Två miljöproblem idag är ökade koncentrationer av växthusgaser i atmosfären och övergödning. Därför är två utmaningar att reducera utsläppen av växthusgaser och flöden av näringsämnen. Ytterligare en utmaning är att trygga energiförsörjningen i en värld där efterfrågan på energi ökar. Nya förnybara energikällor behöver utvecklas både för att trygga energiförsörjningen men även för att minska användandet av fossil energi. En förnybar energikälla är biogas som kan användas till el, värme och fordonsgas. Det förutspås att substrat för biogasproduktion kommer vara en bristvara i framtiden, därför behöver nya substrat utvärderas. Våtmarksväxter är ett alternativt substrat för biogasproduktion och utvärderades i den här studien. Våtmarker och dess växter är intressanta att studera eftersom de kan reducera koncentrationen näringsämnen som når sjöar och hav och kan därför bidra till att minska problemen med övergödning.    Studien genomfördes inom ett projekt vid Biogas Research Center och var en litteraturstudie med studie av ett fall. Metoden som användes har arbetats fram i projektet och är en multikriteriaanalys, (MCA), vilket innebär att det är flera olika områden som studeras. Områdena tar hänsyn till biologiska, ekonomiska, kemiska, miljömässiga och tekniska aspekter. För att strukturera upp informationen användes en matris som bestod av de olika huvudområdena som studerades. För att tydliggöra möjligheter och hinder gjordes en semi-kvalitativ bedömning av varje huvudområde.   Fallet som studerades var en våtmark i odlingslandskapet. Våtmarken är 5 ha och återskapades för några år sedan för att fungera som kväve- och fosforkälla. Det finns ingen växtlighet i våtmarken eftersom den är relativt ny. De växter som studerades under studien var därför växter som är tänkbara att växa i våtmarken i framtiden. Växterna som studerades var vass, rörflen och bredkaveldun. I våtmarken finns möjlighet att reglera vattennivån och därmed tömma den på vatten för att underlätta skörd.   Resultatet visade att den teknik som finns idag för skörd och sönderdelning behöver utvecklas eftersom den inte motsvarar de krav som ställs. Det finns olika tekniker för rötning och eftersom växterna har hög torrsubstanshalt är torrötning att föredra eller ett tvåstegssystem där första steget är torrötning. En våtmark ger en relativt liten mängd biomassa och därför passar det bättre att röta växterna tillsammans med andra substrat till exempel på en gårdsbiogasanläggning.   Våtmarksväxter är inte godkända substrat för certifiering av biogödsel, vilket kan vara ett hinder. Biogödseln har även ett lågt värde eftersom växterna innehåller låg halt näringsämnen. Våtmarker reducerar mängden näringsämnen och skörd kan bidra till att retentionen av fosfor ökar. Samtidigt avger våtmarker metan och lustgas som påverkar växthuseffekten.  Idag finns det ingen ekonomisk lönsamhet att skörda våtmarker. Ett system där ersättning fås för miljönyttan som skörd ger är ett alternativ för att öka lönsamheten. / Two environmental problems today are the increased concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and eutrophication.  Therefore, two challenges are reducing greenhouse gas emissions and fluxes of nutrients. Another challenge is to secure the energy supply in a world where energy demand is increasing. New renewable energy sources need to be developed both to secure the energy supply, but also to reduce the use of fossil energy. A renewable energy source is biogas that can be used for electricity, heating and as vehicle fuel. It is predicted that substrate for biogas production will be a limitation in the future, therefore, new substrate need to be evaluated. Wetland plants are an alternative substrate for biogas production and evaluated in this study.  Wetlands and it is plants are interesting to study because they can reduce the concentration of nutrients and therefore help to reduce the problem of eutrophication.  The study was performed within a project at Biogas Research Center and was a literature study with the study of a case. The method used has been developed in the project and is a Multi Criteria Assessment (MCA), which means that there are several different areas being studied. Areas taking into account the biological, economic, chemical, environmental and technological aspects. In order to structure the data, a matrix consisting of the different key areas was used. To clarify the opportunities and obstacles a semi-qualitative assessment was done for each key area. The case studied was a wetland in an agricultural landscape. The wetland is 5 ha and was constructed a few years ago to work as nitrogen and phosphorous trap. There is no vegetation in the wetland because it is relatively new. The plants that were studied during the study was therefore plants that are potential to grow in the wetland in the future. The studied plants were reed, reed canary grass and cattail. In the wetland it is possible to regulate the water and thereby drain the water to facilitate harvesting.   The results showed that the technology available today for the harvesting and chopping needs to be developed because it does not meet the required standards. There are various techniques for digestion, but since the dry matter is high for the plants dry fermentation is preferable, or a two-stage system in which the first step is dry digestion. A wetland provides a relatively small amount of biomass and therefore it is better to co-digest the plants on a farm biogas plant.  Wetland plants are not approved substrates for certification of bio fertilizer, which can be an obstacle. The bio fertilizer also has a low value because the plants contain low levels of nutrients.Wetlands reduce the amount of nutrients and harvest of wetland plants contributes to the retention of phosphorus increases. Wetlands emit methane and nitrous oxide that affect global warming.Today, there is no economic viability of harvesting wetlands. A system in which compensation is obtained for the environmental benefit that harvest provides is an option to increase profitability.

