I first review the significance of dispersal for individuals and populations including the role of the most significant environmental drivers on separate phases of dispersal. Emphasis is put on aquatic insects inhabiting small standing waters. The following manuscript summarizes a quantitative study of diel and seasonal flight patterns of adult Chironomidae in the Cep II sandpit in southern Bohemia. It provides one of the first comprehensive treatments of the effect of weather conditions and seasonality on the flight activity of adult Chironomidae, phenology of most common species and differences between terrestrial and aquatic species.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / Stevia rebaudiana is a perennial plant, native to South America; it has natural sweeteners (steviol glycosides) on their leaves free of calories, very sweet and could be replaced by sucrose without presenting problems to diabetic people diet. Stevia cultivation is widespread all over the world under different weather conditions and the environmental factors could affect the stevia yield. The aims of this study were to evaluate dry weight and sweetener concentration in Stevia rebaudiana leaves during different periods in the year to determinate the best time for harvesting and to verify the influence of environmental conditions in the sweeteners yield. The first trial was carried out during 2012/2013 agricultural year. In total 120 plants were selected and divided in six groups with 20 plants each. Twelve harvests were performed and the higher yield was reached in December at the first harvest for groups 3, 4 and 2 (292.4; 285.2 and 206.7 g m-2, respectively). The sweetener concentrations have differentiated between the date of the harvest and the compounds analysed. The highest concentrations of stevioside (12.16% and 11.36%) and rebaudioside C (2.95% e 1.95%) were found during the harvest in January while the sweetener rebaudioside A, the highest concentrations were 7.01%; 6.16% and 6.15% in December, February and March, respectively. The heighest stevioside concentrations (per cent) (12.16% and 11.36%) and rebaudioside C (2.95% and 1.95%) were found to the harvest done in January, whereas to rebaudioside A, the heighest concentration were in December (7.01%); February (6.16%) and March (6.15%). Photoperiod has influenced the number of days for each harvest as well as the sweetener concentration on the leaves. The second trial seven genotypes were tested by plants already established on the field. The higher yield of dry mass was found during the harvest in March and the sweetener concentrations have decreased to the second harvest comparing to the first one. The highest sweetener concentrations of stevioside in the first harvest were with the genotypes C1, C4 and C8 (11.24; 11.14 and 10.32%, respectively) and genotype C6 has presented the highest rebaudioside A and C concentrations (8.94 and 1.96% respectively). / Originária da América do Sul, Stevia rebaudiana é uma planta arbustiva perene que possui edulcorantes naturais (glicosídeos de esteviol) com alto poder adoçante em suas folhas, livre de calorias, podendo substituir a sacarose sem apresentar problemas na dieta de pessoas diabéticas. O cultivo de estévia é difundido em muitos países e os fatores climáticos podem influenciar significativamente o resultado de produtividade desta cultura. Os objetivos deste estudo foram avaliar massa seca e concetração de edulcorantes em folhas de estévia (Stevia rebaudiana) em diferentes períodos do ano para determinar a melhor época para a colheita e, verificar a influência dos fatores climáticos na quantidade dos edulcorantes. Os experimentos foram realizados nos anos agrícolas 2011/2012 e 2012/2013. No primeiro experimento 120 plantas foram divididas em seis grupos de 20 plantas cada. Doze cortes foram realizados, sendo a maior produtividade alcançada no mês de dezembro nos primeiros cortes dos grupos 3, 4 e 2 (292,4; 285,2 e 206,7 g m-2, respectivamente). A concentração dos edulcorantes nas folhas de estévia variou entre os períodos dos cortes e entre os compostos analisados. As concentrações mais altas de esteviosídeo (12,16% e 11,36%) e rebaudiosídeo C (2,95% e 1,95%) foram nas colheitas realizadas em janeiro, enquanto que para o rebaudiosídeo A (7,01%; 6,16% e 6,15%), as maiores porcentagens foram alcançadas nos meses de dezembro, fevereiro e março. O fotoperíodo influenciou o número de dias para o corte realizado bem como a concentração de edulcorantes nas folhas. No segundo experimento foram testados sete genótipos selecionados a partir de plantas já estabelecidas. A maior produtividade de massa seca foi encontrada no corte realizado no mês de março e, as concentrações dos edulcorantes diminuíram no segundo corte em todos os genótipos. As porcentagens mais altas de esteviosídeo no primeiro corte foram nos genótipos C1, C4 e C8 (11,24; 11,14 e 10,32%, respectivamente) e, o genótipo C6 apresentou as maiores concentrações de rebaudiosídeo A e C (8,94 e 1,96% respectivamente).

