Escuela de Ciencias Ambientales

URI permanente para esta comunidadhttp://10.0.96.45:4000/handle/11056/14682

La Escuela de Ciencias Ambientales (EDECA) de la Universidad Nacional contribuye con la sociedad costarricense y de otras naciones, especialmente centroamericanas, a forjar un desarrollo humano con mejores relaciones entre el ambiente y la sociedad, mediante la formación de profesionales competitivos y con una visión holística, en los campos de las ciencias forestales, educación ambiental y gestión del ambiente. Desde sus áreas estratégicas, la EDECA se posesiona en campos emergentes dentro de éstas, con enfoques holísticos y que tienen repercusión e impacto regional, tales como los servicios ambientales, la certificación forestal, los mercados alternativos y el desarrollo local, la gestión del ambiente y la gestión empresarial.

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Mostrando 1 - 7 de 7

A botanical extract of Souroubea sympetala and its active principle, betulinic acid, attenuate the cortisol response to a stressor in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss
(Elsevier, 2016-09-28) Mullally, Martha; Mimeault, Caroline; Otárola Rojas, Marco Antonio; Sanchez Vindas, Pablo; Garcia, Mario; Poveda Alvarez, Luis; Moon, Thomas W.; Gilmour, Kathleen M.; Trudeau, Vance; Arnason, John
The capacity of the traditional anxiolytic plant, Souroubea sympetala, and its bioactive principle, betulinic acid (BA), to lower cortisol levels in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, was investigated. Effects at the level of the cortisol-producing interrenal cells were investigated using an in vitro head kidney preparation. Head kidney tissue incubated with S. sympetala extract or BA produced significantly less cortisol in response to adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) than cells incubated with ACTH alone; a 50% reduction in the cortisol response was predicted to occur at 43 μg mL− 1 extract or 71 μg mL− 1 BA. To investigate whether effects on interrenal cell cortisol production translated into effects at the whole-animal level, the plasma cortisol response to an acute stressor, confinement in a net, was assessed. Fish fed a commercial trout pellet diet supplemented with 1 mg kg− 1 fish BA for six days exhibited a significantly lower plasma cortisol response to the acute stressor than fish fed the unsupplemented diet. Collectively, these results demonstrate that S. sympetala and BA act on the interrenal cells of the hypothalamic-pituitary-interrenal (HPI) axis in rainbow trout to significantly attenuate the cortisol response to an acute stressor. These findings suggest that BA is of potential use in mitigating effects of exposure to the stressors commonly encountered in an aquaculture setting. Statement of relevance • Souroubea sympetala extract and betulinic acid reduced ACTH-stimulated cortisol production by head kidney tissue in vitro, with little or no evidence of cytotoxicity.• The cortisol response to an acute stressor was attenuated in rainbow trout fed a commercial diet supplemented with betulinic acid.• The cortisol-reducing properties of the S. sympetala extract and betulinic acid may be useful in mitigating effects of stress in aquaculture, particularly since, as natural products, they may raise less public concern with respect to human consumption.
Altitudinal zonation of montane Quercus forests along two transects in Chirripó National Park, Costa Rica
(Springer, 1995-08) Kappelle, Maarten; Van Uffelen, Jan-Gerrit; Cleef, Antoine
Abiotic and vegetation data were collected along two altitudinal transects through mature montane Quercus forests on the Pacific and Atlantic slopes of Costa Rica's Chirripó Massif. Between 2000 and 3200 m asl twenty-four 0.05 ha forest plots were selected at altitudinal intervals of 100 m, and eight soil profiles were described at intervals of 200 m. A TWINSPAN classification aided in the determination of eight zonal forest communities on the basis of their floristic composition. They are grouped in two sets of four: (i) the palm-rich lauraceous-fagaceous Lower Montane Mollinedia-Quercus Forests (2000-2600 m asl) and (ii) the bamboo-rich myrsinaceous-fagaceous Upper Montane Schefflera-Quercus Forests (2500-3200 m asl), respectively. Vegetation changes seem correlated with two major climatic gradients: (i) a temperature gradient (altitude), and (ii) a moisture gradient (wet Atlantic vs. moist Pacific slope). Most soils are Andepts, and residual, colluvial or derived from volcanic material. Humus layers are thicker on the wetter Atlantic slope. A total of 431 vascular plant species consisted of 86 pteridophytes, 1 gymnosperm, 296 dicots and 48 monocots. Species richness, canopy height and stem diameter decrease with increasing altitude, while the canopy surface becomes more flattend. A comparison with other studies shows that Chirripó's montane Quercus forests fit within the environmental ranges known from altitudinal zonations elsewhere in the Tropics. © 1995 Kluwer Academic Publishers.
Anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities of Loasa speciosa in rats and mice
(Elsevier, 2003) Badilla Baltodano, Beatriz; Arias, A. Y.; Arias, M.; Mora, G. A.; Poveda Alvarez, Luis
In the range of doses of 250–500 mgykg (given i.p.) the aqueous extract of Loasa speciosa leaves showed an inhibitory effect on leukocyte migration, and a reduction on the pleural exudate, as well as dose-dependent anti-inflammatory and peripheral antinociceptive activities.
Blown by the wind: the ecology of male courtship display behavior in orchid bees
(Ecological Society of America, 2017-02-01) Pokorny, Tamara; Vogler, Ira; Losch, René; Schlütting, Patrick; Juarez, Pedro; Bissantz, Nicolai; Ramirez, Santiago; Eltz, Thomas
