A system-level modelling perspective of the KwaZulu-Natal Bight ecosystem, eastern South Africa

The KwaZulu-Natal Bight comprises the only sizeable shelf region on the eastern coast of South Africa, and is influenced by both the Agulhas Current on its seaward side and rivers and estuaries on its landward side. Established knowledge of the effect of the Agulhas Current includes the influence on nutrient concentrations in the bight of a semi-permanent upwelling cell at its northern border (St Lucia) and, to a much lesser extent, of a semi-permanent eddy feature at its southern extremity. Current modelling efforts, however, point to a very important role of land-derived nutrients, which supplement the productivity of food webs of the bight. This connectivity of the bight to its adjacent ecosystems has various implications. First, its productivity has traditionally been viewed via phytoplankton growth, whereas ecosystem modelling efforts point to a very high reliance on imported detritus (mainly land-derived) in order to sustain especially the rich benthic food web. The benthos in the bight dominates the food web, and is in marked contrast to the upwelling system of the west coast of South Africa (Atlantic Ocean) where water-column productivity dominates. Second, the importance of the connectivity of the Thukela Bank prawn-trawling ground to estuarine nursery areas, which has been modelled quantitatively, highlights the significance of this particular ecosystem connectivity for fisheries and also for the Thukela Bank food web. Heterogeneity across the bight is apparent for nutrient turnover rates (carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus), CNP content and stoichiometry, whereas nitrogen is a limiting nutrient across the entire bight. The food web near the Thukela River is richer in nutrient content and more active (higher turnover rates) compared to the northern and southern parts of the bight. This environmental heterogeneity was also apparent from the CNP content and stoichiometry of the various species and species groups in the bight. Requirements to take the hydrodynamic, biogeochemical and first ecosystem modelling efforts towards a meaningful predictive capability are discussed. The importance of adopting a system-level view of the bight and its connected systems for realistic exploration of global change scenarios is highlighted.Keywords: Agulhas Current, ecosystem connectivity, freshwater inflow, systems analysis, Thukela Rive

The role of early parental bonding in the development of psychiatric symptoms in adulthood

Purpose of reviewTo identify and discuss recent research concerning the association between parent-child relationships and psychiatric symptoms in adulthood.Recent findingsDespite their methodological limitations such as small sample sizes and inadequate follow-up periods, recent studies have shown that early parental bonding may play an important role either as a risk or protection factor for the development of psychiatric symptoms in adulthood. Affective enhancement and encouragement of autonomy seem to exert a protective effect, whereas emotional neglect and overprotection seem to be risk factors for the development of psychiatric symptoms in adulthood.SummaryCurrent available data indicate that parent-child relationships may prevent or promote the development of psychiatric symptoms, mainly anxiety and depressive symptoms. in order to investigate the quality of parental bonding and its correlation with the level of psychological well being or psychiatric morbidity, further longitudinal studies with larger samples and adequate follow-up periods should be conducted.Center for Studies and Research in Neuropsychoanalysis (CEINP)/RUKHAConselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fed Univ São Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Psychiat, Program Res & Assistance Violence PROVE Inst, BR-04023061 São Paulo, BrazilBrazilian Psychoanalyt Soc São Paulo SBPSP, São Paulo, BrazilFed Univ São Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Psychiat, Program Res & Assistance Violence PROVE Inst, BR-04023061 São Paulo, BrazilCNPq: 420122/2005-2Web of Scienc