El turismo micológico como fuente de ingresos y empleo en el medio rural. El caso de Castilla y León

Edible wild mushroom picking is becoming an important source of income in rural areas. The wide range of activitieswhich add value to mycological production (initial sale, transformation, marketing, etc.) include those related to tourismwhich can attract visitors to mushroom producing areas, leading to so-called mycological tourism. To date, no researchexists quantifying the importance thereof in rural areas endowed with such resources. The present research provides thefirst model to estimate this activity’s contribution to the economy of rural areas in the region of Castilla y León. The mainfinding to emerge evidences a close link between influx of visitors, who come principally to pick, and mycological productivityin the region. Based on this relation, we estimate four key variables to determine the impact which said activityhas on the regional economy as a whole: the number of overnight stays and trips made by mycological tourists, as wellas associated expenditure and employment created. Findings underscore the importance of this activity in the regionaltourism industry and point to its significance as a major market niche, particularly during the hotel low season. The needfor public administrators to implement a related management policy is also inferred. La recolección de hongos silvestres comestibles se está convirtiendo en un importante motor generador de rentasen el medio rural. Entre las variadas actividades que aportan valor a la cadena de producción, relacionadas con la micología (primera venta, transformación, comercialización, etc.), se encuentran aquellas de turismo capaces de atraer visitantes a los territorios productores o turismo micológico. En la actualidad no existe ninguna investigación que cuantifique su importancia en las áreas rurales con recurso. Así, en la presente investigación se desarrolla por primera vez un modelo, que se aplica para estimar esta aportación a la economía de los territorios rurales de la comunidad autónoma de Castilla y León. El principal hallazgo obtenido muestra que existe una fuerte relación entre afluencia de visitantes, cuya principal motivación es recolectar, y la productividad micológica del territorio. A partir de esta relación se estiman cuatro variables fundamentales para calcular la importancia de esta actividad en el total de esta economía: el número de pernoctaciones y de viajes realizados por turistas micológicos, así como el gasto asociado y el empleo generado. Los resultados expuestos muestran la importancia relativa de esta actividad sobre el sector del turismo rural en la región, lo que la convierte en un importante nicho de mercado de vital importancia, sobre todo en temporadas de baja ocupación de los establecimientos hoteleros, lo que hace necesario políticas de gestión de esta actividad por parte de las administraciones públicas.

Field analysis of the deterioration after some years of use of four insect-proof screens utilized in Mediterranean greenhouses

The installation of insect-proof screens on greenhouse vents is one of the principal methods of protection against harmful insects for crops. Their main disadvantage lies on their negative effects on natural ventilation and greenhouse microclimate, which have been the focus of studies by several authors. However, few works have analysed the effect of accumulated dust and dirt on these screens. The present study has analysed four anti-insect screens, comparing their geometric characteristics before installation and after three to four years of use. Two negative effects have been observed and quantified: deterioration of the threads that make up the screen and reduction of porosity due to accumulated dirt in the pores. This deterioration over time gives leads to a mean increase in thread diameter of 3.1%, as well to a mean decrease in the pore size of 6.2% and 2.3% in the weft (Lpx) and the warp (Lpy), respectively. In fact, the insect-proof screen porosity (φ) decreased due to the deterioration of the threads by an average of 6.5%, in addition to an average 20.3% reduction due to the accumulation of dirt in the pores, making a total reduction in porosity of 26.8%. This decrease in porosity leads to lower greenhouse ventilation rates, and is therefore detrimental for the greenhouse microclimate. Consequently, it is recommended that insect-proof screens in arid areas such as Almería (Spain), with abundant dust suspended in the atmosphere, be washed monthly using water sprayed at high pressure

Un modelo de potencialidad climática para la trufa negra (Tuber melanosporum) en Teruel (España)

