scholarly journals Assessment of Geotourism Values and Ecological Status of Mines in Kopaonik Mountain (Serbia)

Minerals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 269
Author(s):  
Danijela Vukoičić ◽  
Radomir Ivanović ◽  
Dragan Radovanović ◽  
Jovan Dragojlović ◽  
Nataša Martić-Bursać ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Development Strategy ◽  
Ecological Status ◽  
Abandoned Mines ◽  
Assessment Model ◽  
Mountain Area ◽  
Status Assessment ◽  
Ancient Times ◽  
Tourist Infrastructure ◽  
Geosite Assessment ◽  
High Level

Abandoned mines can pose a major environmental hazard. At the beginning of the 21st century, significant steps were taken all around the world in order to protect these historically valuable complexes, and the mining heritage was recognized as a potential for the development of alternative tourism. This exploration covers mines in the Kopaonik Mountain area. Mining on this mountain began in ancient times. It has developed throughout history, and today only one mine is active. Three abandoned (Gvozdac, Suvo Rudište and Raičeva Gora) and one active mine (Belo Brdo-Zaplanina) are the subject of research. The basic aim of the research is twofold. The estimation of geo-tourist values was performed using the Geosite Assessment Model (GAM), and the ecological status assessment WAS performed according to the standard model based on negative and positive values. Based on the applied methods, it was concluded that mines (geosites) have a high level of natural characteristics, and that differences between geosites are evident in tourist values. The reason for this is insufficient tourist affirmation and the insufficient availability of tourist infrastructure. With the ecological status, positive values were observed on the geosites, which also differ from one (Raičeva Gora) to 15 points (Gvozdac). In the end, the results obtained are of great scientific importance, and their direct application is in the development of the Tourism Development Strategy in the Kopaonik area.

scholarly journals Exploring the Preferences of Iranian Geotourists: Case Study of Shadows Canyon and Canyon of Jinns

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 798
Author(s):  
Nemanja Tomić ◽  
Babak Sepehriannasab ◽  
Slobodan B. Marković ◽  
Qingzhen Hao ◽  
Heros Augusto Santos Lobo
Keyword(s):  
Central Iran ◽  
Assessment Model ◽  
Tour Guide ◽  
Current State ◽  
The Future ◽  
Tourist Infrastructure ◽  
Geosite Assessment ◽  
Tourism Flows

Compared to other parts of the country, the region of Central Iran still remains mainly outside of major tourism flows even though there are significant geosites with great value for geotourism development. Two of those sites, the Shadow Canyon and the Canyon of Jinns, have excellent qualities for the development of this form of tourism in the future. The goal of this research is to gain information about the preferences of Iranian geotourists and to determine the current state and geotourism potential of Shadows Canyon and Jinn Canyon located in Central Iran by applying the modified geosite assessment model (M-GAM). The results indicate that Iranian geotourists consider rarity and the number of viewpoints the most important when choosing which geosite to visit, while the least important are tour guide service as well as hostelry and restaurant service. The results also show that more attention should primarily be concentrated toward promotional activities and basic tourist infrastructure construction in the future to attract even more tourists to these and other geosites in Iran.

scholarly journals Examining the Spatial Variability of Geosite Assessment and Its Relevance in Geosite Management

Geoheritage ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Márton Pál ◽  
Gáspár Albert
Keyword(s):  
Development Strategy ◽  
Initial Step ◽  
Assessment Method ◽  
Assessment Model ◽  
Individual Development ◽  
Importance Value ◽  
Current State ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Geosite Assessment ◽  
Common Weight

AbstractAssessment is the initial step for experts on geoheritage and geotourism when designating geosites in a certain area. During this process, geologically interesting outcrops, formations and places are examined with the use of different criteria to see if they are suitable for geoconservation and geotourism purposes. A quantitative assessment method—Modified Geosite Assessment Model (M-GAM)—was applied in the study area, which is part of the Bakony–Balaton UNESCO Global Geopark in Hungary. M-GAM uses a weight factor (importance) that expresses the opinion of geotourists about 27 infrastructural, tourism and scientific indicators. This factor was examined by questionnaires at nine geosites in the area. At each site, we determined a unique importance value, which shows significant difference from site-to-site and reflects the opinions of visitors about the geosite. The M-GAM method is originally aimed at applying a common weight on each of the 27 criteria during the assessment of selected sites. While this approach is valid, we demonstrated that the method can be extended because the weights spatially vary and can be used to draw conclusions on geosite management. Practically, the evaluation of the factors obtained in this way offers an individual development plan for every site. The current state of improvement direction, the level of communication and the interpretability of the geo-objects can also be determined. In this way, we can get a more realistic development strategy for the geosites.

