Search

Context: Land use significantly affects wetlands, altering various biotic components and threatening biodiversity. Aims: This study assessed the ecological status of Pampas wetlands under different land uses by examining environmental characteristics and annelid assemblages. Methods: Four water systems in the Argentine Pampas were surveyed, including riverine wetlands and upstream and downstream sections affected by urbanisation, intensive agriculture, or extensive livestock farming. Key results: Multivariate analysis showed correlations among environmental factors and sites, whereas PERMANOVA analysis showed density variations among streams, sections, and land uses, although species richness and diversity remained consistent within each stream. In total, 42 annelid species and morphotypes were identified and linked with various environmental factors. Conclusions: Enchytraeidae were correlated with nitrate and phosphorus concentrations, whereas Limnodrilus species and Tubifex tubifex were associated with nitrites, ammonium, vegetation coverage and fine sediments. Species such as Pristina spp., Aulophorus costatus , Dero spp. and Aulodrilus pigueti preferred sandy sediments enriched with organic matter and higher current velocities, indicating their potential as indicators of anthropogenic impact. Implications: These findings highlighted the importance of annelid assemblages in wetland monitoring and underscore the need for integrated watershed management and sustainable planning to protect wetlands. This study assessed the ecological status of Pampas wetlands under various land uses by examining environmental factors and annelid assemblages. Four water systems were surveyed, showing correlations with environmental conditions. Specific annelid species were linked to factors such as nitrate and phosphorus concentrations. The findings underscore the importance of annelid assemblages in wetland monitoring and the need for sustainable watershed management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

GOOD SOIL can raise the quantity and quality of food. However, the land quality has worsened due to various anthropogenic activities. The present study aimed to assess the effects of land use systems on soil quality over time through specific indicators. A top 30 cm soil sample from six land uses (forest, pasture, orchard, vegetable, maize, and paddy) was analyzed for soil quality index using Principal Component Analysis. The results revealed the highest organic carbon (20.94±1.85 g kg-1), N (537.50±16.7 kg ha-1), and P2O5 (36.51±1.62 kg ha-1) in paddy-based land uses while the minimum OC (8.63±1.23 g kg-1), N (290.30±1.8 kg ha-1) and K2O (201.36±6.2 kg ha-1) respectively with lowest P2O5 (24.22±1.21 kg ha-1) in maize. The forest system showed dense macrofauna (1498 ind. m-2). The microbial population was found in the order of paddy>maize>vegetable>apple>pasture>forest. Particle size distribution of studied land uses varied from silty loam to clay loam. The following order of soil quality: forest>pasture>apple >vegetable>maize>paddy was found after the indexing procedure. It is concluded that further extension and turning of natural forests to agriculture will lead to a more significant loss of stored carbon from soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increase in deforestation associated with the need to reconcile conservation and food production, agricultural mosaics are of great importance in maintaining biodiversity. This study aimed to compare the shade-tolerant plants diversity partition pattern and the conservation value (CV) presented by land-use types found in three vertical strata (upper, middle, and lower) of six agricultural mosaics in the eastern Amazon. Additionally, we hypothesized that agricultural mosaics with lower forest cover, with lower heterogeneity of land-uses, and drier areas have lower shade-tolerant plants diversity, and CV of land-use types. Plant surveys were carried out in family farming mosaics with fixed plots; a matrix of species abundance per plot was set up for each mosaic and stratum. Additive partition and absolute contribution analyze were applied to each matrix; and CV of the land-uses for gamma richness was calculated. Factors were tested using generalized linear models and simple linear regression. Our results indicate that there is a diversity pattern that is repeated in the strata and agricultural mosaics. Beta diversity, especially among land-use types, is the one that most contributes to the diversity. Habitat heterogeneity is very important for the conservation of shade-tolerant species, but it is not the number of different land-use types but what these land-uses are. Land-uses with low CV do not add diversity to the mosaic. Consequently, the quality of the environmental matrix is very important. This information will be useful in providing baseline data on the management of agricultural mosaics in the eastern Amazon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research investigated the distribution of soil fertility indices among aggregate-size fractions across three land-use types (forested, cultivated, and fallow lands) for loamy sand at Ede-Oballa, a derived savannah in southeastern Nigeria. Surface soil samples from these land-use types were air-dried and separated into 2.0 mm (large), 0.25-0.5 mm and

