Systems In South America Research Articles

Cryptops (Trigonocryptops) didi sp. n. (Chilopoda: Scolopendromorpha: Cryptopidae): expanding the cryptopid biodiversity in a Brazilian hotspot of subterranean fauna

ABSTRACT A new troglobitic Cryptops species is described in Lage Branca Cave, Upper Ribeira karst, São Paulo state, Brazil. Cryptops (Trigonocryptops) didi sp. n. is closely related to Cryptops (T.) iporangensis Ázara and Ferreira, 2013 and Cryptops (T.) iheringi Brölemann, 1902. However, it differs from them in several aspects, including the number of saw teeth on the tibia and tarsus 1 of the ultimate legs, the sutures on the first antennal article, the sutures on the first trunk tergite, and the presence of trigonal sutures on the anterior sternites. Cryptops (Trigonocryptops) didi sp. n. is the second troglobitic species of Cryptops found in the caves of the Upper Ribeira karst area. This discovery enhances the diversity of troglobites in one of the richest cave systems in South America, the Areias Cave System. It also underscores the importance of ongoing faunistic inventories in one of the most extensively sampled areas for subterranean fauna in Brazil. We also transferred Cryptops (T.) iporangensis to the subgenus Cryptops Leach, 1814. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:7BAB8A6B-047B-4752-BD5C-34AF0BAE4195

The influence of neoliberalism on the evolutionary process of health systems in South America and on social inequalities

The text presents a reflection on the influence of neoliberalism on the evolutionary process of health systems in South America, starting with a presentation of the concept of public policies and how they affect a country's development The term Public Policy is considered broad, there is no single or best concept, so in this study we consider a set of actions and measures carried out by the government to meet the needs of the population and protect people's rights, help or provide services, with the aim of ensuring that people enjoy the rights guaranteed by law.

Ecological consequences of hidden pathology by larval digeneans in South American mollusks

The study of digeneans and their association with mollusks commenced in Europe and South America during the mid-19th to early 20th centuries. Digenean infestation can severely degrade host tissue, leading to diminished energy resources and eventual host mortality. However, these parasites can also induce various non-lethal effects, including changes in growth rates, survival rates, and reproductive capabilities, alongside physiological and behavioral alterations. While numerous studies have explored the ecological effects of digeneans on hosts in Europe and North America, our understanding of these dynamics in South America, particularly in first intermediate hosts, remains limited. Therefore, this paper aims to provide an overview of ecological investigations into digenean-mollusk systems in South America, emphasizing the importance of robust sampling designs and statistical analyses to address key ecological inquiries. Although fascinating examples exist of parasitism influencing different hierarchical levels of digenean-mollusk systems, particularly at the individual, population, and community levels, documentation of their ecosystem-level impacts is comparatively sparse. As South American studies of digenean-mollusk systems from an ecological perspective are still in their early stages, there is immense potential for uncovering unique ecological patterns in this largely unexplored region, propelling us toward further developmental strides in the parasite ecology.

Assessing the impact of imidacloprid, glyphosate, and their mixtures on multiple biomarkers in Corbicula largillierti

Pesticide mixtures are frequently utilized in agriculture, yet their cumulative effects on aquatic organisms remain poorly understood. Aquatic animals can be effective bioindicators and invasive bivalves, owing to their widespread distribution, provide an opportunity to assess these impacts. Glyphosate and imidacloprid, among the most prevalent pesticides globally, are frequently detected in freshwater systems in South America. This study aims to understand the cumulative effects of pesticide mixtures on aquatic organisms, using invasive Corbicula largillierti clams from a natural stream in northwestern Argentina. We conducted 48-hour exposure experiments using two concentrations of imidacloprid (20 and 200 μg L−1 a.i), two concentrations of glyphosate (0.3 and 3 mg L−1 a.i), and two combinations of these pesticides (both at low and high concentrations, respectively), simulating the direct contamination of both pesticides based on their agronomic recipe and observed values in Argentine aquatic environments. Clam metabolism was assessed through the examination of multiple oxidative stress parameters and measuring oxygen consumption rate as a proxy for standard metabolic rate (SMR). Our findings revealed that imidacloprid has a more pronounced effect compared to glyphosate. Imidacloprid significantly decreased clam SMR and cellular levels of reduced glutathione (GSH). However, when both pesticides were present, also cellular glycogen and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) were affected. Proteins and glutathione S-Transferase (GST) activity were unaffected by either pesticide or their mixture at the assayed concentrations, highlighting the need to test several stress parameters to detect toxicological impacts. Our results indicated additive effects of imidacloprid and glyphosate across all measured parameters. The combination of multiple physiological and cytological biomarkers in invasive bivalves offers significant potential to enhance biomonitoring sensitivity and obtain insights into the origins and cellular mechanisms of chemical impacts. These studies can improve pollution regulatory policies and pesticide management.

