• Title/Summary/Keyword: Tropical forests

Search Result 77, Processing Time 0.026 seconds

Deposition Process of Sulfate and Elemental Carbon in Japanese and Thai Forests

  • Sase, Hiroyuki;Matsuda, Kazuhide;Visaratana, Thiti;Garivait, Hathairatana;Yamashita, Naoyuki;Kietvuttinon, Bopit;Hongthong, Bundit;Luangjame, Jesada;Khummongkol, Pojanie;Shindo, Junko;Endo, Tomomi;Sato, Keiichi;Uchiyama, Shigeki;Miyazawa, Masamitsu;Nakata, Makoto;Lenggoro, I. Wuled
    • Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
    • /
    • v.6 no.4
    • /
    • pp.246-258
    • /
    • 2012
  • Particulate matter deposited on leaf surfaces may cause erosion/abrasion of epicuticular wax and the malfunction of stomata. However, the deposition processes of particulate matter, such as elemental carbon (EC), has not been studied sufficiently in Asian forest ecosystems. Deposition processes for particulate ${SO_4}^{2-}$ and EC were studied in a Japanese cedar forest in Kajikawa, Niigata Prefecture, Japan, and in a dry evergreen forest and a dry deciduous forest in Sakaerat, Nakhon Ratchasima province, Thailand. The ${SO_4}^{2-}$ fluxes attributed to rainfall outside the forest canopy (RF), throughfall (TF), and stemflow (SF) showed distinct seasonalities at both sites, increasing from November to February at the Kajikawa site and in March/April at the Sakaerat site. Seasonal west/northwest winds in winter may transport sulfur compounds across the Sea of Japan to the Kajikawa site. At the Sakaerat site, pollutants suspended in the air or dry deposits from the dry season might have been washed away by the first precipitations of the wet season. The EC fluxes from RF and TF showed similar variations by season at the Kajikawa site, while the flux from TF was frequently lower than that from RF at the Sakaerat site. Particulate matter strongly adsorbed onto leaf surfaces is not washed away by rainfall and contributes to the EC flux. At the Kajikawa site, Japanese cedar leaf surfaces accumulated the highest levels of particulate matter and could not be neglected when calculating the total flux. When such leaf-surface particles were considered, the contribution of dry deposition to the total EC flux was estimated to be 67%, 77%, and 82% at the Kajikawa site, and at the evergreen and deciduous forests of the Sakaerat site, respectively. Leaf-surface particles must be included when evaluating the dry and total fluxes of particulate matter, in particular for water-insoluble constituents such as EC.

Rainfed Areas and Animal Agriculture in Asia: The Wanting Agenda for Transforming Productivity Growth and Rural Poverty

  • Devendra, C.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
    • /
    • v.25 no.1
    • /
    • pp.122-142
    • /
    • 2012
  • The importance of rainfed areas and animal agriculture on productivity enhancement and food security for economic rural growth in Asia is discussed in the context of opportunities for increasing potential contribution from them. The extent of the rainfed area of about 223 million hectares and the biophysical attributes are described. They have been variously referred to inter alia as fragile, marginal, dry, waste, problem, threatened, range, less favoured, low potential lands, forests and woodlands, including lowlands and uplands. Of these, the terms less favoured areas (LFAs), and low or high potential are quite widely used. The LFAs are characterised by four key features: i) very variable biophysical elements, notably poor soil quality, rainfall, length of growing season and dry periods, ii) extreme poverty and very poor people who continuously face hunger and vulnerability, iii) presence of large populations of ruminant animals (buffaloes, cattle, goats and sheep), and iv) have had minimum development attention and an unfinished wanting agenda. The rainfed humid/sub-humid areas found mainly in South East Asia (99 million ha), and arid/semi-arid tropical systems found in South Asia (116 million ha) are priority agro-ecological zones (AEZs). In India for example, the ecosystem occupies 68% of the total cultivated area and supports 40% of the human and 65% of the livestock populations. The area also produces 4% of food requirements. The biophysical and typical household characteristics, agricultural diversification, patterns of mixed farming and cropping systems are also described. Concerning animals, their role and economic importance, relevance of ownership, nomadic movements, and more importantly their potential value as the entry point for the development of LFAs is discussed. Two examples of demonstrated success concern increasing buffalo production for milk and their expanded use in semi-arid AEZs in India, and the integration of cattle and goats with oil palm in Malaysia. Revitalised development of the LFAs is justified by the demand for agricultural land to meet human needs e.g. housing, recreation and industrialisation; use of arable land to expand crop production to ceiling levels; increasing and very high animal densities; increased urbanisation and pressure on the use of available land; growing environmental concerns of very intensive crop production e.g. acidification and salinisation with rice cultivation; and human health risks due to expanding peri-urban poultry and pig production. The strategies for promoting productivity growth will require concerted R and D on improved use of LFAs, application of systems perspectives for technology delivery, increased investments, a policy framework and improved farmer-researcher-extension linkages. These challenges and their resolution in rainfed areas can forcefully impact on increased productivity, improved livelihoods and human welfare, and environmental sustainability in the future.

