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Scaini A, Mulligan J, Berg H, Brangarí A, Bukachi V, Carenzo S, Chau Thi D, Courtney-Mustaphi C, Ekblom A, Fjelde H, Fridahl M, Hansson A, Hicks L, Höjer M, Juma B, Kain JH, Kariuki RW, Kim S, Lane P, Leizeaga A, Lindborg R, Livsey J, Lyon SW, Marchant R, McConville JR, Munishi L, Nilsson D, Olang L, Olin S, Olsson L, Rogers PM, Rousk J, Sandén H, Sasaki N, Shoemaker A, Smith B, Thai Huynh Phuong L, Varela Varela A, Venkatappa M, Vico G, Von Uexkull N, Wamsler C, Wondie M, Zapata P, Zapata Campos MJ, Manzoni S, Tompsett A. Pathways from research to sustainable development: Insights from ten research projects in sustainability and resilience. Ambio 2024; 53:517-533. [PMID: 38324120 PMCID: PMC10920586 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-023-01968-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
Drawing on collective experience from ten collaborative research projects focused on the Global South, we identify three major challenges that impede the translation of research on sustainability and resilience into better-informed choices by individuals and policy-makers that in turn can support transformation to a sustainable future. The three challenges comprise: (i) converting knowledge produced during research projects into successful knowledge application; (ii) scaling up knowledge in time when research projects are short-term and potential impacts are long-term; and (iii) scaling up knowledge across space, from local research sites to larger-scale or even global impact. Some potential pathways for funding agencies to overcome these challenges include providing targeted prolonged funding for dissemination and outreach, and facilitating collaboration and coordination across different sites, research teams, and partner organizations. By systematically documenting these challenges, we hope to pave the way for further innovations in the research cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Scaini
- Department of Physical Geography, Stockholm University, 10691, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Bolin Centre for Climate Research, Stockholm University, 10691, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Joseph Mulligan
- Kounkuey Design Initiative (KDI), Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Sustainable Development, Environmental Science and Engineering (SEED), KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Håkan Berg
- Department of Physical Geography, Stockholm University, 10691, Stockholm, Sweden
- Bolin Centre for Climate Research, Stockholm University, 10691, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Albert Brangarí
- Microbial Ecology, Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Vera Bukachi
- Kounkuey Design Initiative (KDI), Los Angeles, CA, USA
- University College London, London, UK
| | - Sebastian Carenzo
- Instituto de Estudios sobre la Ciencia y la Tecnología, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes/CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Da Chau Thi
- Faculty of Applied Sciences, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Colin Courtney-Mustaphi
- Geoecology, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 27, 4056, Basel, Switzerland
- Center for Water Infrastructure and Sustainable Energy (WISE) Futures, Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 9124, Nelson Mandela, Tengeru, Tanzania
| | - Anneli Ekblom
- Department of Archaeology and Ancient History, Uppsala University, 752 38, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Hanne Fjelde
- Department of Peace and Conflict Research, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mathias Fridahl
- Unit of Environmental Change, Department of Thematic Studies, Institution of Arts and Sciences, Linköping University, 581 83, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Anders Hansson
- Unit of Environmental Change, Department of Thematic Studies, Institution of Arts and Sciences, Linköping University, 581 83, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Lettice Hicks
- Microbial Ecology, Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Mattias Höjer
- Department of Sustainable Development, Environmental Science and Engineering (SEED), KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
- Division of Strategic Sustainability Studies, Environmental Science and Engineering (SEED), KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Benard Juma
- Department of Civil and Construction Engineering, Technical University of Kenya, P.O Box 52428-00200, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Jaan-Henrik Kain
- Gothenburg Research Institute, University of Gothenburg, 405 30, Göteborg, Sweden
| | - Rebecca W Kariuki
- School of School of Sustainability, Arizona State University, Arizona, USA
- School of Life Sciences and Bio-Engineering, Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, P.O Box 447, Arusha, Tanzania
| | - Soben Kim
- Faculty of Forestry Science) Dangkor, Royal University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 2696, Phnom Phnom, Cambodia
| | - Paul Lane
- Department of Archaeology and Ancient History, Uppsala University, 752 38, Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Ainara Leizeaga
- Microbial Ecology, Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Michael Smith Building, Manchester, UK
| | - Regina Lindborg
- Department of Physical Geography, Stockholm University, 10691, Stockholm, Sweden
- Bolin Centre for Climate Research, Stockholm University, 10691, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - John Livsey
- Department of Physical Geography, Stockholm University, 10691, Stockholm, Sweden
- Bolin Centre for Climate Research, Stockholm University, 10691, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Steve W Lyon
- Department of Physical Geography, Stockholm University, 10691, Stockholm, Sweden
- School of Environment and Natural Resources, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Rob Marchant
- School of Life Sciences and Bio-Engineering, Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, P.O Box 447, Arusha, Tanzania
| | - Jennifer R McConville
- Department of Energy and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), 75007, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Linus Munishi
- School of School of Sustainability, Arizona State University, Arizona, USA
| | - David Nilsson
- Division of History of Science, Technology and Environment, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Luke Olang
- Department of Biosystems and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Kenya, P.O. Box 52428-00200, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Stefan Olin
- Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science, Lund University, 22362, Lund, Sweden
| | - Lennart Olsson
- Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies (LUCSUS), Lund University, Box 170, 22100, Lund, Sweden
| | - Peter Msumali Rogers
- Institute of Resource Assessment, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Johannes Rousk
- Microbial Ecology, Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Hans Sandén
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna, Austria
| | - Nophea Sasaki
- Natural Resources Management, Asian Institute of Technology, P.O. Box 4, Klong Luang, 12120, Pathum Thani, Thailand
| | - Anna Shoemaker
- Department of Archaeology and Ancient History, Uppsala University, 752 38, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Benjamin Smith
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Richmond, NSW, Australia
| | - Lan Thai Huynh Phuong
- Department of Rural Development and Natural Resources Management, An Giang University, Long Xuyên, 90000, An Giang Province, Vietnam
- Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, 70000, Vietnam
| | - Ana Varela Varela
- London School of Economics, Department of Geography and Environment, London, UK
| | - Manjunatha Venkatappa
- LEET Intelligence Co., Ltd., Suan Prikthai, Muang Pathum Thani, 12000, Pathum Thani, Thailand
| | - Giulia Vico
- Department of Crop Production Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Nina Von Uexkull
- Department of Peace and Conflict Research, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Christine Wamsler
- Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies (LUCSUS), Lund University, Box 170, 22100, Lund, Sweden
- Centre of Natural Hazards and Disaster Science (CNDS), Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Menale Wondie
- Amhara Regional Agricultural Research Institute (ARARI), Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
| | - Patrick Zapata
- School of Public Administration, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - María José Zapata Campos
- Gothenburg Research Institute, University of Gothenburg, 405 30, Göteborg, Sweden
- Department of Business Administration, School of Business, Economics and Law, University of Gothenburg, 40530, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Stefano Manzoni
- Department of Physical Geography, Stockholm University, 10691, Stockholm, Sweden
- Bolin Centre for Climate Research, Stockholm University, 10691, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anna Tompsett
- Institute for International Economic Studies, Stockholm University, 10691, Stockholm, Sweden
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Jr EMJ, Hall E, Marchant R, Horton B, Jin R, Mistro M, Walker B, Romano K. Impact of Lymphopenia on Definitive Treatment of Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2023; 117:e514-e515. [PMID: 37785607 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2023.06.1775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S) Pre-treatment lymphopenia prior to initiating treatment has been correlated with reduced survival in a number of different cancers. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the association between lymphopenia and survival in women with locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) treated with primary chemoradiation (CRT). MATERIALS/METHODS We retrospectively reviewed patients with LACC treated at a single institution from 2005 - 2021 with available lymphocyte information. Patient and treatment characteristics were recorded including age, tumor size and stage, EBRT dose/fractionation, and brachytherapy dosimetry data. Absolute lymphocyte counts (ALC) were collected prior to initiating CRT and at 3-month intervals following CRT and graded based on severity of lymphopenia using CTCAE v 5.0. Overall survival (OS), progression free survival (PFS), and local control (LC) were calculated from the start of treatment to date of last follow-up. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed to evaluate whether lymphocyte changes were associated with OS, PFS, or LC. RESULTS A total of 124 patients met study inclusion criteria with stage IB - IV disease (41 stage I, 41 stage II, 36 stage III, 6 stage IV) and a median follow up of 3.6 years (range 0.2-16.5 years). The median age was 49 years (range 26-77). The median EBRT dose was 45 Gy (range: 26-57.5 Gy) and 44.2% of patients received para-aortic (PA) nodal EBRT (28.8% elective and 15.4% with positive PA nodes). 5-year OS, PFS, and LC were 60.3% (95% CI 51.5-70.7), 47.5% (95% CI 39-58), and 75.5% (95% CI 67.3-82.9), respectively. Pre-treatment lymphopenia (ALC <1000 cells/mm3) was present in 11 (9%) patients. When the total cohort was divided into patients with and without pre-treatment lymphopenia, OS was statistically improved in the patients without baseline lymphopenia, with a 5-year OS of 63.2% (95% CI 53.9-73.9) versus 35.3% (95% CI 14.5-86.3) in the lymphopenia group (p = 0.034). LC also trended to being improved in the patients without lymphopenia, though this did not reach statistical significance in our small sample size of lymphopenic patients, with 5-year LC of 76.8% (95% CI 68.4-84.3) versus 67.5% (05% CI 36.6-93.8), p = 0.45. CONCLUSION In this single institution experience of LACC treated with definitive CRT, we found that baseline lymphopenia is associated with inferior OS. Patients with higher pre-CRT ALC may represent a population with more robust immune systems, producing more favorable tumor responses to treatment. Additional studies are warranted to investigate the evolving role of combined EBRT and systemic therapy in LACC.
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Affiliation(s)
- E M Janowski Jr
- University of Virginia Department of Radiation Oncology, Charlottesville, VA
| | - E Hall
- University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
| | - R Marchant
- University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
| | - B Horton
- University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
| | - R Jin
- University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
| | - M Mistro
- University of Virginia Department of Radiation Oncology, Charlottesville, VA
| | | | - K Romano
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
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Kariuki RW, Capitani C, Munishi LK, Shoemaker A, Courtney Mustaphi CJ, William N, Lane PJ, Marchant R. Serengeti’s futures: Exploring land use and land cover change scenarios to craft pathways for meeting conservation and development goals. Front Conserv Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fcosc.2022.920143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Rapid land use transformations and increased climatic uncertainties challenge potential sustainable development pathways for communities and wildlife in regions with strong economic reliance on natural resources. In response to the complex causes and consequences of land use change, participatory scenario development approaches have emerged as key tools for analyzing drivers of change to help chart the future of socio-ecological systems. We assess stakeholder perspectives of land use and land cover change (LULCC) and integrate co-produced scenarios of future land cover change with spatial modeling to evaluate how future LULCC in the wider Serengeti ecosystem might align or diverge with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union’s Agenda 2063. Across the wider Serengeti ecosystem, population growth, infrastructural development, agricultural economy, and political will in support of climate change management strategies were perceived to be the key drivers of future LULCC. Under eight scenarios, declines in forest area as a proportion of total land area ranged from 0.1% to 4% in 2030 and from 0.1% to 6% in 2063, with the preservation of forest cover linked to the level of protection provided. Futures with well-demarcated protected areas, sound land use plans, and stable governance were highly desired. In contrast, futures with severe climate change impacts and encroached and degazetted protected areas were considered undesirable. Insights gained from our study are important for guiding pathways toward achieving sustainability goals while recognizing societies’ relationship with nature. The results highlight the usefulness of multi-stakeholder engagement, perspective sharing, and consensus building toward shared socio-ecological goals.
