The desirability of views of city skylines after dark

Three studies used digital color photographs to compare responses to natural scenes, skylines after dark, and skylines during the day (seven of each). Study 1 had 59 respondents rate the pleasantness of each scene. They gave similar ratings to Night Skylines and Natural Scenes, and rated each as more pleasant than the Day Skylines. Study 2 had 56 other participants choose from each of seven sets of each kind of scene the one they would most like to have as a framed print in their home or office, and to report the reasons. Participants chose Night Skylines most often, followed by Natural Scenes and then Day Skylines. While participants most often picked attractive as a reason for their choice, those who chose Night Skylines also picked exciting as the reason, and those who picked Natural Scenes also picked relaxing or peaceful as a reason. Study 3 obtained ratings of selected formal features of each scene. The 23 judges rated the Natural scenes as more natural, orderly, open, and curvilinear, less complex, and as having smoother transitions than either Day or Night Skylines; and they judged the Night Skylines as higher in complexity but lower in order than Day Skylines. The results suggest that preferences in relation to the scene categories may well depend on a mix of their formal characteristics and their content.     

Connectedness to nature,place attachment and conservation behaviour: Testing connectedness theory among farmers

The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between pro-environmental behaviour and two forms of emotional association: attachment to place and connectedness to nature. This relationship is explored in the context of farmers' management of native vegetation on their properties. A postal survey was conducted to measure the extent to which farmers felt connected to nature and to their property. The survey also measured vegetation management behaviours and associated valued outcomes. A total of 141 farmers in northwest Victoria, Australia, completed the survey. Results showed that vegetation protection behaviours increased with connectedness to nature (CNS), although CNS accounted for only a modest amount of the variation in behaviour. Place attachment was not related to management behaviours. Further analysis suggested that the relationship between CNS and management behaviour was mediated by importance given to environmental benefits of vegetation management. The findings lend weight to studies showing a relationship between CNS and more simple conservation behaviours (e.g. recycling). The findings are also consistent with frameworks suggesting that emotional association with nature leads to an expanded sense of self and greater valuing of non-human species, and so to pro-environment behaviour. This demonstrates the importance of using a range of instrumental and more affective strategies to promote conservation behaviours.     

Alkyl nitrate photochemistry during the tropospheric organic chemistry experiment

Alkyl nitrates (C₁–C₅) were measured at two sites (near urban and rural) in southeast England during the Tropospheric Organic Chemistry Experiment (TORCH). Methyl nitrate was the dominant species during both campaigns accounting for on average about one third of the total measured alkyl nitrates. High mixing ratios (>50 pptv) and variability of methyl nitrate were observed at the near urban site (TORCH1) that were not seen at the rural site (TORCH2) and which could not be explained by local photochemical production or direct emissions. The diurnal variation of methyl nitrate during TORCH1 showed a morning maximum that would be consistent with nighttime chemistry followed by transport to the surface by boundary layer dynamics. Similarly, elevated morning mixing ratios were also observed during TORCH2 although the magnitudes were much smaller. As a result, methyl nitrate could represent a tracer for nighttime chemistry seen at the ground the following day. At both campaigns, the dominant source of short chain alkyl nitrates and carbonyl precursor radicals (≤C₄) were from decomposition of larger compounds. The magnitude of the source increased with decreasing carbon number consistent with increasing total precursor abundance. Non-photochemical emissions of acetaldehyde and acetone could not be accounted for by automobile exhaust emissions alone and indicated that other direct sources are likely important in this environment.     

