SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
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UNNATURAL DIVIDES: A CASE STUDY OF THE NY-24 CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION IN 2018
Get PDFProgress on environmental issues in the U.S. relies on governmental action. However, our partisan political system currently produces intense divides and debate, stalling progress on environmental protections. This project explores how this trend emerged in the 2018 congressional midterm election in the NY-24 district. Through semi-structured interviews with politically active people in the NY-24 district, an intimate understanding of the connections drawn between political subjectivity and environmental values reveals that while conservation is not unimportant, it is not a key or defining issue for many voters in the election. A content analysis of election coverage from local newspapers supports this idea, as the environment was a prevalent issue but far from the predominant issue in the coverage. The conclusions of this thesis demonstrate that a shift in framing the environment on behalf of politicians, the media, and environmentalists is necessary to bring focus and true change for environmental problems
USING UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS TO ESTIMATE CROWN AREA-BIOMASS RELATIONSHIPS IN A NORWAY SPRUCE (Picea abies) PLANTATION
Get PDFThe main purpose of this study is to evaluate the potential improvements in forest biomass estimation by using commercially accessible and affordable small Unmanned Aerial System (sUAS) imagery. For this goal, total aboveground biomass is quantified by: field enumeration of all n = 1,919 trees in a Norway spruce (Picea abies) plantation; obtaining UAS imagery from over the plantation; indirect estimation of tree size distribution using UAS imagery; comparison of two methods for estimating tree crown area from UAS imagery; and linear correlations between field measurements and photo-based crown area estimates. Results showed generally weak correlation between field measurements of above-ground biomass and UAS-derived crown area estimates. To improve forest biomass estimation, recommended refinements were detailed
POLY(ETHER-ESTER) DENDRONS, DENDRIMERS AND LINEARDENDRITIC BLOCK COPOLYMERS. SYNTHESIS AND SELFASSEMBLY
No full textAmphiphilic Janus dendrimers composed of hydrophilic poly(ether-ester) (PEE) dendron and hydrophobic poly(benzyl ether) (PBE) dendron were synthesized by fragment coupling through copper catalyzed alkyne-azide cycloaddition (“click” chemistry). By varying the dendron generation and the oligo(ethylene glycol) linker between the branching units of the PEE dendron, a small library containing 14 Janus dendrimers were prepared. These Janus dendrimers were used to produce micelles and vesicles in water which were further investigated by microscopic studies.
Amphiphilic linear-dendritic block copolymers (LDBCs) composed of hydrophilic PEE dendron and linear polystyrene tail were synthesized by dendron initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). By varying the polymerization time and catalyst concentration, a series of LDBCs with different PEE generation and polystyrene chain length were prepared. These LDBCs were used to produce porous films by static breath figure technique. The hydrophilic to hydrophobic ratio and precipitation rate of the LDBCs determines the regularity of the pores. Only the first generation LDBC bearing OH surface groups with low PEE content were able to generate breath figure films. Higher generations LDBCs require water miscible cosolvent to produce porous films. Mixing the LDBCs with hydroxyl groups with homo polystyrene provides a method to fabricate monolayer porous films with controllable pore size.
