گلستان

Damask rose is one of the most valuable and famous medicinal plants worldwide. Its essential oil, rose water, and dried flower buds are exported. Essential oil can be used in the perfumery, cosmetic, and therapeutic industries and is widely used in depression treatment and traditional medicine. In the northwest of the country, in the provinces of East Azarbaijan, West Azarbaijan, Ardabil, Zanjan, and Hamedan, the damask rose is known as Qizil Gul. It has a special place in the lives of the region's people. 10% of the cultivated area of this product in the country is allocated to East Azerbaijan. More than 60% of it is produced in Osko City. Due to the high added value and economic profitability of the rose, it is recommended to develop the cultivation of native varieties of rose in East Azerbaijan province. Also, investing in processing industries leads to new job creation. In addition, rose cultivation with native varieties protects and controls floods. It also prevents soil erosion and preserves and strengthens medicinal and rangeland biodiversity.

Pollution of aquatic ecosystems, including lakes and seas, has become a serious and growing threat to humans and living organisms. The quality of these ecosystems is one of the most important factors for saving the biodiversity and pollutants which can pose serious effects on plants and living organisms. The Caspian Sea is of global importance due to its biodiversity and special geographical conditions. At the same time, due to the high density of urbanization and the existence of various industrial and agricultural activities on the Iranian shores of the Caspian Sea, the qualitative study of rivers has so importance. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the concentration of some pseudo estrogenic compounds and their Eco toxicological risk potential in Iran’s river estuaries of Caspian Sea.  To assess the concentration of Nonylphenol (NP) and bisphenol A (BPA) in Iran’s rivers of Caspian Sea, Water samples were collected from 49 estuaries along the coasts of Gillan, Mazandaran and Golestan provinces. After preparation of samples in laboratory, the concentration of NP and BPA was evaluated and Eco toxicological risk assessment was measured with Risk quotion, RQ categories in three levels including low (RQ<0.1), moderate (0.1≤RQ≤1) and high risk (RQ≤1). High Eco toxicological risk for BPA (for fishes) was characterized in Tala River, 18 rivers presenting medium and other rivers performing low risk. Comparing to BPA, NP showed a greater hazard quotient for fishes. The ecological risk assessment has shown that BPA and NP pose a threat to organisms in southern coasts of the Caspian Sea. In conclusion, this study revealed that pollution sources may occurs due to agricultural, urban and industrial wastewater. Therefore, it is required to control direct flow of wastes from different activities, especially urban wastewater to restore ecological health of estuaries of Caspian Sea.

The aim of this study were carried out to compare reproduction performance of pure Holstein and crossbreds of Holestein-Simmental (50H:50S and 25H:75S) that kept in one farm located in Golstan Province. Reproductive parameters including age of first insemination, age of first calving, gestation length, open days, calving interval and calf birth weight were studied. The Pure Holstein and Holestein- Simmental (50H:50S and 25H:75S) were not different for age at first insemination and age at first calving. The open days had significant influence on Pure breed Holstein and Holestein- Simmental (50H:50S) during the first and third lactation. In this study, the calving distance between pure Holstein breeds and Holstein-Seminal crossbred was significant with a ratio of 50H:50S in the first and second lactation (p<0.05). Calf birth weight in pure Holstein breed (41.228 and 43.787 Kg) were more than Holestein- Simmental crossbred (50H:50S), (40.32 and 41.107 Kg) during the first and second lactation and that was in Holestein- Simmental crossbred (50H:50S), (40.32 Kg) more than Holestein- Simmental crossbred (25H:75S), (36.6 Kg) but there was no significant difference between them. The results of this study indicate that the reproductive performance of Holestein- Simmental crossbred for open days and calving interval and the age of the first inoculation of Seminal-Holstein crossbred with a ratio of 25H:75S were better than Pure Holstein.

