Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The objective of this study was to monitor a newly constructed wetland (CW) in north Wales, UK, to assess whether it contributes to an improvement in... 相似文献
Wireless communication systems have been broadly applied in various complicated traffic operations to improve mobility and safety on roads, which may raise a concern about the implication of the new technology on vehicle emissions. This paper explores how the wireless communication systems improve drivers’ driving behaviors and its contributions to the emission reduction, in terms of Operating Mode (OpMode) IDs distribution used in emission estimation. A simulated work zone with completed traffic operation was selected as a test bed. Sixty subjects were recruited for the tests, whose demographic distribution was based on the Census data in Houston, Texas. A scene of a pedestrian’s crossing in the work zone was designed for the driving test. Meanwhile, a wireless communication system called Drivers Smart Advisory System (DSAS) was proposed and introduced in the driving simulation, which provided drivers with warning messages in the work zone. Two scenarios were designed for a leading vehicle as well as for a following vehicle driving through the work zone, which included a base test without any wireless communication systems, and a driving test with the trigger of the DSAS. Subjects’ driving behaviors in the simulation were recorded to evaluate safety and estimate the vehicle emission using the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released emission model MOVES. The correlation between drivers’ driving behavior and the distribution of the OpMode ID during each scenario was investigated. Results show that the DSAS was able to induce drivers to accelerate smoothly, keep longer headway distance and stop earlier for a hazardous situation in the work zone, which driving behaviors result in statistically significant reduction in vehicle emissions for almost all studied air pollutants (p-values range from 4.10E-51 to 2.18E-03). The emission reduction was achieved by the switching the distribution of the OpMode IDs from higher emission zones to lower emission zones.
Implications: Transportation section is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions. Many studies demonstrate that the wireless communication system dedicated for safety and mobility issues may contribute to the induction in vehicle emissions through changing driving behaviors. An insight into the correlation between the driving behaviors and the distribution of Operating Mode (OpMode) IDs is essential to enhance the emission reduction. The result of this study shows that with a Drivers Smart Advisory System (DSAS) drivers accelerated smoothly and stopped earlier for a hazardous situation, which induce the switch of the OpMode IDs from high emission zones to lower emission zones. 相似文献
The probable source of stone moroko, Pseudorasbora parva (Temminck & Schlegel, 1846), populations in lake- and stream-type Dnieper reservoirs was revealed. The dynamics and specific growth rates of these populations over 20 years were analyzed. The dynamic phase portrait method was used to determine the timing of stages in the process of invader naturalization and the periods when its populations were in equilibrium. The potential growth rates of P. parva populations in the Kremenchug and Dneprodzerzhinsk reservoirs were estimated. 相似文献
The sustainability of deltas worldwide is under threat due to the consequences of global environmental change (including climate change) and human interventions in deltaic landscapes. Understanding these systems is becoming increasingly important to assess threats to and opportunities for long-term sustainable development. Here, we propose a simplified, yet inclusive social–ecological system (SES)-centered risk and vulnerability framework and a list of indicators proven to be useful in past delta assessments. In total, 236 indicators were identified through a structured review of peer-reviewed literature performed for three globally relevant deltas—the Mekong, the Ganges–Brahmaputra–Meghna and the Amazon. These are meant to serve as a preliminary “library” of potential indicators to be used for future vulnerability assessments. Based on the reviewed studies, we identified disparities in the availability of indicators to populate some of the vulnerability domains of the proposed framework, as comprehensive social–ecological assessments were seldom implemented in the past. Even in assessments explicitly aiming to capture both the social and the ecological system, there were many more indicators for social susceptibility and coping/adaptive capacities as compared to those relevant for characterizing ecosystem susceptibility or robustness. Moreover, there is a lack of multi-hazard approaches accounting for the specific vulnerability profile of sub-delta areas. We advocate for more comprehensive, truly social–ecological assessments which respond to multi-hazard settings and recognize within-delta differences in vulnerability and risk. Such assessments could make use of the proposed framework and list of indicators as a starting point and amend it with new indicators that would allow capturing the complexity as well as the multi-hazard exposure in a typical delta SES. 相似文献
