Dissertations / Theses: 'River conservation'

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Gupta, Nishikant. "River conservation in the Indian Himalayan region." Thesis, King's College London (University of London), 2015. http://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/river-conservation-in-the-indian-himalayan-region(f24ba43b-0d59-4582-a98b-e1cf284b9e99).html.

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Rivers have a multitude of important functions and provide crucial services to millions of people. However, rivers currently face severe anthropogenic threats due to an expanding human population and a surge in water demand. The fish species present within rivers provide a source of protein to some poorer sections of communities and present ecological and socio-economic opportunities for various stakeholders, (i.e. village members, catch-and-release (C&R) angling associations, C&R anglers, forest managers, and conservationists). To protect rivers and their fish species in the Indian Himalayan region, critical stressors and novel conservation strategies were investigated. Terrestrial Protected Areas (tPAs) are applied management tools for biodiversity conservation in the region, and along with existing managed reaches, (i.e. temple pools and angling pools) could protect river ecosystems from pressures such as over fishing, habitat degradation and fragmentation, and pollution. Although under scrutiny for its probable effects on aquatic ecosystems, C&R angling as a leisure activity could protect target fish species through associated socio-economic opportunities, and could act as a monitoring tool for fish species. A global online survey conducted among C&R anglers visiting Indian rivers revealed their willingness to assist with conservation projects targeting prime angling fish species. In view of the current benefits associated with global flagship species and examined support among local stakeholders in the study area, an attempt was made to promote a freshwater fish as a flagship conservation species for wider benefits to river ecosystems. With the present available support among local stakeholders and novel applicable conservation opportunities for river ecosystems, an innovative strategy, i.e. setting up of Freshwater Fish Safe Zones (FFSZs) was proposed to the State and Central Government of India to bring about long-term ecological and socio-economic benefits to Indian rivers and local stakeholders.

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Oldham, C. D. C. "Wild and scenic river conservation in New Zealand." Thesis, University of Canterbury. Geography, 1989. http://hdl.handle.net/10092/6978.

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This thesis aims to critically evaluate New Zealand's wild and scenic rivers policy, a policy introduced in 1981, after extensive research including an examination of a similar policy in the United States. Under the New Zealand policy, water conservation orders can be placed on rivers to protect outstanding wild, scenic or recreational characteristics of those waterbodies. This thesis does not set out to prove or disprove a particular hypothesis, but does have several specific goals. The development of the conservation movement in New Zealand is outlined as a background to the introduction of the policy. As part of this, definitions of both 'conservation' and the 'conservation movement' are given. The place of river conservation in this development is also discussed. The context of the introduction of the policy is also examined, illustrating that many other Government policies of the period were development oriented. The actual policy itself is examined, with particular reference to the methods by which it works and the deficiencies it is seen to have. Possible ways by which the deficiencies can be remedied are also discussed. To illustrate these points as they relate to particular rivers, two individual case studies are examined, of the Motu and Rakaia Rivers, both of which are now protected by National Water Conservation Orders. Finally, in conclusion it is discussed as to what it is that are perceived as the threats to rivers from which they are being protected, whether these threats are real and whether, if so, they are increasing or declining in significance. From this it is discussed whether or not New Zealand actually needs such a policy.

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Brief, Dominique Ariane. "Ecotourism as a conservation strategy in Black River, Jamaica." Thesis, McGill University, 1997. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=20807.

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Nature-based tourism is proposed as a conservation strategy in both the developed and developing world, yet few empirical studies exist examining how the conservation process is achieved. An emerging nature-based tourism industry in Black River, Jamaica was studied to determine the factors involved in creating a symbiotic tourism-environment relationship. The tourism-environment relationship brings into play many stakeholders and at the local level these include the tour developers, conservation authorities, the natural environment, the host population and the visiting public. In this study, surveys of tour developers, conservation authorities and the host population indicate that Black River nature-based tourism is degrading the natural and host environment. To modify this outcome of resource degradation adequate administrative arrangements must be established to disengage the elite growth process in favor of a more equitable distribution among a majority of stakeholders. Surveys of the visiting public indicate satisfaction of this consumer group and provide detailed information to guide marketing and management strategies for further improvement of the tour product. Recommendations are presented to strengthen the link between nature-based tourism and conservation of the environment.

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Brief, Dominique Ariane. "Ecotourism as a conservation strategy in Black River, Jamaica." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1998. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk1/tape11/PQDD_0005/MQ44133.pdf.

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Griesel, Gerhard. "Development and management framework for the Gouritz River Catchment." Pretoria : [s.n.], 2003. http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-11202003-155742.

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Hess, Anna N. "The Wolf River and Rock River watersheds : developing a regional curve for bankfull stage /." Link to full text, 2009. http://epapers.uwsp.edu/thesis/2009/Hess.pdf.

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Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stevens Point, 2009.
Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree Master of Science in Natural Resources (Water Resources), College of Natural Resources. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 113-115).

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Nickels, Scot 1959. "Northern conservation and tourism : the perceptions of Clyde River Inuit." Thesis, McGill University, 1992. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=56650.

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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.

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Linke, Simon, and n/a. "River conservation planning: accounting for condition, vulnerability and connected systems." University of Canberra. Resource, Environmental & Heritage Sciences, 2006. http://erl.canberra.edu.au./public/adt-AUC20070716.155500.

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Conservation science in rivers is still lagging behind its terrestrial and marine counterparts, despite increasing threats to freshwater biodiversity and extinction rates being estimated as five times higher than in terrestrial ecosystems. Internationally, most protected rivers have been assigned reserve status in the framework of terrestrial conservation plans, neglecting catchment effects of disturbance. While freshwater conservation tools are mainly index based (e.g. richness, rarity), modern terrestrial and marine conservation planning methods use complementarity-based algorithms - proven to be most efficient at protecting a large number of taxa for the least cost. The few complementarity-based lotic conservation efforts all use broad river classifications instead of biota as targets, a method heavily disputed in the literature. They also ignore current condition and future vulnerability. It was the aim of this thesis to develop a framework for conservation planning that: a) accounts for the connected nature of rivers b) is complementarity based and uses biota as targets c) integrates current status and future vulnerability I developed two different approaches using macroinvertebrate datasets from Australia, Canada and the USA. The first new method was a site/based two-tiered approach integrating condition and conservation value, based on RIVPACS/AUSRIVAS � a modelling technique that predicts macroinvertebrate composition. The condition stage assesses biodiversity loss by estimating a site-specific expected assemblage and comparing it to the actual observed assemblage. Sites with significant biodiversity loss are flagged for restoration, or other management actions. All other sites progress to the conservation stage, in which an index of site-specific taxonomic rarity is calculated. This second index (O/E BIODIV) assesses the number of rare taxa (as defined by <50% probability of occurrence). Using this approach on a dataset near Sydney, NSW, Australia, I was able to identify three regions: 1) an area in need of restoration; 2) a region of high conservation value and 3) an area that had high conservation potential if protection and restoration measures could counteract present disturbance. However, a second trial run with three datasets from the USA and Canada highlighted problems with O/E (BIODIV). If common taxa are predicted at lower probabilities of occurrence (p<50%) because of model error, they enter the index and change O/E (BIODIV). Therefore, despite an attractive theoretical grounding, the application of O/E (BIODIV) will be restricted to datasets where strong environmental gradients explain a large quantity of variation in the data and permit accurate predictions of rare taxa. It also requires extensive knowledge of regional species pools to ensure that introduced organisms are not counted in the index. The second approach was a proper adaptation of terrestrial complementarity algorithms and an extension to the Irreplaceability-Vulnerability framework by Margules and Pressey (2000). For this large-scale method, distributions for 400 invertebrate taxa were modeled across 1854 subcatchments in Victoria, Australia using Generalised Additive Models (GAMs). The best heuristic algorithm to estimate conservation value was determined by calculating the minimum area needed to cover all 400 taxa. Solutions were restricted to include rules for the protection of whole catchments upstream of a subcatchment that contained the target taxon. A summed rarity algorithm proved to be most efficient, beating the second best solution by 100 000 hectares. To protect 90% of the taxa, only 2% of the study area need to be protected. This increases to 10% of the study area when full representation of the targets is required. Irreplaceability was calculated by running the heuristic algorithm 1000 times with 90% of the catchments randomly removed. Two statistics were then estimated: f (the frequency of selection across 1000 runs) and average c (contribution to conservation targets). Four groups of catchments were identified: a) catchments that have high contributions and are always selected; b) catchments that have high contributions and are not always selected; c) catchments that are always chosen but do not contribute many taxa; d) catchments that are rarely chosen and did not contribute many taxa. Summed c, the sum of contributions over 1000 runs was chosen as an indicator of irreplaceability, integrating the frequency of selection and the number of taxa protected. Irreplaceability (I) was then linked to condition (C) and vulnerability (V) to create the ICVframework for river conservation planning. Condition was estimated using a stressor gradient approach (SGA), in which GIS layers of disturbance were summarised to three principal axes using principal components analysis (PCA). The main stressor gradient � agriculture � classified 75% of the study area as disturbed, a value consistent with existing assessments of river condition. Vulnerability was defined as the likelihood that land use in a catchment would intensify in the future. Hereby current tenure was compared to land capability. If a catchment would support a land use that would have a stronger effect on the rivers than its current tenure, it was classified as vulnerable. 79% of catchments contained more than 50% vulnerable land. When integrating the three estimators in the ICV-framework, seven percent of catchments were identified as highly irreplaceable but in degraded condition. These were flagged for urgent restoration. Unprotected, but highly irreplaceable and highly vulnerable catchments that were still in good condition made up 2.5% of the total area. These catchments are prime candidates for river reserves. The ICV framework developed here is the first method for systematic conservation planning in rivers that is complementarity-based, biota-driven but flexible to other conservation targets and accounts for catchment effects, thus fulfilling all the gaps outlined in the aims.

