Academic literature on the topic 'Urban native birds'
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Journal articles on the topic "Urban native birds"
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Smith, Alexis D., and Emily Minor. "Chicago’s Urban Cemeteries as Habitat for Cavity-Nesting Birds." Sustainability 11, no. 12 (June 13, 2019): 3258. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su11123258.
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Although not explicitly managed for conservation, urban cemeteries may provide a reserve of dead and dying trees for cavity-nesting birds. However, the ability of urban cemeteries to support these birds on current landscapes is largely unknown. We surveyed cavity-nesting birds and their habitat in 18 cemeteries in Chicago, Illinois (USA). At each location, we examined vegetation, availability of gravestones and monuments for perches, and landscape-level environmental conditions. We tested the importance of these variables for presence of individual bird species, and for overall richness of native cavity-nesting birds. We also assessed the availability and characteristics of tree cavities and their distribution among different tree species. We found that most cemeteries contained at least one dead or dying tree. Across all sampled areas, we detected 207 naturally-occurring and 77 excavated tree cavities. Tree species generally supported cavities in proportion to their abundance. We observed 12 native and two non-native cavity-nesting bird species in the cemeteries. Cavity-nesting bird species richness was best explained by landscape-level variables such as canopy cover and distance to water, but local-level variables (e.g., number of graves in a 50 m radius) influenced habitat selection for some species. Based on our results, we make suggestions for how both existing cemeteries and new “green” cemeteries can support biodiversity conservation.
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Werema, Chacha, and Charles Wilson. "Avian Use of Habitat Patches Dominated by Exotic Leucaena leucocephala or Native Tree Species in Urban Dar es Salaam, Tanzania." Tanzania Journal of Science 48, no. 2 (June 17, 2022): 402–13. http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/tjs.v48i2.15.
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There has been an incursion of an exotic Leucaena leucocephala in disturbed areas and into habitat patches of native tree species in some areas in Tanzania. However, the impacts of this exotic tree on native biodiversity are not well understood. We assessed bird use of habitat patches dominated by L. leucocephala in comparison to patches of native tree species at the University of Dar es Salaam main campus, Tanzania, by comparing bird species richness, abundance and diversity using mist netting. Based on the same mist netting efforts in each habitat patch type, patches of native trees had significantly higher overall diversity (t = 1.999, df = 293.64, p < 0.05) and abundance (χ2 = 40.525, df = 1, p < 0.001) of birds than those dominated by the exotic L. leucocephala and significantly greater abundance of forest-dependent species (χ2 = 10.938, df = 1, p < 0.001) and forest visitors (χ2 = 15.258, df = 1, p < 0.001). The similarity in bird species between the two habitats was 0.658 indicating that many bird species occurred in both habitat types. The lower diversity and overall abundance of birds in the patches dominated by the exotic plant suggest that it does not provide appropriate habitat for many bird species, and further spread of this exotic will be detrimental to the local avifauna.
Keywords: Birds, diversity, native tree species, exotic tree species, Leucaena leucocephala.
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Aronson, Myla F. J., Frank A. La Sorte, Charles H. Nilon, Madhusudan Katti, Mark A. Goddard, Christopher A. Lepczyk, Paige S. Warren, et al. "A global analysis of the impacts of urbanization on bird and plant diversity reveals key anthropogenic drivers." Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 281, no. 1780 (April 7, 2014): 20133330. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2013.3330.
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Urbanization contributes to the loss of the world's biodiversity and the homogenization of its biota. However, comparative studies of urban biodiversity leading to robust generalities of the status and drivers of biodiversity in cities at the global scale are lacking. Here, we compiled the largest global dataset to date of two diverse taxa in cities: birds (54 cities) and plants (110 cities). We found that the majority of urban bird and plant species are native in the world's cities. Few plants and birds are cosmopolitan, the most common being Columba livia and Poa annua . The density of bird and plant species (the number of species per km 2 ) has declined substantially: only 8% of native bird and 25% of native plant species are currently present compared with estimates of non-urban density of species. The current density of species in cities and the loss in density of species was best explained by anthropogenic features (landcover, city age) rather than by non-anthropogenic factors (geography, climate, topography). As urbanization continues to expand, efforts directed towards the conservation of intact vegetation within urban landscapes could support higher concentrations of both bird and plant species. Despite declines in the density of species, cities still retain endemic native species, thus providing opportunities for regional and global biodiversity conservation, restoration and education.
