Developing Regional Invasive Species Watch Lists: Colorado as a Case Study

2008 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 390-398 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hilary R. Drucker ◽  
Cynthia S. Brown ◽  
Thomas J. Stohlgren

AbstractIt is essential that we improve our ability to predict which nonnative species will become invasive in order to prevent their introduction and spread. Past attempts to foresee invasions have met with limited success, but increased computing power, increased availability of information about exotic species, and comprehensive evaluations of invasion potential are improving our ability to predict which species are likely to invade most successfully. We used data from Colorado and other states to develop an effective means of predicting the spread of invasive plant species among states. Qualitative criteria were used to develop a numerical threat index, which rates potential invaders based on distribution and abundance with respect to climate, biological characteristics, and preferred habitats of the species. Out of a compiled list of 388 species, we identified six invasive nonnative plants that are highly likely to invade Colorado, 10 with medium invasive potential and five with low potential. Species found to be likely to invade Colorado included garlic mustard, smooth distaff thistle, and Syrian beancaper.

Weed Science ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 51 (6) ◽  
pp. 863-868 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Townsend Peterson ◽  
Monica Papes ◽  
Daniel A. Kluza

Ecological niche modeling, a new methodology for predicting the geographic course of species' invasions, was tested based on four invasive plant species (garlic mustard, sericea lespedeza, Russian olive, and hydrilla) in North America. Models of ecological niches and geographic distributions on native distributional areas (Europe and Asia) were highly statistically significant. Projections for each species to North America—effectively predictions of invasive potential—were highly coincident with areas of known invasions. Hence, in each case, the geographic invasive potential was well summarized in a predictive sense; this methodology holds promise for development of control and eradication strategies and for risk assessment for species' invasions.


2020 ◽  
Vol 73 (3) ◽  
pp. 497-520
Author(s):  
Nicola Pozza

AbstractNumerous studies have dealt with the process of globalization and its various cultural products. Three such cultural products illustrate this process: Vikas Swarup’s novel Q and A (2005), the TV quiz show Kaun banega crorepati? (Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?), and Danny Boyle’s film Slumdog Millionaire (2008). The novel, the TV show and the film have so far been studied separately. Juxtaposing and comparing Q and A, Kaun banega crorepati, and Slumdog Millionaire provides an effective means to shed light on the dialogic and interactive nature of the process of globalization. It is argued through this case study that an analysis of their place of production, language and content, helps clarify the derivative concepts of “glocalization” and “grobalization” with regard to the way(s) contemporary cultural products respond to globalization.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel H. de Vries ◽  
John Kinsman ◽  
Judit Takacs ◽  
Svetla Tsolova ◽  
Massimo Ciotti

Abstract Background: This paper describes a participatory methodology that supports investigation of the collaboration between communities affected by infectious disease outbreak events and relevant official institutions. The core principle underlying the methodology is the recognition that synergistic relationships, characterised by mutual trust and respect, between affected communities and official institutions provide the most effective means of addressing outbreak situations. Methods: The methodological approach and lessons learned were derived from four qualitative case studies including (i) two tick-borne disease events: Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever in Spain, and tick-borne encephalitis in the Netherlands (2016); and (ii) two outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis (norovirus in Iceland, 2017, and verocytotoxin-producingEscherichia coli [VTEC] in Ireland, 2018). These studies were conducted in collaboration with the respective national public health authorities in the affected countries by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). Results: An after-event qualitative case study approach was taken using mixed methods. Lessons highlight the critical importance of collaborating with national focal points during preparation and planning, and interviewer reflexivity during fieldwork. Field work for each case study was conducted over one working week, which although limiting the number of individuals and institutions involved, still allowed for rich data collection due to the close collaboration with local authorities. The analysis focused on the specific actions undertaken by the participating countries’ public health and other authorities in relation to community engagement, as well as the view from the perspective of the community. Conclusions: The overall objective of the assessment to identify synergies between institutional decision-making bodies and community actors and networks before, during and after an outbreak response to a given public health emergency. The methodology is generic and could be applied to a range of public health emergencies, zoonotic or otherwise. The methodology emphasises reflexivity among fieldworkers, a relatively short time needed for data collection, potential generalisability of findings, insider-outsider perspectives, politically sensitive findings, and how to deal with ethical and language issues.


