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In the present work the influence of accelerated mineral carbonation on the leaching behaviour of basic oxygen furnace steel slag was investigated. The environmental behaviour of the material as evaluated through the release of major elements and toxic metals under varying pH conditions was the main focus of the study. Geochemical modelling of the eluates was used to derive a theoretical description of the underlying leaching phenomena for the carbonated material as compared to the original slag. Among the investigated elements, Ca and Si were most appreciably affected by carbonation. A very clear effect of carbonation on leaching was observed for silicate phases, and lower-Ca/Si-ratio minerals were found to control leaching in carbonated slag eluates as compared to the corresponding untreated slag sample as a result of Ca depletion from the residual slag particles. Clear evidence was also gained of solubility control for Ca, Mg and Mn by a number of carbonate minerals, indicating a significant involvement of the original slag constituents in the carbonation process. The release of toxic metals (Zn, V, Cr, Mo) was found to be variously affected by carbonation, owing to different mechanisms including pH changes, dissolution/precipitation of carbonates as well as sorption onto reactive mineral surfaces. The leaching test results were used to derive further considerations on the expected metal release levels on the basis of specific assumptions on the relevant pH domains for the untreated and carbonated slag.

In the present work the influence of accelerated mineral carbonation on the leaching behaviour of basic oxygen furnace steel slag was investigated. The environmental behaviour of the material as evaluated through the release of major elements and toxic metals under varying pH conditions was the main focus of the study. Geochemical modelling of the eluates was used to derive a theoretical description of the underlying leaching phenomena for the carbonated material as compared to the original slag. Among the investigated elements, Ca and Si were most appreciably affected by carbonation. A very clear effect of carbonation on leaching was observed for silicate phases, and lower-Ca/Si-ratio minerals were found to control leaching in carbonated slag eluates as compared to the corresponding untreated slag sample as a result of Ca depletion from the residual slag particles. Clear evidence was also gained of solubility control for Ca, Mg and Mn by a number of carbonate minerals, indicating a significant involvement of the original slag constituents in the carbonation process. The release of toxic metals (Zn, V, Cr, Mo) was found to be variously affected by carbonation, owing to different mechanisms including pH changes, dissolution/precipitation of carbonates as well as sorption onto reactive mineral surfaces. The leaching test results were used to derive further considerations on the expected metal release levels on the basis of specific assumptions on the relevant pH domains for the untreated and carbonated slag.

Portugal faces water scarcity challenges, yet studies on per-household water consumption are limited. This study aims to address this gap by employing cluster analyses to assess how population trajectories, a previously overlooked aspect, and the regional location influence per-household monthly water consumption across 122 municipalities. Findings highlight higher consumption in the South despite lower prices. Municipalities experiencing population growth and those with long-term population declines show higher per-household water consumption but lower prices. Interestingly, while higher prices correlate with lower consumption, southern municipalities show increased prices without reduced consumption. Clustering reveals slight changes in consumption patterns from 2011 to 2020.

Portugal faces water scarcity challenges, yet studies on per-household water consumption are limited. This study aims to address this gap by employing cluster analyses to assess how population trajectories, a previously overlooked aspect, and the regional location influence per-household monthly water consumption across 122 municipalities. Findings highlight higher consumption in the South despite lower prices. Municipalities experiencing population growth and those with long-term population declines show higher per-household water consumption but lower prices. Interestingly, while higher prices correlate with lower consumption, southern municipalities show increased prices without reduced consumption. Clustering reveals slight changes in consumption patterns from 2011 to 2020.

