Abstract:The diagnosis of community perception is a type of research that provides valuable information for problem-solving. The objective of this study was to evaluate the socioeconomic and environmental perception of the communities surrounding the Arenillas River BP Tahuín Dam on the conservation of natural resources and the ecosystem services offered by the forest. The research was descriptive, and the method used was a survey consisting of 9 dichotomous questions. The information was processed and tabulated in Microsoft Excel. Subsequently, the data were analyzed using the SPSS version 26 statistical program, which allowed the determination of the descriptive statistics of means, standard deviation, and error of deviation. The results revealed a significant influence in the perception response by the adult female gender with secondary education for the nine questions. Sixty-nine percent of respondents agreed with the social sphere, 60% with the economic sphere, and 55% with the environmental sphere. The structural reformulation of the forest conservation programs' activities is essential to advance toward a sustainable model in the Arenillas River BP Tahuin Dam.

Resumen:El diagnóstico de la percepción comunitaria es un tipo de investigación que permite ofrecer información útil para la solución de problemas. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la percepción socioeconómica y ambiental de las comunidades aledañas al BP Río Arenillas Presa Tahuín sobre la conservación de los recursos naturales y los servicios ecosistémicos que ofrece el bosque. La investigación tuvo carácter descriptivo, el método empleado fue la encuesta constituida conformado por 9 preguntas de tipo dicotómicas. La información fue procesada y tabulada en el programa de Microsoft Excel. Posteriormente, los datos fueron analizados mediante el programa estadístico SPSS versión 26 que permitió la determinación de las estadísticas descriptivas de medias, desviación estándar y error de la desviación. Los resultados revelaron mayor influencia en la respuesta de percepción por parte del género femenino adulto con estudio secundario para las 9 preguntas. El 69% de encuestados estuvo de acuerdo con lo establecido en el ámbito social, el 60% el ámbito económico y el 55% en el ámbito ambiental. Se concluye importante la reformulación estructural de las actividades dentro de los programas de conservación de bosques, para de esta manera avanzar hacia un modelo sostenible en el BP Río Arenillas Presa Tahuin.

Abstract Monkey mortality in Costa Rica is due, in most cases, to anthropogenic factors, such as deforestation, forest fragmentation, lack of tree connectivity, and tourism development in most coastal areas. The latter factor has caused the death of at least 450 monkeys per year due to electrocution, as a result of the increase in electrical wiring that has arisen in the different regions with urban development. Faced with this threat, proposals have been developed to avoid the danger, such as the construction of appropriate passage infrastructure for monkeys, the placement of insulated wiring, and the protection of electrical transformers. Using the morphometric measurements of the four species of monkeys native to Costa Rica (Alouatta palliata, Ateles geoffroyi, Saimiri oerstedii, and Cebus imitator), a model of safe and functional aerial passages or bridges for them was designed, the foundations of which are discussed in this article.

Resumen La mortalidad de los monos en Costa Rica se debe, en la mayoría de los casos, a factores antropogénicos, como la deforestación, la fragmentación de los bosques, la falta de conectividad arbórea y el desarrollo turístico en la mayoría de las zonas costeras. Este último factor ha provocado la muerte de al menos 450 monos por año debido a la electrocución, a raíz del aumento del cableado eléctrico que ha surgido en las diferentes regiones con desarrollo urbanístico. Ante esta amenaza se han elaborado propuestas para evitar el peligro, como la construcción de infraestructura de paso apropiada para los monos, la colocación de cableado aislado y la protección de los transformadores eléctricos. Utilizando las medidas morfométricas de las cuatro especies de monos nativas de Costa Rica (Alouatta palliata, Ateles geoffroyi, Saimiri oerstedii y Cebus imitator), se diseñó un modelo de pasos aéreos o puentes seguros y funcionales para ellos, cuyos fundamentos se discuten en el presente artículo.

Abstract The critical importance of wetland ecosystems is highlighted, as they provide essential services such as regulating the hydrological cycle, flood control, and filtering pollutants. Globally, 64 % of wetlands have been lost since 1970, with Asia being the most affected region. Agricultural expansion, urban development, and aquaculture are some of the main drivers of the degradation of these ecosystems, particularly mangroves, which play a key role in climate change mitigation. In Costa Rica, wetlands under inventory represent 6.01 % of the national territory, and although the country has made progress in their protection, with 49 % of wetlands falling under some category of protected wild area, challenges remain, such as agricultural expansion, livestock farming, and sedimentation. At the international level, the Ramsar Convention has been key to wetland conservation efforts, with over 2.57 million km2 protected. However, additional efforts are needed to mitigate the threats to these ecosystems, especially in the context of climate change.