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Parween R, Marchant R. Traditional knowledge and practices, sacred spaces and protected areas, technological progress: Their success in conserving biodiversity. Conservat Sci and Prac 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.12643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Rana Parween
- Department of Environment and Geography University of York and University Centre Askham Bryan York UK
| | - Rob Marchant
- Department of Environment and Geography University of York and University Centre Askham Bryan York UK
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Muiruri V, Marchant R, Rucina SM, Scott L, Lane PJ. Late Holocene environmental change and anthropogenic: Ecosystem interaction on the Laikipia Plateau, Kenya. Ambio 2022; 51:785-798. [PMID: 34136994 PMCID: PMC8800970 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-021-01554-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Revised: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
East African ecosystems have been shaped by long-term socio-ecological-environmental interactions. Although much previous work on human-environment interrelationships have emphasised the negative impacts of human interventions, a growing body of work shows that there have also often been strong beneficial connections between people and ecosystems, especially in savanna environments. However, limited information and understanding of past interactions between humans and ecosystems of periods longer than a century hampers effective management of contemporary environments. Here, we present a late Holocene study of pollen, fern spore, fungal spore, and charcoal analyses from radiocarbon-dated sediment sequences and assess this record against archaeological and historical data to describe socio-ecological changes on the Laikipia Plateau in Rift Valley Province, Kenya. The results suggest a landscape characterised by closed forests between 2268 years before present (cal year BP) and 1615 cal year BP when there was a significant change to a more open woodland/grassland mosaic that continues to prevail across the study area. Increased amounts of charcoal in the sediment are observed for this same period, becoming particularly common from around 900 cal year BP associated with fungal spores commonly linked to the presence of herbivores. It is likely these trends reflect changes in land use management as pastoral populations improved and extended pasture, using fire to eradicate disease-prone habitats. Implications for contemporary land use management are discussed in the light of these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Muiruri
- Palynology & Palaeobotany Section. Department of Earth Sciences, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Rob Marchant
- Department of Environment and Geography, York Institute for Tropical Ecosystems, University of York, Heslington, York, North Yorkshire YO10 5NG UK
| | - Stephen M. Rucina
- Palynology & Palaeobotany Section. Department of Earth Sciences, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Louis Scott
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | - Paul J. Lane
- Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3DZ UK
- School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
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6
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Imani G, Kalume J, Marchant R, Calders K, Batumike R, Bulonvu F, Cuni‐Sanchez A. Tree diversity and carbon stocks in the Itombwe Mountains of eastern DR Congo. Biotropica 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.13008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Gérard Imani
- Biology Department Faculty of Sciences Université Officielle de Bukavu Bukavu Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - John Kalume
- Biology Department Faculty of Sciences Université Officielle de Bukavu Bukavu Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Rob Marchant
- Department of Environment and Geography University of York York UK
| | - Kim Calders
- Computational & Applied Vegetation Ecology (CAVElab) Department of Environment Ghent University Ghent Belgium
| | - Rodrigue Batumike
- Environment Department Faculty of Sciences Université du Cinquantenaire de Lwiro Kabare Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Franklin Bulonvu
- Water and forest Department Institut Supérieur d’Agroforesterie et de Gestion de l’Environnement de Kahuzi‐Biega (ISAGE‐KB Kalehe Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Aida Cuni‐Sanchez
- Department of Environment and Geography University of York York UK
- Department of International Environmental and Development Studies (NORAGRIC) Norwegian University of Life Sciences As Norway
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7
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Morrison KD, Hammer E, Boles O, Madella M, Whitehouse N, Gaillard MJ, Bates J, Vander Linden M, Merlo S, Yao A, Popova L, Hill AC, Antolin F, Bauer A, Biagetti S, Bishop RR, Buckland P, Cruz P, Dreslerová D, Dusseldorp G, Ellis E, Filipovic D, Foster T, Hannaford MJ, Harrison SP, Hazarika M, Herold H, Hilpert J, Kaplan JO, Kay A, Klein Goldewijk K, Kolář J, Kyazike E, Laabs J, Lancelotti C, Lane P, Lawrence D, Lewis K, Lombardo U, Lucarini G, Arroyo-Kalin M, Marchant R, Mayle F, McClatchie M, McLeester M, Mooney S, Moskal-del Hoyo M, Navarrete V, Ndiema E, Góes Neves E, Nowak M, Out WA, Petrie C, Phelps LN, Pinke Z, Rostain S, Russell T, Sluyter A, Styring AK, Tamanaha E, Thomas E, Veerasamy S, Welton L, Zanon M. Mapping past human land use using archaeological data: A new classification for global land use synthesis and data harmonization. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0246662. [PMID: 33852578 PMCID: PMC8046197 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0246662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 01/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In the 12,000 years preceding the Industrial Revolution, human activities led to significant changes in land cover, plant and animal distributions, surface hydrology, and biochemical cycles. Earth system models suggest that this anthropogenic land cover change influenced regional and global climate. However, the representation of past land use in earth system models is currently oversimplified. As a result, there are large uncertainties in the current understanding of the past and current state of the earth system. In order to improve representation of the variety and scale of impacts that past land use had on the earth system, a global effort is underway to aggregate and synthesize archaeological and historical evidence of land use systems. Here we present a simple, hierarchical classification of land use systems designed to be used with archaeological and historical data at a global scale and a schema of codes that identify land use practices common to a range of systems, both implemented in a geospatial database. The classification scheme and database resulted from an extensive process of consultation with researchers worldwide. Our scheme is designed to deliver consistent, empirically robust data for the improvement of land use models, while simultaneously allowing for a comparative, detailed mapping of land use relevant to the needs of historical scholars. To illustrate the benefits of the classification scheme and methods for mapping historical land use, we apply it to Mesopotamia and Arabia at 6 kya (c. 4000 BCE). The scheme will be used to describe land use by the Past Global Changes (PAGES) LandCover6k working group, an international project comprised of archaeologists, historians, geographers, paleoecologists, and modelers. Beyond this, the scheme has a wide utility for creating a common language between research and policy communities, linking archaeologists with climate modelers, biodiversity conservation workers and initiatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen D. Morrison
- Department of Anthropology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Emily Hammer
- Department of Near East Languages and Civilizations and the Price Lab for the Digital Humanities, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Oliver Boles
- Department of Anthropology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Marco Madella
- ICREA–CaSEs–Department of Humanities, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
- School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies, The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Nicola Whitehouse
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Plymouth University, Plymouth, United Kingdom
- Department of Archaeology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Marie-Jose Gaillard
- Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Linnaeus University, Växjö, Sweden
| | - Jennifer Bates
- Department of Anthropology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Marc Vander Linden
- Institute for the Modelling of Socio-Environmental Transitions, Bournemouth University, Bournemouth, United Kingdom
| | - Stefania Merlo
- School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies, The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Alice Yao
- Department of Anthropology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Laura Popova
- Barrett Honors College, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Austin Chad Hill
- Department of Anthropology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Ferran Antolin
- Integrative Prehistory and Archaeological Science (IPNA/IPAS), University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Andrew Bauer
- Department of Anthropology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Stefano Biagetti
- Department d’Humanitats, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
- School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa
| | - Rosie R. Bishop
- Museum of Archaeology, University of Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway
| | - Phillip Buckland
- Department of Historical, Philosophical and religious Studies, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Pablo Cruz
- UE CISOR CONICET UNJu, Argentine National Science Council (CONICET), Argentina
| | - Dagmar Dreslerová
- Institute of Archaeology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Academy of Sciences Prague, Czech Republic
| | | | - Erle Ellis
- Palaeo-Research Institute, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Geography and Environmental Systems, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Maryland, United States of America
| | | | - Thomas Foster
- College of Arts & Sciences, Anthropology, University of Tulsa, Tusla, Oklahoma, United States of America
| | | | - Sandy P. Harrison
- School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science, University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom
| | - Manjil Hazarika
- Department of Archaeology, Cotton University, Guwahati, India
| | - Hajnalka Herold
- Department of Archaeology, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Johanna Hilpert
- Institute for Prehistoric Archaeology, Universitat zu Koln, Cologne, Germany
| | - Jed O. Kaplan
- Department of Earth Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Andrea Kay
- Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, Jena, Germany
| | - Kees Klein Goldewijk
- Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Kolář
- Institute of Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
- Institute of Archaeology and Museology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Elizabeth Kyazike
- Department of History and Political Science, Kyambogo University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Julian Laabs
- Institute for Archaeolgical Scienes, Bern University, Bern, Switzerland
- Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research, Bern University, Bern, Switzerland
- Institute of Pre- and Protohistoric Archaeology, Kiel University, Keil, Germany
| | - Carla Lancelotti
- ICREA–Department of Humanities, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Paul Lane
- Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies, University of the Witwatersrand, Witwatersrand, South Africa
| | - Dan Lawrence
- Department of Archaeology, Durham University, Durham, United Kingdom
| | - Krista Lewis
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Little Rock, Arkansas, United States of America
| | | | - Giulio Lucarini
- Institute of Heritage Science, National Research Council of Italy, Montelibretti, Rome, Italy
- Department of Asian, African and Mediterranean Studies, University of Naples L’Orientale, Naples, Italy
| | | | - Rob Marchant
- York Institute for Tropical Ecosystems, Department of Environment and Geography, University of York, York, United Kingdom
| | - Francis Mayle
- Department of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom
| | | | - Madeleine McLeester
- Department of Anthropology, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States of America
| | - Scott Mooney
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | | | - Vanessa Navarrete
- Department of Prehistory, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Emmanuel Ndiema
- Department of Earth Sciences, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Eduardo Góes Neves
- Laboratório de Arqueologia dos Trópicos, Museu de Arqueologia e Etnologia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marek Nowak
- Institute of Archaeology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
| | - Welmoed A. Out
- Department of Archaeological Science and Conservation, Moesgaard Museum, Højbjerg, Denmark
| | - Cameron Petrie
- ICREA–Department of Humanities, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
- McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Leanne N. Phelps
- Tropical diversity, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Zsolt Pinke
