Datos sobre los bosques asturianos orocantábricos occidentales

En este trabajo se aportan algunos datos sobre los bosques de los suelos no encharcadas del SW de Asturias (España). Basándase en ellos y en otros de territorios más orientales se proponen dos nuevas asociaciones: Linario triornitophorae-Quercetum petreae y Mercurialidi perennis-Fraxinetum excelsioris, que constituyen la etapa madura boscosa de dos series de vegetación orocantábricas.

Análisis de la información y documentación científica española sobre el fenómeno de las smart cities, el hábitat de los nativos digitales

Estudiosos de todo el mundo se están centrando en el estudio del fenómeno de las ciudades inteligentes. La producción bibliográfica española sobre este tema ha crecido exponencialmente en los últimos años. Las nuevas ciudades inteligentes se fundamentan en nuevas visiones de desarrollo urbano que integran múltiples soluciones tecnológicas ligadas al mundo de la información y de la comunicación, todas ellas actuales y al servicio de las necesidades de la ciudad. La literatura en español sobre este tema proviene de campos tan diferentes como la Arquitectura, la Ingeniería, las Ciencias Políticas y el Derecho o las Ciencias Empresariales. La finalidad de las ciudades inteligentes es la mejora de la vida de sus ciudadanos a través de la implementación de tecnologías de la información y de la comunicación que resuelvan las necesidades de sus habitantes, por lo que los investigadores del campo de las Ciencias de la Comunicación y de la Información tienen mucho que decir. Este trabajo analiza un total de 120 textos y concluye que el fenómeno de las ciudades inteligentes será uno de los ejes centrales de la investigación multidisciplinar en los próximos años en nuestro país.

Contributions to the bryological flora of the tropical and subtropical forests from the Argentina (Bryophyta, Musci).

The authors present here a list of 32 mosses belonging to 15 families: Brachytheciaceae, Cryphaeaceae, Entodontaceae, Hedwigiaceae, Hypnaceae, Leptodontaceae, Meteoriaceae, Neckeraceae, Pilotrichaceae, Polytrichaceae, Pterobryaceae, Racopilaceae, Rigodiaceae, Stereophyllaceae, and Trachypodaceae, all collected in the mountainous forests of the Yungas of the NW of the Argentina (Jujuy, Salta, Catamarca and Tucumán provinces), and also in the rainforests from the NE of the country (Misiones province). Eight species: Atrichum polycarpum, Chrysohypnum elegantulum, Pilosium chlorophyllum, Pilotrichella flexilis, Porotrichodendron lindigii, Pseudotrachypus martinicensis, Steerecleus scariosus, and Thamnobryum fasciculatum are new records for the bryologic flora from Argentina. Braunia imberbis and Squamidium brasiliense are two new records for the bryophytic flora of the Catamarca province; Porotrichodendron superbum is new for the Salta province, while Forsstroemia coronata is the first record for the Catamarca and Jujuy provinces. Aerolindigia capillacea, Braunia reflexifolia, Chryso-hypnum diminutivum, Meteorium deppei and Meteoridium remotifolium are five new citations for the Jujuy province, and Schoenobryum concavifolium is new for the bryophytic flora of the Misiones province. Many studied species occur more frequently in the Yungas than in the NE rainforests; others show separated distribution but live in both areas, the Yungas and Paranaense area, and others are more or less restricted to the Paranaense rainforest of the NE of Argentina. The taxonomy of species is updated, and comments are included on bibliographical precedents, ecology and chorology of each taxon.

Plagiomnium T. Kop. (Plagiomniaceae, Musci) en la Península Ibérica e llles Balears

Se ha realizado la revisión de ejemplares de Plagiomnium T. Kop., en la Península Ibérica, registrados en los Herbarios de España, Portugal y Francia, así como en algunas colecciones privadas. Siete taxones de Plagiomnium están representados en España: P. affine, P. cuspidatum, P. elatum, P. ellipticum, P. medium subsp. medium, P. rostratum y P. undulatum, y en Portugal cuatro taxones: P. affine, P. medium subsp. mediurn, P. rostratum y P. undulatum. En Mallorca (Illes Balears), queda excluido P. cuspidatum y P. elatum es nuevo para estas islas. P. undulatum, P. affine y P. rostratum son las especies más comunes en los bosques y zonas montañosas de la Península; P. cuspidatum y P. elatum son frecuentes en la mitad septentrional de España, siendo muy escasos en la parte meridional; los más raros son: P. ellipticum y P. medium subsp. medium, que están restringidos a los hábitats mesofíticos, suelos oligotrofos y húmedos de Pirineos, Cordillera Cantábrica y el piso supra-oromediterráneo de los Montes de Cataluña, Sistema Ibérico septentrional (Macizo de La Demanda) y Sistema Central. Se aportan fotografías de las esporas al SEM de P. affine, P. medium subsp. medium, P. rostratum y P. undulatum así como los mapas de distribución de cada taxon.

