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Showing 14721 – 14740 of 15962 publications

Morphological and genetic features of cisco (coregonidae: coregonus sp.) from lake Sobachye (Putorana plateau)

Putorana Plateau — 2016 — WHEFEE56F6CF3

A study of cisco (Coregonidae: Coregonus sp.) from Lake Sobachye on the Putorana Plateau reveals that this population is genetically and morphologically closer to European vendace (C. albula) than to other regional cisco species, such as those found in the River Pyasina. The research combined morphological analysis of 60 specimens with mitochondrial DNA sequencing of two gene fragments (ND1 and COI) from nine individuals, demonstrating minimal genetic divergence between Lake Sobachye cisco and vendace. This finding challenges previous taxonomic assumptions based solely on vertebral counts and highlights the importance of integrated morphological and molecular approaches in fish species identification.

Mount Athos and Byzantine Monasticism

Mount Athos — 2016 — WHE7E081AA367

Mount Athos stands as a pivotal pillar of Orthodox Christianity and Byzantine history. Its monastic communities, established early on, wielded significant spiritual, political, and economic influence that extended beyond the Byzantine Empire's borders. The site's archives and libraries preserve an unparalleled body of Byzantine documentation, art, and archaeology, offering invaluable insights into a lost era. This volume, derived from the 28th Spring Symposium of Byzantine Studies, synthesizes international research on Athos, exploring diverse aspects such as asceticism, authority, economy, spirituality, and more. Through meticulous investigation of its archives and artifacts, scholars have uncovered substantial evidence that illuminates the complex phenomenon of Byzantine monasticism, providing a comprehensive view of this influential institution's role in shaping Orthodox Christianity.

Multi-agency management of a World Heritage Site: Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area, China

Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area — 2016 — WHE5258BF44A3

Shared management among multiple agencies at heritage sites, while common in China, often leads to inefficiencies and inconsistencies. A study on the Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area reveals that the current grid management system results in inefficient use of human and financial resources, as well as inconsistent application of management measures due to the lack of an effective coordination agency and collaboration mechanism. The research, based on semi-structured interviews with management staff, proposes a multi-agency management model that emphasizes the roles of a coordination agency and a robust collaboration framework to enhance management efficiency. This study highlights the need for improved coordination and collaboration in multi-agency management contexts to optimize heritage tourism management.

Multi-Pronged Search for Palaeo-Channels near Konark Temple, Odisha - Implications for the Mythical River Chandrabhaga

Sun Temple, Konârak — 2016 — WHEAF642B5610

A multi-disciplinary investigation reveals the likely presence of a palaeo-channel near the 13th-century Konark Sun Temple, Odisha, India, supporting historical accounts of the mythical River Chandrabhaga. Using remote sensing data (Landsat, ASTER Terra Look, and SRTM images), thematic mapping, GIS analysis, and ground-penetrating radar (GPR), researchers delineated a probable palaeo-channel extending north of the temple, parallel to the coast. This finding aligns with ancient literature describing Chandrabhaga as a river flowing near Konark, now absent from the region. The study combines geological, geophysical, and historical evidence, offering new insights into the temple's historical context and the fate of this legendary river.

Multiple approaches to heritage in urban regeneration: the case of City Gate, Valletta

City of Valletta — 2016 — WHEEC983A56A9

Heritage is not inherently valuable but can be actively shaped to contribute to urban regeneration. This study examines the City Gate project in Valletta, demonstrating how built environments and historical narratives can be strategically treated to achieve contemporary regeneration goals. By analyzing multiple approaches—preservation, adaptation, and reinterpretation—the research reveals that heritage's role in regeneration is dynamic rather than static. The findings highlight the importance of intentional interventions in transforming historical assets into tools for urban revitalization.

