Transformation Of Natural Landscapes Research Articles

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE LAND FUND OF NAKHCHIVAN AUTONOMOUS REPUBLIC

The article deals with the spread of agriculture and animal husbandry over vast territories, the transformation of natural landscapes, the formation of new economic areas with the development of productive forces, and the further multiplication of environmental impacts. We are talking about anthropogenic landscapes formed as a result of human economic activity, and about a number of dangers of these landscapes for life. We are talking about an increase in the area of the geographical environment, a continuous change in the natural land fund in an anthropogenic direction and that this change is due to an increase in the population and the share of the economy. It is about growing crops and ensuring the food needs of animals, as well as the need to meet the needs of people in agricultural and food products, and the importance of human land use in the field of agriculture. They talk about the rational and irrational use of nature by man and that, with rational use, the balance with nature is not disturbed. And with inefficient use, it is said that a person has taken away material goods and does not take any measures to maintain balance, as a result of which natural landscapes are transformed, the connection between natural complexes is disrupted. Based on the article, it can be said that agricultural activities and natural landscapes on the territory of Sharur, Babek, Kangerlinsky and Julfa districts have undergone a greater transformation.

Study on Coupling and Coordination Relationship between Urbanization and Ecosystem Service Value in Jiangsu Province, China

Urbanization has a significant negative impact on both the structure and function of ecosystems, as it is a major part of the human-caused transformation of natural landscapes. Concurrently, the attenuation of ecosystem service values (ESVs) poses critical impediments to urbanization and imperils human well-being. Investigating the interactive coupling and coordination relationship between urbanization and ESV is paramount in informing urban development strategies and environmental preservation efforts. Using Jiangsu Province as a representative case, this study forges an urbanization assessment index framework, estimates ESV, and subsequently delves into the multifaceted nexus between urbanization and ESV. The findings disclose a gradual uptick in urbanization levels in Jiangsu Province, underscored by conspicuous regional disparities typified in the subregions of southern Jiangsu, central Jiangsu, and northern Jiangsu, mirroring the high congruence observed in the economic urbanization subsystem. However, this upward trajectory in urbanization coincides with an overarching descent in ESV, with the most pronounced declines manifesting in regions characterized by elevated urbanization levels, such as Nantong and Suzhou. A robust interrelationship between urbanization and ESV is discernible throughout Jiangsu Province. Nevertheless, certain cities exhibit perturbations and retrogression in the associations between urbanization subsystems and ESV. The coupling coordination between population urbanization and ESV is characterized by disharmony while the coordination of economic urbanization markedly lags. Additionally, several cities are witnessing a progressive deterioration in the coordination relationships between ESV subsystems (food production, soil conservation, gas regulation, and raw material production) and urbanization. In light of these findings, it is recommended that governmental authorities enact measures to harmonize urban development with environmental preservation, safeguard the integrity of ecosystem functions, and facilitate the sustainable management of land resources.

LANDSCAPE DIVERSITY OF THE TERRITORY OF THE TOBOL RIVER BASIN WITHIN THE KOSTANAY REGION

The relevance of the study of landscape diversity has become one of the current directions of modern geographical research, allowing to obtain new scientific and practical results in the field of nature management and environmental protection. A comprehensive study and assessment of the diversity of the landscapes of the region is due to the increasing anthropogenic impact on its natural environment. The transformation of natural landscapes in the study area is associated with the raw materials orientation of its economy. As a consequence of the development, we have a wide variety of degrees and types of modifications of natural geosystems. The main results of the assessment of the landscape diversity of the territory of the Tobol river basin within the Kostanay region, performed using GIS, are presented. Landscape diversity evaluation performed using series of landscape diversity indices: uniqueness, relative wealth, landscape mosaic, landscape complexity, landscape fragmentation and the entropy measure of the complexity of landscape drawing (The Shannon index). The factors that determine the landscape diversity of the study region are considered. The results of cartographic analysis of the landscape diversity of the region are presented. A map of the landscape diversity of the territory of the Tobol River basin within the Kostanay region according to the Shannon diversity index has been compiled.