Evaluating sustainable efficiency: A study on transportation systems in South America using data envelopment analysis

The transport sector is pivotal in fostering economic growth and environmental sustainability. Extensive research has scrutinized various transportation modes individually, yet a holistic assessment encompassing all modes while considering CO2 emissions needs to be more conspicuously present. Our study employs Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to evaluate the efficacy of transportation policies in South American nations in the context of United Nations-established sustainable development goals. Our overarching objective is to classify the sustainability status of South American countries' transport sectors and to establish benchmark models rooted in the six dimensions of sustainability. Methodologically, our analysis integrates operational transportation metrics, Gross Domestic Product per capita, Human Development Index, and CO2 emissions from transportation systems. Additionally, we draw comparative insights by juxtaposing South American countries against the G8 and BRICS nations. The rigorous application of DEA coupled with bootstrap validation fortifies the reliability of our findings. Our results bring to light these findings, positioning South American countries closer to their developed counterparts. Notably, the sustainable development models of Chile and Uruguay emerge as prominent exemplars. This study underscores the pressing demand for holistic and integrated development strategies to attain more sustainable outcomes across South American nations in a faster way. In conclusion, our research fills a conspicuous void in the extant literature by furnishing a comprehensive evaluation of transportation policy performance in South America. Based on a robust methodology, this empirical evidence offers valuable insights for policymakers striving to advance sustainable regional development.

Distribuição de bivalves invasores no Paraguai: preenchendo as lacunas no coração da América do Sul

Abstract La Plata Basin is the second largest hydrographic system in South America but the most impacted by invasive species of molluscs in the continent. Paraguay is a land-surrounded South American country with scarce information about malacological fauna. To fill some of these gaps, a large field expedition was conducted to analyze the distribution of invasive freshwater bivalves in Paraguay. The field survey encompassed 41 sampling stations in seven Departments of Paraguay. The mussels were searched using bare hands and feet. All stations were georeferenced and some environmental parameters were measured. Results indicated the presence of three invasive species of freshwater bivalves in Paraguay: Corbicula fluminea, C. largillierti, and Limnoperna fortunei. The Asiatic clam Corbicula fluminea was the most widespread invasive species, covering main rivers and small tributaries in the four freshwater ecoregions of Paraguay. The two remaining invasive species were more restricted. Corbicula largillierti were found at the lower section of the Paraná River, and Limnoperna fortunei inhabits the main river canals of the Paraguay River and the lower section of the Paraná River. The invasive species were found in three protected areas of Paraguay and can represent a threat to the mostly unknown fauna of native mussels. The invasive bivalves are widespread in Paraguay. Mitigation measurements must be taken to avoid the spread of these species and more drawbacks over native fauna.

State-of-Art of Heavy Machinery Monitoring System, Peru case study

This paper delves into the present landscape of heavy machinery monitoring systems in South America, with a particular emphasis on Peru. Through a comparative analysis of Peru and other mineral-rich countries in the region, the study unveils both the technological advancements and unique challenges faced by Peru. Beginning with a macro-analysis encompassing various heavy machinery monitoring systems throughout South America, the research further conducts a micro-analysis specifically tailored to the Peruvian context. The objective is to furnish a comprehensive examination of heavy machinery monitoring practices in South America. Detailed insights and current challenges are outlined in each segment, providing a nuanced understanding of the heavy machinery monitoring landscape within Peru’s mining sector. Additionally, a dedicated discussion chapter on sustainability has been incorporated to address pertinent environmental concerns.