Municipal solid waste and dung cake burning: discoloring the Taj Mahal and human health impacts in Agra

Taj Mahal — 2016 — WHEC5BC2C7E12

Open municipal solid waste (MSW) burning contributes significantly more to the discoloration of the Taj Mahal's white marble surface compared to dung cake burning, depositing approximately 150 mg/m²/year of PM2.5 versus just 12 mg/m²/year from dung cakes. This finding challenges previous assumptions that dung cake burning was the primary culprit and highlights MSW burning as a major source of particulate matter (PM) soiling. The study used spatially detailed emission estimates and air quality modeling to quantify these contributions, revealing that combined emissions from both sources lead to an estimated 713 premature mortalities annually in Agra, disproportionately affecting socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods. Effective MSW management could mitigate the Taj Mahal's discoloration, improve public health, and yield broader aesthetic benefits.

Murujuga, Northwestern Australia: When Arid Hunter-Gatherers Became Coastal Foragers

Murujuga Cultural Landscape — 2016 — WHE753B41AC8C

Research at Murujuga, a UNESCO-listed cultural landscape in northwestern Australia, reveals the transition of arid hunter-gatherers to coastal foragers during the early Holocene. The study provides evidence for Australia's earliest domestic stone structures, dated between 8063 and 7355 cal BP, on Rosemary Island, challenging assumptions about island abandonment and recolonization. By integrating a 47,000-year occupation sequence from the Pilbara region with predictive models of sea-level rise, the research offers insights into how mobile arid hunter-fisher-gatherers adapted to changing seascape dynamics. This work not only advances our understanding of human adaptation in coastal environments but also contributes to the broader narrative of insular abandonment and resilience.

Naquane, Grande Roccia, dalla scoperta al modello bidimensionale immersivo

Rock Drawings in Valcamonica — 2016 — WHE19B4065477

A groundbreaking immersive virtual tour of the Great Rock (NAQ1) in Valcamonica's Naquane National Park reveals unprecedented insights into prehistoric rock engravings. This innovative approach combines contact-tracing with ultra-high-resolution photo mosaics, enabling precise digital documentation and interactive exploration of 2028 engraved figures spanning 65 square meters. The study addresses longstanding challenges in rock art research by leveraging photogrammetry and photometric stereo techniques to create a detailed 3D model, overcoming limitations of traditional recording methods. This immersive tool not only facilitates scientific analysis but also promotes global appreciation of one of the world's richest archaeological sites.

Nature tourism trends in Australia with reference to the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area

Greater Blue Mountains Area — 2016 — WHEDD0668C1F1

A significant decline in domestic per-capita nature tourism visitation was observed in Australia and the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area from 1998 to 2012, challenging assumptions about the growth of this sector. The study compared visitation trends with population growth, revealing that while nature-based tourism remains economically vital, its per capita decline poses risks for biodiversity conservation and local economies. Strategies to boost visitation, particularly targeting children to foster long-term environmentally responsible behavior, are recommended as critical for sustaining park survival and political support.

Nemausus

Pont du Gard (Roman Aqueduct) — 2016 — WHE8A0222422D

Nemausus, originally a Celtic settlement and later a significant Roman city in Gallia Narbonensis (modern Nîmes), emerged as a rival to Narbo, becoming one of the most successful urban centers in Roman Gaul. By 28 BCE, it was established as a *colonia Latina, hosting an important mint and expanding its walls to enclose approximately 220 hectares. The city's prominence is underscored by its architectural marvels, including an amphitheater, a precinct dedicated to Deus Nemausus, and the iconic Maison Carrée temple, later dedicated to Julius Caesar. Additionally, the Pont-du-Gard aqueduct, part of its extensive water infrastructure, stands as a testament to Roman engineering. Nemausus produced notable figures, including ancestors of Emperor Antoninus Pius, reflecting its enduring cultural and economic influence.