Interpretation of land use/land cover dynamics with the application of geospatial techniques in sarbari khad watershed of Himachal Pradesh, India

Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) changes represent anthropogenic transformation of natural landscape. These changes are an important tool in developing strategies for the management of natural resources as well as monitoring environmental changes. LULC mapping and monitoring is required to understand the causes and consequences of over exploitation of natural resources such as land, soil, forest and water. By assessing the uses and misuses of resources and identifying the reasons for misuses, the measures for sustainable development of resources in the fragile Himalayan watersheds can be identified and implemented. The main objective of the present study is to assess the land use/land cover changes in the Sarbari Khad watershed of Kullu Valley. The Sarbari Khad watershed is part of Beas River basin. The changes in LULC have been detected by using remote sensing and GIS (Geographical Information System) techniques for a period of twenty-one years (2000–2021). The satellite images of the National European Space Agency Sentinal-2 of November, 2021 and LandSat-7 image of November 2000 were processed with the help of ERDAS Imagine (2015) and Arc View (3.2a) software. This study reveals that substantial amount of deforestation and snow cover retreat has occurred during this period of two decades due to anthropogenic activities such as expansion of agriculture, especially horticulture, tourism and infrastructure development.

Features of the formation of the econetwork structure in the central Forest-Steppe of Ukraine

As a result of global trends of climate change, in conditions of significant anthropogenic impact on the environment, which is one of the most urgent threats with a long-term negative impact on the environment and the economy, the transformation of natural landscapes and the impoverishment of their biological diversity is taking place. Therefore, the transition from classic nature conservation areas to eco-networks is the need of the hour. Because the eco-network is a conceptually integrating idea of preserving the natural environment. A study was conducted of the Halytskyi-Slobozhanskyi and Yuzhno-Buzskyi ecocorridors, which unite exceptionally important landscape, floristic and coenotic key territories that are components of the national eco-network of Ukraine. The plant cover of the studied ecocorridors is characterized by a significant number of rare and endemic species, most of which are listed in the Red Book of Ukraine. On the basis of the biocentric network structure, the flora complexes of the longitudinal and transverse ecocorridors, which territorially belong to the agrolandscapes of the Central Forest-Steppe of Ukraine, were analyzed. It has been established that the key areas of the eco-network are Maslivska, Berezivska, Chornogrebelska, Bugo-Desnyanska, from the point of view of migration and dispersal of species. Halytskyi-Slobozhanskyi and Yuzhno-Buzkyi ecological corridors are characterized by a low cyclicality index (α<1) with the possibility of further development of ecocorridors (β>1). The low degree of alternative choice of migration paths is shown (γ<1), which is a consequence of the high level of economic development of the territory. For the investigated ecocorridors, the β-index revealed the presence of several cycles (β>1), but this is not optimal for the distribution and migration of species.

Do national parks protect natural landscapes?

Establishing national parks should result from a desire to protect natural or near natural landscapes with the lowest degree of anthropogenic transformation. This paper tries to ascertain whether national parks in Poland protect the most natural landscapes and how far they have been affected by humans. The level of anthropogenic transformation of natural landscapes was assessed based on an analysis of the percentage of natural, semi-natural and anthropogenic land cover. The vast majority of national parks in Poland (21 out of 23) protect landscapes which have been minimally transformed by humans (RATTNP ranges from 1.01 to 1.16). Only two kinds of natural landscapes, those that are the most transformed by humans, are not represented within the set of the Polish national parks. Hence, the distribution of national parks reflects the degree of anthropogenic landscape transformation. The proposed method could be applied to any type of spatial unit and thus be the basis for designating areas that should be protected.

Impact of land use and cover on shallow groundwater quality in Songyuan city, China: A multivariate statistical analysis

