Tendencias en marketing digital para promover la conservación de la biodiversidad

With the digital boom that we have been experiencing for several years now and that has been significantly maximized due to the current situation caused by the pandemic, it is not a secret that the different economic, social, political, environmental initiatives, among others, have taken advantage of digital channels to convey their message to a greater number of individuals. The purpose of this editorial is, thus, to illustrate some digital marketing trends in the field of biodiversity conservation, trends that can be perceived from mechanisms such as social media advertising, virtual influencers, and mobile games. The current biodiversity crisis and what it represents for the survival of humanity has raised concerns among many people and organisations around the world. Hence, the interest in transcending barriers and engage a greater number of individuals who can contribute their solution. If digital is the future, why not continue exploring its true potential to tackle the biodiversity crisis?Ante el auge digital que hemos estado viviendo desde hace ya varios años y que, debido a la situación actual causada por la pandemia, se ha potencializado considerablemente, no es un secreto para nadie que las diferentes iniciativas económicas, sociales, políticas, ambientales, entre otras, han tomado partido de los canales digitales para transmitir su mensaje a un mayor número de individuos. El interés de la presente nota editorial es precisamente ilustrar algunas tendencias del marketing digital en el campo de la conservación de la biodiversidad, tendencias que pueden percibirse desde mecanismos como la publicidad en las redes sociales, los influenciadores virtuales y los juegos para dispositivos móviles. La crisis actual de la biodiversidad y lo que ello representa para la supervivencia de la humanidad ha encendido las alertas de muchas personas y entidades a nivel mundial. De allí, el interés de transcender barreras y hacer partícipes a un número mayor de individuos que puedan contribuir con su solución. Si la transformación digital es el futuro, ¿por qué no seguir explorando su verdadero potencial para hacerle frente a la crisis de la biodiversidad

First record of Cercosaura eigenmanni (Griffin, 1917) (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae) for the state of Acre, Brazil

A female specimen of Cercosaura eigenmanni (Griffin, 1917) was found during fieldwork in the Extractive Reserve Chico Mendes, municipality of Brasiléia, state of Acre, Brazil. This is the first record of the species for this state, extending the known distribution of the species by 465 km

Embedded system for detection, recognition and classification of traffic signs

This study concerns the development of an embedded system with low computational resources and low power consumption. It uses the NXP LPC2106 with ARM7 processor architecture, for acquiring, processing and classifying images. This embedded system is design to detect and recognize traffic signs. Taking into account the processor capabilities and the desired features for the embedded system, a set of algorithms was developed that require low computational resources and memory. These features were accomplished using a modified Freeman Method in conjunction with a new algorithm "ear pull" proposed in this work. Each of these algorithms was tested with static images, using code developed for MATLAB and for the CMUcam3. The road environment was simulated and experimental tests were performed to measure traffic signs recognition rate on real environment. The technical limitations imposed by the embedded system led to an increased complexity of the project, however the final results provide a recognition rate of 77% on road tests.Thus, the embedded system features overcome the initial expectations and highlight the potentialities of both algorithms that were developed.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Squamate Reptiles of the central Chapada Diamantina, with a focus on the municipality of Mucugê, state of Bahia, Brazil

We present the first species list of squamate reptiles for the central region of the Chapada Diamantina, with a focus on the municipality of Mucugê, state of Bahia Brazil. The data provided were mostly collected in the Caraíbas estate, during vegetation clearing operations for agriculture. The remnant records were collected from roadkills encountered in Mucugê and neighboring municipalities. We found 64 species of squamate reptiles including 35 species of snakes, 25 of lizards and four of amphisbaenians. These records have already yielded three species descriptions with others likely to follow. This is evidence of the poorly documented herpetological diversity of the Chapada Diamantina. The present work highlights the need for further research and the potential of less traditional data sources such as roadkills to improve the knowledge of the herpetofauna of extensive and megadiverse countries like Brazil

Has climate change taken prominence over biodiversity conservation?

