Environmental Studies Commons^™

A Systematic Review On The Ecosystem Services Provided By Green Infrastructure, Daniel Jato-Espino, Fabio Capra-Ribeiro, Vanessa Moscardó, Leticia Bartolome Del Pino, Fernando Mayor-Vitoria, Laura Gallardo, Patricia Carracedo, Kristin Dietrich

Faculty Publications

Urbanization and climate change are endangering the sustainability of public spaces through increased land artificialization, ecological fragmentation, reduced resource availability, and limited accessibility to natural and seminatural areas. Properly managing Green Infrastructure (GI) can contribute to mitigating these challenges by delivering multiple provisioning, regulating, supporting and cultural Ecosystem Services (ES). This would facilitate the implementation of strategically planned GI networks in cities for urban regeneration purposes. In this context, this study developed a systematic review on the ES provided by GI using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. The analysis of 199 eligible articles indicated …

Do Isomorphic Pressures Impede Greenwashing In Hospitality Industry? A Theoretical Framework, Mert Gurlek

University of South Florida (USF) M3 Publishing

Green practices gradually increase in the hospitality industry. However, concerns have grown that there is an inconsistency between the environmental practices announced by the organizations and the practices they actually implement. Therefore, the phenomenon of greenwashing has become a common concern in the hospitality industry. This study aims to develop a theoretical framework to be used in explaining the mechanisms to prevent greenwashing. For this purpose, the role of isomorphic pressures in preventing greenwashing and the role of environmental legitimacy motivation in the effect of isomorphic pressures on greenwashing are theorized. The neo-institutional theory was used in the development of …

The Impact Of Environmental Knowledge And Environmental Behavior Of Hotel Employees On Environmental Performance: A Model Proposal, Uygar Turgut, Isil Arikan Saltik, Umut Avci, Fevzi Okumus

University of South Florida (USF) M3 Publishing

The increasing environmental problems have been among the main problems that need immediate worldwide solutions. The emerging developments after the industrial revolution caused irreversible negative changes in the environment. In general, it is claimed that the main reason lying under the environmental problems which the world is facing is human behaviors. These facts have generated a discussion about the questions related to which factors are effective in the emergence and development of behavior that support sustainable living. As a part of the tourism sector, the effects of human behavior are witnessed the most in hotels. The aim of this study …

Integrating Sensor Development, Risk Assessment, And Community Engagement To Support Environmental Justice In The Rural Community Of El Tiple, Colombia, David Bahamon Pinzon

All Dissertations

In Colombia, ethnic communities have traditionally been responsible stewards of natural resources. They recognize the importance of these resources for their livelihood, as well as their ancestral and cultural heritage. El Tiple, a rural Afro-Colombian community, has been affected by the incursion of private corporations that promoted the expansion of sugarcane monocrops in their territory. Since the introduction of the monoculture industry, local freshwater sources have been depleted due to intensive water use for irrigation of the sugarcane crops. Additionally, the intensive usage of agrochemicals has been linked with loss of native flora, damages to family farms, and pollution of …

Changing The Paradigm For Pesticide Resistance Management, David R. Shaw, Amy Asmus, Jill Schroeder, David Ervin

Economics Faculty Publications and Presentations

Collaborative action on the part of all stakeholders in pest management is essential to effectively address the challenges of pesticide resistance. The US Environmental Protection Agency, through its Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee, recently posted a report on pesticide resistance management and the role the Agency can play in these efforts. In this perspectives piece, we commend the Agency for acknowledging these needs, and encourage implementation of the recommendations. We urge all stakeholders to follow the example set by EPA to engage openly, listen to other stakeholders, and determine their role as part of the broader community that is needed to …

The Effect Of Package Types On Fresh Peaches In The Direct-To-Consumer Distribution Environment, Brennan Lytle

