Park Area Research Articles

Accumulation of Heavy Metals in the Leaves of Some Woody Plants in Osh City

Pollution of the environment with harmful substances occupies a leading place among global environmental problems. This phenomenon is closely related to anthropogenic activity, especially in cities. The origin and chemical nature of harmful substances are different, but heavy metals occupy a special place among them. Over the past ten years, research aimed at studying the distribution of heavy metals in the environment and their accumulation in plants has significantly developed. Because the Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the UN in 2015 provide for by 2030, to reduce the negative environmental impact of cities per capita, including by paying special attention to air quality and the removal of urban and other waste. The purpose of our research was to determine the characteristics of the accumulation of heavy metals in the leaves of trees and shrubs growing in the park areas of Osh. The trees selected as objects were Salix babylonica L., Acer pseudoplatanus L., Populus ×canescens (Aiton) Sm., Platanus orientalis L., Juniperus virginiana L., planted in park areas near highways. The concentration of heavy metals was determined by the atomic absorption method in the Central Laboratory State Enterprise under the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Control of the Kyrgyz Republic. Quantitative analysis revealed the presence of some heavy metals: manganese, copper, lead, strontium and zinc in all plant samples. Laboratory tests showed a high concentration of copper, exceeding the MAC. Based on the research results, we note the need to continue studying the influence of heavy metals on the physiological processes of various tree species in Osh and expanding the geography of research in the city’s microdistricts.

Shoreline Change Analysis in New Washington, Aklan using Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS)

Abstract. Shoreline changes are a critical indicator of coastal vulnerability, impacted by natural processes and human-induced factors such as climate change. This study investigates shoreline changes in New Washington, Aklan, Philippines, focusing on erosion and accretion patterns since 1985. With the use of satellite imagery, coupled with Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System (GIS) techniques, this study examines the spatio-temporal variability in erosion and accretion patterns. Through the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS), a quantitative analysis of shoreline change rates was conducted. Using four (4) DSAS change metrics such as Endpoint rate (EPR), Linear Regression Rate (LRR), Shoreline Change Envelope (SCE), and Net Movement Shoreline (NMS), it was identified that the shoreline change in Bakhawan Park area is due to its location being at the mouth of Aklan River. Most of New Washington’s shoreline experiences erosion with 0-1.46 m/yr from LRR, eroding at most 40m of sediments in thirty years; evident along areas of Brgy. Tambac and Poblacion. The largest shoreline deviation can be observed in the areas located near the mouth of Batan Bay with 153 meters since 1985.

A Nature-Based Intervention and Mental Health of Schoolchildren: A Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial.

