The Effect of Flow Regulation on Channel Geomorphic Unit (CGU) Composition in the Soča River, Slovenia.

This paper sets out to examine the effects of flow regulation on the size, spatial distribution and connectivity of physical habitats or channel geomorphic units (CGU) of an upland river system in Slovenia. A river channel survey was completed along three reaches (totalling 14.3km) of the Soča River in order compare an unregulated stretch (reach 1), with two regulated reaches with lower discharges, i.e. a bypassed section that experiences significant flow reduction (reach 2), and a stretch regulated by dam operation (reach 3). CGU’s were classified according to a modified version of the Hawkins et al (1993) system, and mapped on foot and from a boat using a combination of visual assessment and physical measurement. Mapping-grade GPS was used to locate CGU boundaries to sub-metre accuracy, and the application of GIS (MapInfo) enabled the description and analysis of the longitudinal distribution of CGU’s along each reach. Results demonstrated significant differences in the CGU composition between the unregulated and regulated reaches. The unregulated stretch (reach 1) was dominated by the glides (55%) with relatively fast-flowing and turbulent features (runs, riffles and rapids) making up the rest of the reach. The dominant feature of both of the regulated reaches were the slow flowing pool CGU’s occupying 44% of the bypassed section (reach 2), and 76% of the dam regulated section (reach 3), with glides, runs, riffles and rapids forming the remainder of the CGU’s. Physical measurements highlighted the extent to which the reduced discharge in the regulated reaches was dewatering the channel and reducing the size of the CGU’s. The average CGU size in the unregulated stretch (reach 1) was 58m2 of water area per m of channel length (m2/m) compared to 18.42m2/m in the reach 2, and 29.22m2/m in reach 3. CGU’s tended to be shorter, and hence there was greater habitat division or fragmenta-tion evident in the two regulated reaches, particularly the bypassed section. For example, there were on aver-age 6.81 CGU’s per km in the unregulated reach (reach 1), 18.12 CGU/km in reach 2, and 8.08 CGU/km in reach 3. This study suggests that in the Soča River under the flow conditions present during the survey, flow regula-tion alters the dominant types of CGU’s present (to slower flowing and less turbulent features), significantly reduces the size of CGU’s, and affects the longitudinal distribution of types by reducing habitat connectivity and creating greater habitat fragmentation

The Effect of Flow Regulation on the Spatial Distribution and Dynamics of Channel Geomorphic Units (CGU’s) in the Soča River, Slovenia.

This research examines the impact of flow regulation on the spatial distribution and dynamics of physical habitats or channel geomorphic units (CGU) of the Soca River, an upland river system in Slovenia. In order to assess the impact of flow alteration on the spatial pattern of CGU type, size, hydraulics and distribution, a river channel survey was completed along three reaches (totalling 14.3km), i.e. an unregulated stretch and two regulated reaches (with reduced flows). In addition, one regulated reach was re-surveyed at different discharges to investigate the dynamics of CGU’s and their relationship with flow. CGU’s were classified and mapped on foot and from a boat using a combination of visual assessment and physical measurements of velocity and depth in each CGU. Mapping-grade GPS was used to locate CGU boundaries to sub-metre accuracy, and the application of GIS (MapInfo) enabled the description and analysis of the longitudinal distribution of CGU’s along each reach. The effect of flow regulation on the hydraulic character of the river becomes apparent by highlighting significant differences in the dominant types of CGU’s present between the regulated and unregulated reaches. Reduced flows from river regulation also significantly reduces the size of CGU’s, alters their hydraulic character, and affects the longitudinal distribution of types by creating greater habitat fragmentation. This work also highlights the need to assess CGU’s along continuous stretches of river in order to understand the nature and dynamics of river habitats

Mikroplanktonske i mikrobentoske alge obalnog boćatog jezera Fiesa i ušća Dragonje (Slovenija)

