Development Of Swamps Research Articles

Siberian Jehol Biota

Abstract Volcanogenic-sedimentary and coal-bearing deposits, which contain abundant fossils of a lacustrine fauna and terrestrial flora, are widespread in the territory of Transbaikalia (Russia), Mongolia and Northeastern China. These ecosystems are known under the name ‘Jehol Biota’, which occurs in the Yixian and Jiufotang formations. The discovery of ‘feathered’ dinosaurs and of the earliest angiosperms in western Liaoning Province (China) made them world famous. The history of this biota began in the nineteenth century, when the discoveries in Transbaikalia of the remains of conchostracans, ostracods, insects, fish and plants collected during the expedition of A.F. Middendorf were described. The Barremian–Aptian sedimentary sequences of Transbaikalia (Russia), Mongolia and Northeastern China are very similar. The appearance and evolution of the Jehol Biota occurred against the background of extensive volcanism and tectonic revival, after which normal sedimentary rocks were deposited, culminating in relief peneplanation, swamp development and peat formation. The northern limit of the distribution of this biota is determined to be up to c. 54° modern north latitude. The existence of the Siberian Jehol Biota in extreme climatic conditions is confirmed, as was indicated for the Jehol Biota from NE China.

Paleoenviromental evolution of the Cenozoic foreland basin to intermontane basins in the Eastern Cordillera, North-Western Argentina

The stratigraphic and sedimentological characteristics of the Cenozoic deposits are very important aspects to investigate the tecto-sedimentary evolution of the Andean foreland basin to intermontane hinterland basins in north-western Argentina. These deposits lie in an unconformity or paraconformity relationship over the Salta Group (Cretaceous-Paleocene) or older deposits. During the middle Eocene-Pleistocene, the changes in the sedimentary paleoenvironment and its evolution are the direct result of tectonic effects, a change in base level and accommodation space. This study provides the results of the integrated analysis of the middle-upper Eocene to Plio-Pleistocene basins in the Eastern Cordillera, in north-western Argentina. These basins that have been generated in the Central Andes region in north-western Argentina during the Cenozoic tectonic convergence, we divided in four sequences in the evolution from middle to upper Eocene to Plio-Pleistocene. They present fluvial deposits of different topographic slopes, with development of ephemeral fluvial systems associated with dune fields, meandering fluvial systems in arid climates, interlaced sandy-gravelly fluvial systems, sinuous sandy-gravelly fluvial systems of intermediate to high sinuosity, with the development of lagoons and swamps of tropical climate during ∼10 to ∼5 Ma, and the change to arid - semiarid claimed condition from ∼5 to ∼2.5 Ma. The sedimentary record of the Plio-Pleistocene hinterland basin in the Eastern Cordillera and the adjacent Andean Puna Plateau in the Central Andes of NW Argentina constitutes geological archive that provide spatio-temporal insights into geological evolution and associated surface uplift.These basins, probably connected at their onset during the middle Eocene, are characterized by different subsidence histories, differences in sedimentary paleoenvironment evolution, variations in topographic slopes, changes in provenance and paleocurrents, resulting in differences in tecto-sedimentary history.

Towards agricultural innovation systems: Actors, roles, linkages and constraints in the system of rice intensification (SRI) in Sierra Leone

Despite success in parts of Southern Africa and Asia, the use of the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) has remained low in many parts of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Alongside this, an Agricultural Innovation Systems (AIS) framework has been touted as a method to support innovation processes and enable a variety of agricultural innovations to be used by large numbers of farmers. However, very little is known about the linkages/interactions between stakeholders within such AISs and which are deemed important for the AIS to function. This study seeks to understand the perceptions of the agricultural innovation system actors regarding Sustainable Rice Intensification (SRI) usage in Sierra Leone. More specifically, it examines the key actors and their roles, the patterns, and strengths of the linkages among them, as well as the perceptions towards the innovation /potential constraints faced by the actors. The study draws on several workshops and key informant interviews with 49 actors consisting of research and extension professionals from governmental and non-governmental organisations and smallholder farmers involved in the rice innovation system. Using UCINET's NetDraw for social network analysis (SNA) among innovation actors, the study finds a high level of connectedness between key actors – the Ministry of Agriculture, NGOs and farmers. The eigenvector centrality (a measure of influence within a network) was highest among NGOs, the Ministry of Agriculture and farmers respectively, which shows that these actors had the strongest influence within the SRI network. Further exploration of these ties also showed that these actors play a critical role in facilitating knowledge, resources and information flows within the network. Despite a strong level of interaction between actors and positive perceptions of the innovation, SRI usage has been unable to reach scale for a variety of reasons. The key reasons identified include: (i) the lack of interaction across levels (e.g. provincial and local) thereby limiting locally adapted techniques from emerging relevant to all regions; (ii) farmers’ limited technical skills in swamp development; (iii) a lack of funding opportunities (including private sector engagement) and (iv) the perceived labor-intensiveness of SRI techniques. Overall, this research has identified possible entry points for increasing the functioning of the innovation system and a useful methodological approach that can be applied to exploring the effectiveness of agricultural innovation systems. It also highlights the need to engage private sector actors to support the use of agricultural innovations as some services are sometimes beyond the purview of research and extension actors alone. The need for further research is also necessary to deepen the understanding of whether AIS approaches are enhancing farmers’ capacity to innovate or impeding this by encouraging embedded norms related to a transfer of technology model to perpetuate.

