Foraminifera are expected to be particularly susceptible to future changes in ocean carbonate chemistry as a function of increased atmospheric CO 2 . Studies in an experimental recirculating seawater system were performed with a dominant benthic foraminiferal species collected from intertidal mudflats. We investigated the experimental impacts of ocean acidification on survival, growth/calcification, morphology and the biometric features of a calcareous species Elphidium williamsoni . Foraminifera were exposed for 6 weeks to four different pH treatments that replicated future scenarios of a high CO 2 atmosphere resulting in lower seawater pH. Results revealed that declining seawater pH caused a decline in foraminiferal survival rate and growth/calcification (mainly through test weight reduction). Scanning electron microscopy image analysis of live specimens at the end of the experimental period show changes in foraminiferal morphology with clear signs of corrosion and cracking on the test surface, septal bridges, sutures and feeding structures of specimens exposed to the lowest pH conditions. These findings suggest that the morphological changes observed in shell feeding structures may serve to alter: (1) foraminiferal feeding efficiency and their long-term ecological competitiveness, (2) the energy transferred within the benthic food web with a subsequent shift in benthic community structures and (3) carbon cycling and total CaCO 3 production, both highly significant processes in coastal waters. These experimental results open-up the possibility of modelling future impacts of ocean acidification on both calcification and dissolution in benthic foraminifera within mid-latitude intertidal environments, with potential implications for understanding the changing marine carbon cycle.

The present empirical study aims to provide a new conceptual framework for the regional tourism industry of the Province of Tungurahua-Ecuador that emerged from a combined application of stakeholder engagement and research-practice approaches. These preliminary outcomes from in-depth focus group assessments and surveys applied to tourism experts, industry practitioners, government’s representatives, and tourists revealed that a synergic/collaborative work across tourism stakeholders have the potentials to create innovative touristic products and services, thus solving progressively the existing issues observed in the regional tourism, travel and hospitality sectors. Resulting tailor-made tourism products, mainly based on advanced technology, may represent the first steps of improvements to be taken into consideration prior to evolving to the development and implementation of smart cities and smart tourism concepts in this region where tourism activities are one of the most important revenue for the national and regional tourism industry.

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