Continental fishes of Nicaragua: diversity, distribution and conservation status; with an annotated and illustrated checklist of species and an identification guide to families.

Based on a combination of intensive literature review, electronic database searches, re-identification of museum specimens, and fieldwork, we provide an updated checklist of the continental fishes of Nicaragua. This checklist, systematically arranged at the ordinal and familial level, includes nomenclatural revisions, distributional information, conservation status, and when appropriate, cross-references to previous lists and revisionary works on the fish fauna of the country and region (Central America); illustrations and descriptions to the family level and color photographs of some representative species are also included. According to our results, the native Nicaraguan continental fish fauna is composed of 244 species, divided into 111 genera, 45 families, 24 orders, and two classes; increasing by 60 (i.

Presence, Co-Occurrence, and Daily Intake Estimates of Aflatoxins and Fumonisins in Maize Consumed in Food-Insecure Regions of Western Honduras.

Foodborne mycotoxins are a significant food safety risk in developing countries. Our objective was to determine the occurrence of and exposure levels to aflatoxins (AFs) and fumonisins (FBs) in maize intended for human and animal consumption in food-insecure regions of western Honduras. Total AFs and FBs were quantified with a monoclonal antibody-based affinity spectrofluorimetric method.

Effect of Oral Administration with CAM6 on the Hematological Profile, Relative Weight of Digestive Organs, and Cecal Traits in Growing Pigs.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of oral administration with CAM6 on the hematological profile, relative weight of digestive organs, and cecal traits in growing pigs. A total of 36 castrated male pigs [(Landrace × Pietrain) × Duroc] aged 49 to 139 days old were randomly assigned to 3 experimental groups with 12 animals per treatment. The treatments included a control diet without additives (CTRL), a positive control with subtherapeutic antibiotics (TRT1), and CTRL supplemented with 5 mL CAM6 preparation providing 10 CFU/pig/day (TRT2).

Characterization of Autochthonous Strains from the Cecal Content of Creole Roosters for a Potential Use as Probiotics.

Five strains (CLP2, CLP3, CLP4, CLP5, and CLP6) were isolated from the cecal content of Creole roosters fed without antibiotic growth promoters. Biochemical and morphological tests (negative catalase and oxidase) confirmed the presence of lactic acid bacteria. Additionally, considering the 16s RNA, (CLP2, CLP3, CLP5, and CLP6) and (CLP4) were identified.

Multi-lingual multi-platform investigations of online trade in jaguar parts.

We conducted research to understand online trade in jaguar parts and develop tools of utility for jaguars and other species. Our research took place to identify potential trade across 31 online platforms in Spanish, Portuguese, English, Dutch, French, Chinese, and Vietnamese. We identified 230 posts from between 2009 and 2019.

A rich and diverse fauna: an illustrated guide to the cetoniines of Ghana with comparisons to Ivory Coast and Benin (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae).

The currently known cetoniine fauna of Ghana is discussed and illustrated. It now includes 60 genera and 148 taxa, including 9 subspecies. Comparison to the adjacent countries of Ivory Coast and nearby Benin gives evidence that the faunas of all three countries surprisingly may still be grossly under-sampled and hence poorly known for what is considered a relatively well-known group of beetles.

Thermal Inactivation of and in Quesillo Manufactured from Raw Milk.

Quesillo is an artisanal Honduran cheese made from raw milk. During fabrication, curd melting is considered a killing step for pathogenic bacteria. This work was aimed at determining the survival of and on inoculated curd packaged in plastic bags and immersed in a water bath at 48, 54, 60, 65, and 70°C for predetermined times.

"There Is Nothing I Cannot Achieve": Empowering Latin American Women Through Agricultural Education.

Higher education, a key driver of women's empowerment, is still segregated by gender across the world. Agricultural higher education is a field that is male-dominated, even though internationally women play a large role in agricultural production. The purpose of this study was to understand the experience, including challenges and coping strategies, of women from 10 Latin American countries attending an agricultural university in Latin America.

