Mesopotamian Marshlands: Salinization Problem

Salinization becomes a very serious problem affecting the restoration assessment of the newly re-flooded marshes of the Mesopotamian southern Iraq. From mid-1970 to early-1990, the whole marsh area was influenced by water shortage and desiccation processes. Increasing the average salinity level in the re-flooded marshes is acting versus their recovery progress and significantly affecting their aquatic biota. This study will examine the contributions of dams’ construction and desiccation on increasing the salinity level with in the Mesopotamian marshlands overtime. Water discharge and salinity concentration were monitored in the direct water inputs and outlets of the three marshlands from May 2006 to February 2007 on a monthly basis, while salinity and major ions concentrations including “Ca1+, Mg2+, Cl1-, and SO42-” were monitored in 28 re-flooded marshes from March 2005 to August 2008 on a seasonal basis. The study indicate that increasing the salinity level in the Mesopotamian marshlands is due to three reasons: 1) The overtime increasing in the salinity level of their direct water inputs, due to dams’ constructions;2) the increase of the Arab Gulf tide via Shatt Al-Arab river due to the reduction of the water level in the outlets of the Central and Al-Hammar marshlands;and 3) the huge accumulation of salts due to desiccation.

A Multi-Layer Based Assessment of Wetland Changes in the Southern Iraqi Marshlands Using Remotely Sensed Data

Marshlands are important ecosystem for living organisms. The Southern Iraqi Marshland is the central habitat for freshwater fish, provides habitat for important populations of wildlife and serves as a source of income for native economies through reed harvesting. Studies have shown that variability in climate and human-induced factors affects the spatial dynamics of marsh ecosystems. This study assessed wetland changes in the Southern Iraqi Marshlands using Remotely Sensed Data from 1986 to 2019 using Landsat satellite imagery for four epochs: 1986, 2000, 2010 and 2019. To achieve this, thirty (30) pixels were obtained in selected land cover theme and their signatures were merged into one class. Furthermore, the selected pixels were recoded and merged into ten (10) land cover classes. The multi-layer classes created were shallow water, deep water, dense marsh, medium marsh, sparse marsh, dense vegetation, medium vegetation, sparse vegetation, dry soil and wet soil. The areal extents of the land cover types were calculated for 1986, 2000, 2010 and 2019. Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) differencing was also carried in order to highlight trends in vegetation from 1986 to 2019. The study correlated historical trends of human activities as a central factor in the degradation of marshland (by 16.25%) from 1986 to 2000. However, by the year 2000 to 2010, there was an 11.36% increase in the total marshland area, which remained almost unchanged between 2010 and 2019. In 1986, NDVI was relatively stable at 0.73 in the Al-Hammar and Al-Hwaizeh Marsh. However, by 2000, the areas of dense vegetation cover reduced drastically by over 90%. In 2010, the NDVI index indicated trends of increasing water body and an outward cluster of healthier vegetation continuing to 2019.

Ten Years of Vegetation Change in Northern California Marshlands Detected Using Landsat Satellite Image Analysis

The Landsat Ecosystem Disturbance Adaptive Processing System (LEDAPS) methodology was applied to detect changes in perennial vegetation cover at marshland sites in Northern California reported to have undergone restoration between 1999 and 2009. Results showed extensive contiguous areas of restored marshland plant cover at 10 of the 14 sites selected. Gains in either woody shrub cover and/or from a recovery of herbaceous cover that remains productive and evergreen on a year round basis could be mapped out from the image results. However, LEDAPS may not be highly sensitive changes in wetlands that have been restored mainly with seasonal herbaceous cover (e.g., vernal pools), due to the ephemeral nature of the plant greenness signal. Based on this evaluation, the LEDAPS methodology would be capable of fulfilling a pressing need for consistent, continual, low-cost monitoring of changes in marshland ecosystems of the Pacific Flyway.

