Andean Region Of Colombia Research Articles

Landslides forecasting using satellite rainfall estimations and machine learning in the Colombian Andean region

Due to its high topographic gradients and climatic conditions, the Colombian Andean Region (CAR) has been associated with human and economic losses caused by rainfall-triggered landslides over time; for this reason, the definition of the rainfall conditions that trigger landslides has received significant research interest. However, numerous areas that constitute this region do not have ground-rainfall gauge networks to correlate rainfall and landslides. In this sense, the information provided by Satellite Rainfall Estimations (SREs) can help address this deficiency. Therefore, this work aimed to propose a methodology to spatialise the rainfall-triggered landslide hazard over the Andean Region using conditioning variables, SREs (CHIRPSv2 and MSWEPv2.6), and commonly used ground-rainfall gauges. Thus, the performance of the selected SREs is assessed using the modified Kling Gupta efficiency Metric (KGE’) and its components. Subsequently, the Random Forest Model (RFM) was trained for the 1981–2019 period, and its performance was assessed in terms of different skill scores and the Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve (ROC-AUC). The model's predictive capacity for rainfall-triggered landslides was also tested using input data from recent events outside the training period (2020–2021). The KGE's results showed a good correlation between rainfall estimates (CHIRPSv2 and MSWEPv2.6) and observations (ground-rainfall gauges) for accumulated rainfall scales greater than three days, being better at the monthly and annual scales (KGE'>0.5). In addition, the performance of the RFM was good in all evaluated cases (ROC-AUC>0.78), with the ground-rainfall database outperforming the satellite databases. The results indicated that CHIRPSv2 is the best-performing SRE for landslide prediction in the Colombian Andean Region. Finally, the landslide forecast model results proved that the RFM could predict rain-triggered landslides using only rainfall variables, providing a suitable option for Landslides Early Warning Systems (LEWS). Lastly, the model results indicated an accurate probability of occurrence using CHIRPSv2 estimations, suggesting that the model would also yield good results in areas with a scarcity of ground-rainfall data.

Phenolic Components and Antioxidant Capacity of Six Wild Passiflora Species from the Andean Region of Colombia

ABSTRACT Methanolic extracts were prepared from aerial biomass of wild populations of Passiflora coriacea, P. capsularis, P. magdalenae, P. smithii, P. vitifolia, and P. pittieri and evaluated for total phenols, tannins, and flavonoids. The qualitative and quantitative profiles of the extracts were established by UHPLC-ESI/MSMS, and their capacity to quench DPPH∙ and ABTS∙+ radicals was determined. There were positive correlations between the phenolic content and antioxidant capacity for all species analyzed, highlighting to P. vitifolia and P. pittieri which exhibited the highest values for all the determined parameters. Passiflora species from the Colombian Andean, may be a potential source of bioactive metabolites.

Assessing bird habitat occupancy from gradient-based landscape metrics and principal polar spectral indices in the colombian andean region

ContextThe patch-mosaic model (PMM) is the most common way to describe the landscape in ecological research. Despite this, the gradient model (GM) was proposed as a more accurate representation of the heterogeneity of landscapes; however, little has been explored on the behavior and performance of continuous variables and surface-based metrics from GM under different analytical scenarios.Objectives We address the question: which landscape metrics, patch-based or surface-based, best explain habitat occupancy patterns of six bird species with different ecological preferences?MethodsWe generated detection histories for six bird species in a fragmented Andean landscape from Colombia. We obtain patch-based metrics from a land cover classification and surface-based metrics from the principal polar spectral indices (PPSi) to describe the landscape. Finally, we fitted dynamic occupancy models using variables derived from landscape models and compared their performance using quasi-AIC for each species.Results We obtained 909 detections for the six selected bird species. We found that PPSi and surface-based metrics were more informative when assessing occupancy patterns for five of the six species studied. In addition, surface-based metrics allowed to detect interspecific differences between species beyond an affinity for a particular cover type.Conclusions Surface-based metrics can be an alternative for assessing species response to landscape heterogeneity, particularly those that may be more sensitive to fine-scale changes in vegetation cover. However, there is no single “best” model to describe the landscape for all cases. PPSi can be very useful for land cover analysis in landscape ecology studies as an alternative to more popular vegetation indices.

