How are riparian plants distributed along the riverbank topographic gradient in Mediterranean rivers? Application to minimally altered river stretches in Southern Spain.

Species structure and composition in Mediterranean riparian forests are determined by hydrological features, longitudinal zonation, and riverbank topography. This study assesses the distribution of four native riparian plants along the riverbank topographic gradient in three river stretches in southern Spain, with special emphasis on the occupation of adult and young feet of each species. The studied stretches suffered minimal human disturbances, displayed semi-arid conditions, and had wide riparian areas to allow the development of the target species: black alder (Alnus glutinosa), salvia leaf willow (Salix salviifolia), narrow-leafed ash (Fraxinus angustifolia), and oleander (Nerium oleander). Thalweg height was used to define the riverbank topographic gradient. The results showed a preferential zone for black alder and salvia leaf willow in the range of 0-150 cm from the channel thalweg, with adult alders and willows being more common between 51 and 150 cm and young alders being more common under 50 cm. Conversely, narrow-leafed ash and oleander were much more frequent, and showed greater development, in the ranges of 151-200 cm and 201-250 cm, respectively, whereas the young feet of both species covered the entire topographic range. Adult feet of the four species were spatially segregated along the riverbank topographic gradient, indicating their differential ability to cope with water stress from the non-tolerant alders and willows to more tolerant narrow-leafed ash trees and oleanders. Young feet, however, showed a strategy more closely linked to the initial availability of colonisation sites within riparian areas to the dispersion strategy of each species and to the distribution of adult feet. In Mediterranean areas, where riparian management has traditionally faced great challenges, the incorporation of species preferences along riverbank gradients could improve the performance of restoration projects.

Limnological research in the Iberian Peninsula: a ten-year survey of published literature.

Research on limnology in southern Europe had achieved a notable presence in the international arena before the onset of the current dramatic cuts in public investment in science. We assessed the limnological research published in peer-reviewed journals by Spanish and Portuguese (i.e., Iberian) researchers during the decade prior to the economic recession (2000 to 2009). The Thompson Reuters Web of Knowledge database was used to retrieve all publications on limnology authored by researchers affiliated with Spanish or Portuguese institutions independently of the geographical setting of the study. The publishing pattern was characterised in terms of authors, journals, and citation statistics. In addition, a thematic characterisation of the research was performed by a manual assignation of several categorical descriptors combined with a blind word count analysis. Iberian researchers produced an annual mean of 278 papers on limnology. Papers were published in journals that had impact factors ranging from 0.1 to 31.4, with a mean of 2.0. Based on citations, the impact of the Iberian limnological research was not due to a few highly cited papers but rather to a wide number of publications; each paper received a mean of 8 citations. The Iberian limnological research involved up to 5460 researchers, with a mean of 4.3 authors per paper. The research largely focused on fluvial systems, with 47 % of total publications (2778) devoted to these ecosystems. There was a dominant focus on local, within-system aspects of study sites and the research was mostly restricted to the Iberian Peninsula; larger spatial scales of analysis (i.e., landscape, regional, or global) tended to be overlooked. Iberian research addressed fundamental (75 %) rather than applied (17 %) or methodological (5 %) questions and was vastly dominated by observational approaches (75 %). Interestingly, Iberian limnological research increased its scientific productivity during the analysed decade at a higher rate than its international counterpart (increase of 119 %). Overall, Iberian research on limnology appeared to be in good health during the analysed decade. Certain areas have been more studied than others, which opens opportunities to develop new research.

Genetic diversity and species richness patterns in Baetidae (Ephemeroptera) in the Montseny Mountain range (North-East Iberian Peninsula)