An integrated environmental improvement of marshlands:impact on control and elimination of schistosomiasis in marshland regions along the Yangtze River,China

Background:Schistosomiasis is a global snail-transmitted infectious disease of poverty.Transmission control had been achieved in China in 2015 after the control efforts for over 60 years.Currently,the remaining core regions endemic for Schistosoma japonicum are mainly located in the marshland and lake regions along the Yangtze River basin.Methods:During the period from 2001 through 2015,an integrated environmental improvement of the marshlands was carried out through the implementation of industrial,agricultural and resources development projects in Yizheng County along the Yangtze River.S.japonicum infection in humans,livestock and snails was estimated by serology,stool examination,hatching technique and microscopy during the 15-year study period to evaluate the effect of the integrated environmental improvement on control and elimination of schistosomiasis.Results:A 0.05%overall rate of S.japonicum infection was observed in snails during the 15-year study period,and no infected snails were detected since 2012.The overall prevalence of S.japonicum infection was 0.09%in humans during the study period,and no human infection was found since 2012.In addition,only 13 bovines were identified with S.japonicum infection in 2003 during the 15-year study period,and since 2004,no infection was found in livestock.Conclusion:The results of the present study demonstrate that the implementation of industrial,agricultural and water resources development projects,not only alters snail habitats in marshland regions,and promotes local economic development,which appears a win-to-win strategy to block the transmission of S.japonicum and accelerate socio-economic development along the Yangtze River.

Desiccation versus Re-Flooding: Heavy Metals Mobilization—Part 1

From the restoration point of view, heavy metals distribution and seasonal variation were studied in the re-flooded marshes of the Mesopotamia, southern Iraq. As part of the ecological recovery assessment of these newly inundated marshes, it is important to investigate the extend impact of 13 years of desiccation after five years of inundation on the heavy metals mobilization from the marshland downstream into the Shatt Al-Arab River and examine whether these marshlands retain their role of acting as sink of metals. The result shows significant differences between the re-flooded marshes versus the reference marsh, which indicates that desiccation cased changes in environmental variables and divided the one homogeneous system of the Mesopotamia into separated systems. In addition, the special distribution of heavy metals show that Al-Hawizeh and Al-Hammar marshlands were efficient for metals reduction, especially for Ni, while the Central marshland has the major contribution as source to metals. As a conclusion, the recovery potential of three marshlands is strongly controlled by the hydrological status of the marshland and the degree of the desiccation impact. The environmental status of the semidried marshes, Al-Souda north and Um Al-Niaaj, as well as the completely Abu Zarag dried marsh are exhibiting a positive recovery degree than the other monitored marshes in the Mesopotamia in comparison to the reference marsh.

REGULARITY AND ESTIMATION OF METHANE EMISSION FROM MARSHLAND IN THE SANJIANG PLAIN

The regularity of CH 4 emission from marshland in the Sanjiang Plain was studied by sampling in the open field and analyzing under laboratory condition, the annual emission amount is also estimated. By Grey Relatively Analysis we know that the soil temperature in the 10 cm depth of grass root layer is close related with CH 4 emission. CH 4 emission has different kinds of diurnal emission modes:before dawn maximum mode, night maximum mode and irregular fluctuation mode. The seasonal variation trend of CH 4 emission rates is going up steadily from May to August and dropping down from September,the maximum lies behind the maximum of temperature. CH 4 emission rates of different marshland types are different, the CH 4 emission rate of Glyceriaspiculosa-Carex marshland is always higher than that of Carex lasiocarpa marshland. The paper also studies the difference of CH 4 emission rates in different managing modes and analyzes the emission rates between China and U.S.A. The result shows: the average value of CH 4 emission rate is 17.26mg/(m 2·h),the annual amount of CH 4 emission is about 0.75Tg.

