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Abstract. Flooding in the Amazon basin is frequently attributed to modes of large-scale climate variability, but little attention is paid to how these modes influence the timing and duration of floods despite their importance to early warning systems and the significant impacts that these flood characteristics can have on communities. In this study, river discharge data from the Global Flood Awareness System (GloFAS 2.1) and observed data at 58 gauging stations are used to examine whether positive or negative phases of several Pacific and Atlantic indices significantly alter the characteristics of river flows throughout the Amazon basin (1979–2015). Results show significant changes in both flood magnitude and duration, particularly in the north-eastern Amazon for negative El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phases when the sea surface temperature (SST) anomaly is positioned in the central tropical Pacific. This response is not identified for the eastern Pacific index, highlighting how the response can differ between ENSO types. Although flood magnitude and duration were found to be highly correlated, the impacts of large-scale climate variability on these characteristics are non-linear; some increases in annual flood maxima coincide with decreases in flood duration. The impact of flood timing, however, does not follow any notable pattern for all indices analysed. Finally, observed and simulated changes are found to be much more highly correlated for negative ENSO phases compared to the positive phase, meaning that GloFAS struggles to accurately simulate the differences in flood characteristics between El Niño and neutral years. These results have important implications for both the social and physical sectors working towards the improvement of early warning action systems for floods.

Public policy requires public support, which in turn implies a need to enable the public not just to understand policy but also to be engaged in its development. Where complex science and technology issues are involved in policy making, this takes time, so it is important to identify emerging issues of this type and prepare engagement plans. In our horizon scanning exercise, we used a modified Delphi technique. A wide group of people with interests in the science and policy interface (drawn from policy makers, policy adviser, practitioners, the private sector and academics) elicited a long list of emergent policy issues in which science and technology would feature strongly and which would also necessitate public engagement as policies are developed. This was then refined to a short list of top priorities for policy makers. Thirty issues were identified within broad areas of business and technology; energy and environment; government, politics and education; health, healthcare, population and aging; information, communication, infrastructure and transport; and public safety and national security.

La production industrielle d'huile de palme génère simultanément une quantité substantielle de fibres de grappe de fruits vides (EFB) qui pourraient être utilisées comme matière première dans une bioraffinerie à base de lignocellulose. Les sous-produits de la lignine générés par ce processus peuvent offrir des possibilités d'isolation des produits à valeur ajoutée, tels que le p-hydroxybenzoate (pBz), pour aider à compenser les coûts d'exploitation. L'analyse de la lignine EFB par spectroscopie de résonance magnétique nucléaire (RMN) a clairement révélé la présence d'acétate lié et de pBz, la saponification révélant que 1,1 % en poids de l'EFB était du pBz ; avec une teneur en lignine de 22,7 %, 4,8 % de la lignine est du pBz qui peut être obtenu comme composant pur pour être utilisé comme charge chimique. L'analyse de la lignine EFB par RMN et dérivatisation suivie d'un clivage réducteur (DFRC) a montré que le pBz acylate sélectivement le groupe γ-hydroxyle des unités S. Cette sélectivité suggère que le pBz, de manière analogue à l'acétate dans le kénaf, le p-coumarate dans les graminées et le ferrate dans un peuplier transgénique augmenté d'une féruloyl-CoA monolignol transférase (FMT), est incorporé dans la chaîne de lignine en croissance via son conjugué monolignol γ-p-hydroxybenzoylé. L'implication de tels conjugués dans la lignification des palmiers est prouvée par l'observation de nouvelles unités couplées au β-β non résinol p-hydroxybenzoylé dans les lignines. Ensemble, les données impliquent l'existence de p-hydroxybenzoyl-CoA :monolignol transférases qui sont impliquées dans la lignification chez les différents saules (Salix spp.), peupliers et peupliers faux-trembles (Populus spp., famille des