Dataset Information

Investigating Visual Aesthetic Fatigue in Urban Green Spaces.

ABSTRACT: Life experience suggests that visual aesthetic fatigue (VAF) is quite common. However, few academic works have focussed on VAF in landscapes, thus our understanding of this issue is very poor, not to mention what measures can be taken to mitigate it. To address these gaps, this study investigated VAF using 16 photographs taken in urban green spaces in Xuzhou (local landscapes) and Hong Kong (non-local landscapes) as stimuli. The visual aesthetic quality (VAQ) of 16 photographs was evaluated four times by the same college students at an interval of one week. Statistical analysis demonstrated that VAF occurred in urban green spaces. Male respondents had a higher VAF than females. There were no significant differences in VAQ and VAF between local and non-local landscapes. No landscape characteristic significantly correlated to or predicted VAF, implying that it is very difficult to mitigate VAF through designing and managing static landscapes.

Supplementary information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s41742-023-00517-x.

SUBMITTER: Xu W

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9985087 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Investigating Visual Aesthetic Fatigue in Urban Green Spaces.

Xu Wenyan W Zhao Jingwei J

International journal of environmental research 20230304 2

Life experience suggests that visual aesthetic fatigue (VAF) is quite common. However, few academic works have focussed on VAF in landscapes, thus our understanding of this issue is very poor, not to mention what measures can be taken to mitigate it. To address these gaps, this study investigated VAF using 16 photographs taken in urban green spaces in Xuzhou (local landscapes) and Hong Kong (non-local landscapes) as stimuli. The visual aesthetic quality (VAQ) of 16 photographs was evaluated four ...[more]

PMID: 36911287

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Project description:BackgroundUrban green spaces are important for human health, but they may expose visitors to tick-borne diseases. This not only presents a potential public health challenge but also undermines the expected public health gains from urban green spaces. The aim of this study is to assess the public health risk of tick-borne diseases in an urban green space used for recreation in Stockholm, Sweden.MethodsWe used a mixed method approach identifying both the magnitude of the tick hazard and the extent of the human exposure to tick-borne diseases. At six entry points to an urban green space, we sampled ticks and documented microhabitat conditions from five randomly assigned 2 m × 2 m plots. Surrounding habitat data was analyzed using geographical information system (GIS). Nymphs and adult ticks were tested for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and Anaplasma phagocytophilum using TaqMan qPCR. Positive B. burgdorferi (s.l.) ticks were further analyzed by nested PCR amplification and sequence analysis. Population census data and visitor count data were used to estimate the degree of human exposure to tick-borne diseases. To further understand the degree to which visitors get in contact with infected ticks we also conducted interviews with visitors to green spaces.ResultsHigh tick densities were commonly found in humid broadleaved forest with low field vegetation. High pathogen prevalence was significantly correlated with increasing proportions of artificial areas. Integrating the tick hazard with human exposure we found that the public health risk of tick-borne diseases was moderate to high at most of the studied entry points. Many of the visitors frequently used urban green spaces. Walking was the most common activity, but visitors also engaged in activities with higher risk for tick encounters. Individual protective measures were connected to specific recreational activities such as picking berries or mushrooms.ConclusionsThe number of visitors can be combined with tick inventory data and molecular analyses of pathogen prevalence to make crude estimations of the public health risk of tick-borne diseases in urban green spaces. The risk of encountering infected ticks is omnipresent during recreational activities in urban green spaces, highlighting the need for public health campaigns to reduce the risk of tick-borne diseases.

Project description:BackgroundMosquitoes inhabiting urban green spaces and cemeteries in Europe represent a crucial facet of public health concern and contribute to the ecological balance. As urbanization intensifies, these areas increasingly serve as vital habitats for various mosquito species, fostering breeding grounds and increasing the risk of disease transmission.MethodsA study was conducted in the three main cities (inland, coastal, and estuarine) of the Basque Country, northern Spain, to investigate the species composition, abundance, dynamic populations, larval habitats, and host preferences of mosquitoes in urban green spaces and cemeteries. CDC traps and dipping were used to collect mosquitoes for 2 years (2019-2020).ResultsA total of 21 mosquito species were identified, with Culex pipiens s.l. being the most abundant and widespread. The three ecological forms of Cx. pipiens were found, and Cx. pipiens pipiens was the most common in both green areas and cemeteries. Morphological identification together with molecular tools identified 65 COI sequences with high homology. The highest species richness was found in the inland city, followed by the coastal city and the estuarine city. Mosquito abundance was significantly higher in green areas compared to cemeteries and in the coastal and estuarine cities compared to the inland city. The investigation of larval breeding sites highlighted the dominance of Cx. pipiens s.l., particularly in semi-artificial ponds, diverse water-holding containers (tyres and buckets) and drainage systems in green areas; in cemeteries, most of the larvae were found in flowerpots and funerary urns. Seasonal activity exhibited variable peaks in mosquito abundance in the different cities, with a notable increase in July or August. Additionally, blood meal analysis revealed that Cx. pipiens s.l. fed on several common urban avian species.ConclusionsStudies on mosquitoes are essential to understand their role in disease transmission and to design targeted and sustainable management strategies to mitigate the associated risks.

Dataset Information

Investigating Visual Aesthetic Fatigue in Urban Green Spaces.

Supplementary information

Publications

Investigating Visual Aesthetic Fatigue in Urban Green Spaces.

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