O turismo e a percepção dos seus impactes pela comunidade local : o caso da Ilha do Sal, Cabo Verde

The traditional analysis of tourism, having in mind only its economic impacts has been shown to be reductive and insufficient to explain the numerous and versatile modifications these can and will stimulate in a society at many levels, e.g. socially, culturally, politically and in the environment. The complexity of touristic activities and the insufficient measuring instruments that can provide exact data about these, gives terrain to the emergence of myths and value judgments around the effects in countries where tourism is a reality. This study aims at understanding how the impacts of tourism are grasped by the local community in Sal island – Cape Verde – convinced as we are that a quality and sustainable touristic offer can only be done by trialing the population, and involving them in the planning, managing and monitoring processes. The analysis of the perception of the impacts of touristic activities by the population tells us a lot about the levels of satisfaction of such communities towards the way in which the touristic development has been carried out in their surroundings. This study has been made through the inquiry of 231 locals, by means of a questionnaire, that showed that the population in this island has a very clear conscience of the impacts of tourism in their day-to-day lives. Conclusions drawn are that the negative economic and social impacts are greater than the positive; the cultural and environmental impacts are not so significant, and that the people feel that their voice has not been heard in what planning touristic activities is concerned. Nevertheless, they have high expectations regarding tourism as a way of ameliorating their life conditions. The inexistence of a linear behavior of impacts of touristic activities in the receptive countries and a perfect and adjustable model for tourism development make these countries delineate new politics aiming at the sustainability and the creation of conditions that help them monitor and mitigate its negative impacts.

Estudo das perceções da Comunidade da Palmeira (Ilha do Sal, Cabo Verde) sobre a sustentabilidade das pescas

A pesca teve sempre grande importância socioeconómica para as comunidades costeiras de Cabo Verde, oferecendo meios de subsistência e, devido à vocação marítima do povo Cabo-verdiano, possibilidades de emprego. O peixe aparece como componente importante na alimentação da população, tendo papel decisivo na questão da segurança alimentar e, por ser fonte de proteína animal de baixo custo para a população, requer que a sua exploração seja feita em moldes sustentáveis, perpetuando no tempo a disponibilidade desse recurso para toda a sociedade. A pesca é uma das principais atividades económicas da zona costeira da Ilha do Sal, além de ser uma importante atividade de subsistência para as três comunidades pesqueiras da ilha. Com o objetivo de discutir caminhos sustentáveis para a atividade, iremos refletir sobre a sustentabilidade da pesca artesanal na comunidade da Palmeira, Ilha do Sal, Cabo Verde. Numa comunidade como Palmeira, onde a pesca é tipicamente artesanal, encontramos diversos elementos que garantem a sustentabilidade da atividade, tais como o uso predominante dos recursos naturais renováveis e a diversidade de espécies capturadas. Conhecer e desenvolver novos mecanismos que visam educar, criar políticas sustentáveis para a atividade e gestão dos recursos, é importante para a nova conjuntura em que se vive. A educação e a organização dos pescadores, bem como a descentralização e a gestão participativa dos recursos pesqueiros, são condições fundamentais para a sustentabilidade da pesca.

Estudo das perceções da Comunidade da Palmeira (Ilha do Sal, Cabo Verde) sobre a sustentabilidade das pescas

