This study created an ecological spatial model, using a geographic information system, to visualize the influence of hydrochory on restoration of the three dominant wetland communities of broadleaf marsh, wetland shrub, and wet prairie across the floodplain of the Kissimmee River. Primary parameters incorporated into the model included floodplain hydrology, seed characteristics of buoyancy and dispersal rates, and species flood tolerance. S²rensen's similarity index, comparing spatial agreement among model output and observed community data, resulted in values of BLM-BB = 0.10, BLM = 0.07, WS = 0.21, and WP = 0.36. The significant discrepancies between modeled and observed community spatial coverage indicated a need for incorporation of more stochastic variables of climatic disturbances, nutrient availability, and soil characteristics. More research on species flood tolerance across smaller spatial scales is also needed, and base data incorporated into the model should also be reliable and consistent if accuracy is to be achieved. / by Stevee Kennard. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2013. / Includes bibliography. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / System requirements: Adobe Reader.

Amphibians are regarded as sensitive indicators of environmental change and are therefore excellent subjects for use in ecotoxicology. The Phongolo River floodplain is South Africa’s most diverse natural floodplain system and hosts more than 40 frog species. It is also a malaria endemic region and is subjected to active spraying with Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) through means of indoor residual spraying over the summer months. The upper Phongolo River runs through agricultural landscape and is subjected to runoff from forest plantations, orchards and sugar cane plantations. In this study residue levels of 22 different organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) were analysed in selected amphibian species from in and around the Ndumo Nature Reserve coupled with 12 different biomarker response assays to determine environmental exposure levels and possible sublethal effects in amphibians from the lower Phongolo River floodplain. Seasonal change, direct influence of anthropogenic activity and the influence of species’ aquatic preference in habitat selection were all factors considered during this assessment. Stable Isotope analyses were performed on 11 different food web components In order to determine the food web structure pertaining to Xenopus muelleri (Müller's platanna). Samples were collected during both high and low flow seasons from inside and outside Ndumo Nature Reserve. Organochlorine pesticide bioaccumulation was analysed in whole frog samples using a GC-μECD. Results indicated significant seasonal variation in OCP levels and exposure composition. Significant differences between inside and outside sites were also noted. Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane in its different isomer forms and their metabolites along with the hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) isomers was the two main contributing OCP groups detected. Total OCP levels from all sample sets ranged between 8.71 ng/g lipid and 21,399.03 ng/g lipid. An increase in OCP accumulation was observed for X. muelleri over a period of one year. Organochlorine pesticides are known to have neurotoxic effects causing imbalances in Na+, K+, and Ca+ ion exchange. Hyperactivity has been reported in Rana temporaria (European Common frog) tadpoles exposed to p,p-DDT concentrations above 110,000 ng/g lipid. Despite OCP levels measured in frogs from this study being lower than reported toxic levels, the biomarker response assays indicated definite oxidative stress responses correlating to OCP bioaccumulation, with other minor responses shown. Cellular energy allocation showed a shift in the main energy source type from proteins to lipids correlating to increased OCP bioaccumulation. A slight inhibition response was noted in the hepato-somatic index correlating to γ-HCH bioaccumulation. Stable isotope analyses indicated food web structure differences between inside and outside the reserve, with outside showing less clear distinction between trophic groups and nitrogen enrichment of primary producers. / MSc (Environmental Sciences), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Amphibians are regarded as sensitive indicators of environmental change and are therefore excellent subjects for use in ecotoxicology. The Phongolo River floodplain is South Africa’s most diverse natural floodplain system and hosts more than 40 frog species. It is also a malaria endemic region and is subjected to active spraying with Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) through means of indoor residual spraying over the summer months. The upper Phongolo River runs through agricultural landscape and is subjected to runoff from forest plantations, orchards and sugar cane plantations. In this study residue levels of 22 different organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) were analysed in selected amphibian species from in and around the Ndumo Nature Reserve coupled with 12 different biomarker response assays to determine environmental exposure levels and possible sublethal effects in amphibians from the lower Phongolo River floodplain. Seasonal change, direct influence of anthropogenic activity and the influence of species’ aquatic preference in habitat selection were all factors considered during this assessment. Stable Isotope analyses were performed on 11 different food web components In order to determine the food web structure pertaining to Xenopus muelleri (Müller's platanna). Samples were collected during both high and low flow seasons from inside and outside Ndumo Nature Reserve. Organochlorine pesticide bioaccumulation was analysed in whole frog samples using a GC-μECD. Results indicated significant seasonal variation in OCP levels and exposure composition. Significant differences between inside and outside sites were also noted. Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane in its different isomer forms and their metabolites along with the hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) isomers was the two main contributing OCP groups detected. Total OCP levels from all sample sets ranged between 8.71 ng/g lipid and 21,399.03 ng/g lipid. An increase in OCP accumulation was observed for X. muelleri over a period of one year. Organochlorine pesticides are known to have neurotoxic effects causing imbalances in Na+, K+, and Ca+ ion exchange. Hyperactivity has been reported in Rana temporaria (European Common frog) tadpoles exposed to p,p-DDT concentrations above 110,000 ng/g lipid. Despite OCP levels measured in frogs from this study being lower than reported toxic levels, the biomarker response assays indicated definite oxidative stress responses correlating to OCP bioaccumulation, with other minor responses shown. Cellular energy allocation showed a shift in the main energy source type from proteins to lipids correlating to increased OCP bioaccumulation. A slight inhibition response was noted in the hepato-somatic index correlating to γ-HCH bioaccumulation. Stable isotope analyses indicated food web structure differences between inside and outside the reserve, with outside showing less clear distinction between trophic groups and nitrogen enrichment of primary producers. / MSc (Environmental Sciences), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

This thesis examines the flow around bluff bodies placed at the floodplain edge in a compound, open channel. The floodplain edge location is associated with a strong shear layer between lower velocity floodplain flow and high velocity flow in the main channel. The drag force exerted by a bluff body is dependant on the way in which the flow separates around the body and subsequently recovers but the drag coefficients typically used to represent the effects of bluff bodies are based on experiments on bodies in geometrically simple channels. The differences induced in the wake structures and therefore in the drag coefficients of bluff bodies when they are placed in the shear layer at the floodplain edge are little understood. In this study, experimental data is gathered that allows direct comparison of the wakes of identical bluff bodies, both emergent (surface-piercing) and submerged, in simple and compound open channels. For the compound channel scenarios, for both single and multiple block arrangements, turbulence data is also reported. These results are augmented using a computational model based on the solution of the 3D Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes equations, using a non-linear turbulence model. The results show that the changes induced in the wake structures due to their location at the floodplain edge of the compound channel can have a significant effect on the drag coefficient. For the emergent bodies, the proximity of the deep main channel flow is shown to impact in a complex manner upon the processes of reattachment and re-separation, changing the formation of vorticity in the wake. For the submerged bodies, this is complicated by asymmetry in the same processes on the block top. For both body types, separation on the main channel side results in the creation of a strong axial circulation at the floodplain edge and the decay of the wake is asymmetrically affected by the differing behaviour of the turbulence on the two sides.

Throughout history floods have been part of the human experience. They are recurring phenomena that form a necessary and enduring feature of all river basin and lowland coastal systems. In an average year, they benefit millions of people who depend on them. In the more developed countries, major floods can be the largest cause of economic losses from natural disasters, and are also a major cause of disaster-related deaths in the less developed countries. Flood disaster mitigation research was conducted to determine how remotely sensed data can effectively be used to produce accurate flood plain maps (FPMs), and to identify/quantify the sources of error associated with such data. Differences were analyzed between flood maps produced by an automated remote sensing analysis tailored to the available satellite remote sensing datasets (rFPM), the 100-year flooded areas "predicted" by the Flood Insurance Rate Maps, and FPMs based on DEM and hydrological data (aFPM). Landuse/landcover was also examined to determine its influence on rFPM errors. These errors were identified and the results were integrated in a GIS to minimize landuse / landcover effects. Two substantial flood events were analyzed. These events were selected because of their similar characteristics (i.e., the existence of FIRM or Q3 data; flood data which included flood peaks, rating curves, and flood profiles; and DEM and remote sensing imagery.) Automatic feature extraction was determined to be an important component for successful flood analysis. A process network, in conjunction with domain specific information, was used to map raw remotely sensed data onto a representation that is more compatible with a GIS data model. From a practical point of view, rFPM provides a way to automatically match existing data models to the type of remote sensing data available for each event under investigation. Overall, results showed how remote sensing could contribute to the complex problem of flood management by providing an efficient way to revise the National Flood Insurance Program maps.