Bibliography: leaves 103-120. / 1 v. (various pagings) : ill. (some col.), maps ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Species interactions are dependent on the water regime, which affects the relative allocation to below (sediment resource acquisition) and above ground (C acquisition) parts. At shallow and regularily exposed sites, Baumea is the superior competitor. In Hacks and Bool Lagoon, South Australia, changing distribution patterns occur in deep and permanently flooded conditions, where Baumea dies back, paving the way for Triglochin to passively take it's place. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Dept. of Botany, University of Adelaide, 1993

The Maputaland Coastal Plain in Kwa Zulu-Natal is covered by aeolian sands . According to the national wetland delineation manual delineating wetlands in this area is complex due to problematic wetland soils. The aim of this study was to classify and describe the vegetation of the different zones of the wetland systems to determine the main drivers of the plant communities. The understanding of these complex ecosystems could assist in wetland delineation. Twenty wetlands from five wetland systems were surveyed. The vegetation zones of each wetland were sampled and basic environmental data were collected. The results from this study indicate that different plant species assemblages are characteristic for the wetland zones. However, zone delineation using vegetation composition varies between the different wetland systems, and should be evaluated according to the system in question. The major determinants of the vegetation communities in wetlands on the MCP are the substrate type and hydrological regime / Environmental Sciences / M.Sc. (Environmental Management)

Urbanization involves the conversion of natural areas to impervious surfaces, which can lead to an increase in the frequency and severity of flood events in cities. To mitigate flood risk, stormwater ponds are constructed to manage urban runoff. Stormwater ponds can also be colonized by wildlife, but their suitability as habitat is disputed due to potential toxicological risks. This study assessed the suitability of stormwater ponds as habitat for the bioindicators Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) and determined environmental factors that impact their community structure. Odonata (adults, nymphs and exuviae) were sampled at 41 stormwater ponds and 10 natural reference ponds across the National Capital Region of Canada, with a subset of ponds sampled over four years (2015-2018). Plant communities, water quality and surrounding land cover were analyzed at each pond to determine their impacts on Odonata community structure. Overall, stormwater ponds had lower Odonata abundance and a greater variation in species richness and community structure compared to natural ponds but had comparable dragonfly reproduction rates. Plants were the most significant driver of Odonata communities, as stormwater ponds with a high richness of native wetland plants had higher Odonata abundance and community structures similar to natural ponds. Water quality was the second most important driver of Odonata communities with dragonflies showing greater sensitivity to urban contaminants than damselflies. While stormwater ponds had higher concentrations of trace elements than natural ponds (e.g. Ni, V, As), concentrations were generally below toxic levels for all elements except copper and chloride, the latter likely an input from winter road salting. Surrounding land cover was the least important factor affecting Odonata communities. In conclusion, this research demonstrated the importance of local-scale factors related to plants and water quality in sustaining Odonata communities and specifies recommendations for stormwater pond design and maintenance that enhance urban biodiversity.

The Maputaland Coastal Plain in Kwa Zulu-Natal is covered by aeolian sands . According to the national wetland delineation manual delineating wetlands in this area is complex due to problematic wetland soils. The aim of this study was to classify and describe the vegetation of the different zones of the wetland systems to determine the main drivers of the plant communities. The understanding of these complex ecosystems could assist in wetland delineation. Twenty wetlands from five wetland systems were surveyed. The vegetation zones of each wetland were sampled and basic environmental data were collected. The results from this study indicate that different plant species assemblages are characteristic for the wetland zones. However, zone delineation using vegetation composition varies between the different wetland systems, and should be evaluated according to the system in question. The major determinants of the vegetation communities in wetlands on the MCP are the substrate type and hydrological regime / Environmental Sciences / M.Sc. (Environmental Management)

