The character of montane channel morphology and associated hierarchical controls was investigated in the Dee catchment, Cairngorm Mountains, north-east Scotland. Montane channel morphology in Scotland is of considerable importance given its relatively undisturbed condition in a UK context, variety and for providing habitat for several important lotic species. Nine distinctive sub-catchments were chosen to investigate the linkages between landscape controls and channel morphology distribution. The distribution of channel morphology at the reach scale was mapped using an expanded version of a process-based classification system originally developed in the Pacific northwest, USA. Continuous mapping revealed a wide variety and irregular distribution of channel morphology that is influenced primarily by a suite of glacigenic valley bottom controls. Differences in channel morphology distribution were apparent between catchments reflecting the influence of unique landscape evolution histories. In addition, fifty reaches exhibiting a variety of morphology and associated geomorphic setting, were surveyed in the field to explore in more detail controls on channel morphology. The results generally confirm the relevancy of the typology in the region and the dominant control exerted by slope. However the importance of scale, local controls and the regional geomorphic context was also highlighted. Finally, GIS approaches to channel characterisation at the catchment scale were tested to assess their potential usefulness for catchment management applications. By using a combination of the previous results, GIS models were calibrated and tested to predict the distribution of channel type and Atlantic salmon spawning habitat. The accuracy of channel type predictions were compromised by the model criteria and quality of geospatial data used. However the potential utility of the spawning habitat model as a first order method for screening habitat suitability over large areas was demonstrated.

published_or_final_version / Medicine / Master / Master of Research in Medicine

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Two kinetically and pharmacologically distinct outward K+ conductances were found to be simultaneously activated at the plasma membrane of TBY-2 suspension culture protoplasts using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. We used a modified Hodgkin-Huxley model to quantify the activation kinetics of the outward current. Time constants for the two conductances derived from the model differed in magnitude by 5--10 fold over the voltage range from -10 mV to +50 mV, allowing their classification as either fast or slow. Deactivation kinetics were better fit by two exponential terms rather than one, yielding fast and slow deactivation time constants. The voltage dependence of time constants derived from these two independent two-channel models followed a bell-shaped distribution with mid-point potentials for both components at -20 mV with a standard 10-fold K+ gradient (10 K+o/100K+i). / Both components were highly K+-selective, however the tail current amplitudes of the slowly activating component at hyperpolarized potentials exhibited non-linear rectification whereas the tail current amplitudes of the fast activating component were linear. The ratio of inward tail current/activated outward current (envelope of tails test) was not constant during the depolarizing step; during the first 50--100 milliseconds the ratio was 6 times higher than at quasi-steady-state (i.e. after 0.3 second). / A pharmacological dissection of outward currents revealed that external Ba2+ in the range from 10 muM to 1 mM selectively inhibited a fast, sigmoidally activating, slowly inactivating current as revealed by examining difference currents. The more slowly activating component was inhibited by only 20% with 5 mM Ba2+. Conversely, nitrendipine or bepridil (5--100 muM) selectively inhibited the slower component of outward current. External TEA inhibited both the fast and slow components equally; tail current amplitudes of both components were inhibited by 40% with 2 mM TEA and the activation time courses in the presence of TEA conserved the same kinetic parameters as control currents.

This study investigates changes to channel morphology along Chilliwack River in southwest British Columbia, and relates these changes to the transport of bed material. The channel was mapped using a stereoplotter from a sequence of historical aerial photography between 1952 and 1991. Maps for selected years were overlaid, then analyzed with a GIS. Erosion and deposition volumes of bed material were determined by multiplying measured planimetric changes by the varying depth of bed material along the river. A sediment budget framework was used to estimate bed material transport rates from these net changes in stored sediment volumes. The transport rate of bed material for Chilliwack River is estimated as 55,000±10,000 m3/yr for the period 1983 to 1991. Instability along lower channel reaches has increased over the 40 year period of study due to an increase in both the magnitude and frequency of large floods. As a consequence, channel width, bank erosion rates and the volume of sediment transported past Vedder Crossing became increasingly large. Between 1952 and 1975, Chilliwack River was in a transient state of equilibrium as the channel continued to recover from a sequence of large floods in previous decades. Large floods in 1975 and 1980 caused significant bank erosion along lower reaches, which increased the amount of sediment available for transport. Extreme floods in 1989 and 1990 caused further erosion, and in fact, were large enough to alter the pre-flood channel regime. However, in the absence of further large floods, the channel should recover from these events in 10 to 20 years. Significant morphologic change on Chilliwack River occurs roughly once every 5 years, when peak flows exceed 500 m3/s. These floods are sufficient to erode channel banks, where the dominant supply of mobile bed material is stored. Aggradation occurs in the short term as more sediment is introduced to the active channel zone than can be removed by subsequent smaller flows. However, as flows as small as 250 m3/s (which occur several times per year, on average) are capable of mobilizing bed material, there is net degradation over the longer term. As the length between survey dates used in this study averaged 10 years, some information on bed material transport between dates is lost. Nonetheless, this study has demonstrated that considerable information on historic channel change can be obtained form aerial photographs.

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