Ecological Questions最新文献

{"title":"Water Quality Assessment of Brahma Sarovar: A Sacred Lake at Kurukshetra (India)","authors":"S. Deswal, S. Dogra","doi":"10.12775/eq.2023.034","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12775/eq.2023.034","url":null,"abstract":"Brahama Sarovar, in Kurukshetra city (India), is an ancient sacred lake where devotees perform various religious activities/offerings on daily basis, and on special occasions of solar and lunar eclipses, millions of pilgrims all over the country have mass bathing (holy-dip) for internal and external purity. Along with religious importance, this artificial lake also acts as a sacred grove/wetland that serves as an important wintering and stopover site for migratory birds from the Palearctic region. The study was carried out with the objective to analyze the improvement in water quality status after the provision of a closed conduit for the supply of fresh water to the lake and additional measures required for public health safety. For this, the water quality of this sacred lake has been spatially analyzed and compared with Indian standards prescribed for ‘Designated Best Use Class-B: Outdoor Bathing (Organised)’ in the present study. Though the parameters – pH (7.94 within the limits of 6.5-8.5), turbidity (3.63 < 5 NTU), TDS (222.33 < 500 mg/L), TSS (100.25 mg/L) and MPN (239.25 ≤ 500 per 100 ml) were observed to be within the permissible limits, but DO (4.7 ≤ 5.0 mg/L) and BOD (3.54 ≥ 3.0 mg/L) of the lake water were found beyond the permissible limits. Thus, making the lake water unfit for human use for bathing. The comparison with the previous two studies revealed that the lake’s water quality has improved in the last couple of years through the provision of a closed conduit, in place of an open channel, for the supply of fresh canal water to the lake. A couple of additional measures have also been suggested to maintain the water quality standards in the lake so as to protect the human health of the devotees and pilgrims.","PeriodicalId":44105,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Questions","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2023-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42279646","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Investigation of the Indian Forest sector’s performance during the last three and half decades","authors":"P. Chaudhry, S. Tambe","doi":"10.12775/eq.2023.032","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12775/eq.2023.032","url":null,"abstract":"About seventy years ago, independent India’s first National Forest Policy, 1952 clearly mentioned covering one-third of the country’s geographical area under forest cover, but going by the trend of growth in forest cover during the past three and half decades, it is evident that this target is not going to be fulfilled in the near future. The quality of the country’s forests in terms of average productivity, per capita availability, growing stock, and forest type/composition have also declined during the last 35 years as evident from available research articles/reports through secondary literature survey. A multi-pronged strategy giving more emphasis to agroforestry, adopting an innovative result-based Telangana state afforestation model, creating sustainable green funds by different states, and restoring degraded forest lands by strengthening participatory forest management has been suggested in the paper to achieve forest and tree cover target and for improving forest quality.","PeriodicalId":44105,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Questions","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2023-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45274452","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"An ecological study of Indian open drain sewage and it’s treatment","authors":"Vikramaditya","doi":"10.12775/eq.2023.036","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12775/eq.2023.036","url":null,"abstract":"The disposal of a large volume of untreated and partially treated domestic wastewater is causing pollution of various water sources. Sewage treatment involving conventional wastewater treatment technologies is costly. In the present study, in-situ treatment of sewage using a commercially effective microbial consortium was investigated in two community open drains of Chanarthal village in Haryana state of India. The pH, turbidity, BOD, and COD were determined in accordance with standard methods. The optimum dose for treatment in the batch study was 1ml/L, and the optimum time for treatment was 5 days. The batch study results were used for continuous in-situ treatment study performed in drains over a period of six weeks. The turbidity, BOD, and COD removal were 60.1, 82.1, and 64.7% in the batch study and 40.1, 61.1, and 56.4% in the continuous in-situ treatment study. It was also observed that a higher dose of microbial consortia gives the same performance as low doses at a later stage of the study.","PeriodicalId":44105,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Questions","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2023-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43369647","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Performance analysis of protective functions of forest plantations of the Lviv railway line (Ukraine)","authors":"P. Bosak, N. Lukyanchuk, Volodymyr Pinder, I. Shukel, V. Popovych","doi":"10.12775/eq.2023.031","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12775/eq.2023.031","url":null,"abstract":"To reduce