32 research outputs found
Novel circular economy business model of high-added value products for energy efficiency: from C&DW to aerogels
Here, we present a novel closed-loop circular economy model of a high-performance building insulation material from silica containing C&DW materials to silica aerogels with λâ0.015 W/mK. In the present model, the benefit comes with the use of massive construction waste to a silica precursor and thereby aerogel production guaranteeing at least 40% product cost reduction and 40% reduction in energy consumption in real construction environment
Assessing road effects on bats: the role of landscape, road features, and bat activity on road-kills
Recent studies suggest that roads can significantly impact bat populations. Though bats are one of the most threatened groups of European vertebrates, studies aiming to quantify bat mortality and determine the main factors driving it remain scarce. Between March 16 and October 31 of 2009, we surveyed road-killed bats daily along a 51-km-long transect that incorporates different types of roads in southern Portugal. We found 154 road-killed bats of 11 species. The two most common species in the study area, Pipistrellus kuhlii and P. pygmaeus, were also the most commonly identified road-kill, representing 72 % of the total specimens collected.
About two-thirds of the total mortality occurred between mid July and late September, peaking in the second half
of August. We also recorded casualties of threatened and rare species, including Miniopterus schreibersii, Rhinolophus
ferrumequinum, R. hipposideros, Barbastella barbastellus, and Nyctalus leisleri. These species were found mostly in early autumn, corresponding to the mating and swarming periods. Landscape features were the most
important variable subset for explaining bat casualties.
Road stretches crossing or in the vicinity of high-quality habitats for batsâincluding dense Mediterranean woodland (ââmontadoââ) areas, water courses with riparian gallery, and water reservoirsâyielded a significantly
higher number of casualties. Additionally, more roadkilled bats were recorded on high-traffic road stretches with viaducts, in areas of higher bat activity and near
known roosts
What story does geographic separation of insular bats tell? A case study on Sardinian Rhinolophids [Correction]
There is an error in the legend of Figure 3. Please see the correct Figure 3 legend here
Exotic fish in exotic plantations: a multi-scale approach to understand amphibian occurrence in the mediterranean region
Globally, amphibian populations are threatened by a diverse range of factors including habitat
destruction and alteration. Forestry practices have been linked with low diversity and
abundance of amphibians. The effect of exotic Eucalyptus spp. plantations on amphibian
communities has been studied in a number of biodiversity hotspots, but little is known of its
impact in the Mediterranean region. Here, we identify the environmental factors influencing
the presence of six species of amphibians (the Caudata Pleurodeles waltl, Salamandra salamandra,
Lissotriton boscai, Triturus marmoratus and the anurans Pelobates cultripes and
Hyla arborea/meridionalis) occupying 88 ponds. The study was conducted in a Mediterranean
landscape dominated by eucalypt plantations alternated with traditional use (agricultural,
montados and native forest) at three different scales: local (pond), intermediate (400
metres radius buffer) and broad (1000 metres radius buffer). Using the Akaike Information
Criterion for small samples (AICc), we selected the top-ranked models for estimating the
probability of occurrence of each species at each spatial scale separately and across all
three spatial scales, using a combination of covariates from the different magnitudes. Models
with a combination of covariates at the different spatial scales had a stronger support
than those at individual scales. The presence of predatory fish in a pond had a strong effect
on Caudata presence. Permanent ponds were selected by Hyla arborea/meridionalis over
temporary ponds. Species occurrence was not increased by a higher density of streams,
but the density of ponds impacted negatively on Lissotriton boscai. The proximity of ponds
occupied by their conspecifics had a positive effect on the occurrence of Lissotriton boscai
and Pleurodeles waltl. Eucalypt plantations had a negative effect on the occurrence of the
newt Lissotriton boscai and anurans Hyla arborea/meridionalis, but had a positive effect on
the presence of Salamandra salamandra, while no effect on any of the other species was detected.
In conclusion, eucalypts had limited effects on the amphibian community at the intermediate
and broad scales, but predatory fish had a major impact when considering all the
scales combined. The over-riding importance of introduced fish as a negative impact suggests that forest managers should prevent new fish introductions and eradicate fish
from already-occupied ponds whenever possible
Habitat selection in sympatric Rhinolophus mehelyi and R. euryale (Chiroptera: Rhinolophidae)
Novel circular economy business model of high-added value products for energy efficiency: from C&DW to aerogels
Since the Industrial Revolution, humanityâs use of natural resources has been basically the same: TAKE, MAKE and THROW AWAY; which consequently led to the indispensable problems of waste materials. Around 461 million tons of Construction & Demolition Waste (C&DW), excluding excavation materials, are yearly generated in EU28. This undoubtedly gives a call to novel closed-loop circular business models which reshape the Eco-system in a way the waste is 'designed out'. Here, we present a novel closed-loop circular economy model of a high-performance building insulation material from silica containing C&DW materials to silica aerogels with λâ0.015 W/mK. In the present model, the benefit comes with the use of massive construction waste to a silica precursor and thereby aerogel production guaranteeing at least 40% product cost reduction and 40% reduction in energy consumption in real construction environment