Remittances economy,remittances landscape: an analysis of the economic and socioecological implications of remittances to households in South Eastern Nigeria     

Nnamdi Ifeanyi Maduekwe  Francis Adesina 《GeoJournal》2017,82(1):139-155

This study evaluated the level of household dependence on remittances, its uses and linkages with landscape/environmental conditions in South Eastern Nigeria. The study area is a landscape unit defined by the Idemili River Basin of Anambra State. The concept of socio-ecological systems provided the basis for an integrated assessment of remittances environment linkages using primary data from a survey of 840 households in 25 localities in the basin and landscape data from a Nigerias at 32 m resolution image dataset. Based on this, linear and non linear regression modelling of locality level relationships between four indicators of household remittances (HR) and a key landscape variable (vegetation cover density-VCD) was implemented. About 45 % of the households had access to remittances; 10 % of receiving households depended on it as their main income source; and over 87 % used the receipts mainly to meet basic household needs. Only 4 % of the households used it in activities that directly affected the vegetation cover. The linear and non linear relationships between the indicators of HR and VCD were generally weak (R² < 0.250). However, the pattern of relationship was different for various indicators of HR. It was inverse for locality aggregate (total) and average HR and positive for level of household access to remittances/locality. This illustrates the complex relationship between remittances and landscape variables in the basin. The study shows that the impact of remittances on households and the environment in the region is both positive (through the alleviation of poverty and land pressure) and negative (through reduction of vegetation cover density).  相似文献   

Assessment of heavy metals in soil and terrestrial isopod <Emphasis Type="Italic">Porcellio laevis</Emphasis> in Tunisian industrialized areas     

Chedliya Ghemari  Christophe Waterlot  Anas Ayari  Julie Leclercq  Francis Douay  Karima Nasri-Ammar 《Environmental Earth Sciences》2017,76(17):623

In this study, data on several metals (Cd, Pb, Zn and Cu) in soil and isopod Porcellio laevis taken at 21 sites from the most important industrial areas in Tunisia (Bizerte, Nabeul, Zaghouan, Sfax and Gabes) were presented. Heavy metal concentrations in both soil samples and isopods were determined using atomic absorption spectrometry. Soil contamination was estimated using the contamination factor (CF). On the other hand, the bioaccumulation factor (BAF) was determined to estimate metal accumulation in isopods. The CF values show that the level of contamination varies between sampled soils, which may be due to the source of pollution at each site. The BAF values allow defining the order of accumulation in P. laevis which was classified for the majority of the sampled sites as a macro-concentrator of Cu and Zn and a deconcentrator of Cd with some exceptions. A principal component analysis (PCA) was conducted between soil properties (pH, OM and CaCO₃) and metal concentrations in soils. Through PCA, we obtained four groups in which soils were distinguished by their physicochemical properties and their metal concentrations. Moreover, linear multiple regressions with a downward stepwise procedure were conducted to test the relationships between the physicochemical parameters and metal concentrations in both soils and isopods. Thus, positive correlations (0.78 < R ² < 0.99) were obtained for Pb considering dataset from the groups 1, 2 and for Zn with data of groups 2 and 3. Finally, results showed that P. laevis could be used as a bio-indicator for monitoring and reducing the impact of pollution in terrestrial ecosystems.  相似文献   

Temporospatial dynamics and public health significance of bacterial flora identified on a major leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) nesting beach in the Southern Caribbean          下载免费PDF全文

Ayanna Carla N. Phillips  Johanna Coutou  Stacy Rajh  Neville Stewart  Antonio Watson  Adam Jehu  Hamish Asmath  Francis Dziva  Chandrashekhar Unakal  Ridley Holder  Raymond Raoul Carthy 《Marine Ecology》2017,38(2)

Grande Riviere beach, on the island of Trinidad, supports the largest nesting population of leatherback turtles in the Caribbean region. Throughout the nesting season, nests are naturally disturbed by newly nesting females, resulting in egg breakage and loss of some nest viability. This environment is ideal for the growth and proliferation of microorganisms. The range of bacterial flora present in beach sand and egg shells was examined, with emphasis on bacteria that may pose a threat to public and animal health. The extent to which the bacterial load and genera on the beach changed throughout the season was also assessed. Twenty‐five genera were identified, with Pseudomonas spp. found to be the most predominant environmental bacteria. Four genera identified possess zoonotic potential, while five additional genera are known to be of public and animal health significance. Distinct shifts in the density and distribution of bacteria were observed along the beach from early to peak nesting season. Shifts were seen across heavily traversed zones, thus highlighting the potential exposure threats posed to beach visitors and animals alike. Further studies aimed at speciating this population of bacteria, as well as isolating potential fungal pathogens may mitigate this threat. Identification of bacterial agents that are specifically pathogenic to leatherback turtles, turtle eggs, hatchlings and those who may interact with these animals will serve to enhance and guide efforts to better conserve this species and protect the health of all who visit this ecologically significant site.  相似文献   

Accretion of the NW Himalayan foreland pre-dates Late Cenozoic climate change     

Ellen A. Lamont  Francis J. Sousa  Andrew J. Meigs  Ramakrishna Jayangondaperumal  Rebecca M. Flowers  Aravind Anilkumar  Danielle Woodring  Edward R. Sobel 《地学学报》2023,35(1):41-48

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Unusual electrical resistivity effects associated with fast-growing trees     

Brooks B. Ellwood  Francis B. Harrold 《Geoarchaeology》1993,8(2):157-162

A series of electrical resistivity profiles have been acquired in eucalyptus groves during archaeological surveys performed in Portugal. The combination of the sandy soils in the region plus the presence of high growth eucalyptus trees yielded anomalous resistivity values which were extremely high and showed large variability. Other moderate and low growth trees did not show similar unusual resistivities. We conclude that extreme caution must be exercised when interpreting data from archaeological surveys associated with unusual soils or vegetation. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.  相似文献