scholarly journals Distribution and abundance of the Red Squirrel Sciurus vulgaris in an urbanised environment

2014 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
pp. 255-262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grzegorz Kopij
Keyword(s):  
Group Size ◽  
Density Estimate ◽  
City Centre ◽  
Red Squirrel ◽  
Sciurus Vulgaris ◽  
Late Autumn ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The City

Abstract In late autumn 2004, 160 dreys were found in all parks in Wroclaw (N=21 parks), i.e. 2.8 dreys per 10 ha. In the same period, 145 squirrels, grouped in 69 families, were counted in all these parks (1.23 families per 10 ha). The mean group size (including records of single squirrels) was 1.93 (SD = 1.04; N = 157). The density estimate based on this (number of dreys/mean number of dreys per group) shall be 1.40 families per 10 ha, therefore close to the value based on the number of squirrels counted. Squirrels were most common (64% of all squirrels recorded in parks) in largest parks located c. 2-7 km from the city centre. In forests (N = 12), squirrels density was much lower than in parks (0.1-0.3 families per 10 ha).

scholarly journals SIMULATION OF THE INFLUENCE OF VEGETATION ON MICROCLIMATE AND THERMAL COMFORT IN THE CITY OF SÃO PAULO

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jörg Spangenberg ◽  
Paula Shinzato ◽  
Erik Johansson ◽  
Denise Duarte
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Street Canyon ◽  
Sao Paulo ◽  
City Centre ◽  
São Paulo ◽  
Mean Radiant Temperature ◽  
Speed Up ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Radiant Temperature ◽  
The City

The microclimates of a park, a square and a street canyon were measured on a summer day in the city centre of São Paulo, Brazil. The field monitoring showed that the park was up to 2°C cooler than the square and the canyon. The effect of adding shading trees to the street canyon was simulated for the same day using the numerical model ENVI-met. The simulations showed that incorporating street trees in the urban canyon had a limited cooling effect on the air temperature (up to 1.1°C), but led to a significant cooling of the street surface (up to 12°C) as well as a great reduction of the mean radiant temperature at pedestrian height (up to 24°C). Although the trees lowered the wind speed up to 45% of the maximum values, the thermal comfort was improved considerably as the physiologically equivalent temperature (PET) was reduced by up to 12°C.

scholarly journals Primary Soil Contaminants and Their Risks, and Their Relationship to Myocardial Infarction Susceptibility in Urban Krakow (Poland)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krystyna Ciarkowska ◽  
Ewa Konduracka ◽  
Florian Gambus
Keyword(s):  
Myocardial Infarction ◽  
Threshold Effect ◽  
City Centre ◽  
Metal Exposure ◽  
Hospitalised Patients ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic ◽  
Probable Effect ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Industrial Zones ◽  
The City

AbstractWe recorded the concentrations, distributions and sources of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), along with zinc (Zn), lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd), in soils from different areas of Krakow––the city-centre, industrial and residential zones––and from outside the city. Their relationships to the soil properties were examined, and associations were established between the soil pollution in the different areas and myocardial infarction (MI) incidences in 5054 hospitalised patients who had lived in Krakow for more than 30 years. The PAH and Cd concentrations exceeded threshold-effect levels in the city-centre and industrial zones, while Zn, Pb and phenanthrene exceeded probable-effect levels. Industrial incineration processes, coal combustion and petrol-powered vehicles are the main sources of the PAHs, Zn and Cd, while the Pb originates mainly from historical accumulation and the use of Pb-enriched petrol. The mean number of MI incidences in Krakow equated to 0.72% of the residents, while in the city-centre and industrial zones it was ~ 2.8 and 1.2%, respectively. In the residential zone, the mean number of MI incidences was < 0.5% of the residents. These results may suggest that differences in MI incidence in Krakow residents is, at least in part, linked to chronic PAH and heavy-metal exposure.

scholarly journals Assessment of urban aerosol pollution over the Moscow megacity by the MAIAC aerosol product

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 877-891
Author(s):  
Ekaterina Y. Zhdanova ◽  
Natalia Y. Chubarova ◽  
Alexei I. Lyapustin
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Development ◽  
Moscow Region ◽  
Pollutant Emissions ◽  
City Centre ◽  
Construction Sites ◽  
Aerosol Pollution ◽  
Aerosol Sources ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Difference ◽  
The City

