Do Fire Regime Attributes Affect Soil Biochemical Properties in the Same Way under Different Environmental Conditions?

Global change is altering fire frequency and severity in many regions across the world. In this work, we studied the impact of different frequency and severity regimes on the soil biochemical properties in burned areas with different environmental conditions. We selected three sites dominated by pine ecosystems along a Mediterranean-Transition-Oceanic climatic gradient, where we determined the fire frequency, and severity of the last wildfire. Four years after the last wildfire, we established 184 4 m2 plots. In each plot, we collected a composed soil sample from a 3 cm depth, and measured several ecological variables potentially affected by the fire frequency and severity (cover of bare soil, cover of fine and coarse plant debris, cover of vegetation, and vegetation height). From each soil sample, we analyzed the enzymatic activities corresponding to the biogeochemical cycles of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus (β-glucosidase, urease, and acid-phosphatase, respectively), and the microbial biomass carbon. The results indicated that fire frequency only played a significant role in soil biochemical properties at the Mediterranean and Transition sites. Specifically, we found that increases in frequency contributed to increased urease and phosphatase activities (at the Transition site), as well as microbial biomass carbon (at the Mediterranean and Transition sites). In relation to burn severity, we found opposite patterns when comparing the Mediterranean and Oceanic sites. Specifically, increased severity significantly decreased β-glucosidase, urease, and microbial biomass carbon at the Mediterranean site, whereas at the Oceanic one, severity significantly increased them. Burn severity also decreased microbial biomass carbon at the Transition site. Our results also indicated that, overall, fire frequency determined the studied ecological variables at the Mediterranean and Transition sites, but clear indirect effects on biochemical properties due to changes in ecological variables were not found. This study adds to the knowledge on the impact of shifts in fire regimes on soils in the current context of changeThis study was financially supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness; the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities; and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), in the framework of the GESFIRE (AGL2013-48189-C2-1-R) and FIRESEVES (AGL2017-86075-C2-1-R) projects, and by the Regional Government of Castile and León in the framework of the FIRECYL (LE033U14) and SEFIRECYL (LE001P17) projectsS

La identidad cultural: un acercamiento a su construcción mediante la integración de la docencia, investigación y extensión

lanted in the Educational Research I and II courses, during the academic periods in 2003, in the Basic Integral Education department in the School of Education at LUZ. The purpose was to stimulate the construction of cultural identity through the integration of teaching, research and extension, and to orient the development of a scientific attitude in students through the design and the operability of pedagogic projects in institutions of Basic Education in the community. The theoretical proposal outlines considerations as to teaching, research and extension; popular culture and identity. Methodologically it was based on qualitative research and humanist, cognitive, constructivist and critical principles. The data was derived from participant observation and oral- written testimonies by community actors and critical observers, and reflected achievements in agreement with the outlined purposes, satisfaction, social responsibility and student commitment with the work-study and productivity generated in eight (08) pedagogic projects. The study also cooperated in the exteriorization of values characteristic of social-cultural actors in Maracaibo.Este artículo refiere el desarrollo de una experiencia didáctica-aprendizaje ensayada en la cátedra Investigación Educativa I y II, durante los periodos acadé- micos 2003, mención Educación Básica Integral de la Escuela de Educación de LUZ; atendiendo a los propósitos: estimular la construcción de la identidad cultural mediante la integración de la docencia, investigación y extensión y orientar el desarrollo de la actitud científica estudiantil, a través del diseño y operacionalización de proyectos pedagógicos en instituciones de Educación Básica de la comunidad. El cuerpo teórico plantea consideraciones en torno a la docencia, la investigación y extensión; cultura popular e identidad. Metodológicamente se apoyó en la investigación cualitativa y principios humanistas, cognitivos, constructivistas y críticos. Los datos derivados de la observación participante y testimonios orales-escritos de actores comunitarios y observadores críticos reflejaron logros acordes con los propósitos planteados, la satisfacción, responsabilidad social y compromiso estudiantil con el estudio-trabajo y productividad generada en ocho (08) proyectos pedagógicos. Igualmente coadyuvó en la interiorización de valores propios del ser y el hacer sociocultural maracaibero

