Journal of Natural Environment
Year:2016 | Volume:69 | Issue:1|Papers Count:22

Landscape characteristics and land use patterns of watershed demonstrate extension, distribution, density and abundance of human interference. These factors can affect water quality of adjacent aquatic systems within a watershed. Land use changes have caused various environmental problems for Zayandehroud River, turned itas a sink of pollutant. Therefore it is investigated that how would landscape characteristics and land use patterns change water quality and affect ecosystem management. The main goal of this study was to examine how landscape patterns (including Number of Patches, Edge Density, Percentage of landscape, Total Edge and Largest Patch Index) influence water quality. Water quality indices (including EC, HCO3, NO3, Cl, K, Ca, COD, Na, DO, P, pH, BOD5 and TDS) were measured in 10 stations along the Zayandehroud river. This is one of the most important rivers of the central plateau of Iran. In this study, four classes of land use including cropland, orchard, residential and industrial area were identified in a period of eleven years (1997–2008). The results indicated that water quality was significantly correlated with both proportions and configuration of residential areas. Total edge of industrial area had negative effects on water quality, especially on TDS and COD. Results of this study can be used not only for resource managers in order to restore the aquatic ecosystems but also for policy makers in evaluating alternate land management decisions.

The fire as one of the ecological factors has positive or negative effects on ecosystems components. Therefore, this study was evaluated the effects of fire on some soil physico-chemical properties in winter rangelands of Behshahr. Two burned sites were selected in rangelands and those rangelands which were changed to wheat and barley farmlands with two control areas (unburned) in each of them. The soil sampling was performed in three transects (100m) with ten sampling points in random-systematic method (total 30 samples in each area). Soil samples were collected from 0-15cm depth. The soil physico-chemical properties such as bulk density, moisture, texture, potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen, calcium carbonate, organic carbon, acidity and electrical conductivity were measured in laboratory. Finally, the data were analyzed using paired t-Test in SPSS19 software. The results showed that the fire in rangelands had significant effects on moisture (P£ 0.01) and organic carbon (P£ 0.05) decrease but P (P£ 0.01), K, EC and pH (P£ 0.05) have been increased. While K significantly increased (P£ 0.05) and moisture decreased (P£ 0.01) in changed rangelands. Generally, the results showed that soil chemical characteristics had clear and more specific reaction against the fire in natural ecosystems in comparison to changed rangelands. Also according to the results, it is necessary to manage intensity and time of fire to control the following effects of fire.

Due to environmental problems caused by mining activities, it is necessary to study and investigate the concentrations of the pollutants such as heavy metals caused by these activities. The aim of this study is the determination of the concentration of heavy metals Cu, Pb and Zn in roots of two species of Artemisia namely Artemisia aucheri and Artemisia sieberi in the surrounding natural lands of Darreh Zereshk copper mine, regardless the role of other mines in the area. Therefore, the study area was divided into 10 regions based on factors such as wind direction and distance from mine. Ten samples of artemisia and three samples of surface soil were collected from each area using random sampling method. The metal concentrations were measured using ICP-OES, after acid digestion. Based on the resuls, mean concentrations of Cu, Pb and Zn in artemisia roots were 9.20, 1.65 and 22.30 mg/kg, respectively. Significant differences (p<0.05) were observed between metal concentrations in all locations. The maximum concentration of Cu, Pb and Zn was observed in Hasan Abad, mine and Bisheh, respectively. The minimum concentration of Cu was observed in Baladast, and for Pb and Zn in Daregaze. Generally, the metal concentrations were observed to decrease with increasing distance from the mine. Pearson correlation results indicated a significant correlation (p<0.01) between Cu and Pb concentrations in soil and in the plant roots. The observed metal concentrations were in normal range for plants, according to the normal and critical values.

