A relational database of post-harvest fish losses

The article describes FISHLOSS, a database of post-harvest fish losses devised by the Natural Resources Institute (NRI), UK. The database contains 450 records of post-harvest fish losses from 150 sources. The majority of the estimates are shelf-life estimates. Designed to be a reference for people studying post-harvest fish losses, it draws attention to areas requiring future research to identify significant losses and the factors which cause them. All researchers and users are encouraged to send NRI their own estimates for inclusion in revised versions of FISHLOSS.

BOBLME Mergui Archipelago Stakeholder Workshop, Ranong, Thailand, 13-14 July 2010

Develop recommendations and workplan to establish environmental baselines and monitoring;alternative livelihoods; planning and management; and institutional arrangements.

BOBLME Mergui Archipelago Stakeholder Workshop, Yangon, Myanmar, 11-12 October, 2010

Updating environmental baselines and information; identification of major gaps; promotion of environmental services; promotion of livelihood interests; systematic monitoring practices; and increasing public awareness

Mergui Archipelago Joint Stakeholder Workshop report, Phuket, Thailand, 18-19 January, 2011

Data, information gaps and related monitoring requirements including trans-boundry issues; alternative livelihoods; critical habitat and develoment issues; policy, planning and institutional development.

FARM-Africa South Africa Northern Cape land reform and advocacy programme 2004-2008: final evaluation

FARM-Africa South Africa has played a crucial and important role in filling the gap that existed after the return of land to communities by government in the Northern Cape. Their support to farmer communities during the post-settlement phase has been critical for making productive use of land. During 2004-2008, FARM-SA has worked in 20 community projects in the Northern Cape, benefiting 745 poor households.

Indicadores de sostenibilidad ambiental en el periurbano de la ciudad de Mar del Plata, Argentina

Los indicadores de sostenibilidad conforman herramientas útiles para la toma de decisiones. Las ciudades latinoamericanas, y especialmente las áreas de expansión sin planificación adecuada, enfrentan desafíos cada vez mayores para revertir problemáticas que amenazan su sostenibilidad. El presente trabajo evalúa de manera preliminar, la sostenibilidad ambiental del periurbano de Mar del Plata (Argentina) tomando como referencia algunos de los indicadores propuestos por el modelo del Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo en la Iniciativa Ciudades Emergentes y Sostenibles. Se construyó un índice sintético (Índice de Sostenibilidad Ambiental, ISA) que integra trece indicadores agrupados en ocho temas. Las situaciones más críticas (ISA: 0,45-0,558) se identifican fundamentalmente en zonas en las que se desarrollan actividades rurales y en las que se localizan asentamientos de carácter precario. El estudio realizado profundiza en el conocimiento de la dimensión ambiental de la sostenibilidad, enfatizando en el análisis de los contrastes internos del periurbano marplatense.

Incidencia del cambio climático en la seguridad ambiental de las maldivas. Un desafío para la construcción de un régimen internacional de refugiados ambientales (2000-2012)

El interés de esta investigación diagnóstica es evaluar el tema de los refugiados ambientales en las legislaciones internacionales que se encuentran en vigencia actualmente. Es un elemento de análisis pertinente debido a que durante los últimos años el cambio climático y sus efectos adversos han causado estragos en algunas poblaciones, dando origen a lo que se conoce como refugiados ambientales. Así, la falta de inclusión del concepto en la normatividad internacional, representa una problemática, en tanto que estas personas no tienen ningún tipo de apoyo por parte de la Comunidad Internacional. En este trabajo se centra en el caso de las Islas Maldivas y refleja la necesidad de crear un nuevo régimen internacional que cubra a la figura de refugiados ambientales, para así hacer frente a esta problemática internacional.

Influence of thermoplastic extrusion on the nutritive value of bovine rumen protein

This Study investigated the impact of thermoplastic extrusion on the nutritive quality of bovine rumen protein. Proximal composition, amino acid profile and in vivo true protein digestibility among rats were determined in raw (RBR) and extruded (EBR) rumen. Raw and extruded bovine rumen presented high percentages of protein (more than 95% on dry basis). Neither raw nor extruded proteins had any limiting amino acid, and the RBR and EBR amino acid scores were, respectively, 1.28 (leucine) and 1.25 (methionine plus cystine). Extrusion reduced significantly true protein digestibility from 97.7% to 93.1% (p < 0.001), but protein digestibility-corrected amino acid scores for both proteins (RBR and EBR) were 100%. Animal growth presented comparable profiles using raw and extruded rumen. In conclusion, thermoplastic extrusion did not affect the protein quality of bovine rumen, and this does not hinder the use of this material as a food ingredient. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. Ail rights reserved.

Sexual System, Sex Ratio, and Group Living in the Shrimp Thor amboinensis (De Man): Relevance to Resource-Monopolization and Sex-Allocation Theories

The sexual system of the symbiotic shrimp Thor amboinensis is described, along with observations on sex ratio and host-use pattern of different populations. We used a comprehensive approach to elucidate the previously unknown sexual system of this shrimp. Dissections, scanning electron microscopy, size-frequency distribution analysis, and laboratory observations demonstrated that T amboinensis is a protandric hermaphrodite: shrimp first mature as males and change into females later in life. Thor amboinensis inhabited the large and structurally heterogeneous sea anemone Stichoclactyla helianthus in large groups (up to 11 individuals) more frequently than expected by chance alone. Groups exhibited no particularly complex social structure and showed male-biased sex ratios more frequently than expected by chance alone. The adult sex ratio was male-biased in the four separate populations studied, one of them being thousands of kilometers apart from the others. This study supports predictions central to theories of resource monopolization and sex allocation. Dissections demonstrated that unusually large males were parasitized by an undescribed species of isopod (family Entoniscidae). Infestation rates were similarly low in both sexes (approximate to 11%-12%). The available information suggests that T. amboinensis uses pure search promiscuity as a mating system. This hypothesis needs to be formally tested with mating behavior observations and field measurements on the movement pattern of both sexes of the species. Further detailed studies on the lifestyle and sexual system of all the species within this genus and the development of a molecular phylogeny are necessary to elucidate the evolutionary history of gender expression in the genus Thor.

New Ventures Brasil (Forum 2008) - Abertura (Partes 1,2 e 3)

Abertura: Raymundo Magliano Filho - Instituto BM&FBOVESPA, Andrew Aulisi - World Resources Institute - WRI, Marcelo Torres - Banco Real, Anthony Ingham - Citi Foundation