A concentração demográfica e de sistemas coletivos de esgotamento sanitário dentro do perímetro urbano da maioria dos municípios brasileiros, dificulta a viabilização do fornecimento de serviços de tratamento de esgotos domésticos à habitações e núcleos habitacionais isolados situados em áreas periurbanas e rurais, intensificando os danos provocados pela poluição de origem antrópica ao meio ambiente e à preservação da saúde pública. Para contribuir no equacionamento deste problema, o presente estudo teve por finalidade avaliar uma wetland construída híbrida em escala real, composta por uma unidade com fluxo contínuo subsuperficial vertical seguida por uma unidade de fluxo contínuo subsuperficial horizontal, cultivadas com capim Vetiver, para o tratamento de efluente proveniente de tanque séptico. A presente configuração experimental busca uma solução de baixo custo e simplificada para o tratamento descentralizado de esgotos domésticos. A estação experimental de tratamento de esgotos, parte integrante e um dos produtos da Rede Nacional de Tratamento de Esgotos Descentralizados RENTED, foi construída no Centro Tecnológico de Hidráulica CTH / Escola Politécnica EPUSP, campus Butantã da USP, em São Paulo. O esgoto bruto foi proveniente do Conjunto Residencial da USP e do restaurante central da Cidade Universitária. As vazões média e máxima de esgoto bruto, respectivamente, de 640L.d-1 e 1600L.d-1, foram aplicadas à entrada do TS de 5.000L e deste escoaram por gravidade à entrada da wetland construída híbrida, com TDH total de 2,8d e 1,1d, respectivamente, sob aplicação das vazões média e máxima de projeto. O monitoramento do experimento em campo, incluindo o período inicial de partida, durou 6 meses consecutivos. Foram avaliados os parâmetros físico-químicos e microbiológicos do esgoto bruto e do efluente do tanque séptico e das câmaras da wetland construída híbrida durante 97 dias consecutivos. Os resultados indicaram que tanto as mudas jovens quanto as adultas de capim Vetiver adaptaram-se bem às condições ambientais. As eficiências médias de remoção no efluente tratado final quanto à matéria orgânica carbonácea foram de 96 por cento para DBO5,20 e 90 por cento para DQO, 40 por cento para N-total, 23 por cento para N-amoniacal total, 60 por cento para P-total, 52 por cento para P-PO4, 74 por cento para SST, 96 por cento para SSV, 75 por cento para sólidos sedimentáveis, 44 por cento para SDV, 88 por cento para sulfeto total, e 97 por cento para óleos e graxas totais, variando entre 73 por cento a 100 por cento . Cerca de 80 por cento da fração orgânica da matéria nitrogenada presente no esgoto bruto foi removida. A remoção de coliformes termotolerantes foi, em média, de 2 e 3 unidades log, e de Escherichia Coli, média de 1 e 3 unidades log, respectivamente, sob aplicação das vazões máxima e média, Giardia sp, média de 99,995 por cento , Cryptosporidium sp, média de 98,7 por cento , Enterovírus, média de 99,6 por cento , e Ascaris sp, média de 0,10 ovo/L. A remoção de sulfetos propiciou a geração de efluente tratado sem odores desagradáveis. A diminuição da vazão aplicada e a elevação do TDH influenciaram positivamente no desempenho do sistema com relação às remoções dos parâmetros físico-químicos e microbiológicos. Com base no presente estudo, ficou evidente o benefício da associação de wetlands construídas com fluxo vertical e horizontal no tratamento de efluente de tanque séptico. O capim Vetiver apresentou bom potencial de utilização em wetlands 8 construídas para tratamento de esgotos domésticos. O sistema experimental de tratamento apresentou flexibilidade operacional, mantendo bom desempenho inclusive nos períodos de sobrecarga. A qualidade do efluente tratado final obtido no presente estudo atende às exigências de lançamento e aos padrões de emissão de efluentes líquidos em corpos dágua e em sistemas públicos de esgotamento sanitário definidos na legislação ambiental federal e do Estado de São Paulo. A tecnologia de wetlands construídas híbridas associada ao tratamento de efluentes de tanque séptico apresentou bom potencial para o tratamento descentralizado