The Sequence Stratigraphic Division and Depositional Environment of the Jurassic Yan’an Formation in the Pengyang Area, Southwestern Margin of the Ordos Basin, China

Coal and organic-rich shale in the Yan’an Formation in the southwestern margin of the Ordos Basin are widely developed, which is an important fact for oil and gas exploration in China that has been widely explored for a long time. In this paper, detailed sequence division and sedimentary environment analyses of the Yan’an Formation in the Pengyang area on the southwestern margin of the Ordos Basin were conducted using field outcrops, drilling cores, logging, wavelet transform and organic geochemistry. The results showed that the succession consists of some units with distinctly different characteristics. Based on the petrographic assemblage and transform wavelet characteristics, the Yan’an Formation in this area can be divided into a long-term cycle, five medium-term cycles, and eleven short-term cycles, among which coal and carbonaceous shale were mainly developed in the short-term cycles I2, III1, III2, V1 and V2. Coal and organic-rich mud shale have been developed in the Yan’an Formation and plant debris in mudstone and coal is common, indicating the development of swamps and shallow water-covered depressions in this area. The sandstones showed parallel bedding, cross-bedding and scours, thus indicating fluvial deposits. The saturated hydrocarbon gas chromatographic parameters of mud shale showed that the pristane/phytane (Pr/Ph) ratio is 2.24–6.22, the Ph/nC18 ratio is 0.15–0.93, and the Pr/nC17 ratio is 0.97–2.78, supporting the finding that the organic matter has mainly originated from terrestrial sources.

Late Holocene peatland palm swamp (aguajal) development, carbon deposition and environment changes in the Madre de Dios region, southeastern Peru

Tropical peatlands are an important carbon reservoir; however, they are vulnerable to climate change, fire events, and human disturbances, and may become a significant carbon source if degraded. In this paper, we investigated the late Holocene record of vegetation change, peatland evolution, and C accumulation based on analysis of a sediment core through a Mauritia-flexuosa palm dominated swamp (locally called “ aguajal ”) in the Madre de Dios region in southern Peru to better understand tropical peatland dynamics. Sedimentation commenced within shallow water, ponded on an impervious substrate, perhaps within an abandoned river channel or oxbow lake (1380–820 cal yr BP) located adjacent to a steep escarpment with terra firme (upland) rainforest above and lateral to floodplain forests. This was followed by the development of marsh (820–640 cal yr BP). A closed-canopy Mauritia flexuosa -dominated palm swamp was subsequently established (640300calyr BP) which later changed into an open canopy and mixed Mauritia - Hedyosmum palm swamp (300 cal yr BP to present). Two major changes in peat and C accumulation rates were observed: (1) onset of peat and C accumulation at 820 cal yr BP and (2) decrease of peat and C accumulation after 520 cal yr BP. Comparisons of our results with palaeoecological records from aguajales in northern Peru suggest that the dynamics were different in this region. The peat and C accumulation rates in our study core in southern Peru were ca. 4 mm yr −1 and ca. 200 g m −2 yr −1 faster, similar to a few sites in northern Peru. Aguajales in Madre de Dios region in southern Peru are an important carbon sink. Analyzing the dynamics of aguajales which are a kind of typical peatlands in Amazonia and comparing among different sites allows exploration and prediction of regional peatlands' development under the potential future impact of natural changes. • First study of a palm peatland ( aguajal ) development in Madre de Dios region, southern Peru • This study includes late Holocene vegetation dynamics, peat and C accumulation of the aguajal • Controlling factors in the dynamics are fluvial changes and climate • Comparisons with northern Peru suggest different vegetation succession • Peat and C accumulation rates in Madre de Dios were faster, similar to a few sites in northern Peru

