Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Mineralization Of Ancient Carbon In The Subsurface Of Riparian Forests, Noel P. Gurwick, Daniel M. Mccorkle, Peter M. Groffman, Arthur J. Gold, D. Q. Kellogg, Peter Seitz-Rundlett

Arthur Gold

Microbial activity in saturated, subsurface sediments in riparian forests may be supported by recent photosynthate or ancient (>500 ybp) soil organic carbon (SOC) in buried horizons. Metabolism of ancient SOC may be particularly important in riparian zones, considered denitrification hot spots, because denitrification in the riparian subsurface is often C-limited, because buried horizons intersect deep flow paths, and because low C mineralization rates can support ecosystem-relevant rates of denitrification. Buried horizons are common where alluvial processes (stream migration, overbank flow) have dominated riparian evolution. Our objectives were to determine: (1) the extent to which ancient SOC directly supports subsurface …

Building Sustainable Societies: Exploring Sustainability Policy And Practice In The Age Of High Consumption, Cindy Isenhour

Cindy Isenhour

This dissertation is an attempt to examine how humans in wealthy, post-industrial urban contexts understand sustainability and respond to their concerns given their sphere of influence. I focus specifically on sustainable consumption policy and practice in Sweden, where concerns for sustainability and consumer-based responses are strong. This case raises interesting questions about the relative strength of sustainability movements in different cultural and geo-political contexts as well as the specific factors that have motivated the movement toward sustainable living in Sweden.

The data presented here supports the need for multigenic theories of sustainable consumerism. Rather than relying on dominant theories of …

Landfills – Territorial Issues Of Cities From North-East Region, Romania, Florin C. Mihai, Pavel Ichim

Florin C MIHAI

Landfilling prevails in waste management options in Romania like others new EU members, being contrary to the concept of waste hierarchy promoted in recent years by EC. Waste disposal is done usually in non-compliant landfills and Government established a program to close these sites. This paper aims to analyse the transition from traditional waste management systems to an integrated system at national, regional and local scale. Assessment of landfills location based on buffer analysis (using GIS techniques) is made according to the proximity of five critical factors (CF) such as: residential area, industry & commercial units, agricultural lands, rivers & …

Marine Park Planning And Recreational Fishing: Is The Science Lost At Sea? Case Studies From Australia, Daryl Mcphee

Daryl McPhee

“No take” marine parks are widely advocated and increasingly utilised as a tool aimed at protecting marine biodiversity, and they may also be used as a fisheries management tool. In Australia a national system of no-take marine parks is being established to protect marine biodiversity. The creation of this network of no-take marine parks that exclude the public from recreational fishing in large areas of the ocean is extremely contentious. Nearly one quarter of the Australian population goes recreational fishing at least once a year, and it is a $2 billion industry. The motivations for, and aspirations of these recreational …

Zakład Termicznego Przekształcania Odpadów Komunalnych W Krakowie – Założenia Projektowe I Stan Realizacji Budowy, Mateusz Rzeszutek, Robert Oleniacz

Robert Oleniacz

The aim of this paper is to discuss the design assumptions and to determine the current status of the construction of the Municipal Solid Waste Thermal Treatment Plant (ZTPOK) in Krakow with a capacity of 220 thousand tons per year. This plant, planned to be built by the end of 2015 years, will be an important element of municipal waste management system in the area of the Municipality of Krakow. ZTPOK in Krakow will consist of the following installations: two lines of municipal solid waste incinerators based on moving grate technology, an installation of chemical solidification and stabilization of fly …

Light Reductions Drive Macroinvertebrate Changes In Amphibolis Griffithii Seagrass Habitat., Adam Gartner, Paul S. Lavery, Kathryn Mcmahon, Anne Brearley, Helen Barwick

Kathryn McMahon

Numerous anthropogenic activities can significantly reduce the amount of light reaching seagrass habitats. Typically these result in morphological and physiological changes to the plant and associated algal epiphytes. However, the flow-on effects to seagrass-dependent fauna induced by these disturbances has yet to be examined. This study investigated the effects of different light reduction intensity (high: ~92% reduction; moderate: ~84% reduction), duration (3, 6 and 9 mo) and timing (post-winter and post-summer) on the density and biomass of macroinvertebrate epifauna within an Amphibolis griffithii seagrass ecosystem (Western Australia). There were generally lower epifauna densities and biomass within shaded seagrass plots. When …

A Guide To Tropical Seagrasses Of The Indo-West Pacific, Michelle Waycott, Kathryn Mcmahon, Jane Mellors, Ainsley Calladine, Diana Kleine

Kathryn McMahon

No abstract provided.