de esgotos domésticos, inclusive em regiões com pouca disponibilidade de área livre. / The demographic concentration and collective systems of sanitation inside the urban perimeter of most Brazilian municipalities, hampers the feasibility of providing sewage treatment services to domestic dwellings and housing isolated nuclei located in peri-urban and rural areas, intensifying the damage caused by pollution of human origin to the environment and to the preservation of public health. For help in solving this problem, the present study had the purpose to evaluate a hybrid constructed wetland full-scale, composed of a unit with continuous vertical subsurface flow followed by a continuous horizontal subsurface flow unit, grown with Vetiver grass, for the treatment of effluent from septic tank. This experimental search setting a low-cost and simplified solution for decentralized treatment of household sewage. The experimental sewage treatment station, integral and one of the products of the Rede Nacional de Tratamento de Esgotos Descentralizados RENTED, was built on the Centro Tecnológico de Hidráulica CTH / Escola Politécnica EPUSP, campus Butantã of USP, in São Paulo. The raw sewage was coming from the residential condominium of the USP and the central restaurant of the University City. The average and maximum flows of raw sewage, respectively, of 640L.d-1 and 1600L.d-1, have been applied to the septic tank input to 5,000L and drained by gravity from the edge of the hybrid constructed wetland with TDH total of 2.8d and 1.1d, respectively, under application of the average and maximum flow rates. Monitoring the experiment in the field, including the early period, lasted 6 months. They were evaluated the physico-chemical and microbiological parameters of raw sewage and effluent from septic tank and the chambers of hybrid constructed wetland during 97 consecutive days. The results indicated that both the young seedlings as the adults of Vetiver grass have adapted well to environmental conditions. The average removal efficiencies in the final treated effluent as to carbonaceous organic matter were 96 per cent for BOD5,20 and 90 per cent for COD, 40 per cent for Ntotal, 23 per cent for N-ammoniacal, 60 per cent for P-total, 52 per cent for P-PO4, 74 per cent for SST, 96 per cent for SSV, 75 per cent for settleable solids, 44 per cent for SDV, 88 per cent for total sulfide, and 97 per cent for oils and greases totals, ranging from 73 per cent to 100 per cent . About 80 per cent of the organic fraction of nitrogen matter present in the raw sewage has been removed. The thermotolerants coliforms removal was, in average, of 2 and 3 log units, and Escherichia Coli, average of 1 and 3 log units, respectively, under application of the maximum and average flow rates, Giardia sp, average of 99.995 per cent , Cryptosporidium sp, average of 98.7 per cent , Enterovirus, average of 99.6 per cent , and Ascaris sp, average of 0.10 eggs/L. Removal of sulfides allowed the generation of treated effluent without unpleasant odors. The decrease in flow rate applied and the elevation of TDH influenced positively on system performance with respect to removals of chemical-physical and microbiological parameters. Based on this study, it became apparent the association benefit constructed wetlands with vertical and horizontal flow in the treatment of wastewater of septic tank. The Vetiver grass has good potential for use in constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment. The experimental system of treatment presented operational flexibility while maintaining good performance even in periods of overload. The quality of the final treated effluent obtained in this study 10 meets the requirements and emission standards of liquid effluents in water bodies and in public sanitation systems defined in federal environmental legislation and the State of São Paulo in Brazil. Hybrid constructed wetlands technology associated with the septic tank effluent treatment showed good potential for decentralized domestic wastewater treatment, including in regions with low availability of free area.