Global climate forcing on late Miocene establishment of the Pampean aeolian system in South America

Wind-blown dust from southern South America links the terrestrial, marine, atmospheric, and biological components of Earth’s climate system. The Pampas of central Argentina (~33°–39° S) contain a Miocene to Holocene aeolian record that spans an important interval of global cooling. Upper Miocene sediment provenance based on n = 3299 detrital-zircon U-Pb ages is consistent with the provenance of Pleistocene–Holocene deposits, indicating the Pampas are the site of a long-lived fluvial-aeolian system that has been operating since the late Miocene. Here, we show the establishment of aeolian sedimentation in the Pampas coincided with late Miocene cooling. These findings, combined with those from the Chinese Loess Plateau (~33°–39° N) underscore: (1) the role of fluvial transport in the development and maintenance of temporally persistent mid-latitude loess provinces; and (2) a global-climate forcing mechanism behind the establishment of large mid-latitude loess provinces during the late Miocene.

Epidemiology of mid-buccal gingival recessions according to the 2018 Classification System in South America: Results from two population-based studies.

The aim of this investigation was to estimate the prevalence, severity and extent of mid-buccal gingival recessions (GRs; classified according to the 2018 Classification System) and to identify their risk indicators in the South American population. Epidemiological data from two cross-sectional studies-performed on 1070 South American adolescents and 1456 Chilean adults-were obtained. All participants received a full-mouth periodontal examination by calibrated examiners. GR prevalence was defined as the presence of at least one mid-buccal GR ≥ 1 mm. GRs were also categorized into different recession types (RTs) according to the 2018 World Workshop Classification System. Analyses for RT risk indicators were also performed. All analyses were carried out at the participant level. The prevalence of mid-buccal GRs was 14.1% in South American adolescents and 90.9% in Chilean adults. In South American adolescents, the prevalence of RTs was 4.3% for RT1 GRs, 10.7% for RT2 GRs and 1.7% for RT3 GRs. In Chilean adults, the prevalence of RT1 GRs was 0.3%, while the prevalence of RT2 and RT3 GRs was 85.8% and 77.4%, respectively. Full-Mouth Bleeding Score (FMBS; <25%) was associated with the presence of RT1 GRs in adolescents. The risk indicators for RT2/RT3 GRs mainly overlapped with those for periodontitis. Mid-buccal GRs affected 14.1% of South American adolescents, whereas they affected most of the Chilean adult population (>90%). While RT1 GRs are more commonly observed in a non-representative cohort of South American adolescents (when compared to Chilean adults), the majority of Chilean adults exhibit RT2/RT3 GRs.

Past and Future Responses of Soil Water to Climate Change in Tropical and Subtropical Rainforest Systems in South America

The present study aimed to contribute to the diagnosis and advance the knowledge of the impacts of land use change and climate change on the tropical longleaf forest biome at the continental scale in South America (Biome 1 according to the WWF classification) for realizing scientific progress in the search for convincing strategies and actions by different actors for the preservation of forests in the continent. The status and climate of the area, which harbors the tropical longleaf forests of South America, were assessed. Moreover, volumetric soil moisture (VSM) was evaluated through maps and simulation using the autoregressive integrated moving average model (ARIMA). Furthermore, future climate scenarios were predicted based on El Niño–Southern Oscillation phenomena, meteorological systems, and scientific evidence, such as the shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs) and sociopolitical dynamics evident in the region from the case analysis of the Brazilian states of Acre and Rio de Janeiro. An increase was noted in the temperature and range of precipitation variation in the biome. ARIMA analysis indicated changes of up to 0.24 m3 m−3 and an increased range of future VSM values. The December–January–February (DJF) quarter recorded the highest VSM median with the measurement scale of 0.05 to 0.44 m3 m−3, while the June–July–August (JJA) quarter recorded the lowest value. The regions of the biome with the lowest VSM values included southern Amazon (Ecuador, Peru, and the Brazilian states of Acre, Mato Grosso, Pará, and Maranhão), Brazilian Atlantic Forest, Southeast Region, and the Brazilian state of Bahia.

