Bothid larvae (Pleuronectiformes-pisces) of the Gulf od Thailand and South China Sea

The larvae of bothids were found to be sparsely distributed in the Gulf of Thailand and South China Sea being only 11.9% in the Naga Expedition Collections. They were confined mostly to the coastal waters and were found in near shore stations situated between Bangkok and Saigon. Their density was high in the Gulf of Thailand. The larvae seem to prefer darkness with greater incidence during April 16 to October 15 period, with a peak in the collections taken during April. This report includes the occurrence of 17 species belonging to 6 genera collected from the Gulf of Thailand and South China Sea, along with their regional, seasonal as well as diurnal variations

The microbiological quality of water: the nature of the problem

Improvements in methods for the detection and enumeration of microbes in water, particularly the application of techniques of molecular biology, have highlighted shortcomings in the ”standard methods” for assessing water quality. Higher expectations from the consumer and increased publicity associated with pollution incidents can lead to an uncoupling of the cycle which links methodological development with standard-setting and legislation. The new methodology has also highlighted problems within the water cycle, related to the introduction, growth and metabolism of microbes. A greater understanding of the true diversity of the microbial community and the ability to transmit genetic information within aquatic systems ensures that the subject of this symposium and volume provides an ideal forum to discuss the problems encountered by both researcher and practitioner.

Collaborating for Resilience: a practitioner’s guide

In many countries, resource conflict is a leading risk to livelihoods. For some communities, it is a matter of survival. Yet, many development interventions aiming to address these challenges fail or fall far short of their potential. Common reasons include conflicting agendas, power and politics; poor local commitment and leadership; lack of coordination; plus high costs and low sustainability, as programs often unravel when development finance ends. Overcoming these obstacles requires a shift from typical approaches to planning, implementing and evaluating rural development and natural resource management initiatives. This manual introduces one approach to achieving such breakthroughs in collective action, called Collaborating for Resilience. The manual presents a set of principles and field-tested guidance on exploring the potential for collaboration, facilitating dialogue and action, evaluating outcomes, and sustaining collaboration over time.