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Twine, Karen Gemma. "Conservation of barbel (Barbus barbus) in the River Great Ouse." Thesis, University of Hull, 2013. http://hydra.hull.ac.uk/resources/hull:8222.

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There have been growing fears relating to the distribution and a perceived lack in natural recruitment of barbel in European rivers. This project reviewed existing literature, examined the suitability of Environment Agency data to assess barbel populations and designed investigations to identify possible bottlenecks in recruitment focusing on all life history stages and environmental influences, with the intention of developing a practical management plan for the River Great Ouse fishery that can be applied to other rivers. This study examined seasonal movements of 20 wild barbel via radio telemetry in a nine kilometre river stretch on the upper Great Ouse, recording weekly movements over an 18 month period. The project aimed to ascertain the effects of environmental influences on movement and habitat use. Radio tracking over 100 consecutive days throughout the spring periods in 2010 and 2011 gave an understanding of their daily movements, identified barriers limiting longitudinal movements and located active spawning gravels. Health of spawning gravels was assessed by monitoring changes in diatom growth and hyporheic water quality during the embryonic development stage. Representative freeze core samples from spawning gravels were used to assess fine sediment infiltration. Larval drift measured the number of larvae leaving the spawning grounds, a range of methodologies were used to capture 0+ to 3+ barbel. Habitat and feeding preferences were then evaluated. It was found that temperature and flow impacted movement, individuals moved through the entire river stretch, despite the presence of a weir that was previously thought of as impassable. Variations in sediment loading were found between spawning habitats, but fine sediment and organic matter were improved with gravel jetting. Larval drift and electric fishing were found to be the most effective methods for catching young barbel, but the necessary habitats to support these young fish were not readily available within the study stretch.

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Wigley, Georgina M. "Constraints on soil conservation in the Pindars River and Two Meetings Watersheds, Jamaica." Thesis, McGill University, 1988. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=64098.

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Jobe, Addison Scott. "CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM EFFECTS ON FLOODPLAIN LAND COVER MANAGEMENT." OpenSIUC, 2018. https://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/theses/2433.

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Growing populations and industrialized agriculture practices have eradicated much of the United States wetlands along river floodplains. One program available for the restoration of floodplains is the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). The current research explores the effects CRP land change has on flooding zones, utilizing Flood Modeller and HEC-RAS. Modelling in both one-dimensional and two-dimensional approaches were tested and analyzed for the same river reach. Flood Modeller is proven a viable tool for flood modeling within the United States when compared to HEC-RAS. Application of the software is used in the Nodaway River system located in the western halves of Iowa and Missouri, to model the effects of introducing new forest areas within the region. Flood stage during the conversion first decreases in the early years, before rising to produce greater heights. Flow velocities where CRP land is present are reduced for long-term scopes. Velocity reduction occurs as the Manning’s roughness values increase due to tree diameter and brush density. Flood zones become more widespread with the implementation of CRP. Comparing one-dimensional and two-dimensional flood mapping zones, the two-dimensional model shows less inundation. CRP land cover effects evolve over time, with the greatest impact appearing at the end of the contract.

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Newman, Tammi C. "Understanding landowner perceptions of conservation easements in the Kaskaskia River corridor /." Available to subscribers only, 2006. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1203562021&sid=9&Fmt=2&clientId=1509&RQT=309&VName=PQD.

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Borgelt, Bryon. "Flies only : early sport fishing conservation on Michigan's Au Sable River /." Connect to full text in OhioLINK ETD Center, 2009. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1242090675.

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Borgelt, Bryon G. "Flies Only: Early Sport Fishing Conservation on Michigan’s Au Sable River." University of Toledo / OhioLINK, 2009. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1242090675.

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Empfield, Jeffrey Morgan. "Wilderness rivers : environmentalism, the wilderness movement, and river preservation during the 1960s /." Thesis, This resource online, 1994. http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-03302010-020640/.

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Wang, Jincheng. "Mercury Exposure Assessment of South River Floodplain Birds." W&M ScholarWorks, 2011. https://scholarworks.wm.edu/etd/1539617902.

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The studies involved in this thesis expanded the current project being conducted in Dr. Newman’s laboratory that aimed to define and quantify the impacts of mercury movement in contaminated aquatic and terrestrial food webs in the South River watershed (Virginia, USA). This expansion involved a two phase study, which fulfilled the requirement of a master thesis. Previous research in our lab documented mercury biomagnification in the river itself and two floodplain locations on the South River watershed. Predictive models were built for mercury concentration in members of these food webs. These studies reached a preliminary conclusion that mercury biomagnification in members of floodplain food webs was faster than that of the aquatic food web. To substantiate this finding and further understand the factors that might produce the differences observed among floodplain locations, two additional floodplain locations were sampled and modeled in 2010. Overall, the models constructed in this study for predicting methylmercury were superior to models for total mercury or the percentage of the mercury present as methylmercury. Including previous models for other sites, four of five attempted methylmercury models based on δ15N met the criterion for useful prediction. For the floodplain models, thermoregulatory strategy was found to have substantial influence on mercury concentrations of food web members. The food web biomagnification factors for the four floodplain locations were consistently higher than that of the contiguous aquatic food web. The second phase of this research focused on description and determination of current mercury exposure to adults of three avian species during nesting on the South River floodplain and judgment of the risk of harmful mercury exposure to these species by comparing the mercury exposure distributions to published toxicity test results. This study incorporated a formal expert elicitation involving a modified Delphi framework and a Monte Carlo simulation to accomplish a probabilistic risk assessment. Simulations from this study predicted the probability that an adult bird during breeding season would ingest harmful amounts of mercury during daily foraging and also the probability that the average mercury ingestion rate for the breeding season of an adult bird would exceed published rates found to cause harm to other birds (>100 ng total Hg/g body weight per day).The probabilities that these species’ averaged ingestion rates exceeded the threshold value were all less than 0.01.

