Earth Banks Research Articles

Observations on rare nesting site of Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis) in District Udhampur, J&K UT, India

Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis) generally build their nest on tree cavities, rock scarps, vertical earth banks, crevices in walls of houses, ventilators between ceiling and roof of buildings, utility poles, and sewage and gas pipes; occasionally inside canopy of trees and rarely on open trees. In this study we documented the pictorial data on nesting site of Common Myna during March 2023 to August 2023 in Seyal Sallan village of district Udhampur JK, UT (32º91’N, 75º14’E; 704m SL), India. During investigations 3 nos. of open nests of Common Myna were found on the Phulai tree (Acicia modesta) in the study area. It was also found that the open nests of Common Myna turned to be unsuccessful one due to the predation by the predatory animals like Common Crow and Rufous treepie.

Der Zerbrochene Turm von Boița (Kreis Sibiu) in historischen Bildern und archäologischen Entdeckungen

Being an easy pass over the Carpathians, in the Middle Ages in times of peace, the valley of the river Olt was the most important trade route of Sibiu with Wallachia and further along with the Balkans. But it was also an easy access towards Sibiu in case of war, for which reason, besides a border point (the fortress from Turnu Roșu), the area was fortified with other fortresses as well, such as Landskrone in Tălmaciu, the strongholds in Tălmăcel and Lotrioara and a tower at the confluence of the Megieș brook and the Olt river. The current national road DN 7, going through the pass today, was the object of enlargement works in 2015, which gave us the opportunity to research the tower in the valley of the Megieș brook. The site is better known today as Turnul Spart [Broken Tower] and it stands on a narrow strip of sand and gravel between the river Olt and the national road DN 7. The tower was an outpost of the custom point from Turnu Roșu. According to old documents, it was built in the summer of 1503. The ensemble also included a stone wall which closed the valley. It started on the slope of the mountain and ended up near the water and had an arched opening where the road was. Half of the tower fell down in 1533 during a high flood of the Olt river, but the other half still stands, as well as a fragment of the wall closing the valley. Old images of the area (paintings and photographs) show these ruins and their slight alterations and decays over the last two centuries. The archaeological research in 2015 led to the discovery of the fallen half of the tower and also of a circular enclosure contemporary with the tower. The fallen half is overlapped by the foundation of the ruined house of the road caretaker. The enclosure made out of stone possibly supported an earth bank (which could not be observed during the research). In the debris of the tower two harquebuses were found dating from the second half of the 15th century and the beginning of the 16th. A bronze mortar was also found wearing the year 1516 embossed. Smaller iron items were also found. The research found no traces of burning linked to the tower and no materials dating after the 16th century. The abandonment of valuable items of the era and the later impossibility of recovering them as well as the lack of human remains suggest that the old documents were accurate and that the tower was indeed destroyed by the waters of the river, which also covered the debris in alluviums.

Rainfall–runoff process and sediment yield in response to different types of terraces and their characteristics: A case study of runoff plots in Zhangjiachong watershed, China

AbstractA field experiment was conducted in the Zhangjiachong watershed to analyze the characteristics of rainfall–runoff process and sediment yield under different types of terraces. Various runoff plots were utilized, and a two serial tank model was employed to simulate runoff generation and concentration processes, taking into account vegetation interception. A soil erosion model incorporating raindrop erosion and sheet erosion was established to replicate sediment yield and concentration process. The parameters of the rainfall–runoff model and soil erosion model were calibrated and validated using observed runoff and sediment yield data. The controlling factors on runoff and sediment yield were explored and compared. The results indicate that both calibration and validation outcomes were acceptable. The earth‐banked terraces–citrus demonstrated the largest coefficients of upper and lower surface runoff, while its upper runoff threshold of the upper tank and the runoff threshold of the lower tank were the lowest, suggesting that it was more likely to produce surface and subsurface runoff. On the other hand, the stone dike terraces–crops exhibited the smallest coefficients of upper and lower surface runoff, while its upper runoff threshold of the upper tank was the highest. The lower runoff threshold of the upper tank was the same across different types of terraces. Compared to the earth‐banked terraces, the stone dike terraces have a larger infiltration coefficient in the upper tank and a smaller infiltration coefficient in the lower tank. Sensitivity analysis indicates that the most sensitive factors affecting runoff simulation results are the runoff threshold and the infiltration coefficient of the lower tank. Terraces, whether constructed with earth banks or stone dikes, are effective in reducing soil erosion. However, during storm rainfall events, these terraces may be partially destroyed, resulting in a higher sediment yield than that of the same vegetation cover on slope land. Terraces with hedgerows have a more significant effect on reducing runoff and sediment than those without hedgerows.

