82 research outputs found
Food web networks and parasite diversity:
No full textThe structure of free-living trophic interactions, detailed as food webs, describes potential parasite transmission routes and is likely to provide considerable insight into parasite community dynamics. Despite this framework, a lack of empirical data has largely restricted food web analyses to addressing fundamental questions asking how parasites ‘fit’ into food webs and food web theory. The purpose of this dissertation was to determine how the complex dynamics in the host food web affects the establishment and persistence of parasites. This study focused on helminth parasites with obligate bird, fish and macroinvertebrate hosts that are intimately tied to trophic interactions in food webs from salt marshes throughout the New York-New Jersey Harbor estuary complex. This study was done in four salt marshes, one unrestored and three that were restored at 0, 10 and 20 years previously, and which reflected a gradient in host diversity. There was no relationship between the diversity of the free-living community and the diversity of the parasite community. However, there was a strong correlation between the trophic structure of the host community and complex life cycle parasite presence. The topology of each salt marsh food web was highly nested with clusters of generalists forming distinct core/periphery structure. Two thirds of all parasite stages were constrained to these core species and their physical location in the food web. Community matrices constructed with randomly determined interaction coefficients to assess community stability confirmed a correlation between system stability and parasite species richness in our sentinel fish species. These data suggest that core free-living species within the food web represent stable trophic relationships that allow for the persistence of complex parasite life cycles. Further, these data suggest a prominent role for clusters of free-living trophic interactions in the establishment of trophically transmitted parasites and the potential for the evolution of complex life cycles.Ph.D.Includes bibliographical references (p. 132-170)by Tavis Keith Anderso
A Method for the analysis of Sustainability Indicator Systems in Fisheries.
No full textThe development of sustainability indicator systems (SIS) has been a response to practically apply and interpret ecosystem-based and precautionary approaches to fisheries management. Fisheries- based indicator systems have been characterised by recognition of their utility, but hampered by a lack of data, clear roles and responsibilities and an uneven distribution of implementation across governance jurisdictions. This paper explores a policy-based holistic model of an indicator system consisting of inputs, core structures and outputs and uses this as the basis of an assessment framework. The framework is applied to two recent reporting systems: the Australian government's Commonwealth Sustainable Fisheries Assessments and the Marine Stewardship Council initiative
A Review of 'Green Growth: Ideology, Political Economy and the Alternatives'
No full textThis is a challenging book. It tests the reader on a number of fronts including a series of intensive theoretical discourses on the political economy of the green economy, a critique of the neoliberal green growth agenda, and the uncomfortable proposition that the trajectory offered by the green economy has significant implications for the equitable development of society. The ultimatum of the book suggests that the proposed solutions are politically difficult and involve radical social change
Triple bottom line reporting : a tool for measuring, communicating and facilitating change in local communities
No full textTriple Bottom Line (TBL) is an emerging process that aims to report, assess and improve organisational performance in relation to sustainability. It is gaining recognition within local government as a means of reporting progress towards or away from sustainability and incorporating its principles into management practices. John Elkington coined the term Triple Bottom Line in 1980s to highlight the importance of accounting for the non-market and non-financial aspects of performance in corporations, including social performance. Elkington stated: "The triple bottom line focuses corporations not just on the economic value they add, but also on the environmental and social value they add – and destroy. At its narrowest, the term ‘triple bottom line’ is used as a framework for measuring and reporting corporate performance against economic, social and environmental parameters". A triple bottom line is not a quest for a new bottom-line ‘metric’ but rather an approach for performance assessment and management that stresses the interdependence of economic, environmental and social criteria. Triple bottom line is
therefore best seen as a process that includes managing, measuring and publicly reporting multi-dimensional performance and integrating with management process. Primarily it is a platform for the discussion of these integrated issues within the council
and the community. Triple Bottom Line is simply an analogy and process for the broader notion of sustainability reporting
The Arctic: a race for resources or sustainable ocean development
No full textThe Arctic Ocean is a semi-enclosed sea surrounded by five coastal states: Canada, Denmark (Greenland), Norway (Svalbard), the Russian Federation and the United States of America (Figure 1). Since the planting of a Russian flag on the sea-bed at the North Pole in August 2007 there have been renewed efforts by the other Arctic Ocean littoral states to reinforce their claims in the region. This, combined with the dramatic decrease in the extent of summer sea-ice, means that the Arctic has become a focus of global media, scientific and government attention. Much of this Arctic narrative has been decidedly alarmist, not to say misleading, featuring tales of a \u27scramble\u27 or \u27race\u27 for the Arctic, and talk of an Arctic \u27land-grab\u27 or \u27gold rush\u27. Underlying the expectation of resource-driven competition between nations staking claims in the Arctic is the perception that the Arctic represents a potential scene for geopolitical confrontation or the basis for a new Cold War
Leading from the front? Increasing Community Participation in a Just Transition to Net Zero in the North-East of Scotland
Full text linkAcknowledgements We would like to thank our funder the Scottish University Insight Institute for funding and supporting this project. We would also like to thank our project partners NESCAN Hub and Power Circle and the community and civil society groups, local stakeholders and individuals who joined us at our events
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