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Communities Dependent (community + dependent)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Life Sciences75%

Selected Abstracts

A socio-economic perspective on gear-based management in an artisanal fishery in south-west Madagascar

FISHERIES MANAGEMENT & ECOLOGY, Issue 4 2009
T. E. DAVIES
Abstract, Artisanal fisheries are important socially, nutritionally and economically. Poverty is common in communities dependent on such fisheries, making sustainable management difficult. Poverty based on material style of life (MSL) was assessed, livelihoods surveyed and the relationship between these factors and fishery data collected using a fish landing study were examined. Species richness, diversity, size and mean trophic level of catches were determined for six fishing gears in an artisanal fishery in south-west Madagascar. There was little livelihood diversification and respondents were highly dependent on the fishery. No relationship was found between poverty and gear use. This suggests that poverty does not have a major impact on the nature of the fishery; however, this study was dominated by poor households, so it remains possible that communities with more variation in wealth might show differences in fishing methods according to this parameter. The fishery was heavily exploited with a predominance of small fish in the catches. Beach seines caught some of the smallest fish, overlapped in selectivity with gill nets and also had the highest catch per fishers. Thus, a reduction in the number of beach seines could help reduce the catch of small fish and the overlap in selectivity among gears. [source]

Beyond Paradise,Meeting the Challenges in Tropical Biology in the 21st Century

BIOTROPICA, Issue 4 2004
Kamaljit S. Bawa
ABSTRACT Tropical ecosystems support a diversity of species and ecological processes that are unparalleled anywhere else on Earth. Despite their tremendous social and scientific importance, tropical ecosystems are rapidly disappearing. To help tropical ecosystems and the human communities dependent upon them better face the challenges of the 21st century, tropical biologists must provide critical knowledge in three areas: (1) the structure and functioning of tropical ecosystems; (2) the nature and magnitude of anthropogenic effects on tropical ecosystems; and (3) the socio-economic drivers of these anthropogenic effects. To develop effective strategies for conservation, restoration, and sustainable management of tropical ecosystems, scientific perspectives must be integrated with social necessities. Three principles for guiding tropical biological research are suggested: (1) broadening the set of concerns; (2) integration of biological knowledge with the social sciences and traditional knowledge; and (3) linking science to policy and action. Four broad recommendations are proposed for immediate action in tropical biology and conservation that are fundamental to all biological and social disciplines in the tropics: (1) assemble and disseminate information on life's diversity in the tropics; (2) enhance tropical field stations and build a worldwide network to link them with tropical field biologists at their field sites; (3) bring the field of tropical biology to the tropics by strengthening institutions in tropical countries through novel partnerships between tropical and temperate zone institutions and scientists; and (4) create concrete mechanisms to increase interactions between tropical biologists, social scientists, and policy makers. RESUMEN Los ecosistemas tropicales mantienen una diversidad de especies y procesos ecológicos como ningún otro en la tierra. A pesar de su gran importancia a nivel social y cientifico, los ecosistemas tropicales están desapareciendo rápidamente. Para ayudar a estos y a las comunidades humanas que dependen de ellos a encarar mejor los desafios del siglo 21, los biólogos tropicales deben proveer informacion critica en tres áreas: (1) la estructura y funcionamiento de los ecosistemas tropicales; (2) la naturaleza y magnitud de los efectos antropogénicos sobre los ecosistemas tropicales; y (3) las fuerzas socio-económicas de esos efectos antropogénicos. Para desarrollar estrategias efectivas para la conservación, restauración y manejo sostenible de los ecosistemas tropicales, las perspectivas cientificas deben ser integradas a las necesidades sociales. Tres principios para orientar la investigación en biologia tropical son sugeridos: (1) ampliación del grupo de interés; (2) integración del conocimiento boilógico con las ciencias sociales y el conocimiento traditional; y (3) enlazar la ciencia con las politicas y la acción. Para una acción inmediata en biologia tropical y la conservación, se proponen cuatro recomendaciones amplias que son fundamentales a todas la disciplinas boilógicas y sociales en los trópicos: (1) recopilar y diseminar información sobre diversidad boilógica en los trópicos; (2) mejorar las facilidades para la investigación en los trópicos (estaciones biológicas) y construir una red mundial que las una con los biólogos tropicales; (3) apoyar el campo de la biologia tropical fortaleciendo las instituciones de 10s paises tropicales a travts de la colaboraci6n con instituciones y cienrificos de zonas ternpladas; y (4) crear rnecanismos concretos para incrementar la interacci6n entre bi6logos rropicales, cientificos sociales y tomadores de decisiones. RESUMO Os ecossistemas tropicais abrigam uma diversidade de espécies e de processes ecológicos sem paralelo em qualquer outro lugar da Terra. Apesar de sua tremenda importa,ncia social e cientifica, os ecossistemas tropicais esta,o desaparecendo rapidamente. Para ajudar os ecossistemas tropicais e as populaço,es humanas que dependem deles a melhor enfrentar os desafios do século 21, os biólogos tropicais precisam gerar conhecimentos cruciais em tr,s áreas: (1) a estrutura e o funcionamento dos ecossistemas tropicais; (2) a natureza e a magnitude dos efeitos antrópicos sobre os ecossistemas tropicais; e (3) as diretrizes sócio-econo,micas destes efeitos antrópicos. Para se desenvolver estratégias efetivas para a conservação, restauracao e manejo sustentável dos ecossistemas tropicais, as perspectivas cientificas tem que ser integradas às necessidades sociais. Tr,s principios norteadores da pesquisa em biologia tropical são indicados: (1) ampliar o conjunto de interesses; (2) integrar o conhecimento boilógico com o conhecimento tradicional e as ci,ncias sociais; e (3) unir ci,ncia com politica e tomada de decisão. Quatro amplas recomendaço,es são propostas para açã imediata na biologia tropical e conservação e que são fundamentals para todas as disciplinas boilógicas e sociais nos trópicos: (1) organizar e disseminar informação sobre a diversidade boilógica nos trópicos; (2) consolidar as estaço,es de pesquisa de campo nos trópicos e construir uma rede mundial para ligar estaço,es e os biólogos tropicais atuando nelas; (3) levar o campo da biologia tropical para os trópicos pelo fortalecimento das instituiço,es nos paises tropicais e através de novas parecerias entre estes pafses e seus cientistas com os cientistas e as instituiço,es de paises da região temperada; e (4) criar mecanismos concretos para aumentar as interaço,es entre os biólogos tropicais, os cientistas sociais e os politicos tomadores de decisão. [source]

