Agenda de investigación y monitoreo en bosques secos de Colombia (2013-2015): fortaleciendo redes de colaboración para su gestión integral en el territorio

Tropical dry forests are the most threatened, yet among the least studied ecosystems in the Neotropics. These forests hold a unique combination of plants, animals and microorganisms that have adapted to the rain seasonality that characterizes tropical dry forest, thus holding many endemic species. In addition, this ecosystem provides key environmental services such as water regulation, soil retention and carbon sequestration, which regulates local climate, water and nutrients availability. In Colombia, dry forests occur in six regions: the Caribbean, the inter-Andean valleys of Cauca and Magdalena, the Northeastern Andes, the Patía valley, and the Llanos (Orinoquia region). In this working paper we discuss the three lines of research that the Instituto Alexander von Humboldt has been leading (2013-2015) to enhance tropical dry forest research, longtermmonitoring, and sustainable management: i) distribution and conservation status, ii) composition, ecological dynamics and functioning, and iii) characterization and conservation of tropical dry forests associated biodiversity.El bosque seco tropical tiene una diversidad única de plantas, animales y microorganismos que se han adaptado a condiciones de estrés hídrico, por lo cual presenta altos niveles de endemismo. Presta además servicios fundamentales como la regulación hídrica, la retención de suelos y la captura de carbono que regula el clima y la disponibilidad de agua y nutrientes. En Colombia el bosque seco se encuentra en seis regiones biogeográficas: el Caribe, los valles interandinos del Cauca y el Magdalena, la región Norandina en Santander y Norte de Santander, el valle del río Patía y afloramientos rocosos en los departamentos de Arauca y Vichada en los Llanos Orientales. Pese a su importancia para la conservación de la biodiversidad y los beneficios derivados para las sociedades humanas, este ecosistema es considerado el más amenazado del neotrópico y cuenta con muy poca información disponible, producto de la investigación científica. Bajo este contexto, el Instituto Humboldt, bajo el liderazgo de los Programas de Ciencias de la Biodiversidad y de Gestión Territorial, ha liderado la consolidación de una Agenda de Investigación y Monitoreo a escala de país para fortalecer la gestión integral de este ecosistema a partir del conocimiento científico. En este documento de trabajo se analizan las tres líneas de investigación que se han venido liderando desde 2013 hasta 2015 con el objetivo de fomentar la investigación, el monitoreo a largo plazo y un manejo integral del bosque seco en Colombia: i) distribución espacial y estado de conservación, ii) composición, dinámica y funcionamiento, y iii) caracterización y conservación de la biodiversidad asociada

Expediciones Humboldt: San Francisco, Cundinamarca

Este informe presenta los resultados de la caracterización biológica de uno de los últimos grandes corredores ecológicos del territorio CAR, ubicado en el margen occidental del altiplano cundiboyacense. Este corredor, también conocido como el Espcarpe, incluye áreas prioritarias para la conservación de bosques alto andinos y páramos de la provincia de Gualivá y hace parte del Corredor de Conservación Bogotá-Región. Esperamos que esta información producto de la capacidad científica del Instituto Humboldt, sea relevante y útil en las decisiones de planificación estratégica tanto en el ordenamiento territorial de los municipios de San Francisco, Subachoque y Supatá, como para las decisiones de conservación de la Corporación Autónoma Regional.BogotáCiencias Básicas de la Biodiversida

Agenda de investigación y monitoreo en bosques secos de Colombia (2013-2015): fortaleciendo redes de colaboración para su gestión integral en el territorio

Tropical dry forests are the most threatened, yet among the least studied ecosystems in the Neotropics. These forests hold a unique combination of plants, animals and microorganisms that have adapted to the rain seasonality that characterizes tropical dry forest, thus holding many endemic species. In addition, this ecosystem provides key environmental services such as water regulation, soil retention and carbon sequestration, which regulates local climate, water and nutrients availability. In Colombia, dry forests occur in six regions: the Caribbean, the inter-Andean valleys of Cauca and Magdalena, the Northeastern Andes, the Patía valley, and the Llanos (Orinoquia region).El bosque seco tropical tiene una diversidad única de plantas, animales y microorganismos que se han adaptado a condiciones de estrés hídrico, por lo cual presenta altos niveles de endemismo. Presta además servicios fundamentales como la regulación hídrica, la retención de suelos y la captura de carbono que regula el clima y la disponibilidad de agua y nutrientes. En Colombia el bosque seco se encuentra en seis regiones biogeográficas: el Caribe, los valles interandinos del Cauca y el Magdalena, la región Norandina en Santander y Norte de Santander, el valle del río Patía y afloramientos rocosos en los departamentos de Arauca y Vichada en los Llanos Orientales

