This study mapped critical habitats for migratory fish species in the upper Grande River region of Brazil. Floodplain lakes were identified in all tributaries and stretches of the Grande River using remote sensing, although all areas had less than half of original riparian vegetation remaining. Ichthyoplankton sampling found the Mortes and Aiuruoca tributaries had the highest densities of eggs and larvae, identifying them as essential spawning sites and recruitment areas. Mapping of habitats and identification of key spawning locations will aid conservation efforts for migratory fish species in the basin.
Evaluations of Stream Flow Response to Land use and Land Cover Changes in Wab...IJCMESJOURNAL
Land Use and Land Cover Change (LU/LC) is one of the notable human induced worldwide changes. Hence, understanding the stream flow responses of a watershed to this dynamic change is becoming fundamental for water resources management planning. The study was conducted with the objective to analyses the impact of Land use and Land cover changes on stream flow response of Wabe watershed, in Omo-Gibe basin. Land use and land cover maps were developed using satellite image of Landsat5 TM 1988, Landsat7 ETM+ 2001 and Landsat8 OLI/TIRS 2018 through maximum likelihood algorithm of supervised classification using ERDAS Imagine 2014 and ArcGIS software for satellite image processing and map preparation. A physical based, semi-distributed hydrological model SWAT was used to simulate LU/LC change effects on the stream flow responses of watershed. During the study period the land use and land cover has changed due to natural and anthropogenic activity. The results depicted that there was an incessant expansion of agricultural land, built-up area and forest cover, on the other hand declining of agroforestry; grassland and woodland were happened during from the 1988 to 2018 periods. Due to the occurred LU/LC changes, the mean monthly stream flow were increased by 5.97m3/s for wet season and similarly the dry season flow showed increasing by 0.96m3/s during the study periods from 1988 up to 2018. Generally the result indicated that large changes of the stream flow in the watershed. Hence result notified an urgent intervention, so as to regulate the LU/LC change and to reduce its strong impacts on the stream flow of the Wabe watershed.
This document summarizes a study on identifying the limiting nutrient (nitrogen or phosphorus) that controls aquatic productivity in five lakes and one reservoir in Mexico's Mesa Central region. The study involved collecting water samples from the lakes/reservoir during dry and rainy seasons in 2010 to analyze nutrient levels and conduct algal growth bioassays. The bioassays and nutrient ratios suggested phosphorus limitation in some cases and nitrogen limitation in others, with some sites showing seasonal variation or unclear results. The study aimed to determine the common limiting nutrient and compare seasonal variations to past studies, as nutrient limitation can change over time with human impacts.
- The document analyzes the hydrological impacts of land-use and land-cover changes in the Ketar watershed in Ethiopia between 1986 and 2010.
- Land-use classifications using satellite images from 1986 and 2010 showed an expansion of agricultural land and settlements, and a reduction of forest and grassland areas.
- Hydrological modeling with SWAT found that mean monthly wet season flow increased 3.8% from 1986 to 2010, while mean monthly dry season flow decreased 12.3%, indicating changes to the watershed's hydrological processes due to land conversion.
- Continued conversion of marginal lands to agriculture as the population grows could further impact the watershed's hydrology and threaten livelihoods.
This document describes research on developing habitat suitability models for black-tailed prairie dogs in the southern Great Plains. The researchers used long-term datasets on prairie dog colony locations across 7 study sites to create models based on soil properties, topography, and climate. The models show that suitable habitat is positively associated with soil organic matter, pH, clay and depth, and negatively associated with slope and sand. Certain soil-climate interactions were also important. The resulting maps can help prioritize conservation areas for prairie dogs and associated species under climate change.
This document summarizes two studies evaluating the environmental impacts of Flaming Gorge Dam operations. The first study assessed the effects of overwinter double-peaking flows on trout behavior downstream, finding that trout activity increased in response to flow fluctuations. The second study examined the effects on endangered pikeminnow nursery habitat, finding that backwater characteristics are affected by flow levels and each backwater is unique annually due to sediment transport. Video recordings and topographic surveys were used to monitor fish behaviors and backwater features across varying dam operations.
Mr. MacDougall has over 10 years of experience as a biologist providing ecological consulting services including wetland delineations and assessments, endangered species surveys, and environmental monitoring for development projects. He holds a MS in Environmental Studies and has received numerous certifications in areas such as wetland delineation, endangered species surveying, and health and safety training. His project experience includes conducting desktop analyses and field investigations for solar, utility, and pipeline projects across multiple states.
Biogeography-based optimization (BBO) is a new popu
lation-based evolutionary algorithm and
one of meta-heuristic algorithms. This technique is
based on an old mathematical study that
explains the geographical distribution of biologica
l organisms. The first original form of BBO
was introduced in 2008 and known as a partial migra
tion based BBO. Few months later, BBO
was re-introduced again with additional three other
forms and known as single, simplified
partial, and simplified single migration based BBOs
. Then a lot of modifications were employed
to enhance the performance of BBO. However, the lit
erature lacks the explanations and the
reasons on which the modifications are based on. Th
is paper tries to clarify this issue by making
a comparison between the four original BBO algorith
ms through a variety of benchmark
functions with different dimensions and complexitie
s. The results show that both single and
simplified single migration based BBOs are faster,
but have less performance as compared to
the others. The comparison between the partial and
the simplified partial migration based BBOs
shows that the preference depends on the population
size, problem’s complexity and dimensions
and the values of the upper and lower side constrai
nts. The partial migration model wins when
these factors, except population size, are increase
d, and vice versa for the simplified partial
migration model. The results can be used as a found
ation and a first step of modification for
enhancing any proposed modification on BBO includin
g the existing modifications that are
described in literature.
Agricultural Drought Severity assessment using land Surface temperature and N...John Kapoi Kapoi
This study was focused on Nakuru, a tropical region in the Rift Valley of Kenya, bounded between latitude 0.28°N and 1.16°S, and longitude 36.27° E and 36.55°E. The main The main aim of this
research is to assess the agricultural drought in high potential region of Kenya with an objective of mapping the agricultural drought severity levels, assessing the precipitation and normalized difference
vegetation index deviation over its long term mean average in the region and to generate land surface temperature and emissivity maps to compare the surface temperature proportion during the drought
and normal period.
The data was obtained from NOAA-AVHRR, LANDSAT TM and ETM+ and was processed with ERDAS Imagine and GIS software of the Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI).The land
surface temperature was derived using Planck’s radiative principles. The thermal band of Landsat TM was utilized to extract the radiance and brightness temperature. The brightness temperature was
combined with surface emissivity to derive the land surface temperature (LST) while NDVI was derived from bands 3 and 4 and its result was divided by the LST to determine the moisture levels.
The products were classified into five main classes to reflect the moisture levels. Rainfall and NDVI performance was also processed from NOAA AVHRR and long term mean established and compared
with the specific year of study performance.
The result of the study revealed that NOAA-AVHRR data offers very useful information in drought monitoring and early warning, LST and NDVI is useful in moisture level mapping that can be used
to detect drought and the drought in Nakuru is characterized by both low and high temperatures that exacerbates the crop failure.
Evaluations of Stream Flow Response to Land use and Land Cover Changes in Wab...IJCMESJOURNAL
Land Use and Land Cover Change (LU/LC) is one of the notable human induced worldwide changes. Hence, understanding the stream flow responses of a watershed to this dynamic change is becoming fundamental for water resources management planning. The study was conducted with the objective to analyses the impact of Land use and Land cover changes on stream flow response of Wabe watershed, in Omo-Gibe basin. Land use and land cover maps were developed using satellite image of Landsat5 TM 1988, Landsat7 ETM+ 2001 and Landsat8 OLI/TIRS 2018 through maximum likelihood algorithm of supervised classification using ERDAS Imagine 2014 and ArcGIS software for satellite image processing and map preparation. A physical based, semi-distributed hydrological model SWAT was used to simulate LU/LC change effects on the stream flow responses of watershed. During the study period the land use and land cover has changed due to natural and anthropogenic activity. The results depicted that there was an incessant expansion of agricultural land, built-up area and forest cover, on the other hand declining of agroforestry; grassland and woodland were happened during from the 1988 to 2018 periods. Due to the occurred LU/LC changes, the mean monthly stream flow were increased by 5.97m3/s for wet season and similarly the dry season flow showed increasing by 0.96m3/s during the study periods from 1988 up to 2018. Generally the result indicated that large changes of the stream flow in the watershed. Hence result notified an urgent intervention, so as to regulate the LU/LC change and to reduce its strong impacts on the stream flow of the Wabe watershed.
This document summarizes a study on identifying the limiting nutrient (nitrogen or phosphorus) that controls aquatic productivity in five lakes and one reservoir in Mexico's Mesa Central region. The study involved collecting water samples from the lakes/reservoir during dry and rainy seasons in 2010 to analyze nutrient levels and conduct algal growth bioassays. The bioassays and nutrient ratios suggested phosphorus limitation in some cases and nitrogen limitation in others, with some sites showing seasonal variation or unclear results. The study aimed to determine the common limiting nutrient and compare seasonal variations to past studies, as nutrient limitation can change over time with human impacts.
- The document analyzes the hydrological impacts of land-use and land-cover changes in the Ketar watershed in Ethiopia between 1986 and 2010.
- Land-use classifications using satellite images from 1986 and 2010 showed an expansion of agricultural land and settlements, and a reduction of forest and grassland areas.
- Hydrological modeling with SWAT found that mean monthly wet season flow increased 3.8% from 1986 to 2010, while mean monthly dry season flow decreased 12.3%, indicating changes to the watershed's hydrological processes due to land conversion.
- Continued conversion of marginal lands to agriculture as the population grows could further impact the watershed's hydrology and threaten livelihoods.
This document describes research on developing habitat suitability models for black-tailed prairie dogs in the southern Great Plains. The researchers used long-term datasets on prairie dog colony locations across 7 study sites to create models based on soil properties, topography, and climate. The models show that suitable habitat is positively associated with soil organic matter, pH, clay and depth, and negatively associated with slope and sand. Certain soil-climate interactions were also important. The resulting maps can help prioritize conservation areas for prairie dogs and associated species under climate change.
