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We investigated whether residents who lived closer to the core of one of the largest industrial zone in Europe (Fos-sur-Mer, France) had higher serum levels of organochlorine indicators (NDL-PCBs, DL-PCBs and PCDD/Fs) than people who lived out of the industrial core zone (Saint-Martin-de-Crau, France). The INDEX cross-sectional study was conducted from September to November 2016. We collected blood samples from 138 people (80 in the exposed area and 58 in the control area), which were included using a stratified random sampling method and selected with strict criteria (e.g., 30–65 years old, living in the area for at least 3 years, not working in the industrial sector, non-smoker). Biomonitoring indicators were calculated using multivariate linear regression models, adjusting for personal physiological, social, dietary, housing characteristics and free-time activities. We also measured these pollutants in samples of lichens (Xanthoria parietina) and atmospheric particles (PM2.5). We found that behaviours that involved environmental exposures (such as gardening, dietary history of consumption of vegetables, eggs, poultry, and local seafood) were significantly associated with an increase in organochlorine serum levels amongst residents of the industrial port zone compared to the residents of the control area. We also observed spatial and temporal variations of the pollutants across the territory. Our observations provided clues in understanding the presence of organochlorine compounds in the human body and links to environmental exposures in the context of one of the largest industrial zone in Europe.

Fish are widely used as model organisms for the assessment of the quality of aquatic environment and can therefore serve as bio-indicators of environmental contamination. The current research investigates the eco-physiological damage to fishes in Suez Canal for enhancing the biomonitoring of this area through the biochemical investigation, were estimated in the gills, kidney and liver of Mullet, (Crenimugil crenilabis) from Suez Canal, Egypt. This area gets a lot of wastes discharged from several industries, and it is considered as the main routes of many tankers. Crenimugil crenilabis weigh up approximately 350-600 g were fished from Nabq Managed Resource Protected Area as a control area and Suez Canal as a polluted area. Compared with control, a significant changing in the biochemical analysis results, shows that there was an initiation of oxidative stress in the tissue of Mullet from the Suez Canal which indicating the contamination status of this area.

A common argument for western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis) control in Oregon is the amount of water saved due to reduction in the number of trees. Yet a good understanding of water use by mature trees and sapling regrowth following mature juniper removal has not been documented. Such information is important to better assess how much water can be saved by juniper control. We used sap flow sensors to monitor water use by mature juniper in a control area and saplings in an area where juniper control occurred in 2005. Sap flow data collected between May 2017 and Sep 2019 showed the period of highest water use was in the summer, although this varied each year. In July 2017 (wettest yr of the study), mature trees used 144 L/d, approximately twice as much as in the average of July 2018 and 2019 (dry yr). During the period of maximum water uptake, mature trees used between 45 and 69 times more water than saplings depending on precipitation and, consequently, soil water availability. In summary, 1) juniper water use varies greatly with precipitation and 2) because of the large difference between mature and sapling trees, juniper control results in considerable water savings, even after a 14-yr period of juniper regrowth.

L’étude a été réalisée dans les régions de Kolda et de Sédhiou, en Haute et Moyenne Casamance, dans de jeunes plantations de baobabs (Adansonia digitata L.) installées en 2014 pour raccourcir le cycle de production afin de réduire la pression exercée sur les populations adultes de baobabs, de plus en plus menacées. L’objectif était d’évaluer l’influence des plantations de baobabs sur la diversité et la production de biomasse du tapis herbacé selon les localités. Les plantations ont été constituées de parcelles clôturées de 0,5 hectare chacune, subdivisées en trois blocs. Chaque bloc a été subdivisé en quatre sous-blocs. Dans chaque sous bloc, un relevé floristique a été effectué selon la méthode de Braun-Blanquet. Parallèlement, d’autres relevés ont été réalisés dans des parcelles non clôturées (témoins) avoisinant les plantations. La récolte de la biomasse herbacée s’est faite dans des placettes de 32 mètres carrés, précédemment délimitées pour l’inventaire floristique, avec cinq prélèvements aux quatre coins et au milieu. La flore globale inventoriée comprenait 63 espèces réparties en 41 genres et 17 familles, dont 40 espèces à Dianabo, 38 à Sénoba et à Saré Modika, et 46 dans la zone témoin. L’indice de Shannon, avec 1,19 à Dianabo, 1,16 à Sénoba et 1,13 à Saré Modika, et l’indice d’équitabilité, avec 0,62 à Dianabo et Saré Modika et 0,60 à Sénoba, ont très peu différé d’une plantation à l’autre et de la zone témoin où ils ont été respectivement de 1,23 et 0,63. La phytomasse obtenue a été respectivement de 2,85, 6,6 et 5,1 tonnes de matière sèche par hectare respectivement à Dianabo, à Sénoba et dans les parcelles témoins.

Understanding how fire affects the plant biota of the Cerrado is essential for formulating conservational strategies. We evaluated the effects of fires during different periods of the year on the populational structure of Anacardium humile. The research was carried out in areas of typical cerrado stricto sensu in the territory of the Kalunga, state of Goiás, Brazil. These areas, which comprise the same population, were submitted to the following treatments: unburned (control), burned in May 2016 (early fire - EF), and burned in September 2016 (late fire - LF). In July 2018, we delimited two contiguous transects of 100 x 20 m, subdivided into 10 plots of 20 x 20 m, in each area. Fire stimulated the development of branches from basal regrowth in EF and LF. No differences were found in height and diameter of individuals among LF, EF, and the control area. Individuals of EF had size patterns similar to the control individuals, indicating a lesser effect of early fire. The greatest differences regarding all significant parameters were found between LF and control individuals. Early prescribed fires, depending on periodicity, may be less harmful to A. humile.

A nthropogenic impact on the environment leads in most cases to forest systems degradation; therefore there is a need for the forest science development towards a balance finding between forest’s ecological functions and economic effect from stands. Introduced species are of great importance in this respect, especially if they are dominated by native tree species. Feasibility of diverse use of black walnut fruits and wood, the urgency of searching for tree species, which are resistant to negative impacts associated with climate change, the issue of increasing pests and diseases resistance encourages scientists to an in-depth study of the questions on the possibilities of black walnut cultivation in the Right Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. Taking into account the previous experience of black walnut growing in this region and its prospects, we have decided to study more thoroughly the first stage of high-yielding stands restoration, which involves forest stands development. The study included several stages, in particular: studying of black walnut growing experience, seeds quality inspection, sites selection according to forestry scientists recommendations for this species conditions, test plots establishment using plant growth regulators with the definition of the most effective ones and identification of optimal doses of their application. To study the influence of plant growth regulators on the growth and development of black walnut plants we used preparations of N-oxide pyridine derivatives and their compositions with the biological preparation of Ecostim-1. Bleached were the seeds of black nuts, which had a tight germ of milk-white or cream color. The quality of samples was 99 %. The best results in the first year of autumn growth were obtained using growth regulators of group 1. In the group 1 percent of liveliness varied from 73 % to 93 % in June and from 77 % to 90 % in October. On the control site the survivability is 69 %. Comparing the height of black walnut tree seedlings, determined in spring and autumn, it should be emphasized that the increase of seedlings height of black walnut was proportional – the highest plants of the spring period remained the same in the autumn period. In autumn the seedlings grown using growth regulators D5S, D11S, D13S, D16S, D20S, D21S, DGK6, DGUR had the height of more than 90 cm. In the control area the height of the black walnut plants in the spring period was 20 cm, and in the autumn it was 76 cm. Having determined the average diameter of the plants at the height of the root collar, we obtained the best results using D5S, but there are no significant fluctuations on this indicator. Key words: Juglans nigra, silvicultural and mensuration indicators of forest stands , age, site index class, type of forest growth conditions.

