فهرست مطالب

Environmental Resources Research - Volume:4 Issue: 1, Summer - Autumn 2016

Journal of Environmental Resources Research
Volume:4 Issue: 1, Summer - Autumn 2016

  • تاریخ انتشار: 1395/04/27
  • تعداد عناوین: 7
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  • A. Zare Gariz*, A. Talebi Pages 1-25
    In this study, the process-based watershed model, Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), was used for simulating hydrology and sediment transport in the Gharesou watershed and for identifying critical areas of soil erosion and water pollution. After model calibration and uncertainty analysis using SUFI-2 (Sequential Uncertainty Fitting, ver. 2) method, the outputs of the calibrated model were used for assessing critical sediment source areas. Three pollution quantifying indices including a Load Impact Index (LII), a Concentration Impact Index (CII), and a load per nit area impact index (LUII), were computed based on the model outputs. The results indicated that despite lack and uncertainty of available data, SWAT model performance in simulating sediment transport in Gharesou watershed is quite acceptable. During calibration, the simulated monthly sediment loads matched the observed values with a Nash-Sutcliffe coefficient of 0.24 and PBIAS of - 17%. The values for validation period were 0.2 and -12.1% respectively, indicating the model’s weakness in simulating sediment dynamics and its capability in predicting average sediment load. Assessing spatial pattern of sediment indices showed that, in general, critical sub-watersheds based on LII are located in downstream areas of the watershed while sensitive subwatersheds in terms of CII are situated in the middle part and critical areas with respect to LUII are in upstream. On the basis of LUAII, eight percent of the watershed area yields about 60% of sediment load. Implementation of appropriate conservation practices in the critical areas has the potential to significantly reduce erosion and sediment transport.
    Keywords: Sediment transport, SWAT model, SUFI, 2 method, Critical areas
  • M. Jafari Shalamzari *, A. Sadoddin, V.B. Sheikh, A. Abedi Sarvestani Pages 27-43
    Most residences of the northern parts of Golestan Province, have historically used rooftop rainwater for drinking. Its adoption rate and continued use have declined in recent years for various reasons. Based on a survey of 380 cases, this research attempted to identify what factors are contributing to the adoption of these systems. The results demonstrated that the adoption changes in response to five factors: access to water, existence of specialized organizational sector, previous experience, direct observation and integration into the domestic distribution system, with the odds ratios of 10.5, 2.16, 0.12, 2.7, and 4 respectively (Psafety packages, such as chlorine stock solutions or modernization of equipment. Modernization of these systems could also help remove the concern over the integration of these systems into the domestic water distribution piping. Lack of experience and less frequent contact with these systems have also resulted in low level DRWHs adoption. It appears mass media and non-governmental organizations could also facilitate improving these two factors. Results of this study could inform decision making to better encourage the use of DRWHs in Golestan Province.
    Keywords: Domestic rainwater harvesting, Adoption, Logistic regression, Golestan, Diffusion of innovations
  • S.A. Mir Hashemi Rostami*, K. Amini, F. Khani, H. Kolangi Miandare Pages 45-55
    Grey Mullet (Mugil cephalus) is an important food fish species in the, Mugilidae which is able to adapt in a wide range of salinities and temperatures and is suitable for introduction of the species to freshwater, brackish, and brine waters for aquaculture. This study was implemented to determine appropriate normative of stocking density and initial weight of
    Mugil cephalus and also evaluate effects of these factors on the growth and feeding rates. Ten thousands of juveniles grey mullets (0.281±0.03 g 2.83±0.12 cm) were acquired from Mediterranean coastal waters of Egypt and were stocked in a quarter hectare of shrimp ponds in propagation and cultivation center of Gomishan, Golestan, for twenty- four months. Fish were stocked for first and second years at the density of 5000, 10000/ha and 2000, 2500/ha respectively. Mullets were fed by live foods and three concentrate diets in the first and second years of rearing, respectively. Recorded data
    showed that the weights and lengths were different at the end of the first year with different densities (113.7±5.21 g and 21.1±0.21 cm (5000/ha) and 86.6±2.54 g and 19.6±1.02 cm (density= 10000/ha)). The highest weight in the second year was 476.6±0.23 g (density: 2000, initial weight: 115) and the lowest was 327±0.98 (density: 2000, initial weight: 80). The FCR at density of 5000 and 10000/ha were 3.4±0.08 and 3.9±0.05 respectively, indicating that density can effect on FCR rate. In the second year, the lowest FCR belonged to treatment 5 (density of 2500 and initial weight of 115). There was no significant difference in the survival rate and SGR during the two years of rearing. Rearing information about mullet is rare so the aim of this research was to determine some standards and introduce a normative for Golestan climatic condition.
    Keywords: Aquaculture, Mullet, Growth, FCR, Gomishan lagoon
  • Y. Barkouch*, A. Pineau Pages 57-64
