Small Island Research Articles

The lived experiences and perceptions of middle-aged adults in Dominica who have survived severe storms-a qualitative exploration.

The Eastern Caribbean island of Dominica has experienced diverse negative effects from the North Atlantic hurricane season, including deadly storms like Hurricane Maria in 2017. Vulnerability is increased by geographic location, small island developing state (SIDS) status, and ecosystem characteristics. A variety of negative health effects including stress and anxiety are caused by powerful storms. The perspectives of middle-aged (the "sandwich generation") survivors in this post-storm milieu are understudied. This phenomenological qualitative study describes the perceptions of middle-aged (35-55 years) Dominicans, purposively recruited with gatekeeper assistance from communities stratified according to four natural hazard vulnerability categories designated by the Climate Resilience Execution Agency for Dominica (CREAD), regarding their lived experiences in the context of severe storms. Data was collected between June and August 2022, using primarily Zoom-based semi-structured, individual interviews (12 of 13), guided by the principles of saturation and maximum variation. Verbatim interview transcripts were thematically analyzed with constant comparison using an ATLAS.ti-supported hybrid deductive-inductive coding frame. Reflexivity and contact summary sheets were used to minimize bias. Ten women and three men from diverse CREAD vulnerability and sociodemographic backgrounds were recruited. Data condensation yielded three organizing themes: (i) "The diverse health effects of severe storms", (ii) "Response to and recovery from severe storms", and (iii) "Preparedness and precaution for severe storms". These themes encapsulated the health impacts of severe storms on Dominicans and elucidated the role of facilitating and barricading resilience factors. Severe storms produced direct and indirect mental, social, and physical health impacts on middle-aged Dominicans, including anxiety and burnout. Participants used faith-based, tangible community-based support, and emotional mechanisms to cope with and demonstrate resilience. Better risk communication and early warning systems would improve population readiness. Persistent dispirited attitudes toward storm preparedness among some participants suggest the need for targeted methods to enhance community involvement in disaster planning, including traditional approaches like "coup-de-main" (self-help).

Subverting the Dominant Culture: Eugenic Discourse in This Other Eden by Paul Harding

Paul Harding in his latest novel delves into the true and tragic story of Malaga Island, a small island located off the shores of Maine. It is historically important for the United States since it became the symbol of racism and eugenics. The government was urged by eugenicists to promote the sterilization of certain people with mental and physical disabilities. Although the aim was to improve the hereditary characteristics of the human population to have a more developed society, basic human rights were violated, and history witnessed atrocities and the Holocaust in Nazi Germany. Paul Harding in his novel, This Other Eden deals with the eugenic era in history. Despite living in harmony on an island with a unique racial integration, the characters are evicted and institutionalized under false claims. This study investigates the novel This Other Eden and how the eugenic discourse is employed in the novel. The study aims to explore certain ways in which the novel addresses ideas related to eugenics. This approach involves the examination of characters and thematic elements that involves eugenic concepts. By referring to the eugenics-related ideas and practices, this study explores how Paul Harding reflects eugenics in his latest novel.

Macroscopic trends of linear tearing stability in cylindrical current profiles

The likelihood of realising tokamak power-plants will be greatly improved by the discovery of high-gain equilibria that resist the formation of small islands and hence avoid the disruptive neoclassical tearing mode. We propose a series of studies to understand how simple tokamak design can leverage aspects of tearing onset physics to maximise passive resistance to island formation. Here we investigate the variation that current profiles can bring about in preventing tearing onset through the cylindrical linear tearing stability parameter Δ′ . A database of 159148 realistic pilot-plant current profiles was generated with Monte Carlo sampling, and the distribution of Δ′ values was linked with interpretable profile characteristics. In agreement with prior theoretical and experimental studies, Δ′ was found to be strongly correlated with the existence and steepness of a local toroidal current well or hill, with the former destabilising and the latter stabilising. In the absence of these two cases, the remaining Δ′ values were linearly bounded by the toroidal current gradient at the rational surface.

Determinants of macaques' space use: A test for the ecological constraints model using GPS collars.

