The Role of Knowledge in Constructing the Quality of Olive Oil in Spain

The sustainability of a large proportion of Spanish olive oil-producing territories depends to a great extent on their capacity to fit into a specific model of food quality. The strategies used in the di erent territories di er with respect to their adherence to the objectifiable conception of quality, based on scientific-technical knowledge, or subjectivating conception of quality, based on tacit and practical knowledge. In this paper, we analyse the route taken by two territories with olive oil protected designation of origin (PDO) status in Spain to construct their quality model, the type of knowledge that has been applied and how knowledge processes a ect the construction of sustainable quality models. This study applies a qualitative methodology based on participative observation and semi-structured interviews with key actors of the territories. The results indicate that processes of production, reproduction and dissemination of knowledge are basic pillars for the construction of sustainable quality projects. The degree of understanding of the objectifiable and subjectivating conception of quality in olive-producing territories and the interaction between them depend on the specific characteristics of the territory, the objectives set in connection to the olive oil quality method, the importance given to the di erent types of knowledge, and its standing on the issue of territorial sustainabilit

Addicions i correccions al catàleg dels heteròpters de Catalunya (Insecta, Hemiptera, Heteroptera)

L'any 2004, J. Ribes, A. Serra i M. Goula van publicar el Catàleg dels heteròpters de Catalunya, on se censaren 1.037 espècies repartides en 36 famílies. L'activitat dels autors d'aleshores ençà i la comunicació desinteresada de troballes per part de diferents col·legues permet ara afegir 23 espècies a la fauna del territori. Aquestes aportacions inclouen espècies d'orígens biogeogràfics diversos: iberomagribines, mediterrànies, europees, eurosiberianes, holàrtiques i, fins i tot, una de repartició atípica. D'altra banda, els canvis taxonòmics i sistemàtics publicats des del 2004 han comportat la supressió de 7 espècies per sinonímies i males interpretacions, i el còmput actual n'ateny 1.053 espècies. S'estableix la sinonímia d'Onychomiris victoriae J. Ribes & E. Ribes, 1997 amb Orthotylus (Pseudorthotylus) bilineatus (Fallén, 1807). Es fa també una correcció gràfica de tàxons i una modificació en l'ordenació interna de determinades famílies, i es corregeixen errors que havien passat desapercebuts. S'inclou l'índex alfabètic dels tàxons que figuren a la publicació original i en aquesta addenda.En el año 2004, J. Ribes, A. Serra y M. Goula publicaron el Catàleg dels heteròpters de Catalunya, en el que censaron 1.037 especies distribuidas en 36 familias. La actividad de los autores desde entonces, así como la comunicación desinteresada de capturas efectuadas por distintos colegas, nos permite añadir 23 especies a la fauna catalana. Tienen diversa procedencia biogeográfica: íbero-magrebí, mediterránea, europea, eurosiberiana, holártica e, incluso, una de repartición atípica. Por otro lado, los cambios taxonómicos y sistemáticos publicados desde 2004 han conducido a la supresión de 7 especies debido a sinonimias y malas interpretaciones, siendo el total actualizado de 1.053 especies. Se establece la sinonímia de Onychomiris victoriae J. Ribes & E. Ribes, 1997 con Orthotylus (Pseudorthotylus) bilineatus (Fallén, 1807) Se ha incidido en modificaciones gráficas de algunos taxones, así como en la ordenación interna de ciertas familias, y se han corregido errores que habían pasado desapercibidos. Se incluye el índice alfabético de los taxones que figuran en la publicación original y en este anexo.In 2004 J. Ribes, A. Serra and M. Goula published the Catàleg dels heteròpters de Catalunya, in which 1,037 species belonging to 36 families were compiled. The subsequent research by the authors, together with the generous communication of collectings by other colleagues, leads to an increase in the present paper of 23 species for the fauna of Catalonia. They have various biogeographical origins: Ibero- Maghrebian, Mediterranean, European, Eurosiberian, Holarctic, or even one with atypical distribution. On the other hand, taxonomic and systematic changes proposed since 2004 lead to remove, due to synonymy or misinterpretations, 7 of the previously recorded species. A total of 1,053 species are now compiled in the catalogue. The synonymy of Onychomiris victoriae J. Ribes & E. Ribes 1997 with Orthotylus (Pseudorthotylus) bilineatus (Fallén, 1807) is stablished. Corrections in the spelling of some taxa, as well as in the internal arrangement of several families are presented, and some overlooked mistakes are emmended. An alphabetic index of the taxa included in the original publication and in this addenda is also included

