Physical Environmental Variables Research Articles

Different Environmental Drivers of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 Outbreaks in Poultry and Wild Birds

A large number of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 outbreaks in poultry and wild birds have been reported in Europe since 2005. Distinct spatial patterns in poultry and wild birds suggest that different environmental drivers and potentially different spread mechanisms are operating. However, previous studies found no difference between these two outbreak types when only the effect of physical environmental factors was analysed. The influence of physical and anthropogenic environmental variables and interactions between the two has only been investigated for wild bird outbreaks. We therefore tested the effect of these environmental factors on HPAI H5N1 outbreaks in poultry, and the potential spread mechanism, and discussed how these differ from those observed in wild birds. Logistic regression analyses were used to quantify the relationship between HPAI H5N1 outbreaks in poultry and environmental factors. Poultry outbreaks increased with an increasing human population density combined with close proximity to lakes or wetlands, increased temperatures and reduced precipitation during the cold season. A risk map was generated based on the identified key factors. In wild birds, outbreaks were strongly associated with an increased Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and lower elevation, though they were similarly affected by climatic conditions as poultry outbreaks. This is the first study that analyses the differences in environmental drivers and spread mechanisms between poultry and wild bird outbreaks. Outbreaks in poultry mostly occurred in areas where the location of farms or trade areas overlapped with habitats for wild birds, whereas outbreaks in wild birds were mainly found in areas where food and shelters are available. The different environmental drivers suggest that different spread mechanisms might be involved: HPAI H5N1 spread to poultry via both poultry and wild birds, whereas contact with wild birds alone seems to drive the outbreaks in wild birds.

Mediation effects of social support on relationships of perceived environment and self-efficacy with school-based physical activity: A structural equation model tailored for Japanese adolescent girls

Background: Identifying correlates of physical activity that can be targeted as potential mediators is important for developing interventions to promote physical activity in adolescent girls. However, the mediated effects of multilevel correlates of physical activity remain poorly understood. Therefore, the present study aimed to examine direct and mediated effects of personal, social and perceived school physical environmental factors on school-based physical activity of Japanese adolescent girls. Methods: In this cross-sectional survey of the Japanese adolescent lifestyles, 344 junior high school girls were invited to complete self-report measures of age, grade, weight, height, self-efficacy, social support (family, friends and teachers), perceived school physical environment (equipment, facilities and safety) and physical activity at school (min per week during lunch time and after- school hours). Structural equation modeling analysis controlling for age was performed to examine the effects of body mass index (BMI), self-efficacy, social support and school physical environmental variables on lunchtime and after-hours physical activity. Results: The final structural model demonstrated an acceptable fit for each context-specific physical activity. During lunch recess, perceived equipment and friend support exhibited direct effects on physical activity; perceived facilities, safety, and self-efficacy were indirectly associated with physical activity through friend support. During after-school hours, both family and friend support directly affected physical activity at school; perceived safety, facilities and self-efficacy exhibited indirect effects on physical activity through family or friend support. However, there were no significant associations between equipment and after-school-hours physical activity. Regardless of contexts, BMI had neither direct nor indirect effects on physical activity. Conclusion: Social support from family and friends was identified as factors mediating the effects of perceived environment and self-efficacy on school-based physical activity among Japanese adolescent girls. This finding encourages the future development of effective interventions to promote physical activity through family and friend support in the future.

Study of the Environmental and Technical Performance of a Diesel Engine with the Alternative Use of Biofuel Obtained from the Reutilization of Vegetable Oil

The aim of this work is to provide an environmental assessment of a diesel engine by analyzing the emissions of CO, CO2 and NOx that result from the combustion process, as well as analyzing technical performance related to consumption and the development of power and torque in a laboratory test rig. Biodiesel fuel was produced from vegetable cooking oil. The intention of this work is to evaluate the best method for the production of biodiesel in reference to an analysis of the peculiar features of this process of procurement and control of the physical environmental variables that may result in better performance of the engine under the conditions of the use of biodiesel blends with commercial diesel. The use of cooking oil as a raw material for biodiesel production has proven to be of significant value as compared to other raw material choices of various origins such as the oilseed crop since cooking oil is available in large quantities without any defined application. Gains related to the reduction of emissions of toxic gases resulting from combustion processes were remarkable, mainly in terms of the large reduction of CO and CO2 emissions.

