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Showing 18341 – 18360 of 30345 publications

Eutrophication and effects of algal bloom in the south–western part of the Curonian Lagoon alongside the Curonian Spit

Curonian Spit — 2018 — WHE5714977F3A

Intensive algal blooms, particularly Cyanobacteria hyperblooms, are a persistent issue in the south-western part of the Curonian Lagoon, driven by high mineral nitrogen and phosphorus ratios. These blooms, occurring from July to October, lead to significant environmental impacts such as increased ammonia nitrogen levels, pH, and BOD5, exceeding thresholds for fishery waters. Over six years (2008–2016), chlorophyll a concentrations consistently reached hyperbloom states (>100 μg/l), causing localized oxygen deficits and fish mortality due to algal accumulation and decomposition. Water temperature emerged as a key factor influencing seasonal and long-term variability in phytoplankton abundance, thereby shaping eutrophication levels in the lagoon. The study analyzed data from four sampling points near the Curonian Spit, providing critical insights into the ecological consequences of eutrophication in this UNESCO-listed coastal lagoon.

Evaluating the Conservation Efforts of Multi-Projects Using Remote Sensing and Light Use Efficiency Model: A Case of Nyungwe Forest National Park, Rwanda

Nyungwe National Park — 2018 — WHECF783E5E75

Conservation efforts in Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda, have significantly reduced forest degradation, though recovery has not fully restored productivity. Using remote sensing and a Light Use Efficiency model, researchers found that while the park's forest cover rebounded to 90% between 1986 and 2010, daily Net Primary Productivity (NPP) and carbon sequestration declined by 37.1%, from 6.5 Mg tons in 1986 to 4.1 Mg tons in 2010. Degradation was more severe in high-altitude areas, suggesting conservation strategies have prioritized accessible regions. The study highlights the need for targeted interventions in physically constrained zones to address lingering productivity losses.

Evaluating the impacts of visitation on vegetation associated with waterfalls in Tijuca National Park (RJ, Brazil)

Rio de Janeiro: Carioca Landscapes between the Mountain and the Sea — 2018 — WHE2E84432B46

Visitation to waterfalls in Tijuca National Park, Brazil, significantly degrades riparian vegetation. Research comparing plots near waterfalls (directly impacted by visitors) with those 30 meters away revealed lower diversity and structural homogeneity closer to the river, indicating simplification of plant communities—a hallmark of anthropogenic degradation. Increased soil exposure and higher proportions of multi-stemmed individuals (likely due to visitor-induced breakage) further supported direct human impact on vegetation. The study used statistical analyses including NMDS, ANOSIM, and NPMANOVA to compare diversity indices, structural parameters, and edaphic conditions between the two environments. Findings provide critical guidance for park management in regulating waterfall visitation to mitigate ecological damage.

Evaluation of artificial heating sources for the thermoregulation of Aldabra giant tortoises (Aldabrachelys gigantea) in Zurich zoo

Aldabra Atoll — 2018 — WHE8E436355ED

Artificial heating sources can effectively support thermoregulation in Aldabra giant tortoises (Aldabrachelys gigantea) in cooler climates, such as Zurich Zoo. The study found that introducing a concrete heat pad and basking lamp allowed captive tortoises to maintain core body temperatures comparable to those observed in their natural habitat on Aldabra Atoll. While the mean environmental temperature outside the heating area (23.3 °C) was significantly lower than the optimal range for wild tortoise activity, the heating area maintained a mean temperature of 36.3 °C, enabling tortoises to achieve core body temperatures similar to those recorded during warmer seasons or in the wild. Smaller individuals reached the upper limits of recommended body temperatures, suggesting potential benefits and considerations for captive care practices.

