Towards a process-based biogeography of reindeer—scaling space,time, and organizational levels of space use

Due to increasing anthropogenic habitat alteration, fragmentation, and loss, the analysis of how, when, and why animals select particular habitats has become a central issue in ecology and biogeography. Animals adapt to spatiotemporal variability in resources either by tracking these resources or by plasticity in behavior to cover their needs, leading to three important implications: movement, temporal variation, and individual trade-offs leading to intra-species variability, all of which are directly linked to the use of space by animals. Based on GPS-tracking of domesticated reindeer in southern Norway, the authors addressed these issues by analyzing movement patterns and space use simultaneously across different temporal and organizational scales. Emerging information about the space use by reindeer was found explicitly linked to scaling relations, reflecting the matter of scale as having important functional implications rather than solely being a technical question of extent and resolution. Adding movement into the analysis of space use further advances the necessary functional perspective on space use. The authors conclude that scaling not only space but also time and the organizational level, in combination with accounting for different behavioral states, brings biogeography closer to a process-based view, rather than solely pattern-based view.     

Spatial concentration and variability of rainfall in the Iguaçu River Basin,State of Paraná−Brazil

The analysis of rainfall as an environmental factor that influences landscape dynamics is an important and ongoing topic of discussion. This discussion can be centred on the discovery of impacts caused by the increase or decrease in rainfall frequency and intensity. From this perspective, this study sought to analyse the rainfall variability in the Iguaçu River basin, located in the State of Paraná, southern Brazil. The main objective was focused on the temporal-spatial rainfall distribution in the study area and its interaction with landscape dynamics (different land uses). Precipitation data for the period 1988−2018 were obtained from the ‘Águas Paraná’ Institute. To calculate the Concentration Index−CI values of the study area, data analysis was performed using the ‘R’ software with Climatol and Precindicon subroutines of the software, and analysis of Landsat 8 satellite images through ArcGIS. The results indicated that there was a well-defined spatial variability in the study area, as the CIs defined higher rainfall concentrations upstream from the river basin and lower rainfall concentrations downstream—implying that these processes may be strongly associated with land use.     

Delivery and deposition of organic matter in surface sediments of Lagoa do Caçó (Brazil)

Elemental and isotopic compositions of organic matter in surficial sediments from five transects across Lagoa do Caçó (Brazil) were analyzed to identify the depth-related processes that affect the production and deposition of sedimentary organic matter in this shallow tropical lake. Each of four transverse transects began at a margin dominated by aquatic macrophytes (Eleocharis), crossed the central deep part of the lake, and terminated in the opposite, macrophyte-dominated margin. In each transect, TOC concentrations, C/N ratios, and δ¹³C values decreased between 0 and 4 m, whereas δ¹⁵N values increased. The variables remained stable in sediment from 4 m water depth to the center of the lake at 10 m. The depth-related patterns reflect differences in both the delivery and the deposition of organic matter in the lake. Organic matter is produced in abundance in the marginal area by emersed and submerged macrophyte vegetation that diminishes with depth and disappears at 4 meters. After the disappearance of macrophytes, organic matter is produced at low rates principally by open-lake phytoplankton. Drawdown of dissolved oxygen is high in the lake margins, but it is low in the oligotrophic open waters of the lake. Preservation of organic matter is consequently better in sediments of the lake margins than in deep waters. The depth-related pattern of organic matter delivery and deposition in the sediments of Lagoa do Caçó, in which water levels are sensitive to groundwater fluctuations, shows that the elemental and isotopic compositions of sediment organic matter can provide a record of changes in the paleohydrology of this and other similar shallow lake systems.     

A green space between life and death – a case study of activities in Gamlebyen Cemetery in Oslo,Norway

The amount of green space in urban areas is shrinking. Densification and the introduction of new user groups in most cities today is leading to more intensive use of public spaces and the need for more space. Urban cemeteries constitute a unique type of public space: while some may consider them primarily religious and contemplative spaces, others see them as primarily recreational or as heritage sites steeped in history. The authors examine the extent to which the pressure on cities’ open green areas combined with influences from intercultural encounters is mirrored in the use and character of cemeteries today – exemplified by Gamlebyen Cemetery (Gamlebyen Gravlund) in Oslo, Norway. They used observations in combination with short semi-structured interviews with those using the cemetery. The findings of pilot study conducted in 2013 suggest that religious aspects played a minor role and that the recreational aspects were more important to most of the interviewees. Many of them considered that the cemetery provided a pleasant green walkway on their way to work, busses or city services. The cemetery offered a combination of calmness, an aesthetically pleasant environment, and ‘cultivated nature’ in an urban context, and was thus an arena that invited respect and esteem.     

