Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Large landscapes'

Until the last half century, land development patterns in the Intermountain West were designed after the Mormon settlement pattern. With its gridiron streets and in-town farmsteads, this pattern gave families the opportunity to grow crops and raise a few animals on their one acre or less in town with the added advantage of having a social life. Over the last century, small farms have dwindled and large farms have increased in size. However, in the Intermountain West the farmstead tradition continues with families who grow gardens and raise animals on their large city lots, who value self-sufficiency, and who thrive in wide open spaces. To better understand the land uses and preferences of this population, a research survey was mailed to a sample pool of residents of Cache Valley, Utah who live on large lots with animal rights. They contributed an array of data about their backgrounds and how they are specifically using their land. Their responses validated the existence of a continued agrarian culture and gave insight on how they felt about trends in conservation subdivisions and common open space. A range of opinions about ideal lot size supported rural planners' suggestions to develop lots of varying sizes to meet the needs of a diverse population. Small farms on large lots can be a valuable part of a sustainable urban and rural environment. Local vegetables and agricultural products bring nature and natural processes back to an urban setting and reduce the environmental footprint imposed by extensive shipping. Culturally, small farmers provide a connection to the past and fulfill a lifestyle choice for a rural-minded population. Particularly in the Intermountain West, planners need to integrate these small farms into their developments to preserve the rural character of towns and cities of the region.

Pocs incendis grans i destructius representen els impactes més negatius en els valors socioeconòmics i naturals de les zones mediterrànies. Com a conseqüència de l’augment de l’acumulació de biomassa en els paisatges culturals prèviament elaborats, aquests esdeveniments no característics que es produeixen en condicions meteorològiques extremes són resistents als esforços de supressió a causa de les brases massives de dutxa, les intensitats de foc aclaparadores i les taxes d’expansió molt elevades. D'altra banda, l'augment de les àrees d'interfície de zones silvestres-urbanes representa un factor condicionant que exigeix protecció i augmenta substancialment la complexitat de la gestió d'emergències. Les polítiques de prevenció d’ignició i de supressió d’incendis només resulten ineficaces per mitigar les pèrdues dels focs contemporanis. En aquesta tesi he implementat un marc analític a escala múltiple per informar sobre la presa de decisions d’una estratègia de gestió de riscos d’incendis forestals amb l'objectiu de crear paisatges resistents al foc, restaurar el règim de foc cultural, donar suport a la supressió d’incendis segura i eficient i crear comunitats adaptades al foc. En descompondre el risc d'incendis forestals en els principals factors causals a les escales relacionades amb les capacitats de gestió dels diferents agents, des dels propietaris individuals fins als governs regionals, aquesta tesi intenta proporcionar una solució integral per aconseguir aquests objectius bàsics a mig termini a la Unió Europea del sud regions. Es va implementar un model de simulació contra incendis per obtenir els factors causals de risc requerits o els indicadors d’exposició. La propagació del foc i el comportament en grans àrees es van modelar tenint en compte els règims de bombers variables en termes d’estacionalitat, gran nombre de focs i distribució espacial. Les relacions de susceptibilitat definides per experts o models de mortalitat es van utilitzar per avaluar els efectes de foc com a possibles pèrdues econòmiques en valors de risc. A més, vam utilitzar una anàlisi de transmissió per definir els incendis de la comunitat i avaluar l'intercanvi de foc entre els municipis veïns. La gestió de combustibles és la principal estratègia de mitigació de riscos d'incendis forestals a escala paisatgística i s'han utilitzat models d'optimització espacial per ajudar en el disseny del tractament del paisatge estratègic i explorar les oportunitats de col·locació sota restriccions pressupostàries. Els resultats es van proporcionar a les escales operatives adequades per informar de diferents estratègies de gestió d’incendis forestals. Els perfils d’exposició i l’avaluació de riscos a escales finals per a les estructures d’habitatges individuals i els valors dels boscos de fustes intenten promoure la participació dels propietaris i exigir les bones pràctiques dels gestors forestals amb l'objectiu de mitigar les pèrdues derivades dels incendis en el mateix lloc (unitats de tractament) i les terres veïnes. Els esforços de gestió dins de les àrees de planificació articulats com a projectes de planificació col·laborativa entre diversos agents socioeconòmics inclouen tractaments sobre el combustible del paisatge en llocs estratègics que redueixen la probabilitat general d’incendis forestals i la intensitat del foc, la planificació del paisatge per excloure àrees perilloses per al desenvolupament urbà, la preparació de la comunitat reduint la vulnerabilitat social i les ordenances del municipi a reduir la vulnerabilitat de l’habitatge. La producció conjunta de tractaments representa una oportunitat en ecosistemes forestals mediterranis multifuncionals per organitzar solucions complexes. La formulació de polítiques a escala regional dóna prioritat a nivell municipal a les diferents estratègies de gestió, com ara programes de prevenció d'ignició, pre-posicionament de recursos, assignació de subvencions per a tractaments de combustible i aplicació de la llei per a la gestió de combustibles en comunitats d'interfície de zones silvestres-urbanes amb major risc. Els diferents treballs es van desenvolupar en diverses àrees mediterrànies per ressaltar l'aplicabilitat del marc en altres llocs.
Pocos incendios grandes y destructivos representan la mayoría de los impactos negativos sobre los valores socioeconómicos y naturales en las áreas mediterráneas. Como resultado de la creciente acumulación de biomasa en los paisajes culturales que antes eran de grano fino, estos eventos no característicos que ocurren en condiciones climáticas extremas son resistentes a los esfuerzos de supresión debidos a las brasas de lluvia masiva, las intensidades de fuego abrumadoras y las tasas de propagación muy altas. Además, el aumento de las áreas de interfaz urbano-forestal representa un factor de condicionamiento que exige protección y aumenta sustancialmente la complejidad de la gestión de emergencias. Las políticas de prevención de ignición y extinción de incendios por sí solas resultan ineficaces para mitigar las pérdidas de incendios contemporáneos. En esta Tesis, implementé un marco analítico de múltiples escalas para informar la toma de decisiones de una estrategia de gestión de riesgos de incendios forestales con el objetivo de crear paisajes resistentes a incendios, restaurar el régimen cultural de incendios, apoyar la supresión segura y eficiente de incendios y crear comunidades adaptadas a incendios. Al disolver el riesgo de incendios forestales en los principales factores causales en escalas relacionadas con las capacidades de gestión de los diferentes agentes, desde los propietarios individuales hasta los gobiernos regionales, esta tesis intenta ofrecer una solución integral para lograr esos objetivos centrales a medio plazo en el sur de la Unión Europea regiones. Se implementó un enfoque de modelado de simulación de incendios para obtener los factores causales de riesgo requeridos o las métricas de exposición. La propagación y el comportamiento de los incendios en grandes áreas se modelaron teniendo en cuenta los regímenes de incendios variables en términos de estacionalidad, gran número de incendios y distribución espacial. Las relaciones de susceptibilidad definidas por los expertos o los modelos de mortalidad se utilizaron para evaluar los efectos del fuego como posibles pérdidas económicas a valores en riesgo. Además, utilizamos un análisis de transmisión para delimitar las cuencas comunitarias y evaluar el intercambio de incendios entre los municipios vecinos. La gestión de combustibles es la principal estrategia de mitigación del riesgo de incendios forestales a escala del paisaje, y se utilizaron modelos de optimización espacial para ayudar en el diseño estratégico del tratamiento del paisaje y explorar oportunidades de colocación bajo restricciones presupuestarias. Los resultados se proporcionaron en escalas operativas apropiadas para informar diferentes estrategias de manejo de incendios forestales. Los perfiles de exposición y la evaluación del riesgo a escalas finas para las estructuras de viviendas individuales y los valores forestales de los bosques de madera intentan promover la participación de los propietarios y demandan las buenas prácticas de los administradores forestales con el objetivo de mitigar las pérdidas por incendios encendidos en el mismo sitio (unidades de tratamiento) y las tierras vecinas. Los esfuerzos de gestión dentro de las áreas de planificación articulados como proyectos de planificación colaborativa entre diversos agentes socioeconómicos incluyen tratamientos de combustible de paisaje en lugares estratégicos que reducen la probabilidad general de incendios forestales y la intensidad de incendios, la planificación del paisaje para excluir áreas peligrosas para el desarrollo urbano, la preparación de la comunidad para reducir la vulnerabilidad social y las ordenanzas municipales para reducir la vulnerabilidad de la vivienda. El tratamiento conjunto de la producción representa una oportunidad en los ecosistemas forestales mediterráneos multifuncionales para organizar soluciones complejas. La formulación de políticas a escala regional prioriza a nivel municipal las diferentes estrategias de manejo, como los programas de prevención de ignición, el posicionamiento previo de recursos de supresión, la asignación de subsidios para tratamientos de combustible y la aplicación de la ley para el manejo de combustibles en comunidades de interfaz urbano-forestal en mayor riesgo. Los diferentes documentos se desarrollaron en varias áreas mediterráneas para resaltar la aplicabilidad del marco en otros lugares.
Few large and destructive fires account for most negative impacts on socioeconomic and natural values in Mediterranean areas. As a result of an increasing amount of biomass accumulation on the previously fine-grained cultural landscapes, these uncharacteristic events occurring under extreme weather conditions are resistant to suppression efforts due to massive showering embers, overwhelming fire intensities, and very high spread rates. Moreover, increasing wildland-urban interface areas represent a conditioning factor demanding protection and substantially increasing emergency management complexity. Ignition prevention and fire suppression policies alone result ineffective to mitigate losses from contemporary fires. In this Thesis I implemented a multiple-scale analytical framework to inform the decision-making of a wildfire risk management strategy aiming at creating fire resilient landscapes, restoring the cultural fire regime, supporting safe and efficient fire suppression, and creating fire-adapted communities. By decomposing wildfire risk into the main causative factors at scales related to management capabilities for the different agents, from the individual homeowners to Regional Governments, this dissertation attempts to provide a comprehensive solution to achieve those core goals on the mid-term in southern European Union regions. A fire simulation modeling approach was implemented to obtain the required risk causative factors or exposure metrics. Fire spread and behavior in large areas were modeled accounting for variable fire regimes in terms of seasonality, large fire number, and spatial distribution. Expert-defined susceptibility relations or mortality models were then used to assess fire effects as potential economic losses to values at risk. Moreover, we used a transmission analysis to delineate community firesheds and assess fire exchange among neighboring municipalities. Fuels management is the main wildfire risk mitigation strategy at the landscape scale, and spatial optimization models were used to help in strategic landscape treatment design and explore collocation opportunities under budgetary restrictions. Results were provided at appropriate operational scales to inform different wildfire management strategies. Exposure profiles and risk assessment at fine scales for individual housing structures and timber stand forest values attempt to promote homeowners’ involvement and demand forest managers’ good practices aiming at mitigating losses from fires ignited on the same site (treatment units) and the neighboring lands. Management efforts within Planning Areas articulated as collaborative planning projects among various socioeconomic agents include landscape fuel treatments on strategic locations reducing overall wildfire likelihood and fire intensity, landscape planning to exclude hazardous areas for the urban development, community preparedness reducing social vulnerability, and municipality ordinances to reduce housing vulnerability. Treatment joint-production represents an opportunity in multi-functional Mediterranean forest ecosystems to arrange complex solutions. Regional scale policy-making prioritizes at municipality level the different management strategies such as ignition prevention programs, suppression resource pre-positioning, assignation of subsidies for fuel treatments, and law enforcement for managing fuels in wildland-urban interface communities at highest risk. The different papers were developed in various Mediterranean areas to highlight the applicability of the framework elsewhere.