Sponges and ascidians control removal of particulate organic nitrogen from coral reef water

10 pages, 5 figures, 5 tables.-- This is HIMB contribution 1199 and SOEST contribution 6596We studied removal rates of plankton and total particulate organic nitrogen (PON) by benthic reef communities from the overlying water in a large experimental flume. The flume was filled with mixtures of coral and coral rubble, and biomass of plankton was measured as water was recirculated over the experimental benthic community. All planktonic particle types, picoplankton, nanoplankton, microplankton, and total PON, decreased in concentration at rates proportional to their biomass. The mean first-order rate constant for the decrease in particle concentration was 96 ± 61 × 10-6 m s-1, corresponding to PON uptake of 10 mmol N m-2 d -1. Synechococcus sp. and heterotrophic bacteria were the major sources of PON. Particulate organic nitrogen removed by rubble and live coral assemblages was directly related to sponge and ascidian biomass (number and area) on the coral and coral rubble. Uptake of PON was about the same as the previously measured uptake of dissolved inorganic nitrogen into these coral reef communities, making it an important flux of nitrogen into the reef. © 2005, by the American Society of Limnology and Oceanography, Inc.Support for this work was provided by a postdoctoral fellowship from the Ministerio de Educación y Cultura (MEC) and a Ramón y Cajal research contract to M.R. This paper was funded in part by NOAA project R/CR-1, which is sponsored by the University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program, School of Ocean and Earth Science Technology (SOEST), under grant NA 86RG0041. Additional funding was provided by CISNet (NOAA project NA 870A0531) and TransCom (Transfer at Community level) project (REN2002-01631/MAR)Peer Reviewe

A "semi-closed" recirculating system for the in situ study of feeding and respiration of benthic suspension feeders

Suspension feeding is one of the most widespread feeding strategies among benthic organisms. However, natural feeding ecology and energetics of benthic suspension feeders are poorly known. The scarcity of field methods, apparatus and protocols that facilitate obtention of reliable in situ data has contributed to this lack of knowledge. A detailed description of an improved semi-closed recirculating system as well as the experimental set up is provided for the study of energetics in benthic suspension feeders. The system, completely submersible and surface-independent, allows us to assess oxygen concentration changes and feeding rates under natural conditions. Methodological examinations are conducted to investigate: a) the circulation of the water within the chamber; b) the time required for the flushing pump to entirely renew the volume of water of the incubation chambers; c) the behavior of the species within the chambers; d) the time of acclimation to the chamber conditions for the different species; e) the maximum decrease in oxygen concentration without affecting respiration rate; f) the time required to detect changes in concentration of the natural food sources. The system and experimental protocol is tested with species from three representative phyla, Porifera, Cnidaria and TunicataThe manuscript was improved by the comments of Fenny Cox. We would like to thanks the assistance of Mikel Zabala, Josep-Maria Llenas and Loïc de Maissonneuve. Support for this work was provided by a RED research contract from the “Generalitat de Catalunya” to R.C., by a postdoctoral fellowship from the “Ministerio de Educación y Cultura” to M.R., by PETRI grant PTR94-0119, by DGICYT grant PB98-0456-C03-01 and by a LEA projectPeer reviewe

Calcification reduction and recovery in native and non-native Mediterranean corals in response to ocean acidification

10 páginas, 7 figuras, 2 tablas.In recent years, some of the ramifications of the ocean acidification problematic derived from the anthropogenic rising of atmospheric CO2 have been widely studied. In particular, the potential effects of a lowering pH on tropical coral reefs have received special attention. However, only a few studies have focused on testing the effects of ocean acidification in corals from the Mediterranean Sea, despite the fact that this basin is especially sensitive to increasing atmospheric CO2. In this context, we investigated the response to ocean acidification of the two zooxanthellate coral species capable of constituting the main framework of the community, the endemic Cladocora caespitosa and the non-native Oculina patagonica. To this end, we examined the response of both species to pCO2 concentrations expected by the end of the century, 800 ppm, vs the present levels. Calcification rate measurements after 92 days of exposure to low pH conditions showed the same negative response in both species, a decrease of 32–35% compared to corals reared under control conditions. In addition, we detected in both species a correlation between the calcification rate of colonies in control conditions and the degree of impairment of the same colonies at low pH. Independent of species, faster growing colonies were more affected by decreased pH. After this period of decreased pH, we conducted a recovery experiment, in which corals reared in the acidic treatment were brought back to control conditions. In this case, normal calcification rates were reached in both species. Overall, our results suggest that O. patagonica and C. caespitosa will both be affected detrimentally by progressive ocean acidification in the near future. They do not display differences in response between native and non-native species but do manifest differential responses depending on calcification rate, pointing to a role of the coral genetics in determining the response of corals to ocean acidification.Financial support for this study was provided by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness through projects CTM2006-01957/MAR, CTM2009-08849/MAR, CGL2010-18466 and a FPI studentship (BES-2007-16537) to J.M. This work is a contribution from the Marine Biogeochemistry and Global Change research group, funded by Generalitat de Catalunya (Catalan Government) through grant 2009SGR142. [RH]Peer reviewe