Native plants from the genus Vaccinium in Colombia and their potential uses. A review

The Andean Region of Colombia has a large variety of species with diverse ethnobotanical uses, including industrial, medicinal and food uses. Among these plants are several wild species from the genus Vaccinium, which are native to the mountainous regions of the country. This review deals with potential uses for agraz (V. meridionale) and agracejo (V. floribundum) in Colombia, focusing on the nutritional potential of these plants and their importance for food security in terms of products made from their fruits and leaves. In addition, this review looks at possible negative effects from anthropic activities and climate change on wild plants from the genus Vaccinium.

Exploring the Core Microbiota of Four Different Traditional Fermented Beverages from the Colombian Andes

Fermentation is an ancient process used to prepare and preserve food. Currently, fermented beverages are part of the culture of people living in the Colombian Andean Region, and they are a vital part of their cosmology and ancestral vision. Chicha, Forcha, Champús, and Masato are some of the most common Colombian Andes region’s traditional fermented beverages. These drinks come from the fermentation of maize (Zea maize), but other cereals such as wheat or rye, could be used. The fermentation is carried out by a set of bacteria and yeasts that provide characteristic organoleptic properties of each beverage. In this work, the information collected from the metagenomics analyses by sequencing ITS 1-4 (Internal Transcriber Spacer) and the 16S ribosomal gene for fungi and the V3-V4 region of the rDNA for bacteria allowed us to identify the diversity present in these autochthonous fermented beverages made with maize. The sequencing analysis showed the presence of 39 bacterial and 20 fungal genera. In addition, we determined that only nine genera of bacteria and two genera of fungi affect the organoleptic properties of smell, colour, and flavour, given the production of compounds such as lactic acid, alcohol, and phenols, highlighting the critical role of these microorganisms. Our findings provide new insights into the core microbiota of these beverages, represented by Lactobacillus fermentum, Acetobacter pasteurianus, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Isolation, identification, and antimicrobial activity of lactic acid bacteria associated with two traditional Colombian types of cheese: Quesillo and double-cream cheese

The Quesillo and Double-Cream, two traditional pasta filata fresh cheeses from the Colombian Andean region, were studied for their microbiological composition including lactic acid bacteria (LAB), volatile diacetyl and acetoin compounds, fatty acid profile, and antimicrobial activity against Listeria monocytogenes ATCC-7644 and Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium ATCC-13311. The counts of indicator microorganisms were consistent with those found in this product. The fatty acid composition varied, with oleic and palmitic acids having the largest concentrations. The aroma precursor compound acetoin was detected in both kinds of cheese. The most prevalent species in both products was Lactococcus lactis, which was followed by Enterococcus faecium and Limosilactobacillus fermentum. The inhibition against the pathogens under study was seen in the cell-free supernatants of L. lactis (Quesillo 37–41), L. fermentum (Quesillo 40–74; Double-Cream 104) and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei (Double-Cream 101) with good activity at pH 7.0 and 60 °C. The antimicrobial activity of L. paracasei (Double-Cream 101) and L. fermentum (Double-Cream 104) against Listeria monocytogenes at all temperatures and times analyzed was highlighted. These findings suggest that the LAB used in this study, which was derived from artisanal cheeses, has bioprospecting potential for application in the elaboration of these traditional products and new dairy products.

Preliminary Effectiveness of a Strategy to Promote Healthy Lifestyle Habits in Schoolchildren.

