Primera cita de Leptodactylus ocellatus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Amphibia, Anura, Leptodactylidae) en Bolivia y comentarios sobre especies próximas

The distributions of Leptodactylus ocellatus, L. chaquensis, and L. macrosternum in Bolivia are reviewed and discussed. Leptodactylus chaquensis and L. ocellatus are easily distinguished morphologically but L. chaquensis and L. macrosternum are indistinguishable. In Bolivia, L. ocellatus is known only from a single locality in the Paraguay River basin, which is reported here for the first time. Leptodactylus chaquensis occurs in the Chaco region of southeastern Bolivia, but it is unknown to what extent this species enters the Cerrado. The distribution boundaries and putative overlapping areas of L. chaquensis and L. macrosternum are unknown.Se revisa y discute la distribución de Leptodactylus ocellatus, L. chaquensis y L. macrosternum en Bolivia. Mientras que, morfológicamente, L. chaquensis y L. ocellatus se diferencian fácilmente, L. chaquensis y L. macrosternum son imposibles de distinguir. Leptodactylus ocellatus se encuentra en la parte boliviana de la cuenca del río Paraguay, aunque de momento se conoce solamente de una localidad, que se cita aquí por primera vez. Leptodactylus chaquensis habita en el Chaco, pero se deconoce hasta dónde penetra en el Cerrado. No se conocen los límites de las áreas de distribución y posibles zonas de solapamiento de L. chaquensis y L. macrosternum

Distribution and morphological variation of Eleutherodactylus mercedesae Lynch & McDiarmid, 1987 (Amphibia, Anura, Leptodactylidae) with first record for Peru

Accepted by S. Carranza: 19 May 2006; published: 3 Aug. 2006 49[EN] We report new distributional information for Eleutherodactylus mercedesae in Bolivia, and provide the first record for Peru based on an adult female. This species, previously endemic to Bolivia, now ranges across about 1000 km in cloud forests on the Amazonian slopes of the Andes from southern Peru to central Bolivia. We provide the first morphological description of females based on two specimens, compare them with the male type and paratype, add some observations to the original description, and comment on variation in the species.[ES] Aportamos información novedosa sobre la distribución de Eleutherodactylus mercedesae en Bolivia y la primera cita para Perú, basada en una hembra adulta. Esta especie se consideraba hasta ahora endémica para Bolivia. Su rango conocido de distribución comprende actualmente unos 1000 km de los bosques nublados de las laderas amazónicas de los Andes, desde el sur de Perú al centro de Bolivia. Se describe por primera vez la hembra de esta especie en base a dos ejemplares, que son comparados con el holotipo y el paratipo. Añadimos algunas observaciones sobre la descripción original y la variación morfológica de la especie.This work was partially funded by projects REN/GLO 2001-1046 and CGL2005-03156 of the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science (I. De la Riva, Principal Investigator).Peer reviewe

The taxonomic status of Hyla roeschmanni De Grys, 1938 (Anura: Hylidae)

Accepted by S. Carranza: 18 May 2006; published: 12 Jun. 2006The taxonomic status of Hyla roeschmanni De Grys, 1938 (Anura: Hylidae) is reviewed. We place Hyla roeschmanni as a junior synonym of Hypsiboas raniceps Cope, 1862. Because the holotype of Hyla roeschmanni was destroyed, we designate a neotype from Department Beni, Bolivia, and provide a description of the neotype.This work was partially funded by the projects REN/GLO 2001-1046 and CGL2005-03156 of the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science (I. De la Riva, Principal Investigator).Peer reviewe

UAV-derived photogrammetric point clouds and multispectral indices for fuel estimation in Mediterranean forests