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Ellis, Ronald L. "Residential land use policy and conservation development in the Blanco River Basin /." View online, 2006. http://ecommons.txstate.edu/arp/110/.

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Carrillo-Guerrero, Yamilett Karina. "Water Conservation, Wetland Restoration and Agriculture in the Colorado River Delta, Mexico." Diss., The University of Arizona, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/195396.

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In arid lands, wetland loss is the result not only of the scarcity of water itself, but of the management of water to maximize off-stream uses. Declaring a wetland as a protected natural area is not enough when its water supply is not protected as well. In a fully-diverted, over-allocated, drought-prone Colorado River ecosystem, its delta has no instream flows allocated. Water use efficiency (WUE) is touted as the panacea for water shortages and lack of instream flows. I evaluated the relationships between water use in the Mexicali Irrigation District and the water supply for the Colorado River delta wetlands. The survey applied to 521 farmers complemented the GIS analysis to create a spatial distribution of agronomic and socio-economic factors influencing farmers’ options to improve WUE in irrigation. Mexicali farmers apply 10,496 m³/ha/yr; 4% higher than the legal allotment. Still, 28% of the district’s soils are salt-affected (ECe > 8dS/m), 19% are sodic (ESP > 50%), and 39% of the salt load in irrigation water accumulates in the soils. Thus, Mexicali farmers apply more water than plants need in order to maintain the sustainability of their soils. From an agronomic perspective, increasing WUE is feasible in 80% of the valley. However, high costs and lack of technical knowledge limit farmers’ options to either continue using as much water as they do now or rent/sell their water rights to larger farming operations or urban developments. Mexicali’s agriculture provides 87 Mm³ of water to the delta marshes, and seepage from unlined canals and subsurface flows generated by irrigation contribute to sustain riparian areas. Agricultural “inefficiencies” become the main source of water for wetlands when flows are fully diverted. The Irrigation District 014 is an integral part of the delta ecosystem; this is a required change in the agriculture-wetland paradigm. The restoration of arid and over-allocated rivers requires the integration of irrigation practices and WUE with the allocation of water for instream flows. The restoration of wetlands of international watersheds like the Colorado River requires the bi-national collaboration beyond memorandums of understanding between the countries; treaties where environmental flows are actually allocated will better serve shared ecosystems.

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Braulik, Gillian T. "Conservation ecology and phylogenetics of the Indus River dolphin (Platanista gangetica minor)." Thesis, University of St Andrews, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10023/3036.

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The historical range of the Indus River dolphin has declined by 80% since the 19th century and has been fragmented into 17 river sections by construction of irrigation barrages. Dolphin sighting and interview surveys showed that river dolphins persist in six river sections, have been extirpated from ten, and are of unknown status in the remaining section. Logistic regression and survival modelling showed that low dry season river discharge was the primary factor responsible for the Indus dolphins range decline. Abundance of the three largest Indus dolphin subpopulations was estimated using tandem vessel-based direct counts, corrected for missed animals using conditional likelihood capture-recapture models. The entire subspecies was estimated to number between 1550-1750 in 2006. Dolphin encounter rates within the Guddu-Sukkur subpopulation (10.35/km) were the highest reported for any river dolphin and direct counts suggest that this subpopulation may have been increasing in abundance since the 1970s when hunting was banned. The dry season habitat selection of Indus dolphins was explored using Generalised Linear Models of dolphin distribution and abundance in relation to river geomorphology, and channel geometry in cross-section. Channel cross-sectional area was shown to be the most important factor determining dolphin presence. Indus dolphins avoided channels with small cross-sectional area <700m2, presumably due to the risk of entrapment and reduced foraging opportunities. The phylogenetics of Indus and Ganges River dolphins was explored using Mitochondrial control region sequences. Genetic diversity was low, and all 20 Indus River dolphin samples were identical. There were no haplotypes shared by Indus and Ganges River dolphins, phylogenetic trees demonstrated reciprocal monophyletic separation and Bayesian modelling suggested that the two dolphin populations diverged approximately 0.66 million years ago. Declining river flows threaten Indus dolphins especially at the upstream end of their range, and it is important to determine how much water is required to sustain a dolphin population through the dry season. Fisheries interactions are an increasing problem that will be best addressed through localised, community-based conservation activities.

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Stuckenberg, Tristan. "Land-cover change in the Berg River catchment : implications for biodiversity conservation." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/71641.

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ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Biodiversity refers to the variety of life on earth at all scales of observation. Its persistence underlies ecological and evolutionary processes and is pivotal for the sustenance and future development of human societies through the provision of ecosystem services. Especially since the industrial revolution, anthropogenic land-cover change has placed ever-increasing strain on natural systems through the destruction and degradation of habitat. The Cape Floristic Region (CFR) is a global biodiversity hot spot which contains some of the highest levels of floristic diversity and endemism on the planet. Since European settlement large swathes of this region have been transformed to facilitate socio-economic development, placing tremendous pressure on indigenous biodiversity. Due to the intimate relationship that exists between land cover and biodiversity it is possible to draw inferences on the current state of the biodiversity of an area, assess the pressures that will likely face it in the future and plan accordingly based on an analysis of land-cover change. As a means of assessing the state of biodiversity in the CFR, this thesis has developed a series of three land-cover maps for the Berg River catchment in the Western Cape province for 1986/1987, 1999/2000 and 2007 using Landsat TM and ETM+ data. Areas of natural vegetation were delineated on the land-cover maps using an object-orientated nearest neighbour supervised classification. Remnants of natural vegetation were classified according to potential vegetation boundaries described by Mucina and Rutherford’s map of the vegetation of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. Contrary to initial expectations, the area occupied by natural vegetation had increased by 14%. However, considerable variation was recorded between vegetation types with certain types exhibiting marked increases in extent while others had been encroached by expanding cultivated and urban areas. An assessment of the accuracy of the 2007 land-cover map showed that significant swathes of natural vegetation were infested with alien invasive species or dominated by particularly resilient species which are not as severely affected by anthropogenic activities as other species. It is concluded that the methodology employed in this study provides a scoping mechanism by which more intensive research may be directed toward areas exhibiting significant land-cover change.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Biodiversiteit verwys na die verskeidenheid lewe op aarde op alle waarnemingsvlakke. Die volhouding daarvan onderlê ekologiese en ewolusionêre prosesse en die verskaffing van ekosisteemdienste is deurslaggewend vir die onderhoud en toekomstige ontwikkeling van menslike samelewings deur. Veral sedert die industriële rewolusie het veranderinge in antropologiese gronddekking toenemende druk op natuurlike sisteme geplaas, grootliks deur die vernietiging en ontaarding van habitatte. Die Kaapse Floristiese Streek (KFS) met van die hoogste vlakke van floristiese diversiteit en endemisiteit op aarde, is ‘n brandpunt van wêreldwye biodiversiteit. Sedert die vestiging van Europese setlaars is uitgebreide dele van hierdie streek omskep om sosio-ekonomiese ontwikkeling te bevorder, wat geweldige druk op inheemse biodiversiteit geplaas het. Te wyte aan die intieme verhouding wat tussen gronddekking en biodiversiteit bestaan, is dit moontlik om deur middel van ‘n ontleding van gronddekkingsveranderinge afleidings te maak rakende die huidige stand van biodiversiteit in ‘n streek. Sodoende kan bepaal word watter druk ŉ streek moontlik in die toekoms sal moet weerstaan. Vooruitbeplanning kan dienooreenkomstig gedoen word. Ten einde die stand van biodiversiteit in die KFS te beraam, het hierdie tesis ‘n reeks van drie gronddekkingskaarte (1986/1987, 1999/2000 en 2007) vir die Bergrivier-opvangsgebied in die Wes-Kaapprovinsie met behulp van Landsat TM en ETM+ data ontwikkel. Areas met natuurlike plantegroei is met behulp van ‘n voorwerp-georiënteerde naaste-buurman klassifikasie afgebaken. Oorblyfsels van natuurlike plantegroei is volgens potensiële plantegroeigrense, soos beskryf deur Mucina en Rutherford se kaart van die plantegroei van Suid-Afrika, Lesotho en Swaziland, geklassifiseer. In teenstelling met aanvanklike verwagtinge, het die area wat deur natuurlike plantegroei bedek word met 14% toegeneem. Tog is aansienlike variasie tussen plantegroeitipes opgemerk, met sekere soorte wat opvallende omvangstoename toon, terwyl ander plantegroeitipes deur landbou en stedelike groei vervang is. ‘n Beraming van die akkuraatheid van die 2007-gronddekkingkaart toon dat noemenswaardige stroke natuurlike plantegroei deur uitheemse indringerspesies besmet word of deur uiters weerstandige spesies, wat nie so ernstig as ander spesies deur antropologiese aktiwiteite beïnvloed word nie, gedomineer word. Die gevolgtrekking is dat die metodologie wat in hierdie studie gebruik is ‘n meganisme verskaf waardeur meer intensiewe navorsing op areas wat aansienlike verandering in gronddekking ten toon stel, gerig kan word.

