Protected lands are an important source of food, shelter, and reproductive opportunities for wildlife, especially in urbanizing landscapes. When urban development abuts the edges of protected lands, synanthropic species can alter their foraging behaviors and movement to utilize human-supplemented resources throughout the urban-wild interface. Therefore, urban edges on protected lands can have pronounced effects on animal movement and ecosystem function. There is also increased risk of disease transmission where high densities of wild animals exist, or where domestic animals and wild species are interacting. In particular, members of the family Felidae, including domestic cats (Felis catus), can transmit the pathogenic parasite, Toxoplasma gondii (henceforth T. gondii) through their feces. Capable of infecting any warm-blooded host species, infection with T. gondii has been proven to cause increased risk-taking behaviors, stillbirths and congenital birth defects, and mortality in humans and a variety of wildlife species. Northern raccoons (Procyon lotor) and Virginia opossums (Didelphis virginiana) are urban adaptive species who often benefit from human-supplemented food sources such as unsecured garbage, and outdoor pet food, and may be exposed to T. gondii more frequently if they are utilizing resources close to cats. To investigate how urban edges of protected lands affect the movement and infection risk for urban-adapted mesopredators, I captured and attached GPS collars to opossums and raccoons between April 2022 and October 2023 in northern Key Largo, FL, USA, a protected area with large contiguous patches of undisturbed land cover adjacent to two distinct urban areas with high outdoor cat densities and available human-supplemented food resources. Using GPS collar data, I estimated home ranges and third-order resource selection of 27 raccoons and 12 opossums from Key Largo, FL. The average home range of opossums were 20.51 ha (14.12 SE) which was significantly smaller than raccoons (137.01 ha, 10.74 SE, t37 = -2.70, p = 0.01). The proportion of urban development in an individual’s home range was the most influential factor associated with home range size, followed by species and sex. Individuals with greater proportions of residential neighborhoods and commercial areas in their home ranges were associated with smaller home ranges. Third-order resource selection functions identified both mesopredator species using residential and commercial land use areas significantly more than they were available on the landscape. To survey for T. gondii infections, I collected blood samples from all the captured raccoons and performed a direct modified agglutination test (MAT) to detect antibodies for T. gondii. To understand how human-supplemented foods could be affected exposure rates, I collected hair samples from all raccoons and analyzed the stable carbon isotope ratios, so that higher ratios of carbon were equated to greater intake of non-natural, human-supplemented food resources. 67.7% (21/31; 95% CI: 51.3–84.2%) of the raccoons tested positive for T. gondii antibodies, and the proportion of urban development in an individual’s home range was the best predictor for infection. A multinomial regression analysis indicated that raccoons with higher levels of antibodies were also likely to have a majority “non-wild” diet based on δ13C values from a stable carbon isotope analysis. These results suggest the primary route of parasite transmission is contact with domestic cats, which may be exacerbated by the exploitation of human-supplemented food in urban areas. The Florida Keys are currently facing mammal population declines tied to Burmese pythons (Python bivitattus) and outdoor cat predations, and management policies that decrease the circulation of T. gondii oocysts in the environment are important to bolstering the fitness of these island-dwelling populations. Decreased reproductive success or behavioral changes that increase risk of predation could spell catastrophic for these mesopredator populations that are following in the footsteps of their Everglades counterparts, and at risk of extirpation on Key Largo. I recorded a systemic reduction of home range sizes on the urban edges of the protected areas of Key Largo, which often corresponds with higher densities of animals, which may increase probability of disease transmission, especially when the urban borders support populations of feral domestic species. As urbanization increases and the distance between wild lands and human disturbance decreases, it is increasingly important to study the mechanisms of how urban development on the edges of protected areas affect the ecology of wildlife species.

