Thesis (M.A.)--Ohio State University, 1970. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 76-86). Available online via OhioLINK's ETD Center

This thesis presents an original theoretical investigation, based on diffraction theory (extended for permeable structures by Sollitt & Cross [56]), of the performance of segmented rubble mound breakwaters. The amount of protection offered by such a breakwater is a function of the rubble construction (characterized by porosity and permeability), geometry and spacing of segments as well as depending on the the characteristics of the incident wave field. To explore the influence of these factors on the performance of these breakwaters, the diffraction by three related structures have been considered :a periodic array of impermeable blocks, a single continuous rectangular section permeable structure and a periodic array of permeable blocks in shallow water.

In the summer of 2007, magnetic and electromagnetic conductivity surveys were performed on the third (front) terrace of Monks Mound, Cahokia, 6 miles (~10 km) east of St Louis in Illinois. A 17 m by 40 m rectangular grid was established on the third terrace of the 850 year old mound surface. Readings were taken on the rectangular grid at one meter spacing. A Geometrics G-856 proton precession magnetometer and a Geonics EM38 conductivity meter were used for the survey. The survey was designed and executed to detect anomalous features within the very shallow subsurface (one to two meters deep). It was hoped to delineate and categorize the sources of the anomalies. The causes are known to be natural (in this case limited to lightning strikes), prehistoric (pottery, kilns, hearths), historic (metal, fire pits, structure remnants), or modern (metal). The larger, better-defined anomalies were numbered and discussed. Magnetic anomaly interpretations include a root cellar (4), outhouse (10), house (6), and metal features (7, 8, 14, 15). The certainty of the interpretations varied and there was often multiple interpretations possible. The EM anomaly interpretations proposed include metal, pit, grave, and animal burrowing. Good correlation is observed between some of the anomalies for the magnetic and electromagnetic methods, while other anomalies were observed using only one method. Further testing suggested to confirm the interpretations is outlined in the thesis.

Lyon’s Bluff is an archaeological site covering approximately 25 hectares in Oktibbeha County, MS. Richard Marshall proposed that the site can be divided into two occupations – the eastern area, occupied during the Mississippian period (A.D. 1000- 1540); and the western area, occupied during the Protohistoric period (A.D. 1540-1750). Starting in 1935 several archaeological excavations have taken place at Lyon’s Bluff, but the work has always focused on the eastern area of the site. To test Marshall’s proposal, a series of shovel tests was dug over the site, and 14 one-m2 excavation units were placed on purported house mounds in the western area. Eight of the fourteen excavation units were proven to be on house mounds, with the others being on natural rises. Typological analysis of the artifacts collected showed that the east-west division is speculative and that the entire site was occupied throughout the course of its history.

An environmental evaluation concerning land designated for park and recreation development was conducted in Flower Mound, Texas. Results were compared with the findings of a public opinion survey of the citizenry of Flower Mound. The first section is an introduction to land use and recreation planning. Section two presents a review of pertinent literature concerning environmental evaluation and recreation and recreation planning. Third is a brief description of Flower Mound, Texas, and existing park properties. The fourth section discusses both the environmental evaluation and the survey research techniques employed. Results of the environmental evaluation are examined in section five. The public opinion survey results are discussed in the sixth section. Flower Mound is fortunate to have a number of sites suitable for recreational development. If recreational development is to be successful and satisfactory to the users, decisions will need to be made in an organized fashion. Park and recreation planning should be incorporated within a general land use planning framework.

Shell mound or sambaqui, as commonly named in Brazil, are anthropic intentional mound constructions made by complex hunter-gatherer fishing communities. Typically distributed along shorelines and inland regions of Brazil, these sites are arguably one of the earliest evidence of human presence in South America, with dates ranging from 910-660 to 10,179-9,708 cal. yr. B.P. As archaeobotanical investigations reported the presence of various plant resources in these sites, a debate that has received much attention in recent years is regarding the scale of which the shell mound builders managed these resources. The Monte Castelo (9,495-9,137 cal. yr. B.P - state of Rondônia) and the Tucumã shell mound (4,425-4245 cal. yr. B.P. - state of Pará) will be the case studies of this research. The aim of this thesis is to use phytolith data from archaeological contexts in order to evaluate and discern the extent to which these mound builders managed plant resources. The outcome of this study provides novel evidence revealing the management and consumption of wild and domesticated plants through the mid-Holocene. The data calls for an evaluation on the potential scale of horticulture practices by Amazonian shell mound builders as well as the relative contribution of each domesticated resources to the indigenous diet.

