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In recent years, important changes in natural ecosystems have been reported worldwide due to different human activities. One of the main results of these activities is the loss and fragmentation of habitats caused by changes in land use. In this context, the present research was conducted in the Caña Brava community belonging to the Santa Ana canton; it was proposed to analyze forest fragmentation during the period 2015-2021 applying a mixed approach; among the most important results we have that, for the year 2015 the forest had an extension of 267,21 ha distributed in 6 patches, while for the year 2021 the vegetation cover decreased to 163,46 ha, increasing the patches to 9; the area without vegetation cover between this period increased 28,21 ha, Likewise, the agricultural frontier was expanded by 75,74 ha, reducing the vegetation cover to 103,75 ha, so the degree of forest fragmentation for the year 2021 was 0,4, classifying it as Insularized. It is concluded that agriculture is the main cause of forest fragmentation, and if protection measures are not contemplated, the level of fragmentation will continue to increase, affecting ecosystem services in the area for present and future generations, even altering compliance with SDG 15 "Life and terrestrial ecosystems" and SDG 11 "Sustainable communities and cities". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ésta es la primera parte del Capítulo 2 del libro de Rudolph Rÿser, Guerras por la biodiversidad: coexistencia o colapso biocultural en el siglo XXI, que el autor estaba escribiendo antes de su fallecimiento. Este capítulo examina la dinámica de las relaciones internacionales y la biodiversidad, centrándose en cómo las relaciones entre las naciones indígenas y los estados modernos han definido la sostenibilidad de los ecosistemas y las culturas de todo el mundo. Rÿser explora las definiciones y distinciones entre el patrimonio cultural de las naciones y el ethos de los estados, destacando cómo estos dos marcos diferentes afectan las interacciones entre ellos y la lucha actual por la biodiversidad y la conservación cultural. Trazando un contraste entre los «estados corporativos» y las «Naciones del Cuarto Mundo», Rÿser argumenta que los primeros pueden actuar de forma excesivamente consumista y agresiva a pesar de la existencia de prácticas alternativas de kálhacultura, o métodos de sustento que equilibran las demandas de los mundos humano y natural. Este capítulo también introduce la «pausa temporal» provocada por la creación del sistema westfaliano y las rupturas globales en las que ha incurrido como resultado de la explotación de los recursos. Como resultado, es imperativo que los estados y las naciones reevalúen el sistema internacional, para abrir oportunidades políticas entre los diferentes actores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ardeola is the property of Sociedad Espanola de Ornitologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Boletín Latinoamericano y del Caribe de Plantas Medicinales y Aromáticas is the property of Universidad de Santiago de Chile and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Las bacterias del género Bacillus son conocidas por sus beneficios en el campo de la acuicultura, ya que algunas cepas producen enzimas, antibióticos y compuestos bioactivos que promueven el control biológico, y un ecosistema equilibrado. En este estudio, se aislaron y caracterizaron morfológicamente cepas de Bacillus a partir de sedimentos del manglar de Puerto Hualtaco. Se recolectaron tres muestras de sedimento y se cultivaron en agar cromogénico durante 24 a 48 horas. Se realizaron pruebas bioquímicas, análisis de crecimiento a diferentes niveles de pH y salinidad, y se caracterizaron las bacterias según su morfología micro y macroscópica. Los resultados mostraron una gran diversidad en la forma y color de las colonias, una alta versatilidad metabólica y resistencia de las cepas a diferentes ambientes, lo que sugiere un gran potencial biotecnológico. Este estudio enriquece el conocimiento sobre la biodiversidad microbiana en los manglares y subraya la importancia de las bacterias Bacillus en estos ecosistemas.

