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The study investigated the effects of climatic changes on malaria parasite prevalence, morbidity and mortality in Taraba State, Nigeria. Using a retrospective study design, the study relied on secondary data covering a period from 2005 to 2014, obtained from Meteorological Station Jalingo and Health facilities. Mean annual rainfall, temperature and relative humidity from 2005 to 2014 were 1 886 mm, 24.2 °C and 70%, respectively. Per 1 000 people, mean malaria morbidity was 228.9 and mortality 0.311. Years with peak malaria morbidities (2006, 2011 and 2014) had lowest annual rainfalls (1 488–1 677 mm). Monthly, malaria morbidity had a significantly negative linear relationship with rainfall (r = –0.536, p < 0.0001) and relative humidity (r = –0.509, p < 0.001), and a significantly positive linear relationship with temperature (r = 0.305, p = 0.001). Within the decade, malaria morbidity and mortality increased by 0.298% and 0.0007%, respectively. This study provides information on the malaria situation in Taraba State that could be useful to the National Malaria Control Programs and public health service providers in formulating policies that might promote the mitigation of malaria in Nigeria.
The Palmiet Estuary is a small, rural estuary in the Western Cape that only closes briefly during dry summers. The system was previously surveyed during 1979 to 1980 and we repeated the survey in April 2015 (mouth closed) and September 2015 (mouth open). Salinity, temperature, pH and oxygen saturation were measured, and invertebrate and fish faunas surveyed. Physico-chemical characteristics have undergone little directional change, apart from an apparent increase in pH, possibly as a result of changes in land use and application of fertilisers and pesticides in the catchment. Invertebrate species richness increased from 31 to 40 species, despite lower sampling effort in 2015. Most changes were among rare species, or were readily explained by changes in mouth condition and water chemistry. We also confirmed a substantial range extension of the tropical crab, Varuna litterata, rediscovered the locally endemic amphipod, Quadrivisio aviceps, and reported several new distribution records. Gastropods had virtually disappeared from the system, whereas the previously unreported bivalve, Brachidontes virgilae, had become abundant. Overall, fish diversity dropped from 19 to 11 species, but this can largely be ascribed to differences in sampling frequency, season and mouth state. Comparisons of samples from like months showed the fish assemblage to have remained fairly stable, despite changes in inflowing water chemistry and infection of fish by the pathogenic water mould, Aphanomyces invadans. Bird abundance and diversity increased substantially. No alien invertebrate or fish species were recorded. Accordingly, in marked contrast to other smaller estuaries in the region, the Palmiet Estuary has remains in relatively good condition.
Farmers in the northern, communally managed parts of the Succulent Karoo, an arid rangeland system in South Africa, historically used donkeys and horses for transport and ploughing. With increasing mechanisation, draught animal power has largely been replaced by machines. Yet, donkeys and horses have been maintained in the agricultural landscape in small feral and semi-feral herds. Research has shown that they compete directly with productive livestock (mostly sheep and goats) for forage resources, contributing little to the local economy. Local farmers identify the presence of feral donkeys and horses as one of the primary challenges in maintaining sustainable grazing regimes on their land. However, records of the number of animals roaming the rangelands are scarce and anecdotal. We therefore conducted a combination of aerial, ground, and social surveys to estimate the minimum population size and potential grazing impact of the donkey and horse population in two communally farmed sites in the Succulent Karoo. We show that, in the representative sites surveyed, there are at least 376 equines (274 donkeys and 102 horses), representing approximately the equivalent of 2 228 sheep and goats, and consuming ∼8% of the potential grazing available for productive livestock in these areas. This could represent a significant lost opportunity cost for local farmers in the region.