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The new world screwworm: distribution and eradication

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The new world screwworm Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel) was eradicated in North America, Libya and other locations using the sterile insect technique (SIT). To examine the role of weather in its eradication, a physiologically-based demographic model (PBDM) was developed and used to characterize its range of year-round persistence. Winter temperature and rainfall are shown to have a strong influence on screwworm outbreaks and in facilitating eradication in North America and Libya. Prospective analysis for the Mediterranean Basin suggests eastern areas are most favorable for screwworm establishment (e.g., the Nile River area of Egypt). The SIT eradication programme and its possible extension into South America are discussed. Expected +2°C climate warming is predicted to increase the potential year-round range of screwworm in the SE USA. Gutierrez A.P., Ponti L., 2014. The new world screwworm: prospective distribution and role of weather in eradication. Agricultural and Forest Entom...
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Invasive potential of medfly in California and Italy

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Since being detected in California in 1975, the polyphagous tropical Mediterranean fruit fly ( Ceratitis capitata Weid. (medfly)) has been the subject of a large-scale eradication campaign in the absence of sound knowledge of its invasive potential. We use a weather-driven physiologically-based demographic system model ( CASAS ) embedded in a GIS based on GRASS to examine medfly's potential distribution across Arizona-California (AZ-CA), and Italy where its establishment is documented. AZ is unfavorable for medfly because of high summer temperatures, while much of CA, including many frost-free areas, is too cold during winter. Only the south near coastal region of CA is predicted to be potentially favorable for medfly, but in the absence of consistent measurable populations, we cannot say if medfly is established there. Medfly has been established in Italy for decades, and our model predicts a wide distribution in the southern and western regions of the country. Gutierrez A.P.,...
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New agroecology book in Italian

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Agroecology: a viable agricultural path for a planet in crisis. It is now clear that humanity needs an alternative agricultural development paradigm, one that encourages more ecologically, biodiverse, resilient, sustainable and socially just forms of agriculture. The basis for this new systems are the myriad of ecologically based agricultural styles developed by over a billion smallholders, family farmers and indigenous people on hundreds of millions of small farms which currently produce most of the global agricultural output for domestic consumption largely without agrochemicals. Agroecology is this paradigm: a dialogue between traditional agricultural knowledge and modern agricultural science that uses ecological concepts and principles for designing and managing sustainable agroecosystems in which external inputs are replaced by natural processes such as natural soil fertility and biological control. This book explains why agroecology is the most robust food provisioning pathway fo...
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