Maryam Neisi; Masoud Bijani; Negin Fallah Haghighi
Abstract
Introduction: Environmental problems and Chalenges are one of the major concerns of today's society. Often, these chalenges stem from human behavior that can be overcome by changing their attitudes and behaviors and promoting the consequences of these problems. Some of the most important pro-environmental ...
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Introduction: Environmental problems and Chalenges are one of the major concerns of today's society. Often, these chalenges stem from human behavior that can be overcome by changing their attitudes and behaviors and promoting the consequences of these problems. Some of the most important pro-environmental behaviors include energy consumption, water and soil conservation, recycling and the like, with many personal, social and environmental benefits. One of the major goals of universities is to educate students towards environmental issues. In this regard, the role and position of agricultural higher education is of particular importance. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to "analyze the factors affecting pro-environmental behavior as perceived by students in Iran's agricultural higher education system based on Bandura's social-cognitive theory". Materials and methods: This study is a descriptive-correlational and causal-relational research. The statistical population of this study was students at state colleges of agriculture in Iran. 129 of them were selected using a random two-stage cluster sampling based on five scientific poles of the country (N = 236973). The research instrument was a questionnaire whose validity was confirmed by a panel of experts in the field of agricultural extension and education and its reliability was determined using the Cronbach's alpha coefficient (0.66≤α≤0.87). Results and discussion: The results showed that there is a positive and significant correlation between pro-environmental behavior and other effective variables other than the Students’ level of education. In this regard, intention, self-identity, outcome expectancy, self-regulation, perception of others' behavior and self-efficacy had the highest correlation with pro-environmental behavior. The results of the causal analysis showed that the variables of "perception of others Behavior", "outcome expectancy" and "self-identity" had a significant effect on pro-environmental behavior which is in line with the Bandura's social-cognitive theory, but "intention", "self-efficacy" and "self-regulation" had no significant effect. Conclusion: Causal analysis results showed the students’ pro-environmenal behavior in the higher agricultural education system is influenced by the perception of others’ behavior and they learn from observation and consequences of others' behavior. Such findings show the importance of social environments. In other words, although individuals may have motivations and behaviors in order to preserve the environment, but this behavior is influenced by their social environment and providing such an environment is considered one of the implications of higher education systems for creating green universities. At the end, based on the findings, some recommendations have been presented.
Ghasem Mohammadi Kashani; Ahdiyeh Abedini
Abstract
Introduction: Terrestrial isopods constitute the largest suborder in the order Isopoda and, as one of the main groups of soil decomposers, have an important role in acceleration of plant material recycling. Due to the shortage of studies on this taxon in southwestern Iran, the present study was carried ...
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Introduction: Terrestrial isopods constitute the largest suborder in the order Isopoda and, as one of the main groups of soil decomposers, have an important role in acceleration of plant material recycling. Due to the shortage of studies on this taxon in southwestern Iran, the present study was carried out for the evaluation of terrestrial isopods biodiversity in Cheharmahal-va-Bakhtiyari Province. Material and methods: Sampling was performed throughout the province wherever potentially appropriate habitat for isopods existed. The collected specimens were preserved in 96% ethanol, and were then transported to the laboratory for further investigations. The isopods were dissected and micro-preparations of their diagnostic characters were slide-mounted in Euparal. Type material or original descriptions and illustrations of the species were used for species identification. Results and discussion: In the present work, totally 10 terrestrial isopod species were identified. Koweitoniscus tamei Omer-Cooper, 1923 from the family Eubelidae Budde-Lund, 1899 and Armadillidium vulgare Latreille, 1804 from the family Armadillidiidae Brandt, 1833 were reported. The species Agabiformius lentus Budde-Lund, 1885, Porcellionides pruinosus Brandt, 1833, Porcellio evansi Omer-Cooper, 1923 and P. mehrdadi Kashani et al., 2017 belonging to the family Porcellionidae Brandt & Ratzeburg, 1831 and Protracheoniscus major Dolfuss, 1903, P. ehsani Kashani, 2014, P. sarii Eshaghi, Kiabi & Kashani, 2015 and Mongoloniscus persicus Kashani, 2014 belonging to the family Agnaridae Schmidt, 2003 were identified. All species except Porcellio evansi and P. mehrdadi that were recently reported are new records for the province. Conclusion: the present study indicated that biodiversity of terrestrial isopods is relatively high in the province of Cheharmahal-va-Bakhtiyari, and further researches is essential for more precise estimation of the number of terrestrial isopod species in the province.