Open‐pit mining results in large amounts of degraded lands that require ecological recovery. Adequate‐species selection for ecological recovery is of great importance. In this study, field investigations along the disturbance gradients (marginal area, restoration area, and control area) in a manganese ore deposit of Guangxi in Southern China were carried out. We screened the adequate species from two aspects. In the marginal area, the result of corrected Akaike information criterion revealed that Mn was the most important soil parameter affecting vegetation diversity. Cyclosorus parasiticus (L.) Farwell., Setaria viridis (L.) Beauv., Mimosa sepiaria Benth., and Bidens pilosa L. were selected for their abilities to adapt to high‐Mn‐content soils. In the restoration area and control area, we combined important values and field performance (Dickson quality index, DQI) of species to select adequate species. Miscanthus sinensis Anderss. and Arundinella hirta (Thunb.) Tanaka were selected using the similar DQI (p > 0.05) in both areas. In summary, C. parasiticus (L.) Farwell., S. viridis (L.) Beauv., M. sinensis Anderss., and A. hirta (Thunb.) Tanaka were selected as adequate species because of their high potential to adapt to these disturbed sites. Our results and methodology could have a demonstrating effect for restoration programmes in manganese ore mining areas of China.

BackgroundThe introduction of the bacteriumWolbachia(wMel strain) intoAedes aegyptimosquitoes reduces their capacity to transmit dengue and other arboviruses. Evidence of a reduction in dengue case incidence following field releases ofwMel-infectedAe. aegyptihas been reported previously from a cluster randomised controlled trial in Indonesia, and quasi-experimental studies in Indonesia and northern Australia.MethodsFollowing pilot releases in 2015 – 2016 and a period of intensive community engagement, deployments of adultwMel-infectedAe. aegyptimosquitoes were conducted in Niterói, Brazil during 2017 – 2019. Deployments were phased across four release zones, with a total area of 83 km2and a residential population of approximately 373,000. A quasi-experimental design was used to evaluate the effectiveness ofwMel deployments in reducing dengue, chikungunya and Zika incidence. An untreated control zone was pre-defined, which was comparable to the intervention area in historical dengue trends. ThewMel intervention effect was estimated by controlled interrupted time series analysis of monthly dengue, chikungunya and Zika case notifications to the public health surveillance system before, during and after releases, from release zones and the control zone.ResultsThree years after commencement of releases,wMel introgression into localAe. aegyptipopulations was heterogeneous throughout Niterói, reaching a high prevalence (>80%) in the earliest release zone, and more moderate levels (prevalence 40 -70%) elsewhere. Despite this spatial heterogeneity in entomological outcomes, thewMel intervention was associated with a 69% reduction in dengue incidence (95% confidence interval 54%, 79%), a 56% reduction in chikungunya incidence (95%CI 16%, 77%) and a 37% reduction in Zika incidence (95%CI 1%, 60%), in the aggregate release area compared with the pre-defined control area. This significant intervention effect on dengue was replicated across all four release zones, and in three of four zones for chikungunya, though not in individual release zones for Zika.ConclusionsWe demonstrate thatwMelWolbachiacan be successfully introgressed intoAe. aegyptipopulations in a large and complex urban setting, and that a significant public health benefit from reduced incidence ofAedes-borne disease accrues even where the prevalence ofwMel in local mosquito populations is moderate and spatially heterogeneous. These findings are consistent with the results of randomised and non-randomised field trials in Indonesia and northern Australia, and are supportive of theWolbachiabiocontrol method as a multivalent intervention against dengue, chikungunya and Zika.

Movement and land application of manure is a known risk factor for secondary spread of avian influenza viruses. During an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), movement of untreated (i.e., fresh) manure from premises known to be infected is prohibited. However, moving manure from apparently healthy (i.e., clinically normal) flocks may be critical, because some egg-layer facilities have limited on-site storage capacity. The objective of this analysis was to evaluate targeted dead-bird active surveillance real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) testing protocols that could be used for the managed movement of manure from apparently healthy egg-layer flocks located in an HPAI control area. We also evaluated sequestration, which is the removal of manure from any contact with chickens, or with manure from other flocks, for a period of time, while the flock of origin is actively monitored for the presence of HPAI virus. We used stochastic simulation models to predict the chances of moving a load of contaminated manure, and the quantity of HPAI virus in an 8 metric ton (8000 kg) load of manure moved, before HPAI infection could be detected in the flock. We show that the likelihood of moving contaminated manure decreases as the length of the sequestration period increases from 3 to 10 days (e.g., for a typical contact rate, with a sample pool size of 11 swabs, the likelihood decreased from 48% to

Preliminary results of comparing biologically rehabilitated areas, where three different methods were applied at the same time, to the background control showed that the sapling planted area showed the greatest similarity (75%) and no difference in vegetation cover and biomass (t = -0.88, p = 0.40; t = -0.22, p = 0.83) with the control. In contrast, the similarity of the hydroseeded area was 45.5%, while the drill seeded area was the least similar to the control area (0%). This suggests that the sapling planting method was the most successful rehabilitation method. However, the study will be continued to include more rehabilitated areas and allow more time for vegetation recovery in rehabilitated areas

Artificial reefs (ARs) have become an important tool to increase the ichthyofauna associated with artisanal and commercial fishing. Integrated evaluations of ARs are necessary to comprehend the condition and benefits of these structures. Multimetric indices (ARMIs) were developed to evaluate fish assemblages associated with artificial structures and to assess the efficiency of the AR compared to control area (CA). The AR global ranking index (ARMIr) and AR local effect index (ARMIe) include 16 metrics that represent four broad levels of the fish community: structure of fish assemblages, trophic structure, vulnerability and economic importance. Individual metrics were evaluated using a long-term dataset of fish assemblages from the AR and CA in northern Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Bottom gillnets were used to sample the fish two times per year for 21 years after creating the reef. The ARMIr general score for the AR was 51 out of a possible 100, with scores varying from 38 to 54. The ARMIr general score for the CA was 39 out of 100, with scores varying from 35 to 47. Average ARMIe values were 12% higher for the AR in relation to the CA. Spatial-temporal comparisons of the ARMIr using generalized additive models revealed significant differences between AR and CA. Evaluations of the ARMIe scores revealed that the assemblage structure and economic importance level significantly increased over time in the AR. The proposed indices combine structural and functional levels of fish, providing a robust and sensitive method to evaluate the ecological condition of ARs and adjacent areas. The data contribute to discussions related to ARs management and provides a baseline for defining fish assemblage metrics in assessment of localities with artificial structures. JL Lima thanks the Rio de Janeiro State Foundation Support Research (FAPERJ) and the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES) for their scholarships. This work was funded by FAPERJ (E-26/203.002/2016) and the National Council for Scientific and Technological - CNPq (301084/2016-5). This study was also partially funded by the CAPES (finance code 001).

Disorder of the relationship between biotic and abiotic elements against the background of anthropogenic stress on the human body affects the course of bone remodeling. It is bone tissue in the human body that has the greatest cumulative properties with respect to many xenobiotics, lead in particular. The accumulation of lead in the bone leads to the replacement of calcium ions by ions of the abiotic element and causes further changes in the bone structure: inhibition of growth processes, decreased density, the development of osteopenia and osteoporosis. In the article, a comparative hygienic analysis of bone mineral density levels (according to T-score) in industrial (n=68) and control (n=70) areas was conducted. The T-score, calculated at the LI-LIV level obtained by the method of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used and was evaluated according to the recommendations of the WHO. The formation of a homogeneous sample of persons for the study was conducted according to the place of residence, age, sex, absence of diseases and regular intake of drugs leading to a decrease in bone mass. Summarizing the results, it should be noted that the population of Dniprо city has a more negative and significant decrease in the bone mineral density (according to the T-score) compared to the same values of the control areas – 2.15-4.6 times and Ukraine's – 1.39-4.21 times. According to WHO recommendations, T-score indices for residents of industrial territory indicate to the presence of osteopenia, while among residents of the control area, the norm for this indicator is noted. Consequently, there is an effect of man-made including lead, pollution of the environment on the level of bone mineral density in the industrial city this contributes to the development of osteoporotic changes in the population.