LDBCs were further utilized to prepare colloidal particles by cosolvent (nanoprecipitation) method. The morphology of obtained self-assembled particles was studied by electron microscopies. The morphology of these micelles depends on PEE content and its generation. The polystyrene tail is stretched in the micellar cores formed by the first and second generation LDBCs while relaxed in the third generation LDBCs when THF is used as the common solvent. The morphologies were tuned by changing the common solvent or complexing the palladium to LDBCs. Bicontinuous sponge, cubic (Im3̅m)and reversed hexagonal (HII)phases were produced
FACILITATING PHEROMONE SYNTHESIS
Get PDFIntegrated pest management (IPM) is an area of agriculture research secondary to the negative impacts of conventional pesticides. Pheromones have been shown to be effective approaches in pest control with minimal risk to humans and the environment. We describe projects that contribute to pheromone research. Firstly, we describe a method for synthesis of the pheromone exo-brevicomin (7-ethyl-5-methyl- 6,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane) using tosylation of alcohol followed by alkylation and cyclization. This stereoselective method is unique compared to others. Secondly, we describe a method for the oxidation of primary alcohols to aldehyde using trichloroisocyanuric acid and 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-pipredinyloxy in the presence of sodium bicarbonate or p-tolunesulfonic acid. Also described is the direct conversion of a primary alcohol to alpha-chloroaldehyde. This has future potential in pheromone research. Finally, we explored conditions for a cost-effective and efficient direct mixed Claisen condensation using LDA as base to yield ketoesters that can then be converted to ketones. The Claisen condensation can be used to further synthesize the pheromone 7-Methyl-l,6- dioxaspiro[4.5]decane.. This method is more efficient and potentially more cost-effective than other previously described methods
CITIZEN SCIENCE LAKE MONITORING: EXPLORING CHEMICALS OF EMERGING CONCERN MONITORING IN NEW YORK STATE
Get PDFCitizen science, defined as voluntary public participation in scientific research, is a form of scientific exploration that has grown tremendously in recent years. Chemicals of emerging concern (CECs) are chemicals found in the environment which may pose risks to human and ecosystem health. This research project utilizes a survey to better understand the knowledge and awareness that citizen scientists associated with the Citizens Statewide Lake Assessment Program (CSLAP) in New York State have about CECs, as well as the motivations behind their current roles as citizen scientists. CSLAP monitors hold some knowledge of CECs, but many have knowledge gaps and would like to learn more about CECs, and participants are motivated by a number of factors, but primarily by their interest in the topic of water quality. Clarifying and disseminating information about CECs, integrating CECs research into citizen science programs, and understanding volunteers’ motivations are some implications of this research
Freshwater Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning Toxins and other Cyanobacterial Neurotoxins in New York Lakes
Get PDFCyanobacterial blooms occur worldwide and produce a range of harmful compounds. While most attention had focused on the hepatoxic microcystins, other cyanobacterial toxins such as the neurotoxic paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins (PSTs) and anatoxins (ATXs) may threaten environmental health.
Anatoxins (ATXs) are potent nicotinic agonists that can cause death within minutes. While the distribution of anatoxin-a has been evaluated in lakes, two derivatives, homo- anatoxin and dihydro-anatoxin, have not been evaluated.
Paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins (PSTs) are lethal neurotoxins with more than 60 known variants. While originally identified in marine systems, PSTs are frequently detected in freshwaters. The distribution of PSTs in freshwater systems have not been evaluated. We include the anatoxins and PSTs in the first survey of New York lakes for neurotoxins.
The occurrence of ATXs and PSTs were determined in more than 1,000 blooms sampled across 245 New York lakes. While less prevalent than the microcystins, these neurotoxins were found in ~15% of blooms surveyed. The PSTs occurred at concentrations well above drinking water and recreational guidelines for the toxins, while anatoxins concentrations were below recreational guidelines but above drinking water guidelines.
Two New York lakes were examined in more detail for the presence of toxins. Butterfield Lake primarily contained PSTs produced by benthic Microseira wollei. These cyanobacteria were found at two sites, where the toxins were unlikely to pose a significant health risk to lake users as PSTs were not detected in open waters. Concern focused on humans or animals being exposed to dislodged benthic material.
Chautauqua Lake experienced numerous planktonic blooms that contained a complex mixture of toxins. The microcystins and PSTs were detected in high concentration, while anatoxin-a concentrations were low. Potential for exposure, and the variability in bloom size and toxin composition, suggests potential recreational human health risks.
