Similarity in the Use of Medicinal Plants by Traditional Medical Practitioners (TMPs) from Three Watershed Areas in Cebu Island, Central Philippines

Semi-structured interviews of traditional medical practitioners (TMPs) were conducted to assess if three adjoining watershed areas (i.e., Mananga River Watershed Forest Reserve, Buhisan Watershed Forest Reserve, and Kotkot-Lusaran Watershed Forest Reserve) in Cebu Island, Central Philippines, have similar ethnobotanical practices. Almost all variables such as plant parts used, herbal preparations, and different indications for which the medicinal plants are used showed similar responses suggesting the high degree of social connectivity among TMPs within the three watersheds. It was noted that the indigenous knowledge on plant use as medicine is still very much alive among the local communities

The Oldest Case of Decapitation in the New World (Lapa do Santo, East-Central Brazil)

We present here evidence for an early Holocene case of decapitation in the New World (Burial 26), found in the rock shelter of Lapa do Santo in 2007. Lapa do Santo is an archaeological site located in the Lagoa Santa karst in east-central Brazil with evidence of human occupation dating as far back as 11.7-12.7 cal kyBP (95.4% interval). An ultra-filtered AMS age determination on a fragment of the sphenoid provided an age range of 9.1-9.4 cal kyBP (95.4% interval) for Burial 26. The interment was composed of an articulated cranium, mandible and first six cervical vertebrae. Cut marks with a v-shaped profile were observed in the mandible and sixth cervical vertebra. The right hand was amputated and laid over the left side of the face with distal phalanges pointing to the chin and the left hand was amputated and laid over the right side of the face with distal phalanges pointing to the forehead. Strontium analysis comparing Burial 26's isotopic signature to other specimens from Lapa do Santo suggests this was a local member of the group. Therefore, we suggest a ritualized decapitation instead of trophy-taking, testifying for the sophistication of mortuary rituals among hunter-gatherers in the Americas during the early Archaic period. In the apparent absence of wealth goods or elaborated architecture, Lapa do Santo's inhabitants seemed to use the human body to express their cosmological principles regarding death

High Turbidity Affects Filtration Rate and Pseudofaeces Production of the Mud Clam Polymesoda erosa (Solander 1876) (Bivalvia: Corbiculidae)

P. erosa is an economically- and ecologically-important bivalve which thrives in brackishwater mangroves or Nypa zones. Unpredictable weather conditions and unregulated anthropogenic activities in mangrove area could lead to high turbidity conditions and possibly affect the filtering capacity of P. erosa. A laboratory experiment was conducted to determine the effects of turbidity concentration and body size on the filtration rate and pseudofaeces production of P. erosa. Filtration rates significantly increased with higher turbidity concentration up to 750 mg L-1 (P < 0.05). Pseudofaeces production also increased with increasing turbidity concentration (P < 0.05).  Body size did not affect the filtration and pseudofaeces production of P. erosa. Results suggest that P. erosa is resilient to highly disturbed, turbid environments and therefore could be a potential candidate species for aquaculture

High Turbidity Affects Filtration Rate and Pseudofaeces Production of the Mud Clam Polymesoda Erosa (Solander 1876) (Bivalvia: Corbiculidae)

P. erosa is an economically- and ecologically-important bivalve which thrives in brackishwater mangroves or Nypa zones. Unpredictable weather conditions and unregulated anthropogenic activities in mangrove area could lead to high turbidity conditions and possibly affect the filtering capacity of P. erosa. A laboratory experiment was conducted to determine the effects of turbidity concentration and body size on the filtration rate and pseudofaeces production of P. erosa. Filtration rates significantly increased with higher turbidity concentration up to 750 mg L-1 (P < 0.05). Pseudofaeces production also increased with increasing turbidity concentration (P < 0.05). Body size did not affect the filtration and pseudofaeces production of P. erosa. Results suggest that P. erosa is resilient to highly disturbed, turbid environments and therefore could be a potential candidate species for aquaculture