Natural Resources & Sustainability Archives - Page 12 of 18

Ecosystem Size Shapes Antipredator Trait Evolution in Estuarine Threespine Stickleback

Wasserman, Ben A.; Paccard, Antoine; Apgar, Travis M.; Des Roches, Simone; Barrett, Rowan D. H.; Hendry, Andrew P.; Palkovacs, Eric P. (2020). Ecosystem Size Shapes Antipredator Trait Evolution in Estuarine Threespine Stickleback. Oikos, 129(12), 1795 – 1806.

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Abstract

Ecosystem size is known to influence both community structure and ecosystem processes. Less is known about the evolutionary consequences of ecosystem size. A few studies have shown that ecosystem size shapes the evolution of trophic diversity by shaping habitat heterogeneity, but the effects of ecosystem size on antipredator trait evolution have not been explored. Ecosystem size may impact antipredator trait evolution by shaping predator presence (larger ecosystems have longer food chains) and habitat complexity (larger ecosystems may have more diverse habitat structure). We tested these effects using threespine stickleback from bar-built estuaries along the Central Coast of California. These stickleback populations are polymorphic forEctodysplasin-A(Eda), a gene that controls bony lateral plates used as antipredator defense. We inferredEdagenotypes from lateral plate phenotypes and show that the frequency of the complete (C) allele, which is associated with greater number of lateral plates, increases as a function of ecosystem size. Predator presence and habitat complexity are both correlated to ecosystem size. The strongest proximate predictor ofEdaallele frequencies was the presence of predatory fishes (steelhead trout and sculpin). Counter to expectations, habitat complexity did not have a strong modifying effect onEdaallele frequencies. Our results point to the importance of ecosystem size for determining predator presence as being the primary pathway to evolutionary effects. Ecosystem size has received much attention in ecology. Our work shows that it may be an important determinant of adaptive evolution in wild populations.

Keywords

Food-chain Length; Gasterosteus-aculeatus; Adaptive Radiation; Lateral Plates; Ecological Opportunity; Natural-selection; Armor; Fish; Predation; Area; Antipredator Traits; Bar-built Estuaries; Ecosystem Size; Ectodysplasin Agene; Gasterosteus Aculeatus

Environmental Determinants of Unscheduled Residential Outages in the Electrical Power Distribution of Phoenix, Arizona

Maliszewski, Paul J.; Larson, Elisabeth K.; Perrings, Charles. (2012). Environmental Determinants of Unscheduled Residential Outages in the Electrical Power Distribution of Phoenix, Arizona. Reliability Engineering & System Safety, 99, 161 – 171.

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Abstract

The sustainability of power infrastructures depends on their reliability. One test of the reliability of an infrastructure is its ability to function reliably in extreme environmental conditions. Effective planning for reliable electrical systems requires knowledge of unscheduled outage sources, including environmental and social factors. Despite many studies on the vulnerability of infrastructure systems, the effect of interacting environmental and infrastructural conditions on the reliability of urban residential power distribution remains an understudied problem. We model electric interruptions using outage data between the years of 2002 and 2005 across Phoenix, Arizona. Consistent with perceptions of increased exposure, overhead power lines positively correlate with unscheduled outages indicating underground cables are more resistant to failure. In the presence of overhead lines, the interaction between birds and vegetation as well as proximity to nearest desert areas and lakes are positive driving factors explaining much of the variation in unscheduled outages. Closeness to the nearest arterial road and the interaction between housing square footage and temperature are also significantly positive. A spatial error model was found to provide the best fit to the data. Resultant findings are useful for understanding and improving electrical infrastructure reliability. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords

Determinants (mathematics); Electric Power Distribution; Reliability In Engineering; Social Factors; Temperature Effect; Phoenix (ariz.); Arizona; Distribution; Electricity; Interruption; Outage; Reliability; System Reliability Assessment; Maintenance; Overhead; Model; Interruptions; Regression; Flashover; Failures; Performance; Hurricanes

Case Studies in Co-Benefits Approaches to Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation

Spencer, Benjamin; Lawler, Josh; Lowe, Celia; Thompson, Luanne; Hinckley, Tom; Kim, Soo-hyung; Bolton, Susan; Meschke, Scott; Olden, Julian D.; Voss, Joachim. (2017). Case Studies in Co-Benefits Approaches to Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation. Journal Of Environmental Planning & Management, 60(4), 647 – 667.