Evaluation of vacuum filter sock surface sample collection method for Bacillus spores from porous and non-porous surfaces

Vacuum filter socks were evaluated for recovery efficiency of powdered Bacillus atrophaeus spores from two non-porous surfaces, stainless steel and painted wallboard and two porous surfaces, carpet and bare concrete. Two surface coupons were positioned side-by-side and seeded with aerosolized Bacillus atrophaeus spores. One of the surfaces, a stainless steel reference coupon, was sized to fit into a sample vial for direct spore removal, while the other surface, a sample surface coupon, was sized for a vacuum collection application. Deposited spore material was directly removed from the reference coupon surface and cultured for enumeration of colony forming units (CFU), while deposited spore material was collected from the sample coupon using the vacuum filter sock method, extracted by sonication and cultured for enumeration. Recovery efficiency, which is a measure of overall transfer effectiveness from the surface to culture, was calculated as the number of CFU enumerated from the filter sock sample per unit area relative to the number of CFU enumerated from the co-located reference coupon per unit area. The observed mean filter sock recovery efficiency from stainless steel was 0.29 (SD = 0.14, n = 36), from painted wallboard was 0.25 (SD = 0.15, n = 36), from carpet was 0.28 (SD = 0.13, n = 40) and from bare concrete was 0.19 (SD = 0.14, n = 44). Vacuum filter sock recovery quantitative limits of detection were estimated at 105 CFU m(-2) from stainless steel and carpet, 120 CFU m(-2) from painted wallboard and 160 CFU m(-2) from bare concrete. The method recovery efficiency and limits of detection established in this work provide useful guidance for the planning of incident response environmental sampling for biological agents such as Bacillus anthracis.     

Florida seagrass habitat evaluation: a comparative survey for chemical quality

Contaminant concentrations were determined for media associated with 13 Florida seagrass beds. Concentrations of 10 trace metals were more commonly detected in surface water, sediment and two seagrass species than PAHs, pesticides and PCBs. Concentrations of copper and arsenic in surface water exceeded Florida aquatic life criteria more frequently than other trace elements. Total organic carbon, mercury, chromium, zinc, total chlordane, total PAHs, total PCBs, DDD and DDE were significantly greater in seagrass-rooted sediments than adjacent non-vegetated sediments. Total DDT, DDD, DDE, total chlordane, arsenic, copper and nickel exceeded proposed sediment quality guidelines at six of 13 grass beds. Pesticides, PAHs, and PCBs were below detection in seagrass tissues. Mercury, cadmium, nickel, lead and silver were detected in 50% or more of the tissues for Thalassia testudinum (turtle grass) and Halodule wrightii (shoal grass). Spatial, interspecific and tissue differences were usually an order of magnitude or less.     

Patterns of Predation Risk and Survival of Bird Nests in a Chilean Agricultural Landscape

Abstract: We used experimental nests baited with California Quail (  Callipepla californica ) eggs or clay eggs to examine relative risks of nest predation in an agricultural landscape and in two large forest preserves in a south-temperate rainforest in Chile. The most common predators, as identified by marks on clay eggs, were a caracara (   Milvago chimango ), a blackbird ( Curaeus curaeus ), and rodents. Nest losses from predation were similar in large and small forest patches and lower in patches than in extensive forest. In general, predation risk was higher (and nest survival therefore lower) on forest edges than in forest interior, in short-grass pasture than in tall-grass pasture, in narrow corridors than in wide corridors, and on visible nests than on concealed nests. High predation risks in pasture habitat tended to increase the risk of nest predation in adjacent forest edges. For open-cup nesters, the risk of nest predation was relatively high in the present agricultural landscape, indicating that much of the available wooded habitat (  forest edges, narrow corridors) offers poor nesting habitat, although it may be suitable for foraging and traveling. The numerous bird-plant mutualisms in this landscape may be at risk if nesting success of the principal mutualists is consistently low.     

