High Degree Of Naturalness Research Articles

New fungal non-pollen palynomorphs from moss polsters collected from the Białowieża Forest (NE Poland)

This paper reports on new, previously undescribed non-pollen palynomorphs (NPPs) of fungal origin preserved in moss polsters in a forest environment of a temperate zone. Modern NPPs were recovered from moss samples from 114 sites located in different types of forest ecosystems of Białowieża Forest, north-eastern Poland – a forest complex with a high degree of naturalness, similar to forests that covered large areas of Europe in the past.98 types of fungal NPPs were identified, of which 20 morphotypes presented here are considered new, not previously described. Half of the new remains could be identified to species or genus level, thereby conferring ecological indicator value to them. Each new, determined NPP can be a useful tool in environmental reconstructions.This study shows that moss polsters in forested areas contain many undescribed NPPs, the description and analysis of which can deliver additional ecological information about ecosystems.

Deep learning of curvature features for shape completion

The paper presents a novel solution to the issue of incomplete regions in 3D meshes obtained through digitization. Traditional methods for estimating the surface of missing geometry and topology often yield unrealistic outcomes for intricate surfaces. To overcome this limitation, the paper proposes a neural network-based approach that generates points in areas where geometric information is lacking. The method employs 2D inpainting techniques on color images obtained from the original mesh parameterization and curvature values. The network used in this approach can reconstruct the curvature image, which then serves as a reference for generating a polygonal surface that closely resembles the predicted one. The paper’s experiments show that the proposed method effectively fills complex holes in 3D surfaces with a high degree of naturalness and detail. This paper improves the previous work in terms of a more in-depth explanation of the different stages of the approach as well as an extended results section with exhaustive experiments.

Is the Current Forest Management to the Northernmost Population of Cordulegaster heros (Anisoptera: Cordulegastridae) in Central Europe (Czech Republic) Threatening?

Cordulegaster heros is included in the EN category on the IUCN Red List for the territory of the Czech Republic, where it inhabits an area of approximately 100 km2. All of the localities are located in the forest complex in Chřiby hills, and all of the forests fall into the category of management forests. Most of the forest stands have a high and very high degree of naturalness; they are natural forest stands. The predominant management units are Nutrient sites in middle elevations (78.2% of the area) and Oligotrophic sites in middle elevations (2.1% of the area), with stand types of Fagus sylvatica representing 92.5% of the area, and forest stand types of Quercus sp. representing 5.7% of the area. The wider alluvia in forest streams are classified as being in management unit alder and ash sites on waterlogged and floodplain soils (1.1%), with the forest stand type of Alnus glutinosa. The forest stands are restored by regeneration under shelterwood (97.8% of the area). The waterlogged alluvia, if a separate management unit is established for them, are restored by a regeneration by strip method. Realistically, seven factors were recorded in C. heros habitats, but they mostly have only point effects. Within forestry management, the factors of logging directly in the habitats and the subsequent transport of harvested timber in the habitat were recorded. The most intrusive effects were found on tractor logging roads, where fine soil washes into the stream and causes prolonged turbidity. Of the water management structures in the study area, logging roads with bridges and culverts are constructed, stream banks are reinforced with longitudinal walls at points, and stone steps in the channels are constructed only sporadically. The current forest management system can be described as a nature-friendly system, and therefore, it fully ensures the conditions for the survival of the C. heros population in the Czech Republic.

Urban Public Spaces as Restorative Environments: The Case of Ljubljana.

In this study, we used a survey to examine how urban residents in Ljubljana, Slovenia, value and use distinct urban public spaces. Specifically, we were interested to assess if urban public spaces in the city are used/perceived as restorative environments. To do this, we addressed the question: To what extent do restorative dimensions differ in nine selected urban public spaces, varying in size, design, amenities, number of visitors, and, most importantly, degree of naturalness? Results from survey allowed to determine to what extent the selected urban public spaces in Ljubljana differ in terms of their perceived degree of restoration. We hypothesized that urban public spaces with a higher degree of naturalness in the city have a higher restoration value than urban public spaces with a lower degree of naturalness. Surprisingly, the urban public space that was above average on most restorative dimensions was the Old Town. These results are somewhat at odds with the attentional restoration theory, which states that the combination of dimensions is most typical of natural environments. However, this could be an indicator of the effectiveness of the city's current policies to improve the quality of life for its citizens.

