Tesi sul tema "Littering"

Using vignette experiments, this thesis examines individuals’ decision-making in various social dilemmas. A case study of littering behavior amongst university students in Lao People's Democratic Republic is used to investigate whether individual preferences are stable across littering dilemmas and other social dilemmas. This study further investigates if a visual prompt can encourage prosocial behavior in littering situations. The results show that behavior in social dilemmas is dependent on individual preferences. Additionally, the study finds little evidence that visual prompts could be used in order to efficiently decrease littering in Laos. However, a negative relationship is found between littering behavior and knowledge regarding the consequences of littering. These findings indicate that policy makers could use knowledge increasing campaigns in order to increase prosocial decision making regarding littering. Yet, further studies are needed in order to validate the results. Lastly, we also find differences in what influence littering behavior, depending on the item being littered.

Current literature on public communication campaigns suggests that challenges and problems remain, even though generally the effectiveness of campaigns has increased in the past years. Challenges and problems are issue-specific and efforts put into influencing particular social behaviours through public communication campaigns have not been significantly successful. Although public communication campaigns are a popular method employed to influence social behaviours in many societies, campaign strategies inadequately consider the impact of cultural elements on social behaviours. The disappointing results through the use of campaigns are exacerbated by the difficulties faced in translating research observations to appropriate campaign strategies. In view of current challenges, this research examines public communication campaigns. Two main variables shaped this research ??? ???identity??? and ???culture???. The research postulated that a person???s identity influences his or her behaviour. It also argued that culture would impact on behaviour. The theoretical orientation drew on interpretivist perspectives. Using a comparative cross-cultural method, this research nominated the issues of organ donation and waste disposal behaviours in public places and the countries of Australia and Singapore for empirical study. Focus group research was employed. A total of sixteen focus groups were conducted ??? eight groups on organ donation (four in Sydney, Australia and four in Singapore) and eight groups on waste disposal behaviours (four in Sydney, Australia and four in Singapore). In line with the theoretical orientation, ???grounded theory??? was used to analyse the focus group transcripts. It is argued that a person???s decision to organ donation or waste disposal behaviour was intimately related to his or her identity. Cultural elements are critical constituents of identity. This is to say, cultural values, beliefs and attitudes have significant impact on social behaviours. These intricacies were made apparent when each issue was seen in the national contexts of Australia and Singapore. This research concludes that issues of identity can partly explain the type of decision a person makes about organ donation, and the kind of waste disposal behaviour a person enacts. It also argues that the effectiveness of campaign strategies can potentially be enhanced, if the strategies are responsive to people???s identities.

Begreppet hållbar utveckling innefattar flera delar som påverkas stort av de val som människor gör till vardags. Nedskräpning har flera negativa konsekvenser socialt, ekonomiskt samt ekologiskt, därför är det viktigt att kunskaper kring hur man kan påverka människors benägenhet till att kasta sitt skräp på marken istället för en soptunna prioriteras. Denna uppsats syftar till att testa hur nudging kan tillämpas i Malmö genom tre olika experiment. Uppsatsens tre experiment har utförts i Pildammsparken och använder gröna fotavtryck i riktning mot en soptunna respektive en hundlatrin som en form av nudging för att öka förbipasserande människors benägenhet att kasta sitt skräp i soptunnan. Resultaten visade på både en ökning av avfallet som kastades i hundlatrinen samt en ökning av nedskräpningen vid utdelandet av godisbitar. Enligt denna uppsats resultat hade de gröna fotavtrycken inte någon effekt på människors benägenhet att kasta sitt skräp.
Sustainable development is a concept which is built upon different dimensions. These dimensions (ecological, social and economic) are all pressing when it comes to the issue of littering, which partly is the research subject of this paper. Due to the already established knowledge about the negative effects of littering, we have used a concept from behavioral science called “nudging”. The purpose of this paper is to test if nudging can be applied in Malmö successfully by doing three types of experiments involving littering. Green foot prints, in the direction of trash cans and a dog waste container in a park in Malmö, were the independent variable of the experiments. The aim of the footprints was to increase the probability of people throwing garbage in trash cans, instead of on the ground. In one experiment an increase in the weight of waste was found concerning the dog waste container but an increase in litter in the other experiment was also found. With opposing results like these we can only conclude that this form of nudging might not be an efficient method to reduce littering in parks in Malmö.

The unprecedented scale and cumulative impact of individual behaviour on the natural environment threatens the balance of the world’s ecosystem (Milfont & Schultz, 2015; Veiga et al., 2016; Weaver, 2015). Over many centuries human practices have contributed to environmental degradation (Davis, 2011) potentially limiting future growth and wellbeing. While environmental issues and concerns have been understood since the 1970s, the destruction and overuse of environmental resources continues (Mehmetoglu, 2010). One common human behaviour that significantly contributes is littering (Chitotombe, 2014), which can be intentional or accidental, individual or a more complex multi-faceted social problem. Social marketing seeks to motivate people to change their behaviour at the downstream level and/or it seeks to alter the systems and environment surrounding an individual to effect behavioural change for the good of society (Polonsky, Francis, & Renzaho, 2015). Social marketers seek to encourage the target audience to trial a social behaviour and then sustain or maintain that behaviour (Cavill & Bauman, 2004; Evans, Blitstein, Hersey, Renaud, & Yaroch, 2008; Parkinson, Russell-Bennett, & Previte, 2012; Walls, Peeters, Loff, & Crammond, 2009).
Thesis (PhD Doctorate)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Griffith Business School
Griffith Business School
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Sammanfattning Geocaching är en sport och hobby som blir allt mer populär i Sverige. Antalet användare ökar ständigt och det finns inget som tyder på någon avtagande trend.  I Sverige finns Allemansrätten, som ger alla rätt att fritt röra sig i skog och mark. Den fria rörligheten gör att aktiviteter och sporter så som geocaching utövas på platser långt ut i skog och mark. Utövandet av geocaching har nu blivit så omfattande att det finns behov av vetenskapliga studier. Behovet av fler studier kring ämnet geocaching belyses genom avsaknaden på publikationer samt att det uttrycks ett behov i de få skrifter som redan finns.  För att undvika framtida konflikter, på grund av nedskräpning i vår omgivning, i samband med utövandet av geocaching, syftar studien till att undersöka huruvida en geocache kan bedömas som nedskräpning eller ej. Studien baseras på en analys av relevanta rättsfall i ett nedskräpningssammanhang.  I ett fall har propositionen till nedskräpningsbestämmelsen för mindre nedskräpning utgjort grunden då det saknas relevanta rättsfall.    Studien visar att det föreligger flertalet prövningar bakom en nedskräpningsbedömning. Det visade sig att tillträde och insyn till nedskräpningen var viktig samt placeringen. En nedskräpning på känsliga och skyddsvärda platser där nedskräpning sker som dessutom inbjuder till ytterligare nedskräpning bedöms hårdare än annars. Den slutliga bedömningen var att en geocache inte kan räknas som en straffbar nedskräpning. Varje geocache är unik och rättslägen kan ändras därför kan inte slutsatsen appliceras likgiltigt i alla situationer och tider.
Abstract Geocaching is a sport and hobby that is becoming more and more popular in Sweden. The number of users is steadily increasing and there are no signs of any downward trend. In Sweden the Right of Public Access (Allemansrätt) is giving everyone the right to move freely in the nature. The free movement means that activities and sports such as geocaching can be practiced in places far out into the woods and fields. The practice of geocaching has now become so extensive that there is a need for scientific studies. The need for more studies on the subject of geocaching is illustrated by the lack of publications, and that is also expressed in the few already existing papers. To avoid future conflicts, due to littering of our environment, in practicing geocaching, the study aims to investigate whether a geocache can be considered as littering or not. The study is based on an analysis of relevant case law in a litter context. In one case, the proposition for littering provision for minor littering provided the basis in the absence of relevant case law.   The study shows that there are several evaluations behind a litter assessment. It turned out that access and transparency to the littering was important and the location of it. Littering in sensitive and places worthy protection which also invites further littering is considered harder than usual. The final conclusion was that a geocache can not be counted as a criminal littering act. Each geocache is unique and legal position may change therefore the conclusion can not be applied indifferently in all situations and times.

Le monde et les expériences qu’il permet ont été identifiés notamment par Comenius (1592-1670) comme un agent éducatif à part entière. René Descartes (1596-1650) faisait savoir que c’est dans le grand livre du monde qu’il étudiait et acquérait des expériences. La notion de ville éducatrice emprunte à cette réalité éducative inhérente à tous les environnements humains que nous analysons à l’épreuve des attentes d’écocivisme de gestion des déchets. En effet, depuis plusieurs décennies des attentes sur le tri, la valorisation ou la réduction des déchets font régulièrement l’objet de campagnes d’information, de communication et de sensibilisation auprès du public. Pourtant, nous observons la présence des déchets abandonnés par les citoyens qui s’en débarrassent principalement au cours de leurs consommations nomades dans les lieux de circulation, les espaces partagés et publics. L’intensification des opérations de ramassage et de nettoyage des lieux et espaces ainsi souillés tente de répondre aux préoccupations environnementales et à la norme d’une société qui valorise la propreté. Cette situation questionne sur les ressorts de la persistance de ce comportement de littering qui est l’abandon des déchets par petites unités dans l’espace public. Formellement identifié au États-Unis et spécifiquement combattu dans plusieurs pays (Suisse, Autriche, Japon, inde…), cette catégorie de déchets n’a pas été distinctement reconnue en France. Le littering nous interroge sur la capacité du corps social à induire l’amélioration de ces comportements inadéquats ainsi que sur la nature de la biopolitique - la manière dont les gouvernants conduisent la conduite des populations - qui est mise en œuvre pour amener les populations à l’adoption des comportements souhaités. Nous avons mis en œuvre une collecte et un traitement de données multi référentielles dans des allers retours entre le terrain et la recherche. Nous avons mené une enquête ethnographique sur les pratiques de gestion des déchets axée sur le litter - déchets sauvages diffus - en Corse et dans tous les lieux de l’itinérance de la chercheuse. Notre recherche nous a permis d’identifier cinq modes d’abandon des déchets et six formes de littering. Nous avons défini une biopolitique déléguée des collectivités locales axée sur la prescription, la surveillance, la répression et la prestation. Nous avons identifié une quarantaine de freins à l’acquisition des compétences de gestion des déchets. Parmi ces freins, nous avons identifié une quinzaine de connaissances admises en sciences de l’éducation qui sont définies comme nécessaires à l’acte éducatif mais qui ne sont pas prises en compte dans les actions menées en direction du public pour leur changement de comportements. Ces résultats indiquent la non prise en compte des perspectives véritablement éducatives dans les démarches visant l’acquisition des compétences de gestion des déchets des populations. Leurs prises en compte permettraient d’enclencher et d’articuler toutes les formes d’éducation – formelle, non formelle, informelle et l’autodidaxie- pour une amélioration des pratiques sociales. Le renforcement du renouvellement des pratiques sociales serait mieux affirmé auprès des jeunes générations dans le cadre d’une réflexion pédagogique menée avec les citoyens intéressés, les parents, le personnel éducatif et les Atsem -qui seront chargés de la validation des acquis- afin de s’assurer que tous les élèves qui quittent la maternelle aient effectivement intégré la compétence de binning que l’on pourrait traduire par réflexe poubelle
The world and the experiences it allows were identified by Comenuis (1592-1670) as an educational agent in its own right. René Descartes (1637/2019) said that it was in the great book of the world that he studied and acquired experiences. The notion of the educating city borrows from this educational reality inherent in all human environments, which we are analysing against the expectations of environmental citizenship in waste management. Indeed, for several decades now, expectations concerning waste sorting, recovery or reduction have been the subject of regular information, communication and awareness campaigns among the public. However, we observe the presence of waste abandoned by citizens who dispose of it mainly during their nomadic consumption in traffic areas, shared and public spaces. The intensification of collection and cleaning operations in these places and spaces is an attempt to respond to environmental concerns and the norm of a society that values cleanliness. This situation raises questions about the reasons for the persistence of littering, which is the abandonment of waste in small units in the public space. Formally identified in the United States and specifically fought in several countries (Switzerland, Austria, Japan, India, etc.), this category of waste has not been distinctly recognised in France. Littering raises questions about the capacity of the social body to induce the improvement of these inappropriate behaviours and about the nature of the biopolitics - the way in which governments conduct populations - that is implemented to bring populations to adopt the desired behaviours. We have implemented a multi-referential data collection and processing in a grounded theory approach. We conducted an ethnographic survey on waste management practices focused on litter - diffuse litter - in Corsica and in all the places where the researcher was travelling. Our research allowed us to identify five modes of waste abandonment and six forms of littering. We defined a delegated local authority biopolitics based on prescription, surveillance, repression and provision. We identified about 40 barriers to the acquisition of waste management skills. Among these obstacles, we have identified about fifteen pieces of knowledge accepted in the educational sciences which are defined as necessary for the educational act but which are not taken into account in the actions carried out towards the public to change their behaviour. These results indicate that truly educational perspectives are not taken into account in approaches aimed at acquiring people's waste management skills. Taking them into account would make it possible to initiate and articulate all forms of education - formal, non-formal, informal and self-education - to improve social practices. The reinforcement of the renewal of social practices would be better asserted among the younger generations within the framework of a pedagogical reflection carried out with interested citizens, parents, educational staff and nursery school teachers - who will be in charge of validating what has been learned - in order to ensure that all pupils who leave nursery school have effectively integrated the binning skill, which could be translated as the bin reflex
U mondu è e sperienze ch’ellu permette sò stati identificati in particulare da Comeniu (1592-1670) cum’è un agentu educativu à sè stessu. René Descartes (1596-1650) hà fattu sapè ch'ellu hà studiatu è ch’ellu hà acquistatu a sperienza in u grande libru di u mondu. A nuzione di cità educatrice piglia in contu sta realità educativa applicata à tutti l’ambienti umani analizzati per ciò chì tocca à l’attese di l’ecocivismu in a gestione di a rumenza. Infatti, dipoi parechji decenni, l'attese in quantu à a triturazione selettiva, a ricuperazione o a riduzzione di i scarti sò regularmente u sughjettu di e campagne d'infurmazione, di cumunicazione è di sensibilizazione versu u publicu. Tuttavia, si pò vede a presenza di i scarti abbandunati da i citadini chì si ne sbarazzanu soprattuttu dopu à l’usi nomadi in loghi di circulazione, spazii spartuti è publichi. L'intensificazione di l'operazioni di raccolta è di pulizia di i loghi è di i spazii cusì imbrutati prova à risponde à i prublemi ambientali è normativi di una sucietà in ricerca di a valutazione di a pulizia.Sta situazione ci porta à dumandassi quale sò i principali motivi di a persistenza di stu cumpurtamentu di littering chì hè l'abbandunamentu di i scarti in piccule unità di u spaziu publicu. Identificatu chjaramente in i Stati Uniti è scumbattutu specificamente in parechji paesi (Svizzera, Austria, Giappone, India, etc.), sta categuria di rumenza ùn hè micca stata chjaramente ricunnisciuta in Francia. U littering interruga nantu à a capacità di u corpu suciale per migliurà cumpurtamenti inadeguati è ancu nantu à a natura di a biopulitica - a manera scelta da i guvernanti per cunduce a ghente versu un cumpurtamentu vulsutu - chì pò esse imposta à e populazioni. Avemu riunitu e tratatu dati multi-referenziali à partesi di andate e ritorni trà u campu e a ricerca. Avemu sviluppatu un’inchiesta etnografica di e pratiche di gestione di a rumenza cuncentrata nantu à u litter - rifiuti salvatichi diffusi - in Corsica è in tutti i loghi induve u cercadore pò viaghjà.A nostra ricerca ci hà permessu di identificà cinque modi d'abbandunamentu di i scarti è sei forme di littering. Avemu definitu una biopulitica delegata à e cumunità lucali, è centrata in a prescrizione, a surviglianza, a ripressione è a prestazione. Avemu identificatu una quarantina d'ostaculi à l'acquistu di cumpetenze di gestione di i a rumenza. Frà quessi, avemu identificatu una quindecina di cunniscenze accettate in e scienze di l’educazione, definite cum’è necessarie per l’attu educativu, ma chì ùn sò micca state prese in contu per l’azzioni realizate versu u publicu, per un cambiamentu di cumpurtamentu. Questi risultati indicanu chì e prospettive veramente educative ùn sò micca cunsiderate, per ciò chi tocca à l’acquistu di cumpetenze di gestione di i scarti di a populazione. Pigliandule in contu, ci permetterebbe d’inizià è di sviluppà tutte e forme d’educazione – formale, non-formale, informale è autoapprendimentu – per un migliurazione di e pratiche suciali. U rinfurzamentu di u rinnovu di e pratiche suciali saria megliu affirmatu incù e ghjovane ghjinerazione in u quadru di una riflessione pedagogica realizata cù citadini, genitori, squadre educative è Atsem cuncernati - chì seranu rispunsevuli di a cunvalida di e cunniscenze acquistate - per assicurassi chì tutti i sculari chì compianu a prima scola avessinu acquistatu a cumpetenza di binning, chì puderia esse tradutta cum'è u riflessu rumenza

