The concentrations of trace elements in 30 Saanich Peninsula agricultural soil samples were determined by acid digestion and inductively coupled plasma - optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). A comparison of the results obtained to a 1995 BC Ministry of Environment data indicated that As, Cu, Mo, Sb, Se and Sn concentrations had increased whereas the concentrations of Ba, Be, Cd, Cr, Co, Mn, Ni, Pb, V and Zn had decreased. The principal sources of the trace elements were anthropogenic sources including fertilizer and manure application, weathering of rocks and atmospheric deposition. The concentrations changes were largely influenced by the individual properties of the elements, soil texture, soil organic matter and clay content. The mobility of the trace elements in the soils was mainly controlled by clay content and followed the order Cd> B >Mo> Cr> V> Zn> Se> Co> Cr> As> Ba> Sb> Mn> Ag, Be, Hg, Ni, Pb.

Hypothesised causes of the observed world-wide decline of amphibian populations are varied and in some cases contentious. Insufficient information relating to the autecology of many amphibian species can cause erroneous speculations regarding critical habitat requirements and hence management programs designed to enhance population viability are often unsuccessful. Most amphibians display a bi-phasic life history that involves occupation of an aquatic breeding habitat and terrestrial habitats that are used for foraging, and shelter from predation and environmental stress. However, the focus of most amphibian research is centred on the breeding habitat, with limited research being conducted into the terrestrial habitat requirements of most amphibian species. Barakula State Forest is a large continuous area of open woodland situated in the semi-arid region of Queensland. The forest supports 21 species of endemic anurans, many of which use ephemeral waterbodies for breeding. This area is, therefore, an ideal location to test the relative importance of terrestrial habitat on the distribution of a suite of frogs that display different morphological and physiological characteristics. On the landscape scale, the attributes of the terrestrial environment at three survey areas within Barakula were similar. However, at the patch scale, ground truthing showed there were considerable variations in vegetation and ground cover attributes within and between each survey site. Measured properties of the soil also tended to vary within and between sites. Soil texture ranged from sandy to heavy clay, soil pH ranged from 3.9 to 6.4 and soil moisture varied considerably. Agar models, used for testing evaporative moisture loss at different microhabitats, retained significantly higher levels of moisture when positioned in the buried microhabitat during summer, but in winter, models that were placed under leaf litter retained higher levels of moisture. Variations in levels of moisture loss at the five different microhabitats were evident within and between the survey sites. Despite a prolonged drought, 1844 native frogs representing 17 species were pitfall trapped. Members from the family Myobatrachidae comprised 94% of these captures, and burrowing species accounted for 75% of total captures. Species were not randomly distributed within or between the survey sites. Vegetation attributes and soil properties played a significant role in influencing the catch rates and traplines that supported similar vegetation and soil attributes also tended to catch similar species. Capture rates of six of the seven burrowing species were significantly influenced by soil properties. When given a choice of four different microhabitats created in enclosures, individuals from five species showed varying responses to habitat choice during night time activity. During daylight all species tended to avoid bare areas and burrowing species tended to burrow under some form of cover. Pseudophryne bibronii metamorphs showed a significant avoidance to soils with high pH. The number of Limnodynastes ornatus metamorphs was significantly and positively correlated with moisture levels surrounding a breeding area. Limnodynastes ornatus metamorphs tended to avoid areas that did not support some form of cover. Embryos from the terrestrial egg laying P. bibronii translocated to sites with varying levels of soil pH, suffered increased mortality where the soil pH was &gt4.8. In the laboratory, embryonic survival was not significantly different between the four pH treatments. There was a significant influence of fungal infection on survival rates and ranked fungal infection was significantly different between the four pH treatments. The terrestrial environment at the three survey sites has provided sufficient protection from environmental elements to allow a large diversity of anurans to persist for long periods without access to permanent water. Management must consider the importance of the non-breeding habitat when defining buffer zones, restoration programs and conservation strategies to ensure that the complete set of ecological requirements for frog species are provided.