Ozone concentration in metropolitan areas frequently exceed regulatory standards now. Since it is harmful on human health and environment, its modeling and visualization are of vital important. Modeling and prediction of ozone is required by urban managers to control and prevent its effects. In this paper, important parameters influencing the hourly ozone concentration are estimated by using data collected in Azadi and Imam Khomeini air quality stations in 2009-2010. In this context, the correlations between ozone concentration and meteorological parameters such as relative humidity, temperature, pressure, wind speed, and its directions are determined by linear regression and principle component analysis. Results showed that ozone concentration is mostly affected by relative humidity, temperature and wind speed. The effects of relative humidity and temperature on ozone concentration are attributed to photochemical processes. While the correlation between the ozone and wind speed is due to the ozone transfer from nearby regions. After determining the important parameters, a neural network was used for forecasting of ozone concentration of the next 24 hours for a week in four different seasons. The input to the neural network model was relative humidity, temperature and wind speed. Results of the implementation showed that the model can predict the ozone concentration in Azadi and Imam Khomeini air quality stations by an accuracy of 67 to 97 percent for the next 24 hours. Urban managers for more efficient management and control of the ozone concentration can use results of this research work.

Gabrik in east of Hormozgan province is a mangrove habitat and one of the important mangrove protected areas in Iran. This area is located in Oman coasts. It has been threatened by building the Jagin dam on Gabrick River and the existence of sand barrier and pollution. Because of the importance of this sea inhabitation some of sedimentology parameters and geochemical Mangrove's sediments have been analyzed. In this study hydrometric method used beside the identification of organic matter using electronic furnace heat 500 degree centigrade for 6 hours. Calcium carbonate content analyzed by titration and for determination of the concentrations of heavy metals Zn, Pb and Ni an atomic absorption by Thermo-solaar (±1mg/g) were used. Results showed that mean contents of carbonate and organic matter in sediments were 27%and 3.36%, respectively. Mean concentrations of the heavy metals Pb, Zn and Ni in sediments were 67.63, 69.63 and 76.53 mg/g dry weights, respectively. According to determine geoaccumulation index (Igeo), contamination factor (CF), the degree of contamination correction (mCd) and compared the heavy metal concentrations with to the mean concentrations of heavy metals in sedimentary rock (shales) and China and American standards. The results in this study showed that there is no Zn pollution but there are pollutions from Ni and Pb metals and concentration this heavy metals aren' t critical. The origin of these heavy metals can be a result of maintenance of fishing vessels in Gabrik Creek, activities or fuel smuggling and perhaps oil compounds spill into the water and human refuse in the region.

With the aim to examine lead tolerance of Populus nigra (clone 62/154) in symbiosis witharbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, a greenhouse experiment was carried out in a factorial randomized complete scheme with two factors 1) fungal inoculation in 4 levels (control, inoculation with Glomus mosseae, inoculation with G. intraradices and inoculation with G. mosseae+G. intraradices) and 2) lead in 4 levels (0, 100, 500 and 1000 mg kg-1 soil). Mycorrhizal colonization and physiological parameters of plants were measured at the end of growth season. Results showed that at all Pb levels, the percentage of root mycorrhizal colonization in fungal treatments was significantly higher than that in control treatment (without fungal inoculation), however without significant differences between 3 fungal treatments. Pb treatments had no significant effect on root mycorrhizal colonization of P. nigra plants. Also, photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, transpiration, intercellular CO2 concentration and water use efficiency of P. nigra plants had no significant inhibitory effects versus the control found under Pb and fungal treatments or their interaction. The results of present study demonstrated that fungal treatments had no significant effects on physiological parameters and Pb tolerance of P. nigra plants. While, in relation to mycorrhizal colonization and physiological parameters, P. nigra clone 62.154 showeda good tolerance to Pb stress. So, in further investigations of phytoremediation of lead-contaminated soils, this clone can be considered as a proposed species.

