African Journal of Ecology and Ecosystems

African Journal of Ecology and Ecosystems ISSN: 9428-167X Vol. 6 (3), pp. 001-013, March, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Development of pedo transfer functions (PTFs) to predict soil physico-chemical and hydrological characteristics in southern coastal zones of the Caspian Sea

Hadi Rahimi Lake¹, Ali Akbarzadeh² and Ruhollah Taghizadeh Mehrjardi^2*

¹Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Guilan, Rasht, 41635- 1314, Iran.

²Department of Soil Science, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, 31587-77871, Iran.

Accepted 17 January, 2019

Abstract

The research presented in this paper attempts to develop a more realistic model using multi-layer perceptron (MLP), a feed forward artificial neural network (ANN), instead of traditional models like multiple linear regression (MLR) for predicting some soil physico-chemical and hydrological properties. The study area (Guilan Province) which is located in northern Iran bordering to south side of Caspian Sea in a coastal zone has udic and thermic soil moisture and temperature regimes respectively. The estimated soil parameters were CEC, EC, ESP, MWD and final steady- state infiltration rate (IR). Although these parameters can be measured directly, their measurement is difficult and expensive, so pedotransfer functions (PTFs) provide an alternative by estimating these parameters from more readily available soil data. In order to predict the mentioned parameters, soil sampling was conducted at 500 points in the region. Measured soil variables included texture, O.C, porosity, EC, CEC, SAR, ESP, MWD, soluble cations and anions and IR. Then, ANN and MLR models were tested. The data set was divided into two subsets for calibration (80%) and testing (20%) of the models and their normality were tested by Minitab software and Kolmogrov-Smirnov method. In order to evaluate the models, root mean square error (RSME) was used. The comparison of RSME for two mentioned models showed that the ANN model gives better estimates rather than the MLR model. So that the levels of RMSE and R² derived by ANNs models for EC, CEC, ESP, MWD and IR were 0.24, 0.96; 1.25, 0.90; 0.18, 0.94; 0.04, 0.84 and; 1.55, 0.92 respectively while these parameters for MLR models were 1.98, 0.73;, 7.92, 0.60; 1.13, 0.66; 0.187, 0.51 and; 9.45, 0.57 respectively. The superiority of ANN models compared with MLR models was probably due to a nonlinear relationship between the dependent and independent variables. Furthermore, results indicated that training is very important in increasing model accuracy for one region.

Key words: Artificial neural networks, multiple linear regressions, soil properties.

African Journal of Ecology and Ecosystems ISSN: 9428-167X Vol. 6 (3), pp. 001-005, March, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Bacteriological assessment of groundwater in Arkavathi and Vrishabhavathi basins, Bangalore, Karnataka

M. Jiban Singh¹, R. K. Somashekar^1*, K. L. Prakash and K. Shivanna²

¹Department of Environmental Science, Jnanabharathi, Bangalore University, Bangalore-56, India.

²Isotope Hydrology Section, Isotope Application Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai-85, India.

Accepted 17 January, 2019

Abstract

In the newly developed and old parts of Bangalore city, municipal, domestic and industrial effluents are channelized into an open sewerage system. Most of the wells situated within 2 km radius of this open sewerage networks were found to be profoundly loaded with total and facal coliform. The average counts of total and facal coliform from the lake samples were 227 and 79 CFU/100 ml, 82 and 14 CFU/100 ml from the open wells and 63 and 34 CFU/100 ml from the bore wells respectively. The level of contamination is beyond the permissible limit for indicator organisms in groundwater during winter season, which can render the consumer more vulnerable to health risks.

Key words: Coliform, groundwater, health impact, indicators.

African Journal of Ecology and Ecosystems ISSN: 9428-167X Vol. 6 (3), pp. 001-009, March, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Deposition of heavy metals (Pb, Sr and Zn) in the county of Obrenovac (Serbia) using mosses as bioindicators

Marko Sabovljevi, Vanja Vukojevi , Aneta Sabovljevi  and Milorad Vuji i

Institute of Botany and Botanical Garden, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Takovska 43, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.

