Using drones to reduce human disturbance while monitoring breeding status of an endangered raptor

In birds, obtaining information related to nest occupancy, offspring status or breeding success is essential for population monitoring, particularly for species of conservation concern. Traditionally, nest monitoring demands a lot of time and effort in order to gather accurate information and avoiding nest disturbance. Instead, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs, hereafter drones) present an alternative to traditional methods, but few studies have been done measuring their influence on birds’ behavior and reproductive success. We addressed the utility of drones equipped with an on-board camera in examining nesting status of the endangered Chaco Eagle Buteogallus coronatus in semiarid environments of central Argentina, as well as the degree of disturbance of drone flights to individuals. We performed 76 drone flights at 41 Chaco Eagle nests registering flight duration, tree height, nest relative height and pilot proximity to nest. Of those, 38 flights were done over occupied nests where we recorded adult behavior. Before drone took off, most adult eagles remained in the nests or in the surroundings (<100 m away), particularly during the incubation period and in tall trees. During drone flights, only one adult flew as a response to drone flights. The rest of them remained vigilant or emitted alarm calls while incubating or perched on the nest platform. No attack toward drones was registered. The use of drones for monitoring Chaco Eagle’s nests significantly reduced levels of disturbance when compared with traditional methods where all adults flew away during climbing. Additionally, this method was almost three times faster in comparison to traditional climbing (performed at the end of the reproductive season) and had no negative effects on reproductive success of Chaco Eagles. Although responses to drones could be species-specific, our results encourage researchers to consider and test the use of drones as a less disturbing and rapid method to monitor breeding raptor populations.Fil: Gallego García, Diego. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Ciencia Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Recursos Naturales. Centro para el Estudio y Conservación de Aves Rapaces; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra y Ambientales de La Pampa. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra y Ambientales de La Pampa; ArgentinaFil: Sarasola, José Hernán. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra y Ambientales de La Pampa. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra y Ambientales de La Pampa; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Ciencia Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Recursos Naturales. Centro para el Estudio y Conservación de Aves Rapaces; Argentin

Dieta de la nutria (Lutra lutra) en un tramo fluvial : variación estacional.

Se estudió la dieta de la nutria (Lutra lutra Linnaeus 1758) mediante análisis de restos fecales, en un tramo del río Nela (Burgos), un afluente del Ebro, durante tres distintas épocas de un año (Octubre, Diciembre y Abril). La presencia de cada presa se expresó en porcentaje de peso seco con respecto al total. Se comprobó que la dieta de la nutria se compone principalmente de cangrejo señal Pacifastacus leniusculus Dana, 1852 (88,99 ± 21,52%), seguida por peces (8,23 ± 21,15%), siendo las demás presas (insectos, anfibios, moluscos y materia vegetal) poco importantes, por lo que la mayor parte de la investigación se centró en estos dos tipos de presas. Se encontraron diferencias significativas en la composición de la dieta en octubre (Cangrejo: 97,2 ± 3,72%; Pez: 0,94 ± 2,88%), diciembre (Cangrejo: 67,68 ± 32,13%; Pez: 27,03 ± 33,77%) y abril (Cangrejo: 97,25 ± 3,62%; Pez: 1,06 ± 1,38%), siendo diciembre la época en la que mayor diversidad presentó su dieta. Las estimaciones de número de cangrejos ingeridos fueron apoyadas por un análisis de las piezas reconocibles de los mismos, para estimar el número mínimo de individuos presentes en un excremento. Por otro lado, se estimaron, a partir de medidas de arcos faríngeos, cleitros y opérculos encontrados en los excrementos, la longitud y el peso estimados de los peces que componían su dieta, como Parachondrostoma miegii (Steindachner, 1866), Gobio gobio Linnaeus, 1758 y Luciobarbus graellsii (Steindachner, 1866), Phoxinus phoxinus Linnaeus, 1758 y Alburnus alburnus Linnaeus, 1758, siendo estos dos últimos las especies dominantes en las muestras de peces (P. phoxinus: 52,3%, N= 45; A. alburnus: 32,5%)

First record of a successful reproduction of Chaco Eagle (Buteogallus coronatus) in Santa Fe province, Argentina

