Climate change and increasing sea level elevation are predicted to increase salinity in estuarine tidal wetlands in the Southeastern United States. Since much of the ecosystem function in these areas is predicated upon salinity regimes, many fundamental changes are likely to occur as a result. The influence of salinity and SO4 2- reduction on PO4 3- release from tidal wetland soils was evaluated along a salinity gradient at three sites in The St. John’s River, Florida using both field and laboratorybased methods. Porewater was sampled over the course of 10 months to determine ambient levels of SO4 2- and PO4 3-. Lab-based experiments, soils samples were subjected to seawater and SO4 2- treatments in an attempt to induce PO4 3- release. Salinity was lowest at Sixmile Creek (0.45 ± 0.1 g kg-1) and Goodby’s Creek (2.05 ± 2.3 g kg-1) and much higher at Sister’s Creek (27.81 ± 3.1 g kg-1). The organic content of soils was highest (82.35% ± 5.11) at Sixmile Creek, intermediate at Goodby’s Creek (64.45% ± 7.02) and lowest at Sister’s Creek (32.11% ± 9.61). Total soil P was highest at the freshwater Sixmile Creek (1101.64 ± 220.2 μg g-1), intermediate at the brackish Goodby’s Creek (719.61 ± 114.3 μg g-1) and lowest at the Sister’s Creek saltmarsh (475.85 ± 110.9 μg g-1). Porewater PO4 3- was higher at Sixmile and Goodby’s Creek sites (9.44 ± 15.6, 8.99 ± 14.7 !g L-1, respectively) compared to Sister’s Creek (0.6 ± 3.1 !g L-1). Porewater SO4 2- was lower at Sixmile (70.73± 57.58 !g L-1) and Goodby’s Creeks (124.35 ± 152.5 !g L-1) compared to Sister’s Creek (1931.41 ± 557.82 !g L-1). Temporal and spatial trends indicated that SO4 2- and PO4 3- in porewater was likely due to floodwater content and that direct reaction between analytes in soils was unlikely. The addition of aerated seawater failed to cause PO4 3- release from any sites. The incubation of soils under anaerobic conditions, in the presence of Na2SO4 induced SO4 2- reduction, but inhibited PO4 3- flux from both Sixmile and Goodby’s Creek, which is attributed here to likely S- toxicity (Roychoudhury et al., 1999). PO4 3- flux from Sister’s Creek increased in association with Na2SO4 concentration, likely due to more Fe availability to mitigate Stoxicity. Ambient seawater additions to soils under anaerobic conditions followed a similar trend, but the results were not statistically conclusive. Overall, both field and labbased data indicated that Tidal wetland porewater PO4 3- likely originates from floodwaters and that increased salinity and SO4 2- reduction did not directly enhance soil PO4 3- fluxes.