Purpose: To measure the preliminary effectiveness of a strategy to promote healthy lifestyle habits in schoolchildren, aged 6 to 12 years, living in the Andean region of Colombia, 2018–2021. Design and Methods: This is a Nursing Methodological Research, developed in phases: (1) Context and schoolchildren characterization; (2) Strategy design guided by the Whittemore and Grey criteria and the Bronfenbrenner ecological conceptual model; (3) Strategy validation with 11 experts; (4) Trial to evaluate preliminary effectiveness. We applied the strategy in seven different schools with the educational community including 955 schoolchildren between 6 and 12 years of age, 551 parents, 130 teachers and 7 members of the food staff. Results: Our health promotion strategy “Prosalud” has five components: citizenship feeding and nutrition, physical activity, and rest; environment protection, and directing one’s own life. It includes all the participants of the educational community. Conclusions: According to experts, the health promotion strategy “Prosalud” is valid to help promoting healthy lifestyle habits among schoolchildren. This strategy demonstrates its preliminary effectiveness in a group of school children from 6 to 12 years of age, their parents, teachers, and school food staff, in the Andean region of Colombia.

Painful violaceous pigmentation, a clinical challenge and diagnostic approach in a tropical country

Millipedes are not considered poisonous animals, although in some cases their chemical defense mechanisms may be deleterious for human beings, manifesting as erythematous, purpuric and/ or cyanotic lesions alongside local pain and paresthesia. According to the exposure, the clinical condition may progress to moderate and severe lesions such as ulcers and blisters. We describe a case of a male child from the Andean region in Colombia, an area with daily temperatures between 15° and 30° C and 72% average humidity. The boy accidentally stepped on a millipede, and this occurrence became a challenge for its diagnosis amongst staff who provided emergency health care.

Contribution to the knowledge of non-native fishes in reservoirs in the Magdalena River basin: the study case Piedras blancas reservoir

ABSTRACT The habitat fragmentation caused by reservoir construction in different aquatic systems in the Magdalena River basin is a latent threat to the diversity of fishes and aquatic environments in the Andean region of Colombia. Contributing to the knowledge about how fish assemblages are formed in these scenarios is fundamental for the management and decision-making on the aquatic resources of the basin. In this communication, we describe the results of a fish characterization in the area of influence of the Piedras Blancas reservoir, a high Andean reservoir built for hydroelectric power generation. Only three species of fish that make up the evaluated assemblage were captured, and two of them, Cyprinus carpio and Xiphophorus maculatus, are not native to the basin. Possibly, with a greater sampling effort, more species can be found. The native species Hemibrycon sp. is distributed mainly in a creek, while in the reservoir, the introduced species dominate. The environmental variables were in optimal ranges for the development of life in the evaluated environments. It is important to advance the knowledge about the distribution of the introduced and native species in the basin to generate recommendations that contribute to the management of these species in the aquatic systems of Colombian Andes.

Organic geochemistry, lithofacies and gas shale reservoir potential of cretaceous outcrops from Alto de los Caballeros section, Eastern Cordillera Basin – Colombia

Significant layers of shale are exposed in the Eastern Cordillera of Colombia. These Upper Cretaceous rocks from La Frontera and Conejo Formations in the Chécua-Lenguazaque Syncline, between Ubaté, Carmen de Carupa and Sutatausa towns, were evaluated using geochemical and petrographic analysis to determine their potential as gas shale reservoirs. This structure presents promising characteristics for developing a gas shale reservoir due to its areal extension, the existence of a thick layer of marine cretaceous sequence, and a near location to industrial areas, such as the colombian andean region. In La Frontera and Conejo Formations, the result of outcrop samples analysis indicates that some levels meet the geochemical characteristics required for the existence of potential gas shale reservoirs. One of these levels correspond to the base of La Frontera Formation, where limestones exhibit appropriated organic matter content and maturity conditions for gas shale. In addition, this limestone also presents micro-porosity associated with diagenetic processes and kerogen. The geochemical and petrographic features are similar to those found in the Barnett gas shale. The geochemical and petrographic characteristics reflected by the limestones of La Frontera Formation agree with the criteria described and evaluated internationally for unconventional gas shale reservoirs, similar to those found in the Barnett gas shale, and shows the best conditions for the development of these deposits. Nevertheless, it is necessary to evaluate other petrophysical properties, gas saturation, and effective gas permeability in reservoir condition in order to make a conclusive determination about gas shale potential.

