Digital Commons Network^™

Changing Characteristics Of Land Cover, Landscape Pattern And Ecosystem Services In The Bohai Rim Region Of China, Jiaqi Liu, Wei Chen, Hu Ding, Zhanhang Liu, Min Xu, Ramesh P. Singh, Congqiang Liu

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Since the Anthropocene, ecosystems have been continuously deteriorating due to global climate change and human intervention. Exploring the changing characteristics of land use/land cover (LULC), landscape pattern and ecosystem service (ES) and their drivers is crucial for regional ecosystem management and sustainable development. Taking the Bohai Rim region of China as an example, we used the land use transfer matrix, landscape pattern index and InVEST model to analyze the changing characteristics of LULC, landscape pattern and six key ESs [crop production (CP), water yield (WY), carbon storage (CS), soil conservation (SC), habitat quality (HQ), landscape aesthetics (LA)] during 2000–2020. Detailed …

Increasing Wildfire Preparedness Through Defensible Space Training For The Private Sector, Christina Restaino, Spencer Eusden

Journal of Extension

There is a large effort across the United States to create fire adapted communities which are communities that are resilient to wildfire and are safe for firefighters to defend. These communities need adequate defensible space to become fire adapted, but the capacity to perform the work is low. A skilled workforce trained in defensible space can increase capacity and help communities be more prepared. We created a defensible space certification training program for landscape architects and contractors. The training is a way to increase our collective capacity to address the wildfire issue in Northern Nevada and across the West.

Extension Education For Real Estate Professionals: Teaching Regulations And Sharing Resources That Protect Water Quality And Property Values, Linda Patterson, Shari Halik, Kristine F. Stepenuck

Journal of Extension

Real estate professionals can be an important source of information for home buyers and sellers about regulations and practices that protect water quality and properties from environmental damage. Lake Champlain Sea Grant (LCSG) Extension identified a deficit in real estate education covering these topics for real estate professionals. Accredited real estate workshops were initially developed by LCSG Extension and Vermont Agency of Natural Resources specialists. The program was later expanded to New York. Six-month follow-up surveys indicated that the majority of participants continued to use knowledge and tools gained in the workshops. Suggestions for replicating this program elsewhere are provided.

Qualitative Study On Hydrocarbon Contamination In Cpo_A Case Study Of A Palm Oil Mill Based In Sumatera_Indonesia, Kanagasabai Narayanan, Jamalludin Helmi Hashim, Shirley Sie Ling Tan

Jesselton Journal of Educators and Scholars

This study addresses hydrocarbon contamination in Crude Palm Oil (CPO) from Sumatera, Indonesia, focusing on identifying sources, establishing acceptable levels, and proposing mitigation strategies. Key challenges include high costs of alternative lubricants and limited awareness among small-scale producers. The research employs a comprehensive approach, including data collection from Palm Oil Mills, interviews with RSPO auditors and Palm Oil Managers, and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) implementation. Findings reveal contamination sources such as gear oil and plastic containers, with recommendations including enhanced equipment maintenance, awareness campaigns, and stricter regulations. The study emphasizes the importance of collaboration, regulatory compliance, and …

Place-Based Conservation In Coastal And Marine Ecosystems: The Importance Of Engagement With Underrepresented Communities, Viniece Jennings, Kelly M. San Antonio, Mya J. Brown, Lalah Choice, Queriah Simpson, Imani Ford, Hyun Jung Cho, Pedro Solis, Ashley Lacey, De’Marcus Robinson

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Through the years, research has described the importance of community-based approaches in the management of coastal and marine ecosystems. Coastal and marine issues are multifaceted and require place-specific approaches developed in partnership with vulnerable communities who are impacted by environmental stressors. Place-based conservation, a management approach that focuses on unique, place-specific characteristics, and other similar methods. It considers the need to integrate human dimensions and location-centered approaches, which are often lacking in typical natural resource management. Meaningful engagement with underrepresented communities can holistically account for socioeconomic factors and cultural knowledge that inform best management practices. As the health of marine …

Alabama Agricultural Producers’ Experiences With Wild Pigs (Sus Scrofa) And Their Preferences Concerning Wild Pig Management, Hailey E. Ellis, Luren M. Jaebker, Alan D. Bright, Mark D. Smith, Keith M. Carlisle