Accepted 10 January, 2019

Abstract

In this study, the deposition of three heavy metals (Pb, Sr and Zn) in the county of Obrenovac (Serbia) in four moss taxa (Bryum argenteum, Bryum capillare, Brachythecium sp. and Hypnum cupressiforme) is presented. Distribution of average heavy metal content in all mosses in the county of Obrenovac is presented in maps, while long term atmospheric deposition (in mosses Bryum argenteum and B. capillare) and short term atmospheric deposition (in mosses Brachythecium sp. and H. cupressiforme) is discussed and given in tables. Areas of the highest contaminations are highlighted.

Key words: Heavy metal deposition, mosses, bioindicators, Serbia.

African Journal of Ecology and Ecosystems ISSN: 9428-167X Vol. 6 (3), pp. 001-011, March, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

African Journal of Ecology and Ecosystems ISSN: 9428-167X Vol. 6 (3), pp. 001-007, March, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Comparison of understorey vegetation in exotic and indigenous tree plantations in Shivalik Hills of N. W. Indian Himalayas (Himachal Pradesh)

Kuldip S. Dogra^{1, 2*}, Sarvesh K. Sood¹, Parveen K. Dobhal² and Suresh Kumar¹

¹Department of Biosciences, Himachal Pradesh University Summer Hill Shimla- 171005, India.

²Department of Botany, Panjab University Chandigarh-160014, India.

Accepted 16 January, 2019

Abstract

Presently, a total of 104 species belonging to 87 genera under 38 families of flowering plants in exotic (Eucalyptus citriodora Hook.) and indigenous (Pinus roxburghii Sarg.) tree plantations were determined. There were higher numbers of plant species under the indigenous plantations as compared to the exotic ones. In Eucalyptus plantations 60% species were exotic, 36.92% indigenous and 3.08% obscure as compared to 44.44% exotic, 54.33% indigenous and only 1.23% obscure species under Pinus ones. The alpha diversity also decreased by 34.73% under the exotic tree plantations of Eucalyptus. Evidently, the exotic tree plantations become in-roads for the opportunistic and environmentally flexible species with wide ecological amplitude.

Key words: Species diversity, exotic, indigenous, N. W. Indian Himalayas.

African Journal of Ecology and Ecosystems ISSN: 9428-167X Vol. 6 (3), pp. 001-014, March, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Physico-chemical characteristics of the open Mediterranean sea water far about 60 Km from Damietta harbor, Egypt

H. M. Faragallah¹, A. I. Askar¹, M. A. Okbah¹ and H. M. Moustafa²

¹National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Egypt.

²Department of Oceanography, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Egypt.

Accepted 105 January, 2019

Abstract

The aim of the present study is to investigate the hydrographic characteristics, nutrient salts and some heavy metals (Fe, Cu, Zn, Pb and Ni) as well as chemical oxygen demand (COD), biological oxygen demand (BOD) and chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) in six vertical profiles in the open Mediterranean sea water far about 60 Km from Damietta harbor (Egypt). Water samples were collected during April 2007. The results revealed that most of nutrients and heavy metals are concentrated in the surface layer and decreased with increasing the depth. N/P ratio and abundance of the N-ions revealed that the area is mostly N-limiting. Enrichment factor (EF) of the metals gives low values, less than 1 indicating to the enrichment and advection of heavy metals counted each other. The results indicated that the impact of anthropogenic inputs was limited in the distribution of nutrient and heavy metals, the values of metals were similar or lower than that reported for water quality criteria (WQC) except that the Zn content was slightly higher. The relationships between the different heavy metal concentrations and the other parameters (salinity, chlorophyll-a and suspended particulate matter) were discussed. The values of BOD/ COD ratio indicated that the water of the study area has a biodegradable nature. Relatively high levels of Chl-a concentrations was recorded in the surface layer during the period of study and negative correlation was found between Chl-a and both NO₃-N, PO₄-P and SiO ₄ (r= -0.58, -0.38 and -0.58, respectively).

Key words: Heavy metals, nutrient salts, hydrographic characteristics.