the harmful impact of railway transport on the environment and ensure environmental safety, railway enterprises develop and implement a wide range of environmentally effective measures annually. First, it concerns the protection of the territories adjacent to the railroad tracks from various types of pollution. These forest plantations are created for the protection of the railroad track from adverse climatic factors, as well as for the reduction of the railway's impact on the surrounding territories - to reduce the various types of pollution, and to protect from adverse aerodynamic effects. In order to investigate the protective properties of forest plantations, we presented their detailed characteristics on the section of the Lviv-Sambir railway line. This is the busiest railway line in terms of the number of trains, which connects the eastern industrial regions of Ukraine with the western part of the European Union. It transports the largest volumes of cargo, including hazardous ones. The effect of afforestation on reducing the heavy metals content in the soil of the impact area of the railway was determined experimentally. In all samples, the concentrations of heavy metals in the soil do not exceed the maximum permissible concentration standards: Cu-100, Zn-100, Pb-30, Cd-3.0 mg/kg3. However, there is a decrease in the heavy metals' content with the distance from the track. Differences in ingredient pollution depending on the placement of plantations were established. Thus, the concentration of heavy metals is higher on average from 2.6% to 29.9% in the areas on the windward side compared to the areas on the opposite leeward side. Therefore, forest vegetation intensively retains heavy metals and performs the function of a filter for the natural environment. Research has established a reduction in the parametric impact of railway transport. The level of protective plantings' effect on noise reduction along railway lines was determined. The highest noise levels of electric trains were determined at 95-94 dBA near the track, at a distance of 50-100 m the noise level remained high at 90-82 dBA, and at a distance of 150-200 m the noise ranged from 86 to 65 dBA; the highest noise levels of passenger trains were determined near the track of 92-91 dBA; freight trains ‒ near the track 93-92 dBA. The dependence of the noise level on the structure and condition of the plantations was determined. Thus, it can be stated that the existing forest plantations perform their phytomelioration functions and reduce the negative ingredient and parametric impact of railway transport. In order to protect the territories adjacent to the railway from pollution successfully, it is necessary to monitor transport sections constantly to ensure the sustainable development of the railway industry.","PeriodicalId":44105,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Questions","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2023-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41929695","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Comprehensive Review of Noise Measurement, Standards, Assessment, Geospatial Mapping and Public Health","authors":"S. K K, SURINDER DESWAL","doi":"10.12775/eq.2023.035","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12775/eq.2023.035","url":null,"abstract":"Noise pollution is an emerging issue in cities around the world. Noise is a pernicious pollutant in urban landscapes mainly due to the increasing number of city inhabitants, road and aviation traffic, industrial and construction activities, and appliances or machinery used in daily life. The objective of this paper is to present a comprehensive review of noise measurement, guidelines/standards, and parameters used in noise monitoring; noise assessment associated with the area characteristics and the violations of guidelines/standards; noise geospatial mapping in urban planning; and physiological and psychological effects of noise exposure on public health.\u0000The review results revealed that standard methodology was lacking in many of the reviewed studies for noise measurement in various land-use patterns, especially the duration of noise monitoring; noise levels exceeded the prescribed noise standards in almost every noise assessment study across the globe irrespective of land-use or designated zone, and are exhibiting rising trends particularly due to traffic-induced noise; the majority of the urban population has been exposed to the noisy environment and affected with significant physiological and psychological health impacts; noise geospatial mapping has demonstrated high potential in noise abatement and management; and marked drop in noise levels in an urban environment during COVID-19 lockdown period.