A recently completed research program (TREES) employing the global imaging capabilities of Earth-observing satellites provides updated information on the status of the world's humid tropical forest cover. Between 1990 and 1997, 5.8 +/- 1.4 million hectares of humid tropical forest were lost each year, with a further 2.3 +/- 0.7 million hectares of forest visibly degraded. These figures indicate that the global net rate of change in forest cover for the humid tropics is 23% lower than the generally accepted rate. This result affects the calculation of carbon fluxes in the global budget and means that the terrestrial sink is smaller than previously inferred.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1070656 | DOI Listing |
Sci Rep
January 2025
Department of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
The evolutionary history underlying gradients in species richness is still subject to discussions and understanding the past niche evolution might be crucial in estimating the potential of taxa to adapt to changing environmental conditions. In this study we intend to contribute to elucidation of the evolutionary history of liverwort species richness distributions along elevational gradients at a global scale. For this purpose, we linked a comprehensive data set of genus occurrences on mountains worldwide with a time-calibrated phylogeny of liverworts and estimated mean diversification rates (DivElev) and mean ages (AgeElev) of the respective genera per elevational band.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFViruses
January 2025
Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 5508-900, Brazil.
Dengue fever, caused by the dengue virus (DENV), poses a significant global health challenge, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. Recent increases in indigenous DENV cases in Europe are concerning, reflecting rising incidence linked to climate change and the spread of mosquitoes. These vectors thrive under environmental conditions like temperature and humidity, which are increasingly influenced by climate change.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMaterials (Basel)
January 2025
Hainan Engineering Research Center of Tropical Ocean Advanced Optoelectronic Functional Materials, Hainan International Joint Research Center of Marine Advanced Photoelectric Functional Materials, Key Laboratory of Laser Technology and Optoelectronic Functional Materials of Hainan Province, Key Laboratory of Functional Materials and Photoelectrochemistry of Haikou, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hainan Normal University, Haikou 571158, China.
The CsPbBr perovskite exhibits strong environmental stability under light, humidity, temperature, and oxygen conditions. However, in all-inorganic perovskite solar cells (PSCs), interface defects between the carbon electrode and CsPbBr limit the carrier separation and transfer rates. We used black phosphorus (BP) nanosheets as the hole transport layer (HTL) to construct an all-inorganic carbon-based CsPbBr perovskite (FTO/c-TiO/m-TiO/CsPbBr/BP/C) solar cell.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Biometeorol
January 2025
Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biosciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
In regions characterized by tropical and subtropical climates, the elevated ambient temperatures exert adverse effects on both broiler and laying chickens, impacting their growth and egg production performance. To mitigate the challenges posed by heat stress, genetic strategies aimed at reducing feather coverage have gained prominence in hot climate areas. Among these approaches, the naked neck (Na) and frizzle (F) genes have emerged as particularly noteworthy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDiseases
January 2025
Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Ghana Medical School, Accra P.O. Box GP 4236, Ghana.
Yaws is an infectious, neglected tropical disease that affects the skin of many children and adolescents who live in poor, rural, low-income communities in humid, tropical areas of Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands. Yaws is currently endemic in at least 15 countries, but adequate surveillance data are lacking. In line with the WHO's effort to improve early detection, diagnosis, and proper management leading to the eventual eradication of yaws, this article reviews the existing literature on yaws in Africa to highlight the epidemiological pattern, genetic variability, diagnosis modalities, treatment, and control strategies, the challenges and prospects for yaws eradication.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!