Direct and indirect effects of multilevel factors on school-based physical activity among Japanese adolescent boys

Purpose: Background: Physical activity is a complex behavior which involves the interaction of multilevel factors at the individual, social and environmental level. However, previous studies have largely focused on psychological and/or social environmental factors and the direct impact of such factors on physical activity. There are few studies having examined how multilevel factors may interact to influence activity level. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to examine both direct and indirect effects of multilevel factors on school-based physical activity in Japanese adolescent boys. Methods: In this cross-sectional survey of the Japanese adolescent lifestyles, 379 junior high school boys were invited to complete self-report measures of age, grade, weight, height, self-efficacy, social support (family, friends and teachers), school physical environment (equipment, facilities and safety) and average minutes per week of physical activity during lunch time and after-school hours occurring at school. Structural equation modeling analyses controlling for age were utilized to examine the effects of body mass index (BMI), self-efficacy, social support and school physical environmental variables on lunchtime and after-school physical activity. Results: During lunch time, self-efficacy exhibited direct positive effects on physical activity. BMI, facilities, and safety were indirectly associated with lunchtime physical activity through self-efficacy. However, there were no significant relationships of equipment and social support with lunchtime physical activity. During after-school hours, family support and facilities directly affected physical activity. Self-efficacy was indirectly related with physical activity through family support. BMI, equipment, and safety indirectly affected physical activity through self-efficacy and/or family support. Conclusion: Effects of multilevel factor on physical activity among adolescent boys differed according to context, which implies that interventions to promote physical activity should be context-specific. Findings encourage the development of future effective interventions to promote physical activity through self-efficacy during lunch time as well as family support during after-school hours.

Do vegetation boundaries display smooth or abrupt spatial transitions along environmental gradients? Evidence from the prairie–forest biome boundary of historic Minnesota, USA

AbstractQuestionsTwo alternative mechanisms of abrupt vegetation change across ecological boundaries have been proposed: (1) concomitantly abrupt gradients in physical environmental variables and vegetation across the boundary, and (2) gradual environmental gradients that vegetation responds to in a non‐linear or threshold manner. Here, we evaluate spatial patterns of climate and vegetation across a grassland–forest biome boundary to examine evidence in favour of either of these alternatives.LocationMinnesota, USA.MethodsVegetation data represented the presence of prairie vs. forest vegetation in Minnesota from 1847 to 1908, generally prior to European settlement of the region, while the climatic variables represented an index of long‐term average moisture availability (precipitation minus potential evapotranspiration (P – PET). Using linear and sigmoidal regression models, we evaluated spatial patterns of change in vegetation, climate and vegetation–climate relationships across 22 transects (170–400 km) oriented perpendicular to the biome boundary. We also evaluated boundary characteristics in light of dominant topographical controls and position along the boundary.ResultsVegetation followed a sigmoidal pattern of change across the boundary, with mean boundary width of ca. 100 km. The P – PET increased by ca. 100 mm across the boundary following a comparatively smooth pattern of change. Climate–vegetation relationships were clearly non‐linear across the boundary, indicating these variables did not change in a common spatial pattern. Regional topographical controls modified relationships between vegetation and climate along the length of the boundary.ConclusionsOur results document strong non‐linear relationships between the presence of forest vegetation and its dominant climate control across a grassland–forest biome boundary. An average change of ca. 100 mm in P – PET moving across the boundary is about 40% of the long‐term mean annual range of this variable, suggesting that modest changes to P – PET may potentially cause substantial shifts in the location of the prairie–forest boundary.

