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As human demands for water have become more intense in modern times, the Canary Islands have become a difficult environment for all the macroinvertebrate fauna dependent upon running water for their survival; few permanent streams remain. Investigations on the simuliid (blackfly) fauna have shown, however, that at least six species exist in the archipelago, but that one, the endemic Simulium paraloutetense , known only from one site now destroyed, is possibly extinct. The paper presents cumulated data on distribution and material obtained over the past 33 years (since aquatic-stage specimens from breeding sites were first collected) with the aim of providing a baseline against which future studies of the Canarian simuliid fauna can be assessed. Revised identification keys for larvae and pupae are given to aid such monitoring. Remarks concerning each species include notes on chromosomal data when these are available. Comments are included on some aspects of the lotic habitats and island colonization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes design, observation methodology, results and interpretation of the GPS surveys conducted in the areas of the N-W of Tenerife where deformation was detected using InSAR. To avoid undesirable antenna positioning errors in the stations built using nails, we designed and used calibrated, fixed-length metal poles, allowing us to guarantee that the GPS antenna was stationed with a height repeatability of the order of 1 mm and of less than 3 millimeters on the horizontal plane. The results demonstrate that this system is ideal for field observation, especially to detect small displacements that might be masked by accidental errors in height measurements or centering when observed with a tripod. When observations were processed, we found that using different antenna models in the same session sometimes causes errors that can lead to rather inaccurate results. We also found that it is advisable to observe one or two stations in all the sessions. The results have reconfirmed the displacement in the Chío deformation zone for the period 1995–2000 and indicate a vertical rebound from 2000 to 2002. They also confirm that the subsidence detected by InSAR to the south of the Garachico village has continued since 2000, although the magnitude of the vertical deformation has increased from around 1 cm to more than 3 cm a year. Detected displacements could be due to groundwater level variation throughout the island. A first attempt of modelling has been made using a simple model. The results indicate that the observed deformation and the groundwater level variation are related in some way. The obtained results are very important because they might affect the design of the geodetic monitoring of volcanic reactivation on the island, which will only be actually useful if it is capable of distinguishing between displacements that might be linked to volcanic activity and those produced by other causes. Even though the study was limited to a given area of Tenerife, in the Canary Islands, some conclusions apply to, and are of general interest in similar geodynamic studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is concerned with climate change in the region of the Canary Islands and the potential implications for the laurel forests of Tenerife. Frequent orographic cloud formation during the dry season is of vital importance to the altitudinal distribution of the laurel forests, because it maintains a semi-humid environment in the otherwise semi-arid climate of the Canary Islands. The distinctive environmental conditions in conjunction with the location of the Canary Islands on the Northern poleward edge of the Hadley Circulation make these ecosystems potentially highly sensitive to regional changes in climatic conditions. To explore this sensitivity, we first quantify observed trends in humidity and temperature across an altitudinal transect at the base of the Anaga peninsular, and second, analyse the results of three GCM experiments (CGCM1, ECHAM4 and CSIRO) to develop alternative climate change scenarios, and third, use these data to assess likely shifts in the elevational distribution of the laurel forest climate envelope. We report a significant increase in relative humidity and decreases in the diurnal temperature range on Tenerife at altitudes below the trade wind inversion within the last 30 years during the thy season, which suggests an increased occurrence of low-level clouds. There is also partial evidence for a drying trend across the trade wind inversion, which may be linked to an increased subsidence. Overall, the models suggest a downward shift of the area climatically suitable for laurel forests, which may be driven by changes in temperature and moisture supply in the region as well as by larger-scale changes in the atmospheric circulation. Our findings contrast with previously published findings for a tropical montane cloud region, which predict an upward shift of the cloud base. This suggests, following the assumptions inherent in the models applied, that the ecological consequences of climate change for cloud forests may be linked to their relative