<p>Greater prairie-chickens (<i>Tympanuchus cupido pinnatus</i>; GPC) have declined throughout large areas in the eastern portion of their range. I used species distribution modeling to predict most appropriate areas of translocation of GPC in and around Kankakee Sands, a tallgrass prairie in northwest Indiana, USA. I used MaxEnt for modelling the predictions based on relevant environmental predictors along with occurrence points of 54 known lek sites. I created four models inspired by Hovick et al. (2015): Universal, Environmental, Anthropogenic-Landcover, and Anthropogenic-MODIS. The Universal, Environmental, and Anthropogenic-MODIS models possessed passable AUC scores with low omission error rates. However, only the Universal model performed better than the null model according to binomial testing. I created maps of all models with passing AUC scores along with an overlay map displaying the highest predictions across all passing models. MaxEnt predicted high relative likelihoods of occurrence for the entirety of Kankakee Sands and many areas in the nearby landscape, including the surrounding agricultural matrix. With implementation of some management suggestions and potential cooperation with local farmers, GPC translocation to the area appears plausible.</p> <p>Franklin’s ground squirrels (<i>Poliocitellus franklinii</i>; FGS) have declined throughout a large portion of the eastern periphery of their range. Because of this, The Nature Conservancy is interested in establishing a new population of these animals via translocation. The area of interest is tallgrass prairie in northwest Indiana, USA: Kankakee Sands and the surrounding landscape. Species distribution modelling can help identify areas that are suitable for translocation. I used MaxEnt, relevant environmental variables, and 44 known occurrence points to model the potential for translocation of FGS to Kankakee Sands and the surrounding area. I created four models inspired by Hovick et al. (2015): Universal, Environmental, Anthropogenic-Landcover, and Anthropogenic-MODIS. I created maps of models with passing AUC scores. The final map was an overlay map displaying the highest relative likelihood of occurrence predictions for the area in all passing models. Only the Universal and Anthropogenic-MODIS models had passable AUC scores. Both had acceptable omission error rates. However, none of the models performed better than the null model (p < 0.05). MaxEnt predicted that a few areas in and outside of Kankakee Sands possess high relative likelihoods of occurrence of FGS in both the Universal and Anthropogenic-MODIS models. However, MaxEnt predicted high relative likelihoods in the surrounding agricultural matrix in the Universal Model. FGS prefer to cross through agricultural areas via unmowed roadside instead of open fields (Duggan et al. 2011). Because of this, high predictions in agricultural matrices in the Universal model are irrelevant. High relative likelihood predictions for linear sections that are obviously roads are disregardable in the context of my modeling efforts. Because of my low sample size, none of the models are really reliable in predicting relative likelihoods of occurrence for this area. Despite high relative likelihood predictions, the appropriateness of a translocation effort to the area is inconclusive.</p>

Cumulative effects from multiple anthropogenic stressors over the past three centuries have severely impacted estuarine and coastal habitats, with cascading effects on the species that rely upon them. Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus sp.) are migratory species that use estuaries as juveniles and as adults and deliver critical nutrients to coastal ecosystems as they move between fresh and marine waters. Many once abundant salmon populations have been extirpated or are in severe decline relative to historic levels, yet the strength of the relationship between habitat loss and population productivity has been challenged. In this dissertation, I applied field studies, otolith analyses, and conservation decision science tools to investigate the relative importance of estuarine habitat to salmon populations, with the aim of advancing effective management solutions for these species and their habitats. First, I conducted a two-year field survey of fish communities in the Fraser River estuary, British Columbia, Canada comparing the species richness and relative catch amongst three distinct habitats. I found that this impacted estuary still supported a rich community of migratory marine and anadromous fishes, as well as resident estuarine fish species. Each habitat supported some unique fish assemblages, with eelgrass supporting the highest catch and diversity of fishes overall but brackish marsh supporting the highest and most consistent catch of salmonids. Next, I used otolith analyses to quantify