Assessing aquatic macrophyte community change through the integration of palaeolimnological and historical data at Loch Leven,Scotland

Submerged macrophytes have a critical role in lake ecosystems affecting nutrient cycling, sediment stability, and community composition across multiple trophic levels. Consequently temporal changes in the composition of submerged plant populations can have profound ecological implications and key significance from the perspective of lake conservation. By focusing on macro-remains of aquatic macrophytes and extensive historical plant records spanning the last approximately 180 years, this study seeks to evaluate a combined historical-palaeolimnological approach for establishing pre-disturbance macrophytes communities in Loch Leven, Kinross, Scotland and to provide new information regarding temporal trends in its macrophyte vegetation as well as potential drivers of change. Some 81% of the species historically recorded for the core site (east side of St. Serf’s Island) were found as macro-remains. Potamogeton taxa were underrepresented, whereas remains of Elatine hexandra, a small species never recorded historically were found. The core sequence showed good agreement with known floristic changes including an early (pre- ca. 1850) loss of Isoetes lacustris and Lobelia dortmanna and a more recent (post-1910) shift to dominance by Potamogeton and Chara taxa associated with eutrophic conditions. A clear pattern in the relationship between macrofossil principal component analysis (PCA) and loss on ignition suggested a key control of sediment conditions on macrophyte community structure. In particular the major macrophyte community change of the mid-nineteenth century was concurrent with a substantial increase in organic matter, likely linked to a historic lake lowering (early 1830s) which would have beached the former gravel-sand shoreline leading to a much siltier lake littoral. Although recent monitoring data show signs of ecological recovery our study illustrates that Loch Leven remains a long way from its reference state as a lake with characteristic soft-water macrophytes. To achieve a full recovery, sediment properties would need to change in addition to nutrient reduction. Consequently restoration strategies will need to compromise between the desirability of achieving the pre-disturbance state and what is feasible and practicable. Our study shows the clear potential role of a combined palaeolimnological-historical approach for informing lake management decisions.     

文化认同和参与能力视角下的乡村治理路径探索——基于鄂东某村落春节期间的乡村治理实践

在市场化、城市化和现代化冲击下,中国乡村作为一个村集体“大家庭”的身份认同日渐式微。这种集体认同的消解不断侵蚀乡村治理的文化基础。同时,快速城市化背景下,随着大量年轻劳动力的外流和弱势村民的留守,中国乡村“空心化”现象十分普遍。其结果是,村民很难实质性地参与到乡村发展和乡村治理过程中去,中国乡村治理工作普遍面临治理主体缺位和治理无方等结构性问题。重点参照文化认同和参与能力的理论基础,具体从乡村治理主体地位的培养、乡村治理能力的提升两方面,笔者通过在其家乡湖北东部FX村开展村民论坛、尽孝道和摆长桌宴等活动,试图探索中国乡村治理的有效路径。实践表明：第一,基于“共同体”的乡村社区文化认同感和归属感的建立,是乡村治理的前提和基础;第二,根植乡村公共性,激发村民的表达和参与意愿,增强村民议事能力,是乡村治理的本质和关键。最后,对目前如火如荼的乡村（村镇）规划,提出若干启示：1）乡村（村镇）规划的核心议题是社区、社区关系和社区能力;2）乡村（村镇）规划不能沿袭城市（镇）规划的思维;3）乡村（村镇）规划需要充分尊重乡土知识;4）比起物质性规划,乡村（村镇）的社会性规划（social planning）更加重要;5）质性分析和质性思维非常重要。     

国内外民族社区研究综述

以少数民族为居民主体的社区是一种特殊的社区类型。作为民族社会的重要构成单元,社区内独特的民族性、文化性和地域性日益成为国内外学者关注的重点。文章首先回顾了国外民族社区研究的历史起源,总结了城市民族社区的研究重点,并对乡村民族社区的影响、类型、变迁、旅游和感知研究进行详细的归纳总结;国内民族社区研究则从内涵、演变、发展以及旅游影响研究4 个重点领域进行进展分析。在以上研究的基础上,从研究领域、研究方法、研究对象、研究理论基础和研究内容5 个方面将国内外民族社区研究进行对比,并提出,国内民族社区研究亟需加强民族社区演化的影响因素、动态演化机制、居民生计方式、文化遗产保护与利用、经济结构协调、村落空间形态演变和整合开发以及可持续发展政策等7个方面的研究。     