This study aimed to describe patterns of diversity of Baetidae (Ephemeroptera) at the ommunity and population levels within the Montseny Mountain range (North-East Iberian Peninsula). We studied both the distribution of 4 species of baetids in 20 sites among three catchments along the altitudinal gradient (350-1700 masl); and the genetic diversity of the mtDNA cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (cox1) gene of the two common species Baetis alpinus and Baetis rhodani. We found a gradual replacement of the dominant species along the altitudinal gradient. Baetis alpinus inhabited sites at high-altitudes, and this species was replaced by B. rhodani when the altitude decreased. Baetis melanonyx and Alainites muticus attained low abundance at all river sections, and no clear altitudinal trend appeared. Our hypothesis at the population level was that genetic structuring is associated with geographic distance and limited by drainage boundaries among the three studied catchments because of the short-time dispersion of adults. Unexpectedly, analyses of molecular variance (AMOVA) and isolation-bydistance (IBD) showed genetic diversity was unstructured by distance for both species, which may be explained by the relatively short spatial scale studied and small topographic barriers among the three catchments. The Generalized Mixed Yule-Coalescent (GMYC) model showed that B. rhodani had two differentiated genetic lineages that co-occurred in all sites. Overall, diversity of baetids was structured at the community level along the altitudinal gradient, whereas it was unstructured at the population level within the Montseny Mountain range.

Biomonitoreo de la calidad del agua en los ríos ibéricos: lecciones aprendidas.

Los autores resumen en un decálogo la experiencia de más de 30 años de estudio de los ríos españoles con dos focos principales: el uso de macroinvertebrados para la obtención de la calidad biológica y el diseño de sistemas de evaluación del estado ecológico de los ríos. Después de una introducción general y de un resumen de cómo se gestaron los estudios de biomonitoreo en España, los autores analizan los trabajos que se han publicado en la revista Limnetica sobre este tema. Se usan estos datos para ilustrar los puntos relevantes en el diseño y aplicación del biomonitoreo, que es posteriormente resumido en un decálogo. Este está pensado para contener todos los puntos necesarios para que el diseño de un sistema de biomonitoreo cumpla las especificaciones de la Directiva Marco del Agua (DMA). Los diez puntos analizados son: 1) establecimiento de la zona de estudio; 2) recursos humanos y materiales disponibles; 3) tipología de ríos; 4) establecimiento de las condiciones de referencia; 5) protocolos de muestreo; 6) métricas a utilizar; 7) establecimiento de los cortes de calidad y relación de las métricas con las presiones; 8) mapas de estado ecológico usando el valor relativo respecto a los valores de referencia (el EQR: Ecological Quality Ratio); 9) control de calidad; 10) uso de los datos para establecer los objetivos de calidad y el programa de medidas. En la revista Limnetica se han publicado desde su inicio en el año 1981 un total de 641 trabajos, de los cuales un 42% trataban de ríos y un 18% se centraban exclusivamente en el biomonitoreo. La mayor parte de los trabajos de biomonitoreo publicados utilizaron a los macroinvertebrados como elemento de calidad (88%), pero relativamente pocos (menos del 20%) usaron la tipología y las condiciones de referencia para establecer correctamente las clases de calidad. Se analiza por separado el período anterior al año 2002, y con un número similar de trabajos se advierte un mayor porcentaje de trabajos de biomonitoreo después de 2002. Sin embargo, y a pesar de la existencia de la DMA desde el año 2000, muchos trabajos publicados en Limnetica a partir de 2002 (cuando se hizo un número especial sobre biomonitoreo en ríos mediterráneos) no cumplen los requisitos que demanda esta Directiva. En este momento, después de la experiencia que se tiene por la implementación de la DMA, cualquier sistema de biomonitoreo desarrollado en Europa debe ser comparable a los que existen actualmente, especialmente a la métrica común de intercalibración (ICM).Este decálogo presenta los pasos necesarios para que cuando se diseñe un sistema de muestreo este cumpla los requisitos que demanda la DMA.

Genetic diversity and species richness patterns in Baetidae (Ephemeroptera) in the Montseny Mountain range (North-East Iberian Peninsula)

