Anthropic Threats Research Articles

Revisiting the Landscape Mosaic model.

The landscape mosaic model quantifies and maps the spatial juxtaposition of different land uses. It provides a landscape perspective of anthropic threats posed by agriculture and urban development, and the spatial-temporal shifting of the landscape mosaic indicates landscapes where anthropic intensity has changed. We use the U.S. Geological Survey provided National Land Cover Database (NLCD) for the years 2001 and 2021 to derive the landscape mosaic at five analysis scales. To improve earlier implementations of the model, we introduce the heatmap, a flexible scheme providing more thematic reporting opportunities and allowing for better quantitative summary reporting across analysis scales as well as for temporal trends. The results are exemplified at regional scale for the Atlanta metropolitan area. We use the improved model to investigate the land cover context over time and at different analysis scales and show how custom color tables detail different thematic features of the landscape mosaic, including the degree and change of anthropic intensity. We conclude with a discussion of potential applications in ecology, landscape planning, and restoration to illustrate the benefits of the revised landscape mosaic model. All assessment tools are now available in open-source software packages.

Quantifying the effects of Anthropocene activities on Mexican endemic amphibians

AbstractIn order to make robust and feasible conservation plans, assessments of species' vulnerability or risk of extinction are ideally needed. However, there are wide differences in the criteria used to assess species vulnerability. Recently, a growing approach seeks to understand the patterns of biodiversity loss using life history traits because these traits show differential responses to environmental disturbances. In order to generate a functional vulnerability assessment for Mexican endemic amphibians, we integrated information from species distribution modeling, functional traits, and spatially explicit threats weighted differentially for each functional group. We obtained 124 distribution models evaluated by species, nine functional groups that represent the differential risk of species against anthropic threats, and 124 layers of spatial vulnerability. We found a generalized presence of threats to amphibians throughout the Mexican territory, highlighting the center of the country as the most affected area, while the southeast and north had a lower level of anthropic activity. We found differential vulnerability values in the distributions of Mexican endemic amphibians. In general, the anthropogenic impact on the distribution of Mexican endemic amphibians is high, and the percentage of habitat loss ranges from 51 to 97%, with an average of 83% lost to anthropogenic pressures. The functional group with the greatest loss of distributional area was found in the salamander genus Ambystoma, while functional groups 2 (frogs with arboreal habits, small size, and reproduction and development in bodies of water) and 4 (small or medium size frogs occupying terrestrial or riparian habitats with oviposition and development occurring in bodies of water or phytotelms) maintain the largest remaining suitable area after considering the threats. We present a replicable methodology that can be implemented anywhere, providing a new tool to generate specific layers that represent threats to functional groups. This allows for updated assessments of species distribution models that can be used in conservation planning, offering more robust data to make conservation planning decisions.

Evaluation of the potential of coastal cliffs as geosites for the promotion of geotourism

Coastal zones, with their significant geodiversity, are vital areas for geotourism. Effective management is crucial to harness the geological interest of these sites as geotourism resources while ensuring their conservation. Manabí Province is one of the most representative regions along the Ecuadorian coast due to its beaches and coastal cliffs, offering a wealth of tourist attractions and cultural elements. This study aims to evaluate the geosite potential of six cliffs in Manabí Province through quantitative and qualitative analyses to propose geotourism promotion strategies. The methodology involves (i) inventory and characterisation of the cliffs, (ii) assessment of the sites by the Spanish Inventory of Places of Geological Interest method (IELIG), and (iii) qualitative evaluation through focus group discussions and Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis. The results reveal that all six sites boast diverse geological assets, including geomorphological, stratigraphic, sedimentological, and tectonic elements. They are characterised by “high” scientific, didactic, and tourist interest, while also being susceptible to degradation due to natural and anthropic threats. The SWOT analysis demonstrates that the valuable geological and geomorphological heritage of potential geosites provides an opportunity to foster geotourism and boost the province’s economy, incorporating geoconservation and geoeducation strategies. This study proposes a georoute called “Ruta Acantilados del Sol”, a 245 km journey encompassing all six sites, incorporating diverse tourist and cultural activities. Our research lays the foundation for fostering geotourism along the Manabí coast and strengthening the connection between nature, heritage, and the welfare of residents within a global resilience plan.

