Abstract Agriculture is the main source of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), which are the nutrients accelerating the eutrophication of waters in Finland. Hence, mitigation measures are needed to reduce the nutrient loading from the arable land. Since Finland's accession to the EU in 1995 and the subsequent adaptation to its agri-environmental policy, constructed wetlands (CWs) have been one of the mitigation measures for which farmers may receive agri-environmental subsidies. The aim of this study was to find out how efficiently such CWs are able to retain the loading and how they should be designed and dimensioned in order to optimize their performance. Particular attention was paid to CW hydrology and hydraulics, since the dynamics of the water flowing through a CW is the major factor governing retention. Water quality and flow measurements were made in three CWs located in agricultural watersheds in southern Finland during 1999-2002. Hydraulic properties were examined in 2 of the CWs by simulations with 2-dimensional hydrodynamic and water quality models. According to the calculations of material fluxes, the maximum annual retention was 72% for solid material (TSS), 67% for total P and 40% for total N. The lowest retentions were slightly negative, because the CW with the smallest CW-to-watershed area ratio (0.5% in the Alastaro CW) sometimes acted rather as a source than a sink of nutrients. The highest percent retentions were found in the Hovi CW with the largest CW-to-watershed area ratio (5%). In terms of mass per CW area, the Hovi CW retained 25 kg of total P and 300 kg of total N per one hectare per one year. In the Hovi CW also dissolved reactive P retention was high (49% in situ and 34% in laboratory microcosm experiments), obviously due to high contents and low P saturation of Al and Fe oxides of the CW soil. The basic underlying reason behind the high retentions of both dissolved nutrients and particulate matter in the Hovi CW was the long water residence time coupled with high hydraulic efficiency. In the deep part of the Hovi CW, near-bottom increase of dissolved O2 was found in phase with diurnal temperature changes. The oxygen transport by this kind of convective circulation of CW water inhibited near-bottom anoxia and thus decreased the risk of P desorption. According to the hydrodynamic simulations coupled with simulated tracer tests made for the Hovi CW, a 40% improvement in hydraulic efficiency was achieved by baffles directing the main flow to optimally exploit the CW area. The rectangular, elongated shape of the Alastaro CW also showed fairly high hydraulic efficiency. Hydrodynamic simulations were also coupled with a sediment transport model, which proved to be a useful method in predicting the change of TSS concentrations in CWs. Hourly datasets of inflow and outflow revealed high attenuation of runoff peaks in the well-designed and -dimensioned Hovi CW. The hourly outflow modeled with the reservoir routing method corresponded to the observed with a reasonable accuracy. When carefully designed, painstakingly implemented and wisely located, CWs may – even in cold climate – efficiently contribute to agricultural water pollution control.

Abstract The understanding of flow processes is a key to evaluating treatment efficiency in constructed wetlands. This work focuses on the effects of flow paths on phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N)retention in four treatment wetlands constructed on pristine peatlands in Finland. Particular attention was paid to water residence time, effective flow area and effective flow depth. Both an artificial tracer test and a new method based on the analysis of stable oxygen and hydrogen isotope distributions were employed. Tracer tests were used to calibrate steady-state flow models created using a groundwater modelling MODFLOW code. Furthermore, concentrations of P, Al and Fe in the peat and concentration of N in the surface water were measured. Surface water tracer distributions showed overland flow to be the dominant flow process and it was divided into a preferential flow area and dead zones. Also, active channel formation was observed during the years of the study (2002–2005). The results indicate that the hydraulic performance might deteriorate drastically within a short period of time. The active flow areas in the peatlands comprised only about 40–48% in summer, meaning that large areas with potential for nutrient removal were left unused. Flow simulations showed that a more optimal length of the distribution ditch will create a larger effective flow area and possibly could prevent channel formation. The peat P concentration was 1.8±3.9 mg g-1, and P was accumulated in the preferential flow area. The peat P concentration correlated positively with Al in the Ruka peatland treating wastewater. The results indicate that precipitation chemicals increase the P retention capacity of peatland substantially and maintain P retention at a stable level despite variable P loads. Furthermore, the results indicate that the accumulation of P to peat via adsorption and chemical precipitation is the major P removal process even after 10 years of loading. In Ruka, calculated N concentrations in surface water obtained with a first-order area model, together with regression analysis of the rate constant, were in good agreement with observed N concentrations. If a removal of 70% is to be achieved, the NH4-N loading to the peatland should be below 0.10 mg m2 d-1.