the residency and growth of juvenile Chinook salmon in the estuary. I found that for one of the only two remaining Chinook salmon stocks abundant enough to still support limited harvest in the Fraser River, the estuary provides vital rearing habitat, with juveniles residing in the estuary for an average of 6 weeks, during which time they had mean daily growth rates of 0.57 mm fork length, approximating growth in healthier estuarine systems. The use of these habitats by juvenile Chinook salmon had not been quantified previously, so these findings directly inform management of this population, which was recently designated as Threatened by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Finally, I applied Priority Threat Management, a conservation decision science framework, to predict the future status of Pacific salmon in the lower Fraser River and identify the most cost-effective conservation solutions out of a suite of alternative management strategies. On our current trajectory none of these populations were predicted to be assessed as ‘green’ or healthy status at the end of 25 years. In contrast, implementation of broad scale habitat restoration, protection, and watershed management could considerably improve the viability of the lower Fraser to support these salmon, such that many (14/19) of these populations would have a >50% likelihood of being assessed as healthy. Together, this research provides novel evidence of active and selective use of estuarine habitats by juvenile salmon, reliance on estuarine habitat for early marine growth by juvenile Chinook salmon, and a direct link between habitat health and population status for lower Fraser River salmon populations. / Graduate / 2023-04-13

The loss of biodiversity worldwide and methods of prevention are hot subjects receiving increased interest in todays’ research. Meadow construction in urban areas has been the focus of recent studies to increase both local and global biodiversity. In my report, I address potential analyses to conduct in advance before practical meadow constructions in a landscape. The subject I chose to focus on for this report was a LONA-project aimed to construct meadows on contemporary amenity grasslands in a semi-urban municipality. I used vegetation data from an inventory executed in 2021. Patches were in advance classified based on conditions observed during the inventory with class 1 obtaining the highest meadow potential, class 2 obtaining mediocre potential, and class 3 weak or no potential. I analysed vegetation data on species richness, environmental indicator values, and composition. Additionally, I analysed the soil types and historical land uses in the study area to display credible soil characteristics. The order of Lepidoptera was used as a model taxon for pollinators and the red-listed Marsh fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia) was separately analysed for conservational purposes. To illustrate the landscapes’ ability to facilitate the dispersal of butterflies, connectivity analyses of varying meadow construction scenarios were executed. Results indicate higher species richness on average per patch and more indicator species in class 1, suggesting a better starting point and making quality assessments more credible in comparison to class 2. Underlaying soil type seems to some extent to influence the meadow potential by affecting vegetation composition and hence butterfly occurrence in terms of host plant distribution. I could however not draw any conclusions from the effect of historical land use on current patch classifications, and consequently meadow potential. To facilitate for E. aurinia to widen its distribution in the study area, and to avoid local extinction, further conservational efforts should focus on mimicking the conditions and current management of the powerline corridor, that currently yields high diversity of butterflies and abundance of E. aurinia, to other powerline corridors in the study area. To facilitate dispersal of butterflies and other pollinators, target meadow areas of both class 1 and class 2 patches should be constructed to avoid patch isolation, as illustrated in the connectivity analyses. Further research is needed to investigate other factors possibly affecting suitability of grasslands for meadow construction.

No description available.

No description available.

