Alluvial Areas Research Articles

Hydrochemical processes and inorganic nitrogen sources of shallow groundwater in the Sanjiang Plain, northeast China.

This study investigates the chemical characteristics, formation, and sources of inorganic nitrogen (IN) of shallow groundwater across the Sanjiang Plain, aiming to enhance drinking water safety management and pollution control. A total of 167 groundwater and 27 surface water samples were collected for constituents and isotopes (H2 and O18). The hydrogeochemical characteristics showed that the major type is HCO3- Ca·Mg, with low total dissolved solids and a neutral to weak alkaline nature. Rock weathering processes govern the hydrochemical composition of groundwater. Hydrogen and oxygen stable isotopes analyses revealed that precipitation serves as the main water source. In alluvial areas, oxidative conditions lead to the enrichment of NO3-N concentrations, with sewage, manure, and fertilizers being the primary IN sources. In lacustrine areas, intensive rice cultivation results in reductive conditions and strong denitrification processes, causing the loss of NO3-N and leaving NH4-N as the dominant IN form. Organic matter mineralization is likely a more significant contributor to NH4-N concentrations than ammonium fertilizers. These findings provide valuable information for further research on natural sources and groundwater pollution in areas with similar hydrogeological conditions. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Rock weathering processes govern the hydrochemical composition of groundwater, and precipitation serves as the main water source. In alluvial areas, oxidative conditions lead to the enrichment of NO3-N. In lacustrine areas, intensive rice cultivation results in reductive conditions and strong denitrification processes. Organic matter mineralization is likely a more significant contributor to NH4-N concentrations than ammonium fertilizers. These findings provide references for water management and information for further research on natural sources and groundwater pollution in areas with similar hydrogeological conditions.

Hear Wave Velocity Analysis Based on Two Rock Layers Modeling Using Microtremor Data of Gresik and Surrounding Areas

The lithology on the surface in the current condition is often found to be not a fresh rocks, but all materials, be it alluvial, soil, backfill soil, or rocks with a very high degree of weathering. Therefore, this study was conducted to estimate the type of layer on the surface and its underlying layer based on the analysis of Vs (shear wave velocity) values in the surface lithological media and the underlying layer through the modeling of two rock layers. To complete this research, microtremor array data was collected by the Geological Survey Center in the Gresik area which was then processed using the SPAC (Spatial Autocorrelation) method. Based on the results of the study, the Gresik area has a surface Vs value that still shows soft soil values in the range of 65 - 170 m/s and its basement Vs already shows fresh rocks to older lithologies in the alluvial area in the range of 150 - 435 m/s, so it can be seen that some areas that should consist of a fairly hard lithology in the Gresik area have changed with a fairly high level of weathering.

The Influence of Modern Alluvial Areas on Sea Level Changes in The Neva Bay During Storm Surges in The Conditions of Operation of The Saint Petersburg Flood Prevention Faculty Complex

Using numerical experiments with a three-dimensional baroclinic hydrodynamic model of the Baltic Sea, which covers the refined grid area around the Neva Delta and Neva Bay, and takes into account the operations of the Saint Petersburg Flood Prevention Facility Complex (FPFC), we investigate the influence of modern alluvial areas on sea level changes in the Neva Bay and Neva Delta during storm surges, under different volumes of Neva River discharge. The hydrological conditions that developed in early December 2015, when Storm Desmond approached St. Petersburg, which caused three dangerous level rises in the east of the Gulf of Finland, one after the other. The alluvial deposits of territories do not have noticeable changes in the sea level of the Neva Bay with the gates of the FPFC closed during storm surges. It is shown that, depending on the runoff of the Neva, with the gates of the FPFC closed, additional sea level rises in the Neva Bay due to alluviation do not exceed 1–5 cm, while in the Neva Delta they reach 20.5 cm. The rise of the sea level to 161 cm at the Mining University, at which floods are recorded in St. Petersburg, occurs due to alluviation 1–2 hours earlier. At the maximum volume of Neva runoff for the autumn-winter period, 27 hours after the closure of the gates of the FPFC, a dangerous flood is recorded in the Neva Bay near the Mining University point, and 48 hours later — a particularly dangerous one.