The utilization and development of land resources is an important process in which human activities affect groundwater quality. However, the impact of land use on groundwater chemical composition has complex multiple relationships, and is affected by the scale of the buffer zone. Based on these problems, this study used correlation analysis (CA) and principal component analysis (PCA) to discuss the mechanism of the effect of land use/land cover (LULC) on the hydrochemical composition of groundwater in Songyuan City. Samples were divided into two groups, i.e., quaternary unconfined aquifer (0–30 m) and quaternary confined aquifer (30–100 m). By comparing the variation trends of the correlation coefficient and cumulative variance interpretation rate of PCA in different buffer ranges, it was found that the optimal buffer range was 3000 m. Cropland had the greatest impact on groundwater hydrochemistry in the city. The transformation of natural landscapes (such as saline‒alkaline alkali land and grassland) to cropland inhibited salt accumulation in groundwater. This finding is noteworthy since few studies have involved areas where saline‒alkaline land is widely distributed. Compared with CA results, PCA results emphasized the deterioration of groundwater quality by agricultural pollution. Moreover, agricultural pollutants such as NO3− and K+ were accumulated in areas where cropland transitioned to natural landscapes such as grassland and water bodies. Considering that wide lakes and rivers provide the drainage area for irrigation water in the study area, the groundwater quality in the surrounding area was affected by the contaminated surface water. The multiple interaction relationship between LULC and hydrochemistry was further confirmed by the combination of principal component scores.

Environmental problems of small rivers in the Volga and Dneprovsky basin in the territory of the Kaluga region

The article deals with the geoecological problems of small rivers of the Volga and Dnieper basins in the Kaluga region. The analysis of water resources of the Kaluga region is given. It is shown that intensive use of river runoff, transformation of natural landscapes, agromelioration and urbanization, anthropogenic and technogenic load have led to a violation of the hydrological regime of small rivers. This led to a change in the intra-annual distribution of runoff on the territory of the Kaluga Region and neighboring regions, stimulated the progressive process of shallowing and disappearance of small rivers as a result of violation of natural flow-forming complexes. Heavy damage to small rivers, which are very sensitive to pollution, is caused by storm drains, which are often comparable to urban sewage

ДИНАМИКА ГОРОДСКИХ ЛАНДШАФТОВ (НА ПРИМЕРЕ Г. ХАБАРОВСКА)

A map of the current state of urban landscapes has been compiled, taking into account the transformation of natural landscapes. Within the urban area, there defined 1774 separate landscape areas belonging to 5 rows, of which 14 genera are distinguished according to the nature of their anthropogenic modification. The author has determined the features of changes in the spatial structure of urban landscapes.

Ecological aspect of the development of soil-forming processes at the post-technogenic stage

The relevance of the study is caused by the problem of the global anthropogenic transformation of natural landscapes in Kuzbass as a result of the development of mining. The rate of reclamation of disturbed lands lags behind the rate and scale of their formation, and most of the territory is self-recovering. This paper is aimed at studying the ecological conditions of the natural environment and technogenic factors affecting the dynamics of soil-forming processes and the formation of phytocenoses in disturbed territories, which differ in the way of formation at the technogenic stage. For the first time, some physicochemical parameters of technozems were obtained. Like ebriozems, they are formed in the post-technogenic phase of the development of a technogenic landscape under the conditions of its self-growth. The similarities and differences in the properties of technozems and ebriozems formed in the same natural and climatic conditions of the southern forest-steppe zone of Kuzbass have been revealed. It was found that the rate of their transformation, expressed in the formation of the soil profile, depends on the conditions of the relief and underlying rocks created at the technogenic stage. The presence of a preserved layer of potentially fertile rocks and the absence of slope surfaces led to the formation of the frontal soil and vegetation cover of the technozem; under other conditions, the formation of soils and plant groups occurs fragmentarily, which leads to the asynchronous development of the functions and modes of the technogenic landscape.

A comparative assessment on ant communities in three vegetation types located at Mfou Suburban locality of Yaoundé (Cameroon)

Urban expansion in Cameroon and many other Congo basin countries, involves the destruction of natural habitat previously colonized by a rich and diversified invertebrate and vertebrate fauna. In order to understand the dynamic of transformation of natural landscape into urban area on ant communities, a study was conducted at Mfou, a suburban agglomeration of Yaoundé. We aimed to evaluate the variation in ant diversity and ant community structure in relation to the type of habitat. Ants were collected on the ground and trees in cocoa farms, secondary forests, and palm groves using visual catch, pitfall traps, quadrat, and baits. We recorded 144 species belonging to 39 genera and 6 subfamilies. Cocoa farms (S= 102; H’= 3.83; E=0.83) were richer and more diversified than secondary forests (S= 100; H’= 3.83; E=0.83) and palm groves (S= 70; H’= 3.61; E=0.85). Myrmicinae, Formicinae and Ponerinae were the richest subfamilies both at genus and species levels. Based on their frequency of occurrence, Myrmicaria opaciventris (18.6%), Crematogaster striatula (17.1%), Crematogaster gabonensis (14.9%) and Camponotus crawleyi Emery, 1920 (14.2%) species were numerically dominant. Strumigenys sp.1, Strumigenys sp.2, Strumigenys sp.3, and Strumigenys sp.4 species were found only in secondary forests, suggesting the relatively stability of this habitat despite anthropogenic disturbance. Camponotus brevicollis, Technomyrmex sp.2 and Tetramorium guineensis were the indicator species in cocoa farms. In the secondary forests, Camponotus wellmani, Hypoponera punctatissima and Pheidole pulchella were found as indicator species while in palm groves H. punctatissima was the only indicator species.

