Competence-based and game-based capacity development for sustainable water management in Germany     

Hani Sewilam  Heribert Nacken  Roman Breuer  Christiane Pyka 《Environmental Earth Sciences》2017,76(3):131

Sustainable water management is one of humanity’s most important challenges—today and in the future. Germany does not face a significant water shortage problem, but it has three main challenges: protection of water quality, ensuring public water supply and public wastewater disposal, and protecting the public and infrastructure from floods. Capacity development is a key issue to overcome the challenges of water resources in any country including Germany. Engineers, technicians, and mechanics need to upgrade their knowledge on a regular basis to deal with the complex management and rapid technological developments. In order to create efficient training schemes, the Vocational Training Working Group of Global Water Partnership (GWP), part of the GWP Capacity Development Task Force, has worked on the definition of fundamental job profiles for the Water and Sanitation Sector (WASS). To cover all technical functions of the industrial water cycle, it was necessary to identify around thirty occupations. Then, a competence-based training approach was adopted. Additionally, an assessment approach was also developed based on comparing the level of competence of the workers to a standard level of competence for each job. The RWTH Aachen University with its partners have developed another game-based approach (SeCom2.0) based on serious gaming technology to enable water professionals dealing with flood risk management to be trained on different flood situations in a virtual environment. SeCom2.0 has three main components that are connected by a database layer. In addition to the serious games component, there is a collaboration component and a learning management system. For nearly 100 members from the flood competence centre (HochwasserKompetenzCentrum) in Cologne, Germany gave input to simulate the real flooding scenarios, and the learners will have to deal with a flood scenario by protecting the city in a given time and using a given resources and tools. This work concluded that both competence-based and game-based approaches could be significantly improved by blending both approaches. This will improve the process of training; for example, the competence-based approach can be enriched by using game-based simulation by introducing the trainees to a simulation of different technologies in water utilities. This can save resources and money and enrich the training. More importantly is modifying the game-based approach using the approach of competence-based to focus on specific competencies and to make use of the competence standards in its assessment component. The first section of this introduces and categorizes water challenges in Germany. In the second and third section, the two approaches are introduced in details. The competence-based approach is introduced to the WASS while the games-based to the flood risk management. Finally, a conclusion and recommendations are illustrated.  相似文献   

Response of macrobenthic communities to restoration efforts in a New England estuary     

Roman N. Zajac  Robert B. Whitlatch 《Estuaries and Coasts》2001,24(2):167-183

Changes in macrobenthic communities were studied over a 3.5 yr period following restoration activities in Alewife Cove, a small estuary located in southeastern Connecticut, U.S. Development around this estuary had resulted in reduced freshwater and tidal inflows, loss of critical habitats such as salt marshes, and eutrophication. Early in 1988 the lower reach of the estuary was dredged to increase tidal flushing and enhance environmental quality. Following dredging, tidal range within the Cove increased from 52 to 83 cm. Due to erosion within the Cove's lower channel and sediment migration into the Cove, tidal flows and ranges approached pre-dredge levels by 1991. Despite these changes, the percentage of silt/clay in the surface sediments in the middle and upper basins of the Cove declined by 30–45% over the study period. Changes in infaunal community structure in the lower reach following dredging were not great, primarily comprising shifts in the relative abundances of species typical of sandier versus muddier sediments. Directional changes in community structure were most evident in the middle and upper basins, away from the dredged area. Infaunal species richness increased significantly, with many species previously found only in the sand habitats of the lower reach establishing populations in the middle and upper basins. There was a significant decrease in the summer abundances of the pollution indicator polychaeteCapitella capitata throughout much of the middle and upper basins. Restoration efforts in Alewife Cove centering on altered bydrology resulted in selected positive changes. Increases in tidal flow altered environmental conditons in the middle and upper basins where shifts in infaunal community structure indicated decreases in organic loading of sediments over 2–3 yr. Continued changes in the physical dynamics of the lower reach reduced tidal flow, arresting the positive ecological changes that were beginning to occur. This type of restoration approach of small estuaries can have positive results, but there may be a lag in the ecological response of the system. Macrobenthic communities, in particular summer abundance patterns of selected species, provided an integrated assessment of ecological changes in the Cove.  相似文献   

