oorsprong kan wees. Die kontaminasievlakke van swaarmetale (kadmium, koper, nikkel, lood en sink) in die Valsbaai tussengetysone is in die water, sedimente en invertebraatspesies bepaal vanaf Augustus 2000 tot Augustus 2001. Voorlopige resultate van die water- en sedimentontledings het getoon dat die meeste besoedeling by die noordelikke oewer van die baai voorgekom het tussen Strand and Muizenberg, waar die mees digbewoonde en ge-industrialiseerde opvangsgebiede is. Betekenisvolle ruimtelike en seisoenale variasie het in die konsentrasies van swaarmetale voorgekom, met die ruimtelike variasie wat moontlik gelokaliseerde kontaminasie aandui terwyl die seisoenale variasies weer verband mag hou met veranderings in die neerslag en afloop gedurende verskillende tye van die jaar. Die konsentrasie van kadmium, nikkel en lood was somtyds hoer as die vlakke wat deur die Suid-Afrikaanse Waterkwaliteitsstandaarde voorgestel word. Die moontlike bronne van besoedeling in die verskillende areas is ook in bespreking genoem. Die konsentrasies van die vyf swaametale in die verskillende invertebraatspesies (Oxystele tigrina, 0. sinensis, Choromytilus meridionalis, Patella oculus, Patiriella exigua and Tetraclita serrata) het ook seisoenale en ruimtelike variasies vertoon, die swaarmetale het in die sagte weefsel en skulpe van die invertebrate geakkumuleer. Die hoogste gemiddelde konsentrasie van kadmium (70.67 ).lg/g droe massa) is in die heel-liggaam monsters van die eendemossel T serrata gemeet wat by Rooiels versamel is. Die vlakke mag verband hou met die oprigting en aktiwiteite van die wapentoetsingsaanleg in die opvanggebied van die Rooiels lokaliteit tussen 1987 en 1994, maar geen bewyse daarvan is gevind nie. Die tolletjie, 0. tigrina wat in die 10kaliteit by Strand versamel is het die hoogste gemiddelde konsentrasie koper gehad 70.25 pig droe massa), terwyl die klipmossel P. oculus by dieselfde versamelpunt die hoogste konsentrasie nikkel (35.75 ).lg/gdroe massa) gehad het. Eksperimentele studies is ook uitgevoer op vier invertebraat spesies wat vir 14 dae in akwaria blootgestel is aan see-water met 200 en 400 p,g/L CdCh, en daama gedekontamineer is in skoon seewater. / The NRF and the University of Stellenbosch, for funding this study.

The forest avian community of the Ray Roberts Greenbelt (Denton Co., Texas) was characterized for two years using point count station sampling, from fall 1998 to summer 2000. Richness data for both breeding seasons were correlated with two-spatial metrics: width of the riparian forest and distance to the nearest edge. There were significant correlations between forest interior species richness and both spatial metrics, for both breeding seasons. Based on these data, a minimum riparian forest width threshold of 400-meters is suggested to provide habitat for forest interior species, which have lost considerable habitat through forest fragmentation. Partners in Flight breeding bird priority concern scores were used to create a habitat priority index for the Trinity River bottomland hardwood forest system

This thesis sets out to develop a beginning of a philosophy of water by considering philosophical implications of ecological crises currently happening along the waters of the Ganges River. In my first chapter, I give a historical account of a philosophy of water. In my second chapter, I describe various natural and cultural representations of the Ganges, accounting for physical features of the river, Hindu myths and rituals involving the river, and ecological crises characterized by the pollution and damming of the river. In my third and final chapter, I look into the philosophical implications of these crises in terms of the works of the contemporary philosopher Bruno Latour.