Ecological and Health Risk Assessment of Nitrates and Heavy Metals in the Groundwater of the Alluvial Area of the Danube River near Kostolac Basin, Serbia

Water-quality indicators and trace elements were measured in the alluvial area of the Kostolac Basin, Serbia. The results revealed that the groundwater was naturally neutral, with a mean conductance of 920.10 μs/cm. The primary factors contributing to the decline in the groundwater quality in the researched area were electrical conductivity (EC), NO3−, SO42−, Cd, and Pb; the water samples were deemed unfit for human consumption and the water was classified as having impaired quality. A Pearson correlation matrix, a principal component analysis (PCA), and a cluster analysis (CA) were applied to identify the pollution source and factors controlling the groundwater quality and the results indicated that both natural and anthropogenic factors influenced the groundwater of the studied area. The Nemerow pollution index indicated medium to high pollution levels along with the degree of contamination. A health risk evaluation was conducted to determine the non-carcinogenic risks posed by nitrates and heavy metals from oral consumption and skin contact in the researched area. Nearly all monitoring sites had hazard quotients (HQs) below 1, suggesting that potential concerns might be negligible. However, children showed the highest exposure levels, with HQs for nitrates at 2.26 and for lead (Pb) at 2.515. No carcinogenic risk from oral lead (Pb) exposure was found in any sample.

Delineation of groundwater potential zones in coastal alluvial region using remote sensing, geographic information system and analytical hierarchy process techniques

Delineation of groundwater potential zone in coastal region is a challenging task. One of the reasons for that is lack of understanding of the geogenic factors in the coastal alluvial areas such as geomorphology, lithology etc. These factors can influence the locations of the groundwater potential zones over the coastal alluvial terrains. The present study is an attempt to analyse the multiple factors to delineate groundwater potential zones in the coastal region of Contai Sub-division, West Bengal, India. In this study, remote sensing, geographic information system (GIS) and multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) techniques have been utilized to delineate the groundwater potential zones. Weights were assigned to the parameters using the analytical hierarchical process (AHP) and different classes within each parameter have been ranked on the basis of their relative importance regarding groundwater potentiality. The results of the study were validated by water yield data, water level fluctuation data and geophysical survey. The outcome of validation reveals that a strong correlation (80%) exists between water yield data and groundwater potential zones. Similarly, a good relation occurs for the water level fluctuation data and groundwater potential zones, where the overall accuracy and kappa coefficients are 84.2% and 0.76 respectively. The output of the study reveals that geomorphologically older deltaic plain, older alluvial plain and older coastal plain are good indicators of high groundwater potential regions. Furthermore, the outcome of the study also unveils that lithologically the well sorted medium grained sand is important feature to delineate high groundwater potential regions in coastal alluvial areas. The findings, thus, could establish that present methodology using GIS and AHP techniques has a better potential to identify and map the groundwater potential zones more realistically and can be applied for future planning of groundwater resource management and groundwater exploration in wider coastal alluvial terrain.

Evolution of riverbed morphology in a main‐stem river due to management of sediment source areas

AbstractThe evolution of riverbeds is greatly impacted by changes in the water–sediment relationship resulting from the movement of debris flows. However, little is known about the influence of management in chronic sediment source areas on the evolution of main‐stem riverbed morphology. In this study, we used multi‐source remote sensing images covering the past 50 years along with water–sediment and topographic data from a river basin, and sediment transport data from debris flows, to analyze the evolutionary processes of the middle and lower reaches of the Daying River (DYR) at the China‐Myanmar border. Our results showed that (1) management of the sediment source area shifted the riverbed morphology from aggradation to erosion, transforming the river surface from wide and shallow to narrow and deep, and the channel from multi‐threaded to single‐threaded; (2) the active alluvial area, marginal bar area, and average river width exhibited an inverted V‐shaped trend, increasing by at least 23% and then decreasing by more than 59%; and (3) the evolution of riverbed morphology contributed to the stability of downstream riverbeds, improved flood control, and enhanced utilization of the floodplains.

