Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1936. / Typescript. Includes abstract and vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 111-113).

No description available.

Surficial geochemistry, particularly selective leach technology, has proven effective in revealing anomalous concentrations of ore indicator metals overlying zones of buried mineralization. This study focuses on the buried Zn-Cu-Au-Ag VMS deposit at McIlvenna Bay in the Flin Flon Greenstone Belt to determine whether the peat swamp at the surface contains any anomalies of ore indicator metals using simple surficial geochemical techniques. Three selective leaches were performed, ammonium acetate pH 5.0, hydroxylamine, and sodium pyrophosphate. The hydroxylamine leach, which selects for metals in the reducible phase often associated with Mn and Fe oxides, has the clearest anomaly for multiple metals observed simultaneously, at the greatest magnitude. The pyrophosphate leach, which selects for metals that are oxidizable, often associated with organics showed a clear anomaly only for Cu, despite the abundance of organic matter and its great affinity for binding metals, likely because the organic-metal complexes formed in this system are easily exchangeable and highly soluble, not allowing for the formation of clear anomalies. The use of selective leach technology on surficial soil or peat has shown to be effective for delineating ore indicator metal anomalies, giving surface projections of buried mineralization in various types of systems, as long as the dynamics of the system are well understood in order to determine the phase the metals are associated with.

The restoration of drained, afforested blanket bogs (forest-to-bog restoration) is an increasing management practice, due to recognition of both the nature conservation and carbon sequestration services provided by peatlands. Forest-to-bog restoration involves conifer felling (and harvesting) along with blocking of forestry drains. Research from conifer felling and drain blocking on open peatlands shows significant effects on pore- and stream- water quality, when practised separately. However, there is very little knowledge of the combination of both these practices in forest-to-bog restoration. This research investigated the effects of forest-to-bog restoration on pore-, surface-, stream- and river water quality in the short-term (0-1) years post-restoration, where the effects of restoration are disturbance-related. We also investigated restoration progress across a chronosequence of restoration sites using pore- and surface-water chemistry. Our results showed significant increases in DOC, phosphate, K and NH4+ (2-99 fold) in pore- and surface- water in the first year post-restoration, which may have implications for the recovery of bog vegetation. In streams significant increases in Fe (1.5 fold) and phosphate (4.4 fold) were found, with no significant impacts on concentrations in rivers or pass rates for drinking water or WFD standards. We also found no significant effects on aquatic carbon exports. However, as more restoration is carried out within the catchments and the proportion felled increases, greater impacts on streams and rivers may be observed. From our results, we recommend felling small percentages (3-23%) of stream and river catchments and the use of drain blocking and silt traps to retain sediment. We observed progress in recovery towards bog conditions across a chronosequence of restoration sites (aged 0-17 years); incomplete recovery of WTD and elevated NH4+ in porewater appeared the main barriers to restoration. Therefore, enhancements such as brash and needle removal and plough furrow blocking may be able to accelerate restoration.