El Águila Coronada o Águila del Chaco (Buteogallus coronatus) es una especie de ave rapaz del sur de Sudamérica. Sus poblaciones se encuentran amenazadas, entre otros factores, por la destrucción del hábitat, la persecución directa, la electrocución en tendidos eléctricos y el ahogamiento en reservorios de agua. En los últimos años, los registros de territorios, nidos y reproducciones exitosas de la especie en Argentina se han concentrado al sur de su límite de distribución (oeste de La Pampa y sur de Mendoza). Sinembargo, en la provincia de Santa Fe, considerada clave para la conservación de esta especie, nunca se registró una reproducción exitosa. En esta publicación damos cuenta del descubrimiento y monitoreo de un nido activo de Águila Coronada en la provincia de Santa Fe que resultó exitoso. Este hallazgo pone de manifiesto la necesidad de establecer un monitoreo a largo plazo de las poblaciones de la especie en esta provincia.Chaco Eagle (Buteogallus coronatus) is a bird of prey of southern South America. Its populations are endangered because of, amongst other factors, habitat destruction, direct persecution, electrocution on power lines and drowning in water reservoirs. During the last years, data on territories, nests and successful reproductions of this species in Argentina have been concentrated at the southernmost part of its distribution area (western La Pampa and southern Mendoza). However, in Santa Fe province, considered as a priority for Chaco Eagle conservation, no successful reproductions have ever been registered. In this paper we record the discovery and monitoring of an active Chaco Eagle nest in Santa Fe province which eventually was successful. This finding demonstrates the necessity of establishing a long-term monitoring of Chaco Eagle populations in this province.Fil: Merlino, Víctor. Cooperativa Tambera y de Consumo Elisa Limitada; ArgentinaFil: Gallego García, Diego. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Ciencia Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Recursos Naturales. Centro para el Estudio y Conservación de Aves Rapaces; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra y Ambientales de La Pampa. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra y Ambientales de La Pampa; Argentin

First record of a successful breeding of Chaco Eagle (Buteogallus coronatus) in San Luis province, Argentina

El Águila Coronada o Águila del Chaco (Buteogallus coronatus) es una de las especies de aves rapaces más amenazadas del Neotrópico. Argentina, junto con Brasil, Paraguay y Bolivia, es uno de los países en donde se distribuye esta especie categorizada como en peligro de extinción. Sin embargo, son pocas las provincias de Argentina donde la reproducción exitosa de la especie ha sido constatada, concentrándose los reportes de nidos activos para la provincia de La Pampa y Mendoza, con registros anecdóticos para Córdoba, Formosa y Santa Fe. En este trabajo reportamos la primera reproducción exitosa del Águila Coronada en la provincia de San Luis. Este hallazgo pone de relevancia la ecorregión del Espinal como uno de los ambientes más importantes para la especie. Por otra parte, también pone de manifiesto la necesidad de establecer programas de conservación y de monitoreo de poblaciones reproductoras de la especie a una escala regional en el centro de Argentina.Chaco Eagle (Buteogallus coronatus) is one of the most threatened birds of prey of the Neotropical area. Together with Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia, Argentina is one of the countries where this endangered species lives. However, there are few provinces in Argentina where the successful reproduction of the species has been documented, with confirmed active nests in La Pampa and Mendoza provinces and anecdotal records in Córdoba, Formosa and Santa Fe. This work reports the first successful breeding of Chaco Eagle in San Luis province. This finding emphasizes the Espinal ecoregion as one of the most important environments for the species. Besides, it brings to light the need to establish conservation and breeding population monitoring programs of the species at a regional scale in central Argentina.Fil: Gallego García, Diego. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Ciencia Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Recursos Naturales. Centro para el Estudio y Conservación de Aves Rapaces; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra y Ambientales de La Pampa. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra y Ambientales de La Pampa; ArgentinaFil: Sarasola, José Hernán. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Ciencia Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Recursos Naturales. Centro para el Estudio y Conservación de Aves Rapaces; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra y Ambientales de La Pampa. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra y Ambientales de La Pampa; Argentin

La evaluación del Plan Nacional de Evaluación y Calidad Universitaria desde la Grounded Theory

