River Bank Research Articles

Effects of grassland vegetation roots on soil infiltration rate in Xiazangtan super large scale landslide distribution area in the upper reaches of the Yellow River, China

In order to study the infiltration characteristics of grassland soil in the super large scale landslides distribution area in the upper reaches of the Yellow River, this study selected the Xiazangtan super large scale distribution area in Jianzha County as the study area. Through experiments and numerical simulations, plant roots characteristics, soil physical properties and infiltration characteristics of naturally grazed grassland and enclosed grassland with different slope directions were compared and analyzed, and the influence of rainfall on seepage field and stability of the two grassland slopes were discussed. The results show that the highest soil moisture infiltration capacity (FIR) is found on the shady slope of the enclosed grassland (2.25), followed by the sunny slope of the enclosed grassland (1.23) and the shady slope of the naturally grazed grassland (−0.87). Correlation analysis show that soil water content, root dry weight density, total soil porosity, number of forks and root length are positively correlated with infiltration rate (P＜0.05), whereas soil dry density is negatively correlated with infiltration rate (P＜0.05). The results of stepwise regression analyses show that soil water content, total soil porosity, root length and number of forks are the main factors affecting soil infiltration capacity. And the ability of roots to increase soil infiltration by improving soil properties is higher than the effect of roots itself. After 60 min of simulated rainfall, the safety factors of the shady slopes of naturally grazed grassland and enclosed grassland are reduced by 29.56% and 19.63%, respectively, comparing to those before rainfall. Therefore, in this study, the roots play a crucial role in regulating soil infiltration and enhance slope stability by increasing soil water content, soil total porosity and shear strength while decreasing soil dry density. The results of this study provide theoretical evidence and practical guidance for the effective prevention and control of secondary geological disasters such as soil erosion and shallow landslide on the slope of river banks in the study area by using plant ecological measures.

Analysis of GC-MS from Acetone Extract of Canarium odontophyllum Miq Stem Bark (Dabai)

Canarium odontophyllum or dabai is a natural plant found along the river banks of the Sarikei, Kapit and Kanowit in Sarawak and it comes from the 'Burseraceae' family. C. odontophyllum also known as 'dabai' and this dabai fruit is eaten by the community in Sarawak. The fruit is a seasonal natural fruit that is less used because of its short lifespan. A few studies show that acetone extract of Canarium odontophyllum stem bark (dabai) exhibit antiproliferative and cytotoxicity effect on cancer colorectal cells. However, there is currently no analysis of bioactive compounds in acetone extract of Canarium odontophyllum stem bark (dabai). The various bioactive compounds detected in acetone extract were identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). A total of 24 phytoconstituents were detected in this acetone extract. It was found that major peaks represented bicyclo [3.1.0] hex-2-ene,2-methyl-5-(1-methylethyl)-, bicyclo [3.1.0] hexane,4-methylene-1-(1-methylethyl)-, alpha cubebene, 1H cyclopenta [1,3] cyclopropa [1,2] benzene, octahydro-7-methyl-3-methylene-4-(1-methylethyl)-,[3aS-(3a.alpha., 3b.beta., 4.beta., 7.alpha., 7aS*)]-, phenol,2,4-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-, spathulenol, copaene, 9-Eicosene, (E)-, hexadecane, 5-Octadecene, (E)-, hexadecane, 2,6,10,14-tetramethyl-, nonadecane, n-Hexadecanoic acid, heptacosane, 1-chloro-, 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid (Z,Z)-, 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid, ethyl ester, octadecanoic acid, 10-Heneicosene (c,t), heptafluorobutyric acid, hexadecyl ester, dehydroabietic acid, phenol, 2,4-bis(1-phenylethyl)-, beta sitosterol, beta-amyrin and alpha-amyrin. The highest peak area (%) for this acetone extract is alpha-amyrin (16.6644%) followed by beta-amyrin (4.6159%), beta sitosterol (3.3369%) and 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid (Z,Z)- (3.2045%). In conclusion, various bioactive compounds detected in acetone extract of Canarium odontophyllum stem bark (dabai) were demonstrated various medicinal properties while alpha and beta-amyrin may be responsible for the cytotoxicity and apoptotic effect against HCT 116 cell.

