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Nawab J, Ghani J, Rehman SAU, Idress M, Luqman M, Khan S, Asghar A, Rahman Z. Biomonitoring of mercury in water, sediments, and fish (brown and rainbow trout) from remote alpine lakes located in the Himalayas, Pakistan. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:81021-81036. [PMID: 35727512 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-21340-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) contamination of aquatic ecological units and subsequent bioaccumulation are major environmental problems of international scope. Moreover, the biogeochemistry of Hg in the remote alpine lakes aquatic ecosystem in the Himalayas remains largely unexplored. The current study investigated Hg concentrations in different environmental compartments such as water, fish, and sediments in the remote alpine lakes (RALs) including Glacial-fed Lake, Ice melting-fed Lake, and Rain-fed Lake in northern areas of Pakistan. The mean concentration of Hg in Rain-fed Lake water was (1.07 µg L-1), Ice melting-fed Lake (1.16 µg L-1), and Glacial-fed Lake (1.95 µg L-1). For fish muscle tissues, mean concentration of Hg was 1.02 mg kg-1 in the Rain-fed Lake, and 1.2 mg kg-1 for the Ice melting-fed Lake, and 1.51 mg kg-1 in the Glacial-fed Lake. Meanwhile, 0.27 mg kg-1 was observed for sediments in the Rain-fed Lake, 0.33 mg kg-1 for the Ice melting-fed Lake, and 0.38 mg kg-1 for the Glacial-fed Lake, respectively. Chronic daily intake (CDI) and potential health quotient (PHQ) for water showed high health risk in Glacial-fed Lake and low in Rain-fed Lake (PHQ < 1). The target hazard quotient (THQ) values for both the Brown and Rainbow trout in all the studied lakes water were less than 1, indicating no health risk. Furthermore, the Hg level showed high level of contamination in the sediments of all the studied lakes (190 ≤ RI < 380). Overall, Glacial-fed Lake water was more polluted with Hg, as compared to Rain-fed Lake and Ice melting-fed Lake. In the light of the abovementioned results, further research work is urgently needed to shed light on the biological and geochemical monitoring of Hg in arid high-altitude ecosystems along with source identification, mercury speciation, and other potential pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javed Nawab
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Kohat University of Science and Technology, Kohat, Pakistan.
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, Pakistan.
| | - Junaid Ghani
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Syed Aziz Ur Rehman
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, 54000, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Idress
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Luqman
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, 54000, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Sardar Khan
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, 25120, Pakistan
| | - Ali Asghar
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, Pakistan
| | - Ziaur Rahman
- Department of Microbiology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, Pakistan
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Modelling Potential Distribution of Snow Leopards in Pamir, Northern Pakistan: Implications for Human–Snow Leopard Conflicts. SUSTAINABILITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/su132313229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
The snow leopard (Panthera uncia) is a cryptic and rare big cat inhabiting Asia’s remote and harsh elevated areas. Its population has decreased across the globe for various reasons, including human–snow leopard conflicts (HSCs). Understanding the snow leopard’s distribution range and habitat interactions with human/livestock is essential for understanding the ecological context in which HSCs occur and thus gives insights into how to mitigate HSCs. In this study, a MaxEnt model predicted the snow leopard’s potential distribution and analyzed the land use/cover to determine the habitat interactions of snow leopards with human/livestock in Karakoram–Pamir, northern Pakistan. The results indicated an excellent model performance for predicting the species’ potential distribution. The variables with higher contributions to the model were the mean diurnal temperature range (51.7%), annual temperature range (18.5%), aspect (14.2%), and land cover (6.9%). The model predicted approximately 10% of the study area as a highly suitable habitat for snow leopards. Appropriate areas included those at an altitude ranging from 2721 to 4825 m, with a mean elevation of 3796.9 ± 432 m, overlapping between suitable snow leopard habitats and human presence. The human encroachment (human settlements and agriculture) in suitable snow leopard habitat increased by 115% between 2008 and 2018. Increasing encroachment and a clear overlap between snow leopard suitable habitat and human activities, signs of growing competition between wildlife and human/livestock for limited rangeland resources, may have contributed to increasing HSCs. A sound land use plan is needed to minimize overlaps between suitable snow leopard habitat and human presence to mitigate HSCs in the long run.