Soils are key natural resources for the Earth’s system; however, human impacts, especially, soil erosion are considered serious threats. Therefore, identifying and assessing effective factors to understand erosion hot spots at different scales is critical to developing effective land management plans and ensuring the sustainability of the territory. This study was conducted to determine and prepare an erosion risk map, but to prioritize the survey at different scales, such as sub-basin and watershed ones. To achieve this goal, geographic information system (GIS) and remote sensing data (RS) were used combining the analysis network process method (ANP) and ICONA model (Institute for the Conservation of Nature). As study case, we selected the degraded areas of the Gorganrood watershed located in the north of Iran. The study area was obtained for very low, low, medium, high, and very high-risk classifications of 14.0, 21.4, 17.9, 31.3, and 15.4%, respectively. Results from the ICONA model also indicated that 12.8, 28.8, 22.1, 27.9, 8.5, and 0.03% belong to very low, low, medium, high, very high, and without risk of erosion, respectively. According to the validation results, it was found that the accuracy of ANP and ICONA models are 0.83 and 0.80, respectively, which indicates the suitability of the models for preparing the erosion map of the region is appropriate and useful for designing land management plans. We conclude that both models can be used to develop the erosion map potential and to prioritize sub-basins if a complete database of geomorphological characteriscs and human activities are accurate previously defined.

The runoff threshold is the amount of precipitation that exceeds the infiltration capacity of the soil and from which water begins to flow over the land surface. Its spatial variation will determine the appearance of a series of processes and risks such as soil erosion, sediment transport, water pollution or flooding, all of which are of great interest in the field of land planning and management. This article provides an update of the runoff threshold in the territorial scope of the Demarcación Hidrográfica de las Cuencas Mediterráneas Andaluzas and evaluates the spatial changes occurred between 1990 and 2018 because of land use dynamics. For this purpose, the methodology described in Regulation 5.2-IC related to surface drainage, of the Instrucción de Carreteras (Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Urbanismo [MOPU], 1990; Ministerio de Fomento, 2016, 2019) was used. The results obtained show very contrasting runoff threshold values, with maximums in the western sector and minimums in the eastern sector. On the other hand, the dynamics of land use changes have led to a significant increase in impermeable surfaces and sclerophyllous vegetation, which has generated a clear reduction in runoff threshold values in different areas, mainly in the eastern region. Specifically, the former forest areas, currently occupied by sclerophyllous vegetation, stand out, with a reduction of 17 mm over an area of approximately 229.1 km2. The conversion of agricultural lands into urban areas is also noteworthy, with a decrease in their retention capacity by up to 14 mm of precipitation, covering a total area of 97.1 km2.

This article is a methodological approach to landscape analysis, changes in land use and quantification of the variations registered in the Arribes del Duero (Salamanca, Spain), region through the implementation of physiographic metric techniques and the use of Geographic Information Systems. The evolution of the uses and covers of the land that occurred in the Spanish rural world, largely parallel to its demographic dynamics of depopulation and aging, has aroused the interest of its study. This fact has intensified, even more so, in those regions whose geographical singularities have served as a driver of conservation measures, becoming at the same time limiting factors of mechanization and intensification, thus turning their future towards the reduction of agricultural activity and abandonment. Cartographic development must be considered the key element in the investigation of territorial transformations. Its analysis, through the application of landscape indices or metrics, will give a specific evolutionary model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The runoff threshold is the amount of precipitation that exceeds the infiltration capacity of the soil and from which water begins to flow over the land surface. Its spatial variation will determine the appearance of a series of processes and risks such as soil erosion, sediment transport, water pollution or flooding, all of which are of great interest in the field of land planning and management. This article provides an update of the runoff threshold in the territorial scope of the Demarcación Hidrográfica de las Cuencas Mediterráneas Andaluzas and evaluates the spatial changes occurred between 1990 and 2018 because of land use dynamics. For this purpose, the methodology described in Regulation 5.2-IC related to surface drainage, of the Instrucción de Carreteras (Ministerio de Obras Pu'blicas y Urbanismo [MOPU], 1990; Ministerio de Fomento, 2016, 2019) was used. The results obtained show very contrasting runoff threshold values, with maximums in the western sector and minimums in the eastern sector. On the other hand, the dynamics of land use changes have led to a significant increase in impermeable surfaces and sclerophyllous vegetation, which has generated a clear reduction in runoff threshold values in different areas, mainly in the eastern region. Specifically, the former forest areas, currently occupied by sclerophyllous vegetation, stand out, with a reduction of 17 mm over an area of approximately 229.1 km2. The conversion of agricultural lands into urban areas is also noteworthy, with a decrease in their retention capacity by up to 14 mm of precipitation, covering a total area of 97.1 km2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Przegląd Elektrotechniczny is the property of Przeglad Elektrotechniczny and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The main objective of the research is to determine the efficiency in population and area coverage of the set of bus stops to existing land uses in the city, allowing the identification of possible shortcomings, which leads to the formulation of restructuring proposals in terms of the location of the stops. The research methodology to be applied includes the use of geostatistical models of accessibility based on GIS-type digital tools, supported by the collection of field information and road inventories. As a main result, it is obtained that the stop-system coverage allows the access of more than 80% of the population in a trip time by walking less than 5 minutes. Likewise, it is possible to identify a robust redundancy concerning the system of stops. Thus, it is concluded that the research process facilitates the evaluation and identification of possible interventions, guaranteeing a better coverage of the stops set regarding the city's existing activities.

