Author
Louis F. Cassar
Bio: Louis F. Cassar is an academic researcher from University of Malta. The author has contributed to research in topics: Biology & Maltese. The author has an hindex of 11, co-authored 25 publications receiving 839 citations.
Topics: Biology, Maltese, Population, Taxon, Sand dune stabilization
Papers
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University of Copenhagen1, Humboldt University of Berlin2, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology3, Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt4, VU University Amsterdam5, Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts6, Ghent University7, Norwegian University of Science and Technology8, University of Eastern Finland9, Aix-Marseille University10, University of Edinburgh11, University of Luxembourg12, University of Malta13, Charles University in Prague14, Technical University of Madrid15, Slovak Academy of Sciences16, Stockholm University17, Jagiellonian University18, University of West Hungary19, University of Tartu20, University of Latvia21, Wageningen University and Research Centre22, Spanish National Research Council23, University of the Aegean24, University of Bucharest25, University of Potsdam26, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research27, University of Tirana28
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined the evolution of European land management over the past 200 years with the aim of identifying key episodes of changes in land management, and their underlying technological, institutional and economic drivers.
233 citations
01 Jan 2015
229 citations
Lund University1, Polytechnic University of Catalonia2, Autonomous University of Barcelona3, Spanish National Research Council4, University of York5, University of Helsinki6, Trinity College, Dublin7, University of Greenwich8, Rothamsted Research9, Natural Environment Research Council10, University of Exeter11
TL;DR: It is shown that many long-distance migrants take advantage of favourable winds, moving downwind at high elevation, pointing at strong similarities in the flight strategies used by V. cardui and other migrant Lepidoptera.
Abstract: Long-range, seasonal migration is a widespread phenomenon among insects, allowing them to track and exploit abundant but ephemeral resources over vast geographical areas. However, the basic patterns of how species shift across multiple locations and seasons are unknown in most cases, even though migrant species comprise an important component of the temperate-zone biota. The painted lady butterfly Vanessa cardui is such an example; a cosmopolitan continuously-brooded species which migrates each year between Africa and Europe, sometimes in enormous numbers. The migration of 2009 was one of the most impressive recorded, and thousands of observations were collected through citizen science programmes and systematic entomological surveys, such as high altitude insect-monitoring radar and ground-based butterfly monitoring schemes. Here we use V. cardui as a model species to better understand insect migration in the Western Palaearctic, and we capitalise on the complementary data sources available for this iconic butterfly. The migratory cycle in this species involves six generations, encompassing a latitudinal shift of thousands of kilometres (up to 60 degrees of latitude). The cycle comprises an annual poleward advance of the populations in spring followed by an equatorward return movement in autumn, with returning individuals potentially flying thousands of kilometres. We show that many long-distance migrants take advantage of favourable winds, moving downwind at high elevation (from some tens of metres from the ground to altitudes over 1000 m), pointing at strong similarities in the flight strategies used by V. cardui and other migrant Lepidoptera. Our results reveal the highly successful strategy that has evolved in these insects, and provide a useful framework for a better understanding of long-distance seasonal migration in the temperate regions worldwide.
146 citations
TL;DR: Expectations of the participation process, the extent to which practices meet expectations, and ways in which participation practices could be rendered more effective are identified, as well as wider insights into processes of assessment and evaluation.
Abstract: Conrad, E., Cassar, L. F., Christie, M., Fazey, I. (2011). Hearing but not listening? A participatory assessment of public participation in planning.Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, 29 (5), 761-782
83 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors consider the challenge of decoupling economic growth from environmental degradation; in contrast to several large-scale cross-country analyses that focus on limited indicators of environmental degradation, they analyze in some depth the experience of a single small-scale island state setting.