- Department of Physical Geography, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Stéphen Rostain
- Centre national de la recherche scientifique, Nanterre, France
| | - Thembi Russell
- School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies, The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Andrew Sluyter
- Department of Geography and Anthropology, Louisana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Amy K. Styring
- School of Archaeology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Eduardo Tamanaha
- Instituto de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Mamirauá, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Evert Thomas
- The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, Lima, Peru
| | - Selvakumar Veerasamy
- Department of Maritime History and Marine Archaeology, Tamil University, Tanjore, India
| | - Lynn Welton
- School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies, University of the Witwatersrand, Witwatersrand, South Africa
| | - Marco Zanon
- Institute of Pre- and Protohistoric Archaeology, Kiel, Germany
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8
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Kariuki RW, Munishi LK, Courtney-Mustaphi CJ, Capitani C, Shoemaker A, Lane PJ, Marchant R. Integrating stakeholders' perspectives and spatial modelling to develop scenarios of future land use and land cover change in northern Tanzania. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0245516. [PMID: 33577608 PMCID: PMC7880460 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0245516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Rapid rates of land use and land cover change (LULCC) in eastern Africa and limited instances of genuinely equal partnerships involving scientists, communities and decision makers challenge the development of robust pathways toward future environmental and socioeconomic sustainability. We use a participatory modelling tool, Kesho, to assess the biophysical, socioeconomic, cultural and governance factors that influenced past (1959-1999) and present (2000-2018) LULCC in northern Tanzania and to simulate four scenarios of land cover change to the year 2030. Simulations of the scenarios used spatial modelling to integrate stakeholders' perceptions of future environmental change with social and environmental data on recent trends in LULCC. From stakeholders' perspectives, between 1959 and 2018, LULCC was influenced by climate variability, availability of natural resources, agriculture expansion, urbanization, tourism growth and legislation governing land access and natural resource management. Among other socio-environmental-political LULCC drivers, the stakeholders envisioned that from 2018 to 2030 LULCC will largely be influenced by land health, natural and economic capital, and political will in implementing land use plans and policies. The projected scenarios suggest that by 2030 agricultural land will have expanded by 8-20% under different scenarios and herbaceous vegetation and forest land cover will be reduced by 2.5-5% and 10-19% respectively. Stakeholder discussions further identified desirable futures in 2030 as those with improved infrastructure, restored degraded landscapes, effective wildlife conservation, and better farming techniques. The undesirable futures in 2030 were those characterized by land degradation, poverty, and cultural loss. Insights from our work identify the implications of future LULCC scenarios on wildlife and cultural conservation and in meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and targets by 2030. The Kesho approach capitalizes on knowledge exchanges among diverse stakeholders, and in the process promotes social learning, provides a sense of ownership of outputs generated, democratizes scientific understanding, and improves the quality and relevance of the outputs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca W. Kariuki
- School of Life Sciences and Bio-Engineering, Nelson Mandela—African Institution of Science and Technology, Tengeru, Arusha, Tanzania
- Department of Environment and Geography, York Institute for Tropical Ecosystems, University of York, Heslington, York, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom
| | - Linus K. Munishi
- School of Life Sciences and Bio-Engineering, Nelson Mandela—African Institution of Science and Technology, Tengeru, Arusha, Tanzania
| | - Colin J. Courtney-Mustaphi
- Department of Environment and Geography, York Institute for Tropical Ecosystems, University of York, Heslington, York, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom
| | - Claudia Capitani
- Department of Environment and Geography, York Institute for Tropical Ecosystems, University of York, Heslington, York, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom
| | - Anna Shoemaker
- Department of Archaeology and Ancient History, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Paul J. Lane
- Department of Archaeology and Ancient History, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Rob Marchant
- Department of Environment and Geography, York Institute for Tropical Ecosystems, University of York, Heslington, York, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom
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9
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Marchant R, Guppy M, Guppy S. The influence of the Southern Oscillation Index on the timing of breeding of a forest-bird community in south-eastern Australia. Wildl Res 2021. [DOI: 10.1071/wr21004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
ContextLong-term changes in the breeding phenology of bird communities have been widely studied. For many species, breeding appears to be starting earlier as temperatures increase. For south-eastern Australia, such a trend has not so far been demonstrated.
AimsThe aim was to determine how the date of laying of the first egg (FE; for sedentary species) or arrival times (for migratory species) responded to climatic factors such as rainfall, air temperature and the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI), and whether FE or arrival time showed a trend through time.
MethodsThe date of laying of the first egg (FE) for 13 sedentary species of birds was recorded over 18 (1975–1984 and 2007–2014) breeding seasons (August to January) at a single site in a coastal forest in south-eastern Australia. The arrival times for seven migratory species were also recorded for these seasons.
Key resultsLinear mixed models showed that FE was negatively correlated with the mean monthly SOI for April to July (A-J SOI), the period directly before the breeding season. Eggs were laid earlier when A-J SOI was positive and later when it was negative. SOIs calculated over different combinations of months showed that those for the January to March period had no influence on FE. FE was not related to minimum or maximum temperatures during April to July, despite increases in temperature between 1975 and 2014, nor was it related to rainfall between April and July. Mixed linear models showed that arrival date for migratory species became earlier between 1975 and 2014, but was uninfluenced by A-J SOI or rainfall.
ConclusionsMigratory species arrived earlier by 0.27 days per year. However, this was at least an order of magnitude smaller than annual temporal changes in FE for sedentary species (6–7 days) associated with cyclical SOI fluctuations. Changes in SOI dominated the annual breeding phenology of the community.
ImplicationsThe mechanisms by which A-J SOI influences the timing of nesting may be related to the primary productivity of forests and the influence of this on insect abundance. There are few data on these factors.
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Adika SA, Mahu E, Crane R, Marchant R, Montford J, Folorunsho R, Gordon C. Microplastic ingestion by pelagic and demersal fish species from the Eastern Central Atlantic Ocean, off the Coast of Ghana. Mar Pollut Bull 2020; 153:110998. [PMID: 32275547 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.110998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2019] [Revised: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 02/17/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
We present data on the occurrence of microplastics in fish from the Guinea current region off Ghana's Coast. Frequency of occurrence of microplastics in the fish species followed the order: Sardinella maderensis (41%) > Dentex angolensis > (33%) > Sardinella aurita (26%). Mean numbers of microplastics ingested were 40.0 ± 3.8, 32.0 ± 2.7 and 25.7 ± 1.6 for S. maderensis, D. angolensis and S. aurita respectively. Industrially produced pellets were the most dominant (31%) microplastic type followed by microbeads (29%), burnt film plastics (22%) and unidentified fragments (9%). Microfibers (2%), threads (2%) and foams (<0.1%) were the least occurring microplastics in the fish species. Condition factors estimated for D. angolensis and S. aurita were >1 and below 1 for S. maderensis. The findings of the study show the common occurrence of microplastics in fish stocks and pave the way for future studies on microplastics in this Region.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Edem Mahu
- Department of Marine and Fisheries Sciences, University of Ghana, Ghana.
| | - Richard Crane
- College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences, University of Exeter, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - Rob Marchant
- York Institute of Tropical Ecosystems, Department of Environment and Geography, University of York, York YO10 5NG, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - Judith Montford
- Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | | | - Christopher Gordon
- Institute of Environment and Sanitation Studies, University of Ghana, Ghana
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11
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Ngute ASK, Sonké B, Nsanyi Sainge M, Calders K, Marchant R, Cuni‐Sanchez A. Investigating above‐ground biomass in old‐growth and secondary montane forests of the Cameroon Highlands. Afr J Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/aje.12719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alain Senghor K. Ngute
- Tropical Forests and People Research Centre University of the Sunshine Coast Sippy Downs QLD Australia
- Applied Biology and Ecology Research Unit University of Dschang Dschang Cameroon
| | - Bonaventure Sonké
- Plant Systematic and Ecology Laboratory Department of Biology Higher Teachers' Training College University of Yaoundé I Yaoundé Cameroon
| | | | - Kim Calders
- CAVElab – Computational and Applied Vegetation Ecology Ghent University Belgium
| | - Rob Marchant
- Department of Geography and Environment York Institute for Tropical Ecosystems Wentworth Way, University of York Heslington UK
| | - Aida Cuni‐Sanchez
- Department of Geography and Environment York Institute for Tropical Ecosystems Wentworth Way, University of York Heslington UK
- Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability Colorado State University Campus Delivery Fort Collins CO USA
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12
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Stephens L, Fuller D, Boivin N, Rick T, Gauthier N, Kay A, Marwick B, Armstrong CG, Barton CM, Denham T, Douglass K, Driver J, Janz L, Roberts P, Rogers JD, Thakar H, Altaweel M, Johnson AL, Sampietro Vattuone MM, Aldenderfer M, Archila S, Artioli G, Bale MT, Beach T, Borrell F, Braje T, Buckland PI, Jiménez Cano NG, Capriles JM, Diez Castillo A, Çilingiroğlu Ç, Negus Cleary M, Conolly J, Coutros PR, Covey RA, Cremaschi M, Crowther A, Der L, di Lernia S, Doershuk JF, Doolittle WE, Edwards KJ, Erlandson JM, Evans D, Fairbairn A, Faulkner P, Feinman G, Fernandes R, Fitzpatrick SM, Fyfe R, Garcea E, Goldstein S, Goodman RC, Dalpoim Guedes J, Herrmann J, Hiscock P, Hommel P, Horsburgh KA, Hritz C, Ives JW, Junno A, Kahn JG, Kaufman B, Kearns C, Kidder TR, Lanoë F, Lawrence D, Lee GA, Levin MJ, Lindskoug HB, López-Sáez JA, Macrae S, Marchant R, Marston JM, McClure S, McCoy MD, Miller AV, Morrison M, Motuzaite Matuzeviciute G, Müller J, Nayak A, Noerwidi S, Peres TM, Peterson CE, Proctor L, Randall AR, Renette S, Robbins Schug G, Ryzewski K, Saini R, Scheinsohn V, Schmidt P, Sebillaud P, Seitsonen O, Simpson IA, Sołtysiak A, Speakman RJ, Spengler RN, Steffen ML, Storozum MJ, Strickland KM, Thompson J, Thurston TL, Ulm S, Ustunkaya MC, Welker MH, West C, Williams PR, Wright DK, Wright N, Zahir M, Zerboni A, Beaudoin E, Munevar Garcia S, Powell J, Thornton A, Kaplan JO, Gaillard MJ, Klein Goldewijk K, Ellis E. Archaeological assessment reveals Earth’s early transformation through land use. Science 2019; 365:897-902. [DOI: 10.1126/science.aax1192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 237] [Impact Index Per Article: 47.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2019] [Accepted: 07/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Environmentally transformative human use of land accelerated with the emergence of agriculture, but the extent, trajectory, and implications of these early changes are not well understood. An empirical global assessment of land use from 10,000 years before the present (yr B.P.) to 1850 CE reveals a planet largely transformed by hunter-gatherers, farmers, and pastoralists by 3000 years ago, considerably earlier than the dates in the land-use reconstructions commonly used by Earth scientists. Synthesis of knowledge contributed by more than 250 archaeologists highlighted gaps in archaeological expertise and data quality, which peaked for 2000 yr B.P. and in traditionally studied and wealthier regions. Archaeological reconstruction of global land-use history illuminates the deep roots of Earth’s transformation and challenges the emerging Anthropocene paradigm that large-scale anthropogenic global environmental change is mostly a recent phenomenon.
