New early Miocene 40Ar/39Ar ages for Nakwai, northwest Kenya, Africa, and Paleontological analysis of Meroehyrax kyongoi dentition

Nakwai is a fossiliferous region in the Turkana Basin of northwestern Kenya. Until recently the only ages for the Nakwai formation were based on biostratigraphic correlation with Losodok; a late Oligocene site located to the north of Nakwai. The new 40Ar/39Ar ages in this study range from 23 Ma to 15 Ma and constrain the upper portions of the Nakwai section to the early Miocene. These ages make it the only securely dated fossil locality in the region that represents the earliest Miocene; all of the other early Miocene fossil localities date back to ~20 Ma or younger. The time period following the Oligocene - Miocene boundary is crucial for understanding the dynamics and timing of the great faunal transition that happened between the endemic fauna of island Afro-Arabia as it made contact with Eurasia and brought many of the animals into Africa that we associate with the continent today. These new dates help constrain the timing of this transitional event, which was previously thought to have been at, or near the Oligocene - Miocene boundary. Hyracoidea is a group of mammals native to Africa, which were very diverse throughout the early Cenozoic. During the late Oligocene and early Miocene some species of hyracoid appear to be developing hypsodont and selenodont features in their cheek teeth. Dental features such as hypsodonty were long thought to have evolved in response to an increase in silica-rich C4 grasses. However, in Africa these grasses did not arrive until the Late Miocene. The species Meroëhyrax kyongoi, which has been recovered from Nakwai, is a member of the Pliohyracidae family; which has been described as having these dental features. Dental measurements from Meroëhyrax kyongoi along with two younger species of Pliohyracidae were compared to try to assess the changes in these features through time. The degree of hypsodonty was also established within these taxa by determining a Hypsodonty Index (HI) for each specimen. These dental data suggest that, although tooth size does increase through time, the degree of hypsodonty remains relatively constant. When compared to other hypsodont herbivores, the HI of these hyracoids does not indicate true hypsodonty

RIESGO ERGONÓMICO RELACIONADO A LA LUMBALGIA OCUPACIONAL EN ENFERMEROS DEL HOSPITAL DE CONTINGENCIA HERMILIO VALDIZÁN MEDRANO – HUÁNUCO 2018

Objetivo general: Determinar la relación que existe entre los riesgos ergonómicos y la lumbalgia ocupacional en los enfermeros que laboran en el Hospital de Contingencia Hermilio Valdizán Medrano – Huánuco 2018. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo relacional con diseño correlacional en 129 profesionales de Enfermeria, aplicando una escala de riesgos ergonómicos y un cuestionario de lumbalgia ocupacional en la recolección de datos. El análisis inferencial se realizó con la prueba de Chi Cuadrado de Independencia con una significancia estadística p<0,05. Resultados: Respecto a los riesgos ergonómicos, 57.4% presento riesgo alto, 31.0% riesgo medio y 11.6% riesgo bajo. En cuanto a la lumbalgia ocupacional, 60,5% no presentaron lumbalgia y 39,5% si tuvieron lumbalgia ocupacional. Los riesgos ergonómicos se relacionaron significativamente con la lumbalgia ocupacional en los profesionales de Enfermería en estudio [X2 = 12,623; p = 0,002]. También se encontró relación entre los riesgos ergonómicos en la dimensión movimientos corporales (p = 0,001); posturas corporales (p = 0,003); manipulación de cargas (p = 0,001); bipedestación prolongada (p = 0,000); y condiciones del ambiente de trabajo (p = 0,001) con la lumbalgia ocupacional en la muestra en estudio. Conclusiones: Los riesgos ergonómicos se relacionan con la lumbalgia ocupacional en los enfermeros en estudio; se rechaza la hipótesis nula y se acepta la hipótesis de investigación.Tesi

Placas aislantes de EPS reciclado: factores críticos y potencialidades para la viabilidad productiva de un emprendimiento en el Partido de La Plata

