Water-seeking behavior among terrestrial arthropods and mollusks in a cool mesic region: Spatial and temporal patterns

Dehydration can have negative effects on animal physiological performance, growth, reproduction, and survival, and most animals seek to minimize these effects by reducing water losses or seeking water sources. Much—but not all—of the research on animal water balance comes from dryland ecosystems. However, animals inhabiting mesic regions may also experience desiccating conditions, for example within urban heat islands or during heatwaves and droughts. Here we examined how spatial variation in impervious surface and spatial and temporal variation in microclimate impact water demand behavior of terrestrial arthropods and mollusks in three areas of mesic Northwest Ohio, with analysis of taxa that exhibited the greatest water demand behavior. Water demand behavior was measured as the frequency that individuals were observed at an artificial water source (a moistened pouch), relative to the frequency at a control (a dry pouch). Overall, terrestrial arthropods and mollusks were found about twice as often at the water source than at the control (equivalent to 86 more observations on the wet pouch than on dry at each site, on average), with ants accounting for over 50% of the overall response in urban areas. Daily fluctuations in vapor pressure deficit (VPD) best predicted daily variation in water demand behavior, with increased demand at higher VPD. Mean VPD was generally highest near urbanized areas, but effects of VPD on water demand behavior were generally lower in urbanized areas (possibly related to reductions in overall abundance reducing the potential response). On certain days, VPD was high in natural areas and greenspaces, and this coincided with the highest arthropod water demand behavior observed. Our results suggest that terrestrial arthropod communities do experience periods of water demand within mesic regions, including in greenspaces outside cities, where they appear to respond strongly to short periods of dry conditions—an observation with potential relevance for understanding the effects of climate change.

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Trends in normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) associated with urban development in northern West Siberia

Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics ◽

10.5194/acp-16-9563-2016 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 16 (15) ◽

pp. 9563-9577 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

Igor Esau ◽

Victoria V. Miles ◽

Richard Davy ◽

Martin W. Miles ◽

Anna Kurchatova

Keyword(s):

Urban Development ◽

Vegetation Cover ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Vegetation Index ◽

Normalized Difference Vegetation Index ◽

Oil And Gas ◽

West Siberia ◽

Urban Heat Islands ◽

Heat Islands ◽

Urbanized Areas

Abstract. Exploration and exploitation of oil and gas reserves of northern West Siberia has promoted rapid industrialization and urban development in the region. This development leaves significant footprints on the sensitive northern environment, which is already stressed by the global warming. This study reports the region-wide changes in the vegetation cover as well as the corresponding changes in and around 28 selected urbanized areas. The study utilizes the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) from high-resolution (250 m) MODIS data acquired for summer months (June through August) over 15 years (2000–2014). The results reveal the increase of NDVI (or “greening”) over the northern (tundra and tundra-forest) part of the region. Simultaneously, the southern, forested part shows the widespread decrease of NDVI (or “browning”). These region-wide patterns are, however, highly fragmented. The statistically significant NDVI trends occupy only a small fraction of the region. Urbanization destroys the vegetation cover within the developed areas and at about 5–10 km distance around them. The studied urbanized areas have the NDVI values by 15 to 45 % lower than the corresponding areas at 20–40 km distance. The largest NDVI reduction is typical for the newly developed areas, whereas the older areas show recovery of the vegetation cover. The study reveals a robust indication of the accelerated greening near the older urban areas. Many Siberian cities become greener even against the wider browning trends at their background. Literature discussion suggests that the observed urban greening could be associated not only with special tending of the within-city green areas but also with the urban heat islands and succession of more productive shrub and tree species growing on warmer sandy soils.

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Assessment of Blue and Green Infrastructure Solutions in Shaping Urban Public Spaces—Spatial and Functional, Environmental, and Social Aspects

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su131911041 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (19) ◽

pp. 11041

Author(s):

Kinga Kimic ◽

Karina Ostrysz

Keyword(s):

Green Infrastructure ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Stormwater Management ◽

Public Spaces ◽

Social Aspects ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Scoring Method ◽

Sustainable Stormwater Management ◽

Urbanized Areas ◽

Key Aspects

Blue and Green Infrastructure (BGI) provide one of the key Nature Based Solution (NBS) approaches for sustainable stormwater management in cities, in conjunction with extending the scope of Ecosystem Services (ES). In both the process of planning and designing highly urbanized areas, the implementation of BGI is important for the improvement of living conditions and counteracting the negative effects of climate change. Based on the literature review, 19 BGI solutions were identified and then valorized in relation to the following three key aspects: spatial and functional, environmental, and social. The results of the assessment were derived using the scoring method and allowed for the identification of BGI solutions with a high, medium or low value for shaping sustainable urban public spaces. Using the potential of analyzed BGI solutions to improve the functioning and attractiveness of urban areas requires a comprehensive approach. Conscious planning and designing should use the knowledge presented to make the implementation of BGI solutions as effective as possible in relation to the above-mentioned aspects of shaping urban public spaces.