A crescente demanda por movimentação de pessoas e mercadorias nas cidades contemporâneas vem exigindo das administrações públicas investimentos em sistemas de circulação coletiva de alta capacidade (trens, metrôs, etc.). Do ponto de vista espacial, a implantação desses sistemas no interior das cidades pode causar efeitos, como, por exemplo, mudanças na acessibilidade, no uso do solo e nos fluxos entre as regiões. Pode haver valorização ou desvalorização de determinadas áreas, induzindo à ocupação e ao adensamento de certas zonas, até mesmo, promovendo o surgimento de novas centralidades. Esses efeitos são sistêmicos e de difícil avaliação e antecipação. O objetivo desta pesquisa é analisar e descrever os efeitos causados pela implantação de um sistema coletivo de circulação na configuração das cidades. A abordagem adotada pelo trabalho é a da configuração urbana, ou seja, a cidade é tratada como um sistema de espaços inter-relacionados, por sua vez, articulados a um sistema de movimento, uso do solo e centralidades. Toma-se como estudo empírico a implantação do Trensurb (trem metropolitano) na cidade de Novo Hamburgo, RS, ocorrida em 2014. O trabalho aborda o efeito do Trensurb sobre a acessibilidade, a centralidade e a estrutura de centros locais. Também explora o desempenho espacial da localização das estações do Trensurb em termos de sua eficiência na captura de usuários, avaliando a distribuição da oportunidade espacial de acesso ao trem. Por fim, verifica como se alteram as vantagens locacionais para oferta de serviços na cidade, após a implantação do trem. A metodologia utiliza técnicas e modelos desenvolvidos no campo dos sistemas configuracionais urbanos, tendo como referência dois cenários de análise: com e sem a presença do Trensurb. Os resultados permitem uma discussão quantitativa e qualitativa das principais alterações detectadas e reafirmam a importância desse tipo de abordagem para contribuir com a compreensão de problemas urbanos complexos. / The increasing demand in contemporary cities for circulation of people and goods has been requiring huge government investments for more efficient high capacity collective circulation systems (e.g., trains and subways). In the spatial point of view, these systems implementation in the cities can cause different impacts such as accessibility, land use and regional flows changes. Real estate appreciation or depreciation of certain areas may occur, leading to the occupation and consolidation of certain zones, and even fostering the emergence of new centralities. All these impacts are systemic and difficult to assess and anticipate. This research aims to analyze and describe the impacts caused by the implementation of a collective circulation system in the configuration of cities. The urban configuration approach is adopted, i.e., the city is addressed as an interrelated spaces system, which hinges a circulation system, land use and centrality. As empirical study, the city of Novo Hamburgo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, has been chosen, where a metropolitan train, Trensurb, has been implemented in 2014. This study discusses the impact caused by Trensurb on urban accessibility and centrality and over the structure of local centers. It also exploits the spatial performance of the location of Trensurb stations in terms of their efficiency in achieving users and evaluates the distribution of the spatial opportunity of train access. Finally, this study verifies how the locational advantages for service offering change within the city, after the implementation of the new train. The methodology is based on models and techniques developed in the field of urban configurational systems, with reference to two scenarios analyses: with and without the presence of Trensurb. The results enable to quantitatively and qualitatively discuss the main changes detected in the system and to reaffirm the relevance of this approach to contribute to the understanding of complex urban problems.

A crescente demanda por movimentação de pessoas e mercadorias nas cidades contemporâneas vem exigindo das administrações públicas investimentos em sistemas de circulação coletiva de alta capacidade (trens, metrôs, etc.). Do ponto de vista espacial, a implantação desses sistemas no interior das cidades pode causar efeitos, como, por exemplo, mudanças na acessibilidade, no uso do solo e nos fluxos entre as regiões. Pode haver valorização ou desvalorização de determinadas áreas, induzindo à ocupação e ao adensamento de certas zonas, até mesmo, promovendo o surgimento de novas centralidades. Esses efeitos são sistêmicos e de difícil avaliação e antecipação. O objetivo desta pesquisa é analisar e descrever os efeitos causados pela implantação de um sistema coletivo de circulação na configuração das cidades. A abordagem adotada pelo trabalho é a da configuração urbana, ou seja, a cidade é tratada como um sistema de espaços inter-relacionados, por sua vez, articulados a um sistema de movimento, uso do solo e centralidades. Toma-se como estudo empírico a implantação do Trensurb (trem metropolitano) na cidade de Novo Hamburgo, RS, ocorrida em 2014. O trabalho aborda o efeito do Trensurb sobre a acessibilidade, a centralidade e a estrutura de centros locais. Também explora o desempenho espacial da localização das estações do Trensurb em termos de sua eficiência na captura de usuários, avaliando a distribuição da oportunidade espacial de acesso ao trem. Por fim, verifica como se alteram as vantagens locacionais para oferta de serviços na cidade, após a implantação do trem. A metodologia utiliza técnicas e modelos desenvolvidos no campo dos sistemas configuracionais urbanos, tendo como referência dois cenários de análise: com e sem a presença do Trensurb. Os resultados permitem uma discussão quantitativa e qualitativa das principais alterações detectadas e reafirmam a importância desse tipo de abordagem para contribuir com a compreensão de problemas urbanos complexos. / The increasing demand in contemporary cities for circulation of people and goods has been requiring huge government investments for more efficient high capacity collective circulation systems (e.g., trains and subways). In the spatial point of view, these systems implementation in the cities can cause different impacts such as accessibility, land use and regional flows changes. Real estate appreciation or depreciation of certain areas may occur, leading to the occupation and consolidation of certain zones, and even fostering the emergence of new centralities. All these impacts are systemic and difficult to assess and anticipate. This research aims to analyze and describe the impacts caused by the implementation of a collective circulation system in the configuration of cities. The urban configuration approach is adopted, i.e., the city is addressed as an interrelated spaces system, which hinges a circulation system, land use and centrality. As empirical study, the city of Novo Hamburgo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, has been chosen, where a metropolitan train, Trensurb, has been implemented in 2014. This study discusses the impact caused by Trensurb on urban accessibility and centrality and over the structure of local centers. It also exploits the spatial performance of the location of Trensurb stations in terms of their efficiency in achieving users and evaluates the distribution of the spatial opportunity of train access. Finally, this study verifies how the locational advantages for service offering change within the city, after the implementation of the new train. The methodology is based on models and techniques developed in the field of urban configurational systems, with reference to two scenarios analyses: with and without the presence of Trensurb. The results enable to quantitatively and qualitatively discuss the main changes detected in the system and to reaffirm the relevance of this approach to contribute to the understanding of complex urban problems.

