A comparative study of an innate immune response in Lamprologine cichlid fishes

Social interactions facilitate pathogen transmission and increase virulence. Therefore, species that live in social groups are predicted to suffer a higher pathogen burden, to invest more heavily in immune defence against pathogens, or both. However, there are few empirical tests of whether social species indeed invest more heavily in immune defence than non-social species. In the current study, we conducted a phylogenetically controlled comparison of innate immune response in Lamprologine cichlid fishes. We focused on three species of highly social cichlids that live in permanent groups and exhibit cooperative breeding (Julidochromis ornatus, Neolamprologus pulcher and Neolamprologus savoryi) and three species of non-social cichlids that exhibit neither grouping nor cooperative behaviour (Telmatochromis temporalis, Neolamprologus tetracanthus and Neolamprologus modestus). We quantified the innate immune response by injecting wild fishes with phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), a lectin that causes a cell-mediated immune response. We predicted that the three highly social species would show a greater immune reaction to the PHA treatment, indicating higher investment in immune defence against parasites relative to the three non-social species. We found significant species-level variation in immune response, but contrary to our prediction, this variation did not correspond to social system. However, we found that immune response was correlated with territory size across the six species. Our results indicate that the common assumption of a positive relationship between social system and investment in immune function may be overly simplistic. We suggest that factors such as rates of both in-group and out-group social interactions are likely to be important mediators of the relationship between sociality and immune function.     

The Impact of the Extreme Amazonian Flood Season on the Incidence of Viral Gastroenteritis Cases

During the Amazonian flood season in 2012, the Negro River reached its highest level in 110 years, submerging residential and commercial areas which appeared associated with an elevation in the observed gastroenteritis cases in the city of Manaus. The aim of this study was to evaluate the microbiological water quality of the Negro River basin during this extreme flood to investigate this apparent association between the illness cases and the population exposed to the contaminated waters. Forty water samples were collected and analysed for classic and emerging enteric viruses. Human adenoviruses, group A rotaviruses and genogroup II noroviruses were detected in 100, 77.5 and 27.5% of the samples, respectively, in concentrations of 10³–10⁶ GC/L. All samples were compliant with local bacteriological standards. HAdV2 and 41 and RVA G2, P[6], and P[8] were characterised. Astroviruses, sapoviruses, genogroup IV noroviruses, klasseviruses, bocaviruses and aichiviruses were not detected. Statistical analyses showed correlations between river stage level and reported gastroenteritis cases and, also, significant differences between virus concentrations during this extreme event when compared with normal dry seasons and previous flood seasons of the Negro River. These findings suggest an association between the extreme flood experienced and gastrointestinal cases in the affected areas providing circumstantial evidence of causality between the elevations in enteric viruses in surface waters and reported illness.     

Conservation overstretch and long-term decline of wildlife and tourism in the Central African savannas

When in 2010 the world's governments pledged to increase protected area coverage to 17% of the world's land surface, several Central African countries had already set aside 25% of their northern savannas for conservation. To evaluate the effectiveness of this commitment, we analyzed the results of 68 multispecies surveys conducted in the seven main savanna national parks in Central Africa (1960–2017). We also assembled information on potential drivers of large herbivore population trends (rainfall and number of rangers) and on tourist numbers and revenues. In six out of the seven parks, wild large herbivore populations declined dramatically over time, livestock numbers increased severalfold, and tourism, the pillar under a once thriving local wildlife industry, collapsed. Zakouma National Park (Chad) stood out because its large herbivore populations increased, an increase that was positively correlated with rainfall and number of rangers (a proxy for management inputs). With increasing insecurity and declining revenues, governments find themselves confronted with too few resources to protect vast areas. To deal with this conversation overstretch, we propose to extend the repeatedly promoted solutions––scaled up funding, enhanced management––with a strategic retreat, focusing scarce resources on smaller areas to save wildlife in the Central African savannas.     