All Theses

The direct-to-consumer (DTC) shipping mode presents new opportunity for fresh peach sales in North America where demand over the past four decades has steadily declined. The hazards in this distribution mode are severe, and fresh peaches are fragile emphasizing the need for proper protection. A full analysis that not only encompasses the effects of the direct-to-consumer distribution environment, but also incorporates analyses of the environmental and economic impact of the packages utilized for transit of peaches is necessary. In this study, we use the metrics of peach grade, firmness, soluble solids concentration, and percent softness before and after the distribution …

Understanding The Distribution And Abundance Of Asclepias Prostrata In South Texas, Elizabeth Ann Gonzalez

Theses and Dissertations

Asclepias prostrata, commonly referred to as prostrate milkweed, is a rare South Texas native plant species. In February of 2023, A. prostrata was listed as a federally endangered species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Due to the limited available observations and literature for A. prostrata, this study was completed to bring new information that could be utilized for future restorative efforts. This study includes multiple field observations of the plant’s morphology, plant-insect interactions, extraction and transplanting of the species, and a seed viability study. Results indicate that although A. prostrata has many pressures that limit its …

Experiences With Environmental Gentrification: Evidence From Chicago, Tania Schusler, Amy Krings, Richard T. Melstrom

School of Environmental Sustainability: Faculty Publications and Other Works

Environmental contamination and limited access to green spaces disproportionately burden communities of color with negative impacts on residents’ health. Yet, cleaning up contamination and creating green spaces has in some cases been associated with displacing long-term residents as the neighborhood becomes desirable to more affluent, often Whiter, populations through environmental gentrification. We used mixed methods to investigate environmental gentrification in the city of Chicago, IL, USA. We examined quantitatively the relationship between green areas, brownfield cleanups, and indicators of gentrification, including race and ethnicity, income, households without children, and home ownership. We explored through qualitative interviews how key informants perceive …

Connectedness And Wellbeing: Investigating Community And Nature-Based Connection In The Context Of Utah's Rapid Growth, Sarah E. Wilson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Research suggests that feeling connected to the natural world and feeling socially connected to your community positively influence wellbeing. However, significant demographic shifts within communities may reduce the amount of social and nature-based connectedness enjoyed by residents. As one of the fastest growing states, data from within Utah likely provides important insights related to how population growth impacts connectedness and wellbeing. Considering this, the present research investigated the relationships between personal wellbeing, community connection, and connection with nature in the context of Utah's rapid population growth by utilizing quantitative survey data from the Utah Wellbeing Project and demographic information from …

Conceptual And Technological Advancements In Visitor Use Management Of Coastal And Estuarine Environments, Tyler Cribbs

All Dissertations

This dissertation demonstrates the exploration and use of conceptual and technological advancements in the science of visitor use management (VUM). The goal of this effort is to help better understand visitors to park and protected areas (PPAs) and more specifically, better manage our coastal and estuarine environments (i.e., coastal protected areas (CPAs). These concepts and techniques are 1) further implementing the use of cellphone data in recreation ecology and VUM, 2) assessing the use of advanced imagery, virtual reality (VR), in visual-based methods to determine visitor indicators and thresholds, and 3) assessing visitor’s awareness of PPAs and how it influences …

Greening The Desert: Emirati Youth’S Perceptions Of Green Branding, Gergana Alzeer, Tilde Rosmer

All Works

This chapter focuses on Emirati youth’s understanding of and practices related to a green shift in the UAE and how this correlates with the state’s efforts to brand the UAE as green and sustainable. This is part of a larger research project that investigates Emirati youth’s understanding of climate change. The UAE experience of environmental sustainability is unique as its green shift was initiated by the government in a top-down approach compared to the bottom-up green movements in most western states that has been the focus of most environmental studies so far. Environmental sustainability is part of UAE’s national Agenda …

The Intersections Of Payments For Ecosystem Services, Gender, And Conditionality In A Bolivian Case Study, Alicia Potter

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) have gained traction since the 1990s and are designed to provide cash or in-kind incentives to natural resource managers who alter land management behavior to protect ecosystem services. Conservation programs generally are known to interact with household and community gender dynamics. For other types of cash transfers, recent literature has noted that presence of conditionality (a key aspect of PES) may create or reinforce gender inequalities, which often manifest in household divisions of labor and decision-making where women may be obligated to complete more unpaid work or experience less control over resources.