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Government agencies and landowners use a variety of lethal methods to reduce invasive wild pig populations and resulting agricultural damages. To provide decision-makers with information regarding Alabama farmers’ experiences with wild pigs and their preferences for management actions, we surveyed Alabama Farmers Federation members in 2020. We found that wild pigs were commonly present on livestock, timber, and crop production acreage, but wild pig damages and costs were much more common among crop producers. Respondents' wildlife acceptance capacity for wild pigs was low and all lethal control methods were considered aceptable by most reposndents, particularly those performed by landowners. While …

Inefficiencies In Water Supply And Perceptions Of Water Use In Peri-Urban And Rural Water Supply Systems: Case Study In Cali And Restrepo, Colombia, Diana Carolina Callejas Moncaleano, Saket Pande, Melissa Haeffner, Juan Pablo Rodríguez Sánchez, Luuk Rietveld

Environmental Science and Management Faculty Publications and Presentations

Introduction:

Water scarcity is a significant global challenge that frequently manifests as inadequate water supply for domestic purposes. However, domestic water insecurity can occur even in regions where water is naturally abundant. Despite Colombia’s plentiful surface water resources, rural and peri-urban communities often experience limited access to water. Existing water supply systems are frequently susceptible to poor maintenance, particularly in remote areas where much of the infrastructure remains outdated. Consequently, water is often lost through leaks or unintentional non-domestic use. Although a regulatory framework for water usage exists, it does not consistently translate into effective implementation.

Methodology:

Based on an …

Pathways Of Participation: Community Engagement And Collaborative Adaptation In Disaster Contexts Across Diverse Environments, Ria Mukerji

Geography ETDs

This paper broadens the concept of effective community participation in disaster risk reduction by analyzing three case studies that emphasize unconventional, locally driven approaches. Using a multi-case study method, I examine forms of participation that challenge traditional top-down models and focus on local knowledge and community agency. In Ohkay Owingeh, New Mexico, a co-designed environmental data dashboard with Pueblo members demonstrates how integrating Indigenous knowledge can enhance disaster preparedness. The Soldados Dam case in Ecuador shows how power imbalances drive community stakeholders to become protestors, emphasizing the need for adaptive engagement to prevent conflict. In Pajaro, California, a marginalized community’s …

Assessing Methane Emissions And Soil Carbon Stocks In The Camargue Coastal Wetlands: Management Implications For Climate Change Regulation, Maite Martínez-Eixarch, Pere Masqué, Anna Lafratta, Paul Lavery, Samuel Hilaire, Lluís Jornet, Cyrille Thomas, Arnaud Boisnard, Néstor Pérez-Méndez, Carles Alcaraz, Columba Martínez-Espinosa, Carles Ibáñez, Patrick Grillas

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Coastal wetlands are crucial in climate change regulation due to their capacity to act as either sinks or sources of carbon, resulting from the balance between greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, mainly methane (CH4), and soil carbon sequestration. Despite the paramount role of wetlands in climate regulation few studies investigate both aspects. The Camargue is one of the largest wetlands in Europe, yet the ways in which environmental and anthropic factors drive carbon dynamics remain poorly studied. We examined GHG emissions and soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks and accumulation rates in twelve representative wetlands, including two rice fields, to gain insights …

Hell You Talmbout: Mixtapes As Method For Online Environmental Justice Pedagogy, Elspeth Iralu, Caitlin Grann

Dialogue: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Popular Culture and Pedagogy

This paper takes on the mixtape as a pedagogical method for approaching urgent and critical topics within the undergraduate online classroom. Drawing on two case studies from different sections of an introductory course on environmental and social justice taught in an American studies department, we demonstrate how mixtape-inspired assignments offer a method for theorizing and enacting the connections between popular culture and critical scholarship around injustice in the humanities and social sciences while also altering the space of the classroom to promote deeper student engagement, comprehension, and reflection. We argue that introducing popular culture as both content and method within …

Results From A Multi-Laboratory Ocean Metaproteomic Intercomparison: Effects Of Lc-Ms Acquisition And Data Analysis Procedures, Mak A. Saito, Jaclyn K. Saunders, Matthew R. Mcilvin, Erin M. Bertrand, John A. Breier, Margaret Mars Brisbin

