scholarly journals Evaluating riparian vegetation in semi-arid Mediterranean watercourses in the south-eastern Iberian Peninsula

2000 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. JACOBA SALINAS ◽  
GABRIEL BLANCA ◽  
ANA T. ROMERO

Riparian vegetation is vulnerable to human impact worldwide, and this is especially so in arid areas, yet there have been few quantitative studies and this is especially so in Spain. The state of the riparian vegetation along three major rivers and seasonal watercourses of south-eastern Spain was evaluated during 1992–93, using the species composition and community structure in watercourses of different sizes under different management. Reaches of the watercourses were classified using five vegetation indices, namely percentage cover, species richness, degree of connectivity between patches of the plant communities, number of exotic species, and evidence of natural regeneration. With the integration of these into one index, the degradation state of the riparian vegetation in each reach was quantified. In addition, types of human activities exerting the greatest impact were noted, and a scale to evaluate the intensity of each impact was established. The indications are that agriculture has very substantially altered the natural vegetation, and this index has served to highlight the most altered zones, and thus those in most urgent need of restoration. Less-degraded zones could serve as models and sources of plant species for future restoration. The degradation index made it possible to establish quickly, easily, and with a high degree of accuracy, the state of conservation of the riparian vegetation in the study area.

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 170-184
Author(s):  
Suvi Nenonen ◽  
Kaj Storbacka

In reconnecting marketing to more plastic and malleable markets, we need more understanding about market evolution. In this research we explore how to assess the state of a market, and how the roles of a market-shaping actor vary depending on this state. We view markets as configurations of 25 interdependent elements and argue that well-functioning markets have a high degree of configurational fit between elements. The level of configurational fit describes the state of a market as a continuum from low to high marketness. The clout of a market actor to influence a market configuration is an amalgamation of the actor’s capabilities, network position and relative power. By exploring marketness and clout as contextual contingencies, we identify four market-shaping roles: market maker, market activist, market champion, and market complementor. The focus of a market-shaping actor, in terms of which elements to influence and in which order, vary significantly between roles.


Oryx ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guilherme Braga Ferreira ◽  
Marcelo Juliano Rabelo Oliveira ◽  
Rogério Cunha de Paula ◽  
Flávio Henrique Guimarães Rodrigues ◽  
Érica Daniele Cunha Carmo

AbstractThe bush dog Speothos venaticus, a rare Near Threatened South American canid that lives in packs, was thought to be extinct in Minas Gerais state, south-eastern Brazil, until recently. Here, we report four recent records of the species in Minas Gerais, the first in the state since the description of the species in 1842. All records are from the Cerrado ecosystem in the north and north-west of the state; two are from animals found dead, one from footprints and another from a camera trap. Three of the records were inside or close (< 10 km) to strict protected areas, in a region recognized as the Protected Areas Mosaic Sertão Veredas–Peruaçu, where we expect any new records of the bush dog to be found. We discuss the low probability of detecting the bush dog and the main regional threats to the species, and emphasize the need to protect large and interconnected natural areas and keep them free of domestic dogs to avoid the extinction of the bush dog in Minas Gerais.


RBRH ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Naiah Caroline Rodrigues de Souza ◽  
◽  
Andrea Sousa Fontes ◽  
Lafayette Dantas da Luz ◽  
Sandra Maria Conceição Pinheiro ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The flow regulation that results from the implantation of dams causes consequences to the river ecosystems due to the modification on the characteristics of the hydrologic regime. The investigation of these changes become relevant, mainly in semi-arid regions where there is a great amount of these hydraulic structures and lack of such analyzes. Considering the above, this paper aims to evaluate the Dundee Hydrological Regime Alteration Method (DHRAM) through the classification of the degree of impact of dams located on rivers Itapicuru, Paraguaçu and their tributaries, verifying the adequacy of its use to represent the semi-arid hydrologic regime. Thereby, the DHRAM was applied in three versions: considering the thresholds that define the scores to classify the degree of impact in its original set (accordingly to Black et al. (2005)); with the adjustment of those thresholds to local conditions; and, with the regrouping of variables and adjustment of thresholds. The results showed that the method in its original set is applicable to semi-arid rivers, however it tends to be very restrictive against the high natural hydrologic variability characteristic of these rivers, and it ends up pointing to a high degree of alteration for dams that are known for not causing a very siginifcant flow regulation. The DHRAM with the regrouping of variables and the adjustment of thresholds presented the classification that approached the most to the known characteristics of the studied dams, being useful for the evaluation of the impact of dams still in project, and also to guide the adoption of operating rules that minimize the most significant hydrologic alterations that are identified.