Adolescent walking and biking to school in the Danish SPACE Study: The influence of individual, social and school site factors

Introduction: Active transport to school (ATS) contributes to adolescent physical activity, but the prevalence of ATS seems to be declining worldwide. In Denmark there have been reported some of the highest prevalence's for ATS–especially biking to school–but there are a large variation between schools. The aim of this part of the SPACE Study was to investigate the influence of individual, social and physical environmental variables on adolescent ATS in Denmark.

Quaternary changes in dust input to the Pacific sector of the Southern Ocean

The physical and biological carbon pumps in the different hydrographic and biogeochemical regimes of the Atlantic Sector of the Southern Ocean are controlled by a series of coupled physical, chemical and biological processes and a project named Eddy-Pump was designed to study them. The Eddy Pump field campaign was carried out during RV Polarstern Cruise ANT-XXVIII/3 between January and March 2012. Particular emphasis was laid on the differences which occur along the axis of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) with its associated mesoscale eddy field. The study sites were selected in order to represent (1) the central ACC with its regular separation in different frontal jets, investigated by a meridional transect along 10°E; (2) a large-scale bloom west of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge which lasted several months with conspicuous chlorophyll-poor waters to its immediate east studied by a three-dimensional mesoscale survey centred at 12°40′W; and (3) the Georgia Basin north of the island of South Georgia, which regularly features an extended and dense phytoplankton bloom, was investigated by a mesoscale survey centred at 38°12′W. While Eddy-Pump represents an interdisciplinary project by design, we here focus on describing the variable physical environment within which the different biogeochemical regimes developed. For describing the physical environment we use measurements of temperature, salinity and density, of mixed-layer turbulence parameters, of dynamic heights and horizontal current vectors, and of flow trajectories obtained from surface drifters and submerged floats. This serves as background information for the analyses of biological and chemical processes and of biogeochemical fluxes addressed by other papers in this issue.The section along 10°E between 44°S and 53°S showed a classical ACC structure with well-known hydrographic fronts, the Subantarctic Front (SAF) at 46.5°S, the Antarctic Polar Front (APF) split in two, at 49.25°S and 50.5°S, and the Southern Polar Front (SPF) at 52.5°S. Each front was associated with strong eastward flows. The West Mid-Atlantic Ridge Survey showed a weak and poorly resolved meander structure between the APF and the SPF. During the first eight days of the survey the oceanographic conditions at the Central Station at 12°40′W remained reasonably constant. However after that, conditions became more variable in the thermocline with conspicuous temperature inversions and interleavings and also a decrease in temperature in the surface layer. At the very end of the period of observation the conditions in the thermocline returned to being similar to those observed during the early part of the period with however the mixed layer temperature raised. The period of enhanced thermohaline variability was accompanied by increased currents. The Georgia Basin Survey showed a very strong zonal jet at its northern edge which connects to a large cyclonic meander that itself joins an anticyclonic eddy in the southeastern quadrant. The water mass contrasts in this survey were stronger than in the West Mid-Atlantic Ridge Survey, but similar to those met along 10°E with the exception that the warm and saline surface water typical of the northern side of the SAF was not covered by the Georgia Basin Survey. Mixed layers found during Eddy-Pump were typically deep, but varied between the three survey areas; the mean depths and standard variations of the mixed layer along the 10°E were 77.2±24.7 m, at the West Mid-Atlantic Ridge 66.7±17.7 m, and in the Georgia Basin 36.8±10.7 m.