Piornales, enebrales y pinares oromediterráneos (Pino-Cytision oromediterranei) en el Sistema Central

Se revisan fitosociológicamente los bosques y matorrales oromediterráneos del Sistema Central pertenecientes a la alianza Pino-Cytision oromediterranei. Un suborden, una asociación y seis subasociaciones se proponen como nuevos: Juniperenalia nanae, Echinosparto pulviniformis-Cytisetum oromediterranei, Cytiso-Echinospartetum barnadesii ericetsoum arboreae, Junipero-Cytisetum oromediterranei adenocarpetosum hispanici, arctostaphylletosum crassifoliae, ericetosum aragonensis, genistetosum cinerascentis y populetosum tremulae. Asimismo, se proponen diversas correcciones nomenclaturales y se tipifican los principales sintáxones de la clase. Por último, se presenta un esquema sintaxonómico de la misma en la Península Ibérica hasta el nivel de asociación, con la diagnosis biogeográfica, ecológica y florística de los sintáxones de rango superior.Finalmente, en el apéndice florístico se proponen tres nuevas combinaciones nomenclaturales: Echinospartum ibericum Rivas-Martínez, Sánchez-Mata & Sancho, E. ibericum subsp. pulviniformis (Rivas-Martínez) Rivas-Martínez y Thymus praecox Opiz subsp. penyalarensis (Pau) Rivas-Martínez, Fernández-González & Sánchez-Mata.

La vegetación de la clase Epilobietea angustifolii

Dentro de la vegetación de los claros de bosques húmedos (clase Epilobietea angustifolii) en los Pirineos catalanes distinguimos básicamente tres asociaciones: Epilobietum montani-angustifolii as. nova, ampliamente extendida por todo el territorio, aunque a menudo bastante pobre floristicamente; Atropetum belladonnae (Br.-Bl. 1930) Tx. 1950, más bien esporádica y a menudo fragmentaria, y Sambuco-Rubetum idaei O. de Bolós 1979, dentro del que se reconocen dos subasociaciones, rubetosum glandulosi (= typicum), limitada a los valles más occidentales y de carácter más o menos atlántico, y rubetosum idaei nova, de área más general y de ambientes relativamente secos.

Estudio de formaciones arbóreas termófilo-continentales próximas a la ciudad de Granada

Se da cuenta de la estructura de los bosques de Quercus rotundifolia Lam. presentes en las localidades cercanas a la ciudad de Granada, así como de los matorrales de sustitución. Se propone una nueva subasociación ulicetosum parviflori dentro de la asociación clímax Paeonio-Quercetum rotundifoliae Rivas-Martínez 1964. Para el matorral de sustitución se describe unanueva asociación, Stipo tenacissimae-Anthyllidetum cytisoidis.

Estudio fitosociológico de los zarzales del País Vasco (Rubo ulmifolil-Tametum communis)

Se estudia la asociación Rubo ulmifolii-Tametum communis, zarzal que constituye la orla espinosa de los bosques climáticos eutrofos del País Vasco cantábrico (robledales, fresnedas). Para distinguir el manto de los encinares cantábricos relictos (Lauro-Quercetum ilicis) se describe una nueva subasociación Rubo-Tametum rosetosum sempervirentis.

About "The Iberian forests"

The recently published book "Los bosques ibéricos. Una interpretación geobotánica" (The Iberian forests. A geobotanical interpretation) is commented in this paper, mostly about its critical contents on the apportations of the phytosociological school to the knowledge of the composition, ecology, distribution and dynamism of the Iberian forests.

Use and access to ICT in students of public secondary schools in Chihuahua City, Mexico: inclusion in teaching and digital literacy

This paper addresses the issue of the digital divide in students of public secondary schools at Chihuahua City, Mexico. It seeks to identify potential inequality of opportunities with regards to subjects’ access to information, knowledge and education through the ICT (internet, mobile telephony, broadband and television). The study takes three schools as investigative stage, using the survey as a data collection instrument, identifying patterns of behavior regarding: general knowledge of them, access to computer equipment and internet, and characterization of their use. Other aspects of analysis are the identification of the educational level of parents and access to technology resources available for academic and non-academic purposes in various application areas (home, school and social environment). The proposal concludes, that it is through the recollection of alternatives suggested by the teachers themselves to incorporate ICT for teaching purposes in a systematic and planned fashion, whose greatest reflection manifests in better digital literacy indicators.

