Reference no: EM132447919

1. Earthquakes have dramatically shaped how San Francisco has developed in the last century. Two major quakes - in 1906 and 1989, reshaped the city, and another earthquake of similar magnitude is likely. The inevitability of another major disaster has been a challenge from a policy and political perspective. Describe how each earthquake, in 1906, and in 1989, changed development within the San Francisco area compared to what was planned prior to 1906 in the official plan of San Francisco.

2. Describe why it is sometimes difficult to quantify the influence of urbanization along the urban-rural gradient. Formulate your answer with regards to the aquatic invasive Bythotrephes. Provide another example of a species greatly affected by interaction with the urban-rural gradient that has large consequences within and beyond the core urban area.

3. How are urban green-spaces affecting wildlife and the environment along the urbanrural gradient? What kind of wildlife utilizes these green-spaces? How do wildlife respond to urban green-spaces compared to natural systems? How is the system trajectory by these green-spaces along the urban-rural gradient?

4. The natural backbone of urban areas is greatly affected by urban development over multiple spatial and temporal scales. For example, the North Toronto wastewater treatment plant discharges directly to the Don River, which has significant implications on aquatic ecosystem health. This treatment plant has long been called for to be decommissioned; however, the city of Toronto has signalled that it wishes to upgrade this existing facility. The expansion of the North Toronto WWTP will trigger a provincial environmental assessment process. Outline how the environmental assessment for the expansion of the North Toronto WWTP will address its impact on the environment.