Modeling climate change effects on the potential production of French plains forests at the sub-regional level

We modeled the effects of climate change and two forest management scenarios on wood production and forest carbon balance in French forests using process-based models of forest growth. We combined data from the national forest inventory and soil network survey, which were aggregated over a 50 x 50-km grid, i.e., the spatial resolution of the climate scenario data. We predicted and analyzed the climate impact on potential forest production over the period 1960-2100. All models predicted a slight increase in potential forest yield until 2030-2050, followed by a plateau or a decline around 2070-2100, with overall, a greater increase in yield in northern France than in the south. Gross and net primary productivities were more negatively affected by soil water and atmospheric water vapor saturation deficits in western France because of a more pronounced shift in seasonal rainfall from summer to winter. The rotation-averaged values of carbon flux and production for different forest management options were estimated during four years (1980, 2015, 2045 and 2080). Predictions were made using a two-dimensional matrix covering the range of local soil and climate conditions. The changes in ecosystem fluxes and forest production were explained by the counterbalancing effect of rising CO2 concentration and increasing water deficit. The effect of climate change decreased with rotation length from short rotations with high production rates and low standing biomasses to long rotations with low productivities and greater standing biomasses. Climate effects on productivity, both negative and positive, were greatest on high fertility sites. Forest productivity in northern France was enhanced by climate change, increasingly from west to east, whereas in the southwestern Atlantic region, productivity was reduced by climate change to an increasing degree from west to east.     

Studies of the water quality and algae of Llangorse Lake

1. Despite the importance of Llangorse Lake as the largest natural body of fresh water in South Wales, no long‐term limnological project has ever been planned for the lake. 2. A mass of data is available from sampling carried out at intervals since 1961, but these visits were for various reasons and used widely differing levels of expertise. However, from these data some indications of seasonal variations, effects of climate and human interference on the lake system over 30 years have been inferred. 3. Depth soundings revealed the general shallowness of the lake with two deeper basins. Wind action oxygenated the water and stirred up sediments releasing nutrients and resting algal stages into the water column. Periods of thermal stratification were transient in summer. Secchi disc and light readings showed greatest light penetration in April/May. The lake water remained alkaline throughout. Dissolved ammonia values were low in the 1960s, increased in the 1970s and decreased again in the 1980s. Nitrite‐ and nitrate‐nitrogen showed a converse pattern over the years. Phosphate (PO₄ P) and silica (SiO₂) values were highest in the 1960s, showed a decrease in the 1970s and early‐1980s, and rose again towards the end of the decade, as did the chloride values. Seasonal fluctuations of all nutrients were observed. 4. Diatoms dominated the phytoplankton, with highest production in summer and early autumn. The Cyanobacteria (blue–green algae) produced blooms in the 1960s and 1970s, but Chlorophyta (green algae) increased over the years and dominated in the 1980s after a diversion of sewage from the lake. Diatom production followed a vernal and late summer periodicity common in temperate lakes. Results from diatom stratigraphy of the deep sediment cores indicated a change from epiphytic to planktonic species related to land‐use change and a subsequent increase in soil erosion and turbidity. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Integrating social network development into marine protected area management capacity building and institutionalization in the Philippines and Indonesia

1. comprehensive needs assessment;
2. strong collaborative partnerships for programme delivery;
3. clear learning objectives and intended long‐term results; and
4. strong and sustained political will at the local, national, and regional scales.
5. Each MPA site, region, and capacity‐building programme is unique in structure and content, yet what all programmes have in common is that they build on the principles of trust and community building to create a locally relevant format and framework for the network to flourish.

     

Biological characterization of bovine herpesvirus 1 recombinants possessing the vaccine glycoprotein E negative phenotype

Intramolecular recombination is a frequent event during the replication cycle of bovine herpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1). Recombinant viruses frequently arise and survive in cattle after concomitant nasal infections with two BoHV-1 mutants. The consequences of this process, related to herpesvirus evolution, have to be assessed in the context of large use of live marker vaccines based on glycoprotein E (gE) gene deletion. In natural conditions, double nasal infections by vaccine and wild-type strains are likely to occur. This situation might generate virulent recombinant viruses inducing a serological response indistinguishable from the vaccine one. This question was addressed by generating in vitro BoHV-1 recombinants deleted in the gE gene from seven wild-type BoHV-1 strains and one mutant strain deleted in the genes encoding gC and gE. In vitro growth properties were assessed by virus production, one step growth kinetics and plaque size assay. Heterogeneity in the biological properties was shown among the investigated recombinant viruses. The results demonstrated that some recombinants, in spite of their gE minus phenotype, have biological characteristics close to wild-type BoHV-1.     

A Systematic Scoping Study of the Socio‐Economic Impact of Rift Valley Fever: Research Gaps and Needs

Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a severe mosquito‐borne disease affecting humans and domestic ruminants. RVF virus has been reported in most African countries, as well as in the Arabic Peninsula. This paper reviews the different types of socio‐economic impact induced by RVF disease and the attempts to evaluate them. Of the 52 papers selected for this review, 13 types of socio‐economic impact were identified according to the sector impacted, the level and temporal scale of the impact. RVF has a dramatic impact on producers and livestock industries, affecting public and animal health, food security and the livelihood of the pastoralist communities. RVF also has an impact on international trade and other agro‐industries. The risk of introducing RVF into disease‐free countries via the importation of an infected animal or mosquito is real, and the consequent restriction of access to export markets may induce dramatic economic consequences for national and local economies. Despite the important threat of RVF, few studies have been conducted to assess the socio‐economic impact of the disease. The 17 studies identified for quantitative analysis in this review relied only on partial cost analysis, with limited reference to mid‐ and long‐term impact, public health or risk mitigation measures. However, the estimated impacts were high (ranging from $5 to $470 million USD losses). To reduce the impact of RVF, early detection and rapid response should be implemented. Comprehensive disease impact studies are required to provide decision‐makers with science‐based information on the best intervention measure to implement ensuring efficient resource allocation. Through the analysis of RVF socio‐economic impact, this scoping study proposes insights into the mechanisms underpinning its often‐underestimated importance. This study highlights the need for comparative socio‐economic studies to help decision‐makers with their choices related to RVF disease management.     

Denitrification potential of a salt marsh soil: Effect of temperature,pH and substrate concentration

Denitrification was studied using samples of salt marsh soils collected from the New Jersey coast. The pH, organic matter content, NO₃^? and NO₂^? concentrations were determined on samples from marshes with and without grasses. Denitrification was measured in laboratory studies over a temperature range from 4° to 60°C and a pH range from 5.0 to 9.0 by monitoring NO₃^? reduction, NO₂^? reduction and N₂ evolution. Optimum conditions were controlled by a temperature-pH interaction which caused shifts in the pH optima relative to the change in temperature. No₃^? and NO₂^? were reduced over a broad range of No₃^? concentration; whereas, 0.2 mg NO₂^?-N ml^?1 completely inhibited denitrification. The presence of NO₃^? reverses this inhibition. N₂O was produced only at low pH values and low NO₃^? concentrations. It was concluded that the NO₂^? reducing system was the most easily disrupted of the three main processes of denitrification.