Klimaatwijziging en biodiversiteit in de jaren 1950, anachronisme of early warning?

Edgar Kesteloot, former chairman of Belgische Natuur- en Vogelreservaten (BNVR) and head of department at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (KBIN) gave lectures in 1954 and 1955 about changes in the fl ora and fauna of the previous 100 years. He also published a few articles on the subject. The author sought explanations for the changes in the emergence of new, man-made or altered habitats, as well as in climate change! He was also concerned about the rise in sea level. Some present-day natural and environmental themes seem to have a longer history than we commonly think

Small-scale clinal variation, genetic diversity and environmental heterogeneity in the marine gobies <i>Pomatoschistus minutus</i> and <i>P. lozanoi</i> (Gobiidae, Teleostei)

Genetic variation was assayed at 14 allozyme loci in estuarine, coastal and offshore samples of Lozano's goby, Pomatoschistus lozanoi and the sand goby, P. minutus. Samples were taken from locations on the Belgian Continental Shelf and in the Schelde estuary with a range of environmental heterogeneity. We evaluate whether any differences in (1) the degree of genetic variation and (2) allele frequencies at the various loci exist within samples occurring in various habitats on the BCS and in the Schelde estuary. No significant differences in levels of genetic diversity were recorded between estuarine, coastal and offshore samples in either species. A temporally stable clinal gradient in allele frequencies at the two-allele locus GPI-A* was observed in P. lozanoi, differentiating the samples in an estuarine, coastal and offshore group. We suggest that these differences might be maintained by balancing selection at locus GPI-A*

Genetische structuur en evolutieve patronen van <i>Pomatoschistus</i> grondels op het Europees Continentaal Plat en in de Middellandse Zee = Genetic structure and evolutionary patterns in <i>Pomatoschistus</i> gobies on the European Continental Shelf and in the Mediterranean Sea

Large-scale and small-scale genetic patterns in three species of marine gobies, Pomatoschistus minutus (Pallas, 1770), P. lozanoi (de Buen, 1923) and P. microps (Kroyer, 1838) were studied. We used the available knowledge of the biology of the species and past and present-day oceanographic features throughout their distributional range for inferring population genetic structure and phylogeographical history of small demersal fish species along the European coasts. These three species occur sympatrically throughout a large part of their distributional range, which comprises the European Atlantic coasts and the Mediterranean Sea. They have a similar potential for dispersal with an extended pelagic larval stage, but differ ecologically. Small-scale patterns along the Belgian coast were studied with allozyme electrophoresis at fourteen putative loci. No evidence for population differentiation was found, except for a clinal change in allele frequencies at one locus in P. lozanoi. We suggest that this is due to differential selective pressure in distinct habitats (resp. estuarine, coastal and marine), rather than reproductive isolation. Contrary to other studies, we did not find any correlation between environmental heterogeneity and levels of genetic diversity. For studying large-scale genetic structure we employed a combination of allozyme electrophoresis, SSCP- and sequence analysis of fragment of the cytochrome b locus on the mtDNA. Overall patterns of P. minutus and P. microps revealed (1) the highest amount of divergence between Atlantic and Mediterranean species, (2) a pattern of isolation-by-distance, consistent with a larval dispersal via oceanic currents and (3) a shallow phylogeographical structure with a few common (ancestral) haplotypes and a large number of rare variants radiating. In the Atlantic basin, phylogeographical analysis of both species points to a range expansion into northern areas with a loss of variation at higher latitudes and a possible glacial refugium in the English Channel or the Southem Bight. However, despite similar overall patterns, striking interspecific differences were recorded. P. microps is much more differentiated than P. minutus on the same scale, and has a different phylogeographical history in the Mediterranean Sea. We suggest that this is due to ecological constraints on dispersal in the estuarine-marine P. microps. We postulate that species-specific behavioural patterns play a more important role in shaping population structure than usually accounted for

Distribution of antiretroviral treatment through self-forming groups of patients in Tete province, Mozambique

BACKGROUN

Community response to intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in infants (IPTi) in Papua New Guinea

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Building on previous acceptability research undertaken in sub-Saharan Africa this article aims to investigate the acceptability of intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in infants (IPTi) in Papua New Guinea (PNG).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A questionnaire was administered to mothers whose infants participated in the randomised placebo controlled trial of IPTi. Mothers whose infants participated and who refused to participate in the trial, health workers, community reporters and opinion leaders were interviewed. Men and women from the local community also participated in focus group discussions.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Respondents viewed IPTi as acceptable in light of wider concern for infant health and the advantages of trial participation. Mothers reported complying with at-home administration of IPTi due to perceived benefits of IPTi and pressure from health workers. In spite of patchy knowledge, respondents also demonstrated a demand for infant vaccinations and considered non-vaccination to be neglect. There is little evidence that IPTi has negative impacts on attitudes to EPI, EPI adherence or existing malaria prevention practices.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The degree of similarity between findings from the acceptability studies undertaken in sub-Saharan Africa and PNG allows some generalization relating to the implementation of IPTi outside of Africa: IPTi fits well with local health cultures, appears to be accepted easily and has little impact on attitudes towards EPI or malaria prevention. The study adds to the evidence indicating that IPTi could be rolled out in a range of social and cultural contexts.</p