The house mouse (Mus musculus) is often thought of as a pest species in biological conservation, in agriculture, and in urban areas. As a result, populations are frequently targeted for control and eradication. However, M. musculus has notable within‐species biodiversity: it has genetically, morphologically, and behaviorally distinct subpopulations. Conserving biodiversity is usually considered the paramount goal of conservation biology, not least because biodiversity is claimed to have intrinsic value. But the biodiversity in mouse populations is often overlooked. In particular, conservationists do not call for the unique diversity represented by threatened mouse populations to be protected. This is illustrative of the inconsistent valuing of biodiversity in conservation. If biodiversity is intrinsically valuable, then it should be valued; however, it reveals itself. And yet, in examples presented here, unique populations of house mice with clear biodiversity value are threatened by eradication campaigns on islands and by changing agricultural practices on the Swiss–Italian border. The inconsistent valuing of biodiversity in the case of M. musculus raises important questions about whether the intrinsic value of biodiversity in conservation is, in practice, conditional on other implicit assumptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Widespread insect losses are a critical global problem. Mitigating this problem requires identifying the principal drivers across different taxa and determining which insects are covered by protected areas. However, doing so is hindered by missing information on most species owing to extremely high insect diversity and difficulties in morphological identification. To address this knowledge gap, we used one of the most comprehensive insect DNA metabarcoding data sets assembled (encompassing 31,846 flying insect species) in which data were collected from a network of 75 Malaise traps distributed across Germany. Collection sites encompass gradients of land cover, weather, and climate, along with differences in site protection status, which allowed us to gain broader insights into how insects respond to these factors. We examined changes in total insect biomass, species richness, temporal turnover, and shifts in the composition of taxa, key functional groups (pollinators, threatened species, and invasive species), and feeding traits. Lower insect biomass generally equated to lower richness of all insects and higher temporal turnover, suggesting that biomass loss translates to biodiversity loss and less stable communities. Spatial variability in insect biomass and composition was primarily driven by land cover, rather than weather or climate change. As vegetation and land‐cover heterogeneity increased, insect biomass increased by 50% in 2019 and 56% in 2020 and total species richness by 58% and 33%, respectively. Similarly, areas with low‐vegetation habitats exhibited the highest richness of key taxa, including pollinators and threatened species, and the widest variety of feeding traits. However, these habitats tended to be less protected despite their higher diversity. Our results highlight the value of heterogeneous low vegetation for promoting overall insect biomass and diversity and that better protection of insects requires improved protection and management of unforested areas, where many biodiversity hotspots and key taxa occur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Culture collections can be interpreted as infrastructures whose role is the preservation, classification and research of microorganisms. Reference collections are cited in scientific articles and are sources of materials and information in research, development activities and in the industrial sector. This paper begins by addressing its use as a reference in scientific articles and then analyzes the problematization of collection managers in terms of the implications of the technologies associated with yeast identification and the emergence of biodiversity and ecology as themes. The conceptual axis of the article is based on the conceptualizations of infrastructure from Social Studies of Science and Technology. The article has a qualitative approach and uses document analysis, in scientific articles and handbooks, as well as consultations with researchers as a technical guide. The findings have to do with the transversal nature of the problem of insufficient data regarding ecology and other dimensions as pointed out by scientists in charge of reference collections, the emergence of biodiversity as a notion associated with international policies and global problems, and the scientific and technical effects of new identification technologies in research modalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cemeteries are key urban green spaces with multifaceted societal and ecological importance. Their biodiversity is shaped by unique environmental and cultural factors. They can potentially protect rare and endangered species, yet their conservation value compared with other urban green spaces remains largely unexplored. We sought to fill this gap by systematically reviewing literature to investigate the conservation value of cemeteries relative to other urban green spaces (botanical gardens, institutional