Between 1998 and 2000, microplanktonic and microbenthic algal communities were sampled and analysed in the coastal lake Fiesa and in the Dragonja estuary. The purpose of the investigation was to establish qualitative composition and the relative abundance of algal communities. In 1999 and 2000, basic physical and chemical parameters were measured. Altogether, 159 algal taxa were determined, 83 in the coastal lake Fiesa and 120 in the Dragonja estuary. Most of the taxa belonged to the Bacillariophyceae. Thirty four percent of all taxa were typical brackish taxa. Achnanthes septata, Amphora angusta, Gyrosigma tenuissimum, Gyrosigma wansbeckii and Pleurosigma strigosum (all Bacillariophyceae) were marine species. Brackish and marine taxa were almost exclusively Bacillariophyceae. Nineteen taxa were the first citations for Slovenia, 15 of them belonging to the Bacillariophyceae and four to the Cyanophyceae. Most new taxa belong to the genus Navicula (4).U razdoblju od 1998. do 2000. uzorkovane su i analizirane mikroplanktonske i mikrobentoske zajednice algi u obalnom jezeru Fiesa i na ušću Dragonje. Cilj istraživanja bio je ustanoviti kvalitativni sastav i relativnu abundanciju zajednica algi. Osnovni fizikalni i kemijski parametri mjereni su 1999. i 2000. Utvrđeno je 159 svojta algi, 83 u jezeru Fiesa te 120 u ušću Dragonje. Većina taksona pripadala je porodici Bacillariophyceae, a 34% od ukupnog broja bile su tipične vrste boćatih voda. Morske vrste bile su Achnanthes septata, Amphora angusta, Gyrosigma tenuissimum, Gyrosigma wansbeckii i Pleurosigma strigosum (sve Bacillariophyceae). Boćati i morski taksoni bili su gotovo isključivo Bacillariophyceae. Po prvi puta za Sloveniju zabilježeno je 19 svojti, 15 iz porodice Bacillariophyceae i 4 iz porodice Cyanophyceae. Većina novih svojti pripada rodu Navicula (4)

The effectiveness of alcohol label information for increasing knowledge and awareness: a rapid evidence review

Background:- Consumers have difficulty understanding alcoholic units and low risk drinking guidelines (LRDG). Labelling may improve comprehension. The aims of this rapid evidence review were to establish the effectiveness of on-bottle labelling for (i) improving comprehension of health risks; (ii) improving comprehension of unit and/or standard drink information and/or LRDG, and (iii) reducing self-reported intentions to drink/actual drinking. Methods:- Electronic database searches were carried out (January 2008-November 2018 inclusive). Papers were included if they were: published in English; from an Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development country; an experimental/quasi-experimental design. Papers were assessed for quality using the Effective Public Health Practice Project Quality Assessment tool. Ten papers were included. Most studies were moderate quality (n = 7). Results:- Five themes emerged: comprehension of health risks; self-reported drinking intentions; comprehension of unit/standard drink information and/or LRDG; outcome expectancies; and label attention. Labelling can improve awareness, particularly of health harms, but is unlikely to change behaviour. Improved comprehension was greatest for labels with unit information and LRDG. Conclusions:- Alcohol labelling can be effective in improving people’s comprehension of the health risks involved in drinking alcohol enabling them to make informed consumption decisions, and perhaps thereby provide a route to changing behaviour. Thus, effective alcohol labelling is an intervention that can be added to the broader suite of policy options. That being said, the literature reviewed here suggests that the specific format of the label matters, so careful consideration must be given to the design and placement of labels

Citizenship Norms in Eastern Europe

Research on Eastern Europe stresses the weakness of its civil society and the lack of political and social involvement, neglecting the question: What do people themselves think it means to be a good citizen? This study looks at citizens’ definitions of good citizenship in Poland, Slovenia, the Czech Republic and Hungary, using 2002 European Social Survey data. We investigate mean levels of civic mindedness in these countries and perform regression analyses to investigate whether factors traditionally associated with civic and political participation are also correlated with citizenship norms across Eastern Europe. We show that mean levels of civic mindedness differ significantly across the four Eastern European countries. We find some support for theories on civic and political participation when explaining norms of citizenship, but also demonstrate that individual-level characteristics are differently related to citizenship norms across the countries of our study. Hence, our findings show that Eastern Europe is not a monolithic and homogeneous bloc, underscoring the importance of taking the specificities of countries into account

Detecting Submerged Macrophytes in a UK Chalk Stream Using Field Spectroscopy

Various studies using optical remote sensing in the marine environment have shown the possibilities of spectral discrimination of benthic macro and micro-algae. For in-land water bodies only very recently studies of have explored similar use of optical remote sensing to identify the taxonomic composition of algae and rooted plant communities. The importance of these communities for the functioning of river ecosystems warrants further research. In the study presented here, field spectroscopy is used to assess the possibilities of optically detecting macrophytes in a UK chalk streams. Spectral signatures of four common macrophytes were measured using a hand-held GER1500 spectroradiometer. Despite the strong absorption of near infrared in water, the results show that information on NIR can clearly contribute to the detection of submerged vegetation in shallow UK chalk stream environments. Observed spectra compare well with simulated submerged vegetation spectra, based on water absorption coefficients only. The field investigations, which were performed in the river Wylye, also indicate the confounding effects of specular reflection from riparian vegetation. The results of this study can inform remote sensing studies of the riverine environment using multi-spectral/low altitude sensors. Such larger scale studies will be highly beneficial for monitoring variation in chalk stream bioindicators, such as ranunculus