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Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) change has evolved as a central force behind environmental challenges and has gained great acknowledgment for its wide-ranging effects on biodiversity and ecosystem services. Mountains, including the mountainous belts of Pakistan, are particularly vulnerable to alterations in LULC resulting from deforestation and other anthropogenic activities. These changes have profound repercussions on the socio-ecological and biophysical environments of mountains. This research aims to investigate the spatiotemporal changes in LULC in the Swat River Basin (SRB), Eastern Hindu Kush, Pakistan. Assessments of LULC changes are crucial for gaining an in-depth understanding, formulating policy guidelines, and implementing conservation practices to address the environmental challenges faced by mountainous areas. The study is based on remotely sensed data and Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis. The temporal span (1988–2018) is divided into three periods and based on ten years interval, Landsat Satellite Images were acquired for 1988, 1998, 2008 and 2018. These images were processed and classified in ArcGIS 10.8. The analysis indicates varying trends in LULC changes over three periods. Forest cover increased by 52.5% in period 1 as a result of social forestry project but declined in periods 2 (-12.8%) and 3 (-18.8%). Contrarily, rangeland decreased by 63.9% in period 1 but grew in periods 2 (71.1%) and 3 (15.5%). Built-up areas expanded by 280%, barren land by 47%, agricultural land by 14.3%. However, snow cover consistently decreased. These alterations are mainly the result of bio-physical impacts, which highlight the urgent need for sustainable land management to mitigate the environmental impact of human activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Unmanned aerial vehicle technology is the most advanced and helpful in almost every area of interest in human work. These devices become autonomous and can fulfil a variety of tasks, from simple imaging and obtaining data to search and rescue operations. The most challenging environment for search and rescue operations is the mountainous area. This article is devoted to the theoretical description and simulation tests of a prototype method of landing the light and the medium-weight UAVs used as supplementary devices for SAR (search and rescue) and HEMS (helicopter emergency medical service) in hard-to-reach mountainous terrains. The autonomous flight of a UAV in mountainous terrain has many specifics, and it is usually performed according to predetermined map points (pins) uploaded directly into the control software of the UAV. It is necessary to characterise each point flown on the chosen flight route line in advance and therefore to know its exact geographical coordinates (longitude, latitude and height of the point above the terrain), and the control system of UAV must react to the change in the weather and other conditions in real time. Usually, it is difficult to make this forecast with sufficient time in advance, mainly when UAVs are used as supplementary devices for the needs of HEMS or MRS (mountain rescue service). The most challenging phase is the final approach and landing of the UAV, especially if a loss of GNSS (global navigation satellite system) signal occurs, like in the determined area of the Little Cold Valley in the Slovak High Tatras—which is infamous for the widespread loss of GNSS signals or communication/controlling connection between the UAV and the pilot-operator at the operational station. To solve the loss of guidance, a new method for guiding and controlling the UAV in its final approach and landing in a determined area is tested. An alternative landing navigation system for UAVs in a specific mountainous environment—the authors' designed frequency Doppler landing system (FDLS)—is briefly described but thoroughly tested with the help of artificial intelligence. An estimation of dynamic stability is used based on the time recording of the current position of the UAV, with the help of a frequency-modulated or amplitude-modulated signal based on the author's prototype of a precision landing system designed for mountainous terrain. This solution could overcome the problems of GNSS signal loss. The presented research primarily evaluates the success of the simulation flights for the supplementary UAV. The success of navigating the UAV to land in the mountainous environment at an exact landing point using the navigation signals from the FDLS was evaluated at more than 95%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Starting from the interdependence of tourism - mountain environment - rural environment - sustainable development, four solutions are proposed and developed in the work as an alternative to mining in the area: tourist village, medicinal plant and forest fruit processing line, milk processing line, cardboard packaging line. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientifically defining the scope of mountain distribution and understanding the spatial patterns of mountainous areas in China is critical for formulating development policies tailored to the diverse needs of different regions and promoting rural revitalization in mountainous areas. This study aims to scientifically define the scope of mountain distribution and understand the spatial pattern characteristics of mountainous areas in China to aid in the formulation of differentiated development policies and support the rural revitalization strategies of mountainous areas. Using measurements of the areas of mountains and hills in Mainland China, and drawing on European scholars' definitions of mountain cities, a classification system of mountainous areas was constructed based on the proportion differences between hills and mountains within counties. The results showed that hills and mountains were widely distributed across 81.52% and 85.35% of the 2847 total counties in China, respectively. Moreover, 14 provinces accounted for over 90% of the mountainous area, and 5 provinces accounted for 100%. These findings indicate that China's provinces have obvious mountainous characteristics, which need to be considered in policy‐making for regional development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrolyte leakage (EL) is the method commonly used to test the cell membrane integrity of plants under stress conditions. The cells of the leaf may be damaged by ozone (O3) entering the intercellular space as an oxidative stress agent. The modified EL method was used to test the oxidative stability (OxS) of plant tissue against O3-induced oxidative stress. The modification includes simulation of the artificial oxidative stress by additional ozonation of plant samples in the laboratory chamber. This modified EL method was applied to Pinus mugo Turra needle samples collected in the subalpine zone of the High Tatra Mts (Western Carpathians), in the years 2019 and 2020. Changes in the chemical composition of samples after artificial ozonation were traced by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis. In addition, O3 uptake through open stomata was estimated by calculation of the modelled ozone dose (MO3D). We also conducted an inspection of visible injury (VIN) on the needle surface focused on the occurrence of O3-induced symptoms and biotic harmful agents. Regarding OxS results as well as VIN indices, P. mugo needles showed relatively low sensitivity to oxidative stress induced by O3. Therefore MO3D in a range between 14 and 16 mmol m−2 can be considered as O3 dose with minor phytotoxic effect on P. mugo growing in the mountains of central-eastern Europe.