Infestation, histology, and molecular confirmation of Sarcoptes scabiei in an Andean porcupine (Coendou quichua) from the Central Andes of Colombia.

Sarcoptic mange is a highly contagious, worldwide disease that affects the skin of mammals, including humans. It is caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei, however, the information available in wild mammal populations in the world, and particularly in Colombia is limited. Here, we document a new case of sarcoptic mange in an Andean porcupine (Coendou quichua) from the Andean region of Colombia. We morphologically and molecularly confirmed the mite as S. scabiei and documented the histopathology associated with scabies, and show the different stages of the life cycle of S. scabiei from the Andean porcupine skin samples. Our review of reports of additional cases of scabies in wild mammal species in South America showed 15 species, mostly carnivores, artiodactyls, and rodents. Considering the limited information in Colombia, it is urgent to evaluate the risk of this condition on mammals which would contribute to the epidemiological knowledge and the potential implications of sarcoptic mange in the ecology and conservation of wild mammals in the country.

Assessment of Deep Convective Systems in the Colombian Andean Region

In tropical regions, deep convective systems are associated with extreme rainfall storms that usually detonate flash floods and landslides in the Andean Colombian region. Several studies have used satellite data to address the structure and formation of tropical convective storms. However, there is a local gap in the characterization, which is essential for a better understanding of flash floods and preparedness, filling a gap in a region with scarce information regarding extreme events. In this work, we assess the deep convective storms in a mountainous region of Colombia using meteorological radar observations between 2014 and 2017. We start by identifying convective and stratiform formations. We refine the convective identification by classifying convective systems into enveloped (contained in a stratiform system) and unenveloped (not contained). Then, we analyze the systems’ temporal and spatial distributions and contrast them with the watersheds’ features. According to our results, unenveloped convective systems have higher reflectivity and hence higher rainfall intensities. Moreover, they also have a well-defined spatial and temporal distribution and are likely to occur in watersheds with elevation gradients of around 2000 m and an aspect contrary to the wind direction. Our assessment of the convective storms is of significant value for the hydrologic community working on flash floods. Moreover, the spatiotemporal description is highly relevant for stakeholders and future local analysis.

REBEL GOVERNMENT AND CIVILIAN RESISTANCE

Cañón de las Hermosas is located in a buffer zone of the Páramos Complex of the National Natural Park of the same name, located on the eastern flank of the Cordillera Central, in the Andean Region of Colombia. Several of the most recurrent symptoms in the diagnosis of civil war in the country were concentrated there: poverty and inequality, state precariousness-weakness, social and territorial control by armed groups, disputes over illegal rents derived from the cultivation and trafficking of illicit drugs (ECHANDÍA CASTILLA, 1996, 2000; APONTE GONZÁLEZ, 2019; OBSERVATORIO DE PAZ Y DERECHOS HUMANOS, 2020a, 2020b). This extensive zone was catalogued as one of the sanctuaries of the FARC guerrillas, which guaranteed security, collected taxes, administered justice and regulated coexistence efficiently and effectively through punishments, fines and executions. This happened, particularly with the protection of the environment, a phenomenon that comes close to what DÁVALOS calls "conservation at gunpoint" (DÁVALOS, 2001; CENTRO DE ESTUDIOS REGIONALES, 2020b). After the weakening of the guerrilla by the pacification operations during the 2000s, this conservation work was left in the hands of the civilian population, who denounced the destruction of fragile ecosystems due to the militarization of the territory, and particularly, the construction of a hydroelectric dam in the Amoyá river, in the heart of the Hermosas Canyon. In my work I argue that the Observatorio de Derechos Humanos para la Protección del Medio Ambiente and Mesa de la Transparencia del Cañón de las Hermosas can be characterized as civil resistance mechanisms, conceived with the objective of protecting the population and the environment (TAFUR VILLAREAL, 2021). Community preferences are explained by the degree of social cooperation expressed from the mobilization (protest) and organization capacities, which allowed them to join all the autonomous community spaces of the village of Las Hermosas in a social platform for direct and indirect dialogue with institutional and political actors (among which are included the armed, legal and illegal ones). At the methodological level, the research design and methods integrated fieldwork and archival review with qualitative analysis, and included field interviews, documentary and archival review.

