Propuesta de una unidad didáctica mediante indagación dirigida a niños de educación infantil para prevenir enfermedades a través de la higiene de las manos

La higiene de las manos es un aspecto clave en la promoción de una vida saludable, ya que más del 80% de las infecciones comunes se propagan mediante ellas. Los niños están en constante manipulación y experimentación con su entorno. Un correcto lavado de manos es la acción indivi¬dual más importante para evitar la propagación y contagio de infecciones. Este trabajo presenta una propuesta didáctica basada en la metodología de investigación para niños de 5 a 7 años de edad, en la que serán introducidos en el mundo de los microorganismos a través de una secuencia de actividades. El objetivo principal de esta propuesta didáctica es que los niños sean conscientes de la importancia de la higiene de las manos a través de la observación directa de los microorganismos que tenemos en ellas, así como de lo que sucede con estos microorganismos después de un lavado correcto de manos

Diet of the Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus nesting in natural habitat in eastern Spain

We describe the diet of theMontagu's Harrier (Circus pygargus) population breeding in inland Castellón province (eastern Spain), which exhibits among the highest breeding productivity of European populations of this species.We assessed diet using pellets collected at nests at the end of the breeding season. We recorded the minimum number of items in every pellet for six prey classes (lizards, passerines, small mammals, coleopterans, orthopterans and other insects).We also analyzed between-year relationships in diet diversity and breeding output at the nest level. The most frequently eaten prey were insects, particularly large orthopterans of the family Acrididae. Passerines were also abundant in the diet and contributedmore than 50% of the consumed biomass.We found no significant between-year relationship in breeding output and diet diversity at the nest level. Further studies on prey availability in different habitat types would be needed in order to understand how land-use changes affect the Montagu's Harrier population.We are indebted to Aeropuerto de Castellón for supporting and funding the project on the ecology of Montagu’s Harrier in Castellón. Special thanks are due to Servicio de Biodiversidad from Conselleria de Medio Ambiente, Agua, Urbanismo y Vivienda (Generalitat Valenciana) for permissions to carry out the present study.Peer Reviewe

Protected areas do not fulfil the wintering habitat needs of the trans-Saharan migratory Montagu’s harrier

Populations of migratory birds can be affected by events happening at both breeding and wintering grounds. The Sahel is a vast region holding a large number of wintering trans-Saharan migratory European birds, and current land-use changes there may represent a threat for these species. We used satellite tracking data from the migratory Montagu's harrier to evaluate habitat use of the species during the wintering season, and whether the current network of protected areas is effective to provide their habitat needs during that season. We also developed an ecological niche model for the species in Western-Central Sahel to check if the most suitable sites are included within current protected areas. Tracked harriers occupied a large region encompassing a total of eight countries. The most preferred habitats during winter were croplands and some natural vegetation habitats, especially grasslands. Protected areas only covered a small proportion of the overall wintering grounds of tracked harriers and the most suitable areas for the species in Western-Central Sahel. Increasing the extent of preferred natural habitats within protected areas should benefit the conservation of this and probably other insect-eating raptors. However, substantial increases in extent and number of protected areas in sub-Saharan Africa are very unlike to occur. Conservation actions in the region should therefore be mostly focused on improving land use planning and management outside protected areas, specially enhancing agricultural practices to make biodiversity conservation compatible with poverty alleviation. These can be chiefly targeted at an area of <20,000km 2 of very suitable habitat for these species.We are indebted to Aeropuerto de Castellón for support and funding of the project on satellite tracking of Montagu’s harriers. We are grateful to Servicio de Biodiversidad of the Conselleria de Infraestructuras, Territorio y Medio Ambiente (Generalitat Valenciana) to give the permissions to conduct this study, as well as for its collaboration in the fieldwork. R.L. has a postdoctoral grant (Reference 10/12-C) co-funded by Consejería de Educación y Ciencia (Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha) and the European Social Fund.Peer Reviewe

La superficialidad en la enseñanza del concepto de energía : una causa del limitado aprendizaje alcanzado por los estudiantes de bachillerato

