Land-use history has been recognized as an important factor in shaping biological communities in clear-cuts. Many solitary bees and flower beetles (Cerambycidae: Lepturinae) are commonly found in clear-cuts, which serve as early successional habitats. I analyzed the effect of land-use history on the abundance and species richness, as well as the preference for land-use history in specific species, of solitary bees and flower beetles in coniferous clear-cuts in southern Sweden. Additionally, the effect of site-specific environmental factors was examined. Insects were caught with blue, white and yellow pan-traps in 48 clear-cuts, of which half were meadow and half were forest in the 1870s. With few exceptions, the species found did not show preference for any land-use history. Furthermore, land-use history had no significant effect on the abundance or species richness of solitary bees or flower beetles. This may be due to pan-traps being less attractive in flower-rich locations, a bias in the sampling method. However, species richness and abundance of solitary bees was higher in young clear-cuts (2-4 years old), probably best explained by more exposed soil and higher frequencies of flowering plants in newer clear-cuts. Abundance of flower beetles was higher in old clear-cuts (6-8 years old). This may be due to larger amounts of more strongly decomposed wood in older clear-cuts, which is used in the flower beetles´ larval development. I conclude that solitary bees are likely to benefit if clear-cuts, particularly with meadow history, are kept more open by introducing disturbance regimes, as suggested by previous studies.

Forests in boreal and temperate forest-ecosystems have importance for carbonbalance since they sequester large amount of atmospheric carbon by uptake ofcarbon-dioxide during photosynthesis, and transfer and store carbon in the forestecosystem. Forest material can be used for bio-fuel purposes and substitute fossilfuels, and supply wood products, which can replace carbon-and-energy-intensivematerials. Therefore it is vital to consider the role of forests regarding today´s aimto mitigate climate change. This thesis assess (i) how climate change affects futureforest carbon balance, (ii) the importance of different strategies for forestmanagement systems, and biomass production for the carbon balance, (iii) how theuse of forest production affect the total carbon balance in a lifecycle perspective,and (iv) how the Swedish carbon balance is affected from the standpoint of boththe actual use of forest raw material within Sweden and what Swedish forestryexports. The analysis was made mainly in a long-term perspective (60-300 years) toillustrate the importance of temporal and also the spatial perspective, as theanalysis includes stand level, landscape level, and national level. In this thesis, forestry was considered a system. All activities, from forestregeneration to end use of forest products, were entities of this system. In theevaluation, made from a systems perspective, we used life-cycle analysis toestimate carbon stock in different system flows. Different forest managementsystems and forest production were integrated in the analyses. Different forestmanagement scenarios were designed for the Swedish forest management incombination with the effect of future climate change; (i) intensive forest practiceaiming at increased growth, (ii) increased forest set-aside areas, changes in forestmanagement systems for biomass production, and (iii) how the use of forestproducts affect the total carbon balance (construction material, bioenergy and otherdomestic use). The results showed that future climate changes and intensive forest managementwith increased production could increase the biomass production and the potentialuse of forest raw material. This has a positive effect on carbon stock change in theforest biomass, litter production and below ground carbon stock and help reducingcarbon-dioxide emissions. Increased forest set-aside areas can increase the shorttermcarbon stock in forest ecosystems, but will reduce the total long-term carbonbalance. The net carbon balance for clear-cut forestry did not differ significantlyfrom continuous-cover forestry, but was rather a question of level of growth. Mostimportant, in the long term, was according to our analysis, how forest raw materialis used. Present Swedish forestry and use of forest raw material, both withinSweden and abroad, reduce carbon-dioxide emissions and mitigate climate change.The positive effect for the total carbon balance and climate benefit mostly takeplace abroad, due to the Swedish high level of export of wood products and thehigher substitution effects achieved outside Swedish borders. One strategy is toincrease production, harvest and use Swedish forest raw material to replace morecarbon intensive material, which can contribute to significant emission reduction.Carbon-dioxide mitigation, as a result of present Swedish forestry, was shown tobe almost of the same level as the total yearly emission of greenhouse gases. Thetotal carbon benefit would increase if the biomass production and felling increasedand if Swedish wood products replaced carbon intensive materials. This thesis shows also that, by changing forest management, increase thegrowth and the use of forest raw material and export of forest material we cancontribute to even larger climate benefits. In a long-term perspective, thesubstitution effects and replacement of carbon-and energy-intensive materials areof greater significance than carbon storage effects in forests. A more productionoriented forestry needs to make balances and increase the prerequisite forbiological diversity, improve recreation possibilities, and protect sensitive landareas and watersheds. Climate benefits, from Swedish forestry, are highly dependent on policydecision-making and how that can steer the direction for the Swedish forestry.