FURTHER INVESTIGATION ON THE MOSQUITOES (DIPTERA CULICIDAE) IN THE CAFFARELLA VALLEY, APPIA ANTICA REGIONAL PARK: FIRST RECORD OF CULEX THEILERI IN ROME, ITALY

From September 2020 to April 2021 a mosquito monitoring activity was carried out in the Caffarella Valley within the Appia Antica Regional Park in Rome, a very popular urban park completely surrounded by densely populated neighborhoods. During this entomological survey, we collected 798 mosquito larvae that were identified by morphology and by molecular tools. Out of these samples, eight taxa have been identified morphologically or molecularly in case of complex of species, belonging to five genera: Culex pipiens (49.1%, n=392), Culiseta annulata (16%, n=128), Culiseta longiareolata (13.1%, n=105), Anopheles claviger (11.5%, n=92), Aedes albopictus (5.5%, n=44), Anopheles maculipennis s.s. (2%, n=16), Culex theileri (0.7%, n=6), Uranotaenia unguiculata (1.8%, n=15). The noteworthy datum of this survey is the finding of Cx. theileri, a very common species in ponds and marshes in natural and rural environments, but never recorded before in Rome, and also the record of Ur. unguiculata, previously reported in Rome but never observed in this park. Caffarella Valley confirms its high degree of naturalness and high biodiversity in terms of mosquito species together to its particular location as a very popular urban park, completely surrounded by densely populated neighborhoods. Key Words: mosquitoes, Culex theileri, Rome, Italy

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Exploring Best Approaches to Bible Translation for Native and Non-Native English Speakers

From around the Reformation period to modern times, many English Bibles have been produced. In their production, many approaches have been employed. These approaches have been categorized in different ways by different scholars. Two of these approaches have been identified and explained in this article. They are formal equivalence and functional equivalence. According to Bill Mounce, formal equivalence shows a strong preference for replicating the form of the original languages. It makes translations reflect the formal structure of the original text. E. Ray Clendenen and David K. Stabnow assert that functional equivalent translation aims primarily at a high degree of naturalness in the translation. It renders the original language in such a way that it sounds natural in the target language. These approaches have also given way to different types of translation and qualities of translation. There are two major types of translation. They are literal translation and meaning-based translation. There are some qualities that a good translation should attain. Some of these qualities are accuracy, clarity, naturalness and faithfulness to the source text. The questions of great importance that are begging for the answer are: What is the best approach to Bible translation? How can this approach be attained? This article examines the best approaches to Bible translation and explains how the Mobilized Assistance Supporting Translation (MAST) method can assist to maintain check and balance in the interaction of Biblical translation approaches. The English translations of the Bibles are used as illustrations. The article summarizes the best approach to Bible translation and posits that the English Bible produced is in-between the literal translation and meaning-based translation, natural, clear, accurate, and faithful to the source text. The study recommends that such an approach can be found when the MAST method is adopted, and the English Bible produced will be readable and familiar to both native English speakers and non-native English speakers. Keywords – Bible Translation, Formal Equivalence, Functional Equivalence, MAST Methods

Assessing ecotourism in a mountainous landscape using GIS – MCDA approaches

Creation of spatial models are of utmost importance for tourism development in environmentally vulnerable areas. This paper aims to classify a mountainous landscape, Fereydounshahr Township (Iran), using a naturalness continuum with respect to ecotourism potential. In doing so, a conceptual model was developed that consisted of two clusters (natural and anthropogenic), including nine attributes. A Best Worst Method (BWM) was applied for weighting of the criteria. Results indicated that the presence of wildlife scored the highest value, whereas visibility of power lines was the lowest. A Weighted Linear Combination (WLC) was used for combining the criteria to produce a reliable map for ecotourism development, as measured by a sensitivity analysis. It consisted of five classifications: extremely natural (V); highly natural (IV); moderately natural (III); marginally natural (II); and not natural (I). Findings revealed that nearly 60% of the area was covered by Class IV and V, indicating a high degree of naturalness throughout the region. Owing to the fragile nature of the environment, tourism development at this location should focus on hard, rather than soft ecotourists (i.e., minimal development). This same methodology can be used by managers to adopt appropriate strategies regarding possible development options at other tourism destinations, worldwide.

