Levels Of Human Activity Research Articles

Online simulations as a tool of integrative pedagogy in learning social work practice skills

ABSTRACT This study describes and evaluates online simulations of social work practice skills training, which involved social worker-client interaction exercises that students performed on Zoom with trained actors portraying clients. The aim was to identify factors that affect learning in a simulation exercise. To improve our understanding of learning in a simulation, we looked at the applicability of an integrative pedagogy model to analyze the data. In total, 38 social work students replied to the online survey consisting of Likert-scale and open-ended questions. The quantitative data was analyzed with principal components factoring method and analysis of variance, and the qualitative material with content analysis. In the students’ learning process, three levels of human activity based on the integrative pedagogy model were obtained from the quantitative data: emotional, cognitive, and social. Based on the qualitative material, factors that strengthen learning at different levels were identified. In the results, the role of emotions in the learning process was emphasized. Emotional learning is strengthened by overcoming performance anxiety and the courage to immerse oneself in the exercise, which is connected to a feeling of security, and a permissive and constructive atmosphere. Intermediate interruptions are a significant factor in strengthening cognitive learning in simulation exercises.

Community Structure and Fish Diversity in Some Mangrove Ecosystems with Varying Levels of Naturalness and Human Activity on Bawean Island, East Java, Indonesia

The research aimed to evaluate the quality of some mangrove ecosystems on Bawean Island with varying levels of naturalness and human activity through community structure and diversity of fish species. Sampling was carried out in 11 mangrove ecosystems of Sawahmulya, Sungai Rujing, Hijau Daun, Sidogedungbatu, Pamona, Pasir Putih, Bangsal, Dekatagung, Jherat Lanjheng, Lebak and Pulau Cina. Fish were collected using the net (pore size 5 mm) and visual encounter method. Fish found were identified then the abundance of each species was used to determine the total abundance, taxa richness, and some indices of diversity, dominance, and evenness. Results showed that there were 18 fish species we found in all locations with varying taxa richness in each mangrove ecosystem. The total abundance of mangrove fish is in the range of 61-165 Idv/25m2. All the research sites show a low value (less than 1) in the Diversity Index of Shannon Wiener, low evenness (0.02-0.07), and high variation of dominance Index (0.26-0.94). The higher the level of naturalness and the lower the hemeroby Index, it was found to have an impact on the higher diversity, taxa richness, and evenness of fish. This research indicated that the quality of some mangrove ecosystems on Bawean Island was still low and needed to be managed.

Spatio-temporal usage of water sources by Black-cheeked Lovebirds Agapornis nigrigenis: implications for conservation planning

Summary The Black-cheeked Lovebird Agapornis nigrigenis has a highly restricted range in dry south-western Zambia, where its distribution is clumped and localised in association with mopane Colophospermum mopane woodland and permanent water pools. Fieldwork and monitoring over 30 months between December 2018 and October 2021 established that the lovebirds’ usage of pools for drinking was higher towards the centre of the bird’s distribution and influenced by the pools’ proximity to mopane woodlands, surrounding tree cover, and level of human activity. Of the four pool types available for use by lovebirds (i.e. mopane, grassland, river, and artificial), mopane and grassland pools were disproportionally susceptible to drying out in the dry season, hence showed greater variation in numbers of visiting birds compared with the other two types. Lovebirds showed a preference for pools with a perimeter of <50 m and tended to avoid those with a perimeter >100 m, consistent with a positive association between pool size and human activity. Convergence between humans and lovebirds in dependence on water resources and mopane woodland points to the need to find ways to overcome potential conflicts. Such ways include creating small, shallow-sided, undisturbed pools in or near mopane woodland, extending water retention in existing mopane pools, and enhancing the capacity of artificial pools to meet the needs of the lovebirds.

Smart water: An innovative approach to integrated water management at the Faculty of Sciences Ben M’sick (Casablanca, Morocco) in the face of water stress

The integrated management of water resources at the level of various human activities is today imperative for individuals and organizations. This study investigates the possibilities of applying a responsible and sustainable water management approach at the Ben M’sik Faculty of Sciences (FSBM) in Casablanca through rainwater collection/reclamation, groundwater exploitation and decentralized treatment/internal wastewater reuse. To this end, physicochemical characterization of these three types of water was carried out, with preliminary results showing that the wastewater quality complied with the discharge limits recommended by Lydec for all the parameters determined, except for Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and Total suspended solids (TSS), with average values for COD, BOD5, and TSS of around 1010.12 mg L -1, 87.27 mg L-1 and 370.48 mg L-1 respectively. In parallel, average values for COD/BOD5 (33.19), TSS/BOD5 (6.03) and oxidizable matter (360.72 mg L-1) revealed that these wastewaters are heterogeneous and poorly biodegradable. As for rainwater and groundwater, the results show that they comply with the quality grid for water intended for irrigation, except for chloride (715.23 to 884.72 mg L-1) and nitrate for groundwater (61.45).