Hay un amplio acuerdo entre los investigadores en que una enseñanza en profundidad de los conceptos y modelos favorecerá su aprendizaje. El análisis de las propuestas y afirmaciones hechas por profesores en formación y en activo, en relación con la enseñanza de la energía en bachillerato (17/18 años), nos permite afirmar que la enseñanza habitual deja de lado aspectos importantes de dicho concepto. Esta sería una de las razones que explicaría la escasa comprensión con que terminan los estudios los alumnos de secundaria.There is a ubiquitous agreement amongst researchers that an in-depth teaching of concepts and models will promote learning. The analysis of the proposals and statements made by teachers about the energy teaching in high school (17/18 years-old students) allows stating that the usual education does not take into account relevant issues of that concept. This would be one of the reasons which explains the lack of the understanding of several concepts acquired by students they finish their studies in high school

Philopatry and natal dispersal of Montagu's harriers (Circus pygargus) breeding in Spain: a review of existing data

et al.Natal dispersal is an important component of bird ecology, plays a key role in many ecological and evolutionary processes, and has important conservation implications. Nevertheless, detailed knowledge on natal dispersal is still lacking in many bird species, especially raptors. We review and compile existing information from five tagging programmes of juvenile Montagu's harriers (Circus pygargus) in different Spanish regions, with PVC rings or wing tags, to provide an assessment of philopatry and natal dispersal of the species in Spain. Only 7% of all tagged harriers were observed as breeders in subsequent years. The percentage of philopatric (i. e. breeding within 10 km of the natal site) males and females was lower that 5%. Overall, there were no sexual differences in percentage of philopatric birds or dispersal distances, but we found study area differences. The low philopatry observed suggests a high capacity for natal dispersal in this species, for both sexes, and therefore high genetic mixing between populations. Differences in philopatry between study areas may be influenced by the different observation effort or detectability, or else reflect different philopatric strategies among populations. Finally, we found no significant differences in philopatry rate or dispersal distances related to tagging method, suggesting that tagging technique has a smaller effect than monitoring effort or observation ease on observation probability. Developing tagging programmes at a small scale and without procuring very large-scale and intensive subsequent monitoring is not worthwhile for evaluating philopatry and natal dispersal in this species.We are grateful to the Servicio de Biodiversidad from Conselleria de Medio Ambiente, Agua, Urbanismo y Vivienda (Generalitat Valenciana) for providing data from the Castellón area. In Tarifa, the population study was funded by Fundación Migres through a collaboration project with the Asociación Eólica de Tarifa, and theringing programme was carried out by Milvus-GOES and Cigüeña Negra ringing groups. R. L. has a postdoctoral grant (reference 10/12-C) co-funded by the Consejería de Educación y Ciencia (Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha) and the European Social Fund.Peer Reviewe

Summer pre-breeding movements of Eleonora’s Falcon Falco eleonorae revealed by satellite telemetry: implications for conservation

Recent advances in bird tracking technologies are revealing that migratory birds use temporal staging sites other than breeding and wintering areas, and these areas deserve conservation efforts. Eleonora’s Falcon Falco eleonorae is a long-distance migratory raptor that breeds colonially on islands and is considered a priority species for conservation. Anecdotal observations indicate that during the pre-breeding period, Eleonora’s Falcons stay in inland areas far away from the colonies, but, to date there are no detailed data concerning the connectivity between these areas and breeding colonies. Using satellite telemetry, we analysed data from four summering events belonging to three individuals breeding in two colonies in the Western Mediterranean (Spain). All of them made inland movements in areas up to c.400 km distant from the respective breeding colonies, visiting several habitats, from forests to arable lands, probably taking advantage of high densities of insects. Perturbations occurring in these areas could threaten Eleonora’s Falcons with serious consequences at the population level. We suggest that conservation measures implemented at breeding and wintering grounds may not suffice and that temporary staging areas should be identified at a larger scale and deserve protection as well.Terra Natura Foundation and the “Servicio de Biodiversidad” (Generalitat Valenciana). U. Mellone is supported by an FPU grant of the Spanish Ministry of Education (reference AP2008-0947). R. Limiñana has a postdoctoral grant (reference 10/12-C) co-funded by “Consejería de Educación y Ciencia” (JCCM) and the European Social Fund. P. López-López is supported by a “Juan de la Cierva” postdoctoral grant of the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (reference JCI–2011–09588)

Regional and age-dependent differences in the effect of wind on the migratory routes of Eleonora's Falcon.

