Hyperactivity and tree-top disease induced by the baculovirus AcMNPV in Spodoptera exigua larvae are governed by independent mechanisms

Although many parasites are known to manipulate the behavior of their hosts, the mechanisms underlying such manipulations are largely unknown. Baculoviruses manipulate the behavior of caterpillar hosts by inducing hyperactivity and by inducing climbing behavior leading to death at elevated positions (tree-top disease or Wipfelkrankheit). Whether hyperactivity and tree-top disease are independent manipulative strategies of the virus is unclear. Recently, we demonstrated the involvement of the protein tyrosine phosphatase (ptp) gene of the baculovirus Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) in the induction of hyperactivity in Spodoptera exigua larvae. Here we show that AcMNPV ptp is not required for tree-top disease, indicating that in S. exigua baculovirus-induced hyperactivity and tree-top disease are independently induced behaviors that are governed by distinct mechanisms.     

为不确定的未来实施洪水风险管理战略:荷兰,与莱茵河洪水共生存

无论从经济还是从自然保护角度,冲积平原和三角洲的社会压力都很大.随着经济的发展及大坝增高,由于预期的损失上升和更深的洪水,洪水风险在逐渐增加.全球变化,社会需求变化了,人们的观念也变化了,需要修订长期的洪水风险管理战略.而修订洪水风险管理战略应以柔性战略替代过去以加高大坝为主的刚性战略.柔性战略为主的洪水风险管理就意味着允许洪水临时性大面积泛滥,通过改变土地利用方式减少洪水灾害损失.这样的战略是基于风险管理和"与洪水共生存"的理念提出的,完全替代了过去的灾害控制观念.荷兰三角洲地区是世界人口密度最大区域之一,在这里,灵活的柔性洪水风险管理战略水文功能和"可持续的标准"被详细阐述和评估.     

Adaptive co-management and network learning in the Room for the River programme

Adaptive co-management and learning are paramount for integrated flood risk management. Relevant literature focuses on adaptation at the level of physical and societal systems. The level of projects and programmes is largely overlooked, but they comprise interventions that adapt our physical systems and they provide opportunities for learning to contribute to transitions of societal systems. This paper aims to increase understanding on how learning takes place and can be stimulated within a programme. The mixed-method case study of Room for the River, a €2.3 billion programme for flood risk management, shows that a programme can be organised using various governance arrangements to stimulate learning and be a means for adaptive co-management to deliver upon environmental objectives.