Nedskräpningen i parkmiljöer är ett ständigt ökande problem. Regeringen tillsammans med landets kommuner och organisationen Håll Sverige Rent har inte kunnat motverka människors sätt att inte ta ansvar för var de slänger sitt skräp. I detta examensarbete kommer nedskräpningsproblemet att studeras. Studien är en beskrivning av hur rumsliga element kan främja renhållning i parkmiljöer genom en ökad ansvarskänsla för naturen i parkmiljöer. Centrum för studien är Vasaparken i Västerås, som ger att starkt uttryck för problemet med nedskräpning. Som besökare under sommarhalvåret möts man av en tråkig syn där skräp oftast hittas på marken och inte i parkens tillgängliga papperskorgar. Informationen om att hålla parkmiljön ren är för nuvarande bristande, vilket leder till minskad trevnad på platsen. Genom att studera området Vasaparken hade jag som syfte att skapa mig en insikt i hur tydliggörande av information bör utformas för att genom detta inkludera besökare i renhållningen. Metoderna som använts för att undersöka problemet med nedskräpning i Vasaparken har varit kvalitativa observationer och intervjuer, samt omvärldsanalys. Resultatet av insamlat material visade att nedskräpningen i parken är ett stort problem och att besökare är mindre medvetna om deras ansvar att själva bidra till en trevligare parkmiljö. Slutsatsen från detta var att det var attityden till nedskräpning som var själva orsaken till varför besökare medvetet valde att slänga sitt skräp på marken. Genom att stödja mig i presenterad empiri och teori utvecklade jag därför en attityd-förändrande gestaltning som genom rumsliga element ska fungera exkluderande mot den negativa attityden till nedskräpning. Detta exkluderande av en attityd har sin funktion i att öka ansvarskänslan för naturen i parkmiljöer för att därmed inkludera besökare i renhållningen. Gestaltningen tar fasta på det underliggande problemet – attityden till nedskräpning, som genom ett tillskott av rumsliga element i miljön informerar besökaren om hur det vore om skräpet istället flyttade in till deras eget hem. På detta sätt uppnås en lika hög ansvarskänsla för parkmiljön som i besökarens eget hem – parken är ditt vardagsrum
Littering in parks is an ever increasing problem. The government together with the country´s municipalities and the organization Håll Sverige Rent have not been able to counteract the way people lack responsibility for where they throw their trash. In this thesis the litter problem will be studied. The study is a description of how spatial elements can promote sanitaion in parks by increasing visitors sense of responsibility for the surrounding environment. The center for the study is Vasaparken in Västerås,  giving a strong expression of the littering problem. As a visitor during the summer months, you see a disappointning sight where litter more often is found on the ground and not in the park´s  available bins. Information about keeping the park clean is currently inadequate, thus leading to a reduction in comfort at the site. By field studies in Vasaparken, my purpose was to create my insight into how a clarification of information should be embodied and as a result lead to an inclusion of the visitors in the sanitation. The methods used to study the litter problem in Vasaparken has been qualitative observations and interviews, together with a research of previous solutions of the littering problem. The result of the collected material showed that littering in Vasaparken is a major problem and that visitors are less aware of their responsibility to contribute to a pleasant park environment. The conclusion is that it was the attitude towards littering that was the very reason that caused the visitors to knowingly disposal their trash on the ground. By support in empirical studies and theory presented in this thesis I developed an attitude changing design, where spatial elements functions exclusively towards the negative attitude to littering. This exclusion of an attitude has it´s function in increasing the sense of responsibility for the surrounding environment in the park, and therefore include the visitors in the sanitation. The spatial design focuses on the underlying problem – the attitude towards littering. Where an addition of spatial elements in the environment informs the visitor about what it would look like if the litter instead moved into their own home. In this way, an equally high sense of responsibility can be found in parks as in the visitors own home – the park is your livingroom.

Syftet med min undersökning var att ta reda på hur pedagoger tillsammans med barnen på förskolor med Grön Flagg certifikat arbetar med nedskräpningsfrågor och källsortering. Jag använde mig av semistrukturerade intervjuer och sex pedagoger som arbetar på Grön Flagg förskolor. Av resultaten framgår att man på Grön Flagg förskolor arbetar relativt kontinuerligt med nedskräpningsfrågor och källsortering tillsammans med barnen. Pedagogerna anser att det är två bra sätt att arbeta med miljö då det är konkret och något som kan väcka intresse för miljöfrågor hos barnen. Resultatet visar också vikten av att låta barnen vara delaktiga och ha inflytande över arbetet med nedskräpningsfrågor och källsortering. Något som också framkommer av undersökningen är att barnen har blivit mer intresserade och medvetna om miljön tack vare deras arbete med miljöcertifieringen Grön Flagg.
The purpose of this study was to examine how pre-school teachers at pre-schools with Green Flag certification work together with the children concerning questions about littering issues and recycling. I used semi-structured interviews and six teachers were interviewed, all working at pre-schools with Green Flag certificate. The results show that they work relatively constantly with littering issues and source separation with the children. Pre-school teachers believe that these are two good activities because they are tangible and something that can spark interest in environmental issues among children. The results also show the importance of allowing children to be involved and have a say in the work of littering issues and recycling. What also emerges from the survey is that children have become more interested and aware of the environment through their work with Green Flag.

Thesis (MTech(Environmental Health))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2018.
This study focuses on the assessment of the Green Zone Partnership Model (GZPM), which is a partnership project that was initiated by the City of Cape Town and Bonteheuwel community as a solution towards littering and illegal dumping in public open space areas. It is reported that the City of Cape Town is spending about R350 million year to remove waste illegally dumped in public open spaces around the city. In an attempt to assess the GZPM, the study has been used the environmental partnership theory as an approach to analyse the nature and significance of this partnership project. Over the last 20 years, following the emergence of the concept of sustainability, various organisations including governments are moving towards partnerships with various stakeholders as tools to finding solutions to environmental facing the planet (Long & Arnold, 1995). The emergence of this approach was the catalyst for a partnership formation to address the waste problem within the case study area (Ibid, 1995:34). To locate the study within the broader theoretical debate, the study draws on the theory of environmental partnership. Environmental partnership refers to the partnership formed to engage stakeholder partners in order to solve specific environmental problems. Similarly, Emas (2015:2) argues that partnerships encourage participatory decision making regarding the identification and solution of the current environmental problem. They are, to a larger extent, key to achieving the vision of sustainable development. In the South African context, the popular rise of a democratic system since 1994 has coincided with the escalation of various partnership projects, specifically formed to improve environmental quality. While there is a plethora of partnerships of this nature, with some initiated by the World Bank, IMF, and European Union; there is still a need to assess whether or not these partnership initiatives attain the desirable outcome(s). It is from this backdrop that this research seeks to assess the green zone partnership to establish whether or not it has improved environmental quality with specific reference to littering and illegal dumping in Bonteheuwel community The study used qualitative research design to answer the question raised in this research. Community survey and Face to face in-depth interviews with key stakeholder partners were conducted to collect data that which helped to answer the research question. This data was triangulated with other type of data collected from a household survey conducted within the study area. The data collected revealed how the partnership arrangement (GZPM) has improved the environmental and waste conditions in the communities. The results of the study will be crucial to the environmental health practitioners and managers dealing with waste related problems at local government level. The study has contributed to the existing knowledge in the field of environmental management, environmental health, waste management and natural resource management. Finally, the study concluded that partnership of this nature should be driven by champions from the communities to ensure that the environmental solution is sustainable for the benefit of the future generation. The fact that the partnership project was initiated and funded by the City of Cape Town does not guarantee as sustained solution toward a specific environmental problem (e.g., illegal dumping in public open space areas).

The purpose of this study is to reduce littering in urban environments. This is done by using product design and sustainable development as main directions and thus being able to create a sustainable behavior change that can be used and further developed in the future. During the course of the study, it is found out how product design can contribute to reducing littering. With user-centered design and sustainable development as starting points, littering in urban environments, design for behavior change, nudging and emotional design are examined. This is in order to gain a deeper understanding of where this eind of environmental problem came from and why. Furthermore, a number of observations and interviews are performed that create a stable and clear basis for the final design's needs and requirements. These are tested and developed during the brainstorming process and concept development with the help of sketches and prototypes, which in turn leads to a final design concept. Based on all the research and method implementations, it is concluded that people repeat each other's behaviors (Håll Sverige Rent, etc.) while there is a great lack of communication and guidance to trashcan´s in urban environments. Simplicity, prompts, guidance, colors, entertainment and different concepts are the most important factors that can contribute to a positive behavior change and hopefully a solution to the environmental problem. The final design proposal was therefore developed into a design concept that represents a connection between existing trashcan´s in urban environments and individually designed accessories that can be attached to them, regardless of the shape or size. The purpose of the concept is therefore to guide and inform about the trashcan´s important function regarding the handling of all kinds of rubbish and where these are located in an urban environment.