Nature-based therapeutic or preventive interventions for mental health are increasingly popular, but their effectiveness for improving mental health is not well documented. To investigate the effectiveness of the Open Sky School Program (École à Ciel Ouvert), a 12-week nature-based intervention for elementary schoolchildren in grades 5 and 6, for reducing mental health symptoms. This 2-arm, cluster randomized clinical trial was conducted from February 27 to June 16, 2023, in French-language elementary schools in Quebec, Canada, with green space within 1 km. Participants were teachers and students in grades 5 and 6. In the intervention group, for 2 hours per week for 12 weeks, classes were taught outdoors in a nearby park or wooded area. Teachers were encouraged to engage students in basic subjects and in 10 or more mental health activities (mindfulness, philosophy, and/or art therapy). Control group schools conducted classes as usual. The primary outcome was change in student mental health (internalizing and externalizing symptoms, social problems) based on teacher- and student-reported 30-item Social Behavior Questionnaire (SBQ) scores (3-point scale) from baseline to the immediate postintervention follow-up, assessed in per-protocol and intent-to-treat mixed-model analyses. Secondary outcomes were student self-reported changes in depressive symptoms, positive or negative affect, pro-environmental efforts and/or attitudes, and nature connectedness. A total of 33 schools participated (53 teachers, 1015 students), including 16 schools (25 teachers, 515 students) in the intervention group and 17 schools (28 teachers, 500 students) in the control group. Student mean (SD) age was 10.9 (0.75) years; 507 (50.7%) were girls. Per-protocol and intent-to-treat mixed-model analyses showed no differences in mental health symptom change between groups; for example, the adjusted mean difference in SBQ scores between the intervention and control groups for externalizing symptoms was -0.04 (95% CI, -0.13 to 0.04) in the intent-to-treat analysis and -0.06 (95% CI, -0.16 to 0.04) in the per-protocol analysis. Post hoc analyses revealed low mental health symptoms at baseline, with low variability. Slightly greater reductions in symptoms were observed in the intervention group, but only for children with higher mental health symptoms at baseline (P < .05 for interaction). For example, for children with internalizing symptoms 1 SD above the mean at baseline, internalizing symptoms decreased by 0.38 SD (mean change, -0.15; P < .001) in the intervention group vs the control group. In this large cluster randomized clinical trial in daily-life elementary school settings, 12 weeks of classes in green space for 2 hours per week did not reduce mental health symptoms in students aged 10 to 12 years in either the per-protocol or the intent-to-treat analysis. However, this low-cost, safe outdoor intervention may provide unmeasured or longer-term benefits for children with higher risk of mental health symptoms. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05662436.

Possibility of Integrated Planning for Parks, Greenbelts and Street Space in South Korea

Background and objective: Planning for parks and greenbelts is crucial in public housing district plans. This study was conducted to explore the possibility of expanding parks and greenbelts by adjusting street space according to legal bases and suggest a model for expanding parks and greenbelts by reducing the area of roads in new town planning.Methods: The research site, Public Housing District ‘Wangsuk 2’ near Seoul City, is part of the 3rd Phase New Towns. It is being developed according to the government’s policy to expand the housing supply in the Seoul metropolitan area. The legal possibilities related to land, housing, and roads were reviewed, the site was analyzed through the land use plan of Wangsuk 2, and an integration model was developed, applied, and evaluated.Results: An integrated street park model was designed, which integrates sidewalks, bicycle lanes, and planting strips planned as part of road facilities with adjacent parks or greenbelts. The road sections of the site that require the improvement of street space were selected for the model application. As a result of the simulation, the total length of the integrated street parks was about 4 km, the area of parks and greenbelts expanded by 15,901 m², increasing the ratio of park and greenbelt area by 0.7%, and the ratio of road area decreased from 17.1% to 16.4%.Conclusion: Integrated street parks expand green space in new town development while providing a safe and comfortable passage for visitors, pedestrians, bicycle/PM users, and drivers. This study is significant in that it presents an alternative to expanding green space that can improve street space and urban environment, which residents can experience daily.

몽골인의 사회계층이 관광 목적지 숙식 및 체험활동 선택에 미치는 영향 : 홉스골 국립공원 지역 관광자를 대상으로 한 이항 로지스틱 회귀분석

Looking at Mongolian tourists to the Khuvsgul National Park area, this study examines the impacts of tourists’ social stratification on their accommodation, dining, and experiential activity choices. The survey was conducted both online and offline at five different accommodations in the Khuvsgul National Park area between January 2024 and March 2024, and 288 valid questionnaires were used for the binary logistic regression analysis. The results showed that tourists’ occupation, average monthly household income, and subjective social class significantly influenced their choice of either luxury (e.g., hotels and resorts) or inexpensive accommodation (e.g., traditional Mongolian ger camps). Specifically, office workers were about 4.24 times more likely to stay in hotels or resorts than unskilled laborers, and the probability of staying at a hotel or resort increased by 1.45 times with each increment in subjective social stratification. In regard to tourists' dining choices (i.e., eating at hotel or resort restaurants vs. bringing their own food or eating at regular restaurants), average monthly household income and subjective social class had significant effects. However, education level influenced neither accommodation nor dining choices. Finally, tourists’ choices of some experiential activities (e.g., Tsaatan experience and Sukhbaatar ship travels) were influenced by their occupation and other control variables such as gender and age. The study findings and their implications were further discussed at the conclusion of this article.

