Data For Future Monitoring Research Articles

Modeling of <sup>137</sup>Cs Dispersion in the Atlantic Ocean at Ahanta West Coast: A Hypothetical Candidate Site for Ghana’s First Nuclear Power Plant

The government of Ghana has the intention of adding nuclear to its energy mix. Due to water availability for cooling, the coastal areas will be the right place for siting a nuclear power plant. This study was carried out to assess the distribution of 137Cs should liquid radioactive waste be released into coastal waters because of a non-routine event. The distribution was studied for the first month after the release. In the first week following the release, 137Cs was distributed within 16 km of the Ahanta West coastal waters with a concentration of about 9.1 Bq. L-1. On the seventh day, the distribution reached the entire coast of the Nzema East with a lower concentration with the bulk of the concentration still in the Ahanta waters. The 137Cs continued to spread into the eastern coast until the thirty-first day with a concentration of less than 1 Bq. L-1. This study provides useful data for future monitoring along the coast.

The Role of Trees Outside Forests in the Cultural Landscape of the Colline del Prosecco UNESCO Site

The multifunctional role of Trees Outside Forests (TOF) is largely recognized in scientific literature, but they are still rarely considered in forest inventories and planning, with consequent underestimation of their role and amount. In addition, their cultural role has rarely been considered both at scientific and management level as well as in UNESCO sites. TOF characterize many European cultural landscapes, including the one of the Colline del Prosecco, inscribed in 2019 in the UNESCO World Heritage List. One of the reasons of the inclusion, in fact, is the landscape mosaic made of vineyards interspersed with small woodlands and tree rows. This paper focuses on two types of TOF, Small Woods and Linear Tree Formations (TOF NON A/U). Their detailed mapping and the performing of different spatial analysis allowed us to assess their role and to provide data for future monitoring and for local forest planning. Results confirmed that TOF NON A/U are one of the main features of the UNESCO site landscape: despite the limited overall surface (1.95% of the area), 931 different patches have been identified. Spatial analysis highlighted the key landscape and ecological roles, acting as intermediate features between large forest patches, and also an important role for hydrological protection (they can be found also in slopes above 80% of inclination). The study provided a detailed mapping and database of one of the main features of the Colline del Prosecco UNESCO site cultural landscape, verifying the multifunctional role of TOF NON A/U and the necessity to include them into local forest planning, but also suggesting their inclusion in national forest inventories.

Parasites Circulating in Wild Synanthropic Capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris): A One Health Approach.

Capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) are affected by a wide range of protozoan and metazoan-derived parasitic diseases. Among parasites of free-ranging capybaras are soil-, water-, food- and gastropod-borne parasitosis, today considered as opportunistic infections in semiaquatic ecosystems. The overlapping of the capybara’s natural ecological habitats with human and domestic animal activities has unfortunately increased in recent decades, thereby enhancing possible cross- or spillover events of zoonotic parasites. Due to this, three synanthropic wild capybara populations in the Orinoco Basin were studied for the occurrence of gastrointestinal parasite infections. A total of forty-six fecal samples were collected from free-ranging capybaras in close proximity to livestock farms. Macroscopical analyses, standard copromicroscopical techniques, coproELISA, PCR, and phylogenetic analysis revealed thirteen parasite taxa. In detail, the study indicates stages of five protozoans, four nematodes, one cestode, and three trematodes. Two zoonotic parasites were identified (i.e., Plagorchis muris, and Neobalantidium coli). The trematode P. muris represents the first report within South America. In addition, this report expands the geographical distribution range of echinocoelosis (Echinocoleus hydrochoeri). Overall, parasitological findings include two new host records (i.e., P. muris, and Entamoeba). The present findings collectively constitute baseline data for future monitoring of wildlife-derived anthropozoonotic parasites and call for future research on the health and the ecological impact of this largest semiaquatic rodent closely linked to humans, domestic and wild animals.