<h2>BIOGAS POTENTIAL IN GRASSES FROM WETLANDS</h2><p><em>Marvin Martins</em></p><p>The purpose of this study has been to survey wetlands that are suitable for mowing and to analyze the biogas potential in the harvested grasses. A preformed investigation showed that there are suitable wetlands, which can be harvestable, namely those mowed formerly in traditional haymaking. The practice of traditional haymaking is dying out in Sweden today but there are several good reasons why it should to be reconsidered. Nature- and cultural values are obvious, also the unutilized energy in the grass.</p><p>The suitable types of wetland that were specifically studied were the productive wetlands; meadow marshes and wet meadows. These wetlands are represented in the Swedish meadow- and pasture inventory database; (TUVA) and the Swedish national wetland inventory (VMI). Going through the databases showed that they largely complement each other. A geographical mapping was also carried out of wetlands in relation to areas of interest for the future establishment of biogas plants, so called “hotspots”. The geographical survey shows that there is ample amount of grass from wetlands within a 30-kilometer radius that can supplement the plants main substrate, manure. The map layer Swedish Ground Cover Data (SMD) together with GIS software was used to analyze the extent of overgrowth for the older VMI objects in Uppsala County, with the result that half of the VMI objects are no longer of interest. They have become either woodland and bogs, or reed beds.</p><p>There is very little information on wetland-grasses and methane production. Instead, a theory was evaluated regarding the possibility of transforming nutritional values for grass and sedges into biogas potentials. It was shown that this method does not capture the total biogas potential, but offers a minimum value that can be considered rather reliable. The energy transformation showed that late harvested grasses from wetlands has a biogas potential about 0, 21Nm³methane/ (kg, DM) which is about 60 % of the biogas potential for grass-legume forages. The gas yield after 20 days is also relatively low. It could though be favorable to try grasses from wetlands in methane production, because co-digestion with these grasses and other suitable materials could produce a higher net gas yield for the plant, than using the materials solely by themselves. The derived biogas potential showed that there is at least 4, 4 GWh biogas energy in grasses from wetlands in Uppsala county at a low estimate. Harvesting costs were however shown to be too high in the present to achieve a plus result.</p> / <h2>BIOGASPOTENTIAL HOS VÅTMARKSGRÄS</h2><p><em>Marvin Martins</em></p><p>Syftet med detta arbete har varit att kartlägga våtmarker i Biogas Östs region lämpliga att skörda samt att undersöka biogaspotentialen i detta våtmarksgräs. Undersökningen visar att det finns lämpliga våtmarker, så kallade slåtterängar, i den undersökta regionen. Traditionell slåtter är en utdöende företeelse i Sverige men det finns flera goda argument till varför den borde återupptas. Natur- och kulturvärden är givna sådana men även den outnyttjade energin i gräset.<em></em></p><p>Våtmarkstyper som specifikt har studerats är de produktiva våta slåtterängarna; fuktängar, strandängar och mader. Dessa våtmarker finns representerade i Ängs- och betesmarksinventeringens databas; TUVA och våtmarksinventeringens VMI. En genomgång av databaserna visade att de i stor utsträckning kompletterar varandra. En geografisk kartläggning har även utförts på slåttermarker i förhållande till intressanta områden för framtida biogasanläggningar, så kallade ”hotspots”. Kartläggningen visar att det finns gott om våtmarksgräs inom en tremilsradie som kan komplettera anläggningarnas huvudsubstrat, gödsel. Kartskiktet Svenska Marktäckedata (SMD) tillsammans med GIS-programvara har använts för att analysera hur mycket de äldre VMI-objekten i Uppsala län har växt igen, med resultatet att hälften av VMI-våtmarkerna är inaktuella i dagsläget. De har antingen växt igen med mossor och träd eller blivit vassbälten.</p><p>Det finns ytterst begränsat med information kring rötdata på våtmarksgräs. Istället utvärderades en teori, om fodervärden för ett par gräs- och starrarter kan omvandlas till biogaspotentialer. Det visade sig att denna metod inte ger den maximala biogaspotentialen men ett minimivärde erhålls som kan betraktas som ganska tillförlitligt. Energiomvandlingen visar att sent slåttat våtmarksgräs har en biogaspotential runt 0,21 Nm³ metan/(kg, TS) vilket är omkring 60 % av den odlade åkervallens biogaspotential. Gasutbytet efter 20 dagars rötning är också relativt lågt. Trots detta kan det vara fördelaktigt att röta våtmarksgräs, eftersom samrötning mellan detta och annat lämpligt material kan ge ett högre nettogasutbyte för anläggningen än rötning av de enskilda materialen var för sig. Den framtagna biogaspotentialen visar att det finns minst 4,4 GWh biogasenergi i våtmarksgräs från till exempel Uppsala län, lågt räknat. Slåtterkostnaderna har dock visat sig vara för höga för att få det att gå ihop ekonomiskt i dagsläget.</p>