I investigated the effects ofhabitat loss and subsequent restoration on invertebrate community structure and ecosystem functioning in a mined peat bog in the North Island, New Zealand. In an experimental trial, the impact of peat bog habitat loss and isolation on the invertebrate community associated with Sporadanthus ferrugineus (Restionaceae) was investigated. Potted S. ferrugineus plants were exposed to invertebrates at various distances up to 800 m from an intact habitat (the presumed source population) over 18 weeks. Invertebrates rapidly colonised the experimental plants, with all major Orders and trophic groups present on Sc ferrugineus within 6 weeks. However. with increasing distance away from the undisturbed habitat, there was a significant decrease in total richness and abundance of invertebrates associated with the potted plants. Additional tests showed that even a moderate degree of isolation (i.e. greater than 400 m) from the intact habitat caused an almost complete failure of 'Batrachedra' sp. to colonise its host plant, at least in the short-term, The density of eggs and larvae, and the average larval size of 'Batrachedra' sp. (Lepidoptera: Coleophoridae) colonising Si ferrugineus plants, as well as the proportion of Si ferrugineus stems damaged by 'Batrachedra' sp. herbivory, all decreased logarithmically with increasing distance from the intact habitat. Surprisingly, though, the rate of recovery of the insect-plant interaction following experimental habitat restoration was remarkably rapid (i.e. between 3Y2 and 6 years). After just 6 years there was no significant difference in insect-plant interactions between the intact peat bog sites and any of the experimentally restored sites up to 800 m away. These results suggest that the degree of isolation from undisturbed habitat has a major impact on the rate and patterns of restoration recovery in the invertebrate community and that some insect-plant interactions can recover rapidly from habitat loss with restoration management. Restoration of mined peat bogs in northern New Zealand is initiated by establishing a native vegetation cover to minimize further peat degradation. The effects of various restoration techniques on litter decomposition, microbial community activity and beetle community composition were investigated within an experimental trial, These treatments included translocation ofpeat bog habitat (direct transfer of islands), milled peat islands with no seed and milled peat islands with seed, and were compared with an unrestored mined site and an undisturbed peat bog. In all the response variables measured, the undisturbed peat bog sites had significantly higher decomposition rates and microbial respiration rates, and significantly higher abundance and species richness of beetles than any of the restoration treatments. Inaddition, the technique used to restore mined peatlands had a significant effect on the beetle community composition and litter decomposition processes. Despite a rapid initial change in the beetle community following habitat translocation, the direct transfer islands were still the most similar in beetle species composition to the undisturbed peat bog. Microbial activity and decomposition rates were higher in the direct transfer and mined peat surface after 6 months. However, even after 12 months, decomposition rates in the restored habitats were still far from reaching the levels recorded in the undisturbed peat bog. The results suggest that beetle community structure and ecosystem processes such as decomposition and microbial activity rates may be able to recover faster with certain restoration techniques, such as direct transfer of intact habitat islands. Subsequently, I examined long-term beetle community reassembly on islands that had been restored by creating raised areas ofprocessed peat with the addition of Leptospermum scoparium seed. Monitoring of different-aged restored islands representing the full range of restoration ages (up to 6 years) available at the peat mine, indicated that as the peat islands became older and the vegetation structure became more complex, the abundance, species richness and composition of the beetle community became increasingly similar to the community in the undisturbed peat bog. Despite this, distinct differences between the intact peat bog and older restored peat islands still persisted, even after 6 years, particularly at an individual species level. However, it is predicted that within 12 years the restored peat islands will share 100% ofbeetle species in common with the undisturbed peat bog. Taken together, these results indicate that restoration is effective in initiating the recovery of beetle assemblages and ecosystem processes (such as litter decomposition and microbial community activity) in cut-over peat bogs. However, it is estimated to take at least 12 years before pre-mining communities and functions are attained, and ongoing monitoring to develop an understanding of the longer-term dynamics of such ecosystems and processes is clearly required.

I investigated the effects ofhabitat loss and subsequent restoration on invertebrate community structure and ecosystem functioning in a mined peat bog in the North Island, New Zealand. In an experimental trial, the impact of peat bog habitat loss and isolation on the invertebrate community associated with Sporadanthus ferrugineus (Restionaceae) was investigated. Potted S. ferrugineus plants were exposed to invertebrates at various distances up to 800 m from an intact habitat (the presumed source population) over 18 weeks. Invertebrates rapidly colonised the experimental plants, with all major Orders and trophic groups present on Sc ferrugineus within 6 weeks. However. with increasing distance away from the undisturbed habitat, there was a significant decrease in total richness and abundance of invertebrates associated with the potted plants. Additional tests showed that even a moderate degree of isolation (i.e. greater than 400 m) from the intact habitat caused an almost complete failure of 'Batrachedra' sp. to colonise its host plant, at least in the short-term, The density of eggs and larvae, and the average larval size of 'Batrachedra' sp. (Lepidoptera: Coleophoridae) colonising Si ferrugineus plants, as well as the proportion of Si ferrugineus stems damaged by 'Batrachedra' sp. herbivory, all decreased logarithmically with increasing distance from the intact habitat. Surprisingly, though, the rate of recovery of the insect-plant interaction following experimental habitat restoration was remarkably rapid (i.e. between 3Y2 and 6 years). After just 6 years there was no significant difference in insect-plant interactions between the intact peat bog sites and any of the experimentally restored sites up to 800 m away. These results suggest that the degree of isolation from undisturbed habitat has a major impact on the rate and patterns of restoration recovery in the invertebrate community and that some insect-plant interactions can recover rapidly from habitat loss with restoration management. Restoration of mined peat bogs in northern New Zealand is initiated by establishing a native vegetation cover to minimize further peat degradation. The effects of various restoration techniques on litter decomposition, microbial community activity and beetle community composition were investigated within an experimental trial, These treatments included translocation ofpeat bog habitat (direct transfer of islands), milled peat islands with no seed and milled peat islands with seed, and were compared with an unrestored mined site and an undisturbed peat bog. In all the response variables measured, the undisturbed peat bog sites had significantly higher decomposition rates and microbial respiration rates, and significantly higher abundance and species richness of beetles than any of the restoration treatments. Inaddition, the technique used to restore mined peatlands had a significant effect on the beetle community composition and litter decomposition processes. Despite a rapid initial change in the beetle community following habitat translocation, the direct transfer islands were still the most similar in beetle species composition to the undisturbed peat bog. Microbial activity and decomposition rates were higher in the direct transfer and mined peat surface after 6 months. However, even after 12 months, decomposition rates in the restored habitats were still far from reaching the levels recorded in the undisturbed peat bog. The results suggest that beetle community structure and ecosystem processes such as decomposition and microbial activity rates may be able to recover faster with certain restoration techniques, such as direct transfer of intact habitat islands. Subsequently, I examined long-term beetle community reassembly on islands that had been restored by creating raised areas ofprocessed peat with the addition of Leptospermum scoparium seed. Monitoring of different-aged restored islands representing the full range of restoration ages (up to 6 years) available at the peat mine, indicated that as the peat islands became older and the vegetation structure became more complex, the abundance, species richness and composition of the beetle community became increasingly similar to the community in the undisturbed peat bog. Despite this, distinct differences between the intact peat bog and older restored peat islands still persisted, even after 6 years, particularly at an individual species level. However, it is predicted that within 12 years the restored peat islands will share 100% ofbeetle species in common with the undisturbed peat bog. Taken together, these results indicate that restoration is effective in initiating the recovery of beetle assemblages and ecosystem processes (such as litter decomposition and microbial community activity) in cut-over peat bogs. However, it is estimated to take at least 12 years before pre-mining communities and functions are attained, and ongoing monitoring to develop an understanding of the longer-term dynamics of such ecosystems and processes is clearly required.

