Holderness, the Vale of York, and the Vale of Pickering are three fairly typical marshland areas, and all three were originally wasteland. Medieval reclamation improved the siltlands of each area for arable and pasture, but the peatlands remained waterlogged for three-quarters of the year and were used mainly for summer pasture and as sources of fish, fowl and fuel, until the mid-eighteenth century. Between 176o and 1900 they were drained by the use of large-scale engineering methods. Improvements were greatest in Holderness, while in the other two areas much still remained to be done in the twentieth century. There are various reasons both for the similarities and differences in the drainage history of the three regions, and for the differences between these regions and the other marshland areas of England and Wales. Location, size, the existence or otherwise of a frontage on tidal water and the resulting existence of a 'Court of sewers' - farming systems, patterns of ownership, navigation interests, and the influence of settlements, as well an the physical geography, are all shown to have had an influence both on the pace of improvement and on the pattern of drains developed. The present geography of the three areas shows clear traces of the earlier stages In their history.

The micro frog, Microbatrachella capensis (Boulenger, 1910), is a Critically Endangered anuran found in fragmented marshland habitats along the southern coast of the Western Cape Province of South Africa. The genetic diversity between and within the remaining populations (Kenilworth, Grootwitvlei, Kleinmond, Lamloch, Hagelkraal, and Buffeljacht/Ratelrivier) of Microbatrachella capensis in the Western Cape Province of South Africa was assessed, sampling 12 specimens from each population. Genetic diversity was determined from an analysis of mitochondrial DNA sequences obtained from the ND2 gene region/locus. A phylogeographic analysis of the populations of micro frogs sampled was used to determine the current genetic structure and the history of the species. The analysis divided the six populations of the species into two lineages. The variation within the populations ranged from two to six haplotypes per population. Nested clade analysis inferred allopatric fragmentation for three out of the five significant clades. The division of the lineages into two geographical units, the absence of gene flow and the allopatric fragmentation indicates long-term isolation, around 1.09-1.52 my ago. The isolation and fragmentation of the populations is postulated to be due to historical sea level fluctuations that occurred in Southern Africa during the Quaternary Period. Allopatric fragmentation and lack of gene flow among populations within the two major lineages are due to recent habitat destruction through development. The recognition that the species contains two evolutionarily significant units, corresponding to Agulhas and western lineages, will aid future conservation efforts to save this species. / Dissertation (MInstAgrar)--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Zoology and Entomology / unrestricted

Ogden Bay Waterfowl Management Area is one of many marshlands bordering the Great Salt Lake that are extremely important as breeding habitats for North American waterfowl. Salinity, both of surface and interstitial waters, is an important factor in maintaining a suitable habitat within the marsh. For this reason, a study was undertaken to determine the factors affecting the salinity of surface and interstitial waters. A small (approx. 100 acre) subunit was studied extensively to determine; 1) variations in surface water salinity with flowrate and water level; and 2) variation in interstitial water salinity with depth and location within the subunit. Field data indicated a substantial increase in salinity (as measured by electrical conductance) with depth in the interstitial waters. Wide variation in interstitial water conductivities was also observed within the study unit. Of major significance were large increases in interstitial water salinities in areas where the soil had dried, due to a low water level, and again re-wetted. This was in contrast to relatively constant soil water salinily observed in areas that were perenially flooded In addition to the field study, a laboratory study, using three 20 cm diameter undisturbed soil cores, was performed to determine the factors affecting the movement of salts through the marsh soils. The surface and bottom of the cores were fed with fresh water and brine, respectively, for a period of three months, while interstitial water samples were taken to monitor changes in soil water conductivities with depth of soil. A computer model was developed to simulate the experiment, as well as to help interpret the experimental results. The comparison between the observed data and data predicted by the model, as well as the results of the field data,' indicated that the major mechanisms affecting fluctuations in soil water salinity in the Ogden Bay marsh system is the movement of water through the soil.

