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La tierra aquí es amable: Soil macrofauna density and producer perceptions of agricultural soil fertility in Cerro Punta, Chiriquí
No full textEthnopedology, as a subfield of ethnoecology, is the study of localized symbols and values, knowledge, and practices relating to soils. One key framework for ethnopedological studies is the Kosmos-Corpus-Praxis model, which synthesizes local and traditional ecological into three overlapping, interrelated spheres. Cerro Punta, Chiriquí is the primary vegetable-growing region in Panama, an industry highly dependent on the region’s fertile volcanic soils. Semi-structured interviews (n=8) and soil macrofauna density surveys as an indicator of soil fertility (n=9) were used to gather information regarding producers’ beliefs, knowledge, and decisions about soil fertility.
Among producers in Cerro Punta, religious beliefs and land symbolism shaped understandings of soil fertility and management practices. Practices were also informed by assessments of soil fertility using predominantly qualitative indicators, which showed informal correlation with soil macrofauna density. Although there was some significant difference in macrofauna between conventional and organic sites, methods used to evaluate and manage soil fertility did not vary greatly between the two production methods, with most producers using a variety of indicators and practices to meet their soil fertility needs. More research on the ways in which symbolism and cosmovisions, cognition, and practice interact in localized natural resource management is needed, especially in areas with significant agricultural use such as Cerro Punta
Macro implications of microplastics: a comparative study of microplastic distribution in Bahía Almirante, Bocas del Toro, Panama
Get PDFPlastic is one of the most demanded materials in the modern world as it is durable and long lasting. However, that which makes it so commercially appealing also makes it environmentally degrading. Anthropogenic waste and specifically microplastics have been identified in natural habitats globally, with particular interest placed on marine ecosystems. This research aims to add to this pool by comparing microplastic concentrations in beach, mangrove, and shallow ocean sediment in Bahía Almirante, Bocas del Toro, Panama. Sediment samples were collected from each habitat type, processed, and then analyzed to obtain the number of microplastic particles per gram of dry weight. Ocean sediments were found to have significantly higher concentrations of microplastics than beach and mangrove sediments, however beach and mangrove sediments were not statistically different from each other. This implies that microplastics are more likely to be found in ocean sediment then in beach sediment, and that mangroves are not likely to act as filters for microplastics in coastal zones. Secondary microplastics and microfibers were the most prevalent type of microplastic found, which is consistent with previous research. It also points to plastic degradation rather than direct inputs as main sources of contamination. This study confirms the presence of microplastics in coastal zones in the Bocas del Toro Archipelago, concentrations of which will only stop increasing if plastic use and consumption are reduced
Differences in temporal and territorial feeding patterns of various tropical Trochilidae species as observed at two different ecosystems in Soberanía National Park
Get PDFThis study aims to illustrate differences in feeding patterns and displays of territorialism at two artificial feeding sites, located in two ecosystems; one site in a secondary forest of Soberanía National Park, the other in a residential area in the nearby town of Gamboa. Four 1-hour observation periods were recorded each day for four days at both sites. During each period of observation, the allocation of time to the three activities of perching, flying, and feeding was recorded, along with the number of visits the feeders. Notes were taken on patterns of territoriality as connected to species and sex. Significance was found in the different allocations of time at both locations. Significantly more time was spent perching at the Park Feeders, and significantly more time was spent flying at the Lodge Feeders. Additionally, while there was no correlation found between the period of observation and the number of visits to the feeders and the Lodge, there was correlation found at the Park feeders, as the earlier the observation period, the more visits were recorded to the feeders. Overall, F. mellivora was the clear dominant species and males exhibited the majority of territorial displays at both sites, however observationally, individuals were more aggressive for longer periods of time at the Lodge Feeders
he Effects of Climate Change on Native Icelandic Plants: A Morphometric Analysis
