The plot is situated south of the small village Alberga in the south west of the municipality of Eskilstuna. The project is an example of how a landscape can be made accessible for people and through emotional conection be considered worth protecting, and at the same time offer a house for community. This is done with a House for the People - Folkets hus - together with a small spa inspired public bath with a fireplace in is center, and a research facility for conducting limnological and ecological research in the close marshy area and the lake Hjälmaren. The building is situated on top of three man made ponds, one new for the project, held upp by low pillars giving the house a floating impression. The architecture consists of a timber structure suported by rammed earth walls, the earth taken from the site when constructiong af a new pond. The three different usages of the program is separated into its own body and connecting them is a series of walkways, in some places suspended from the timber rafters. The project should... - Bring the community together in a flexible meeting place for many different activities- Preserv and strengthen a landscape´s ecology - Put a small village on the map and build a larger net of interconnectedness / Tomten ligger söder om den lilla byn Alberga i sydvästra Eskilstuna kommun. Projektet är ett exempel på hur ett landskap kan göras tillgängligt för människor och genom känslomässig koppling anses värt att skydda, och samtidigt erbjuda ett hus för gemenskap. Detta görs med en hybridbyggnad av ett Folkets hus tillsammans med ett litet spa-inspirerat bad med öppen spis i centrum samt en forskningsanläggning för att bedriva limnologisk och ekologisk forskning i det närliggande våtmarksmrådet och sjön Hjälmaren. Byggnaden ligger ovanpå tre konstgjorda dammar, en ny för projektet, hållna uppe av låga pelare som ger huset ett flytande uttryck. Arkitekturen består av en limträkonstruktion som bärs upp av stampade jordväggar, jorden hämtad från platsen vid anläggandet av en ny damm. De tre olika användningsområdena för programmet är uppdelade i varsin kropp och är sammankopplande med bryggor.Projektet ska... – Föra samman boende i takten genom samlingslokaler för flera olika aktiviteter - Ta till vara på ett unikt landskap samt att stärka dess ställning och ekologi – Gynna bygdens tillväxt med besöksnäring genom attraktivt besöksmål

The following is a compilation of field data collected in 2011 and 2012 in Apalachicola, FL as part of a five year study assessing the ecological effects of sea level rise in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Many coastal communities, both natural and developed, will soon be working to mitigate the effects of sea level rise, if they are not already doing so. This thesis investigates the natural patterns of the Apalachicola estuarine system through the collection and analysis of in situ water, sediment, and biomass samples. Additionally, results of the field samples are presented and recommendations for additional sampling are given. The field methods and procedures developed in this study were designed to be repeated in other estuaries to build upon the work that has been conducted in Apalachicola. Water samples were tested for total suspended solids (TSS) and compared against hydrodynamic (tidal circulation and streamflow) and meteorological (wind and precipitation) characteristics. Streamflow was determined to influence a seasonal base level concentration of TSS. Wind strength and direction consistently influenced small TSS concentration fluctuations, an effect amplified by the shallow nature of the estuary. Tidal circulation appeared to have minor influences on TSS concentration fluctuations within the base level concentration range. Precipitation appeared to influence large TSS concentration fluctuations; however, due to limited data collection during storm events, more data is required to conclusively state this. Sediment cores throughout the lower Apalachicola River revealed that coarse particles settled out in upstream areas while fine particles tended to stay in suspension until low energy areas in the lower portions of the river or marsh system were reached. Finally, biomass samples were used to iv develop regression models utilizing remotely sensed data to predict biomass density in marsh areas with unprecedented accuracy. The documented patterns of this system are to be used as inputs and validation points to update an existing hydrodynamic model and to aid in the coupling and development of sediment transport and marsh equilibrium models. The field campaign developed and implemented here provides a foundation for this novel coupled modeling effort of estuarine systems. From the 2011 and 2012 sampling conducted, it is apparent that Apalachicola can be modeled as a closed system with river inflow and sediment influx as boundary conditions. Forcing local conditions should accurately represent the system. Ultimately, these models will be used to simulate future sea level rise scenarios and will provide useful decision making tools to coastal managers. Future work will include replicating water sampling in subsequent wet and dry seasons in Apalachicola, FL to confirm observed trends, in addition to implementing this sampling in Grand Bay, MS and Weeks Bay, AL. Additional biomass samples will be taken to validate the strong correlations found between remotely sensed data and in situ samples. In similar studies, it is recommended that water samples be taken to adequately represent influences from tidal cycles and riverine inflow. It is also recommended that spatially distributed biomass samples be taken to validate regression models.