ОРНІТОФАУНА ПОЛІГОНІВ ТВЕРДИХ ПОБУТОВИХ ВІДХОДІВ МІСТА ХАРКОВА

Introduction.As a result of consumer activity, household waste is generated, which is stored in specially designated landfills. Such areas are factors of multifunctional impact on the environment and are characterized by the release of filtrate and gases, various types of air pollution, soils and groundwater, the transformation of natural landscapes. The biotic component of ecosystems responds most dynamically to changes in landscape conditions, which appear in the transformation of vegetation and the formation of specific fauna. The fauna of such areas is most characterized by avifauna. Birds are attracted mainly by food resources, as well as conditions for rest, wintering, nesting away from humans.Purpose. Тo identify the species composition and ecological features of the formation of avifauna of the territory of Dergachiv and Rohan landfills in Kharkiv. ISSN 2076-5835. Вісник Черкаського університету. 2021. No136Methods. To obtain general idea of the avifauna of landfills, route and point accounting methods were used, using optical equipment (binoculars, camera) and the field determinant "Birds of the Fauna of Ukraine" (Fesenko, Bokotei, 2002). The similarity coefficient is determined by the Jakarra formula.Results. The species composition of the avifauna is represented by a total of 66 species, from 25 families and 11 series. The dominant genus - Passeriformes (Passeriformes), the largest number of members of the family is Crows (Corvidae). The areas of landfills are divided into functional areas for human use to provide the most correct description of the structure of birds in relation to landfill areas - the dominant species are concentrated in the area of active waste unloading, others are usually found around the landfill and on the reclaimed landfill. The similarity of the species composition of the avifauna of two landfills was determined - the similarity coefficient is equal to 0.12, which indicates a small similarity, but noticeable one. The species composition is divided according to trophic preferences according to the classification of Kostin S. Yu. And it is determined that the largest share among the avifauna of landfills is occupied by entomophagous (33.3%) and polyphagous (27.8%). It should be noted that the dominant species by the number of representatives on the landfill are fully polyphagous.Originality. In Kharkiv region, the study of the composition and ecological features of the avifauna of landfills is conducted for the first time.Conclusion. Thus, the species composition of the avifauna of landfills is quite diverse and is formed mainly in two regular directions - the adaptation of species to changes in environmental conditions and the concentration of species that are attracted by the available forage base and conditions for wintering. Differences arise in response to geographical location, landscape conditions, proximity to water, settlements, and so on.Key words: species of avifauna diversity; transformed landscapes; anthropogenic factors; environmental impact; sensitivity and adaptation of fauna.

Nest boxes buffer the effects of climate on breeding performance in an African urban raptor.

As the world’s human population increases, transformation of natural landscapes into urban habitats continues to increase. In Africa, rates of human population growth and urbanisation are among the highest in the world, but the impacts of these processes on the continent’s biodiversity remain largely unexplored. Furthermore, the effects of ongoing anthropogenic climate change are likely to be severe and to interact with urbanisation. Some organisms appear resilient to urbanisation, and even proliferate in human-modified environments. One such species is the peregrine falcon Falco peregrinus in Cape Town, South Africa. Using a long-term data set (1989–2014), we investigate the relationship between breeding attempts, timing of breeding and breeding performance under varying weather conditions. Exploring these issues along an urbanisation gradient, we focus on the role of artificially provided nest boxes, and their capacity to buffer against extreme weather events. Pairs in more urbanised areas, and particularly those in nest boxes, were more likely to breed and to commence breeding earlier. Additionally, pairs using nest boxes were more likely to breed in years with higher rainfall. Warm and dry weather conditions generally advanced the timing of breeding, although this relationship with weather was not seen for urban pairs using nest boxes. Furthermore, weather did not impact breeding performance directly (breeding success and fledged brood size), but timing of breeding did, with earlier breeders producing more fledglings. Our study shows that falcons breeding in specially provided nest boxes were less sensitive to local weather dynamics than pairs using more natural nest sites. This has important implications as it suggests that the managed provision of such nesting sites can help this key urban species to cope with extreme weather events, which are predicted to increase with climate change.