This thesis deals with the evaluation impact of the modifications of floodplain and river network to the course and consequences of floods on the example of Stropnice river, located in South Bohemia. The thesis evaluate causes, course and effects of the floods, that took place in the basin with special focus to the recent floods. The basin was hit by extreme flood in 2002, while in 2005, 2006, 2009 other floods with different origin and magnitude took place in the basin. The assessment was based on field survey, and application of GIS analysis of results for identification of critical stream segments, which may influence the course of flood events. To get information about river network modification the HEMF field survey methodology was used. The following rivers were mapped: Stropnice river, Svinenský, Klenský and Žárský brook. The critical stream segments are spread in the whole Stropnice basin. It can be concluded that the anthropogenic effects are apparent in the whole basin including its headwater part in mountains. In several critical stream segments there were proposed measures aimed to reduce the consequences of potential flood events.

Using an integrated dataset comprising outcrop, core, GPR and LiDAR data, this study targets a high-quality outcrop "window" of the upper Cretaceous Blackhawk Formation in the eastern Wasatch Plateau in central Utah, spanning a fairly large spatial (~30 km2 area comprising eight contiguous, and vertical cliff faces) and temporal (~4 my) range. This research provides field-validation and -calibration of a wider range of fluvial heterogeneity: 1) large-scale heterogeneity (10’s of m vertically and 100’s of m laterally), 2) intermediate-scale heterogeneity (1’s of m vertically and 10’s of m laterally), and 3) small-scale heterogeneity (10’s of cm vertically and 1’s of m laterally). These sandbody- to facies-scale heterogeneities generate potential for stratigraphic compartmentalization for analogous fluvial reservoirs and prospects. Moreover, these results specifically constitute an outcrop analog to the producing tight-gas fluvial reservoirs of the adjacent hydrocarbon-prolific Uinta and Piceance Basins of Utah and Colorado, including the giant Jonah Field of Wyoming. 3D virtual outcrop model generated from LiDAR-integration has helped in avulsion-scale (~1's-10's kyr) to basin-fill scale (~100's kyr-1's myr) fluvial sandbody organization analysis down to channel-storey level. This high-resolution analysis has brought several intriguing insights. single-storey sandbodies are preferentially attendant to clustering organization, whereas multi-lateral sandbodies (i.e. channel-belt) show compensational-prone behavior. Sandbody organization is broadly compensational for the lower Blackhawk Formation, where the floodplain facies diversity is the highest. In contrast, floodplain diversity decreases stratigraphically upward such that the upper Blackhawk Formation shows the least heterogeneous floodplain with clustering-prone sandbody organization. In the quest of differentiating autogenic from allogenic signal in dynamic systems where their interplay is complexly intertwined, this study presents two incised-valley examples, where resultant fluvial organization has been interpreted, contrary to conventional wisdom, to be preferentially modulated by a dominant controlling mechanism of autogenic forcing. In filling these incised valley deposits, each of which is up to ~15-20 m thick, the dominating behavior of substrate coal compaction as an autogenic mechanism supplanted allogenic forcing (i.e. sea-level fluctuation).

Esta pesquisa apresenta a trajetória de um clube de futebol de várzea, a Associação Atlética Anhanguera, entre o ano de sua fundação (1928) e o final da década de 1930, período de grandes transformações no futebol e na cidade de São Paulo. A investigação recorreu a fontes de imprensa e a documentos internos ao Anhanguera, sobretudo atas e entrevistas com associados veteranos para analisar a forma pela qual a associação de ítalo-brasileiros, situada à margem da cidade e do universo oficial do futebol, apropriouse da novidade que representava esse esporte. Um rico repertório de práticas culturais, como a intensa e criativa vida associativa do bairro, figurou como a base para essa apropriação. Esse mesmo repertório acabou por circular para além dos limites espaciais e simbólicos que a cidade impunha aos varzeanos. O tratamento dado ao futebol de várzea pelo periódico A Gazeta Esportiva, vinculando-o, aos poucos, a uma nova imagem de amadorismo, é um exemplo da ampliação desses limites. / This research features the trajectory of Anhanguera Athletic Association, a floodplain (várzea) soccer club, starting from its founding year (1928) and going up to the end of 1930s, a period of intense changes in soccer practices as well as in urban life in São Paulo. Its establishment and organization, in a suburban district of São Paulo, as an amateur soccer association formed mostly by Italian-Brazilians, are described and analyzed having as resources the internal documents of Anhanguera Association especially the records of meetings and senior associates testimonies , news from the press and data concerning immigration and the city process of urbanization. The practice of soccer was rooted in an intense and creative associative form of living, linked to other common leisure activities. The research also shows how the relationship between the club and the press led to a new image of amateur soccer practice, expanding the limits of its cultural experience in the city.

