Journal of Ecosystem & Ecography
Open Access

Ecological studies encompass the analysis of the spatial and temporal variations in the ecological factors. The most crucial aspects of ecological studies encompass the analyses of possible effects of environmental variations on the ecosystem and its components. Each and every such change has direct or indirect implications on the survival and quality of life of human beings and other living organisms as well. It is therefore necessary that these variations are intricately studied, analyzed and implicated.

Journal of Ecosystem and Ecography is a scholarly journal that specializes in the publication of the results of such ecological studies. The current issue published such important articles that contained novel revelations pertaining to the study of ecological variations. A brief overview of these articles as well as how they impact our environment and us is presented here.

Deforestation has already been established as a key factor that implies adverse implications on the climatic patterns both at a local as well as global level. India is essentially regarded as a developing country, whose rate of development has been unprecedented in the past few decades. Though the socio-economic outcomes of it are more or less evident, it is often ignored that such developmental activities also caused an imbalance in the natural biodiversity, ecology as well as climatic patterns, especially the monsoon rainfall. The Indian subcontinent is unique in geographical pattern. It is surrounded by the might Himalayas on one side and the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea on the others. This unique geographical pattern ensures a unique pattern of monsoon rainfall. Sadly, incessant cutting of trees and clearing of forests for developmental purposes had disrupted the ages old monsoon rainfall pattern, whose implications at agricultural as well as socio-economic levels were realized recently. The same issue was presented in the article published by Lodh, but via computational model analysis results. Sensitivity experiments conducted with the help of such models presented further details regarding the decrease in monsoon precipitation. It was also found that the observed decrease in roughness length and subsequent increase in albedo values were the attributes of desertification/deforestation which further caused the origin of the already identified anomalous patterns of westerly winds and subsidence. It also helped in identifying the root cause of why the rainfall patterns have so changed that heavy rainfall occurs over the seas while precipitation levels over land areas have decreased substantially. The information presented in the article is crucial and may be used for designing and implementing models that can help in finding ecological hotspots that may be worked upon for reinstating the optimal rainfall patterns [1].

The next article that was published by Makwinja and M’balaka presented a study that helped in correlating the direct impact of climate change on the socio-economic lives of people. The study area addressed in the said article was based on the economic outcomes of decreasing patterns of Chambo (Oreochromis spp.) fishing along the west coast of Lake Malawi, Nkhotakota. The study included in-depth analysis of the data collected during long time duration (1991 to 2015). The authors also correlated the same with other essential climatic factors viz. atmospheric temperatures (°C) and annual precipitation (mm). The analysis was based on regression models, the results of which indicated the presence of a strong correlation between precipitation levels and Chambo catch. Further analysis of the same are recommended for establishing the exact climatic factor which can be further implemented for strategizing combat strategies [2].

The article published by Affan described how the “Mountain Research and Development” journal contributed towards the concept of “sustainable development” of the environment. The article also highlighted how the journal contributed as a medium of exchange of information on the subject and then served to unite the most eminent researchers and scientists working on the related subjects in a United Nations on Environment and Development (UNCED) conference that was officially designated as the “Earth Summit.” The summit was held in 1992 at Rio de Janeiro, which was later followed by a series of subsequent global meetings in Kyoto (1997), Copenhagen (2009) again in Rio (2017). Apart from discussing the various issues that were discussed in these summits, the article also elucidates how scientific publishing platforms can be gradually transformed into global organizations or unions that function for the benefit of mankind [3].

Finally, the article published by Chaudhry and Malik presented a wholesome overview of the various factors that cause and effect water pollution. In addition, the article made commendable efforts towards showcasing the various adverse implications of water pollution with the intent to attract the attention of experts who can pursue research on the said topic and come up with hitherto unexplored solutions [4].

All the articles published in the current issue were intended towards assessing and analyzing the possible factors that serve to deter the ecological balance of a region or on a global level. The journal will pursue its goal of providing a global open access platform for the dissemination of information and knowledge on climacteric changes and how it can be dealt with so as to ensure sustainable development and survival.