Effects of heat: UK exercise Saif Sareea 3 and interpreting military climatic guidance.

INTRODUCTION: Over recent years much research, both civilian and military, has occurred in the field of heat illness. This has helped force health protection and medical management of service personnel operating in hot climates. Exercise Saif Sareea 3 in Oman saw a collection of presentations to the deployed UK medical treatment facilities due to the effects of heat. METHOD: This paper aims to describe the case series of 24 casualties that presented to the deployed primary care facilities and 17 that were admitted to the deployed secondary care facility due to the effects of heat. RESULTS: Only 10 casualties fulfilled the in-theatre diagnostic criteria for heat illness, of which two were of moderate severity and required aeromedical evacuation to the UK. CONCLUSIONS: Commanders appeared extremely well read on Joint Service Publication 539 (JSP539; May 2017) Heat Illness and Cold Injury: Prevention and Management, following the Brecon enquiry, and were proactive in managing their force in preventative measures. This likely contributed towards the low numbers of patients with heat illness seen on the exercise. JSP539 did, however, appear to have some limitations when trying to apply it to all patients seen within the operational patient care pathway, and some areas for development are discussed.

Analysis of the effects of climate variables on Apis mellifera pollen foraging performance / Análise dos efeitos de variáveis climáticas no desempenho de forrageamento de pólen de abelhas Apis mellifera

Pollination services performed by bees are essential for the reproduction of a great part of flowering plants. The pollen collected by Apis mellifera while performing pollination (bee pollen), has been incorporated into the human diet for its favorable nutritional components. Around 1,500 tons of bee pollen are produced annually worldwide, especially in Spain, China, Australia, Argentina, and Brazil. Despite the importance of bee pollen within apiculture, little is known about the effects of climate variations on bee pollen collection and production. We monitored the pollen collection performance of 24 different honey bee colonies in different climate conditions within a period of one year. We then analyzed the statistical interaction among the number of worker bees returning with pollen loads and 12 climatic variables, to produce a predictive mixed linear model. The results obtained showed that 7 climatic variables were statistically correlated to the pollen collection observed: Maximum temperature of the day, minimum temperature of the day, dew point temperature, relative humidity, cloud cover, rainfall, and the date of the sample. This research brings information for the development of a more effective pollen productive system.(AU)

Serviços de polinização são essenciais para a reprodução de uma grande parte das plantas com flores. Além de fundamental para produtividade agrícola e segurança alimentar no planeta, a atividade de polinização por Apis mellifera também possibilita a produção do pólen apícola. Devido a sua riqueza nutricional, o pólen apícola vem sendo incorporado às dietas humanas e de animais de interesse zootécnico. Cerca de 1.500 toneladas de pólen de abelha são produzidas anualmente em todo o mundo, especialmente em países como Espanha, China, Austrália, Argentina e Brasil. Apesar da importância do pólen na cadeia produtiva apícola, muito pouco se conhece sobre os efeitos das variações climáticas sobre a coleta e a produtividade de pólen. Neste estudo, foi monitorado o desempenho da coleta de pólen de 24 colônias de abelhas africanizadas, em diferentes condições climáticas, por um período de um ano. Analisaram-se estatisticamente as interações dos dados obtidos para o número de abelhas operárias que retornaram com cargas de pólen nas corbículas e 12 variáveis climáticas, a fim de se produzir um modelo estatístico preditivo. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que sete variáveis climáticas influenciaram significativamente a coleta de pólen: temperatura máxima do dia, temperatura mínima do dia, temperatura do ponto de orvalho, umidade relativa, cobertura de nuvens, precipitação pluviométrica e data da amostragem. Esta pesquisa traz informações importantes para o desenvolvimento de um sistema produtivo de pólen apícola mais eficaz.(AU)

Influencia de las olas de calor en la mortalidad de la Comunidad de Castilla- La Mancha (España) entre 1975 y 2008 / No disponible

