Generality of relationships between leaf pigment contents and spectral vegetation indices in Mallorca (Spain)

Vegetation indices are calculated from reflectance data of discrete spectral bands. The reflectance signal in the visible spectral range is dominated by the optical properties of photosynthetic pigments in plant leaves. Numerous spectral indices have been proposed for the estimation of leaf pigment contents, but the efficacy of different indices for prediction of pigment content and composition for species-rich communities is unknown. Assessing the ability of different vegetation indices to predict leaf pigment content we identify the most suitable spectral indices from an experimental dataset consisting of field-grown high light exposed leaves of 33 angiosperm species collected in two sites in Mallorca (Spain) with contrasting leaf anatomy and pigment composition. Leaf-level reflectance spectra were recorded over the wavelength range of 400 – 900 nm and contents of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total carotenoids, and anthocyanins were measured in 33 species from different plant functional types, covering a wide range of leaf structures and pigment content, five-fold to more than 10-fold for different traits. The best spectral region for estimation of leaf total chlorophyll content with least interference from carotenoids and anthocyanins was the beginning of near-infrared plateau well beyond 700 nm. Leaves of parallel-veined monocots and pinnate-veined dicots had different relationships between vegetation indices and pigments. We suggest that the nature and role of “far-red” chlorophylls which absorb light at longer wavelengths than 700 nm constitute a promising target for future remote sensing studies.

     

Climate change adaptation planning for Global South megacities: the case of Dhaka

Megacities in low- and middle-income countries face unique threats from climate change as vulnerable populations and infrastructure are concentrated in high-risk areas. This paper develops a theoretical framework to characterize adaptation readiness in Global South cities and applies the framework to Dhaka, Bangladesh, a city with acute exposure and projected impacts from flooding and extreme heat. To gather case evidence from Dhaka we draw upon interviews with national and municipal government officials and a review of planning documents and peer-reviewed literature. We find: (1) national-level plans propose a number of adaptation strategies, but urban concerns compete with priorities such as protection of coastal assets and agricultural production; (2) municipal plans focus on identifying vulnerability and impacts rather than adaptation strategies; (3) interviewees suggest that lack of coordination among local government (LG) organizations and lack of transparency act as barriers for municipal adaptation planning, with national plans driving policy where LGs have limited human and financial resources; and (4) we found limited evidence that national urban adaptation directives trickle down to municipal government. The framework developed offers a systematic and standardized means to assess and monitor the status of adaptation planning in Global South cities, and identify adaptation constraints and opportunities.     

Mixed models for assessing correlation in the presence of replication

The need to assess correlation in settings where multiple measurements are available on each of the variables of interest often arises in environmental science. However, this topic is not covered in introductory statistics texts. Although several ad hoc approaches can be used, they can easily lead to invalid conclusions and to a difficult choice of an appropriate measure of the correlation. Lam et al. approached this problem by using maximum likelihood estimation in cases where the replicate measurements are linked over time, but the method requires specialized software. We reanalyze the data of Lam et al. using PROC MIXED in SAS and show how to obtain the parameter estimates of interest with just a few lines of code. We then extend Lam et al.'s method to settings where the replicate measurements are not linked. Analysis of the unlinked case is illustrated with data from a study designed to assess correlations between indoor and outdoor measurements of benzene concentration in the air.     

Self‐esteem,appraisal and coping: a comparison of unemployed and re‐employed people

The negative effects of unemployment on psychological health are well documented, yet Kasl's ( 1982 ) reverse causation hypothesis is that positive psychological health, and in particular self‐esteem, facilitates re‐employment. The aim of this study was to investigate this proposal by assessing levels of self‐esteem, cognitive appraisals and coping efforts among unemployed persons and relating these factors to their employment status six months later. Two hundred and one unemployed (49 per cent female, 51 per cent male; mean age = 32.41 ± 10.18 years) and 128 employed respondents (59 per cent female, 41 per cent male; mean age = 35.0 ± 11.73 years) participated in the study. Participants completed the Adult Self‐Perception Profile, Access to Categories of Experience, Locus of Control, Deakin Coping Scale, and the Meaningful Leisure Activities Questionnaire at baseline and at six‐month follow‐up using a mail‐out survey. Comparison of baseline appraisals revealed that future re‐employed participants rated their latent deprivation lower and their internal locus of control higher than those continuously unemployed, and they also derived more internal meaning from leisure activities. Overall, the results provide support for Kasl's reverse causation hypothesis extended to these other domains of psychological health. Intervention strategies designed to incorporate the promotion of these factors are discussed. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Melanesian axiology,communal land tenure,and the prospect of sustainable development within Papua New Guinea