This paper considers the evolution of attempts to control and manage air pollution, principally but not exclusively focussing upon the challenge of managing air pollution in urban environments. The development and implementation of a range of air pollution control measures are considered. Initially the measures implemented primarily addressed point sources, a small number of fuel types and a limited number of pollutants. The adequacy of such a source-control approach is assessed within the context of a changing and challenging air pollution climate. An assessment of air quality management in the United Kingdom over a 50-year timeframe exemplifies the range of issues and challenges in contemporary air quality management. The need for new approaches is explored and the development and implementation of an effects-based, risk management system for air quality regulation is evaluated. 相似文献
Fishers and small-scale fisheries worldwide have been marginalized historically. Now it is clear that integrating fishers
in management processes is key to resource conservation, but it is less clear how to do it. Here, based on a literature review and new information, we present and analyze a case in which the participation
of fishers in the management process was crucial in recovering an overexploited small-scale fishery for the pirarucu (Arapaima spp.) in the Amazon Basin, Brazil. In 8 years of experimental management, from 1999 to 2006, the population of pirarucu increased
9-fold (from about 2200 to 20,650 individuals), harvest quotas increased 10-fold (from 120 to 1249 individuals), and fishers’
participation in the management process increased and they benefited from increased monetary returns. Additionally, the number
of communities conducting the management scheme increased from 4 in 1999 to 108 in 2006, following the demands of fishers
and regional government agencies. Based on our analysis, we suggest that the participation of fishers in the management of
other small-scale fisheries in the world can be improved by focusing on (1) applying the knowledge and skills of fishers in
resource monitoring and management, (2) bridging knowledge systems among all involved stakeholders, (3) collaborating with
fishers that are interested in, and capable of conducting, resource conservation schemes, and (4) conducting management under
conditions of uncertainty. 相似文献
Urban forests are popular recreation areas in Europe. Several of these temperate broad-leaved forests also have a high conservation
value due to sustainable management over many centuries. Recreational activities, particularly the use of fireplaces, can
cause extensive damage to soil, ground vegetation, shrubs, and trees. Firewood collection depletes woody debris, leading to
a loss of habitat for specialized organisms. We examined the effects of fireplace use on forest vegetation and the amount
of woody debris by comparing disturbed and control plots in suburban forests in northwestern Switzerland. At frequently used
fireplaces, we found reduced species densities in the ground vegetation and shrub layer and changes in plant species composition
due to human trampling within an area of 150–200 m2. Picnicking and grilling also reduced the height and changed the age structure of shrubs and young trees. The amount of woody
debris was lower in disturbed plots than in control plots. Pieces of wood with a diameter of 0.6–7.6 cm were preferentially
collected by fireplace users. The reduction in woody debris volume extended up to a distance of 16 m from the fire ring, covering
an area of 800 m2 at each picnic site. In order to preserve the ecological integrity of urban forests and to maintain their attractiveness
as important recreation areas, we suggest depositing logging residues to be used as firewood and to restrict visitor movements
near picnic sites. 相似文献
Hydrogeomorphic (HGM) functional assessment models were used to assess whether function in created wetlands of two ages (1 year
old and >12 years old) was equivalent to that of natural (reference) mainstem floodplain wetlands. Reference wetlands scored
higher than both created age classes for providing energy dissipation and short-term surface water storage. Reference wetlands scored higher in maintaining native plant community and structure than 1-year-old sites, and 12-year-old wetlands scored higher than reference sites for providing vertebrate habitat structure. Analysis of individual model variables showed that reference wetlands had greater vegetative biomass and higher soil organic
matter content than both created wetland age classes. Created wetlands were farther from natural wetlands and had smaller
mean forest patch sizes within a 1-km-radius circle around the site than did the reference sites, indicating less hydrologic
connectivity. Created wetlands also had less microtopographic variation than reference wetlands. The 1-year-old created sites
were placed in landscape settings with greater land use diversity and road density than reference sites. The 12-year-old sites
had a higher gradient and a higher percentage of their surrounding area in urban land use. These results show that the created
wetlands were significantly structurally different (if not functionally so) from reference wetlands even after 12 years. The
most profound differences were in hydrology and the characteristics of the surrounding landscape. More attention needs to
be focused on placing created wetlands in appropriate settings to encourage proper hydrodynamics, eliminate habitat fragmentation,
and minimize the effects of stressors to the site. 相似文献