250-year records of mercury and trace element deposition in two lakes from Cajas National Park, SW Ecuadorian Andes

Vertical distribution and trace element contamination in sediment cores affected by gold mining in Colombia

The vertical distribution, level of contamination, potential ecological risks, and historical fluxes of trace elements (Pb, As, and Hg) were evaluated from 210Pb-dated sediment cores in three different areas with gold mining impacts in northern Colombia: the Atrato River (AR), the Delicias Marsh (DM) and the Encaramada Marsh (EM). All cores spanned ∼100 years; the mass accumulation rates followed the order AR > DM > EM. The average trace elements concentrations in the sediment cores were: Pb 2.41 ± 0.72, As 0.65 ± 0.32, Hg 0.07 ± 0.02 μg g-1 in the Atrato River; Pb 23.49 ± 2.59, As 2.46 ± 0.88, Hg 0.10 ± 0.02 μg g-1 in the Delicias Marsh; and Pb 9.76 ± 4.18, As 2.44 ± 1.26, Hg 0.17 ± 0.06 μg g-1 in the Encaramada Marsh. Sediments are classified according to the contamination factor (CF) and geoaccumulation index (Igeo) as low to very highly contaminated. The Pollution load index (PLI) indicates environmental deterioration (PLI> 1), and the Sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) indicate that only Hg may produce adverse biological effects in the EM core. This study is an example of the reconstruction of temporal changes in pollution levels and impacts of potentially toxic elements caused by gold mining in remote ecosystems, which can be reproduced in other areas where environmental monitoring is scarce or non-existent.

Human practices behind the aquatic and terrestrial ecological decoupling to climate change in the tropical Andes

Anthropogenic climate change and landscape alteration are two of the most important threats to the terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems of the tropical Americas, thus jeopardizing water and soil resources for millions of people in the Andean nations. Understanding how aquatic ecosystems will respond to anthropogenic stressors and accelerated warming requires shifting from short-term and static to long-term, dynamic characterizations of human-terrestrial-aquatic relationships. Here we use sediment records from Lake Llaviucu, a tropical mountain Andean lake long accessed by Indigenous and post-European societies, and hypothesize that under natural historical conditions (i.e., low human pressure) vegetation and aquatic ecosystems' responses to change are coupled through indirect climate influences-that is, past climate-driven vegetation changes dictated limnological trajectories. We used a multi-proxy paleoecological approach including drivers of terrestrial vegetation change (pollen), soil erosion (Titanium), human activity (agropastoralism indicators), and aquatic responses (diatoms) to estimate assemblage-wide rates of change and model their synchronous and asynchronous (lagged) relationships using Generalized Additive Models. Assemblage-wide rate of change results showed that between ca. 3000 and 400 calibrated years before present (cal years BP) terrestrial vegetation, agropastoralism and diatoms fluctuated along their mean regimes of rate of change without consistent periods of synchronous rapid change. In contrast, positive lagged relationships (i.e., asynchrony) between climate-driven terrestrial pollen changes and diatom responses (i.e., asynchrony) were in operation until ca. 750 cal years BP. Thereafter, positive lagged relationships between agropastoralism and diatom rates of changes dictated the lake trajectory, reflecting the primary control of human practices over the aquatic ecosystem prior European occupation. We interpret that shifts in Indigenous practices (e.g., valley terracing) curtailed nutrient inputs into the lake decoupling the links between climate-driven vegetation changes and the aquatic community. Our results demonstrate how rates of change of anthropogenic and climatic influences can guide dynamic ecological baselines for managing water ecosystem services in the Andes.

Assessing the impact of vehicular particulate matter on cultural heritage by magnetic biomonitoring at Villa Farnesina in Rome, Italy

Magnetic biomonitoring methodologies were applied at Villa Farnesina, Rome, a masterpiece of the Italian Renaissance, with loggias frescoed by renowned artists such as Raffaello Sanzio. Plant leaves were sampled in September and December 2020 and lichen transplants were exposed from October 2020 to early January 2021 at increasing distances from the main trafficked road, Lungotevere Farnesina, introducing an outdoor vs. indoor mixed sampling design aimed at assessing the impact of vehicular particulate matter (PM) on the Villa Loggias. The magnetic properties of leaves and lichens - inferred from magnetic susceptibility values, hysteresis loops and first order reversal curves - showed that the bioaccumulation of magnetite-like particles, associated with trace metals such as Cu, Ba and Sb, decreased exponentially with the distance from the road, and was mainly linked to metallic emission from vehicle brake abrasion. For the frescoed Halls, ca. 30 m from the road, the exposure to traffic-related emissions was very limited or negligible. Tree and shrub leaves of the Lungotevere and of the Villa's Gardens intercepted much traffic-derived PM, thus being able to protect the indoor cultural heritage and providing an essential conservation service. It is concluded that the joint use of magnetic and chemical analyses can profitably be used for evaluating the impact of particulate pollution on cultural heritage within complex metropolitan contexts as a preventive conservation measure.

Assessment of Geosites within a Natural Protected Area: A Case Study of Cajas National Park

Cajas National Park (CNP), located in southern Ecuador, comprises an area of high natural, scientific and cultural value with wide recognition worldwide. This national park has a large number of elements that, as a whole, constitute a relevant geological heritage. However, this geological heritage requires an enhancement that complements the important contribution made by the Natural Park in terms of conservation and protection of the natural heritage. This study aims to evaluate sites of geological relevance present in CNP through international geosite assessment methodologies and thus provide knowledge favouring these resources’ sustainable use and geoconservation. The study phases comprise four stages: (i) a base information analysis of the study area; (ii) identification and selection of sites of geological interest; (iii) a geosite and geomorphosite assessment using the Inventario Español de Lugares de Interés Geological (IELIG) method and Brilha method; (iv) a qualitative assessment using a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis for the contribution and influence of geomorphosites in the development of the study area. This work made it possible to determine that all the analysed geosites and geomorphological sites (14) have a high and very high interest. The Llaviucu valley site stands out for its relevant scientific, academic and tourist value. The IELIG method revealed that 50% of the evaluated sites have a high protection priority, while the rest are in the “medium” category. In addition, the investigation through the SWOT analysis revealed that the geomorphosites could provide significant added value to the development of geotourism and of the NP itself, complementing the already known natural attractions; moreover, the study presented strategies for the use of these in the sustainable development of the area.

Scientific Research in Ecuador: A Bibliometric Analysis

Ecuador has shown a growth in its scientific production since 2011, representing 85% of the total historical production. These investigations are reflected in scientific publications, which address world interest topics and serve as a link for the university, business, and society. This work aims to analyze the scientific production generated by Ecuador in the period of 1920–2020 using bibliometric methods to evaluate its intellectual structure and performance. The methodology applied in this study includes: (i) terms definition and search criteria; (ii) database selection, initial search, and document compilation; (iii) data extraction and software selection; and finally, (iv) analysis of results. The results show that scientific production has been consolidated in 30,205 documents, developed in 27 subject areas, in 13 languages under the contribution of 84 countries. This intellectual structure is in harmony with the global context when presenting research topics related to “Biology and regional climate change”, “Higher education and its various approaches”, “Technology and Computer Science”, “Medicine”, “Energy, food and water”, and ”Development and applications on the Web”. Topics framed in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), sustainability, climate change, and others. This study contributes to the academic community, considering current re-search issues and global concerns, the collaboration between universities and countries that allow establishing future collaboration links.