The effects of dune stabilization on the spatiotemporal distribution of soil moisture resources, Northern Great Plains, Canada

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dc.contributor.authorKoenig, Daniel Edgar
dc.contributor.supervisorHugenholtz, Chris H.
dc.contributor.supervisorLetts, Matthew G.
dc.date.accessioned2013-11-14T21:28:32Z
dc.date.available2013-11-14T21:28:32Z
dc.date.issued2012
dc.degree.levelMasters
dc.descriptionxii, 97 leaves : ill., maps ; 29 cmen_US
dc.description.abstractIn dryland environments, the availability of soil moisture is the primary control on plant species’ distributions. In the sandhill regions of the northern Great Plains, vegetation establishment has transformed highly mobile, desert-like dune fields into stabilized landscapes covered by mixed-grassland prairie. This study examines how dune stabilization has modified the spatiotemporal distribution of soil moisture resources. An ergodic (space-for-time) approach was used, comparing soil moisture dynamics on active and vegetation-stabilized dunes in the Bigstick Sand Hills of southwestern Saskatchewan. Results indicate that while dune stabilization has enhanced near-surface soil moisture availability, deeper profile soil moisture recharge is reduced. Through better understanding how vegetation has modified soil moisture dynamics in stabilizing sandhill regions, better management practices may be implemented to maintain water resource availability and ecosystem health.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10133/3308
dc.language.isoen_CAen_US
dc.publisherLethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Dept. of Geography, c2012en_US
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Geographyen_US
dc.publisher.facultyArts and Scienceen_US
dc.subjectSand dunes -- Saskatchewan -- Bigstick Sand Hillsen_US
dc.subjectSand dune ecology -- Saskatchewan -- Bigstick Sand Hillsen_US
dc.subjectSoil moisture -- Saskatchewan -- Bigstick Sand Hills -- Measurementen_US
dc.subjectSand dune plants -- Ecology -- Saskatchewan -- Bigstick Sand Hillsen_US
dc.subjectPrairie ecology -- Saskatchewan -- Bigstick Sand Hillsen_US
dc.subjectGrassland ecology -- Saskatchewan -- Bigstick Sand Hillsen_US
dc.subjectDissertations, Academicen_US
dc.titleThe effects of dune stabilization on the spatiotemporal distribution of soil moisture resources, Northern Great Plains, Canadaen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
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