Conservation of large predators has long been a challenge for biologists due to the limited information we have about their ecology, generally low numbers in the wild, large home ranges and the continuous expansion of human settlements. The American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) is a typical apex predator, that has suffered from all of these characteristic problems, especially the latter one. Humans have had a major impact on the recovery of this species throughout its range, even though most of the countries it inhabits have banned hunting. The last decade has made it clear that in order to implement sound conservation and management programs, we must increase our understanding of crocodile spatial ecology. However, in only two countries where American crocodiles have telemetry studies even been published. Herein we have characterized the spatial ecology of C. acutus on Coiba Island, Panama, by radio-tracking (VHF transmitters) 24 individuals between 2010 and 2013, to determine movement patterns, home range, and habitat use. We have then compared our findings with those of previous studies to develop the most comprehensive assessment of American crocodile spatial ecology to date. Females showed a higher average movement distance (AMD) than males; similarly, adults showed a higher AMD than sub-adults and juveniles. However, males exhibited larger home ranges than females, and concomitantly sub-adults had larger home ranges than juveniles, hatchlings, and adults. There was an obvious relationship between seasonal precipitation and AMD, with increased AMD in the dry and “low-wet” seasons, and reduced AMD during the “true” wet season. We found disaggregate distributions according to age groups throughout the 9 habitat types in the study area; adults and hatchlings inhabited fewer habitat types than juveniles and sub-adults. These sex- and age-group discrepancies in movement and habitat choice are likely due to the influences of reproductive biology and Coiba’s precipitation cycle. Juveniles also showed distinct movement patterns and home ranges; however, with sexual maturation and development, these behaviors became more characteristic of adults and sub-adults. Ours is one of a very small number of studies that will allow future management and conservation planning to be based on the comprehensive integration of the spatial ecology of a Neotropical crocodylian apex predator.

-Sleepiness is one of the first causal factors of accidents. An estimated 10-30% of road deaths are related to fatigue driving. A large number of research studies have been conducted to reduce the risk of accidents while driving. Many of these studies are based on the detection of biological signals by drowsiness/sleepiness. The activity of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) presented alterations during different physical states such as stress or sleepiness. This activity is measured by ECG (electroencephalogram) and, in different studies, it can be measured with the variation of the heart beat (HRV-Heart Rate Variability) in order to analyze it and then detect drowsiness/sleepiness in drivers. The main advantage is that HRV can be performed using non invasive and uncomfortable means compared to EEG sensors. New Wearables technologies are capable of measuring the heart beat and, further, using other sensors like Accelerometer and Gyroscope, embedded on a simple clock allow us to monitor the physical activity of the user. Our main goal is to use the pulsations measurements in conjunction with the physical activity for the detection of driver drowsiness/sleepiness in advance in order to prevent accidents derived from fatigue.

The alien boatman Trichocorixa verticalis verticalis (Hemiptera: Corixidae) is expanding in MoroccoThis paper updates the presence of the Nearctic "water boatman" Trichocorixa verticalis verticalis in North Africa, showing a new range of the alien species that strongly have increased its distribution area in Morocco since its first record in 2010. Statistical analyses confirm a significant correlation between salinity and abundance of T. v. verticalis, highlighting the halobiont behavior of this invasive species, being this trait one of the main causes of its expansion success in the Atlantic and Mediterranean coast of the study area.

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An aquifer diagnosis of San José Chiapa, Puebla and 7 surrounding towns was performed to set up a reference for water quality in towns nearby Audi the car maker factory. For this study 38 water samples were collected and characterized for 20 physicochemical parameters, obtained data were compared with two reference standards: drinking water and irrigation. In reference to the Drinking Water Mexican Standards it was found that 37% of the samples exceed the upper limit of pH (8.5), nitrite in 100% (limit value 0.05 ppm), cadmium 92% (limit value 0.005 ppm), and lead 79% (limit value 0.01 ppm). Otherwise, irrigation standards account for ionic content interactions, so far Sodium Accumulation Rate (SAR) represents a low risk for soil degradation by itself since 3% of the samples classify in the low-medium risk; but in presence of alkalinity adjusted SAR displaces 95% of the samples to a high risk classification, which means a threat for soil structure and permeability; a degree of restriction in water use can inferred from SAR-Electrical Conductivity (EC) data, results indicate a high restriction for 44% of the samples, and a low to moderate restriction in 32% of the samples. Exchangeable Sodium Percentage (ESP) accounts for Na, Ca, Mg, and K interactions, results indicate that 32% of the samples are facing expansion risk, and 13% face rupture of the soil matrix. Under Alkalimetric Co-efficient or Scott Index (ACSI) 42% of samples fall in a bad-mediocre quality. Interactions of ions under irrigation standards was confirmed by applying a Pearson's correlation statistical analysis, in which it is found that correlation involving EC, Cl, SO4, Na, K, Ca, Mg fall in the range of strong to very strong (0.6-1.0), all these ions are involved in estimation of SAR, SAR ADJ, ESP and ACSI.