Perceived Safety in Community Parks: The Case of Erbil

The parks are significant pillars of the city that fulfill various goals with clear objectives to engage. People can experience nature, engage in physical activity, and relax in parks. The research was based on a case study methodology to examine the reality of the park’s situation in residential neighborhoods through observations, in-person interviews, and a questionnaire. The study was conducted in neighborhoods and community parks within the city of Erbil (Sami Abdulrahman, Shanadar1, Peshmerga, Manar, Runaki, Kanyaw, Shanadar 2, Shanader 3, Gilkand, and Khanzad). The most significant conclusions from the study are: The research area's parks and gardens did not meet the requirements. In addition to lacking the majority of recreational amenities like sports fields and playgrounds, most parks offer areas for resting, strolling, and sitting down. According to the survey's findings, residents of Erbil's residential districts have a significant desire and curiosity to express their opinions in the city's parks. People of all ages, genders, and cultural backgrounds share this desire. Residents of the area make up the bulk of visitors to these parks and gardens (82%), and afternoons are the best times for them to visit., Additionally, only 8% of respondents think that these parks' playgrounds and exercise equipment satisfy their needs. Additionally, there is a great desire among visitors to add new recreational activities to these parks, such as sitting areas, family picnic areas, gathering areas for the elderly, play areas for kids, reading areas for school children, as well as walking corridors

Evaluation and optimization of park cooling benefits based on cumulative impact and landscape pattern

City parks can cool the surrounding environment and mitigate the urban heat island (UHI) effect, considerable improving the city’s adaptability to climate. In this study, 20 city parks in Nanjing, China, were considered, and four indexes for quantifying the cooling benefits from a cumulative impact perspective were proposed. These indexes are park cooling area (PCA), park cooling efficiency (PCE), park cooling intensity (PCI), and park cooling gradient (PCG). The results reveal the following: first, city parks have a positive impact on the surrounding thermal environment. The factors park area (PA), park perimeter (PP), landscape shape index (LSI), and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) determine cooling benefits. Second, PA and PP are significantly positively correlated with PCA but are significantly negatively correlated with PCE. LSI is negatively correlated with PCE, while NDVI is positively correlated with PCI and PCG. No significant correlation exists between the four cooling indexes and modified normalized difference water index(MNDWI). Finally, different parks exhibit variations in their ability to provide cooling benefits. Special or community parks are more appropriately situated in areas with constrained urban land resources. In designing comprehensive parks, the intricate boundary features and vegetation conditions need to be considered to optimize their cooling effects. Moreover, a larger number of residents are allowed to enjoy cooling services. The findings of this project will aid in the construction and optimization of city parks in future to combat the UHI effect.

Impact of Climate and Vegetation Dynamics on the Ecosystem Services of Subtropical Forests—A Case Study of Baishanzu National Park Area, China

Forest ecosystems, as the primary component of terrestrial ecosystems, provide essential ecosystem services (ESs) critical for sustainable human development. However, changes in climate and vegetation can alter these forest ESs. Understanding the complex relationships between regional climate, vegetation, and ESs is key to ensuring the sustainable management of forest ESs. Therefore, this study, using Baishanzu National Park as a case example, analyzed the impacts of regional climate and vegetation dynamics (vegetation coverage, forest type, and forest structure) on forest ESs, specifically water yield (WY), soil conservation (SC), net primary productivity (NPP), and habitat quality (HQ). The results indicate that from 2000 to 2020, the forest Composite Index of Ecosystem Services (CIES) in Baishanzu National Park increased. Climate and vegetation dynamics have significant effects on forest ESs. Specifically, changes in WY and SC are primarily influenced by climate change, while changes in NPP and HQ are mainly affected by changes in forest type and structure. Complex trade-offs and synergies exist among different ESs, and the driving mechanisms of climate and vegetation changes on ES variations are also complex, involving both direct and indirect effects, with significant spatial heterogeneity. This study provides important references for the sustainable management and appropriate restoration of regional forest ESs.

