Low satisfaction and failed relational coordination among relevant stakeholders in Spanish Mediterranean marine protected areas

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are a conservation tool that are increasingly commonplace around the world. MPAs have the potential to benefit both ecosystems and human communities if well-designed and implemented. Achieving effective implementation and governance of MPAs, however, is complicated because they deal with systems that overlap with both non-human environments and human economies and societies. As a result, MPA success is thought to be primarily dependent on socioeconomic factors, particularly the behavior of stakeholder groups involved in the MPAs. Using the theory of relational coordination, we designed surveys that we delivered to members of four stakeholder groups implicated in five MPAs in the Spanish Mediterranean to investigate their habits of inter- and intra-group communication and relations. Relational coordination posits that high-quality communication and relations results in positive stakeholder behaviors and an effective system, which makes it a useful tool to investigate the effectiveness of the MPAs involved in this study. Our results demonstrate that a high degree of relational coordination leads to higher satisfaction on the part of the participants in the system. The exploratory model constructed here also supports the notion that each stakeholder group adopts particular beliefs and behaves in particular ways in terms of relational coordination and satisfaction. We found patterns that indicated poor communication and relations amongst the four stakeholder groups, which in turn has grave implications for management outcomes of these MPAs. Cumulatively, these conditions could precipitate management failure. To remedy these concerns, we recommend establishing channels of communication between the four stakeholder groups, and investigating means to cultivate good relations amongst these groups. Doing so will help assure management success

Montanera fattening average daily gain of Silvela iberian pigs according to growing system

Average daily gain during the montanera fattening period (grazing acorns and grass) of a flock of 84 pure Silvela Iberian pigs is analysed. A group was bred in an intensive system and the other one was bred in an traditional outdoor system. The results show better ADG in pigs from the traditional outdoor system but those confirm that is possible to obtain good performances with pigs from intensive system alter an adaptation to grazing period (0.87±0.02 kg versus 0.59±0.02 kg).Se analiza la ganancia media diaria a lo largo de los dos primeros meses de montanera de un grupo de 84 cerdos Ibéricos puros de la estirpe Silvela pertenecientes a dos grupos de recría diferentes: intensivo en parques y extensivo tradicional. Los resultados indican que se obtienen mejores resultados de ganancia media diaria con el sistema extensivo tradicional pero que es posible obtener buenos resultados con los cerdos procedentes del sistema intensivo, previa adaptación al pastoreo (0,87±0,02 kg versus 0,59±0,02 kg; p<0,001)

Archivos de Zootecnia. Informe Editorial 2010

The editorial process of Archivos de Zootecnia during 2010 is reported below. A total of 384 manuscripts were received from 33 countries, mainly from Brazil (66.9%). Consequently, the language most frequently used in the manuscripts was Portuguese, followed by Spanish and English. The mean time between submission and publication of a manuscript was 836.3 days. The rejection rate was 50.8%. In 2010, 49 articles, 21 short notes and 10 reviews (total 83) were published by authors coming from 15 countries.Se analiza el proceso editorial de Archivos de Zootecnia durante 2010. Se recibieron 384 manuscritos procedentes de 33 países, principalmente de Brasil (66,9%). Consecuentemente, el lenguaje más frecuentemente usado fue el portugués, seguido del español y el inglés. El tiempo medio entre recepción y publicación de un manuscrito fue elevado ( 836.3 dias). La tasa de rechazo fue del 50,8%. En 2010 fueron publicados 49 artículos, 21 notas breves y 10 revisiones (83 trabajos en total) cuyos autores pertenecían a 15 países diferentes

Archivos de Zootecnia: Informe Editorial 2008

The editorial process of Archivos de Zootecnia during 2008 is reported below. A total of 294 manuscripts were received from 24 countries mainly from Brazil (73%). Consequently, the language most frequently used in the manuscripts was Portuguese, followed by Spanish and English. The mean time between reception and publication of a manuscript was high (657 days). The rejection rate was 35.7%. In 2008, 42 articles, 30 short notes and 10 reviews (total 82) were published from 13 countries.Se revisa el proceso editorial de Archivos de Zootecnia durante 2008. Se recibieron 294 manuscritos procedentes de 24 países, principalmente de Brasil (73%). Consecuentemente, el primer idioma más utilizado fue el portugués seguido del español y el inglés. El tiempo medio entre recepción y publicación es elevado (657 días). La tasa de rechazo fue del 35,7%, publicándose 42 artículos, 30 notas breves y 10 revisiones bibliográficas, en total 82 contribuciones procedentes de 13 países

