published_or_final_version / abstract / China Development Studies / Master / Master of Arts

The purpose of this study is to explore meanings of success in watershed restoration projects. Though restoration has both inherent ecological and social components, the social elements often remain unexamined. Using the Mores Creek Watershed Floodplain Restoration Project in Central Idaho as a case study, this study first reviews existing literature pertaining to watershed restoration, landscape ecology, and ecosystem services, and then uses stakeholder interviews to analyze restoration goals, perceptions of success and failure, and perceived benefits and burdens of the restored watershed. Finally, the study concludes with recommendations for maximizing success in watershed restoration projects. / text

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Riparian ecosystems are valued for ecosystem services which have impacts on the well-being of humans and the environment. Anthropogenic disturbances along rivers in arid and semiarid regions have altered historical flow regimes and compromised their integrity. Many rivers are hydroecologically deteriorated, have diminished native riparian forests, and are pressured for their water supplies. My first study is founded on the premise that river restoration has increased exponentially with little documentation on effectiveness. We designed a conference to discuss lessons learned from past restoration activities to benefit future efforts. Participants, including scientists, managers, and practitioners, agreed that creating measureable objectives with subsequent monitoring is essential for quantifying success and employing adaptive management. Attendees stated that current projects are local and have limited funding and time, whereas future efforts must have longer funding cycles, larger timeframes, should contribute to regional goals, and address factors responsible for ecological decline. Bridging gaps among science, management, and policy in the 21st century is a key component to success. My second study focused on the benefits of long-term monitoring of local riparian restoration. Many efforts include revegetation components to re-establish native cottonwood-willow communities, but do not address how high-density establishment impacts vegetation dynamics and sustainability. Over five years, we documented significantly higher growth rates, lower mortality, and higher cover in cottonwood compared to non-native tamarisk. Cottonwood height, diameter at breast height, growth rates, and foliar volumes were reduced at higher densities. Herbaceous species decreased every year but native shrubs volunteered after two years resulting in a reduction of overall plant diversity from 2007-2009 with a slight increase from 2009-2011.My third study focused on improving basin-scale evapotranspiration (ET), a large component of the water budget, to better inform water resource allocation. My research suggests that multiple models are required for basin-scale ET estimates due to vegetation variability across water-limitation gradients. We created two empirical models using remote sensing, a multiplicative riparian ET model (r²=0.92) using MODIS nighttime land surface temperature (LST(n)) and enhanced vegetation index, and an upland ET model (r²=0.77) using multiple linear regression replacing LST(n) with a precipitation input.

Ecological restoration is the practice of assisting the recovery of a degraded, damaged or destroyed ecosystem. The aim of this study was to analyse the effects of two different restoration techniques on instream bryophyte abundance, species richness and diversity as well as community composition, in streams channelized for timber-floating. Instream bryophytes were collected from 10 tributaries of the Vindel River in boreal northern Sweden, from five stream reaches each of channelized reaches, which had not been restored; reaches restored in the early 2000s, using best-practice techniques; and reaches restored in the early 2000s and then re-restored in 2010 using the new “demonstration” techniques. A multitude of environmental variables were also measured at the sites. Bryophyte abundance was lower in demonstration restored sites than unrestored or best-practice restored sites but no significant difference was found in bryophyte species richness, diversity or species composition. Environmental variables correlated with bryophyte abundance, species richness, diversity and composition largely reflected effects of restoration, and probably the disturbance associated with restoration. Small sediment grain sizes also had a negative effect on species richness. Other environmental variables that influenced bryophyte species composition were the large-scale factors of latitude, longitude and elevation and reach-scale factors of potassium concentration and light absorbance. It is not yet possible to fully evaluate the effectiveness, in terms of bryophyte response, of the new demonstration restoration compared with best-practice since the recovery time between them differs and has not been sufficient. Long-term monitoring of the effects of restoration is needed in order to better evaluate success.

Šiame diplominiame darbe autorė apžvelgia buvusius ir dabartyje taikomus molbertinės tapybos dubliavimo metodus bei naudojamas medžiagas. Aprašomi žinomi paveikslų dubliavimo būdai Europoje.Nagrinėjami molbertinės tapybos paveikslų dubliavimo metodai LDM Prano Gudymo restauraimo centre, taikyti nuo įsikūrimo iki šių dienų. Lyginami įvairūs, skirtingų kūrinių konservavimo, dubliavimo atvejai. Detaliai aprašomas paveikslo "Biblijinė scena" konservavimo, dubliavimo procesas. Šiame darbe senieji žinomi molbertinės tapybos dubliavimo būdai bei panaudotos medžiagos lyginami su dabarties praktika ir metodais. Tyrimas atskleidė, jog kiekvienam darbui reikalingas kūrybiškas, metodiškas, mokslinis paveikslų konservavimo, dubliavimo metodas bei taikomos medžiagos. / Author of this Master’s Thesis reviews former and present methods and techniques of the lining of canvas paintings. Furthermore, all known European lining methods are described. Lining methods of the canv-as painting applied in Pranas Gudynas Center for Restoration since its foundation until present days are reviewed. Author reviews various cases of conservation and lining of the canvas paintings in Lithuania. Thesis describes in details conservation and lining process of the painting “Biblical Scene”. Old canvas paintings methods of lining, including the material used for lining, are compared in this Master’s Thesis. Research made reveals the fact that each piece of art needs creative, methodological, scientific approach to the conservation and lining methods and the materials used.