Resumen Se resalta la importancia crítica de los ecosistemas de humedales, que proporcionan servicios esenciales, como la regulación del ciclo hidrológico, el control de inundaciones y la filtración de contaminantes. En el nivel global, se ha perdido un 64 % de los humedales desde 1970, con Asia siendo la región más afectada. La expansión agrícola, el desarrollo urbano y la acuicultura son algunas de las principales causas de la degradación de estos ecosistemas, especialmente de los manglares, que cumplen una función clave en la mitigación del cambio climático. En Costa Rica, los humedales bajo inventario representan el 6.01 % del territorio nacional, y aunque el país ha avanzado en su protección, con el 49 % de los humedales bajo alguna categoría de área silvestre protegida, persisten desafíos, como la expansión agrícola, la ganadería y la sedimentación. En el plano mundial, la Convención Ramsar ha sido clave en los esfuerzos de conservación de humedales, con más de 2.57 millones km2 protegidos. Sin embargo, se necesitan esfuerzos adicionales para mitigar las amenazas a estos ecosistemas, especialmente en el contexto del cambio climático.

BACKGROUND: Human dignity is a fundamental constitutional right essential to occupational therapy (OT) education and practice, aligning with the graduate attributes of Ubuntu, human rights and ethics. However, little is known about its integration into OT education at universities OBJECTIVE: To explore how OT students perceive human dignity in OT education METHODS: A qualitative exploratory descriptive study was conducted with 30 purposively selected OT students from first to fourth year. The study involved four focus group discussions (FGDs), which were audiotaped, transcribed and thematically analysed through an iterative and credible process RESULTS: Participants seemed to grapple with understanding human dignity but knew it was part of human rights and OT. Two major themes were identified: students' perceptions of human dignity and the notion of human dignity as a central concept left on the side CONCLUSION: The findings are relevant for curriculum transformation and integration of human dignity into OT education. They can be used to equip undergraduate OT students with the knowledge and skills needed to enhance their understanding of human dignity, human rights and advocacy for clients in cases of rights violations. Participants noted that while human dignity was an omitted concept in the classroom, clinical supervisors provided significant learning opportunities for them to learn about human rights. Students' willingness to expand their knowledge of human dignity enabled them to apply and integrate existing policies and legislative frameworks such as the Bill of Rights and the Batho Pele principles into their learning

ABSTRACT Peruvian cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) has great acceptance and demand in the national and international textile market due to the excellent quality of its extra-long fiber, durability and resistance. To evaluate cotton cultivar performance, we need to use tools such as drones + sensors. However, these tools have not been widely used in the Peruvian agricultural area. Here we evaluated seven agro-morphological characters of 21 accessions of Del Cerro cotton cultivar from the National Institute of Agrarian Innovation of Peru with high-throughput phenotyping methods. We employed a Matrice 300 RTK unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with the MicaSense Dual Red Edge Blue multispectral sensor to assess plant height, yield, and spectral signature during physiological maturity stage; other morphological characters were manually scored. Multispectral monitoring revealed the phytosanitary status of the crop, which begins to enter senescence after 130 d after sowing (DAS) due to the decrease of the vegetation indices (VI). Pearson correlations between yield and VI showed favorable values, exceeding 0.60 at 94 DAS for normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), relative vigor index (RVI), and normalized difference red edge index (NDRE). Principal component analysis (PCA) was conducted on the same date, a significant correlation was found between NDVI and yield. Additionally, yield prediction equations were generated with the normalized difference water index (NDWI) showing an R value of 0.74 at 130 DAS. The findings of this study suggest that remote sensing evaluation is suitable for estimating ‘Del Cerro’ cotton yield in infrared (IR) bands, providing a tool for germplasm evaluation that can influence decision-making and better conservation strategies.

This article outlines various projects implemented at Rand Refinery to reduce effluent generation and freshwater consumption. The refinery generates about 2800 m³ of effluent annually and has initiated projects such as granulation water recycle and silver leach optimisation to address these issues. The granulation water recycle project has successfully reduced effluent volumes, while the silver leach optimisation has further decreased effluent by implementing stoichiometric addition of HCl and NaClO3. The vibratory shear enhanced processing (VSEP) trial showed promising results for gold recovery from wastewater, though further trials are recommended. The water savings of the effluent reduction projects are monitored by measuring the amount of effluent pumped to service yard effluent storage facilities with the use of flow meters connected on SCADA. Since the effluent reduction initiative of granulation effluent recycle in FY23, the effluent reduced to 2676 m³. In FY24, the stoichiometric addition of HCl and NaClO3 was implemented in the silver leach process, further reducing the effluent to 2083 m³.