Pasture plants already adapted to acidic soil conditions are required as part of an integrated approach (with lime amelioration) to managing acid soils on the Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia. The objective of this thesis is to evaluate the usefulness of Austrodanthonia species for this purpose. The material evaluated in this study was collected during a previous survey of the distribution of Austrodanthonia on the Central, Southern and Monaro Tablelands of New South Wales. It was hypothesised that the genus Austrodanthonia has a wide range of tolerance to acid soils. A series of experiments that provided information on the growth and physiology of Austrodanthonia in relation to soil acidity, with a view to the identification and eventual domestication of the most promising plant material have been conducted through pot, hydroponics and field investigations. Firstly, soils were acidified or limed to obtain a range of soil pH and Al concentrations. This experiment showed that adding aluminium sulfate and calcium carbonate followed by washing excess salts with water is a simple, rapid and convenient method for adjusting soil pH for pot experiments. The pH of the amended soils remained relatively unchanged eight months after treatment. The experimental set-up also resulted in a wide range of soluble Al (2-52 mg/kg) across the soils. The relative Al-tolerance of 183 accessions from 15 Austrodanthonia species was tested in a pot experiment using a range of soil pH. Emergence, survival and growth of all accessions were drastically reduced by high soil acidity (pH 3.9, P < 0.001). About 11% of plants emerged at pH 3.9, whereas at pH 4.4 and 5.3, ~72% of plants emerged. Accessions exhibited large variation within and between species in their tolerance to soil acidity. From the species/accessions tested, 49 accessions from eight species were selected for further study (on the basis of being more acid tolerant). Hydroponic experiments conducted in the glasshouse evaluated: (i) formulation of nutrient solution with a stable pH, (ii) effectiveness of the formulation using tap water and deionised water and (iii) estimation of free ion activities of Al and Mn in the nutrient solution and their effects on Austrodanthonia growth. These experiments showed that a NO3-N/NH4-N ratio of 9:4 is the most appropriate ratio to obtain a stable pH 4.0 without affecting plant growth; that there was little difference between tap water and deionised water on the ionic effects of Al and Mn, and plant-size did not play a role on accession survival and that accessions of Austrodanthonia could grow well within a wide range of pH (3.5-5.5), Al (50-250 �M) and Mn (100-2000 �M). Growth of Austrodanthonia accessions declined under high acidity (pH < 3.5) and Al (300 �M), but tolerated high concentrations of Mn (2000 �M). Root-tips stained with hematoxylin grouped accessions in a similar way to the pot and hydroponic experiments for most of the accessions tested. The intensity of root staining with hematoxylin and the differential distribution of Al in the shoots and roots provided an indication that different tolerance mechanisms may be involved with Austrodanthonia accessions. It appears that both exclusion and internal mechanisms may operate for Al- and Mn-tolerance. A field experiment was conducted at Carcoar (33037�S, 149013�E, elevation 800 m) using gradients in soil pH and Al available on-site to grow selected accessions of Austrodanthonia. The accessions exhibited a range of responses to soil acidity. The accession responses to acidity from the pot and hydroponic experiments were similar to those obtained in the field, especially where Al was present as a low Al-challenge. Overall, this study shows that Austrodanthonia exhibits a wide range of acid tolerance between species and accessions within species. Among the species tested, A. duttoniana and A. fulva appeared to have the greatest commercial potential, because of their productivity and acid tolerance. The variability that exists in the accessions may be exploitable in breeding and selection programs for improved cultivars.

No description available.

No description available.