Many insects rely on chemical signals to transmit precise information on the location, identity, and quality of potential mates. Chemical signals are often broadcasted at sites with physical properties that maximize signal propagation and signal transmission. Male neotropical orchid bees (Euglossini) perch and display on vertical branches and tree trunks in the forest to expose volatile blends (perfumes) that they previously collected from their environment. Previous studies have shown that the chemical composition of perfume blends is highly differentiated even between closely related species. However, variation in behavioral components of perfume exposure and male display remain poorly understood. We conducted a four-year study on orchid bee display sites (8 species) in pacific Costa Rica, using field observations along with chemical analysis and cage experiments to assess display niche partitioning among sympatric species. We evaluated the influence of physical factors (terrain, wind, light) on the distribution of perch sites and on display behavior, and tested a prediction of the sex pheromone-analogue hypothesis, i.e., that displaying males have above-average quantities or qualities of acquired perfumes. Males of different species displayed in the same general area and sometimes in close proximity to each other, but partitioned the display niche by selecting different perch diameters, display heights, and by displaying at different times of the day. Most perch sites were located inside the forest on elevated ground, especially along ridges, where stronger winds may help disperse perfume signals. Furthermore, the angular position of displaying males on perches was narrowly determined by wind direction, with males being positioned on the downwind side of the perch, where they would be most conspicuous to conspecifics approaching on an odor trail. Although our results generally support the hypothesis that perfumes serve as pheromone analogues, we did not find differences in the perfume composition of males caught at display perches and males captured at chemical baits. This suggests that, while chemical communication is an integral part of orchid bee display, male display activity is not determined by the history of, and success in, volatile acquisition. © 2017 by the Ecological Society of America
Ethnopharmacology of Souroubea sympetala and Souroubea gilgii (Marcgraviaceae) and identification of betulinic acid as an anxiolytic principle
(Elsevier, 2015-05) Puniani, Eva; Cayer, Christian; Kent, Pamela; Mullally, Martha; Sánchez-Vindas, Pablo; Poveda Álvarez, Luis; Cal, Victor; Merali, Zul; Arnason, John; Durst, Tony
The neotropical lianas Souroubea gilgii and Souroubea sympetala (Marcgraviaceae) were chosen for study as part of a phytochemical discovery strategy focusing on rare plant families in Central America. In participatory research, Q’eqchi’ healers in Belize reported the use of these plants to reverse psychological symptoms inflicted by witchcraft. Extracts of two Souroubea species showed significant anti-anxiety activity in the elevated plus maze, a standardized test paradigm. Bioassay guided isolation led to the active principle, the pentacyclic triterpene, betulinic acid, which had activity in the elevated plus maze at 0.5 mg/kg. Other phytochemicals isolated included α- and β-amyrin, 2-hydroxyursolic acid, taraxenyl trans-4-hydroxy-cinnamate, naringenin, methyl ursolate, eriodytiol, methyl 2-α-hydroxyursolate, methyl 2-α-hydroxymaslinate, methyl betulinate, and condrilla sterol.
Hypoglycemic and antihyperglycemic effect of Witheringia solanacea in normal and alloxan-induced hyperglycemic rats
(Elsevier, 2011) Herrera, Cristina; García Barrantes, Pedro M.; Binns, Franklin; Vargas, Marianela; Poveda, Luis Jorge; Badilla, Sandra
Witheringia solanacea is a small shrub that belongs to the Solanaceae family. The plant is used as an antidiabetic in Costa Rican herbal medicine. The aim of this study was to evaluate the hypoglycemic and antihyperglycemic activity of the aqueous extract of W. solanacea leaves in rodent models. About the materials and methods, a crude extract of W. solanacea leaves was prepared in boiling water and the aqueous filtrate was lyophilized. A single oral dose of 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg of the extract was evaluated for hypoglycemic activity in a glucose tolerance test in normal rats and for antihyperglycemic activity in alloxan-induced (140 mg/kg) diabetic rats. The blood glucose level was determined at different times by the glucose oxidase method. It Result in a Dosage of 500 and 1000 mg/kg of the extract significantly decreased (p < 0.05) blood glucose levels in the glucose tolerance test in normal rats after 1 h, there was no significant difference observed at 250 mg/kg. Dose of 500 mg/kg of the extract significantly reduced (p < 0.05) blood glucose levels in alloxan induced hyperglycemic rats at 4 and 5 h. In Conclusion, in the present study, the hypoglycemic and antihyperglycemic potential of the W. solanacea was demonstrated in rats. These results give support to the traditional use of W. solanacea as antidiabetic herbal medicine.
The life cycle carbon balance of selective logging in tropical forests of Costa Rica
(Wiley Periodicals, 2020-06-01) Alice-Guier, Federico E.; Mohren, Frits; Zuidema, Pieter A.
The effect of logging on atmospheric carbon concentrations remains highly contested, especially in the tropics where it is associated to forest degradation. To contribute to this discussion, we estimated the carbon balance from logging natural tropical forests in Costa Rica through a life cycle accounting approach. Our system included all major life cycle processes at a regional level during one rotation period (15 years). We used mass flow analysis to trace biogenic carbon. Data were gathered from all logging operations in the Costa Rican NWregion (107 management plants), a sample of industries transforming wood into final products (20 sawmills), and national reports. We estimated a surplus of −3.06 Mg C ha−1 15 year−1 stored within the system. When accounting for uncertainty and variability in a MonteCarlo analysis, the average balance shifted to −2.19 Mg C ha−1 15 year−1 with a 95% CI of −5.26 to 1.86. This confidence interval reveals probabilities of a net increase in atmospheric carbon due to harvesting although these are smaller than those from a system that acts as a reservoir. Our results provide evidence for the carbon neutrality of bio-materials obtained from natural forests. We found that anthropogenic reservoirs play a determinant role in delaying carbon emissions and that these may explain differences with previous carbon balance studies on tropical forest management. Therefore, the climate mitigation potential of forest-derived products is not exclusive to forest management, but measures should be considered throughout the processes of wood transformation, use, and disposal.

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