Genetic structuring of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Latris lineata</Emphasis> at localized and transoceanic scales

Striped trumpeter (Latris lineata) is a demersal teleost distributed around the temperate clines of all the major oceans in the southern hemisphere. Within Tasmanian waters the species is managed as a single stock, although no studies have been performed to confirm genetic panmixia. A protracted pelagic larval phase and a recent transoceanic tag recapture of an adult fish suggest significant potential for genetic mixing between widely separated populations. Phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial DNA control region sequences suggested no genetic mixing between Tasmania, New Zealand and St Paul/Amsterdam Islands, evidence for the first time that there is population structure at a transoceanic scale for this species. In addition, an analysis of molecular variance coupled with phylogenetic analyses suggested no significant structuring of striped trumpeter from three locations around Tasmania. The information provided in this study is useful for the design of modern fisheries management techniques such as spatially implemented marine reserves. In addition, species-by-species knowledge about population structures of marine species facilitates ecologically useful generalizations concerning their population dynamics and key issues on the broader ecology of the oceans.     

The System Dynamics of Nuclear Energy in Singapore

In this article, a system dynamics model is developed to study the complex issues involving nuclear energy in Singapore by assessing four essential aspects, namely (1) Economic, (2) Environment, (3) Social, and (4) Political in various scenarios. The first factor juxtaposes the monetary benefit from deploying nuclear energy with the current situation. The second deals with carbon dioxide emission, nuclear waste, and thermal pollution from nuclear power plant. The third part discusses the safety and social acceptance toward nuclear project, and the last section analyzes the political stability in provision of nuclear energy advent. The proposed system dynamic model incorporates all four components that allow us to run sensitivity analysis based on various scenarios and enables us to gain insight in how each domain evolves with time. Based on the model, we present advantages and disadvantages of possessing nuclear power plants in Singapore and suggest remedies to rectify the drawbacks.     

Fetal therapies for cytomegalovirus: What we tell prospective parents

Congenital CMV is the most common congenital infection in the developed world. Infection results in congenital disease ranging from asymptomatic infection to severe neurodevelopmental impairment, and occasionally fetal or neonatal death. Fetal infection can occur through maternal-fetal transmission during primary maternal infection or maternal reactivation or re-infection. Awareness among maternal health care providers and parents is low. The prevention of maternal CMV infection currently relies on hygiene measures, with no effective CMV vaccine or prophylactic therapies. No licensed treatment options are available to prevent maternal-fetal transmission or fetal disease. Hyperimmunoglobulin and valaciclovir have been investigated for prevention of maternal-fetal transmission or fetal treatment, with some evidence supporting consideration of maternal administration of hyperimmunoglobulin or valaciclovir therapy in certain circumstances. This article outlines the clinical evidence regarding proven preventative behavioral measures and experimental hyperimmunoglobulin and valaciclovir therapies, that is structured around common questions asked by pregnant women about CMV infection. It is aimed to help maternity health care providers counsel prospective parents about congenital CMV disease and the preventative and therapeutic strategies currently available.     

荷兰莱茵河和墨兹河三角洲五斑按蚊麦赛变种和黑小按蚊幼体种群的分布及动态

本文研究了荷兰两南部莱茵河和默兹河三角洲地区五斑按蚊(Anopheles maculipennis)复合体蚊虫的分布及生态学.研究地区以前曾流行过疟疾,而黑小按蚊(A.atroparvus)则是唯一的传病媒介.对五斑按蚊的125处潜在的水生生境进行了采样,其中有47处(37.6%)含有这一物种复合体的幼体.     

Environmental accounting on a communal level: A tool to support environmental management and decision-making by communal executives

Starting from an ecological perspective of urban-industrial areas, environmental accounting is used to analyse and to evaluate which environmental impacts are the result of communal activities (e.g. the results of different kinds of water supply systems). Therefore, the anthropogenic fluxes, the changing quality of areas as well as the processes between the environmental fields are taken into account. The approach is based on methodical elements of te Life Cycle Analysis and the Environmental Impact Assessment. Looking at the ‘urban systems’ within the communal activities, ‘ecological modelling’ gives us a new and fuller picture of the spatial and temporal character of urban metabolism. The approach supports the perception of cumulative effects and the postponement of environmental problems and opens new horizons for process-oriented environmental planning within the community. Greater efficiency and a decrease in costs can be arrived at by leaving ‘end of the pipe’ strategies; opportunities for a better planning process and measures for different individuals and organisations can be drawn up. A data base which acts as a ‘support system’ implements the computer-aided approach to environmental accounting.