Based on a …

Public Perceptions And Attitudes Toward Domestic Climate Migrants And Migration In The U.S., Brittany Shae Harris

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events due to global climate change have an important effect on human migration and relocation. Short-term extreme weather events like floods and wildfires are likely to continue to displace people. Long-term environmental changes like droughts and increasing temperatures may also contribute to increased human migration. This research aimed to better understand how people in the U.S. perceive domestic climate migrants, and what drives these perceptions. First, I investigated the relationship between public climate change risk perceptions and attitudes and perceptions about domestic climate migrants and migration. I found that people tend to rely …

Is Ownership Of Or Proximity To Residential Solar Installations Associated With Environmental Opinions And Civic Engagement?, Jace Colby

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Since 2019, solar energy has represented the largest portion of new electricity generating capacity in the United States. Previous research on who is likely to have installed solar panels on their homes has found some traits, such as political ideology and income, are associated with solar installations but conclusions are inconsistent. This research takes a novel approach by examining how the presence of solar panels, both at the individual and neighborhood level can correlate with an individual’s civic engagement and other characteristics - such as opinions about climate change and energy policies. I analyze multiple waves, or iterations, of large …

Creators For The Earth: The Academic Library’S Role In Supporting Sustainability Creators And Practitioners Across All Disciplines, Jennifer K. Embree, Neyda V. Gilman

Library Scholarship

The image of a creator often brings to mind individuals that can take an abstract or unique idea and transform it into an impressive, tangible creation. Whether it’s an architect crafting a new building design, an artist painting on canvas, or an interior designer mapping out a new room layout, creators are generally seen as those who can formulate conceptual ideas that are then realized to showcase amazing ingenuity. In the world of higher education, this type of work is often first associated with disciplines like art, design, architecture, and engineering—fields where acts of “making,” “creating,” or “building” are integral …

Runoff Water Quality And Crop Growth As Affected By Wastewater-Derived Struvite, Machaela Morrison

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Mined phosphate rock, used to produce phosphorus (P) fertilizers, is a finite resource. Struvite (MgNH4PO4 • 6H2O) that has been synthetically produced from a stock solution of known P and nitrogen (N) concentrations has been shown to be an effective, alternative fertilizer-P source for various crops. However, little is known about the runoff-water-quality implications from and the crop response to soil application of struvite created from an actual municipal wastewater source. This study consisted of two objectives: i) to evaluate the effects of soil [i.e., Creldon (Oxyaquic Fragiudalf), Dapue (Fluventic Hapludoll), Roxana (Typic Udifluvent), and Calloway (Aquic Fraglossudalf) series], fertilizer-P …

Ethical Dimensions Of Climate And Environmental Issues In Pakistani Media, Shafiq Ahmad Kamboh, Muhammad Ittefaq, Sadia Jamil, Busha Hameedur Rahman

School of Communication Studies - Faculty Scholarship

One of the world’s most disaster-prone countries, Pakistan, is facing a variety of cases of climate and environmental ethics violations by a number of local and regional actors. Advocacy journalism has the potential to publicize these violations and injustices, stimulating democratic dialogue among the public audience that can eventually push leadership to make eco-friendly policies and raise public concerns on international platforms. The present study critically analyses the advocacy journalism coverage of cases of local and regional climate and environmental ethics violations in almost 8000 editorials in mainstream Pakistani Urdu and English language newspapers over two years and examines the …

Addressing The Debate On The Eco-Friendliness Of Indonesian Batik By Water Footprint Approach, Widhi Handayani, Yohanes Budi Widianarko, Alberta Rika Pratiwi

Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development

The Indonesian batik is an intangible cultural heritage that contributes to the country's economy but raises environmental pollution. Synthetic dyes are considered to cause pollution, and the natural counterpart is recommended to replace it because natural dyes are considered more eco-friendly than synthetic ones. Therefore, this study examined the Blue Water Footprint (BWF) and Grey Water Footprint (GWF) of the batik household industry by applying synthetic dyeing and comparing the result to the natural dyeing from previous studies. This research used the Water Footprint accounting approach based on the Water Footprint Network, which involves identifying the batik process followed by …

