The first community forests of Gabon : towards sustainable local forest management ?

in Nature et Faune (2011), 25(2), 40-45

Forest resources abound in Gabon. Species diversity and quality of trees in the Gabonese forests make it a very lucrative production niche. Even though international forest operators are well established ... [more ▼]

Forest resources abound in Gabon. Species diversity and quality of trees in the Gabonese forests make it a very lucrative production niche. Even though international forest operators are well established there and are making profit, the Gabonese rural communities have not yet developed their own operations. In view of their remoteness from decision-making centers, villagers often unlawfully lose, without being aware of it, a great deal of the riches in their villages. Today, the rural socio-economic component is not sufficiently integrated in the management factors of the resource, even though populations that depend on them daily are supposedly the best placed individuals to make wise use of them. In this sense, community forestry helps to promote sustainable use of forest resources at a scale that is at par with the needs of the community, and seeks to guarantee that profits are shared at village level. In Gabon, the process of legalization of community forests is ongoing since 2001. Pilot projects such as DACEFI (Development of Community Alternatives to Illegal Logging) strive to assist communities in securing their community forest. However their legalization is slow in coming, while logging activities in the rural forest estate are increasing, and the quality of the species is deteriorating continually. [less ▲]

The first definite record of a Valanginian ichthyosaur and its implications on the evolution of post-Liassic Ichthyosauria

in Cretaceous Research (2011), 32(2), 155-163

A complete ichthyosaur rostrum, with 124 associated teeth, was recently discovered in Laux-Montaux locality, department of Drôme, southeastern France. The associated belemnites and ammonites indicate a ... [more ▼]

A complete ichthyosaur rostrum, with 124 associated teeth, was recently discovered in Laux-Montaux locality, department of Drôme, southeastern France. The associated belemnites and ammonites indicate a late Valanginian age (Neocomites peregrinus Zone, Olcostephanus nicklesi Subzone) for this fossil, which consequently represents the first diagnostic ichthyosaur ever reported from Valanginian strata. This specimen also represents the first occurrence of Aegirosaurus outside the Tithonian (Upper Jurassic) lithographic limestones of Bavaria (southern Germany). Tooth morphology and wear pattern suggest that Aegirosaurus belonged to the “Pierce II/ Generalist” feeding guild, which was hitherto not represented in post-Liassic ichthyosaurs. Most Late Jurassic ichthyosaurs actually crossed the Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary. [less ▲]

First detection of hydroxyl in the atmosphere of Venus

in Astronomy and Astrophysics (2008), 483

Context: Airglow emissions, such as previously observed from NO and O2(a-X) (0-0) on Venus, provide insight into the chemical and dynamical processes that control the composition and energy balance in the ... [more ▼]

Context: Airglow emissions, such as previously observed from NO and O2(a-X) (0-0) on Venus, provide insight into the chemical and dynamical processes that control the composition and energy balance in the upper atmospheres of planets. The OH airglow emission has been observed previously only in the Earth's atmosphere where it has been used to infer atomic oxygen abundances. The O2(a-X) (0-1) airglow emission also has only been observed in the Earth's atmosphere, and neither laboratory nor theoretical studies have reached a consensus on its transition probability. Aims: We report measurements of night-side airglow emission in the atmosphere of Venus in the OH (2-0), OH (1-0), O2(a-X) (0-1), and O2(a-X) (0-0) bands. This is the first detection of the first three of these airglow emissions on another planet. These observations provide the most direct observational constraints to date on H, OH, and O3, key species in the chemistry of Venus' upper atmosphere. Methods: Airglow emission detected at wavelengths of 1.40-1.49 and 2.6-3.14 mum in limb observations by the Visible and Infrared Thermal Imaging Spectrometer (VIRTIS) on the Venus Express spacecraft is attributed to the OH (2-0) and (1-0) transitions, respectively, and compared to calculations from a photochemical model. Simultaneous limb observations of airglow emission in the O2(a-X) (0-0) and (0-1) bands at 1.27 and 1.58 mum, respectively, were used to derive the ratio of the transition probabilities for these bands. Results: The integrated emission rates for the OH (2-0) and (1-0) bands were measured to be 100 ± 40 and 880±90 kR respectively, both peaking at an altitude of 96 ± 2 km near midnight local time for the considered orbit. The measured ratio of the O2(a-X) (0-0) and (0-1) bands is 78 ± 8. Conclusions: Photochemical model calculations suggest the observed OH emission is produced primarily via the Bates-Nicolet mechanism, as on the Earth. The observed ratio of the intensities of the O2(a-X) (0-0) and (0-1) bands implies the ratio of their transition probabilities is 63±6. [less ▲]

First detection of resistance to QOI fungicides in Mycosphaerella graminicola on winter wheat in Belgium

in Communications in Agricultural and Applied Biological Sciences (2003, May 06), 68(4b), 519-531

First epidemiological data on pathogenic leptospires isolated on the Azorean islands

in European Journal of Epidemiology (1997), 13

Insectivores (Erinaceus europaeus) and rodents (Rattus rattus, R. norvegicus and Mus musculus) from different islands of the Azores archipelago were found to carry three distinct Leptospira interrogans s ... [more ▼]