This document summarizes two studies evaluating the environmental impacts of Flaming Gorge Dam operations. The first study assessed the effects of overwinter double-peaking flows on trout behavior downstream, finding that trout activity increased in response to flow fluctuations. The second study examined the effects on endangered pikeminnow nursery habitat, finding that backwater characteristics are affected by flow levels and each backwater is unique annually due to sediment transport. Video recordings and topographic surveys were used to monitor fish behaviors and backwater features across varying dam operations.
Mr. MacDougall has over 10 years of experience as a biologist providing ecological consulting services including wetland delineations and assessments, endangered species surveys, and environmental monitoring for development projects. He holds a MS in Environmental Studies and has received numerous certifications in areas such as wetland delineation, endangered species surveying, and health and safety training. His project experience includes conducting desktop analyses and field investigations for solar, utility, and pipeline projects across multiple states.
Biogeography-based optimization (BBO) is a new popu
lation-based evolutionary algorithm and
one of meta-heuristic algorithms. This technique is
based on an old mathematical study that
explains the geographical distribution of biologica
l organisms. The first original form of BBO
was introduced in 2008 and known as a partial migra
tion based BBO. Few months later, BBO
was re-introduced again with additional three other
forms and known as single, simplified
partial, and simplified single migration based BBOs
. Then a lot of modifications were employed
to enhance the performance of BBO. However, the lit
erature lacks the explanations and the
reasons on which the modifications are based on. Th
is paper tries to clarify this issue by making
a comparison between the four original BBO algorith
ms through a variety of benchmark
functions with different dimensions and complexitie
s. The results show that both single and
simplified single migration based BBOs are faster,
but have less performance as compared to
the others. The comparison between the partial and
the simplified partial migration based BBOs
shows that the preference depends on the population
size, problem’s complexity and dimensions
and the values of the upper and lower side constrai
nts. The partial migration model wins when
these factors, except population size, are increase
d, and vice versa for the simplified partial
migration model. The results can be used as a found
ation and a first step of modification for
enhancing any proposed modification on BBO includin
g the existing modifications that are
described in literature.
Agricultural Drought Severity assessment using land Surface temperature and N...John Kapoi Kapoi
This study was focused on Nakuru, a tropical region in the Rift Valley of Kenya, bounded between latitude 0.28°N and 1.16°S, and longitude 36.27° E and 36.55°E. The main The main aim of this
research is to assess the agricultural drought in high potential region of Kenya with an objective of mapping the agricultural drought severity levels, assessing the precipitation and normalized difference
vegetation index deviation over its long term mean average in the region and to generate land surface temperature and emissivity maps to compare the surface temperature proportion during the drought
and normal period.
The data was obtained from NOAA-AVHRR, LANDSAT TM and ETM+ and was processed with ERDAS Imagine and GIS software of the Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI).The land
surface temperature was derived using Planck’s radiative principles. The thermal band of Landsat TM was utilized to extract the radiance and brightness temperature. The brightness temperature was
combined with surface emissivity to derive the land surface temperature (LST) while NDVI was derived from bands 3 and 4 and its result was divided by the LST to determine the moisture levels.
The products were classified into five main classes to reflect the moisture levels. Rainfall and NDVI performance was also processed from NOAA AVHRR and long term mean established and compared
with the specific year of study performance.
The result of the study revealed that NOAA-AVHRR data offers very useful information in drought monitoring and early warning, LST and NDVI is useful in moisture level mapping that can be used
to detect drought and the drought in Nakuru is characterized by both low and high temperatures that exacerbates the crop failure.
2013 GISCO Track, Utilizing GIS to Locate Environmental and Recreation Stream...GIS in the Rockies
This document summarizes a GIS analysis that identified stream segments in the Snake-Salt River Basin of Wyoming that have environmental and recreational uses and some level of institutional protection. The analysis used available GIS data layers representing variables like stream classifications, instream flow filings, land ownership, and protected areas to assign scores representing relative levels of use and protection. Raster maps were created and combined to identify highly used and protected stream segments. Overlapping the use and protection maps allows analysis of potential areas of conflict with traditional water uses. The results will be included in an environmental and recreational water use study of the basin.
The document summarizes a study that analyzed the morphometric characteristics of the Sumanpa river catchment in Ghana using remote sensing and GIS techniques. Key findings include:
1) The 38 km2 catchment has a drainage density of 0.934 km/km2 indicating permeable subsoil.
2) The catchment relief is 137m and total stream network length is 36.51km, of which 61% are ephemeral streams and 38.9% are second and third order.
3) 44% of the catchment area has slopes between 5-10 degrees, with generally good vegetation cover. There are 31 streams that feed into a 3rd order trunk stream, forming a trellis drainage
1) The document acknowledges collaborators who contributed to the project focused on addressing fluvial erosion hazards and promoting healthy riparian zones along rivers.
2) It introduces a project applying geospatial analysis and outreach to model stream power in the Deerfield River watershed and provide best management practices for farmers.
3) Maps of stream power in the watershed are presented along with an explanation of how participatory research was used to engage stakeholders and develop fluvial risk management objectives.
This document describes an integrated approach to precision conservation planning in the South Fork watershed. It involved 1) validating predictions of ephemeral gully formation, 2) comparing predictions to field observations, and 3) engaging landowners and stakeholders. Researchers worked with agricultural educators to develop curriculum on erosion and conservation practices. Outreach included educating landowners about erosion risks and control tools. The goals were to target practices to high priority sites and increase adoption of conservation practices.
The document provides background information on a study analyzing the pollutant removal efficiency of the Villanova University Constructed Stormwater Wetland. It discusses the site's history as a dry detention basin that was retrofitted in 1999 to become a constructed stormwater wetland. The primary goals of the study are to analyze pollutant removal efficiencies during baseflow and storm events and investigate the effects of different plant species on removals. A secondary component involves plots with different plant types to determine which species are most effective at nutrient removal.
Remote Sensing & GIS based drainage morphometryAkshay Wakode
Remote sensing and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) techniques are increasingly being used for morphometric analysis of drainage basins throughout the world. GIS facilitates the manipulation and analysis of spatial information obtained using remote sensing. Integrating GIS and RS provides an efficient mechanism not only to upgrade and monitor morphometric parameters but also to permit spatial analysis of other associated thematic database. As compared to the conventional morphometric studies, remote sensing provides extant ground reality inputs for assessing changes in drainage patterns, density soil characteristics and land-use/land form changes in real life. Morphometry by and large, affects the hydrological processes rather indirectly through their dependency on several other factors such as soil, geology, vegetation cover and climate (Schmidt et al. 2000). The interrelationship between morphometric parameters varies from basin to basin under diverse topography and climatic condition. Understanding these relationship would enable the identification of the dominant parameters acting on a particular basin. An extensive and detailed analysis accounting for the various morphometric parameters under linear, areal and relief aspects of measurements was performed. The test site is located along the foothills of the Western Ghats, near the city of Pune and comprises of three large scale basins. The three rivers viz. Ghod, Bhima and Mula-Mutha, which are amongst the largest in the state, broadly consist of 23 sub-basins of Ghod, 22 of Bhima and 11 of Mula-Mutha.
This curriculum vita summarizes the qualifications of Jennifer Ann Corbin. She has over 20 years of experience in research, teaching, and natural resource work. She is currently a PhD candidate studying alpine ecology and has worked extensively on research projects in Grand Teton National Park. She has taught college courses in biology, physical science, and technical writing. Her research focuses on topics like climate change, limnology, hydrology, and biogeochemistry in high alpine systems.
This document summarizes a study that evaluated the effects of different grazing densities on nutrient cycling and dung beetle populations. The study was conducted at a ranch in Nebraska and compared low and high stocking density grazing. Key findings include:
1) Dung beetle diversity was higher under rotational grazing compared to continuous grazing or no grazing.
2) Greenhouse gas fluxes from dung pats were similar whether dung beetles were present or excluded.
3) Soil ammonium levels were higher under dung pats after 7-28 days, while nitrate levels peaked at 7 days and then declined.
Environmental conditions and zooplankton community structure in five ponds in...Innspub Net
The degradation of surface water quality in Cameroon is linked to the absence of a functional waste management strategy. For such a strategy to be efficient, a general understanding of aquatic ecosystems will be of importance, these management strategies are particularly lacking in the eastern part of the country. To better understand and appreciate the ecosystems in the town of Bertoua, five ponds where chosen for the physicochemical and zooplankton communities analysis. Sampling on these ponds was conducted from March 2016 to April 2017 on a monthly basis. Samples for physicochemical analysis were collected at 20cm below water surface at the middle of each pond and measured were done following the recommendations of Rodier and Alpha. Biological samples were collected by filtering 50 liters of water through a 64µm mesh opening sieve. Identification was done using standard methods and identification keys. One-way ANOVA analysis was conducted to assess the potential differences between the different ponds base monthly observations. Although they are all hypereutrophic, with regard to the values of the physicochemical parameters, the five ponds showed no significant difference between them but, the structure of the zooplankton community remains very diverse. 118 zooplankton species have been identified in the five ponds. The distribution of zooplankton in these hydrosystems was mainly governed by the presence of organic matter. This study sheds light on the status and biological diversity of ponds in eastern Cameroon, data on which to rely to develop management strategies.
International Journal of Computational Engineering Research(IJCER) is an intentional online Journal in English monthly publishing journal. This Journal publish original research work that contributes significantly to further the scientific knowledge in engineering and Technology.
This document summarizes a study that analyzed changes in coral reef presence on St. Martin's Island over a 10-year period using remote sensing and GIS techniques. Land use maps from 2007 and 2017 were created from satellite imagery and classified. Analysis found that the area of coral reefs decreased by 0.81% (from 192.15 hectares to 186.57 hectares) between 2007 and 2017. The main threats to coral reefs identified were overexploitation of resources, destructive fishing practices, increased sedimentation from human activities, and natural disturbances from storms and freshwater discharge. The study concluded that coral reef quantity in the study area changed significantly over the 10-year period.
