scholarly journals Drivers of Timberline Dynamics in Rodna Montains, Northern Carpathians, Romania, over the Last 131 Years

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 2089
Author(s):  
Dumitru Mihăilă ◽  
Petruț-Ionel Bistricean ◽  
Vasilică-Dănuț Horodnic
Keyword(s):  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Land Use Changes ◽  
Aerial Photographs ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Anthropogenic Pressure ◽  
Northern Slope ◽  
Southern Slope ◽  
Eastern Carpathians ◽  
Upper Timberline ◽  
The Impact

Currently, there is little information regarding the recent spatiotemporal dynamics of upper timberline in the Carpathian Mountains. We reconstructed the temporal (1887–2018) and spatial dynamics of upper timberline in the Rodna Mountains (Eastern Carpathians) based on seven sets of maps and aerial photographs and explained its variability in relation to three main drivers: air temperature, land morphometry and anthropogenic pressure. The impact of natural drivers (temperature, morphometry) on timberline position was evaluated using a high-resolution digital elevation model, local and regional instrumental and modelled climate databases. The impact of anthropogenic factors on timberline position was documented from published sources such as local paleolimnological studies and historical documents. Results show that timberline rose on average with 113 ± 2 m on the northern slope of the Rodna Mts (currently reaching 1640 m above sea level (a.s.l.)) and with 182 ± 2 m on the southern slope (up to an elevation of 1539 m a.s.l.). Our results suggest that this pattern might be connected with the rising temperature over the recent decades. On the northern slope where land morphometry restricts anthropogenic activities, timberline reached the highest elevation. On the more accessible southern slope, anthropogenic land-use changes likely moderated timberline elevational rise under increasing temperatures.

scholarly journals Status and economic valuation of ecosystem services of Tanguar haor: A wetland of Bangladesh

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 237-243
Author(s):  
HM Solayman ◽  
Md Abdul Baten ◽  
Md Badiuzzaman Khan
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Social Relations ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Land Use Changes ◽  
Economic Valuation ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Health Benefit ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Baseline Survey ◽  
The Impact

Tanguar haor wetland is one of the listed Ramsar sites enrich with biodiversity variety and provides several ecosystem services with significant contribution to the national economy of Bangladesh. But these services were decreasing day by day due to natural and anthropogenic activities. The purposes of this study were to identify the utilized ecosystem services by communities, economic values of utilized ecosystem services and the basic reasons for depleting of ecosystem services. Data were collected through baseline survey, checklists, face to face questionnaire survey and focus group discussion (FGD) from 120 residential respondents and 50 tourist respondents by accepting random sampling techniques during November, 2016 to September, 2017. Physiochemical characteristics of the water were determined where the mean temperature and pH were 28.26°C and 7.72 respectively. The highest TDS, EC, DO, NO3 and PO4 values were 1020 (mg L−1), 1460 (μS cm−1), 8.56 (mg L−1), 1.769 (mg L−1) and 0.078 (mg L−1), respectively. Commonly utilized ecosystem services were crops, vegetables, fuel, fresh water, fishes and migratory birds, climate regulation, water purification, natural hazards protection, aesthetic, social relations, recreation & tourism, health benefit, primary production, nutrient cycling, water cycling habitats for species and provision of habitat etc. Market Value Method (MVM) and Contingent Value Method (CVM) were applied to measure the economic value of Tanguar haor wetland services. DPSIR framework and Impact Matrix (IM) were applied for conceptual analysis to identify the effects on ecosystem services. Total economic value of 39 ecosystem services of Tanguar haor was estimated at 174039980 BDT year−1. Mismanagement of biodiversity, over exploitation, sedimentation of haor, climate change, illegal hunting, land use changes and habitat changes were the responsible factors for depleting ecosystem services. The impact factor (4.161) was identified by natural and anthropogenic factors on ecosystem services. There have a vast prospect of the Tanguar haor wetland services for near communities. Finally the research suggested several sustainable management approaches which have the potentiality to protect the services of the wetland.J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 16(2): 237-243, August 2018