MSc (Botanty) / Department of Botany / Background: Problem plants and alien invasive weed species are part of today‟s ecological transformation. Ethnobotanical literature on ecological prominence and ethical values of problem alien weeds is scant and should be documented to avoid loss of valuable species. Aim: The study was aimed at documenting problem weeds and alien invasive plant species considered to be beneficial in deep rural communities. Materials and method: Purposeful triangulation research methods were used to ensure the proper gathering of both qualitative and quantitative data sets. Results and conclusion: Some problem weeds and alien invasive plant species are being utilized by local people to maintain their livelihood. A total of 78 plant species from 33 families were recorded. These plant species belonged to diverse growth habits, namely: climbers, herbaceous, succulents, shrubs, trees as well as creepers. Recorded problem weeds and alien invasive plant species were contributing towards ecological, medicinal and social values. These included being utilized as a source of food (14), fruits (4), medicinal (31), ornamentals (7), firewood (3), social (2) and multiple purposes (17). The main utilized families were Asteraceae (14.1%) and Solanaceae (14.1%). These families were mostly utilized for the purpose of medicinal and food. Plant species that were widely used are as follows: Achyrathes aspera L., Agave sisalana L., Amaranthus spinosus L., Anredera cordifolia L., Canna indica L., Centella asiatica L., Chenopodium album L., Chenopodium ambrosioides L. and Chromolaena odorata (L.) R. M. King and H. Rob. The dominant category for problem weeds and alien invasive plant species was 1b (44%) followed by weeds (35%), category 2 (9%), invaders (5%), category 3 (4%) and 1% for both category 1, 1a as well as X3. The results revealed that the legislative listing of plant species as problem weeds and alien invasive species was based on single knowledge basis system, rather than on multi-dimensional knowledge systems. Therefore, this study recommended that for judgment to be considered in decision-making, it should be based on species-specificity as well as multi-dimensional-knowledge basis. The reconciliation of inherent grapples among scientific and indigenous knowledge systems could possibly be underpinned by equal legislative consideration for the aforementioned knowledge systems especially in the establishment and implementation of environmental regulations. This could also aid with the provision to support transformation in South Africa and worldwide.

MSc (Botany) / Department of Botany / The use of disturbance in the management of Savanna is a common rangeland practice in South Africa. A two-season trial was established in June 2016 and December 2016 to evaluate the effects of disturbance of different intensities on wetland belts in the Nylsvley Nature Reserve. The disturbances were in three different belts of different grass types at different intensities. The experimental treatments consisted of two different intensities, namely; high (H) and low (L). The Cyperus amabilis belt was regarded as site 1, the Sporobolus africanus as site 2, and the Themeda triandra as site 3. Seventeen kites were contracted in each belt, two times 1 m × 1 m at high and low intensity, followed by two times 2 m × 2 m one at high intensity. The results showed that disturbance affects the topsoil by removing the soil which is rich in nutrients producing pioneer species for the first few months and then original species were seen inhibiting again. / NRF

Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area (LLELA) is an 809-hectare property in Denton County, TX. A study of the vegetation community identified 466 species in 104 families, with 25% of the species from only two families, Asteraceae and Poaceae. The property demonstrates the characteristics of an early successional community, dominated by weedy species. Prairie communities are dominated by Johnson grass and ragweed, with climax tall grass prairie communities only in areas that have been planted with native grass seed. Forest communities are similarly in an early successional stage, dominated by the hackberry-elm-ash alliance, with small remnants of native Cross Timbers found in isolated patches. Species richness and diversity were highest in the forests and lowest in the wetlands; evenness, though not different across ecosystems, demonstrated a strong seasonal component. The species list was compared with previously reported lists for Denton County, and 256 species identified had not been previously reported for the county. A wetland restoration study was conducted to determine if there was a difference in survival and growth between potted transplants with intact root systems and bare-root transplants. Two different mesh sizes were used for protection, and the success of the different caging was evaluated. Of eight species, only four survived through the second growing season. There was no significant difference in the success of the propagule types for Sagittaria latifolia. The treatments planted with intact root systems showed significantly higher growth and reproduction than the bare-root treatments for Eleocharis quadrangulata, Heteranthera dubia, and Vallisneria americana. There was no survival recorded in the coarse mesh cages, likely due to the presence of crayfish that are able to get through the coarser mesh and feed on the transplants.