Natural resources, environment and development in ecological perspective: a sourcebook for teaching and research

Includes bibliographical references and index.published_or_final_versio

Xylitol as a Phase Change Material: Exploring the Replacement of Erythritol by Xylitol As A Phase Change Material

To circumvent the cost and environmental damage associated with batteries, phase change materials have been employed in solar cookpots to enable cooking in unfavorable weather conditions. Researchers at Cal Poly have traditionally employed the sugar alcohol erythritol as a PCM due to its high latent heat and a fusion point above the boiling point of water, but have discovered issues with the polyol’s degradation over extended periods of cycling. This paper explores the viability of erythritol’s sister-compound xylitol as a PCM in insulated solar-electric cookers, or ISECs. An ISEC was constructed with a xylitol PCM, and the data collected from thermocouples on the pot was analyzed. Differential scanning calorimetry was employed on pure and degraded samples of both erythritol and xylitol to determine the extent of degradation and the impact of supercooling on the release of latent heat. After a short period of cycling, the onset temperature of fusion of erythritol was shown to decrease by 10 ºC. Xylitol experimentally displayed a ΔHfus of 224 J/g, whereas erythritol was found to have a ΔHfus of 372.5 J/g, which are both in agreement with literature values. It is determined that xylitol’s supercooling properties and lower ΔHfus make it incapable of cooking foods that require boiling water, which is a significant drawback compared to its erythritol predecessor. Past literature on inducing recrystallization or introducing nucleation sites is discussed

The IUCN Red List of Ecosystems: motivations, challenges, and applications

Abstract In response to growing demand for ecosystem-level risk assessment in biodiversity conservation, and rapid proliferation of locally tailored protocols, the IUCN recently endorsed new Red List criteria as a global standard for ecosystem risk assessment. Four qualities were sought in the design of the IUCN criteria: generality; precision; realism; and simplicity. Drawing from extensive global consultation, we explore trade-offs among these qualities when dealing with key challenges, including ecosystem classification, measuring ecosystem dynamics, degradation and collapse, and setting decision thresholds to delimit ordinal categories of threat. Experience from countries with national lists of threatened ecosystems demonstrates well-balanced trade-offs in current and potential applications of Red Lists of Ecosystems in legislation, policy, environmental management and education. The IUCN Red List of Ecosystems should be judged by whether it achieves conservation ends and improves natural resource management, whether its limitations are outweighed by its benefits, and whether it performs better than alternative methods. Future development of the Red List of Ecosystems will benefit from the history of the Red List of Threatened Species which was trialed and adjusted iteratively over 50 years from rudimentary beginnings. We anticipate the Red List of Ecosystems will promote policy focus on conservation outcomes in situ across whole landscapes and seascapes

Kuukautiset osana elämää : 18–25 vuotiaiden naisten kuukautisiin liittyvät kokemukset ja käsitykset sekä Lunette kuukupin valintaan vaikuttavat tekijät

