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Publications

Showing 27001 – 27020 of 30315 publications

Transformative Landscapes

Tongariro National Park — 2013 — WHE5DB8858F24

Tongariro National Park's visual representation has persisted with ahistorical colonial narratives, contrasting sharply with Uluru-Kata Tjuta's postcolonial transformation. This study reveals that while Uluru-Kata Tjuta underwent significant revisions to highlight Aboriginal cultural presence and economic recovery, Tongariro's imagery remains unchanged, prioritizing tourism and filmic consumption over Maori cultural associations. The analysis compares 20th-century archival materials with early 21st-century government branding strategies, exposing enduring colonial influences in landscape representation.

Transforming the Frontier: Peace Parks and the Politics of Neoliberal Conservation in Southern Africa

Maloti-Drakensberg Park — 2013 — WHEB055421F27

Transfrontier conservation projects, often touted as 'win-win' solutions for biodiversity protection and regional development, are more deeply intertwined with neoliberal political economies than previously acknowledged. Bram Büscher's study of the Maloti-Drakensberg Transfrontier Conservation and Development Project reveals that these initiatives derive their strength from strategies of consensus, antipolitics, and marketing rather than genuine on-the-ground development efforts. Through extensive ethnographic research, Büscher argues that transfrontier conservation reframes environmental protection and sustainable development to align with a contradictory global order, often at the expense of local priorities.

Transient Heritage

Cultural Landscape of Honghe Hani Rice Terraces — 2013 — WHE09E0CD7067

The Honghe Hani Rice Terraces, one of the oldest continuously cultivated terraced landscapes (1,300 years), face existential threats due to rapid global change despite their 2013 UNESCO World Heritage designation. While such listings aim to preserve cultural heritage, the study argues that the real challenge lies in adapting to an increasingly transient world where permanence is eroding—accelerated by urbanization, tourism pressures, and shifting economic conditions. The research contextualizes this dilemma within broader historical trends, from Alvin Toffler's 1970s warnings about 'future shock' to UNESCO's 1972 Convention on World Heritage, which, though successful in expanding protections (now 981 sites), reflects the very threats it seeks to mitigate. The analysis highlights a paradox: heritage conservation's growth mirrors the destruction it aims to prevent.

Translocation of WildTrochus niloticus: Prospects for Enhancing Depleted Philippine Reefs

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park — 2013 — WHEAF0E877B58

Translocation of wild Trochus niloticus gastropods demonstrates promise for enhancing depleted reef populations, with individuals growing 2–3 times faster at severely overexploited mainland Palawan reefs compared to pristine Tubbataha Reefs. A study tracking 1,251 individuals across three sites found high survival rates (0.77–0.92) over 5–9 months, suggesting that translocation is a viable strategy for species with short-lived planktonic larvae. The research indicates that previously inhabited sites remain suitable for growth and survival if overfishing is controlled, offering a potential tool for marine invertebrate conservation in the Philippines.

Trawl impacts and biodiversity management in Shark Bay, Western Australia

Shark Bay, Western Australia — 2013 — WHEC5DA253F14

A study on Shark Bay, Western Australia, reveals that environmental conditions play a more significant role in shaping faunal assemblages than trawl intensity. The research recorded 241 fish and 360 invertebrate species, with the top 20 most abundant species accounting for over 80% of fish and 88% of invertebrates caught. Depletion experiments showed varying catchability among species, suggesting that long-term trawl impacts can be mitigated by restricting trawling to current areas (20–40% of the fishery) and implementing daily vessel monitoring. This approach aims to ensure adherence to spatial and temporal closures for effective biodiversity management.

Tree of Salvation

Urnes Stave Church — 2013 — WHEBF4E75A66C

A significant connection between Norse/Germanic mythology and northern Christianity has been identified, revealing that the myth of Yggdrasil—the cosmic tree of life—was symbolically linked to the cross of Christ. This association was evident in various artifacts, architecture, and literary works, such as the Jelling stone in Denmark, Norwegian stave churches (including Urnes Stave Church), Viking crosses, and poetic texts like 'The Dream of the Rood.' The study suggests that Yggdrasil's narrative elements foreshadowed key events in the New Testament, particularly the crucifixion and resurrection, emphasizing a shared symbolism of salvation and eternal life. The research draws on evidence from runic inscriptions, architectural motifs (e.g., Urnes portal), and cultural traditions like the Yule wreath and Christmas tree to support this interpretation.

Trends in Deforestation and Forest Degradation after a Decade of Monitoring in the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve in Mexico

Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve — 2013 — WHE5798F80E85

From 2001 to 2012, conservation efforts significantly reduced large-scale illegal logging in the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, Mexico, from 731 hectares affected annually to none by 2012. However, small-scale logging persists as a growing concern. The study used aerial photographs, satellite images, and field surveys to monitor forest cover changes, revealing that 2,179 hectares were deforested or degraded during this period, with illegal logging being the primary driver. While enforcement by Mexican authorities and financial support for alternative income generation proved effective against large-scale threats, regional socio-economic challenges remain critical to the reserve's long-term protection, essential for safeguarding the monarch butterfly's overwintering colonies.