Author(s):  
G. T. Alckmin ◽  
L. Kooistra ◽  
A. Lucieer ◽  
R. Rawnsley

<p><strong>Abstract.</strong> Vegetation indices (VIs) have been extensively employed as a feature for dry matter (DM) estimation. During the past five decades more than a hundred vegetation indices have been proposed. Inevitably, the selection of the optimal index or subset of indices is not trivial nor obvious. This study, performed on a year-round observation of perennial ryegrass (n&amp;thinsp;=&amp;thinsp;900), indicates that for this response variable (i.e. kg.DM.ha<sup>&amp;minus;1</sup>), more than 80% of indices present a high degree of collinearity (correlation&amp;thinsp;&amp;gt;&amp;thinsp;|0.8|.) Additionally, the absence of an established workflow for feature selection and modelling is a handicap when trying to establish meaningful relations between spectral data and biophysical/biochemical features. Within this case study, an unsupervised and supervised filtering process is proposed to an initial dataset of 97 VIs. This research analyses the effects of the proposed filtering and feature selection process to the overall stability of final models. Consequently, this analysis provides a straightforward framework to filter and select VIs. This approach was able to provide a reduced feature set for a robust model and to quantify trade-offs between optimal models (i.e. lowest root mean square error &amp;ndash; RMSE&amp;thinsp;=&amp;thinsp;412.27&amp;thinsp;kg.DM.ha<sup>&amp;minus;1</sup>) and tolerable models (with a smaller number of features &amp;ndash; 4 VIs and within 10% of the lowest RMSE.)</p>


Author(s):  
Wojciech Sowa

Thracian belongs to the group of languages spoken over the entire period of Antiquity in the areas of south-eastern Europe (mostly the Balkans) and which, like other vernaculars spoken in this and neighbouring areas, had died out by the end of the Roman period leaving but scanty evidence. This chapter provides an introduction into the state of our current knowledge about the Thracian language and epigraphy and the perspectives of research of this language. Since our comprehension and understanding of grammatical system of Thracian is limited, the current knowledge of the language makes any translation of attested inscriptions impossible. It is however expected that the progress in studying development and history of the Greek script may provide us with new and relevant data for interpretation of Thracian.


2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 27
Author(s):  
Ticiano Gomes do Nascimento ◽  
Euridice Farias Falcão ◽  
Maria Cristina Delgado da Silva ◽  
Josicleide Nascimento Oliveira Silvino ◽  
Pierre Barnabé Escodro ◽  
...  

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of the climatology of the semi-arid from Alagoas-Brazil on the raw milk microbiota in semi-arid area of the 07 micro-regions of the State of Alagoas of Alagoas, Brazil. The climatic data were extracted from National Institute of Meteorology from the Brazilian government. The raw milk was collected after the dairy cow milking process in 12 small rural associations of the semi-arid from the State of Alagoas, during the 4 seasons and the raw milk was carried out procedures of sampling, transportation and microbiological analysis. A total of 58 samples were counted coliforms at 45°C, <em>Escherichia coli</em> and coagulase-positive <em>Staphylococcus</em>. Only 02 rural associations presented low levels of microbiological contamination, which were located in areas of climatic conditions and parameters of thermal comfort index and vegetation index favorable, but 10 rural associations presented high counting of coliforms at 45°C, <em>Escherichia coli</em>. The climatologic parameters (maximum temperature, atmospheric pressure), bovine comfort thermal index and vegetation index have showed to influence the growth of the coliforms at 45°C and <em>Escherichia coli</em> with high incidence during the summer weather. The precipitation parameter, bovine thermal comfort and vegetation index have displayed to influence coagulase-positive<em> Staphylococcus</em> counting especially during the period between the summer end and the autumn beginning seasons. New Actions, and Rural Education and Health Programs should be implemented as politics of Food Safety. New strategies and programs for dissemination more effective on the risks of transmission of pathogens and Foodborne Diseases are necessary as the part of emergence politics of the health and education areas. Regulatory Actions should be encouraged within the processes that improve the quality control of raw milk as well its bioproducts, with professional assistance relevant in agriculture area.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 1050
Author(s):  
Elvis Pantaleão Ferreira ◽  
José Thales Pantaleão Ferreira ◽  
Fabiana De Souza Pantaleão