Detection of the maned wolf, a cryptic and vulnerable species, through environmental DNA studies

The maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) is a vulnerable and ubiquitous species endemic to South America. Their populations are declining due to habitat loss as a consequence of agricultural expansion and exposure to anthropic threats such as road-kills, illegal hunting and diseases. In Argentina, there is a lack of information about its accurate distribution because its populations are sparse and the specimens are very difficult to observe due to its cryptic and lonely behavior, low population density, and type of habitat. In this article, we describe the results of the application of the environmental DNA methodology to carry out indirect monitoring of maned wolf specimens. The data obtained show that this technique is effective in detecting specimens of this mammal, which was verified through direct monitoring. This information represents an adjustment of the methods that can be applied in large-scale monitoring to study the structure and distribution of the maned wolf populations, as well as to obtain genetic data about this species, to design optimal conservation plans to preserve it in Argentina.

Environmental and pathological factors affecting the hatching success of the two northernmost loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) nests

In recent years, the report of loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) Mediterranean nesting range has expanded together with new records of nests becoming northward on the Italian coastline of the Tyrrhenian and Adriatic seas. These areas are characterized by intensive human activities, such as tourism, fishery, and marine traffic, all possibly involved in the influence of the use of coastal habitat by marine species. These anthropic threats, in addition to the natural ones and the changing environmental characteristics of the beach, may influence the growth of microorganisms causing hatching failures. Among microorganisms, fungal infection by the genus Fusarium (Link, 1809) is considered one of the main causes of globally declining sea turtle populations. In summer 2021, the two northernmost worldwide loggerhead sea turtle nests were monitored along the Northern Adriatic coastline (Veneto, Italy). These first records may potentially candidate this area as suitable for a large part of the loggerhead turtle’s life cycle and it could represent a minor sea turtle nesting area that, according to Prato and colleagues, remained unnoticed due to the lack of specific monitoring. Sea Turtle Egg Fusariosis (STEF) was deemed to have deeply compromised the hatching success of the northmost one. Climate change and anthropogenic impacts have been scored as one of the highest hazards to sea turtle health and could have played a role in the STEF development. Environmental changes, human activities, and emerging pathogens deserve the highest attention in terms of health research, and conservation management.

Marine turtle hotspots in the Gulf of Mexico and Mesoamerican Reef: Strengthening management and preparedness

Marine turtles are of the highest ecological concern in terms of conservation and restoration programs and marine territorial ordering. Marine resource-extracting industries have severe negative impacts on their populations and their habitats. Thus, private industries and decision makers require the best and most robust spatially explicit scientific knowledge for a sustainable and responsible operation and government administration. Therefore, the identification of marine turtle hotspots is a strategic milestone for ecosystem management and an integral ecological knowledge about any region. We identified and delimited marine turtle hotspots in the Gulf of Mexico and Mesoamerican Reef. We analyzed satellite-tracked data of 178 individuals belonging to four marine turtle species. We used Brownian bridge movement models to estimate space use surfaces and map algebra to weight and merge layers of multiple species, life stages, and movement phases. The Yucatan Peninsula and central Veracruz in Mexico, along with the Florida Keys and Louisiana coast in the US, harbor the primary hotspots where marine turtles aggregate. We defined four primary hotspots used for migration in the western Gulf of Mexico, around the Yucatan Peninsula, a northern route following the Loop Current, and a southern one towards Gorda Bank, Central America. This study is the largest assessment of marine turtle hotspots in Mexico and Cuba and supports strategies for reinforcing regional management actions for their conservation, as well as a stronger response and preparedness for tackling anthropic threats to these species. This milestone contributes to extending the knowledge frontiers about these species to a new level.