Antibacterial activity of pigment extracted from bacteria isolated from soil samples

The purpose of this study was to evaluate antibacterial activity of pigment extracted from bacteria, isolated from soil samples. During the study, 20 soil samples were collected from different areas (forest, agriculture fields, river sides and dumping sites) of Kathmandu and Lalitpur districts which were processed for isolation of pigment producing bacteria by spread plate technique. The pigmented bacterial isolates were identified and enriched in nutrient broth. Then, pigment was extracted in 95% methanol as solvent, which was further characterized using UV-Vis Spectrophotometric and TLC analysis. The obtained crude pigment extract was processed to carry out the antimicrobial susceptibility assay using agar well diffusion method. Out of 13 total pigmented bacteria isolates, four different colored pigmented bacterial isolates (S4O, S11Y, S14P and S17G) which produced efficient pigment on nutrient agar were chosen and they were further processed. Among these isolates, S4O was identified as Staphylococcus aureus, S11Y was identified as Micrococcus luteus, S14P was identified as Micrococcus roseus and S17G was identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa respectively. On characterization using UV-Vis Spectrophotometric and TLC analysis, the pigment extracted from isolates S4O, S11Y and S14P were found to be Carotenoids and from isolate S17G was found to be Pyocyanin in nature. The maximum antibacterial activity was shown against Staphylococcus aureus from all the four pigments extracts. The green color pigment extract from isolate S17G was found to be most effective against all the Gram-positive and Gram-negative test bacteria. This study suggests that these pigment extracts from pigmented bacteria may have beneficial antibacterial roles that can be exploited in controlling unwanted bacterial growth.

Past and future river bank trend assessment of lower Cagayan River, Philippines

Past and future river bank trend assessment of lower Cagayan River, Philippines

Decametric-scale buffering of climate extremes in forest understory within a riparian microrefugia: the key role of microtopography.

Riparian corridors often act as low-land climate refugia for temperate tree species in their southern distribution range. A plausible mechanism is the buffering of regional climate extremes by local physiographic and biotic factors. We tested this idea using a 3-year-long microclimate dataset collected along the Ciron river, a refugia for European beech (Fagus sylvatica) in southwestern France. Across the whole network, canopy gap fraction was the main predictor for spatial microclimatic variations, together with two other landscape features (elevation above the river and woodland fraction within a 300m radius). However, within the riparian forest only (canopy gap fraction < 25%, distance to the river < 150m), variations of up to -4°C and + 15% in summertime daily maximum air temperature and minimum relative humidity, respectively, were still found from the plateau to the cooler, moister river banks, only ~ 5-10m below. Elevation above the river was then identified as the main predictor, and explained the marked variations from the plateau to the banks much better than canopy gap fraction. The microclimate measured near the river is as cool but moister than the macroclimate encountered at 700-1000m asl further east in F. sylvatica's main distribution range. Indeed, at all locations, we found that air relative humidity was higher than expected from a temperature-only effect, suggesting that extra moisture is brought by the river. Our results explain well why beech trees in this climate refugium are restricted to the river gorges where microtopographic variations are the strongest and canopy gaps are rare.

The Use of Unmanned Aerial Systems for River Monitoring: A Bibliometric Analysis Covering the Last 25 Years

Cutting-edge technology for fluvial monitoring has revolutionised the field, enabling more comprehensive data collection, analysis, and interpretation. Traditional monitoring methods were limited in their spatial and temporal resolutions, but advancements in remote sensing, unmanned aerial systems (UASs), and other innovative technologies have significantly enhanced the fluvial monitoring capabilities. UASs equipped with advanced sensors enable detailed and precise fluvial monitoring by capturing high-resolution topographic data, generate accurate digital elevation models, and provide imagery of river channels, banks, and riparian zones. These data enable the identification of erosion and deposition patterns, the quantification of sediment transport, the evaluation of habitat quality, and the monitoring of river flows. The latter allows us to understand the dynamics of rivers during various hydrological events, including floods, droughts, and seasonal variations. This manuscript aims to provide an update on the main research themes and topics in the literature on the use of UASs for river monitoring. The latter is achieved through a bibliometric analysis of the publication trends and identifies the field’s key themes and collaborative networks. The bibliometric analysis shows trends in the number of publications, number of citations, top contributing countries, top publishing journals, top contributing institutions, and top authors. A total of 1085 publications on UAS monitoring in rivers are identified, published between 1999 and 2023, showing a steady annual growth rate of 24.44%. Bibliographic records are exported from the Web of Science (WoS) database using a comprehensive set of keywords. The bibliometric analysis of the raw data obtained from the WoS database is performed using the R software. The results highlight important trends and valuable insights related to the use of UASs in river monitoring, particularly in the last decade. The most frequently used author keywords outline the core themes of UASs monitoring research and highlight the interdisciplinary nature and collaborative efforts within the field. “River”, “topography”, “photogrammetry”, and “Structure-from-Motion” are the core themes of UASs monitoring research. These findings can guide future research and promote new interdisciplinary collaborations.