Evaluation of habitat suitability based on patches of the Sichuan snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana) in Shennongjia, Hubei Province

Hubei Shennongjia — 2018 — WHE71B1257EEC

Researchers identified that agricultural land interference becomes significant at distances beyond 2000 meters, while roads pose a major obstacle to the movement of Sichuan snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana) in Shennongjia, Hubei Province. The study used Poisson regression to model monkey group distribution based on patch-scale features such as vegetation type, patch characteristics, and human interference. Findings revealed that monkeys prefer larger, simpler-shaped patches of cold-temperate coniferous forests and mixed coniferous-broadleaf forests while avoiding agricultural areas. Roads, rather than agriculture, now act as the primary barrier limiting monkey expansion, though agricultural interference remains a concern in certain regions. The study recommends comprehensive monitoring of road and tourism impacts on wildlife within Shennongjia Nature Reserve.

Evaluation of Long-Term Stability of Mogao Grottoes Caves under Enhanced Loading Conditions of Tourists

Mogao Caves — 2018 — WHEFB9AF41E27

Tourist foot traffic has negligible long-term impact on the structural stability of Mogao Grottoes caves, despite causing localized stress concentrations and minor vertical displacements. A finite-difference analysis revealed that while tourist loads induce stress in cave roofs and densely occupied areas, their effect on overall displacement is minimal—though distribution patterns matter: side-by-side crowding increases floor/roof deformation more than dispersed arrangements. These findings provide critical guidance for visitor management and preventive conservation strategies at this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Evaluation of serious game based on Bukuran Cluster of Museum Sangiran

Sangiran Early Man Site — 2018 — WHE71D086B679

A serious game developed for the Bukuran Cluster of Sangiran Museum was found to be effective in delivering educational content about Stegodon life, enhancing user experience through first-person navigation and multimedia elements. The study evaluated the application's functionality using a Likert Scale with 33 respondents, demonstrating its potential as an innovative tool for heritage education. Observational data from the Bukuran Cluster informed the game's development, focusing on cultural content accessibility and interactive learning experiences.

Evaluation of the ecological effect of tourism development on vegetation landscapes in Mount Wutai

Mount Wutai — 2018 — WHE7CD6A8EFD6

Tourism development on Mount Wutai significantly alters vegetation landscapes, with ecological effects varying by distance from human activity. Research reveals that plant communities transition from highly disturbed areas (e.g., residential and commercial zones) to less impacted regions (e.g., shrub-grass and forest-shrub-grass zones), showing increased landscape importance values (LIV), species diversity (SD), and ecological integrity (EIV). Conversely, human-adapted species ratios (PS) and tourism impact indices (TII) decline with distance from tourist hotspots. The study’s multi-layered evaluation system—comprising 27 indicators across four dimensions—demonstrates that while some plant groups (e.g., Populus spp.) thrive in disturbed environments, others exhibit resilience only in low-tourism zones. Spatial analysis further links development intensity to topography and site distribution, with the strongest impacts observed in southern and northeastern directions. These findings underscore the need for targeted conservation strategies to mitigate tourism’s ecological footprint while preserving Mount Wutai’s biodiversity.

Evaluation of the transformation potential of urbanised landscape (Vilnius case).

Vilnius Historic Centre — 2018 — WHEB458AA6618

Urban development in historic suburbs can significantly impact the visual character of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, as demonstrated by a study on Vilnius's Old Town. The research found that new construction in the eastern part of the city, if not carefully controlled, risks altering iconic panoramas and architectural silhouettes. To assess this potential impact, the study developed an integrated method evaluating how proposed buildings would affect dominant visual elements from typical viewing points. This approach combines urban analysis with spatial assessment to guide future development while preserving heritage values.

Evaluation of Water Security in Kathmandu Valley before and after Water Transfer from another Basin

Kathmandu Valley — 2018 — WHE34CFB7E81B

A severe water insecurity condition in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, is expected to improve significantly following the completion of the Melamchi Water Supply Project (MWSP). The study assessed household water security index (WSI) before and after the MWSP, revealing that current infrastructure supplies only 19% of dry-season demand and 31% during the wet season. Post-MWSP, the project aims to supply up to 510 million liters per day (MLD), potentially serving an additional 1.21 million people. However, existing distribution networks may lead to inequality in water distribution, necessitating strategies for expansion and redistribution. The research used spatial mapping with ArcMap to analyze water demand and supply data, highlighting the need for long-term measures to optimize water loss, harness additional hillside water, and manage water resources within and outside Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL) service areas.