Abstract Since the beginning of the Holocene era, human activities have seriously impacted animal habitats and vegetative environments. Species that are dependent on natural habitats or with narrow niches might be more severely affected by habitat changes. Malcus inconspicuus is distributed in subtropical China and highly dependent on the mountain environment. Our study investigated the role of the mountainous landscape in the historical evolution of M. inconspicuus and the impact of Holocene human activities on it. A phylogeographical approach was implemented with integrative datasets including double‐digest restriction site‐associated DNA (ddRAD), mitochondrial data, and distribution data. Three obvious clades and an east–west phylogeographical pattern were found in subtropical China. Mountainous landscape has “multifaceted” effects on the evolutionary history of M. inconspicuus, it has contributed to population differentiation, provided glacial refuges, and provided population expansion corridors during the postglacial period. The effective population size (Ne) of M. inconspicuus showed a sharp decline during the Holocene era, which revealed a significantly negative correlation with the development of cropland in a hilly area at the same time and space. It supported that the species which are highly dependent on natural habitats might undergo greater impact when the habitat was damaged by agricultural activities and we should pay more attention to them, especially in the land development of their distribution areas.

Unmanned aerial vehicle technology is the most advanced and helpful in almost every area of interest in human work. These devices become autonomous and can fulfil a variety of tasks, from simple imaging and obtaining data to search and rescue operations. The most challenging environment for search and rescue operations is the mountainous area. This article is devoted to the theoretical description and simulation tests of a prototype method of landing the light and the medium-weight UAVs used as supplementary devices for SAR (search and rescue) and HEMS (helicopter emergency medical service) in hard-to-reach mountainous terrains. The autonomous flight of a UAV in mountainous terrain has many specifics, and it is usually performed according to predetermined map points (pins) uploaded directly into the control software of the UAV. It is necessary to characterise each point flown on the chosen flight route line in advance and therefore to know its exact geographical coordinates (longitude, latitude and height of the point above the terrain), and the control system of UAV must react to the change in the weather and other conditions in real time. Usually, it is difficult to make this forecast with sufficient time in advance, mainly when UAVs are used as supplementary devices for the needs of HEMS or MRS (mountain rescue service). The most challenging phase is the final approach and landing of the UAV, especially if a loss of GNSS (global navigation satellite system) signal occurs, like in the determined area of the Little Cold Valley in the Slovak High Tatras—which is infamous for the widespread loss of GNSS signals or communication/controlling connection between the UAV and the pilot-operator at the operational station. To solve the loss of guidance, a new method for guiding and controlling the UAV in its final approach and landing in a determined area is tested. An alternative landing navigation system for UAVs in a specific mountainous environment—the authors’ designed frequency Doppler landing system (FDLS)—is briefly described but thoroughly tested with the help of artificial intelligence. An estimation of dynamic stability is used based on the time recording of the current position of the UAV, with the help of a frequency-modulated or amplitude-modulated signal based on the author’s prototype of a precision landing system designed for mountainous terrain. This solution could overcome the problems of GNSS signal loss. The presented research primarily evaluates the success of the simulation flights for the supplementary UAV. The success of navigating the UAV to land in the mountainous environment at an exact landing point using the navigation signals from the FDLS was evaluated at more than 95%.

