Integrating Extensive Livestock and Soil Conservation Policies in Mediterranean Mountain Areas for Recovery of Abandoned Lands in the Central Spanish Pyrenees. A Long-Term Research Assessment

2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 262-273 ◽  
Author(s):  
Estela Nadal-Romero ◽  
Teodoro Lasanta ◽  
Artemi Cerdà
Keyword(s):  
Soil Conservation ◽  
Research Assessment ◽  
Mountain Areas ◽  
Conservation Policies ◽  
Spanish Pyrenees ◽  
Abandoned Lands

Soil Conservation Capability of Crops and Crop Rotations: Data from Long-Term Studies in Belarus

2013 ◽  
pp. 295-301
Author(s):  
A. Chernysh ◽  
A. Ustinova ◽  
I. Kas’yanenko ◽  
S. Kas’yanchik
Keyword(s):  
Soil Conservation ◽  
Crop Rotations ◽  
Long Term Studies

Behavioural reactions of wintering humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) to biopsy sampling in the western South Atlantic

2010 ◽  
Vol 90 (8) ◽  
pp. 1701-1711 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mauricio Cantor ◽  
Taiana Cachuba ◽  
Luena Fernandes ◽  
Márcia H. Engel
Keyword(s):  
Mating Behaviour ◽  
South Atlantic ◽  
Humpback Whales ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Conservation Policies ◽  
Breeding Grounds ◽  
Lactating Females ◽  
Access Information ◽  
Large Groups

Molecular analysis has become a powerful tool in cetacean ecology since it supports efficient conservation policies. Remote biopsy sampling is the most efficient method to obtain epithelial material for analysis purposes; however, as an intrusive technique it presents inherent costs, evidenced by behavioural reactions. Clarifying which factors influence these responses is essential to assess its impact and prevent possible long-term effects. For eleven winters, samples from humpback whales were collected in the Abrolhos Bank, the main breeding ground of this species in the western South Atlantic. We analysed the influence of several characteristics of the shot, vessels, groups and behaviour on the frequency and intensity of the whales' response. The majority of biopsied whales did not show any detectable response. Among those that responded, a low-level category of reaction was most frequent. The use of larger boats resulted in less intense responses. Responses were influenced by group size and behavioural state: large groups, which were involved in aggressive mating behaviour, reacted less frequently than smaller groups. Females with calves showed less intense reactions than non-lactating females. The behaviour of the animals prior to and during the boat approach also affected their response: resting whales responded more intensely than whales involved in social or travel activities. Comparison with previous studies confirmed that reactions vary in intensity according to location: whales biopsied in feeding grounds responded with more intensity than those in breeding grounds, which in turn responded more intensely than whales in migration. This study reinforces existing evidence that biopsy sampling is unlikely to have long-term effects and can thus continue to be used as one of the main tools to access information which is vital for conservation.

scholarly journals Geoheritage of East Kazakhstan

Geoheritage ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiri Chlachula
Keyword(s):  
Geographic Area ◽  
Environmental Conservation ◽  
Sculptured Surfaces ◽  
Mountain Areas ◽  
Mountain Ranges ◽  
Conservation Policies ◽  
Bedrock Weathering ◽  
Broad Array ◽  
East Kazakhstan ◽  
Sediment Transfer

AbstractEast Kazakhstan is physiographically a diverse region of north-central Asia encompassing a broad array of geomorphic zones and geo-ecosystems from the western open steppes to the interior arid basins with wind-sculptured surfaces of the surrounding rocky highlands aligned by the high alpine mountain ranges. The complex regional geological history gave rise to a mosaic of impressive landforms located within a relatively small area. The extraordinary relief with many unique geo-sites was generated by dynamic processes associated with the late Cainozoic orogenesis in conjunction with the past climatic variations. The cyclicity of bedrock weathering and mass sediment transfer are manifested by Mesozoic fossiliferous formations, large sand dune fields, and loess-palaeosol-cryogenic series providing archives of the Quaternary evolution. Pleistocene glaciations followed by cataclysmic floods from the released ice-dammed lakes during the recessional glacier stages have produced an exceptional imprint in the mountain areas. Many archaeological localities and historic monuments, some being a part of the UNESCO World Natural and Cultural Heritage, are associated with the most prominent topographic places. Geo-tourism focusing on the most exquisite landscapes and spectacular geological settings is the new trend in the country with still minor activities that take advantage of the region’s supreme geoheritage potential. The great geo-diversity accentuates the touristic value of this still marginally explored geographic area. Reconnaissance, documentation, and publicity of the most unique geo-sites and geo-parks provide an impetus for their registration in the national and international nature heritage protection programs under proper geo-environmental conservation policies.

The Study on the Vegetation Factor C of the USLE Model in the Frigid Plateau Region Based on Remote Sensing

2012 ◽  
Vol 500 ◽  
pp. 162-167
Author(s):  
Shi Xian Gu ◽  
Xia Xu ◽  
Xiao Dan Wang
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Soil Conservation ◽  
Rational Model ◽  
Plateau Region ◽  
Eastern Tibet ◽  
C Value ◽  
Factor C ◽  
Term Field

The vegetation factor C presented the human disturbance to the soil erosion and was important to the soil erosion estimation and soil conservation. However it was hard to be measured without a long term field observation and much harder in the frigid plateau region where the environment is fragile and tough, research needed and not easy to be conducted. This study used remote sensing to check detail land use/cover, estimated the factor C by vegetation rational model, and a factor C value table was built and C value map was drawn in the typical watershed of eastern Tibet to help to estimate the soil erosion in the material lack area.

scholarly journals Changes in Foliar Functional Traits of S. pyrenaicus subsp. carpetanus under the Ongoing Climate Change: A Retrospective Survey