Neltuma flexuosa is the main tree species in the Central Monte which presents important ecological and socio-cultural functions. Grazing and wood extraction, the most widespread human uses in the region, can modify the growth of Neltuma trees and generate changes in the woodland dynamics, which, in turn, is influenced by water availability. Our aim was to assess the growth pattern of N. flexuosa trees that inhabit open woodlands of the Central Monte and associate it to land use and to the climate. Dendrochronological methods were employed to analyze wood samples collected in areas destined for conservation, grazing use and wood extraction. Trees in the wood extraction area grew approximately twice that of the individuals in grazing fields and the protected area between 1977 and 2000, reaching their maximum growth rate between 20 and 40 years of age. In opposition, the maximum growth rate in the protected area and in the grazing fields occurred at approximately 70 years of age. A positive correlation between rainfall and growth was observed, however the association between climate and growth was low. Our results show that the different land uses have affected the radial growth pattern of N. flexuosa trees. The resprout capacity of the species would have allowed its recovery at the tree level, which, combined with a change in the intensity of anthropogenic use, enabled the recovery of the N. flexuosa population and the reestablishment of the forest. These results suggest that the extensive grazing and the extraction of wood to domestic use are activities compatible with the sustainable use of the woodland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of the research is to determine the efficiency in population and area coverage of the set of bus stops to existing land uses in the city, allowing the identification of possible shortcomings, which leads to the formulation of restructuring proposals in terms of the location of the stops. The research methodology to be applied includes the use of geostatistical models of accessibility based on GIS-type digital tools, supported by the collection of field information and road inventories. As a main result, it is obtained that the stop-system coverage allows the access of more than 80% of the population in a trip time by walking less than 5 minutes. Likewise, it is possible to identify a robust redundancy concerning the system of stops. Thus, it is concluded that the research process facilitates the evaluation and identification of possible interventions, guaranteeing a better coverage of the stops set regarding the city's existing activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamic soil properties for soil health (DSP4SH) is a Science of Soil Health Initiative that was designed to collect, process, and publicize scientifically rigorous datasets that inform sound indicators and interpretations. The Soil and Plant Science Division of the United States Department of Agriculture - Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) and university cooperators collected a suite of standardized soil health metrics across eight states (Oregon, Washington, Kansas, Minnesota, Illinois, Connecticut, North Carolina, and Texas) within five soil survey regions (Northwest, North Central, Northeast, Southeast, and South Central). The DSP4SH database provides a substantial dataset of soil health metrics assessed. The dataset is composed of dynamic soil properties (DSP) data collected from each management system or ecological state represented by one to three independent plot replicates. Each plot has a minimum of three pedons. Nine groups from the DSP4SH monitoring network provided datasets used in developing the database. The submitted data includes 37 laboratory measured parameters, 60 variables of layer/horizon descriptions, 41 variables for laboratory analysis conducted at the Kellogg Soil Survey laboratory, and 12 variables for the management systems. An additional 31 variables were developed for site or plot description. Additional variables were developed to normalize the dataset. In preparation for DSP assessment, all tables (except for dataset from KSSL lab) were categorized by management system or ecological state. The categories were business as usual (BAU), the reference condition (Ref) and the soil health management (SHM). The overarching goal of DSP4SH phase 1 and 2 dataset publication is to promote increased accessibility, further analysis of the data, and overall understanding of the benefits of surveying dynamic soil properties for soil health.

This research applies artificial intelligence algorithms for optimizing the water quality monitoring network in a representative basin with intensive agricultural and livestock activities. This study used the water quality database provided by the National Water Commission (CONAGUA). Bi-monthly monitoring was registered from 2013 to 2020 for 23 water quality parameters in 23 sampling locations in tributaries and the mainstream river. Therefore, it was necessary to apply principal component analysis to reduce the dimensionality of the data and thus identify the parameters that contribute most to the variation in the water quality. This artificial intelligence algorithm promoted the ease of clustering sampling sites with similar water quality characteristics by reducing the number of variables involved in the database. The reduction highlighted nutrients (TN and TP), parameters related to dissolved organic matter (NH3-N and TOC), and pathogens such as fecal coliforms. The similarity of sampling sites was determined through hierarchical clustering using the Euclidean distance as a measure of dissimilarity and the Ward method as a grouping method. As a result, nine clusters were obtained for the rainy and dry seasons, reducing approximately 50% of the sampling sites and generating an optimized network of 11 sampling sites. HIGHLIGHTS The monitoring network of a watershed with intensive agriculture was reduced by 50% using artificial intelligence algorithms.; By applying principal component analysis, the variables that contribute the most significant variation to the water quality of the basin, highlighting nutrients, and pathogens were identified.; It was possible to agglomerate sampling sites according to their similarity in terms of water quality.;