Early detection of human impacts using acoustic monitoring: An example with forest elephants.

The impacts of human activities and climate change on animal populations often take considerable time before they are reflected in typical measures of population health such as population size, demography, and landscape use. Earlier detection of such impacts could enhance the effectiveness of conservation strategies, particularly for species with slow population growth. Passive acoustic monitoring is increasingly used to estimate occupancy and population size, but this tool can also monitor subtle shifts in behavior that might be early indicators of changing impacts. Here we use data from an acoustic grid, monitoring 1250 km2 of forest in northern Republic of Congo, to study how forest elephants (Loxodonta cyclotis) assess risk associated with human impacts across a landscape that includes a national park as well as active and inactive logging concessions. By quantifying emerging patterns of behavior at the population level, arising from individual-based decisions, we gain an understanding of how elephants perceive their landscape along an axis of human disturbance. Forest elephants in relatively undisturbed forests are active nearly equally day and night. However, they become more nocturnal when exposed to a perceived risk such as poaching. We assessed elephant perception of risk by monitoring changes in the likelihood of nocturnal vocal activity relative to differing levels of human activity. We show that logging is perceived to be a risk on moderate time and small spatial scales, but with little effect on elephant density. However, risk avoidance persisted in areas with relatively easy access to poachers and in more open habitats where poaching has historically been concentrated. Increased nocturnal activity is a common response in many animals to human intrusion on the landscape. Provided a species is acoustically active, passive acoustic monitoring can measure changes in human impact at early stages of such change, informing management priorities.

Nesting Eastern Ospreys Pandion haliaetus cristatus exploiting construction-tower cranes in a populous city

Globally, Ospreys Pandion haliaetus are well known to nest on artificial structures, prompting conflicts with humans when nests are built on utility and communications infrastructure. This note describes two cases of Osprey nests that had been built on top of construction-tower cranes. Fortunately for the birds, both cases were on construction sites that were halted for other reasons. These observations raise the question whether similar scenarios on active construction sites would add to the existing span of human–Osprey conflicts, with the potentially awkward juxtaposition between the need to minimise human interference to nests and construction sites being characterised by high levels of human activity. This is especially of concern with the Osprey listed as a threatened species in some jurisdictions, such as New South Wales and South Australia.

The Crested Ibises expanding to plain areas exhibit a higher tolerance of human proximity

Animals must strike a balance between anti-predation behavior and other essential behaviors, such as foraging. Within the same species, strategies may vary on individuals' risk-taking preferences, and in this process the environment is a determinant, in addition to predator regime. The Crested Ibis (Nipponia nippon) exhibits such tendency. This is an endangered species, once inhabiting exclusively in China's Qinling Mountain. This used to be the sole remaining wild population. However, over recent decades, this population has expanded. A portion has relocated to breed in the lower plain area, which is characterized by elevated level of human activities and landscape complexity. We used flight initiation distance (FID) as an indicator of the ibises' risk-taking preference, particularly their response to human proximity. Additionally, we examined the environmental factors influencing their foraging site selection, including altitude, terrain openness, human activity intensity and human construction. Our findings revealed a significantly shorter FID among individuals relocating to plain habitats, indicating a higher tolerance of human proximity. The results showed that FID decreased with distance to the nearest human settlement. Another finding is that FID was independent of instant human activity intensity and environmental factors (altitude and terrain openness). These different may arise from various combinations of human activity, predation risk, and food abundance within the two habitats. These results provide insights into the insitu conservation of the threatened species within the context of global urbanization.

