Matching Items (23)
Description
The Modern Synthesis embodies a theory of natural selection where selection is to be fundamentally understood in terms of measures of fitness and the covariance of reproductive success and trait or character variables. Whether made explicit or left implicit, the notion that selection requires that some trait variable cause reproductive success has been deemphasized in our modern understanding of exactly what selection amounts to. The dissertation seeks to advance a theory of natural selection that is fundamentally causal. By focusing on the causal nature of natural selection (rather than on fitness or statistical formulae), certain conceptual and methodological problems are seen in a new, clarifying light and avenues toward new, interesting solutions to those problems are illustrated. First, the dissertation offers an update to explicitly causal theories of when exactly a trait counts as an adaptation upon fixation in a population and draws out theoretical and practical implications for evolutionary biology. Second, I examine a case of a novel character that evolves by niche construction and argue that it evolves by selection for it and consider implications for understanding adaptations and drift. The third contribution of the dissertation is an argument for the importance of defining group selection causally and an argument against model pluralism in the levels of selection debate. Fourth, the dissertation makes a methodological contribution. I offer the first steps toward an explicitly causal methodology for inferring the causes of selection—something often required in addition to inferring the causes of reproductive success. The concluding chapter summarizes the work and discusses potential paths for future work.
ContributorsAnderson, Wesley (Author) / Armendt, Brad (Thesis advisor) / Creath, Richard (Committee member) / Glymour, Bruce (Committee member) / Kinzig, Ann (Committee member) / Perrings, Charles (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2016
Description
The spread of dengue worldwide currently places half of the world’s population at risk. In the absence of a dengue vaccine, control of the disease requires control of the mosquito species that transmit the virus. The most important of these is. Advances in research detailing the responsiveness of Aedes aegypti to small changes in climate enable the production of more sophisticated remote sensing and surveillance techniques for monitoring these populations. Close monitoring of global dengue activity and outbreaks likewise enables a greater specificity when determining to which human populations the virus is most likely to spread. There have been no locally acquired cases in Arizona to date, but the high abundance of Aedes aegypti in the Phoenix Metropolitan area raises concern within the Arizona Department of Health Services over the potential transmission of dengue in the city. This study develops a model that combines mosquito abundance, micro-climatic and demographic information to delineate regions in Phoenix that are most support transmission of dengue. The first chapter focuses on the impact that daytime high and low temperatures have on Aedes aegypti’s ability to become infectious with dengue. It argues that NDVI (normal difference vegetative index) imaging of the Phoenix area can be used to plot areas where mosquitoes are most likely to become competent vectors. The second chapter focuses on the areas in the city where mosquitoes are most likely to be exposed to the virus. Based on proximity to Phoenix and the high volume of traffic across the Arizona-Mexico border, I treat the Mexican state of Sonora as the source of infection. I combine these two analyses, micro-climatic and demographic, to produce maps of Phoenix that show the locations with the highest likelihood of transmission overall.
ContributorsHughes, Tyler (Author) / Perrings, Charles (Thesis advisor) / Kinzig, Ann (Committee member) / Hall, Sharon J (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2016
Description
Large-scale land acquisition (LaSLA), also called "land grabbing" refers to the buying or leasing of large tracts of land, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) by foreign investors to produce food and biofuel to send back home. Since 2007, LaSLA has become an important development issue due to the opportunities and threats for SSA countries. LaSLA has the potential to create local jobs, transfer technology, build infrastructure, and modernize SSA's agriculture. Nonetheless, it can also aggravate food insecurity, perpetuate corruption, degrade ecosystems, cause conflicts, and displace local communities. What drives LaSLA, what are its impacts on local people, and under what circumstances can we consider it as just and ethical?
To examine what drives LaSLA, I used country level data from 2005 to 2013 on economic conditions, natural resources, business practices, and governance to estimate LaSLA models. I find that LaSLA increases with increasing government effectiveness, land prices, and the ease of doing business, and decreases with stronger regulatory regimes. To assess LaSLA's impacts on local people, I conducted a comparative case study in Tanzania. I compare changes in peoples' livelihood between treatment villages (those experiencing LaSLA) and control villages (those without LaSLA projects). The results show that under current practices, the risks of LaSLA outweigh the benefits to local livelihoods, yet there are potential benefits if LaSLA is implemented correctly.
