Evaluating the Impacts of Human Activities on Diversity, Abundance, and Distribution of Large Mammals in Nimule National Park, South Sudan

Globally, human activities have a significant impact on the diversity, abundance, and distribution of large mammals in Protected Areas (PAs). These disturbances increase human pressure on biodiversity and species habitats, highlighting the need for conservation. This study aimed to assess the abundance and distribution of large mammals in different habitat types within Nimule National Park (NNP) and understand the impacts of human activities on them. Data on the abundance and distribution of large mammals and their respective habitat types were collected through line transect surveys. Human activity signs were observed and recorded along the transect lines. To estimate the impacts of human activities on the diversity, abundance, and distribution of large mammal species, as well as to identify any significant differences between them and their habitat types, the study utilized the Kruskal Wallis test, Polynomial multiple regressions, and diversity indices. The findings from the Shannon-Weiner and Simpson indices indicated that large mammal species were more diverse inside the park (H’ = 1.136;D = 0.570) compared to the buffer zone (H’ = 0.413;D = 0.171), with 85% (443 out of 510 samples) recorded within Nimule National Park. The species abundance showed a semi-balanced status (0.58). The diversity results among different habitat types revealed that large mammals were more diverse and highly distributed in both open woodlands (244) and dense woodlands (192), while riverine vegetation had the lowest diversity (8). Statistical tests demonstrated a highly significant difference at a 99% confidence interval (p-value = 0.01) between habitat types and identified species of large mammals. Additionally, the results highlighted the high abundance of Uganda kob (274), baboons (141), and warthog (57) across most habitat types, accounting for at least 75% of their distribution. The most prevalent human activities observed were cattle footprints (27%) and cattle dung (14%). Human footprints and tree cutting combined accounted for 9%, indicating the practice of livestock grazing, poaching, encroachment, and fuelwood collection by local communities. However, these activities did not appear to significantly impact the diversity, abundance, and distribution of large mammals in Nimule National Park. Therefore, it is crucial to foster shared responsibilities and engage relevant stakeholders in the management and conservation of large wildlife species. Regular community awareness programs should be implemented to cultivate a sense of ownership. Moreover, it is recommended that a comprehensive survey be conducted on the population status of all mammal species in Nimule National Park, including its surrounding Buffer Zone. Monitoring the impact of human activities on their behavior and habitats using satellite images should also be carried out at least every five to ten years.

Analysis of Bacteriological Quality of Domestic Water Sources in Kabale Municipality, Western Uganda

In the present study, we assessed the bacteriological quality of water of drinking water sources in Kabale Municipality. A total of 28 water samples were collected from 14 water springs during the dry and wet season and analyzed for determination of Escherichia coli (E. coli), and Total Heterotrophic Bacteria (THB) using the membrane filtration method. Most water springs located in less than 20 meters away from residential areas were associated with bacterial contamination. The mean concentrations of E. coli, total coliforms, and THB were 24.07 CFU/100 ml, 85.71 CFU/100 ml, and 197.07 CFU/100 ml, respectively in the wet season. While in the dry season, the mean concentrations were 2 CFU/100 ml, 10 CFU/100 ml, and 91 CFU/100 ml for E. coli, total coliforms, and THB, respectively. There were significant differences between CFU of total coliforms, HTB, between wet and dry seasons (p = 0.026). Samples collected and analyzed during the wet season for total coliforms did not conform to WHO drinking water quality guideline value of no detection per 100 ml. The study concludes that the majority of spring water sources are located in less than 20 meters away from residential areas with significant paved areas, the presence of septic tanks and pit latrines. Wet season significantly affects the quality of domestic water sources than the dry season. The study recommends that spring water should be treated before drinking due to high bacteria concentrations which makes it unsafe for consumption.

Growth of Shorea contorta Vid.Inoculated with Eucalypt Ectomycorrhizal Fungi in the Nursery and in a Logged-Over Dipterocarp Forest in Surigao,Philippines

This study was conducted to determine the compatibility of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi associated with eucalypts on dipterocarps. Two nodal cuttings of Shorea contorta (Vid.) were rooted in a non-mist system for two months, and later inoculated with vegetative mycelia of three strains of Pisolithus collected under eucalypts and a strain of Scleroderma from dipterocarps. Inoculated rooted cuttings were planted in irradiated potting mix and raised in the nursery for five months. Root colonization prior to outplanting ranged from 31% to 38% and ECM fungi did not colonize the uninoculated ones. The cuttings were outplanted in a logged-over dipterocarp forest in Bislig, Surigao Sur following a Randomized Complete Block Design with four blocks;each block was planted with 50 seedlings. Two years after outplanting, Pisolithus strain from New Caledonia (H6394) promoted the highest height (46 cm) and diameter (0.48 cm) increment. Height was increased by 17% and diameter by 7% relative to the uninoculated control. By contrast, Pisolithus strain from the Philippines (H615) gave the shortest (26 cm) height increment and smallest (0.42 cm) diameter. Diameter growth of cuttings inoculated with Scleroderma D01 (from the Philippines) and a Pisolithus strain from Australia (H445) was bigger (0.47 cm) than the uninoculated treated cuttings (0.45 cm). In terms of survival, the uninoculated cuttings gave the highest (90%) percent survival while the lowest (60%) was those inoculated with Pisolithus strain from New Caledonia. It is possible that the indigenous ECM fungi infected easily the roots of the uninoculated cuttings thus contributing to the high survival rate (90%). During outplanting, fruit bodies of S. columnare were present in the field site. The results, however, show that ECM fungi were able to colonize the roots and that some strains promoted the growth and survival of S. contorta planted in a logged-over dipterocarp forest in Bislig, Surigao, Philippines.