Effects of climate change on Mediterranean marine ecosystems: the case of the Catalan Sea

29 pagex, 9 figures, 2 tablesThe Catalan Sea, located between the eastern Iberian coast and the Balearic Islands, is a representative portion of the western Mediterranean basin and provides a valuable case study for climate change effects on Mediterranean ecosystems. Global warming is reflected regionally by a rise in sea level over the last century, an increase in surface temperature of around 1.1°C in the last 35 yr, a progressive salinisation of intermediate and deep waters and a strengthening of the stratification. A likely scenario of what we can expect in the Mediterranean Sea is a considerable decrease in rainfall and wind, warmer surface waters and a prolonged stratification period. The effects on Mediterranean ecosystems are evident in: (1) a meridionalisation of the algal, invertebrate and vertebrate species, which favours the more thermophilic species over the temperate species; (2) mass mortality events of sessile invertebrates of the coralligenous communities owing to anomalous warm waters during the period when food is scarce; (3) increases in the smallest phytoplankton due to the prolongation of the water stratification period; (4) proliferation of gelatinous carnivores, including jellyfish, due to the temperature rise and the lack of rainfall; (5) a faster acidification of seawater, compared with the global oceans, accompanied by a decrease in the capacity to absorb atmospheric CO2. In order to anticipate and mitigate these predicted changes, we recommend investing in research and observation, conserving areas that serve as indicators of climate change and reducing other anthropogenic pressures such as habitat destruction, overfishing or pollution, which may act synergistically to accelerate these changes.E.C., C.P., M.R. and R.C. acknowledge funding from the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación through grants CTM2009-08849/MAR, CTM2006-01463 and CGL2007-66757-C02-01/BOS and a Ramón y Cajal contract to E.C. This paper is a contribution from the Marine Biogeochemistry and Global Change research group, funded by Generalitat de Catalunya (Catalan Government) through grant 2009SGR142.Peer reviewe

Exceptional human longevity is associated with a specific plasma phenotype of ether lipids

A lipid profile resistant to oxidative damage is an inherent trait associated with animal lifespan. However, there is a lack of lipidomic studies on human longevity. Here we use mass spectrometry based technologies to detect and quantify 137 ether lipids to define a phenotype of healthy humans with exceptional lifespan. Ether lipids were chosen because of their antioxidant properties and ability to modulate oxidative stress. Our results demonstrate that a specific ether lipid signature can be obtained to define the centenarian state. This profile comprises higher level of alkyl forms derived from phosphatidylcholine with shorter number of carbon atoms and double bonds; and decreased content in alkenyl forms from phosphatidylethanolamine with longer chain length and higher double bonds. This compositional pattern suggests that ether lipids from centenarians are more resistant to lipid peroxidation, and that ether lipid signature expresses an optimized feature associated with exceptional human longevity. These results are in keeping with the free radical theory of aging.We acknowledge funding from the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science (ref. SAF2013–44663-R), and from the ‘Red Tematica de Investigación Cooperativa en Envejecimiento y Fragilidad’ (RETICEF) (ref. ISCIII2012-RED-43-029) to J.V.; and from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness/Institute of Health Carlos III (ref. PI14/00328), and the Autonomous Government of Catalonia, Department of Health (ref. SLT002/16/00250) and Department of Business and Knowledge (ref. 2017SGR696) to R.P. This study has been co-financed by FEDER funds from the European Union (“Una manera de hacer Europa”). I.P. was supported by a University of Lleida Predoctoral Fellowship. K.H. was supported by a Dementia Australia Research Foundation Scholarship