China is a large mountainous country in the world, where the mountainous area is about two-thirds of the land area. In the past ten years, the coverage rate of mountain forest and grass vegetation has increased by 8.2%, the average value of mountain green coverage index has reached 82.1%, and vegetation coverage has reached the highest value since the founding of the People's Republic of China; The area of water and soil erosion has decreased by 275 000 square kilometers, and the annual soil erosion in mountainous areas has decreased by 27%. At present, the backbone system of mountain ecological security barrier in China has basically formed, and an efficient mountain disaster prevention and control system has been continuously improved, remarkable results have been achieved in mountain disaster reduction. At the same time, a historic accomplishment has been achieved in poverty alleviation of mountainous areas, the industrial structure in mountainous areas has been significantly optimized, and the modernization process has steadily advanced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the beginning of the Holocene era, human activities have seriously impacted animal habitats and vegetative environments. Species that are dependent on natural habitats or with narrow niches might be more severely affected by habitat changes. Malcus inconspicuus is distributed in subtropical China and highly dependent on the mountain environment. Our study investigated the role of the mountainous landscape in the historical evolution of M. inconspicuus and the impact of Holocene human activities on it. A phylogeographical approach was implemented with integrative datasets including double‐digest restriction site‐associated DNA (ddRAD), mitochondrial data, and distribution data. Three obvious clades and an east–west phylogeographical pattern were found in subtropical China. Mountainous landscape has "multifaceted" effects on the evolutionary history of M. inconspicuus, it has contributed to population differentiation, provided glacial refuges, and provided population expansion corridors during the postglacial period. The effective population size (Ne) of M. inconspicuus showed a sharp decline during the Holocene era, which revealed a significantly negative correlation with the development of cropland in a hilly area at the same time and space. It supported that the species which are highly dependent on natural habitats might undergo greater impact when the habitat was damaged by agricultural activities and we should pay more attention to them, especially in the land development of their distribution areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Past human mountain settlement patterns and resource and high-altitude landscape exploitation are underexplored research fields in archaeology. This study presents data gathered during more than 20 years of fieldwork in the Pindus range of Western Macedonia (Greece), focusing in particular on Holocene land use. The investigated territory is located around the Vlach town of Samarina. The area is partly bounded by Mounts Vasilitsa, Gurguliu, Bogdani and Anitsa, and their interconnecting watersheds between ca. 1400 and 2000 m a.s.l. This research led to the discovery of many sites and findspots of lithic and ceramic artefacts attributed to the Middle and Upper Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, Late Neolithic, Chalcolithic, Bronze Age, and several Historical periods. The radiocarbon results show an unexpected longue durée of Holocene human landscape use. The number of sites, their distribution, location, and subsistence strategies exhibit shifts between the Middle Palaeolithic and different periods of the Holocene, which are closely related to the exploitation of the mountain environment and its resources. Moreover, typical knapped stone artefacts have been used as a proxy for dating the glacial landforms which characterise the Samarina highland zone; we correlate them to the better-known moraine systems of Mount Tymphi in Epirus and contribute to the reconstruction of the Pleistocene glacial landscapes of the Pindus Range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the notion of landscape learning has been the object of increasing attention when discussing the neolithization of Europe. The landscape learning model stresses the necessity of gathering environmental information about a previously unfamiliar region. Therefore, it is particularly relevant in cases where the beginning of a farming economy is better explained in relation to the movements of peoples (colonization), rather than to the adoption of crops and livestock by pre-existing hunters and gatherers (acculturation). Unlike other Iberian regions, where the adoption of agriculture runs parallel to that of animal husbandry, the available data on the neolithization process of the Sierra de Gredos mountain range seem to suggest that raising livestock may have preceded plant cultivation. Based on an interdisciplinary and multi-proxy approach, this paper explores the idea that the adoption of a food-producing economy in the Amblés Valley (Ávila, Central Iberia) may have been connected with pastoralism. In this context, landscape learning provides a model for analyzing how Early Neolithic herders in their seasonal movements were capable of wayfinding by memorizing spatial features that functioned as visual landmarks.

Mountain forests are more prone to environmental predispositions (EPs) than submountain ones. While remote sensing of mountain forests enables instantaneous damage mapping, the investigation of the causes requires field data. However, a local field or regionally modeled environmental characteristics influence remote data evaluation differently. This study focused on the evaluation of EPs effects damaging mountain forests between various spatial resolutions during environmental change. The evaluation was divided into managed and natural forests in the Hrubý Jeseník Mts. (Czech Republic; 240–1491 m a.s.l.; 50.082°N, 17.231°E). Damage was assessed through the discrimination analysis of the normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI) by MODIS VI during alternating drought and flood periods 2003–2014. The local environmental influence was assessed using the discrimination function (DF) separability of forest damage in the training sets. The regional influence was assessed through map algebra estimated via the DF and a forest decline spatial model based on EPs from differences between risk growth conditions and biomass fuzzy sets. Management, EPs and soil influenced forest NDVI at different levels. The management afflicted the NDVI more than the EPs. The EPs afflicted the NDVI more than the soil groups. Strong winters and