Triassic actinopterygian fishes: the recovery after the end‐Permian crisis

Monte San Giorgio — 2013 — WHE1A31B70003

New discoveries of actinopterygian fish faunas from the Early and Middle Triassic of the Tethys, particularly in southern China, reveal that the recovery of these fishes after the end-Permian extinction crisis occurred earlier and more rapidly than previously thought. The research indicates a major radiation event during the Early-Middle Anisian stage, predating earlier assumptions based on Western Tethys sites like Monte San Giorgio. Additionally, it suggests an early diversification among basal neopterygians rather than subholosteans, which were dominant in the Western Tethys from the Late Anisian onward. These findings challenge existing models of post-extinction recovery and highlight the significance of Eastern Tethyan localities in understanding Triassic fish evolution.

Two new Oxalis (Oxalidaceae) species from the Richtersveld National Park, South Africa

Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape — 2013 — WHE4FE37A7358

Two new species of Oxalis, Oxalis nivea and Oxalis rosettifolia, have been discovered in the Richtersveld National Park, South Africa. These species exhibit strong morphological similarities to members of the South African Oxalis section Cernuae but are distinguished by unique traits such as white flowers in O. nivea and a combination of flat basal rosette leaves, terete petioles, flask-shaped floral tubes, and enlarged bracts in O. rosettifolia. Phylogenetic analyses using nuclear ITS and plastid trnSG data confirmed their placement within a clade containing Oxalis pes-caprae, highlighting their close relationship with other species like O. copiosa and O. cf. haedulipes. This discovery contributes to the understanding of biodiversity in the Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape.

Two new Oxalis species (Oxalidaceae) from the Ai-Ais / Richtersveld Transfrontier Park, South Africa

Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape — 2013 — WHEF8F9B52E13

Two new species of Oxalis, O. petricola and O. rubricallosa, have been discovered in the Ai-Ais / Richtersveld Transfrontier Park. These species, distinguished by their unique morphology, are closely related to other southern African Oxalis species such as O. pes-caprae and O. compressa, as revealed by molecular analyses of ITS and trnS-trnG DNA sequences. O. petricola is notably rare, with fewer than 500 individuals in a single isolated population, while O. rubricallosa is known from two small populations. The discovery underscores the urgent need for further floristic surveys in southern African desert regions to document biodiversity before it potentially disappears due to habitat loss.

Two new species ofEuastacus(Decapoda: Parastacidae) from the Gondwana Rainforests of central eastern Australia

Gondwana Rainforests of Australia — 2013 — WHE5B8B2FDC05

Researchers have identified two new species of crayfish, Euastacus binzayedi and Euastacus angustus, within the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia. These species, distinguished by unique morphological traits such as dorsal and ventral chelae protrusions in E. binzayedi and a laterally compressed body with prominent ventromesial carpal spine in E. angustus, exhibit significant genetic divergence from closely related species, with estimates of 4.8% and 8.7%, respectively. Both species are exceptionally rare, known only from single localities. The study highlights the biodiversity richness of the Gondwana Rainforests while emphasizing the need for conservation efforts to protect these newly discovered taxa.

Two Slavonic manuscripts at Pannonhalma

Millenary Benedictine Abbey of Pannonhalma and its Natural Environment — 2013 — WHE08C45CB9CA

Two Slavonic manuscripts, a 17th-century Ruthenian Gospel book and late 16th-century Serbian Acts and Epistles, were identified at the Millenary Benedictine Abbey of Pannonhalma. The Gospel book contains inscriptions linking it to Ivaškovicja in Ukraine's Transcarpathian region, contributing to a broader cataloging effort of Cyrillic manuscripts in Hungary. Both texts are well-preserved examples of their kind, offering insights into historical manuscript production and circulation in the region.

Types of sediments and sections in the upper quaternary cover and geological stability of the Curonian Spit (Baltic Sea)

Curonian Spit — 2013 — WHE15A239A834

Research identifies four main sediment types and sections in the Curonian Spit, revealing that paleostraits filled with peat and sapropel are geologically unstable. These sections—peaty, peaty-sandy, gravelly-sandy, and muddy-sandy-sapropelic—are correlated with adjacent Baltic Sea and lagoon regions to assess sediment sources and coastal dynamics. The study compares erosion and accumulation processes in the spit's coastal areas, providing insights into its vulnerability to sea-level rise. This findings offer critical data for understanding the geological stability of this UNESCO World Heritage Site under future climate scenarios.