It has long been established that mature forests are mosaics of patches in different development phases but it has seldom explicitly been taken into account in ecological studies. We demonstrate here that these development phases, which are related to the population dynamics of trees, play an important role in the distribution of fauna based on observations on frugivorous birds. In an area close to the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve in Mexico, we studied the abundance of large forest bird species in relation to forest development phases, with a methodology that seems promising for ecological diagnosis and prognosis in forest management planning. Fine-scale forest mapping and bird counts were carried out in two block-transects of 40 m x 3000 m. Tree sampling in a sub-transect was used to generate population characteristics of trees, Large bird species preferred mature or senescent forest patches, whereas relatively young, growing forest patches were avoided. Important large tree species such as Manilkara zapota, Thouinia paucidentata, Guaiacum sanctum and Esenbeckia pentaphylla, characteristic of older forest patches, showed skewed size distributions indicating stress or overexploitation. The population of M. zapota, a key fruiting species that accounted for 26.5% of the total woody biomass, was most heavily affected by stress. A future collapse in the population of M. zapota, a decrease of the total area of older forest, and a decline in the abundance of large birds is likely if stress on the system continues at this level. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

It has long been established that mature forests are mosaics of patches in different development phases but it has seldom explicitly been taken into account in ecological studies. We demonstrate here that these development phases, which are related to the population dynamics of trees, play an important role in the distribution of fauna based on observations on frugivorous birds. In an area close to the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve in Mexico, we studied the abundance of large forest bird species in relation to forest development phases, with a methodology that seems promising for ecological diagnosis and prognosis in forest management planning. Fine-scale forest mapping and bird counts were carried out in two block-transects of 40 m x 3000 m. Tree sampling in a sub-transect was used to generate population characteristics of trees, Large bird species preferred mature or senescent forest patches, whereas relatively young, growing forest patches were avoided. Important large tree species such as Manilkara zapota, Thouinia paucidentata, Guaiacum sanctum and Esenbeckia pentaphylla, characteristic of older forest patches, showed skewed size distributions indicating stress or overexploitation. The population of M. zapota, a key fruiting species that accounted for 26.5% of the total woody biomass, was most heavily affected by stress. A future collapse in the population of M. zapota, a decrease of the total area of older forest, and a decline in the abundance of large birds is likely if stress on the system continues at this level. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Tourism is an industry that has started to rise rapidly in recent years. Thus, there has been a tendency towards different tourism types rather than mass tourism in order to spread tourism on every day of the year. By this way, there has been an increasing interest in the developing alternative tourism types and these tourism types have started to be evaluated within the frame of sustainability. Alternative tourism types increase people's interest in unexplored natural environments and make these regions a destination, which has brought up the issue of protecting the regions and realizing tourism activities there. As long as tourism activities in these regions are carried out within the scope of eco-tourism; the richnesses and natural diversity of the regions will be protected and the local people will develop socio-economically. This study examines all the richnesses and potential tourism types in Bird Sanctuary on the Kızılırmak Delta and includes the opinions and suggestions of relevant shareholders regarding the problems of the region. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with relevant shareholders and their opinions about the tourism supply and sustainability of the region were received. As a result of the study, it was determined that available touristic and social facilities in the region were inadequate, infra and super structures in the region needed to be developed and a greater importance had to be attached to advertising activities. In addition, it was concluded that shareholders were highly positive and excited about protecting the beauties of the Kızılırmak Delta and providing its sustainability by including the delta in the permanent heritage list of UNESCO Turizm son zamanlarda hızla yükselişe geçen bir endüstridir. Bu nedenle turizmin yılın her gününe yayılması amacı ile kitle turizminden farklı turizm türlerine yönelim başlamıştır. Bu sayede gelişen alternatif turizm türlerine olan ilgi artmış ve bu turizm türleri sürdürülebilirlik çerçevesinde değerlendirilmeye başlanmıştır. Alternatif turizm türleri ile birlikte insanların keşfedilmemiş doğal ortamlara olan ilgisinin artması ve bu bölgelerin destinasyon olarak kullanımı, bölgelerin korunarak turizm faaliyetlerinin gerçekleştirilmesi konusunu gündeme getirmiştir. Bu bölgelerde gerçekleştirilen turizm faaliyetleri eko-turizm kapsamında gerçekleştirilirse, yöre halkının zenginliği, doğal çeşitliliği ve sosyo-ekonomik kalkınmasının korunmasına katkıda bulunacaktır.Bu çalışma ile Kızılırmak Delta Kuş Cenneti'nin tüm zenginlikleri ve gelişebilecek turizm türleri incelenmiş ve bölge ile ilgili paydaşların görüş ve önerileri verilmiştir. Bu konuda paydaşlarla yarı yapılandırılmış görüşmeler yapıldı ve bölgenin turizm arzını ve sürdürülebilirliğini sağlamak için görüş alındı. Araştırmanın sonucunda bölgede mevcut turistik ve sosyal tesislerin yetersiz olduğu, bölgedeki alt ve üst yapıların geliştirilmesi gerektiği, tanıtım faaliyetlerine daha çok önem verilmesi gerektiği sonuçlarına ulaşılmıştır. Ayrıca Kızılırmak Deltası'nın sahip olduğu güzelliklerin el değmeden korunması ve UNESCO kalıcı miras listesine girmesiyle sürdürülebilirliğin sağlanması hususunda paydaşların oldukça olumlu ve heyecanlı oldukları sonuçlarına da ulaşılmıştır. 96

