Cogent Environmental Science最新文献

{"title":"Transient effects of nitrogen addition and rainfall suppression on Vachellia karroo growth under grass competition in a southern African savanna","authors":"M. Shekede, M. Masocha, A. Murwira","doi":"10.1080/23311843.2018.1549799","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23311843.2018.1549799","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract It is not clear how woody species, especially nitrogen fixers will respond to the combined effect of increased N fertilisation and reduced rainfall amount in savannas in a changing environment. A field experiment was set up at a southern African savanna site to investigate the interaction effects of increased N deposition and reduced rainfall amount on the growth of Vachellia karroo saplings in the presence of grass competition. Rainout shelters were erected around experimental plants to mimic the projected decrease in rainfall in southern Africa while N was added as ammonium nitrate over four growing seasons. The experiment uncovered significant but transient effects of rainfall suppression alone (F1 = 5.171, P = 0.031) and its interaction with N fertilisation (F1 = 6.369, P = 0.017) on the height of V. karroo saplings in the second growing season but not in the first, third and fourth season (P > 0.05). Rainfall suppression significantly reduced sapling height. The interaction of fertilisation and rainfall suppression increased stem height of the study species. In contrast, the interaction effects of N supply and rainfall suppression significantly (F1 = 4.213, P = 0.049) increased diameter of saplings during the first season but not thereafter. Conversely, grass competition did not significantly influence the growth of V. karroo either alone or in interaction with the main treatments though saplings growing in competition with grass had relatively higher growth than the control. Overall, results suggest that N fertilisation may cancel out the predicted negative effect of rainfall decrease on woody species growth thereby enabling the persistence of these species under global environmental changes.","PeriodicalId":45615,"journal":{"name":"Cogent Environmental Science","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/23311843.2018.1549799","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46951209","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":"Land cover data as environmentally sensitive decision-making mediator in territorial and administrative reform","authors":"Artan Hysa, Fatma Ayçim TÜRER BAŞKAYA","doi":"10.1080/23311843.2018.1505326","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23311843.2018.1505326","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract This paper presents a multi-criteria conceptual framework for decision-making processes during Territorial and Administrative Reform (TAR) relying on sustainable development principles. In general, TAR processes highly consider socio-cultural and economic factors, but they lack responsiveness to environmental dynamics of the context. While this practice achieves a fair allocation of the new administrative units’ centers, the border defining criteria are indistinct. Thus, we turn a spotlight on the environmental factors as fundamental criteria in TAR decision-making processes, especially the boundary definition stage. Topography, watershed, land cover, and natural conservation areas are among the proposed environmental measures. The research makes a real case of land cover data utilization as environmentally sensitive decision-making mediator. First, the CORINE Land Cover (CLC) data of 2012 serves as an evaluation criteria of the recent TAR (2014) in Albanian territory, based on the landscape fragmentation caused by the new spatial division. Second, the CLC data generates an alternative municipal boundary of the Albanian capital. The results show that a TAR process not taking into account the environmental criteria leads to functionally disconnected territories which in the long run may lead to physically fragmented natural landscapes. Furthermore, the new alignment for municipal borders of Tirana shows a successful result in minimizing natural landscape fragmentation caused by local administrative boundaries. The proposed multi-criteria conceptual framework and the application via CLC utilization presents a methodical approach which may assist decision-making processes of TAR in other developing countries, conform sustainable territorial management principles.","PeriodicalId":45615,"journal":{"name":"Cogent Environmental Science","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/23311843.2018.1505326","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44760126","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":"Ecotourism and wildlife conservation-related enterprise development by local communities within Southern Africa: Perspectives from the greater Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation, South-Eastern Lowveld, Zimbabwe","authors":"Chenjerai Zanamwe, E. Gandiwa, N. Muboko, O. Kupika, B. Mukamuri","doi":"10.1080/23311843.2018.1531463","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23311843.2018.1531463","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract This paper seeks to delve deeper and assess ecotourism and wildlife conservation-related enterprises development by local communities within the Zimbabwean component of