The petrochemical industry is the most productive and widely spread industry in Iran. Due to the variety and complexity of its industrial products, it also produces a wide range of pollutants. The release of mercury from chlor-alkali units into environment is one of the fundamental problems of this industry. Various studies have shown that phytoremediation is very efficient for removal of mercury from aqueous solutions and, in some cases up to 95% of mercury has been removed from the solution. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of common reed (Phragmites australis) in the removal of mercury from the chlor-alkali effluent in Bandar Imam Petrochemical Complex. Plant samples were harvested from Shadegan wetland, transported into the laboratory and cultured hydroponically in plastic aquariums. Wastewater samples were also collected from chlor-alkali plants and added into the culture medium. An aquarium containing wastewater, water and nutrients was considered as the control. Wastewater and plant samples were collected at 1, 3, 5 and 7 days of treatment. After acid digestion, mercury concentrations in wastewater and plant samples were measured by an Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy instrument. The results showed that Time has a direct effect on mercury uptake by common reed. The average concentration of mercury in plant samples in 1th, 3th, 5th and 7th day respectively was 2271.58, 3743.47, 4204.98 and 3039.32 ppm. Also by the end of the study period, 96.25% of mercury were removed from common reed aquarium effluent water. Therefore common reed is recommended for the removal of mercury from petrochemical industries wastewater.

This study aimed to evaluate the environmental consequences of kiwifruit production in Guilan province of Iran by the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology during growing season of 2011-2012. Data were obtained from 84 kiwifruit producers using a face to face questionnaire method. For this purpose, a functional unit equal to one ton kiwifruit was assumed based on ISO 14040 method. Impacts of emissions in seven impact categories; such as global warming, acidification, terrestrial eutrophication, land use, depletion of fossil resources, the depletion of potash and the depletion of phosphate were investigated. Data analysis suggested that the amount of emission including NH3, N2O, NOx, CO2, CH4 and SO2 for one ton production of kiwifruit were calculated as 1.99, 0.30, 0.24, 25.75, 0.002 and 0.04, respectively. Final index of global warming, acidification, terrestrial eutrophication, land use, depletion of fossil resources, the depletion of phosphate and the depletion of potash were obtained 0.01, 0.12, 0.20, 0.01, 0.66, 0.40 and 0.03 kg, respectively. Environmental index (EcoX) and resource depletion index (RDI) Indicators were obtained 0.34 and 1.10, respectively. The highest potential for environmental impact of production was estimated for depletion of fossil resources and eutrophication category in RDI and EcoX indicators, respectively. Replacing source of nitrogen from urea fertilizer with the nitrogen fertilizer with less pollution potential can be considered as a strategy to reduce the environmental consequences of kiwifruit production in Guilan province.

One of the challenges that humanity is facing, climate change and the problems arising from it. Climate change is undeniable. Climate average weather conditions are in place, including its components, including temperature, precipitation, humidity and so on. In other words, the climate, the long-term average weather of a region. The simulation can predict the weather in a place of occurrence of extreme events and climate significantly helpful in the future to do. This study has evaluated the ability and precision of LARS-WG model in climatic data generating and future climate forecasting for Guilan province, north Iran. Accordingly, daily data of Guilan synoptic stations has been usedfor a 15 years priod between 1995 and 2009. Studied parameters are: rainfall, minimum temperature, maximum temperature and solar radiation. Results show that, the highest Mean Absolute Error (MAE) and the highest bias for calculated rainfall data were 14.48 and -4.35 respectively, both for Astara station. The minimum and maximum temperature data were desirely modeled. the highest MAE and bias values for minimum temperature were 0.17 and 0.065 respectively both for Anzali station. Also, the highest MAE and bias values of maximum temperature were 0.26 and 0.23 respectively, both for Rasht station. Also, for the solar radiation parameter, the Rasht station had the highest MAE (0.31) and bias values (0.08). The results show that the LARS-WG model, has good ability and precision for climate modeling and data generating in Guilan province, Iran.