Juniperus navicularis - a study of Portuguese population structure and fitness

Juniperus navicularis Gand. is a dioecious endemic conifer that constitutes the understory of seaside pine forests in Portugal, areas currently threatened by increasing urban expansion. The aim of this study is to assess the conservation status of previously known populations of this species located on its core area of distribution. The study was performed in south-west coast of Portugal. Three populations varying in size and pine density were analyzed. Number of individuals, population density, spatial distribution and individual characteristics of junipers were estimated. Female cone, seed characteristics and seed viability were also evaluated. Results suggest that J. navicularis populations are vulnerable because seminal recruitment is scarce, what may lead to a reduction of genetic variability due solely to vegetative propagation. This vulnerability seems to be strongly determined by climatic constraints toward increasing aridity. Ratio between male and female shrubs did not differ from 1:1 in any population. Deviations from 1:1 between mature and non-mature plants were found in all populations, denoting population ageing. Very low seed viability was observed. A major part of described Juniperus navicularis populations have disappeared through direct habitat loss to urban development, loss of fitness in drier and warmer locations and low seed viability. This study is the first to address J. navicularis conservation, and represents a valuable first step toward this species preservation. 

Forest typology of broadleaf forests from Sierra Maestra, Eastern Cuba

A phytosociological study of the forests from Sierra Maestra is conducted, following the methodology of the Zurich- Montpelier School. They are transformed into a forest typology using the standards of the Institute of Agro-Forestry Research. In general, 35 types and/or subtypes are presented. From this group, the most abundant ones belong to semi-deciduous microphyll forest, followed by those from mangroves and mountain rainforest, respectively. Silvicultural treatments are needed; among them, the protection forests are those found above 800 m asl and mangroves. 

From labelling to social aid for immigrants in the 21st Century

Migration is as old as humanity, but since the 1990s migration flows in Western Europe have led to societies that are not just multicultural but so-called «super-diverse». As a result, Western towns now have very complex social structures, with amongst others large amounts of small immigrant communities that are in constant change. In this paper we argue that for social workers to be able to offer adequate professional help to non-native residents in town, they will need balanced view of ‘culture’ and of the role culture plays in social aid. Culture is never static, but is continually changing. By teaching social workers about how to look at cultural backgrounds of immigrant groups and about the limitations of then role that culture plays in communication, they will be better equipped to provide adequate aid and will contribute to making various groups grow towards each other and to avoid people thinking in terms of ‘out-group-homogeneity’. Nowadays, inclusion is a priority in social work that almost every social worker supports. Social workers should have an open attitude to allow them to approach every individual as a unique person. They will see the other person as the person they are, and not as a part of a specific cultural group. Knowledge about the others makes them see the cultural heterogeneity in every group. The social sector, though, must be aware not to fall into the trap of the ‘inclusion mania’! This will cause the social deprivation of a particular group to be forgotten. An inclusive policy requires an inclusive society. Otherwise, this could result in even more deprivation of other groups, already discriminated against. Emancipation of deprived people demands a certain target-group policymaking. Categorized aid will raise efficiency of working with immigrants and of acknowledging the cultural identity of the non-natives group. It will also create the possibility to work on fighting social deprivation, in which most immigrants can be found.

Risk Consumption: Children and Online Gaming. The Problem of “Responsible Gambling”

Online gambling is a popular activity among adolescents. However, there has been a notable increase in the number of young people who suffer or are on the verge of pathological gambling. We review the impact of online gambling on young people and discuss the desiderability of the concept of “gambling responsibly” in order to alert of their risks and effectively prevent access to minors. The main factors associated with pathological gambling are the age of start, the family environment, the infl uence of advertising, the consumption of stimulants, and the attitudes of the peer group. Both the government and the gaming industry itself should consider these factors and develop comprehensive plans that ensure a safe and controlled model game. In this context, advertising must take into account criteria of consumer protection knowing that even if they are not allowed, children can easily have access to online gambling. All agents involved, including public and social agents, must provide mechanisms for prevention and awareness of a problem that arouses little social consciousness and excessive carelessness.

Immigration in Spain: Integration with Feet of Clay?

The aim of the paper is to analyze the impact of the economic crisis on the integration of the immigrant population in Spain. The Spanish case is singular because during the years of intense immigration achieved a remarkable degree of socio-cultural integration. The paper argues that such integration it has been the result of the confluence of exceptional factors rather than the result of the policy making. From a mixed methodology approach, it shows that, during the period of expansion, two factors of the immigration contribute to their coexistence with native population: finding job and access to public services. But the economic crisis, with its impact in terms of job losses and austerity policies, expose the weaknesses of the Spanish model of integration.