Co-benefits of preserving urban farmland as climate change adaptation strategy: An emergy approach

The potential of urban green infrastructure (UGI) for adapting to climate change has been recognized, but the inclusion of urban farmland as a measure of nature-based solutions (NBS) and its co-benefits to alleviate flood risk has rarely been assessed. This case study of the Guandu Plain in Taipei City assesses the co-benefits of using urban farmland as an NBS measure to adapt to extreme climate events. Five alternative land use practices (increasing the ridge height of paddy rice fields, citizen farming, simple leisure farms, nursery gardens, and large nature parks) were proposed to assess their co-benefits when using existing farmland to alleviate flood risks; co-benefits were also identified through a workshop. Emergy synthesis was applied to estimate the inflows of energy and materials, performance, costs, and environmental sustainability of each alternative land use practice. Results indicated that all proposed alternative land use practices had higher co-benefits than traditional practices such as paddy rice fields. The use of earth banks to withhold excess runoff improved renewable energy flows and decreased environmental loading by reducing inflow energies from the economic system. Citizen farming had the highest return of co-benefits. Our findings suggest that the use of UGI to alleviate excess runoff and other benefits can co-exist with use for adaptation to extreme climate events. NBS are an important concept and should be integrated into land use planning to promote urban farmland as an effective UGI strategy to adapt to climate change.

Groundwater quality enumeration and health risk in the extended part of Chhotanagpur granite gneiss complex of India.

The majority of people on the earth bank largely on groundwater to quench their thirst. In the era of rapid population growth, the over-exploitation of groundwater gives rise to water scarcity, and people find themselves in distress to manage safe drinking water. In this backdrop, the present study is carried out in the terrain of Pre-Cambrian igneous and high- to low-graded metamorphic rocks, to assess the groundwater potential zones (GWPZs) and evaluation of groundwater quality. The map of GWPZ is produced employing the multi-criteria decision-making model and geospatial technology. It unveils that around 29% area of the watershed enjoys good GWPZ, whereas around 43% area experiences low GWPZ. The overall accuracy of the simulated model is 92%. The water quality index indicates that 68% of water samples belong to excellent to good water quality. A significant proportion of water samples (24%) are found to be unsuitable for drinking, which may be due to groundwater contamination by the process of leaching of mineral-rich weathered rocks. The presence of fluoride (F-) beyond the maximum permissible limit (1.5mg L-1) of WHO is recorded among 18% samples of the watershed, where 24,963 souls including 3457 children aged between 0 and 6years lived and might have ingested F- through drinking water. Hence, the health risk of those people is quite high. Children are at a more non-carcinogenic health risk of F- than adults. The study also confirms no statistically significant difference (p ˃ 0.05) is observed between low and high GWPZ with respect to groundwater quality. The study recommends adopting a sustainable outlook to explore GWPZ, and an assessment of drinking water quality must be done before drinking.