Rhododendron is a monophyletic group that inhabits many different climates. One clearly defined diversification was from temperate ancestors into tropical habitats. The focus of this work was to explore leaf and stem anatomical traits in relation to habitat (temperate and tropical) and elevation of the native range. A closely-related group of Rhododendron was selected to reduce variation in genetic history and reveal environment–associated adaptive traits. Vessel anatomical traits of Rhododendron accessions were assayed for the trade of between safety (protection against catastrophic failure) and efficiency (high theoretical conductivity). Rhododendron wood and vessels were found to be relatively safe. The metrics of wood efficiency were higher for the tropical species. Thus, a trade-off between safety and efficiency was found although the wood of Rhododendron is characterized as highly safe. Leaf anatomical traits of Rhododendron were assayed for habitat and elevation. Leaves on tropical species were thicker and denser compared with temperate species. Idioblasts were always found in tropical leaves but not in temperate species. Leaves of tropical species were more xeromorphic (drought tolerant) than those of temperate species. Increasing elevation of the native range did not influence leaf anatomical traits. Idioblast abundance and leaf water relations traits were assayed for tropical Rhododendron species. Idioblast expression varied from 5% to 28% and stomatal pore index varied from 0.08 to 3.3. Idioblast expression was highly correlated with leaf succulence, and water deficit at the turgor loss point. Idioblast expression was positively associated with leaf capacitance for thin (< 0.5 mm) leaves. Thus, idioblasts can serve as a water buffer for relatively thin leaves. Synthesis–Wood traits of evergreen Rhododendron shrubs reflect adaptation for safety. Although tropical species have significantly higher efficiency, wood safety is still the dominant feature. The implication of high wood safety is constrained water flow and a potential for low water potential. Both leaf succulence and the presence of idioblasts in thin leaves enhances leaf capacitance and provides some buffering against short-term drought. These leaf adaptations in tropical Rhododendron shrubs likely reflect the abundance of epiphytes in this group. / Ph. D. / <i>Rhododendron</i> is a very diverse genus that is found in many different habitats from arctic to tropical. However, most of the species are evergreen with a slow growth rate. The goal of this study was to explore the variation in wood and leaf anatomical traits in order to explain how these plants can succeed in so many different habitats. The vessels in wood of temperate species were found to be very small. Although the size of the vessels increased for tropical species, they were still small relative to many other species. Surprisingly, leaf traits suggested greater drought tolerance for tropical species compared with temperate species. A unique anatomical trait called idioblasts was found only in leaves of tropical species. Idioblasts were very large cells, found just below the upper epidermis, which occupied up to 30% of the leaf volume. Idioblasts were found to help buffer water loss for thin tropical leaves. In summary, <i>Rhododendron</i> wood constrains water flow for plants in all habitats, which will induce water stress in warm or dry areas. Consequently, leaves have drought tolerance traits in tropical regions. Therefore, anatomical traits of wood and leaf help explain how <i>Rhododendron</i> species can occupy a wide diversity of habitats.

