Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Northern rivers'

This study measured and evaluated the relation of coastal foredune morphology to stream beach outlets, and investigated the processes associated with the stream outlet. Intermediate-size streams were studied, and defined as those that flow across the beach most of the year but have no tidal influence. Fifty-four of these streams were found along the northern Oregon coast between the Columbia River and Yaquina Bay. Crescent Lake Outlet, Saltair Creek and Daley Lake Outlet were chosen as study streams for further investigation.

The Koongarra uranium deposit is hosted by quartz-chlorite schists. A conceptual model for the hydrogeology of the deposit is proposed on the basis of lithologic criteria and limited hydraulic testing. Water-level and aquifer-test data are presented that indicate the deposit lies within a partially confined, heterogeneous, anisotropic fractured-rock aquifer. The aquifer is dynamic with annual, diurnal, and semidiurnal water-level fluctuations. The results of aquifer tests indicate a high degree of connectivity in the aquifer. Fracture-dominated flow is observed in some tests, but the overall aquifer response appears to be that of an equivalent porous medium. A homogeneous, anisotropic model is used to estimate the transmissivity tensor for subregions of the aquifer. Anisotropy is well-developed with north- to east-northeast-oriented principal transmissivities. Northeast directions represent large-scale drawdown patterns and are subparallel to bedrock structure and the Koongarra fault. Northerly directions are localized and may reflect a less extensive fracture fabric or a flexure in the bedrock foliation.

The aim of this research is to examine the health indicators of the northern Three Rivers Region and compare the results to the larger context of health of the ancient lowland Maya. The research was completed through the analysis of the skeletal populations of three separate Maya sites: Blue Creek, Nojol Nah, and Xnoha, and by comparing results within and among the three sites for a total sample size of 222 individuals. The northern Three Rivers Region had an occupation spanning from the Middle Preclassic through the Terminal Classic periods. Therefore, health through time, as well as between the sexes, presence or absence of cultural bodily modifications in relation to health, and socioeconomic status were all examined within the northern Three Rivers Region study. The osteological results presented suggest that the region was quite stable throughout its long occupation. Whereas elsewhere in the Maya region there have been studies that show dietary differences between males and females and indicate strong preferential treatment of males over females in regards to diet, the skeletal population of the northern Three Rivers Region does not exhibit such discrepancies. This likely has to do with the location of the sites in the Three Rivers Region both in terms of having access to coastal and river trade, as well as being situated near the large Alacranes and Dumb-bell Bajos, which provided a rich agricultural landscape.

Flow variability plays an important role in structuring lotic communities, yet comparatively little is known about processes governing assemblage dynamics in stream ecosystems with stable environmental conditions, such as spring-fed rivers. Volcanic spring-fed rivers (hereafter spring-fed rivers) occur in geologically active landscapes of the western USA and around the globe. We sampled invertebrate assemblages and quantified primary productivity and habitat characteristics of spring-fed and runoff rivers in northern California over 4 seasons. We predicted that abiotic factors would be more stable and nutrient availability greater and that invertebrate density would be greater and diversity lower in spring-fed than in runoff rivers. Runoff rivers exhibited high variability in discharge and temperature, whereas spring-fed rivers were relatively stable with high naturally occurring nutrient levels. On average, NO3- and PO43- concentrations were 40x greater in spring-fed than in runoff rivers. Spring-fed rivers supported nearly 7 to 16x greater densities of invertebrates than runoff systems, depending on season. However, invertebrate species richness was greater in runoff rivers in all seasons. Spring-fed river invertebrate assemblages were strongly correlated with elevated nutrient concentrations and basal C sources, whereas runoff assemblages were associated with discharge variability and median substrate size. We suggest that strong differences in abiotic variability between spring-fed and runoff rivers play an important role in determining invertebrate assemblage structure. Because spring-fed rivers exhibit more stable temperatures throughout the year and lower temperatures during the summer than runoff rivers, they may provide essential refugia for coldwater taxa in a warming climate.

Sewage, agricultural runoff, and atmospheric deposition have greatly increased the amount of nutrients (largely nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P)) in surface water nationwide. Excess nutrients are associated with algal blooms and dissolved oxygen depletion in many water bodies, but linkages between nutrients and dissolved oxygen have been largely correlative. Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) is a regulated water quality parameter that is aimed at describing the amount of oxygen consumed during the decomposition of organic matter. Despite the awareness that excess nutrients are linked to dissolved oxygen in rivers, few studies in the nutrient criteria literature discuss BOD measurements or how nutrients may impact BOD. Accordingly, I used factorial experiments to test the effect of inorganic nutrients (as N, P and N+P) and dissolved organic carbon on BOD measurements in Utah streams. The study was carried out from January through summer baseflow in 2011, allowing me to evaluate the effects of spatial and temporal variation of ambient nutrient concentration on oxygen demand. The study design included measurements in streams above and below nutrient point-sources (publicly owned treatment works) and several reference sites. I used classification and regression trees to identify thresholds of TN and TP that separate BOD response to nutrients into statistically distinct groups. My results show that seasonal variation affected BOD levels. As temperatures rose and water levels increased during peak runoff, I observed the highest BOD response to nutrient additions. I also found a significant correlation between BOD and ambient nutrient concentrations during that time period. I identified potential nutrient-related thresholds that could be used to assign numeric criteria that would protect designated uses. The threshold values I found for TN and TP were 0.56 mg/L and 0.09 mg/L, respectively. My results suggest that BOD may be sensitive to nutrient inputs and my experimental approach could be used as one line of evidence to support nutrient criteria related to aquatic life uses.

The American signal crayfish Pacifastacus lernusculus, an invasive species widely introduced throughout Europe, is a major threat to native European crayfish species and is causing increasing concern because of its wide impact on aquatic ecosystems. This thesis investigates the within catchment expansion of signal crayfish populations in two upland rivers and the spatial ecology and movement of the introduced signal crayfish and the indigenous white-clawed crayfish Austropotamobius pallipes. Populations of signal crayfish are established and expanding on the upland rivers Wharfe and Ure. On the Wharfe the signal crayfish population is well established and now occupies about 30 km of river and is currently expanding at a rate in excess of 2 km year(^-1). On the Ure the signal crayfish population is younger and currently occupies 1.6 km and is currently expanding at about 0.5 km year(^-1). The range expansion is biased towards downstream in both rivers, by a ratio of about 3:1 (downstream:upstream).The movements and dispersal of white-clawed and signal crayfish was studied utilising a combination of radiotelemetry and internal and external Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tags. Radiotagged adult signal crayfish were capable of substantial active movements (maximum movement 790m in 79 days). The level of movement of adults suggests they may have the potential to be responsible for the observed rates of population expansion. Although the movements of radiotagged adult signal crayfish within main river channel were equally distributed upstream and downstream, in-stream barriers both natural and artificial were found to limit the upstream movements of PIT tagged crayfish and this may contribute to the observed downstream bias of signal crayfish population expansion. The movements and dispersal of PIT tagged white-clawed crayfish within a small upland high gradient stream were strongly biased towards downstream. Maximum movement of radiotagged adult signal crayfish occurred during midsummer. Temperature appeared to be a major factor influencing the timing and extent of movements between tracking periods although there was a large variation between individuals. All significant downstream movements made by crayfish were active movements and not the result of passive movement during periods of high discharge. There were no sex or size differences in the dispersal and movement of radiotagged and PIT tagged signal crayfish whilst in PIT tagged white-clawed crayfish size, sex, injuries and duration of tracking influenced extent of movement. The expansion of the signal crayfish population in the River Wharfe appears to lead to the progressive loss of white-clawed crayfish populations where they come into direct contact. Limited differences in the microhabitat utilised by the two species were found where the species were syntopic, suggesting the potential exists for direct competition between the two species. In addition signal crayfish showed greater movement and dispersal than white-clawed crayfish. This may contribute to the ability of signal crayfish to colonise rivers rapidly and may also offer a competitive advantage over white-clawed crayfish thus contributing to the observed replacement. The results are discussed in the context of the conservation and management of crayfish and the ecology of invasive species.

