BackgroundThe possibility to better understand the relationships within the men, the nature and their culture has extreme importance because allows the characterisation of social systems through their particular environmental perception, and provides useful tools for the development of conservation policies.MethodsThe present study was planned to disentangle environmental and cultural factors that are influencing the perception, knowledge and uses of edible and medicinal plants in rural communities of Cordoba (Argentina). Interviews an participant observation were conducted in nine rural communities located in three different biogeographical areas. Data about knowledge of medicinal and edible plants and sociocultural variables were obtained. Data were analysed by Principal Components Analysis (PCA).ResultsThe analysis of data confirmed that medicinal species are widely used whereas the knowledge on edible plants is eroding. The PCA showed four groups of communities, defined by several particular combinations of sociocultural and/or natural variables.ConclusionThis comprehensive approach suggests that in general terms the cultural environment has a stronger influence than the natural environment on the use of medicinal and edible plants in rural communities of Cordoba (Argentina).

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RESUMEN.El uso y la valoración de los recursos del bosque, al igual que sus servicios ecosistémicos, son percibidos de forma diferente según la filiación cultural de los pobladores. Con el objetivo de documentar estas diferencias entre "criollos" (de raigambre mestiza española-aborigen) y "gringos" (descendientes de agricultores italianos) en la zona de la Laguna de Mar Chiquita (Córdoba, Argentina) se realizaron 40 entrevistas semiestructuradas a pobladores. Se registraron 58 especies para la caza y la pesca, 18 usos diferentes del bosque y las diversas valoraciones del bosque según informantes clave. Se detectaron diferencias significativas entre los criollos y los descendientes de europeos. Los criollos mencionan más plantas medicinales, conocen el 78.3% del total de las especies para caza y el 66.6% para pesca, usan el bosque para múltiples necesidades y lo valoran de forma positiva. Por su parte, los gringos conocen el 47.3% de la diversidad disponible y valoran escasamente el bosque. Para diseñar políticas de manejo de recursos naturales es conveniente reconocer que las comunidades humanas no son homogéneas en cuanto a las necesidades de uso de recursos, en la valoración que hacen de esos recursos y en sus prácticas de manejo.[Palabras clave: valoración, bosque chaqueño, pobladores mestizos, inmigrantes, cacería] ABSTRACT. Use and perception of forest by inhabitants of different cultural tradition in Laguna de MarChiquita, Córdoba, Argentina. Use and assessment of forest resources and ecosystem services are differently perceived by people according to their cultural affiliation. In order to document these differences between "criollos" (Spanish-Aboriginal mestizos) and "gringos" (descendants of Italian farmers) in the Laguna de Mar Chiquita (Córdoba, Argentina), semistructured interviews to residents were conducted. A total of 58 species for hunting and fishing, 18 different uses of forest and forest valuation based on 40 key informants were recorded. Significant differences were found between "criollos" (who mentioned more medicinal plants, the use of 78.3% and 66.6% of total species for hunting and fishing, respectively, the use of the forest for multiple needs and a positive appraisement of the forest), and "gringos" (who know 47.3% of the available diversity and have little appraisement of the forest). To design policies for natural resources management it is appropriate to recognize that human communities are not homogeneous in their need of resource use, the relevance of the resources and their management practices.

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Movement is a fundamental aspect of fish ecology, and it therefore represents an important trait to monitor for the management and conservation of fish populations. This is especially true for small benthic fish, as they often inhabit part of the catchment where their movement may be restricted by alterations to river connectivity due to human activity. Still, the movement of these small benthic fish remains poorly understood, partly because of their small size and their cryptic nature. This applies to Percilia irwini, an endangered small darter native to the south‐central region of Chile. Its habitat has been affected by the presence of large hydroelectric dams and is currently threatened by the construction of several others. In this study, the authors investigated movement patterns of P. irwini from populations inhabiting different parts of the Biobío catchment, with different levels of connectivity due to natural and/or human‐induced features. The authors combined chronological clustering with random forest classification to reconstruct lifelong movements from multi‐elemental otolith microchemistry transects. The majority of the movements detected occurred in an undisturbed part of the catchment. These were directional upstream movements occurring between capture sites from the lower and the middle reaches of the river, representing a distance of nearly 30 km, a distance much larger than previously thought. Nonetheless, in the part of the catchment where connectivity was affected by human activity, no such movements were identified. This study shows that connectivity alteration could impede naturally occurring movement and further threaten the resilience of populations of P. irwini. Furthermore, the results presented are used to discuss advantages and disadvantages of microchemistry analysis for studying movement of small benthic fish.

Aims:The agricultural frontier advances progressively on forested regions in Central Argentina, changing the landscape structure by extremely reducing the extension of native forests. In rural communities that are related to the forests, it is possible that severe changes in the landscapes can have an impact on the knowledge and uses of medicinal plants. The aim of this paper was to evidence some general patterns between the ethnobotanical information recorded in the Chaco region and some characteristics of the landscape. Specifically, we hypothesized that the knowledge on medicinal plants and their type (native or exotic) are related to different types of land use (i.e. different proportions of native forests). Place and Duration of Study:The study was performed 15 rural localities within the Chaco phytogeographic regionin Córdoba, Argentina, conducted between 2004 and 2012. Methodology: A total of 279 interviews were conducted. Plant species were identified according to their status (native or exotic), and a standardized proportion of exotic

Understanding of trophic structure and flow of energy within river systems is essential for informed management of these ecosystems and conservation of native fish fauna and fisheries resources. Food resources used by riverine fish depend on productivity within the main stem and adjacent floodplains, terrestrial inputs, and longitudinal and lateral hydrologic connectivity. Trophic ecology of puye (Galaxias maculatus Jenyns, 1842) in Chilean river systems remains poorly understood and studies that combine short‐term (stomach content) and long‐term (stable isotope analyses) analyses have not been performed to date. In this study, we assessed spatial variability in diet of puye based on both stomach content and analyses of stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen in 10 river systems of southern Chile (including main stem, headwater lakes, and estuaries). Fish in the main stems of more northern rivers, with predictable flow regimes, were characterised by the most diverse diets, broad niche space, and high proportion of terrestrial prey items and zooplankton in diet. Fish collected in lakes were characterised by narrow isotopic niche space and diet dominated by zooplankton. Diet of G. maculatus in Chilean river systems is associated with characteristics of riverine habitats within each river system (lentic, lotic, and estuarine) and hydrologic connectivity among them. Indeed, connectivity with floodplain habitats and direct supply from headwater lakes appeared to be primary drivers of fish diet in systems where these are present. These supplies maintain fish populations of good condition and allow freshwater recruitment. Therefore, maintaining seasonal flow dynamics and connectivity is essential to preserve the natural function of these river systems and conserve native fish populations.