Ten practical questions to improve data quality

• High-quality rangeland data are critical to supporting adaptive management. However, concrete, cost-saving steps to ensure data quality are often poorly defined and understood. • Data quality is more than data management. Ensuring data quality requires 1) clear communication among team members; 2) appropriate sample design; 3) training of data collectors, data managers, and data users; 4) observer and sensor calibration; and 5) active data management. Quality assurance and quality control are ongoing processes to help rangeland managers and scientists identify, prevent, and correct errors in past, current, and future monitoring data. • We present 10 guiding data quality questions to help managers and scientists identify appropriate workflows to improve data quality by 1) describing the data ecosystem, 2) creating a data quality plan, 3) identifying roles and responsibilities, 4) building data collection and data management workflows, 5) training and calibrating data collectors, 6) detecting and correcting errors, and 7) describing sources of variability. • Iteratively improving rangeland data quality is a key part of adaptive monitoring and rangeland data collection. All members of the rangeland community are invited to participate in ensuring rangeland data quality.

Evaluation of zoonotic platyhelminthe infections identified in slaughtered livestock in Iran, 2015\u20132019

BackgroundPlatyhelminth infections of livestock can result in considerable economic losses. This study aims to evaluate the spatial frequency of cystic echinococcosis (CE), dicrocoeliasis, and fascioliasis in livestock slaughtered in Iran during the years 2015–2019 and estimate direct costs associated with organ condemnation due to these parasites.MethodsAbattoir data from 413 abattoirs representing all 31 Iranian provinces were collected from the Iran Veterinary Organization. Infection prevalence was calculated per year at the province level. The Local Moran’s I statistic was performed to evaluate spatial autocorrelation of animals positive at slaughter for the years 2015–2019. Direct costs associated with condemned livers were calculated for each parasitic condition, with costs associated with condemned lungs also included for CE.ResultsOverall prevalence values for the study timeframe were as follows: sheep and goat fascioliasis 1.56% (95% CI: 1.56–1.56%), cattle fascioliasis 3.86% (95% CI: 3.85–3.88%), sheep and goat dicrocoeliasis 4.63% (95% CI: 4.62–4.63%), cattle dicrocoeliasis 3.08% (95% CI: 3.07–3.09%), sheep and goat CE 5.32% (95% CI: 5.32–5.33%), and cattle CE 7.26% (95% CI: 7.24–7.28%). Northwest Iran had the highest prevalence of CE and fascioliasis. High infection areas for Dicrocoelium spp. included the provinces of Zanjan, Gilan, Qazvin, and Tehran, which are located in northern Iran. Direct economic losses for sheep and goat fascioliasis, dicrocoeliasis, and CE for the study period were US$13,842,759, US$41,771,377, and US$22,801,054, respectively. Direct economic losses for cattle fascioliasis, dicrocoeliasis, and CE for the study period were US$1,989,200, US$1,668,986, and US$2,656,568, respectively.ConclusionOur findings provide valuable data for future monitoring of these important parasitic diseases in Iranian livestock. Disease control strategies are required to reduce the economic and public health impact of these platyhelminths.

Spatial and temporal variations in the species composition and abundance of benthic macroinvertebrates along the coast of the Eastern Black Sea

ABSTRACT The species composition and abundance of benthic macroinvertebrates in the Eastern Black Sea were determined seasonally, between May 2013 and February 2014. Sediment was collected using a Van Veen grab, at different depths: 5–15 m, 15–25 m, 25–35 m and >35 m. A total of 320 hauls were undertaken at 80 stations, and 90 species were identified, from seven phyla and 47 families. Overall, Mollusca was the most diverse phylum, with 32 species, followed by Annelida (32) and Arthropoda (13). The most abundant species was Chamelea gallina, which accounted for 37% of the total number of individuals, followed by Gouldia minima (25%) and Pitar rudis (10%). Based on seasonal variations, 62 species were identified in winter, 59 in summer, 54 in spring and 46 in autumn. The highest abundance was recorded in summer, representing 37.8% of the total abundance, followed by spring (25.2%). The species with the highest abundance in all four seasons was C. gallina followed by G. minima. Also, C. gallina followed by G. minima was the most abundant species in Samsun, Ordu, Giresun and Trabzon, whereas in Rize and Artvin, the most abundant species was G. minima followed by C. gallina. The results of this study should provide baseline data for future monitoring, to understand the consequences of natural or anthropogenic disturbance on the species composition and abundance pattern of the benthic macroinvertebrate community along the coast of the Eastern Black Sea.

