scholarly journals Diversity and distribution of snakes in Trashigang Territorial Forest Division, eastern Bhutan

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bal Krishna Koirala ◽  
Karma Jamtsho ◽  
Phuntsho Wangdi ◽  
Dawa Tshering ◽  
Rinchen Wangdi ◽  
...  

This paper presents the results of a study conducted on the species composition of serpent fauna in Trashigang Territorial Forest Division (TTFD), Bhutan.  The survey was conducted from August 2019 to September 2020.  The study aimed to assess the diversity, conservation threats, and distribution of both venomous and non-venomous snakes in different habitat types using time constrained visual encounter survey technique.  A total of 34 species of snakes belonging to five families and 23 genera were recorded.  Of the total observed species, nine were identified as venomous species.  These include four species of Elapidae, four species of Viperidae, and one Colubridae.  Geographically, snakes occurred throughout the landscapes, although species composition and their geographical distribution differed notably amongst various localities.  We documented survival threats to local snakes where deliberate killing and road mortality were found to be the most common cause of death.  The increasing trend of diversity, species richness, and relative abundance of serpent fauna was noticed as the radial distance increased from urban residential areas towards less disturbed landscapes such as rural agricultural land and natural forests indicating that the habitat mosaic plays an important role in the structure and composition of the snake community.  Considering the limited information currently available on diversity and geographical distribution of the serpent fauna of the region, the present study can be considered very significant.

Author(s):  
А.В. Терешкин ◽  
А.Л. Калмыкова ◽  
Т.А. Андрушко

Вертикальное озеленение с участием различных видов лиан в современных условиях имеет важное эстетическое и санитарно-гигиеническое значение. Особо актуально решение вопросов обогащения флоры городских территорий лианами в степных районах в связи с бедным видовым составом и резким ухудшением экологической ситуации. Объектами исследований являлись 7 видов лиан, различных жизненных форм (однолетние, многолетние), произрастающие в населенных пунктах Саратовской области (Аткарск, Саратов). Цель исследований – изучение эколого-биологических особенностей и мелиоративных свойств лиан и выявление перспектив их использования в вертикальном озеленении селитебных территорий Саратовской области. В ходе исследования видового состава, были выявлены наиболее популярные виды однолетних лиан: ипомея красно-голубая (Ipomea tricolor (L.) Roth) и ипомея пурпурная (Ipomea purpurea (L.) Roth), горошек душистый (Lathyrus edoratus L.), настурция (Tropacolum peregrinum L.) и фасоль огненно-красная (Phaseolus coccineus). Большинство (70%) из них произрастают в местах ограниченного пользования. Изученные виды лиан в исследуемых регионах достигают средних природных показателей (при наличии надлежащего ухода), обладают хорошими показателями жизненного состояния, обильно цветут и плодоносят. При воздействии токсикантами различной концентрации на листовые пластинки лиан установлено их степень устойчивости. Выявлено, что однолетние лианы лучше использовать в декоративных целях, а не в санитарно-гигиенических. Сравнительная оценка однолетних видов с многолетними лианами (девичий виноград пятилисточковый и клематис тангутский) показывает устойчивость многолетних видов (в среднем на 3 балла - 40%). Разработаны варианты декоративных композиций с участием травянистых лиан. По степени декоративности выделены однолетние лианы – Ipomea tricolor, I. purpurea (37 – 41 балл), средней степенью отличаются – Lathyrus edoratus (33 балла), Tropacolum peregrinum (30 баллов) и Phaseolus coccineus (20 – 27 баллов). Преимущество многолетних лиан заключается в их устойчивости к резким изменениям климатических условий (на 40 %) по сравнению с однолетними формами. Поэтому они более предпочтительны для озеленения городской среды. Для усиления декоративного эффекта в сезонном аспекте рекомендуются сочетать расширение видового и формового разнообразия растений (многолетние и однолетние лианы, древесно-кустарниковая, цветочная растительность). Установлено, что природно-климатические условия зоны степи и лесостепи в пределах Саратовской области являются достаточно благоприятными для нормального роста и развития древесно-кустарниковой растительности, в том числе травянистых лиан. Таким образом, обоснованное применение древесных лиан в комплексе с традиционными видами насаждений позволит создать комфортные условия проживания населения, регулировать оптимальный температурный баланс и создавать благоприятные микроклиматические условия. Vertical gardening with different types of vines in modern conditions is important aesthetic and sanitary-hygienic value. It is especially important to address the issues of enrichment of the flora of urban areas with vines in the steppe regions due to poor species composition and a sharp deterioration of the ecological situation. The objects of research were 7 species of lianas, various life forms (annual, perennial), growing in the settlements of the Saratov region (Atkarsk, Saratov). The aim of the research is to study the ecological and biological features and reclamation properties of vines and identify the prospects for their use in vertical gardening residential areas of the Saratov region. In the study, species composition was the most popular species of annual vines: morning glory red-blue (Ipomea tricolor (L.) Roth) and purple morning glory (Ipomea purpurea (L.) Roth), the fragrant pea (Lathyrus edoratus L.), nasturtium (Tropacolum peregrinum L.) and runner beans (Phaseolus coccineus). Most (70%) of them grow in restricted areas. Studied species of vines in the study regions reach average natural performance (with proper care), have good indicators of vital condition, bloom abundantly and bear fruit. When exposed to toxicants of different concentrations on the leaf blades of vines established their degree of stability. It was revealed that the annual vines are better used for decorative purposes, and not in the sanitary-hygienic. A comparative assessment of annual species with perennial vines (maiden grapes and clematis Tangut) shows the stability of perennial species (an average of 3 points-40%). The options and decorative compositions with the participation of herbaceous vines. According to the degree of decoration of the allocated annual vine – Ipomea tricolor, I. purpurea (37 – 41 points), the average degree of differ – Lathyrus edoratus (33 points), Tropacolum peregrinum (30 points) and Phaseolus coccineus (20 to 27 points). The advantage of perennial vines is their resistance to sudden changes in climatic conditions (40 %) compared to annual forms. Therefore, they are more preferable for greening the urban environment. To enhance the decorative effect in the seasonal aspect, it is recommended to combine the expansion of species and form diversity of plants (perennial and annual lianas, tree and shrub, floral vegetation). It is established that the climatic conditions of the steppe and forest-steppe zone within the Saratov region are quite favorable for the normal growth and development of tree and shrub vegetation, including herbaceous lianas. Thus, the reasonable use of wood vines in combination with traditional types of plantings will create comfortable living conditions for the population, regulate the optimal temperature balance and create favorable microclimatic conditions.