Genom en kombinerad linjetaxering och revirkartering av nyanlagd våtmark i Stjärnarpsdalen utanför Halmstad under april-juni 2018 har jag undersökt artsammansättning, antal individer och par samt häckningskriteria hos fågelarter på plats. En jämförelse har gjorts med fem andra våtmarker i Halland i fråga om artsammansättning och häckninggskriteria för att undersöka om ålder eller storlek hos våtmarker har en effekt på dessa. Efter flertalet besök i Stjärnarp observerades totalt 55 arter varav 31 nyttjade våtmarken för antingen häckning, födosök eller rastade. Totalt 19 arter visade tecken på häckning inom våtmarkens gränser, varav endast fem arter slutligen fick ut avkomma. Hos samtliga undersökta våtmarker varierade antal arter mer under 2018, när de var av olika ålder, jämfört med när de alla var ungefär ett år gamla. Jag fann inga signifikanta korrelationer, beroenden eller skillnader mellan undersökta variabler, med undantag för signifikant korrelation och beroende mellan antal möjliga häckningar och area hos våtmarker. Enligt flera källor kan våtmarkers egenskaper och utformning ha stor betydelse för fåglars förekomst, t ex våtmarkens storlek, ålder, vattendjup, skötsel, placering, närvaro av fisk och mycket mer. I denna studie har Stjärnarp visats hysa arter som bl a häckar, och flera dessa arter indikerar på egenskaper som tidig succession, näringsrikt vatten, öppna strandängar och mer. Beroende på vad för fåglar och annan biologisk mångfald man vill gynna här i framtiden är planering och kontinuerligt uppföljningsarbete viktigt för att se om och hur fågelfaunan förändras samt vad det kan bero på. / By doing a transect inventory combined with territory mapping at a recently constructed wetland in the area of Stjärnarp outside of Halmstad, during April-June in 2018, I have investigated species composition, species abundance and reproductive criteria shown by the bird species in the area. A comparison was made with five other wetlands in the county of Halland in matter of species composition and reproductive criteria to overlook if the age or area of the wetlands have an impact. After several visits in Stjärnarp, a total of 55 species of birds were recorded, of which 31 species were using the wetland area for reproduction, foraging or resting. Among all examined wetlands species richness varied more during 2018, when of different ages, compared to when they were about one year old. Overall analysis wasn’t significant for correlations, regressions or differences between the investigated variables of this study, though there were a significant correlation and regression between the amount of possibly reproductive species and the area of wetlands. According to others, characteristics of wetlands can have great impact on the presence of birds, e.g. size and age of wetlands, water depth, maintenance, location, presence of fish and more. According to this study, several reproductive species in particular have indicated attributes in Stjärnarp, e.g. early succession, nutrient rich waters, open meadows and more. Depending on what species or other biodiversity people which to benefit in the future, planning and continuous studies are needed here to find out if and how bird communities change with time, and to what causes. / LIFE - Goodstream

by Sam Shun-shun Lau. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 194-220). / Acknowledgments --- p.i / Abstract --- p.ii / Table of Contents --- p.iv / List of Plates --- p.vii / List of Tables --- p.viii / List of Figures --- p.xi / Chapter CHAPTER 1 --- Introduction / Chapter 1.1 --- Mai Po Marshes Nature Reserve (Hong Kong) --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- Site description --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- Ecological and conservation importance --- p.4 / Chapter 1.1.2.1 --- Local and international recognition --- p.4 / Chapter 1.1.2.2 --- Birds --- p.7 / Chapter 1.1.2.3 --- Gei wais and its wildlife --- p.10 / Chapter 1.1.2.4 --- Fishpond aquaculture --- p.20 / Chapter 1.1.3 --- Pollution sources and impacts --- p.22 / Chapter 1.2 --- Self-purification Capability of Wetland Ecosystems --- p.32 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Principles and mechanisms --- p.32 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Treatment efficiency --- p.38 / Chapter 1.3 --- Objectives and Outlines of the Present Study --- p.42 / Chapter CHAPTER 2 --- Water Quality of the Mai Po Marshes Nature Reserve / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.45 / Chapter 2.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.49 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Water sampling and analyses --- p.51 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Statistical analyses --- p.52 / Chapter 2.3 --- Results and Discussion --- p.52 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Water quality in the Mai Po Marshes --- p.55 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Spatial pattern of water pollution --- p.74 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Temporal pattern of water pollution --- p.77 / Chapter 2.3.4 --- Correlation between various parameters --- p.79 / Chapter 2.4 --- Conclusions / Chapter CHAPTER 3 --- Nutrient and Metal Contaminationin Sediments of the Mai Po Marshes Nature Reserve / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.81 / Chapter 3.