An Investigation of Elements （Mercury） Status in Marshes in South of Iraq

The study was conducted to investigate the mercury status in three major marshes in southeast Iraq. Sediments, plants （three species） and fish （five species） samples were collected at five locations along the major marshes （AL-Hammar, Cross of AI Fuhod AI Tar, Downstream of AL-Mashab ＆ AL-Salal, Hawizeh and AL-Chebayesh） in southeast Iraq and analysed for mercury concentrations. The sediments were collected at predetermined input and output sources. The mercury concentrations were extremely high in both the sediment and plant samples but variable in fish species. There was a strong relationship between mercury concentrations in the sediments and fishes. Some of the fish species have mercury levels that are considered safe by the international marketing standard/WHO recommendation while others contain mercury levels that may be considered unsafe for human consumption.

Indication of Bacteria in Water Marshes （Southern Iraq）

The study was conducted in water marshes for five major marshes during the months of January, April and September of each region （Hawizeh, Hammer and the central marsh） in southern Iraq. Bacteriological analysis that some of the default pathological bacteria, including TC （Total bacterial count）, FCB （faecal coliform bacteria）, MPN （coliform bacteria） and FS （faecal streptococcus） can evidence to indicate of pollution. The results showed that most of the water samples examined pathological contain bacteria which indicates that the water is unfit for human consumption and the waters as basal （more hydrogen than No. 7）. There was a high salinity more than the permissible limits for human consumption and even to irrigate crops, and the same case for dissolve oxygen which exceeded are other limits as drinking water.

Assessment of the Impact of Environment Protection in Rwanda:A Case Study of Rugezi Marshland

Environmental protection is one of the most important measures to achieve the long run and sustainability of living organisms in the world.The study was conducted in Burera and Gicumbi districts with the main aim of assessing the impact of environment protection in Rwanda.A case study of Rugezi Marchland.Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS statistical software version 20 and STATA statistical software vision 13.Off-farm income,occupation,educational level,age,and farm size,showed a positive relationship with Rugezi marchland protection.Variables such as value of product distance to Rugezi marchland,gender,and family size had a negative influence on Rugezi marchland protection.The study also indicated that factors such as water management,increase of grass species,increase of wild animals and birds,modern house construction,zero grazing keeping revealing a positive relationship with Rugezi marchland protection.Two most serious problems encountered are the lack of occupation and low level of education.

The spatiotemporal changes of marshland and the driving forces in the Sanjiang Plain, Northeast China from 1980 to 2016

Background:Wetland loss is a global concern due to its enormous ecosystem services.Marshland,a typical natural wetland,which is concentrated in the Sanjiang Plain,has undergone dramatic loss in the last several decades.The spatiotemporal changes in marshland were studied based on Landsat images of the Sanjiang Plain from 1980 to 2016 with the land use maps in 1980,1995,2000,2005,2010,and 2016 using land use dynamic degree and landscape indices.The driving forces of marshland loss,including biophysical factors,socio-economic factors,and land management,were analyzed with boosted regression trees(BRTs)methods.Results:The area of marshland loss was 7372 km^(2),which accounted for 65.7%of the area of marshland in 1980;however,the paddy field area was expanded by 22,313 km^(2).The lost marshland was mainly converted to dry farmland(47.5%)and paddy field(47.2%)during 1980-2016.Both the landscape pattern of the study area and marshland became increasingly fragmented.The relatively important factors responsible for marshland loss were biophysical factors,socio-economic factors,and land management,which accounted for 65.2%,25.5%,and 8.4%,respectively.The most important driving forces with high“relative influence”were“distance to river,”which accounted for 20.6%of the total variance explained.The“relative influence”of potential crop yield and ditch density reached 20.2%and 8.4%,respectively.Conclusion:Significant land use changes have occurred in the Sanjiang Plain over the past 37 years,with characteristics of rapid paddy field expansion and drastic marshland loss.Meanwhile,marshland fragmentation continued to increase.Reclamation was the main reason for the large-scale marshland loss.Biophysical factors influenced the decisions regarding the locations of marshland loss.Moreover,climate factors(i.e.,average annual precipitation and average annual temperature)also played an important role in marshland loss.These results can provide helpful knowledge for understanding the patterns and reasons for marshland loss and protecting and managing strategies for wetlands restoration.