Historia de la vegetación del sitio Huapilacuy II durante el Holoceno Medio a partir del análisis polínico y de macrofósiles vegetales, Isla Grande de Chiloé, Chile

This study examines the new fossiliferous site Huapilacuy II of Mid-Holocene age (7,344±51-6,865±58 cal years BP.) located in the northwestern coast of the Isla Grande de Chiloé. This area was not affected by the successive Pleistocene glaciations, and therefore it presents a biogeographic relevance as a potential area of refugia and stability for the vegetation. The presence of plant macrofossils contained in a sedimentary sequence of ca. 300 cm thick, confers a special interest to the site, due to the scarce information available on this type of indicator in paleoenvironmental studies of southern Chile. Additionally, several pollen-based reconstructions from the southern Lake District of Chile (40-44˚ S), document the Holocene sequence of recolonization by the different temperate rainforests types that today occupy this region, although there are non-Holocene records for the Pacific coast of the region. The aim of this study is to reconstruct the local environmental conditions and paleoecology based on the stratigraphic context and the analysis of plant macrofossils at the site Huapilacuy II. In addition, based on the pollen analysis of the deposit, we provide new information to reconstruct the regional characteristics of the vegetation during the Middle-Holocene. In particular, the plant macrofossil record of marsh species contained in the sediments of the lower section of the studied sedimentary sequence, together with the pollen analysis of the same sequence, document a first phase of plant colonization at 7,344±51 cal yrs. BP, with predominance of Poaceae, ferns, and trees with regeneration capacity in open areas, such as Embothrium coccineum and Drimys winteri. The analysis of leaf macrofossils and palynomorphs recovered from several intercalated layers, from the middle section of the sedimentary sequence, show the local and regional development of dense and very humid forests dominated by Aextoxicon punctatum, associated with several species of Myrtaceae. The presence of soil moisture indicator species, such as Luma chequen, Myrceugenia sp. and Myrtaceae Blepharocalyx-type is consistent with the sedimentary environment and the local development of swamp or riverine forests. This hygrophile forest environment is also consistent with the assemblage of fossil mosses, dominated by species that grow today in dense closed-canopy forests, such as Weymouthia, Ptychomnium, Rigodium, Porothamnium and Eucamptodon.
 The regional correlation of the pollen spectra from Huapilacuy II and other records from the Lake District allows us to establish latitudinal and longitudinal differences of tree composition in the temperate-rainforests that expanded during the Early to Mid-Holocene. In particular, this study established for the northwestern coast of the Isla Grande de Chiloé the presence of the coastal association of the valdivian forest (As. Lapagerio-Aextoxiconetum), currently distributed along the Chilean coastline between 30˚- 43˚S. In contrast, the Valdivian associations recorded in other areas of the region exhibit the dominance of Eucryphia cordifolia, Caldcluvia paniculata, Weinmannia trichosperma and different species of Nothofagus. Despite the differences in tree composition, the fossil bryophyte species recorded in several of the sites compared are common with those reported for Huapilacuy II, thus showing the wide ecological range of Chilean bryophytes associated with closed-canopy temperate-rainforests.

History and prospects of development of the Institute of Agro-Biotechnologies of Komi Science Centre of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Agricultural science in the Komi Republic dates back to 1911, when the Pechora Agricultural Experimental Station was opened on the initiative of the Northern researcher A.V. Zhuravsky. It was the first scientific institution of such specialization in the north of Russia above 65° north latitude. Zhuravsky identified the main tasks facing the agricultural science of the North: the development of agriculture (improvement of soil fertility, development of swamps for agricultural use), meadow and crop production, including vegetable growing, floriculture and fruit growing. He also defined the basis of agricultural production in the North – animal husbandry. While carrying out the studies, A.V. Zhuravsky Institute of AgroBiotechnologies solves all the problems raised. The modern structure of the Institute has three departments: the Department of Agriculture of the Far North, the Department "Pechora Experimental Station" and the Department of Agricultural Genomics organized on the basis of the youth laboratory in 2019. Over the past 20 years, the Institute has produced 12 varieties of perennial grasses, seven of which have been zoned. Among new breeding achievements are Pamyati Zhuravskogo Serpukh crowned (Serratula coronata L.) variety with an increased content of biologically active substances, potato varieties Zyryanets and Vychegodsky for food purpose, resistant to drought, cancer pathogen and golden nematode, highly resistant to late blight. Research on the technology of production of complex forms of nematocidal and insecticidal bio-preparations as a means of protecting agricultural crops from various soil-dwelling phytophages has begun. Thanks to the efforts of the Institute staff, in close cooperation with the farmers of the Arctic region of the Komi Republic, the Pechora sheep breed was preserved, and breeding work with rare native groups was widely developed. The Institute is the only agricultural research institution in the Komi Republic that provides scientific support for Nothern reindeer husbandry.

