6 research outputs found

    The Carbon Holdings of Northern Ecuador's Mangrove Forests

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    <p>Within a geographic information systems environment, we combine field measures of mangrove tree diameter, mangrove species distribution, and mangrove tree density with remotely sensed measures of mangrove location and mangrove canopy cover to estimate the mangrove carbon holdings of northern Ecuador. We find that the four northern estuaries of Ecuador contain approximately 7,742,999 t (±15.47 percent) of standing carbon. Of particularly high carbon holdings are the <i>Rhizophora mangle</i>–dominated mangrove stands found in and around the Cayapas-Mataje Ecological Reserve in northern Esmeraldas Province, Ecuador, and certain stands of <i>Rhizophora mangle</i> in and around the Isla Corazón y Fragata Wildlife Refuge in central Manabí Province, Ecuador. Our field-driven mangrove carbon estimate is higher than all but one of the comparison models evaluated. We find that basic latitudinal mangrove carbon models performed at least as well, if not better, than the more complex species-based allometric models in predicting standing carbon levels. In addition, we find that improved results occur when multiple models are combined as opposed to relying on any one single model for mangrove carbon estimates. The high level of carbon contained in these mangrove forests, combined with the future atmospheric carbon sequestration potential they offer, makes it a necessity that they are included in any future payment for ecosystem services strategy aimed at using forest systems to offset CO<sub>2</sub> emissions and mitigate predicted CO<sub>2</sub>-driven temperature increases.</p

    Social-ecological factors and preventive actions decrease the risk of dengue infection at the household-level: Results from a prospective dengue surveillance study in Machala, Ecuador

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    <div><p>Background</p><p>In Ecuador, dengue virus (DENV) infections transmitted by the <i>Aedes aegypti</i> mosquito are among the greatest public health concerns in urban coastal communities. Community- and household-level vector control is the principal means of controlling disease outbreaks. This study aimed to assess the impact of knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) and social-ecological factors on the presence or absence of DENV infections in the household.</p><p>Methods</p><p>In 2014 and 2015, individuals with DENV infections from sentinel clinics in Machala, Ecuador, were invited to participate in the study, as well as members of their household and members of four neighboring households located within 200 meters. We conducted diagnostic testing for DENV on all study participants; we surveyed heads of households (HOHs) regarding demographics, housing conditions and KAPs. We compared KAPs and social-ecological factors between households with (n = 139) versus without (n = 80) DENV infections, using bivariate analyses and multivariate logistic regression models with and without interactions.</p><p>Results</p><p>Significant risk factors in multivariate models included proximity to abandoned properties, interruptions in piped water, and shaded patios (p<0.05). Significant protective factors included the use of mosquito bed nets, fumigation inside the home, and piped water inside the home (p<0.05). In bivariate analyses (but not multivariate modeling), DENV infections were positively associated with HOHs who were male, employed, and of younger age than households without infections (p<0.05). DENV infections were not associated with knowledge, attitude, or reported barriers to prevention activities.</p><p>Discussion</p><p>Specific actions that can be considered to decrease the risk of DENV infections in the household include targeting vector control in highly shaded properties, fumigating inside the home, and use of mosquito bed nets. Community-level interventions include cleanup of abandoned properties, daily garbage collection, and reliable piped water inside houses. These findings can inform interventions to reduce the risk of other diseases transmitted by the <i>Ae</i>. <i>aegypti</i> mosquito, such as chikungunya and Zika fever.</p></div

    A map of the study site and distribution of study households.

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    <p>(A) Location of Ecuador in the Americas (B) location of the city of Machala, El Oro Province, Ecuador, (C) and the distribution of households surveyed in this study. Household locations were aggregated to the neighborhood level for de-identification. Some clusters (5 households) have been disaggregated across block boundaries. This figure was created in ArcGIS version 10.3.1 (ESRI, 2016) using shape files from the GADM database of Global Administrative Areas, version 2.8, freely available at <a href="http://gadm.org" target="_blank">gadm.org</a>. Streets are derived from data available at the OpenStreetMap project (<a href="http://openstreetmap.org" target="_blank">openstreetmap.org</a>) for the municipality of Machala, El Oro, Ecuador. Neighborhood polygons were manually digitized by AMSI, and the shape file data are available upon request to the authors.</p
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