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S*, Ganesh, and P. U. Antoney. "Site preferences for nesting by birds in an educational institution campus in Bengaluru, Karnataka, South India." International Journal of Bioassays 5, no. 05 (May 3, 2016): 4528. http://dx.doi.org/10.21746/ijbio.2016.05.001.
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Wildlife conservation in urban habitats is increasingly important due to current urbanization trends. Studying birds in urban landscapes and pointing out the importance of their management and conservation are the needs of the day. Every species has certain habitat requirements for successful nesting and breeding. The increase in anthropogenic activities and the disappearance of native tree populations has raised concerns on avian populations and its nesting behavior. In this study, we observed the nesting success of urban birds in the campus. It is found that nesting failure is not predicted by the density of adult birds. These findings suggest that nesting success determined by nest site availability may drive the distribution of avian species in the urban habitat. The abundance of urban bird species nesting in Christ University campus was studied and the need for planting trees that are more conducive for nesting by birds is recommended.
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Davis, R. A., and J. A. Wilcox. "Adapting to suburbia: bird ecology on an urban-bushland interface in Perth, Western Australia." Pacific Conservation Biology 19, no. 2 (2013): 110. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/pc130110.
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Birds in urban landscapes must contend with fragmented and degraded remnants of native vegetation and their survival may be dependent on factors such as their ability to disperse through and/or utilize the urban matrix. We examined the frequency of occurrence of birds in native bushland in Kings Park, Perth, Western Australia, and in nine adjacent suburban gardens. We quantified dispersal capacity by observing bird crossing frequency and height over a major six-lane road separating the bushland from adjacent gardens. Finally we quantified matrix utilisation by recording foraging behaviour in urban gardens and bushland. Native bushland had a higher species richness than urban gardens (30 versus 17 species) and 18 species were associated more strongly with bushland. Of these 18 species, 61% were never recorded in urban gardens. Gardens were typified by three generalist species, the Singing Honeyeater Lichenostomus virescens and the introduced Laughing Dove Spilopelia senegalensis and Spotted Dove S. chinensis. Three generalist species, the Red Wattlebird Anthochaera carunculata, Rainbow Lorikeet Trichoglossus haematodus, and Brown Honeyeater Lichmera indistincta were equally abundant in all habitats. Four of 18 bird species (Singing Honeyeater Red Wattlebird, Rainbow Lorikeet, and Australian Ringneck Barnardius zonarius) accounted for the majority of road crossing events. Urban gardens provided a rich resource for generalists and urban exploiters, all of which spent significantly more time foraging on nectar in gardens and significantly more time foraging on insects in bushland. We conclude that urban gardens provide habitat for some species that exploit nectar, but most species in bushland, particularly insectivores, do not use gardens. Our results indicate the importance of retaining well-managed bushland for supporting viable urban bird populations.
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Johnston López, Karina, Alberto Macías Duarte, and Reyna Amanda Castillo Gámez. "Urban birds in the Sonoran Desert: estimating population density from point counts." Huitzil Revista Mexicana de Ornitología 16, no. 1 (January 16, 2015): 37–47. http://dx.doi.org/10.28947/hrmo.2015.16.1.64.
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We conducted bird surveys in Hermosillo, Sonora using distance sampling to characterize detection functions at point-transects for native and non-native urban birds in a desert environment. From March to August 2013 we sampled 240 plots in the city and its surroundings; each plot was visited three times. Our purpose was to provide information for a rapid assessment of bird density in this region by using point counts. We identified 72 species, including six non-native species. Sixteen species had sufficient detections to accurately estimate the parameters of the detection functions. To illustrate the estimation of density from bird count data using our inferred detection functions, we estimated the density of the Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) under two different levels of urbanization: highly urbanized (90-100% of urban impact) and moderately urbanized zones (39-50% of urban impact). Density of S. decaocto in the highly-urbanized and moderately-urbanized zones was 3.97±0.52 and 2.92±0.52 individuals/ha, respectively. By using our detection functions, avian ecologists can efficiently relocate time and effort that is regularly used for the estimation of detection distances, to increase the number of sites surveyed and to collect other relevant ecological information.