droughts had a greater influence on the NDVI than the flood events, with the winter of 2005/2006 inverting the DF direction, and the 2003 drought increasing differences in managed forest biomass and decreasing differences in natural forest biomasses. More than 50% of declining managed forests in the training sets occurred on Leptosols, Podzols and Histosols. On a regional scale, the soil influence was eliminated by multiple predispositions. The EPs influenced 96% of natural forest and 65% of managed forest, though managed forest damage was more evident. The mountain forest NDVI decline was dependent on both management and risk predispositions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Nardus – and chalk grasslands coexist patchily in calcareous areas of the Pyrenees. • Plant and soil N:P enzyme ratios indicate greater P versus N limitation in chalk grasslands. • P and K limitations are related to increased Ca availability in chalk grasslands. • Decalcification alleviates P limitation in Nardus–grasslands, increasing productivity. High-mountain areas often exhibit high soil heterogeneity, which allows for the close coexistence of plant species and communities with contrasting resource requirements. This study investigated the nutritional factors driving the mosaic distribution of Nardus stricta L. grasslands and chalk grasslands dominated by forbs in the subalpine southern Pyrenees (Spain). The concentrations of C, N, P, S, K, Ca and fiber fractions in herbage were analyzed in relation to soil nutrient availability; soil β-glucosidase, urease, phosphatase and arylsulfatase activities; and plant species and functional type compositions. The chalk grassland showed higher N:P ratios in herbage and higher enzyme demand for P relative to N in the soil, which indicates a greater limitation of P versus N compared to Nardus grassland. This limitation was related to the higher soil and plant Ca levels in the chalk grassland, where the calcareous bedrock lies close to the soil surface. In the Nardus grasslands, the alleviation of P limitation translated into increased productivity and the replacement of forbs with taller graminoids rich in structural carbohydrates, which was mirrored by greater β-D-glucosidase activity. The plant N:K and P:K ratios indicated potential K deficiency in both grasslands, which resulted from decreased uptake of K in competition with Ca, as indicated by the correlation between plant K and the soil K+:Ca2+ ratio. Our results highlight the effect of the heterogeneity of soil nutrient constraints, mediated by stoichiometry and dependent on microtopography, on the biodiversity of high-mountain ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The preferences and semiotic roots of digital nomads are considered, and the current state of globalization processes is characterized. Glocalization is viewed as a new paradigm of architecture that increases the dynamics of mobility and universality in the typological patterns of architecture of urban (global) environment. Objects of digital nomads like “third places”, “virtual fires”, WI-FI in infrastructure as elements of eco-digital cities will need tools similar to the controlled chaos.

The purpose of this paper is to bring the theory of reciprocity closer to the rural networks analysis methodology, in the context of endogenous rural development in mountain environments. The main idea behind the concept of rural networks is to give a new meaning to the expression 'rural development'. This re-signification arises from the observation of the diversity of territories and populations that exist in regions that are making the border between rural and urban increasingly invisible. Moreover, from this finding, the authors identify the need for a new methodology that can, at the same time, look at the spaces through the concept of networks and think rural development as something beyond mercantile exchanges. The proposal to approach the theory of reciprocity is to better understand, and hence justify, a differentiated look within social organizations, their functioning and the interconnections that can coexist within groups. It was found, in both theories, points of convergence; one of them is to make increasingly the formulation, application and analysis of public policies. A second point is the perception of spaces from the concept of social networks. Thus, it is in the junction of very close thoughts that the article proposes the analysis of these new forms of territories occupation, especially those that are in mountainous regions and are destined to the rural production in sustainable bases, with the objective of contributing with the construction of knowledge in the scenarios of public policies and endogenous rural development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The preferences and semiotic roots of digital nomads are considered, and the current state of globalization processes is characterized. Glocalization is viewed as a new paradigm of architecture that increases the dynamics of mobility and universality in the typological patterns of architecture of urban (global) environment. Objects of digital nomads like “third places”, “virtual fires”, WI-FI in infrastructure as elements of eco-digital cities will need tools similar to the controlled chaos.

Past human mountain settlement patterns and resource and high-altitude landscape exploitation are underexplored research fields in archaeology. This study presents data gathered during more than 20 years of fieldwork in the Pindus range of Western Macedonia (Greece), focusing in particular on Holocene land use. The investigated territory is located around the Vlach town of Samarina. The area is partly bounded by Mounts Vasilitsa, Gurguliu, Bogdani and Anitsa, and their interconnecting watersheds between ca. 1400 and 2000 m a.s.l. This research led to the discovery of many sites and findspots of lithic and ceramic artefacts attributed to the Middle and Upper Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, Late Neolithic, Chalcolithic, Bronze Age, and several Historical periods. The radiocarbon results show an unexpected longue durée of Holocene human landscape use. The number of sites, their distribution, location, and subsistence strategies exhibit shifts between the Middle Palaeolithic and different periods of the Holocene, which are closely related to the exploitation of the mountain environment and its resources. Moreover, typical knapped stone artefacts have been used as a proxy for dating the glacial landforms which characterise the Samarina highland zone; we correlate them to the better-known moraine systems of Mount Tymphi in Epirus and contribute to the reconstruction of the Pleistocene glacial landscapes of the Pindus Range.