A crescente demanda por movimentação de pessoas e mercadorias nas cidades contemporâneas vem exigindo das administrações públicas investimentos em sistemas de circulação coletiva de alta capacidade (trens, metrôs, etc.). Do ponto de vista espacial, a implantação desses sistemas no interior das cidades pode causar efeitos, como, por exemplo, mudanças na acessibilidade, no uso do solo e nos fluxos entre as regiões. Pode haver valorização ou desvalorização de determinadas áreas, induzindo à ocupação e ao adensamento de certas zonas, até mesmo, promovendo o surgimento de novas centralidades. Esses efeitos são sistêmicos e de difícil avaliação e antecipação. O objetivo desta pesquisa é analisar e descrever os efeitos causados pela implantação de um sistema coletivo de circulação na configuração das cidades. A abordagem adotada pelo trabalho é a da configuração urbana, ou seja, a cidade é tratada como um sistema de espaços inter-relacionados, por sua vez, articulados a um sistema de movimento, uso do solo e centralidades. Toma-se como estudo empírico a implantação do Trensurb (trem metropolitano) na cidade de Novo Hamburgo, RS, ocorrida em 2014. O trabalho aborda o efeito do Trensurb sobre a acessibilidade, a centralidade e a estrutura de centros locais. Também explora o desempenho espacial da localização das estações do Trensurb em termos de sua eficiência na captura de usuários, avaliando a distribuição da oportunidade espacial de acesso ao trem. Por fim, verifica como se alteram as vantagens locacionais para oferta de serviços na cidade, após a implantação do trem. A metodologia utiliza técnicas e modelos desenvolvidos no campo dos sistemas configuracionais urbanos, tendo como referência dois cenários de análise: com e sem a presença do Trensurb. Os resultados permitem uma discussão quantitativa e qualitativa das principais alterações detectadas e reafirmam a importância desse tipo de abordagem para contribuir com a compreensão de problemas urbanos complexos. / The increasing demand in contemporary cities for circulation of people and goods has been requiring huge government investments for more efficient high capacity collective circulation systems (e.g., trains and subways). In the spatial point of view, these systems implementation in the cities can cause different impacts such as accessibility, land use and regional flows changes. Real estate appreciation or depreciation of certain areas may occur, leading to the occupation and consolidation of certain zones, and even fostering the emergence of new centralities. All these impacts are systemic and difficult to assess and anticipate. This research aims to analyze and describe the impacts caused by the implementation of a collective circulation system in the configuration of cities. The urban configuration approach is adopted, i.e., the city is addressed as an interrelated spaces system, which hinges a circulation system, land use and centrality. As empirical study, the city of Novo Hamburgo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, has been chosen, where a metropolitan train, Trensurb, has been implemented in 2014. This study discusses the impact caused by Trensurb on urban accessibility and centrality and over the structure of local centers. It also exploits the spatial performance of the location of Trensurb stations in terms of their efficiency in achieving users and evaluates the distribution of the spatial opportunity of train access. Finally, this study verifies how the locational advantages for service offering change within the city, after the implementation of the new train. The methodology is based on models and techniques developed in the field of urban configurational systems, with reference to two scenarios analyses: with and without the presence of Trensurb. The results enable to quantitatively and qualitatively discuss the main changes detected in the system and to reaffirm the relevance of this approach to contribute to the understanding of complex urban problems.

