bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of an environmental flow management strategy for the Thomson river, Victoria, Australia
Authors: Gippel Christopher J. , Stewardson Michael J.
Published: February 2007

The headwater section of the Thomson River has been nominated for listing as a heritage river, mainly because it supports a population of large blackfish, a species which has high conservation value in Victoria. The upper river was dammed in 1983, creating an impoundment of 1.2 × 106 Ml capacity. It is anticipated that the dam will provide a reliable water supply to Melbourne for up to 20 years, but minimization of downstream releases will delay augmentation. For the period during which the dam was filling, an interim environmental flow was applied. However, these flows were lower than what was considered at the time to be ideal for maintaining in‐stream habitat in the long term. Despite profound modification of the river's hydrology, there is no evidence for serious environmental impacts. Macroinvertebrate populations have recovered from disturbance during the construction phase, and the diversity of fish has not changed. However, there is concern that a lack of floods will result in contraction of the channel. This would probably mean a loss of available habitat area in the long term. Abstraction of water from the lowland section of the Thomson River began in 1957. Unfavourably low flows have occurred since regulation, but wetland inundation floods still occur with the same frequency. Although current management practices do allow unfavourable flow conditions to occur occasionally, the regulated flow regime has not reduced the diversity of native fish present in the lower river. This is heartening, but given the likelihood of future increases in the demand for water, long‐term protection of in‐stream fauna requires the application of an appropriate environmental flow regime. Habitat area–discharge curves derived from fish hydraulic preference data were used as the basis for devising a minimum flow recommendation. Five different methods of specifying monthly flow regimes are compared. A method is presented that uses hydraulic geometry relations from a neighbouring, hydrologically similar catchment to specify the magnitude and duration of an artificial annual channel maintenance flood. Implementation of the suggested environmental flow regime will probably result in a flow deficit in the lower Thomson River if current irrigation demands are to be met. To offset the deficit, additional water can be released from the dam. The flow required will not reduce the amount of habitat available in the upper Thomson River below the dam, but this strategy will bring forward the date of augmentation.
The serial discontinuity concept: Extending the model to floodplain rivers
Authors: Ward J. V. , Stanford J. A.
Published: February 2007

The serial discontinuity concept (SDC) was developed as a theoretical construct that views impoundments as major disruptions of longitudinal resource gradients along river courses. According to the SDC, dams result in upstream–downstream shifts in biotic and abiotic patterns and processes; the direction and extent of the displacement depend on the variable of interest and are a function of dam position along the river continuum. As originally formulated, the SDC did not consider interactions between the river and its flood plain. The new perspective presented herein is an initial attempt to encompass the dynamics of alluvial flood plain rivers into the model using a three reach characterization: constrained headwater reach, braided reach and meandering reach. The constrained headwater reach has conditions similar to those described in the original SDC, but the braided and meandering reaches provide a perspective that was not addressed in the model. Lateral interactions between the channel and the flood plain are critical to a holistic understanding of natural river ecosystems and the alterations induced by regulation. The fringing flood plain, with its diverse water bodies and alluvial forest mosaic, is considered an integral part of the river system.
Morphological and sedimentological changes in a gravel‐bed river following 12 years of flow regulation for hydropower
Authors: Sear D. A.
Published: February 2007

The flow regime of the gravel‐bedded river North Tyne has been regulated by the Kielder reservoir for the past 12 years; for the past nine years, regulation has been dominated by hydropower generation. Diurnal stage fluctuations of up to 0.6 m are experienced during periods of peak hydropower flows. The main morphological and sedimentological impacts of this regulation are identified and physical explanations provided for the observed adjustments. The main morphological adjustments are identified as the degradation of riffle spawning grounds, the development of fine sediment berms along channel margins, the aggradation of pools, vegetation of former gravel shoals and the growth of tributary confluence bars. Sedimentological adjustments are subtle and are characterized by higher percentages of fines within spawning gravels, coarsening of surface gravels and the development of a stable, strong bed fabric. The physical explanations for these adjustments relate to changes in the sediment transport regime controlled by the hydraulics associated with the pool‐riffle sequence during hydropower generation.
Changes of the macroinvertebrate communities in the dammed and by‐passed sections of the French upper rhocne after regulation
Authors: Dessaix Jeanne , Fruget Jean‐François , Olivier Jean‐Michel , Beffy Jean‐Luc
Published: February 2007

The macroinvertebrate communities of the French Upper Rhǒne have been studied since 1975. Three hydroelectric development schemes were erected in this part of the river between 1981 and 1984. The original component of these schemes is the construction of a diversion canal parallel to the old bed, which is closed by a dam and only receives a very reduced compensation flow. The changes of the macrofauna were studied until 1988.