Epidemiological Observation on the Current Epidemic of Human Trypanosomiasis in Uganda (우간다의 Human Trypanosomiasis 대유행(大流行)에 관한 역학적(疫學的) 관찰(觀察))

  • Chu, He-Len;Rim, Hang-Jong;Chu, I.H.;Ongom, V.L.
    • Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
    • /
    • v.5 no.1
    • /
    • pp.5-15
    • /
    • 1980
  • The first recorded trypanosomiasis epidemic in Uganda took place at the beginning of this century in the islands and in a strip along the northern shores of Lake Victoria, which resulted in deaths of 1/3 million people. The disease was partly controlled by early 1930's and continued to occur sporadically in certain localized foci. The disease has however flared up in an explosive outbreak in Busoga district along Lake Victoria since 1977. The incidence of disease in northern district adjacent to Southern Sudan is also increasing lately. This paper describes the three month observation on the surveillance and control activities in the epidemic areas and of various health units including the Vector Control Division, the Tsetse fly Control Division, Tororo Trypanosomiasis Research Institute, medical units in Busoga, and Acholi districts. Data analysis and review were made of disease information so far collected by various health units in the Ministry of Health and district health offices. The findings may be summarized in the following: 1) A total of 12, 100 patients and 38 deaths: have occured in Busoga district since 1977 onward, and over 100 cases of diseases arc occuring in the Northern region bordering Southern Sudan. 2) the distribution of trypanosomiasis is characterized with two district patterns. The disease caused by Trypanosoma rhodesiense occurs in Busoga and is transmitted by Glossina palpalis, G. fuscipes infested in the islands and in the northern shore of forests of Lake Victoria. Another type caused by Trypanosoma gambiense occurs in Madi and Acholi in the north and is transmitted by Glossina morsitans in Savannah. 3) The house survey in Rusoga indicated that most of patients keep domestic animals in their house premises, and are engaging in either farming or fishing. Practically all the patients remembered that they had been bitten by tsetse in the field. 4) The routine diagnostic methods in the hospital laboratory is carried out through the microscopic examination of trypanosome with Giemsa stain of blood and cerebro-spinal fluid, The measurement of ESR and IgM has been used by Tororo Tryponosomiasis Research Institute for field screening.

  • PDF

Delineation of Provenance Regions of Forests Based on Climate Factors in Korea (기상인자(氣象因子)에 의한 우리 나라 산림(山林)의 산지구분(産地區分))

  • Choi, Wan Yong;Tak, Woo Sik;Yim, Kyong Bin;Jang, Suk Seong
    • Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
    • /
    • v.88 no.3
    • /
    • pp.379-388
    • /
    • 1999
  • As a first step for delineating the provenance regions of the forest trees in Korea, horizontal zones have been deduced primarily from the various climatic factors such as annual mean temperature, extremely low temperature, relative humidity, annual gum of possible growing days, duration of sunshine and dry index. The basic concept to the delineation of the provenance regions was based on the ecological regions, which was likely to be more practical than that on the basis of the typical provenance regions at the species level. Primary classification of the regions has been based on the forest zones(sub-tropical, warm-temperate, mid-temperate and cool-temperate) as a broad geographic region. Further classification has been carried out using cluster analyses among the basic regions within forest zone. On the basis of clustering, a total of 19 regions including 3 from sub-tropical, 6 from warm-temperate, 8 from mid-temperate and 2 from cool-temperate was horizontally delineated. Of the mean values of 6 climate factors at the broad geographic region level, three factors such as annual mean temperature, extremely low temperature, annual growing days showed directional tendencies from subtropical to cool-temperate, while the others didn't. The values of relative humidity, duration of sunshine and dry index varied among the provenance regions within forest zone. These three factors might he more sensitive by the micro-environment condition than by the macro-environment condition. Present study aimed to delineate the primary provenance regions for tentative application to forest practices. These will be stepwise revised through the supplement using accumulated information regard to genecological data.