Crabgrass is a warm-season annual species that has the potential to provide high-quality summer forage for ruminants in the transition zone between subtropical and temperate regions of the United States. Growing annual lespedeza in association with crabgrass may be beneficial due to nitrogen transfer from the legume to the grass. The objectives of the research reported in this thesis were to (1) determine the effects of pH on establishment and growth of crabgrass; and (2) evaluate the effects of lespedeza seeding rate and N fertilization treatment on the yield, botanical composition, and nutritive value of crabgrass-lespedeza mixtures. A greenhouse study was conducted using three soil pH levels of 4.8, 5.5, and 6.3. Crabgrass germination and root and shoot yields were not affected by soil pH values. A field study was conducted to evaluate the influence of six lespedeza seeding rates (0-28 kg ha-1) and two N fertilization treatments (140 kg total N ha-1 or zero N) on crabgrass-annual lespedeza mixtures. In most cases, increasing lespedeza seeding rate increased lespedeza in the sward. However, lespedeza rate had limited effect on yield and nutritive value of the mixture. Nitrogen fertilization increased crabgrass in the sward and total yield by as much as 46%. Responses of nutritive value parameters to N fertilization were variable and appeared linked to weather factors. In vitro true digestibilities ranged from 750 to 875 g kg-1, and were largely unaffected by N fertilization and seeding rate The results of these studies indicate that crabgrass could provide moderate amounts of highly digestible forage while growing on acidic soils commonly found in the southeastern United States. Annual lespedeza may be grown in association with crabgrass, but limited improvement in yield and nutritive value were found for this practice. / Master of Science

O comportamento do Ni no solo, principalmente quando adicionado através de biossólidos, ainda é pouco conhecido. Este trabalho objetivou avaliar a influência dos teores totais do metal, de matéria orgânica e dos valores de pH na distribuição daquele elemento no solo e na sua biodisponibilidade. Foram conduzidos três experimentos de incubação em vasos mantidos em casa de vegetação, utilizando 3 kg de amostras da camada de 0 - 0,20 m de dois solos: ARGISSOLO VERMELHO AMARELO Distrófico (PVAd) e NITOSSOLO VERMELHO Distrófico Latossólico (NVdl). Dois experimentos foram montados em solos diferentes, em esquema fatorial 2x2x3, nos quais 2 doses de Ni (21 e 42 Kg ha -1 ) como NiCl2, foram incubadas durante 120 dias, sob dois teores de matéria orgânica e dois valores de pH, obtidos pela adição de turfa e de calcário, respectivamente. Num terceiro experimento fatorial (2x4), os mesmos dois solos foram incubados por 150 dias com a dose de 150 Mg ha -1 de quatro diferentes biossólidos. Posteriormente, cultivou-se alface em todos os vasos por 50 dias Após a incubação, amostras de solo foram analisadas quimicamente, inclusive efetuando-se extrações seqüenciais para determinar a distribuição do Ni adicionado através de NiCl2 e de biossólido. Foram consideradas as frações do metal solúvel + trocável, carbonatos, matéria orgânica, óxidos e residual. Realizou-se também a especiação do Ni baseada no equilíbrio de Donnan, no extrato de saturação das amostras, para discriminar a porção do Ni solúvel que se achava na forma de íon livre. O calcário foi o fator que mais afetou o comportamento do metal, reduzindo a concentração na fração trocável e aumentando-a nas frações matéria orgânica e óxidos. A turfa aumentou os teores do metal na fração trocável e os reduziu nas frações óxidos e matéria orgânica. O NiCl2 aumentou o teor de Ni nas três frações citadas. Os teores do metal nas frações de cada solo foram modelados por equações de regressão, em função dos teores de C-orgânico, Ni total e pH do solo. A distribuição do Ni no solo, quando adicionado através de biossólidos apresentou semelhanças com a distribuição do metal nos próprios biossólidos. Nestes casos, o Ni predominou nas frações mais fortemente retidas, conferindo ao metal comportamento distinto daquele observado pela adição do NiCl2. Tais diferenças puderam ser confirmadas pela ineficiência das equações obtidas nos experimentos com NiCl2, em predizer os teores do metal nas frações dos solos tratados com biossólidos. Na especiação, doses mais elevadas de calcário e turfa resultaram em menores teores de Ni solúvel e livre, os quais aumentaram com a dose de NiCl2. Concentração de ambas as formas de Ni se correlacionaram com os teores do metal absorvidos