Tree species composition and diversity were investigated in the riparian forest around Lake Barombi Kotto, Cameroon. This study aimed at determining</span><span style="font-family:""> </s...Tree species composition and diversity were investigated in the riparian forest around Lake Barombi Kotto, Cameroon. This study aimed at determining</span><span style="font-family:""> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">the tree species composition, population structure, and providing evidence of anthropogenic disturbances in the riparian forest of Lake Barombi Kotto. The objectives were to determine the tree species composition and diversity in the riparian forest around Lake Barombi Kotto, to elucidate the forest structure and to document the anthropogenic disturbances in this forest. Five plots were laid within which </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">the </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">tree enumeration and measurement of dbh were carried out.</span><span style="font-family:""> </span><span style="font-family:""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Trees were identified using scientific identification keys in the Flora of W</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">est Africa. Disturbance scores were given to each site by qualitatively assessing various disturbances. A total of 340 trees belonging to 70 plant species, 63 genera and 28 plant families were enumerated. Shannon-Wiener diversity varied across sites, with the highest value (H = 3.45) recorded in Tung and the lowest (H = 2.21) in Malenda. Population structure differed across sites,</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> the largest stand basal area of 43.78 m</span><sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;">2</span></sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;">/ha was recorded in Bondokombo while the smallest (2.15 m</span><sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;">2</span></sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;">/ha)</span></span><span style="font-family:""> </span><span style="font-family:""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">was recorded in the Sacred Island. </span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Cecropia</span></i></span><i><span style="font-family:""> </span></i><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">peltata</span></i><span style="font-family:""><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> L., </span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Pseudospondias</span></i></span><i><span style="font-family:""> </span></i><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">macrocarpa</span></i><i><span style="font-family:""> </span></i><span style="font-family:""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Oliv. Pierre and </span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Ceiba</span></i></span><i><span style="font-family:""> </span></i><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">pentandra</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> (L.) Gaertn had the largest basal areas across the different sites. Species rich families were Malvaceae (9 species), Fabaceae (9 species), Annonaceae</span><span style="font-family:""> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">(4 species), and Anacardiaceae (4). This study shows that, there is a high tree species diversity in the protected forest (Tung) but the other unprotected sites are highly disturbed by anthropogenic activities. There is need to develop and enhance existing management policies for this riparian forest, especially by replanting the cut trees and creating a protected riparian buffer to conserve its floristic diversity and ecological functions.展开更多
Taihu Lake is located at the center of Changjiang delta region, the Lake and its effluent rivers are important water sources for 40 million around inhabitants and rapidly increasing industrial factories in Shanghai, J...Taihu Lake is located at the center of Changjiang delta region, the Lake and its effluent rivers are important water sources for 40 million around inhabitants and rapidly increasing industrial factories in Shanghai, Ji-angsu and Zhejiang. The pollutants originate mainly from acidy rain, home sewage of the vast number of inhabitants, livestock manure, agricultural fertilizers & pesticides applied over fields in the drainage basin, and the industrial sewage. Due to the kinds of pollutants, the Lake water is getting highly eutrophic, with frequent blooms of blue-green algae. Compared with point-source pollutants, diffuse pollution is much com-plicated and difficult to control. Thus combating non-point pollution (NPP) is paid much great attention. Based on analysis on source-sink of NPP in Taihu Lake basin, it is concluded that the function of forests on NPP control is multiple and important by both source reduction and sink expansion. The primary objective of planting trees through constructing forested wetlands and establishing riparian forest buffers is to control soil & water erosion, decrease agrochemicals application, and improve farming conditions in the region of Taihu Lake basin. Moreover forests help to intercept acidy rain, protect streambanks, uptake nutrients, hold up pollutants and provide habitat for wildlife.展开更多
Exposure to microcystin poses a potential health hazard to humans and other living organisms. This results from eutrophication and warrants an investigation into the problem of microcystin toxicity in Lake Victoria. T...Exposure to microcystin poses a potential health hazard to humans and other living organisms. This results from eutrophication and warrants an investigation into the problem of microcystin toxicity in Lake Victoria. This study was conducted in Homa Bay, Kisumu, Siaya and Busia counties to understand the effects of microcystin toxicity among fisherfolk and lake riparian communities. Data collection involved 90 semi-structured questionnaires, 11 key informant interviews and seven focus group discussions. Water samples were also collected and analysed for algal toxins. Data were analysed using Stata version 13 (Stata Corp, College Station, Texas, USA) and SPSS version 18.0. Majority (73.3%) of the fisherfolk were aware of microcystin toxicity in the lake with no significant difference in the awareness of microcystin toxicity between men and women (χ<sup>2</sup> = 1.1, df = 1, p = 0.293). Most of the respondents relied on lake (48.9%) and tap water (47.8%) with paltry sourcing water from borehole (16.8%) and rain (7.8%). There was no association between level of education and water source (lake;χ<sup>2</sup> = 1.61, df = 3, p = 0.656) and (tap;χ<sup>2</sup> = 2.23, df = 3, p = 0.527). Fisherfolk was cognizant of the need to curb microcystin toxicity. There was a significant difference (p < 0.05) in the occurrence of microcystin during the wet season compared to the dry season. Cyanophytes were the most significant (p < 0.001) group of phytoplankton. When ingested, microcystin has a long-term effect and therefore pollution control is crucial.展开更多