The functional hydrological components of the ombrotrophic mire water balance are, considered in terms of their ecological relevance. It is proposed that numerical models provide a suitable framework for mire hydro-systems and their potential as quantitative tools for mire restoration and conservation management is demonstrated. Existing models previously applied to mires are reviewed. The USGS 3-D groundwater model MODFLOW is selected and a new shallow surface and groundwater model GSHAW5 is developed for application to mires. Extensive ecohydrological case studies are undertaken at two mire sites and the models are tested using data collected at the sites. Field studies at Wedholme Flow, Cumbria, extended over four years and the data collected were combined with historical records to form a 10-year hydrological data set. Studies at Trough End Bog, Northumbria, extended over a 3-year period. Topographic, soil and vegetation surveys were carried out at both sites. Watertable fluctuation was recorded manually on a weekly basis and electronically at a 20-minute interval along with automatic meteorological records. New hydrometric techniques were developed in the Surface Water Monitoring Plot, SWaMP, constructed at Trough End to record hydrological exchanges within the hummock-hollow complex of the mire acrotelm. The models operate on very different spatial and temporal scales. GSHAW5 is applied to reproduce ground and surface exchanges in the acrotel. MODFLOW is used to simulate large-scale exchanges in undisturbed areas and between regenerating and active peat cutting areas. Predictive MODFLOW simulations are used to examine the impact of different peat cutting regimes on mire hydrology and potential regeneration. Both models produce simulations strongly correlated to observed hydrological exchanges. The usefulness of numerical models as tools for mire management is considered in light of the model test results from both case studies. It is concluded that both models provide insight and quantitative estimates of hydrological exchanges not possible by other means. MODFLOW simulations reveal considerable water loss from the Wedholme Flow mire reserve to an active peat cutting area. Simulations of Trough End bog reveal hydrological acrotelm processes strongly related to vegetation assemblages. An extensified GSHAW5 acrotelm model is recommended for the simulation of intact ombrotrophic mires.

No description available.

Changes in the hydrological cycle are one of the expected impacts of climate change. Until recently, Central European mountain ranges have not been considered to be affected by water scarcity. Nevertheless, recent years have suggested an increasing risk of drought occurrence also in these regions, which have a major impact on the water supply to rivers that drain them. The master thesis deals with the evaluation of hydrological drought in the headwater areas of three catchments in the Ore Mountains for the period from 1967 to 2018. The main aim is to compare the of hydrological drought characteristics in the catchment areas of upper Svatava River, upper Rolava River and Načetínský brook based on available hydrological and climatic data. In connection with this, the work aims to detect the long-term trends of drought occurrence in selected basins. Furthermore, the emphasis is given on the evaluation of natural conditions, especially the historical and current land cover changes in the study catchments. The results point to a significant change in the seasonality of the occurrence of hydrological drought in the second half of the studied period, when the streamflow deficits concentrate between August and October. Furthermore, increasing trends in deficit volumes were found in the catchment areas of...

In the general section of this thesis are shortly characterized fossil fuel, peat bogs and peat, process of their origin, their types and importance. Another important part of this work is the extraction of peat, its trend, subsequent restoration and environmental problem of the peat extraction. The main part is the characteristic of the area Borkovická blata, mapping out mining process in the area and the present condition. Furthermore, there is shortly characterized the company Rašelina, a. s., which extracted in Borkovická blata peat for a long time and is still engaged in the extraction and processing of peat.