Coastal wetlands along migratory flyways are crucial in supporting staging or wintering waterbirds, yet they are often targeted for wind energy development. Potential conflicts are likely to be strong in densely populated East and Southeast Asia, where many bird species along the flyway are endangered, and wind energy projects are just flourishing. We investigated waterbird abundance and flight behavior at a coastal wind farm at the mid of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. For shorebirds roosting in the aquacultural ponds, the abundance showed no significant change in the study area compared with the control area across all development stages of the wind farm. For egrets breeding in the mangroves, fewer Cattle Egrets Bubulcus ibis were observed in the year of wind farm construction and the first year of wind farm operation, then the number recovered afterwards. Since the operation of the wind farm, birds avoided crossing closely spaced (200 m) turbines while travelling through widely spaced (500 m) ones more frequently. Shorebirds, egrets, and landbirds flew lower when turbines were present, reducing the overlap of their flight height with the swept zone. Our study suggests that coastal wind farms are not necessarily a great threat to waterbirds. Yet environmentally sound planning and rigorous monitoring are crucial in minimizing potential impacts.

BackgroundAe. aegypti mosquitoes stably transfected with the intracellular bacterium Wolbachia pipientis (wMel strain) have been deployed for the biocontrol of dengue and related arboviral diseases in multiple countries. Field releases in northern Australia have previously demonstrated near elimination of local dengue transmission from Wolbachia-treated communities, and pilot studies in Indonesia have demonstrated the feasibility and acceptability of the method. We conducted a quasi-experimental trial to evaluate the impact of scaled Wolbachia releases on dengue incidence in an endemic setting in Indonesia.Methods and findingsIn Yogyakarta City, Indonesia, following an extensive community engagement campaign, wMel Wolbachia-carrying mosquitoes were released every two weeks for 13–15 release rounds over seven months in 2016–17, in a contiguous 5 km2 area (population 65,000). A 3 km2 area (population 34,000) on the opposite side of the city was selected a priori as an untreated control area, on the basis of comparable socio-demographic characteristics and historical dengue incidence. Passive surveillance data on notified hospitalised dengue patients was used to evaluate the epidemiological impact of Wolbachia deployments, using controlled interrupted time series analysis. Rapid and sustained introgression of wMel Wolbachia into local Ae. aegypti populations was achieved. Thirty-four dengue cases were notified from the intervention area and 53 from the control area (incidence 26 vs 79 per 100,000 person-years) during the 24 months after Wolbachia was deployed. This corresponded in the regression model to a 73% reduction in dengue incidence (95% confidence interval 49%,86%) associated with the Wolbachia intervention. Exploratory analysis including an additional 6 months of post-intervention observations showed a small strengthening of this effect (30 vs 115 per 100,000 person-years; 76% reduction in incidence, 95%CI 60%,86%).ConclusionsThese findings demonstrate a significant reduction in dengue incidence following successful introgression of Wolbachia into local Ae. aegypti populations in an endemic setting in Indonesia. These results are consistent with previous field trials in northern Australia, and support the effectiveness of this novel approach for the control of dengue and other Aedes-borne diseases.

Chronic wasting disease (CWD), a degenerative and fatal prion disease affecting cervids, was detected for the first time in the province of Qu&eacute, bec, Canada, in a red deer (Cervus elaphus) farm in the Laurentides region on 10 September 2018. To assess CWD prevalence and control the disease in the free-ranging white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) population, a response plan including enhanced surveillance, population control, regulatory measures, and public outreach was deployed by the Ministry of Forests, Wildlife, and Parks (MFFP). In the 401 km2 white-tailed deer control area, a total of 750 free-ranging white-tailed deer were culled over 70 days, from 22 September to 15 December 2018. Of the culled deer, 534 were tested for CWD. We also tested for CWD a total of 447 white-tailed deer hunted from the enhanced surveillance zone and 2584 free-ranging white-tailed deer harvested outside this zone. Regulations were applied to prevent the spread of the disease through movements of infected animals harvested by hunters. Although no case of CWD was detected in free-ranging cervids in Qu&eacute, bec in 2018, this does not confirm the absence of the disease in these populations. However, the results suggest that if CWD is present, few free-ranging cervids are infected, making it possible to prevent its establishment in the province of Qu&eacute, bec.

This study was conducted to identify the mesofauna inhabiting the reclamation area (Grasberg) and the natural succession (Ertsberg), to observe the development of mesofauna and to know the species compotition in the given area. Research method was pitfall trap that set up in reclamation area, natural succession and in control area. The result revealed that mesofauna in reclamation area were dominated by the family Isotomidae and Neelidae (Ordo Collembola) with the relative dominancy value 23,90% and 24,37% respectively, the presence or relative frequency 9,23% and 9,23%, and relative density value 23,90% dan 24,37% individuals/m³. Mesofauna in succession area Ertsberg were dominated by the family Neelidae (Ordo Collembola) with the relative dominancy value 31,85%, the presence or relative frequency 5,41% and relative dencity value 31,85% individual/m³. The dominant mesofauna in control area was famili Neelidae (Ordo Collembola) with the relative dominancy value 22,5%, the presence or relative frequency 4,17%, and the relative density value was 22,5% individual/m³. Phylum Arthropoda dominated the whole study area with the total individual 2089, whereas Phylum Annelida consisted of 33 individuals. The highest species composition was found in Menado Leach Pad (509 individuals) followed by Jayapura Crusher (322 individuals) and Ertsberg Lower (301 individuals). Species composition of mesofauna in the study area was generally grouped into two phyilum; Arthropoda and Annelida which consisted of 4 classes, 13 ordo, 38 families and 2122 individuals. Environmental recovery undertaken by the Freeport Company through reclamation and natural succession was successfully done as indicated by the occurrence of various vegetation and mesofauna that interact each other.Key words: Mesofauna, reclamation area Grasberg, natural succession Erstberg, Freeport Company, Timika.

Prescribed fires are used as a fuel reduction tool, but heat alter microsite conditions affecting the natural regeneration of Mediterranean pine forests. Our study tested the hypothesis that implementing prescription before or after pine seed release may influence the composition of tree communities by changing the regeneration patterns of Pinus pinaster Aiton across a climatic gradient in the eastern Iberian Peninsula. We ran a seed-sowing experiment to analyse the recruitment patterns of this pine species in prescribed-burned stands, in two different biogeographical seed provenances from wetter and drier areas than the local seeding site. Survival of seedlings was through one year, until the end of the first drought and winter period, respectively. >5400 seeds were sown during the study distributed in sixty plots (30 burned, 30 unburned) per site and treatment, with 10 seeding units per plot. General linear models (GLMs) and ANOVA analyses indicated higher performance for the Drier seed provenance in burned areas, whereas a similar performance was recorded in the control area. Control areas showed higher germination and success rates for plant establishment throughout the study period. Total germination and survival after one year were slightly higher, respectively, at northern sites due to massive mortality during summer in the southern stands. At the burned sites, the mean germination time was significantly longer in those seeds sown before fire passage than those sown after fire. Total germination and successful establishment were significantly higher in the individuals sown before the passage of the fire than in those sown after fire. Most of the mortality occurred in summer for the southern stand, while winter was the most constraining period at the northern sites. The understanding of the dynamics in this species' establishment can help managers to perform a better management planning according to the species' ecology.

Atmospheric pollution is among the largest anthropogenic impacts on the ecosystem. In numerous studies it was observed that plants, especially those that grow in urban areas, are heavily influenced by different pollutants and their survival is correlated with structural and metabolic adaptation to stressful environmental conditions. Primary objective of this study was to determine the index of tolerance to air pollution (APTI) of plantain (Plantago major), on two locations in Zenica. The results indicated that index of tolerance to air pollution of P. major, APTI, is higher in individuals sampled from the contaminated site, than those in the control area.