\u0000Based on the review results, the present study has suggested some future research perspectives of noise abatement and management that include a focus on – methodical noise assessment with prescribed guidelines of noise measurement and standards; geospatial noise mapping of urban areas, and real-time information system; universal database management software (DBMS) such as SQL and Improvado to compile data in single storage that will allow multiple users to access data despite different geographical locations; awareness programs using multi-media approaches in urban areas; and strict implementation of noise laws and regulations, that leads to the development of advanced technologies, integrated strategies, and sustainable environmental planning to mitigate the menace of noise pollution. \u0000 ","PeriodicalId":44105,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Questions","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2023-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48508508","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mapping Antecedents and Outcomes of Marginality and Social Exclusion among Small Landholders: A Systematic Review","authors":"Furqan Sikandar, Hong Wang, Kanwal Zahra, Bilal Muhammad Yaseen, Saif Ullah, S. Shobairi","doi":"10.12775/eq.2023.037","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12775/eq.2023.037","url":null,"abstract":"This study aims to review determinants of the social exclusion (SE) of small farmers in the agriculture sector, which is one of the key approaches to creating sustainable rural development and an integral part of the country’s economic development. The selected group's social and economic underpinnings play a vital role in their productive decision-making regarding rural development. As per the literature review, databases of peer-reviewed scientific publications, and official publications of the relevant fields from 2005 to 2020, it has been deduced that the literature lacks elucidated support on the small landholder (SLH) in defining their marginality and social exclusion. This study particularly attempts to fill this gap by reviewing the comprehensive research of said domains. A precise and effective list of main players in this field to the smallholders throughout the developing and developed countries has been produced. Findings indicate that government interventions in terms of the welfare system, credit facilities, agriculture resources, market access, and farmers’ migration significantly influence decreasing social exclusion, food security, and attainment of the SDGs. Moreover, educational systems through farmer social networks, farmer-based organizations, and farmer field schools help adapt to climate change and the latest agricultural technologies, increase livelihood choices, reduce poverty and inequalities, empower women, and improve the social status of farmers. This is ultimately and positively associated with the social inclusion of small farmers and sustainable economic development.","PeriodicalId":44105,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Questions","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2023-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42711752","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Agroecological characteristics of the effect of a mixture of probiotic preparations with concomitant formation water on soil microorganisms","authors":"P. Pysarenko, Maryna Samojlik, M. Galytskaya, Yuriy Tsova, Maryna Pischalenko","doi":"10.12775/eq.2023.033","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12775/eq.2023.033","url":null,"abstract":"In the context of energy and environmental crisis, the search for new substances ensuring the formation of microbial cenosis with a rich composition of agronomically valuable groups of bacteria, the optimal level of humification, and the increase of organic matter in the soil will allow to substantiate innovative environmentally safe types of fertilizers and plant protection under specific soil and climatic conditions. Therefore, the aim of the research was to study the peculiarities of the formation and functioning of microbial cenosis of podzolic chernozem soil and the intensity of soil-biological processes upon application of a mixture of probiotic preparations and concomitant formation water in different concentrations. Different concentrations of concomitant formation water (СFW) and probiotic preparations were applied to the soil in the selected plots, and the soil microbial cenoses of farmland were evaluated in the spring and autumn periods on days 15, 30, and 60 after application of the mixtures. Soil without the application of any substances was considered a control variant. The most effective impact is observed on day 30 after application, there is an activation of microbiological processes on day 15, and a significant decrease is observed on day 60, although higher than the control due to the prolonged action of СFW. It was determined that the best variant of the experiment in both spring and autumn periods to improve the viability of soil microbial cenosis is the option of joint use of СFW at a concentration of 900 L ha-1 and probiotic Sviteco-Agrobiotic-01 diluted in a ratio of 1:10 (dose 100 L ha-1). In particular, the total number of all groups of bacteria in the soil increases with the use of probiotics diluted in a ratio of 1:10 (15-31% compared to control) and is the maximum when using a mixture of СFW at a dose of 900 L ha-1 and 10% probiotic (by 82-102% compared to control). Based on the analysis of the coefficients of mineralization-immobilization, oligotrophy, and pedotrophy, it was found that the application of СFW mixture and probiotic increases the soil nutrient content for different ecological and trophic groups of bacteria, reduces the rate of humus decomposition and creates favorable conditions for the development of soil bacteria.","PeriodicalId":44105,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Questions","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2023-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46079809","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Conservation Management Model of Subayang River in the Kampar Regency, Province of Riau based on Local Wisdom using Belida Fish (Chitala sp.) as Bioindicator","authors":"Darmadi