Increased exposure of Colombian birds to rapidly expanding human footprint

Understanding and mapping anthropogenic threats on species distributions is a crucial task in conservation science to identify priority areas and propose appropriate conservation strategies. Yet, there is a big challenge to quantify how these threats are associated with species distribution patterns at multiple temporal scales. For birds, existing national and global analyses have mostly focused on forest specialists and they tend to consider only one time period. Here, we evaluated spatial and temporal changes in human footprint within the distributions of Colombian birds from 1970 to 2018, and projected them into 2030. We show that widespread increases in human footprint were common within the distribution of terrestrial birds. Endemic and threatened birds have been disproportionately affected by past increases in human footprint within their distribution, and this trend will continue into the future. Several areas harboring high diversity of forest-specialists remained relatively intact up to 2018. However, our predictions show significantly higher and faster (>2% annual change) levels of transformation within these areas by 2030. Importantly, our results suggest that non-forest birds could be experiencing habitat quality declines that are just as significant as those shown for forest birds. Our results show that mitigating negative anthropogenic effects on bird habitats in Colombia requires an array of conservation strategies that range from strict habitat protection to mixed management. These analyses can serve as inputs in conservation decision tools that consider spatiotemporal variation of anthropic threats under multiple scenarios of change.

Genetics, Morphometrics and Health Characterization of Green Turtle Foraging Grounds in Mainland and Insular Chile.

Simple SummaryChilean waters constitute a foraging habitat for the endangered green turtle. Information about this species in the country has increased in recent years; nevertheless, little is known of its ecology and health status. Additionally, some populations have drastically decreased, probably due to human factors. Here, we studied the proportion of sex, age, morphological variation, genetic characteristics, origin, and health status of green turtles in mainland and insular Chile. We found that turtles from both regions are morphologically and genetically different. Individuals from the mainland territory are juveniles and probably originated from Galapagos. In contrast, the insular territory hosts juveniles and adults that probably originated from Galapagos and French Polynesia. We also found that turtles from both regions are facing numerous anthropic threats that must be controlled. We suggest the creation of protected areas for mainland foraging grounds, and strengthen the administrative plan of the insular region to ensure sea turtle population health.Two divergent genetic lineages have been described for the endangered green turtle in the Pacific Ocean, occurring sympatrically in some foraging grounds. Chile has seven known green turtle foraging grounds, hosting mainly juveniles of different lineages. Unfortunately, anthropic factors have led to the decline or disappearance of most foraging aggregations. We investigated age-class/sex structure, morphological variation, genetic diversity and structure, and health status of turtles from two mainland (Bahia Salado and Playa Chinchorro) and one insular (Easter Island) Chilean foraging grounds. Bahia Salado is composed of juveniles, and with Playa Chinchorro, exclusively harbors individuals of the north-central/eastern Pacific lineage, with Galapagos as the major genetic contributor. Conversely, Easter Island hosts juveniles and adults from both the eastern Pacific and French Polynesia. Morphological variation was found between lineages and foraging grounds, suggesting an underlying genetic component but also an environmental influence. Turtles from Easter Island, unlike Bahia Salado, exhibited injuries/alterations probably related to anthropic threats. Our findings point to establishing legal protection for mainland Chile’s foraging grounds, and to ensure that the administrative plan for Easter Island’s marine protected area maintains ecosystem health, turtle population viability, and related cultural and touristic activities.

Assessment of Vulnerability of Earthen Vernacular Architecture in the Iberian Peninsula to Natural Risks. Generation of an Analysis Tool

ABSTRACT Earthen architecture is an essential part of the architectural and cultural heritage of the Iberian Peninsula. Both at monumental and vernacular level, this architecture has adapted to the diversity of the territory, the different geographies and climates, the variety of materials available and the cultural diversity which have led to a great wealth of constructive variants of this architecture. The RISK-Terra Project was born in this context, funded by the Spanish Ministry for Science, Innovation and Universities, aiming to contribute to the study of this heritage scientifically researching and analysing the natural, social and anthropic threats to earthen vernacular structures, as well as deterioration mechanisms and transformation dynamics currently observed in this type of architecture in the Iberian Peninsula. The research presented in this text has been carried out within the framework of the RISK-Terra Project, with the main objective of developing an analysis tool for application to any element of traditional architecture or earthen vernacular architecture, assessing the degree of vulnerability to the sudden action or continued presence of natural risks (earthquakes, floods, extreme weather events).

