Environment In Scotland Research Articles

What Wetland are We Protecting and Restoring? Quantifying the Human Creation of Protected Areas in Scotland

ABSTRACT This paper presents an archaeological perspective of modified lacustrine environments in Scotland currently designated as protected areas for biodiversity. After introducing how ‘natural’ is embedded in biodiversity protection and restoration, an approach to archaeologically assess the anthropogenic creation of protected biodiversity is laid out using an existing dataset on historic drainage of Scottish lochs. This approach is one way to quantify the degree to which valued and protected wetland habitats are products of human activity, specifically drainage. Where this is the case, wetland archaeology of historic drainage can improve management and habitat restoration through articulating processes of shifting ecological baselines and defining natural states in environments. This is explored with a case study and argued to support novel ecosystems frameworks for protected areas and restoration. With this view, a model is proposed for how wetland archaeology can improve wetland restoration while reducing possible conflicts with the preservation of wetland archaeology.

Pulmonary thromboembolism in hospitalised patients with COVID-19: a retrospective national study of patients managed in critical care and ward environments in Scotland

ObjectivesTo assess for increase in pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) in hospitalised patients with COVID-19, in both critical care and ward environments.SettingWe reviewed all CT pulmonary angiograms (CTPA) performed in Scotland between...

Using isotopes to understand the evolution of water ages in disturbed mixed land‐use catchments

AbstractTracer studies have been key to unravelling catchment hydrological processes, yet most insights have been gained in environments with relatively low human impact. We investigated the spatial variability of stream isotopes and water ages to infer dominant flow paths in a ~10‐km2 nested catchment in a disturbed, predominantly agricultural environment in Scotland. We collected long‐term (>5 years) stable isotope data of precipitation, artificial drainage, and four streams with varying soil and land use types in their catchment areas. Using a gamma model, Mean Transit Times (MTTs) were then estimated in order to understand the spatial variability of controls on water ages. Despite contrasting catchment characteristics, we found that MTTs in the streams were generally very similar and short (<1 year). MTTs of water in artificial drains were even shorter, ranging between 1 to 10 months for a typical field drain and <0.5 to 1 month for a country road drain. At the catchment scale, lack of heterogeneity in the response could be explained by the extensive artificial surface and subsurface drainage, “short‐circuiting” younger water to the streams during storms. Under such conditions, additional intense disturbance associated with highway construction during the study period had no major effect on the stream isotope dynamics. Supplementary short‐term (~14 months) sampling of mobile soil water in dominant soil‐land use units also revealed that agricultural practices (ploughing of poorly draining soils and soil compaction due to grazing on freely draining soils) resulted in subtle MTT variations in soil water in the upper profile. Overall, the isotope dynamics and inferred MTTs suggest that the evolution of stream water ages in such a complex human‐influenced environment are largely related to near‐surface soil processes and the dominant soil management practices. This has direct implications for understanding and managing flood risk and contaminant transport in such environments.

Building Performance Evaluation – A Design Approach for Refurbishment of a Small Traditional Building in Scotland

Abstract In recent years, thermal performance improvements have been applied to an increasing number of historic buildings towards the achievement of the legally binding Scottish carbon dioxide (CO2) emission reductions. Over 20 % of the built environment in Scotland was constructed pre 1919 and the targeting of fabric improvements in these buildings can pose a performance risk if inappropriate measures are applied. This paper discusses through a case study a Building Performance Evaluation (BPE) approach used in conjunction with the design process for refurbishment of a community owned historic building, located in Arisaig, Scotland. The community received funding to improve the energy performance of this nineteenth century stone building and committed to a 75 % reduction in CO2 emissions. BPE was conducted in 2014 as part of the design process and repeated post-refurbishment in 2015 to validate the design. The initial BPE identified high heat losses, inefficient heating and lighting systems that resulted in occupant discomfort, high running costs and consequently the loss of a community facility during the winter months. The resulting BPE quantified improvements to the building fabric, occupant comfort and reduced energy consumption, which advocated this design approach as a beneficial tool for informing historic building refurbishment.

