Geodiversity and Geoconservation in Hong Kong

Geodiversity refers to the diversity(or variety, range) of geological(rocks,minerals,fossils),geomorphological (landform) and soil features,and their assemblages,relationships,processes,properties, interpretations and systems.Despite there is a limited area of 1108 km^2,Hong Kong has a remarkably rich geodiversity that includes diversified geology, landforms,and assemblages of associated features and processes.Some geological features can even

Geodiversity Examples of Morocco: From Inventory to Regional Geotourism Development

The soil and subsoil of Morocco are rich in geological phenomena that bear the imprint of a history which goes back in time more than 2000 million years. Very many geologically remarkable sites exposed in accessible outcrops, with good quality remained unknown to the general public and therefore deserved to be vulgarized. It is a memory to acquaint the present generations but also to preserve for future generations. In total, a rich geological heritage in many ways: Varied landscapes, international stratotypes, various geological structures, varied rocks, mineral associations, a huge procession offossiles, remnants of oceanic crust (ophiolites) among oldests ones in the world (800 my), etc. For this geological heritage, an approach of an overall inventory is needed, both regionally and nationally, taking into account all the skills of the earth sciences. This will put the item on the natural (geological) potentialities as a lever for sustainable regional development. For this, it is necessary to implement a strategy of “geoconservation” for the preservation and assessment of the geological heritage. A website “lithothèque du Maroc” is under construction.

Geodiversity in the Yellow River source zone

It is a key premise of ＇ecosystem approaches＇ to natural resources management that we must have an appropriate understanding of biodiversity values, and controls upon them, if we wish to manage them effectively. These biodiversity values, and associated ecosystem functionality, vary with space and time and are tied directly to landscape-scale relationships and evolutionary traits. In riverine systems, nested hierarchical principles provide a useful platform to assess relationships between landscape components across a range of scales. These understandings are most instructively synthesized through catchment-scale analyses. This paper outlines a rationale for systematic catchment-wide appraisals of river geodiversity. An initial application of these principles is presented for the Yellow River source zone in Qinghai Province, western China. Geo-ecological relationships are outlined for five broad sections of the trunk stream, highlighting implications for the management of these individual landscape compartments and for the system as a whole.

Geological and Geotourism Study of Iran Geology Natural Museum, Hormoz Island

Iran is a country that benefits from nice nature, diverse continent, areas full of unique geological phenomena. Thus, it is necessary to study these attractions for better recognition of them. In this regard, Hormoz Island with valuable geoheritage, biodiversity, cultural, historical and political diversity is very important. The accumulation of these attractions and its being located in Persian Gulf strategic area made it of considerable significance in national and international communities. Hormoz Island is a spherical salt dome which is located in Hormoz strait. This Island is composed of evaporites, igneous rocks and sedimentary rocks, and sediments mainly belong to Mishan and Aghajari formations and salt, gypsum and, to a lesser extent, limestone evaporites. In sedimentary formations of Hormoz, Aouthigenic minerals such as Pyrite, Dolomite, quartz, Anhydrite, gypsum and halite are frequently seen. Mineralization of volcanic leads to formation of high temperature minerals, such as oligiste, pyroxene, amphibole and low temperature and hydrothermal minerals such as Pyrite, quartz... in the tracks of igneous rocks. This unique geodiversity in rocks and mineral which made various colors in Hormoz Island made it a mineraogical reservoir. Beside considerable mineralogical attractions, there are other potentials like ochre mine, coral reefs, rock seashore, sea caves, salt caves, plant cover and wild life which have added to various tourism capabilities of this Island and made it a unique place in the world. This paper studies Hormoz Island in terms of geological features and geotourism potentials.

枯死灌木斑块对退化旱地生态系统的调节作用

A long-term drought has led to the mass mortality of shrubs in the semi-arid Israeli Negev.The most impacted shrub species is the Noaea mucronata(Forssk.)Asch.and Schweinf.In a four-year study,we found that herbaceous vegetation growth was greater in the dead shrub patches than in the surrounding inter-patch biocrusted spaces,suggesting that the dead shrub patches encompass improved micro-habitats.However,unexpectedly,the soil moisture in the dead shrub patches was consistently lower than that of the inter-patch biocrusted spaces.At the same time,soil quality in the dead shrub patches was higher than that in the inter-patch spaces.Therefore,it seems that the overall better soil conditions in the dead patches overcome the scarcity of soil-water,supporting increased herbaceous productivity.For explaining the discrepancy between herbaceous vegetation and soil-water,we formulated a conceptual framework,which highlights the key factors that regulate soil-water dynamics in this dryland ecosystem.We demonstrate that herbaceous vegetation is facilitated in the dead shrub patches by a legacy effect that takes place long after the shrubs have died.The dead shrub patches encompass a unique form of ecosystem engineering.The study highlights the complex and unpredicted impacts of prolonged droughts on dryland ecosystems.