Elena Baraza - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Elena Baraza
Ecosistemas, 2008
Manejo sustentable de los recursos naturales guiado por proyectos científicos en la mixteca pobla... more Manejo sustentable de los recursos naturales guiado por proyectos científicos en la mixteca poblana mexicana. Planteamos la necesidad de transferir rápida y eficazmente los resultados de investigación a habitantes de las zonas naturales de estudio. Esta necesidad es más perentoria en el caso de los países en vías de desarrollo, y cuando se trabaja en la gestión de recursos naturales. Es el caso del grupo de investigación del Laboratorio de Ecología de Comunidades de la UNAM. En él se desarrollan diversos proyectos de investigación con el objetivo de analizar el efecto de la explotación humana en el funcionamiento del ecosistema. Los resultados de estos estudios son tomados como base para generar, junto con los habitantes de la zona, modelos de desarrollo sustentable. El trabajo se realiza principalmente en la Reserva de la Biósfera de Tehuacán-Cuicatlán, una zona de alta diversidad biológica y cultural, pero también de alta marginación social. Aquí se presentan dos ejemplos, la ganadería extensiva y el uso de especies del genero Agave para la producción de mezcal. En ellos mostramos cómo a través de estudios científicos y de trabajo conjunto con las comunidades humanas que viven en la zona, se está consiguiendo una mejora tanto en los procesos de explotación de los recursos naturales, como en su conservación.
Journal of Tropical Ecology, 2014
Interciencia, Dec 1, 2008
Revista Mexicana De Biodiversidad, Dec 1, 2012
Journal of Arid Environments, Sep 1, 2010
Small herds of domestic goats play an important role in the subsistence of farmers in semi-arid s... more Small herds of domestic goats play an important role in the subsistence of farmers in semi-arid subtropical areas. Dietary supplementation of these animals may help these farmers to improve productivity, but an assessment of compatibility with the sustainable development of these areas is necessary prior to the implementation of such a management strategy. In this study, we examined the effects of diet supplementation on domestic goat foraging behavior during the dry season, by analyzing the forage diet composition of supplemented and unsupplemented goats over a period of four months (FebruaryeMay). Diet composition was analyzed using direct observation of each animal and recording time spent on consumption of each different plant species. Initial and final live weights of all the animals were taken. Supplementation allowed animals to maintain higher bodyweight with low modification of dietary selection and no increase in consumption of endemic or sensitive plant species. Supplementation could also help to reduce the detrimental consequences of free foraging during the dry season, by decreasing the time spent foraging, which would indirectly benefit the conservation of natural vegetation during this critical period.
Interciencia, Dec 1, 2008
Giant reed (Arundo donax L.) is a perennial rhizomatous grass that is considered an interesting c... more Giant reed (Arundo donax L.) is a perennial rhizomatous grass that is considered an interesting crop for bioenergy production, due to its high biomass accumulation along several years under Mediterranean conditions. In a climate change scenario, in which aridity is predicted to increase in Mediterranean areas, it is interesting to study the response of this specie to drought. In this sense, the objective of this study was to evaluate giant reed response to drought stress, determining the effects of limited soil water availability on plant growth, gas exchange and plant water use efficiency (WUE). Seedlings of a commercial clone of Giant reed were grown under greenhouse conditions at the University of the Balearic Islands (Mallorca, West Mediterranean Basin). After 40 days under full capacity water irrigation, two water treatments were imposed: well-watered (at 100% of field capacity) and progressive drought during 62 days. Soil water content, leaf elongation rate, leaf appearance ra...
Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 2015
Please cite this article in press as: Leidy, R.-S., et al., Comparative study of trophic behaviou... more Please cite this article in press as: Leidy, R.-S., et al., Comparative study of trophic behaviour and herd structure in wild and feral goats living in a Mediterranean island: Management implications. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. (2015), http://dx.Please cite this article in press as: Leidy, R.-S., et al., Comparative study of trophic behaviour and herd structure in wild and feral goats living in a Mediterranean island: Management implications. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. (2015), http://dx.Please cite this article in press as: Leidy, R.-S., et al., Comparative study of trophic behaviour and herd structure in wild and feral goats living in a Mediterranean island: Management implications. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. (2015), http://dx.
The Holocene, 2014
ABSTRACT
Journal of Arid Environments, 2010
Small herds of domestic goats play an important role in the subsistence of farmers in semi-arid s... more Small herds of domestic goats play an important role in the subsistence of farmers in semi-arid subtropical areas. Dietary supplementation of these animals may help these farmers to improve productivity, but an assessment of compatibility with the sustainable development of these areas is necessary prior to the implementation of such a management strategy. In this study, we examined the effects of diet supplementation on domestic goat foraging behavior during the dry season, by analyzing the forage diet composition of supplemented and unsupplemented goats over a period of four months (FebruaryeMay). Diet composition was analyzed using direct observation of each animal and recording time spent on consumption of each different plant species. Initial and final live weights of all the animals were taken. Supplementation allowed animals to maintain higher bodyweight with low modification of dietary selection and no increase in consumption of endemic or sensitive plant species. Supplementation could also help to reduce the detrimental consequences of free foraging during the dry season, by decreasing the time spent foraging, which would indirectly benefit the conservation of natural vegetation during this critical period.