Zheltokamenka quarry, with an active mining area of 82 hectares, has about 40 hectares of slope surfaces remaining after the extraction of limestone. Actual problem is the lack of suitable technologies for increasing biodiversity in such areas. Our project aims at formation of mobile biodiversity-enriched plant communities that are integrated into appropriate niches on the steep slopes of limestone quarries. Our approach is based on the technology of vertical farming, widely used in architecture. We propose to use microcommunities including rare plant species adapted to the harsh conditions of rocky walls without further support from people. "Green Wall" will consist of communities, planted on the shelves of quarry steep slopes.
This technology will trigger local villagers to perceive ""green walls"" of the quarry as an oasis in the mining lands, and not as destructed space for garbage dumping.
The project won the 1st Prize in National Quarry Life Award in 2014 in Ukraine.
Read more: http://www.quarrylifeaward.com/project/green-wall-project-proekt-zelenaya-stena
This document outlines a research project to improve the simulation of nitrogen and phosphorus fate and transport in irrigated agricultural watersheds in semi-arid regions. The project aims to: 1) Enhance the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) by integrating it with MODFLOW and RT3D to better simulate surface-subsurface flow and reactive transport processes. 2) Improve understanding of the key processes governing nitrogen and phosphorus movement, transformation, and storage in agricultural watersheds. 3) Assess remediation strategies for nitrogen and phosphorus contamination under varying climate scenarios. The enhanced model will be tested and results disseminated to help watershed managers.
John Stephen: Introducing BASE: Biome of Australian Soil Environments. A coll...GigaScience, BGI Hong Kong
This document introduces the BASE project, which aims to build knowledge about Australian soil environments through metagenomic analysis of soil samples. The project will collect around 50-100 soil samples from various locations across Australia, representing different environments, land uses, and farming systems. Samples will be sequenced and analyzed to characterize microbial communities and generate a comprehensive survey of Australian soil biodiversity. The data will provide a baseline for examining the effects of land use on soils and inform efforts to restore and rehabilitate native ecosystems.
Dr. Abhijit Mitra, Associate Professor and former Head, Dept. of Marine Science, University of Calcutta (INDIA) has been active in the sphere of Oceanography since 1985. He obtained his Ph.D as NET qualified scholar in 1994. Since then he joined Calcutta Port Trust and WWF (World Wide Fund), in various capacities to carry out research programmes on environmental science, biodiversity conservation, climate change and carbon sequestration. Presently Dr. Mitra is serving as the advisor of Oceanography Division of Techno India University, Kolkata. He has to his credit about 388 scientific publications in various National and International journals, and 34 books of postgraduate standards. Dr. Mitra has successfully completed about 16 projects on biodiversity loss in fishery sector, coastal pollution, alternative livelihood, climate change and carbon sequestration. Dr. Mitra also visited as faculty member and invited speakers in several foreign Universities of Singapore, Kenya, Oman and USA. In 2008, Dr. Mitra was invited as visiting fellow at University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth, USA to deliver a series of lecture on Climate Change. Dr. Mitra also successfully guided 29 Ph.D students. Presently his domain of expertise includes environmental science, mangrove ecology, sustainable aquaculture, alternative livelihood, climate change and carbon sequestration.
Modelling of runoff response in a semi-arid coastal watershed using SWATIJERA Editor
The GIS based hydrological model SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) is applied to a coastal watershed in the water scarce Saurashtra region of Gujarat, India, to understand the rainfall-runoff linkage. The study attempts to identify response of the coastal watershed for existing climatic conditions. The hydrological model is calibrated (2006-2009) and validated (2010-2012) at both daily and monthly scales. Performance of the model during calibration and validation period is evaluated through standard indices, NSE, R2 and PBIAS that indicate an acceptable response. At monthly scale, model performance is good for both low and above average rainfall years.
The goal of this project is to investigate the effects of different beef cattle housing, manure management, and crop production scenarios in the Northern Great Plains on nitrogen and phosphorus losses and efficiencies. The objectives are to adapt and evaluate models estimating the fate of nitrogen and phosphorus under various scenarios, and evaluate housing/manure/crop scenarios for nutrient fate and farm profitability under climate variability. The project involves plot and barn studies measuring variables like emissions, soil nutrients, and crop yields from different manure and fertilizer treatments over multiple years. An integrated farm system model will be used to investigate nutrient cycling and evaluate scenarios. The outcomes aim to provide insights into sustainable livestock nutrient management and production.
State and transition models of Mongolia's rangelands, 2018GreengoldMongolia
The document presents state and transition models of Mongolian rangelands. It describes reference and alternative states for different ecological site groups within ecoregions. States represent major changes in conditions that are difficult to reverse, while community phases within states represent more easily reversed changes. Transitions between states relate to degradation or restoration based on management actions. Models were developed using long-term data and expert knowledge to provide a basis for rangeland management and planning. The updated edition includes additional details to facilitate broader use of the models.
Il Rapporto energia, curato dall’Osservatorio regionale e Ufficio statistico per l’energia, ha l’obiettivo di mettere in evidenza i fatti salienti che riguardano l’energia in Sicilia.
2013 GISCO Track, Utilizing GIS to Locate Environmental and Recreation Stream...GIS in the Rockies
This document summarizes a GIS analysis that identified stream segments in the Snake-Salt River Basin of Wyoming that have environmental and recreational uses and some level of institutional protection. The analysis used available GIS data layers representing variables like stream classifications, instream flow filings, land ownership, and protected areas to assign scores representing relative levels of use and protection. Raster maps were created and combined to identify highly used and protected stream segments. Overlapping the use and protection maps allows analysis of potential areas of conflict with traditional water uses. The results will be included in an environmental and recreational water use study of the basin.
The document summarizes a study that analyzed the morphometric characteristics of the Sumanpa river catchment in Ghana using remote sensing and GIS techniques. Key findings include:
1) The 38 km2 catchment has a drainage density of 0.934 km/km2 indicating permeable subsoil.
2) The catchment relief is 137m and total stream network length is 36.51km, of which 61% are ephemeral streams and 38.9% are second and third order.
3) 44% of the catchment area has slopes between 5-10 degrees, with generally good vegetation cover. There are 31 streams that feed into a 3rd order trunk stream, forming a trellis drainage
1) The document acknowledges collaborators who contributed to the project focused on addressing fluvial erosion hazards and promoting healthy riparian zones along rivers.
2) It introduces a project applying geospatial analysis and outreach to model stream power in the Deerfield River watershed and provide best management practices for farmers.
3) Maps of stream power in the watershed are presented along with an explanation of how participatory research was used to engage stakeholders and develop fluvial risk management objectives.
This document describes an integrated approach to precision conservation planning in the South Fork watershed. It involved 1) validating predictions of ephemeral gully formation, 2) comparing predictions to field observations, and 3) engaging landowners and stakeholders. Researchers worked with agricultural educators to develop curriculum on erosion and conservation practices. Outreach included educating landowners about erosion risks and control tools. The goals were to target practices to high priority sites and increase adoption of conservation practices.
The document provides background information on a study analyzing the pollutant removal efficiency of the Villanova University Constructed Stormwater Wetland. It discusses the site's history as a dry detention basin that was retrofitted in 1999 to become a constructed stormwater wetland. The primary goals of the study are to analyze pollutant removal efficiencies during baseflow and storm events and investigate the effects of different plant species on removals. A secondary component involves plots with different plant types to determine which species are most effective at nutrient removal.
Remote Sensing & GIS based drainage morphometryAkshay Wakode
Remote sensing and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) techniques are increasingly being used for morphometric analysis of drainage basins throughout the world. GIS facilitates the manipulation and analysis of spatial information obtained using remote sensing. Integrating GIS and RS provides an efficient mechanism not only to upgrade and monitor morphometric parameters but also to permit spatial analysis of other associated thematic database. As compared to the conventional morphometric studies, remote sensing provides extant ground reality inputs for assessing changes in drainage patterns, density soil characteristics and land-use/land form changes in real life. Morphometry by and large, affects the hydrological processes rather indirectly through their dependency on several other factors such as soil, geology, vegetation cover and climate (Schmidt et al. 2000). The interrelationship between morphometric parameters varies from basin to basin under diverse topography and climatic condition. Understanding these relationship would enable the identification of the dominant parameters acting on a particular basin. An extensive and detailed analysis accounting for the various morphometric parameters under linear, areal and relief aspects of measurements was performed. The test site is located along the foothills of the Western Ghats, near the city of Pune and comprises of three large scale basins. The three rivers viz. Ghod, Bhima and Mula-Mutha, which are amongst the largest in the state, broadly consist of 23 sub-basins of Ghod, 22 of Bhima and 11 of Mula-Mutha.
This curriculum vita summarizes the qualifications of Jennifer Ann Corbin. She has over 20 years of experience in research, teaching, and natural resource work. She is currently a PhD candidate studying alpine ecology and has worked extensively on research projects in Grand Teton National Park. She has taught college courses in biology, physical science, and technical writing. Her research focuses on topics like climate change, limnology, hydrology, and biogeochemistry in high alpine systems.
This document summarizes a study that evaluated the effects of different grazing densities on nutrient cycling and dung beetle populations. The study was conducted at a ranch in Nebraska and compared low and high stocking density grazing. Key findings include:
1) Dung beetle diversity was higher under rotational grazing compared to continuous grazing or no grazing.
2) Greenhouse gas fluxes from dung pats were similar whether dung beetles were present or excluded.
3) Soil ammonium levels were higher under dung pats after 7-28 days, while nitrate levels peaked at 7 days and then declined.
Environmental conditions and zooplankton community structure in five ponds in...Innspub Net
The degradation of surface water quality in Cameroon is linked to the absence of a functional waste management strategy. For such a strategy to be efficient, a general understanding of aquatic ecosystems will be of importance, these management strategies are particularly lacking in the eastern part of the country. To better understand and appreciate the ecosystems in the town of Bertoua, five ponds where chosen for the physicochemical and zooplankton communities analysis. Sampling on these ponds was conducted from March 2016 to April 2017 on a monthly basis. Samples for physicochemical analysis were collected at 20cm below water surface at the middle of each pond and measured were done following the recommendations of Rodier and Alpha. Biological samples were collected by filtering 50 liters of water through a 64µm mesh opening sieve. Identification was done using standard methods and identification keys. One-way ANOVA analysis was conducted to assess the potential differences between the different ponds base monthly observations. Although they are all hypereutrophic, with regard to the values of the physicochemical parameters, the five ponds showed no significant difference between them but, the structure of the zooplankton community remains very diverse. 118 zooplankton species have been identified in the five ponds. The distribution of zooplankton in these hydrosystems was mainly governed by the presence of organic matter. This study sheds light on the status and biological diversity of ponds in eastern Cameroon, data on which to rely to develop management strategies.
