Abundance and distribution trends of the West Indian manatee in the coastal zone of Belize: implications for conservation.

The coastal zone of Belize is home to the largest recorded number of the threatened Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus) within the species' Caribbean range. The objectives of my study were: (1) to determine long-term trends in aerial survey counts and indices of the manatee population in the coastal zone of Belize; and (2) to examine the seasonal change in manatee distribution among habitats in the coastal zone. Standardized extended-area aerial surveys were conducted along the entire coastline of Belize in the dry and wet seasons of 1997, and 1999 - 2002. Manatees were counted in five habitat categories: cay, coast, estuary, lagoon, and river. Total sightings per survey ranged from 90 to 338; the greatest number was counted in the 2002 wet season. Calf percentage ranged from 5 to 13. A slight negative trend in total counts was significant for dry-season, not wet-season surveys, indicating an interactive effect of season and year. Based on analysis of variance, the Abundance Index (transformed manatee sightings per hour) did not differ significantly among years, although it varied significantly within year by season and habitat by season. In applying a spatial approach, the general survey route was buffered 1 km on both sides, and 1 km grids were overlaid and classified by habitat type. The presence or absence of each cell for each survey was used in likelihood ratio tests of the single and interactive effect of season and habitat. The Index for river habitat was higher in the dry season, while cay habitat was higher in the wet season. Overall, near-shore habitat (estuary, lagoon, and river) showed a higher Index than did the offshore habitat (cay and coast) although the total number of sightings was higher offshore. Considering the interactive effect of year, season, and habitat, long-term studies are needed, in both seasons, and among all habitats to account for variation. Continued broad-scale surveys, along with metapopulation analysis would fine-tune the understanding of specific sites, enhancing integrated coastal zone management for protected species and their habitat systems

Aerobic stability of whole plant corn silage inoculated with a bacterial inoculant in three maturity stages

Maturity stage (MS) at harvesting is the most important factor that determines the nutritive value and productivity of corn silage. Once opened, the silage for supplyis exposed to oxygen deterioration due to aerobic microbial activity, which could negatively influence the quantity and quality of silage. There are bacterial inoculants containing microorganisms which improve the process of fermentation and the aerobic stability of silage. The aim was to evaluate the effect on aerobic stability produced by a bacterial inoculant in whole plant corn silage at different maturity stages (MS). The experimental design was factorial (n=3). The factors were: inoculated and state of maturity; the first with two levels: control and inoculated and the second with three levels: 25, 35 and 45% MS. The data were analyzed by ANOVA and the comparison of means by the Tukey test (p˂0.05). Maize crop was harvested: 25, 35 and 45% dry matter (DM). Chopped material was ensiled in 20 L buckets (six silos/MS), three of them were Inoculated (I) and three were not Control. The interactions between I*MS were not significant (P>0.05) for all variables. To the evaluated variables, there was no difference (P>0.05) among Inoculated vs. Control treatments. There was a difference (P<0.05) between MS, where 25% DM had higher water-soluble carbohydrates and acetic acid, which allowed greater aerobic stability than with 35 and 45% DM. DM losses with 45% DM treatment had the highest (P<0.05) loss compared to 25 and 35% DM. Results suggested there was no effect of bacterial inoculation but there were effect maturity stages on the aerobic stability of silage. As the harvest is delayed the silage has lower aerobic stability.La etapa de madurez (EM) en la cosecha es el factor más importante que determina el valor nutritivo y la productividad del ensilaje de maíz. Una vez abierto el silo para el suministro, se expone al deterioro del oxígeno debido a la actividad aeróbica microbiana, que podría influir negativamente en la cantidad y calidad del ensilaje. Existen inoculantes bacterianos que contienen microorganismos que mejoran el proceso de fermentación y la estabilidad aeróbica del ensilaje. El objetivo fue evaluar el efecto sobre la estabilidad aeróbica de un inoculante bacteriano en ensilaje de maíz de plantas enteras en diferentes etapas de madurez. El diseño experimental fue un diseño factorial (n=3). Los factores fueron: inoculado y estado de madurez; el primero con dos niveles: control e inoculado y el segundo con tres niveles: 25, 35 y 45% MS. Los datos se analizaron mediante ANVA y la comparación de medias por la prueba de Tukey (p˂0.05). La cosecha de maíz fue con: 25, 35 y 45% de materia seca (MS). El material picado se ensiló en cubos de 20 l (seis silos/EM), tres de ellos fueron Inoculados (I) y tres fueron Control. Las interacciones entre I*EM no fueron significativas (P>0.05) para todas las variables. Para las variables evaluadas, no hubo diferencia (P>0.05) entre los tratamientos Inoculado vs. Control. Hubo diferencias (P<0.05) entre la EM, donde el ensilaje con 25% MS tenía más carbohidratos solubles en agua y ácido acético, lo que permitió una mayor estabilidad aeróbica que con un 35 y un 45% MS. La pérdida en el ensilaje con 45% MS fue más alta (P<0.05) en comparación con 25 y 35% MS. Los resultados sugirieron que no hubo efecto de la inoculación, pero sí la etapa de madurez afectó la estabilidad aeróbica del ensilaje. A medida que se retrasa la cosecha, el ensilaje tiene menor estabilidad aeróbica.EEA PergaminoFil: Camarasa, Jonatan Nicolás. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Pergamino; ArgentinaFil: Camarasa, Jonatan Nicolás. Universidad Nacional del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Escuela de Ciencias Agrarias, Naturales y Ambientales; ArgentinaFil: Auil, M. Actividad privada; ArgentinaFil: Barletta, Pablo Fernando. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Pergamino; ArgentinaFil: Bereterbide, L. Universidad Católica Argentina. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; Argentin