Tourism is an industry that has started to rise rapidly in recent years. Thus, there has been a tendency towards different tourism types rather than mass tourism in order to spread tourism on every day of the year. By this way, there has been an increasing interest in the developing alternative tourism types and these tourism types have started to be evaluated within the frame of sustainability. Alternative tourism types increase people's interest in unexplored natural environments and make these regions a destination, which has brought up the issue of protecting the regions and realizing tourism activities there. As long as tourism activities in these regions are carried out within the scope of eco-tourism; the richnesses and natural diversity of the regions will be protected and the local people will develop socio-economically. This study examines all the richnesses and potential tourism types in Bird Sanctuary on the Kızılırmak Delta and includes the opinions and suggestions of relevant shareholders regarding the problems of the region. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with relevant shareholders and their opinions about the tourism supply and sustainability of the region were received. As a result of the study, it was determined that available touristic and social facilities in the region were inadequate, infra and super structures in the region needed to be developed and a greater importance had to be attached to advertising activities. In addition, it was concluded that shareholders were highly positive and excited about protecting the beauties of the Kızılırmak Delta and providing its sustainability by including the delta in the permanent heritage list of UNESCO Turizm son zamanlarda hızla yükselişe geçen bir endüstridir. Bu nedenle turizmin yılın her gününe yayılması amacı ile kitle turizminden farklı turizm türlerine yönelim başlamıştır. Bu sayede gelişen alternatif turizm türlerine olan ilgi artmış ve bu turizm türleri sürdürülebilirlik çerçevesinde değerlendirilmeye başlanmıştır. Alternatif turizm türleri ile birlikte insanların keşfedilmemiş doğal ortamlara olan ilgisinin artması ve bu bölgelerin destinasyon olarak kullanımı, bölgelerin korunarak turizm faaliyetlerinin gerçekleştirilmesi konusunu gündeme getirmiştir. Bu bölgelerde gerçekleştirilen turizm faaliyetleri eko-turizm kapsamında gerçekleştirilirse, yöre halkının zenginliği, doğal çeşitliliği ve sosyo-ekonomik kalkınmasının korunmasına katkıda bulunacaktır.Bu çalışma ile Kızılırmak Delta Kuş Cenneti'nin tüm zenginlikleri ve gelişebilecek turizm türleri incelenmiş ve bölge ile ilgili paydaşların görüş ve önerileri verilmiştir. Bu konuda paydaşlarla yarı yapılandırılmış görüşmeler yapıldı ve bölgenin turizm arzını ve sürdürülebilirliğini sağlamak için görüş alındı. Araştırmanın sonucunda bölgede mevcut turistik ve sosyal tesislerin yetersiz olduğu, bölgedeki alt ve üst yapıların geliştirilmesi gerektiği, tanıtım faaliyetlerine daha çok önem verilmesi gerektiği sonuçlarına ulaşılmıştır. Ayrıca Kızılırmak Deltası'nın sahip olduğu güzelliklerin el değmeden korunması ve UNESCO kalıcı miras listesine girmesiyle sürdürülebilirliğin sağlanması hususunda paydaşların oldukça olumlu ve heyecanlı oldukları sonuçlarına da ulaşılmıştır. 96