A pesca teve sempre grande importância socioeconómica para as comunidades costeiras de Cabo Verde, oferecendo meios de subsistência e, devido à vocação marítima do povo Cabo-verdiano, possibilidades de emprego. O peixe aparece como componente importante na alimentação da população, tendo papel decisivo na questão da segurança alimentar e, por ser fonte de proteína animal de baixo custo para a população, requer que a sua exploração seja feita em moldes sustentáveis, perpetuando no tempo a disponibilidade desse recurso para toda a sociedade. A pesca é uma das principais atividades económicas da zona costeira da Ilha do Sal, além de ser uma importante atividade de subsistência para as três comunidades pesqueiras da ilha. Com o objetivo de discutir caminhos sustentáveis para a atividade, iremos refletir sobre a sustentabilidade da pesca artesanal na comunidade da Palmeira, Ilha do Sal, Cabo Verde. Numa comunidade como Palmeira, onde a pesca é tipicamente artesanal, encontramos diversos elementos que garantem a sustentabilidade da atividade, tais como o uso predominante dos recursos naturais renováveis e a diversidade de espécies capturadas. Conhecer e desenvolver novos mecanismos que visam educar, criar políticas sustentáveis para a atividade e gestão dos recursos, é importante para a nova conjuntura em que se vive. A educação e a organização dos pescadores, bem como a descentralização e a gestão participativa dos recursos pesqueiros, são condições fundamentais para a sustentabilidade da pesca. Fishery has always been of great social economic importance for the coastal communities of Cape Verde, offering means of subsistence and employment opportunities due to their maritime vocation. Fish are important food component for the population, playing a decisive role in food safety. Since fishery is a source of low-cost animal protein, its exploration must be sustainable in order to be permanently available for the community. Fishing is one of the main economic activities of the coastal zone of island, besides being an important subsistence activity for the three fishing communities of the island. Aiming to discuss ways for sustainable activity, we will reflect on the sustainability of the handmade fishing in the community of Palmeira Sal Island, Cape Verde. In a community like Palmeira, where fishing is typically handmade, we find many elements that ensure the sustainability of the activity, such as the predominant use of renewable natural resources and the diversity of species caught. Meet and develop new mechanisms to educate, create sustainable policies for the activity and resource management, is important for the new environment in which we live. Education and organization of fishermen, as well as decentralization and participatory management of fishery resources, are fundamental to the sustainability of fisheries.

O turismo e a percepção dos seus impactes pela comunidade local: o caso da Ilha do Sal, Cabo Verde

A análise tradicional do turismo visando apenas a sua dimensão económica tem-se mostrado redutora e insuficiente para explicar as inúmeras e versáteis alterações que pode provocar a nível social, cultural, político e ambiental. A complexidade da actividade turística e a carência de instrumentos ajustados para avaliar e tornar mensuráveis os seus impactes constituem terreno fértil à emergência de mitos e de juízos de valor em torno dos efeitos por ele causado nos países receptores. A linha orientadora da investigação parte do pressuposto que a actividade turística só faz sentido e se torna viável se proporcionar uma experiência qualitativa aos principais agentes envolvidos: os turistas e os residentes. A tentativa de compreender a forma como os impactes do turismo são percepcionados pela comunidade receptora da ilha do Sal em Cabo Verde está intimamente associado à convicção que um turismo de qualidade e sustentável só é possível auscultando a população e envolvendo-a no planeamento, gestão e monitorização da actividade. A análise da percepção dos impactes da actividade turística por parte da comunidade desemboca indirectamente no conhecimento dos níveis de satisfação da comunidade em relação à forma como se tem realizado o desenvolvimento turístico na ilha. No âmbito do trabalho de investigação foram realizados duzentos e trinta e um questionários cujos resultados da investigação levam a acreditar que a comunidade local salense possui uma clara consciência dos impactes do turismo no seu quotidiano. Verifica-se que a percepção dos impactes económicos e sociais negativos reúnem maior consenso que os impactes positivos. Os impactes culturais e ambientais são ainda pouco perceptíveis por parte dos inquiridos. Por outro lado, os inquiridos na sua generalidade não se sentem envolvidos no planeamento da actividade turística, embora haja elevadas expectativas em relação à actividade como forma de melhoria das condições de vida da população. A inexistência de um comportamento linear dos impactes da actividade turística no destino e de um modelo de desenvolvimento turístico perfeito e ajustável a todas as realidades obriga a que sejam delineados por parte dos países receptores políticas de planeamento visando a sustentabilidade e condições para a monitorização e mitigação dos seus impactes.