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Simek, Andrew J. "Western Duck Sickness: Avian Botulism and Conservation in the Bear River Marsh." DigitalCommons@USU, 2015. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/4413.

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This thesis investigates how the Bear River marsh’s protection became a national interest and a cause for conservation in the Progressive Era. The thesis documents how the marsh declined because of irrigation development culminating with an outbreak of avian botulism in 1910, and traces the long process to protect the marshland. The research focused on examining local water development patterns of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, ornithological research in the 1910s, and the national sportsmen’s conservation movement of the 1920s. Upon examination of these events, it becomes clear that a coalition of ornithologists, sportsmen, and policy makers worked together to institute change that affected the marsh. Through showing how groups came together in the past to work for conservation, this research highlights the important role that a coalition of groups can have in reshaping how a landscape is viewed and managed.

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Call, Erynn. "River birds as indicators of change in riverine ecosystems." Thesis, The University of Maine, 2015. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=3663177.

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River-associated birds may be valuable indicators of environmental change in riverine ecosystems because they are predators of fishes and therefore often top predators in the aquatic food web. To evaluate the likely scope of one form of change - river restoration through dam removal and the expected return of abundant diadromous fish prey - we: 1) developed an appropriate river bird survey protocol; 2) documented the relative importance of sea-run fish in the diet of four river bird species, bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), osprey (Pandion haliaetus), belted kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon), and tree swallow ( Tachycineta bicolor); 3) documented nest distribution and brood size of osprey; and 4) investigated the relationships between river bird abundance and various habitat parameters. We expect these measures will reflect changes to the river system post-dam removal as diadromous fish populations recover, proliferate, and integrate into the food web. Based on species accumulation curves and first-order Jacknifes, we concluded that biweekly or triweekly I5 minute surveys are sufficient to meet our objectives. Within the Penobscot River, stable isotope analysis of river bird diets indicated that marine nutrients are consumed by bald eagle, osprey, and belted kingfishers that reside below the lowermost dam, but not tree swallows. Despite greater connectivity for and abundance of spawning diadromous fishes (particularly river herring), in the Kennebec and Sebasticook Rivers as compare to the Penobscot River, osprey brood size was not significantly larger. We suspect other factors such as competition with bald eagles may be limiting the benefit of large river herring runs to nesting osprey. Finally, an ordination of 26 river bird species and 5 single-species (invertivore - spotted sandpiper, piscivore - osprey; piscivore - bald eagle; insectivore - tree Swallow; and omnivore - American black duck) generalized linear models, I revealed associations between estimated species abundance and water flow, water level, distance from the river mouth (river kilometer), site position in relation to a dam (e.g. above, below, or not at a dam), and adjacent land cover composition.

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Stumpf, Jonathan M. "The last best fish will conservation and consensus save Montana's Arctic Grayling? /." [Missoula, Mont.] : The University of Montana, 2008. http://etd.lib.umt.edu/theses/available/etd-12182008-103630/unrestricted/STUMPF_JONATHAN_PROJECT.pdf.

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Thesis (M.A.) -- University of Montana, 2008.
Title from author supplied metadata. Description based on contents viewed on June 22, 2009. ETD number: etd-12182008-103630. Includes bibliographical references.

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Burcham, Stephanie Marie. "An Elemental Study in Conservation: A Ceramic Artists' Retreat on Virginia's Rappahannock River." Thesis, Virginia Tech, 2019. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/90882.

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In the process of developing my thesis, I wanted to let go of the contemporary way of thinking about the relationship between architecture and sustainability, which lately tends to be through a lens of applied technology and a baseline understanding of building code that assumes the structure will be designed around an HVAC system that runs 24/7/365 and windows that will never open. I found it difficult to shed that habit, as the first sketches I produced showed massive amounts of insulation in the walls (which again, assumes that the interior air is mechanically conditioned). I thought about how long air conditioning has been a factor in culture today. Just one generation ago, young people were growing up in homes that didn't have air conditioning, or if they did, it was space-based, cooling whatever room happened to be occupied. Certainly, the generation before the previous did not live in a culture where air conditioning was an assumed part of building design. We're now spending more time huddled in our air conditioned homes, which is harmful to our health, distorting the way in which our bodies naturally acclimatize to changing weather. Air conditioning was once considered a luxury expense, and now is practically, or actually, illegal to be without. In addition to the relationship between architecture and air, I also thought about water. Where do we get our potable water from and how? Is the way we currently collect, filter, distribute, receive, use, and dispose of water the best practice for keeping our rivers and aquifers healthy and clean? What about the way we heat our buildings? Every apartment I've lived in the city of Richmond, VA has had at least one fireplace, and they are all bricked up. My current apartment has two chimneys, one in the living room and one in the bedroom, both of which have been long forgotten when the building was hooked up to gas heat. I look around the skyline of my neighborhood and see hundreds of unused chimneys. Is that progress? Is the technology we have now to heat homes more efficient, able to provide more comfort, or better for our environment that what we had used for staying warm in the winter for thousands of years? Lastly, I thought about the relationship between architecture and landscape, especially in regard to plants and animals with which we share our habitat. Not just the native plants and animals that happen to be around us, but also the plants and animals we choose to cultivate and raise. I also think architecture also has a place in the reconsideration of our culture's relationship with food, which is to say, our relationship with the earth, our source of food. I was adamant that the site I chose, and the way in which I created architecture on it, would have a positive impact on both the people who visit, and the local ecosystem. In order to stay focused on my concept of what sustainability is for the future of architecture, rather than what society tells me sustainability should be, I framed my argument around the four elements: air, water, fire and earth. As I dove into developing a program and designing structure and landscape, I used these elements as a framework, my own baseline for what good, comfortable, and environmentally responsible architecture should be.
Master of Architecture
How can I redefine conservation through site and architectural design? I’m going to test a new way to think about environmentally responsible design by designing an off-grid habitat and systems sensitive artists’ retreat in a place that not only has personal meaning to me, a popular getaway spot for Richmond, VA locals, but is currently under threat of 85,000 acres of groundwater-contaminating natural gas fracking in adjacent counties, a thousand acre nearby bald eagle habitat-destroying golf resort development, and irresponsible but difficult to change agricultural practices allowing rampant overgrowth of algae and bacteria severely undermining the health of the river’s ecosystem. The program I chose to investigate also has personal meaning to me, and is usually considered an unsustainable practice: ceramic art. I began learning ceramics my first semester of graduate school and quickly became hooked. However, I noticed many fossil fuel dependent energy and water-intensive practices that were considered quite normal at the studios I worked in at the time. However, the longer I was exposed to ceramics and the more studios I visited, I found more people that approached their making methodology through a conservational lens. They were able to teach me their methods and over time I learned how to properly reclaim clay and use limited and recycled water in the process of making pots and cleaning up the studio. There are still many more aspects of the art to study and perfect, some of which I begin to tackle in my thesis design. Merging the retreat nature of the site and its needs for an intervention to achieve a greater potential for human and environmental health, preserving and protecting the river for its beauty, health, retreat and recreational purposes, and my growing interest in the usually wasteful and environmentally irresponsible art form of ceramics-making launched a thesis level investigation into how to both live in a community that satisfies our basic needs as humans and make this type of art I’ve been drawn to recently in a responsible way.