International Journal of Computational Engineering Research(IJCER) is an intentional online Journal in English monthly publishing journal. This Journal publish original research work that contributes significantly to further the scientific knowledge in engineering and Technology.
This document summarizes a study that analyzed changes in coral reef presence on St. Martin's Island over a 10-year period using remote sensing and GIS techniques. Land use maps from 2007 and 2017 were created from satellite imagery and classified. Analysis found that the area of coral reefs decreased by 0.81% (from 192.15 hectares to 186.57 hectares) between 2007 and 2017. The main threats to coral reefs identified were overexploitation of resources, destructive fishing practices, increased sedimentation from human activities, and natural disturbances from storms and freshwater discharge. The study concluded that coral reef quantity in the study area changed significantly over the 10-year period.
Zheltokamenka quarry, with an active mining area of 82 hectares, has about 40 hectares of slope surfaces remaining after the extraction of limestone. Actual problem is the lack of suitable technologies for increasing biodiversity in such areas. Our project aims at formation of mobile biodiversity-enriched plant communities that are integrated into appropriate niches on the steep slopes of limestone quarries. Our approach is based on the technology of vertical farming, widely used in architecture. We propose to use microcommunities including rare plant species adapted to the harsh conditions of rocky walls without further support from people. "Green Wall" will consist of communities, planted on the shelves of quarry steep slopes.
This technology will trigger local villagers to perceive ""green walls"" of the quarry as an oasis in the mining lands, and not as destructed space for garbage dumping.
The project won the 1st Prize in National Quarry Life Award in 2014 in Ukraine.
Read more: http://www.quarrylifeaward.com/project/green-wall-project-proekt-zelenaya-stena
This document outlines a research project to improve the simulation of nitrogen and phosphorus fate and transport in irrigated agricultural watersheds in semi-arid regions. The project aims to: 1) Enhance the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) by integrating it with MODFLOW and RT3D to better simulate surface-subsurface flow and reactive transport processes. 2) Improve understanding of the key processes governing nitrogen and phosphorus movement, transformation, and storage in agricultural watersheds. 3) Assess remediation strategies for nitrogen and phosphorus contamination under varying climate scenarios. The enhanced model will be tested and results disseminated to help watershed managers.
John Stephen: Introducing BASE: Biome of Australian Soil Environments. A coll...GigaScience, BGI Hong Kong
This document introduces the BASE project, which aims to build knowledge about Australian soil environments through metagenomic analysis of soil samples. The project will collect around 50-100 soil samples from various locations across Australia, representing different environments, land uses, and farming systems. Samples will be sequenced and analyzed to characterize microbial communities and generate a comprehensive survey of Australian soil biodiversity. The data will provide a baseline for examining the effects of land use on soils and inform efforts to restore and rehabilitate native ecosystems.
Dr. Abhijit Mitra, Associate Professor and former Head, Dept. of Marine Science, University of Calcutta (INDIA) has been active in the sphere of Oceanography since 1985. He obtained his Ph.D as NET qualified scholar in 1994. Since then he joined Calcutta Port Trust and WWF (World Wide Fund), in various capacities to carry out research programmes on environmental science, biodiversity conservation, climate change and carbon sequestration. Presently Dr. Mitra is serving as the advisor of Oceanography Division of Techno India University, Kolkata. He has to his credit about 388 scientific publications in various National and International journals, and 34 books of postgraduate standards. Dr. Mitra has successfully completed about 16 projects on biodiversity loss in fishery sector, coastal pollution, alternative livelihood, climate change and carbon sequestration. Dr. Mitra also visited as faculty member and invited speakers in several foreign Universities of Singapore, Kenya, Oman and USA. In 2008, Dr. Mitra was invited as visiting fellow at University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth, USA to deliver a series of lecture on Climate Change. Dr. Mitra also successfully guided 29 Ph.D students. Presently his domain of expertise includes environmental science, mangrove ecology, sustainable aquaculture, alternative livelihood, climate change and carbon sequestration.
Modelling of runoff response in a semi-arid coastal watershed using SWATIJERA Editor
The GIS based hydrological model SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) is applied to a coastal watershed in the water scarce Saurashtra region of Gujarat, India, to understand the rainfall-runoff linkage. The study attempts to identify response of the coastal watershed for existing climatic conditions. The hydrological model is calibrated (2006-2009) and validated (2010-2012) at both daily and monthly scales. Performance of the model during calibration and validation period is evaluated through standard indices, NSE, R2 and PBIAS that indicate an acceptable response. At monthly scale, model performance is good for both low and above average rainfall years.
The goal of this project is to investigate the effects of different beef cattle housing, manure management, and crop production scenarios in the Northern Great Plains on nitrogen and phosphorus losses and efficiencies. The objectives are to adapt and evaluate models estimating the fate of nitrogen and phosphorus under various scenarios, and evaluate housing/manure/crop scenarios for nutrient fate and farm profitability under climate variability. The project involves plot and barn studies measuring variables like emissions, soil nutrients, and crop yields from different manure and fertilizer treatments over multiple years. An integrated farm system model will be used to investigate nutrient cycling and evaluate scenarios. The outcomes aim to provide insights into sustainable livestock nutrient management and production.
State and transition models of Mongolia's rangelands, 2018GreengoldMongolia
The document presents state and transition models of Mongolian rangelands. It describes reference and alternative states for different ecological site groups within ecoregions. States represent major changes in conditions that are difficult to reverse, while community phases within states represent more easily reversed changes. Transitions between states relate to degradation or restoration based on management actions. Models were developed using long-term data and expert knowledge to provide a basis for rangeland management and planning. The updated edition includes additional details to facilitate broader use of the models.
Il Rapporto energia, curato dall’Osservatorio regionale e Ufficio statistico per l’energia, ha l’obiettivo di mettere in evidenza i fatti salienti che riguardano l’energia in Sicilia.
The document outlines a student's goals to graduate from Memorial High School, study Business Management and Culinary Arts at Baylor University, and become successful in both personal and work life to provide for their family.
Microbial growth is affected by several key factors:
Availability of nutrients, moisture, temperature, pH, and gaseous atmosphere. Culture media must provide appropriate levels of these factors to encourage microbial growth. Bacteria are cultured using liquid or solid media in an incubator, then examined for colony formation and characteristics. A bacterial growth curve includes lag, logarithmic, stationary, and death phases as the microbes multiply and nutrients are depleted.
This document summarizes a study on the fish fauna of the Congonhas River in Brazil. The Congonhas River is an important undammed tributary in the heavily modified Upper Paraná River basin. The study found:
1) A total of 63 fish species from 4,640 individuals were captured in the Congonhas River, with 79.4% being Characiformes and Siluriformes.
2) 14% of fish species captured were long-distance migratory species that use the river.
3) There was an increase in fish species richness from the upper to lower stretches of the river, indicating the river supports both migratory and non-migratory fish
Biodiversity and abundance of fish and plankton of nguru lake, northeastern, ...Alexander Decker
This document summarizes a study on the biodiversity and abundance of fish and plankton in Nguru Lake, Nigeria. Twenty-five species of phytoplankton from four divisions were found in the lake. Sixteen species of zooplankton from four groups were present. Twenty-four fish species belonging to thirteen families were identified. The family Cichlidae dominated the fish population. Shannon-Weiner indices indicated some stations had higher diversity and were less polluted than others. The study provides baseline data on the lake's biodiversity to support development of its fisheries potential.
Ecosystem Services and Perception of Water Quality of Lake Barombi Kotto, Cam...ijtsrd
This study carried out in BarombiKotto was aimed at assessing ecosystem services provided by Lake BarombiKotto and its riparian vegetation and to determine the level of awareness of this community to threats to degradation of water quality and riparian vegetation. Two hundred semi structured questionnaires were administered to the inhabitants of BarombiKotto village using the purposive sampling method. The Likert rating method was used to derive quantitative data that was further analysed using SPSS version 17. Results revealed that, respondents depended on the lake and vegetation for the provision of water for drinking, domestic purposes, irrigation, transport, recreational and cultural activities and also on forest benefits like wood for fuel, construction and medicinal plants. Significant associations were found between age group, level of education and respondentsawareness about the threats to water quality and sustainable practices. Agriculture, harvest of wood for construction, high fishing rates, increasing abundance of aquatic weeds were identified as major threats to Lake BarombiKotto and its surrounding vegetation. Water quality attributes like reduced transparency, lake depth, and other parameters such as aquatic weeds and fish stocks have changed in Lake BarombiKotto. The absence of conventional waste management facilities in BarombiKotto community and poor sanitary conditions of toilets could be responsible for the contamination of this lake and hence the high prevalence of typhoid, dysentery and other gastrointestinal infections among respondents. Awo Miranda Egbe | Beatrice Ambo Fonge | Pascal Tabi Tabot ""Ecosystem Services and Perception of Water Quality of Lake Barombi Kotto, Cameroon"" Published in International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (ijtsrd), ISSN: 2456-6470, Volume-3 | Issue-3 , April 2019, URL: https://www.ijtsrd.com/papers/ijtsrd23529.pdf
Paper URL: https://www.ijtsrd.com/biological-science/ecology/23529/ecosystem-services-and-perception-of-water-quality-of-lake-barombi-kotto-cameroon/awo-miranda-egbe
Ecosystem Services and Perception of Water Quality of Lake Barombi Kotto, Cam...ijtsrd
This study carried out in BarombiKotto was aimed at assessing ecosystem services provided by Lake BarombiKotto and its riparian vegetation and to determine the level of awareness of this community to threats to degradation of water quality and riparian vegetation. Two hundred semi structured questionnaires were administered to the inhabitants of BarombiKotto village using the purposive sampling method. The Likert rating method was used to derive quantitative data that was further analysed using SPSS version 17. Results revealed that, respondents depended on the lake and vegetation for the provision of water for drinking, domestic purposes, irrigation, transport, recreational and cultural activities and also on forest benefits like wood for fuel, construction and medicinal plants. Significant associations were found between age group, level of education and respondentsawareness about the threats to water quality and sustainable practices. Agriculture, harvest of wood for construction, high fishing rates, increasing abundance of aquatic weeds were identified as major threats to Lake BarombiKotto and its surrounding vegetation. Water quality attributes like reduced transparency, lake depth, and other parameters such as aquatic weeds and fish stocks have changed in Lake BarombiKotto. The absence of conventional waste management facilities in BarombiKotto community and poor sanitary conditions of toilets could be responsible for the contamination of this lake and hence the high prevalence of typhoid, dysentery and other gastrointestinal infections among respondents. Awo Miranda Egbe | Beatrice Ambo Fonge | Pascal Tabi Tabot ""Ecosystem Services and Perception of Water Quality of Lake Barombi Kotto, Cameroon"" Published in International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (ijtsrd), ISSN: 2456-6470, Volume-3 | Issue-3 , April 2019, URL: https://www.ijtsrd.com/papers/ijtsrd23529.pdf
Paper URL: https://www.ijtsrd.com/biological-science/ecology/23529/ecosystem-services-and-perception-of-water-quality-of-lake-barombi-kotto-cameroon/awo-miranda-egbe
Silvopastoral systems d_casaubon et al_peri et al eds_aaf 2016DanielSomma
This document provides information about silvopastoral systems in the Delta region of Argentina. It discusses the history and environmental characteristics of the Delta region, which includes temperate wetlands along the Paraná River. Silvopastoral systems that integrate tree plantations of species like poplar and willow with cattle raising have increased in the last 15 years. The document describes management techniques for these systems, including using wider spacing for tree planting to allow for a productive understory of grasses and establishment of cattle earlier without damage to trees. The goal is sustainable production of wood, forage, and beef through optimizing the balance between components of the silvopastoral system.