O turismo e a percepção dos seus impactes pela comunidade local : o caso da Ilha do Sal, Cabo Verde

The traditional analysis of tourism, having in mind only its economic impacts has been shown to be reductive and insufficient to explain the numerous and versatile modifications these can and will stimulate in a society at many levels, e.g. socially, culturally, politically and in the environment. The complexity of touristic activities and the insufficient measuring instruments that can provide exact data about these, gives terrain to the emergence of myths and value judgments around the effects in countries where tourism is a reality. This study aims at understanding how the impacts of tourism are grasped by the local community in Sal island – Cape Verde – convinced as we are that a quality and sustainable touristic offer can only be done by trialing the population, and involving them in the planning, managing and monitoring processes. The analysis of the perception of the impacts of touristic activities by the population tells us a lot about the levels of satisfaction of such communities towards the way in which the touristic development has been carried out in their surroundings. This study has been made through the inquiry of 231 locals, by means of a questionnaire, that showed that the population in this island has a very clear conscience of the impacts of tourism in their day-to-day lives. Conclusions drawn are that the negative economic and social impacts are greater than the positive; the cultural and environmental impacts are not so significant, and that the people feel that their voice has not been heard in what planning touristic activities is concerned. Nevertheless, they have high expectations regarding tourism as a way of ameliorating their life conditions. The inexistence of a linear behavior of impacts of touristic activities in the receptive countries and a perfect and adjustable model for tourism development make these countries delineate new politics aiming at the sustainability and the creation of conditions that help them monitor and mitigate its negative impacts.

Review of semiochemicals that mediate the oviposition of mosquitoes: a possible sustainable tool for the control and monitoring of Culicidae

The choice for suitable places for female mosquitoes to lay eggs is a key-factor for the survival of immature stages (eggs and larvae). This knowledge stands out in importance concerning the control of disease vectors. The selection of a place for oviposition requires a set of chemical, visual, olfactory and tactile cues that interact with the female before laying eggs, helping the localization of adequate sites for oviposition. The present paper presents a bibliographic revision on the main aspects of semiochemicals in regard to mosquitoes' oviposition, aiding the comprehension of their mechanisms and estimation of their potential as a tool for the monitoring and control of the Culicidae.

Estudo das perceções da Comunidade da Palmeira (Ilha do Sal, Cabo Verde) sobre a sustentabilidade das pescas

A pesca teve sempre grande importância socioeconómica para as comunidades costeiras de Cabo Verde, oferecendo meios de subsistência e, devido à vocação marítima do povo Cabo-verdiano, possibilidades de emprego. O peixe aparece como componente importante na alimentação da população, tendo papel decisivo na questão da segurança alimentar e, por ser fonte de proteína animal de baixo custo para a população, requer que a sua exploração seja feita em moldes sustentáveis, perpetuando no tempo a disponibilidade desse recurso para toda a sociedade. A pesca é uma das principais atividades económicas da zona costeira da Ilha do Sal, além de ser uma importante atividade de subsistência para as três comunidades pesqueiras da ilha. Com o objetivo de discutir caminhos sustentáveis para a atividade, iremos refletir sobre a sustentabilidade da pesca artesanal na comunidade da Palmeira, Ilha do Sal, Cabo Verde. Numa comunidade como Palmeira, onde a pesca é tipicamente artesanal, encontramos diversos elementos que garantem a sustentabilidade da atividade, tais como o uso predominante dos recursos naturais renováveis e a diversidade de espécies capturadas. Conhecer e desenvolver novos mecanismos que visam educar, criar políticas sustentáveis para a atividade e gestão dos recursos, é importante para a nova conjuntura em que se vive. A educação e a organização dos pescadores, bem como a descentralização e a gestão participativa dos recursos pesqueiros, são condições fundamentais para a sustentabilidade da pesca.

Implementing interactive computing in an object-oriented environment

Statistical computing when input/output is driven by a Graphical User Interface is considered. A proposal is made for automatic control ofcomputational flow to ensure that only strictly required computationsare actually carried on. The computational flow is modeled by a directed graph for implementation in any object-oriented programming language with symbolic manipulation capabilities. A complete implementation example is presented to compute and display frequency based piecewise linear density estimators such as histograms or frequency polygons.

