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Publications

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Urbanism and Sustainable Heritage Development

Medina of Marrakesh — 2012 — WHEE54366F2FB

A significant improvement in living conditions within the Medina of Marrakesh has been achieved through targeted urban development projects. These initiatives include restoring the sewage system, paving lanes, repairing public fountains, creating small parks, and revalorizing the historic urban fabric. The study highlights successful community engagement strategies that balance heritage conservation with sustainable development, demonstrating how infrastructure enhancements can positively impact residents' lives while preserving cultural heritage.

Usability, Design and Content Issues of Mobile Apps for Cultural Heritage Promotion: The Malta Culture Guide Experience

Megalithic Temples of Malta — 2012 — WHE3B99A77099

Mobile apps for cultural heritage promotion face significant challenges in balancing content richness, usability, and long-term user engagement. A study on the Malta Culture Guide app, developed for the UNESCO-listed Megalithic Temples of Malta, reveals that effective design strategies can overcome these hurdles. The research highlights the importance of integrating textual, visual, and audio elements to convey Malta's diverse heritage—ranging from megalithic temples to Baroque palaces—while ensuring intuitive navigation and accessibility. It also emphasizes evaluating user commitment and app performance over time. The findings provide actionable insights for developers in the cultural sector, offering a framework for creating engaging and sustainable mobile applications that enhance public engagement with heritage sites.

Use of Peninsula Valdes (Patagonia Argentina) by migrating Red Knots (Calidris canutus rufa)

Península Valdés — 2012 — WHEF2FCF61F75

Península Valdés, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Patagonia, Argentina, is identified as a critical stopover for migrating Red Knots (Calidris canutus rufa). The study reveals that these shorebirds strategically utilize multiple beaches across two gulfs with contrasting tides to maximize foraging efficiency. Weekly censuses and aerial surveys conducted between 2006 and 2007 showed significant variation in beach usage, with peak numbers recorded in April. Marked individuals were observed using both gulfs on the same day, demonstrating their ability to exploit tidal patterns for optimal feeding. This behavior underscores Península Valdés' importance as a vital refueling site along the Red Knot's northern migration route.

Use of Underground Air for a Heating and Cooling Energy Source on Jeju Volcanic Island of Korea

Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes — 2012 — WHE69388CB171

Underground air on Jeju Volcanic Island, Korea, offers a stable and energy-efficient alternative for heating and cooling, with temperatures ranging from 15°C to 19°C (median 17°C) year-round. This stability contrasts sharply with ambient air temperature fluctuations and leverages the island's abundant vesicular basalts, which facilitate underground air extraction. As of 2007, 63 such systems were in operation, primarily serving greenhouses where they significantly reduced energy costs and boosted crop production due to the high CO₂ content in the extracted air. Despite these advantages, challenges remain, including public concerns about groundwater contamination from boreholes and a lack of standardized regulations or technical expertise for optimal system design. While underground air systems show promise as a renewable energy source, their sustainable adoption hinges on addressing these issues.

Using endemism to assess representation of protected areas – the family Myrtaceae in the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area

Greater Blue Mountains Area — 2012 — WHE4D8745C22C

A study assessing the representation of Myrtaceae species within protected areas reveals that 16% of their ranges are endemic to the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area (GBMWHA), with a higher endemism rate (33%) observed for species with smaller ranges. The research introduces spatially-based quantitative measures, weighted endemism (WE) and corrected weighted endemism (CWE), to evaluate how different land units within protected areas contribute to conservation efforts at both regional and continental scales. While the genus Eucalyptus significantly contributes to endemism scores, Leptospermum shows 3.7% less restriction than expected, whereas Melaleuca is 5% more restricted. The findings highlight centres of high endemism within the GBMWHA and provide a scalable method for quantifying conservation significance in protected areas.

Using Net-Based Ethnography (Netnography) to Understand the Staging and Marketing of “Authentic African” Dining Experiences to Tourists at Victoria Falls

Mosi-oa-Tunya / Victoria Falls — 2012 — WHEB0388B50E6

Restaurants at Victoria Falls leverage electronic technologies to craft and market dining experiences that tourists perceive as authentically African, blending tangible cultural elements with performative participation. This study reveals how online representations of these augmented cultural products—highlighting both materiality and active engagement—shape tourist expectations and experiences. Through netnography, the research analyzes two restaurants' digital strategies and corresponding tourist reviews, demonstrating the power of electronic communication in authenticating and promoting 'eatertainment.' The findings underscore the role of performativity in tourism authenticity, showing how digital platforms facilitate both the staging of cultural products and their validation by tourists.

Using tourism to conserve the mist forests and mysterious cultural heritage of the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park, Jamaica

Blue and John Crow Mountains — 2012 — WHEB5D9CFCAFB

Tourism initiatives within and around the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park, Jamaica, have successfully contributed to biodiversity conservation by engaging local communities. These efforts raise public awareness of biodiversity values, provide skills training, and promote ecologically sustainable livelihoods that reduce threats like slash-and-burn agriculture. Community tourism has been established in some areas while others are in planning stages, with several community members now employed as park rangers or involved in park management. The study highlights the potential of tourism to align with Aichi Targets by fostering local capacity building and sustainable income-generating activities for poverty reduction.