The document summarizes threats to peatlands in the Congo Basin, which were recently discovered to be the largest tropical peatland complex globally. Climate change is identified as a major threat given its potential to destabilize the entire area's large carbon stocks. Socioeconomic development is increasing risks like hydrocarbon exploration, logging, and plantations. While conservation designations cover much of the area, threats could significantly damage the peatland ecosystems. Immediate action is needed to protect the largely intact peatlands and their carbon while improving local livelihoods.
— The study evaluated the effects of land use and occupation in water quality in two sub-basins located in the State of Paraná, Brazil. The first sub-basin has 69.8% of native vegetation (natural) and the other has 54.1% of the land cultivated (anthropic). Samples were collected from April to December 2015, analyzing the following parameters: dissolved oxygen, temperature, electrical conductivity, pH, total dissolved solids, turbidity, color, biochemical oxygen demand, total nitrogen, total phosphorus and fecal coliforms. The natural sub-basin presented, significantly, better water quality. Total phosphorus, biochemical oxygen demand and fecal coliforms exceeded the legal limits on the anthropic sub-basin. At this sub-basin correlation was found between cumulative rainfall of five days with turbidity and fecal coliforms, two days cumulative rainfall and total nitrogen, as well as between air and water temperature, affecting the dissolved oxygen, pH, electrical conductivity and fecal coliforms. In the natural sub-basin correlation was found between cumulative rainfall of two days and turbidity, total dissolved solids and electrical conductivity.
Land cover transition and fragmentation of River Ogba catchment in Benin City...Glory Enaruvbe
This study examined variation in the intensity of land cover transition and the pattern of habitat fragmentation
of River Ogba catchment. Landsat images of 1988, 2002 and 2016 were classified into five categories: low
density urban, high density urban, mixed vegetation, agriculture and dense forest using maximum likelihood
classifier. Intensity analysis approach and landscape metrics were used to analyze the changes and fragmentation
of the land cover. Number of patches, largest patch Index, area-weighted shape index and Euclidean nearest
neighbour were computed. The results show that although mixed vegetation accounted for the largest land cover
category in 1988 and 2002, low density urban dominated the study area in 2016. Intensity analysis of land cover
change in the study area indicates a rising trend. The urban fringe is observed to be highly dynamic zone and this
is primarily driven by changes in agriculture, low density urban and mixed vegetation. The implications of rapid
land cover transition and fragmentation in River Ogba catchment, and especially in the urban fringe, include
threat to biodiversity, food supply and deteriorating environmental conditions. This study provides necessary
insights for developing sustainable strategies for urban landscape planning, administration and governance.
Diversity and abundance of Macrobenthos in a subtropical estuary, BangladeshAbdullaAlAsif1
Soft bottom macrobenthos are important component of the marine and coastal trophic chain. There has been sparse information regarding the distribution of soft bottom macrobenthos form the coastal water of Bangladesh. Consequently, the present study was an effort to reveal the diversity and abundance of macrobenthos in the Feni Estuary in a seasonal pattern together with the hydrological factors. A total of 17 taxa families of soft-bottom invertebrates were found over the two sampling seasons. The current study yielded a total number of 34,726 ind./m 2 (mean 2480ind./m 2) including 18,909ind./m 2 in wet season (mean 2682ind./m 2) and 15,817 ind./m 2 in dry season (2259ind./m 2). The highest density of soft-bottom invertebrates was in the wet season while the lowest number in the dry season. A total of 5 groups of macrobenthos were found over the two sampling seasons. The dominant group was Polychaeta that contributed 43.60% of the total soft-bottom invertebrates. The values of biodiversity indices were higher in dry season compare to the wet season in most of the sampling station during the study period.
Assessment of seasonal variations in surface water quality of Laguna Lake Sta...Open Access Research Paper
Laguna Lake is one of the lakes that largely contribute to the socio-economic and environmental needs of the Philippines as it supports fisheries and aquaculture, recreation, power generation, and industries. In this study, the two-year (2018-2019) water quality monitoring data from Laguna Lake Development Authority was subjected to multivariate factor analysis. Initially, the dataset was divided into two categories, representing the dry and wet seasons. Factor analysis was then performed in order to identify major contributing factors that significantly influence the water quality of the lake during dry and wet seasons. Factor analysis for the two data sets (dry and wet) was able to identify three factors, namely, nutrient pollutants, influential water quality and nitrification. Results showed that the nutrient factor constitutes the biggest impact with a variance of 23.6% on the lake’s water quality during dry season, following influential water quality (22.2%) and nitrification (20.3%). However the nutrient factor contributes the least impact with a variance of 15.1% on the quality of water during wet season while the influential water quality contributes the highest amount of variance (29.4%). Significant changes on BOD and pH were also observed between seasons. Hence, it can be recommended to have strategies for regular monitoring and maintenance of water quality in Laguna Lake. In addition, environmental programs, and policies concerning water, air, and land protection by stakeholders must be realized to ensure sustainability, and conservation of all forms of life particularly aquatic life species.
This document summarizes a literature review of recent research on hydropower and sustainability in the Brazilian Amazon over the past 5 years. It identifies advances in understanding the social, ecological, governance, and development impacts of dams in Amazonian watersheds. It also highlights gaps in knowledge and opportunities for improved communication between scientists, decision-makers, and local communities. A network analysis of publications found some disconnects between fields that could be bridged with more interdisciplinary research. Overall, the review aims to map existing research and identify future research directions to better inform planning and management of social-ecological systems transformed by dams.
Diversity and distribution of anuran in two islands of Parnaíba River Delta, ...Innspub Net
The distribution and composition of communities are influenced by factors that determine the environmental characteristics in a particular region. In order to obtain more information regarding the fauna of frogs in the region of the Parnaíba River Delta, Northeastern Brazil, we performed a quantitative ecological study to compare the composition and distribution of the amphibian communities. The study was conducted in the two largest islands of Deltafrom September 2008 to August 2009. Fifteen ponds were selected and slowly covered in search of males in calling activity. We recorded 21 frog species, distributed in five families and 11 genera. Ilha Grande de Santa Isabel(21 spp.) had higher species richness than the Ilha das Canárias (11 spp.). Although most species are considered to be common in open areas, they were highly influenced by the structural complexity of the vegetation. The highest richness was observed in environments with greatest availability of microhabitats for reproduction. The preservation of different environments found in the two islands, associated with the maintenance of suitable habitats for reproduction of each species, will contribute to the conservation of amphibian communities of the Parnaiba Delta River. Get the full articles at: http://www.innspub.net/jbes/diversity-and-distribution-of-anuran-in-two-islands-of-parnaiba-river-delta-northeastern-brazil/
Effects of fishing on the trophic structure of carnivorous
fish assemblages from shallow rocky bottoms of the
Mediterranean Sea and the temperate Atlantic Ocean
Isaiah Ochieng Abillah
Doctor of Philosophy in Development Studies, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Murang‟a University of
Technology, Kenya
Abstract: Wetlands, all over the world, offer many livelihood support services to riparian communities and beyond
but are currently severely threatened with decimation. In Murang’a County, Kenya, wetlands are a key life
support system for many communities but their survival is currently uncertain due to extensive encroachment,
filling up, pollution and weak legislation. Our study aimed at investigating the impact of riparian community’s
livelihood strategies on wetlands conservation and restoration in Murang’a County, Kenya. Data was collected in
4-sub counties of the County using household’s survey questionnaires, key informant interviews, and focus group
discussion. A randomly selected sample of 404 respondents were recruited for the study. Data was analyzed using
SPSS software version 26.0. Results showed an encroachment rate into the wetlands by the riparian communities
of 60.4%. A highly significant and positive correlation was obtained between livelihood strategies and impacts on
wetlands ((r=0.184, p value =0.001). Members of the riparian communities were poorly informed about the roles of
wetlands, with 70% unaware of any wetland’s conservation efforts. A whopping 73.7% had not participated in any
wetland conservation effort. Hence, there is need for community sensitization and empowerment on wetlands wise
use as well as sustainable wetland utilization, conservation and management.