Soil geochemical methods in archaeo‐geophysics: Exploring a combined approach at sites in Scotland

AbstractThis article explores the application of geophysical and soil geochemical methods to detect archaeological features in three traditionally ‘difficult’ survey environments in Scotland: wind‐blown sands (Bay of Skaill, Orkney), clay (Chesterhall Parks Farm, Lanarkshire) and glacial drift deposits (Forteviot, Perthshire). The results presented here are part of the first research project that systematically tested a combined approach using geophysical and soil characterisation to understand the proxy responses of known archaeological features. First, a range of geophysical techniques [earth resistance, magnetometry, frequency domain electromagnetics (FDEM) and ground‐penetrating radar (GPR)] was employed over archaeological targets. Second, the different geophysical results were considered with respect to soil chemical concentrations (total phosphate and multi‐element analysis), texture, pH, conductivity, organic matter content and magnetic susceptibility from archaeological deposits, topsoil and subsoil samples. This study demonstrates that, by focusing on the responses of single archaeological features and assessing their physical and chemical signatures, soil composition and processes involved in the ‘history’ of buried features are of importance in improving our understanding of the reasons behind their detection with geophysical means. For example, at the cropmark site at Forteviot, chemical transformations can be triggered by organic matter accumulation and increased water retention within prehistoric ditch deposits and can have an effect on the type of magnetic contrast. In addition, chemical concentrations revealing anthropogenic organic materials can explain the enhanced conductivity of theoretically impervious features, as illustrated at the Bay of Skaill site. The study also provide insights into how a particular soil environment may affect different geophysical techniques such as the masking effects of heterogeneous glacial drift deposits or deep windblown sands. These types of survey environments characterise many archaeologically rich areas in Scotland, where integrated strategies, such as the one used in this investigation, are the best option to maximise detection of subsurface features and provide confident and augmented interpretations.

A Study on “Cross-Ring Model” of Scottish Religious Architecture Landscape

By analyzing prototypes of religious architecture landscape within Scotland, including Roman Catholic Churches, Presbyterian Churches, Synagogues, Mosques, Hindu Mandirs, Tibetan Buddhist Temples, Sikh Gurdwaras and Baha’i Centers, and the morphological changes of their inculturation in scotland, the article made a conclusion that their common feature is the “Cross-Ring Model”. According to the identity of the user to judge the sacred grade, Scottish sacred space is classified into four types: three, one, five, nine. The “Cross-Ring Model” is the handle that remould and transform the attributes of religious space. It is also an innovation tool for reconstructing modern religious architecture. Applying the “Cross-Ring Model” in rebuilding immigration’s religious architecture can help them smoothly integrate into the diverse religious environment in Scotland.

Results from Scotland's 2018 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth.

Previous Active Healthy Kids Scotland Report Cards from 2013 and 2016 (www.activehealthykidsscotland.co.uk) demonstrated that only a small minority of Scottish school-aged children and adolescents meet the recommended amount of daily moderate-tovigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA; ≥60 minutes). These low levels of MVPA occur despite a favorable physical and policy environment in Scotland. Previous report cards also identified major limitations in surveillance of physical activity and related behaviors in Scotland. The aim of this short paper is to (a) summarize the Scottish grades included in the Global Matrix 3.0 (www.activehealthykids.org) and (b) highlight the continuing limitations in surveillance of physical activity among children and adolescents in Scotland.

UAVs in Context: Archaeological Airborne Recording in a National Body of Survey and Record

Historic Environment Scotland (HES) is the lead public body which investigates, promotes and cares for the historic environment in Scotland. It undertakes a range of archaeological airborne work from detailed documentation of individual sites to extensive national programmes of prospection. In undertaking this work HES draws on a variety of aerial platforms to collect imagery, including light aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV—used throughout this paper as an umbrella term). In all cases, the archaeological questions at hand are the key driver for choice of methodology and platforms, recognising that different types of survey and documentation demand different responses. Differing strands of aerial work will be briefly described, followed by short case studies that illustrate the range of our activities, concluding with thoughts on the context of UAV work for archaeological applications.