the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area (GLTFCA). Transfrontier Conservation was embraced by scientists, policy-makers and other stakeholders in Chiredzi and Chipinge Districts in the southeast Lowveld of Zimbabwe, among other reasons for improved wildlife conservation and community-based cross-border ecotourism development. The study sought to understand factors hampering local communities owned ecotourism and wildlife conservation-related enterprise development. To understand the evolution of ecotourism and wildlife conservation-related enterprise development by local communities in Southern Africa especially within the GLTFCA and to also assess the potential of local community Ecotourism and wildlife conservation-related enterprises development. Various documents such as books, journals, web documents, electronic sources, reports, financial statement and policy documents were reviewed. To buttress the study, 30 purposeful sampled key informants were also interviewed in Chipinge and Chiredzi Districts from January to June 2018 in order to solicit for firsthand data that are very useful for triangulation. The study is important for the further development of district, national and international policies. The study findings showed that Transfrontier conservation have not achieved its objectives towards improved cross-border ecotourism and wildlife conservation-related enterprise development. Hopes by the local community especially on the Zimbabwean side for inclusion ecotourism and conservation-related enterprises chains have not been realized. Most local communities’ members within TFCAs are still living under abject poverty. More still needs to be done towards socio-economic development in the area under study. The study has realized that the transfrontier treaty was operationalized at a higher level thus head of state and ministerial forgetting about the local level. Local institutions are not fully empowered and have clear policy guidelines. Findings from this study will help better plan, structure and execute ecotourism and wildlife conservation-related enterprises involving communities. The success of these initiatives will increase the size of benefits trickling to individual households in line among other objectives which led to the establishment of the Transfrontier Conservation Areas.","PeriodicalId":45615,"journal":{"name":"Cogent Environmental Science","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/23311843.2018.1531463","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45729063","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":"Expected impacts of active mining on the distribution of heavy metals in soils around Iludun-Oro and its environs, Southwestern Nigeria","authors":"A. Oyebamiji, Amobichukwu Chukwudi Amanambu, T. Zafar, Adeniyi JohnPaul Adewumi, D. S. Akinyemi","doi":"10.1080/23311843.2018.1495046","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23311843.2018.1495046","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract This present study is aimed at evaluating the level of environmental degradation and potential ecological risk in soils around an active (tantalum-niobium) mining site of Iludun-Oro, southwestern Nigeria. A total of 18 topsoil samples were randomly collected from different parts of the study area and analysed using the inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrophotometry. The concentrations of Pb, Zn, Fe, Cu, Cr and Ni varied between 0–678, 7–222, 1.64–8.87, 8.8–145, 1.4–81 and 1.6–93.1 ppm, respectively, with an average concentration of 107.72, 48.17, 5.17, 45.28, 14.76 and 21.53 ppm, respectively. The order of abundance of these heavy metals analysed in the soils is as follows: Pb > Zn> Cu> Ni> Cr> Fe. The concentration values of Pb, Fe, Cu, Ba and Sr are higher than the background values indicating that mining activities have an adverse impact on the study area. On accessing the soil quality in the study area, the results of the geo-accumulation, contamination factor (CF) and pollution load indices (PLIs) indicated high concentrations of Pb in the soils. Likewise, most of the Igeo values reported uncontaminated to moderately contaminated for all elements except for Pb. This study has further provided the background information for a vulnerability assessment of the study area as well as for future impact assessment and proper planning of the mining site. These findings have provided useful information for making appropriate environmental management strategies to mitigate the influence of heavy metal pollution generated from an active mining site in Nigeria and other similar areas.","PeriodicalId":45615,"journal":{"name":"Cogent Environmental Science","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/23311843.2018.1495046","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45033865","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":"Gender stereotyping: Evidence from gender differentiated household vulnerability to climate change in Eastern Uganda","authors":"Kenneth Balikoowa, G. Nabanoga, D. M. Tumusiime","doi":"10.1080/23311843.2018.1512838","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23311843.2018.1512838","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract A narrative linking women and vulnerability has been overarching in vulnerability literature. However, this narrative has not been empirically proven aside from generalizations based on poverty-gender