Tutkielmani aiheena on nuorten 18–25-vuotiaiden naisten kuukautisiin liittyvät kokemukset ja käsitykset sekä Lunette kuukupin ostopäätökseen vaikuttavat tekijät. Teen tätä tutkielmaa suomalaiselle kuukuppeja valmistavalle yritykselle, Lunettelle. Tavoitteenani on selvittää, mitä kokemuksia ja käsityksiä kohderyhmällä on kuukautisista ja mitkä tekijät ovat vaikuttaneet kuukupin valintaan. Pohdin myös sitä, kuinka yksilön kokemukset ja käsitykset vaikuttavat tuotteen valinnan taustalla. Näitä kysymyksiä olen tarkastellut tekemäni kyselyn ja haastatteluiden avulla. Google formsilla tekemäni kysely julkaistiin Lunetten facebook -ryhmässä keväällä 2017. Kyselyn avulla kartoitin kohderyhmän ostopäätöksen taustalla vaikuttaneita tekijöitä. Tätä tietoa syvensin haastatteluiden avulla, joissa keskityin ostopäätösten lisäksi yksilöiden kokemuksiin ja käsityksiin kuukautisiin liittyen. Haastattelut tein keväällä ja kesällä 2017. Haastattelin yhteensä kuutta Lunette kuukupin käyttäjää. Aineistosta esille nousivat erityisesti kohderyhmän kokemuksiin ja käsityksiin liittyvät häpeä ja salailu kuukautisia kohtaan. Avoin keskustelu kuukautisista koettiin tärkeäksi ja sen koettiin vaikuttavan siihen, miten kuukautiset koettiin ja miten niihin suhtauduttiin. Tutkimuksesta ilmeni, miten suhtautuminen kuukautisiin ja siihen, miten ne koettiin muuttui iän myötä myönteisemmäksi. Tähän vaikutti erityisesti kuukautisiin liittyvän keskustelun muuttuminen avoimemmaksi. Tutkimuksessa ilmeni, että kuukupin valintaan vaikuttavia tekijöitä olivat erityisesti ystävien ja tuttavien mielipiteet sekä internetistä löydetty tieto. Myös tuotteen ominaisuudet ja niiden yhteensopivuus yksilön arvomaailman kanssa olivat keskeisessä asemassa tuotteen valinnassa. Lisäksi ystävien ja tuttavien suositukset tuotteesta ja tuotteen helppo saatavuus vaikuttivat ostopäätöksen tekemiseen. Kokemusten ja käsitysten vaikutus kuukautistuotteiden valinnassa näkyi aineistossa siten, että kuukautisiin liitetyt kokemukset ja suhtautuminen vaikuttivat siihen, mitä tuotteita valittiin. Tutkimuksesta ilmeni myös se, että yksilön kuukautisiin liittyviin kokemuksiin ja käsityksiin vaikuttavat pitkälti yksilön lähipiiri. Yksilön kokemukset ja käsitykset vaikuttavat tuotteen valintaan ja siihen, mitä ominaisuuksia tuotteelta etsitään

A Spatial Survey of Environmental Indicators for Kazakhstan: An Examination of Current Conditions and Future Needs

The Republic of Kazakhstan, located in Central Asia, has experienced many years of environmental degradation, largely as a result of the poor management of its significant natural resources. In this survey, data relating to different environmental factors are critically analysed in order to understand the state of the environment. It was found that: warming trends are seen in sensitive areas (e.g. the steppe and near glaciers); drying trends are seen where there is already water stress (e.g. the Aral Sea); air quality has been declining recently (following improvements on the decadal timescale) in major urban centres, particularly Almaty; water quality appears to be improving in some areas (e.g. important lakes in the Aktobe and Zhambyl regions); and levels of exposure to radioactivity are below internationally recommended levels (where data have been found). More generally, there is an issue with data availability and quality, which requires attention if Kazakhstan is going to make the best use of its increasing investment in environmental actions. Current policies are reviewed and recommendations are made for future interventions

Aral Sea: Water level, salinity and long-term changes in biological communities of an endangered ecosystem-past, present and future

The Aral Sea, which before 1960 was the fourth largest lake in the world, has now split into four separate water bodies. This break-up and desiccation mainly resulted from upstream irrigation withdrawals from the two main influent rivers, the Syr Darya and and Amu Darya. The negative effects on the lake ecosystem due to declining water level and increasing salinity, as well as the profound socioeconomic and human impacts to the riparian populations, have been well documented. This paper focuses on the conservation and rehabilitation efforts for four remaining key water bodies of the Aral Sea: the Northern (Small) Aral and its ecosystem: the Southern (Large) Aral and its ecosystem; the delta and delatic water bodies of the Syr Darya; and the delta and deltaic water bodies of the Amu Darya. It is encouraging to note the reversal of the degradation in the Northern Aral after the creation of a dike at Berg\u27s Strait in 1992. The dike washed out in 1999 but has been replaced with a new structurally sound dike. The water level in the Northern Aral has increased several meters and salinity is returning to levels that can sustain the pre-1960 ecosystem. However, much less success has been obtained regarding the Southern Aral which continues its retreat and salinization. There have been recent efforts also in the deltas and deltaic regions of the Syr Darya and the Amu Darya, the rehabilitation of Sudochie Lake probably being the most famous. These restoration projects are critiqued in this paper and recommendations for future actions are given