Effects of Short‐term and Long‐term Aluminium Stress on Photosynthesis,Respiration, and Reproductive Capacity in a Unicellular Green Flagellate (Euglena gracilis)     

Roman A. Danilov  Nils G. A. Ekelund 《洁净——土壤、空气、水》2002,30(4):190-196

Effects of short‐term (1 h exposure) and long‐term (7 d exposure) aluminium stress on photosynthesis and reproductive capacity have been studied in Euglena gracilis strain Z. Following concentrations of Al_tot (added as AlCl₃) were tested: 0.5 mg L^‐1, 1.0 mg L^‐1, 1.5 mg L^‐1, 2.5 mg L^‐1, 5.0 mg L^‐1, 7.5 mg L^‐1, 10.0 mg L^‐1, and 15.0 mg L^‐1 Al, respectively. Growth rates at different aluminium concentrations did not show significant differences, except at 15.0 mg L^‐1Al. Initial respiration was higher in long‐term than in the short‐term experiments. It is supposed that an energy‐dependent mechanism of excretion of aluminium ions has been active in the stressed cells. Consequently, the cells of E. gracilis after long‐term exposure to aluminium are believed to be more acclimatised to the aluminium stress. Photosynthetic efficiency (PE) has been negatively affected by aluminium in all experiments performed. Differences between control algae and those treated with aluminium were significant in all cases. PE in long‐term experiments was in general significantly higher at all concentrations of aluminium studied, compared to the short‐term experiments. The aluminium concentrations tested led only to a general decrease in PE while the level of decrease was not especially concentration‐dependent. In general, aluminium tolerance of E. gracilis can be estimated as low, especially by short‐term exposure. However, good acclimatisation capacity of this green flagellate to aluminium doses by long‐term exposure can be supposed.  相似文献   

Magnetic interaction analysis of basaltic samples and pre-selection for absolute palaeointensity measurements     

Florian Wehland  Roman Leonhardt  Fabienne Vadeboin  Erwin Appel 《Geophysical Journal International》2005,162(2):315-320

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Zur Charakterisierung von Aktivkohlen durch die Zersetzung von Wasserstoffperoxid     

K.-H. Radeke  S. Jonas  P. Spitzer  R. Jung  S. Neffe 《洁净——土壤、空气、水》1989,17(3):315-319

In search for a suitable and fast analytical method for assessing kinds of activated carbon for water purification there were carried out investigations with hydrogen peroxide. According to their catalytic activity, the various kinds of activated carbon are capable of decomposing hydrogen peroxide to different degrees and at different rates. The released oxygen can be determined volumetrically. The results of investigation obtained on always fresh carbon samples with acid and basic groups were discussed on the basis of the velocity constants of the oxygen development. An assessment of quality would be possible, in principle, but the surface characteristic of the kinds of carbon is considerably superimposed by influences of morphology, so that applying this method is advised against.  相似文献   

Composition,abundance, biomass,and production of macrofauna in a New England estuary: Comparisons among eelgrass meadows and other nursery habitats   总被引：2，自引：0，他引：2  

K. L. Heck  K. W. Able  C. T. Roman  M. P. Fahay 《Estuaries and Coasts》1995,18(2):379-389

Quantitative suction sampling was used to characterize and compare the species composition, abundance, biomass, and secondary production of macrofauna inhabiting intertidal mud-flat and sand-flat, eelgrass meadow, and salt-marsh-pool habitats in the Nauset Marsh complex, Cape Cod, Massachusetts (USA). Species richness and abundance were often greatest in eelgrass habitat, as was macroinvertebrate biomass and production. Most striking was the five to fifteen times greater rate of annual macrofaunal production in eelgrass habitat than elsewhere, with values ranging from approximately 23–139 g AFDW m² yr^?1. The marsh pool containing widgeon grass (Ruppia maritima) supported surprisingly low numbers of macroinvertebrates, probably due to stressfully low dissolved oxygen levels at night during the summer. Two species of macroinvertebrates, blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) and to a lesser extent bay scallops (Argopecten irradians), used eelgrass as “nursery habitat.” Calculations showed that macroinvertebrate production is proportionally much greater than the amount of primary production attributable to eelgrass in the Nauset Marsh system, and that dramatic changes at all trophic levels could be expected if large changes in seagrass abundance should occur. This work further underscores the extraordinarily large impact that seagrass can have on both the structure and function of estuarine ecosystems. *** DIRECT SUPPORT *** A01BY070 00006  相似文献   

