Megadiversidad

La palabra megadiverso proviene de un libro de Russel Mittermeier escrito en 1997 en el cual se hizo un ejercicio de estimar el número de especies de distintos grupos taxonómicos como plantas angiospermas, anfibios, reptiles, aves, mamíferos y mariposas, en los países del mundo para obtener un listado de aquellos con mayor diversidad. Los diecisiete países de mayor diversidad, ocupan menos del 10% de la superficie del planeta pero albergan siete de cada diez especies

ED001. Diferencias en la composición de especies de invertebrados en cuevas de la provincia del Napo, Ecuador

In Ecuador there is a large number of caves, especially east of the Andean Mountains. However, knowledge about their fauna is scarce and dispersed. The objective of this study is to determine if there are differences among invertebrate communities that inhabit caves with different levels of speleotourism. Preliminary field trips were made from October 2016 to June 2017 to learn about the diversity of invertebrates. Subsequently, quantitative data of richness and abundance of species was taken in the months of October, November and December of 2017, using pitfall traps in three caves of the Napo province: Templo de Ceremonia, El Toglo and Mayanchi. 3004 individuals belonging to 55 morphospecies were collected, of which six are possibly troglobites. The non-metric multidimensional scaling and the Morisita-Horn index revealed differences in community structure that could be due to: the differences in frequency and intensity of flooding of the rivers that cross the caves, bat diversity, the amount of guano available and presence of geographical barriers between the caves. This study provides a baseline for the characterization of the invertebrate community of the Napo caves and highlights the need to continue sampling the invertebrate community to find new species, verify the state of conservation of the caves in the long term, and support with the training of guides and property owners to practice speleotourism in the caves in a sustainable and responsible manner.                                                                                                                En el Ecuador existe una gran cantidad de cuevas, sobre todo al este de la Cordillera de Los Andes. No obstante, el conocimiento acerca de su fauna es escaso y disperso. El objetivo de este estudio fue caracterizar y determinar si existen diferencias entre las comunidades de invertebrados que habitan las cuevas en la provincia del Napo. Se tomaron datos cuantitativos de riqueza y abundancia en los meses de octubre, noviembre y diciembre del 2017, utilizando trampas de caída en tres cuevas de la provincia del Napo: Templo de Ceremonia, El Toglo y Mayanchi. Se recolectaron 3 004 individuos pertenecientes a 55 morfoespecies, de las cuales seis posiblemente son troglobios. El análisis de escalamiento multidimensional e índice de Morisita-Horn, revelan que existen diferencias en la estructura de las comunidades, que podrían deberse a las diferencias en frecuencia e intensidad de las inundaciones de los ríos que atraviesan las cuevas, diversidad de murciélagos, la cantidad de guano disponible y la presencia de barreras geográficas entre las cuevas. Esta investigación provee una línea de base para la caracterización de la comunidad de invertebrados de las cuevas del Napo y destaca la necesidad de seguir muestreando la comunidad de invertebrados de las cuevas para encontrar nuevas especies y constatar el estado de conservación de las cuevas a largo plazo, y apoyar con la capacitación de guías y dueños de las propiedades para practiquen espeleoturismo en las cuevas de manera sostenible y responsable

Aplicaciones de la tecnología RFID en la cadena de abastecimiento del calzado en el Ecuador

This paper presents the preliminary results of an undergoing study about the implementation of RFID technology in the shoe industry in Ecuador. As a starting point, descriptions about the benefits and limitation of RFID and the logistics scenario in Ecuador are provided. Then, the implications of adopting RFID along the entire shoe supply chain are discussed, including two governmental control agencies. Finally, some additional considerations such as implementation challenges and financial implications are discussed.Se presentan los resultados preliminares de un estudio, en fase de ejecución, que busca explorar el impacto de la implementación de tecnologías RFID en la industria el calzado en el Ecuador. Como punto de partida, se describen las generalidades, beneficios y limitaciones de la tecnología, así como el escenario logístico de la industria del calzado en el país. En base a ello, se discuten las implicaciones de la adopción de RFID para cada una de las etapas de la cadena de suministro del calzado, con la particularidad de que se consideran también a las entidades de control aduanero y tributario. Finalmente, se plantean algunas consideraciones adicionales para la implementación y se provee información financiera referencial

Estudio de las condiciones de confort higrotérmico y habitabilidad en dos viviendas del programa socio vivienda 1, Guayaquil

