The effect of landscape complexity and microclimate on the thermal tolerance of a pest insect

Landscape changes are known to exacerbate the impacts of climate change. As such, understanding the combined effect of climate and landscape on agroecosystems is vital if we are to maintain the function of agroecosystems. This study aimed to elucidate the effects of agricultural landscape complexity on the microclimate and thermal tolerance of an aphid pest to better understand how landscape and climate may interact to affect the thermal tolerance of pest species within the context of global climate change. Meteorological data were measured at the landscape level, and cereal aphids (Sitobion avenae, Metopolophium dirhodum and Rhopalosiphum padi) sampled, from contrasting landscapes (simple and complex) in winter 2013/2014 and spring 2014 in cereal fields of Brittany, France. Aphids were returned to the laboratory and the effect of landscape of origin on aphid cold tolerance (as determined by CTmin ) was investigated. Results revealed that local landscape complexity significantly affected microclimate, with simple homogenous landscapes being on average warmer, but with greater temperature variation. Landscape complexity was shown to impact aphid cold tolerance, with aphids from complex landscapes being more cold tolerant than those from simple landscapes in both winter and spring, but with differences among species. This study highlights that future changes to land use could have implications for the thermal tolerance and adaptability of insects. Furthermore, not all insect species respond in a similar way to microhabitat and microclimate, which could disrupt important predator-prey relationships and the ecosystem service they provide

De quoi les parties sont-elles prenantes ? L'argument régulationniste

Si l’on retient l’expression de « partie prenante de l’entreprise », de quoi s’agit-il de dire que les parties sont prenantes ? L’argument régulationniste suggère de clarifier la situation des parties prenantes au regard de leur participation effective aux activités de régulation distinguées par l’analyse. Il engage ainsi, au niveau macro, à considérer sur un mode dual les régulations dans la sphère financière et celles dans la sphère réelle. Au niveau micro, donc de l’entreprise, les régulations dans l’institution financière, reconnue par le droit, sont distinguées des régulations dans l’entreprise réelle en tant qu’organisation productive

Tameness of complex dimension in a real analytic set

Given a real analytic set X in a complex manifold and a positive integer d, denote by A(d) the set of points p in X at which there exists a germ of a complex analytic set of dimension d contained in X. It is proved that A(d) is a closed semianalytic subset of X.Comment: Published versio

Evaluating occupational hazards and personal protective equipment use on farms in Kyrgyzstan

Objectives – The purpose of this study was to identify occupational hazards and personal protective equipment use on farms operating in Kyrgyzstan. Methods – We recruited 20 farmers in Kyrgyzstan. They completed a questionnaire and responded to interview questions to determine their occupational hazards, personal protective equipment use, and work-related injuries. We measured noise levels using the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health sound level meter application for Apple iOS. Results – Most farmers reported knowing how and when to use personal protective equipment, however 95 percent had not received training on how to use them. Observation of farmers revealed gaps in protective equipment use. Farmers reported workplace injury (15 percent) and one farmer reported time off due to the injury. Farmers reported suffering from one or more heat-related health symptom (30 percent). In six farms (30 percent), noise levels, originating from animal and equipment sources, exceeded 85 decibels on an A-weighted scale. Conclusion – Farmers in Kyrgyzstan are potentially exposed to workplace hazards. While stated farmer knowledge of personal protective equipment use was high, the implementation of personal protective equipment appeared to be low. Providing low to no cost personal protective equipment along with training to farmers and their colleagues may be an effective strategy in reducing barriers to increase protective equipment use and reduce workplace injuries