These four presentations were prepared for the Society for Applied Anthropology's annual meeting in March 2013 in Denver, CO. These presentations present findings from the Solar PEIS Native American ethnographic study.
The United States government is considering areas in the five states for the large-scale solar energy development. These solar energy zones (SEZs) contain important Native American resources ranging from traditional use plants, healing places, and trail networks. During the environmental impact assessment, Numic-speaking peoples shared with University of Arizona ethnographers their thoughts regarding cultural uses of the SEZ and associated resources and potential impacts. This session focuses on unique cultural resources and the cultural implications of solar energy development.

The flood of 2000 caused extensive changes within the riparian landscape of the Sabie River, Kruger National Park (KNP). Changes within the riparian landscape and the removal of vegetation resulted in considerable changes in riparian vegetation characteristics. Open patches created by the flood served as a template for the establishment of new species and the regeneration of existing species, which consequently resulted in a patch mosaic. This memorable event encouraged an investigation into the response of the Sabie River ecosystem to the memorable Large Infrequent Disturbance (LID). Riparian ecosystems are driven by varying combinations of environmental factors, such as water availability, disturbance, herbivory, fire and river morphology. This complexity depicts unique vegetation structure and assemblages of associated plant species. The lack of sufficient knowledge on the role of riparian vegetation in the health assessment of surrounding ecosystems along semi-arid rivers prompted the establishment of the Kruger Rivers Post Flood Research Program (KRPFRP). Research conducted through this monitoring program four years after the 2000 flood, revealed no significant changes in the species composition, although the location and density of many common riparian species have been changed. There was a decrease in species density across the macro channel floor (MCF) and an increase in species density across the macro channel bank (MCB). Furthermore, it was reported that the flood altered the distribution of height classes across the macro channel. In general the riparian vegetation was shorter and bushier four years post-flood. These studies furthermore illustrated that the tree to shrub ratio did not change drastically from pre-flood conditions, although a decrease in the number of shrub individuals was reported. The research presented in this dissertation was designed to further explore changes in woody species composition and structure along the Sabie River, KNP at a post flood temporal interval, i.e. between the last survey in 2004 (by the KRPFRP) and 2010. For data compatibility, the sampling and analytical approach of this study conforms to the approach followed by the KRPFRP. Data were sampled within four preselected belt-transects that form part of the larger KRPFRP. All established woody individuals were counted and measured within each contiguous 10 m x 30 m plot within each of the four belt-transects. Log transformed species composition data were analysed through the application of the Bray Curtis dissimilarity index in combination with Ward’s method of clustering. Statistical significant differences between clusters were tested through the application of the Fisher’s exact relationship test. The MIXED Procedure or PROC MIXED model was used to investigate change within the vegetation structural data. Results obtained through the various analytical methods broadly support the findings of the KRPFRP. No significant change in woody species composition could be detected between 2004 and 2010. However, a change in the density (increase and decrease) of certain species across the MCB and MCF was revealed. Species richness and density increased significantly on the MCF oppose to small changes on the MCB. A significant increase in the total number of shrubs on the MCF contributed to an overall increase in woody density for the entire study area between 2004 and 2010. Shrubs therefore remained the most dominant growth form in both sampling years. Trees decreased across the MCB although the total number of established trees remained unchanged between 2004 and 2010. Riparian vegetation structure is directly linked to species assemblages, hence the continued dominance of shrub species along the Sabie River in the KNP The Sabie River riparian landscape is therefore still characterised by short and multi-stemmed woody individuals ten years after the LID.
Thesis (MSc (Environmental Sciences))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

In spite tropical forests are the most important terrestrial global carbon sinks due to carbon storage in aboveground biomass, it is also the primary target of deforestation. The conversion of Tropical forests into anthropogenic areas might disrupt biological flux and also lead to severe microclimatic changes at forest edges. These combined effects can trigger profound changes in plant composition through both high mortality of fragmentation-sensitive species and proliferation of disturbed-adapted species which will ultimately impacts carbon storage. Thus, our main objective in this study was understand the role of human-induced disturbances in modulate the dimension of biomass loss at tropical forests. We applied a systematic literature review searching for empirical evidences that edge effects can drive biomass loss in tropical forests (Chapter 2). Our findings highlighted the gap of knowledge about the pattern and process related to biomass loss in tropical forests. To strengthen this understanding, we formulated a conceptual model linking landscape structure and patch-level attributes to severity of edge effects affecting aboveground biomass. Our model hypothesizes that habitat amount, isolation, time since edge creation, and the synergism between edge distance, patch size, and matrix type are the main drivers of biomass loss in anthropogenic tropical forests. We thus used a large plant dataset (18 503 trees ≥ 10 cm dbh) from 146 sites distributed across four Mexican and four Brazilian rainforest regions to test our conceptual model predictions, specifically the influence of forest cover, site isolation, edge distance, patch size and type of matrix on biomass (Chapter 3). We observed that carbon-rich sites presented species that are typical of old-growth forests (shade-tolerant, large-seeded, zoocoric) contrasting to carbon-poor sites composed by disturbed-adapted species (pioneer occupying the understory). Large shade-tolerant trees (≥ 40 cm dbh) were impacted severely by the combination of forest loss and edge effects. Edge distance, patch size, and the amount of open-matrix strongly influence small shade-tolerant trees (≤ 20 cm dbh). Although our results do not fully corroborate the initial predictions of the conceptual model, they support the idea that landscape composition interact with patch structure and ultimately impacts biomass stocks in fragmented tropical forests. Finally, we further investigated if the disturbance level of the region influences plant-structure responses to forest loss (Chapter 4). Biomass, but not plant density, was affected by forest loss in regions with intermediate disturbance levels, i.e. regions showing a combination of moderate deforestation (20-40% of remaining forest cover) disturbed during the past 30-60 years, high defaunation but harboring relictual populations of large-mammals, and areas mostly composed by heterogeneous matrices. In general, our findings highlight that both landscape composition and patch structure are the main drivers of biomass loss in Neotropical forests, and that the landscape context must be considered to obtain more reliable estimations of carbon emissions due to forest degradation. Landscape planning (e.g. restoration of forest cover) should be included in conservation strategies in order to sustain carbon storage. Moreover, we advocate that conservation initiatives will be less costly and more effective if implemented in areas under intermediate disturbance levels
Apesar das florestas tropicais serem a mais importante fonte mundial de carbono da porção terrestre do globo devido ao armazenamento de carbono na biomassa acima do solo, elas são também o alvo primário do desmatamento. A conversão das florestas Tropicais em áreas antropogênicas pode interromper o fluxo biológico e também levar a severas mudanças microclimáticas na borda dos fragmentos. A combinação desses efeitos pode engatilhar profundas mudanças na composição da vegetação através tanto da mortalidade de espécies sensíveis à fragmentação como também pela proliferação de espécies adaptadas distúrbios, com impactos finais nos estoques de carbono. Assim, o maior objetivo desse estudo foi compreender o papel dos distúrbios induzidos pelo homem na modulação da dimensão da perda de biomassa em florestas Tropicais. Nós aplicamos uma revisão sistemática da literatura procurando por evidências empíricas de que o efeito de borda pode levar a perda de biomassa em florestas tropicais (Capítulo 2). Nossos resultados destacam a lacuna de conhecimento entre padrões e processos relacionados à perda de biomassa em florestas Tropicais. Para fortalecer esse conhecimento, nós formulamos um modelo conceitual conectando estrutura da paisagem e atributos na escala do fragmento à severidade do efeito de borda, e assim afetando a biomassa acima do solo. Nosso modelo hipotetiza que a quantidade de hábitat, o isolamento, o tempo desde a formação da borda e o sinergismo entre tamanho do fragmento, distância da borda e tipo de matriz são os principais condutores de perda de biomassa em florestas Tropicais antropogênicas. Utilizando um grande banco de dados (18 503 árvores ≥ 10 cm dap) provenientes de 146 locais distribuídos em quatro regiões de floresta úmida no México e quatro no Brasil, nós então testamos as predições do nosso modelo conceitual. Especificamente, a influência da cobertura florestal, isolamento, distância da borda, tamanho do fragmento e tipo de matriz sobre a biomassa (Capítulo 3). Nós observamos que áreas com muito carbono apresentaram espécies típicas de florestas maduras (tolerantes ao sombreamento, zoocóricas, com sementes grandes) contrastando com áreas com pouco carbono compostas por espécies adaptadas à distúrbio (pioneiras ocupando o sub-bosque). Árvores grandes tolerantes ao sombreamento (≥ 40 cm dap) foram impactadas severamente pela combinação de perda de cobertura florestal e efeitos de borda. Distância da borda, tamanho do fragmento e a extensão da área de matriz aberta influenciaram fortemente as árvores pequenas tolerantes a sombreamento (≤ 20 cm dap). Apesar dos nossos resultados não corroborarem completamente as predições iniciais do nosso modelo conceitual, eles dão suporte à ideia de que a composição da paisagem interage com a estrutura do fragmento com impactos finais nos estoques de biomassa em florestas Neotropicais. Por fim, nós investigamos se o nível de distúrbio da região pode influenciar nas respostas da estrutura da vegetação à perda de cobertura florestal. Biomassa, mas não a densidade de indivíduos, foi afetada pela perda de cobertura florestal em regiões com nível intermediário de distúrbio, i.e. regiões apresentando uma combinação de níveis moderados de desmatamento (20-40% de cobertura florestal remanescente) em que a perturbação ocorreu ao longo dos últimos 30-60 anos, com alto grau de defaunação mas ainda abrigando populações relictuais de grandes mamíferos e, em sua maioria, compostos por uma matriz heterogênea. Em geral, nossos resultados destacaram que tanto a composição da paisagem como a estrutura do fragmento são os principais condutores de perda de biomassa em florestas Neotropicais e que o contexto da paisagem deve ser considerado para se obter estimativas mais confiáveis de emissão de carbono devido à degradação florestal. O planejamento da paisagem (e.g. restauração da cobertura florestal) deve ser incluído em estratégias de conservação em ordem de sustentar o armazenamento de carbono. Além disso, nós defendemos que iniciativas de conservação serão menos custosas e mais efetivas se implementadas em áreas sob níveis intermediários de distúrbio