linkages. This study used primary data collected in 2016 from 735 randomly selected households in Eastern Uganda to construct a gender vulnerability index based on the livelihood vulnerability framework to determine the most vulnerable gender differentiated households. The results showed that single male-headed households were the most vulnerable to climate change, even worse than single female-headed households. Mixed gender households showed lowest vulnerability. Presence of a female spouse reduced the vulnerability of the traditionally “male headed” households. The results suggest that disparity in access to requisite resources mediates vulnerability among groups of households. It is concluded that the straight assumption that vulnerability is associated with female-headed households is misleading and could disenfranchise some male-headed households that are more vulnerable.","PeriodicalId":45615,"journal":{"name":"Cogent Environmental Science","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/23311843.2018.1512838","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45839561","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":"Microbial quality of ablution kettles used at mosques in the Tolon District: A case study in Nyankpala","authors":"A. W. Abu-Safianu, S. Cobbina, Enoch Yeleliere","doi":"10.1080/23311843.2018.1505325","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23311843.2018.1505325","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The ubiquitous nature of microorganism and its ability of being transmitted have raised serious concerns, particularly items/objects used by multiple people. The aim of this study is to assess the microbial quality of water-containing vessels/containers (kettles) for ablution in Nyankpala in the northern region of Ghana. Thirty ablution kettles from 10 mosques were sampled by taking 90 swab samples which were taken from the external surfaces of these kettles for laboratory analyses for four bacteria (Staphylococcus spp., Salmonella spp., Shigella spp. and Escherichia coli) known to majorly cause infectious diseases pertaining to hygiene and sanitation. Swabbed samples were spread-plated on various appropriate media and incubated. Viable colonies were then counted and recorded as colony-forming units (cfu/cm2). Confirmations of bacteria were done using citrate, urease, Triple Sugar Iron and catalase tests. A questionnaire was also administered to assess the knowledge of mosque management regarding bacterial contamination of surfaces as well as mosque management practices that influence it. Also, 70% of the mosque management in Nyankpala had no idea about microbial contamination of the ablution kettle, while 30% had fair knowledge about it. The study indicated that Staphylococcus spp. was the highest in occurrence (79.33%), followed by Shigella spp. (10.76%), E. coli (9.17%) and Salmonella spp. (0.75%). It was recommended that proper hand washing among ablution kettle users should be practiced as most contaminations were observed from contact with palms of handlers and avenues be created by stakeholders of hygiene and public health for educating mosque managements on the risk of microbial contamination as well.","PeriodicalId":45615,"journal":{"name":"Cogent Environmental Science","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/23311843.2018.1505325","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46456809","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":"Diagnosing soil degradation and fertilizer use relationship for sustainable cotton production in Benin","authors":"B. Honfoga","doi":"10.1080/23311843.2017.1422366","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23311843.2017.1422366","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract In Benin and many other cotton-producing countries of West Africa, unsustainable natural resource management is hindering agricultural growth, food security, and poverty reduction. This study addressed the sustainability of fertilizer-based soil fertility management practices in Benin. It diagnosed the relationship between differential soil degradation status over space and fertilizer use in cotton production systems. Referring to sound land use principles, it found that present fertilizer use practices overlook the spatial differences in soil fertility status in export-oriented cotton production systems. Considering more relevant short-run fertilizer needs based on desirable fertilizer doses, the potentials for sustainable fertilizer use were then assessed considering the likelihood of change towards best practices of integrated soil fertility management. More rational fertilizer use practices will be critical in the future to inducing higher cotton yields while preserving the environment. Adjusting current fertilizer recommendations to site-specific soil conditions is urgently required to enhance the sustainability of cotton production systems in Benin. Fertilizer policies will need to rely on updated information on soil and land use dynamics, and be innovative enough to induce a steady increase in agricultural productivity and improved net incomes cotton growers.","PeriodicalId":45615,"journal":{"name":"Cogent Environmental Science","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/23311843.2017.1422366","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47361348","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":"Forage preference