Med detta kandidatarbete vill vi uppmärksamma och förmedla hållbarhet, med fokus på konsumtion och plastnedskräpning i haven. Kandidatarbetet kommer löpa ut i en gestaltning som kommer befinna sig i ett fysiskt rum. Det fysiska rummet är ett fikarum och befinner sig på marinmuséumet i Karlskrona, vilket även är våran externa samarbetspart.Vi anser att det är viktigt att skriva om konsumtion och plastnedskräpning i hav eftersom det har en förödande påverkan på mänskligheten och för våran planet. Gestaltningen i kandidatarbetet kommer ta stöd utav perspektivet X for change. Metoder och idégenerering metoder som hjälpt vårt arbete framåt är brainstorming, moodboard, mindmaps och prototyper. Vi valde dessa metoder eftersom vi ansåg att detta kunde ge största möjliga potential för arbetet. I slutändan har vi en gestaltning som löpt ut genom många olika beslut och selektioner. Vi använder en teknik som kallas double exposure 3d som vi placerat på en av väggarna i rummet. Double exposure 3d betyder att man med hjälp av ett par “gamla” 3d glasögon, som har en blå och en röd sida, kan filtrera bort olika färgkanaler som då resulterar i två olika bilder, men som samtidigt är en hel. Vi har gjort två illustration av plastnedskräpning där ena läggs på den röda sidan och den andra på blåa sidan. Detta för att representera nutiden och hur framtiden kommer att se ut om vi fortsätter med våran ohållbara konsumtion och nedskräpning. Illustrationen är fiktionell och är endas en representation om hur världen skulle kunna se ut i framtiden. Väggen kommer även att stödjas av informativa posters med bland annat förslag på vad en individ kan bidra till.
With this bachelor thesis we want to raise awareness and to convey sustainability, with a focus on consumption and plastic littering in the sea. This bachelor thesis will result in a design that will be in a physical room. The physical room is a breakroom and is located in the Naval museum in Karlskrona, which is also our external partner. We believe that it is important to write about consumption and plastic littering in the sea because it has a devastating impact on humanity and our planet. The design that this bachelor thesis will produce will be supported by the design perspective X for Change. Methods and idea generating methods that helped our work move forward are brainstorming, moodboard, mindmaps and prototypes. We chose these methods because we consider that it could provide the greatest possible potential for the work. In the end we have a design created through many different decisions and selection. We use a technique called double exposure 3d which we placed on one of the walls of the room. Double exposure 3d is that with the help of a pair of “old” 3d glasses, which has a blue and red side, can filter out different color channels which then results in two different images, which at the same time is a whole. We made two illustrations of plastic littering where one is put on the red side and the other on the blue side. This is to represent today and how the future will look like if we continue with our unsustainable consumption and littering. The illustration is fictional and is only a representation of how the world could look in the future. The wall will also be supported by informative posters, including suggestions on what an individual can contribute with.

Plastmaterial har sedan 1950-talet orsakat problem i naturen på grund av materialets slitstarka och svårnedbrytbara egenskaper. Dessa egenskaper är också en anledning till dess popularitet, och varje år tillförs ungefär 100 miljarder plastbärkassar bara till den europeiska marknaden. En stor del av dessa hamnar i hav och andra vattendrag där de påverkar biodiversiteten genom att plastpartiklar förtärs av marina varelser och sedan transporteras upp i näringskedjan. För att minska problemet med marin nedskräpning har Europeiska unionens medlemsstater i en gemensam ansträngning satt ett mål att till år 2025 reducera antalet plastbärkassar som förbrukas per person och år till 40 stycken. För att uppnå detta mål infördes den 1 maj i Sverige en skatt på plastbärkassar som för konsumenter innebär en prishöjning i butiker med 3 SEK per påse. Syftet med denna studie är att identifiera hur konsumenter kan förväntas svara på denna prishöjning, och vilka faktorer som förhindrar en möjlig beteendeförändring. För att få en bättre förståelse för detta intervjuades sju konsumenter från olika typer av hushåll, som ombads redogöra för sina konsumtionsrutiner och förväntade reaktion på införandet av skatten. Resultaten visade att majoriteten av informanterna trots en positiv attityd till införandet av skatten inte har för avsikt att minska den egna konsumtionen av plastbärkassar, och att den främsta anledningen till detta är de många funktioner som materialet möjliggör.
Plastic pollution has been a problem since the 1950s due to the material’s durable and persistant characteristics and slow degradability, and these characteristics are also the reason for the material’s popularity. An estimated 100 billion plastic bags are introduced to the european markets every year, with a significant amount of these ending up in oceans and other bodies of water. Plastic pollution harms biodiversity as marine species consume plastic particles which are then transported through the food chain. To counteract this problem, the European Union member states strive to limit the amount of plastic carrier bags being used to 40 per person and year, by 2025. As a means to achieve this goal, the Swedish government introduced a tax which increased the retail price of plastic carrier bags by 3 SEK as of May 1st 2020. This study aims to identify consumers intended response to this tax, and what factors might prevent a possible change of behaviour. To better understand this, seven interviews were carried out with consumers from different households, in which they were asked to share their shopping routines and expected response to the tax. The results showed that while the majority of the consumers expressed a positive attitude towards the tax, few had any intention of reducing their own consumption of the plastic carrier bag, primarily due to the many irreplacable functions provided by the material.

The growing importance of people’s pro-environmental behaviours (PEBs) in relation to reducing their negative impacts and/or increasing their positive impacts in natural areas has attracted considerable research interest. Visitor engagement in pro-environmental activities is one of the key elements in maintaining and improving a national park’s ecological and biological resources. These resources are often the main components of tourism products developed in nature-based destinations. A specific concern for many national park managers is the generation of litter by visitors. A PEB to solve the problem of litter management in national parks is binning i.e. putting litter in a bin. As such, it is essential to identify what leads visitors to bin their litter. Binning is defined in this thesis as a type of private low-cost PEBs where a visitor puts his or her own litter in a bin if provided, otherwise, in a bag or a pocket for placing in a bin later. Based on this definition, this thesis is the first study to explore such behaviour in the context of a national park. Drawing on theories that include self-interest/rational (i.e. theory of planned behaviour) and other-interest/pro-social (i.e. norm-activation model) motives, an integrated structural model of binning behaviour was developed. The proposed model was tested among national park visitors in Iran and Australia. The direct and indirect associations among the proposed model constructs were examined using the partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLSSEM) approach on a sample of 240 visitors to Sorkh-e-hesar National Park in Iran and 219 visitors to Yanchep National Park in Australia. Multi-group analysis was also employed to explore the differences in binning behaviour between samples. The PLS-SEM results revealed the association between awareness of consequences and personal norms was the strongest, and personal norms was the most influential determinant of pro-environmental binning behaviour. Further, the PLS-SEM results revealed a good fit of the model within each sample, with minimal variations in the measurement parameters across cultures. However, the results of the multi-group analysis show that the relationships between the antecedents of binning behaviour did not differ significantly between the Iranian and Australian groups. This supports the cross-cultural generalisability of the measurement and structural parameters of the theory of planned behaviour and its extension by the norm activation model. From a practical perspective, the results of this doctoral research indicate that national park management agencies should strengthen the saliency of visitors’ personal norms and raise awareness of littering problems and social norms to increase visitors’ bin use while they are visiting a national park. The thesis contributes to the existing theories of PEB and to improving national park managers’ understanding of visitors’ motivations towards PEB in relation to nature-based tourism activities. The thesis concludes with a research agenda, suggesting that PEB research opportunities in the context of nature-based tourism are numerous; however, its specific domains, theoretical advancement, measurability and cultural influences require significant rethinking for future research.

Fimpnedskräpning är ett problem ur flera aspekter. Fimparnas filter har en lång nedbrytnings­tid och innehåller tungmetallen kadmium, den lagras i allt organiskt. Med den största andelen av den totala mängden skräp har samhället varken råd att låta fimparna ligga kvar i naturen eller att plocka upp alla från densamma. Kemiskt och estetiskt såväl som ekonomiskt är fimp­ned­skräpningen ett dåtida, ett nutida och ett framtida problem. Lösningsförslag handlar ofta om restriktioner, ökade investeringar i renhållning eller tillgänglighet. Men en skräpig miljö behöver inte fler skräpinsamlare och botskrivare, utan färre nedskräpare. Filtren på cigaretter består av en plast kallad cellulosaacetat. Pressas de ihop ordentligt är de­formationen plastisk, ett faktum efter utförda experiment. Det konstaterades att bestående tryckmönster i relief kan inpräntas i fimparnas filterplast. Detta ska uppfyllas via mobila ask­koppar, kallade LitterPress. Dessa släcker, kom­primerar och förvarar fimpar samtidigt som de omvandlar dess filter till lottsedlar. Vid användning märks filtren med respektive rökares person- eller telefonnummer i ett pressmoment. Alla ciga­retter är därmed potentiella lotter som kan spåras tillbaka till inlämnarna. Förslaget uppmuntrar rökarna att tömma sina mobila askkoppar i numrerade stationära ask­koppar, kallade LitterBox. Dessa fördelar slump­mässigt fimparna mellan två fack, ett huvudfack där de flesta hamnar och ett mindre fack där betydligt färre hamnar. Varje vecka slumpar ett dataprogram fram ett nummer mellan 1 och antalet uppsatta stationära askkoppar. De som har märkta fimpar, i den utlottade stationära ask­koppens mindre fack, erhåller en kännbar ekonomisk utdelning. Det ska gå att tilldela en eventuell utdelning till en specifik verksamhet. Detta uppfylls genom att den mobila askkoppen ställs in på att märk­a filtren med ett organisationsnummer. Oberoende av märkning kan det parallellt ske en fortlöpande utdelning till välgörande ända­mål, där en bestämd summa skänks för varje fimp i det mindre facket. Detta utgör konceptet Litter­Lott, ett skräplotteri med LitterPress och LitterBox som kompo­nenter. Alla deltagare har en chans att ta del av de skräpkostnader och miljöbelastningar de besparar samhället. Innovativt och pedagogiskt ökar medvetenheten kring både återvinning och kostnader kopplade till nedskräpning. En hemsida annonserar aktuell LitterBox och veckans ”återvinnare”. Där ska det gå att regi­strera medlemskap, följa utvecklingen av LitterLott och delta i ämnes­relaterade diskussioner. Företag, kommunala verksamheter, stiftelser och organisationer kan också anmäla sitt intresse i att vara med och samarbeta för en mer hållbar miljö. Projektets intention är att väcka debatt med fokus på viktiga frågor angående miljö, nedskräp­ning och återvinning. Frågor som är relevanta i dagens samhälle och nödvändiga för morgon­dagens.
Butt littering is a problem in several ways. The filter of the cigarette butts have long degrada­tion time and contain cadmium, a heavy metal stored in organic tissues. With a large fraction of the total amount of litter the society can neither afford to ignore or collect every cigarette butt dropped in the environment. Chemically and esthetically as well as economi­cally butt littering is a past, a present and a future problem. Suggestions of solutions often in­volve re­strictions, increased investments in cleaning efforts or in accessibility. But a littered environ­ment doesn’t need more bins or stricter laws, it needs less littering. Cigarettes have filters that contain a plastic fiber called cellulose acetate. If they are enough compressed the deformation is plastic, a fact after empirical experiments. Definite permanent patterns in relief could be formed within the plastic fiber of the filters. This will be achieved through mobile ashtrays, called LitterPress. These stub out, compress and store cigarette butts along with transforming its filters to lottery tickets. In use, a press motion marks the filters with the social security number or the phone number of each user respectively. In other words, all cigarettes are potential lottery tickets which can be traced to its recycler. The proposition encourages the smokers to empty their mobile ashtrays into numbered sta­tionary ashtrays, called LitterBox. These will randomly di­vide the butts between two com­partments. One is large where the majority end up and one is small, enclosing significantly fewer. A computer program will weekly and randomly pick a number between 1 and the num­ber of stationary installed ashtrays. Those who have their marked cigarette butts in the smaller compartment, of the stationary ashtray of the week, will collect a noticeable economic payoff. There will be possible to allocate any payoff to a specific business. This is done by adjusting the mobile ashtray to mark the filters with an organization number. Irrespective of marking there can also be a continuously payoff to charity, where a fixed amount is allocated for each cigarette butt in the smaller compartment. In action the two physical products are components in the concept of LitterLott, a lottery out of litter. Participants have a chance to receive a part of the litter ex­penses and environmental impositions they spare the society. In an innovative and pedagogic way the awareness in­creases around recycling and what the costs are to refrain. A homepage will announce current LitterBox along with the fortunate recyclers. One may register membership, follow the development of LitterLott and participate in discussions re­lated to the subject. Also companies, municipal businesses and organizations can declare their interests in being a part of the concept and co­operate towards a healthier environment. The intention is to start a debate focusing on important environmentally related questions, litter­ing in general and recycling. Those questions are relevant in today’s society and neces­sary for tomorrows.