  • PDF

A Study for Use Conditions and Activation Plan of Chungnam Keumkang Arboretum (충남금강수목원의 이용실태 및 활성화 방안에 관한 연구)

  • Baek, Dong-Yeol;Cheong, Yong-Moon;Byeon, Jae-Sang
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
    • /
    • v.6 no.6
    • /
    • pp.14-24
    • /
    • 2003
  • This study had researched use conditions of forty-seven arboreta in the inside and outside of the country for the suggestion of activation plan of provincial arboretum. Chungnam Keum-Kang Arboretum in Kongju-Si, Chung-Cheong Nam-Do, had been surveyed as a case study. The survey was focused on current condition, location, ecological resources, characteristics and so on. In addition, questionnaire of users of Keum-Kang arboretum were conducted. Chungnam Keum-Kang arboretum is located in the inland area and has many vegetations. It is a provincial arboretum which was planted by trees, shrubs and vines, and a public garden which was used by paid admission. It has natural recreation forests, tropical green houses and breeding grounds for birds and wild animals. It, however, has many problem in the use and management system. And the shortages of attraction and program for user are serious problem. For the use activation and the improvement of management of this arboretum, this study suggested as follows ; (1) The responsible experts in charge of the general management of arboretum are demanded. (2) Term master plan for improvement of arboretum must be established. (3) It is necessary to manage for collection, propagation, display and preservation of plant species. (4) It is necessary to hold suitable and variety events for the seasons. (5) It is needed to arrange fitly convenience facilities.

Analysis of Temperature Change by Forest Growth for Mitigation of the Urban Heat Island (도시열섬 완화를 위한 녹지증가에 따른 온도변화 분석)

  • Yun, Hee Cheon;Kim, Min Gyu;Jung, Kap Yong
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Surveying, Geodesy, Photogrammetry and Cartography
    • /
    • v.31 no.2
    • /
    • pp.143-150
    • /
    • 2013
  • Recently, environmental issues such as climate warming, ozone layer depletion, reduction of tropical forests and desertification are emerging as global environmental problems beyond national problems. And international attention and effort have been carried out in many ways to solve these problems. In this study, the growth of green was calculated quantitatively using the technique of remote sensing and temperature change was figured out through temperature extraction in the city. The land-cover changes and thermal changes for research areas were analyzed using Landsat TM images on May 2002 and May 2009. Surface temperature distribution was calculated using spectral degree of brightness of Band 6 that was Landsat TM thermal infrared sensor to extract the ground surface temperature in the city. As a result of research, the area of urban green belt was increased by $2.87km^2$ and the ground surface temperature decreased by $0.6^{\circ}C{\sim}0.8^{\circ}C$ before and after tree planting projects. Henceforth, if the additional study about temperature of downtown is performed based on remote sensing and measurement data, it will contribute to solve the problems about the urban environment.

Survey and Phylogenetic Analysis of Rodents and Important Rodent-Borne Zoonotic Pathogens in Gedu, Bhutan

  • Phuentshok, Yoenten;Dorji, Kezang;Zangpo, Tandin;Davidson, Silas A.;Takhampunya, Ratree;Tenzinla, Tenzinla;Dorjee, Chencho;Morris, Roger S.;Jolly, Peter D.;Dorjee, Sithar;McKenzie, Joanna S.
    • Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
    • /
    • v.56 no.5
    • /
    • pp.521-525
    • /
    • 2018
  • Rodents are well-known reservoirs and vectors of many emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, but little is known about their role in zoonotic disease transmission in Bhutan. In this study, a cross-sectional investigation of zoonotic disease pathogens in rodents was performed in Chukha district, Bhutan, where a high incidence of scrub typhus and cases of acute undifferentiated febrile illness had been reported in people during the preceding 4-6 months. Twelve rodents were trapped alive using wire-mesh traps. Following euthanasia, liver and kidney tissues were removed and tested using PCR for Orientia tsutsugamushi and other bacterial and rickettsial pathogens causing bartonellosis, borreliosis, human monocytic ehrlichiosis, human granulocytic anaplasmosis, leptospirosis, and rickettsiosis. A phylogenetic analysis was performed on all rodent species captured and pathogens detected. Four out of the 12 rodents (33.3%) tested positive by PCR for zoonotic pathogens. Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Bartonella grahamii, and B. queenslandensis were identified for the first time in Bhutan. Leptospira interrogans was also detected for the first time from rodents in Bhutan. The findings demonstrate the presence of these zoonotic pathogens in rodents in Bhutan, which may pose a risk of disease transmission to humans.

Composition and Diversity of Tree Species in Kamalachari Natural Forest of Chittagong South Forest Division, Bangladesh

