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River systems provide multiple ecosystem services to society globally, but these are already degraded or threatened in many areas of the world due to water quality issues linked to diffuse and point-source pollutant inputs. Water quality evaluation is essential to develop remediation and management strategies. Computational tools such as machine learning based predictive models have been developed to improve monitoring network capabilities. The model's performance is reduced when datasets composed of reductant information are used for training, on the other hand, the selection of most representative and variable water quality scenarios could result in higher precision. This study analyzed historical water quality behavior in the Santiago River, Mexico, to identify the most variable and representative data available to train machine learning models (Adaptive Neuro Fuzzy Inference System – ANFIS, Artificial Neural Network – ANN, and Support Vector Machine - SVM). Thirteen monitoring sites were clustered according to their water quality variability from 2009 to 2022. Subsequently, a Time Series Analysis (TSA) was used to select the most representative monitoring station from each cluster. Data for 6/13 monitoring sites were retained for the Best Training Subset (BTS) used to train restricted models that performed with similar (ANN and SMV) or higher (ANFIS) prediction accuracy (in terms of RMSE, MAE, MSE and R2) for both training and testing. This study provides evidence of water quality data containing redundant information that is not useful to improve machine learning model performance, in turn leading to overtraining. Combined analytical approaches can maximize the representativeness and variability of data selected for machine learning applications, leading to improved prediction. [Display omitted] • Selection of the most variable scenarios for training can improve predictive models' precision. • The most representative water quality scenarios were efficiently selected by CA and TSA. • Training with a reduced dataset performed a better prediction than using a complete dataset. • Using larger dataset for training does not necessarily result in enhanced model performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the most abundant pollinator insect in crops, Apis mellifera is a sentinel species of the pollinator communities. In these ecosystems, honey bees of different ages and developmental stages are exposed to diverse agrochemicals. However, most toxicological studies analyse the immediate effects during exposure. Late effects during adulthood after early exposure to pollutants during larval development are poorly studied in bees. The herbicide glyphosate (GLY) is the most applied pesticide worldwide. GLY has been detected in honey and beebread from hives near treated crops. Alterations in growth, morphogenesis or organogenesis during pre-imaginal development could induce late adverse effects after the emergence. Previous studies have demonstrated that GLY alters honey bee development, immediately affecting survival, growth and metabolism, followed by late teratogenic effects. The present study aims to determine the late impact on the behaviour and physiology of adult bees after pre-imaginal exposure to GLY. For that, we reared brood in vitro or in the hive with sub-chronic exposure to the herbicide with the average detected concentration in hives. Then, all newly emerged bees were reared in an incubator until maturity and tested when they became nurse-aged bees. Three behavioural responses were assessed as markers of cognitive and physiological impairment. Our results show i) decreased sensitivity to sucrose regardless of the rearing procedure, ii) increased choice latency and locomotor alterations during chemotaxis and iii) impaired associative learning. These late toxicity signs could indicate adverse effects on task performance and colony efficiency. [Display omitted] • During larval development, honey bees were exposed to GLY in vitro or in the hive. • Pre-imaginal exposure to average hive concentration of GLY induces late effects. • Early exposure to GLY decreased sensitivity to sucrose in nurse-aged adult bees. • GLY increased choice latency during chemotaxis to an intra-specific signal. • GLY impaired associative learning in nurse-aged adult bees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Complications did not increase when substituting obstetricians by midwives in the care of low-risk postpartum women. • Education by midwives reinforces healthy behaviours during the puerperal period. • Key qualities of midwives are their qualification and capacity to provide care. • Midwives appear to be the most appropriate professional for the follow up of non-complicated postpartum. • Our findings open a new research line for the development of similar studies in other Spanish hospitals. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in the frequency of visits to the hospital emergency department due to puerperal complications in low risk postpartum women attended by midwives instead of obstetricians. A quasi-experimental retrospective study with non-random allocation, comprising two groups: a control group of women attended by obstetricians and an intervention group of women attended by midwives. A level 2 hospital in Madrid (España). Low risk postpartum women attended at the maternity unit of the Fuenlabrada University Hospital between 2013 and 2015. We gathered variables to record the homogeneity of the groups and to assess for confounders and interactions. In the case of women with different behaviours and/or who generated confounders or interactions, a multivariate adjustment with logistic regression was performed. The Homer & Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test for logistic regression was used to determine the validity of the model. The intervention group comprised a total of 1308 women, whereas there were 1313 women in the control group. In the first 40-days postpartum, 33 women in the intervention group (2.5%) attended the hospital emergency department compared to 41 in the control group (3.1%). This difference was not statistically significant (p value 0.354). The relative risk of this decrease was 0.808 (95% CI 0.514; 1.270). The NNT was 167. Care by midwives of low risk postpartum women did not lead to a worsening of puerperal complications requiring emergency department care. Furthermore, care by midwives was more effective than obstetrician care with lower emergency department attendance rates. Their qualification and capacity to provide health education were determinant factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The honey bee Apis mellifera is a sentinel species of the pollinator community which is exposed to a wide variety of pesticides. In the last half-century, the pesticide most applied worldwide has been the herbicide glyphosate (GLY) used for weed control and with microbiocide effects. After its application in crops, the GLY residues have been detected in flowers visited by honey bees as well as in the stored food of their hives. Therefore, the honey bee brood can ingest the herbicide during larval development. Recent studies proved that GLY has detrimental effects on adult honey bees and other insects associated with the disturbance of their gut microbiota. GLY induces changes in the growth, metabolism and survival of honey bees and stingless bees reared in vitro. However, the effect of GLY on larval microbiota is unknown so far and there are few studies with an in-hive exposure to GLY. For these reasons, this study aims to determine whether GLY induces dysbiosis in honey bee larvae and affects their metamorphosis during the exposure period (pre-defecation) and the post-exposure period. Furthermore, we assessed this herbicide in vitro and in the hive to compare its effects on different rearing procedures. Finally, we tested the pigment BLUE1 as an indirect exposure marker to detect and estimate the in-hive intake concentration of GLY. Our results indicate that the intake of field-relevant concentrations of GLY induced a slowdown in growth with dysbiosis in the larval gut microbiota followed by late effects on their metamorphosis such as teratogenesis and mortality of newly emerged bees. Nevertheless, brood from the same colonies expressed different signs of toxicity depending on the rearing procedure and in a dose-dependent manner. [Display omitted] • Microbiota of honey bee larvae is disrupted by average hive concentration of GLY. • This concentration also reduced survival and growth of larvae within the hives. • Late effects of GLY, such as teratogenesis, were observed during metamorphosis. • Toxicity signs are expressed differently depending on the rearing procedure. • The pigment BLUE1 proved to be a harmless marker of exposure for honey bees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An estimated 933 million people worldwide face water scarcity in urban environments with marginalized low-income populations. Rainwater harvesting has been proposed as an adaptable mitigation strategy to reduce water scarcity in those environments. As a case study, the present work proposes the implementation of a rainwater harvesting program aimed at the mitigation of water scarcity in highly vulnerable areas within the Metropolitan Area of Guadalajara, Mexico. The program was developed and structured based on an innovative strategy with replicable multicriteria characterization and prioritization, to allocate the rainwater harvesting systems in areas with a high sensitivity to water scarcity. The areas were selected based on territorial, hydrologic, and social parameters. The prioritization methodology was successfully applied for the selection of clusters for the allocation of domestic rainwater harvesting systems. A total of 4550 rainwater harvesting units were implemented leading to an estimated total yearly capture of 163,444.88 m3. Based on surveys, a reduction of 44% in the time spent water-gathering as well as a 14.2% reduction in waterborne diseases was observed in the participant households after 6 months of the systems' implementation. The developed prioritization methodology offers an alternative for science-based resource allocations aimed at the resolution of specific complex challenges. This methodological approach could be adapted and replicated for other spatial-based decision-making and public policy applications. The implemented program offered an alternative for water scarcity mitigation in an urban environment and its application showed potential to improve the quality of life of the population, who benefited by increasing water access and availability. [Display omitted] • Water scarcity in urbanized environments is dependent on the economic and geographical context. • The proposed prioritization strategy allows for replicable science-based resource allocation for policy formulation. • The implementation of rainwater harvesting systems increased clean water availability in participating households. • Rainwater harvesting systems offer an alternative mitigation for water scarcity in marginalized urban environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Increasing land-use intensity erodes woody taxonomic and functional diversities and, ultimately, carbon storage. • Disturbance