Taking health geography out of the academy: Measuring academic impact

In recent years the academic landscape has been shifting and significantly affected by the introduction of an ‘impact agenda’. Academics are increasingly expected to demonstrate their broader engagement with the world and evidence related outcomes. Whilst different countries are at various stages along this impact journey, the UK is the first country to link impact to funding outcomes; here impact now accounts for 20% of an academic unit of assessment’s Research Excellence Framework (REF) result. This concept of ‘research impact’ implies that our work can effect change through one or more identifiable events in a direct, preferably linear and certainly measurable manner. In this paper, focusing on impact in social science, and policy-related impact in particular, we argue that such a cause and effect model is inappropriate. Furthermore that impact is not immediate or indeed linear within social science research. Drawing on recent work on alcohol and tobacco environments in Scotland we present a case study of impact, reflect on the process and respond to the challenges of moving beyond ‘business as usual’ public participation towards the measurement of outcomes. In doing so we critique the way in which ‘impact’ is currently measured and suggest a move towards an enlightenment model with greater recognition of process.

Ecohydrological separation in wet, low energy northern environments? A preliminary assessment using different soil water extraction techniques

AbstractEcohydrological studies in seasonally dry climatic regions have revealed isotopic separation of the sources of water used by trees and those that generate stream flow, also referred to as the ‘two water worlds’ hypothesis. Here we investigated whether similar separation occurs in a wet, low energy northern (Latitude 57°) environment in Scotland. For two common soil types (Histosols and Podzols) at three soil depths, and at both forested (with Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris)) and non‐forested sites, we compared the stable isotope composition of soil water held at increasing soil water tensions. These were assessed by different soil water extraction techniques: Rhizon samplers (mobile water), centrifugation at different speeds (representing different tensions), and cryogenic extraction (bulk water). Sampling occurred during a relatively dry summer. Water that was held at increasing tensions appeared more depleted than more mobile water, consistent with older (winter) precipitation. This pattern was independent of soil type, vegetation cover, and time during the growing season, although there was a slight tendency towards less separation with soil depth. Nevertheless, soil waters in this generally wet, low energy environment exhibited only minor evaporative enrichment, limited to the upper soil profile only. Furthermore, stream water showed no deviation from the local meteoric water line. Preliminary sampling for tree xylem water suggested uptake of evaporated soil water from the near surface soil horizons (upper 10 cm) where fine root densities are concentrated. For Histosols in particular, tree water appeared lagged in its isotopic composition compared to the soil water time series. Although more work is needed to fully test the ‘two water worlds’ hypothesis, our initial analyses did not provide clear evidence to support this in wet, low energy northern environments. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Is local alcohol outlet density related to alcohol-related health and health inequalities in Scottish cities?

Background Scotland has the highest rates of alcohol-related morbidity and mortality in the UK, with the health burden falling most heavily on deprived individuals and communities. The neighbourhood alcohol retail environment may be important, but has not previously been studied in Scotland. We ask whether general and chronic alcohol-related health outcomes were related to the neighbourhood alcohol retail environment in Scotland, and whether these relationships were stronger for …

Phytophthora Species Infecting Hardy Ornamentals in Nurseries and the Managed Environment in Scotland

AbstractBetween 2002 and the end of 2009, more than 4000 samples from hardy ornamental plants, collected in surveys for Phytophthora ramorum, were examined to establish the occurrence and diversity of Phytophthora species in Scotland. The samples were gathered from more than 77 plant genera in nurseries, gardens and amenity landscapes. Fifteen different Phytophthora spp. were isolated and identified either by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or by sequencing of the ITS1, 5.8S subunit and ITS2 region of the ribosomal RNA gene. The most widespread Phytophthora spp. were P. ramorum and P. syringae, followed by P. cactorum, P. kernoviae, P. plurivora, P. cambivora, P. citrophthora, P. taxon ‘Pgchlamydo’, P. pseudosyringae and some single isolates of P. cinnamomi, P. cryptogea, P. gonapodyides, P. nicotianae and P. hibernalis. One isolate did not match any known species. In relation to the number of samples, Phytophthora was found more frequently in trade premises than in gardens or amenity landscapes and the species diversity was higher, highlighting the risks involved in plant trade.