Dissertação(mestrado) - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Programa de Pós–Graduação em Oceanografia Biológica, Instituto de Oceanografia, 2011. / Submitted by Cristiane Gomides (cristiane_gomides@hotmail.com) on 2013-10-09T17:25:09Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Evandro.pdf: 2513898 bytes, checksum: 56564f2ddd5a85095a4f342776ac7ec9 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Sabrina Andrade (sabrinabeatriz@ibest.com.br) on 2013-10-17T03:06:55Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Evandro.pdf: 2513898 bytes, checksum: 56564f2ddd5a85095a4f342776ac7ec9 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2013-10-17T03:06:55Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Evandro.pdf: 2513898 bytes, checksum: 56564f2ddd5a85095a4f342776ac7ec9 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011 / Os padrões associados às condições ambientais e a distribuição espaço-temporal dos estágios iniciais da savelha, B. pectinata, e de seu desenvolvimento no estuário da Lagoa dos Patos foram investigados através de dados históricos. Dois outros experimentos complementares foram realizados: um para avaliar as técnicas de medição (tradicional e por imagem) em larvas de peixes; e, outro, para investigar o efeito dos principais conservantes (álcool 70 % e formaldeído 3,6%) sobre as larvas de savelha. Diferença significativa na medição de larvas de peixes entre ambas as técnicas não foi observada, e os coeficientes de variação foram similares, o que sugere que as técnicas produzem o mesmo resultado médio, apesar do ganho de precisão pela técnica de análise por imagem. Um encolhimento significativo foi observado para ambos os conservantes, e os fatores de correção para as larvas de B. pectinata em formaldeído foi CP vivo = 1,0799 × CP pós-conservação, e em álcool foi CP vivo = 1,1415×CP pós-conservação. No período de 1975 a 2009, um total de 10479 ovos e 14066 larvas e juvenis foram coletados através de amostragens planctônicas, e também amostrados parâmetros da água (salinidade e temperatura). As larvas foram medidas e classificadas de acordo com seu estágio de desenvolvimento. Cada estágio de desenvolvimento foi caracterizado pelo seu intervalo de tamanho, onde a menor larva em estágio vitelínico mediu 2,16 mm, e o maior juvenil teve 43,25 mm. As análises dos padrões de distribuição indicam desova fora da Lagoa dos Patos, em salinidade mais elevada, sendo importantes períodos sazonais para os ovos o inverno, primavera e início de verão, e posteriormente ocorre um transporte para dentro da região estuarina nos estágios mais iniciais de desenvolvimento, associados a valores menores de salinidade e temperatura. A distribuição dos juvenis indicou um retorno para a região costeira, e neste estágio o outono foi um período muito importante. Estes resultados são importantes para o conhecimento desta espécie, e serão úteis para o planejamento no gerenciamento deste recurso. / Patterns associated to environmental conditions and to the spatial and temporal distributions of the early stages of Argentine menhaden, B. pectinata, and of its development in the Patos Lagoon estuary were investigated using historical records. Two other complementary experiments were performed: one to evaluate the measurement techniques (traditional and image) in larval fishes; and, other, to investigate the effect of main conservatives (alcohol 70 % and formaldehyde 3.6 %) over Argentine menhaden larvae. Significant difference in the measurement of fish larvae between techniques was not observed, and the coefficients of variation were similar, suggesting that these two techniques produce the same average result, despite the gain in precision by image analysis technique. A significant shrinkage was observed for both preservatives, and the correction factors for B. pectinata larvae in formaldehyde was SL live= 1.0799 × SL post-conservation, and in alcohol was SL live= 1.1415 × SL post-conservation. From 1975 to 2009 a total of 10479 eggs and 14066 fish larvae and juveniles were collected at plankton surveys, and sampled water parameters (salinity and temperature), too. Larvae were measured and classified according to their developmental stage. Each development stage was characterized by its size range, which the smallest yolk-sac larvae measured 2.16 mm, and the largest juveniles had 43.25 mm. Analysis of the distributional pattern indicate spawning outside the Patos Lagoon, in high salinities, being important seasonal period for the eggs the winter, spring and early summer, and after occur a transport to the inner estuarine region in the earlier developmental stages, associated to lesser temperature and salinity values. Distribution of juveniles indicated a return to the coastal region, and in this stage the autumn was a very important period. These results are important for knowledge this specie, and will be useful for planning the management of this resource.

