Ecological restoration is increasingly becoming a primary component of broader environmental and water resources management
programs throughout the world. The New Zealand Department of Conservation implemented Project River Recovery (PRR) in 1991
to restore unique braided gravel-bed river and wetland habitat in the Upper Waitaki Basin in New Zealand’s high country of
the South Island, which has been severely impacted by hydroelectric power development. These braided rivers are highly dynamic,
diverse, and globally important ecosystems and provide critical habitat to numerous native wading and shore bird species,
including several threatened species such as the black stilt. The objective of this study was to review and summarize PRR
after more than 10 years of implementation to provide information and transfer knowledge to other nations and restoration
programs. Site visits were conducted, discussions were held with key project staff, and project reports and related literature
were reviewed. Primary components of the program include pest plant and animal control, wetland construction and enhancement,
a significant research and monitoring component, and public awareness. The study found that PRR is an excellent example of
an ecological restoration program focusing on conserving and restoring unique habitat for threatened native bird species,
but that also includes several secondary objectives. Transfer of knowledge from PRR could benefit ecological restoration programs
in other parts of the world, particularly riverine floodplain and braided river restoration. PRR could achieve even greater
success with expanded goals, additional resources, and increased integration of science with management, especially broader
consideration of hydrologic and geomorphologic effects and restoration opportunities. 相似文献
The morphological form of mixed sand and gravel beaches is distinct, and the process/response system and complex dynamics
of these beaches are not well understood. Process response models developed for pure sand or gravel beaches cannot be directly
applied to these beaches. The Canterbury Bight coastline is apparently abundantly supplied with sediments from large rivers
and coastal alluvial cliffs, but a large part of this coastline is experiencing long-term erosion. Sediment budget models
provide little evidence to suggest sediments are stored within this system. Current sediment budget models inadequately quantify
and account for the processes responsible for the patterns of erosion and accretion of this coastline. We outline a new method
to extrapolate from laboratory experiments to the field using a geographical information system approach to model sediment
reduction susceptibility for the Canterbury Bight. Sediment samples from ten representative sites were tumbled in a concrete
mixer for an equivalent distance of 40 km. From the textural mixture and weight loss over 40 km tumbling, we applied regression
techniques to generate a predictive equation for Sediment Reduction Susceptibility (SRS). We used Inverse Distance Weighting
(IDW) to extrapolate the results from fifty-five sites with data on textural sediment composition to field locations with
no data along the Canterbury Bight, creating a continuous sediment reductions susceptibility surface. Isolines of regular
SRS intervals were then derived from the continuous surface to create a contour map of sediment reductions susceptibility
for the Canterbury Bight. Results highlighted the variability in SRS along this coastline. 相似文献
Introduction: Few studies have investigated what guidance occurs during the Learner phase of driving, particularly during formal lessons. The objective of this research was threefold: (a) investigate functional and higher-order driving instruction (HO-DI) in formal Learner lessons, (b) explore teaching approaches within the context of a theoretical framework, and (c) investigate variation in these three elements of instruction as a function of Learner driving experience. The theoretical framework developed to guide this research integrated the constructivist Goals for Driver Education and self-determination theory. Method: Professional instruction was explored through naturalistic observation; 15 instructors provided GoPro recordings of 110 driving lessons with Learners aged 16–19 years (n = 96) at varying levels of experience: Early (<20 logbook hours), Mid (21–70 h), and Late (71–>100 h). Results: Employing a previously-developed coding taxonomy, instructor guidance opportunities were identified as 15% HO-DI, 73% functional instruction, and 12% untaken or missed HO-DI. Functional instruction peaked in the Mid Phase, while HO-DI was prominent in the Early phase suggesting missed opportunities in the later phases when use of silence peaked. Some elements of self-determination theory’s needs-supportive model were readily identified in teaching approaches, such as feedback. Conclusions: An understanding of functional and HO-DI, including teaching strategies, was established within the context of an integrated theoretical framework, with different trajectories across Learner experience identified. Teaching strategies reflected constructivism and self-determination theory providing theoretical support for these frameworks to be applied in future driver training studies. Continued research efforts are needed to understand how best to balance functional and HO-DI to maximize young novice drivers’ learning prior to independent driving, particularly during the late Learner period. Practical Applications: Naturalistic observation of current HO-DI and teaching approaches supports the feasibility of integrating recommended improvements arising from the theoretical framework within current practice, with practical implications for improvements to industry training. 相似文献
Objective: Considerable evidence indicates that medical conditions prevalent among older individuals lead to impairments in visual, cognitive, or psychomotor functions needed to drive safely. The purpose of this study was to explore the factors determining driving difficulties as seen from the viewpoint of 30 older drivers with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and 30 age-matched controls without cognitive impairment.