Recovery From The Impact Of Light Reduction On The Seagrass Amphibolis Griffithii, Insights For Dredging Management, Kathryn Mcmahon, Paul Lavery, Michael Mulligan

Kathryn McMahon

A large-scale, manipulative experiment was conducted to examine the extent and rate of recovery of meadows of the temperate Australian seagrass, Amphibolis griffithii to different light-reduction scenarios typical of dredging operations, and to identify potential indicators of recovery from light reduction stress. Shade cloth was used to mimic different intensities, durations and start times of light reduction, and then was removed to assess the recovery. The meadow could recover from 3 months of light stress (5–18% ambient) following 10 months re-exposure to ambient light, even when up to 72% of leaf biomass was lost, much faster recovery rates than has …

Dynamics Of A Cyanobacterial Bloom In A Hypereutrophic, Stratified Weir Pool, Peter Thompson, Anya Waite, Kathryn Mcmahon

Kathryn McMahon

No abstract provided.

Application Of A Novel Phytotoxicity Assay For The Detection Of Herbicides In Hervey Bay And The Great Sandy Straits, Susan Bengston-Nash, Kathryn Mcmahon, Geoff Eaglesham, Joachin Mã¼Ller

Kathryn McMahon

No abstract provided.

Vulnerability Of Seagrasses In The Great Barrier Reef To Climate Change, M Waycott, C Collier, Kathryn Mcmahon, P Ralph, Len Mckenzie, J Udy, A Grech

Kathryn McMahon

No abstract provided.

Herbicide Contamination And The Potential Impact To Seagrass Meadows In Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia, Kathryn Mcmahon, Susan Bengston-Nash, Geoff Eaglesham, Joachin Mã¼Ller, Norm Duke

Kathryn McMahon

No abstract provided.

Diatom Community Response To Climate Variability Over The Past 37,000 Years In The Sub-Tropics Of The Southern Hemisphere, Sarah Hembrow, Kathryn Taffs, Pia Atahan, Jeffrey Parr, Atun Zawadzki, Henk Heijnis

Jeffrey Parr

Climate change is impacting global surface water resources, increasing the need for a deeper understanding of the interaction between climate and biological diversity. This is particularly the case in the Southern Hemisphere sub-tropics, where little information exists on the aquatic biota response to climate variations. Palaeolimnological techniques, in particular the use of diatoms, are well established and can significantly contribute to the understanding of climatic variability and the impacts that change in climate have on aquatic ecosystems. A sediment core from Lake McKenzie, Fraser Island (Australia), was used to investigate interactions between climate influences and aquatic ecosystems. This study utilises …

Wicked Tools: The Value Of Scientific Models For Solving Maine’S Wicked Problems, Tim Waring

Timothy M Waring

“Wicked problems” are urgent, high-stake socioeconomic-environmental challenges that often involve ideological conflict and have no “best solutions.” Using examples from Maine’s Sustainability Solutions Initiative projects, Tim Waring describes how scientific models can be used to address these kinds of problems. When well-constructed and tested models are used to address policy-relevant issues, include input from stakeholders, and integrate social, economic and environmental dynamics, they can become “wicked tools” to address some of society’s biggest challenges.

Estimations Of Flood Waste From Rural Dumpsites Located On Floodplains From Neamţ, County, Romania, Florin C. Mihai

Florin C MIHAI

Waste dumping is a serious environmental threat to major rivers from extra- Carpathian Region of Neamţ county in the proximity of villages because the lack of waste collection services. In this context, floodplains are frequently susceptible to such bad practices, these areas being also exposed to stronger floods. The paper aims to calculate the potential waste taken from these areas in order to assess a quantitative impact of these bad practices.

Preliminary Summary Of Water Resource Investigations During 2012 At Timpanogos Cave National Monument, Utah, Lee J. Florea, Chelsie R. Dugan, Camille Mckinney

Lee J Florea, PhD, P.G.

