ECOLOGICAL SERVICES OF AGROFORESTRY LANDSCAPES IN SELECTED WATERSHED AREAS IN THE PHILIPPINES AND INDONESIA

This article argues that the practice of agroforestry provides ecological contributions to the smallholder farmers cultivating in the watershed areas. Specifically, this farming system provides contribution to carbon sequestration potential of the woody perennials and the biodiversity conservation of the other components of the system.   This argument is based on the research conducted in Molawin-Dampalit Sub-Watershed, Mt. Makiling Forest Reserve in the Philippines and Way Betung Watershed in Indonesia.  The research involved an interview session of 106 and 261 smallholder farmers and an assessment of 27 and 14 agroforesty plots for carbon stock assessment and biodiversity assessment, respectively. Results indicated that the total carbon found among the crop components was 52.32 MgC/ha in Molawin-Dampalit Sub-Watershed­ and 244.26 MgC/ha in Way Betung Watershed­, which suggested the high carbon sequestration potential of the woody perennials and understory crops in an agroforestry system.  The farm lots being cultivated by the smallholder farmers were found to contribute to biodiversity conservation having a moderate biodiversity index of 2.59 and 2.53, respectively.  With these findings, promotion of desired agroforestry systems in suitable portions of the watershed areas should be intensified and heightened to contribute to ecological balance across the landscape.  Agroforestry should always be an integral part of all initiatives toward ecological restoration with the cultivators/smallholder farmers as potential partners.  The agroforestry system should consider all the technical and socioeconomic considerations toward having diverse components and ensure food security among the smallholder farmers throughout the year

Ecological Services of Agroforestry Landscapes in Selected Watershed Areas in the Philippines and Indonesia

This article argues that the practice of agroforestry provides ecological contributions to the smallholder farmers cultivating in the watershed areas. Specifically, this farming system provides contribution to carbon sequestration potential of the woody perennials and the biodiversity conservation of the other components of the system. This argument is based on the research conducted in Molawin-Dampalit Sub-Watershed, Mt. Makiling Forest Reserve in the Philippines and Way Betung Watershed in Indonesia. The research involved an interview session of 106 and 261 smallholder farmers and an assessment of 27 and 14 agroforesty plots for carbon stock assessment and biodiversity assessment, respectively. Results indicated that the total carbon found among the crop components was 52.32 MgC/ha in Molawin-Dampalit Sub-Watershed­ and 244.26 MgC/ha in Way Betung Watershed­, which suggested the high carbon sequestration potential of the woody perennials and understory crops in an agroforestry system. The farm lots being cultivated by the smallholder farmers were found to contribute to biodiversity conservation having a moderate biodiversity index of 2.59 and 2.53, respectively. With these findings, promotion of desired agroforestry systems in suitable portions of the watershed areas should be intensified and heightened to contribute to ecological balance across the landscape. Agroforestry should always be an integral part of all initiatives toward ecological restoration with the cultivators/smallholder farmers as potential partners. The agroforestry system should consider all the technical and socioeconomic considerations toward having diverse components and ensure food security among the smallholder farmers throughout the year

One ligand, two regulators and three binding sites: How KDPG controls primary carbon metabolism in Pseudomonas

Effective regulation of primary carbon metabolism is critically important for bacteria to successfully adapt to different environments. We have identified an uncharacterised transcriptional regulator; RccR, that controls this process in response to carbon source availability. Disruption of rccR in the plant-associated microbe Pseudomonas fluorescens inhibits growth in defined media, and compromises its ability to colonise the wheat rhizosphere. Structurally, RccR is almost identical to the Entner-Doudoroff (ED) pathway regulator HexR, and both proteins are controlled by the same ED-intermediate; 2-keto-3-deoxy-6-phosphogluconate (KDPG). Despite these similarities, HexR and RccR control entirely different aspects of primary metabolism, with RccR regulating pyruvate metabolism (aceEF), the glyoxylate shunt (aceA, glcB, pntAA) and gluconeogenesis (pckA, gap). RccR displays complex and unusual regulatory behaviour; switching repression between the pyruvate metabolism and glyoxylate shunt/gluconeogenesis loci depending on the available carbon source. This regulatory complexity is enabled by two distinct pseudo-palindromic binding sites, differing only in the length of their linker regions, with KDPG binding increasing affinity for the 28 bp aceA binding site but decreasing affinity for the 15 bp aceE site. Thus, RccR is able to simultaneously suppress and activate gene expression in response to carbon source availability. Together, the RccR and HexR regulators enable the rapid coordination of multiple aspects of primary carbon metabolism, in response to levels of a single key intermediate