<p>Storm water is defined as runoff from precipitation such as rain or snow. It is collected in sewage disposal systems and since it mainly originates from urban areas it can contain high levels of heavy metals, nutrients and oil etc. Polluted storm water is currently treated by different methods such as wet ponds, constructed wetlands and filter strips. This study investigates these methods, which in earlier studies have shown to give varying results regarding their treatment efficiency.</p><p>This thesis has been written on commission of SWECO VIAK and was aimed at studying those parameters that may affect the treatment efficiency of nutrients and heavy metals in storm water treatment facilities (STF:s). Through literature studies the dominating treatment processes in ponds and wetlands were examined. The flow pattern was then simulated in four different storm water ponds, of varying shape and size, by using a physically based computer model. The residence time distribution for each pond could then be calculated as well as the hydraulic efficiency, which is a measure on how well the inflowing water is spread throughout a pond. Finally a multiple regression analysis was performed. This analysis examined how the reduction of lead, copper, zinc and cadmium depends on the following factors: the specific pond area, the variance of the residence time distribution, the hydraulic efficiency and the concentration of incoming metals and suspended solids. The specific pond area is a factor which is defined as the pond area divided by the reduced run off area.</p><p>The results from the multiple regression analysis indicate that an increasing content of inflowing suspended solids leads to a better treatment efficiency regarding lead and copper. The specific area showed to have some effect on the treatment efficiency, but this effect was less than that of the content of inflowing suspended solids. The reduction of cadmium depended mainly on the specific area and the incoming concentration of cadmium. An increasing reduction of zinc could to some extent be explained by an increasing specific area.</p><p>The results from this analysis and earlier studies are emphasizing the fact that adsorption to particles and sediment is one of the main processes for a good separation of heavy metals from storm water. Longer measurements series from additional treatment facilities are needed to build a statistical model which, in the future, can be used to predict the treatment efficiency of storm water ponds.</p> / <p>Dagvatten är regn- och smältvatten som samlas upp i avloppssystem. Då detta vatten huvudsakligen härstammar från urban bebyggelse så kan det innehålla höga halter tungmetaller, närsalter och olja med mera. Idag behandlas förorenat dagvatten bland annat genom nyttjande av dammar, våtmarker och översilningsytor. Dessa behandlingsalternativ har dock visat sig ge varierande resultat med avseende på dess reningseffektivitet.</p><p>Detta arbete har utförts på uppdrag av konsultföretaget SWECO VIAK och syftade till att studera vilka parametrar som påverkar reningseffekten av närsalter och tungmetaller i dagvattendammar. Genom litteraturstudier undersöktes de dominerande reningsprocesserna i dammar och våtmarker. Därefter modellerades strömningen i 4 dammar med varierande form och storlek. Vid detta arbete erhölls en fördelning av uppehållstiden hos vattnet för respektive damm samt ett värde på den hydrauliska effektiviteten, vilken är ett mått på hur väl det inströmmande vattnet sprids ut i dammen. Slutligen utfördes en multipel regressionsanalys.</p><p>Vid denna analys undersöktes hur reningen av bly, koppar, zink och kadmium beror av den specifika dammarean, variansen hos vattnets uppehållstidsfördelning, den hydrauliska effektiviteten samt inkommande metall- och TSS-koncentration (suspenderat material). Den specifika dammarean är en faktor vilken defineras som kvoten mellan dammens area och dess reducerade avrinningsområde.</p><p>Resultaten från den multipla regressionen tyder på att en ökad inkommande halt av suspenderat material till dammen har störst betydelse för en förbättrad avskiljning av bly och koppar. Även den specifika arean och metallkoncentrationen i inflödet visade sig ha en viss, men något mindre, betydelse. Reduktionen av kadmium berodde däremot till störst del av den specifika arean och inkommande kadmiumkoncentration. En ökad reduktion av zink förklarades till viss del av en ökad specifik area. Resultatet att halten av suspenderat material i hög grad avgör reningen samt tidigare studier understryker det faktum att adsorption till partiklar och sediment verkar vara en av de viktigaste processerna för en god avskiljning av tungmetaller. Längre mätserier från fler dagvattendammar krävs dock för att i framtiden ta fram en statistisk modell vilken skulle kunna användas till att prediktera reningseffekten.</p>

