This study investigated the main and interactive effects of nearshore breakwaters and marsh vegetation on faunal abundance and diversity along an eroded shoreline in Bon Secour Bay, Alabama. In summer 2016, eight replicates of three vegetation treatments plots (naturally vegetated, planted, and open) were established along a breakwater-protected and an adjacent no breakwater shoreline. After which, three methods were used to evaluate nekton quarterly from summer 2016 to summer 2018; Breder traps along the shoreline and lift nets and trawls in nearshore waters. Data were analyzed using the Shannon-Weiner diversity index and ANOVA. Results showed breakwaters supported significantly more abundant and diverse communities along the shoreline and in parallel nearshore waters than similar no breakwater sites. However, the main vegetation treatment effects were not significant. These findings suggest that living shoreline projects with nearshore breakwater support can be beneficial for fisheries enhancement in high-wave energy environments.

Aquatic macrophytes are important components in structuring aquatic communities because they provide physical and biological functions that contribute to the stability of the ecosystem. Macrophytes provide the basis for the aquatic food-web and also provide habitat and refugia for aquatic fauna. In systems that lack macrophytes, anthropogenic re-establishment may be a feasible management approach to improve aquatic ecosystems. Understanding environmental factors that regulate colonization, dispersal, and persistence of aquatic macrophytes is pertinent to re-establishment efforts. The purpose of this study is to test hypotheses regarding success of macrophyte re-establishment efforts in Little Bear Creek Reservoir, Alabama using different macrophyte species, water depths, plant patch size and protection against herbivores at planting sites. In addition, a deductive GIS model is used to predict suitable areas to focus re-establishment efforts. Knowledge generated from hypothesis testing and application of GIS modeling provides novel information and tools for managing aquatic ecosystems.

Mississippi’s Blackland Prairie has been reduced below 10% of pre-Columbian extent, with few conservation practices in place. To determine efficacy of current restoration practices, plant species at remnant sites were compared with those at restoration sites. Analyses using multivariate statistical approaches revealed no generalizable patterns among four available remnants versus two available restoration sites. Thus, the aim of this project shifted to evaluating methods of identifying Blackland Prairie remnants or potential restoration sites. Location data for Blackland Prairie plant species and potentially informative environmental variables were used to develop geographic information system (GIS)-based habitat models. The best models were selected for validation against a second set of data collected from random points on public lands across the survey region. Validation surveys also were used to explore trends in predictive success and to aid in increasing accuracy through inclusion of other variables. Models incorporating soil characteristics had the highest predictive success.

Ecological restoration, or assisting the recovery of damaged ecosystems, is recognized as a crucial activity for reversing biodiversity loss across the globe. Roadside rights-of-way may be suitable areas for the restoration of endangered grassland communities, because they occupy significant areas of underutilized land, are managed as early successional plant communities, and may serve as corridors for wildlife movement and gene flow. However, though many roadside restoration projects have been undertaken in North America, few studies have evaluated their long-term success and most monitoring is narrow in scope. True restoration includes restoring an appropriate species composition, vegetation structure and ecosystem functions, and thus these ecosystem components must be measured when evaluating success. I assessed the plant community, bee community, soil carbon and plant-fungal relationships at roadside restorations of various ages along three major highways in Southern Ontario and compared these measures to unrestored roadsides and reference sites. I found that roadside restorations successfully increased native plant richness, though not to the level of a remnant grassland. Bee communities varied mostly by highway rather than site type, though bee abundance was positively correlated with plant diversity and bare ground. Soil carbon in roadside sites was similar to that of a remnant grassland but did not differ among restored and control sites. Plant growth response to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi collected from roadside sites varied depending on the site and showed a weak negative correlation with site age. Taken together, these results suggest that roadside restoration can benefit some ecosystem components, but simply seeding native plants along roadsides may not be sufficient for improving ecosystem function. This study highlights the importance of evaluating success in a comprehensive manner that includes multiple ecosystem components. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc) / Ecological restoration is crucial for reversing global biodiversity loss. Roadsides may be suitable for the restoration of grassland ecosystems, but few studies have comprehensively evaluated the long-term success of roadside restorations. I assessed the plant community, bee community, soil carbon and plant-fungal relationships at roadside restorations along three Southern Ontario highways and compared these measures to unrestored roadsides and a remnant grassland. Restoration increased native plant diversity, though not to remnant levels. Bee communities varied mostly by highway, though bee abundance was positively correlated with plant diversity. Soil carbon in roadside sites was similar to the remnant but did not differ among restored and unrestored sites. Plant response to soil fungi collected from roadside sites varied significantly by site. Thus, roadside restoration can benefit some ecosystem components, but more intervention may be required to restore ecosystem function. This study highlights the importance of evaluating restoration success in a comprehensive manner.