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Gray, Emily R., and Yolanda van Heezik. "Exotic trees can sustain native birds in urban woodlands." Urban Ecosystems 19, no. 1 (August 19, 2015): 315–29. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11252-015-0493-1.
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Galbraith, Josie A., Jacqueline R. Beggs, Darryl N. Jones, and Margaret C. Stanley. "Supplementary feeding restructures urban bird communities." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 112, no. 20 (May 4, 2015): E2648—E2657. http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1501489112.
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Food availability is a primary driver of avian population regulation. However, few studies have considered the effects of what is essentially a massive supplementary feeding experiment: the practice of wild bird feeding. Bird feeding has been posited as an important factor influencing the structure of bird communities, especially in urban areas, although experimental evidence to support this is almost entirely lacking. We carried out an 18-mo experimental feeding study at 23 residential properties to investigate the effects of bird feeding on local urban avian assemblages. Our feeding regime was based on predominant urban feeding practices in our region. We used monthly bird surveys to compare avian community composition, species richness, and the densities of local species at feeding and nonfeeding properties. Avian community structure diverged at feeding properties and five of the commonest garden bird species were affected by the experimental feeding regime. Introduced birds particularly benefitted, with dramatic increases observed in the abundances of house sparrow (Passer domesticus) and spotted dove (Streptopelia chinensis) in particular. We also found evidence of a negative effect on the abundance of a native insectivore, the grey warbler (Gerygone igata). Almost all of the observed changes did not persist once feeding had ceased. Our study directly demonstrates that the human pastime of bird feeding substantially contributes to the structure of avian community in urban areas, potentially altering the balance between native and introduced species.
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Carvalho, Mariana, Jorge M. Palmeirim, Francisco C. Rego, Nelson Sole, Aristides Santana, and John E. Fa. "What motivates hunters to target exotic or endemic species on the island of São Tomé, Gulf of Guinea?" Oryx 49, no. 2 (February 24, 2014): 278–86. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0030605313000550.
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AbstractHunting and invasive species are amongst the main causes of species extinctions on oceanic islands. On the island of São Tomé hunting of introduced mammals (monkeys, civets and pigs) and endemic bird species has contrasting effects in terms of conservation. Hunting of introduced mammals may benefit native fauna and flora but pressure on endemic birds poses a threat to some species. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 119 hunters to assess the relative importance of native and introduced prey species, gathering information on personal profiles, preference and practice, and hunters’ perceptions of trends in prey populations. Eleven species were hunted, including five invasive mammals and five endemic birds of high conservation importance. Based on species hunted, techniques used and final destination of the quarry we distinguished three groups of hunters, using cluster analyses: bird, monkey and feral-pig hunters. Bird hunters were all from urban areas but most pig hunters were rural. Monkey hunters were mostly rural workers but a small proportion were from urban areas. Bird and monkey hunters were primarily motivated by commercial gains but they also hunted for enjoyment and food. In general, hunting of mammals is an opportunistic activity that, if regulated, can be sustainable and contribute to mitigating the effects of invasive species on local fauna as well contributing to local livelihoods. Given the economic drivers involved in hunting of birds, intervention to reduce or eliminate this form of hunting will require enforcement of legislation and raising awareness of the issues involved.
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Lazarina, Maria, Mariana A. Tsianou, Georgios Boutsis, Aristi Andrikou-Charitidou, Elpida Karadimou, and Athanasios S. Kallimanis. "Urbanization and Human Population Favor Species Richness of Alien Birds." Diversity 12, no. 2 (February 11, 2020): 72. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/d12020072.
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Human activities like urbanization and agriculture affect spatial biodiversity patterns. The presence and activities of humans richly benefit alien species, but native species usually decline in human-impacted areas. Considering that the richness of alien and native species are inter-related, we explored the effect of human population density, human-related land uses (agricultural and urban), and natural land area on avian (alien and native) species richness of Massachusetts for two time periods using Generalized Additive Models. Avian alien species richness increased with native species richness in both time periods. Despite the predominant role of native species richness as a major driver of alien species richness, human activities play an important additional role in shaping species richness patterns of established aliens. Human-related land uses (urban and agricultural) and human population favored alien species richness in both time periods. Counter to expectations, human activities were also positively associated to native avian species richness. Possible explanations of these patterns may include habitat heterogeneity, increased availability of resources, and reduced predation risk.