Background The developing fetuses of pregnant women are at high risk of developing serious birth defects following Zika virus infections. We applied an Integrated Vector Control (IVC) approach using source reduction, larviciding, and mass trapping with non-insecticidal sticky traps to protect targeted houses by reducing the density of female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Methods We tested the hypothesis that Ae. aegypti density could be reduced to below three female mosquitoes/trap/week around a target house in the center of a circular area with a 150 m radius using IVC. Two non-adjacent areas within the same neighbourhood were selected and randomly designated as the treatment or control areas. Sentinel Autocidal Gravid Ovitraps (SAGO traps) were placed in each study area and were sampled weekly from May to November, during the 2016 Zika epidemic in Puerto Rico. The experimental design was longitudinal with pre-and post-IVC treatment observations between treatment and control areas, and a partial cross-over design, where IVC was applied to the original control area after 2 months to determine if Ae. aegypti density converged to levels observed in the treatment area. Pools of female Ae. aegypti mosquitoes were analyzed by RT-PCR to detect Zika, dengue and chikungunya virus RNA. Results Overall, pre-treatment mosquito densities in the inner (0–50 m; 15.6 mosquitoes/trap/week), intermediate (50–100 m; 18.1) and outer rings (100–150 m; 15.6) were reduced after treatment to 2.8, 4.1, and 4.3 in the inner, middle, and outer rings, respectively. Density at the target house in the treatment area changed from 27.7 mosquitoes/trap/week before IVC to 2.1 after IVC (92.4% reduction), whereas after treating the original control area (cross-over) density changed from 22.4 to 3.5 (84.3% reduction). Vector reductions were sustained in both areas after IVC. Zika virus was detected in Ae. aegypti, but the low incidence of the virus precluded assessing the impact of IVC on Zika transmission during the study. Conclusions Applying IVC to circular areas that were surrounded by untreated areas significantly decreased the number of mosquitoes around target houses located in the center. Gravid Ae. aegypti females in the center of the 150 m areas fell below threshold levels that possibly protect against novel invading arboviruses, such as chikungunya and Zika.

Recently, among the wide arsenal of analytical, chemical, microbiological methods the problem of biological indication, that is, the assessment of the state of the environment by the reaction of living organisms has become urgent. The decrease in the morphometric indexes of acacia fruit may be due to a decrease in the number of seeds in the beans. The analysis of the number of seeds in the fruit showed a significant decrease in the investigated index in the territory of sanitary protection zone of the poultry farm in comparison with the control area. In acacia pods, which were selected on the experimental site of the pig farms, poultry farms and in the control area, the percentage of mature seeds is 27,8 %, 47,6 % and 74,5 %, respectively. Averaged data for 2015‑2016 years showed that in acacia pods, which were selected on the poultry farms, the percentage of mature seeds makes up 37,7 %, while in the pig breeding sector, 26,1 % at the same time in the control area it is 74,7 %, which indicates significant pollution of the air in the territory of SPZ. Consequently, it should be noted that the air from the emissions of livestock facilities is not sufficiently cleaned and adversely affects the reproductive system of plants. Bioindication of the atmospheric air using рine Pinus sylvestris L. The visual analysis of pine plants of the usual Pinus sylvestris L. showed that damage to the light green spots, necrotic points and drying occurs near the source of contamination with the needles. According to researches, a decrease in the absolute values of the length of the needles of Pinus sylvestris in the plantations with an approach to the livestock economy and with an increase in the level of environmental pollution is traced. There is also an increase in the number of needles in the shoots, which also indicates air pollution around the poultry farm. According to the research data, it was found out that in more polluted areas the bundles of needles are more closely aligned, and their number is 10 centimeters higher than in the clean zone. The minimum damage to the needle was found in the trees of the control site, and in other areas under investigation the damage to the needle was noted. With the distance from livestock farms, the number of needles on the shoots and the level of necrotic damage decreases, but the length, the width of needles, the weight of 1000 pcs of needles increase. In general, the morphometric indices of the needles of Pinus sylvestris usually vary in a wide range of numerical values, while the necrotic damage of the needle is the most informative bioindicative feature.

Many sub-Saharan African countries have achieved substantial gains in insecticide treated bednet coverage since 2005. The Tanzania National Malaria Control Programme identified school-based net distribution as one potential 'keep-up' strategy for the purpose of maintaining long-lasting insecticidal net (LLIN) coverage after a nationwide mass campaign in 2011. The School Net Programme (SNP) was implemented in three regions of southern Tanzania and distributed one LLIN to each enrolled child attending schools in primary grades (standards) 1, 3, 5 and 7, and secondary grades (forms) 2 and 4 in 2013 and again with slightly modified eligibility criteria in 2014 and 2015. Household surveys in the programme area as well as in a control area were conducted after each of the SNP distributions to measure ownership and use of long-lasting insecticide treated nets. Ownership of at least one LLIN after the first distribution was 76.1% (95% CI 70.8-80.7) in the intervention area and 78.6% (95% CI 74.4-82.3) in the control area. After the second distribution, ownership of at least one LLIN had dropped significantly in the control area to 65.4% (95% CI 59.5-71.0) in 2015 (P < 0.001), while coverage in the intervention area was maintained at 79.3% (95% CI 75.4 × 82.6). Ownership of at least one LLIN in intervention area remained stable following the second round of net distribution. During the same period LLIN ownership, especially of enough nets to ensure all household member access, fell significantly in the control area. These results demonstrate that the SNP may be sufficient to maintain stable LLIN coverage following a mass distribution of LLINs.

Increasing concern for environmental sustainability, the demand for domestic energy, and an impetus on reducing dependence on fossil fuels have led to substantial investment in renewable energies including wind energy over the last 2 decades. Increases in wind energy development are especially noticeable in prairie habitats with high wind capacity. This has raised concerns over effects on grouse species including greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus). We monitored 346 female greater sage-grouse via telemetry from 2009 to 2014 in southeastern Wyoming, within a control area and an area influenced by a wind energy development to estimate the potential effects of wind energy infrastructure on greater sage-grouse habitat selection and demography. We developed resource selection functions by comparing habitats used to habitats available relative to the wind energy development during the nesting, brood-rearing, and summer periods. In addition, we used survival models to estimate the variability in nest, brood, and female survival relative to the wind energy development. The relative probability of greater sage-grouse selecting brood-rearing and summer habitats decreased as percentage of surface disturbance associated with the facility infrastructure increased. We did not, however, detect a negative effect of the wind energy facility on nest site selection or on nest, brood-rearing, or female survival during the study. Future wind energy developments should consider the potential effects of wind energy development on sage-grouse habitat selection patterns and survival parameters ≤1.20 km from any occupied sage-grouse nesting, brood-rearing, or summer habitats. © 2017 The Wildlife Society.

Changes in leaf morphological characteristics in Potentilla fruticosa growing under the transport and industrial pollution conditions in the city of Novosibirsk have been studied. Leaf morphological characteristics were determined by computer image analysis using geographical information systems (GIS). It was found that, in response to anthropogenic disturbance, the size of the assimilating organs of plants decreased by a factor of 1.2-4.5 and the leaf fluctuating asymmetry increased compared to these parameters in control plants; the urban area had a high level of environmental pollution, and the control area a low level.

Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) is an important pest worldwide. Methods of monitoring and control using baited traps are not yet established in coffee plantations in the Brazilian Amazon. The objective of this work was to record, for the first time, results of the use of baited traps in coffee plantation located in Rondônia, in favor of the control and pest monitoring. Two areas were delineated: i) with use of the traps baited with ethanol/methanol (1:1), treatment; ii) without use of traps (control). For comparison of results, two factors were considered: damaged fruits (damage by H. hampei) and infested (H. hampei inside of fruits). It was observed higher levels of damaged fruits per plants in the control area compared to the area where traps were used. The density of the pest population per plants found on infested fruits was also higher in the control area compared to the trapping area. These results suggest that traps baited with ethanol/methanol (1:1) are an effective alternative for population control of pest also in the coffee plantations in Rondônia, where there is no such management with this tool. Use of the baited traps to monitor the insect accurately revealed that the flight stimulus of the colonizing females is influenced by values of the environmental variables. According to the results, colonizing females are more active in the afternoon. Therefore, in order to achieve more efficient control of H. hampei, the best time to apply control agents is between 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm. Made available in DSpace on 2020-10-28T09:15:10Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 cpafro-18454.pdf: 2205346 bytes, checksum: 273c225b519013c441b1ad0edf149613 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2020