Micropattern array with gradient size (µPAGS) plastic surfaces fabricated by PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane) mold-based hot embossing technique for investigation of cell–surface interaction

Recently, it was found that the variations of physical environment significantly affect cell behaviors including cell proliferation, migration and differentiation. Through a plastic surface with controlled mechanical properties such as stiffness, one can change the orientation and migration of cells in a particular direction, thereby determining cell behaviors. In this study, we demonstrate a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) mold-based hot embossing technique for rapid, simple and low-cost replication of polystyrene (PS) surfaces having micropatterns. The PDMS mold was fabricated by UV-photolithography followed by PDMS casting; the elastomeric properties of PDMS enabled us to obtain conformal contact of the PDMS mold to a PS surface and to create high transcription quality of micropatterns on the PS surface. Two different types of circular micropillar and microwell arrays were successfully replicated on the PS surfaces based on the suggested technique. The micropatterns were designed to have various diameters (2–150 µm), spacings (2–160 µm) and heights (1.4, 2.4, 8.2 and 14.9 µm), so as to generate the gradient of physical properties on the surface. Experimental parametric studies indicated that (1) the embossing temperature became a critical processing parameter as the aspect ratio of micropattern increased and (2) the PDMS mold-based hot embossing could successfully replicate micropatterns, even having an aspect ratio of 2.7 for micropattern diameter of 6 µm, with an optimal processing condition (embossing pressure and temperature of 0.4 MPa and 130 °C, respectively) in this study. We carried out cell experiments with adipose-derived stem cells on the replicated PS surface with the height of 1.4 µm to investigate cellular behaviors in response to the micropattern array with gradient size. Cellular experiment results showed that the micropillar-arrayed surface improved cell proliferation as compared with the microwell-arrayed surface. We could also estimate the ranges of pattern sizes having the desired effects on the cellular behaviors.

Trends in Presentations of Environmental and Policy Studies Related to Physical Activity, Nutrition, and Obesity at Society of Behavioral Medicine, 1995–2010: a Commentary to Accompany the Active Living Research Supplement to Annals of Behavioral Medicine

Active Living Research was funded by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in 2001with a primarymission of building evidence on the role of environmental and policy factors in shaping physical activity, with the goal of contributing to new approaches to promoting physical activity that would have broad reach and sustainable effects [1]. The assumption was that little research was being done at that time on environmental and policy factors, because physical activity research was based on theories and models that emphasized psychological and social influences on behavior [e.g., 2–4], leading to interventions largely targeted to individuals and small groups. Active Living Research was explicitly based on ecological models that embody the concept of multiple levels of influence on behaviors, including built environments and policies. Though ecological models have a long history in psychology and health promotion, they had not been applied frequently in research [5, 6]. A defining principle of ecological models is that because behavior is influenced by intrapersonal (e.g., biological, psychological, and affective), interpersonal (e.g., social support and culture), built environment (e.g., access to resources), and policy (e.g., from government and industry) variables, interventions are likely to bemost effective when they change presumed mediators at all of these levels [7]. A key indicator that ecological models are being applied would be measurement or manipulation of policy and physical environment variables that are not specified by the more traditional “psychosocial” models [2–4]. During the 1990s, authors noted that ecological models were not being widely applied in health behavior research or interventions [8, 9], except for tobacco control [10]. Active Living Research is now part of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s commitment to reverse the rise in childhood obesity by 2015. Several ecological models have been developed since the early 2000s that are specific to obesity, nutrition, and physical activity [11–15], and these models are guiding major initiatives in obesity prevention in the USA [16–18] and internationally [11, 19]. There appears to be a consensus reached by authoritative groups that multilevel interventions emphasizing policy and environmental changes are required to control the global obesity epidemic. However, it is unclear as to the extent to which the evidence base to support environmental and policy interventions in obesity, nutrition, and physical activity is growing. An early indicator of scientific progress is presentations at scientific conferences. To explore recent trends in the application of ecological models to obesity-related topics, abstracts of papers presented at Society of Behavioral Medicine conferences over a 15-year period were systematically coded. Society of Behavioral Medicine is an appropriate scientific conference for such an analysis because it is a venue for leading behavioral research on obesity, physical activity, and nutrition. Four years of Society of Behavioral Medicine conference presentations were content analyzed to illustrate 15-year J. F. Sallis (*) : J. A. Carlson :A. M. Mignano Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of California, San Diego, 3900 Fifth Avenue, Suite 310, San Diego, CA 92103, USA e-mail: jsallis@ucsd.edu

