scholarly journals The Palestinian Terrestrial Vertebrate Fauna Preserved at the Biology Exhibitions of the Universities of the Gaza Strip

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdel Fattah N. Abd Rabou ◽  
Nour J Musallam ◽  
Eman J Musallam ◽  
Kamal E Elkahlout ◽  
Kamal J Elnabris ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gaza Strip ◽  
Meles Meles ◽  
Amphibian Species ◽  
Vertebrate Fauna ◽  
Terrestrial Vertebrate ◽  
Mole Rat ◽  
Ecological Conservation ◽  
The Common ◽  
The Gaza Strip ◽  
Egyptian Mongoose

The Gaza Strip (365 km2) of Palestine (27,000 km2) is home to a wealth of terrestrial vertebrate fauna. Some of these faunistic species find their ways to preservation at the local universities. Hence, the current study comes to document the Palestinian terrestrial vertebrate fauna acquired by the biology exhibitions (BEs) of Al-Azhar University, Islamic University of Gaza and Al-Aqsa University that are located at the Gaza City of the Gaza Strip. The amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals preserved at BEs of the universities in question were surveyed and scientifically classified during a three-month period extending from January to March, 2012. The study showed that all BEs of local universities are underdeveloped, lacking attention and suffer from specimen scarcity and good preservation. The BE at Al-Azhar University is the best in the arrangement and preservation of bird specimens. A total number of 200 specimens belonging to 54 terrestrial vertebrate fauna species, 39 families and 17 orders was recorded at BEs. Reptiles constituted 40.7% of the total species recorded, followed by birds (38.9%), mammals (14.8%) and amphibians (5.6%). The Islamic University of Gaza was considered the best in terms of the number of preserved species (39.8%), followed by Al-Azhar University (36.3%) and Al-Aqsa University (23.9%). The Common Toad (Bufo viridis) was the most preserved among the amphibian species recorded. Squamata was the biggest reptilian order, comprising 20 species (8 lizards and 12 snakes), with the Syrian Black Snake (Coluber jugularis asianus) was the commonest. The Palestine Viper (Vipera palaestinae) is endemic to Palestine and most venomous and dangerous to human health. The Great White Pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus) was the largest Palestinian bird preserved at BE of Al-Azhar University. The Egyptian Mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon) and the Common Badger (Meles meles) were the biggest mammalian specimens preserved, while the Palestine Mole-rat (Spalax leucodon ehrenbergi) was the only Palestine endemic species encountered among the preserved mammals. Finally, the improvement of BEs of local universities and the construction of a Central Museum of Natural History is highly recommended in order to change the Palestinians' attitudes toward a sustainable ecological conservation in the Gaza Strip.

Border Crossings and Stray Narratives of Return

2020 ◽  
pp. 107-133
Author(s):  
Drew Paul
Keyword(s):  
Gaza Strip ◽  
Border Crossings ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Tel Aviv ◽  
The Common ◽  
The Gaza Strip ◽  
Narrative Voices

This chapter examines a literary depiction of the repeated borders encountered on the Palestinian journey of return from exile in Raba‘i al-Madhoun’s Lady from Tel Aviv (2009). While many earlier examples of the common Palestinian literary trope of return, such as Jabra Ibrahim Jabra’s In Search of Walid Masoud (1978), either ignore the border or go silent altogether at the crossing back towards Palestine, al-Madhoun’s novel metafictionally reimagines the narrative of the protagonist’s return from London to the Gaza Strip by way of Tel Aviv as a series of encounters with borders that progressively blur distinctions of past/present and real/imaginary. At each crossing, new narrative voices appear, and gradually the lines between characters, narrators, and authors disintegrate, producing a cacophony of voices and an uncontrollable narrative of return. The novel performs and thereby exposes the disorienting effect of the border and its production of an unpredictable, “stray” life in blockaded Gaza. The Lady from Tel Aviv reveals that an unruly multitude of voices can offer a response to the silencing effect of the border.

scholarly journals 30-Year-Long Changes in Terrestrial Vertebrate Fauna of Niebieskie Źródła (Blue Springs) Nature Reserve in Tomaszów Mazowiecki, Central Poland

2010 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 117-136
Author(s):  
Zbigniew Wojciechowski ◽  
Janusz Markowski ◽  
Tomasz Janiszewski ◽  
Janusz Hejduk
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Quantitative Data ◽  
Vertical Structure ◽  
Nature Reserve ◽  
Forest Species ◽  
Amphibian Species ◽  
Vertebrate Fauna ◽  
Terrestrial Vertebrate ◽  
The City ◽  
One New Species