Knowledge of the geospatial distribution of vegetation is fundamental for resource management. The objective of this study is to investigate the possible use of airborne LIDAR (light detection and ranging) data to improve classification accuracy of high spatial resolution optical imagery and compare the ability of two classification algorithms to accurately identify and map wetland vegetation communities. In this study, high resolution imagery integrated with LIDAR data was compared jointly and alone; and the nearest neighbor (NN) and machine learning random forest (RF) classifiers were assessed in semi-automated geographic object-based image analysis (GEOBIA) approaches for classification accuracy of heterogeneous vegetation assemblages at Everglades National Park, FL, USA. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2014. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Les organismes font face à des compromis entre leur reproduction, leur maintenance et leur survie, dont découlent des stratégies adaptatives énergétiques, comportementales et écologiques.Ce travail de thèse propose de préciser les stratégies de reproduction chez la tortue luth Dermochelys coriacea nidifiant en Guyane. Nous avons étudié les caractéristiques maternelles, les performances de reproduction et les potentiels liens existants entre la migration et la reproduction chez une population d’individus d’identité connue, suivis grâce à un suivi longitudinal original combinant biométrie, physiologie et biologie moléculaire.Premièrement nous montrons que les tortues luth opèrent comme des reproducteurs sur capital, i.e., leur reproduction repose sur les ressources stockées sous forme de réserves corporelles pendant la migration précédant la saison de ponte. D’autre part, nous suggérons que les femelles ajustent la durée de leur migration en fonction des conditions océanographiques rencontrées pendant la migration. Ceci leur permettrait, à l’échelle de la vie, de répondre au compromis entre la reproduction en cours et les reproductions futures. Enfin, notre démarche souligne l’importance de prendre en compte les caractéristiques individuelles dans la compréhension des stratégies de reproduction, et de manière ultime pour l’établissement de modèles réalistes de la dynamique des populations, notamment dans le cas d’espèces emblématiques telles que les tortues marines. / Organisms face trade-offs between their reproduction, maintenance and survival, from which result adaptative strategies at the energetics, behavioural and ecological levels.This PhD work investigates the reproductive strategies used by leatherback turtles, Dermochelys coriacea, nesting in French Guiana. We investigated maternal characteristics, reproductive output, and the possible links between migration and reproduction in a population of known identity, studied through a unique longitudinal monitoring, based on complementary approaches combining biometry, physiology and molecular biology.First, we found that leatherback turtles are capital breeders, i.e. females’ reproductive output displayed during their nesting season relies on body reserves previously stored during their migration. Second, we suggested that leatherback females adjust the duration of the migration according to the oceanographic conditions they experienced during migration. At a lifetime scale, this may allow females to face the trade-off between current and future reproductions. Finally, our approach highlights the importance to take into account individual characteristics in order to better understand reproductive strategies, and further assess realistic models of population dynamics, particularly when considering emblematic species such as sea turtles.

D.Litt.et. Phil. (Historical Studies) / This thesis focuses on Oil and the Ijaw people of Niger Delta States: 1956 to 1998. The rationale and motivating factor is to trace the general environmental problems associated with oil production in the Ijaw village communities that have impacted on the livelihood of the Ijaw people. The thesis is the product of research conducted into the Ijaw environment before the discovery of crude oil, to determine whether their socio-economic and political activities impacted on it through conflict as a result of oil-related pollution and degradation in the 1990s. Oil was discovered in commercially viable quantities in 1956 in the Oloibiri Ijaw community. Extraction by Shell-BP and Chevron started soon afterwards. It examines the complexities of the operations, management and control strategy employed by the federal government under a joint venture agreement with the oil multinationals, particularly through the various regulatory laws passed to protect the Ijaw inhabitants and their environment. This thesis explores and investigates the impact of oil production, particularly of the perennial pollution and flaring of gas, on the soil, vegetation and climate in areas allocated to major oil producers in the Ijaw community. It contributes to existing knowledge on the responses of the federal government and the oil multinationals to pollution and its impact on the traditional fishing and farming of most Ijaws. It explains the main reason the Ijaws demanded greater control of oil resources and a fair share of revenue in the 1990s. The government’s repressive responses exacerbated the environmental struggle by the local protesters against both government and oil companies. This thesis explores the various steps undertaken by the federal government to resolve the conflict associated with environmental problems in Oloibiri, Nembe, Otuasega, Imiringi, Anyama, Kolo-Creeks, which constitute some Ijaw oil-producing communities. The performances and functioning of government agencies, such as NDDB (1961), FEPA (1988) and OMPADEC (1992), at local level are investigated. The main reason for survival strategy in adapting to the environmental problems associated with oil pollution by the Ijaws, and why they were unsuccessful, is also examined.