scholarly journals Natural and human-induced landslides in a tropical mountainous region: the Rift flank west of Lake Kivu (DR Congo)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Claude Maki Mateso ◽  
Charles Bielders ◽  
Elise Monsieurs ◽  
Arthur Depicker ◽  
Benoît Smets ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Google Earth ◽  
Shallow Landslides ◽  
Water Infiltration ◽  
Aerial Photographs ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Anthropogenic Pressure ◽  
Mining Activities ◽  
Dr Congo ◽  
Lake Kivu ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. Tropical mountainous regions are often identified as landslide hotspots with particularly vulnerable populations. Anthropogenic factors are assumed to play a role in the occurrence of landslides in these populated regions, yet the relative importance of these human-induced factors remains poorly documented. In this work, we aim to explore the impact of forest cover dynamics, roads and mining activities on the occurrence of landslides in the Rift flank west of Lake Kivu in the DR Congo. To do so, we compile an inventory of 2730 landslides using © Google Earth imagery, high resolution topographic data, historical aerial photographs from the 1950’s and extensive field surveys. We identify old and recent (post 1950’s) landslides, making a distinction between deep-seated and shallow landslides, road landslides and mining landslides. We find that susceptibility patterns and area distributions are different between old and recent deep-seated landslides, which shows that natural factors contributing to their occurrence were either different or changed over time. Observed shallow landslides are recent processes that all occurred in the past two decades. The analysis of their susceptibility indicates that forest dynamics and the presence of roads play a key role in their regional distribution pattern. Under similar topographic conditions, shallow landslides are more frequent, but of smaller size, in areas where deforestation has occurred since the 1950’s as compared to shallow landslides in forest areas, i.e. in natural environments. We attribute this size reduction to the decrease of regolith cohesion due to forest loss, which allows for a smaller minimum critical area for landsliding. In areas that were already deforested in 1950’s, shallow landslides are less frequent, larger, and occur on less steep slopes. This suggests a combined role between regolith availability and soil management practices that influence erosion and water infiltration. Mining activities increase the odds of landsliding. Mining and road landslides are larger than shallow landslides but smaller than the recent deep-seated instabilities. The susceptibility models calibrated for shallow and deep-seated landslides do not predict them well, highlighting that they are controlled by environmental factors that are not present under natural conditions. Our analysis demonstrates the role of human activities on the occurrence of landslides in the Lake Kivu region. Overall, it highlights the need to consider this context when studying hillslope instability characteristics and distribution patterns in regions under anthropogenic pressure. Our work also highlights the importance of considering the timing of landslides over a multi-decadal period of observation.

Trophic and functional organization of the benthic macrofauna in the lagoon of Boughrara – Tunisia (SW Mediterranean Sea)

2014 ◽  
Vol 95 (4) ◽  
pp. 647-659 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ines Khedhri ◽  
Hanem Djabou ◽  
Ahmed Afli
Keyword(s):  
Functional Organization ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Benthic Macrofauna ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Deposit Feeders ◽  
Trophic Resources ◽  
Open Sea ◽  
Seasonal Monitoring ◽  
Lagoon Environment ◽  
The Impact

The lagoon of Boughrara is the largest lagoon in Tunisia. For several decades it has been subject to the impact of increasing anthropogenic activities, and also to environmental stressors due to climate change and the low renewal of its waters. The present work is a contribution to the study of the functional organization of the benthic macrofauna of the lagoon of Boughrara 3 years after the extension of the channel ‘El Kantra’ which connects this lagoon to the open sea. In total, 13 stations facing the main prospective sources of disturbance and in areas likely to be more polluted were seasonally sampled during 2009–2010. Seasonal monitoring of the abiotic parameters shows a spatial heterogeneity linked to environmental and anthropogenic factors, including hydrodynamics, sedimentary texture and anthropogenic activities. The community of benthic macrofauna is generally poorly diversified at lagoonal-marine stations undergoing influences of both the marine and lagoon environment. The extreme seasons in terms of temperature and salinity seem to have an important role in the reduction of biodiversity in the lagoon of Boughrara. The trophic structure of the macrobenthic community is generally dominated by selective deposit feeders, and seems to be linked more to the availability of trophic resources than to disturbance.

scholarly journals Morphological variability of Bembidion aspericolle (Coleoptera, Carabidae) populations in conditions of anthropogenic impact

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-25
Author(s):  
V. O. Komlyk ◽  
V. V. Brygadyrenko
Keyword(s):  
Body Length ◽  
Anthropogenic Impact ◽  
Morphological Variability ◽  
The Body ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Head Width ◽  
Anthropogenic Pressure ◽  
Angular Characteristic ◽  
Western Palearctic ◽  
The Impact