The hygrothermal comfort conditions offered by the one-storey houses built by the government in the housing program Socio Vivienda 1(PHSV1G), motivated the authors to investigate the reasons why indoor temperature is higher than outdoor temperature. Therefore, this study aims to diagnose the hygrothermal comfort degree by convection and conduction, and its causes, in two PHSV1G houses with different orientation. The purpose is to offer a tool, which may improve future housing construction projects, optimize the habitability and comfort conditions of the inhabitants, and contribute to energy saving. Likewise, the intention is to prevent such houses from permanent energy demand, in order to ventilate or climatize every engaged environment, without affecting the inhabitants’ monthly invoicing. Finally, this article will contribute to save the energy subsidized by the government, which over time, could imply to the government an expense greater than housing cost. Hence, an investigation guide in the axes of comfort and technology was established, allowing to become acquainted of the several causes that contribute to temperatureincrease, through hygrothermal thermometers and anemometers measurements, as well as the use of the DesignBuilder energy simulation software.Las condiciones de confort higrotérmico, ofrecidas por las viviendas de una planta que construye el Estado en el programa habitacional Socio Vivienda 1 en la ciudad de Guayaquil (PHSV1G), motivaron a los autores a desarrollar una investigación para determinar cuáles son las causas por las cuales la temperatura interior de estas viviendas es superior a la exterior. Con tales fines es objetivo del presente estudio diagnosticar el grado de confort higrotérmico por convección y conducción, en dos viviendas con diferentes orientaciones del PHSV-1G y las causas que lo originan. El propósito es brindar una herramienta para mejorar futuros proyectos de construcción de viviendas, optimizar las condiciones de habitabilidad y confort de las familias que las habiten y contribuir al ahorro energético. Asimismo, se pretende que dichas viviendas no demanden de manera permanente el uso de energía para ventilar o climatizar cada ambiente ocupado, lo cual contribuiría a que las familias no se afecten económicamente en su facturación mensual. Por último, el trabajo contribuirá al ahorro de la energía subsidiada por el Estado, la cual, con el tiempo, podría significar para el Estado un gasto mayor que el costo de la vivienda. Para esto se estableció una guía de investigación en dos ejes: confort y tecnología. Ello permitió conocer, a través de mediciones con termómetros higrotérmicos, anemómetros y el software de simulación energética DesignBuilder, las varias causas que contribuyen al aumento de la temperatura

Dual-Band Infrared Scheimpflug Lidar Reveals Insect Activity in a Tropical Cloud Forest

We describe an entomological dual-band 808 and 980 nm lidar system which has been implemented in a tropical cloud forest (Ecuador). The system was successfully tested at a sample rate of 5 kHz in a cloud forest during challenging foggy conditions (extinction coefficients up to 20 km–1). At times, the backscattered signal could be retrieved from a distance of 2.929 km. We present insect and bat observations up to 200 m during a single night with an emphasis on fog aspects, potentials, and benefits of such dual-band systems. We demonstrate that the modulation contrast between insects and fog is high in the frequency domain compared to intensity in the time domain, thus allowing for better identification and quantification in misty forests. Oscillatory lidar extinction effects are shown in this work for the first time, caused by the combination of dense fog and large moths partially obstructing the beam. We demonstrate here an interesting case of a moth where left- and right-wing movements induced oscillations in both intensity and pixel spread. In addition, we were able to identify the dorsal and ventral sides of the wings by estimating the corresponding melanization with the dual-band lidar. We demonstrate that the wing beat trajectories in the dual-band parameter space are complementary rather than covarying or redundant, thus a dual-band entomological lidar approach to biodiversity studies is feasible in situ and endows species specificity differentiation. Future improvements are discussed. The introduction of these methodologies opens the door to a wealth of possible experiments to monitor, understand, and safeguard the biological resources of one of the most biodiverse countries on Earth

Unlocking Andean sigmodontine diversity: five new species of Chilomys (Rodentia: Cricetidae) from the montane forests of Ecuador

The Andean cloud forests of Ecuador are home to several endemic mammals. Members of the Thomasomyini rodents are well represented in the Andes, with Thomasomys being the largest genus (47 species) of the subfamily Sigmodontinae. Within this tribe, however, there are genera that have escaped a taxonomic revision, and Chilomys Thomas, 1897, constitutes a paradigmatic example of these “forgotten” Andean cricetids. Described more than a century ago, current knowledge of this externally unmistakable montane rodent is very limited, and doubts persist as to whether or not it is monotypic. After several years of field efforts in Ecuador, a considerable quantity of specimens of Chilomys were collected from various localities representing both Andean chains. Based on an extensive genetic survey of the obtained material, we can demonstrate that what is currently treated as C. instans in Ecuador is a complex comprising at least five new species which are described in this paper. In addition, based on these noteworthy new evidence, we amend the generic diagnosis in detail, adding several key craniodental traits such as incisor procumbency and microdonty. These results indicate that Chilomys probably has a hidden additional diversity in large parts of the Colombian and Peruvian territories, inviting a necessary revision of the entire genus.Fil: Brito, Jorge. Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad; EcuadorFil: Tinoco, Nicolás. Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador; EcuadorFil: Pinto, C. Miguel. Observatorio de Biodiversidad Ambiente y Salud; EcuadorFil: García, Rubí. Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad; EcuadorFil: Koch, Claudia. Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Chang; AlemaniaFil: Fernandez, Vincent. Natural History Museum; Reino UnidoFil: Burneo, Santiago. Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador; EcuadorFil: Pardiñas, Ulises Francisco J.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico. Instituto de Diversidad y Evolución Austral; Argentin

Improving area of occupancy estimates for parapatric species using distribution models and support vector machines