Los profundos cambios que se han producido en las últimas dos décadas en las universidades europeas han facilitado que se pase del paradigma de cantidad al de calidad. Es decir, hace unos años el objetivo prioritario consistió en posibilitar un mayor acceso de estudiantes a la universidad; en la actualidad, y una vez alcanzado este primer objetivo, lo que se persigue es mejorar los servicios que la universidad presta a la sociedad. Una de las herramientas para conseguir este cambio, y con ello transformar la cultura universitaria, ha sido la institucionalización de la evaluación, entendida como una herramienta para la mejora continua. En España, no es hasta 1995 cuando se aprueba el Plan Nacional de Evaluación de la Calidad Universitaria, que ha concluido recientemente. Transcurridos unos años desde su aprobación, se ha realizado un profundo análisis del mismo, más concretamente, se ha metaevaluado el Plan para conocer cuáles han sido sus logros y desaciertos y proponer soluciones.The deep changes that have taken place in the Europeans Universities in the last two decades, have provoked a change of the paradigm of quantity to the one of quality. It means, that many years ago the prioritary aim consisted in making the access of the students to University as big as possible. Once reached this aim, nowadays, the services reddered to society by the University are pursued. One of the tools to achieve this change and transform the university culture, has been the institucionalization of the evaluation, which must be understood as a tool for a continuous improvement. In Spain, this has not happened until 1995, year in which a General Plan for the Evaluation of the University Quality was approved. This plan has been recently concluded. After a few years since its passing, a deep analysis of this plan has been made. To be precise, the plan has been metaeveluated to know which have been its successes and mistakes, and propose different solutions for them

A holistic methodology to study geochemical and geomorphological control of the distribution of potentially toxic elements in soil

Control of Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) in soil-polluted areas is needed to address the potential risk that pollution poses to public health and the environment. This study describes an innovative holistic methodology to assess the distribution of PTEs. It is based on the application of multi-variate statistical and geostatistical algorithms, soil pollution indices and geochemical & geomorphological/climate variables (element concentration, watercourses, winds, slope, orientation and visibility). The methodology proposed is exemplified through a comprehensive soil sampling in an area surrounding a former As-Hg mine that presents several sources of pollutants (abandoned mining spoil heaps, metallurgical waste, old chimneys, etc.). Factor analysis identified four main pollutants of concern: Hg, As, Pb and Sb. The mobility of the most abundant PTEs, especially As, and, to a minor extent, Hg, showed a clear influence of climatic/geomorphological variables. Moreover, the pollution indices confirmed that although the soils in the areas around the spoil heaps contain higher concentrations of the pollutants, the influence of the chimneys is present in the whole study area and depends on factors such as orientation and visibility. In contrast, the fingerprint of the spoil heaps showed a PTE distribution more associated with the slope factor and the presence of watercourses eroding the heaps. All things considered, the methodology proposed revealed PTE sources and distribution in a highly complex site and may therefore find application in similar scenarios of contamination.Boente, C., Baragaño, D., García-González, N., Forján, R., Colina, A., & Gallego, J. R. (2022). A holistic methodology to study geochemical and geomorphological control of the distribution of potentially toxic elements in soil. In CATENA (Vol. 208, p. 105730). Elsevier BV. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2021.10573

University Mentoring Programmes for Gifted High School Students: Satisfaction of Workshops

Abstract: This paper analyses the degree of participant (mentees, mentors, and technical-research team) satisfaction with two university mentoring programmes for pre-university students with high intellectual capacities in Spain. Three versions of a Likert-type scale questionnaire were applied (mentees, mentors, and technical research team), resulting in a total sample of 43 questionnaires from mentors, 314 from mentees, and 43 from the technical-research team in 43 workshops o ered by the GuíaMe-AC-UMA Programme; and 27 questionnaires from mentors, 203 from mentees, and 27 from the technical-research team in the 27 workshops o ered by the Amentúrate Programme. The results indicate a high level of satisfaction with the development of the workshops o ered by both programmes, on the part of all participants. No significant di erences were found in terms of thematic area or gender, although there were di erences in age. The participation of the three agents involved in this training o er was very successful, and our results supported the findings of previous investigations. More work is required on the transfer and maintenance of the impact that this type of programme can have on young pre-university students with high abilities

Firewood and timber in the Argaric site of Barranco de la Viuda (Lorca, Murcia)