BackgroundDespite extensive efforts to prevent recurrent Aedes-borne arbovirus epidemics, there is a steady rise in their global incidence. Vaccines/treatments show very limited efficacy and together with the emergence of mosquito resistance to insecticides, it has become urgent to develop alternative solutions for efficient, sustainable and environmentally benign mosquito vector control. Here we present a new Sterile Insect Technology (SIT)-based program that uses large-scale releases of sterile male mosquitoes produced by a highly effective, safe and environmentally benign method.Methods and findingsTo test the efficacy of this approach, a field trial was conducted in a Brazilian city (Jacarezinho), which presented a history of 3 epidemics of dengue in the past decade. Sterile male mosquitoes were produced from a locally acquired Aedes aegypti colony, and releases were carried out on a weekly basis for seven months in a predefined area. This treated area was matched to a control area, in terms of size, layout, historic mosquito infestation index, socioeconomic patterns and comparable prevalence of dengue cases in past outbreaks. Releases of sterile male mosquitoes resulted in up to 91.4% reduction of live progeny of field Ae. aegypti mosquitoes recorded over time. The reduction in the mosquito population was corroborated by the standard monitoring system (LIRAa index) as determined by the local municipality, which found that our treated neighborhoods were almost free of Ae. aegypti mosquitoes after 5 months of release, whereas neighborhoods adjacent to the treated area and the control neighborhoods were highly infested. Importantly, when a dengue outbreak started in Jacarezinho in March 2019, the effective mosquito population suppression was shown to be associated with a far lower incidence of dengue in the treated area (16 cases corresponding to 264 cases per 100,000 inhabitants) almost 16 times lower than the dengue incidence in the control area (198 cases corresponding to 4,360 dengue cases per 100,000 inhabitants).ConclusionsOur data present the first demonstration that a SIT-based intervention has the potential to prevent the spread of dengue, opening exciting new opportunities for preventing mosquito-borne disease.

Millions of birds die in bird-window collisions in the United States each year. In specialized test settings, researchers have developed methods to alter window designs to mitigate collisions. However, few published studies provide pretest and posttest evaluations of mitigation treatment areas and untreated control areas on existing buildings. We initially monitored bird-window collisions at a single building on the University of Utah campus in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, during winter 1 (November 9, 2017–January 2, 2018). We found 15 bird-window collisions, most under a portion of the building with a mirrored façade. To test a mitigation treatment, we installed Feather Friendly® bird deterrent film on part of the mirrored façade after winter 1. The unmitigated areas of the same building served as a control area. We continued monitoring during the following winter 2 (November 15, 2018–January 12, 2019). The treated area collisions declined from seven before mitigation to two after mitigation, a 71% reduction. The control area had eight collisions at both times. Results of a generalized estimating equation yielded a significant area by season interaction effect (p = 0.03) and fewer collisions in the mitigated area than the control area at winter 2 (p = 0.03), supporting efficacy of the mitigation. In winter 2 we also expanded monitoring to eight total buildings to evaluate the risks of mirrored windows and proximity to fruiting pear trees (Prunus calleryana) and the benefits of bird-friendly glass. Bird-friendly glass, found on two buildings, included windows with permanent fritted dots or embedded ultraviolet patterns. We counted 22 collisions across the eight buildings. Mirrored windows and proximity to fruiting pear trees related to higher odds of bird-window collisions, based on separate generalized estimating equations. The best fit model included mirrored windows and pear trees. The two buildings with bird-friendly glass had only one collision, suggesting that these designs deter collisions, although the difference was not statistically significant. To publicize the study and to receive reports of additional bird collisions or fatalities on campus, we created a citizen science project on iNaturalist and engaged in additional outreach efforts that yielded 22 ad hoc reports. Many previous studies have documented Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) collisions, but at relatively low numbers. Cedar Waxwings accounted for 31 of 34 identifiable collisions from the monitoring study and 4 of 21 identifiable collisions or fatalities from ad hoc reports.

In a field experiment in Northwestern Switzerland, we managed one part of each of four experimental areas in order to improve leveret (Lepus europaeus) survival and used the remaining part as control. The experimental areas were dominated by arable farming with a high diversity of different crops. Potential leveret predators were numerous and not controlled by gamekeeping. Management elements were wildflower patches, partly with an optimized antipredator design, and wider-sown cereals (to allow hares to enter the fields from May to July). We assumed that leverets are relatively safe in these two types of fields because these are seldom processed by agricultural machinery and potential leveret predators rarely forage there. The management lasted 7 years in two experimental areas and 3 years in the other two. Hare numbers and locations were monitored by spotlight counts, starting at least 3 years before the beginning of the experiment. In three out of the four experimental areas, we found a more positive development of hare densities in the managed area compared to the control area. Furthermore, the distribution of the hares within the experimental areas could be best described by a model including the percentage of wildflower patches, the percentage of arable land, and the percentage of cereals in wider-sown rows suggesting that hares predominantly occupied the surroundings of the management elements. We conclude that—irrespective of high predator densities—brown hare populations in agricultural landscapes with previously low hare densities can be considerably increased by offering a total area of about 3% wider-sown winter cereals or wildflower patches within the agriculturally used area.

To estimate the risk of metal (Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cd) exposure of tree sparrows through food at different life stages (including nestling, juvenile, adult in summer, and adult in winter), metal daily intake (MDI), metal daily intake per unit of body weight (MDIBW ), and exposure risks (hazard quotient and hazard index) of tree sparrows at different life stages from a polluted area, Baiyin, and a control area, Liujiaxia, were assessed. Metal daily intakes and MDIBW s of tree sparrows from Baiyin were higher than those from Liujiaxia, which can be attributed to higher metal concentrations of food sources in Baiyin than those in Liujiaxia. Metal daily intakes and MDIBW s of nestlings were higher than those of adults and juveniles. This difference is observed probably because nonphytophagous invertebrates, the predominant food fed to nestlings, possessed the highest metal concentrations. In addition, adults in summer had higher MDIs and MDIBW s than juveniles and adults in winter. This finding is probably observed because juveniles and adults in winter consumed a higher proportion of maize, which had the lowest metal concentrations. In addition, the biomagnification of 4 metals through the food chain increased the health risks of tree sparrows. Exposure risks of tree sparrows to metals were comparable to those of waterfowl and raptors, even when soil metals were below threshold. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019;38:2785-2796. © 2019 SETAC.

Forest fires are part of many ecosystems, especially in the Mediterranean Basin. Depending on the fire severity, they can be a great disturbance, so it is of special importance to know their impact on the ecosystem elements. In this study, we measured the sensitivity of glomalin related soil protein (GRSP), a glycoprotein produced by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), to fire perturbation. Two wildfire-affected areas in the SE Spain (Gata and Gorga) were studied. Soil organic carbon (SOC) was also measured. Effects on GRSP immediately after fire were analyzed in both areas, while in Gorga a monitoring of GRSP stocks over a year period after the fire was also carried out. Soil samplings were carried out every 4months. Plots (1×2m2) were installed beneath pines and shrubs in burned and an adjacent control area. Results of GRSP content immediately after a fire only showed significant differences for shrub plots (burned vs control) (p

An innovative appropriate technological tool of colour-coded rings based on cervicographic principles was developed to monitor deliveries. To study efficacy, feasibility and acceptability of colour-coded rings for monitoring active phase of labour. All consecutive deliveries occurring at selected primary health centres from Pune, Satara and Kolhapur Districts of Maharashtra, during 15 months period were included in the study and matched control groups. Training of medical officers and nurses from both study and control area was undertaken in routine natal and post-natal care. In addition, training of use of colour-coded rings was given to health workers from the study area. There were 6705 live births from study area and 6341 from control area. Perinatal mortality rate for study area was 15.9/1000 LB while that was 23.9/1000 LB for control area (p