Black truffle (Tuber melanosporum) is an edible ectomycorrhizal mushroom whose cultivation is an economically-viable alternative in rural areas affected by depopulation. In the province of Teruel (Spain), truffle plantations occupy nowadays more than 4,500 ha, but no land use planning guidelines have been available. Species distribution models are tools that allow managers, farmers and foresters to plan ahead and make decisions with a scientific basis. The territory climatically suitable for T. melanosporum in Teruel has been predicted using a method based on the ecology field theory, previously tested in the development of distribution models for forest species. A dataset of 924 locations where black truffle has been collected in the Catalano-Aragonesa ecoregion and eight climatic parameters deeply influencing the presence and fructification of the black truffle have been considered and their corresponding habitats have been built. The distribution model, corrected under lithological criteria, has identified more than 8,000 km² as suitable for black truffle fructification in Teruel, almost 55% of the province, belonging 3,000 of them to the optimal class. This land is mainly distributed over the regions of Gúdar-Javalambre, Comunidad de Teruel and Maestrazgo. A further correction based on land-use criteria has identified more than 4,000 km² as suitable for truffle plantations, being 1,150 of them optimal. The model here presented will help to a proper planning for truffle cultivation in the province of Teruel.La trufa negra (Tuber melanosporum) es un hongo ectomicorrícico comestible cuyo cultivo supone en la actualidad una alternativa económica viable para zonas rurales afectadas gravemente por la despoblación. En la provincia de Teruel (España) hay más de 4.500 ha de plantaciones truferas, instaladas sin ningún proceso de planificación orientado a alcanzar un territorio rural ordenado. Los modelos territoriales de potencialidad o aptitud para las especies son herramientas que permiten a los gestores, agricultores y selvicultores desarrollar dicha planificación y tomar decisiones fundamentadas en un conocimiento científico lo más riguroso posible. Utilizando un método basado en la teoría de campos aplicada a la ecología, habitual para elaborar las áreas potenciales de especies forestales vegetales, se ha determinado el territorio climáticamente apto para T. melanosporum en la provincia Teruel. Para construir este modelo se han utilizado 924 localizaciones de la ecorregión Catalano-Aragonesa. Elaborando ocho parámetros climáticos trascendentes para la fructificación de la trufa negra, se han construido sus correspondientes hábitats. El modelo de potencialidad climática elaborado, completado con una corrección litológica, ha permitido identificar algo más de 8.000 km2 como aptos para la recolección de la trufa negra en Teruel, casi el 55% de la provincia, de los cuales 3.000 corresponden a la clase óptima y están distribuidos por las comarcas de Gúdar-Javalambre, Comunidad de Teruel y Maestrazgo. La adaptación del modelo ha permitido identificar más de 4.000 km2 como aptos para la instalación de plantaciones truferas, 1.150 de los cuales tienen potencialidad óptima. El modelo generado en el presente trabajo permitirá la adecuada planificación territorial de la truficultura en la provincia de Teruel

On studying the interaction between different stent models and rabbit tracheal tissue: numerical, endoscopic and histological comparison

Stenting technique is employed worldwide for treating atherosclerotic vessel and tracheal stenosis. Both diseases can be treated by means of metallic stents which present advantages but are affected by the main problem of restenosis of the stented area. In this study we have built a rabbit trachea numerical model and we have analyzed it before and after insertion and opening of two types of commercial stent: a Zilver® FlexTM Stent and a WallStentTM. In experimental parallel work, two types of stent were implanted in 30 New Zealand rabbits divided in two groups of 10 animals corresponding to each stent type and a third group made up of 10 animals without stent. The tracheal wall response was assessed by means of computerized tomography by endoscopy, macroscopic findings and histopathological study 90 days after stent deployment. Three idealized trachea models, one model for each group, were created in order to perform the computational study. The animal model was used to validate the numerical findings and to attempt to find qualitative correlations between numerical and experimental results. Experimental findings such as inflammation, granuloma and abnormal tissue growth, assessed from histomorphometric analyses were compared with derived numerical parameters such as wall shear stress (WSS) and maximum principal stress. The direct comparison of these parameters and the biological response supports the hypothesis that WSS and tensile stresses may lead to a greater tracheal epithelium response within the stented region, with the latter seeming to have the dominant role. This study may be helpful for improving stent design and demonstrates the feasibility offered by in-silico investigated tracheal structural and fluid dynamics

Property rights for grazing: study case from summer grazing in laguna del Maule (Chile)

Through contingent appraisal method, it is developed a simulation of prairies use rights in summer grazing in mountain. Three operating systems were analyzed: a) Current system, without contingency, with two winners short-ter, breeders and Administration, but changing long-term. b) Quotas system and contingency in livestock auction by batchs with what environmentaal soustenability is kept up and upheld, although paid cost is neither fairy distributed, nor is the most efficient, and c) Contingent system with rights market, the most efficient and with wich economic productivity, environmental soustenability and socila optimum are kept up.Se encuesta a ganaderos trashumantes que aprovechan pastos estivales de la Montaña del Maule, para intentar regular su uso ante el deterioro de los mismos por exceso de carga ganadera. Se aplica el método de valoración contingente para simular el establecimiento de derechos de uso de estos pastizales. El resultado de los tres sistemas de funcionamiento que se analizan es el siguiente: a) Sistema actual, sin contingentación, con dos ganadores a corto: ganaderos y administración, situación que se modifica a largo plazo. b) Sistema de cuotas y contingentación en subastas por lotes, con lo que se defiende y mantiene la sostenibilidad del ecosistema, aunque el coste pagado no es equidistribuitivo ni es el más eficiente. c) Sistema contingente con mercado de derechos, que es el más eficiente y en el que a la defensa de la productividad económica se une la sustentabilidad ambiental y el óptimo social

