Made available in DSpace on 2014-08-20T14:31:30Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertacao_andrio_zafalon_silva.pdf: 3030038 bytes, checksum: a10638c2996d28623646b9fa7980b243 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-07-05 / The fragmentation of natural environments is a major concern among conservation ecologists nowadays, especially in areas with a great diversity of habitats as the coastal plains of Rio Grande do Sul. In order to provide the basis to the managers responsible for the maintenance of natural areas, as well as to develop the knowledge of the Muscidae family in the southern Brazil, this study aimed to determine the biodiversity of the Muscidae family, in addition to proposing a method to evaluate the pattern of the species-area relationship (SAR) without using a different sampling effort between the areas of different sizes. To do that, 140 Malaise traps were installed distributed in 35 areas of five regions in the Coastal Plains. Each region was composed of seven areas with four traps at proportional distances. A total of 6102 individuals were collected distributed among 120 species/morphspecies in the five regions. Based on the lists it can be stated the degree of conservation and the anthropic influence on the studied areas, mainly by the presence of the species of Muscinae and Coenosiinae. The similarity between the communities of Muscidae was determined by the proximity of the collection places or by the climatic conditions of the period, and it was also observed a positive relationship in the species-area relationship for the linear and logistic models. Although the model with the power function is not significant, it showed coefficients that allow the interpretation of the types of fragments that occur in the coastal plains of RS. / A fragmentação das áreas naturais é uma das maiores preocupações entre os ecólogos da conservação na atualidade, principalmente em áreas com uma grande diversidade de habitats como a Planície Costeira do Rio Grande do Sul. A fim de prover embasamento aos gestores responsáveis pela manutenção das áreas naturais e desenvolver o conhecimento sobre a família Muscidae no sul do Brasil, o presente estudo objetivou conhecer a biodiversidade da família Muscidae, além de propor um método para a avaliação do padrão de relacionamento espécie área (SAR) sem utilizar esforço amostral distinto entre as áreas de diferentes tamanhos. Para isso, foram instaladas 140 armadilhas Malaise distribuídas em 35 áreas de cinco regiões na Planície Costeira. Cada região foi composta por sete áreas com quatro armadilhas com distâncias proporcionais. Foram coletados 6102 indivíduos distribuídos entre 120 espécies/morfoespécies nas cinco regiões. A partir das listas podemos constatar o grau de conservação e a influência da ação antrópica nas áreas naturais amostradas, principalmente pela presença de espécies de Muscinae e Coenosiinae. A similaridade entre as comunidades de Muscidae foi determinada pela proximidade entre os locais de coletas ou pelas condições climáticas do período, e observamos ainda uma relação positiva no relacionamento espécie-área para os modelos linear e logístico. Apesar do modelo com a função de poder não ser significativo, apresentou coeficientes que possibilitam a interpretação dos tipos de fragmentos que existem na planície costeira do RS.

Background of the Study The aims of this study was to specifically investigate the differences in culture, attitude towards life and social networks between Australian and Taiwanese men and women in addition to determining the factors that predict midlife men and women's quality of life in both countries. Because individualism and collectivism are the two most thoroughly researched constructs in inter-cultural and cross-cultural studies we should look at how these construct affects societies. The theme for individualist cultures (such as Western cultures) is autonomy, while the theme for collectivist cultures (such as Asian cultures) is connection. Most literature available on individualism and collectivism note all cultures have different values that influence their society and ultimately a person's individual health outcome. Very little work has been undertaken in this domain in Australia or Taiwan, particularly in the area of midlife transition and from a cultural perspective. Methodology Data was collected from a cross-sectional, supervised self-administered survey using census data and a probability proportional sampling (PPS) strategy on a general population of men and women aged 40-59 years old who live permanently in Brisbane, Australia and Taipei, Taiwan. The study population was divided into 163 Statistical Local Areas (SLAs) in Brisbane, and 449 Local Government Communities (LGCs) in Taipei. Sixty clusters were randomly selected using probability proportional sampling (PPS) to obtain 