Dengue epidemic early warning system for Brazil

Copyright © 2015 UNISDR (United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction)The problem Brazil has reported more cases of dengue fever than anywhere else in the world this century1. Many cities have tropical and sub-tropical climate conditions that allow the dengue mosquito to thrive during warmer, wetter and more humid months, particularly in densely populated urban areas. Dengue epidemics depend on mosquito abundance, virus circulation and human susceptibility. In order to prepare for dengue epidemics, early warning systems, which take into account multiple dengue risk factors, are required to implement timely control measures. Seasonal climate forecasts provide an opportunity to anticipate dengue epidemics several months in advance ...European Commission’s Seventh Framework Research Programme project DENFREEEuropean Commission’s Seventh Framework Research Programme project EUPORIASEuropean Commission’s Seventh Framework Research Programme project SPECSConselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e TecnológicoFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ

Variabilidade e comportamento de cultivares de coqueiro anão nos tabuleiros costeiros do norte de Sergipe Variability and behavior to cultivars of dwarf coconut in the costal boards of the North of Sergipe

O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar a variabilidade de cultivares de coqueiro anão para caracteres morfológicos nos tabuleiros costeiros do Norte de Sergipe. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi em blocos casualizados, com seis cultivares de coqueiro anão, quatro blocos, sendo 16 plantas úteis/parcela. O experimento foi desenvolvido desde 1997, na Fazenda Agreste em Neópolis (SE). As cultivares Anão vermelho do Brasil de Gramame (AVBrG), da Malásia (AVM) e de Camarões (AVC), Anão amarelo do Brasil de Gramame (AABrG) e da Malásia (AAM) e o Anão Verde do Brasil de Jiqui (AVeBrJ). Para cada característica avaliada trimestralmente de 2001 a 2004, foi realizada análise de variância e estimados os componentes de variação fenotípica, genética e ambiental. Existe variabilidade entre os anões para as características: número de folhas vivas (NFV) e emitidas (NFE), circunferência do estipe (CircE), comprimento do estipe (CE), número de inflorescências emitidas (NIE) e número de flores femininas por inflorescência (NFFI). O AVC e o AVeBrJ apresentaram menores CE que os demais, característica importante por redução do porte do coqueiro. O anão amarelo da malásia (AAM) foi superior aos AVeBrJ, AVM e AVC quanto ao NFE. O AVM foi superior aos AAM, AABrG, AVeBrJ e AVC quanto à CircE. O AVC apresentou comportamento inferior aos demais para NFV, NFE, CircE e NIE, sendo semelhante a eles para NFFI. O AVeBrJ foi superior ao AAM, AVBrG e AVM quanto à NFFI.<br>The objective of this work was to evaluate the variability of dwarf coconut palm cultivars for morphologic characters in the Coastal Boards of the North of Sergipe State. The experimental design was randomized block, with six cultivars, four blocks and 16 usefull plants/plot. The experiment was driven since 1997, in the Agreste farm in Neópolis (SE). The cultivars dwarf coconut palm red dwarf of Brazil Gramame (AVBrG), of Malaysia (AVM) and Cameroon (AVC), yellow dwarf of Brazil de Gramame (AABrG) and of Malaysia (AAM) and the green dwarf of Brazil de Jiqui (AVeBrJ). For each characteristic, quarterly evaluations from 2001 the 2004, were analyses of variance and estimate of the components of variation phenotypical, genotipycal and environmental. There is variability among the dwarves for the characteristics: alive leaf number (NFV), emitted leaf number (NFE), leaf number dead (NFM), circumference of stem (CircE), length of stem (CE), number of emitted inflorescence (NIE) and number of feminine flowers for inflorescence (NFFI). The AVC and the AVeBrJ presented smaller CE that the other dwarves, important characteristic for reduction of the load of the coconut palm. The AAM was superior to the AAM, AABrG, AVeBrJ and AVC for the CircE, while. The AVC presented inferior behavior in relation to the others for NFV, NFE, CircE and NIE being similar to them for NFFI. The AVeBrJ was superior to the AAM, AVBrG and AVM in relation to NFFI

A threatened ecological community: research advances and priorities for Banksia woodlands

The rapid expansion of urban areas worldwide is leading to native habitat loss and ecosystem fragmentation and degradation. Although the study of urbanisation’s impact on biodiversity is gaining increasing interest globally, there is still a disconnect between research recommendations and urbanisation strategies. Expansion of the Perth metropolitan area on the Swan Coastal Plain in south-western Australia, one of the world’s thirty-six biodiversity hotspots, continues to affect the Banksia Woodlands (BWs) ecosystem, a federally listed Threatened Ecological Community (TEC). Here, we utilise the framework of a 1989 review of the state of knowledge of BWs ecology and conservation to examine scientific advances made in understanding the composition, processes and functions of BWs and BWs’ species over the last 30 years. We highlight key advances in our understanding of the ecological function and role of mechanisms in BWs that are critical to the management of this ecosystem. The most encouraging change since 1989 is the integration of research between historically disparate ecological disciplines. We outline remaining ecological knowledge gaps and identify key research priorities to improve conservation efforts for this TEC. We promote a holistic consideration of BWs with our review providing a comprehensive document that researchers, planners and managers may reference. To effectively conserve ecosystems threatened by urban expansion, a range of stakeholders must be involved in the development and implementation of best practices to conserve and maintain both biodiversity and human wellbeing