BIOGAS POTENTIAL IN GRASSES FROM WETLANDS Marvin Martins The purpose of this study has been to survey wetlands that are suitable for mowing and to analyze the biogas potential in the harvested grasses. A preformed investigation showed that there are suitable wetlands, which can be harvestable, namely those mowed formerly in traditional haymaking. The practice of traditional haymaking is dying out in Sweden today but there are several good reasons why it should to be reconsidered. Nature- and cultural values are obvious, also the unutilized energy in the grass. The suitable types of wetland that were specifically studied were the productive wetlands; meadow marshes and wet meadows. These wetlands are represented in the Swedish meadow- and pasture inventory database; (TUVA) and the Swedish national wetland inventory (VMI). Going through the databases showed that they largely complement each other. A geographical mapping was also carried out of wetlands in relation to areas of interest for the future establishment of biogas plants, so called “hotspots”. The geographical survey shows that there is ample amount of grass from wetlands within a 30-kilometer radius that can supplement the plants main substrate, manure. The map layer Swedish Ground Cover Data (SMD) together with GIS software was used to analyze the extent of overgrowth for the older VMI objects in Uppsala County, with the result that half of the VMI objects are no longer of interest. They have become either woodland and bogs, or reed beds. There is very little information on wetland-grasses and methane production. Instead, a theory was evaluated regarding the possibility of transforming nutritional values for grass and sedges into biogas potentials. It was shown that this method does not capture the total biogas potential, but offers a minimum value that can be considered rather reliable. The energy transformation showed that late harvested grasses from wetlands has a biogas potential about 0, 21Nm3 methane/ (kg, DM) which is about 60 % of the biogas potential for grass-legume forages. The gas yield after 20 days is also relatively low. It could though be favorable to try grasses from wetlands in methane production, because co-digestion with these grasses and other suitable materials could produce a higher net gas yield for the plant, than using the materials solely by themselves. The derived biogas potential showed that there is at least 4, 4 GWh biogas energy in grasses from wetlands in Uppsala county at a low estimate. Harvesting costs were however shown to be too high in the present to achieve a plus result. / BIOGASPOTENTIAL HOS VÅTMARKSGRÄS Marvin Martins Syftet med detta arbete har varit att kartlägga våtmarker i Biogas Östs region lämpliga att skörda samt att undersöka biogaspotentialen i detta våtmarksgräs. Undersökningen visar att det finns lämpliga våtmarker, så kallade slåtterängar, i den undersökta regionen. Traditionell slåtter är en utdöende företeelse i Sverige men det finns flera goda argument till varför den borde återupptas. Natur- och kulturvärden är givna sådana men även den outnyttjade energin i gräset. Våtmarkstyper som specifikt har studerats är de produktiva våta slåtterängarna; fuktängar, strandängar och mader. Dessa våtmarker finns representerade i Ängs- och betesmarksinventeringens databas; TUVA och våtmarksinventeringens VMI. En genomgång av databaserna visade att de i stor utsträckning kompletterar varandra. En geografisk kartläggning har även utförts på slåttermarker i förhållande till intressanta områden för framtida biogasanläggningar, så kallade ”hotspots”. Kartläggningen visar att det finns gott om våtmarksgräs inom en tremilsradie som kan komplettera anläggningarnas huvudsubstrat, gödsel. Kartskiktet Svenska Marktäckedata (SMD) tillsammans med GIS-programvara har använts för att analysera hur mycket de äldre VMI-objekten i Uppsala län har växt igen, med resultatet att hälften av VMI-våtmarkerna är inaktuella i dagsläget. De har antingen växt igen med mossor och träd eller blivit vassbälten. Det finns ytterst begränsat med information kring rötdata på våtmarksgräs. Istället utvärderades en teori, om fodervärden för ett par gräs- och starrarter kan omvandlas till biogaspotentialer. Det visade sig att denna metod inte ger den maximala biogaspotentialen men ett minimivärde erhålls som kan betraktas som ganska tillförlitligt. Energiomvandlingen visar att sent slåttat våtmarksgräs har en biogaspotential runt 0,21 Nm3 metan/(kg, TS) vilket är omkring 60 % av den odlade åkervallens biogaspotential. Gasutbytet efter 20 dagars rötning är också relativt lågt. Trots detta kan det vara fördelaktigt att röta våtmarksgräs, eftersom samrötning mellan detta och annat lämpligt material kan ge ett högre nettogasutbyte för anläggningen än rötning av de enskilda materialen var för sig. Den framtagna biogaspotentialen visar att det finns minst 4,4 GWh biogasenergi i våtmarksgräs från till exempel Uppsala län, lågt räknat. Slåtterkostnaderna har dock visat sig vara för höga för att få det att gå ihop ekonomiskt i dagsläget.

