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Amphibian declines worldwide have been linked to the fungal disease chytridiomycosis. Its causative agent (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, hereafter Bd), however, also infects many nondeclining species.Experimental infections have shown species-specific and temperature-dependent frog responses to Bd infection. Although Bd infection may be eliminated by housing amphibians at temperatures above those tolerated by the fungus, the question of whether frogs can eliminate infection under more favorable conditions remains unanswered. Repeated diagnostics using real-time polymerase chain reaction (rt-PCR) assays of postmetamorphic individuals at 28, 38, 45, 53, and 62 days after exposure demonstrated that Hypsiboas crepitans is able to clear infection within a few weeks at 23°C. Thus, we demonstrate a temperature-independent and likely immunological mechanism for the clearance of Bd in a resistant amphibian species. Future studies are needed to determine the generality of this mechanism among amphibians and to describe the immune factors affecting different outcomes of Bd exposure including resistance to infection, tolerance of infection, and clearance of infection.

A supply chain (SC) is a complex network of facilities with dissimilar and conflicting objectives. Discrete-event simulation is often used to model and capture the dynamic interactions in SCs and to provide performance indicators. However, a simulator by itself is not an optimizer. Optimization algorithms can be coupled with a simulation module in order to find the most suitable SC policies. Nevertheless, because the simulation of an SC can take a considerable amount of time, the optimization tool must be well chosen. This chapter considers the hybridization of evolutionary algorithms, well known for their multi-objective capabilities, with an SC simulation module in order to determine the inventory policy (order-point or order-level) of a single product SC, taking into account two conflicting objectives: maximizing customer service level and minimizing total inventory cost. Four algorithms (SPEA-II, SPEA-IIb, MOPSO and NSGA-II) are evaluated on five different SC configurations to determine which algorithm gives the best results and makes the best use of the simulator. The results indicate that SPEA-2 favours a rapid convergence and that modifying its crossover or its archive truncation rule (variant SPEA-IIb) may improve the results even further.

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have developed a flexible package of training materials to help build the capacity of conservationists to address the social and rights aspects of conservation. The project, known as INTRINSIC, was funded by the Cambridge Conservation Initiative Collaborative Fund. Materials were tested with students on the Cambridge University Masters in Conservation Leadership and with conservation practitioners in East Africa. Biodiversity conservation is essentially a social process, involving as it does decisions about access to, and the use, values and protection of nature. As such, conservation inevitably entails both social costs and benefits, and the social context is likely to affect the efficiency and effectiveness of any conservation initiative. Unfortunately conservation practitioners often lack the knowledge and skills to address and integrate rights and other social issues into their work. The typical pathway to a professional conservation career involves the pursuit of educational opportunities and formal qualifications in natural sciences. However, the contemporary practice of conservation necessitates working with people, local communities and groups, and requires knowledge and skills about social systems that are often not gained through these traditional academic pathways. A number of authors have pointed out discrepancies between conservation course content and the skills needed, and have bemoaned the lack of training in the social dimensions of conservation (e.g. Saberwal & Kothari, , Conservation Biology, , -; Jacobsen & McDuff, , Conservation Biology, , -; Fisher et al., , Oryx, , -). The INTRINSIC training package aims to help address this capacity gap and improve conservation policy and practice by increasing environmental and social sustainability, thereby enabling positive, equitable outcomes for both nature and people. The INTRINSIC materials, which can be found at http:// bit.ly/IntrinsicManual, comprise a trainers' guide and accompanying set of slide presentations designed to be customized for the particular context in which the training is to take place. It is expected that users will have some experience of working in conservation but in-depth knowledge of the specific social issues covered in the guide is not required. The developers envisage that delivery of the training can be a learning opportunity for trainers as well as participants. Subjects covered include community and social diversity, gender, conflict management, livelihoods and