Evidence on the Koseda coast of Yakushima Island of a tsunami during the 7.3 ka Kikai caldera eruption

Yakushima — 2018 — WHEDF5DA84F1B

A significant discovery on Yakushima Island, Japan, reveals evidence of a massive tsunami occurring around 7.3 thousand years ago during the Kikai caldera eruption. The study identifies Unit TG, a gravel bed on the Koseda coast, as a tsunami deposit, characterized by its poor sorting and thickness, overlying a wave-cut bench and underlying a Koya pyroclastic flow deposit. Radiocarbon dating of wood fragments within Unit TG suggests deposition between 7416–7167 cal year BP, aligning with the timing of the Kikai eruption. The gravel clasts in Unit TG match modern beach and river deposits along the coast, while pumice clasts indicate a link to the 7.3 ka eruption. The study proposes that Unit TG was deposited by a landward-travelling high-particle-concentration flow, likely from a tsunami run-up during the eruption, just before the arrival of the Koya pyroclastic flow. While the exact cause of the tsunami—whether volcanic or seismic—remains uncertain, this finding underscores the immediate impact of the eruption on the island's geology.

Evolution of contourite systems in the late Cretaceous Chalk Sea along the Tornquist Zone

Stevns Klint — 2018 — WHE27A9647941

Late Cretaceous bottom currents shaped the southern Baltic Sea's seafloor, creating two major contourite systems along the Tornquist Zone. Seismic and well data reveal that Turonian to Campanian tectonic uplift formed obstacles influencing these currents. A shallow, south-east directed flow generated contourite channels and drifts, including the system offshore Stevns Klint. A deeper, north-west current emerged later, forming a drift-moat system linked to the Alnarp Valley in Scania. This study integrates findings from the Kattegat and Stevns Klint, linking them to these inferred currents.

Evolution of Traditional Dance Culture The Case of Hahoe Mask Dance in Andong, Korea

Historic Villages of Korea: Hahoe and Yangdong — 2018 — WHE09E06FB22C

Hahoe mask dance and Hahoe Byulsingut Mask Play, originating from Hahoe-dong in Andong, Korea, have emerged as significant cultural assets, generating continuous value and establishing themselves as representative brands of both Andong City and Korea. This study identifies the factors contributing to their prominence through an analysis of cultural activities conducted in the region. The research employs a qualitative approach, examining the evolution and impact of these traditional dance forms on local and national cultural landscapes.

Evolutionary biogeography of the terrestrial biota of the Marquesas Islands, one of the world's remotest archipelagos

Te Henua Enata – The Marquesas Islands — 2018 — WHEA2805953E8

A comparative analysis of the Marquesas Islands' terrestrial biota reveals that its evolutionary patterns closely resemble those of the Hawaiian Islands more than the Society Islands. Most Marquesan lineages trace their closest relatives to other Pacific archipelagos, with monophyletic radiations being common and diversification often paralleling the archipelago's formation, which is less than 5.5 million years old. The study, based on a review of 37 phylogenetic studies, also identifies limited evidence for within-island diversification but suggests some radiations may follow a weak progression rule, with younger lineages found on younger islands. This research sheds light on the biogeographic dynamics of one of the world's most remote archipelagos.

Examining the Conflicting Relationship between U.S. National Parks and Host Communities: Understanding a Community’s Diverging Perspectives

San Antonio Missions — 2018 — WHE16412062B9

Stakeholders' differing perspectives on cultural resources significantly shape their interactions with urban historical national parks and influence attitudes toward park management. This study highlights how diverse community views, when organized using the Progress Triangle conflict management framework—focusing on substance, procedure, and relationship—can both create tension and offer pathways for collaboration. Through 32 interviews analyzed via content analysis, researchers identified that reconciling these divergent perspectives through participatory approaches could enhance park management effectiveness, particularly in contexts like San Antonio Missions National Historical Park where urban and rural dynamics intersect.