The 10 year study of the Chautagne scheme, the oldest scheme, pointed out important alterations in the benthic macro‐invertebrate fauna after the completion of this hydroelectric scheme. In the by‐passed section, hydrological patterns governed the presence or absence of species, whereas abundance was greatly influenced by substratum stability, food quality and quantity, development of aquatic macrophytes and periphyton. The low hydrological fluctuations in the reservoirs of run of the river schemes favoured limnophilic species, which were previously accidental.

The long‐term survey of the three schemes (14 years) showed that the period (i.e. before or after the regulation) had a greater influence on the changes in the structure and functioning of the Upper Rhǒne macroinvertebrate communities than the location (upstream or downstream) or the type of environment (i.e. reservoir, by‐passed section) considered. No recovery of unregulated and/or upstream fauna appeared. The serial discontinuity concept was not supported because of the absence of abiotic (temperature) discontinuities and of large tributaries. However, the seasonal rhythm was not affected by the regulation.
Short‐term effects of local river restoration on morphology, flow field, substrate and biota
Authors: Habersack H. , Nachtnebel H. P.
Published: February 2007

The objective of this paper is to analyse the short‐term effects of restoration on river morphology, flow field, substrate and biota. One of the aims of the restoration measures is to arrest the degradation of the river Drau, which has caused technical (instability of bank protection measures) and ecological (loss of dynamic river reaches with alternate bars) problems. The restoration programme consists of several measures such as digging a new side channel on the right side, leaving an island and erection of groins on the left side of the main channel. These were made to keep the entrance open. After a two year monitoring programme the results of the analysis show that with respect to the river morphology, flow field and substrate, positive and negative effects were recorded, whereas for the ecology, positive effects were in general documented. Repeated morphological surveys using an echosounder showed that within a year without major flood events the main channel aggraded on average about 16 cm and the upper parts of the island degraded by up to 1 m. The groin pools became partially filled due to their function as sediment traps for finer material during low flows. Subsequent, measurements performed after several floods showed that degradation reduced the amount of aggradation by 50%. Flow velocity measurements demonstrated the effects of groins and their inability to force the main flow path to the side channel. In contrast with the main channel, the side channel was characterized by highly variable sediment grain sizes and dynamic morphological changes. The lower shear stresses and higher growth of algae in the side channel were associated with higher numbers of species of macroinvertebrates. Population studies showed significantly higher densities of fish species in this reach with a side channel than in any other river reach. Forty species of birds were observed, seven of which were typical water‐related species, and the number of plant species increased from 48 to 118.
Patial distribution of spiders on the floodplain of the river trent, UK: The role of hydrological setting
Authors: Greenwood M. T. , Bickerton M. A. , Petts G. E.
Published: February 2007

Invertebrate communities provide sensitive indicators of physical stress, such as that imposed by moisture regime. With reference to two floodplain sectors—one non‐regulated and one regulated—on the River Trent, UK, this paper uses spider communities to characterize the dominant floodplain units (riparian, wetland, wet woodland, pasture and arable) and compares the information derived with a parallel data set from the groundbeetle community (F. Carabidae). The study yielded 77 spider species, of which 43 were common to the two floodplain sectors. Hypomma bituberculatum (wetland), Bathyphantes niginus (wet woodland) and Pachygnatha degeeri, Pardosa pullata and Trochosa ruricola (arable) showed restricted distributions and are regarded as ‘habitat specialists’. Species richness was highest in the wetland patches and lowest in the pasture. Differences between the faunal communities of the different habitats were greatest in the regulated sector. Spiders and beetles collected from the same traps are shown to provide different and complementary information on floodplain functioning, which may prove valuable in any ecological assessment.
River regulation in Southern China: Ecological implications, conservation and environmental management
Authors: Dudgeon David
Published: February 2007