Biogeography provides a window into the evolutionary history of populations, and helps explain the diversity and distribution of life through time. Viewed from a systematic perspective, biogeographic studies generate convincing arguments to explain the relationships among organisms and categorize them into useful taxonomies. When taxonomies do not reflect evolutionary histories, inaccurate representations of biodiversity confound future studies and conservation efforts. Two thamnophiine snakes, Nerodia clarkii and Nerodia fasciata, harbor unique morphological and ecological adaptations that obscured natural groupings, leading to controversial taxonomic delimitations. Additionally, population declines documented in N. clarkii compressicauda and N. clarkii taeniata led managers to list N. clarkii taeniata as threatened in 1977. I generated a baseline for continued biogeographic and systematic study of the Nerodia clarkii/fasciata clade. I used mitochondrial DNA to build a parsimony-based haplotype network, infer the phylogenetic relationships between the two species and their thamnophiine relatives, and estimate the divergence times of major N. clarkii/fasciata clades. With these data, I tested biogeographic and systematic hypotheses about the origin and distribution of diversity in this clade. I used principal components analyses to summarize morphological data and discuss ecological observations in search of characters that may unite genetic or taxonomic units. The analyses revealed a peninsular and a panhandle clade in Florida that appeared to iv diverge as a result of Pleistocene glacial fluctuations. I found no support genetically, morphologically, or ecologically for the current taxonomy, indicating a need for range-wide research to generate revised nomenclature. My results do not support the protection status of N. clarkii taeniata

Soil organic carbon (SOC) is concentrated in coastal wetlands, and its permanence maintains a livable climate, yet dynamics that govern microbial activity and SOC persistence are not fully characterized in coastal wetlands. Though microbial activity is conventionally thought to facilitate SOC loss, soil microbes simultaneously direct SOC formation. In fact, microbially-processed materials constitute up to half of the terrestrial soil organic carbon pool. Environmental conditions can affect whether microbes yield a net gain or loss of SOC, yet there is little consensus on microbial drivers of soil carbon longevity in coastal ecosystems. I sought to identify which drivers of microbial activity have the greatest impact on SOC in salt marsh soils. To address this question, I conducted a meta-analysis using the PRISMA method. Based on an initial survey of 2,835 studies, numeric data on soil and ecosystem characteristics were collected across 50 studies on over 60 salt marshes located around the world. Integrative data analyses, including structural equation modeling (SEM), were applied to synthesized data to identify environmental drivers of SOC in salt marsh ecosystems. Across a wide range of study sites, analysis of over 20 variables shows that soil characteristics are tightly linked. Salinity, pH, nitrogen, and phosphorus are associated with increased microbial biomass and soil organic carbon. Correlations between microbial biomass carbon and SOC are strengthened by soil salinity and nitrogen, and they are weakened by moisture. Correlations were dependent on the means by which variables were measured, yet findings were consistent across study sites. These results suggest that soil carbon content is affected by drivers of microbial activity. Observational findings set the stage for experimental strategies that parcel causal effects of microbial activity on SOC from confounding effects of covariant environmental conditions. I identified that nitrogen, phosphorus, salinity, pH, and moisture influence microbial contributions to SOC. These environmental drivers, as well as microbial biomass and greenhouse gas flux, should be considered key indicators of soil health when assessing the sustainability of coastal SOC. Identification of environmental drivers of microbial function enables design of land management strategies that promote conditions conducive to coastal soil carbon longevity.