Landsat-8 spectral values have been used to map the earth's surface information for decades. However, forest types and other land-use/land-cover (LULC) in the mountain terrains exist on different altitudes and climatic conditions. Hence, spectral information alone cannot be sufficient to accurately classify the forest types and other LULC, especially in high mountain complex. In this study, the suitability of Landsat-8 spectral bands and ancillary variables to discriminate forest types, and other LULC, using random forest (RF) classification algorithm for the Hindu Kush mountain ranges of northern Pakistan, was discussed. After prior-examination (multicollinearity) of spectral bands and ancillary variables, three out of six spectral bands and five out of eight ancillary variables were selected with threshold correlation coefficients r2<0.7. The selected datasets were stepwise stacked together and six Input Datasets (ID) were created. The first ID-1 includes only the Surface Reflectance (SR) of spectral bands, and then in each ID, the extra one ancillary variable including Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI), Normalized Difference Snow Index (NDSI), Land Surface Temperature (LST), and Digital Elevation Model (DEM) was added. We found an overall accuracy (OA) = 72.8% and kappa coefficient (KC) =61.9% for the classification of forest types, and other LULC classes by using the only SR bands of Landsat-8. The OA = 81.5% and KC=73.7% was improved by the addition of NDVI, NDWI, and NDSI to the spectral bands of Landsat-8. However, the addition of LST and DEM further increased the OA, and Kappa coefficient (KC) by 87.5% and 82.6%, respectively. This indicates that ancillary variables play an important role in the classification, especially in the mountain terrain, and should be adopted in addition to spectral bands. The output of the study will be useful for the protection and conservation, analysis, climate change research, and other mountains forest-related management information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adaptive Gaussian mixture model is a probability model that can be used to represent the probability distribution of K in the overall distribution. The mixed model represents the probability distribution of the overall observed data. This is a mixed distribution composed of K sub-distributions. In the mixed model, in order to calculate the probability of the observation data in the overall distribution, the observation data is not required to provide information about the sub-distribution. The EM algorithm is used to estimate the parameters of a probability model with hidden variables. Large-scale analysis of remote sensing images of various temporal, climate, and terrain types of mountain environmental characteristics is one of the most important issues at present. In this experiment, 6 Landsat TM remote sensing images with different longitudes and latitudes, different land use patterns, different realities, different ranges, different terrains, and different climates were selected as the research objects. Through their comprehensive comparison, the general ones were selected. The supervised classification method (most likelihood method, BP neural network and support vector machine method) classifies Landsat TM remote sensing images. In order to improve the accuracy of remote sensing image classification and the accuracy of land use information extraction, data such as normalized vegetation index and texture features are used to classify the experimental samples. Cluster statistics and filter analysis are used to classify the results. Finally, a confusion matrix is used to evaluate the accuracy of the classification results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This Article Analyzes The Geographical Location, History, Ethnocultural Atmosphere Of The Population In The Mountainous Areas Of Sariosiyo District Of Surkhandarya Region As A Result Of Scientific Research. The Life And Work Of The Sufism Scholars, Their Spiritual Heritage, The Literary Environment Of The Local Population, The Archaeological Complexes On Graves Were Scientifically Studied. At The Same Time, In The Mountainous Areas, Holy Places Associated With Masters, Martyrs, Natural Springs Were Studied And Put Into Scientific Use Based On Field Research. The Article Presents The Role Of Tourist Zones And Sacred Places, Which Are The Spiritual Heritage Of Local Scholars, And Unique Natural Gifts. Based On Spiritual And Material Heritage, It Is Planned To Develop Local And International Tourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atmospheric new particle formation (NPF, via gas-to-particle conversion) occurs commonly in the troposphere which has implications for air quality, weather, and climate. Here, we comprehensively characterize NPF events at the High Altitude Cloud Physics Laboratory (HACPL) in a mountain semi-rural location, Mahabaleshwar using 2.5 years of semi-continuous measurements of ion and particle number size distributions. The occurrence frequency of NPF events was the maximum in March through May (pre-monsoon season) (22.9%) compared to other seasons. Considering all seasons at HACPL, the particle growth rates in the size range from 3 to 7 nm, 7–25 nm, and 5–25 nm varied from 0.5 to 6.9 nm h−1, 1.3–10.2 nm h−1, and 1.5–16.4 nm h−1, respectively. The formation rate of charged clusters (J 3 + and J 3 − ) are reported for the first time from India, which ranges from 3.1 to 294.4 cm−3 s−1. The general absence of a positive correlation between the particle formation rate and the growth rate indicates that dissimilar vapors might have contributed to the formation and growth of particles. Further, the role of ions in particle formation was also reported for the first time in India, which indicates an insignificant contribution of ions to particle formation at HACPL. At higher temperatures and lower relative humidity conditions, the formation rates of neutral/charged particles are found to be higher. Overall, our results provide new insights into NPF event characterization in the Indian context which have critical importance to an improved process-level understanding of secondary aerosol formation processes globally. • First direct observation-based estimates of sub-3 nm charged cluster formation and growth. • New particle formation occurrence frequency was the highest in March through May months. • Ions play an insignificant role in new particle formation in mountain semi-rural location. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mountain environments are marked by an altitudinal zonation of habitat types. They are home to a multitude of terrestrial green algae, who have to cope with abiotic conditions specific to high elevation, e.g., high UV irradiance, alternating desiccation, rain and snow precipitations, extreme diurnal variations in temperature and chronic scarceness of nutrients. Even though photosynthetic green algae are primary producers colonizing open areas and potential markers of climate change, their overall biodiversity in the Alps has been poorly studied so far, in particular in soil, where algae have been shown to be key components of microbial communities. Here, we investigated whether the spatial distribution of green algae followed the altitudinal zonation of the Alps, based on the assumption that algae settle in their preferred habitats under the pressure of parameters correlated with elevation. We did so by focusing on selected representative elevational gradients at distant locations in the French Alps, where soil samples were collected at different depths. Soil was considered as either a potential natural habitat or temporary reservoir of algae. We showed that algal DNA represented a relatively low proportion of the overall eukaryotic diversity as measured by a universal Eukaryote marker. We designed two novel green algae metabarcoding markers to amplify the Chlorophyta phylum and its Chlorophyceae class, respectively. Using our newly developed markers, we showed that elevation was a strong correlate of species and genus level distribution. Altitudinal zonation was thus determined for about fifty species, with proposed accessions in reference databases. In particular, Planophila laetevirens and Bracteococcus ruber related species as well as the snow alga Sanguina genus were only found in soil starting at 2,000 m above sea level. Analysis of environmental and bioclimatic factors highlighted the importance of pH and nitrogen/carbon ratios in the vertical distribution in soil. Capacity to grow heterotrophically may determine the Trebouxiophyceae over Chlorophyceae ratio. The intensity of freezing events (freezing degree days), proved also determinant in Chlorophyceae distribution. Guidelines are discussed for future, more robust and precise analyses of environmental algal DNA in mountain ecosystems and address green algae species distribution and dynamics in response to environmental changes.

