ALBERT

Description: Publication date: January 2017 Source: Global Ecology and Conservation, Volume 9 Author(s): Alexander Martynov, Kazunori Hasegawa, Tatiana Korshunova The marine gastropod Japonacteon nipponensis is a representative species of endangered tidal flat environments in northeastern Asia. It is rated near-threatened in Japanese Red Data Books. A population of a closely similar species had also been recognized in the Russian part of the Sea of Japan at a single locality in Sukhodol Bay and was recently distinguished taxonomically as a subspecies distinct from the Japanese populations. Here we present for the first time molecular evidence that confirms that both populations represent J. nipponensis with little genetic distance. The Russian population of this near-threatened species will be included in a forthcoming edition of the Red Data Book of Russia. Tidal flats in Japan and elsewhere in Asia have been seriously impacted in recent years by intensive coastal development. Although the sole known locality of this species in Russia in Sukhodol Bay is still intact, there are plans to construct a large coal terminal on the bay. The presence not only of this particular species but also of others specifically associated with this particular kind of biotope make it desirable to protect the whole habitat of Sukhodol Bay and surrounding localities in the Russian part of the Sea of Japan.

Description: Publication date: January 2017 Source: Global Ecology and Conservation, Volume 9 Author(s): M. Abdul Aziz, Simon Tollington, Adam Barlow, John Goodrich, Mohammad Shamsuddoha, M. Anwarul Islam, Jim J. Groombridge Poaching of tigers and their key prey threatens the survival of tigers across their range. This study investigated the methods, intensity, and driving factors of tiger and prey poaching in the Sundarbans Reserved Forest of Bangladesh, to help better design and direct future management interventions. The study identified a range of snaring methods used to catch prey and an approach to killing tigers by poisoning prey carcasses with a Carbofuran pesticide. We recorded six poisoned baits set to kill tigers and 1427 snare loops in 56 snare sets to kill tiger prey. With an average of 23 snare loops/snare set, this is equivalent to an estimated 6268 snare loops across the Sundarbans or 147 snare loops/100 km 2 . Poachers selected sites that tended to be away from guard posts, and close to river banks, but were not influenced by protected area status or distance to the forest boundary. The current poaching pressure is likely to have contributed to a recent decline in relative tiger abundance. We recommend using better regulation of Carbofuran use across tiger range countries, and using remote camera traps set up around snares and poisoned baits to help authorities identify poachers for arrest. This study demonstrates a simple approach to investigating the methods, intensity and distribution of poaching, that could be replicated across all tiger landscapes to better direct mitigating actions and monitor changes in threat levels over time.

Description: Publication date: Available online 26 December 2016 Source: Sustainable Materials and Technologies Author(s): C. Ravikumar, P. Senthil Kumar, S.K. Subhashni, P.V. Tejaswini, V. Varshini In the present research, microwave assisted pyrolysis of biomass feed stocks such as corn cob, corn stover, saw dust and rice straw were carried out at constant microwave experimental conditions. GC–MS and bomb calorimeter analyses were carried out to identify the compounds present in bio-oil and higher heating values (HHV), respectively. Amongst all, corn cob gave the highest bio-oil yield up to 42.1% (wt) with a higher bio-oil HHV of 22.38 MJ/kg at the given experimental conditions. GC–MS analysis of corn cob based bio-oil showed the presence of ethyl ether, phenol, aliphatic hydrocarbons, furfural, furan derivatives and acids in major proportions. Higher HHV of bio-oil from corn cob was due to the presence of ethyl ether and 2-bromo-butane with a relative proportion of 15.63% and 4.60%, respectively. Addition of MgCl 2 compound as a catalyst during corn cob pyrolysis yielded only in selective formation of furfural compound, and bio-oil yield in this case was found to be similar (40%, wt) to that of pyrolysis of corn cob in absence of catalyst. The results suggested that the corn cob can be used a potential biomass feed stock to produce bio-oil in major quantity, which can be further distilled to produce fuel oils.

