scholarly journals Effects of free-flight activities on wildlife: a poorly understood issue in conservation

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Jorge Tobajas ◽  
Francisco Guil ◽  
Antoni Margalida

Summary Recreational activities may have negative effects on wildlife, but there are very few studies specifically on the effects of free-flight activities (i.e., hang-gliders, paragliders and their powered derivatives) on wildlife. We review the existing scientific studies on this issue in order to identify the gaps in knowledge at the taxonomic-group level in order to develop guidelines to minimize the impacts of recreational free-flight on wildlife. We found that studies mainly concerned the effects on four ungulate species (chamois, red deer, roe deer and Alpine ibex) and, to a lesser extent, on raptors such as the golden eagle and two vulture species (bearded vulture and cinereous vulture). The studies have generally been carried out in high mountain areas (e.g., the European Alps). Data show that free-flight activities create disturbances and have negative effects on wildlife, resulting in increased energy expenditure, reduction of feeding time, abandonment of feeding areas, reduced breeding output, loss of body condition, increased predation risk and harm from flight accidents. However, the lack of studies on many species and areas, along with the small number of long-term studies, prevents proper assessment of the current situation regarding the impact of this activity on wildlife. We provide recommendations to improve the regulation of this activity.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego Cusicanqui ◽  
Antoine Rabatel ◽  
Xavier Bodin ◽  
Christian Vincent ◽  
Emmanuel Thibert ◽  
...  

<p>Glacial and periglacial environments are highly sensitive to climate change, even more in mountain areas where warming is faster and, as a consequence, perennial features of the cryosphere like glaciers and permafrost have been fast evolving in the last decades. In the European Alps, glaciers retreat and permafrost thawing have led to the destabilization of mountain slopes, threatening human infrastructures and inhabitants. The observation of such changes at decadal scales is often limited to sparse in situ observations.</p><p>Here, we present three study cases of mountain permafrost sites based on a multidisciplinary approach over almost seven decades. The goal is to investigate and quantify morphodynamic changes and understand the causes of these evolutions. We used stereo-photogrammetry techniques to generate orthophotos and (DEMs) from historical aerial images (available, in France since 1940s). From this, we produced diachronic comparison of DEMs to quantify vertical surface changes, as well as feature tracking techniques of multi-temporal digital orthophotos for estimating horizontal displacement rates. Locally, high-resolution datasets (i.e. LiDAR surveys, UAV acquisitions and Pléiades stereo imagery) were also exploited to improve the quality of photogrammetric products. In addition, we combine these results with geophysics (ERT and GPR) to estimate the ice content, geomorphological surveys to describe the complex environments and the relationship with climatic forcing.</p><p>The first study case is the Laurichard rock glacier, where we were able to quantify changes of emergence velocities, fluxes, and volume. Together with an acceleration of surface velocity, important surface lowering have been found over the period 1952-2019, with a striking spatiotemporal reversal of volume balance.</p><p>The second study site is the Tignes glacial and periglacial complex, where the changes of thermokarstic lakes surface were quantified. The results suggest that drainage probably affects the presence and the evolution of the largest thermorkarst. Here too, a significant ice loss was found on the central channel concomitant to an increase in surface velocities.</p><p>The third study site is the Chauvet glacial and periglacial complex where several historical outburst floods are recorded during the 20th century, likely related to the permafrost degradation, the presence of thermokarstic lakes, and an intra-glacial channel. The lateral convergence of ice flow, due to the terrain subsidence caused by the intense melting, may cause the closure of the channel with a subsequent refill of the thermokarstic depression and finally a new catastrophic event.</p><p>Our results highlight the important value of historical aerial photography for having a longer perspective on the evolution of the high mountain cryosphere, thanks to accurate quantification of pluri-annual changes of volume and surface velocity. For instance, we could evidence : (1) a speed-up of the horizontal displacements since the 1990s in comparison with the previous decades; (2) an important surface lowering related to various melting processes (ice-core, thermokarst) for the three study sites; (3) relationships between the observed evolution and the contemporaneous climate warming, with a long-term evolution controlled by the warming of the ground and short-term changes that may relate to snow or precipitation or to the activity of the glacial-periglacial landforms.</p>


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (23) ◽  
pp. 3913
Author(s):  
Claudia Notarnicola