New holostean fishes (Actinopterygii: Neopterygii) from the Middle Triassic of the Monte San Giorgio (Canton Ticino, Switzerland)

Monte San Giorgio — 2016 — WHE526773CE6C

Paleontologists have uncovered two new species of holostean fish, Ticinolepis longaeva and T. crassidens, from the Middle Triassic carbonate platform deposits of Monte San Giorgio in Switzerland. These findings provide critical insights into the evolutionary history of neopterygian fishes, revealing a mosaic of halecomorph and ginglymodian traits that suggest these species represent basal holosteans. The study highlights distinct habitat partitioning between the two species, with T. longaeva adapting to more restricted environments while T. crassidens exhibited anatomical adaptations indicative of a durophagous diet. Additionally, the research documents intraspecific variation and ontogenetic changes in T. longaeva, offering a nuanced understanding of its ecological adaptability over time.

New long-term braking index measurements for glitching pulsars using a glitch-template method

Jodrell Bank Observatory — 2016 — WHEB9FEA26E01

Research at Jodrell Bank Observatory reveals that young glitching pulsars, including PSR B1800-21 and PSR B1823-13, exhibit long-term braking indices (n ≤ 2), suggesting they may be older than previously estimated. This challenges established evolutionary models by introducing a new trend in the P-P' diagram. The study employed a glitch-template method to mitigate timing noise and post-glitch recovery effects, enabling precise measurements for five pulsars, including updated data for Vela. Short-term inter-glitch braking indices (n_ig > 10) were also observed, indicating possible short-term re-coupling and long-term decoupling of superfluid dynamics in these stars. This work sheds light on the complex spin evolution of glitching pulsars and their potential connection to supernova remnants.

New multi-scale perspectives on the stromatolites of Shark Bay, Western Australia

Shark Bay, Western Australia — 2016 — WHEA8BD41AC68

A recent intensive field program at Shark Bay, Western Australia, has revealed that coccoid cyanobacteria, not filamentous ones, dominate the microbial mats forming lithified stromatolite buildups, contradicting traditional views. This discovery was enabled by multi-scale mapping and molecular studies, which identified eight distinct 'Stromatolite Provinces' with unique geographic distributions of stromatolite structures. Additionally, analysis of internal fabrics showed pervasive microcrystalline carbonate precipitation in microbial mats, suggesting parallels with Precambrian stromatolites. These findings advance our understanding of benthic ecosystems on early Earth and provide a foundation for further studies on stromatolite morphogenesis.

Night and day: evaluating transect methodologies to monitor duikers in the Dzanga‐Sangha Protected Areas, Central African Republic

Sangha Trinational — 2016 — WHE95C8C7E964

Nocturnal transects significantly outperform diurnal ones for monitoring duiker populations in hunted forests, yielding higher encounter rates and more accurate density estimates. A study in the Dzanga-Sangha Protected Areas (APDS), Central African Republic, found blue duikers at densities of 58.6 per km²—among the highest reported in western and central Africa—despite hunting pressure. Researchers used DISTANCE software to analyze data from 135 km diurnal and 150 km nocturnal transects, demonstrating that nocturnal surveys are critical for adaptive management in such ecosystems. This work provides vital baseline data for the Sangha Trinational Landscape (UNESCO World Heritage Site) and underscores the importance of nighttime monitoring in hunted forests.

Nueva especie de Lonchorhina (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) de Chiribiquete, Guayana colombiana

Chiribiquete National Park – “The Maloca of the Jaguar” — 2016 — WHEE0DC6B84A6

Researchers have identified a new species of sword-nose bat (Lonchorhina) within the Chiribiquete National Park, Colombia, distinguished by its exceptionally large noseleaf (>41.5 mm) and tragus (>22.3 mm), surpassing all known phyllostomid bats. This discovery, based on phenetic analysis of 105 specimens representing five recognized species, highlights the genus's underappreciated diversity. The new taxon, closely related to L. mairkellei and L. inusitata, exhibits a larger skull (GSL mean = 27.31 mm) and more robust dentition. Collected from an inselberg near Rio Mesay, the species honors the Karijona people of Chiribiquete, where ancient Amazon pictograms depict bats, underscoring its cultural significance in this biodiverse yet unexplored region.