30 Australian clusters and 30 Taiwanese clusters. In this study, the 30 (areas) by 7(people) method was used with an additional strategy. The variables were measured including: culture (vertical and horizontal individualism and collectivism), attitude towards life (the total score of optimism), social networks (the total score of emotional, informational, affectionate, tangible, and positive social interaction) and quality of life (physical, psychological, social, and environmental health), social demographical factors and religion and spiritualty. The data analysis procedure included descriptive, bivarite and multivariate multiple regressions and classifications and regression trees (CART). A comparison of the linear regression and regression tree results were discussed. All data analysis was performed by SPSS and S-Plus softwares. Results The overall response rate for the study was 84.2% for midlife Australian men and women and 88.4% for midlife Taiwanese men and women this resulted in 278 Australians (45.3% men) and 398 Taiwanese (35.4% men) providing data to be analysed. Findings in this study indicated country of residence has an overwhelming impact on quality of life with significant differences seen between midlife Australian and Taiwanese men and women (F4, 666= 59.31, P< .001). Results suggest midlife Australian men and women have a better quality of life than midlife Taiwanese men and women. In addition, a comparison of the linear regression and regression tree results reveals that two models identified the same major affect variable for different countries of residence: which was attitude towards life in midlife Australians and social networks in midlife Taiwanese. However, regression trees were able to capture important nonlinear effects as well as interactions between cultural attribute variables. This study demonstrated culture significantly involves multiple functions and interacts with attitude towards life, social networks and individual factors to influence a person's quality of life. The interaction of cultural circumstances and the internal and external factors involved, show less comparative attributes and increased equality attributes, defining the need for people to have a good social networks and a healthy positive disposition. Conclusion Because of the ever increasing flexibility of world travel and a global population, people have much more opportunity to interact with many other cultures which would create improvement in learning opportunities and better health management effectiveness for people the world over. This study has addressed and contributed to the assessment of multi-cultural quality of life research and has important implications for all health professions in addition to government departments and organisational policy makers of both countries. And finally, this study has identified that there needs to be a concerted effort to implement major policy shifts in the near future because of the changing fabric of modern societies. At the same time technology and globalisation have advanced rapidly and point to new opportunities within and across countries for more diverse approaches in research and the implementation of policy initiatives to occur. This study has highlighted that opportunities exist to reflect on current policies for Australian and Taiwanese societies to provide enhanced opportunities to care for the growing midlife populations.

Dagvatten kallas det regn- och smältvatten som rinner av från hårdgjorda ytor i stadsmiljön. Detta vatten för ofta med sig stora mängder av föroreningar som tungmetaller, näringsämnen och oljerelaterade ämnen, vilka kan göra stor skada om de når recipienter. För att rena dagvattnet och därmed minska föroreningsbelastningen byggs det allt fler öppna dagvattensystem som t.ex. våtmarker och dammar. Studier har visat att dessa system har hög reningseffekt och dessutom är de kostnadseffektiva. Kunskapen om hur avskiljningen i dessa system fungerar och om hur de bäst utvärderas är dock begränsad. Kungsängsdammen utanför Uppsala är en nybyggd dagvattenanläggning som är avsedd att rena och fördröja dagvattnet från industri- och handelsområdet Boländerna. Detta examensarbete syftar till att utreda reningsfunktionen av anläggningen. Framför allt genomfördes flödesproportionell provtagning vid inlopp och utlopp under 8 veckor. Ämnen som analyserades var näringsämnena P och N, suspenderat material, tungmetallerna As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mo, Ni, Pb, V, Zn och oljekolväten. Vid några tillfällen analyserades också de oljerelaterade organiska föreningarna PAH:er, oktyl- och nonylfenoler samt tributyltenn. Flödesproportionell provtagning rekommenderas för att säkert avgöra avskiljningseffektiviteten av en damm, men nackdelen är att den tar mycket tid och stora resurser i anspråk. Utöver denna metod genomfördes