Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1970. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.) in Forestry--University of Maine, 2004. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 121-125).

In the attempt to formulate a statement of the Canadian land ethic (if that can even be accomplished), it was decided one area had to be focused upon — that landscape is the Chilliwack Valley. The description of the factors contributing to the historical layering (or continuum) of the valley has been organized into five chapters. The first chapter is an introduction to the required theory and methodology. Since this is the first attempt at an analysis of British Columbian environmental history (based on a geographically finite area), various approaches in understanding the processes of alteration and accumulation which were found helpful have been outlined. The theory found most useful suggests landscape can only be understood if the ideologies associated with spatial topics of wilderness, pastoral, and urbanism are examined. The second is an objective presentation of events which resulted in physical alteration of the valley from its primeval state to its recent urbanization. Seven chronological periods have been identified beginning with prehistory' s geomorphology, synecology and aboriginal culture, and ending with the period from post World War II to 1971. The text is supported by a series of ten maps. The third chapter outlines a theory of cultural diffusion which has determined the expectations of the various settlers to the valley. Due to the limited time and resources available, those aspects of world heritage which filtered to Chilliwack with the British received particular attention. This could be justified because by official, cultural, and individual influence, these concepts have set the matrix for what has occurred in the valley in the past few centuries. Contributions examined include the natural landscape, the village, and the garden city. Each was analyzed for origins, evolution, and dispersal to this continent (and eventually to Chilliwack). A model of idea diffusion has been abstracted to gain a more complete grasp of Canadian roots. The fourth is primary research into the modus operandi behind Chilliwackian landscape alteration. The values and ideals of successive generations of inhabitants have been discussed and their effect upon the land described. Human influence can be subdivided into four groupings including: Stalo responses to the indigenous landscape based upon a 10,000 year residency and a culture closely allied with nature; responses to the landscape by colonists who transferred an existing cultural infrastructure from Europe; responses influenced by contemporary environment solutions circulated throughout the world (both environmentally sensitive and solutions which disregard natural systems); and responses to the indigenous landscape by Chilliwackians, which reflect the emerging Canadian land ethic. The final chapter revolves around a discussion of Chilliwack's future. It offers a vision of what the future might be for coming generations if the trends indicated by both the legacy of the past and by new pressures facing the valley's limited space and resources are not controlled. Historical precedent for the land controls which offer the only hope for the valley is given. An analysis of the purpose and functioning of-the British Columbia Land Commission follows. In the summary, two observations are made. First, the Chilliwack Valley's mountainous containment coupled with the presence of an advanced civilization should result in the whole valley being regarded as a park for the benefit of both metro and valley residents. Its original perception as the "Garden of Eden" may yet be salvaged for future centuries to enjoy. The second observation is that a Canadian land ethic seems to be slowly emerging, which may come to rely upon Canadian imagery, both historical and natural, for design inspiration. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Architecture and Landscape Architecture (SALA), School of / Graduate

This thesis employs twentieth-century hydroelectric development ventures in the Highlands of Scotland as a means of exploring conflicting demands of socio-economic development and landscape protection in cherished places. In Scotland, twentieth-century landscape protection ideals were founded upon a landscape aesthetic shaped by the principles and objectives of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Romanticism. The concept that the ‘natural’ world somehow existed separately from the world of humans, as a potential refuge from a rapidly industrialising European society, meant that the Romantic landscape aesthetic left little or no room for the incorporation of visible elements of industrialisation. This aesthetic has seen only limited change over time. As a result, satisfactory compromises between land-use and landscape protection have seldom been reached: a situation thrown into sharp relief by efforts to develop Highland water systems for the generation of hydroelectric energy during the period 1919 to 1980. The debate over hydroelectric development in the Highlands is instructive for a number of reasons, not least its parallels with the current focus on the placement of wind turbines in significant landscapes. Thanks to the Romantic legacy, attempts to modify landscapes as valued as those of the Highlands are fraught with complexity, even when development is undertaken in the interests of socio-economic enhancement. The thesis outlines the progression of both sides of the argument, assesses the significance of the compromises attempted and evaluates the lessons learned from nearly six decades of policymaking initiatives in this sphere. Core aesthetic ideals broadened, but did not change. Landscape protection progressed on the basis of protectionists’ ability to adjust the focus of their opposition; increased articulation of the idea of the collective ownership of important landscapes superseded the need to confront the viability of entrenched aesthetic orthodoxies.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 2009. / Title from title page screen (viewed on Oct. 22, 2009). Thesis advisor: Sherry Cable. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Conservation strategies are mainly focused on species existing in an environment shaped by natural and anthropogenic pressures. Yet, evidence shows that climate is changing faster than ever and expected to continue to change in the near future, which can be devastating for plants with restricted ranges. Turkey harbors many endemic species that might be affected from these changes. However, available data is scarce and biased, complicating the anticipation of future changes. Aim of this study is to improve our understanding of endemic species distributions and forecasting effects of climate change via species distribution modelling (SDM). The study is based on two Anatolian (Crocus ancyrensis and Crataegus tanacetifolia) and two Ankara (Salvia aytachii and Centaurea tchihatcheffii) endemics. Independent presence and absence data (ranging between 19-68 and 38-61, respectively) for each species was collected through fieldwork in and around the Upper Sakarya Basin in 2008 and 2009. With the software Maxent, SDMs were performed by using 8 least correlated environmental features and random presence records (of which 25% were used for confusion matrix). SDMs for current distributions of C. ancyrensis, C. tchihatcheffii and C. tanacetifolia were reliable enough for future extrapolations despite errors originating from scale, non-equilibrium status and biotic interactions, respectively. The model for S. aytachii failed due to absence of limiting factor (soil type) in the model. Future projections of those three species modelled using CCCMA-CGCM2 and HADCM3 climate models indicated three possible responses to climate change: (1) Extinction, especially for habitat specialists / (2) Range expansion, especially for generalist species / and (3) Range contradiction, especially for Euro-Siberian mountainous species. Species modelling can be used to understand possible responses of plant species to climate change in Turkey. Modelling techniques should to be improved, however, especially by integrating other parameters such as biotic interactions and through a better understanding of uncertainties.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Rutgers University, 2009. / "Graduate Program in Planning and Public Policy." Includes bibliographical references (p. 288-306).