A long-term annual water balance analysis of the Araçuaí River Basin,Brazil

Semi-arid and arid areas exhibit great temporal variability in water availability. In some of these regions, a one- or two-day rainfall is followed by intervening dry periods of variable length. In recent decades, many rivers of the semi-arid portion of the Jequitinhonha Basin have been undergoing a progressive discharge reduction, mainly of their base flow, the Araçuaí River is one of them. In order to understand this transformation, a long-term analysis of the annual water balance of the Araçuaí River Basin was performed, the results of which are presented herein. Satellite images, hydrometeorological and river discharge data were analyzed; mean and variance tests were conducted to determine temporal homogeneity. Historical pluviometric data analysis shows no corresponding precipitation reduction and temperature undergoes only a slight increase in the same period. On the other hand, evaporation is extremely high, higher than precipitation during most of the year, leaving almost no water for infiltration (aquifer recharge) and runoff. Furthermore, the Araçuaí headwaters of its tributaries are now occupied by a monoculture, Eucaliptus sp., used for paper production. Because of the decreased fluvial discharges, its lowlands, usually used for agriculture and pasture, are abandoned and partially eroded.     

Urban forest loss using a GIS-based approach and instruments for integrated urban planning: A case study of Jo?o Pessoa,Brazil

Urban forests play an important role in the thermal comfort and overall life of local populations in large-and medium-sized cities. This study analyzes urban forest loss and maps land use and land cover(LULC) changes between 1991 and 2018 by evaluating the use of urban planning instruments for the mitigation of urban forest loss in Jo?o Pessoa, Brazil. For this purpose, satellite-derived LULC images from 1991, 2006, 2010 and 2018 and data on urban forest loss areas obtained using the Google Earth Engine were used. In addition, this paper also discusses the instruments used for integrated urban planning, which are(a) the legal sector, responsibility and nature;(b) the urban expansion process; and(c) the elements of urban infrastructure. The results show a clear shift in land use in the study area. The major changes in LULC classes occurred in urban areas and herbaceous vegetation, while the greatest loss was in arboreal/shrub vegetation. Thus, an increase in the pressure to occupy zones intended for environmental preservation could be estimated. Our results showed similar accuracies with other studies and more spatial details. The characteristics of the patterns, traces, and hotspots of urban expansion and forest cover loss were explored. We highlighted the potential use of this proposed framework to be applied and validated in other parts of the world to help better understand and quantify various aspects of urban-related problems such as urban forest loss mapping using instruments for integrated urban planning and low-cost approaches.     

Paleohydrological investigation of Infernão Lake, Moji-Guaçcu River watershed, São Paulo, Brazil

A 450 cm sediment core spanning the last 3,500 years was collected from 4.6 m of water in Lake Infernão, located in the floodplain of the Moji-Guaçu River in SE Brazil, to reconstruct the wetland system (river and lake) paleohydrology. A multidisciplinary approach using isotopic (¹³C and ¹⁵N), chemical (C/N ratio and lignin derived phenols) and physical analyses (% water content and density) were used in this study. A coarse sand unit in the lower part of the core (450–417 cm) corresponds to the paleoriver. The rest of the sediment core (dark clay) shows a gradual change from a fluvial to a lacustrine environment. ¹⁴C dates from the lower part of the core (417–200 cm), demonstrate an inversion and narrow span in age (3,000–3,500 yrs B.P.) corresponding to a period of rapid fluvial sedimentation and reworking. The lake seems to have been well established only after 3,000 yrs B.P. The change from a fluvial to a lacustrine environment is inferred from the isotopic and chemical data. Sediment of the fluvial phase is characterized by higher ¹³C values, lower C and N content and a lignin content representative of woody-tissues. Sediment of the lacustrine phase show a gradual decrease in ¹³C values toward the top of the core reflecting the influence of organic carbon derived by phytoplankton and aquatic macrophytes (C₃ plants). The trend to higher C and N content and low C/N ratios also support this interpretation. The lower lignin content indicates increase contributions of non-vascular plants (phytoplankton). Similarly, the slight increase of non-woody tissues (higher C/V ratios) and the predominance of angiosperm plants (high S/V ratios) as organic matter source indicate an increase contribution of aquatic plants during the lacustrine phase. Our data presented here in addition to the geomorphological information and the available paleoclimatic scenario of pollen-inferred analyses for aquatic systems from the southeastern Brazil point to a climatic origin for this fluvial-lacustrine transition at about 3,000 yrs B.P. and to a climatic evolution leading to the present conditions and to a consequently gradual isolation of Lake Infernão from the influence of the Moji-Guaçu River.     