Hossein Varasteh Moradi; Meysam Madadi
Volume 15, Issue 4 , January 2018, , Pages 141-154
Abstract
Introduction:
The goitred gazelle, which is classified as Vulnerable by IUCN has a very wide distribution across the Middle East, Pakistan, Central Asia, China and Mongolia. A few ecological studies have been conducted on some aspects of goitred gazelle, such as population dynamics, habitat selection, ...
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Introduction:
The goitred gazelle, which is classified as Vulnerable by IUCN has a very wide distribution across the Middle East, Pakistan, Central Asia, China and Mongolia. A few ecological studies have been conducted on some aspects of goitred gazelle, such as population dynamics, habitat selection, daily activity, and social organization. However, little is known about the population dynamics of Goitred gazelle in Iran. Among the artiodactyls in Golestan National Park, the Goitred gazelles have shown the most vulnerability to the poaching and increasing frequency and intensity of habitat destruction. The objective of this study was to determine the population dynamics of Goitred gazelle in different areas of Golestan National Park.
Materials and methods:
Fieldwork was carried out in Golestan National park, Iran. The transect line sampling method was used to survey the population dynamics of Goitred gazelle, during the survey at each of the 24 transects, in 3 visits were conducted between February 2016 and July 2016. Data (number of individuals, sex and age of gazelles) were collected at each of 24 transects. To calculate the density of gazelles we used the DISTANCE 6.0 program. Differences in the lambing rate were evaluated using non-parametrical Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U-test. All the statistical tests were performed using Minitab 15 and Ecological Methodology softwares.
Results and discussion:
The results of density analysis showed that the Goitred gazelles had the largest and the smallest population size in Kohne Mirzabaylu and Rabat, respectively. Sex ratio was varied from 1.33 to 1.86. Moreover, the results of sex ratio showed that Almeh and Soulgerd populations had the best sex ratio. The number of middle-aged and older males was low in all gazelle populations. It means that a high portion of females prone to fertility could not mate. Many management strategies offer increase of mature males in population that resulted in increases in reproduction rate of females (Bender, 2002). Due to a few numbers of qualified females (6 years old and older), a considerable number of females could not mate. It means the males spend more time to collect the females and ward off the rival males and consequently the reproduction rate of females decreases. Yearlings (consist of male and female) and very old gazelles (more than 11 years old) had the highest and the lowest percent of Gazelle population, respectively. The highest percentage of lambs was occurred in Soulgerd and Kohne Mirzabaylu populations. This pattern of age class in lambs was due to high security in vicinity of these two areas to wildlife guard stations. There was no significant difference among different areas in lambing rate. This pattern was consistent with Varasteh (2004).
Conclusion:
According to this study conducted on sex and age structure, lambing rate, and density of Gazelles in comparison with the past, it is quite obvious that the current trend of population dynamics is in decline and this is an alarm that indicate the need for urgent action to reduce the speed of population decline and for careful and long-term planning to management of Gazelles population.
Naghmeh Mobarghaee; Amir Hedayati Aghmashhadi; Samaneh Zahedi
Volume 14, Issue 2 , July 2016, , Pages 119-128
Abstract
The transportation sector is the fastest growing energy demand in the world and it has created many economic and environmental problems for both industrial and developing countries. Economic problems, including high inflation and low developed public transport, are the main causes of the spread using ...
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The transportation sector is the fastest growing energy demand in the world and it has created many economic and environmental problems for both industrial and developing countries. Economic problems, including high inflation and low developed public transport, are the main causes of the spread using of obsolete private vehicles in Iran that and this has imposed high costs on the society. In this research for estimating the social cost of obsolete cars, first of all the number of old cars in the country has been calculated and, then the social cost that old cars impose on the community have been calculated by assessing the effect of each pollutant gas. The result shows that, in 2011, although only about 11 percent of the country’s cars were old, they cause more than 75 percent of pollutant emissions and this has also imposed about 32 million dollars social costs to the society. To reduce this cost, it is necessary to have a well managed integrated transport system operated by governmental and private sectors.