Assessing some advanced oxidation processes in the abatement of phenol aqueous solutions

In this work, phenol oxidation in aqueous solution promoted by the effect of the oxidizing agents H2O2, O3 and UV radiation and their synergy in four different advanced oxidation processes (O3, O3/UV, H2O2/O3 and O3/H2O2/UV) were assayed. Studies were performed with a closed-loop hydraulic circuit set up with a relatively high volume of solution (500 cm3) during 90 min of treatment time. Parameters such as concentration for oxidizing species, pH, presence of UV irradiation were evaluated. The resulting degradation efficiencies were evaluated using GC-MS. The agents here used were selected considering their ease of handling and low toxicity, generation of deposited matter or sludge, so a filtration treatment for the analysis of the samples was not required. In all cases, it was observed that with increasing treatment time better degradation efficiencies were obtained. The best results were obtained with the combination of O3/H2O2/UV where up to 95% degradation was attained at pH 9, which is due to active species generated in the process, e.g., O3 and OH˙, on the contaminant. SPE was performed for determining the presence of several by-products, mainly: catechol, resorcinol and hydroquinone, which were identified

F-Actin Distribution Changes Provoked by Acetaminophen in the Proximal Tubule in Kidney of Adult Male Rat

Abstract Acetaminophen is a drug used to treat many conditions as headache, muscle aches, arthritis, backache, toothache, and fever between others, but collateral effects of this drug are not well known yet. Here is tested its effect on proximal tubule epithelium. Acetaminophen (APAP) at doses of 200, 500, 1000 and 1500 mg/Kg i.p. caused cell damage and changes in F-actin distribution in the proximal tubule of male Wistar rats. After 48 hours of treatment, the proximal tubule epithelium showed tumefaction and necrosis. Dose of 200 mg/kg decreased the F-actin and was observed a structure in patches in the basal cytoplasm of epithelial cells of the proximal tubule. This effect was increased depending on the administered dose. Dose of 1000 mg/kg produced the highest histological damage and changes in the actin cytoskeleton. Results of this study suggested that nephrotoxic damage produced by high doses of APAP included breakdown of cytoskeleton in proximal tubule epithelium

Strong floristic distinctiveness across Neotropical successional forests

Forests that regrow naturally on abandoned fields are important for restoring biodiversity and ecosystem services, but can they also preserve the distinct regional tree floras? Using the floristic composition of 1215 early successional forests (≤20 years) in 75 human-modified landscapes across the Neotropic realm, we identified 14 distinct floristic groups, with a between-group dissimilarity of 0.97. Floristic groups were associated with location, bioregions, soil pH, temperature seasonality, and water availability. Hence, there is large continental-scale variation in the species composition of early successional forests, which is mainly associated with biogeographic and environmental factors but not with human disturbance indicators. This floristic distinctiveness is partially driven by regionally restricted species belonging to widespread genera. Early secondary forests contribute therefore to restoring and conserving the distinctiveness of bioregions across the Neotropical realm, and forest restoration initiatives should use local species to assure that these distinct floras are maintained.Additional co-authors: Alvaro Idárraga, André B. Junqueira, Angelica María Almeyda Zambrano, Ben H. J. de Jong, Bruno Ximenes Pinho, Bryan Finegan, Carolina Castellano-Castro, Daisy Christiane Zambiazi, Daniel Hernán García, Deborah Kennard, Diego Delgado, Eben N. Broadbent, Edgar Ortiz-Malavassi, Eduardo A. Pérez-García, Edwin Lebrija-Trejos, Erika Berenguer, Erika Marín-Spiotta, Esteban Alvarez-Davila, Everardo Valadares de Sá Sampaio, Felipe Melo, Fernando Elias, Filipe França, Florian Oberleitner, Francisco Mora, G. Bruce Williamson, Gabriel Dalla Colletta, George A. L. Cabral, Géraldine Derroire, Geraldo Wilson Fernandes, Hans vanderWal, Heitor Mancini Teixeira, Henricus F. M. Vester, Hernando García, Ima C. G. Vieira, Jaider Jiménez-Montoya, Jarcilene S. deAlmeida-Cortez, Jefferson S. Hall, Jerome Chave, Jess K. Zimmerman, Jhon Edison Nieto, Joice Ferreira, Jorge Rodríguez-Velázquez, Jorge Ruíz, Jos Barlow, José Aguilar-Cano, José Luis Hernández-Stefanoni, Julien Engel, Justin M. Becknell, Kátia Zanini, Madelon Lohbeck, Marcelo Tabarelli, Marco Antonio Romero-Romero, Maria Uriarte, Maria D. M. Veloso, Mário M. Espírito-Santo, Masha T. vander Sande, Michiel van Breugel, Miguel Martínez-Ramos, Naomi B. Schwartz, Natalia Norden, Nathalia Pérez-Cárdenas, Noel González-Valdivia, Pascal Petronelli, Patricia Balvanera, Paulo Massoca, Pedro H. S. Brancalion, Pedro M. Villa, Peter Hietz, Rebecca Ostertag, René López-Camacho, Ricardo G. César, Rita Mesquita, Robin L. Chazdon, Rodrigo Muñoz, Saara J. DeWalt, Sandra C. Müller, Sandra M. Durán, Sebastião Venâncio Martins, Susana Ochoa-Gaona, Susana Rodríguez-Buritica, T. Mitchell Aide, Tony Vizcarra Bentos, Vanessa de S. Moreno, Vanessa Granda, Wayt Thomas, Whendee L. Silver, Yule R. F. Nunes, Lourens Poorte