Get PDFThis study seeks to evaluate the morphology of three native Icelandic plant species, Alchemilla alpina, Arabidopsis petraea, and Silene uniflora, in order to determine if changing climatic conditions have had an effect on Icelandic vegetation during the twentieth century. I measured herbarium specimens collected during a time period before 1950, and during the period from the late 1960s to the present. Using traditional morphometrics methods, I searched for changes in morphological traits such as plant height, leaf length to width ratio, and leaf size, then performed two-tailed t-tests to analyze the results of the analyses. I found significant changes in the plant height and in leaf length to width ratio of two of the species, but no significant differences in leaf area between the pre-1950 and post-1950 groups. Based on these results, I believe that future studies of this kind could benefit from more extensive data collection and contribute to our knowledge of the influence of climate change on sub-Arctic vegetation and its consequences
A World Beyond the Nation-State
Get PDFThe once monolithic nation-state is in danger. Forces of modernity like globalization are causing the nation-state to recede. While the nation-state is not likely to vanish, a decline in the nation-states power is mightily consequential to the world order that is built around this central political unit. A decline in the nation-state will lead to chaos and uncertainty in the near future. In theory, this decline could be good because the nation-state is a flawed political unit. Thorough research on a world beyond the nation-state is necessary in order to adequately prepare and sculpt our future world. Ultimately, an analysis of possible futures where the nation-state is less prominent reveals that the most likely future consists of the mass privatization and the rise of corporate governance that could be worse for freedom and democracy
The Impact of Foreign Involvement on Political Reform Organizations in Jordan
Get PDFThis paper assesses the impact of foreign involvement on the effectiveness of political reform organizations in Jordan. Through the qualitative analysis of the democratization work of completely foreign-funded international organizations, partially foreign-funded Jordanian organizations, and Jordanian organizations that do not receive foreign funding, derived from several interviews conducted with democracy practitioners in international and local NGOs, political activists, scholars, and others, this paper examines the effect of foreign involvement on organizational strategies, credibility, and effectiveness, ultimately arguing that foreign involvement (and conversely, the lack thereof) has several effects on the way political reform organizations have carried out their activities. This study can hopefully be used to help both foreign and Jordanian policymakers and activists understand the way in which foreign involvement can help and/or impede democratic progress in Jordan
Water Capacity of Paramo Soils
Get PDFThe pȧramo ecosystems in the high Ecuadorian Andes are grasslands characterized by challenging abiotic factors such as low temperatures and high solar radiation. Another key feature of pȧramos is the humidity and water availability in the ecosystem. Pȧramos are very important to the hydrology of the inter-Andean valley because they are water reserves that distribute fresh water to lower elevations. These hydrologic properties are made possible by the porous volcanic ash soils formed by the volcanic arc along the mountain range. This study is focused in the region of Chimborazo approximately 20 km from Riobamba the capitol city of the province in a community Pulingi-San Pablo. This community is an indigenous community working with the Reserve of Chimborazo and other organizations such as SocioPȧramo to protect the ecosystem as well as develop sustainable and effective sources of income for the community. This study observes the impacts of the alpaca pastures on the plant communities and soils in the ecosystem. By taking undisturbed soil samples, properties such as bulk density, water content, porosity, and percent of saturation are measured and compared to the vascular plant growth forms coverages of plots in an alpaca pasture and a site not impacted by grazing. The transect in the alpaca pasture had a high overall percent coverage of plant growth forms while the percent coverage along the other transect was significantly lower. The first transect also had a lower bulk density than the soils in the second transect unaffected by pastures. The water content, porosity, and degree of saturation were much higher in the alpaca pasture than in the unused pȧramo. The alpacas appear to have little to no impact on the plant communities and soils on Transect 1 because overgrazing causes lower percent coverage of plants, high bulk density in soil, and lower water content and porosity. The results of this survey do not indicate any of these factors. Other studies (Ramsay, 1997; Vasconez, 2011; Poulenard, 2001) indicate that the trends noted in this investigation are more likely from abiotic factors such as the temperature change on an altitudinal gradient. At higher altitudes, the colder temperatures cause less weathering, meaning the soils are sandier and less developed increasing the bulk density, and lower porosity of the soils. The lower temperatures also create a more challenging environment for plant development allowing for a more diverse composition of growth forms.