O objetivo principal deste estudo foi verificar a dinâmica espaço-temporal das variáveis limnológicas de um sistema de áreas alagáveis naturais, em microbacia no Vale do Ribeira de Iguape, rio Jacupiranguinha, sob influências de pulsos hidrológicos distintos, para inferir a capacidade destes sistemas em depurar e ou aprisionar carga de nutrientes potencialmente poluidoras que aportam nestas áreas. Para tanto, foram selecionados 11 pontos de amostragem: 1 e 2 no rio Jacupiranguinha; 3 no córrego Serrana; 4 a 10 no sistema de áreas alagáveis; e 11 saída do sistema, próximo ao rio Jacupiranguinha. Amostras de água foram coletadas em 4 períodos, em todas as estações de coleta, e determinadas as concentrações de nutrientes, DBO, DQO, coliformes fecais e totais. No sedimento foram determinadas as concentrações de nitrogênio total, fósforo total e matéria orgânica. Nas estações do sistema de áreas alagáveis foram coletadas macrófitas aquáticas. Medidas de temperatura, condutividade elétrica, pH, OD foram realizadas utilizando-se sonda multiparamétrica. Realizou-se um levantamento topográfico, estudo batimétrico na planície e foram instaladas réguas hidrométricas na área. As vazões e os níveis hidrométricos do rio Jacupiranguinha tiveram relação direta com a precipitação. As lagoas da planície não apresentam comunicação permanente com o rio, são necessários valores acima de 2,47 m para que ocorra o transbordamento e, consequentemente, a fertilização do sistema de áreas alagáveis. Com a utilização do software PULSO foram observados 5 e 3 pulsos completos, nas cotas topográficas 2,47 m e 2,97 m, respectivamente. A duração de ambas as fases dos pulsos (potamofase e limnofase) foram diferentes, a limnofase prevaleceu no período estudado. O regime de pulsos parece ter um efeito homogeinizador no sistema. Diferenças espaciais e sazonais foram observadas nas variáveis limnológicas da água. O sedimento não apresentou diferenças sazonais e espaciais significativas, entretanto, mostrou-se o compartimento de maior armazenamento de nitrogênio, fósforo e matéria orgânica nas estações das lagoas I e II. Números mais elevados de coliformes foram registrados nos pontos 1 e 2. As macrófitas aquáticas presentes no sistema de áreas alagáveis apresentaram importante participação na determinação dos padrões de ciclagem e aprisionamento de nitrogênio e fósforo total, pois estocam quantidades significativas destes nutrientes em sua biomassa. Em termos de reduções de cargas, no período seco, o sistema de áreas alagáveis apresentou reduções consideráveis levando em consideração a série nitrogenada, fosfatada e DBO. Assim, o regime de pulso mantém a conectividade do rio Jacupiranguinha com o sistema de áreas alagáveis e determinam a dinâmica dos fatores abióticos e bióticos, fundamentais para que esse sistema possa funcionar como armazenador e ou depurador de cargas poluidoras advindas deste rio. Entretanto, recomenda-se a construção de sistema de áreas alagáveis artificial para a complementação do tratamento de esgoto existente na área. / The aim of this study was to verify the spatial and temporal dynamics of natural wetland limnological variables, in Jacupiranguinha river, a micro basin from Ribeira de Iguape Valley, under distinct hydrological pulses. This was made to infer these systems capacity in depurating or retaining potentially polluting nutrients in wetlands. It was selected 11 sample points: 1 and 2 in Jacupiranguinha river; 3 in Serrana’s brook; 4 to 10 in wetland system and 11 in the exit of the system, next to Jacupiranguinha river. Samples were collected in four different periods for nutrients determination, BOD, COD, fecal and total coliforms analysis. In sediment was determined nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations and organic matter. It was collected aquatic macrophytes too. Temperature, electric conductivity, pH and dissolved oxygen were measured with YSI probe. Topography was determined and a batimetric study was made in floodplain; besides, it was installed hydrometric rulers in the area. Discharge and hydrometric levels of Jacupiranguinha river were positively related with precipitation. The floodplain ponds were not permanently connected with fluvial course; it is necessary values above 2,47 meters to overflow the wetland and connect it with the river. With the software PULSO was observed 5 and 3 complete pulses, with respectively 2,47 m and 2,97 m of topographic level. Duration of pulse phases (potamophase and limnophase) was different, and limnophase had predominated. Pulse regime seems to homogenize the system. Seasonal and spatial differences were observed in water limnological variables. The differences in sediment were not significant; however it showed the higher nitrogen, phosphorus and organic matter concentrations in the two ponds. Higher coliform concentrations were registered in points 1 and 2. The aquatic macrophytes present in the studied wetland were very important in nitrogen and phosphorus cycle and retention of these nutrients in their biomass. In terms of load reduction, nitrogen, phosphorus and BOD were considerable reduced in dry season. Thus, pulse regime maintains the wetland connected with Jacupiranguinha river and guide the biotic and abiotic factors dynamics, very important factors for a better operation of the system, serving as nutrient storage and depurative. However, we recommend the construction of an artificial wetland system to complement the waste treatment in the studied area.