location in the Hadley Circulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A wide set of phenotypic characteristics related to life history were studied in mature stands of Pinus canariensis throughout its natural range of distribution in the Canary archipelago. Natural forests ranging from those located in xeric areas through to the sub-tropical cloud forests and high mountain stands were classified into eight ecological regions according to their main climatic features. The recent history of forest fires (covering the last 30 years) was taken into account using a categorical factor with three levels. The phenotypic variables studied included those related to seed dispersal (cone size, number of seed scales, seed and wing size and percentage of serotinous trees) and stem growth both on the breast height section (bark thickness, radial growth at various ages and sapwood and heartwood sizes) and on the entire stem (height growth related to age). The average percentage of serotinous trees present in the ecological regions studied varied from 3 to 35%. Average bark thickness in adult trees ranged from 22 to 49 mm and was found to be unrelated to age or diameter. Growth both in height and diameter was found to decline after an average of 25 years, although clear trends in relation to this could not be established across the ecological regions. A high correlation was found to exist between annual rainfall, fire frequency, serotiny and bark thickness at a regional level. Sapwood area per hectare proved to be a valuable indirect site-quality index for the objectives of this paper. Favourable sites (characterised by a high sapwood area per hectare) displayed the highest levels of both bark thickness and serotiny. These particular areas are those, which have suffered more frequent and intense fires over the last decades. The evolutionary implications of this trend and of other general traits of the species, such as vegetative resprouting, are discussed here in relation to the role of understorey vegetation in fire regimes, competition and volcanic history of the islands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, three new dorvilleid species belonging to the genera Arenotrocha Westheide & von Nordheim, 1985 and Ophryotrocha Claparède & Mecznikow, 1869 are described. The material was collected in subtidal sandy sediments of Cymodocea nodosa meadows from Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria and Tenerife (Canary Islands). Ophryotrocha paragerlachi n. sp. resembles to O. gerlachi Hartmann-Schröder, 1974 in having mandibles L-shaped with smooth cutting edge and similar chaetation. The two species differ in the shape of the jaw parts, specially the forceps, and presence of biarticulated palps in O. paragerlachi. Ophryotrocha splendida n. sp. differs from all known species of the genus by the arrangement, form and gradation of the chaetae, and by the disposition and structure of the maxillae and mandibles. Arenotrocha lanzarotensis n. sp. is characterized by having a jaw apparatus with simple butterfly-wing shaped mandibles and two rows of maxillary plates. Arenotrocha minuta (Levi, 1954) is closely related to A. lanzarotensis, but these species differ in the form of the simple and compound chaetae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary This paper provides comparative information on the reproductive biology of the alfonsino, Beryx splendens Lowe, 1834, species with commercial interest in the Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands. A total of 846 individuals from Azores (14.0–42.0 cm fork length), 621 from Madeira (17.2–50.0 cm fork length) and 643 from the Canaries (18.2–38.9 cm fork length) were used for the study. The alfonsino is gonochoric with no evidence of sexual dimorphism. Females are more abundant than males; this dominance probably reflects certain differences in the spatial distribution and/or the catchability of males and females in the Macaronesian archipelagos. The spawning season was distinct for the three Macaronesian areas, with an observed North–South variation in the reproductive period: September–March in the Azores, March–June in Madeira and July–September in the Canary Islands. The size at sexual maturity estimated for Madeira and the Canary Islands is similar (32 and 30 cm fork length, respectively), while for the Azores it is reached at smaller length (23 cm fork length). The differences observed in the size at sexual maturity can be explained by the different exploitation levels in each archipelago. Life-history parameters of the alfonsino suggest that this species has a specialistic life-history strategy and fisheries based on this species are more susceptible to growth overfishing and population depletion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purposes of this paper are to identify and evaluate the oceanic mesoscale features that appear in the Atlantic Ocean eastern boundary, 20–40° N, 19–9° W, using ERS-1 (1992–1993) satellite altimeter data. The sea surface height anomalies and the eddy kinetic energy fields are calculated. High energy values, between 0.03 and 0.05 m[sup 2] s[sup -2], are observed with the altimeter data in the Canary region mainly