Sensors attached to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) allow estimating a large number of forest attributes related to forest fuels. This study assesses photogrammetric point clouds and multispectral indices obtained from a fixed-wing UAV for the classification of Prometheus fuel types in 82 forest plots in Aragón (NE Spain). Images captured by an RGB camera and a multispectral sensor allowed generating high density photogrammetric point clouds (RGB: 3000 points/m2; multispectral: 85 points/m2), which were normalized using alternatively a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) of 0.5, 1, and 2 m resolution. A set of structural and textural variables were derived from the normalized point cloud heights, and for the latter, the gray-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) approach was used. Multispectral images were also used to create seven spectral vegetation indices. The most relevant structural, textural, and spectral variables to introduce into the fuel types classification models were selected using Dunn's test, which included: the vegetation height at the 50th percentile, the coefficient of variation of the heights, the percentage of returns above 4 m, the mean textural dissimilarity, and the mean of the Green Chlorophyll Index. Three different data samples were introduced in the models: i) the relevant structural and textural variables from the RGB camera (RGB data sample); ii) the relevant structural, textural, and spectral variables from the multispectral sensor (MS data sample); and iii) the relevant structural and textural variables from the RGB camera plus the relevant spectral variable from the multispectral sensor (integrated data sample). After comparing three machine learning classification techniques (Random Forest, and Linear and Radial Support Vector Machine), the best results were obtained with Random Forest with k-fold cross-validation (k-10) and the integrated data sample with normalized point clouds at 0.5 m DEM resolution (overall accuracy = 71%). The variables successfully identified the Prometheus main fire carriers (i.e., shrubs or trees) and confusions were mainly located within the fuel types of the same dominant stratum, especially in fuel types 3 and 6. These results demonstrate the ability of UAV imagery to classify forest fuels in Mediterranean environments when RGB and multispectral data are combined

The Distress Calls of \u3cem\u3eLeptodactylus chaquensis\u3c/em\u3e Cei, 1950 and \u3cem\u3eLeptodactylus elenae\u3c/em\u3e Heyer, 1978 (Anura: Leptodactylidae)

We describe the distress calls of Leptodactylus chaquensis and Leptodactylus elenae. They each consist of a single, long, tonal sound with complex harmonic structure and complex frequency modulation. The distress calls of both species are different from their respective advertisement calls. Moreover, there are also clear interspecific differences. Harmonic frequencies in L. elenae are higher, there are fewer emphasized harmonics and the call is shorter and repeated at a higher rate (sometimes paired) than the call of L. chaquensis. Call duration, call rate, and position of the dominant harmonic change with the strength of the stimulus that the individuals are under; therefore, they are more variable than their respective advertisement calls

El funcionario público objetor de conciencia frente al aborto (con particular referencia a los profesionales de la salud)

The exercise of the right to conscientious objection raises specific difficulties in the field of public administration that arise from the duty of obedience that weighs, in general, on public officials, by virtue of the principle of hierarchy that prevails in this field. The question must be analysed and resolved both in the light of the principle of proportionality (which in no case can justify the complete abolition of the right to follow one’s conscience) and in the light of the limits inherent in the duty of obedience of the public employee. These limits of the duty of obedience are accentuated when the public agent develops a professional activity subject to specific technical guidelines (lex artis), as is the case of doctors and nurses, since they must –in case of conflict– execute their tasks according to these criteria rather than the directives of their hierarchical superiors. The right of public sector health professionals to refuse to collaborate in the practice of an abortion can be based both on eminently scientific arguments and on the objections of conscience that the agent may raise.El ejercicio del derecho a la objeción de conciencia plantea en el ámbito de la Administración Pública dificultades específicas que emergen del deber de obediencia que pesa, con carácter general, sobre los funcionarios públicos, en virtud del principio de jerarquía que impera en ese campo. La cuestión ha de analizarse y resolverse tanto a la luz del principio de proporcionalidad (que en ningún caso podrá justificar la cabal supresión del derecho a seguir la propia conciencia), como atendiendo a los límites inherentes al deber de obediencia del empleado público. Estos límites del deber de obediencia se acentúan cuando el agente público desarrolla una actividad profesional sujeta a pautas técnicas específicas (lex artis), como es el caso de los médicos y enfermeros, por cuanto ellos deben –en caso de conflicto– ejecutar sus tareas atendiendo a esos criterios antes que a las directivas de sus superiores jerárquicos. El derecho de los profesionales de la salud del sector público a negarse a prestar colaboración para la práctica de un aborto puede sustentarse tanto en argumentos eminentemente científicos, como en los reparos de conciencia que el agente pudiera esgrimir

