نشریه علوم محیطی
سال دوازدهم شماره 2 (پیاپی 44، تابستان 1393)

There is an increasing call for a standardized framework to monitor and evaluate sustainability in agriculture. In recent years, a large number of models of system simulation have been developed in order to assess agro-ecosystems sustainability. This paper presents a brief description of an indicator for the sustainability of agro-ecosystems, based on the energy efficiency and overproduction of entropy. Agro-ecosystem sustainability is then evaluated using energetic input and output parameters of Jovain Agricultural and Industrial Company in Sabzevar in 2005 and 2009. The results indicated that the different kind of crops have different environmental sustainability. Various reasons could be caused these differences, but in many cases the extensive use of inputs was the important reason. The characteristics of the crop itself play a minor role. Although the method allows only rough estimations of entropy in agro-ecosystems. It can be stated that, sustainability was improved due to a reduction of artificial energy input comparing to the results that obtained in 2005 and 2009. Nevertheless, all the examined crop fields are far from reaching a sustainable state from a thermodynamic point of view in both years.

Lead (Pb) is an unnecessary element for human body, so existence of a very limited amount of this metal in the body causes very serious disease. One of the main ways that lead can enter to human body is the consumption of contaminated seafood which consequently cause lead accumulation in tissues. Hence, in this study, the human health risk due to consumption of Barbus grypus in Arvand River, was investigated by measuring the concentration of lead in muscle samples. In this case, a total of 30 fresh fishes were collected from six station in Arvand River (located in Khuzestan province, Iran). Samples of tissue were digested with acid, thus concentration of lead was measured using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Overall, the results indicated that lead level in the muscle of B. grypus was higher than standard level of international organization such as FAO, WHO, NHMRC, and UK (MAFF). Average lead concentration in the muscle of Barbus grypus was 4.82 μg/g wet weight (16.61 μg/g dry weight). According to calculation of lead concentration and determination of limit value of fish consumption, there is cautions about consumption of B.grypus particularly in pregnant women and children. Accordingly, taking the Arvand river fish species, two times a month is recommended. However, the consumption of the B.grypus cannot cause serious threat to the human, if fish consumption occurs on permitted dosage.

The Anzali wetland is highly important for the particular ecologic, economic and social conditions. Several rivers discharge to Anzali wetland after passing through surrounding forests, towns and villages. Sampling of the sediments of Anzali wetland was carried out at 22 sampling points located in the inflowing rivers and the canals connecting the wetland to the Caspian Sea in order to determine the heavy metals concentrations and also physicochemical properties influencing concentration of these elements. The major clay minerals of these sediments are montmorillonite, chlorite and kaolinite in their order of abundances. The result showed that the concentration of Cr, Cu and Ni increased in the samples with higher amount of clay and the Zn concentration increases in the samples containing montmorillonite and illite. Increases of the Cr and Cu concentrations and decreases in the Ni concentration conform to increase in the amount of TOC. The Ni concentration was higher in the samples with higher Fe and Mn concentration. The amount of calcium carbonate is positively correlated with the Sr concentration. According to the enrichment factor, Cu and Zn showed average enrichment in just one sample. Ni, Sr and Cr were depleted in the fine-gained sediments of Anzali wetland.

It passes more thantwodecadesthat sustainable developmentand consequently ecological and nature-phile development and also more attention to ecological behavior has been important for experts. The ecological behavior in farming means cultivate with suitable methods for soil, water and other resources conservation. The aim of this study was investigating the predicting factors of maize growers’ ecological behavior toward consumption of inputs (water, fertilizer, chemical pesticides and machinery), based on comprehensive action determination model. Survey method and questionnaire technique have been used. All maize growers who active in Shiraz County were the research statistical population. A total number of 220 maize growers were selected as sample group through stratified random sampling method. Findings revealed that the ecological behavior of maize growers were not in good condition. About 70 percent of them got grade less than average of the index which were used to measure their ecological behavior. Based on the ecological model of behavior that formed the theoretical framework of the study, four categories of variables (situational factors; and intentional, habitual, normative processes) used to predict the maze growers’ ecological behaviors. Findings revealed totally eight variables could predict 54 percent of maize growers’ ecological behavior changes. Results showed that the model capable to analyze and explain predicting factors of ecological behavior. According to results, some recommend-dations have presented at the end of article.

