Protected areas as a double edge sword: An analysis of factors driving urbanisation in their surroundings

Protected areas (PAs) are the most effective tools to protect biodiversity and ecosystem services. They have proven to be effective in stopping extensive land use conversion in well-conserved terrestrial ecosystems. However, land cover changes around PAs threaten biodiversity and ecosystem services within their limits and reduce ecological connectivity. In this study, we analysed the urban sprawls on the boundaries of 159 PAs (national, regional, and natural parks) in Spain, using 2.5 and 5 km non-protected buffer zones from 1990 to 2018. We clustered PAs based on biophysical and socio-economic characteristics and modelled urban sprawl in different buffers and periods. Hierarchical clustering revealed three groups of PAs: (a) proximate urban parks, (b) mountainous parks, and (c) parks in the Madrid autonomous region. We found that urbanisation in the surroundings of PAs in Spain has nearly doubled since 1990. General linear models explained a significant proportion of the urbanisation trends observed, with the number of municipalities in the boundary of the PA, the distance to a main road, and the distance to a big city acting as the most important drivers of urban sprawl. Our results also show that some PAs exert significant effects on urbanisation trends in their surroundings through the park-view effect. Finally, we highlight three coexisting phenomena that might explain the observed urban sprawl processes: (a) PAs attracting urbanisation in their surroundings due to the park-view effect, (b) PAs as a deterrent for urban sprawl within their limits, and (c) PAs occupying residual areas among previously urbanised landsThis study was supported by the project ECOGRADIENTES, funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (CGL2014- 53782-P

Invirtiendo en capital natural: un marco para integrar la sostenibilidad ambiental en las políticas de cooperación

Tomando en cuenta la magnitud de la crisis ambiental que afecta al planeta y los estrechos vínculos existentes entre la conservación de los ecosistemas y la lucha contra la pobreza, cabría preguntarse por qué los temas de protección del medio ambiente continúan teniendo un peso relativo tan bajo en las agendas y prioridades de las agencias de cooperación internacional. En este artículo, se analizan las razones de este desequilibrio y se propone un marco conceptual con base socio-ecológica para facilitar una verdadera integración de la sostenibilidad ambiental como prioridad estratégica en las políticas y herramientas de ayuda oficial al desarrollo. Varios paradigmas y principios fundamentales emanan de este nuevo marco conceptual, que considera a los ecosistemas funcionales como un capital natural que, adecuadamente gestionado, es capaz de producir un rico y variado flujo de servicios sobre los cuales es posible construir un proceso de desarrollo social, económica y ambientalmente sostenible, además de justo en términos de equidad intra e intergeneracional

Ecophysiological and molecular involvement of extracellular-regulated protein kinases (ERK 1/2) in the response of Dunaliella viridis to heat stress

The eukaryotic green microalga Dunaliella viridis has shown an outstanding capacity to face a broad range of environmental stressors such as, high irradiance, UV radiation, salinity, and temperature, among others. The lack of a rigid cell wall, as well as, its unique ability to respond, adapt and grow under stressful conditions makes Dunaliella an excellent model to study stress signal transduction in eukaryotic unicellular organisms. Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are highly conserved serine/threonine kinases that convert extracellular stimuli into a wide variety of responses at both cellular and nuclear levels. In eukaryotic cells, MAPKs are involved in both environmental stress responses (JNK and p38 pathways) and cell proliferation and differentiation (ERK pathway) through protein kinase cascades. Previously, two different ERK proteins, ERK1 and ERK2 (ERK1/2) have been identified in D. viridis. Based on the non-direct implication of the ERK-like proteins in the acclimatization process against environmental stress proven by the specific blockade of the cascades, different short-term heat-shock (SH) experiments have been conducted in this work to uncover molecular mechanisms underlying the role of ERK1/2 in heat stress. The evolution of the maximum quantum yield of D. viridis after non-lethal SH, together with protein immunedetection by ERK1/2 western blotting and qRT-PCR experiments revealed that the ERK1/2 proteins are not directly involved in the response to heat stress, and that they are rapidly deactivated after stress, leading to a transient inhibition of cell division. Behaviour of MAPK-like proteins in algae is largely unknown at present. The analysis of their mechanism of action, as well as their function in this model microalga, will allow us to decipher the fate of unicellular eukaryotic organisms in aquatic ecosystems subjected to environmental stress derived from the conditions prevailing within a framework of global climate change.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Inclusión de harina del fruto de Samanea saman (algarrobo) en la alimentación de pollos camperos (Original)