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Los páramos son ecosistemas en la Cordillera Andina. Estas praderas están caracterizadas por factores abióticas muy duraos, como temperaturas muy bajas y altos niveles de radiación solar. Otro aspecto clave de los páramos es la humedad y cantidad de agua dulce en este ecosistema. Los páramos son muy importantes en la hidrología del valle inter-andino porque son reservas de agua que distribuyen está a las áreas más baja. Las propiedades hidrológicas son propias de las comunidades de los suelos porosos y volcánicos que forman el arco volcánico que sigue la cordillera de montañas. Este estudio está localizado en la región de Chimborazo aproximadamente a 20 km de la ciudad de Riobamba, en la comunidad de Pulingi-San Pablo. Es una comunidad indígena que está trabajando con La Reserva de Chimborazo y otras organizaciones como Socio Páramo, par a proteger el ecosistema y desarrollar fuentes de ingresos sostenibles y efectivos para la comunidad. Esta investigación observa los impactos del pastoreo de las alpacas en las comunidades de plantas y los suelos del ecosistema. Se tomó muestras sin alteración para medir las propiedades de densidad aparente, contenido de agua, porosidad, y saturación, así como comparar las comunidades de plantas de dos sitios, una expuesta al pastoreo y el otro de cobertura vegetal de páramo sin alteración. El transecto en el pasto de las alpacas tiene una cobertura muy alta de formas de crecimiento de plantas, y la cobertura a lado del otro transecto fue más baja. También, el primer transecto tiene una densidad aparente más baja, en comparación del segundo que no tiene efectos del pastoreo de alpacas. El contenido de agua, porosidad, y saturación fueron más altos en los pastos del páramo nativo. Al parecer las alpacas no causan un impacto en las comunidades de plantas y los suelos en el Transecto 1, porque el sobre pastoreo causa un bajo porcentaje de cobertura de plantas, contenido de agua y porosidad, y una densidad aparente más alta. Los resultados de este estudio no indican ninguno de estos factores. Otras investigaciones (Ramsay, 1997; Vasconez, 2011; Poulenard, 2001), muestran tendencias que se observaron en esta investigación en cuanto a factores abióticos como el cambio de temperatura en el gradiente altitudinal. A altitudes más altas, la temperatura es más fría y causa menos desgaste, por eso los suelos contienen más arena y hay menos desarrollo. Esto causa un incremento y densidad aparente, y una inferior porosidad. Las temperaturas bajas también crean un ambiente más difícil para el desarrollo de plantas que permite unas comunidades más diversas de composición de formas de crecimiento
“Estamos aquí con nuestra propia fuerza” Las mujeres de AMUPAKIN y su lucha para preservar el parto ancestral en Napo, Ecuador. / We are here with our own strength The women of AMUPAKIN and their struggle to preserve the ancestral birth in Napo, Ecuador.
No full textEste proyecto documenta mi trabajo con AMUPAKIN (Asociación de Mujeres Parteras Kichwas de Alto Napo)—una organización de mujeres Kichwa que practican la medicina ancestral—y su lucha para preservar los conocimientos y las prácticas de la cultura Kichwa en la provincia de Alto Napo, Ecuador. A través de las conversaciones informales y la participación en las actividades diarias de las parteras de AMUPAKIN, aprendí de la historia y el trabajo actual de la organización y las experiencias de las 10 parteras que forman la asociación. El proyecto documenta como la práctica de la partería ancestral se manifiesta en AMUPAKIN—y examina como el proceso se diferencia de la atención del parto en los hospitales estatales del Ecuador. También, examina la importancia de los conocimientos de las plantas medicinales y los poderes ancestrales que forman la práctica de la partería ancestral. Explora como las parteras de AMUPAKIN aseguran la continuidad de estas sabidurías ancianas. Al final, el proyecto usa la lente de la salud intercultural para identificar las barreras que le hacen difícil la continuación de la práctica de la partería ancestral en AMUPAKIN. Aunque estas parteras son curanderas sabias e importantes en la comunidad Kichwa de Archidona, no reciben el reconocimiento del gobierno ecuatoriano por su trabajo. Sin el apoyo o la ayuda financiera del gobierno, las parteras de AMUPAKIN encuentren obstáculos económicos que interfieren con su habilidad de ofrecer la atención del parto ancestral a las mujeres Kichwas de la comunidad. Sin embargo, a pesar de estas dificultades, las parteras de AMUPAKIN siguen luchando para preservar la tradición del parto ancestral y mantener vivos sus conocimientos.
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This project documents my work with AMUPAKIN (Association of Kichwa Midwives of Alto Napo) - an organization of Kichwa women who practice ancestral medicine - and their struggle to preserve the knowledge and practices of the Kichwa culture in the province of Alto Napo, Ecuador. Through informal conversations and participation in the daily activities of AMUPAKIN midwives, I learned about the history and current work of the organization and the experiences of the 10 midwives that make up the association. The project documents how the practice of ancestral midwifery manifests itself in AMUPAKIN-and examines how the process differs from delivery care in state hospitals in Ecuador. Also, it examines the importance of knowledge of medicinal plants and the ancestral powers that form the practice of ancestral midwifery. Explore how AMUPAKIN midwives ensure the continuity of these ancient wisdoms. In the end, the project uses the lens of intercultural health to identify the barriers that make it difficult to continue the practice of ancestral midwifery in AMUPAKIN. Although these midwives are wise and important healers in the Kichwa community of Archidona, they do not receive recognition from the Ecuadorian government for their work. Without government support or financial assistance, AMUPAKIN midwives will encounter economic obstacles that interfere with their ability to offer ancestral childbirth care to Kichwa women in the community. However, despite these difficulties, AMUPAKIN midwives are still struggling to preserve the tradition of ancestral birth and keep their knowledge alive