Understanding Climate Change Perception in Community-Based Management Contexts: Perspectives of Two Indigenous Communities

Many natural resources around the world are managed by indigenous communities that are closely connected to nature and have nature-based livelihoods. These communities are particularly vulnerable to climate change and in need of adaptation strategies. Therefore, understanding how a community that is connected to nature perceives climate change is crucial. Some studies have shown that the capacity to respond to climate change vulnerability might be influenced by the social ties among community members. We used Q methodology to explore and compare climate change perceptions in two indigenous communities in Colombia and Mexico. Both of these communities are characterized by nature-based livelihoods, collective ownership of land, and community-based natural resource management. We analyzed their perception of climate change and nature, their preferred options for adaptation strategies, and the sources of information they trust. The perceptions that emerged were interpreted according to the four worldviews proposed by cultural theory. Overall, this research suggests that perceptions varied across and within local contexts, meaning that different ways of understanding and dealing with climate change coexist within the communities. The results showed that hierarchy and egalitarian worldviews (as described by cultural theory) are more common in both indigenous communities. The history and lived experiences of community-based management for both communities influence preferred adaptation options to cope with climate change

Density and reproductive characteristics of female brown bears in the Cantabrian Mountains, NW Spain

Here we present annual nearest-neighbour distances (as a proxy of density) between females with cubs-of-the-year (hereafter FCOY) and reproductive characteristics of brown bears Ursus arctos in the Cantabrian Mountains (NW Spain), from 1989 to 2017. FCOY nearest-neighbour distances and reproduction parameters of 19 focal females followed over several consecutive years (from 2004 to 2017) were obtained from bears inhabiting the western sector of the Cantabrian Mountains, where most of the bear population resides. In contrast, general reproductive characteristics were studied in the whole Cantabrian Mountains (western and eastern sectors together) on a sample of 362 litter sizes and 695 cubs. Mean nearest-neighbour distance between FCOY was 2559 ± 1222 m (range = 1305–4757 m). Mean litter size was significantly larger in the west (1.8 ± 0.2 cubs) than in the east (1.3 ± 0.6 cubs). Mean litter size for the whole of the Cantabrian Mountains was 1.6 ± 0.3 cubs. Litter sizes of one, two and three cubs represented 33.4, 56.1 and 10.5% of observed family groups, respectively. Interannual variations in litter size were not significant for both the western and the eastern areas. Mean cub mortality was 0.2 ± 0.5 cubs and did not vary among years. Cub mortality per litter size was 3.9% for one cub, 69.2% for two cubs and 26.9% for three cubs. Mean reproductive rate of the 19 focal females was 1.5 ± 0.6 cubs (n = 58 litters). Litter size of focal FCOY did not differ from the litter size obtained from systematic observations in the whole Cantabrian Mountains. During this period, cub mortality occurred in 24.1% of the 58 litters. Females usually bred every second year (average litter interval = 2.2 years). The estimated reproductive rate for the bear population was 0.7 young born/year/reproductive adult female

Polylectrolyte- versus membrane-coated electrodes for energy production by Capmix salinity exchange methods

La versión final publicada se puede encontrar en: Journal of Power Sources, 302(20): 387-393 (2016). http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2015.10.076In this paper we analyze the energy and power achievable by means of a re- cently proposed salinity gradient technique for energy production. The method, denominated soft electrode or SE, is based on the potential di erence that can be generated between two porous electrodes coated with cationic and anionic polyelectrolytes. It is related to the Capacitive Donnan Potential (CDP) tech- nique, where the electrical potential variations are mostly related to the Donnan potential, of ion-selective membranes in the case of CDP, and of the polyelec- trolyte coating in SE. It is found that although SE is comparable to CDP in terms of energy production, it presents slower rates of voltage change, and lower achieved power. The separate analysis of the response of positively and neg- atively coated electrodes shows that the latter produces most of the voltage rise and also of the response delay. These results, together with electrokinetic techniques, give an idea on how the two types of polyelectrolytes adsorb on the carbon surface and a ect di erently the di usion layer. It is possible to suggest that the SE technique is a promising one, and it may overcome the drawbacks associated to the use of membranes in CDP.MINECO FIS2013-47666-C3-1-RJunta de Andalucía, PE2012-FQM0694European Union 7th Framework Programme (FP7/2007–2013) under agreement No. 25686

“Education Network” a new way to teach Chemistry

The complexity of chemistry has implications for the teaching of chemistry. That chemistry is a very complex subject. The majority of the students at University think that chemistry is a difficult discipline and they have difficulty in understanding the concepts. Moreover, students' interest in chemistry decreases the first year at university. The reason for this decrease might be that the contents of chemistry laboratory classes are boring, out of date and lacking of dynamism that students experience through visual media tools. For these reasons, new programs and methodologies should be developed. Those are based on making chemistry relevant through problem solving and collaborative learning hold promise for reforming chemistry education. It is about an education according to circumstances, which is adapted to context and virtual behaviour of people. It's time to CRUSH boredom by transforming your classroom into an Escape Room adventure. School-based escape games are a great teaching tool. The students while playing, learn. The most important point is that they won’t realize they’re doing both at the same time. In this work, an educational gamification experience based on the escape room concept was developed. The first (Do It Yourself) DIY Escape Room was built the year before at Mechanical Engineer Degree started, that took more than three weeks of work. It was presented to other professors to the same subject at different degrees. That DIY Escape Room was modified and adapted to each group. Each professor changed the clues, problems and so on in order to orientate the topic as much as possible to their students.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Automated data analysis to rapidly derive and communicate ecological insights from satellite-tag data: A case study of reintroduced red kites