kompletterande mätningar med sedimentfällor samt en beräkning av föroreningsbelastning vid inloppet med programmet StormTac. Den flödesproportionella provtagningen visade att Kungsängsdammen fungerar väl som avskiljningsanläggning för föroreningar. Suspenderat material, näringsämnen och tungmetaller avskiljs effektivt och utloppshalterna understiger föreslagna riktvärden för dagvatten. Detta trots att både zink, koppar, kväve och suspenderat material hade inloppshalter som låg över riktvärdena. Flödesberäkningar visade att andelen av flödet som bräddas i bypass-diket förbi dammen är viktig vid bedömning av avskiljningseffektiviteten. För organiska föreningar uppmättes tributyltenn i halter över miljökvalitetsnormen för ytvatten både vid inlopp och vid utlopp. Inloppskoncentrationer framräknade i StormTac gav överensstämmande resultat med den flödesproportionella provtagningen för tungmetaller och näringsämnen. Vidare visade undersökningen av sediment att sedimentationen sker främst i fördiket och i inloppet till dammen. Fördiket är i stort behov av rensning, då sediment riskerar att spolas bort vid höga flöden. / Stormwater is the name for rainwater and snowmelt runoff from impervious surfaces in the urban environment. This water often carries large amounts of pollutants such as heavy metals, nutrients, and oil-related substances, which can cause great damage if they reach the receiving waters. To clean the storm water and thus reduce the pollution load, more and more open storm water systems are being built, such as wetlands and ponds. Studies have shown that these systems have high pollutant removal efficiency and are cost effective. Knowledge of how these systems work and how they best are evaluated is limited. “Kungsängsdammen” near Uppsala is a newly constructed stormwater facility that is designed to clean and retard stormwater from the industrial and commercial area Boländerna. This thesis aims to investigate the purification function of the facility. Flow proportional sampling was carried out at the inlet and outlet for 8 weeks. Substances that were analyzed were nutrients P and N, suspended solids, heavy metals As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mo, Ni, Pb, V, Zn and petroleum hydrocarbons. On some occasions, the petroleum-related organic parameters PAHs, octyl and nonylphenols and tributyltin were analyzed. Flow proportional sampling is recommended to determine the efficiency of a stormwater pond, but the problem is that it takes much time and considerable resources. In addition to this method, additional measurements were carried out with sediment traps, and a calculation of pollution load at the inlet with the program StormTac. The flow proportional sampling showed that the “Kungsängsdammen” pond-, functions well as a treatment facility for pollutions. Suspended solids, nutrients and heavy metals are separated effectively and the outlet concentrations for these substances were below proposed guideline values. This is observed, despite the fact that zinc, copper, nitrogen and suspended solids had intake concentrations above the guideline values. Flow calculations showed that the bypass flow is important when estimating the pollutant removal efficiency. For organic compounds, tributyltin was measured at concentrations above the Environmental Quality Standards (EQS) for surface water both at the inlet and outlet. The inlet concentrations that were calculated in StormTac were consistent with the results of the flow proportional sampling for heavy metals and nutrients. Moreover, the investigation of sediments showed that sedimentation occurs mainly in the ditch before the pond and at the inlet to the pond. The ditch is in need of cleansing, because of the risk of sediment being washed away during high flows. The flow proportional sampling showed that the “Kungsängsdammen” pond-, functions wellas a treatment facility for pollutions. Suspended solids, nutrients and heavy metals are separated effectively and the outlet concentrations for these substances were below proposedguideline values. This is observed, despite the fact that zinc, copper, nitrogen and suspended solids had intake concentrations above the guideline values. Flow calculations showed that the bypass flow is important when estimating the pollutant removal efficiency. For organiccompounds, tributyltin was measured at concentrations above the Environmental Quality Standards (EQS) for surface water both at the inlet and outlet. The inlet concentrations that were calculated in StormTac were consistent with the results of the flow proportional sampling for heavy metals and nutrients. Moreover, the investigation of sediments showedthat sedimentation occurs mainly in the ditch before the pond and at the inlet to the pond. The ditch is in need of cleansing, because of the risk of sediment being washed away during high flows.