Sultan Selim II’s Volga – Don Canal in Russian and Turkish Historiography

In Russian and Turkish historiography, the themes of construction by Turkish troops of a canal between the Volga and Don tributaries, rivers Kamyshinka and Ilovlya, during the 1569 Astrakhan campaign became widespread. An archaeological monument known as “Selimov Val”, located in the territory of the Kamyshinsky Raion of the Volgograd Oblast, is regarded by some Russian and Turkish historians as remnants of this canal. The article analyzes the relevant historiography. It is shown that there were three viewpoints on this matter in the 17th – 20th century historiography: (1) Turkish (İbrahim Peçevi, Mustafa Âlî, Evliya Çelebi, and Ahmet Refik), Russian (A. I. Lyzlov, C. Cruys, G. S. Bayer, S. G. Gmelin, P. I. Rychkov, I. V. Rovinskii, and A. I. Rigelman), and European (P. Oderborn, M. Stryjkowski, and J. von Hammer) historians (16th to early 20th century) believed that the construction of the canal was the main goal, or one of the important goals, of the 1569 Astrakhan campaign and a significant part of the excavation works had been completed; these historians have not localized the canal construction site; (2) The representatives of the late 18th to early 20th century local-history historiography (N. Ya. Ozeretskovsky, A. N. Minkh, and K. G. Turovsky) believed that one of the canals between rivers Kamyshinka and Ilovlya was built by the Turks in 1569; (3) Russian (M. M. Shcherbatov, N. M. Karamzin, S. M. Solovyov, P. A. Sadikov, N. A. Smirnov, and A. L. Khoroshkevich) and Turkish (H. İnalcık and A. N. Kurat) historians (late 18th – early 21st century), drawing on the most reliable sources, argued that, in 1569, the works on the construction of the canal, if any, were carried out on a very small scale and 150 km to the south of Kamyshin rather than near it. Thus, the name of the archaeological heritage site, Selimov Val (“Selim’s earth bank”), is erroneous, as this site is what remains of a canal whose construction in 1697 was managed by J. Bröckell.

Komt de bosbouwkundige betekenis van rabat uit Nederland of Duitsland?

Did the use of the word ‘rabat’ in forestry originate in the Netherlands or Germany? ‘Rabatten’ are common historical relics in Dutch forests. These earth banks with ditches in between for drainage were used to grow trees in wet areas. In the recently published article Wat betekent ‘rabat’ en sinds wanneer leggen we bossen op rabatten? (What does ‘rabat’ mean and since when do we use ‘rabatten’ in forestry?)Mulder & Toorians (2021) provide an explanation for the origin of the word ‘rabat’ and its use in forestry. This originally French term has been used in Dutch garden architecture since the 17th century to indicate the outer planting beds in gardens. According to the authors the word ‘rabat’ subsequently was used in Dutch forestry. They conclude that the forestry meaning of ‘rabat’ is typically Dutch. However, a closer look at the historical German forestry literature seems to contradict this conclusion.

Погребальный комплекс Имасиродзука как усыпальница императора Кэйтай

This article presents an analysis of the results of archaeological study of the Imashirozuka burial mound located in Takatsuki City, Osaka Prefecture, the Japanese Archipelago. Archaeological excavations at the site have been performed by the trench method. During the excavations, mounds of the tomb, sections of the ditch and the earth bank were partially investigated. The section where the haniwa sculptural group is located has been studied in full. Presently, the largest group of haniwa known in the territory of the Japanese islands was found there. The results of the excavations make it possible to reveal the main characteristics of the elements of the burial complex, and to obtain new data on the methods of construction of the burials for the leaders at the later stages of the Kofun period. The article considers reconstruction of the technology for the construction of large burial mounds. The results of the study of the artifacts and methods of reconstruction of the grave goods are provided. The burial mound was partly destroyed due to tomb raiding in antiquity, so only fragments of grave goods were found in the area of the round mound. The Japanese archaeologists, using complex research methods and materials from the similar sites, were able to determine the composition of the funerary equipment, which included horse equipment, weapons, armor, and jewelry. The theory of the Imashirozuka mound as a burial place of the Emperor Keitai is offered for consideration and some controversial points of the theory are highlighted. The Japanese archaeologists present important arguments for the recognition of Imashirozuka as an Imperial burial.