Storm water is defined as runoff from precipitation such as rain or snow. It is collected in sewage disposal systems and since it mainly originates from urban areas it can contain high levels of heavy metals, nutrients and oil etc. Polluted storm water is currently treated by different methods such as wet ponds, constructed wetlands and filter strips. This study investigates these methods, which in earlier studies have shown to give varying results regarding their treatment efficiency. This thesis has been written on commission of SWECO VIAK and was aimed at studying those parameters that may affect the treatment efficiency of nutrients and heavy metals in storm water treatment facilities (STF:s). Through literature studies the dominating treatment processes in ponds and wetlands were examined. The flow pattern was then simulated in four different storm water ponds, of varying shape and size, by using a physically based computer model. The residence time distribution for each pond could then be calculated as well as the hydraulic efficiency, which is a measure on how well the inflowing water is spread throughout a pond. Finally a multiple regression analysis was performed. This analysis examined how the reduction of lead, copper, zinc and cadmium depends on the following factors: the specific pond area, the variance of the residence time distribution, the hydraulic efficiency and the concentration of incoming metals and suspended solids. The specific pond area is a factor which is defined as the pond area divided by the reduced run off area. The results from the multiple regression analysis indicate that an increasing content of inflowing suspended solids leads to a better treatment efficiency regarding lead and copper. The specific area showed to have some effect on the treatment efficiency, but this effect was less than that of the content of inflowing suspended solids. The reduction of cadmium depended mainly on the specific area and the incoming concentration of cadmium. An increasing reduction of zinc could to some extent be explained by an increasing specific area. The results from this analysis and earlier studies are emphasizing the fact that adsorption to particles and sediment is one of the main processes for a good separation of heavy metals from storm water. Longer measurements series from additional treatment facilities are needed to build a statistical model which, in the future, can be used to predict the treatment efficiency of storm water ponds. / Dagvatten är regn- och smältvatten som samlas upp i avloppssystem. Då detta vatten huvudsakligen härstammar från urban bebyggelse så kan det innehålla höga halter tungmetaller, närsalter och olja med mera. Idag behandlas förorenat dagvatten bland annat genom nyttjande av dammar, våtmarker och översilningsytor. Dessa behandlingsalternativ har dock visat sig ge varierande resultat med avseende på dess reningseffektivitet. Detta arbete har utförts på uppdrag av konsultföretaget SWECO VIAK och syftade till att studera vilka parametrar som påverkar reningseffekten av närsalter och tungmetaller i dagvattendammar. Genom litteraturstudier undersöktes de dominerande reningsprocesserna i dammar och våtmarker. Därefter modellerades strömningen i 4 dammar med varierande form och storlek. Vid detta arbete erhölls en fördelning av uppehållstiden hos vattnet för respektive damm samt ett värde på den hydrauliska effektiviteten, vilken är ett mått på hur väl det inströmmande vattnet sprids ut i dammen. Slutligen utfördes en multipel regressionsanalys. Vid denna analys undersöktes hur reningen av bly, koppar, zink och kadmium beror av den specifika dammarean, variansen hos vattnets uppehållstidsfördelning, den hydrauliska effektiviteten samt inkommande metall- och TSS-koncentration (suspenderat material). Den specifika dammarean är en faktor vilken defineras som kvoten mellan dammens area och dess reducerade avrinningsområde. Resultaten från den multipla regressionen tyder på att en ökad inkommande halt av suspenderat material till dammen har störst betydelse för en förbättrad avskiljning av bly och koppar. Även den specifika arean och metallkoncentrationen i inflödet visade sig ha en viss, men något mindre, betydelse. Reduktionen av kadmium berodde däremot till störst del av den specifika arean och inkommande kadmiumkoncentration. En ökad reduktion av zink förklarades till viss del av en ökad specifik area. Resultatet att halten av suspenderat material i hög grad avgör reningen samt tidigare studier understryker det faktum att adsorption till partiklar och sediment verkar vara en av de viktigaste processerna för en god avskiljning av tungmetaller. Längre mätserier från fler dagvattendammar krävs dock för att i framtiden ta fram en statistisk modell vilken skulle kunna användas till att prediktera reningseffekten.