التنوع البيولوجي وتنوع الكائنات الحية الدقيقة لنباتات الدوكو المتوطنة في موقع النمو الرئيسي الرطب والجاف في جامبي ، إندونيسيا

دوكو Duku نباتات متوطنة في مقاطعة جامبي بإندونيسيا. كانت تنتشر وتنمو جيدًا في الطمي على طول ضفاف الأنهار ، لكنها عانت مؤخرًا من تفشي مرض الموت المفاجئ على مدار العقود الماضية. كان هذا الوضع سائدًا منذ الفيضانات المتكررة بسبب استنفاد مناطق الغابات في أعلى المنبع. بما أن السبب هو العفن المائي Phytophthora palmivora ، فقد كان من المفترض أن يحدث مرض الموت المفاجئ في المناطق الرطبة فقط ، ولكن في الواقع ، ينتشر المرض في المناطق الجافة أيضًا. هذه الحقيقة قادتنا للبحث عن عوامل بيولوجية أخرى في التربة بالمحيط الجذري للنباتات في الموائل الرطبة والجافة. أخذت العينات من المحيط الجذري لنباتات دوكو المريضة والصحية في العديد من المناطق الرسوبية لنهر باتانغ هاري التي تمثل الموائل الرطبة والجافة. أشارت الى أن المجتمع الميكروبي في التربة في الموائل الجافة والرطبة هي مجتمعات مايكورايزا (mycorrhiza) والبكتيريا والفطريات. أظهرت الوفرة النسبية للميكروبات في الموائل الجافة والرطبة في النباتات الصحية والمريضة أنواع متنوعة. ففي النباتات الرطبة للصحة ، كانت الوفرة النسبية كالآتي: 33.33 ٪ ٍSclerocytis، و Gigaspora 33.34 ٪ ، و Glomus 33.33 ٪. في النباتات المصابة بالموائل الرطبة ، كانت الوفرة النسبية للمايكورايزا: 66.67 ٪ ٍSclerocytis ، Glomus 33.33 ٪ ، وغياب Gigaspora. تم العثور على مجموعة البكتيريا لتكون الأكبر عند 70،49 ٪ في الموائل الجافة و 72.13 ٪ في الموائل الرطبة. أماالمجموعة الفطرية فكانت 14،08 ٪ في الموائل الجافة و 16.39 ٪ في الموائل الرطبة. أظهرت المايكورايزا أصغر نسبة في جذور نباتات Duku. أظهرت النتائج وجود ارتباط سلبي لل VAM مع النيتروجين ، و والفسفور في المحيط الجذري. أما وجود Glomus sp كان ارتباطه ايجابيا مع بوتاسيوم التربة.

Analysis of the distribution and abundance of two species of cat’s claw (Uncaria sp.) based on the knowledge of Tikuna indigenous communities in the southern Colombian Amazon

Uncaria guianensis (Aublet) J.F. Gmel and U. tomentosa (Willd. ex Roemer & Schultes) D.C., commonly known as cat’s claw, are species with medicinal and commercial value in the Amazon region. Given the intensive extraction of forest resources for commercialization in the region, the distribution and abundance of these species there should be determined. So far, the environmental and edaphic conditions influencing Uncaria tomentosa growth and density are better known than those of U. guianensis. Besides, cat’s claw species distribution in the Colombian Amazon has not been sufficiently studied. In this context, the present study was conducted in two indigenous Tikuna communities together with local experts to make the botanical identification of the two Uncaria species. Visits were made to register the landscapes and soils where these plants grow. We found that U. guianensis has a higher distribution and abundance in the southern Colombian Amazon than U. tomentosa. Both species grow in flooded alluvial areas with Entisol-type soils and dryland Oxisol-type soils. U. tomentosa grows especially in primary and secondary forest Oxisol soils on drylands. Our findings suggest that none of these two species have a homogeneous distribution in the region, which explains why their use varies from one area to the other.