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13
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Munishi LK, Courtney‐Mustaphi CJ, Marchant R. Observation of an adult female oribi with leucistic pelage in Lobo, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. Afr J Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/aje.12677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Linus K. Munishi
- School of Life Sciences and Bio‐Engineering Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology Arusha Tanzania
| | - Colin J. Courtney‐Mustaphi
- Geoecology, Department of Environmental Sciences University of Basel Basel Switzerland
- Department of Environment and Geography York Institute for Tropical Ecosystems, University of York York UK
| | - Rob Marchant
- Department of Environment and Geography York Institute for Tropical Ecosystems, University of York York UK
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14
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Naughton PJ, Marchant R, Naughton V, Banat IM. Microbial biosurfactants: current trends and applications in agricultural and biomedical industries. J Appl Microbiol 2019; 127:12-28. [PMID: 30828919 DOI: 10.1111/jam.14243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 137] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2018] [Revised: 02/18/2019] [Accepted: 02/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Synthetic surfactants are becoming increasingly unpopular in many applications due to previously disregarded effects on biological systems and this has led to a new focus on replacing such products with biosurfactants that are biodegradable and produced from renewal resources. Microbially derived biosurfactants have been investigated in numerous studies in areas including: increasing feed digestibility in an agricultural context, improving seed protection and fertility, plant pathogen control, antimicrobial activity, antibiofilm activity, wound healing and dermatological care, improved oral cavity care, drug delivery systems and anticancer treatments. The development of the potential of biosurfactants has been hindered somewhat by the myriad of approaches taken in their investigations, the focus on pathogens as source species and the costs associated with large-scale production. Here, we focus on various microbial sources of biosurfactants and the current trends in terms of agricultural and biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- P J Naughton
- The Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), School of Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine, County Londonderry, UK
| | - R Marchant
- The Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), School of Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine, County Londonderry, UK
| | - V Naughton
- The Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), School of Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine, County Londonderry, UK
| | - I M Banat
- The Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), School of Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine, County Londonderry, UK
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15
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Liley J, Penfold J, Thomas R, Tucker I, Petkov J, Stevenson P, Banat I, Marchant R, Rudden M, Webster J. The performance of surfactant mixtures at low temperatures. J Colloid Interface Sci 2019; 534:64-71. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2018.08.099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2018] [Revised: 08/24/2018] [Accepted: 08/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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16
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Githumbi EN, Courtney Mustaphi CJ, Yun KJ, Muiruri V, Rucina SM, Marchant R. Late Holocene wetland transgression and 500 years of vegetation and fire variability in the semi-arid Amboseli landscape, southern Kenya. Ambio 2018; 47:682-696. [PMID: 29397542 PMCID: PMC6131128 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-018-1014-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2017] [Revised: 12/01/2017] [Accepted: 01/05/2018] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The semi-arid Amboseli landscape, southern Kenya, is characterised by intermittent groundwater-fed wetlands that form sedimentary geoarchives recording past ecosystem changes. We present a 5000-year environmental history of a radiocarbon dated sediment core from Esambu Swamp adjacent to Amboseli National Park. Although radiocarbon dates suggest an unconformity or sedimentary gap that spans between 3800 and 500 cal year BP, the record provides a unique insight into the long-term ecosystem history and wetland processes, particularly the past 500 years. Climatic shifts, fire activity and recent anthropogenic activity drive changes in ecosystem composition. Prior to 3800 cal year BP the pollen data suggest semi-arid savanna ecosystem persisted near the wetland. The wetland transgressed at some time between 3800 and 500 cal year BP and it is difficult to constrain this timing further, and palustrine peaty sediments have accumulated since 400 cal year BP. Increased abundance of Afromontane forest taxa from adjacent highlands of Kilimanjaro and the Chyulu Hills and local arboreal taxa reflect changes in regional moisture budgets. Particularly transformative changes occurred in the last five centuries, associated with increased local biomass burning coeval with the arrival of Maa-speaking pastoralists and intensification of the ivory trade. Cereal crops occurred consistently from around 300 cal year BP, indicative of further anthropogenic activity. The study provides unique insight in Amboseli ecosystem history and the link between ecosystem drivers of change. Such long-term perspectives are crucial for future climate change and associated livelihood impacts, so that suitable responses to ensure sustainable management practices can be developed in an important conservation landscape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther N. Githumbi
- York Institute for Tropical Ecosystems, Environment Department, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5NG UK
| | - Colin J. Courtney Mustaphi
- York Institute for Tropical Ecosystems, Environment Department, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5NG UK
- Department of Archaeology and Ancient History, Uppsala Universitet, P.O. Box 256, 751 05 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Kevin J. Yun
- Department of Biosciences, School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Durham University, Stockton Road, Durham, DH1 3LE UK
| | - Veronica Muiruri
- Department of Earth Sciences, Palynology and Palaeobotany Section, National Museums of Kenya, P.O BOX 45166 00100, Nairobi, Kenya
- Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Stephen M. Rucina
- Department of Earth Sciences, Palynology and Palaeobotany Section, National Museums of Kenya, P.O BOX 45166 00100, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Rob Marchant
- York Institute for Tropical Ecosystems, Environment Department, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5NG UK
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17
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Cuni-Sanchez A, Pfeifer M, Marchant R, Pompeu PV, Burgess ND. Harvesting fodder trees in montane forests in Kenya: species, techniques used and impacts. New For (Dordr) 2018; 49:511-528. [PMID: 30069075 PMCID: PMC6043911 DOI: 10.1007/s11056-018-9632-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2017] [Accepted: 02/19/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
There has been an increasing interest in fodder trees and their potential to help the rural poor. However, few studies have addressed the ecological impacts of fodder tree harvesting. We investigated the species harvested and the techniques used, and the effects of fodder harvesting on (1) species' populations and (2) forest carbon stocks in three montane forests in Kenya. Focus-group discussions were organized in 36 villages to determine which species were harvested and with which techniques. Field observations were made on vegetation plots: stem diameter, tree height, species and extent of harvest were recorded. Carbon stocks were calculated using an allometric equation with (1) observed height of harvested trees, and (2) potential height estimated with a power model, and results were compared. Eight tree species were commonly harvested for fodder using different techniques (some branches, main stem, most branches except stem apex). Fodder harvesting (together with other uses for some species) negatively affected one species populations (Olea europaea), it did not negatively affect four (Drypetes gerrardii, Gymnosporia heterophylla, Pavetta gardeniifolia, Xymalos monospora), and more information is needed for three species (Olea capensis, Prunus africana, Rinorea convallarioides). Fodder harvesting did not significantly reduce forest carbon stocks, suggesting that local communities could continue using these fodder trees if a carbon project is established. Among the fodder species studied, X. monospora could be used in reforestation programs, as it has multiple uses and can withstand severe pruning. Although our study is only a snapshot, it is a baseline which can be used to monitor changes in fodder harvesting and its impacts related to increasing droughts in northern Kenya and increasing human populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aida Cuni-Sanchez
- Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Environment Department, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD UK
| | - Marion Pfeifer
- School of Biology, Newcastle University, Ridley Building 2, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU UK
| | - Rob Marchant
- Environment Department, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD UK
| | - Patrícia V. Pompeu
- Department of Forestry, Federal University of Lavras, PO Box 3037, Lavras, Brazil
| | - Neil D. Burgess
- Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
- United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Center, 219 Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, UK
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18
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Willcock S, Phillips OL, Platts PJ, Balmford A, Burgess ND, Lovett JC, Ahrends A, Bayliss J, Doggart N, Doody K, Fanning E, Green JMH, Hall J, Howell KL, Marchant R, Marshall AR, Mbilinyi B, Munishi PKT, Owen N, Swetnam RD, Topp-Jorgensen EJ, Lewis SL. Correction to: Quantifying and understanding carbon storage and sequestration within the Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania, a tropical biodiversity hotspot. Carbon Balance Manag 2017; 12:20. [PMID: 29218472 PMCID: PMC5721094 DOI: 10.1186/s13021-017-0088-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Upon publication of the original article [1], the authors noticed that the figure labelling for Fig. 4 in the online version was processed wrong. The top left panel should be panel a, with the panels to its right being b and c. d and e should be the panels on the lower row, and f is correct. The graphs themselves are all correct. It is simply the letter labels that are wrong.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Willcock
- School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK.
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK.