The iconic Taung fossilised skull is widely known for its primacy as Africa's first palaeoanthropological discovery with universal scientific relevance. Yet the details surrounding its discovery and current status remain an enigma to the community of Taung Village. A comprehensive conservation of the site, which was listed as a UNESCO cultural heritage site of outstanding universal value 25 years ago, is yet to be completed, much to the chagrin of the local communities. The noticeable disconnect between the management authorities and scholarly institutions probably adds to the slow development in regard to continued research and public engagements at the site. In this paper, we discuss the current state of the site and the ongoing development, as well as the knowledge gap and the lack of inclusiveness of the Taung local inhabitants regarding the site. SIGNIFICANCE: We look at the discovery of the Taung skull from the perspective of all stakeholders of the site. The discovery of the Taung skull shaped the story of the evolution of humankind, and was a robust discussion for decades. To the Taung community, it did not have much influence on their daily existence, but rather became a mystery, still not understood by many. The paper presents the complex stakeholder relationships, challenges at the site, and the wishes of the Taung people regarding the skull.

The global Covid-19 pandemic resulted in an economic downturn that influenced behavioural and participation patterns of fishing sectors around the world. Monitoring changes in fisheries is essential for understanding their human dimension and informing decision-making for development, conservation and management of fish resources. This study documented and described fishery patterns and participation during the Covid-19 pandemic through roving creel surveys. In addition, due to historic surveys of the recreational and subsistence fishery, it was possible to compare the current patterns to previous results and to show the potential Covid-19 related impacts. Subsistence fishing dominated the fishery, with 94% of 431 regular fishers utilising the resources for home consumption or sale. Compared to historic surveys, a marked decline in estimated recreational fishing was observed, but no significant change was identified in participation patterns of subsistence fishers. This downturn in recreational fishing affected the socio-demographic characteristics of the fishery, where changes in ethnic participation were noted; there was also an increase in the number of unemployed fishers during the pandemic. Utilisation of the fish resources was dominated by subsistence users and 97% of fish caught was for self-consumption or sale. This underlines the importance of fish for subsistence users, who rely on the resource for food or income and could not avoid fishing during the pandemic, as they had no alternative. This study highlights the importance of socio-demographic and participation data on fisheries, to provide scientific advice to policymakers on ideal responses to events such as a pandemic. This evidence of temporal changes in hook-and-line fisheries provides inland fishery authorities the opportunity to develop mitigation measures with greater resilience to cope with future global crises. Lastly, the study emphasises the importance of access to fisheries, especially during times of high regional economic and societal stress.

ABSTRACT Crop pollination is indispensable for global food security. Studies that summarize the knowledge about pollination of specific crops are relevant because they identify the distribution of pollinators, guide pollinator management and conservation policies, and highlight knowledge gaps. Zucchini is cultivated in several countries, and its production is essentially dependent on pollinators. We aimed to integrate global data on zucchini pollination and answer the following questions: (1) What are the topics addressed and what are the trends of the results? (2) Which organisms pollinate zucchini, and how are they globally distributed? (3) What are the knowledge gaps? We performed a systematic literature review, built a network of countries and pollinators, and compared data on the efficiency of specific pollinators. Studies were conducted in 16 countries. Most studies investigated the frequency and diversity of floral visitors. Other approaches were discussed. Zucchini flowers fed 116 species of pollinators, especially bees. Six countries had almost exclusive groups of native pollinators. Apis, Bombus, and Peponapis were the most frequently recorded bees. Areas with high habitat diversity improve pollination. There was a significant difference in productivity when pollination was carried out by bees compared with pollination by Syrphidae. The main knowledge gaps are (1) the determination of which native, manageable pollinators are efficient for maximum zucchini production, (2) the investigation of how pollination influence fruit nutritional composition and seed quality, and (3) the identification of pollinators to the species level.

AN INTERNAL STRUCTURE OF THE CHEMISTRY FIELD IN BRAZIL. This article investigates the configuration of the internal structure of the field of chemistry in Brazil, with an emphasis on the positions occupied by dominant and dominated agents. Utilizing the theoretical framework by Pierre Bourdieu, specifically his approach to fields of power and capital, the study proposes a detailed analysis of the distribution of specific capital among Brazilian chemists. The research was divided into two main methodological stages: firstly, configuring the field through the localization of agents in the academic space based on their volume of specific capital; secondly, an analysis focused on the agents occupying the extreme positions in this space, identified as dominants and dominated. This type of analysis contributes to understanding the field, its values and how its power structure is distributed. This information helps agents to understand and move within this configuration with a view to its conservation or subversion.

