Definition of soil water dynamics by combining hydrometry and geophysics in a hillslope transect in the KNP.

Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2006.The budgeting of water fluxes in the soil is an extremely complex problem, and is compounded by subsurface controls and environmental forces which modify the soil water dynamics. Of the controlling factors, the underlying geology and the soil media are vital components and are often misinterpreted. The geology and soil media components have been neglected mostly because of the difficulty in monitoring the dominant processes that are linked to the water balance in the subsurface. Until recently, hydrometry has been the dominant method of measuring and monitoring the subsurface water balance. Hydrometric measurements have included water content measurement by Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR), soil water potential measurements through tensiometry and groundwater water level monitoring. Hydrometry is still the preferred method of monitoring soil water dynamics, but measurements are generally localised and lateral accumulations and fluxes of water are difficult to interpret. Using geophysical methods and instrumentation to define soil water dynamics could have numerous advantages over conventional hydrometric methods. Among the geophysical techniques dedicated to image the near surface, Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) surveying has been increasingly used for environmental, engineering and geological purposes during the last decade. The aim of this study is to determine if ERT observations could yield the accuracy required to define vertical and lateral soil water dynamics. The ERT instrumentation uses an electrical current that is inserted into the subsurface through various electrode arrangements and a resulting resistance is determined at the take-out electrodes. With the aid of a modelling package these resistance values are reproduced into a pseudosection of underlying resistivity distribution which is influenced by the moisture conditions of the subsurface medium. This geophysical method is primarily used for geological studies but by doing repeated surveys with the same electrode positioning, moisture fluctuation monitoring could be realised. Use of the ERT technique is at the forefront of soil water dynamics monitoring. The main objective of this study is to propose that the ERT instrumentation could be a more efficient and more informative method of studying soil water dynamics than the traditional soil water dynamics monitoring equipment, particularly to define lateral fluxes and accumulation of subsurface water. The study site is a well instrumented transect in the Nkuhlu Exclosures in the Kruger National Park, South Africa, where ongoing soil water dynamics are monitored. The project aims to compare the ERT data to fiR data on a daily basis, over a period of three weeks, during the rain season, monitoring event based wetting and the subsequent drying phases of the soils in a 2-dimensional section. The project and its fmdings are shown to be valuable to the hydrological interpretation of the subsurface water balance. The application is shown to be particularly important to ecohydrology, in the monitoring of soil water dynamics in a 2-dimensional transect and understanding how the natural cycles of water distribution and plant uptake are linked together. The study demonstrates that ERT can be used to observe changes in the water storage and lateral fluxes within a transect which supports varying vegetation and ecologies. The linking of water fluxes in the hydrology cycle to uptakes and controls in the ecosystem has been developed into the research focus known as ecohydrology The use of the ERT instrument can only benefit this research focus in the future. The study demonstrates that ERT instrumentation can be used to provide valuable understanding of subsurface water dynamics and in turn the effects on ecohydrology

South Carolina Wildlife, November-December 1988

The South Carolina Wildlife Magazines are published by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources who are dedicated to educating citizens on the value, conservation, protection, and restoration of South Carolina's wildlife and natural resources. These magazines showcase the state’s natural resources and outdoor recreation opportunities by including articles and images of conservation, reflections and tales, field notes, recipes, and more. In this issue: Biosphere ; Books ; Readers' Forum ; Index '88 ; Natural History: Red Drum ; Events ; Modern Classics ; Gift Through Time ; Marriage And The Outdoor Sports ; Facing The Sea ; A Plantation Christmas ; Mountain Islands On A Piedmont Sea ; Field Trip ; Roundtable

ASSOCIATION MAPPING OF GENE REGIONS FOR DROUGHT TOLERANCE AND AGRONOMIC TRAITS IN SORGHUM

Genetic improvement of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) for drought tolerance and grain yield is challenging because of the complex nature of these traits. To make this process more tractable, studies were conducted to investigate the genetic architecture of these traits by employing a novel multi-parent advanced generation intercross (MAGIC) population. The population was formed from 19 founder lines through ten generations of random mating, aided by genetic male sterility (GMS) system. This was followed by seven cycles of self-pollination through single seed descent (SSD) to form 1000 MAGIC lines. Two hundred of these were genotyped using a high throughput genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) platform

Collective bio-cultural heritage: meaningful Indigenous participation and consultation in land and land use

The Piikani Nation, a vibrant Indigenous community, has enjoyed their territory since time immemorial. In 2006 the Mikisew Cree won a precedent-setting case proving the need for government and industry to appropriately and adequately consult with Indigenous Nations who have interest in areas proposed for development of public or Crown lands. Since this Mikisew decision, industry, government and Indigenous nations alike have struggled to develop effective and efficient methods to conduct consultation with Indigenous communities. Government and Industry want to develop resources to ensure that their concerns regarding equal opportunity in resource development is attained while respecting their Indigenous ties to the land. Through six conversations, this thesis explores collective bio-cultural heritage as a central concept in authentic consultation and as a way to meaningfully address these concerns through an Indigenous Research Methodology in consultation processes and for re-understanding land, land use, and land planning

Emergency Department Operational Strategies

AbstractEmergency Department Operational Strategies by Joyce W. Davis MBA/MHA, Pfeiffer University, 2011 BS, North Carolina A&T State University, 1980 Doctoral Study Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Business Administration Walden University December 202