Southern China—i.e. China south of the Chang Jiang (Yangtze River)—has a monsoon climate with pronounced wet and dry seasons and consequent effects on river discharge. There is considerable inter‐year variation in the duration and intensity of the monsoon, and the region experiences frequent floods and droughts which cause considerable human misery. The importance of floods as an incentive for river regulation is apparent from the fact that 10% of China's area, inhabited by 65% of the population and responsible for 70% of the agricultural and industrial output, is below the flood level of major rivers. Irrigation and hydroelectric power are additional benefits to be derived from river regulation. China has a 4000 year history of river regulation, but most of the changes that have been made to riverine environments have not taken account of the ecological consequences. This review considers the ecological implications of planned or existing schemes for the regulation of southern Chinese rivers. Particular attention is paid to the Chang Jiang and Zhujiang (Pearl River) which, by volume of discharge, are the two largest rivers in China. Large‐scale water‐transfer projects and the planned construction of the biggest dam in the world (the Three Gorges High Dam) on the Chang Jiang have the potential to affect fisheries stocks and endangered fish species, to alter inundation patterns in wetlands of international conservation significance and may contribute to the extinction of the endemic and highly endangered Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis) and Chinese river dolphin (Lipotes vexillifer). In addition, deforestation and soil erosion in the Chang Jiang basin have given rise to siltation and degradation of floodplain habitats. In the Zhujiang, dam construction has caused reductions in fisheries stocks but here, as elsewhere in China, the ecologically damaging consequences of river regulation are exacerbated by overfishing and increasing pollution of rivers by sewage, pesticides and industrial wastes.
A perspective on dryland river ecosystems
Authors: Walker K. F. , Sheldon F. , Puckridge J. T.
Published: February 2007

The ecosystem concept should be reappraised as a basic model for rivers, with regard for flow as an organizing variable. This would facilitate comparisons between the large rivers of humid climates, where flow regimes are comparatively regular, and those of arid and semi‐arid areas, where river regimes are highly variable. Ecosystem processes might be modelled by combining the river continuum and flood pulse concepts, with refinements to accommodate a complex flood pulse (e.g. variations in stage amplitude, timing, duration, rates of rise and fall). Patch boundaries (ecotones) such as the riverine littoral zone warrant close study because they strongly influence the structure and dynamics of the ecosystem. The general model needs a quantitative basis, perhaps focused on the balance of processes involved in the physical transport and biological transformation of carbon. The ultimate test of such a model will be in its capacity to predict the effects of flow regulation. Further development, however, is limited by data. In both research and management monitoring programmes need to be established to provide information and to develop a sustained, comprehensive approach to dryland rivers as ecosystems.
Ecological connectivity in alluvial river ecosystems and its disruption by flow regulation
Authors: Ward J. V. , Stanford J. A.
Published: February 2007

The dynamic nature of alluvial floodplain rivers is a function of flow and sediment regimes interacting with the physiographic features and vegetation cover of the landscape. During seasonal inundation, the flood pulse forms a ‘moving littoral’ that traverses the plain, increasing productivity and enhancing connectivity. The range of spatio‐temporal connectivity between different biotopes, coupled with variable levels of natural disturbance, determine successional patterns and habitat heterogeneity that are responsible for maintaining the ecological integrity of floodplain river systems. Flow regulation by dams, often compounded by other modifications such as levee construction, normally results in reduced connectivity and altered successional trajectories in downstream reaches. Flood peaks are typically reduced by river regulation, which reduces the frequency and extent of floodplain inundation. A reduction in channel‐forming flows reduces channel migration, an important phenomenon in maintaining high levels of habitat diversity across floodplains. The seasonal timing of floods may be shifted by flow regulation, with major ramifications for aquatic and terrestrial biota. Truncation of sediment transport may result in channel degradation for many kilometres downstream from a dam. Deepening of the channel lowers the water‐table, which affects riparian vegetation dynamics and reduces the effective base level of tributaries, which results in rejuvenation and erosion. Ecological integrity in floodplain rivers is based in part on a diversity of water bodies with differing degrees of connectivity with the main river channel. Collectively, these water bodies occupy a wide range of successional stages, thereby forming a mosaic of habitat patches across the floodplain, This diversity is maintained by a balance between the trend toward terrestrialization and flow disturbances that renew connectivity and reset successional sequences. To counter the influence of river regulation, restoration efforts should focus on reestablishing dynamic connectivity between the channel and floodplain water bodies.
Comparison of summer zoobenthic communities in four habitats of a floodplain impoundment:1975 and 1990
Authors: Brewer Sandra K. , Claflin Thomas O. , Sandheinrich Mark B.
Published: February 2007

The diversity, evenness, similarity, standing crop and abundance of benthic macroinvertebrates in Navigation Pool 8 of the upper Mississippi River were compared in 1975 and 1990. Macroinvertebrates were collected in midsummer from four habitats: marsh, bay, open water and side channel. These habitat types accounted for 64% of the total habitat area in the impoundment. The community structure changed in all four habitats; the percentage similarities between 1975 and 1990 were lowest in open water (19%), intermediate in bays (44%) and side channels (50%) and highest in marshes (62%). Macroinvertebrate diversity and evenness were not significantly different between 1975 and 1990. The standing crop decreased in all habitat types. The abundance decreased in all habitats except bays between 1975 and 1990. The greatest changes in standing crop and community composition occurred in bays and open water. Because the bays and open water habitat comprise 55% of the total area, it is possible that these declines may signal degradation of the aquatic habitat in the entire reservoir. Changes in macroinvertebrate community structure and standing crop may have been due to unstable sediment conditions caused by erosion of islands, resuspension of sediments and loss of aquatic macrophytes and depth.
Bioassessment of contaminant transport and distribution in aquatic ecosystems by chemical analysis of burrowing mayflies (Hexagenia)
Authors: Steingraeber Mark T. , Wiener James G.
Published: February 2007