The Cuban poultry industry considers the use of alternative foods as substitutes to commercial concentrates. The objective of the present work was: to evaluate the effect of the inclusion of Samanea saman (carob) fruit flour in the feeding of farm chickens. 80 animals were selected at random from one day old, distributed in 4 treatments, with 2 repetitions per treatment and 10 animals per repetition. The diets formulated were the following: 0, 5, 10 and 15% inclusion of the carob tree fruit flour in the commercial concentrate. The bioproductive indicators were evaluated: live weight, food consumption, viability and conversion. Hematological, morphometric indicators and the economic effect were determined. A simple classification variance analysis (Anova) was carried out according to a completely randomized design p <0.05, with the statistical package Stat Soft, Inc. (2007). The control group and the treatment with a 5% inclusion of the flour, the best weight results, the food consumption and the food conversion. Viability was not affected with the inclusion of flour. As for the hematology (hemoglobin and hematocrit), higher values were recorded, including 15% of the flour. In the weights of all organs of the Gastrointestinal tract, significant differences were observed p <0.05, with the treatment with 15% of inclusion registering the highest values. It was concluded that the flour of carob tree fruit can be an economically viable alternative up to 5% inclusion.La avicultura cubana se plantea la utilización de alimentos alternativos como sustitutos a los concentrados comerciales. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue: evaluar  el efecto de la inclusión de harina del fruto de Samanea saman (algarrobo) en la alimentación de pollos camperos. Se seleccionaron 80 animales al azar de un día de nacidos, distribuidos en 4 tratamientos, con 2 repeticiones por tratamiento y 10 animales por repetición. Las dietas formuladas fueron las siguientes: 0, 5, 10 y 15 % de inclusión de la harina de fruto de algarrobo en el concentrado comercial. Se evaluaron los indicadores bioproductivos: peso vivo, consumo de alimento, viabilidad y conversión. Se determinaron indicadores hematológicos, morfométricos y el efecto económico. Se realizó análisis de varianza de clasificación simple (Anova) según un diseño totalmente aleatorizado p<0.05, con el paquete estadístico Stat Soft, Inc. (2007). El grupo control y el tratamiento con 5 % de inclusión de la harina mostraron los mejores resultados de peso vivo, consumo de alimento y conversión alimenticia. La viabilidad no se vio afectada con la inclusión de la harina. En cuanto a la hematología (hemoglobina y hematocrito) se registraron mayores valores al incluir 15 % de la harina. En los pesos de todos los órganos del Tracto Gastrointestinal se observaron diferencias significativas p<0.05, registrando el tratamiento con un 15% de inclusión los valores más altos. Se concluyó que la harina del fruto de algarrobo puede ser una alternativa económicamente rentable hasta un 5 % de inclusión

Situación ambiental de la Unidad Empresarial de Base “Antonio Maceo” de la empresa avícola Granma (Original)

