San Francisco State University

About: San Francisco State University is a education organization based out in San Francisco, California, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Planet. The organization has 5669 authors who have published 11433 publications receiving 408075 citations. The organization is also known as: San Francisco State & San Francisco State Normal School.

Empowering Employee Sustainability: Perceived Organizational Support Toward the Environment

Abstract: This paper contributes to the ongoing discussion of sustainability behaviors by introducing the construct of perceived organizational support toward the environment (POS-E). We propose and empirically test an integrated model whereby we test the association of POS-E with employees’ organizational citizenship behaviors toward the environment (OCB-E) as well as to job attitudes. Results indicated that POS-E was positively related to OCB-E, job satisfaction, organizational identification, and psychological empowerment, and negatively related to turnover intentions. We also found that psychological empowerment partially mediated the relationship between POS-E and the dependent variables. We discuss the theoretical implications as well as practical implications for managers seeking to encourage sustainability in their organizations.

Analysis of the Quiescent Low‐Mass X‐Ray Binary Population in Galactic Globular Clusters

Abstract: Quiescent low-mass X-ray binaries (qLMXBs) containing neutron stars have been identified in several globular clusters using Chandra or XMM X-ray observations, via their distinctive soft thermal spectra. We report a complete census of the qLMXB population in these clusters, identifying three additional probable qLMXBs in NGC 6440. We conduct several analyses of the qLMXB population and compare it with the harder, primarily cataclysmic variable (CV), population of low-luminosity X-ray sources with 1031 ergs s-1 < LX < 1032.5 ergs s-1. The radial distribution of our qLMXB sample suggests an average system mass of 1.5 M☉, consistent with a neutron star and low-mass companion. Spectral analysis reveals that no globular cluster qLMXBs, other than the transient in NGC 6440, require an additional hard power-law component, as often observed in field qLMXBs. We identify an empirical lower luminosity limit of ~1032 ergs s-1 among globular cluster qLMXBs. The bolometric luminosity range of qLMXBs implies (in the deep crustal heating model of Brown and collaborators) low time-averaged mass-transfer rates, below the disk stability criterion. The X-ray luminosity functions of the CV populations alone in NGC 6397 and 47 Tuc are shown to differ. The distribution of qLMXBs among globular clusters is consistent with their dynamical formation by either tidal capture or exchange encounters, allowing us to estimate that 7 times more qLMXBs than bright LMXBs reside in globular clusters. The distribution of harder sources (primarily CVs) has a weaker dependence on density than that of the qLMXBs. Finally, we discuss possible effects of core collapse and globular cluster destruction on X-ray source populations.

Detecting Insect Pollinator Declines on Regional and Global Scales

Abstract: Recently there has been considerable concern about declines in bee communities in agricultural and natural habitats. The value of pollination to agriculture, provided primarily by bees, is >$200 billion/year worldwide, and in natural ecosystems it is thought to be even greater. However, no monitoring program exists to accurately detect declines in abundance of insect pollinators; thus, it is difficult to quantify the status of bee communities or estimate the extent of declines. We used data from 11 multiyear studies of bee communities to devise a program to monitor pollinators at regional, national, or international scales. In these studies, 7 different methods for sampling bees were used and bees were sampled on 3 different continents. We estimated that a monitoring program with 200-250 sampling locations each sampled twice over 5 years would provide sufficient power to detect small (2-5%) annual declines in the number of species and in total abundance and would cost U.S.$2,000,000. To detect declines as small as 1% annually over the same period would require >300 sampling locations. Given the role of pollinators in food security and ecosystem function, we recommend establishment of integrated regional and international monitoring programs to detect changes in pollinator communities.

Biodiversity hotspots and beyond: the need for preserving environmental transitions

