Abstract
Degraded areas constitute challenging tasks with respect to sustainable management of natural resources. Maintaining or even establishing certain successional stages seems to be particularly important. This paper presents a model of the succession in five different types of degraded areas in Poland based on changes in the carabid fauna. Mean Individual Biomass of Carabidae (MIB) was used as a numerical measure for the stage of succession. The run of succession differed clearly among the different types of degraded areas. Initial conditions (origin of soil and origin of vegetation) and landscape related aspects seem to be important with respect to these differences. As characteristic phases, a ‘delay phase’, an ‘increase phase’ and a ‘stagnation phase’ were identified. In general, the runs of succession could be described by four different parameters: (1) ‘Initial degradation level’, (2) ‘delay’, (3) ‘increase rate’ and (4) ‘recovery level’. Applying the analytic solution of the logistic equation, characteristic values for the parameters were identified for each of the five area types. The model is of practical use, because it provides a possibility to compare the values of the parameters elaborated in different areas, to give hints for intervention and to provide prognoses about future succession in the areas. Furthermore, it is possible to transfer the model to other indicators of succession.
Highlights
Cachar District: The Cachar District is located in the Southern part o f Assam
Huge paddy cultivation is practiced in the adjacent area and a number o f pesticides like Malathion, Endosulfan, DDT etc. are used to combat the pest population there
Interaction with farmers revealed that different pesticide combination, sometimes in excess o f recommended doses are applied in the paddy fields and in the nearby Ainakhal Tea-garden area These are washed away by rainfall in the beel area during rainy season and get deposited in the bottom soil of the beel
Summary
These water bodies are located amidst agricultural cultivation fields in the west of Silchar town in Cachar District (Fig. 1.1 d). Extensive paddy cultivation is done here throughout the year and a number o f pesticide combinations like ,Malathion, DDT, are used here. During rainy season and during flood these paddy fields get inundated along the two sides o f the Chenkuri Road. During the winter season, when water level goes down, from different parts o f the dry paddy fields huge numbers o f ulcerated EUS-affected fishes with heavy ulceration are collected. The fish species include, Channel sp, Anabas, Puntius, Mystus, etc. The fish species include, Channel sp, Anabas, Puntius, Mystus, etc. (Fig 1.2)
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