Measurement of Motor Vehicle Emissions Based on Low-cost Sensors

One of Indonesia's primary causes of air pollution is the significant level of human activity, particularly the continued use of fossil-fuel-powered vehicles. The incomplete combustion of fossil fuels can lead to gas and particle pollutants forming, impacting the environment. However, the instruments utilized for detecting environmental pollutants are relatively expensive. Therefore, motor vehicle emission tests use low-cost sensors with parameters such as CO, CO2, NO2, PM2.5, temperature, and RH. The flow rate measures the emission gas flow extracted from a vehicle's exhaust into the testing chamber and then released into the air for disposal. The flow rate utilized in these tests ranges from 12 to 15 lpm. The tests are conducted over 10 minutes to ensure accuracy, obtaining average readings for the measured parameters. For the measurement results using a low-cost sensor, the average value for CO is 383.891 ppm, NO2 is 10.7237 ppm, CO2 is 5,254 ppm, PM2.5 is 50.25 ?g/m3, temperature and RH is 28.9 °C and 76%. The official test results obtained a CO value of 1,200 ppm, CO2 of 140,000 ppm, and a temperature of 80 °C. This difference is because the reading range of low-cost sensors is relatively small but has a stable data trend.

Degree of human activity exert differentiated influence on conventional and emerging pollutants in drinking water source.

Anthropogenic pollution poses a significant threat to drinking water sources worldwide. Previous studies have focused on the occurrence of pollutants in drinking water sources, but the impact of human activities on different types of pollutants in drinking water sources is still unclear. In this study, we chose the upper reaches of the Dongjiang River (URDR) as a casestudy to investigate the distribution characteristics of conventional pollutants, pesticides, and antibiotics along the gradient of human intervention. Our findings reveal that human activities can effect both conventional pollutants and emerging pollutants in the URDR to varying degrees. The escalation of human activities correlates with a rising trend in conventional pollutants, such as nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). Notably, only C1 (terrestrial humus) in dissolved organic matter (DOM) exhibits this increasing pattern. Pesticide and antibiotic concentrations are highest in areas with moderate and high levels of human activity, respectively, and the degree of eutrophication of drinking water closely follows the gradient of human activity. Our results also indicate that most pesticides pose a significant risk in the URDR, particularly pyrethroid pesticides (PYRs). Out of all antibiotics, only Norfloxacin (NFX) and Penicillin G (PENG) are classified as high-risk, with NFX exhibiting significant variation across different degrees of human activity. C1 and TP were the most important factors affecting the distribution of organophosphorus (OPPs) and PYRs, respectively. In conclusion, varying degrees of human activity exert differentiated influences on conventional and emerging pollutants in drinking water sources.

Monitoring the modes and phases of global human activity development over 30 years: Evidence from county-level nighttime light

The extent of human activity has expanded, and the intensity of human activity has increased, supported by a progressive economy and powerful technology. Compared with daytime remote sensing images or statistical data, nighttime light (NTL) remote sensing has the advantages of long time series, global coverage, objectivity, and quantifiability in observing the development of global human activities. Existing studies have focused more on the levels of human activity development at multiple points in time and less on overall patterns of human activity development during a period. We developed a non-parametric time-series curve morphology classification methodology combining trend analysis and change-point detection. We identified modes and phases of human activity development based on NTL datasets and analyzed the spatial and temporal patterns, modes, and phases of county-level human activity development globally over the past 30 years (1992–2021). We found that the level of human activity development is generally on the rise globally, with areas of significant growth mainly along the coast of China and in global ports. In more than half of the counties, the extent of human activity development is saturated. A significant increase mode was observed in most counties (71.5 %), while a few counties (1.1 %) saw a decrease mode. 10.1 % of global counties are in an anomalous phase, with low levels of human activity and slower or even stopped development. The new method has been validated in cases of different development modes and has the potential to generalize to the pixel level. Monitoring human activity development facilitates understanding development modes globally over a long time series, which can guide future policy formulation and socioeconomic progress. We recommend a greater focus on inequalities within and between countries.