Multi-proxy indications of depositional evolution and paleo-natural disasters (flooding and fire) in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula during the Holocene

Understanding paleoenvironmental changes and corresponding driving forces can provide valuable information for predicting and preparing for future climate change. However, under the complex climate system, the driving mechanisms behind hydroclimatic variability in terms of timescales and magnitude are still unclear, and the various ecological responses are not clear. Here, we reconstruct the history of swamp evolution and climate changes in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula during the Holocene based on multi-proxy data (palynomorphs, microscopic charcoal, diatoms, grain size, total organic carbon, C/N ratio, and δ13CTOC data). The climatic conditions in the study area gradually became cold and dry due to the weakening East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) after ca. 5400 cal yr BP, as evidenced by the shift in vegetation communities from temperate broad-leaved forests dominated by Quercus to mixed conifer and deciduous broad-leaved forests with increased cold/dry-tolerant taxa. After ca. 4700 cal yr BP, microscopic charcoal concentration to terrestrial pollen concentration values are relatively high together with a sharp decrease in palynomorph concentrations and the proportions of arboreal pollen, representing open forest with fewer plants due to frequent wildfires. In addition, the quasi-millennial frequencies of seasonal fires (dry spring) and flooding (summer rainfall) were identified in our study area during the Late Holocene, which correspond to lower sea surface temperatures of the western tropical Pacific and stronger El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) activity periods. After ca. 8200 cal yr BP, the depositional environment underwent gradual backswamp expansion due to high precipitation, strengthened EASM, and relative sea-level rise during the Early to Middle Holocene. During the Late Holocene, ENSO-driven extreme hydroclimatic variability, such as frequent flooding and fire, had significant impacts on not only swamp development with large fluctuations in water level but also long-term vegetation and aquatic ecosystem dynamics.

Successional dynamics of a 35 year old freshwater mitigation wetland in southeastern New Hampshire.

The long-term ecological success of compensatory freshwater wetland projects has come into question based on follow-up monitoring studies over the past few decades. Given that wetland restoration may require many years to decades to converge to desired outcomes, long-term monitoring of successional patterns may increase our ability to fully evaluate success of wetland mitigation projects or guide adaptive management when needed. In Portsmouth, New Hampshire a 4 ha wetland was constructed in an abandoned gravel quarry as off-site compensatory mitigation for impacts to a scrub-shrub swamp associated with property expansion. Building upon prior evaluations from 1992 and 2002, we conducted a floral survey in 2020 to compare results with prior surveys to document vegetation successional trends over time. In addition, we monitored the avian community throughout the growing season as a measure of habitat quality. The plant community mirrored documented successional trends of freshwater wetland restoration projects as native hydrophytes dominated species composition. Plant species composition stabilized as the rate of turnover, the measurement of succession, declined by nearly half after 17 years. Researchers should consider long-term monitoring of specific sites to better understand successional patterns of created wetlands as we documented long time frames required for the development of scrub-shrub swamps, red maple swamps, and sedge meadows. High species richness was attributed to beaver activity, topographic heterogeneity from Carex stricta tussocks, and the seed bank from the application of peat from the original wetland. Habitat heterogeneity of open water, herbaceous cover, and woody vegetation supports a diverse avian community including 11 wetland dependent species. Although the mitigation project has not created the full area of lost scrub-shrub swamp after 35 years, it has developed a structurally complex habitat and diverse avian community that effectively provides the functions and values of the impacted system.