INTRODUCCIÓN Y OBJETIVOS: Análisis del impacto de las olas de calor y frío por sobre la mortalidad diaria en castilla La Mancha (España) por todas las causas, circulatorias y respiratorias, durante el periodo 1975-2008. MÉTODOS: La series de mortalidad diaria por todas las causas, causas circulatorias y causas respiratorias ocurridas en Castilla- La Mancha en el periodo 1975-2008 son la variable dependiente. Las variables independientes son los datos de temperatura máxima diaria, temperatura mínima, humedad relativa media diaria y presión atmosférica media diaria. Se ha analizado el impacto de otras variables relacionadas, como duración de la ola de calor, número de ola de calor y tendencia de presión. La metodología utilizada es el análisis de series temporales mediante modelos ARIMA. RESULTADOS: Existe una temperatura umbral de disparo de la mortalidad por calor en Castilla-La Mancha de 37ºC. En el periodo 1986-1996 la mortalidad por causas circulatorias se incrementó un 1,05% por cada día de duración de las olas de calor y su impacto es superior al del frío con un 14% de incremento de la mortalidad diaria frente al frío, que es de 9,6%. El efecto de los extremos térmicos sobre las causas circulatorias ha disminuido más que en las respiratorias en el período de 1975-2008. El efecto del calor es más inmediato que el del frío. CONCLUSIONES: Las mejoras socioeconómicas, el rejuvenecimiento de la población, el descenso en el consumo del tabaco y la ampliación de la red hemodinámica regional pueden ser los causantes del descenso de la mortalidad por casusas circulatorias

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Analysis of the impact of heat waves and col don daily mortality in Castile-La Mancha (Spain) from all causes, circulatory and respiratory during the period 1975-2008. METHODS: The series of daily mortality from all causes, circulatory and respiratory causes occurred in Castile-La Mancha in the period 1975-2008 are the dependent variable. The independent variables are the daily maximum temperature data, temperature minimum, daily average relative humidity and atmospheric pressure daily average. We analyzed the impact of other related variables such as duration of the heat wave, heat wave numbers and pressure trend. The methodology used is the time series analysis using ARIMA models. RESULTS: Triger threshold temperature heat mortality in Castile- La Mancha of 37ºC. In the period 1986-1996 circulatory causes mortality increased by 1.05% for each day of duration of heat waves, and their impact is greater than the cold with a 14% increase in daily mortality from the cold which is 9.6%. The effect of temperature extremes on circulatory causes decreased respiratory rather then in the period 1975-2008. The heat effect is more immediate than cold. CONCLUSION: The economic improvements, rejuvenation of the population the decline in the consumption of tobacco and expanding regional hemodynamic network may be the cause of the decline in mortality from circulatory causes

Respostas fisiológicas e comportamentais de vacas Holandesas mantidas em sistema adiabático evaporativo / Physiological and behavioral responses of Holstein cows housed under cooling system

Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a influência de recursos de climatização, ventilação e nebulização, sobre a fisiologia e o comportamento de vacas Holandesas alojadas em free-stall, durante o verão do sudeste brasileiro. Foram utilizadas 20 vacas Holandesas submetidas a dois tratamentos com e sem climatização. Os parâmetros ambientais registrados foram temperatura de bulbo seco, umidade relativa do ar e temperatura de globo negro. As variáveis fisiológicas avaliadas foram temperatura retal e frequência respiratória. As variáveis comportamentais registradas foram postura e suas atividades dentro da instalação. Para análise estatística utilizou-se a metodologia de quadrados mínimos por meio do procedimento PROC MIXED e PROC GLM. Apesar das diferenças estatísticas obtidas para as variáveis fisiológicas, as mesmas não foram biologicamente efetivas e indicaram que os animais se encontravam em conforto térmico. Os animais que dispunham de ventilação e nebulização alimentaram-se mesmo nas horas mais quentes do dia. A climatização é uma estratégia que permite maior conforto térmico aos animais e por consequência pode aperfeiçoar a produção leiteira através do aumento no consumo alimentar.

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of cooling systems, ventilation and nebulization on the physiology and behavior of Holstein cows housed in free-stall during the summer of southeastern Brazil. 20 Holstein cows were subjected to two treatments with and without cooling system. Environmental parameters dry bulb temperature, relative humidity and black globe temperature were also recorded. Rectal temperature and respiratory rate were evaluated at 5h, 9h30min, 11h30min, 13h30min, 16h30min, 18h30min e 21h30min. The behavioral variables recorded were posture and activities from 5h to 21:30h. Statistics we done using the method of least squares means. Despite the statistical differences obtained for the physiological variables, they were not biologically effective and indicated that the animals were in thermal comfort. Animals that had ventilation and nebulization have eaten even during the hottest hours of the day. The cooling system is a strategy that allows greater thermal comfort to animals and therefore can optimize milk production by increasing the dietary intake.