Plants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 395
Author(s):  
Rosina Magaña Ugarte ◽  
Adrián Escudero ◽  
Daniel Sánchez Mata ◽  
Rosario G. Gavilán
Keyword(s):  
Stomatal Density ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Plant Performance ◽  
Adaptive Plasticity ◽  
Mountain Areas ◽  
Stomatal Size ◽  
Physiological Approach ◽  
Stomatal Traits

The sensitivity of stomatal behavior and patterning (i.e., distribution, density, size) to environmental stimuli, renders them crucial for defining the physiological performance of leaves. Thus, assessing long-term modifications in stomatal traits in conserved specimens arises as a valuable eco-physiological approach to predict how the rising trend of warmer, drier summers could affect plant fitness; particularly in mountain areas already experiencing climate aggravation and lacking the related monitoring schemes like Mediterranean high-mountains. Variations in foliar and stomatal traits were studied in conserved specimens of Senecio pyrenaicus subsp. carpetanus from Sierra de Guadarrama over the past 71 years. Our findings revealed decreasing trends in leaf width, stomatal size, and increasing tendency in stomatal density, all correlated with the recent 30-year climate exacerbation in these mountains. This evidenced a positive selection favoring traits that allow safeguarding plant performance under drier, hotter weather conditions. The significant relation between stomatal traits and climatic variables upholds the role of stomatal patterning in sensing environmental cues in this species, feasibly optimizing physiological responses involved in the growth–water loss trade-off. The transition to smaller, densely packed stomata observed in recent decades could indicate local-adaptive plasticity in this species, enhancing stomatal response, as coarser environmental conditions take place in Sierra de Guadarrama.

Pipeline Integrity Analyses for Construction in Mountainous Areas

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fan Zhang ◽  
Ming Liu ◽  
Yong-Yi Wang ◽  
Ryan Surface ◽  
Adam Phillips
Keyword(s):  
Mountainous Terrain ◽  
Mountainous Areas ◽  
Mountain Areas ◽  
Element Analysis ◽  
Upheaval Buckling ◽  
Section Design ◽  
Cold Bends ◽  
Pipeline Design ◽  
Operating Cycles

The construction of a pipeline in mountainous terrain often exposes great challenges compared to that on flat land. To accommodate the terrain and resultantly complex route, the pipeline design must incorporate a large quantity of cold bends and elbow fittings. A recently constructed project provides a prime example of a pipeline crossing such terrain. The challenging construction conditions and the bends and elbows make the assessment of stress impacting long-term pipeline integrity critical, yet difficult. This paper focuses on three specific aspects of long-term integrity for construction in mountain areas using advanced finite element analysis (FEA). The first scenario is tie-in welding. Tie-in welding connects separate pipeline segments constructed independently. In general practice, considerable lengths of pipe are left unburied to reduce the potential resultant stress due to the misalignment between the pipes at the tie-in weld location. However, in mountainous terrain the length of unburied pipe may be constrained by field conditions of the tie-in location. The implications are amplified at a tie-in adjacent to bends or elbows. The second scenario is hydrostatic testing. The gravitational weight of water generates additional internal pressure in the pipeline segments at low elevations. In areas of significant elevation change, hydrostatic test section design defines the segments based on the maximum allowable hoop stress level calculated for straight pipe. However the bends and elbows often encounter increased combined stresses at such locations that may not be adequately considered. The last scenario is ratcheting. Exacerbated by complex routing and profile, pipelines constructed in mountainous areas are at risk to develop significant uplift in the soil at bend locations during hydrostatic testing and initial operating cycles. If such uplift displacement accumulates during subsequent operating cycles, a phenomenon known as ratcheting, the pipe may eventually fail by upheaval buckling. This paper evaluates the above scenarios of a NPS 30 section of pipeline consisting of several segments with wall thicknesses varying from 12.0 mm through 19.6 mm, and contains frequent bends and elbows. The pipeline route is mountainous with slopes exceeding 70 degrees, and includes a tunnel immediately adjacent to water crossings and steep slopes. Tie-in welds are made in tight confines at either end. Analysis based on this project profile provides detailed information and insight into the design and construction of pipelines in mountainous terrain.

Simple Techniques for Monitoring Footpath Erosion in Mountain Areas of North-West England

1977 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 145-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosalind A. Coleman
Keyword(s):  
Aerial Photography ◽  
Technical Expertise ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Mountain Areas ◽  
North West ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Different Seasons ◽  
One Year ◽  
Site Types

Very precise measurements of the movement of coarse-textured, unconsolidated materials may be meaningless. Therefore the study of individual processes operating on footpaths may require a different approach. However, for identification of changes of reasonable dimensions, methods such as those described above are inexpensive, quick, and require no technical expertise. It may be argued that, for path management, erosion that is too limited to be measured by these methods is too limited to be a problem. It can certainly be argued that the problem of spatial correlation implies a large number of measurements. What is lost in lack of precision may be more than compensated for by the gain in data from the larger area and wider variation in site-types that it is possible to monitor with such simple techniques.To monitor the effects of recreation in mountain areas, it is desirable to be able to measure any change in path-state and relate this to recreation factors at different seasons and under different sit; -conditions. Three methods of measurement have been considered in this paper, corresponding to three time-scales. Aerial photography has been used to demonstrate trends over the long term, and has proved adequate to differentiate between path sections with differing resistance to erosion.Short-term measurement has been carried out relative to known fixed positions. Two methods are suggested. One is less precise, but simple and widely applicable, and can be used for measurement intervals of six months to one year. The other is more detailed and can be used for measurement intervals of a few days, but is limited in its application by practical considerations.It is suggested that simple techniques used at a large number of different types of site may be more effective than detailed measurements at a few sites.

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