The "healing garden" is an evolving concept that is gaining popularity today. What is a healing garden? Why is one garden called a healing garden and not another? How is a healing garden defined? In what way are gardens healing? This thesis describes the ways in which healing gardens are beneficial in healthcare and residential settings. A set of guidelines for the design of healing gardens is created as a result of research findings as well as three design projects that are illustrated in the document. / Master of Landscape Architecture

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / The purpose of this laboratory study was to determine if the bond strengths of composite resins and unfilled resins was affected similarly when applied to enamel surfaces which had been previously etched with 50 per cent phosphoric acid. The test specimens were subjected to 24 hours, 30 days, and 6 months storage in water and then subjected to temperature stress cycling and intermittent tensile stress cycling. A tensile test was used to measure the bond strengths of the composite resins (Adaptic and HL-72) and the unfilled resin (Sevriton). The following results were obtained: (1) Pretreating the enamel surface with 50 per cent phosphoric acid for 60 seconds significantly increased the bond strength of composite resins; (2) when placed on acid etched enamel, there was no significant difference in initial bond strengths obtained for the Adaptic and unfilled Sevriton resins; (3) with prolonged water storage, the Adaptic composite resins developed significant loss of bond strength when compared to the unfilled Sevriton resins and the composite HL-72 resins; (4) when Adaptic resins and the HL-72 resin specimens were compared, there was no significant difference in initial bond strengths but the HL-72 specimens were less affected by storage time. Ca45 was used to assess the marginal seal of Adaptic, HL-72, and Sevriton in acid etched and non-etched Class V restorations. One-half of the specimens were thermal cycled 2500 times and stored in water for one week. Control specimens were tested at the end of one week without the thermal cycle. On the basis of these results, it was concluded that acid etching enhances the marginal seal of both composite and unfilled resins. Both composite and unfilled resins experienced increased marginal leakage when the acid etch preparations were thermal cycled, but there were no observable difference in the marginal seal of unfilled resins and composite resins when placed in acid etched restorations.

The basic objective is of adaptation of the castle is integration to tourism development in the region and simultaneously make the castle and town more attractive for residents. The resort´s own castle is functionally divided into three centers. The first courtyard is the tourist center of the region, the second courtyard recreation center and third courtyard cultural centre. Three courtyard are surrounded by restored rampart promenade, which also connects the castle courtyard with recreational and educative castle park, in which are stationed various pavilions informing tourists about the historical, architectural and natural values of Brtnice and its environs. In the park is also located amphitheater for cultural and musical events. The castle has become a great park of activities pulling into its bowels town visitors and inhabitants of Brtnice themselves. The main dominant of the complex is new tower Brtnice, which grows on the historic footprint of burnt tower. High-tech architecture of tower attracts visitors of the city and is the starting point of castle viewing. It brings together the functions of the Information Center, phaenomania, souvenir shop, cafe and roof garden, which is also a cafe terrace and outlook. Oriels of tower are oriented to the surrounding important historical monuments. Visitors pass through peripheral “gallery of knowledge” and recognize beauty of the town and its environs.

discovery of faded glory spas

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This thesis focuses on reimagining what Beckholmen could be in the future, once reactivated throught architecture in both a natural and social sense. It addresses the damaging shipyard activites that have taken place over time and the public disinterest in this neglected central spot of Stockholm.