During migration, birds can show different responses to wind in relation to distance to the goal, experience, ecological barriers and visibility of landmarks. We analysed the effect of wind (tailwinds and crosswinds) on daily movement rates (forward and perpendicular) of Eleonora's falcons using ARGOS satellite telemetry, during their trans-continental autumn migration to Madagascar, in relation to the different crossed regions and individuals' age class. Our results showed that the effect of wind on daily movement rates was not uniform, being stronger in the farthest region from the migration goal, the Sahara desert, with adults being more affected than juveniles in this region. In the Sahel, the results were more conflicting, perhaps because daily movements were more shaped by the distribution of food resources. In Equatorial Africa, daily movement rates were mainly affected by crosswinds. Still, it remains unclear which orientation mechanism allows Eleonora's falcons to reach such a narrow wintering area compensating also for wind displacement

Ranging behaviour of a juvenile Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus meridionalis) in South Africa revealed by GPS satellite telemetry

A second-year Bearded Vulture was equipped with a GPS transmitter and located on average 10 times a day from 6 September 2007 to 22 June 2008. During this period, the individual ranged in an area of ca. 38,500 km2 across the mountainous regions of Lesotho and the north-eastern Cape province of South Africa, thus covering on average 66 km/day, mainly in areas covered by scrubland and herbaceous vegetation. Three different activity areas with a temporal overlap of locations within them were observed. The ranging behavior could be explained by two non-exclusive alternative hypotheses: food searching and territory exploration. The information provided here may serve to identify potential threats for the species, such as poisoning, collision with power lines, food scarcity and persecution.Terra Natura Foundation. P. López-López is supported by a FPU grant of the Spanish Ministry of Education (reference AP2005-874)

Using satellite telemetry and environmental niche modelling to inform conservation targets for a long-distance migratory raptor in its wintering grounds

Understanding the ecology of migratory birds during the non-breeding season is necessary for ensuring their conservation. Using satellite telemetry data we describe winter ranging behaviour and movements of pallid harriers Circus macrourus that bred in Kazakhstan. We developed an ecological niche model for the species in Africa, to identify the most suitable wintering areas for pallid harriers and the importance of habitat in determining the location of those areas. We also assessed how well represented suitable areas are in the network of protected areas. Individual harriers showed relatively high fidelity to wintering areas but with potential for interannual changes. The ecological niche model highlighted the importance of open habitats with natural vegetation. Most suitable areas for the species were located in eastern Africa. Suitable areas had a patchy distribution but were relatively well included in the network of protected areas. The preferential use of habitats with natural vegetation by wintering pallid harriers and the patchiness of the most suitable areas highlight the harrier's vulnerability to land-use changes and the associated loss of natural vegetation in Africa. Conservation of harriers could be enhanced by preserving natural grasslands within protected areas and improving habitat management in the human-influenced portions of the species' core wintering areas.We thank to the Natural Research Ltd for funding. R. Limiñana benefited from a postdoctoral grant (reference 10/12-C) co-funded by ‘Consejería de Educación y Ciencia’ and the European Social Fund.Peer Reviewe

The evolution in text books (1945-2016): Changes in methodology and in the presence of misconceptions

Se analizó el tema de evolución en una serie de libros de texto desde 1945 hasta 2016 con el fin de evaluar la presencia de ideas espontáneas y los cambios producidos en cómo se presenta la información. Discutimos si existe una tendencia relacionada con el modelo educativo. Los principales resultados son: Se ha producido un aumento en el contenido en historia del pensamiento evolutivo, número de actividades y número de figuras que podría estar relacionado con cambios en la metodología. Pese a ello, la presencia de ideas espontáneas se mantiene y son pocos los intentos detectados por que se produzca una confrontación con ellas. Por ello no parece que haya posibilidad de que se produzca un cambio conceptual significativo, ya que no se cumple la condición necesaria de "insatisfacción con la conceptualización existente”.We analyzed the topic of evolution in a set of biology textbooks from 1945 to 2016. The objectives of this study were to evaluate changes in the presence of misconceptions, as well as to analyze how contents about evolutions are presented. Additionally, we analyze tendencies on these aspects related to Spanish educational legislation. Results showed an increase in the treatment of history on the evolutionary thought, number of activities and number of figures, which might be related to changes in the teaching methodology. However, misconceptions remain in textbooks and there are few attempts to produce confrontation with them. Thus, it seems that the possibility of generating a significant conceptual change is low, since the necessary condition of “dissatisfaction with the current conceptualization” is not met