xvi, 136 p. : ill. (some col.) A print copy of this thesis is available through the UO Libraries. Search the library catalog for the location and call number.
This dissertation discusses the contribution of deep-seated landslides and earthflows to the morphology, erosion, and evolution of mountainous landscapes, focusing on the northern California Coast Ranges. In active landscapes, channel incision is necessary to create relief but also increases stresses in adjacent hillslopes, ultimately leading to slope failure. While conceptually simple, the spatial relationships between channel incision and landsliding have not been well quantified. Along the South Fork Eel River, I mapped the distribution of deep-seated landslides using light detection and ranging (LiDAR) derived maps. Landslide density increases in regions subject to late Pleistocene-Holocene channel incision and particularly in response to lateral incision at the apex of meander bends. Wavelet analysis of channel sinuosity reveals hillslopes are most sensitive to meander wavelengths of 1.5 km. Argillaceous lithology generates abundant earthflow activity along the main stem Eel River, yet spatial and temporal patterns of earthflow movement are poorly understood. I undertook a detailed study of the Kekawaka Earthflow using LiDAR, meteoric 10 Be in soil, orthorectified historical aerial photographs, and field surveys. Inventories of 10 Be in soil pits increase systematically downslope, indicate an average movement rate of 2.1 ± 1.3 m/a over the past 150 years, and establish a minimum earthflow age of 1700 years. The Kekawaka earthflow has a systematic history of movement, both spatially, with greatest movement in the narrow transport zone, and temporally, as velocities peaked in the 1960's and have slowed since 1981. I used LiDAR and aerial photographs to map earthflow movement and calculate sediment flux across 226 km 2 of the main stem Eel River. From 1944-2006, 7.3% of the study area was active, and earthflows account for an erosion rate of 0.53 ± 0.04 mm/a, over half the regional average sediment yield. Velocity time series on 17 earthflows suggest temporal earthflow behavior is influenced by decadal-scale changes in precipitation, temperature, and river discharge, although local topographic factors can overwhelm this climatic signal. When active, earthflows erode an order of magnitude faster than surrounding terrain; however, source supply limitations appear to govern long- term earthflow evolution. This dissertation includes previously published coauthored material.
Committee in charge: Joshua Roering, Chairperson, Geological Sciences; Ilya Bindeman, Member, Geological Sciences; Dean Livelybrooks, Member, Physics; Ray Weldon, Member, Geological Sciences; W. Andrew Marcus, Outside Member, Geography

Suitable habitat for large terrestrial animals is declining worldwide and protected areas provide viable habitat for these species. However, human disturbances can make potential habitat less suitable for species of concern, and can cause extirpation or even extinction. Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique experienced the loss of nearly all of its large grazing herbivores causing a shift from short, nutritious grasses to low-quality grass. The objectives of this study are twofold (1) to determine the drivers of resource selection by reintroduced blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) and African buffalo (Synercus caffer) to an altered system with low herbivore abundances and minimal risk of predation; (2) to identify the mechanisms by which these two species select resources on the patch scale by the creation of artificial grazing lawns. I performed AIC model selection on a suite of predictor variables to identify important factors driving resource selection on multiple spatial scales across three seasons. Next, I experimentally tested the effects of a mowing treatment on patch use by the two species to elucidate the interactions between grass clipping, soil and grass nutrients, and herbivore use. The findings of this study identify three major trends in resource selection by both species. First, wildebeest selected short, protein-rich grass patches during all seasons when available while buffalo utilized these patches predominantly during the early dry season when other resources are scarce. Second, open (low-tree cover) areas and proximity to water were secondary factors that determined wildebeest resource selection. Third, morphological adaptations allowed buffalo to feed on tall or short grasses depending on resource requirements; grass height was not a significant factor in resource selection. In the wet season, when resources were abundant, buffalo choice was driven by the composition of grass species. During the late dry season, buffalo chose unmowed salt plain vegetation in previously burned areas which had high percent grass greenness. These trends indicate that the establishment of short, productive grazing lawns would be highly beneficial for wildebeest during all seasons while a diversity of grass patch heights, grass species, vegetation types, and burning regimes would benefit buffalo.

As the University of Arizona Campus continues to grow, change and expand, automobile parking in and around Campus becomes increasingly scarce. As a result of this growth, bicycling to and around Campus may become the more convenient mode of transportation and can be expected to increase. This poses new problems of safety and efficiency relating to commuting to Campus on a daily basis by bicycle. Currently, Campus does not have a comprehensive plan for bicycle parking facilities. The purpose of this thesis was to evaluate existing data and site conditions and produce a comprehensive bicycle parking plan predominantly based on building capacity, building use, and circulation routes. From this plan, five parking clusters were identified and a prototype of a facility designed. Results from the study suggested that current bicycle parking allotments were not positively associated with high building use and capacity.

Rivers around the world are under increasing pressure from a variety of human activities. Effective management of riverine landscapes requires an ecosystem approach and one that recognises the complex interactions between their physical, chemical and biological components. Perceptions of pattern and process are central to our understanding of riverine landscapes. Pattern and process operate over multiple scales to produce heterogeneous mosaics of landscape patches that change over time. Hierarchical patch dynamics provides a useful approach to unravel pattern and process at multiple scales in riverine landscapes. This thesis adopts a hierarchical patch dynamics approach to investigate floodplain sediment and nutrient dynamics within the Barwon-Darling River in South Eastern Australia. The flow regime of the Barwon-Darling River is highly variable. As a result, it has a complex channel cross section featuring inset-floodplain surfaces that occur at multiple elevations within the channel trough. These surfaces formed the focus of this study. The texture of inset- floodplain surface sediments displays a patchy spatial distribution and one that did not reflect lateral or longitudinal gradients within this floodplain landscape. Rather a sediment textural patch mosaic was identified. Nutrient concentrations associated with the surface sediments of the inset-floodplains were also shown to vary significantly resulting in a nutrient patch mosaic. This spatial nutrient mosaic was enhanced by factors including the surface elevation of the floodplain surface. Sediment and nutrient exchange between the river channel and inset-floodplain surfaces was measured during several flows in 2001, 2002 and 2005. Pin and sediment trap data showed that significant quantities of sediment were exchanged between the river channel and floodplain surfaces during inundation with both cut and fill processes occurring. Patterns in sediment exchange appear to be related to local sediment supply and seasonal sediment exhaustion, rather than the top down geomorphic constraints considered. These material exchanges resulted in a change to the spatial configuration of the sediment textural patch mosaic. Distinct new sediment textural patches were created following inundation, while other patches were lost post inundation and other patches changed sediment textural character to move into pre-existing patches. Thus a truly dynamic sediment textural mosaic exists within this floodplain landscape. Nutrient concentrations associated with floodplain sediments also changed over time. While nutrient concentrations increased after the December 2001 flow event, they generally decreased after the March 2002 event, highlighting their dynamic nature over time. The spatial distribution of nutrient concentrations also varied over time, with a 40 percent change to the nutrient mosaic as a result of the March 2002 flow event. In addition to the influence of the changing physical template (sediment texture mosaic), nutrient concentrations were shown to be influenced by rainfall processes on non flooded surfaces, and also a number of top-down constraints and bottom-up influences operating over multiple spatial scales. Overall, the inset-floodplains studied in this thesis acted primarily as sediment and nutrient sinks, and were a source for dissolved nutrients. Nutrient exchange was associated with the exchange of sediments in this riverine landscape, over both inter-flow and decadal timescales. It was demonstrated that water resource development within the catchment reduced the number, magnitude and duration of flow events down the Barwon-Darling River and as a result reductions in the exchange of sediment, associated and dissolved nutrients between inset-floodplains and the main river channel were calculated. The greatest reductions were with the release of dissolved nutrients (42-25 percent) and the exchange of sediment and associated nutrients from high level surfaces (43 percent). Effective conservation and management of riverine ecosystems must occur at the correct scale. This study identified potential nutrient hotspots at several scales in the Barwon-Darling floodplain landscape that could be targeted by management. The low predictability of the location of nutrient hotspots at the inset-floodplain scale over time means that environmental flows should be targeted at high level surfaces (<25 000 MLD-1) that provide long term sources of carbon to the river channel. Conserving flows of this magnitude will also reinstate flow variability, an important facet of the Barwon-Darling River?s hydrology that has been changed by water resource development. The research presented in this thesis highlights the importance of not only considering pattern and process at multiple scales, but also the way in which these processes influence landscape patterns over time, leading to the identification of the appropriate scales that can best be targeted for the conservation of these systems.

Cougars (Puma concolor) have been recolonizing Midwestern North America over the past 2 decades with >950 cougar confirmations east of established populations. Management and public interest in habitat suitability and connectivity east of current cougar range have grown as confirmations increase and models predicting habitat connectivity and population viability for the Midwest show potential for breeding populations. However, although long-range dispersal and recolonization continues, no studies have assessed potential habitat associated with cougars throughout their historical range in eastern North America. I used ArcGIS, the Analytical Hierarchy Process, and geospatial data to model cougar habitat and potential dispersal corridors in eastern North America. The total amount of potential habitat was >2,400,000 km2 and mean patch size was 257,500 km2. Patches of habitat ranged in size from 3,868 km2 (Ozark Mountains) to >2,490,850 km2 (central and eastern Canada) with ≤53,643 km of dispersal corridors connecting patches. With cougars potentially recolonizing areas previously devoid of large carnivores, public acceptance of management efforts is pivotal for the success of their recolonization. However, targeted surveys assessing public perceptions and knowledge of cougars and red wolves (Canis rufus), who have faced similar extirpation in the Southeastern United States are limited. I mailed 20,000 questionnaires and 2,000 follow-up postcards to residents near areas of potential red wolf and cougar habitat in the Southeastern United States in 2020. I used cumulative link models to gauge the associations between sociodemographic predictor with respondent’s knowledge and attitude towards large carnivores. Total response rate was 4.6% with the majority of respondents identifying as male (53.6%), having a 4-year degree or above (54.1%), and 57 ± 16 (SE) years of age. Respondents’ knowledge and attitudes towards large carnivores were largely positive (≥63% positive) with higher education, older age, and current livestock ownership being largest predictors for responses. Attitudes towards red wolves were largely driven by knowledge of red wolves while attitudes towards cougars were primarily driven by livestock ownership. Livestock owners (71.5%) were concerned about safety of livestock in large carnivore habitat, and most respondents (61%) did not trust their local agency to effectively manage large carnivore populations. My research provides a foundation for wildlife managers to develop informed plans, educational programs, and policy decisions for potentially recolonizing large carnivore populations.