<p>Flooding is one of the most devastating and frequently occurring natural phenomena in the world. Due to the adverse impacts of floods on the life and property of humans, it is crucial to investigate the best flood modeling approaches for delineation of floodplain areas. Conventionally, different hydrodynamic models are used to identify the floodplain areas. However, the high computational cost, and the dependency of these models on detailed input datasets limit their application for large scale floodplain mapping in data-scarce regions. Recently, a new floodplain mapping method based on a hydrogeomorphic feature, named Height Above Nearest Drainage (<i>HAND</i>), has been proposed as a successful alternative for fast and efficient floodplain mapping at the large scale. The overall goal of this study is to improve the performance of <i>HAND</i>-based method by overcoming its current limitations. The main focus will be on extending the application of the <i>HAND</i>-based method to data-scarce environments. To achieve this goal, regionalization techniques are integrated with the floodplain models at the regional and continental scales. Considering these facts, four research objective are established to (1) Develop a regression model to create 100-year floodplain maps at a regional scale (2) Develop a classification framework for creating 100-year floodplain maps for the Contiguous United States (3) Develop a new version of the <i>HAND</i>-based method for creating probabilistic 100-year floodplain maps, and (4) Propose a general regionalization framework for transferring information from data-rich basins to data-scarce environments. </p> <p> </p> <p>In the first objective, the state of North Carolina is selected as the study area, and a regression model is developed to regionalize the available 100-year Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) to the data-scarce regions. The regression model is an exponential equation with three independent variables including the average slope, the average elevation, and the main stream slope of the watershed. The results show that the estimated floodplains are within the expected range of accuracy of C>0.6 and F>0.9 for majority of watersheds located in the mid-altitude regions, but it overpredicts and underpredicts in the flat and mountainous regions respectively. </p> <p> </p> <p>The second objective of this research extends the spatial application of the <i>HAND</i>-based method to the entire United States by proposing a new classification framework. The proposed framework classifies the watersheds into three groups by using seven watershed characteristics related to the topography, climate and land use. The validation results show that the average error of floodplain maps is around 14% which demonstrate the reliability and robustness of the proposed framework for continental floodplain mapping. In addition to the acceptable accuracy, the proposed framework creates the floodplain maps for any watershed within the United States. </p> <p> </p> <p>The <i>HAND</i>-based method is a deterministic modeling approach to floodplain mapping. In the third objective, the probabilistic version of this method is proposed. Using a probabilistic approach to floodplain mapping provides more informative maps. In this study, a flat watershed in the state of Kansas is selected as the case study, and the performance of four probabilistic functions for floodplain mapping is compared. The results show that a linear function with one parameter and a gamma function with two parameters are the best options for this study area. It is also shown that the proposed probabilistic approach can reduce the overpredictions and underpredictions made by the deterministic <i>HAND</i>-based approach. </p> <p> </p> <p>In the fourth objective, a new regionalization framework for transferring the calibrated environmental models to data-scarce regions is proposed. This framework aims to improve the current similarity-based regionalization methods by reducing the subjectivity that exists in the selection of basin descriptors. Using this framework for the probabilistic <i>HAND</i>-based method in the third objective, the floodplains are regionalized for a large set of watersheds in the Central United States. The results show that “vertical component of centroid (or latitude)” is the dominant descriptor of spatial variabilities in the probabilistic floodplain maps. This is an interesting finding which shows how a systematic approach can help to explore the hidden descriptors for regionalization. It is demonstrated that using common methods, such as correlation coefficient calculation, or stepwise regression analysis, will not reveal the critical role of latitude on the spatial variability of floodplains.</p>