Transformation of the Mammalian Population due to Technogenic Transformation of Arctic and Subarctic Natural Landscapes

Responses of the mammalian population (Micromammalia and game species) to the technogenic transformation of natural landscapes in different regions of Yakutia are studied. It is established that game species are mainly affected by direct persecution, and the transformation of the population of small mammals depends primarily on the intensity of technogenic landscape transformation and geographical zonality. It is noted that the consequences of the transformation of natural landscapes are more profound in the Arctic than in the middle-taiga subzone. In addition, the mammalian population in the Arctic zone cannot restore its original status after a severe anthropogenic transformation.

Transformative landscapes: liminality and visitors’ emotional experiences at German memorial sites

The atrocities of Nazi Germany included the radical transformation of natural landscapes. At Ravensbrück (Brandenburg), a lakeside setting became the site of the largest women’s concentration camp in Germany, processing approximately 159,000 inmates until 1945. Similarly, at Flossenbürg (Bavaria), a picturesque valley in the Oberpfälzer Wald housed a large concentration camp with approximately 100,000 inmates over seven years and a granite quarry to support Hitler’s extensive construction programme. After the war, part of Ravensbrück became a Soviet Army base, while large sections of Flossenbürg were removed to make way for a new housing and industrial development. Along with other former camps (particularly Auschwitz-Birkenau), parts of these landscapes were developed into memorial sites that aim to provide a liminal experience for visitors – a ‘rite of passage’. In attempting to regain a sense of place that evokes the trauma of the past, the landscapes of the memorial sites of Ravensbrück and Flossenbürg were recently altered to resemble their appearance in 1945. For visitors, however, the aesthetic experience of these landscapes lies in stark contrast to the narrative they encounter at both sites; they are surprised to see signs of life, objecting to modernisation at Ravensbrück or the existence of a supermarket next to the memorial site in Flossenbürg. This paper examines the transformative processes of these landscapes and explores how their liminality is constructed, experienced and challenged. Through empirical visitor research conducted at both sites, it provides a critical evaluation of the narrative given to visitors and suggests how these important sites can offer a more engaging ‘rite of passage’.

Ecosystems Transformation and Assessment of Bird Resources in the Republic of Tatarstan (Russia)

The intensification of economic activities, wide scales of the destruction of the woods, the growth of the areas of the worked lands, creation of water basins, urbanization and other forms of transformation of natural landscapes for last centuries have essentially changed the conditions of animals’ habitation. 305 species of birds can be found within the territory of Tatarstan. We performed an analysis of the state of the ornithofauna over the past 120 years, which allowed us to get estimates of species density and distribution in the republic. The research material is a gain to the knowledge about ornithofauna of Tatarstan, the state of each species populations and may be used to develop a regional monitoring system.

Land use change: A key ecological disturbance declines soil microbial biomass in dry tropical uplands

Land use changes such as transformation of natural landscapes, forest degradation and increase in croplands due to human activities are considered amongst the most influential ecological disturbances affecting soil, ecosystems and environmental sustainability. The previous works from India are limited to show that soil disturbances influence abiotic and biotic factors along a rural–urban gradient. However, variations in soil microbial biomass (SMB) –C, –N and –P quantity due to land use changes at different soil depths across different land use types remain poorly understood on comparative ground. We investigated the impact of land use types on soil properties and SMB –C, –N and –P levels across different soil depths (0–10, 10–20 and 20–30 cm) in dry tropical uplands. Four land use types/covers (natural forest, mixed forest, savanna and agriculture land) were selected. The present study is based on two hypotheses: i) different land use types affect SMB levels in top surface soil (0–10 cm), but have less effects in deeper soil profiles (20–30 cm); and ii) SMB levels in top surface soil are highest in natural forest, followed by mixed forest and then savanna and agriculture lands. ANOVA showed significant differences in SMB values due to land use covers (P < 0.001), soil depths (P < 0.001) and land use types × soil depths interaction (P < 0.001). Although, there had no effect of land use types on SMB levels in deeper soil profiles (20–30 cm) but soil parameters (soil pH, soil moisture, soil temperature, total-N, C/N ratio and organic-C) significantly affect SMB levels in top surface (0–10 cm) soil. The study suggests that SMB may be considered as a key indicator of soil fertility index, while land use practices are a major cause for loss of microbial community composition/biomass in dry tropical upland soil.

