Estudio florístico de la flecha litoral de el rompido (Lepe, Huelva) Análisis y catálogo de la flora vascular de los sistemas de duna y marisma

La Flecha Litoral de El Rompido es una formación sedimentaria re- lativamente joven incluida en un área protegida y acoge, junto con Doñana, uno de los sistemas dunares mejor conservados de Andalucía. El objetivo del presente estu- dio fue el conocimiento y análisis de la flora vascular presente en el área desde una perspectiva taxonómica, biogeográfica y de conservación, así como la elaboración del catálogo de dicha flora. Entre 2002 y 2007 se ha inventariado un total de 220 especies y subespecies de plantas vasculares pertenecientes a las dunas y marismas de la Flecha de El Rompido, entre las que se cuentan 25 endemismos, 16 taxones amenazados y/o protegidos y 19 taxones alóctonos. El área de estudio presenta una flora determinada por los tipos de hábitat sobre los que se desarrolla –dunas costeras y marismas–, el clima –mediterráneo con influencia atlántica–, así como por el impacto antrópico y la influencia sobre la comunidad vegetal de la especie dominante, Retama monosperma (L.) Boiss. En comparación con zonas cercanas de características similares, la Flecha comparte el 17,1% de los taxones catalogados en el Espacio Natural de Doñana y el 35% de los catalogados en el Parque Natural de Ría Formosa. Asimismo, el 97,6% de los taxones autóctonos y naturalizados en la Flecha Litoral se hayan representados en el Espacio Natural de Doñana y el 75,8% de los mismos aparecen en el Parque Natural de Ría Formosa.The spit of El Rompido is a relatively recent sedimentary formation, included in a protected natural area, and it performs, together with Doñana, one of the better conserved dune systems in Andalucía. This study aimed to know and analyse the vascular flora in the area, from a taxonomic, biogeographic and conservational point of view, as well as the elaboration of a floristic catalogue. From 2002 to 2007, a total of 220 species and subspecies of vascular plants has been found in sand dunes and salt marshes in the spit; 25 of them are endemics, 16 endangered and/or protected species and 19 exotics. The flora in the spit is conditioned by the physical environment type –sand dunes and salt marshes–, clime –Mediterranean with Atlantic influence–, the relative recent formation of the spit and its growing dynamics, the anthropic impact and the influence of the main species in the sand dunes, Retama monosperma (L.) Boiss. In comparison with two similar coastal zones, the spit of El Rompido have in common 17,1% of taxa catalogued in Doñana, and 35% of taxa in Ría Formosa. Likewise, 97,6% of native y naturalized taxa in the spit are present in Doñana and 75,8% are present in Ría Formosa

Soil physicochemical properties associated with the yield and phytochemical composition of the edible halophyte Crithmum maritimum

There is growing interest in the consumption of halophytes due to their excellent nutritional profile and antioxidant properties, and because their cultivation offers viable alternatives in the face of irreversible global salinization of soils. Nevertheless, abiotic factors strongly influence their phytochemical composition, and little is known about how growing conditions can produce plants with the best nutritional and functional properties. Crithmum maritimum is an edible halophyte with antioxidant properties and considerable potential for sustainable agriculture in marginal environments. However, it is found naturally in contrasting habitats with a wide range of soil physicochemical properties and the extent to which edaphic factors can influence plant performance, accumulation of phytochemicals and their quality remains unknown. We investigated the influence of soil physicochemical properties (texture, pH, electrical conductivity, organic matter content and mineral element concentrations) on growth and reproductive performance, nutritional traits, and the accumulation of specific metabolites in C. maritimum. Soil, leaf and seed samples were taken from eight C. maritimum populations located on the southern coasts of Spain and Portugal. We found greater vegetative growth and seed production in coarser, sandier soils with lower microelement concentrations. The nutritional traits of leaves varied, with soil organic matter and macronutrient content associated with reduced leaf Na, protein and phenolic (mainly flavonoid) concentrations, whereas soils with lower pH and Fe concentrations, and higher clay content yielded plants with lower leaf Zn concentration and greater accumulation of hydroxycinnamic acids. The nutritional value of the seed oil composition appeared to be enhanced in soils with coarser texture and lower microelement concentrations. The accumulation of specific phenolic compounds in the seed was influenced by a wide range of soil properties including texture, pH and some microelements. These findings from a wide range of natural populations will inform the commercial cultivation of C. maritimum, particularly in the economic exploitation of poorly utilized, saline soils