Beyond Paradise,Meeting the Challenges in Tropical Biology in the 21st Century

BIOTROPICA, Issue 3 2004
Kamaljit S. Bawa
ABSTRACT Tropical ecosystems support a diversity of species and ecological processes that are unparalleled anywhere else on Earth. Despite their tremendous social and scientific importance, tropical ecosystems are rapidly disappearing. To usher tropical ecosystems and the human communities dependent upon them through the environmental transformations of the 21st century, tropical biologists must provide critical knowledge in three areas: 1) the structure and function of tropical ecosystems; 2) the nature and magnitude of anthropogenic effects on tropical ecosystems; and 3) the socio-economic drivers of these anthropogenic effects. To develop effective strategies for conservation, restoration, and sustainable management of tropical ecosystems, scientific perspectives must be integrated with social necessities. A new set of principles built on a framework for pursuing relevant tropical biological research will facilitate interdisciplinary approaches, integrate biological knowledge with the social sciences, and link science with policy. We propose four broad recommendations for immediate action in tropical biology and conservation that are fundamental to all biological and social disciplines in the tropics: 1) assemble and disseminate information on life's diversity in the tropics; 2) enhance tropical field stations and build a worldwide network to link them with tropical field biologists at their field sites; 3) bring the field of tropical biology to the tropics by strengthening institutions in tropical countries through novel partnerships between tropical and temperate zone institutions and scientists; and 4) create concrete mechanisms to increase interactions between tropical biologists, social scientists, and policy makers. [source]

Lipid biomarkers, pigments and cyanobacterial diversity of microbial mats across intertidal flats of the arid coast of the Arabian Gulf (Abu Dhabi, UAE)

FEMS MICROBIOLOGY ECOLOGY, Issue 3 2008
Raeid M.M. Abed
Abstract Variations in morphology, fatty acids, pigments and cyanobacterial community composition were studied in microbial mats across intertidal flats of the arid Arabian Gulf coast. These mats experience combined extreme conditions of salinity, temperature, UV radiation and desiccation depending on their tidal position. Different mat forms were observed depending on the topology of the coast and location. The mats contained 63 fatty acids in different proportions. The increased amounts of unsaturated fatty acids (12,39%) and the trans/cis ratio (0.6,1.6%) of the cyanobacterial fatty acid n- 18:1,9 in the higher tidal mats suggested an adaptation of the mat microorganisms to environmental stress. Chlorophyll a concentrations suggested lower cyanobacterial abundance in the higher than in the lower intertidal mats. Scytonemin concentrations were dependent on the increase in solar irradiation, salinity and desiccation. The mats showed richness in cyanobacterial species, with Microcoleus chthonoplastes and Lyngbya aestuarii morphotypes as the dominant cyanobacteria. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis patterns suggested shifts in the cyanobacterial community dependent on drainage efficiency and salinity from lower to higher tidal zones. We conclude that the topology of the coast and the variable extreme environmental conditions across the tidal flat determine the distribution of microbial mats as well as the presence or absence of different microorganisms. [source]