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Abstract

Attempts to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions or manage the effects of climate change traditionally focus on management or policy options that promote single outcomes (e.g., either benefiting ecosystems or human health and well-being). In contrast, co-benefits approaches to climate change mitigation and adaptation address climate change impacts on human and ecological health in tandem and on a variety of spatial and temporal scales. The article engages the concept of co-benefits through four case studies. The case studies emphasize co-benefits approaches that are accessible and tractable in countries with human populations that are particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts. They illustrate the potential of co-benefits approaches and provide a platform for further discussion of several interdependent principles relevant to the implementation of co-benefits strategies. These principles include providing incentives across multiple scales and time frames, promoting long-term integrated impact assessment, and fostering multidimensional communication networks.

Keywords

Greenhouse Gas Mitigation; Air Pollution Control; Climate Change; Environmental Health; Ecological Impact; Management; Ecological Health; Human Health; Impact Assessment; Incentives; Multidimensional Networks; Health; Impacts; Drought; Perspective; Strategies; Mangroves; Science; Risks; Ecosystems; Platform; Implementation; Networks; Social Welfare; Environmental Policy; Case Studies; Greenhouse Effect; Impact Tests; Communication Networks; Environmental Changes; Greenhouse Gases; Human Populations; Spatial Discrimination; Adaptation; Climate Effects; Mitigation; Environmental Impact; Health Care Policy

A Taxonomy for Whole Building Life Cycle Assessment (WBLCA)

Rodriguez, Barbara X.; Simonen, Kathrina; Huang, Monica; De Wolf, Catherine. (2019). A Taxonomy for Whole Building Life Cycle Assessment (WBLCA). Smart And Sustainable Built Environment, 8(3), 190 – 205.

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Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present an analysis of common parameters in existing tools that provide guidance to carry out Whole Building Life Cycle Assessment (WBLCA) and proposes a new taxonomy, a catalogue of parameters, for the definition of the goal and scope (G&S) in WBLCA. Design/methodology/approach A content analysis approach is used to identify, code and analyze parameters in existing WBLCA tools. Finally, a catalogue of parameters is organized into a new taxonomy. Findings In total, 650 distinct parameter names related to the definition of G&S from 16 WBLCAs tools available in North America, Europe and Australia are identified. Building on the analysis of existing taxonomies, a new taxonomy of 54 parameters is proposed in order to describe the G&S of WBLCA. Research limitations/implications The analysis of parameters in WBLCA tools does not include Green Building Rating Systems and is only limited to tools available in English. Practical implications This research is crucial in life cycle assessment (LCA) method harmonization and to serve as a stepping stone to the identification and categorization of parameters that could contribute to WBLCA comparison necessary to meet current global carbon goals. Social implications The proposed taxonomy enables architecture, engineering and construction practitioners to contribute to current WBLCA practice. Originality/value A study of common parameters in existing tools contributes to identifying the type of data that is required to describe buildings and contribute to build a standardized framework for LCA reporting, which would facilitate consistency across future studies and can serve as a checklist for practitioners when conducting the G&S stage of WBLCA.

Keywords

Content Analysis; Taxonomy; Lca; Lca Tools; Tools For Practitioners; Whole Building Life Cycle Assessment

Effects of Charging Infrastructure Characteristics on Electric Vehicle Preferences of New and Used Car Buyers in the United States

Zou, Tianqi; Khaloei, Moein; Mackenzie, Don. (2020). Effects of Charging Infrastructure Characteristics on Electric Vehicle Preferences of New and Used Car Buyers in the United States. Transportation Research Record, 2674(12), 165 – 175.

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Abstract

The used car market is a critical element for the mass adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). However, most previous studies on EV adoption have focused only on new car markets. This article examines and compares the effects of charging infrastructure characteristics on the preferences for EVs among both new and used car buyers. This study is based on an online stated preference choice experiment among private car owners in the U.S., and the results of comparable binomial logistic models show that new and used car buyers generally share similar patterns in preferences for EVs, with exceptions for sensitivity toward fast charging time, and home charging solutions. Respondents' stated willingness to adopt an EV increases considerably with improvements in driving range, and the effects on new and used car buyers are similar. The study also finds that better availability of charging infrastructure largely increases preference for EVs. The results further reveal that slow and fast charging have complementary effects on encouraging EV adoption as the combination of public slow and fast charging can compensate for the unavailability of home charging.