Anaplasma is an intracellular, gram-negative bacterium infecting different blood cells in animals and anaplasmosis is endemic worldwide in tropical and subtropical areas. This study aimed to determine the variety of Anaplasma species among cattle and sheep of the Golestan province, Iran. A total of 400 blood samples were collected via the jugular vein from healthy cattle (200) and sheep (200), randomly. The extracted DNA from blood cells was amplified by Anaplasma-all primers, which amplify a fragment from the region of the 16S rRNA gene from various members of the genus Anaplasma. Sixteen out of 200 cattle blood samples and two out of 200 sheep blood samples were Anaplasma spp. positive by first PCR. A. phagocytophilum was identified by specific nested PCR in 1% of cattle blood samples, only. Fourteen out of 200 cattle blood samples (7%) and two out of 200 sheep blood samples (1%) were positive for Anaplasma marginale and Anaplasma ovis, respectively. Chi-square (χ2) tests were used to compare molecular prevalence values relative to farm Type, hygiene of the farm, tick infestation, use of acaricides by the farmer, distance from other farms, contact with wild animals, farm density, age, and sex. Anaplasma spp. prevalence in cattle was significantly related to tick infestation and age (P<0.05). Anaplasma spp. prevalence in sheep was significantly related to tick infestation and application of ectoparasiticides (P<0.05). This analysis demonstrated that there are at least three different Anaplasma species widespread among ruminants in the Golestan province.

 

Leptospirosis is one of the most common diseases between animal and human around the world. Regarding to the death report of a farmer in Gorgan because of leptospirosis and abnormal mortalities in forest mice in Aliabad-e-Katul,it had seemed to be necessary to investigate Leptospirosis Golestan province. Therefore, this study was considered the prevalence of Leptospira interrogans in serum samples of Golestan province camels. Blood samples were collected from 235 camels of different ages in Golestan slaughterhouse and were examined by microagglutination method. The incidence of leptospirosis was investigated at different ages, sex, and seasons using chi-square method and SPSS. The results showed that from the total samples, 44 (% 18.72) samples had positive serologic response, of which 36 (% 81.82), 5 (% 11.37), and 3 (% 6.81) of samples had one, two and three positive reaction serotype, respectively. Among samples with positive serologic response, % 42.60, % 31.49, % 11.11, % 5.55 and % 3.70 showed a positive reaction on automnalis, icterohaemorrajiae, canicola serjerohardjo and gripotyphosa, and finally Pomona, respectively. The highest frequency (% 38.88) was observed in the 1: 800 Titration. The highest frequency was observed at age of 0 to 2 years old (%18.80), male (%19.46), which was not statistically significant (P>0.05). The highest frequency was observed in autumn (26.82%). Leptospirosis infection is actively present at the province. And it is widely circulated between humans and livestock. This issue is very important in the prevention of disease in livestock and ultimately the health of human society.

The present study was conducted to evaluate and compare the sustainability of rain fed and irrigated wheat products in Golestan province.

The required data were collected from Golestan Agricultural Jihad Organization, Agricultural Jihad Agricultural Production Cost System and also by completing the questionnaires. Also, to weighing criteria and sub-criteria that determines the sustainability, some expert’s opinions in agricultural economics, agricultural extension and education, environment, agronomy and plant protection were used. Finally, using aggregation of economic, social and environmental indicators, the sustainability of the irrigated and rain fed wheat in Golestan province during 2015-2016 was evaluated and compared. Hierarchical analysis method was used for achieving the research purpose.

The results of this study showed that rain fed wheat in the environmental indices (fertilizer use, pesticides use, irrigation water, farm machinery and combined agriculture) with the score of 0.679is more compatible with the environment than irrigated wheat with a score of 0.331. Also, in economic indices (gross margin of agriculture, product gross margin, crop yield and insurance yield), irrigated wheat with the score of 0.538 was more sustainable than rain fed wheat, with a sustainability score of 0.462. Finally, in social indicators (level of education, age of farmers, labor sub jobs and family size), rainfed wheat with a score of 0.56 is more sustainable than irrigated wheat with a score of 0.44. In addition, the overall sustainability index indicates that rainfed wheat is more sustainable than irrigated wheat.