by logging and/or livestock grazing reduced carbon stored in shrubs, trees, roots, litter, and dead plants. • Woody species richness and trait diversity seem more important than trait dominance in determining carbon stocks. Forest ecosystems play a key role in providing multiple ecosystem services, such as carbon fixation and storage, but face pressures from human development that jeopardize their integrity and functioning. Accurately understanding the relationships between land use-intensity, biodiversity, and carbon storage is important for developing viable strategies to promote carbon sequestration. Here, we analyzed the effect of land-use intensity on the relationship between woody plant functional diversity and carbon storage in Prosopis woodlands of the central Monte desert of Argentina. We worked in sixteen 900 m2 square plots along disturbance gradients, eight located in highly disturbed woodlands close to livestock settlements and eight in slightly disturbed woodlands ca. 2 km away from settlements. We measured woody plant taxonomic and functional diversity and dominance metrics, and estimated carbon stocks in biomass, necromass and soil organic compartments. Our study shows that increasing land-use intensity erodes taxonomic and functional diversities and, ultimately, carbon storage. We found that lower carbon stocks around livestock settlements were driven by shrubs, trees, roots, litter, and dead plants, but were unaffected by the herb, woody debris, and soil compartments. Furthermore, positive relationships among woody species richness and functional trait diversity seem more important than the existence of few highly dominant species in determining carbon storage, providing stronger evidence for niche complementary than for mass ratio effects. We hope our study contributes to the understanding how livestock management practices influence carbon storage in Prosopis woodlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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• We assessed the potential distribution of two non-native rose species. • We used species distribution models and perform dynamic simulations. • We modeled the invasion dynamics based on habitat suitability. • We identified areas with high invasion risk. • Spatio-temporal dynamics indicated where the roses are most likely to invade. Biological invasions are a main threat to biodiversity and natural resources, which calls for studies that identify the regions that present the greatest invasion risks. We assessed the potential distribution of two non-native rose species, Rosa canina and Rosa rubiginosa , in mountain environments in mid-western Argentina, using species distribution models and dynamic simulations. We first fitted the model for one protected area, Villavicencio Nature Reserve, and then we made predictions on the distribution of these species for other protected areas in the same region, where the presence of these species was observed but where there are no systematic surveys on their distribution. We also modeled the invasion dynamics of these species based on habitat suitability, considering the dispersal distance and the growth rate of the invaded area. High and very high suitability sites were detected in all the protected areas studied, suggesting high invasion risk in these protected areas. Our simulations of the spatio–temporal dynamics of the rose invasion in Villavicencio indicated that the spread depends strongly on the average seed dispersal distance, that the spread has been gradual since the rose introduction into the protected area, and that 150 years after the introduction even the areas identified as having low suitability are expected to have been invaded. This is the first study of this type for the region, where these invasive rose species are a serious problem. Taken together, our results may be useful to identify areas vulnerable to invasion and thus help generate effective preventive, monitoring, and control practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The honey bee Apis mellifera is the most abundant managed pollinator in diverse crops worldwide. Consequently, it is exposed to a plethora of environmental stressors, among which are the agrochemicals. In agroecosystems, the herbicide glyphosate (GLY) is one of the most applied. In laboratory assessments, GLY affects the honey bee larval development by delaying its moulting, among other negative effects. However, it is still unknown how GLY affects larval physiology when there are no observable signs of toxicity. We carried out a longitudinal experimental design using the in vitro rearing procedure. Larvae were fed with food containing or not a sub-lethal dose of GLY in chronic exposure (120 h). Individuals without observable signs of toxicity were sampled and their gene expression profile was analyzed with a transcriptomic approach to compare between treatments. Even though 29% of larvae were asymptomatic in the exposed group, they showed transcriptional changes in several genes after the GLY chronic intake. A total of 19 transcripts were found to be differentially expressed in the RNA-Seq experiment, mainly linked with defensive response and intermediary metabolism processes. Furthermore, the enriched functional categories in the transcriptome of the exposed asymptomatic larvae were linked with enzymes with catalytic and redox activity. Our results suggest an enhanced catabolism and oxidative metabolism in honey bee larvae as a consequence of the sub-lethal exposure to GLY, even in the absence of observable symptoms. Image 1 • Honey bee larvae were chronically fed in vitro with food containing glyphosate. • At the end