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Trends in normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) associated with urban development in northern West Siberia

10.5194/acp-2016-51 ◽

2016 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Igor Esau ◽

Victoria V. Miles ◽

Richard Davy ◽

Martin W. Miles ◽

Anna Kurchatova

Keyword(s):

Urban Development ◽

Vegetation Cover ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Vegetation Index ◽

Normalized Difference Vegetation Index ◽

Oil And Gas ◽

West Siberia ◽

Urban Heat Islands ◽

Heat Islands ◽

Urbanized Areas

Abstract. Exploration and exploitation of oil and gas reserves of northern West Siberia has promoted rapid industrialization and urban development in the region. This development leaves significant footprints on the sensitive northern environment, which is already stressed by the global warming. This study reports the region-wide changes in the vegetation cover as well as the corresponding changes in and around 28 selected urbanized areas. The study utilizes the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) from high-resolution (250 m) MODIS data acquired for summer months (June through August) during 15 years (2000–2014). The results reveal the increase of NDVI (or “greening”) over the northern (tundra and tundra-forest) part of the region. Simultaneously, the southern, forested part shows the widespread decrease of NDVI (or “browning”). These region-wide patterns are, however, highly fragmented. The statistically significant NDVI trends occupy only a small fraction of the region. Urbanization destroys the vegetation cover within the developed areas and at about 5–10 km distance around them. The studied urbanized areas have the NDVI values by 15 % to 45 % lower than the corresponding areas at 20–40 km distance. The largest NDVI reduction is typical for the newly developed areas, whereas the older areas show recovery of the vegetation cover. The study reveals a robust indication of the accelerated greening near the older urban areas. Many Siberian cities become greener even against the wider browning trends at their background. Literature discussion suggests that the observed urban greening could be associated not only with special tending of the within-city green areas but also with the urban heat islands and succession of more productive shrub and tree species growing on warmer sandy soils.

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Brief history and ways of further development of the department of hydraulic engineering and hydraulics FSBI «VNIIGiM named after A.N. Kostyakov»

Melioration and Water Management ◽

10.32962/0235-2524-2019-5-18-23 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 18-23

Author(s):

Alexey Shcherbakov ◽

Valentin Zhezmer

Keyword(s):

Land Reclamation ◽

Water Source ◽

Water Sources ◽

Hydraulic Engineering ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Extensive Experience ◽

Safety Level ◽

Theoretical Substantiation ◽

Wide Range ◽

Construction Operation

Department of hydraulic engineering and hydraulics FGBNU «VNIIGiM them. A.N. Kostyakova «has a long history. For many years, the department’s staff has been such scientists and water engineers with extensive experience as M.A. Volynov, V.S. Verbitsky, S.S. Medvedev, N.V. Lebedev, B.C. Panfilov, T.G. Voynich-Syanozhentsky, V.A. Golubkova, G.V. Lyapin and others. The department solved a wide range of tasks, the main areas of research were the following: – theoretical and applied hydrodynamics and hydraulics, with reference to the open channel flows that affect the state and level of safety of the hydraulic structures; – integrated use and protection of water bodies – water sources and water sources of water resources used in land reclamation; – development of measures and technical solutions for the protection of objects from the negative effects of water; – theoretical substantiation of works to improve the safety level of the GTS (declaration); – development and implementation of digitalization methods for solving design, construction, operation and control of landreclamation facilities. Currently, promising areas of research is the development of a decision-making algorithm in the designation of measures to rationalize the provision of resources to water amelioration. The algorithm is developed on the basis of a detailed study, systematization and processing of data both on safety and on the efficiency of systems and structures, ensuring the delivery of irrigation water of the required quality and in sufficient quantity from a water source to the field.