The growing prominence of climate change has led to concerns that other important environmental issues, such as biodiversity loss, are being overshadowed. We investigate this assertion by examining trends in biodiversity and climate change coverage within the scientific and newspaper press, as well as the relative distribution of funding through the World Bank and the National Science Foundation, since the late 1980s. Our indicators substantiate some of these fears. To prevent biodiversity from becoming a declining priority, conservationists need to analyze the discourse surrounding climate change and determine how it has become the predominant environmental topic. In addition, given the common drivers of biodiversity loss and climate change, we argue that win–win solutions must be sought wherever possible. Conservationists need to be proactive and take this opportunity to use the mounting interest in climate change as a flagship to leverage more support and action to prevent further biodiversity loss

The tragedy of the nature photography commons

Over the last few decades, photography has become a crucial tool in the mainstreaming of biodiversity and its conservation. Today, it would be almost impossible to find any conservation outreach or marketing materials that do not include at least a few photographs. This em-phasis on photographic material is well justified, as there is evidence that photographs can have an important im-pact in our perceptions, attitudes and even behaviour to-wards nature (Kalof, Zammit-Lucia and Kelly 2011; Myers Jr., 2006). Examples of this are the efforts of the Sierra Club to establish some of the world’s first pro-tected areas in the USA; National Geographic’s coverage of the “Megatransect” trek by ecologist Michael Fay across the Congo basin; or the recent media reports on the large scale killing of Amur Falcons in the of Nagaland, India (Dalvi and Sreenivasan, 2012; Myers Jr., 2006). Such encouraging outcomes have lead to the creation of the field of “conservation photography” and to the forma-tion of organizations such as the International League of Conservation Photographers, who work specifically to disseminate the need for biodiversity conservation (Myers Jr., 2006

Produção de Biogás a partir de Ácidos Orgânicos provenientes de um biorreator de “Dark Fermentation”

A presente dissertação tem como objetivo avaliar as diferenças nos rendimentos de produção de biogás e metano, através de um processo de metanogénese, quando o biorreator é alimentado com a Fração Orgânica de Resíduos Sólidos Urbanos (FORSU) e quando é alimentado com Ácidos Orgânicos Voláteis (AOVs) produzidos num biorreator de dark fermentation (DF), a partir de FORSU. No presente estudo foram realizados três ensaios experimentais de forma a comparar o desempenho de conversão do substrato orgânico em biogás. No primeiro ensaio (designado por FORSU), foi utilizada FORSU como substrato orgânico. No segundo e terceiro ensaios (designados por AOV4 e AOV5, respetivamente), foram utilizados substratos orgânicos ricos em AOVs produzidos num biorreator de DF, alimentado com FORSU, e operado com Tempos de Retenção Hidráulicos (TRH) de 4 e 5 dias, respetivamente. Estes substratos orgânicos foram obtidos durante um estudo de produção de bioH2, realizado num outro trabalho de mestrado que decorreu em paralelo com a presente dissertação. Os ensaios em que se utilizou um substrato rico em AOVs apresentaram um melhor desempenho de conversão do substrato orgânico em biogás comparativamente ao ensaio que utilizou FORSU como substrato. Os resultados experimentais, nomeadamente, a maior concentração de metano no biogás, os melhores rendimentos de produção de biogás e metano e o maior potencial de produção de energia elétrica sustentam esta observação. O ensaio AOV4, com uma carga volúmica aplicada de 2,81 g SV/(L.d), apresentou os melhores rendimentos de produção de biogás e metano (987 Lbiogás/kg SVaplicados e 721 Lmetano/kg SVaplicados). Este ensaio apresentou ainda a maior concentração de metano no biogás (73,1% v/v) e o maior potencial de produção de energia elétrica (7,2 kWh/kg SVaplicados). Em suma, a metanogénese de um substrato orgânico rico em AOVs, produzidos por dark fermentation de FORSU, apresenta um melhor desempenho do que a DA de FORSU

First record of the Bicoloured-spined Porcupine Coendou bicolor (Tschudi, 1844) for Brazil

While travelling as part of the protected area management activities undertaken by the Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade (ICMBio) in the state of Acre, four records of porcupines (Coendou spp.) were gathered: two for Coendou bicolor and two for Coendou prehensilis. The records for Coendou bicolor are the first for Brazil while the records for Coendou prehensilis present the state of Acre as a potential region of sympatry between C. bicolor and C. prehensilis

Blackfish: how captive killer whale documentary ended SeaWorld's orca breeding programme

First paragraph: After its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2013, the documentary Blackfish reached nearly 21 million viewers within its first month of airing on CNN. The film tells the bleak story of Tilikum, a performing orca at the US marine park SeaWorld