Insectivores (Erinaceus europaeus) and rodents (Rattus rattus, R. norvegicus and Mus musculus) from different islands of the Azores archipelago were found to carry three distinct Leptospira interrogans s.l. serovars (copenhageni, icterohaemorrhagiae and ballum) which have never been previously investigated there. The house mouse and the black rat were the major Leptospira reservoir showing isolation rates ranging from 0% for both species (in Graciosa) to 88 % and 33 %, respectively (in São Miguel). This study also showed that the majority of the animals with positive kidney cultures exhibited specific agglutinins agaibst the isolated strains of Leptospira. The observed isalation rates in the different islands, with a very interesting island variation in prevalence, suggest that small mammals, serving as sylvatic reservoirs of pathogenic leptospires, may represent an important risk to the health of humans and the livestock, particularly in the islands of Terceira and São Miguel. [less ▲]

First estimates of the contribution of CaCO3 precipitation to the release of CO2 to the atmosphere during young sea ice growth

in Journal of Geophysical Research. Oceans (2012), 118(1-12),

We report measurements of pH, total alkalinity, air-ice CO2 fluxes (chamber method) and CaCO3 content of frost flowers (FF) and thin landfast sea ice. As the temperature decreases, concentration of ... [more ▼]

We report measurements of pH, total alkalinity, air-ice CO2 fluxes (chamber method) and CaCO3 content of frost flowers (FF) and thin landfast sea ice. As the temperature decreases, concentration of solutes in the brine skim (BS) increases. Along this gradual concentration process, some salts reach their solubility threshold and start precipitating. The precipitation of ikaite (CaCO3.6H2O) was confirmed in the FF and throughout the ice by Raman spectroscopy and X-ray analysis. The amount of ikaite precipitated was estimated to be 25 µmol kg-1 melted FF, in the FF and is shown to decrease from 19 µmol kg-1 to 15 µmol kg-1 melted ice in the upper part and at the bottom of the ice, respectively. CO2 release due to precipitation of CaCO3 is estimated to be 50 µmol kg-1 melted samples. The dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) normalized to a salinity of 10 exhibits significant depletion in the upper layer of the ice and in the FF. This DIC loss is estimated to be 2069 µmol kg-1 melted sample and corresponds to a CO2 release from the ice to the atmosphere ranging from 20 to 40 mmol m-2 d-1. This estimate is consistent with flux measurements of air-ice CO2 exchange. Our measurements confirm previous laboratory findings that growing young sea ice acts as a source of CO2 to the atmosphere. CaCO3 precipitation during early ice growth appears to promote the release of CO2 to the atmosphere however its contribution to the overall release by newly formed ice is most likely minor. [less ▲]

First evidence for a resolved structure in the inner Vega system

Poster (2005, October 01)

We report on infrared interferometric observations of Vega obtained in May and June 2005 with the FLUOR instrument installed on the CHARA interferometer. The combination of short and long baselines has ... [more ▼]

We report on infrared interferometric observations of Vega obtained in May and June 2005 with the FLUOR instrument installed on the CHARA interferometer. The combination of short and long baselines has allowed us to study the brightness distribution of the stellar photosphere, and to detect a spatial component which is over-resolved at our lowest resolution (~15 milli-arcseconds). This would be attributed to structure much larger than Vega, but within the CHARA/FLUOR field-of-view (about 1 arcsecond in radius, i.e., 8 AU around Vega). The contrast between the resolved flux and the central star is only slightly above the 1% level in K band. This emission could be interpreted as the first direct detection of thermal and/or scattered light emanating from the innermost part of the Vega debris disk, which is thought to be continuously replenished by asteroid collisions and/or comet evaporation. The possibility of a close stellar or sub-stellar companion is also investigated. [less ▲]

First evidence of progenesis in Triturus (Amphibia)

Poster (1998)

Paedomorphosis is defined as the retention of subadult morphology in reproductive adults. Two main processes can produce this heterochronic pattern : neoteny and progenesis, but progenesis has not been ... [more ▼]

Paedomorphosis is defined as the retention of subadult morphology in reproductive adults. Two main processes can produce this heterochronic pattern : neoteny and progenesis, but progenesis has not been yet demonstrated in newts. Distinction between them can be obtained from the determination of age at first reproduction using the squelettochronological method. In this study, we sampled more than 300 Triturus alpestris in two populations : one in a French Alpine lake and the other in an Italian pond. Results show that paedomorphs from the Italian pond are mature earlier and at a smaller size than metamorphs (Progenesis) whereas paedomorphic and metamorphic newts from the French population do not differ in size and age (Neoteny). Adaptative significance of Paedomorphosis is discussed in relation to the stability of the aquatic habitat [less ▲]

First evidence of the possible implication of the 11-deoxycorticosterone (DOC) in immune activity of Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis, L.): Comparison with cortisol

in Comparative Biochemistry & Physiology Part A : Molecular & Integrative Physiology (2013), 165(2), 149-158

First example of “click” copper(I) catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition in supercritical carbon dioxide: Application to the functionalization of aliphatic polyesters

in Green Chemistry (2009), 11

The modification of aliphatic polyesters by the copper(I) catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) was successfully implemented in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2). Due to the remarkable ... [more ▼]

The modification of aliphatic polyesters by the copper(I) catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) was successfully implemented in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2). Due to the remarkable properties of scCO2, the CuAAC reaction turned out to be quantitative even though the aliphatic polyesters used in this work were insoluble in scCO2. Interestingly enough, the conditions were mild enough to prevent polymer degradation from occurring and finally, efficient removal of the catalyst (>96%) was achieved by scCO2 extraction. [less ▲]