By using long-term monitoring data on trout (Salmo trutta) abundance in streams and rivers in northern Sweden synchronous patterns of trout abundance at both regional and local (i.e., within watershed) scales was investigated. Spearman’s rank correlation tests were conducted on the trout abundance data to quantify the degree of synchrony among and within watersheds. The results showed synchronous patterns at both local and regional scales. There were also signs of asynchronous patterns, which indicate presence of local scale filters and their impact on trout population dynamics. Synchrony for young and older trout individuals showed a different response to increasing distance among watersheds. This result is important because it indicates that synchronous population dynamics for trout is partly determined by its life-history stages and how mortality is affected differently by certain factors throughout life. Regional trends in synchrony of young individuals suggest that broad scale trends in climate properties are important. This study shows how complex and variable synchrony patterns can be when investigating fluctuations in natural populations across different scales.

Riparian vegetation is one of the most complex and abundant ecosystems in the world and it provides important ecosystem services. These services are affected by electricity production from hydropower dams. Hydropower accounts for 16% of the global electricity production and almost 50% in Sweden. One effect of hydropower is sub-daily fluctuations of water level caused by the turbines being turned on and off according to electricity demand. This is referred to as hydropeaking and has largely unknown effects on the fluvial ecosystem, and especially on the riparian vegetation. No studies have been made on the effects of hydropeaking on riparian vegetation. In this study, three native plants (Carex acuta, Betula pubescens and Salix phylicifolia x myrsinifolia) and one non-native plant (Helianthus annuus) were used as indicators (i.e., phytometers) for the effects of hydropeaking along two rivers from northern Sweden; one used for hydropower production and the other free flowing. From each of the four species, seedlings of two sizes and seeds were transplanted into five different river reaches and bank elevations along a hydropeaking gradient from none to high hydropeaking intensity. C. acuta and S. phylicifolia x myrsinifolia showed significant positive relationships to the hydropeaking gradient, likely due to their natural high tolerance to frequent inundation events. Therefore, they are suitable for restoration of river shores along reaches affected by hydropeaking. In contrast, B. pubescens was negatively related to the hydropeaking gradient, losing leaves and biomass with increasing hydropeaking intensities. It turned out to be the most sensitive species among the ones used in the experiment making it suitable as an indicator. H. annuus showed no response and therefore did not serve as impact indicator or for restoration. Germination for all native species was significantly lower along the reaches affected by hydropeaking which indicates a strong connection between hydropeaking and germination. These findings showed that recruitment becomes a bottleneck in riparian communities’ conservation along rivers affected by hydropeaking, and highlight the importance of mitigation actions focused on favoring riparian species seeds’ germination.

Streamflow is considered a driver of inter and intra‐specific life‐history differences among freshwater fish. Therefore, dams and related flow regulation, can have deleterious impacts on their life‐cycles. The main objective of this study is to assess the effects of flow regulation on the growth and reproduction of a non‐migratory fish species. During one year, samples were collected from two populations of Iberian chub, inhabiting rivers with non‐regulated and regulated flow regimes. Flow regulation for water derivation promoted changes in chub’s condition, duration of gonad maturation and spawning, fecundity and oocyte size. However, this non‐migratory species was less responsive to streamflow regulation than a migratory species analysed. Findings from this study are important to understand changes imposed by regulated rivers on fish and can be used as guidelines for flow requirements implementations; RESUMO: O caudal é um dos fatores responsáveis pelo funcionamento dos ciclos de vida das espécies piscícolas dulciaquícolas. As barragens, e a regularização de caudal associada, podem ter impactes nos ciclos de vida destas espécies. O objetivo deste estudo prende‐se com a avaliação dos efeitos da regularização de caudal no crescimento e reprodução de uma espécie piscícola não‐migradora. A análise de amostras recolhidas em populações de escalo do Norte provenientes de dois rios de caudal regularizado e não regularizado, identificaram impactes significativos a nível da condição corporal, da maturação das gónadas e desova, da fecundidade e da dimensão dos oócitos. Esta espécie não‐migradora parece ser menos responsiva à artificialização do caudal que uma espécie migradora previamente analisada. Estes resultados permitem compreender as alterações impostas pela regularização do caudal e podem ser usados em programas de reabilitação fluvial.

The Hartbees River Thrust Belt (HRTS) is a 40-60 km wide, southwest-vergent zone of complex structure, lithostratigraphy and high-grade metamorphism in the northeastern part of the mid-Proterozoic Namaqua Tectonic Province. The HRTS comprises the boundary zone separating the Bushmanland and Gordonia Subprovinces of the Namaqua Province. A knowledge of the movement histories of major ductile shear zones within the HRTS is fundamental to understanding the tectonic development of the belt, and Namaqua tectogenesis as a whole. In spite of this, no detailed microstructural kinematic studies have been attempted and the movement histories and age relationships of these shear zones have not been described in detail. This thesis represents a detailed microstructural kinematic study of a representative suite of orientated samples of mylonitic rocks, collected from five ductile shear zones within the HRTS. These shear zones include the Neusspruit Lineament, the Kakamas shear zone (KSZ), the Hugosput shear system (HSS), the Rozynenbosch-Ganzenmond shear zone (RGSZ) and the Graafwater shear system (GSS). Accepted modern methods of microstructural kinematic analysis were applied to samples of mylonite from these shear zones, in order to determine the precise orientation of the kinematic vectors, and the sense and relative ages of movements on each of the shear zones. Shear sense criteria, including composite SoC planar fabrics and shear band foliations, asymmetrical porphyroclast systems, mica-fish, oblique grain-shape and subgrain fabrics, asymmetrical microfolds, and the displacement of fractured rigid grains, together with a well-developed mylonite elongation lineation, conclusively indicate that SSW-directed thrusting occurred along the HSS, RGSZ, GSS and possibly along the Neusspruit Lineament, while normal, top-to-NE movements occurred on the Neusspruit Lineament, KSZ and HSS. Rare transposition criteria, and textural and paragenetic contrasts between syn-kinematic fabrics, strongly suggest that the phase of normal, top-to-NE movement seen in the northeastern HRTS shear zones is younger than the more widespread top-to-SW thrusting event. On the basis of mesoscopic structural criteria, SSW-directed thrusting is correlated with the D₂ deformation event in the HRTS. The mylonite zones have been refolded by ENE-SSW trending F₃ crossfolds, whose demonstrated coaxial relationship to the mylonite elongation lineation precluded reorientation of primary kinematic vectors. In the southwestern HRTS, primary thrust vectors have been reoriented by right-lateral, strike-slip shearing adjacent to the Pofadder Lineament during D₄. Simple shear dispersion of mylonite lineations related to normal movement, suggests that they too have been modified by D₄ shearing, and this constrains the timing of extensional movements to post-D₂ and pre- or syn-D₄. Syn-kinematic mineral assemblages, rheological criteria and the annealing states of the mylonites, provide insight into the thermotectonic evolution of the shear zones. A model is proposed in which the movement histories of shear zones within the HRTS are explained in terms of a typical orogenic cycle, involving crustal thickening by thrusting during a compressional orogenic phase, followed by collapse of the thickened crust during an extensional taphrogenic phase.