Divulgación Científica No. 5

En los países iberoamericanos, así como en otras regiones del mundo, existe una discusión permanente sobre el deterioro el medioambiente. Las instituciones de educación superior contamos con una vasta producción bibliográfica que queremos compartir con todos los interesados y con la sociedad. Por esa razón, la Asociación de Editoriales Universitarias de América Latina y el Caribe (Eulac)* dando continuidad a nuestro proyecto de editoriales universitarias Enlazadas, presentamos este año la propuesta Enlazadas por el medioambiente, que abordará esta inquietud desde diversos ejes en el marco de las ferias del libro más importantes del mundo.In Ibero-American countries, as well as in other regions of the world, there is a permanent discussion about the deterioration of the environment. Higher education institutions have a vast bibliographic production that we want to share with all interested parties and with society. For this reason, the Association of University Presses of Latin America and the Caribbean (Eulac)*, giving continuity to our project of Enlazadas university presses, we present this year the proposal Enlazadas for the environment, which will address this concern from various axes within the framework of the most important book fairs in the world

Multidimensional tropical forest recovery

International audienceTropical forests disappear rapidly because of deforestation, yet they have the potential to regrow naturally on abandoned lands. We analyze how 12 forest attributes recover during secondary succession and how their recovery is interrelated using 77 sites across the tropics. Tropical forests are highly resilient to low-intensity land use; after 20 years, forest attributes attain 78% (33 to 100%) of their old-growth values. Recovery to 90% of old-growth values is fastest for soil (12 decades). Network analysis shows three independent clusters of attribute recovery, related to structure, species diversity, and species composition. Secondary forests should be embraced as a low-cost, natural solution for ecosystem restoration, climate change mitigation, and biodiversity conservation

Strong floristic distinctiveness across Neotropical successional forests

International audienceForests that regrow naturally on abandoned fields are important for restoring biodiversity and ecosystem services, but can they also preserve the distinct regional tree floras? Using the floristic composition of 1215 early successional forests (≤20 years) in 75 human-modified landscapes across the Neotropic realm, we identified 14 distinct floristic groups, with a between-group dissimilarity of 0.97. Floristic groups were associated with location, bioregions, soil pH, temperature seasonality, and water availability. Hence, there is large continental-scale variation in the species composition of early successional forests, which is mainly associated with biogeographic and environmental factors but not with human disturbance indicators. This floristic distinctiveness is partially driven by regionally restricted species belonging to widespread genera. Early secondary forests contribute therefore to restoring and conserving the distinctiveness of bioregions across the Neotropical realm, and forest restoration initiatives should use local species to assure that these distinct floras are maintained