Trace Metals in Fish and Crustaceans - Identifying Heavier Polluted Areas in the Ghanaian Continental Shelf

Abstract

The concentrations of four trace metals, namely copper, lead, cadmium and manganese, were determined in six fish species and three crustaceans collected from five sites spanning over 70% of the Ghanaian coastline.

Copper and lead were determined in Barracuda (Spraena spraena), the Ribbon fish (Trichiurus lepturus), the Sardine (Sardinella spp), the Sole (Cynoflossus senegalensis), the Sea Bream (Pagrus coupei) and the Soldier fish (Cynapastas marmuratus). Cadmium and manganese were analyzed in the Blue Crab (Callinectes sepidus), the Spiny lobster (Panilirus regius) and the edible shrimp (Crago septempinosus). Sampling sites included Takoradi, Elmina, Cape Coast, Accra and Tema.

Lead and copper in the fishes ranged 0.25-0.94 μgg^?1 fresh weight and 0.40-2.54 μgg^?1 dry weight (FW) respectively whilst cadmium and manganese in the crustaceans ranged 0.05-0.083 μgg^?1 FW and 0.554-1.404 μgg^?1 FW respectively.

The Barracuda accumulated the greatest amount of metals whilst the sardine accumulated the least. with the crustaceans, there was a significant difference between the amounts of the metals accumulated. the blue crab accumulated the greatest and the edible shrimp the least.

The analysis showed that: (i) there was a positive correlation between the metals bioconcentrated and the extent of pollution of the marine waters and (ii) along the Ghanaian Continental Shelf, the extent of pollution was of the increasing order as: Elmina = Cape Coast < Takoradi < Accra < Tema. Pollution of the marine waters could be minimized by control of flow of pollutants from land based activities.     

Lead-210 and Beryllium-7 in the Aerosol Particles Around Taiwan Off-Shore Areas

Abstract

Distributions of ²¹⁰Pb and ⁷Be in the aerosol particles of different size fractions were measured around Taiwan offshore areas from October, 1994 to October, 1995. the size distribution and abundance of the aerosol particles showed both spatial and temporal variations. the particle concentrations off northwestern Taiwan were more than twice as those off northeastern Taiwan both in November and March, and the values were much higher in November than in March for both areas. the measured particle concentrations, except for one sample with an unusually high value, ranged from 10 to 83 μOgm ^?3 in the study areas. the ²¹⁰Pb concentrations in the aerosol particles filtered from the air mass varied between 20 × 10^?3 and 72 × 10^?3 dpm m^?3 (1dpm = 0.45 pCi). the ²¹⁰Pb concentrations in the area off southwestern Taiwan appeared somewhat higher than in other areas and were probably contributed by the land air from Taiwan which contains higher ²¹⁰Pb in winter. the ²¹⁰Pb concentrations off northern Taiwan were low in November when the aerosol concentrations were high, but they were high in March when the aerosol concentrations were low.

Based on the ⁷Be monitoring records of 20 years on the aerosol particles of the island by the Taiwan Radiation Monitoring Center, the mean settling rate averaged 0.91, 0.79 and 0.68 cm s^?1, respectively, in northern, central and southern Taiwan. with these values and the ²¹⁰Pb concentrations in the aerosols, the ²¹⁰Pb flux was determined to be between 0.58 and 2.30 dpm cm^?2y^?1, with an average of 1.19 dpm cm^?2y^?1. Excluding the highest value due to its extremely high ²¹⁰Pb and aerosol concentrations, the average is reduced to 1.05 dpm cm^?2y^?1. the activity median diameters (AMD) for ²¹⁰Pb in the study areas were between 0.69 and < 0.49 μM with a mean of 0.5 öm based on ²¹⁰Pb distributions in different particle size fractions. Thus, ²¹⁰Pb was preferentially adsorbed on to the submicron particles. ⁷Be in the study areas showed a good correlation with ²¹⁰Pb in total activity although the two nucides had different sources.     

Linking parks and people: Nepal's experience in resolving conflicts in parks and protected areas

SUMMARY

The search for innovative methods for improving relations between parks and people has led to various conservation and development projects around the world. Nepal's almost three decades of experience in park management in a variety of institutional settings offers valuable lessons in the challenges and opportunities for enlisting local support for conservation. Citing several macro and micro-level case studies from around the country, this paper provides a comparative perspective on the significance of tourism-focused conservation and community development activities in resolving conflicts between parks and local people.     

Are indigenous forest reserves sustainable? An analysis of present and future land-use trends in Bosawas,Nicaragua

SUMMARY

In recent years, indigenous tenure over forest lands has emerged as a means to conserve forests while recognizing indigenous rights. There is concern, however, that indigenous reserves may not be an appropriate policy tool for sustained forest conservation. Our research examined how recognition of indigenous common-property rights has controlled agricultural expansion and conserved forests in Bosawas Biosphere Reserve, Nicaragua. We used satellite imagery with empirical data gathered in the field on land-use institutions, population pressures, and land-use practices to compare whether indigenous communities under territorial management or public management are better able to (1) control the ‘fast threat’ of frontier expansion and (2) address the long-term ecological threats posed by indigenous land-use practices and institutional changes in the region. Our findings are that indigenous residents who share common-property rights over their territories are better able to control agricultural expansion than are indigenous residents living on public lands. With respect to the long-term threats to the region, a series of simulations of possible land-use pressures demonstrate that the enforcement of territorial boundaries and further development of indigenous forest management rules will prove crucial in determining land-use capacity and deforestation over the next 50 years.     