The purpose of this thesis is to document river otter (Lutra canadensis) distribution and reintroduction potential in northern Utah. Distribution was studied using data from 3 sources: 1) otter sighting records from Utah Division of Wildlife Resources; 2) surveys of Utah furbearer trappers and natural resources personnel; and 3) searches of streams for otter sign. Potential for river otter habitat/reintroduction was evaluated by assessing food, cover, and reintroduction attributes. Streams were ranked using an evaluation system based on data from the otter literature. Forty-six positive otter sightings were made in Utah by trappers, natural resources personnel, and the public, 1964-1988. Only 1.3% of 844.4 km of northern Utah streams had otter sign during winter and summer searches. General characteristics of northern Utah streams such as habitat type and stream gradient are suitable for river otters. However, stream alterations and livestock grazing have negatively impacted potential otter habitat. Ninety-four percent of the studied streams are presently unacceptable for reintroductions. Escape cover is the most limited habitat attribute, but food appears to be available in adequate quantities. We recommend no otter reintroductions be made until riparian zones are rehabilitated and protected. Reestablishment of stream bank vegetation is essential to provide escape cover for reintroduced otters. We also recommend control of pollution inputs and no further construction of reservoirs. Surveys of otter distribution and evaluation of potential reintroduction should be done on the Colorado River drainage in Utah.

Thesis (MTech (Design)--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016.
The research was motivated by my lived experience in the Olifants River community of Namaqualand. In this community there are many diverse ethnic and social groupings with considerable potential to contribute to indigenous knowledge and creative practices. These groupings are, however, fragmented, with no platform for their varied and rich cultural assets to be displayed and acknowledged. In addition, the research was motivated by the call for a platform for the arts in the region. It is argued that visual art practice is an instrumental tool in the advancement of both creativity and social cohesion in this community. The research commenced with a pilot study, comprising workshops, which were run by art practitioners from various sectors in the region. Primary literature that influenced the emerging research design was that of Solomon (2007) as well as the holistic cultural viewpoints of Schafer (2014). The organic process of qualitative research methods as described by Ellingson (2009) was a natural personal directive. Body mapping was used during a preparatory phase that led to the creative exploration of community members’ own identity. Storytelling and dance were included in the design methodology since they enabled a psychosocial process of validating art practice as an economic asset within the community as well as enhancing social cohesion in the community. Crystallisation methods implemented in the process-driven body map workshops were held for grassroots -, town – and township sectors in the Olifants River valley. Each of the workshops comprised ten participants who were invited to participate in a subsequent do-designed collaborative event.

