Livelihoods and landscapes at the threshold of change: disaster and resilience in a Chiapas coffee community

In 2005, torrential rains associated with Hurricane Stan devastated farm systems in southern Mexico. We present a case study on the impacts of and responses to Hurricane Stan by coffee households in three communities in the highlands of Chiapas, Mexico, with the objective of illuminating the linkages between household vulnerability and resilience. We analyze data from 64 household surveys in a cluster analysis to link household impacts experienced to post-Stan adaptive responses and relate these results with landscape-level land-cover changes. The degree of livelihood change was most significant for land-constrained households whose specialization in coffee led to high exposure and sensitivity to Stan and little adaptive capacity. Across the sample, the role of coffee in livelihood strategies declined, as households sought land to secure subsistence needs and diversified economically after Stan. Nevertheless, livelihoods and landscape outcomes were not closely coupled, at least at the temporal and spatial scale of our analysis: We found no evidence of land-use change associated with farmers’ coping strategies. While households held strong attitudes regarding effective resource management for risk reduction, this knowledge does not necessarily translate into capacities to manage resilience at broader scales. We argue that policy interventions are needed to help materialize local strategies and knowledge on risk management, not only to allow individual survival but also to enhance resilience at local, community and landscape scales.     

Biodegradation of Poly-ε-caprolactones and Poly-<Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">l</Emphasis>-lactides by Fungi

This work assessed biodegradation, by Aspergillus, Fusarium, Penicillium and Parengyodontium fungi, of four samples of poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL), three samples of poly-l-lactide (PLA) and one sample of poly-d,l-lactide (DL-PLA) produced by ring-opening polymerization initiated by aluminium complexes of corresponding lactones. Mesophilic fungal strains actively biodegrading PCL (F. solani) and PLA (Parengyodontium album and A. calidoustus) were selected. The rate of degradation by the selected fungi was found to depend on the physicochemical and mechanical properties of the polymers (molecular weight, polydispersity, crystallinity). The most degradable poly-ε-caprolactone sample was shown to have the lowest molecular weight; the most biodegradable polylactide DL-PLA had the lowest crystallinity. Mass spectral analysis of biodegraded polymer residues showed PCL to be degraded more intensively than PLA. It is established that in the case of Parengyodontium album the colonization of the films of polypropylene composites with DL-PLA is observed, which will undoubtedly contribute to their further destruction under the influence of abiotic factors in the environment.     

Life cycle inventory for an organic swine waste treatment system

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - The aim of this study was to analyze the efficiency of a system of treatment of organic swine waste as a management tool in the transformation of...     

The dissemination of antibiotic resistance in various environmental objects (Russia)

Environmental objects (surface and groundwater, soil, bottom sediments, wastewater) are reservoirs in which large-scale multidirectional exchange of determinants of antibiotic resistance between clinical strains and natural bacteria takes place. The review discusses the results of studies on antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARG) isolated from environmental objects (water, soil, sewage, permafrost) of the Russian Federation. Despite the relevance of the topic, the number of available publications examining the resistomes of Russian water bodies and soils is small. The most studied environmental objects are surface waters (rivers, lakes), permafrost deposits. Soil resistomes are less studied. Data on ARG and ARB in wastewater are the least covered in publications. In most of the studies, antibiotic resistance of isolated pure bacterial cultures was determined phenotypically. A significant number of publications are devoted to the resistance of natural isolates of Vibrio cholerae, since the lower reaches of the Volga and Don rivers are endemic to cholera. Molecular genetic methods were used in a small number of studies. Geographically, the south of the European part of Russia is the most studied. There are also publications on the distribution of ARG in water bodies of Siberia and the Russian Far East. There are practically no publications on such developed regions of Russia as the center and northwest of the European part of Russia. The territory of the country is very large, anthropogenic and natural factors in its various regions vary significantly; therefore, it seems interesting to combine all available data in one work.