scholarly journals How to Assess the Ecological Status of Highly Humic Lakes? Development of a New Method Based on Benthic Invertebrates

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 223
Author(s):  
Dāvis Ozoliņš ◽  
Agnija Skuja ◽  
Jolanta Jēkabsone ◽  
Ilga Kokorite ◽  
Andris Avotins ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ecological Status ◽  
Working Party ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
Humic Lakes ◽  
Raised Bog ◽  
Raised Bogs ◽  
Taxa Richness ◽  
Bog Lakes ◽  
Status Assessment

Highly humic lakes are typical for the boreal zone. These unique ecosystems are characterised as relatively undisturbed habitats with brown water, high acidity, low nutrient content and lack of macrophytes. Current lake assessment methods are not appropriate for ecological assessment of highly humic lakes because of their unique properties and differing human pressures acting on these ecosystems. This study proposes a new approach suitable for the ecological status assessment of highly humic lakes impacted by hydrological modifications. Altogether, 52 macroinvertebrate samples from 15 raised bog lakes were used to develop the method. The studied lakes are located in the raised bogs at the central and eastern parts of Latvia. Altered water level was found as the main threat to the humic lake habitats since no other pressures were established. A multimetric index based on macroinvertebrate abundance, littoral and profundal preferences, Coleoptera taxa richness and the Biological Monitoring Working Party (BMWP) Score is suggested as the most suitable tool to assess the ecological quality of the highly humic lakes.

scholarly journals Seasonal Variability of the Acoustic Climate of Ski Resorts in the Aosta Valley Territory

Environments ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Tibone ◽  
Marco Masoero ◽  
Filippo Berlier ◽  
Giovanni Tabozzi ◽  
Daniele Crea ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Protection Agency ◽  
Winter Season ◽  
Noise Pollution ◽  
Sound Sources ◽  
Mountain Areas ◽  
Mountain Area ◽  
North West ◽  
Ski Resorts ◽  
Acoustic Quality ◽  
High Level

The Aosta Valley is an alpine region in north-west Italy that is characterized by a high level of naturalness, with extensive uninhabited areas that are distant from artificial sound sources. The Aosta Valley Regional Environmental Protection Agency (ARPA-VdA) has been particularly sensitive to the preservation of the soundscape, which is considered an integral part of the landscape, since the laws on noise pollution were first introduced. The nature of the ski areas in the Aosta mountains, which undergoes changes throughout the year, is surely of great importance, especially during the winter season, when the number of visitors is particularly high. In fact, during the winter, the sounds of nature are replaced by those produced by recreation and sports activities. Mountain and snow tourism, which are developed in sensitive environmental contexts in the Aosta Valley, are sectors of immense social and economic importance. Much of this tourism takes place in ski resorts. Three mountain areas with different characteristics, in terms of attendance and recreational/sport activities, have been examined in this paper, as part of a collaboration between ARPA-VdA and the Politecnico di Torino. Acoustic measurements were performed in order to identify the seasonal variations of sound emissions from both natural and anthropic sound sources. In addition to the standard environmental acoustic descriptors foreseen by European legislation (LAeq, Ln, Lden, etc.), the harmonica (IH) index, which provides a quantitative evaluation of the acoustic quality on a zero to ten numerical scale, was used to qualify the acoustic climate of the three areas. The results presented in the paper provide useful information on a relevant subject—the preservation of the acoustic quality of a mountain area of touristic importance—which has been scarcely investigated so far.

scholarly journals Applicability of diatom metabarcoding in the ecological status assessment of Hungarian lotic and soda pan habitats

2021 ◽  
Vol 130 ◽  
pp. 108105
Author(s):  
Mónika Duleba ◽  
Angéla Földi ◽  
Adrienn Micsinai ◽  
Gábor Várbíró ◽  
Anita Mohr ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ecological Status ◽  
Ecological Status Assessment ◽  
Status Assessment ◽  
Soda Pan

SENSITIVITY OF FORSYTHIA POLLEN TO THE FACTORS OF THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE MEGAPOLIS

2021 ◽  
pp. 56-74
Author(s):  
Matiashuk R. ◽  
Tkachenko I.
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Ecological Status ◽  
Pollution Index ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Botanical Garden ◽  
Control Value ◽  
Adverse Weather ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Growing Conditions ◽  
High Level