in summer. These maximum values are associated with eddies located downstream of Gran Canaria and Tenerife (Canary Islands). Comparison with in situ measurements provided by the hydrographic surveys from a cruise in summer 1993 around the Canary Islands showed a good agreement. Dynamic heights relative to 300 dbar for August and the altimetric heights from ERS-1 data were averaged over 0.125° boxes for the duration of the cruise. The correlation coefficient was 0.7. Negative anomalies of the sea level calculated from ERS-1 between Cape Yubi and Cape Bojador (26.0°–27.5° N) were obtained in August 1993. Possibly these correspond with filaments from the north-west African upwelling coast. Also, the results of the altimetric data were compared with NOAA AVHRR (Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer) sea surface temperature (SST) satellite images. A cyclonic and an anticyclonic eddy to the south-west of the island of Gran Canaria were identified during the same period in the SST images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the last century, the richness of the Canary Islands marine flora has attracted many botanists. Børgesen's seminal papers have been the main reference source for anyone interested in this flora. The first checklist of the marine macroalgae from the Canary Islands was published by Gil-Rodríguez and Afonso-Carrillo (1980a) with 434 macroalgal species being listed together with some dubious records. In recent years, the research efforts of local phycologists and the output of some scientific expeditions have yielded some new species and a large number of new records to the Canarian seaweed flora. The aim of this contribution is to compile an up-to-date catalogue of the marine plants for the Canary Islands (including cyanobacteria, macroalgae, seagrasses and fungi). The review of all published records of these marine plants takes into account the present taxonomic status and nomenclatural changes of the taxa concerned and rejects old and dubious records. After a careful review of the pertinent references and revision of live and preserved material, only valid records published before July 2001 are included in this checklist. Besides, each species is quoted for the islands in an east-west fashion to illustrate the distributional pattern of the species concerned. The marine flora of the Canary Islands is composed of 711 species, which are distributed as follows: 59 Cyanophycota, 385 Rhodophycota, 125 Chromophycota, 117 Chlorophycota, 3 seagrasses and 22 fungi. Compared to nearby regions, the Canarian archipelago comprises a much larger number of species. This high diversity appears to be the result of the combined effects of its geographic location, paleoclimatic events and the prevailing oceanographic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to investigate the relationship between the Canary Island rainfall and the Atlantic large-scale circulation, characterized by the North Atlantic oscillation (NAO) index. The Canary Islands are located in the Atlantic subtropical belt under the direct influence of the Azores high and the trade winds. Their steep orography makes the islands very sensitive to small variations in a synoptic situation, thus providing an excellent natural observatory for the North Atlantic variability associated with changes in pressure patterns. A significant relationship between rainfall and the NAO is found for five of the seven Canary Islands. In order to characterize the physical mechanisms involved, a set of automatic objective techniques for identification and detection of disturbances is applied to the 1000- and 500-hPa geopotential from the NCEP–NCAR reanalysis for the period from 1955 to 1998. This method allows for the identification and detection of four main synoptic systems—either at the surface or at 500 hPa—that are responsible for 80% of the precipitation over the Canary Islands: Atlantic surface lows (ASLs), 500-hPa lows (UALs), 500-hPa troughs over the Canary Islands (TROs), and deep Atlantic lows (DALs), which affect the entire troposphere. Three of the detected disturbances (ASLs, TROs, and DALs) exhibit a dipolar structure with a low pressure center over 35°N associated with a positive anomaly at higher latitudes, resembling the NAO negative pattern. The analysis of the variability of the disturbance occurrence and the changes in their associated anomaly patterns shows that deeper and more frequent ASLs and TROs affect the Canary Islands during the negative phase of the NAO. However, UAL disturbances are less frequent, and DALs do not exhibit significant variations with the NAO phase. The standard deviation of the 2.5–8-day bandpass-filtered geopotential height shows that the maximum variability asso... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the technical and economic methods used to select a wind-dieselpower system in the Canary Islands. The project was implemented with the aim of meeting the complete energy requirements of a small isolated fishing village, while minimizing fuel consumption and CO[sub 2] emissions. We focus on the decisions taken and lessons learned during configuration of the hybrid system. The project offers a working model for the application of renewable energy to an isolated community where there is no external electricity supply. We analyse nine hypotheses for the system's configuration and operation including the option of using diesel only as a base for comparison. Our results show that the hybrid systems, though employing high percentages of wind energy, were actually more expensive in terms of units of energy produced than the diesel only option. Therefore, a reduction in CO[sub 2] emissions implies additional costs in the energy supply system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study whether the variability introduced in the Canary region by the Canary Islands on perturbing the general flow of the Canary Current and trade winds, and by the Northwest African upwelling, is manifested in the mesozooplankton biomass distribution and ichthyoplankton population. Two transects were sampled and two stations were occupied for 24 h during the first part of the cruise Canarias 9110. One transect and one station were located to the north, upstream of the Canary Islands, in the ‘non-perturbed’ zone, and the other transect and station were to the south, downstream of the islands, in the ‘perturbed’ zone. Oceanographic conditions, as represented by the vertical temperature structure, changed both latitudinally, between upstream unperturbed and downstream perturbed conditions, and longitudinally, between upwelling and oceanic situations. However, differences were evident only in mesozooplankton biomass and in the latitudinal sense. Likewise, the results obtained suggest that (i) there is an interconnection between the neritic fish populations of the Macaronesian archipelagos, in a north–south sense and in a southerly direction, by means of the transport of fish larvae by the Azores and Canary currents, and (ii) this interconnection could affect both those species whose larvae are well adapted for a long survival in the pelagic environment, possessing morphological specializations, and those whose larvae do not present these characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In many cases small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are rooted in their local communities. Therefore, their owners and employees can be expected to show a particular interest in conserving the local environment in which they and their families live. This certainly applies to the Canary Isles. This paper explores the economic, sociocultural and environmental contributions of SMEs to the community in this region. Comparisons are made with large, foreign-owned companies. The contribution that SMEs can make toward sustainability in the Canary Islands could be strengthened by government policy that helps make socioculturally and environmentally advanced activities attractive from an economic point of view. This could, for instance, mean promoting tourist programmes, other than the usual 'sun-and-sand' tourism, and making use of the region's cultural heritage and traditions. Proactive SMEs will then be able to develop their own contributions to sustainable development by taking advantage of the sources of differentiation associated with an orientation towards sustainable business. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2021 Tajogaite eruption at La Palma has represented a unique opportunity to investigate the characteristics of the mantle source feeding modern volcanism in the Canary Islands. With the aim of track the fingerprint of carbon in the local oceanic lithosphere-asthenosphere system, we report the isotopic composition of CO2 (δ130 values versus Vienna Pee Dee Belemnite) in olivine- and clinopyroxene-hosted fluid inclusions (FI) from the 2021 Tajogaite lavas and from lavas/ultramafic xenoliths (olivine-clinopyroxenites, clinopyroxenites, dunites and harzburgites) from the nearby 1677 San Antonio eruption cone/lavas, in an attempt to characterize the origin and evolution of carbon within the local mantle source. Our results indicate that the 2021 and 1677 lavas exhibit δ130 values ranging from -4.94%" to -2.71%" and CO2/3He ratios from 3.37 to 6.14 χ 109. Ultramafic xenoliths fall in a comparable range of values despite showing higher CO2 concentrations. Our δ130 values fall within the range of carbon isotope results previously reported for the Dos Aguas cold spring located in the Taburiente Caldera (northern La Palma), suggesting an apparent carbon isotope homogeneity at the scale of the entire island. The (relatively narrow) δ1^ vs. CO2/3He ratio range of La Palma samples is interpreted to reflect either i) variable extents of open-system degassing of a common mantle endmember having δ1^ of -1.7%", or ii) mixing between depleted mantle-like carbon (-6% < δ1^ < -4%) and crustal carbon ^13C = 0%) endmembers. Both models testify a crustal carbon component recycled in the local mantle. This component, also detected in mantle xenoliths from the neighboring island of El Hierro and the easternmost Lanzarote, indicates a regional characteristic of the mantle beneath the Canary Islands, interpreted as a result of infiltration of carbon-rich melts during past metasomatic events in the local mantle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Healthcare