Extended producer responsibility instruments and innovation in eco-design: An exploration through a simulation model

This paper presents an agent-based simulation model that models both economical and physical relations between firms, recyclers and consumers. This framework allows an investigation into the connection between physical environmental variables (waste flows, virgin material flows) and economic decisions of agents in the product chain i.e. firms innovation strategies, consumers choices and development of recycling activities. The paper highlights the value of using agent-based modeling as an operational tool to investigate the effect of waste prevention policy on economic and technological decisions of agents. We focus on three types of extended producer responsibility (EPR) instruments, which are recycling fees, tax-subsidy and norms. The simulation results show that the impact of each instrument depends on the policy design, in particular on the level of stringency and on the reward system which is implemented. We show that only tax-subsidy systems and stringent norms can lead to radical innovations and to significant changes in product designs. In the case of tax-subsidy, the impact relies more on an innovation effect, while in the case of norm it mainly relies on a selection effect.

Acoustic emission monitoring of the effect of temperature on activity rhythms of the subterranean termite Reticulitermes speratus

Daily activity rhythms are widespread characteristics among many organisms and are usually related to one or more physical environmental variables, such as light and temperature. Even organisms that are not obviously exposed to wide fluctuations in environmental variables, such as troglodytic and endogeic species, exhibit some daily activity patterns. Termites inhabit underground areas or tree trunks where little or no fluctuation in light occurs. In the present study, the activity rhythms of field colonies of the subterranean termite Reticulitermes speratus Kolbe (Blattodea: Termitidae) are examined, during all four seasons, by monitoring their acoustic emissions using a newly‐modified method. Nest temperature affects termite activity significantly during all four seasons. By contrast, no significant effect of time is observed during the different seasons, with the exception of autumn. Activity and nest temperature are negatively correlated in summer and autumn, although thay are are positively correlated during winter and spring. The greatest activity occurs at 23–25 °C. The experimental observations suggest that the activity of R. speratus termite colonies is affected mainly by ambient temperature, in a manner that is based on optimum temperature.

The contributions of forest structure and substrate to bryophyte diversity and abundance in mature coniferous forests of the Pacific Northwest

Many aspects of forest structure are thought to contribute to the presence, abundance, and diversity of forest-floor bryophytes. To what extent easily measured characteristics of local environment (overstory structure or substrate availability) explain patterns of abundance and diversity remains unclear in most forest ecosystems. We explore these relationships in four mature, Douglas-fir dominated forests in southwestern Washington (U.S.A.). At each site, six 13-ha stands were sampled systematically (787 total plots) to capture variation in physical environment, forest overstory and understory vegetation, substrates, and forest-floor bryophytes. We compared bryophyte species composition, richness, and rank abundance among sites. We used multiple linear regression to model local cover and richness as functions of the physical environment, overstory and understory vegetation, and substrate availability. We compared the contributions of substrates to bryophyte abundance and richness and measured the strength and consistency of associations between individual species and particular substrates. Bryophyte composition differed significantly among sites, but patterns of richness and rank abundance were surprisingly similar, despite differences in stand structure and climate. Regression models explained only 18-23% of the variation in bryophyte cover or richness, likely due to weak relationships between vegetation structure and microclimate, disparity in the spatial scales of measurement, and temporal lags in bryophyte responses to structure. Most non-litter substrates (mineral soil, rock, fresh or decayed wood, stumps, shrub and tree bases) contributed minimally to available growing space, but disproportionately to species richness, particularly at the stand scale. Individual species were most often associated with decayed wood, although few species showed strong substrate specificity. In general, however, substrates contributed to ecological redundancy, with most species occupying multiple substrates and most substrates supporting a diversity of species.

Pulse Emissions of Carbon Dioxide during Snowmelt at a High-Elevation Site in Northern Arizona, U.S.A.