On landslide risk, resilience and vulnerability of mountain communities in Central-Eastern Nepal

Executive SummaryIn Nepal, landslides are one of the major natural hazards after epidemics, killing over 100 persons per year. However, this figure is an underreported reflection of the actual impact that landslides have on livelihoods and food security in rural Nepal. With predictions of more intense rainfall patterns, landslide occurrence in the Himalayas is likely to increase and continue to be one of the major impediments to development. Due to the remoteness of many localities and lack of resources, responsibilities for disaster preparedness and response in mountain areas usually lie with the communities themselves. Everyday life is full of risk in mountains of Nepal. This is why mountain populations, as well as other populations living in harsh conditions have developed a number of coping strategies for dealing with adverse situations. Perhaps due to the dispersed and remote nature of landslides in Nepal, there have been few studies on vulnerability, coping- and mitigation strategies of landslide affected populations. There are also few recommendations available to guide authorities and populations how to reduce losses due to landslides in Nepal, and even less so, how to operationalize resilience and vulnerability.Many policy makers, international donors, NGOs and national authorities are currently asking what investments are needed to increase the so-called 'resilience' of mountain populations to deal with climate risks. However, mountain populations are already quite resilient to seasonal fluctuations, temperature variations, rainfall patterns and market prices. In spite of their resilience, they continue to live in places at risk due to high vulnerability caused by structural inequalities: access to land, resources, markets, education. This interdisciplinary thesis examines the concept of resilience by questioning its usefulness and validity as the current goal of international development and disaster risk reduction policies, its conceptual limitations and its possible scope of action. The goal of this study is two-fold: to better define and distinguish factors and relationships between resilience, vulnerability, capacities and risk; and to test and improve a participatory methodology for evaluating landslide risk that can serve as a guidance tool for improving community-based disaster risk reduction. The objective is to develop a simple methodology that can be used by NGOs, local authorities and communities to reduce losses from landslides.Through its six case studies in Central-Eastern Nepal, this study explores the relation between resilience, vulnerability and landslide risk based on interdisciplinary methods, including geological assessments of landslides, semi-structured interviews, focus groups and participatory risk mapping. For comparison, the study sites were chosen in Tehrathum, Sunsari and Dolakha Districts of Central/Eastern Nepal, to reflect a variety of landslide types, from chronic to acute, and a variety of communities, from very marginalized to very high status. The study uses the Sustainable Livelihoods Approach as its conceptual basis, which is based on the notion that access and rights to resources (natural, human/institutional, economic, environmental, physical) are the basis for coping with adversity, such as landslides. The study is also intended as a contribution to the growing literature and practices on Community Based Disaster Risk Reduction specifically adapted to landslide- prone areas.In addition to the six case studies, results include an indicator based methodology for assessing and measuring vulnerability and resilience, a composite risk assessment methodology, a typology of coping strategies and risk perceptions and a thorough analysis of the relation between risk, vulnerability and resilience. The methodology forassessing vulnerability, resilience and risk is relatively cost-effective and replicable in a low-data environment. Perhaps the major finding is that resilience is a process that defines a community's (or system's) capacity to rebound following adversity but it does not necessarily reduce vulnerability or risk, which requires addressing more structural issues related to poverty. Therefore, conclusions include a critical view of resilience as a main goal of international development and disaster risk reduction policies. It is a useful concept in the context of recovery after a disaster but it needs to be addressed in parallel with vulnerability and risk.This research was funded by an interdisciplinary grant (#26083591) from the Swiss National Science Foundation for the period 2009-2011 and a seed grant from the Faculty of Geosciences and Environment at the University of Lausanne in 2008.Résumé en françaisAu Népal, les glissements de terrain sont un des aléas les plus dévastateurs après les épidémies, causant 100 morts par an. Pourtant, ce