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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Floristic Variation Among Gravel Bars In A Subalpine River, Montana, Usa., George Malanson, D. Butler Dec 2013

Floristic Variation Among Gravel Bars In A Subalpine River, Montana, Usa., George Malanson, D. Butler

George P Malanson

The presence and abundance of plant species on active geomorphological surfaces, such as fluvial gravel bars in subalpine rivers, may reveal different effects of the environment, location, and chance on the assemblage of species during succession. Two-dimensional ordination mapping of species and correlations of abundance with simple environmental variables were used to examine relationships between the individual species and this dynamic environment. The ordination indicates that species are segregated by adaptations suggestive of successional pathway and successional stage. An examination of the distribution of species abundances plotted against the environmental variables reveals few distinct relationships. The differences in species abundances …


Wicked Tools: The Value Of Scientific Models For Solving Maine’S Wicked Problems, Tim Waring Nov 2013

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.