After analyzing the definition of edge computing and the application scenarios and research status of this computing, this paper found that although a lot of energy has been invested in research on edge technology, its progress is relatively slow, and it will appear in the actual application of edge computing. The performance and safety issues are also weak in operability. Taking into account the relatively fragile environment along the mountainous highway in a certain province and city, the A section of the highway with typical mountain geological environmental changes was selected in the study. After learning the geological research methods and theoretical systems, the remote sensing information of environmental geological changes was extracted. When analyzing the vulnerability of mountainous areas, it is necessary to consider the dual influence of natural factors and human factors and conduct in-depth discussions from these two aspects. Nowadays, the results obtained by using different fault diagnosis methods for the same phenomenon are prone to differences. This is because the relationship between transformer gas symptoms and faults is very complicated. A transformer fault diagnosis method is proposed. This method is researched on the basis of evidence theory. It can combine various algorithms to fuse the obtained diagnosis results, so that effective conclusions can be obtained based on multiple diagnosis methods. After analyzing the practical cases, the author found that the combination of fuzzy theory and various algorithms is beneficial to improve the reliability of the diagnosis results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article analyzes the experience of coffee crop in the region of Baturité Mountains, located in the state of Ceará, starting from the 17th century until recently, focusing on different cycles of coffee production in the region, interaction of this crop with the environment, national public policies for the sector, and the process which farmers undergone to develop appropriate coffee productive strategies suitable to the local mountains area. As a study case, the methodology included analysis of documents and related bibliography, participating research and observation, and semi-structured interviews with key actors. In the early stages, coffee production in the region adopted sun-grown system. This choice led to cutting down of native forest, loss of productivity and poor economic results. In a subsequent phase, farmers alternated different productive modes, each one causing different economic and environmental impacts. In the 1970s, disregarding promising perspectives of local experiences with shade-grow coffee, the federal government imposed the national Program for Renewal and Revitalization of Coffee Crops (PRRC), which recommended sun-grow model and caused a severe crisis in the region, including environmental damages and profitability collapse of coffee farms, affecting not only farmers but the regional economy as a whole. In the 1990s, after a nearly vanishing of coffee production in the region, a group of local farmers restored the shade-grown system, this time associating it with innovative production and commercial practices. The new model combines coffee growing with tourism, handcraft and other cultural activities, using mountain landscape as an integrating element, reinforcing the harmony that encompasses coffee crop with environmental conservation and development of other associated production activities in the mountain region. Such approach promotes pluriactivity and hence, bolsters new and promising opportunities for the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dairy sector accounts for a large share of all European agricultural production, at the same time however, it is one of the most ascribed sector contributors to the environmental impact of agriculture, particularly for greenhouse gas emissions. Simultaneously, it is a strategic sector for the economy but generates increasing debate in the community regarding the social aspects mainly related to the use of resources and the food-feed competition of livestock involving the reduction of human-edible crops. In this general framework, this study aims to compare four different dairy farming scenarios characterized by different use of environmental resources in the Alpine area, considering as a case study the production of the Toma di Lanzo cheese (a traditional cheese produced in the mountainous regions of Piedmont—Northwest Italy). The study envisaged the integrated use of three methodologies: Life Cycle Assessment, Life Cycle Costing and the assessment of human-edible feed conversion efficiency to jointly analyze environmental, economic and social aspects. The main results of this research highlighted how the utilization of local breeds, which maximize the efficiency in the use of territory resources, such as grasslands in a mountain environment, allowed dairy production to reduce emissions, when compared to the high-input traditional breeding systems. Although the mountain livestock systems have several critical issues mainly linked to social factors such as low generational turnover, work schedules, modest life quality of families, it is however possible to earn more income than in lowland scenarios. At the same time, this production system allows the Toma di Lanzo cheese-making heritage to be preserved. This mountain pasture cheese, to which superior organoleptic and nutritional characteristics are attributable, when compared to cheeses from the valley floor, incorporates traditional values, a link to the territory and the transmission of knowledge. With reference to food-feed competition in livestock involving the reduction of the use of human-edible crops and feedstuffs in animal diets, we found that grazing and grass-based feeding systems were one of the most sustainable ways to produce milk.

