With the loss or modification of natural roosting habitat afforded by caves, abandoned mines have assumed increased importance as surrogate roosting sites for Townsend's big-eared bats (Corynorhinus townsendii) and other chiropteran species. However, increasing concerns for human safety have led to accelerated programs for mine closure. In efforts to protect roosting sites in mines showing significant bat activity, "bat compatible" gates are installed, thus allowing continued access to mine workings. Aside from ensuring public safety, these structures afford protection from disturbance to roosting bats. To date few posting-gating studies have been conducted to obtain information on the effects of these structures on bat behavior and roost suitability. I evaluated the effects of gating on bat flight patterns at maternity colonies in two previously gated (reference) and two ungated mines, the latter (treatment) being gated with roundbar Manganal steel gates in the second year of the study. I also monitored four gated and three treatment mines to determine the potential effects of reclamation on internal microclimate. Overall circling activity increased > 6-fold at the portals of treatment mines following gating. Indices of crowding and frequency of bat-gate collisions were significantly higher in previously gated and increased substantially in treatment mines following reclamation. Gates appeared especially hazardous to subadults during initial-volancy periods. Increased activity of bats and collisions with gates at mine portals may amplify vulnerability to potential predators. Changes in internal mine microclimates, specifically increased ranges between minima and maxima in temperature and vapor pressure deficits following reclamation varied among treatment mines as a function of the number of mine openings. Generally, gated mines with multiple openings experienced greater changes in these parameters than those with single openings. Additional studies of bat-compatible gates are needed to elucidate possible long-term effects of these structures on Townsend's big-eared bats.

Octavia Butler’s Kindred is often looked at as a historical science fiction novel. While there are critics who have discussed the slave narrative aspects of the novel, the way Butler tackles authorship and what it means to re-write history has been overlooked. By examining the way Butler uses authorship to question authorial authority, one can see the way Butler uses her protagonist to revise history and reclaim historical figures. This process of reclamation and revision enables Butler to examine the historical gaps that have been created and the way enslaved blacks have been caricatured and further dehumanized. Through her protagonist, Butler is able to endow these historical figures with complex identities and emotions and challenges what it means to be a viable authorial voice.

No description available.

No description available.

Despite the fact that on average less children are being born and calming messages that the population issue has basically solved itself, the world population is continuously growing. Around mid century it is estimated that approximately 70 per cent of the world’s population will be living in urban environments. This translates to an absolute increase of roughly 3.6 billion urban citizen today, to nearly 8 billion urban citizen by mid century. This unprecedented growth is going to have major impact on today’s urban societies and administrative boundaries. Especially coastal cities will feel an increased pressure while the urbanization takes another upsurge. The geographical limitations and scarcity of land in these coastal areas pushes the extension of administrative city boundaries sea inward, making land reclamation a popular tool for these governments. Nevertheless, this expected growth and the increased popularity of land reclamation seriously endangers the remaining natural wetlands. Alternative solutions of creating artificial "human made" land by reclaiming, could be a possible direct solution for modern urbanism. As a result of the unprecedented growth, natural resources are getting rapidly depleted and sustainability is being compromised. Over the total run of history, approximately 65 per cent of the world’s wetlands have been in fractioned, polluted, destroyed, altered or lost by human activities. This master’s thesis consists out of a deep, qualitative, integrative and contextual literature review. The literature review is focused on population forecasts, urbanization and growth trends, followed by an analyses of various land reclamation cases around the world. Though, the research will include a quantitative data overview this research is a qualitative research. The collection of the quantitative data regarding urbanization and growth trends will be done by using the database of United Nations, World Bank and Gapminder. Land reclamation, as a proposed solution, sets off a certain type of trade off mechanism. Large reclamation projects on one hand serve as great boosters for the economy and urban development, while on the other hand, these projects have severe implications on natural habitat from both marine and land species. Social benefits can both be realized through economic gains by land reclamation or social benefits from natural preservation. This implies land reclamation has basically two dimensions: a socioeconomic dimension and a socio-environmental dimension. A tradeoff between these two dimensions determine whether or not a land reclamation project for a specific geographical location could be economically, socially and environmentally feasible. With proper integrated and inter related governmental land planning processes, strong environmental considerations and increased public involvement, land reclamation could be sustainably feasible.

Coal is the most important raw material mined in our country. The mining acitivity creates huge impact on the landscape. The aim of the thesis is to compare the attachment of spruces on spoil tips created by coal mining and their growth during spontaneous succession and reclamation. The studied non-recultivated areas are overgrown with spontaneous vegetation consisting mainly of willow (Salix caprea), white birch (Betula pendula) and aspen poplar (Populus tremula L.). The reclaimed area only consists of planted Norway spruce (Picea abies). The density of localities, age and height structure, layout on terrain waves and distance from the edge of the dump were studied. Spruces were also mapped using GPS. The density of spruce vegetation on reclaimed areas is significantly higher than on succession, however, their growth is slower. On non-reclaimed areas, the growth of already attached spruces is significantly faster than on reclaimed areas. The results show a higher attachment of spruces on the slopes of the waves, especially on the northern leeward side, rather than in the troughs or on the peaks. The results show the possibility of undercutting succession areas with climax trees as a promising method of reclamation. Keywords: spruce, succession, reclamation, establishment of trees, density of trees