Thesis (MScAgric) -- University of Stellenbosch, 2002.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The table grape industry is a major contributor to the South African economy, directly through foreign earnings from this predominantly export-based industry, as well as indirectly through the employment of thousands of people. It is a growing industry and consists of several production areas. The fastest growing table grape production area in South Africa is the Lower Orange River area, which produces some of the earliest grapes in the Southern Hemisphere. The biggest river in South Africa irrigates this area and it has an extreme climate characteristic of semi-desert areas. This area is considered to be optimal for the production of high quality, early, white seedless grapes. Previously, this area was predominantly planted to Sultanina vines for the purpose of raisin production. When seedless table grapes became a consumer preference, the producers very successfully converted their production practices to yield export quality seedless grapes from the established Sultanina vineyards. Extensive new plantings as well as re-plantings occurred in this area, also including newer cultivars from local and overseas breeding programmes. Being a viticultural and economical hot-spot, the Lower Orange River area is attracting much attention as a table grape production area and it also formed the backdrop to this study. The cultivar profile is changing in the area and it is projected that Sultana-, Regal-, Prime Seedless and Sugraone will be the four major early, white seedless cultivars in 2005. Based on this knowledge and prompted by a lack of information regarding production costs and general profitability of the new cultivars, this study was initiated in the form of a comparative analysis between the four mentioned cultivars spanning the early, middle and late regions of the Lower Orange River area. The approach used extracted information regarding cultural input costs (specifically labour as man-hours and the consequent costs) per manipulation performed in the vineyards. This approach is different from the more general method of obtaining input costs for a specific area based on combined mean values, often not distinguishing between cultivars. The specific aims of the study included a comparative analysis of input costs for production cultural practices per main manipulation action, as well as a comparative analysis taking into account productivity, value and extraordinary costs related to each of the four cultivars. To this end, 22 experimental plots were identified for use in the study. Collaboration of the production managers of each of the experimental plots were procured and information regarding production costs per manipulation and productivity of each cultivar and experimental plot were extracted from their own record keeping systems or from documents provided to the production managers. The value (price achieved) of the various cultivars for the 2001/2002 table grape season were put into perspective by using data from a survey which included information regarding payments for the various cultivars during the season in the Lower Orange River area. Information regarding fruit and vine royalties was obtained from the various plant breeders' rights holders of the various cultivars, where applicable. Primary descriptions of each experimental plot concerning general cultivation practices and information regarding the specific season were used to qualify results obtained from the various blocks. Several complicating factors impacted on the study and specifically the subsequent analyses of the results. Some of the factors were already identified as complicating factors in the planning stage of the study and were mostly linked to the recent introduction of two of the cultivars to the Orange River area. From the data gathered and the analyses performed it became clear that it would be difficult to discern significant differences (where significant is defined as PS0.10), but clear trends were observed and indications obtained. Based on the input cost analyses of this study it is proposed that mature Prime Seedless will have the highest labour input and cultural production cost of the four cultivars, followed by Sugraone. The labour input and the cost for the production cultural practices studied for young Prime Seedless vines were very high in comparison to the mature Sultana Seedless and Sugraone vines, especially for the canopy management and bunch manipulation actions. Prime Seedless was especially prone to the set of small and uneven berries, which lead to very high labour input requirements and subsequent cost for bunch manipulations. Sugraone is also known for the set of small and uneven berries in the Lower Orange River area, especially in difficult climatic seasons, also requiring high labour input for bunch manipulations. The initial indication is that mature Sultana- and Regal Seedless will require similar labour inputs for cultural production practices. The fact that Regal Seedless does not require expensive gibberellic acid (GA) applications, or girdling for thinning and berry enlargement purposes, is a tremendous advantage from a production cost point of view. Accordingly, initial indications are that Regal Seedless will have the lowest cultural production cost of the four cultivars. Regal Seedless was prone to the set of uneven berries during the year of study and accordingly it is suspected that this factor will ultimately determine the labour requirements and cultural production input cost, especially in difficult climatic seasons. The labour input and ultimately the cultural production cost for Sultana Seedless will be determined by the correct timing and concentration of the GA applications for thinning and berry sizing. Sultana Seedless and Sugraone produced high yields during the 2001/2002 table grape season in the Lower Orange River area. Yield information from the various experimental plots confirmed that there is little to choose between the two cultivars in terms of yield when cultivation conditions and practices are optimal. Large variation was observed in the yield results from the Regal- and Prime Seedless experimental plots. This is largely due to the recent introduction of the cultivars to the area and the consequent scarcity of blocks of these cultivars that are in full production. It was impossible to identify clear trends in terms of the future productivity of mature Regal- and Prime Seedless, but some indications of labour inputs could be extracted and qualified. Early maturing Prime Seedless and Sugraone performed very well in terms of price, especially in the harvest period prior to week 50. This advantage of high prices early in the season is, however, not always applicable to early cultivars in the later maturing regions of the Lower Orange River area. Later during the season, after week 50, when the supply of table grapes to the overseas markets has increased sharply, Sultana Seedless is usually the best performer in terms of price of the four cultivars. The ultimate price obtained by a cultivar is to a large extent determined by supply and demand, quality and acceptance of the specific cultivar. This study and its outcomes have a strong regional (Lower Orange River) and local (South Africa) impact and the specific results will undoubtedly be valuable to the producers, exporters and other role-players with vested interest in the cultivars studied or in table grape production per se. The methodology adopted in this study, however, is of broader interest and dearly shows the advantage of having detailed and qualified information regarding cultivation practices and bringing it in relation to the labour and consequent costs required per action. This should lead to more business intelligence and realistic planning on the producer side when decisions regarding the choice of a cultivar for a specific production area with a particular marketing scope have to be made. This study has also paved the way for similar studies, specifically with regard to the detailed description of the methodology that was established. Knowledge of the problems experienced in this study provides a useful reference for the planning and execution of similar studies.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die tafeldruifindustrie dra grootskaals by tot die Suid- Afrikaanse ekonomie: regstreeks deur middel van buitelandse valuta vanaf hierdie hoofsaaklik uitvoer-gebaseerde industrie, asook indirek deur werkverskaffing aan duisende mense. Dit is 'n vinnig groeiende industrie en bestaan uit verskeie produksie-areas waarvan die Benede-Oranjerivierarea, waar van die vroegste druiwe in die suidelike halfrond geproduseer word, tans die meeste groei toon. Die grootste rivier in Suid-Afrika vloei deur hierdie gebied wat deur uiterste klimaatstoestande, soortgelyk aan die van semi-woestyngebiede, gekenmerk word. Hierdie gebied is baie gunstig vir die produksie van hoë-gehalte, vroeë, wit pitlose druiwe. In die verlede is hoofsaaklik Sultanina vir die produksie van rosyne in hierdie gebied verbou. Namate pitlose tafeldruiwe voorkeur begin geniet het onder verbruikers wêreldwyd, het produseerders in die area hul verbouingspraktyke suksesvol aangepas vir die produksie van uitvoergehalte tafeldruiwe vanaf die grootskaalse, reeds gevestigde Sultanina-wingerde. Uitgebreide aanplantings en heraanplantings, wat nuwe cultivars van plaaslike en oorsese teelprogramme ingesluit het, is in hierdie gebied gedoen. Die vinnige groei in tafeldruifaanplantings en -uitvoere, asook die ekonomiese impak van die industrie in die Benede-Oranjeriviergebied, het die afgelope aantal jaar sterk op die voorgrond getree en het gevolglik gedien as agtergrond vir hierdie studie. Die cultivarprofiel in dié area is besig om te verander en volgens vooruitskattings gaan Sultana, Regal, Prime Seedless en Sugraone die vier prominente vroeë, wit, pitlose tafeldruifcultivars in 2005 wees. Gebaseer op hierdie feit en na aanleiding van 'n behoefte aan meer inligting met betrekking tot produksiekostes en algemene winsgewendheid van die nuwe cultivars, is 'n vergelykende studie aangaande die vier genoemde cultivars in die Benede-Oranjeriviergebied geloods. Die benadering wat gedurende die studie gevolg is, het inligting aangaande produksie-insetkoste (spesifiek arbeid in man-ure en gevolglike koste) per manipulasie onttrek. Hierdie benadering verskil van die meer algemene metodiek om insetkoste-inligting van 'n spesifieke area van gekombineerde gemiddelde waardes te verkry. Met so 'n benadering word gewoonlik geen onderskeid tussen cultivars getref nie. Die spesifieke doelwitte van hierdie studie het 'n vergelykende analise aangaande die insetkoste van die produksiepraktyke per hoofmanipulasie/aksie ingesluit, asook 'n analise waar produktiwiteit, waarde en buitengewone koste van die vier cultivars in ag geneem is. In totaal is 22 eksperimentele persele gebruik in die studie. Samewerking van die produksiebestuurders van die onderskeie esperimentele persele is verkry ten opsigte van die verskaffing van inligting oor produksiekoste per manipulasie, en die produktiwiteit per cultivar en eksperimentele perseel. Die produksiebestuurders het die nodige dokumente ontvang om die inligting te onttrek, of kon die inligting verskaf soos dit in hul rekordhoudingsisteem voorgekom het. Die waarde (prys behaal) van die onderskeie cultivars vir die 2001/2002-seisoen is in perspektief gestel deur gebruik te maak van 'n opname wat in die Benede Oranjeriviergebied plaasgevind het. Hierdie opname het inligting oor die uitbetalings van die onderskeie cultivars in die area vir die 2001/2002- seisoen ingesluit. Inligting rakende die stok- en vrugproduksie-tantieme is vanaf die onderskeie plantttelersregtehouers van die cultivars verkry. Primêre beskywings van die algemene verbouingspraktyke van elke eksperimentele blok en inligting oor die spesifieke seisoen is gebruik om die data wat vanaf die esperimentele persele verkry is, in perskektief te stel. Verskeie kompliserende faktore het die studie en die ontleding van data beïnvloed. Verskeie van hierdie faktore is reeds geidentifiseer met die beplanning van die studie en was meestal gekoppel aan die onlangse bekendstelling van Regal en Prime Seedless aan die Benede-Oranjeriviergebied. Na aanleiding van die data wat ingesamel en ontleed is, was dit duidelik dat dit moeilik sou wees om betekenisvolle verskille (waar "betekenisvol" as PS0.10 gedifinieer is) tussen die cultivars uit te lig, maar dat dit egter wel moontlik sou wees om aanvanklike indikasies en tendense te kry. Gebaseer op die insetkoste-ontleding van die studie blyk dit dat volwasse Prime Seedless die hoogste arbeidsinsetle en produksiekoste van die vier cultivars gaan hê, gevolg deur Sugraone. Die arbeidsinsetle en koste van die produksie-aksies wat van jong Prime Seedless bestudeer is, was baie hoog in vergelyking met volwasse Sultana Seedless- en Sugraone-stokke, veral ten opsigte van lowerbestuur en trosmanipulasies. Prime Seedless was veral geneig tot die set van klein, oneweredige korrels, wat tot baie hoë arbeidsinsetle en gevolglik koste vir trosmanipulasies gelei het. Sugraone is ook daarvoor bekend dat dit geneig is tot die set van klein, oneweredige korrels in die Benede-Oranjeriviergebied (veral in moeilike klimaatseisoene), wat gevolglik tot hoë arbeidsinstle vir trosmanipulasie lei. Die aanvanklike aanduiding is dat volwasse Sultana en Regal Seedless min of meer die dieselfde arbeidsinsetle vir verbouing sal vereis. Die feit dat Regal Seedless nie duur gibberelliensuur (GS)-behandelings vir blomtrosuitdunning of korrelvergroting benodig nie, is 'n enorme voordeel in terme van produksiekoste. Gevolglik is die aanvanklike aanduiding dat Regal Seedless die laagste produksieskoste van die vier cultivars sal hê. In die studiejaar was Regal Seedless egter geneig tot die set van onweredige korrels en gevolglik word verwag dat hierdie faktor uiteindelik die arbeidsinsetle en produsiekoste van die cultivar sal bepaal, veral in moeilike klimaatseisoene. Die arbiedsinsetle en produksiekoste van Sultana Seedless sal bepaal word deur die korrekte tydsberekening en konsentrasie van die GS-behandelings vir uitdunning en korrelvergroting. Sultana Seedless en Sugraone het gedurende die 2001/2002-seisoen hoë opbrengste in die Benede-Oranjeriviergebied geproduseer. Oesdata inligting van die onderskeie esperimentele persele het bevestig dat daar min te kies is tussen die twee cultivars in terme van produktiwiteit wanneer verbouingstoestande en -praktyke optimaal is. Groot variasie is egter waargeneem in die opbrengsresultate van die Regal en Prime Seedless. Dit is hoofsaaklik as gevolg van die onlangse bekendstelling van die twee cultivars in die area en dus ook die beperkte aantal blokke van die cultivars wat reeds in vol produksie was. Dit was dus onmoontlik om duidelike tendense in terme van die toekomstige produksie van volwasse Regal en Prime Seedless te identifiseer. Indikasies van arbeidsinsette en produksiekoste kon egter wel verkry word. Vroeg rypwordende Prime Seedless en Sugraone vaar baie goed in terme van die prys wat dit behaal, veral in die oesperiode voor week 50. Hierdie voordeel van hoë pryse behaal vroeg in die seisoen is egter nie altyd van toepassing op vroeë cultivars in die later rypwordende areas van die Benede-Oranjeriviergebied nie. Later in die seisoen (na week 50), wanneer die aanbod van tafeldruiwe op oorsese markte skerp toegeneem het, is Sultana Seedless gewoonlik die beste presteerder in terme van prys van die vier cultivars. Die uiteindelike prys wat deur cultivars behaal word, word tot 'n groot mate bepaal deur vraag en aanbod, kwaliteit en aanvaarding van die cultivar deur die verbruiker. Die studie en die uitkomste daarvan het 'n sterk streeks (Benede-Oranjerivier) en plaaslike (Suid-Afrika) impak, en die spesifieke resultate salongetwyfeld van waarde wees vir produseerders, uitvoerders en ander rolspelers met bestaande belange in die cultivars of vir tafeldruifproduksie as sulks. Die metodiek wat in hierdie studie gebruik is, is egter van breêr belang en wys duidelik die voordele daarvan om gedetailleerde en gekwalifiseerde inligting aangaande produksiepraktyke te hê, wat dit ook in verband bring met arbeid en gevolglike koste per aksie. Dit behoort te lei tot meer besigheidsintelligensie en realistiese beplanning deur die produseerder met betrekking tot cultivarkeuse vir 'n spesifieke produksiearea met 'n spesifieke bemarkings geleentheid. Hierdie studie het ook die weg gebaan vir soortgelyke studies, spesifiek ten opsigte van die gedetailleerde beskrywing van die metodiek wat gevestig is. Kennis van die probleme wat in hierdie studie ondervind is, kan dien as nuttige verwysing vir die beplanning en uitvoer van soortgelyke studies.