Saltmarshes provide a diverse range of ecosystem services and are protected under a number of international designations. Nevertheless they are generally declining in extent in the United Kingdom and North West Europe. The drivers of this decline are complex and poorly understood. When considering mitigation and management for future ecosystem service provision it will be important to understand why, where, and to what extent decline is likely to occur. Few studies have attempted to forecast saltmarsh morphodynamics at a system level over decadal time scales. There is no synthesis of existing knowledge available for specific site predictions nor is there a formalised framework for individual site assessment and management. This project evaluates the extent to which machine learning model approaches (boosted regression trees, neural networks and Bayesian networks) can facilitate synthesis of information and prediction of decadal-scale morphological tendencies of saltmarshes. Importantly, data-driven predictions are independent of the assumptions underlying physically-based models, and therefore offer an additional opportunity to crossvalidate between two paradigms. Marsh margins and interiors are both considered but are treated separately since they are regarded as being sensitive to different process suites. The study therefore identifies factors likely to control morphological trajectories and develops geospatial methodologies to derive proxy measures relating to controls or processes. These metrics are developed at a high spatial density in the order of tens of metres allowing for the resolution of fine-scale behavioural differences. Conventional statistical approaches, as have been previously adopted, are applied to the dataset to assess consistency with previous findings, with some agreement being found. The data are subsequently used to train and compare three types of machine learning model. Boosted regression trees outperform the other two methods in this context. The resulting models are able to explain more than 95% of the variance in marginal changes and 91% for internal dynamics. Models are selected based on validation performance and are then queried with realistic future scenarios which represent altered input conditions that may arise as a consequence of future environmental change. Responses to these scenarios are evaluated, suggesting system sensitivity to all scenarios tested and offering a high degree of spatial detail in responses. While mechanistic interpretation of some responses is challenging, process-based justifications are offered for many of the observed behaviours, providing confidence that the results are realistic. The work demonstrates a potentially powerful alternative (and complement) to current morphodynamic models that can be applied over large areas with relative ease, compared to numerical implementations. Powerful analyses with broad scope are now available to the field of coastal geomorphology through the combination of spatial data streams and machine learning. Such methods are shown to be of great potential value in support of applied management and monitoring interventions.

The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is an administrative and ecclesiastical quorum. The Church, first organized in 1830, did not organize the Quorum of Twelve Apostles until 1835. When it was organized, Joseph Smith outlined the quorum's responsibilities through revelation. The Twelve were assigned two unique and specific responsibilities: to take the gospel to the nations of the earth and to form a traveling high council for the regulating of the Church outside of its stakes. The first opportunity for the Twelve to fulfill their responsibilities was in May 1835 when they were assigned to travel to the eastern United States and southern Canada. There they both preached the gospel and regulated the branches of the Church. This mission represents not only the first time the Apostles fulfilled their assigned responsibilities but the only time that they filled their responsibilities as an entire quorum. It is surprising that more secondary literature on this mission is not available. This thesis seeks to commence an academic conversation regarding this mission and its impact both on the quorum's development and on the Church in its outlying areas. Chapter 1 details the preparation of the individual members of the Twelve to fulfill this mission. It discusses the preparation of the Twelve prior to their call to the apostleship. It also discusses the training that took place between their call and the commencement of this mission. As an administrative body for the membership of the Church, the Twelve spent the majority of their time on this mission with the members of the Church. Chapter 2 identifies the unique purpose of the Twelve on this mission and how that purpose was fulfilled. Joseph Smith originally laid out the geographic framework for this mission, which sent the Twelve into Canada and throughout much of the northeastern United States. Chapter 3 identifies the locations of the Twelve based on available records and seeks to provide an answer to how the Twelve decided which areas to preach in. Many individuals were baptized during this five-month mission. Chapter 4 identifies what the Twelve taught and the sources that they used. It also discusses the reaction of the people they taught. The concluding chapter summarizes the thesis and identifies areas for further research.