Towards preserving threatened grassland plant species and habitats - seed longevity, seed viability and phylogeography

The thesis at hand dealt with the topic of preservation of calcareous grasslands by comprising various aspects, which range from phylogeographic research to seed science. The aim of this thesis was to elucidate the origins of rare and threatened calcareous grasslands species and to provide tools for a successful conservation of biodiversity via seeds. Chapter 1 presented an introduction by reporting on threatened and endangered landscapes in Germany, the current conservation status of calcareous grasslands, their known restoration potential and provided knowledge about the origin of calcareous grassland species. Moreover the issue of ex situ conservation via seed banks was addressed, detailing important subjects of seed science such as seed morphology, germination and dormancy, viability and longevity. The aims of all chapters were listed and the used scientific approaches were explained. Chapter 2 focused on the postglacial spread of a common calcareous grassland species, Sanguisorba minor Scop., to Central Europe. Furthermore, seed morphology was included, as it is the main determinant of subspecies of the morphologically extremely variable species. To achieve these objectives, leaf and seed material from 38 populations throughout Europe were collected and examined in a two-step analysis. Firstly, the spatial genetic structure was investigated via AFLP and secondly, the findings were combined with the seed morphology. The phylogeographic analysis revealed a distinct separation of eastern and western lineages and rare markers pointed towards a traditional southern but also a potential northern refugia. Genetic similarity between south-eastern and south-western subsp. balearica populations was lower than between northern subsp. minor and south-western subsp. balearica populations. It was concluded that S. minor recolonized Central Europe from Iberia or northern glacial refugia in France, Belgium or Germany. The present situation of the subspecies depicts either incomplete lineage sorting or the existence of secondary hybrid zones, which is differently expressed in neutral marker and morphological differentiation. In Chapter 3 seed traits associated with seed ageing and ex situ storage and their prospects for ex situ conservation were evaluated. Seeds of 39 calcareous grassland species were collected and the seed longevity was determined by artificially ageing under rapid ageing conditions. The results showed that the seed longevity values strongly varied. Physical dormancy and endosperm absence had significantly positive effects and physiological dormancy was negatively correlated with seed longevity. Seed mass, seed shape and seed coat thickness were not associated with longevity. Calcareous grassland species therefore do not solely rely on seed longevity for long-term persistence and regeneration. The influence of physical dormancy and endosperm presence were discussed with regard to the evolution from endospermic to non-endospermic seeds. Low seed longevity of physiologically dormant seeds was explained by the lack of germination specific antioxidants that otherwise counteract oxidative damages in non-dormant aged seeds. Chapter 4 addressed the question whether seed longevity of calcareous grassland species in the soil and in ex situ storage are correlated. Therefore, longevity information gained from artificial ageing trials was compared with soil seed bank persistence on the basis of soil seed bank persistence categories of (Poschlod et al., 1998) and the longevity index LI of Thompson et al. (1997). For three-quarter of the surveyed species soil seed bank persistence and survival of artificially aged seeds were correlated, which was explained by an inherent species-specific seed longevity. Regarding seed traits, a correlation with endosperm presence and physiological dormancy was confirmed for soil seed bank persistence. Remaining contradictory results of species with long-lived soil seed banks but low survival at artificial ageing and vice versa were interpreted with unpredictable effects that operate on seeds in the soil like germination, seed regeneration by wet-dry cycling, predation and the seed size-seed number trade-off, which may cover the actual inherent longevity. In Chapter 5 the assessment of seed viability via X-ray was investigated. X-rays provide information about the internal structures of a seed and therefore show promise for detection of viability and even germination capacity without destroying valuable seeds. Combined germination-Tetrazolium tests and X-ray images of 176 wild flowering plant species from 207 accessions were compared in order to examine the efficiency of X-ray analysis to detect viability. The comparison revealed a strong analogy of viability determination of both methods. Whereas the evaluation of little/non-endospermic seeds gave approximately same results, endospermic seed evaluation differed. Therefore especially for non/little endospermic seeds X-ray analysis can provide a useful and quick tool for viability detection and prediction of germinability, whereas for endospermic seeds additional research is needed. Chapter 6 summarized the gained results with regard to ex situ and in situ seed dispersal in space and time. Seeds have contributed the most to species current geographical distribution (dispersal in space). It was pointed out that for calcareous grassland species such as S. minor long distance seed dispersal by domestic animals are of importance for colonization. Even during the LGM, contiguous European human populations extended from central France to the lowlands in Southern Germany and to Eastern Europe and may have caused direct and indirect carriage of S. minor. It was suggested that the discovered northern refugia of S. minor might be of importance as a source for future safeguarding calcareous grassland species. Due to present-day limited dispersal in space, it was postulated that at least dispersal in time needed to be guaranteed by integrative strategies. Maintaining genepools on site but additionally preserve viable seeds in seed banks was proposed to be necessary to safeguard calcareous grasslands plant inventory and improve the success of restoration efforts. In the following the relevance of seed traits for calcareous grassland conservation (dispersal in time) was discussed. The importance of the seed trait “endosperm presence” for ecological studies was emphasized as it points towards seed longevity and provides information about the feasibility of quick viability assessment via X-ray analysis