Factores que determinan la colonización de insectos acuáticos en pequeños estanques

Factors determining insect colonization of small artificial ponds. Insect colonization was studied in a set of ten small experimental ponds of same size, subjected to different environmental conditions. Correspondence Analysis was employed to analyze the effect of some environmental and life history variables on settlement of insect taxa. The analysis distinguished two groups of species: 1) generalist species that colonized all the ponds studied (except pond X), independently of environmental conditions, and 2) selective species that colonized only some ponds. Among the environmental variables studied, vegetation, substrate, salinity and insolation degree, were important determinants of habitat selection by species. Taxa showed differences in colonization ability based mainly on feeding strategies more than on flight capacity.Se estudió la colonización por insectos de una serie de diez pequeños estanques experimentales de igual tamaño, sometido a distintas condiciones ambientales. Se empleó un análisis de correspondencias para analizar el efecto de algunas variables ambientales y del ciclo biológico sobre la instalación de los táxones de insectos. El análisis distinguió dos grupos de especies: 1) especies generalistas que colonizaron todos los estanques estudiados (excepto el X), con independencia de las condiciones ambientales, y 2) especies selectivas que sólo colonizaron algunos estanques. Entre las variables ambientales estudiadas, las que resultaron importantes para la selección del hábitat por parte de las especies fueron: vegetación, sustrato, salinidad y grado de insolación. Los distintos táxones mostraron diferencias en la capacidad de colonización basadas principalmente en las estrategias alimentarias más que en la capacidad de vuelo

EL CLIMA DE LA CUENCA DEL RIO SEGURA (S.E. DE ESPANA): FACTORES QUE LO CONTROLAN

The termopluviometrical data of 65 meteorological stations located in the Basin of the Segura River (S.E. of Spain) have been used to characterize homogeneus climatic sectors. The statistical analysis of the information was carried out in different phases and on separate matrices. To detect the possible effects of two different environmental factors (the altitude above the sea level and the proximity to the sea) on the basin climate, we have employed a step by step multiple linear regression analysis. The results suggest the existence of termopluviometrical gradients where ten different climatic sectors can be identified. A few of these sectors seem to function as «islands».Se han empleado los datos termopluviométricos de 65 estaciones meteorológicas localizadas en la Cuenca del Segura (S.E. de España), para caracterizar sectores climáticos homogéneos en la misma. El análisis de la información se llevó a cabo en varias fases y sobre distintos tipos de matrices, aplicando técnicas estadísticas de ordenación. Para detectar las posibles influencias que, sobre el clima de la cuenca, ejercen dos factores del medio físico: altitud y proximidad al mar, se aplicó un análisis de regresión lineal múltiple paso a paso («stepwise multiple linear regression»). Los resultados obtenidos permiten definir diez tipos de sectores climáticos, a modo de gradientes termopluviométricos, donde destacan algunos que funcionan como «islas», de notable peculiaridad e interés ambiental

La calidad de las aguas del canal de desagüe de «El Reguerón» (Río Guadalentín: Cuenca del Segura)

In this paper, the present quality state of the water from the last reache of Rio Guadalentín, one of the most important secundary river of the Rio Segura, has been studied. This reache is known as «El Reguerón». Several physico-chemical and biological parameters have been measured from eleven sampling-station, and their stational distribution and, in some cases, their diurnal curves has been stablished. We have studied the longitudinal distribution of the most relevant populations of macroinvertebrates with indicator valué of the water biological quality. We also reported on the load of poUutants in the reache through the caracterization, inventory and distribution of its most important sewages. The global analysis of the physico-chemical and biological parameters, using structural and pollution indexes, allows the Identification of three different sectors each one characterized by a particular level of contamination. Finally, a system for poUution diagnosis is stablished and a management plan for «El Reguerón» is proposed.Se ha estudiado el estado físico-químico y biológico actual de la calidad de las aguas del tramo final, canalizado, de uno de los afluentes más importantes del río Segura, el río Guadalentín. A partir de 11 estaciones de muestreo, se han medido una serie de parámetros físico-químicos y biológicos del agua, analizándose su distribución estacional y, de algunos de ellos, sus curvas de variación diaria. Se ha examinado la distribución longitudinal de las poblaciones más importantes de macroinver;tebrados con valor indicador de la calidad biológica de sus aguas. Se ha descrito la carga contaminante del canal, mediante la caracterización, inventario y distribución de los efluentes más importantes que vierten en él. El análisis global de los parámetros físico-químicos y el análisis biológico mediante la utilización de índices estructurales y de polución, ha permitido caracterizar tres tramos o sectores del cauce según su grado de alteración. Finalmente, se ha establecido un sistema de diagnosis de la contaminación y se ha propuesto un plan sostenido anticontaminación y de gestión para este tramo del cauce del río Guadalentín