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Problems of Development of Small and Medium Russian Towns

Economics and Management ◽

10.35854/1998-1627-2019-7-24-29 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 24-29

Author(s):

V V. Kafidov ◽

V. N. Filippov ◽

I. P. Filippova

Keyword(s):

Urban Development ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Physical Space ◽

Living Environment ◽

Transport Infrastructure ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Conceptual Approach ◽

Fundamental Factor ◽

New Buildings

The presented study addresses the problems of development of small and medium towns in Russia. Aim. The study aims to examine a town as a socio-economic environment where its residents exist and as the fundamental factor for the development of society.Tasks. The authors identify key problems in the development of small and medium Russian towns, which interferes with the historical appearance and has a negative impact on the living environment.Methods. Problems in the development of small and medium towns in Russia are examined using theoretical methods: systematic approach, statistical analysis, social and philosophical analysis.Results. The study identifies the main negative effects of the existing model of development of small and medium Russian towns, such as destruction of their historical and cultural appearance, distortion of the overall architectural motif, increased load on communications, and congestion of the transport infrastructure.Conclusions. At the current stage, efficient development of small and medium towns in Russia is impossible within the framework of the existing infill development. This chaotic process cannot be stopped without a new conceptual approach and changes in the legislative and normative framework of urban development. The only factor that determines the boundaries of the existing approach to urban development is the lack of physical space for new buildings in urban areas. The authors formulate proposals that would help to solve the problems of development of small and medium towns in Russia.

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Atmospheric transport and deposition of trace elements to lake erie from Urban areas

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.1996.0513 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 33 (4-5) ◽

pp. 259-265

Author(s):

Gerald J. Keeler ◽

Nicola Pirrone

Keyword(s):

Trace Elements ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Lake Erie ◽

Atmospheric Transport ◽

Spatial And Temporal Variation ◽

Deposition Flux ◽

Emission Sources ◽

Dry Deposition Flux ◽

Ambient Concentration ◽

Ambient Concentrations

A hybrid receptor-deposition (HRD) modeling approach was used to determine the spatial and temporal variation in the ambient concentration and dry deposition flux of trace elements on fine (< 2.5 mm) and coarse (> 2.5 mm) particulate matter over Lake Erie. Upper-air observations from the National Weather Service (NWS) and ambient concentrations measured at two sampling sites downwind of major emission sources in the Lake Erie basin were input to the model. An evaluation of the deposition flux of size-segregated trace elements to the lake during the over-water transport was performed. The average total (fine + coarse) deposition flux was 9.6 ng/m2-h for V, 70 ng/m2-h for Mn, 3.2 ng/m2-h for As, 4.2 ng/m2-h for Se, 10 ng/m2-h for Cd, and 43.3 ng/m2-h for Pb.

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Assessing Future Water Demand and Associated Energy Input with Plausible Scenarios for Water Service Providers (WSPs) in Sub-Saharan Africa

Energies ◽

10.3390/en14082169 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (8) ◽

pp. 2169

Author(s):

Pauline Macharia ◽

Nzula Kitaka ◽

Paul Yillia ◽

Norbert Kreuzinger

Keyword(s):

Water Supply ◽

Water Demand ◽

Energy Input ◽

Service Providers ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Water Losses ◽

Water Service ◽

Current State ◽

Per Capita ◽

Sub Saharan

This study examined the current state of water demand and associated energy input for water supply against a projected increase in water demand in sub-Saharan Africa. Three plausible scenarios, namely, Current State Extends (CSE), Current State Improves (CSI) and Current State Deteriorates (CSD) were developed and applied using nine quantifiable indicators for water demand projections and the associated impact on energy input for water supply for five Water Service Providers (WSPs) in Kenya to demonstrate the feasibility of the approach based on real data in sub-Saharan Africa. Currently, the daily per capita water-use in the service area of four of the five WSPs was below minimum daily requirement of 50 L/p/d. Further, non-revenue water losses were up to three times higher than the regulated benchmark (range 26–63%). Calculations showed a leakage reduction potential of up to 70% and energy savings of up to 12 MWh/a. The projected water demand is expected to increase by at least twelve times the current demand to achieve universal coverage and an average daily per capita consumption of 120 L/p/d for the urban population by 2030. Consequently, the energy input could increase almost twelve-folds with the CSI scenario or up to fifty-folds with the CSE scenario for WSPs where desalination or additional groundwater abstraction is proposed. The approach used can be applied for other WSPs which are experiencing a similar evolution of their water supply and demand drivers in sub-Saharan Africa. WSPs in the sub-region should explore aggressive strategies to jointly address persistent water losses and associated energy input. This would reduce the current water supply-demand gap and minimize the energy input that will be associated with exploring additional water sources that are typically energy intensive.

