Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1991. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 83-89). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis--Wisconsin. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 247-263).

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 100-107).

Thesis (M. L. A.)--University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes special report study entitled: Slope protection : principles and techniques. Includes bibliographical references. Also available in print.

Thesis (M. L. A.)--University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes special report study entitled: Ecological restoration of gravel field. Includes bibliographical references. Also available in print.

Thesis (M.Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 100-107) Also available in print.

Thesis (M.A.)(Geography)--University of Pretoria, 2004. / Title from opening screen (viewed on 12 December 2005). Includes bibliographical references.

Reclamation of the boreal landscape, including both wetlands and uplands integrated into complex watersheds, has presented a challenge over the past decade with few attempts. Relevant today is wetland/peatland reclamation on reclaimed landscapes positioned on saline sand deposits left on ‘in-pits’ from open pit oil sands mining. The study site for the following questions was an experimental watershed, Sandhill Fen, located north of Fort McMurray, Alberta. Part of the reclamation challenge lies in choosing characteristic species that are tolerant of conditions present on the reclaimed landscape. Species need to both survive harsh environmental conditions and facilitate succession from mineral-based wetlands (marshes) to peat-based ones (fens).Beckmannia syzigachne is a species associated with rich fens in boreal Alberta but its potential to tolerate the given conditions of an open pit mine has yet to be explored. Thus the first question investigated was: How does Beckmannia syzigachne, respond to stress inherent in open pit mines, specifically sodium and soil wetness? Once plants are established, their success and health can be assessed by their physiological responses to the inherent conditions of an open pit mine and further compared to naturally occurring reference populations, called benchmarks, associated with boreal wetlands and peatlands.Carex aquatilis, Scirpus atrocinctus, and Triglochin maritima are three species naturally occurring or strong associated with rich fens and have established on an open pit reclamation site. The second question investigated was: how do Carex aquatilis, Scirpus atrocinctus, and Triglochin maritima physiologically respond to the soil moisture, sodium in the soil, and conductivity of the reclamation site and compare to benchmark populations? Given the large size and isolation from the natural landscape, revegetating the reclamation site may be difficult. Many species have begun to naturally colonize a reclamation site and the assemblage of species and how they might change affect the progression of fen reclamation is unknown. The third question investigated was: what does the early assemblage of species on a reclamation site consist of and do the species give indications of successional trajectory toward a peat-forming wetland? Lastly, active management of the reclamation site can have a great effect on the trajectory of the established species. Actively planting specific assemblages could assist in the trajectory of succession by encouraging the proliferation of desirable species and hindering the establishment of undesirable species. Planting assemblages of high diversity could be more beneficial than planting monocultures. Thus the last question investigated was: does the planting of diverse assemblages effect the establishment of desirable and undesirable species on a reclamation site? Overall, the investigation of these questions revealed some interesting results and concluded strong recommendations for ongoing and future fen reclamation of open pit mines. Beckmannia syzigachne shows decreased morphological and physiological performance with higher sodium concentrations, but tolerates the expected soil wetness and sodium concentrations of the reclamation site, Sandhill Fen. Carex aquatilis, Scirpus atrocinctus, and Triglochin maritima had very strong physiological relationships with percent soil moisture, but weak or no relationships with sodium in the soil or soil water electrical conductivity, and responded similarly to benchmark populations. Soil moisture may be the most important factor during the early development of an open pit reclamation site, as the different assemblages of species found at Sandhill Fen was strongly tied the percent soil moisture, the wetter the soil, the more desirable species were abundant. After one year, it does not appear planting diverse assemblages has nearly a strong effect on the species abundances as soil moisture does. Sandhill Fen serves as a model for future reclamation of fens on oil sands and these experiments have shown soil moisture is an important abiotic factor that requires attention and manipulation if fen reclamation is to be successful on open pit mines. Overall, at Sandhill Fen the establishment and proliferation of desirable species is a positive observation and the physiological responses similar to natural populations bodes well for the success of fen reclamation.

One of the major issues in surface coal mine land reclamation is the impact of total dissolved solids (TDS) on water quality. To address this issue, this study assessed whether vegetation could reduce TDS nutrient ion movement from the rooting zone in early reclamation stages when TDS generation is often highest. Vegetated and un-vegetated paired plots were established across eight sites with gradients in age, spoil material, and vegetative productivity. Ion exchange resin lysimeters were used to compare nutrient ion fluxes in soil solution that contribute to TDS between paired plots. Soil and vegetation properties (used as proxies for evapotranspiration and plant uptake) were characterized at each site and correlated with log ratios of common TDS contributing ions [i.e., base cations Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+ (RBC), sulfate (RSO42-), and total Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, SO42- (Rtotal)] between un-vegetated and vegetated plots. Strong Spearman correlations were found between RTotal, RBC, and RSO42- during the peak growing season, and were weakened overall during vegetative dormancy. Soil organic matter was shown to be a strong correlate through dormant periods. Correlations between TDS nutrient ions and vegetation suggest evapotranspiration in the growing season, and interception during dormant periods, exert an influence on nutrient ion fluxes. These findings indicate that aggrading forests may reduce TDS nutrient ion loading, through solute retention mechanisms driven by organic matter inputs and plant uptake. / Master of Science

Significant deposits of heavy mineral sands (primarily ilmenite and zircon) are located in Virginia in Dinwiddie, Sussex and Greensville counties. Most deposits are located under prime farmland, and thus require intensive reclamation when mined. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of four different mine soil reconstruction methods on soil properties and associated rowcrop productivity. Treatments compared were 1) Biosolids-No Tillage, 2) Biosolids-Conventional Tillage, 3) Lime+NPK fertilized tailings (Control), and 4) 15-cm Topsoil over lime+P treated tailings. Treated plots were cropped to corn (Zea Mays L.) in 2005 and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in 2006. Yields were compared to nearby unmined prime farmland yields. Over both growing seasons, the two biosolids treatments produced the highest overall crop yields. The Topsoil treatment produced the lowest corn yields due to relatively poor physical and chemical conditions, but the effect was less obvious for the following wheat crop. Reclaimed land corn and wheat yields were higher than long-term county averages, but they were consistently lower than unmined plots under identical management. Detailed morphological study of 20 mine soil pedons revealed significant root-limiting subsoil compaction and textural stratification. The mine soils classified as Typic Udorthents (11), Typic Udifluvents (4) and Typic Dystrudepts (5). Overall, mined lands can be successfully returned to intensive agricultural production with comparable yields to long-term county averages provided extensive soil amendment and remedial tillage protocols are implemented. However, a significant decrease (~25 to 35%) in initial productivity should be expected relative to unmined prime farmland. / Master of Science