Enhancing Diversity In The Geosciences

Abstract

An innovative interdisciplinary project at California State University, Long Beach, was designed to increase the attractiveness of the geosciences (physical geography, geology, and archaeology) to underrepresented groups. The goal was to raise awareness of the geosciences by providing summer research opportunities for underrepresented high school and community college students and their faculty. A survey of a larger sample provided insight into strategies for enhancing geoscience awareness. A qualitative evaluation pointed to its success in meeting project goals. This unprecedented level of collaboration has set the groundwork for an institutional shift for inclusion of minorities in the geosciences and warrants replication.     

Supporting local health decision making with spatial video: Dengue,Chikungunya and Zika risks in a data poor,informal community in Nicaragua

One challenge facing spatial scientists trying to support public health outreach and intervention in challenging environments is the lack of fine scale spatial data. These data are required to gain a better understanding of both physical and social systems; why disease occurs where it does, and how to disrupt it. While data options exist, including high resolution aerial imagery, remotely sensed data, and even online mapping products like Google Street View, these all come with limitations. One option that has previously been utilized to assess cholera risk is spatial video. Here it is used to map potential mosquito breeding sites in an endemic Dengue and Chikungunya, and emerging Zika impacted community. We show how this method can provide mapping support in the hands of non-specialist public health workers who, working in collaboration with out-of-area geographic information systems (GIS) teams, can identify where to target limited intervention resources. We use a case study of an impoverished informal style Nicaraguan community suffering from a high disease burden to show spatial variation in potential mosquito breeding habitats. A field team collected street-by-street spatial video data to produce fine scale risk maps of standing water and trash locations, which, when interpreted with the associated spatial video imagery, were used to suggest where intervention strategies should be targeted. We also discuss how these same data layers can be used to address other health concerns traditionally found in informal settlements.     

How do Local People Value Rural Waterways? A Study in the Upper Catchments of South East Queensland’s Rivers

In Integrated Catchment (or Watershed) Management, the impacts of upstream conditions and actions on downstream environments and people is a key issue. Knowing upstream people’s values towards waterways is, therefore, important for community engagement and the development of publicly acceptable management approaches. This qualitative study applies Kellert’s framework of relational values to explore the types and diversity of people’s values towards the upper catchments of South East Queensland, Australia, and tests the “universality” of Kellert’s framework. We found the full range of values identified by Kellert with some variations and elaborations in content. People living, working, and enjoying recreation in the upper catchments have affection for their local waterways and a moral inclination to protect them. This extends our understanding of how people value these waterways, which is more often depicted in terms of utilitarian and economic value. The findings provide managers with new opportunities for engaging with local communities and waterway users.     

城市社区的邻里性本质及其影响机制研究——以广州15个社区为例

当前中国的城市与社会面临着多元的剧烈重构,存在种种问题与挑战,人本回归的发展命题下,社区更是一个意义深远的实践单元。中国社区研究多针对某一主题内容如治理、情感、环境等开展具体实证分析,而全面系统性的社区基础研究相对缺乏。本研究基于“人文”与“结构”的理论分析视角,结合社区的本质内涵辨析,对社区进行“内核-外核”的系统建构;具体选择广州15个样本社区,基于3302份问卷调研数据,采用结构方程模型剖析社区系统的运作逻辑,重点探究作为社区本质的邻里性的影响机制。研究发现：① 社区系统蕴含了多元的有机结构和丰富的运作逻辑。② 物质空间属性相较其他属性变量,对邻里性具有相对最强的正向效应力,同时又与其他维度属性紧密相关,体现其关键地位。③ 在社区系统中,四个维度属性对邻里性水平的影响呈现了差异化的特征,体现了相应的运作内涵。     

