Coral health and disease in the Pacific: vision for action

Shallow coral reefs in the IndoPacific contain the highest diversity of marine organisms in the world, with approximately 1500 described species of fish, over 500 species of scleractinian corals, and an estimated 1-10 million organisms yet to be characterized (Reaka-Kudla et al. 1994). These centers of marine biodiversity are facing significant, multiple threats to reef community and habitat structure and function, resulting in local to wide-scale regional damage. Wilkinson (2004) characterized the major pressures as including (1) global climate change, (2) diseases, plagues and invasive species, (3) direct human pressures, (4) poor governance and lack of political will, and (5) international action or inaction. Signs that the natural plasticity of reef ecosystems has been exceeded in many areas from the effects of environmental (e.g., global climate change) and anthropogenic (e.g., land use, pollution) stressors is evidenced by the loss of 20% of the world’s coral reefs (Wilkinson 2004). Predictions are that another 24% (Wilkinson 2006) are under imminent risk of collapse and an additional 26% are under a longer term threat from reduced fitness, disease outbreaks, and increased mortality. These predictions indicate that the current list of approximately 30-40 fatal diseases impacting corals will expand as will the frequency and extent of “coral bleaching” (Waddell 2005; Wilkinson 2004). Disease and corallivore outbreaks, in combination with multiple, concomitant human disturbances are compromising corals and coral reef communities to the point where their ability to rebound from natural disturbances is being lost.

Strengthening collective action to address resource conflict in Lake Kariba, Zambia

Where natural resources are a key component of the rural economy, the ability of the poor to realize their visions for the future depends significantly on institutional structures that govern resource access and management. This case study reports on an initiative on the shores of Lake Kariba in Zambia, where lakeshore residents face competition over fishing, tourism, and commercial aquaculture. Multistakeholder dialogue produced agreements with investors and increased accountability of state agencies and traditional leaders, enabling communities to have greater influence over their futures through improvements in aquatic resource governance. The report documents the rationale for the approach followed and steps in the capacity-building process, discusses obstacles encountered, and identifies lessons for policymakers and practitioners seeking to implement a similar approach.

On the selective action of the cod end meshes of a shrimp trawl

Selectivity studies using cod end and cover to determine the optimum cod end mesh size for commercial size groups of shrimps was carried out at Cochin during 1963-64 fishing season. The normality of the result was checked by trouser cod end method. Although the present investigation was mainly aimed to find out suitable cod end mesh size for commercial varieties of shrimps, five commonly occurring species of fishes were also taken. The 50% escape level, co-efficient of selectivity and selection factor for all the species were worked out. From the findings, the authors stress the necessity of increasing the cod end mesh size from the present condition (25.4 to 31.70 mm) to 41.65 mm fabricated mesh size to avoid depletion of the natural population.

Community visioning and action plans: Tonle Sap hub

The process of rolling out the CGIAR Research Program on Aquatic Agricultural Systems (AAS) in 12 target villages in the Tonle Sap region in Cambodia throughout 2013 involved several important tasks at different stages. This report covers one of those tasks: the Community Life Competence Process (CLCP), commonly referred to by stakeholders as "visioning". It has two main objectives: (1) to document the community visioning process, including the development of a community action plan and NGO work plan to monitor progress; and (2) to document village and network profiles of key community stakeholders at the village level.

Radical Scavenging and Antimicrobial Activities of Methanol Extracts of Two Kinds of Formicary

对两种不同的蚂蚁窝进行甲醇提取,并对提取物进行了急性毒性、抗自由基,酚含量、还原能力和抗菌活性的检测。二苯基三硝基肼(1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl,DPPH)自由基的清除能力的检测表明:两种蚂蚁窝甲醇提取物都具有显著的自由基清除能力,并呈现出剂量依赖性,而且,在高浓度时(5~10mg·mL-1),它们的自由基清除能力甚至显著地高于二丁基羟基甲苯(butylated hydroxyl toluene,BHT)。酚的含量和还原能力分别用福林酚试剂和铁氰化钾还原反应来测定,统计分析显示两种蚂蚁窝的抗氧化能力和其酚含量、还原能力都存在着正相关。两种蚂蚁窝甲醇提取物都具有抗革兰氏阴性菌和革兰氏阳性菌的活性,但它们却对真菌没有作用。

An anionic antimicrobial peptide from toad Bombina maxima

Amphibian skin is a rich resource of antimicrobial peptides like maximins and maximins H from toad Bombina maxima. A novel cDNA clone encoding a precursor protein that comprises maximin 3 and a novel peptide. named maximin H5. was isolated from a skin cDNA library of B. maxima. The predicted primary structure of maximin H5 is ILGPVLGLVSDTLDDVLGIL-NH2,. Containing three aspartate residues and no basic amino acid residues. maximin H5 is characterized by an anionic property. Different from cationic maximin H peptides. only Gram-positive strain Staphylococcus aureus was sensitive to maximin H5. while the other bacteria] and fungal strains tested ere resistant to it. The presence of metal ions. like Zn2+ and Mg2+, did not increase its antimicrobial potency. Maximin H5 represents the first example of potential anionic antimicrobial peptides from amphibians, The results provide the first evidence that. together kith cationic antimicrobial peptides. anionic antimicrobial peptides may also exist naturally as part of the innate defense system. (C), 2002 Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.

Two families of antimicrobial peptides with multiple functions from skin of rufous-spotted torrent frog, Amolops loloensis

There are around 27 species of Amolops amphibian distributed in South-east of Asia. Seven antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) belonging to two different families were purified from skin of rufous-spotted torrent frog, Amolops loloensis, and designated brevinins

Two antimicrobial peptides from skin secretions of Rana grahami

Two antimicrobial peptides manifested a broad spectrum of anti microbial activity against various microorganisms have been isolated from skin secretions of Rana grahami. These antimicrobial peptides were named grahamin 1 and grahamin 2. Their primary Stru

Direct antimicrobial activities of PR-bombesin

PR-bombesin is a bombesin-like peptide derived from the skin of tile Chinese red belly toad, Bombina maxima. The 8-residue segment of N-terminal of RP-bombesin, comprising four prolines and three basic residues, is extensively different front other bombes

Two families of antimicrobial peptides from wasp (Vespa magnifica) venom

The hornet possesses highly toxic venom, which is rich in toxin, enzymes and biologically active peptides. Many bioactive substances were identified from wasp venom. Two families of antimicrobial peptides were purified and characterized from the venom of

A novel antimicrobial peptide from salivary glands of the hard tick, Ixodes sinensis

A novel antimicrobial peptide named as ixosin was isolated from the salivary glands of the hard tick, Ixodes sinensis, by gel filtration, ion exchange chromatography and reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Its amino acid sequen

A new family of antimicrobial peptides from skin secretions of Rana pleuraden

While conducting experiments to investigate antimicrobial peptides of amphibians living in the Yunnan-Guizhou region of southwest China, a new family of antimicrobial peptides was identified from skin secretions of the Yunnan frog, Rana pleuraden. Members

An antimicrobial peptide with antimicrobial activity against Helicobacter pylori

An antimicrobial peptide named odorranain-HP was identified from skin secretions of the diskless odorous frog, Odorrana grahami. It is composed of 23 amino acids with an amino acid sequence of GLLRASSVWGRKYYVDLAGCAKA. By BLAST search, odorranain-HP had si