This paper presents the analysis of wood charcoals associated to combustion structures and building materials from the Argaric site of Barranco de la Viuda. The results suggest that wood fuel was collected in nearby pine forest, noting especially Pinus halepensis, together with Rosmarinus officinalis, Olea europaea, Pistacia lentiscus and Monocotyledoneae. Opportunistic exploitation prevailed on all types of firing activities. Pinus halepensis was also the most commonly wood used as timber. Remarkable is the limited use of the riparian vegetation on firing and building activities.En este artículo se presenta el análisis de los carbones asociados a estructuras de combustión y de los materiales constructivos del poblado argárico de Barranco de la Viuda. Los resultados sugieren que el combustible leñoso fue adquirido en las formaciones próximas de pinar, destacando sobre todo Pinus halepensis, junto con Rosmarinus officinalis, Olea europaea, Pistacia lentiscus y Monocotyledoneae. Prevaleció una explotación oportunista de la leña en todo tipo de actividades. Pinus halepensis fue también la madera más utilizada en la construcción del poblado. Destaca la escasa utilización de la ripisilva tanto como leña como en las labores constructivas

Effects on respiratory pressures, spirometry biomarkers, and sports performance after inspiratory muscle training in a physically active population by Powerbreath®: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Producción CientíficaSimple Summary: There is currently a growing interest in respiratory muscle training in athletes, so we set out to systematically assess with meta-analyses the effects of IMT with PowerBretah® (PwB), a threshold work device for IMT, on respiratory parameters and athletic performance in healthy physically active adults. Eleven studies were included in the systematic review and nine in the meta-analysis. IMT by PwB significantly increased maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and substantial improvements in forced vital capacity (FVC) in the results of the meta-analysis, and sports performance was significantly increased. In conclusion, the IMT with PwB would improve respiratory, MIP, FVC, and sports performance.Sports performance in athletes can be limited by respiratory factors, so it is understandable to propose that inspiratory muscle training (IMT) can improve respiratory function and exercise performance. Power-Breathe® (PwB) is a sectorized respiratory muscle training tool that uses a resistive load to train IMT. There is currently a growing interest in respiratory muscle training, so we set out to systematically assess the effects of IMT with PwB on respiratory parameters and athletic performance in physically active, healthy adults. Based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guideline, the Cochrane and PEDro scales to assess methodological quality, effect size using the Rosenthal formula, and the Cochrane tool for estimation of risk of bias, studies searchable in Medline, Web of Science, and Cochrane. In addition, for the performance of the meta-analysis, the documentation and quantification of the heterogeneity in each meta-analysis were directed through the Cochran’s Q test and the I2 statistic; in addition, a publication bias analysis was performed using funnel plots. Of the total of 241 studies identified in the search, 11 studies for the systematic review and nine for the meta-analysis met the exclusion and/or inclusion criteria. IMT, with PwB, showed significant improvements in maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and substantial improvements in forced vital capacity (FVC) in the meta-analysis results. Also, sports performance was significantly increased by IMT with PwB. In conclusion, the use of PwB is an IMT tool that improves respiratory and sports performance

Influence of the total concentration and the profile of volatile fatty acids on polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) production by mixed microbial cultures

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) production from lignocellulosic biomass using mixed microbial cultures (MMC) is a potential cheap alternative for reducing the use of petroleum-based plastics. In this study, an MMC adapted to acidogenic effluent from dark fermentation (DF) of exhausted sugar beet cossettes (ESBC) has been tested in order to determine its capability to produce PHAs from nine different synthetic mixtures of volatile fatty acids (VFAs). The tests consisted of mixtures of acetic, propionic, butyric, and valeric acids in the range of 1.5–9.0 g/L of total acidity and with three different valeric:butyric ratios (10:1, 1:1, and 1:10). Experimental results have shown a consistent preference of the MMC for the butyric and valeric acids as carbon source instead other shorter acids (propionic or acetic) in terms of PHA production yield (estimated in dry cell weight basis), with a maximum value of 23% w/w. Additionally, valeric-rich mixtures have demonstrated to carry out a fast degradation process but with poor final PHA production compared with high butyric mixtures. Finally, high initial butyric and valeric concentrations (1.1 g/L and 4.1 g/L) have demonstrated to be counterproductive to PHA production.Open Access funding provided thanks to the CRUE-CSIC agreement with Springer Nature. This research was supported by the project CTM2016-79071-R (Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness) and financed by the Spanish State Research Agency ("Agencia Estatal de Investigacion" (AEI)) and by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and by grant from the Program for the Promotion and Impulse of Research and Transfer of the University of Cadiz (Ref: IRTP04_UCA)