Evaluation Of Static Horizontal Louvers On Annual Daylighting Performance In Classrooms, Kamal A. Saleem, Samir S. Hosny, Ashraf Nessim

Future Engineering Journal

Daylighting has a great impact on students’ health, learning performance, and productivity. The goal of this paper is to enhance daylighting performance by examining year-round daylighting performance of Southern facades in the case of one central window in a classroom located in Cairo, Egypt by using static external horizontal shading devices during the Fall, Spring and Summer semesters The scope of the study is to evaluate and assess the effect of the window-to-wall ratio (WWR) in addition to the louvers’ configurations of depth and count parameters of the classroom on annual daylighting performance metrics for classrooms’ southern facades by using …

Coal Ash Dumps In The Mountain West, Julia Salangsang, Nicole Diaz Del Valle, Zachary Billot, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr.

Environment

This fact sheet presents data on coal ash dumps, their management, and the pollutants that exist at each site in the Mountain West states of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah. The original report includes data on coal ash dumping sites for all 50 states.

Bring On The Heat, Renée Stoute

The Journal of International Relations, Peace Studies, and Development

According to the World Economic Forum, in retaliation to European Union sanctions and embargoes, Russia cut EU gas flows by around 80% between May and October 2022 (WEF, 2022). The EU, in turn, has had to not only reduce energy consumption within the public and private sectors but has also scrambled to find energy alternatives to compensate for its energy shortcomings. However, due to the EU’s rejection of Russian oil and gas, there are now opportunities to embrace more sustainable energy alternatives quicker than previously expected. This could lead to a faster transition towards the use of cleaner and more …

Radical Urban Natures: Mitigating Urban Heat With Nature-Based Techniques In Portland, Oregon, Heather Day-Melgar

Dissertations and Theses

Anthropogenic rising heat associated with climatic changes in the built environment has become a serious global issue. The built environment is often comprised of impermeable, paved surfaces, lack of vegetation to make way for development, tree removal, and loss or alteration of urban waterways, which leads to a degraded ecosystem for humans and non-human life, and less of an ability for carbon capture, all of which contribute to higher urban temperatures. This alteration of the existing natural environment leads to populations often unable to conceptualize that a built environment is still an ecosystem, and restoration is possible and necessary for …

State Of Urbanization In Nepal: The Official Definition And Reality, Keshav Bhattarai, Ambika P. Adhikari, Shiva Gautam

Himalayan Research Papers Archive

Nepali government’s official delineation of several human settlements as new urban areas has been questionable because many important criteria such as urban infrastructure and services, open space, population density and economic viability are not thoroughly analyzed while defining what is urban. Many settlements in Nepal officially defined as urban, often driven by political considerations, are operating in the rural framework forming ruralopolises. This paper analyzes various criteria needed for defining urbanization that are internationally accepted to assess Nepal’s official definition of urban settlements. Urban areas have been expanding in Nepal at the cost of agricultural, forest, and shrubland land uses. …

Communicating Climate To Ourselves And Others, Connor Bernier

Media and Communication Studies Summer Fellows

My Summer Fellows experience has focused on the essential importance of communication in the climate crisis, and on personal exploration to reconnect with the natural world. Grounding practices such as hiking in the woods and gardening mitigate climate anxiety, renewing environmentalists’ ability to continue their work. This presentation will discuss why how we talk about communication matters and review the climate communication scholarship. Throughout I will incorporate reflection and analysis of my outdoor experiences.