СТРАТИГРАФИЯ ВОДОРАЗДЕЛЬНОГО ТОРФЯНИКА И РАЗВИТИЕ ПРИРОДНОЙ СРЕДЫ ОСТРОВА БОЛЬШОЙ ШАНТАР В ПОЗДНЕЛЕДНИКОВЬЕ–ГОЛОЦЕНЕ

Continued record of paleogeographic events in the Shantar islands since the end of the Pleistocene was restored on the basis of a multy-proxy study of the stratigraphy of the blanket peatland. Biostratigraphical studies included botanical, diatom and pollen analyses. The age-depth model was built using 7 radiocarbon dates. For the first time, data of the environment development were obtained for the coldest part of the Sea of Okhotsk. Synchronicity and metachronicity of paleoclimatic events with regional data and global changes have been established. The Younger Dryas on the Shantar islands was much colder than in other areas around the Sea of Okhotsk. The climate became more maritime after the isolation of the islands at the early-middle Holocene. The influence of the cold sea and the presence of drifting ice were one of the main factors, why the early and middle Holocene optimums were poorly manifested here, and also determined the specifics of climatic rhythm. Models explaining alternation of relatively warm and cold periods with different humidity are proposed. The age of periods with heavy snowfalls has been established, as evidenced by the change in the role of shrub pine in island vegetation. Phases of development of local swamp and zonal landscapes are highlighted. Spruce appeared on the area ~11410–10345 cal. yr. BP, when there was a landbridge, and spruce trees became common in the middle Holocene and especially at the boundary of the middle-late Holocene. One of the controlling factors for the development of swamp landscapes was thermokarst processes. Significant changes in the environment occurred in the Little Ice Age, the most severe conditions were ~500–260 cal. yr. BP. In the last 210 years, the most significant changes in landscapes have been associated with anthropogenic fires.

АДАПТАЦИЯ СОСНЫ (PINUS SYLVESTRIS) К СОВРЕМЕННЫМ ЭКОЛОГИЧЕСКИМ РЕАЛИЯМ В БЕЛОРУССКОМ ПОЛЕСЬЕ

The results of a study of the current state of pine (Pinus sylvestris) in the Belarusian Polesie after the completion of reclamation development of swamps and wetlands for agricultural purposes are shown. The problem of its adaptation to the changed hydrogeological realities of a semihydromorphic sand edaphotope in changing climatic conditions has become particularly acute. The maximum, average and minimum tree-ring growth of modern generations of pine in the Belarusian Polesie was used to identify its adaptive abilities. It is proved that the adaptation of pine trees to changing climatic conditions after the completion of drainage reclamation resulted in a decrease in tree-ring growth in the second half of the twentieth century and in the beginning of the twenty-first century. It was found that sensitive to the variability of the conditions of humidification of the semihydromorphic edaphotope, both by atmospheric precipitation and ground water, blueberry pine forest demonstrates greater adaptive adaptability to the changed soil-ground water factor after drainage reclamation in dynamic climatic conditions in the Belarusian Polesie. It was found that the potential for stem mass growth  (maximum, average and minimum tree-ring growth) of blueberry pine forest trees is reduced by 1.5 times when the ground water is lowered to 1.6-2.0 m from the initial level of 0.35-0.5 m. It is noted that the May ground water level of 0.6 m is optimal for the stand, although its suppression is not excluded during heavy precipitation.

Land reclamation in Polissya (Sekun village)

The author tells about drainage reclamation - one of the structural types of hydromelioration, which began in Polissya in the Volyn province in the late nineteenth century. Reclamation, which preceded the First World War, was in the nature of the sewerage of swamps and manifested itself in the construction of canals: in some cases for the rafting of forests, in others - for the development of meadow swamps. The structures on the canals used for rafting were destroyed and burned during the First World and Civil Wars, the shallow network of canals in the swamps became silted up and lost its drainage effect. Drainage reclamation within Maly Polissya caused the transformation of soils in opposite directions. Under conditions of high culture of drained agriculture, they were transformed into drained cultivated soils, and under conditions of low culture of drained agriculture with numerous violations of the recommended agro-ameliorative measures - into drained degraded soils. The village of Sekun and events from the time of the Russian tsar to the present are mentioned. It was emphasized that land reclamation gave impetus to the economic life of the region, contributed to the introduction of new cultures and technologies. It is indicated that cyclical ups and downs were observed three times in the reclamation of Polissya lands. The first two cycles are related to external factors - world wars, and the third - internal - with the transition to a market economy. Each cycle ended with the decline of drainage reclamation. Thus, analyzing the long history of studying the hydromorphic soils of Volyn, the most important results are highlighted. Given the ambiguous conclusions of land reclamation in Polissya, modern researchers study it is a very important task.