Study of the Impact of High Temperature of Cooling Water and Hydrocarbon Waste Discharged from Musayyib Thermal Station to the Euphrates River Using Remote Sensing Stations

The spread of industrial activities, especially electrical power generation stations on the banks of rivers, increases the pollution of the surrounding water environment as a result of the release of industrial water that is not treated adequately. Among these stations is the Al-Musayyib Thermal Power Station. The research focused onstudying the quality of the water entering and leaving the station by installing two sensing stations. Remote monitoring of the Euphrates River, as the station contains several sensors, including measuring acidity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, and the amount of total salts, in addition to a sensor for measuring refined fuel. These results are collected around the clock at a central station, where the results showed a decrease in the level of dissolved oxygen ranging between (3.5-5) RSD% 0.1-0.2 as well as an increase in The temperature of the excreted water ranging between from(30Cº-33Cº) RSD% 0.1-0.2, both of which negatively affect the environmental life of living organisms, as well as the appearance of a high percentage of pollutants resulting from refined fuel, ranging between (2.1-8.1) ppm, The findings will contribute to improving the efficiency of treatment plants to suit the environment surrounding the river, In order to preserve the water environment, it is necessary to place oil dispensers in the treatment units, as well as work to reduce the temperatures of the cooling water, which are at temperatures higher than the medical grades coming out of the station.

Catalogue of Nebria picicornis (Fabricius, 1792) (Coleoptera, Carabidae) specimens deposited in the State Museum of Natural History NASU, Lviv, Ukraine

The species Nebria picicornis (Fabricius, 1792) belongs to the genus, distributed in the Palaearctic, Middle East and North Africa, and represented by more than 500 described species (Catalogue of Life, 2023). In Ukraine, the genus is represented by 9 species. Nebria picicornis (Fabricius, 1792) has been recorded from thefollowing localities in Ukraine: outskirts of Sambir town, Spas village (Nowicki, 1858), the Eastern Beskydy up to Chornohora range (Nowicki, 1864), Ivano-Frankivsk city at the Bystrytsia river, in the river silt deposits (Łomnicki, 1886), beech forest zone of the Carpathians (Nowicki, 1873), Galicia, Bukovyna, Podilska gubernias , Zelemianka river, Bolekhiv town , NR «Gorgany» , foothill and lowland areas of the Carpathians: Ciscarpathian Upland, Beskydy massif, Gorgany massif, Pokutsko-Bukovynski Carpathians, Krasna range, as well as the Klavdievo village near Kyiv city, 10.V.1976 р., 2 spec., V.G. Dolin (IZU) , the Carpathians (including the Ciscarpathian Upland with foothills above 300 m a.s.l.), Right-Bank Polissia (mixed forest zone), Broadleaf Forest Zone (including the Ciscarpathian Upland, but with foothills of the Carpathians up to 300 m a.s.l. and Male Polissia) . Nebria picicornis (Fabricius, 1792) is distributed in the mountains and foothills of Central Europe and the northern part of southern Europe (Burakowski et al., 1973). In Ukraine it is found in the belts of oak and beech forests and lives along the banks of rivers and streams . There are 34 specimens of Nebria picicornis (Fabricius, 1792) in the collection of the State Museum of Natural History NASU, Lviv. The beetles were collected by Łomnicki M., Polianskyi S., Stöckl A., Susulovskyi A.S., Rizun V.B. Most of them were collected in the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, a number of individuals – in recent decades. Three specimens (Inventory numbers: E2.19.01.08.02//17, Digital record number: SMNH010749, Data Centre “Biodiversity of Ukraine”: ID 58124; Inventory numbers: E2.19.01.08.02//18, Digital record number: SMNH010750, Data Centre “Biodiversity of Ukraine”: ID 58125; Inventory numbers: E2.19.01.08.02//19, Digital record number: SMNH010751, Data Centre “Biodiversity of Ukraine”: ID 58126) most probably were mentioned in the work by M. Łomniсki (Łomnicki M. Muzeum imienia Dzieduszyckich we Lwowe. Dział I. Zoologiczny oddział zwierząt bezkręgowych. IV. Chrząszcze, czyli Tęgoskrzydłe (Coleoptera). – Lwów, 1886. – 308 s.). In general, the collection contains specimens, collected from Ukraine: Lvivska, Ivano-Frankivska, Chernivetska, Zakarpatska provinces, and from Poland. Some part of the presented material was collected in nature conservation areas of Ukraine: the Nature Reserve «Gorgany», National Nature Parks «Boikivshchyna», «Carpathian» and «Hutsulshchyna». This article was written with the support of the National Research Foundation of Ukraine, call 2022.01 «Science for the Recovery of Ukraine in the War and Post-War Periods» the project 2022.01/0013 «Digitization of natural history collections damaged as a result of hostilities and related factors: development of protocols and implementation on the basis of the State Museum of Natural History of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine». The contents of this article do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Research Foundation of Ukraine and are the sole responsibility of the State Museum of Natural History, NAS of Ukraine.