Guia per treballar i avaluar les competències generals de la UAB

Data d'actualització: abril de 2021La UAB va encetar fa un parell d'anys un projecte de revisió de les competències generals que haurien d'incloure tots els seus estudis de grau amb aquesta idea d'adaptar els estudis a la realitat canviant de la societat. L'objectiu d'aquesta guia és dotar la institució, i especialment aquelles persones directament relacionades amb el disseny i la millora de la qualitat de les titulacions de grau de la UAB, d'un marc i d'unes eines per adaptar els graus als nous requeriments de la societat a través de les competències generals que s'han redefinit

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Estrategias de coevaluación en la exposición de trabajos grupales en biología.

Los métodos de evaluación que involucran al alumno estimulan el aprendizaje profundo y autorregulado, y pueden presentar importantes ventajas frente a la evaluación centrada exclusivamente en el profesor. El objetivo del presente trabajo es valorar los efectos de la evaluación conjunta por los alumnos y profesores sobre la adquisición de una serie de competencias. El proyecto se llevó a cabo con un grupo de alumnos de la asignatura "Espacios Naturales Protegidos" de la Facultad de Biología de la Universidad de Sevilla. Los alumnos presentaron en público sus trabajos sobre una de las líneas temáticas de la asignatura, y estos fueron evaluados conjunta y simultáneamente por parte de sus compañeros y de los profesores de la asignatura, mediante un cuestionario elaborado con el objetivo de analizar la percepción de los alumnos de las habilidades y destrezas del resto de estudiantes. La evaluación por parte de los compañeros formó parte de la calificación final de los trabajos con un peso previamente fijado (15%). La valoración de los resultados indicó que los alumnos consideraron que la experiencia les permitió afianzar los conocimientos y competencias adquiridas en la asignatura, y que percibieron positivamente la responsabilidad adquirida durante esta experiencia

A Comparative Analysis of Carbon Footprint in the Andalusian Autochthonous Dairy Goat Production Systems

The small ruminant livestock sector faces the challenge of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Carbon footprint (CF) studies on dairy goats, the most widely used indicator to quantify the impact of livestock farming on global warming, are still few. The aim of this study was to calculate the CF of the different production systems of autochthonous dairy goat breeds presently occurring in Andalusia (S Spain) and identify systems and practices that can minimize their environmental impact in these terms. Twenty-one farms were monitored during a year, obtaining valuable information that allowed the CF calculation on a “cradle-to-gate” approach, taking into account both GHG emissions at the farm level and carbon sink by vegetation associated with land-based systems. Results showed similar CF values for the analyzed systems (1.42, 1.04, 1.15, and 1.17 kg CO2-eq kg−1 fat–protein corrected milk for indoor systems without associated crops, indoor systems with associated crops, grazing systems with high feed supply, and pastoral systems, respectively). To minimize their environmental impact, specific actions must be developed for each system, particularly regarding genetic improvement, reproductive and feeding management, including pasture management, and the integration of livestock activity into the bio-circular economy with the help of professional advice

Long-term spatio-temporal expansion of the native-invasive Retama monosperma on coastal dunes: Importance of land-use and natural dispersal vectors

Expansion of invasive species inducing sands stabilization is becoming an important ecological problem in coastal dunes in some parts of the world. Retama monosperma, an endemic to coasts of SE Spain and NE of Morocco, late-colonizing shrub occurring in sandy coastal areas, was planted along the coast of SW Spain during the 20th century to stabilize dunes. In recent decades, the species has spread rapidly, becoming invasive, and sometimes incurring notable changes in its environment and plant community. The expansion patterns of R. monosperma from 1956 to 2001 were described and quantified at the landscape scale within a protected dune system, using GIS. The differential effects on expansion patterns of the main factor controlling the population spread, grazing by domestic livestock and the abundance of wild rabbits, were analyzed comparatively. R. monosperma displays an exponential, invasive-type expansion trend, presenting a mean annual coverage increase of 15% and a mean lateral spread rate of 65.5myr−1 from the original population nucleus to the Western and Eastern ends of the study area. The dispersal activity primarily of rabbits and the absence of competing woody species contribute to this rapid expansion. The highest local increases in plant coverage could be related to increased rabbit abundance and to the improved germination rates of seeds which have passed through the rabbit gut. In contrast, areas highly grazed by livestock present the lowest increases, and an open-type plant community is maintained there for a longer time