Las Palmas Beach Zoning Process of Esmeraldas Cantón, Esmeraldas Province, Ecuador, Corresponding to the Period 2017-2019

Through the Integrated Coastal Management tool, the Municipality of Esmeraldas, with technical support from both the Ministry of the Environment and Water - MAAE, and the Coastal Marine Project - International Conservation, MINTUR and FLOPEC, implemented the Las Palmas beach zoning process, of the Canton and Province of Esmeraldas. This beach is located in the urban perimeter of the city and in the area adjacent to the Manglares Estuario Río Esmeraldas Wildlife Refuge, an area highly intervened because it is the main distraction site for the population, in order to implement the process that allows the organization of recreational and conservation activities that ensure the arrival and nesting of sea turtles, migratory species that are in a vulnerable state according to the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and the strengthening tourism development. For this purpose, criteria such as the area of greatest nesting, presence of anthropic threats, conflicts of use, lack of regulations, identification of key actors, characteristics of the beach, carrying capacity, and permitted and prohibited activities were specified. The analysis of each one of them for the determination of the zoning was generated through the gathering of technical information in the field, analysis of existing information, implementation of participatory techniques (meetings, workshops, inter-institutional evaluations and participatory processes with key actors), in addition to the photographic record through a drone, on the uses that are generated in each of them. It is concluded that the zoning of the beach is a management strategy, for the ordering of the activities carried out there, aimed at the conservation of migratory species and tourism development, through the participation of key actors and the definition of technical, socioeconomic and governance criteria.

Tropical tufa and karst streams support unique and threatened assemblages of aquatic Diptera, Empididae in Thailand

AbstractAquatic Empididae (Diptera) in the subfamilies Hemerodromiinae and Clinocerinae were used as a model to provide the first appraisal of diversity, endemism, environmental preferences and anthropic threats to Diptera communities of calcareous streams and tufa ecosystems of tropical karst habitats of Thailand. Hemerodromia Mg. (Hemerodromiinae) was abundant and speciose with 17 spp., of which six were associated with tufa, two with calcareous streams, three occurred on both tufa and streams and six were eurytopic species also found away from karst. Clinocerinae were only represented by one rare species of Clinocera Mg. Local and regional‐scale endemism was apparent at species level in Hemerodromia. Assemblage similarity in tufa habitats decayed with distance but cluster analysis provided only weak support for community‐level endemism at any geographic scale. Ordination indicated that benthic substrate and canopy cover were the most important environmental variables for many species. The six obligate tufa species of Hemerodromia were absolutely associated with rapid shallow flows of water over tufa surfaces at waterfalls. Species richness and abundance varied through the monsoon cycle but there was little evidence of simple correlations with seasonal changes in water temperature, conductivity and pH. The hypothesis that cold‐adapted aquatic Empididae might have been marooned in cold emergent groundwaters at lower elevations was not supported. It is concluded that tropical tufa ecosystems in Thailand support distinctive, rich and often endemic populations of stenotopic species of considerable biological and conservation interest. Deteriorative changes linked to tourism, water abstraction and agricultural activity could threaten these unique communities.

New Records of Polymita venusta (Gmelin, 1792) Populations in Northern Foothills of Sierra de Boniato, Santiago de Cuba Province

Three new localities of Polymita venusta are uncovered from the northern foothills of Sierra de Boniato in the Santiago de Cuba province. In those, five new populations inhabiting fragmented forests over karstic substratum were found between 238-405 meters above sea level. The rediscovery of a unique color form took place in one colony from the La Luz vicinity. These populations occupy a highly deforested area where the main activities are cattle grazing and agriculture, combined with other anthropic threats. Protected Areas planning for this human highly disturbed zone is nonexistent.

Population ecology and conservation status of Parodia carambeiensis (Cactaceae)

Abstract Parodia carambeiensis is a rupicolous, small-sized species, with globose cladode and showy flowers, and is the only endemic Cactaceae species in Paraná State (Brazil). Changes in natural landscapes and fragmentation isolate populations, increasing their vulnerability to local extinctions. Our aim was to verify the spatial distribution of P. carambeiensis, reviewing its conservation status and main threats in the distribution area. Expeditions were carried out in the Campos Gerais region to record the abundance, density and spatial distribution of P. carambeiensis populations. Local landscape and climatic variables as well as the joint effect of these with geographical distance, were analyzed. Our findings highlighted that population density differs among the studied sites and was driven by distinct levels of anthropic threats such as livestock, tourism, wildfires and their proximity to highways, along with the climatic variables evaluated (temperature range and precipitation). The models jointly explained 56% of the variation in the population density, which was mostly influence by climatic factors. Parodia carambeiensis is currently classified as (LC) least concern, however, our results provide strong evidence in favor of updating its status to (EN) endangered due to the elevated extinction risk of natural populations.