To field test the Individualised Color Coded Any Day (ICCAD) growth monitoring charts at primary health care level in three districts of Maharashtra. The present study was conducted in three districts of Maharashtra – Pune, Satara and Kolhapur and included newborns with weight ≥ 1500 g born during 1st May 2010 to 30th July 2011. Talukas were matched based on mortality and coverage indicators and put in study (ICCAD use) and control area (ICCAD non-use) from every District. Health centres were selected from each taluka where facilities of expert obstetric and pediatric services did not exist but number of deliveries conducted was high. Data was collected during neonatal period. Three patterns of ICCAD charts; 1500 g to 1999 g, 2000 to 2499 g and ≥2500 g; developed from daily weight record of 430 newborns for 30 d were used. Outcome measures were neonatal mortality rate (NMR) and weight gain in study and control groups. There were 6705 live births from study and 6341 from control area. The NMR of study area (6.3/1000 live births) was significantly lesser as compared to control area (10.6/1000 live births). Birth weight group specific NMR of birth weight between 1500 to

Toxic metals have been widely reported in avian tissues due to their well-known accumulation capacity and adverse effects. However, rare earth elements (REE) and other minor elements (ME) are becoming a new threat due to their use in modern technology. Presently, exposure data are limited and no studies have been reported in wildlife. The order Caprimulgiformes is among the most understudied groups of birds lacking blood ecotoxicological data. One major constraint is the small blood sample volume that can be collected to ensure animal welfare, which limits analyses. In order to shed light on these collective issues, we sampled 48 red-necked nightjars (Caprimulgus ruficollis) inhabiting three different scenarios of contaminant exposure (agricultural-urban area, n = 15; mining area, n = 17; and control area, n = 16) in southeastern Spain, and report for the first time concentrations of 50 elements (i.e. trace elements, ATSDR’s list toxic elements, REE and ME) using a recently developed technique able to analyze them by ICP-MS in very small volumes of blood (130 μL). Concentrations of As, Cd, Pb and Mn were significantly higher in individuals captured at the mining area compared to the other sites. Lead levels in the mine site were of particular concern since it was in the range of blood concentrations related to subclinical/clinical effects in other species, and in our study were associated with decreased hematocrit values (up to 44% hematocrit depression at blood concentrations >1000 ng/ml w.w.). Moreover, additive effects related to metal cocktail exposure in the mining area could be expected. Age and gender-related differences in blood concentrations were found for some elements. Even though most REE and ME concentrations were close to the LOQ, some of these emerging contaminants may trigger sublethal effects that, together with the ATSDR’s list toxic elements, need to be carefully evaluated in a future study.

Since the first probable ASF outbreak occurred in the Koedoesrand Ward in 1926, South Africa has experienced many other outbreaks that can be divided temporally into 2 time periods; the period before the development of the OIE disease database and the period after. More than 143 outbreaks of swine fever were reported during the first period but not all were clearly defined as classical swine fever (CSF) or ASF. Since the development of the OIE disease database (1993), 72 outbreaks directly involving 2968 cases mainly in smallholder pig farms were reported. Outbreaks occurred mainly in Northern provinces part of the control zone defined in 1935. Since 2012, outbreaks tended to be more likely to occur in the free zone. In order to better understand the context in which African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreaks occurred in South Africa we described temporal, spatial distribution of reported ASF outbreaks in South Africa and examined spatio-temporal structure of ASF outbreak clusters in South Africa. Multi-Distance Spatial Cluster Analysis was used to assess the spatial clustering using ArcGIS 10.6, spatiotemporal clusters analyses were carried out using the R package splancs and scanning was utilised to identify spatiotemporal clusters of the disease using SaTScan. A specific focus was the particular zone of Northern Kwa-Zulu Natal (NKZN) bordering Mozambique and Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) defined by the zoning policy as a control zone. A spatialized social network analysis was used in order to assess the relevance of this zoning as no ASF outbreak was ever reported. Pig movement patterns were analysed using Social Network analysis (SNA) in R software. This network was georeferenced and a map of pig movements was produced. In the second phase farms, origins and destinations were grouped by villages and the villages represented the nodes of the network while directed arcs referred again to pig movement. Sociograms or link graphs were drawn using the igraph package in R. At national level ASF outbreaks exhibit statistically significant clustering while the interaction between time and space have shown qualitatively a negative space-time interaction that was significant at month scale (p=0.003) but not significant at year scale (p= 0.577). Different spatial and temporal clusters (2 up to 5 clusters) associated to high-rate ASF outbreaks were detected, always including municipalities located in both control and free zones (p

In this study, we investigated the airborne dissemination of bacteria from the inside of two very different pork farms (an intensively confined farm and an open-range farm) to the immediate environment. Samples were taken from the slurry, from the air inside the farms (area 0), and from their immediate surroundings at a distance of 50, 100, and 150 m in four directions (north, south, east, and west). A control sample in the air of a zone far away from human or animal activity was also taken. Identification of isolates was made by means of the matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization time of flight system. A total of 1,063 isolates were obtained, of which a mere 7 came from the air of the control area. Staphylococci, enterococci, and Enterobacteriaceae were selectively targeted for isolation and represented 48.6, 27.2, and 21.6% of the isolates, respectively. The species identified from the air of surrounding areas ( Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus hirae, and Staphylococcus arlettae, mainly) were also present inside the farms studied. The results suggest that air is involved in bacterial dissemination, and pork farms should be considered a potential source of foodborne bacteria that might contaminate surrounding areas, including vegetable orchards. Wind direction appears as a factor involved in bacterial dispersion through the air, but its effect may be conditioned by existing vegetation and orographic conditions.

Fluctuating asymmetry (FA) is a widely used tool to detect developmental instability and plants under stressful conditions are expected to exhibit increased values of asymmetry, as well as higher levels of herbivory. This study evaluated whether dust from roads can cause major deviations in the axis of symmetry of leaves of the pioneer plant species Cecropia pachystachya Trécul (Urticaceae). It was also investigated whether plants exposed to dust have greater nitrogen content and higher levels of herbivory levels. Ten leaves of 20 individuals of C. pachystachya were collected on two roads with different levels of dust deposition and a control area. FA was calculated as the size-scaled difference between the right (RW) and left (LW) leaf widths and leaf area removed was determined by the ratio between leaf area removed and total leaf area. C. pachystachya plants in areas under strong influence of dust pollution exhibited the highest FA values (0.279 cm), whereas plants in the control area exhibited the lowest. A positive relationship between levels of leaf area removed by insects and a gradient of dust pollution was also observed. Differences in foliar nitrogen concentration among sampling areas indicated differences in leaf quality and influenced herbivory levels of Cecropia. This study indicated that FA can be used as an indicator of developmental instability of plants and those individuals under the impact of road dust and pollution might be more susceptible to insect attack.

This study aimed to develop a detailed behavior observation method for deep water fish using pingers and a quantitative echo sounder. We focused on alfonsino (Beryx splendens) inhabiting deep water. The survey was conducted at two locations: one where fishermen operate (experimental area) and another where they do not (control area). First, we set 10 grid survey lines in each survey area and ran using a quantitative echo sounder. The volume backscattering strength was smaller maximum 10 dB than in the experimental area. Second, following the grid survey, we used vertical longlines for confirmation of the fish species with corded pingers and a depth water temperature logger. We measured catch depth of the target. In this study, we observed the detailed behavior of the fishing gear in real time; integrating this information with the catch results could lead to more accurate measurements of the habitat range of deep water fishes.

A nivel mundial se realizan grandes esfuerzos para determinar el efecto del fuego en la mortalidad de especies arbóreas como las del género Pinus . En este trabajo se evaluó la inf luencia del fuego en la probabilidad de mortalidad del arbolado joven de Pinus hartwegii en el Parque Nacional Izta-Popo, área natural protegida del centro de México. Los efectos de un incendio de mediana a alta intensidad ocurrido en marzo del 2013, una quema prescrita de baja intensidad realizada en abril del mismo año y un área testigo sin presencia de fuego reciente se valoraron y compararon. Los resultados mostraron que 18 meses después de aplicados los tratamientos, la mortalidad del arbolado en el área con quema prescrita fue de 13 %, mientras que en el área incendiada y testigo fue de 28 y 4 %, respectivamente. Se obtuvieron seis modelos logísticos para predecir la mortalidad; el porcentaje de copa dañada, la altura de cicatriz y el diámetro normal con corteza fueron las variables significativas ( P < 0.05) de predicción. Los resultados sugieren que la disminución en la capacidad fotosintética y en el transporte de nutrimentos, asociados al daño de la copa y al cámbium, están estrechamente ligados con la probabilidad de mortalidad.