Submitted by Maike Costa (maiksebas@gmail.com) on 2017-05-26T11:40:16Z No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 8290765 bytes, checksum: 60cc04d99eb6779eb21f6ce5385803d1 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-26T11:40:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 8290765 bytes, checksum: 60cc04d99eb6779eb21f6ce5385803d1 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-12-05 / The objective of this research is to develop an intelligent system based on artificial neural networks for water distribution systems that operate with pumps associated in parallel. The system aims at process automation and the definition of operating state for electric motors (on, off or with partial rotation), aiming at the same time the pressure control and reduction of electric power consumption. The developed intelligent system is a generic one, which allows the application of control structure in similar processes, and it was applied in a fully instrumented test rig that emulates a real system of water supply. The results showed that the performance of the artificial neural network is quite satisfactory, and thus can be successfully implemented in other similar water distribution systems in order to reduce consumption of water and electric energy, decrease costs of maintenance, and increase the degree of reliability of operational procedures. / O objetivo desta pesquisa é desenvolver um sistema inteligente baseado em redes neurais artificiais para redes de distribuição de água que operam com bombas associadas em paralelo. O sistema tem por finalidade a automação do processo e a definição do estado de funcionamento dos motores elétricos (ligado, desligado ou com rotação parcial), visando simultaneamente ao controle de pressão e à redução do consumo de energia elétrica. O sistema inteligente desenvolvido é genérico, o que permite a aplicação da estrutura de controle em processos semelhantes, e foi aplicado em uma bancada experimental totalmente instrumentalizada que emula um sistema real de abastecimento de água. Os resultados mostraram que o desempenho da rede neural artificial é bastante satisfatório, e, assim, poderá ser implementada com sucesso em outros sistemas de distribuição de água similares, a fim de proporcionar redução do consumo de água e energia elétrica, diminuição dos custos de manutenção e aumento do grau de confiabilidade dos procedimentos operacionais.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-14T12:09:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 2645343 bytes, checksum: e71fb064a1d5420c539ff99d207b44fb (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-09-30 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / This study aims to present alternatives to the operational control at the pumping station to supply water to the district of Mangabeira in Joao Pessoa, providing greater energy efficiency and water and thus reducing the cost of electricity. The system consists of two pumping stations that pump water to a conduit head high, making the distribution by gravity. First we carried out a diagnostic of the current configuration of the system, where it was analyzed to meet the demand, the survey of facilities and operating conditions. The modeling of the current situation and the proposed alternatives were performed with the software EPANET 2.00.12, in order to compare the various settings. The results show that it is possible to use only one lift station for the existing demand, requiring only the touch of another pump in parallel during the peak hours of consumption. / O presente estudo tem o objetivo de apresentar alternativas de controle operacional na estação de bombeamento de abastecimento de água do bairro de Mangabeira em João Pessoa, proporcionando uma maior eficiência energética e hidráulica e, consequentemente, a redução dos custos com energia elétrica. O sistema é composto por duas estações elevatórias que bombeiam a água até um resevatório elevado, que faz a distribuição por gravidade. Primeiramente foi realizado um diagnostico da configuração atual do sistema, onde analisouse o atendimento da demanda, o levantamento das instalações e as condições de operação. A modelagem da situação atual e das alternativas propostas foram realizadas com o software EPANET 2.00.12, de maneira a comparar as diversas configurações. Os resultados alcançados mostram que é possivel utilizar apenas uma estação elevatória para a demanda existente, com eficiência energética necessitando apenas o acionamento de mais uma bomba em paralelo no horário de pico de consumo.

