Article
Environmental Sciences
Justin Hughes, Nick Potter, Lu Zhang, Robert Bridgart
Summary: Long-term droughts in southern Australia have changed the relationship between annual rainfall and runoff, challenging traditional rainfall-runoff models. The modified GR7J model outperformed the original GR4J model during drought periods, particularly at low flows. The use of an objective function combining daily and annual errors improved the goodness of fit and reduced evaluation bias for the GR7J model.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
James Fogarty, Martin van Bueren, Md Sayed Iftekhar
Summary: Australia aims to move towards a nation of water sensitive cities through strengthening government policy support, increasing government investment, improving system-level accountability, changing regulatory incentives, removing barriers to private sector participation, and enhancing information systems and analytical capabilities.
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Lubei Zhang, Linda Tsung, Xian Qi
Summary: The ethno-linguistic composition of Australia's population has undergone significant changes in the past few decades due to the increasing number of immigrants from the Asia-Pacific region. The number of home language speakers in Australia has been rapidly increasing since 2000, with Mandarin surpassing Italian and Greek as the most commonly spoken home language other than English. The findings also reveal regional differences and changing language shift rates among different language communities.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Pablo J. Moya-Fernandez, Samara Lopez-Ruiz, Jorge Guardiola, Francisco Gonzalez-Gomez
Summary: This study analyzed the acceptance of recycled water for different domestic uses and its determinants. The main findings indicate that the 'yuck factor' and perceived risk are the main determinants of low acceptance for drinking water, while environmental awareness is a key factor for other uses. Authorities should consider these factors when promoting the use of recycled water.
SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION
(2021)
Article
Urban Studies
Behnaz Avazpour, Paul Osmond, Linda Corkery
Summary: Stormwater is a major concern in cities due to mismanagement, and its role as a resource in climate change actions is often underestimated. Water sensitive urban design (WSUD) is considered an effective adaptation measure, but faces challenges in implementation in Australia. These challenges include financial constraints, lack of innovation and evaluation tools, capacity issues, institutional arrangements, and policy limitations. Collaboration in design, establishing approval processes, and clearly defining roles and responsibilities are suggested as ways to address these challenges.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Stephen J. Livesley, Valentina Marchionni, Pui Kwan Cheung, Edoardo Daly, Diane E. Pataki
Summary: Water smart cities are utilizing irrigation and misting techniques, along with alternative water resources like rainwater tanks and recycled sewage wastewater, to cope with extreme heat and drought with minimal impact on drinking water supplies.
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Sajeeve Latif, Mohammad A. Alim, Ataur Rahman
Summary: Harvested rainwater requires pre-treatment and disinfection before human consumption. A sustainable and cost-effective disinfection method, such as hypochlorite, is needed for rural rainwater harvesting systems. Proper dosing and residual effects of disinfectant are important considerations for effective treatment.
JOURNAL OF WATER PROCESS ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mengtian Huang, Panmao Zhai, Shilong Piao
Summary: The study found that the timing of drought does impact the response of ecosystem water use efficiency during extreme drought years. Negative impacts of extreme drought stress during the dry season on ecosystem WUE were more pronounced, and the impacts of drought on ecosystem carbon-water interactions varied among ecosystem types.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
Laura Guillory, Christa Pudmenzky, Thong Nguyen-Huy, David Cobon, Roger Stone
Summary: The UniSQ Drought Monitor and Australian Combined Drought Indicator (CDI) are introduced as information services to fully capture the long- and short-term consequences of drought. The Drought Monitor, developed using a multi-index approach, showed a significant positive correlation with observed wheat yield and total pasture growth, indicating its potential as a valuable drought monitoring tool.
ENVIRONMENTAL MODELLING & SOFTWARE
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Yuting Ma, Linli Hu, Yue Wu, Zhongqi Tang, Xuemei Xiao, Jian Lyu, Jianming Xie, Jihua Yu
Summary: Green light partially replacing red light and blue light improves drought tolerance in cucumber seedlings by promoting the synthesis of GABA and upregulating the expression of the CsGAD2 gene. This study highlights the role of green light in plant physiological processes and suggests that analyzing the function of green light in improving drought tolerance could lead to new approaches for enhancing plant stress resilience.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Adrian Hickey, Lalantha Senevirathna
Summary: Climate change is causing more frequent extreme weather events, such as floods, droughts, and heatwaves, which are impacting water supply systems globally. Water agencies and utilities need to develop resilient and adaptable systems to cope with these challenges. Case studies, like the one on water quality and supply management in New South Wales, demonstrate the importance of effective water treatment processes and collaboration among local governments to ensure a secure and reliable water supply during extreme weather events.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Joseph Cook, Johanna Bruhl, Martine Visser
Summary: The study found that the top 10% of households in Cape Town consumed 31% of the water before the drought, and the correlation between water use and income varied significantly across different seasons. The top 10% of water users in the city contributed 50%-60% of utility revenues, while the average income of top users during the drought was 35% lower than before the drought.
WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tess Parker, Ailie Gallant, Mike Hobbins, David Hoffmann
Summary: Flash droughts can intensify rapidly and last for months regardless of the season, with their prevalence related to phases of the El Nino-Southern Oscillation, offering potential for seasonal-scale prediction. Monitoring precipitation is less effective for capturing the onset of flash drought compared to indices like the Evaporative Demand Drought Index and Evaporative Stress Index.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Economics
Isabel Cunha, Cecilia Silva, Benjamin Buettner, Tuuli Toivonen
Summary: This study investigates the equity impacts of cycling plans and infrastructure allocation in three European cities. The research finds that cycling planning often prioritises advantaged areas and central zones, neglecting disadvantaged socio-economic zones.
Review
Ecology
Steven A. Kannenberg, Jessica S. Guo, Kimberly A. Novick, William R. L. Anderegg, Xue Feng, Daniel Kennedy, Alexandra G. Konings, Jordi Martinez-Vilalta, Ashley M. Matheny
Summary: This review explores the factors shaping plant water stress responses and the approaches used to classify plant water-use strategies. The controversial concept of a continuum from isohydry to anisohydry is highlighted.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Development Studies
Angela J. Dean, Fiona J. Newton, Robyn E. Gulliver, Kelly S. Fielding, Helen Ross
Summary: Water management increasingly focuses on addressing stormwater pollution and involving community members in adopting pollution-reduction measures and supporting water sensitive urban design. However, communities' limited understanding of these innovations and their perceived incompatibility with their lifestyle and local geography are significant barriers to their adoption.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Xiongzhi Wang, Kelly S. Fielding, Angela J. Dean
Summary: This paper conceptually explores the concept of psychological ownership of nature and its role in promoting conservation behaviors. The research finds that individuals with strong anthropocentric worldviews are more likely to experience positive effects from psychological ownership of nature, while those with high ecocentric beliefs may be less influenced.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Angela J. Dean, Kerrie A. Wilson
Summary: The loss and degradation of nature can lead to hopelessness and despair, but fostering hope and optimism can motivate engagement in conservation actions without undermining the recognition of conservation challenges. This finding is important for increasing conservation engagement.
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Biology
Anazelia M. M. Tedesco, Pedro H. S. Brancalion, Michelle L. Hak Hepburn, Khalil Walji, Kerrie A. A. Wilson, Hugh P. P. Possingham, Angela J. J. Dean, Nick Nugent, Katerina Elias-Trostmann, Katharina-Victoria Perez-Hammerle, Jonathan R. R. Rhodes
Summary: Forest restoration is a scalable nature-based solution that aims to achieve global environmental and socio-economic goals. Incentive mechanisms play a crucial role in promoting restoration success, but their impact is not well-understood. Socio-economic factors have a significant influence on implementation and program success, highlighting the importance of assessing and managing these factors.
PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Studies
Xiongzhi Wang, Kelly S. Fielding, Angela J. Dean
Summary: This study developed and validated 6-item scales measuring individual and collective psychological ownership of nature using a representative sample of Australian adults. The scales showed high reliability and evidence of validity, with measurement invariance across gender, age, and political subgroups. The validated scales were distinct from related constructs such as connection to nature and place attachment. They also had unique power in explaining civic pro-environmental behaviors, with collective ownership contributing additional variance over place attachment. This study advances research on psychological ownership of nature by providing validated scales to measure the core of this important construct.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Helen J. Mayfield, Rachel Eberhard, Christopher Baker, Umberto Baresi, Michael Bode, Anthea Coggan, Angela J. Dean, Felicity Deane, Evan Hamman, Diane Jarvis, Barton Loechel, Bruce M. Taylor, Lillian Stevens, Karen Vella, Kate J. Helmstedt
Summary: Governments use policy instruments to encourage landholders to adopt land management practices that reduce environmental impacts. However, the implementation of these instruments and landholders' complex behavioral responses make it difficult to measure and predict adoption rates, which limits the ability of governments to select the optimal combination of policy instruments.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & POLICY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Studies
Yolanda L. Waters, Kerrie A. Wilson, Angela J. Dean
Summary: Climate change is a major threat to marine ecosystems globally. While much of the discussion on marine conservation and individual action focuses on reducing plastic use, some question if this distracts from broader sustainability goals like mitigating climate change. However, promoting simple behaviors, such as reducing plastic use, may lead to behavioral spillover and encourage the adoption of other impactful climate-related behaviors. Two experimental surveys conducted in the context of the Great Barrier Reef found that messages targeting plastic behaviors can potentially increase climate behaviors, especially when past behaviors are highlighted. However, there were no positive effects for already engaged audiences. These findings caution against developing plastic messaging strategies for reef conservation if the central goal is behavioral spillover.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Emma K. Church, Kerrie A. Wilson, Angela J. Dean