Influence of limestone and anthropogenic activities on land snail communities in Satun Province, Thailand

Southeast Asia is renowned for its rich biodiversity and serves as a global hotspot for organisms. Satun Province, located in southern Thailand, represents a significant biogeographic and biodiversity region situated in the transition zone between the Indochinese and Sundaland hotspots. Thus, Satun Province has high diversity and abundance of organisms, especially land snails. However, Satun Province has been largely understudied for both diversity and biogeography. Our study aimed to investigate land snail communities, emphasizing comparisons between the mainland and island sites, and the influence of limestone and other rock types in Satun Province. Our exploration efforts identified a diverse land snail community comprising 17 families, which updated the total reported species in the province from 22 to 58 species. The results showed that islands had significantly greater land snail species richness and abundance, and larger Shannon index values in comparison to the mainland. Anthropogenic activities on the mainland led to habitat transformation and had detrimental impacts on native land snail diversity while promoting the spread of invasive species. In contrast, the presence of little-disturbed limestone habitats on some of the islands contributed to higher richness of land snails, as limestone areas are known for their high diversity and endemism. Snail communities varied along site characteristics; especially, limestone versus non-limestone areas and human activity levels (which were associated with national park protection), with limestone and protected areas having the highest diversity. Our study illustrates the value of protected areas as potential hotspots of biodiversity, especially for islands that are little disturbed by human activities and that have habitats that support high diversity, such as limestone outcrops. This study provides valuable insights into the biogeography of land snails in Satun Province and Southeast Asia and contributes to our understanding of the factors influencing land snail diversity.

Dual effect of activity levels and temperature step-change on human comfort and recovery time: Simulated short-term commute in winter

Individuals living in a location with access to public transport and a short distance from the workplace tend to walk for short commuting. Human activity levels are affected by the rate of walking while commuting, which affects thermal comfort and response. To investigate the human thermal response in commuting, a climate chamber experiment was conducted to simulate outdoor commuting (13 °C) and indoor rest recovery (24 °C) in winter. Standing and walking at 4 and 6 km/h were used to simulate temporary rest, walking, and running, respectively. Twenty healthy participants were asked to simulate commuting (13 °C) with standing/low, 4 km/h/medium, and 6 km/h/high activity levels for 8 min and sitting (24 °C) for 32 min. The physiological parameters and subjective perceptions of the subjects were recorded. The results showed that there were differences in the sensitivity of the parameters to changes in activity levels and temperature steps. Thermal sensation and mean skin temperature responded considerably to the dual effect of activity levels and temperature up-step; however, blood pressure was exclusively sensitive to temperature step-change. The elevated activity level of 1 met may increase the recovery time by 5–10 min. Functional paradigms for psychological and physiological recovery times in a neutral environment were developed, which could provide a potential solution for improving thermal satisfaction and the assessment of recovery times. The results of this study will guide improvement strategies for physiological recovery and thermal comfort after commuting.

Characteristic and histological evidence of microplastic in scleractinian corals of Java Sea

Coral reefs are threatened by emerging microplastic pollution but only a few studies are available regarding the extent of contamination in coral reef systems in situ. For this research, we collected samples from the seawater, sediments, and coral colonies of the Panjang Island cluster and the Karimunjawa Archipelago, Java Sea. Microplastics were detected in all sample types. Based on a Mann–Whitney test (p < 0.05), there is a significant difference in microplastic abundance between areas subjected to different levels of human activity. Corals showed the highest concentration of microplastics, with fragments being the most dominant type. No significant difference in microplastic abundance was found among the different polyp sizes (Mann–Whitney test, p > 0.05) or among different species (Kruskal–Wallis test, p > 0.05). All coral samples contained fragment and fiber microplastics in their polyps, consisting of Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), silicone-based plastic, polysulfoxide, and Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) polymer. Here, we provide the first evidence of microplastics inside corals, observed using a histological method. The types of microplastic detected in the histological sections were similar to those extracted from the coral polyps. Tourism and fishing activity both play a role in governing the distribution, abundance, and diversity of microplastics in coral reef systems.

The impact of the anthropause caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on beach debris accumulation in Maui, Hawaiʻi

The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent travel restrictions led to a considerable reduction in tourism and human activity on Maui, presenting a unique opportunity to study debris accumulation on local beaches during changing levels of human activities. Standardized daily debris accumulation surveys were completed at two beach sites in Maui, Hawai ‘i before (2017) as well as throughout the initial year of the pandemic (2020–2021) and allowed for the assessment of pandemic-related restrictions on marine debris accumulation trends. Throughout the pandemic, reduced beach use due to higher lockdown levels had significant impacts on debris accumulation at both sites, but only one of the two sites experienced a significant decrease (~ 90% reduction) in debris accumulation rates when compared to the same months in 2017. Daily accumulation rates across two sites increased from an average of 16 items/100 m during peak lockdown levels to 43 items/100 m when restrictions eased. The observed fluctuations in debris accumulation rates, driven by changes in tourism and travel restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic emphasize the importance of proactive measures to protect the natural environment, including source reduction and effective legislation for waste prevention. By addressing both local and remote sources of debris and focusing on reducing waste at its source, it is possible to mitigate the impacts of debris accumulation on coastal environments and marine life in Hawaiʻi.