Rotavirus A strains obtained from children with acute gastroenteritis in Mozambique, 2012-2013: G and P genotypes and phylogenetic analysis of VP7 and partial VP4 genes

In Mozambique rotavirus (RV) was shown to be the greatest cause of acute diarrhoea in infants from 0 to 11 months, and in 2015, national rotavirus vaccination was introduced. As with other developing countries, there is very limited active strain characterisation. Rotavirus positive clinical specimens, collected between 2012 and 2013, have now provided information on the genotypes circulating in southern Mozambique prior to vaccine introduction. Genotypes G2 (32.4%), G12 (28.0%), P[4] (41.4%) and P[6] (22.9%) (n = 157) strains were commonly detected with G2P[4] (42.3%) RVs being predominant, specifically during 2013. Phylogenetic evaluation of the VP7 and VP8* encoding genes showed, for the majority of the Mozambican strains, that they clustered with other African strains based on genotype. RVA/Human-wt/MOZ/0153/2013/G2P[4], RVA/Human-wt/MOZ/0308/2012/G2P[4] and RVA/Human-wt/MOZ/0288/2012/G12P[8] formed separate clusters from the other Mozambican strains with similar genotypes, suggesting possible reassortment. Amino acid substitutions in selected epitope regions also supported phylogenetic clustering. As expected, the VP7 and VP8* genes from the Mozambican strains differed from both the RotaTeq® (SC2-9) G2P[5] and Rotarix® (A41CB052A) G1P[8] genes. This study provides information on the genetic diversity of rotavirus strains prior to vaccine introduction and generates baseline data for future monitoring of any changes in rotavirus strains in response to vaccine pressure.

Setting conservation management thresholds using a novel participatory modeling approach.

We devised a participatory modeling approach for setting management thresholds that show when management intervention is required to address undesirable ecosystem changes. This approach was designed to be used when management thresholds: must be set for environmental indicators in the face of multiple competing objectives; need to incorporate scientific understanding and value judgments; and will be set by participants with limited modeling experience. We applied our approach to a case study where management thresholds were set for a mat-forming brown alga, Hormosira banksii, in a protected area management context. Participants, including management staff and scientists, were involved in a workshop to test the approach, and set management thresholds to address the threat of trampling by visitors to an intertidal rocky reef. The approach involved trading off the environmental objective, to maintain the condition of intertidal reef communities, with social and economic objectives to ensure management intervention was cost-effective. Ecological scenarios, developed using scenario planning, were a key feature that provided the foundation for where to set management thresholds. The scenarios developed represented declines in percent cover of H. banksii that may occur under increased threatening processes. Participants defined 4 discrete management alternatives to address the threat of trampling and estimated the effect of these alternatives on the objectives under each ecological scenario. A weighted additive model was used to aggregate participants' consequence estimates. Model outputs (decision scores) clearly expressed uncertainty, which can be considered by decision makers and used to inform where to set management thresholds. This approach encourages a proactive form of conservation, where management thresholds and associated actions are defined a priori for ecological indicators, rather than reacting to unexpected ecosystem changes in the future.

Ecotoxicity of Imidacloprid to Aquatic Organisms: Derivation of Water Quality Standards for Peak and Long-Term Exposure

ABSTRACTThe neonicotinoid insecticide imidacloprid is among the pesticides that most frequently exceed current water quality standards in Dutch surface waters. Recent research shows that effects of imidacloprid on water organisms occur at concentrations below these standards. Mayflies appear to be particularly sensitive with chronic No Observed Effect Concentrations in the nanogram per liter range. The aim of this study was to derive updated water quality standards in accordance with the methodology of the European Water Framework Directive by evaluating the available recent literature on acute and chronic ecotoxicity of imidacloprid to aquatic organisms in laboratory and semi-field experiments. It is concluded that the standard for long-term exposure should be lowered to 8.3 nanograms per liter; the standard for short-term concentration peaks can be maintained at the current value of 0.2 micrograms per liter. The European Commission set restrictions to the use of imidacloprid-based products to reduce the risks for bees and the Dutch national authorities issued emission reduction measures to protect aquatic life. Future monitoring data will ultimately reveal if these measures are sufficient to meet the newly proposed standards.