Description: Publication date: Available online 23 December 2016 Source: Climate Risk Management Author(s): Akhter Ali, Olaf Erenstein Climate change is set to be particularly disruptive in poor agricultural communities. We assess the factors influencing farmers’ choice of climate change adaptation practices and associated impacts on household food security and poverty in Pakistan using comprehensive data from 950 farmers from its major provinces. A probit model was used to investigate the factors influencing the use of climate-change adaptation practices; the censored least absolute deviation (CLAD) was used to analyze the determinants of the number of adaptation practices used; and a propensity score matching (PSM) approach was employed to evaluate the impact of adaptation practices on food security and poverty levels. Adjustment in sowing time (22% households), use of drought tolerant varieties (15%) and shifting to new crops (25%) were the three major adaptation practices used by farmers in the study area. Results show that younger farmers and farmers with higher levels of education are more likely to use these adaptation practices, as do farmers that are wealthier, farm more land and have joint families. The number of adaptation practices used was found to be positively associated with education, male household heads, land size, household size, extension services, access to credit and wealth. Farmers adopting more adaptation practices had higher food security levels (8-13%) than those who did not, and experienced lower levels of poverty (3-6%). Climate change adaptation practices at farm level can thereby have significant development outcomes in addition to reducing exposure to weather risks.

Description: Publication date: Available online 24 December 2016 Source: Sustainable Environment Research Author(s): Danial Qadir, Hilmi B. Mukhtar, Lau K. Keong Four commercial tubular membranes (AFC80, AFC30, PU608, and ES404) have been investigated in this study for their performance of binary metal ions rejection under different feed conditions. A range of salts (tin chloride, tin sulfate, calcium chloride, calcium sulfate) with divalent cations were chosen to assess the effects of different anions (chloride and sulfate) on performance of the membranes. All membranes were tested by varying the feed concentration (2500, 5000, 10,000 mg L -1 ) at fixed cross flow velocity of 1.5 LPM and feed pressure 1400 kPa. Observed retention ( R obs %) and permeate flux ( J v ) were key parameters to evaluate the performance of studied tubular membranes. It was found that increase in concentration adversely affected the both evaluation parameters i.e. permeate flux and rejection. Nevertheless, nanofiltration type tubular membranes (AFC 80 and AFC 30) showed higher rejection than their counterparts, i.e., ultrafiltration type tubular membranes (ES404, PU608) for all investigated salts. Maximum observed rejection for all salts was noted for AFC 80 for all salts followed by AFC 30, ES 404 and PU608 tubular membranes. Furthermore, it is reveal that anion types (SO 4 2- , Cl - ) of these salts played a vital role in retention of these tubular membranes when the salts with same cations were used as feed solution.

Description: Publication date: Available online 24 December 2016 Source: Sustainable Environment Research Author(s): Chen-Jui Liang, Yi-Shan Liu, Jeng-Jong Liang To better understand the environmental effects of ambient polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), this study uses a source-receptor approach to characterize the environmental effects of 17 PCDD/Fs (1 tetra-, 1 penta-, 3 hexa-, 1 hepta-, 1 octa- chlorodibenzodioxins and 1 tetra-, 2 penta-, 4 hexa-, 2 hepta-, 1 octa- chlorodibenzofurans) and 16 PAHs (NAP, ACY, ACE, FLO, PHE, ANT, FLA, PYR, CHR, BaA, BbF, BkF, DahA, BaP, IcdP, and BghiP) from various stationary and fugitive sources in the basin of central Taiwan. Six simultaneous field measurements of PCDD/Fs, PAHs, and meteorological readings at four selected sampling sites were performed during both northeast and southwest monsoon seasons. The source profiles of PCDD/Fs and PAHs were established from several sources. The concentration ranges of total PCDD/Fs and PAHs were 346 to 2,342 fg m -3 and 7,287 to 33,888 pg m -3 , respectively. The average concentrations of PCDD/Fs and PAHs during the northeast monsoon season were almost 1.6 and 2.3 times higher than those during the southwest monsoon season. The results of the source-receptor model show that the sum of the average contributions of PCDD/Fs from municipal waste incinerators (MUW), secondary copper smelting (SCS), and cremation (CRE) was 66.3% and 65.9% and that of PAHs from electric arc furnaces (EAFs) and burning joss paper/incense (BJP) was 60.2% and 61.2% during the southwest and northeast monsoons, respectively. For reducing ambient PCDD/Fs and PAHs, PCDD/Fs emission from MUW, SCS, and CRE, and PAHs emissions from EAFs and BJP must be managed and controlled.