Burrowing mayfly nymphs (Ephemeroptera) inhabit and ingest fine‐grained sediments and detritus that may be enriched with metals and persistent organic compounds. The burrowing nymphs can externally adsorb and internally assimilate these contaminants, providing a link for the food chain transfer of potentially toxic substances from sediments to organisms in higher trophic levels. The emergent adults are short‐lived and do not feed, thus their gut contents do not contribute greatly to their total contaminant burden. These characteristics make Hexagenia spp. and certain other burrowing mayflies useful for assessing ecosystem contamination. General protocols are presented for the collection, processing and analysis of emergent mayflies to assess the spatial distribution and bioaccumulation of sediment‐associated contaminants in aquatic ecosystems. Two essential components of this bioassessment approach are a network of on‐site volunteers with the materials and instructions needed to correctly collect and store samples and quality assurance procedures to estimate the accuracy of chemical analyses. The utility of this approach is demonstrated with an example of its application to the Upper Mississippi River (USA). Determination of cadmium, mercury and polychlorinated biphenyl congeners in emergent Hexagenia bilineata from a 1250km reach of this river revealed (1) several source areas of contaminants and (2) distinct patterns in the bioaccumulation (and apparent sediment‐associated transport) of each residue on both small and large spatial scales.
Habitat rehabilitation on the upper Mississippi River
Authors: Theiling Charles H.
Published: February 2007

Upper Mississippi River ecological integrity has been severely compromised by human activity during the last 50 years. In response to the continuing decline of natural resource values, two approaches for protecting and improving the Upper Mississippi River‐floodplain ecosystem have been used. Habitat rehabilitation and enhancement projects are being constructed at 54 locations to provide site‐specific rehabilitation. The projects are designed to counteract the adverse ecological effects of sedimentation through (1) flow introductions, (2) the isolation of backwaters; and (3) flow diversions and wave breaks. Channel maintenance projects are being re‐evaluated in an attempt to construct or modify existing river training structures that are environmentally sympathetic. The latter approach works with the river's energy, whereas the former attempts to overcome riverine processes. Both approaches have significant limitations because they affect limited areas. A proposal is presented that restores some ecosystem integrity by re‐establishing occasional low river stages that occurred before the implementation of the Upper Mississippi River Navigation System.
Ecological integrity of aquatic systems
Authors: Cairns John
Published: February 2007

Focusing on the ecological integrity of large river systems has suggested the rethinking of the entire issue from a landscape perspective. Ecological integrity is impossible without biological integrity. However, it appears improbable that highly localized measures of biological integrity can be used for effective, scientifically justifiable extrapolations to landscape‐ or system‐level ecological integrity. It may be more reasonable to make measurements at the level of organization of interest, i.e. larger spatial and temporal scales. In addition, human society and natural systems have been coevolving since the agricultural revolution and, arguably, well before then. Two types of coevolution between human society and natural systems appear possible: (1) an ‘arms‐race’ in which human society ignores changes in natural systems—essential ecosystem services are lost, resulting in unpleasant consequences for society; or (2) mutualism in which environmental literacy and a feeling of responsibility for natural systems motivate rapid societal response to ecosystem changes and the preservation of ecological integrity.

The simplest measures of ecological integrity may be the actions of human society likely to minimize or markedly reduce negative impacts on natural systems. This does not mean substituting such measures for more customary ecological measures, but rather using both types of measurements simultaneously.
Hydrological connectivity and flood pulses as the central aspects for the integrity of a river‐floodplain system
Authors: Heiler Gudrun , Hein Thomas , Schiemer Fritz , Bornette Gudrun
Published: February 2007

