Hydrophytes can be cultivated on rewetted drained peatland and used as substrate to produce biogas which can be utilized as vehicle fuel. This results in less GHG from rewetted peat soils and at the same time leads to renewable energy that substitutes fossil fuels. A literature research was conducted to study the impact of different species (Phragmites australis = Pa and Typha latifolia=Tl) and soil nutrient status on GHG emissions of rewetted fens in N Europe. In addition, biogas production and the exposure to different N-load were investigated for these species. Pa has a methane yield of 235 ml CH4 g-1 VS-1 regardless the input of N whereas Tl needs to be fertilized in order to produce high methane yield (204 ml CH4 g-1 VS-1).  Pa sequesters more CO2 and converts it into biomass which makes it a C-sink but by using the GWP factor to convert CH4 into CO2-equivalents, Pa becomes as Tl a GHG-source. Still Pa’s GHG emissions are lower than Tl’s if water depth is maximum 20 cm. Pa also contributes to peat formation and can cope with water fluctuations.

Detta arbete är en delstudie i projektet Seafarm. Syftet med denna studie är att utreda om algen Laminaria Digitata och vassen Phragmites Australis är lämpliga substrat i en samrötningsprocess för biogasproduktion. Metoden som användes är experimentell och utfördes under 35 dagar med en tvåstegsreaktor bestående av en lakbädd och en UASB-reaktor. Under försökets gång upptäcktes vissa fel och brister hos apparatuppställningen vilka orsakade läckage och andra brister. Detta resulterade i ett systemförslag med skiss till en ny lakbädd samt optimering av driftparametrar om försöket ska återupprepas. Efter 35 dagar avslutades försöket och utifrån den data som sammanställts uppvisar processen en bra metanpotential på 589 liter CH 4/kg COD. Processen uppvisade en låg alkalinitet med ett sjunkande pH som till följd av inmatning. Detta var grunden för den låga belastningen som processen klarade av. För framtida försök för just dessa substrat så rekommenderas en tillförsel av buffert så att alkaliniteten ökar och även möjligheterna för en högre belastning.

Memoria para optar al título de Ingeniero Civil / Una alternativa viable a los tratamientos de agua convencionales para remover arsénico son los humedales construidos, que tienen la ventaja de tener un bajo costo energético y operacional. En investigaciones anteriores se ha sugerido el uso de piedra caliza o zeolita como medio de soporte de los humedales construidos para obtener altas eficiencias de remoción de arsénico. Sin embargo, aun existen interrogantes sobre este sistema como la contribución de la vegetación en la remoción, la pérdida de agua por evapotranspiración (ET), y cómo afecta el tiempo de operación a la capacidad de remoción de los humedales construidos. Dado lo anterior, los objetivos de este trabajo son evaluar el efecto del tipo de medio de soporte e identificar el rol de la vegetación en la remoción de arsénico y otros contaminantes desde agua ácida sintética representativa del río Azufre, Chile, utilizando un sistema de humedales construidos. Además, cuantificar la ET del sistema y determinar la evolución de la eficiencia de remoción en el tiempo de los distintos contaminantes. Para ello, se construyeron cuatro tipos de humedales de flujo subsuperficial horizontal diferentes: piedra caliza con y sin vegetación y zeolita con y sin vegetación. La planta utilizada como vegetación fue la Phragmites australis, la concentración inicial de arsénico fue de 2 mg/L y la operación de los humedales se realizó con una carga superficial promedio de 20 mm/d. La efectividad en la remoción de los distintos contaminantes desde el agua ácida dependió principalmente del medio de soporte utilizado y no de la presencia de vegetación. Ambos medios de soporte mostraron ser muy efectivos en la remoción de arsénico, hierro y plomo (>96%). Además, la caliza mostró ser efectiva en la remoción de aluminio (>99%) y de cinc (>58%), mientras que la zeolita mostró ser efectiva en la remoción de cinc (>62%) y de los cationes potasio (>92%) y sodio (>58%). Los contaminantes que tuvieron una remoción moderada o baja (<50%) en ambos medios de soporte fueron el boro, manganeso, sulfato y cloruro. Las concentraciones de calcio y magnesio resultaron ser mayores que la concentración afluente en ambos medios de soporte. La presencia de vegetación sólo aumentó la remoción de plomo y cinc cuando se utilizó caliza como medio de soporte. También se observó que la eficiencia de remoción de los contaminantes manganeso, cinc y sodio tienden a disminuir en el tiempo, mientras que en los otros contaminantes no fue posible encontrar alguna tendencia por diversos motivos. Por otro lado, el pH en los tratamientos con zeolita tendió a ser ácido (4), mientras que con piedra caliza el pH fue neutro (7,5). En general, durante el periodo de estudio la turbiedad fue menor a 2 UNT y la alcalinidad tuvo un descenso progresivo en los tratamientos con caliza desde los 700 a 280 mg de CaCO3/L. En estos parámetros ambientales la vegetación no tuvo ninguna influencia. La medición directa de la ET tuvo valores promedio entre 2,5-5 mm/d entre los meses de septiembre y diciembre del 2016, lo cual se tradujo en una pérdida de agua del sistema entre 12,5-25%. Las medición directa de la ET tuvo valores similares a los estimados mediante el método FAO Penman-Monteith.