Previous research has allowed developing and characterizing an expanded polystyrene waste (EPS) based insulation material that can be used to manufacture plates, providing job opportunities to unemployed or vulnerable social groups. By working together with a local recycling cooperative, the production processes needed for their manufacture on a scale suitable for commercialization were determined. The goal of this research is to analyze these production processes and identify the critical aspects that make the technology’s implementation and management viable. The methodology used involves i. the product’s adaptation; ii. determining supplies and resources for its feasibility; iii. detecting the most critical production processes; and, iv. adapting to the particular case of application. A set of minimum requirements is obtained to develop a productive venture. In addition, the most critical processes related to the separation and obtaining of the EPS and its continuous supply over time, are identified. The results summarize contributions to replicate and make this experience sustainable.Investigaciones previas han permitido desarrollar y caracterizar un material aislante a partir de descartes de poliestireno expandido (EPS) que puede utilizarse para la fabricación de placas, brindando oportunidades laborales a grupos sociales desocupados o vulnerables. Trabajando en articulación con una cooperativa de recicladores local, se determinaron los procesos productivos necesarios para su fabricación en una escala apta para su comercialización. El objetivo de esta investigación es analizar estos procesos productivos e identificar los aspectos críticos para la viabilidad de ejecución y gestión de esta tecnología. La metodología utilizada implica: i. la adecuación del producto; ii. la determinación de los insumos y recursos para su viabilidad; iii. la detección de los procesos productivos con mayor criticidad; y iv. la adecuación al caso particular de aplicación. Se obtiene un conjunto de requerimientos considerados mínimos para el desarrollo de un emprendimiento productivo. Además, se identifican en el contexto local los procesos de mayor criticidad, relativos a la separación y la obtención del EPS y su provisión continua en el tiempo. Los resultados condensan aportes para contribuir a la replicación y la sostenibilidad de esta experiencia.Pesquisas anteriores desta equipe permitiram desenvolver e caracterizar um material isolante a partir de poliestireno expandido (EPS) descartado que pode ser utilizado na fabricação de placas, oferecendo oportunidades de trabalho a grupos sociais desempregados ou vulneráveis. Trabalhando em coordenação com uma cooperativa local de recicladores, foram determinados os processos de produção necessários para sua fabricação em escala adequada para a comercialização. O objetivo desta pesquisa é analisar os processos produtivos envolvidos e os aspectos críticos que tornam viável a execução e gestão desta tecnologia. A metodologia utilizada implica: i. a adequação do produto; ii. a determinação dos insumos e recursos para sua viabilidade; iii. a detecção dos processos com maior criticidade; e iv. a adaptação ao caso particular de aplicação. Obtém-se um conjunto de requisitos considerados mínimos para o desenvolvimento de um empreendimento produtivo. Além disso, são identificados no contexto local os processos mais críticos relacionados à separação e obtenção do EPS e seu fornecimento contínuo ao longo do tempo. Os resultados condensam contribuições que têm por objetivo a replicação e sustentabilidade desta experiência

Toxigenic profile and AFLP variability of Alternaria alternata and Alternaria infectoria occurring on wheat