Bioinvasion of Benthic Invertebrates in a Eutrophicated Tropical Estuarine System in South America (Santos, Brazil)

The economic losses due to bioinvasion in Brazil were estimated to be over USD 100 billion since 1984; however, these values are mostly related to terrestrial invasive species, whereas the financial losses in the marine realm continue to be ignored. The bioinvasion of benthic fauna was evaluated in the estuarine channel of Santos Harbor, Brazil. Three recruitment plates were spread along the estuarine channel to assess their colonization progress during two periods: April until July and August until September in 2019. Inner stations presented haline stratification, and low values of dissolved oxygen were registered as signs of eutrophication. Among the identified taxa, six species were considered exotic to the Brazilian coastline: Branchiomma luctuosum, Hydroides elegans, Bugula neritina, Styela plicata, Clavelina oblonga, and Botrylloides giganteus. The diversity was low due to the monospecific dominance of B. luctuosum, which occupied 73.4% and 42.4% of the recruitment plates in the first and second campaigns, respectively. It was possible to observe a gradient pattern in the biovolume averages between the monitoring points, which tended to be higher at the station closer to the sea, despite the lack of significant differences among them. The recruitment plate technique offered reliable results for the identification of invasive species regarding fouling communities along the Santos Harbor channel.

CRISPR/Cas patents and health-related publications in South America.

CRISPR/Cas is being increasingly used for various applications. However, different countries introduce new technologies at different paces and purposes. This study reviews research progress using the CRISPR/Cas system in South America, focusing on health-related applications. The PubMed database was used to identify relevant articles about gene editing with CRISPR/Cas, whereas patents were searched in the Patentscope database. In addition, ClinicalTrials.gov was used to find information on active and recruiting clinical trials. A total of 668 non-duplicated articles (extracted from PubMed) and 225 patents (not all health-related) were found. One hundred ninety-two articles on health-related applications of CRISPR/Cas were analyzed in detail. In 95 out of these, more than 50% of the authors were affiliated with South American institutions. Experimental CRISPR/Cas studies target different diseases, particularly cancer, neurological, and endocrine disorders. Most patents refer to generic applications, but those with clear disease indications are for inborn errors of metabolism, ophthalmological, hematological, and immunological disorders. No clinical trials were found involving Latin American countries. Although research on gene editing in South America is advancing, our data show the low number of national innovations protected by intellectual property in this field.

The natural capital of the Colombian Orinoco River basin. intact ecosystems with high rates of anthropogenic change

ABSTRACT The Orinoco basin is one of the most important hydrologic systems in South America. The Colombian Orinoco basin occupies an area of approx. thirty-four million hectares, located in the country's east. The literature about the economic valuation of ecosystem services (ES) and the spatial information on natural resources in the Colombian Orinoco basin was revised through various information sources to document the earliest approximation to the state, spatial distribution, and economic value of the natural capital at the scale of biomes, specific ecosystems, and political-administrative units. Our assessment estimated a natural capital loss of 200 billion Int.$2020/year (74% of Colombian GDP in 2020) and a remnant natural capital worth 296 billion Int.$2020/year (more than 100% of Colombia's GDP in 2020) for twelve ecosystem services. This research proves that a potential expansion in livestock production systems will generate an additional loss of natural capital of approximately 282 billion Int.$2020/year. Additionally, we include an analysis based on the GLOBIO4 initiative models, identifying future natural capital losses between 4.8 and 33 billion Int.$2020/year. Lastly, the policy challenges and gaps in research and management concerning this remaining natural capital in the Colombian Orinoco basin are pointed out.

Interconnected marine habitats form a single continental-scale reef system in South America

Large gaps in reef distribution may hinder the dispersal of marine organisms, interrupting processes vital to the maintenance of biodiversity. Here we show the presence and location of extensive reef habitats on the continental shelf between the Amazon Reef System (ARS) and the Eastern Brazilian Reef System (ERS), two reef complexes off eastern South America. Formations located 20–50 m deep include both biogenic and geogenic structures. The presence of diverse reef assemblages suggests the widespread occurrence of rocky substrates below 50 m. These habitats represent an expansion of both the ARS and ERS and the closure of the only remaining large-scale gap (~ 1000 km) among West Atlantic reef environments. This indicates that the SW Atlantic harbors a single, yet heterogeneous, reef system that stretches for about 4000 km, and thus, represents one of the largest semi-continuous tropical marine ecosystems in the world.