This work has contributed to the understanding of dominant runoff generation at the large catchment scale and to the understanding of the relationships between landscape properties and hydrological behaviour. The developed models were used to estimate the climate change impact on the hydrology in the study catchment. A multivariate geochemical tracer survey was carried out in North Esk catchment in north east Scotland. A generic typology was developed using multivariate statistical methods to characterise the hydrochemical tracer response. Upland headwater runoff was dominant downstream in winter and provided significant flows during base flow periods in summer. These insights were complemented by a conjunctive analysis of long-term river flow data and a one year stable isotope survey. Integrative metrics of transit times, hydrometric responses, and catchment characteristics were explored for relationships at the large catchment scale. The evaluation that the associated soils and bedrocks, themselves controlling the flow path distribution, have a strong influence on the integrated hydrological catchment response. The empirically-based understanding of dominant runoff generation processes in the North Esk uplands and lowlands were used in a stepwise rainfall-runoff model development. Tracers were directly incorporated to reduce structural and parameter uncertainty. The integration of tracers helped reduce parameter uncertainty. These tracer-aided models increased confidence for using them to explore the effects of environmental change. Climate change impacts in the catchment where explored by forcing the models with projected climate change forcing from the UK Climate Projections 2009. The results revealed landscape-specific changes in the hydrological response with increased summer drought risk in the lowlands and diminishing snow influence and increased winter floods in the uplands. The spatial integration mediated the extremes observed in the subcatchments.

Data Integration is currently an important and complex topic for many companies, because having a good and working Data Integration solution can bring multiple advantages over competitors. Data Integration is usually being executed in a form of a project, which might easily turn into failure. In order to decrease risks and negative impact of a failed Data Integration project, there needs to be good project management, Data Integration knowledge and the right technology in place. This thesis provides a framework for setting up a good Data Integration solution. The framework is developed based on the current theory, currently available Data Integration tools and opinions provided by experts working in the field for a minimum of 7+ years and have proven their skills with a successful Data Integration project. This thesis does not guarantee the development of the right Data Integration solution, but it does provide guidance how to deal with a Data Integration project in a large enterprise. This thesis is structured into seven chapters. The first chapter brings an overview about this thesis such as scope, goals, assumptions and expected value. The second chapter describes Data Management and basic Data Integration theory in order to distinguish these two topics and to explain the relationship between them. The third chapter is focused purely on Data Integration theory which should be known by everyone who participates in a Data Integration project. The fourth chapter analyses features of the current Data Integration solutions available on the market and provides an overview of the most common and necessary functionalities. Chapter five focuses on the practical part of this thesis, where the Data Integration framework is designed based on findings from previous chapters and interviews with experts in this field. Chapter six then applies the framework to a real working (anonymized) Data Integration solution, highlights the gap between the framework and the solution and provides guidance how to deal with the gaps. Chapter seven provides a resume, personal opinion and outlook.

The cairns on Gotland have been one of the most studied aspects regarding the Bronze Age on the island. Most attention has been directed to how they were built and to whom they belong. My study will focus on Ullviarrojr, which is a so-called crater cairn, and the area around the cairn. Ullviarrojr is among the few large cairns on the Island over 35 meter in diameter and the area around it show very few other archaeological remains. The closest ancient remains are around 400 metres away in an almost circle shape. By making a landscape analysis regarding the area around the cairn and an archive study I want to understand its relationship to the Bronze Age landscape. I have consulted unpublished works and made site visits and interviewed the current landowner to get an overview of if there are additional archaeological remains in the area of if remains have been destroyed and taken away. My study will provide some new information on an area that has not been examined in detail, which would help future studies to understand the cairns and the area around cairns.

There is limited research regarding amphibian distribution and status in rural upland habitats in Britain. Previous studies suggest potential influences on distribution and abundance arising from habitat modification and acidification. However, the extent to which these factors influence distribution at the landscape level is unclear. This study aimed to evaluate whether particular features of the aquatic and terrestrial habitat influence distribution and breeding ecology of common frogs (Rana temporaria L.) in rural upland areas. In particular, the extent to which aquatic and early terrestrial life-stages might be impacted upon by the quality of their respective habitats was investigated. Common frogs were found to be widespread and ubiquitous throughout the study area. No evidence was found to suggest that any specific biotic or abiotic feature of either the aquatic or terrestrial habitat significantly influenced distribution and relative abundance of breeding adults. However, reproductive success was found to be significantly impacted upon by acidity in coniferous and hilltop habitats. It is probable that juvenile recruitment at some ponds is chronically reduced and populations are maintained through immigration. Recruitment in improved habitats was highly variable between ponds and between years, although it was not possible to elucidate precise controls on larval populations in the natural habitats studied. Significant differences in physical condition at metamorphosis among wild populations were demonstrated. This may signify possible differences in future growth, life-fitness and dispersal ability between populations, or at least between natal ponds. Dispersal by new juveniles is potentially affected by the vegetation structure surrounding breeding ponds. Intra- and interspecific differences in behaviour regarding microhabitat use were demonstrated. Rural upland habitats can be valuable habitats for amphibians and the common frog in particular. However, further research is required to better understand rates of recruitment and immigration and how terrestrial habitats mediate juvenile survival and dispersal.

The large-footed myotis (Myotis macropus) is a specialist trawling bat that can be found roosting in concrete culverts under roads, throughout urban environments. This study used a multidisciplinary approach to investigate culvert roost selection and urban landscape use by a specialist species in a subtropical city. The foundational ecological information detailed in this thesis concerning culvert roost selection and availability, urban movement patterns and gene flow between culvert roosts, will assist in planning future urban conservation initiatives of this specialist bat.

Natural forest dynamics is a foundational topic of forest science. A new Wood Pasture hypothesis considering large herbivore as driving force in forest ecosystem is now challenging the traditional High Forest hypothesis, in which vegetation is regarded as main driving force. In this study, a model-based approach is applied to investigate differences between these two hypotheses and the determine factors in the system. A theoretical landscape of 1 km²formed by 100*100 cells is set up with 100 vegetation patches and free moving herbivores on. Our null hypothesis that herbivores make no difference in vegetation dynamics especially at canopy level is rejected. It is found that synchronization of herbivore behaviors is the most influencing factor of how a landscape might be shaped. It is also found that landscape could be a mosaic of both high forest and wood pasture depends on large herbivore’s herd size.

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The present work has been developed by the means of readings and analysis of theoretical and literary texts that articulate among each other promoting the discussion of elements like landscape, love and death represented in O Largo da Palma (2013), by Adonias Filho. Initially it will be presented a short summary of the author?s works that focus the tragic in their character?s lives. They are, Mem?rias de L?zaro (1961), Luanda, Beira, Bahia (1979), O Forte (1965) and As velhas (1982). The second part analyzes some thematic assumptions referring to landscape; the space and allegory, verifying how all the narratives develop in the allegoric space that expresses more than a simple metaphor. Next it highlights some reflections about the fusional love, the companionship and the loneliness, specifically in A mo?a dos p?ezinhos de queijo, O largo de branco e A pedra. Posteriorly it presents considerations about death in the narratives Um corpo sem nome, Um av? muito velho e Os enforcados. It will be observing how the characters behave in face of love and death, as well as how the experience of life favors the passage to resumption and maturation in the person?s wandering. It highlights yet the how the literature establishes a dialogue with historic factor and its relation with the fictional memory. The thematic cuttings highlighted were reasoned in the light of authors like Sergio Alves Peixto, Mir?lia Ramos Basto Marcelino, V?nia L?cia Menezes Torga, Maria Fernanda Arcanjo de Almeida e Benedito Jos? de Ara?jo Veiga, Leandro Konder, Andr? Comte-Sponvile, Fl?vio Gikovate, Maria J?lia kov?cs, Joel Candau, Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche, Juan-David Nasio, among others.
O presente trabalho foi desenvolvido por meio de leituras e an?lises de textos te?ricos e liter?rios que se articulam entre si promovendo a discuss?o de elementos da paisagem, do amor e da morte representados em O Largo da Palma (2013), de Adonias Filho. Inicialmente ser? apresentado um breve recorte de obras do autor que focalizam o tr?gico na vida de suas personagens. A saber, Mem?rias de L?zaro (1961), Luanda, Beira, Bahia (1979), O Forte (1965) e As velhas (1982). A segunda parte analisa alguns pressupostos tem?ticos referentes ? paisagem, espa?o e alegoria, verificando como todas as narrativas se desenvolvem neste espa?o aleg?rico que expressa mais do que uma simples met?fora. Em seguida destacamse algumas reflex?es sobre o amor fusional, o companheirismo e a solid?o especificamente em A mo?a dos p?ezinhos de queijo, O largo de branco e A pedra. Posteriormente apresenta-se considera??es sobre a morte nas narrativas Um corpo sem nome, Um av? muito velho e Os enforcados. Ser? observado como as personagens se comportam diante do amor e da morte, tamb?m como a experi?ncia de vida favorece passagem para recome?o e amadurecimento na caminhada do sujeito. Destaca-se ainda como a literatura estabelece di?logo com fatores hist?ricos e sua rela??o com a mem?ria ficcional. Os recortes tem?ticos destacados foram fundamentados ? luz de autores como Sergio Alves Peixoto, Mir?lia Ramos Basto Marcelino, V?nia L?cia Menezes Torga, Maria Fernanda Arcanjo de Almeida e Benedito Jos? de Ara?jo Veiga, Leandro Konder, Andr? Comte-Sponvile, Fl?vio Gikovate, Maria J?lia kov?cs, Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche, Juan-David Nasio, dentre outros.

(βα)8 TIM barrel proteins are one of the most common structural motifs found in biology. They have a complex folding free energy landscape that includes an initial off-pathway intermediate as well as two on-pathway intermediates. The formation of these intermediates is hypothesized to be driven by large clusters of the branched chain amino acids, isoleucine, leucine, and valine (ILV). All-atom MD simulations and circular dichroism experiments on polar mutants of the hydrophobic clusters of α-Trp synthase, a TIM barrel protein, revealed the importance of dehydrating the clusters on intermediate states. Custom, single-piece microfluidic chips were interfaced with small angle x-ray scattering and time resolved FRET experiments to monitor the role of a large ILV cluster on the microsecond timescale in a second TIM barrel protein, sIGPS. Dimensional analysis of the initial misfolded intermediate showed an ILV cluster was responsible for the initiation of structure in the intermediate. Early structure formation in the ILV cluster was confirmed by coarse grained simulations. Native state hydrogen exchange experiments were used to probe the higher energy species that are in equilibrium with the native state. Results from the NMR experiment complement the kinetic studies as the core of stability found by NMR mapped back to the same region of the ILV cluster that was found to initiate folding. When taken together, the results show the importance of hydrophobic clusters on the entire free energy surface of TIM barrel proteins.