Bembidion (Talanes) aspericolle (Germar, 1829) is a Western Palearctic species which lives on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean, Black and Caspian Seas and saline inland habitats from Central Europe to Central Asia. Anthropogenic impact is one of the most important environmental factors affecting the morphological variability of ground beetles. The objective of our research is assessment of the morphological variability of this species in three ecosystems differing by intensity of anthropogenic impact. 13 linear characteristics, one angular characteristic, density of pores on the prothorax and elytra, contrast of spots on the beetles’ elytra were measured, and 6 morphometric indices were calculated. The mean value of body length in females is more than in males in the studied populations. In the ecosystem with high anthropogenic pressure, female body length is shorter by 3.7% and elytra length is shorter by 6.0% than in females in the ecosystem with low anthropogenic impact. Differences between populations in the body length of males are not significant. In the ecosystem with high anthropogenic transformation, sexual dimorphism is observed only on head and prothorax width. The ratio of maximum width of elytra to maximum prothorax width decreases significantly with increasing anthropogenic load. The impact of anthropogenic factors on the ecosystem produces significant changes in elytra length and head width of B. aspericolle and in four of the six morphometric indices. It is reasonable to use these morphometric characteristics of B. aspericolle adults in bioindication. The complex of anthropogenic factors does not have a significant impact on the value of anterior and posterior angles of prothorax, density of prothorax and elytra puncturing and contrast of the light spots at the top of the elytra. The sex of the specimen influences all linear characteristics. The absence of significant differences in morphometric indices between males and females shows that the body proportions of the beetles remain unchanged and only linear dimensions vary. Research on the morphological variability of B. aspericolle is important for understanding microevolutionary processes in populations of beetles under anthropogenically induced changes in the environment.

scholarly journals METHODS OF COMPLEX ASSESSMENT OF NATURAL AND ANTHROPOGENIC PRESSURE FOR WATER RESOURCES IN CENTRAL ASIA - KARATAL RIVER CASE STUDY

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhumakhan Suleimenovich MUSTAFAYEV ◽  
Jozef MOSIEJ ◽  
Lya Tobazhanovna KOZYKEEVA ◽  
Kurmanbek ZHANYMKHAN
Keyword(s):  
Natural Environment ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Anthropogenic Pressure ◽  
Ecological Stability ◽  
Catchment Basin ◽  
Natural Systems ◽  
Catchment Areas ◽  
Natural Landscapes ◽  
The Impact

Development of the national economy in the Karatal basin river is characterized by the progressive involvement and development of the resource potential of natural landscapes, the current rate of utilization of which greatly enhances the anthropogenic impact on the natural environment. A significant impact on the formation of the ecological environment of natural landscapes is provided by the rural and water sectors, as well as by industrial facilities related to processing and mining. At the same time, on the one hand the economic activity of the man in the catchment areas of the river basin gives a certain positive effect, and on the other hand, it is accompanied by an unavoidable set of negative ecological consequences that complicate ecological situations in various ranks of natural systems. Such negative natural and man-caused process in human activity occurs as a result of inadequate knowledge of the regularities of interaction between natural and anthropogenic factors, about the processes developing in the natural environment in complex watershed management, which is one of the obstacles on the way to the creation of ecologically sustainable cost-effective water catchment systems. Scientific interest to the assessment of the ecological state of the catchments of rivers and the problem of their complex development have been appeared relatively recently which is explained by the increase in modern conditions of anthropogenic load on the catchment areas, the need to assess the impact of such pressures on the ecological stability of catchments and the emergence of the problem of ensuring the sustainable function of catchments. The catena concept was developed to analyze the regular variability of soil on the slope. The example of this approach consists first in a structural component, the recurring pattern of certain soils in a landscape transects in which every chain element has its place in the chain, a soil has it in a landscape areal. The object of the research is the catchment basin of the Karatal river with a length of 390 km, an area of 19.1 thousand km², which is formed by the merger of three rivers called Tekeliaryk, Chadzha and Kora, sources which are at an altitude of 3200-3900 m. The initial 160 km is mountain character, from the Zhungarian Alatau and below the confluence of Kara and Chizhe River overlooks a wide intermountain plain. Other tributaries are Kara, Terekty, Laba, Balykty, Mokur and the most abundant is Koksu. After the confluence of the tributary of the Koksu River, Karatal flows through the sandy desert of the Southern Balkhash. At a distance of 40 km from the mouth, the river has a delta area of 860 km 2. According to long-term observations, the average annual discharge of the Karatal River in the Ushtobe section is 66.7 m3/s or 2.1 km3/ year.