Present, future, and novel bioclimates of the San Francisco, California region.

Bioclimates are syntheses of climatic variables into biologically relevant categories that facilitate comparative studies of biotic responses to climate conditions. Isobioclimates, unique combinations of bioclimatic indices (continentality, ombrotype, and thermotype), were constructed for northern California coastal ranges based on the Rivas-Martinez worldwide bioclimatic classification system for the end of the 20(th) century climatology (1971-2000) and end of the 21(st) century climatology (2070-2099) using two models, Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) model and the Parallel Climate Model (PCM), under the medium-high A2 emission scenario. The digitally mapped results were used to 1) assess the relative redistribution of isobioclimates and their magnitude of change, 2) quantify the loss of isobioclimates into the future, 3) identify and locate novel isobioclimates projected to appear, and 4) explore compositional change in vegetation types among analog isobioclimate patches. This study used downscaled climate variables to map the isobioclimates at a fine spatial resolution -270 m grid cells. Common to both models of future climate was a large change in thermotype. Changes in ombrotype differed among the two models. The end of 20(th) century climatology has 83 isobioclimates covering the 63,000 km(2) study area. In both future projections 51 of those isobioclimates disappear over 40,000 km(2). The ordination of vegetation-bioclimate relationships shows very strong correlation of Rivas-Martinez indices with vegetation distribution and composition. Comparisons of vegetation composition among analog patches suggest that vegetation change will be a local rearrangement of species already in place rather than one requiring long distance dispersal. The digitally mapped results facilitate comparison with other Mediterranean regions. Major remaining challenges include predicting vegetation composition of novel isobioclimates and developing metrics to compare differences in climate space.

Reconstruction of Diadema mexicanum bioerosion impact on three Costa Rican Pacific coral reefs / Reconstrucción del impacto de la bioerosión de Diadema mexicanum en tres arrecifes de coral del Pacífico costarricense

The 1982-83 El Niño event produced a high coral mortality (50-90%) in several localities in the Eastern Tropical Pacific, which resulted in an outbreak of the sea urchin populations of Diadema mexicanum A. Agassiz, 1863 in some reefs, leading to an increase in coral framework bioerosion. In Costa Rica, El Niño impact varied among three of the most important coral reefs localities, being higher in Cocos Island, moderate in Caño Island, and lower in Culebra Bay; D. mexicanum densities followed the same pattern. To understand the historic role of this sea urchin on the balance between bioerosion and bioacretion, we made a reconstruction of bioerosion impact based on current patterns of carbonate ingestion by the sea urchins, growth rates and skeletal density of the main coral builders, and historical information of sea urchin population density and coral cover. The reconstruction model varied depending on locality. At Cocos Island, the effect on the reef carbonate budget ranged from negative to positive, improving coral recruitment and the recovery of the reef. At Caño Island, there was no apparent effect. In Culebra Bay, the effects ranged from a positive-neutral effect to a negative one, the latter possibly associated with an increase of eutrophic conditions that facilitated bioerosion of the coral framework. The importance of this sea urchin in reef dynamics varies with amount of reef protection, overfishing, and coastal management, and it has a large influence on the carbonate balances of the Pacific Costa Rican coral reefs.

