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QUESTIONS: Patterns of functional and phylogenetic homogenization of plant diversity at the scale of entire cities are well established. However, fewer studies have investigated how shifts in the composition of urban species pools may alter spatial variation in community assembly across patches within a city. We compared plant diversity both within and between vacant lots in a single urban neighborhood and asked: (1) how do heterogeneous human legacies of land use within vacant lots structure plant community diversity and composition and (2) what is the importance of human legacies for structuring community composition, relative to spatial and environmental variation? LOCATION: Urban residential neighbourhood in Baltimore, MD, US (39°17′ N, 76°38′ W). METHODS: We surveyed herbaceous plant species identity and abundance in 24 unmanaged vacant lots. We constructed functional and phylogenetic diversity metrics from databases and the literature and compared taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity between sections of the lot where a residential building was once located (building footprint), and the area that was originally the garden or backyard (remnant garden). We term these different ‘human legacy’ groups. We partitioned variation in plant community composition between human legacy groups as well as across measured environmental and spatial gradients. RESULTS: We report significant plant community compositional divergence between human legacy groups. Beta‐diversity, in particular, was significantly higher in remnant garden sections compared to building footprint sections for all metrics of biodiversity. Plant community compositional variation was primarily explained by differences in human legacies. We found no measurable effects of selected metrics of local environmental variation (abiotic soil characteristics) or environmental context (lot area, proximity to other vacant lots and tree canopy) on compositional variation. Geographic distance between sites, however, did interact with human legacy variation to structure phylogenetic composition. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that human land‐use legacies have complex but measurable effects on both the patterns and the processes by which species co‐existence is maintained across the urban landscape. Within a single habitat type (here, residential vacant lots), variation in legacies of land use may have a stronger plant community structuring effect than contemporary environmental variation.

Populations in coastal cities are exposed to increasing risk of flooding, resulting in rising damages to health and assets. Adaptation measures, such as early warning systems for floods (EWSFs), have the potential to reduce the risk and impact of flood events when tailored to reflect the local social-ecological context and needs. Community perceptions and experiences play a critical role in risk management, since perceptions influence people's behaviors in response to EWSFs and other interventions. We investigated community perceptions and responses in flood-prone periurban areas in the coastal city of Machala, Ecuador. Focus groups (n = 11) were held with community members (n = 65 people) to assess perceptions of flood exposure, sensitivity, adaptive capacity, and current alert systems. Discussions were audio recorded, transcribed, and coded by topic. Participatory maps were field validated, georeferenced, and digitized using GIS software. Qualitative data were triangulated with historical government information on rainfall, flood events, population demographics, and disease outbreaks. Flooding was associated with seasonal rainfall, El Niño events, high ocean tides, blocked drainage areas, overflowing canals, collapsed sewer systems, and low local elevation. Participatory maps revealed spatial heterogeneity in perceived flood risk across the community. Ten areas of special concern were mapped, including places with strong currents during floods, low elevation areas with schools and homes, and other places that accumulate stagnant water. Sensitive populations included children, the elderly, physically handicapped people, low-income families, and recent migrants. Flood impacts included damages to property and infrastructure, power outages, and the economic cost of rebuilding/repairs. Health impacts included outbreaks of infectious diseases, skin infections, snakebite, and injury/drowning. Adaptive capacity was weakest during the preparation and recovery stages of flooding. Participants perceived that their capacity to take action was limited by a lack of social organization, political engagement, and financial capital. People perceived that flood forecasts were too general, and instead relied on alerts via social media. This study highlights the challenges and opportunities for climate change adaptation in coastal cities. Areas of special concern provide clear local policy targets. The participatory approach presented here (1) provides important context to shape local policy and interventions in Ecuador, complimenting data gathered through standard flood reports, (2) provides a voice for marginalized communities and a mechanism to raise local awareness, and (3) provides a research framework that can be adapted to other resource-limited coastal communities at risk of flooding.

Cholera emergence is strongly linked to local environmental and ecological context. The 1991–2004 pandemic emerged in Perú and spread north into Ecuador’s El Oro province, making this a key site for potential re-emergence. Machala, El Oro, is a port city of 250,000 inhabitants, near the Peruvian border. Many livelihoods depend on the estuarine system, from fishing for subsistence and trade, to domestic water use. In 2014, we conducted biweekly sampling for 10 months in five estuarine locations, across a gradient of human use, and ranging from inland to ocean. We measured water-specific environmental variables implicated in cholera growth and persistence: pH, temperature, salinity, and algal concentration, and evaluated samples in five months for pathogenic and non-pathogenic Vibrio cholerae, by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We found environmental persistence of pandemic strains O1 and O139, but no evidence for toxigenic strains. Vibrio cholerae presence was coupled to algal and salinity concentration, and sites exhibited considerable seasonal and spatial heterogeneity. This study indicates that environmental conditions in Machala are optimal for cholera re-emergence, with risk peaking during September, and higher risk near urban periphery low-income communities. This highlights a need for surveillance of this coupled cholera–estuarine system to anticipate potential future cholera outbreaks.