Questa Tesi studia le pericolosità connesse ai mozziconi di sigaretta, indagandone le possibili modalità di recupero affinché tale rifiuto, considerato “pericoloso” per l’ambiente e per la vita umana, possa essere valorizzato sotto forma di nuova risorsa seguendo un modello di economia circolare. La gravità del problema non è solo legata alla pericolosità intrinseca delle sigarette, già nota, ma quanto più al fenomeno del littering associato ai mozziconi. Per littering si intende l’abitudine a gettare piccoli rifiuti nell'ambiente piuttosto che negli appositi cestini. I filtri dei mozziconi sono composti in acetato di cellulosa: una plastica “organica” quindi non biodegradabile ma fotodegradabile. Essa, sotto l’azione dei raggi solari, si disgrega in particelle piccolissime, le cosiddette microplastiche (ϕ < 5 mm), pericolose in quanto comodamente edibili dagli animali marini e, da essi, raggiungere gli esseri umani attraverso la catena alimentare. Per questi motivi, sono state studiate le possibili modalità di trattamento, con l’obiettivo di progettare un impianto sostenibile dal punto di vista ambientale ed economico. Il primo passo nell'analisi è stato la scomposizione del mozzicone di sigaretta nei suoi componenti. La carta, una volta separata dal filtro, può essere avviata agli specifici trattamenti della filiera di recupero e riciclo. I filtri in acetato di cellulosa, una volta bonificati dai macro inquinanti presenti, possono essere riutilizzati per le medesime applicazioni del polimero vergine. La cenere mista a tabacco può, invece, essere inviata a compostaggio. La ricerca si conclude con l’ipotesi di un impianto di trattamento industriale adatto a processare i mozziconi di sigaretta prodotti in Emilia Romagna cui segue una valutazione economica.

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O presente trabalho tem como objetivo fazer uma abordagem sobre a escrita na televisão pela Videografia e seus processos e procedimentos artísticos, não se restringindo a forma e tamanho da letra, mas analisando os elementos próprios da linguagem televisiva como espaço, tempo movimento, cor e som. Pesquisei os processos que equivalem a criação e o desenvolvimento da Videografia, as questões técnicas inerentes ao meio televisivo, os procedimentos que permitem maior legibilidade e visualidade,ou seja, que privilegiam a leitura daquilo que está escrito no vídeo, e quais os processos criativos na aplicaçao de um texto no vídeo para que se estabeleça melhor combinação entre a forma e a técnica. Esse trajeto resultou no Trabalho Equivalente, no qual utilizei parte de minha produção como artista visual e profisssional da área de televisão, para compor uma grade de programação de uma emissora fictícia denomonada TV Trabalho Equivalente, apresentado no DVD que acompanha este Relatório Circunstanciado.
The present work has as its aim to do an approach about writing on television through Videography and its artistic processes and procedures, not only focusing the shape and size if letters, but also analyzing the specific elements of television aesthetics such as apace, time movement, color and sound. I've research the processes involved on creation and development of Videography, the technical issues inherent to television media, the procedures that bring more legibility and visuality. In other words, procedures which privilege the reading of what is written on TV screen and the creative procedures used to apply a text on screen, in order to establish the best combination between form and technique. This research resulted into the Trabalho Equivalente (Equivalente Work), in which used part of my production as a visual artist and television professional to compose a programming schedule of a fictional television broadcast named TV Trabalho Equivalente, presented on the DVD that goes with this Circumstancial Reporter.

Orientador: Pelópodas Cypriano de Oliveira
Resumo : O presente trabalho tem como objetivo fazer uma abordagem sobre a escrita na televisão pela Videografia e seus processos e procedimentos artísticos, não se restringindo a forma e tamanho da letra, mas analisando os elementos próprios da linguagem televisiva como espaço, tempo movimento, cor e som. Pesquisei os processos que equivalem a criação e o desenvolvimento da Videografia, as questões técnicas inerentes ao meio televisivo, os procedimentos que permitem maior legibilidade e visualidade,ou seja, que privilegiam a leitura daquilo que está escrito no vídeo, e quais os processos criativos na aplicaçao de um texto no vídeo para que se estabeleça melhor combinação entre a forma e a técnica. Esse trajeto resultou no Trabalho Equivalente, no qual utilizei parte de minha produção como artista visual e profisssional da área de televisão, para compor uma grade de programação de uma emissora fictícia denomonada TV Trabalho Equivalente, apresentado no DVD que acompanha este Relatório Circunstanciado.
Abstract : The present work has as its aim to do an approach about writing on television through Videography and its artistic processes and procedures, not only focusing the shape and size if letters, but also analyzing the specific elements of television aesthetics such as apace, time movement, color and sound. I've research the processes involved on creation and development of Videography, the technical issues inherent to television media, the procedures that bring more legibility and visuality. In other words, procedures which privilege the reading of what is written on TV screen and the creative procedures used to apply a text on screen, in order to establish the best combination between form and technique. This research resulted into the Trabalho Equivalente (Equivalente Work), in which used part of my production as a visual artist and television professional to compose a programming schedule of a fictional television broadcast named TV Trabalho Equivalente, presented on the DVD that goes with this Circumstancial Reporter.
Mestre

Orientador: João Batista Toledo Prado
Resumo: O presente trabalho consiste em um estudo da arte gramatical intitulada Terentiani Mauri de litteris, de syllabis, de metris, do autor latino Terenciano Mauro (TM), que se ocupa da descrição e técnica de uso dos versos da lírica latina. Composto pelos livros De litteris, De syllabis e De metris, o tratado técnico perpassa os mais variados tópicos: desde o estudo das letras latinas e da formação de sílabas, até o emprego de diferentes metros na composição dos versos de renomados poetas latinos. O estudo volta-se à investigação das principais características do Prefácio e do livro De Metris de TM, a fim de evidenciar as diferentes camadas que constituem o texto, uma vez que é possível identificar, em algumas passagens, a emergência de uma função poética, ainda que em segundo plano. Nesse sentido, observou-se que TM demonstra certo cuidado na elaboração do plano de expressão de sua obra, na medida em que compõe o texto empregando metros do acervo da poesia clássica latina. Verificou-se também que o metricista constrói o ritmo de seu texto mantendo um movimento constante dos versos, além de explorá-lo por meio de um arranjo regular dos elementos na oração. Trata-se, portanto, de uma arte métrica com aspectos metapoéticos. Assim, pretendeu-se comprovar que esse aspecto indica certa performatividade do texto, uma vez que ele demonstra a matéria por meio do arranjo dos versos que compõem o arranjo do plano de expressão. À luz de estudos antigos e recentes, dispôs-se não apenas a apr... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo)
Abstract: The present work consists of a study of the ars grammatica named Terentiani Mauri de litteri, de syllabis, de metris, written by the Latin author Terentianus Maurus (TM) and which focuses on the description and technique used in the verses of the Latin lyric. It is composed of the books: De litteris, De syllabis and De metris, covering varied topics - from the study of the Latin letters and the formation of the syllables to the usage of different metric in the composition of renowned Latin poets. This study aims to investigate the main characteristics of the Preface and the book De Metris, by TM, highlighting the different parts that constitute the text, since it is possible to identify in some excerpts the presence of a poetic function. It is observed that the grammarian was quite careful in the elaboration of the plan of expression of his work as far as he uses meters of the classic Latin poetry catalogue while he writes his text. Furthermore, it is noticed he develops the rhythm of his text maintaining a constant movement of his verses besides exploring it through a regular arrangement of the elements in the sentence. It is, thus, a metrical treatise with metapoetic features. Therefore, it was intended to prove that this aspect suggests some performativity of the text as it shows the subject through the arrangement of the verses which form the arrangement of the plan of the expression. In the light of past and present studies, not only was it desired to submit an overview ... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)
Mestre

Litter decomposition is a poorly understood function of constructed and natural forested wetlands. This study compared rates of litter mass loss, changes in litter morphology, and associated macroinvertebrate populations in constructed and natural non-tidal wetlands. Two sets of wetlands (constructed vs. natural) were studied in eastern Virginia; a 9 year-old riparian set near Fort Lee, (FL), and a 2 year-old wet flat set in Charles City County, (CC). Mixed deciduous forest litter collected from the FL natural wetland decayed more rapidly in the created wetlands than the adjacent forested wetlands. Mixed emergent marsh litter collected from the FL created wetland exhibited a similar relationship, although marsh litter decomposed slower than forest litter. Litter area and weight loss followed a similar pattern, although area loss lagged behind weight loss, consistent with an initial leaching phase of decomposition. Both the FL and CC created wetlands exhibited faster litter decomposition than their adjacent forested wetland, however, the FL created wetland had a lower weight:area ratio and higher detritivore abundance than the adjacent forested wetland, while the reverse was true for the CC wetland pair. These relationships suggest macroinvertebrates played an important role in decomposition in the FL created wetland, while other factors were more significant at CC. Faster decomposition in the created wetlands may be of concern for long-term soil organic matter accumulation, or conversely, may indicate quick recovery of the litter decomposition function. Overall, these findings point out the difficulties involved in using certain functional indicators to compare very young and mature systems.
Master of Science

To date, no systematic study of the military equipment from the celebrated conflict sites of the Bella Judaica has been offered. Based on a large assemblage of military equipment that originated from over 70 sites throughout Palestine a typological database of the equipment was formed, the majority of which is hitherto unpublished. The arid conditions of the eastern sectors of Palestine have contributed to an excellent preservation of equipment made of perishable materials. Additionally, rare discoveries like the panoply of a Roman legionary enabled us to illustrate the images of the Roman soldiers and their opponents in the Early Roman east. But this study draws beyond the narrow typological approach. The militaria of Roman Palestine is examined against its contextual background. This corpus enriches the archaeology of conflict, as the analysis of the material yielded indications for the tactics and types of weapons employ ed, among which are remnants of unique siege tools. The exploration of the spatial distribution of the militaria provided new data concerning the course of battles and revealed the identity of the participating forces and provides a platform for critical discussion about the credibility of historical sources. By reviewing the wider historical and social contexts through the spectacles of military equipment we obtain now a tool which extends and improves our understanding of the big picture, namely how the interrelations between the struggling societies were mediated and moulded by social, political and economic conditions and practices. Militaria appears to be a useful indicator for the status of warriors within their military society and in the eyes of the civil society which is manifested in the rabbinic literature. It further sheds light upon production and technological aspects, which appear to echo the complex Romano-Jewish interrelations and the resistance of the oppressed side to the cultural Romanisation process.

Syftet med denna kvalitativa studie är att genom fokusgruppintervjuer undersöka vad elever i årskurserna 5-6 kan och  resonerar om begreppen källsortering, nedskräpning och miljöförstöring Studien tar upp hur hållbar utveckling är upplagt i läroplanens inledande delar och kursplaner, hur de tre dimensionerna av hållbarhet definieras samt tidigare forskning inom ämnet. I det resultat som visualiseras framkom det hur 20 elever på en Grön Flaggskola och en icke Grön Flaggskola ser på nedskräpning och källsortering. Undersökningens resultat indikerar att eleverna är väl insatta i dagens miljöproblem och de vet hur de ska motverka dessa. Anmärkningsvärt visade eleverna på Grön Flaggskolan inte mer kunskap om till exempel hållbarhet. Dock påvisas det att majoriteten av eleverna på båda skolorna innehar en nonchalant inställning till problemen, lägger dessa på andra individer och skjuter problemen framför sig. I studien framförs slutligen en diskussion om införandet av ett nytt ämne i läroplanen, vem som bär ansvaret och hur lärarna kan engagera sina elever att arbeta för en bättre planet.
The purpose of this qualitative study is, through focus group interviews investigate what pupils in grades 5-6 can and reason about waste sorting, littering and pollutions. The study examines how sustainable development is presented in the curriculum's introductory parts and curricula, how the three dimensions of sustainability are defined and previous research within the subject. The result that emerged visualizes how 20 pupils at an Eco-School and a non-Eco-school look at littering and sorting waste. The results of the survey indicate that the pupils are well acquainted with today's environmental problems, and they know how to counteract with these. The pupils on the Eco School did remarkably not show more knowledge about for example sustainability. However, it is demonstrated that the majority of the pupils at both schools hold a nonchalant approach to the problems, place these on other individuals and postpone the problems before them. Finally, the study discusses the introduction of a new topic in the curriculum, who carries the responsibility and how the teachers can engage their students to work for a better planet.