Accidentabilidad laboral y personalidad oscura: una revisión

Los rasgos de personalidad oscura pueden usarse de manera consistente para predecir la accidentabilidad laboral, aunque hasta el momento los trabajos que han estudiado los accidentes en el lugar de trabajo han empleado mayoritariamente el modelo Big Five. La relación entre los rasgos de la Tríada Oscura y la accidentabilidad laboral puede ser demostrada gracias al estrecho vínculo que existe entre ésta y el conocido y ampliamente estudiado modelo de personalidad. Adicionalmente, existen algunos estudios específicos sobre los rasgos de personalidad oscura en este campo, pero son escasos y necesitan ser ampliados y planteados desde diferentes enfoques y teniendo en cuenta otras variables organizacionales, culturales y del puesto. En los últimos años se ha incrementado el interéspor estudiar la relación entre ambas variables, por lo que se prevé la publicación de nuevos estudios en esta dirección, estudios que podrán permitir la aplicación de los resultados obtenidos de manera efectiva al ámbito de los RecursosHumanos y finalmente, a la prevención de riesgos y accidentes laborales.<br /

Las Tunas. Escenarios demográficos de la población. 2015-2030. / Las Tunas. Demographic Scenarios of the Population. 2015-2030.

The objective of the article is to present the results of the demographic scenarios of the population of the province Las Tunas 2015-2030, based on the current situation of demographic variables, fecundity, mortality and migrations. The scenarios presented complement the projections elaborated by the National Statistic Office. The results obtained project a slow population growth that, from the 2015-2020 period could begin to decrease, and an increase in the speed of the aging process. The fundamental factors in the future behavior of the population are located in the level of fertility and in young population's loss as a result of the migratory movement. The attention to the demographic dynamics of the province is a key factor in the development planning and management process for the coming years. / RESUMEN El objetivo del artículo es presentar los resultados de los escenarios demográficos de la población de Las Tunas 2015-2030, tomando como base la situación actual de las variables demográficas, fecundidad, mortalidad y migraciones. Los escenarios presentados complementan las proyecciones elaboradas por la Oficina Nacional de Estadística. Los resultados obtenidos proyectan un lento crecimiento de la población que, a partir del quinquenio 2015-2020, pudiera comenzar a disminuir, y un incremento de la velocidad en el proceso de envejecimiento. Los factores fundamentales en el comportamiento futuro de la población se ubican en el nivel de la fecundidad y en la pérdida de población joven como resultado del movimiento migratorio. La atención a la dinámica demográfica de la provincia resulta un factor clave en el proceso de planificación y gestión del desarrollo para los próximos años

Forest management communities’ participation in bioenergy production initiatives: a case study for Galicia (Spain)

Bioenergy is the form of clean energy with the greatest potential for growth in Spain, especially in those regions with a large forest area and a high potential for the utilization of forest resources for energy purposes. This is the case in Galicia (a region located in northwestern Spain), where the communal management of forest resources is widespread. Within this type of management, there is a pioneering case study in which biomass energy use activities have been initiated through an international project. The possible success of this project is of great importance since it could represent an alternative to the main energy activity in the common management of forests: the production of wind energy. In recent years, and with a special increase in 2022, Galician public opinion has expressed its opposition to the implementation of new wind farms in its forests. The aim of this article is to analyze whether or not it is profitable for forest management communities to participate in bioenergy initiatives, which is a novel analysis of the Galician geographical area. For this purpose, the main economic and financial variables of the Galician forest management communities participating in the bioenergy project, SilvaPlus Project, have been analyzed, before and during their participation in the project. In addition, a financial comparison is also made with a group of Galician forest management communities without the energy use of their resources. The evolution of the relevant variables, analyzed between 2011 and 2020, shows a generally positive trend in the values of the forest communities participating in the bioenergy generation project, resulting in a positive experience, both environmentally and financially, for the forest community.Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED481A-2018/341Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED481B2018/095Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED431C2018/48Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED431E2018/07Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación | Ref. RTI2018-099225-B-10

Do Fire Regime Attributes Affect Soil Biochemical Properties in the Same Way under Different Environmental Conditions?

