Earth University

Over the past century, the increasing human impact on the planet’s natural systems has been directly linked to the growing concern over biodiversity loss, and ultimately, human health. Reproduction, a critical factor underpinning species sustainability, is a complex and energetically demanding process that follows similar mechanisms across species. Further, it is one of the first biological functions to be altered in the event of ecosystem stress. The One Health paradigm, connecting humans, animals and plants to their environments, is a valuable framework for assessing the influence of anthropogenic changes on reproductive success across species. This review assesses the impacts of environmental pollution and climate change on the reproductive health of humans, animals and plants to better understand the broader scope of reproductive decline across the biodiversity spectrum, a fundamental step toward implementing One Reproductive Health objectives.

Introduction. Research focused on developing models to predict flowering curves and key production parameters in banana has made notable progress. However, there is still a need for specific models capable of accurately estimating crop harvest. Objective. To develop a model based on biometric variables for predicting harvest in banana (Musa AAA), cultivar Gran Enano, under humid tropical conditions in Guácimo, Limón, Costa Rica. Materials and methods. A correlational study was conducted on a commercial farm owned by EARTH University between March and July 2023. A total of 347 productive units were evaluated across 10.3 hectares. Biometric variables such as plant height, pseudostem circumference, and number of leaves were measured on both the mother plant and the following ratoon. Harvest variables assessed included bunch weight, number of hands, finger length, and finger diameter for both the second and penultimate hands. A multiple linear regression model without intercept was applied to all dependent variables, with assumption validation procedures. Results. The height and pseudostem circumference of the mother plant showed the strongest and most significant correlations with harvest variables. The most effective model, based on assumption validation, was the second model designed for bunch weight prediction (mod2_peso), which produced the following equation: Peso=0.13CircunferenciaM + 6.06AlturaM + 0.46CircunferenciaH - 9.38HojasH - 0.63AlturaH with an R2 of 0.96 where M denotes the correlation between mother plant variables and various harvest-related parameters. Conclusions. The analysis revealed a significant correlation between mother plant variables and various harvest-related parameters. The results highlight the importance of considering the biometric characteristics of the follower (ratoon) plant in predictive models. Furthermore, the coefficient of determination (R2) should not be used as the sole criterion for validating multiple linear regression models.

"The Gems of Water" citizens' engagement activity united the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission with the Costa Rican based NGO Coral Conservation to screen for pesticides in local rivers using wide-screening technology. Citizens used stir bar sorptive extraction to collect and extract samples from three rivers and two wells in the south Caribbean region of Costa Rica, an area known for export-based banana agriculture. The advanced wide-screening method provided by the JRC Water Laboratory enabled the assessment of 230 agrochemicals. While the JRC supplied the technical equipment and protocols, the pesticide screening to be investigated and the monitoring scheme were co-designed with Coral Conservation group members, a local NGO. The pilot study collected new data on pesticide occurrence and their toxicity in the local tropical environment, complementing on-going studies in the region. The study found 23 pesticides, the majority of which are fungicides registered for use in banana cultivation (azoxystrobin, difenoconazole, fluopyram, thiabendazole). Cumulative pesticide concentrations ranged from 5.3ng/L in the upper catchment of the Estrella River (E-a) to 954.9ng/L in the lower catchment of the Sixaola River (S-c), where the highest individual compound concentration was also recorded for fungicide azoxystrobin (425.0ng/L). At the sampling sites along the Carbon River and in the lower catchment of the Sixaola River, compounds fenamiphos, fenpropathrin and azoxystrobin were the main responsible for the elevated toxic units (Toxic Units >0.01) for crustacean daphnia magna. Beyond highlighting the link between agrochemical occurrences in surface waters and surrounding land use, the citizens' engagement aspect promotes alternative water quality monitoring methods, raising awareness and scientific literacy in local communities and underscoring the value of bottom-up approaches.