Un modelo funerario de la escuela burgalesa: Las capillas centrales de la segunda mitad del siglo XV en Burgos

Burgos Cathedral — 2013 — WHECACCF2B54A

A new typology of central chapel, often octagonal and covered with openwork star vaults, emerged in Burgos Cathedral during the second half of the 15th century, becoming a defining feature of the Burgos School. This innovation, attributed to Juan and Simon de Colonia and their patrons, drew inspiration from earlier chapels within the cathedral and set a precedent for subsequent funeral architecture across the Iberian Peninsula. The study highlights the significance of these architects in shaping late Gothic and Renaissance architectural traditions, demonstrating their enduring influence on burial structures well into the 16th century.

Un nouveau Toxodontidae (Mammalia, Notoungulata) du Pléistocène supérieur du Nordeste du Brésil

Serra da Capivara National Park — 2013 — WHE8A12168A84

Researchers have identified two distinct species of Toxodontidae, a family of extinct notoungulate mammals, from Upper Pleistocene deposits in the Serra da Capivara National Park, Brazil. The study describes Piauhytherium capivarae, a new genus and species, alongside Toxodon platensis. Analysis of over 140 fossil remains, including well-preserved skulls and mandibles, reveals significant morphological differences between the two species, distinguishing them from other known Toxodontidae. The study also suggests that both species exhibited periaquatic adaptations similar to hippos, indicating a semi-aquatic lifestyle. This discovery sheds light on the biodiversity of South American mammals during the Pleistocene and their ecological niches.

Un projet de recherche-action sur l’histoire de l’architecture et de l’urbanisme strasbourgeois : l’inventaire de la Neustadt de Strasbourg

Strasbourg, Grande-Île and Neustadt — 2013 — WHE90EA464C85

A comprehensive study of Strasbourg's Neustadt, conducted since 2010 by the Alsace region's heritage inventory service, reveals its significance as more than a political and military project but as a pioneering urban laboratory with lasting architectural and urbanistic influence. This research, involving systematic archival analysis and field observations, transcends its geographical boundaries to explore broader impacts on urban development. Collaborating with the University of Strasbourg, the study integrates students from a master's program in art, architecture, and heritage history, ensuring public engagement and academic rigor. The Neustadt's remarkable architectural quality and conservation state further underscore its historical and contemporary importance.

Una Contribución para Conocer el Fuerte San Fernando de Bocachica, Cartagena de Indias, Colombia

Port, Fortresses and Group of Monuments, Cartagena — 2013 — WHEA41B944459

A comprehensive analysis of Fort San Fernando de Bocachica, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, reveals urgent structural concerns and the need for restoration. The study, conducted between October 2012 and January 2013, identified significant material degradation, crack patterns, and structural failures, particularly in the 'necesarias' room—a T-shaped, vaulted space with problematic construction choices. Geometric and material surveys highlighted the fort's architectural uniqueness but also underscored its precarious state, necessitating immediate consolidation efforts. To enhance its cultural value, the researchers propose a functional upgrade to transform this undervisited historical site into a tourist attraction.

Unbecoming Americans: Writing Race and Nation from the Shadows of Citizenship, 1945-1960

Statue of Liberty — 2013 — WHEAAF2DAD468

Ellis Island, long symbolizing hope and new beginnings for immigrants, harbored a darker narrative during the early Cold War as a detention center for suspected communists and political radicals. This study reveals how the 1950 Internal Security Act and the 1952 McCarran-Walter Act transformed the island into an embodiment of exclusion, isolating and deporting prominent radical voices like C. L. R. James, Claudia Jones, Carlos Bulosan, and Richard Wright. Through literary analysis, the research examines how these 'unbecoming Americans' were marginalized at the intersection of race and politics, challenging notions of citizenship during a pivotal era in U.S. history.

Uncovering archaeological landscapes at Angkor using lidar

Angkor — 2013 — WHE4CF6DC88AD

Lidar technology has uncovered a vast, previously undocumented urban landscape at Angkor, revealing the intricate integration of major temples like Angkor Wat within a formally planned city. This groundbreaking discovery challenges the understanding of the Khmer Empire's medieval capitals (9th–15th centuries C.E.) and sheds light on the scale of anthropogenic landscape modifications. The study used airborne laser scanning to penetrate dense forest cover, creating high-precision digital elevation models that exposed hidden archaeological features. Additionally, the data support the hypothesis that infrastructural complexity, unsustainable subsistence practices, and climate variation played pivotal roles in the decline of classical Khmer civilization.

Une voûte à clef pendante du XIIIe siècle à Saint-Urbain de Troyes

Historic Centre of Avignon: Papal Palace, Episcopal Ensemble and Avignon Bridge — 2013 — WHEAC23774177

A rare thirteenth-century hanging keystone, previously unpublished, has been identified in the collegiate church of Saint-Urbain de Troyes. This discovery challenges the long-held belief that such architectural ornaments first appeared in mid-fourteenth-century Gothic structures like the Avignon Papal Palace and Strasbourg Cathedral. Through critical analysis of stylistic features and construction phases, researchers dated the keystone to 1280-1290, making it the oldest known example on French soil. The study also explores its theological significance within the context of the Fête-Dieu observance established by Pope Urban IV, founder of the church.