Short communication: Study on heavy metals (Chromium, Cadmium, Cobalt and Lead) concentration in three pelagic species of kilka (Genus Clupeonella) in the southern Caspian Sea

Environmental pollution by heavy metals has been a matter of growing concern over the last decades. Heavy metals are toxic and tend to accumulate in living organisms. In many studies, fish has been used as a sampling item to monitor the quality of ecosystems because of two reasons: 1- Fish bio-concentrate and integrate contaminant load both in time and space leading to more representative results compared to water samples, and 2- Fish represent the bio-available fraction of environmental contaminants, unlike water and sediment samples. On the other hand, humans consume fish species which makes attention to these fauna even more important. Levels of some metals in the water running in Volga River, towards the Caspian Sea, and elevated concentrations of some trace elements have been reported in sediment. Also, various pollutants have accumulated in the Caspian Sea due to effluents from coastal catchments and leakage from offshore oil production and land-based sources. ... The objective of the present study was to investigate the concentrations of chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co) and lead (Pb) in fish muscle in the most commercially important fish species of kilka (common kilka, C. cultriventris, anchovy C. engrauliformis and bigeye kilka C. grimmi) in the Caspian Sea

Site selection for coldwater fish culture using GIS in Golestan province of Iran

In an attempt to provide a scientific basis and to discern data gaps for sustainable aquaculture expansion, we conducted a land evaluation and land use planning study to delineate areas suitable for coldwater fish culture complexes in the Golestan Province of Iran. The study was based on systematic land evaluation, a modified version of the McHarg cartographic method drawing upon ecological, social and economic factors. The minimum mapped area was 1.25t1.25Km and the Province was classified into suitable, medium, poor and unsuitable units. Elevation, slope, aspect, hydrography, temperature, evaporation, lithology, pedology, landuse, proximity to roads, protected areas and water resources were the factors included in the study. We successfully applied the method to the Province that resulted in distinguishing areas suitable for coldwater fish culture. Of the factors included in the study, proximity to roads was found to play important role in allocating an area to the activity. Also, slope, elevation, water temperature and evaporation were the other factors that helped in discerning the areas. We found that some parts of the province are amenable to the expansion of the aquaculture activities. Of the surface area of the Province, around 53 kilometers were found to be suitable for the culture. Also, 54 kilometers were moderately suitable and 68 kilometers were poorly suitable for the activity

Effect of plant cover on presence of Black Francolin (Francolinus francolinus) in Khouzestan Province, Southwestern Iran

Three of 6 subspecies of black francolins (Francolinus francolinus), are found throughout Iran. Habitat destruction and indiscriminate hunting as well as agricultural pesticides are among the most crucial factors threatening the populations of these birds in Khouzestan Province, southwestern Iran. Using plot sampling, this study aims to investigate different vegetative factors including plant species, percentage of species presence and dominant plant cover height on francolin presence. Sampling was carried out throughout 5 presence areas of black francolin and 2 areas lacking francolins (control areas). Results showed that frequency of Camels thorn (Alhagi cameloram), Cashew (Prosopis farcta) and African Salsola (Suaeda fruticosa) were higher in presence areas compared with other plant species. Using One Way ANOVA, it was determined that there was no significant difference between plant cover percent (P = 0.279) and dominant plant cover height (P = 0.316). However, difference of these two mentioned factors were significant in 4 seasons (P = 000 for cover height and P = 0.001 for cover percent). In fact, the highest black francolin presence was recorded at 15 – 67 and 4 – 48 for cover percent and cover height classes respectively

A dual AAV system enables the Cas9-mediated correction of a metabolic liver disease in newborn mice

Many genetic liver diseases present in newborns with repeated, often lethal, metabolic crises. Gene therapy using non-integrating viruses such as AAV is not optimal in this setting because the non-integrating genome is lost as developing hepatocytes proliferate1,2. We reasoned that newborn liver may be an ideal setting for AAV-mediated gene correction using CRISPR/Cas9. Here we intravenously infuse two AAVs, one expressing Cas9 and the other expressing a guide RNA and the donor DNA, into newborn mice with a partial deficiency in the urea cycle disorder enzyme, ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC). This resulted in reversion of the mutation in 10% (6.7% – 20.1%) of hepatocytes and increased survival in mice challenged with a high-protein diet, which exacerbates disease. Gene correction in adult OTC-deficient mice was lower and accompanied by larger deletions that ablated residual expression from the endogenous OTC gene, leading to diminished protein tolerance and lethal hyperammonemia on a chow diet

Dynamic Spatial Modeling of Urban Growth through Cellular Automata in a GIS Environment