chiffre est une sous-estimation de l'impact réel de l'effet des glissements sur les moyens de subsistance et la sécurité alimentaire au Népal. Avec des prévisions de pluies plus intenses, l'occurrence des glissements dans les Himalayas augmente et présente un obstacle au développement. Du fait de l'éloignement et du manque de ressources dans les montagnes au Népal, la responsabilité de la préparation et la réponse aux catastrophes se trouve chez les communautés elles-mêmes. Le risque fait partie de la vie quotidienne dans les montagnes du Népal. C'est pourquoi les populations montagnardes, comme d'autres populations vivant dans des milieux contraignants, ont développé des stratégies pour faire face aux situations défavorables. Peu d'études existent sur la vulnérabilité, ceci étant probablement dû à l'éloignement et pourtant, les stratégies d'adaptation et de mitigation des populations touchées par des glissements au Népal existent.Beaucoup de décideurs politiques, bailleurs de fonds, ONG et autorités nationales se demandent quels investissements sont nécessaires afin d'augmenter la 'resilience' des populations de montagne pour faire face aux changements climatiques. Pourtant, ces populations sont déjà résilientes aux fluctuations des saisons, des variations de température, des pluies et des prix des marchés. En dépit de leur résilience, ils continuent de vivre dans des endroits à fort risque à cause des vulnérabilités créées par les inégalités structurelles : l'accès à la terre, aux ressources, aux marchés et à l'éducation. Cette thèse interdisciplinaire examine le concept de la résilience en mettant en cause son utilité et sa validité en tant que but actuel des politiques internationales de développement et de réduction des risques, ainsi que ses limitations conceptuelles et ses possibles champs d'action. Le but de cette étude est double : mieux définir et distinguer les facteurs et relations entre la résilience, la vulnérabilité, les capacités et le risque ; Et tester et améliorer une méthode participative pour évaluer le risque des glissements qui peut servir en tant qu'outil indicatif pour améliorer la réduction des risques des communautés. Le but est de développer une méthodologie simple qui peut être utilisée par des ONG, autorités locales et communautés pour réduire les pertes dues aux glissements.A travers les études de cas au centre-est du Népal, cette étude explore le rapport entre la résilience, la vulnérabilité et les glissements basée sur des méthodes interdisciplinaires ; Y sont inclus des évaluations géologiques des glissements, des entretiens semi-dirigés, des discussions de groupes et des cartes de risques participatives. Pour la comparaison, les zones d'études ont été sélectionnées dans les districts de Tehrathum, Sunsari et Dolakha dans le centre-est du Népal, afin de refléter différents types de glissements, de chroniques à urgents, ainsi que différentes communautés, variant de très marginalisées à très haut statut. Pour son cadre conceptuel, cette étude s'appuie sur l'approche de moyens de subsistance durable, qui est basée sur les notions d'accès et de droit aux ressources (naturelles, humaines/institutionnelles, économiques, environnementales, physiques) et qui sont le minimum pour faire face à des situations difficiles, comme des glissements. Cette étude se veut aussi une contribution à la littérature et aux pratiques en croissantes sur la réduction des risques communautaires, spécifiquement adaptées aux zones affectées par des glissements.En plus des six études de cas, les résultats incluent une méthodologie basée sur des indicateurs pour évaluer et mesurer la vulnérabilité et la résilience, une méthodologie sur le risque composé, une typologie de stratégies d'adaptation et perceptions des risques ainsi qu'une analyse fondamentale de la relation entre risque, vulnérabilité et résilience. Les méthodologies pour l'évaluation de la vulnérabilité, de la résilience et du risque sont relativement peu coûteuses et reproductibles dans des endroits avec peu de données disponibles. Le résultat probablement le plus pertinent est que la résilience est un processus qui définit la capacité d'une communauté (ou d'un système) à rebondir suite à une situation défavorable, mais qui ne réduit pas forcement la vulnérabilité ou le risque, et qui requiert une approche plus fondamentale s'adressant aux questions de pauvreté. Les conclusions incluent une vue critique de la résilience comme but principal des politiques internationales de développement et de réduction des risques. C'est un concept utile dans le contexte de la récupération après une catastrophe mais il doit être pris en compte au même titre que la vulnérabilité et le risque.Cette recherche a été financée par un fonds interdisciplinaire (#26083591) du Fonds National Suisse pour la période 2009-2011 et un fonds de préparation de recherches par la Faculté des Géosciences et Environnement à l'Université de Lausanne en 2008.