The sensitivity of the reproductive structures of Forsythiasuspensato the complex influence of undifferentiated environmental factors has been studied.The monitoring sites are located in 15 different park ecosystems in 6 administrative districts of Kyiv. Data from the Borys Sreznevsky Central Geophysical Observatory (air pollution index (API) and meteorological conditions for 2018-2020) were used to assess the conditions of the growthenvironment. The influence of a complex of ecologically important factors during the flowering offorsythia on the quality of the formedpollen is noted. Thus, growing plantsfor a long time in conditions with a low level of air pollution (APIup to 5.0) in abnormal weather conditions in 2020,40-50% less fertile grainswere formed. And forplants, which grow in areas with increasedlevel (API5.0-7.0) and high level (API7.0-14.0) of air pollution, the share of fertile grains in the pollen population decreased by 60-80%. In the closed bud,the pollen has higher resistance to a complex of exogenous growth factors. Forsythia plants, which are located in large parklands, lose less pollen quality in adverse weather conditions and affected byurbotechnogenic factors. F. suspensa is an acceptable indicator of the level of environmental pollution by the deviation of pollen fertility from the control value. In areas with high aerogenic load, for example, areas with large highways (Bus Station «Darnytsia»), as well as with a significant recreational load (HolosiivskyiPark, Recreation Park on the Olena Teliha Street) much smaller pollen is formed. Itis noted that the conditions of forsythia growth affect the quantitative indicators of the formed pollen not only in the flower but also in the closed bud, which confirms the chronic effect of the complex of ingredients of aerotechnogenic emissions on plants of this species. The coefficient of sterility of pollen (CS) was used to objectively compare the data of 2019 and 2020 on the condition of the generative organs of F. suspensa in the studied areas. The calculation of the CS confirmed that in the closedbud pollen has a higher resistance to exogenous factors. In areas with high and increased levels of air pollution,during budding and flowering of plants (March-May,) there is a much higher CS of pollen of F. suspensа. Significant parkland territoriesof the city (for example, HolosiivskyiPark, Botanical Garden named after O. V. Fomin) provide less stressful conditions for growth and development of plants, even with the "very high" level of air pollution (ISA above 14.0) observed in April 2020 on this territory.The study of the susceptibility of F. suspensаpollen to growing conditions will be continued, as the prospects of using this species for bioindication of ecological status and zoning of park ecosystems of Kyiv according to the gradient of anthropogenic impact have been revealed.Key words:forsythia, fertility, coefficient of sterility of pollen, bioindication. Проведене дослідження чутливості репродуктивних структур Forsythiasuspensaдо комплексного впливу недиференційованих факторів навколишнього середовища. Моніторингові ділянки розташовані в 15 різних паркових екосистемах 6 адміністративних районівКиєва. Для оцінки умов середовища вирощування рослин використані дані Центральної геофізичної обсерваторії імені Бориса Срезневського (індекс забруднення атмосферного повітря (ІЗА) та метеорологічні умови за 2018-2020 рр.). Відмічено вплив комплексу екологічно важливих факторів (за показниками відхилення від норми середньої місячної температури повітря та місячної кількості опадів у Києві) уперіод квітування форзиції на якість сформованого пилку. Так, за тривалої експозиції рослин в умовах з низьким рівнем забруднення повітря (ІЗА до 5,0) в аномальних погодних умовах 2020 р. сформувалось на 40-50% менше фертильних зерен. А у форзиції, яка росте на територіях з підвищеним (ІЗА 5,0-7,0) та високим (ІЗА 7,0-14,0) рівнями забруднення частка фертильних зерен в популяції пилку зменшилась на 60-80%. У закритому бутоні пилок має вищу стійкість до комплексу екзогенних факторів середовища зростання. Рослини форзиції, які розташовані у значних за площею паркових насадженнях, менше втрачають якість пилку за несприятливих погодних умов та дії урботехногенних чинників. За відхиленням показника фертильності пилку від контрольного значення F. suspensaє допустимим індикатором рівня забруднення середовища. На територіях з підвищеним аерогенним навантаженням, наприклад, ділянки з автотранспортними магістралями (Автостанція «Дарниця»), а також зі значним рекреаційним навантаженням (Голосіївський парк імені М. Рильського, Парк відпочинку по вул. Олени Теліги)формується значно дрібніший пилок. Відмічено, що умови росту позначаються на кількісних показниках сформованого пилку не лише в квітці, але й в закритому бутоні, що підтверджує хронічний вплив комплексу інгредієнтів аеротехногенних викидів нарослини цього виду. Для об’єктивного співставлення даних 2019 і 2020 рр. щодо стану генеративних органів F. suspensaна досліджених ділянках був використаний коефіцієнт стерильності (КС) пилку. Розрахунок КС підтвердив, що в закритому бутоні пилок має вищу стійкість до впливу екзогенних чинників. Вищий КС був у F. suspense, з ділянок, на яких в період бутонізації і квітування рослин (березень-травень) відмічений високий і підвищений рівень забруднення атмосфери. Значні за площею паркові насадження міста (наприклад, Голосіївський парк, Ботанічний сад ім.акад. О.В. Фоміна) забезпечують менш напружені умови росту і розвитку рослин навіть при відміченому в квітні 2020 р. «дуже високому» рівні забруднення повітря (ІЗА вище 14,0) на цих територіях. Дослідження чутливості пилку F. suspenseдо умов вирощування буде продовжене,оскільки виявлена перспективність використання цього виду для біоіндикації екологічного стану та зонування паркових екосистем Києва за градієнтом антропогенного впливу.Ключові слова: форзиція, фертильність, індекс стерильності, біоіндикація.