Natural fire inflicting irreparable damage to rangelands and forest areas is cause changes in landscape ecology. The purpose of this research is comparison of Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Line Regression (LR) Models to predict of forest and rangelands firesto this end, the data consist fire burned area and fire were used weather data over a period of 7 years (2006-2012). The result indicates that the Artificial Neural Network with implementation 9 and repeats 900 was obtained best performance network. The results of this study indicated the ability of neural networks in predicting the occurrence of fire and as well as the neural network model can to predict 86 percent change in forest and grassland fire using climatic parameters. Also, the results of the Spearman correlation test showed that the maximum temperature (p=0.006, r=0.896), minimum relative humidity (P=0.003, r=0.896) number of sunshine hours (P=0.010, r=0.876) levels correlated with fire area positively. The results of the linear regression between the burned and climatic factors were shown the coefficient of determination was 0.57. Artificial neural network to predict fire in forests was more fast and reliable method than linear regression.

Estuaries are considered as highly dynamic ecosystem that include the mixing or transition zone between river freshwater and saline water from oceans and seas. Estuaries are very important aquatic systems by preserving the coastal biota. Flocculation of metals during mixing of freshwater with saline water can be considered as the most important estuarine processes. Due to flocculation process, considerable amount of dissolved metals come into particulate phase that is enriched in nutrients for aquatic life. Flocculation process can remarkably reduce the amount of pollution load that reaches to the sea. The present study deals with flocculation process of dissolved Cu, Mn, Ni, Zn and Pb during the mixing of the Talar River water with the Caspian Sea water. Based on the obtained result, Zn, Mn, Pb and Cu show maximum flocculation respectively and Ni shows the lowest flocculation among the studied elements.

Social learning and knowledge generation are two key factors to achieve successful natural resources co-management. Social learning can be beneficial by broadcasting and transmitting experiences and problem solving ideas in a group of people. Social learning networks can transmit knowledge and experiences from one node to another in the network. Social learning can produce a suitable learning atmosphere among natural resource users in co-management processes. The goal of this study is to analyze the learning networks based on ecological knowledge transmission connectivity among 4 groups of rangeland users’ network in Lazur village, located in Firuzkooh Region and identifying key actors in social learning process. For implicating this study based on quantitative network analysis methods, network analysis questionnaires and linkages of indigenous ecological knowledge generation and exchange were gathered. The results show that density level of bonding ties in subgroup NO.3 is more than other subgroups, so social capital, cohesion and social learning of this group is more than other groups. The results of centralization index based on outgoing ties indicate more closure of knowledge broadcast and exchange network. Also, key actors in generation and transmission of indigenous knowledge were identified through centrality index. Finally, it may be stated that the social learning can be effective in improving of the people's adaptive capacity to environmental changes and also can cause increasing of the success of natural resources co-management plan.

The aim of this research was to evaluate and select of appropriate indicators for different zones of Bagheshadi region where it have six different zones (restricted zone, protected zone, restored zone, inhibition zone, recreational zone and other uses zone). To do so, first top-down approach and Likert scale questionnaire was used for voting from 32 experts. After that using influence matrix, influence and importance of indicators were determined and the most important indicators as well. Then using system analysis and influence matrix, for the first five indicators of each criterion, influence and importance of indicators were determined in different zones and indicators were evaluated and then appropriate indicators were determined for each zones. Regarding to results of indicators evaluation, indicators related to area of forests and protective functions have the most importance and application in restored zone. Area of forests and other wooded lands, extent of area by forest type relative to total forest area, area of natural forests with healthy regeneration were appropriate indicators in restricted and protected zones. Also, Existence & implementation of management plan & protection for spectacular landscape area in region, extent of forest lands considered for recreation, accessibility for recreation and expenditure for access to tourism area were appropriate indicators in recreational zone.