Assessment of Under Ground Water Resources through RS and GIS Techniques

Water resource management is of utmost importance due to climate change and increased water demand. With 98% of the world’s freshwater being ground water, monitoring its distribution is crucial. These modern-day tools aid in assessing changing land use patterns, mapping water resources, and analyzing hydrogeological data. This paper explores the role of RS and GIS applications in exploring and assessing groundwater resources, estimating natural recharge distribution, analyzing hydrogeological data, and monitoring processes. The study area is situated in the Jodhpur district of Rajasthan, India, characterized by a dry region with sand dunes, alluvial areas, and scattered hillocks. To analyze groundwater potential zones, various spatial datasets such as rainfall, land use, land cover, soil type, and slope were prepared using topographic maps and satellite imagery through integrated RS and GIS techniques. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) integrated with ArcGIS software was used to estimate run off and groundwater recharge through water balance ratios. The research findings demonstrate that GIS and RS layers were analyzed, including factors such as watershed, land use, slope, soil type, temperature, solar radiation, and rainfall data. The water balance ratio was found to be a driving force impacting soil erosion, plant growth, and sediment movement. Overall, this study highlights the effectiveness of RS and GIS techniques for assessing groundwater recharge. The results obtained through these tools provide valuable insights for decision-makers in managing water resources and understanding the potential impacts of human activities on groundwater quality.

Holocene transformation of natural steppe into an agricultural landscape in the Polabí and Pojizeří Lowlands, Czech Republic, based on mollusc evidence

Recent zonal steppes of Eastern Europe and South-West Asia have their origin in the glacial steppe with its specific continental climate. The westernmost edge of the steppe belt in Central Europe has been climatically shifted from a continental course during the Last Glacial to a rather oceanic one during the Holocene. Steppe enclaves could survive only locally in the driest parts of this area, but as we have confirmed, early arrival of Neolithic agriculture played a significant role in their preservation as well. While pollen analyses can provide the main pattern of landscape development, mollusc successions provide more information about landscape details we need for a better understanding of a steppe transformation towards the recent agricultural ecosystems. Based on the study of 18 mollusc successions in two neighbouring lowlands in the chernozems and alluvial areas of Central and North Bohemia, we described a postglacial development of these two climatically different agricultural landscapes. Based on mollusc evidence, we illustrated the impoverishment of forest communities and the continual occurrence of open habitats throughout the forest climatic optimum of the Holocene. Since the Neolithic colonisation, several erosion events were observed in many profiles documented by a lack of preserved fossil molluscs and layer redeposition which are in excellent agreement with the reconstruction of the fluvial sedimentation and vegetation in the Elbe River floodplain and with the continual settlement of this area. Because we have evidence of a fully developed forest fauna in the Eem interglacial from the Polabí lowland we know that the impoverishment of forest communities and the occurrence of open habitats during the interglacial forest climatic optimum is characteristic only of the Holocene.

The Influence of Geological Conditions in the Hangzhou Bay Area on the Deformation Behavior of Deep Excavations

The deformation behavior of deep excavations is affected by many factors, among which the geological conditions are greatly affected. Hangzhou Bay is affected by marine siltation and river alluvium, and the geological conditions within the urban area of Hangzhou are quite different. In this paper, the geological and deformation data of 79 deep excavation cases in the Hangzhou urban area were collected, and the statistical analysis showed that the deformation control of excavations in the silt area was poor. The average maximum lateral wall displacement of deep excavations of the Hangzhou urban area was 0.41%H (H was the depth of the excavation), the average value of the alluvial area was 0.22%H, and the average value of the silted area was 0.55%H. The influence of geological conditions, wall type, and construction period on the deformation of excavations was compared, and the deformation behavior of excavations in the silted area was clearly affected by various factors.

