Problem-Framing: A perspective on environmental problem-solving

The specter of environmental calamity calls for the best efforts of an involved public. Ironically, the way people understand the issues all too often serves to discourage and frustrate rather than motivate them to action. This article draws from problem-solving perspectives offered by cognitive psychology and conflict management to examine a framework for thinking about environmental problems that promises to help rather than hinder efforts to address them. Problem-framing emphasizes focusing on the problem definition. Since how one defines a problem determines one's understanding of and approach to that problem, being able to redefine or reframe a problem and to explore the “problem space” can help broaden the range of alternatives and solutions examined. Problem-framing incorporates a cognitive perspective on how people respond to information. It explains why an emphasis on problem definition is not part of people's typical approach to problems. It recognizes the importance of structure and of having ways to organize that information on one's problem-solving effort. Finally, problem-framing draws on both cognitive psychology and conflict management for strategies to manage information and to create a problem-solving environment that not only encourages participation but can yield better approaches to our environmental problems.     

A compensation mechanism for siting noxious facilities: Theory and experimental design

In locating noxious facilities, such as a trash disposal plant or a hazardous waste disposal incinerator, the host community frequently incurs all the costs while other communities in the region receive the benefits. We propose a mechanism for sharing the benefits with the potential loser. Each community submits a sealed bid indicating the minimum amount it would require to host the facility. The site providing the lowest bid obtains the facility and receives its bid as compensation. This compensation is financed by the other communities. If there are N candidate communities, then each of the other communities would pay 1/(N − 1) of their acceptance bid. A series of controlled laboratory experiments show that the outcomes of this low-bid auction come close to predictions from a theoretical model based on maxi-min rules. Equity and efficiency considerations also are discussed in the context of the noxious facility problem.     

Temporary alteration of local social structure in a threatened population of Cuban iguanas (Cyclura nubila)

In small, insular populations, behavioral patterns that lead to increased variance in individual reproductive success can accelerate loss of genetic variation. Over a 1-year period, we documented behavior and hormone levels in a breeding group of adult Cuban iguanas (Cyclura nubila) at Guantánamo Bay. Male dominance was associated with body and head size, display behavior, testosterone levels, home-range size, and proximity to females. Based on their success in agonistic encounters, we ranked males in a linear dominance hierarchy. During the subsequent breeding season, we conducted a removal experiment in which the five highest-ranking males were temporarily relocated from the study site. Although we were unable to assess reproductive success directly, previously lower-ranking males assumed control of vacated territories, won more fights, and increased their proximity to females in the absence of the dominant males. When it results in greater mating opportunities for otherwise socially suppressed individuals, temporary alteration of local social structure may help limit erosion of genetic variation in small, insular populations. Electronic Publication     

Mating success on white-bearded manakin (Manacus manacus) leks: male characteristics and relatedness

Morphological, territorial, and behavioural characteristics were measured on white-bearded manakin (Manacus manacus) males from two leks in two consecutive years. These data were combined with data on marker-inferred relatedness to study possible co-variation with mating success. In one year, male size and male condition were correlated with mating success. In both years, males holding courts nearer the lek centre gained more matings. No observed male display behaviour appeared to be an independently important factor in explaining variance in male mating success. Successful males made more aggressive displays than non-successful males and more displays were between close relatives. Number of aggressive displays increased as the distance between male courts decreased. Mating success in the white-bearded manakin is most likely mediated by a combination of morphological and behavioural characteristics, influencing both male-male competition and female choice. Females could potentially use centrality on the lek as an indicator of male characteristics. However, levels of relatedness may influence spatial arrangement of males on a lek thereby affecting male-male interactions and ultimately influencing patterns of mating success.     

Using pneumatic fracturing extraction to achieve regulatory compliance and enhance voc removal from low-permeability formations

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and Energy (NJDEPE) has been developing cleanup regulations that focus on remediation, rather than extended delineation, and on integrating regulatory requirements with technological developments. To this end, the NJDEPE, under the regulatory aegis of the Environmental Cleanup and Responsibility Act (ECRA), is monitoring an innovative treatment technology pilot test at a TCE-contaminated ECRA site in Hillsborough, New Jersey. The purpose of the study is to determine the applicability of pneumatic fracturing extraction (PFE) as a source-removal technique for extracting volatile organic compounds (VOCs) trapped informations with low permeability. The technology being pilot tested is pneumatic fracturing extraction, a process for enhancing permeability to promote in-situ removal and treatment of VOCs. The patented process uses high-pressure air injected into an isolated subsurface zone at controlled rates and pressures. At a critical point, the geologic material ruptures, and fractures are created that radiate outward from the fracture location. At the pilot test site, formation air flow was increased from 400 percent to 700 percent. PFE is a key component of the overall remediation strategy at the Hillsborough site. Consistent with proposed NJDEPE regulations, a ground-water pump-and-treat system will be installed for plume migration control. Once the pump-and-treat system has been established and shown to be effective, a more aggressive source removal program will be implemented using PFE. This program will include construction of a vadose zone PFE system and evaluation of the use of pneumatic fracturing to remove saturated zone residual dense nonaqueous phase liquids (DNAPL). Preliminary calculations suggest that if source zone concentrations can be reduced to 10 ppm of TCE, then TCE groundwater concentrations may be reduced to background levels at the property boundary compliance points.     

Linking health and ecology in the medical curriculum

Human health vulnerabilities to ecosystem degradation are well documented. Destabilization of natural ecosystems and the biosphere have posed an entirely new set of risks to human health and preclude any simple extrapolations from the past. Newly emerging diseases, increasing prevalence of many vector borne diseases, increased exposure to harmful UV radiation and a number of other transformations in the natural environment, have decidedly negative implications for the sustainability of human health. Curricula in medical schools are responding to these new realities by exposing the connections between health and ecology. The program in Ecosystem Health at the University of Western Ontario serves as one model for connecting these disciplines. This program has resulted in a perceptible shift in values and professional responsibilities of emerging physicians.