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A Study on Urban Inundation Using SWMM in Busan, Korea, Using Existing Dams and Artificial Underground Waterways

Water ◽

10.3390/w13121708 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (12) ◽

pp. 1708

Author(s):

Yeon-Moon Choo ◽

Sang-Bo Sim ◽

Yeon-Woong Choe

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Flood Damage ◽

Virtual Model ◽

Sustainable Cities ◽

Annual Average ◽

New Methods ◽

Average Rainfall ◽

Reduction Methods ◽

Urbanized Areas

The annual average rainfall in Busan area is increasing, causing frequent flooding of Busan’s Suyeong and Oncheon rivers. Due to the increase in urbanized areas and climate change, it is difficult to reduce flood damage. Therefore, new methods are needed to reduce urban inundation. This study models the effects of three flood reduction methods involving Oncheon River, Suyeong River, and the Hoedong Dam, which is situated on the Suyeong. Using EPA-SWMM, a virtual model of the dam and the rivers was created, then modified with changes to the dam’s height, the installation of a floodgate on the dam, and the creation of an underground waterway to carry excess flow from the Oncheon to the Hoedong Dam. The results of this study show that increasing the height of the dam by 3 m, 4 m, or 6 m led to a 27%, 37%, and 48% reduction in flooding, respectively, on the Suyeong River. It was also found that installing a floodgate of 10 × 4 m, 15 × 4 m, or 20 × 4 min the dam would result in a flood reduction of 2.7% and 2.9%, respectively. Furthermore, the construction of the underground waterway could lead to an expected 25% flood reduction in the Oncheon River. Measures such as these offer the potential to protect the lives and property of citizens in densely populated urban areas and develop sustainable cities and communities. Therefore, the modifications to the dam and the underground waterway proposed in this study are considered to be useful.

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The effect of climate change on depression in urban areas of western Iran

BMC Research Notes ◽

10.1186/s13104-021-05565-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Hamed Abbasi

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Mental Health ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Climate Changes ◽

Climatic Conditions ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Western Iran ◽

Regime Changes ◽

Climatic Time Series ◽

Climatic Elements

Abstract Objective Human is accustomed to climatic conditions of the environment where they are born and live throughout their lifetime. The aim of this study is to examine mood swings and depression caused by sudden climate changes that have not yet given the humans a chance to adapt. Results Our results showed that depression could be affected by climate change and as a result, the behavior of climatic elements and trends has damaged mental health in the western regions of Iran. By investigating the trends and changes of climatic time series and their relationship with the rate of depression in urban areas of western Iran, it can be said that climate change is probably a mental health challenge for urban populations. Climate change is an important and worrying issue that makes the life difficult. Rapid climate changes in western Iran including rising air temperature, changes in precipitation, its regime, changes cloudiness and the amount of sunlight have a negative effects on health. The results showed that type of increasing or decreasing trend, as well as different climatic elements in various seasons did not have the same effect on the rate of depression in the studied areas.

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Urbanization effects on the composition and structure of macrophytes communities in a lotic ecosystem of Pernambuco State, Brazil

Brazilian Journal of Biology ◽

10.1590/1519-6984.03515 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 76 (4) ◽

pp. 888-897 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

L. R. C. C. Xavier ◽

F. Scherner ◽

D. C. Burgos ◽

R. C. Barreto ◽

S. M. B. Pereira

Keyword(s):

Urban Areas ◽

Floristic Composition ◽

Freshwater Ecosystems ◽

Metropolitan Region ◽

Macrophyte Communities ◽

Composition And Structure ◽

Lotic Ecosystem ◽

Dry Seasons ◽

Urbanized Areas ◽

Wet And Dry Seasons

Abstract Population growth in urban areas changes freshwater ecosystems, and this can have consequences for macrophyte communities as can be seen in the municipalities that border the Capibaribe River, Pernambuco, Brazil. This study reports the effects of urbanization on the composition and structure of macrophyte communities in areas along that river. The following urbanized and non-urbanized sampling sites were chosen: Sites 1 and 2 (municipality of Santa Cruz do Capibaribe), Sites 3 and 4 (municipality of Toritama), and Sites 5 and 6 (metropolitan region of Recife). These sites were visited every two months from January to July 2013 to observe seasonal variation (wet and dry seasons). Thirty-one species were identified. Generally, the non-urbanized sites had a higher number of species. Multivariate analyses indicated significant overall differences between urbanized and non-urbanized areas (R = 0.044; p < 0.001) and between seasons (R = 0.018; p < 0.019). Owing to the large variation in physical, chemical, and biological characteristics between urbanized and non-urbanized areas, we found that urbanization significantly influenced the floristic composition and structure of macrophyte communities.

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