Abstract. We estimated the distribution of aerosol optical thickness (AOT) with a spatial resolution of 1 km over the Moscow megacity using the MAIAC aerosol product based on MODIS satellite data (Lyapustin et al., 2018) for the warm period of the year (May–September, 2001–2017). AERONET (Aerosol Robotic Network)-based validation of satellite estimates near the city centre at Moscow_MSU_MO and over the Moscow suburbs at Zvenigorod revealed that MAIAC AOT at 0.47 µm is in agreement with AERONET AOT though underestimated by 0.05–0.1 for AOT<1 and overestimated for smoke conditions with AOT>1. The MAIAC AOT biases were almost the same for the Moscow_MSU_MO and Zvenigorod AERONET sites, which indicated that the MAIAC algorithm effectively removed the effect of the bright urban surface in the city centre. For the ground-based measurements, the difference between annual median AOT at Moscow_MO_MSU and Zvenigorod (ΔAOT) varied within −0.002 to +0.03, with statistically significant positive bias for most years, and an average ΔAOT was about 0.02. According to the MAIAC dataset, the ΔAOT varied within ±0.01 and was not statistically significant. The ΔAOT started decreasing recently due to intensive urban development of the territory around Zvenigorod and the decrease in pollutant emissions in Moscow, which is mainly caused by the environmental regulations. According to the MAIAC dataset, the most pronounced spatial AOT differences over the territory of Moscow were observed at the 5 % quantile level, where they reached 0.05–0.06 over several locations and could be attributed to the stationary sources of aerosol pollution, for example, large areas of construction sites, aerosol pollution from roads and highways, or agriculture activities. The differences between the maximum and the mean AOT for different quantiles, except the 95 % quantile, within the Moscow region, were about 0.02–0.04, which could be attributed to the local aerosol sources. The application of the MAIAC algorithm over the whole Moscow region has revealed a decreasing AOT trend over the centre of Moscow and an increasing trend over the “New” Moscow territory which experienced an intensive build-up and agricultural development.

Seasonal Changes In Group Size And Foraging Activity In An Urban Population Of Magpies (Pica Pica)

2012 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 80-87
Author(s):  
Leszek Jerzak ◽  
Olaf Ciebiera ◽  
Joerg Boehner
Keyword(s):  
Group Size ◽  
Seasonal Changes ◽  
Urban Population ◽  
Feeding Activity ◽  
Flock Size ◽  
Foraging Activity ◽  
Pica Pica ◽  
Specific Difference ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The City

Abstract We studied seasonal variation in group size and feeding activity in an urban population of Magpies in Zielona Góra, Western Poland. Each month from 1984 to 1987 we counted the species along a 10 km transect across the city and noted the number of single birds, pairs and flocks as well as flock size. In 1999 and 2000 we regularly observed Magpies foraging on the lawns of a park of Zielona Góra and recorded the number of pecks, as a measure for feeding activity. Magpies were most often encountered as single birds in April and May, as pairs in March, and in flocks in August. This pattern is predominantly dictated by the constraints of the breeding season and by reproductive success. The mean flock size was highest in August. Pecking rate showed a minimum in the summer months, with no sex-specific difference. However, males were much more active in foraging during winter, probably due to their larger body size and the respective higher energetic requirements.

scholarly journals Application of mosses to identification of emission sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons / Wykorzystanie mchów do identyfikacji źródeł emisji wielopierścieniowych węglowodorów aromatycznych

2012 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 585-595 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomasz Ciesielczuk ◽  
Tomasz Olszowski ◽  
Marcin Prokop ◽  
Andrzej Kłos
Keyword(s):  
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Rural Area ◽  
Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
City Centre ◽  
Pleurozium Schreberi ◽  
Emission Sources ◽  
Suburban Areas ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The City

Abstract The moss Pleurozium schreberi was used to evaluate the emission of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) at Polish cemeteries on the All Saints' Day, when Poles traditionally light candles and candle lamps in memory of the deceased. Moss samples were exposed for 7 days at 4 cemeteries and, for comparison, in a city centre and in a rural area. During exposition, the mean content of 16 monitored PAHs in the samples increased by 455 ng/g at the cemeteries and by 689 ng g-1 in the city centre. In the rural area, the samples showed no statistically significant changes. PAHs whose content increased only in the moss samples exposed at the cemeteries included naphthalene, pyrene, benzo[b]fluoranthene together with benzo[k]fluoranthene, benzo[g,h,i]perylene, indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene and dibenzo[a,h]anthracene. The concentrations of other PAHs increased in samples exposed in the city centre and at two cemeteries located in the suburban areas. The results presented confirm the possibility of using mosses in biomonitoring of PAHs.

scholarly journals Contents of Potentially Toxic Metals and Magnetic Susceptibility of Soils Along a Rural – Urban – Rural Gradient in Bratislava City (Slovakia)

2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-37
Author(s):  
Lucia Lachká ◽  
Edgar Hiller ◽  
Ondrej Ďurža
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Susceptibility ◽  
Toxic Metals ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Pollution Load Index ◽  
City Centre ◽  
Potentially Toxic Metals ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Urban Rural ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The City

AbstractThe concentrations of potentially toxic metals (As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb, Zn and Fe) and the values of magnetic susceptibility in surface soils were measured along NW-SE gradient in Bratislava city (rural – urban – rural soils). The results indicate that both the contents of potentially toxic metals (PTMs) and the values of magnetic susceptibility decrease with increasing distance from the city centre in both directions. Urban soils are enriched mainly in Cu, Hg, Pb and Zn. Their elevated concentrations in soils within the city are due to accumulation from anthropogenic activities. There was a statistically significant and positive correlation between the mean values of Tomlinson pollution load index (PLI) and the mean values of magnetic susceptibility in soil samples. This correlation shows that the monitoring of magnetic properties of soils can be used as a rapid and non-destructive tool for the effective determination of environmental pollution in urbanized regions affected by anthropogenic activities.

