Use Of Natural Environment Research Articles

Photoperiod and temperature interact to affect the GnRH neuronal system of male prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster).

Individuals of numerous species limit energy expenditure during winter by inhibiting reproduction and other nonessential functions. To time these adaptations appropriately with the annual cycle, animals rely on environmental cues that predict, well in advance, the onset of winter. The most commonly studied environmental factor that animals use to time reproduction is photoperiod. Rodents housed in short photoperiods in the laboratory or in naturally declining day lengths exhibit pronounced alterations in reproductive function concomitant with alterations in the hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone neuronal system. Because animals in their natural environment use factors in addition to photoperiod to time reproduction, the present study sought to determine the independent effects of photoperiod and temperature, as well as the interaction between these factors, on reproductive parameters and the GnRH neuronal system. Male prairie voles were housed in either long (LD 16:8) or short (LD 8:16) day lengths for 10 weeks. Animals in each photoperiod were further subdivided into groups housed in either mild (i.e., 20 degrees C) or low (i.e., 8 degrees C) temperatures. As shown with immunohistochemistry, voles that underwent gonadal regression in response to short photoperiods and long-day voles housed in low temperatures (and maintained large gonads) exhibit higher GnRH-immunoreactive (GnRH-ir) neuron numbers in the preoptic area/anterior hypothalamus (POA/AH) relative to all other groups. In addition, voles that underwent gonadal regression in response to both short days and low temperatures did not exhibit an increase in GnRH-ir neuron numbers compared to long-day, mild-temperature controls. These data suggest that photoperiod and temperature interact to influence reproductive function potentially by alterations of the GnRH neuronal system.

Effects of ecotourists on bird behaviour at Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, Florida

Increasingly, natural areas are exposed to people who come to view, study or photograph wildlife. In order to develop appropriate management plans for both avian and human use of natural environments it is essential to understand how people affect foraging birds. The foraging behaviour of five species of water-birds at Loxahatchee (Arthur B. Marshall National Wildlife Refuge), part of the Everglades, in Southern Florida was observed, between 1992 and 1994, from a dike that received many visitors. Species examined included common gallinule (Gallinula chloropus), sora rail (Porzana carolina), glossy ibis (Plegadis falcinellus), little blue heron (Egretta caerulea) and Louisiana heron (E. tricolor). These birds were observed before people were near, while people were present, and following the departure of people. Variation in feeding behaviour was largely explained by whether people were present, the number of people present, and the amount of noise made by the people. For all species, time devoted to feeding and number of strikes or pecks decreased while people were present. The percentage of time spent foraging and the number of strikes decreased as the noise made by people increased. Birds that were closer to the path flew away from people more often than birds that were further away. Birds usually swam or flew away from the path while people were present.

Influence of ethnicity on recreation and natural environment use patterns: Managing recreation sites for ethnic and racial diversity

Management of natural environment sites is becoming increasingly complex because of the influx of urbanized society into wildland areas. This worldwide phenomenon impacts a wide range of countries. In southern California ethnicity is often a major factor influencing recreation site use and behavior at sites in the wildland-urban interface. This study investigated the role of ethnicity and race on the use patterns, perception of environment, and recreation behaviors at an outdoor recreation site visited by an ethnically diverse population. Two research questions were asked: (1) What ethnic groups engage in outdoor recreation at this site, and (2) what differences can be assigned to these various groups? Data were collected from 250 recreationists during 1991. Three major ethnic groups were identified, and statistically significant differences were found in the importance of site attributes, activity participation, and in preferred and actual communication channels. Management implications and strategies based on group differences are discussed.

Quality of Life for People with Learning Difficulties: The Challenge for Behavioural And Emotional Disturbance

The concept of quality of life is examined in terms of its relevance to the field of learning difficulties with particular reference to those who also show symptoms of behavioural and emotional disturbance. It is argued that quality of life encourages a re-examination of our understanding of the field of learning difficulties and underlines the need to recognize the role of choice in the development of normalizing services. The implications of this for assessment, programming and service delivery are explored. It is argued that the use of natural environments and the development of support of family members is critical within a quality of life model. Such views have relevance to the way professional practitioners are trained, enabling them to perform effectively away from traditional centres, and in the more natural environments associated with their clients. Finally, it is argued that the notion of quality of life underscores the importance of moving away from traditional, and linear models of labelling ...

An environmental ethic for outdoor education: dilemma and resolution

AbstractPrograms designed to promote the use of natural environments for leisure purposes need to be based on a sound and justifiable environmental ethic. This paper attempts to develop such an ethic. The general and basic ecological attitude, arguments relating to the need for human survival, other arguments which relate to human interests such as the need for beauty, recreation and scientific endeavours and utilitarian arguments relating to the needs of future generations are examined and are seen as being morally and practically inadequate.The only justifiable environmental ethic is seen as one which has. as its central concept, the interdependent natural community in which the interests of all individual members of the community (including the interests of human beings) are regarded as secondary to the good of the total community. In the ethic, humans protect the natural environment because the entities of nature are “fellow-travellers”, members of the same moral community.

Environmental Considerations for Severely Handicapped Individuals: The Needs and the Questions

Special learning environments for severely handicapped students can seldom be justified. Specially designed and often extravagantly costly physical space, which does not provide adequate opportunity for the generalization of functional skills to unmodified settings, should be viewed skeptically. The use of natural environments, without expensive or unnecessary modifications, is advocated.

The Economics of Natural Environments: Studies in the Valuation of Commodity and Amenity Resources

Part 1: Institutional and Theoretical Considerations 1. Managing Natural Environment 2. Externalities, Property Rights, and Valuation of Resources on the Public Lands 3. Irreversibility and the Optimal Use of Natural Environments 4. Further Analysis of Irreversibility: Discounting, Intergenerational Transfers, and Uncertainty Part 2: Applying the Analysis: Selected Case Studies 5. Hells Canyon: Asymmetric Implications of Technical Change for Value of Alternative Uses 6. Hells Canyon Continued: Evaluation of Environmental Costs 7. The White Cloud Peaks: Wilderness Recreation or Mine-Mill Operations? 8. Mineral King Valley: Demand Theory and Resource Valuation 9. Allocation of Prairie Wetlands 10. The Trans-Alaska Pipeline: Environmental Consequences and Alternatives 11. Summary, Conclusions, and Policy Recommendations

Switzerland and Austria—A Study in the use of Natural Environment

Switzerland and Austria—A Study in the use of Natural Environment