Morteza Tahamipour; Abas Salah; Abbas Arabmazar
Volume 13, Issue 3 , October 2015, , Pages 35-50
Abstract
One of the new approaches in the management of water resources is according to the principle of comparative advantage and trade in virtual water. This is based on the view that it can be considered a specialty area in which the water products and the products produced in wet areas, or imported from other ...
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One of the new approaches in the management of water resources is according to the principle of comparative advantage and trade in virtual water. This is based on the view that it can be considered a specialty area in which the water products and the products produced in wet areas, or imported from other countries, enter areas that are less water. In this study, the approach in Gilan Province has been studied. On this basis, the central question of this study would be what form the trade model of virtual water in this province takes and, in order to answer this question, an extended input-output table was used. Accordingly, the direct and total water consumption for 40 activities at the provincial level has been considered. The results showed that Guilan Province, with net exports of 636 and 811 million cubic meters of water at the level of economic activity and agriculture, respectively, has been a net exporter of virtual water, while the province's industries and mines have been net importers of virtual water. Based on the information obtained in this study, it is possible through a change in the composition of economic activity (to increase the proportion of activities with high added value and reduce the share of activities with the highest intensity of water use) to hold the added value of Guilan Province and establish an improved trade balance for water.
Tayebeh Akbari; Raziyeh Lak; Reza Shahbazi; Kamallodin Alizadeh; Ashraf Asadi; Mehrnoosh Ghadimi
Volume 13, Issue 3 , October 2015, , Pages 89-102
Abstract
Abstract: In this research we tried to investigate the respond of high part of Zagros Mountains to past climate change by studying a 300cm core was extracted from Lake Gahar. This region is as an important biome of oak forest of Iran. Then the aim of this investigation is to detect past climate condition ...
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Abstract: In this research we tried to investigate the respond of high part of Zagros Mountains to past climate change by studying a 300cm core was extracted from Lake Gahar. This region is as an important biome of oak forest of Iran. Then the aim of this investigation is to detect past climate condition by palynology and modeling. According to the pollen percentage diagram of Lake Gahar (Fig. 3, 4, 5), four main local pollen assemblage zones consisting of two older zones GHA(depth of 300 to 210 cm), GHB (210 to 65 cm depth) and two more new zones GHC (depth 65 to 30 cm) and GHD (depth 30 to 0 cm) were identified. For interpretation the pollen diagram we reconstructed the annual mean precipitation and temperature data over 40000 years by MCM (Macrophysical Climate Model). By calculation the Z-score index four major thermal and moisture period found in Gahar region: 1- Cold and dry period (40000-30000 Yr. B.P) 2- Warm and dry period (30000-20000Yr. B.P) 3- Cold and wet period (20000-11900 Yr. B.P) and 4- Warm and dry period (11900-now Yr. B.P). The indices and our data showed that two zones GHA and GHB beyond depth 300-60cm may have been exposed to cold and wet period around 20000-11900 Years B.P..The mentioned zones have vegetation of forest- steppe with dominant species of oak trees. It seems that the disappearing of arboreal pollen, especially Quercus at a depth of 50 and 60 cm at the boundary between the two zones GHB and GHC is associated with unfavorable conditions for plant growth during the last glacial period. There are also upland herbs pollen types such as Poaceae crealia types and polygonium, and also arboreal pollen such as Corylus, Juglans, olive and Vitis can be considered as evidence of the destruction of the region as a result of anthropogenic effects and heavy grazing and farming operations. It is approved that consecutive period of cold/wet and warm/dry period in the past climate of Gahar region by comparing the results with other lakes in the north west of Iran.
Kazem Nosrati
Volume 12, Issue 4 , January 2015
Abstract
There is a need of monitoring and analysis of drought condition for water resources management. Given the large difficulties to objectively quantify drought characteristics such as duration, intensity, and magnitude several drought indices have been developed in the last decades. One of shortcomings ...