Männyn luontainen uudistuminen pienaukoilla

Opinnäytetyössä tutkittiin männyn luontaisen uudistumisen onnistumista pienaukkohakkuiden jälkeen Metsähallituksen monikäyttömetsissä Rovaniemen seudulla. Jatkuvapeitteinen metsänkäsittelyn harjoittaminen on valtion mailla yleistynyt viime vuosina. Metsähallitus pyrkii kohdistamaan jatkuvapeitteistä metsänkäsittelyä sille soveltuville kohteille, ja yksi näistä menetelmistä on pienalakasvatus. Tämän tutkimuksen tavoitteena oli selvittää männyn luontaisen uudistumisen onnistumista pienaukkohakkuilla sekä siihen vaikuttavia ympäristötekijöitä. Tutkimuksessa keskityttiin kohteisiin, joissa hakkuut oli toteutettu vähintään viisi vuotta aiemmin ja enintään kymmenen vuotta ennen tutkimusta. Kasvupaikaksi rajattiin kuivahko kangas ilman merkittäviä kasvua haittaavia tekijöitä. Aineistonkeruu toteutettiin syksyn 2024 aikana yhteensä 72 pienaukolla 18:ssa eri kohteessa. Taimimäärää mitattiin jokaiselta pienaukolta vähintään kolmesta kohdasta, ja siihen mahdollisesti vaikuttavia tekijöitä arvioitiin silmämääräisesti. Tulososuudessa keskityttiin tarkastelemaan ympäristötekijöiden, kuten kunttakerroksen, topografian ja vesitalouden vaikutusta taimitiheyteen. Aineisto analysoitiin taulukoihin sekä kaavioihin ja merkittävimpiä muuttujia testattiin t-testillä. Kokonaisuudessaan taimia oli muodostunut keskimäärin 4683 kappaletta hehtaarille. Riittävästi taimettuneita pienaukkoja oli 72 aukosta 51. Runsaasti taimettuneita aukkoja oli kokonaismäärästä 33 kappaletta. Tuloksissa havaittiin, että taimettumiseen vaikuttivat erityisesti paksu kunttakerros, pienaukkojen soistuneisuus sekä pienaukkojen sijainti painanteissa. Näistä jokainen oli taimettumista haittaava tekijä. Parhaiten taimettuneita kohteita olivat ohutkunttaiset sekä rinteessä tai kummuilla sijaitsevat pienaukot. Aukkojen koolla ei tässä tapauksessa ollut merkittävää vaikutusta taimettumiseen. Ilmansuunnan vaikutusta tarkasteltaessa taimia oli syntynyt keskiarvollisesti eniten itä- ja etelärinteessä sijaitsevilla aukoilla ja vähiten tasamaalla. Tutkimus tuotti käytännön hyötyä metsänsuunnittelutyöhön tarjoamalla tietoa siitä, millaisissa olosuhteissa pienaukkohakkuut voivat onnistua ilman aktiivista uudistamista tai maanmuokkausta.The bachelor’s thesis studied how well Scots pine regenerates naturally after small gap cuttings in Metsähallitus’ multi-use forests near Rovaniemi. The re-search focused on sites where cutting had taken place five to 10 years earlier. The practice of continuous cover forestry has become more common on state-owned land in recent years. Metsähallitus aims to apply continuous cover forestry to suitable sites, and one of these methods is small gap silviculture. The goal was to find out how successful natural regeneration of Scots pine was after small gap cuttings and to identify the environmental factors affecting it. The study was limited to sub-dry forest sites without major factors hindering growth. The data was collected in autumn 2024 from 72 small gaps at 18 sites. Seedling counts were taken at least at three points per gap, and possible environmental factors were observed visually. The results section focused on examining the impact of environmental factors, such as the thickness of the moss layer, topography, and moisture conditions. The data was analyzed with tables and graphs, and the most significant variables were tested using the t-test. In total, an average of 4945 seedlings had established per hectare. Out of the 72 small gaps, 51 showed sufficient regeneration. A total of 33 gaps showed a high level of regeneration. The results showed that seedling establishment was negatively affected by a thick moss layer, wet conditions in the gaps, and low-lying terrain. The best seedling growth occurred in small gaps with a thin moss layer, located on slopes or small hills. In this study, the size of the gaps did not have a significant effect on regeneration. When examining the effect of the aspect, the highest average number of seedlings was found in gaps located on east- and south-facing slopes, and the lowest on flat terrain. Comparisons using the t-test showed that east-facing gaps had significantly better regeneration than west-facing and flat sites. The study provides practical value for forest planning by offering insights into the conditions under which small gap cutting can succeed without active regeneration or soil preparation

Mitigando futuras crisis de agua y alimentos: reciclaje, desalinización y planes de contingencia ante sequías