The extension of pollutant accumulation in plant leaves associated with its genotoxicity is a common approach to predict the quality of outdoor environments. However, this approach has not been used to evaluate the environmental quality of outdoor smoking areas. This study aims to evaluate the effects of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) by assessing particulate matter 2.5 μm (PM2.5) levels, the pollen abortion assay, and trace elements accumulated in plant leaves in an outdoor smoking area of a hospital. For this, PM2.5 was measured by active monitoring with a real time aerosol monitor for 10 days. Eugenia uniflora trees were used for pollen abortion and accumulated element assays. Accumulated elements were also assessed in Tradescantia pallida leaves. The median concentration of PM2.5 in the smoking area in all days of monitoring was 66 versus 34 μg/m3 in the control area (P

The impact of agricultural practices/ activities on the environment has been falling in many areas of Europe due to the widespread exodus of inhabitants from rural areas. The associated abandonment of agricultural lands has enabled a wide range of wild animals to prosper in the countryside, including birds, ungulates and large carnivores. One consequence has been the increase in ticks and associated tick-borne diseases which now constitute a greater threat for public health than earlier. The aim of the present study was to compare tick densities in different habitats (pasture, meadow, fallow land, post-fire areas) to assess the impact of different agricultural practices on tick densities in vicinities close to human habitation. Between September 2011 and June 2014, 2985 Dermacentor reticulatus ticks were collected by conventional dragging, in the Mazowieckie (Mazovia) and Warmińsko-Mazurskie (Masuria) regions of Poland. In each region, 3 study sites were selected, each situated near surface water sources (i.e., ponds or canals). At each site, three neighboring habitats of surface area 150-600 m(2) were dragged: one on a cattle/horse pasture; the second on meadow; the third on fallow land (abandoned field or meadow), at least twice during each spring and autumn. Additionally, four post-fire areas (one in 2013 and three in 2014) were identified in the Mazowieckie region, and dragging was conducted there in spring and autumn, including in each case a 'control area' comprising intact unburned fallow land situated in close vicinity to the burned areas. Eight hundred D. reticulatus ticks were collected and the densities were compared by multifactorial ANOVA. The highest tick densities were recorded on the fallow lands, and the lowest - on the grazed pastures. Tick densities were up to 10 × times higher on the control sites compared to neighboring post-fire sites.

In the last 30 years some limited successes in alien ant control have been documented globally, and control programs remain challenging. Moreover, the potential non-target impacts of toxicants have not been well studied. We assessed the efficacy and non-target effects of multiple products containing the active compound fipronil in the attempted control of two populations of the invasive Argentine ant Linepithema humile (Mayr) in Tokyo, Japan. Three treatments were conducted: control, low-dose treatment (0.1 g/ha per treatment), and high-dose treatment (0.2 g/ha). Treatments were applied once per month for 11 months. The abundance of L. humile declined rapidly by up to 99.8 % in treated areas, but remained at extremely high densities in the control area. The treatments had few negative non-target effects, with the abundances of native ant species and other ground-dwelling invertebrates except for cockroaches being greater in the treated areas after L. humile suppression. Thus, fipronil is an effective compound for controlling L. humile and can be used with minimal toxic effects on non-target organisms. The treatments cost approximately US$ 575/ha for the low-dose treatment and US$ 1250/ha for the high-dose treatment. Our research supports the creation of more ambitious invasive ant management projects.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether sites with large amount of potential breeding sites for immature forms of Aedes aegypti, called strategic points, influence in the active vector's dispersion into properties in their surroundings. METHODS: We selected four areas in the municipality of Campinas, three of them with strategic points classified as high, moderate, and low risk according to infestation and a control area, without strategic points. Between October 2015 and September 2016, we monthly installed oviposition traps and evaluated the infestation by Ae. aegypti in all properties of each selected area. To verify if there was vector dispersion from each strategic point, based on its location, we investigated the formation of clusters with excess of eggs or larvae or pupae containers, using the Gi spatial statistics. RESULTS: The amount of eggs collected in the ovitraps and the number of positive containers for Ae. aegypti did not show clusters of high values concerning its distance from the strategic point. Both presented random distribution not spatially associated with the positioning of strategic points in the area. CONCLUSIONS: Strategic points are not confirmed as responsible for the vector's dispersion for properties in their surroundings. We highlight the importance of reviewing the current strategy of the vector control program in Brazil, seeking a balance from the technical, operational, and economic point of view, without disregarding the role of strategic points as major producers of mosquitoes and their importance in the dissemination of arboviruses in periods of transmission. RESUMO OBJETIVO: Avaliar se locais com grande quantidade de potenciais criadouros de formas imaturas de Aedes aegypti, denominados pontos estratégicos, influenciam a dispersão ativa do vetor aos imóveis no seu entorno. MÉTODOS: Foram selecionadas quatro áreas no município de Campinas, três delas com pontos estratégicos classificados como alto, médio e baixo risco segundo a infestação e uma área controle, sem ponto estratégico. Entre outubro de 2015 e setembro de 2016, instalaram-se mensalmente armadilhas de oviposição e avaliou-se a infestação por Ae. aegypti em todos os imóveis de cada área selecionada. Para verificar se houve dispersão do vetor a partir de cada ponto estratégico, com base em sua localização, investigou-se a formação de aglomerados com excesso de ovos ou de recipientes com larvas ou pupas, utilizando a estatística espacial Gi. RESULTADOS: o número de ovos coletados nas ovitrampas e o número de recipientes positivos para Ae. aegypti não apresentaram aglomerados de altos valores relativos à sua distância do ponto estratégico. Ambos apresentaram distribuição aleatória não associada espacialmente com o posicionamento dos pontos estratégicos na área. CONCLUSÕES: Pontos estratégicos não se confirmaram como responsáveis pela dispersão do vetor para os imóveis no seu entorno. Destaca-se a importância de rever a estratégia atual do programa de controle de vetores do Brasil, buscando um equilíbrio do ponto de vista técnico, operacional e econômico, sem desconsiderar o papel dos pontos estratégicos como grandes produtores de mosquitos e sua importância na disseminação de arboviroses em momentos de transmissão.

Knowledge about the effects of fire on sexual reproduction of Cerrado woody species is fundamental for elaborating public policies and management plans for its conservation. The present study evaluated the effect of a controlled burning on flowering and fruiting of Anacardium humile in an Cerrado stricto sensu environment, in Cavalcante, GO. An area with no fire records for five years was submitted to controlled burning in May 2016, used as the experimental area and its adjacent areas protected from fire as control area. In each area, 16 reproductive individuals were selected and their production of floral buds, flowers and fruits, followed up for 17 months. In 2016 the production of reproductive structures was higher in the control area, since the majority of individuals of the burned area invested in the recovery of vegetative structures (branches) damaged by fire. Only three individuals flowered in the burned area in 2016 and presented greater effort in the production of buds and flowers per panicle than the individuals in the control area, however, the fruit set was equal between the areas. One year after fire, the production of reproductive structures became equal between areas. The control area presented higher fruit production in 2017 in comparison to 2016, indicating a variable pattern in annual fruit production. The impact of fire on the reproductive structures of A. humile is greater in the same year of fire and its reproductive potential can be normalized in the subsequent year.

International audience; With the ongoing spread of Echinococcus multilocularis in Europe, sanitary authorities are looking for the most efficient ways of reducing the risk for human populations. Fox culling is one particular tool that has recently shifted from predation control to population health management. Our study aims to assess the effectiveness of this tool in limiting E. multilocularis prevalence in fox populations in France. During four years, a culling protocol by night shooting from cars was implemented around the city of Nancy (eastern France) representing ∼1700h of night work and ∼15,000km driven. The 776 foxes killed represented an overall increase of 35% of the pressure on the fox population over 693km2. Despite this consequent effort of culling, not only did night shooting of foxes fail to decrease the fox population, but it resulted in an increase in E. multilocularis prevalence from 40% to 55% while remaining stable in an adjacent control area (585km2). Though no significant change in age structure could be described, an increase in immigration and local recruitment is the best hypothesis for population resilience. The increase in prevalence is therefore considered to be linked to a higher rate of juvenile movement within the culled area shedding highly contaminated faeces. We therefore advocate managers to consider alternative methods such as anthelmintic baiting, which has been proven to be efficient elsewhere, to fight against alveolar echinococcosis.