Dissertations / Theses on the topic "Urban native birds"
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Whittaker, Kara Ayn. "Dispersal, habitat use, and survival of native forest songbirds in an urban landscape /." Thesis, Connect to this title online; UW restricted, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/1773/5483.
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Silva, Rui Manuel Roque da. "Using data from citizen-science to monitor bird invasions." Master's thesis, Universidade de Évora, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/10174/23690.
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As consequências ecológicas da introdução de espécies exóticas, é uma das questões de
conservação mais preocupantes mundialmente. A utilização de dados de ciência cidadã, tem sido
proposta como uma solução alternativa para analisar este problema. Assim, o nosso principal
objectivo foi avaliar a adequabilidade de dados de ciência cidadã para monitorizar as tendências
populacionais e de distribuição de espécies exóticas (Psittaciformes and Sturnidae) na região
urbana de Lisboa, utilizando três principais grupos de fontes de dados. Estes dados foram
validados, uma vez que foram recolhidos por colaboradores experientes, a quantidade de registos
foi considerável, e os padrões espácio-temporais relativamente homogéneos. Entre as oito
espécies mais registadas, o periquito-rabijunco e o mainá-de-crista, tiveram o maior aumento
populacional e de distribuição. Para o periquitão-de-cabeça-azul, foi igualmente registado um
aumento, mas menos marcado, enquanto as restantes espécies registadas ocasionalmente. Desta
forma, a ciência cidadã demonstrou ser uma ferramenta útil alternativa à ciência convencional; Abstract:
The ecological consequences from the introduction of non-native species are among the major conservation concerns worldwide. Using citizen-science data has been proposed as an alternative solution to asses this problem. Thus, our main goal was to evaluate the suitability of citizen-science data to monitor the population and distribution trend of non-native species (Psittaciformes and Sturnidae) in the urban region of Lisbon. The evaluation included three major groups of data sources. We validated the suitability of citizen-science data since the contributors' expertise is in general high, the amount of records is considerable, and the spatio-temporal patterns are relatively homogeneous. Among the eight most recorded species, the Ring-necked Parakeet and the Crested Myna showed a noticeable increase in population and distribution range. The Blue-crowned Parakeet also increased but less markedly, while for the remaining species there were only occasional records. Therefore, the citizen-science showed to be a valuable alternative to conventional science.
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Doody, Brendan J. "Riccarton Bush and the natural and social realities of native trees in Christchurch, New Zealand." Lincoln University, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10182/865.
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Urbanization has destroyed and fragmented previously large areas of natural habitat. Small remnants that still exist in numerous cities will be unable to sustain many viable wild plant populations if they do not expand into the surrounding urban matrix. Residential gardens surrounding such remnants, and which form a significant component of urban green space in many cities, could play a role in redressing this problem. Riccarton Bush, a 7.8 hectare forest remnant, and its surrounding suburban residential area, in Christchurch, New Zealand, is a good example. Over 125 years the reported number of native vascular plants in the bush has declined by a third. My study was an attempt to understand: 1) the ecological, social and cultural factors influencing the dispersal and regeneration of 12 native bird-dispersed woody species from Riccarton Bush, into surrounding residential properties; and 2) the potential role residential properties could play in the future of the bush. To examine these diverse factors I adopted an interdisciplinary research approach combining methodologies, concepts and theories from ecology and the social sciences. In a broader context my work was an attempt to demonstrate how urban ecology can further develop and strengthen by adopting and integrating new methodologies, theories and concepts. The ecological component involved recording individuals of the study species found on 90 randomly selected properties within a 1.4 km radius of the bush. Soil samples were also collected from 31 of those properties and placed in a glasshouse and the study species that germinated were recorded. Results showed some species, particularly kahikatea (Dacrycarpus dacrydioides), the most abundant species in the bush, are being dispersed and establishing on properties predominantly within 250 m of the forest margin. These juveniles are not reaching maturity as most gardeners tend to remove all non-planted woody species. Qualitative interviews with 16 residents and a quantitative survey of the residents of 85 of the properties provided insights into the social context which these natural processes were operating. Using notions of place and performance I argue that gardens are continuously created and recreated by humans and non-humans. Residents attempt to create and maintain a garden that fulfils their individual and familial needs and desires (e.g., aesthetics, leisure and privacy), and public responsibilities such as ensuring they have a ‘neat’ and ‘tidy’ garden. This involves selecting plants for colour, shape and the care they require, and encouraging certain performances (e.g., flowering) while controlling other undesirable plants and performances (e.g. growth, spread and shading). While people make connections between native plants, belonging and identity; the ‘scientific’ demarcation between native and exotic species often becomes obscured as the garden is co-created by people and plants. Some plants become more significant than others but usually this is attributable to their performances rather than whether they are native or exotic. Residential gardens have the potential to play a major role in the conservation of species restricted to urban remnants. My research suggests that although the potential exists for woody species restricted to Riccarton Bush to naturally regenerate in nearby gardens, this will not happen without human intervention. Plants will need to be eco-sourced and propagated to avoid detrimental impacts on the genetic health of remnant populations, and then actively planted in gardens. The success of such planting initiatives will be increased by providing residents with information about the plants that are suitable for their performative needs and desires (e.g., the size, colour, and maintenance requirements of plants) and, most importantly, control over the location of plantings. In concluding, I argue that by adopting new concepts, theories and methodologies, the productivity, creativity and relevance of urban ecology can be significantly enhanced.