Saf Doğu Kayını (Fagus orientalis Lipsky.) işletme ormanlarında yükselti ve bakının dikili ölü ağaç sayısı ve stabilite indeksine etkisi

Snags are a major structural and functional component in oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky.) because of their high degree of naturalness in northern Anatolia forests. This research, as a case study, was conducted in the even-aged and pure oriental beech managed forest in Bartın. In this research where the effect of exposure and elevation, zone factors on stability index, the number and volume of snags (standing coarse deadwood: CDWsnags) were examined. It was found that exposure did not affect the stability index, number and volume of CDWsnags. However, there is a significant difference among the elevation zone on the number of CDWsnags, their volume and stability index (P≤0,000). It was found that there is an average volume of 8.87 m3/ha of CDWsnags. The diameter of the snags is distributed between 32 and 72 cm. In addition, a strong positive correlation was determined between the number of CDWsnags and the stability index (r= 0,95), height and breast diameter of CDWsnags (r = 0,98). These results may be an important tool to be used to improve management interventions in the management of high value forests.

A green sustainable architectural model for the suburbs

Abstract The Goal 11 <<make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable >> is crucial in the increasing Europe urbanization context. By altering cities and the surrounding countryside, urban growth is having several consequences on ecosystem and human health. The urban density alludes to the idea of the cities as a ‘sick bodies', now reemerging because of the recent climatic and health crises. This concept should be contrasted with the idea of the ‘city as a cure', that can limit the consumption of soil and energy, reducing our ecological burden on the environment. Recently, in Europe many urban development projects have been implemented according to sustainability principles as the Eindhoven demonstration case where, a central square was transformed into a small green oasis. Reforesting, even at the cost of demolishing to create large avenues for green area, is essential for air quality and for intervening on the climate. To intervene on abandoned urban canals by creating new waterways may redevelop entire areas and affect traffic and temperature. To contain the negative impact of the built space on the environment is in fact aimed at increasing the green space. However, recent studies demonstrate the criticalities of the fragmentation of landscapeto analyze the link between urban form and landscape heterogeneity to establish renewed relationships between the forms of architecture and the natural void and to devise urban projects to control building density and population. In particular, to develop models for redeveloping the suburbs by building new urban parts from scratch, with a view to urban polycentrism. The recomposition of ecological corridors and of the municipal, provincial and regional environmental network may connect to the great ‘green lungs' of natural parks and to areas with a high degree of naturalness in a progressive succession of habitats to mitigate ever new forms of overall mutations of natural and anthropised environments.

Restorative benefits of urban green space: Physiological, psychological restoration and eye movement analysis

Urban life is associated with a range of health risks. However, urban green spaces have been found to promote health recovery and reduce mental stress. This study sought to assess the influence of the spatial and environmental characteristics of urban green space on environmental restoration. We measured physiological and psychological changes among 60 participants to evaluate the restorative benefits of 12 green spaces in Shenyang. The Perceived Restorativeness Scale and two physiological measures (heart rate variation and skin conductance response) were used to analyze the effects of spatial characteristics on restorative benefits. In addition, eye-tracking was used to explore the influence of environmental components on restorative benefits. The results revealed that, although there were slight differences between physiological and psychological findings, both confirmed that urban green space had a restorative benefit. Partially-open green spaces with a high degree of naturalness had more positive effects than open green spaces with a high degree of hard paved spaces. Eye movement analysis results revealed that trees and shrubs, as well as water, had a positive effect on the environmental restoration benefits, whereas buildings and paving had a negative effect. Among environmental features, trees and shrubs, water, and buildings exerted the strongest effects on environment restoration. In the future, combining spatial characteristics and environmental components will aid improvement of the restorative qualities of urban green space.