Preparations are currently under way to establish a river restoration concept for the free‐flowing section of the Austrian Danube downstream of Vienna. This should serve as a basis for a National Park management. Studies have been initiated to assess the effects of hydrological connectivity, flood pulses and successional processes on backwaters with regard to their hydrochemistry and suspended solid load. Water level fluctuations in the ground‐ and surface waters of the floodplain are dynamic because of the porous aquifer structure and several inflow areas. In a lateral transect, increasing distance from the Danube correlates with decreasing connectivity. Different influences in a longitudinal transect are due to the positions of the inflow areas. At low water level, the Danube and its backwaters have no surface connection. Internal processes determine the conditions within the backwaters, which are typically characterized by low concentrations of inorganic nutrients and particles versus the Danube. At higher water levels, local surface inflow and seepage water lead to periodic nutrient pulses and eutrophication. The input of inorganic nutrients and particles, as well as the flushing of phytoplankton during floods, establish an initial setpoint in the backwaters. The significance of flood pulses for the dynamics of biological processes is emphasized by short‐term changes, e.g. in the relationship between nutrients, inorganic particles and chlorophyll. The response in different water bodies depends on the grade of connectivity to the Danube.
River regulation and fish communities in the Murray‐Darling river system, Australia
Authors: Gehrke P. C. , Brown P. , Schiller C. B. , Moffatt D. B. , Bruce A. M.
Published: February 2007

Fish communities from four catchments in the Murray—Darling river system were analysed in relation to climate, hydrology and river regulation. Using the annual proportional flow deviation as a measure of river regulation, the Paroo River catchment was assessed as unregulated, the Darling River catchment as mildly regulated and the Murrumbidgee River and River Murray catchments as highly regulated. A total of 11010 fish, representing nine native and three alien species, was caught during high and low flow seasons in the four catchments. Native species, such as golden perch Macquaria ambigua (Percichthyidae), bony herring Nematalosa erebi (Clupeidae) and spangled perch Leiopotherapon unicolor (Teraponidae), dominated fish communities in the Paroo and Darling catchments, but alien species, mostly carp, Cyprinus carpio (Cyprinidae), were also abundant. Both native and alien species were more abundant in these catchments after flooding, but there was little change in species composition between high and low flow seasons at the catchment level. Carp dominated communities in the Murray and Murrumbidgee catchments. There was a significant trend for reduced species diversity in increasingly regulated catchments. River regulation may alter the relative abundance of native and alien fish by desynchronizing environmental cycles and the reproductive cycles of native species. Ordination of species abundances showed discrete fish communities that reflect the geographical separation between catchments. Differences between communities are related to opportunities for dispersal, the environmental tolerances of dominant species and the modifying effects of river regulation. Fish communities in lakes exhibited less seasonal variation than riverine communities within the same catchment, indicating the greater seasonal stability of lakes compared with regulated and unregulated river reaches. Management of fish resources needs to include catchment‐specific strategies within current State and basin‐wide management programmes.
Natural capital and the growth economy
Authors: Gowdy John M.
Published: February 2007

It is argued that the term ‘natural capital’ contains two contradictory ideas. The word ‘natural’ refers to a world governed by ecological relationships while ‘capital’ refers to a world governed by the laws of the market. Current efforts to place economic values on environmental goods are discussed. The inadequacy of using either standard economic approaches or approaches suggested by ecological economists to place market values on biodiversity is examined. Possible paths to environmental sustainability are discussed.
Greenhouse gas audit for western Australia
Authors: Blake Neil , Stocker Laura
Published: February 2007

The second greenhouse gas audit for Western Australia follows significant policy and scientific advances in the climate change arena. The United Nations Framework on Climate Change has been ratified by Australia and has been in force since March 1994. There are also policy implications leading from the discovery of the complex effects of secondary or ‘indirect’ global warming potentials of greenhouse gases, and the effects of the depletion of the ozone layer on the global warming. The present audit is based on the methodology of the Draft Australian Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory in order to be commensurate with national and international inventory work. There remain significant gaps in the audit information base. Some of these could be filled by further research while others would be filled by better cooperation from relevant government departments. The audit found that, despite some worthwhile efforts in energy conservation and recycling, most sectors have greatly increased their greenhouse gas emissions, in particular construction and electricity generation. Two exceptions were the transport sector which showed a very small increase in emissions, and the agriculture sector which showed a decline. An energy policy based on increased use of gas and renewables rather than coal would make a great contribution to greenhouse gas reductions and there are many opportunities for simple and cheap greenhouse gas reduction.
The control of industrial pollution: Implications for technology choice and growth
Authors: Alavi Hamid
Published: February 2007

To reduce pollution, industrial enterprises can cut production or choose cleaner technologies. A rise in demand increases marginal revenue and, for given plant sizes and costs, profits. Abatement cost can therefore coincide with marginal profits. If economic growth implies a rising demand, then growth can increase incentive to pollute because, other things equal, it makes abatement relatively more costly. The choice of cleaner technologies may be the alternative.

