Biology

Wetlands offer a wide variety of ecosystem goods and services, such as fisheries, agriculture, tourism and regulatory functions that benefit human society. Despite this relevance, there is no generally accepted methodology for the economic valuation of ecosystem goods and services of wetlands. The existing methodologies for the valuation of ecosystem goods and services rely on revealed preference approach (willingness to pay and travel cost) due to lack market prices for most of the services. They do not provide actual value of ecosystem goods and services, because it is inferred from users’ opinion and willingness rather than the actual benefit or services derived from the ecosystem. In addition, they lack simple resources and tools in order to make them user-friendly for surveyors and researchers assessing ecosystem services value. This paper attempts to develop an alternative holistic approach for the valuation of ecosystem good and services. The methodology includes fieldwork, c...

This paper investigates the peculiar behaviour of the light even (alpha-elements) and odd atomic number elements in red giants in the galactic bulge, both in terms of the chemical evolution of the bulge, and in terms of possible deep-mixing mechanisms in these evolved stars. Using UVES on VLT, we measure the abundances of the four light elements O, Na, Mg and Al in 13 red clump and 40 red giant branch stars in four fields spanning the bulge from b=-3 to -12\deg. We show that the resulting abundance patterns point towards a chemical enrichment dominated by massive stars at all metallicities. O, Mg and Al ratios with respect to iron are overabundant with respect to both galactic disks (thin and thick) for [Fe/H]$>-0.5$. A formation timescale for the galactic bulge shorter than for both the thin and thick disks is therefore inferred. Using Mg as a proxy for metallicity (instead of Fe) we further show that: (i) the bulge stars [O/Mg] ratio follows and extend to higher metallicities the decreasing trend of [O/Mg] found in the galactic disks. (ii) the [Na/Mg] ratio trend with increasing [Mg/H] is found to increase in three distinct sequences in the thin disk, the thick disk and the bulge. The bulge trend is well represented by the predicted metallicity-dependent yields of massive stars, whereas the galactic disks have too high Na/Mg ratios at low metallicities, pointing to an additional source of Na from AGB stars. (iii) Contrary to Na, there appears to be no systematic difference in the [Al/Mg] ratio between bulge and disk stars, and the theoretical yields by massive stars agree with the observed ratios, leaving no space for AGB contribution to Al.

CONCLUSIONS: These results support a scenario in which the bulge formed before and more rapidly than the disk, and therefore the MW bulge can be regarded as a prototypical old spheroid, with a formation history similar to that of early-type (elliptical) galaxies.

The free energy, enthalpy and entropy of solution, were evaluated from solubility data for a group of sulfonamides from 25 to 40°C in octanol, water, and the mutually saturated solvents. In aqueous media, the solubility was determined at the isoelectric point and ionic strength 0.15 mol-L−1. The excess free energy and the activity coefficients of the solutes also were determined. The results are discussed in terms of solute–solvent interactions.

The current situation of the management and disposal of wildlife seized by state environmental authorities Lara was analyzed. The methodology used in this research was a literature review and inquiry. A questionnaire to 15 experts who participated in the process of confiscation of species by means of which the following results were obtained was performed: most wildlife confiscations in Lara state are birds, mainly Passeriforms. The conditions of animal welfare for the species at the time of seizure, showing wounds, disease, malnutrition, loss of hair and feathers, stress, aggression, among others. Similarly, assisted in the "Parque Zoológico y Botanico Bararida" however, the design and size of the cages are not appropriate to ensure animal welfare, because is not to be a function of the zoo operate as a rescue center. In regard to the final destination of wildlife, mostly remain permanently in the zoo, only animal hostel in the city, so it is necessary to create a center for wildlife rehabilitation, which could meet quantity forfeited.