Geographic distribution and abundance of the Afrotropical subterranean scale insect Stictococcus vayssierei (Hemiptera: Stictococcidae), a pest of root and tuber crops in the Congo basin

2019 ◽  
Vol 110 (2) ◽  
pp. 293-301
Author(s):  
Armand R. P. F. Doumtsop ◽  
Rachid Hanna ◽  
Maurice Tindo ◽  
Willy K. Tata-Hangy ◽  
Apollin K. Fotso ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
Central Africa ◽  
Scale Insect ◽  
Congo Basin ◽  
Plant Materials ◽  
Ecological Regions ◽  
Major Pest ◽  
Regulatory Measures ◽  
Stictococcus Vayssierei ◽  
Tuber Crops

AbstractStictococcus vayssierei is a major pest of root and tuber crops in central Africa. However, data on its ecology are lacking. Here we provide an updated estimate of its distribution with the aim of facilitating the sustainable control of its populations. Surveys conducted in nine countries encompassing 13 ecological regions around the Congo basin showed that African root and tuber scale was present in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Uganda. It was not found on the sites surveyed in Chad and Nigeria. The pest occurred in the forest and the forest-savannah mosaic as well as in the savannah where it was never recorded before. However, prevalence was higher in the forest (43.1%) where cassava was the most infested crop, compared to the savannah (9.2%) where aroids (cocoyam and taro) were the most infested crops. In the forest habitat, the pest was prevalent in all but two ecological regions: the Congolian swamp forests and the Southern Congolian forest-savanna mosaic. In the savannah habitat, it was restricted to the moist savannah highlands and absent from dry savannahs. The scale was not observed below 277 m asl. Where present, the scale was frequently (87.1% of the sites) attended by the ant Anoplolepis tenella. High densities (>1000 scales per plant) were recorded along the Cameroon–Gabon border. Good regulatory measures within and between countries are required to control the exchange of plant materials and limit its spread. The study provides information for niche modeling and risk mapping.

scholarly journals Fishes of the N’sele River (Pool Malebo, Congo basin, Central Africa): a list of species collected in the main channel and affluent tributaries, Kinshasa Province, Democratic Republic of Congo

Check List ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 941 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raoul J.C. Monsembula Iyaba ◽  
Tobit Liyandja ◽  
Melanie L.J. Stiassny
Keyword(s):  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
Present Report ◽  
Central Africa ◽  
Main Channel ◽  
Congo Basin ◽  
Republic Of Congo ◽  
Close Proximity ◽  
Solid Foundation ◽  
Current Report

A list of fishes collected in the N’sele River, a large affluent tributary of Pool Malebo, in the Democratic Republic of Congo is provided. Sites along the main channel and its affluent tributaries were sampled and 148 species distributed in 27 families are reported. Despite close proximity to the megacity of Kinshasa, the ichthyofauna of the N’sele River has not previously been documented, and in the course of the current study, 19 of the 148 species are recognized as new records for the region. Due to difficulties of access much of the middle reach of the N’sele River remains to be inventoried and, while the present report documents high diversity in this system, the list is likely to be incomplete. Although preliminary, the current report provides a solid foundation for further work in a region that is undergoing rapid environmental degradation.

scholarly journals Genomic history of human monkey pox infections in the Central African Republic between 2001 and 2018

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolas Berthet ◽  
Stéphane Descorps-Declère ◽  
Camille Besombes ◽  
Manon Curaudeau ◽  
Andriniaina Andy Nkili Meyong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Central African Republic ◽  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
Central Africa ◽  
Armed Conflicts ◽  
Molecular Dating ◽  
Congo Basin ◽  
Wild Animals ◽  
Population Movements ◽  
History Of ◽  
Northern Edge

AbstractMonkeypox is an emerging infectious disease, which has a clinical presentation similar to smallpox. In the two past decades, Central Africa has seen an increase in the frequency of cases, with many monkeypox virus (MPXV) isolates detected in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Central African Republic (CAR). To date, no complete MPXV viral genome has been published from the human cases identified in the CAR. The objective of this study was to sequence the full genome of 10 MPXV isolates collected during the CAR epidemics between 2001 and 2018 in order to determine their phylogenetic relationships among MPXV lineages previously described in Central Africa and West Africa. Our phylogenetic results indicate that the 10 CAR isolates belong to three lineages closely related to those found in DRC. The phylogenetic pattern shows that all of them emerged in the rainforest block of the Congo Basin. Since most human index cases in CAR occurred at the northern edge of western and eastern rainforests, transmissions from wild animals living in the rainforest is the most probable hypothesis. In addition, molecular dating estimates suggest that periods of intense political instability resulting in population movements within the country often associated also with increased poverty may have led to more frequent contact with host wild animals. The CAR socio-economic situation, armed conflicts and ecological disturbances will likely incite populations to interact more and more with wild animals and thus increase the risk of zoonotic spillover.