Without official pollution control measures, profit‐maximizing enterprises will choose polluting technologies. The control measures themselves imply different choice of technologies. Effluent charges and polluter subsidies induce similar responses by an enterprise, but in a competitive industry, the former will yield lower output and pollution levels than would occur under subsidies. Moreover, in certain cases the command‐and‐control measures can be more effective than incentive‐based measures in controlling industrial pollution and promoting growth. A differential in information, monitoring and enforcement costs of different pollution‐control measures does not alter the results.
Enhanced environmental management: The case for conditional economic growthinldcs
Authors: Welch Richard
Published: February 2007

A case is outlined for continued economic growth in LDCs contingent upon radical environmental repositioning by individual states. The argument rests on two premises: that LDCs would be interested in employing sustainable management practices but for the associated costs, and that current political, economic and environmental circumstances are such that DCs may now be inclined to help meet some of those costs. The article focuses on LDCs with levels of biodiversity which would suggest that they might derive immediate economic benefit from environmental repositioning, and outlines strategies which might be employed. Particular reference is made to the case of Papua New Guinea, geographically adjacent to the south east Asian region of environmental concern, and which might offer itself to the international community as a locus for empirical, economic‐environmental experiment.
Environmental sustainability through project appraisals
Authors: Harou Patrice , Daly Herman , Goodland Robert
Published: February 2007

Environmentally sustainable development's final aim is to bring a better quality of life for all time. To reach that objective, some economists see man‐made capital as the main constraining factor for economic growth. Others argue that such a unidirectional search for growth will not bring economic development since natural capital is the main constraint to long‐ term growth. A reconciliatory position is proposed in this paper by which the search for improved general welfare over time can only be pursued with consideration of the earth's sustainable capability to produce the resources we need and to absorb the waste we generate. Once the sustainability constraints are set, a benefit/cost framework is useful to establish development project priorities.

To establish sustainability constraints requires changing mindsets, implementing new policies, both macro‐economic and sectoral, and changing and creating new laws and institutions, among other challenging tasks. As all these reforms are complex and cannot always be implemented quickly and efficiently, project appraisal has an important role to play in attaining incrementally a stage of sustainable development. The basic principle underlying appraisal of projects which have an important environmental dimension remains the same, once the right policies have been established. Some important additional considerations are supplementary streams of environmental inputs and outputs for which there may be inappropriate or no market prices and which should be valued indirectly, duly calculating user costs in both cases, a discount rate encompassing both the opportunity cost of capital and society's rate of time preference, and a different analysis of uncertainty which embodies the irreversibilities and discontinuities inherent in ecosystems. Projects need to be monitored carefully and be the object of homeostatic feedbacks similar to those encountered in natural ecosystems, if they are to fit in a strategy of sustainable development. Following this approach of appraisal and monitoring projects once an appropriate policy framework has been set in place, development banks are attempting to translate the concept of sustainability into economic development incrementally, project by project.
Sustainable development in China: Seeking a balance between economic growth and environmental protection
Authors: Wu Bin , Flynn Andrew
Published: February 2007

Sustainable development requires the balancing of economic growth with environmental protection. Since the late 1970s, China's government has been exploring a new path to improve its economic efficiency and decrease resource consumption and environmental pollution. Remarkable progress has been made due to the success of Deng's reform oriented to the market economy and the strengthening of environmental management. However, China has a long way to go to achieve the new development pattern because of the constraints imposed by its unbalanced economic structure and difficulties of moving from a planned to a market economy. China's experience in the 1980s shows that the two processes, sustainable development and economic reform, are closely related.
Economic sustainability and the role of fiscal and monetary policies in a depressed economy: The case of Nigeria
Authors: Olaloye A. O. , Ikhide S. I.
Published: February 2007

In recent years, most developing countries have embarked on some kind of reform programme. At the heart of such programmes are orthodox demand management policies aimed at reducing inflation, relieving the pressure on the balance of payments and improving the level of output in the long term. Prominent among these sets of policies are monetary and fiscal policies. However, the relative effectiveness of these policies is an issue that has continued to generate both academic and policy interests. This study reveals that for the Nigerian economy fiscal policy is more effective than monetary policy for getting the country out of economic depression. Specifically, given the role assigned to the use of government expenditure in the study, government must formulate appropriate policies with regard to its mix of current/capital expenditure, subsidies and transfers and its massive expenditure projects that are neither productive nor efficient in the long term.
Methods of defining ‘sustainability’
Authors: Basiago Andrew D.
Published: February 2007