Environmental literacy consists of a series of functions and attitudes rooted in deep knowledge and must be a second nature to individuals who possess the environmental literacy. Training is the most important principle for development of human resources, because its outcome will return to the system in midterm and long term though the efficient performance of the trained staff and leads to the streamlining and acceleration of affairs, increased efficiency and profits for the organization. Science requires each expert to be aware of the environmental aspects of his or her works and to be able to focus on and apply the environmental requirements during planning, design or implementation of a plan or project. Therefore, an engineer, who is unfamiliar with this dimension of his or her work, is inevitably unacquainted with the latest science. Descriptive research method of survey type and the project's statistical group consisted of 800 governmental managers and experts, among whom 260 were selected randomly using the Morgan table. The reliability of the questionnaire was validated by the relevant specialists and its consistency was calculated as 0.89 by the Cronbach Alpha coefficient. It was found that government employees have a positive attitude and pro-environment but in terms of their cognitive and environmental behavior level is low. The research demonstrated that self-training packages in the form of audio–video materials is the most appropriate technology for training on environment for government employees.

Valuation of environmental problems and issues in various dimensions are counting as basic step in solving problems and also protection of environment and achieving sustainable development. Economic valuation can be involved in positive manner to improve environmental politics. Now, it proved that the degradation of ecosystems and worsening the quality and quantity services provided by ecosystem has negative impacts on economic growth. In this study, the economic value estimation of carbon sequestration was conducted in two parts of vegetation and soil through cost-based valuation approach. In study sites, soil and vegetation sampling was conducted for measuring carbon amount with random- systematic method. Carbon amount in both soil and plants was measured via experiments. Finally the Rial value of each ton carbon per hectare in year was obtained for each sites with Replacement Cost Method. Based on the results, the lowest and highest value of economic of carbon storage in the Dizaj Batchy city of Khoy, with the average grazing intensity, were estimated about 14630, 8874, 6722 million Rial/ha, respectively. As such moderate intensity grazing rangeland had greatest economic value of carbon sequestration in the region. Studying the relative portion in ecosystem parts showed that greatest profit of carbon sequestration belongs to the soil. This point implies that the soil is the most important source of soil carbon storage in rangeland ecosystems.

Lignin and cellulose are the remarkable portions of plants biomass and agricultural wastes. In the wake of population growth and as a consequence of intensive agriculture activities and human food and other materials’ consumption, these compounds are becoming a burgeoning problem to our society and environment. However, microorganisms with the capability of biodegradation of such complex materials have not only an important role in prevention of spoilage of the wastes, but also the potential as good resource for production of high value, environmental friendly waste recycling and energy recovery. In this study, an evaluation was conducted using fungus Ganoderma sp. MM1987 growing on decomposing pulp of black tea with oak wood chips. Oak wood chips and black tea pulp are the two substrates which the various ratios of 1:1 to 4:1 of a mixture of them were tested, respectively. The most efficient and rapid formation cap growth was observed in the medium containing a 1:1 ratio. Mushroom growth curve on both substrates with a confidence p value <0.05 was obtained respectively. However, no significant difference was observed for mycelia growth in both substrates where the samples were identical using statistical weight ratio measurements. The 1:1 ratio of substrates can speed up the cap formation in a 44-day time scale. The optimum pHs for the production of fungal enzymes degrading lignin compounds were determined as 3.79 and 3.94 respectively. In conclusion, the results show that black tea residues with oak wood chips are appropriate substrates to be decomposed by Ganoderma sp. MM1987.