premises, natural remnants, and parks) by comparing species richness and proportions of native and unique species. We analyzed data from 70 papers covering 50 cities in 27 countries with linear and binomial mixed‐effects models at both site and city level. Cemetery conservation value was similar to urban parks, except for the proportion of unique species, for which parks had significantly higher proportions (21.9% vs. 14.2%, p < 0.001). Cemeteries hosted slightly higher proportions of native species at the city level than botanical gardens (99.7% vs. 99.6%, p < 0.001) and institutional green spaces (96.3% vs. 94.1%, p = 0.034) and proportions comparable to parks and natural remnants (p > 0.05). They also had similar or higher values than institutional premises in species richness and unique species proportions (p > 0.05) and a higher site‐level proportion of native species (p < 0.001). In contrast, species richness (slopes = −0.11 and −0.25, respectively) and unique species proportions (4.4% and 6.9%, respectively, p < 0.001 for both) were lower in cemeteries than in remnants of natural areas and in botanical gardens. The conservation value of cemeteries and parks was similar for animals, but parks had a higher value for plants. Overall, cemeteries were generally at least as valuable as some other green spaces for urban biodiversity and mostly native biota. Their religious and cultural significance suggests they will remain intact in the long term; thus, it is essential to prioritize and further promote their biodiversity in conservation and sustainable urban design plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study describes a new natural hybrid of Catasetum, C. x vilhenense, from the State of Rondônia (Brazil) found in ombrophilous forests near the Roosevelt River. The hybrid shows intermediate morphological features between its parental species, C. ariquemense and C. multifidum, with specific differences in floral morphology and inflorescence structure. We provide detailed data on its habitat, ecology, and geographic distribution, and a photographic plate of the hybrid. Given its restricted range, limited to a single locality with an area of occupancy (AOO) of less than 10 km2, C. x vilhenense may be Critically Endangered (CR) due to habitat loss and fragmentation. An identification key is also proposed for the species and natural hybrids of Catasetum with symmetrical and parallel antennae in the state of Rondônia, contributing to the understanding and classification of this genus in the Amazon forest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of SHILAP Revista de Lepidopterologia is the property of Sociedad Hispano-Luso-Americana de Lepidopterologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Acta Zoologica Lilloana is the property of Fundacion Miguel Lillo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Acta Zoologica Lilloana is the property of Fundacion Miguel Lillo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Acta Zoologica Lilloana is the property of Fundacion Miguel Lillo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Acta Zoologica Lilloana is the property of Fundacion Miguel Lillo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Acta Zoologica Lilloana is the property of Fundacion Miguel Lillo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Acta Zoologica Lilloana is the property of Fundacion Miguel Lillo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Acta Zoologica Lilloana is the property of Fundacion Miguel Lillo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Palermo Business Review is the property of Universidad de Palermo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of European Journal of Wildlife Research is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Lilloa is the property of Fundacion Miguel Lillo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

We describe two new caecilian species of the genus Caecilia (Gymnophiona: Caeciliidae) from the wet tropical Chocó Forest, north-western Ecuador. We applied an integrative taxonomic approach, taking into consideration external morphology, osteology from intensive ct-scanning, and molecular phylogenetic analyses. The two new species were compared to all other Caecilia species, known to occur west of the Ecuadorian and Colombian Andes. The new taxa can be distinguished by their external morphological characters, as well as by their osteology, genetic divergence, and phylogenetic relationships. The two new species, although morphologically quite different, were closely related. Caecilia tesoro sp. n. is a large-bodied, robust species with a unique colour pattern in larger individuals. In contrast, Caecilia truncata sp. n. is a smaller caeciliid and sister to medium-sized C. volcani, a species known from Panama. Morphologically, C. truncata sp. n. is best recognized by a very truncated snout shape. As know from many previously recognized neotropical caeciliids, both new species are likely endemic to small ranges, here the humid tropical lowland to mid-altitude forests of western Ecuador. Both new species seem to tolerate some degree of habitat degradation. Our new findings support to intensify research and conservation activities in one of South America's most diverse but severely endangered biomes. We