title: Photosynthesis of lichens from lichen-dominated communities in the alpine/nival belt of the Alps – II: Laboratory and field measurements of CO₂ exchange and water relations

authors: Reiter, Robert

subjects: lichen

abstract: CO₂ exchange and water relations of selected lichen species were investigated in the field and also in the laboratory, at a height of 3106 m above sea level in the Austrian Alps, during the short snowless summer period from middle of July to the end of August. In the course of the field investigations, clear summer days were quite rare. Altogether 14 diurnal courses of CO₂ exchange were measured spanning a time of 255 h of measurements.
The air temperatures measured close to the ground ranged between −0.7 and 17.1 °C and their daily fluctuation was lower than 10.7 °C. Fog was present for more than one-third of the measuring period and relative humidity (RH) exceeded 90% in almost half of the time. Temperature optimum of net photosynthesis (NP) of Xanthoria elegans and Brodoa atrofusca determined in the laboratory increased with increasing photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) from 1.5 to 11.3 °C and the maximal CO₂ uptake was found to be at 10 °C. In the field the lichens were metabolically active at air temperatures between −0.7 and 12.8 °C. The light compensation points (LCP) of both lichen species ranged in the laboratory between 50 and 200 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ PPFD (0–20 °C) and in the field between 22 and 56 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ PPFD (3–8 °C). At 30 °C the NP of X. elegans surpassed the LCP, whereas B. atrofusca remained below the LCP. NP in X. elegans did not reach light saturation at 1500 μmol m−2 s−1 PPFD. NP in B. atrofusca reached light saturation at low temperatures (−5 to +5 °C). At higher temperatures light saturation was almost detectable. On sunny days the lichens in the field were metabolically active only for 3 h during the early morning. In this time they reached the maximal values or values close to their maximal CO₂ uptake in situ. Under dry weather conditions the lichens dried out to a minimal water content (WC) of 5–12% which is below the moisture compensation point (MCP) of 34–25%. The optimal WC was between 90% and 120% dry weight (DW) in B. atrofusca and Umbilicaria cylindrica, in X. elegans between 140% and 180% DW. Species specific differences in water-holding capacity, desiccation intensity and in the compensation points of temperature, light and moisture are responsible for differences in metabolic activity. The lichens were active during less than half of the observation time. Total time of NP of X. elegans was 24% of the measuring period, for U. cylindrica 22% and for B. atrofusca 16%.

text: Photosynthesis of lichens from lichen-dominated communities in the alpine/nival belt of the Alps – II: Laboratory and field measurements of CO₂ exchange and water relations CO₂ exchange and water relations of selected lichen species were investigated in the field and also in the laboratory, at a height of 3106 m above sea level in the Austrian Alps, during the short snowless summer period from middle of July to the end of August. In the course of the field investigations, clear summer days were quite rare. Altogether 14 diurnal courses of CO₂ exchange were measured spanning a time of 255 h of measurements.
The air temperatures measured close to the ground ranged between −0.7 and 17.1 °C and their daily fluctuation was lower than 10.7 °C. Fog was present for more than one-third of the measuring period and relative humidity (RH) exceeded 90% in almost half of the time. Temperature optimum of net photosynthesis (NP) of Xanthoria elegans and Brodoa atrofusca determined in the laboratory increased with increasing photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) from 1.5 to 11.3 °C and the maximal CO₂ uptake was found to be at 10 °C. In the field the lichens were metabolically active at air temperatures between −0.7 and 12.8 °C. The light compensation points (LCP) of both lichen species ranged in the laboratory between 50 and 200 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ PPFD (0–20 °C) and in the field between 22 and 56 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ PPFD (3–8 °C). At 30 °C the NP of X. elegans surpassed the LCP, whereas B. atrofusca remained below the LCP. NP in X. elegans did not reach light saturation at 1500 μmol m−2 s−1 PPFD. NP in B. atrofusca reached light saturation at low temperatures (−5 to +5 °C). At higher temperatures light saturation was almost detectable. On sunny days the lichens in the field were metabolically active only for 3 h during the early morning. In this time they reached the maximal values or values close to their maximal CO₂ uptake in situ. Under dry weather conditions the lichens dried out to a minimal water content (WC) of 5–12% which is below the moisture compensation point (MCP) of 34–25%. The optimal WC was between 90% and 120% dry weight (DW) in B. atrofusca and Umbilicaria cylindrica, in X. elegans between 140% and 180% DW. Species specific differences in water-holding capacity, desiccation intensity and in the compensation points of temperature, light and moisture are responsible for differences in metabolic activity. The lichens were active during less than half of the observation time. Total time of NP of X. elegans was 24% of the measuring period, for U. cylindrica 22% and for B. atrofusca 16%.