In the present thesis, implications of pasture establishment, fertilization and abandonment on soil C and nutrient dynamics were investigated for the mountain rainforest region of southern Ecuador. Over the past decades the natural forest of the study area has been threatened by conversion to cattle pastures. However, the soil fertility of these extensively grazed pastures (active pastures) declines continuously during pasture use. The invasion of bracken fern (Pteridium arachnoideum) leads to pasture abandonment when bracken becomes dominant. In order to reveal the mechanisms behind the deterioration of soil fertility, biotic and abiotic soil properties and their interaction were analyzed along a land‐use gradient (natural forest – active pasture – abandoned pasture). The ecosystem disturbance of the mountain rainforest through pasture use changed the microbial function and structure, and affected soil CO2‐C fluxes. Annually, 2 Mg soil CO2‐C ha‐1 were additionally emitted from the pasture land. This acceleration in soil respiration rates was related to accelerated rates of microbial C mineralization and fine‐root respiration. The high‐quality, N‐rich above‐ and belowground residues of the pasture grass (S. sphacelata, C4‐plant), especially the huge fine‐root biomass, provided a high C and N availability for soil microbes. Compared to the forest, increased soil pH and accelerated base saturation were further factors beneficial for soil microbial growth and metabolism of the upper mineral soil at active pastures. Three times higher amounts of microbial biomass C and a significant shift in the microbial community structure towards a higher relative abundance of Gram(‐)‐ bacteria and fungi were observed. Long‐term pasture use and the invasion of bracken (C3‐plant) diminished beneficial effects for microbes, causing a significant decrease in the C, net, and gross N mineralization rates as well as a two‐third reduction in the microbial biomass. A preferential substrate utilization of grass‐derived C4 by the soil microbes resulted in a rapid decline of the C4‐pool. As a consequence, the less available C3‐pool from bracken and former forest increased its dominance in the SOC‐pool, further decreasing pasture productivity and finally causing pasture abandonment. The lower quality and quantity of above‐ and belowground residues of the bracken (high lignin content, C/N) resulted in resource‐limited conditions that influenced the microbial function to greater extent than their structure. The microbial structure seemed to be sensitive mainly to soil pH along the land‐use gradient. Thus, a disconnection between microbial structure and function was identified. Fertilization experiments were conducted both in the lab and in the field to evaluate the impact of urea and/or rock phosphate amendment on SOM dynamics and on pasture productivity of active pastures. After combined fertilization the pasture yield was most efficiently increased by 2 Mg ha−1 a−1, indicating a NP‐limitation of grass growth. Furthermore, the fodder quality was improved by a higher content of P and Ca in the grass biomass. The microorganisms of the active pasture soil responded with an adaptation of their structure to the increased substrate availability in the short term, but did not change their initial functions in the long term. After urea/ rock phosphate addition a significant increase in the relative fungal abundance was detected, but neither a microbial limitation of energy nor of N or P was observed. However, urea addition accelerated gaseous losses of soil CO2‐C in the short term. In the study area, pronounced alterations in ecosystem functioning due to land‐use changes were detected, especially in soil C and N cycling rates. For a sustainable land‐use in this region it is crucial to prevent pasture degradation and to rehabilitate degraded pastures in order to protect the prevailing mountain rainforest ecosystem. It is of crucial importance for active pasture soils to maintain or even increase resource availability, being one indicator of soil fertility. In this context, the soil organic matter has to be retained in the long‐term to maintain high microbial activity and biomass, and thus pasture productivity. A moderate fertilization with urea and rock phosphate can be a first step to provide continuous nutrient supply for grass growth and to strengthen livestock health through increased fodder quality. However, the risk of further additional emissions of soil CO2‐C due to increased loads of urea fertilizer application has to be kept in mind. Overall, for the establishment of a sustainable land‐use management the control of bracken invasion and an adjusted nutrient management are needed. Further investigations on the reduction of soil nutrient losses and increased nutrient use efficiencies of plants, such as combined planting with legumes or the usage of cultivars with special nutrient acquisition strategies, should be in the focus of future work
In der vorliegenden Dissertation werden die Auswirkungen der Weideetablierung, ‐düngung sowie des Verlassens von Weiden auf Bodenkohlenstoff‐ und Nährstoffdynamik in einer tropischen Bergregenwaldregion Ecuadors zusammenfassend dargestellt und diskutiert. Der Naturwald des Untersuchungsgebietes ist seit Jahrzehnten durch Brandrodung und die Umwandlung in extensiv genutztes Weideland (aktive Weide) in seinem flächenhaften Bestand bedroht. Als Problem hat sich der Verlust an Fruchtbarkeit der Weideböden während ihrer Bewirtschaftung herausgestellt. Des Weiteren führt die Einwanderung des Tropischen Adlerfarns (Pteridium arachnoideum, C3‐Pflanze) zu einer Reduktion der oberirdischen Grasbiomasse. Nimmt diese Entwicklung überhand, werden die betroffenen Flächen von den Bauern nicht mehr aktiv genutzt, verlassen und neuer Regenwald gerodet. Um mehr über die Mechanismen der Verringerung der Bodenfruchtbarkeit zu erfahren, wurden biotische und abiotische Bodeneigenschaften und deren Interaktion entlang eines Landnutzungsgradienten (Naturwald – aktive Weide – verlassene Weide) untersucht. Die Zerstörung des Bergregenwaldökosystems und die Überführung der gerodeten Flächen zur Weidebewirtschaftung verändert die Funktion und Struktur der Bodenmikroorganismen und beeinflusst den CO2‐C Fluss aus dem Boden. Jährlich werden 2 t CO2‐C ha‐1 zusätzlich vom Weideland emittiert. Diese Erhöhung der Bodenatmungsraten kann mit erhöhten Raten der mikrobiellen C‐Mineralisierung und Feinwurzelatmung in Verbindung gebracht werden. Das Weidegras (S. sphacelata, C4‐Pflanze) liefert C‐ und N‐reiche ober und unterirdische organische Substanz (z.B. durch die Feinwurzelbiomasse) und trägt damit zu einer Erhöhung der C‐ und N‐Verfügbarkeit für die mikroorganismen bei. Darüber hinaus stellen ein höherer pH‐Wert und eine erhöhte Basensättigung im oberen Mineralboden der aktiven Weide günstige Bedingungen für mikrobielles Wachstum und Metabolismus dar. Als Konsequenz sind die Gehalte an mikrobiellem Biomassekohlenstoff um das Dreifache erhöht und die mikrobiellen Gemeinschaftsstrukturen signifikant in Richtung einer höheren relativen Abundanz der Gram(‐)‐Bakterien und Pilze verschoben. Eine längerfristige Weidebewirtschaftung ohne Kompensation von Nährstoffverlusten sowie die Einwanderung des Tropischen Adlerfarnes verschlechterte die Bedingungen für die Mikroorganismen, was zu einem signifikanten Rückgang des SOC, der Netto‐ und Brutto‐N‐Mineralisierungsraten sowie zu einer Halbierung der mikrobiellen Biomasse führt. Eine bevorzugte Substratnutzung von Graskohlenstoff (C4) durch die Mikroorganismen hat einen schnellen Abbau des C4‐Pools zur Folge. Somit dominiert nun der mikrobiell schlechter verfügbare C3‐Pool den Bodenkohlenstoffpool. Dies führt zu einem weiteren Rückgang der Weideproduktivität und schließlich zum Offenlassen der Weide. Die geringere Qualität und Quantität der vom Farn stammenden ober‐ und unterirdischen organischen Substanz (hoher Ligninanteil, weites C/N), führten zu einer Limitierung der Ressourcen für die Mikroorganismen, welche deren Funktionen in größerem Maße beeinflussen als deren Gemeinschaftsstruktur. Im Gegensatz dazu wird entlang des Landnutzungsgradienten die Struktur hauptsächlich durch den pH‐Wert beeinflusst. Daraus folgt, dass Struktur und Funktion der Bodenmikroorganismen voneinander entkoppelt auf Veränderungen reagieren können. Um den Einfluss von Harnstoff‐ und/ oder Rohphosphatdüngung aktiver Weiden auf die Dynamik der organischen Bodensubstanz und auf die Weideproduktivität zu untersuchen, wurden sowohl Labor‐ als auch Feldversuche durchgeführt. Im Feldexperiment wurde gezeigt, dass eine NP‐Limitierung der Grasbiomasseproduktion vorliegt und durch eine geringe NP‐Kombinationsdüngung die oberirdische Phytomasseproduktion um 2 t ha−1 a−1 gesteigert und die Futterqualität durch eine Erhöhung der P‐ und Ca‐ Gehalte verbessert werden kann. Die Mikroorganismen reagierten mit einer Anpassung ihrer Struktur an die kurzzeitig erhöhte Substratverfügbarkeit. Nach Gabe von Harnstoff und/ oder Rohphosphat wurde weder eine N‐ noch eine P‐Limitierung der Bodenmikroorganismen festgestellt, und die mikrobiellen Funktionen wurden langfristig nicht verändert. Dagegen bewirkte die Düngergabe einen erhöhten relativen Anteil der Pilzabundanz. Im Labor sowie im Feld kam es nach Harnstoffdüngung kurzzeitig zu verstärkten gasförmigen Verlusten des Bodenkohlenstoffs. Aufgrund der Landnutzungsänderungen im Untersuchungsgebiet veränderten sich die Ökosystemfunktionen stark, speziell die Boden‐C‐ und Boden‐N‐Umsatzraten. Für eine nachhaltige Landnutzung in der Region, d. h., für den Schutz der noch verbliebenen natürlichen Bergregenwaldflächen, ist es von entscheidender Bedeutung, dass die Weidedegradierung verhindert wird und degradierte Flächen wieder in Nutzung genommen werden. Als entscheidend für die Weideproduktivität hat sich in dieser Studie die Ressourcenverfügbarkeit für Bodenmikroorganismen herausgestellt. Daher ist es sehr wichtig, diese Ressourcenverfügbarkeit in Böden aktiv‐genutzter Weiden zu erhalten oder noch zu erhöhen, denn sie wirkt sich vor allem auf die organische Bodensubstanz und im Wechselspiel damit auf die mikrobielle Biomasse und Aktivität aus. Eine moderate Kombinationsdüngung aus Harnstoff und Rohphosphat ist ein erster Schritt in diese Richtung. Dabei sollte jedoch das Risiko zusätzlicher bodenbürtiger CO2‐C Emissionen in Folge höherer Düngergaben berücksichtigt werden. Für ein nachhaltiges Landnutzungsmanagement sind Maßnahmen gegen die Einwanderung des Adlerfarnes und ein angepasstes Nährstoffmanagement notwendig. Weitere Untersuchungen sollten auf eine Minimierung der Nährstoffverluste und eine erhöhte Nährstoffnutzungseffizienz der Pflanzen fokussiert werden. Weidemischkulturen aus Gräsern mit Leguminosen sowie der Einsatz von Kulturen mit speziellen Nährstoffaneignungsstrategien könnten dabei eine große Rolle spielen und sollten in der Region erprobt werden
La tesis presentada investiga el impacto del establecimiento de pasto, de su fertilización y de su manejo tradicional (abandono del pastizal) a la dinámica del carbono y de los nutrientes de suelo en la región de los bosques tropicales montañosos en el Sur de Ecuador. Durante las últimas décadas el bosque natural en el área de estudio ha estado amenazada por su conversión a pastizales. Sin embargo, la fertilidad del suelo en pastos de tipo extensivo (pastos activos) decrece frecuentemente durante el uso de los pastos. La invasión de Llashipa (Pteridium arachnoideum) conduce al abandono de los pastos cuando la ésta se vuelve dominante. Con la finalidad de revelar los mecanismos detrás de esta disminución de la fertilidad de suelo, se analizaron las propiedades bióticas y abióticas del suelo y sus interacciones, a lo largo de una gradiente del uso de la tierra (bosque natural —pasto activo — pastos abandonados). La perturbación del ecosistema de bosque tropical montañoso por su cambio de uso, mediante el establecimiento de pastizales, ha alterado la función y la estructura de los microorganismos y ha afectado el flujo de CO2‐C del suelo. Cada año 2 Mg CO2‐C ha‐1 fueron emitidas adicionalmente por el establecimiento de pastos. Esta aceleración en la tasa de respiración del suelo está relacionada con el aumento de las tasas de mineralización microbiana de carbono y de la respiración de las raíces. La alta calidad y abundancia de N de los residuos orgánicos del suelo con pasto Mequeron (S. sphacelata, C4‐planta), especialmente debido a la gran biomasa de las raíces finas, ofrecen una disponibilidad alta de C y N para los microorganismos. En comparación con el bosque natural, el aumento del pH y la saturación bases acelerada fueron condiciones más favorables para el crecimiento microbiano y para el metabolismo microbiano en el parte superior del suelo mineral en pastos activos. La cantidad de C de la biomasa de los microorganismos fue tres veces mayor que la del bosque y se ha observado un cambio significativo de la estructura de la comunidad microbiana, en donde la abundancia relativa de los hongos y de las bacterias Gram(‐) ha aumentado. El uso de pasto a largo plazo y la invasión de Llashipa (C3‐planta) han reducido los efectos benéficos para los microorganismos, que resultaron en una reducción significativa de las tasas de la mineralización de C y N, y en una reducción en dos tercios de la biomasa microbiana. El uso preferencial de los microorganismos por sustrato de pasto C4 han resultado en una rápida disminución de la reserva de C4. Como consecuencia, la menor disponibilidad de la reserva de C3 de las plantas de Llashipa y de la cobertura anterior de bosque ha incrementado su dominancia en la reserva de materia orgánica del suelo. Eso resulta, en una mayor disminución de la productividad de los pastos, conduciendo finalmente al abandono de los campos de pastos. La menor calidad y cantidad de los residuos acumulados sobre y bajo el suelo provenientes de la Llashipa han dado como resultado un sustrato de limitadas condiciones que están afectando más a las funciones microbiales antes que a su estructura. La estructura microbiana parece ser más sensible al pH del suelo a largo de la gradiente del uso de la tierra; de manera que se ha identificado una desconexión entre la estructura y función microbial. Experimentos de fertilización en laboratorio y en campo han sido realizados para evaluar el impacto de la aplicación de enmiendas (urea y/o roca fosfórica) a la dinámica de la materia orgánica y a la productividad de los pastos activos. El resultado del experimento de campo ha demostrado que la fertilización combinada es más efectiva, mostrando un aumento en la producción de biomasa de 2 Mg ha−1 a−1, lo que indica una limitación de N y P para el crecimiento del pasto. Además, la calidad de forraje se mostró incrementada ya que el contenido de P y de Ca han aumentado significativamente. Los microorganismos del suelo en el pasto activo han respondido a corto plazo con una adaptación de su estructura ante la disponibilidad de sustrato, pero no han mostrado un cambio de sus funciones iniciales a largo plazo. Después de la aplicación de urea y de la roca fosfórica, se detectó un incremento significativo en la abundancia de los hongos, pero tampoco se observó una limitación de energía microbial ni de N o P. Sin embargo, la aplicación de urea ha aumentado la pérdida gaseosa de CO2‐C del suelo a corto plazo. Debido al cambio de uso de la tierra en la área de investigación, se ha detectado una alteración notable de la función del ecosistema, especialmente en el ciclo de C y N de suelo. Para un uso sostenible de la tierra en esta región, es crucial el prevenir la degradación de pastos y rehabilitar aquellos degradados. En el suelo de pastos activos es de gran importancia el mantener o aún mejor el aumentar la disponibilidad del sustrato, que es uno de los indicadores de la fertilidad del suelo. En este contexto, la materia orgánica se debe ser retenida a largo plazo para mantener la actividad y biomasa microbiana alta y por ende la productividad de pasto. Una moderada fertilización con urea y roca fosfórica puede ser un primer paso para proveer un continuo suministro de nutrientes por el crecimiento del pasto y para reforzar la sanidad pecuaria por medio de un forraje de mayor calidad. Sin embargo, el riesgo de emisiones adicionales de CO2‐C del suelo debido a una aplicación más alta de urea debe tenerse en cuenta. Se puede concluir que para un manejo sostenible del uso de la tierra, tanto el control de la invasión de Llashipa y como un suministro adecuado de nutrientes son necesarios. Adicionalmente se podría decir que es necesario profundizar el estudio de la reducción de las pérdidas de los nutrientes de suelo y de la eficiencia del uso de los nutrientes en las plantas, así como las asociaciones de pastos con leguminosas o el uso de cultivos de absorción selectiva de nutrientes, que serían estrategias importantes para el futuro