Daniel Abramson and collaborators awarded EarthLab Innovation grant for community-based research project on climate change & social justice

The EarthLab Innovations Grant Program was launched in 2019 to fund actionable environmental research. The 2022-23 EarthLab Innovation Grants program received 33 high-quality proposals for research at the intersection of climate change and social justice. One awarded project titled, “Centering Place and Community to Address Climate Change and Social Justice” was led by P.I. Daniel Abramson, Associate Professor of Urban Design & Planning and Adjunct Associate Professor of Architecture & Landscape Architecture, and Community Lead, Jamie Judkins, of the Shoalwater…

Entombed in the Landscape: Waste with Assistant Professor Catherine De Almeida

Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture Catherine De Almeida remembers picking up trash on the playground, seeing people throw trash out their car window, and noticing trash flying around while she played outside as a child. The presence of litter in landscapes upset her so much that she would spend her elementary school recesses picking up trash. When she got into the field of architecture, De Almeida found herself drawn to how things could be flexible and take on multiple identities…

Jonathan A. Childers

I am interested in environmental democracy and the material and social dynamics that interact to affect community well-being and ecological health. While completing my Master of Public Health degree at UW, I led projects for the Health Impact Assessment of the Cleanup Plan for the Duwamish Superfund Site in Seattle, and then evaluated the outcomes of that HIA. Research for my PhD in the Built Environment will build on that work, further considering the determinants and production of adaptive capacity, resilience, sustainability, and vitality.

Judy Bowes

My primary research interest focuses on preventing avian fatalities resulting from collisions with buildings and structures through effective glass, lighting, and landscape design strategies. My broader objective is to demonstrate how these design strategies are integral to sustainable building objectives and avian conservation goals throughout the built environment. I also plan to explore how providing habitat space for birds and protecting wildlife supports visual biodiversity, positively impacting human well-being and the local ecology.

My additional interests include discovering the intersection between biophilic design elements in early Middle Eastern Architecture and sustainable architecture in the contemporary Middle East.

Judy’s project “Evaluating Campus Bird Building Collisions” has been funded by multiple Campus Sustainability Fund awards.

Project summary:

Every day the campus community actively engages with the buildings where we learn, work, play or live. However, most are unaware of the over 100 species of birds found on campus or that they collide with the buildings’ surfaces. Birds cannot detect transparent glass surfaces, like windows or glass walkways, and fly towards vegetation, open spaces, or perches beyond the glass, hitting it head-on. Reflective glass is also dangerous for birds as it can reflect habitat space or the sky, confusing birds as they fly towards the reflection resulting in collisions. And night collisions occur when birds fly towards lit windows or surfaces, particularly during fall and spring migration. A study from the University of British Columbia estimates that college campuses can kill up to 10,000 birds yearly due to collisions. However, there are design solutions available to prevent bird building collisions.

This project aims to understand where collision “hot spots” are on our campus and develop a plan to treat them. By monitoring 20 campus buildings over six quarters, we will increase our understanding of which species are affected by collisions and identify the deadliest design features. The project will also bring awareness to the issue of bird building collisions by engaging campus and local communities through campus tours, a course taught by the project lead, an app allowing anyone to record collisions across campus, and recruiting volunteers for collision monitoring.

Gathering data about the collision victims, birds, and deadly architectural features on campus provides a unique opportunity for students to engage in the study of birds and buildings. This convenient central location eliminates extra travel time or field trip fees, allowing more students to join the project. Further, this project will engage underrepresented communities, particularly in the environmental sciences and architecture and the LGBTQIA community, first-generation students, and women in the sciences through volunteer opportunities, the project’s course, and research assistant positions.

Helen Beck

My research is focused on the management of public park and recreation services in urban areas. I am particularly interested in the role of the modern green space manager and the way in which our public park services are delivered in the face of extreme poverty. Public parks are on the frontline in our cities responding to complex social and environmental challenges. This role is likely to get more important in the future. Short-term, broken window styles of park management that try to control and sanitize park use are not sustainable. I am exploring the application of an ethic of care to the delivery of park services, what this could entail and how this would change current practice.