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There is a need of monitoring and analysis of drought condition for water resources management. Given the large difficulties to objectively quantify drought characteristics such as duration, intensity, and magnitude several drought indices have been developed in the last decades. One of shortcomings of current drought indices including standardized precipitation index (SPI) is that it does not include water balance by means of evapotranspiration. Standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) includes water balance in calculating of drought index using precipitation and evapotranspiration.The objectives of current study are to investigate meteorological droughts using SPEI in ten synoptic stations in different climates of Iran and to compare the results with SPI. In view of this, temperature and precipitation data in a long term 1975 to 2007 were prepared and the drought indices were calculated. The comparison was done based on indices values and drought categories class. The results showed that both SPI and SPEI indices have significant correlation, moreover the SPEI showed the quick response to drought. The increasing the timescales of indices also increase the duration of drought. Based on the importance of evapotranspiration in arid and semi-arid regions, the SPEI can be used as a suitable index for determining of droughts. However, further researches are needed in spatial and temporal scales.
Mitra Cheraghi; Alireza Safahieh; Ali Dadolahi Sohrab; Kamal Ghanemi; Abdol Majid Doraghi
Volume 11, Issue 4 , January 2014
Abstract
A. marina from aquatic plants is widely distributed throughout Bardestan estuary (Bushehr, Iran). This study examined the uptake of some metals by A. marina and their translocation from the roots to other parts of the plant.For this purpose, samples of sediment, and mangrove roots and leaves were taken ...
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A. marina from aquatic plants is widely distributed throughout Bardestan estuary (Bushehr, Iran). This study examined the uptake of some metals by A. marina and their translocation from the roots to other parts of the plant.For this purpose, samples of sediment, and mangrove roots and leaves were taken from the Bardestan mangrove. Samples were dried in the laboratory and digested in concentrated acids and their metal content was measured using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. The enrichment coefficients in leaves of A. marina were smaller than 1.0 for all the studied metals. Similarly, theenrichment coefficients of all the metals (Zn, Ni, Cu, Pb, Cd), in roots of A. marina were smaller than 1.0. This study demonstrated that A. marinabehaves as an excluder plantand could be considered as either a bio-indicator or a bio-accumulator in sediments and waters polluted by heavy metals.
Gholam Hossain Kiani
Volume 11, Issue 4 , January 2014
Abstract
In this study, the conventional and environmentally adjusted productivity and the efficiency and technical changes of the Iranian agricultural sector are measured, using the Malmquist-Luinberger index and the panel data from 28 provinces over the period 2000-2008. Results show that the annual average ...
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In this study, the conventional and environmentally adjusted productivity and the efficiency and technical changes of the Iranian agricultural sector are measured, using the Malmquist-Luinberger index and the panel data from 28 provinces over the period 2000-2008. Results show that the annual average of nitrogen balance index, as a proxy of nitrogen pollution, is 32.7 kilograms per hectare of agricultural land and nitrogen use efficiency is 62%. On average, the conventional total factor productivity, efficiency and technical change indices are 0.9687, 0.9610 and 1.008, respectively, while the environmentally adjusted counterpart indices are 0.9716, 0.9738 and 0.9977. Hence, by ignoring pollution, conventional measurements of productivity tend either to overestimate or to underestimate the true productivity of the agricultural sector.
Masoud Yazdanpanah; Dariush Hayati; Gholam Hossein Zamani
Volume 9, Issue 1 , October 2011
Abstract
Despite the increasing importance of water conservation across the world, there is very little understanding about the psychosocial variables that help predict people’s water conservational behaviour. This study used a modified model of the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), including the additional ...