Desarrollo de prototipo de quadrotor con sistema de comunicación inalámbrica bidireccional

Este artículo presenta el diseño, implementación, construcción y evaluación de un prototipo quadrotor. Este prototipo cuenta con una amplia variedad de componentes. En el desarrollo, se da a conocer cada uno de ellos, junto con una metodología de trabajo paso a paso del proceso, la cual fue fundamental para la construcción del prototipo.  El sistema de comunicación requerido para llevar a cabo un vuelo eficiente utiliza un equipo emisor comercial, el cual permite controlar el quadrotor, sus variadores de velocidad, los cuales son regulados simultáneamente de acuerdo a la señal de vuelo. Gracias al comportamiento del prototipo en sus pruebas iniciales, fue posible su re-diseño y ajuste, incrementando su estabilidad y desempeño en vuelo. Los resultados finales se detallan en la evaluación de desempeño, describiendo los comportamientos del prototipo apoyados con imágenes

Mass-Up and Decision Peptide-Driven: two open-source applications for MALDI-TOF MS data analysis and protein quantification

Poster presentation at EUBIC Winter School 2017 (10th - 13th January 2017, Sporthotel Semmering, Austria)

Temporal dynamics of soil fungal communities after partial and total clear-cutting in a managed Pinus sylvestris stand

Forest management aimed to maximize timber production might impact soil fungi, especially those symbiotically associated to tree roots. In this study, we analyse the temporal dynamics of soil fungi along five sampling years after tree removal in a managed Pinus sylvestris stand in northern Spain, where timber production is combined with regular mushroom harvesting. Two management methods were tested: total and partial clear-cutting leaving retention trees for seedling regeneration. Undisturbed, uncut plots were also included in the experiment as a control treatment. The whole fungal community (phylotypes and ecological guilds) were analysed by high-throughput Illumina MiSeq sequencing of fungal ITS1 amplicons. We hypothesized that (1) ectomycorrhizal fungal communities will decrease after both clear-cutting treatments with a concurrent increase in the abundance of saprotrophs, (2) the abundance and diversity of the ectomycorrhizal guild will be more preserved in partially clear-cut than in total clear-cut plots, and (3) the overall fungal diversity will decrease in the cut plots leading to major losses of ectomycorrhizal species. Our results show that soil fungal composition changed across the five years after clear-cutting by decreasing ectomycorrhizal fungi and increasing saprotrophs. However, these changes did not significantly affect fungal diversity and there were taxa-specific responses to tree harvest treatments. Boletus edulis, the most abundant ectomycorrhizal species fruiting in the study area and a valuable local non-forest resource, was negatively affected by either clear-cutting treatments. Soil fungal community composition in partially clear-cut areas was not different from that of total clear-cut areas. Our results indicate a strong effect of tree harvest on the relative abundance of ectomycorrhizal fungi along the first years after clear-cutting. However, levels of fungal diversity were comparable to the undisturbed forest, thus suggesting a potential further recovery of ectomycorrhizal fungi through the colonization of the regenerated seedlings.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Larval Development in Tropical Gar (Atractosteus tropicus) Is Dependent on the Embryonic Thermal Regime: Ecological Implications under a Climate Change Context

In ectotherm species, environmental temperature plays a key role in development, growth, and survival. Thus, determining how temperature affects fish populations is of utmost importance to accurately predict the risk of climate change over fisheries and aquaculture, critical to warrant nutrition and food security in the coming years. Here, the potential effects of abnormal thermal regimes (24, 28 and 32 C; TR24, TR28, and TR32, respectively) exclusively applied during embryogenesis in tropical gar (Atractosteus tropicus) has been explored to decipher the potential consequences on hatching and growth from fertilization to 16 days post-fertilization (dpf), while effects on skeletal development and body morphology were explored at fertilization and 16 dpf. Egg incubation at higher temperatures induced an early hatching and mouth opening. A higher hatching rate was obtained in eggs incubated at 28 C when compared to those at 24 C. No differences were found in fish survival at 16 dpf, with values ranging from 84.89 to 88.86%, but increased wet body weight and standard length were found in larvae from TR24 and TR32 groups. Thermal regime during embryogenesis also altered the rate at which the skeletal development occurs. Larvae from the TR32 group showed an advanced skeletal development, with a higher development of cartilaginous structures at hatching but reduced at 16 dpf when compared with the TR24 and TR28 groups. Furthermore, this advanced skeletal development seemed to determine the fish body morphology. Based on biometric measures, a principal component analysis showed how along development, larvae from each thermal regime were clustered together, but with each population remaining clearly separated from each other. The current study shows how changes in temperature may induce craniofacial and morphological alterations in fish during early stages and contribute to understanding the possible effects of global warming in early development of fish and its ecological implications.Versión del edito