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Perry, Denielle. "The Uneven Geography of River Conservation In The U.S.: Insights From The Application Of The Wild And Scenic Rivers Act." Thesis, University of Oregon, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/1794/22700.

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Rivers are vital for sustaining biodiversity and human development, yet globally only a small fraction of rivers enjoy protection and those with protections are often impaired or modified. Rapid rates of freshwater species’ extinctions indicate current conservation practices are failing. Despite over fifty years of scientific evidence justifying river conservation, it remains that less attention is focused on protecting ecosystems than on developing water resources for economic growth. This disparity is indicative of the ‘nature as resource’ versus ‘conservation of nature’ paradigm. Today, this paradigm is complicated by new attentions centering both on water resource development projects and conservation policy as climate change adaptation strategies. Policies protecting rivers are recommended for contending with more intense storms and flooding, increasing resilience for species, forests, and agricultural areas, and fostering some types of water security. Creating, implementing, and managing climate adaptation policies will require a strong state presence in water resource governance. We know, however, the aforementioned paradigm hinders conservation policymaking. Therefore, understanding how conservation policy has already been rationalized, implemented, and managed is critical to advancing climate adaptation policymaking. Yet, little empirical research has been conducted on federal river conservation policy creation or application across the U.S. To that end, this dissertation, presented in three discrete original research articles, examines the United States National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Specifically, this study investigates the socio-ecological drivers behind the creation of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 (WSRA hereinafter) and the spatial dimensions of the policy’s application and management over time. This study is grounded empirically in extensive archival materials, interviews with federal land management agency personnel, conservation advocates, and technical experts, as well as spatial and temporal analysis of a geodatabase. Together, these methods were employed to answer the following research questions which guide this study: (1) What factors influence the temporal and spatial distribution of river segments protected under the Wild & Scenic Rivers Act? (2) What does the history of management in designated segments suggest about emerging trends and patterns in river conservation? (3) How are competing environmental values and ideologies understood and reconciled in the context of river conservation?

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Trujillo, Fernando. "Habitat use and social behaviour of the freshwater dolphin Inia geoffrensis (de Blainville, 1817) in the Amazon and Orinoco basins." Thesis, University of Aberdeen, 2000. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.327126.

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Hogan, Zeb Shelton. "The ecology, genetics, and conservation of migratory catfish (Pangasiidae) in the Mekong River /." For electronic version search Digital dissertations database. Restricted to UC campuses. Access is free to UC campus dissertations, 2004. http://uclibs.org/PID/11984.

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Cook, Chad M. "Ataam Taikina| Traditional knowledge and conservation ethics in the Yukon river delta, Alaska." Thesis, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2014. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=1552133.

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This research was conducted in collaboration with rural Yup'ik residents of the Yukon River delta region of Alaska. The thesis explores traditional knowledge and conservation ethics among rural Yup'ik residents who continue to maintain active subsistence lifestyles. From the end of July through August of 2012, ethnographic field research was conducted primarily through participant observation and semi-structured interviews, documenting Yup'ik subsistence hunting and fishing practices. Research participants invited me beluga whale hunting, seal hunting, moose hunting, commercial and subsistence fishing, gathering berries, and a variety of other activities that highlights local Yup'ik environmental knowledge, practices, and ethics. Through firsthand examples of these experiences, this thesis attempts to explore what conservation means through a Yup'ik cultural lens. Documenting Yup'ik traditional knowledge offers an opportunity to shine a light on the stewardship of local people's relationship with their traditional lands. The importance of maintaining direct relationships with the natural world, eating Native foods, and passing on hunting and gathering skills to future generations help develop the narrative of my analysis. In many ways, the cultural heritage of the Yup'ik people are embodied in such practices, providing a direct link between nature and culture.

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Marriott, Michael Stephen. "Conservation biology and management of the Twee River redfin, Barbus erubescens (Pisces : Cyprinide)." Thesis, Rhodes University, 1999. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005091.

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Agricultural practices and increasing levels of pollution, water abstraction and numbers of predatory exotic fishes gave rise to mounting concern for the survival of the already endangered Twee River redfin, Barbus erubescens. Numbers were believed to be dwindling and an urgent re-assessment of the species' conservation status and major threats was called for. Distribution and estimated numbers of B. erubescens were detennined from a census conducted in the Twee River catclunent, and baseline knowledge of age and growth, reproduction, diet and habitat preferences was gained from biological work on collected specimens. Such understanding was necessary to formullate management ideas. Although an estimated 40% reduction in area of occupancy has occurred in the middle reaches of the Twee River system, the known distribution of B. erubescens was extended into the upper Suurvlei River. Despite fragmentation, surviving redfin populations remained healthy and total population size was estimated at 8400 individuals, 4100 of which were considered mature. Adults preferred pools with water exceeding 1 m in depth and tended to be associated with sandy or boulder substrates. Due to low numbers no such study was conducted on juveniles, although observations indicated a preference for the upper 50 cm of the water column, in or around marginal vegetation. Barbus erubescens spawn in summer and follow an asynchronous, iteroparous pattern. Males and females reach a maximum age of six years, maturing after two years at calculated SL of 45 mm in males and 42 mm in females. The diet was dominated by simulid and ephemeropteran larvae. Although the combined pressures of pesticide and fertiliser use, predation and competition from exotic species have undoubtedly had a negative impact on B. erubescens, the species has maintained viable populations. With continued expansion of these threats the focus of conservation attention may change but, at present, it is most likely agricultural water use, amounting to 7.43 x 10⁶ m³y⁻¹, 15% of the entire catchment production, which poses the greatest immediate threat to the survival of the species. Based on a deteriorating habitat and restricted area of occupancy, B. erubescens was rated Critically Endangered, and it is recommended that a conservation management plan be implemented in the Twee River catchment. The focus of such action should be on genetic preservation, with immediate projects including gamete cryopreservation and captive breeding and rearing programmes. Catchment management, including education and rehabilitation programmes, must be the long-term aim of conservation, to ensure the survival of B. erubescens.

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Frederick, Katherine L. "Resurrecting a River and its People: An Environmental History of the Penobscot River and the Contemporary Efforts to Facilitate Environmental Change on the Penobscot River." Fogler Library, University of Maine, 2006. http://www.library.umaine.edu/theses/pdf/FrederickKL2006.pdf.

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31

Neagley, John P. O'Brien Robert T. "Market allocation of agricultural water resources in the Salinas River Valley." Monterey, California : Naval Postgraduate School, 1990. http://handle.dtic.mil/100.2/ADA245767.

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Thesis (M.S. in Management)--Naval Postgraduate School, December 1990.
Thesis Advisor(s): Moore, Thomas P. Second Reader: Gates, William R. "December 1990." Description based on title screen as viewed on April 2, 2010. DTIC Identifier(s): Water Supplies, Irrigation Systems, Salinas River Valley (California), Theses, Free Market, Water Conservation, Public Policy, Salt Water, Policies, Farm Crops, Marketing. Author(s) subject terms: Groundwater Allocation, Groundwater Markets, Agricultural Groundwater, Salinas River Valley. Includes bibliographical references (p. 90-94). Also available in print.