Classification and sensitivity of taxonomic and functional diversity indices of anurans in the Andean coffee cultural landscape

Taxonomical and functional facets of diversity are crucial to understanding the effects of landscape transformation on species assemblages, although there is a lack of consensus on the degree of congruence between diversity indices across land-uses. We evaluated the effect of natural and anthropogenic land cover types on anurans in the Andean region of Colombia. Changes between land cover types were detected but no effect of climatic season on the structure of anuran assemblages. Species with larger body sizes showed a greater affinity for anthropogenic land cover types. We analyzed the functional facet of diversity (based on diet and morphological traits) and discovered that the degree of congruence with taxonomic diversity metrics changed when comparing different land cover types. We evidenced a strong effect of the type of vegetation cover on the Hill numbers (from zero to third orders) for functional diversity but not for the other taxonomic diversity indices. Of all the diversity metrics evaluated, we found that Rao's quadratic entropy, functional dispersion, and average functional diversity were the most sensitive indices to land-use change. Surprisingly, the surrounding of houses, the land cover type with the greater degree of anthropogenic intervention had the higher values of functional diversity, suggesting broader types of specieś resource acquisition. These results suggest the importance of landscape mosaics in the conservation of different facets of anuran diversity. We also emphasize the importance of measuring anuran functional traits to understand more comprehensively the effects of landscape transformation at the assemblage level and to appropriately direct conservation and management actions.

Draft Genome Sequence and De Novo Assembly of a Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici Isolate Collected from the Andean Region in Colombia.

ABSTRACTWe report a draft genome assembly of the causal agent of tomato vascular wilt, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici isolate 59, obtained from the Andean region in Colombia.

Distribution update, male genitalia, natural history, and conservation of the stump-tailed porcupine Coendou rufescens in South America

Abstract The stump-tailed porcupine, Coendou rufescens, is a widely distributed but scarcely documented species inhabiting the Andean region of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and an isolated population in Bolivia. Despite the wide distribution different aspects on its biology and ecology are still unknown. We present an update to the distribution of C. rufescens, and recent observations on the anatomy, natural history, and conservation in Colombia. For this, we described the male genitalia and present data on reproductive periods, plants used and consumed, and threats. The distribution of C. rufescens comprises 12 ecoregions in an area of 376,225 km2 for the northern group (Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru) and 393 km2 for the southern group (Bolivia). The highest elevational record is in Ecuador (4387 m), being the porcupine inhabiting at highest elevations. The anatomy of the glans is similar to that observed in Coendou quichua and constitutes the second species of Coendou with available information on glans morphology. C. rufescens consumes fruits and leaves of potato cider (Sechium edule: Cucurbitaceae) and woody shrub (Bejaria: Ericacea), and usually perches even in exotic species such as pines. Finally, common treats for the species in Colombia are related to hunting pressures, predation by domestic dogs, and roadkills.

Gross Primary Production of Rainfed and Irrigated Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) in the Colombian Andean Region Using Eddy Covariance Technique

Potato farming is relevant for global carbon balances and greenhouse emissions, of which gross primary productivity (GPP) is one of the main drivers. In this study, the net carbon ecosystem exchange (NEE) was measured using the Eddy Covariance (EC) method in two potato crops, one of them with an irrigation system, the other under rainfed conditions. Accurate NEE partition into GPP and ecosystem respiration (RECO) was carried out by fitting a light response curve. Direct measurements of dry weight and leaf area were performed from sowing to the end of canopy life cycle and tuber bulking. Agricultural drought in the rainfed crop resulted in limited GPP rate, low leaf area index (LAI), and low canopy carbon assimilation response to the photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). Hence, in this crop, there was lower efficiency in tuber biomass gain and NEE sum indicated net carbon emissions to atmosphere (NEE = 154.7 g C m−2 ± 30.21). In contrast, the irrigated crop showed higher GPP rate and acted as a carbon sink (NEE = −366.6 g C m−2 ± 50.30). Our results show, the environmental and productive benefits of potato crops grown under optimal water supply.