Do urban environments increase the risk of anxiety, depression and psychosis? An epidemiological study

BackgroundThe present study aimed to investigate whether there is an association between type of living environment (urban versus rural) and anxiety, depression and psychosis in the Scottish population. MethodsData were obtained from the Scottish Neighbourhood Statistics database on Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation and urban–rural classifications for 6505 data zones across Scotland. Multiple regression was used to test the association between prescriptions for psychotropic medication for anxiety, depression and psychosis, and type of living environment according to urban–rural classification, controlling for a range of socio-economic factors. ResultsUrban–rural classification significantly predicted poorer mental health both before (β=−.29) and after (β=−.20) controlling for a large number of socio-economic variables, with more urban areas having higher rates of prescription for psychotropic medication for anxiety, depression and psychosis. LimitationsThe current study focussed on macro-level variables and did not include individual level data. As such, the study did not include data on individual diagnoses, but instead used drug prescriptions for anxiety, depression and psychosis as a proxy for level of affective disorders within data zones. ConclusionMore urban living environments in Scotland are associated with higher rates of prescription for psychotropic medication for anxiety, depression and psychosis.

New portal provides access to all online information about the environment in Scotland

New portal provides access to all online information about the environment in Scotland

Seasonal patterns of photochemical capacity and spring phenology reveal genetic differentiation among native Scots pine ( Pinus sylvestris L.) populations in Scotland

Environment-driven genetic differentiation among populations is a common feature among forest trees, and an understanding of how populations have adapted to their home site conditions is essential for management and conservation practices. In Scotland, 84 native Scots pine ( Pinus sylvestris L.) woodlands are recognised by the Forestry Commission and they occupy highly diverse environments from the maritime west coast to continental sites in eastern Scotland. However, it is not known whether adaptations to local environments along sharp temperature and rainfall gradients have occurred in different populations and as a result, the seed transfer guidelines of the species are based only on data from isozymes and monoterpenes. In this study of an outdoor common-garden trial, we used chlorophyll fluorescence to examine whether seedlings from 32 open-pollinated families and eight populations from sites experiencing contrasting annual temperature regimes differed in their response to variation in natural outdoor temperatures between September 2009 and May 2010. In addition, growth initiation in spring was recorded. Photochemical capacity at photosystem II F v/F m showed a distinct seasonal trend and remained at relatively high levels (∼0.7) until November. Following a period of over 2 weeks with temperatures below or close to 0 °C, F v/F m started decreasing towards its minimum values recorded in early March when population means varied between 0.35 and 0.45. By early May and along with rising temperatures, photochemical capacity had recovered to the same level as observed in early November. Populations were found to respond differently to the cold period starting in December. The largest drop in photochemical capacity was observed in seedlings from a low-altitude population located in the maritime western Scotland, while in seedlings from higher-altitude locations in the cooler eastern Scotland, the response was smaller. In March, the recovery of photochemical capacity was slowest in seedlings from the mildest and coolest sites. Evidence of adaptive genetic differentiation was also found in spring phenology. Initiation of shoot elongation and needle flush were earlier in families from higher altitudes (cooler areas), but population differences were not significant at the α = 0.05 level. These results suggest that adaptation to the spatially heterogeneous environment in Scotland has taken place in Scots pine and that in order to minimise the risk of planting maladapted seed stock, the patterns of environmental and adaptive genetic variation should be taken into account in the management of genetic resources in this species.

Public preferences for water quality improvements: implications for the implementation of the EC Water Framework Directive in Scotland

The EC Water Framework Directive (WFD) sets ambitious quality targets for member state water bodies by 2015. The provisions are being transposed predominantly using a cost-effectiveness criterion, which raises questions about the relative balance of costs [of reaching good status (GS)] and corresponding (non-)market benefits or the economic efficiency of the legislation. This study provides an insight into public perceptions of water quality improvements based on an application of national characterisation data on the state of the water environment in Scotland. A choice experiment approach is used to quantify non-market benefits of achieving GS across Scottish rivers and lochs over varying timescales and different geographical levels, with the aim of revealing willingness-to-pay data that is specifically relevant for WFD implementation. We find that the benefits of implementing the WFD are substantial. Results show that geographical differences in preferences for national improvements in the river and loch water quality in Scotland exist, both in terms of magnitudes of benefit estimates and time preferences for improvements. These differences need to be taken into account in analyses at the river basin district or national level in order to support policy options for the implementation of the WFD across the country.