Assessing the impact of urban parks across Köppen climatic zones: a systematic review

This review article addresses the gap in the literature concerning the role of urban parks in providing cooling effects in hot and arid climatic zones. Using systematic review and content analysis of manuscripts from 1999 to 2023 in Scopus and Web of Science databases, elements and indicators of landscape architecture and their impacts on mitigating urban heat islands (UHI) have been explored. Our data mining revealed 190 manuscripts categorized into four Köppen climatic zones: tropical/mega thermal, arid, temperate/mesothermal, and continental/microthermal. Results indicate a scarcity of studies on hardscape elements’ impact, particularly in desert and semi-arid zones, and limited recognition of landscape architecture’s role in urban park cooling, especially in hot desert climates. Green areas emerged as the most cost-effective cooling strategy, with grass planted to minimize water elements and enhance tree cooling effects. However, the lack of softscape in hot, arid zones poses a significant challenge in mitigating UHI. These findings bridge the literature gap and suggest avenues for future research, including investigating native urban tree species and optimizing park area, shape, and orientation.

Implementation of Human Resource Development in Ecotourism Development of Braja Harjosari Village

Braja Harjosari Village is a buffer village in the Way Kambas National Park area. In supporting the tourism potential in Braja Harjosari Village, in 2022, it established community-based ecotourism village regulations. This study aims to analyze the implementation of ecotourism village regulations in Braja Harjosari Village, Lampung, focusing on human resource development and public support in community-based ecotourism management. The findings show that the active participation of stakeholders, including village officials, tourism awareness groups (Pokdarwis), Way Kambas National Park, and local communities, plays a significant role in promoting sustainable tourism and preserving the local environment and culture. Formal communication and mutual agreements among stakeholders ensure effective information delivery. Training programs held by Pokdarwis and village officials have been shown to improve the technical skills and business acumen of the community, supporting sustainable ecotourism development. The synergy between Pokdarwis and village officials, supported by good regulations, has driven economic growth while preserving the environment. Community awareness of environmental preservation and openness to visitors create a positive cycle that supports the sustainability of ecotourism, improves community welfare, and preserves biodiversity and local culture in Braja Harjosari Village.

Leverage Effect of New-Built Green Spaces on Housing Prices in a Rapidly Urbanizing Chinese City: Regional Disparities, Impact Periodicity, and Park Size

While newly built urban green spaces aim to address environmental concerns, the resulting green gentrification and social inequality caused by escalating property values have become critical topics of urban socio-spatial research. To prevent green initiatives from becoming unaffordable for their intended beneficiaries in rapidly urbanizing cities, it is essential to examine the spatial and temporal relationships between the construction of new green spaces and rising housing prices. This study employs a difference-in-differences methodology to analyze regional disparities, impact periodicity, and the influence of park size on housing prices, using Nanjing, China as a case study. This result reveals that the introduction of new-built parks in Nanjing significantly impacts housing prices within an 800 m radius. The premium effect of these parks is substantially higher in urban core areas compared to suburban locales, demonstrating spatial differentials. Suburban parks temporally exhibit a prolonged lag and a shorter premium impact duration. Moreover, among various park areas, medium-sized parks demonstrate the most pronounced leverage effect, approximately double that of large parks, while small parks do not significantly affect housing prices. To mitigate the exacerbation of premium effects and enhance social justice in green strategies, we advocate prioritizing the development of small parks, particularly in urban core areas, and leveraging the temporal delay in new-built park impacts for urban policy interventions.