The High Altitude Fields (HAF) are unique phytosociological features that occur only in certain regions of the Atlantic Forest. It is composed of herbaceous and shrubby vegetation and shallow soils that promote local water infiltration and recharge. Occurring on top of hills, the HAF are isolated units in the landscape, connecting with the matrix through associated ecosystems (springs with riparian forests and “capões de mata”, which are natural islands of arboreal vegetation, commonly associated with rural vegetation, such as high-altitude fields, located above 1,200 m in phytogeographic domains of the Atlantic Forest, Cerrado or Caatinga). These areas have great species endemism, and studies concerning the order Odonata are still scarce. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the ecological responses (richness, diversity, specificity) of adult odonates in these ecosystems. The study was conducted from November 2020 to March 2021 in three areas in the Poços de Caldas Plateau, Minas Gerais state, Brazil. A total of 45 species (247 specimens) were collected, with the highest total richness being recorded for Anisoptera. Among the sampled areas, there was no difference in Anisoptera communities, but there was a difference in Zygoptera species composition. In general, the most preserved remnant of HAF, the greater it presents greater richness of Odonata and harbors a regional pool of species.

The Lagunas de Campillos Natural Reserve and adjacent ponds are fundamentally surrounded by regularly fertilized crop fields and livestock industry, producing leachates which can be found in the ponds. The interest in this Site of European Importance and the RAMSAR wetland complex lies in the habitats within it, which are included in the Directive on Habitats of Community Interest. It is essential to determine the trophic status of the ponds and the quality of these habitats, as well as whether corrective measures need to be established in order to maintain a good environmental status. To characterize and compare the ponds, different parameters were measured, such as conductivity, pH, nutrient concentration, Chl-a concentration, phytoplankton composition, phytoplankton abundance (<20 µm), and the quantification of heterotrophic microorganisms indicating contamination of the aquifers. The obtained results showed that all ponds, except a mesotrophic pond, are eutrophic or even hypertrophic, with high levels of total nitrogen (>8 mg L−1), total phosphorous (>165 μg L−1), and chlorophyll-a concentration. These findings explain the high densities of phytoplankton observed, with the predominant presence of small cells (<3.6 μm ESD). In addition, concentrations of heterotrophs and coliforms are, in some ponds, higher than expected. Eutrophication hinders ecological functions and ecosystem services, which finally affects biodiversity and human wellbeing. Five of the six analyzed ponds are within various protection figures for their essential importance to local and migrating avifauna. Therefore, ponds' status analysis and the implementation of measures for maintaining ecosystem services and trophic state are fundamental for the sustainable management of the studied area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to monitor the dynamics of urban growth in Guercif City, Morocco, and the accompanying contraction of agricultural land over a period of 68 years (from 1954 to 2022). Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have been relied mainly on as tools to track the sequence of this urbanization expansion. This research was based on the analysis of data from a range of geographical resources, especially the topographic map for the period of the fifties and sixties, and then satellite images of the Landsat in the period of the seventies and beyond. The approach we have adopted in this study enabled us to adjust the dynamics of the studied phenomenon and to determine its temporal and spatial dimensions. One of the most important conclusions we have reached in this context is that since 1954 Guercif City and its surroundings have lost important areas of agricultural land, mostly in the form of olive groves, totaling 218 hectares in 2022, due to urbanization expansion, for which rural migration was the most important factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urbanization can create uncertainty for biodiversity. Understanding the spatial distribution of trees along urban-rural gradients is crucial for sustainable land management and the conservation of biological diversity. However, limited information is available on the factors influencing the distribution of trees outside forests along urban-rural transition gradients. This paper uses the Preferred Reporting items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) to review how distance from urban centers, land use types, socio-economic disparities, and community attitudes and perceptions impact the spatial distribution of trees outside forests along urban-rural gradients. The review indicates that the species composition, diversity, density, and spatial arrangement of trees outside forests vary along the urban-rural gradient. The most commonly cited factors influencing this distribution are respondents' attitudes and perceptions of trees, socio-economic factors, and land use variations. Distance from the urban center was the least cited factor. However, there is significant variation in how different factors impact this distribution from study to study. Therefore, further research is needed to better understand the factors driving changes in the diversity of trees outside forests in various urban-rural contexts and to determine whether variations exist across different settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper assessed soil degradation over different land uses in the Kebbi area, Northwestern Nigeria. The specific objectives entailed identifying major forms of soil loss in the study area, estimating soil loss and examining the responses of soil physico-chemical properties over dominant land use types. Slope angles were determined using a GPS, a handheld Abney level, ranging poles and a 30 m measuring tape while gully depths, widths and lengths were taken at 5 m-30 m intervals. Key soil physico-chemical parameters were determined using standard procedures. Descriptive statistics such as mean, standard deviation and coefficient of variation were used to summarize the data generated from the study. The analysis of variance and the student's t-test was used to test for significant association between and within pairs of land uses. The results show that slopes range from 4° - 16°, while the magnitude of soil loss ranged between 3580.32 m³ in K1 (Kalgo 1), 3550.89 m³ in G2 (Goru 2) and 161.01 m³ in A1 (Angwar Daji 1). Results show significance at p= 0.05 in bulk density values over the different land uses with the highest bulk density value of 1.78 g/cm³ in badland and lowest value of 1.35 g/cm³ in plantation land use. Total nitrogen range between 0.01 - 0.38% with the least values in badland and scrubland, while soil base saturation is highest over plantation (76.3%) and lowest in badland (50.4%). The study concludes that the dominant geomorphic responses identified in the study area are gully initiation and development and a varying magnitude of soil degradation over the different land uses. The findings should facilitate policy initiation to rehabilitate degraded lands, adopt sustainable soil management practices such as tree planting while linking geomorphological information to infrastructural planning and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Al-Adab / Al-ādāb is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Humanities & Social Sciences (2522-3380) is the property of Arab Journal of Sciences & Research Publishing (AJSRP) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Urbanization can create uncertainty for biodiversity. Understanding the spatial distribution of trees along urban-rural gradients is crucial for sustainable land management and the conservation of biological diversity. However, limited information is available on the factors influencing the distribution of trees outside forests along urban-rural transition gradients. This paper uses the Preferred Reporting items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) to review how distance from urban centers, land use types, socio-economic disparities, and community attitudes and perceptions impact the spatial distribution of trees outside forests along urban-rural gradients. The review indicates that the species composition, diversity, density, and spatial arrangement of trees outside forests vary along the urban-rural gradient. The most commonly cited factors influencing this distribution are respondents' attitudes and perceptions of trees, socio-economic factors, and land use variations. Distance from the urban center was the least cited factor. However, there is significant variation in how different factors impact this distribution from study to study. Therefore, further research is needed to better understand the factors driving changes in the diversity of trees outside forests in various urban-rural contexts and to determine whether variations exist across different settings.