From Geographic Holism to Geographic Information System

Substantial changes in a core idea of geography, integration, have occurred since Alexander von Humboldt published Kosmos (1845-1862). These changes are part of a larger shift in Western civilization to mechanistic reasoning. This shift led to the strengthening of system-based analysis, central to the development of geographic information systems (GIS). The duality of holism and the systems approach has led to an apparent contradiction in geography. R. Hartshorne in The Nature of Geography described this contradiction, but as did Alfred Hettner and Emil Wisotzki before, moved to partial systems as the core concept of geographic integration. Hartshorne's concept of vertical integration is the antecedent for the ubiquitous GIS layer model. The reduction of geographic relationships and processes to mechanistic components (layers) aids the systematic approach, but may lessen geographic understanding of a place's interrelationships. Although the partiality of the system approach was already acknowledged by Finch and Hartshorne in the 1930s, the tension between holistic and system approaches in geography remains. Holism and system-based approaches are indeed complementary methods for developing geographic understanding. Using holistic approaches to understand geographic phenomena, before we teleologically (following a purpose) analyze phenomena as a system, extends GIS to include broader interrelationships of geography in specific locations.     

A Geography of Children's Vulnerability: Gender,Household Resources,and Water‐Related Disease Hazard in Northern Pakistan*

Water‐related diseases continue to pose major threats to children's survival and well‐being in many places in the developing world. This article develops a theoretical perspective on the ways in which children's vulnerability to water‐related disease hazard is produced within the everyday circumstances of livelihood and child care. Central to this analysis is the role that household resources play in mediating or shaping particular microenvironments of health risk. Further, the effects of local geographies of gender on how household resources are accessed and on how child care is structured are examined. Children's vulnerability is evaluated in a community in the District of Gilgit in northern Pakistan, a region presently undergoing tremendous social and economic transformation. The case study highlights household‐level response and adaptation to child health risks associated with diarrheal disease transmission and infection in this mountain environment. The case study draws from ethnographic fieldwork involving qualitative household microstudies and interviewing to elicit mothers' resource and risk‐response strategies in the context of changes in livelihood systems and household dynamics.     

Classifying high-prevalence neighborhoods for cardiovascular disease in Texas

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the number one cause of death in the state of Texas. In order to develop effective healthcare policies to combat CVD, it is essential to understand what types of communities are most affected. In this paper, we develop a classification scheme to segment high-prevalence communities based on selected social and demographic characteristics. We find that while many high-prevalence areas reflect traditional relationships between socioeconomic deprivation and poor health outcomes, a subset of more affluent communities in Texas are also affected. This suggests the importance of tailored approaches to prevention that account for this diversity among high-prevalence neighborhoods.     

From Geographic Holism to Geographic Information System

Substantial changes in a core idea of geography, integration, have occurred since Alexander von Humboldt published Kosmos (1845-1862). These changes are part of a larger shift in Western civilization to mechanistic reasoning. This shift led to the strengthening of system-based analysis, central to the development of geographic information systems (GIS). The duality of holism and the systems approach has led to an apparent contradiction in geography. R. Hartshorne in The Nature of Geography described this contradiction, but as did Alfred Hettner and Emil Wisotzki before, moved to partial systems as the core concept of geographic integration. Hartshorne's concept of vertical integration is the antecedent for the ubiquitous GIS layer model. The reduction of geographic relationships and processes to mechanistic components (layers) aids the systematic approach, but may lessen geographic understanding of a place's interrelationships. Although the partiality of the system approach was already acknowledged by Finch and Hartshorne in the 1930s, the tension between holistic and system approaches in geography remains. Holism and system-based approaches are indeed complementary methods for developing geographic understanding. Using holistic approaches to understand geographic phenomena, before we teleologically (following a purpose) analyze phenomena as a system, extends GIS to include broader interrelationships of geography in specific locations.     

