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This thesis investigates whether topography has a quantifiable effect on the spatial distribution of landcover within an inland sand dune ecosystem. To accomplish this, an investigation was undertaken to compare the associations between various topographic characteristics and landcover distribution within the Great Sand Hills (GSH), Saskatchewan. The methodology comprised a spatial analysis of digital topographic and landcover data. In terms of landcover diversity, results shows that there is a moderate association between topography and landcover diversity in the GSH, and that results vary with spatial scale. Similarly, results show modest predictability for one particular community type (trees) thought to be strongly related to topographic position in this region. Several environmental factors are proposed that might overprint the topography-landcover association. Overall, this thesis expands the geographic context of the link between topography and landcover, while also demonstrating the utility of high resolution topographic and landcover data and the importance of spatial scale. / x, 90 leaves : col. ill. ; 29 cm

In dryland environments, the availability of soil moisture is the primary control on plant species’ distributions. In the sandhill regions of the northern Great Plains, vegetation establishment has transformed highly mobile, desert-like dune fields into stabilized landscapes covered by mixed-grassland prairie. This study examines how dune stabilization has modified the spatiotemporal distribution of soil moisture resources. An ergodic (space-for-time) approach was used, comparing soil moisture dynamics on active and vegetation-stabilized dunes in the Bigstick Sand Hills of southwestern Saskatchewan. Results indicate that while dune stabilization has enhanced near-surface soil moisture availability, deeper profile soil moisture recharge is reduced. Through better understanding how vegetation has modified soil moisture dynamics in stabilizing sandhill regions, better management practices may be implemented to maintain water resource availability and ecosystem health. / xii, 97 leaves : ill., maps ; 29 cm