scholarly journals Resurrection of the Butterfly-winged Comber, Serranus papilionaceus Valenciennes, 1832 (Teleostei, Serranidae) and its phylogenetic position within genus Serranus

ZooKeys ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1017 ◽  
pp. 111-126
Author(s):  
Adriana Vella ◽  
Noel Vella ◽  
Carolina Acosta-Díaz
Keyword(s):  
Conservation Status ◽  
Valid Species ◽  
Phylogenetic Position ◽  
Mitochondrial Coi ◽  
Interspecific Divergence ◽  
Population Conservation ◽  
Status Assessment ◽  
Morphological Differences ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
High Level

The family Serranidae is represented by 92 genera and 579 valid species, with the genus Serranus Cuvier, 1816, containing 30 species. In this study, specimens of Butterfly-winged Comber, Serranus papilionaceus Valenciennes, 1832, were collected from the Canary Islands and compared morphologically and genetically to Painted Comber, Serranus scriba (Linnaeus, 1758), from the Mediterranean Sea. Morphological differences, especially in the colour banding pattern, were corroborated by genetic differences in mitochondrial (COI and ND2) and nuclear (Rhod and PTR) markers. The mitochondrial DNA markers revealed a high level of divergence and no shared haplotypes between the two species (interspecific divergence: COI 4.31%; ND2 8.68%), and a phylogenetic analysis showed that these two species are closely related sister species sharing common ancestry. This study is therefore offering to resurrect S. papilionaceus Valenciennes, 1832 as a valid species increasing the number of eastern Atlantic Serranus species to 11. This should direct new species-specific research, including its population conservation status assessment across its distribution.

scholarly journals Assessing pollution of aquatic environments with diatoms’ DNA metabarcoding: experience and developments from France water framework directive networks

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vasselon Valentin ◽  
Rimet Frédéric ◽  
Domaizon Isabelle ◽  
Monnier Olivier ◽  
Reyjol Yorick ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Framework Directive ◽  
High Throughput Sequencing ◽  
Ecological Status ◽  
Aquatic Environments ◽  
Morphological Identification ◽  
The Past ◽  
Sequencing Technologies ◽  
Dna Metabarcoding ◽  
Morphological Approach ◽  
Status Assessment

Ecological status assessment of watercourses is based on the calculation of quality indices using pollution sensitivity of targeted biological groups, including diatoms. The determination and quantification of diatom species is generally based on microscopic morphological identification, which requires expertise and is time-consuming and costly. In Europe, this morphological approach is legally imposed by standards and regulatory decrees by the Water Framework Directive (WFD). Over the past decade, a DNA-based molecular biology approach has newly been developed to identify species based on genetic criteria rather than morphological ones (i.e. DNA metabarcoding). In combination with high throughput sequencing technologies, metabarcoding makes it possible both to identify all species present in an environmental sample and to process several hundred samples in parallel. This article presents the results of two recent studies carried out on the WFD networks of rivers of Mayotte (2013–2018) and metropolitan France (2016–2018). These studies aimed at testing the potential application of metabarcoding for biomonitoring in the context of the WFD. We discuss the various methodological developments and optimisations that have been made to make the taxonomic inventories of diatoms produced by metabarcoding more reliable, particularly in terms of species quantification. We present the results of the application of this DNA approach on more than 500 river sites, comparing them with those obtained using the standardised morphological method. Finally, we discuss the potential of metabarcoding for routine application, its limits of application and propose some recommendations for future implementation in WFD.

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