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.83 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Sediment collection --- p.83 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Laboratory analyses --- p.84 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Statistical analyses --- p.84 / Chapter 3.3 --- Results and Discussion --- p.85 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Pollution loads in sediments --- p.85 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Spatial variation of contamination in sediments --- p.88 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Temporal variation of contamination in sediments --- p.113 / Chapter 3.3.4 --- Vertical variation of contamination in sediments --- p.124 / Chapter 3.3.5 --- Correlation between various parameters --- p.131 / Chapter 3.4 --- Conclusions --- p.133 / Chapter CHAPTER 4 --- Behaviour of Contaminants in Sediments in a Shrimp-growing Gei Wai / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.136 / Chapter 4.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.137 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Sediment collection --- p.137 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- General physico-chemical analyses --- p.139 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Effects of salinity and temperature --- p.140 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- Effects of drying --- p.140 / Chapter 4.2.5 --- Toxicity assays --- p.141 / Chapter 4.2.5.1 --- Preparation of sediment extract for toxicity tests --- p.141 / Chapter 4.2.5.2 --- Microtox® toxicity testing --- p.141 / Chapter 4.2.5.3 --- Algal bioassay --- p.142 / Chapter 4.2.5.3.1 --- Algal culture --- p.142 / Chapter 4.2.5.3.2 --- Algal growth inhibition test --- p.142 / Chapter 4.2.5.4 --- Amphipod bioassay --- p.143 / Chapter 4.2.6 --- Statistical analyses --- p.144 / Chapter 4.3 --- Results and Discussion --- p.144 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- General properties --- p.144 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Effects of temperature and salinity --- p.148 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Effects of drying --- p.151 / Chapter 4.3.4 --- Toxicity assays --- p.154 / Chapter 4.4 --- Conclusions --- p.156 / Chapter CHAPTER 5 --- Self-purification Capability of Gei Wais at the Mai Po Marshes Nature Reserve / Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction --- p.159 / Chapter 5.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.161 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Sample collection --- p.161 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Laboratory analyses --- p.161 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- Statistical analyses --- p.166 / Chapter 5.3 --- Results and Discussion --- p.167 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- Changes in water quality --- p.178 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- Removal efficiency --- p.185 / Chapter 5.4 --- Conclusions / Chapter CHAPTER 6 --- General Conclusions --- p.188 / References / Appendices

A concentração demográfica e de sistemas coletivos de esgotamento sanitário dentro do perímetro urbano da maioria dos municípios brasileiros, dificulta a viabilização do fornecimento de serviços de tratamento de esgotos domésticos à habitações e núcleos habitacionais isolados situados em áreas periurbanas e rurais, intensificando os danos provocados pela poluição de origem antrópica ao meio ambiente e à preservação da saúde pública. Para contribuir no equacionamento deste problema, o presente estudo teve por finalidade avaliar uma wetland construída híbrida em escala real, composta por uma unidade com fluxo contínuo subsuperficial vertical seguida por uma unidade de fluxo contínuo subsuperficial horizontal, cultivadas com capim Vetiver, para o tratamento de efluente proveniente de tanque séptico. A presente configuração experimental busca uma solução de baixo custo e simplificada para o tratamento descentralizado de esgotos domésticos. A estação experimental de tratamento de esgotos, parte integrante e um dos produtos da Rede Nacional de Tratamento de Esgotos Descentralizados RENTED, foi construída no Centro Tecnológico de Hidráulica CTH / Escola Politécnica EPUSP, campus Butantã da USP, em São Paulo. O esgoto bruto foi proveniente do Conjunto Residencial da USP e do restaurante central da Cidade Universitária. As vazões média e máxima de esgoto bruto, respectivamente, de 640L.d-1 e 1600L.d-1, foram aplicadas à entrada do TS de 5.000L e deste escoaram por gravidade à entrada da wetland construída híbrida, com TDH total de 2,8d e 1,1d, respectivamente, sob aplicação das vazões média e máxima de projeto. O monitoramento do experimento em campo, incluindo o período inicial de partida, durou 6 meses consecutivos. Foram avaliados os parâmetros físico-químicos e microbiológicos do esgoto bruto e do efluente do tanque séptico e das câmaras da wetland construída híbrida durante 97 dias consecutivos. Os resultados indicaram que tanto as mudas jovens quanto as adultas de capim Vetiver adaptaram-se bem às condições ambientais. As eficiências médias de remoção no efluente tratado final quanto à matéria orgânica carbonácea foram de 96 por cento para DBO5,20 e 90 por cento para DQO, 40 por cento para N-total, 23 por cento para N-amoniacal total, 60 por cento para P-total, 52 por cento para P-PO4, 74 por cento para SST, 96 por cento para SSV, 75 por cento para sólidos sedimentáveis, 44 por cento para SDV, 88 por cento para sulfeto total, e 97 por cento para óleos e graxas totais, variando entre 73 por cento a 100 por cento . Cerca de 80 por cento da fração orgânica da matéria nitrogenada presente no esgoto bruto foi removida. A remoção de coliformes