Abstract The objectives of this study were to evaluate the ability to produce alternariol (AOH), alternariol monomethyl ether (AME) and tenuazonic acid (TA) by A. alternata and A. infectoria strains recovered from wheat kernels obtained from one of the main production area in Argentina; to confirm using AFLPs molecular markers the identity of the isolates up to species level, and to evaluate the intra and inter-specific genetic diversity of these two Alternaria species. Among all the Alternaria strains tested (254), 84% of them were able to produce mycotoxins. The most frequent profile of toxin production found was the co-production of AOH and AME in both species tested. TA was only produced by strains of A. alternata. Amplified fragment polymorphism (AFLPs) analysis was applied to a set of 89 isolates of Alternaria spp (40 were A. infectoria and 49 were A. alternata) in order to confirm the morphological identification. The results showed that AFLPs are powerful diagnostic tool for differentiating between A. alternata and A. infectoria. Indeed, in the current study the outgroup strains, A. tenuissima was consistently classified. Characteristic polymorphic bands separated these two species regardless of the primer combination used. Related to intraspecific variability, A. alternata and A. infectoria isolates evaluated seemed to form and homogeneous group with a high degree of similarity among the isolates within each species. However, there was more scoreable polymorphism within A. alternata than within A. infectoria isolates. There was a concordance between morphological identification and separation up to species level using molecular markers. Clear polymorphism both within and between species showed that AFLP can be used to asses genetic variation in A. alternata and A. infectoria. The most important finding of the present study was the report on AOH and AME production by A. infectoria strains isolated from wheat kernels in Argentina on a semisynthetic media for the first time. Also, specific bands for A. alternata and A. infectoria have been identified; these may be useful for the design of specific PCR primers in order to differentiate these species and to detect them in cereals.Fil: Oviedo, Maria Silvina. Universidad Nacional de Rio Cuarto. Facultad de Cs.exactas Fisicoquimicas y Naturales. Departamento de Microbiologia E Inmunologia. Cat.de Micología; Argentina;Fil: Sturm, María Elena. Universidad Nacional de Rio Cuarto. Facultad de Cs.exactas Fisicoquimicas y Naturales. Departamento de Microbiologia E Inmunologia; Argentina;Fil: Reynoso, Maria Marta. Universidad Nacional de Rio Cuarto. Facultad de Cs.exactas Fisicoquimicas y Naturales. Departamento de Microbiologia E Inmunologia; Argentina;Fil: Chulze, Sofia Noemi. Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. Facultad de Cs.quimicas. Departamento de Bioquimica Clinica. Cat.de Inmunologia; Argentina;Fil: Ramirez, Maria Laura. Universidad Nacional de Rio Cuarto. Facultad de Cs.exactas Fisicoquimicas y Naturales. Departamento de Microbiologia E Inmunologia; Argentina

Effects of bisphenol A administration during critical stages of sexual development