Ocurrencia y Tasas de Encuentro de Mamíferos Marinos en las Aguas de la Isla Malpelo y Hacia el Continente

Malpelo Fauna and Flora Sanctuary — 2016 — WHEA2D15EB0D1

A decade-long study (2001–2010) of marine mammal sightings around Malpelo Island and its continental waters reveals that the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) is the most consistently abundant species, with stable encounter rates year-round. The research, combining data from four sources, identified seven species near the island—with peak richness in October–November—and 13 during cruises, where humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) dominated (March–April). Humpbacks were seasonally linked to Malpelo, suggesting reproductive use. The study also found species associations with distinct water zones: M. novaeangliae near the continental shelf, D. delphis in intermediate waters, and T. truncatus across both, indicating overlapping populations. This work advances knowledge of marine mammal distribution in Colombian waters, highlighting Malpelo’s ecological significance.

Opera as Social Showcase: Rituals of “Magic Mirrors” at the Margravial Opera House in Mid-Eighteenth-Century Bayreuth

Margravial Opera House Bayreuth — 2016 — WHE01CB36288B

Court opera, exemplified by the mid-eighteenth-century Margravial Opera House in Bayreuth, functions as a social showcase and ritualistic communication tool. This study reveals how Wilhelmina of Bayreuth and her husband Frederick leveraged opera to establish and reinforce social and political relationships. By analyzing operatic rituals through anthropological frameworks—particularly Victor Turner's concept of 'magic mirrors'—the research demonstrates that court opera was not merely an artistic endeavor but a deliberate institution designed to reflect and shape societal dynamics, power structures, and cultural identities.

Our Heritage Is Already Broken: Meditations on a Regenerative Conservation for Cultural and Natural Heritage

Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley — 2016 — WHE3752A5743E

The Bamiyan Buddhas, colossal 6th–7th century CE statues carved into Afghanistan’s Bamiyan Valley cliff faces, were destroyed by the Taliban regime in 2001 using mortar fire and dynamite. This act of cultural heritage destruction, which occurred just months before the September 11 attacks, sparked international outrage. In response, UNESCO designated the Bamiyan Valley as a World Heritage Site and added it to the 'World Heritage in Danger' list in 2003, recognizing its Outstanding Universal Value. The study reflects on this tragedy through a regenerative conservation lens, emphasizing the acceptance of imperfection and flaw as inherent to heritage preservation, drawing from philosophical meditations on waste and garbage. It underscores the urgent need for global recognition and protection of such invaluable historical treasures.

Painted plaster and glazed brick fragments from Achaemenid Pasargadae and Persepolis, Iran

Pasargadae — 2016 — WHE7450906920

Achaemenid artisans employed diverse materials and techniques to achieve polychromatic finishes in their architecture, as revealed by the analysis of painted plaster and glazed brick fragments from Pasargadae and Persepolis. The study identified up to five layers of paint on Pasargadae plaster, including pigments like Egyptian blue, malachite green, red ocher, and cinnabar red, while Persepolis floor fragments featured lime plaster with hematite-rich paint layers. Glazed bricks from Persepolis were found to be composed of high-silica material similar to faience, decorated with alkaline glazes containing lead antimonate, magnesium-iron, and copper. The research used non-invasive X-ray fluorescence and scanning electron microscopy to examine the fragments' layering stratigraphy and composition, providing insights into Achaemenid material technology and informing long-term preservation efforts.

Palimpsest in the Service of the Cult of the Saints—The False Arch in the Nave’s Vault of the Abbey Church of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe

Abbey Church of Saint-Savin sur Gartempe — 2016 — WHEF0C01B0318

A hidden palimpsest, discovered within the false arch of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe's nave vault, reveals a previously unknown layer of religious symbolism tied to the cult of saints. This 11th-century architectural feature, initially dismissed as purely decorative, was found to contain inscriptions and imagery that serve a functional purpose in reinforcing the church's spiritual narrative. The study employed multi-disciplinary analysis—including historical documentation, art history, and archival research—to decode these elements, demonstrating how medieval artisans integrated visual storytelling into sacred architecture. This discovery challenges conventional interpretations of Romanesque art, highlighting its role in devotional practice rather than mere ornamentation.