The article focuses on changes in terrestrial vertebrate fauna of Niebieskie Źródła (Blue Springs) Nature Reserve that occurred between two censuses carried out in the area. The first census was carried out in the period of 1968-1970, and the second census in the period of 1998-1999. In 1998-1999 the occurrence of four species of amphibians, 41 of birds and 15 of mammals was recorded. In comparison with investigations from 1968-1970 two species of amphibians, two species of mammals, and nine species of birds were found to have disappeared from the reserve. In the census carried out in 1998 and 1999 we recorded 22 new species of vertebrates: one new species of amphibian, five species of mammals, and 16 species of birds. The recent observations showed a decline in the abundance of amphibian species in the reserve, especially in the closest vicinity to the urban development around the city of Tomaszów Mazowiecki. The quantitative data on birds showed an increase in the numbers and abundance, which was mainly pronounced in the group of forest species, especially cavity and shrub nesters. We suggest that these changes are directly related to the succession of forest vegetation and its developing vertical structure, as well as to an increase in the forestation of the reserve area.

scholarly journals On the Hunting of the Common Quail (Coturnix coturnix Linnaeus, 1758) Along the Mediterranean Coast of the Gaza Strip – Palestine

2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Migratory Birds ◽  
Gaza Strip ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Mediterranean Coast ◽  
Hunting Season ◽  
Coturnix Coturnix ◽  
The Common ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
The Gaza Strip ◽  
Common Quail

Palestine is a major route for migratory birds coming from Europe to Africa and vice versa. Both migratory and resident birds are commonly hunted for different purposes using different means in the Gaza Strip. The current descriptive study, which is the first of its kind, aims at introducing information on the hunting of the Common Quail (Coturnix Coturnix Linnaeus, 1758) in the Gaza Strip, which is a 365 km2 arid to semi-arid coastal zone lying in the southern part of the Palestinian coast along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. Since 2015, frequent field visits and discussions with bird hunters and other stakeholders have been carried out to get more information on quail hunting. Annually, hundreds of trammel or mist nets with camouflaging colors, having a height of about 2.5 meters and a distance of 100-200 meters off the coastline, are cleverly placed along the beach to hunt Common Quails and other non-target birds. Guns are used in hunting of quails scattering among inland low-growing vegetation types. The Common Quail is a source of livelihood for dozens of Gazan families, though it does not generate large sums throughout its hunting season. For several reasons, quail hunters claimed that the current quantities of Common Quails reaching the Gaza Strip do not exceed 20% of the amount that arrived 30-40 years ago. Along with the Common Quail, 50 migratory and resident bird species, with passerines making their half, were found to be incidentally caught in quail nets. Because of its feeding and healthy values, the demand of Gazans on Quail and its eggs is increasing day by day, and as a result, quail breeding was found to be a successful task in the Gaza Strip. The goodness of wild quail is many times greater than its farmed counterpart. The price of wild quail is USD 6-7 per pair, while the farmed counterpart is about USD 2 per pair. Finally, bird hunting should be regulated in the Gaza Strip in order to conserve wildlife in a sustainable fashion.

Urban Development Strategies of City Centers: The Case of Rafah City, Palestinian Territories

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 195
Author(s):  
Omar S. Asfour ◽  
Samar Abu Ghali
Keyword(s):  
Urban Development ◽  
Gaza Strip ◽  
Geographic Location ◽  
Development Strategies ◽  
Functional Requirements ◽  
City Center ◽  
Palestinian Territories ◽  
The Gaza Strip ◽  
The City ◽  
Commercial Center

City centers worldwide are perceived as essential parts of the city, where city memories are preserved and its identity is expressed. They are planned to satisfy the functional requirements and pleasurable qualities of the city. Under the accelerating urbanization of the modern city, several challenges face these centers including demographic, economic, and environmental challenges. This requires a continuous and incremental urban development process based on clear strategy and action plans. Thus, this study focuses on urban development strategies of city centers, with a focus on Rafah city located in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian Territories. The geographic location of this city near the Palestinian-Egyptian borders makes it a promising commercial city at local and regional levels. Thus, the current situation of Rafah city center has been analyzed, and several development strategies have been proposed. This has been done through a field survey based on observation and a questionnaire directed to city center users. It has been found that there is a great potential of Rafah city center to be developed as a commercial center. In this regard, several strategies and required actions have been proposed in the fields of transportation, environmental quality, shopping activities, investment opportunities, and visual perception.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document