As a central topic in Behavioral Ecology, animal space use involves dynamic responses to social and ecological factors. We collared 22 rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) from six groups on Neilingding Island, China, and collected 80,625 hourly fixes over a year. Using this high-resolution location data set, we quantified the macaques' space use at the individual level and tested the ecological constraints modelwhile considering various environmental and human interfering factors. As predicted by the ecological constraints model, macaques in larger groups had longer daily path lengths (DPLs) and larger home ranges. We found an inverted U-shape relationship between mean daily temperatures and DPLs, indicating that macaques traveled farther on mild temperature days, while they decreased DPLs when temperatures were too high or too low. Anthropogenic food subsidies were positively correlated to DPLs, while the effect of rainfall was negative. Macaques decreased their DPLs and core areas when more flowers and less leaves were available, suggesting that macaques shifted their space use patterns to adapt to the seasonal differences in food resources. By applying GPS collars on a large number of individuals living on a small island, we gained valuable insights into within-group exploitation competition in wild rhesus macaques.

From vulnerability to vitality: Climate change as a catalyst for economic transformation in small island developing states

As climate change intensifies, its associated risks become increasingly important to societal well-being, with small island developing states (SIDS) being particularly susceptible. The challenges faced by these nations transcend the impacts of their greenhouse gas emissions and cannot be mitigated by emission reduction alone. This paper establishes an innovative, interpretable machine learning model for the first time using import and export data from 1970 to 2020 for nine economically advanced Small Island Developing States, to investigate how economic transformation in small islands occurs against specific climatic contexts and to analyse the impact of these climatic challenges in the process of economic transformation. The study finds that when the average annual temperature exceeds 26 °C over the past two years, or when the sea level rises more than 30 mm, certain islands rapidly complete their economic structural transformation. This indicates that climate change is significantly reshaping the developmental trajectories of these small island economies. To confront these challenges, these states are continuously shifting their developmental focus, reconfiguring their economic structures and growth models to address the ongoing challenges posed by climate change.

Abundance of Marine Debris on Satonda Island, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia

Abstract Macro-sized marine debris is found not only on the coasts of densely populated islands but also on the coasts of small islands. The presence of marine debris on this small island is because there are tourist attractions that attract people’s attention or because currents around it carry it away. Therefore, this research aims to determine the abundance of marine debris on Satonda Island (a small island in the eastern part of Sumbawa Island, West Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia). Even though it is small, this island is an attractive tourist destination because it has a lake formed from the eruption of Mount Tambora. Marine debris data was collected using the quadrant transect method, carried out randomly along the coastline. Data collection time was carried out at high and low tides, with the parameters recorded being the amount and type of waste, size and shape of rubbish, coordinate points, transect length, and data collection time. The research results show that the marine debris on Satonda Island is diverse (393 items), with a total weight of 16,665.45 g. At high tide, it is dominated by rubber marine debris, such as shoes and sandals weighing 1,457 g (33 items), while at low tide, it is dominated by hard plastic marine debris weighing 3,972 g (147 items).

Tidal range energy conversion from Benoa, Bali

Abstract As one of the oceanographic parameters, the tidal range can be used as a source of blue energy in producing renewable energy such as electricity in Indonesian territory, especially in small islands. Utilization of tidal ranges in producing electrical energy will be more environmentally friendly when compared to Steam-Electric Power Station, which require coal resources as a power source. This research aims to determine the potential for renewable energy from tides in Benoa waters, Bali. The data used in this study is sea level data from tide gauges sourced from the University of Hawaii Sea Level Center (UHSLC). Analysis of tidal types and components in this study was carried out using the least squares method using the R program language. The results showed that the tidal type of Benoa waters is a mixed-semidiurnal tide. In 2020 and 2022, the highest tidal ranges are 2.46m (in December) and 2.3m (in March, November, and December), respectively. The simulation results for a 1000 m2 pond show that the energy potential in 2020 is 24.0 kWh and in 2022 it is 27.7 kWh. The tidal value’s magnitude influences the tidal energy potential; the more significant the tidal value, the greater the energy produced.

Island biodiversity in peril: Anticipating a loss of mammals' functional diversity with future species extinctions.

Islands are biodiversity hotspots that host unique assemblages. However, a substantial proportion of island species are threatened and their long-term survival is uncertain. Identifying and preserving vulnerable species has become a priority, but it is also essential to combine this information with other facets of biodiversity like functional diversity, to understand how future extinctions might affect ecosystem stability and functioning. Focusing on mammals, we (i) assessed how much functional space would be lost if threatened species go extinct, (ii) determined the minimum number of extinctions that would cause a significant functional loss, (iii) identified the characteristics (e.g., biotic, climatic, geographic, or orographic) of the islands most vulnerable to future changes in the functional space, and (iv) quantified how much of that potential functional loss would be offset by introduced species. Using trait information for 1474 mammal species occurring in 318 islands worldwide, we built trait probability density functions to quantify changes in functional richness and functional redundancy in each island if the mammals categorized by IUCN as threatened disappeared. We found that the extinction of threatened mammals would reduce the functional space in 63% of the assessed islands, although these extinctions in general would cause a reduction of less than 15% of their overall functional space. Also, on most islands, the extinction of just a few species would be sufficient to cause a significant loss of functional diversity. The potential functional loss would be higher on small, isolated, and/or species-rich islands, and, in general, the functional space lost would not be offset by introduced species. Our results show that the preservation of native species and their ecological roles remains crucial for maintaining the current functioning of island ecosystems. Therefore, conservation measures considering functional diversity are imperative to safeguard the unique functional roles of threatened mammal species on islands.