This manuscript considers the hydrology and geochemistry of water resources within Timpanogos Cave National Monument in American Fork, Utah. In particular, data are presented for five cave pools within the Monument and the American Fork River that flows through the Monument. Two independent dye trace attempts in this study have not established a connection between the surface near the canyon rim at the south border of the Monument and the cave pools or the river. Ion chemistry of the pools reveals elevated sulfate concentrations. Analysis of sulfate and other reaction products suggests the possibility of combined carbonic and sulfuric acids …

Long-Term Environmental Problems And Strategic Intergenerational Transfers, Timo Goeschl, Daniel Heyen, Juan B. Moreno-Cruz

Juan B. Moreno-Cruz

The impacts of long-lived stock pollutants and the measures supposed to address them link current and future generations. Altruism towards successor generations is a prerequisite for resolving the resulting inter-generational equity issues. Preference asymmetry and imperfect altruism introduce strategic conflicts between generations. Here, a current generation decides on a combination of abatement and whether to provide an imperfect backstop. The future generation decides whether to use the backstop or not. We identify three outcomes: (1) Technology denial, in which the current generation deliberately rejects the imperfect backstop to avoid misuse by the future generation. (2) Under-abatement, in which the current …

Quantitative Assessment Method Of Illegal Dumping În Small Rivers. Case Study: Neamt County, Romania, Florin C. Mihai

Florin C MIHAI

Poor waste management facilities from Romanian rural areas lead to uncontrolled waste disposal on improper sites. These bad practices are frequently in the the proximity of built-up areas , therefore, the small rivers inside these areas are susceptible to waste dumping. The paper aims to develop a quantitative assessment method of waste disposed into such small rivers from extra Carpathian region of Neamț county. The lack of organized waste collection services from 2003 lead to high values of waste disposed in such rivers frequently over 15 t/yr for each one. Despite some improvements compared to 2003 the small rivers inside …

The Coastlines Of The World With Google Earth: Understanding The Environment, Anja Scheffers, Sander R. Scheffers, Dieter H. Kelletat

Professor Anja Scheffers

Far away shores, exotic islands or adventurous sea voyages - coasts are the destination of dreams for millions of people around the globe. Large numbers of people also call coasts their home; in many countries a narrow coastal strip is densely populated making these places vulnerable to marine natural hazards such as storms or tsunamis. The book Coastlines of the World with Google Earth aims to draw people's attention (within and outside of the science community) towards coastal sciences and spark interest for the extraordinary diversity and beauty of coastal environments. The book illustrates the fascinating variety of coastal landscapes …

Resource Inventory For Conversion Modelling, Graeme Palmer, Jerome K. Vanclay

Professor Jerome K Vanclay

Foresters routinely estimate the economic potential of a standing forest resource as lumber. It is usual to consider the straightness and size of a tree to estimate gross recovery and the range of lumber products that might be produced. However, such estimates are usually subjective and depend on the knowledge and experience of the assessor. Several conversion modeling packages are available to assist with such appraisals, but these require an established library of log data, or require detailed and expensive log measurements. Fortunately, many tree attributes that influence lumber out-turn can be easily and objectively appraised, and these easy-to-measure attributes …

Air Blasting As The Optimal Approach For The Extraction Of Antioxidants In Coral Tissue, Elisabeth Deschaseaux, Myrna Deseo, Kellie Shepherd, Graham Jones, Peter Harrison

Dr Myrna A Deseo

In order to accurately measure the antioxidant capacity in corals, it is essential to optimally extract antioxidants from coral tissue. Here, we compared the two most commonly used methods for coral tissue extraction, air blasting (similar to Water-Pik method) and grinding, with or without sonication, to optimally extract antioxidants in corals. By air blasting, the coral tissue was stripped off the skeleton with a stream of compressed air into a polyethylene bag containing a known volume of buffer, whereas by grinding, both the coral tissue and skeleton were crushed using a mortar and pestle into a powder and homogenised in …

Sulfide Oxidation In Some Acid Sulfate Soil Materials, Nicholas John Ward

Dr Nicholas J Ward

This thesis examines sulfide oxidation in 4 physically and mineralogically diverse acid sulfate soil (ASS) materials collected from coastal floodplain sites in north-eastern New South Wales. The aim of this study is to gain further understanding of the process of sulfide oxidation in ASS materials, which will allow improved and more effective management strategies to be applied to these materials. The process of sulfide oxidation was examined using laboratory incubation experiments. The oxidation of pyrite was the primary cause of initial acidification of the ASS materials studied. Although the acid volatile sulfur fraction increased in concentration by an order of …

Animal Anti–Apoptotic Genes Enhance Recovery From Drought Stress In Tobacco, Tala Awada, David D. Dunigan, Martin B. Dickman

David D Dunigan Ph. D.