This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Post-Fire Regeneration[EN] Global change is altering fire frequency and severity in many regions across the world. In this work, we studied the impact of different frequency and severity regimes on the soil biochemical properties in burned areas with different environmental conditions. We selected three sites dominated by pine ecosystems along a Mediterranean-Transition-Oceanic climatic gradient, where we determined the fire frequency, and severity of the last wildfire. Four years after the last wildfire, we established 184 4 m2 plots. In each plot, we collected a composed soil sample from a 3 cm depth, and measured several ecological variables potentially affected by the fire frequency and severity (cover of bare soil, cover of fine and coarse plant debris, cover of vegetation, and vegetation height). From each soil sample, we analyzed the enzymatic activities corresponding to the biogeochemical cycles of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus (β-glucosidase, urease, and acid-phosphatase, respectively), and the microbial biomass carbon. The results indicated that fire frequency only played a significant role in soil biochemical properties at the Mediterranean and Transition sites. Specifically, we found that increases in frequency contributed to increased urease and phosphatase activities (at the Transition site), as well as microbial biomass carbon (at the Mediterranean and Transition sites). In relation to burn severity, we found opposite patterns when comparing the Mediterranean and Oceanic sites. Specifically, increased severity significantly decreased β-glucosidase, urease, and microbial biomass carbon at the Mediterranean site, whereas at the Oceanic one, severity significantly increased them. Burn severity also decreased microbial biomass carbon at the Transition site. Our results also indicated that, overall, fire frequency determined the studied ecological variables at the Mediterranean and Transition sites, but clear indirect effects on biochemical properties due to changes in ecological variables were not found. This study adds to the knowledge on the impact of shifts in fire regimes on soils in the current context of changeSIThis study was financially supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness; the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities; and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), in the framework of the GESFIRE (AGL2013-48189-C2-1-R) and FIRESEVES (AGL2017-86075-C2-1-R) projects, and by the Regional Government of Castile and León in the framework of the FIRECYL (LE033U14) and SEFIRECYL (LE001P17) project

Fire effects on germination response of the native species Daucus carota and the invasive alien species Helichrysum foetidum and Oenothera glazioviana

Fire is an ecological factor that affects ecosystem structure and functioning and determines later recovery of the ecosystem through the modification of biological processes, such as seed germination and seedling establishment. Another factor that modifies ecosystems is the presence of invasive alien species, which easily colonize new habitats after disturbances such as forest fires. Within this research, we analysed the germination response to fire of three species that share a habitat, one native species (Daucus carota L.) and two invasive alien species (Helichrysum foetidum (L.) Moench and Oenothera glazioviana Micheli) to identify and compare the effects of fire on the germination of these three species. For this purpose, germination tests were performed by using seeds treated with heat, smoke, charcoal and ash, simulating conditions of forest fires. The three species showed slightly different responses to fire factors. At high levels, heat and ash prevented the germination of the three species. In contrast, intermediate heat shocks and some smoke treatments stimulated O. glazioviana germination, while the other species remained unaffected. H. foetidum presented high germination success for most treatments. The difference in the germination response of the three species can change the current balance among three species in natural fire-prone ecosystems, contributing to the spread of O. glazioviana and H. foetidum to new areas and potentially reducing native D. carota populations.This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness, the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, the Castilla y León Regional Government, the Galicia Regional Government and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) in the framework of the GESFIRE (AGL2013-48189-C2-2-R), FIRESEVES (AGL2017-86075-C2-2-R) and SEFIRECYL (LE001PE17) projects, the Competitive Reference Group BIOAPLIC (ED431C2019/07) and the Strategic Researcher Cluster BioReDeS (ED431E 2018/09)S

Ecological effects of ionic liquids on microbial activity of a soil and on tree seed germination