As geographic range estimates for the IUCN Red List guide conservation actions, accuracy and ecological realism are crucial. IUCN’s extent of occurrence (EOO) is the general region including the species’ range, while area of occupancy (AOO) is the subset of EOO occupied by the species. Data‐poor species with incomplete sampling present particular difficulties, but species distribution models (SDMs) can be used to predict suitable areas. Nevertheless, SDMs typically employ abiotic variables (i.e., climate) and do not explicitly account for biotic interactions that can impose range constraints. We sought to improve range estimates for data‐poor, parapatric species by masking out areas under inferred competitive exclusion. We did so for two South American spiny pocket mice: Heteromys australis (Least Concern) and Heteromys teleus (Vulnerable due to especially poor sampling), whose ranges appear restricted by competition. For both species, we estimated EOO using SDMs and AOO with four approaches: occupied grid cells, abiotic SDM prediction, and this prediction masked by approximations of the areas occupied by each species’ congener. We made the masks using support vector machines (SVMs) fit with two data types: occurrence coordinates alone; and coordinates along with SDM predictions of suitability. Given the uncertainty in calculating AOO for low‐data species, we made estimates for the lower and upper bounds for AOO, but only make recommendations for H. teleus as its full known range was considered. The SVM approaches (especially the second one) had lower classification error and made more ecologically realistic delineations of the contact zone. For H. teleus, the lower AOO bound (a strongly biased underestimate) corresponded to Endangered (occupied grid cells), while the upper bounds (other approaches) led to Near Threatened. As we currently lack data to determine the species’ true occupancy within the post‐processed SDM prediction, we recommend that an updated listing for H. teleus include these bounds for AOO. This study advances methods for estimating the upper bound of AOO and highlights the need for better ways to produce unbiased estimates of lower bounds. More generally, the SVM approaches for post‐processing SDM predictions hold promise for improving range estimates for other uses in biogeography and conservation

La Forma Espacial de la Isla de Calor en la Ciudad de Guayaquil

Uno de los impactos ambientales de importancia macro-escalar quele conciernen a la ciudad de Guayaquil es el de la presencia delfenómeno “Isla de calor”, como consecuencia de la configuracióngeométrica de su casco empresarial que marca un pico de +5,32°Ccon respecto a los registros meteorológicos locales y que ha llegadoa comprometer la calidad del aire a nivel del suelo y los patrones detransferencia térmica con el que se encuentra inmediatamente sobrela cubierta de los edificios. El presente estudio confirma la existenciadel fenómeno con evidencia empírica y pretende ilustrar suaspecto espacial basado en la medición de variables geométricasque denotan una elevada intensidad de usos de suelo en callesdemasiado angostas en relación a la altura de las edificaciones quelas flanquean

El papel de la investigacion accion transformadora en la construccion de paz territorial

A pesar de la amplia gama de temas de investigación sobre el conflicto armado y la construcción de paz en Colombia, poco se habla del rol que puede tener la investigación como motor de cambio en esa transición de la guerra a la paz cuando se hace con los propios actores que han formado parte de las dinámicas del conflicto. Este capítulo ofrece esta perspectiva. Para ello nos basamos en la experiencia del proyecto “Escuela, territorio y posconflicto”, trabajando con organizaciones comunitarias del sur del Tolima en el estudio de sus experiencias de construcción de paz en medio del conflicto armado

An empirical evaluation of camera trap study design: How many, how long and when?

Abstract Camera traps deployed in grids or stratified random designs are a well‐established survey tool for wildlife but there has been little evaluation of study design parameters. We used an empirical subsampling approach involving 2,225 camera deployments run at 41 study areas around the world to evaluate three aspects of camera trap study design (number of sites, duration and season of sampling) and their influence on the estimation of three ecological metrics (species richness, occupancy and detection rate) for mammals. We found that 25–35 camera sites were needed for precise estimates of species richness, depending on scale of the study. The precision of species‐level estimates of occupancy (ψ) was highly sensitive to occupancy level, with 0.75) species, but more than 150 camera sites likely needed for rare (ψ < 0.25) species. Species detection rates were more difficult to estimate precisely at the grid level due to spatial heterogeneity, presumably driven by unaccounted habitat variability factors within the study area. Running a camera at a site for 2 weeks was most efficient for detecting new species, but 3–4 weeks were needed for precise estimates of local detection rate, with no gains in precision observed after 1 month. Metrics for all mammal communities were sensitive to seasonality, with 37%–50% of the species at the sites we examined fluctuating significantly in their occupancy or detection rates over the year. This effect was more pronounced in temperate sites, where seasonally sensitive species varied in relative abundance by an average factor of 4–5, and some species were completely absent in one season due to hibernation or migration. We recommend the following guidelines to efficiently obtain precise estimates of species richness, occupancy and detection rates with camera trap arrays: run each camera for 3–5 weeks across 40–60 sites per array. We recommend comparisons of detection rates be model based and include local covariates to help account for small‐scale variation. Furthermore, comparisons across study areas or times must account for seasonality, which could have strong impacts on mammal communities in both tropical and temperate sites