Although people are intrinsically linked to water, processes related to contaminated waterways often consider social and ecological dimensions independently. This research uses questionnaire and interview data to describe relationships between place attachment and participation in the remediation and restoration processes in the Onondaga Lake Watershed, a contaminated watershed in Central New York These data were also analyzed using an integrative framework, revealing complexities between ecological and economic dimensions. Questionnaire respondents indicated significant relationships between some indicators of place attachment and levels of and experiences of participation. Place attachment indicators significant to participation included mapping familiarity and meaning (e.g. active participants rated importance of educational opportunities and ecological protection higher than informed-only participants). Actionable insights from these data contribute to a greater understanding of the diverse perspectives surrounding Onondaga Lake and have implications for the facilitation of participatory processes used to navigate among them.

Although people are intrinsically linked to water, processes related to contaminated waterways often consider social and ecological dimensions independently. This research uses questionnaire and interview data to describe relationships between place attachment and participation in the remediation and restoration processes in the Onondaga Lake Watershed, a contaminated watershed in Central New York These data were also analyzed using an integrative framework, revealing complexities between ecological and economic dimensions. Questionnaire respondents indicated significant relationships between some indicators of place attachment and levels of and experiences of participation. Place attachment indicators significant to participation included mapping familiarity and meaning (e.g. active participants rated importance of educational opportunities and ecological protection higher than informed-only participants). Actionable insights from these data contribute to a greater understanding of the diverse perspectives surrounding Onondaga Lake and have implications for the facilitation of participatory processes used to navigate among them.

Background: Populations in coastal cities are exposed to increasing risk of flooding, resulting in rising damages to health and assets. Local adaptation measures, such as early warning systems for floods (EWSFs), are urgently needed to reduce the risk and impact of flood events. The aim of this study was to assess community perceptions and self-reported actions in response to flooding in a tropical coastal city to inform flood risk reduction policies and programs. Methods: This qualitative case study was conducted in flood-prone areas in Machala, Ecuador, a coastal city exposed to seasonal floods and extreme floods during El Niño events. Adult community members from three periurban sites were invited to participate. Focus groups discussions (11 focus groups in total) were held with community members (n=65 people) from September to November 2014 to assess perceptions of flood exposure, sensitivity, adaptive capacity, and current alert systems. Focus groups discussions were audio recorded, transcribed, and coded by topic; participatory maps were field validated, georeferenced, and digitized using GIS software. Results: Community members identified the presence of annual flooding during the rainy season, as well as greater than normal flood events (depths ranging from 0.5 to 3 meters), which recurred every 3-4 years in some communities. The deepest floods occurred during the 1982 and 1997/1998 El Niño events. Community members perceived that exposure to flooding depended on the rainfall coinciding with high ocean tides, and geographic proximity to blocked drainage areas, canals, and low local elevation. Participants reported that children were the most sensitive group due to increased susceptibility to skin infections and mosquito borne diseases (i.e., dengue fever). Other sensitive groups included the elderly, physically handicapped people, low-income families, and recent migrants. They identified persistent social-ecological vulnerabilities that increased flood risk

Cholera emergence is strongly linked to local environmental and ecological context. The 1991-2004 pandemic emerged in Perú and spread north into Ecuador's El Oro province, making this a key site for potential re-emergence. Machala, El Oro, is a port city of 250,000, near the Peruvian border. Many livelihoods depend on the estuarine system, from fishing for subsistence and trade, to domestic water use. In 2014, we conducted biweekly sampling for 10 months in five estuarine locations, across a gradient of human use, and ranging from inland to ocean. We measured water characteristics implicated in Vibrio cholerae growth and persistence: pH, temperature, salinity, and algal concentration, and evaluated samples in five months for pathogenic and non-pathogenic V. cholerae, by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We found environmental persistence of strains O1 and O139, but no evidence for toxigene presence. V. cholerae presence was coupled to algal and salinity concentration, and sites exhibited considerable seasonal and spatial heterogeneity. This study indicates that environmental conditions in Machala are optimal for human cholera re-emergence, with risk peaking during September, and higher risk near urban periphery low-income communities. This highlights a need for surveillance of this coupled cholera-estuarine system to anticipate potential future outbreaks.

Cholera emergence is strongly linked to local environmental and ecological context. The 1991-2004 pandemic emerged in Perú and spread north into Ecuador’s El Oro province, making this a key site for potential re-emergence. Machala, El Oro, is a port city of 250,000, near the Peruvian border. Many livelihoods depend on the estuarine system, from fishing for subsistence and trade, to domestic water use. In 2014, we conducted biweekly sampling for 10 months in five estuarine locations, across a gradient of human use, and ranging from inland to ocean. We measured water characteristics implicated in V. cholerae growth and persistence: pH, temperature, salinity, and algal concentration, and evaluated samples in five months for pathogenic and non-pathogenic Vibrio cholerae, by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We found environmental persistence of strains O1 and O139, but no evidence for toxigene presence. V. cholerae presence was coupled to algal and salinity concentration, and sites exhibited considerable seasonal and spatial heterogeneity. This study indicates that environmental conditions in Machala are optimal for human cholera re-emergence, with risk peaking during September, and higher risk near urban periphery low-income communities. This highlights a need for surveillance of this coupled cholera– estuarine system to anticipate potential future outbreaks.