Social preferences for ecosystem services in a biodiversity hotspot in South America

Identifying which ecosystem services are relevant to different stakeholders and understanding stakeholders’ perceptions of such services is useful for making informed decisions, especially in regions of the world where the achievement of biodiversity conservation goals is threatened by economically productive activities. In this article, we assess social preferences for ecosystem services in a biodiversity hotspot in central Chile. We use a consultative case study to ask local stakeholders (n = 70) from the Campana Peñuelas Biosphere Reserve to identify the most important ecosystem services the area provides for them and inquire about the perceived vulnerability of the services to changes in the future. We also explore the association between the perceived importance of ecosystem services and the sociodemographic and cultural characteristics of the respondents, which allows us to identify contrasting stakeholder perceptions of different ecosystem services. The most important services for local actors were the drinking water, fresh air and climate change control, genetic pool of plant communities in central Chile, and educational value. From the perspective of local actors, the services that could be threatened by negative changes in the future in terms of their provision included the possibilities of developing conservation activities focused on iconic threatened animal and plant species, water regulation, food from agriculture, and drinking water. Contrasting perceptions about the importance of ecosystem services emerged among stakeholders. While small farmers and members of local organizations attributed higher importance values to provisioning services, scientists and rangers and administrators of protected areas as well as teachers, NGO members and local government employees attributed more importance to the regulating and cultural services associated with threatened species. Our results can serve as a source of information for the planning and decision-making processes related to the search for socially and ecologically sustainable solutions for land use managemen

La investigación de servicios ecosistémicos en Chile: una revisión sistemática

The relationship between ecosystems and human well-being, based on the ecosystem services approach, has been addressed with greater emphasis in recent years, both in science as well as in the context of public environmental management and decision-making. A major impetus for this interest was constituted by the publication in 2005 of the international report of the Millenium Ecosystem Assessment. However, in terms of policies and instruments for environmental management the link between research and application of knowledge is still a pending topic, especially in developing countries. This work makes a systematic review about ecosystem services research in Chile, in order to detect what and how ecosystem services are studied in the country. The goal is to help to support and guide future research needs to be enforced in the context of biodiversity conservation, environmental management and territorial planning. Our results show an important increasing in scientific research on the subject since 1994, especially after 2005, mirroring the international trend of increased ecosystem services research after the publication of the aforementioned report. The analyses show that studies in Chile have mostly used economic valuation tools, instead of modelling exercises or mapping of ecosystem services. Also, there is a clear need for studies in desert ecosystems (especially in costal and Andean zones), in mountain ecosystems and glaciers, in anthropogenic ecosystems of central-southern Chile (hotspots of demand of ecosystem services provided by natural ecosystems nearby) and in coastal and island ecosystems.La relación de los ecosistemas con los ecosistemas-sociedad y el bienestar humano, mediante el uso del concepto de servicios ecosistémicos, ha sido abordada con mayor énfasis en los últimos años, tanto en el ámbito científico, como también en el contexto de la gestión ambiental pública y la toma de decisiones. Un gran impulso para este interés lo constituyó la publicación en el año 2005 del reporte internacional Millenium Ecosystem Assessment (Evaluación de los Ecosistemas del Mileno). No obstante, a nivel de políticas e instrumentos de gestión ambiental el vínculo entre la investigación y la aplicación de los conocimientos es un aspecto aún pendiente, especialmente en países en desarrollo. Este trabajo hace una revisión sistemática de la investigación de servicios ecosistémicos en Chile, con el fin de detectar qué y cómo se estudian los servicios ecosistémicos en el país, de manera de servir para respaldar y orientar las necesidades futuras de investigación que puedan ser aplicadas en el contexto de la conservación de la biodiversidad, la gestión ambiental y la planificación territorial. Nuestros resultados muestran un importante incremento en el desarrollo de la investigación científica a partir de 1994, concentrándose especialmente luego de 2005, reflejando la tendencia internacional de incremento de trabajos sobre servicios ecosistémicos post-publicación del reporte ya mencionado. Tras el análisis se observa que los estudios realizados en Chile han utilizado mayoritariamente herramientas de valoración económica por sobre otro tipo de herramientas y que son escasos los ejercicios de modelación y mapeo de servicios ecosistémicos. Asimismo, hay una necesidad evidente de realizar estudios en ecosistemas desérticos (especialmente en aquellos costeros y altoandinos), en ecosistemas de montaña y glaciares, en ecosistemas antropizados de la zona centro-sur, siendo éstos grandes demandantes de servicios ecosistémicos provistos por los ecosistemas naturales cercanos, y en ecosistemas marino-costeros e insulares

The non-monetary evaluation of ecosystem services: perspectives for sustainable land management