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Globally, wetlands cover about 6% of the 5.7 million km2 of the Earth‟s surface and they support millions of livelihoods
as they act as „‟water banks‟‟ where water may be drawn and ground water replenished (Millennium Ecosystem
Assessment, 2005). Wetlands are as old as the Earth itself. By 20th century, the increased use of wetlands attracted the
attention of the world and a global meeting was held in Iran on 2nd February, 1971 to discuss wise use and conservation
of lands that were wet (wetlands), the meeting was named the Ramsar Convention and it has been the foundation of
wetlands conservation (Ramsar, 2017).
Wetlands have been places of interest since civilization as many towns and cities are built along the blue economy. They
have also served as transport corridors, source of wildlife, fish and seeds (Fisher, K. and Morling, P.). However, due to
population pressure, wetlands have been encroached into and converted to different agricultural land use and degraded
Davidson, C. (2014), observes that 87% of the world‟s wetlands have been lost since 1700 AD as a result of human
activities.
In the Kenyan economy, Lakes such as Lake Naivasha contributes 5.3 billion and over 30,000 people draw their
livelihoods from wetlands ecosystem but due to climate change, these lakes are contemporarily facing rising water levels
which in turn affects ...
Pelicice et al (ff in press) large reservoirs as barriers (1)Victor Ha-Kã Azevedo
This document discusses how large reservoirs create ecological barriers to downstream fish migration in South America in three key ways:
1. Reservoirs create a gradient of hydrological and limnological conditions between upstream and downstream reaches that acts as a behavioral barrier, as migratory fish are adapted to river environments and lack orientation across large standing water bodies.
2. The lack of flow in reservoirs prevents downstream drift of eggs and larvae passively transported to nursery habitats, with negative consequences.
3. In contrast to dams which block upstream movement, reservoirs specifically impede downstream movement of adults and young fish but do not strongly block upstream movement. No technical solutions exist to overcome the barrier posed by reservoirs.
Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.): Land use/land cover changes and...Agriculture Journal IJOEAR
Water hyacinth was officially reported in Ethiopia in 1956 at Koka Dam and Awash River and it is considered as a constraint to the development of the country. Thus, this study was undertaken to determine Water hyacinth and associated land cover/use changes, and capture perceptions regarding community-based management to enhance its proper control/eradication in Lume and Boa districts, east Shoa zone, Ethiopia using integrated approach. The method of study included Water hyacinth and associated land use/cover change analyses, focus group discussions, discussions with experts at the district, zone and region levels and undertaking consultative workshop. The land use/land cover change analyses revealed increased area coverage by Water hyacinth from about 145.53 ha in 1986 to 2319.48 ha in 2015 with decline in the area of water bodies and wetlands. The annual rate of increase in the area of the weed was about 51.51% while water bodies and wetlands declined by about 0.49% and 1.16%, respectively. Of the 10 group discussions undertaken in the study districts with the communities, 9 of them reported water hyacinth to increase in terms of area coverage since its appearance in their areas which concurs the results obtained from satellite image analyses and they reported the weed to be very harmful to their livelihood. Furthermore, the nine group discussants disclosed water hyacinth to be of no use to them. Recommendations included developing comprehensive management strategies and action plans, analysis and defining roles of each stakeholder, awareness creation, training, institutional linkages, co-management and reduction of nutrient load in water bodies.
The amphibian’s fauna of a West African forest relict near a hydroelectric Da...Innspub Net
This study surveyed amphibian diversity in the 200 ha Biodiversity Conservation Area of the Soubré hydroelectric dam in southwest Côte d'Ivoire. A total of 14 amphibian species from 6 families and 8 genera were recorded. Most species were associated with savannah and degraded forest habitats. The assemblage was dominated by species tolerant of disturbed habitats. All species recorded are of least concern according to the IUCN. Monitoring of species ecology and habitat protection are recommended to conserve this area's amphibian diversity.
1. Suzuki et al.: Mapping the critical habitats for migratory species of the upper Grande River region, Minas Gerais State, Brazil
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APPLIED ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 11(4): 645-659.
http://www.ecology.uni-corvinus.hu ● ISSN 1589 1623 (Print) ● ISSN 1785 0037 (Online)
2013, ALÖKI Kft., Budapest, Hungary
MAPPING THE CRITICAL HABITATS FOR MIGRATORY
SPECIES OF THE UPPER GRANDE RIVER REGION, MINAS
GERAIS STATE, BRAZIL
SUZUKI, F.M.1
– ZAMBALDI, L.P.* – POMPEU, P.S.*
1
Universidade Federal de Lavras
University Campus, P.O Box-3037, CEP. 37200-000, Lavras, MG, Brazil
(phone: +55-35-3829-1200; e-mail: fm.suzuki@hotmail.com)
*Corresponding author
e-mail: ludzambaldi@hotmail.com, pompeu@dbi.ufla.br
(Received 18th
February 2013; accepted 5th
September 2013)
Abstract. Spawning sites, floodplain lakes and the vegetation integrity were mapped and quantified in the
upper Grande River basin, to aid the conservation of local migratory fish fauna, including the
management of the existing fish pass. The distribution of critical habitats for the life cycle of migratory
species, such as spawning sites and nursery areas, is essential because some significant impacts, such as
"source-sink" dynamics and ecological traps may take place depending on their distribution. We assessed
seven lotic stretches throughout the upper Grande River basin, including the Aiuruoca, Capivari, Mortes,
and Cervo tributaries and three regions in main stem. Floodplain lakes were present and well distributed
in all of the tributaries and stretches of the Grande River, although all of them had less than half of the
original vegetation. Due to their high density of eggs and larvae, the Mortes and Aiuruoca tributaries
stood out as essential for fish recruitment in the basin. It was possible to figure out the current situation of
the upper Grande River basin in terms of the remaining vegetation surrounding the lotic stretches, the
presence of nurseries (floodplain lakes), and spawning sites (egg and larvae drift), and to propose
management strategies for the entire basin.
Keywords: Conservation, ichthyoplankton, neotropical fish, nursery areas
Introduction
The acceleration of Brazilian economic development over the last decades has
proportioned to a rising demand for electric energy, mostly from the use of hydropower
source (Aneel, 2011). Although is important to economy growth, the river
impoundments to production of electric energy represent one of main impacts for
aquatic biodiversity, mainly for the fishes. For the migratory species, the dams represent
insurmountable obstacle, both to upstream movement of adult as the downstream
movement of their offspring toward to development areas.
Migratory fish represent only a small fraction of all neotropical ichthyofauna
(Petrere, 1985; Godinho and Godinho, 1994; Agostinho et al., 2003). However, due to
their size (Agostinho et al., 2003; Agostinho et al., 2007a) and greater abundance
(Northcote, 1978), they are most appreciated by professional (Goulding, 1979;
Godinho, 1993; Agostinho et al., 2003) and recreational fisheries (Agostinho et al.,
2003).
The construction of fish passes has been one of the strategies adopted by Brazilian
authorities and the energy sector to diminish the effects of these barriers on migratory
fish communities. However, most facilities have been considered ineffective because
the presence of critical habitats such breeding sites and nurseries (floodplain lakes)
below and above the pass, plus the feasibility of downstream movements of eggs, larvae
2. Suzuki et al.: Mapping the critical habitats for migratory species of the upper Grande River region, Minas Gerais State, Brazil
- 646 -
APPLIED ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 11(4): 645-659.
http://www.ecology.uni-corvinus.hu ● ISSN 1589 1623 (Print) ● ISSN 1785 0037 (Online)
2013, ALÖKI Kft., Budapest, Hungary
and adults through the reservoir and past the dam, are determinant for assessing whether
a fish pass is working as a conservation tool (Pompeu et al., 2011).
The distribution of critical habitats is also essential because some significant impacts
related to fish passes, such as "source-sink" dynamics (Godinho and Kynard, 2009) and
ecological traps (Pelicice and Agostinho, 2008), may take place depending on their
distribution. Because the number of dams is rising in Brazil, there is an increased risk of
migratory species being confined to short river stretches without spawning sites or
floodplains.
Studies on the drift of eggs and larvae (Nakatani et al., 1997a; 1997b; 2001;
Baumgartner et al., 2004) highlight the importance of studying the ichthyoplankton to
identify spawning sites and breeding grounds, which are essential areas for fish species
recruitment. In contrast, remote sensing techniques combined with geographic
information system tools can be applied to assess the occurrence of floodplain lakes and
the integrity of the riparian vegetation (Meaille and Wald, 1990; Weng, 2002). The use
of these data is relevant to identification of the areas or remaining stretch of rivers
essential to conservation of fish species. The identification of these important areas that
can be subsidize protection measures and management actions to preservation of fishes
(Nakatani et al., 2001). Applying these tools in the Grande River basin is essential due
to its enormous hydroelectric potential. Along the upper course there are four power
plants: Furnas, Funil, Itutinga, and Camargos, in addition to numerous others planned
for construction. The presence of these dams may be a critical factor in the success of
fish recruitment in this basin. The reservoirs act as obstacles to ichthyoplankton from
the lotic remnants of the basin (Suzuki et al., 2011). Among the hydroelectric dams
mentioned, only the Funil Dam incorporates a fish passage mechanism (fish lift) in
which many fish are transported upstream during the spawning season (Suzuki et al.,
2011).
This study aimed to assess the distribution of critical habitats (spawning sites and
floodplain lakes) and integrity of the vegetation within the floodplain of the upper
Grande River basin, to aid the conservation of local migratory fauna, including the
management of the existing fish pass.
Material and methods
Study area
The Grande River basin, which belongs to the upper Paraná River basin, covers an
area of 143,000 km2
, including 86,500 km2
within the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil.
The Grande River originates from the Serra da Mantiqueira and travels 1,300 km until
its confluence with the Paranaíba River (Cemig and Cetec, 2000). In the upper Grande
River region, the Funil, Itutinga, and Camargos hydroelectric dams are located upstream
of the Furnas reservoir. The following important tributaries have mouths located in the
influence areas of these reservoirs: the Aiuruoca, the Capivari River, and the Mortes
River, ordered from upstream to downstream. The Aiuruoca River, which drains
directly into the Camargos reservoir, is located on the left margin of the Grande River.
The Capivari and Mortes, located on the left and right margins, respectively, directly
meet the Grande River at the Funil reservoir (Table 1).