No description available.

Ecosystems respond to stress factors that may have a natural or anthropogenic origin. Natural stress factors include flood, wildfire, drought, insect infestations, etc. and anthropogenic stress factors include pollution, land cover changes, and the introduction of alien invasive species. These stressors can degrade ecosystems and result in biodiversity loss and lowered resilience. In this thesis, I investigate the spatial and temporal dynamics of ecosystem stress caused by natural and anthropogenic factors in both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. The large study areas and long-term changes in my research have mandated the use of Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) techniques in ways that have not been previously considered in ecological studies. In the first two chapters, I developed new approaches to monitor Phragmites australis, one of the most aggressive alien plant species that has invaded wetland ecosystems throughout N. America, as well as roadside ditches where management is costly and logistically challenging. I have developed innovative methods to accurately map invasive Phragmites under two conditions: 1) when plant biomass and densities are high so that managers can evaluate the effectiveness of treatment methods and 2) when plant biomass and densities are small and sparse so that these stands can be quantified and eradicated. I found that freely available, low to moderate resolution satellite imagery (Landsat 7/8 and Sentinel 2), acquired in late July or early August, can be used to produce highly accurate maps of dense Phragmites populations. I also found that commercial satellite imagery (WorldView 2/3) can be used to map Phragmites in the early stages of invasion and when plants have regenerated following herbicide treatment. In the latter half of my thesis, I examined how pre-fire canopy species composition and forest health influence the response of boreal forests to wildfires in Alberta, Canada. Forest fires occur naturally in boreal forests and usually affect very large spatial extents that remove accumulated fire fuel from the system. Following these outbreaks, the forests will regenerate and eventually become restored to their initial state. Climate-change induced droughts and flooding may change the frequency and location of these forest fires. To quantify the burn severity of each fire, I used Landsat images to calculate the differenced Normalized Burn Ratio (dNBR); then combined dNBR for all affected areas to develop the Standardized Burn Impact Score (SBIS), which quantifies the average impact of each fire based on the size of the burned area and the mean burn severity per pixel. In general, pre-fire dominance of coniferous species (jack pine and spruce) led to higher SBIS values while pre-fire dominance of broad-leaved species (aspen, birch, and poplar) led to lower values. Mean burn severity and SBIS values increased significantly when fire outbreaks occurred at a distance of 1 km or greater from water features (e.g. lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands). I also investigated the post-fire recovery process using indices of vegetation health and accounting for the effect of distance from the water features with respect to different levels of human activity. My results show that the post-fire recovery patterns are altered due to human activities and can affect the long-term fire regimes in boreal forests of northern Alberta. Overall, my thesis has advanced the use of novel remote-sensing techniques to study ecosystem stress factors on wetland and boreal ecosystems in Canada. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / Ecosystem stress is caused by natural or anthropogenic factors and results degradation of ecosystems. I investigated the spatial and temporal dynamics of ecosystem stress on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems using Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems techniques. I mapped Phragmites australis, a notorious invasive grass, in wetlands to aid the Phragmites management programs. My research shows that images collected in late summer or fall provide high Phragmites mapping accuracy. Furthermore, I successfully mapped small, low-density Phragmites stands in the early stages of invasions. I also investigated the pre-and post-fire vegetation dynamics in the boreal forests of Alberta. I show that the species composition and water features influence the burn severity. The human influence on these ecosystems alters the natural post-fire vegetation recovery processes. Overall, my thesis advances the use of novel remote-sensing techniques to investigate the ecosystem stress factors on wetland and boreal ecosystems in Canada.