Distribution of microplastics present in a stream that receives discharge from wastewater treatment plants

The presence of microplastics (MPs) in freshwater systems that receive discharge of urban effluent implies a great environmental impact. In order to be able to generate proposals that solve this problem, it is necessary to know in detail the contributions of different MPs sources. The aim of this work was to study the contribution of urban sewage discharge to MPs pollution in a stream that runs through a medium-sized city. The spatial distribution of MPs with sizes between 100 μm and 1.5 mm present in surface water was measured and their characteristics, dimensions, shapes and identification were determined. Physical-chemical parameters of the stream water were measured, and a decrease in water quality was found due to wastewater treatment plants. The main source of MPs was effluent from the plants (97% of the total MPs), while the rest came from storm drains and discharge of tributaries. The maximum concentration of MPs found was around 72,000 MP/L (equivalent to 53 million MPs/s), at a point after discharge from both plants. Around 70% of MPs correspond to microfibers with a mean length of around 300 μm and a mean width of around 15 μm, and they are mainly polyethylene fibers. The remaining 30% of MPs are particles with lengths of around 140 μm. The transport of MPs between a point located after discharge of the plants and another point located about 3 km further on was studied, and no significant variation was found in the concentration of MPs. Electrical conductivity was used as a conservative tracer of MPs concentration. This work presents for the first time a detailed analysis of different contributions of MPs to a freshwater system in South America, which receives discharge of wastewater treatment plants, evidencing its important role in pollution.

Palaeoclimatic and diagenetic controls based on clay mineralogy and organic matter distribution: The continental rift Cuyo Basin (Triassic), west‐central Argentina

AbstractThe Triassic Cuyo rift Basin is one of the renowned petroleum systems in South America that records distinctive alluvial, lacustrine and fluvial settings with volcanic input. The present study focuses on the clay mineral assemblages that represent the syn‐rift to post‐rift fills. Four clay mineral assemblages are defined based on X‐ray diffraction, optical and electron microscopy analyses. The illite/mica‐dominated assemblage is documented in the syn‐rift I (Cerro de las Cabras Formation). Such mineral phases are inherited and derived from the erosion of pre‐rift units, suggesting that physical weathering associated with a warm and semi‐arid climate played a leading role in their occurrence. Authigenic smectite clays are diagnostic in organic‐lean mudstones of the syn‐rift II (lower Potrerillos Formation) which point to alteration of pyroclastic material under a warm and semi‐arid to humid climate. A warm and humid climate prevailed during the deposition of lacustrine hydrocarbon source rocks (upper Potrerillos and Cacheuta formations). Organic‐rich mudstones show the illite/mica–kaolinite–smectite assemblage in conjunction with amorphous organic matter and restricted terrigenous elements. Diagenetic kaolinite booklets and bipyramidal quartz are attributed to the acidification of pore‐water related to kerogen transformation during burial diagenesis. Vitrinite reflectance values (ca 0.63%) confirm that organic‐rich sediments reached the earliest oil window; however, smectite is devoid of illite layers throughout the Triassic succession, probably related to the absence of potassium in the system and the high crystallinity of the smectite, which delayed the transformation of smectite into mixed layers illite–smectite. Red mudstones of the post‐rift II (the fluvial‐lacustrine Rio Blanco Formation) show the kaolinite‐dominated assemblage where the authigenic kaolinite is interpreted to be derived from the alteration of volcaniclastic detritus and indicative of warm climate with markedly wet periods.