Balance Between Investment Protection and Sustainable Development in BITs: the Example of Switzerland

The objective of this article is to examine how substantive and procedural rights granted to foreign investors by Swiss bits are gradually being balanced with social and environmental provisions. Switzerland has enjoyed a long bit practice, as it signed its first treaty with Tunisia fifty years ago. Swiss bits rely on the post-establishment model and include usual standards of treatment. From 1981, they also systematically provide for a dispute settlement mechanism for disputes arising between an investor and a host State. Since the Switzerland - El Salvador bit in 1994, sustainable development concerns have been expressly inserted in some Swiss bits, as well as in several recent free trade agreements. Provisions on this theme are however far from being systematic in Switzerland's bit practice and essentially remain declaratory in nature. The trend towards wider inclusion of sustainable development provisions in bits still faces several practical and political challenges.

A Importância do Ecoturismo no Património Arquitectónico de Cabo Verde das Potencialidades à Prática

Desde a última década do séc. XX, o turismo em Cabo Verde tem sido um dos sectores que mais cresce, atraindo maior investimento directo estrangeiro. Contudo, este crescimento gerou também maior pressão sobre os recursos existentes, com impactes negativos a vários níveis. Tem-se reflectido e discutido a sustentabilidade do turismo em território nacional, com objectivos claros de valorização do destino turístico cabo-verdiano, através da conservação e melhoria do ambiente natural, social e cultural. A aposta das autoridades cabo-verdianas no incremento do turismo para o séc. XXI levou a eleição do ecoturismo como a actividade de futuro, com o objectivo de melhorar a competitividade da oferta turística, ser uma alternativa no sector. Uma actividade que pode ser implementada em qualquer ilha, desde que bem aproveitada a vasta oferta de produtos existentes, envolva e forme a população da importância da conservação da biodiversidade e contribua para a erradicação da pobreza ao gerar recursos económicos para as comunidades locais. Deste modo, se requer pensar que arquitectura para o planeamento e realização de infra- estruturas físicas para o adequado desenvolvimento do ecoturismo em Cabo Verde. Os actores directos como os arquitectos, engenheiros civis e planeadores têm uma enorme responsabilidade ao desenhar e executar obras para o turismo, sobre tudo em ecossistemas de grande fragilidade como os que caracterizam as áreas naturais. Sendo um assunto relativamente recente no país, ainda não se criaram normas, regras, directivas claras para o desenvolvimento deste tipo de infra-estruturas turísticas. Em muitos casos, são os próprios desenhadores e construtores, bem como aos seus clientes, quando demonstram alguma sensibilidade na conservação e preservação de áreas de significação ecológica, estabelecem os seus próprios critérios de desenho e códigos éticos que garantam o mínimo de impacte ambiental e uma interacção harmoniosa e sustentável entre a obra física e os espaços circundantes. O presente trabalho tem como objectivo discutir e analisar qual a importância do ecoturismo no panorama arquitectónico cabo-verdiano e se este turismo sustentável será apenas uma ideia teórica, um modelo ideal de actividade ou passível de ser aplicável, de se observar na prática.