Data Exploration and Reconnaissance to Identify Ocean Phenomena: A Guide for In Situ Data Collection

Marine pollution is a serious geoenvironmental problem affecting the Lebanese coast. It mainly affects the coastal zone adjacent to areas of dense population. To detect the sources of pollution along this zone, as well as to identify their characteristics, remote sensing data is used. Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager (OLI) satellite images, which have medium spatial resolution, are analyzed using ENVI 5.2 and ArcGIS 10.3.1 geospatial software for the years of 2014 and 2015. Different routines are applied to reveal anomalous features with the goal being to discriminate polluted water in the marine environment. Results showed anomalies in Akkar region. This might be due to the presence of basalts rocks, and geothermal heating, or the pollution of Oustowan river that flows into the sea. The results also showed that during the dry season, there is low movement of water causing a least extension of the anomalies. In contrary, during the wet season, rivers had an intense flow into the sea which caused an intense water movement and wide extension of anomalies on the coast. Permanently polluted coastal sites are evident in Tripoli, Kalamoun, Chekka, Batroun, Amchit, Jbeil, Jounieh, Nahr Beirut and Ouzai with the most presumed polluted months being in 2014 during April and November and in 2015 in April. The least extended pollution is during July 2014 and 2015. The length and width of each anomaly at each site shows that during the year of 2015;most of the anomalies are larger than in 2014.

Falls Lake水库内溶解物输运模拟

溶解物在水库内的输运过程受人为因素影响较大。为研究水库内物质输运的过程和机制,以美国北卡罗来纳州的Falls Lake水库为研究对象,运用EFDC三维数值模型对物质在水库内的输运过程进行模拟研究,分析示踪物平均年龄和滞留时间的分布以及变化。结果显示:理想状态下,流量决定溶解物的输运过程;实际情况中,除流量外,水库的即时蓄水量是影响输运过程的另一个重要因素;水库结构和径流分布是导致示踪物在各区域局地滞留时间存在差异的主要因素。

Use of a calibrated SWAT model to evaluate the effects of agricultural BMPs on sediments of the Kalaya river basin (North of Morocco)

Soil erosion from agricultural fields is a worldwide problem,to influence water quality,soil fertility and reservoir sedimentation especially in Mediterranean countries such as Morocco.In fact,this work assesses the effects of Best Management Practices (BMPs) on sediments using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model in the Kalaya watershed in Northem Morocco,to recommend the most appropriate practice.This study is based on the use of three most usable practices:contouring,stripcropping and terracing,by the calibrated SWAT model.The general parameters of the model have been modified to reflect the implementation of different agricultural BMPs used.Resulting sediment yield were compared with the baseline scenario,for validation.However,the effective measures to reduce sediment losses at the watershed level are organized according to their effectiveness,and these are terracing (28% reduction and the value is 15t/ha/yr) followed by strip-cropping (9% reduction and the value is 5t/ha/yr).In contrast,measurements performed by the contouring are inappropriate for the study area because they have contributed to increasing the soil erosion (more than 31% of losses and the value is 17t/ha/yr more than existing conditions).Therefore,the model illustrates that the terrace is effective for reducing sediment losses and limiting soil erosion especially on steep slopes.Thus,the results provide useful information for targeted management in order to implement the most effective agricultural BMPs in the watershed.

Assessing sediment yield in Kalaya gauged watershed(Northern Morocco)using GIS and SWAT model

An efficient design for erosion-control structures of any watershed in the world is entrusted with the delicate forecasting of sediment yields.These outlook yields are usually inferred by extrapolations from past observations.Because runoff,as the transporting vehicle,is more closely correlated with sediment yields than any other variable.So,calibration as well as validation of process-based hydrological models are two major processes while estimating the sediment yield in watershed.The actual survey is fulfilled with the aim of developing a trustworthy hydrologic model simulating stream flow discharge and sediment concentration with least uncertainty among the parameters picked out for calibration so as to verify the effect of the scenarios on the spatial distribution of sediment yield(sediments transported from sub-basins to the main channel during the step of time).Soil and Water Assessment Tool(SWAT,version 2012)model integrated with Geographic Information System(GIS,version 10.1)was used to simulate the stream flow and sediment concentration of Kalaya catchment situated in north of Morocco for the period from 1971 to 1993.Model calibration and validation were performed for monthly time periods using Sequential Uncertainty Fitting 2(SUFI-2,version 2)within SWAT-CUP using 16 parameters.Our calibration outputs for monthly simulation for the period from 1976 to 1984 showed a good model performance for flow rates with NSE and PBIAS values of 0.76 and
11.80,respectively;also a good model performance for sediment concentration with NSE and PBIAS values of 0.69 and 7.12,respectively.Nonetheless,during validation period(1985–1993)for monthly time step,the NSE and PBIAS values were 0.67 and
14.44,respectively for flow rates and these statistical values were 0.70 and 15.51,respectively for sediment concentration;which also means a good model performance for both.Following calibration,the inclusive effect of each parameter used was ranked using global sensitivity function in SWAT-CUP.From our analysis,the effective hydraulic conductivity in main channel alluvium(CH_K2),USLE support practice factor(USLE_P)and manning's"n"value for the main channel(CH_N2)were found to be the most sensitive parameters during different iterations with different number of simulation but with the same inputs.The least sensitive parameter were found to be different in either cases unlike the most sensitive parameters.As a result,the global evaluated soil erosion rate in the study area varied from 20 to 120 t/ha/yr.It was summarized that the entire knowledge of the hydrologic processes happens within the watershed and the consciousness about acceptable meaningful range of the parameters is crucial while developing reliable hydrologic model.