3. Suzuki et al.: Mapping the critical habitats for migratory species of the upper Grande River region, Minas Gerais State, Brazil
- 647 -
APPLIED ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 11(4): 645-659.
http://www.ecology.uni-corvinus.hu ● ISSN 1589 1623 (Print) ● ISSN 1785 0037 (Online)
2013, ALÖKI Kft., Budapest, Hungary
Table 1. Technical data for the Funil, Itutinga and Camargos hydroelectric power plants
located along the upper Grande River, Minas Gerais, Brazil (http://www.cemig.com.br)
Technical data
Hydroelectric dam
Funil Itutinga Camargos
Number and type of turbines 3 (Kaplan) 4 (Kaplan) 2 (Kaplan)
Fish pass Lift - -
Type of reservoir
Run-of-the-
river
Run-of-the-
river
Pumped-storage
Maximum inundation area (km2
) 38.32 1.73 73.35
Installed power (MWh) 180 52 48
Maximum reservoir volume (hm3
) 258 13 792
In the present study, we assessed seven lotic stretches throughout the upper Grande
River basin. These included the Aiuruoca, Capivari, Mortes, and Cervo tributaries in
addition to three stretches of the Grande River: between the Furnas reservoir and Funil
dam (Furnas-Funil), between the Funil reservoir and Itutinga dam (Funil-Itutinga), and
upstream of the Camargos reservoir (Fig. 1). Itutinga dam strongly regulate the river
flow, while the Funil is considered a run of river Dam.
Figure 1. Locations of sampling site in the upper Grande River basin upstream of the Furnas
Reservoir (Minas Gerais State, Brazil). (RCE = Cervo River, RM= Mortes River, RCA =
Capivari River, RA = Aiuruoca River, RGI=between Furnas and Funil, RGII=immediately
downstream of the Funil Dam, RGIII=between Funil and Itutinga, RGIV=immediately
downstream of the Itutinga Dam and RGV=upstream of the Camargos Reservoir)
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Integrity of the riparian vegetation and quantification of floodplain lakes
In the seven study areas, we quantified and mapped the natural vegetation and
floodplain lakes considering a 1,000 m buffer from the river margins. Data were
collected from the image classifications from the Landsat 5 TM sensor satellite in the
UTM coordinate system and WGS84 ellipsoid model. Areas covered by clouds were
detected by reflectance values in the blue band and deleted from the images (Sakamoto,
2007). We classified the images using a multispectral pixel by pixel analysis, applying
the maximum likelihood classification method. The training samples necessary for
applying the method were obtained by collecting the coordinates from the area of
interest in October 2008. The classification resulted in a map with three classes of
interest: water (representing river courses and floodplain lakes), vegetation, and others.
The identification of floodplain lakes was determined through an object-oriented
classification from a Landsat 5TM image taken on October 14th, 2008, using band 5
corresponding with the mid-infrared band with spatial resolution of 30 m. The image for
the analysis was chosen in the dry season because each river stretch experiences
different flooding regimes during the rainy season. The images were segmented using
60 scales, which resulted in segments representing objects that were candidates for
classification as floodplain lakes.
Polygons with spatial and spectral attributes (Table 2) similar to lakes were identified
as floodplain lakes using the coordinates collected in the field. Polygons that did not
represent floodplain lakes due to their location and context were manually deleted from
the final classification.
Table 2. Gray levels values for attributes used in object oriented classification of floodplain
lakes
Attributes Minimum Maximum
Spectral
Minimum values for band 5 -0.0055 30.4000
Maximum values for band 5 0.0002 83.0078
Medium values for band 5 -0.0007 55.4431
Spatial
Area 812.2500 2920642.7500
Size 114.0000 8387.0137
Compact 0.1866 0.2976
Convexity 1.0000 1.3502
Solidity 0.5384 1.0000
Form Factor 0.2030 0.7923
Elongation 1.0000 5.5583
Length of the longest axis of polygon 38.0936 1119.2124
Length of the minor axis of polygon 28.5000 730.2086
The ratio of the total area of the polygon to the
area of the outer contour of the polygon.
0.9984 1.0000
The classification accuracy was estimated using two statistical techniques: overall
accuracy and Kappa accuracy. The first technique is a simple descriptive statistical
method that calculates accuracy by dividing the correct total by the total number of
pixels in the error matrix, while Kappa accuracy is a discrete multivariate technique
containing a KHAT statistic. The accuracy values for classifying rivers and vegetation
were 97.39 % using the overall accuracy index and 96% using the Kappa index. In
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classifying the floodplain lakes, the accuracy was estimated to be 90.25 % using the
overall accuracy index and 88% using the Kappa index.
Ichthyoplankton sampling
In order to assess the contribution of eggs and larvae from each tributary and each
stretch of the Grande River, nine ichthyoplankton sampling points were defined
downstream of each region (Fig. 1).
Samples were taken every two weeks from November 2008 to March 2009 twice per
sampling day from 6 am to 9 am and 7 pm to 9 pm. The samples were collected weekly
only for the sampling point immediately downstream of the Funil dam. The samples
were taken using a conical ichthyoplankton net with 500 µm mesh and equipped with a
flowmeter to estimate the volume filtered. The net was positioned approximately 2 m
from one of the banks, preferably in areas with higher water velocity, and it was kept
submerged for approximately 10 minutes at each sampling point. The collected samples
were fixed in 4% formaldehyde. The screening and subsequent identification of
ichthyoplankton were performed on Bogorov trays under a Carl Zeiss ® Stemi DV4
stereoscopic microscope. The egg and larvae densities were calculated for each
sampling point and standardized in relation to number of individuals collected per 10 m3
of filtered water. The larvae were identified to the lowest taxonomic category possible
according to Nakatani et al. (2001). Larvae were classified as unidentified when
identification was not possible due to their initial stage of development or damaged
structures.
Differences in ichthyoplankton density between the river sites were tested using the
Kruskal-Wallis test. The eggs and larvae were classified by developmental stage
according to the terminology described by Nakatani et al. (2001).
Results
An analysis of the conservation status of the areas surrounding rivers based on the
percentage of remaining vegetation revealed intense anthropogenic activity in all
tributaries and stretches of the Grande River. Except for the Cervo River, all rivers had
less than half of the original vegetation (Table 3).
Table 3. Percentage of remaining natural vegetation established on both margins, at a
distance of 1000 m to each side, along the entire river bed stretches of tributaries and the
main river of the upper Grande River, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Stretch
Remnant vegetation
(km2
)
Others (km2
)
Percentage of
vegetation
Tributaries
Aiuruoca 971,295 1265,079 43,4
Capivari 524,957 707,876 42,6
Mortes 849,776 1879,465 31,1
Cervo 528,206 442,514 54,4
Grande River
Furnas-Funil 122,975 241,888 33,7
Funil-Itutinga 167,242 347,399 32,5
Upstream Camargos 1103,117 1850,387 37,3
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Floodplain lakes were present and well distributed in all of the tributaries and
stretches of the Grande River (Fig. 2). A total of 492 floodplain lakes were found. The
Mortes and Aiuruoca Rivers had the most lakes among the tributaries, and the Grande
River upstream of the Camargos reservoir had the most lakes among the stretches of
main river course (Table 4). However, when considering the number of lakes per km of
river, the stretch of the Grande River between Furnas and Funil had the highest value,
followed by the Aiuruoca and Mortes tributaries. The Furnas-Funil stretch had also the
highest total area of lakes compared with the other studied stretches, even though it had
fewer lakes (Table 4).
Figure 2. Resulting map of Landsat image object oriented classification in october 14, 2008,
showing floodplain lakes in tributaries (Aiuruoca River, Capivari River, Mortes River and
Cervo River) and stretch of Grande River (between Furnas-Funil, between Funil-Itutinga and
upstream of the Camargos Reservoir), in the upper Grande River basin, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Table 4. Total number (n), total area (km2
) number per kilometer (n/km) of floodplain lakes
along entire river stretch of tributaries and main river sampled during this study, in the
upper Grande River basin, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Stretch
Floodplain lakes
n Area (km2
) n/km
Tributaries
Aiuruoca 133 0,005 0,936
Capivari 30 1,916 0,433
Mortes 145 0,283 0,768
Cervo 39 0,582 0,494
Grande River
Furnas-Funil 52 2,325 1,376
Funil-Itutinga 2 1,385 0,064
Upstream Camargos 91 0,559 0,295
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An amount of 7,111 eggs were collected during the study. Most of these eggs were
collected from the Grande River between the Funil and Furnas (28.4 %) and from the
Mortes River (24.5 %). Less significant collections included the Capivari (16.6 %), the
Aiuruoca (14.5 %), the Grande River upstream of Camargos (11.28 %), the Grande
River between the Funil and Itutinga (4.4 %), and the Cervo River (0.3 %). Eggs were
not collected from the sampling points immediately downstream of the Funil and
Itutinga dams.
Much fewer larvae were collected, totaling 230 by the end of the study. The most
larvae were collected from the Mortes River (77%), followed by the Capivari (7.4 %),
Cervo (1.3 %), and the Aiuruoca (0.4 %). The remaining larvae (13.9 %) were collected
from stretches of the Grande River: 12.6 % between the Furnas and Funil and only 0.9
% and 0.4% from the stretches upstream of the Camargos reservoir and between Funil
and Itutinga, respectively. No larvae were collected from the sampling points
immediately downstream of the Funil and Itutinga dams during the study period.
Among the larvae collected, it was possible to identify seven taxonomic groups (Table
5). The Heptapteridae and Pimelodidae families represented the Siluriformes order,
while the Anostomidae and Characidae families represented the Characiformes order.
There was only one sample recorded from the Gymnotiformes order; however,
identification at a lower taxonomic category was not possible.
