Environmental Fluid Mechanics - A 3D dry deposition scheme for particulate matter (PM) is presented as a Free-Libre and Open-Source Software (FOSS) library, DePaSITIA (RSE SpA). This combines some... 相似文献
Estimates of biodiversity change are essential for the management and conservation of ecosystems. Accurate estimates rely on selecting representative sites, but monitoring often focuses on sites of special interest. How such site-selection biases influence estimates of biodiversity change is largely unknown. Site-selection bias potentially occurs across four major sources of biodiversity data, decreasing in likelihood from citizen science, museums, national park monitoring, and academic research. We defined site-selection bias as a preference for sites that are either densely populated (i.e., abundance bias) or species rich (i.e., richness bias). We simulated biodiversity change in a virtual landscape and tracked the observed biodiversity at a sampled site. The site was selected either randomly or with a site-selection bias. We used a simple spatially resolved, individual-based model to predict the movement or dispersal of individuals in and out of the chosen sampling site. Site-selection bias exaggerated estimates of biodiversity loss in sites selected with a bias by on average 300–400% compared with randomly selected sites. Based on our simulations, site-selection bias resulted in positive trends being estimated as negative trends: richness increase was estimated as 0.1 in randomly selected sites, whereas sites selected with a bias showed a richness change of −0.1 to −0.2 on average. Thus, site-selection bias may falsely indicate decreases in biodiversity. We varied sampling design and characteristics of the species and found that site-selection biases were strongest in short time series, for small grains, organisms with low dispersal ability, large regional species pools, and strong spatial aggregation. Based on these findings, to minimize site-selection bias, we recommend use of systematic site-selection schemes; maximizing sampling area; calculating biodiversity measures cumulatively across plots; and use of biodiversity measures that are less sensitive to rare species, such as the effective number of species. Awareness of the potential impact of site-selection bias is needed for biodiversity monitoring, the design of new studies on biodiversity change, and the interpretation of existing data. 相似文献
Predation risk influences the duration of offspring development in many species where embryos develop from externally shed
eggs. Surprisingly, such predator-mediated effects on offspring development have rarely been explored in live-bearers. In
this paper, we use the guppy (Poecilia reticulata), a live-bearing freshwater fish, to test whether the duration of brood retention (the time from mating to parturition) is
influenced by experimental changes in the perceived level of predation. Because the swimming performance of female guppies
is impaired during late pregnancy, we predicted that females would withhold broods for shorter periods when they are exposed
to cues that signal a heightened risk of predation on adults rather than on juveniles. We therefore simulated increased risk
of predation on adults by using a combination of pike-shaped models (resembling natural predators that prey on adult guppies)
and ‘alarm substances’ derived from the skin extracts of adult conspecific females. Our results revealed that, under simulated
predation risk, female guppies produced broods significantly more quickly than their counterparts assigned to a control group
where predator cues were absent. A subsequent evaluation of offspring swimming performance revealed a significant positive
association between neonate swimming speeds and the duration of brood retention, suggesting that by accelerating parturition,
females may produce offspring with impaired locomotor skills. These findings, in conjunction with similar results from other
live-bearing species, suggest that the conditions experienced by gestating females can generate significant variation in the
timing of offspring development with potentially important implications for offspring fitness. 相似文献
Several wind tunnel experiments of tracer dispersion from reduced-scale landfill models are presented in this paper. Different
experimental set-ups, hot-wire anemometry, particle image velocimetry and tracer concentration measurements were used for
the characterisation of flow and dispersion phenomena nearby the models. The main aim of these experiments is to build an
extensive experimental data set useful for model validation purposes. To demonstrate the potentiality of the experimental
data set, a validation exercise on several mathematical models was performed by means of a statistical technique. The experiments
highlighted an increase in pollutant ground level concentrations immediately downwind from the landfill because of induced
turbulence and mean flow deflection. This phenomenon turns out to be predominant for the dispersion process. Tests with a
different set-up showed an important dependence of the dispersion phenomena from the landfill height and highlighted how complex
orographic conditions downwind of the landfill do not affect significantly the dispersion behaviour. Validation exercises
were useful for model calibration, improving code reliability, as well as evaluating performances. The Van Ulden model proved
to give the most encouraging results. 相似文献