professionals traditional education reflects constraints to face the complex needs of people with chronic diseases in primary care settings. Since more innovative and practical solutions are required, Virtual Community of Practices (vCoP) seem to better respond to learning updates, improving professional and organizational knowledge. However, little is known about the value created in vCoPs as social learning environments. The objective of this project was to explore the value creation process of a gamified vCoP ("e-mpodera vCoP") aimed at improving the knowledge and attitudes of primary healthcare professionals (PCPs) (nurses and general practitioners) to the empowerment of people with chronic conditions. Methods: A framework analysis assessed the value creation process using a mixed methods approach. The framework provided awareness about knowledge and usefulness in a learning community through five cycles: (1) immediate value, (2) potential value, (3) applied value, (4) realized value, and (5) reframing value. Quantitative data included vCoP analytics such as logins, contributions, points, badges, and performance metrics. Qualitative data consisted of PCPs' forum contributions from Madrid, Catalonia, and Canary Islands over 14 months. Results: A total of 185 PCPs had access to the e-mpodera vCoPs. The vCoP showed the dynamic participation of 146 PCPs, along 63 content activities posted, including a total of 3,571 contributions (including text, images, links to webpages, and other files). Regarding the value creation process, the e-mpodera vCoP seems to encompass a broad spectrum of value cycles, with indicators mostly related to cycle 1 (immediate value – activities and interactions) and cycle 2 (potential value – knowledge capital); and to a lesser extent for cycle 3 (applied value – changes in practice) and for cycle 4 (realized value – performance improvement). The presence of indicators related to cycle 5 (reframing value), was minimal, due to few individual redefinitions of success. Conclusion: To reach a wider range of value possibilities, a combination of learning objectives, competence framework, challenged-based gamified platform, and pathway model of skill development seems crucial. However, additional research is required to gain clearer insights into organizational values, professionals' lifelong educational needs in healthcare, and the long-term sustainability of performance improvement. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02757781. Registered on 02/05/2016. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A molecular survey of native and adventive psyllids in the central Macaronesian islands provides the first comprehensive phylogenetic assessment of the origins of the psyllid fauna of the Canary and Madeira archipelagos. We employ a maximum likelihood backbone constraint analysis to place the central Macaronesian taxa within the Psylloidea mitogenome phylogeny. The native psyllid fauna in these central Macaronesian islands results from an estimated 26 independent colonization events. Island host plants are predicted by host plants of continental relatives in nearly all cases and six plant genera have been colonized multiple times (Chamaecytisus, Convolvulus, Olea, Pistacia, Rhamnus, and Spartocytisus) from the continent. Post-colonization diversification varies from no further cladogenesis (18 events, represented by a single native taxon) to modest in situ diversification resulting in two to four native taxa and, surprisingly, given the diverse range of islands and habitats, only one substantial species radiation with more than four native species. Specificity to ancestral host plant genera or family is typically maintained during in situ diversification both within and among islands. Characterization of a recently discovered island radiation consisting of four species on Convolvulus floridus in the Canary Islands shows patterns and rates of diversification that reflect island topographic complexity and geological dynamism. Although modest in species diversity, this radiation is atypical in diversification on a single host plant species, but typical in the primary role of allopatry in the diversification process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Trypanosomosis is a widespread issue in animals, resulting in significant economic losses, particularly in Africa. In Spain, only one pathogenic species, Trypanosoma evansi, has been identified. Since its first detection in a dromedary camel in the Canary Islands in 1997, cases of the disease, known as Surra, have continued to be diagnosed, leading to various studies and control efforts. Due to the lack of a comprehensive database consolidating the most relevant data on T. evansi in Spain, the development of a national atlas was deemed necessary, with a focus on the Canary Islands. To develop the atlas, a repository was created that compiled data and documents from 1997 to 2022. Information from different sources, including georeferenced locations and blood test results, was extracted and integrated into a comprehensive database. The analysis of 31 sources provided 99 georeferenced locations and 12,433 animal samples. Out of these samples, 601 