Evolution and controlling factors of natural levees during the past 4500 years derived from lowland archaeological ruins in central Kanto Plain, Japan

Lowland archaeological ruins are frequently used in conjunction with sediment cores to reconstruct geomorphological evolution on alluvial plains. Lowland ruins are, as a rule, heterogeneously distributed across alluvial plains and retain short chronological records when compared to sediment cores. Along the historic banks of the Tone River, in the central Kanto Plain, thorough surveying prior to major construction projects in the Tokyo metropolitan area uncovered a dense swath of lowland archaeological ruins. This study demonstrates the evolution of natural levees during the past 4.5 kyr by compiling data from uniformly distributed lowland archaeological ruins in the central Kanto Plain. The location and age of 774 lowland archaeological ruins and 101 radiocarbon dates from surficial fluvial sediments in 42 sediment cores were compiled and arranged chronologically. As a result, levees and river terraces aged < 4.5 ka were found to be contiguous with modern sedimentology in the Arakawa Lowland, while relatively young natural levees aged < 2.8 ka are contiguous with the present Nakagwa Lowland. The Tone River migrated from the Arakawa Lowland to the Nakagawa Lowland at ∼5 ka. Subsequently, sea levels lowered between 4 ka and 3 ka. Due to sea level lowering, a minor tributary of the Tone River partially eroded the alluvial plain, and relatively old geomorphology persisted in the Arakawa Lowland. In contrast, in the Nakagawa Lowland, the major tributary of the Tone River eroded the entire alluvial plain. Following sea-level rises up to 2 ka, natural levees aggraded and formed new surface sediments in the Nakagawa Lowland due to large sediment discharge from the major tributary of the Tone River. Natural levee evolution in the central Kanto Plain is influenced by both river migration and sea-level fluctuation.

Study of the modern reclamation and ecological state of soils in Azerbaijan

For many years in the Republic of Azerbaijan, numerous reclamation and ecological measures aimed at attracting agricultural lands of natural cenoses to use in agrocenoses were carried out. The soils of the studied territory are quite unique in terms of their soil-forming structure and ecological conditions, and they differ from other regions of the country in terms of irrigation water content. The article reflects some important results of soil and water studies conducted over the last years. Determining the qualitative composition of groundwater and irrigation water in different seasons of the year using modern methods is relevant from an environmental and reclamation point of view. Based on remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS) technologies, our research is based on the analysis of natural and anthropogenic landscape changes and changes in natural conditions as a result of agricultural development in the 20 km buffer zone along the banks of Kura and Araz rivers. As a result of the conducted research, it was determined that the rapid growth of the population has caused the reduction of the area of agro-landscapes, the salinization of the soil, the drying of the water in the water basins, the expansion of the construction areas. This has disrupted the natural balance.