Evaluation of Road Utilisation as Space For Holding Social Ceremonies in Indigenous Residential Area of Ogbomoso, Nigeria

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (March 2018) ◽  
Author(s):  
S.A Okanlawon ◽  
O.O Odunjo ◽  
S.A Olaniyan
Keyword(s):  
Transport Infrastructure ◽  
Noisy Environment ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
The Core ◽  
Local Roads ◽  
Strict Enforcement ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The One ◽  
The City ◽  
The Town

This study examined Residents’ evaluation of turning transport infrastructure (road) to spaces for holding social ceremonies in the indigenous residential zone of Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria. Upon stratifying the city into the three identifiable zones, the core, otherwise known as the indigenous residential zone was isolated for study. Of the twenty (20) political wards in the two local government areas of the town, fifteen (15) wards that were located in the indigenous zone constituted the study area. Respondents were selected along one out of every three (33.3%) of the Trunk — C (local) roads being the one mostly used for the purpose in the study area. The respondents were the residents, commercial motorists, commercial motorcyclists, and celebrants. Six hundred and forty-two (642) copies of questionnaire were administered and harvested on the spot. The Mean Analysis generated from the respondents’ rating of twelve perceived hazards listed in the questionnaire were then used to determine respondents’ most highly rated perceived consequences of the practice. These were noisy environment, Blockage of drainage by waste, and Endangering the life of the sick on the way to hospital; the most highly rated reasons why the practice came into being; and level of acceptability of the practice which was found to be very unacceptable in the study area. Policy makers should therefore focus their attention on strict enforcement of the law prohibiting the practice in order to ensure more cordial relationship among the citizenry, seeing citizens’ unacceptability of the practice in the study area.

Restricting Traffic into the City Centre: Has Madrid Central Been Effective to Reduce NO 2 Levels?

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafael Salas ◽  
María José Pérez Villadóniga ◽  
Juan Prieto Rodríguez ◽  
Ana Russo
Keyword(s):  
City Centre ◽  
The City

What Makes a City Bikeable? A Study of Intercity and Intracity Patterns of Bicycle Ridership using Mobike Big Data Records

2020 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-75
Author(s):  
Ying Long ◽  
Jianting Zhao
Keyword(s):  
Big Data ◽  
Average Distance ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Rating System ◽  
City Centre ◽  
Average Score ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Usage Frequency ◽  
Share Data ◽  
The City

This paper examines how mass ridership data can help describe cities from the bikers' perspective. We explore the possibility of using the data to reveal general bikeability patterns in 202 major Chinese cities. This process is conducted by constructing a bikeability rating system, the Mobike Riding Index (MRI), to measure bikeability in terms of usage frequency and the built environment. We first investigated mass ridership data and relevant supporting data; we then established the MRI framework and calculated MRI scores accordingly. This study finds that people tend to ride shared bikes at speeds close to 10 km/h for an average distance of 2 km roughly three times a day. The MRI results show that at the street level, the weekday and weekend MRI distributions are analogous, with an average score of 49.8 (range 0–100). At the township level, high-scoring townships are those close to the city centre; at the city level, the MRI is unevenly distributed, with high-MRI cities along the southern coastline or in the middle inland area. These patterns have policy implications for urban planners and policy-makers. This is the first and largest-scale study to incorporate mobile bike-share data into bikeability measurements, thus laying the groundwork for further research.

scholarly journals Understanding Spatial Variability of NO2 in Urban Areas Using Spatial Modelling and Data Fusion Approaches

Atmosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 179
Author(s):  
Said Munir ◽  
Martin Mayfield ◽  
Daniel Coca
Keyword(s):  
Data Fusion ◽  
Spatial Variability ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Road Traffic ◽  
Dispersion Model ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Spatial Modelling ◽  
City Centre ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
The City

Small-scale spatial variability in NO2 concentrations is analysed with the help of pollution maps. Maps of NO2 estimated by the Airviro dispersion model and land use regression (LUR) model are fused with measured NO2 concentrations from low-cost sensors (LCS), reference sensors and diffusion tubes. In this study, geostatistical universal kriging was employed for fusing (integrating) model estimations with measured NO2 concentrations. The results showed that the data fusion approach was capable of estimating realistic NO2 concentration maps that inherited spatial patterns of the pollutant from the model estimations and adjusted the modelled values using the measured concentrations. Maps produced by the fusion of NO2-LCS with NO2-LUR produced better results, with r-value 0.96 and RMSE 9.09. Data fusion adds value to both measured and estimated concentrations: the measured data are improved by predicting spatiotemporal gaps, whereas the modelled data are improved by constraining them with observed data. Hotspots of NO2 were shown in the city centre, eastern parts of the city towards the motorway (M1) and on some major roads. Air quality standards were exceeded at several locations in Sheffield, where annual mean NO2 levels were higher than 40 µg/m3. Road traffic was considered to be the dominant emission source of NO2 in Sheffield.

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