Vi lever i ett samhälle med pågående urbanisering. Nyexploateringar och förtätningar istadsmiljöer bidrar till minskad infiltration och evapotranspiration samt ökad ytavrinning avregn- och smältvatten; så kallat dagvatten. Det är viktigt att kvantifiera denna diffusaföroreningskälla i urbana miljöer då bland annat näringsämnen och tungmetaller transporterasmed dagvattnet, vilket bidrar till försämrad status i recipienter. Enföroreningsbelastningsmodell för näringsämnen i dagvatten på nationell nivå används avSvenska miljöemissionsdata (SMED). Beräkningsmetoden använder empiriskt framtagnaavrinningskoefficienter och belastningsschabloner som varierar beroende påmarkanvändningsslag. Flödesproportionell provtagning av totalhalter kväve, fosfor, bly, koppar, zink, kadmium ochsuspenderad substans genomfördes under nio veckor i ett av Uppsalas störstadagvattenavrinningsområden. Syftet var att kvantifiera områdets föroreningsbelastning för attutvärdera och föreslå förbättringar till SMED:s beräkningsmetod som enligt tidigare studierhar stora osäkerheter, men även för att ge underlag till placering av eventuella reningsåtgärderi området. Provtagningen kompletterades med en modellutvärdering där beräkningsmetodenskänslighet med avseende på markanvändning och inkludering av basflöde testades. Även enmer fysikaliskt förankrad modell för näringsämnestransport i naturliga avrinningsområdenanvändes i modellutvärderingen. Resultaten visade att bly, koppar och zink transporteras till Fyrisån i koncentrationer somöverskrider föreslagna regionala riktvärden för dagvatten. För koppar och zink är även dentotala belastningen på recipient högre än tidigare modellerade värden. Då tungmetaller, menäven fosfor, till stor del transporteras i partikulär form bör en eventuell reningsåtgärd iavrinningsområdet fokusera på att avskilja partikulärt material. Åtgärden bör även placerasuppströms industrin GE Healthcare Bio-Sciences AB där föroreningskoncentrationerna spädsut genom att stora volymer kyl- och regenereringsvatten tillförs dagvattennätet. Vidare visade modellutvärderingen att när SMED:s beräkningsmetod applicerades på detstuderade avrinningsområdet överskattades volymavrinningen från dagvattnet jämfört medprovtagningsresultaten medan medelkoncentrationen för kväve underskattades. För fosfor gavprovtagningsresultaten och beräkningsmetoden samstämmiga svar. Sammantagetöverskattade modellen fosforbelastningen något men underskattade kvävebelastningen. Förkväve har basflödet visat sig stå för en betydande del av belastningen och bör därför iframtiden inkluderas i SMED:s beräkningsmetod. Även den markanvändningskarta somanvänds i metoden bör bytas ut på grund av dess inaktualitet samt att modellutvärderingenvisade relativt stora känsligheter i resultaten för ändring i markanvändning. / We live in a society with an ongoing urbanization. New development projects anddensifications in urban areas contribute to reduced infiltration and evapotranspiration and anincreased surface runoff from rain and melt water, i.e. stormwater. It is essential to quantifythis diffuse source of pollution in urban environments since nutrients, heavy metals and otherpollutants, are transported by the stormwater and contribute to recipient degradation. Anutrient pollution load model in stormwater is used by Swedish environmental emission data(SMED) on a national level. The SMED computational method utilizes empirical runoffcoefficients and standard concentrations, which vary depending on the catchment land-use. Flow proportional sampling of total concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus, lead, copper,zinc, cadmium and suspended solids was conducted during nine weeks in one of the largeststormwater catchments in Uppsala city, Sweden. The study aimed at quantifying the pollutionload of the catchment in order to evaluate and suggest improvements to the SMEDcomputational method, which contains large uncertainties according to previous studies.Furthermore, the study aimed at providing a basis for potential treatment measures in thecatchment. The sampling was complemented with a model evaluation where the sensitivity ofthe computational method was tested with respect to land-use input and the inclusion ofbaseflow. The model evaluation also included a comparison with a more physically basedmodel for nutrient transport in natural catchments. The results revealed that lead, copper and zinc are discharged into the Fyris River inconcentrations exceeding proposed regional guideline values. For copper and zinc the totalpollution loads on the recipient are higher than previously modeled values. As heavy metalsand phosphorus are transported largely in particulate form the potential treatment measureshould have the ability to effectively separate particulate matter from the stormwater matrix.Due to emissions of large volumes of cooling and regeneration water from the industry GEHealthcare Bio-Sciences AB, the stormwater pollutants are diluted. The treatment measureshould therefore be placed upstream from the industry. When applying the SMED computational method on the studied catchment, the modeloverestimated the runoff volume from stormwater compared to the sampling results, while theaverage nitrogen concentration was underestimated. Regarding phosphorus concentrations,the model and the sampling results concurred relatively well. This resulted in a higherphosphorus, but lower nitrogen, pollution load predicted by the model. It can partly beattributed the fact that baseflow transport of nitrogen is a significant part of the total pollutionload, and should thus be included in the SMED computational method in future calculations.Another model improvement would be to replace the outdated land-use map currently beingused in the method as the model evaluation indicated a relatively large sensitivity in theresults with regards to alterations in the land-use type input.