Author(s):  
Grant E. Gardner ◽  
Kristi L. Walters

The use of small collaborative learning teams in STEM classrooms is not new to the field of education. At the undergraduate level, evidence continues to accumulate that organizing students into groups in which they engage in knowledge construction by completing active learning tasks is an effective means to achieve student-learning objectives. However, this teaching method is rarely used by postsecondary faculty, especially in large-enrollment classes. An argument for the efficacy of this method is presented in three parts. This chapter first outlines the theoretical basis for collaborative group learning. Grounded in the literature, this theory is then translated into practice by discussing evidence-based advantages and challenges to creating collaborative learning environments. The chapter concludes with a discussion of a case study examining how the first author has implemented this method of collaborative instruction with a unique means of structuring groups within a large-enrollment non-majors biology classroom.


2013 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 17-39
Author(s):  
Daniel Burda ◽  
Frank Teuteberg

Firms are required to consciously retain information in an effort to ensure compliance with legal and business needs. However, sustained accessibility to digital information cannot be taken for granted as it is threatened by expeditiously changing technologies associated with the risk of obsolete soft- and hardware. As part of an effort to ensure long-term access to digital information, digital preservation (DP) provides effective means. But still little is known about DP in firms. In this study the authors aim to provide insights into a firm’s DP needs, capabilities and decision making mechanisms by conducting a multiple case study through the lens of organizational information processing theory. The results indicate that a lack of decision making procedures and responsibilities impedes the alignment between DP needs and capabilities, which seems to foster a culture of information hoarding. Based on the authors’ empirical insights about DP in firms they derive an explanatory model and provide five managerial recommendations.


2020 ◽  
Vol 66 (3) ◽  
pp. 356-370
Author(s):  
Harpreet Singh ◽  
Renu Kapila

E-governance practices are going through a transitional phase in developing societies like India. However, several impediments restrict them from becoming an effective means of interaction between government and citizens. The present study is an attempt to comprehend the citizens’ attitude and their level of readiness to accept the e-governance practices in online service delivery in the state of Punjab in India. It is based on the field survey of various SUWIDHA Kendras (now called Sewa Kendras Type I) in Punjab, where a sample of 240 users was covered with the help of interview schedule and observations. One district from each of the three regions of Punjab was selected randomly: Tarn Taran of Majha, Sangrur of Malwa and Hoshiarpur of Doaba. The results of this study show that the usage of e-governance practices as a popular medium is seriously limited by the public attitude. The main reasons are deficient e-governance infrastructure and apathetic public due to lack of computer literacy/e-readiness. The study establishes that, in order to implement e-governance successfully, not only a developed infrastructure but also behavioural changes in citizenry are required in developing societies.


Fire ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 22
Author(s):  
Josh Hyde ◽  
Eva K. Strand

Prescribed fire is often used by land managers as an effective means of implementing fuel treatments to achieve a variety of goals. Smoke generated from these activities can put them at odds with air quality regulations. We set out to characterize the emission tradeoff between wildfire and prescribed fire in activity fuels from thinning in a case study of mixed conifer forest within the Boise National Forest in central Idaho. Custom fuelbeds were developed using information from the forest and emissions were modeled and compared for four scenarios, as follows: Untreated fuels burned in wildfire (UNW), prescribed fire in activity fuels left from thinning (TRX), a wildfire ignited on the post-treatment landscape (PTW), and the combined emissions from TRX followed by PTW (COM). The modeled mean total emissions from TRX were approximately 5% lower, compared to UNW, and between 2–46% lower for individual pollutants. The modeled emissions from PTW were approximately 70% lower than UNW. For the COM scenario, emissions were not significantly different from the UNW scenario for any pollutants, but for CO2. However, for the COM scenario, cumulative emissions would have been comprised of two events occurring at separate times, each with lower emissions than if they occurred at once.


Author(s):  
Zhaocong Wu ◽  
Min Ni ◽  
Zhongwen Hu ◽  
Junjie Wang ◽  
Qingquan Li ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Arthur C. Nelson ◽  
Michael D. Meyer ◽  
Catherine B. Ross

For two decades, the city of Atlanta, Georgia, has used special public interest districts (SPIDs) to attract new development to and improve transit ridership around Midtown rail transit stations operated by the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA). Buildings locating inside SPIDs need not provide any parking facilities and can be developed more intensively than buildings located outside SPIDs. Buildings constructed outside SPIDs must have at least two parking stalls for every 1,000 ft2 (92.9 m2) of gross leasable area and are limited to about 30 floors. The extent to which these policy objectives have been fulfilled by Atlanta’s parking supply policies as they are applied around Midtown MARTA stations is analyzed. Findings are mixed. Development was attracted to SPIDs, and transit ridership among employees working within SPIDs was substantially higher than among those working outside SPIDs. On the other hand, new parking has proliferated throughout Midtown with some evidence to suggest that transit ridership has fallen as a result. It is concluded that without areawide parking supply efforts, policies patterned after Atlanta’s SPID program will have limited success in improving transit ridership.


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