also present, for the first time, some clues of the phylogenetic position of elongated C. nigricans and C. leucocephala. Caecilia nigricans was sister to a clade composed of one Oscaecilia and ten species of Caecilia. This topology rendered the genus Caecilia paraphyletic relative to Oscaecilia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of GeSec: Revista de Gestao e Secretariado is the property of Sindicato das Secretarias e Secretarios do Estado de Sao Paulo (SINSESP) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article analyzes the ruling of the Superior Court of Justice of Asturias on July 9, 2024, which dismisses the challenge to a resolution authorizing preliminary work for the extraction of wolf specimens in the Picos de Europa National Park. The environmental association argues that the resolution goes against the special protection of the wolf, while the Principality of Asturias defends its legality. The ruling highlights the compatibility of the measures taken with current regulations and their justification. [Extracted from the article]

The Environmental Education Strategy of the Community of Madrid has been approved with the aim of raising awareness among citizens about sustainability and the environment. This strategy seeks to promote environmental education in various areas, from schools to the community, with the goal of encouraging citizen participation in protecting the environment and adopting responsible behaviors towards the environment. [Extracted from the article]

The article analyzes the ruling of the Superior Court of Justice of the Valencian Community on July 31, 2024, which dismissed the challenge to an agreement that modified the Catalog of wetlands in the region. The challenge was made by a company in the construction and golf sector, which argued the expiration of the agreement, the lack of reports, and the arbitrariness in the inclusion of a zone in the Catalog. The Court rejected the company's arguments and confirmed the legality of the agreement. [Extracted from the article]

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Forest fires have emerged as an environmental problem of growing relevance on a global scale, with projections indicating an exacerbation in their frequency and intensity due to climate change. The incidence of these pyrogenic events is predominantly concentrated during dry periods, when environmental conditions favor a reduction in the ignition point of plant material, increasing its susceptibility to combustion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reconciling conservation goals with sustainable resource use requires adaptive management strategies. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) regulates global trade for species listed on Appendix II, partly by requiring member countries (parties) to ensure exports do not damage wild populations (called making positive "nondetriment findings" [NDFs]). Unfortunately, when parties find NDFs difficult, they often suspend legal trade, imposing economic costs and driving trade underground. To make it easier for parties to examine the detrimental nature of exports, we devised a spatial approach and applied it to seahorses (Hippocampus spp.) in Tamil Nadu, India, as an example. Our approach involves mapping answers to 5 key questions on species distribution (QA), pressures (QB), management measures (QC), management implementation (QD), and species' population status (QE). We gathered data from fisher interviews and published literature. Seahorse abundance was greatest in southern Palk Bay and the northern Gulf of Mannar, primarily in seagrasses and coral reefs (QA). Fishing pressure was highest in Palk Bay, primarily from bottom trawlers and dragnetters operating in shallow seahorse habitats near the coastline (QB). Management measures including a marine protected area (MPA), bottom trawl exclusion zone, and closed season were theoretically in place (QC), but their implementation was poor (QD). Fishers reported seahorse catches in 85% of the area covered by the MPA and the exclusion zone; bottom trawlers were responsible for most violations. Seahorses were also captured in Sri Lankan waters, where bottom trawling is banned. Fisher reports indicated declining seahorse catches and reduced body sizes (QE), highlighting unsustainable exploitation. Our results highlight the need for better implementation of existing management measures before a positive NDF can be made and suggest mitigation beyond bans. Such pragmatic spatial analyses can help regulate exports at sustainable levels, supporting CITES implementation for its vast range of species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban areas have experienced rapid growth, these spaces are important, offering climate regulation and improving air quality, for this reason the study aims to identify the ecological composition of the urban trees in the green areas of Quinindé, Esmeraldas, Ecuador. The study was carried out through an inventory of dendrometric variables taking the (DAP) at 1.30 m from the urban trees in representative places such as: parks, avenues, streets, flowerbeds and green spaces, describing the composition at a floristic and structural level. In the results, 24 forest species were identified, of which 12 are fruit