| | | | - Philip J Platts
- Environment Department, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Andrew Balmford
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ, UK
| | - Neil D Burgess
- WWF US, Washington, USA
- UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Cambridge, CB3 0DL, UK
| | - Jon C Lovett
- School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Antje Ahrends
- Genetics and Conservation, Royal Botantic Garden Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Julian Bayliss
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ, UK
| | - Nike Doggart
- Tanzanian Forest Conservation Group, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Kathryn Doody
- Frankfurt Zoological Society, Frankfurt, 60316, Germany
| | - Eibleis Fanning
- The Society for Environmental Exploration, London, EC2A 3QP, UK
| | | | - Jaclyn Hall
- Department of Geography, University of Florida, PO Box 117315, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Kim L Howell
- The University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Rob Marchant
- Environment Department, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Andrew R Marshall
- Environment Department, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK
- Centre for the Integration of Research, Conservation and Learning, Flamingo Land Ltd, Malton, YO17 6UX, UK
| | | | | | - Nisha Owen
- The Society for Environmental Exploration, London, EC2A 3QP, UK
- EDGE of Existence, Conservation Programmes, Zoological Society of London, London, UK
| | - Ruth D Swetnam
- Department of Geography, Staffordshire University, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 2DF, UK
| | | | - Simon L Lewis
- School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
- Department of Geography, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
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Seki HA, Shirima DD, Courtney Mustaphi CJ, Marchant R, Munishi PKT. The impact of land use and land cover change on biodiversity within and adjacent to Kibasira Swamp in Kilombero Valley, Tanzania. Afr J Ecol 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/aje.12488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hamidu A. Seki
- Department of Geography; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences; Mkwawa University College of Education; Iringa Tanzania
| | - Deo D. Shirima
- Department of Ecosystems and Conservation; College of Forestry, Wildlife and Tourism; Sokoine University of Agriculture; Morogoro Tanzania
| | | | - Rob Marchant
- Environment Department; York Institute for Tropical Ecosystems; University of York; York UK
| | - Pantaleo K. T. Munishi
- Department of Ecosystems and Conservation; College of Forestry, Wildlife and Tourism; Sokoine University of Agriculture; Morogoro Tanzania
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Elshikh M, Moya-Ramírez I, Moens H, Roelants S, Soetaert W, Marchant R, Banat IM. Rhamnolipids and lactonic sophorolipids: natural antimicrobial surfactants for oral hygiene. J Appl Microbiol 2017; 123:1111-1123. [PMID: 28766815 DOI: 10.1111/jam.13550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2017] [Revised: 07/17/2017] [Accepted: 07/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
AIMS To assess the efficacy of rhamnolipid (mixture of monorhamnolipid and dirhamnolipid congeners), purified monorhamnolipid, dirhamnolipid and lactonic sophorolipid biosurfactants against pathogens important for oral hygiene. METHODS AND RESULTS Acquired and produced biosurfactants were fully characterized to allow the antimicrobial activity to be assigned to the biosurfactant congeners. Antimicrobial activity was assessed using the resazurin-aided microdilution method. Mixed rhamnolipid JBR425 (MR) and lactonic sophorolipids (LSLs) demonstrated the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) which ranged between 100 and 400 μg ml-1 against Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus oralis, Actinomyces naeslundii, Neisseria mucosa and Streptococcus sanguinis. Combining these biosurfactants with standard antimicrobial agents namely chlorhexidine, sodium lauryl sulphate, tetracycline HCl and ciprofloxacin showed a dramatic drop in the MIC values. In addition, in vitro studies demonstrated the biosurfactants' ability to prevent and disrupt oral pathogens biofilms. The increased permeability of microorganisms treated with biosurfactant, as shown using bisbenzimide dye, in part explains the inhibition effect. CONCLUSION The results demonstrate that rhamnolipids and LSLs have the ability to inhibit oral pathogens both in planktonic and oral biofilm states. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY The findings indicate the potential value of biosurfactants for both oral hygiene and the pharmaceutical industries since there is a serious need to reduce the reliance on synthetic antimicrobials and antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Elshikh
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine, UK
| | - I Moya-Ramírez
- Chemical Engineering Department, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - H Moens
- Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant, Gent, Belgium
| | - S Roelants
- Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant, Gent, Belgium.,Laboratory for Industrial Biotechnology and Biocatalysis (InBio.be), Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - W Soetaert
- Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant, Gent, Belgium.,Laboratory for Industrial Biotechnology and Biocatalysis (InBio.be), Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - R Marchant
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine, UK
| | - I M Banat
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine, UK
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Courtney Mustaphi CJ, Gajewski K, Marchant R, Rosqvist G. A late Holocene pollen record from proglacial Oblong Tarn, Mount Kenya. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0184925. [PMID: 28926642 PMCID: PMC5604990 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0184925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2017] [Accepted: 08/31/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
High-elevation ecosystems, such as those on Mount Kenya are undergoing significant changes, with accelerated glacial ice losses over the twentieth century creating new space for alpine plants to establish. These ecosystems respond rapidly to climatic variability and within decades of glacial retreat, Afroalpine pioneering taxa stabilize barren land and facilitate soil development, promoting complex patches of alpine vegetation. Periglacial lake sediment records can be used to examine centennial and millennial scale variations in alpine and montane vegetation compositions. Here we present a 5300-year composite pollen record from an alpine tarn (4370 m asl) in the Hausberg Valley of Mount Kenya. Overall, the record shows little apparent variation in the pollen assemblage through time with abundant montane forest taxa derived and transported from mid elevations, notably high abundances of aerophilous Podocarpus pollen. Afroalpine taxa included Alchemilla, Helichrysum and Dendrosenecio-type, reflecting local vegetation cover. Pollen from the ericaceous zone was present throughout the record and Poaceae percentages were high, similar to other high elevation pollen records from eastern Africa. The Oblong Tarn record pollen assemblage composition and abundances of Podocarpus and Poaceae since the late Holocene (~4000 cal yr BP-present) are similar to pollen records from mid-to-high elevation sites of nearby high mountains such as Mount Elgon and Kilimanjaro. These results suggest a significant amount of uphill pollen transport with only minor apparent variation in local taxa. Slight decreasing trends in alpine and ericaceous taxonomic groups show a long-term response to global late Holocene cooling and a step decrease in rate of change estimated from the pollen assemblages at 3100 cal yr BP in response to regional hydroclimatic variability. Changes in the principal component axis scores of the pollen assemblage were coherent with an independent mid-elevation temperature reconstruction, which supported the strong influence of uphill pollen transport from montane forest vegetation and association between temperatures and montane vegetation dynamics. Pollen accumulation rates showed some variability related to minerogenic sediment input to the lake. The Oblong Tarn pollen record provides an indication of long term vegetation change atop Mount Kenya showing some decreases in local alpine and ericaceous taxa from 5300-3100 cal yr BP and minor centennial-scale variability of montane taxa from mid elevation forests. The record highlights potentials, challenges and opportunities for the use of proglacial lacustrine sediment to examine vegetation change on prominent mountain massifs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin J. Courtney Mustaphi
- York Institute for Tropical Ecosystems, Environment Department, Wentworth Way, University of York, York, United Kingdom
- Department of Archaeology and Ancient History, Uppsala Universitet, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Konrad Gajewski
- Laboratory for Paleoclimatology and Climatology, Department of Geography, Environment and Geomatics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Rob Marchant
- York Institute for Tropical Ecosystems, Environment Department, Wentworth Way, University of York, York, United Kingdom
| | - Gunhild Rosqvist
- Institutionen för naturgeografi, Stockholms Universitet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Norfolk O, Asale A, Temesgen T, Denu D, Platts PJ, Marchant R, Yewhalaw D. Diversity and composition of tropical butterflies along an Afromontane agricultural gradient in the Jimma Highlands, Ethiopia. Biotropica 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.12421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Olivia Norfolk
- York Institute for Tropical Ecosystems; Environment Department; University of York; Heslington York YO10 5NG UK
- Department of Life Sciences; Anglia Ruskin University; Cambridge CB1 1PT UK
| | - Abebe Asale
- Department of Biology; College of Natural Sciences; Jimma University; Jimma 378 Ethiopia
| | - Tsegab Temesgen
- Department of Biology; College of Natural Sciences; Jimma University; Jimma 378 Ethiopia
| | - Dereje Denu
- Department of Biology; College of Natural Sciences; Jimma University; Jimma 378 Ethiopia
| | - Philip J. Platts
- Department of Biology; University of York; Heslington York YO10 5DD UK
| | - Rob Marchant
- York Institute for Tropical Ecosystems; Environment Department; University of York; Heslington York YO10 5NG UK
| | - Delenasaw Yewhalaw
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences and Pathology; College of Health Sciences; Jimma University; Jimma 378 Ethiopia
- Tropical and Infectious Diseases Research Center; Jimma University; Jimma 378 Ethiopia
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Marchant R, Bunting E, Barritt AW, Good CD, Adams N, Merve A, Wickremaratchi MM. HICKAM'S DICTUM VERSUS OCKHAM'S RAZOR. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2016. [DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2016-315106.34] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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Willcock S, Phillips OL, Platts PJ, Swetnam RD, Balmford A, Burgess ND, Ahrends A, Bayliss J, Doggart N, Doody K, Fanning E, Green JMH, Hall J, Howell KL, Lovett JC, Marchant R, Marshall AR, Mbilinyi B, Munishi PKT, Owen N, Topp-Jorgensen EJ, Lewis SL. Land cover change and carbon emissions over 100 years in an African biodiversity hotspot. Glob Chang Biol 2016; 22:2787-800. [PMID: 26748590 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.13218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2015] [Revised: 12/04/2015] [Accepted: 12/14/2015] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Agricultural expansion has resulted in both land use and land cover change (LULCC) across the tropics. However, the spatial and temporal patterns of such change and their resulting impacts are poorly understood, particularly for the presatellite era. Here, we quantify the LULCC history across the 33.9 million ha watershed of Tanzania's Eastern Arc Mountains, using geo-referenced and digitized historical land cover maps (dated 1908, 1923, 1949 and 2000). Our time series from this biodiversity hotspot shows that forest and savanna area both declined, by 74% (2.8 million ha) and 10% (2.9 million ha), respectively, between 1908 and 2000. This vegetation was replaced by a fivefold increase in cropland, from 1.2 million ha to 6.7 million ha. This LULCC implies a committed release of 0.9 Pg C (95% CI: 0.4-1.5) across the watershed for the same period, equivalent to 0.3 Mg C ha(-1) yr(-1) . This is at least threefold higher than previous estimates from global models for the same study area. We then used the LULCC data from before and after protected area creation, as well as from areas where no protection was established, to analyse the effectiveness of legal protection on land cover change despite the underlying spatial variation in protected areas. We found that, between 1949 and 2000, forest expanded within legally protected areas, resulting in carbon uptake of 4.8 (3.8-5.7) Mg C ha(-1) , compared to a committed loss of 11.9 (7.2-16.6) Mg C ha(-1) within areas lacking such protection. Furthermore, for nine protected areas where LULCC data are available prior to and following establishment, we show that protection reduces deforestation rates by 150% relative to unprotected portions of the watershed. Our results highlight that considerable LULCC occurred prior to the satellite era, thus other data sources are required to better understand long-term land cover trends in the tropics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Willcock
- School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
- Centre for Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
| | | | - Philip J Platts
- Department of Biology, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Ruth D Swetnam
- Department of Geography, Staffordshire University, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 2DF, UK
| | - Andrew Balmford
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ, UK
| | - Neil D Burgess
- Center of Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, Copenhagen, DK-2100, Denmark
- UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Cambridge, CB3 0DL, UK
| | - Antje Ahrends
- Genetics and Conservation, Royal Botantic Garden Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH3 5LR, UK
| | - Julian Bayliss
- Department of Biological & Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, OX3 0BP, UK
| | - Nike Doggart
- Tanzanian Forest Conservation Group, PO Box 23410, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Kathryn Doody
- Frankfurt Zoological Society, Frankfurt, D-60316, Germany
| | - Eibleis Fanning
- The Society for Environmental Exploration, London, EC2A 3QP, UK
| | | | - Jaclyn Hall
- Department of Geography, University of Florida, PO Box 117315, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Kim L Howell
- The University of Dar es Salaam, PO Box 35091, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Jon C Lovett
- School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Rob Marchant
- Environment Department, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Andrew R Marshall
- Environment Department, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK
- Centre for the Integration of Research, Conservation and Learning, Flamingo Land Ltd., Malton, YO 17 6UX, UK
| | | | | | - Nisha Owen
- The Society for Environmental Exploration, London, EC2A 3QP, UK
- EDGE of Existence, Conservation Programmes, Zoological Society of London, London, NW1 4RY, UK
| | | | - Simon L Lewis
- School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
- Department of Geography, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
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Díaz De Rienzo MA, Stevenson PS, Marchant R, Banat IM. Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm disruption using microbial surfactants. J Appl Microbiol 2016; 120:868-76. [PMID: 26742560 DOI: 10.1111/jam.13049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2015] [Revised: 12/23/2015] [Accepted: 01/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
AIMS To establish the ability of the rhamnolipids biosurfactants from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, in the presence and absence of caprylic acid and ascorbic acid, to disrupt bacterial biofilms, compared with the anionic alkyl sulphate surfactant Sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS). METHODS AND RESULTS Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 15442 biofilms were disrupted by rhamnolipids at concentrations between 0·5 and 0·4 g l(-1) and with SDS at 0·8 g l(-1) . The combination of rhamnolipids 0·4 g l(-1) and caprylic acid at 0·1 g l(-1) showed a remarkable effect on biofilm disruption and cell killing. After 30 min of treatment most of the biofilm was disrupted and cell viability was significantly reduced. Neither caprylic acid nor ascorbic acid has any effect on biofilm disruption at 0·1 g l(-1) . SDS is an effective antimicrobial agent; however, in the presence of caprylic acid its effect was neutralized. CONCLUSIONS The results show that rhamnolipids at low concentration in the presence of caprylic acid are promising molecules for inhibition/disruption of biofilms formed by Ps. aeruginosa ATCC 15442. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY The disruption of biofilms has major significance in many industrial and domestic cleaning applications and in medical situations.