Table 5. Number and frequency of occurrence of larvae collected at each sampling site
according to taxonomic group (RGI = immediately downstream of the Funil Dam; RGII =
immediately upstream of the Funil Reservoir; RGIII = immediately downstream of the
Itutinga Dam; RGIV = immediately upstream of the Camargos Reservoir; NI = non-
identified larvae). *Larvae identified by order. *NI = Not Identified
Taxa N FO
Tributaries Grande River
Aiuruoca Capivari Mortes Cervo RGI RGIII RGV
Characiformes* 8 3,48 ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
Anostomidae 25 10,87 ♦ ♦ ♦
Characidae 8 3,48 ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
Gymnotiformes* 1 0,43 ♦
Siluriformes* 108 46,96 ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
Heptapteridae 8 3,48 ♦
Pimelodidae 4 1,74 ♦ ♦
NI 68 29,56 ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
A comparison of the total densities of eggs and larvae collected revealed the presence
of spawning sites in tributaries of the Grande River, especially the Mortes River. Only
one stretch between the Furnas and Funil in the Grande River had a significant
collection of eggs and larvae (Fig. 3).
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Figure 3. Total density of fish eggs and larvae at each sampling site and the sum of density in
Grande River and in tributaries, from November 2008 to March 2009, in the upper Grande
River basin, MG, Brazil. The illustration represents the sites where the ichthyoplankton was
sampled. (Triangle=reservoir, Black dot= sampling site, Arrow= flow direction, RGI=between
Furnas and Funil, RGII=immediately downstream of the Funil Dam, RGIII=between Funil and
Itutinga, RGIV=immediately downstream of the Itutinga Dam and RGV=upstream of the
Camargos Reservoir)
There was a significant difference in the mean density values of the eggs collected
between the sampling sites (Fig. 4a). The studied tributaries, except for the Cervo
River, had values very similar to each other, revealing important similarities in
spawning areas. Higher variations were found between stretches of the Grande River,
and the Furnas-Funil stretch had the highest mean value. The highest mean density of
larvae was obtained in the Mortes River, followed by the Furnas-Funil stretch of the
Grande River (Fig. 4b).
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Figure 4. a-b. Box plot of the number of eggs (a) and larvae (b) at each sampling site, from
November 2008 to March 2009, in the upper Grande River basin, Minas Gerais, Brazil. (RA =
Aiuruoca River, RCA = Capivari River, RM, Mortes River, RCE = Cervo River, RGI=between
Furnas and Funil, RGII=immediately downstream of the Funil Dam, RGIII=between Funil and
Itutinga, RGIV=immediately downstream of the Itutinga Dam and RGV=upstream of the
Camargos Reservoir)
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Among the eggs collected, most were in the initial stage of development (first
cleavage), except for those from the Mortes River stretch. Among the larvae collected,
there was predominance of less advanced stages (newly hatched and yolk-sac larvae) in
all of the sampled environments. The more advanced stages of both the eggs and larvae
were less represented. The last stage of larval development (postflexion) was only
present among the larvae collected from the Grande River, but in small quantity. A
small difference among the different embryonic stages occurred at the Mortes River,
where we found all egg developmental stages in addition to more larvae (Fig. 5).
Figure 5. Spatial distribution of eggs and larvae number, and yours respective embryonic
stage and post-embryonic, from November 2008 and March 2009, upper Grande River basin,
Minas Gerais, Brazil. (RGI = between Furnas and Funil, RGIII = between Funil and Itutinga,
and RGV = upstream of the Camargos Reservoir)
From these results, it was possible to schematically represent the current situation of
the upper Grande River basin in terms of the remaining vegetation surrounding the lotic
stretches, the presence of nurseries (floodplain lakes), and spawning sites (egg and
larvae drift) (Fig. 6).
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Figure 6. Schematic representation of current scenario in the upper Grande River basin with
regard to remnant vegetation surroundings the rivers, from November 2008 and March 2009.
The numbers illustrations (vegetation, floodplain lakes and ichthyoplankton) are represented in
accordance with the scores attributed in each environment (1 point = 1 illustration, 2 points =
3 illustrations and 3 points = 5 illustrations). The numbers in parentheses refers to the stretch
lotic extension
Discussion
Anthropogenic impacts on aquatic systems have increased in recent years, altering
the hydrological cycle and deteriorating water quality (Tundisi and Matsumura-Tundisi,
2008). In addition to river impoundments, land use changes constitute one of the most
evident impacts. The removal of vegetation that surrounds rivers not only alters
drainage patterns but also increases sedimentation (Maitland, 1995), causing negative
effects to fish assemblages (Jones, 1999). Because it directly reflects the state of
environment conservation, assessing the integrity of the vegetation through mapping
and quantifying the vegetation surrounding the rivers is essential for developing
effective management plans for the conservation, protection, and restoration of aquatic
systems (Tundisi and Matsumura-Tundisi, 2008). The results show that areas adjacent
to lotic stretches of the upper Grande River basin, except for the Cervo River, have less
than half of their original vegetation, with the vegetation possibly being removed for
livestock practices (Scolforo et al., 2008). These activities are also evident in many
areas surrounding the floodplain lakes of the upper Grande River basin, whose area
should be protected because it was recognized as a permanent preservation area (Law
4771/65, September 15th
1965).
Floodplains are used as sites for feeding, reproduction, and initial development by
many fish species (Junk et al., 1989; Lowe-McConnell, 1999). These environments
generally have favorable conditions for larval development due to their higher
temperatures and the presence of shelter and food (Humphries et al., 1999; Agostinho et
al., 2003), and are important for both migratory and sedentary species (Ziober et al.,
2007; Daga et al., 2009). The results of the present study reveal a large number of
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floodplain lakes along most of the studied river stretches, including all of the tributaries.
However, it should be noted that the number of floodplain lakes can be overestimated
by including seasonal lakes not connected to the river.
Tributaries often act as important spawning sites, as demonstrated by several studies
on ichthyoplankton (Nakatani et al., 1997a; 1997b; Baumgartner et al., 2004; Hermes-
Silva et al., 2009; Pinto et al., 2009). Due to their high density of eggs and larvae, the
Mortes and Aiuruoca tributaries stood out as essential for fish recruitment in the basin.
The presence of these tributaries is even more important when located between
impoundments on the Grande River, where they may act as an alternative route for
reproduction (Antonio et al., 2007; Pinto et al., 2009).
Despite the importance of tributaries for fish reproduction, the remaining lotic
stretches of the Grande River were also important as spawning areas, especially the
region between the Furnas and Funil. Reproduction in this region is essential because it
is unlikely that ichthyoplankton have passage via the Funil reservoir to the floodplain
lakes located there.
In contrast, a smaller number of egg and larvae were collected from the Funil-
Itutinga stretch of the Grande River, reflecting the impact of large impoundments on
fish reproduction and recruitment. Transparency and flow regulation by the Itutinga and
Camargos reservoirs must be interfering with fish reproduction along this stretch
(Suzuki et al., 2011). Increased transparency favors predation by visual predators,
reducing the chances of offspring survival (Antonio et al., 2007). Flow regulation can
affect fish recruitment in two ways: removing the appropriate conditions for
reproduction and/or the conditions necessary for larval development (Humphries and
Lake, 2000). Shields et al. (2000) emphasized the negative influence of lateral water
movement dynamics, which reduce the formation of floodplains and explain the fewer
floodplain lakes in this region.
The Funil hydroelectric dam is the only dam in the region that has a fish passage
mechanism. This dam was initially thought to have spawning areas upstream and
downstream, while the developmental sites were thought to be located downstream
(Pompeu et al., 2011). The results of this study add the presence of initial
developmental sites (floodplain lakes) in the lotic stretches upstream of the reservoir,
primarily in the tributaries (Mortes and Capivari). Although the presence of the fish lift
is important for maintaining connectivity between habitats, the functioning of this fish
passage should be studied and carefully monitored because there is no descending
ichthyoplankton migration downstream (Suzuki et al., 2011). The absence of this
migration makes the Funil fish lift one way, which could compromise fish species
recruitment downstream of the dam (Suzuki et al., 2011) and consequently undermine
its value in conserving the basin's fish species (Pompeu et al., 2011). Its function should
be primarily aimed at maintaining genetic flow between populations, where in principle,
the populations upstream and downstream would be self-sustaining due to the
occurrence of spawning and nurseries areas. It should be noted that this situation could
change with the eventual construction of new hydroelectric dams upstream or
downstream from this dam, especially in the Capivari and Mortes tributaries.
The more eggs observed compared with larvae, especially at the initial stage of
development (first cleavage), may be related to the high fragmentation of the remaining
lotic stretches in the region. Larvae were mainly collected from the Mortes River, a
tributary long enough that the spawning sites are located sufficiently distant to allow the
collection of forms at this initial stage of development.
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Among the taxonomic groups identified in this study, only the Gymnotiformes do
own migratory species. In the Grande River basin, belonging to the upper Paraná River
basin, most of the migratory species are known to be among the Characiformes and
Siluriformes orders, specifically in the Characidae, Anostomidae, and Pimelodidae
families (Agostinho et al., 2003), which were groups identified among the larvae
collected in this study. It is noteworthy that migratory species exhibit non-adhesive
eggs, while most sedentary species have some degree of egg adhesiveness (Rizzo et al.,
2002). Migratory species among these taxa cover more than 100 km between different
habitats to complete their life cycle (Agostinho et al., 2003), which is why these species
are most affected by dam construction.
Given the presence of numerous breeding grounds and abundant floodplain lakes
throughout most of the studied rivers, the creation of protected areas can be considered
important management strategies for ichthyofauna conservation. This is necessary
because new hydroelectric projects are planned for all of the remaining lotic stretches
included in this study, with the exception of the Grande River upstream of the
Camargos, which is already protected by state law (Law 15.082, April 27th
2004). The
creation of these areas must be based on the concept of water corridors and knowledge
of the life cycles of key species (Agostinho et al., 2005), considering all of the habitats
required during their life cycle (King, 2004).
Although it is necessary to consider other parameters, such as richness (Pompeu et
al., 2009) and the presence of umbrella species (Agostinho et al., 2005), the results
obtained in this study (percentage of surrounding vegetation, number of floodplain
lakes, egg and larvae contribution) are essential for aiding the development and
implementation of future environmental action programs aimed at conservation,
preservation, and recovery (Pompeu et al., 2009).
Acknowledgements. We thank Andréa Bialetzki for providing the internship opportunity, the
Universidade Federal de Lavras for logistical help, FURNAS for funding this study. We also thank
Mírian Castro and Lucas Pires for help with field and laboratory work.
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