Images and bodies of the ñandú (rhea americana) in the celebrationsof the qom people

Based on the ethnography of qom (toba) communities living on the right bank of the middle Bermejo River, in the ArgentineChaco, I address the relationship of this people with the ñandú (Rhea americana), a bird native to South America and closelylinked to the hunting tradition in the Gran Chaco. I argue that beyond the hunting activity, this relationship is inscribed in the Chaco landscape, in the memories, cosmology and celebrations of the qom people. This case is framed by the contemporary anthropological debate on the classic opposition between practices and ethos of domestication and hunting, that I approach from the context of indigenous feasts and their ability to congregate in the same space-time human relations and prominent links with plant and animal species. I conclude that the qom’s proximity to the images and body of ñandú, beyond turning the bird into an object of human hunting or significance, allowed them to understand the way of dealing with transformations configured by the alternation between abundance and scarcity, as extremes that shape the landscape and life in the Chaco.

Создание нового порта: фактор влияния на развитие транспортной логистики региона

The process of formation, construction and development of a new international port on a section of the river bank received from another country, which has direct access to the sea, is considered. The analysis of the advantageous location and favorable conditions for the creation of the port, including the conditions for entry into the port of sea and river vessels, the availability and accessibility of road, rail and air transport, is carried out. The created structure of the port is illustrated, as well as brief characteristics, capabilities and features of various port terminals for cargo transshipment and passenger transportation are considered. The organizational and technological experience in creating a logistics hub in the region was studied, taking into account the needs of producers, recipients and the characteristics of transport carriers, including the features of asset management. The analysis of indicators of the volume of transshipment of various cargoes was carried out, the main directions of the port's development in the near future were determined. In the process of studying the experience of creating port infrastructure, the created conditions for business development and investment attraction, the peculiarities of the tax and customs regime, as well as the distinctive features of the port's free economic zone from other similar territories are considered. Calculations of the availability of human resources in the port area and their attractiveness for transport companies are given. The process of development of the merchant fleet of the Republic of Moldova is analyzed, and the role of port infrastructure and transport logistics in the development of maritime activities of the state and the region as a whole is shown. A comparative analysis of the development of similar ports in the region was carried out according to the main indicators. Conclusions are drawn about the impact of the intensity of development of ports and transport logistics in the region on strengthening the state’s maritime potential, its infrastructure and trade.

Effects of naturally sourced bitumen samples from Alberta oil sands region (Canada) on aquatic benthic invertebrates: A case study with Chironomus riparius

Athabasca oil sands in Alberta, Canada, are large bitumen deposits and are one of the world's largest petroleum reserves. This research contributes to the growing body of knowledge on the influence of this naturally occurring bitumen on freshwaters. Using laboratory-based exposure studies, we examined the life cycle responses of the aquatic midge Chironomus riparius to both naturally formed solid bitumen incorporated in the sediment and its corresponding aqueous extracts, denominated as elutriates. The 28-day partial life cycle assay involved bitumen samples from two distinct geological origins in the Athabasca River Basin (Clearwater and McMurray formations), comprising both weathered and freshly collected bitumen from a total of 4 different rivers. Our results demonstrate a measurable impact of sediment-embedded bitumen on C. riparius life history traits, namely on their growth and emergence patterns. Furthermore, we observed that bitumen samples from the Ells River (McMurray formation), which were freshly collected from exposed river bank soil deposits, exerted the strongest effects on most studied eco-physiological endpoints. Bitumen extracts from the Steepbank River and Athabasca River in the McMurray Formation and Steepbank River in the Clearwater Formation followed, underscoring the geographical variance in bitumen-induced toxicity. Exposure to elutriates, simulating “weathered” bitumen generally did not induce adverse effects in C. riparius life-cycle endpoints compared to elutriates prepared from freshly eroded bank soils. This emphasizes the importance of considering bitumen sources, their age, and the aquatic receiving environment when assessing potential adverse exposure effects. Our study shows that exposure to freshly eroded soils/sediments can potentially affect benthic invertebrates. More research is needed to understand how hydrological changes affect bitumen sediment exposure and the associated risks to aquatic biota.