The quantification of snow cover changes and of the related water resources in mountain areas has a key role for understanding the impact on several sectors such as ecosystem services, tourism and energy production. By using NASA-Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) images from 2000 to 2018, this study analyzes changes in snow cover in the High Mountain Asia region and compares them with global mountain areas. Globally, snow cover extent and duration are declining with significant trends in around 78% of mountain areas, and the High Mountain Asia region follows similar trends in around 86% of the areas. As an example, Shaluli Shan area in China shows significant negative trends for both snow cover extent and duration, with −11.4% (confidence interval: −17.7%, −5.5%) and −47.3 days (confidence interval: −70.4 days, −24.4 days) at elevations >5500 m a.s.l. respectively. In spring, an earlier snowmelt of −13.5 days (confidence interval: −24.3 days, −2.0 days) in 4000–5500 m a.s.l. is detected. On the other side, Tien Shan area shows an earlier snow onset of −28.8 days (confidence interval: −44.3 days, −8.2 days) between 2500 and 4000 m a.s.l., governed by decreasing temperature and increasing snowfall. In the current analysis, the Tibetan Plateau shows no significant changes. Regarding water resources, by using Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) data it was found that around 50% of areas in the High Mountain Asia region and 30% at global level are suffering from significant negative temporal trends of total water storage (including groundwater, soil moisture, surface water, snow, and ice) in the period 2002–2015. In the High Mountain Asia region, this negative trend involves around 54% of the areas during spring period, while at a global level this percentage lies between 25% and 30% for all seasons. Positive trends for water storage are detected in a maximum 10% of the areas in High Mountain Asia region and in around 20% of the areas at global level. Overall snow mass changes determine a significant contribution to the total water storage changes up to 30% of the areas in winter and spring time over 2002–2015.


Oryx ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 500-505 ◽  
Author(s):  
Łukasz Pęksa ◽  
Michał Ciach

AbstractUntil recently animals inhabiting mountain areas were relatively free from disturbance by people but they are now coming under increasing pressure. Tourism, especially that involving large numbers of people, is having an ever more detrimental effect on the natural resources of high mountains, even in protected areas. We analyse the effect of tourist pressure on the population of the Tatra chamoisRupicapra rupicapra tatrica, which inhabits the strictly protected high-altitude habitats of the Tatra mountains (Carpathians, Poland). The Kasprowy Wierch cable car system, in operation since 1936, was modernized in 2007; as a consequence 50% more people can now be carried into the chamois’ habitat. The effect of this sudden increase in tourist pressure has been to reduce the size of herds (3.9 vs 5.3 individuals) and to increase the distance between the animals and the cable car station (1,664.0 vs 693.0 m), the cable car infrastructure (1,415.0 vs 467.8 m) and adjacent ski-lifts and ski pistes (1,214.2 vs 494.3 m). The distance to the marked hiking trails has not changed, however. Following the modernization of the cable cars, larger herds of chamois have been seen at greater distances from the tourist infrastructure. Our results indicate the adverse impact of this mass tourism. Human activities in high-mountain ecosystems need to have due consideration for the requirements of wild species, and the number of visitors needs to be controlled.


2020 ◽  
Vol 55 ◽  
pp. 85-115
Author(s):  
Krzysztof Kołodziejczyk

Purpose. In this article, the position of Polish scientists is presented with regard to the impact of hiking on the environment, particularly mountain areas, by reference to the broader context of selected works of global literature. Method. The paper is mainly in the form of a review of literature connected with Earth sciences, chiefly geomorphology. Particular emphasis is placed on the effects of hiking, which have been divided by impact type (e.g. compaction and soil erosion, initiation of morphogenetic processes, impaired water circulation, destruction of plant biomass and changes in the plant and animal world). Findings. The Polish scientific contribution to the subject area presented should be considered significant, however, it does differ in certain characteristics from the achievements of the wider world. Considerable attention has been devoted to means of counteracting particular negative effects of tourism, both the technical (remodelling of trails and their surroundings) and organisational aspects (management of tourist traffic). Research and conclusions limitations. The position of Polish science is mostly presented, however, this is done in comparison to the broader global literature on the topic. Practical implications. The suggested means of counteracting the negative effects of hiking may be useful while planning tourist infrastructure, especially in protected areas. Originality. In the paper, a complex review is presented regarding the opinions of Polish scientists, not only on the topic of the negative impact of hiking, but also methods of its prevention. Type of paper. Literature review.


