Author: Latest Results

COVID-19 response in Africa: impacts and lessons for environmental management and climate change adaptation

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Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic adds pressure on Africa; the most vulnerable continent to climate change impacts, threatening the realization of most Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The continent is witnessing an increase in intensity and frequency of extreme weather events, and environmental change. The COVID-19 was managed relatively well across in the continent, providing lessons and impetus for environmental management and addressing climate change. This work examines the possible impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the environment and climate change, analyses its management and draws lessons from it for climate change response in Africa. The data, findings and lessons are drawn from peer reviewed articles and credible grey literature on COVID-19 in Africa. The COVID-19 pandemic spread quickly, causing loss of lives and stagnation of the global economy, overshadowing the current climate crisis. The pandemic was managed through swift response by the top political leadership, research and innovations across Africa providing possible solutions to COVID-19 challenges, and redirection of funds to manage the pandemic. The well-coordinated COVID-19 containment strategy under the African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention increased sharing of resources including data was a success in limiting the spread of the virus. These strategies, among others, proved effective in limiting the spread and impact of COVID-19. The findings provide lessons that stakeholders and policy-makers can leverage in the management of the environment and address climate change. These approaches require solid commitment and practical-oriented leadership.

The importance of animals in sacrificial rituals and socio-religious occasions practised by the indigenous communities of Morocco and strategies to conserve them from extinction

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Abstract

Using animals in sacrificial rituals and socio-religious ceremonies has a long history and is still practised in various cultures and religions worldwide. This phenomenon remains a complex issue, with deeply held cultural and religious beliefs on one side and concerns for animal welfare and ethical treatment on the other. This study aims to analyze the domestic and wild animals exploited for sacrificial practices and socio-religious purposes among the Moroccan and comprehend the symbolism of these practices. This fieldwork has been undertaken in various regions of Morocco, where we focused on visiting areas known to use animals in rituals. Ethnozoological data were gathered during field observations, visits to public markets, and our participation in ritual activities. A total of 128 wild and domestic animal species belonging to 62 zoological families were identified in this investigation as being used for various sacrificial rituals and socio-religious events. The documented animals were distributed among eight classes. It was demonstrated that the most frequently cited classes were Mammalia, with 40 species. The presence of local wildlife, cultural trends, and economic factors contribute to the sustainability and growth of the market for ritualistic animal products. However, the absence of effective monitoring and regulation poses a challenge from a conservationist standpoint. To conserve and responsibly utilize Morocco's fauna, it is crucial to possess comprehensive information about the animal species involved in sacrificial rituals and socio-religious events. By exploring folk knowledge and healthcare practices, we can gain deeper insights into human interactions with the surrounding ecosystem, leading to the development of suitable strategies for preserving natural resources.

Graphical Abstract

The impact of a rural clinic expansion on the fertility of young rural women in Mexico

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Abstract

We estimate the effects of a rural health clinic expansion for the uninsured, which started in 1980 in Mexico, on the fertility of young women in 1987. Our results show that access to rural clinics decreased women’s fertility, particularly for the youngest in our sample. Clinics have positive and significant impacts on contraceptive knowledge and use, supporting the link between the decrease in fertility and the family planning services provided by them. Finally, we find evidence suggesting that the delay in fertility for these women allowed them to increase their schooling and their labor force participation.

National legislative adoption of international wildlife law after treaty ratification

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Abstract

Since the 1970s, the world has witnessed a proliferation of international treaties championing the protection of wildlife. The effectiveness of those treaties, which together comprise international wildlife law (IWL), depends on their national implementation by individual states rather than on their number. National implementation of IWL ranges from legislative action, to resource allocation, to individual behavioural change. Inadequate IWL implementation can facilitate and even lead to wildlife crime. Therefore, examining how countries operationalise their commitments derived from IWL is important to understand the efficacy (or lack thereof) of wildlife treaties. The main goal of this article is to investigate the dynamics by which nations internalise international wildlife commitments into state law, by using Norway as a case study. The article thus explores the social dynamics that shaped the domestic legal action that Norway undertook after its ratification of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern Convention). The study is based on historical data documenting Norway’s legislative processes derived from the conventions and historical records of the country’s environmental conflicts. It applies Chambliss’s sociology of law perspective on conflict to interpret the material. While many globalisation scholars hold that globalisation stripped states of legislative sovereignty, this article argues that Norway’s wildlife policy is mostly dependent on clashes between national forces, rather than Norway conceding legislative powers to the international community. In other words, the tension between economic growth and ecosystem conservation determines how Norway implements IWL commitments. This article contributes to the literature on environmental regime effectiveness and the domestic impact of treaties.