Analysis of household energy consumption and related CO2 emissions in the disregarded villages of Lijiang City,China

Energy is one of the most important elements required for poverty alleviation and socioeconomic development, and it has a particularly strong impact on households in rural areas. An extensive survey on household energy consumption patterns that interrelates socioeconomic and demographic factors was conducted in the disregarded villages of Lijiang City by using the stratified random sampling technique for 120 households. This study focuses on household energy consumption and the related carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions in the study area. Firewood, biogas, and electricity were identified as the main energy sources of the rural households. This study demonstrates that 100% of the households use firewood, 52% use biogas, and 95% use electricity as fuel types. On average, each household consumed 1752 kg of firewood, 280 m³ of biogas, and 392 kWh of electricity annually. All households generated an annual average amount of CO₂ emissions of 3851 kg, of which 85.08% come from firewood, 7.66% from biogas, and 7.26% from electricity. Family size, income, and educational level were found to be the major factors that influence CO₂ emissions. The results of this study may be useful in explaining the energy consumption characteristics in the rural areas of Lijiang City and are expected to be useful in policy formulation for energy consumption and environmental protection.     

Correlates of bushmeat hunting among remote rural households in Gabon, Central Africa

Hunted wild animals (i.e., bushmeat) are a main source of protein for many rural populations in the tropics, and the unsustainable harvest of these animals puts both human food security and ecosystem functioning at risk. To understand the correlates of bushmeat consumption, we surveyed 1219 households in 121 rural villages near three newly established national parks in Gabon. Through the surveys we gathered information on bushmeat consumption, income, and material assests. In addition, we quantified land cover in a 5-km radius around the village center and distance of the village center to the nearest park boundary. Bushmeat was not a source of income for most households, but it was the primary animal protein consumed. Ninety-seven percent of households consumed bushmeat at least once during a survey period of 12 days. Income or wealth, land cover, distance of village to the nearest park boundary, and level of education of the head of the household were among the factors that significantly related to the likelihood of consuming any of the 10 most commonly consumed species of bushmeat. Household size was the predictor most strongly associated with quantities of bushmeat consumed and was negatively related to consumption. Total bushmeat consumption per adult male equivalent increased as household wealth increased and decreased as distance of villages to park boundaries increased. Bushmeat consumption at the household level was not related to unit values (i.e., price estimates for a good that typically does not have a market value; estimates derived from willingness to sell or trade the good for items of known price) of bushmeat or the price of chicken and fish as potential substitutes. The median consumption of bushmeat at the village level, however, was negatively related to village mean unit values of bushmeat across all species. Our results suggest that a lack of alternative protein sources motivated even the wealthiest among surveyed households to consume bushmeat. Providing affordable, alternative protein sources to all households would likely reduce unsustainable levels of bushmeat consumption in rural Gabon.     

旱区经营人工植被对土壤干化过程的调控

人工植被在北方旱区具有重要的意义,但在干旱少雨的条件下开展建设,必须讲求水分平衡。基于此,作者通过考察长期的经营实践,从土壤水分角度讨论人工植被与环境之间的耦合匹配问题。阐述了普遍发生的人工植被作用下的土壤干化对植被自身的不利影响以及其可调控性,并进一步对调控途径和措施进行了分析。表明人为采取措施可以将土壤干化现象加以调节和控制,如局部带状或团块状种植、疏伐、轮作、休闲、灌溉等。在贯彻适地适种原则的基础上,还需选择耗水量少的抗旱节水植物和可维持土壤水库水平的密度或盖度,这是保证人工植被稳定持久值得重视的又一重要方面。预防土壤干化是首要的,需多途径相互结合进行调控。对土壤干化过程的调控实际上就是有效经营人工植被。需要结合经营目标评定人工植被的稳定性。     

长江流域重要保护物种分布格局与优先区评价

开展大尺度重要物种的保护优先区研究对于提高生物多样性保护效率十分重要. 选取1 020个物种(包括植物568种、哺乳动物142种、鸟类168种、两栖动物57种、爬行动物85种)为长江流域重要保护物种. 在分析重要保护物种类群分布格局的基础上,利用系统保护规划与专家参与的方法,提出了长江流域物种保护的27个保护优先区.保护优先区总面积占流域面积的41.8%,涵盖了重要保护物种973种,占全部重要保护物种数目的95.4%.建议以保护优先区为基本单元,开展有关生物多样性保护研究及保护区群的建设.      

江苏生物多样性保护的重点领域和政策创新

分析了江苏生物多样性保护现状,解读了省委办公厅、省政府办公厅《关于进一步加强生物多样性保护的实施意见》,主要涵盖完善政策法规、优化空间格局、提升系统稳定性、构建监测评估体系、提升安全管理水平、创新开发利用机制、严格执法监督评估、推动公众参与等8大工作任务,加强生态岛试验区、生态安全缓冲区等10大领域政策创新,整体提升全省生态系统质量。     

The conservationists’ concerns: on national administration response to integrated use and protection planning

This paper examines the Norwegian national authorities’ responses to combined use and protection planning for huge protected areas and their buffer zone in northern Norway. The processes were chaired by county delegates and included a wide range of stakeholders. In-depth semi-structured interviews, participatory observation and document analyses have been conducted to investigate the potential of these processes and response from national environmental authorities. The paper suggests that national environmental authorities partly ignored the potential strengths associated with combined use and protection plans and over-emphasised the potential environmental threats stemming from local management. Moreover, these trade-offs seemed to be guided on a rather vague scientific basis. In conclusion, the paper argues that central environmental administration needs to (i) engage actively in participatory processes, (ii) present clear rationales, if rejecting local initiatives, (iii) acknowledge the potential for man–nature relationships as beneficial for environmental assets, and (iv) relate interpretation of law to integrative policies.