The objective of this research was to measure and analyze the long-term modulus values of cement-treated base (CTB) layers constructed in Utah using microcracking. Because modulus values of pavement layers are among the most influential inputs affecting mechanistic-empirical pavement design, obtaining reasonable estimates of modulus values is critical. Testing was performed with a portable falling-weight deflectometer, also called a lightweight deflectometer, and modulus values were backcalculated with the computer program BAKFAA. Testing occurred at five asphalt pavement sites in northern Utah, where reconstruction with full-depth reclamation and cement stabilization, in the form of cement slurry, was performed approximately 2 to 14 years previously. Unconfined compressive strength (UCS) data collected for the CTB materials during earlier projects were compiled for all five sites. The correlation between backcalculated CTB modulus values, which ranged from 42 to 433 ksi, and 7-day UCS values, which ranged from 366 to 559 psi, was analyzed, and uniformity and sensitivity analyses were performed. Based on the results of this research, a new correlation is proposed for estimating the long-term modulus values of microcracked CTB layers constructed in a seasonally cold climate, such as northern Utah. For an average 7-day UCS of 450 psi, a CTB modulus value of 114 ksi would be estimated using this correlation, whereas a much higher modulus value of 630 ksi would be estimated from an existing correlation chart that was published in 1972 before microcracking was developed as a CTB construction practice. The results of the uniformity analyses indicate that statistically significant spatial variability in the CTB modulus values exists at each site. In comparison to a proposed maximum threshold coefficient of variation of 40 percent presented in the literature for aspects of CTB construction, the CTB modulus at all of the sites would be characterized as having low uniformity, with values ranging from 42.9 to 90.3 percent. The results of the sensitivity analyses indicate that backcalculated CTB modulus values are sensitive to typical deviations from design values that may occur in pavement layer thicknesses and suggest that CTB modulus estimation errors may range from -22,561 to 62,097 psi, or -3.73 to 10.81 percent, for pavements similar to those studied in this research when the actual asphalt and CTB layer thicknesses are different than the assumed values by up to 0.25 or 0.50 in., respectively.

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In situ measurements of soil nitrogen dynamics is a potential method for evaluating the health of constructed wetlands following oil sands mining. The objective of this study is to measure and compare the soil nitrogen availability of a reclaimed fen (Sandhill fen) with a nutrient-rich reference fen (Poplar fen) and a nutrient-poor reference fen (Pauciflora fen) in the Athabasca oil sands region of northern Alberta. Total Nitrogen (TN), Nitrate (NO3-) and Ammonium (NH4+) supply rates were determined along wetland hillslope transects using Western Ag Innovations Plant Root Simulator (PRSTM) probes at all three sites in 2014. Net N mineralization, net nitrification and net ammonification were determined simultaneously using the buried polyethylene bag sampling method. Overall, TN supply rates were greatest at the poor fen and least at the constructed Sandhill fen. In contrast, mineralization was greatest at the rich fen but again least at the Sandhill fen. Mineralization at the Sandhill fen was controlled evenly by ammonification and nitrification, whereas the two natural sites were controlled by ammonification. Relatively low N supply rates and mineralization at the Sandhill fen were likely due to lower soil organic matter and limited soil moisture in these newly constructed substrates. Spatial differences along the hillslopes also varied among sites. The Sandhill fen had higher TN supply rates at the upslope positions but no significant differences in net N mineralization rates along the hillslopes. The rich fen also had higher TN supply rates at the upslope but greatest mineralization rates downslope. These results highlight the importance of N storage and transport processes and offer insight into the N status of a constructed fen. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

Oil sands mining in Alberta completely transforms the natural boreal landscape of upland forests, wetlands and lakes into open pits, tailings and overburden piles. By law, industry is required to return the landscape to its pre-disturbance land capability. While previous reclamation efforts have mainly focused on upland forest ecosystems, rebuilding wetland systems on soft tailings has only recently become a research focus. The dry, sub-humid climate and high salinity levels of underlying mining material complicate reconstruction of wetlands within this region. In 2012, Syncrude Canada Ltd. completed construction of the Sandhill Fen Watershed (SFW), a 52-ha upland-wetland system to evaluate wetland reclamation strategies. SFW includes an active pumping system, upland hummocks, a fen wetland and underdrains. This study examined the watershed-scale water balance in the first two years after commissioning (2013 and 2014). The first paper presents a semi-distributed water balance approach examining the fluxes and stores of different landscape units. Artificial pumping controlled the water balance in 2013, with approximately double the annual precipitation pumped in and out from May-Oct 2013, causing large water table fluctuations. In 2014, pump management was more passive, and water balance controlled by vertical fluxes. In the second paper, growing season ET rates and controls were assessed using data from three eddy covariance towers in the uplands and lowlands. Average ET rates between uplands and lowlands were similar, with average rates of 2.41 – 2.52 mm d-1. ET was radiatively controlled at all sites. Energy partitioning and ET rates are similar to natural boreal peatlands within the area, however upland areas are expected to increase in ET rates as LAI increases and vegetation matures. This study provides critical quantitative data on the early years of a highly managed watershed. Long-term monitoring is necessary, as water balance dynamics will evolve with vegetation development and climate cycles. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)