<p>The euthropthication of the Baltic Sea is a threat that is beginning to be taken seriously by the governments concerned. In Sweden, regulations concerning the allowed nitrogen (N) concentration in the effluent water from wastewater treatment plants are being tightened up. The Rimbo wastewater treatment plant has been imposed to reduce the annual mean concentration of total N in the effluent water to levels below 15 mg l-1. A more and more common way to reduce the nitrogen level in wastewater is to let the water pass through a wetland. This study investigates the possibility to build this kind of wetland at the outlet of the Rimbo wastewater treatment plant.</p><p>A prestudy of the topography, soil characteristics and groundwater flow indicates that the land area in question is well suited for the construction of a wetland. A proposal for the design has been made by using a physically based computer model developed in the PRIMROSE project (PRocess based Integrated Management of constructed and Riverine wetlands for Optimal control of wastewater at catchment ScalE), which is financed by the EU. Analysis of the residence time distribution (RTD) is a tool for understanding wetland design characteristics and can be used for wetland engineering such as optimizing design for best possibleefficiency in nitrogen removal. In order to characterize the performance of a wetland, it is useful to translate the RTD to a key figure representing the treatment efficiency. In this work, two types of such key figures have been used. Key figure 1 gives the hydraulic efficiency and Key figure 2 gives an estimation of the nitrogen retention by an integration of hydraulic characteristics and the chemical transformation of nitrogen.</p><p>The results of this study show that constructing a wetland in Rimbo probably would be an efficient way to reduce the nitrogen level at the effluent of the wastewater plant below the limits of the regulations. In addition, a wetland would form a nice place of recreation for the people in Rimbo and also make a good habitat for birds.</p> / <p>Övergödningen i Östersjön är ett problem som uppmärksammas alltmer. Ett led i att minska kvävebelastningen på Östersjön är ökade krav på rening i de svenska kommunala reningsverken. Rimbo avloppsreningsanläggning har blivit ålagd ett riktvärde för totalkväve på 15 mg l-1 i utgående vatten, vilket motsvarar en reningsgrad som inte uppnås idag. Ett alltmer vanligt sätt att minska föroreningshalterna är att anlägga våtmarker i anslutning till reningsverken för att efterpolera spillvattnet. Det här arbetet är en del av en förstudie till en sådan våtmark i Rimbo.</p><p>En förundersökning av topografi, jordart och grundvattenflöden indikerar att det område som föreslagits i anslutning till reningsverket i Rimbo lämpar sig väl för ett våtmarksbygge. Förslag till utformning har tagits fram med hjälp av en fysikaliskt baserad modell över vattenströmning, utvecklad inom det EU-finansierade projektet PRIMROSE (PRocess based Integrated Management of constructed and Riverine wetlands for Optimal control of wastewater at catchment ScalE). Analys av vattnets uppehållstidsfördelning ger förståelse för våtmarkens egenskaper och kan därför användas vid t ex optimering av våtmarksdesign med avseende på kväverening. För att på ett enkelt sätt kunna jämföra olika våtmarkers effektivitet är det praktiskt att översätta uppehållstidsfördelningen till ett nyckeltal för reningseffekten. I det här arbetet har två olika sådana nyckeltal beräknats. Det första ger den hydrauliska effektiviteten och det andra bygger på en metod där våtmarkens interna hydraulik integreras med den kemiska omvandlingen av kväve. Nyckeltal 1 ger ett mått på hur stor del av volymen i våtmarken som används för kväverening, medan Nyckeltal 2 ger ett mått på den procentuella kväveavskiljningen.</p><p>Den här förstudien visar att en våtmark sannolikt skulle vara ett utmärkt sätt att klara riktvärdet för kvävehalten vid reningsverket i Rimbo. Därutöver skulle en våtmark kunna utgöra ett positivt inslag i landskapet och öka den biologiska mångfalden, inte minst vad gäller fågelliv.</p>

The euthropthication of the Baltic Sea is a threat that is beginning to be taken seriously by the governments concerned. In Sweden, regulations concerning the allowed nitrogen (N) concentration in the effluent water from wastewater treatment plants are being tightened up. The Rimbo wastewater treatment plant has been imposed to reduce the annual mean concentration of total N in the effluent water to levels below 15 mg l-1. A more and more common way to reduce the nitrogen level in wastewater is to let the water pass through a wetland. This study investigates the possibility to build this kind of wetland at the outlet of the Rimbo wastewater treatment plant. A prestudy of the topography, soil characteristics and groundwater flow indicates that the land area in question is well suited for the construction of a wetland. A proposal for the design has been made by using a physically based computer model developed in the PRIMROSE project (PRocess