Description: Publication date: Available online 21 December 2016 Source: Climate Risk Management Author(s): Mohammad Mahfujul Haque, Scott Bremer, Saifullah Bin Aziz, Jeroen P. van der Sluijs There are numerous challenges to mobilising high quality knowledge in support of climate adaptation. Urgent adaptive action often has to be taken on the basis of imperfect information, with the risk of maladaptive consequences. These issues of knowledge quality can be particularly acute in vulnerable developing countries like Bangladesh, where there can be less capacity for producing and using climate knowledge. This paper argues that climate change adaptation in places like Bangladesh would benefit from a more self-conscious critical review of the knowledge systems mobilised in support of action, and suggests that ‘knowledge quality assessment’ (KQA) tools can structure this review. It presents a desktop assessment of information used for climate change adaptation projects in Sylhet Division in Bangladesh, steered by the six themes of the ‘Guidance for Uncertainty Assessment and Communication’ KQA tool. The assessment found important differences in approaches to mobilising knowledge, particularly between governmental and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). It demonstrated that problem framing has an impact on project success; projects that adopt a narrow techno-scientific framing can lead to significant adverse side effects. Recognising this some projects are engaging stakeholders in framing adaptation. It found a lack of national policy guidance on the use of indicators or appraisal of uncertainty , seeing government agencies fall back on their risk-based calculations, and NGOs attempt to identify indicators and uncertainties via community engagement, with mixed success. Moreover, the adaptation knowledge base is relatively disintegrated, despite tentative steps toward its consolidation and appraisal , potentially related to on-going friction impeding vertical communication within government, and horizontal communication between government, NGOs and stakeholders. This all suggests that the Bangladeshi practices at the adaptation science-policy interface can benefit from reflection on KQA criteria; reflection that could concretely be encouraged through revision of the national policy framework.

Description: Publication date: Available online 22 December 2016 Source: Climate Risk Management Author(s): Adem Mohammed, Tamado Tana, Piara Singh, Diriba Korecha, Adamu Molla Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is one of the important cool season food legumes in the semi-arid north-eastern Ethiopia. Climate change is projected to alter the growing conditions of chickpea in this region and there would be substantial reduction in grain yield of the crop due to drought. The overall objectives of the study were to identify crop management and genetic options that could increase rain-fed chickpea productivity. For this, a simulation study has been conducted using CROPGRO-model in two sites (Sirinka and Chefa) found in the semi-arid north-eastern Ethiopia. Change in planting date and cultivars having different maturity have been tested for their effectiveness to increase chickpea productivity. According to the prediction result, short duration cultivar is found to increase grain yield at Sirinka by about 11%, 10% and 11% in the baseline, 2030s and 2050s, respectively whereas long duration cultivar is found to decrease grain yield by about 6%, 9% and 11% as compared to the standard cultivar (control). On the other hand, short duration cultivar is found to decrease grain yield at Chefa by about 9%, 4% and 5% whereas long duration cultivar is found to increase grain yield by about 1%, 2% and 4% across the respective time periods. Early sowing (SSD-20 days) is found to significantly increase grain yield of short duration cultivar at Sirinka by about 48%, 48% and 54% and that of long duration cultivar by 31%, 33% and 39% in the baseline, 2030s and 2050s, respectively. Early sowing (SSD-20 days) is also found to increase grain yield of short duration cultivar at Chefa by about 26%, 27% and -1% and that of long duration cultivar by 37%, 32% and -2% across the respective time periods. However, the highest increase in chickpea grain yield can be achieved through combined application of early sowing and suitable cultivars. On the other hand, delayed sowing is found to significantly decrease chickpea grain yield in the semi-arid environments of north-eastern Ethiopia.