2008 ◽  
Vol 159 (4) ◽  
pp. 80-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bogdan Brzeziecki ◽  
Feliks Eugeniusz Bernadzki

The results of a long-term study on the natural forest dynamics of two forest communities on one sample plot within the Białowieża National Park in Poland are presented. The two investigated forest communities consist of the Pino-Quercetum and the Tilio-Carpinetum type with the major tree species Pinus sylvestris, Picea abies, Betula sp., Quercus robur, Tilia cordata and Carpinus betulus. The results reveal strong temporal dynamics of both forest communities since 1936 in terms of tree species composition and of general stand structure. The four major tree species Scots pine, birch, English oak and Norway spruce, which were dominant until 1936, have gradually been replaced by lime and hornbeam. At the same time, the analysis of structural parameters indicates a strong trend towards a homogenization of the vertical stand structure. Possible causes for these dynamics may be changes in sylviculture, climate change and atmospheric deposition. Based on the altered tree species composition it can be concluded that a simple ≪copying≫ (mimicking) of the processes taking place in natural forests may not guarantee the conservation of the multifunctional character of the respective forests.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 6930
Author(s):  
Shinsuke Kyoi

This study evaluates people’s preferences regarding the proximity of their residence to agricultural urban green infrastructure (UGI), such as agricultural land and satoyama, and discusses the availability of these types of land as UGI. UGI is vital for reducing the negative environmental impacts of urban areas, as these impacts are too large to ignore. In this study, we conducted an online survey and a choice experiment to investigate people’s perceptions regarding the proximity of their residence to agricultural UGI (AUGI). The respondents of the choice experiment were 802 inhabitants of Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, which has rich agricultural resources. To examine explicitly the spatial autocorrelation of people’s preferences, in this study, we used the spatial econometrics method. The main empirical findings are that people prefer agricultural land far away from their residence—more than 1000 m, not within 1000 m—which reflects the not-in-my-backyard phenomenon. Meanwhile, people’s preferences regarding proximity to satoyama are complicated and their preferences are positively spatially autocorrelated. The results indicate that policymakers and urban planners should manage and provide AUGI far away from residential areas; otherwise, they must address people’s avoidance of neighboring AUGI.