Spatial Distribution and Driving Mechanisms of Rural Settlements in the Shiyang River Basin, Western China

In the context of the rural revitalization strategy, an accurate grasp of the spatial differentiation characteristics and influencing factors of rural settlements in underdeveloped arid inland river basins is urgently required. Taking the Shiyang River Basin as an example, rural settlements from 2000 to 2019 were examined via visual interpretation using satellite remote sensing data and official statistical data. Following the logic of “state characteristics—evolutionary patterns—influence factors—layout optimization”, the average nearest index, the gravity-center migration model, spatial statistical analysis, and other methods were used in combination with GIS. The spatiotemporal pattern evolution characteristics of rural settlements in the past 20 years were analyzed. The results revealed the following: (1) The distribution pattern of rural settlements in the study area is sheet-like and strip-shaped. The projects in the southeast are mostly distributed in a patchy pattern with high density, while the characteristics in the west and north are exactly opposite. The objects in the south are distributed in an alluvial area of rivers, while settlements in the north are located in an oasis area. (2) From 2000 to 2019, the scale of rural settlements in the Shiyang River Basin, where there is a simultaneous occurrence of newly-built and disappearing phenomena, shows an expansion trend that first increased quickly and then slowed down. Spatially, rural settlements in the basin show a clustering trend toward the southwest. (3) The distribution characteristics of rural settlements are close to water and roads, and they are greatly influenced by urban–rural integration and ecological migration. The results will provide a scientific basis for accelerating the modernization of rural areas and the construction of new rural areas according to local conditions.

Transport Dynamics of Large Wood in a Stream Channel Affected by Spur Dikes

AbstractThe damage to river engineering structures induced by large‐wood (LW) jams is one of the significant problems in river management. For example, typical bridge damage in alluvial areas in Japan, such as wash away, is often caused by the accumulation of large wood materials. The densely transported large wood pieces are an important factor in the accumulation process. We investigated the influence of local flows generated by hydraulic structures on the initial stage of the concentration of large wood pieces. First, we experimentally investigated the flow structures generated by spur dikes in a 0.6 m wide channel and the trajectory of large wood pieces. Then, we numerically investigated the influence of external force on the transport mechanisms of large wood pieces. We employed a simplified Basset‐Boussinesq‐Oseen model to evaluate each term of the momentum equation of the particles and calculated the trajectories of the wood pieces previously observed experimentally. The results showed that the transported large wood pieces were concentrated in low‐vorticity regions of the water surface. This tendency was more prevalent in short pieces (10 mm) than in long pieces (40 mm) because the influence of the relatively small‐scale patterns of the pressure gradient of the surrounding water surface might be spatially averaged for long pieces. This tendency has not been explicitly elucidated in previous works; thus, this knowledge is expected to be key in controlling LW transport, such as detecting the possible regions where LW jams occur or designing efficient inlet sections of LW retention facilities.

Kepadatan dan Pola Persebaran Pauh Kijang (Irvingia malayana Oliv.) pada Habitat Orang Utan di Taman Nasional Gunung Palung Provinsi Kalimantan Barat

Gunung Palung National Park is one of the orangutan habitats on the island of Borneo. Based on previous research, it was reported that the Kijang Pauh plant (Irvingia malayana Oliv.) grows in this conservation area. Currently, research related to plant ecology is still very limited. This study aims to determine the density and distribution pattern of the Kijang Pauh plant. Data collection was carried out from July to August 2021 in three types of orangutan habitat, namely: sandy rock habitat, alluvial habitat, and fresh water habitat. The type of research used is descriptive quantitative, where the data is presented in tabular form. Data collection was carried out by making plots measuring 50 m x 20 m with random sampling method in three types of habitat. The results showed that the density of Irvingia malayana in sandstone, alluvial, and freshwater swamp habitats was 18 individuals/ha, 10 individuals/ha, and 12 individuals/ha, respectively. The distribution pattern of Irvingia malayana in the three habitats is even or uniform. Based on the research results that have been obtained, it can be concluded that the highest density values are found in sandstone habitats, and the lowest density values are found in alluvial areas with an even or uniform distribution pattern.