Unregulated introduced fish (Perca fluviatilis Linnaeus, 1758) is host to zoonotic parasites in a small Mediterranean island

Introduced species have a major impact on freshwater ecosystems, particularly on islands. Numerous fish species have been introduced in Corsica (Mediterranean island, southern France) as part of planned programs or clandestinely. The introduction of non-native freshwater fish species can have a range of impacts on the recipient ecosystem, including through the co-introduction of its pathogens. A sample of introduced perch Perca fluviatilis Linnaeus, 1758 from the artificial reservoir of Padula was examined following a report of parasites by an angler. The analyses revealed the occurrence of Eustrongylides sp. (Nematoda) and Clinostomum complanatum (Digenea), two zoonotic parasites in P. fluviatilis. Both parasites are reported for the first time in France. Eustrongylides sp. and C. complanatum may have been introduced with their fish intermediate hosts or through their final bird hosts. The occurrence of the two parasites raises concerns from both a veterinary and human health perspective as they can use a wide range of amphibians as intermediate hosts and can be acquired in humans through the consumption of raw or undercooked fish.

STUDY OF THE ADVISORY OPINION OF THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF THE LAW OF THE SEA REQUESTED BY THE COMMISSION OF SMALL ISLAND STATES ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND INTERNATIONAL LAW

On May 21, 2024, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea issued its advisory opinion in the context of the issues submitted for opinion by the Commission of Small Island States on climate change and international law; This opinion constitutes a foundational reference for international law regarding the obligations of States in environmental matters and the fight against Climate Change in the seas and oceans. This study analyzes several elements that arise from the ruling, such as the jurisdiction of the Court; the applicability of various international law instruments beyond those on climate change; and, the establishment of marine protected areas as an ideal tool for the fight against Climate Change in accordance with international treaties on the Law of the Sea and Environmental Matters.

Assessment of a small island’s groundwater resilience under the pressure of anthropogenic and natural stresses on Tunda Island, Indonesia

Assessment of a small island’s groundwater resilience under the pressure of anthropogenic and natural stresses on Tunda Island, Indonesia

Detection Of Peatland Coastline Changes Due To Land Use Change On Bengkalis Island, Riau, Indonesia

Abstract Beaches with peat soil material, especially in small island areas, are very vulnerable to coastline deterioration. Many things cause the back and forth of the coastline, including the occurrence of landslides of peat material towards the sea, commonly called Peat Bog Bursts. This research aims to reveal shoreline changes on the north and west coasts of Bengkalis Island using a remote sensing technology approach. As well as analyzing factors related to shoreline changes. The use of Landsat 8 and 9 images in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, and 2023 were processed on Google Earth Engine using the Canny method to produce shoreline data. Furthermore, modeling was carried out using DSAS (Digital Shoreline Analysis System) to analyze changes in the coastline and reveal the causes of coastal damage. There has been a conversion of land use from forests or fields to oil palm plantation areas on the west side of Bengkalis Island from 2004 to the present. Based on the modeling results, it was found that a Peat Bog Burst occurred in 2015 causing significant changes in the coastline until 2017. Sediments were deposited in the southern area of the west side of Bengkalis Island (Zone A).

Toward Resilience City: Potential Hazards and Scenario for Ternate Island, North Maluku

Natural hazards and climate change significantly threaten almost every small island. This is due to the small island's isolation and lack of resources. Ternate Island is a small island that is now afflicted by this issue. Geographically, the island is surrounded by active plates and volcanic paths, making it at risk of serious catastrophes. Population growth and limited land resources also contribute to a high disaster susceptibility. We characterize the features of the small island of Ternate by classifying the types of disasters that threaten it based on a literature database. Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods, extreme weather events, and tsunamis are natural disasters that occur often in Ternate. Additionally, these findings indicate the significant importance of a multi-hazard approach to disaster response. Our examination concludes with some recommendations for establishing the resilience of Ternate City.