Biota communities influence on nutrients circulation in hyporheic zone\u2014a case study in urban spring niches in Bialystok (NE Poland)

Hyporheic zone (HZ) is an interstitial part of groundwater. Complex physical, chemical and biological processes in HZ impact water quality. We hypothesized that groundwater upwelling improves surface water with biogenic compounds in lowland spring niches, and it depends on among others biota communities. The research was conducted in two spring niches in suburbs of Białystok. Interstitial samples were collected with mini-piezometers. In the field, the physical parameters of water were examined, and the micro and macro elements were determined in the laboratory. The analysis of biota included: vascular plants and bryophytes, diatoms, macroinvertebrates and bacteria. The springs studied differed in their richness of organisms, which is associated with varying degrees of abiotic conditions and human transformation. In spring niche with high degree of naturalness were twice less nitrate ions in the surface water than in interstitial water, which indicates the assimilation of nitrate ions by plants growing on the bottom of the niche. Hydrophilic vegetation performs a stabilizing function by assimilating nitrogen compounds and contributing to a variation in nutrients concentration. Groundwater upwelling enrich surface water with DOC and TON. In spring niche No.1 with patches of vegetation, the largest number of macrozoobenthos was recorded. While, the heterogeneous bottom of spring niche No.2 affected the diversity of habitats, and greater biodiversity of benthic fauna. In interstitial waters, there were about twice as few bacteria as in spring waters. Psychrophilic bacteria were present in interstitial waters that influence natural hyporheic processes including circulation of organic matter in the microbiological loop and self-purification of water.

The Effect of Animate-Inanimate Soundscapes and Framing on Environments' Evaluation and Predicted Recreation Time.

In this research, we investigated whether soundscapes’ animateness and the framing of environments affect participants’ assessment of the surroundings and their predicted recreation time. In an online study, we showed the participants six stimuli, each consisting of an animate or inanimate soundscape recording and of a verbal label of a natural or urban environment. We asked them to (a) imagine visiting the presented locations while mentally fatigued, in company or alone; (b) to visualize spending time there while engaged in recreational activities; and (c) to assess the environment and the predicted recreation time. We found that environments with animate soundscapes were rated as having a higher degree of naturalness and were favored in the urban condition. Environments with inanimate soundscapes, meanwhile, were preferred in the natural condition. Furthermore, natural-framed soundscapes were evaluated as having a higher degree of naturalness and were preferred over urban-framed soundscapes. Social context did not affect the results; however, we discovered the indirect effect of natural labels on the recreation time through the naturalness of the environments, both for the environments with animate and inanimate soundscapes. Overall, our findings demonstrate the influence of soundscapes’ animateness and framing on the settings’ evaluations and on recreation time.

Index of Atmospheric Purity reflects the ecological conditions better than the environmental pollution in the Carpathian forests

The Index of Atmospheric Purity (IAP) is a popular tool used for the assessment of air quality in polluted urban areas, on the basis of phytosociological data of epiphytic lichen communities. We hypothesized that this indicator could also be used in less polluted forest areas to determine the quality of ecological conditions for lichens. The aim of the present study was to verify the use of IAP method in the assessment of environmental pollution, and alternatively for the assessment of general ecological conditions in protected mountain forests of Gorce National Park (Polish Western Carpathians) based on the epiphytic lichen biota associated with Picea abies. The spatial distribution of IAP values on monitored sites in GNP was compared with: 1) spatial distribution of accumulated sulfur, nitrogen, selected heavy metals, and total heavy metals in Hypogymnia physodes thalli in 1993 and 2018 (30 sites), 2) mean ecological indicator values characterizing species requirements for light (L), substrate reaction (R) and nutrients (N), in 1993, 2013 and 2018 (33 sites). Generalized linear model and redundancy analysis were performed for disclosing most influencing factors affecting lichen communities. The study revealed a few negligible relationships between IAP values and accumulation of such elements as Ni, Mn, Cd, and Cr in both monitoring periods. Simultaneously, IAP can be useful for the identification of forest areas with a high degree of naturalness.