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Affiliation(s)
- M A Díaz De Rienzo
- School of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - P S Stevenson
- Unilever Research and Development Laboratory, Port Sunlight, Wirral, UK
| | - R Marchant
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, Coleraine, UK
| | - I M Banat
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, Coleraine, UK
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Kamble R, Gupta R, Gupta A, Marchant R, Kothari P, Dikshit V, Kekre G, Patil P, Mudkhedkar K. Thoracoscopic repair of renal ectopia associated with congenital diaphragmatic hernia: Report of two cases. African Journal of Urology 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.afju.2015.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip J. Platts
- York Institute for Tropical Ecosystems (KITE); Environment Department; University of York; York YO10 5DD U.K
| | - Peter A. Omeny
- Kenya Meteorological Service; PO Box 30259 Nairobi Kenya
| | - Rob Marchant
- York Institute for Tropical Ecosystems (KITE); Environment Department; University of York; York YO10 5DD U.K
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28
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Jump AS, Carr M, Ahrends A, Marchant R. Genetic Divergence During Long-term Isolation in Highly Diverse Populations of Tropical Trees Across the Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania. Biotropica 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.12139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Alistair S. Jump
- Tropical Ecology and Conservation Group; Biological and Environmental Sciences; School of Natural Sciences; University of Stirling; Stirling FK9 4LA U.K
| | - Martin Carr
- School of Applied Sciences; University of Huddersfield; Huddersfield HD1 3DH U.K
| | - Antje Ahrends
- Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh; 20A Inverleith Row Edinburgh EH3 5LR U.K
| | - Rob Marchant
- York Institute for Tropical Ecosystem Dynamics; Environment Department; University of York; York YO10 5DD U.K
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Willcock S, Phillips OL, Platts PJ, Balmford A, Burgess ND, Lovett JC, Ahrends A, Bayliss J, Doggart N, Doody K, Fanning E, Green JMH, Hall J, Howell KL, Marchant R, Marshall AR, Mbilinyi B, Munishi PKT, Owen N, Swetnam RD, Topp-Jorgensen EJ, Lewis SL. Quantifying and understanding carbon storage and sequestration within the Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania, a tropical biodiversity hotspot. Carbon Balance Manag 2014; 9:2. [PMID: 24891875 PMCID: PMC4041645 DOI: 10.1186/1750-0680-9-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2013] [Accepted: 03/31/2014] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The carbon stored in vegetation varies across tropical landscapes due to a complex mix of climatic and edaphic variables, as well as direct human interventions such as deforestation and forest degradation. Mapping and monitoring this variation is essential if policy developments such as REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) are to be known to have succeeded or failed. RESULTS We produce a map of carbon storage across the watershed of the Tanzanian Eastern Arc Mountains (33.9 million ha) using 1,611 forest inventory plots, and correlations with associated climate, soil and disturbance data. As expected, tropical forest stores more carbon per hectare (182 Mg C ha(-1)) than woody savanna (51 Mg C ha(-1)). However, woody savanna is the largest aggregate carbon store, with 0.49 Pg C over 9.6 million ha. We estimate the whole landscape stores 1.3 Pg C, significantly higher than most previous estimates for the region. The 95% Confidence Interval for this method (0.9 to 3.2 Pg C) is larger than simpler look-up table methods (1.5 to 1.6 Pg C), suggesting simpler methods may underestimate uncertainty. Using a small number of inventory plots with two censuses (n = 43) to assess changes in carbon storage, and applying the same mapping procedures, we found that carbon storage in the tree-dominated ecosystems has decreased, though not significantly, at a mean rate of 1.47 Mg C ha(-1) yr(-1) (c. 2% of the stocks of carbon per year). CONCLUSIONS The most influential variables on carbon storage in the region are anthropogenic, particularly historical logging, as noted by the largest coefficient of explanatory variable on the response variable. Of the non-anthropogenic factors, a negative correlation with air temperature and a positive correlation with water availability dominate, having smaller p-values than historical logging but also smaller influence. High carbon storage is typically found far from the commercial capital, in locations with a low monthly temperature range, without a strong dry season, and in areas that have not suffered from historical logging. The results imply that policy interventions could retain carbon stored in vegetation and likely successfully slow or reverse carbon emissions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Willcock
- School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT UK
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ UK
| | | | - Philip J Platts
- Environment Department, University of York, York, YO10 5DD UK
| | - Andrew Balmford
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ UK
| | - Neil D Burgess
- WWF US, Washington, USA
- UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Cambridge, CB3 0DL UK
| | - Jon C Lovett
- School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT UK
| | - Antje Ahrends
- Genetics and Conservation, Royal Botantic Garden Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Julian Bayliss
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ UK
| | - Nike Doggart
- Tanzanian Forest Conservation Group, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Kathryn Doody
- Frankfurt Zoological Society, Frankfurt, D-60316 Germany
| | - Eibleis Fanning
- The Society for Environmental Exploration, London, EC2A 3QP UK
| | | | - Jaclyn Hall
- Department of Geography, University of Florida, PO Box 117315, Gainesville, Florida FL 32611 USA
| | - Kim L Howell
- The University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Rob Marchant
- Environment Department, University of York, York, YO10 5DD UK
| | - Andrew R Marshall
- Environment Department, University of York, York, YO10 5DD UK
- Centre for the Integration of Research, Conservation and Learning, Flamingo Land Ltd, Malton, YO 17 6UX UK
| | | | | | - Nisha Owen
- The Society for Environmental Exploration, London, EC2A 3QP UK
- EDGE of Existence, Conservation Programmes, Zoological Society of London, London, UK
| | - Ruth D Swetnam
- Department of Geography, Staffordshire University, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 2DF UK
| | | | - Simon L Lewis
- School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT UK
- Department of Geography, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT UK
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Gillson L, Marchant R. From myopia to clarity: sharpening the focus of ecosystem management through the lens of palaeoecology. Trends Ecol Evol 2014; 29:317-25. [PMID: 24768602 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2014.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2013] [Revised: 03/19/2014] [Accepted: 03/20/2014] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem services in a changing environment requires a temporal perspective that informs realistic restoration and management targets. Such targets need to be dynamic, adaptive, and responsive to changing boundary conditions. However, the application of long-term data from palaeoecology is often hindered as the management and policy implications are not made explicit, and because data sets are often not accessible or amenable to stakeholders. Focussing on this translation gap, we explore how a palaeoecological perspective can change the focus of biodiversity management and conservation policy. We embed a long-term perspective (decades to millennia) into current adaptive management and policy frameworks, with the aim of encouraging better integration between palaeoecology, conservation management, and mainstreaming viable provision of ecosystem services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey Gillson
- Plant Conservation Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa.
| | - Rob Marchant
- York Institute for Tropical Ecosystems, Environment Department, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK
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Quinn JP, Barker TW, Marchant R. SOLUBLE COMPLEXES OF COPPER AND ZINC IN WHISKEY DISTILLERY SPENT WASH. Journal of the Institute of Brewing 2013. [DOI: 10.1002/j.2050-0416.1982.tb04079.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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Quinn JP, Barker TW, Marchant R. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FREE AND COMPLEXED FORMS OF COPPER IN MALT WHISKEY DISTILLERY SPENT WASH. Journal of the Institute of Brewing 2013. [DOI: 10.1002/j.2050-0416.1980.tb06880.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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Hinch GN, Lollback M, Hatcher S, Hoad J, Marchant R, Mackay DF, Scott JM. Effects of three whole-farmlet management systems on Merino ewe fat scores and reproduction. Anim Prod Sci 2013. [DOI: 10.1071/an12440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
As part of the Cicerone Project’s whole-farmlet experiment on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia, the fat scores and reproductive performance of ewes were measured to assess the effect of different management systems on these important production parameters over time. The three farmlets (each of 53 ha) included one (farmlet B) subjected to ‘typical’ district management consisting of moderate levels of inputs and a target stocking rate of 7.5 dse/ha, with flexible grazing management across eight paddocks. A second farmlet (A) was managed in a similar fashion to farmlet B with respect to number of paddocks and grazing management, but modified by high rates of pasture renovation and higher levels of soil fertility, with a target stocking rate of 15 dse/ha. The third farmlet (C) was managed at the same level of moderate inputs as farmlet B but employed intensive rotational grazing over 37 paddocks and also had a high target stocking rate of 15 dse/ha. The experiment was conducted over 6.5 years from July 2000 to December 2006. In spite of the fact that target levels of stocking rate were chosen at the beginning of the experiment, stocking rate, together with fat scores and reproduction were treated as emergent properties of each farmlet system. Joining took place in April–May and lambing occurred in September–October of each year. Over the first 2 years of the experiment, there were few differences among farmlets in ewe fat scores or reproductive performance. From 2003 onwards, while the percentage of ewes pregnant was similar between farmlets, the average proportion of multiple births (ewes scanned in late July, with twins) was 30%, 16% and 12%, respectively, on farmlets A–C. However, lamb losses were greater on farmlet A, with average lamb mortalities recorded on farmlets A–C of 29%, 10% and 19%, respectively. Over the duration of the experiment, ewes on farmlets A and B were more often above a fat score level of 3, and less often below 2.5, than were ewes from farmlet C. Differences among farmlet ewes in fat score were found to be significant in 7 of the total of 13 assessments over the duration of the experiment. A generalised additive model applied to whole-farmlet data showed that green digestible herbage, legume herbage, stocking rate, the amount of supplement fed and especially the proportion of each farmlet grazed at any one time all influenced fat scores of ewes. While fat scores and conception rates tended to be highest on farmlet A, farmlet B had slightly better reproductive outcomes due to less lambing losses, whereas ewes on farmlet C tended to have somewhat lower fat scores and levels of reproduction. These farmlet-scale findings highlighted the importance for livestock managers to focus not only on grazing management, stocking rate and stock density during lambing, but also on the availability of sufficient green, and especially legume herbage, and the difficulty of overcoming a deficit in quality herbage with supplementation.