scholarly journals Fishes of the Salonga National Park (Congo basin, central Africa): a list of species collected in the Luilaka, Salonga, and Yenge Rivers (Equateur Province, Democratic Republic of Congo)

Check List ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raoul J.C. Monsembula Iyaba ◽  
Melanie L.J. Stiassny
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
Present Report ◽  
Central Africa ◽  
Fish Fauna ◽  
Congo Basin ◽  
Republic Of Congo ◽  
Terrestrial Vertebrates ◽  
Rare And Endangered

A list of fishes collected in and around the periphery of the Salonga National Park in Equateur Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo is provided. While noteworthy for a wide array of rare and endangered terrestrial vertebrates, the fish fauna of the Salonga National Park, the largest protected area in Africa, is very poorly known. One hundred and fifty two species distributed in 24 families are reported on here; of which 9 represent putatively undescribed taxa currently under investigation. Lack of up-to-date taxonomic and distributional knowledge of African fishes is particularly acute in the central Congo basin and the present report, while undoubtedly incomplete, provides a foundation for much needed further work in the region.

scholarly journals Fishes of the Kwilu River (Kasai basin, central Africa): A list of species collected in the vicinity of Kikwit, Bandundu Province, Democratic Republic of Congo

Check List ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 691 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Justin Mbimbi Mayi Munene ◽  
Melanie L. J. Stiassny
Keyword(s):  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
Central Africa ◽  
Congo Basin ◽  
Left Bank ◽  
Republic Of Congo ◽  
Biogeographic History ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
History Of ◽  
Distributional Knowledge

A list of fishes collected in the vicinity of Kikwit on the Kwilu River, a large left bank tributary of the Kasai River in the Democratic Republic of Congo is provided. One hundred and thirteen species distributed in 21 families are reported, and of these 29 species are recognized as representing new records for the region. Lack of up-to-date taxonomic and distributional knowledge of African fishes, a problem particularly acute in the central Congo basin, is clearly reflected in this high number of range extensions. While preliminary, this contribution serves as a useful starting point for efforts to understand the ichthyofaunal composition and biogeographic history of the Kasai system; one of the most poorly documented river systems in central Africa.

scholarly journals Presidential Tenure and Constitutional Provisions: Recent Evidence from Central Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 272-290 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Dawson ◽  
Daniel J. Young
Keyword(s):  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
Central Africa ◽  
Term Limits ◽  
Republic Of Congo ◽  
Term Limit ◽  
Developing Democracies ◽  
The Republic ◽  
Constitutional Factor

Constitutions around Africa have been repeatedly tested on the issue of presidential term limits. We explore the four most recent cases of African presidents facing the end of their constitutionally mandated limit, all of which developed in Central Africa. Burundi, Rwanda, the Republic of Congo, and the Democratic Republic of Congo all adopted constitutions limiting presidential tenure to two terms; yet, in 2015, when these limits were approaching, none of the sitting presidents simply stood down. Our analysis focuses on the constitutional provisions meant to protect the two-term limit, the strategies employed by each of the four presidents, and the difficulty they faced in pursuing extended tenure. We find that constitutional provisions do constrain, but not always to the expected degree. Our analysis adds a consideration of a foundational constitutional factor to the growing literature on term limits in Africa, with implications for other regions of newly developing democracies.

Searching and Making Meaning of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Perspectives of African Immigrants in the United States

2021 ◽  
pp. 002216782110224
Author(s):  
Angela U. Ekwonye ◽  
Nina Truong
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Meaning Making ◽  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
Central Africa ◽  
African Immigrants ◽  
The United States ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Making Meaning ◽  
The Impact

African immigrants continue to be disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. It is unclear how they are searching for and finding meaning in the face of this adversity. This study sought to understand how African immigrants in the United States are searching for and making meaning of the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted in-depth interviews remotely with 20 immigrants from West Africa (Nigeria and Ghana), East Africa (Somali and Rwanda), and Central Africa (Democratic Republic of Congo). The meaning-making model was used as a framework to understand the processes of coping during a significant, adverse life event. The study found that some participants attempted to reduce the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their global meaning by seeking answers as to why the pandemic occurred and creating positive illusions. Some redefined their priorities and reframed the pandemic in a positive light. Participants found meaning in the form of accepting the pandemic as a reality of life, appreciating events previously taken for granted, and making positive changes in their lives. This study’s findings can inform health care providers of the meaning-making processes of African immigrants’ and the need to assist them in their search for meaning.

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