Site conservation is among the most effective means to reduce global biodiversity loss. Therefore, it is critical to identify those sites where unique biodiversity must be conserved immediately. To ...this end, the concept of key biodiversity areas (KBAs) has been developed, seeking to identify and, ultimately, ensure that networks of globally important sites are safeguarded. This methodology builds up from the identification of species conservation targets (through the IUCN Red List) and nests within larger-scale conservation approaches. Sites are selected using standardized, globally applicable, threshold-based criteria, driven by the distribution and population of species that require site-level conservation. The criteria address the two key issues for setting site conservation priorities: vulnerability and irreplaceability. We also propose quantitative thresholds for the identification of KBAs meeting each criterion, based on a review of existing approaches and ecological theory to date. However, these thresholds require extensive testing, especially in aquatic systems.
Key biodiversity areas (KBAs) are sites of global importance for biodiversity conservation. Their selection is based on standard criteria applied through a bottom-up, iterative process involving ...local stakeholders. This article presents the results of a study that applied the KBA methodology in Turkey. The KBA method uses four criteria: (1) globally threatened species; (2) restricted-range species; (3) congregations of species that concentrate at particular sites during some stage in their life cycle; and (4) biome-restricted species assemblages. In Turkey, we applied these criteria to 10,214 species of eight taxonomic groups: plants, dragonflies, butterflies, freshwater fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. We identified 313 KBAs in Turkey, 303 of which trigger the KBA criteria for one or more taxonomic groups at the global scale. The remaining 10 sites trigger the KBA criteria at the regional scale only. These 303 globally important KBAs in Turkey cover 20,456,884 hectares, 26% of the country. Turkey's natural landscapes, holding globally important biodiversity, are under immense threat and declining rapidly, both in quality and quantity. The nationwide threat assessment of KBAs revealed that dams, irrigation and drainage projects (i.e. water policies) form the main threat to Turkey's biodiversity. Irrigation and drainage projects affect 225 KBAs and dams have an effect on at least 185 sites. KBAs raise attractive possibilities as being core areas where ecologically responsible governance models can be demonstrated, building on scientific and indigenous knowledge.
Atlas mapping of breeding birds in Gediz Delta Ramsar Site on the western coast of Turkey was performed in 2002. The study area of 305 km
2
was divided into 305 1x1 km square UTM grids. Breeding ...evidence was obtained for 92 species in 291 UTM squares; 47 were classified as confirmed breeding, 22 as probable breeding, and 23 as possible breeding. Among the breeding species, three were European species of global conservation concern (Falco naumanni, Pelecanus crispus, Emberiza cineracea), 12 were species with a concentrated population and with unfavourable conservation status in Europe, and 34 were species with their population not concentrated in Europe but with unfavourable conservation status in the region. Among those with a threatened status, 7 species were vulnerable, 4 were rare, 2 were localised, 18 were declining, and 18 were depleted species. During the study, various threats were identified in 173 UTM squares out of 291 (59.5%). Among these, the most frequently observed were pollution observed in 30% of the squares, overgrazing in 22% and illegal hunting in 22%.
Why we should aim for zero extinction Parr, Michael J.; Bennun, Leon; Boucher, Tim ...
Trends in ecology & evolution (Amsterdam),
04/2009, Letnik:
24, Številka:
4
Journal Article
The breeding populations of many waterbirds in the Gediz Delta near Izmir in Western Turkey are of considerable importance for the Mediterranean basin. Up to 35 pairs of Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus ...crispus), a globally endangered bird species, breed in the area. The breeding populations of Mediterranean Gull (Lorus melanocephalus), Caspian Tern (Sterna caspia), Sandwich Tern (Sterna sandvicensis), and Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) are significant in terms of the entire Mediterranean population. Breeding of the Sandwich Tern was recorded in Turkey for the first time.
This study focuses on both synthesis and structural characterization of polycarbazole/barium oxide (PCz/BaO) nanocomposites and the determination of their frequency-based electrical properties such ...as complex permittivity, tangent loss, and alternating current (ac) conductivity. While PCz was synthesized by using carbazole monomers, BaO nanoparticles (NPs) were obtained by using the co-precipitation method. PCz matrix and BaO NPs were examined by scanning and transmission electron microscopes, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy methods. The electrical properties of the PCz/BaO nanocomposites showed that the energy storage ability of the PCz can be improved with the addition of BaO NPs up to 10 wt% at the low frequencies. Furthermore, the 2.5 wt% BaO NPs contribution causes an increase in ε′ and a decrease in ε'' of PCz. Additionally, it has been determined that BaO NPs doping significantly increases the ac conductivity of the PCz matrix in the low- and mid-frequency regions.