GIS-based soil erosion modelling under various steep-slope vineyard practices

Soil erosion can cause a progressive degradation of hillslopes, especially in steep-slope agricultural landscapes. In this study, the formation of spatial erosion patterns was evaluated in three typical steep-slope vineyard cultivation practices in northern Italy: dry-stone wall terraces, earth bank terraces and vertical cultivation (Italian: rittochino). UAV surveys in three vineyards provided high-resolution data on topography and land use serving as input for two GIS-based erosion models: the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) and SIMulated Water Erosion model (SIMWE). Annual RUSLE simulations showed how the two terracing practices (i.e. dry-stone walls and earth banks) effectively safeguarded large areas from soil loss, whereas the non-terraced vertical cultivation produced widely distributed soil loss with increasing severity according to slope length and steepness. In intense single-event conditions simulated by SIMWE, all three practices showed the formation of critical preferential surface flow patterns, corresponding to several field-observed erosion patterns (piping of stone walls, landslides on earth banks, and rill erosion in the non-terraced vineyard), while also in this case showing the highest erosion rates for the non-terraced vertical cultivation. Simulated flow concentration was strongly determined by the spatial organisation of the hillslope, roads and vines, and several strategies were discussed for erosion mitigation (including drainage systems or enhanced soil cover). Furthermore, the results indicated that SIMWE is an optimal approach for the recognition of soil erosion processes occurring during intense rainfall conditions. This study provides an example of high-resolution erosion risk evaluation, which should play a crucial role in the design and management of steep-slope vineyards.

Mechanisms of root-soil reinforcement in bio-embankments of sloping farmland in the purple hilly area, China

Bio-embankment is an important soil and water conservation measure in the purple hilly area in China, which can effectively improve the ability of cultivated soil layers to resist rainfall erosion and runoff scour. In contrast, the ecological effect of bioembankment depends on the stability of the earth bank. Taking the natural grass bank as a control (CK), the root distribution, root tensile properties and shear resistance of root-soil composites for 3 typical soil and water conservation bio-embankments, namely, Morus alba Linn (Morus), Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim. (Zanthoxylum) and Medicago sativa (Medicago) were analysed. The results included the following: (1) The root system of the bio-embankments generally decreased in extent with the soil depth; fine roots in the 0–10 cm depth were most prevalent and significantly higher than those at the other depths, and coarse roots were mainly distributed in the 0–30 cm layer. (2) The stress-strain curves of the roots of each bio-embankment were single-peak curves without clear strain softening phenomena. The smaller the root diameters were, the smoother the stress-strain curves, and the lower the capability of the earth bank to resist collapse. The larger the root diameters were, the lower the tensile strength. The average root tensile force was highest for Zanthoxylum (73.91 N), followed by Medicago (68.07 N) and Morus (61.88 N), and the average root tensile strength showed the same trend, 16.52 MPa for Zanthoxylum, 16.08 MPa for Medicago and 13.02 MPa for Morus. (3) The bio-embankment measures significantly improved the soil shear resistance, especially under vertical loads of 100 kPa and 200 kPa. The soil internal friction angle showed a significant log-positive correlation with root morphological parameters of root length density (RLD), root surface area density (RSAD) and root weight density (RWD), while the soil cohesion force showed a positive linear correlation with these parameters. The results provide effective parameters supporting for the design of bio-embankments and promoting the use of soil reinforcement with suitable species selection in protective earth banks for stability in the purple hilly area.

Improvement stability of earth canal banks using geo-technical approaches

ABSTRACTSplash erosion is one of the common erosional features, which is happening in the steep slope of sidewall of earth structures. Accordingly, it is necessary to use erosion control procedures in some sections of the route, especially in the intersection with other structures or in the intervals of channel route in the vicinity of access road or agricultural lands. Application of bio-mulches and well-known natural modifying agents are being used to control erosion. This research aimed to control splash and rill erosion processes along the steep slope of sidewall of earth structures and to find out the best modifying agents and bio-mulches to enhanced stability of soil profile. The research method was formulated to use experimental methods to simulate rainfall in different intensities and durations using rain simulation laboratory of soil protection and watershed management research institute. In addition, modifying agents and bio-mulches were applied in order to discover optimum compounds to improve stability of soil resistance parameters on the sidewalls of irrigation and drainage channels. Further, geometry of the irrigation and drainage channels (Khuzestan Province, Southwestern of Iran) was use to setup experimental procedures. In total, 290 tests were conducted using 15 types of modifiers and bio mulches. The resultant data have emphasized on effectiveness treatments using bio-mulches and groups of cements such as sulfate, slurry and lime, and soil mixture with a confidence level of 95 percent. For instance, bio-mulches were increased soil resistance upon to 89% rate of erosion along the sidewalls of drainage channels. Sulfate resistant cement slurry treatment has represented the best performance among other soil-modifying agents with a rate of 98%. The present research has introduced applicability methods of the bio-mulch and soil-modifying agents in soil erosion control.