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Lerman, Susannah Beth. "The Conservation Value of Residential Landscapes for Native Bird Communities: Patterns, Processes, and Management Implications." 2011. https://scholarworks.umass.edu/open_access_dissertations/464.
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Urbanization, as it transforms natural biotic systems into human-dominated landscapes, is recognized as one of the greatest threats to biodiversity throughout the world. Furthermore, urban dwellers are becoming increasingly disconnected with the natural world. Here I investigate whether residential landscape designs that mimic the natural environment can provide habitat for native birds. First I uncover some of the patterns of bird distribution in residential yards by incorporating habitat features, urbanization measurements and socioeconomic factors with bird monitoring data into a multivariate analysis. The results indicate that native birds associate with neighborhoods with native plants and shrubs, neighborhoods closer to desert tracts, and higher income neighborhoods. Very few bird species associate with low income and predominantly Hispanic neighborhoods. Additional analyses based on social survey data demonstrate that residents notice the varying levels of bird variety in their neighborhood. Second, I address whether perceived habitat quality differs between residential landscape designs by testing foraging decisions at artificial food patches. Birds foraging in yards landscaped with native plants consume fewer resources than birds foraging in exotic landscaped yards. This suggests that alternative food sources are more available in the native landscaped yards, indicating better quality habitat. Third, I investigate the relationship between native bird diversity and neighborhoods with a Homeowner Association (HOA). Neighborhoods with an HOA have higher native bird diversity, perhaps due to an active and enforceable landscape maintenance plan. I suggest an HOA adapt features from the Sustainable Sites Initiative to further improve habitat conditions for native birds and other wildlife. Results from the Dissertation support the implementation of native landscaping in residential yards to help reverse the loss of urban biodiversity. Consequentially, these landscapes will provide positive opportunities for urban dwellers to reconnect with the natural world.
Books on the topic "Urban native birds"
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The Urban Bestiary: Encountering the Everyday Wild. Little, Brown and Company, 2013.
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Last Refuge. Dorrance Publishing Company, Incorporated, 2008.
Find full textBook chapters on the topic "Urban native birds"
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Baumann, Nathalie, Chiara Catalano, and Salvatore Pasta. "Improving Extensive Green Roofs for Endangered Ground-Nesting Birds." In Future City, 13–29. Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2021. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-75929-2_2.
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AbstractCities are considered hotspots of biodiversity due to their high number of habitats such as ruderal areas, wastelands and masonry works hosting peculiar biocoenoses. Urban biodiversity represents a challenging and paradigmatic case for contemporary ecology and nature conservation because a clear distinction between nature reserves and anthropogenic lands is becoming obsolete. In this context, extensive green roofs may represent suitable habitat for ground-nesting birds and wild plants, providing suitable conditions occur. In this paper, case studies are used to show how existing extensive green roofs can be improved in order to make them function as replacement habitat for endangered ground-nesting birds. The setup of an uneven topography, combined with hay spreading and seed sowing, significantly enhanced the reproductive performance of the northern lapwing (Vanellus vanellus), one of the most endangered ground-nesting birds in Switzerland.