trees, six arboreal and six palms, botanically distributed in 14 families. Of which 6 native species and 18 introduced, Arecaceae being the most representative family. A greater presence in class IV was diagnosed in the horizontal structure and in the vertical structure in class II. In the Ecological Importance Value Index, Adonidia merrillii becc was the most representative with 37.11% from the ecological point of view, while the Shannon - Wiener index has a diversity of 3.14, the Simpson index with 0 .82 representing high diversity, the Margalef index obtained a value of 3.42 indicating high richness and the Pielou index is 0.68 determining moderate equity. Finally, it is concluded that the urban tree identification of the Quinindé canton has a good biodiversity of forest families and species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article analyzes the ruling of the Superior Court of Justice of Logroño on June 25, 2024, which dismisses an appeal against the approval of a Technical Hunting Plan in La Rioja. The dispute focuses on the exclusion of pigeon hunting spots in the plan, arguing that they represent an exception to regional regulations. The court determines that the exclusion is legal and that the spots are provisional according to the Hunting Regulations. [Extracted from the article]

Copyright of Revista Foco (Interdisciplinary Studies Journal) is the property of Revista Foco and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

La Universidad de los Andes lidera iniciativas sostenibles como el jardín centrado en la naturaleza del edificio Caja de Música. Este proyecto interdisciplinario integra biología, ecología y jardinería regenerativa para restaurar ecosistemas urbanos y promover la biodiversidad. Se priorizan especies nativas, endémicas y naturalizadas, creando microhábitats funcionales para aves, insectos y otros organismos locales. Además, actúa como laboratorio vivo, fomentando la investigación y espacios para la educación ambiental. Diseñado colaborativamente por estudiantes, profesores y personal, este jardín simboliza el compromiso institucional con la sostenibilidad, la conservación de la biodiversidad y la conexión armónica entre la comunidad y su entorno natural.

La biodiversidad es esencial para la vida humana y su deterioro acelerado ha aumentado su importancia en los ámbitos científico y educativo. Desde una perspectiva pedagógica, reconocemos las estrategias didácticas como una importante herramienta para abordar la crisis socioambiental actual. Este artículo recopila y analiza investigaciones de Latinoamérica (2004-2020) sobre estrategias de enseñanza de la biodiversidad, enfocándose en prácticas científicas y educación en contextos no formales. Los resultados se presentan a través de tendencias que muestran particularidades compartidas por estudios de la región y una discusión de las mismas a través de puntos críticos, sus implicancias en la educación y en la actual crisis socioambiental. Finalmente, aportamos algunas consideraciones sobre prácticas de enseñanza e investigación educativa sobre la diversidad biológica.

En este momento se realiza en nuestro país la 16ava Conferencia de las Partes del Convenio sobre la Diversidad Biológica (COP-16), un espacio internacional para discutir problemas urgentes de la humanidad sobre el entendimiento del papel de la biodiversidad, los servicios ecosistémicos y el uso de los recursos genéticos para sostener todas las formas de vida en el planeta1. Entre los compromisos para este im-portante evento, se menciona que Colombia debe “presentar sus avances en materia de biodiversidad e instar, a los demás países que hacen parte de la Convención a cumplir con las 23 metas del acuerdo mundial Kunming-Montreal”2. Dentro de estas metas, desde el ámbito de la salud y en el marco de la visión de la OMS de una sola salud, quisiera destacar las siguientes, las cuales considero vitales para preservar la salud humana global.

En Colombia, los estudios de calidad del agua se han basado en su gran mayoría en información fisicoquímica o bacteriológica, y solamente en las últimas décadas se ha comenzado a integrar e implementar la bioindicación. El propósito del estudio fue caracterizar la calidad del agua del río Frío, usando macroinvertebrados bentónicos como indicadores biológicos, junto con parámetros fisicoquímicos. Con esta integración entre los índices bióticos y fisicoquímicos se determinó la calidad del agua de forma más precisa, debido a que se generó un acercamiento más detallado al estado del río Frío. Una vez muestreados e identificados los macroinvertebrados, se calcularon los índices de calidad BMWP/Col, ASTP, IBF, EPT, y los índices de biodiversidad Shannon-Weaver, riqueza específica, diversidad de Margalef y Menhinick. El número total de individuos resultado del estudio en la cuenca correspondió a 687, representados por 12 órdenes, 24 familias y 25 géneros. Adicionalmente, se llevaron a cabo un análisis de varianza y un análisis multivariante, a través de una correlación canónica. Finalmente, se determinó que la calidad del agua del río Frío es moderadamente contaminada; además, presenta una baja biodiversidad en las especies de macroinvertebrados, y se encontró que el resultado de los índices son independientes de las temporadas climáticas.