The anti–apoptotic nematode CED–9 gene and a 3’ non–coding mRNA region of the human Bcl–2 gene, referred to as 161–1, enhanced resistance to drought and recovery after re–watering in transgenic Nicotiana tabacum L. CV Glurk plants. The effect of drought on plant functions was investigated by withholding water from pots for 6, 8, 10 and 13 days. Results showed that controls and transgenic tobacco did not differ among each other under well–watered conditions. Differences appeared however, on day 3 of water deprivation, where controls exhibited a significantly steeper decline in photosynthesis (A) compared to the transgenic lines. On day 10 …

Clarification Of Rubber Mill Wastewater By A Plant Based Biopolymer – Comparison With Common Inorganic Coagulants, Sumona Mukherjee

Sumona Mukherjee

Background In this study, the efficiency of Guar gum as a biopolymer has been compared with two other widely used inorganic coagulants, ferric chloride (FeCl3) and aluminum chloride (AlCl3), for the treatment of effluent collected from the rubber-washing tanks of a rubber concentrate factory. Settling velocity distribution curves were plotted to demonstrate the flocculating effect of FeCl3, AlCl3 and Guar gum. FeCl3 and AlCl3 displayed better turbidity removal than Guar gum at all settling velocities. Result FeCl3, AlCl3 and Guar gum removed 92.8%, 88.2% and 88.1% turbidity, respectively, of raw wastewater at a settling velocity of 0.1 cm min−1, respectively. …

Enhanced Adaptive Management: Integrating Decision Analysis, Scenario Analysis And Environmental Modeling For The Everglades, Matteo Convertino, Christy Foran, Jeffrey Keisler, Lynn Scarlett, Andrew Loschiavo, Greg Kiker, Igor Linkov

Jeffrey Keisler

Towards Respecting Indigenous Rights In Development Policy: The Case Of A Community-Based Forest Management Project In Panama, Benjamin Goodman

Benjamin Goodman

As Latin American countries reach new heights of development, perched on the shoulders of an increasingly globalized economy, their local indigenous communities continue to be the most marginalized and impoverished people in the world. Sustainable development initiatives present themselves as a way to contribute to global economic development, while at the same time, respecting the livelihoods of rural peoples and preserving natural resources for future generations. However, unsustainable exploitation of natural resources continues to threaten the livelihoods and identities of many rural indigenous communities. As the economic, legal and political marginalization of indigenous peoples persists, the inevitable result of these …

Thinking About The Value Of Property From A Sustainable Perspective, Lynne Armitage

Lynne Armitage

No abstract provided.

Individual And Combined Effects Of Land Use/Cover And Climate Change On Wolf Bay Watershed Streamflow In Southern Alabama, Ruoyu Wang

Ruoyu Wang

"Toxic" Workplaces: The Negative Interface Between The Physical And Social Environments, Linda Too, Michael Harvey

Linda Too

Toxic real estate has been used as a negative phrase to describe non-performing assets on a firm's balance sheet. Today there is another form of "TOXIC" real estate that needs management's attention, i.e. physical workplaces that are harmful to employees on a day-in and day-out basis. Particularly when productivity of workforce is now central to business competitiveness, it is timely to explore the interface between physical and social environments as many of the social/psychological impacts on employees have not been recognized or calibrated. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the links between physical workplace and social behaviour.

Modelling Property Management Decisions Using 'Iconcur', Craig Langston, Jim Smith

Jim Smith

Making appropriate decisions concerning the ongoing management of existing built facilities is an important activity for property and facilities managers. This paper describes the development of a new conceptual framework for making better decisions about built assets at an early stage in the process, with a view to identifying which course of action to pursue. The resulting model, known as iconCUR, uses a weighted matrix methodology to obtain performance scores for condition, utilization and reward that are capable of mapping property decisions in 3D space over time. Via a case study of a real project in Sydney (Australia), the application …