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Relocating Lubra Village and Visualizing Himalayan Flood Damages with Remote Sensing
Full text linkAs weather patterns change worldwide, isolated communities impacted by climate change go unnoticed and we need community-driven solutions. In Himalayan Mustang, Nepal, indigenous Lubra Village faces threats of increasing flash flooding. After every flood, residual muddy sediment hardens across the riverbed like concrete, causing the riverbed elevation to rise. As elevation increases, sediment encroaches on Lubra’s agricultural fields and homes, magnifying flood vulnerability. In the last monsoon season alone, the Lubra community witnessed floods swallowing several agricultural fields and damaging two homes. One solution considers relocating the village to a new location entirely. However, relocation poses a challenging task, as eight centuries of ancestry, heritage, and nuanced cultural complexities exist in both aspects of communal opinion and civil engineering. To investigate this issue further, we utilize remote sensing technologies such as drones and satellite imagery to create unique, highly detailed 3D visualizations and 2D maps to document climate-related impacts in Lubra Village. We also investigate quantifying riverbed elevation trends with digital elevation models to address how the riverbed elevation changes overtime. In tandem, we conduct oral interviews with members of Lubra to understand how flooding and droughts affect their ways of life, allowing us to contextualize these models. Pairing visualized data with personal accounts, we provide an informative story that depicts Himalayan climate change on a local level for supporting Lubra in informing local policy and requesting relief aid
CULTURAL PERSPECTIVES ON PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCES: A STUDY OF PSILOCYBIN IN INDONESIA
Full text linkThis study examines the various cultural views on psilocybin in Indonesia, emphasizing its role in religious, spiritual, and cultural contexts. It investigates both the historical and present-day use of psychoactive substances, specifically psilocybin, in connecting with the divine, attaining transcendental enlightenment, and shaping identity within specific civilizations. Although psilocybin is illegal in Indonesia, these mushrooms can be found in the Gili Islands, raising questions about how they fit into local spiritual traditions and the legal loopholes that allow their use. Field research in the Gili Islands reveals how religious beliefs and practices influence the cultural acceptance of magic mushrooms, while interviews with residents shed light on its importance for healing and transforming the mind. The study also examines the effects of tourism on traditional healing practices, investigating the exchange between global and local perceptions of psychoactive substances. By utilizing ethnographic observations and interviews, the gathered data gives a greater understanding of how cultural and religious backgrounds shape the acceptance and use of hallucinogenic mushrooms in spiritual practices
The Commodification of Local Food Systems in Bali: Social Media, Processed Foods, and Government Policies.
Full text linkThis study examines the differences in food availability between tourist and rural markets in Bali, focusing on the factors contributing to a diet shift in Bali. Using a mixed-methods approach—including interviews with local residents, observational surveys, and a literature review—this research highlights the influence of tourism, social media, and government policies on food choices and accessibility. Findings reveal a noticeable increase in processed foods in tourist areas, driven by demand for convenience and Instagrammable options, while rural markets maintain a higher prevalence of whole foods despite the creeping presence of packaged products. Interviews with participants of different generations further underscore the cultural and economic shifts impacting dietary habits, with younger individuals favoring processed foods influenced by social media trends. This study contributes to understanding the intersection of globalization, tourism, and local food systems, raising critical questions about sustainability and the future of traditional diets in Indonesia
Assessing insect functional diversity across land-use types in the West Usambara Mountains, Tanzania
Full text linkThis study was conducted in the West Usambara Mountains, specifically the Mgwashi Ward in northern Tanzania, in November 2024. With insect biodiversity declining globally and the lack of research on insect populations in the West Usambara, this study aimed to assess insect functional diversity and abundance across three land uses: protected area, mixed cropping, and agroforestry. Data were collected over four days using cup traps and pan traps to sample winged and ground- dwelling insects. Purposive sampling techniques were used to select study sites, and systematic random sampling was used to place study plots, transects, and traps. Two 30m x 30m study plots were created per land use, each containing two transects. Along each transect, twelve traps were placed (six of each type), therefore totaling 144 traps across all three sites. 2,426 insects were sampled across all three sites, with mixed cropping trapping the highest abundance (n = 1,014), and protected area trapping the lowest abundance (n = 580). While the protected area had the lowest abundance, according to the Shannon-Weiner Diversity Index, the protected area had the highest functional diversity (H’ = 1.70). Species in the insect population control and decomposer functional groups were found to have notably low abundances in the mixed cropping and agroforestry land uses, making these ecological services less present in these two land uses. The chi-squared test reveals an X2 (16, N = 2216) = 532.54, p \u3c .001 difference relationship between land-use types and functional group distribution. The findings suggest that the low-intensity agriculture practiced in the Mgwashi Ward significantly affects insect functional diversity. However, more research is needed to assess how these effects on insect functional diversity lead to potential harms and benefits for the surrounding human and ecological community