Excavation of the Derbent Settlement in 2016

Citadel, Ancient City and Fortress Buildings of Derbent — 2018 — WHE57D5046DF4

Archaeological excavations at the Derbent settlement, conducted in 2016, revealed a complex of residential structures and outbuildings dating from the first half to the middle of the 5th century AD. This discovery sheds light on the city-fortress Chor/Chol, an important administrative, political, and religious center in the Eastern Caucasus, known to ancient Armenian, Georgian, Syrian, early Byzantine, and Arab authors. The settlement predated the construction of Derbent's defensive complex in the late 560s and was gradually abandoned after the establishment of a new city. The research, supported by the Russian Humanitarian Scientific Foundation, utilized cultural layers, construction remains (rooms 6, 7, 8), and economic remains to characterize the population's culture and life. Chronological indicators such as bronze belt buckles and Sasanian pottery were employed to date the complex, which is believed to have ceased existence during turbulent military-political events in the mid-450s, including an anti-Sasanian insurrection and a ruinous invasion by the Huns.

Exchange Flow Variability between Hypersaline Shark Bay and the Ocean

Shark Bay, Western Australia — 2018 — WHE0F0BD8DD50

A steady, near-bed dense water outflow from Shark Bay’s northern Geographe Channel was observed for the first time, persisting through all tidal stages and exhibiting velocities 2–3 times stronger than previously recorded outflows in Naturaliste Channel. This outflow, driven by longitudinal density gradients, proved more resistant to tidal mixing, with turbulence peaking during flow reversals. The study identified tidal seabed flow as the primary source of turbulence, using bottom current speed cubed (|Ub³|) as a proxy for predicting dense water outflows. The Geographe Channel’s orientation and depth along the main density gradient axis explained its predominant outflow role, suggesting potential impacts on marine life recruitment, including commercially fished scallops and prawns.

Exhibiting and Auctioning Yuanmingyuan ("Summer Palace") Loot in 1860s and 1870s London: The Elgin and Negroni Collections

Summer Palace, an Imperial Garden in Beijing — 2018 — WHE09B4BF7B77

In the mid-19th century, looted artifacts from China's Yuanmingyuan (Summer Palace) were strategically exhibited and auctioned in London to boost their market value. James Bruce, 8th Earl of Elgin, and Captain Jean-Louis de Negroni, both involved in the Anglo-French armies, showcased their collections at prestigious venues like the South Kensington Museum (now the V&A) and the Crystal Palace. This study reveals how museum exhibitions and auction houses collaborated to enhance the perceived worth of these looted objects, demonstrating a deliberate interplay between cultural display and commercial transaction during this period.

Exorcists and Physicians at Assur: More on their Education and Interfamily and Court Connections

Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat) — 2018 — WHE50BFE938AA

A comprehensive analysis of the N4 library, the largest Neo-Assyrian private collection, reveals intricate kinship and professional networks among exorcists and physicians at Assur. The study, leveraging colophons and texts from within and beyond Assur, highlights how these figures were educated and their roles intertwined with temple and court functions. This research deepens our understanding of the social and religious dynamics in Neo-Assyrian society, particularly the interplay between exorcists' familial ties and their professional activities.

Expansion of Capacity Development of Local Self-Government in Georgia

Upper Svaneti — 2018 — WHEA30A092B23

Low population motivation for self-organization is the primary barrier to expanding local revenues for self-government bodies in the economically less developed Samegrelo-Upper Svaneti region of Georgia. A survey across nine municipalities revealed that while there is potential for increasing municipal income through taxes and fees, residents' engagement in self-governance processes remains hindered by systemic issues. The study highlights a disconnect between policy recommendations and practical implementation, identifying key challenges that prevent local populations from contributing effectively to their own governance. This research underscores the need for targeted interventions to foster civic participation and strengthen local financial autonomy.