El bisfenol A (BPA) es un compuesto estrogénico utilizado en la fabricación de plásticos policarbonatos, que tiene efectos deletéreos sobre el eje reproductor de los individuos expuestos y el de su descendencia. El BPA actuaría sobre el eje hipotálamo-hipófiso-gonadal de ratas hembra modificando sus procesos de maduración. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue estudiar el efecto del BPA sobre la maduración del eje reproductor de ratas hembra peripúberes expuestas a este compuesto desde el inicio de la gestación y durante la lactancia (Grupo 1, 2,5 mg/kg/día)) y otro grupo (Grupo 2, 6,0 mg/kg/día) expuesto desde los 21 días y hasta los 30 días de edad. Se administró BPA en el agua de bebida o etanol al 0,1% (grupo control), (n=10/grupo). Se determinó LH, FSH (RIA, ng/ml), estradiol (ELISA, pg/ml), se evaluaron peso corporal y pesos relativos de útero y ovario. Se realizó estudio histológico de cortes de ovario y útero. Grupo 1, los niveles de LH y estradiol aumentaron significativamente (Control: 11 ± 1,0 vs. BPA: 40 ± 4,0, p<0,001; Control: 20 ± 0,5 vs. BPA: 40 ± 2,0, p<0,0001), mientras los de FSH mostraron tendencia al aumento pero éste no fue significativo. Los pesos corporales y el peso relativo del ovario no se modificaron con el tratamiento. El estudio histológico mostró mayor número de folículos maduros y desarrollo de células de la teca y epitelio cilíndrico en útero de los animales tratados. Grupo 2, LH y estradiol aumentaron significativamente (Control: 3,3 ± 0,3 vs. BPA: 5,1 ± 0,3, p<0,01; Control: 25,0 ± 0,5 vs. BPA: 27,1 ± 0,7, p<0,05). La FSH, si bien mostró tendencia a aumentar, ésta no fue significativa. Los pesos corporales y los pesos relativos de ovario y útero no se modificaron con este tratamiento. En la histología se observa mayor desarrollo de la teca interna y un mayor número de folículos maduros en los animales tratados. No se encontraron diferencias evidentes en el alto del epitelio uterino. La exposición aguda o crónica a BPA en etapas clave de la maduración sexual modifica la actividad del eje reproductor. Los resultados obtenidos sugieren que el BPA ejercería su efecto estrogénico, actuando sobre los mecanismos de retroalimentación positivos.Bisphenol A (BPA) is an estrogenic compound used in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastic. It has deleterious effects on the reproductive axis in human and wildlife, both in individuals exposed to it and their descendants. Evidence suggests that BPA exerts its influence on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis of female rats by interfering with its maturation process. The aim of the present study was to analyse the effect of BPA on maturation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis of peripuberal female rats, exposed to it since the beginning of the gestation and during the lactation period (Group 1, 2.5 mg/kg/day), and from the age of 21 days till the age of 30 (Group 2, 6.0 mg/kg/day). The animals were treated with BPA or 0.1% ethanol (Control Group) in their drinking water (n=10/grupo). LH, FSH (RIA, ng/ml) and estradiol (ELISA, pg/ml) were measured in serum. Ovaries and uterus relative weights were obtained. Histological studies were performed on several sections of uterus and ovaries. Group 1, LH and estradiol serum levels increased significantly (Control: 11 ± 1.0 vs. BPA: 40 ± 4.0, p<0.001; Control: 20 ± 0.5 vs BPA: 40 ± 2.0, p<0.0001). FSH levels showed an increasing trend as well, but this was not statistically significant. Corporal weights and ovaries relative weights were not modified by treatment. Histological studies showed an increase in the total number of mature follicles, and development of the theca cells and ovarian stroma, in animals exposed to BPA. Group 2, LH and estradiol serum levels increased significantly (Control: 3.3 ± 0.3 vs. BPA: 5.1 ± 0.3, p<0.01; Control: 25.0 ± 0.5 vs. BPA: 27.1 ± 0.7, p<0.05). Although FSH levels exhibited an increasing trend, this did not reach statistical significance. Corporal weights and ovaries and uterus relative weights were not modified by treatment. Histological studies revealed major development of the internal theca, and an increase in the number of mature follicles, in those animals under treatment. No significant differences were found in the height of the epithelium of the uterus. Acute or chronic exposure to BPA during critical stages of sexual development modifies the activity of the reproductive axis. The results obtained suggest that BPA may exert its estrogenic effect, acting on the positive feedback mechanism.Fil: Cardoso, Nancy Patricia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Ciencias Fisiológicas; ArgentinaFil: Pandolfi, Matias. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental. Laboratorio de Embriología Animal; ArgentinaFil: Ponzo, Osvaldo. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Ciencias Fisiológicas; ArgentinaFil: Carbone, Silvia Elena. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina; ArgentinaFil: Peñalba, Romina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Ciencias Fisiológicas; ArgentinaFil: Dicugno. Mariana. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Sede Hospital Britanico Bs.as; ArgentinaFil: Scacchi, Pablo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina; ArgentinaFil: Reynoso, Roxana. Hospital Británico; Argentin

Science Communication Postgraduate Studies in Latin America: a map and some food for thought

Fil: Massarani, Luisa. Red de Popularización de la ciencia y la tecnología en América Latina y el Caribe(RedPOP). America Latina.Fil: Reynoso, Eliane. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Mexico.Fil: Murriello, Sandra Elena. Universidad Nacional de Río Negro. Instituto de Estudios en Ciencia, Tecnología, Cultura y Desarrollo (CITECDE). Río Negro, Argentina.Fil: Castillo, Ayelen. Universidad Nacional de Río Negro. Instituto de Estudios en Ciencia, Tecnología, Cultura y Desarrollo (CITECDE). Río Negro, Argentina.This paper contains an overview of the programmes currently existing in Latin America to train science communicators. For such purpose, only postgraduate courses held regularly were considered in the study. Twenty-two programmes meeting such requirement were identified in five countries, 65% of which were in fact established over the past ten years. They present a lot of diversity in terms of admittance requirements, goals, contents, approaches, duration and graduation requirements. However, all of them share the same effort, aiming to offer specific contents in the area of science communication.En este artículo se ofrece una visión panorámica de los programas que existen en América Latina para formar comunicadores de la ciencia. Para este estudio se consideraron únicamente posgrados que se ofrecen regularmente. Se identificaron 22 programas con estas características concentrados en cinco países de los cuales el 65 % fueron creados en los últimos diez años. Se observa una gran diversidad en cuanto a requisitos de ingreso, objetivos, contenidos, enfoques, duración y requisitos de egreso. Todos coinciden en su esfuerzo por ofrecer contenidos específicos en el área de la comunicación de la ciencia