•The PCz/BaO nanocomposites have been prepared for the first time.•The PCz matrix and BaO nanoparticles (NPs) have been characterized in detail.•It was shown that BaO NPs addition improves the energy storage ability of PCz.•Significant increases in σac were determined due to different BaO additive rates.•BaO NPs addition has extended the availability of PCz in different applications.
The present study deals with the production of multifunctional polymer-based nanocomposites having the ability of ionizing radiation shielding and enhanced electric conductivity. In this context, it ...is aimed to obtain a new environmentally-friendly lead-free material with both high electric conductivity and ionizing radiation shielding features by reinforcing polycarbazole (PCz), a conductive polymer with BaO nanoparticles having a high effective atomic number. PCz matrix and BaO nanoparticles have been prepared by polymerization and co-precipitation methods, respectively. The surface morphology of the PCz matrix and nano BaO particles have been characterized by SEM and TEM images. Additionally, the optical band gaps of the samples have been calculated by using UV–visible spectroscopy. The lowest optical bandgap i.e. the highest electric conductivity has been observed for the 10 wt% BaO nanoparticle doped composite. On the other hand, the ionizing radiation shielding abilities of the samples have been evaluated in the context of mass attenuation coefficient, half-value layer, mean free path, effective atomic number, and effective electron density determined both experimentally and theoretically. Experimental measurements have been carried out by using NaI(Tl) detector and point radioactive sources (Ba-133, Cs-137, and Co-60) in the narrow beam geometry. The theoretical calculations have been performed by WinXCom software. A reasonable agreement between the experimental and WinXCom results has been found. Consequently, it has been determined that the maximum radiation shielding ability has been detected against 81 keV radiation for the PCz/30 wt% BaO nanocomposite. The composite has also a lower bandgap than pristine PCz. In this respect, the PCz/30 wt% BaO nanocomposite can have a promising potential in both medical and electronic applications that require high electric conductivity and ionizing radiation shielding ability.
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•The ionizing radiation shielding ability of PCz can be improved by BaO nanoparticles.•The change in MAC, HVL, MFP, Zeff, and Neff of PCz due to BaO addition were debated.•The best shielding performance was achieved against 81 keV energy for PCz/30 wt% BaO.•The highest electric conductivity was obtained for 10 wt% BaO addition.•BaO nanoparticle can improve two properties of PCz matrix, making it multifunctional.
Abstract Objective Point-of-care ultrasonography (POCUS) is an easily available and noninvasive tool without radiation exposure that is also gaining a broad range of use in emergency departments. The ...aim of this study is to evaluate the value of POCUS in the diagnosis of shoulder dislocation by comparing with plain radiography. Methods This prospective observational study with a convenience sampling was conducted in emergency departments of 2 hospitals. Patients older than 15 years with possible shoulder dislocation during the physical examination composed the study population. All the study patients underwent POCUS evaluation to detect a shoulder dislocation or fracture before radiography, and the POCUS procedure was also achieved after the reduction attempt. Results A total of 103 patients were enrolled in the study. The mean age of study subjects was 33.9 ± 15 years, and 80.6% (n = 83) of them were male. The sensitivity and specificity of POCUS in identifying dislocation were 100% (95% confidence interval CI, 96%-100%) and 100% (95% CI, 48%-100%), respectively. POCUS also confirmed reduction in 93 of 94 patients with a specificity of 100% (95% CI, 96%-100%). POCUS has a sensitivity of 100% (95% CI, 63%-100%) for excluding a shoulder fracture but a specificity of 84.2% (95% CI, 75%-91%). Conclusion Point-of-care ultrasonography is an effective tool to either rule in or rule out shoulder dislocation in the emergency setting. Furthermore, it is a robust sensitive tool for excluding fractures but with false-positive results.
Polypropylene (PP) film samples were prepared using Isotactic Polypropylene (IPP) granules which were hot pressed and cooled by three different methods (annealing, quenching water+ice and quenching ...liquid nitrogen) in order to obtain three different crystalline states with various thicknesses (95, 135, 150, 200 μm). These PP films were γ-irradiated with the sterilization dose of 25 kGy in vacuum at room temperature. The diffusion coefficient of oxygen into irradiated PP films were calculated by using Fick's second law of diffusion and by following the change in ESR spectra with time. It is shown that diffusion of oxygen has an inverse relation with crystallinity and film thickness. With increasing film thickness, it was observed that the diffusion coefficients of oxygen into irradiated PP film with different crystallinities were converging to a single value.
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