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Despite the increasing importance of water conservation across the world, there is very little understanding about the psychosocial variables that help predict people’s water conservational behaviour. This study used a modified model of the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), including the additional variables of moral norms, self-identity and subjective myths of the nature as general beliefs, to predict intentions and behaviour regarding water conservation through a random sample of agricultural professionals (n= 80) using the survey method in Bushehr Province. Findings revealed that the modified theory of TPB can explain intention and behaviour regarding water conservation. Multiple regression analysis showed that moral norms, perceived behavioural control and risk perception can predict 68 percent of variances in water conservational intention, while subjective norms and perceived behavioural control can predict 49 percent of variances in water conservational intention based on the original TPB model. Therefore, those agricultural professionals who perceived a greater normative and commitment feeling regarding water conservational behaviour had a higher level of intention to engage in such behaviours and the significance of perceived behaviour control revealed that professionals did not have complete volition in their water conservational behaviour. Furthermore, myths of nature can predict about 39 percent, 20 percent and 28 percent of variances in attitude, moral norms and risk perception regarding water conservation.
Hamze Noor; Seyed Khalagh Mirnia; Mohammad Bagher Raisi
Volume 8, Issue 1 , October 2010
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to predict organic matter (OM) loss in Kojor Watershed which is a hyrcanian ecosystem. For this purpose, discharges, suspended sediment (SS) and OM loss resulting from storm events were sampled at one fixed point of the river using a manual sampler. Results showed that ...
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The aim of the present study was to predict organic matter (OM) loss in Kojor Watershed which is a hyrcanian ecosystem. For this purpose, discharges, suspended sediment (SS) and OM loss resulting from storm events were sampled at one fixed point of the river using a manual sampler. Results showed that soil erosion rate during the sampling period were dramatically affected by the loss of OM. Also, the results of modeling among OM loss, SS and discharge indicate that OM loss was not estimated by the discharge, while SS can estimate the loss of OM with a determination coefficient and estimation error of of 95% and 24%, respectively. These results could facilitate the application of methods obtained in the present study to other areas with similar conditions.
Morteza Molaei; Mohammad Kavoosi Kelashemi; Hamed Rafiee
Volume 8, Issue 1 , October 2010
Abstract
More than half of the Greenhouse Effect is from carbon dioxide emissions. Emissions of carbon dioxide cause undesirable climatic and environmental effects and, finally, affect the global economy. Because of the importance of determining the economic impacts of increasing CO2 emissions, this study investigates ...
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More than half of the Greenhouse Effect is from carbon dioxide emissions. Emissions of carbon dioxide cause undesirable climatic and environmental effects and, finally, affect the global economy. Because of the importance of determining the economic impacts of increasing CO2 emissions, this study investigates the cointegration relationship between per capita Gross Domestic Production (GDP) and per capita CO2 emissions during 1974-2004 and also tests the existence of an Environmental Kuznets Curve for Carbon Dioxide during this period. The Auto Regressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) method and Error Correction Model (ECM) were used to study the cointegration relationship. Results indicated that in both short- and long-term period, a significant relationship exists between variables. On the other hand, the coefficient of error correction term was -0.19 and statistically significant. According to the results of the differential models between per capita GDP and per capita CO2 emission, Environmental Kuznets Curve for CO2 exists during this period. Keywords: Cointegration, ARDL, ECM, Environmental CO2, Kuznets Curve, Iran.
Farzad Jalilian; Yaghoub Fathipour; Ali Asghar Talebi; Amin Sedaratian
Volume 7, Issue 4 , July 2010
Abstract
In addition to the abundance and population fluctuation of the common species, the fauna of syrphid flies of the northern parts of Ilam Province were studied during the period 2003-2004. In total, 30 species of syrphids including 21 predatory species, 8 saprophages species and one phytophagus species ...
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In addition to the abundance and population fluctuation of the common species, the fauna of syrphid flies of the northern parts of Ilam Province were studied during the period 2003-2004. In total, 30 species of syrphids including 21 predatory species, 8 saprophages species and one phytophagus species were identified. All species are first records from Ilam Province. The results of population abundance obtained from Malaise traps during 2004 indicated that Episyrphus balteatus (De Geer), Eupeodes corollae (Fabricius) and Scaeva albomaculata (Macquart) are among the most frequently occurring species and also important predators of aphids in this region. The population fluctuation of these three species showed that the highest population levels of adults occur in early spring.