To philosophically examine whether LaSLA can be considered just and ethical, I apply John Rawls' theory of justice. The analysis indicates that from both procedural and distributive justice perspective, LaSLA currently fails to satisfy Rawlsian principles of justice. From these analyses, I conclude that if implemented correctly, LaSLA can produce a win-win outcome for both investors and host countries. I suggest that strong governance, rigorous environmental and social impact assessment, and inclusion of local people at all levels of LaSLA decision making are critical for sustainable and equitable outcomes.
To examine what drives LaSLA, I used country level data from 2005 to 2013 on economic conditions, natural resources, business practices, and governance to estimate LaSLA models. I find that LaSLA increases with increasing government effectiveness, land prices, and the ease of doing business, and decreases with stronger regulatory regimes. To assess LaSLA's impacts on local people, I conducted a comparative case study in Tanzania. I compare changes in peoples' livelihood between treatment villages (those experiencing LaSLA) and control villages (those without LaSLA projects). The results show that under current practices, the risks of LaSLA outweigh the benefits to local livelihoods, yet there are potential benefits if LaSLA is implemented correctly.
To philosophically examine whether LaSLA can be considered just and ethical, I apply John Rawls' theory of justice. The analysis indicates that from both procedural and distributive justice perspective, LaSLA currently fails to satisfy Rawlsian principles of justice. From these analyses, I conclude that if implemented correctly, LaSLA can produce a win-win outcome for both investors and host countries. I suggest that strong governance, rigorous environmental and social impact assessment, and inclusion of local people at all levels of LaSLA decision making are critical for sustainable and equitable outcomes.
ContributorsNkansah-Dwamena, Ernest (Author) / Kinzig, Ann (Thesis advisor) / Minteer, Ben (Committee member) / Perrings, Charles (Committee member) / Gabagambi, Damian (Committee member) / Aggarwal, Rimjhim (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2017
Description
More than 90 million Americans suffer from low health literacy levels that can lead to detrimental health practices. One of the greatest issues stemming from low health literacy is the misuse of medication, which results in 125,000 deaths per year and close to $200 billion dollars in health care funds (Ngoh 2009). With their implementation into neighborhood settings and consequently the everyday lives of individuals, pharmacies show potential in being great assets towards increasing health literacy on an individual and societal level. However, pharmacists must first be made aware of the opportunities and challenges that exist concerning this effort. Through a three step literature review and corresponding comparative analysis, the results of this study show that pharmacists should focus on four main areas: overall assessment of health literacy in a pharmacy setting, individualization and tailoring of health/ medication plans, development of verbal and written communication tools, and the pharmacist-patient relationship. Each area presents a set of opportunities and challenges that must be accounted for in order to design more effective initiatives and tools in the pharmacists' aim to increase health literacy.
ContributorsMergens, Rianna Lynn (Author) / Robert, Jason Scott (Thesis director) / Maienschein, Jane (Committee member) / Kinzig, Ann (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor)
Created2013-05
Description
Smoke exposure in preterm infants can cause adverse health outcomes in these children. Preterm infants exposed to tobacco smoke have an increased risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and metabolic syndrome, asthma, respiratory infections, ear infections and decreased cognitive function compared to healthy infants (Wilson 2011, Blizzard 2003, Bock 2008, Hutchison 1998). A smoking cessation program for parents of pre-term infants at Aultman Hospital in Canton, Ohio was designed to help parents of pre-term infants cease smoking behavior. The outcomes of this program were intended to be the topic of my honors thesis; however, lack of participation in the program shifted my research focus to designing a program, based on a review of "best practices" in the literature, that might increase participation. Among those parents who were asked to participate (N=56), being of low socioeconomic status correlated highest with smoking behavior . Through a literature review, I determined that the best practices to enhance participation for this group would be to include motivational interviewing, the phone number to a toll free quit line, and alternate smoking resources (pamphlets, alternative DVD's) for these Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) parents at Aultman. By the parent's participation in the Aultman smoking cessation program, long-term health outcomes of their newborns may improve by reducing their exposure to tobacco smoke. These children may grow up in an environment with less smoke exposure, which may decrease their risk of disease (Bock 2008).