文摘Tree species composition and diversity were investigated in the riparian forest around Lake Barombi Kotto, Cameroon. This study aimed at determining</span><span style="font-family:""> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">the tree species composition, population structure, and providing evidence of anthropogenic disturbances in the riparian forest of Lake Barombi Kotto. The objectives were to determine the tree species composition and diversity in the riparian forest around Lake Barombi Kotto, to elucidate the forest structure and to document the anthropogenic disturbances in this forest. Five plots were laid within which </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">the </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">tree enumeration and measurement of dbh were carried out.</span><span style="font-family:""> </span><span style="font-family:""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Trees were identified using scientific identification keys in the Flora of W</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">est Africa. Disturbance scores were given to each site by qualitatively assessing various disturbances. A total of 340 trees belonging to 70 plant species, 63 genera and 28 plant families were enumerated. Shannon-Wiener diversity varied across sites, with the highest value (H = 3.45) recorded in Tung and the lowest (H = 2.21) in Malenda. Population structure differed across sites,</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> the largest stand basal area of 43.78 m</span><sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;">2</span></sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;">/ha was recorded in Bondokombo while the smallest (2.15 m</span><sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;">2</span></sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;">/ha)</span></span><span style="font-family:""> </span><span style="font-family:""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">was recorded in the Sacred Island. </span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Cecropia</span></i></span><i><span style="font-family:""> </span></i><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">peltata</span></i><span style="font-family:""><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> L., </span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Pseudospondias</span></i></span><i><span style="font-family:""> </span></i><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">macrocarpa</span></i><i><span style="font-family:""> </span></i><span style="font-family:""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Oliv. Pierre and </span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Ceiba</span></i></span><i><span style="font-family:""> </span></i><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">pentandra</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> (L.) Gaertn had the largest basal areas across the different sites. Species rich families were Malvaceae (9 species), Fabaceae (9 species), Annonaceae</span><span style="font-family:""> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">(4 species), and Anacardiaceae (4). This study shows that, there is a high tree species diversity in the protected forest (Tung) but the other unprotected sites are highly disturbed by anthropogenic activities. There is need to develop and enhance existing management policies for this riparian forest, especially by replanting the cut trees and creating a protected riparian buffer to conserve its floristic diversity and ecological functions.
文摘Taihu Lake is located at the center of Changjiang delta region, the Lake and its effluent rivers are important water sources for 40 million around inhabitants and rapidly increasing industrial factories in Shanghai, Ji-angsu and Zhejiang. The pollutants originate mainly from acidy rain, home sewage of the vast number of inhabitants, livestock manure, agricultural fertilizers & pesticides applied over fields in the drainage basin, and the industrial sewage. Due to the kinds of pollutants, the Lake water is getting highly eutrophic, with frequent blooms of blue-green algae. Compared with point-source pollutants, diffuse pollution is much com-plicated and difficult to control. Thus combating non-point pollution (NPP) is paid much great attention. Based on analysis on source-sink of NPP in Taihu Lake basin, it is concluded that the function of forests on NPP control is multiple and important by both source reduction and sink expansion. The primary objective of planting trees through constructing forested wetlands and establishing riparian forest buffers is to control soil & water erosion, decrease agrochemicals application, and improve farming conditions in the region of Taihu Lake basin. Moreover forests help to intercept acidy rain, protect streambanks, uptake nutrients, hold up pollutants and provide habitat for wildlife.
文摘Exposure to microcystin poses a potential health hazard to humans and other living organisms. This results from eutrophication and warrants an investigation into the problem of microcystin toxicity in Lake Victoria. This study was conducted in Homa Bay, Kisumu, Siaya and Busia counties to understand the effects of microcystin toxicity among fisherfolk and lake riparian communities. Data collection involved 90 semi-structured questionnaires, 11 key informant interviews and seven focus group discussions. Water samples were also collected and analysed for algal toxins. Data were analysed using Stata version 13 (Stata Corp, College Station, Texas, USA) and SPSS version 18.0. Majority (73.3%) of the fisherfolk were aware of microcystin toxicity in the lake with no significant difference in the awareness of microcystin toxicity between men and women (χ<sup>2</sup> = 1.1, df = 1, p = 0.293). Most of the respondents relied on lake (48.9%) and tap water (47.8%) with paltry sourcing water from borehole (16.8%) and rain (7.8%). There was no association between level of education and water source (lake;χ<sup>2</sup> = 1.61, df = 3, p = 0.656) and (tap;χ<sup>2</sup> = 2.23, df = 3, p = 0.527). Fisherfolk was cognizant of the need to curb microcystin toxicity. There was a significant difference (p < 0.05) in the occurrence of microcystin during the wet season compared to the dry season. Cyanophytes were the most significant (p < 0.001) group of phytoplankton. When ingested, microcystin has a long-term effect and therefore pollution control is crucial.