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Perry, Denielle M. "The Uneven Geography of River Conservation In The U.S.| Insights From The Application Of The Wild And Scenic Rivers Act." Thesis, University of Oregon, 2017. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=10599086.

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Rivers are vital for sustaining biodiversity and human development, yet globally only a small fraction of rivers enjoy protection and those with protections are often impaired or modified. Rapid rates of freshwater species’ extinctions indicate current conservation practices are failing. Despite over fifty years of scientific evidence justifying river conservation, it remains that less attention is focused on protecting ecosystems than on developing water resources for economic growth. This disparity is indicative of the ‘nature as resource’ versus ‘conservation of nature’ paradigm. Today, this paradigm is complicated by new attentions centering both on water resource development projects and conservation policy as climate change adaptation strategies. Policies protecting rivers are recommended for contending with more intense storms and flooding, increasing resilience for species, forests, and agricultural areas, and fostering some types of water security. Creating, implementing, and managing climate adaptation policies will require a strong state presence in water resource governance. We know, however, the aforementioned paradigm hinders conservation policymaking. Therefore, understanding how conservation policy has already been rationalized, implemented, and managed is critical to advancing climate adaptation policymaking. Yet, little empirical research has been conducted on federal river conservation policy creation or application across the U.S.

To that end, this dissertation, presented in three discrete original research articles, examines the United States National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Specifically, this study investigates the socio-ecological drivers behind the creation of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 (WSRA hereinafter) and the spatial dimensions of the policy’s application and management over time. This study is grounded empirically in extensive archival materials, interviews with federal land management agency personnel, conservation advocates, and technical experts, as well as spatial and temporal analysis of a geodatabase. Together, these methods were employed to answer the following research questions which guide this study: (1) What factors influence the temporal and spatial distribution of river segments protected under the Wild & Scenic Rivers Act? (2) What does the history of management in designated segments suggest about emerging trends and patterns in river conservation? (3) How are competing environmental values and ideologies understood and reconciled in the context of river conservation?

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Tran, Annie M. "Neustonic Plastic in the Los Angeles River." Scholarship @ Claremont, 2012. http://scholarship.claremont.edu/pomona_theses/54.

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The characterization of neustonic plastic found in the Los Angeles River was completed in this study. 3 water samples were collected from the river on April 30, 2011 in Long Beach, CA using a 0.5 mm manta trawl. The plastic was separated from organic material, divided into 3 class sizes (0.5 mm, 1.4 mm, and 2.44 mm), and identified and sized under a microscope. Plastic was found in all three samples and categorized into seven categories. Paper, plastic, and styrofoam were present in all three samples. Styrofoam contributed the greatest percentage of the plastic found among the samples. Plastic film had the largest mean size.

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Boege-Tobin, Deborah Dorothy. "Ranging patterns and habitat utilization of northern river otters, Lontra canadensis, in Missouri implications for the conservation of a reintroduced species /." Diss., St. Louis, Mo. : University of Missouri--St. Louis, 2005. http://etd.umsl.edu/r1061.

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Shaw, Gordon W. "Oak regeneration in former crop fields in the Missouri river floodplan /." free to MU campus, to others for purchase, 2004. http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/mo/fullcit?p1426103.

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Lockhart, Trevor E. "Water management issues in the Turtle River Watershed Conservation District, from theory to practice." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 2000. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk1/tape4/PQDD_0008/MQ53181.pdf.

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Wilkosz, Mary Elizabeth. "River and wetland conservation and preservation issues in Arizona : a study of agenda building." Thesis, The University of Arizona, 1989. http://ezproxy.library.arizona.edu/login?url=.

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Bowler, Mark. "The Ecology and Conservation of the Red Uakari Monkey on the Yavari River, Peru." Thesis, University of Kent, 2007. https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.499717.

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Mendes, Ana Isabel da Silva. "Relatório integrador da atividade profissional. Gestão e conservação de ecossistemas fluviais e zonas húmidas. Restauro e cooperação como instrumentos de gestão." Master's thesis, ISA/UTL, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10400.5/5465.

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Relatório Integrador da Atividade Profissional - Mestrado em Gestão e Conservação de Recursos Naturais - Instituto Superior de Agronomia
Human activity upon river ecosystems has contributed to their natural decay. The ecological quality of river systems depends on the human activities developed in the surroundings. The need for ecosystem restoration to mitigate the adverse effects of human activities led to the development of new management models. The implementation of river ecological restoration can only be fully achieved through cooperation between nations, indeed, nature conservation and management does not know frontiers. This report seeks to demonstrate that within the authors academic and professional background I acknowledged relevant experience in the scientific management and conservation of natural resources. Another important goal of this report was to gather information related to the application of cooperation in the field of nature conservation and management and the development of correct strategies for river restoration and river ecological restoration.
O trabalho apresentado neste relatório integrador só foi possível devido ao cofinanciamento do projeto Ripidubrale através do programa INterreg IIIC cofinanciado através de fundos FEDER pela União Europeia e do projeto Ricover através do programa Interreg IVB Sudoe cofinanciado através de fundos FEDER pela união Europeia.

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Presley, Erika. "An Internship with the Riverside Corona Regional Conservation District: Alluvial scrub vegetation sampling of the upper Santa Anna River Watershed." Miami University / OhioLINK, 2013. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1366334766.

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41

Friedman, Steven Kevin 1953. "Assessment of landscape change: Considerations for conservation planning." Thesis, The University of Arizona, 1989. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/291556.

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Landscapes are changing environments. Conservation of the amenities associated with landscapes must take into account the tendency of a landscape to change over time. Change is considered to be influenced by both cultural land use practices and natural resource processes which act on the landscape. A technique is developed which demonstrates an approach to measure the stability of landscapes. This approach also provides a means to qualify the importance of the elements which make up the landscape, thus defining the matrix of the landscape. A case study of the San Pedro National Conservation Area is used to demonstrate the technique. Sampled at three intervals 1935, 1973 and 1986 the landscape is shown to be stable, identifying this area with intrinsic value for conservation. Landscape scale assessments are shown to be inappropriate for ecosystem scale changes.

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Mancini, Rachel Leigh. "Conserving the corps : a conditions assessment of civilian conservation corps resources in Salamonie River State Forest Wabash County, Indiana." Virtual Press, 1998. http://liblink.bsu.edu/uhtbin/catkey/1101593.

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New Deal programs, like the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), were developed by President Roosevelt during the 1930's to soften the economic and unemployment problems of the Great Depression. Indiana based CCC Company 589 created and sculpted the land now known as Salamonie River State Forest in Wabash County. This study evaluated the conditions of the historic and existing landscape of Salamonie River State Forest, with the intent of educating forest personnel about the role of the CCC in manipulating the property. Through identification and preservation, the CCC resources can then be interpreted to the public.Years of work transformed the abandoned farmland into a lush recreational area for hunters, fishermen, and other visitors. Today much of the vegetation has grown into a dense forest as intended, but other CCC resources have fallen into disrepair, been demolished, or forgotten. The condition assessments of the landscape, architecture,archaeology, and historic documents are the first steps in evaluating the landscape for a preservation treatment plan. The overall condition of Salamonie River State Forest and its Civilian Conservation Corps resources is good; however these resources need to be protected and preserved to insure their longevity for future generations.
Department of Architecture

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Schenck, Brown Julie Eileen. "Atrazine Contamination and Suspended Sediment Transport within Logsdon River, Mammoth Cave, Kentucky." TopSCHOLAR®, 2008. http://digitalcommons.wku.edu/theses/38.