Different effects by sex on hypothalamic-pituitary axis of prepubertal offspring rats produced by in utero and lactational exposure to di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP)

This study investigated the effect of pre and perinatal exposure to di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) on the neuroendocrine parameters that regulate reproduction in prepubertal male and female rats. DEHP at doses of 3 and 30 mg/kg. bw/day was administered orally in the drinking water to dam rats since pregnancy onset until the moment of pups sacrifice at 15 days of age. In these animals gonadotropin serum level and the hypothalamic contents of the amino acids aspartate, glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid were determined. No changes in gonadotropin levels and amino acid neurotransmitters were detected at the low dose in both sexes. However, DEHP administered at high dose (30 mg/kg bw/day) to dams produced a significant decrease in the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA and an increase in the stimulatory neurotransmitter aspartate in prepubertal male offspring rats. These modifications were accompanied by gonadotropin serum levels increase. On the contrary, in treated female rats this chemical increased both, aspartate and GABA, which exert a characteristic stimulatory action on gonadotropin in 15-day-old normal females. This study provides new data about changes produced by DEHP on the hypothalamic amino acid neurotransmitters involved in the neuroendocrine reproductive regulation, in prepubertal male and female rat offspring from dams exposed during gestational and lactational periods. These alterations induced by DEHP exposure could be related to the gonadotropin modifications also described in this work, and with changes in the production of sexual hormones previously reported by other authors.Fil: Carbone, Silvia Elena. Universidad Favaloro; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina; ArgentinaFil: Samaniego, Yanina A.. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina; ArgentinaFil: Cutrera, Rodolfo Angel. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Reynoso, R.. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina; ArgentinaFil: Cardoso, N.. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina; ArgentinaFil: Scacchi, Pablo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina; Argentina. Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina "Santa María de los Buenos Aires"; ArgentinaFil: Moguilevsky, Jaime Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Favaloro; ArgentinaFil: Ponzo, Osvaldo Juan. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina; Argentin

Toxigenic profile and AFLP variability of Alternaria alternata and Alternaria infectoria occurring on wheat

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the ability to produce alternariol (AOH), alternariol monomethyl ether (AME) and tenuazonic acid (TA) by A. alternata and A. infectoria strains recovered from wheat kernels obtained from one of the main production area in Argentina; to confirm using AFLPs molecular markers the identify of the isolates up to species level, and to evaluate the intra and inter-specific genetic diversity of these two Alternaria species. Among all the Alternaria strains tested (254), 84% of them were able to produce mycotoxins. The most frequent profile of toxin production found was the co-production of AOH and AME in both species tested. TA was only produced by strains of A. alternata. Amplified fragment polymorphism (AFLPs) analysis was applied to a set of 89 isolates of Alternaria spp (40 were A. infectoria and 49 were A. alternata) in order to confirm the morphological identification. The results showed that AFLPs are powerful diagnostic tool for differentiating between A. alternata and A. infectoria. Indeed, in the current study the outgroup strains, A. tenuissima was consistently classified. Characteristic polymorphic bands separated these two species regardless of the primer combination used. Related to intraspecific variability, A. alternata and A. infectoria isolates evaluated seemed to form and homogeneous group with a high degree of similarity among the isolates within each species. However, there was more scoreable polymorphism within A. alternata than within A. infectoria isolates. There was a concordance between morphological identification and separation up to species level using molecular markers. Clear polymorphism both within and between species showed that AFLP can be used to asses genetic variation in A. alternata and A. infectoria. The most important finding of the present study was the report on AOH and AME production by A. infectoria strains isolated from wheat kernels in Argentina on a semisynthetic media for the first time. Also, specific bands for A. alternata and A. infectoria have been identified; these may be useful for the design of specific PCR primers in order to differentiate these species and to detect them in cereals