The economic and population growth have led to the increased volumes of municipal solid waste in South Africa, hence more pressure to the waste management facilities. Municipal solid waste management is a by-product of everyday living, this is the reason why there is an environmental burden caused by waste to the environment. This study was conducted in Pretoria within the three sampled areas, namely: Garsfontein, Marabastad and Pretoria Central Business District (CBD). The rationale of the study was to establish the influence and effects of biographic factors (age, marital status, educational background, gender) and religious conviction on littering. This project constitutes both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods. About 150 of the questionnaires were administered to each of the three sampled areas. Therefore, the overall proportion of the respondents was 450. Visual inspection was done in all the three sampled areas to observe the littering status quo and waste management situation in these particular areas. The visual inspection uncovered very interesting findings. It was established that Marabastad was cleaner in the morning than in the late hours while Garsfontein was clean throughout the day. Another problem that was discovered, amongst others was that of the condition of the bins in Marabastad and Pretoria Central Business District (CBD) which was bad compared to Garsfontein. From the questionnaire, it was found that the 72% of elderly respondents (< 36 yrs) are more environmental conscious than the young people (18-35 yrs) who 83% of them claim to litter when there is no bin. Further, among young people, 78% said litter cigarette butts and 93% of these said better street cleanliness would help reduce littering. 72% of adults said religious convictions would help reduce littering. The chi-square and correlation coefficient statistical data analysis methods were used to establish the relationship between different biographic and religious variables. Gender, marital status, monthly income, age and religious conviction were all found to have significant effects on issues regarding littering in the city.
Environmental Sciences
M. Sc. (Environmental Science)

The presence of pre-packed items contributes toward littering in schools and at home milieu. Most people particularly, and learners’ discard packages of pre-packed wrappers on the ground, thus contribute to littering. This study is intended to help all relevant stakeholders to plan activities that could reduce littering. The study is grounded within the critical theory and living paradigm exploring the effect of household and school practices on learners’ environmental awareness (EA) towards littering. This case study employed action research as a methodology to unpack the problem. Fourteen learners, who are referred to as co-researchers in this study, were selected randomly from seven classes and their parents were inevitably included in the study. Three cycles were conducted with the co-researchers. Five data collection methods are used to collect data. Tables, score total percentages and coding used to analyse data. The results of the study show that environmental activities could be useful within home and school setup and continued practice of environmental activities will in the end conscientise learners towards littering if approached through action research.
Science and Technology Education
M. Ed. (Environmental Education)

碩士
中國文化大學
觀光事業研究所
95
The vandalism of people not only cause deterioration but also increases manage-ment and maintenance costs of recreation areas. Many management institutions have done a lot to prevent vandalism, however, the effects is limited. If the influence factors of vandalism can be fully realized, authorities may able to make good strategies to solve the problem. Littering probably is the most common vandalism and is pretty difficult to be pre-vented. Visitors’ littering behavior of Yang-Ming-Shan National Park had been used as case in this study. Three hundreds and eighty six mail questionnaire were collected and used as data been analyzed. Human’s behaviors basically are influenced by two factors: individual internal factors (i.e. motives and attitudes) and external factors (regulations and scenarios). The purposes of this research are to realize: 1. If people’s littering are influenced by their environmental attitudes (internal factor). 2. If people’s littering are interfered by the scenarios (external factor) of a recreation area. Both releaser cues (tidy or dirty envi-ronment) and regulations (have littering-prohibition warning bulletins or not) are de-signed as scenarios. After using cross combination, the author had designed a mail ques-tionnaire with four different scenarios and each scenario uses psychological projection to make situations. The results indicate that under a dirty environment, whether there is a warning bul-letin or not, the higher environmental attitudes people have, the lower intention they do littering. However, in a tidy environment and using warning bulletin scenario, humans’ environmental attitudes cannot predict their littering intention. The interaction between scenarios and environmental attitudes do not affect littering intention. It means scenar-ios cannot cause moderating effect in environmental attitudes and littering intentions. Thus, scenarios do not affect the relationship between environmental attitudes and lit-tering intentions.

碩士
逢甲大學
土地管理研究所
86
The littering problem existing in parks and recreation areas not only costsmanagers lots of budget and working-hour; but also results in a low levelof recreation quality in Taiwan. It is an important which and should beconcerned by both managers and visitors. Although some articles haveanalyzed the factors which affect littering behavior and have proposed somesuggestions for management, how effective these suggestion are has not been tested yet. Based on this concern, this research was focused on the issues ofvisitors'' littering behaviors and their management. Data were collected bymeans of on-site observation, visitor questionnaire survey and quasi-experimenton littering treatment. The purpose of this sudy was to develop an applicable management model for visitors'' littering behaviors.The results of this study have shown that visitors, in general, have a senseof environmental conservation. They basically support treatments for littering problem, and did not litter on purpose. Litters all over the park or recreation area were due to the inappropriate measurements or facilities to deal with the litters and, consequently, caused inconvenience, carelessness,or indifference of the visitors to treat their trash.Furthermore, visitors should be reminded to avoid littering, and the physicalmanagement treatment was called a "reminder". This research has found thatreminder could be more effective when it cooperated whith the pressure of public supervision, and the more frequent the reminder shows up, the more effective it could be.By comparing three management treatment in this research, in application,it shows that the management treatment of "a poster with slogan on the picnictable" was the most effective one on Saturday and weekdays, but "providinggarbage bags" was the most effective management treatment on Sunday. In order to maintain the cleanness of a recreation area, managers could take mixedmanagement treatment to deal with littering problem, depends on the quantityof visitors and the differences of their duration.

A beata de cigarro é um resíduo que, apesar de ser tóxico, é omnipresente. Existem dificuldades em controlar a sua dispersão no ambiente e em fazer a sua recolha e tratamento. No entanto, existem estudos e iniciativas para a sua valorização. O filtro que as compõe é de plástico e está abrangido pela Diretiva (UE) 2019/904 do Parlamento Europeu e do Conselho, relativa aos plásticos de uso único. Em Portugal foi publicada recentemente a Lei nº 88/2019, de 3 de Setembro, que tem como objetivo reduzir o seu impacte no ambiente. A Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologias da Universidade Nova de Lisboa (FCT NOVA) tem a obrigação legal de disponibilizar cinzeiros e de assegurar a limpeza da área circundante. Esta é uma boa oportunidade para se implementar um sistema de recolha seletiva de beatas neste campus universitário que permita a sua valorização. Contudo, para que tal funcione de forma apropriada é essencial que os fumadores alterem o seu comportamento de descarte das beatas para o chão e passem a colocar as beatas nos locais apropriados. Com o intuito de se fazer uma intervenção neste sentido, foi feito um diagnóstico à situação atual relativamente a este resíduo, que consistiu no levantamento do número e localização de cinzeiros, na observação e registo de áreas com maior presença de beatas no chão e na elaboração de um questionário para avaliar os comportamentos, as opiniões e as atitudes dos utentes da FCT NOVA. Os resultados dos questionários indicam que as normas sociais dos fumadores são diferentes das dos não fumadores. Observou-se que o descarte correto de beatas é feito com maior frequência que o esperado, apesar de estar longe do desejado. Constatou-se uma grande carência de cinzeiros no campus, assim como a existência de várias áreas onde as beatas se acumulam no chão, especialmente em zonas de relvado e à entrada dos edifícios. A concentração mais elevada contabilizada verificou-se à entrada do Edifício X, com 129 beatas/m2. Tendo por base este diagnóstico, sugere-se o desenvolvimento de um plano de intervenção, medidas para a alteração de comportamentos e redução das beatas no chão, nomeadamente a realização de campanhas de sensibilização e mobilização dirigidas aos utentes da FCT NOVA e a aquisição e localização estratégica de cinzeiros nos locais com maior concentração de beatas. Espera-se que os resultados deste estudo possam contribuir para o desenvolvimento de um plano de gestão para este resíduo.

碩士
國立中正大學
地球與環境科學研究所
106
The concentrations of n-alkane (C14~C35) in the leaves of Iles rotunda, Ficus benjamina, and Castanopsis carlesii in Nanjenshan Reserve were analyzed with the litterbag experiment to understand the effect of micro-degradation and micro-synthesis on the n-alkane characteristics. Total of 54 litterbag samples, placed in the ravine, windward, and the leeward habitats for 15 days and 75 days, respectively, were collected, Soxhlet extracted, and analyzed by GC-FID. The surrogate standard of 5α-Cholestane recoveries was averaged 82% ± 6% (n = 46). The mass loss percentages of Iles rotunda were 19%±7% and 40%±16% (n=9) after 15 days and 75 days, respectively, Ficus benjamina 15%±5% and 38%±12% (n=9), and Castanopsis carlesii 25%±2% and 40%±3% (n=9). The mass loss rates of Iles rotunda and Ficus benjamina at ravine habitats was faster than those at windward leeward habitats. Combine the total n-alkane concentrations and CPI24~34 values to indicate that substantial n-alkane micro-degradation were found among those samples both with low n-alkane concentration and low CPI24~34 value of Iles rotunda, Ficus benjamina, and Castanopsis carlesii. It also suggests that the alkane micro-degradation was highest in the ravine habitat.