Air Quality Mapping in Bandung City

One of the most commonly encountered issues in large cities is air pollution. As a major city, Bandung also experiences the same problem. This issue arises due to the increasing levels of human activity. This contributes to elevated levels of pollutants in the atmosphere, which can impact human life and ecosystems. This research is intended to map the regions in Bandung based on their air quality. This study used ambient air quality measurement results from Bandung, which included PM10, PM2.5, dust, SO2, CO, and NO2. This ambient air quality measurement was conducted by the Department of Environment and Hygiene in Bandung. The research methodology utilized in this study was multidimensional scaling analysis. The outcomes of the examination carried out utilizing the multidimensional scaling technique reveal a clustering of regions in Bandung, West Java, based on their air quality. According to the research findings, the locations were grouped into four quadrants, each with different air quality characteristics. Some locations showed high similarity, while others did not exhibit similarity with other groups. These findings can be used for policy-making and improving air quality in Bandung. Conclusions were drawn from the formed groups, where each group had high similarity among its members, but differed from the members of other groups. Among all observed locations in Bandung City, there were areas that were most similar when viewed based on the distance between objects, namely Punclut St. and KPAD Sarijadi; Soekarno Hatta St. (in front of Astra Bizz) and Elang St.; and Buah Batu St. (in front of STSI/ISBI) and Bunderan Cibiru.

How climate change may shift power demand in Japan: Insights from data-driven analysis

The impact of climate change on power demand in Japan and its related CO2 emissions is a matter of concern for the Japanese authorities and power companies as it may have consequences on the power grid, but is also of global importance as Japan is a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions. In this study, we trained random forest models against daily power data in ten Japanese regions and for different types of power generation to project changes in future power production and its carbon intensity. We used climate variables, heat stress indices, and one variable for the level of human activities. We then used the models trained from the present-day period to estimate the future power demand, carbon intensity, and pertaining CO2 emissions over the period 2020–2100 under three Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs) scenarios (SSP126, SSP370, and SSP585). The impact of climate change on CO2 emissions via power generation shows seasonal and regional disparities. In cold regions, a decrease in power demand during winter under future warming leads to an overall decrease in power demand over the year. In contrast, the decrease in winter power demand in hot regions can be overcompensated by an increase in summer power demand due to more frequent hot days, resulting in an overall annual increase. From our regional models, power demand is projected to increase the most in most Japanese regions in May, June, September, and October rather than in the middle of summer, as found in previous studies. This increase could result in regular power outages during those months as the power grid could become particularly tense. Overall, we observed that power demand in regions with extreme climates is more sensitive to global warming than in temperate regions. The impact of climate change on power demand induces a net annual decrease in CO2 emissions in all regions except for Okinawa, in which power demand strongly increases during the summer, resulting in a net annual increase in CO2 emissions. However, climate change's impact on carbon intensity may reverse the trend in some regions (Shikoku, Tohoku). Additionally, we assessed the relative impacts of socioeconomic factors such as population, GDP, and environmental policies on CO2 emissions. When combined with these factors, we found that the climate change effect is more important than when considered individually and significantly impacts total CO2 emissions under SSP585. The contrasting results observed in the warm and cold regions of Japan can offer valuable insight into the potential future variations in energy demand and resulting CO2 emissions on a global scale.

ELUCIDATING THE FUNCTIONAL ANNOTATION AND EVOLUTIONARY RELATIONSHIPS OF CYTOCHROME P450 GENES IN XYLARIA SP. FL1777 USING IN-SILICO APPROACHES

