Introduction to “Climate Change Impacts on Agriculture and Food Security in Egypt”
15
levels… recognizing that this would significantly reduce the risks and impacts of
climate change”, pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to
1.5 °C and undertake and communicate ambitious efforts to contribute to the global
response to climate change by strengthening the mobility of countries to deal with
the impacts of climate change.
Moreover, the chapter titled “Algae and Fishes: Benefits and Hazards” show how
algae play a major role as primary producers and form the base of the food chain
as they are the major diet for many aquatic animals. They are either microscopic or
macroscopic, and both can be cultured for mass production of fish and crustaceans
feed. They can also cause the favourable pigmentation of several animals. The iron
fertilization experiments aimed at increasing algal proliferation but their impact is
still under debate. Nonetheless, algae have their harmful side as they can be toxin producers and biofoulers. Aquatic animals such as fish and crustaceans provide human
beings with high-quality protein diets. Meals of aquatic animals are based partially or
even entirely on algae. Marine algae can be grown as maricultures in marine environments in various forms. Also, algae can be used for fish diets in inland aquacultures.
However, the types of algae vary according to the type of aquaculture. Algae can also
be grown not only for their nutritional value but also for their pigments that can affect
the colour and health of some aquatic animals. Recently the iron limitation in marine
environments attracted the attention of scientists as the deficiency in this element
caused a reduction in phytoplanktons. Iron fertilization in the ocean was performed
in order to enrich some marine environments with iron, which in turn would lead to
an increase of the phytoplankton. Scientists propose that this would cause mitigation
of global warming as algae take in carbon dioxide, the main factor responsible for
global warming, and release oxygen during photosynthesis. The number of aquatic
animals is also expected to increase. However, the short and long term overall effects
of those experiments are yet to be evaluated.
Toxic algae can also adversely affect aquatic animals and can cause a massive die
off. The two main algal groups responsible for toxins production are cyanobacteria
and dinoflagellates.
They can spread from one water body to another through ballast water or biofouling aquatic vessels such as ships and boats. This, in turn, would be harmful and even
lethal for aquatic animals and would jeopardize food security. Thereby, surveillance
of aquatic vessels must be performed.
On the other hand, the chapter titled “Climate Change Impact on Immune Status
and Productivity of Poultry as well as the Quality of Meat and Egg Products” is
presented to discuss the impacts of climate change on immune status and productivity
of poultry. Also, it explains how climate change affects the quality of meant and
egg products. Additionally, the chapter focuses on the key principles (nutritional or
managerial practices) to alleviate the adverse impacts of heat stress.
Current poultry production systems comprise large numbers of birds that are
housed together. This results in heat stress, which affects the poultry systems making
them more susceptible to heat stress. Heat stress causes (i) inconvenience and high
mortality rate for birds, and (ii) lower or lost production, which therefore reduces
the profitability. Both production performance and feed conversion ratio are affected
15
levels… recognizing that this would significantly reduce the risks and impacts of
climate change”, pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to
1.5 °C and undertake and communicate ambitious efforts to contribute to the global
response to climate change by strengthening the mobility of countries to deal with
the impacts of climate change.
Moreover, the chapter titled “Algae and Fishes: Benefits and Hazards” show how
algae play a major role as primary producers and form the base of the food chain
as they are the major diet for many aquatic animals. They are either microscopic or
macroscopic, and both can be cultured for mass production of fish and crustaceans
feed. They can also cause the favourable pigmentation of several animals. The iron
fertilization experiments aimed at increasing algal proliferation but their impact is
still under debate. Nonetheless, algae have their harmful side as they can be toxin producers and biofoulers. Aquatic animals such as fish and crustaceans provide human
beings with high-quality protein diets. Meals of aquatic animals are based partially or
even entirely on algae. Marine algae can be grown as maricultures in marine environments in various forms. Also, algae can be used for fish diets in inland aquacultures.
However, the types of algae vary according to the type of aquaculture. Algae can also
be grown not only for their nutritional value but also for their pigments that can affect
the colour and health of some aquatic animals. Recently the iron limitation in marine
environments attracted the attention of scientists as the deficiency in this element
caused a reduction in phytoplanktons. Iron fertilization in the ocean was performed
in order to enrich some marine environments with iron, which in turn would lead to
an increase of the phytoplankton. Scientists propose that this would cause mitigation
of global warming as algae take in carbon dioxide, the main factor responsible for
global warming, and release oxygen during photosynthesis. The number of aquatic
animals is also expected to increase. However, the short and long term overall effects
of those experiments are yet to be evaluated.
Toxic algae can also adversely affect aquatic animals and can cause a massive die
off. The two main algal groups responsible for toxins production are cyanobacteria
and dinoflagellates.
They can spread from one water body to another through ballast water or biofouling aquatic vessels such as ships and boats. This, in turn, would be harmful and even
lethal for aquatic animals and would jeopardize food security. Thereby, surveillance
of aquatic vessels must be performed.
On the other hand, the chapter titled “Climate Change Impact on Immune Status
and Productivity of Poultry as well as the Quality of Meat and Egg Products” is
presented to discuss the impacts of climate change on immune status and productivity
of poultry. Also, it explains how climate change affects the quality of meant and
egg products. Additionally, the chapter focuses on the key principles (nutritional or
managerial practices) to alleviate the adverse impacts of heat stress.
Current poultry production systems comprise large numbers of birds that are
housed together. This results in heat stress, which affects the poultry systems making
them more susceptible to heat stress. Heat stress causes (i) inconvenience and high
mortality rate for birds, and (ii) lower or lost production, which therefore reduces
the profitability. Both production performance and feed conversion ratio are affected