Can people detect the loss of water quality? A field experiment to evaluate the correlation between visual perception and water eutrophication degree

Q2 Environmental Science
J. Nabout, Ana Clara Maciel David, Jéssica Fagundes Felipe, K. B. Machado, L. Carvalho, H. F. Cunha
{"title":"Can people detect the loss of water quality? A field experiment to evaluate the correlation between visual perception and water eutrophication degree","authors":"J. Nabout, Ana Clara Maciel David, Jéssica Fagundes Felipe, K. B. Machado, L. Carvalho, H. F. Cunha","doi":"10.1590/s2179-975x2921","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Aim The quantity and quality of water are essential to many ecosystem services, biodiversity and human well-being. In the present paper, we used a field experiment to evaluate the visual perception of the public regarding the loss of water quality associated with eutrophication and greening of water. We hypothesized that with an increase in eutrophication (i.e. greening of water due to increased Chlorophyll-a), people can detect a loss of water quality and threats to ecosystem services. Methods We used an experimental area composed of six mesocosms (500L water tanks) with a gradient of chlorophyll-a varying from clear water (without chlorophyll-a) up to eutrophic mesocosms (very green water). A total of 100 people visited the experimental area in-situ, and 83 people visualized pictures of the mesocosms. Results Our results indicated that people were able to detect the loss of water quality associated with increased concentrations of chlorophyll-a, and recognized that these were less suitable for recreational activity and consumption. Moreover, this perception did not vary by gender, formal education, or frequency of visits to aquatic ecosystems. Conclusions The results highlight the clear potential of visual public perception to be used as a simple, rapid, early-warning strategy for monitoring programs of water quality and also an approach that strengthens the link between science and society.","PeriodicalId":38854,"journal":{"name":"Acta Limnologica Brasiliensia","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0000,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"1","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Acta Limnologica Brasiliensia","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1590/s2179-975x2921","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"Environmental Science","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 1

Abstract

Abstract Aim The quantity and quality of water are essential to many ecosystem services, biodiversity and human well-being. In the present paper, we used a field experiment to evaluate the visual perception of the public regarding the loss of water quality associated with eutrophication and greening of water. We hypothesized that with an increase in eutrophication (i.e. greening of water due to increased Chlorophyll-a), people can detect a loss of water quality and threats to ecosystem services. Methods We used an experimental area composed of six mesocosms (500L water tanks) with a gradient of chlorophyll-a varying from clear water (without chlorophyll-a) up to eutrophic mesocosms (very green water). A total of 100 people visited the experimental area in-situ, and 83 people visualized pictures of the mesocosms. Results Our results indicated that people were able to detect the loss of water quality associated with increased concentrations of chlorophyll-a, and recognized that these were less suitable for recreational activity and consumption. Moreover, this perception did not vary by gender, formal education, or frequency of visits to aquatic ecosystems. Conclusions The results highlight the clear potential of visual public perception to be used as a simple, rapid, early-warning strategy for monitoring programs of water quality and also an approach that strengthens the link between science and society.
人们能检测到水质的下降吗?通过田间试验评价视觉感知与水体富营养化程度的相关性
水的数量和质量对许多生态系统服务、生物多样性和人类福祉至关重要。在本文中,我们使用了一个实地实验来评估公众对与富营养化和水体绿化相关的水质损失的视觉感知。我们假设,随着富营养化(即由于叶绿素-a增加而使水体变绿)的增加,人们可以检测到水质的下降和对生态系统服务的威胁。方法采用6个生态系统(500L水箱)组成的试验区,这些生态系统的叶绿素含量从清水(没有叶绿素a)到富营养化生态系统(非常绿的水)不等。共有100人实地参观了实验区,83人可视化了中生态的图片。结果我们的研究结果表明,人们能够检测到与叶绿素-a浓度增加相关的水质损失,并认识到这些不适合娱乐活动和消费。此外,这种看法并不因性别、正规教育或访问水生生态系统的频率而有所不同。研究结果突出了公众视觉感知作为一种简单、快速、早期的水质监测策略的明显潜力,也是一种加强科学与社会联系的方法。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
求助全文
约1分钟内获得全文 求助全文
来源期刊
Acta Limnologica Brasiliensia
Acta Limnologica Brasiliensia Environmental Science-Ecology
CiteScore
2.20
自引率
0.00%
发文量
17
审稿时长
50 weeks
×
引用
GB/T 7714-2015
复制
MLA
复制
APA
复制
导出至
BibTeX EndNote RefMan NoteFirst NoteExpress
×
提示
您的信息不完整,为了账户安全,请先补充。
现在去补充
×
提示
您因"违规操作"
具体请查看互助需知
我知道了
×
提示
确定
请完成安全验证×
copy
已复制链接
快去分享给好友吧!
我知道了
右上角分享
点击右上角分享
0
联系我们:info@booksci.cn Book学术提供免费学术资源搜索服务,方便国内外学者检索中英文文献。致力于提供最便捷和优质的服务体验。 Copyright © 2023 布克学术 All rights reserved.
京ICP备2023020795号-1
ghs 京公网安备 11010802042870号
Book学术文献互助
Book学术文献互助群
群 号:481959085
Book学术官方微信