مجله بوم شناسی کاربردی
پیاپی 33 (پاییز 1399)

One of the main scientific topics on the effects of global climate change is to assess changes in the carbon cycle in rangelands. Net Primary Production (NPP) is an important component of this cycle, in terms of carbon storage, and a key indicator for assessing the ecosystem function. This research aimed to investigate the correlation between NPP and ocean-atmospheric oscillations, monthly and seasonally, from 2000 to 2016 in the north of Iran’s Alborz Mountains. Net Primary Production of terrestrial vegetation was extracted from MODIS data and used in a model along with ocean-atmospheric oscillations. Multivariate regression analysis was used to investigate the simultaneous and lagged status in different timescales. Mann-Kendal test was used for trend analysis in different seasons over the studied period. Results showed that the highest NPP values were 2.06 and 1.30 g C m-2 d-1 in spring and summer and the lowest were 0.68 and 0.55 g C m-2 d-1 in autumn and winter, respectively. The trend of NPP variations was significantly different in autumn and winter. Overall, it was showed that NPP was affected by climatic variables, especially precipitation, and variables  related to ENSO indicator are the main factors affecting precipitation, thereby affecting NPP in the north of Iran.

Soundscape analysis, using acoustic indices, provides researchers with valuable ecological information to assess biodiversity, species behavior, and noise pollution. In this study,  to analyze biophonies and anthrophony in six urban parks in  Isfahan city in spring, six acoustic indices, including Acoustic complexity index (ACI), Acoustic Diversity Index (ADI), Acoustic Evenness Index (AEI), and Bioacoustic Index (BI), Normalized Difference Soundscape Index (NDSI) and Entropy Index (H) were used and quantified using  Seewave Package in R software. In the next step, using ANOVA test, we evaluated the significance of difference between values of the indices among the six parks. We also calculated the degree of correlation between pairs of the indices among and within the parks using Tukey test. According to the results of ANOVA and Tukey tests, the highest values of BI, NDSI, ACI, ADI, AEI and H indices were obtained for Sofeh Park with values of 51.63, 0.99, 2267, 1.46, 0.89 and 0.82, respectively and the lowest values of the these indices were also calculated for Mahmoud-Abad (16.56 and - 0.49), Isargaran (1787) and Bagh-Ghadir (0.05, 0.67 and 0.41) Parks. Among the indices, the most significant difference was calculated for the two indices of ADI and NDSI and between the Sofeh and Mahmoud-Abad Parks, indicating the effect of factors such as edge effect and birds diversity on these indices. Based on the results, it can be concluded that NDSI and BI indices are suitable tools for evaluating ecosystem quality and can be used in green space management and urban biodiversity assessment.

Human-wildlife conflict is on the rise due to human occupation of wildlife habitats and declining wild prey. In this study, we assessed factors influencing the presence of the Indian grey mongoose (IGM), as a species compatible with the human environment and in conflict with humans, and factors affecting poultry depredation by IGM in a residential area of 73 ha in Mollasani city, Khuzestan Province. Social network analysis and Naïve Bayes classification were used along with completion and analysis of 150 questionnaires. The results showed that 42.7% of the interviewees had experienced IGM predatory attacks on poultry during 2010-2019. Results of the social network analysis showed that the interviewees perceived depletion of wild prey in adjacent habitats and presence of anthropogenic food waste in the study area as main factors influencing the presence of the IGM, leading to conflict with the residents. Results of the Naïve Bayes classification revealed that protection of poultry in suitable enclosures and management of human waste will decrease poultry depredation by the IGM. Adopting approaches to reduce conflict with humans, while promoting the species’ role in controlling snake and rodent populations, can increase local acceptance of this carnivore.

Global warming has been largely driven by increasing atmospheric GHG (Green House Gasses), particularly carbon dioxide caused by fossil fuels burning. The current trend can not be stopped except by reducing fossil fuel consumption or storing organic carbon in soil or earthchr('39')s biological systems such as forests, rangelands and agricultural systems. This study was conducted to determine the effect of slope position as well as land use effect on organic carbon storage and nitrogen content in a mountainous area in the middle of Zagros chain mountain ranges in Kermanshah. The results showed that slope position has significant effect on aboveground biomass, SOC (Soil Organic Carbon) and Soil Nitrogen Content (SNC). Comparison of different rangeland slopes showed that the lowest slope position (20-30%) had the highest amount of SOC, SNC and aboveground biomass. The presence of scattered trees in the shoulder position added significant amount of soil organic carbon and total nitrogen content to the soil beneath the trees, resulting from the input of tree litter and positive effect of trees canopy on herbaceous layer. Comparison of natural rangeland in all slope positions and adjacent cropland showed higher amount of SOC and SNC in grasslands. Comparison of croplands and adjacent rangelands with the same slope shows a significant increase in organic carbon content (P>0.05) and soil nitrogen percentage in the rangelands. This situation is also seen in other rangeland slope classes.

Benthic macroinvertebrate-based indices are suitable tools for assessment of stream health and human impacts on its biological integrity. Since Ghale Rudkhan River is an attractive tourist destination and its surrounding population is growing, its water quality was examined usning biological indicators. Macroinvertebrate samples were taken monthly by a Surber sampler (mesh = 300 µ and area = 900 cm2) at five stations from May to December 2017. Samples were preserved in ethanol 96% and transported to laboratory for analysis. Total abundance, EPT index, EPT richness and percentage,EPT/CHIR ratios were determined. In total 5134 macroinvertebrates that belong to 35 genera, 30 families, 10 orders, 4 classes and 3 phyla were identified. The highest EPT richness was observed at the station no. 4 in May (607 ind.m-1) and the lowest was at the station no. 5 in October (7 ind.m-1). The presence of pollution sensitive species such as Epeorus sp. Rithrogena sp., Rhyacophila sp., Isopela sp., Gomphus sp., Cordulegaster sp., Coenagrion sp., Oligoneuriella sp., Heptagenia sp., Philorus sp. in Ghale Rudkhan River indicated the optimal quality of the river water.

Conflicts over natural resources increase due to a lack or limitation of natural resources and an increasing demand for growing populations. The current research aimed to investigate the conflict management between people and natural resources organizations. A list of local beneficiaries was obtained from Office of Natural Resources and Watershed Management of Kalatnader County, Khorasan-Razavi Province, Iran. The beneficiaries were surveyed through the in-person interview as well as a researcher-made questionnaire. Data were analyzed and modeled by SPSS and Amos softwares. The results indicated that 52% of the respondents had a positive attitude towards natural resources, but 36% were in conflict with the Office, 41% with other institutions, and 43% with other ranchers. Sixty seven percent of participants believed that collaboration with other ranchers could be a solution for the conflict. The most important influencing variables were social trust and violence, which could explain the dependent variable up to 71%. As a result, a conflict resolution approach and advancing negotiation techniques are needed to resolve disputes. Furthermore, the preparation of comprehensive cadastral maps, detailed investigation of conflicting issues, and continuous updating of the investigation process lead to a reduction of land conflicts.