Limitation on the Number of Groundwater Well Pumps in the Coastal Area of Ternate Island

The hydrogeological characteristics of small volcanic islands possess unique attributes. Groundwater flow patterns descend radially and converge in coastal aquifers. The uneven distribution of coastal aquifers sometimes leads communities to extract groundwater from specific points. A notable phenomenon observed in the study area is the presence of dug wells with multiple water pumps. If the combined suction capacity of these pumps exceeds the allowed limit, it has the potential to cause the mixing of saltwater with freshwater. This study utilizes geoelectric methods to delineate the groundwater-saltwater interface beneath the surface. The groundwater-saltwater interface can also be calculated using equations. By knowing the well positions with multiple pumps, it is possible to calculate the allowable number of pumps. The calculations yield a limit of up to 31 pumps per dug well, thereby mitigating the risk of saltwater intrusion. Furthermore, data on the dug well positions within the study area are used to create groundwater table contours and flow models, aiding in the analysis of saltwater pollutant dispersion in the event of intrusion.

Water Resources Management In Small Islands: A Review of Public Policy Implementation In The Development of Lekloor Reservoir, Nomaha Island

Water scarcity in small island regions, including Kisar Island in Maluku, presents a pressing issue due to inadequate water resource management. This article aims to describe a holistic approach to addressing the challenges of water resource management and water scarcity on Kisar Island, Maluku. The research methodology employed is a mixed-method approach, combining technical feasibility studies for reservoir technology, policy analysis through literature reviews, and field assessments to evaluate the topographic, hydrological, and environmental conditions of Kisar Island. In the technical context, the article analyzes reservoir technology as a solution to address water issues, supported by the topographic and hydrological characteristics of Kisar Island. Additionally, the article examines relevant public policies, such as Government Regulation No. 7 of 2013 on National Spatial Planning, Provincial Regulation No. 16 of 2013 on Provincial Spatial Planning in Maluku, and District Regulation No. 1 of 2023 on District Spatial Planning in Maluku Barat Daya. Through this review, the article highlights the crucial role of policy in establishing a supportive framework for water resource management. Furthermore, the importance of local community participation in water resource management on Kisar Island is emphasized, asserting that active engagement from the local community is key to achieving success in sustainable water management efforts.

Japanese Consciousness of Narrowing from the Perspective of Architecture

One of the characteristics of Japanese culture is the “consciousness of narrowing”. Sei Shonagon once wrote in “The Pillow Book” that “no matter what, small things are exquisite.” The Japanese people's awareness of the beauty of smallness is widespread and is reflected in every aspect, and it can be said that “smallness” exists everywhere in Japan. Japan is a small island country surrounded by the sea on all sides, in such a geographical environment, the Japanese people have developed a “consciousness of narrowing”. This “consciousness of narrowing” has had a profound impact on many aspects of Japanese society, and has led to the formation of a unique Japanese culture. Culturally, the Japanese art of flower arrangement and architecture also pursues subtlety and delicacy in form and structure, and favors a small and exquisite style in its aesthetic sense. Throughout the history of mankind, no matter what era, architecture has always served to protect mankind and avoid danger. Even though the style of architecture has changed with the change of time, the cultural connotation embodied in it is still preserved. Therefore, this thesis analyzes the causes and effects of the “consciousness of narrowing” on Japanese society to further understand the unique culture of the Japanese people. At the same time, by citing representative Japanese buildings and understanding the “consciousness of narrowing” embodied in them, it is hoped that the national character and aesthetic sense of the Japanese people can be further understood, and that Sino-Japanese cultural exchanges can be promoted. At the end of this thesis, we will briefly compare the differences between Japanese traditional culture and Chinese traditional culture represented by “consciousness of narrowing”, hoping to further understand Japanese culture on this basis, and to help promote cultural exchanges between China and Japan.

ANALISIS TRANSMISSION FAILURE PADA RCU T6M PAE SEBAGAI BACKUP RADIO APP PRIMARY 120.8 MHZ

Indonesia is an archipelagic country consisting of a group of large and small islands. Therefore, air transportation is needed to support good economic growth. Air transportation services must be balanced with good flight navigation services. The Indonesian government established Airnav Indonesia as an aviation navigation service agency in Indonesia. All aviation navigation and communication services in Indonesia are served by Airnav Indonesia. When communicating in the world of aviation, of course you must have facilities that support aviation communications. Aviation communication equipment facilities have an important role in assisting air traffic controllers in providing flight services. The author found damage to the T6M RCU which was used as a backup for the Primary VHF OTE APP radio. During inspection, it was discovered that the T6M RCU was unable to transmit. After analyzing the problem, the author takes corrective steps. Flight communications equipment must always be in normal condition to support flight navigation services

Atmospheric dispersal shapes rapid bacterial colonization of Icelandic Lava Rocks.