The influence of bedrock river morphology and alluvial cover on gravel entrainment: Part 1. Pivot angles and surface roughness

AbstractSediment entrainment in bedrock rivers is a key process for river incision and landscape evolution. Bedrock riverbeds are typically comprised of both exposed bedrock and alluvial patches, meaning grains can be entrained from positions on both surfaces. The critical shear stress needed to entrain a grain will be affected by the topography that the grain is located on, as it determines grain pivot angle and exposure, and impacts the local flow profile. The aim of this pair of articles is to determine how the properties of bedrock surfaces with and without sediment cover affect the grain‐scale geometry of sediment grains, and consequently their critical shear stress. We report experiments using 3D‐printed scaled replicas of fluvial bedrock surfaces, with 0 to 100% additional sediment cover. For each surface, grain pivot angles were measured using a tilt table. In this first article, we report how surface roughness and grain pivot angle vary between surfaces and with different amounts of sediment cover, and we explore the relationship between pivot angles and different metrics for measuring surface roughness. We find that: (1) surface roughness is not necessarily a linear combination of the individual roughness of bedrock and alluvial areas, and the underlying bedrock topography can still influence surface roughness at 100% sediment cover; (2) pivot angles generally, but not always, decrease with increasing grain size relative to surface roughness; (3) changes in pivot angles with increasing sediment cover are best explained by changes in surface roughness at spatial scales comparable to the grain size; and (4) pivot angles are also best explained by roughness metrics that incorporate the direction of roughness with respect to the tilt direction, and the surface inclination. This work provides new insights into the processes behind grain entrainment in bedrock rivers that are critical for determining how landscapes may evolve.

Estimation of the Madeira floodplain dynamics from 2008 to 2018

The Madeira is one of the major tributaries of the Amazon River and is characterized by a large alluvial floodplain throughout the stream continuum. This study aims to better assess the hydrological functioning of the Madeira Basin over its alluvial floodplains at both local and global scales. We used the semi-distributed hydrological Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model to simulate water discharge at a daily time step and water resources for each hydrological compartment. A new hydraulic module for water routing was implemented in the SWAT model considering the floodplain either as a simple reservoir or as a continuum where the water can flow along with the floodplain network. Both water surface estimated by L-band passive microwaves (SWAF data) and digital elevation model—shuttle radar topography mission (DEM–SRTM data) were used to delineate the floodplain, as inputs for the model. On the global scale, the amount of water stored in the Madeira floodplain is between 810 ± 230 km3 per year when the floodplains are delimited with SWAF and 1,300 ± 350 km3 per year with the DEM floodplain delineation between 2008 and 2018. Spatial altimetry (Jason 2-3) data were also applied to alluvial areas to validate the water height dynamic in floodplains at a local scale. Results show that more than 60% of the alluvial validation points display a correlation above 0.40 ± 0.02 regardless of the floodplain delineation. This study permits us to better characterize the spatio-temporal storage dynamics of the Madeira floodplains at both local and global scales, and it underlines the importance of a precise floodplain delineation, before computing biogeochemical fluxes and sediment yield.

Would delineation of nitrate vulnerable zones be improved by introducing a new parameter representing the risk associated with soil permeability in the Land Use–Intrinsic Vulnerability Procedure?