year: 2008

title: New Zealand shareholder attitudes towards corporate environmental disclosure

authors: de Villiers, Charl

subjects: shareholder

abstract: Purpose – The natural environment has become an increasingly important business issue over the last ten years while shareholder views on the importance of corporate environmental disclosure have not been extensively investigated. The purpose of this paper is to report the requirements of individual shareholders for the disclosure and regulation of environmental information and their intended use of the information.
Design/methodology/approach – Respondents were questioned using an online survey whether they want specific types of environmental information from companies and if so, where they want it disclosed, why they want it disclosed and if they feel strongly enough about it to want it made compulsory and be subject to an audit. The authors regard New Zealand as an ideal experimental setting for the investigation of shareholder views and focus on the members of an active shareholders' association in New Zealand and obtain a very high response rate.
Findings – The paper finds that most shareholders are very positive about the disclosure of a range of environmental information items and furthermore they want environmental information to be made compulsory, to be audited, and to be published in the annual report and also on the company website. The most important reason given by shareholders for requiring environmental information is that they want companies to be accountable for their environmental impacts. The results are potentially significant for company governance and management decision making and will also have policy implications for regulators.
Practical implications – The findings have important implications for the government, the accounting profession and other standard setters. The paper suggests that the time has come for legislators, regulatory bodies and standard setters to take note of the policy implications if such a large proportion (59 percent – 72 percent) of shareholders want environmental disclosure to be compulsory and prescribed and not left to the discretion of companies.
Social implications – The information needs of individual shareholders who make their own investment decisions should be of great interest to regulators, because such investors rely on publicly available information, whereas institutional investors also collect private information. Regulators need to remove information asymmetry by regulating and/or mandating disclosures and shareholder requirements for information should be an important consideration.
Originality/value – This paper is of high value. The paper addresses why the information is requested and what it would be used for, something that the studies prior to the year 2000 did not cover. In addition this study is the first to survey New Zealand investors 1996, i.e. prior to the resurgence of late in societal interest in environmental issues.

text: New Zealand shareholder attitudes towards corporate environmental disclosure Purpose – The natural environment has become an increasingly important business issue over the last ten years while shareholder views on the importance of corporate environmental disclosure have not been extensively investigated. The purpose of this paper is to report the requirements of individual shareholders for the disclosure and regulation of environmental information and their intended use of the information.
Design/methodology/approach – Respondents were questioned using an online survey whether they want specific types of environmental information from companies and if so, where they want it disclosed, why they want it disclosed and if they feel strongly enough about it to want it made compulsory and be subject to an audit. The authors regard New Zealand as an ideal experimental setting for the investigation of shareholder views and focus on the members of an active shareholders' association in New Zealand and obtain a very high response rate.
Findings – The paper finds that most shareholders are very positive about the disclosure of a range of environmental information items and furthermore they want environmental information to be made compulsory, to be audited, and to be published in the annual report and also on the company website. The most important reason given by shareholders for requiring environmental information is that they want companies to be accountable for their environmental impacts. The results are potentially significant for company governance and management decision making and will also have policy implications for regulators.
Practical implications – The findings have important implications for the government, the accounting profession and other standard setters. The paper suggests that the time has come for legislators, regulatory bodies and standard setters to take note of the policy implications if such a large proportion (59 percent – 72 percent) of shareholders want environmental disclosure to be compulsory and prescribed and not left to the discretion of companies.
Social implications – The information needs of individual shareholders who make their own investment decisions should be of great interest to regulators, because such investors rely on publicly available information, whereas institutional investors also collect private information. Regulators need to remove information asymmetry by regulating and/or mandating disclosures and shareholder requirements for information should be an important consideration.
Originality/value – This paper is of high value. The paper addresses why the information is requested and what it would be used for, something that the studies prior to the year 2000 did not cover. In addition this study is the first to survey New Zealand investors 1996, i.e. prior to the resurgence of late in societal interest in environmental issues.