ContributorsLach, Laura Elizabeth (Author) / Kinzig, Ann (Thesis director) / Oswalt, Krista (Committee member) / Mossman, Kenneth (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor) / School of Human Evolution and Social Change (Contributor)
Created2013-05
Description
The value of “diversity” in social and ecological systems is frequently asserted in academic and policy literature. Diversity is thought to enhance the resilience of social-ecological systems to varied and potentially uncertain future conditions. Yet there are trade-offs; diversity in ecological and social domains has costs as well as benefits. In this paper, we examine social diversity, specifically its costs and benefits in terms of decision making in middle range or tribal societies, using archaeological evidence spanning seven centuries from four regions of the U.S. Southwest. In these nonstate societies, social diversity may detract from the capacity for collective action. We ask whether as population density increases, making collective action increasingly difficult, social diversity declines. Further, we trace the cases of low diversity and high population density across our long-temporal sequences to see how they associate with the most dramatic transformations. This latter analysis is inspired by the claim in resilience literature that reduction of diversity may contribute to reduction in resilience to varied conditions. Using archaeological data, we examine social diversity and conformity through the material culture (pottery styles) of past societies. Our research contributes to an enhanced understanding of how population density may limit social diversity and suggests the role that this association may play in some contexts of dramatic social transformation.
ContributorsNelson, Margaret (Author) / Hegmon, Michelle (Author) / Kulow, Stephanie (Author) / Peeples, Matthew (Author) / Kintigh, Keith (Author) / Kinzig, Ann (Author) / College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (Contributor)
Created2011
Description
Advanced technology has increased access to Antarctica; consequently, there has been an increase in research and tourism. The production of the new technology and the increased number of individuals visiting can increase the presence of persistent organic pollutants and microplastic within Antarctic soil. Studies have focused primarily on identifying these pollutants in high human impact areas with perhaps an assumption that low human impact areas would have lower concentrations of pollutants. The object of this paper, therefore, was to test the hypothesis that higher concentrations of persistent organic pollutants and microplastic are found in soils collected near research stations and tourist areas, as opposed to sites that are further from stations and have less direct human impact. Soil samples were collected along a 1,500 km transect of the Scotia Arch and Antarctic Peninsula from three high human impact sites and three low human impact sites to compare the concentration of contaminates identified within the soil. The presence and quantities of microplastic were identified using Nile Red and fluorescence microscopy, while gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to detect polychlorinated biphenyls, pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, n-alkane, and phthalates. Although varying contaminate concentration levels were found at all six sights, counter to the hypothesis, there were no clear patterns of increasing pollutants with increasing human activities. These findings could imply that global sources of pollutants can increase local pollutants indicating the best way to solve any pollution problem is through a global lens.
ContributorsCarroll, Kenneth Charles (Author) / Polidoro, Beth (Thesis advisor) / Kinzig, Ann (Thesis advisor) / Ball, Becky (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2022
Description
Prior to the COVID-19 global pandemic, ecotourism represented the tourism industry’s fastest growing segment with projections estimating that ecotourism would become the world’s largest tourism type by 2030. While the tourism industry will need several years to rebound, if historic trends tell us anything, it is that ecotourism will continue to represent a large portion of the overall industry and will continue to grow at a rate that outpaces all other tourism types. In theory, ecotourism promotes sustainable socioeconomic development while also minimizing negative environmental impacts. Unfortunately, research suggests that this is not always true, and many examples exist of ecotourism causing more harm than good. In order to combat these potential negative impacts, the ecotourism industry has become increasingly reliant on ecotourism certification programs to act as an assessment tool that identifies ecotourism’s best practitioners while minimizing false advertising present within the industry. Despite these beliefs in the efficacy of certification, there is a lack of empirical research to actually support certification as an effective assessment tool. Furthermore, little research has been conducted that assesses the impacts that certification itself has on ecotourism businesses (both certified and uncertified) and the local communities dependent on ecotourism.
My dissertation employs a mixed methods design and combines qualitative and quantitative research methods spanning multiple geographic scales to develop an understanding of certification programs as they exist today and to discern the impacts that certification itself may cause for all those either directly or indirectly involved in ecotourism. My findings ultimately suggest that certification reform is needed if certification programs are expected to be the assessment tool ecotourism experts claim them to be. Specifically, as certification exists presently, there is: no universal guideline or standard for existing certification programs to follow, a disconnect between the advertised benefits certification offers and the actual benefits received, and a lack of market penetration both amongst ecotourists and ecotourism businesses. Each of these must be addressed before certification can live up to its full potential. Furthermore, I found that certification may impact community socioeconomic dynamics, particularly by creating or exacerbating community wealth distribution.
