Three new Fragilaria species (Bacillariophyta) from low-conductivity mountain freshwaters (Alps and Apennines)

Phytotaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 404 (6) ◽  
pp. 261 ◽  
Author(s):  
MARCO CANTONATI ◽  
NICOLA ANGELI ◽  
HORST LANGE-BERTALOT
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Human Disturbance ◽  
Early Warning Systems ◽  
Red List ◽  
Warning Systems ◽  
Early 19Th Century ◽  
Breadth Ratio ◽  
Freshwater Habitats ◽  
Freshwater Environments ◽  
Medium Conductivity

More or less needle-shaped species of Fragilaria s.s. are difficult to identify. Here we contribute to the taxonomy of this difficult group by describing three species new to science from very low conductivity mountain freshwater environments. Two of the new species resemble taxa established by Kützing in the early 19th century: F. rumpens and F. vaucheriae. Fragilaria spinaspeciosa sp. nov., from a seepage (helocrenic spring) in the northern Apennines, is superficially similar to F. rumpens, but has a lower stria density. Fragilaria tridentina sp. nov. is distinguished from F. gracilis by its smaller length-to-breadth ratio and more closely spaced areolae. Fragilaria vaucheriaeraetica sp. nov. is distinguished from F. vaucheriae and F. microvaucheriae by its outline and denser striae. These last three species also have distinctly different ecologies. Fragilaria vaucheriaeraetica sp. nov. is found in very low conductivity, very low nitrate, ultra-oligotrophic waters, while F. vaucheriae and F. microvaucheriae are found in medium conductivity, high total phosphorus, and relatively high nitrate streams. Accurate species identification and knowledge of each species’ ecological preferences are critically important if diatoms are to be used effectively as indicators of environmental impact and climate change. Weakly buffered, low alkalinity, low nutrient and low conductivity mountain freshwater habitats are sensitive to human disturbance and biotopes for many rare (Red List) diatoms. As such, they serve as valuable early warning systems for detecting the effects of climate change and other human activities.

The Sahel faces complex food and climate challenges

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Early Warning ◽  
Early Warning Systems ◽  
Warning Systems ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Good Basis ◽  
Sustained Development ◽  
Full Benefit

Subject Food security and climate change challenges in the Sahel. Significance Despite improved cereal output in 2018-19, many communities have entered the annual ‘lean season’ in a fragile position. Climate change is slowly destabilising the regional balance, while spreading insecurity prevents the region from realising the full benefit of its sustained development efforts. Impacts At 17.7% above the five-year average, the 2018-19 cereal harvest offers a good basis to meet needs during the May-September lean season. Local shortages should be spotted by robust regional early warning systems, with emergency grain stocks and donors ready to step in. Pastoralist populations are in a particularly vulnerable position, as insecurity affects access to many important grazing zones.

A new integrative perspective on early warning systems for health in the context of climate change

2020 ◽  
Vol 187 ◽  
pp. 109623 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Linares ◽  
G.S. Martinez ◽  
V. Kendrovski ◽  
J. Diaz
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Early Warning ◽  
Early Warning Systems ◽  
Warning Systems

scholarly journals RUSSIAN AND INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF ACTION PLANS FOR THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN HEALTH FROM CLIMATE RISKS

2020 ◽  
Vol 99 (2) ◽  
pp. 176-181
Author(s):  
Boris A. Revich ◽  
V. V. Maleev ◽  
M. D. Smirnova ◽  
N. Yu. Pshenichnaya
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Climate Change ◽  
Early Warning ◽  
Early Warning Systems ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
Warning Systems ◽  
Action Plans ◽  
Weather Events ◽  
Excess Deaths ◽  
Dependent Mortality

The Paris climate agreement confirmed that climate change continues to pose a global concern and required all Parties to put forward their best efforts to protect public health. In the conditions of global warming, climate-induced risks gained importance as a public health hazard and confirmed the need to develop national action plans. Such plans shall be developed locally, taking into account the requirements of the National Action Plan for adaptation to health risks induced by changing climate. This manuscript presents the data on climate-dependent mortality. The global annual burden of excess deaths attributed to climate change is over 150,000 cases, which leads to a loss of 5.5 million years of productive life per year. Early warning systems have been adopted in many countries, with the goal to prevent heat-related deaths. If such a system were implemented in Moscow, eleven thousand excess deaths could have been avoided during the extremely hot summer of 2010. Heat watch warning systems are based on scientific data on heat thresholds. On the days with temperatures above such thresholds, climate-dependent mortality increases. Such thresholds have been established in the environmental epidemiology studies conducted in Moscow, Northern and Southern cities, the cities with continental and monsoon climates. The experience of implementation of early warning systems during extreme weather events was analyzed. The relative powers of bioclimatic indices as predictors of daily mortality rates during extreme weather events were compared. To prevent complications of cardiovascular diseases, a set of protective measures was proposed which included cardiology medications, recommendations on personal behavior and drinking habits during extreme heat, and other measures. The risks and examples of occurrence and northward propagation of climate-dependent infectious diseases such as Siberian anthrax, West Nile fever, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, and dirofilariasis, were described.

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