Transformation of the Watershed Basin of Udy River Within Kharkiv

Purpose. To assess the extent of anthropogenic transformation of the landscape of watershed basin due to urban development and identify ways of normalizing the load on landscapes during the development of the city. Methods. In the course of the study, a set of methods was used: expert evaluation, cartographic methods (including cartometry operations) and geoinformation modeling of the relief. Results. In the course of the study, it was found that the urbogenic transformation of natural landscapes is primarily due to the formation of a system of land uses that prompts the replacement of the ecological functions of the landscape by public ones. The landscape differentiation of the catchment basin, based on geoinformation modeling of the terrain, made it possible to identify the spatial configuration and area of each of its subsystems. It was found that the floodplain subsystem occupies 8.47 %, the alluvial subsystem – 21.4 %, the slope subsystem – 17.49 %, and the watershed-plain – 52.64 % of the area of the studied catchment area. Conclusions. As a result of calculating the coefficients of transformation of land use types and their summation within each of the subsystems, it is established that the highest degree of transformation of landscapes has a watershed-plain subsystem. The average degree of transformation is characterized by the alluvial terrace and slope subsystems. The lowest index of anthropogenic transformation coefficient within the catchment area has a floodplain subsystem. For the territory of the floodplain, zoning of the territory according to the level of anthropogenic load on the landscape of the catchment area was carried out. Environmental measures are proposed for each of the zones.

Avifauna de un paisaje rural heterogéneo en Risaralda, cordillera Central de Colombia

Although the transformation of natural landscapes and the appearance of agricultural covers negatively affect biodiversity, some heterogeneous rural landscapes offer opportunities for species conservation and can host very diverse ecological communities. Here we present a description of the bird assemblages in an Andean rural landscape in Risaralda, Colombia, and explore the spatial structure of bird diversity in response to geographical distance between localities, and the species richness in the different vegetation types in the landscape. During 5 years (2013-2017) we recorded 309 species, 50 families and 22 orders in 15 localities of subandean rural landscapes between 1600 and 2200 m a. s. l. We found the spatial turnover in species composition is associated with the geographical distance between localities and vegetation cover diversity in each locality, showing a high complementarity between the local mosaic assemblages. Different types of vegetation contributed to beta diversity and increased regional bird richness. We consider that it is important to include rural landscapes in conservation initiatives at regional and national levels.

English

Transformation of natural landscapes is the leading cause of global biodiversity decline. This is often exacerbated through anthropogenic activities that result in the alteration of natural ecosystem. Displacement of local species is characteristics of this process and this is of negative consequence especially for species in mutualism. In this study, how grazing and mowing activities influence flower-insect interactions and communities of interacting partners was assessed. Insect-flower interactions were sampled in four replicates, each of grazed and mowed grasslands in a moderately disturbed ecosystem. Mean distance to natural areas was determined during the study to assess the buffering effect of these natural areas on insect-flower interactions in the local habitats. Flower visiting insect species richness and abundance were not significantly different between grazed and mowed grasslands; however, flowering plants richness and abundance were higher in grazed grasslands. Mean number of interactions was also higher in grazed grassland as compared to mowed. Furthermore, mean number of interactions reduced with increase in distance from the forest. This study showed the importance of natural habitat as a refuge for displaced flower-visiting insects from disturbed areas in a transformed landscape. Mutualistic partners in interaction tend to be resilient to moderate disturbance such as grazing in this study; however, an increase in the intensity of disturbance above the moderate threshold may result in a breakdown of interaction networks. Key words: Network metrics, grazing, landscape disturbance, flower-visiting insects, natural habitat.