Archivos de Zootecnia. Informe Editorial 2009

The editorial process of Archivos de Zootecnia during 2009 is reported below. A total of 342 manuscripts were received from 24 countries, mainly from Brazil (75.8%). Consequently, the language most frequently used in the manuscripts was Portuguese, followed by Spanish and English. The mean time between submission and publication of a manuscript was 690.7 days. The rejection rate was 53.5%. In 2009, 44 articles, 72 short notes and 9 reviews (total 125) were published by authors from 29 countries. Se analiza el proceso editorial de Archivos de Zootecnia durante 2009. Se recibieron 342 manuscritos procedentes de 24 países, principalmente de Brasil (75,8%). Consecuentemente, el lenguaje más frecuentemente usado fue el portugués, seguido del español y el inglés. El tiempo medio entre recepción y publicación de un manuscrito fue elevado (690,7 dias). La tasa de rechazo fue del 53,5%. En 2009 fueron publicados 44 artículos, 72 notas breves y 9 revisiones (125 trabajos en total) cuyos autores pertenecían a 29 países diferentes

Fatores que afetam o valor nutritivo da silagens de forrageiras tropicais

Considering the importance of silage as alternative for animal feeding systems, this review aims to present recent results available in literature on factors affecting the nutritive value of silage, especially in tropical forages. Considering the cost of feed, the use of silage as animal feed is an important practice in the sustainability of production systems, especially in dry periods of the year. The ensiling of by-products of industry may be an important tool to reduce the dependence on external inputs, and reduce the environmental contamination by these residues. Changes and losses during ensilage are influenced by the characteristics of the fodder plant and are also associated with management, harvesting and storage practices. The factors that influence the process of ensilage are numerous and act alone or interact with each other, which should be considered to obtain silage of higher quality and more stable. In relation with the application of, enzymatic additives or its association with inoculants, in tropical forage, the results available in the literature are controversial and dependent on local conditions, concentration and type of inoculum, method of application, quality of forage plant, and present microflora, among other factors.Considerando a importância do uso da ensilagem como alternativa dos sistemas de alimentação animal, essa revisão objetiva apresentar resultados recentes disponíveis na literatura sobre alguns fatores que afetam o valor nutritivo da silagem, notadamente de forrageiras tropicais. A utilização de silagem na alimentação animal é uma prática importante na sustentabilidade dos sistemas produtivos, considerando os custos com alimentação animal, principalmente nos períodos seco do ano. A ensilagem de subprodutos da indústria pode ser uma importante ferramenta para diminuir a dependência de insumos externos, além de diminuir a contaminação ambiental por esses resíduos. As mudanças e perdas durante a ensilagem são influenciadas pelas características da planta forrageira e estão também associadas às práticas de manejo, colheita e armazenamento. Os fatores que influenciam no processo de ensilagem são muitos e agem isoladamente ou interagem entre si, que precisam ser considerados para obtenção de silagem de maior qualidade e mais estáveis. Resultados sobre a aplicação de aditivos enzimáticos ou sua associação com inoculantes em forrageiras tropicais são controversos na literatura disponível e dependentes das condições locais, concentração e tipo de inoculante, método de aplicação, qualidade da planta forrageira, microflora pré-existente, entre outros fatores

Influence of Environmental and Productive Factors on the Biodiversity of Lactic Acid Bacteria Population from Sheep Milk

Milk is a typical and satisfactory medium for the growth of lactic acid bacteria (LAB). These microorganisms are of vital importance in the quality of the milk since they contribute to its preservation and give differential organoleptic properties to the final product. Furthermore, LABs can act as biocontrol agents in the dairy industry by inhibiting the growth of undesirable bacteria present in milk and by improving the quality of dairy products such as cheese. In this context, knowing the transfer routes used by LABs from the livestock environment to the milk is of great importance within the dairy industry. Therefore, the objectives of the present study were to expand the knowledge of the LAB population present in the milk of Manchego ewe by means of DNA sequencing techniques and to evaluate the possible transfers of LAB species based on the management of each dairy farm. Samples of bulk tank milk, air (from the milking parlour and from the livestock housing), animal feed and teat surface (taken from 10 sheep per farm) were collected in 12 traditional livestock farms in Castilla-La Mancha (Spain), where each farm presented differences regarding their farming practices. A mixed-effects model was used to evaluate the effects of livestock practices on the distribution of LAB species. Results showed that the vast majority of species identified in the milk had an isolate that was also found in other matrices, which could indicate a microbial transference via the livestock environment to the milk. In addition, the mixed model showed that the factors that positively influence the LAB count were the low-line milking system and the daily use of acid detergent in cleaning the milking machine

Systems of feeding Muscovy ducks (cairina moschata) in mapuche farmers from Chile