Cette recherche est centrée sur l'habitat dans les marais mésopotamiens en Iraq et l'aménagement actuel et futur d'établissements humains durables dans cette région. Elle poursuit l'objectif de contribuer à une meilleure compréhension des transformations de la nature à l'œuvre et du fonctionnement de la société, de ses dynamiques, de son rapport à l'espace et de sa façon de se projeter dans le temps, dans cette aire géographique. Saisir comment, dans le contexte actuel de multiplication de facteurs mutagènes, parfois antagonistes, la société des marais assure sa continuité et adapte son habitat est fondamental pour établir une base de connaissances sur la culture constructive locale des marais mésopotamiens et éclairer les décisions concernant le projet gouvernemental de stabilisation de la population. L'habitat et la préservation du mode de vie ainsi que du milieu naturel restent des sujets d'interrogation fertile pour la recherche qui pose la question de leur évolution soutenable « située » plutôt que celle du développement. Les résultats de cette recherche peuvent constituer une base de réflexion chez les architectes, les urbanistes, les aménageurs et d'autres chercheurs traitant la question de l'habiter face à la dégradation environnementale globale. / This work focuses on housing in the Mesopotamian marshlands in Iraq and the current and future human settlements in this region. Its aim is to gain a better understanding of the transformations of nature at work and functioning of the society; its dynamics, its relation to space and the way to project over time. With the goal of understanding how, in the current multiplication mutagenic factors, sometimes antagonistic, the society ensures its continuity and adjusts its home, is essential in establishing a base of knowledges on the local construction culture and to inform decisions regarding the government's project to stabilize the population. The habitat and the preservation of the traditional lifestyle, as well as of its natural environment are subjects of fertile interrogation for the research which points out the question of their located and sustainable evolution rather than their development. The results of this thesis can be a basis for discussion among architects, planners, developers and others researchers dealing with the issue of living in the face of a global environmental degradation.

This diploma thesis discusses the influence of peat bog habitats on local climate, especially the temperature and humidity regime and indicators of energetic balance in similar locations Borkovice Marshland and Olešenský Wetland compared to the contrasting terrestric non-wetland TTP eco-system between the municipalities of Soběslav and Veselí nad Lužnicí. The evaluation was carried out based on the measurements of temperature and humidity characteristics in the given habitat with using automatic weather stations. The measuring was carried out in the period of 17 April until 3 November 2016 in an hour interval. During the vegetation period, samples of plant biomass were taken and species diversity of the observed ecosystems was described. The analysis of measured meteorological data has proved that the locations differed from each other. Results prove relatively small differences in air temperatures shot at the level of growth and in 2 meters above the surface. The greatest average temperatures were found in the location of the permanent grass growth. The greatest average pressure of water steam was noted in the location of Olešenský Wetland both in 2 meters above the suface and on the level growth. The lowest average saturation supplement was noted in the location of Olešenský Wetland, also it is the wettest place. The highest values were proved by the location of permanent grass growth, meaning that it is the driest place. The highest average evaporational fraction was noted in the location of Olešenský Wetland where a single vapour used the greatest amount of available energy. In the Borkovická Marshland lokality, a single vapour used the lowest amount of energy. Differences among the studied localities were caused by vegetation and the amount of water present in the eco-system.

Sub-Saharan Africa is today facing a big challenge regarding food deficiency and water scarcity due to climate change. One of these countries is Rwanda, a small landlocked country in the middle of Africa. Rwanda strongly depend on agriculture, both in the aspect of reducing poverty and hunger but also because their economy security depend on it. Because of increasingly fluctuating rainfalls their agriculture becomes more dependent on irrigation and the availability to water resources. To investigate how the climate change will affect the amount of water resources in the coming decades, this study is focusing on the watershed and marshland of Muvumba P8 in Nyagatare, Rwanda. A hydrological model was created, in a software called Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), with soil, land use and slope maps for the watershed. Calibrating the model was done with help of Climate Forecast System Reanalysis (CFSR) data and run for nine different climate model datasets. An uncertainty had to be taken into account regarding both the measured local data and the downloaded data. To be able to compare the amount of water resources and the irrigation requirements for the rice crop the farmers were growing on the marshland, the crop water requirements for rice was estimated with FAO’s program called CROPWAT. The irrigation system on the marshland allows a double cropping of rice every year and consist of a system depending on elevation differences to create natural fall. There was three reservoirs along the marshland but to limit the project, only the first reservoir was taken into account. This was complemented with existing data and field survey. Six out of nine climate models showed a decrease in median discharge over the coming 30 years compared to the CFSR historical median discharge. This means that less water in general will reach the outlet of the watershed in the years to come. At the same time all climate models indicate an increase in irrigation requirements for the rice crops. The seasons are probably going to change, a longer and drier season between June and August and a rainier season between September and November are projected.