2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 241-254 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Fischer ◽  
R. S. Purves ◽  
C. Huggel ◽  
J. Noetzli ◽  
W. Haeberli

Abstract. The ongoing debate about the effects of changes in the high-mountain cryosphere on rockfalls and rock avalanches suggests a need for more knowledge about characteristics and distribution of recent rock-slope instabilities. This paper investigates 56 sites with slope failures between 1900 and 2007 in the central European Alps with respect to their geological and topographical settings and zones of possible permafrost degradation and glacial recession. Analyses of the temporal distribution show an increase in frequency within the last decades. A large proportion of the slope failures (60%) originated from a relatively small area above 3000 m a.s.l. (i.e. 10% of the entire investigation area). This increased proportion of detachment zones above 3000 m a.s.l. is postulated to be a result of a combination of factors, namely a larger proportion of high slope angles, high periglacial weathering due to recent glacier retreat (almost half of the slope failures having occurred in areas with recent deglaciation), and widespread permafrost occurrence. The lithological setting appears to influence volume rather than frequency of a slope failure. However, our analyses show that not only the changes in cryosphere, but also other factors which remain constant over long periods play an important role in slope failures.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 2963
Author(s):  
Adam Senetra ◽  
Piotr Dynowski ◽  
Iwona Cieślak ◽  
Anna Źróbek-Sokolnik

Eutrophication is one of the major threats to the quality of water in high mountain lakes. The inflow of elements having biological origin may significantly aggravate the ecological status of those ecosystems. For this reason, the aim of this study was to map and assess the impact of anthropogenic pressure on alpine lakes in the valley of Dolina Pięciu Stawów Polskich (known in English as the Valley of Five Polish Lakes) in the Tatra National Park in Poland. The effects of tourism and easy access to alpine lakes on changes in their ecological status were determined. Tourist trails were evaluated based on the difficulty of access to the water surface of analyzed alpine lakes, with a method developed for assessing anthropogenic pressure on aquatic ecosystems. The method, deployed for the first time in 2019, was modified and adapted to the local environmental conditions in the research area. The results of this study indicate that tourism pressure contributes to the growth of submerged vegetation in alpine lakes. The presence of aquatic plants (including vascular plants) shows ecosystem response to water enrichment with biogenic substances. The present findings were used to formulate practical recommendations and propose modifications to the evaluated hiking trails. The research method developed in the study can support analysis and control of tourist traffic, thus reducing anthropogenic pressure on alpine lakes in national parks located in mountain areas.


Author(s):  
Federica Rotta ◽  
Leonardo Cerasino ◽  
Anna Occhipinti-Ambrogi ◽  
Michela Rogora ◽  
Roberto Seppi ◽  
...  

Glacier melting and permafrost thawing are the most evident effects of the current climate change that is strongly affecting high mountain areas, including the European Alps. As the thawing rate of subsurface ice is lower than for glacier ice, it is expected that, while glaciers retreat, an increasing number of Alpine headwaters will become more influenced by permafrost degradation during the 21st century. Despite the expected change in the relative importance of glacier and permafrost in determining Alpine hydrology, studies addressing effects of permafrost thawing on chemical and, especially, biological features of adjacent surface waters are still scarce. The present study contributes to characterise the epilithic and epiphytic diatom diversity in a set of permafrost-fed headwaters in three sub-catchments differing in bedrock lithology of the Italian Central Alps (Trentino Alto-Adige) in relation to water chemistry and habitat features. In addition, it explores chemical and biological differences between permafrost-fed streams and headwaters with no direct contact to permafrost, namely glacier-fed (kryal) and precipitation-/groundwater-fed (rhithral) streams. Permafrost-fed waters showed higher electrical conductivity and enhanced ion concentrations than glacier- and precipitation-fed waters, while concentration of trace elements (e.g. Sr, Ni, Zn, As) were more irregularly distributed among waters of different origin, though they showed a tendency to reach higher levels in permafrost-fed waters. Diatom species richness and diversity were lower in permafrost-fed headwaters, and were principally related to water pH and trace metal concentrations. Epiphytic diatom assemblages were more diverse than epilithic ones, independently from the water origin, while differences in species composition were not sufficient to unequivocally identify a typical diatom composition for the different water types considered in this study.