Rocky pine forests in the High Coast Region in Sweden: structure, dynamics and history

Almost all forests in Sweden are managed and only a small fraction are considered natural. One exception is low productive forests where, due to their limited economical value, natural dynamics still dominate. One example is the Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) forests occurring on rocky and nutrient-poor hilltops. Although these forests represent a regionally common forest type with a high degree of naturalness, their dynamics, structure and history are poorly known. We investigated the structure, human impact and fire history in eight rocky pine forests in the High Coast Area in eastern Sweden, initially identified as good representatives of this forest type. This was done by sampling and measuring tree sizes, -ages, fire-scarred trees, as well as dead wood volumes and quality along three transects at each site. The structure was diverse with a sparse layer of trees (basal area 9 m2 and 640 trees larger than 10 cm ha-1) in various sizes and ages; 13 trees ha-1 were more than 300 years old. Dead wood (DW), snags and logs in all stages of decay, was present and although the actual DW (pine) volume (4.4 m3 ha-1) and number of units (53 ha-1) was low, the DW share of total wood volume was 18% on average. Dead wood can be present for several centuries after death; we found examples of both snags and logs that had been dead more than 300 years. Frequent fires have occurred, with an average cycle of 40 years between fires. Most fires occurred between 1500-1900 and many of them (13) during the 1600s. However, fires were probably small since most fire years were only represented at one site and often only in one or a few samples. The rocky pine forests in the High Coast Area are representative of undisturbed forests with low human impact, exhibiting old-growth characteristics and are valuable habitats for organisms connected to sun-exposed DW. Management of protected rocky pine forests may well include small-scale restoration fires and the limited DW volumes should be protected.

Białowieża Forest—A Relic of the High Naturalness of European Forests

In Europe only some small isolated patches of forests with a high degree of naturalness still exist. These are forests, whose structure, composition and function has been shaped by natural dynamics without substantial anthropogenic influence over the long period. In this respect, Białowieża Forest is a unique location in Europe, with continuous forest cover for close to 12,000 years. The palynological, archaeological and historical data document only a weak anthropogenic fingerprint compared to other European lowland forests in Holocene history. Due to long-lasting protection, a large portion of the forest is still composed of stands originating from the pre-silvicultural period. Moreover, the stands of Białowieża Forest converted by silvicultural activities during the 20th century have the potential to recover owing to patches of stands with high naturalness, scattered throughout the forest. As conflict over management of the forest has recurred regularly for close to century, there is a need to summarize our knowledge on the forest history and natural assets, to help making scientifically informed decisions over its future. Expansion of a non-intervention approach to the Polish part of the forest is suggested to increase the stability of the entire ecosystem and enhance the chances for its successful adaptation to changing environmental conditions. This will increase the importance of Białowieża Forest as an open-door laboratory for biology, ecology, and forestry.

Spatial patterns of trees from different development stages in mixed temperate forest in the Hyrcanian region of Iran

Mixed beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) forests are very important to the Hyrcanian region of Iran because of their high degree of naturalness and as a source of wood production. Determination of tree spatial patterns over development stages is a first step in understanding underlying processes driving regeneration and forest dynamics. Spatial patterns of trees from three development stages (initial, optimal and decay) of an untouched mixed beech forest were quantified within three 1-ha plots. To prepare the stem maps, we measured each tree with a DBH larger than 7.5 cm using the azimuth-distance method. Spatial patterns were then analysed using Ripley’s K-function. Results indicated that the number of trees decreased from the initial stage to the decay stage, with tree spatial patterns being aggregated, slightly aggregated and highly randomized for initial, optimal and decay stages, respectively. Differences in spatial patterns among the development stages are not unexpected considering that such unmanaged forests are driven by gap dynamics which results in interactions between gap filling individuals.

Are long-term changes in plant species composition related to asymmetric growth dominance in the pristine Białowieża Forest?

