Pollution Reduction
Asynchronous Session
The Role of Physical Constraints on Production and Pollution View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Ratbek Dzhumashev
We account for physical constraints on the production process by linking the real amount (volume) of tangible output to its mass. To do that, we introduce a function that measures the mass of tangible objects (resources, output). Using the mass function, we show that the marginal product of resource inputs smaller than the ratio of the mass density of resource input to that of final goods. The boundedness of this ratio implies that the marginal resource product has an upper bound, and thus, the Inada condition for resources does not hold. This constraint on the marginal product of resource input has profound implications for long-run growth and environmental sustainability. Specifically, this constraint implies that growth of aggregate real output is possible only with greater resource input and increasing pollution.
The Use of Cocoa Shell as Filter Material for an Alternative Wastewater Treatment from Dairy Industries View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Estefanía Avilés
This research considers the use of cocoa shell as a biofilter material applied in the treatment of wastewater from the dairy industry. This is a highly developed industry in Ecuador and the limited availability of industrial wastewater treatment plants in the country due to the costs associated with its implementation and operation. A biofilter was designed using cocoa shell as a bed and important results were obtained in the reduction of organic matter and suspended solids in the treated wastewater. However, the values do not reach those established in the applicable national environmental regulations, so the implementation is suggested in accompaniment with preliminary treatment.
Protection of the Environment from the Negative Effects of Socio-economic Systems View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Jozef Surkovsky
Environmental protection consists in maintaining the dynamics of environmental systems and in the reflex of events existing and shaping human society. Humans represent one of the most important elements of threat and danger to fragile ecological systems. Human confrontation with ecosystems depends on behavior and needs, which in this regard are also shaped by socio-economic aspects. In natural processes, socio-economic aspects presented in society can begin to slow down, stop or completely destroy these processes. There is disruption of favorable conditions for life on the planet and disruption of functional eco-systems. This work focuses on the evaluation of socio-economic aspects, as an element having an impact on the environment. The procedure is based on the model of the concentric zonal structure of the city by E.W. Burges and on the multi-core model of Harris and Ullman, from which the settings for the formation of a healthy and functional eco-environment can be derived. Thus, the sustainability of properly functioning ecosystems can be effectively planned with the help of tools - culture, economy and society. By aligning social needs with the correct setting of socio-economic aspects in a given society, it is possible to shape society's thinking related to the willingness to solve the environmental problems of its surroundings. Properly set socio-economic-cultural programs and ways of socio-economic rewards of a person, success in environmental protection can be achieved.
Unraveling the Specific Effects of Ecological Factors on Spatial Autocorrelation Patterns of Plant Diversity in High Andean Wetlands from Chile's Norte Chico View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Adriana Lozada Piña, Angéline Bertin
Understanding the factors shaping biological communities is crucial for biodiversity conservation and maintaining ecosystem functions. Recent data suggest that decoupling spatial autocorrelation of diversity into its positive and negative components can unveil previously undetected community assembly processes, enhancing our comprehension of their impact on diversity facets. However, previous applications of such approaches had focused on a few assembly drivers and limited diversity components. In this study, we explore how various ecological factors (e.g., wetland connectivity and size, species co-occurrence, and environmental variability) influence spatial autocorrelation patterns in multiple aspects of diversity, including richness, dominance, evenness, and beta-diversity. To achieve this, we analyze plant diversity in 21 high Andean wetlands across a significant aridity gradient. By integrating autocorrelation analyses with partial least squares structural equation modeling, we recognized two groups of community parameters with divergent spatial patterns. The first group demonstrates increased positive spatial autocorrelations in response to environmental variation and wetland connectivity effects; this group included richness and dominance-related parameters. In contrast, the second group, comprising evenness-related parameters, exhibits increased negative spatial autocorrelation driven by species co-occurrence effects. These findings provide new insights into ecological processes influencing species assemblages and clarify the information captured by traditional taxonomic parameters. They offer the potential for targeted conservation and restoration efforts by advocating measures at local or landscape scales.