pelas plantas. Na aplicação de biossólidos ao PVAd, a determinação do Ni livre foi particularmente importante para se prever a biodisponibilidade de Ni para alface. Essencialmente, pode-se concluir que a extração seqüencial e a especiação em extrato de saturação foram eficientes para demonstrar diferenças do comportamento do níquel quando o metal foi aplicado como NiCl2 e como biossólido. / The role of Nickel in soils under the application of biossolids is still not very well known. The objectives of this study were to investigate the influence of total Nickel and organic carbon content, and soil pH, in the Nickel distribution among soil fractions and the bioavailability of the metal to lettuce. Three incubation pot trials were carried out in greenhouse placing in each one 3 kg of the 0-20cm layer of soil. Two soils types were considered: Typic Halpludult and Rhodic Kandiudox. In two of the trials, one for each soil type, soil samples were treated with rates of NiCl2, lime and peat as a source of organic matter and incubated during 120 days. In the third pot trial the above mentioned soils were incubated with four different types of biossolids during 150 days. Once the incubation period ended soils samples were collected and lettuce was planted in the pots of all three trials. Soils samples were submitted to a sequential extraction procedure which comprised the following fractions: exchangeable plus soluble; carbonate, organic, oxides and residual. Soil saturation extracts were also obtained for the determination of free Ni +2 concentration using the Donnan equilibrium technique. When NiCl2, peat, and lime were applied to soils, changes in pH due to lime caused exchangeable Ni to decrease and raised Ni content in organic and oxide fractions. Peat promoted an higher Ni content in the exchangeable fraction and reduced it in the oxide and organic fraction. I contrast NiCl2 raised Ni content in all of the above motioned fractions. Nickel content in all soil fractions were modeled by regression equations using total Ni, organic carbon, and pH as independent variables. Data for the Ni distribution in soils fractions under biossolids application were similar to results from sequential extraction in the biossolids in terms of percentage. In the biossolids trial Ni occurred most in residual fraction of soil, which contrasts with results obtained when Ni was supplied as NiCl2. Speciation study showed that higher rates of lime and peat promoted lower levels of soluble and free Ni in the soil solution. The opposite was detected when NiCl2 was applied. Both soluble Ni and free Ni +2 were well correlated with the Ni content in lettuce, when the metal salt was supplied as Ni source. However, free Ni +2 was a better indicator for Ni bioavailability when bissolids were applied in PVAd. In resume it may be concluded that the sequential extraction procedure and the speciation by means of the Donnan equilibrium approach were useful to express the different behavior of nickel in soil when NiCl2 or bissolids were the source of the metal.

O destino de metais pesados em solos é principalmente controlado por reações de sorção e de precipitação em superfícies minerais. Resultados de pesquisa têm evidenciado certa contradição quanto à mobilidade dos metais pesados em solos tratados com lodo de esgoto. Parte dos resultados permite afirmar que a mobilidade dos metais nesses solos é baixa ou nula, enquanto que outra parcela questiona a capacidade do solo em reter esses elementos, sendo esta capacidade função de fatores como tempo, nível de contaminação, condições climáticas, alterações químicas e degradação da matéria orgânica. O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar a dessorção de Cd, Cu, Ni e Zn em função do pH, a capacidade adsortiva e a fitodisponibilidade desses metais em um Latossolo tratado por cinco anos consecutivos com doses de lodos provenientes das estações de tratamento de Barueri (LB) e de Franca (LF). Amostras de solo foram coletadas da camada 0-0,2m, dos seguintes tratamentos: testemunha; dose de lodo estabelecida para adubação nitrogenada da cultura do milho (1N); duas vezes (2N), quatro vezes (4N) e oito vezes a dose de lodo recomendada (8N). O efeito do pH na dessorção dos metais foi avaliado por meio da determinação da concentração dos mesmos em extratos obtidos em agitações seqüenciais, a primeira de 24 horas e as seguintes de 2 horas cada até a dessorção máxima, usando solução de Ca(NO3)2 0,01 mol L-1 (relação solo:solução de 1:10) e pH ajustado com HNO3 ou NaOH 1 mol L-1. A faixa de variação de pH investigada foi de 