The Marana Platform Mound Community (AZ AA:12:251[ASM]) in the Tucson Basin of southern Arizona provides a unique opportunity to examine the mechanisms of social organization within an early Classic Period Hohokam community. The role of the platform mound for integrative communal ritual or segregated elite-controlled activity is examined through faunal remains from the platform mound and nearby residential localities. Taxonomic diversity, relative abundance, and element distribution are used to measure the extent to which the platform mound served to integrate or distinguish site residents. Subtle differences in the diversity of taxa, the quantity of deposited faunal remains, and the quality of portions and taxa are indicative of differential access to resources between residents at the Platform Mound and residents in sites further away in the Tucson Basin. The findings support the current hypothesis that a dual mode of network and corporate strategy was used to organize the community.

The Pile Mound survey includes magnetometry paired with targeted ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and electromagnetic induction (EMI) surveys of the mound and testing of associated features over the ca. 6.5 ha site. The GPR survey discovered six rock features (five large rock features within the mound and one marking the outside of the mound). Knowledge of mounds in the Upper Cumberland Plateau (UCP) is lacking—the closest other studied sites are at the Corbin Site, Croley-Evans, Bell Site, and Beasley Mounds, approximately 75 – 100 km away. However, the most similar mound construction is found at Corbin and Cherokee sites, some 175 – 275 km away. In addition, the associated ceramic assemblage appears to reflect more similarity to the East Tennessee Valley rather than the Middle Cumberland region. These data provide a unique opportunity to better understand the Mississippian occupation in the UCP of Tennessee.

No description available.

Habitat alteration (i.e. degradation, fragmentation, and destruction) is the primary driver of amphibian decline and extinction. Despite their ecological importance and threatened status, very little long-term research has been conducted on how methods of forest management impact salamanders. In this research, I examine how experimental silviculture impacts plethodontid salamander relative abundance and count, and I compare three different body condition indices. Chapter 1 focuses on plethodontid salamander relative abundance 30 years after experimental treatments (including clearcut and shelterwood harvests, understory herbicide, uneven-aged management, and an untreated control) were first applied. I found that plethodontid salamander populations in all silvicultural treatments without stand re-entry have reached pre-harvest relative abundance levels. Chapter 2 describes how artificial tip-up mounds that could be used to mimic old-growth forest characteristics impact plethodontid salamander count. Salamander count significantly declined in treatment units with artificial tip-up mounds but this could be an artifact of the heavy disturbance required for installation. Chapter 3 compares three different body condition indices for plethodontid salamanders. I found that bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is likely not suitable for use with plethodontid salamanders and mass divided by snout-to-vent-length is likely a superior estimate to tail width divided by snout-to-vent-length. These findings further our understanding of how different forest management practices affect salamander populations and provide guidance for evaluating body condition. / Master of Science / Forest understory salamanders play an important role in energy transfer and their position in leaf litter food webs affects multiple ecosystem functions. Despite their ecological importance, very little long-term research has been conducted on how habitat change impacts salamanders. This research investigates how different forest management techniques influence forest-dwelling salamanders and compares three different ways to evaluate salamander health. Chapter 1 focuses on the salamanders 30 years post-harvest. I found that salamander populations in all silvicultural treatments except one had recovered. Chapter 2 described how tipping over trees to mimic old-growth forest characteristics impacts the number of forest-dwelling salamanders. There were significantly fewer salamanders in treatment units after the disturbance created by installing artificial tip-up mounds. Chapter 3 compares three different ways to evaluate forest-dwelling salamander health. I found that bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA)is likely not suitable for forest-dwelling salamanders, and weight divided by body length is likely a superior estimate to tail width divided by body length. These findings together further our understanding of how different forest management practices affect salamander populations and provide guidance for evaluating body condition.