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Understanding the potential for karst aquifer contamination by sediment-sorbed pesticides is important for cave conservation efforts in agricultural landscapes. Flow rate, water quality parameters and suspended sediment concentrations were measured in Logsdon River, a ~10km karst conduit within the Turnhole Spring Groundwater Basin of Mammoth Cave National Park to determine characteristics of storm-period transport of sediment-sorbed atrazine through a conduit-flow karst aquifer. Analysis of two independent precipitation events occurring in the Spring of 2008 from May 2-4 and May 27-29 demonstrated the rapid response of the Logsdon River to precipitation events with detections of atrazine increasing during the initial turbidity peak and decline in spC, indicating that the atrazine arrives with the initial flush of surface waters that enters the conduit. Distinct peaks of atrazine did not coincide with fine grained (silt and clay-sized) sediment peaks and concentrations of atrazine remained elevated on the falling limb of the hydrograph as turbidity declined. In addition, no systematic relation between filtered and unfiltered samples was evident. There was also exceedingly weak correlation between the concentration of atrazine and suspended sediment, suggesting that if atrazine is sorbed to fine sediment particles this sorption involves only the fractions finer than 0.22 μm.

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Strydom, Wilma Fernanda. "The impact of State-Of-Rivers Reporting on people’s attitudes towards river conservation : a case study of the Buffalo and Hartenbos & Klein Brak Catchments in South Africa." Thesis, Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/4509.

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Thesis (MSc (Conservation Ecology and Entomology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: During 2007, two evidence-based studies were undertaken in two catchment areas in South Africa. The first study ascertained the relationships between demographic attributes and general awareness, human impacts, attitudes and water use behaviour. The second study determined whether or not State-of-River (SoR) materials developed for foundation phase learners (grades 1 to 3) improved their understanding of and influenced their attitudes towards river conservation. Surveys were conducted amongst learners (n=1178) and parents (n=1144) from different cultures and socio-economic backgrounds. Questionnaires were available in three languages, namely English, isiXhosa and Afrikaans. The SoR reporting materials were not adequately distributed. The first study could therefore not ascertain whether increased awareness or attitudinal and behavioural changes could be ascribed to SoR reporting in the catchments. The majority of respondents (82%) indicated that there was a need for more information on rivers and 60% of the respondents indicated that they would participate in a follow-up survey. Thirty percent of respondents from the Buffalo catchment and 22% of respondents from the Hartenbos and Klein Brak catchment indicated that they use water very sparingly. Respondents from urban areas scored higher in their attitudes towards river conservation and were more aware of water issues than those from rural areas. Both attitudinal and awareness scores did not align with water use behaviour, with rural respondents using water more sparingly. Attitude and awareness improved with increased education levels. Respondents who indicated that they would rather pay more for water than change their water use behaviour showed the lowest score for attitude towards river conservation. Learners from the Buffalo rural area showed a significant increase in understanding the benefits that healthy rivers provide, and this can be ascribed to the distributed SoR activity book and poster. A survey consisting of quantitative and qualitative items, as well as participatory evaluations determined learners’ level of understanding of human impacts on rivers. The quantitative study showed learners from the Hartenbos and Klein Brak area as well as the Buffalo rural area improved the most over time. The qualitative items showed a 35% and 40% increase in the number of correctly listed items as either making a river happy (healthy) or sad (unhealthy) after exposure to SoR materials. Respondents from both catchments taking part in the participatory evaluations displayed an overall increase in their understanding of good practices, as well as the negative impact of human activities on rivers. Those learners that scored low in the participatory evaluations at time 1 showed the most improvement over time, concluding that those learners who knew the least at the start of the study, gained the most understanding of human impacts on rivers. All schools in the Hartenbos and Klein Brak catchment, with the exception of one, showed a slight increase in understanding of human impacts on rivers. Results from the schools in the Buffalo catchment were more variable. Data gathered demonstrated that the SoR materials helped learners to better understand benefits from clean rivers as well as human impact on rivers. Although the learners from urban areas had a better understanding of the concept of river conservation before contact with the SoR materials, learners from the rural areas showed the most improvement over time. There was an increase in the number of learners that showed a willingness to take responsibility for their actions that could impact on river health. Far more learners mentioned remediation types of actions than protection or preventative actions. A change in peoples’ attitudes and behaviour is needed to ensure adequate protection of South Africa’s natural water resources. Imprinting values and perceptions that would last into adulthood need intervention at an early age and throughout children’s’ formative years.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Gedurende 2007, twee bewysgebaseerde ondersoeke is in twee wateropvangsgebiede in Suid Afrika gedoen. Die eerste studie was gerig op die bepaling van die verband tussen demografiese kenmerke, algemene bewustheid, menslike impak, houdings en waterverbruik. Die tweede studie het bepaal of die Stand-van-Rivier (SvR) inligtingsmateriaal wat vir grondslagfase leerlinge (graad 1 tot 3) ontwikkel is, bygedra het tot hulle begrip van en houding jeens die bewaring van riviere. Steekproeftrekkings het leerlinge (n=1178) en ouers (n=1144) vanuit verskillende kultuur- en sosioekonomiese agtergronde betrek. Vraelyste was in drie landstale naamlik Engels, Xhosa en Afrikaans beskikbaar. Die SvR kommunikasie material is nie toereikend versprei nie. Die eerste studie kon derhalwe nie bepaal of groter bewustheid of veranderings in houding en gedrag in hierdie opvangsgebiede aan die SvR verslaggewing toegeskryf kon word nie. Die meerderheid respondente (82%) het aangedui dat daar ‘n tekort and rivierinligting is en 60% van die respondente het hulself bereidwillig verklaar om aan ’n opvolgstudie deel te neem. Dertig persent van die respondente uit die Buffels- en 22% uit die Hartenbos- en Klein Brak-opvangsgebiede het aangedui dat hulle water spaarsamig gebruik. Respondente afkomstig van stedelike gebiede het beter rivierbewaringshoudings getoon en was meer bewus van wateraangeleenthede as die van landelike gebiede. Houdings en bewustheids-vlakke het nie ooreengestem met waterverbruik nie – landelike respondente gebruik water meer spaarsamig. Beide houdings en algemene bewustheid het toegeneem met hoër onderwysvlakke. Respondente wat aangedui het dat hulle eerder meer vir water sal betaal as om hulle verbruik te verminder, het die swakste houding jeens die bewaring van riviere getoon. Leerlinge uit die landelike gebiede van die Buffels opvangsgebied het groter begrip getoon vir die voordele wat gesonde riviere inhou, en dit kan toegeskryf word aan die aktiwiteitsboek en SvR plakkaat wat onder hulle versprei is. ‘n Steekproef bestaande uit kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiewe items, sowel as deelnemende evaluasies is gebruik om leerlinge se vlak van begrip van menslike impak op riviere te bepaal. Die kwantitatiewe studie het aangedui dat die begrip van leerlinge van die Hartenbos en Klein Brak sowel as die van die landelike Buffelsrivieropvangsgebiede oor tyd die meeste toegeneem het. Op die vraag wat riviere gelukkig (gesond) of hartseer (ongesond) maak, het die kwalitatiewe items, na blootstelling van die leerders aan die SvR materiaal, ‘n toename van 35% en 40% in korrekte antwoorde getoon. In die deelnemende evaluasie het respondente van beide opvangsgebiede ‘n toename in begrip van goeie praktyke sowel as die negatiewe impak van menslike aktiwiteite op riviere getoon. Leerlinge wat swak gevaar het in die deelnemende evaluasie gedurende die eerste rondte het die meeste vordering getoon. Die gevolgtrekking is dus dat leerlinge wat die minste geweet het aan die begin van die studie, die meeste geleer het oor menslike impak op riviere. Op een na, het alle skole in die Hartenbos- en Klein Brakrivieropvangsgebied ‘n geringe verhoging in begrip van menslike impak op riviere getoon. Resultate van skole uit die Buffelsopvangsgebied het meer gevarieer. Data versamel het gedemonstreer dat die gebruik van die aktiwiteitsboek en plakkate gelei het tot ’n beter begrip by leerders van die voordele van skoon riviere asook van menslike impak op riviere. Alhoewel die leerlinge van stedelike gebiede beter begrip getoon het oor rivierbewaring voor kontak met die SvR material, het die landelike leerlinge die grootste toename in begrip oor die verloop van die studie getoon. Daar was ook ‘n toename in die aantal leerlinge wat bereid was om verantwoordelikheid vir hulle aktiwiteite wat ‘n impak op riviergesondheid kon hê, te aanvaar. Veel meer leerlinge het tydens die tweede fase verwys na herstel eerder as beskermings of voorkomende gedrag. ’n Verandering in mense se houdings en gedrag is noodsaaklik om genoegsame bewaring van Suid Afrika se natuurlike waterhulpbronne te verseker. Waarde sisteme en persepsies wat met volwassewording steeds geldig sal wees, word reeds teen ’n vroeë ouderdom, gedurende kinders se vormingsjare, vasgelê.

