Comparing the Use of Indigenous Knowledge with Classification and Ordination Techniques for Assessing the Species Composition and Structure of Vegetation in a Tropical Forest

dentification of groups that are similar in their floristic composition and structure (habitat types) is essential for conservation and forest managers to allocate high priority areas and to designate areas for reserves, refuges, and other protected areas. In this study, the use of indigenous knowledge for the identification of habitat types in the field was compared against an ecological characterization of habitat types, including their species composition obtained by using classification and ordination techniques for a tropical landscape mosaic in a rural Mayan area of Quintana Roo, Mexico. Plant diversity data calculated from 141 sampled sites chosen randomly on a vegetation class’s thematic map obtained by multispectral satellite image classification were used for this propose. Results indicated high similarity in the categorization of vegetation types between the Mayan classification and those obtained by cluster and detrended correspondence analysis. This suggests that indigenous knowledge has a practical use and can be comparable to that obtained by using science-based methods. Finally, identification and mapping of vegetation classes (habitat types) using satellite image classification allowed us to discriminate significantly different species compositions, in such a way that they can provide a useful mechanism for interpolating diversity values over the entire landscape.     

Applying the dark diversity concept to nature conservation

Linking diversity to biological processes is central for developing informed and effective conservation decisions. Unfortunately, observable patterns provide only a proportion of the information necessary for fully understanding the mechanisms and processes acting on a particular population or community. We suggest conservation managers use the often overlooked information relative to species absences and pay particular attention to dark diversity (i.e., a set of species that are absent from a site but that could disperse to and establish there, in other words, the absent portion of a habitat‐specific species pool). Together with existing ecological metrics, concepts, and conservation tools, dark diversity can be used to complement and further develop conservation prioritization and management decisions through an understanding of biodiversity relativized by its potential (i.e., its species pool). Furthermore, through a detailed understanding of the population, community, and functional dark diversity, the restoration potential of degraded habitats can be more rigorously assessed and so to the likelihood of successful species invasions. We suggest the application of the dark diversity concept is currently an underappreciated source of information that is valuable for conservation applications ranging from macroscale conservation prioritization to more locally scaled restoration ecology and the management of invasive species.     

Investigating the relationship between lead speciation and bioaccessibility of mining impacted soils and dusts

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Lead (Pb) bioaccessibility measurements have been the subject of much research in recent years, given the desire to develop a cost-effective and...     

Equilibrium,kinetic, and quantum chemical studies on the adsorption of Congo red using Imperata cylindrica leaf powder activated carbon

Leaf powder of spear grass, otherwise known as Imperata cylindrica (IC), was used to prepare activated carbon. The Imperata cylindrica activated carbon (ICAC) prepared was used for the removal of Congo red (CR) dye from aqueous solution. Operation parameters such as initial dye concentration, contact time, adsorbent dosage, pH, and temperature were studied in batch systems. Equilibrium was attained in 150 and 180?min at lowest and highest concentrations, respectively. Maximum adsorption was observed at pH 3. Quantum chemical studies suggested that the protonation of aniline groups and minimal molecular size at planar geometry coupled with electrostatic interaction enhances the adsorption at low pH. Adsorption data were tested using pseudo-first-order and second-order reaction kinetics; the latter was found to be more suitable with a coefficient of determination of ≥0.99. The adsorption process fits Langmuir isotherm model better than the Freundlich model, with a maximum monolayer coverage of 313?mgg^?1. This study shows that ICAC is effective in removing CR dye from aqueous solutions.     

Heterogeneous dynamic impacts of nonrenewable energy,resource rents,technology, human capital,and population on environmental quality in Sub-Saharan African countries

Environment, Development and Sustainability - This study examines the dynamic disaggregated impacts of nonrenewable, resource rents, technology, human capital, and population on environmental...     

Convergence analysis of ammonia emissions by sector and fuel source in OECD countries from 1750 to 2019 using a new Fourier-centric wavelet approach

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Although ammonia emissions are not as huge as carbon and methane emissions, they pose significant threats to ensuring environmental sustainability and...