Land tenure and forest cover change. The case of southwestern Beni,Bolivian Amazon, 1986–2009

As land use change continues to increase throughout the Amazon basin, there is a pressing need to accurately map, quantify and assess the effects of different factors on forest cover change (FCC). Land tenure may sometimes have important effects on forest cover, yet such effects remain poorly understood in Amazonia, particularly outside Brazil. In this paper we assess whether significant differences in trends of FCC can be partially explained by different land tenure arrangements, using a case study in southwestern Beni (Bolivian Amazon). We examine spatio-temporal dynamics of FCC across four land tenure systems (indigenous titled territory, protected area, logging concession, and private land) by classifying forests using a time-series of Landsat satellite imagery consisting of four dates (1986, 1996, 2001, 2009). Specifically, we unravel (1) trends in early growth and old-growth forest extent, including changes in total cover area, annual change rates, and spatial change dynamics, and (2) trends in old-growth forest fragmentation. To better understand the association between land tenure and FCC, we qualitatively assess the potential role that other underlying and proximate drivers may have had in FCC over the study period. We found that private lands underwent, by far, the largest FCC, that indigenous territories and the protected area had little FCC, and that logging concessions were responsible for the lowest FCC. Our findings suggest that land tenure played a key role in FCC except in private areas, where many other drivers had operated. Our study sheds light into the potential role of land tenure in FCC and has important implications for public policies aimed at socioeconomic development and environmental conservation in the Amazon. We give some policy recommendations drawn from a biocultural conservation perspective that could contribute to implement more inclusive conservation policies in the region.     

The corridor effect of metropolitan spatialextension and optimization of landscape structure—the case of Beijing

TherehavebeenseveraldozensofyearssincethedevelopmentandstUdyofthemetropolitanareasindevelopedcountries.Atpresent,somemetropolisesaresteppingintothestageofmetropolitandevelopmentinChina.Thegeneraltrendisunavoidablethatbuilt-upareaexpandsandrurallandturnsintourbanones.Butunderthedriveofgoingmerelyaftereconomicbenefit,man}.'collectivesandindividualsillegallyoccupycultivatedlandandgreenbelts,whichintensifiesurbanenvironmentalpollution,wasteslandresourceandmakesthebuilt-upareaexpanduncontrollabl}'…     

Urban carbon footprint and carbon cycle pressure：The case study of Nanjing

Urban carbon footprint reflects the impact and pressure of human activities on urban environment. Based on city level, this paper estimated carbon emissions and carbon footprint of Nanjing city, analyzed urban carbon footprint intensity and carbon cycle pressure and discussed the influencing factors of carbon footprint through LMDI decomposition model. The main conclusions are as follows: (1) The total carbon emissions of Nanjing increased rapidly since 2000, in which the carbon emission from the use of fossil energy was the largest. Meanwhile, carbon sinks of Nanjing presented a declining trend since 2000, which caused the decrease of carbon compensation rate and the increase of urban carbon cycle pressure. (2) The total carbon footprint of Nanjing increased rapidly since 2000, and the carbon deficit was more than ten times of total land areas of Nanjing in 2009, which means Nanjing confronted high carbon cycle pressure. (3) Generally, carbon footprint intensity of Nanjing was on decrease and the carbon footprint productivity was on increase. This indicated that energy utilization rate and carbon efficiency of Nanjing was improved since 2000, and the policy for energy conservation and emission reduction taken by Nanjing's government received better effects. (4) Economic development, population and industrial structure are promoting factors for the increase of carbon footprint of Nanjing, while the industrial carbon footprint intensity was inhibitory factor. (5) Several countermeasures should be taken to decrease urban carbon footprint and alleviate carbon cycle pressure, such as: improvement of the energy efficiency, industrial structure reconstruction, afforestation and environmental protection and land use control. Generally, transition to low-carbon economy is essential for Chinese cities to realize sustainable development in the future.     

A Review of “The Future of Intermodal Freight Transport: Operations,Design, and Policy”

This article analyzes the interrelationship among resource consumption, sociospatial justice, and what is popularly known as global warming by interrogating the ecological footprint of professional geographers, especially in terms of their conference-going involving air travel. In this spirit, the article introduces and employs the concepts of ecological privilege (as well as its inextricably related antithesis, ecological disadvantage) and dys-ecologism as a way to understand the roots and implications of professional geographers’ fossil fuel use and those of globally advantaged classes more broadly. To illustrate this, the article measures the flight-related ecological footprint of the 2011 annual meeting of the Association of American Geographers (AAG) in Seattle, Washington. In doing so, the article examines how professional geographers, in the form of the AAG, have responded to their travel-related ecological footprint. It thus highlights the importance of scrutinizing the complex and dynamic interrelationships among consumption; associated socioecological benefits and detriments and their systemic manifestations; and hierarchy-related and power-infused categories of race, class, and nation—and their spatialities.     