O Projeto Cisternas nas Escolas objetiva o fornecimento de água para as escolas rurais do Semiárido, utilizando ações estruturais mediante concepção de cisternas como tecnologia social para armazenamento de água pluvial, e ações não estruturais por meio de práticas educativas contextualizadas. Este trabalho objetiva apresentar um pioneiro diagnóstico da infraestrutura dos serviços de abastecimento de água as escolas rurais em que foram implantadas cisternas do Programa Cisternas nas Escolas na Microrregião Serrana dos Quilombos, no estado de Alagoas, especificamente no município de Santana do Mundaú, utilizando-se como metodologia a pesquisa exploratória e qualitativa, com emprego de entrevista semiestruturada e não estruturada, além do uso de questionário, fichas-relatório e registros fotográficos. Das cisternas implantadas nas escolas, apenas uma está sendo parcialmente utilizada. Estão todas elas totalmente desprovidas de acompanhamento técnico, sendo possível perceber a falta de interesse do executivo municipal na promoção da manutenção desses equipamentos. São fundamentais ações que elevem o empoderamento social a essas construções.  Cistern in Schools Program: case study in the mountainous microregion of quilombos in the state of Alagoas, Brazil The reality of many rural schools in the public system presents a still worrying scenario regarding access to water. The Cisterns in Schools Project aims to provide water for rural schools in the Semi-Arid and priority areas located in indigenous villages and quilombola communities, using structural actions through the design of cisterns as social technology for rainwater storage, and non-structural actions through contextualized educational practices. The work aims to present a pioneering diagnosis of the infrastructure of water supply services to rural schools in which cisterns of the Cisterns in Schools Program were implemented in the mountainous dos Quilombos Microregion in the state of Alagoas, specifically in the municipality of Santana do Mandau. The methodology was based on exploratory and qualitative research using semi-structured and unstructured interviews, using a questionnaire, report cards and photographic records. Of the cisterns installed in schools, only one is being partially used. They are all totally devoid of technical monitoring, being possible to perceive the lack of interest of the municipal executive in promoting the maintenance of this equipment. Keywords: Water supply, Education, Health.


2015 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 510
Author(s):  
Iêdo Bezerra Sá ◽  
Tony Jarbas Ferreira Cunha ◽  
Tatiana Ayako Taura ◽  
Marcos Antônio Drumond

Na região Semiárida do Estado de Pernambuco existe grande diversidade na paisagem natural, onde a vegetação, os solos e o clima geram uma multiplicidade de situações que concorrem para formação de diferentes ecossistemas e habitats com grande potencial ecológico e ambiental. Nesta região, a vegetação é caracterizada por diferentes fisionomias, variando de áreas com formações arbustivas, com cobertura do solo muito escassa e quase ausente, a formações arbóreas com níveis de cobertura bastante densas. De modo análogo, nesta região ocorre uma grande variedade de solos, que por suas características, manejo e situação no relevo podem potencializar os processos erosivos, determinantes no desencadeamento da desertificação. Considerando as interrelações destas duas variáveis ambientais, este trabalho tem o objetivo de realizar um diagnóstico das áreas susceptíveis à desertificação da Região de Desenvolvimento Sertão do São Francisco - RDSF, tendo como base o cruzamento das informações da cobertura vegetal natural e das classes de solos. Para tanto, foram utilizados o recorte do mapeamento da cobertura vegetal e uso do solo e o recorte do mapeamento de solos da RDSF. Foram estabelecidos critérios para susceptibilidade da cobertura vegetal, assim como para as classes de solos presentes na área. Executou-se a intersecção destas duas bases de informação para o perfil da sensibilidade à desertificação. Os resultados mostram que a RDSF tem os seguintes valores das áreas em processos de desertificação: 1,77% na classe ausente ou fraca; 74,74% na classe moderada; 0,35% na classe acentuada e 23,14% na classe severa. Deste modo, observa-se que aproximadamente 98% da RDSF encontram-se na situação de sensibilidade à desertificação em que predominam as classes de Moderada a Severa. In the semiarid region of the state of Pernambuco there are plenty of biophysics where vegetation, climate, soils, and the various faces and the relationships and processes that take place among them generate the formation of different ecosystems and habitats with great potential ecological and environmental. There are a range of vegetation types, ranging from shrubby coverage areas up to very sparse and mostly absent vegetation areas, which demonstrated high desertification process occurring. Similarly, a variety of soils that is in the region along with vegetation makes this a region of great variation from the viewpoint of environmental supply. This article deals with the realization of a diagnosis of environmental sensitivity to desertification of São Francisco Development Region seeking spatialize the different situations in which the environment fulfills a greater or lesser extent, its role as provider of environmental services. For this, we used the cutting mapping of existing vegetation and soil mapping of the state and the established criteria, as well as edaphic vegetation cover, featuring the susceptibility to degradation and performed the intersection of these two bases of information to profile the sensitivity to desertification. The results show that São Francisco Development Region has the following values of areas undergoing desertification: 1.77% in weak class; 74.74% in the moderate class; 0.35% in sharp class, and 23.14% in severe class. Keywords: desertification, São Francisco, Semi-arid region, soils.   


2021 ◽  
pp. 229-241
Author(s):  
Maciej Rak

The article has three goals. The first is to present the history of research on Polish dialectal phrasematics. In particular, attention was paid to the last five years, i.e. the period 2015–2020. The works in question were ordered according to the dialectological key, taking into account the following dialects: Greater Polish, Masovian, Silesian, Lesser Polish, and the North and South-Eastern dialects. The second goal is to indicate the methodologies that have so far been used to describe dialectal phrasematics. Initially, component analysis was used, which was part of the structuralist research trend, later (more or less from the late 1980s) the ethnolinguistic approach, especially the description of the linguistic picture of the world, began to dominate. The third goal of the article is to provide perspectives. The author once again (as he did it in his earlier works) postulates the preparation of a dictionary of Polish dialectal phrasematics.


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