Scientists in higher education institutions around the globe recognize the importance of engaging with public stakeholders to share their enthusiasm, explain their science, and encourage primary and secondary students to enter the sciences. However, without direct consideration of students’ and teachers’ perspectives and interests, scientists may design activities around their own goals, limiting the impact on school stakeholders (i.e., students, teachers, paraprofessional staff, students’ parents, and other caregivers). We drew from natural and social science research to describe how expanding the conception of place beyond the biophysical can help engage school stakeholders in meaningful ways. We describe the multidimensional PLACE framework that we developed to integrate perspectives, knowledge, and values of all stakeholders in engagement programming. The framework is organized around topics that stakeholders should discuss early on to ensure successful partnerships. We recommend that scientists identify and use pedagogy that is inclusive; language framed around dialogic communication methods; aims and motivations centered on engagement; cultural funds of knowledge of place (i.e., disciplinary, personal, or experiential knowledge); and evaluation of engagement based on meaningful metrics. Two case studies are presented to illustrate how the PLACE framework components, when addressed, can lead to robust, successful partnerships between scientists and schools. 相似文献
The use of helicopter rises discussion about environmental noise propagation especially when it operates in proximity of environmentally sensitive areas (ESAs) for an extended period because of its potential implications in wildlife behaviours. In order to support decisions on helicopter logging operation management in proximity of ESAs, this study focused on (i) analysing the noise spectrum of a light-lift helicopter during logging operations and on (ii) assessing the noise propagation in the surrounding environments. This study investigated a helicopter logging operation for wood fuel extraction in the eastern part of the Italian Alps. The potential disturbance area covered for the entire helicopter logging operation was evaluated by a specific GIS application according to hearing sensitivity of the most sensitive wildlife species in the study area (different strigiform species). The noise level at the ground appeared to be affected by the location regardless both the use of equivalent continuous sound pressures level dB(A) (LAeq) and the single-event level (SEL) noise metrics. The lowest values were recorded when the helicopter was flown over the sound meter level located under the forest canopy, while the highest was recorded when the helicopter was unhooking the loads at the landing. The GIS application highlighted the consistent of the exceeded noise area (weighted to strigiform hearing range and sensitivity) for the lower frequency bands (0.016–0.250 kHz). A more restricted exceeded noise area concerned instead the most sensitive frequency bands" for the strigiform (1–2 kHz).
Participation is usually regarded as a good practice in environmental policymaking, but its effects on policy strategies are unclear. Based on literature research, surveys, and interviews with participants, the present paper assesses whether decisional participation in formulating Austria’s National Adaptation Strategy (NAS) was worth the effort. Assessed against the goals of the participation process, we find that it raised awareness for adaptation and facilitated an exchange among the participants and that it improved the content of the NAS. However, regarding the goal of enhancing the acceptance of and commitment to the NAS, we find that this has been achieved among those who participated but not among high-level policymakers who are responsible for implementing the NAS. We conclude that (decisional) participation has its benefits in formulating comprehensive policy strategies but that it is most likely not able to overhaul their well-documented weaknesses, among them weak political commitment and implementation failures.
Rapid land-use change arising from incentives for afforestation has created tensions in rural communities previously dominated
by agricultural enterprises. This paper reports on an innovative experiment with social learning that incorporated participatory
modelling to resolve community concerns in a case study of plantation forestry in the Upper Clarence catchment of north-eastern
NSW Australia. The development of a diagnostic framework helped identify socioeconomic and environmental issues within the
community for investigation by a self-selected participatory advisory committee (PAC) representing a diversity of views. Implementation
of a social learning exercise offered empathetic and intellectual engagement among PAC members that maintained interest, built
confidence, and improved problem-solving capacity while fostering group ownership over decision making. A shared understanding
of dynamic landscape problems helped empower participants to collaboratively develop solutions for improved management and
operational practices, and cooperate to explore further options for plantation industry development under existing policy
guidelines which are presented in this paper. As a result of frank discussions between diverse stakeholders in a mutually
respectful learning environment that combined local, scientific and expert knowledge, concerns dissipated and participants
developed a more favourable view of plantation forestry activity. 相似文献