Los servicios ecosistémicos (SE) se definen como “la contribución directa o indirecta de los ecosistemas al bienestar humano”. El enfoque de SE para apoyar la gestión del territorio ha sido uno de los más influyentes en las corrientes científicas y políticas en el último tiempo, y en países latinoamericanos como Chile se aprecia un interés creciente en este tema. La conexión de los ecosistemas con el bienestar de las personas permite explorar las visiones, valores, preferencias o creencias de los usuarios de los SE. Sin embargo, estos aspectos son comúnmente ignorados en las esferas políticas y en la gestión territorial chilena, dada la complejidad metodológica de abordarlos por el carácter de intangibilidad que presentan. En este artículo argumentamos sobre la necesidad de incorporar en la evaluación de los SE las dimensiones intangibles de valor y ordenamos las herramientas metodológicas que existen para ello, con el propósito de apoyar las evaluaciones de SE de gestión territorial. El estudio reporta los hallazgos de una investigación teórica donde se analizó sistemáticamente el paradigma de SE, su implicación en esferas políticas y científicas para posteriormente enfocar el análisis en la necesidad de incorporar dimensiones de valor no monetarias en la evaluación de SE, lo cual puede ser particularmente relevante en países latinoamericanos. Entre las estrategias metodológicas que permiten capturar estas dimensiones destacan técnicas participativas como grupos focales, representaciones espaciales participativas y técnicas deliberativas. Aunque nuestro trabajo se enfoca en Chile, este puede ser de utilidad para tomadores de decisión, científicos y actores sociales que trabajen en SE en Latinoamérica.Ecosystem Services (ES) are defined as the “direct and indirect contribution of ecosystems to human well-being.” The ES approach to support land management has been one of the most influential in the scientific and political schools of thought, and in Latin American countries like Chile, there is a growing interest on this topic. Connecting ecosystems with people’s well-being allows exploration of visions, values, preferences or beliefs of the ES users. However, these aspects are commonly ignored in the political fields and by the Chilean land management due to the methodological complexity of addressing their character of intangibility. In this article, the need to incorporate the intangible dimensions of value in assessing ES are argued, and the methodological tools available to it are organized to support the territorial assessment of ES. The study reports the findings of a theoretical research where the paradigm of ES, its implications in political and scientific areas are analyzed, and then focuses the analysis on the need to incorporate non-monetary value dimensions on ES assessment, which may be particularly relevant in Latin American countries. Among the methodological strategies to capture these dimensions are participatory techniques such as focus groups, deliberative techniques and participatory and spatial representations. Although this work focuses in Chile, it can be useful for decision-makers, scientists and social actors in Latin America

A Simple Method for the Biodiesel Production by the Reuse of Different Types of Waste Frying Oils

A simple and complete method for the production and characterization of methylic and ethylic biodiesel from the main types of waste frying oils produced in Brazil was developed. The waste frying oils of soybean, canola, corn and sunflower were employed in the production of methylic and ethylic biodiesel by transesterification reaction via basic homogeneous catalysis. The transesterification reactions were performed at 40ºC during 40 min, using a catalyst percentage (KOH) equal to 2%. After separation of the phases biodiesel/glycerol, biodiesel was washed with 0.1M HCl aqueous solution, heated at 100 ºC to remove excess alcohol and finally filtered under vacuum with silica, a drying agent. The reaction yields were in the range 67.8-95.9%, quite satisfactory. The oxidative stability index was obtained for the oils as well as the biodiesel. Quality control of the original oil and of the methylic and ethylic biodiesels was accomplished by the TLC and GC-MS techniques. The results presented indicate the main waste frying oils produced in Brazil as potential sources of feedstocks for biodiesel production, which could aid in the development of the local cities that adopt programs to collect and reuse of waste oils. Furthermore, we emphasize that was obtained a route for biodiesel production greener, producing a biofuel substituent to mineral diesel by the reuse (or recycling) of waste.Key words: Methylic biodiesel; Ethylic biodiesel; Waste frying oil

2014 Future Earth Young Scientists Conference on Integrated Science and Knowledge Co-Production for Ecosystems and Human Well-Being

Effective integration in science and knowledge co-production is a challenge that crosses research boundaries, climate regions, languages and cultures. Early career scientists are crucial in the identification of, and engagement with, obstacles and opportunities in the development of innovative solutions to complex and interconnected problems. On 25-31 May 2014, International Council for Science and International Social Science Council, in collaboration with the International Network of Next-Generation Ecologists and Institute for New Economic Thinking: Young Scholars Initiative, assembled a group of early career researchers with diverse backgrounds and research perspectives to reflect on and debate relevant issues around ecosystems and human wellbeing in the transition towards green economy, funded by the German Research Foundation, at Villa Vigoni, Italy. As a group of young scientists, we have come to a consensus that collaboration and communication among a diverse group of peers from different geographic regions could break down the barriers to multi-disciplinary research designed to solve complex global-scale problems. We also propose to establish a global systematic thinking to monitor global socio-ecological systems and to develop criteria for a “good” anthropocene. Finally, we aim to bridge gaps among research, the media, and education from a governance perspective linking with “sustainable development goals”