of the cohort study, larvae without signs of toxicity were sampled. • Exposed asymptomatic larvae showed differentially expressed genes in RNA-Seq. • Enriched functional categories suggested high catalytic and oxidative metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our success in predicting general community-level interaction patterns contrasts with our limitations to predict pairwise plant–pollinator interactions. Limitations to predict pairwise interactions come from multiple gaps in our understanding of plant–pollinator interactions, model implementations, and data. Different phenomenological and mechanistic modeling approaches attempt to predict plant–pollinator pairwise interactions, although we still lack an equitable comparison between these different approaches to accurately determine differences in their predictive ability. Model predictive ability could be improved by accounting for heterogeneous detection probabilities of interactions resulting from sampling effects, estimating interaction predictors with greater accuracy and building models with more plausible assumptions. Plant–pollinator interactions are ecologically and economically important, and, as a result, their prediction is a crucial theoretical and applied goal for ecologists. Although various analytical methods are available, we still have a limited ability to predict plant–pollinator interactions. The predictive ability of different plant–pollinator interaction models depends on the specific definitions used to conceptualize and quantify species attributes (e.g., morphological traits), sampling effects (e.g., detection probabilities), and data resolution and availability. Progress in the study of plant–pollinator interactions requires conceptual and methodological advances concerning the mechanisms and species attributes governing interactions as well as improved modeling approaches to predict interactions. Current methods to predict plant–pollinator interactions present ample opportunities for improvement and spark new horizons for basic and applied research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural land management modifies ecosystem structure and functioning in natural landscapes. Pollinators are a key functional group that may suffer from such intensification. Here we evaluate how agricultural land management influences the diversity of pollen transported by pollinators and the pollination niche overlap among plants. We described pollen transport networks (which allow assessing the contribution of pollinators to the flow of pollen among plants) in agricultural and restored fragments in three sites representative of the pampas region of Argentina. We analyzed diversity of pollen transported by pollinators and the pollination niche overlap among plants in both types of fragments with general and generalized linear mixed models. The agricultural fragments were associated to increased diversity of transported pollen and pollination niche overlap among plants. Greater pollination niche overlap in agricultural fragments was associated with increased abundance of exotic plants. Our results indicate that agricultural intensification has significantly increased the diversity of pollen and the pollination niche overlap in natural communities by promoting exotic plants and generalized plant-pollinator interactions. Strategies to encourage improvements in the quality of pollination in agroecosystems could range from controlling the levels of exotic species to mechanisms that promote increased diversity of native plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insects are involved in the biogeochemical cycles of multiple elements and influence soil fertility. In particular, soil insects and the functions that they support can affect the response of terrestrial ecosystems to environmental changes. We experimentally studied the role of dung beetles as recyclers of cow dung in drylands of the Central Monte in mid-western Argentina; and we extrapolated these results to ecosystem impact in a grazing field, considering the dung beetle's abundance in summer. We conducted experiments with four species of dung beetles (Sulcophanaeus imperator , Eucranium arachnoides , Digitonthophagus gazella and Malagoniella puncticollis), and quantified their abundance on the field. Dung beetles incorporated nitrogen, ammonium, and phosphorous to the soil, but this activity varied substantially among species. The highest quantity of organic matter, nitrogen and phosphate was incorporated to the soil by S. imperator , one of the larger beetle studied. While the per capita effect of S. imperator is superior to other species studied, the impact on the ecosystem of the invasive D. gazella might be superior due to their major abundance in grazing fields. Our results highlight the importance of considering both components, per capita effect and abundance, to estimate with more reliability the relative importance of dung beetle species. Given that the effect of dung beetles on nutrient cycling is variable among species, and their abundance is variable in space, it is important to conserve beetle diversity in order to maximize their beneficial impacts on soils. Therefore, dung beetle effect on soil might be crucial in drylands to mitigate the nitrogen losses caused by grazing. • Dung beetles incorporated nitrogen, ammonium and phosphorous to the soil. • Nutrient incorporation to the soil varied substantially among study species. • Ecosystem impact of different dung beetle species varies according to per capita effect and abundance. • Dung beetles play an important ecological role in drylands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]