Spatial structure of the diversity of dung beetles (Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) in savanna formations of Central Brazil

Great losses of biodiversity in natural ecosystems are occurring as a result of growing anthropic threats. A better understanding of the contributions of spatial scales to biodiversity organization would allow improved spatial management to conserve biodiversity in those regions that are strongly impacted by anthropic activities, such the Brazilian Cerrado. The aim of this study was to evaluate how dung beetle diversity is spatially organized along the cerrado sensu stricto, a common savanna formation in central Brazil. We tested the following hypotheses: (1) dung beetle diversity shows nonrandom patterns that vary between spatial scales within the same phytophysionomy, and (2) different functional groups and the abundant and rare species display distinct and nonrandom spatial patterns of diversity along spatial scales due to different life histories. We collected dung beetles in eight areas of cerrado sensu stricto distributed in two fragments and analyzed the spatial organization of dung beetle diversity using additive diversity partitioning. A total of 6130 individuals and 54 species were collected. Additive partitioning of diversity showed a prominent importance of the scale of areas in the organization of diversity, demonstrating a stronger influence of local factors on this organization. Assemblages divided into functional groups showed differential contributions of diversity components, indicating distinct habitat influences on these groups. This work provides new insights into the spatial organization of dung beetle diversity, encompassing three spatial levels for the same phytophysionomy in the Brazilian Cerrado. These findings demonstrate the importance of maintaining spatial heterogeneity of habitats. Thus, multiple localities within a region must be preserved because of their unique diversity structuring.

PREFACE

Abstract. Without a doubt 2020 will be remembered worldwide as the year of risk and emergency, in this case a health emergency, and of new communication technologies. When work began in 2018 on the organisation of “HERITAGE2020 (3DPast | RISK-Terra), International Conference on Vernacular Architecture in World Heritage Sites. Risks and New Technologies”, the new technologies applied to vernacular heritage and risk were on the rise, although nobody could have foreseen how central they would become to everyday life in 2020. “HERITAGE2020 (3DPast | RISK-Terra), International Conference on Vernacular Architecture in World Heritage Sites. Risks and New Technologies” is organised within the framework of two research projects. The first, “3D Past – Living and visiting European World Heritage” (2017–2020), was co-funded by the European Union as part of the Creative Europe Programme, led by Escola Superior Gallaecia (Portugal) in partnership with Universitat Politécnica de València (Spain) and Università degli Studi di Firenze (Italy). The main aim of this project has been to promote the inhabited vernacular heritage declared as World Heritage Sites in Europe by trying to promote its valorization through new technologies, both for local residents and potential visitors. Vernacular heritage, new communication technologies and heritage management for valorization and sustainable tourism are the central themes of this European project. In 2020, these issues have become even more important for the survival, understanding and valorization of heritage, particularly vernacular heritage, which today provides a solid opportunity for cultural and sustainable tourism, where these new technologies make it possible to reach a wider public in search of locations better suited to social distancing. The second project involved in this conference is “RISK-Terra. Earthen architecture in the Iberian Peninsula: study of natural, social and anthropic risks and strategies to improve resilience” (RTI2018-095302-B-I00) (2019–2021), funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities. This project is geared towards the conservation of earthen architecture in the Iberian Peninsula, both monumental and vernacular, which continues to be undervalued and barely recognized. The RISK-Terra project aims to provide scientific coverage of the study of natural threats (floods, earthquakes, climate change), social threats (abandonment, social discredit, demographic pressure, tourist development), and anthropic threats (neglect, lack of protection and maintenance), as well as the mechanisms for deterioration and dynamics and transformation (replacement, use of incompatible techniques and materials, etc.) to which architecture is exposed. The objective of the project is to establish strategies for conservation, intervention and rehabilitation which make it possible to prevent and mitigate possible damage through compatible actions and/or actions to increase resilience.As these two projects have major points of contact with potential for common reflection, their main themes have been combined in this Heritage2020 conference. The topics established for the conference are: vernacular architecture (study and cataloguing of vernacular architecture; conservation and restoration of vernacular architecture; urban studies on vernacular architecture; sustainability in vernacular architecture); new technologies applied to architectural and archaeological heritage (digital documentation and state-of-the-art developments; digital analysis in heritage; digital heritage related to social context; digital heritage solutions and best practices for dissemination); architectural heritage management (management and protection of UNESCO World Heritage Sites; social participation in heritage management; regulations and policies in heritage management; intangible heritage: the management of know-how and local building culture); risks in architectural heritage (studies of natural risks in architectural heritage; studies of social and anthropic risks in architectural heritage, preventive actions in order to improve resilience in architectural heritage; actions and strategies in post-disaster situations); earthen architectural heritage (study and cataloguing of earthen architectures; construction techniques that employ earth; sustainability mechanisms in vernacular earthen architectures; restoration and conservation of earthen architecture).The scientific committee was made up of 98 outstanding researchers from 29 countries from the five continents, specialists in the subjects proposed. All the contributions to the conference, both the abstracts and the final texts, were subjected to a strict peer-review evaluation system by the members of the scientific committee.Out of the over 300 proposals submitted, over 150 papers by 325 authors from 27 countries from the five continents were chosen for publication.

