No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

Effective assessment of the health risk of cyanobacterial blooms requires an early warning system, which enables rapid detection of species of concern and determination of whether their cell concentrations exceed advisory guidelines. Advanced digital flow cytometry using FlowCam® (Fluid Imaging Technologies) in combination with light microscopy is a solid prospect for tracking cyanobacterial communities in a timely manner. However, implementation of such a method poses several challenges for the user. We first address sample preparation, instrumentation, taxonomic enumeration, and trouble‐shooting to facilitate high throughput of analyses of water samples for total cyanobacterial cell counts and their species composition. Preservation and initial screening of samples using light microscopy to estimate community size structure are endorsed to insure their archival quality and avoid clogging of the flow cell. We show that the highest magnification (×20 objective) is needed to achieve representative total and species‐specific cell enumerations. We also report that total cyanobacterial cell counts for samples analyzed using FlowCam vs. inverted light microscopy show significant positive correlation, as do those for preserved vs. live samples. Quantification of community composition using FlowCam vs. light microscopy also shows strong concordance. Although our FlowCam method performs well in the context of the World Health Organization advisory threshold of a total cyanobacterial count of 100,000 cells mL−1, it remains a work in progress in terms of reliably automated species‐level identifications.

Forests are sensitive to the effects of climate change and play a significant role in carbon cycles. This duality has important implications for forest management in terms of requirements for enhanced and integrated adaptation and mitigation interventions. Two ideal conceptual level changes could provide the means for implementation. First, the incorporation of climate change considerations into definitions of sustainable forest management (SFM) would provide mandates for enhanced approaches. Second, the mainstreaming of enhanced SFM would facilitate implementation. There are, however, factors that may impede implementation. Identifying and evaluating these factors informs our understanding of requirements for adaptation and mitigation mainstreaming. This study reviews, organizes, and interprets the literature for the purposes of identifying and evaluating potential impediments. Harmonization barriers pertain to differences between adaptation and mitigation in pre-existing frames and beliefs. Enabling barriers are psychological and institutional in nature. Implementation barriers include capacity deficits (e.g., funding limits, science and knowledge deficits regarding benefits, trade-offs, and synergies between adaptation and mitigation) and governance issues. Barriers are interrelated, dynamic, and subjective. Addressing barriers requires a holistic approach that recognizes the complex and dynamic nature of forest management policy change processes.

This paper uses survey information to examine several common assertions about the institutional prerequisites for successful profitability when a First Nation enters an economic enterprise either independently or in joint effort with an outside firm. In the winter of 2004–2005, we interviewed managers on both the First Nations and private sides of joint ventures and other business alliances in Canada, to determine what affected their recent profitability experience. We gathered information on the ages, sizes, and activities of the firms. We also gathered information about the firms’ management structures and relationship with the First Nation, and the characteristics of the government of the First Nation. With a sample size of 40 firms that responded, we found that several institutional characteristics affected profit positively: strong separation of management from band governance, participation in management planning, and the use of staggered terms in band council elections. We found that the likelihood of profitability decreased if the band had been in third party management as well as if there was formal participation of elders or hereditary chiefs in decision making. We offer interpretations of these results.

Two important questions are addressed: has the time come to rethink Canada's forest tenure systems; and, if so, what directions might these reforms take? The evolution of Canada's Crown forest tenure systems are described and their role as instruments of public policy are discussed in the context of changing demands on, and attitudes towards, forest resources. The desirable features of a tenure system designed to pursue sustainable forest management (SFM) are presented and current provincial Crown forest tenure arrangements are critically examined in the light of these criteria. A range of alternative approaches to tenure reform are suggested but no definitive recommendations are made.Key words: public forest policy; forest tenure reform, sustainable forest management RÉSUMÉ Deux questions fondamentales sont posées: est-ce qu'il est temps de réviser les systèmes de tenure forestière du Canada et, si tel est le cas, quelles devraient être les directions que ces réformes pourraient prendre? L'évolution des systèmes de tenure forestière des terres publiques du Canada fait l'objet d'une description et leur rôle en tant qu'instruments des politiques publiques est discuté dans un contexte d'exigences changeantes ainsi que d'attitudes diverses envers les ressources forestières. Les caractéristiques désirées d'un système de tenure conçu pour maintenir l'aménagement forestier durable sont présentées et les accommodements actuels effectués sur la tenure des terres forestières publiques provinciales sont étudiés de façon critique à la lumière de ces caractéristiques. Une série d'approches alternatives à la réforme des tenures est suggérée mais aucune recommandation définitive n'est présentée.