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 136-145).

A gap exists between people and geological treasures which they have failed to recognised, in particular their scientific, educational, cultural, and aesthetic values. In general, comprehensive treatment on conservation of geoheritage is missing in the local context. Identification of geoheritages may be the first step to bridge the gap, but there is no workable definition to start with. Some overseas authorities may give guidance to identify the targets, so an inventory of significant geoheritages can be established to facilitate their protection and monitoring. The need for conservation of geoheritages is generally overlooked. There are specific authorities and legislation to protect cultural heritages and biodiversity, but not so for geoheritages, even for those within the Geopark, which may fall victim to rapid economic development, a more potential impact than the natural processes of weathering and erosion. A similar conservation vacuum is also observed with many stone monuments which share the same fate as geoheritages. On the other hand, a close relationship exists among the biological, cultural/historical and geological aspects of a site to justify inclusion of geoheritages in the current conservation regime. An integral management approach could be an effective strategy for conserving these aspects within the same location. Appreciating geoheritages in the field brings nice surprises to the curious, which underpins that geology can be made an interesting and lively study. The theoretical discussions have been applied to a case study on Po Toi. A fieldtrip worksheet was designed to serve as an example for students and other interested members of the public who are encouraged to retrace the steps of the author in an enjoyable learning experience. / published_or_final_version / Applied Geosciences / Master / Master of Science

The paradigm of aquatic food webs has undergone fundamental revision over the past twenty years. Research suggests that a significant proportion of organic material and energy in aquatic ecosystems flows through a "microbial loop" before passage into the classic aquatic food web. Unique Antarctic conditions mean such "bottom-up" control can be of extreme importance during the austral winter. In order to investigate this, the microbial communities and physico-chemical properties of three saline lakes in the Vestfold Hills, eastern Antarctica, Ace, Highway and Rookery, were investigated between December 1995 and February 1997 . The lakes of the Vestfold Hills were formed approximately 8000 years ago following a period of post-glacial marine transgression, which isolated seawater in glacially scoured basins. Post-formation, the chemistry and biology of this isolated seawater underwent significant changes creating a suite of lakes and ponds with highly varied chemical and biological compositions. This study was concerned with meromictic Ace Lake in particular. Physico-chemical results demonstrated that the lake was highly stratified. An upper, nutrient-poor mixolimnion was separated by a thermoclinelhalocline from a lower, nutrient-replete monimolimnion. The monimolimnion was further stratified in terms of oxygen; an oxycline separated an oxic upper stratum from an anoxic lower stratum. At the oxycline, organic substrate sedimenting from above and inorganic nutrients diffusing from below were entrained. This stable stratification exerted a profound influence on the microbial dynamics of Ace Lake. Over the course of its evolution the microbial food web of Ace Lake was truncated and a simple, low diversity community of bacteria, algae and Protozoa, with a paucity of metazoan zooplankton, now dominates. This evolutionary process was illustrated by the intermediate diversity of the protozoan community in recently formed, Rookery Lake. The most dominant micro-organisms in Ace Lake were those which were highly motile and employed versatile nutritional strategies, such as mixotrophy, to remain physiologically active during the austral winter. Ace Lake is an oligotrophic system which receives negligible allochthonous inputs of organic carbon and inorganic nutrients. However, a simple model of the carbon flux within Ace Lake highlighted the fact that autotrophic production within the plankton was insufficient alone to maintain the level of heterotrophic activity observed. Instead, the microbial plankton were dependent on regenerative fluxes of inorganic nutrients and slow-turnover autochthonous carbon, consistent with the concept of the microbial loop.