Dietary Supplementation with (Weber Var. Blue) Stem Powder Improves the Performance and Intestinal Integrity of Broiler Rabbits.

This study evaluated the effect of Agave tequilana (Weber var. azul) stem powder on the growth performance and the intestinal integrity in rabbits. A total of 120 male rabbits [New Zealand × California] were weaned for 35 days and randomized into four dietary treatments, 15 replicates per treatment, and two rabbits per replicate.

Probiotics: Symbiotic Relationship with the Animal Host.

Antibiotic growth-promoters in animal feeding are known to generate bacterial resistance on commercial farms and have proven deleterious effects on human health. This review addresses the effects of probiotics and their symbiotic relationship with the animal host as a viable alternative for producing healthy meat, eggs, and milk at present and in the future. Probiotics can tolerate the conditions of the gastrointestinal tract, such as the gastric acid, pH and bile salts, to exert beneficial effects on the host.

Synchronous Responses of Plant Functional Traits to Nitrogen Deposition From Dominant Species to Functional Groups and Whole Communities in Alpine Grasslands on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.

Nitrogen deposition is recognized as one of the major threats to the ecosystem function of alpine grasslands on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP). However, few studies have documented the gradient responses of plant species, functional groups, and communities in alpine grassland ecosystems to various levels of N deposition on the QTP. We applied eight linear mixed-effect models combing acidification, eutrophication, and phosphorus availability to explore if the responses of functional traits (particularly plant height and specific leaf area) of plants from dominant species to functional groups and whole communities in different types of grassland to nitrogen deposition were consistent with the same or different models.

Livestock-Carnivore Coexistence: Moving beyond Preventive Killing.

Livestock predation is a global problem and constitutes the main source of conflict between large carnivores and human interests. In Latin America, both jaguar and puma are known to prey on livestock, yet studies in Mesoamerica have been scattered and few have been carried out in Honduras. We interviewed ranchers in a biosphere reserve where jaguars and pumas are present.

First records of two genera and thirteen species of Tabanidae (Diptera) from Honduras.

This works presents information on the diversity of the Tabanidae of Honduras as a product of the examination of 386 specimens and a literature review. Thirteen species and two genera ( and ) are recorded from the country for the first time. Eighty-five species distributed in 22 genera, five tribes, and three subfamilies are now known from Honduras.

Forage as a Potential Feed for Animals: A Review.

This review summarized for the first time the nutritional benefits of in animal feed. the agronomic characteristics for the hyperproduction of were reported, as well as the chemical composition of the forage meal (leaves + petioles + stems), with emphasis on crude protein, amino acids, minerals, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, lignin detergent acid, secondary metabolites, and metabolizable energy for ruminants and non-ruminants. Additionally, their medicinal properties such as antimicrobial, antifungal, antiparasitic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiarrheal, and antipyretic properties were detailed.

Incidence of aflatoxins and fumonisins in grain, masa and corn tortillas in four municipalities in the department of Lempira, Honduras.

In Honduras, corn is the most important staple food for the majority of the population. This high-demand crop is susceptible to biological contamination with mycotoxins, which could represent a latent hazard for consumers. To assess the incidence of aflatoxins and fumonisins in grain, masa and tortilla, and the dietary exposure to these substances among consumers, a study was conducted in four municipalities in the department of Lempira.

In Vitro Effects of Leaf Extracts from on the Growth of Two Entomopathogenic Fungi.

This study aimed to determine the inhibitive or stimulatory effects of leaf extracts from two subspecies on the hyphal growth of two well-known entomopathogenic fungi, and Extract concentrations of 50, 25, and 10% / based on leaf fresh weight were prepared from turnip ( subspecies ) and bok choy ( subspecies ) leaves. Each concentration was individually incorporated into potato dextrose agar plates for in vitro bioassays. The center of each plate was inoculated with 20 µL of a fungal suspension that was allowed 24 h to soak into the agar before sealing the plates and incubating them at 25 °C under a 14-h photophase.

