Following the surface application of different fertiliser treatments (cattle slurry, cattle manure, and inorganic fertiliser) to grassed hillslopes, the transport of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) was monitored on controlled plots. The plots measured 30 m by 5 m, the lower 10 m acting as an untreated buffer zone, in order to examine the effect of following current codes of practice when applying fertilisers (MAFF and WOAD, 1991). Surface and sub-surface nutrient flow pathways were monitored, by sampling water from the saturated and unsaturated zones of the soil profile, and from surface runoff. Sub-surface flow was dominated by N03--N. However, concentrations of this N species were relatively low (3-6 mg 1-1), and differences between treatments and the control were not significant. Generally, this indicated immobilisation of N species and P fractions, outputs in plant uptake and possibly to atmosphere (denitrification). For surface runoff, concentrations of N and P from treated plots were significantly higher than those from the control. N was largely present as organic-N and NH4+-N for the slurry and manure (15 mg 1-1 and 5 mg 1-1 respectively), and as NH4+-N and N03--N for the inorganic fertiliser (20 mg 1-1 in both cases). P was largely present as P04--P (0.5 mg 1-1 for manure and slurry, 10 mg 1-1 for inorganic fertiliser), except for the manure treatment, where some 75 % of the total was organic-P. The 10 m buffer was effective in reducing the delivery of N and P in surface runoff, differences between the treatments and the control being rendered insignificant. This result was qualified in terms of the ratio of the buffer area to the treated area and the relatively low surface loads of N and P observed. N and P transport was then examined under less controlled conditions at the field to headwater catchment scale (4-18 ha). Sub-surface throughflow was associated with similar concentrations of N03--N (3-8 mg 1-1) and very low concentrations of P04--P (0.03-0.1 mg 1-1). These concentrations appeared to vary more in relation to seasonal changes in the level of discharge from the catchment than to changes in land-use, which implied that N and P in sub-surface throughflow was transport rather than supply limited. This was in broad agreement with observations made at the plot scale. At this larger scale, fluctuations in the concentrations of NH4+-N and P04--P occurred during rainfall events in response to what was probably the short-term occurrence of surface runoff from partial source areas of reduced infiltration capacity or variable source areas of saturation. These short-term fluctuations implied variations in topography and the distribution of surface derived N and P at the catchment scale. There was evidence of the occurrence of preferential flow during field experiments at both scales, which had important implications for the timing and magnitude of N and P transport. Finally, a functional and semi-distributed mathematical model was constructed to operate at the headwater catchment scale, and the effect of spatial variability in the interaction between land-use and topography on the transport of N and P was considered further.

No description available.

Buffer strips alongside watercourses are now a widely accepted method of reducing nutrient and sediment run-off from agricultural land thereby improving water quality and meeting policy goals. However, this change in land use may have consequences for riparian biodiversity which have yet to be fully understood. This study investigated the impact of buffering on various aspects of biodiversity by comparing three types of margins in three river catchments in north east Scotland. Margins were categorised as unbuffered (open and unfenced), buffered (fenced-off vegetated) and wooded (long established woody vegetation - fenced and unfenced). Components of biodiversity studied included vegetation patterns, and the abundance, diversity, movement and assemblage composition of ground-dwelling arthropods focussing primarily, though not exclusively, on ground beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae). This study further considered management options which may improve or enhance biodiversity. Evidenced changes in vegetation were associated with soil parameters (including decreasing pH), channel morphology, decreasing light availability and tree canopy cover, and bryophyte abundance along a successional gradient from unbuffered-buffered-wooded sites. Buffered and wooded sites showed lower activity density and species richness of ground beetles, but while one measure of functional diversity was high for wooded sites, buffered sites were found to have significantly lower values. Both species and trait assemblage structure of ground beetles were influenced by soil and vegetation, but also by features of buffer strip design such as width, length and age. Active management of sites through grazing or cutting increased ground beetle abundance, particularly hygrophilous species, but did not affect diversity. Radiotracking showed increased movement of ground beetles was correlated with intensity of grazing. Few truly riparian plant or arthropod species were identified indicating the process of buffering essentially 'terrestrialises' the riparian margins. The presence of a tree canopy layer appears to be the key instigator of change in soil conditions with vegetation and arthropods responding accordingly. Therefore planting and maintaining trees in buffer strips could be crucial to ensuring that functional diversity and associated ecosystem services are maintained. Active management through grazing or cutting could help in this regard. The results from this study suggest that rather than buffering all riparian margins within catchments, it is fundamentally important for biodiversity to maintain a mosaic of different successional stages and a diversity of habitats.

Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 1973. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.Sc.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 2007. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 102-110). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 2009. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 78-85). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2006. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file viewed on (February 23, 2006) Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--York University, 2004. Graduate Programme in Geography. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 182-194). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/yorku/fullcit?pNQ99255

Thesis (M.S.)--Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences Dept., South Dakota State University, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available via the World Wide Web.