Six-year follow-up of slaughterhouse surveillance (2008-2013): the Catalan Slaughterhouse Support Network (SESC)

Meat inspection has the ultimate objective of declaring the meat and offal obtained from carcasses of slaughtered animals fit or unfit for human consumption. This safeguards the health of consumers by ensuring that the food coming from these establishments poses no risk to public health. Concomitantly, it contributes to animal disease surveillance. The Catalan Public Health Protection Agency (Generalitat de Catalunya) identified the need to provide its meat inspectors with a support structure to improve diagnostic capacity: the Slaughterhouse Support Network (SESC). The main goal of the SESC was to offer continuing education to meat inspectors to improve the diagnostic capacity for lesions observed in slaughterhouses. With this aim, a web-based application was designed that allowed meat inspectors to submit their inquiries, images of the lesions, and samples for laboratory analysis. This commentary reviews the cases from the first 6 years of SESC operation (2008–2013). The program not only provides continuing education to inspectors but also contributes to the collection of useful information on animal health and welfare. Therefore, SESC complements animal disease surveillance programs, such as those for tuberculosis, bovine cysticercosis, and porcine trichinellosis, and is a powerful tool for early detection of emerging animal diseases and zoonoses

Diminishing benefits of urban living for children and adolescents’ growth and development

Optimal growth and development in childhood and adolescence is crucial for lifelong health and well-being1–6. Here we used data from 2,325 population-based studies, with measurements of height and weight from 71 million participants, to report the height and body-mass index (BMI) of children and adolescents aged 5–19 years on the basis of rural and urban place of residence in 200 countries and territories from 1990 to 2020. In 1990, children and adolescents residing in cities were taller than their rural counterparts in all but a few high-income countries. By 2020, the urban height advantage became smaller in most countries, and in many high-income western countries it reversed into a small urban-based disadvantage. The exception was for boys in most countries in sub-Saharan Africa and in some countries in Oceania, south Asia and the region of central Asia, Middle East and north Africa. In these countries, successive cohorts of boys from rural places either did not gain height or possibly became shorter, and hence fell further behind their urban peers. The difference between the age-standardized mean BMI of children in urban and rural areas was <1.1 kg m–2 in the vast majority of countries. Within this small range, BMI increased slightly more in cities than in rural areas, except in south Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and some countries in central and eastern Europe. Our results show that in much of the world, the growth and developmental advantages of living in cities have diminished in the twenty-first century, whereas in much of sub-Saharan Africa they have amplified

Repositioning of the global epicentre of non-optimal cholesterol

High blood cholesterol is typically considered a feature of wealthy western countries1,2. However, dietary and behavioural determinants of blood cholesterol are changing rapidly throughout the world3 and countries are using lipid-lowering medications at varying rates. These changes can have distinct effects on the levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and non-HDL cholesterol, which have different effects on human health4,5. However, the trends of HDL and non-HDL cholesterol levels over time have not been previously reported in a global analysis. Here we pooled 1,127 population-based studies that measured blood lipids in 102.6 million individuals aged 18 years and older to estimate trends from 1980 to 2018 in mean total, non-HDL and HDL cholesterol levels for 200 countries. Globally, there was little change in total or non-HDL cholesterol from 1980 to 2018. This was a net effect of increases in low- and middle-income countries, especially in east and southeast Asia, and decreases in high-income western countries, especially those in northwestern Europe, and in central and eastern Europe. As a result, countries with the highest level of non-HDL cholesterol—which is a marker of cardiovascular risk—changed from those in western Europe such as Belgium, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Malta in 1980 to those in Asia and the Pacific, such as Tokelau, Malaysia, The Philippines and Thailand. In 2017, high non-HDL cholesterol was responsible for an estimated 3.9 million (95% credible interval 3.7 million–4.2 million) worldwide deaths, half of which occurred in east, southeast and south Asia. The global repositioning of lipid-related risk, with non-optimal cholesterol shifting from a distinct feature of high-income countries in northwestern Europe, north America and Australasia to one that affects countries in east and southeast Asia and Oceania should motivate the use of population-based policies and personal interventions to improve nutrition and enhance access to treatment throughout the world