Qualitative assessment of the impact of some anthropogenic factors on natural foci of tularemia in the Rostov agglomeration

2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 347-354
Author(s):  
Lyudmila V. Sudina ◽  
Natalia L. Pichurina ◽  
Anna P Khametova ◽  
Elena P. Sokolova ◽  
Igor' V. Orekhov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Native Species ◽  
Qualitative Assessment ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Federal State ◽  
Circulation System ◽  
Anthropogenic Pressure ◽  
Rostov Region ◽  
Field Samples ◽  
Natural Foci ◽  
The Impact

AIM: To qualitatively assess the impact of some anthropogenic factors (construction of industrial facilities, transport networks, intensification of agriculture) on natural foci of tularemia in the Rostov agglomeration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The official data and reports of the Federal State Budgetary Institution Rosselkhoznadzor, the data of the Department of Rospotrebnadzor for the Rostov region, the Federal State Budgetary Institution Center of Hygiene and Epidemiology in the Rostov Region of Rospotrebnadzor were analyzed. Zoological and parasitological studies were carried out in accordance with modern regulatory documents in force. The detection of F. tularensis markers in field samples was carried out using serological and molecular genetic methods. RESULTS: It was found that the existing territories under natural protection of the Russian agglomeration restrict degradation processes, while maintaining the simultaneous coexistence of native species and synanthropic animals that make up the parasitic circulation system of the tularemia pathogen. CONCLUSION: The qualitative assessment of anthropogenic pressure/action can probably be interpreted as conditionally neutral. This could lead to potential risks of infection of the unvaccinated population of the Rostov agglomeration in natural foci of tularemia. The dynamism of the processes of anthropogenic action requires constant monitoring of the changes in the species diversity of carriers and vectors, their abundance, and infection in the natural foci of tularemia in the Rostov agglomeration.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Annual Sediment Load Production in Kenyir Lake Reservoir, Malaysia

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (3.14) ◽  
pp. 55
Author(s):  
Mohd Khairul Amri Kamarudin ◽  
Noorjima Abd. Wahab ◽  
Ahmad Fadhli Mamat ◽  
Hafizan Juahir ◽  
Mohd Ekhwan Toriman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Land Use Changes ◽  
Lake Management ◽  
Total Suspended Solid ◽  
River Basin Management ◽  
Suspended Solid ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Lake Basin ◽  
River Bank

Kenyir Lake’s natural environment experienced significant changes over the past 20 years. Pressure from anthropogenic activities such as deforestation, construction, and sand mining around Sungai Terengganu, tourism, farming and agricultural has creating imbalance between environmental processes and response in Kenyir Lake. The aim of the study is to estimate the production of sediment yield (Muatan Sedimen) (MS) (tonnes/km2/year) in Kenyir Lake Basin. 21 sampling stations were chosen along Kenyir Lake to represent the upstream and downstream. The statistical analysis proved that the correlation and regression relationship between Total Suspended Solid (TSS), MS and area of catchment. MS showed a weak correlation and insignificant relationship of regression caused by the anthropogenic factors and uncertain climate changes. These sedimentation problems due to unsustainable land use changes, river bank erosion problems and active construction activity around the Kenyir Lake Basin. This study suggests the sedimentation management methods including land use settlement, cliff erosion problems, settlement and negotiable of uncontrolled development operations in Kenyir Lake and the integrated of river and lake management methods based on Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) in Kenyir Lake Basin is recommended.  

scholarly journals Alteration of the Ecohydrological Status of the Intermittent Flow Rivers and Ephemeral Streams due to the Climate Change Impact (Case Study: Tsiknias River)

Hydrology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 43
Author(s):  
Soumaya Nabih ◽  
Ourania Tzoraki ◽  
Prodromos Zanis ◽  
Thanos Tsikerdekis ◽  
Dimitris Akritidis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Climate Models ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Land Use Changes ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Intermittent Flow ◽  
Climate Change Scenarios ◽  
Ephemeral Streams ◽  
Extreme Flood ◽  
The Impact

Climate change projections predict the increase of no-rain periods and storm intensity resulting in high hydrologic alteration of the Mediterranean rivers. Intermittent flow Rivers and Ephemeral Streams (IRES) are particularly vulnerable to spatiotemporal variation of climate variables, land use changes and other anthropogenic factors. In this work, the impact of climate change on the aquatic state of IRES is assessed by the combination of the hydrological model Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) and the Temporary Rivers Ecological and Hydrological Status (TREHS) tool under two different Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5) using CORDEX model simulations. A significant decrease of 20–40% of the annual flow of the examined river (Tsiknias River, Greece) is predicted during the next 100 years with an increase in the frequency of extreme flood events as captured with almost all Regional Climate Models (RCMs) simulations. The occurrence patterns of hyporheic and edaphic aquatic states show a temporal extension of these states through the whole year due to the elongation of the dry period. A shift to the Intermittent-Pools regime type shows dominance according to numerous climate change scenarios, harming, as a consequence, both the ecological system and the social-economic one.