Alireza Farsi Mohammadi Pour
Volume 7, Issue 3 , April 2010
Abstract
Achieving sustainable architecture may be feasible by using renewable energies. Solar power can be exploited in building via photovoltaic and collectors to produce electricity and heat and it will lead to GHG reduction. Building integrated photovoltaic (BiPV) systems can form a cohesive design, construction, ...
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Achieving sustainable architecture may be feasible by using renewable energies. Solar power can be exploited in building via photovoltaic and collectors to produce electricity and heat and it will lead to GHG reduction. Building integrated photovoltaic (BiPV) systems can form a cohesive design, construction, and energy solution for the built environment. PVs produce electricity and have special aspects that can be utilized. The expressive and impressive aspect of a photovoltaic system designed and applied on the envelope of the buildings can not be ignored and the architect should appreciate PV's abilities to perform as an exterior material as well. Designing a BiPV needs a team in which everyone plays his/her own role to reach the maximum output through the system. This paper will analyze the best architectural form and specification of a BiPV in Tehran. In this research diagrams of annual and seasonal total of global radiation in Tehran will be produced. With regard to diagrams the best tilt angle will be discussed. Finally, some basic forms such as cube, prism and box will be analyzed to receive the maximum solar radiation and an isosceles triangle for the best choice.
Yousef Filizadeh
Volume 7, Issue 3 , April 2010
Abstract
Flooding due to Caspian Sea level rise (CSLR) resulting from climate change may have serious ecological and socio-economic consequences. According to estimates from the Caspian Environment Programme (CEP), global warming until 2016 may cause a relative CSLR in Iranian coastal area of 20–120 cm. ...
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Flooding due to Caspian Sea level rise (CSLR) resulting from climate change may have serious ecological and socio-economic consequences. According to estimates from the Caspian Environment Programme (CEP), global warming until 2016 may cause a relative CSLR in Iranian coastal area of 20–120 cm. Rising the Caspian Sea level will not only inundate low-lying coastal regions, but it will also contribute to the redistribution of sediment along sandy coasts. In the present paper the possible impact of a CSLR of this magnitude on coastal habitat types is discussed based on topography at the Anzali Lagoon area in the North of Iran. Coastal marshes are susceptible to accelerated CSLR because their vertical accretion rates are limited and they may drown. As the Anzali Lagoon convert to the Caspian Sea, tidal exchange through inlets increases, which leads to sand sequestration on tidal deltas, erosion of adjacent barrier shorelines, and change the ecological conditions. The CSLR is expected to cause a change in groundwater level, a horizontal displacement of vegetation zones and a reduction in area, depending on accretion rate (sedimentation), local topography and inland land-use.
Babak Jafari Salim; Gholamreza Nabi Bidhendi; Amir Salemi; Masoud Taheryioun; Mojtaba Ardestani
Volume 6, Issue 4 , July 2009
Abstract
Comprehensive information and knowledge about the quality of water resources plays a very important role in preservation plans for water resource management. One of the engineering methods used to assess river water quality conditions without mathematical and statistical complexity is water quality indices. ...
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Comprehensive information and knowledge about the quality of water resources plays a very important role in preservation plans for water resource management. One of the engineering methods used to assess river water quality conditions without mathematical and statistical complexity is water quality indices. In this method, different water quality parameters are analyzed and interpreted in a river water quality assessment study. It is one of the most important parts of river quality monitoring plans in which the qualitative indices are converted to a single and dimensionless number. Water quality classification is undertaken on the basis of the value of the indices comparing with a predefined rated scale. In this study, a monitoring plan is achieved for the 18 stations located along with Gheshalgh River in Kurdistan province in Iran. Water quality assessment has been conducted using two NSF quality indices of general water use and the British Columbia index for drinking and agricultural consumption. Based on the results obtained from these indices, water of this river has the worst quality due to agricultural use downstream of the wastewater treatment plant of Sanandaj city. Its condition is degraded up to the discharge point of Morghe Par slaughterhouse due to the assimilation capacity of the river. In this location water quality is acceptable for drinking purposes and most of the stations have appropriate conditions except for Dare Kuleh and the downstream station which are on the border. Results indicate that the degree of influence of urban pollutant sources such as entry of urban wastewater and also of a landfill leachate brook is high, especially in the Gheshlagh bridge area up to the tributaries.