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Scott JM, Gaden CA, Edwards C, Paull DR, Marchant R, Hoad J, Sutherland H, Coventry T, Dutton P. Selection of experimental treatments, methods used and evolution of management guidelines for comparing and measuring three grazed farmlet systems. Anim Prod Sci 2013. [DOI: 10.1071/an12265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The Cicerone Project was a collaborative effort by livestock producers, researchers and extension specialists, which aimed to explore the profitability and sustainability of grazing enterprises on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia. A major part of the Project was the creation of a moderate scale, unreplicated farmlet experiment. The process of selecting the farmlet treatments and the design of the experiment involved considerable negotiation over an extended period in order to achieve ‘ownership’ by all those involved. The farmlets were designed to compare a typical farmlet (B) as the control with a second farmlet (A), which received higher levels of pasture renovation and soil fertility, and a third (C), which employed intensive rotational grazing management with short graze and long rest periods. Management guidelines were developed for all soil, pasture, livestock and grazing management decisions on the three farmlets. Whole-farmlet data are presented for the pastures sown, fertiliser applied, supplement fed, the stocking rates attained and the pattern of graze and rest periods over the experimental period from July 2000 to December 2006. Over the first 4 years of the trial, pastures were renovated on 71% of farmlet A while 8% of each of farmlets B and C were renovated. The rates of fertiliser applied to the three farmlets varied according to soil test values and the different target values for soil phosphorus and sulfur. In the first year of the trial (2000–01), the annual average stocking rates on farmlets A, B and C were 9.5, 7.9 and 9.1 dry sheep eqivalents/ha, respectively, whereas by the fifth year (2005), the stocking rates were 11.2, 7.8 and 7.4 dry sheep equivalents/ha, respectively. This paper provides details of the general methods used in the farmlet trial, of relevance to a series of related papers which explore all aspects of the farmlet experiment and its findings. It also reports on the selection and definition of the farmlet treatments and describes how the guidelines evolved over the duration of the trial in response to the practical realities of conducting this complex, agroecosystem experiment.
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Hinch GN, Hoad J, Lollback M, Hatcher S, Marchant R, Colvin A, Scott JM, Mackay D. Livestock weights in response to three whole-farmlet management systems. Anim Prod Sci 2013. [DOI: 10.1071/an12201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
This paper reports changes in livestock weights recorded in a whole-farmlet experiment, which aimed to examine the profitability and sustainability of three different pasture and grazing management strategies. The assessment of liveweights was considered a key component of measuring the integrated effects of the farmlet-scale treatments. The three farmlets comprised a typical management regime, which employed flexible rotational grazing over eight paddocks with moderate soil fertility (farmlet B), a system based on the same grazing management and paddock number but with higher levels of sown pasture and soil fertility (farmlet A) and a farmlet with moderate soil fertility and intensive rotational grazing over 37 paddocks (farmlet C). Early in the experimental period, there were no significant differences between farmlets in the liveweight of any class of livestock. However, from the second year onwards, as the pasture renovation, soil fertility and grazing management treatments took effect, differences in liveweight between farmlets became more apparent and significant. The stocking rate, which was treated as an emergent property of each farmlet, reached a maximum annual average value after 5 years of 12.6, 8.5 and 7.7 dry sheep equivalents (dse)/ha on farmlets A, B and C representing 84, 113 and 51% of their respective target stocking rates which were 15, 7.5 and 15 dse/ha. The liveweights of ewes, both before joining and during pregnancy, varied with year and farmlet with those on farmlets A and B tending to be significantly heavier than those on farmlet C. From 2003 to 2006, liveweights were significantly (P < 0.001) affected by a wide array of factors and their interactions including: date, ewe age, green digestible herbage, legume herbage mass, proportion of farmlet grazed, stocking rate and level of supplementary feeding. The weights of lambs/weaners/hoggets, both pre- and post-weaning, were at times also higher on farmlets A and B compared with those on farmlet C and were affected by a similar range of factors to those which affected ewe weights. Similar relative differences also applied to the liveweights of the other livestock run on the farmlets, namely wethers and non-reproductive cattle. The results suggest that stocking rate was able to be increased towards the higher target of farmlet A due to the higher level of pasture renovation and soil fertility on that farmlet, which led to high liveweights per head as well as the higher stocking rate. However, as the stocking rate increased on farmlet A, the differences between farmlets in liveweight per head diminished and the need for supplementary feeding increased. In contrast, the intensive rotational grazing practised on farmlet C did not allow the farmlet to increase its stocking rate towards its higher target. It appears that the higher proportion of each of farmlets A and B grazed at any one time allowed all classes of livestock to reach higher liveweights per head than on farmlet C, due presumably to the greater proportion of those two farmlets grazed at any one time.
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Coventry T, Sutherland H, Waters M, Dutton P, Gream B, Croft R, Hall E, Paull DR, Edwards C, Marchant R, Smith P, Scott JM, Gaden C, Hoad J. Reflections on the concept, conduct and findings of the producer-led Cicerone Project. Anim Prod Sci 2013. [DOI: 10.1071/an12292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The Cicerone Project began as a producer-led partnership that sought, over a period of 8 years, to enhance the profitability and sustainability of livestock enterprises by improving the connection between those producers, research and extension. Following a detailed survey, the research and extension needs of livestock producers were identified and several applied investigations were conducted to meet those needs and delivered through a range of extension activities. This final paper of the Cicerone Special Issue reflects on the entire Project from a wide array of perspectives, including livestock producers, researchers, extension specialists and staff employed by the Project, all of whom are authors of this paper. A notable early successful outcome of the Project was the improved precision of footrot diagnosis, which has been of value to the entire sheep industry, and that flowed from a field investigation of benign and virulent footrot combined with detailed genetic investigations, which led to an improved testing regime. This paper also reflects on the findings of an unreplicated agricultural ecosystem research trial, which measured the impact of pasture renovation, increased soil fertility and grazing management on the profitability and sustainability of three different 53-ha farmlets. Valuable findings from this whole-farmlet trial included the need for a high quality feed supply for increasing stocking rate and animal liveweights; the ability and utility of satellite imagery to detect changes in pasture growth, composition and recent grazing pressure; the value of short grazing and long rest periods for controlling Barber’s pole worms of sheep; the impact of increased stocking rates on whole-farm profitability and risk; methods of optimising decisions relating to pasture renovation, fertiliser applications and grazing management; and an integrated analysis of all key measured components of the farmlet management systems. Collectively, these findings were powerful as they were demonstrated at a scale credible to livestock producers using the ‘compare – measure – learn – adopt’ approach, which was the key philosophy adopted by the Cicerone Project. By comparing and measuring different whole-farm systems, and by ensuring that producers had ownership of the trial process, the Project successfully delivered objective findings that producers trusted and which increased our understanding of important drivers of complex grazing enterprises under variable climatic conditions. Some of these drivers included: the influence of soil phosphorus on botanical composition and subsequent livestock production, the role of pasture renovation and soil fertility on herbage supply, herbage quality and stocking rate, and the improved gastrointestinal nematode control delivered by intensive rotational grazing. The beneficiaries of the Project included the 180 farmer members who participated in some 61 field days and workshops; the research and extension collaborators including four postgraduates who completed their research investigations in conjunction with the Project; and some 500 undergraduate and 300 technical students who benefited from coming to understand the applied field comparisons of the three whole-farmlet systems. Having livestock producers play a significant leadership role led to valuable outcomes achieved with research collaborators; this should encourage the development of other learning partnerships which aim to explore complex farming system issues.
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Edwards C, Gaden C, Marchant R, Coventry T, Dutton P, Scott JM. Delivering extension and adult learning outcomes from the Cicerone Project by ‘comparing, measuring, learning and adopting'. Anim Prod Sci 2013. [DOI: 10.1071/an11322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The Cicerone Project was a partnership between livestock producers, researchers and extension specialists on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia that investigated several complex grazing enterprise issues between 1998 and 2006. It was conducted as a Participatory Action Research project, which first surveyed livestock producers to learn of their problems and then carried out investigations according to the Project’s chosen motto of ‘compare – measure – learn – adopt’. The Project included research into footrot diagnosis and an investigation of whole-farmlet livestock and pasture management systems complemented by a multi-faceted extension and education component, which delivered findings to a wide array of stakeholders across the Northern Tablelands and adjacent regions. This paper describes the extension and education methods and outcomes and reflects on how successful the engagement of livestock producers was through a partnership, which focussed on co-learning by all participants. Several different communication approaches were used including the production of 40 newsletters and the delivery of 61 field days. Collaborators also held two symposia, which presented comprehensive overviews of the research results. In the final year of the Project, a roadshow was held to communicate results to a wider audience in neighbouring districts. The results of the two footrot trials, which were conducted as Participatory Action Research projects, led to rapid and substantial changes in the testing regime for virulent footrot, resulting in large savings for livestock producers through more accurate detection of the disease. Other valued extension and industry outcomes were the ability to compare the biophysical and economic performance of different whole farmlets, an appreciation of the value of the whole-farm system approach, the trustworthiness of the results and the stimulation of livestock producers to think more deeply about their management systems, stocking rate and risk. The Project benefited from the research efforts of four postgraduate students and was of benefit to ~300 high school and technical college students and also some 500 university undergraduate students who undertook learning projects in conjunction with Project members and collaborators. This Special Issue of 24 journal papers represents a substantial delivery of the findings from this complex agroecosystem Project, which broke new ground in terms of securing much closer working relationships between livestock producers, scientists and extension specialists. Ultimately, this volume will allow extension of the results of the Cicerone Project to reach a wider audience than has typically been achieved through other Participatory Action Research projects.
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Willcock S, Phillips OL, Platts PJ, Balmford A, Burgess ND, Lovett JC, Ahrends A, Bayliss J, Doggart N, Doody K, Fanning E, Green J, Hall J, Howell KL, Marchant R, Marshall AR, Mbilinyi B, Munishi PKT, Owen N, Swetnam RD, Topp-Jorgensen EJ, Lewis SL. Towards regional, error-bounded landscape carbon storage estimates for data-deficient areas of the world. PLoS One 2012; 7:e44795. [PMID: 23024764 PMCID: PMC3443093 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0044795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2012] [Accepted: 08/14/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Monitoring landscape carbon storage is critical for supporting and validating climate change mitigation policies. These may be aimed at reducing deforestation and degradation, or increasing terrestrial carbon storage at local, regional and global levels. However, due to data-deficiencies, default global carbon storage values for given land cover types such as 'lowland tropical forest' are often used, termed 'Tier 1 type' analyses by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Such estimates may be erroneous when used at regional scales. Furthermore uncertainty assessments are rarely provided leading to estimates of land cover change carbon fluxes of unknown precision which may undermine efforts to properly evaluate land cover policies aimed at altering land cover dynamics. Here, we present a repeatable method to estimate carbon storage values and associated 95% confidence intervals (CI) for all five IPCC carbon pools (aboveground live carbon, litter, coarse woody debris, belowground live carbon and soil carbon) for data-deficient regions, using a combination of existing inventory data and systematic literature searches, weighted to ensure the final values are regionally specific. The method meets the IPCC 'Tier 2' reporting standard. We use this method to estimate carbon storage over an area of33.9 million hectares of eastern Tanzania, reporting values for 30 land cover types. We estimate that this area stored 6.33 (5.92-6.74) Pg C in the year 2000. Carbon storage estimates for the same study area extracted from five published Africa-wide or global studies show a mean carbon storage value of ∼50% of that reported using our regional values, with four of the five studies reporting lower carbon storage values. This suggests that carbon storage may have been underestimated for this region of Africa. Our study demonstrates the importance of obtaining regionally appropriate carbon storage estimates, and shows how such values can be produced for a relatively low investment.