Rivers in the U.S. Midwest are dynamic systems that can be natural laboratories for understanding the different modes of bank erosion, namely fluvial erosion, mass erosion, and mass failure. Fluvial and mass erosion are hydraulically driven and semicontinuous, whereas mass failure is episodic and often catastrophic. Being catastrophic, mass failure and its driving mechanisms have received considerable attention comparatively to mass and fluvial erosion. However, the linkage between hydraulically driven erosion and mass failure has not been examined fully. We hypothesize that fluvial and mass erosion affect the memory and response of the system by creating favorable hydrogeomorphic conditions for mass failure. This dissertation addresses three major shortcomings in the bank erosion literature, including the confusion surrounding critical erosional strength values for mass and fluvial erosion (τc,m and τc,f, respectively). The herein results clearly show that these two parameters are different, with τc,m being three to five times greater than τc,m. Therefore, excluding mass erosion estimates from sediment budgets or stability analyses can lead to significant errors in quantifying or predicting bank retreat and channel geometry. In addition, this study offered a methodological improvement for measuring the τc,m in-situ using Photo-Electric Erosion Pins, which semi-automatically measure mass erosion to generate erosional strength and erodibility values that are currently missing in the literature. This study also addressed the preconceived notion in morphodynamic modeling that bank soil profiles are homogeneous and universal strength/ cohesion parameters adequately represent the bank soil profile. This study shows that bank soil heterogeneity is present and significantly affects bank stability. Therefore, heterogeneity along a bank face must be assessed in at least three locations to provide adequate input data for bank erosion models. Finally, this study suggests that Factors of Safety for mass failure must be complemented with those for fluvial and mass erosion to avoid underestimating mass failure by as much as 30%. Hence, this study provides agencies like the U.S. Department of Agriculture key data regarding the total contributions from the different modes of bank erosion and channel, itself, to the stream sediment load for strategic targeting of Best Management Practices and in-streams stabilization structures.

This document presents a sketch of the engineering and legal considerations necessary to implement a distributed storage flood mitigation system in Iowa. This document first presents the results of a simulation done to assess the advantages of active storage reservoirs over passive reservoirs for flood mitigation. Next, this paper considers how forecasts improve the operation of a single reservoir in preventing floods. After demonstrating the effectiveness of accurate forecasts on a single active storage reservoir, this thesis moves on to a discussion of distributed storage with the idea that the advantages of active reservoirs with accurate forecasting could be applied to the distributed storage system. The analysis of distributed storage begins with a determination of suitable locations for reservoirs in the Clear Creek Watershed, near Coralville, Iowa, using two separate algorithms. The first algorithm selected the reservoirs based on the highest average reservoir depth, while the second located reservoirs based on maximizing the storage in two specific travel bands within the watershed. This paper also discusses the results of a land cover analysis on the reservoirs, determining that, based on the land cover inundated, several reservoirs would cause too much damage to be practical. The ultimate goal of a distributed storage system is to use the reservoirs to protect an urban area from significant flood damage. For this thesis, the Clear Creek data were extrapolated to the Cedar River basin with the intention to evaluate the feasibility and gain a rough approximation of the requirements for a distributed storage system to protect Cedar Rapids. Discussion then centered on an approximation of the distributed storage system that could have prevented the catastrophic Flood of 2008 in Cedar Rapids. There is significant potential for a distributed storage system to be a cost effective way of protecting Cedar Rapids from future flooding on the scale of the Flood of 2008. However, more analysis is needed to more accurately determine the costs and benefits of a distributed storage system in the Cedar River basin. This paper also recommends that a large scale distributed storage system should be controlled by an entity be created within the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. A smaller distributed storage system could be managed by a soil and water conservation subdistrict. Iowa allows for condemnation of the land needed for the gate structures and the flowage easements necessary to build and operate a distributed storage system. Finally, this paper discusses the environmental law concerns with a distributed storage system, particularly the Clean Water Act requirement for a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit.