Urban settlements and their connectivity will be the dominant driver of global change during the twenty-first century. In an attempt to assess the effects of urban growth on available land for other uses and its associated impacts on environmental parameters, we modeled the change in the extent of Gorgan City, the capital of the Golestan Province of Iran. We used Landsat TM and ETM+ imagery of the area and evaluated possible scenarios of future urban sprawl using the SLEUTH method. The SLEUTH is a cellular automaton dynamic urban-growth model that uses geospatial data themes to simulate and forecast change in the extent of urban areas. We successfully modeled and forecasted the likely change in extent of the Gorgan City using slope, land use, exclusion zone, transportation network, and hillshade predictor variables. The results illustrated the utility of modeling in explaining the spatial pattern of urban growth. We also showed the method to be useful in providing timely information to decision makers for adopting preventive measures against unwanted change in extent and location of the built-up areas within in the city limits

Estimating Rangeland Vegetation Frequency & Density Using Low-altitude Aerial Photographs

Remote sensing and aerial photography are means of exploring, studying and estimating vegetation variables such as species frequency and density in forests and rangelands. Common remote sensing images usually offer general information about vegetation parameters. For detailed information about vegetation (e.g. estimation of vegetation density and/or frequency), larger scale images are needed. The present research was conducted to estimate the density of rangeland vegetation in Inche Boroon area, north of Gorgan city. Using aerial photographs acquired from digital camera mounted on a tittered balloon in different flight altitudes, density and frequency of the main shrub species of the studied region, Halocnemum strobilaceum, were estimated on photographs at different scales (from 1:50 – to 1:1000) and were compared with field measurements. Results showed no significant difference between the field and image estimation of density below 1:600 (heights lower than 75 m) but at lower scales the difference was significant. No significant difference between field and image estimation of shrub frequency was also observed up to the scale of 1:1000. Due to the wider field of view of photographs at smaller scales, flight heights of 75 m and 130 m are thus suggested as the appropriate heights to estimate Halocnemum strobilaceum density and frequency respectively in the study area

The Application of Traffic Noise Modeling to Define Road Ecological Effect Zone in Natural Habitats of Lorestan Province

Noise pollution of roads can propagate within a broader extent than the road only. This spatial space is called "road ecological effect zone" which is known as the natural areas exposed by 40 dB or greater noise level in both sides of the road. In this study, using Calculation of Road Traffic Noise (CRTN) model, the propagation range of noise from Lorestan road network was simulated. Then, the natural habitats of oak forests, scattered woodlands, and grassland affected by the zone were analyzed. The results showed that the road ecological effect zone is between 50 to 2000 meter based on 40 dB noise level. Besides, the habitats within Khorramabad, Poldokhtar, and Karkheh watersheds are receiving the most effects from the road networks. In addition, in the studied area, 6.2% of oak forests, 8.4% of scattered woodlands, and 12.1% of grasslands are within the road ecological effect zone. Moreover, 7.4% of the protected areas in Lorestan province are under effects of road traffic noise, where Chahaeshakh no-hunting zone with 42.6%, Poldokhtar wetlands with 28.6%, and Azna-Doroud wildlife refuge with 13% effect are the most affected areas

A MODIS-based estimation of chlorophyll a concentration using ANN model and in-situ measurements in the southern Caspian Sea

924-928Chlorophyll-a data of the MODIS sensor with in-situ chlorophyll measurements from the southern Caspian Sea (SCS) is compared in the present study. Analysis showed an overestimation of chlorophyll-a concentration by MODIS in the area. Results also indicated a root mean square (RMS) log error of 39.4%, for 53 coincident data points. An artificial neural network (ANN) with radial basis function was applied to the in-situ measurements and satellite imagery. It included physical-chemical properties of water as ancillary independent variables in the ANN procedure that enhanced the predictive capability of the model. Evaluation of the predictive capability of ANN approach was satisfying (RMS log error 18.9%). Results showed retrieving chlorophyll-a concentration in the SCS from satellite is possible and will be improved through application of ANN and explanatory environmental parameters

Investigation of urban growth impacts on suitability of conservational patches using a landscape ecological approach (Study Area: Korganroud Watershed)

Urbanization is one of the most significant global changes. The rapid growth in urban area isimposing high pressure to land and their resources. With regard to various ecological services of the Hyrcanian ecosystems and the necessity to conserve them, this research aimed to investigate the growth trend of urban areas and their impacts on land suitability of the conservational patches in Korganroud watershed, Guilan Province. First, the undeveloped parts of the watershed were divided into two main ecosystem types of forest and rangeland. Then, for each ecosystem type, required parameters of the CAPS Model (land capability and ecological parameters) were calculated and combined using linear combination approach. In total, 14 different zones with an area o 64,541 hectare (19% of the watershed‘s area: 13% jungle and 6% rangeland ecosystems) were distinguished as conservational patches. Simulation of the urban growth was done using a Markov-Cellular Automata Urban Change Modeling method called SLEUTH. We designed three different scenarios of historical, managed and ecologically sustainable growth for the period of 2008 - 2050. Finally, integration of the results of two approaches was implemented using a loose coupling approach. Results reflect a general trend in decline of patch suitability influenced by type and size of the urban area growth. According to the results, the observed changes in urban growth for the historical scenario provide a development approach different to the changes for the other two scenarios which collectively fall in another approach to development. Thus, conservational suitability of the area can be preserved by changing the development approach and harnessingcurrent trend of the urban area growth