Limitations in the Reproductive Success of a Burrow-Nesting Bird (Momotus mexicanus) During a Humid Season

Abstract. Burrow-nesting birds are limited by access to nest sites, particularly in years of very high humidity levels, such those seen with El Nino, or in forests that are fragmented due to the effects of human activity. We assessed the breeding success of Momotus mexicanus nesting along the earth bank of a secondary road corridor in a seasonally dry tropical forest in Central Mexico. We monitored 28 nests during the reproductive period and characterized the composition of the soil where they were constructed, as well as other physical variables. One nest produced 2 fledglings, and the other 27 failed to produce any: 46% of the nests experienced flooding or wall collapses, while the nests built on sandy loam soil remained intact. We also report other basic natural history variables for these neotropical burrow-nesting birds.

Nest temperature fluctuations in a cavity nester, the southern ground-hornbill

Southern ground-hornbills Bucorvus leadbeateri inhabit savanna and bushveld regions of South Africa. They nest in the austral summer, which coincides with the wet season and hottest daytime temperatures in the region. They are secondary cavity nesters and typically nest in large cavities in trees, cliffs and earth banks, but readily use artificial nest boxes. Southern ground-hornbills are listed as Endangered in South Africa, with reintroductions into suitable areas highlighted as a viable conservation intervention for the species. Nest microclimate, and the possible implications this may have for the breeding biology of southern ground-hornbills, have never been investigated. We used temperature dataloggers to record nest cavity temperature and ambient temperature for one artificial and 11 natural southern ground-hornbill tree cavity nests combined, spanning two breeding seasons. Mean hourly nest temperature, as well as mean minimum and mean maximum nest temperature, differed significantly between southern ground-hornbill nests in both breeding seasons. Mean nest temperature also differed significantly from mean ambient temperature for both seasons. Natural nest cavities provided a buffer against the ambient temperature fluctuations. The artificial nest provided little insulation against temperature extremes, being warmer and cooler than the maximum and minimum local ambient temperatures, respectively. Nest cavity temperature was not found to have an influence on the breeding success of the southern ground-hornbill groups investigated in this study. These results have potentially important implications for southern ground-hornbill conservation and artificial nest design, as they suggest that the birds can tolerate greater nest cavity temperature extremes than previously thought.

Taxonomy and ecology of a new species of Corynura (Hymenoptera:Halictidae: Augochlorini) from Chile and Argentina.

We describe a new species of Corynura Spinola, a socially polymorphic genus within the bee tribe Augochlorini (Halictidae). We present a detailed description of both sexes of Corynura (Corynura) moscosensis n. sp. González-Vaquero, images of diagnostic morphological structures and antennal sensilla, floral associations, distributional data and notes on its nesting biology. Corynura moscosensis n. sp. is similar in appearance to C. (C.) chloromelas (Alfken), but it can be distinguished by the sculpturing of the mesoscutum and the hair types on the propodeum in the female, and by the genitalia and extent of the area exclusively covered by sensilla placoidea on the antennal flagellum of the male. A lectotype is designated for C. chloromelas. A Chilean Patagonian population of C. moscosensis n. sp. was observed to dig spatially clumped nests in an earth bank with a moderately hard and humid soil. The presence of multiple females within single nest tunnels is unusual and may preliminary suggest nest-sharing, but more data are necessary to define the social organization of this species. The species appears to be polylectic. Bee nests were attacked by satellite flies and possibly velvet ants.

Roosting Ecology of Amazonian Bats: Evidence for Guild Structure in Hyperdiverse Mammalian Communities

ABSTRACT The ecological mechanisms that sustain high species richness in Neotropical bat communities have attracted research attention for several decades. Although many ecologists have studied the feeding behavior and diets of Neotropical bats on the assumption that food is a limiting resource, other resource axes that might be important for species coexistence are often ignored. Diurnal refugia, in particular, are a crucial resource for bats, many of which exhibit conspicuous morphological or behavioral adaptations to the roost environment. Here we report and analyze information about roost occupancy based on >500 field observations of Amazonian bats. Statistical analyses of these data suggest the existence of distinct groups of species roosting (1) in foliage, (2) exposed on the trunks of standing trees, (3) in cavities in standing trees, (4) in or under fallen trees, (5) beneath undercut earth banks, and (6) in arboreal insect nests; additionally, we recognize other groups that roost (7) in animal bur...