To evaluate the effect of parent material and land use on the variations of Ni, Zn and Pb,the number of 181 soil samples (0-10 cm) in 12 parent material-land use units were taken from an area of approximately 1500 km2 in Mashhad plain, Norteastern Iran. Aqua-regia extractable of the mentioned elements were measured. The amount of Ni in rangland and urban areas were measured of 205.8 and 68.9 mg/kg, respectively in ultramafic-methamorphic parent material which not significantly different. While in other units the concentration of this element varied from 43.2 to 62.9 mg/kg and was not influenced by land use. In all units, Zn with averages of 48.8 to 84.7 and Pb with average of 25.1 to 36.1 mg/kg showed less variations than Niandwere less affected by parent material. Zn in soils with metamorphic origin was slightly higher than the other parent materials. The amount of Zn and Pb in urban areas (only in ultramafic-methamorphic parent materials) were nearly 40% higher than cultivated and pasture land uses indicating the addition from the external pollutant source. Increase of Pb and Zn in urban lands can be attributed to industrial and urban activities.

Remote sensing system, especially hyperspectral remote sensing require fundamental knowledge of spectral reflectance of chlorophyll a (chl a) for recognizing eutrophication of inland waters. The first objective of this study was to prepare and investigate the significant differences between the spectral signature of water samples with different amount of chlorophyll a (chl a) of Anzali wetland in 15 cm depth. This was carried out using a full range spectrometer during the spring 2013. The second objective of this study was to discriminate the spectral signature of water samples with different amount of chlorophyll a (chl a) of Anzali wetland in 30 cm depth. A total of 500 water sample spectral curves of illuminated and shaded samples were acquired of 80 water samples with different amount of chlorophyll between 2.07 and 23.9 mg/l. Following the measurements, chlorophyll and total phosphorus of the samples were extracted in laboratory. One important index related to chlorophyll a of water was calculated and statistically analyzed. We conclude that band ratio model in 15 cm depth of water samples has the most relation with chlorophyll a content in comparison with the other indices. This result has been proved by statistical results obtained by chlorophyll and total phosphorus data in lab.

Connectivity is one of the most important characteristics of urban green network and its necessary to enhance efficiency of landscape and biodiversity. Hence, urban green space designers need a tool to analyze and optimize the connectivity of green networks. Concepts of graph theory can be used to simulate and analyze of green networks and develop a plan prepared for improving efficiency and biodiversity. In this paper, potential corridors were determined for connecting the main green patches of district 1 of Tehran using shortest path analysis. Then, using network analysis and principles existed in graph theory and gravity model, an optimized plan was developed for urban green space network of this area. Results indicated that network analysis provided high efficiency in modeling, analyzing and optimizing of the urban green space network. Therefore, in order to cover the deficiencies in urban green space development plans, an appropriate method for increasing network continuity and enhancing the efficiency green space was presented.

The purpose of this study is to measure and compare the noise pollution in some parts of region 5 and the southern part of region 6 of district 2 in Tehran, May 1390. The sound was measured in the studied areas by audiometer machine (model 2236 made Brvyl and Kjayr) in the three peak hours of traffic in each day. The data were introduced to GIS software to provide information on pollution levels and layers, the critical points and, etc. To study the various forms of pollution, noise, traffic awareness surveys and response to harassment of the residents mentally sound in both questionnaires were distributed among people over 18 years. The average of Equivalent Noise level (Leq) was 3.72 and 6.8 dB in the region 5 and 6.8, respectively. However, the lowest and highest of Leq was detected in the business and residential users, respectively.In both regions day sound pollution was highest than the day standard level of Iran and almost in the station of district 2 of region 6 the amount of sound parameter was registered higher than the 5، high levels of noise pollution was a serious problem emerged in both areas.

This study begins with shaping the attitudes, values, commitment, and skills needed to maintain and support the environment for people of all ages. The aim of this study was to evaluate the environmental attitudes and learning styles i a choice of pre-school children in Mashhad based on gender differences. In this descriptive-survey study, 112 children attending samples were randomly selected. Adapted version of the questionnaire developed by the researcher was supported by illustrations that clearly introduced each question. The results showed that pre-schoolers' attitudes about environmental issues was generally good and the way they play, role play, storytelling, field trips and visits, clarification and rehearsing for environmental education offered. The correlation analysis showed that there was no significant relationship between gender and attitudes to environmental issues and the choice of learning styles in children lacking. Because the Kindergartens as the child watches a lot of space in your day where they spend most ages Modeling and educable, can be considered as one of the most dangerous areas for children's environmental awareness is increasing.