This thesis focuses upon Clyde River Inuit knowledge, concerns, and attitudes to community tourism development and protected area establishment. The findings suggest that a cross-section of residents have a positive attitude toward community tourism development because it may provide local economic benefits. Residents also support the Igalirtuuq Conservation Proposal because it protects the endangered bowhead whale and its critical habitat, while at the same time stimulating tourism development. Clyde Inuit are reluctant to attribute social and environmental costs to these initiatives but are, nevertheless, able to point out some specific negative impacts that such projects might have on their village. Most felt that few problems would materialise as long as residents were intimately involved in all aspects of a controlled and gradual development. The study illustrates the importance of this type of community oriented approach in providing guidelines for tourism and conservation area development policy makers.

This study investigated rural livelihoods in two contrasting environments in the upper and lower reaches of the Gariep River: Sehlabathebe in the Lesotho highlands, and the Richtersveld in the Northern Cape, and how these have changed over time. Livelihoods were examined using the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework in conjunction with the household development cycle. This study therefore adopted a multi-scale approach, where a micro-level household analysis was framed within the macro level social, political, environmental, economic and institutional context, while taking into account the role of temporal scale of livelihood change. A multi-scale approach facilitated the identification of the major drivers of change, both exogenous and endogenous. The combination of livelihood strategies pursued differed between the two sites. Households in Sehlabathebe are reliant mainly on arable and garden cultivation, livestock in some households, occasional remittances, use of wild resources, petty trading and reliance on donations. Households in the Richtersveld relied primarily on livestock, wage labour, use of wild resources and State grants or pensions. The livelihood strategies pursued in each site have not changed markedly over time, but rather the relative importance of those strategies was found to have changed. The assets available to households, the livelihood strategies adopted and the changes in these livelihood strategies are influenced by a households stage in the development cycle and differing macro-level factors. Drivers of change operate at multiple spatial and temporal scales, and are often complex and interrelated. The major drivers of livelihood change were identified as macro-economic, demographic, institutional and social and climatic. This study highlights the importance of using historical analysis in the study of livelihoods, as well as the complexity and diversity of rural livelihoods. Ecosystem goods and services were found to play a fundamental role in rural livelihoods and are influenced by institutional factors. Rural households are heavily reliant on the formal economy, and macro-economic changes have had a significant impact on livelihoods. This is highlighted by how the drastic decline in migrant labour opportunities for households in Sehlabathebe has negatively affected them. Vulnerability was shown to be a result of external shocks and trends, such as institutional transformation, a decline in employment opportunities, theft and climatic variation; and differed between the two sites. The role of institutional breakdown was shown to be a major factor influencing rural livelihoods, and this is related to broader economic and political changes. This study contributes to the growing literature on rural livelihoods by allowing for an appreciation of how differing environments and contextual factors influence livelihood strategies adopted, and which different factors are driving change.