The Competition Between Sustainability and Profitability in Byron Bay, NSW Businesses
Full text linkByron Bay, NSW is a unique community made up of surfers, hippies, and tourists where both the natural environment and the businesses downtown are central to the area. To be a successful business among these varying lifestyles requires thought into both creating profit and acting sustainably. This paper aims to understand how the culture of the Byron Bay community influences the balance between sustainability and profitability in local businesses. To achieve this goal, I conducted six interviews of businesses that are local to Byron Bay. Businesses in the organics, clothing, beer, and handmade industries were interviewed regarding their sustainability practices, tensions with profit, and relationship with the community. Each businesses Instagram account was analyzed, categorizing each post into sustainability and profitability based off a framework of keywords found in posts that relate to each category. All data was analyzed from themes throughout interview responses and data gathered from Instagram. It was found that businesses in Byron Bay practice sustainability regardless of how much they speak about it publicly. The culture surrounds the environment, leading to sustainable practices to be an expectation. Interview responses revealed how marketing sustainability can be overwhelming and lead to distrust from consumers. On Instagram, businesses focus on profitability without feeling pressure to publicize all their sustainability habits. The culture in Byron Bay creates a lifestyle surrounding sustainability, which is reflected in the practices of local businesses
Fishnet of Connection: The Cultural and Ecological Resilience of Samoan Fishers
Full text linkSamoan fishers have created extensive knowledge systems both historically (as traditional knowledge) and contemporarily (local knowledge), and individually and collectively through close interaction with the marine environment. Such knowledge has yet to be recorded in literature, and thus cannot be brought into discussions of cultural and ecological resilience in the face of a changing environment. To remedy this, talanoas were used in this research to holistically understand how subsistence, commercial, and game fishers in Samoa perceive and interact with their communities and the environment. Fishers were found to undertake the task of fishing for nutrition, income, leisure, community, and tradition. They had insights as to how the environment has changed recently and were found to be taking measures to adapt to and rehabilitate it. Using Pacific theories on resilience, the findings were analyzed to prove the cultural and ecological resilience of Samoan fishers
Coral reef health assessments at four reefs near Isla Colón and Isla Bastimentos in Bocas del Toro, Panama
No full textCoral reefs are crucial marine ecosystems in the Caribbean Sea, but they are in decline and facing increasing threat from local and global anthropogenic stressors. This study employed a collection of reef health indicators to develop a holistic view of the health of four reefs in the Bocas del Toro archipelago of Panama. Photo and video transect methodology were used to survey fish assemblages, benthic cover, coral bleaching, and coral disease in two reefs exposed to the open ocean and two reefs sheltered in a semi-enclosed bay. Results revealed that the health of sheltered reefs surveyed was generally better than exposed reefs across health metrics. Health of the exposed reef ecosystems studied varied widely based on surrounding ecosystems and hydrology. These findings illustrate the roles of exposure, hydrography, and history on health of the four reefs studied and underscore the need for targeted conservation strategies to address the unique network of threats that each reef ecosystem faces
The Increase of Allergies in Developed Countries: A Comparison of the Quality of Life and Psychosocial Burden of Individuals with Food Allergies in Switzerland and the United States of America
Full text linkThe Hygiene Hypothesis suggests that as societies become increasingly sterile and there is less exposure to microorganisms early in life; consequently, there is an increase in inflammatory autoimmune disorders and allergies due to a maladapted immune system to the new sterile environment. This hypothesis can offer a possible explanation for the observed increase in allergies, specifically food allergies, in developed countries. To explore the psychosocial burden of allergies and evaluate the quality of life this paper will explore the food allergen labeling policies for prepackaged foods, the regulation of allergen information for non-prepackaged foods, and the psychosocial burden food allergies can have on youth populations in the developed countries, Switzerland and the United States of America. Insufficient and inconsistent governmental regulations for allergen labeling and information can increase anxiety for individuals with food allergies. Food and eating practices are important to social development; therefore, being isolated from social eating practices, especially during adolescence, can increase stress and decrease Quality of Life. This paper utilizes scientific literature, grey literature, informal interviews, and semi-structured formal interviews to address the research question.