El fenómeno de El Niño de 1982-83 produjo una alta mortalidad coralina (50-90%) en varias localidades del Pacífico Tropical Oriental, lo que en algunos arrecifes trajo como consecuencia una explosión en la poblaciones de erizos de mar, Diadema mexicanum, y por consiguiente un aumento en la bioerosión del basamento coralino. En Costa Rica, el impacto fue diferencial en tres localidades arrecifales, siendo mayor en la Isla del Coco, intermedio en la Isla del Caño, y menor en Bahía Culebra, con similares patrones en la presencia del erizo D. mexicanum. Con el fin de poder entender el papel histórico que desempeña este erizo de mar en el balance entre bioerosión y bioacreción, se reconstruyó el impacto bioerosivo basándose en patrones actuales de ingestión de carbonatos por parte del erizo, tasas de crecimiento y densidad del esqueleto coralino, y datos históricos de densidad poblacional del erizo y cobertura coralina. Los resultados de las reconstrucciones variaron dependiendo de la localidad. En la Isla del Coco, el efecto de los erizos de mar varío de un efecto negativo sobre el balance arrecifal de carbonatos a un efecto positivo, favoreciendo el reclutamiento coralino y la recuperación del arrecife. En la Isla del Caño, Diadema presentó un efecto neutro, al no tener una participación preponderante en el balance de carbonatos de esta isla. Mientras, que en Bahía Culebra, los efectos de los erizos de mar pasaron de tener un efecto positivo-neutro, a uno negativo, posiblemente asociado a un incremento en condiciones eutróficas de la bahía que están favoreciendo un incremento en la bioerosión del basamento coralino. El valor de este erizo en la dinámica arrecifal y su relación con la protección, sobrepesca, y manejo costero, posee una gran influencia en el balance de carbonatos en los arrecifes coralinos del Pacífico de Costa Rica.

El papel del fitoplancton en el cambio climático: ¿cuánto depende nuestro destino de unas pequeñas microalgas? / The role of phytoplankton in climate change: depends our future of some small microalgae?

Hoy en día estamos viviendo un período de cambio global rápidoen el cual alrededor de 30.000 especies llegan a extinguirse anualmentedebido a las actividades humanas que están alterando los procesosbiogeoquímicos a nivel de la biosfera. Los ciclos de la biosfera tal vezlleguen a ser menos predictibles si los microorganismos esencialessucumben al cambio climático y a las actividades antropogénicas. Enparticular, las microalgas y cianobacterias juegan un importante rol en elcontrol del cambio global pues son los principales productores primariosde los ecosistemas acuáticos, produciendo alrededor del 50% de lafotosíntesis total. El equilibrio entre respiración-oxidación (C6H12O6 + 6O2 ⇒ 6 CO2 + 6 H2O) y fotosíntesis (6 CO2 + 6 H2O ⇒ C6H12O6 + 6 O2)marca la pauta del CO2 y consecuentemente del cambio climático.Investigar la capacidad diferencial de respuesta del fitoplancton alforzamiento ambiental inducido por los humanos ha llegado a ser clavepara entender las futuras repercusiones sobre el funcionamiento de losecosistemas a nivel planetario. Nuestros estudios muestran que losdiferentes grupos funcionales del fitoplancton (p.e. fitoplancton oceánico,costero, simbionte de corales, continental…) tienen muy diferentecapacidad de adaptarse al cambio global. La capacidad de las diferentesmicroalgas puede explicarse en relación a la estructura genética de lapoblación, tasa de crecimiento, tasa de mutación, ploidía, preferencia dehábitat y grupo taxonómico. Las poblaciones de microalgas oceánicas sonlas que muestran la mínima capacidad de adaptación al cambio. Como elocéano es el mayor ecosistema de la Tierra, las perspectivas futuras noson buenas(AU)

The role of phytoplankton in climate change: depends our future ofsome small microalgae?Nowadays, we are living in a rapid global change period in whicharound 30,000 species go extinct annually due to those human activitiesthat are altering biosphere-level biogeochemistry processes. Biospherelevel cycles may become less predictable as essential microbes succumbto climatic change and anthropogenic activities. In particular, sincemicroalgae and cyanobacteria play an important role in control of globalchange because they are the principal primary producers of aquaticecosystems producing around 50% total photosynthesis. Balance betweenrespiration -oxidation (C6H12O6 + 6 O2 ⇒ 6 CO2 + 6 H2O) andphotosynthesis (6 CO2 + 6 H2O ⇒ C6H12O6 + 6 O2) is the pacemaker ofCO2 and consequently of climatic change. Investigating the differentialcapacity of the response of phytoplankton to human-inducedenvironmental forcing has become a key issue to understanding furtherthe future repercussions on the functioning of ecosystems at planetarylevel. Our studies show that different functional phytoplanktonic groups(ie. oceanic, coastal, coral-simbionts, continental phytoplankton…) havevery different capability for adaptation to global change. The capacity ofdifferent microalgal species to adapt to global change can be explained inrelation to population genetics structure, growth rate, mutation rate,ploidy, habitat preference and taxonomic group. Populations of oceanicmicroalgae showed the minimal capacity to adapt to change. Since openocean is the biggest ecosystem on the Earth, future perspectives are notgood(AU)