On the Mismatches between the Monetary and Social Values of Air Purification in the Colombian Andean Region: A Case Study

There is growing interest in air quality and air purification, due to current high pollution levels, their effects on human health, and implications for urban economies. Since the improvement of air quality carries important economic value, air-related benefits have been evaluated monetarily from two perspectives: the first relates to air quality improvements, while the second values air purification as an ecosystem function. This research opted for the second perspective, given that the study area (two Colombian municipalities) does not suffer from poor air quality conditions, but stakeholders prioritized this function as highly important to them. Contingent valuation methods were applied in order to identify the population’s probability of willingness to maintain the air purification function. Although individuals (n = 245) attribute a yearly monetary value of USD 1.5 million to air purification, it was found that, despite the high level of social importance that respondents assigned to air purification (mean = 4.7/5), this had no correlation with payment values (rho = 0.0134, p = 0.8350); that is, households do not really recognize the monetary value of all the benefits they receive or the benefits they would lose if the service suffers changes. Hence, it is posed that monetary values do not necessarily reflect the social importance that individuals assign to ecosystem services, and attention is called to the need to integrate social and monetary values into decision-making processes, so as to encompass the complexity of ecosystem services and conciliate conflicting valuation language.

Perception of the inhabitants of the department of Caldas, Colombia on the effects of climate change on water quality

Abstract Climate change has direct effects on the availability and quality of water for human consumption. In order to propose actions aimed at reducing vulnerability caused by water shortages and risk management required due to extreme events, real knowledge of the communitỳs perception is vital. This study developed in the department of Caldas, in the Colombian Andean region, analysed the perception of the incidence of climate change particularly related to water resources. To achieve this, a survey was used with various actors based on the first National Survey of Public Perception of Climate Change. The results show that the respondents perceive that the availability and quality of water are indeed highly threatened by climate change. As actions for adaptation, they suggested the promotion of the protection of hydrographic basins and a greater control of dumping liquids into surface water sources. Finally, they requested increased opportunities to improve water governance and participation in decision-making bodies regarding climate change, which they see as a fundamental aspect to achieve a real climate empowerment that can lead to action and adaptation in the territories in emerging countries.

Analysis of the protein profile of the venoms of snakes Bothrops asper, Bothrocophias myersi and Crotalus durissus from the Colombian Andean Region obtained by RP-HPLC

Snake venoms comprise a highly complex mixture of proteins, and there is also a high interspecific and intraspecific variability in their composition, even in the same region. Our aim was to compare the composition of the venoms of Bothrocophias myersi, Crotalus durissus and Bothrops asper, snakes from the Andean region in Colombia by Reverse-Phase High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (RP-HPLC). The venoms were given to the research group under an agreement with the Fundación Zoológica de Cali. The venoms pool was obtained by manual extraction, lyophilized and refrigerated. The protein found in the venoms was quantified by spectrophotometry using the Bradford and Lowry methods and direct measurement by Nanodrop®. The protein composition was stablished by RP-HPLC, using a Lichosper 100 RP, C18 column (250X4 mm) with a pore size of 5µm, as well as by Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate-Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The highest quantity of protein was found in the venom of B. myersi (108,6 mg/mL) followed by C. durissus (78,1 mg/mL) and B. asper (74.1 mg/mL). All venoms showed bands of 15 and 50 KDa by SDS-PAGE; The most important finding is the abundance of PLA2 and svMP in the venom of B. myersi. Chromatographic analyses revealed a very similar venom composition profile, but also certain differences in toxins abundance. We conclude that the process of separating the venom proteins by RP-HPLC and SDS-PAGE are very important as a first step to know the venoms profiles, which in turn could allow medical staff to elucidate the clinical syndrome produced by snakebites.