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Thomas, Lillie E. "Mass conservation analysis for the lower St. Johns River using continuous and discontinuous Galerkin finite element methods." Master's thesis, University of Central Florida, 2011. http://digital.library.ucf.edu/cdm/ref/collection/ETD/id/5057.

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The CG- and DG- finite element methods are then tested in tidal simulation performance, which the results are then compared to observed tides and tidal currents at four stations within the lower portion of the Lower St. Johns River. Since the results show that the DG model outperforms the CG model, the DG model is used in the tidally driven salinity transport simulations. Using four stations within the lower and middle part of the Lower St. Johns River, simulated and observed water levels and salinity concentrations are compared.; This thesis provides a mass conservation analysis of the Lower St. Johns River for the purpose of providing basis for future salinity transport modeling. The analysis provides an assessment of the continuous (CG) and discontinuous (DG) Galerkin finite element methods with respect to their mass conservation properties. The following thesis also presents a rigorous literature review pertaining to salinity transport in the Lower St. Johns River, from which this effort generates the data used to initialize and validate numerical simulations. Two research questions are posed and studied in this thesis: can a DG-based modeling approach produce mass conservative numerical solutions; and what are the flow interactions between the river and the marshes within the coastal region of the Lower St. Johns River? Reviewing the available data provides an initial perspective of the ecosystem. For this, salinity data are obtained and assembled for three modeling scenarios. Each scenario, High Extreme, Most Variable, and Low Extreme, is 30 days long (taken from year 1999) and represents a unique salinity regime in the Lower St. Johns River. Time-series of salinity data is collected at four stations in the lower and middle reaches of the Lower St. Johns River, which provides a vantage point for assessing longitudinal variation of salinity. As an aside, precipitation and evaporation data is presented for seven stations along the entire St. Johns River, which provides added insight into salinity transport in the river. A mass conservation analysis is conducted for the Lower St. Johns River. The analysis utilizes a segmentation of the Lower St. Johns River, which divides the domain into sections based on physical characteristics. Mass errors are then calculated for the CG and DG finite element methods to determine mass conservative abilities. Also, the flow interactions (i.e., volume exchange) between the river and marshes are evaluated through the use of tidal prisms.
ID: 029808992; System requirements: World Wide Web browser and PDF reader.; Mode of access: World Wide Web.; Thesis (M.S.Env.E.)--University of Central Florida, 2011.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 230-241).
M.S.Env.E.
Masters
Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering
Engineering and Computer Science
Environmental Engineering

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Carter-North, John Patrick Bailey L. Conner. "Growth machine meets conservation a stakeholder analysis of the black warrior and cahaba river watersheds /." Auburn, Ala., 2005. http://repo.lib.auburn.edu/2005%20Summer/master's/CARTER-NORTH_JOHN_40.pdf.

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Oosthuizen, Susan Anita. "Establishing a greenbelt policy for the conservation and development of the Crocodile River in Nelspruit." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/52827.

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Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2002.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Crocodile River Greenbelt area, located along the northern edge of Nelspruit, is a unique ecological system that must be protected from encroaching urbanization and invasive alien vegetation. The writer has attempted through policy intervention to achieve this goal. A policy for a greenbelt was compiled to allow for limited development along the Crocodile River Greenbelt area. The first step was to compile a policy for the Crocodile River Greenbelt area, and to contextualise the legislative requirements to compile such a policy. The second step was to discuss the State of Environment Report, which was compiled for the Crocodile River Greenbelt area and reflects directly the physical environment of the policy area. The third step was to lay the foundation of the policy by discussing guiding principles for open space systems. These principles form the basis of the policy. The fourth step was the compilation of the policy itself, which is underpinned by a spatial framework to guide the future physical development of the area. As conservation of the Crocodile River Greenbelt area is the main objective of the policy as well as allowing for limited development within the urban area, a management structure was proposed as Step 5 to achieve these objectives.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Krokodilrivier-groengordelgebied is in die noordelike deel van Nelspruit geleë en is 'n unieke ekologiese stelsel wat beskerm moet word teen verstedeliking en indringer plante. Die skrywer poog deur 'n beleidsintervensie om hierdie doel te bereik. Die beleid vir 'n groengordel is saamgestelom voorsiening te maak vir beperkte ontwikkeling in die Krokodilrivier-groengordelgebied. Die eerste stap om so 'n beleid saam te stel vir die Krokodilrivier-groengordelgebied was om dit te kontekstualiseer binne die wetlike vereistes vir so 'n beleid. Die tweede stap was om die resultate van die Omgewings-toestandsverslag, wat vir die Krokodilrivier-groengordelgebied opgestel is en die fisiese omgewing van die beleidsgebied opsom, te bepreek. Die derde stap was om die rigtingewende beginsels van oopruimtes te bespreek wat die grondslag van die beleid vorm. Die vierde stap was die saamstel van die beleid self, wat gerugsteun word deur die grondgebruik plan wat toekomstige fisiese ontwikkeling van die gebied rig. Omdat bewaring van die Krokodilrivier-groengordelgebied die hoofdoel van die beleid is, tesame met beperkte ontwikkeling binne die stedelike gebied, is in Stap 5 'n bestuurstruktuur voorgestelom hierdie doel te bereik.

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Viers, Joshua Hunter. "Remote methodologies of watershed assessment : applications toward conservation and restoration in the Navarro River watershed /." For electronic version search Digital dissertations database. Restricted to UC campuses. Access is free to UC campus dissertations, 2003. http://uclibs.org/PID/11984.

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Vent, Danielle R. "Associations between riffles and aquatic biota following lowhead dam removal: implications for river fish conservation." The Ohio State University, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1437641770.

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Perrault-Archambault, Mathilde. "Who manages home garden agrobiodiversity? : patterns of species distribution, planting material flow and knowledge transmission along the Corrientes River of the Peruvian Amazon." Thesis, McGill University, 2005. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=83198.

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Agrobiodiversity constitutes an essential resource for traditional rural populations. Home gardens are "hotspots" of agrobiodiversity and important loci of in situ conservation efforts. This study seeks to understand the factors affecting gardeners' choices and to assess the accessibility of planting material in rural communities of the Peruvian Amazon. Household surveys and garden inventories conducted in 15 villages of the Corrientes river (n = 300), and case studies in three of these villages (n = 89), allowed to describe the local and regional patterns of garden agrobiodiversity and the structure of planting material exchange networks. Analyses reveal a strong link between species diversity and both household cultural and socioeconomic characteristics, and village ethnicity and size. Planting material flows primarily through matrilineal bonds, from advice-givers to advice-seekers, from old to young and from rich to poor. Farmers with exceptional species diversity, propensity to give and/or expertise are identified and their role in the conservation of cultivated plants is assessed. Expertise is not found to be as closely related to high species diversity as expected, but knowledge and planting stock dissemination go hand-in-hand.

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Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'River conservation'

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