Crop Yield Response and Community Resilience to Climate Change in the Bamenda Highlands
Innocent Ndoh Mbue,
Bitondo Dieudonne,
Roland Balgah Azibo
Issue:
Volume 5, Issue 3, September 2019
Pages:
31-41
Received:
24 June 2019
Accepted:
4 August 2019
Published:
14 August 2019
Abstract: Climate change seems to be the most phytotoxic of all global changes. One of its most subtle impacts on plants development is on their reproductive processes. There has been very little work directed towards agrobiodiversity, and especially subsistence and cash crops in highland ecosystems. An understanding of the effects of climate change on the yield of such crops could contribute to the sustainable management of such ecosystems to avoid degradation and subsequent increases in poverty and hunger. This cross-sectional study assesses the trends and effects of climate change on the reproductive processes of plant species within rainfed agricultural systems in the Bamenda Highlands of Cameroon, together with community resilience. Twenty-four-year climatic data (1991 – 2015) and crop yield statistic over the same period constituted our secondary data sources. Primary data from field observations and focus group interviews with some 140 farmers complemented our database. Multiple regression analysis was used to test if rainfall and temperature significantly predicted crop yield. Community resilience was captured using ten indicators of social-ecological resilience in four domains. The results showed that, for the subsistence crops, the main effect of temperature on yield was significant, F (2, 23) = 7.91, MSE = 23.20, p < .01, as was the main effect of precipitation, F (2, 23) = 12.70, MSE = 23.20, p < .01. Declining yields have led to high prices of food items in the market, undermining food security. On the contrary, the two predictors of crop yield explained only 16.4% of the variance in cash crop yield (R2=.164, F (2, 21) = 2.065, p = .152). Neither rainfall (ß = .296, p = .236) nor temperature (ß =.-177.013, p = .233) significantly predicted cash crop yield (tea) yield, suggesting that decline in production could be as a result of estraneous variables such as the political environment and inadequate agricultural inputs. Consensus scores and trends for the indicators of social-ecological resilience ranged from low to medium, indicating a rather weak capacity of communities to cope with external stresses and disturbances. Cash-crop intensification, a driver of biodiversity loss elsewhere, did not negatively affect native tree richness within parcels. The result suggests a need to open up procedures and practices of participation and inclusion in order to accommodate pluralism, contestation and incommensurable perspectives and knowledge systems. Joining efforts to build community resilience, specifically by increasing livelihood diversity, local ecological knowledge, and social network connectivity, may help conservation agencies conserve the rapidly declining agrobiodiversity in the region.
Abstract: Climate change seems to be the most phytotoxic of all global changes. One of its most subtle impacts on plants development is on their reproductive processes. There has been very little work directed towards agrobiodiversity, and especially subsistence and cash crops in highland ecosystems. An understanding of the effects of climate change on the y...
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Lead Exposure and Liver Function Parameters in Iraqi Workers
Kahtan Ahmed Al-Mzaien,
Meena Mohammed Abdul-Hussein,
Jafar Ihsan Hussein,
Ahmed Abdul-Qadir,
Sufian Abdul-Rahman,
Hussam-Aldeen Sami
Issue:
Volume 5, Issue 3, September 2019
Pages:
42-45
Received:
14 June 2019
Accepted:
28 August 2019
Published:
16 September 2019
Abstract: This study was conducted to evaluate the incidence of long term exposure to lead in some biomarkers of liver functions of Iraqi workers. A total ninety –two (92) adult Iraqi workers with a mean ages (37 ± 1.107 years) were distributed as follows; twenty eight (28) gasoline filling station workers, thirty one (31) battery workers and thirty three (33) brick manufacturing industry workers as well as, eighteen (18) control subjects were not in any way occupationally exposed to lead were involved in this study. The lead level was measured using atomic absorption spectrophotometer method. The blood lead level (BLL) among gasoline station, battery and brick kiln workers were (24.96 ± 0.76, 24.7 ± 0.77 and 24.63 ± 0.81μg/dL, respectively), and the corresponding values for the control group was significantly (p < 0.001) lower (18.88 ± 0.51μg/dL). Significant (p<0.05) elevation in serum alanine transaminase (ALT) activity in gasoline filling station workers, battery manufacture and brick kiln workers among the control group was recorded, while no significant change in serum aspartate transaminase (AST) of all workers versus control was observed. Moreover, significant (p<0.01) increase in alkaline phosphatase activity in the serum of all workers as compared to the control group was recorded. On the other hand, no significant change was listed in albumin and bilirubin in all lead exposed groups. It can be concluded that occupational exposure to lead in Iraq is associated with significant increase of lead level, increased prevalence of lead toxicity and liver dysfunction.
Abstract: This study was conducted to evaluate the incidence of long term exposure to lead in some biomarkers of liver functions of Iraqi workers. A total ninety –two (92) adult Iraqi workers with a mean ages (37 ± 1.107 years) were distributed as follows; twenty eight (28) gasoline filling station workers, thirty one (31) battery workers and thirty three (3...
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The Role of Genetic Diversity to Enhance Ecosystem Service
Issue:
Volume 5, Issue 3, September 2019
Pages:
46-51
Received:
31 July 2019
Accepted:
21 October 2019
Published:
25 October 2019
Abstract: Genetic diversity serves as a way for populations to adapt to changing environments. With more variation, it is more likely that some individuals in a population will possess of alleles that are suited for the environment. Ecosystem services is the benefits people obtain from ecosystems both natural and managed. In the large majority of cases a positive relationship is found between species diversity and ecosystem service provisioning which is genetic diversity is subset of biodiversity. The objective of this review is to provide information about the importance of genetic diversity in plant, animal and microbial in increment of ecosystem service. Genetic diversity have many advantage in crops, which include reduce the danger of genetic uniformity. The other and the more importance of genetic diversity is that give choice of genetic material for farmers and breeders that they select important genes for disease resistant, high yielder, good test, good agronomic character and reduce the impact of climate change. Animal genetic resources include all species, breeds and strains that are of economic, scientific and cultural interest to humankind for agriculture, both now and in the future. These genetic diversity allows farmers to select stocks or develop new breeds in response to changes in the environment, threats of disease, market conditions and societal needs, all of which are largely unpredictable. The third part of genetic diversity is the diversity of microbial, which give us a lot of ecosystem service, which more related to the regulation and support than provision and cultural. Finally, I recommend that, it is better to use this valuable resource in responsible manner to compete the impact of climate change and ever-increasing population growth.
Abstract: Genetic diversity serves as a way for populations to adapt to changing environments. With more variation, it is more likely that some individuals in a population will possess of alleles that are suited for the environment. Ecosystem services is the benefits people obtain from ecosystems both natural and managed. In the large majority of cases a pos...
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