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Heyman, Erik, Bengt Gunnarsson, and Lukas Dovydavicius. "Management of Urban Nature and Its Impact on Bird Ecosystem Services." In Ecology and Conservation of Birds in Urban Environments, 465–88. Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2017. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-43314-1_23.
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Hansen, Gail, and Joseli Macedo. "Urban Wildlife." In Urban Ecology for Citizens and Planners, 52–61. University Press of Florida, 2021. http://dx.doi.org/10.5744/florida/9781683402527.003.0006.
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Urban areas support nearly every taxonomic group of insects, amphibians, reptiles, fish, birds, and mammals, including wild and domestic animals. The most successful urban wildlife can adjust to human activity and are generalists when seeking food, water, and shelter. Some animals are enjoyed by humans, while others are feared and exterminated. Insects and mammals have the most conflicts with humans, and urban wildlife managers find dealing with the people involved more challenging due to expectations for interacting with animals in urban green spaces. Negative impacts on wildlife include fragmentated habitat, road barriers, and chemical pollution. Strategies to improve habitat include using native plants in parks, creating shared spaces for enhanced wildlife viewing, protecting riparian corridors and floodplains, and creating strong urban tree canopies and wildlife corridors.
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Ross, Andrew. "Gambling at the Water Table." In Bird on Fire. Oxford University Press, 2011. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780199828265.003.0007.
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Of all the livelihoods made possible by land development, Cory Breternitz’s job was one of the more peculiar. He was paid to do archaeological excavations by people who hoped he would find nothing of interest. His Phoenix-based firm was one of many private archaeology firms that sprang up in response to legislation (the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1970) designed to protect cultural resources such as prehistoric artifacts or remains. These laws require government agencies and private developers to hire historians and archaeologists to survey sites and inventory the results before they start building. At the height of the Arizona housing boom, Breternitz, who had previously worked for the Navajo Nation for more than twenty years, spent much of his time on the urban fringe, sifting through desert soil, looking for evidence of Hohokam settlement before the bulldozers “scraped the desert clean” and the construction crews moved in with chipboard, two-by-fours, and stucco to throw up a brown-tiled subdivision. If Breternitz uncovered a prehistoric structure, even a hamlet, it was still the developer’s prerogative to plough it under. “The United States,” he explained, “is different than most countries in the world in that private property is sacred, and the government cannot tell you what to do with it. In places like England, historic properties on your land belong to the Crown, and whatever you find—like a hoard of medieval coins—belongs to the government. In the U.S. if you find a ruin on your land, it belongs to you and you can bulldoze it or sell the artifacts.” Some of the developers he worked for might decide to preserve his discoveries and have them curated on-site by the state so that they could be promoted as an attractive sales feature to add value to the development. But ultimately, he reported, most of them simply “want their clearance, or their permits, to move forward with their projects and make money.” Human remains are the exception to this rule, since private ownership of these is prohibited by federal and Arizona law.
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Bonner, Thomas Neville. "A Bird’s Eye View of Medical Education in 1830." In Becoming a Physician. Oxford University Press, 1996. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780195062984.003.0010.
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The changes under way in medical training in the transatlantic world by 1830 owed much to the political and social transformations of the preceding half-century. The political revolutions of the old century, which ushered in a long period of turmoil and conflict, had been followed by a period in the early nineteenth century of reaction and consolidation, new industrial growth and the spread of cities, commercial expansion and rising prosperity, and a high degree of political turbulence in every country. No nation escaped the impact of rapid population changes, of buoyant capitalistic enterprise, of the spreading democratic tide, or of the efforts of reformers to help those most adversely affected by the urban-industrial revolution. The training of doctors was inevitably influenced by the rising power of the middle classes in Europe and America as they demanded more medical services and a higher standard of medical competence. The continued growth of industrial cities, notably in Britain, posed serious problems of public health and the medical care of the poor. By 1831, London’s population was already approaching a million and a half, and nearly half the remaining population were now living in towns of more than five thousand. The doctors most in demand in these conditions were those who joined a skill in practical medicine with a knowledge of the new practical sciences. The new studies of science, it was increasingly believed by laypeople, gave the physician a surer command of diagnosis and a better understanding of the disease process, and his practical skills assured the patient of the best possible treatment. Medicine as a practical science, in short, was seen by the public as an important advance over both the old humanistic medicine of the universities and the crude empiricism of the earlier practical schools. The triumph of the clinic and the rise of the new sciences together created a new confidence in medical education. The schools themselves were becoming more alike.