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Metaproteomics is an increasingly popular methodology that provides information regarding the metabolic functions of specific microbial taxa and has potential for contributing to ocean ecology and biogeochemical studies. A blinded multi-laboratory intercomparison was conducted to assess comparability and reproducibility of taxonomic and functional results and their sensitivity to methodological variables. Euphotic zone samples from the Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Study (BATS) in the North Atlantic Ocean collected by in situ pumps and the autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) Clio were distributed with a paired metagenome, and one-dimensional (1D) liquid chromatographic data-dependent acquisition mass spectrometry analysis was stipulated. Analysis of mass spectra from …

Examining Wildfire Dynamics Using Ecostress Data With Machine Learning Approaches: The Case Of South-Eastern Australia's Black Summer, Yuanhui Zhu, Shakthi B. Murugesan, Ivone K. Masara, Soe W. Myint, Joshua B. Fisher

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Wildfires are increasing in risk and prevalence. The most destructive wildfires in decades in Australia occurred in 2019–2020. However, there is still a challenge in developing effective models to understand the likelihood of wildfire spread (susceptibility) and pre-fire vegetation conditions. The recent launch of NASA's ECOSTRESS presents an opportunity to monitor fire dynamics with a high resolution of 70 m by measuring ecosystem stress and drought conditions preceding wildfires. We incorporated ECOSTRESS data, vegetation indices, rainfall, and topographic data as independent variables and fire events as dependent variables into machine learning algorithms applied to the historic Australian wildfires of 2019–2020. …

Evaporation Basins For Salinity Management, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Natural resources factsheets

An evaporation basin is an engineered earth structure designed to safely store and evaporate saline water discharged from drainage or pumping, while protecting high-value agricultural land, natural assets or built infrastructure.

DPIRD recommends that evaporation basins should form part of an integrated water and salinity management program. Information on this page is a guide only.

It is recommended that landholders seek expert advice plus engineering design and related support from qualified contractors.

Puccinellia (Puccinellia Ciliata) For Dryland Salinity Management, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Natural resources factsheets

Puccinellia (Puccinellia ciliata) is a potentially valuable fodder on waterlogged saline land. Puccinellia, Distichlis and marine couch are the most salt tolerant of the commercially available grasses. It is best suited to areas with more than 400mm annual rainfall and where the watertable is shallow over summer.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development recommends that any dryland salinity management is part of a whole farm, and preferably a whole catchment, water management plan.

Rabbit Control: Bait Products, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity factsheets

This factsheet is part of the bait and poison directory for vertebrate pests in Western Australia (WA). It provides information on bait, poison, and toxin (bait) products available for use in WA to control rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus).

For information on how to access bait, poison and toxin (bait) products, training required, animal welfare considerations and legal requirements, refer to the Bait and poison directory for vertebrate pests’ page on the website at dpird.wa.gov.au. Information on bait, poison, and toxin (bait) products available for use in WA for rabbits, is provided below.

Iowa Waste Reduction Center Newsletter, November 2024, University Of Northern Iowa. Iowa Waste Reduction Center.

Iowa Waste Reduction Center Newsletter

Contents:

--- Meet Ben Kvigne
--- IWRC Recipient of EPA's P2 Grant
--- Reducing Waste this Holiday Season
--- Keeping Tabs on PFAs
--- Industry News

Cane Toad, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity factsheets

This factsheet provides information about the identification, biology, impact, and management of the cane toad.

The cane toad (Rhinella marina), or giant toad, is native to central and South America. It has been introduced to many countries, including northern and eastern Australia. The cane toad is a declared pest under the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007 (BAM Act) in Western Australia (WA). The Western Australian Organism List (WAOL), available on the website at dpird.wa.gov.au) contains information on the area(s) in which this pest is declared, and the control and keeping categories to which it has been assigned in WA.

Australians Support Multi-Pronged Action To Build Ecosystem Resilience In The Great Barrier Reef, Stewart Lockie, Henry Bartelet, Brent Ritchie, Csilla Demeter, Bruce Taylor, Lintje Sie

Quantitative Methods and Information Technology Faculty Publications

The scale and pace of global environmental change calls for a dramatic upscaling of ecosystem restoration and for actions that build the resilience of ecosystems to future environmental change. This research aimed to quantify public perceptions of threats to the health of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), Australia, and their support for strategies to address those threats including large-scale restoration and resilience-building actions. We examine how these perceptions change over time and across social cohorts including people living closer to the Reef (n = 2621) and the general Australian population (n = 5825). Respondents were concerned about both …