Urban green space, perceived everyday discrimination and mental health among rural-to-urban migrants: a multilevel analysis in Wuhan, China

BackgroundWhile the mental health benefits of urban green spaces (UGS) are increasingly recognized, less is known about how these relationships vary for socially marginalized groups. This study investigates the association between UGS and mental health among rural-to-urban migrants in Wuhan, China, examining the roles of the quality and quantity of UGS and the intermediary function of perceived everyday discrimination.MethodsWe used Multilevel Structural Equation Modeling to analyze data from a social survey, integrating with park-related social media ratings, street view imagery, and geospatial datasets to characterize UGS features and contextual factors, therefore verifying our hypotheses.ResultsBoth the quality and quantity of UGS significantly influence migrants’ mental health, with quantity demonstrating a stronger overall correlation, challenging common assumptions. Notably, social media scores of parks, reflecting positive user experiences, were found to improve mental health. However, the relationship with UGS quantity was nuanced: higher park density and green view index were positively associated with mental health, while increased park area proportion demonstrated the opposite effect. Furthermore, perceived discrimination emerged as a critical socio-psychological factor and operated spatial heterogeneity. In inner-city areas, neighborhoods characterized by plaza-type parks and high park density were associated with reduced perceived discrimination among migrants, showing active social functions of UGS. However, larger park areas are paradoxically correlated with increased discrimination experiences and poorer mental health. Interestingly, this mediatory effect of perceived discrimination was less pronounced in inner-suburban areas. These findings suggest a nuanced role of UGS in the lives of migrants. While certain aspects of UGS quantity, such as plentiful smaller parks, can facilitate social inclusion and improve mental health, others, like overlarge parks, may unintentionally contribute to feelings of marginalization and negatively impact mental health.ConclusionOur findings highlight the crucial need for context-sensitive green space planning that balances quality and quantity while mitigating discriminatory experiences to improve the mental health of rural-to-urban migrants.

Spatial-temporal Change and Driving Force of Carbon Storage in Three-River-Source National Park Based on PLUS-InVEST-Geodector Model

Exploring the spatial-temporal changes, driving forces, and future development tendency of the carbon sequestration service function of the Three-River-Source National Park ecosystem has great significance for regional ecological protection and sustainable development. Historical land-use data of Three-River-Source National Park from 1990 to 2020 were selected at five-year intervals, and based on the PLUS-InVEST-Geodector model, the spatial-temporal changes of historical carbon storage were analyzed, and the driving forces of spatial-temporal variation were explored combined with multiple factors. The carbon storage of Three-River-Source National Park in 2030 was predicted under the scenarios of natural development and ecological protection. The results showed that： ① The carbon storage of Three-River-Source National Park showed a fluctuating characteristic of increase-decrease-increase-decrease from 1990 to 2020, the carbon storage was increased by 41.85×106 t overall, and the grassland took the largest contribution. ② The spatial distribution characteristics of carbon storage in Three-River-Source National Park had little change between 1990 to 2020, and the evolution of the spatial distribution was relatively stable. The contribution ratio of the Yangtze River source park, Lancang River source park, and Yellow River source park was 7∶1∶2, which was roughly equivalent to the park area. ③ The major driving factors of the spatial-temporal variation of carbon storage in Three-River-Source National Park from 1990 to 2020 were： FVC, soil type, and annual precipitation. The interactive detection of each driving factor showed dual-factor enhancement and nonlinear enhancement. ④ The carbon storage of Three-River-Source National Park was predicted to decrease by 4.87% and 3.98% from 2020 to 2030 under the scenarios of natural development and ecological protection, respectively, and the carbon storage reduction under the ecological protection scenario had a significant inhibitory effect. The findings can provide data support for national spatial planning of Three-River-Source National Park and the enhancement of terrestrial ecosystem carbon storage.