In the context of a deepening environmental crisis, there are growing calls for a planning framework informed by environmental ethics. In response, I locate this research in the ecocentric discourse and argue the need to challenge both ecological destruction and patriarchy. I raise feminist concerns about the marginalization of women from the processes by which we come to understand and respond to environmental concerns, and adopt a feminist methodology, qualitative methods, and a case study strategy to explore the subjective dimension of women's environmental activism in the context of growing concerns about the forests of Clayoquot Sound, British Columbia. The purpose of this research is to identify: (a) the critical insights that these women bring to their activism; (b) the patriarchal barriers they face in the course of their activism; and (c) the implications of the research findings for an action-oriented ecofeminism and ethics-based planning for sustainability. In-depth interviews were conducted with 20 women and their feedback (transcripts, workshop, draft research findings) incorporated into the final report. The research findings confirm that these women have critical insights to offer and that patriarchal barriers frustrate but do not totally constrain their activism. These women offer insight into the complex set of values and structures that protect the status quo, and the forest industry in particular, expose patriarchal structures and values that constrain their activism and protect the interests of a male-dominated industry, and suggest a normative foundation for sustainability that takes seriously the well-being of human and nonhuman nature, male and female. In analysing these findings, I argue for an action-based ecofeminism that moves beyond ideal notions of the ecological self, promotes a public ethic of care, challenges both constructs and structures, and critically supports the emergence of women's insights and contributions from the economic, political, and cultural margins. Furthermore, I argue that these women's insights and experiences have significant substantive and procedural implications for planning. I propose an ethics-based planning framework committed to the ecological and social integrity of 'place' and to the well-being of all who live there—human and nonhuman, male and female. In challenging the status quo, this ethics-based planning involves struggles with both external structures and internally held values. In doing so, it links the political to the personal and contributes to both structural and personal transformation. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of / Graduate

A study of the phytoplankton communities of Lake Ray Roberts was conducted at three sampling sites on two sampling dates during the summer of 1995, assessing both community structure and chlorophyll a concentrations. Eight similarity indices were then used to characterize and compare the communities of these sites. Both community similarity and chlorophyll a concentrations were evaluated using a minimum detectable difference equation to determine the amount of change that must occur in these parameters in order to be deemed statistically significant. The Bray-Curtis Index was shown to be the most adequate index evaluated, and was subsequently used in conjunction with bootstrap analysis to determine the similarity between the three sampling sites.

Modem measurement methods ofthe surface turbulent fluxes (STF) of heat, moisture and momentum in the near surface atmospheric layer by the eddy correlation method and their calculation, relay on the validity of the similarity theory of Monin-Obukhov, which requests stationarity and horizontal homogeneity. Experimental data taken at specially selected sites allowed to develop this concept. Recently performed experiments, purposely conducted in non-ideal conditions showed an underestimation ofthe STF values. To systematise this effect it is suggested to parameterize such underestimation as the influence of inhomogeneity and nonstationarity of the landscape and the atmosphere around the point of observation. This scheme might prove to be useful for the design of new validation experiments in non-ideal terrain. / Modeme Meßmethoden zur Erfassung der turbulenten Oberflächenflüsse für fühlbare und latente Wärme sowie Impuls mit Hilfe der Eddy-Korrelations-Methode basieren für die bodennahe Grenzschicht auf der Monin-Obukhov-Turbulenztheorie, die stationäre und horizontal homogene Verhältnisse voraussetzt. Über speziell ausgewählten Oberflächen wurde dieses Konzept häufig mit Erfolg überprüft. Experimente jedoch, die gezielt unter inhomogenen Verhältnissen durchgeführt werden, zeigen oft eine Unterschätzung der turbulenten Oberflächenflüsse. Es wird vorgeschlagen, diese Unterschätzungen als einen Einfluß inhomogener Umbegungsbedingungen und instationärer atmosphärischer Prozesse zu interpretieren und zu systematisieren. Dieses Schema kann dazu beitragen, eine neue Art von Validierungsexperimenten unter natürlichen Verhältnissen einer inhomogenen Umgebung zu entwerfen.