Journal of Arid Environments, 2008
Previous studies conducted in the semiarid thornscrub of the Biosphere Reserve of Tehuacá n-Cuica... more Previous studies conducted in the semiarid thornscrub of the Biosphere Reserve of Tehuacá n-Cuicatlá n have reported a high consumption of cactus and legume fruits by domestic goats. To test the hypothesis that goats may effectively disperse seed, we collected domestic goat feces from different microhabitats (bare ground, under shrub or under tree). The area occupied by each microhabitat was measured in the field. We then quantified the presence of viable seeds in goat feces and their deposition in microhabitats suitable for seedling establishment. We collected 209 seeds and using a seed reference collection, we identified these as belonging to three endemic cactus species, two legumes and several unidentified species. A high proportion of the cactus seeds germinated. Although most of the feces were found in open areas, more than 30% were recorded beneath the canopies of perennial plants, a suitable microhabitat for seedling establishment and survival. Contrary to the general assumption that goats cause only degradation of vegetation, these findings show that goats can effectively disperse viable seeds of diverse species. Studies that evaluate the ecological role of goats as important elements of biotic interactions are needed in order to generate an adequate management program for livestock.
Livestock Research for …, 2009
In arid and semiarid subtropical areas, goat productivity is very low due to the long and pronoun... more In arid and semiarid subtropical areas, goat productivity is very low due to the long and pronounced dry season which often causes serious food shortages for the livestock, leading to diseases and increased mortality. During periods of forage scarcity, goats typically increase search effort as their nutrient intake decreases, moreover, the increase of the use of woody species increases the grazing pressure on local vegetation. One possible solution to this problem is to feed the animals while keeping them enclosed during this period. In this study, we evaluated how farmers traditionally meet the nutritional requirements of their domestic goat herds during times of drought, while collaborative experiences with various farmers were used to assess the utility of silage as a method of ensuring adequate food supply. In addition, we assessed the viability of maintaining an enclosed herd throughout the dry season and feeding it with natural local resources and silage of agricultural residues.
Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 2005
An herbivore's nutritional state while foraging may affect its preferences for a chemically defen... more An herbivore's nutritional state while foraging may affect its preferences for a chemically defended plant. Increased preference or avoidance of diets with different plant secondary metabolites (PSM) may influence foraging in ways that cannot be predicted solely by the isolated effect of a PSM. Importantly, changes in nutritional context spatially and temporally may affect what herbivores learn, thereby creating variability in herbivores' foraging behavior. Tannins and terpenes are common defenses in plants, but the extent of protection they provide may be influenced by their biochemical interactions with nutrients in other plants herbivores consume. We determined if the context in which lambs experienced foods with terpenes or tannins influenced their preference for those foods. To do so, we conditioned 20 lambs in two treatments (10 lambs/ treatment). Lambs in Treatment 1, first ate tannins mixed with a food of low-nutritional quality for 8 days; they subsequently ate terpenes in the same low-quality food while receiving a basal diet of high-nutritional quality for 8 days. In contrast, lambs in Treatment 2, first ate tannins and then ate terpenes under the same regime described for Treatment 1. When all lambs were offered a choice between the two foods, lambs consumed more of the food-tannin or terpene-they ate while on the high-quality basal diet. Thus, our study supports the hypothesis that the degree to which herbivores avoid plants with secondary metabolites is influenced by the nutritional state of the herbivore while foraging. Our results suggest that individuals experiencing the same PSM under (J.J. Villalba). 1 Tel.: +34 958 243242; fax: +34 958 243238.
Ecosistemas, Sep 1, 2008
La revista ECOSISTEMAS agradece la colaboración desinteresada de los siguientes revisores entre o... more La revista ECOSISTEMAS agradece la colaboración desinteresada de los siguientes revisores entre octubre de 2007 y septiembre de 2008: ... Abraham, Elena Acosta, Rufino Aguirre, Juan Rogelio Alcorlo, Paloma Alonso, Conchita Álvarez de Manzaneda, María Inmaculada Amigo, Javier Aranda, Ismael Ayensa, Garbiñe Baraza, Elena Becares Mantecón, Eloy Belliure, Josabel Bonet, Andreu Cabello, Javier Calera Belmonte, Alfonso Camacho, Antonio Camarero, Jesús Julio Cantú Silva, Israel Casas Martínez, José Luis Cassell, Gail H. ...
