The role of perceived government style in the facilitation of self-determined and non self-determined motivation for pro-environmental behavior

Most North Americans are concerned about the environment and feel that responsibility for its protection lies primarily with government; however, no research to date has examined the influence of the government's approach toward environmental regulation on the motivation of individual citizens. According to self-determination theory, social contexts that support one's autonomy should facilitate self-determined motivation and social contexts that thwart autonomy should lead to non self-determined motivation and a sense of apathy or amotivation. In this study (n = 283), we examined the influence of perceptions of the government's approach toward environmental regulation on motivation toward the environment and frequency of self-reported pro-environmental behavior (PEB). Using structural equation modeling, we tested the hypothesis that frequency of PEB is predicted by motivation toward the environment and that motivation is predicted by the extent to which individuals perceive the government to be autonomy-supportive versus controlling in the implementation of environmental policies. The analysis revealed that perception of government autonomy-support contributed positively to autonomous motivation and negatively to amotivation, while perception of government control was positively related to both controlled motivation and amotivation. As predicted, autonomous motivation was positively, and amotivation was negatively, associated with frequency of PEB.     

Winter quiescence and spring awakening of the Eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica at its northernmost distribution limit

To test the hypothesis that oysters, Crassostrea virginica, from the northernmost part of the species range in the Gulf of St. Lawrence (48°N) open their valves at lower temperatures than those reported for more southern oysters, Hall element sensors were used to monitor their gaping behaviour. These observations were made in a flow-through system and the temperature, salinity and relative fluorescence of unfiltered seawater were monitored. Photoperiod was controlled (15?h dark:9?h light) and light levels were measured but not closely controlled. Gaping behaviour was followed from February to June 2010 (113?days) and from April to May 2011 (34?days) and was classified into three successive phases: quiescent, awakening and active. Although valves were either closed or slightly open during the quiescent phase (maximum gape angle?=?0.49°, SE?=?0.04), they abruptly opened to maximum angles of about 5.88° (SE?=?0.29) during the awakening phase. Moreover, there was noticeable synchrony amongst individuals, since approximately one-half of the monitored population awoke within a 6.6-h period in both study years. Correlative analyses identified temperature as a factor influencing valve movement, and oysters awakened when temperatures were 0.2–4.0?°C (mean?=?2.2, SE?=?0.2). Oysters exerted their maximal gape angle as soon as temperatures reached 2.8–6.6?°C (mean?=?4.8, SE?=?0.2). During the active phase, valves remained open 68.6?% (2010) and 79.7?% (2011) of the time. An unexpected result was the observation of a diurnal rhythm in valve openness whereby the openness was greatest near the end of the afternoon and least in the early morning.     

Enhanced phytoremediation: A study of mycorrhizoremediation of heavy metal–contaminated soil

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are microscopic fungi that occur naturally in soil and form a symbiosis with plant roots. By colonizing the roots, the fungus increases plant growth by making soil essential elements like zinc and phosphorus more accessible. AMF can play a role in the phytoremediation of heavy metal–contaminated soil (mycorrhizoremediation). Two research experiments were conducted to evaluate the impact of AMF on the extraction of different heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, lead, selenium, and zinc) in contaminated soil. A grass mixture composed of Festuca rubra, Festuca eliator, Agropyron repens, and Trifolium repens was used in the experiments, and four different types of AMF were investigated: Glomus intraradices, Glomus mosseae, Glomus etunicatum, and Gigaspora gigantea. The results of the study showed that heavy metal extraction by Glomus intraradices colonized plants was the highest of all four AMF tested and was generally higher than nonmycorrhizal plants, depending on the heavy metal concentration in soil and whether it interacted with other metals in soil. However, metal extraction by AMF colonized grasses reached a plateau after an approximately two‐month period showing no further phytoaccumulation. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.