Oligocene-Miocene source rocks of the Zhongcang Basin: Implications for hydrocarbon potential differentiation between lake basins in Central Tibet

The Oligocene-Miocene Dingqinghu Formation is widely distributed in lake basins of the Bangong-Nujiang suture zone (BNSZ), central Tibet and has been reported as an important source rock layer. However, limited works have been conducted in the Zhongcang Basin. To gain knowledge on hydrocarbon potential of this area and further investigate the organic matter (OM) accumulation mechanisms of source rocks in the BNSZ basins, samples collected along two measured sections from the Zhongcang Basin were subjected to sedimentological, organic geochemical and petrographic analyses. Sedimentological analyses indicate that all samples were deposited in prodeltic to deep lake environments. Total organic carbon (TOC) values and pyrolysis data suggest a poor to fair hydrocarbon source potential of the middle Dingqinghu Formation, with the exception of OM-rich samples locate in a marker bed of the upper part. Vitrinite reflectance (Ro) values of the upper part and middle-lower part samples range from 0.41 to 0.50 and 0.52 to 0.61, indicating immature and marginal mature stages, respectively. These maturity levels were also supported by specific maturity indices of sample extracts, such as ratios of C31 22S/(22S + 22R) homohopanes and C29 ββ/(αα + ββ) steranes. Bulk geochemistry, maceral composition of kerogen, and extract biomarkers demonstrate that OM-rich samples were deposited in fresh to brackish waters with type II-III kerogen mainly derived from algae and higher plants; while poor to fair samples have less higher plant contribution, but relatively high bacterial content that probably originated from more saline environments. The paleoclimate-induced environmental reorganization is likely responsible for the differential OM accumulation in the Zhongcang Basin; relatively wet climates would facilitate primary productivity of the lake as well as development of swamps on the delta, resulting in deposition of mixed terrestrial and aquatic OM with higher TOC, whilst dry conditions would restrict the development of river systems and promote the establishment of saline environments, causing decreased total OM input but increased proportion of halophilic bacterial OM. In addition, we summarized published data of the Dingqinghu Formation in the BNSZ basins and preliminarily reconstructed paleogeography of central Tibet. Two types of drainage patterns were confirmed in this area. A long-lived hierarchical drainage system is developed in the Lunpola area, while single lake systems were prevalent in other basins, including the Zhongcang Basin. The hierarchical drainage pattern could minimize clastic dilution effects during tectonic active and/or relatively wet periods, and prevent the establishment of hypersaline environments during the dry period. The drainage center in this kind of hierarchical system has lower sedimentation accumulation rate and could receive much more aquatic OM at any climatic conditions. We argue that tectonic-induced drainage organization primarily controlled the hydrocarbon potential differentiation between lake basins of central Tibet.

Distribution and Driving Factors of Forest Swamp Conversions in a Cold Temperate Region.

Forest swamps are widely distributed in cold temperate regions, with important landscape and ecological functions. They are prone to conversion caused by complex factors. Forest swamp conversions involve forest swamping, meadow swamping, water body swamping, and conversion to farmland. An understanding of the landscape characteristics and primary environmental factors driving forest swamp conversions is imperative for exploring the mechanism of forest swamp conversions. We investigated the landscape characteristics of forest swamp conversions and quantified the relative importance of environmental factors driving these conversions for the period from 1990 to 2015 in the Great Xing’an Mountains of China. We found that forest swamping displayed high patch numbers (34,916) and density (8.51/100 ha), commonly occurring at the edge of large areas of forests. Meadow swamping was localized with low patch numbers (3613) and density (0.88/100 ha) due to lack of water recharge from ground water. Water body swamping had complex shapes (perimeter area ratio mean = 348.32) because of water table fluctuations and helophyte growth during this conversion process. Conversions to farmland presented fairly regular (perimeter area ratio mean = 289.91) and aggregated (aggregation index = 67.82) characteristics affected by agricultural irrigation and management. We found that climatic and geomorphic factors were relatively important compared to topographic factors for forest swamp conversions. Negative geomorphic conditions provided the waterlogging environment as a precondition of swamp formation. Sufficient precipitation was an important source of water recharge due to the existence of permafrost regions and long-term low temperature reduced the evaporation of swamps water and the decomposition rate of organisms. These wet and cold climatic conditions promoted forest swamp development in cold temperate regions. Humans exerted a relatively important role in forest swamping and conversions to farmland. Fire disturbance and logging accelerated the conversion from forest to swamp. This study provides scientific information necessary for the management and conservation of forest swamp resources in cold temperate regions.