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Hammerson, Geoffrey A., and Larry E. Morse. "State of the States: Geographic Patterns of Diversity, Rarity, and Endemism." In Precious Heritage. Oxford University Press, 2000. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780195125191.003.0011.
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The natural geography of the 50 states varies tremendously, supporting an equally varied suite of wild species—from flocks of tropical birds in southern Florida to caribou migrations across the Alaskan tundra. The geography of risk, too, varies across the nation, reflecting the interaction between natural and human history. Similarly, present-day land and water uses will largely determine the future diversity and condition of the flora and fauna. We can learn much, though, from looking at the current condition of a state’s biota, since this both reflects the past and helps illuminate the future. A state’s ecological complexion and the evolutionary history of its biota are the primary determinants of its biological diversity. These environmental factors have encouraged spectacular diversification in many regions: for instance, the freshwater fish fauna in the Southeast, the magnificent conifers along the Pacific cordillera, and the small mammal assemblages of the arid Southwest. Conversely, geological events such as the expansion and contraction of the ice sheets have left other areas of the country with a more modest array of species. States, however, are artificial constructs laid out on the landscape’s natural ecological patterns. While some state lines follow natural boundaries, such as shorelines or major rivers, most cut across the land with no sensitivity to natural features or topography. Nonetheless, urban and rural dwellers alike identify with the major ecological regions within which they live, and this is often the source of considerable pride. Montana is “big sky country,” referring to the vast open plains that sweep up against the eastern phalanx of the Rocky Mountains. California’s moniker “the golden state” now refers more to its tawny hills of summer—unfortunately at present composed mostly of alien species—than to the nuggets first found at Sutter’s Creek. Maryland, home of the Chesapeake Bay, offers the tasty blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) as its unofficial invertebrate mascot. The list could go on, evidenced by the growing number of states that offer vanity license plates celebrating their natural environment. Natural features have always played a dominant role in determining patterns of settlement and land use.
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Álvarez-Borrego, Saul. "Physical Oceanography." In Island Biogeography in the Sea of Cortés II. Oxford University Press, 2002. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780195133462.003.0008.
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The nature of the relationships between physical and biological processes in the ocean is subtle and complex. Not only do the physical phenomena create a structure, such as a shallow, mixed layer or a front, within which biological processes may proceed, but they also influence the rates of biological processes in many indirect ways. In the ocean, physical phenomena control the distribution of nutrients necessary for phytoplankton photosynthesis. Places with higher kinetic energy have higher concentrations of planktonic organisms, and that makes the whole food web richer (Mann and Lazier 1996). For example, in the midriff region of the Sea of Cortés (Tiburón and Ángel de la Guarda; fig. 1.2), tidal currents are strong, and intense mixing occurs, creating a situation similar to constant upwelling. Thus, primary productivity is high, and this area supports large numbers of sea birds and marine mammals (Maluf 1983). The Gulf of California is a dynamic marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean and has been described as an area of great fertility since the time of early explorers. Gilbert and Allen (1943) described it as fabulously rich in marine life, with waters fairly teeming with multitudes of fish, and to maintain these large numbers, there must be correspondingly huge crops of their ultimate food, the phytoplankton. Topographically the gulf is divided into a series of basins and trenches, deepening to the south and separated from each other by transverse ridges (Shepard 1950; fig. 3.1). Input of nutrients into the gulf from rivers is low and has only local coastal effects. The Baja peninsula has only one, very small river, near 27°N; rivers in mainland Mexico and the Colorado River have dams that divert most of the water for agricultural and urban use. The gulf has three main natural fertilization mechanisms: wind-induced upwelling, tidal mixing, and thermohaline circulation. Upwelling occurs off the eastern coast with northwesterly winds (winter conditions from December through May) and off the Baja California coast with southeasterly winds (summer conditions from July through October), with June and November as transition periods (Álvarez-Borrego and Lara- Lara 1991).