Description: Publication date: Available online 19 December 2016 Source: International Soil and Water Conservation Research Author(s): Edilene C.S. Marchi, Lincoln Zotarelli, Jorge A. Delgado, Diane L. Rowland, Giuliano Marchi Water quality in Florida is significantly impacted by nitrate (NO 3 -N) leaching losses from agriculture in a large part of the state. Horticultural crops are planted across large areas of Florida on coarse sandy soils with low soil water retention and soil organic matter, increasing the potential for NO 3 -N leaching. Nitrate leaching losses from the root zone of vegetable cropping systems can negatively impact groundwater. New tools such as the Nitrogen Index (N-Index) are able to quickly assess N use efficiency and losses via NO 3 -N leaching from agricultural systems. Furthermore, the N-Index provides technical information about N losses pathways tied to agricultural management practices with a great level of confidence; this information has been used by researchers, growers and policymakers as a decision support system. However, the current version of the N-Index that has been used for different field crops has not been calibrated to be used in plastic-mulched horticultural cropping systems. The aim of this work was to calibrate and validate the N-Index for plastic-mulched horticultural cropping systems of Florida. This study found that the N-Index tool accurately identified and ranked the risk of N losses in the evaluated horticultural systems. The N-Index was calibrated for Florida's plastic-mulched horticultural cropping systems using a sensitivity analysis. The adjusted N-Index was validated using compiled data of vegetables grown under plastic mulching systems during three consecutive seasons. Results from these studies suggest that the N-Index can be an easy-to-use tool capable of assessing nitrogen management practices for vegetable systems. The tool can be used to guide nutrient managers in the implementation of best nitrogen management practices that could contribute to reduced NO 3 -N leaching losses from vegetable systems in Florida, contributing to a smaller environmental footprint and conservation of water quality.

Description: Publication date: January 2017 Source: Global Ecology and Conservation, Volume 9 Author(s): I. Diédhiou, D. Diallo, A. Mbengue, R.R. Hernandez, R. Bayala, R. Diéme, P.M. Diédhiou, A. Sène In Senegal, numerous initiatives exist to cultivate Jatropha curcas L. (JCL) trees as a multipurpose energy crop, including for fuel. Thus, research on this drought-resistant shrub has been predominately focused on biofuel production from its seeds, while its potential for carbon (C) sequestration, which could be valuable in sink projects (i.e., afforestation, reforestation) under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the Kyoto protocol, has been largely unstudied. This study was carried out in Senegal’s Peanut basin to develop allometric equations for estimating biomass of individual JCL shrubs, JCL plantations, and determining their respective C storage potential. We discovered a three-stage evolution of JCL biomass accumulation. A slow build-up stage (1–3 years), followed by a fast production of biomass (3–4 years), and a relatively slower stage where certain fractions-root and leaf biomass-reach a plateau (4–5 years). The ratio between belowground and aboveground biomass varies from 53% (1 year after planting) and 26% (5 year after planting), with an average of 41%. We developed allometric models that provide a reliable estimation of the different biomass fractions of JCL and according to tree age. The models revealed that the stocks of biomass and C become relatively important from the fifth year with a storage capacity of 5.07 kg per tree. Most of the biomass and organic C are stored in the aboveground fractions of trees, suggesting that JCL plantations may be valuable for C sink and CDM projects.