Resumo: A aquicultura é uma indústria global importante na prática do cultivo de organismos aquáticos para fornecer alimentos à população e impulsionar a economia dos países produtores. O Brasil se destaca na produção global de rãs-touro, mas essa atividade tem gerado problemas ecológicos e econômicos. A falta de regulamentação e controle pode ameaçar a biodiversidade, já que essas rãs atuam como vetores de patógenos como o fungo quitrídio Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) e o vírus Ranavirus (Rv). Tanto o Bd, quanto o Rv, estão associados a declínios e extinções em massa de anfíbios em todo o mundo. Estudos no Brasil identificaram alta prevalência desses patógenos em ranários, representando ameaças à indústria e ao ambiente. A ausência de regulamentação eficaz na ranicultura é um desafio, já que a quitridiomicose e a ranavirose são doenças de notificação obrigatória à Organização Mundial de Saúde Animal, exigindo gestão dos impactos na produção de rã-touro. Portanto, nosso objetivo foi promover a articulação entre pesquisadores, órgãos públicos e líderes do setor, visando revisar as legislações existentes e propor medidas eficazes de biosseguridade. Realizamos extensivas revisões sobre a ranicultura no Brasil, participamos e promovemos reuniões com representantes governamentais e produtivos e nos engajamos ativamente nos Planos de Ação para a conservação de espécies. Nesse contexto, esforços foram feitos para mapear ranários e desenvolver propostas de biosseguridade visando o controle de patógenos. Concluímos que a colaboração entre setores é crucial para a elaboração e implementação de políticas eficazes. Além disso, apresentamos uma revisão detalhada da legislação vigente diretamente relacionada ao tema, visando facilitar a compreensão da situação atual no Brasil. A implementação e manutenção de regulamentações mais abrangentes, assim como a adoção de práticas sustentáveis na ranicultura, são essenciais para garantir a sustentabilidade da indústria e a conservação da biodiversidade.

Abstract: Aquaculture is a globally significant industry involved in the cultivation of aquatic organisms to provide food for the population and boost the economies of producing countries. Brazil stands out in the global production of bullfrogs, but this activity has generated ecological and economic problems. The lack of regulation and control can threaten biodiversity, as these bullfrog’s act as vectors for pathogens such as chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) and the virus Ranavirus (Rv). Both Bd and Rv are associated with declines and mass extinctions of amphibians worldwide. Studies in Brazil have identified a high prevalence of these pathogens in bullfrog farms, posing threats to both the industry and the environment. The absence of effective regulation in bullfrog farming is a challenge, as chytridiomycosis and ranaviruses are diseases that must be reported to the World Organisation for Animal Health, requiring management of impacts on bullfrog production. Therefore, our goal was to promote collaboration among researchers, public entities, and industry leaders, aiming to review existing legislation and propose effective biosecurity measures. We conducted extensive reviews on bullfrog farming in Brazil, participated in and organized meetings with government and industry representatives, and actively engaged in Species Conservation Action Plans. Within this context, efforts have been made to map frog farms and develop biosecurity proposals aimed at pathogen control. We conclude that intersectoral collaboration is crucial for the development and implementation of effective policies. Furthermore, we present a detailed review of the current legislation directly related to the topic to facilitate understanding of the current situation in Brazil. The implementation and maintenance of more comprehensive regulations, along with the adoption of sustainable practices in frog farming, are essential to ensure the industry’s sustainability and biodiversity conservation.

ABSTRACT The Atlantic Forest has one of the richest avifaunas in the world, with endemic, migratory and endangered taxa. However, some of the ornithological knowledge produced there has yet to be organized and published, hindering effective conservation actions. For example, a study concluded in 2005 documented 213 species for Parque das Neblinas (PN), a private reserve located in the Serra do Mar in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, but there has been no update since. We retrieved, organized, and technically evaluated ornithological data produced for PN over the last 20 years, including that from articles, online platforms, occasional lists and a systematic inventory logging 250 field hours. Data consolidation resulted in 293 bird species for PN, including 88 endemic and nine threatened with extinction. Two-hundred and fifty-seven species were recorded by different researchers and bird observers while 141 were recorded by the field inventory, which added 24 species to the total list, showing great potential for new research. The PN bird community is typical of the São Paulo plateau, with the occurrence of species from coastal lowlands as well as drier areas in the interior, and represents an important area for the conservation of Atlantic Forest birds that is also suitable for bird observation and photography.