Estimating water volume discharge through salt-marsh tidal channels: An aspect of material exchange     

Charles T. Roman 《Estuaries and Coasts》1984,7(3):259-264

Water volume discharge estimates were made at a sample cross-section of the Canary Creek salt marsh (Lewes, Delaware). To account for cross-sectional velocity variations, a dense spatial array of current meters was used. Simultaneous measurements were taken at hourly intervals over three complete tidal cycles. A practical method is presented whereby instantaneous average cross-sectional velocity, instantaneous cross-sectional discharge and tidal cycle discharge can be estimated from a dense current meter array, orideal data set. Based on theseideal estimates, it is shown that a simplified spatial array can be used to estimate water discharges within acceptable error limits. Instantaneous cross-sectional discharges and total tidal cycle discharges were estimated with uncertainties of ±11% and ±7%, respectively. To minimize errors when estimating material exchange between salt marshes and adjacent waters, it is suggested that a comprehensive assessment of cross-sectional lateral current velocity variations be conducted.  相似文献   

Regional scale climate forcing of mesozooplankton dynamics in Chesapeake Bay     

David G. Kimmel  W. David Miller  Michael R. Roman 《Estuaries and Coasts》2006,29(3):375-387

A 16-yr (1985–2000) time series of calanoid copepod (Acartia tonsa andEurytemora affinis) abundance in the upper Chesapeake Bay was examined for links to winter weather variability. A synthesis of sea level pressure data revealed ten dominant, winter weather patterns. Weather patterns differed in frequency of occurrence as well as associated precipitation and temperature. The two dominant copepod species responded differently to winter weather variability.A. tonsa abundance showed little response to winter weather and did not vary in abundance during wet or dry springs.E affinis responded strongly to winter weather patterns that produced springs with high freshwater discharge and low salinities. During wet springs,E. affinis abundance increased overall and its area of dominance extended further down estuary. The different response of the two species is likely related to several factors including residence time, development time, salinity tolerance, food limitation, and life history strategy. Important fish species that rely on zo oplankton as food resources were also related to winter weather variability and spring zooplankton abundance.Morone saxatilis (striped bass) andAnchoa mitchilli (bay anchovy) juvenile indices were positively and negatively correlated toE. affinis abundance, respectively. *** DIRECT SUPPORT *** A02BY003 00004  相似文献   

Heavy metals in sediments as evidence for recent pollution and quasi-estuarine processes: an example from Lake Druzno,Poland   总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1  

Wojciech Tylmann  Roman Gołębiewski  Piotr Paweł Woźniak  Karolina Czarnecka 《Environmental Geology》2007,53(1):35-46

This article presents the results of a geochemical investigation of sediments from Lake Druzno (northern Poland), a reservoir fed by freshwater from the catchment, with periodic input of brackish water from Vistula Lagoon. This study analyzed the spatial variation in heavy metal content in surface sediments as well as the temporal changes in metal content in two sediment cores dated using the ²¹⁰Pb method. In the surface sediments, the highest metal concentrations were recorded in the northern part of the lake, with lower concentrations in the central and southern parts. Absolute values of metal concentrations in the cores were low, but normalization with respect to Al showed an increase during the second half of the 20th century. Mean enrichment factors (EF) in sediments from the second half of the 20th century ranged from insignificant (1–1.2) for Fe to (1.55–3.3) for Cu, Cd, Pb and Zn. The sediments deposited before 1950 had lower EF values (>1.5) and had low variability. Results from both the surface sediments and the cores indicate that the main source of lake pollution is brackish water intrusion from the Vistula Lagoon via the contaminated River Elbląg.  相似文献   

Seventy Years of Deep Structure Studies in Russia (main results & progress)     

Oleg V. Petrov  Sergey N. Kashubin  Evgeniia D. Milshtein  Roman B Serzhantov  Alexander V. Lipilin  Yuriy M. Erinchek  Ilia Yu. Vinokurov 《《地质学报》英文版》2018,92(Z1):20-21

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