termotolerantes foi, em média, de 2 e 3 unidades log, e de Escherichia Coli, média de 1 e 3 unidades log, respectivamente, sob aplicação das vazões máxima e média, Giardia sp, média de 99,995 por cento , Cryptosporidium sp, média de 98,7 por cento , Enterovírus, média de 99,6 por cento , e Ascaris sp, média de 0,10 ovo/L. A remoção de sulfetos propiciou a geração de efluente tratado sem odores desagradáveis. A diminuição da vazão aplicada e a elevação do TDH influenciaram positivamente no desempenho do sistema com relação às remoções dos parâmetros físico-químicos e microbiológicos. Com base no presente estudo, ficou evidente o benefício da associação de wetlands construídas com fluxo vertical e horizontal no tratamento de efluente de tanque séptico. O capim Vetiver apresentou bom potencial de utilização em wetlands 8 construídas para tratamento de esgotos domésticos. O sistema experimental de tratamento apresentou flexibilidade operacional, mantendo bom desempenho inclusive nos períodos de sobrecarga. A qualidade do efluente tratado final obtido no presente estudo atende às exigências de lançamento e aos padrões de emissão de efluentes líquidos em corpos dágua e em sistemas públicos de esgotamento sanitário definidos na legislação ambiental federal e do Estado de São Paulo. A tecnologia de wetlands construídas híbridas associada ao tratamento de efluentes de tanque séptico apresentou bom potencial para o tratamento descentralizado de esgotos domésticos, inclusive em regiões com pouca disponibilidade de área livre. / The demographic concentration and collective systems of sanitation inside the urban perimeter of most Brazilian municipalities, hampers the feasibility of providing sewage treatment services to domestic dwellings and housing isolated nuclei located in peri-urban and rural areas, intensifying the damage caused by pollution of human origin to the environment and to the preservation of public health. For help in solving this problem, the present study had the purpose to evaluate a hybrid constructed wetland full-scale, composed of a unit with continuous vertical subsurface flow followed by a continuous horizontal subsurface flow unit, grown with Vetiver grass, for the treatment of effluent from septic tank. This experimental search setting a low-cost and simplified solution for decentralized treatment of household sewage. The experimental sewage treatment station, integral and one of the products of the Rede Nacional de Tratamento de Esgotos Descentralizados RENTED, was built on the Centro Tecnológico de Hidráulica CTH / Escola Politécnica EPUSP, campus Butantã of USP, in São Paulo. The raw sewage was coming from the residential condominium of the USP and the central restaurant of the University City. The average and maximum flows of raw sewage, respectively, of 640L.d-1 and 1600L.d-1, have been applied to the septic tank input to 5,000L and drained by gravity from the edge of the hybrid constructed wetland with TDH total of 2.8d and 1.1d, respectively, under application of the average and maximum flow rates. Monitoring the experiment in the field, including the early period, lasted 6 months. They were evaluated the physico-chemical and microbiological parameters of raw sewage and effluent from septic tank and the chambers of hybrid constructed wetland during 97 consecutive days. The results indicated that both the young seedlings as the adults of Vetiver grass have adapted well to environmental conditions. The average removal efficiencies in the final treated effluent as to carbonaceous organic matter were 96 per cent for BOD5,20 and 90 per cent for COD, 40 per cent for Ntotal, 23 per cent for N-ammoniacal, 60 per cent for P-total, 52 per cent for P-PO4, 74 per cent for SST, 96 per cent for SSV, 75 per cent for settleable solids, 44 per cent for SDV, 88 per cent for total sulfide, and 97 per cent for oils and greases totals, ranging from 73 per cent to 100 per cent . About 80 per cent of the organic fraction of nitrogen matter present in the raw sewage has been removed. The thermotolerants coliforms removal was, in average, of 2 and 3 log units, and Escherichia Coli, average of 1 and 3 log units, respectively, under application of the maximum and average flow rates, Giardia sp, average of 99.995 per cent , Cryptosporidium sp, average of 98.7 per cent , Enterovirus, average of 99.6 per cent , and Ascaris sp, average of 0.10 eggs/L. Removal of sulfides allowed the generation of treated effluent without unpleasant odors. The decrease in flow rate applied and the elevation of TDH influenced positively on system performance with respect to removals of chemical-physical and microbiological parameters. Based on this study, it became apparent the association benefit constructed wetlands with vertical and horizontal flow in the treatment of wastewater of septic tank. The Vetiver grass has good potential for use in constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment. The experimental system of treatment presented operational flexibility while maintaining good performance even in periods of overload. The quality of the final treated effluent obtained in this study 10 meets the requirements and emission standards of liquid effluents in water bodies and in public sanitation systems defined in federal environmental legislation and the State of São Paulo in Brazil. Hybrid constructed wetlands technology associated with the septic tank effluent treatment showed good potential for decentralized domestic wastewater treatment, including in regions with low availability of free area.