Global Environmental Change among the world’s mountains has become a field of interest for researchers and this issue has been widely studied in many parts of the world. This exploratory research aims to study the changes that have occurred and are still occurring in the Hindu Raj Mountains of northern Pakistan, which is an unexplored region with a wide potential for research. To study the changes in various aspects of physical and social setup, five villages/sub-valleys were selected at varying altitudes above mean sea level. Changes in the bio-physical environment were explored using remote sensing technology. It was found that drastic changes have taken place and are still going on in the natural environment as well as the socio-economic setup of the study area since 1970. The population of the study area has increased by manifold resulting in changes in the household and family structure. Moreover, the land use land cover of the study area has changed considerably. Forest cover has decreased drastically with an increase in both the built up and barren land areas.

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[The European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster), usually breeding in lower, warm latitudes up to July isotherm of 21°C (Cramp, 1985), has recently begun his expansion in northern Italy. Gregarious throughout the year, the European Bee-eater is a summer visitor in Europe. In 2017 a new breeding colony of four-five breeding pairs, has been found out in mountain habitat facing the plain at 1,250 meters a.s.l. in Italian western Alps, showing his expansion not only in northern latitudes but even in altitudinal environment]. [Article in Italian]

ABSTRACT Mountain rivers are situated in a large portion of the terrestrial surface, especially in headwaters regions, and have been used for various purposes such as recreation, sporting activities, water resources and hydroelectric power generation. However, hydrogeomorphic characteristics of mountain rivers are not fully understood. In this context, the present paper aimed to identify relevant parameters for characterizing rivers in these environments based on bibliographical review. It was identified which parameters have been used and how they have been used to characterize mountain rivers in distinct classifications. The most cited parameters were channel gradient, relation between river width and depth, entrenchment ratio, discharge, sediment transport and grain-size distribution. Also, the current situation related to researches in fluvial geomorphology in mountain rivers in Brazil was evaluated, and the strong need of field survey as basis for the best understanding of mountain fluvial dynamics and characterization was verified.

Dairy products play a significant role in the human diet, but they are often associated with high freshwater resource depletion. In Italy, the dairy sector represents more than 12% of the total turnover of the agri-food sector. Trentino Alto Adige is the first Italian region in terms of number of dairy farms, but it does not register a quantitatively consistent dairy production. Notwithstanding, it is characterized mostly by small-scale farms whose strengths are the Protected Designations of Origin and typical mountain productions. The present study aims at: (i) accounting for the virtual water VW of the main dairy products (milk, butter and cheese) produced in Trentino Alto Adige; (ii) estimating the renewable water resources based on the water flow assessment of the study area; (iii) assessing water sustainability comparing the virtual water consumption of the dairy sector at a regional level to the water availability. The findings show that the consumptive virtual water related to dairy production represents about 1% of the water availability in Trentino Alto Adige. Italy’s domestic dairy production is expanding to meet the growing demand, but the expansion of dairy farming in water-stressed regions should be avoided, preferring instead suitable mountain regions where small-scale farms represent a lively entrepreneurial substrate.

Arctic glaciers have been, and are predicted to remain, an important sea‐level rise contributor over the 20th and 21st centuries. However, multi‐annual observations of their basic meteorological characteristics, which drive melt processes, are very sparse, contributing to uncertainties in sea‐level rise projections. This paper presents a methodology to process and analyse 6 years (September 2011–September 2017) of glacier meteorology data collected by an automatic weather station on the ablation zone of a small valley glacier in Svalbard (~79°N). The study focuses on the microclimate of the study glacier and its differences with that of large glaciers in the region, namely slightly increased summer air temperature with steep near‐surface lapse rates, frequently superadiabatic, reduced wind speed and incoming shortwave radiation flux. These differences are likely related to the adjacent complex relief and non‐ice‐covered surfaces within the basin of the study glacier and, as such, pose a challenge for accurate simulation of alpine glacier microclimates in regional melt assessments in the Arctic. The processing routine applied in this paper might serve as a reference for future similar studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global Environmental Change among the world's mountains has become a field of interest for researchers and this issue has been widely studied in many parts of the world. This exploratory research aims to study the changes that have occurred and are still occurring in the Hindu Raj Mountains of northern Pakistan, which is an unexplored region with a wide potential for research. To study the changes in various aspects of physical and social setup, five villages/sub-valleys were selected at varying altitudes above mean sea level. Changes in the bio-physical environment were explored using remote sensing technology. It was found that drastic changes have taken place and are still going on in the natural environment as well as the socio-economic setup of the study area since 1970. The population of the study area has increased by manifold resulting in changes in the household and family structure. Moreover, the land use land cover of the study area has changed considerably. Forest cover has decreased drastically with an increase in both the built up and barren land areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the present time the mountainous climate as the ecosystem has been widely used in curative and sport practice with