The study of the traffic noise as an environmental impact, the search for solutions to this problem, and the development of noise measurement methodologies that help in the search of these solutions, is now a fundamental responsibility for the transportation industry.   So, in line with this responsibility, consistent work was made with focus on tire/pavement noise measured over different pavement surfaces, and under different environmental conditions, and different speeds. In a parallel way, work was conducted for the development, improvement, and practical use of the On- Board Sound Intensity (OBSI) methodology for tire/pavement noise measurements.   The first part of this thesis shows the results of field experimentation about the influence of external factors like air temperature and vehicle speed over the tire/pavement noise measured with the OBSI methodology. Temperatures from 40 to 90"F were targeted, and speeds from 35 mph to 60 mph (range in which tire/pavement noise becomes predominant for the overall vehicle noise) were tested. For this work a series of seasonal field tests were conducted on a primary road in Virginia over various months.  The results were analyzed to quantify the variation of tire/pavement noise with respect to the air temperature and test speed, and therefore to find correction factors for this variables in order to normalize the data taken under different conditions. In the second part of this thesis, the study of tire/pavement noise over different surfaces and measured over a timeframe of three seasons is presented. This part presents results about noise reduction potentials of two proposed "quiet" concrete technologies and 3 proposed "quiet" asphalt surfaces when compared with one another, and with control sections. Also the second part of the thesis includes results about the susceptibility of the proposed surfaces to external factors such as: aging (three seasons involved), air temperature differentials and winter maintenance. In general, the findings show trends that tire/pavement noise slightly decreases as air temperature increases. A gradient of approximately -0.05 dBA/"F was found. It was found as well that tire/pavement noise increases an average of 2.5 dBA for every 10 mph of increased speed.   The statistical analysis results for the second part of the thesis shows that all proposed concrete surfaces and asphalt surfaces present benefits in terms of noise reduction, For the asphalt surfaces, it was found that more voids in the surface helps to absorb the noise. In addition, the rubber modified mixes show an improved noise reduction potential. Air temperature normalization was performed an a statistical analysis was conducted; it was found that air temperature has a significant influence in the noise measurements especially for the first months of use. Finally it was found that there is a slightly increase in noise over time after the first months of use. / Master of Science

No description available.

MSc., Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, 2011 / Riparian zones harbour different species pools from the surrounding landscape and are thus important to biodiversity conservation. However, riparian zones are highly variable. Network characteristics, morphology, flow-sediment interactions, biophysical connectivity and biological characteristics all vary along the length of a river. It could therefore be expected that the biodiversity characteristics of different riparian zones may also be variable. To investigate this, this study quantified compositional and structural diversity in 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, and 7th stream order rivers in south-western Kruger National Park (KNP). A suite of measures, chosen to encompass the variety, balance, and disparity properties of diversity, was used to quantify woody vegetation and bird compositional and structural diversity within each stream order. Woody plant species richness and species diversity was highest in the 7th order river and similar in the 1st through 5th order rivers. Likewise the woody vegetation community composition of the 7th order river was distinct from those in the other stream order rivers. Bird species diversity was similar in all five stream orders considered. Bird community composition of the 7th order river was distinct from the bird community composition of the 4th and 5th order rivers, which in turn was distinct from the bird community composition of the 2nd and 1st order rivers. Woody vegetation height, canopy width and diameter diversity tended to be highest in the 4th and 5th order rivers, while number of stem (NoS) diversity was generally highest in the 1st order rivers and decreased along the stream order sequence to the 7th order river. Bird body mass diversity was highest in the middle of the stream order sequence, while bird wing length/body length (WL/BL) and leg length diversity was similar along the entire stream order sequence. Overall, a variety of patterns of change in biodiversity along the stream order sequence were observed The lack of a consistent pattern along the stream order sequence among the different elements of compositional and structural diversity illustrates that no single measure can properly characterise the biodiversity of an area, and thus researchers and managers need to be explicit about which aspect of biodiversity they are aiming to study/conserve. Additionally, the unique combination of biodiversity found in each of the stream orders illustrates that each contributes importantly to overall regional biodiversity, and thus there is need to consider the role of entire drainage networks in the landscape, rather than simply focusing on perennial rivers. Finally, this study illustrates the need to consider the heterogeneous nature of biodiversity itself.