Until the 1930s, flows of the Colorado River maintained approximately 781,060 hectares of wetlands in its delta. These wetlands provided important feeding and nesting grounds for resident and migratory birds as well as spawning and protection habitat for many fish and other invertebrate species. However, the Delta's wetlands started to disappear as water was used for agricultural and urban uses in the United States and Mexico. The 1944 United States-Mexico water treaty, which allocates 1.8 million m��/year to Mexico, did not define a minimum flow to maintain the Delta's ecosystems. The resulting degraded Delta lead to the perception in the 1980s that the Delta was a dead ecosystem. This study investigates whether this "dead Delta" perception is valid. Its central hypothesis is that regenerated vegetation in riparian and flood plain zones is associated with surplus river flows during the 1990s. A vegetation analysis, using satellite imagery and field methods, shows that native trees have regenerated during the last 20 years, and now account for 23% of vegetation in a 100 km, non-perennial, stretch of river below the United States-Mexico border. A spatial trend analysis using multi-temporal data on percent vegetation cover indicates that there are 6,320 hectares that show a significant increasing trend (p-value<0.05) in vegetation cover, with the Delta's riparian zone having at least 18% of its area showing this trend. The study estimates that once in four years February to April flow of 300 million m�� (at 80-120 m��/s) is sufficient to germinate and establish new cohorts of native trees, and highlights the need for smaller but more periodic flows in order to maintain wetland areas. It is concluded that there is clear evidence of the resilience of the Delta's ecosystems and that the "dead Delta" perception is no longer valid. There exist critical habitat in the Delta that needs to be protected, while there also exist short and long term opportunities to ecologically enhance and expand current habitat. Hydrological and ecological studies are needed to estimate specific water requirements for these areas in order to efficiently target them for immediate and long term conservation actions. / Graduation date: 2003

published_or_final_version / Architecture / Master / Master of Landscape Architecture

Vernal pools are small, seasonally filling wetlands found throughout forests of north eastern North America. Vernal pools have been proposed as potential 'hot spots' of carbon cycling. A key component of the carbon cycle within vernal pools is the decomposition of leaf litter. I tested the hypothesis that leaf litter decomposition is more rapid within vernal pools than the adjacent upland. Leaf litter mass losses from litterbags incubated in situ within vernal pools and adjacent upland habitat were measured periodically over one year and then again after two years. The experiment was carried out at 24 separate vernal pools, over two replicate years. This is a novel degree of replication in studies of decomposition in temporary wetlands. Factors influencing decomposition, such as duration of flooding, water depth, pH, temperature, and dissolved oxygen were measured. Mass loss was greater within pools than adjacent upland after 6 months, equal after 12 months, and lower within pools than adjacent upland after 24 months. This evidence suggests that vernal pools of Central Ontario are 'hot spots' of decomposition up to 6 months, but not after 12 and 24 months. In the long term, vernal pools may reduce decomposition rates, compared to adjacent uplands.