[ES] Aproximadamente, el 30% de la población mundial vive en tierras donde el agua es escasa y la sequía constituye un serio peligro natural. Extensas partes de África, el Norte de China, India, Oriente Medio, el área Mediterránea, el oeste de los Estados Unidos, así como algunas regiones de México, Perú, Chile Argentina y la mayor parte de Australia se caracterizan por la escasez de agua. La sequía y el hambre sufridas en parte de Etiopía durante el presente año 2000, demuestran la vulnerabilidad de las sociedades que carecen de un acceso técnico a sus reservas de agua así como de una capacidad estructurada para la producción de alimentos. No obstante, otros países tecnológicamente avanzados también se están aproximando lenta pero irremisiblemente a un peligroso nivel de vulnerabilidad, debido a que están agotando sus recursos hídricos por una gestión no sostenible de los mismos. Las reservas mundiales de alimento son muy pequeñas. En el caso de aparecer sequías severas y simultáneas tanto en las grandes llanuras centrales de Norte América (el área principal parta la producción de reservas de grano para el mercado mundial), como en china e India (las dos naciones más pobladas de la Tierra), podría llegarse al agotamiento completo de las reservas mundiales de alimento, y producirse hambruna a gran escala en regiones que dependen para su mantenimiento de la importación de aquéllos. ¿Cómo puede aumentarse la seguridad en el abastecimiento de agua y alimentos a la luz de un escenario tan catastrófico como el presentado? En primer lugar y sobre todo, es necesario un cambio de política, y pasar de la actual sobreexplotación no sostenible de los recursos convencionales de agua a una gestión sostenible de los mismos. Una estructura tarifaria para el agua que refleje fielmente su valor económico real es un elemento crucial para un uso eficiente y sostenible de la misma. El desarrollo técnico de fuentes alternativas de recursos hídricos constituye otra estrategia importante. Los efluentes urbanos e industriales deben reciclarse de forma sostenible para preservar la calidad tanto del agua como del suelo, a la vez que posibilitan una nueva fuente de agua para la agricultura. La desalación de agua salobre y de mar puede suponer otra nueva fuente alternativa de agua para los sectores urbano e industrial, y posteriormente, también como agua reciclada para la agricultura. Finalmente, deben prepararse planes detallados de contingencia ante sequías a escala tanto nacional como local, con el fin de gestionar adecuadamente los periodos de escasez, de tal modo que éstos causen el menor daño posible a la economía y la sociedad.Bruins, HJ. (2000). Mitigando futuras crisis de agua y alimentos: reciclaje, desalinización y planes de contingencia ante sequías. Ingeniería del Agua. 7(4):367-374. https://doi.org/10.4995/ia.2000.2852SWORD36737474Bruins, H.J. 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Sensor architecture and task classification for agricultural vehicles and environments

[EN] The long time wish of endowing agricultural vehicles with an increasing degree of autonomy is becoming a reality thanks to two crucial facts: the broad diffusion of global positioning satellite systems and the inexorable progress of computers and electronics. Agricultural vehicles are currently the only self-propelled ground machines commonly integrating commercial automatic navigation systems. Farm equipment manufacturers and satellite-based navigation system providers, in a joint effort, have pushed this technology to unprecedented heights; yet there are many unresolved issues and an unlimited potential still to uncover. The complexity inherent to intelligent vehicles is rooted in the selection and coordination of the optimum sensors, the computer reasoning techniques to process the acquired data, and the resulting control strategies for automatic actuators. The advantageous design of the network of onboard sensors is necessary for the future deployment of advanced agricultural vehicles. This article analyzes a variety of typical environments and situations encountered in agricultural fields, and proposes a sensor architecture especially adapted to cope with them. The strategy proposed groups sensors into four specific subsystems: global localization, feedback control and vehicle pose, non-visual monitoring, and local perception. The designed architecture responds to vital vehicle tasks classified within three layers devoted to safety, operative information, and automatic actuation. The success of this architecture, implemented and tested in various agricultural vehicles over the last decade, rests on its capacity to integrate redundancy and incorporate new technologies in a practical wayThe research activities devoted to the study of sensor and system architectures for agricultural intelligent vehicles carried out during 2010 have been supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation through Project AGL2009-11731.Rovira Más, F. (2010). Sensor architecture and task classification for agricultural vehicles and environments. Sensors. 10(12):11226-11247. https://doi.org/10.3390/s101211226S1122611247101