Summary: Diverse solutions are needed to reduce human impacts on nature, and fostering individual stewardship behaviours is one of them. Social capital plays a crucial role in influencing different types of stewardship behaviours, including lifestyle, social, on-ground, and citizenship behaviours. However, the associations between different components of social capital and these behaviours vary.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Review
Ecology
Anazelia M. Tedesco, Sofia Lopez-Cubillos, Robin Chazdon, Jonathan R. Rhodes, Carla L. Archibald, Katharina-Victoria Perez-Hammerle, Pedro H. S. Brancalion, Kerrie A. Wilson, Mariana Oliveira, Diego F. Correa, Liz Ota, Tiffany H. Morrison, Hugh P. Possingham, Morena Mills, Fabiane C. Santos, Angela J. Dean
Summary: Ecosystem restoration conventionally focuses on ecological targets, but it is necessary to integrate social, economic, and ecological dimensions, reconcile global targets and local objectives, and measure progress toward multiple goals. Restoration should be an inclusive social-ecological process that integrates diverse values and practices across scales and stakeholder groups. Taking a process-based approach will enable greater social-ecological transformation, restoration effectiveness, and long-lasting benefits.
TRENDS IN ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Emily Massingham, Erik Meijaard, Marc Ancrenaz, Dino Mika, Julie Sherman, Truly Santika, Lengga Pradipta, Hugh P. Possingham, Angela J. Dean
Summary: Despite decades of conservation management, many orangutan populations are still on the brink of extinction due to habitat loss and direct killings. This study conducted the first quantitative field research in over 10 years to assess the state of killing of orangutans in Kalimantan. The findings suggest that killing is still occurring and conservation projects have not significantly reduced this behavior. Addressing killing of orangutans and its underlying drivers is crucial for improving Bornean orangutan conservation practice.
CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Jo Lindsay, Ruth Lane, Rob Raven, David Reynolds
Summary: This article examines how the COVID-19 pandemic changed household-consumption practices in Melbourne, Australia as an external shock. It assesses national consumption data and retail data for Victoria to demonstrate the dramatic shift in consumption patterns in 2020. The article also highlights examples of changed consumption practices during the pandemic, such as bread baking, food growing, and bicycle riding, which showcase innovation in domestic consumption, enhanced food security and resilience, and the experience of a slower way of life. The article argues that while the pandemic encouraged experimentation and innovation in sustainability, it lacks wider institutional effects that would support sustainable consumption practices at a mass scale. It suggests that these new consumption experiences discovered during the lockdown may continue as practice memories for future use.
SUSTAINABILITY-SCIENCE PRACTICE AND POLICY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Angela J. Dean, Helen Ross, Anne Roiko, Kelly S. Fielding, Emily Saeck, Kim Johnston, Amanda Beatson, James Udy, Paul Maxwell
Summary: The utilization patterns of blue space are influenced by subjective perceptions and environmental constraints. A survey conducted in South East Queensland identified three frequent users and two low users of blue spaces. Proximity to coastal areas and the availability of diverse activities were found to support frequent use, while increased distance from the coast limited use.
LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Konrad Uebel, Jonathan R. Rhodes, Kerrie Wilson, Angela J. Dean
Summary: Natural soundscapes in urban parks, including bird calls and traffic noise, can have different effects on individuals' experiences and perceptions. Factors such as age, park use frequency, and personal values can influence the pleasantness of bird sounds and traffic noise. This study suggests that the detrimental effects of traffic noise may limit the therapeutic benefits of bird sounds in certain social groups.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Nicola J. Sockhill, Angela J. Dean, Rachel R. Y. Oh, Richard A. Fuller
Summary: Changing human behavior and social systems are crucial to reversing the global biodiversity crisis. This study explores the interplay between values, nature connection, and pro-environmental behavior. The findings challenge stereotypes by showing that people with anthropocentric values also engage in impactful nature protection behaviors. The results suggest that behavioral intervention strategies should be tailored to reach different sectors of society, maximizing pro-environmental behavior expression.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Georgia Day, Richard A. Fuller, Cassandra Nichols, Angela J. Dean
Summary: The biodiversity crisis poses a global threat to humanity and requires innovative approaches to conservation. Citizen science has the potential to promote conservation engagement, but its specific impact on conservation action has not been fully explored. This study investigates the influence of citizen science programs on conservation engagement using transformative learning theory. The findings suggest that increased awareness is related to learning, social interactions, and cultural experiences, while intentions to engage in conservation action are influenced by a sense of contribution.