Ecotourism is based on environmental potential and presents an opportunity for suitable utilization and conservation of the sites under management practices, considering accurate planning, potential of the area and people preferences. The present study is conducted to evaluate the ecotourism potential in MianKaleh wildlife refuge. The area is located south of the Caspian Sea. After defining the recreational activities and people priorities, we used Multi Criteria Evaluation for assessing the ecotourism potential. The approach included 5 steps: objective determination, criteria definition, standardization of criteria, assigning weights to the criteria using the analytical hierarchical process and finally criteria combination using Weighted Linear Combination method. Results show the area has potential for boating as the highest with 32879.7 hectares and camping has the lowest potential with only 353.88 hectares. Water depth and distance to shore were found to be the most affective in suitability mapping for boating, . Also, the most effective factors for camping were distance to access routes and water sources, so the suitability map mostly reflected these factors. Other uses in order of potential are swimming (21665.5), viewing scenery (3375.63), bird watching (1075), and horse riding (444.69). The final areas for each activity is changeable due to the competition of these in a multi objective land allocation. Overall, the results revealed that MCE method is capable of evaluation of wildlife refuge for various recreational activities. Also, the geographical information system was found a useful tool, allowing combination of many factors and Boolean layers. The system also can act as a decision support tool, letting stakeholders change weights and standardization within the accepted ecological thresholds and arrive at a consensus on the final results in an iterative process.

Habitat recognition and knowledge of habitat requirements are extremely important to the wildlife conservation, particularly for endangered and vulnerable species. The purpose of the study was to determine whichecological and habitat factors contribute the distribution of black billed sandgrous (Pterocles orientalis) in Shirahmad wildlife refuge. Sampling was performed in two seasons (spring and summer 2010) and in eight transects. Presence points of black billed sandgrous along with human and topographic variables were mapped in GIS environment. This study employs one recently proposed modeling technique –. Maxent – to investigate the geographic distribution pattern of black billed sandgrous. The results show that the most important influencing factors on the distribution of black billed sandgrous include the distance fromroads and distance from the water sources. According to the predictions, water resources and pasture have positive relationship with habitat suitability. On the other hand, habitat suitability has negative relation with the distance from the villages and rivers. Results indicate that western part of Shirahmad wildlife refuge needs more attention to better management the population of this species. Furthermore, suitable habitats for black billed sandgrous should be improved.

To assess the sources, entry routes and degree of contamination of PAH compounds in surface sediments of the southwestern Caspian Sea coasts (Gillan province) total of 129 surface sediment samples from 28 rivers and 5 transect across the Gillan province coasts (from Astara to Lahijan; 10, 20 and 50 m depth) were collected in the spring and summer of 2012. After extraction using Soxhlet method, the samples were analysed using Gas chromatography-Mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and concentrations of 30 PAH compounds were determined. The mean of total 30 PAH compounds (TPAH30) in the coastal sediments (565.1±266.1 ng g-1) have shown significant difference (p<0.01) with the river sediments (301.9±195.7 ng g-1). The PCA results beside the general agreement with the other source identification methods were well able to classify compounds attributed to the three main sources of PAHs (petrogenic, pyrogenic and biogenic) and to identify taking effect of each sample from them. Dominant source of the PAHs in the studied sediments was petrogenic, except at some more contaminated rivers such as Shafaroud, Karganroud and Lavandevil Chay Rivers that mainly presented pyrogenic source. The concentration of most PAHs was lower than critical level (NOAA and CCME guidelines), except of some petrogenic PAHs with lower molecular weight (2-3 rings) and alkyl group.

There is little chance for species with competitor to develop intraspecific variability such as sexual dimorphism. Sitta tephronota is a well-known rock-dwelling bird species in Iran, which occurs in Zagros Mountains in strong ecological competition with Sitta neumayer. Thus, no sexual dimorphism is expected for Sitta tephronota in this area. Despite the role of this species in the rise of the concept of character displacement and the importance of sex identification in field studies, sexual dimorphism in this species is little known. We used analysis of covariance for finding significant sex differences in 14 primary variables and applied a Bonferroni correction for multiple P-value thresholds of statistical significance. Morphological matrices were analyzed by Principal Component Analysis (PCA) in sympatric and allopatric zone separately to determine the distribution of males and females along the first two axes of PCA (size and shape) were strongly overlapped both in sympatric and allopatric zones. Our results suggest that other factors are involved in explaining the lack of sexual dimorphism in this species.