(βα)8 TIM barrel proteins are one of the most common structural motifs found in biology. They have a complex folding free energy landscape that includes an initial off-pathway intermediate as well as two on-pathway intermediates. The formation of these intermediates is hypothesized to be driven by large clusters of the branched chain amino acids, isoleucine, leucine, and valine (ILV). All-atom MD simulations and circular dichroism experiments on polar mutants of the hydrophobic clusters of α-Trp synthase, a TIM barrel protein, revealed the importance of dehydrating the clusters on intermediate states. Custom, single-piece microfluidic chips were interfaced with small angle x-ray scattering and time resolved FRET experiments to monitor the role of a large ILV cluster on the microsecond timescale in a second TIM barrel protein, sIGPS. Dimensional analysis of the initial misfolded intermediate showed an ILV cluster was responsible for the initiation of structure in the intermediate. Early structure formation in the ILV cluster was confirmed by coarse grained simulations. Native state hydrogen exchange experiments were used to probe the higher energy species that are in equilibrium with the native state. Results from the NMR experiment complement the kinetic studies as the core of stability found by NMR mapped back to the same region of the ILV cluster that was found to initiate folding. When taken together, the results show the importance of hydrophobic clusters on the entire free energy surface of TIM barrel proteins.

Thesis (PhD)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Land use change is leading to rapid biodiversity loss in terrestrial ecosystems worldwide. Ecological networks (ENs) are systems of remnant natural habitat which remain intact in a transformed matrix, and have been suggested as a means to mitigate the effects of habitat loss and transformation and the resulting loss of biodiversity. Conceptually, ENs are similar to habitat corridors but are larger in scale and more heterogeneous in their design and management. Like corridors, the efficacy of ENs for biodiversity conservation has been called into question and requires empirical investigation. South Africa boasts a unique system of extensive ENs associated with exotic timber plantations, mostly within the highly endangered grassland biome and Indian Ocean Coastal Belt in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. In these regions, grasshoppers respond sensitively to management practices such as grazing, mowing and burning, justifying their a priori selection as an ecological indicator. In this study, I utilize grasshopper assemblages to determine the efficacy of ENs for biodiversity conservation and suggest guidelines for EN optimization. Specifically, I assess grasshopper assemblage sensitivity and robustness to habitat quality within ENs, congruence of grasshoppers with butterflies, and I identify indicator species which can be utilized by managers for EN assessment in future. I also perform a case study of isolated fragment utilization by a highly mobile generalist species, the bird locust, Ornithacris cyanea (Stoll, 1813) (Acrididae: Cyrtacanthacridinae). Grasshopper assemblages were sampled within ENs in two geographic regions (Zululand and the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands) and in two years (2007 and 2008) during the peak season of grasshopper abundance, late summer (February-April). Local-scale environmental variables relating to management practices and landscape-scale environmental variables relating to design of the ENs were quantified. Management practices explained, on average, two-thirds of the variability in grasshopper assemblages that could be explained, while design variables explained one-third. Grass height and the time since the last fire event were most consistently influential, while area, context, isolation, proportion of bare ground and proportion of forbs at a site, proved influential in some analyses but not others. This response was robust over time and among geographic regions. Grasshopper species richness and abundance were highly congruent with that of butterflies and did not differ among isolated fragments, connected corridors and reference sites, although they did differ among geographic regions. Not all grasshopper species responded similarly to ENs. There was a strong phylogenetic signal in species response to environmental variables, with the distribution of highly mobile families varying more among years. Linear, heavily disturbed power line servitudes had higher grasshopper abundance, and generalist species consistent with early successional assemblages. Reference sites had more graminivorous species and those with intermediate mobility. Three species of grasshopper were identified with IndVal and validated on an independently collected dataset as indicators of high habitat quality. A case study of the bird locust showed that populations of this highly mobile species were effectively isolated and undergoing anthrovicariance even at short distances. These results indicated that heterogeneous ENs supported diverse grasshopper assemblages, although movement among isolated fragments may have been limited. A grasshopper bioindication method for South Africa’s ENs is suggested and has great potential for assessment of a crucial and sensitive trophic layer within the ENs. This method should be field-tested and revised over time as grasshopper relative abundances and species compositions may change. Increased heterogeneity, simulation of multiple successional stages, and increased connectivity are expected to positively impact biodiversity, particularly of insect primary herbivores. Globally, ENs, if managed and designed appropriately, have potential to enhance biodiversity, particularly of smaller resident organisms which can utilize the ENs for movement and live within them.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Veranderinge in grondgebruik lei tot ‘n vinnige verlies van biodiversiteit in terrestriële ekosysteme wêreldwyd. Ekologiese netwerke (ENs) is sisteme van oorblywende natuurlike habitat wat ongeskonde bly in getransformeerde matrikse, en is voorgestel as ‘n manier om die verlies aan biodiversiteit as gevolg van habitatverlies en transformasie te verminder. Konseptueel, is ENs soortgelyk aan habitat korridors, maar is groter in omvang en meer heterogeen in hulle ontwerp en bestuur. Soos korridors, is die effektiwiteit van ENs om biodiversiteit te bewaar bevraagteken, en vereis dit empiriese ondersoek. Suid-Afrika spog met ‘n unieke stelsel van uitgebreide ENs wat geassossieer is met uitheemse plantasies, meestal in die hoogs bedreigde grasveld bioom en Indiese Oseaan kusstrook in KwaZulu- Natal Provinsie, Suid Afrika. In hierdie streek reageer sprinkane sensitief op bestuurspraktyke soos beweiding, sny en brand. In hierdie studie het ek sprinkaan gemeenskappe gebruik om die effektiwiteit van ENs vir bewaring van biodiversiteit te bepaal en om riglyne te stel vir EN optimering. Spesifiek het ek sprinkaan gemeenskap sensitiwiteit en robustness tot habitat kwaliteit bepaal, oreenstemming tussen sprinkane en skoenlappers getoets, en het ek indikator species geïdentifiseer wat in die toekoms deur bestuurders gebruik kan word vir EN assessering. Ek het ook ‘n gevallestudie gedoen van geïsoleerde fragment benutting deur ‘n hoogs mobiele, algemene spesie, Ornithacris cyanea (Stoll, 1813) (Acrididae: Cyrtacanthacridinae). Sprinkaan gemeenskappe was versamel in twee geografiese gebiede (Zululand en die KwaZulu-Natal Midlands) en in twee jare (2007 en 2008) gedurende die seisoen van hoogste sprinkaan aktiwiteit, laat somer (Februarie – April). Plaaslike-skaal omgewingsveranderlikes met betrekking tot bestuurspraktyke en landskap-skaal omgewingsveranderlikes met betrekking tot die ontwerp van ENs is gekwantifiseer. Bestuurspraktyke verduidelik, gemiddeld, twee derdes van die variasie in die sprinkaan gemeenskappe, terwyl ontwerpveranderlikes een derde verduidelik. Grashoogte en tyd sedert die laaste brand was konsekwent invloedryk, terwyl area, konteks, isolasie, hoeveelheid kaal grond en hoeveelheid kruidagtige plantegroei invloedryk was in sekere analyses, maar in ander nie. Hierdie reaksie was konstant oor tyd en tussen geografiese gebiede. Sprinkaan spesies rykheid en hoeveelheid was hoogs kongruent met die van skoenlappers, en het nie verskil tussen geïsoleerde fragmente, verbinde korridors en verwysingsareas nie, maar hulle het verskil tussen geografiese streke. Nie alle sprinkaan spesies het soortgelyk gereageer tot ENs nie. Daar was ‘n sterk filogenetiese sein in spesies reaksies op die omgewingsveranderlikes, met meer variasie tussen jare in die verspeiding van hoogs mobiele families. Liniêre, hoogs versteurde kraglyn dienspaaie het hoer sprinkaan hoeveelhede gehad en algemene spesies wat geassosieer is met gemeenskappe in vroeë stadiums van suksessie. Verwysingsareas het meer graminivorous spesies gehad en spesies met intermediêre mobiliteit. Drie sprinkaan spesies is geïdentifiseer met IndVal en bevestig met ‘n onafhanklik versamelde dataset as indikators van hoë kwaliteit habitat. ‘n Gevallestudie op O. cyanea het aangedui dat populasies van hierdie hoogs mobiele spesie geïsoleerd is en dat hulle anthrovicariance ondergaan, selfs op kort afstande. Hierdie resultate dui aan dat heterogene ENs diverse sprinkaan gemeenskappe ondersteun, hoewel beweging tussen geïsoleerde fragmente dalk beperk is. Verhoogde heterogeneïteit, simulasie van verskeie suksessiewe fases en meer konnektiwiteit sal moontlik ‘n positiewe invloed op biodiversiteit hê, aangesien sprinkane verteenwoordigend was van insek primêre herbivore. Wêreldwyd, as ENs op ‘n gepaste manier bestuur en ontwerp word, het dit die potensiaal om biodiversiteit te bevorder. Dit is veral belangrik vir kleiner, plaaslike organisms wat ENs kan benut vir beweging en as leefhabitat. ‘n Sprinkaan bioindikasie metode vir Suid-Afrika se ENs is voorgestel en het groot potensiaal vir die assessering van ‘n belangrike en sensitiewe trofiese laag binne die ENs. Hierdie metode moet in die praktyk getoets word en hersien word oor tyd om veranderinge in sprinkaan relatiewe hoeveelhede en spesies komposisies in ag te neem.