Analysis of satellite-telemetry data mostly occurs long after it has been collected, due to the time and effort needed to collate and interpret such material. Such delayed reporting does reduce the usefulness of such data for nature conservation when timely information about animal movements is required. To counter this problem we present a novel approach which combines automated analysis of satellite-telemetry data with rapid communication of insights derived from such data. A relatively simple algorithm (comprising speed of movement and turning angle calculated from fixes), allowed instantaneous detection of excursions away from settlement areas and automated calculation of home ranges on the remaining data Automating the detection of both excursions and home range calculations enabled us to disseminate ecological insights from satellite-tag data instantaneously through a dedicated web portal to inform conservationists and wider audiences. We recommend automated analysis, interpretation and communication of satellite tag and other ecological data to advance nature conservation research and practice

Stacking of capacitive cells for electrical energy production by salinity exchange

Publisher's link: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378775316303676?np=yHa estado embargado durante 1 año, hasta julio 2017In this paper we explore methods for stacking individual cells in order to increase the amount of energy that can be extracted from salinity gradient cycles (capmix methods). Each of the cells consists of a pair of parallel electrodes made of activated carbon particles, either bare or coated by a layer of polyelectrolyte. In these methods, energy is produced based on the modifications in the electrical double layer (EDL) structure in the pores of the carbon particles upon exchange of the salinity of the surrounding medium. In the case of the bare carbon particles, the electrodes are externally charged in presence of high-salt concentration, and discharged after exchanging the solution for a dilute one (sea- vs. river-water cycles). In a first stacking approach, we simply connect the electrodes side-by-side and only the outermost ones can be connected to the external source. Using a stack where potential and current between cells can be measured, it is shown that only the external electrodes seem to work, and it is suggested that this is a consequence of internal short-circuit currents between oppositely charged electrodes of different cells through the electrolyte. In contrast, the side-by-side configuration is operational if coated electrodes are used.MICINN, Spain (Project FIS2013-47666-C3-1R)RYC-2014-16901 (MINECO)FEDER Funds E

New energy sources: Blue energy study in Central America

The following article has been submitted to/accepted by Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy. After it is published, it will be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4976326.Blue energy or salinity difference energy takes advantage of the free energy released in the mixture of two solutions with different salinity concentrations as it happens continuously in river mouths. Among the large number of available techniques that aim to harness blue energy, capmix (or capacitive mixing) methods allow to directly extract electrical energy without the need of any electromechanical converter such as turbines or heat engines. The main goal of this article is to analyze the potential of blue energy by capmix methods in Central America. So far, blue energy studies have been principally carried out in countries from the global North. Therefore, we describe experimental results with real sea and river waters from the Gulf of Fonseca, an area of special interest due to its hydrographic richness, which is situated among Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua. An electrochemical cell, which consists of a pair of activated carbon electrodes coated with cationic and anionic polyelectrolyte layers respectively, is used in the experiments. The cell voltage in open circuit (OCV) is used as a measure of the performance of the capmix process. It is found that the OCV is larger when natural river water is used instead of low salinity NaCl solutions. The rainy season in which the experiments were performed reduced the ionic content of the river, increasing the salinity difference with ocean waters. The feasibility of capmix as a means of clean energy production is discussed.Eureka SD Project (agreement number 2013-2591), Erasmus Mundus programme of the European Union.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad of Spain (Project FIS2013-47666-C3- 1-R)Junta de Andalucía (Spain) project PE-2012- FQM0694EU FEDER FUND

Staphylococcus epidermidis: A differential trait of the fecal microbiota of breast-fed infants

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Breast milk is an important source of staphylococci and other bacterial groups to the infant gut. The objective of this work was to analyse the bacterial diversity in feces of breast-fed infants and to compare it with that of formula-fed ones. A total of 23 women and their respective infants (16 breast-fed and 7 formula-fed) participated in the study. The 16 women and their infants provided a sample of breast milk and feces, respectively, at days 7, 14, and 35. The samples were plated onto different culture media. Staphylococcal and enterococcal isolates were submitted to genetic profiling and to a characterization scheme, including detection of potential virulence traits and sensitivity to antibiotics.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The feeding practice had a significant effect on bacterial counts. A total of 1,210 isolates (489 from milk, 531 from breast-fed and 190 from formula-fed infants) were identified. <it>Staphylococcus epidermidis </it>was the predominant species in milk and feces of breast-fed infants while it was less prevalent in those of formula fed-infants. <it>Enterococcus faecalis </it>was the second predominant bacterial species among the fecal samples provided by the breast-fed infants but it was also present in all the samples from the formula-fed ones. The biofilm-related <it>icaD </it>gene and the <it>mecA </it>gene were only detected in a low number of the <it>S. epidermidis </it>strains. Several enterococcal isolates were also characterized and none of them contained the <it>cylA </it>or the <it>vanABDEG </it>antibiotic-resistance genes. All were sensitive to vancomycin.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The presence of <it>S. epidermidis </it>is a differential trait of the fecal microbiota of breast-fed infants. Globally, the staphyloccal isolates obtained from milk and feces of breast-fed infants contain a low number of virulence determinants and are sensitive to most of the antibiotics tested.</p