Achieving Equity in Child and Adolescent Mental Health by Addressing Racism Through Prevention Science

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Abstract

Prevention science is a multidisciplinary field dedicated to promoting public health and reducing early risk factors that lead to negative health outcomes. It has been used to successfully improve child and family mental health and well-being, including for families affected by adversity. Despite advances in prevention efforts, major public health inequities remain for Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color (BIPOC) children and families, in part because of equity-implicit “one-size-fits-all” approaches that do not directly address racism which in part underlies the very health concerns these efforts aim to prevent. Structural racism not only introduces additional risk for negative health outcomes for BIPOC families but also it reduces access to prevention-focused programs and policies, thus perpetuating inequities across generations. Adopting an equity-explicit, antiracist lens that attends to the effects of structural racism can strengthen the impact of prevention efforts by more effectively improving child and family health, reducing access barriers, and effecting multigenerational change for BIPOC families experiencing various levels of adversity. Evidence-informed recommendations for applying antiracist prevention science include the following: explicitly incorporating an understanding of structural racism within prevention science methods and theory (e.g., risk and resilience frameworks); establishing and fostering truly equitable community partnerships; diversifying the field through mentorship of BIPOC scholars and clinicians focused on child and family well-being; assembling diverse transdisciplinary research teams to address child health inequities in a family-centered manner; attending to intersectionality; and using implementation science to promote access and sustainability for all families.

Physical and Biological Controls on the Annual CO2 Cycle in Agua Hedionda Lagoon, Carlsbad, CA

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Abstract

Agua Hedionda Lagoon (AHL), a tidal estuary located on the southern California coast, supports a diverse ecosystem while serving numerous recreation activities, a marine fish hatchery, a shellfish hatchery, and the largest desalination plant in the western hemisphere. In this work, a 1-year time series of carbon dioxide data is used to establish baseline average dissolved inorganic carbon conditions in AHL. Based on a mass balance model of the outer basin of the lagoon, we propose that AHL is a source of inorganic carbon to the adjacent ocean, through advective export, at a rate of 5.9 × 106 mol C year−1, and a source of CO2 to the atmosphere of 0.21 × 106 mol C year−1 (1 mol C m−2 year−1), implying a net heterotrophic system on the order of 6.0 × 106 mol C year−1 (30 mol C m−2 year−1). Although variable with a range throughout the year of 80% about the mean, the ecosystem remained persistently heterotrophic, reaching peak rates during the summer season. Using results from the mass balance, the annual cycle of selected properties of the aqueous CO2 system (pH, pCO2, and CaCO3 saturation state) were mathematically decomposed in order to examine the relative contribution of drivers including advection, ecosystem metabolism, and temperature that act to balance their observed annual cycle. Important findings of this study include the identification of advection as a prime driver of biogeochemical variability and the establishment of a data-based estimate of mean flushing time for AHL.

Assessing Tidal Hydrodynamics in a Tropical Seascape Using Structure‐from‐Motion Photogrammetry and 2D Flow Modelling

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Abstract

Tidal wetlands continue to be threatened by changes in seascape hydrological regime and connectivity resulting from human activities (e.g. urbanisation, engineered barriers) and climate change. Reliable and parsimonious models that can be used by managers and practitioners to simulation tidal wetland hydroperiod dynamics (duration, depth, and frequency of tidal inundation) at high-resolution are limited presumably because these ecosystems have very low elevation across their flooding plain. Here, we developed a two-dimensional hydrodynamic model parameterised using a high-resolution (3 cm) and accurate (8-cm RMSE elevation error) digital elevation model (DEM) and land cover map (2-cm resolution) derived from unoccupied aerial vehicles (UAVs) structure from motion photogrammetry (SfM) to assist in the understanding of tidal wetland hydroperiod and hydrological connectivity of an upper tidal Australian tropical seascape. Ground-based water level datasets were used to calibrate and validate the model with higher accuracy (RMSE = 7 cm between maximum observed and simulated depth). The high-resolution approach demonstrates how small changes in topography such as vehicle tracks can interfere with hydrological connectivity. Centimetre-changes in tidal height resulted in important variations (10 ha) in the total area of the wetland being inundated, suggesting that small anthropogenic modifications of tidal inputs (e.g. culverts and sea-level rise) might have important implications on tidal wetland inundation patterns. Despite challenges related to reconstructing topography in densely vegetated areas and obtaining bathymetric data, the method developed here represents an accurate and cost-effective approach to quantify tidal wetland hydroperiod. This approach assists in planning, defining, and implementing effective and measurable restoration and protection projects of tidal wetland ecosystems.