Białowieża Virgin Forest in northeastern Poland is one of the greatest treasures of the international conservation community for its high degree of naturalness, large area and long status of protection. Over seven decades of intensive measurements revealed substantial changes in tree species composition. In the early 20th century, Białowieża Forest was dominated by Norway spruce, Scots pine and pedunculate oak. The densities of these species declined in subsequent decades, while those of hornbeam and small-leaved lime increased. We applied a recently developed concept of growth dominance to explore how the changes in species abundance and size structure may have influenced growth processes. Growth dominance is a statistical characteristic that is based on the Lorenz curve and combines cumulative sizes of trees with the corresponding cumulative growth rates. Despite the substantial changes in size distributions and growth dominance curves, the species populations remained in the phase of “reverse growth dominance” throughout the long monitoring period. This is a state typical of undisturbed, old-growth forests, where small trees grow disproportionately more for their size than large trees. The two formerly dominant species Norway spruce and pedunculate oak showed symmetric growth dominance, while the two increasing species hornbeam and small-leaved lime exhibited asymmetric growth dominance. Interestingly we also observed much larger variation in the growth dominance patterns of hornbeam and lime compared to spruce and oak. The findings seem to suggest that the unusual growth dominance patterns are related to the changing species composition.

Ecological focus area – EFA: the biological value of olive groves. A case study in Sardinia (Italy)

Among the CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) 2015-2020 innovations, a mandatory ‘greening’ component of direct payment has been included to improve sustainable and environmentally friendly agricultural practices in arable lands. Permanent crops1 are considered as ‘greening’ by definition and therefore exempted from additional agronomic duties. So far, however, an adequate knowledge of the real biological value of permanent crops is still lacking. In the present work, realized in the context of the MO.NA.CO. project, we monitored animal diversity in olive-groves characterized by three different managements (from low to medium intensity). Monitoring was carried out in Sardinia (Italy), using different animal groups as bio-indicators: Arthropods, Reptiles and Birds. Considering Arthropod orders and Coleopteran families we did not found significant differences in the overall abundance and in the biodiversity indexes. However, faunal composition clearly varied among managements: moreover, the higher or lesser presence of certain taxa highlighted the existence of microenvironmental variables that may be related, for instance, to the level of soil vegetation cover or to the degree of naturalness of the agroecosystem. Limitedly to the Arthropod diversity, the comparison with other land uses (including data gathered in previous projects) showed a good potentiality of olive groves as ‘ecological focus areas’, at least considering the managements here examined. The monitoring of Reptiles and Birds showed the peculiarity of the olive groves located in a hilly area characterized by non-intensive management, which hosted a rich herpetofauna and a bird community typical of habitats characterized by a high degree of naturalness. The present monitoring provides data for the assessment of the biological value of olive groves and of the potential impact of different managements on faunistic diversity. Future monitoring is needed to improve the knowledge on olive tree plantations characterized by high intensive management.

Effects of Land Use Changes on Ecosystem Services Value Provided By Coastal Wetlands: Recent and Future Landscape Scenarios

Wetlands are very sensitive to land use changes which alter supply and quality of their ecosystem services. This study analyzes the effect of land cover changes on the spatial and temporal patterns of the value of ecosystem services provided by coastal wetlands in northwest Mexico. These ecosystems have a high degree of naturalness, but are at risk because of land use changes promoted to reactivate regional development. Remote sensing and Markov chains modeling were used to estimate change trends, together with a value transfer approach for the ecosystem service valuation. The results indicated that the total flow of ecosystem service value tended to increase (18 million dollars (2007 USD)), presumably biased by the highest worldwide value assigned to saltmarsh/unconsolidated bottom, which increased in area by 8% during the study period. The most notable transition probability was observed between natural wetlands, highlighting littoral and saltmarsh as the classes with the highest probability of change over time. The southern part of the study area is the most susceptible to change, where unconsolidated bottom and forested mangrove (saltmarsh) are prevalent. Therefore, we can argue that the conservation of these coastal environments should be a priority in future land use management.