John A. AllenUniversity of Helsinki | HY · Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences
John A. Allen
Master of Engineering
About
8
Publications
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164
Citations
Citations since 2017
Introduction
I received my BS in Geology from the University of Georgia, USA in 2002, and then worked for nearly ten years in the environmental regulatory and compliance field in the US. I received my Master’s degree in engineering (2016) from the Lahti University of Applied Sciences where I completed my thesis examining the retention of PAHs in snow disposal sites. I began my PhD studies in the University of Helsinki in 2018, where my research focuses on the impact of domestic dogs in urban greenspaces.
Additional affiliations
January 2018 - present
May 2014 - June 2017
Education
February 2014 - December 2016
August 1998 - May 2002
Publications
Publications (8)
Two cities in Finland were included in this study: (1) Helsinki (60°10′15″N 24°56′15″E), population ca. 650 000; and (2) Lahti (60°59′N 025°39′E), population 120 000 (see Setälä et al., 2016 for additional details regarding these localities). Thirty-four sites were selected (Helsinki n = 18, Lahti n = 16), grouped into three typologies: Parks (n =...
Urban residents and their pets utilize urban greenspaces daily. As urban dog ownership rates increase globally, urban greenspaces are under mounting pressure even as the benefits and services they provide become more important. The urine of dogs is high in nitrogen (N) and may represent a significant portion of the annual urban N load. We examined...
Plant functional type influences the abundance and distribution of soil biota. With time, as root systems develop, such effects become more apparent. The relationship of plant type and time with the structure and abundance of soil microbial and invertebrate communities has been widely investigated in a variety of systems. However, much less is know...
This document presents examples of success stories of remediation of contaminated soils
in various contexts and different European countries. It is not meant to provide an exhaustive inventory of remediated sites in all countries. Eight countries present a total of 17 cases which illustrate how soil and brownfields remediation along with sustainabl...
Urban greenspaces provide ecosystem services like more natural ecosystems do. For instance, vegetation modifies soil properties, including pH and soil organic matter content, yet little is known about its effect on metals. We investigated whether the accumulation and mobility of heavy metals, nutrients and carbon is affected by plant functional typ...
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a ubiquitous class of environmental micropollutants produced by combustion processes. They are commonly produced in urban areas by vehicles and from road dust. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has included 16 PAHs (PAH16) on their list of Priority Pollutants. During the winter in no...
Urban green spaces provide ecosystem properties fundamental to the provision of ecosystem services, such as the sequestration of carbon and nutrients and serving as a reservoir for organic matter. Although urban vegetation influences soil physico-chemical properties, it remains unknown whether ecosystem properties depend on plant species portfolios...
Projects
Projects (3)
Urban residents and their pets use parks on a daily basis, and these areas provide important ecosystem services as well as recreational, social and psychological benefits. Urban populations and dog ownership rates are increasing globally, and parks are under mounting pressure even as the benefits and services they provide become more important. The urine of dogs is high in nitrogen (N) and may represent a significant proportion of the annual urban N load. I estimate that dogs living in Lahti produce 8 to 40 kg N year-1 ha-1 green space. Since dogs are largely kept on leads in public spaces, it is reasonable to think that the distribution of N within green areas will be concentrated along walking paths. This essentially continuous input to relatively small areas is expected to significantly impact soil chemistry and biota, and may affect the ability of soils to sequester C and N and to provide other ecosystem services, may enhance soil GHG flux and contribute to surface water eutrophication and ground water contamination. Additionally, excretion of medical antibiotics through dog waste may contribute to the development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria found in park soils. This study will determine N deposition by dogs in urban parks and will explore the possible implications for environmental and human health.