therapeutic, prophylactic and recreational purposes. This work aimed to study reactions of external breathing, blood circulation, blood and tissue respiration during ascending to mountain at various altitudes from 2100 m, 3500 m and 4200 m above sea level. To attain this goal, investigations were carried out to study changes in the functional respiratory system (FRS) and body's oxygen regimes (BOR) in the people who have been well adapted to hypoxia of varying origin - sportsmen (adapted to physical loads of varying intensity) and altitude climbers (sportsmen, whose professional activity takes place under low and at time very low partial oxygen pressure in the inhaled air). Twenty-eight sport women and high altitude female climbers underwent complex examinations under normoxy conditions prior to ascending mountains. Later analogous examinations were conducted at the beginning (on day 2-3) of the educational-training session at mid-altitude (Terskol, PreElbrus, 2100 m above sea level) on day 10 of their stay. Examinations were conducted at altitudes 3500 and 4200 above sea level. Transfer of essentially healthy people, who have not been adapted to hypoxic hypoxia typical for mountains at altitude 2100 m above sea level, caused health worsening of FRS and BOR control. At altitude 4200 m above sea level even after 12 day acclimatization the indicators of external respiration were 2-2.5 times higher compared to same normoxy condition. After transfer to altitude 2100 m above sea level during first days of acclimatization it is desirable to reduce motor activity because under these conditions the state of the main oxygen-transport systems of the organism does not allow sustain work ability at normoxic level. It is desirable that such corrections be made individually with a consideration of data of prior stay at analogous altitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the mechanisms of how environmental factors limit species distribution along environmental gradients is a central question in ecology. This study aimed to understand species acclimation in view of photosynthetic parameters in an arid mountainous region. We measured some photosynthetic parameters and light and CO2 photosynthesis response curves for all plant communities with seven dominant species in 13 sites along an elevation gradient in the Qilian Mountains in arid northwestern China. The results showed that species in xerothermic environments had low maximum rate of carboxylation (Vcmax) (14.5 µmol m-2 s-1) and maximum rate of electron transport (Jmax) (22.7 µmol m-2 s-1), high light compensation points (60.0 µmol m-2 s-1) and light saturation points (1150.7 µmol m-2 s-1), high dark respiration rates (5.3 µmol m-2 s-1), and high maximum photosynthetic rates (Amax) (18.1 µmol m-2 s-1) compared with species in mesic environments. Photosynthesis parameters did not vary with temperature, precipitation, and altitude in different communities dominated by the same species, Picea crassifolia. However, some photosynthesis parameters varied with temperature, precipitation, and altitude in communities dominated by species other than spruce at different elevations. Selected photosynthesis parameters could be used to measure species adaptation to environmental gradients in arid mountain regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the presented research is to identify local community opinions toward ecological problems in one of the mountainous region of Georgia (Upper Svaneti), to analyze how population ‘perceive, experience, and interpret’ the social, and ecological issues. The paper is based on the results of Upper Svanet ipopulation’s survey which was carried out by the authors of presented paper during the August of 2015 and 2016.The questionnaire was elaborated taking into account the peculiarities of the region. Stratified-cluster selection method was used for selection of respondents and database compilation. For statistical analysis of polling data the SPSS package was used. Based on the statistical analysis of survey results, the following issues have been studied: the most important ecological problems, environmental problems with respect to socio-economic ones, information sources on ecological problems, people’s trust in environmental issues, awareness level of the population on environmental policy, their personal contribution in environmental protection, ways to solve ecological problems, implemented environmental measures. The obtained results are important to foster mountain population’s active participation in processes that contribute to decision-making processes, planning and implementing programs for sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Wallachian (shepherd) colonisation of the upper parts of the Carpathians, the second largest mountain range in Europe, provides a unique opportunity to study human‐induced ecological changes and subsequent sediment mobilisation within slope and fluvial systems. The Wallachians came to the nearly pristine landscape in the Czech part of the Western Carpathians during the 16th to 17th century bringing large‐scale deforestation and grazing to the upper parts of its ridges. Despite the importance of this event, there is a lack of high‐resolution multiproxy reconstructions to help decipher the relative influence of anthropogenic and climate factors on this landscape. Here, we provide an approximately 2.1‐kyr record obtained from a peat bog where, using chronological, sedimentological, and pollen analyses, we were able to differentiate between environmental conditions before, during, and after colonisation. Prior to colonisation, climate deterioration following the onset of Little Ice Age caused changes in forest composition and erosion events (causing a ~ ad 0–1500 gap in the record). Abrupt human‐induced deforestation detected in the pollen record, together with the abundant fine‐grained minerogenic content of peat deposits between ad ~1640 and ad 1870, corresponds to increased run‐off and sheet erosion on slopes, enhanced by Little Ice Age climate deterioration. The sedimentary record in alluvial deposits downstream indicates that the colonisation of the mountain slopes in this region not only had a local effect on soil degradation, but it also increased the net aggradation of overbank deposits within valley floors. After reforestation, net aggradation was replaced by river incision into alluvia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Central China Normal University is the property of Huazhong Normal University 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.)