New Petroglyphs of the Baga-Oygur River (Right Bank) in Northwestern Mongolia

Purpose. The prehistory of the Mongolian Altai is represented by chronologically various archaeological sites, especially the rock art ones. In 2023 (as part of 2019 season), the Russian-Mongolian expedition continued to study the rock art complexes in northwestern Mongolia.Results. On the right bank of Baga-Oygur River, 7 new petroglyphs locations were discovered; the photo and graphic documenting of multi-temporal compositions was performed. In particular, the earliest petroglyphs of the “Kalguty” style were studied. Conclusion. Dozens of images refer to the Bronze Age; images and scenes of the Early Iron and Medieval periods are also discovered. Along with the points where petroglyphs are concentrated and strictly localized, a wide distribution of petroglyphs was noted on boulders lying on coastal terraces, as well as on rocky outcrops and on the peaks of the mountain frame of the river.

A Study of Weeds on the River Banks of Kathmandu Valley

The paper deals with weeds found along the river banks of the Kathmandu valley. It lists 219 species in 156 genera belonging to 50 families. Pilea peploides Hk. &amp; Arn. is recorded here for the first time from the valley.

Ecological Observations along the River Banks at Allahabad, U. P.

This paper embodies the ecological observations made along the exposed riverbeds and the immediate banks of the rivers Jamuna and Ganga at Allahabad during thé months of April to June in 1962 and 1963.The physical features, climate and soil of the area are discussed.Botanical composition of the vegetation and the relative abundance, preference for habitat, types, and phenology of the important species are given.The vegetation is characterised by the preponderance of annual plants and consists of the species of the wet meadow and dry meadow stages of Dudgeon (1920). The thorn scrub Stage is represented by Acacia arabica and Zizyphus jujuba.

The Vegetation of Marshes, Ponds and River Banks in Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh

The paper deals with the aquatic and semi-aquatic vegetation of Shivpuri in Madhya Pradesh. The phenology, distribution in various habitats and ecology have been given. Hydrophytic vegetation of Shivpuri has been compared with that of other investigated parts of M.P. The collection made includes 101 species in 82 genera belonging to 37 families. Ruppia maritima Linn. is a new record for M.P.

New Species of &lt;i&gt;Polygonum&lt;/i&gt; from Assam

A new species of Polygonum named Polygonum glundulosum Subba Rao, collected from the sandy bank of Sarbhanga river, Goalpara, Assam by Shri R. S. Rao (Rolla Seshagiri Rao 7162 A) haa been described with the illustrations.

Notes on the Flora of Pravarasangam Area, Maharashtra State

This paper deals with the general floristic account of Pravarasangam area, Maharashtra State. A brief description of the grassland in the moist river banks and the scrub jungle in the dry plains is given. 150 species belonging to 118 genera and 35 families are enumerated, out of which Gramineae, Papilionaceae, Compositae and Amaranthaceae are the dominant ones.

Macroplastic Fate and Transport Modeling: Freshwaters Act as Main Reservoirs.

Macroplastic fate and transport in the freshwater environment are of great concern due to the potentially harmful effects of macroplastic on plants, animals, and humans. Here, we present a modeling approach to simulate macroplastic fate and transport at the country scale based on an existing plastic release model. The fate model was parametrized through available monitoring data and results from field experiments and applied to Swiss rivers and lakes. We found that almost all (98%) macroplastic emissions into freshwater remain within Switzerland. After exploring the influences of weirs, retention in rivers, and retention in lakes through a sensitivity analysis, we found a high retention variability across different catchments and within rivers. In all 22 analyzed scenarios for continuous retention along each river bank (i.e., beaching), we found that at least 70% of input emissions into the water bodies would be retained long-term in the catchments (about 200 g per river km and year). Across all catchments, we found a dominance of "continuous retention" through beaching along the entire river length compared with "point retention" at weirs or lakes. Thus, by modeling macroplastic fate and transport on a country level for the first time, we were able to confirm the concept of "rivers as plastic reservoirs" through modeling.