According to the results, it is recommended that wheat cultivation should be promoted with dehydration-resistant species.

Leptospirosis is one of the most common diseases between animal and human around the world. Regarding to the death report of a farmer in Gorgan because of leptospirosis and abnormal mortalities in forest mice in Aliabad-e-Katul,it had seemed to be necessary to investigate Leptospirosis Golestan province. Therefore, this study was considered the prevalence of Leptospira interrogans in serum samples of Golestan province cattle. Blood samples were collected from 505 cattle with different ages at Golestan province and were examined by microagglutination method. The incidence of leptospirosis was investigated at different ages, sex, and seasons using chi-square method and SPSS. The results showed that from the total samples, 137 (%27.22) samples had positive serologic response, of which 108 (%78.84), 25 (%18.25), and 4 (%2.91) of samples had one, two and three positive reaction serotype, respectively. Among samples with positive serologic response, %32.75, %26.31, %22.22, %9.15, %5.27 and %3.50 showed a positive reaction on icterohaemorrajiae, serjerohardjo, automnalis, gripotyphosa, Pomona and canicola, respectively. The highest frequency (%30.99) was observed in the 1: 800 Titration. The highest frequency was observed at age of 2 to 3 years old (%52.63), female (%27.48) and in summer (%37.93), which was not statistically significant (P> 0.05).Leptospirosis infection is actively present at the province. Comparison of the dominant serotype indicated a change in the pathogenic variant from Gripofoza in 2007 to ectoharmasia at the time of the present study.

Lizards have significant roles in lifecycle and are related to humans either directly or indirectly. Identifying the fauna of a region is the most necessary and significant biological and fundamental research on it. Golestan province has a variety of climates due to its special geographical location. In this study, 26 specimens of keeled rock gecko, Cyrtopodion scabrum were collected from different areas of Golestan province since 2017 by hand. Colorful photos were taken; then fixed in alcohol 75% and finally identified using valid keys. 14 morphometric and 13 meristic characters were studied in all specimens. Sexes of the adult specimens were determined by observing the pre-anal pores (PAN) in males and their absence in females, and finally, with a brief dissection of the specimens and observation of genital glands. Analysis of data descripted using SPSS (version 22), T-test, Kruskal Wallis Test and PCA were analyzed Slight differences between mean of characters of males and females were observed based on descriptive analysis. It was not observed significant difference in morphometric characters between two sexes based on the analysis of T-test. Meristic characters (pre-anal pores) had significant difference, indicating sexual dimorphism in this species. Also, PCA analysis revealed that there is no separation between males and females based on morphometric and meristic characters.

Bilateral symmetry is one of the characters of many metazoans. This feature is sometimes was not seen for a number of characters in animals such as reptiles. Asymmetry is both in internal and external characters. Evaluation of head scales in Caucasian pit viper Gloydius halys caucasicus (Viperidae: Crotalinae) was studied. This venomous snake is distributed in sea shore areas and between the Elburz Mountains and the Caspian Sea. For this purpose it was studied 12 meristic characters in 54 specimens of Caucasian pit viper (20 males, 21 females, 11 juveniles and 2 unknown) from Golestan and Mazandaran provinces. Scale counting was done under stereomicroscope by niddle. The results showed that Temp (21 specimens), CG (17 specimens), supralabials (16 specimens), infralabials (13 specimens), A.ch.ifl (12 specimens), Po.ch.a (2 specimens), Po.ch.b (3 specimens), Loreals (3 specimens), Circumocular scales (2 specimens) and Preocular scales (2 specimens) were asymmetrical in right and left sides. The results shows that must be note both sides of head region of snakes in scale counting because of symmetry or asymmetry.

Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) is the smallest member of deer family (Cervidae) in Iran. This deer includes two different species in the world: European-Asian roe deer (C. capreolus) and Siberian roe deer (C. pygargus) which are different morphologically. In Iran, this species mainly lives in forest regions with relatively dense cover, young forests, and the forests between plains and mountain regions. The purpose of this study was to recognize the genetic diversity of Iranian roe deer in studied regions by mitochondrial D-loop gene and its application to conservation programs. Eight samples were collected in Mazandaran and Golestan Provinces. After DNA extraction from samples of muscle tissue and feces, horns, a part of control region of mitochondrial DNA in length 366 base pairs using a universal primer was replicated. The genetic distance and haplotype diversity of obtained sequences was investigated using MEGA 5 and DNASP 5 Softwares. Based on the results, three haplotypes and three polymorphisms were recognized. These results illustrate the connection between these populations. The genetic distance of the populations of two Provinces was low and in point of conservation view, the connection between them must be continued.

Background and Nowadays, industrialization, urbanization and time shortage are driving forces behind the extremely increased demand for natural areas and outdoor recreation. Natural Forest Parks are the most popular natural destinations that can provide human's outdoor recreational needs. A recreational system should be prepared based on different needs of various users to be responsible for visitors’ needs.
In the present study, Clawson method was used to evaluate the visitors’ outdoor recreational needs in Daland's Natural Forest Park, located in the east of Gorgan, Iran. In addition, U-Mann Witheny test was used to investigate the relation among genders and criteria of incentive to attend the park, acceptable crowd of area, and the best way to ensure park’s security. In this study, 168 questionnaires were filled out by the visitors to the Park in summer and autumn in 2011. Questions were about visitor's recreational interests and recreation facilities of the park.
The results showed that most visitors come to the park to get mental relaxation and recreation and 94% of the people believe that the facilities of the park are not enough. U–Mann Witheny test results showed a significant difference between the two investigation groups and the mentioned criteria.
According to the results, most visitors spend their leisure time in the forest parks, so at regional context, the managers should pay more attention to visitors satisfaction in this type of areas compared with other types of natural recreational areas. The results can help managers and planners in parks management, fulfilling visitor's wishes and needs, improving park quality and optimal management.

In different ages, human has deliberately and unintentionally destroyed the nature and caused species extinctions. This degradation has created many concerns because it has been more severe and faster than any previous natural devastation. Therefore, despite data shortage and nature’s complexities, it is necessary to move towards better and more appropriate nature conservation approaches and diminish human-caused disasters or at least reduce them to the minimum level. There are different approaches to selection of lands for conservation. Landscape ecology approach is one of the newest approaches that uses metric indices such as shape, size, structure and linkages between different covers or patches that are important for meeting conservation objectives. The main objective of this study was to apply landscape metrics approach for systematic selection of conservation patches in Golestan Province of Iran. Accordingly, the technique of Conservation Assessment Prioritization Systems (CAPS) was used. It is based on landscape metrics and is integrated with other ecologically important factors such as river health. After classification of the land into forest, rangeland, river, city and village on the satellite image, the landscape metrics were derived using FRAGSTATS software. Subsequently, a multi-criteria evaluation with weighted linear combination procedure was used for combining different layers of the metrics and determining suitability of land for conservation. An Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used by some experts to assign weights to the factors included in the weighted linear combination method. The result of this research produced a land suitability map for the whole province for conservation purposes. We applied the zonal land suitability method and a result 19 zones were introduced for conservation. A descriptive model was also provided that helped in merging the landscape metrics for conservation. The method used for the first time in Iran proved successful. However, we suggest applying it to other areas so as to highlight its strengths and data shortages. The result of this study shows that conservation area of Golestan province is 15 percent (307391.6 ha) without consideration of water resources and with attention to pixel with suitability more than 160. In addition, it provides lowest cost and faster survey in a wide area and is getting popularity for selection of conservation patches.