Förorenad mark är ett stort och ofta påkostat problem i Sverige och världen. Ofta används konventionella metoder som schaktningsarbete för att åtgärda områdena, men orsakar även höga kostnader och en signifikant inverkan på miljön. I och med dessa problem har fytoremediering, dvs. växters förmåga att åtgärda förorenad mark, som åtgärdsmetod blivit allt mer populär de senaste åren. I denna studie undersöktes bladvass (Phragmites australis) och Salix sp för potentiell upptagningsförmåga av tungmetaller genom att analysera tungmetallminskningen i jorden. Växterna undersöktes i syfte att användas inom fytoremediering, samt som potentiell biobränslekälla. I projektet utfördes en fältstudie vid Ekeby avloppsreningsverk i Eskilstuna. Tre provpunkter på området valdes ut baserat på tidigare miljötekniska undersökningar av Norconsult AB. Jordmaterial förorenat med tungmetaller och lokala populationer av Salix sp och bladvass samlades in för analys i ett krukexperiment i vilket skillnader i metallhalter i jorden före och efter odling undersöktes. Totalt odlades 3 Salix sp-och 3 bladvass-skott i jordmaterial från varje provpunkt i växthus vid Stockholms Universitet. Jordmaterial från varje provpunkt användes som kontrollprov och fick stå i samma växthus under krukexperimentet. De insamlade växterna odlades i den förorenade jorden under 80 dagar och vattnades regelbundet med destillerat vatten. Efter tillväxtperioden visade resultatet inte på några signifikanta skillnader mot kontrolljorden. Orsaken antas bero på den relativt korta odlingsperioden, det låga antalet växtindivider som användes och antalet analyser som genomfördes. Åtgärdspotentialen för de lokala Salix sp- och bladvassväxterna skulle sannolikt kunna bestämmas på ett bättre sätt genom analyser avseende metallhalt i skördad växtbiomassa. Salix och bladvass används som biobränsle i Sverige, men kvalité, hantering och värmeverkens praktiska begränsningar påverkar avkastningen och det avfall som måste tas om hand. För att utvärdera ekonomiska och miljömässiga vinster genom implementering av fytoremediering på förorenad mark bör vidare studier genomföras för att utvärdera när under säsongen växterna bör skördas för största upptag av föroreningar med hänsyn till växterna som konkurrenskraftigt biomaterial. Fytoremediering har påvisats fungera genom flera studier, men en tydlig organisation och kunskap om vilka miljötekniska egenskaper som gäller för det lokala området är väsentlig för att implementera denna åtgärdsmetod med gott resultat. / Contaminated land is a big issue in Sweden and worldwide. Conventional methods like excavation are commonly used to remediate polluted areas, but also cause elevated costs and a significant environmental impact. The interest in phytormemediation, which is the ability of plants to remediate contaminated land, as it has become more popular during recent years. Common reed (Phragmites australis) and Salix sp. were tested in this study to assess the potential for heavy metal uptake by analysis of heavy metal reduction in the soil. The plants were assessed with the purpose to be used within phytoremediation as well as potential source for biofuel. A field study was included in this project at Ekeby wastewater treatment plant in Eskilstuna, Sweden. Three sample points were chosen based on previous environmental studies conducted by Norconsult AB. Soil material contaminated with metals and local populations of Salix sp and common reed were collected for analysis in a pot experiment were differences in metal content in the soil before and after cultivation were investigated. In total 3 shoots of Salix sp and 3 shoots of common reed were cultivated in soil material from each sample point in a greenhouse at Stockholm University. Soil material from each sample point were used as control and were placed in the same greenhouse during the pot experiment. The sampled plants were grown in contaminated soil material for 80 days and regularly irrigated with distilled water. The soil material was analyzed with respect to metals before and after cultivation of the local plants. After the growth period the results did not show any significant differences in the metal content of the soil compared to the control pot. It is assumed that the cause is due to the relatively short cultivation period, the low number of individual plants used and the number of analyzes performed. The  remediation potential for the local plants of Salix sp and common reed could probably be determined in a more suitable way though analysis of metals from the harvested plant material. Salix and common reed are used as biofuel in Sweden, but quality, management and practical limitations affect the yield and the waste that has to be taken care of. Further studies should be carried out to evaluate economic and environmental benefits through implementation of phytoremediation on contaminated land to assess when during the season the plants should be harvested to accumulate the greatest level of contaminants with consideration to the plants as a competitive bio-material. Phytoremediation works and has been demonstrated through several studies. However, a clear organization and knowledge of the local environmental characteristics of the contaminated site are vital features to implement this measure with a good result.