According to the Swedish Forestry Act, environmental protection is required within forest operations regardless of forest ownership. This thesis examines the extent to which regulations issued by the National Board of Forestry are implemented in clearcuttings. Different factors contributing to the outcome of environmental protection are analyzed both from a top-down and a bottom-up perspec­tive. Empirically, the study combines field investigation of clearcuts, interviews with implementing actors, and evaluation of written prescriptions and advice on environ­mental protection. The Swedish forest-environmental legislation and implementation process is also compared to that of the U.S. and, especially, to the state of Cali­fornia . Conflicting goals within the Forestry Act and vague environmental guidelines leave the implementing agency officers with great discretion. Steering attempts by the Forestry Agency are in terms of friendly advice and information. No breaches of the regulations were taken to court during 1980-1986 although this is formally possible. There is an average compliance of approximately fifty per cent of the required environmental measures. Aesthetic values are taken into account to a greater extent than pure floristic and faunistic ones. Economic considerations and harvest technology contribute to a low degree of environmental protection. Forest machines are inadequately suited for protecting single, environmentally valuable trees and they frequently cause deep tracks. Inadequate environmental knowledge and insufficient pre-harvest environmental planning also affect environ­mental performance negatively. Generally, economic considerations contribute to the low priority to environ­mental protection given by the implementing actors compared to timber production. Economic inducements counteract environmental protection. It is generally rare that environmentalists and other public interests affected by forest operations are consulted. Environmentalists however influence indirectly through political pressure to legislate, participation in the consultation process before legislation is enacted, and mass-media attention. / digitalisering@umu

Swedish forests are mostly used for timber harvesting and 96 % of this harvesting is made by clear cutting while only 4 % is effected through other methods such as single tree harvesting. All species are not affected by forestry to same magnitude. Some specifically generalists are not affected at all. Hence, this study, had its aim to find out vascular plant species that persist, disappear or colonize other species as a result of anthropogenic disturbances in different production forests, so as to determine not only if canopy openness affects the species distribution but also the magnitude of the effects. I examined 10 different forest localities during May and June 2008. Three of these localities were made up of clear cut forest plots, 3 with partially cut down forest plots and 4 with undisturbed production forest plots. Species composition and diversity were then compared between these plots. A total of 34 different species were found. Statistical Analysis was made on how well the species in the partially cut down forest plots fitted into the undisturbed forest group as well as comparing this results with results of how counterpart species in the clear cut forest plots fitted into the undisturbed forest groups. These results showed that there was no significant difference, ANOVA values of P = 0.839, 0.602 and 0.564 respectively among the species composition between the forest, partially cut down and clear cut forest groups between the forest, partially cut down and clear cut forest plots. However, among the 54 species found in all study plots, 11 were common between the forest and partially logged sites whereas only Carex sp in the clear cut forest was common to those in the forest plots implying that canopy openness did not affect the total species number but had an effect in species composition. Clear cutting seems to kill off everything but trees and generalists. Hence, resiliency of vegetation should be increased by management practices that ensure the maintenance of prior species.

Abstract. The objectives of this thesis are to evaluate (1) the influence of slope aspect on boreal plant responses to clear-cutting and (2) the effects of post-harvest extraction of bioenergy (logging residues or slash) on plant composition, richness and performance in clear-cuts. Such insight is essential for understanding changes in species composition and richness in response to clear-cutting and application of intensified harvesting systems. The focus is on productive and managed spruce dominated forests and focal organisms are mosses, liverworts (i.e. bryophytes) and vascular plants. Space-for-time substitution studies were performed in south- and north-facing slopes located in 10 forests and 10 adjacent clear-cut stands in central Sweden. Differences between forests and clear-cuts were interpreted as effects of clear-cutting. The results show that the response of all three focal groups differed between aspects. More species were lost in south-facing slopes and clear-cutting reduced species richness of liverworts as well as of bryophytes and vascular plants associated with sheltered habitats. By contrast, clear-cutting caused no reduction in any group and more species were added in north-facing slopes. As a result north-facing clear-cuts generally had higher species richness than their forest counterparts. The disparate patterns in species’ response between aspects were most likely caused by initial microclimatic differences and a greater microclimatic change in south-facing slopes, in response to clear-cutting. A paired comparative study of conventionally harvested (i.e. slash left) and slash-harvested clear-cut stands was performed 5-10 years after clear-cutting in south-central Sweden. Both the species composition and the richness of mosses and liverworts were affected by slash harvest, whereas the composition of vascular plants was not. Slash harvest also reduced richness of mosses and liverworts associated with forests and organic substrates (e.g. dead wood and litter). Species richness of vascular plants and bryophytes associated with inorganic substrates (i.e. mineral soil) was unchanged. Differences between conventionally harvested stands and slash-harvested stands were most likely a result of reduced cover of organic material reducing substrate availability and shelter in the latter. Increased mechanical disturbance in slash-harvested stands that destroys remnant forest vegetation and favours pioneers may also play a role. A bryophyte transplant experiment was performed in seven clear-cuts in central Sweden and monitored over one vegetation period. The results show that logging residues (or slash) and forest edges may shelter ground-dwelling bryophytes by buffering the clear-cut microclimate. In conclusion, both slope aspect and extraction of forest bioenergy affect plant survival in clear-cut boreal forests. As surviving plant populations facilitate re-colonisation, north-facing slopes and conventionally harvested clear-cuts (i.e. slash left) may potentially recover faster than south-facing slopes and slash-harvested clear-cuts.