Studies on Ethno-Veterinary Plant Species of Rajaji National Park and Adjoining Areas

Studies on Ethno-Veterinary Plant Species of Rajaji National Park and Adjoining Areas

Pemberdayaan Kelompok Penggerak Pariwisata (Kompepar) Pasir Batang melalui Pembuatan Pembibitan Tanaman Rehabilitasi

The partner or target group for this community service activity is Kompepar Pasir Batang which is located in Karangsari Village, Darma District, Kuningan Regency. The activity area of Kompepar is the Pasir Batang Block which is part of the Gunung Ciremai National Park area. One of the problems faced by these partners is the difficulty of obtaining plant for rehabilitation activities around the partner's activity locations. Therefore, the aim of this service activity is to help provide a nursery for types of rehabilitation plants. The implementation methods used are counseling, training and empowerment. This activity can run smoothly as expected. This activity also received appreciation from the local village government and received full support from partners. Partners are actively involved in every stage of the activity. For the sustainability of the program, assistance by the Community Service Team will also continue so that the positive impact of the activities can be felt in real terms by many parties.

Commuting Pattern Recognition of Industrial Parks Using Mobile Phone Signaling Data: A Case Study of Nanjing, China

As a novel industrial space to cope with global competition, industrial parks have gradually become important growth poles to promote regional development and provide a large number of employment opportunities. This study utilizes mobile phone signaling data to identify the commuting origins and destinations (OD) of different industrial parks in Nanjing while comparing the distribution of the working population, residential population, and commuting patterns across varying types and levels of industrial parks. The level of coordination of the employment–residential system in each park is quantified by calculating the resident commuting index (HSCi), employee commuting index (WSCi), and their coupling coordination degree. Additionally, geographic detectors are employed to identify the influencing factors and interaction effects that impact the employment–residential balance in industrial parks. Results show that industrial parks located in the central urban area attract more residential and working populations. The commuting volume of national and municipal as well as high-tech industrial parks is higher than other types of industrial parks. Most industrial parks experience more inward than outward commuting, and there is an uneven distribution of commuting flows, resulting in a network-like pattern of “central dense, peripheral sparse”. Various industrial parks exhibit a highly coupled job–housing system, and those with high HSCi tend to have high WSCi as well. The coupling coordination of industrial parks ranged from 0.16 to 0.93, with 13 being primary coordination or above and 3 being disordered. Industrial parks are classified into three types: employment-oriented, residential-oriented, and employment–residential balanced, with the residential-oriented type being predominant. The density of public transportation stops, park area, and land use mix are the primary factors affecting the employment–residential balance. Industrial parks with larger scale, better land allocation, and higher service facility levels are more likely to achieve coordination in the employment–residential system. Our work utilizes mobile signaling data to characterize the commuting patterns of industrial parks, providing insights for industrial park planning and promoting the integration of industry and city.

Assessing the political vulnerability of National Parks in sub‐Saharan Africa using data on digital trends and engagement

Abstract National Parks (NPs) and other protected areas in sub‐Saharan Africa are crucial in attracting international tourists interested in wildlife tourism, contributing to national economies. Despite their cultural, economic, and conservation significance, these areas face diverse development threats, leading to pressures for protected area downgrading, downsizing, or degazettement (known as PADDD). We comprehensively analyse the geographical, historical, and structural aspects of 322 NPs in sub‐Saharan Africa and assess their political vulnerability by exploring the interplay of development pressures and public interest (as measured through Wikipedia page views). Fewer than 30% of these NPs possess or report information regarding management plans, even among the five most frequently viewed areas on Wikipedia. This is particularly concerning, since among those who underwent a PADDD event (51 NPs), almost 90% of them also had no information about the existence of management plans. Although we did not identify a statistically significant association between tourism and public interest online, tourism emerges as a potential mitigating factor against PADDD, along with high levels of peace. NPs that garner significant public interest online do not share the same socio‐geographic profile as parks that are most resilient to PADDD events. While digital metrics of public interest have potential as indicators of political resilience in NP, our research has shown that these metrics need refinement to fully understand which biophysical and cultural aspects of parks attract more public attention. Overall, effective conservation strategies in sub‐Saharan Africa require a more holistic understanding of historical, socio‐economic, and cultural factors. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Implementation of Controlled Floods for Sediment Management on the Colorado River in Grand Canyon Under Aridification