The erosion of headwater wetlands in the Sand River catchment, in the lowveld of north-eastern South Africa has led to a focus on their rehabilitation, both for livelihood security for those that use them for subsistence agriculture, as well as for provision of streamflow regulation services for the Sand River itself. One such wetland, the Craigieburn-Manalana itself undergoing severe erosion was subject to technical rehabilitation using concrete weirs and gabion dams to stabilize the erosion gullies during 2007. Through a series of papers the research discussed in this thesis examined the response of the wetland?s hydrodynamics to the implementation of these measures. Through the installation of a network of hydrometric apparatus the research has shown that the wetlands hydrology is largely controlled by the presence of both horizontal and vertical clay aquicludes within a hydraulically conductive sandy matrix. The sequence of these aquicludes had allowed for artesian phreatic surface phenomena identified in a relatively hydrologically intact region of the wetland. The gully erosion had initiated hydraulic drawdown of the wetland?s water table leading to the desiccation of the system. The construction of a buttress weir within the erosion gully had restored the wetlands hydrodynamics to that typical of conditions upstream of a clay-plug. The research also explored the role that clay plays in terms of controlling the wetland?s hydro-geomorphic setting through geophysical analysis. A conceptual model was then derived that states that these wetlands are held in place by clay-plugs that form through clay illuviation from the hillslopes at regions of valley confinement. This has important implications for the connectivity of wetland process domains. The research also determined the inputs of surface and subsurface flows to the wetland and it was found through detailed examination of soil moisture responses and variably saturated soil physics modelling using the HYDRUS model, that the wetland is hydrologically connected to its contributing hillslope by threshold induced preferential flow pathways, via macropores, that only respond after specific antecedent soil moisture conditions are met. In addition, the thesis describes novel approaches to use information provided by soil scientists for the development of catchment hydrological models. It was shown that the use of this hydropedology information improved the low flow response function of the catchment model, ACRU. This development has important implications for up-scaling of catchment process domains, or hydrological response units by being able to generalize on hillslope hydrological responses based on configuration of their soil type elements. The research also undertook to examine the role that the wetlands play in catchment processes. It was found through water budgeting, supported by hydrological time-series, stable isotope analysis and the quantification of vegetation water use within the wetland and contributing catchment, that these wetlands do not augment baseflows during the dry season. Furthermore, it is only early on during the wet season that these systems may attenuate peak flows, thereafter they act as conduits for high storm flows. Similarities emanated from this research with previous hydrological studies of headwater wetland systems in southern Africa and these are discussed. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2011.

Wetland vegetation is of fundamental ecological importance and is used as one of the vital bio-indicators for early signs of physical or chemical degradation in wetland systems. Wetland vegetation is being threatened by expansion of extensive lowland areas of agriculture, natural resource exploitation, etc. These threats are increasing the demand for detailed information on vegetation status, up-to-date maps as well as accurate information for mitigation and adaptive management to preserve wetland vegetation. All these requirements are difficult to produce at species or community level, due to the fact that some parts of the wetlands are inaccessible. Remote sensing offers nondestructive and real time information for sustainable and effective management of wetland vegetation. The application of remote sensing in wetland mapping has been done extensively, but unfortunately the uses of narrowband hyperspectral data remain unexplored at an advanced level. The aim of this study is to explore the potential of hyperspectral remote sensing for wetland vegetation discrimination at species level. In particular, the study concentrates on enhancing or improving class separability among wetland vegetation species. Therefore, the study relies on the following two factors; a) the use of narrowband hyperspectral remote sensing, and b) the integration of vegetation properties and vegetation indices to improve accuracy. The potential of vegetation indices and red edge position were evaluated for vegetation species discrimination. Oneway ANOVA and Canonical variate analysis were used to statistically test if the species were significantly different and to discriminate among them. The canonical structure matrix revealed that hyperspectral data transforms can discriminate vegetation species with an overall accuracy around 87%. The addition of biomass and water content variables improved the accuracy to 95.5%. Overall, the study demonstrated that hyperspectral data and vegetation properties improve wetland vegetation separability at species level. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2010.

Wetlands in the United States have been decreasing in number from the time European settlers began draining them for agricultural purposes to the present. Wetlands serve many important ecological functions such as waterfowl habitat.The purpose of this project was to investigate wetland creation literature in order to develop a process which could be applied to a particular site to attract waterfowl. The topics reviewed for this project were goal setting, for wetland creations, wetland creation methodologies and waterfowl habitat criteria. The major portion of the project was devoted to the construction process of the wetland. The criteria used to direct the wetland construction were hydrology, topographic contour design, revegetation, and protective buffers. Trail development to provide public access for educational purposes was also an important component of the wetland design. Waterfowl habitat criteria was also researched and applied to the project in order it insure that waterfowl would be attracted to the wetland.The process developed from the research was applied to Jim Haberek's property located in Anderson, Indiana. The product was a masterplan which included a site analysis, a water level management plan, a contour design, a revegetation plan, protective buffers and a trail design for the public. / Department of Landscape Architecture