of the greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) in a miombo woodland adjacent to Umfurudzi Park, Zimbabwe","authors":"Ruth R. Chinomona, E. Gandiwa, V. K. Muposhi, N. Muboko, M. Moyo","doi":"10.1080/23311843.2018.1559461","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23311843.2018.1559461","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Understanding the diet of herbivores is a crucial factor for the management of wild animals in natural ecosystems. The aim of this study was to establish the forage selection by the greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) in different seasons in Garura communal area management programme for indigenous resources (CAMPFIRE) project adjacent to Umfurudzi Park, Zimbabwe. The direct observation method was used to collect data on the woody species foraged by the greater kudu, where field observations were conducted to determine woody species consumed by the greater kudu at the feeding sites across two seasons, dry (September to October 2015) and wet season (December 2015 to January 2016). A total of 17 out of 38 woody species were recorded as being preferred by the greater kudu. There was no significant difference in the diversity, acceptance and availability of forage by greater kudu across seasons. The main five commonly utilized woody species across both seasons were Ficus coronata, Savanna dwababerry, Dalbergia nyassae, Gymnosporia senegalensis and Bauhinia petersiana. Results revealed that seasonality did not have any influence on forage selection on woody species in the study area.","PeriodicalId":45615,"journal":{"name":"Cogent Environmental Science","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/23311843.2018.1559461","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47881604","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":"Growth-inhibitory components in Sugi (Cryptomeria japonica) extracts active against Microcystis aeruginosa","authors":"Yuri Suzuki, H. Saijo, Koetsu Takahashi, H. Kofujita, T. Ashitani","doi":"10.1080/23311843.2018.1466401","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23311843.2018.1466401","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The growth-inhibitory activity of extracts obtained from Sugi (Cryptomeria japonica) effective against Microcystis aeruginosa, an alga that causes harmful algal blooms in freshwater environments, was examined. Each sample of the inner bark, outer bark, heartwood, and leaves of Sugi was extracted with hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol successively. Inhibitory activities were observed in the inner bark ethyl acetate and methanol extracts, the heartwood hexane extract, the outer bark hexane extract, and the leaf ethyl acetate extract. The inner bark ethyl acetate and methanol extracts showed stronger activities than the other extracts. Catechin, epicatechin, and procyanidin B3 were identified as the active components in the inner bark ethyl acetate and methanol extracts. The terpenoids 1-epicubenol, 4-epicubebol, cubenol, δ-cadinol, sandaracopimarinal, and sandaracopimarinol were the active components of the heartwood hexane extract. Thus, it was indicated that not only the polyphenolic components but also non-phenolic terpenoids had growth inhibition activity against M. aeruginosa.","PeriodicalId":45615,"journal":{"name":"Cogent Environmental Science","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/23311843.2018.1466401","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45517246","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 overview of management, recycling, and wasting disposal in the drilling operation of oil and gas wells in Iran","authors":"A. Davarpanah, A. Razmjoo, B. Mirshekari","doi":"10.1080/23311843.2018.1537066","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23311843.2018.1537066","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract There is large quantity of cuttings which are produced from drilling operations oil and gas wells. Depletion of solid particles in the solid control equipments is allocated as a considerable proportion of wastes. Remaining of waste particles in the system can cause diverse affects in mud function and the occurrence of potentially destructive impacts on the environmental and ecological systems. In the operation process of the new systems, drilling cuttings are separated by solid-state control devices. All their properties are examined and then buried in a solid and fixed state after a solid-state refurbishment operation. Furthermore, all tests are carried out in the liquid phase in the environmental situation, and after being recycled, they are reused or safely buried. The objective of this comprehensive research is to introduce the new design layout, operating principles, equipment, and planning of new wastewater management from the environmental point of view which are based on available information about several drilled wells of Iran that are used for solid-state control systems and drilling waste management. Consequently, corral systems, drying-shaker and auger, and disposal sites are the common and proper methods of waste disposal in Iran.","PeriodicalId":45615,"journal":{"name":"Cogent Environmental Science","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/23311843.2018.1537066","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43729957","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}