Mohammad Yazdi; Narges Behzad
Volume 6, Issue 4 , July 2009
Abstract
Seyab River, which crosses Southwest of Tehran to Islam Shahr (10km), is an extremely important river that is in contact with a population of about one million. Freshly deposited seasonal sediments were collected from depths of 0–20 cm at 4 locations (1 to 4) along the 10-km long channel length, ...
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Seyab River, which crosses Southwest of Tehran to Islam Shahr (10km), is an extremely important river that is in contact with a population of about one million. Freshly deposited seasonal sediments were collected from depths of 0–20 cm at 4 locations (1 to 4) along the 10-km long channel length, in the spring season of the year 2008. There is no water during the summer to the autumn seasons, with the lowest content in winter and the highest content in spring. Hence, the sampling was carried out during spring. In this research, 12 sediment samples, 9 plant samples and 8 water samples were collected from Seyab River and its periphery. The samples were analyzed by AAS for Co, Ni, Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn, Mg, Na, K, Ca, Cd, Se and HCO3-, CO3-2, Cl-, SO4-2. The concentrations of Ag, Hg, As, were less than the detection limit for all samples. Data processing shows the average concentrations of Cu, Cr, Zn, Mg and Ca were higher than the upper continental crust background levels. Se was at 174 times and Cd at 220 times the said level. Islam Shahr has been newly developed during the past 15 years, thus such high contaminations during such a short period are a cause for concern. Anthropogenic impacts, industrialization, farming activities, transport, urbanization, animal and human excrement and domestic wastes have affected the river, contaminating it and its sediments with heavy metals especially Se and Cd.
Masoud Sheidai; Nastaran Heydari
Volume 6, Issue 4 , July 2009
Abstract
Sheath blight disease, caused by Rhizoctonia solani, is a major fungal disease of rice, occurring mostly in Asian rice. The present study was performed to identify the chitinase polymorphism in 19 Iranian rice cultivars by using RFLP-PBR, with Rsa I, Taq I, Sac I and Ava I restriction enzymes. Digestion ...
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Sheath blight disease, caused by Rhizoctonia solani, is a major fungal disease of rice, occurring mostly in Asian rice. The present study was performed to identify the chitinase polymorphism in 19 Iranian rice cultivars by using RFLP-PBR, with Rsa I, Taq I, Sac I and Ava I restriction enzymes. Digestion of the chitinase gene RICCH-3 by its specific digesting enzymes, i.e. RsaI and TaqI, produced a uniform banding pattern in all the rice cultivars studied. However RICCH-1 digestion showed banding pattern polymorphism in the two cultivars 1205 and 1206 and digestion of RICCH-2 showed banding pattern polymorphism in the cultivars 665 and 667. The cultivars studied showed no polymorphism for the sites of the AvaI and SacI enzymes. In total, 13 bands were obtained by the digesting action of RsaI and TaqI enzymes among 19 rice cultivars studied, 4 bands were common in all the cultivars while one unique band was observed in the cultivar 326. There were 4 other bands present in all other cultivars but missing in the cultivar 326, making this cultivar significantly different from the other rice cultivars studied. Data obtained suggested the possible occurrence of intra-geneic deletion in the RICCH-1 site and intra-genic duplication in RICCH-2 site. Grouping of the rice cultivars on the basis of the RFLP bands obtained did not correlate with their geographical regions of cultivation. This is the first report on chitinase polymorphism in Iranian rice cultivars.
Roohollah Abbasi; Shahrokh Pashaei Rad; Ebrahim Ebrahimi; Masoud Sheidaei
Volume 6, Issue 1 , October 2008
Abstract
The order Hymenoptera, with more than 115000 described species, comprise about 10% of the species diversity of the planet. Vespidae, one of the major families of this order, plays an important role in biological control of plant pests. In the present study, a faunistic investigation with estimation of ...