Reproduction of the American Oystercatcher (“piru-piru”), Haematopus palliatus Temminck 1820 (Aves: Haematopodidae), in northeastern Brazil

ABSTRACT Haematopus palliatus (American Oystercatcher, locally called ‘piru-piru’) is strictly a coastal bird, which occurs from Canada to the southern end of South America. The species is distributed along the entire Brazilian coast, however, approximately 50% of the population is estimated to be concentrated in the Rio Grande do Sul State, where it reproduces during the austral spring and summer. This study presents the first documented reproduction records of H. palliatus from 2004 to 2019 in northeastern Brazil in: Piauí State, Maramar Beach (02°54’S, 41°28ʹW); Ceará State, Banco dos Cajuais Beach (04°41’S, 37°21ʹW); Rio Grande do Norte State, west of the Amaro (05°05’S, 36°25ʹW) and Salina Soledade (05°06’S, 36°32ʹW) beaches; and Bahia State, Mangue Seco Beach (11°27’S, 37°21ʹW). The reproductive period of these birds initiated at the end of May and extended through mid-October. Their nests are simple and bare, consisting of a shallow cavity in the sand on open areas with or without low vegetation. The inspected nests had from one to three eggs, whose colours and shapes were similar to those observed in other regions. Most eggs were lost, apparently due to predation. Various anthropic threats were observed in the four study areas, especially the circulation of motorised vehicles and the presence of domestic dogs and cattle. Loss of habitat quality and real estate speculation, however, are among the main threats to the future of the species in northeastern Brazil, indicating the importance of proactive measures for the conservation of H. palliatus.

2. Riesgos socionaturales y tecnológicos en las comunidades desde la percepción de los discentes universitarios

Se presenta una investigación cuantitativa con diseño de campo exploratoria, con propósito principal de evaluar la percepción de los discentes de la Universidad Politécnica Territorial del estado Trujillo “Mario Briceño Iragorry”, respecto a los Riesgos Socionaturales y Tecnológicos que puedan afectar sus comunidades. Se aplicó un cuestionario con respuestas cerradas a setenta (70) estudiantes del Programa Nacional de Formación en Administración. La validez del instrumento se obtuvo mediante un análisis factorial en relación del constructo. La confiabilidad se obtuvo por el Coeficiente Alfa de Cronbach, ubicándose en 0,986. Como resultado se observa que la mayoría de los discentes identifican los riesgos con los desastres que son provocados por eventos asociados a la naturaleza y sus procesos de equilibrio. Se concluye que la percepción es canalizada hacia eventos relacionados con los fenómenos de la naturaleza, limitando el enfoque hacia los aspectos sociales y tecnológicos o las amenazas antrópicas.

