Addressing vulnerability, building resilience:community-based adaptation to vector-borne diseases in the context of global change

Abstract Background The threat of a rapidly changing planet – of coupled social, environmental and climatic change – pose new conceptual and practical challenges in responding to vector-borne diseases. These include non-linear and uncertain spatial-temporal change dynamics associated with climate, animals, land, water, food, settlement, conflict, ecology and human socio-cultural, economic and political-institutional systems. To date, research efforts have been dominated by disease modeling, which has provided limited practical advice to policymakers and practitioners in developing policies and programmes on the ground. Main body In this paper, we provide an alternative biosocial perspective grounded in social science insights, drawing upon concepts of vulnerability, resilience, participation and community-based adaptation. Our analysis was informed by a realist review (provided in the Additional file 2) focused on seven major climate-sensitive vector-borne diseases: malaria, schistosomiasis, dengue, leishmaniasis, sleeping sickness, chagas disease, and rift valley fever. Here, we situate our analysis of existing community-based interventions within the context of global change processes and the wider social science literature. We identify and discuss best practices and conceptual principles that should guide future community-based efforts to mitigate human vulnerability to vector-borne diseases. We argue that more focused attention and investments are needed in meaningful public participation, appropriate technologies, the strengthening of health systems, sustainable development, wider institutional changes and attention to the social determinants of health, including the drivers of co-infection. Conclusion In order to respond effectively to uncertain future scenarios for vector-borne disease in a changing world, more attention needs to be given to building resilient and equitable systems in the present

Physiological, growth, yield and quality responses of 'shiraz' berries manipulated using PRD and drip irrigation

A study was conducted to investigate the effect of partial rootzone drying (PRD) in comparison to drip irrigation with two different water levels (0.45 and 0.9 Etc) on the physiological, growth, yield and quality responses of nine-year old 'Shiraz' grapevines in north-eastern Victoria, Australia. The amount of water rather than the application of PRD had a more significant effect on vine response. Average berry weight was unaffected but yield and berry number was reduced through influences that arose the previous season as well as the current season. There was some evidence that the application of PRD resulted in the maintenance of leaf function as measured by photosynthesis, transpiration and stomatal conductance pre- and post-veraison, however, this difference was not reflected in yield or growth parameters. As indicated by high pH and low acid levels the relatively high evaporative demand and small rooting volume of the vines at this site resulted in the vines experiencing repeated periods of stress between irrigations. The contrasting results of different PRD studies, including this trial, clearly indicate that the response of vines to PRD treatments is not easily defined and that vine management, soil types, irrigation amount and climate play a critical role in a grapevine's response to PRD. At this high stress site vines irrigated near or below potential crop evapotranspiration (Etc) did not respond to PRD