Effects of Highway-Related Pollutant on the Groundwater Quality of Turfy Swamps in the Changbai Mountain Area.

Transportation activities such as fuel consumption, vehicle wear and road deicing can detrimentally affect the groundwater quality of fragile roadside wetland environments including. Nineteen parameters (Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Cr, Ni, Hg, As, pH, TDS, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, SO42−, Cl−, HCO3−, NO3− and F−) were determined in groundwater samples from turfy swamps impacted by highway traffic from Jiangyuan (JY), Longquan (LQ), and Huangsongdian (HSD). Our results indicate that the metals Cu, Pb, Zn, Cr, Cd, the ions Na+, K+ and Cl− in groundwater were negatively affected by highway transportation, and the maximum affected distance of these pollutants varied from 15 to 100 m. The content of most of these pollutants in roadside groundwater decreased exponentially with the distance from the highway, as did the heavy metal pollution index HPI and Cd. The values of HPI and Cd in these three sites ranged from 46.8 to 78.4 and −4.9 to −2.9, respectively. The low pollution levels of heavy metals are related to the strong adsorption capacity of turfy soil towards metals. In any case, road transport activities increased the Cu, Pb, Zn, Cr, Cd, Na+, K+ and Cl− content in roadside groundwater in turfy swamp. With the increase of highway operation time, it will inevitably have a great influence on the groundwater quality of these wetlands. Therefore, the long-term monitoring is necessary to protect the sustainable development of turfy swamp.

Pengambilan Keputusan Dengan Pendekatan Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) Studi Kasus pada Pengembangan Kawasan Situ Pulo, Bekasi

In the era of autonomy, swamp (situ) is the one of property that could be managed by the local government in order to raise their revenues (PAD). However, in order to maximize its PAD, the decisions made by local governments usually faced with a complex situation. The research objective is to assess the perceptions and preferences of stakeholders that include the public, private sector and government towards the development of swamp. One of the eighteen swamps in Bekasi is "Situ Pule By using AHP obtained information that the most responsible party for the development of Situ Pulo is local government. Seeing this fact, the local government should be able to do development initiatives. However, the process of swamp development should depart from the aspirations of local communities.

DRAINABILITY OF PEAT DOME AREAS

Most of the large peat areas in Indonesia and Malaysia have a dome-shaped surface with an inverted saucer-shaped interface between the underlying peat/mineral contact. This results in the peat dome having a lens-shaped cross-section. The concept of drainability is determined by referring the elevation of the peat dome surface in relation to the mean height of the river level to which the peat dome is being drained to. Where this dome surface is lower than the mean elevation of the water in the river, backflow into the peat area can take place. With global warming and climate change being experienced these days, the development of peat swamps for agricultural activities may result in such a backflow. This is attributed to subsidence, decomposition and compaction of the peat after a period of agricultural development/activity having taken place. In the case of oil palm cultivation, the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), or the Malaysian/Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO/ISPO) Certification Scheme and the Greenpeace initiative requires existing oil palm estates to conduct a drainability study to determine if the estate may in the future have backflow from the river into the estate. This determines the length of time the estate can use natural drainage and not resort to expensive pumping. This paper reviews the concept of drainability and the problems associated in determining the drainability of peat domes. The usage of instruments such as altimeter and global positioning system (GPS) are also discussed. With the advent of technology, the determination of drainability on peat dome is made easier but remain challenging e.g. hindering the drainability team to survey along the banks of the river by native peoples. A few examples from Malaysia also are presented in this paper. Keywords: Drainability, peat dome, oil palm, climate change, RSPO.