3,5 a 7,5. A adsorção dos metais foi avaliada nas amostras de solo agitadas com solução de Ca(NO3)2 0,01 mol L-1 e concentrações crescentes de cada metal. Plantas de arroz foram cultivadas pelo método de Neubauer para avaliação da fitodisponibilidade dos metais. A dessorção dos metais foi crescente com o aumento das doses dos lodos e o LB exibiu maiores valores comparativamente ao LF. A redução do pH proporcionou o aumento dos teores de metais dessorvidos. A capacidade adsortiva do solo também aumentou com a dose de lodo. As amostras tratadas com LF adsorveram mais metais que as tratadas com LB, concordando com os resultados de dessorção. As quantidades de metais nas plantas de arroz apresentaram boa correlação com os teores dessorvidos e com os extraídos do solo com DTPA, indicando que a fitodisponibilidade aumenta com o uso de lodo. Conclui-se que o pH do solo é fator importante no controle da disponibilidade dos metais e sua redução implica em menor capacidade do solo tratado com lodo em reter os metais estudados, além de existir também diferenças importantes relacionadas com as doses aplicadas e origem e características dos lodos de esgoto. / The fate of metals in the soil environment is mostly controlled by sorption reactions on the surface of soil constituents. There have been many studies on the mobility of metals in sludge-amended soils and some contradictions arise from them. Several results indicated a low or even null degree of mobility while others questioned the capacity of soils components in retaining those elements, which is dependent on degree of contamination, climatic conditions, chemical alterations and decomposition of organic matter. This thesis reports the evaluation of the of Cd, Cu, Ni and Zn dessorption from soils as function of pH; the adsorptive capacity and the biovailability of those metals in soil samples collected in a field trial where sewage sludge was applied during 5 consecutive years. The waste was collected in two sewage treatment plants: Barueri (LB) and Franca (LF) in São Paulo state, Brazil. Soil was sampled (0-20 cm) in the trail plots of the following treatments: check; sewage rate corresponding to the amount of total nitrogen recommended for maize (1N) and rates of 2, 4 and 8 times the 1N rate, which were identified as 2N, 4N and 8N, respectively. The pH effect on metal desorption was evaluated by a sequential extractions procedure with Ca(NO3)2 0.01 mol L-1 solution: the first step lasted 24 h and the subsequential ones 2 h till no significant amount of metal could be extracted. The soil: extractant solution ratio was 1:10 and the pH ranged from 3,5 to 7,5 obtained after proper additions of HNO3 or NaOH 1 mol L-1 solutions aliquots. Metal adsorption was carried out in Ca(NO3)2 0.01 mol L-1 solution with increasing metal concentration. A Neubauer-type trial was carried out with rice plants to evaluate metal bioavailability. Metal desorption increased with sewage rates and higher amounts were obtained for LB as compared to LF. Metal desorption also increased as pH decreased. Soil samples where LB sewage was applied adsorbed higher metal amounts, which is in accordance with desorption results. Metal bioaccumulation in rice plants in the Neubauer experiment was well correlated with the desorbed amounts and with the DTPA extracted values thus indicating that bioavailability rises when sewage sludge is applied. Soil pH appears as the key factor in controlling Cd, Cu, Ni and Zn availability and the more it decreases the less they are retained by soil. It should also be mentioned the striking effects of and sludge characteristics and rates.

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No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese-Iza M P Batista.pdf: 592710 bytes, checksum: 0fdb23680dd259d50a1b08ec8415baa1 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-09-30 / CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Upland soils Amazonas state is characterized by having pH and Al3+ at levels that limit the good yields. The objective of this study was to evaluate the chemical changes in function in soils of the addition of different levels of limestone and estimate quantities needed corrective to reach pH arable. We used a completely randomized block design with three replications. The treatments consisted of a factorial 3 x 7 by matching three textural classes (medium texture, clay, and much clay) with seven levels of limestone (0, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, 6.0, 8, 0 to 10 t ha-1). After 56 days of incubation, the pH values were determined