ABSTRACT Habitat loss and fragmentation is the greatest threat to global biodiversity and is especially acute in biodiversity hotspots such as the Atlantic Forest of Brazil. Because the Brazilian fauna suffers from ongoing human impacts both inside and outside protected areas and their buffer zones, inventories of the faunal assemblages in these areas remain vital. Based on field surveys and the examination of museum specimens, we report on the herpetofauna of the buffer zone of Parque Estadual da Serra da Tiririca, located in the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro. Across nine sampling areas during 2017 and 2018, we documented 30 species of anurans, one caecilian, 18 snakes, eight lizards, and one crocodilian. This assemblage includes the first record for five species from the protected area. Our inventory offers fundamental information that can promote actions to maintain populations of these taxonomic groups and their habitats within and outside of this protected area.

Abstract An analysis of reproductive potential can elucidate significant aspects of the population biology and evolution of brachyuran crabs, providing a crucial baseline for conservation efforts concerning endangered species. Johngarthia lagostoma is an endemic species to Atlantic Oceanic islands (Rocas Atoll, Fernando de Noronha, Ascension, and Trindade), and it is classified as endangered (EN) in Brazilian territory according to IUCN criteria. Until now, the reproductive potential of this species has only been described for the Ascension Island population. Therefore, we assessed the reproductive effort and fecundity of J. lagostoma on Trindade Island. A total of 43 ovigerous females in the final stage of embryonic development were analyzed. Their egg masses were removed, weighed, and counted using a volumetric method. The carapace width ranged from 55.3 to 100.1 mm (mean ± standard deviation: 75.2 ± 13.1 mm). It exhibited a good fit and positive correlation with the egg weight and fecundity data but a poor fit and negative correlation with reproductive effort. The contrasting results of fecundity (82,938 ± 43,673 eggs) and reproductive effort (10.5 ± 1.5 %) recorded for J. lagostoma reveal a well-established population on Trindade Island compared to Ascension Island. These observations provide valuable information for proposing more effective management strategies for this endangered species across these Atlantic oceanic islands.

Resumo A Área de Proteção Ambiental das Reentrâncias Maranhenses está localizada no litoral norte do estado do Maranhão, abrangendo 16 municípios e apresentando grande diversidade florística. Contudo, essa biodiversidade está ameaçada pela redução e até extinção de espécies, situação agravada pela ação antrópica. Os objetivos deste estudo foram (i) analisar a composição florística da vegetação herbáceo-arbustiva no ecossistema de restinga da praia de Araoca, localizada no município de Guimarães; (ii) classificar hábitos; (iii) analisar síndromes de polinização e dispersão de sementes; (iv) categorizar as fitofisionomias presentes e (v) identificar os possíveis impactos ambientais. As expedições de campo foram realizadas entre julho de 2022 e outubro de 2023 (durante as estações seca e chuvosa) e as espécies vegetais foram registradas usando o método do caminhamento. No total, foram catalogadas 122 espécies herbáceo-arbustivas pertencentes a 95 gêneros e 50 famílias. As famílias com maior riqueza de espécies foram Fabaceae (24), Cyperaceae (10), Rubiaceae (6) e Asteraceae (5), correspondendo a 37, 2% do total das espécies coletadas. Quanto ao hábito, as espécies herbáceas (59) correspondem a 48,4% da amostragem, as arbustivas (29) representaram 23,8%, as subarbustivas (21) equivalem a 17,2% e as lianas/trepadeiras somaram 9,8% das espécies. O levantamento ainda registrou uma única espécie de palmeira (Arecaceae), correspondendo a 0,8% das espécies coletadas. Quanto à polinização, 100 espécies foram categorizadas exclusivamente como zoofílicas e 15 relativas à anemofilia. Em relação à dispersão, a anemocoria representou 7,4% dos indivíduos (9); a zoocoria exclusiva estava presente em 33,6% do levantamento (41); e a autocoria exclusiva em 70 espécies, somando 57,4% das amostras. Apenas Pavonia cancellata (L.) Cav. apresentou dois tipos de dispersão, zoocoria e autocoria, que representam 0,8% do total das síndromes de dispersão. Foram descritas fisionomias de campo aberto não inundável, campo aberto inundável-halófilo, frutíceto fechado não inundável, frutíceto fechado inundável e frutíceto aberto inundável. A diversidade vegetal de Araoca indica similaridade de restingas segundo as espécies comumente encontradas nas áreas estudadas no Maranhão. A considerável quantidade de lixo deixado nas proximidades das dunas, formação de trilhas e pastagem de bovinos em áreas de estrato arbustivo, alteram a dinâmica e comprometem o equilíbrio desse ecossistema. Considerando esse cenário, a restinga da Praia de Araoca está sujeita a perda de composição florística, sendo necessário o desenvolvimento de estudos que direcionem a manutenção de sua diversidade.