The notion of ‘sustainability’ emerged in The Ecologist's A Blueprint for Survival, in 1972. The quest to make modern civilization ‘sustainable’ inspired the UN's Stockholm Conference in 1972 and the ‘global trusteeship’ of subsequent international environmental treaties. ‘Sustainability’ is related to ‘futurity’, hence the Brundtland Commission in 1987 defined sustainable development as ‘development which meets the needs of the present, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’. ‘Sustainability’ animates ‘the precautionary principle’, affirmed by the European Union (EU) in 1990 in its Bergen Declaration on Sustainable Development, which requires ecological preservation in cases of scientific uncertainty where serious or irreversible damage is threatened. The Earth Summit in 1992 established ‘sustainable development’ as the most important policy of the 21st century. ‘Sustainability’ is at the heart of The Rio Declaration on Environment and Development and Agenda 21, accords signed at the Earth Summit that herald a new paradigm of society, economics and the environment. The EU's Fifth Environmental Action Programme (1993) pursues ‘sustainability’ in industry, energy, transport, agriculture and tourism. ‘Sustainability’ has also been endorsed by the Clinton Administration (1994). In the light of these events, ‘sustainability’ is now used widely in biology, economics, sociology, urban planning, ethics and other domains. It is regarded as tantamount to a new philosophy, in which principles of futurity, equity, global environmentalism and biodiversity must guide decision‐making. Far from being a mere doctrine of development science, ‘sustainability’ has emerged as a universal methodology for evaluating whether human options will yield social and environmental vitality.
Central dimensions in a sustainable urban development
Authors: Næss Petter
Published: February 2007

Several dimensions of urban form and spatial urban development are discussed in the light of the main criteria of a sustainable development. If a sustainable development is to be achieved, it is necessary to avoid further urban sprawl. Low density, dispersed cities can hardly be energy efficient unless their inhabitants renounce the freedoms of choice characterizing today's cities with respect to job market opportunities, services and cultural events. However, a strategy for more compact cities should be cautious so that it does not decimate important green areas within the city, and localities of unfavourable microclimatic conditions should not be selected for residential construction. Planning for sustainability must be oriented towards long‐term and global goals, but should not rely solely on technical and instrumental rationality. A broad spectrum of planning strategies should be used, contingent on the concrete planning situation.
The use of logit and probit models in strategic management research: Critical issues
Authors: Hoetker Glenn
Published: February 2007

The logit and probit models have become critical parts of the management researcher's analytical arsenal, growing rapidly from almost no use in the 1980s to appearing in 15% of all articles published in Strategic Management Journal in 2005. However, a review of three top strategy journals revealed numerous areas in their use and interpretation where current practice fell short of ideal. Failure to understand how these models differ from ordinary least squares can lead researchers to misunderstand their statistical results and draw incorrect conclusions regarding the theory they are testing. Based on a review of the methodological literature and recent empirical papers in three leading strategy journals, this paper identifies four critical issues in their use: interpreting coefficients, modeling interactions between variables, comparing coefficients between groups (e.g., foreign and domestic firms), and measures of model fit. For each issue, the paper provides a background, a review of current practice, and recommendations for best practice. A concluding section presents overall implications for the conduct of research with logit and probit models, which should assist both authors and readers of strategic management research. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The impact of membership in competing alliance constellations: Evidence on the operational performance of global airlines
Authors: Lazzarini Sergio G.
Published: February 2007

Many industries have witnessed the formation of multiple‐partner alliances or constellations competing against each other for both clients and members. Using the global airline industry as an empirical setting, I evaluate the proposition that membership in airline constellations allows carriers to capture externalities from other firms in the form of direct or indirect traffic flow, thereby enhancing their operational performance. I also distinguish between two ways to demarcate the boundaries of constellations: explicitly or implicitly. Analyzing patterns of membership in explicit constellations involving formal, multilateral agreements (such as the Star Alliance, Oneworld, SkyTeam), I find that membership benefits are greatest in groups involving large aggregate traffic and for carriers contributing with a large portion of the group's capacity. I also evaluate patterns of membership in implicit constellations, corresponding to groups of firms showing relatively more ties to one another than to firms outside their group. I find that carriers bilaterally linked with key players of such groups are able to increase their operational performance even if they do not belong to any explicit constellation. Thus, results show that it is worth analyzing distinct patterns of membership simultaneously, because they are likely to have distinct implications for firm performance. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Situational and institutional determinants of firms' R&D search intensity
Authors: Chen Wei‐Ru , Miller Kent D.
Published: February 2007