Computation of temporal variation of clear water scour is important for the design of bridge foundations. Previous studies conducted for determining equilibrium scour depth at bridge abutments indicated that very long flow duration was needed to achieve equilibrium scouring situations. However, the corresponding durations in the prototype conditions may yield considerably greater values than time to peak of the design flood. Therefore, there is a need to estimate the temporal variation of scour depth. An experimental study was carried out to observe temporal variation of scour depth and contours around vertical-wall and wing-wall abutments. The results of the experiments have been interpreted. A semi-empirical model has been developed for determining time-dependent variation of clear water scour depth at vertical-wall abutments. This approach is based on the application of sediment continuity equation to the scour hole around the vertical-wall abutment. To this end, time-dependent geometric features of the scour hole were investigated and a recent sediment pickup function was used to formulate the rate of sediment transport out of the scour hole. The results of the proposed model were compared with those of some empirical models. The findings of the model agree well with the experimental results.

Zeolite A-type membranes are usually synthesized from hydrogels and rarely synthesized from clear solutions mostly in batch systems. Few studies were carried out using semi-continuous systems for zeolite A membrane synthesis. Zeolite A membranes are mainly used in pervaporation processes for separation of water from water/organic mixtures because of their hydrophilic property. In this study, zeolite A membranes were synthesized on -alumina supports from a clear solution with a molar composition of 49Na2O: 1Al2O: 5SiO2: 980H2O. Synthesis was done both in a batch system and in a flow system in which solution was circulated through the support under atmospheric pressure. Effects of synthesis temperature, time, flow rate and seeding on membrane formation were investigated. The membranes were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), single gas permeation measurements and pervaporation tests. In batch system, pure zeolite A membranes having cubic form of zeolite A was obtained for the syntheses carried out at 60&deg / C for 24 h and 80&deg / C for 8 h. Thicknesses of the membranes synthesized at 80&deg / C and 60&deg / C were about 2 &micro / m and 4 &micro / m, respectively. N2 permeances were 2*10-8 mol/m2sPa and 8*10-8 mol/m2sPa for of the membranes synthesized in the batch system at 60&deg / C and 80&deg / C, respectively. When synthesis was carried out in flow system pure and continuous zeolite A membranes were obtained for all conditions. Membranes synthesized at 60&deg / C and 80&deg / C had thicknesses of about 1.5 and 2 &micro / m, respectively. Lower N2 permeations were obtained for the membranes synthesized in flow system. It was observed that flow rate and seeding did not significantly affect the thickness of the membrane layer. The membranes synthesized in this study are significantly thinner than the membranes reported in the literature. Single gas permeation tests at 25&deg / C for the membranes showed that comparable membranes with the ones in literature were obtained in this study. For a double layer membrane synthesized in flow system at 80&deg / C for 8h separation factor about 3700 was obtained for the separation of 92:8 (wt.%) ethanol/water mixture at 45&deg / C.

Deterministic scour prediction equations for bridge abutments do not involve uncertainties coming from scouring parameters and they only consider effects of hydraulic parameters. However, in order to safely design bridge abutments, treatment of these uncertainties and evaluation of possible risks are required. Two artificial neural network (ANN) models are constructed to describe scouring phenomenon using the parameters of two different equations. The equation to be used in the reliability analysis is then determined according to ANN modeling results. To conduct reliability analysis, Monte Carlo simulation technique is used in which different distributions and coefficients of variations are used for random variables to examine their effects on reliability. It is observed that probability distributions of governing variables have no impact on reliability. However, coefficients of variations of these variables influence reliability.