  • Hossain, M. Akhter;Hossain, M. Kamal;Alam, M. Shafiul;Uddin, M. Main
    • Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
    • /
    • v.31 no.3
    • /
    • pp.192-201
    • /
    • 2015
  • Information on plant diversity and community structure are required to chalk out necessary actions for conservation management. The present study assessed the composition and diversity of tree species in Kamalachari Natural Forest of Chittagong South Forest Division, Bangladesh, during April 2010 to November 2011. A total of 107 tree species belonging to 72 genera and 37 families were recorded, where Moraceae family was represented by maximum (11) species. Density, Basal area and volume of tree species were $418{\pm}20.09stem/ha$, $21.10{\pm}2.62m^2/ha$ and $417.4{\pm}79.8m^3/ha$ respectively. Diameter and height class distribution of tree species revealed an almost reverse J-shaped curve. Both the number of species and percentage of tree individuals were maximum in the lower DBH and height ranges. Anthropogenic disturbances like illegal tree cutting, over extraction, settlement inside forest area etc. were noticed during the study, which are supposed to cause gradual decrease of both tree species and individuals in the higher DBH and height classes. However, Artocarpus chama was found dominant showing maximum IVI followed by Schima wallichii, Aporosa wallichii, and Lithocarpus acuminata. The quantitative structure of the tree species of Kamalachari natural forest is comparable to other tree species rich tropical natural forests. The findings of the study may help in monitoring future plant population changes of the identified species and adopting species specific conservation programs in Kamalachari natural forest.

Economical Feasibility of Cultivation under Structure Due to the Introduction of New and Renewable Energy -Comparative Analysis of Wood-Pellet, Geothermal Heat and Diesel- (신재생에너지 도입에 따른 시설재배의 경제성 분석 -목재팰릿, 지열과 경유의 비교분석을 중심으로-)

  • Kim, Hyung Woo;Yoon, Sung-Yee
    • Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
    • /
    • v.22 no.2
    • /
    • pp.255-268
    • /
    • 2014
  • We are now currently facing serious climate changes such as super typhoon, flood, intense heat, severe cold, super hurricane, drought, desertification, destruction of ecosystem, marine pollution, reduction of food production, destruction of tropical forests, exhaustion of water resources, climate refugees, etc. All of the above mainly derive from greenhouse gas exhaustion. Such harmful consequence might directly affect mankind's sustainable development. If we keep using resources that emits greenhouse gases, the global temperature will rise about $3.2^{\circ}C$ by year 2050. In case of $3^{\circ}C$ rise in temperature, it will result in abnormal climate which will bring about severe property damage. Moreover, 20~50% of the ecosystem will become extinct. As Korea's economy increasingly expands, so do our energy consumption rises. And because of the consequences that can be driven by increasing rate of resource use, not just Korea itself, but also the whole world should seriously concern about greenhouse gases. Although agricultural division only takes up about 3.2% of total greenhouse gas emission, the ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs are taking voluntary actions to gradually reduce $CO_2$ and so does each and every related organizations. In order to reduce $CO_2$, introduction of new and renewable energy in farm house warming is crucial. In other words, implementing wood-pellet boiler and geothermal heat boiler can largly reduce $CO_2$ emission compared to diesel boiler. More importantly, not only wood-pellet and geothermal heat is pollution-free but they also have economic advantages some-what. In this thesis, the economic advantage and sustainablity will be introduced and proved through comparing practical analysis of surveyed farm house under structure employing wood-pellet boiler and geothermal heat boiler with Agriculture-Economic Statistic of 2012 who uses diesel boiler.

Tyrosinase and α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Activities and Antioxidant Effects of Extracts from Different Parts of Hypochaeris radicata (서양금혼초 부위별 추출물의 티로신에이즈, α-글루코시다아제 저해활성 및 항산화효과)

  • Ko, Hyun Min;Eom, Tae Kil;Song, Seon Kyung;Jo, Ga Yeong;Kim, Ju Sung
    • Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
    • /
    • v.25 no.3
    • /
    • pp.139-145
    • /
    • 2017
  • Background: Invasion of these invasive plants in the ecosystem threatens the habitat of endemic species, reduces biodiversity, and causes a disturbance in the ecological system. Hypochaeris radicata L. (Asteraceae), the most invasive plant in Korea, particularly in Jeju Island, invades farmlands, and autochthonous forests, resulting in the establishment of monocultures and modification of the ecosystem structure. Methods and Results: In this study was, we evaluated the biological activity of 70% ethanolic extracts from different parts of Hypochaeris radicata L. The biological activities of 70% ethanolic extracts of different parts, such as flower, leaf, stem, and root, of H. radicata were investigated. The total polyphenol content was highest in flower extracts ($50.82{\pm}3.16mg{\cdot}QE/g$). In addition, the highest flavonoid content was observed in flower extract ($15.19{\pm}2.03mg{\cdot}QE/g$). The flower extract of H. radicata exhibited stronger DPPH radical-scavenging activities, ABTS radical scavenging activities, and reducing power than the other parts. The flower extract of H. radicata was observed to have the highest tyrosinase and ${\alpha}-glucosidase$ inhibitory activities. Conclusions: The flower extracts of H. radicata exhibited remarkable antioxidant activity as well as tyrosinase and ${\alpha}-glucosidase$ inhibitory effects. These activities might be related to the phenolic compounds present in the H. radicata flower extract.