Ecosistemas, 2008
Manejo sustentable de los recursos naturales guiado por proyectos científicos en la mixteca pobla... more Manejo sustentable de los recursos naturales guiado por proyectos científicos en la mixteca poblana mexicana. Planteamos la necesidad de transferir rápida y eficazmente los resultados de investigación a habitantes de las zonas naturales de estudio. Esta necesidad es más perentoria en el caso de los países en vías de desarrollo, y cuando se trabaja en la gestión de recursos naturales. Es el caso del grupo de investigación del Laboratorio de Ecología de Comunidades de la UNAM. En él se desarrollan diversos proyectos de investigación con el objetivo de analizar el efecto de la explotación humana en el funcionamiento del ecosistema. Los resultados de estos estudios son tomados como base para generar, junto con los habitantes de la zona, modelos de desarrollo sustentable. El trabajo se realiza principalmente en la Reserva de la Biósfera de Tehuacán-Cuicatlán, una zona de alta diversidad biológica y cultural, pero también de alta marginación social. Aquí se presentan dos ejemplos, la ganadería extensiva y el uso de especies del genero Agave para la producción de mezcal. En ellos mostramos cómo a través de estudios científicos y de trabajo conjunto con las comunidades humanas que viven en la zona, se está consiguiendo una mejora tanto en los procesos de explotación de los recursos naturales, como en su conservación.
Journal of Tropical Ecology, 2014
Interciencia, Dec 1, 2008
Revista Mexicana De Biodiversidad, Dec 1, 2012
Journal of Arid Environments, Sep 1, 2010
Small herds of domestic goats play an important role in the subsistence of farmers in semi-arid s... more Small herds of domestic goats play an important role in the subsistence of farmers in semi-arid subtropical areas. Dietary supplementation of these animals may help these farmers to improve productivity, but an assessment of compatibility with the sustainable development of these areas is necessary prior to the implementation of such a management strategy. In this study, we examined the effects of diet supplementation on domestic goat foraging behavior during the dry season, by analyzing the forage diet composition of supplemented and unsupplemented goats over a period of four months (FebruaryeMay). Diet composition was analyzed using direct observation of each animal and recording time spent on consumption of each different plant species. Initial and final live weights of all the animals were taken. Supplementation allowed animals to maintain higher bodyweight with low modification of dietary selection and no increase in consumption of endemic or sensitive plant species. Supplementation could also help to reduce the detrimental consequences of free foraging during the dry season, by decreasing the time spent foraging, which would indirectly benefit the conservation of natural vegetation during this critical period.
Interciencia, Dec 1, 2008
Giant reed (Arundo donax L.) is a perennial rhizomatous grass that is considered an interesting c... more Giant reed (Arundo donax L.) is a perennial rhizomatous grass that is considered an interesting crop for bioenergy production, due to its high biomass accumulation along several years under Mediterranean conditions. In a climate change scenario, in which aridity is predicted to increase in Mediterranean areas, it is interesting to study the response of this specie to drought. In this sense, the objective of this study was to evaluate giant reed response to drought stress, determining the effects of limited soil water availability on plant growth, gas exchange and plant water use efficiency (WUE). Seedlings of a commercial clone of Giant reed were grown under greenhouse conditions at the University of the Balearic Islands (Mallorca, West Mediterranean Basin). After 40 days under full capacity water irrigation, two water treatments were imposed: well-watered (at 100% of field capacity) and progressive drought during 62 days. Soil water content, leaf elongation rate, leaf appearance ra...
Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 2015
Please cite this article in press as: Leidy, R.-S., et al., Comparative study of trophic behaviou... more Please cite this article in press as: Leidy, R.-S., et al., Comparative study of trophic behaviour and herd structure in wild and feral goats living in a Mediterranean island: Management implications. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. (2015), http://dx.Please cite this article in press as: Leidy, R.-S., et al., Comparative study of trophic behaviour and herd structure in wild and feral goats living in a Mediterranean island: Management implications. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. (2015), http://dx.Please cite this article in press as: Leidy, R.-S., et al., Comparative study of trophic behaviour and herd structure in wild and feral goats living in a Mediterranean island: Management implications. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. (2015), http://dx.
The Holocene, 2014
ABSTRACT
Journal of Arid Environments, 2010
Small herds of domestic goats play an important role in the subsistence of farmers in semi-arid s... more Small herds of domestic goats play an important role in the subsistence of farmers in semi-arid subtropical areas. Dietary supplementation of these animals may help these farmers to improve productivity, but an assessment of compatibility with the sustainable development of these areas is necessary prior to the implementation of such a management strategy. In this study, we examined the effects of diet supplementation on domestic goat foraging behavior during the dry season, by analyzing the forage diet composition of supplemented and unsupplemented goats over a period of four months (FebruaryeMay). Diet composition was analyzed using direct observation of each animal and recording time spent on consumption of each different plant species. Initial and final live weights of all the animals were taken. Supplementation allowed animals to maintain higher bodyweight with low modification of dietary selection and no increase in consumption of endemic or sensitive plant species. Supplementation could also help to reduce the detrimental consequences of free foraging during the dry season, by decreasing the time spent foraging, which would indirectly benefit the conservation of natural vegetation during this critical period.