Rapid population growth and climate change are poised to significantly impact water resources and agriculture. Consequently, it becomes imperative to delve into the repercussions of climate change on agriculture and natural resources in developing nations. In this research, an economic–hydrological model was employed to assess the influence of climate change on water management and cropping patterns in the Eastern border catchment of Iran. The climatic data used in this study, spanning the years 1997–2022, encompassed daily rainfall and temperature records from the Khorasan and Sistan & Balouchestan meteorological organization, as well as the Iranian Statistical Center. Monthly water discharge data were obtained from the Khorasan and Sistan & Balouchestan regional water authority, while information on crop levels and agricultural inputs was collected from the Khorasan and Sistan & Balouchestan agricultural jihad organization. The findings reveal that areas dedicated to cultivating high-yield crops experienced a decrease when associated with high water consumption, whereas the cultivation areas of high-yield crops expanded when water consumption was reduced. The implementation of modern irrigation methods, such as pressurized irrigation, not only conserves valuable water resources but also enhances efficiency, ultimately resulting in decreased water consumption and increased production. Consequently, the provision of enhanced training programs aimed at educating farmers about these practices and facilitating their adoption can play a pivotal role in adapting to and mitigating the challenges posed by climate change.

This study investigates changes in soil properties, specifically soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN), associated with different land use systems derived from forests in the rainforest zone of Nigeria. The land use systems examined include mature oil palm plantation (OP), bush fallow or secondary forest (BF), alley cropping with multi-purpose trees (AC), and continuous cassava cropping with and without fertilizer (FC and UC). Converting forests to cultivated land led to a decrease in SOC and TN content and storage across all soil depths (0-10 cm, 10-20 cm, and 20-40 cm). In the top 0-10 cm depth, the average decrease in SOC and TN storage was 63% and 62%, respectively, while for 0-40 cm, the decrease was 48% and 46%, respectively, for all land use systems derived from forests. Furthermore, the study reveals that even after 5, 10, and 30 years of secondary forest regrowth (BF), alley cropping (AC), and oil palm plantation (OP), respectively, the fertility levels were not restored to those observed in the primary forest. These findings underscore the capacity of forest soils to conserve and enhance soil SOM (soil organic matter), which in turn plays an essential role in SOC sequestration, TN storage, and soil nutrient conservation.