     

Density dependence and habitat quality modulate the intensity of display territory defence in an exploded lekking species

We evaluated the effect of conspecific abundance and habitat quality of leks on the territorial behaviour of males in an exploded lekking species, the Little Bustard (Tetrax tetrax). The hypothesis that males more intensely defend territories with higher conspecific abundance and better habitat quality was evaluated experimentally analysing the agonistic response of experimental males to male decoys placed on their displaying areas. Decoy experiments showed that the intensity of display territory defence by little bustard males is density dependent. The time experimental males took to return to their display sites after decoy placement decreased with abundance of both males and females. The strength of their final response was positively associated to local male and female abundance in the vicinity of their display sites. Habitat quality also influenced males’ display territory defence since the intensity of male response increased with the degree of natural vegetation cover. Habitat quality was particularly relevant in explaining variation of experimental males’ snort call rate, which decreased with the degree in plough cover and increased with the number of fields in the lekking area. Snort call rate decreased with the level of male aggregation and was lowest in males exhibiting the strongest aggressive response to decoys. These results add new evidence for the density dependence of species’ breeding territorial behaviour, supporting density-dependent models of lek formation and reinforcing the role of resources defence in exploded lek mating systems.     

Life Cycle Assessment of Poly(Lactic Acid) (PLA): Comparison Between Chemical Recycling,Mechanical Recycling and Composting

This paper presents a life cycle assessment (LCA) comparing three forms of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) disposal: mechanical recycling, chemical recycling and composting. The LCA data was taken from lab scale experiments for composting and hydrolysis steps. Polymerization data in chemical recycling was obtained from computer simulation. Mechanical recycling data from lab scale were combined with the data from a plastics commercial mechanical recycling plant. The analysis considered two different product systems based on the input of the recycled PLA in the product system. Considering the categories: climate change, human toxicity and fossil depletion, the LCA showed that mechanical recycling presented the lowest environmental impact, followed by chemical recycling and composting. Among the forms of recycling, the most important input was the electricity consumption.     

Interrogating Social Sustainability in the Biofuels Sector in Latin America: Tensions Between Global Standards and Local Experiences in Mexico,Brazil, and Colombia

Across the Americas, biofuels production systems are diverse due to geographic conditions, historical patterns of land tenure, different land use patterns, government policy frameworks, and relations between the national state and civil society, all of which shape the role that biofuels play in individual nations. Although many national governments throughout the Americas continue to incentivize growth of the biofuels industry, one key challenge for biofuels sustainability has been concern about its social impacts. In this article, we discuss some of the key social issues and tensions related to the recent expansion of biofuels production in Mexico, Colombia, and Brazil. We argue that a process of “simplification” of ecological and cultural diversity has aided the expansion of the biofuels frontier in these countries, but is also undermining their viability. We consider the ability of governments and non-state actors in multi-stakeholder initiatives (MSI) to address social and environmental concerns that affect rural livelihoods as a result of biofuels expansion. We analyze the tensions between global sustainability standards, national level policies for biofuels development, and local level impacts and visions of sustainability. We find that both government and MSI efforts to address sustainability concerns have limited impact, and recommend greater incorporation of local needs and expertise to improve governance.     

Genetic Variability in mtDNA of the Silvery Gibbon: Implications for the Conservation of a Critically Endangered Species

Abstract: The silvery gibbon (   Hylobates moloch ), endemic to the island of Java, relies on closed-canopy, lowland evergreen forest for its survival. Because Java has lost over 91% of its original forest, silvery gibbons currently occupy small, isolated forest fragments and are threatened with extinction. To contribute to a comprehensive conservation strategy for this species, we analyzed the mtDNA control region of 31 silvery gibbons representing most remaining populations. Our results suggest the presence of at least two genetically differentiated lineages: a "western" lineage, represented by the largest remaining natural population in Gunung Halimun National Park and a "central" lineage, consisting of smaller, more isolated populations in and around the Gunung Masigit/Simpang/Tilu complex, Gunung Gede/Pangrango, and Gunung Slamet. These two lineages, at a minimum, represent different management units that should, except in the most dire circumstances, be managed separately.