The 19th International Electronic Conference on Synthetic Organic Chemistry session Ionic LiquidsIonic liquids (ILs) are considered one of the most promising green alternatives to molecular organic solvents. Nevertheless, before a widespread use of these compounds in a determined application, the knowledge of their ecotoxicity and biodegradability must be defined. In this work the effect of addition of different doses of 1-butil-2,3-dimethylimidazolium trifluoromethanesulfonate, [C4C1C1Im][OTf], on microbial activity of a soil under Pinus pinaster Aiton and on the seed germination of species of P. pinaster , Pinus sylvestris L., Pinus radiata D. Don and Eucalyptus globulus Labill were analyzed. Additionally, seed germination test were also applied to this IL after being subjected to heat treatment. A microcalorimeter Thermal Activity Monitor (TAM-III) TA-Instruments was used to determine the influence of the addition of four doses (10 %, 25 %, 50 % and 75 %) on the microbial activity of a Galician soil, under P. pinaster. Methodology was widely exposed in previous works [1]. From the data obtained in these experiments, the calculation of microbial growth was performed [2]. Seed germination test of selected species were carried out for several doses of ILs (10 %, 1 %, 0.1 % and 0.01 %). The degradation treatment of the IL was carried out during 24 h in an oven at the temperature of 200 °C. Five replies with 25 seeds per Petri dish were incubated in a Phytotron (Climas AGP890) for every species and treatments. Seeds were maintained for 16 h under light at 24 °C and in the dark for 8 h at 16 °C during 45 days, when the germination was completed in all the species [3, 4]. Results of soil microbial activity and germination obtained for this IL were compared with the corresponding to other ILs, previously studied in our laboratory. Dose of 10 % inhibited totally the germination of the four species and dose of 1 % provoked an important reduction with regard to the control, both, for degraded and no-degraded IL. Nevertheless, in spite of all the doses showed differences on calorimetric parameters with regard to control; only the dose of 75 % does not show soil microbial response

Fire Severity Drives the Natural Regeneration of Cytisus scoparius L. (Link) and Salix atrocinerea Brot. Communities and the Germinative Behaviour of These Species

Research Highlights: Data indicated that fire severity modulates natural regeneration of Cytisus scoparius and Salix atrocinerea communities and drives much stronger effects on the germination of the dominant species. Background and Objectives: Previous studies demonstrated that fire severity induces different behaviours in plant species. Mother plant age is an important feature that must also be considered in plans of forest restoration. The objectives were to determine, in field studies, the effect of fire severity on the natural regeneration of C. scoparius and S. atrocinerea communities, to know the role of mother plant age on the germination of seeds of C. scoparius and S. atrocinerea, and to quantify their germination response at different levels of fire severity, in laboratory settings. Material and Methods: We have analysed the role of fire severity on the natural regeneration of C. scoparius and S. atrocinerea communities considering cover and height. Forty 30 × 30 m plots were randomly located in C. scoparius and S. atrocinerea communities. Fire severity on the germination of dominant species was tested through different levels of smoke, charcoal, ash, and heat. Results: High severity reduced the vertical cover and growth in height of the two communities and favoured the increase of cover of woody species in the C. scoparius community and herbaceous species in the S. atrocinerea community. Mother plant age determined germination percentages of C. scoparius seeds. Germination of C. scoparius was increased by moderate heat, and heat and smoke; and fire severity greatly reduced germination of S. atrocinerea. Conclusions: The regeneration responses after fire were largely controlled by interactions between the fire severity and the individual species regeneration strategies. For restoration purposes, C. scoparius seeds should be treated with 80 °C and smoke for 10 min, in order to increase germination; however, Salix seeds should be used without treatment and immediately after dispersionThis work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness, the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, the Castilla y León Regional Government, the Galicia Regional Government and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) in the framework of the GESFIRE (AGL2013-48189-C2-2-R), FIRESEVES (AGL2017-86075-C2-2-R) and SEFIRECYL (LE001PE17) projects and the Competitive Reference Group BIOAPLIC (ED431C2019/07) and the Strategic Researcher Cluster BioReDeS (ED431E 2018/09)S