Vernal pools are small, seasonally filling wetlands found throughout forests of north eastern North America. Vernal pools have been proposed as potential 'hot spots' of carbon cycling. A key component of the carbon cycle within vernal pools is the decomposition of leaf litter. I tested the hypothesis that leaf litter decomposition is more rapid within vernal pools than the adjacent upland. Leaf litter mass losses from litterbags incubated in situ within vernal pools and adjacent upland habitat were measured periodically over one year and then again after two years. The experiment was carried out at 24 separate vernal pools, over two replicate years. This is a novel degree of replication in studies of decomposition in temporary wetlands. Factors influencing decomposition, such as duration of flooding, water depth, pH, temperature, and dissolved oxygen were measured. Mass loss was greater within pools than adjacent upland after 6 months, equal after 12 months, and lower within pools than adjacent upland after 24 months. This evidence suggests that vernal pools of Central Ontario are 'hot spots' of decomposition up to 6 months, but not after 12 and 24 months. In the long term, vernal pools may reduce decomposition rates, compared to adjacent uplands.

In the present thesis, implications of pasture establishment, fertilization and abandonment on soil C and nutrient dynamics were investigated for the mountain rainforest region of southern Ecuador. Over the past decades the natural forest of the study area has been threatened by conversion to cattle pastures. However, the soil fertility of these extensively grazed pastures (active pastures) declines continuously during pasture use. The invasion of bracken fern (Pteridium arachnoideum) leads to pasture abandonment when bracken becomes dominant. In order to reveal the mechanisms behind the deterioration of soil fertility, biotic and abiotic soil properties and their interaction were analyzed along a land‐use gradient (natural forest – active pasture – abandoned pasture). The ecosystem disturbance of the mountain rainforest through pasture use changed the microbial function and structure, and affected soil CO2‐C fluxes. Annually, 2 Mg soil CO2‐C ha‐1 were additionally emitted from the pasture land. This acceleration in soil respiration rates was related to accelerated rates of microbial C mineralization and fine‐root respiration. The high‐quality, N‐rich above‐ and belowground residues of the pasture grass (S. sphacelata, C4‐plant), especially the huge fine‐root biomass, provided a high C and N availability for soil microbes. Compared to the forest, increased soil pH and accelerated base saturation were further factors beneficial for soil microbial growth and metabolism of the upper mineral soil at active pastures. Three times higher amounts of microbial biomass C and a significant shift in the microbial community structure towards a higher relative abundance of Gram(‐)‐ bacteria and fungi were observed. Long‐term pasture use and the invasion of bracken (C3‐plant) diminished beneficial effects for microbes, causing a significant decrease in the C, net, and gross N mineralization rates as well as a two‐third reduction in the microbial biomass. A preferential substrate utilization of grass‐derived C4 by the soil microbes resulted in a rapid decline of the C4‐pool. As a consequence, the less available C3‐pool from bracken and former forest increased its dominance in the SOC‐pool, further decreasing pasture productivity and finally causing pasture abandonment. The lower quality and quantity of above‐ and belowground residues of the bracken (high lignin content, C/N) resulted in resource‐limited conditions that influenced the microbial function to greater extent than their structure. The microbial structure seemed to be sensitive mainly to soil pH along the land‐use gradient. Thus, a disconnection between microbial structure and function was identified. Fertilization experiments were conducted both in the lab and in the field to evaluate the impact of urea and/or rock phosphate amendment on SOM dynamics and on pasture productivity of active pastures. After combined fertilization the pasture yield was most efficiently increased by 2 Mg ha−1 a−1, indicating a NP‐limitation of grass growth. Furthermore, the fodder quality was improved by a higher content of P and Ca in the grass biomass. The microorganisms of the active pasture soil responded with an adaptation of their structure to the increased substrate availability in the short term, but did not change their initial functions in the long term. After urea/ rock phosphate addition a significant increase in the relative fungal abundance was detected, but neither a microbial limitation of energy nor of N or P was observed. However, urea addition accelerated gaseous losses of soil CO2‐C in the short term. In the study area, pronounced alterations in ecosystem functioning due to land‐use changes were detected, especially in soil C and N cycling rates. For a sustainable land‐use in this region it is crucial to prevent pasture degradation and to rehabilitate degraded pastures in order to protect the prevailing mountain rainforest ecosystem. It is of crucial importance for active pasture soils to maintain or even increase resource availability, being one indicator of soil fertility. In this context, the soil organic matter has to be retained in the long‐term to maintain high microbial activity and biomass, and thus pasture productivity. A moderate fertilization with urea and rock phosphate can be a first step to provide continuous nutrient supply for grass growth and to strengthen livestock health through increased fodder quality. However, the risk of further additional emissions of soil CO2‐C due to increased loads of urea fertilizer application has to be kept in mind. Overall, for the establishment of a sustainable land‐use management the control of bracken invasion and an adjusted nutrient management are needed. Further investigations on the reduction of soil nutrient losses and increased nutrient use efficiencies of plants, such as combined planting with legumes or the usage of cultivars with special nutrient acquisition strategies, should be in the focus of future work.:Contents Acknowledgement I Table of content III List of Tables V List of Figures VI Abbreviations VII Summary (English/German/Spanish) .................................................... 1 1 Introduction ................................................................................... 6 1.1 Impact of land‐use changes on C and nutrient dynamics ............... 6 1.1.1 Soil organic carbon and soil CO2 flux 7 1.1.2 The role of soil microbes 8 1.1.3 Plant‐microbe interactions 10 1.1.4 Impact of soil environment on soil microbes 11 1.2 Pasture establishment in the tropics .......................................... 13 1.3 Research area ....................................................................... .... 15 2 Objectives and research questions ......................... ................... 19 2.1 Land‐use change ........................................................................ 19 2.2 Pasture management ............................................................. ... 21 3 Methodology ................................................................................. 22 3.1 Study sites ............................................................................... 22 3.1.1 Land‐use gradient 22 3.1.2 Pasture Fertilization Experiment (FERPAST) 23 3.2 General analyses ....................................................................... 24 3.2.1 Laboratory experiments 25 3.2.2 In situ measurements 26 3.2.3 Statistics 27 4 Results ............................................................................................ 28 4.1 Soil C and nutrient dynamics along a land‐use gradient ............. 28 Potthast, K., Hamer, U., Makeschin, F., 2011. Land‐use change in a tropical mountain rainforest region of southern Ecuador affects soil microorganisms and nutrient cycling. Biogeochemistry, 1‐17. 4.2 Impact of pH and ongoing succession on microbial function and structure .......... 29 4.3 Response of soil microbes to bracken‐invasion ........................... 32 Potthast K., Hamer U., Makeschin F. 2010. Impact of litter quality on mineralization processes in managed and abandoned pasture soils in Southern Ecuador. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 42, 56‐64. 4.4 Response of soil microbes and pasture grass to fertilization ........33 Hamer, U., Potthast, K., Makeschin, F., 2009. Urea fertilisation affected soil organic matter dynamics and microbial community structure in pasture soils of Southern Ecuador. Applied Soil Ecology 43, 226‐233. Potthast, K., Hamer, U., Makeschin, F., 2012. In an Ecuadorian pasture soil the growth of Setaria sphacelata, but not of soil microorganisms, is co‐limited by N and P. Applied Soil Ecology 62, 103‐114. 5 Discussion .................................................................................... 34 5.1 Impact of land‐use changes ...................................................... 34 5.1.1 Soil CO2 fluxes 34 5.1.2 Microbial structure and function 34 5.2 Soil fertility loss of pastures ‐reasons and first prevention steps‐ . 37 5.2.1 Litter decay and SOM dynamics 37 5.2.2 Fertilization and SOM dynamics 39 5.3 Conclusions and Perspectives ...................................................... 42 References ..................................................................................... 46 Curriculum vitae......................................................................... 58
In der vorliegenden Dissertation werden die Auswirkungen der Weideetablierung, ‐düngung sowie des Verlassens von Weiden auf Bodenkohlenstoff‐ und Nährstoffdynamik in einer tropischen Bergregenwaldregion Ecuadors zusammenfassend dargestellt und diskutiert. Der Naturwald des Untersuchungsgebietes ist seit Jahrzehnten durch Brandrodung und die Umwandlung in extensiv genutztes Weideland (aktive Weide) in seinem flächenhaften Bestand bedroht. Als Problem hat sich der Verlust an Fruchtbarkeit der Weideböden während ihrer Bewirtschaftung herausgestellt. Des Weiteren führt die Einwanderung des Tropischen Adlerfarns (Pteridium arachnoideum, C3‐Pflanze) zu einer Reduktion der oberirdischen Grasbiomasse. Nimmt diese Entwicklung überhand, werden die betroffenen Flächen von den Bauern nicht mehr aktiv genutzt, verlassen und neuer Regenwald gerodet. Um mehr über die Mechanismen der Verringerung der Bodenfruchtbarkeit zu erfahren, wurden biotische und abiotische Bodeneigenschaften und deren Interaktion entlang eines Landnutzungsgradienten (Naturwald – aktive Weide – verlassene Weide) untersucht. Die Zerstörung des Bergregenwaldökosystems und die Überführung der gerodeten Flächen zur Weidebewirtschaftung verändert die Funktion und Struktur der Bodenmikroorganismen und beeinflusst den CO2‐C Fluss aus dem Boden. Jährlich werden 2 t CO2‐C ha‐1 zusätzlich vom Weideland emittiert. Diese Erhöhung der Bodenatmungsraten kann mit erhöhten Raten der mikrobiellen C‐Mineralisierung und Feinwurzelatmung in Verbindung gebracht werden. Das Weidegras (S. sphacelata, C4‐Pflanze) liefert C‐ und N‐reiche ober und unterirdische organische Substanz (z.B. durch die Feinwurzelbiomasse) und trägt damit zu einer Erhöhung der C‐ und N‐Verfügbarkeit für die mikroorganismen bei. Darüber hinaus stellen ein höherer pH‐Wert und eine erhöhte Basensättigung im oberen Mineralboden der aktiven Weide günstige Bedingungen für mikrobielles Wachstum und Metabolismus dar. Als Konsequenz sind die Gehalte an mikrobiellem Biomassekohlenstoff um das Dreifache erhöht und die mikrobiellen Gemeinschaftsstrukturen signifikant in Richtung einer höheren relativen Abundanz der Gram(‐)‐Bakterien und Pilze verschoben. Eine längerfristige Weidebewirtschaftung ohne Kompensation von Nährstoffverlusten sowie die Einwanderung des Tropischen Adlerfarnes verschlechterte die Bedingungen für die Mikroorganismen, was zu einem signifikanten Rückgang des SOC, der Netto‐ und Brutto‐N‐Mineralisierungsraten sowie zu einer Halbierung der mikrobiellen Biomasse führt. Eine bevorzugte Substratnutzung von Graskohlenstoff (C4) durch die Mikroorganismen hat einen schnellen Abbau des C4‐Pools zur Folge. Somit dominiert nun der mikrobiell schlechter verfügbare C3‐Pool den Bodenkohlenstoffpool. Dies führt zu einem weiteren Rückgang der Weideproduktivität und schließlich zum Offenlassen der Weide. Die geringere Qualität und Quantität der vom Farn stammenden ober‐ und unterirdischen organischen Substanz (hoher Ligninanteil, weites C/N), führten zu einer Limitierung der Ressourcen für die Mikroorganismen, welche deren Funktionen in größerem Maße beeinflussen als deren Gemeinschaftsstruktur. Im Gegensatz dazu wird entlang des Landnutzungsgradienten die Struktur hauptsächlich durch den pH‐Wert beeinflusst. Daraus folgt, dass Struktur und Funktion der Bodenmikroorganismen voneinander entkoppelt auf Veränderungen reagieren können. Um den Einfluss von Harnstoff‐ und/ oder Rohphosphatdüngung aktiver Weiden auf die Dynamik der organischen Bodensubstanz und auf die Weideproduktivität zu untersuchen, wurden sowohl Labor‐ als auch Feldversuche durchgeführt. Im Feldexperiment wurde gezeigt, dass eine NP‐Limitierung der Grasbiomasseproduktion vorliegt und durch eine geringe NP‐Kombinationsdüngung die oberirdische Phytomasseproduktion um 2 t ha−1 a−1 gesteigert und die Futterqualität durch eine Erhöhung der P‐ und Ca‐ Gehalte verbessert werden kann. Die Mikroorganismen reagierten mit einer Anpassung ihrer Struktur an die kurzzeitig erhöhte Substratverfügbarkeit. Nach Gabe von Harnstoff und/ oder Rohphosphat wurde weder eine N‐ noch eine P‐Limitierung der Bodenmikroorganismen festgestellt, und die mikrobiellen Funktionen wurden langfristig nicht verändert. Dagegen bewirkte die Düngergabe einen erhöhten relativen Anteil der Pilzabundanz. Im Labor sowie im Feld kam es nach Harnstoffdüngung kurzzeitig zu verstärkten gasförmigen Verlusten des Bodenkohlenstoffs. Aufgrund der Landnutzungsänderungen im Untersuchungsgebiet veränderten sich die Ökosystemfunktionen stark, speziell die Boden‐C‐ und Boden‐N‐Umsatzraten. Für eine nachhaltige Landnutzung in der Region, d. h., für den Schutz der noch verbliebenen natürlichen Bergregenwaldflächen, ist es von entscheidender Bedeutung, dass die Weidedegradierung verhindert wird und degradierte Flächen wieder in Nutzung genommen werden. Als entscheidend für die Weideproduktivität hat sich in dieser Studie die Ressourcenverfügbarkeit für Bodenmikroorganismen herausgestellt. Daher ist es sehr wichtig, diese Ressourcenverfügbarkeit in Böden aktiv‐genutzter Weiden zu erhalten oder noch zu erhöhen, denn sie wirkt sich vor allem auf die organische Bodensubstanz und im Wechselspiel damit auf die mikrobielle Biomasse und Aktivität aus. Eine moderate Kombinationsdüngung aus Harnstoff und Rohphosphat ist ein erster Schritt in diese Richtung. Dabei sollte jedoch das Risiko zusätzlicher bodenbürtiger CO2‐C Emissionen in Folge höherer Düngergaben berücksichtigt werden. Für ein nachhaltiges Landnutzungsmanagement sind Maßnahmen gegen die Einwanderung des Adlerfarnes und ein angepasstes Nährstoffmanagement notwendig. Weitere Untersuchungen sollten auf eine Minimierung der Nährstoffverluste und eine erhöhte Nährstoffnutzungseffizienz der Pflanzen fokussiert werden. Weidemischkulturen aus Gräsern mit Leguminosen sowie der Einsatz von Kulturen mit speziellen Nährstoffaneignungsstrategien könnten dabei eine große Rolle spielen und sollten in der Region erprobt werden.:Contents Acknowledgement I Table of content III List of Tables V List of Figures VI Abbreviations VII Summary (English/German/Spanish) .................................................... 