La alta fragmentación y deterioro de los bosques montano bajo hace prioritaria su restauración ecológica, debido a esto, se requieren mecanismos que propendan a la recuperación del bosque, sobre todo en áreas prioritarias. El presente estudio pretende aportar herramientas que permitan a los restauradores tener información sobre especies nativas con potencial para la restauración. Para el efecto, se seleccionó un bosque húmedo montano bajo de 500 ha, el cual, se dividió en tres zonas de acuerdo a su intervención antrópica. En cada zona se realizaron análisis físico-químicos de suelos e inventarios florísticos analizados con diferentes índices de diversidad y perfiles de vegetación. Además, se clasificaron las especies arbóreas y arbustivas en pioneras y persistentes. Finalmente, se colectaron y analizaron frutos y semillas de las especies que se encontraban fructificadas al momento del muestreo, realizando pruebas de germinación en cada uno de ellos. Los resultados sugieren que en general las zonas presentaron diversidad alta (índice Shannon) con valores entre 2.804 y 3.414. Las especies con mayor IVI fueron Miconia resima, Palicourea angustifolia, Palicourea garciae, Cavendishia pubescens, y Clusia multiflora. La mayor cantidad de especies fructificadas se encontró en las áreas 1 y 2 (intervenida y moderadamente intervenida), el 40% de las semillas extraídas germinaron, finalmente, se clasificaron 42 especies en las categorías de pioneras y persistentes. En conclusión, se espera que la información obtenida en el presente proyecto sirva en parte como herramienta de apoyo para la restauración ecológica del bosque húmedo montano bajo.
Honey is a functional food used worldwide and recognized for its multiple health benefits. In the present study, the physicochemical and antioxidant properties of honey produced by two species of bees (Melipona eburnea and Apis mellifera) in two seasons were evaluated. In addition, the antimicrobial activity of honey against three bacterial strains was studied. The quality of honey analyzed by LDA (linear discriminant analysis) showed four clusters mediated by the interaction, the bee species, and the collection season resulting from a multivariate function of discrimination. The physicochemical properties of the honey produced by A. mellifera met the requirements of the Codex Alimentarius, while the M. eburnea honey had moisture values outside the established ranges of the Codex. Antioxidant activity was higher in the honey of A. mellifera, and both kinds of honey showed inhibitory activity against S. typhimurium ATCC 14028 and L. monocytogenes ATCC 9118. E. coli ATCC 25922 showed resistance to the analyzed honey.
Background and Aims: Thunbergia alata is one of the ten most problematic invasive plant species in Colombia. Its rapid colonization and adaptation to Andean forests have affected the composition and structure of indigenous plant communities. In this research, analysis of functional traits was carried out, generating new information that could explain the rapid colonization, adaptation and invasive potential of T. alata in this type of Andean environment. Methods: To obtain this information, a series of observations were made on the morphology and anatomy of roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits and seeds. Likewise, a characterization of its floral visitors and symbiotic relationships with soil microorganisms was carried out. Key results: We determined that both morphological traits and interaction phenomena favour the adaptability of T. alata in Andean forests and could contribute to a greater extent to its active colonization in this type of environment. An active association of T. alata was found with different species of native and introduced floral visitors, with a total of 2266 floral visits made during our study by seven species of insects belonging to the orders Coleoptera and Hymenoptera. Mycorrhizal fungal spores associated with T. alata populations were found at all sampling sites. The number of spores per 100 g of soil varied between 300 and 424. All the roots of T. alata, without exception, had high colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Conclusions: We believe that the information obtained in this research will contribute to the generation of comprehensive and effective strategies for the control of this species in Andean forests.
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