The Central Andes and sustainable development: The Mendoza High Mountains Strategic Plan, Argentina

The Mendoza High Mountains Strategic Plan (MHMSP) is a key instrument for the public management and land-use planning of the Aconcagua region, Argentina. It involves stakeholders from government, the private sector, scientists and local communities in the Central Andes to promote collective action for making Aconcagua a sustainable tourism destination, within the context of climate change and COVID-19. The MHMSP is supported by the Federal Investment Council of Argentina and the Inter-American Development Bank. The Commission for Sustainable Development of the High Mountains of Mendoza comprises actors from the public and private sectors and was created to monitor the plan’s follow-up. Climate change adaptation and mitigation are part of the process outlined in the MHMSP, and support for the adoption and incorporation of new technologies plays a central role. Local communities whose livelihoods depend on snow tourism are vulnerable to the impact of climate change. Different mechanisms have been incorporated into the plan to promote mountain villages’ adaptation to climate change, to reduce their vulnerability.Fil: Reynoso, Marcelo. Gobierno de la Provincia de Mendoza. Ministerio de Turismo; ArgentinaFil: Rubio, María Clara. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas; ArgentinaFil: Salinas, Pamela. Provincia de Mendoza. Subsecretaría de Agricultura; ArgentinaFil: Morabito, Federico. Provincia de Mendoza. Subsecretaría de Agricultura; ArgentinaFil: Abraham, Elena Maria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas; ArgentinaFil: Rubio, María Cecilia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas; ArgentinaFil: Díaz, Fabián. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas; ArgentinaFil: Gil Fain Binda, Lorena. Provincia de Mendoza. Subsecretaría de Agricultura; ArgentinaFil: Zabala, Cecilia. Provincia de Mendoza. Subsecretaría de Agricultura; ArgentinaFil: Lo Bello, Silvia. Provincia de Mendoza. Subsecretaría de Agricultura; ArgentinaFil: Betancourt, Pablo. Betancourt Photographic Studio; ArgentinaFil: García, Gustavo. Betancourt Photographic Studio; Argentin

Cambio de uso de suelo, fragmentació del paisaje y la conservación de Leopardus pardalis Linnaeus, 1758

En México la selva alta perennifolia y el bosque mesófilo de montaña han sido eliminados y fragmentados, en estos ecosistemas habita el ocelote (Leopardus pardalis), una especie considerada en peligro de extinción en México. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue determinar los cambios de uso del suelo, fragmentación de la vegetación primaria y sus efectos sobre el ocelote, en una zona clave para la conectividad de sus poblaciones. Para llevar a cabo el trabajo, se calcularon las tasas de cambio de vegetación y uso del suelo, además se realizó un análisis de fragmentación. Para el registro de ocelotes, se colocaron cámaras trampa en un área de 110 km2. Los resultados mostraron una tasa de cambio de -2.63 y -2.29 para la selva alta perennifolia y el bosque mesófilo de montaña, respectivamente. Las observaciones de ocelote ocurrieron en el interior o muy cercanas (1.6 km) a zonas con valor de conectividad mayor a 10 %. El tamaño de los fragmentos de hábitat fue pequeño: 0.85 ha para bosque mesófilo de montaña y 1.04 ha en selva alta perennifolia; y la conectividad entre ellos fue de <30 %. Estos resultados reflejan la necesidad de mantener la conectividad del paisaje para la conservación de las poblaciones de L. pardalis