Abstract Since the 1960s, detergent fiber fractions have had a fundamental role in animal nutrition. Not only was this system an improvement on measurement of cell wall material, it has also helped advance our understanding and prediction of forage intake and digestibility. The ANKOM fiber analyzer, introduced in the 1990s, streamlined the assay, and multiple technical improvements have been introduced that increased the level of automation in the procedure. To date, however, there has not been an evaluation of the influence the choice of apparatus has on the results. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of fiber analyzer apparatus on recovery of detergent fiber fractions of various forage species. The study was designed as a randomized complete block design with a two-factor factorial treatment structure. The first treatment factor was fiber analyzer (ANKOM 200, ANKOM 2000, or ANKOM Delta), and the second treatment factor was forage (n = 12). Forages were ground to pass through a 1-mm screen and sealed in F57 fiber bags. All bags were subjected to neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) assays according to manufacturer instructions in their designated fiber analyzer. After the ADF assay, samples were subjected to the acid detergent lignin (ADL) assay using the ANKOM DaisyII incubator. Data were analyzed using the GLIMMIX procedure of SAS 9.4. Across forage species, NDF concentrations were less (P = 0.02) from the manual ANKOM 200 (61.4%) than from ANKOM Delta or ANKOM 2000 (63.3 and 63.1%, respectively). Across forages, ADF was greatest (P < 0.01) from ANKOM 2000 (37.8%), followed by ANKOM Delta (36.2%), and least from ANKOM 200 (34.8%). However, these differences did not carry through as there was no effect of fiber analyzer on ADL concentrations (P = 0.67). Results are interpreted to mean that, across forage species, choice of fiber analyzer may have an influence on detergent fiber concentrations. However, these differences are minimized in the automated systems relative to the older, more manual apparatus.

Improving soybean (Glycine max L. (Merr.)) yield is crucial for strengthening national food security. Predicting soybean yield is essential to maximize the potential of crop varieties. Non-destructive methods are needed to estimate yield before crop maturity. Various approaches, including the pod-count method, have been used to predict soybean yield, but they often face issues with the crop background color. To address this challenge, we explored the application of a depth camera to real-time filtering of RGB images, aiming to enhance the performance of the pod-counting classification model. Additionally, this study aimed to compare object detection models (YOLOV7 and YOLOv7-E6E) and select the most suitable deep learning (DL) model for counting soybean pods. After identifying the best architecture, we conducted a comparative analysis of the model's performance by training the DL model with and without background removal from images. Results demonstrated that removing the background using a depth camera improved YOLOv7's pod detection performance by 10.2% precision, 16.4% recall, 13.8% mAP@50, and 17.7% mAP@0.5:0.95 score compared to when the background was present. Using a depth camera and the YOLOv7 algorithm for pod detection and counting yielded a mAP@0.5 of 93.4% and mAP@0.5:0.95 of 83.9%. These results indicated a significant improvement in the DL model's performance when the background was segmented, and a reasonably larger dataset was used to train YOLOv7.

Despite the critical role of seed dispersal for tree colonization during forest succession in wet tropical forests, successional trajectories of seed dispersal modes are poorly documented at the community level. Overall successional trends in wet tropical forests indicate that, over time, animal-dispersed and large-seeded species increase in relative abundance in woody vegetation, whereas wind-dispersed and small-seeded species decline. Increased abundance of animal-dispersed trees during succession may be attributed to higher rates of seed deposition by animals and higher survival rates of animal-dispersed species with larger seeds (diaspores) compared to wind-dispersed species. We compiled categorical information on seed size (maximum seed length) and dispersal mode (anemochory, autochory, or zoochory) for 240 canopy tree species in six naturally regenerating forests (11–45 years since the abandonment of pasture) and two old-growth forests in lowland wet forests in northeastern Costa Rica. We evaluated dispersal mode and seed size among tree species classified as second growth and old growth specialists, and generalists based on relative abundance data in these plots. Further, we compared long-term trajectories in the dispersal and seed-size profile for 240 species of canopy tree species for seedlings, saplings, and trees ≥5 cm dbh using annual vegetation survey data from 1997 to 2013. Seed size was significantly associated with dispersal mode, which was driven by anemochorous species with intermediate seeds 6 mm to 15 mm and autochorous seeds with large seeds >15 mm. Dispersal modes of canopy tree species exhibited clear directional trajectories, with decreasing relative abundance of anemochory and increasing relative abundance of zoochory. Zoochorous seedlings showed higher survival rates than anemochorous seedlings. Species with seeds ≤ 6 mm decreased in relative abundance through succession, while species with seeds >15 mm increased within seedling and sapling communities. Seedlings with seeds >15 mm showed higher survival rates than smaller seeds in second-growth forests. The study further demonstrates the importance of seed traits, such as dispersal mode and seed size, for community assembly during forest regrowth, and the importance of frugivorous animals in this process. The abundance of animal-dispersed tree species in different size classes can be a useful indicator of the recovery of biodiversity and species interactions during forest succession in wet tropical regions.