Evaluation of aquifer contamination risk in urban expansion areas as a tool for the integrated management of groundwater resources. Case: Coffee Growing Region, Colombia

In Colombia, hydric resources research has focused mainly on surface water sources. However, the use and protection of groundwater has become important in regions where the access to surface water is difficult. In the city of Pereira, Colombia, it is estimated that the population growth rate is of 0,47% per year; growing from 457,667 inhabitants in 2011, to 481,080 inhabitants in 2020. Facts like this have generated great interest in the study and protection of groundwater. The objective of this study was to evaluate the risk of groundwater contamination in the aquifer of Pereira within the limits of the Urban Expansion Zone of the municipality of Pereira (Colombian Coffee Growing Region), by determining the intrinsic vulnerability using the modified DRASTIC method, and the identification of anthropic threats in the study area. According with the findings, the moderate vulnerability class is the dominant one, representing the 58,3% of the aquifer's area, followed by high vulnerability class with 33,3% of the total area, and the class of very high vulnerability with 8,3% of the area, associated with a zone with high hydrogeological recharge conditions and shallow phreatic levels. Inadequate disposal of domestic wastewater, the existence of hydrocarbon conduction pipes and agricultural activity were identified as the activities that generate a high threat of contamination. Finally, the evaluation of the risk of contamination of the aquifer in the Urban Expansion Zone through the superposition of maps of intrinsic vulnerability and anthropic threats, allowed to differentiate the zones of the aquifer where groundwater presents a high risk of contamination. The obtained results provide information for knowledge and sustainable management of the aquifer, since it allows the delimitation of the areas where it's necessary to restrict the development of activities that deteriorate the quality of groundwater.

Impact of human activities in habitat use and activity patterns of the marine otter (Lontra felina) in central Chile

The marine otter ( Lontra felina ) inhabits almost the entire coast of Chile. Its population density and its response to several anthropic threats are almost unknown. The objective of this study was to analyze and compare the patterns of habitat use, the frequency of sightings, and behavior of the marine otter in two coastal areas of the Valparaiso Region: Cachagua and Quintay. Twenty simultaneous visits to these localities were made, 10 in summer and 10 in fall. The observation area of each locality was divided into quadrants parallel to the coast to evaluate the marine otter habitat use. We evaluated the number of sightings, the type of behavior (displacement, diving, or feeding) and the duration. The number of sightings was significantly higher in Quintay. There was significantly more displacement in Quintay than in Cachagua during the summer. However, the time spent by the otters in the three behaviors was similar between seasons in Quintay. Moreover, the displacement and diving were less frequent in Cachagua during summer. The results suggest that the marine otter can adapt to changes in the conditions of its surroundings caused by humans. Normal 0 21 false false false ES JA X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:Tabla normal; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:Calibri,sans-serif; color:black;}

New insights into the distribution and conservation status of the Golden-White Tassel-Ear Marmoset Mico chrysoleucos (Primates, Callitrichidae)

Among the 13 Mico species recognized by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, six are listed as “Data Deficient”. The geographic range of most of the Mico species has been estimated from only a few records. We report new localities and the geographic extension of Mico chrysoleucos. In addition, we confirmed the presence of the species in two distinct protected areas. We modeled the habitat suitability of M. chrysoleucos using the maximum entropy method and including new records obtained by the authors in the state of Amazonas, Brazil. From the total area of occurrence calculated for the species, 22.8% is covered by protected areas and indigenous lands. The annual mean deforestation rate estimated between 2000 and 2015 was 2.95%, and the total area deforested by 2015 was 3354 km2 or 8.6% of the total distribution limits of the species. The habitat lost between 2000 and 2015 was 3.2% (1131 km2) of the total potential distribution, while the habitat loss area legally protected was 31 km2, and the habitat loss in settlements was equal to 691 km2. Our results extend the geographic distribution of the species about 100 km farther south, with the Maracanã River being a possible geographic barrier for the species. The significantly low rate of habitat loss inside protected areas and indigenous land, when compared to unprotected areas, points out the importance of these areas to M. chrysoleucos conservation. The species is relatively wide-ranging, legally protected, and resilient to regional anthropic threats. However, the hydroelectric schemes and the improvement of the road system in southern Amazonia pose an imminent threat to the species.