Ahmad, S. Sukendi, Z. Saam, Suwondo","doi":"10.12775/eq.2023.025","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12775/eq.2023.025","url":null,"abstract":"This research was conducted on the Subayang River in Kampar Regency, Riau Province, Indonesia, from January to December 2019. This research aims to determine the physical and chemical water characteristics of the Subayang River and the trend of the Belida fish (Chitalla sp.) population for constructing a river conservation management model based on local wisdom. To investigate the water's physical characteristics, a water sample was acquired from the Subayang river on three stations (upstream, middle stream, and downstream). The water sample was collected on each station iteratively at three different points at the river stream's left, middle, and right sides. The trend of Belida fish population data was gathered from interviews with the fishermen. Moreover, interviews with the traditional figure of the society around the Subayang river were also conducted. Then, the conservation model of the Subayang river was constructed by analyzing the interview and the population of Belida fish results using a system dynamic model. The investigation of the water’s physical and chemical properties shows that the Subayang river has a suitable environment for the growth of Belida fish. However, the Belida fish population trend in the last four years tends to decrease. The existence of \"lubuk larangan\" and \"pantang larang adat\", are local wisdom that gives a positive affection towards the Belida fish population. Those traditional rules can restrict citizens from doing illegal fishing which hardly affects the Belida fish population.","PeriodicalId":44105,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Questions","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2023-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42872269","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Seedling Recruitment of Rhododendron arboreum: an important NTFP species of North-Western Himalaya, India","authors":"Kaiser Iqbal, A. Negi, Dr Nazir A. Pala, N. Todaria","doi":"10.12775/eq.2023.029","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12775/eq.2023.029","url":null,"abstract":"We examined the recruitment, survival, mortality, growth, and development of Rhododendron arboreum Smith, one of the important Non- Timber forest Product species (NTFPs). Ten permanent plots (10 x 10 m2) were created in four sites of mixed broad-leaved temperate forests of Garhwal Himalaya. We measured seedling shoot length and collar diameter at the beginning of the experiment and re-measured at three-month intervals with maximum seedling recruitment recorded in Triguginaryan (36.36 %, during Nov and Aug), and most seedlings were found established either on the boundary or in either partially or fully gaps. While a higher rate of mortality occurred in the winter season. Maximum height increment for seedlings was recorded in Adhwani (1.005 cm-1). R. arboreum recorded the highest recruitment during post-rainy, with an overall increment of 0.60 cm-1. Seasonal variations were seen in the overall relative growth rate for height (RGRH) for Rhododendron seedlings. Seasonal variation in temperature and light is a crucial factor in determining growth. Because of the favorable temperature and soil moisture during the rainy season, vigorous shoot growth continued for the longest period of time at all four sites. The current study's findings also show that seedlings develop and survive better in gaps than in the understory. The current study also demonstrates that ideal soil moisture and temperature conditions are essential for seedling growth and development.","PeriodicalId":44105,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Questions","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2023-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42901828","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spatio-temporal analysis of the Brantas river water quality status by using principal component weighted index (PCWI)","authors":"E. Lusiana, M. Mahmudi, Muhammad Musa, Maria Alfonsa Okta Primadhita, Syahrijal Putra, Jumpa Priodi Silalahi, S. Sunadji, N. Buwono","doi":"10.12775/eq.2023.028","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12775/eq.2023.028","url":null,"abstract":"River, as one of the surface water resources, has faced many contaminations due to domestic and industrial activities in its surrounding, and thus routine water quality monitoring is required. This activity yields a large number of water quality characteristics that can be very useful to evaluate the status of river quality status. In this study, we integrated a statistical multivariate analysis such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and conventional Water Quality Index (WQI) measure to produce a data-driven composite index for water quality assessment. We implemented this technique to evaluate the status of Brantas River, the largest river in East Java Province-Indonesia, using a long-term dataset collected from 2012 to 2021. The study area was divided into three classes: upstream, midstream, and downstream. Results of the study suggested that the pollution level in the Brantas River fluctuates yearly. Meanwhile, the degree of contamination increased from upstream to downstream.","PeriodicalId":44105,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Questions","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2023-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48715817","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}