The ongoing globalization of mass media offers ample opportunities for citizen debate and pluralism of thought. One of the recent world media trends is the creation of different models of public media, which are an alternative to other means of communication. Public media might address issues of contemporary journalism, namely the quality and independence of media, ensuring that citizens receive accurate and impartial information. Ukraine has undergone tremendous changes since it has gained independence in 1991 but the political and legal systems remain unduly centralized, the economy weak, and the government attempts to limit freedom of speech and work of media. During both the Orange Revolution in 2004 and the Euromaidan 2013–2014, the need to deepen democratic freedoms was emphasized. Major advocates of the reform called for strengthening the rule of law, decentralization, denationalization of media, and the establishment of community media in the country, which will be created by the society, serve the society, and work under its control. Measures to increase the diversity of Ukrainian media are one of the practical means to guarantee freedom of speech and diversity of viewpoints. The diversity of media includes not only the diversity of content and multiplicity of media owners but also the variety of media types. Along with traditional models of public service media and private commercial broadcasting, community media emerged as the “third level” of media development that enhances freedom of speech. This article examines the legal aspects of community media implementation in Ukraine, their compliance with the standards and principles of the media law of European countries that govern the media community, and illustrates the development of community broadcasting in the world. It also provides an overview of the international standards for community media, which are backed by legislatures and regulators. Analyzing the Ukrainian media legislative draft, the author of the article offers improvements to the content and funding of community media in Ukraine.
The phytoplankton abundance and physico-chemical parameters of Ifewara Reservoir, Southwestern Nigeria was studied for four months (February to December, 2015). Four sampling stations (designated Stations 1-4) were established along the horizontal axis of the reservoir - from inflow region to the dam site end. At each station, net plankton samples were collected by sieving 30 litres of water through a plankton net of 50 µm mesh size into 30 ml concentrate volume. These were then preserved in 5% formalin solution and later treated with Lugol’s solution and reduced to 3 ml for microscope observation. The results of the physico-chemical parameters showed that some were above recommended limits of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agencies (NESREA) for drinking water and aquatic life. Sixty-nine (69) species of phytoplankton were recorded from the four investigated sampling stations. The abundance of phytoplankton was in the following order; Bacillariophyceae (90.84%) > Chlorophyceae (44.67%) > Cyanophyceae (10.69%) > Charophyceae (0.31%) > Euglenophyceae (0.12%) > Dinophyceae (0.06%) > Chrysophyceae (0.03%). The most abundant phytoplankton species was Fragilaria aceania, accounting for 74.28% of the total, followed by Cosmarium quadrum (13.04%), Rhizoclonium hieroglyphicum (11.97%) and Oscillatoria tenuis (8.03%). With regard to the horizontal pattern of variation along the reservoir, the highest phytoplankton abundance was recorded at the inflow basin and the lowest abundance at the dam site. Almost all the phytoplankton groups also had their highest mean abundance during the rainy season rather then during the dry season.
The article focuses on changes in terrestrial vertebrate fauna of Niebieskie Źródła (Blue Springs) Nature Reserve that occurred between two censuses carried out in the area. The first census was carried out in the period of 1968-1970, and the second census in the period of 1998-1999. In 1998-1999 the occurrence of four species of amphibians, 41 of birds and 15 of mammals was recorded. In comparison with investigations from 1968-1970 two species of amphibians, two species of mammals, and nine species of birds were found to have disappeared from the reserve. In the census carried out in 1998 and 1999 we recorded 22 new species of vertebrates: one new species of amphibian, five species of mammals, and 16 species of birds. The recent observations showed a decline in the abundance of amphibian species in the reserve, especially in the closest vicinity to the urban development around the city of Tomaszów Mazowiecki. The quantitative data on birds showed an increase in the numbers and abundance, which was mainly pronounced in the group of forest species, especially cavity and shrub nesters. We suggest that these changes are directly related to the succession of forest vegetation and its developing vertical structure, as well as to an increase in the forestation of the reserve area.
The study was carried out from June 2021 to May 2022, to know the status and diversity of the Odonata (Dragonfly and Damselfly) fauna at Ecopark, West Bengal. They are essential for environmental monitoring and serve as biological indicators of the health of the ecosystem. During the study period, 34 species of odonates from 26 Genera and 5 Families were identified in the study area. Three families made up Suborder Anisoptera, while two families made up Suborder Zygoptera. Among them, 29 species of dragonflies belonged to the Aeshnidae, Gomphidae and Libellulidae families, while 11 species of damselflies belonged to the Coenagrionidae and Platycnemididae families. The family Libellulidae had the highest species composition (62%) followed by the family Coenagrionidae (29 %). Among all Odonates, 35% were very common (VC), 44% Common (C) 15% rare (R) and 6% were very rare (R) on the presence of their abundance. Such observation can provide insightful data on the status of Odonate populations in context to Rajarhat grassland.