The higher level of human activities has resulted in several forms of anthropogenic activities with diverse adverse effects on human and environmental sustainability. The traditional means of handling xenobiotics pollutants are no longer sustainable due to the high cost involved, complex procedures and demanding regulatory requirements. Bioremediation using fungi (mycoremediation) is now recognized as an efficient and workable biotechnological tool that effectively employ fungal enzymes via the process of absorption and mineralization to get rid of contaminants. Cytochrome P450s (CYPs) are diverse and unique gene families with varying degree of complexities in the eukaryotes. CYPs mainly utilize molecular oxygen to modify substrate conformation, thereby establishing a mechanism of action for achieving their important physiological and ecological processes. Xylariaceae belongs to the main and highly diversified families of filamentous Ascomycota; it plays an important role as saprotrophs of wood, soil, litter and dung. Genome-wide annotation analysis was carried out to explore the possibility of utilizing the CYPs of Xylaria sp. for achieving mycoremediation. The evolutionary analysis has divided the 214 Xylaria CYPs into fifteen (15) clades. The CYPs were categorized into forty-seven (47 clans) and eighty-six (86) families. MEME suite identified ten (10) conserved motifs. The gene structural investigation reveals high dynamic intron-exon organization. Most of the CYPs have been predicted to be localized in the endoplasmic reticulum. This study therefore calls for deeper exploration of the Xylaria sp and its high potential for application in bioremediation for the degradation of environmental contaminants.

Role of microplastics in microbial community structure and functions in urban soils

Evidence from the laboratory suggests that microplastics (MPs) can harm soil microorganisms, affecting the structures and functions of microbial communities. The impact of soil MPs on microbes in actual urban environments with high human activity levels, however, has not been well reported. To investigate the MP effect on urban soil microorganisms under complex scenarios, we analyzed 42 soil samples from standardized plots of 7 urban functional zones. We report that urban green spaces are important for studying microbial diversity in the study area, and they also contribute to the global homogenization of soil microbes and genes. Bacterial communities in soils enriched with various MPs showed greater differences in OTUs than fungi. Compared to low-MP soils, most ARGs and nutrient cycling genes had similar or slightly lower abundances in soils with high levels of MPs. The coupling of pollutant factors with MPs as independent variables had significant explanatory power for both positive and negative correlations in PLS-PM analysis. Specifically, PET and PP MPs explained 3.54% and 6.03%, respectively, of the microbial community and functional genes. This study fills knowledge gaps on the effects of MPs on urban soil microbial communities in real environments, facilitating better management of urban green spaces.

Spatial Distribution of Lead in the Soil of Urban Areas Under Different Land-Use Types

Awareness of lead (Pb) distribution and zoning in urban, agricultural, and industrial areas is of particular importance in environmental protection planning. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the distribution of Pb in different uses with different levels of industrial development and human activities in urban areas in Hamadan during 2018. For this purpose, 146 soil samples were collected from 0-20 cm depth and prepared for air-dried laboratory analyses. Then, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total Pb, and adsorbable Pb in the soil were measured. The results demonstrated that the mean concentration of total Pb is 88 mg/kg. In addition, the mean concentration of Pb in urban, industrial, and agricultural areas was 41 mg/kg, 30 mg/kg, and 17 mg/kg, respectively. Further, the average concentration of adsorbable Pb with a standard deviation of 0.3 in industrial, urban, and agricultural areas was 0.38 mg/kg, 0.16 mg/kg, and 0.06 mg/kg. Land use was an important source of Pb change in the studied soils; however, Pb change did not depend only on land use. Factors such as weather conditions or proximity to roads, as well as previous land uses, could affect the role of existing land use and be effective in the distribution of soil Pb. Studies revealed that the amount of the soil’s adsorbable Pb is more important than that of total Pb in different uses, which should be considered in any soil-related research.

Effects of the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic on CO2 Emissions in the Port Areas of the Strait of Messina

The Strait of Messina is characterised by a significant ship flow, especially of ferries, between its two shores. The ferry services involve four harbours, located on the Sicilian and Calabrian shores. During the epidemic emergency related to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, due to the restrictions adopted to counteract the spread of the infection, a significant reduction in ferry activities and vehicle flow occurred. These circumstances made flow data, related to different actual scenarios, available and allowed the assessment of the environmental impact of the port area. Therefore, the port area became a noteworthy case study, suited to draw conclusions regarding possible future courses of action designed to curb greenhouse gas emissions in these types of settlements. In the study, in order to assess the effect of different levels of human activity on pollutant emissions, the total CO2 emissions from ferry activities in two successive years, 2019 before the spread of the virus and 2020 when the epidemic was at its peak, were evaluated and compared. The EMEP/EEA methodology was used and, as a result, an overall reduction of 13.2% in CO2eq yearly emission rates was observed, with the major reduction of 2784 tCO2eq due to maritime traffic.