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Rashid W, Shi J, Rahim IU, Dong S, Sultan H. Issues and Opportunities Associated with Trophy Hunting and Tourism in Khunjerab National Park, Northern Pakistan. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:E597. [PMID: 32244688 PMCID: PMC7222849 DOI: 10.3390/ani10040597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2020] [Revised: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 03/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Trophy hunting and mass tourism are the two major interventions designed to provide various socioeconomic and ecological benefits at the local and regional levels. However, these interventions have raised some serious concerns that need to be addressed. This study was conducted in Khunjerab National Park (KNP) with an aim to analyze comparatively the socioeconomic and ecological impacts of trophy hunting and mass tourism over the last three decades within the context of sustainability. Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with key stakeholders and household interviews were conducted to collect data on trophy hunting and mass tourism, and on local attitudes towards these two interventions in and around KNP. The results revealed that 170 Ibex (Capra sibirica) and 12 Blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur) were hunted in the study area over the past three decades, and trophy hunting was not based on a sustainable harvest level. Trophy hunting on average generated USD 16,272 annual revenue, which was invested in community development. However, trophy hunting has greatly changed the attitudes of local residents towards wildlife: a positive attitude towards the wild ungulates and strongly negative attitude towards wild carnivores. In addition, trophy hunting has reduced the availability of ungulate prey species for Snow leopards (Panthera uncia), and consequently, Snow leopards have increased their predation on domestic livestock. This has, in turn, increased human-snow leopard conflict, as negative attitudes towards carnivores result in retaliatory killing of Snow leopards. Furthermore, according to official record data, the number of tourists to KNP has increased tremendously by 10,437.8%, from 1382 in 1999 to 145,633 in 2018. Mass tourism on average generated USD 33,904 annually and provided opportunities for locals to earn high incomes, but it caused damages to the environment and ecosystem in KNP through pollution generation and negative impacts on wildlife. Considering the limited benefits and significant problems created by trophy hunting and mass tourism, we suggest trophy hunting should be stopped and mass tourism should be shifted to ecotourism in and around KNP. Ecotourism could mitigate human-Snow leopard conflicts and help conserve the fragile ecosystem, while generating enough revenue incentives for the community to protect biodiversity and compensate for livestock depredation losses to Snow leopards. Our results may have implications for management of trophy hunting and mass tourism in other similar regions that deserve further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wajid Rashid
- School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; (W.R.); (S.D.); (H.S.)
- Department of Environmental and Conservation Sciences, University of Swat, Mingora 19130, Pakistan
| | - Jianbin Shi
- School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; (W.R.); (S.D.); (H.S.)
| | - Inam ur Rahim
- Centre for Applied Policy Research in Livestock (CAPRIL), Department of Climate Change and Livestock, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore 54000, Pakistan;
| | - Shikui Dong
- School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; (W.R.); (S.D.); (H.S.)
| | - Hameeda Sultan
- School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; (W.R.); (S.D.); (H.S.)
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Liu W, Xu M, Zhao N, Zhou X, Pan B, Tian S, Lei F. River health assessment of the Yellow River source region, Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, China, based on tolerance values of macroinvertebrates. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2019; 26:10251-10262. [PMID: 30761487 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-018-04110-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2018] [Accepted: 12/27/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
For decades, the river health of the Yellow River source region (YRSR) on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau has been a focal issue owing to its unique geographic location and ecological functions. This study investigated the ecological status of the headwater streams, the main stem, and the tributaries of the Yellow River in the YRSR using the tolerance values of macroinvertebrates and those related to biotic indices. The macroinvertebrate assemblages of the headwater streams were characterized by lower biodiversity than the tributaries downstream, based on comparisons of taxonomical composition, functional feeding group composition, and the pollution-tolerant capacity of taxa. The headwater streams had a lower ratio (16%) of pollution-sensitive macroinvertebrate taxa than that of the tributaries downstream (30%). The biotic indices (family- and genus-level biotic indices) indicated that the ecological health of the headwater streams was comparably poorer than that of the downstream tributaries. The combined effect of vulnerable natural conditions and increasing human disturbance is likely the main cause of eco-environmental degradation in the Yellow River headwater streams.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Hydroscience and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Mengzhen Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Hydroscience and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
| | - Na Zhao
- College of Agricultural Equipment Engineering, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, 471003, China
| | - Xiongdong Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Hydroscience and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Baozhu Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Eco-hydraulics in Northwest Arid Region of China, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an, 710048, China
| | - Shimin Tian
- Key Laboratory of Yellow River Sediment, MWR, Institute of Hydraulic Research, YRCC, Zhengzhou, 450003, China
| | - Fakai Lei
- State Key Laboratory of Hydroscience and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
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Rasool A, Xiao T. Distribution and potential ecological risk assessment of trace elements in the stream water and sediments from Lanmuchang area, southwest Guizhou, China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2019; 26:3706-3722. [PMID: 30535740 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-018-3827-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2018] [Accepted: 11/22/2018] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Trace elements contamination in sediment is regarded as the global crisis with a large share in developing countries like China. Water and sediment samples were collected during (2016) from Qingshui Stream and analyzed for major physicochemical properties and trace elements by using ICP-MS. Our result of sediments showed that studied trace elements (except Pb, Cd, Co) had a concentration higher than Chinese sediment guideline as well as stream water data for studied trace elements (except Cr, Pb, Cd, Cu, and Zn) had a higher concentration than the maximum permissible safe limit of WHO. Contamination factor (CF) confirmed a moderate to high contamination in the sediment samples due to As and Tl, respectively. The values of pollution load index (PLI) were found above one (> 1), describing the progressive sediment quality decline. Pearson correlation showed that there was a significant positive association between Tl and As (r = 0.725, p < 0.05) in sediment samples. Results revealed that water-rock interaction, weathering of Tl sulfide mineralization, and hydrogeological conditions were major sources of stream water and sediments contamination in the study area. This experimental study contributes to a better understanding of the geochemistry and prevention of trace element contamination in sediments from Lanmuchang area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atta Rasool
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Tangfu Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China.
- Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
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