In Guayaquil, like many Latin American cities, very dynamic areas coexist with others that are strongly laggingbecause of theirunbalanced territorial growth. Since 2021, the Municipality of Guayaquil has incorporated centralities or multifunctional centers into its planning to optimize its operation and decentralize the traditional center. The centralities can be urban, zonal, neighborhood, or sectoral. This study addresses the zonal centrality of La Alborada, with nuclei of interest and the diversity of local commerce coexisting with a residential environment, makingit necessary to characterize the uses of the land on a medium and small scale in its commercial and residential context. The adopted methodology collects cadastral information from the municipal geoportal to map, update, and classify commercial activities, including the height of buildings, types of roads, and, in general, through observation tours, people's perceptionof public spaces for pedestrian use. The results show diverseactivities and services and commercial use consolidation on the fourteen stages' periphery. They also show non-compliant buildings and the trend towards specialties in commercial uses, with over ten nearby businesses in some stages of a specific activity, such as restaurants and aesthetic treatments. Concluding that the public spaces adjoining the commercial premises are forcibly used as open-air lobbies, forcing the user to occupy spaces provided for pedestrian circulation, affecting the safe, comfortable, and efficient mobility of residents and users.

The effects of the health crisis associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, which overlapped with the consequences of the 2008 economic crisis, have had a major social and economic impact on the monofunctional tourist territories. Urban and tourism development has been possible on the Alicante coast thanks to environmental and urban planning regulations that permit an intense occupation of the coast and pre-coastal area. The real estate crisis gave rise to a change in paradigm, and regulatory reforms have been implemented based on the guiding principle of environmental sustainability and balanced territorial development. This study aims to evaluate whether this paradigm shift in territorial planning has translated into urban planning and has modified urban-touristic dynamics on the Alicante coast. To achieve this, we have analyzed official statistical information, municipal and regional-scale territorial planning documents and conducted interviews with stakeholders (government authorities, private sector representatives, civil society groups, and experts in territorial and tourism planning). The results reveal that the actions have not been uniform along the coast. The different responses (return to pre-pandemic conditions, that is, the continuous growth of the activity as opposed to the containment of the urban and tourist development in line with policies to ensure sustainability and climate change adaptation) reveal the existence of conflicts and tension between the different sectors and social agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates changes in soil properties, specifically soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN), associated with different land use systems derived from forests in the rainforest zone of Nigeria. The land use systems examined include mature oil palm plantation (OP), bush fallow or secondary forest (BF), alley cropping with multi-purpose trees (AC), and continuous cassava cropping with and without fertilizer (FC and UC). Converting forests to cultivated land led to a decrease in SOC and TN content and storage across all soil depths (0-10 cm, 10-20 cm, and 20-40 cm). In the top 0-10 cm depth, the average decrease in SOC and TN storage was 63% and 62%, respectively, while for 0-40 cm, the decrease was 48% and 46%, respectively, for all land use systems derived from forests. Furthermore, the study reveals that even after 5, 10, and 30 years of secondary forest regrowth (BF), alley cropping (AC), and oil palm plantation (OP), respectively, the fertility levels were not restored to those observed in the primary forest. These findings underscore the capacity of forest soils to conserve and enhance soil SOM (soil organic matter), which in turn plays an essential role in SOC sequestration, TN storage, and soil nutrient conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Foco (Interdisciplinary Studies Journal) is the property of Revista Foco and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Understanding the precise sources of heavy metals (HMs) in soil and the contribution of these sources to health risks has positive effects in terms of risk management. This study focused on the HMs in the soil of five land uses in an industrial and mining city. The sources of HMs in soils were identified, and the soil mineralogical characteristics and health risks of HMs were discussed. The results showed that the HMs (Cu, Zn, Ni, Cd, Pb) found in the soil of the five land uses were affected by human activities. For example, the Cu in grassland, gobi beach, woodland, green belt, and farmland is 22.3, 3.5, 22.5, 16.7, and 21.3 times higher than the soil background values in Gansu Province, respectively. The Positive Matrix Factorization model (PMF) results revealed that traffic emissions and industrial and agricultural activities were the primary sources of HMs in the soil, with industrial sources accounting for the largest share at 55.79%. Furthermore, various characteristics proved that the studied HMs were closely related to smelting products. Concentration-oriented health risk assessments showed that HMs in the different soil types held non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks for children and adults. Contamination source-oriented health risk assessments of children and adults found that industrial activities controlled non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks. This study highlighted the critical effects of smelting on urban soil and the contribution of pollution sources to health risks. Furthermore, this work is significant in respect of the risk control of HMs in urban soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined phosphorus (P) delivery and transport in flood events in an agroforestry catchment, with cropland and forestland as the main land uses. Sediments were collected in artificial‐lawn mats (MATs) distributed in five locations across the catchment (MAT1 to MAT5) along 20 seasonal campaigns during 5 years, in which rainfall with different characteristics was recorded. The properties analyzed in the surface soils under different land uses, and in the MATs used for collecting sediments included particle size and other properties such as soil organic matter (SOM), low frequency magnetic susceptibility (χLF) and P and Ti concentrations. The rainfall characteristics of the events recorded in each campaign were analyzed and the campaigns were grouped using cluster analysis taken into account the characteristics of the sediments collected. There was a P enrichment in the sediments compared to the sediment sources. The greatest P concentration was associated to sediment rich in clay and SOM. However, the sediment showed lower χLF, which could be due to higher erosion rates from the most degraded soils. The highest P losses were recorded at the catchment outlet, where the surface occupied by croplands was higher, with P values around 1.3 × times higher than at the headwaters. The differences between monitoring campaigns were attributed to differences in precipitation patterns that influence the hydrological response. The higher P concentration in the sediment during the campaigns that accumulated higher amount of