The research was carried out in the “Antonio Maceo Grajales” Base Business Unit belonging to the Granma Avícola Company, with the aim of determining the environmental situation of that entity and designing measures that minimize the environmental impacts generated by the UEB. In obtaining the information, techniques and methods of the theoretical and empirical level were used, such as observation, interviews and surveys, guaranteeing the veracity of the information. The procedure proposed for social studies in finite or known populations was applied to the determined sample. Of the total universe of 74 workers in the UEB, the sample calculated was 63. The type of sampling carried out was stratified random with a confidence level of 5% (α = 0.05) and a precision of 0.05, with fixation to the size of the stratum. The study was complemented with the criteria of the people of the community in the immediate environment, with 428 inhabitants, of them 256 women and 176 men. The aspects that most affect poultry activity from an environmental point of view were worked on Failure to comply with biosecurity measures, with an emphasis on poor management of wastes, which constitute a potential danger to birds, workers and the community surrounding the facility. Generated environmental problems (soil, air and water pollution) were identified in the UEB that affect the farm itself and its surroundings, and there is a need to implement actions that minimize existing environmental impacts.La investigación se desarrolló en la Unidad Empresarial de Base “Antonio Maceo Grajales” perteneciente a la Empresa Avícola Granma, con el objetivo de determinar la situación ambiental de esa entidad y diseñar medidas que minimicen los impactos ambientales generados por la UEB. En la obtención de la información se emplearon técnicas y métodos del nivel teórico y empírico como la observación, entrevistas y encuestas, garantizando la veracidad de la información. Se aplicó a la muestra determinada el procedimiento planteado para estudios sociales en poblaciones finitas o conocidas. Del universo total de 74 trabajadores en la Unidad Empresarial de Base (UEB), la muestra calculada fue de 63. El tipo de muestreo realizado fue aleatorio estratificado con un nivel de confianza de 5 % (α=0,05) y una precisión de 0,05 con fijación al tamaño del estrato. El estudio se complementó con los criterios de las personas de la comunidad del entorno inmediato, con un total de 428 habitantes, de ellos 256 mujeres y 176 hombres. Se trabajó con los aspectos que más afectan la actividad avícola desde el punto de vista ambiental: el incumplimiento de medidas de bioseguridad, con énfasis en el manejo deficiente de los desechos, los que constituyen un peligro potencial para las aves, los trabajadores y la comunidad aledaña a la instalación. Se identificaron problemas ambientales generados (contaminación del suelo, aire y agua) en la UEB que afectan a la propia granja y su entorno, existiendo la necesidad de implementar acciones, que minimicen los impactos ambientales existentes

Bioquímica sanguínea en pollos camperos alimentados con harina de palmiche (Original)

The importance of the evaluation of the sanguine parameters, it allows knowing the animal's physiological status and doing a tracking to estimate the behavior the animal's nutritional indicating the conditions of the metabolism of the body. Country chickens' sanguine biochemistry during the stage of finalization (70 days) fed with flour of royal palm was evaluated (0, 5.10, 15 %). It was determined: Glucose, creatinine, TGP, TGO, cholesterol, tri-glycerides, total proteins, globulin, albumin, albumin globulin, PAL, VLDL. They selected 80 animals at random with 1 day of tumors in order to evaluate the productive behavior of the country chickens fed with fodders where flour of royal palm was  included (0, 5.10, 15 %) To the birds’ 70 elderly days on an equal footing in all of the treatments, they got signs from blood, utilizing the technique of the intracardiac puncture. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of 3 dietary levels of the Flour of royal palm (HP) on country chickens' sanguine chemistry. Diets finalizing country chickens' fattening with flour of royal palm even in a 15 %, they did not present adverse effect on the parameters of sanguine chemistry. It is viable to utilize the Flour of royal palm (5, 10, 15 %) in country chickens' nutrition, when you do not become manifest negative modifications on the physiological employer, cherished through the sanguine chemistry.La importancia de la evaluación de los parámetros sanguíneos, permite conocer el estado fisiológico del animal y hacer un seguimiento para estimar el comportamiento nutricional del animal indicando las condiciones del metabolismo del cuerpo. Se evaluó la bioquímica sanguínea de pollos camperos durante la etapa de finalización (70 días)  alimentados con harina de palmiche (0, 5,10, 15 %). Se determinó: glucosa, creatinina, TGP, TGO, colesterol, triglicéridos, proteínas totales, globulina, albumina, albumina/globulina, PAL, VLDL. Se seleccionaron 80 animales al azar con 1 día de nacidos con el propósito de evaluar el comportamiento productivo de los pollos camperos alimentados con piensos donde se incluyó harina de palmiche (0, 5,10, 15 %) a los 70 días de edad de las aves en igualdad de condiciones en todos los tratamientos, se obtuvieron muestras de sangre, utilizando la técnica de la punción intracardiaca. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el efecto de 3 niveles dietéticos de la harina de palmiche (HP) sobre la química sanguínea de pollos camperos. Las dietas finalizar ceba de pollos camperos con harina de palmiche hasta en un 15%, no presentaron efecto adverso sobre los parámetros de química sanguínea. Es viable utilizar la harina de palmiche (5, 10, 15 %) en la alimentación de pollos camperos, al no manifestarse modificaciones negativas sobre el patrón fisiológico, valorado a través de la química sanguínea