The Lule River is the largest and most important river for hydropower production in Sweden. This river, situated in the northern part of the country, has been regulated since the beginning of the 20th century and is heavily regulated with 15 power stations. The major aim of this study is to quantify the transport of nutrients and other elements in a reservoir, Stora Lulevatten, since knowledge about processes in upstream reservoirs is limited. Monthly sampling of the filtered (<0.22m) phase of river water was performed at the Porjus and Vietas power stations over a period of 15 months. To quantify the effects of river regulation, a geochemical mass balance study was performed. The results show retention of S, K, Si, NO3-N, Fe, PO4-P, Al, Mn and DOC in the reservoir. The study indicates retention levels of 34-43% for Si, Al, Mn, DOC, PO4-P, NO3-N, and for Fe, as much as 68%. A model comparing pre-regulation transport of elements at Porjus power station with present-day transport is presented. The results agree well with the retention of S, DOC, Fe Si, Mn and Al in the reservoir, and thus decreased transport after regulation. One reason for the changed transport is the changed discharge pattern after regulation. Three sediment cores were sampled in the reservoir, and analysed in details for main elements, P and N, and diatom frustules were counted in the sediments. A significantly higher Si/Al ratio could be observed in all three cores after regulation, which correlates with an increased concentration of diatoms in the sediment. The annual retention of non-detrital Si in the sediments as calculated from sediment geochemistry (2138 tonnes Sind/year) is in relatively good agreement with the retention obtained from the mass balance study (3320 tonnes Si/year). A comparison of the background and present-day accumulation of non-detrital Si suggests that the Si retention has increased by 698 tonnes/year after regulation of the Lule River. This increase may be an effect of an increased diatom production in Stora Lulevatten appearing after the construction of the reservoir. Seasonal variations in the geochemical constituents in the regulated Lule River have been studied during an entire year cycle (May 2000 to June 2001) at the Boden power station, near the mouth of the river. Comparing the Si retention in the reservoir with the total transport of Si at Boden, the increased deposition of 698 tonnes Si/year corresponds to a reduction in the Si transport to the Gulf of Bothnia by 2%. The geochemistry of the regulated Lule River is compared with a pristine river, the Kalix River, for which data from a previous study at Luleå University of Technology are available. The results from this comparison show that the transport of Fe (and probably also of P) was found to be clearly decreased due to regulation. The decreased transport of Fe agrees well with the mass balance study, decreased transport after regulation at Porjus and retention of Fe and P in the sediments in Stora Lulevatten. Stora Lulevatten acts as a sink for Fe, Si and P. Considering that Stora Lulevatten is small compared to upstream reservoirs, the total retention is probably larger than that observed in Stora Lulevatten. A result of changed discharge pattern after regulation is that nutrients and other elements reach the Gulf of Bothnia in changed amounts and during different seasons than what would have been the case for an unregulated river.
Godkänd; 2003; 20070214 (ysko)

Semi-arid valleys in northern Utah are home to the majority of the state population and are dependent upon winter snowpack in surrounding mountains for water for irrigation, hydropower and municipal use. Water is delivered to the urban areas in the spring as discharge in rivers draining the mountains. Understanding the natural variability and cycles of wet and dry periods enables water managers to make informed water allocations. However, the complex regional climate teleconnections are not well understood and the shortness of the instrumental period does not allow for a full understanding of natural variability. Paleo proxies can be used to extend the instrumental record and better capture natural variability. This study uses dendrochronology to reconstruct streamflows of the Logan River in northern Utah over the last several centuries to provide water managers with a better understanding of natural variability. This reconstruction involved sampling and creating three Douglas-fir, one limber pine and two Rocky Mountain juniper chronologies in northern Utah. Combined with existing chronologies, three flow reconstructions of the Logan River were created: one using only within basin chronologies, one using all considered chronologies and one long chronology. Employing regional chronologies resulted in the most robust models, similar to other findings. Results indicate that the last several centuries exhibited greater variability and slightly higher mean annual flows than in the instrumental record (1922-2011). These reconstructions were created using species well established within the dendroclimatology literature such as of Douglas-fir and limber pine and the lesser used Rocky Mountain juniper. The success of Rocky Mountain juniper suggests that it can be a useful species for dendroclimatology in other areas lacking more widely recognized species in semi-arid climates (e.g., pinyon pine).

This study is an investigation of the timing of extinction of late Pleistocene, large bodied mammalian herbivores (megafauna) and of the environment in which they lived. The demise of the megafauna near the end of the Pleistocene remains unexplained. Owing to potential human involvement in the extinctions, archaeologists have been particularly concerned to understand the causes for faunal losses. Our current lack of understanding of the timing and the causes of the extinctions in North America may result from a deficiency in understanding the histories of each individual species of extinct animal on a local level. Detailed regional chronologies of fauna are necessary for comparison with paleoenvironmental and archaeological data to help sort out causes for extinction. The Willamette Valley of western Oregon has long been noted for finds of megafauna, though records have not been synthesized since the early 20th century and these materials have remained largely unstudied. In this thesis, I first create a catalog of extinct megafauna recovered from the Willamette Valley. Next, using material from the northern valley, I employ AMS radiocarbon dating, stable isotope δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N analyses, and gross inferences based on the dietary specializations and habitat preferences of taxa in order to reconstruct environments and to develop a local chronology of events that is then arrayed against archaeological and paleoenvironmental data. The results of this study indicate that megafaunal populations in the northern Willamette Valley were contemporaneous with the earliest known human populations of the Pacific Northwest, as well as later populations associated with the Clovis Paleoindian Horizon. Consistent with the overkill hypothesis, radiocarbon ages span the length of the Clovis window, but no ages are younger than Clovis. Moreover, all radiocarbon ages are older than or contemporaneous to the onset of the Younger Dryas Stadial. No age ranges fall exclusively within the Younger Dryas. Comparison of megafaunal ages and paleoenvironmental records support the view that climate change contributed to local animal population declines. Prior to ~13,000 cal BP, the Willamette Valley was an open environment; herbivores mainly consumed C₃ vegetation. The timing of the loss of megafauna coincides with increased forested conditions as indicated by regional paleoenvironmental reconstruction. As the timing of megafaunal decline correlates with Clovis, the onset of the Younger Dryas, and increased forested conditions, it is not possible with the data currently available to distinguish the cause of extinction in the Willamette Valley. The age ranges of the fauna coupled with taphonomic and geologic context indicate that the fauna are autochthonous to the Willamette Valley; they do not represent ice rafted carcasses or isolated skeletal elements transported from elsewhere during late Pleistocene glacial outburst floods.

This thesis explores in what ways Kemi River dwellers in the Finnish province of Lapland use and have used the waters of their home river, and how their skills and experiences are reflected in their conceptualisation of the riverine world. Based on a year of ethnographic fieldwork, I portray river dwellers’ relations with the Kemi, focusing on practices and narratives and how the flow of water and other matter figures in them.  Having undergone radical transformation over the course of people’s lives, the river is tightly interwoven with personal biographies. An environmental history reveals how people and stream have mutually shaped each other for a long time and continue to do so today. I focus on three activities, fishing, transport, and hydroelectricity generation.  Fishing, formerly the major political-economic river use but economically marginal today, continues to provide a significant way of engaging with and coming to know the river. Boating has radically changed with damming, mechanisation and the displacement of travel and transport to the roads, and presently constitutes a way of performing one’s belonging to the Kemi, in tems of both “understanding” its waters and claiming them politically.  Similarly, timber transport has recently shifted from the river to the roads, though the memories of large-scale floating operations are still prominent in river dwellers’ stories and the riverine landscape.  Finally, hydroelectricity infrastructure widely transformed the river dwellers’ world and introduced a powerful technology negotiating water flows, electricity markets and inhabitants’ sensibilities. Scrutinising these practices and narratives reveals profoundly rhythmic patterns in the river dwellers’ activities, the river’s dynamics and the world around. Life on the river emerges as the ongoing articulation of these manifold rhythms, shaping and being shaped by their interaction.