based Integrated Management of constructed and Riverine wetlands for Optimal control of wastewater at catchment ScalE), which is financed by the EU. Analysis of the residence time distribution (RTD) is a tool for understanding wetland design characteristics and can be used for wetland engineering such as optimizing design for best possibleefficiency in nitrogen removal. In order to characterize the performance of a wetland, it is useful to translate the RTD to a key figure representing the treatment efficiency. In this work, two types of such key figures have been used. Key figure 1 gives the hydraulic efficiency and Key figure 2 gives an estimation of the nitrogen retention by an integration of hydraulic characteristics and the chemical transformation of nitrogen. The results of this study show that constructing a wetland in Rimbo probably would be an efficient way to reduce the nitrogen level at the effluent of the wastewater plant below the limits of the regulations. In addition, a wetland would form a nice place of recreation for the people in Rimbo and also make a good habitat for birds. / Övergödningen i Östersjön är ett problem som uppmärksammas alltmer. Ett led i att minska kvävebelastningen på Östersjön är ökade krav på rening i de svenska kommunala reningsverken. Rimbo avloppsreningsanläggning har blivit ålagd ett riktvärde för totalkväve på 15 mg l-1 i utgående vatten, vilket motsvarar en reningsgrad som inte uppnås idag. Ett alltmer vanligt sätt att minska föroreningshalterna är att anlägga våtmarker i anslutning till reningsverken för att efterpolera spillvattnet. Det här arbetet är en del av en förstudie till en sådan våtmark i Rimbo. En förundersökning av topografi, jordart och grundvattenflöden indikerar att det område som föreslagits i anslutning till reningsverket i Rimbo lämpar sig väl för ett våtmarksbygge. Förslag till utformning har tagits fram med hjälp av en fysikaliskt baserad modell över vattenströmning, utvecklad inom det EU-finansierade projektet PRIMROSE (PRocess based Integrated Management of constructed and Riverine wetlands for Optimal control of wastewater at catchment ScalE). Analys av vattnets uppehållstidsfördelning ger förståelse för våtmarkens egenskaper och kan därför användas vid t ex optimering av våtmarksdesign med avseende på kväverening. För att på ett enkelt sätt kunna jämföra olika våtmarkers effektivitet är det praktiskt att översätta uppehållstidsfördelningen till ett nyckeltal för reningseffekten. I det här arbetet har två olika sådana nyckeltal beräknats. Det första ger den hydrauliska effektiviteten och det andra bygger på en metod där våtmarkens interna hydraulik integreras med den kemiska omvandlingen av kväve. Nyckeltal 1 ger ett mått på hur stor del av volymen i våtmarken som används för kväverening, medan Nyckeltal 2 ger ett mått på den procentuella kväveavskiljningen. Den här förstudien visar att en våtmark sannolikt skulle vara ett utmärkt sätt att klara riktvärdet för kvävehalten vid reningsverket i Rimbo. Därutöver skulle en våtmark kunna utgöra ett positivt inslag i landskapet och öka den biologiska mångfalden, inte minst vad gäller fågelliv.

Diversos estudos sobre dinâmica de crescimento de lianas tem sido feito nas florestas tropicais e indicam um aumento global da densidade e biomassa de lianas na paisagem. As possíveis causas desse aumento estão relacionadas com fatores ambientais globais como: aumento da temperatura, da concentração de gás carbônico (CO2) e da dinâmica (mortalidade e recrutamento) acelerada das árvores. No entanto, em nosso estudo, apresentado no primeiro capítulo, não observamos mudanças na densidade e biomassa de lianas na floresta de terra firme da Amazônia Central (Reserva Adolpho Ducke, AM). Localmente, nas parcelas, encontramos pequenas mudanças positivas e negativas na densidade e biomassa de lianas. Essas mudanças são explicadas pelas diferenças nas taxas de recrutamento e mortalidade para cada parcela, assim como pela distribuição topográfica (Height Above the Nearest Drainage - HAND) das parcelas e pela mortalidade de árvores. Parcelas localizadas em áreas mais planas (menor HAND), e próximas da rede de drenagem, possuem maior recrutamento e maior mortalidade de árvores que por sua vez estão relacionadas com o aumento da densidade de lianas. Portanto, fatores locais e não mudanças globais são responsáveis pela mudança da dinâmica das lianas e, considerando a paisagem, ainda é cedo para concluirmos que as lianas estão aumentando em densidade em todas as florestas tropicais. No segundo capitulo, analisamos a arquitetura anatômica, a flexibilidade (i.e. módulo de Young), a condutividade hídrica especifica inicial (Ki), máxima (Kmax) e a porcentagem de perda de condutividade (PPC) de quatro espécies lianescentes de Bignoniaceae. As espécies possuem distintas arquiteturas