    The present study represents a first insight into the Draa Lasfar min (Marrakech - Morocco) to assess the degree of polymetallic pollution caused by anthropogenic activities (like mine extraction) and consequently the possible diffusion of heavy metals and to predict the risk of their mobility in the surroundings of the mine area. The edaphologic parameters pH and electrical conductivity (EC) were measured according to standard methods whilst heavy metals concentration was atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Contamination factors (CF) and pollution index (IP) were calculated in order to estimate the anthropogenic contribution of target pollutant determining Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn as the main pollutants in this region. The results showed that the polluted areas at the vicinity of the mine especially two rural communities (Ouled Bou Aicha and Tazakourte) of about 5790 ha are probably linked to increasing mine activities and the lack of appropriate measures to counteract its effects causing a progressive pollution of wate and soil with heavy metal emissions in the region under study
    Keywords: Contamination, Heavy metals, Soils, Mine area, Mine tailings, Marrakech, Morocco
  • R. Safari* Pages 65-74
    Kutum is considered as one of the anadramous species of the Caspian Sea. Due to continuous population decline of the fish since 1975, Iranian fisheries organization started to restock this species. Nowadays, there is growing concern over the effects of restocking on natural populations. For this purpose, population structure and genetic variation of this species in the Iranian coastline of Caspian Sea were investigated by using microsatellite markers. The results showed that the average genetic variation of kutum in the southern coast of the Caspian Sea is lower than those reported for the most anadramous fish. After applying the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) test, all populations were found to be significantly deviated from HWE. IN spite of high number of migration between the Cheshmekileh and Gharasu populations, there is 3 different populations of Cheshmekileh, Gharasu, and Sefidrud in the Caspian Sea. The reported results could be of interest to management and restocking programs of this species in Caspian Sea.
    Keywords: Rutilus frisii kutum, Population structure, Microsatellite
  • H. Salehi *, H. Zeinivand Pages 75-89
    Preservation of water quality, particularly in areas with inadequate water resources is considered as one of the principles of planning in integrated water management. In Kuhdasht, a region at the west of Iran, groundwater and spring water resources are the major contributors of drinking and irrigation water supply. The aim of this study was to determine the suitability and mapping of springs and groundwater for irrigation and drinking purposes based on the water quality indices. Values of physical (pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids), and hydro chemical characteristics (Na, K, Ca2, Mg2, HCO3-, Cl- and SO4-) of springs and groundwater were identified. To assess the water quality, chemical parameters like sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), total hardness, Mg-hazard (MH), sodium percentage (Na%), and salinity hazard were calculated based on the analytical results. ANOVA test was used to compare the treatments of different stations’ quality parameters and LSD test was used to assess the statistical differences between the regions, for spatial distribution and mapping, geo-statistical interpolation techniques of Kriging method were applied. A Durov diagram plot showed that the groundwater has been evolved from Ca-HCO3 recharge water followed by mixing and reverse ion exchange processes due to the respective dominance of Ca – Cl water types. Based on Gibbs’s diagramplots, chemical weathering of rock forming minerals is the main factorcontrolling water chemistry in this area. Based on ordinary Kriging, mostparts of the region has good water for the drinking and irrigation.
    Keywords: Kuhdasht region, Geo, chemical characteristics, Quality analysis, Kriging
  • S. Sefidian*, A. Salmanmahiny, H. Mirkarimi, N.A. Hasan Abassi Pages 91-110
    Wetlands as water resources have a special place in the semi-arid plateau of Iran and boundary determination is necessary for their effective conservation and conflict resolution among stakeholders that are dependent on these resources. Determination of the wetland boundaries should be commensurate with environmental features affecting on it which normally extend beyond water extent. Ecological wetland boundaries are normally affected by water extent, hydric soils, and obligate water plants that constitute a normal protocol for wetland boundary determination. Also, we add wetland dependent fauna with special emphasis on birds to these three features to get to a more ecologically integrated boundary determination. Thus, in our approach, boundary determination requires information on indicators relating to soil, hydrology, vegetation, and wetland dependent fauna. We carried out field sampling of the Alagol wetland during which we recorded hydrology, percent vegetation cover, plant species, soil parameters, and dependent/loving birds within 1000 m radius of the initial water body. The results, determined the seasonal and temporary boundaries, and finally the ecological aspects helped in better boundary determination and suggestions for an integrated protection of Alagol wetland. We also suggested a buffer for protection of other wetland birds in areas further than 1000 m from the initial boundary to make sure the resulting boundary stays afar from violations.
    Keywords: Ecological indicators, Borders, Mapping, management