This work emphasizes that neurotoxins present a significant health concern within New York State, and that monitoring programs for cyanobacteria toxins should not focus solely on the microcystins to assess human health risk from cyanotoxins. The xxix potential for exposure to these toxins varies between lakes, and monitoring strategies may need to be adapted to different locations
Virginia Scenic Viewshed Assessment Project: Literature Review And assessment Methodology
Get PDFScenic Virginia strives to identify and highlight Virginia’s \u27scenery\u27 and Virginia has a ‘scenic’ component in their new Conserve Virginia land conservation effort. As such the development of a universal assessment tool that can be used by citizens and professionals to identify and rate the value of scenic viewsheds is needed in Virginia. The goal of this presentation is to discuss how, using scientifically supported research, a protocol based on grassroots input can identify significant scenic resources in Virginia. The presentation will introduce scientific studies, based on an extensive literature review, that were used to develop an assessment tool. This new tool will be used by communities to help them understand and highlight their scenic resources. The goal is to gain greater awareness and support for protecting scenery in Virginia by using careful planning and preservation techniques
An Empirical Assessment of the Arcpro Visual Magnitude Viewshed Plugin
Get PDFNumerous viewshed analyses have been developed over the past few decades, but the uptake of these within industry has largely remained stagnant. This project involves ground-truthing one of the more recent viewshed analysis variants (Chamberlain and Meitner 2012, 2015) to assess reliability and application. This viewshed analysis was developed as a plug-in for the ESRI ArcGIS Pro software, making it readily accessible by anyone with an ArcGIS license. The validation of this software was recently conducted using an empirical approach to measure the accuracy of the analysis in the GIS versus real- world. Results demonstrate extremely high validity in controlled conditions, this degree of validity decreased substantially in highly variable terrain. This variability likely stems from measurement controls that are difficult to produce in real-world contexts. In this paper, the analysis, procedures and lessons learned are provided, as well as a call for additional empirical testing of viewshed analyses more broadly
UK Landscape Policy, Landscape Character Assessment and Landscape Impact Assessment – Intensions vs Practical Application
Get PDFThe European Landscape Convention (ELC) is the treaty devoted to all aspects of European landscape. It provides the legislative context where landscape is encouraged to be considered as a valuable asset in its own right. It sets out requirements for the generation of landscape policy, quality objectives, protection, management and landscape planning.
Landscape Character Assessment (LCA) is the process of identifying the character of the landscape, with the landscape as the environmental resource. It seeks to identify, describe and explain the unique combination of elements and features that make landscapes distinctive. The aim is that by establishing a robustly developed landscape character baseline, such a baseline can help us to understand our landscapes, to generate policy and assist those in informing judgements and making decisions concerning the potential changes to our landscape by proposed development.
The National Landscape Character Areas (NCAs), and those produced at a local government level, seek to provide this baseline. However, their value in the production of landscape and visual impact assessments associated with environmental impact assessments, which are then used to inform decisions, is less clear.
This paper explores some of the challenges presented to professional landscape architects in England undertaking landscape and visual impact assessments for development projects when they seek to use national and local character assessments in their work.
It provides a brief outline of the European Landscape Convention, Landscape Character Assessment, the National Character Areas, the Guidance for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment in the context of the Environmental Impact Assessment regulations. It then uses the impact assessments from two recent projects undertaken by the Author to explain how useful, or otherwise, the policy and objectives set out in the ELC and NCAs are in the assessment of effects on landscape character
Measuring Visual Pollution Threshold along Kuala Lumpur Historic Shopping District Streets Using Cumulative Area Analysis
Get PDFVisual pollution significantly affects public appreciation of the urban environment. Sources of visual pollution such as wastes, energy infrastructures, and advertising boards can cause discomfort towards one\u27s ability to enjoy a scene or view. Although visual pollution is prevalent in the urban environment, less is known regarding public acceptance and tolerance towards different levels of pollution. Therefore, from our point of view, determining the threshold level of visual pollution is essential in achieving visual quality in the urban environment. In this research, we have chosen a popular urban street in Kuala Lumpur as a case study to help us understand how people respond towards visual pollution within a historic shopping district. The study employed cumulative area analysis and photo booklet survey, and it was tested with students in the landscape architecture program at Universiti Putra Malaysia. Results show that the respondents have higher tolerance towards the level of visual pollution than what we had anticipated. Although we have thought that landscape architecture students should be more sensitive towards visual pollution, regular exposure towards pollutants in the urban environment probably has increased their level of tolerance. Nevertheless, this study has provided us with insight on demographic variables such as gender, education level and residential location, which may be meaningful for future research in identifying visual pollution threshold among the public in cities