The integrative future of taxonomy

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Taxonomy is the biological discipline that identifies, describes, classifies and names extant and extinct species and other taxa. Nowadays, species taxonomy is confronted with the challenge to fully incorporate new theory, methods and data from disciplines that study the origin, limits and evolution of species.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Integrative taxonomy has been proposed as a framework to bring together these conceptual and methodological developments. Here we review perspectives for an integrative taxonomy that directly bear on what species are, how they can be discovered, and how much diversity is on Earth.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We conclude that taxonomy needs to be pluralistic to improve species discovery and description, and to develop novel protocols to produce the much-needed inventory of life in a reasonable time. To cope with the large number of candidate species revealed by molecular studies of eukaryotes, we propose a classification scheme for those units that will facilitate the subsequent assembly of data sets for the formal description of new species under the Linnaean system, and will ultimately integrate the activities of taxonomists and molecular biologists.</p

Exploring spatial–temporal dynamics of fire regime features in mainland Spain

This paper explores spatial–temporal dynamics in fire regime features, such as fire frequency, burnt area, large fires and natural- and human-caused fires, as an essential part of fire regime characterization. Changes in fire features are analysed at different spatial – regional and provincial/NUTS3 – levels, together with summer and winter temporal scales, using historical fire data from Spain for the period 1974–2013. Temporal shifts in fire features are investigated by means of change point detection procedures – Pettitt test, AMOC (at most one change), PELT (pruned exact linear time) and BinSeg (binary segmentation) – at a regional level to identify changes in the time series of the features. A trend analysis was conducted using the Mann–Kendall and Sen's slope tests at both the regional and NUTS3 level. Finally, we applied a principal component analysis (PCA) and varimax rotation to trend outputs – mainly Sen's slope values – to summarize overall temporal behaviour and to explore potential links in the evolution of fire features. Our results suggest that most fire features show remarkable shifts between the late 1980s and the first half of the 1990s. Mann–Kendall outputs revealed negative trends in the Mediterranean region. Results from Sen's slope suggest high spatial and intra-annual variability across the study area. Fire activity related to human sources seems to be experiencing an overall decrease in the northwestern provinces, particularly pronounced during summer. Similarly, the Hinterland and the Mediterranean coast are gradually becoming less fire affected. Finally, PCA enabled trends to be synthesized into four main components: winter fire frequency (PC1), summer burnt area (PC2), large fires (PC3) and natural fires (PC4)

Understanding wildfires in mainland Spain. A comprehensive analysis of fire regime features in a climate-human context

Understanding fire regime is a crucial step towards better knowledge of the wildfire phenomenon. However, the concept itself, in spite of its widespread use, still lacks a clear, widely accepted definition and there is no general agreement on which features define it best. In this paper we provide an in-depth characterization and description of fire regimes in three regions – Northwest, Hinterland and Mediterranean – comprising the whole of mainland Spain, to identify their key features. Data on number of fires, burned area, fire season and cause are retrieved from historical fire records for the period 1974–2010. Specifically, fire frequency, burned area, number of natural/human-caused fires, burned area from natural/human-caused fires, number of large fires (=500 ha), and burned area from large fires were examined for each region and fire season. We used a multi-group Principal Components Analysis approach to determine the importance of each fire regime feature. Next, climate and socioeconomic variables were explored using Multidimensional Scatterplots and Generalized Additive Models to find the extent to which fire regimes are controlled by either environmental, human, or both factors. Results revealed differences among regions and seasons in terms of the characteristics of their respective fire regimes. However, several common features have been identified as key components of fire regimes, regardless of region or fire season: fire frequency, number of large fires, and burned area from natural fires. In addition, results confirm that fire regime in the Northwest area mainly depends on human activity, especially during winter, in contrast to the Mediterranean region