Anticipatory capacity in response to global change across an extreme elevation gradient in the Ica Basin,Peru

Regional Environmental Change - Mountainous areas with extreme elevation gradients and corresponding ranges of biophysical and socioeconomic conditions are highly vulnerable to global change. We...     

Ecological restoration as a strategy for mitigating and adapting to climate change: lessons and challenges from Brazil

Climate change is a global phenomenon that affects biophysical systems and human well-being. The Paris Agreement of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change entered into force in 2016 with the objective of strengthening the global response to climate change by keeping global temperature rise this century well below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 °C. The agreement requires all Parties to submit their “nationally determined contributions” (NDCs) and to strengthen these efforts in the years ahead. Reducing carbon emissions from deforestation and forest degradation is an important strategy for mitigating climate change, particularly in developing countries with large forests. Extensive tropical forest loss and degradation have increased awareness at the international level of the need to undertake large-scale ecological restoration, highlighting the need to identify cases in which restoration strategies can contribute to mitigation and adaptation. Here we consider Brazil as a case study to evaluate the benefits and challenges of implementing large-scale restoration programs in developing countries. The Brazilian NDC included the target of restoring and reforesting 12 million hectares of forests for multiple uses by 2030. Restoration of native vegetation is one of the foundations of sustainable rural development in Brazil and should consider multiple purposes, from biodiversity and ecosystem services conservation to social and economic development. However, ecological restoration still presents substantial challenges for tropical and mega-diverse countries, including the need to develop plans that are technically and financially feasible, as well as public policies and monitoring instruments that can assess effectiveness. The planning, execution, and monitoring of restoration efforts strongly depend on the context and the diagnosis of the area with respect to reference ecosystems (e.g., forests, savannas, grasslands, wetlands). In addition, poor integration of climate change policies at the national and subnational levels and with other sectorial policies constrains the large-scale implementation of restoration programs. The case of Brazil shows that slowing deforestation is possible; however, this analysis highlights the need for increased national commitment and international support for actions that require large-scale transformations of the forest sector regarding ecosystem restoration efforts. Scaling up the ambitions and actions of the Paris Agreement implies the need for a global framework that recognizes landscape restoration as a cost-effective nature-based solution and that supports countries in addressing their remaining needs, challenges, and barriers.

     

Characterization of marker chromosomes by microdissection and fluorescence in situ hybridization

We characterized by microdissection and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) two marker chromosomes: (1) a de novo, acrocentric marker chromosome detected in 88 per cent of the amniotic fluid cells of one of two physically and developmentally normal twins; and (2) a metacentric marker chromosome present in a phenotypically normal female. Analysis of FISH probes developed from the marker chromosomes indicated that the marker chromosomes in cases 1 and 2 were del(14)(q11) and a derivative chromosome from a Robertsonian translocation, respectively. Microdissection in combination with FISH may prove to be a valuable technique in determining the chromosomal origin of de novo marker chromosomes and unbalanced structural rearrangements detected during prenatal diagnosis.     

Levels of plasma B-esterases and glutathione-S-transferase activities in three South American toad species

We determined the normal levels of butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), carboxylesterase (CbE), and glutathione S-transferases (GST) activities in three South American toad species in order to establish reference values for field pesticide monitoring purposes. Interspecies variations in B-esterase and GST activities were examined according to body mass. In addition, comparative inhibition of BChE and CbE activities using malaoxon, and chemical reactivation of malaoxon-inhibited BChE activity using pyridine-2-aldoxime methochloride (2-PAM) were investigated. Bufo fernandezae had average activity values for BChE: 17.31 mmol min^?1 ml^?1; CbE: 621.49 nmol min^?1 ml^?1 and GST: 1.94 mmol min^?1 ml^?1 while B. arenarum enzymatic average activities were BChE: 9.51 mmol min^?1 ml^?1; CbE: 270.07 nmol min^?1 ml^?1, and GST: 1.59 mmol min^?1 ml^?1; finally Bufo schneideri had enzymatic mean values of BChE: 2.08 mmol min^?1 ml^?1; CbE: 301.95 nmol min^?1 ml^?1, and GST: 1.60 mmol min^?1 ml^?1. Moreover, we found an allometric relationship between plasma BChE and CbE activities and body size for the three toad species. We suggest that B. fernandezae would be the species with a higher tolerance capacity to organophosphorous insecticides compared to the other toad species, while B. schneideri may be the most vulnerable toad species to field pesticide exposure, although some other factors (e.g., brain AChE sensitivity or pesticide metabolism by phosphotriesterases) should be also taken into account. The malaoxon-inhibited BChE activity of the three toad species was reactivated in the presence of 2-PAM, and it is recommended as a specific and sensitive methodology in the assessment of field exposure to OP insecticides together to compare BChE activity levels between OP-exposed and nonexposed individuals.     