Plans for expanding protected area systems (prioritizations) need to fulfill conservation objectives. They also need to account for other factors, such as economic feasibility and anthropogenic land‐use requirements. Although prioritizations are often generated with decision support tools, most tools have limitations that hinder their use for decision‐making. We outlined how the prioritizr R package (https://prioritizr.net) can be used for systematic conservation prioritization. This decision support tool provides a flexible interface to build conservation planning problems. It can leverage a variety of commercial (e.g., Gurobi) and open‐source (e.g., CBC and SYMPHONY) exact algorithm solvers to identify optimal solutions in a short period. It is also compatible with a variety of spatially explicit (e.g., ESRI Shapefile, GeoTIFF) and nonspatial tabular (e.g., Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet) data formats. Additionally, it provides functionality for evaluating prioritizations, such as assessing the relative importance of different places selected by a prioritization. To showcase the prioritizr R package, we applied it to a case study based in Washington state (United States) for which we developed a prioritization to improve protected area coverage of native avifauna. We accounted for land acquisition costs, existing protected areas, places that might not be suitable for protected area establishment, and spatial fragmentation. We also conducted a benchmark analysis to examine the performance of different solvers. The prioritization identified 12,400 km2 of priority areas for increasing the percentage of species’ distributions covered by protected areas. Although open source and commercial solvers were able to quickly solve large‐scale conservation planning problems, commercial solvers were required for complex, large‐scale problems.. The prioritizr R package is available on the Comprehensive R Archive Network (CRAN). In addition to reserve selection, it can inform habitat restoration, connectivity enhancement, and ecosystem service provisioning. It has been used in numerous conservation planning exercises to inform best practices and aid real‐world decision‐making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: In this work, the ferns and lycophytes of the Paisaje Protegido Cerro Mbororé, Oberá, Misiones, Argentina are studied. The phytogeographic importance of the area is discussed, since it is located in the transition between the District of the Mixed Forests and the District of the Fields, in the Amazonian Domain from the country. M&M: The collected materials were deposited in the LP, BA, and SLP herbaria. For the identification of species, the Flora Argentina and local floras were used. The photographs taken in the field were uploaded to the iNarulatist platform. The herbarium specimens studied are mentioned in this section. Results: The study area has 32 species of ferns (nine families) and one species of lycophytes. The most diverse family is Pteridaceae, with six genera and 13 species, followed by Polypodiaceae, with three genera and four species. Four well-defined environments with particular associations of species are identified: the top of the hill, the high-altitude lagoon, the north slope and the south slope. Conclusions: The environmental heterogeneity, product of the steep relief, and the transitional position of the area, generate a complex community of ferns and lycophytes with an important environmental value, which must be protected from the danger of the advance of the agricultural frontier and forestry exploitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: The Tandilia system is a fundamental refuge for a highly diverse biota throughout the wide climatic variability of the mid-late Cenozoic that affected the Pampean steppe, especially for fern and lycophyte flora. The geology and proximity to the sea in the southeast of the Tandilia system raise questions about the composition and biogeographical affinities of the fern and lycophyte flora. Furthermore, given the anthropogenic landscape transformation, it is necessary to inventory the status of the frequency and microenvironments in which these species develop. Thus, we present an inventory and frequency of ferns and lycophytes of the southeast of Tandilia associated with different microenvironments and biogeographical affinity and develop a dichotomous key for the area. M&M: We collected fern and lycophyte between 2006 and 2024 in Balcarce and General Pueyrredon hill ranges and they were compared with those fern and lycophyte flora from Ventania and Tandilia. Results: This study shows that 51% of the ferns and licophytes reported at Tandilia rangeland System develope in the southeastern of Tandilia. An increase of Austro-Brazilian elements and decrease of Austral-Antarctic elements were observed, linked to latitudinal and biogeographical aspects. Adaptive traits related to a water availability gradient and different