Diatom Algae-Indicators of Water Quality in the Lower Zarafshan River, Uzbekistan

This work is the first, the purpose of which was a comprehensive assessment of the ecological state of the lower reaches of the Zarafshan River using bioindication of water quality by diatoms based on species’ ecological preferences, pollution indices, statistics, and ecological mapping. A total of 198 species and subspecies of diatoms were first identified from 195 samples collected four times a year at six sites in the lower reaches of the Zarafshan River in 2009–2015. The richest species were Cymbella, Navicula, and Nitzschia. Pleurosira laevis, resistant to salinity, was first found in aquatic habitats in Uzbekistan. Bioindicators of nine environmental variables make up 91% of the list. Distribution analysis of variables, pollution indices (SLA—SládečDek index of saprobity), and toxicity indices (WESI—Water Ecosystem State Index) show increases in salinity, turbidity, and decreases in organic pollution downstream. The source of acidification can be the Navoi region. We found an increase in the ability to self-purify with an increase in species richness and abundance of diatoms in the lower part of Zarafshan. Thus, the ecosystem of the studied part of the river successfully copes with the incoming pollution from the middle part of Zarafshan and demonstrates some stability and successful self-purification with a water quality class of 2–3. The first studied lower reaches of the ecosystem of the Zarafshan River using bioindicators, statistics, and ecological mapping show that the problem of aridization in Central Asia does not necessarily lead to degradation of the river ecosystem and an increase in pollution, but with rational water use can improve water quality and self-purification processes. Hence, diatoms can be good indicators of river water quality in a semi-arid region and reflect the climate and anthropogenic load change. We recommend that attention be paid to nutrient and turbidity management and to expand state monitoring points to the lower part of the river up to the Karakul region.

Ecological Mapping for the Development of Salt Production Centres in Indonesia during the Dutch Colonial Era

This paper examines why the Dutch colonial government did ecological mapping for the development of salt centres in Indonesia and how it was carried out? It is analysed by historical method which includes heuristics, criticism, interpretation and historiography. Ecological mapping was carried out by the Dutch colonial government for the development of salt production centre sourced from sea water. It is the important factor to develop salt production centres concerning the situations of the coastal area in which sloping parallel to sea level, humid, dry air temperatures, low rainfall, non-porous soil types, and high wind speeds. The wind speed required for salt production is at least 5 m/sec, with air temperatures above 32o C during the day, as well as a maximum humidity of 50%. During the Dutch colonial government, it was recorded that in 1904-1917 the average wind speed was above 5 m/sec. Continued with the development of the salt production ecosystem, which includes the establishment of production areas equipped with bozem development, land layout, etc. By the ecological mapping, the salt development centre areas cover coastal area of Madura, several areas of Java’s north coast, and coastal areas of Sulawesi, including Jeneponto.

Ecological Mapping in Assessing the Impact of Environmental Factors on the Aquatic Ecosystem of the Arys River Basin, South Kazakhstan

Assessment of the water quality of the Arys River basin based on the spatial distribution of richness of phytoperiphyton communities and abiotic variables was given for the first time. Altogether, 82 species were revealed in phytoperiphyton, including Bacillariophyta of 51, Cyanobacteria of 20, Chlorophyta of 7, and Charophyta of 4. Cluster analysis revealed the uniqueness of the composition of periphyton communities related to the abiotic conditions. The environmental preferences of the algae indicated fresh organic pollution in the lower reaches of the Arys River and weak or moderate levels of organic pollution in the rest of the basin. The ecological mapping of chemical data generally confirmed this conclusion. According to the maps, the highest water quality was revealed in the upper stream of the basin. The middle part of the river basin had the lowest water quality in terms of transparency, nitrite-nitrogen, and nitrate-nitrogen. The downstream of the Arys was characterized by a secondary deterioration in water quality according to the Aquatic Ecosystem State Index (WESI) index. We revealed the complicated interaction between natural and anthropogenic factors that caused changes in water quality in the Arys River basin.

Mapping as Part of Medical and Ecological Services

Medical and ecological mapping is quite difficult at any level of the territorial hierarchy in terms of methodology. The main problem is to select indicators and characteristics, as well as certain methods that most accurately and qualitatively describe both the level of public health and specific medical and demographic problems of the region. The purpose of this article is to consider the approaches and methods of medical and ecological mapping of regions as part of medical and ecological services. In the article the state of and the approaches to medical and ecological mapping of regions and settlements have been analyzed. The development method has been introduced. The structure and content of medical and ecological maps of the region, settlements and administrative regions have been described by using the methods of mathematical-cartographic and geographic information modeling when creating maps. The prospects and areas for medical and ecological mapping have been defined.

FEATURES OF ECOLOGICAL CARTOGRAPHY OF TERRITORY FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES

The article presents information on the basic principles and rules of ecological mapping of the territory. The discrepancy between creating such maps for the initial purposes use is revealed. An ecological map is a mapping model of ecological states of landscape taxa, which in aggregate reflect the current ecological situation on the territory. An ecological map is a set of discrete values of the state of the geosystem, which gradually change from point to point, covering the entire study area. Кeywords: ecological mapping, geoinformation systems, educational cartographic work, ecological education, соndition of geosystem.