Im Erscheinungsbild der Thüringer Großsiedlungen vollzog sich zwischen 1990 und 2000 ein deutlicher Wandel. Wohnumfeldverbesserungen trugen maßgeblich dazu bei. Diese Maßnahmen ordneten sich in die durch Förderprogramme gesteckten Ziele der Stadt- und Sozialplanung ein. In allen Wohngebieten wurden die Wohn- und Lebensbedingungen im Vergleich zu 1990 verbessert. Umfangreiche Aufwertungen im Wohnumfeld folgten i. d. R. umfassenden Gebäudesanierungen. Die Vorteile der Verkehrskonzepte und Versorgungsinfrastruktur wurden erhalten und ausgebaut. Die soziale Segregation vollzog sich deutlich langsamer als noch zu Beginn der 1990er Jahre befürchtet. Entsprechend blieb die gemischte Sozialstruktur teilweise erhalten. Die Bewohner sind mit ihrer Siedlung heute mindestens genauso zufrieden wie zu Beginn der Aufwertungsmaßnahmen. Das Eigenimage der Großsiedlungen konnte ebenfalls stabilisiert werden. Damit wurde das erklärte sozialplanerische Ziel, die Identifikation der Bewohner mit ihrem Wohngebiet zu stärken, erreicht. Diesen gelungenen Aspekten steht eine Reihe von Aufgaben gegenüber, die nicht umgesetzt wurden. So besteht die strukturelle, funktionale und bauliche Uniformität fort. Trotz Neu- und Umbau vieler Stadtteilzentren entwickelte sich nicht die angestrebte urbane Vielfalt. Die unzureichende funktionale und gestalterische Differenzierung des Raumes nach dem Öffentlichkeitscharakter verstärkt diese weiterhin vorhandene Monotonie der Siedlungen. Die Chancen, die Großsiedlungen besser an die Gesamtstadt und die landschaftliche Umgebung anzubinden, wurden nur selten genutzt. Trotz aller Bemühungen verzeichneten alle Großsiedlungen in den 1990er Jahren erhebliche Einwohnerverluste. Das Fremdimage der „Platte“ ist weiterhin schlecht. Die Wohnumfeldverbesserungen weisen in den Großsiedlungen deutliche Unterschiede hinsichtlich Umfang und Intensität auf. Allen Wohngebieten gemein ist ein Nebeneinander von aufwendig aufgewerteten Bereichen und von Quartieren, in denen nur wenig Veränderungen stattgefunden haben. In keinem Wohngebiet erfolgte eine komplette Gebietsaufwertung. An den Aufwertungsmaßnahmen waren viele verschiedene Akteure beteiligt, mit teilweise gegensätzlichen Interessen. Landschaftsarchitekten sind eine dieser Interessensgruppe. Ihre Arbeit bestimmt das Erscheinungsbild der Großsiedlungen erheblich mit. Allerdings bestehen nur geringe Handlungsspielräume zur Konfliktlösung zwischen den Beteiligten. Im Laufe der 1990er Jahre wandelten sich die wirtschaftlichen und sozialen Bedingungen. Nachfolgend fand ein Paradigmenwechsel im Umgang mit der Weiterentwicklung der Großsiedlungen und ihrer Freiräume statt. Aus den zu erwartenden Konditionen wurden hier Handlungsempfehlungen zur künftigen Wohngebietsentwicklung formuliert: in dauerhaft zu erhaltenden Quartieren sollten differenzierte Aufwertungen durchgeführt, in Rückbaubereiche neben der Stabilisierung des Wohnungsmarktes auch die Wohnungsvielfalt durch Umbauten erhöht werden. Die Freiräume in den Bestandsquartieren sind zu sichern, zu vernetzen und zu verbessern. Bei Interimsfreiräumen besteht ein erhebliches funktionales und gestalterisches Potential. Dazu gehören sowohl temporäre Aufwertungen für Erholungssuchende als auch extensive Freiraumentwicklungen verschiedener Vegetationstypen zur Erhöhung der ökologischen Vielfalt sowie wirtschaftliche Zwischennutzungen
An enormous change in the appearance of the large suburban housing estates in Thuringia took place between 1990 and 2000. Improvements of the living environment contributed significantly to it. These measurements integrated into the aims of the city- and social planning that had been defined by support programmes. In all residential areas the housing- and living conditions have been improved in comparison to 1990. Extensive upgrading in the living environment generally followed substantial building restorations. The advantages of the traffic concepts and the provisioning infrastructure were conserved and extended. The social segregation transformed clearly slowlier than suspected at the beginning of the 1990ies. Correspondingly, the mixed social structure has been partly conserved. Today, the residents are at least as satisfied with their housing estates as at the beginning of the upgrading procedures. The image of the large suburban housing estates themselves could also be stabilised. Thus, the definded aim in social planning, to enforce the residents’ identification with their housing area, has been reached. These successful aspects are confronted with a row of tasks that have not been realised. So, the structural, functional and constructional uniformity still exists. Despite the new and re- construction of many community centres the intended diversity has not been developed. The insufficient functional and creative differentiation of the space according to the public character enforces this still existent monotony of the areas. The chances of linking the large suburban housing estates better to the whole town and the surroundings / landscape have only rarely been used. Despite all efforts all large suburban housing estates recorded immense losses of residents in the 1990ies. The external image of the “Platte” is still bad. Concerning their extent and their intensity the improvements in the living environments show significant differences in the large suburban housing estates. In all areas there is a coexistence of expensively upgraded parts and of accomodation with only few changes. There was no complete upgrading in any of the areas. Many protagonists contributed to the upgrading measurements, partly with opposed interests – landscape architects are one of these interest groups. Their work considerably defines the appearance of the large suburban housing estates. As a fact, there is only little room for manoeuvre concerning conflict resolution among the involved. In the course of the 1990ies the economic and social conditions changed. Afterwards a paradigm change in the handling of the advancement of the large suburban housing estates and their spaces took place. The expected conditions were formulated into recommended actions to the future development of the residential areas: in accomodation to be permanently preserved, differentiated upgrading should be made as well as the residential market should be stabilised in reconstruction areas while the diversity of flats should be increased through rebuilding at the same time. The open spaces in the accomodation need to be secured, to be linked and to be improved. There is an enormous functional and creative potential with interim spaces. Temporary upgrading for recreation searchers belongs to it, also extensive space developments of different vegetation types to increase the ecological diversity as well as temporary uses in the field of economy

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This work aims to study the three landscapes in Arraial de Ouro Fino - which originated with the cycle of mining in Goiás, in the middle of the eighteenth century, and collapsed in the final half of the twentieth century - observing the Archaeological Landscape, linking it to how far we have the village: the urban landscape, and rescue the collective memory of people: the Landscape of Memory. These people had a closer and intimate relationship with the village, and kept in their unconscious vivid images of a past that continues to come to the surface and become a rich source of Cultural Heritage. This not only belongs to this group, but to all people, direct or indirectly, that are related to daily - the goiana society. We identified the strong and fixed elements that mark these landscapes and turn a local in a place, which show people the real feeling and topofilia. We also worked around the concepts of landscape, place, topofilia and memory in order to raise subsidies for a new approach on what constitutes the cultural heritage in Ouro Fino.
Esse estudo visa trabalhar as três paisagens existentes no Arraial de Ouro Fino − que se originou com o ciclo da mineração em Goiás, em meados do século XVIII, e ruiu no final da metade do século XX. Observando a Paisagem Arqueológica, relacionando-a com a Paisagem da Memória (a memória coletiva) para então resgatar a Paisagem Urbana (o que já foi do arraial). Trabalhar a memória coletiva das pessoas que mantiveram com o arraial um relacionamento mais estreito e íntimo, e guardaram em seus inconscientes imagens vívidas de um passado que persiste em vir à tona, sempre que evocado, e se transformar em fonte rica de Patrimônio Cultural. Este não pertence somente a este grupo, mas a todas as pessoas que, de forma direta ou indireta, relacionam-se cotidianamente a sociedade goiana. Foram identificados os elementos fixos e fortes que marcam essas paisagens e transformam um local em Lugar, que denotam às pessoas o verdadeiro sentimento e Topofilia. Trabalhou-se também em torno dos conceitos de Paisagem, Lugar, Topofilia e Memória, a fim de angariar subsídios para uma nova abordagem sobre o que se constitui o Patrimônio Cultural de Ouro Fino.

The island of La Gonave, ~50 km northwest of Port-au-Prince, represents the subsistence Haitian lifestyle. Little is known about human--environment interactions on La Gonave. The first objective of this research was to investigate landscape dynamics through image classification, change detection, and landscape pattern analysis using Landsat 5 (TM) imagery from 1990--2010. Five land cover classes were considered: Agriculture, Forest/Dense Vegetation (DV), Shrub, Barren/Eroded, and Nonforested Wetlands. Overall image classification accuracy was 87%. The area percent change was -39.7, -22.7, 87.4, -7.0, 10.2%, for the respective classes. Landscape pattern analysis illustrated the encroachment of Shrub in core Forest/DV patches and the decline of Agricultural patch integrity. Agricultural abandonment, deforestation, and forest regrowth generated an increasingly fragmented landscape. The second objective of this research was to better understand the survival of the red-tailed hawk (RTH) on La Gonave by exploring the human--RTH relationship. We implemented a survey (n = 121) in 10 rural villages on La Gonave regarding their perceptions and interactions with the RTH during May--June, 2012. During fieldwork we sighted seven RTHs and found one nest. Many respondents noted the aggressive behavior of RTHs during nesting, suggesting reproductive behavior on the island. Our results indicate that RTHs inhabiting this island were not persecuted, despite intense predation of domestic chickens. Aside from predation near homes, villagers do not interact with the hawk as it remains out of sight. The RTH currently has no known predators, but it remains in danger of island extirpation due to ecological degradation.
Master of Science

Northern prairie pothole wetlands provide crucial habitat for numerous waterbirds. However, wetland abundance and quality in the Prairie Pothole Region of North America has declined because of agricultural landscape modifications. Effective management of waterbird populations relies on understanding how landscape modifications alter wetland hydrology and biological communities in context of climate-driven wet-dry periods. A common modification involves consolidation of smaller more-temporary wetlands into larger more-permanent ones. I evaluated whether consolidation drainage has progressive-chronic effects on hydrology of remaining wetlands during 2003-2010 in the Prairie Pothole Region of North Dakota. For wetlands in topographic basins that were not already full, rate of water surface area change was positively correlated with consolidation drainage during a wetting phase, but negatively correlated during a drying phase. This unbalancing of water budgets through wetting and drying phases suggests that 1) consolidation drainage has a progressive-chronic effect on wetland hydrology; and 2) wetlands receiving water in extensively drained landscapes will continue to increase in volume through each climate fluctuation until they reach their spilling point, then stabilize. Proportion of wetlands covered by cattail was negatively correlated with increases in water depth, thus cattail coverage may increase as water levels stabilize as a result of consolidation drainage. Fish were present in 57% of wetlands and probability of fish occurrence was greater in wetlands that had greater water depth and wetland connectivity. Weak evidence suggests amphipod densities decreased where there was extensive drainage and increased in more full basins, probably due to improved overwinter survival. The alternative stable states hypothesis predicts clear versus turbid observable states that reflect differing trophic structures in wetlands. I conducted a landscape-scale evaluation of this hypothesis by examining the distribution of remotely-sensed chlorophyll a concentrations within 978 wetlands. My findings suggest that trophic structure in prairie wetlands is better understood within a continuum of trophic status rather than discrete states. My results provide an improved understanding of how land use and climate variability influence productivity in wetlands across the region and should help shape future research and conservation priorities focused on wetland services and waterbird populations.
North Dakota Department of Game and Fish
Ducks Unlimited Great Plains Regional Office
Institute for Wetland and Waterfowl Research of Ducks Unlimited Canada
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Plains and Prairie Pothole Landscape Conservation Cooperative
U.S. Geological Survey Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Institute
U.S. Geological Survey Landscape Conservation Cooperative Program
U.S. Geological Survey Youth Initiative Student Career Experience Program

Includes abstract.
Includes bibliographical references.
Spatial heterogeneity has been shown to influence ecosystem processes and important ecosystem properties like resilience and biodiversity, allowing species with specific habitat needs or weaker competitive abilities to persist in disturbed systems that might otherwise have excluded them. Miombo covers 2.7 million km² and is Africa’s largest savanna woodland. Much of this is characterized by Macrotermes termitaria, which can be hotspots of both plant (primary) productivity and animal abundance (secondary and tertiary productivity). To investigate the modulating influence of spatial heterogeneity in the form of large Macrotermes termitaria on woody plant and avian diversity in the face of herbivore impacts and fire (the two disturbances most amenable to management), research progressed in stages.