rainfall in shorter periods of time confirmed the direct influence of rainfall intensity on the P mobilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of The Planner & Development is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Slugs are fungivores, herbivores, carnivores and decomposers that provide important ecosystem services and disservices in natural and disturbed habitats. Our aim was to estimate the effects of local vegetation structure (tree basal area and canopy openness) and landscape composition (land cover types) on the occurrence of native and non-native slugs in 13 cool-temperate forested wetlands across Nova Scotia, Canada. We collected 1437 slugs of eight species (five non-native species and three native species). The non-native Arion subfuscus and Arion fuscus were dominant, and together represented 84.3% of all the slugs collected. The native Deroceras laeve and the non-native Arion hortensis were also relatively common. Among Arion species A. subfuscus was positively associated with open wetlands within a 1000 m radius, whereas A. fuscus and A. hortensis were positively associated with road density within 250 and 750 m radii, respectively. The native species Deroceras laeve and Pallifera dorsalis did not respond to local vegetation and landscape composition. These findings suggest that forested wetlands across Nova Scotia are dominated by non-native Arion species that benefit from road systems and non-forested habitats in the surrounding landscape. The absence of effect on the native species D. laeve and P. dorsalis suggests these species can forage in multiple mainly forested habitats that were the dominant land use types in the studied landscapes. Such information is crucial to fill knowledge gaps and support priority actions for tackling biological invasions at appropriate spatial scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current paper is a comparative study of the implementation of the Seveso III Directive in Greece and Cyprus. Specifically, the study focuses on article 13 of the Directive, which concerns spatial planning, and investigates both the relevant planning and development control practices that are followed in Greece and Cyprus, as well as the production of tangible results concerning the protection of the population and the infrastructure in the case of a large-scale industrial accident. The analysis covers all three main areas of concern of article 13 of the Directive, namely: the planning of land uses near Seveso establishments, the control of the development of Seveso establishments or other uses located near Seveso establishments, and the actions that should be planned with regards to existing establishments. The analysis concludes that article 13 has been successfully integrated in the Cypriot legislation, since its provisions are associated to and applied through established practices and procedures, while the produced local legislation now covers all three main areas of interest of the Seveso Directive. Due to the above, both the population and the infrastructure enjoy comprehensive protection in case of a large-scale industrial accident. On the contrary, in Greece, the integration of article 13 is fragmented and incomplete, which leads to insufficient protection of the population and the infrastructure. In particular, Greece is lacking a national and regional policy framework for the allocation and development of Seveso establishments, while, at local level, the absence of a coherent policy framework leads each local plans to suggest different and sometimes conflicting policies. In addition, the framework for the control of the development of uses located in the vicinity of Seveso establishments is unclear, while, till today, there has not been developed a policy framework to tackle the challenges associated with existing establishments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The long-standing weaknesses in the implementation of a rational and integrated framework for spatial planning and management of protected areas are currently at the center of scientific interest due to a) the ongoing (since 2018) program of Special Environmental Studies (SES) for all the areas of the Natura 2000 network, b) the legislative efforts to modernize the zones within the protected areas and c) the country's condemnation decision by the Court of Justice of the European Union regarding the weakness to define conservation measures in the Special Conservation Areas (SCA) within the network. The paper explores the synergy between environmental planning regarding the protection of Natura areas and spatial planning –emphasizing local regulatory planning– as reflected in the current Greek spatial planning system on the occasion of the twenty-three Special Environmental Studies planmaking. In addition, it examines the failures and weaknesses of SES concerning the integration of the land use system, as well as their relationship with the broader environmental policies. The Special Environmental Studies published to date were studied to investigate research questions. Based on the conclusions, it is found that the growing influence of the European environmental law promotes has for decades promoted new models of integration and synergies between the two policy sectors (environmental and spatial–urban planning), with the Greek planning system showing timeless adaptability and weakness implementation. Continued institutional interventions and legislative initiatives are needed to clarify the conceptual background and the tools used by each sector, which will contribute to the best spatial planning practice. The most fundamental issue, that still needs special treatment, is the clarification of the way to integrate SES into the spatial planning system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Every year we are more and more exposed to the negative impact of microplastic. Our research aimed to determine the amount of microplastic in the snow on sledding hills in green areas of Krakow. The sledding hills in winter are very intensively used by children and it is very important to monitor the condition of these places in terms of microplastic contamination. In our research, we assessed whether children playing on sledding hills may be exposed to microplastic. Our research covered 10 sledding hills of various sizes located in the green areas of Krakow. Our research has confirmed the presence of significant amounts of microplastics in snow collected on sledding hills. Three times as much microplastic was found in the snow on the higher hills (2.78 mg/L) compared to the lower sledding hills (0.96 mg/L). In the snow collected on sledding hills from the green areas of Krakow, a large diversity of microplastic in terms of type, size, color, and shape was noted. The dominant type of microplastic found during the research was polypropylene (PP), polyurethane (PU), hydrocarbon resin (HCR), and polyester (PES). The share of two microplastic fractions of 1.1–2.0 mm and 2.1–3.0 mm accounted for over 50% of the whole amount. After melting the snow, microplastic goes to the soil surface, which can lead to changes in the properties of the soil, and due to its strong hydrophobicity, it will play an important role in the transport of toxic compounds, e.g., polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Our research suggests limiting the use of plastic sleds and replacing them with wooden sleds, which will not be a source of pollution for urban green spaces used by residents regardless of the season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Tropical Grasslands / Forrajes Tropicales is the property of International Centre for Tropical Agriculture - CIAT and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