Soil and Water Conservation Strategies in Cape Verde (Cabo Verde in Portuguese) and Their Impacts on Livelihoods - An Overview from the Ribeira Seca Watershed

Severe land degradation has strongly affected both people’s livelihood and the environment in Cape Verde (Cabo Verde in Portuguese), a natural resource poor country. Despite the enormous investment in soil and water conservation measures (SWC or SLM), which are visible throughout the landscape, and the recognition of their benefits, their biophysical and socioeconomic impacts have been poorly assessed and scientifically documented. This paper contributes to filling this gap, by bringing together insights from literature and policy review, field survey and participatory assessment in the Ribeira Seca Watershed through a concerted approach devised by the DESIRE project (the “Desire approach”). Specifically, we analyze government strategies towards building resilience against the harsh conditions, analyze the state of land degradation and its drivers, survey and map the existing SWC measures, and assess their effectiveness against land degradation, on crop yield and people’s livelihood. We infer that the relative success of Cape Verde in tackling desertification and rural poverty owes to an integrated governance strategy that comprises raising awareness, institutional framework development, financial resource allocation, capacity building, and active participation of rural communities. We recommend that specific, scientific-based monitoring and assessment studies be carried out on the biophysical and socioeconomic impact of SLM and that the “Desire approach” be scaled-up to other watersheds in the country.

Agriculture and Environment Task Force Report To the Rebuild Iowa Advisory Commission, August 2008

The Rebuild Iowa Agriculture and Environment Task Force respectfully submits its report to the Rebuild Iowa Advisory Commission (RIAC) for consideration of the impacts of the tornadoes, storms, high winds, and flooding affecting Iowa’s agriculture sector and environment. The Task Force was required to address very complex and multi-faceted issues. Understanding that there were a broad range of immediate concerns, as well as critical issues that need to be addressed in the future, the Task Force structured its work in two sessions. To better address the issues and priorities of the Task Force, this report categorizes the issues as agriculture, conservation, environment, and livestock.

The effect of environment on development and survival of pupae of the necrophagous fly Ophyra albuquerquei Lopes (Diptera, Muscidae)

The effect of environment on development and survival of pupae of the necrophagous fly Ophyra albuquerquei Lopes (Diptera, Muscidae). Species of Ophyra Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 are found in decomposing bodies, usually in fresh, bloated and decay stages. Ophyra albuquerquei Lopes, for example, can be found in animal carcasses. The influence of environmental factors has not been evaluated in puparia of O. albuquerquei. Thus, the focus of this work was motivated by the need for models to predict the development of a necrophagous insect as a function of abiotic factors. Colonies of O. albuquerquei were maintained in the laboratory to obtain pupae. On the tenth day of each month 200 pupae, divided equally into 10 glass jars, were exposed to the environment and checked daily for adult emergence of each sample. We concluded that the high survival rate observed suggested that the diets used for rearing the larvae and maintaining the adults were appropriate. Also, the data adjusted to robust generalized linear models and there were no interruptions of O. albuquerquei pupae development within the limits of temperatures studied in southern Rio Grande do Sul, given the high survival presented.

Comparison of human chromosome 21 conserved nongenic sequences (CNGs) with the mouse and dog genomes shows that their selective constraint is independent of their genic environment.

The analysis of conservation between the human and mouse genomes resulted in the identification of a large number of conserved nongenic sequences (CNGs). The functional significance of this nongenic conservation remains unknown, however. The availability of the sequence of a third mammalian genome, the dog, allows for a large-scale analysis of evolutionary attributes of CNGs in mammals. We have aligned 1638 previously identified CNGs and 976 conserved exons (CODs) from human chromosome 21 (Hsa21) with their orthologous sequences in mouse and dog. Attributes of selective constraint, such as sequence conservation, clustering, and direction of substitutions were compared between CNGs and CODs, showing a clear distinction between the two classes. We subsequently performed a chromosome-wide analysis of CNGs by correlating selective constraint metrics with their position on the chromosome and relative to their distance from genes. We found that CNGs appear to be randomly arranged in intergenic regions, with no bias to be closer or farther from genes. Moreover, conservation and clustering of substitutions of CNGs appear to be completely independent of their distance from genes. These results suggest that the majority of CNGs are not typical of previously described regulatory elements in terms of their location. We propose models for a global role of CNGs in genome function and regulation, through long-distance cis or trans chromosomal interactions.