Peatlands are a diverse type of wetland ecosystem, characterized by high levels of soil organic matter, that provide a wide array of ecosystem services including water storage and filtration, carbon sequestration, and unique habitats. Draining peatlands degrades their resilience to future disturbances, notably including high intensity, soil-consuming fires. Peat soil fires are unique in that they can smolder vertically through the soil column, with consequences ranging from large carbon emissions to altered hydrology and dramatic shifts in vegetation communities. In this work we had two complementary objectives to understand both the drivers and impacts of smoldering fires at the Great Dismal Swamp (VA and NC, USA). First, we developed and verified a new method to model peat burn depths with readily available water level and peat hydraulic property data. Our findings suggest that drainage weakens both short- and long-term controls on peat burn depths by reducing soil moisture and by decreasing peat water holding capacity. To address the impacts of smoldering fires, we quantified the abundance of the noxious Phragmites australis in a large fire scar and the extent to which altered hydrology influenced its occurrence. We did so by leveraging satellite imagery, random forest models, LiDAR data, and water table observations. Our results suggest that P. australis is aided by a hydrologic regime generated, in part, from the combined effects of drainage and deep smoldering fires. Our conclusions from these two studies contribute to the scientific understanding of smoldering peat fires and can inform management efforts. / Master of Science / Peatlands are a diverse type of wetland ecosystem that have characteristically thick levels of organic-rich soil, known as peat. Peatlands are home to a variety of unique plants and animals, store large amounts of carbon, and provide water storage functions. Peatlands were historically drained to enable development and conversion to other land usages, which had many unintended consequences like increasing their risk to wildfires that consume soil organic matter. An intense peat fire can smolder down through the peat, with impacts ranging from large releases of carbon to changes in water levels and vegetation communities. In this work we had two objectives aimed at understanding the drivers and impacts of smoldering peat fires in the Great Dismal Swamp (GDS) (VA and NC, USA). First, we developed and verified a new method of modeling how deep peat fires burn by using readily available water level and soil property data. Our findings suggest that drainage weakens both the short- and long-term controls on peat fire burn depths by reducing soil moisture and by limiting the ability of peats to hold water. We also studied how water levels in a post-peat consuming fire environment influence the amount of the weedy Phragmites australis. We did so by using satellite imagery, elevation data, and water table observations. Results from this investigation suggest that the combined effects of drainage and deep smoldering fires help to create ideal conditions for P. australis invasion and establishment. Our findings from these two studies add to the scientific understanding of smoldering peat fires and may inform land management decisions.

Les plantes envahissantes sont considérées comme l'une des plus grandes menaces sur les espèces, mais leurs impacts sur les amphibiens demeurent peu connus. L’objectif de ce projet est de déterminer l’effet de l’établissement du roseau commun (Phragmites australis) sur la répartition des amphibiens et sur leur développement larvaire. Il est présumé que cette plante s'accapare l'espace et les ressources disponibles en produisant une importante biomasse, qu’elle peut modifier l’hydrologie des marais et la structure des communautés d’amphibiens. J’ai évalué les facteurs influençant la répartition des amphibiens selon les caractéristiques des étangs et du paysage dans 50 sites envahis ou non à divers degrés. Des expériences ont également été menées afin d’étudier les répercussions de trois densités de roseau sur des têtards de la Grenouille des bois (Lithobates sylvaticus) et sur la qualité de son habitat. Mes résultats suggèrent que le roseau à forte densité ralentit le développement larvaire de la grenouille des bois et influence les assemblages phytoplanctoniques. Cependant, il n’y a aucune relation entre la densité de la plante et la survie, la morphologie des têtards et les caractéristiques biotiques et abiotiques de l’eau. Dans notre aire d’étude, le paysage autour des étangs a une plus grande influence sur la répartition des amphibiens que l'établissement du roseau. Toutefois, la probabilité d’assèchement est plus élevée lorsque la plante est établie en grande quantité, ce qui, si l’envahissement s’intensifie, aura un effet néfaste sur la survie des têtards et mettra en péril la persistance des populations. / Invasive plants are considered one of the greatest threats to species, but their impact on amphibians is still poorly understood. The objective of this project is to determine the effect of the establishment of common reed (Phragmites australis) on amphibian distribution and larval development. It is thought that this plant monopolizes space and resources by producing a large biomass, and may alter wetland hydrology and amphibian community structure. I evaluated the factors influencing amphibian distribution according to the characteristics of ponds and the surrounding landscape in 50 sites invaded or not by reeds to varying degrees. Experiments were also conducted to study the impacts of three reed densities on wood frog tadpoles (Lithobates sylvaticus) and the quality of their habitat. My results suggest that high reed density slows wood frog larval development and influences phytoplankton assemblages. However, there is no relationship between, plant density and survival, tadpole morphology and water biotic and abiotic characteristic. In our study area, the landscape surrounding ponds has a greater influence on amphibian distribution than does reed establishment. However, the desiccation probability is higher when the plant is established in high quantities, which, if the invasion intensifies, will have an adverse effect on tadpole survival and therefore population persistence.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal.