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Roy S, Goldman K, Marchant R, Zydney A, Brown D, Fleischman A, Conlisk A, Desai T, Duffy S, Humes H, Fissell W. Implanted renal replacement for end-stage renal disease. Panminerva Med 2011; 53:155-166. [PMID: 21775942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The nearly 400000 American patients on dialysis suffer high cardiovascular and infectious mortality, but there is now evidence that this morbid phenotype can be rescued by intensive dialytic therapy. Self-care dialysis at home is limited by patient fears about skill and safety. An implanted artificial kidney would provide the benefits of intensive therapy while avoiding the focal points of patient concern. Hollow fiber polymer membranes and dialytic waste removal are lifesaving innovations but are difficult to adapt to implantable therapies. Biomimetic membranes and living cells can replicate the native kidney's strategy for waste removal. Three key technology developments are necessary for implementation of an implantable artificial kidney: high efficiency ultrafiltration membranes, control of blood-materials interactions such as thrombosis and fouling, and stable differentiated function of renal proximal tubule cells in an engineered construct. There has been significant progress in demonstrating proof-of-concept experiments in each key technology area.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Roy
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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Ahrends A, Burgess ND, Gereau RE, Marchant R, Bulling MT, Lovett JC, Platts PJ, Wilkins Kindemba V, Owen N, Fanning E, Rahbek C. Funding begets biodiversity. DIVERS DISTRIB 2011. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1472-4642.2010.00737.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
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Chen ML, Penfold J, Thomas RK, Smyth TJP, Perfumo A, Marchant R, Banat IM, Stevenson P, Parry A, Tucker I, Grillo I. Solution self-assembly and adsorption at the air-water interface of the monorhamnose and dirhamnose rhamnolipids and their mixtures. Langmuir 2010; 26:18281-18292. [PMID: 21028852 DOI: 10.1021/la1031812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
The self-assembly in solution and adsorption at the air-water interface, measured by small-angle neutron scattering, SANS, and neutron reflectivity, NR, of the monorhamnose and dirhamnose rhamnolipids (R1, R2) and their mixtures, are discussed. The production of the deuterium-labeled rhamnolipids (required for the NR studies) from a Pseudomonas aeruginosa culture and their separation into the pure R1 and R2 components is described. At the air-water interface, R1 and R2 exhibit Langmuir-like adsorption isotherms, with saturated area/molecule values of about 60 and 75 Å(2), respectively. In R1/R2 mixtures, there is a strong partitioning of R1 to the surface and R2 competes less favorably because of the steric or packing constraints of the larger R2 dirhamnose headgroup. In dilute solution (<20 mM), R1 and R2 form small globular micelles, L(1), with aggregation numbers of about 50 and 30, respectively. At higher solution concentrations, R1 has a predominantly planar structure, L(α) (unilamellar, ULV, or bilamellar, BLV, vesicles) whereas R2 remains globular, with an aggregation number that increases with increasing surfactant concentration. For R1/R2 mixtures, solutions rich in R2 are predominantly micellar whereas solutions rich in R1 have a more planar structure. At an intermediate composition (60 to 80 mol % R1), there are mixed L(α)/L(1) and L(1)/L(α) regions. However, the higher preferred curvature associated with R2 tends to dominate the mixed R1/R2 microstructure and its associated phase behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- M L Chen
- Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Department, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, UK
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Chen ML, Penfold J, Thomas RK, Smyth TJP, Perfumo A, Marchant R, Banat IM, Stevenson P, Parry A, Tucker I, Grillo I. Mixing behavior of the biosurfactant, rhamnolipid, with a conventional anionic surfactant, sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate. Langmuir 2010; 26:17958-17968. [PMID: 21043468 DOI: 10.1021/la1031834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
The use of small angle neutron scattering, SANS, neutron reflectivity, NR, and surface tension to study the mixing properties of the biosurfactant rhamnolipid with a conventional anionic surfactant, sodium dodecyl 6-benzene sulfonate, LAS, is reported. The monorhamnose rhamnolipid, R1, mixes close to ideally with LAS at the air-water interface, whereas for mixtures of LAS with the dirhamnose rhamnolipid, R2, the LAS strongly partitions to the air-water interface relative to R2, probably because of the steric hindrance of the larger R2 headgroup. These trends in the binary mixtures are also reflected in the ternary R1/R2/LAS mixtures. However, for these ternary mixtures, there is also a pronounced synergy in the total adsorption, which reaches a maximum for a LAS/rhamnolipid mole ratio of about 0.6 and a R1/R2 mol ratio of about 0.5, an effect which is not observed in the binary mixtures. In solution, the R1/LAS mixtures form relatively small globular micelles, L(1), at low surfactant concentrations (<20 mM), more planar structures (lamellar, L(α), unilamellar/multilamellar vesicles, ulv/mlv) are formed at higher surfactant concentrations for R1 and LAS rich compositions, and a large mixed phase (L(α)/L(1) and L(1)/L(α)) region forms at intermediate surfactant compositions. In contrast, for the R2/LAS mixtures, the higher preferred curvature of R2 dominates the phase behavior. The predominant microstructure is in the form of small globular micelles, except for solution compositions rich in LAS (>80 mol % LAS) where more planar structures are formed. For the ternary mixtures, there is an evolution in the resulting phase behavior from one dominated by L(1) (R2 rich) to one dominated by planar structures, L(α), (R1, LAS rich), and which strongly depends upon the LAS/rhamnolipid and R1/R2 mole ratio.
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Affiliation(s)
- M L Chen
- Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Department, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, United Kingdom
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Platts PJ, Ahrends A, Gereau RE, McClean CJ, Lovett JC, Marshall AR, Pellikka PKE, Mulligan M, Fanning E, Marchant R. Can distribution models help refine inventory-based estimates of conservation priority? A case study in the Eastern Arc forests of Tanzania and Kenya. DIVERS DISTRIB 2010. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1472-4642.2010.00668.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
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Chaigneau T, Ahrends A, Argent J, Riddhiraska N, Marchant R. Moist lower montane rainforest classification: a case study from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda. Afr J Ecol 2009. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2028.2009.01182.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Jump AS, Marchant R, Peñuelas J. Environmental change and the option value of genetic diversity. Trends Plant Sci 2009; 14:51-8. [PMID: 19042147 DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2008.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 193] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2008] [Revised: 10/21/2008] [Accepted: 10/22/2008] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Rapid anthropogenic environmental change is altering selection pressures on natural plant populations. However, it is difficult to predict easily the novel selection pressures to which populations will be exposed. There is heavy reliance on plant genetic diversity for future crop security in agriculture and industry, but the implications of genetic diversity for natural populations receives less attention. Here, we examine the links between the genetic diversity of natural populations and aspects of plant performance and fitness. We argue that accumulating evidence demonstrates the future benefit or 'option value' of genetic diversity within natural populations when subject to anthropogenic environmental changes. Consequently, the loss of that diversity will hinder their ability to adapt to changing environments and is, therefore, of serious concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alistair S Jump
- KITE (York Institute for Tropical Ecosystem Dynamics), Environment Department, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK.
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Platts PJ, McClean CJ, Lovett JC, Marchant R. Predicting tree distributions in an East African biodiversity hotspot: model selection, data bias and envelope uncertainty. Ecol Modell 2008. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2008.06.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Plessas S, Bosnea L, Psarianos C, Koutinas AA, Marchant R, Banat IM. Lactic acid production by mixed cultures of Kluyveromyces marxianus, Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus and Lactobacillus helveticus. Bioresour Technol 2008; 99:5951-5955. [PMID: 18155517 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2007.10.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2006] [Revised: 10/23/2007] [Accepted: 10/24/2007] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Lactic acid production using Kluyveromyces marxianus (IFO 288), Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus (ATCC 11842) and Lactobacillus helveticus (ATCC 15009) individually or as mixed culture on cheese whey in stirred or static fermentation conditions was evaluated. Lactic acid production, residual sugar and cell biomass were the main features examined. Increased lactic acid production was observed, when mixed cultures were used in comparison to individual ones. The highest lactic acid concentrations were achieved when K. marxianus yeast was combined with L. delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus, and when all the strains were used revealing possible synergistic effects between the yeast and the two lactic acid bacteria. The same synergistic effects were further observed and verified when the mixed cultures were applied in sourdough fermentations, proving that the above microbiological system could be applied in the food fermentations where high lactic acid production is sought.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Plessas
- Food Biotechnology Group, Section of Analytical Environmental and Applied Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Patras, GR-26500 Patras, Greece.
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Abstract
AIMS The aim of the present study was to evaluate the use of a freeze-dried kefir culture in the production of a novel type of whey-cheese similar to traditional Greek Myzithra-cheese, to achieve improvement of the quality characteristics of the final product and the extension of shelf-life. METHODS AND RESULTS The use of kefir culture as a starter led to increased lactic acid concentrations and decreased pH values in the final product compared with whey-cheese without starter culture. The effect of the starter culture on production of aroma-related compounds responsible for cheese flavour was also studied using the solid phase microextraction gas chromatography/mass spectrometry technique. Spoilage in unsalted kefir-whey-cheese was observed on the thirteenth and the twentieth day of preservation at 10 and 5 degrees C, respectively, while the corresponding times for unsalted whey-cheese preservation were 11 and 14 days. CONCLUSIONS The cheeses produced were characterized as high-quality products during the preliminary sensory evaluation. An indication of increased preservation time was attributed to the freeze-dried kefir culture, which also seemed to suppress growth of pathogens. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY The results suggested the use of kefir culture as a means to extend the shelf-life of dairy products with reduced or no salt content.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Dimitrellou
- Food Biotechnology Group, Section of Analytical Environmental and Applied Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
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Dritsa V, Rigas F, Natsis K, Marchant R. Characterization of a fungal strain isolated from a polyphenol polluted site. Bioresour Technol 2007; 98:1741-7. [PMID: 16935498 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2006.07.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2006] [Revised: 07/01/2006] [Accepted: 07/05/2006] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
A group of fungal strains were isolated from a polyphenol polluted soil, taken from an olive oil processing plant in Attica, Greece. The fungi were tested for their ability to decolorize a polyaromatic dye Poly R-478, which was used as a model compound to test their ligninolytic activities. The strain K1.1 decolorized efficiently the dye on agar plates and was further studied. PCR amplification of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the ribosomal RNA genes from the genomic DNA isolated from mycelium grown in liquid culture resulted in amplified fragments. Via BLASTN search, the length of a 773 base pairs was identified as the basidiomycetes Coprinellus xanthothrix. The growth rates and the tolerance of the fungus were compared on solid media, containing four different concentrations of pentachlorophenol. Extracellular enzyme activities (lignin peroxidase, manganese peroxidase and laccase) were determined in defined liquid medium. The isolate expressed laccase and manganese peroxidase but not lignin peroxidase. The removal of the dye was also estimated in liquid medium. The fungus showed biosorption and biotransformation as removal mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Dritsa
- National Technical University of Athens, School of Chemical Engineering, 15700 Athens, Greece
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