Pattern formation in ecological systems refers to a nonuniform distribution of animal and plant species across a landscape. Pattern formation can be observed in many aquatic and terrestrial systems and can provide important insights into their dynamics and ability to cope with environmental changes. In this dissertation, we focus on pattern formation in tidal marshes and oyster reefs, two important habitats that provide a number of essential ecosystem services. Both of these systems have also experienced dramatic losses, prompting much research to investigate their dynamics as and viable restoration and management strategies. The first part of this dissertation focuses on understanding the spatial patterning of the marsh shoreline, which can range from a uniform to a more wave-like shoreline. We present a mathematical framework for modeling the spatial variation of the shoreline as a result of interactions between marsh vegetation, mussels and their impact on marsh sedimentation and erosion. While both species are known to significantly impact marsh dynamics, no mathematical model describing this phenomenon has been previously proposed. Numerical and analytical investigation of our model indicates that the interactions between these species can drive the spatial variation of the marsh edge, increase the system’s productivity and allow it to withstand harsh erosion conditions. The second part of this dissertation focuses on pattern formation in intertidal oyster reef communities, where both round and elongated reefs of various orientations dominate the landscape. Most of what is currently known about reef geometry has been anecdotal, with no comprehensive, quantitative study of reef pattern formation carried out. In particular, the interaction of oyster reefs of various geometric configuration with tidal flow remains poorly understood. This is important in reef restoration, where understanding the interaction of reef geometry with flow and other environmental factors can inform the construction of artificial oyster reefs. In this dissertation, we present a comprehensive analysis of remotely sensed aerial imagery of an intertidal oyster reef network in conjunction with information on tidal flow dynamics and bathymetry. Using texture and color properties of the aerial imagery, we identify and delineate over six thousand individual reefs. We then classify reefs into natural classes based on geometric attributes such as reef shape, size and orientation. Finally, we use multiple spatial analysis techniques to determine the spatial clustering of different reef types and investigate the role of flow and bathymetry in their spatial distribution.

Concern over recent declines in many wetland-dependent bird species has led to a need to monitor marsh bird populations in response to anthropogenic activities. I conducted point counts and vegetation surveys at 26 coastal wetlands in the Laurentian Great Lakes Region of Canada from 2006-2008 to determine 1) effective methods to monitor marsh birds, and 2) the impacts of land use surrounding coastal wetlands on marsh bird communities. The first part of this dissertation showed that call-broadcasts are effective tools for monitoring marsh birds and that point counts for marsh birds should be conducted from both the shoreline and from the interior of large marshes. Because of the species-area relationship for wetland birds in southern Ontario, sampling effort should increase proportionally with wetland area to attempt the detection of all species present. In the second part of this thesis, I showed that marsh obligate-nesters preferred wetlands in rural areas as opposed to urban areas, while generalist marsh-nesting species showed no apparent difference in use. The Index of Marsh Bird Community Integrity (IMBCI), a biological index used to indicate wetland health, was significantly higher in rural than in urban marshes. Marsh isolation was also an important factor in predicting the marsh bird community, with more isolated wetlands containing fewer obligate species and associated with a lower IMBCI value. Wetlands of Georgian Bay were found to have quite different bird and plant communities than wetlands of Lake Ontario. Even though wetlands of Lake Ontario were considerably more degraded than those in Georgian Bay (according to land use alteration and degree of water quality impairment), these two regions produced similar IMBCI scores, and this draws into question the applicability of some indicators on a basin-wide scale. The results of this thesis indicate how survey protocols in existing wetland bird monitoring programs should be modified and support current literature that urbanization negatively affects the marsh bird community. </p> / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Coastal Louisiana U.S. is facing wetland loss caused mainly by geologic subsidence and sea-level rise. These losses are accelerated by human activities such as the creation of canals and waterways for gas and oil extraction. Wetland loss in coastal Louisiana has encouraged to the implementation of various wetland restoration techniques. Marsh terraces are a one restoration technique consisting of segmented berms of soil that are built in inland coastal ponds. They are designed to increase marsh area, dissipate wind driven waves, encourage marsh expansion, and possibly reduce shoreline erosion. Marsh terraces have been implemented for almost 30 years; however, little research has been conducted to determine their effectiveness at reducing wave energy. Therefore, the overall goal of this research is to find the most optimal terrace design at reducing significant wave height, and therefore wave energy. The specific objectives of this study are to 1) assess terrace performance and longevity over time, 2) simulate wave climates in marsh terrace sites and determine the effectiveness of marsh terraces for the reduction of wave energy, and 3) assess the effectiveness of different terrace designs at reducing significant wave height during low winds and cold front passages in coastal Louisiana. These objectives were accomplished through remote sensing and numerical wave modeling. This study found that there was more predominant deposition than erosion in 20 marsh terrace fields. The study also used a numerical model to simulate small, high frequency waves in two terrace sites, finding an agreement between modeled and observed data. Moreover, wave height was reduced in terrace sites compared to unterraced sites. Finally, it was found that the chevron design is the most optimal terrace design at reducing significant wave height in a variety of wind conditions. This study adds to our knowledge of marsh terrace performance. In this way, marsh terraces may be used as an effective restoration technique at reducing wave energy, not just in Louisiana, but throughout the Gulf Coast, the U.S., and other coasts worldwide that are facing wetland loss.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.