1 1 Introduction ................................................................................... 6 1.1 Impact of land‐use changes on C and nutrient dynamics ............... 6 1.1.1 Soil organic carbon and soil CO2 flux 7 1.1.2 The role of soil microbes 8 1.1.3 Plant‐microbe interactions 10 1.1.4 Impact of soil environment on soil microbes 11 1.2 Pasture establishment in the tropics .......................................... 13 1.3 Research area ....................................................................... .... 15 2 Objectives and research questions ......................... ................... 19 2.1 Land‐use change ........................................................................ 19 2.2 Pasture management ............................................................. ... 21 3 Methodology ................................................................................. 22 3.1 Study sites ............................................................................... 22 3.1.1 Land‐use gradient 22 3.1.2 Pasture Fertilization Experiment (FERPAST) 23 3.2 General analyses ....................................................................... 24 3.2.1 Laboratory experiments 25 3.2.2 In situ measurements 26 3.2.3 Statistics 27 4 Results ............................................................................................ 28 4.1 Soil C and nutrient dynamics along a land‐use gradient ............. 28 Potthast, K., Hamer, U., Makeschin, F., 2011. Land‐use change in a tropical mountain rainforest region of southern Ecuador affects soil microorganisms and nutrient cycling. Biogeochemistry, 1‐17. 4.2 Impact of pH and ongoing succession on microbial function and structure .......... 29 4.3 Response of soil microbes to bracken‐invasion ........................... 32 Potthast K., Hamer U., Makeschin F. 2010. Impact of litter quality on mineralization processes in managed and abandoned pasture soils in Southern Ecuador. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 42, 56‐64. 4.4 Response of soil microbes and pasture grass to fertilization ........33 Hamer, U., Potthast, K., Makeschin, F., 2009. Urea fertilisation affected soil organic matter dynamics and microbial community structure in pasture soils of Southern Ecuador. Applied Soil Ecology 43, 226‐233. Potthast, K., Hamer, U., Makeschin, F., 2012. In an Ecuadorian pasture soil the growth of Setaria sphacelata, but not of soil microorganisms, is co‐limited by N and P. Applied Soil Ecology 62, 103‐114. 5 Discussion .................................................................................... 34 5.1 Impact of land‐use changes ...................................................... 34 5.1.1 Soil CO2 fluxes 34 5.1.2 Microbial structure and function 34 5.2 Soil fertility loss of pastures ‐reasons and first prevention steps‐ . 37 5.2.1 Litter decay and SOM dynamics 37 5.2.2 Fertilization and SOM dynamics 39 5.3 Conclusions and Perspectives ...................................................... 42 References ..................................................................................... 46 Curriculum vitae......................................................................... 58
La tesis presentada investiga el impacto del establecimiento de pasto, de su fertilización y de su manejo tradicional (abandono del pastizal) a la dinámica del carbono y de los nutrientes de suelo en la región de los bosques tropicales montañosos en el Sur de Ecuador. Durante las últimas décadas el bosque natural en el área de estudio ha estado amenazada por su conversión a pastizales. Sin embargo, la fertilidad del suelo en pastos de tipo extensivo (pastos activos) decrece frecuentemente durante el uso de los pastos. La invasión de Llashipa (Pteridium arachnoideum) conduce al abandono de los pastos cuando la ésta se vuelve dominante. Con la finalidad de revelar los mecanismos detrás de esta disminución de la fertilidad de suelo, se analizaron las propiedades bióticas y abióticas del suelo y sus interacciones, a lo largo de una gradiente del uso de la tierra (bosque natural —pasto activo — pastos abandonados). La perturbación del ecosistema de bosque tropical montañoso por su cambio de uso, mediante el establecimiento de pastizales, ha alterado la función y la estructura de los microorganismos y ha afectado el flujo de CO2‐C del suelo. Cada año 2 Mg CO2‐C ha‐1 fueron emitidas adicionalmente por el establecimiento de pastos. Esta aceleración en la tasa de respiración del suelo está relacionada con el aumento de las tasas de mineralización microbiana de carbono y de la respiración de las raíces. La alta calidad y abundancia de N de los residuos orgánicos del suelo con pasto Mequeron (S. sphacelata, C4‐planta), especialmente debido a la gran biomasa de las raíces finas, ofrecen una disponibilidad alta de C y N para los microorganismos. En comparación con el bosque natural, el aumento del pH y la saturación bases acelerada fueron condiciones más favorables para el crecimiento microbiano y para el metabolismo microbiano en el parte superior del suelo mineral en pastos activos. La cantidad de C de la biomasa de los microorganismos fue tres veces mayor que la del bosque y se ha observado un cambio significativo de la estructura de la comunidad microbiana, en donde la abundancia relativa de los hongos y de las bacterias Gram(‐) ha aumentado. El uso de pasto a largo plazo y la invasión de Llashipa (C3‐planta) han reducido los efectos benéficos para los microorganismos, que resultaron en una reducción significativa de las tasas de la mineralización de C y N, y en una reducción en dos tercios de la biomasa microbiana. El uso preferencial de los microorganismos por sustrato de pasto C4 han resultado en una rápida disminución de la reserva de C4. Como consecuencia, la menor disponibilidad de la reserva de C3 de las plantas de Llashipa y de la cobertura anterior de bosque ha incrementado su dominancia en la reserva de materia orgánica del suelo. Eso resulta, en una mayor disminución de la productividad de los pastos, conduciendo finalmente al abandono de los campos de pastos. La menor calidad y cantidad de los residuos acumulados sobre y bajo el suelo provenientes de la Llashipa han dado como resultado un sustrato de limitadas condiciones que están afectando más a las funciones microbiales antes que a su estructura. La estructura microbiana parece ser más sensible al pH del suelo a largo de la gradiente del uso de la tierra; de manera que se ha identificado una desconexión entre la estructura y función microbial. Experimentos de fertilización en laboratorio y en campo han sido realizados para evaluar el impacto de la aplicación de enmiendas (urea y/o roca fosfórica) a la dinámica de la materia orgánica y a la productividad de los pastos activos. El resultado del experimento de campo ha demostrado que la fertilización combinada es más efectiva, mostrando un aumento en la producción de biomasa de 2 Mg ha−1 a−1, lo que indica una limitación de N y P para el crecimiento del pasto. Además, la calidad de forraje se mostró incrementada ya que el contenido de P y de Ca han aumentado significativamente. Los microorganismos del suelo en el pasto activo han respondido a corto plazo con una adaptación de su estructura ante la disponibilidad de sustrato, pero no han mostrado un cambio de sus funciones iniciales a largo plazo. Después de la aplicación de urea y de la roca fosfórica, se detectó un incremento significativo en la abundancia de los hongos, pero tampoco se observó una limitación de energía microbial ni de N o P. Sin embargo, la aplicación de urea ha aumentado la pérdida gaseosa de CO2‐C del suelo a corto plazo. Debido al cambio de uso de la tierra en la área de investigación, se ha detectado una alteración notable de la función del ecosistema, especialmente en el ciclo de C y N de suelo. Para un uso sostenible de la tierra en esta región, es crucial el prevenir la degradación de pastos y rehabilitar aquellos degradados. En el suelo de pastos activos es de gran importancia el mantener o aún mejor el aumentar la disponibilidad del sustrato, que es uno de los indicadores de la fertilidad del suelo. En este contexto, la materia orgánica se debe ser retenida a largo plazo para mantener la actividad y biomasa microbiana alta y por ende la productividad de pasto. Una moderada fertilización con urea y roca fosfórica puede ser un primer paso para proveer un continuo suministro de nutrientes por el crecimiento del pasto y para reforzar la sanidad pecuaria por medio de un forraje de mayor calidad. Sin embargo, el riesgo de emisiones adicionales de CO2‐C del suelo debido a una aplicación más alta de urea debe tenerse en cuenta. Se puede concluir que para un manejo sostenible del uso de la tierra, tanto el control de la invasión de Llashipa y como un suministro adecuado de nutrientes son necesarios. Adicionalmente se podría decir que es necesario profundizar el estudio de la reducción de las pérdidas de los nutrientes de suelo y de la eficiencia del uso de los nutrientes en las plantas, así como las asociaciones de pastos con leguminosas o el uso de cultivos de absorción selectiva de nutrientes, que serían estrategias importantes para el futuro.:Contents Acknowledgement I Table of content III List of Tables V List of Figures VI Abbreviations VII Summary (English/German/Spanish) .................................................... 1 1 Introduction ................................................................................... 6 1.1 Impact of land‐use changes on C and nutrient dynamics ............... 6 1.1.1 Soil organic carbon and soil CO2 flux 7 1.1.2 The role of soil microbes 8 1.1.3 Plant‐microbe interactions 10 1.1.4 Impact of soil environment on soil microbes 11 1.2 Pasture establishment in the tropics .......................................... 13 1.3 Research area ....................................................................... .... 15 2 Objectives and research questions ......................... ................... 19 2.1 Land‐use change ........................................................................ 19 2.2 Pasture management ............................................................. ... 21 3 Methodology ................................................................................. 22 3.1 Study sites ............................................................................... 22 3.1.1 Land‐use gradient 22 3.1.2 Pasture Fertilization Experiment (FERPAST) 23 3.2 General analyses ....................................................................... 24 3.2.1 Laboratory experiments 25 3.2.2 In situ measurements 26 3.2.3 Statistics 27 4 Results ............................................................................................ 28 4.1 Soil C and nutrient dynamics along a land‐use gradient ............. 28 Potthast, K., Hamer, U., Makeschin, F., 2011. Land‐use change in a tropical mountain rainforest region of southern Ecuador affects soil microorganisms and nutrient cycling. Biogeochemistry, 1‐17. 4.2 Impact of pH and ongoing succession on microbial function and structure .......... 29 4.3 Response of soil microbes to bracken‐invasion ........................... 32 Potthast K., Hamer U., Makeschin F. 2010. Impact of litter quality on mineralization processes in managed and abandoned pasture soils in Southern Ecuador. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 42, 56‐64. 4.4 Response of soil microbes and pasture grass to fertilization ........33 Hamer, U., Potthast, K., Makeschin, F., 2009. Urea fertilisation affected soil organic matter dynamics and microbial community structure in pasture soils of Southern Ecuador. Applied Soil Ecology 43, 226‐233. Potthast, K., Hamer, U., Makeschin, F., 2012. In an Ecuadorian pasture soil the growth of Setaria sphacelata, but not of soil microorganisms, is co‐limited by N and P. Applied Soil Ecology 62, 103‐114. 5 Discussion .................................................................................... 34 5.1 Impact of land‐use changes ...................................................... 34 5.1.1 Soil CO2 fluxes 34 5.1.2 Microbial structure and function 34 5.2 Soil fertility loss of pastures ‐reasons and first prevention steps‐ . 37 5.2.1 Litter decay and SOM dynamics 37 5.2.2 Fertilization and SOM dynamics 39 5.3 Conclusions and Perspectives ...................................................... 42 References ..................................................................................... 46 Curriculum vitae......................................................................... 58