The importance of reducing people's environmental impact has become increasingly apparent since the beginning of the 21st century. According to the European Parliament, new legislation has been required to stop the deterioration of Europe's waters and to achieve "good status" for Europe's rivers, lakes and groundwater. This legislation was introduced in year 2000 under the name of The EU Water Framework Directive. The EU Water Framework Directive was first implemented in Sweden in 2004 and has since continued to be implemented through several laws. In January 2019, in Swedish law, there were requirements for modern environmental conditions on water activity, as for the production of hydroelectric power or when the business was started was intended for such production. Sweden's government has in 2018 produced a proposal for a national plan that aims to facilitate the trials of water activities in order to reach the requirements for modern environmental conditions. The problematisation of this is how the implementation of the new requirement for modern environmental conditions should take place and to see what applies if conflicts of interest arise. The essence of the essay is to lead a deeper understanding and discussion of how the requirements for modern environmental conditions can affect interested parties around Sweden. The essay is based on a knowledge base that consists of the legislation in the subject, significant legal cases and a qualitative method through various semi-structured interviews. Limitations for the essay are that it only depicts the implementation of the European Parliament's directive in the Swedish Law and interested parties who are only active in Sweden. Finally, the study shows that many problems are assumed to occur when the trials in connection with the modern environmental conditions begin. Most prominent is the application of the EU Water Directive, costs and environmental impact. / Vikten av att minska människors miljöpåverkan har sedan början av 2000-talet blivit allt mer påtaglig. Enligt Europaparlamentet har det krävts en ny lagstiftning för att stoppa försämringen av Europas vatten och att nå "god status" för Europas floder, sjöar och grundvatten. Denna lagstiftningen infördes år 2000 vid namnet EU:s ramdirektiv för vatten. Direktivet implementerades först i Sverige år 2004 och har sedan dess fortsatt att implementeras via ett flertal lagar. I januari 2019 tillkom i svensk lagstiftning krav om moderna miljövillkor på vattenverksamheter för produktion av vattenkraftsel eller när verksamheten påbörjades var avsedd för sådan produktion. Sveriges regering har under 2018 tagit fram ett förslag till en nationell plan som har till syfte att underlätta prövningarna av vattenverksamheter för att nå kraven om moderna miljövillkor. Problematiseringen av detta är hur implementeringen av det nya kravet om moderna miljövillkor ska ske och att ta reda på vad som gäller om intressekonflikter uppstår. Uppsatsen huvudsakliga syfte är att leda en djupare förståelse och diskussion om hur kraven om moderna miljövillkor kan påverka berörda parter runt om i Sverige. Uppsatsen bygger på en kunskapsgrund som består av lagstiftningen inom ämnet, väsentliga rättsfall och en kvalitativ metod genom olika semistrukturerade intervjuer. Avgränsningar för uppsatsen är att det endast skildrar implementering av Europaparlamentets direktiv i svensk lag samt berörda parter som endast är verksamma i Sverige. Slutligen visar studien att många problem antas uppstå när prövningarna i samband med de moderna miljövillkoren påbörjas. Mest framträdande problem är tillämpningen av EU:s ramdirektiv för vatten, kostnader och miljöpåverkan.