Methods: Perceptions of driving difficulties from both groups were examined using data from an extensive questionnaire. Samples of drivers diagnosed with MCI and age-matched controls were asked to report the frequency with which they experienced driving difficulties due to functional deficits and knowledge of new traffic rules and traffic signs.
Results: The analysis revealed that 2 factors underlie MCI perceptions of driving difficulties, representing (1) difficulties associated with late detection combined with slowed response to relevant targets in the peripheral field of view and (2) difficulties associated with divided attention between tasks requiring switching from automatic to conscious processing particularly of long duration. The analysis for healthy controls revealed 3 factors representing (1) difficulties in estimating speed and distance of approaching vehicles in complex (attention-dividing) high-information-load conditions; (2) difficulties in moving head, neck, and feet; and (3) difficulties in switching from automatic responses to needing to use cognitive processing in new or unexpected situations.
Conclusions: Though both group analyses show difficulties with switching from automatic to decision making, the difficulties are different. For the control group, the difficulty in switching involves switching in new or unexpected situations associated with high-information-load conditions, whereas this switching difficulty for the MCI group is associated with divided attention between easier tasks requiring switching. These findings underline the ability of older drivers (with MCI and without cognitive impairment) to indicate probable impairments in various driving skills. The patterns of difficulties perceived by the MCI group and the age-matched healthy control group are indicative of demanding driving situations that may merit special attention for road designers and road safety engineers. They may also be considered in the design of older drivers’ fitness to drive evaluations, training programs, and/or vehicle technologies that provide for older driver assistance. 相似文献
We assessed environmental and perceptual correlates of walking and walkability for fifth graders from three communities attending two schools: A new urban/LEED-ND pilot community, mixed, and standard suburban community. Irvine-Minnesota Inventory (IMI) walkability audits showed that new urban blocks provided more traffic safety, pleasurability, crime safety, density, and diversity. New urban routes offered greater traffic safety, accessibility, pleasurability, crime safety, and diversity, but suburban routes had greater housing density, net of controls (parental education, rooms in the home, home ownership, parent preference for child to walk to school). Parents and children perceived new urban routes to be more walkable and children walked more when they lived on more walkable routes. The suburban hierarchical street design exposed children to varied traffic safety conditions by funneling their walks from cul-de-sacs to arterials. The new urban routes to a centrally located school passed by pleasant open spaces, suggesting how community organization can create better walking conditions. 相似文献
Certain vehicle features can help drivers avoid collisions and/or protect occupants in the event of a crash, and therefore, might play an important role when deciding which vehicle to purchase. The objective of this study was to examine the importance attributed to key vehicle features (including safety) that drivers consider when buying a car and its association with age and gender.
Methods
A sample of 2,002 Canadian drivers aged 18 years and older completed a survey that asked them to rank the importance of eight vehicle features if they were to purchase a vehicle (storage, mileage, safety, price, comfort, performance, design, and reliability). ANOVA tests were performed to: (a) determine if there were differences in the level of importance between features and; (b) examine the effect of age and gender on the importance attributed to these features.
Results
Of the features examined, safety and reliability were the most highly rated in terms of importance, whereas design and performance had the lowest rating. Differences in safety and performance across age groups were dependent on gender. This effect was most evident in the youngest and oldest age groups.
Conclusions
Safety and reliability were considered the most important features. Age and gender play a significant role in explaining the importance of certain features.
Impact on Industry
Targeted efforts for translating safety-related information to the youngest and oldest consumers should be emphasized due to their high collision, injury, and fatality rates. 相似文献
Arctic and subarctic ecosystems are experiencing substantial changes in hydrology, vegetation, permafrost conditions, and carbon cycling, in response to climatic change and other anthropogenic drivers, and these changes are likely to continue over this century. The total magnitude of these changes results from multiple interactions among these drivers. Field measurements can address the overall responses to different changing drivers, but are less capable of quantifying the interactions among them. Currently, a comprehensive assessment of the drivers of ecosystem changes, and the magnitude of their direct and indirect impacts on subarctic ecosystems, is missing. The Torneträsk area, in the Swedish subarctic, has an unrivalled history of environmental observation over 100 years, and is one of the most studied sites in the Arctic. In this study, we summarize and rank the drivers of ecosystem change in the Torneträsk area, and propose research priorities identified, by expert assessment, to improve predictions of ecosystem changes. The research priorities identified include understanding impacts on ecosystems brought on by altered frequency and intensity of winter warming events, evapotranspiration rates, rainfall, duration of snow cover and lake-ice, changed soil moisture, and droughts. This case study can help us understand the ongoing ecosystem changes occurring in the Torneträsk area, and contribute to improve predictions of future ecosystem changes at a larger scale. This understanding will provide the basis for the future mitigation and adaptation plans needed in a changing climate.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s13280-020-01381-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. 相似文献