Two extensive productive systems for Muscovy ducks was evaluated in alternative to intensive systems. This production constitutes an interesting strategy for the development of the local mapuche region. Ninety ducks with 4 weeks old were randomly distributed in two groups of six farmers located in Tromel Alto (Temuco. Chile). Group I used a commercial fed, while group II used a traditional fed based on products and sub-products obtained in their farms. Results shown that both extensive systems are viable; however the commercial fed increased the final weight (p<0.05). Also, ducks fed with commercial fed reached the slaughter weight at 8th week (3980 g), while the traditional fed extend the growing period to 13 weeks (2721 g). However, both extensive systems could be a complementary agrarian rent with great interest to the local mapuche economy. Also, these systems use marginal labor and sub-products of low valor. Therefore, Muscovy ducks production under extensive systems constitutes an interesting tool to fix rural population and to diminish the residual from agrarian activity.Se evalúa la viabilidad de dos sistemas extensivos de patos Muscovy como alternativa a la cría intensiva convencional. Esta producción constituye una estrategia de gran interés para el desarrollo endógeno de pequeños productores mapuches. El estudio partió de un diseño experimental con 90 patos de 4 semanas de edad, que se distribuyen aleatoriamente entre 6 productores del sector Tromel Alto de Temuco. Asimismo se diferenciaron dos sistemas de alimentación; donde a la mitad de los productores se les facilitó un concentrado comercial, en tanto que los restantes productores utilizaron alimentos de uso tradicional en la crianza de aves procedentes de las propias explotaciones. Los resultados muestran que se obtienen mayores valores productivos en los lotes alimentados con concentrado comercial (p<0,05). Así, estos lotes alcanzan el peso de faena en 8 semanas (3980 g), en tanto que los que utilizan la alimentación tradicional necesitan 13 semanas y alcanzan un peso ligeramente inferior (2721 g). Ambos sistemas extensivos podrían ser viables y constituyen una fuente complementaria de renta de gran interés para la economía mapuche de la zona. Además este tipo de producción alternativa aprovecha sinergias existentes en las explotaciones; potenciando recursos tales como la mano de obra de carácter marginal y subproductos agrícolas de escaso o nulo valor en la explotación. Por tanto, la producción extensiva del pato Muscovy se configura como una herramienta de gran utilidad en la fijación de población rural y una actividad que disminuye los residuos de la actividad hortícola

Acorn production at the dehesa: influential factors

This paper reviews the state-of-the-knowledge of acorn production in the South-Western Iberian dehesas. In the first part are briefly described the soil and climatic determining factors and phenology of most common trees of genus Quercus at the dehesa (Q. ilex, Q. suber and Q. faginea). In the second part, acorn production estimations are analyzed. Was established a mean acorn yield of 300 to 700 kg/ha; with individual productions of 8-14 kg/tree for Q. ilex, 5-10 kg/tree for Q. suber and 1-11 kg/tree for Q. faginea; with a highly variable production, both between and within years and individual trees. Finally we review the factors affecting acorn production, describing density of trees (estimated in 20-50 trees/ha), masting phenomenon (with cycles of 2-5,5 years and asynchrony between trees), individual cha-racteristics of trees (genetic potential, age, top surface, etc.), tree mass handling (with favourable effect of tilling, moderate pruning and sustainable grazing), meteorological conditions (mainly drought and meteorology during flowering) and sanitary status (Lymantria, Tortrix, Curculio, Cydia, Balaninus and Brenneria).Se revisa el conocimiento sobre la producción de bellota en las dehesas del SW de la Península Ibérica. Primero se analizan los condicionantes edafoclimáticos y la fenología de los principales árboles del género Quercus (Q. ilex, Q. suber y Q. faginea) presentes en las dehesas. A continuación se analiza la producción de bellota, que presentan valores medios de 300 a 700 kg/ha y producciones individuales de 8-14 kg/árbol para Q. ilex, 5-10 kg/árbol para Q. suber y 1-11 kg/árbol para Q. faginea; resultando producciones muy variables entre individuos, tanto intra como interanualmente. Finalmente, se revisan los factores que afectan a la producción de bellota; y entre éstos se describen la densidad de árboles (estimada en 20-50 pies adultos/ha), el fenómeno de la vecería (con ciclos de 2-5,5 años y asincronía entre árboles), las características individuales de los árboles (potencial genético, edad, superficie de copa, etc.), el manejo de la arboleda (con efecto favorable del laboreo, las podas ligeras y el pastoreo sostenible), las condiciones meteorológicas (principalmente sequía y meteorología durante la floración) y el estado sanitario (Lymantria, Tortrix, Curculio, Cydia, Balaninus y Brenneria)