Microorganisms released into the atmosphere by various disturbances can travel significant distances before depositing, yet their impact on community assembly remains unclear. To address this, we examined atmospheric and lithospheric bacterial communities in 179 samples collected at two distinct Icelandic volcanic sites: a small volcanic island Surtsey, and a volcanic highland Fimmvörðuháls using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Airborne microbial communities were similar between sites while significant differences emerged in the communities on lava rocks after 1-year exposure. SourceTracker analysis revealed distinct bacterial populations in the atmosphere and the lava rocks with surrounding soil contributed more significantly to lava rock microbial composition. Nevertheless, shared genera among air, rocks, and local sources, suggested potential exchange between these environments. The prevalent genera shared between rocks and potential sources exhibited stress-resistant properties, likely helping their survival during air transportation and facilitating their colonization of the rocks. We hypothesize that the atmosphere serves as a conduit for locally sourced microbes and stress-resistant distant-sourced microbes. Additionally, bacterial communities on the lava rocks of Fimmvörðuháls showed remarkable similarity after 1 and 9 years of exposure, suggesting rapid establishment. Our study reveals that atmospheric deposition significantly influences bacterial community formation, potentially influencing ecosystem dynamics and microbial communities' resilience.

Determinants of Bank Profitability—Do Institutions, Globalization, and Global Uncertainty Matter for Banks in Island Economies? The Case of Fiji

The objective of this study is to examine the influences of institutions, globalization, and world uncertainty on bank profitability in small developing economies. Consequently, we emphasize the significance of both bank-specific and other external factors influencing bank profitability. The empirical estimation is based on seven banks in Fiji—a small island economy—over the period 2000–2021. Together with bank-specific and macro factors, we account for institutions, globalization, and world uncertainty in analyzing the determinants of bank profitability. The study uses the fixed-effect estimation method. From the results, we observe that bank-specific variables, like the net interest margin, non-interest income, bank size, and capital adequacy ratio, are positively associated with bank profitability. Non-performing loans and credit risk are negatively associated with bank profitability. Macro variables, such as real GDP growth and remittances, have positive effects on bank profitability. Institutional factors, such as government effectiveness and voice and accountability, are positively associated with bank profitability. Regarding globalization, we find that it supports bank profitability. Global uncertainty and the Global Financial Crisis (2007–2008) are positively associated with profitability, whereas the global pandemic (COVID-19) is negatively associated. This study underscores the need to analyze the bank performance with factors beyond those reported in financial statements to derive a comprehensive understanding and appreciation of the complex nature of banking operations.

Process evaluation of implementation of the early stages of a whole systems approach to obesity in a small Island.

The small Atlantic island of St Helena is a United Kingdom Overseas Territory (UKOT) with a high prevalence of childhood obesity (over a quarter of 4-5 and 10-11 year olds) and, anecdotally, adulthood obesity and its associated health detriments. St Helena have taken a whole systems approach to obesity (WSAO) to address the issue. A WSAO recognises the factors that impact obesity as a complex system and requires a 'health in all policies' approach. UK academic and public health technical support was provided to the local St Helena delivery team. This process evaluation sought to explore the early stages of the WSAO implementation and implications for the transferability of the approach to other small island developing states and UKOT. Data was collected via eight semi-structured interviews, paper based and online surveys, and document analysis. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. The analysis identified three factors which aided the first phase of WSAO implementation: (1) senior leaders support for the approach; (2) the academic support provided to establish and develop the approach; and (3) effective adaptation of UK Government resources to suit the local context. Key challenges of early implementation included: maintaining and broadening stakeholder engagement; limited local workforce capacity and baseline knowledge related to obesity and systems thinking; and limited capacity for support from the UK-based academic team due to contract terms and COVID-19 restrictions. Early stages of implementation of a WSAO in a UKOT can be successful when using UK's resources as a guide and adapting them to a small island context. All participants recommended other small islands adopt this approach. Continued senior support, dedicated leadership, and comprehensive community engagement is needed to progress implementation and provide the foundation for long-term impact. Small island developing states considering adopting a WSAO should consider political will, senior level buy-in and support, funding, and local workforce knowledge and capacity to enable the best chances of successful and sustainable implementation.