in water; this was plotted versus liming and adjusted polynomial regression models, to determine the quantity of lime necessary to achieve pH 5.5; 6.0 and 6.5. At that time, it was determined the Al3+ content, Ca2+, Mg2+, K and H + Al and from these values calculated the base saturation (V%). The efficiency of liming by incubation curve method was evaluated in experiments conducted in a greenhouse through the effect of different rates of lime in the production of MSPA and MSR in the corn and bean crops. The treatments were arranged in a completely randomized design in a factorial 2 x 7, combining two soil (Ultisol and Oxisol) and seven levels of limestone (0, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, 6.0, 8.0 and 10 t ha-1), with four replications. The data MSPA, MSR and content of P, K, Ca, Mg, Zn, Fe, Mn and Cu in the shoots were adjusted regression models and then estimated the limestone, corresponding to the ESM. The soil showed high significance indices with the amount of lime to raise the pH of the soil, and the levels of 0.3; 2.2 and 4.0; 2.6; 4.4 and 6.1; 2.2; 4.0 and 5.8 t ha-1 of lime in medium textured soils, clayey and much clayey are recommended to achieve the pH 5.5; 6.0 and 6.5, respectively. The recommendation of 1.5; 2.6 to 2.2 t ha-1 was sufficient to reduce Al3+ and the doses of 3.7; 4.7 and 4.6 t ha- 1 increasing the saturation to levels appropriate for crop development, corresponding to water pH around 6.3; 6.0 and 6.5 in medium textured soils, clayey and much clayey, respectively. The quantities of limestone corresponding to maximum economic yield MSPA and MSR both corn as the beans are close to the amount recommended by the method of incubation curve required to achieve the pH acceptable for cultivation and these doses have not reduced below the deficiency of the content absorption during the first 60 days of cultivation. / Os solos de terra firme do estado do Amazonas caracterizam-se por apresentar pH e Al3+ em níveis que limitam o bom rendimento das culturas. Objetivouse com o presente estudo, avaliar as modificações químicas nos solos em função da adição de diferentes níveis de calcário e estimar quantidades necessárias de corretivo para atingir pH agricultável. Utilizou-se um delineamento em blocos inteiramente casualizados, com três repetições. Os tratamentos foram constituídos de um fatorial 3 x 7, combinando três classes texturais (textura média, argilosa e muito argilosa) com sete doses de calcário (0; 1,0; 2,0; 4,0; 6,0; 8,0 e 10 t ha-1). Após 56 dias de incubação, determinaram-se os valores de pH em água, este foi plotado versus doses de calcário e ajustados a modelos de regressão polinomial, para determinar a quantidade de calcário necessária para atingir os valores de pH 5,5; 6,0 e 6,5. Nessa época, determinaram-se os teores de Al3+, Ca2+, Mg2+, K e H+Al e a partir desses valores calculou-se o índice de saturação por bases (V%). A eficiência da recomendação de calagem pelo método da curva de incubação foi avaliada em experimentos conduzidos em casa de vegetação por meio do efeito de diferentes doses de calcário na produção de MSPA e MSR nas culturas do milho e feijão. Os tratamentos foram dispostos em delineamento inteiramente casualizado num esquema fatorial 2 x 7, combinando dois solos (Argissolo e Latossolo) e sete doses de calcário (0; 1,0; 2,0; 4,0; 6,0; 8,0 e 10 t ha-1), com quatro repetições. Os dados de MSPA, MSR e conteúdo de P, K, Ca, Mg, Zn, Fe, Mn e Cu na parte aérea das plantas, foram ajustados a modelos de regressão e posteriormente estimadas as doses de calcário, correspondentes à MEE. Os solos estudados revelaram altos índices de significância com a necessidade de calcário para elevar o pH dos solos, sendo as doses de 0,3; 2,2 e 4,0; 2,6; 4,4 e 6,1; 2,2; 4,0 e 5,8 t ha-1 de calcário nos solos de textura média, argilosa e muito argilosa são recomendadas para atingirem o pH 5,5; 6,0 e 6,5, respectivamente. A recomendação de 1,5; 2,6 e 2,2 t ha-1 foi suficiente para reduzir o Al3+ e as doses de 3,7; 4,7 e 4,6 t ha-1 elevando a saturação por bases a níveis adequados para o desenvolvimento das culturas, correspondendo a pH em água em torno de 6,3; 6,0 e 6,5 nos solos de textura média, argilosa e muito argilosa, respectivamente. As quantidades de calcário correspondente ao máximo rendimento econômico de MSPA e MSR tanto no milho quanto no feijão aproximam-se da quantidade recomendada pelo método da curva de incubação necessária para atingir o pH aceitáveis para cultivo e essas doses não reduziram abaixo do teor de deficiência a absorção durante os 60 dias de cultivo.