This study examines historical variations in flood frequency and magnitude in the Yorkshire Ouse basin, northern England, over the last 900 years. The causes of temporal and spatial variations in flooding are evaluated through investigation o f climatic and land-use controls. Documentary evidence o f flooding and climate suggests that a series of large floods between 1263 and 1360 were associated with climatic deterioration from the Medieval Optimum. A shift to generally milder conditions between 1361 and 1549 resulted in no floods being documented in the Ouse basin The frequency o f large magnitude floods increased dramatically between 1550 and 1680, as a result o f low temperatures, increased surface wetness, more frequent snowfall and a southward shift of prevailing storm tracks over middle latitudes, associated with the onset of the "Little Ice Age’. In contrast, during a wanner phase of the Little Ice Age, between 1681 and 1763, the frequency of localised summer flooding increased in the Ouse basin due to more frequent high intensity, short duration convective storms. Extensive lowland flooding became more common between 1764 and 1799 due to an increase in heavy rainfall, followed by a 50-year period characterised by relatively moderate flood frequencies and magnitudes. The later half of the nineteenth century experienced high flood frequencies and magnitudes, particularly in the 1870s and early-1880s, coinciding with high rainfall totals and a high incidence of cyclonic flood generation. Gauged flood and climate data, and land-use records indicate that the period between 1900 and 1916 was characterised by very low flood frequencies and magnitudes, associated with low rainfall, warm temperatures, and an increase in westerly flood generation. Between 1916 and 1943 there were marked variations in flood magnitude between the rural northern rivers and southern industrialised rivers. Magnitudes generally increased on northern rivers, whilst on some southern tributaries of the Ouse, flood magnitudes declined as a result of widespread channel improvement and flood defence schemes. Around 1944 a marked and sustained increase in flood frequency on northern rivers was associated with an increase in the incidence of heavy daily rainfall, greater westerly flood generation and large-scale upland and lowland drainage. Very low flood frequencies and magnitudes between 1969'and 1977 resulted from extremely low rainfall totals. Whereas the most recent period, between 1978 and 1996 has experienced some of the highest flood frequencies and magnitudes on record, associated with an increase in the frequency of floods generated under cyclonic and south-westerly synoptic situations, and a number of land-use changes promoting more rapid runoff including, large increases in upland livestock numbers, an increase in the area under winter-cereals and the cumulative effects of moorland gripping.

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2000.
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The Eel River watershed has a high concentration of slow-moving landslides, or earthflows, due to argillaceous mélange bedrock and high tectonic uplift. Earthflows within this area are highly dissected by ephemeral channels, or gullies. Despite the pervasiveness of gullying in this area, the role of fluvial systems in relation to earthflows and varying uplift is poorly understood. To understand the role of earthflows and tectonics in dictating channel processes, we investigate channels in areas of differential uplift and mass failure activity. Channel networks are connected and continuous in catchments without earthflows, and disconnected and prone to bank failure on earthflow surfaces. Gully profiles are influenced BY earthflow undulations, which attenuate with fluvial incision after earthflows cease activity. We find notable differences in fluvial dissection between areas of high and low landslide activity. We find that mass wasting and local bedrock have a strong influence on formation and organization of channels.

The Northern tamarisk beetle (Diorhabda carinulata) was introduced to the Colorado River Basin in 2004 as a biological control agent for the invasive shrub: tamarisk (Tamarix spp.). Since 2004, D. carinulata has colonized much of the Colorado River Basin, defoliating tamarisk and adapting to local abiotic cues as it has spread across the landscape. I studied the interplay of abiotic cues, tamarisk defoliation, and the population dynamics of D. carinulata along portions of the Colorado, Dolores, and San Juan rivers from 2007-2012. My results suggest that the timing and location of tamarisk defoliation can be predicted based on the abiotic cues of a location (specifically temperature and day length) and the spatial distribution of D. carinulata across the landscape. In contrast, I also found that the spatial distribution of D. carinulata was often a result of D. carinulata abandoning areas where it had defoliated tamarisk at high intensities. I found that larval abundances from the first new generation of D. carinulata produced in a year were positively linearly correlated with defoliation intensities one month later. Comparatively, generations of larvae produced later in the season were correlated with defoliation intensity along a bell curve, in which the number of D. carinulata declined in areas>50% defoliated. The timing of defoliation during the active season was correlated with the arrival of each new generation of larvae. I found the number of generations of D. carinulata produced in a year varied based on spring temperatures and fall day lengths. The timing of when spring temperatures rose above 15°C dictated when D. carinulata could begin reproductive activity, and this in turn resulted in how early in the year tamarisk could become defoliated. Day length cues governing overwintering in D. carinulata appear to have shortened by>30 min. compared to populations of D. carinulata first released in North America in 2001, resulting in longer duration of activity into the fall. We found the range of D. carinulata could grow as much as 62.8±5.6 km in a year along a linear riparian system, and populations of D. carinulata could defoliate between 24±11.2 and 116±11.2 km of river corridor tamarisk in a year.

The Ob is the third largest Eurasian river supplying heat and freshwater to the Arctic Ocean. These inputs influence water salinity, ice coverage, ocean temperatures and ocean circulation, and ultimately the global climate system. Variability of Ob River flow on long time scales is poorly understood, however, because gaged flow records are short. Eleven tree-ring width chronologies of Pinus sibirica and Larix sibirica are developed from the floodplain of the Lower Ob River, analyzed for hydroclimatic signal and applied as predictors in a regression model to reconstruct 8-month average (December-July) discharge of the Ob River at Salekhard over the interval 1705-2012 (308 yrs). Correlation analysis suggests the signal for discharge comes through air temperature: high discharge and floodplain water levels favor cool growing-season air temperature, which limits tree growth for the sampled species at these high latitudes. The reconstruction model (R-2 = 0.31, 1937-2009 calibration period) is strongly supported by cross validation and analysis of residuals. Correlation of observed with reconstructed discharge improves with smoothing. The long-term reconstruction correlates significantly with a previous Ob River reconstruction from ring widths of trees outside the Ob River floodplain and extends that record by another century. Results suggest that large multi-decadal swings in discharge have occurred at irregular intervals, that variations in the 20th and 21st centuries have been within the envelope of natural variability of the past 3 centuries, and that discharge data for 1937-2009 underestimate both the variability and persistence of discharge in the last 3 centuries. The reconstruction gives ecologists, climatologists and water resource planners a long-term context for assessment of climate change impacts.