The paradigm that winter is a dormant period of soil biogeochemical activity in high elevation or high latitude ecosystems has been amply refuted by recent research. Carbon dioxide (CO2) released from cold or snow-covered soil is a substantial component of total annual ecosystem carbon fluxes. Recent investigations have shown that the late-winter/early-spring transition is a period of high biogeochemical activity. However, little is known about the temporal dynamics of CO2 from the snowpack itself during periods of snowmelt. We present a case study of three snowmelt events at a high-elevation site in northern Arizona during which we measured changes in CO2 concentrations and fluxes above the snow and within the soil profile, and characterized the soil physical environment and site meteorological variables. We show that large pulses of CO2 were emitted to the atmosphere during snowmelt, and we present evidence that these pulses came from CO2 stored in snowpack. Earlier and more frequent snowmelts worldwide caused by climate change have the potential to alter the timing of release of CO2 from land to atmosphere.

Social, Environmental and Psychological Factors Associated with Objective Physical Activity Levels in the Over 65s

ObjectiveTo assess physical activity levels objectively using accelerometers in community dwelling over 65 s and to examine associations with health, social, environmental and psychological factors.DesignCross sectional survey.Setting17 general practices in Scotland, United Kingdom.ParticipantsRandom sampling of over 65 s registered with the practices in four strata young-old (65–80 years), old-old (over 80 years), more affluent and less affluent groups.Main Outcome MeasuresAccelerometry counts of activity per day. Associations between activity and Theory of Planned Behaviour variables, the physical environment, health, wellbeing and demographic variables were examined with multiple regression analysis and multilevel modelling.Results547 older people (mean (SD) age 79(8) years, 54% female) were analysed representing 94% of those surveyed. Accelerometry counts were highest in the affluent younger group, followed by the deprived younger group, with lowest levels in the deprived over 80 s group. Multiple regression analysis showed that lower age, higher perceived behavioural control, the physical function subscale of SF-36, and having someone nearby to turn to were all independently associated with higher physical activity levels (R2 = 0.32). In addition, hours of sunshine were independently significantly associated with greater physical activity in a multilevel model.ConclusionsOther than age and hours of sunlight, the variables identified are modifiable, and provide a strong basis for the future development of novel multidimensional interventions aimed at increasing activity participation in later life.

Promoting School Students’ Physical Activity: A Social Ecological Perspective

Guided by a social ecological perspective, the aim of this study was to investigate the predictive strength of individual (barrier self-efficacy), social environmental (support from parents, friends, physical education teachers), and physical environmental variables (equipment accessibility, neighborhood safety) toward physical activity among school students. Participants were 285 students enrolled in a suburban public school. Hierarchical linear regression analysis highlighted the influence of self-efficacy, social support from parents, friends, physical education teachers, and accessible equipment on students’ physical activity. The findings indicated that physical educators and health promoters need to consider multiple factors as they design effective interventions to promote physical activity and prevent physical inactivity among school students. This study also supported the use of a social ecological perspective to investigate students’ physical activity.

L’enfance et l’adolescence in situ : facteurs environnementaux facilitateurs et inhibiteurs de troubles cognitifs et comportementaux

The definition of mental health associates three fundamental variables: biological variables, psychological variables and environmental variables. In this article, we will focus on environmental variables that inhibit and facilitate cognitive and behavioural disorders in childhood and adolescence. Environmental psychology considers the interrelations between human and environment in its spatial, social and chronological dimensions and considers it as a characterized and undissociated system. We will bring to mind social and physical environmental variables with which children and adolescents interact frequently and, through a literature review, we will enlighten environmental variables that are susceptible to induce behavioural disorders and psychological variables that modulate children's and adolescent's relations to environment. We then suggest possible outcomes of this approach in clinical practice as well as in terms of therapeutic applications in child psychology and psychiatry. Finally, we evoke the necessity of taking in account neurobiological fields in order to outline a model of human development integrating the three variables that define mental health.