My dissertation employs a mixed methods design and combines qualitative and quantitative research methods spanning multiple geographic scales to develop an understanding of certification programs as they exist today and to discern the impacts that certification itself may cause for all those either directly or indirectly involved in ecotourism. My findings ultimately suggest that certification reform is needed if certification programs are expected to be the assessment tool ecotourism experts claim them to be. Specifically, as certification exists presently, there is: no universal guideline or standard for existing certification programs to follow, a disconnect between the advertised benefits certification offers and the actual benefits received, and a lack of market penetration both amongst ecotourists and ecotourism businesses. Each of these must be addressed before certification can live up to its full potential. Furthermore, I found that certification may impact community socioeconomic dynamics, particularly by creating or exacerbating community wealth distribution.
ContributorsDavila, Ryan (Author) / Kinzig, Ann (Thesis advisor) / Perrings, Charles (Committee member) / Collins, James (Committee member) / Schoon, Michael (Committee member) / Buzinde, Christine (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2020
Description
This dissertation focuses on water security in terms of sustaining socio-economic development, livelihoods, and human well-being. Using the double exposure framework, I analyze the combined effect of climate change and economic development on water security in the Philippines. There is a need to examine how the combination of these two processes aggravate existing inequalities related to water security among different groups of people, and also analyze how these two processes can combine to increase stakeholders’ vulnerability to water-related shocks and stresses. The Philippines has been rated as one of the countries that is most vulnerable to climate change due to its exposure to extreme climate events and sea level rise. At the same time, the Philippines is currently undergoing an economic transition from a predominantly agricultural country to one where industry and services play a larger role. This dissertation zeroes in on the water security of municipalities in the Philippines, which were sorted into different syndromes based on a combination of their risk to future hydro-climatic changes and economic growth trends. Four syndromes which covered 73% of the population then emerged. By comparing five case study municipalities drawn from these four syndromes, I offer insights into how different combinations of climatic and economic factors can impact water security, and which combination could have the lowest water security in the future. Through analyzing the results of focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews, I also explore the variation of perceptions and collaborative strategies of stakeholders regarding their current and future water security. While each municipality had different climate and economic vulnerabilities, they shared largely similar water security perceptions and used the same strategies.
ContributorsLorenzo, Theresa Marie (Author) / Kinzig, Ann (Thesis advisor) / David, Carlos Primo (Committee member) / Perrings, Charles (Committee member) / Schoon, Michael (Committee member) / Selin, Cynthia (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2021
Description
The proliferation of plastic has created a wicked global sustainability challenge. From the extraction of fossil fuels to end-of-life management and pollution, plastic imposes significant negative impacts to human health, economic well-being, and the environment. One proposed solution is to replace conventional plastic with biomass-based plastics and plastic alternatives (BBPAs), such as paper or bio-based plastics. While these products may have advantageous properties, they require biomass as a feedstock. Given the scale of the plastics problem, this biomass demand may be significant. In my dissertation, I evaluate the magnitude of biomass required, and assess the potential impact of this biomass demand on global land use. After examining the scope and the scale of the problem in chapter one, I evaluate the assumptions that have been made regarding the land-use impacts of BBPAs in chapter two. In chapter three, I use a global land-system model (CLUMondo) to evaluate the potential land-use change of large-scale production of BBPAs. In chapter four, I evaluate how certification schemes could be used as a policy tool to mitigate the land-use impacts of bio-based alternatives. I find that the current studies evaluating the land-use impacts of these products make optimistic and unrealistic assumptions regarding land-use. Using a global model, I show how high production scenarios of BBPAs could induce significant land-use change at the global level. Finally, I demonstrate that reliance on certification schemes would likely be insufficient to prevent negative impacts from this scale of land change. Overall, this dissertation suggests that large-scale replacement of plastic with BBPAs could incur significant land-use impacts. Policies designed to mitigate the impacts of plastic need to account for this impact to land-use, lest they risk substituting one global problem for another.
ContributorsHelm, Levi (Author) / Kinzig, Ann (Thesis advisor) / Dooley, Kevin (Committee member) / Turner II, Billie (Committee member) / Verburg, Peter (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2023