Background: The Deepwater Horizon (DH) blowout resulted in fisheries closings across the Gulf of Mexico. Federal agencies, in collaboration with impacted Gulf states, developed a protocol to determine when it is safe to reopen fisheries based on sensory and chemical analyses of seafood. All federal waters have been reopened, yet concerns have been raised regarding the robustness of the protocol to identify all potential harmful exposures and protect the most sensitive populations.Objectives: We aimed to assess this protocol based on comparisons with previous oil spills, published testing results, and current knowledge regarding chemicals released during the DH oil spill.Methods: We performed a comprehensive review of relevant scientific journal articles and government documents concerning seafood contamination and oil spills and consulted with academic and government experts.Results: Protocols to evaluate seafood safety before reopening fisheries have relied on risk assessment of health impacts from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposures, but metal contamination may also be a concern. Assumptions used to determine levels of concern (LOCs) after oil spills have not been consistent across risk assessments performed after oil spills. Chemical testing results after the DH oil spill suggest PAH levels are at or below levels reported after previous oil spills, and well below LOCs, even when more conservative parameters are used to estimate risk.Conclusions: We recommend use of a range of plausible risk parameters to set bounds around LOCs, comparisons of post-spill measurements with baseline levels, and the development and implementation of long-term monitoring strategies for metals as well as PAHs and dispersant components. In addition, the methods, results, and uncertainties associated with estimating seafood safety after oil spills should be communicated in a transparent and timely manner, and stakeholders should be actively involved in developing a long-term monitoring strategy.

Pollution of freshwater resources is gaining global attention due to increasing freshwater stress and scarcity. This study assessed land use and land cover changes (LULCC) in the Nawuni Catchment of the White Volta Basin and how the change affects water quality in the area. Satellite images from Landsat Thematic Mapper and Landsat 8 Operational land imager of the Nawuni Catchment of the White Volta Basin were acquired and used for this study. These images were analysed to ascertain the influence of land use and land cover changes on water quality parameters such as turbidity, ammonia and total coliform counts for a 10-year period (2007 to 2017). The results of LULCC revealed an increased expanse of grassland/farmland (4.1%), settlement (0.1%), bare land (9.4%) and closed savannah (1.2%), whilst opened savannah (14.7%) and water body (0.1%) recorded a decreasing trend. The study showed an increase in the levels of turbidity and ammonia and a decrease in total coliforms over the study period (2007 to 2017). The study also revealed a positive relationship between LULC categories and water quality parameters, implying that LULCC contribute to the change in water quality in the area. The study therefore recommends frequent water quality monitoring and LULC planning and management to curb pollution of the river basin.

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Pollinator decline, driven primarily by habitat degradation, has the potential to reduce the quantity and quality of pollinator-dependent crops produced across the world.  Vitellaria paradoxa, a socio-economically important tree which grows across the sub-Saharan drylands of Africa, produces seeds from which shea butter is extracted. However, the habitats in which this tree grows are threatened with degradation, potentially impacting its ability to attract sufficient pollinators and to produce seeds. The flowers of V. paradoxa are insect-pollinated, and we investigated flower visitors in six sites in southern Burkina Faso and northern Ghana and tested whether plants were capable of fruit set in the absence of pollinators. We found that the majority of flower visitors (88%) were bees, most frequently small social stingless bees (Hypotrigona gribodoi), but native honey bees (Apis mellifera adansonii) were also common visitors to flowers early in the morning. The number of fruit produced per inflorescence was significantly lower when insects were excluded during flowering by bagging, but any fruits and seeds that were produced in bagged treatments were of similar weight to un-bagged ones. We conclude that conservation of habitat to protect social bees is important to maintain pollination services to V. paradoxa and other fruit-bearing trees and cultivated crops on which local livelihoods depend.

As a well-known eco-toxicological model organism, Daphnia pulex may also offer advantages in human health research for assessing long-term effects of early life exposures to coupled stressors. Here, we examine consequences of early life exposure to methylmercury (MeHg) under standard and reduced food ration. We exposed Daphnia for 24 h in early life to varying concentrations of methylmercury(II) chloride (0, 200, 400, 800 and 1600 ng/L) and thereafter kept Daphnia on either a standard or a reduced food ration. The data suggests an additive effect of MeHg concentration and food ration on decreasing lifespan, although MeHg concentration does not affect survival linearly. Food ration and MeHg concentration were predictive of reduced reproduction, and there is some evidence of an interaction (p = 0.048). Multi-stressor work in alternative model systems may be useful for prioritizing research, taking into account potential antagonistic, additive or synergistic effects that nutritional status may have on chemical toxicity.

Shea (Vitellaria paradoxa C.F. Gaertn.) is a multipurpose tree species indigenous to the Sudano Sahelian zone of Africa and occurs as the most abundant economic tree species in northern Ghana. The edible oil (shea butter) extracted from shea kernel is ranked as the most economic product of the species. Although fruit set and yield of shea are known to be influenced by insect pollination, the actual contribution of insect pollinators to its reproductive success has rarely been studied. This study estimated the percentage insect pollinator dependence and monetary value of insect pollination per bag of shea kernel (85 kg) in the Guinea savanna zone. Open pollination and insect exclusion treatments were applied to the flowers of 18 randomly selected matured shea trees and observed from the onset of flowering to fruit maturity. Proportion of total production value attributed to insect pollination approach was used in estimating the monetary value of pollination per bag of shea kernel with the average market price as proxy. The study revealed an insect pollinator dependence of 77% and 73% for fruit set and dry kernel yield, respectively. Mean number of fruit set per inflorescence varied significantly between insectexcluded and open-pollinated inflorescences (p < 0.05). The monetary value of insect pollination was estimated at GH₵ 73.21 (US$ 18.67) per bag of kernel as of August 2016. Shea is a high insect pollinator-dependent species and the conservation of insect pollinators would be critical to the sustainability of yield.

Despite the key roles of women in agroforestry systems, their contributions usually go unnoticed in male -dominated societies. This study was conducted in the Jaman South Municipality of Ghana to examine the forms and levels of women's participation in agroforestry systems. The study used a concurrent mixed method design to collect data from 204 women farmers. It employed Agarwal's typology of participation to describe the forms of women's participation. The findings revealed that majority (85.3%) of the women farmers were active in the practice of agroforestry. Scattered trees on farmlands, alley cropping, taungya, and home-gardens were the main forms of agroforestry being practiced by the women farmers. Their participation was high in all farm management activities, except in the application of agro-chemicals and spraying of crops. The forms of women participation in agroforestry were found to conform to all the stages of Agarwal's typology of participation. Lack of extension programmes and multiple domestic responsibilities were the main constraints to their participation in agroforestry practices. The study recommends training of women to volunteer as extension officers to enhance extension services delivery.

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