Salicacées) et palmiers (famille des Arecacées) qui ont des lignines p-hydroxybenzoylées. Même sans augmenter les niveaux par la sélection ou le génie génétique, les « déchets » actuels de l'EFB d'huile de palme devraient être en mesure de générer un flux important d'acide p-hydroxybenzoïque qui offre des opportunités pour le développement de produits à valeur ajoutée dérivés de l'industrie du palmier à huile. La producción industrial de aceite de palma genera simultáneamente una cantidad sustancial de fibras de racimo de frutas vacías (EFB) que podrían utilizarse como materia prima en una biorrefinería a base de lignocelulosa. Los subproductos de lignina generados por este proceso pueden ofrecer oportunidades para el aislamiento de productos de valor agregado, como el p-hidroxibenzoato (pBz), para ayudar a compensar los costos operativos. El análisis de la lignina EFB por espectroscopía de resonancia magnética nuclear (RMN) reveló claramente la presencia de acetato unido y pBz, y la saponificación reveló que el 1,1% en peso del EFB era pBz; con un contenido de lignina del 22,7 %, el 4,8 % de la lignina es pBz que se puede obtener como un componente puro para su uso como materia prima química. El análisis de la lignina EFB por RMN y la derivatización seguida de escisión reductora (DFRC) mostró que pBz acila selectivamente el grupo γ-hidroxilo de las unidades S. Esta selectividad sugiere que pBz, análogamente con acetato en kenaf, p-cumarato en gramíneas y ferular en un álamo transgénico aumentado con una feruloil-CoA monolignol transferasa (FMT), se incorpora a la cadena de lignina en crecimiento a través de su conjugado de monolignol γ-p-hidroxibenzoilado. La participación de dichos conjugados en la lignificación de la palma se demuestra al observar nuevas unidades no acopladas a β-β-resinol p-hidroxibenzoiladas en las ligninas. Juntos, los datos implican la existencia de p-hidroxibenzoil-CoA:monolignol transferasas que participan en la lignificación en los diversos sauces (Salix spp.), álamos y álamo temblón (Populus spp., familia Salicaceae) y palmeras (familia Arecaceae) que tienen ligninas p-hidroxibenzoiladas. Incluso sin mejorar los niveles mediante mejoramiento o ingeniería genética, los 'desechos' actuales de aceite de palma EFB deberían ser capaces de generar una corriente considerable de ácido p-hidroxibenzoico que ofrezca oportunidades para el desarrollo de productos de valor agregado derivados de la industria de la palma aceitera. The industrial production of palm oil concurrently generates a substantial amount of empty fruit bunch (EFB) fibers that could be used as a feedstock in a lignocellulose-based biorefinery. Lignin byproducts generated by this process may offer opportunities for the isolation of value-added products, such as p-hydroxybenzoate (pBz), to help offset operating costs. Analysis of the EFB lignin by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy clearly revealed the presence of bound acetate and pBz, with saponification revealing that 1.1 wt% of the EFB was pBz; with a lignin content of 22.7 %, 4.8 % of the lignin is pBz that can be obtained as a pure component for use as a chemical feedstock. Analysis of EFB lignin by NMR and derivatization followed by reductive cleavage (DFRC) showed that pBz selectively acylates the γ-hydroxyl group of S units. This selectivity suggests that pBz, analogously with acetate in kenaf, p-coumarate in grasses, and ferulate in a transgenic poplar augmented with a feruloyl-CoA monolignol transferase (FMT), is incorporated into the growing lignin chain via its γ-p-hydroxybenzoylated monolignol conjugate. Involvement of such conjugates in palm lignification is proven by the observation of novel p-hydroxybenzoylated non-resinol β–β-coupled units in the lignins. Together, the data implicate the existence of p-hydroxybenzoyl-CoA:monolignol transferases that are involved in lignification in the various willows (Salix spp.), poplars and aspen (Populus spp., family Salicaceae), and palms (family Arecaceae) that have p-hydroxybenzoylated lignins. Even without enhancing the levels by breeding or genetic engineering, current palm oil EFB 'wastes' should be able to generate a sizeable stream of p-hydroxybenzoic acid that offers opportunities for the development of value-added products derived from the oil palm industry. ينتج الإنتاج الصناعي لزيت النخيل في الوقت نفسه كمية كبيرة من ألياف مجموعة الفاكهة الفارغة (EFB) التي يمكن استخدامها كمادة وسيطة في مصفاة حيوية تعتمد على اللجينوسليلوز. قد توفر المنتجات الثانوية لليجنين الناتجة عن هذه العملية فرصًا لعزل المنتجات ذات القيمة المضافة، مثل p - hydroxybenzoate (pBz)، للمساعدة في تعويض تكاليف التشغيل. كشف تحليل اللجنين EFB بواسطة مطياف الرنين المغناطيسي النووي (NMR) بوضوح عن وجود أسيتات مرتبطة و pBz، مع كشف التصبن أن 1.1 ٪ بالوزن من EFB كان pBz ؛ مع محتوى اللجنين بنسبة 22.7 ٪، 4.8 ٪ من اللجنين عبارة عن pBz يمكن الحصول عليه كمكون نقي للاستخدام كمادة وسيطة كيميائية. أظهر تحليل اللجنين EFB بواسطة NMR والاشتقاق متبوعًا بالانقسام الاختزالي (DFRC) أن pBz يعمل بشكل انتقائي على أسيتيل مجموعة γ - hydroxyl من وحدات S. تشير هذه الانتقائية إلى أن pBz، بالتناظر مع الأسيتات في الكناف، و p - comarate في الأعشاب، و ferulate في حور معدّل وراثيًا معززًا بـ feruloyl - CoA monolignol transferase (FMT)، يتم دمجه في سلسلة اللجنين المتنامية عبر γ - p - hydroxybenzoylated monolignol conjugate. ثبت تورط مثل هذه المترافقات في ترصيع النخيل من خلال ملاحظة وحدات p - hydroxybenzoylated غير الراتينول β - β المقترنة في اللجنين. معا، تشير البيانات إلى وجود p - hydroxybenzoyl - CoA: monolignol transferases التي تشارك في تبييض في الصفصاف المختلفة (Salix spp.)، الحور والحور (Populus spp.، عائلة Salicaceae)، والنخيل (عائلة Arecaceae) التي تحتوي على p - hydroxybenzoylated lignins. حتى من دون تعزيز المستويات عن طريق التكاثر أو الهندسة الوراثية، يجب أن تكون "نفايات" زيت النخيل الحالية قادرة على توليد تيار كبير من حمض p - hydroxybenzoic الذي يوفر فرصًا لتطوير منتجات ذات قيمة مضافة مشتقة من صناعة نخيل الزيت.

Lionfish (Pterois volitans/miles) have invaded the majority of the Caribbean region within five years. As voracious predators of native fishes with a broad habitat distribution, lionfish are poised to cause an unprecedented disruption to coral reef diversity and function. Controls of lionfish densities within its native range are poorly understood, but they have been recorded in the stomachs of large-bodied Caribbean groupers. Whether grouper predation of lionfish is sufficient to act as a biocontrol of the invasive species is unknown, but pest biocontrol by predatory fishes has been reported in other ecosystems. Groupers were surveyed along a chain of Bahamian reefs, including one of the region's most successful marine reserves which supports the top one percentile of Caribbean grouper biomass. Lionfish biomass exhibited a 7-fold and non-linear reduction in relation to the biomass of grouper. While Caribbean grouper appear to be a biocontrol of invasive lionfish, the overexploitation of their populations by fishers, means that their median biomass on Caribbean reefs is an order of magnitude less than in our study. Thus, chronic overfishing will probably prevent natural biocontrol of lionfishes in the Caribbean.

AbstractAimAgriculture is one of the greatest pressures on biodiversity. Regional studies have shown that the presence of natural habitat and landscape heterogeneity are beneficial for biodiversity in agriculture, but it remains unclear whether their importance varies geographically. Here, we use local biodiversity data to determine which local and landscape variables are most associated with biodiversity patterns and whether their association varies between tropical and non‐tropical regions.LocationGlobal terrestrial area in forest biomes.Major taxa studiedMore than 21,000 species of vertebrates, invertebrates, plants and other taxa.MethodsWe used generalized linear mixed‐effects models to analyse the relationships between either community total abundance or species richness (derived from the PREDICTS database) and a number of site‐level (predominant land use and land‐use intensity) and landscape‐level variables (distance to forest, the percentage of natural habitat in the surrounding landscape, landscape homogeneity, the number of land‐cover types in the landscape, and total fertilizer application). We compared the associations of these variables with biodiversity in tropical and non‐tropical regions.ResultsIn most cases, changes in biodiversity associated with landscape‐level variables were greater than those associated with local land use and land‐use intensity. Increased natural habitat availability was associated with the most consistent increases in biodiversity. Landscape homogeneity was also important but showed different directions of biodiversity change between regions. Associations with fertilizer application or the number of land‐cover types were generally weaker, although still of greater magnitude than for the local land‐use measures.Main conclusionsOur results highlight similarities and differences in the association of local‐ and landscape‐scale variables with local biodiversity in tropical and non‐tropical regions. Landscape natural habitat availability had a consistent positive association with biodiversity, highlighting the key role of landscape management in the maintenance of biodiversity in croplands. Landscape‐scale variables were almost always associated with greater changes in biodiversity than the local‐scale measures.