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The order Hymenoptera, with more than 115000 described species, comprise about 10% of the species diversity of the planet. Vespidae, one of the major families of this order, plays an important role in biological control of plant pests. In the present study, a faunistic investigation with estimation of some ecological indices of interspecific associations of vespid wasps was carried out in the northernpart of Zanjan province (NW of Iran). The specimens were identified using available keys, and final identification confirmed by Dr. Josef Gusenleitnerfrom Austria which resulted into 23 species as follow identically would according: Ancistrocerus auctus, Antepipona deflenda, A. vagabunda*, Eumenes dubius crimensis*, E. mediterraneus, E. papillarius, Euodynerus disconotatus sulfuripes*, E. fastidiosus*, E. posticus*, Eustenancistrocerus amadanensis, E. israelensis*, Katamenes dimidiatus, Knemodynerus excellens, Parodontodynerus ephippium*, Stenodynerus chevrieranus, S. chitgarensis, Polistes dominula, P. Dominulus bucharensis*, P. Gallicus, P. Iranus, P. Nimpha irakensis*, Vespa orientalis, Vespula germanica These species and taxa which were marked with an asterisk regarded as the first records for Zanjan province and Iran respectively. Interspecific association indices were determined for all species. Results showed that Ancistrocerus auctus with Euodynerus posticus,Antepipona vagabunda with Euodynerus fastidiosus & Eustenancistrocerus israelensis &Parodontodynerus ephippium, Euodynerus fastidiosus with Eustenancistrocerus israelensis&Parodontodynerus ephippium, Eustenancistrocerus israelensis with Parodontodynerus ephippium, and Polistes dominulus bucharensis with Eumenes mediterraneus had maximum positive interspecific association
Majid Javanmard; Hossein Mahmoudi
Volume 6, Issue 1 , October 2008
Abstract
The aim of this study is to examine the current situation of Iranian organic fig growing and exportation. SWOT analysis was applied to the production, processing, storage, exports and structure of market competition and distribution aspects. The data were gathered using two methods, consisting of firstly ...
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The aim of this study is to examine the current situation of Iranian organic fig growing and exportation. SWOT analysis was applied to the production, processing, storage, exports and structure of market competition and distribution aspects. The data were gathered using two methods, consisting of firstly of documentary studies and secondly a survey study. The research instrument used was a questionnaire. The results have been presented in a SWOT frame, and the results from this research are divided into four categories as follows. (1) strengths - such as the supply of an effective organic figs, the supply of an small size product, lowest raining climate and product with low moisture content; (2) weaknesses - such as lack of research and development of high-yielding varieties and domestication, lack of cooled and controlled atmosphere storages facilities in region, the absence of a national logo and standards for organic products, lack of fig processing facilities, lack of well equipped and specialized laboratories, lack of appropriate processing, storage and packaging system, and having no integrated, systemic approach in organic fruits growing; (3) opportunities - such as dry farming, lower cost of production, the geostrategic conditions of Iran (the fastest growing market of organic consumption in the world, region and Iran’s reputation as a dried fruits exporter); and (4) threats - such as drought and climate change, fluctuation of fig price, irrigation of orchards, bulk selling, merging low quality and un-organic figs from other regions, limited research and development centres in this case, lack of developmental, extension and advisory services.
Amin Rastande
Volume 5, Issue 2 , January 2008
Abstract
In the present article, the author seeks to define sustainable greenway planning along coastal areas in the North and South of Iran based both on the historical heritages of green routes in the country and international greenway theory that is concerned with American and British definitions. For this ...
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In the present article, the author seeks to define sustainable greenway planning along coastal areas in the North and South of Iran based both on the historical heritages of green routes in the country and international greenway theory that is concerned with American and British definitions. For this reason, in the half first of this paper, the principles and concepts of historical Persian green routes have been scrutinized and identified and then, in the second half of the paper, according to the historical and cultural backgrounds and regional context of these coastal areas, an applied multi-functional greenway plan for settlements in the aforementioned regions has been proposed. Finally, the author concludes that, in the present century, local authorities have to pay attention both to regional conditions and international ideas of the same period to achieve landscape and environmental sustainability. It can be mentioned that in this article, the author used academic resources and applied an analyzing-describing method as a scientific research method. In addition, the two coastal cities of Anzali, on the Caspian Sea, and Bushehr, on the Persian Gulf, have been analyzed. Ke
