Influence of anthropogenic activities on microbial and nutrient levels along the Mara River tributaries, Kenya

2014 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas Nyambane Anyona ◽  
Gabriel Owino Dida ◽  
Paul Otieno Abuom ◽  
Jackson Odhiambo , Onyuka ◽  
Matano Ally-Said ◽  
...  
2005 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 43
Author(s):  
ROBERT FINN
Keyword(s):  

2020 ◽  
Vol 642 ◽  
pp. 227-240
Author(s):  
L Lodi ◽  
R Tardin ◽  
G Maricato

Most studies of cetacean habitat use do not consider the influence of anthropogenic activities. We investigated the influence of environmental and anthropogenic variables on habitat use by humpback Megaptera novaeangliae and Bryde’s whales Balaenoptera brydei off the coast of the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro. Although there are 2 marine protected areas (MPAs) in this area, few data are available on cetacean habitat use or on the overlap of different cetacean species within these MPAs. Our aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of the MPAs and propose a buffer zone to better protect the biodiversity of the study area. We conducted systematic surveys and developed spatial eigenvector generalized linear models to characterize habitat use by the species in the study area. Habitat use by humpback whales was influenced only by depth, whereas for Bryde’s whales there was the additional influence of anthropogenic variables. For Bryde’s whales, which use the area for feeding, sea surface temperature and the distance to anchorages had a major influence on habitat use. We also showed that neither of the MPAs in the study area adequately protects the hotspots of either whale species. Most of the humpback whale grid cells with high sighting predictions were located within 2 km of the MPAs, while areas of high sighting prediction of Bryde’s whales were located up to 5 km from the MPAs, closer to beaches. Our findings provide important insights for the delimitation of protected areas and zoning of the MPAs.


2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 242-245
Author(s):  
Hamadttu A. F. El-Shafie

Four insect species were reported as new potential pests of date palm in recent years. They are sorghum chafer (Pachnoda interrupta), the rose chafer (Potosia opaca), the sericine chafer beetle (Maladera insanablis), and the South American palm borer (Pysandisia archon). The first three species belong to the order Coleoptera and the family Scarabaeidae, while the fourth species is a lepidopteran of the family Castniidae. The injury as well as the economic damage caused by the four species on date palm need to be quantified. Due to climate change and anthropogenic activities, the date palm pest complex is expected to change in the future. To the author's knowledge, this article provides the first report of sorghum chafer as a pest damaging date palm fruit.


2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Badusha M. ◽  
Santhosh S

The hydro geochemical features of Neyyar River for a period of one year from May 2015 to April 2016 were analyzed. Six sampling sites were fixed considering physiography and present landuse pattern of the river basin. The residents in the drainage basin are primarily responsible for framing a better landuse and thereby maintain a good water and sediment regime. Geospatial pattern of the present landuse of the study area indicated that the sustainability of this river ecosystem is in danger due to unscientific landuse practices, which is reflected in the river quality as well. The parameters such as hydrogen ion concentration, electrical conductivity, chloride, Biological Oxygen Demand, total hardness and sulphate of river water and Organic Carbon of river bed sediments were analyzed in this study. The overall analysis shows that the highland areas are characterized by better quality of water together with low organic carbon, which is mainly due to better landuse and minimal reclamation. The midland and lowland areas are characterized by poor quality of water with high organic carbon, which is due to high anthropogenic activities and maximum pollutants associated with the region together with the alteration in landuse from a traditional eco-friendly pattern to a severely polluted current pattern.


2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 38-45
Author(s):  
A. N. EFREMOV ◽  
N. V. PLIKINA ◽  
T. ABELI

Rare species are most vulnerable to man-made impacts, due to their biological characteristics or natural resource management. As a rule, the economic impact is associated with the destruction and damage of individual organisms, the destruction or alienation of habitats. Unfortunately, the conservation of habitat integrity is an important protection strategy, which is not always achievable in the implementation of industrial and infrastructural projects. The aim of the publication is to summarize the experience in the field of protection of rare species in the natural habitat (in situ), to evaluate and analyze the possibility of using existing methods in design and survey activities. In this regard, the main methodological approaches to the protection of rare species in the natural habitat (in situ) during the proposed economic activity were reflected. The algorithm suggested by the authors for implementing the in situ project should include a preparatory stage (initial data collection, preliminary risk assessments, technology development, obtaining permitting documentation), the main stage, the content of which is determined by the selected technology and a long monitoring stage, which makes it possible to assess the effectiveness of the taken measures. Among the main risks of in situ technology implementation, the following can be noted: the limited resources of the population that do not allow for the implementation of the procedure without prior reproduction of individuals in situ (in vitro); limited knowledge of the biology of the species; the possibility of invasion; the possibility of crossing for closely related species that сo-exist in the same habitat; social risks and consequences, target species or population may be important for the local population; financial risks during the recovery of the population. The available experience makes it possible to consider the approach to the conservation of rare species in situ as the best available technology that contributes to reducing negative environmental risks.


2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 30-36
Author(s):  
E. Amankwah, V. Hans-Jürgen

Agriculture in the Upper West region is primarily subsistence and rain-fed, and irrigation practice is significantly furrow andthe use of traditional watering can. This historical approach to agriculture is predicted to suffer severe setbacks due to climatechange. This research therefore explores farmers’ perception of climate change and its impact and how the farmers can cope withthe changing climate. The primary data was gathered through field observation, interviews and administration of questionnairesto about 400 irrigation farmers in three districts of the Upper West region. The data was analysed using 1. Statistical Packagefor Social Sciences (SPSS) and basic statistical tools. It was discovered that 62% of the farmers had no formal education withmajority above 50 years of age. Over 80% have observed rising temperatures and declining rainfall over the last few decades.This has led to higher evaporation and siltation of irrigation dams, higher transpiration of crops and water stress resultingin low crop yield, crop failure and food insecurity. The research also highlights anthropogenic activities that have influencedclimate variability and food production in the region. The research was concluded with suggested strategies to facilitate farmers’adaptation to climate variability.


2017 ◽  
Vol 68 (8) ◽  
pp. 1744-1748
Author(s):  
Catalina Stoica ◽  
Gabriela Geanina Vasile ◽  
Alina Banciu ◽  
Daniela Niculescu ◽  
Irina Lucaciu ◽  
...  

During the past few decades, the anthropogenic activities induced worldwide changes in the ecological systems, including the aquatic systems. This work analysed the contamination level of groundwater resources from a rural agglomeration (Central-Western part of Prahova County) by biological and physico-chemical approaches. The study was performed during the autumn of 2016 on several sampling sites (four drilling wells, depth higher than 100 m supplying three villages; two wells lower than 10 m depth and one spring). The water quality was evaluated by comparison with the limit values of the drinking water quality legislation (Law no.458/2002) and the Order 621/2014 (applicable to all groundwater bodies of Romania). The results showed that phenols and metals (iron and manganese) exceeded the threshold values in all sampling sites. Moreover, the anthropogenic factors including agriculture, use of fertilizers, manures, animal husbandry led to an increase of the bacterial load, particularly at wells sites.


Crop Science ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 1629-1633 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. E. Funderburk ◽  
I. D. Teare ◽  
F. M. Rhoads

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document