Providing management options to control corn mouse (Calomys musculinus) reservoir populations using a cohort structured model

We evaluate several management options for Calomys musculinus populations through the formulation and validation of a cohort structured model. Initially, a basic model was constructed and validated using field population data. Next, the model was altered to allow us to evaluate different management options. In general, basic model results were in agreement with field data, demonstrating that this model would be useful in describing aspects of corn mouse population dynamics. Restricting control measures to when mouse numbers reach high levels would be inadequate, because population numbers tend to increase in size after some years. In contrast, reducing vegetation cover in spring was more effective in reducing field population abundances. Despite some limitations, the model could be useful for evaluating the relationships between population dynamics and some biotic or physical environmental variables, and thus ensure more efficient use of resources in integrated pest management.

RF Power Consumption Emulation Optimized with Interval Valued Homotopies

This paper presents a methodology towards the emulation of the electrical power consumption of the RF device during the cellular phone/handset transmission mode using the LTE technology. The emulation methodology takes the physical environmental variables and the logical interface between the baseband and the RF system as inputs to compute the emulated power dissipation of the RF device. The emulated power, in between the measured points corresponding to the discrete values of the logical interface parameters is computed as a polynomial interpolation using polynomial basis functions. The evaluation of polynomial and spline curve fitting models showed a respective divergence (test error) of 8% and 0.02% from the physically measured power consumption. The precisions of the instruments used for the physical measurements have been modeled as intervals. We have been able to model the power consumption of the RF device operating at 5MHz using homotopy between 2 continuous power consumptions of the RF device operating at the bandwidths 3MHz and 10MHz. Keywords—Radio frequency, High Power Amplifier, Baseband, LTE, Power, Emulation, Homotopy, Interval analysis, Tx power, Register-Transfer Level.

Mapping the potential distribution of shorebirds in Japan: the importance of landscape-level coastal geomorphology

Several recent studies have predicted potential habitats along coastal areas using large-scale physical environmental variables to identify target areas for conservation. However, no indices or methodologies for predicting tidal-flat habitats at a large spatial scale have been developed. Tidal flats supporting large populations of shorebirds have been identified in semi-enclosed seas. Thus, bays are probably important topographic units for evaluating the locations of shorebirds' non-breeding habitats. A GIS-based methodology was developed to extract ‘bay units’ at any scale from coastline data. Using three environment variables (the area of the bay units at three spatial scales, the percentage of shallow water area in each bay unit, and the spring-tide range), it was possible to predict tidal-flat habitats for six shorebird species with high accuracy (AUC > 0.95, sensitivity >90%). Results showed that the percentage of shallow water area in small- and medium-scale bays was the best predictor of tidal-flat habitats, followed by the area of bays at a large spatial scale. This indicates that the size (scale) of a bay and the percentage of shallow water present are highly related to the presence of tidal-flat habitats. The prediction maps for individual species of shorebirds clearly showed differences in the distribution patterns of species. These maps were overlaid to identify potentially species-rich areas and thus where conservation and restoration of the tidal flats in these bays would be important. The model, which uses simple coastal data, is a useful, resource-efficient method for identifying target conservation and restoration areas across broad scales. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Modeling the spatial and temporal dimensions of recreational activity participation with a focus on physical activities

This study presents a unified framework to understand the weekday recreational activity participation time-use of adults, with an emphasis on the time expended in physically active recreation pursuits by location and by time-of-day. Such an analysis is important for a better understanding of how individuals incorporate physical activity into their daily activities on a typical weekday, and can inform the development of effective policy interventions to facilitate physical activity. Furthermore, such a study of participation and time use in recreational activity episodes contributes to activity-based travel demand modeling, since recreational activity participation comprises a substantial share of individuals’ total non-work activity participation. The methodology employed here is the multiple discrete continuous extreme value (MDCEV) model, which provides a unified framework to explicitly and endogenously examine time use by type, location, and timing. The data for the empirical analysis is drawn from the 2000 Bay Area Travel Survey (BATS), supplemented with other secondary sources that provide information on physical environment variables. To our knowledge, this is the first study to jointly address the issues of ‘where’, ‘when’ and ‘how much’ individuals choose to participate in ‘what type of (recreational) activity’.