Our theory extends the situational considerations explaining firm R&D search intensity beyond the behavioral theory of the firm by including shifts in the focus of attention among bankruptcy, aspirations, and slack. We also allow that search can reflect institutionalized investment patterns within firms and industries. We find stable firm‐specific R&D investment patterns (i.e., institutionalized search) and variations in R&D intensity depending on firms' situations—including performance relative to aspirations, proximity to bankruptcy, and slack. Our empirical results evidence shifts in the focus of attention relevant to explaining R&D search intensity for subsamples of firms in different situations. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The size, structure, and performance of corporate headquarters
Authors: Collis David , Young David , Goold Michael
Published: February 2007

This paper examines the unique functions of corporate headquarters in diversified firms and reports on a survey of the structure and staffing of more than 600 headquarters in Europe, the United States, Japan, and Chile. It explores the extent to which corporate headquarters are contingent on size of the company, corporate strategy (corporate portfolio and corporate structure and policies), and governance system (ownership and regulation, and country of origin). The results confirm that factors in each of these areas are important determinants of the size and structure of headquarters. Performance data suggest that these findings are not merely descriptive but that corporate headquarters should be designed to fit the corporate strategy. Although the results are capable of alternative interpretations, analysis provides no support for the view that ‘lean and mean’ headquarters lead to better performance. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Aerodynamic structures and processes in rotationally augmented flow fields
Authors: Schreck Scott J. , Sørensen Niels N. , Robinson Michael C.
Published: February 2007

Rotational augmentation of horizontal axis wind turbine blade aerodynamics currently remains incompletely characterized and understood. To address this, the present study concurrently analysed experimental measurements and computational predictions, both of which were unique and of high quality. Experimental measurements consisted of surface pressure data statistics used to infer sectional boundary layer state and to quantify normal force levels. Computed predictions included high‐resolution boundary layer topologies and detailed above‐surface flow field structures. This synergy was exploited to reliably identify and track pertinent features in the rotating blade boundary layer topology as they evolved in response to varying wind speed. Subsequently, boundary layer state was linked to above‐surface flow field structure and used to deduce mechanisms underlying augmented aerodynamic force production during rotating conditions. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley &Sons, Ltd.
Asymptotic behavior of a Neumann parabolic problem with hysteresis
Authors: Eleuteri M. , Krejčí P.
Published: February 2007

A parabolic equation in two or three space variables with a Preisach hysteresis operator and with homogeneous Neumann boundary conditions is shown to admit a unique global regular solution. A detailed investigation of the Preisach memory dynamics shows that the system converges to an equilibrium in the state space of all admissible Preisach memory configurations as time tends to infinity.
Risk Perception, Worry and Satisfaction Related to Genetic Counseling for Hereditary Cancer
Authors: Bjorvatn Cathrine , Eide Geir Egil , Hanestad Berit Rokne , Øyen Nina , Havik Odd E. , Carlsson Anniken , Berglund Gunilla
Published: February 2007

In this multi center study, genetic counseling for hereditary cancer was evaluated by assessing patients’ worry, perceived risk of developing cancer and satisfaction with genetic counseling. An overall aim was to identify characteristics of vulnerable patients in order to customize genetic counseling. In addition, agreement between patients’ and counselors’ scores was measured. A total of 275 Norwegian patients were consecutively recruited, and 213 completed questionnaires before and after genetic counseling. Patients’ perceived risk decreased after the genetic counseling session. There was incongruence between risk perception expressed as a percentage and in words. Patients were significantly less worried after counseling. Higher levels of worry were predicted by low instrumental satisfaction with counseling, high degree of perceived risk of developing cancer and younger age. In conclusion, counselors met the patients’ psychological needs to a satisfactory degree during counseling. However, patients did not fully understand their risk of developing cancer.
Anticancer activity of natural and synthetic acetylenic lipids
Authors: Dembitsky Valery M.
Published: February 2007

This review is a comprehensive survey of acetylenic lipids and their derivatives, obtained from living organisms, that have anticancer activity. Acetylenic metabolites belong to a class of molecules containing triple bond(s). They are found in plants, fungi, microorganisms, and marine invertebrates. Although acetylenes are common as components of terrestrial plants, fungi, and bacteria, it is only within the last 30 years that biologically active polyacetylenes having unusual structural features have been reported from plants, cyanobacteria, algae, invertebrates, and other sources. Naturally occurring aquatic acetylenes are of particular interest since many of them display important biological activities and possess antitumor, antibacterial, antimicrobial, antifouling, antifungal, pesticidal, phototoxic, HIV‐inhibitory, and immunosuppressive properties. There is no doubt that they are of great interest, especially for the medicinal and/or pharmaceutical industries. This review presents structures and describes cytotoxic and anticancer activities only for more than 300 acetylenic lipids and their derivatives isolated from living organisms.