Assessing The Impacts Of Increasing The Availability Of Non-Automobile Modes Of Transportation On Carbon Emissions And Accessibility In Worcester, William Schechter

Sustainability and Social Justice

Over-reliance on cars in Worcester, Massachusetts represents a significant barrier to the introduction of accessible and ecologically sound modes of transportation. Through increases in frequency, accessibility, and service area, bus transportation in Worcester can offer a viable alternative to personal vehicle usage. In conjunction with the changes to buses, improvements to infrastructure for non-motorist transportation modes such as cycling, walking and assistive equipment will further reduce reliance on personal motor vehicles. Additional policies discouraging the use of motor vehicles is also suggested, with limited traffic zones and vehicle weight restrictions being implemented. With the developments and policy outlined within this …

Increasing The Impact Of Utah State University's Extension Water Check Program With 5-Second Metering, Mahmud Aveek, David E. Rosenberg, Camilo Bastidas, Jeffery S. Horsburgh, Belize A. Lane, Kelly Kopp, Peter Mayer, Joe Fazio

Reports

Study Goal – Increase the volume of water saved by the Utah State University (USU) Extension landscape Water Check program because outdoor water use is the largest component of residential use with the largest opportunity to reduce use. We used 5-second water use data collected with Flume Smart Home Water Monitoring devices (Figure 1) at residential homes before and after a Water Check (Box 1; Figure 2) to answer four questions:

1. How much water did households save?
2. Which Water Check recommendations did participants implement?
3. Why did participants implement some recommendations and not others?
4. How to further reduce landscape water use?

Norfolk Integrated Waste-Energy Framework, Emma Kurtz, Abigail Schroeder, Jonah Mcdowell

Project Energy Nebraska: Student Projects

Environmental Engagement in the Community projects, spring 2023 A poster titled Norfolk Integrated Waste-Energy Framework for client City of Norfolk, Nebraska and Nebraska Public Power District.

Faculty sponsor: David Gosselin

อิทธิพลของความเค็มและอัตราการรับน้ำเสียต่อการปลดปล่อยก๊าซมีเทนจากระบบบำบัดน้ำเสียแบบพื้นที่ชุ่มน้ำเทียม, นิสา แก้วแถมทอง, สุวันชัย นิติศรวุฒิ

Applied Environmental Research

งานวิจัยนี้เป็นการศึกษาถึงอิทธิพลของความเค็มและอัตราการรับน้ำเสียเข้าระบบบำบัดน้ำเสียแบบพื้นที่ชุ่มน้ำเทียมต่อการปลดปล่อยก๊าซมีเทน โดยใช้ความเค็มในรูปของค่าการนำไฟฟ้า (Electrical Conductivity) สูงถึงระดับ 16 dS/m. และควบคุมระยะเวลาของน้ำเสียให้อยู่ในระบบบำบัด 2-5 วัน ผลการศึกษาพบว่า ค่าเฉลี่ยของการปลดปล่อยก๊าซมีเทน มีค่าอยู่ในช่วง 4.0-75.7 มก./ตร.ม./ชม. ปริมาณการปลดปล่อยก๊าซมีเทนลดลง 40-50% เมื่อน้ำเสียมีความเค็ม 16 dS/m. เนื่องจากความเค็มยับยั้งกิจกรรมของแบคทีเรียและการเจริญเติบโตของพืชนอกจากนี้ยังพบว่าบริเวณที่อยู่ใกล้กับตำแหน่งที่ปล่อยน้ำเสียเข้าสู่ระบบจะมีการปลดปล่อยก๊าซมีเทนที่สูงกว่า ทั้งนี้เนื่องจากมีปริมาณสารอินทรีย์สะสมอยู่ในบริเวณดังกล่าวมากกว่า อย่างไรก็ตาม การเพิ่มปริมาณสารอินทรีย์ลงในน้ำเสียจะไม่ส่งผลให้มีการปลดปล่อยก๊าชมีเทนที่สูงขึ้นในช่วงเวลากลางวัน เนื่องจากน้ำเสียในระบบมีความลึกไม่มากนักประกอบกับการเกิดกระบวนการสังเคราะห์แสง ซึ่งส่งผล ให้เกิดสภาวะ aerobic ในบริเวณชั้นน้ำ