Abstract: This paper considers the challenge of decoupling economic growth from environmental degradation; in contrast to several large-scale cross-country analyses that focus on limited indicators of environmental degradation, we analyze in some depth the experience of a single small-scale island state setting (Malta). We use available statistical data to derive decoupling factors, in order to consider the extent to which decoupling has been achieved in four sectors: (i) energy intensity, climate change, and air quality; (ii) water; (iii) waste; and (iv) land. Results indicate relative decoupling between economic growth and several indicators considered, and to a lesser extent, relative decoupling between population growth and the same indicators of environmental pressure. Absolute decoupling has been achieved in at least one instance but there has been no decoupling of land development from either economic or population growth. Land use and population thus appear to be notable sources of pressure. The results suggest that decoupling analyses that present environmental degradation in terms of single variables (e.g., carbon emissions) may misrepresent somewhat the state of the environment at local level. Furthermore, the study highlights the need for methodologies that factor in the “embedding” of small-scale settings within much larger trade networks, for a more accurate estimation of environmental impact, and points to some limitations of solely quantitative analyses of environment-ecology relationships.
74 citations
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TL;DR: In this paper, a Soft Systems Methodology in Action is presented, with a focus on the soft systems methodology in action, and a discussion of its application in soft systems.
Abstract: (1991). Soft Systems Methodology in Action. European Journal of Information Systems: Vol. 1, No. 3, pp. 215-216.
1,011 citations
TL;DR: Today’s low rates of marine extinction may be the prelude to a major extinction pulse, similar to that observed on land during the industrial revolution, as the footprint of human ocean use widens.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Comparing patterns of ter- restrial and marine defaunation helps to place human impacts on marine fauna in context and to navigate toward recovery. De- faunation began in ear- nest tens of thousands of years later in the oceans than it did on land. Al- though defaunation has been less severe in the oceans than on land, our effects on marine animals are increasing in pace and impact. Humans have caused few complete extinctions in the sea, but we are responsible for many ecological, commercial, and local extinctions. Despite our late start, humans have already powerfully changed virtually all major marine ecosystems. ADVANCES: Humans have profoundly de- creased the abundance of both large (e.g., whales) and small (e.g., anchovies) marine fauna. Such declines can generate waves of ecological change that travel both up and down marine food webs and can alter ocean ecosystem functioning. Human harvesters have also been a major force of evolutionary change in the oceans and have reshaped the genetic structure of marine animal popula- tions. Climate change threatens toaccelerate marine defaunation over the next century. The high mobility of many marine animals offers some increased, though limited, ca- pacity for marine species to respond to cli- mate stress, but it also exposes many species to increased risk from other stressors. Be- cause humans are intensely reliant on ocean ecosystems for food and other ecosystem ser- vices, we are deeply affected by all of these forecasted changes. Three lessons emerge when comparing the marine and terrestrial defaunation ex-
898 citations
Journal Article•
832 citations
13 May 2011
TL;DR: Decoupling natural resource use and environmental impacts from economic growth is discussed in this article, where Fischer-Kowalski et al. present a report of the Working Group on Decoupling to the International Resource Panel.
Abstract: Decoupling natural resource use and environmental impacts from economic growth. A Report of the Working Group on Decoupling to the International Resource Panel / Fischer-Kowalski, M., Swilling, M., von Weizsacker, E.U., Ren, Y., Moriguchi, Y., Crane, W., Krausmann, F., Eisenmenger, N., Giljum, S., Hennicke, P., Romero Lankao, P., Siriban Manalang, A. UNEP, 2011, 174 p., ISBN: 978-92-807-3167-5 http://www.unep.org/resourcepanel/decoupling/files/pdf/Decoupling_Report_English.pdf Voir ci-dessous...
382 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigate the effect of digitalization on energy consumption using an analytical model, and investigate four effects: (1) direct effects from the production, usage and disposal of information and communication technologies (ICT), (2) energy efficiency increases from digitalization, (3) economic growth from increases in labor and energy productivities and (4) sectoral change/tertiarization from the rise of ICT services.
360 citations