Abstract: A great deal of effort and many resources are directed at identifying and conserving regions of high species diversity 1xBiodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities. Myers, N. et al. Nature. 2000; 403: 853–858Crossref | PubMed | Scopus (9363)See all References, 2xBiodiversity, hotspots and defiance. Kitching, R. Trends Ecol. Evol. 2000; 15: 484–485Abstract | Full Text | Full Text PDF | Scopus (8)See all References. Although defining ‘biodiversity hotspots’ helps prioritize areas for conservation, overemphasis on such sites ignores the need for preserving adaptive variation across environments. A more comprehensive approach would be to include regions important to the generation and maintenance of biodiversity, regardless of whether they are ‘species rich’. With climate change threatening large-scale shifts in species distributions and the habitats on which they depend, the hotspots of today are unlikely to be the hotspots of tomorrow. Only by maximizing adaptive variation can one hope to preserve the evolutionary response to changing climate and environmental conditions.The ‘hotspot’ approach to species preservation is risky, particularly when applied at a local scale. Preserving populations in only one pure habitat type, such as central tropical rainforests, is analogous to building an investment portfolio made up of a single stock. Diversifying risk by conserving populations from across diverse habitats will ensure that adaptive variation is maximized. Species are assemblages of populations that are often distributed across a landscape of habitat types and those populations have specific adaptations to regional environmental conditions. Populations are being lost at a much higher rate than are species 3xPopulation diversity: its extent and extinction. Hughes, J.B. et al. Science. 1997; 278: 689–692Crossref | PubMed | Scopus (290)See all References3 and, consequently, the loss of populations in unique habitats could result in the loss of novel adaptations that are necessary to meet future environmental challenges 4xConsidering evolutionary processes in conservation biology. Crandall, K.A. et al. Trends Ecol. Evol. 2000; 15: 290–295Abstract | Full Text | Full Text PDF | PubMed | Scopus (990)See all References4. A strategy is urgently needed that preserves the adaptive diversity represented by the range of populations within a species, thus assuring the maximum potential of that species to respond to future environmental conditions.We believe that one strategy for conserving the maximum amount of adaptive variation is to preserve populations that occur along environmental gradients, thus preserving the full range of populations across habitats, as well as the unique traits of those populations. Adaptive diversity within species is often well represented along environmental gradients or ecotones that represent the transition from one habitat type (e.g. tropical rainforest) to another (e.g. grassland or savanna) 5xEndler, J.A. See all References5. Recent research on a wide range of taxa suggests that environmental gradients are important in diversification and speciation 6xSchluter, D. See all References, 7xEcotone: speciation-prone. Schilthuizen, M. Trends Ecol. Evol. 2000; 15: 130–131Abstract | Full Text | Full Text PDF | PubMed | Scopus (44)See all References, 8xNonrandom mating in Drosophila melanogaster laboratory populations derived from closely adjacent ecologically contrasting slopes at ‘Evolution Canyon’. Korol, A. et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 2000; 97: 12637–12642Crossref | PubMed | Scopus (79)See all References, 9xRapid evolution of reproductive isolation in the wild: evidence from introduced salmon. Hendry, A.P. et al. Science. 2000; 290: 516–518Crossref | PubMed | Scopus (333)See all References.There is little current emphasis on the conservation of ecological gradients. Recent attempts to prioritize conservation areas ignore these regions entirely 1xBiodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities. Myers, N. et al. Nature. 2000; 403: 853–858Crossref | PubMed | Scopus (9363)See all References, 10xThe Global 200: A representation approach to conserving the Earth's most biologically valuable ecoregions. Olson, D.M. and Dinerstein, E. Conserv. Biol. 1998; 12: 502–515CrossrefSee all References. We maintain that a more sound conservation strategy would focus on both hotspots of biodiversity and on associated transitional zones. Given future uncertainty, preserving such areas will maximize the probability of a viable response at the species level to changing climatic conditions. In the absence of extensive data on population variation, we suggest that this diversity is likely to be summarized along environmental gradients. Saving the biota of the Earth will require greater efforts to preserve not only the pattern of biodiversity but also the processes that generate and maintain it. Integrating information on both pattern and process will ensure that the capacity for populations to change with changing environments is preserved.

Preschool inclusion in the United States: a review of research from an ecological systems perspective

Abstract: Using an ecological systems conceptual framework proposed by Bronfenbrenner, research on the inclusion of preschool children with disabilities in programs with typically developing children was reviewed. Drawing mainly from studies conducted in the United States, research on child characteristics (biosystem), classroom practices (microsystem), family perspectives (mesosystem), social policy (exosystem), culture (macrosystem), and changes in variables across time (chronosystem) is described. Positive developmental and behavioral outcomes occur for children with and without disabilities in inclusive settings, although as a group, children with disabilities are not as socially integrated as their typically developing peers. Parent attitudes are generally positive although they voice some concerns about inclusion. Several social policy issues within the U.S. system (e.g., enforcement of standards, fiscal issues) serve as barriers to and facilitators of implementation of preschool inclusion, and cultural variables shape the nature of inclusive classrooms as well as family access to inclusive settings.