Most methods for mapping groundwater vulnerability are based on the excessively simplistic approach that aquifer recharge is produced by vertical infiltration. The novel Land Use–Intrinsic Vulnerability (LU–IV) procedure assesses groundwater vulnerability to nitrate pollution over the entire territory, including aquifers catchment areas. In this research, it was analysed if the delineation of nitrate vulnerable zones (NVZs) would be improved by introducing a new parameter representing the risk associated with soil permeability (parameter S) in the procedure. Different versions of parameter S were tested: S_HC (risk associated with soil hydraulic conductivity), S_St+G+S (risk associated with the stone, gravel and sand fraction of the soil) and S_C (risk associated with the clay fraction). The study was undertaken in the catchment areas of the Oja and Tirón alluvial aquifers (Spain). The efficacy of the following six models was compared: Model 1 (original LU–IV procedure), Model 2 (LU–IV’ procedure using parameter S_HC), Model 3 (LU–IV’ procedure using parameter S_St+G+S), Model 4 (LU–IV’ procedure using parameter S_C), Model 5 (LU–DRASTIC–COP procedure, based on DRASTIC–COP method), and Model 6 (designated NVZ).Catchment scale validations of the six models showed similar, highly significant correlations between the percent coverages of the estimated NVZs and those of the alluvial areas polluted by nitrate for Models 1 to 4. Models 5 and 6 did not show any significant results. In light of these results, Models 1 to 4 were considered the best predictors of nitrate pollution and the best methods for NVZ delineation. Results support the idea that including a parameter S in the LU–IV’ procedure is not essential since equivalent results were obtained from the original LU–IV procedure. So, the LU–IV procedure should be considered the best and simplest method of those tested for accurately delineating NVZs.

Feral cat GPS tracking and simulation models to improve the conservation management of night parrots

Context Night parrots (Pezoporus occidentalis) are one of Australia’s most endangered birds, and there is evidence suggesting feral cats (Felis catus) are a major cause of decline. However, because night parrots currently have a restricted distribution, little is known of the ecology of feral cats around their remaining populations. This limits the development of effective management strategies. Aims The aims of this study were to understand feral cat movement and habitat selection around night parrots, and to then estimate the effectiveness of possible management actions. Methods Research was conducted around the only confirmed night parrot population in eastern Australia. In 2019 and 2020, we obtained GPS data from nine feral cats, and used step selection functions to assess preferred habitats. Management options were then simulated based on cat movement data, including altering trap numbers and layout, and changing routes for night spotlight shooting (using existing roads, random walking or creating new roads in preferred habitats). Key results Feral cats preferred alluvial and riparian habitats and avoided rocky woodlands and roads. Simulated control efforts were more successful if traps are placed at ‘pinch points’ where drainage lines converged, and if new roads were created near to creek lines and alluvial habitats. Conclusions Feral cats move around the last known population of night parrots in eastern Australia, travelling through and using many shared habitats. Targeting creek lines and alluvial areas in cat control operations would improve effectiveness and potentially reduce predation impacts on night parrots. Implications Conservation of endangered birds like night parrots can be enhanced through understanding the ecology of threats such as feral cats to develop locally tailored control operations.

Geoderma Organic Geochemical Biomarkers for Estimation of Petroleum Inputs in Soil of Alluvial Area Near Sava River, New Belgrade (Serbia)

Geoderma Organic Geochemical Biomarkers for Estimation of Petroleum Inputs in Soil of Alluvial Area Near Sava River, New Belgrade (Serbia)

The Historic Area of Misri Shah, Lahore

The north eastern side of the historic city of Lahore was always prone to floods, an alluvial area of river Ravi, fertile but destructive. The Mughals built several walls as barriers for the waters of river Ravi, still the area never attracted a permanent settlement. During his reign, Maharaja Ranjit Singh ordered his nobles to plant grand gardens in this area. The land was fertile, water was in abundance and the area had a large number of sweet water wells. Soon the entire area was converted into flourishing walled gardens with numerous trees and grasslands. Nothing remains of these gardens, except some old Banyan, Peepal and Sumbal trees. Traces of the historicity of this area and the existence of these gardens now remain only in archival maps of Lahore. During my research at IAC, my team could identify only three main streets which coincided with the historic streets of this area, and a handful of old surviving trees. Taking these as reference points, we traced the shrines which were historically located within various gardens, usually in proximity of a well, and under old Bunyan trees. Once these references were marked on the current map, the overlaying of old archival maps became possible. This approach showed us the exact locations of the gardens, if they had existed. What we discovered was tragic. Once an area dominated by gardens, was now a scrap metal industry, and a tannery. The entire area became a victim of massive city expansion, inappropriate development schemes, sub-standard implementation and virtually no maintenance. Keywords: History, Misri Shah, Lahore