Author(s):  
Х.О. Чотчаев ◽  
О.Г. Бурдзиева ◽  
В.Б. Заалишвили

Научно обоснованный прогноз геоэкологической эволюции территорий на основе анализа причинно-следственной зависимости эндогенных и экзогенных процессов является актуальной задачей обеспечения безопасности рекреантов и планирования долгосрочного развития высокогорных туристско-рекреационных комплексов. Цель исследований – долгосрочной прогноз геоэкологической эволюции территории на основе факторов геодинамического развития и их признаков в геофизических полях. Для достижения поставленной цели решались следующие задачи: анализ современных представлений о влиянии эндогенных геодинамических процессов на изменения природной среды горных территорий и определение геодинамической концепции геоэкологической зависимости; методологическое обоснование проявлений геофизических полей-индикаторов тектономагматических процессов и выбор методов их исследования, выделение зон активных разломов и неотектонических проявлений. Использованы материалы исследований методами обменных волн землетрясений, гравимагнитометрии, микросейсмического зондирования, электротомографии, преломленных сейсмических волн, геолокации. В качестве результатов исследований делается вывод, что геоэкологические изменения вызваны неотектоникой трещинного типа в приледниковых зонах активных глубинных разломов из-за неравномерного воздымания отдельных участков территории при горообразовании, обуславливающего напряженно-деформированное состояние среды, концентрацию гравитационной энергии и последующее разрушение коренных пород приледниковых зон. Установлено, что механические, физические и геохимические поля, как неотъемлемые признаки-индикаторы проявлений и основа методологических обоснований исследований геодинамических процессов, оказывают долговременное влияние на породы на всех уровнях породообразования, формируя современную кору выветривания, и обуславливая интенсивное накопление четвертичных отложений. Определен режим среднестатической геоэкологической эволюции территории, который определяется соотношением скоростей прироста гор и темпов денудации. Делается вывод, что комплекс сопутствующих признаков – индикаторов представляют собой абиотические факторы геоэкологической среды, особого биотопа, где зарождается определенная популяция биоценоза с эндемической зависимостью к этим условиям A scientifically established forecast of the geoecological evolution of areas based on the analysis of the causal relationship of endogenous and exogenous processes is a relevant task of ensuring the safety of vacationers and planning the long-term development of high-mountain tourist and recreational complexes. Aim. The aim of the research is a long-term forecast of the geoecological evolution of the area based on the factors of geodynamic development and their signs in geophysical fields. To achieve this goal, the following tasks were solved: analysis of modern ideas about the impact of endogenous geodynamic processes on changes in the natural environment of mountain areas and the definition of the geodynamic concept of geoecological dependence; methodological substantiation of the manifestations of geophysical fields-indicators of tectonomagmatic processes and the choice of methods for their study, identification of zones of active faults and neotectonic manifestations. Methods. Materials of research by methods of converted waves of earthquakes, gravimagnetometry, microseismic sounding, electro-tomography, refracted seismic waves, geolocation were used. Results. As a result of the research, it is concluded that geoecological changes are caused by fracture neotectonics in the periglacial zones of active deep faults due to uneven uplift of certain parts of the territory during mountain building, which causes the stress-strain state of the environment, the concentration of gravitational energy and the subsequent destruction of the bedrock of the periglacial zones. It has been determined that mechanical, physical and geochemical fields, as integral indicators of manifestations and the basis of methodological substantiation of studies of geodynamic processes, have a long-term effect on rocks at all levels of rockforming, creating the modern weathering crust, and causing an intensive accumulation of Quaternary sediments. The mode of average static geoecological evolution of the area is defined. It is determined by the ratio of the growth rates of mountains and the rates of denudation. One can draw a conclusion that the complex of accompanying signs-indicators is abiotic factors of geoecological environment, a special biotope, where a certain population of biocenosis with endemic dependence to these conditions arises


1981 ◽  
Vol 12 (4-5) ◽  
pp. 217-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Herbert Lang

The knowledge of evaporation in the high mountain areas of the European Alps is still rather poor. It is generally regarded as a component of secondary importance in the water balance. The available mean areal evaporation data are based on conventional water balance estimations and suffer from inaccuracies in the determination of precipitation. This is also obvious from the rate of decrease in mean annual evaporation with altitude indicated by different authors; these values range from 71 mm to 356 mm pro 1,000 m of altitude. From heat balance studies on glaciers it is evident that evaporation/condensation as a process of high specific energy exchange can be a determinative factor in the shortterm variations of melt rates. The scale width of the daily latent heat fluxes reaches at magnitudes equal to or larger than those of net radiation and sensible heat flux.


Author(s):  
Jeeyun Oh ◽  
Mun-Young Chung ◽  
Sangyong Han

Despite of the popularity of interactive movie trailers, rigorous research on one of the most apparent features of these interfaces – the level of user control – has been scarce. This study explored the effects of user control on users’ immersion and enjoyment of the movie trailers, moderated by the content type. We conducted a 2 (high user control versus low user control) × 2 (drama film trailer versus documentary film trailer) mixed-design factorial experiment. The results showed that the level of user control over movie trailer interfaces decreased users’ immersion when the trailer had an element of traditional story structure, such as a drama film trailer. Participants in the high user control condition answered that they were less fascinated with, absorbed in, focused on, mentally involved with, and emotionally affected by the movie trailer than participants in the low user control condition only with the drama movie trailer. The negative effects of user control on the level of immersion for the drama trailer translated into users’ enjoyment. The impact of user control over interfaces on immersion and enjoyment varies depending on the nature of the media content, which suggests a possible trade-off between the level of user control and entertainment outcomes.


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