Large scale ecosystem restoration is an important societal issue because significant risks, costs, and benefits can accrue on large landscapes. It is important to understand baseline ecosystem conditions, existing condition, and to the extent possible estimate ecosystem response to alternative management scenarios. Incorporating ecosystem process and function into restoration planning and implementation will make ecosystem restoration projects sustainable. The Upper Mississippi River System is an excellent case study for such issues because it is an important, multiple-use ecosystem with significant ongoing investment in ecosystem, agri-system, and navigation system management. Large-scale geomorphology, hydrology, and land cover information was compared among presettlement, contemporary, and potential future reference conditions to examine ecosystem state and evaluate mechanisms responsible for ecosystem condition. The UMRS was scaled by physiographically similar characteristics into large floodplain reaches several hundred river miles in length, geomorphic reaches 50 to several hundred miles, and a mile-by-mile segmentation of the river floodplain extent. Ecologically relevant geomorphic classes were devised from existing data and evaluated by river reach to characterize presettlement geomorphology, and dams and levees were superimposed to reflect the altered hydrogeomorphology of the contemporary ecosystem. A pre- and post-impact Indicators of Hydrologic Alteration river stage analysis evaluated dam impacts, and pre-dam and post-dam aquatic habitat class distribution was compared. A floodplain inundation simulation analysis provided new information on the potential spatial distribution of frequent floods. Land cover data available for presettlement and modern reference periods were compared at several spatial scales. Multivariate analyses evaluated land cover characteristics among geomorphic reaches, as well as to assess the influence of hydrogeomorphic drivers on land cover for presettlement and contemporary reference periods. The objective of this research was to clearly delineate the divergence of environmental conditions among reference periods to evaluate which drivers need to be, and can be, altered to change ecosystem state. Hydrogeomorphic response to development indicates several restoration objectives that are appropriate system-wide and others that are best suited to specific river reaches. Similar data sources are available for much of the rest of the United States through the Public Land Survey and engineering surveys of any significant civil works projects.

Tanzania’s Ruaha landscape is an international priority area for large carnivore conservation, harbouring roughly 10% of the world’s lions, and important populations of leopards and spotted hyaenas. However, these large carnivore populations are threatened by intense retaliatory killing due to human-carnivore conflict on village land around Ruaha National Park (RNP), mostly as a result of livestock predation by lions, leopards and spotted hyaenas. Moreover, a current lack of ecological data on the distribution of these carnivores hinders the development of effective strategies for conservation and targeted conflict mitigation in this landscape. This study aimed to identify the most significant ecogeographical variables (EGVs) influencing the distribution of lions, leopards and spotted hyaenas across the Ruaha landscape, and to map areas of conservation importance for these species. In addition, the study assessed the influence of EGVs on livestock predation risk by these carnivores in the village land around RNP, and generated a predictive map of predation risk. The relative importance of livestock husbandry practices and EGVs in terms of influencing predation risk within enclosures was also investigated. Proximity to rivers was the most important variable influencing the distribution of large carnivores in Ruaha, and contributed to predation risk of grazing livestock. The traditional livestock husbandry adopted in bomas appeared insufficient to alleviate the inherent risk of predation by large carnivores. The study produced the first detailed maps of lion, leopard and spotted hyaena distribution in the critically important Ruaha landscape, and identified likely livestock depredation hotspots. These results will target conflict mitigation approaches around Ruaha, by identifying particularly high-risk areas for livestock enclosures and grazing stock. Improving husbandry in these areas could help reduce livestock depredation and retaliatory carnivore killing, therefore reducing one of the most significant conservation threats in this critically important landscape.

L’objectiu d’aquesta tesi és avançar en el coneixement de l’ús que els meso-mamífers fan del paisatge mediterrani amb diferents nivells d’urbanització i de quina manera les variacions en aquest s’associen a variacions en el seu comportament, ecologia i, per tant, en la conservació. Tenint en compte el creixement de la població humana en les àrees mediterrànies i el desenvolupament de les infraestructures viàries associat a aquest creixement, l’estudi de les respostes de l’ús del territori en aquests ambients periurbans poden resultar de gran utilitat en un futur, quan gran part dels espais naturals mediterranis es trobaran sota aquestes condicions “periurbanes”. Les diferents característiques de cada espècie estudiada i el comportament esquiu i quasi pràcticament nocturn que presenten, implica la integració de diferents metodologies per al seu estudi. Per tal d’abordar aquesta proposta inicial, l’estudi es planteja a diferents nivells d’anàlisi i des de perspectives diferents. La primera part de la tesi, integrada pels capítols ú al tres, tracta sobre l’organització espacial dels individus, analitzada tant des del punt de vista de l’organització de l’espai, com de la selecció de l’hàbitat. La segona part de la tesi, formada pels capítols quatre i cinc, tracta d’una problemàtica més unida a les característiques periurbanes de Collserola: la incidència del trànsit viari sobre la supervivència de les espècies i la connectivitat de l’àrea amb altres zones perifèriques. Al primer capítol s’analitza de quina manera les diferències en el paisatge s’associen a diferències en el patró espacial en dos poblacions de teixó. Estudiar la mida dels grups, domini vital, àrees de màxima activitat, densitat poblacional i patró de comportament espacial dels teixons als parcs de Collserola i Montserrat mitjançant el marcatge d’individus amb collars radio-emissors. Complementàriament, al segon capítol s’analitza la disponibilitat dels diferents tipus d’hàbitat en la mesura que afecta la situació dels dominis vitals, nuclis d’alimentació i la ubicació dels caus; per a la qual cosa s’ha estudiat la selecció de l’hàbitat dels teixons de Montserrat i Collserola en relació al nivell de domini vital, nuclis d’alimentació, i l’ambient circumdant a les teixoneres. Arrel dels resultats obtinguts amb la selecció de l’hàbitat dels teixons en el capítol anterior, al tercer capítol es va desenvolupar un altre treball sobre la selecció de l’hàbitat de tres espècies més de mamífers del parc de Collserola: guineus, gats mesquers i porcs senglars, per tal d’esbrinar els hàbitats importants per a cada espècie i observar si hi ha un patró general per al conjunt d’espècies. D’altra banda, a la segona part de la tesi, al quart capítol, s’analitzen algunes de les variables que poden afectar la localització, estacionalitat i distribució dels atropellaments de mamífers al parc de Collserola, per tal de trobar algun patró general o específic de cada espècie que ajude a minvar parcialment les morts de fauna salvatge per atropellament, alhora que es redueix la sinistralitat vial en zones perifèriques a espais naturals. Finalment, al cinquè capítol es realitza una comparativa que té com a objectiu analitzar les diferències i similituds entre zones quant a composició d’espècies mitjançant una aplicació de la teoria de la informació per tal d’esbrinar si l’aïllament del Parc de Collserola i la manca de connectivitat ha tingut ja algun efecte sobre la distribució d’alguna de les espècies en les zones estudiades. Mitjançant la realització d’una campanya de transectes lineals en cerca de rastres d’algunes espècies de meso-mamífer, s’ha comparat la composició específica en tres zones perifèriques del parc, en tres dels parcs circumdants més propers (Montserrat, St.Llorenç del Munt i l’Obac, i Serra Marina), i finalment en les tres zones intermèdies entre Collserola i els tres parcs de destí (“corredors”).
The aim of the present doctoral thesis is to advance in the knowledge of the relationship between the meso-mammals’ landscape use in Mediterranean habitats and the degree of urbanization and urban development. Furthermore the thesis is also focused in the way this variations are associated to variations in animal behaviour, ecology, and then conservation. Considering the human demographic increase in Mediterranean areas, and the consequent road communication network development, the study of these responses would be very useful for future scenarios in most of the Mediterranean protected areas, which would become suburban areas in the near future. The different characteristics of the studied species and their nocturnal and elusive behaviour, requires the combination of different methodologies to achieve experimental data. In order to deal with the initial proposal the study was planned under different levels of analysis and from different perspectives. The first part, composed by the chapters one to three, is about individual spatial organization analyzed from both points of view, the spatial organization itself and also from the view of the habitat selection. From the other hand, the second part, composed by chapters four and five, deals with the controversial characteristics of an antropogenic park: the incidence of traffic road over species survival and habitat connectivity with neighboring protected areas.