Les plantes envahissantes menacent la biodiversité ainsi que les activités humaines. Afin de les maîtriser, la pulvérisation d'herbicides est une méthode fréquemment employée en Amérique du Nord. Cette approche ne fait pas toujours consensus et est même parfois interdite ou restreinte, ce qui justifie le recours à d'autres options. Les alternatives peuvent toutefois s'avérer rares, comporter d'importantes limitations ou sont peu documentées. Cette étude vise à tester l’efficacité de méthodes permettant de maîtriser et de prévenir les invasions de roseau commun (Phragmites australis), l'une des plantes envahissantes les plus problématiques sur le continent nord-américain, tout en limitant au minimum l'utilisation d'herbicides. Le potentiel de quatre méthodes de lutte aux petites populations de roseau bien établies a d'abord été évalué : l’excavation avec enfouissement sur place, le bâchage, l’excavation avec enfouissement sur place combinée au bâchage, et la fauche répétée. Les résultats ont montré que l'excavation avec enfouissement sur place, avec ou sans bâchage, a entraîné une élimination presque totale des populations visées, ce qui est comparable ou supérieur à l'effet généralement obtenu avec la pulvérisation d'herbicide. Le bâchage avec des toiles opaques, maintenues pendant un an, a pour sa part entraîné une maîtrise partielle du roseau, suggérant qu'une application prolongée serait nécessaire pour l'éradication de la plante. La fauche répétée, exécutée à raison de cinq fauches par été pendant deux ans, a fourni une efficacité mitigée. Les résultats suggèrent néanmoins que la fauche pendant plusieurs années contribue à affaiblir la plante, ce qui pourrait aider à son confinement. Une méthode additionnelle a été expérimentée afin de traiter les tiges éparses de roseau tout en limitant les risques d'effets hors cibles, soit le badigeonnage manuel d’herbicide. Suite à ces tests, les résultats ont montré une diminution importante de la densité des tiges, ce qui suggère que la méthode est efficace afin d'éliminer les repousses après un traitement initial, et pourrait également être employée sur de jeunes populations clairsemées. L'effet d'un ensemencement préventif de plantes herbacées sur l'établissement de semis de roseau a également été étudié, suite à des traitements sur de vastes parcelles de sol nu. Les résultats suggèrent que la méthode est efficace afin de limiter la propagation du roseau par semences et qu'un suivi périodique suite à l'intervention serait suffisant afin de maintenir l'effet préventif. / Invasive plants threaten biodiversity as well as human activities and in North America, attempts to control them often rely on the spraying of herbicides. This approach does not always achieve consensus and is sometimes forbidden or restricted, encouraging managers to consider other options. Alternatives can however prove to be rare, involve serious limitations or be poorly documented. This study aims at testing the efficiency of methods for the control and prevention of invasions by common reed (Phragmites australis), one of the most problematic invasive plants on the North American continent, all while reducing herbicide use to a minimum. The potential of four methods for the control of small, well established stands of common reed has first been evaluated: excavation and on-site burial, covering with heavy-duty tarps, excavation and on-site burial combined with covering with heavy-duty tarps, and repeated cutting. Results have shown that excavation with on-site burial, followed or not by covering with heavy-duty tarps, led to an almost complete elimination of the populations targeted, which is comparable or superior to the effect typically obtained with herbicide spraying. Covering common reed with opaque heavy-duty tarps, held in place for one year, lead to partial control of the plant, suggesting that holding the tarps in place for a longer period would be necessary to foresee the eradication. Cutting, repeated five times per summer for two years, gave mixed results. The results suggest, however, that cutting during multiple years contributes to weakening the plant, which could help to its confinement. An additional method, the hand-wicking of common reed stems with herbicide, has been tested to treat scattered stems while limiting off-target effects. Following these tests, the results have shown an important reduction of the density of reed stems, which suggests that the method is effective to control common reed regrowth after an initial treatment, and could be used on young stands. The effect of seeding herbaceous plants on the establishment of common reed seedlings has also been evaluated, following the sowing of vast plots of bare soil. The results suggest that the method is an efficient way of limiting the propagation of common reed through seed dispersal. Results also suggest that periodic follow-ups to eliminate seedlings would be sufficient to maintain the preventive effect.