Idag står världen inför nya typer av utmaningar för att möta hållbarhetsmål och nya behov somuppkommer. Många städer genomgår därför stora förändringar i utvecklingen där både förväntadeoch oväntade konsekvenser kommer att uppstå. Sedan Northvolt beslutade att etablera sig iSkellefteå år 2017, står staden inför den stora möjligheten att bli en pionjär stad för grön utveckling.Den nya utvecklingen har inte bara satt industrin på prov, utan även staden som helhet. Kommunensutmaning är att sprida budskapet om vad den kommande utvecklingen har att erbjuda, i hopp om attsätta fart på inflyttningen då kompetensbehovet är Skellefteås främsta utmaning idag. För att mötavisionerna kring utvecklingen behöver alla aktörer samverka för att bli en stad för grön elektrifiering.Välfungerande socialt kapital mellan offentlig sektor, industri, akademi och medborgare är enförutsättning för att skapa en framgångsrik utveckling.Arbetet utforskar hur en stad som genomgår en omfattande och snabb industriell expansionpåverkas. Genom att studera migrationsmönster ur “push and pull”-teorin undersöker arbetet hur detär möjligt att generera en ökad in-migration i olika målgrupper, som studenter eller hemvändare.Samtidigt som Skellefteå är beroende av att ha ett positiv inflyttningsnetto behöver även denuvarande invånarna bibehållas. Därför har intervjuer och en enkät genomförts för att få en tydligbild av styrkor och svagheter i utvecklingen av Skellefteå. Resultaten av enkäten och intervjuernaanalyserades och diskuterades genom en exemplifiering av de två teorierna push and pull och teorinom socialt kapital.Stora industriella expansioner av denna storlek skakar städerna till sin kärna, eftersom stadensidentitet och attribut ifrågasätts under denna typ av förändring. Vid en utveckling av denna storleksätts det sociala kapitalet på prov och beroende på dess effektivitet kan utfallen skilja sig åt. Stadentvingas väga olika faktorer mot varandra; ekonomiska, sociala och miljömässiga, då alla inte är möjligaatt upprätthålla till samma grad. Eftersom det största målet är att skapa en ökad in-migration till denexpanderande staden måste de pull-faktorer som finns och främjas ifrågasättas; Vad erbjuderegentligen Skellefteå? Arbetet identifierade sex möjliga grupper av in-migration; kontraurbanister,livsstilsmigranter, människor som flyttar för relationer/hemvändare, människor som flyttar förjobbmöjligheter, studenter och människor som flyttar för hållbarhetsskäl. Genom att lyfta fram enuppsättning av pull-faktorer specifikt för Skellefteå har staden den unika möjligheten att påverkamigrationsmönstren till deras behov och skapa en hållbar och attraktiv stad för den nuvarande ochframtida invånaren. / Today the world stands in front of the challenge of adapting to new demands, where solutions thatincrease sustainability are required. Many cities are therefore undergoing big changes indevelopments where both expected and unexpected consequences will arise. Since 2017, whenNorthvolt decided to establish in Skellefteå, the city stands in front of the opportunity to become apioneer city of green evolution. The new development has not only put the demands of the industryat test, but also the city as whole. The challenge of the municipality is how to spread the message ofwhat the upcoming development has to offer to boost the in-migration, as the need for competence isthe main challenge of Skellefteå today. To be able to fulfil and meet the visions of the transformation,all actors need to work together in becoming the green city of electrification. To create a successfuldevelopment, the overlapping collaboration between the government, industry, academia andcommunity needs to be of high quality and thus the social capital will increase.The thesis explores the effects of a city that undergoes a fast expansion. By studying migrationpatterns through push and pull theory, the thesis investigates how to generate an increasedin-migration in different target groups, such as students and returners. While Skellefteå is dependenton having a positive netto in-migration, the current residents also need to be maintained, thusinterviews and a questionnaire has allowed the thesis to obtain a clear picture of strengths andweaknesses of the development in Skellefteå. The results of the questionnaire and the interviews areanalysed and discussed through an exemplification of the two theories of push and pull and thetheory of social capital.Large industrial expansions of this size shake cities to their core, as the identity and attributes of thecity are questioned as they change. When dealing with a development of this size, the social capital isput to the test and depending on its effectiveness, the outcomes can differ. The city is forced to weighdifferent factors against each other, the benefits of accommodating economic, social andenvironmental factors are measured and prioritised as all are not possible to sustain. As the main goalis to create an increased in-migration to the expanding city, the pull factors available and promotedneed to be questioned; What is Skellefteå in fact offering? The thesis identified six possible groups ofin-migration; counterurbanists, lifestyle migrants, people moving for social ties/the returners, peoplemoving for job opportunities, students and people moving for sustainability reasons. By highlightingone set of pull factors, Skellefteå has the unique opportunity to influence the migration patterns totheir needs and create a sustainable and attractive city for the current and future residents.