ABSTRACTIn addition to supplying water for agriculture, cities, and industry, the Colorado River traverses the Colorado Plateau, including several of the most unique and valued National Parks and Recreation Areas in the United States. Although the water needs of these landscapes were not considered at the time water allocations were first negotiated, these needs were recognized in subsequent legislation and policy. Management goals address a range of aquatic and riparian resources, including fine sediment (sand, silt, and clay) which, in Grand Canyon, is important for ecological, cultural, and recreational resources. Over ~30 years, stakeholders, resource managers, and scientists collectively developed operational strategies for sediment management to meet goals outlined by an adaptive management program. However, prolonged drought, or “aridification,” resulting in declining runoff and the lowest reservoir storage elevations in decades has challenged those strategies. The paradigm for sustainable sediment management relies on (1) sand accumulation on the bed of the Colorado River during periods of sediment‐rich tributary floods from summer/fall thunderstorms, and (2) dam‐released controlled (artificial) floods, referred to as High‐Flow Experiments (HFEs), to redistribute the accumulated sand to rebuild eroded bar and floodplain deposits. The management protocol, which specifies narrowly defined sand accumulation periods and HFE implementation windows, is based on implementing HFEs in late fall during the period of greatest sediment enrichment, before higher winter releases for hydropower erode the accumulated sand from the riverbed. Low dam releases associated with drought, however, have changed the pattern of sand accumulation and low reservoir elevations have prevented HFE implementation in the defined window. An alternative strategy for HFE planning and implementation was tested opportunistically in April 2023 following lower‐than‐normal winter dam releases. We present findings from this HFE indicating that sand enrichment and sandbar building equaled or exceeded that of HFEs conducted under the established management protocol. These findings show that management goals for sediment under conditions of prolonged drought may be achievable but will likely require substantial changes in dam management strategies.

Diversity of ecological functions of the insect families found in Citalahab Area of Mount Halimun Salak National Park (TNGHS)

The Citalahab area of ​​Mount Halimun Salak National Park (TNGHS) contains a diversity of insects with different ecological roles. In each type of habitat there was a composition of insect ecological roles. The study aimed to determine the diversity of ecological roles of insects in forest and plantation vegetation types in the Citalahab Area of ​​the Mount Halimun Salak National Park (TNGHS). This research uses the Simple Random Sampling method using pitfall traps in randomly determined plots measuring 20 x 20 meters (5 pit fall traps) in forests and plantations, with a total of 2 plots. There were 8 orders, 36 families with ecological roles such as: disease vectors, saprophages, pollinators, pests, predators, parasitoids, fungus eaters and decomposers. Insect families that act as parasitoids and disease vectors were only found in forest vegetation types. The richness of resources found in a habitat influences the diversity of the ecological roles of the insects found in it.

First documentation of early Silurian conodonts from western Thailand and its geological implications

The early Silurian conodonts are firstly described and illustrated from western Thailand. Samples were collected from the Kroeng Kravia Forest Park area for conodont and lithofacies analyses. An upper Telychian Lower Pterospathodus amorphognathoides amorphognathoides Subzone is recognized for the studied succession. Three lithofacies were identified from the carbonate succession, including stromatolite–thrombolite limestone, nodular limestone, and red limestone. Both analyses on lithofacies and conodont assemblages indicate a deeper marine depositional environment. The conodont fauna in the study area is similar to that from Baoshan of Yunnan Province and Langao of Shaanxi Province in West China and resembles that from similar depositional environments in Australia, Laurentia, and peri-Gondwana, suggesting good connections among these regions by ocean currents.