A l’heure actuelle, seuls des facteurs locaux, stationnels, sont considérés pour le calcul des risques liés au vent alors que le vent qui aborde un peuplement forestier est affecté par les surfaces sur lesquelles il vient de passer ; les lisières en particulier jouent un rôle important sur l’écoulement atmosphérique, en contribuant à générer de la turbulence. Dans un paysage fragmenté, constitué d’une mosaïque de surfaces de différentes hauteurs et rugosités, la multiplicité des lisières est ainsi susceptible d’avoir des effets cumulatifs perceptibles à l’échelle régionale, qui pourraient contribuer de manière significative à la fragilité des massifs face à des tempêtes. Certains niveaux de fragmentation semblent susceptibles de conduire à un accroissement des risques en cas de vent violent. Bien que la région de lisière a été étudiée de manière approfondie dans le passé en raison de leur importance pour la détermination des vitesses de vent, des niveaux de turbulence et des échanges entre l’atmosphère et la canopée, il n’y a aucune étude de l’impact de lisières multiples ou de la fragmentation des forêts sur les caractéristiques de la couche limite à l’échelle du paysage. Quelques rares études laissent penser que la fragmentation du paysage pourrait moduler de manière significative la structure turbulente de la couche limite atmosphérique mais ces études concernent des réseaux de brisevents plutôt qu’un ensemble de parcelles forestières. On cherche par conséquent à caractériser les champs de vent et de turbulence pour ces différentes configurations. Pour ce faire, une expérimentation en soufflerie à été réalisée, visant à caractériser l’écoulement sur des maquettes de paysage présentant cinq degrés de fragmentation (L = ~ 5, ~ 10, ~15, ~20, ~30h, où L est la distance entre deux patchs de forêts régulièrement espacés et h est la hauteur de la canopée). Un cas homogène a également été simulé et sert ici de référence. Pour le modèle de canopée choisi, ces expérimentations montrent que l’énergie cinétique turbulente présente dans la basse atmosphère ne passe pas par un maximum pour une valeur de l’espacement intermédiaire comme il était supposé à l’origine. Le cas homogène est la configuration la plus rugueuse. Pour de grands espacements l’influence d’une parcelle ne se fait guère sentir sur la suivante et lorsqu’ils sont faibles l’écoulement ne "ressent" guère les clairières et présente des caractéristiques semblables au cas homogène. Nous avons également évalué un modèle atmosphérique de type "simulation des grandes échelles" à l’aide des données présentées précédemment. Le modèle est capable de reproduire les grandes caractéristiques de la turbulence telles que les vitesses de vent horizontales et verticales, l’énergie cinétique turbulente, les contraintes de Reynolds et les coefficients d’asymétrie horizontale et verticale en tous points du domaine. Cela nous a permis de confirmer la validité des calculs numériques et de simuler l’écoulement sur une plus large gamme de paysages fragmentés. Les résultats démontrent l’importance de l’indice foliaire pour le calcul de la rugosité effective sur une succession de patchs de forêt
At present only the characteristics of a forest stand and its immediate environment are taken into account in calculating forest wind risk. However, it is known that the wind is strongly affected by the surfaces over which it has previously flowed. Forest edges in particular play an important role in determining the characteristics of the atmospheric flow by generating increased turbulence, triggering the formation of coherent tree scale structures. In a fragmented landscape, consisting of surfaces of different heights and roughness, the multiplicity of edges may have cumulative effects at the regional scale leading to increased forest damage during storms. Flow changes in the atmospheric boundary-layer across surface roughness changes have received extensive study in the past because of their importance in determining velocities, turbulence levels and exchange between the atmosphere and biosphere or ground. There have also been a number of studies across single forest edges both in the field, wind-tunnels and computer models. However, there have been no studies of flow across multiple forest edges or the impact of forest fragmentation on the characteristics of the boundary-layer. The only studies on multiple surface changes have been wind-tunnel examination of the flow though and across multiple wind-breaks. In this thesis we show results from a series of wind tunnel experiments on a range of levels of forest fragmentation. Five gap spacings (L = ~ 5, ~ 10, ~15, ~20, ~30h, where L is the length of the gap and h is the canopy height) were investigated using 3D laser doppler velocimetry in order to assess the effects of fragmented landscapes on mean and turbulent wind characteristics. The fragmentation was two-dimensional with the transition between forest and gaps only being along the wind direction and the forest and gaps were continuous perpendicular to the wind direction. The wind speeds and turbulence characteristics are compared against measurements from a single forest edge in the wind tunnel, which acts as a reference. No enhancement of turbulence formation at a particular level of fragmentation was observed but there was a consistent pattern of wind speed and turbulence back from the first edge of each simulation with the horizontal velocity at tree top increasing and the turbulent kinetic energy decreasing as gap size increased. We also compare mean wind speeds (U and W) and turbulence characteristics (variance in u, v, and w; skewness in U, V, and W; Reynold’s stress, and TKE) at all points in the experimental measurement domain of the wind tunnel with Large Eddy Simulation (LES) results, which allows us to confirm the validity of the LES calculations and to conduct a wider range of experiments than was possible in the wind-tunnel. The results demonstrate the importance of the frontal area index or roughness density of elements (in this case trees) in determining the nature of the flow and the effective roughness of the overall surface. They also show that as the gaps between forest blocks increases the flow transitions (at a gap size between 10 to 15 tree heights) from flow comparable to that over a continuous forest to flow across a set of isolated forest blocks

Ao nos referirmos às alterações que acontecem no espaço das grandes cidades, as que concernem ao sistema de transportes são emblemáticas. Com o surgimento das regiões metropolitanas, em que a concentração da produção e da população tornou-se uma realidade, a necessidade de deslocamento entre residência e trabalho transformou-se em um fator determinante da qualidade de vida e ambiental para grandes parcelas populacionais. Nesta dissertação procuramos observar que os parâmetros que condicionam as relações sociais são os mesmos que condicionam a construção do espaço de trocas e convivência de uma sociedade; assim, quanto mais igualitária a sociedade, mais generalizado o acesso aos equipamentos e serviços, e, portanto, às infra-estruturas que possibilitam o deslocamento até eles. Observando a história da cidade de São Paulo pudemos inferir características importantes da sociedade em que nos encontramos. Com base nelas, elaboramos um estudo de caso em que avaliamos as intervenções ora realizadas no Largo da Batata que, no momento, é um ambiente da cidade que evidencia essas características sociais.
When we refer to the transformations that occur in the urban space of big cities, the ones regarding the transport system are emblematic. With the rise of metropolitan regions - in which concentrated production and population have become a reality - the need for dislocation between house and work has turned into a determinant factor regarding quality of life and environment for great portions of the population. In this dissertation we sought to observe that the parameters which determine social relations are the same that determine the exchange and interaction space in a society; thus, the more equalitarian a society, the broader will be the access to the facilities and services and, therefore, to the infrastructures that allow dislocation to them. By observing the history of São Paulo, we could infer important characteristics from the society in which we live. Based on them, we elaborated a case study in which we evaluated the interventions being carried out in Largo da Batata, a location in the city that currently points out these social aspects.

A Amazônia Brasileira possui diversos tipos de padrão de desmatamento, variando do típico padrão \"espinha-de-peixe\", comum em pequenas propriedades, para grandes áreas desmatadas (padrão grandes propriedades), resultando em paisagens com diferentes estruturas, configuração e nível de perturbação. A teoria sugere que uma perda desproporcional de espécies ocorre quando a cobertura total de habitat cai para menos de 30% da paisagem, e a configuração passa então a ter um maior efeito sobre as espécies. Para analisar o efeito da configuração de habitat na persistência e riqueza de vertebrados de médio e grande porte (aves e mamíferos) foram amostradas 21 paisagens (4 x 4 km) do sul da Amazônia com quantidade similar de habitat (~25%), mas configurações de paisagem contrastantes. Entrevistas (n = 150) foram aplicadas de Fevereiro a Julho de 2009 para registrar a ocorrência de vertebrados, e o nível de perturbação das 21 paisagens, compostas de sete áreas controle (áreas não perturbadas de floresta contínua), sete paisagens com padrão de grandes propriedades e sete de espinhas-de-peixe. Métricas de paisagem foram extraídas de uma imagem Landsat-TM de 2009 e de 14 imagens Landsat-TM bianuais, para determinar o melhor preditor para a persistência das espécies. Existiu uma diferença significativa na riqueza de espécies entre os padrões espinha-de-peixe, grandes propriedades e as áreas controle, com uma média de 29.28 (SD=4.6), 38.8 (SD=5.2), e 43.5 (SD=2.2), respectivamente. Nós também encontramos um maior número de espécies especialistas nas áreas controle (média ± SD = 13.7 ± 0.95) e grandes propriedades (média ± SD = 11.71 ± 2.2), quando comparadas ao padrão espinha-de-peixe (média ± SD = 5.14 ± 2.6). Os resultados da NMDS mostram que a comunidade de vertebrados de médio e grande porte das áreas controle é muito similar à comunidade encontrada nas unidades de grande propriedade, além de todas as unidades de área controle e grande propriedade serem homogêneas entre si. Por outro lado, as unidades espinha-de-peixe, além de apresentarem uma maior heterogeneidade entre suas unidades, também se mostrou muito dissimilar em relação às outras paisagens, tanto para a comunidade de vertebrados quando para a comunidade de espécies especialistas. O padrão espinha-de-peixe também apresentou uma alta intensidade de queimadas, retirada de madeira e pressão de caça, enquanto que o padrão grandes propriedades apresentou uma leve intensidade de queimada e uma alta pressão de caça, e as áreas controle não apresentaram nenhum sinal de perturbação. O número de espécies e o número de espécies especialistas foram negativamente afetados pelo número de fragmentos e, secundariamente, pela idade de isolamento. Assim, quanto maior o número de fragmentos na paisagem e maior o tempo de isolamento, menor será a riqueza de espécies e o número de espécies especialistas. Nossos resultados demonstram que o padrão grandes propriedades leva a uma estrutura de paisagem mais favorável para a biodiversidade. Este tipo de paisagem pode manter um alto número de espécies e uma comunidade de vertebrados de médio e grande porte mais diversa, incluindo predadores de topo e grandes cracídeos, considerados fundamentais para a integridade do ecossistema, sendo mais similar às áreas controle. Por outro lado, o padrão espinha-de-peixe leva a uma paisagem mais fragmentada, com uma comunidade de vertebrados mais pobre e dominada por espécies generalistas.
The Brazilian Amazon has several types of deforestation patterns, varying from the typical \"fishbone pattern\" common in small properties, to large deforested areas (large-property pattern), resulting in landscapes with different structure, configuration and disturbance levels. Theory suggests that a disproportionate loss of species occurs when total habitat cover decreases to less than 30% of the landscape, and the landscape configuration starts to have a large effect over species. To analyse the effects of the habitat configuration on the persistence and richness of mid-sized and large-bodied vertebrates (mammals and birds), we have sampled 21 landscapes in the southern Amazonia with similar amounts of habitat (~25%) but contrasting configuration. Interviews (n = 150) were used from February to July 2009 to record the occurrence of vertebrates and the disturbance degree in the 21 landscapes, composed of seven control areas (undisturbed areas of continuous forest), seven large-properties and seven fishbone deforestation patterns. Forest-patch metrics were extracted from a 2009 Landsat-TM image and from 14 bi-annual Landsat-TM images to examine the best predictor to species persistence. There was a significant difference in species richness between fishbone, large-property and control areas with an average of 29.28 (SD=4.6), 38.8 (SD=5.2), and 43.5 (SD=2.2), respectively. We also found a higher number of specialist species in control areas (mean ± SD = 13.7 ± 0.95) and large-properties (mean ± SD = 11.71 ± 2.2), when compared with fish-bone pattern (mean ± SD = 5.14 ± 2.6). NMDS results show vertebrate community in control areas are very similar to the ones found in large-property sites, beyond all landscapes (control areas and large properties) are homogeneous among themselves. On the other hand the fish-bone landscapes are very dissimilar from them and heterogeneous among each other, concerning both the large vertebrate community and the specialist species community. The fish-bone pattern also shows a heavy intensity of fire, selective logging and hunting pressure while the large-property pattern shows a light intensity of fire and a heavy hunting pressure whereas the control areas show no sign of disturbance. The number of species and the number of specialist species were negatively affected by the number of fragments and secondarily by the isolation age. Therefore the greater the number of fragments in the landscape unit and the older is the isolation process, the fewer is the species richness as well as the number of specialist species. Our results demonstrated that large-property pattern leads to a landscape structure that is better for biodiversity. This type of landscape can maintain a higher number of species and a more diverse community of large vertebrates, including top predators and large cracids, considered fundamental for the integrity of the ecosystem, being more similar to the control areas. On the other hand, the fish-bone pattern leads to a more fragmented landscape with a poorest vertebrate community and dominated by generalist species.