<p>The main objectives of this thesis are to study if a topographic wetness index (TWI) could be used as a tool for predicting the spatial distribution of vascular plant species richness in the boreal forest as well as to study congruence in species richness between vascular plants, liverworts, mosses and lichens. A wetness index ln(a/tanβ) based on topography was used to assign a specific TWI-value to every 20 x 20m grid in two 25 km2 boreal forest landscapes (differing in average soil pH) in northern Sweden. Soil pH is known to be influenced by groundwater and to affect plant species richness in other biomes. Therefore, the relationships between plant species richness, TWI and soil pH were also studied. </p><p>The results showed that the majority of the investigated boreal forest landscapes were relatively dry and species-poor, whereas interspersed patches linked to areas with relatively high TWI had species-rich vegetation including the species of the drier parts of the landscape. There was a positive relationship between species richness of vascular plants and the TWI in both landscapes, but varied with average soil pH. TWI explained 30 % and 52 % of the variation in plant species richness in the landscape with lower and higher pH, respectively. The proportion of regionally uncommon plants also increased with TWI. Testing different calculation methods of the TWI resulted in a large variation in correlation strengths between the various TWI-values and different measured variables (species richness of vascular plants, soil pH, groundwater flow and soil moisture). The relationship between plant species richness and TWI could be further improved with some of the calculation methods. </p><p>When studying correlations in species richness using data sets from boreal forest in northern Sweden, strong positive correlations among vascular plants, mosses and liverworts were found, but no significant correlation between macrolichens and any of the other groups. This result could be explained by that the species number of each of the three related groups increases with ambient moisture, whereas the species number of macrolichens is weakly associated with moisture. </p><p>In conclusion, the TWI could become a useful tool in conservation management for identifying areas of special interest prior to field inventories. Since vascular plants can be used as an indicator taxon for species richness of mosses and liverworts, high TWI-values indicate areas of species hotspots of these taxa.</p> / <p>Syftet med avhandlingen är att dels studera om ett topografiskt fuktighetsindex skulle kunna vara användbart för att förutsäga fördelningen av kärlväxters artrikedom i boreal skog, dels att studera om den rumsliga fördelningen av artrikedom hos kärlväxter, blad- och levermossor samt lavar sammanfaller.</p><p>Ett fuktighetsindex, ln(a/tanβ), som bara är baserat på topografi användes för att beräkna ett indexvärde för varje 20 x 20 m grid i två 25 km2 stora boreala skogslandskap (med i medeltal olika mark-pH) i norra Sverige. Det är känt att mark-pH påverkas av grundvatten och att pH i sin tur påverkar artrikedom hos kärlväxter i andra biom. Därför studerades även sambanden mellan kärlväxters artrikedom, mark pH och TWI.</p><p>Resultaten visade att större delen av det studerade boreala landskapet var relativt torrt och artfattigt, medan mindre utspridda områden med höga TWI-värden var artrika på kärlväxter och här växte även arter som återfanns i de torra delarna av skogen. Sambandet mellan artrikedom hos kärlväxter och TWI var positivt i båda landskapen, men påverkades av de olika nivåerna på mark-pH. TWI förklarade 30 % av variationen i artrikedom i området med lägre mark-pH respektive 50 % i området med högre mark-pH. Andelen kärlväxter som klassificeras som icke vanliga i respektive region ökade också med TWI. Med andra beräkningsmetoder för TWI visade det sig att styrkan på korrelationerna mellan TWI och olika uppmätta variabler (artrikedom hos kärlväxter, mark-pH, grundvattennivå och markfuktighet) varierade mycket. Sambandet mellan artrikedom hos kärlväxter och TWI kunde förbättras ytterligare med vissa beräkningsmetoder.</p><p>Då korrelationer i artrikedom studerades användes ett dataset från boreal skog i norra Sverige. Resultaten visade på starka, positiva korrelationer mellan kärlväxter, blad- och levermossor, men inga korrelationer mellan någon av dessa grupper och lavar. Detta kunde förklaras med att artrikedom hos de tre korrelerande organismgrupperna ökar med ökad fuktighet, medan artrikedom hos lavar inte är kopplat till fukt.</p><p>Huvudslutsatsen i avhandlingen är att TWI, som endast är baserad på topograpfiskt data, skulle kunna bli ett värdefullt redskap i naturvårdsplanering för att identifiera särskilt intressanta skogsområden innan man gör fältinventeringar. Eftersom studien visar att kärlväxter kan användas som en indikator grupp för artrikedom hos blad- och levermossor indikerar höga TWI-värden områden med hög artrikedom även vad gäller dessa taxa.</p>