Effects of Treatment with Quercetin on the Quality of Cryopreserved Bovine Semen

Background: Semen cryopreservation is one of the most common biotechnologies in the reproduction of animals of agricultural interest, especially bulls. However, cryopreservation can be harmful to sperm cells, with susceptibility to oxidative stress being one of the causes. The addition of antioxidants such as quercetin may inhibit and/or reduce such damage, reducing fertility. Quercetin can increasing sperm motility and interaction capacity between spermatozoa-oocyte, to increase cellular metabolism and reduced DNA fragmentation and oxidation following thawing. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of quercetin on the metabolism of bovine semen following thawing.Material, Methods & Results: Three Brahman bulls in reproduction age and previously considered fit for reproduction were used. The semen samples were collected via the electroejaculation method, and the samples were homogenized to form pooled semen from three ejaculates, which was diluted in Tris-yolk egg-glicerol diluent medium. Quercetin was added to diluent, to final concentrations of 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 μg.mL-1 in each group. The samples were kept frozen in straws of 500 μL, with concentration of 40,000,000 spermatozoid / mL for 15 days and were thawed in water at 36°C for 30 s. All the tests was performed in five replicates. The cell metabolism status was evaluated by quantification of superoxide radical production with a nitroblue tetrazolium test (NBT) and scanning spectrophotometry. By spermatic evaluation, the following parameters were evaluated via the computerized system of sperm analysis (CASA): total motility (TM, %), progressive motility (PM, %), velocity curved line (VCL, mm/s), velocity straight line (VSL, mm/s), velocity average path (VAP, mm/s), distance curved line (DCL, mm), distance straight line (DSL, mm), distance average path (DAP, mm), amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH, mm), beat cross frequency (BCF, Hz), wobble (WOB = VAP/VCL), linearity (LIN, VSL:VCL) and straightness (STR, VSL:VAP). And by surface analysis through scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The NBT test demonstrated an increase in cell metabolism of approximately 40% up to the limit of 15 µg.mL-1 quercetin. The parameters of CASA pertaining to velocity (VCL, VSL, VAP) and as a consequence, wobble and linearity increased as a function of the quercetin concentration until 20 µg.mL-1, which was shown to be statistically significant. No significant morphological changes between groups were observed by the SEM technique.Discussion: The reduction of NBT indicates oxidative metabolism, being an indirect measure of the oxygen dependent activity of the cells, therefore the results demonstrate that quercetin supplementation increased the number of cells with high metabolic activity. Regarding the evaluation of CASA, according to the literature, some parameters are reliable estimates of the fertilization capacity of the human spermatozoon, among them, the VCL. In this study, all speeds were increased with Quercetin, including LCV, demonstrating its importance in supplementation in bovine seminal diluent. Scanning electron microscopy evaluates the structural morphology of the cell surface. As with previous results, in this study, all cells lost the acrosome. However, this type of damage was already expected in thawed spermatozoa. In addition, no other significant changes were observed in the morphology of the membrane or other parts of the sperm. In general, the results presented here suggest that the addition of quercetin to the seminal diluent before freezing improve spermatic quality, which manifests itself as faster spermatozoa and may higher fertilization rates

Produtividade e qualidade da matéria prima de cultivares de cana-de-açúcar submetida à aplicação de herbicidas

Herbicides may cause toxicity to the crop and also negative effects on yield characteristics and industrial quality of sugarcane. This study evaluated the effects ametryn, trifloxysulfuron-sodium, ametryn + trifloxysulfuron-sodium and sulfentrazone herbicides over quality and stalk yield of RB867515, SP801816, SP803280, RB937570 and RB925211 cultivars. The experiment was conducted at the Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa County, Minas Gerais State. A distinct behavior was observed for the cultivars in the presence of herbicides, both for quality as for the stalk yield. The quality showed greater variability among cultivars than among herbicide treatments that act directly on stalk production and indirectly in sugar production, being ametryn and sulfentrazone herbicides the ones that caused higher negative interference. SP803280 cultivar was the genotype with the lowest susceptibility to herbicides.Os herbicidas podem causar intoxicação à cultura e também efeitos negativos nas características produtivas e na qualidade industrial da cana-de-açúcar. Neste trabalho avaliou-se os efeitos dos herbicidas ametryn, trifloxysulfuron-sodium, ametryn + trifloxysulfuron-sodium e sulfentrazone sobre a qualidade e produtividade de colmos das cultivares RB867515, SP801816, SP803280, RB937570 e RB925211. O experimento foi conduzido na área experimental da Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa-MG. Observou-se comportamento distinto das cultivares na presença dos herbicidas, tanto para a qualidade quanto para a produtividade de colmos. A qualidade apresentou maior variabilidade entre as cultivares do que entre os tratamentos com herbicidas, esses que atuam diretamente na produção de colmos e indiretamente na produção de açúcar, sendo que o ametryn e o sulfentrazone causaram maiores interferências negativas. A cultivar SP803280 foi a que apresentou a menor suscetibilidade aos herbicidas