scholarly journals Diversity Loss in Coralligenous Structuring Species Impacted by Fishing Gear and Marine Litter

Diversity ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 331
Author(s):  
Federica Ferrigno ◽  
Luca Appolloni ◽  
Luigia Donnarumma ◽  
Floriana Di Di Stefano ◽  
Francesco Rendina ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Image Analysis ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Fishing Gear ◽  
Anthropogenic Pressure ◽  
Tyrrhenian Sea ◽  
Urban Center ◽  
Marine Strategy Framework Directive ◽  
Remotely Operated Vehicle ◽  
Marine Litter ◽  
The Impact

Coralligenous structuring species (CSS) form a group of marine megabenthic species with an engineering capacity. Since they are highly vulnerable to anthropogenic activities, they have been selected for the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) monitoring programs. The pressure and impact of fishing gear and marine litter on these species were evaluated through the image analysis of 54 remotely operated vehicle (ROV) routes along the Campania coasts (Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy). CSS density was calculated as the number of colonies/100 m2. Anthropogenic pressure was estimated as the frequency of frames showing longline, nets, other gear, plastic objects, metal objects, and other litter; while the impact was expressed as the frequency showing necrosis/epibiosis, broken/upturned and covered/entangled colonies. Cnidaria dominate in the Napoli, Campanella and Capri areas, while Bryozoa dominate in Cilento N and Cilento S areas. Campanella and Capri appeared to be the least heterogeneous despite their higher CSS densities, which was possibly related to the dominance of a few species. These areas were the most affected by showing the highest numbers of fishing gear (longlines) and marine litter (metal objects) recorded, amongst which longlines are the most abundant. In addition, these fishing areas are either close to a large urban center or located along popular touristic routes. In all the areas, colonies with necrosis/epibiosis (CNE) impact are present with low-moderate values, while the category gears covering/entangling (GCE) impact prevails in the Campanella and Capri areas, and this is strictly connected to the high presence of fishing gear.

scholarly journals STUDY OF FISH HELMINTHS SPECIES COMPOSITION IN THE MIDDLE STREAM OF HRAZDAN RIVER, ARMENIA

2019 ◽  
pp. 433-437
Author(s):  
Oganesyan ◽  
Rukhkyan
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Silver Carp ◽  
Practical Interest ◽  
Body Cavity ◽  
The Body ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Anthropogenic Pressure ◽  
Middle Stream ◽  
The Impact ◽  
River Fish

The ichthyogelminthofauna of the Hrazdan River has been little studied. The aim of the work was to identify the species composition of helminths of fish in the middle course of the river Hrazdan. The study of the helminthofauna of river fishes is of scientific and practical interest, especially in view of the increasing anthropogenic pressure in this region. In 2018, 86 specimens of fish of 6 species from Cyprinidae family were examined from the middle course of the river using the generally accepted method of parasitological autopsies. The overall invasiveness of the fish with helminths was 36%. In fish, monogenes, trematodes, cestodes, and nematodes were identified. 8 species of helminths were recorded. They were localized in the lens of the eyes, on the gills, in the body cavity and in the intestines of fish. In the fauna of fish helminths, biohelmints of 7 species dominate. Of these, metacercaria diplop and plerocercoids ligul are more common. 5 types of worms are generalists. 5 species are allogeneic, 3 species - autogenous. The impoverishment of the species composition of fish helminths is obviously a consequence of the impact of negative anthropogenic factors. The ichthyofauna of the Hrazdan River is different at different sites. In the lower reaches of the river, it is represented by more than 30 species, including the silver carp, the eastern swift fish, the Kura barbel, the Sevan temple, the Angora goletsir. Upstream, the species composition of fish is declining: only a few species are recorded — the silver carp, the Sevan temple, the eastern swift fish, the Kura barbel, etc. (Pipoyan, 2012). The helminthofauna of the Hrazdan river fish is little studied. The literature contains isolated data from the 1980s: in a survey of 22 specimens of crucian carp metacercariae by diplopost with up to 100% invasion were detected, plerocercoids liguli botriocephalus (Vartanyan, 1993). In 2016, the helminth fauna of fish in the upper reaches of the Hrazdan River was studied: 8 species of helminthes were found, the fish invasion was 37% (Oganesyan, Rukhkyan, 2018).

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