The impact of humanitarian context conditions and individual characteristics on aid worker retention

High employee turnover rates constitute a major challenge to effective aid provision. This study examines how features of humanitarian work and aid workers’ individual characteristics affect retention within one humanitarian organisation, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Holland. The study extends existing research by providing new theoretical explanations of employment opportunities and constraints and by engaging in the first large‐scale quantitative analysis of aid worker retention. Using a database of field staff (N=1,955), a logistic regression is performed of the likelihood of reenlistment after a first mission. The findings demonstrate that only 40 per cent of employees reenlist for a second mission with MSF Holland, and that workplace location and security situation, age, and gender have no significant effect. Individuals are less likely to reenlist if they returned early from the first mission for a personal reason, are in a relationship, are medical doctors, or if they come from highly developed countries. The paper reflects on the findings in the light of policy.     

Temporal and spatial variability in settlement of the sea urchin<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Paracentrotus lividus</Emphasis> in the NW Mediterranean

Settlement into the benthic habitat may be an important process in regulating sea urchin abundance, which potentially modifies the structure of benthic communities. Strong settlement events may increase sea urchin abundance beyond a certain threshold, leading to the formation of coralline barrens (overgrazed communities with a dominance of encrusting coralline algae). To understand the role of settlement in regulating sea urchin populations we first need to determine settlement variability. Temporal variation in settlement of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus was monitored at three sites in the Medes Islands, NW Mediterranean, during three settlement seasons (March 1998 through October 2000). Spatial variation in settlement was studied in 1999 at 50 sites along a gradient of exposures to waves and currents, inside and outside the archipelago, and separated by distances from tens to thousands of meters. Bathymetric distribution of settlement was also studied in 2000 at six sites at 5, 10, 15 and 20 m depths. Settlement of P. lividus occurred in a single annual peak within 3 weeks in May–June. Differences in settlement between years were more than two orders of magnitude. Spatial variability was found at all scales investigated, showing strong patchiness at the smallest spatial scales (tens of meters). Sea urchins settled preferentially at depths between 5 and 10 m. Substratum type, level of protection, and adult population densities were not significant in determining settlement. However, settlement was found to be related to the degree of exposure to waves and currents, indicating that physical processes are very important at the spatial scales investigated. This greatly variable settlement is a necessary, although not sufficient, condition to create gradients of adult P. lividus abundance. Further studies should be designed to investigate the interaction between settlement strength and post-settlement mortality.Communicated by O. Kinne, Oldendorf/Luhe     

Study of new reinforcing materials for cementitious panel production

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The development of building materials using new types of raw materials is currently on demand by society and the industry. It is intended to reduce...     

Competitive Retention of Lead and Cadmium on an Agricultural Soil

Lead and cadmium contamination of an agricultural soil has been studied using batch and column experiments. Thermodynamics of theretention phenomena may be represented by a Langmuir isotherm foran aqueous metal concentration up to 100 mg L^-1. First order kinetics with respect to the solid phase yield good predictabilityfor both batch and column experiments. Kinetics and thermodynamics of lead retention predominate over those ofcadmium. As a consequence, lead is preferentially retainedand can even displace sorbed cadmium. In the event of anspill involving both metals, cadmium would move further inthe soil and its aqueous concentration downstream could beeven higher than that of the influent solution, increasingpotential risks. A two-region model has been used to fit all the experimental results. Satisfactory predictions for column experiments are obtained with parameters which are consistent with those obtained for the batch experiments, for which sorption is described by a Langmuir isotherm including competitive retention.     

Assessment of geochemical modeling applications and research hot spots—a year in review

Environmental Geochemistry and Health - Geochemical modeling has been employed in several fields of science and engineering in recent years. This review seeks to provide an overview of case studies...     

An empirical parametrization of internal seiche amplitude including secondary effects

Environmental Fluid Mechanics - An internal wave is a propagating disturbance within a stable density-stratified fluid. The internal seiche amplitude is often estimated through theories that...