2006 ◽  
Vol 36 (5) ◽  
pp. 1218-1235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven G Newmaster ◽  
F Wayne Bell ◽  
Christopher R Roosenboom ◽  
Heather A Cole ◽  
William D Towill

Plantations have been claimed to be "monocultures", or "biological deserts". We investigated these claims in the context of a long-term study on plant diversity within plantations with different indigenous tree species, spacings, and soil types that were compared with 410 native stands. Soil type had no influence on plantation species diversity or abundance, and wider spacing resulted in higher richness, lower woody plant abundance, slightly higher cover of herbaceous plants, and large increases in cryptogam cover. We also found a canopy species × spacing interaction effect, where the impact of increased spacing on understory vegetation was more pronounced in spruce than in pine plantations. The dynamic community interactions among species of feathermoss appear to be in response to the physical impediment from varying amounts of needle rain from the different tree species. High light interception and needle fall were negatively correlated with understory plant diversity, as was lack of structural diversity. This study indicates that through afforestation efforts agricultural lands can be restored to productive forests that can harbour nearly one-half of the plant species found in equivalent natural forests within the same geographic region in as little as 50 years. We recommend applying afforestation using indigenous conifer species as a first step towards rehabilitating conifer forests that have been converted to agriculture and subsequently abandoned.


2018 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takaaki Masaki

Abstract:This article utilizes a newly available dataset on the geographical distribution of development projects in Zambia to test whether electoral incentives shape aid allocation at the subnational level. Based on this dataset, it argues that when political elites have limited information to target distributive goods specifically to swing voters, they allocate more donor projects to districts where opposition to the incumbent is strong, as opposed to districts where the incumbent enjoys greater popularity.


2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-88
Author(s):  
Rihlah Nur Aulia ◽  
Izzatul Mardhiah ◽  
Dian Bagus ◽  
Ade Gunawan ◽  
Dian Elvira Nanda Sari

This research is backgrounded by some environmental problems which increasingly worries day plus the problem of management of natural resources that are not friendly and tend to be greedy. The rapid pace of development and population growth in the past decade has led to the conversion of forest and agricultural land into industrial, plantation and residential areas, resulting in degradation of uncontrolled environmental damage and pollution. The main purpose of this research is to know how environmental management conducted by Pondok Pesantren SPMAA Lamongan, East Java. In addition, the purpose of this study to find out how the implementation of environmental management conducted by the boarding school as a mirror of concern for the surrounding environment. This research uses qualitative approach. This means that the data collected is not a number, but the data comes from interviews, personal documents, memo notes, field notes, and other official documents. So that the purpose of this study is to describe the empiric reality behind the phenomenon in depth, detailed, and thorough. This research concludes that every pesantren has its own characteristic in running the concept of ekopesantren that exist, and in this pesantrenen pesantren SPMAA ekopesantren understood as pesantren that can coexist with nature and full of lesson will utilize resources wisely and wisely. Although this boarding school has not fully implemented ekopesantren. This is seen from ecopesantren indicator that has been fulfilled and that has not been fulfilled.      


Author(s):  
Landing Biaye ◽  
Fary Diome ◽  
Seybatou Diop ◽  
Modou Mbaye ◽  
Djibril Tine ◽  
...  

The locality of Nioro du Rip is facing intense erosion, loss of agricultural land, soil pollution and soil degradation. Today, there is limited information about the soil physical and chemical properties in the locality. In this work, we describe the main essential factors or mechanism that control the evolution of the soil in the study area. The physical and chemical properties of soils encountered along a NE-SW transect in are analyzed in this paper. The statistical analysis results revealed low structural stability of soils in general, due to their low organic matter content and exchangeable bases and their predominantly silty texture. A net trend towards acidification, which is more pronounced in the lower-bottom and terrace soils, provides information on the conditions that are increasingly unfavorable to agricultural development. The multivariate principal component analysis (PCA) identified the preponderance of two factors among the four primarily involved in soil geochemical composition. These include a mineralization process (expressed through the first principal component (PC1), which causes soils to be rich in elements (Ca2+, K+,C, N, MO) controlling their structure and fertility level;  The PC2 axis expresses the spatial differentiation phenomenon of the soil granulometric composition: soils forming cluster poles according to their textural affinity in the projection of the plane formed by these two components , with on one side the sandy-dominated soils of the shallows and terraces and on the other the clay-dominated soils of the plateau and the slope. A clear reversal of textural polarity in the studied topo sequence that must be blamed on the strong water erosion in this area.