Human exposure to trace elements has been a large concern due to the potential health issues. Accordingly, this study aimed to compare the concentrations of arsenic, copper, and zinc in the edible parts of vegetables grown in a mining-agricultural area and in an exclusively agricultural area and to compare the potential human health risks of consuming vegetables from both areas. The consumption habits of the studied population were extracted from the 2010 National Alimentary Survey of Chile. In most cases, the concentrations of trace elements in the edible tissues of vegetables (lettuce, spinach, garlic, onion, carrot, potato, sweet corn, and tomato) were higher in the mining-agricultural area than those in the control area. This difference was most pronounced for leafy vegetables, with arsenic being the trace element of concern. Specifically, the arsenic concentrations in the edible tissues of lettuce and spinach were 8.2- and 5.4-fold higher, respectively, in the mining-agricultural area than in the control area. Lettuce was the vegetable of concern due to its relatively high consumption and relatively high concentration of trace elements. Nevertheless, there was no health risk associated with vegetable consumption in either the mining area or the control area because none of the HQ values surpassed 1.0.

Source at http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17518369.2017.1327300 As tourism increases globally, studies have documented impacts on wildlife from anthropogenic disturbances. In this observational experiment we aimed to investigate if snowmobile traffic affected the diurnal activity of Arctic fox in High Arctic Svalbard. We conducted the study in two areas in Svalbard, one control area with low snowmobile traffic and one experimental area with high snowmobile traffic. In each area 10 camera-traps, baited with reindeer carcasses, were positioned and programmed to take photographs every five minutes. The proportion of photographs with foxes was higher during the night than during the day, and the difference between night and day was larger in the area with more snowmobile traffic. By using data obtained according to a similar study design in two Arctic Russian sites, Yamal and Nenetsky, with little human activity and low snowmobile traffic, we were able to compare Arctic fox activity patterns in Svalbard on a larger scale. Our results indicate that snowmobile traffic had an impact on the diurnal activity of the Arctic fox in Svalbard, while there were no obvious diurnal activity patterns among Russian foxes. Even the area with low snowmobile traffic in Svalbard showed increased use of the reindeer carcasses during the night compared to one of the Russian sites, where foxes used carcasses equally during day and night. Such knowledge is of importance in designing cautious management practices.

Most studies on the effects of wind energy on animals have focused on avian and bat activity, habitat use, and mortality, whereas very few have been published on terrestrial, non-volant wildlife. In this paper, we studied the utilization of functioning wind farm areas by four terrestrial animals common to agricultural landscapes: European roe deer, European hare, red fox, and the common pheasant. Firstly, we expected that the studied animals do not avoid areas close to turbines and utilize the whole area of functioning wind farms with a frequency similar to the control areas. Secondly, we expected that there is no relation between the turbine proximity and the number of tracks of these animals. The study was conducted over two winter seasons using the snow-tracking method along 100 m linear transects. In total, 583 transects were recorded. Wind farm operations may affect terrestrial animals both in wind farm interiors and in a 700-m buffer zone around the edge of turbines. The reactions of animals were species specific. Herbivorous mammals (roe deer and European hare) avoided wind farm interiors and proximity to turbines. The common pheasant showed a positive reaction to wind turbine proximity. The red fox had the most neutral response to wind turbines. Although this species visited wind farm interiors less often than the control area, there was no relation between fox track density and turbine proximity. Greater weight should be given to the effects of wind farms on non-flying wildlife than at present. Investors and regulatory authorities should always consider the likely impacts of wind farms during environmental impact assessments and try to reduce these negative effects.

Sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) obligate wildlife species such as the imperiled greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) face numerous threats including altered ecosystem processes that have led to conifer expansion into shrub-steppe. Conifer removal is accelerating despite a lack of empirical evidence on grouse population response. Using a before-after-control-impact design at the landscape scale, we evaluated effects of conifer removal on two important demographic parameters, annual survival of females and nest survival, by monitoring 219 female sage-grouse and 225 nests in the northern Great Basin from 2010 to 2014. Estimates from the best treatment models showed positive trends in the treatment area relative to the control area resulting in an increase of 6.6% annual female survival and 18.8% nest survival relative to the control area by 2014. Using stochastic simulations of our estimates and published demographics, we estimated a 25% increase in the population growth rate in the treatment area relative to the control area. This is the first study to link sage-grouse demographics with conifer removal and supports recommendations to actively manage conifer expansion for sage-grouse conservation. Sage-grouse have become a primary catalyst for conservation funding to address conifer expansion in the West, and these findings have important implications for other ecosystem services being generated on the wings of species conservation.

Due to the invasion of zebra and quagga mussels in European and North American waters, there is a need for an environmentally benign mussel control method to replace chlorine and other currently used control products. Zequanox ® is a natural product comprised of Pseudomonas fluorescens strain CL145A, which effectively controls zebra and quagga mussels. The objective of this study was to demonstrate an effective method of zebra mussel control in inland waterways using Zequanox. Water quality was monitored to determine any negative impacts and to observe product dispersion. A curtain made of an impermeable material was placed in the Grand Canal at Tullamore Harbour sealing off two 8  0.5 m sections of canal wall under the bridge, and a control site was chosen further down the docking area. Both sections were treated with Zequanox at a concentration of 150 mg active substance/L for an 8 hour treatment period. Water quality was monitored in the treatment area and in the selected control area before, during, and after treatment. Naturally settled and seeded adult zebra mussels were observed for mortality in the treatment and control areas and juveniles were monitored for survival in both the treatment and control areas. Naturally settled adult mussel numbers were reduced by approximately 46% in treatment side 1, and 65% in treatment side 2, seeded adult mussel mortality reached 75% in treatment side 1 and 56% in treatment side 2. These results demonstrate that under the optimum conditions Zequanox effectively controls zebra mussels in open water.

Analysis and generalization of long-term monitoring data on the accumulation of 90Sr in the bone tissue of rodents inhabiting the East-Ural Radioactive Trace and the adjacent control area have shown that the skeletal content of 90Sr depends on the level of radionuclide contamination of soil in animal habitats. An assessment of animal migration between contaminated and clean areas by this criterion has shown that the proportion of migrants does not exceed 10%. On this basis, the conclusion is drawn concerning relative isolation of rodent populations in the EURT zone.

Background. Biofilms in hospital environments provide the ideal conditions for pathogenic bacteria to thrive. Hospital hygiene practices such as cleaning and disinfection do not affect bacteria ‘hiding’ in the biofilm. Using a cleaning product containing environmentally friendly probiotic bacteria to eliminate biofilm may reduce the risk of hospital-acquired infection. A prospective controlled study was designed to investigate this. Objective. The primary objective of the study was to document the effect of a probiotic cleaning protocol on environmental flora. The secondary objective was to determine the cost-effectiveness and cost reductions of its use. Methods. Our Burn Unit was divided into different areas, and a number assigned to each test zone and comparative normal cleaning treatment control zone in different rooms. We informed the cleaning staff that they should use only the probiotic product in each of the designated test areas. A baseline surface swab for culture was done in each area. Swabs were taken again for culture weekly. Results. The total number of pathogenic organisms counted was 17 in the test area, and 9 in the control area. In the test area the predominant organism was Acinetobacter baumanii , and in the control area it was Streptococcus species. The highest concentrations of organisms were on the floors, where they accounted for 59% in the test area and 67% in the control area. The other test areas had mostly single organisms. Conclusion. Based on the results, further investigations as to the application of probiotics are indicated, and a prospective study looking at the effects on wound cleaning should assist in answering the question of their effectiveness on wounds.