Determination of Heavy Metals in Low Value Food Fish from Commercial Landing Centers (India) by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer

A bio-monitoring study was performed to investigate certain metals (cadmium, cobalt, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, nickel, lead, zinc, aluminium and boron), using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICP-OES) for the assessment of the present status in the two coastal ecosystems and compiling the baseline data for future monitoring. Tissue samples of fishes have different level of accumulation viz, Cd = 0.07-0.40, Co = 0-0.32, Cu = 0.53–0.39, Fe = 1.42–8.12, Mg = 9.74–33.1, Mn = 0.08–0.84, Ni = 0.01–0.97, Pb = 0.12–2.05, Zn = 0.81–2.11, Al = 1.26-3.98, Cr = 0.25-1.76 and B = 0.17-1.87 µg g -1 dry wt. respectively. The rate of metal accumulation higher in species ( Thalassoma trilobatum and Saurida tumbil) . Concentration of toxic metals such as Cd and Pb were well above the permissible limits proposed by the World Health Organization and Food and Agricultural Organizations.

Solar Energy for Rural Madagascar Schools: A Pilot Implementation by University of Nebraska Engineers Without Borders-USA

A pilot photovoltaic system was constructed in Kianjavato, Madagascar by a team from the University of Nebraska Engineers Without Borders-USA Student Chapter. This project represents an integrated approach to energy supply, education and natural resource conservation. The system supplies power to ten 13 W fluorescent tubes in a primary school classroom for the purpose of extending public school hours into the evening for adult education. The project was implemented in partnership with a Malagasy non-governmental organization, the Madagascar Biodiversity Partnership. Future monitoring data will determine the outcome of the project and aid in the design of additional installations in the community.

Accuracy of IKONOS for mapping benthic coral-reef habitats: a case study from the Puerto Morelos Reef National Park, Mexico

Reefs are being threatened by global warming, natural disasters, and the increased pressure of the global population. These habitats are in urgent need of mapping at high resolution so that these threats can be quantified. Remote sensing can potentially provide such quantitative data. In this article, we attempt to map benthic coral-reef habitats at the Puerto Morelos Reef National Park in Yucatan Peninsula (México) and to assess the accuracy of the technique in providing a baseline data for future monitoring of changes and evolution of the reef system. An IKONOS image was used in combination with checkpoint ground sampling and classified using a supervised maximum likelihood classifier (ENVI 4.5). We show that it is possible to map the reef with acceptable accuracy for the lagoon and discriminate the main habitat types, including vegetation, corals, and bare substrate. But, in areas close to the shore and in the front-reef zone, there were significant misclassifications as well as a failure to delineate spatial structures evident on the ground and in aerial imagery. These difficulties and failures occurred either in the areas deeper than 5–8 m where depth limits light transmission (particularly in the red channel) or when the spectral response of habitats were too close to be discriminated. This highlights the need to combine these data with other methods, such as acoustic mapping, in order to provide more accurate representations of the benthic habitats of entire reef systems.

Metal Fractionation in Soil Profiles in Umutu Oil Field, Northwest Niger Delta Nigeria

Exploitation of petroleum began recently in Umutu area, a part of the prolific Niger Delta Oil province, Nigeria. Soilprofiles at six locations in this area were investigated to determine the current status of Cr, Cu, Cd, Co, Ni, Zn, Pb,Mn and Fe, and their bioavailability, in order to have reference data for future monitoring of their bioaccumulation.The procedure used sequential extraction technique. Except for the high contents of Cu, Cd, Co, Zn, and Pb in SiteB (an auto-mobile mechanic waste dumpsite), mean metal levels in mgkg-1 for Umutu soils are Cd (0.65-1.83), Cu(2.20- 6.30), Pb (4.06-5.90), Cr (7.10-15.60), Ni (1.10-2.00), Zn (33.00- 45.00), Co (0.01- 0.06), Fe (1126.22-2955.87) and Mn (1.83-18.81). Sequential extraction shows that the bioavailability of Cr except for Site E (allhorizons) and Site D (0-15cm) are high. That of Fe is also high at depths of 0-15cm. Monitoring programme isherein suggested.

Comparison of culturable fecal coliforms and Escherichia coli enumeration in freshwaters

Fecal coliforms (FC) counts were compared with Escherichia coli counts in differently contaminated freshwater samples (n = 166). FC were enumerated by plate count on triphenyl 2,3,5-tetrazolium chloride Tergitol medium. Escherichia coli were enumerated by the most probable number microplate method based on the detection of glucuronidase activity. FC and E. coli counts were highly correlated; an average E. coli/FC ratio equal to 0.77 was found, meaning that on average, 77% of FC were E. coli. Knowing the E. coli/FC ratio allows us to convert the historical microbiological quality data expressed in FC counts into E. coli abundance and thus to compare with present and future monitoring data that are (or will be) based on E. coli enumeration.