anatômicas, apresentando a variação cambial xilema interrompido por cunhas de floema, onde duas delas (Adenocalymma validum e Pachyptera aromatica) possuem quatro cunhas de floema e as outras duas (Anemopaegma robustum e Bignonia aecnoquitialis) múltiplos de quatro cunhas de floema. Associada à variação cambial as espécies possuem distintas quantidades de tecidos caulinares (xilema, floema e medula), de tecido xilemático (xilema lianescente e autossuportante) e de tipos celulares e dimensões das células do xilema (porcentagem de vaso, de parênquima, de fibra, de área condutora, área média de vaso e espessura da parede da fibra). A flexibilidade é semelhante entre as espécies analisadas e a Ki, Kmax e PPC é semelhante em três das quatro espécies. As distintas combinações das quantidades dessas variáveis anatômicas em cada espécie explicam a similaridade de flexibilidade, Ki, Kmax e PPC entre as espécies. Adicionalmente, notamos que as espécies possuem diferentes respostas para o ganho de flexibilidade e condutividade hídrica específica. Em síntese, a maior flexibilidade, Ki, Kmax e PPC é explicada pela alta porcentagem de floema, de área condutora do xilema, de xilema lianescente, de vasos, de parênquima e vasos de maior calibre. Por outro lado, os parâmetros anatômicos relacionados com uma menor flexibilidade, Ki, Kmax e PPC são: alta porcentagem de medula, de xilema autossuportante, de fibras e maior frequência de vasos. Há um balanço entre a flexibilidade, eficiência condutiva (maior Kmax) e segurança hídrica (menor PPC) nas lianas analisadas, e esse balanço é explicado pela arquitetura anatômica das lianas / Several studies about growth dynamics in lianas are being produced in tropical forests and indicate a global rise in density and biomass of lianas in the landscape. The possible causes for this rise are related to global environmental factors, such as the temperature and carbon dioxide (CO2) increase, and the accelerated dynamics of trees (mortality and recruitment). Nevertheless, in this study (presented in the first chapter) we did not observed major changes in density and biomass of lianas in a terra firme forest in central Amazonia (Adolpho Ducke Reserve, AM). We observed small positive and negative changes in liana density and biomass happening locally in the plots. These changes can be interpreted by the differences in recruitment and mortality rates for each plot, as well as by the topographic distribution of the plots (Height Above the Nearest Drainage - HAND) and by tree mortality. Plots located in more flat areas (smaller HAND), and vertically close from the water-table, possess higher recruitment and tree mortality rates that are related to the rise in liana density. Therefore, local factors and not global changes are being responsible by the observed changes in liana dynamics and, considering the landscape, it is still early to conclude that lianas are rising in density in all tropical forests. In the second chapter we analysed the anatomic architecture, flexibility (Young&rsquo;s Modulus), the initial (Ki) and maximum (Kmax) hydraulic specific conductivity, and the percentage loss of conductivity (PLC) of four Bignoniaceae lianas. The species show different anatomical architectures in their stems, having the cambial variant of the type xylem furrowed by phloem wedges, two of them with four phloem wedges (Adenocalymma validum and Pachyptera aromatica) and two with multiples of four phloem wedges (Anemopaegma robustum and Bignonia aecnoquitialis). Apart from the cambial variants, these species show different amounts of stem tissues (xylem, phloem and pith), of xylem tissues (non self-supporting and self-supporting xylem), and of cell types and dimensions of xylem cells (vessel, parenchyma, fibre and conducting area percentage, vessel mean area and fibre cell wall thickness). Flexibility is similar between the studied species, and Ki, Kmax and PLC is similar in three of the four studied species. Distinct combinations between the amounts of these anatomical variables in each species can explain the similarity found on flexibility, Ki, Kmax and PLC on those species. Additionally, these species show different responses to the gain in flexibility and hydraulic specific conductivity. Summing up, higher flexibility, Ki, Kmax and PLC can be explained by the high percentage of phloem, xylem conducting area, non self-supporting xylem, vessels, parenchyma, and wider vessels. On the other hand, anatomical parameters related to a lower flexibility, Ki, Kmax and PLC are: high percentage of pith, self-supporting xylem and fibres, and high vessel frequency. There is a trade-off between flexibility, conductivity efficiency (higher Kmax) and hydraulic safety (smaller PLC) in the analysed lianas; and this trade-off is explained by the anatomical architectures of the lianas