2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 163-171
Author(s):  
PRIJANTO PAMOENGKAS ◽  
ISKANDAR Z. SIREGAR ◽  
AJI NURALAM DWISUTONO

Pamoengkas P, Siregar IZ, Dwisutono AN. 2018. Stand structure and species composition of merbau in logged-over forest in Papua, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 19: 163-171. Single selective cutting is the most common form of timber extraction in natural forest in the tropics. Although, vast tracts natural forests are already logged-over, the effect of logging on the structure and species composition has been sparsely documented, especially for merbau (Intsia bijuga). Merbau is an excellent timber species and intensively harvested in Papua. The objective of this study was to analyze the structure and species composition of merbau in the several logged-over forests at different ages, i.e., 1, 5, 11, 16, 21 years old after selective logging and primary forest as the reference plot. The study was conducted in February 2016 at Sarmi District, Papua. The distributions of merbau in each plot varies but when they were compared with that in the primary forest that had reached 9.81%. Thus, the decrease of merbau trees in the plots of logged forest areas was not significant. Index of Diversity of all growth stages was high. In general, the number of merbau seedling regeneration in the study plots are above the average value standardized in Selective Cutting and Replanting System (TPTI) regulation. With regard to the condition of sapling regeneration, we concluded that selective logging might not provide enough growing space for regeneration of merbau. Providing appropriate growing space is one of the key factors to achieve adequate merbau natural regeneration.


2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 126-131
Author(s):  
Khanh Huy Pham ◽  
Pham Hong Lien Nguyen

Domestic wastewater is one of the most interested environmental issues in Vietnam, especially in big cities and suburban residential areas. Most of the wastewater was not treated in the right way before discharging to environment. In this research, the author used water hyacinth as a main aquatic plant in aquatic pond model to treat wastewater. The experiment was operated continuously in 1 year with hydraulic retention time (HRT) is 11 and 18 days. Hydraulic loading rate (HRL) is 300 and 500 m3/ha/day, respectively. Treatment efficiency of the model for TSS is 90% (remaining 6 -12mg/l); COD, BOD5 is 63 - 81% (remaining 10 - 48mg/l); TP is 48 – 50% (remaining 3.5 - 9.8mg/l); TKN is 63 - 75% (remaining 8 - 17mg/l). Polluted parameters in effluent were lower than A and B levels of Vietnam standard QCVN 14: 2008/BTNMT and QCVN 40: 2011/BTNMT. The doubling time of water hyacinth in summer is 18days, and in autumn and winter is 28.5 days. Experiment results showed that we can use water hyacinth in aquatic pond to treat domestic wastewater with medium scale. We can apply this natural treatment method for residential areas by utilizing existing natural ponds and abandoned agricultural land with capacity up to 500m3/ha day. However, to get better efficiency we should combine with other aquatic plant species to treat wastewater and improve environmental landscape. Nước thải – xử lý nước thải sinh hoạt hiện đang là một trong những vấn đề môi trường được quan tâm tại Việt Nam nhất là tại các thành phố lớn và các khu dân cư. Hầu hết lượng nước thải chưa được xử lý đúng cách trước khi thải ra môi trường. Trong nghiên cứu này, tác giả sử dụng mô hình hồ thủy sinh và sử dụng cây Bèo lục bình để xử lý nước thải sinh hoạt của một khu dân thuộc huyện Từ Liêm, tại khu vực này nước thải bị thải trực tiếp vào sông Nhuệ. Thực nghiệm đã được tiến hành trong khoảng thời gian một năm, trải qua các mùa của khu vực miền Bắc với hai chế độ vận hành HRT là 18 và 11 ngày, tương ứng với tải trọng thủy lực HRL là 300 và 500 m3/ha/ngày. Kết quả cho thấy mô hình thủy sinh sử dụng cây bèo lục bình cho kết quả tốt, hiệu suất xử lý với các chất ô nhiễm đạt được như sau: chất rắn lơ lửng đạt 90%, COD, BOD5 đạt 63 - 81%, Phốt pho tổng giảm tới 48 - 50%, Nitơ tổng giảm tới 63 - 75%. Hàm lượng các chất ô nhiễm trong nước thải đầu ra của mô hình đều thấp hơn ngưỡng A và B của các tiêu chuẩn QCVN 14: 2008/BTNMT và QCVN 40: 2011/BTNMT. Bên cạnh đó tác giả cũng đã xác định định được tốc độ sinh trưởng của cây bèo tại khu vực miền Bắc là 18 ngày vào mùa hè và 28.5 ngày vào mùa thu đông. Kết quả nghiên cứu cho thấy có thể sử dụng bèo lục bình để xử lý nước thải sinh hoạt, với qui mô vừa và nhỏ và nên áp dụng cho các khu vực ven đô, nông thôn nơi có diện tích đất rộng hoặc tại các hồ sinh thái của các khu đô thị. Tuy nhiên, để hiệu quả tốt hơn ta cần kết hợp với nhiều loại thực vật thủy sinh khác để ngoài tác dụng xử lý nước thải mà còn tạo cảnh quan môi trường xung quanh.


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