Within-host evolution of Staphylococcus aureus during asymptomatic carriage

Background Staphylococcus aureus is a major cause of healthcare associated mortality, but like many important bacterial pathogens, it is a common constituent of the normal human body flora. Around a third of healthy adults are carriers. Recent evidence suggests that evolution of S. aureus during nasal carriage may be associated with progression to invasive disease. However, a more detailed understanding of within-host evolution under natural conditions is required to appreciate the evolutionary and mechanistic reasons why commensal bacteria such as S. aureus cause disease. Therefore we examined in detail the evolutionary dynamics of normal, asymptomatic carriage. Sequencing a total of 131 genomes across 13 singly colonized hosts using the Illumina platform, we investigated diversity, selection, population dynamics and transmission during the short-term evolution of S. aureus. Principal Findings We characterized the processes by which the raw material for evolution is generated: micro-mutation (point mutation and small insertions/deletions), macro-mutation (large insertions/deletions) and the loss or acquisition of mobile elements (plasmids and bacteriophages). Through an analysis of synonymous, non-synonymous and intergenic mutations we discovered a fitness landscape dominated by purifying selection, with rare examples of adaptive change in genes encoding surface-anchored proteins and an enterotoxin. We found evidence for dramatic, hundred-fold fluctuations in the size of the within-host population over time, which we related to the cycle of colonization and clearance. Using a newly-developed population genetics approach to detect recent transmission among hosts, we revealed evidence for recent transmission between some of our subjects, including a husband and wife both carrying populations of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Significance This investigation begins to paint a picture of the within-host evolution of an important bacterial pathogen during its prevailing natural state, asymptomatic carriage. These results also have wider significance as a benchmark for future systematic studies of evolution during invasive S. aureus disease

Philippines: ClimBeR Inception Workshop Report

Building Systemic Resilience against Climate Variability and Extremes (ClimBeR) is a Climate Resilience Initiative of CGIAR which aims to transform the climate adaptation capacity of food, land, and water systems in the Philippines and 5 countries in Africa (Kenya, Morocco, Senegal, and Zambia) and Latin America (Guatemala). Through the ClimBeR initiative, CGIAR aims to create gender-sensitive and innovative financial mechanisms, while incorporating science that combines climate information, credit, and insurance, to build resilience among agriculture actors across the value chain while recognizing that while innovative technological interventions are critical, the enabling social, institutional and governance environment drives the transformative process. ClimBeR also seeks to identify the links between climate change and human security in order to decrease the risk of conflict and displacement. ClimBer initiative is introduced to countries through inception meetings and workshops and attended by identified potential national partners and collaborators. The inception workshop in the Philippines was held on December 06, 2022 in Quezon City and was attended by about 50 participants from the government and non-government organizations. This event served as a launch of the initiative in the Philippines paving the way forward for collaboration and partnerships to fulfill the initiative objectives for a more climate change resilient agriculture in the Philippines. This document reports the highlights of the event, the discussions and next steps

Mga naglilive-in na heterosekswal at homosekswal: Isang pag-aaral sa mga pagkakatulad at pagkakaiba ng mga piling nagsasamang heterosekswal at homosekswal

Ang pag-aaral na ito ay tumatalakay sa mga pagkakatulad at pagkakaiba ng mga piling nagsasamang heterosekswal at homosekswal (kapwa 2gay3 at lesbian3) sa iba’t ibang aspeto ng pagsasama kagaya ng proseso ng pagsisimula ng pagsasama, papel na ginagampanan ng bawat isa sa relasyon at paraan ng pagpapanatili at pagpapatibay nito. Gumamit ang mga mananaliksik ng 2chain-referral sampling3 sa pagpili ng siyam na pares ng mga nagsasamang kalahok. Sa pagkuha ng datos, gumamit ng malalimang pakikipanayam, kung saan, ang mga pares na kalahok ay malayang nakapaglahad ng kanilang karanasan sa pagsasama. Ang mga nakalap na datos mula sa siyam na sesyon ng pakikipanayam ay sinuri sa pamamagitan ng 2content analysis3. Mula sa pag-aaral na ito, napag-alamang may mga pagkakatulad at pagkakaibang makikita mula sa mga pagsasamang heterosekswal at homosekswal. Makikita ang mga pagkakatulad at pagkakaibang ito mula sa iba’t ibang aspeto ng pagsasama. Gayundin, napag-alamang higit na pagkakatulad ang makikita mula sa pagsasama ng mga heterosekswal at lalakeng homosekswal (gay) kumpara sa pagsasama ng mga babaeng homosekswal (lesbian)