山地旅游发展对社区居民的去权与形成机制——-以安徽天堂寨旅游区为例

以安徽省天堂寨旅游区为案例地,运用深度访谈、制度文本分析、典型个案分析,研究中国政治经济背景下山区旅游业发展初期阶段对社区居民的去权类型及其形成机制。结果表明:①山区旅游发展对社区居民在生产生活空间、自然资源使用、信息获取、旅游获益与旅游参与五个方面产生了去权效果。②山区旅游发展对社区居民去权的形成机制是政府发展战略与制度设计、社区精英关系网络与居民个人社会经济条件和社会支持综合作用的结果。本研究揭示多个社区利益群体相互联合对社区居民去权的过程与机制,政策建议是通过完善政府官员政绩考核方式、加强行政监督、及时发布相关旅游发展信息、加强居民旅游参与的能力建设,使这种旅游发展政策发挥更佳效果。     

中国老年地理学研究进展

在中国全面进入老龄化社会的大背景下,老龄问题逐渐成为新常态和学者关注的焦点。本文采用知识图谱分析和传统文献研究相结合的方法,借助Citespace软件分析了2003-2017年国内老年地理学研究的热点领域,通过关键词共现归纳出中国老年地理学研究的特点为：①人口老龄化时空格局及驱动机制和养老设施空间配置成为近年来老年地理学研究的热点领域,但大区域小尺度、更深层次驱动机制有待进一步研究;如何将老年居民的社会交往、情感归属、社会资源与社区多维度结合,是未来社区建设与养老重点关注的方向;居家养老理论探索与实践总结尚未形成理论突破并推动政策实践,亟待学者对其进行本土化的理论构建。②老年人健康与环境研究成为新兴研究领域和主导方向,如何由宏观层面关注老年人健康与环境关系到微观层面关注老年个体情感体验、地方依赖,空间化健康与环境关系,选择和量化人文因素将是今后研究的重点难点。③对老年人空间行为研究有待实现定量和质性研究的互补融合,探索强调个体认知、行为偏好的行为主义地理学与强调时空整体性与制约的时间地理学的有机结合成为未来发展方向。     

A Geography of Children's Vulnerability: Gender,Household Resources,and Water-Related Disease Hazard in Northern Pakistan

Abstract

Water-related diseases continue to pose major threats to children's survival and well-being in many places in the developing world. This article develops a theoretical perspective on the ways in which children's vulnerability to water-related disease hazard is produced within the everyday circumstances of livelihood and child care. Central to this analysis is the role that household resources play in mediating or shaping particular microenvironments of health risk. Further, the effects of local geographies of gender on how household resources are accessed and on how child care is structured are examined. Children's vulnerability is evaluated in a community in the District of Gilgit in northern Pakistan, a region presently undergoing tremendous social and economic transformation. The case study highlights household-level response and adaptation to child health risks associated with diarrheal disease transmission and infection in this mountain environment. The case study draws from ethnographic fieldwork involving qualitative household microstudies and interviewing to elicit mothers' resource and risk-response strategies in the context of changes in livelihood systems and household dynamics.

     

Progresses and Perspectives of the Resource Evaluation Related to Agri-cultural Heritage Tourism

The scientific evaluation of tourism resources is not only an important prerequisite for the development of agri-cultural heritage tourism (AHT), but it can also promote the conservation and management of Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (IAHS). With the goal of providing scientific support for the sustainable management of tourism resources, this review systematically analyzes the overall situation, research regions, developmental timeline trends, key fields and hot topics of resource evaluation research related to AHT over 2005-2020. With a comprehensive perspective that incorporates both traditional literature review and quantitative literature review, the study revealed four important aspects of AHT research. (1) Relevant articles could be divided into two phases, a development-oriented period (2005-2012) and a conservation-oriented period (2013-2020). (2) GIAHS accounts for the absolute majority (about 66.7%) of relevant studies. In particular, Longji Terraces System, Hani terraces system and Dong’s Rice-Fish-Duck System were the research hotspots IAHS, and Yunnan, Zhejiang and Guangxi were the research hotspot provinces. (3) Terraced landscapes and tea culture were the most popular themes in tourism resource evaluation, while sports tourism, tea culture tourism and study tours are becoming the new trends in IAHS sites. (4) Research methods have undergone a shift from qualitative to quantitative approaches, and a combination of these two in an interdisciplinary manner is becoming a new research trend. By reviewing and prospecting the relevant literature, this study not only makes a unique contribution to the tourism resource evaluation of IAHS, but also helps to enrich the relevant evaluation theories and further promote the sustainable development of heritage tourism from theoretical and methodological perspectives.     