Quaternary ironstones in the Xingu River, eastern Amazonia (Brazil)

AbstractUsing a multimethod approach, including polarized light microscopy (PLM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), SEM with mineral liberation analyzer (MLA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Raman spectroscopy, we examined sub-recent ferruginous crusts in the Xingu River in the Amazon Basin that have formed since the Early Pleistocene (&lt;1.2 Ma), as indicated by (U-Th)/He dating of goethite. Although now preserved as goethite, the size and form of the smallest components of the ironstone (nanorods) and the nature of isomorphic substitution in the goethite point to very early transformation of the original precipitate, an unstable hydrous ferrous oxide (HFO) mineral, into goethite. The fine, multiply undulating laminae of the ironstone contain abundant filamentous microbial molds and casts that together support identification of the crusts as ferruginous microbialites and suggest a role of bioinduction/bioinfluence in ironstone precipitation, although inorganic precipitation is also evident. The Xingu Quaternary ironstones are the first evidence of ferruginous microbialite in a modern freshwater system in South America and may hold clues to the recent history of the Xingu River.

Patos Lagoon estuary and adjacent marine coastal biodiversity long-term data

Abstract. Estuaries are among the most productive aquatic ecosystems and provide important ecological and economic services in coastal areas. However, estuarine systems have been threatened worldwide by natural and anthropogenic impacts acting on local, regional, and global scales. Long-term ecological studies contribute to the understanding and management of estuarine functioning and provide the baseline information for detection changes and modeling of predictive scenarios. Here, we describe long-term data on the biodiversity and physico-chemical parameters obtained from 1993 to 2016 for the Patos Lagoon estuary and adjacent marine coast (PLEA), in southern Brazil. We report 8 datasets containing 6972 sampling events with the occurrence and abundance records of 275 species (kingdoms: Bacteria, Protozoa, Chromista, Plantae, and Animalia) of functional groups plankton, benthos, and nekton. Datasets also include 22 190 abiotic records. The database is published in the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) repository (see Sect. 3 “Data availability” and Table 3). The present compendium represents one of the most comprehensive and longest datasets from primary producers to top predators in an estuarine coastal system in South America, and their availability will be an important contribution to the understanding and predictability of estuarine dynamics around the world.

Variability, Trend, and Extremes of the South American Vegetation‐Climate System: Results From a Coupled Regional Model

AbstractSouth America, especially the Amazon region, is considered a hotspot of biosphere–atmosphere interactions and presents a unique challenge for regional climate modeling. Here, we evaluate the performance of a regional model in simulating the climate–vegetation system in South America and use the model to investigate the potential role of large‐scale warming in the recently observed trend of hydroclimate and vegetation. Compared with prescribing vegetation based on observational data, adding the predictive vegetation capacity to the regional climate model enabled the model to simulate the vegetation response to climate while sustaining the model performance in reproducing the mean, variability and extremes of the regional climate. The coupled vegetation–climate model captures the recent trends in hydroclimate and vegetation productivity and their spatial contrasts, including a trend toward warmer, drier, and less productive conditions in the Amazon and Nordeste regions and a trend toward cooler, wetter, and more productive condition in the La Plata region. Results from sensitivity experiment driven by detrended boundary forcing for the regional climate suggest that much of the trends in the Amazon and Nordeste regions can be attributed to the effects of large‐scale warming, but contribution from decadal variability also plays a role especially for the most recent decade. However, the trend in the La Plata region cannot be attenuated by the removal of the boundary forcing trend, indicating the role of large‐scale circulation pattern changes. The recent trends in vegetation productivity may be early manifestation of future changes in the Amazon and surrounding regions.

Rainwater Harvesting and Treatment Systems in South America: A Bibliometric Analysis (2000-2021)

The objective of this study was to review the mainrainwater harvesting and treatment systems through a bibliometric analysis from2000-2021. A bibliometric analysis was used in the R program and VOS viewer,the query involved titles, abstracts, and keywords during the last 20 years(2000-2021). The results indicate that from 2013 onwards, interest in thistopic increased. 13% of the publicationsbelong to the academic journal Journal of Cleaner Production. The main authorleading the publications is Ghisi, from Brazil, who conducted 24 types ofresearch and one of his papers reached 95 citations. In conclusion, there isevidence of the need to strengthen research in developing countries tocontribute to water saving and supply in areas that do not have drinkingwater.