Quesillo is an artisanal Honduran cheese made from raw milk. During fabrication, curd melting is considered a killing step for pathogenic bacteria. This work was aimed at determining the survival of Salmonella enterica and Listeria monocytogenes on inoculated curd packaged in plastic bags and immersed in a water bath at 48, 54, 60, 65, and 70°C for predetermined times. Survival counts of each pathogen were used to estimate D values by linear regression, and z values were estimated by the linear regression of the D values. S. entericaD values ranged from 4.5 min at 60°C to 0.80 min at 70°C (z = 10.7°C). For L. monocytogenes, D values ranged from 6.08 min at 60°C to 0.90 min at 70°C (z = 11.3°C). Validation of 7-log reduction was performed on inoculated curd heated at 65°C for 34.7 min, and recovering enrichment procedures were used for each pathogen. Neither S. enterica nor L. monocytogenes cells were recovered after the enrichment of samples. The results obtained in this study could be applied by Honduran quesillo processors to improve the safety of their products.

Simple SummaryBuffalo is a domesticated large ruminant that can be raised for beef, dairy, and work. In some systems, these animals can be raised with a dual purpose (beef and dairy). The present review describes the characteristics of the dual-purpose water buffalo production system in Mexico’s humid wetlands. This article provides extensive information on the water buffalo and includes comparisons with other species to note similarities and differences. The aim is to describe the buffalo handling procedures used in this system, particularly during breeding, milking, confinement, and mobilization, relating them to the neurological processes involved and analyzing the productive results. Understanding these processes will allow us to obtain a more precise vision of the advantages that this species can offer, and the possible implications of the development of this type of livestock under tropical conditions.The purpose of this paper is to describe the characteristics of the dual-purpose water buffalo production based on the Mexican production system as a model in tropical wetlands. It includes a broad literature review emphasizing the most recent and specialized publications examining key findings to improve our understanding in the performance of the buffalo species (Bubalus bubalis). The complementary topics addressed include reproductive management, parturition, the dam–calf bond, milking routines, and models of confinement and management, in addition to aspects related to milk commercialization. This article summarizes the advances made to date in this production system and its current margins for improvement. The development of dual-purpose water buffalo production systems in Mexico’s tropical wetlands is a relatively recent phenomenon that has progressed and improved due to herd management. Buffaloes are an interesting alternative for dual purpose systems that offer several advantages. The lower milk production of this species compared to cattle is its main limitation. However, the properties of their milk allow one to obtain an added value and make this type of farms competitive. In synthesis, consolidating buffalo production in Mexico’s tropical wetlands will require broadening our knowledge of this species, and perfecting the most appropriate handling procedures. The activities of government agencies and processing enterprises will play vital roles in achieving the integral modernization of this potentially important economic activity.

Consequences of warming and postwarming events on photosynthetic thermotolerance (PT ) and photoprotective responses in tropical evergreen species remain elusive. We chose Citrus to answer some of the emerging questions related to tropical evergreen species' PT behaviour including (i) how wide is the genotypic variation in PT ? (ii) how does PT respond to short-term warming and (iii) how do photosynthesis and photoprotective functions respond over short-term warming and postwarming events? A study on 21 genotypes revealed significant genotypic differences in PT , though these were not large. We selected five genotypes with divergent PT and simulated warming events: Tmax 26/20°C (day-time highest maximum/night-time lowest maximum) (Week 1) < Tmax 33/30°C (Week 2) < Tmax 36/32°C (Week 3) followed by Tmax 26/16°C (Week 4, recovery). The PT of all genotypes remained unaltered despite strong leaf megathermy (leaf temperature > air temperature) during warming events. Though moderate warming showed genotype-specific stimulation in photosynthesis, higher warming unequivocally led to severe loss in net photosynthesis and induced higher nonphotochemical quenching. Even after a week of postwarming, photoprotective mechanisms strongly persisted. Our study points towards a conservative PT in evergreen citrus genotypes and their need for sustaining higher photoprotection during warming as well as postwarming recovery conditions.