microenvironments were established. Eight species were cataloged as rare due to their low frequency. Conclusions: The results highlight the need to plan conservation areas for the fern and lycophyte flora of the Tandilia mountain system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the rediscovery, a century after its last record, of two specimens of Pristimantis ruidus from approximately 6 km northeast of its type locality, in a montane forest from the western Andes of southern Ecuador. This species, described by John D. Lynch in 1979, based on specimens collected in 1922 by George H. Tate, was previously known only from the type series, all specimens originating from a single locality (Molleturo, Provincia Azuay, Ecuador, 2317 m elev.). The rediscovery occurred in November 2022 in the Reserva de Conservación Quitahuaycu, Molleturo Parish, Azuay Province. The two specimens, both females, are characterised by rough skin with numerous rounded low warts and tubercles on their dorsum, a W-shaped occipital fold, tympanum and tympanic ring not externally visible and by the lack of cranial crests, characters that correspond with the description of the holotype. We evaluate the phylogenetic relationships, based on two mitochondrial genes (12S and 16S rRNA) and one nuclear gene (RAG-1). These analyses reveal Pristimantis ruidus as a member of the subgenus Huicundomantis, being most closely related to P. philipi, a species with a distribution restricted to the paramo of the same mountain region (Macizo del Cajas). Pristimantis ruidus co-exists with Pristimantis jimenezi, three additional species of Pristimantis and one Noblella with uncertain taxonomic status. This rediscovery underscores the urgency of implementing effective conservation and monitoring measures for the few remnants of the original ecosystems from western Ecuador, which face ongoing anthropogenic threats and harbour a diversity that remains insufficiently studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article "Diagnosis and proposal for the revitalization of the urban image of Parque de la Parroquia Veracruz, Pastaza" focuses on proposing the redesign of Parque Veracruz in Puyo, Pastaza, through a thorough diagnosis and the implementation of gray, green, and blue infrastructures. The plant components and physical infrastructure of the park were evaluated, identifying deficiencies in drainage systems and water quality. The redesign was proposed with new plant species to improve aesthetics and reinforce cultural identity, promoting a more attractive, sustainable, and ecologically diverse urban environment. [Extracted from the article]

Eastern New Mexico, part of the Great Plains in the USA, has often been neglected for its studies of butterfly diversity because of its arid climate and flat landscape. This study was conducted to assess the current species richness and abundance of butterflies in two sub-ecoregions of the Great Plains in central eastern NM, including the Semiarid Canadian Breaks and the Llano Estacado. The survey was conducted at selected focal sites in each sub-ecoregion from January to November 2023. A modified Pollard walk technique was employed to collect cumulative monthly data on the diversity of adult butterflies. A total of 856 individuals belonging to 46 species were counted for the Semiarid Canadian breaks, while a total of 812 individuals belonging to 65 species were counted for the Llano Estacado sub-ecoregion. The Shannon diversity index, Shannon equitability index, and relative abundance were calculated for each sub-ecoregion and a local abundance index was designed to rank the density of butterflies. Checklists of butterflies were prepared, along with information related to their residential status, phenology, and local abundance. Six new locality distributions were recorded from Llano Estacado, including Cupido amyntula (Boisduval, 1852), Gesta tristis tatius (W. H. Edwards, 1883), Polites carus (W. H. Edwards, 1883), Celastrina sp., Ministrymon leda (W. H. Edwards, 1882), and Polygonia satyrus satyrus (W. H. Edwards, 1869). The extensions of their ranges are discussed. A comparison of the diversity of butterflies between the two sub-ecoregions revealed a significant difference in the species abundances. Additionally, a significant difference was found among different families and their species abundances and among the different months and their species abundances in both sub-ecoregions. A total of 206 voucher specimens were collected during this study and were deposited at the Natural History Museum of Eastern New Mexico University, Portales. Overall, this study has helped to quantify the diversity of butterflies for 2023 in central eastern New Mexico. The baseline data generated from this study can be subjected to various ecological analyses for additional diversity analysis, and this research can also be replicated over years to observe the changes in diversity with changing environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]