ชนิดพันธุ์ต่างถิ่น : แบบแผนและสถานการณ์ปัจจุบัน, สุชนา เชาวนิชย์

Applied Environmental Research

นักวิทยาศาสตร์ได้มีการตระหนักถึงการรุกรานของชนิดพันธุ์ต่างถิ่นในระบบนิเวศบนบกมาช้านาน แต่เมื่อไม่นานมานี้ที่ได้มีการพบถึงผลกระทบของชนิดพันธุต่างถิ่นที่มีต่อระบบนิเวศทางน้ำ การรุกรานของชนิดพันธุ์ต่างถิ่นมีผลกระทบอย่างมากต่อระบบนิเวศ เศรษฐกิจ และสุขภาพของมนุษย์ การนำชนิดพันธุ์ต่างถิ่นเข้ามาในระบบนิเวศมีได้ 10 รูปแบบ แต่อย่างไรก็ตามชนิดพันธุ์ต่างถิ่นส่วนมากจะถูกนำเข้ามาโดยน้ำอับเถาในเรือส่งสินค้าต่างประเทศขนาดใหญ่ ชนิดพันธุ์ ต่างถิ่นจะสามารถคุกคามต่อระบบนิเวศใหม่ได้สำเร็จนั้นก็ต่อเมื่อชนิดพันธุ์ต่างถิ่นสามารถแพร่กระจายในสิงแวดล้อมใหม่ได้ ปัจจัยที่ส่งเสริมการรุกรานของชนิดพันธุ์ต่างถิ่นมีหลายอย่างประกอบกัน แต่สิ่งที่สำคัญคือ เมล็ดพันธุ์ของชนิดพันธุ์ต่างถิ่นที่เข้ามา ที่อยู่อาศัยใหม่ที่เหมาะสม และความสำเร็จของการรุกรานของชนิดพันธุ์ต่างถิ่นในที่ต่างๆ Global Invasive Species โปรแกรม ได้พัฒนาแนวทาง 10 รูปแบบ สำหรับการป้องกันและแก้ไขปัญหาชนิดพันธุ์ต่างถิ่น แนวทางนี้ควรที่จะมีการปฏิบัติทั้งในระดับประเทศ และระดับนานาชาติ

การพัฒนาระบบร่วม Bpac-Sbr สำหรับการลดสีและสารอินทรีย์ ในน้ำชะมูลฝอย, ชวลิต รัตนธรรมสกุล, จตุพร วงษ์จาด

Applied Environmental Research

งานวิจัยนี้มีวัตถุประสงค์เพื่อศึกษาความเป็นไปได้ในการพัฒนาระบบร่วม BPAC-SBR (Combined Biological Powder Activated Carbon-Sequencing Batch Reactor) สำหรับการลดสีและสารอินทรีย์ในน้ำชะมูลฝอยด้วยน้ำเสียที่ใช้เป็นน้ำเสียจากกองฝังกลบขยะมูลฝอยที่กำแพงแสนโดยควบคุมความเข้มข้นซีโอดีเข้าระบบเท่ากับ 1,000 มก./ล. หรือคิดเป็นค่าอัตราภาระบรรทุกซีโอดี 0.571 กก./ลบ.ม.-วัน ความเข้มสีเท่ากับ 170.7 Su ทั้งนี้ศึกษาถึงผลของชนิดและปริมาณผงถ่านกัมมันต์ที่ความเข้มข้นต่างๆ และ อายุสลัดจ์ของระบบที่ 20 และ 30 วัน จากผลการศึกษาพบว่าระบบที่เติมผงถ่านกัมมันต์ชนิด PL-75 ด้วยความเข้มข้น 20 ก./ล. และอายุสลัดจ์ของระบบที่ 20 วัน สามารถกำจัดซีโอดี และสีได้ สูงถึง75.6และ 75.4% ตามลำดับสำหรับกลไกการบำบัดน้ำเสียของระบบส่วนใหญ่เกิดจากการดูดติดผิวร่วมกับปฏิกิริยาชีวเคมี ภายในถังปฏิกรณ์