STUMOD—a Tool for Predicting Fate and Transport of Nitrogen in Soil Treatment Units

A typical onsite wastewater treatment system consists of a septic tank and a soil treatment unit to treat wastewater before it is discharged through the vadose zone to an aquifer. A tool was developed for the purpose of predicting the fate and transport of nitrogen in soil treatment units (STUMOD or Soil Treatment Unit Model). STUMOD calculates nitrogen species concentrations and the fraction of total nitrogen reaching the aquifer or a specified soil depth. Input data include parameters for hydraulics and nutrient transport and transformation. An analytical solution is used to calculate the profile of pressure based on Darcy’s equation and the relationships between suction head, unsaturated hydraulic conductivity, and soil moisture. Chemical transport is based on simplification of the advection–dispersion equation. STUMOD is relatively simple to use but accounts for important processes such as ammonium sorption, nitrification, and denitrification. STUMOD accounts for the effect of soil moisture content (a surrogate for redox conditions) on nitrification and denitrification reactions. The model has provisions to handle the influence of temperature and organic carbon content on nitrogen transformation. Model outputs, generated based on input parameters obtained from extensive literature review, were compared to a numerical model and data from laboratory tests and field sites. Both measured data and STUMOD outputs show a relatively higher removal in clayey soils compared to sandy soils. Consistent with literature data for most soils, STUMOD predicted ammonium conversion to nitrate within the first foot below the trench infiltrative surface.     

Barriers to sharing water quality data: experiences from the Shale Network

The Shale Network is a group of stakeholders collating, publishing, and conducting research on water quality data collected in the northeastern United States experiencing natural gas extraction from shale using hydraulic fracturing. In developing the Shale Network, we have experienced reluctance to share data from all participating sectors. This paper explores this reluctance, identifying barriers to greater collaboration among multiple stakeholders in natural resource management projects. Findings are derived from participant observation of the Shale Network team, surveys conducted during Shale Network workshops, interviews with water quality stakeholders, and participant observation of water quality monitoring training sessions. The barriers identified include perceptions about data problems and quality, technical capacity, regulatory and legal limitations, competition for resources, and resource allocation decisions. This paper identifies strategies the Shale Network has used to overcome data-sharing barriers to expand a culture of data sharing that supports enhanced nature resource management and citizen engagement.     

Consumer willingness to pay for organic and locally grown produce on Dominica: insights into the potential for an “Organic Island”

With the intent of improving agricultural revenues and solidifying her place as an ecotourism destination, it has been proposed that the island nation of The Commonwealth of Dominica convert all agriculture to organic production. This study explores Dominica’s current and potential domestic demand for organic and/or “locally grown” produce. Surveys were conducted with Dominican consumers to assess their opinions and willingness to pay for these products, and evaluated using a maximum likelihood estimation procedure. On average, Dominican consumers are willing to pay 17.5 % more for organic, and 12 % more for locally grown, produce. These results were varied significantly across demographic segments of the sampled population, respondent tastes and preferences, the health status of their family, and the extent to which they were early adopters of new products. Despite several expected challenges of a successful transition to organic, implementation of this policy may offer a net positive welfare increase for Dominica’s permanent residents. Results from this analysis suggest that, from the perspective of domestic consumers, Dominica should continue to pursue the possibility of becoming an “Organic Island.”     

Effect of the Pittsburgh Air Pollution Episode upon Pulmonary Function in School Children

Due to increasing atmospheric concentrations of participates, five of Allegheny County’s seven monitoring areas were placed on first stage air pollution alert by November 18,1975. The Liberty Borough area reached second stage alert, and then emergency stage the morning of November 19. An investigation was mounted to determine whether these emergency levels of par-ticulates had an effect upon the pulmonary function of school children sufficiently severe that it would require several days for pulmonary function to return to normal. Beginning November 20 in two schools and November 21 in four additional schools, the three-quarter second forced expiratory volume (FEV.75) and the forced vital capacity (FVC) of approximately 270 parochial school children in fourth, fifth, and sixth grades were tested daily through November 26. Two schools, approximately 80 children, were in control areas; the remaining children were exposed to high or very high levels of particulate air pollution with significant levels of sulfur oxides. If a severe effect of pollution on pulmonary function occurred, one would expect daily measurements to tend upward in children in the four schools in polluted areas and to remain more or less steady in the two control areas. Analyses of the data yielded no indications of such an effect of air pollution upon the lung function of the school children studied. Pulmonary function values declined very slightly in all six schools over the study period. Unexplained variability over a weekend was observed.