Interconectad@s. Manual de alfabetización digital para adultos mayores

Trabajo Final para optar al grado académico de Licenciatura en Comunicación Social, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba Orientación gráfica Calificación 10 (Diez)Fil: Aguirre, Lorena Ivana. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias de la Comunicación; Argentina.Fil: Auil, Maria Valeria. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias de la Comunicación; Argentina.Fil: Brisuela, Stella Mary. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias de la Comunicación; Argentina.El presente trabajo propone la realización de un producto gráfico con fines comunicacionales. Se trata de un manual de alfabetización digital destinado a los adultos mayores. El proyecto se concreta gracias al trabajo de campo que realizaron las integrantes del equipo al dictar un taller de manejo de teléfonos celulares durante el 2022-23, en el Centro de Jubilados Lealtad y Esperanza de barrio Ferroviario Mitre. Este Trabajo Final de Grado presenta un marco referencial que expone la reconstrucción de las experiencias del taller de Alfabetización digital y también de las intervenciones realizadas en contexto de extensión universitaria. Estas reflexiones nos posibilita la descripción del entorno para el cual está destinado el manual INTERCONECT@DOS. Posteriormente en el marco teórico el trabajo presenta el desarrollo conceptual y articulación con el proceso de producción gráfica del producto. Para ello consideramos los aportes de Eliseo Verón y Jorge Frascara. En cuanto al marco metodológico se exponen las técnicas utilizadas para lograr los objetivos de la tesis. Estos se inscriben en la orientación cualitativa y son: la observación participante, la reconstrucción de experiencias, y el análisis de contenido. También se dará cuenta de los elementos del método de producción propuesto por Jorge Frascara, con ese material se justifica la realización del Manual INTERCONECT@DOS. Finalmente se encuentran las reflexiones y palabras finales sobre el TFG.Fil: Aguirre, Lorena Ivana. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias de la Comunicación; Argentina.Fil: Auil, Maria Valeria. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias de la Comunicación; Argentina.Fil: Brisuela, Stella Mary. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias de la Comunicación; Argentina

Health Assessment and Seroepidemiologic Survey of Potential Pathogens in Wild Antillean Manatees (Trichechus manatus manatus)

The Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus), a subspecies of the West Indian manatee, inhabits fresh, brackish, and warm coastal waters distributed along the eastern border of Central America, the northern coast of South America, and throughout the Wider Caribbean Region. Threatened primarily by human encroachment, poaching, and habitat degradation, Antillean manatees are listed as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. The impact of disease on population viability remains unknown in spite of concerns surrounding the species' ability to rebound from a population crash should an epizootic occur. To gain insight on the baseline health of this subspecies, a total of 191 blood samples were collected opportunistically from wild Antillean manatees in Belize between 1997 and 2009. Hematologic and biochemical reference intervals were established, and antibody prevalence to eight pathogens with zoonotic potential was determined. Age was found to be a significant factor of variation in mean blood values, whereas sex, capture site, and season contributed less to overall differences in parameter values. Negative antibody titers were reported for all pathogens surveyed except for Leptospira bratislava, L. canicola, and L. icterohemorrhagiae, Toxoplasma gondii, and morbillivirus. As part of comprehensive health assessment in manatees from Belize, this study will serve as a benchmark aiding in early disease detection and in the discernment of important epidemiologic patterns in the manatees of this region. Additionally, it will provide some of the initial tools to explore the broader application of manatees as sentinel species of nearshore ecosystem health