This thesis provides an extensive look at where permitted non-farm uses and dwellings have clustered within Exclusive Farm Use (EFU) zones in the Northern Willamette Valley in Oregon. There is a looming concern that non-farm related uses and dwellings, or non-farm development, are conflicting with agricultural preservation strategies. Specifically, non-farm developments can potentially undermine the critical mass of farmland needed to keep the agricultural economy sustainable, but until now, studies have lacked spatially precise data to systematically track these phenomena. This thesis offers methodological contributions towards analyzing these operations and presents a broad account of what has been occurring in the region. Using permit approval data from the Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) and 2015 county tax lot shapefiles, I geocoded the locations of these uses and dwellings. I used location quotient and spatial autocorrelation coefficients to identify non-farm hotspots in the region and summarized different typologies that have developed. The findings reveal that viticulture operations have amassed near Dundee and Newberg in Yamhill County, while commercial activities and home occupations have clustered near the Salem-Keizer UGB. Concurrently, dwellings have clustered near the Yamhill-Polk County border. Finally, I offer suggestions to improve Oregon’s agricultural land use policy and data management process, as well as advocate for more intensive research in the future to generate narratives for our results.

The northern river otter (Lontra canadensis) is a semi-aquatic carnivore whose range extends throughout most of the United States and Canada. The northern river otter experienced a severe range contraction post-European settlement, but due to widespread management has in recent decades begun to recover much of its former range and habitat. We translocated 27 river otters from Utah and Idaho to the Provo River, Utah from November 2009 through January 2012 in a reintroduction effort to restore the northern river otter to its native range. Of these 27 otters, 6 died as a result of effects related to the translocation. We used linear regression and model selection to determine what factors had the most influence on the immediate mortality of translocated otters. We found that body mass was the most important factor, followed by sex. Indeed, otters at the high end of the body mass spectrum were 4 times more likely to survive a translocation than otters at the low end of body mass. Along with the reintroduction project, we determined the food habits of the northern river otter in the Provo River watershed. We located and monitored otter latrine sites from February 2010 through February 2012, collecting scats on a monthly basis. We identified prey items in otter scat and recorded data as the frequency of prey items per total number of scats, presented as a percentage. Fish was the primary class of prey taken by otters (96.5%), followed by crustaceans (16.9%). Otter diet varied among seasons for nearly all classes (G = 127.8, d. f. = 24, P < 0.001) and families (G = 132.94, d. f. = 18, P < 0.001) of prey. We conclude that otters are potentially selecting prey in the main channel according to their abundance and in inverse proportion to their swimming ability. However, with multiple habitat types that vary in species richness and diversity, it was difficult to determine which prey items otters are selecting for without direct behavioral data on location of foraging. We examined the diet of the northern river otter at the regional and continental scale. We examined 100 publications and 106 prey lists in order to determine the food habits of the northern river otter among ecoregions and seasons. Fish was found to occur in otter diet more often than any other class of prey, followed by malacostracans. At the family level, Astacoidea contributed more to otter diet than any other family of prey. Multiple classes and families varied by ecoregion and/or by season. Crayfish, while not the primary component of otter prey throughout North America, was found to be the primary component when readily available. Furthermore, we developed a model of river otter prey selection which includes factors that may have an impact on the availability of prey to otters. Otter prey selection is likely due to a variety of factors, including the habitat, detectability, catchability, and palatability of prey.

Much of our current understanding of prehistoric human behavioural patterns during the Stone Age, is derived particularly from a robust set of chronological and technological sequences from caves and rock shelters, with some focus on open-air sites. The information gained from shelters cannot be ignored or downplayed, however, they offer a spatially and temporally limited view of prehistoric lifeways. The aim of this thesis is to provide an understanding of landscape use during the Stone Ages along the Bos River in the Tankwa Karoo, Northern Cape. Surveys were carried out around the Bos River, with the intention of mapping out and analysing all the surface stone artefacts. Analysing at the scale of the individual artefact, particularly temporally iconic artefacts, permits the landscape, although geologically and ecologically variable, to be viewed as a continuous space. The benefit of this approach allows for all artefacts across all types of settings to be analysed, providing a spatially subjective distribution of artefacts across the landscape. The evidence described in this thesis demonstrates an episodic occupation of the Tankwa Karoo during periods of increased resources, particularly the availability of food. The Bos River is a low-energy river that receives little rain and does not facilitate the formation of large rounded cobbles and boulders, explaining the lack of an occupation during the Earlier Stone Age (ESA), whereas an expedient organisation of locally sourced raw materials for stone tools characterise the Middle Stone Age (MSA) and Later Stone Age (LSA) periods in the Tankwa Karoo.

We present a tree-ring based reconstruction of water-year (October–September) streamflow for the Manasi River in the northern Tien Shan mountains in northwestern China. We developed eight Tien Shan spruce (Picea schrenkiana Fisch. et Mey.) chronologies for this purpose, which showed a common climatic signal. The hydroclimatic forcing driving tree growth variability affected streamflow with a three- to four-year lag. The model used to estimate streamflow is based on the average of three chronologies and reflects the autoregressive structure of the streamflow time series. The model explains 51% of variance in the instrumental data and allowed us to reconstruct streamflow for the period 1629–2000. This preliminary reconstruction could serve as a basis for providing a longer context for evaluating the recent (1995–2000) increasing trends in Manasi River streamflow and enables the detection of sustained periods of drought and flood, which are particularly challenging for managing water systems. Several of the reconstructed extended dry (wet) periods of the Manasi River correspond to reconstructed periods of drought (flood) in Central Asia in general and in other Tien Shan mountain locations in particular, suggesting that the analysis of Tien Shan spruce could contribute significantly to the development of regionally explicit streamflow reconstructions.

The brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis is the only salmonid native to the southern Appalachian Mountains, and is distributed across eastern North America from Canada to Georgia. This species was once abundant in coldwater lakes and streams throughout its range, but environmental disturbances and the introduction of non-native species have drastically reduced the number and sizes of wild populations. Genetic evidence suggests a division at the subspecies level between southern- and northern-derived brook trout populations, with the break between the two forms occurring roughly at the New River watershed. Before the subspecies structure was recognized, brook trout of northern origin were widely stocked throughout the Southeast. The primary objective of this study was to determine the phylogenetic origin of all wild brook trout populations in southwestern Virginia using allozyme markers. Seventy-eight streams believed to contain brook trout in the New, James, Holston, and Yadkin river drainages were sampled by backpack electrofishing. Muscle tissue samples were collected from 916 individuals from 56 populations using a non-lethal biopsy technique. The samples were analyzed by cellulose acetate gel electrophoresis and histochemical staining techniques. Variation at four polymorphic loci, including the diagnostic creatine kinase (CK-A2*) locus, was quantified in terms of genetic diversity and population genetic differentiation. Allele frequencies indicated that 19 populations were of putative southern origin, 5 of northern origin, and 32 of mixed genetic origin. The secondary objective was to determine the geographic distribution of southern- and northern-form brook trout populations throughout the native range using data compiled from all known genetic studies. A map of these data showed that the break between the southern and northern form is sharp, occurring at the New/Roanoke-James watershed divide. Populations from the New River drainage expressed the southern allele at a frequency of 85%, suggesting that their historic native character is southern, and that the presence of northern alleles is due to stocking or stream-capture events. The persistence of the southern form, despite the heavy stocking of northern-derived individuals, may be evidence of an adaptive advantage for the southern form of the species. Existence of adaptive genetic differentiation supports the case for conservation of the southern form of the species in future management of brook trout.
Master of Science