This study assesses the growing field of green building for its potential impact on the field of historic preservation. It is designed to provide a starting point for building owners and professionals in the industry seeking to gain LEED-EB certification on a historic structure. The potential impact of each LEED-EB credit to adversely affect historic fabric is evaluated for preservation, rehabilitation and reconstruction projects as defined by the Secretary of the Interior. Strategies for gaining certification for historic structures are discussed. Recommendations for further growth between the fields of historic preservation and green building are given. Early projects that combine historic preservation and green building are briefly discussed. / Department of Architecture

This thesis examines the politics, plots and strategies of the militant presbyterian radicals of the United Societies, or later Covenanters, in their confrontation with the Restoration regime of Charles II and James VII in Scotland, and with the presbyterian movement between 1679 and 1688. Chapter one analyses the correlation between the Societies’ lay network and the pattern of militant presbyterian dissent. It outlines their core platform defined by their declarations and strict adherence to the Covenants. It discusses the formation of the United Societies out of the fragmentation of the presbyterian movement from the Bothwell debates to the creation of a coherent Cameronian platform and militant network in 1681. Chapter two analyses the Societies’ schisms, persecution and martyrdoms between 1682 and 1684 and argues that the origins of their apocalyptic war against their persecutors lay in their political isolation and persecution from both the regime and their former moderate brethren. Chapter three looks at the Societies’ embassies to England and Friesland which redefined their relationships with other presbyterians factions. It examines their role in the Rye House Plots with English Whigs and argues that they were a turning point which isolated them from the British radical underground. It also explores their contacts with the Nadere Reformatorie in the United Provinces which led to the ordination of James Renwick who hardened the Societies’ platform, and how the handling of the embassy led to the collapse of their European network. Chapter four examines the targeted persecution of the Societies in the Killing Times and the Societies’ role in the Argyll Rising of 1685 that led to further schisms over their separation from the moderate presbyterian ministry which undermined Renwick’s leadership. Chapter five traces the revival in the Societies’ fortunes to 1688. It examines the internal struggles over the Societies’ platform and the broadening of their ministerial cadre to include Alexander Shields and others; their relations with Irish presbyterian militants; their confrontation with moderate presbyterians caused by James VII’s toleration scheme; the context and impact of Renwick’s martyrdom and the reunification of the militant factions. Chapter six surveys the Societies’ world view and their attempts to construct a Calvinist international through their attitudes towards other Calvinists in the Friesland, Bremen and Switzerland, Lutheran Prussia and Sweden, Catholic France under Louis XIV and the Holy Roman Empire, and the Muslim Turks. It also compares their views of the Huguenots, Waldenses of Piedmont and Kurucs of Hungary, and the experiences of those banished to Barbados and the North American Colonies. It concludes that the Societies played a more significant and distinct role in the conflict between the presbyterian movement and the Stuart monarchy than previously thought; that their struggle and militancy were shaped by different political contexts, as demonstrated in their response to the Revolution in Scotland of 1688 to 1689, rather than simply religious conviction; and that the legacy of their martyrs, quickly subsumed into presbyterian tradition, became a justification for the Revolution settlement and a source of contention between radical and reactionary traditions.

Robust Vallisneria americana was cultured for restoration purposes. Preliminary studies, with various iron treatments, were conducted to ascertain the amount of phosphorous release into the water column from sediments. There was a significant difference in the amount of phosphorous released if commercial sediment was used with a low iron amendment or without an iron amendment. The second study consisted of planting V. americana on two different sediment types while supplying half of the plants with additional CO2. Plants grown on pond sediment with additional CO2 had significantly more biomass. In the third study all plants were grown on pond sediment, and half were treated with CO2. All plants that were treated with additional CO2 had significantly more biomass than those that were aerated.

Land areas being used unsustainably are depleted and/or degraded. To prevent this from happening and/or to reverse the effects, we need to restore these environments. However, not all restoration practices are equal, and some do not adhere to rigorous standards of sustainability. In this study, restoration guidelines and opinions from field experts were analysed from an SSD perspective. The focus of this thesis was limestone quarries in northern Europe due to quarries’ impacts to the socio-ecological system and the sensitivity of northern ecosystems. The results were divided into two sub-sections: FSSD comparison to guidelines, which included an SP analysis to principles in guidelines, and interviews. The conclusion was that the SSD approach could enhance these quarry restoration guidelines by incorporating the recommendations formulated from the results and discussion. One recommendation was having the eight SPs as overarching boundaries for success. Incorporating these recommendations would fill the sustainability gaps, aiding in the practitioner's ability to be strategic and have long-term success within sustainable limits.