Overview of Ecological Restoration Technologies and Evaluation Systems

Ecological degradation is a global problem, and ecological restoration technologies have played and will continue to play an important role in its mitigation. However, the lack of systematic research and evaluations of ecological technologies has thus far affected their effective application in vulnerable ecological regions. This study therefore provides an overview of the main technologies for remediating soil and water erosion, desertification, and rock desertification in China and throughout the world. It addresses key issues and recommends approaches for evaluating ecological restoration technologies. Restoration technology emerged as early as 1800. Over the years such technology has changed from single objective applications to multi-purpose, multi-objective applications employing strategies that take into account ecosystem rehabilitation and integrated ecological and socioeconomic development. Along with this technological evolution, different countries have taken pertinent actions as part of their restoration initiatives. However, key issues remain, including the lack of location-specific restoration technologies and a methodological strategy to assess and prioritize existing technologies. This study proposes a four-level analytical hierarchical framework in conjunction with an indicator system that highlights the establishment and adaptation of associative indicators, while also recommending a three-phase evaluation method (TheMert), targeting TheMert to qualitative (quick and extensive) and quantitative (detailed) evaluations in order to select the most appropriate restoration technologies available. This study can also be used as a basis for understanding the evaluation and prioritization of restoration technologies, while increasing the awareness of decision makers and the public on the role of technology in restoring degraded ecosystems.     

Measuring the accessibility of different household income groups to basic community services in upland Misamis Oriental,Northern Mindanao,Philippines

Improving household accessibility to basic community services can help reduce poverty in upland areas. In this study, spatial analysis with GIS was used to measure the accessibility of different household income groups to community services in the landlocked upland municipality Claveria in Northern Mindanao, the Philippines. Important community services were identified through villagers' participation in a matrix‐scoring activity. Travel information was derived from key informant interviews while the geographical coordinates of sample households and important services were collected using GPS receivers. The Flowmap GIS software (version 7.2) was used to compute accessibility to services along the road network by habal‐habal (two‐wheel motorcycle). Outcomes from the participatory data gathering activities revealed that agricultural, educational and health facilities, as well as government services are important to the community to achieve sustainable livelihoods. Because local people perceive accessibility in terms of monetary costs, rather than distance, road distance measurements were converted into fare costs. Results of the accessibility analysis show that higher‐income household groups generally incur lower mean one‐way travel costs to reach important community services than poorer households. However, almost all households spend more than the daily per capita poverty threshold for the province to reach basic community services. A scenario to improve accessibility to services in the study area was investigated to emphasize the potential of GIS‐based accessibility analysis in rural service planning.     

‘We are at the mercy of the floods!’ : Extreme weather events,disrupted mobilities,and everyday navigation in urban Ghana

This paper examines how extreme weather events affect the mobility of low-income urban residents in Ghana. Bringing together scholarship on extreme weather and mobilities, it explores the differential impact of flooding on their everyday lives as they navigate the cities of Accra and Tamale. A range of qualitative methods were drawn on, including semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and follow-along-participant observations in selected communities of both cities. Three key themes emerged: disrupted road and transport infrastructure, everyday mobility challenges, and coping/adaptive strategies. In flooding conditions, residents experienced difficulties leaving/returning home, engaging in income-generating activities, and accessing transport services and other key urban infrastructure. Conceptually, the paper reveals how disruption to urban residents’ daily movements and activities (re)produces new forms of mobilities and immobilities, which have three relational elements: postponed, improvised and assisted. Throughout the analysis, we show how these mobilities/immobilities vary by age and gender: all urban residents, (though women in particular), experience postponed mobility; young people especially engage in improvised mobility; and children and the elderly are in greatest need of assisted mobility. The paper thus contributes to scholarship on extreme weather events and mobility by providing a more spatially nuanced understanding of the multi-faceted domains in which flooding, socio-economic conditions and adaptive strategies intersect to influence urban mobility in resource poor settings.