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I investigated if constructed wetlands provide breeding habitat for the Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus) in northwest Alberta. Over two years, I conducted bird surveys of 201 borrow-pits (ponds created during road construction) and 18 natural wetlands and collected data on local habitat and landscape features. For subsets of ponds, I also collected water chemistry and invertebrate data, and conducted stable isotope analysis. Grebes occurred on 36% of borrow-pits and produced chicks on 61% of occupied sites in 2007 and 81% in 2008. Grebes occurred more frequently on larger ponds, with more emergent vegetation, and avoided forested ponds that supported beaver activity. Horned Grebes are generalist foragers that did not select nesting ponds based on food-web structure. Twenty-six other bird species used borrow-pits, with distinct assemblages occurring on agricultural versus forested ponds. My study indicates that wetland construction offers a viable method for creating habitat for Horned Grebes and other species. / Ecology

This thesis examines landscape change from 1889 to the present within the foothills-parkland ecoregion of Waterton Lakes National Park (WLNP) in southwestern Alberta, Canada. Land cover dynamics are explored qualitatively and quantitatively using Geographical Information Systems and a combination of historical and contemporary data sources including: (1) Dominion Land Survey (DLS) transect records (1889), (2) repeat oblique photographs (1914 and 2004) and repeat aerial photography (1939 and 1999). Results indicate a consistent increase in woody vegetation cover, particularly aspen forest cover, within the foothills-parkland since 1889, largely at the expense of native grasslands. The primary drivers of these changes likely include: climatic influences, changes to the historical grazing regime, the suppression of natural fire cycles and the cessation of First Nations’ land management practices. This research illustrates the value of integrating multiple historical data sources for studying landscape change in the Canadian Rockies, and explores the implications of this change for ecological restoration in the foothills-parkland of WLNP.

This thesis examines landscape change from 1889 to the present within the foothills-parkland ecoregion of Waterton Lakes National Park (WLNP) in southwestern Alberta, Canada. Land cover dynamics are explored qualitatively and quantitatively using Geographical Information Systems and a combination of historical and contemporary data sources including: (1) Dominion Land Survey (DLS) transect records (1889), (2) repeat oblique photographs (1914 and 2004) and repeat aerial photography (1939 and 1999). Results indicate a consistent increase in woody vegetation cover, particularly aspen forest cover, within the foothills-parkland since 1889, largely at the expense of native grasslands. The primary drivers of these changes likely include: climatic influences, changes to the historical grazing regime, the suppression of natural fire cycles and the cessation of First Nations’ land management practices. This research illustrates the value of integrating multiple historical data sources for studying landscape change in the Canadian Rockies, and explores the implications of this change for ecological restoration in the foothills-parkland of WLNP.

The topic of the diploma thesis BUT Area Kravi hora is a strategic study of the BUT area at Kravi hora from the previous semester to a scale of 1:200. The subject is the elaboration of the concept in order to bring together the interests of BUT and Brno city in this extraordinary territory for the benefit of both subjects. This work deals in detail with newly proposed objects in the BUT territory. A number of regulations have been issued in the territory limiting the subsequent use of the area, but the current area does not suit the existing potential of the site. The main concept was a creation of a set of buildings that will serve the University for representation and public activities, while allowing the access and use of the general public by the inhabitants of the city of Brno. The whole site will be set up in a newly-built city-wide park and other park areas that will create an attractive part of the now-inaccessible and unspoilt area connecting Veveri with Kravi hora. There will also be added additional features inspired by the existing features in the area, namely the Art Colony with ateliers, then Business Units and spacious Public Workshops. The entire Kravi hora area will be interwoven with a number of services serving both adults and children. The new proposal will also lead to the diversion of car traffic from the whole territory in order to ensure the safest relaxed movement of visitors. There will be numerous parking spaces located on the outskirts of the area. The main goal is to create a strong concept focusing on relaxation, health, education and sport, which should result in the overall opening and attractiveness of the territory.

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