year: 2012

title: Human dimensions of global environmental change: A review of frameworks and research gaps.

authors: Urich, Peter

subjects: global environmental change

abstract: This review of current knowledge in, and development of, priorities for research into the human dimensions of global environmental change has been conducted to assist the Foundation for Research Science and Technology to formulate their research needs agenda. An overview of the emergence of the human dimension of the global environmental change research field is used as a prelude to a review of the international literature on frameworks for conducting human dimensions research. The terminology used in the human dimension field is diverse. An attempt is therefore made to consolidate the myriad of definitions for key concepts, in order to form a basis for human dimensions research in New Zealand and build a platform for the remainder of this report. Three disciplinary areas of academic inquiry were explored in the context of human dimensions of global environmental change research: economics, law and biological sciences. These disciplinary perspectives are reviewed through the international literature and in a New Zealand context. A conceptual framework for research into the human dimensions of global environmental change is provided based on the knowledge-base developed from the both international and New Zealand research. Core concepts, such as found in multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary research are reviewed in historical context to form the basis for a specific research framework for New Zealand. Some general needs for research are derived from the New Zealand framework. The remainder of this report details the methods used for drawing out expert opinion on the priorities for research on the human dimensions of global environmental change in the context of information, knowledge and method. Thirty-eight interviews and two hui were conducted and 254 research needs defined by questions were obtained. A modified Delphi technique was applied to the questions and prioritised lists of responses are provided. The final list
Provides European/Pakeha and Māori perspectives. Divergence and convergence between the European/Pakeha and Māori responses is provided, as well as justification for the prioritisation stance that is taken. This research had four outputs: A conceptual framework for considering the human dimensions of global environmental changes and research contributions; A description of the gaps in knowledge that impede effective response to global change and provisional research needs: one for New Zealand generally, and one on Māori in particular; A network of end-users and research providers that are cognisant of, and contributors to, the human dimensions research assessment; A set of priority research needs pertaining to the human dimensions of global environmental change, in a form suitable for use by FRST.

text: Human dimensions of global environmental change: A review of frameworks and research gaps. This review of current knowledge in, and development of, priorities for research into the human dimensions of global environmental change has been conducted to assist the Foundation for Research Science and Technology to formulate their research needs agenda. An overview of the emergence of the human dimension of the global environmental change research field is used as a prelude to a review of the international literature on frameworks for conducting human dimensions research. The terminology used in the human dimension field is diverse. An attempt is therefore made to consolidate the myriad of definitions for key concepts, in order to form a basis for human dimensions research in New Zealand and build a platform for the remainder of this report. Three disciplinary areas of academic inquiry were explored in the context of human dimensions of global environmental change research: economics, law and biological sciences. These disciplinary perspectives are reviewed through the international literature and in a New Zealand context. A conceptual framework for research into the human dimensions of global environmental change is provided based on the knowledge-base developed from the both international and New Zealand research. Core concepts, such as found in multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary research are reviewed in historical context to form the basis for a specific research framework for New Zealand. Some general needs for research are derived from the New Zealand framework. The remainder of this report details the methods used for drawing out expert opinion on the priorities for research on the human dimensions of global environmental change in the context of information, knowledge and method. Thirty-eight interviews and two hui were conducted and 254 research needs defined by questions were obtained. A modified Delphi technique was applied to the questions and prioritised lists of responses are provided. The final list
Provides European/Pakeha and Māori perspectives. Divergence and convergence between the European/Pakeha and Māori responses is provided, as well as justification for the prioritisation stance that is taken. This research had four outputs: A conceptual framework for considering the human dimensions of global environmental changes and research contributions; A description of the gaps in knowledge that impede effective response to global change and provisional research needs: one for New Zealand generally, and one on Māori in particular; A network of end-users and research providers that are cognisant of, and contributors to, the human dimensions research assessment; A set of priority research needs pertaining to the human dimensions of global environmental change, in a form suitable for use by FRST.

year: 2005-12-01