Understanding Cybersecurity Perception In The Maritime Sector Of Nigeria : A Comparative Analysis, Lawal Mohammed Abdulrasaq

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

A Study To Examine Vessel Traffic Services In The Context Of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships : Strait Of Malacca As A Case Study, Nadarajan Perumal

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Assessment Of The Impact Of Marine Pollution In Maputo Port, Mozambique, Lina Maria Elias Vasco

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Chronological Progress In Enhancing Cigs Solar Cell Performance Through Window Layer Development: Fundamentals, Synthesis, Optimization, Nadia Hartini Suhaimi, Mohammad Nur-E-Alam, Boon Kar Yap, K. Sobayel, Md Helal Miah, Islam, Sieh Kiong Tiong, Narottam Das, Mayeen Uddin Khandakher, Nowshad Amin

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Several factors, particularly the material of the window layer, contribute to the efficiency of CIGS solar cells. To optimize light absorption and reduce energy losses, it is critical to select the appropriate material for the window layer development. Thus, the main emphasis of this review is on the development of window layers, covering fundamental concepts, synthesis techniques, characterization methods, and optimization strategies. Metal oxides and doped metal oxides are critical materials for optimizing charge carrier flow, minimizing energy loss, and elevating sunlight transmission to the CIGS absorber. Despite tremendous progress, difficulties such as increased conductivity, transparency, stability, and cost-effectiveness remain. …

Microplastic Pollution In Riparian Soils Of The Rapidly Growing City Of Thimphu, Bhutan, Karma Jamtsho, Mark A. Lund, David Blake, Eddie Van Etten

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Plastic has become a vitally important material for humans; however, the large amount of plastic waste generated annually pollutes the environment. Plastic decomposition generates microplastics (MPs), which have emerged as a concerning global environmental pollutant because of their potential to be more harmful to the environment than their larger counterparts. This study examined the occurrence and abundance of MPs in riparian soils (RS) of a rapidly growing city in Thimphu, Bhutan. Additionally, the study investigated the relationships between the abundance of MP and several variables, such as the physicochemical properties of the soil, land use, the distance to impervious cover …

Digital India, Rajendra Srivastava, Vijay Shankar S, Aman Rajeev Kulkarni

Asian Management Insights

At the heart of India’s ongoing digital transformation lies a ‘perfect storm’ of pivotal elements: a robust telecom industry, groundbreaking digital technologies, an evolving payments ecosystem, and widespread smartphone adoption. Together, these elements have redefined connectivity, communication, and financial transactions, positioning India as a leader in the digital age.

The Path To Greening Our Future, Havovi Joshi

Asian Management Insights

More than half of humanity currently lives in urban areas, and the United Nations predicts that figure will reach 70 percent by 2050. Cities worldwide already generate a significant amount of solid waste annually, adding to vexing issues that the global community is trying to address–demand for transportation, air pollution, access to public open spaces, urban sprawl, and general sustainability challenges. Throw in global warming and the copious greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions borne of construction activities, and the challenge of creating the necessary urban infrastructure to cope comes into sharp focus.

Why Isn’T Formula 1 Going Electric?, Terry Van Gevelt

Asian Management Insights

Electric vehicles are not the only sustainable automotive option.

1. While electric vehicles (EVs) are marketed as ‘zero-emission’, their overall environmental impact and battery production all contribute to their lifecycle emissions. In fact, their widespread adoption needs significant infrastructural changes like installing new charging networks and upgrading power grids, which come with substantial environmental and financial costs.

2. Considering a diverse array of energy alternatives, including synthetic e-fuels, could offer Singapore a that is tailored to the specific needs and infrastructural realities of the country and region.

Exploring The Family Well-Being Of Dual-Coast Guard Marriages In The Philippines, Marie Shermaine Andrade

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Building Stronger Maritime Governance In Belize : A Collaborative And Organizational Approach, Jasmine Deneen Bellini

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Critical Valuation Of The Implementation Of Imo’S Guidelines For The Reduction Of Underwater Radiated Noise : A Kenyan Perspective, Swabra Mohamed Abdulrahman

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Analysis Of The Impact Of Mass On The International Regulatory Framework In The Example Of Unclos Terminology : Issues, Legal Challenges, Possible Solutions, Akbar Akbarov

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.