Graphical Abstract

High-Resolution In Situ Characterization of the Hydrochemical Variability Along the Fluvio-marine Transition of the Río de la Plata Estuary, Argentina

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Abstract

Estuaries are characterized by steep biogeochemical gradients that are often overlooked by discrete water sampling which is especially critical for large ecosystems like the Río de la Plata estuary (RLP). To overcome this limitation, high-resolution in situ measurements of salinity, temperature, pH, turbidity, chlorophyll a (Chl-a), colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) complemented by laboratory analysis of Chl-a and suspended particle (SPM) grain size distribution were employed to characterize the fluvio-marine transition along seven legs covering 1500 km in the RLP. In situ records performed each 400 m permitted to detect the anthropogenic discharge of CDOM in the upper freshwater Buenos Aires–La Plata metropolitan sector (1.7–3.6 mg C l−1) and the sharp turbidity increase at the beginning of the saline intrusion (S: 0.2–2) resulting in a consistent turbidity maximum zone formation (TMZ: 180–350 NTU). High-resolution data at the TMZ also revealed a significant positive covariation of Chl-a with turbidity indicating the retention of freshwater algae. The relative increase of phaeopigments in the South TMZ sector supported the detrital signature of the Paraná River load contrasting with the less turbid and fresher signal of the North corridor influenced by the Uruguay River flow. CDOM showed an opposite pattern and decreased with turbidity at the TMZ suggesting partial colloid precipitation from the surface’s 50-cm layer sampled by the boat, followed by a rapid recovery and a linear decrease with salinity (2.9 ± 0.7 to 0.3 ± 0.4 mg C l−1). Turbidity and SPM grain size measurements also reflected the North–South asymmetry of the estuary with lower turbidities enriched in finer fractions along the Northern corridor. A consistent transport pathway of partially mixed, turbid waters enriched in Chl-a, CDOM, and clays concentrated in the TMZ with intermediate salinities was traced downstream along the South shore as a significant transport pathway of suspended solids to the sea.

Lectin-mediated, time-efficient, and high-yield sorting of different morphologically intact nephron segments

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Abstract

The kidney is a highly complex organ equipped with a multitude of miniscule filter-tubule units called nephrons. Each nephron can be subdivided into multiple segments, each with its own morphology and physiological function. To date, conventional manual approaches to isolate specific nephron segments are very laborious, time-consuming, often limited to only a specific segment, and typically have low yield. Here, we describe a novel, unconventional method that is superior in many aspects to previous protocols by combining low-cost fluorophore-conjugated lectins or agglutinins (Flaggs) with flow sorting. This allows the simultaneous separation of different nephron segments with preserved 3D morphology from mouse or human samples in under 3 h. Using a 200-µm nozzle and 5 psi, glomeruli, proximal, or distal convoluted tubules are sorted with Cy3-labeled Sambucus Nigra agglutinin (SNA-Cy3), Fluorescein-labeled Lotus Tetragonolobus lectin (LTL-FITC), or Pacific Blue-labeled soybean agglutinin (SBA-PB), respectively. Connecting tubules and collecting ducts are sorted by double-positive SBA-PB and SNA-Cy3 signals, while thick ascending limb segments are characterized by the absence of any Flaggs labeling. From two mouse kidneys, this yields 37–521 ng protein/s or 0.71–16.71 ng RNA/s, depending on the specific nephron segment. The purity of sorted segments, as assessed by mRNA expression level profiling of 15 genes, is very high with a 96.1-fold median enrichment across all genes and sorted segments. In summary, our method represents a simple, straightforward, cost-effective, and widely applicable tool yielding high amounts of pure and morphologically largely intact renal tubule materials with the potential to propel nephron segment-specific research.