Evaluation of moraine loams' filtration properties

In Lithuania, surface moraine loam, clay and other lithologic varieties with low permeability take around 60% of the territory. Roads, railway tracks, bridges, dumps intended for keeping waste of different level of danger and other overground structures are built in these areas. Moraine formations with low water permeability become the foundation for earth bank, roads, bridge supports, dumps and other engineering structures. Through these foundations water filtration, infiltration, movement of capillary water and evaporation to the atmosphere continue during the entire period of operation. In wintertime, the volumetric changes of water, contained and freezing in these soils, and water migration in soil towards the surface of freezing determine deformations of foundations or road surface and the occurrence of frost cracks. All the mentioned water migration processes in the layers take place in various directions and in different intensity. This determines the change in geomechanical and geofiltration properties of foundation soils. Foundation soil deformations are likely also due to the processes of drying, bloating and filtration of clayey soils. Thus, the goal of the present work is to evaluate the evolution of filtration features and evaporation intensity of moraine loam in time. The continuous duration of laboratory investigations was over 10 months. For filtration, the filtrometer was used containing the Proctor Standard moulds, water deaeration device and pressure measuring stand with three tubes of different diameter (piezometers). Water and air temperature and relative humidity of the laboratory were measured during each experiment.

Spatial patterns of 137Cs inventories and soil erosion from earth-banked terraces in the Yimeng Mountains, China

The Yimeng Mountains is one of China's most susceptible regions to soil erosion. In this region, slopes are composed of granite- or gneiss-derived soils that are commonly cultivated using earth-banked terraces. Based on the 137Cs measurement for nine reference cores, the present study analysed the spatial patterns of 137Cs inventory and soil erosion using 105 sampling points in a seven-level earth-banked terrace system. The mean 137Cs inventory, standard deviation, coefficient of variation, and allowable error for the nine reference cores were 987 Bq m−2, 71 Bq m−2, 7%, and 6%, respectively, values that may reflect the heterogeneity of the initial 137Cs fallout deposit. Within each terrace, the 137Cs inventory generally increases from the rear edge to the front edge, accompanied by a decrease in the erosion rate. This results from planation by tillage and rainfall runoff during the development of the earth-banked terraces. Across the entire seven-level terrace system, 137Cs inventories decrease from the highest terrace downwards, but increase in the lower terraces, whereas erosion rate displays the opposite trend. These trends are the result of the combined effects of the earth-bank segmented hillslope, the limited protection of the earth banks, and rainfall runoff in combination with tillage. The high coefficients of variation of 137Cs inventories for the 21 sampling rows, with a mean value of 44%, demonstrate the combined effects of variations in original microtopography, anthropogenic disturbance, the incohesive soils weathered from underlying granite, and the warm climate. Although earth-banked terraces can reduce soil erosion to some extent, the estimated erosion rates for the study area are still very high.

津波防潮堤の評価および防潮盛土の耐侵食性の確保・向上

In the 2011 Off the Pacific Coast of Tohoku Earthquake, the toughness of earth banks against the tsunami could be learned and the sea walls with the toughness will be required for the future tsunami. Because the toughness against the tsunami aren't identified clearly, this paper discusses and proposes the concepts on the toughness of sea walls etc. against the tsunami, and the toughness of earth banks and the methods improving the toughness of them are discussed and clarified based on the earth bank model tests experimentally. As the results, the toughness of earth banks and its improving methods can be shown for applying them similar to the sea walls as one of measures against the tsunami.

2011 年東北地方太平洋沖地震で被災した盛土での余震観測と地震動の評価

2011 年東北地方太平洋沖地震で被災した盛土での余震観測と地震動の評価

津波に対する盛土の耐侵食性および落堀構造の減勢特性の検証

津波に対する盛土の耐侵食性および落堀構造の減勢特性の検証