Cambio climático y piel: retos diagnósticos y terapéuticos / Climatic Change and Skin: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenges

Numerosos científicos informan de una tendencia actual al calentamiento global y a la disminución de las precipitaciones. Su cuantía, sus causas y la influencia de la actividad humana son motivo de controversia. Un aumento de la temperatura podría incrementar la prevalencia de algunas patologías cutáneas; más personas padecerían piel sensible y una mayor xerosis cutánea por disminución de la humedad relativa. Las alteraciones de la función de la barrera cutánea aumentarían la gravedad y prevalencia de la dermatitis atópica. La mayor proporción de radiación UVB que alcanza la superficie terrestre, unida a hábitos poblacionales de aumento de fotoexposición, junto con una fotoprotección incorrecta, hacen esperables mayores tasas de cáncer cutáneo y de fotoenvejecimiento. Además, los hábitats de diversos vectores de patologías infecciosas están cambiando. Afrontar estos problemas, en caso de que se produjesen, será un reto para el dermatólogo, que tendrá una importante labor de prevención, diagnóstico y tratamiento precoz de estas patologías (AU)

Scientifics are warning us about a global warming tendency and diminished rainfalls. Quantity, causes and human activity influence remain controversial. Warming could increase prevalence of some cutaneous pathology. Sensible skin and skin xerosis would be more prevalent if relative humidity decreases. Alterations of skin barrier`s function would increase seriousness and prevalence of atopic dermatitis. Furthermore, the higher UVB proportion reaching Earth′s surface, in conjunction with increased sunbathing population habits, will increase cutaneous cancer and photoaging rates without a correct photoprotection. Also, habitats of some infectious diseases` vectors are changing. The facing of these problems will be a real challenge for the dermatologist, who will have a very important role on prevention, diagnoses and early treatment of them (AU)

Climate change and invasion by intracontinental range-expanding exotic plants: the role of biotic interactions.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: In this Botanical Briefing we describe how the interactions between plants and their biotic environment can change during range-expansion within a continent and how this may influence plant invasiveness. SCOPE: We address how mechanisms explaining intercontinental plant invasions by exotics (such as release from enemies) may also apply to climate-warming-induced range-expanding exotics within the same continent. We focus on above-ground and below-ground interactions of plants, enemies and symbionts, on plant defences, and on nutrient cycling. CONCLUSIONS: Range-expansion by plants may result in above-ground and below-ground enemy release. This enemy release can be due to the higher dispersal capacity of plants than of natural enemies. Moreover, lower-latitudinal plants can have higher defence levels than plants from temperate regions, making them better defended against herbivory. In a world that contains fewer enemies, exotic plants will experience less selection pressure to maintain high levels of defensive secondary metabolites. Range-expanders potentially affect ecosystem processes, such as nutrient cycling. These features are quite comparable with what is known of intercontinental invasive exotic plants. However, intracontinental range-expanding plants will have ongoing gene-flow between the newly established populations and the populations in the native range. This is a major difference from intercontinental invasive exotic plants, which become more severely disconnected from their source populations.

Changes in mangrove extension at the Pacoti River estuary, CE, NE Brazil due to regional environmental changes between 1958 and 2004 / Alteração na cobertura de manguezais ao longo do estuário do Rio Pacoti, CE, NE do Brasil devido a mudanças ambientais entre 1958 e 2004

Regional land use changes at the Pacoti River basin, Ceará State, NE Brazil resulted in doubling the mangrove area from 1958 (0.71 km²) to 2004 (1.44 km²). Most of the increase was due to the replacing of salt marsh vegetation inland, but also along newly formed islands and enlarged river banks. Drastic reduction in freshwater supply and sediment accumulation due to river damming were probably the major drivers of the increased mangrove cover. However, changes due to global climate changes can not be ruled out.