This study aimed to describe patterns of diversity of Baetidae (Ephemeroptera) at the ommunity and population levels within the Montseny Mountain range (North-East Iberian Peninsula). We studied both the distribution of 4 species of baetids in 20 sites among three catchments along the altitudinal gradient (350-1700 masl); and the genetic diversity of the mtDNA cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (cox1) gene of the two common species Baetis alpinus and Baetis rhodani. We found a gradual replacement of the dominant species along the altitudinal gradient. Baetis alpinus inhabited sites at high-altitudes, and this species was replaced by B. rhodani when the altitude decreased. Baetis melanonyx and Alainites muticus attained low abundance at all river sections, and no clear altitudinal trend appeared. Our hypothesis at the population level was that genetic structuring is associated with geographic distance and limited by drainage boundaries among the three studied catchments because of the short-time dispersion of adults. Unexpectedly, analyses of molecular variance (AMOVA) and isolation-bydistance (IBD) showed genetic diversity was unstructured by distance for both species, which may be explained by the relatively short spatial scale studied and small topographic barriers among the three catchments. The Generalized Mixed Yule-Coalescent (GMYC) model showed that B. rhodani had two differentiated genetic lineages that co-occurred in all sites. Overall, diversity of baetids was structured at the community level along the altitudinal gradient, whereas it was unstructured at the population level within the Montseny Mountain range.

Efficiency and Equity in Learning Communities and schools

Traditionally, school efficiency has been measured as a function of educational production. In the last two decades, however, studies in the economics of education have indicated that more is required to improve school efficiency: researchers must explore how significant changes in school organization affect the performance of at-risk students. In this paper we introduce Henry Levin’s adoption of the X-efficiency approach to education and we describe the efficient and cost-effective characteristics of one Learning Communities Project School that significantly improved its student outcomes and enrollment numbersand reduced its absenteeism rate to zero. The organizational change that facilitatedthese improvements defined specific issues to address. Students’ school success became the focus of the school project, which also offered specific incentives, selected teachers, involved parents and community members in decisions, and used the most efficient technologies and methods. This case analysis reveals new two elements—family training and community involvement—that were not explicit parts of Levin’s adaptation. The case of the Antonio Machado Public School should attract the attention of both social scientists and policy makers

Alternativas a los animales de laboratorio en docencia

En este artículo se hace una revisión sobre la utilización de animales y de métodos alternativos en docencia y se constata que todavía se siguen utilizando animales, a pesar de los avances tecnológicos que permiten cada vez métodos mejores y más efectivos para reemplazar a los animales en las prácticas docentes. Así mismo se analizan las ventajas y las limitaciones que pueden presentar estos métodos y se hace una revisión bibliográfica de los últimos artículos publicados en este sentido. A pesar, de existir muchos docentes que utilizan métodos alternativos, no existen demasiados artículos que nos informen de la situación de las alternativas ni tampoco de los beneficios que aportan a los estudiantes.

La investigación regional en España: un análisis bibliométrico

Este trabajo analiza cual ha sido la evolución de la investigación en ciencia regional y urbana en España en el período 1991-2000 situándola en el contexto internacional. Para ello, se elaboran rankings de países, autores e instituciones en función de las publicaciones realizadas en una muestra de nueve revistas internacionales ampliamente reconocidas dentro de este campo. Los resultados muestran que la mejora en la posición relativa a nivel internacional encontrada por otros autores para el conjunto de la investigación española en economía también se produce en el contexto de la investigación económica regional y urbana De hecho, hay un claro aumento de la presencia a nivel internacional de los autores e instituciones españolas motivado en buena medida por un incremento de las publicaciones de autores con tradición en la investigación en ciencia regional y urbana pero también por la irrupción con fuerza de 'nuevos' autores.

La investigación regional en España. Rankings de países, instituciones y autores en ciencia regional y urbana para el período 1991-2000

Este trabajo analiza cual ha sido la evolución de la investigación en ciencia regional y urbana en España en el período 1991-2000 situándola en el contexto internacional. Para ello, se elaboran rankings de países, autores e instituciones en función de las publicaciones realizadas en una muestra de nueve revistas internacionales ampliamente reconocidas dentro de este campo. Los resultados muestran que la mejora en la posición relativa a nivel internacional encontrada por otros autores para el conjunto de la investigación española en economía también se produce en el contexto de la investigación económica regional y urbana De hecho, hay un claro aumento de la presencia a nivel internacional de los autores e instituciones españolas motivado en buena medida por un incremento de las publicaciones de autores con tradición en la investigación en ciencia regional y urbana pero también por la irrupción con fuerza de 'nuevos' autores.