Depositional processes and sedimentation pattern in an intermontane basin: Insights from the Imphal Basin, Indo‐Myanmar Range, NE India

Intermontane basins make a distinct category of sedimentary basins, but nevertheless, the depositional processes and sedimentation patterns therein are not well understood. Quaternary sediment‐filled Imphal Basin in the Indo‐Myanmar Range provides us with an excellent opportunity of lending insight into these sedimentological aspects of an intermontane basin. Detailed facies analysis brings out that five distinct facies associations (“FAA”–“FAE”) have developed in different parts of the basin, each one of which indicates a specific subenvironment of deposition. Facies characters and spatial distribution of facies associations reveal that the basin fill records interlinked lacustrine, fluvial, and alluvial fan processes. Comprising mud and peat, the facies association “FAA” represents deposits of a lake and lakeshore swamp. The facies association “FAB” comprises mud interfingered with crudely bedded gravel and represents suspension fallout in a lake with intervening gravel‐rich, hyperconcentrated flows that diffusively plunged into the lakebed. The sand‐dominated facies association “FAC” and gravel‐dominated facies association “FAD” were deposited in fluvial domains of meandering and braided streams, respectively. Rimming the basin margin, the gravel‐dominated facies association “FAE” was deposited in the alluvial fan–interfan areas. Widespread development of the lacustrine facies (“FAA” and “FAB”) around the Loktak Lake along with extensive peat development over the lacustrine mud suggests lakeshore regression and development of vast swamps under humid conditions. The regression under humid conditions could be a result of fast and enhanced influx of finer sediments into the lake that transcended the creation of accommodation space and ultimately led to faster infilling of the lake margins favouring development of vast swamps in due course of time.

Coal Facies Characteristics and Coal Formation Mechanism of No. 38 Coal Seam in Cuipingshan Coal Mine

No. 38 coal seam is the main coal seam in Cuipingshan Coal Mine. In order to reveal its coal-forming mechanism, the microlithologic types of No. 38 coal seam in Cuipingshan Coal Mine are analyzed by using modern testing methods such as sequence stratigraphy, coal petrology and geochemistry. We find that the maceral of No. 38 coal seam is mainly vitrinite, the average content is respectively 57.28%, the vitrinite is mainly telinite and desmocollinite, and the microlithotypes is semi-bright coal. The coal facies of the No. 38 coal seam include tidal flat-tidal channel wet forest swamp facies, shoreland lacustrine wet forest swamp facies and barrier island-lagoon low swamp facies. The formation background of coal seam is an environment of shoreland lacustrine facies, barrier island~lagoonfacies and tidal flat-tidal channel swamp facies, etc., which are sea-land transitional facies. The shoreland lacustrine wet forest swamp facies and barrier island-lagoon low swamp facies are the main coal facies types of the No. 38 coal facies in the region of interest and are distributed throughout the whole coal seam section. This indicates that it always predominated in the evolutionary process of swamp. The tidal flat-tidal channel wet forest swamp facies also accounted for a certain proportion in the formation process of coal seam, and constitutes periodic cycle structure with the shoreland lacustrine wet forest swamp facies and barrier island-lagoon low swamp facies. Generally the coal formation mechanism of No. 38 coal seam is a regressive swamp development process, and its coal formation environment is tidal flat-tidal channel swamp and shoreland lacustrine swamp. Besides, the development process of peat swamp is influenced by the frequent advance and retreat of secondary seawater.

Kajian Keunggulan Komparatif dan Strategi Pengembangan Kerbau Rawa Di Kalimantan Selatan

Swamp buffalo in South Kalimantan is a potential commodity in terms of providing meat because its ability to digest crude fiber is better than cattle with low quality feed conditions, and has the ability to reproduce over a wide range from wet areas to relatively dry areas. The study was conducted in the North Hulu Sungai regency of South Kalimantan with the aim of studying the potential of swamp buffalo maintenance areas, assessing the constraints and impacts of swamp buffalo development efforts, determining the logic of the relationship between the problem of swamp buffalo development, compiling a Logical Framework Approach for problem solving (solution) the development of swamp buffalo, making the right strategy for the development of swamp buffaloes that involve the participation of farmers, the private sector, banks, local governments, and higher education institutions on an ongoing basis. Research design with descriptive and participatory methods with LQ analysis techniques, analysis of regional potential, and Logical Framework Analysis (LFA). The results show that swamp agroecological zones are very beneficial for swamp buffalo cultivation, the strategic role of meat producers, labor, sources of income, advocates of sources of animal protein, sources of seeds, tourist attraction, and development of local wisdom. Comparing between the LQ value of 2.327 and the value of livestock density, the HSU District is the base for developing swamp buffalo cattle. The strategy model of swamp buffalo development in HSU District is to increase the use of appropriate technology, promotion through typical Kal-Sel swamp buffalo tourism events, improve: the role of skilled communities, the role of extension agents and the government, increase capital and cooperative relations between business actors, locations cultivation close to transportation routes, regulating land use, and improving institutional performance