Journal of Arid Environments, 2008
Previous studies conducted in the semiarid thornscrub of the Biosphere Reserve of Tehuacá n-Cuica... more Previous studies conducted in the semiarid thornscrub of the Biosphere Reserve of Tehuacá n-Cuicatlá n have reported a high consumption of cactus and legume fruits by domestic goats. To test the hypothesis that goats may effectively disperse seed, we collected domestic goat feces from different microhabitats (bare ground, under shrub or under tree). The area occupied by each microhabitat was measured in the field. We then quantified the presence of viable seeds in goat feces and their deposition in microhabitats suitable for seedling establishment. We collected 209 seeds and using a seed reference collection, we identified these as belonging to three endemic cactus species, two legumes and several unidentified species. A high proportion of the cactus seeds germinated. Although most of the feces were found in open areas, more than 30% were recorded beneath the canopies of perennial plants, a suitable microhabitat for seedling establishment and survival. Contrary to the general assumption that goats cause only degradation of vegetation, these findings show that goats can effectively disperse viable seeds of diverse species. Studies that evaluate the ecological role of goats as important elements of biotic interactions are needed in order to generate an adequate management program for livestock.
Livestock Research for …, 2009
In arid and semiarid subtropical areas, goat productivity is very low due to the long and pronoun... more In arid and semiarid subtropical areas, goat productivity is very low due to the long and pronounced dry season which often causes serious food shortages for the livestock, leading to diseases and increased mortality. During periods of forage scarcity, goats typically increase search effort as their nutrient intake decreases, moreover, the increase of the use of woody species increases the grazing pressure on local vegetation. One possible solution to this problem is to feed the animals while keeping them enclosed during this period. In this study, we evaluated how farmers traditionally meet the nutritional requirements of their domestic goat herds during times of drought, while collaborative experiences with various farmers were used to assess the utility of silage as a method of ensuring adequate food supply. In addition, we assessed the viability of maintaining an enclosed herd throughout the dry season and feeding it with natural local resources and silage of agricultural residues.
Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 2005
An herbivore's nutritional state while foraging may affect its preferences for a chemically defen... more An herbivore's nutritional state while foraging may affect its preferences for a chemically defended plant. Increased preference or avoidance of diets with different plant secondary metabolites (PSM) may influence foraging in ways that cannot be predicted solely by the isolated effect of a PSM. Importantly, changes in nutritional context spatially and temporally may affect what herbivores learn, thereby creating variability in herbivores' foraging behavior. Tannins and terpenes are common defenses in plants, but the extent of protection they provide may be influenced by their biochemical interactions with nutrients in other plants herbivores consume. We determined if the context in which lambs experienced foods with terpenes or tannins influenced their preference for those foods. To do so, we conditioned 20 lambs in two treatments (10 lambs/ treatment). Lambs in Treatment 1, first ate tannins mixed with a food of low-nutritional quality for 8 days; they subsequently ate terpenes in the same low-quality food while receiving a basal diet of high-nutritional quality for 8 days. In contrast, lambs in Treatment 2, first ate tannins and then ate terpenes under the same regime described for Treatment 1. When all lambs were offered a choice between the two foods, lambs consumed more of the food-tannin or terpene-they ate while on the high-quality basal diet. Thus, our study supports the hypothesis that the degree to which herbivores avoid plants with secondary metabolites is influenced by the nutritional state of the herbivore while foraging. Our results suggest that individuals experiencing the same PSM under (J.J. Villalba). 1 Tel.: +34 958 243242; fax: +34 958 243238.
Ecosistemas, Sep 1, 2008
La revista ECOSISTEMAS agradece la colaboración desinteresada de los siguientes revisores entre o... more La revista ECOSISTEMAS agradece la colaboración desinteresada de los siguientes revisores entre octubre de 2007 y septiembre de 2008: ... Abraham, Elena Acosta, Rufino Aguirre, Juan Rogelio Alcorlo, Paloma Alonso, Conchita Álvarez de Manzaneda, María Inmaculada Amigo, Javier Aranda, Ismael Ayensa, Garbiñe Baraza, Elena Becares Mantecón, Eloy Belliure, Josabel Bonet, Andreu Cabello, Javier Calera Belmonte, Alfonso Camacho, Antonio Camarero, Jesús Julio Cantú Silva, Israel Casas Martínez, José Luis Cassell, Gail H. ...