Conference papers on the topic "Urban native birds"
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He, Liang, Sean Phillips, Steven Waslander, and William Melek. "Task Based Pose Optimization of Modular Mobile Manipulators." In ASME 2012 11th Biennial Conference on Engineering Systems Design and Analysis. American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 2012. http://dx.doi.org/10.1115/esda2012-83010.
Full textAbstract:
We propose a task based pose optimization method for modular mobile manipulators. The modular mobile manipulators are designed and prototyped by researchers at University of Waterloo. The intended application of the modular mobile manipulator is to assist urban search and rescue in unstructured environments. A single mobile manipulator with limited capability cannot achieve complex tasks in this application. When several modular mobile manipulators are linked to one another, they can perform complex tasks through decentralized collaboration. The focus of this research is to develop and simulate a task based pose optimization algorithm for several mobile robots linked by dexterous arms. A genetic algorithm is a bio-inspired optimization technique that mimics the process of evolution. In nature, many living organisms, such as ants and birds use genetic algorithms to forge for food and achieve complex tasks. The advantages of the genetic algorithm are its simplicity and effectiveness. The proposed genetic algorithm in this research optimizes the manipulability measure of the onboard mechanical manipulator arms. To verify the proposed task based pose optimization algorithm, a formation of three mobile manipulators serially connected through their onboard mechanical manipulators is considered in this research. The control architecture is organized into a three level hierarchy. On the top level, a human operator sends guiding commands to the lead module in the formation through a wireless communication channel. The median level control aims at optimizing the manipulator pose. The base level control is established with the input-output linearization. To add realistic considerations into the simulation environment, fractal terrains are generated with the popular Diamond-Square algorithm. The inclination angle of each mobile manipulator on the terrain is estimated through a four-point terrain-matching algorithm. The simulation is completed in MATLAB. Repetitive simulations are pursued in this research to confirm the simplicity and effectiveness of our approach to control machines that interact with the natural environment. The simulation program established in this research serves as a test environment for the task based pose optimization of modular mobile manipulators. The major contributions of this research are the optimization algorithm and the novel hardware design for the specified tasks.
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Wai Michael Siu, Kin, Kwok Yin Angelina Lo, Yi Lin Wong, and Chi Hang Lo. "Playful Public Design by Children." In 13th International Conference on Applied Human Factors and Ergonomics (AHFE 2022). AHFE International, 2022. http://dx.doi.org/10.54941/ahfe1002044.
Full textAbstract:
The design of public space and facilities in a country park aims to serve a wide scope of people with diverse needs and interests. Research on human factors should include users of different ages and capabilities. Children are often a forgotten category of users for collecting views and preferences in public design. Their voices and ideas are seldom heard and heeded. It is crucial to involve children in the design process to optimise outdoor recreational and educational experience in a country park. Playful Public Design by Children is a design research project which involved 1,023 children aged 3 to 18. They were guided to use a human factors (or ergonomics) approach to identify and solve problems in the real-life setting of Shing Mun Country Park in Hong Kong. The design research, spanning from 2019 to 2020, was conceived and co-led by a public design lab of a university and a group of art and design studios for children and teenagers. This paper reports an investigation of children’s perception of, observations on and concerns about the country park and the values underlying these concerns. Different phases engaged children in site research and visual-based design projects. For clarity and more in-depth discussion, this paper focuses specifically on children aged 8 -12. The projects allowed children to participate in observing the inadequacies of current park features such as space and facilities design. Research findings reveal children’s ability to embrace complexity in different design situations as they adopted the role as researcher, designer and change-maker. The common problem-solving strategies among their proposed design ideas reflect their concern for fun, fulfilment, adventure, action and harmony of different users (animals included) in the shared outdoor environment. Their proposed design solutions go beyond existing park design that covers only functional and physical aspects. Children’s perspective addresses other human factors such as psychological, emotional and social needs of different users resulting in an array of whimsical designs, such as zoomorphic gazebos, tree houses and observation towers for star-gazing, bird-watching, daydreaming and quiet reading. The significance of the research project is in the pedagogical practice that reveals children’s inherent creativity, design ability and potential as contributing citizens. The project changes urban children’s perception of nature, design and problem-solving strategies, and parents’ perception of design education in children’s creative development. Through the lens of children, designers can find a more well-rounded view inclusive of different human factors that can optimise users' interaction with the country park environment.