It is the contention of this paper that some progress in alleviating the social and environmental problems which are beginning to face Papua New Guinea can be achieved by supporting traditional Melanesian values through maintaining the customary system of communal land tenure. In accordance with this aim, I will proceed to contrast certain Western attitudes towards individual freedom, selfinterested behaviour, individual and communal interests and private ownership with attitudes and values expressed in the traditional Melanesian approach. In order to demonstrate the latter, I will briefly touch upon the phenomenon of wantokism and indicate how the Melanesian values associated with this concept find their locus in the system of customary communal ownership. Subsequently, I will describe how the emergence of a cash economy and the attachment to Western gadgetry and products have effected injury to the environment and undermined values which have previously maintained Melanesian social cohesion. While admitting that little can be done to eradicate the desire for cash and the products it can buy, I suggest that Melanesian communities and the environment itself would receive more protection if future development in Papua New Guinea embraced a system which incorporated certain of the traditional Melanesian values through the preservation of the communal form of land tenure. Ultimately, I suggest a way in which customary communal land tenure can be integrated into the established Anglo-Australian legal system.     

Species-specificity and individual variation in the song of male Nathusius’ pipistrelles (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pipistrellus nathusii</Emphasis>)

Sequences of the advertisement calls produced by male Nathusius’ pipistrelles (Pipistrellus nathusii) during the autumn mating period were recorded from individuals at two separate sites in Antrim, Northern Ireland, in August 2004. Several male roosts were found at these sites in close proximity to a single maternity roost, each containing approximately 200 adult females and their young. Analysis of measured parameters of four identified call types revealed that there were significant differences in call structure between sites and between individuals. Playback experiments, performed outside the adult female and juvenile roost sites, comprised of experimental advertisement call sequences of P. nathusii, Pipistrellus pygmaeus and Pipistrellus pipistrellus and control sound recorded without bats present (silence). Response was measured by simultaneously recording ultrasound during playbacks and counting the number of echolocation pulses identified as those of P. nathusii above a predetermined amplitude threshold. Significantly greater numbers of P. nathusii echolocation pulses were recorded during playback of male P. nathusii advertisement calls than during playback of congeners’ advertisement calls and control sound. The number of echolocation pulses recorded was similar during playback of P. pipistrellus and P. pygmaeus advertisement calls and silence. We suggest that, due to call complexity, male P. nathusii advertisement calls should be classified as ‘song’. Species-specificity and individual variation suggests that the songs of male P. nathusii have the potential to play a role in mate attraction and mate assessment.     

The 4Cs of adaptation tracking: consistency,comparability, comprehensiveness,coherency

Adaptation tracking seeks to characterize, monitor, and compare general trends in climate change adaptation over time and across nations. Recognized as essential for evaluating adaptation progress, there have been few attempts to develop systematic approaches for tracking adaptation. This is reflected in polarized opinions, contradictory findings, and lack of understanding on the state of adaptation globally. In this paper, we outline key methodological considerations necessary for adaptation tracking research to produce systematic, rigorous, comparable, and usable insights that can capture the current state of adaptation globally, provide the basis for characterizing and evaluating adaptations taking place, facilitate examination of what conditions explain differences in adaptation action across jurisdictions, and can underpin the monitoring of change in adaptation over time. Specifically, we argue that approaches to adaptation tracking need to (i) utilize a consistent and operational conceptualization of adaptation, (ii) focus on comparable units of analysis, (iii) use and develop comprehensive datasets on adaptation action, and (iv) be coherent with our understanding of what constitutes real adaptation. Collectively, these form the 4Cs of adaptation tracking (consistency, comparability, comprehensiveness, and coherency).     

Vulnerability to the health effects of climate variability in rural southwestern Uganda

Vulnerability to the health impacts of climate change will be shaped by the existing burden of ill- health and is expected to be highest in poor and socio-economically marginalized populations. Sub-Saharan Africa, in particular, is considered a highly vulnerable region. This paper analyses the vulnerability and adaptive capacity of rural Bakiga communities in southwestern Uganda to climate-sensitive health risks. The objectives were threefold: i) identify key climate-sensitive, community-identified health priorities; ii) describe and characterize determinants of sensitivity to these health priorities at the individual, community and regional levels; and iii) assess the adaptive capacity of Bakiga. Data collection employed a combination of individual and key informant interviews, biographies, future storylines, and Photovoice. Three key health risks were identified by the study communities (malaria, food insecurity, and gastrointestinal illnesses) – all affected by local climatic and environmental conditions, livelihoods, land use changes, and socio-economic conditions. Adaptation within these communities is dependent on their capacity to reduce sensitivities to identified health challenges among the potential of increasing exposures. Crop diversification, reducing deforestation, expanding of livestock rearing, transfer of traditional knowledge, and access to affordable health services are among potential strategies identified. We demonstrate significant existing vulnerabilities to present day climate-related health risks and highlight the importance of non-climatic processes and local conditions in creating sensitivity to health risks. Our place-based understanding is useful to inform interventions or policies aimed to reduce exposure and sensitivity and support adaptive capacity as the conditions these communities face are consistent with many other sub-Saharan African countries.