Ecosystem Services, Climate Change, and Food Security

Food security is a rising concern around the world, especially in developing countries within arid and semi-arid regions. Ecosystem provides different services to support living and human survival, which includes some major food sources around the world like agriculture, fisheries, and livestock. With advancing times, humans improved these services and produced enough food to support the rising population. However, with increasing greenhouse gases, a new problem came into existence, commonly known as climate change (CC), which accelerated issues like food security and safety. Under such issues, people don't have access to basic facilities and food supply to survive, and with future population growth estimates, it is becoming even more difficult. Some major food sources together with alternate sources are discussed in this chapter. Upcoming CC impacts are discussed in detail in relation to major food sources and supported by world maps to provide a better picture. Major actions, government initiatives, and some suggestions are also provided to overcome this global crisis.

New Data and New Features of the FunRiceGenes (Functionally Characterized Rice Genes) Database: 2021 Update

As a major food crop and model organism, rice has been mostly studied with the largest number of functionally characterized genes among all crops. We previously built the funRiceGenes database including ∼2800 functionally characterized rice genes and ∼5000 members of different gene families. Since being published, the funRiceGenes database has been accessed by more than 49,000 users with over 490,000 page views. The funRiceGenes database has been continuously updated with newly cloned rice genes and newly published literature, based on the progress of rice functional genomics studies. Up to Nov 2021, ≥4100 functionally characterized rice genes and ∼6000 members of different gene families were collected in funRiceGenes, accounting for 22.3% of the 39,045 annotated protein-coding genes in the rice genome. Here, we summarized the update of the funRiceGenes database with new data and new features in the last five years.

Abundance, Distribution, Morphometric, Feeding Evaluation and the Reproductive Strategies of Gymnarchus niloticus in the Lower River Niger at Agenebode, Edo State Nigeria

The study of the numerous areas of biology of fish produces ample and relevant information that aids scientist to explore, know and maintain the survival, growth, continuity and sustainability of life of various fish species. A total of 94 specimens of Gymnarchus niloticus were collected from River Niger at Agenebode during the sample period that ranged from 14 – 94 cm total length (54.88± 17.92); weighed 424 - 2281g (1569.61 ± 422.85). The length weight relationship (LWR) of G. niloticus in this study showed a negative (b<3) allometric growth pattern. Out of the 94 specimens analysed 54 males and 40 females were examined with a ratio of 1:1.4. Insects and decapods were the major food of the juveniles of Gymnarchus niloticus while the major food of preference of the sub adults and adults were Fish and insects with 27.12%, and 27.97% by FO. Gymnarchus niloticus possesses a single ovary in the female and single testis in the male which is often referred to as unpaired gonad. Fecundity ranged between 620 to 1378 eggs with a mean of 957.69 ± 112.31 eggs in females. The relationship between fecundity (F) and weight (W) and fecundity and standard length (SL) showed that fecundity is more related to weight than length of fish. Log F = 820.66 + 0.11 W and Log F = 151.23 + 5.31 SL. Fecundity had a positive significant correlation (P<0.05) with both somatic weight (r = 0.714) and standard length (r = 0.657) of fish. Ova diameter showed a ranged between 3.5 and 7.9 mm with a mean of 4.72 ± SD1.69 mm and it had significant relationship (P<0.05) with total weight, gonad weight and maturity stage. Gymnarchus niloticus in the Lower River Niger at Agenebode showed that G. niloticus has an unpaired gonad in both sexes, a gonochoristic reproductive pattern. Fecundity is low and the ova are large. They are small brood spawners with asynchronous breeding strategy. The attributes of G. niloticus obtained from this study reveals that the fish species is a good candidate for fish culture.