Introducing Interconnect: the network for women studying science, engineering, technology & the built environment in Scotland

Introducing Interconnect: the network for women studying science, engineering, technology & the built environment in Scotland Volume/Issue Vol 10, Issue 2 Date Thursday, 1 July, 2010 Journal Name MSOR Connections Author(s) Allison Johnstone Abstract Interconnect is a 3 year project which is developing a network for women studying science, engineering, technology and the built environment in Scotland. To achieve this, we are working with universities, colleges, students, students associations, employers, qualified women and professional bodies DOI doi: 10.11120/msor.2010.10020003 File upload msor.10.2b.pdf [1] Taxonomy: work area Journals [2]

Field validation, in Scotland and Iceland, of the artificial mussel for monitoring trace metals in temperate seas

The artificial mussel (AM), a novel chemical sampling device, has been developed for monitoring dissolved trace metals in marine environments. The AM consists of Chelex-100 suspended in artificial seawater within Perspex tubing and enclosed with semi-permeable polyacrylamide gel at both ends. To validate the field performance of the AM in temperate waters, we deployed AMs alongside transplanted blue mussels Mytilus edulis in coastal environments in Scotland (Holy Loch, Loch Fyne, Loch Striven and Millport) and Iceland (Reykjavikurhöfn, Gufunes, South of þerney, Hofsvik, Hvalfjörður and Sandgerði) for monitoring trace metals. While uptake patterns of Cd between the AM and M. edulis were highly comparable, discrepancies were found in the accumulation profiles of the other metals (Cu, Cr, Pb and Zn), in particular Zn. Nonetheless, the AMs gave a better resolution to accurately reveal the spatial difference in dissolved metal contamination when compared with M. edulis. AMs complement the use of mussels since AMs indicate dissolved metals in seawater, whereas uptake by mussels indicates a mixture of dissolved and particulate metals. Our results also indicated that historical metal exposure of the transplanted M. edulis could significantly confound their metal concentrations especially when the deployment period was short (i.e. <34 d). This study suggested that the AM can overcome problems associated with variable biological attributes and pre-exposure history in the mussel, and provides a standardized and representative time-integrated estimate of dissolved metal concentrations in different marine environments.

SPEIR: developing a common information environment in Scotland

PurposeTo report on the work of the SPEIR project and indicate its relevance beyond the Scottish information environment. SPEIR was funded by the Scottish Library and Information Council to identify, research, and develop the elements of an internationally interoperable Scottish Common Information Environment (SCIE) for Library, Museum and Archive domain information services, and to determine the best path for future progress. A key focus was to determine the distributed information infrastructure requirements of a pilot Scottish Cultural Portal being developed in parallel with the SPEIR work, building on existing pilot initiatives such as the CAIRNS distributed catalogue and landscaper, the SCONE collections database, the SCAMP staff portal and an embryonic organisational infrastructure based on the Confederation of Scottish Mini‐cooperatives (CoSMiC).Design/methodology/approachA series of practical pilots was undertaken. These were underpinned by relevant desk and field research and conducted within an overarching holistic approach to developing the distributed environment.Practical implicationsKey outcomes included the creation of a single upgraded integrated service incorporating an extended distributed catalogue, collections database, and landscaper, the creation of a pilot distributed digital library, the development of open‐URL‐based facilities to permit portals to incorporate “canned searches” of the catalogue, the collections database, the SDDL, and other compatible services, an illustrative pilot Scottish terminology mapping service, and various organisational infrastructure and professional support improvements.Originality/valueThe embryonic technical and organisational infrastructure reported may provide a model for other small countries (or regions within larger countries) seeking a coherent approach to the development of an interoperable information environment.

Consulting Youth about Residential Care Environments in Scotland

The National Care Standards (NCS) are the baselines for measuring the quality of care in children's homes in Scotland. The Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care inspects the standard of residential care environments. The SCRC commissioned the development of a methodology to encourage children's participation in inspecting their care environments, while yielding information about how well the NCS were being met. Using the NCS as the framework, a participation methodology consisting of focus groups, questionnaires and interviews was constructed. The methodology was designed to incorporate ideas about re-envisioning children's services as children's spaces. It was piloted with 24 young people in residential care, aged between 15 and 19 years, during February and March 2004. Findings indicated that young people appreciated the opportunity to give their views about their care environment. They made suggestions about improving the mix of residents, staff attitudes and feeling safe.