Ut nostra religione refloreat studium: The studia of the Monastic Orders

Historic Centre of Avignon: Papal Palace, Episcopal Ensemble and Avignon Bridge — 2012 — WHEFEA736247A

A significant portion of later medieval Scholastic literature, including works by renowned thinkers such as Albert the Great and Thomas Aquinas, was produced in the studia or study-houses of religious orders rather than universities. These studia outnumbered universities and were more widely distributed across Europe, serving as primary educational institutions for mendicant order members. The volume also highlights the intellectual activity at Papal Courts, notably the Sacred Palace in Avignon, and royal courts, revealing a complex network of Scholastic learning beyond traditional academic settings.

Vanishing Wildlife Corridors and Options for Restoration: A Case Study from Tanzania

Selous Game Reserve — 2012 — WHE93EB7BCEF5

A critical loss of wildlife corridors between the Udzungwa Mountains and Tanzania's Selous Game Reserve, vital for elephant movement, has been documented over a four-year period (2007–2010). Initially assessed in 2005 as barely functional, these two remaining routes were found to have completely closed due to increased farming and livestock activities, driven by local population growth. Despite this blockage, elephants continue to attempt crossings, suggesting that connectivity could be restored through coordinated land-use planning. The study used dung surveys, habitat mapping, and questionnaires to assess corridor status, highlighting the need for harmonizing diverse land uses to achieve conservation goals.

Variability in the spatial and temporal distribution of the saucer scallop, Amusium balloti, in Shark Bay – management implications

Shark Bay, Western Australia — 2012 — WHE146FD8A4CF

A study on the saucer scallop, Amusium balloti, in Shark Bay reveals significant annual variability in recruitment abundance and spatial distribution, primarily driven by environmental factors. This variability is critical for fishery management, as it influences catch rates and the effectiveness of fishing strategies. Geostatistical modeling was used to analyze survey data, demonstrating that high-abundance areas correlate with commercial catches, validating their use for optimizing fishing practices. The research also highlights the importance of retaining residual scallops to sustain the fishery, given their contribution to overall catch alongside recruits.

Variation in Diet and Resources

Noel Kempff Mercado National Park — 2012 — WHEA524C9BE5B

Maned wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus) in Noel Kempff Mercado National Park exhibit significant dietary flexibility, adapting their food choices based on resource availability. The study found that while small mammals and fruits constitute the core of their diet, these carnivores also opportunistically consume other plant materials when primary resources are scarce. Researchers analyzed scat samples and stomach contents to assess dietary composition across seasons, revealing a dynamic feeding strategy that allows the species to thrive in diverse habitats within the park.

Variation in the Colonization of Artificial Substrates by Mangrove Root Fouling Species of the Port Royal Mangrove Lagoons in the Eutrophic Kingston Harbour, Jamaica

The Archaeological Ensemble of 17th Century Port Royal — 2012 — WHE54E9970E68

Research at the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Port Royal, reveals that mangrove root fouling species can serve as indicators of water quality in eutrophic lagoons. The study found that while species composition varied across stations, sheltered lagoons showed dominance by non-shelled taxa like ascidians and polychaetes, whereas exposed areas, such as Hurricane Refuge lagoon, exhibited higher proportions of shelled taxa, including bivalves and barnacles. This pattern suggests that differences in biomass and species composition reflect varying stress levels due to eutrophication. To investigate this, researchers suspended Perspex panels in the prop root zone at five contrasting stations within Port Royal's mangroves, monitoring fouling organisms fortnightly via underwater digital photography. The study identified nine taxonomic categories of epibionts, with ascidians being the most prevalent group.

Vegetation Database of the Cilento National Park

Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park with the Archeological Sites of Paestum and Velia, and the Certosa di Padula — 2012 — WHE51D41A0363

A comprehensive vegetation database for the Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park, Southern Italy, has been compiled using over 2,300 phytosociological relevés spanning from 1970 to the present. This TURBOVEG database integrates original and published data, covering a range of natural and semi-natural vegetation types from coastal sand dunes (Cakiletea maritimae) to subalpine dwarf shrub communities (Pino-Juniperetea). Enhanced with additional fields for precise location accuracy and ecological indicators, the database supports environmental monitoring, landscape planning, and biodiversity assessments. It also facilitates large-scale vegetation classification and testing of ecological hypotheses by linking vascular species data with Ellenberg indicator values, life forms, and chorotypes. The inclusion of a reference checklist with widely adopted synonyms ensures accurate data input, making this resource invaluable for evaluating habitat changes and land use dynamics.