Limited data on food allergies in Switzerland makes it difficult to fully determine the Quality of Life of people with food allergies in this country; however, the available data compared to the United States revealed that both countries have various aspects of their legislation and social attitudes of food allergies they can target to improve the Quality of Life of allergy sufferers. Both countries must address the inconsistent use of precautionary allergen labeling, the lack of allergy awareness training in food businesses, and bullying directed toward students with food allergies in schools to help alleviate the disease burden of food allergies
Feasibility study of coral farming in southwest Madagascar: In-situ and ex-situ approaches
Full text linkThe southwest coast of Madagascar is home to hundreds of miles of coral reefs that for decades have been susceptible to intense degradation due to anthropogenic influences on marine environments. For reasons involving economic opportunity, conservation strategies, human health safeguarding and advancements to coral research, coral aquaculture in the Toliara region presents an opportunity to restore quality of life and the environment. Other countries in the west Indian ocean have seen great success in coral aquaculture; however, Madagascar, despite having ideal natural circumstances, has not deeply explored coral aquaculture. This review presents an investigation into the feasibility of coral farming, both in-situ and ex-situ in this region. The feasibility report presents information on the status of an in-situ coral nursery that was reared in January 2019 for the sake of investigating the potential longevity in reef nursery projects. The ex-situ study reports on a first attempt of growing corals ex-situ in southwestern Madagascar for the sake of having environments in which controlled experimentation can be done on local corals. This is a holistic overview of environmental and ecological conditional indicators of coral nursery health in in-situ and ex-situ environments. The in-situ study reveals that there is great potential for the long term success of human-induced coral nurseries in this region based on the accumulation of biomass, intense growth of coral and overall biodiversity with 36 species of coral, fish and algae identified. These nurseries can be used as sources of healthy coral for bolstering struggling natural reefs, as environments for education and potentially for rearing corals to participate in the global coral trade. The ex-situ study reveals conditions under which corals of the species A. muricata have the best health margin based on the variable of irradiance. The data reveals that keeping ex-situ ponds out of direct sunlight to minimize temperature and pH allows for highest survivability
Early report of a microcosm of the fourth major global bleaching event: A comprehensive survey of coral bleaching at Chumbe Island Coral Park, Zanzibar
Full text linkCoral reefs harbor a wealth of the biodiversity present in the ocean. They provide an array of ecological and economic services that make them crucial to the function of a healthy ocean and prosperous coastal communities. Due to an array of anthropogenic stressors, including an increase in ocean temperatures as a result of climate change, reefs have been devastated worldwide. This is, in large part, due to the process of coral bleaching, the expelling of symbiont algae which the coral needs to produce energy, for an extended period until death. This study surveyed bleaching and death at a deeper and shallower site along the Chumbe Coral Park reef. Quadrats were thrown along transects within the three principal zones of the reef (back reef, reef crest, and fore reef) to discern the percentage of alive, bleached, dead coral, and coral cover. A multitude of other coral stressors were also examined ad hoc. It was found that bleaching and death was widespread across the reef, with the worst death occurring at the reef crest. Bleaching was worst overall in the deeper section of the reef, indicating that the coral morphologies and genera there are more susceptible to thermal stress. The shallower site likely gives an impression of the future of the deeper site under increasingly severe bleaching events, with heartier, more thermally resistant species dominating the north. While local protections can reduce some coral stressors, if steps are not taken to properly address the warming ocean temperatures as a result of climate change, the collapse of the coral reef ecosystem as a result will mean catastrophic ramifications for the health of the marine environment, a breakdown in global foodways, and the loss of livelihood and nutrition for local communities