Mudanças regionais no uso da terra no estuário do Rio Pacoti, Estado do Ceará, NE do Brasil resultaram em um aumento de duas vezes na área original de manguezais presente neste estuário entre 1958 (0,71 km²) e 2004 (1,44 km²). A maior parte desta expansão ocorreu através da colonização de áreas anteriormente cobertas por vegetação de salgado, mas também ao longo de praias alargadas do rio e em ilhas recém formadas. A diminuição do fluxo de água doce e a acumulação de sedimentos devidos à construção de barragens foram as principais causas deste aumento, embora alterações resultantes de mudanças climáticas globais não possam ser descartadas.

Impacto da precipitação pluviométrica sobre a atividade de vôo de Plebeia remota (Holmberg, 1903) (Apidae, Meliponini) / Rain effect on flight activity of Plebeia remota (Holmberg, 1903) (Apidae, Meliponini)

Através de um sistema automatizado, a atividade do vôo de forrageiras de quatro colônias de Plebeia remota foi registrada ao mesmo tempo, de dezembro de 1998 a dezembro de 1999. Havia uma quantidade grande de dados que permitiram uma análise quantitativa e sazonal do impacto da pluviosidade sobre a atividade de vôo. As colônias vieram de duas localidades diferentes: Cunha, Mata Atlântica de São Paulo e Prudentópolis, Mata Araucária no Paraná. Números percentuais referentes à atividade de vôo para o momento que antecedia em uma hora a chuva, como também durante e após a precipitação, são apresentados. Em todas as colônias observaram-se, predominantemente, decréscimos na atividade externa de P. remota, tanto antes como durante a precipitação. Após cessar a chuva, houve um predomínio de acréscimos, o que indica uma compensação da atividade de vôo em relação ao período chuvoso. De modo geral, o maior decréscimo de atividade de vôo, antes da chuva, ocorreu no outono e o maior acréscimo de atividade de vôo, depois da chuva, ocorreu na primavera. Alterações nesta atividade foram observadas com a variação da intensidade, freqüência e duração das precipitações pluviométricas. A atividade externa foi pouco alterada quando a precipitação foi de até 1,0 mm, mas com o aumento de intensidade, os valores de decréscimo nesta atividade aumentaram. Quando a precipitação ocorreu apenas uma vez por dia, os decréscimos na atividade de vôo foram maiores, comparados às chuvas intermitentes. Chuvas com duração maior que 1 hora causaram decréscimos maiores na atividade de vôo, do que precipitações de curta duração. A atividade do vôo foi bem diferente quando comparados dias com chuva e dias sem chuva, assim como a atividade do vôo foi influenciada diferentemente em dias chuvosos no verão e no inverno. Entretanto, este comportamento não permitiu discriminar as populações.

Through an automated system, foragers' flight activity of four colonies of Plebeia remota was registered simultaneously from December 1998 to December 1999. The large amount of data obtained has allowed a quantitative and seasonal analysis of the rain impact on the bees' flight activity. The colonies came from two different localities: Cunha, Atlantic Rainforest in São Paulo State and Prudentópolis, Araucaria Forest in Paraná State. Percent numbers related to the flight activity for the moment that preceded the rain in one hour, as well as during and after the precipitation are presented. In all colonies, it was observed that the flight activity of P. remota has predominantly decreased before and during the precipitation. After it stopped raining, there was a predominance of increases, what indicates a compensation of flight activity in relation to the rainy period. In general, the greatest decrease of flight activity before rain, occurred in the autumn and the greatest increase of flight activity after rain, occurred in the spring. Alterations in this activity were observed with the variation of intensity, frequency and duration of precipitation. The external activity was little modified when the precipitation was up to 1.0 mm. However, when the rain intensity increased, the bees reduced strongly their flight activity. When the rain occurred only once per day, the decreases in the flight activity were greater, when compared to intermittent rain. Rains that lasted more than one hour caused larger decreases in the flight activity than precipitations of short duration. Flight activity was quite different when we compared days with rain and days without rain, as well as, flight activity was differently influenced in rainy days in the summer and in the winter. However, this behavior (response of flight activity to rain) did not allow to discriminate both populations.