Vegetation Dynamic of Southern Sistan during the Bronze Age: Anthracological Studies at Shahr-i Sokhta

Shahr-i Sokhta — 2012 — WHE9DFFEAFAB9

A study of charcoal samples from the Bronze Age site of Shahr-i Sokhta in eastern Iran reveals that the region's vegetation was significantly richer during the third millennium BCE, with a dominance of riparian taxa like tamarisk and willow alongside steppe species such as Chenopodiaceae and saltwort. This suggests favorable environmental conditions at the time, contrasting sharply with today's arid landscape. The research indicates that ancient inhabitants interacted closely with these vegetal formations, likely influencing their structure through anthropogenic factors. By comparing historical charcoal data with modern flora, the study sheds light on both past human-environment interactions and long-term ecological changes in southern Sistan.

Vers un tourisme durable en Tunisie : le cas de l'île de Djerba

Djerba: Testimony to a settlement pattern in an island territory — 2012 — WHE83536FF804

A new method for assessing the economic and environmental impacts of tourism on Djerba, Tunisia, reveals that mass tourism-driven hospitality generates the most wealth and employment, while agroalimentary and fishing sectors contribute significantly through indirect effects. This 'method of masses' challenges previous multiplier coefficients by aligning tourism's economic role with local economic structures. The study also evaluates existing environmental regulations and proposes integrating instruments from the World Tourism Organization to ensure sustainable development without compromising Djerba's natural heritage.

Vertebrate succession in the Ischigualasto Formation

Ischigualasto / Talampaya Natural Parks — 2012 — WHEB9F37BCDDB

A comprehensive analysis of the Ischigualasto Formation in Argentina reveals that vertebrate diversity and abundance gradually declined over time due to climatic deterioration, with only one abrupt faunal shift. The study, based on 848 fossil specimens representing 29 taxa, identified two new basal dinosauromorphs—an unnamed lagerpetid and a silesaurid, Ignotosaurus fragilis—expanding the known fauna of this Upper Triassic ecosystem. Radioisotopic dating of ash layers provided a precise chronological framework, enabling the detection of subtle changes in faunal composition across three biozones. Notably, the dominant cynodont Exaeretodon was replaced by the rare dicynodont Jachaleria at the end of the second biozone, marking the only abrupt shift in this otherwise gradual decline.

Vertebrate taphonomy of the Ischigualasto Formation

Ischigualasto / Talampaya Natural Parks — 2012 — WHEDE03AC5C41

A comprehensive analysis of vertebrate taphonomy in the Ischigualasto Formation reveals distinct preservation trends linked to sedimentary facies and stratigraphic position, reflecting basin evolution and paleoclimate. Fossils are predominantly concentrated along basin margins, with floodplain deposits preserving 88% of occurrences, ranging from unidentifiable fragments to articulated skeletons. Coarser-grained fluvial channel deposits account for 12%, including well-preserved cynodont skulls. The basal La Peña Member shows highly weathered, disarticulated fossils with hematitic permineralization, while the overlying Cancha de Bochas Member (65% of occurrences) features calcite-permineralized remains from isolated bones to complete skeletons. The Valle de la Luna Member preserves a unique association of vertebrate and plant fossils under wetter conditions, marked by superficial and penetrating hematite precipitation. The uppermost Quebrada de la Sal Member is nearly barren of fossil remains.

Vertical distribution of S tomoxys spp. ( D iptera: M uscidae) in a rainforest area of G abon

Ivindo National Park — 2012 — WHE964D8AD383

Stomoxys flies exhibit distinct vertical distribution patterns in Gabon's Ivindo National Park, with near-ground levels (50 cm) hosting higher densities of species like S. calcitrans and S. transvittatus, while S. xanthomelas thrives in the canopy (20–30 m). This vertical stratification correlates with feeding behavior, as blood meal analysis revealed heterogeneity among hosts. The study, conducted using Vavoua traps at four forest layers over 15 days per month from April to June 2006, found significant differences in fly abundance across both vertical strata (H = 36.91; P < 0.001) and species (H = 41.11; P < 0.001). Notably, S. inornatus was most abundant at 10 m, underscoring the flies' ubiquity across rainforest layers. These findings highlight the need for comprehensive vector control strategies in this ecologically and touristically significant area.

Videographic evidence of endangered species depredation by feral cat.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park — 2012 — WHE589A878CD2

Researchers captured the first direct evidence of feral cats preying on endangered ‘Ua‘u (Hawaiian Petrel) chicks in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, using digital infrared video cameras to monitor burrows during breeding seasons. Over two years, 7 cameras recorded 819 videos and 89 photographs, documenting interactions with feral cats at 6 burrows, along with rats and ‘Ôma‘o (Hawaiian thrush) at other sites. The study highlights the effectiveness of videographic monitoring in understanding predator behavior, which could inform targeted conservation strategies to mitigate nest predation threats to endangered seabirds.

Viewing the Emergence of Scenery from the English Lake District (Chapter 2)

The English Lake District — 2012 — WHEB8597CF25A

A sense of place can emerge dynamically through the act of walking, challenging traditional views that attribute place-making solely to sedentariness or colonial settlement. This study examines how movement and engagement with landscape contribute to the formation of scenic identity in the English Lake District. By focusing on dynamic processes rather than static cultural deposition, it offers a novel perspective on how individuals perceive and shape their environment through physical interaction.