Advances in Environmental Research. Volume 72

Advances in Environmental Research. Volume 72 begins by examining thr global and regional patterns of climate change, the sensitivity of tree growth to climatic stress, and the effects of competition, which are important considerations during oak savanna restoration. Next, the authors discuss coniferous forests, which are predominant in the colder northern regions. Boreal forest ecosystems are characterised by thick humus layers, low decomposition rates and strong limitations by nutrients. One study explores the behavioural changes in the agonistic behaviours of Herring and Lesser black-backed gulls along a rural-to-urban gradient in Liverpool and the Sefton Coast. A subsequent study evaluates the water quality in maize crop fields using the following physicochemical parameters: turbidity, potential of Hydrogen, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, temperature, total hardness, nitrites, nitrates, iron, soluble reactive phosphate, total chlorine and chemical oxygen demand. A hydrochemical study is carried out focusing the waters Aguas de Santa Barbara spa at Sao Paulo State, describing the analytical data obtained for its major constituents, trace elements and dissolved radon. Later, the authors evaluate the coating aspects to chitosan immobilization on solid matrices. An analysis is conducted in order to choose a suitable support to be studied. In addition, this compilation aims to delineate the various groundwater potential recharge sites in West Bengal. The penultimate chapter discusses natural disturbances, which are important drivers of variation in community structure and composition in most ecosystems. The concluding study presents techniques for monitoring environmental parameters in the process of rock blasting with the use of explosives in order to mitigate the dissipation of the waves in the massif according to governmental regulations.