Water scarce or water abundant? The case of Can Tho,Vietnam

Demand for water resources has increased globally along with concerns over its protection, usage and potential scarcity. The location of abundant water sources do not always coincide with where large quantities of people reside. As such, many regions live with the threat of water shortages. Interpretations of water scarcity from international, national and regional scales of analysis are projected onto water availability at the local scale due to large, and often intimidating, global facts. This article looks at the periurban area of Can Tho, Vietnam, to argue that the discourse around water scarcity creates the impression of a water crisis. A local scale analysis reflects that residents of Can Tho have the knowledge to use local water resources in many different ways, thus ensuring their personal water security. The assessment of water scarcity at the national and international scale does not translate to Can Tho’s current situation.     

Transformation of relational space in targeted poverty alleviation from the perspective of actor network: A case study of Hebian Village,Mengla County,Yunnan Province北大核心CSCD

精准扶贫中政府主导、企业和社会积极响应,共同助力贫困户脱贫,引致乡村关系空间在脱贫前后发生转化。论文使用参与式观察、半结构访谈和问卷调查等方法,从行动者网络视角重新审视云南省勐腊县河边村的精准扶贫,将关系空间转化划分为阶段内关系空间转化和阶段间关系空间转化,拓展了行动者网络理论对关系空间转化的解释,发现了河边村关系空间的阶段特征与转化路径:(1)精准扶贫中河边村的关系空间存在阶段性特征,包括脱贫攻坚阶段的前关系空间(标准空间较大)和巩固脱贫成果阶段的后关系空间(协商空间较大)。(2)阶段内关系空间转化是标准空间向协商空间转化的过程。以脱贫攻坚阶段为例,“两不愁、三保障”这一明确政策目标下的标准行为构建了较大的标准空间,有利于确立强制通行点,促进阶段内关系空间转化。(3)阶段间关系空间转化是前一阶段的协商空间转化为后一阶段的标准空间的过程,脱贫攻坚阶段的前协商空间就转化成了巩固脱贫成果阶段的后标准空间。这一关系空间转化的过程可结合新标准行为的应用和空间稳定性测度进行验证。(4)关系空间转化促成了村小组和村民转变为后关系空间中的关键行动者,他们在参与改善建成环境的过程中被动员起来,通过成立合作社的形式和其他行动者结成紧密网络联盟,未来会在巩固拓展脱贫攻坚成果、全面推进乡村振兴的过程中发挥关键作用。论文所构建的关系空间转化框架对分析和促进乡村地区的发展兼具理论价值与现实意义。     

Local traditions as a means for commercial production of historical beers: The case of Vossaøl,Norway

The aim of the article is to analyse challenges facing the commercial production of historical beers, which are ‘extinct’ beers. The concept of ‘fictive terroir’ is introduced to emphasize these challenges. The author addresses the following questions: What kind of knowledge is needed to produce historical beers? How can this knowledge be acquired? How can it be used commercially in craft breweries? The studied case is Vossaøl, a craft beer imitation of a beer produced in the early 19th century. The data were obtained from written sources and interviews with local home brewers and brewers at Voss Brewery in Norway. The study revealed the need to reconstruct the terroir in the early 19th century. Additionally, Voss Brewery had to acquire knowledge about how to process and combine the ingredients, which included the traditional yeast (kveik). Involving traditional home brewers was crucial to determine how ingredients could be combined to produce Vossaøl. The author concludes that a synthetic knowledge base was a useful point of departure in this respect. Participation in the traditional culture of brewing proved an important means when working with this knowledge base. The results are interesting in the broader context of the reconstruction of beverages and food.     

Green infrastructure,green space,and sustainable urbanism: geography’s important role

ABSTRACT

This paper is a broad review of green infrastructure theory and practice relative to urban sustainability and the space for geographers in these discussions. We use examples from various urban sustainability plans to highlight ways in which green infrastructure is being conceptualized and implemented. We explore how geography contributes research on green infrastructure as well as the emerging practices as seen within sustainability plans. We identify four areas in which geographers can influence both green infrastructure theory and practice: 1) scale; 2) mapping distribution; 3) sensitivity to place and locale; and 4) equity and access. We conclude that in these areas geographers have tremendous opportunity contribute more deliberately to sustainable urbanism.     

Urban Pulse—The Struggle for Water,Life, and Dignity In South African Cities: The Case of Johannesburg

The struggle for water is a key feature of life in Johannesburg, as it is in all South African cities. This article describes a court action that was brought against the City of Johannesburg by the people of one neighborhood, Phiri, in an effort to secure an adequate supply of water. It is shown how the people of Phiri argued for the removal of discriminatory technology in the form of prepayment meters and for an increase in the quantity of water. Furthermore, it will show how race, class, and geography are articulated in the post-apartheid city.