[Objective] The influence of time variation of topsoil steady state infiltration rate (fc) on water movement and solute transport in the soil profile was studied in order to provide theoretical support for the study of the hydrological cycle model in this region. [Methods] The study was conducted on typical land use types near the Loess Plateau Agricultural Ecological Experimental Station of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The fc values for a corn field, an apple orchard, and a Robinia pseudoacacia forestland were collected from April to October 2021 using the double ring infiltrometer method. [Results] ① The maximum correlation distance of fc spatial distribution was 7.12 m. ② There was a significant negative correlation between soil bulk density and fc value, while there was no significant correlation between initial soil water content and fc value (p>0.05). ③ From April to May, the fc value for each land use type increased. From June to October, the fc value for each land use type changed differently with time: fc value for the corn field increased first and then decreased, for the apple orchard increased, and for the Robinia pseudoacacia forestland increased first and then stabilized. Variance analysis showed that the fc values for different land uses were significantly affected by time (p

The research dealt with the concept of noise pollution and the most important confiscation resulting from the activities established on the various uses of the land in the city of Fallujah, which are evidenced by all the safe limits of global sound levels, as a result of the citizens' overstepping the use of the land by noise activities, with weak application of laws to prevent these polluting practices , Which resulted from the negative effects that affected the health of the population, both physically and psychologically, and then the research concluded with important conclusions and recommendations that would reduce noise pollution in the future

Recently, due to rapid industrialization and urbanization, many studies have focused on the assessment of soil metal contamination. The present research aimed to investigate the concentration of potentially hazardous elements (Al, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, V and Zn) in three different areas (forest, wildfire forest and urban) of the Mediterranean region. Contamination levels were further assessed calculating different indices: contamination factor (CF), geo-accumulation index (GI) and ecological risk (E). The results showed high concentrations of V, Mg and Mn in forest and wildfire forest soils, as well as high concentrations of Al, Fe, Ni, Pb and Zn in urban soils. According to the contamination indices, Pb exceeded the background level in both wildfire forest and urban soils. According to human risk assessment, inhalation appeared the main route of exposure of metals in soils, especially for children. The overall cancer risk was higher than the safe level, especially for Pb. Different relationships were found between the contamination indices and the potential risk of carcinogenic effects according to the diverse metal concentrations. Particularly, wildfire soils showed human health risks mainly linked to Pb, Cu and Cr contaminations, due to human activities, and Ni, due to both anthropogenic and pedogenetic input. Instead, the urban soils showed that Zn contamination, mainly related to urban traffic, influenced the potential carcinogenetic risk in this area. The carcinogenic risk was higher than acceptable values for all the metals assessed. These findings highlighted the need to develop further management practices to protect soils from metal pollution and reduce human health risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban land uses are in a dynamic state that varies over time, the city of Karbala in Iraq has experienced functional changes over the past 100 years, as the city is characterized by the presence of significant tourist and socio-economic activity represented by religious tourism, and it occur due to various reasons such as urbanization. The purpose of this study is to apply a Markov model to analyze and predict the behavior of transforming the use of land in Karbala city over time. This can include the conversion of agricultural land, or other areas into residential, commercial, industrial land uses. The process of urbanization is typically driven by population growth, economic development, based on a set of probabilities and transitions between different states. They can help decision-makers understand the likely outcomes of different scenarios for the future. The research question is in which direction of the functional during the next 50 years in the case study? What are the values of the prediction of functional changes for future? The research Hypothesis: Urban functions are changed in different areas; agricultural land uses have decreased and land use functions have changed in an unplanned direction in the next 50 years. The study discovered that almost one-third of the agricultural land in Karbala has reduced. Additionally, there has been a 10% alteration in the usage of residential land in slums and other sectors. However, there has been a positive growth in transport, cemeteries, trade, industry, and services, with different degrees of progress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]