Immediate impact of COVID-19 pandemic on farming systems in Central America and Mexico.

Context: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all sectors and human activities around the World.

Objective: In this article we present a first attempt to understand the immediate impact of COVID-19 and the sanitary measures taken by governments on farming systems in Central America and Mexico (CAM).

Methods: Through a review of information generated in these initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic (webinars, blogs, electronic publications, media) and 44 interviews with key informants across the region, we have identified the main impacts felt by different types of farming systems in the region.

Effect of Acetic Acid and Sodium Bicarbonate Supplemented to Drinking Water on Water Quality, Growth Performance, Organ Weights, Cecal Traits and Hematological Parameters of Young Broilers.

To evaluate the effect of acetic acid and sodium bicarbonate supplemented to drinking water on water quality, growth performance, relative organ weights, cecal traits and hematological parameters of broilers, a total of 456 one-day-old Cobb MV × Cobb 500 FF mixed broilers were randomly placed in three experimental treatments, with four replicates per treatment and 38 birds per replicate, for 10 days. The treatments consisted of the use of acetic acid (0.4%; T1) as acidifier, an apparently neutral pH (T2) and sodium bicarbonate (1%; T3) as alkalizer of the drinking water.

Global population genetic structure and demographic trajectories of the black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens.

Background: The black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) is the most promising insect candidate for nutrient-recycling through bioconversion of organic waste into biomass, thereby improving sustainability of protein supplies for animal feed and facilitating transition to a circular economy. Contrary to conventional livestock, genetic resources of farmed insects remain poorly characterised. We present the first comprehensive population genetic characterisation of H.

NAC Candidate Gene Marker for and Interaction With QTL for Resistance to in Common Bean.

Genetic resistance is the primary means for control of (BGYMV) in common bean (). Breeding for resistance is difficult because of sporadic and uneven infection across field nurseries. We sought to facilitate breeding for BGYMV resistance by improving marker-assisted selection (MAS) for the recessive gene and identifying and developing MAS for quantitative trait loci (QTL) conditioning resistance.

Effect of Age on the Immune and Visceral Organ Weights and Cecal Traits in Modern Broilers.

This study aimed to determine the effect of age on the immune and visceral organ weights and cecal traits in modern broilers. 200 male Ross 308 broilers were randomly selected, then 20 broilers were slaughtered every day (up to 10 days old) after six hours of fasting. All the organs measured had a progressive increase in absolute weight as the days progressed, apart from the spleen, which decreased its absolute weight on day 5, even though on day 10 it showed the highest values.

Social and cultural influences on food choices: A review.

Human food choices (FC) influence food production systems. Agriculture is responsible for feeding the entire population, and somehow generates different types of environmental degradation. Consumers play a decisive role in consumption trends because FC has shaped habits and behaviors.

Discrimination of Complex Odor Mixtures: A Study Using Wine Aroma Models.

There are key unanswered questions when it comes to multicomponent odor discrimination. This study was designed to assess discrimination of odorant mixtures that elicit a singular percept. We collected data to address the following two questions: (1) What odor features do humans notice when attempting to discriminate between subtly different odor mixtures? (2) Are odor mixtures easier to discriminate when an odorant is added, compared with when a component is removed? Using modern aroma chemistry techniques, an odor mixture resembling a generic white wine was constructed.

Genetically modified maize impacts in Honduras: production and social issues.

Maize production is one of the most important activities for the Honduran economy, both in terms of area cultivated and food security provided. This article reports the results of a survey undertaken to gauge knowledge, perceptions, opinions, and attitudes of Honduran farmers towards genetically modified (GM) maize. Data were collected from 32 maize producers in 2018-19, of both conventional and GM, in five different departments (regions) of Honduras.