were found to be positive for T. evansi, mostly from dromedaries. The Card Agglutination Test for T. evansi (CATT/T. evansi) was the most commonly used diagnostic method, showing a higher prevalence for all tested animal species. The positive cases were primarily concentrated in the Canary Islands, specifically in the eastern islands, with a few isolated cases in the province of Alicante in the Iberian Peninsula. This atlas serves as a comprehensive overview of the history and prevalence of Surra in Spain and provides a valuable tool for future control initiatives and research. However, further studies are still needed to investigate potential hosts other than camelids and their associated transmission vectors. Trypanosomosis is a global animal issue, causing significant economic losses, particularly in Africa. In Spain, only one pathogenic species, Trypanosoma evansi, has been identified so far. It was first detected in a dromedary camel in the Canary Islands in 1997. Since then, numerous cases of the disease, known as Surra, have been diagnosed, prompting various studies and efforts in control and surveillance. Given the lack of a comprehensive database that consolidates the most relevant data in this area, the development of a national atlas, with a focus on the Canary Islands, to incorporate all available information on T. evansi in Spain became a necessity. For the development of the atlas, a repository was constructed, encompassing a range of datasets and documents spanning from 1997 to 2022. Information from each source, and in particular georeferenced locations and results of blood tests on animals, were extracted and integrated into a comprehensive database. A total of 31 sources were analysed, providing a total of 99 georeferenced locations and 12,433 animal samples. Out of these samples, 601 (mostly from dromedaries) were found to be positive for T. evansi. The Card Agglutination Test for T. evansi (CATT/T. evansi), a serological test, was the most commonly used diagnostic method, and it showed a higher prevalence for all tested animal species. Positive cases were mainly concentrated in the Canary Islands, specifically in the eastern islands, with isolated cases found in the province of Alicante (Iberian Peninsula). This atlas provides an overview of the history and occurrence of Surra in Spain, and it represents a valuable tool for future control initiatives and for research. Still, the need for more studies remains, especially for further testing of potential hosts other than camelids and for the examination of their potential transmission vectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: What are the main findings? The presence of marine litter in sublittoral areas is determined by the density of coastal tourist territories and is lower in areas predominantly used for tourism versus those of mostly resi-dential use; Data collection methodology using depth line transects is essential for estimating marine litter density; The presence of macro debris from motor vehicle tyres is independent of urban areas and their associated density and is also unrelated to maritime access. What are the implications of the main finding? The density of coastal tourist territories plays a crucial role in determining the possible presence of marine litter in sublittoral areas and developing specific preventive policies; It is not possible, with current technology, to use remote means of complex surface and bottom collection of marine litter without depth transects; The deposition of a characteristic type of marine litter, used tyres, shows patterns of occurrence totally independent of coastal urban density. The coastal strip, characterized by the urbanization of coastal tourist territories (CTTs), has expanded over decades through civil engineering, altering the shoreline dynamics and creating artificial beaches crucial for tourism. To examine the relationship between extensive land use in CTTs for tourism and residences and the presence of marine litter, a specific parametric study was conducted along the coast of Tenerife, the largest island in the Canary Islands. Due to Tenerife's geographical location and exposure to the descending Gulf Stream flow, the coastal waters in the selected zone experience waste impact at both local and global scales. However, the presence of marine litter deposited by ocean currents is at a micro level and falls outside the scope of this report. This study parameterised urban reality in study areas, and the presence of macro waste has been parameterised using standardised units of measurement. This enables the establishment of source measurements that will contribute to preventative measures against this type of coastal pollution. The interdependence between tourist zoning, civil seafront engineering works along the seafront, and marine litter presence in inaccessible and visible areas for tourists requires a methodology to better understand waste origin and loading areas. This knowledge is crucial for an effective local monitoring system. A quantitative overlay reading methodology has been designed in the urban setting through calculations of urban densities, while examining the waste in these areas' immediate infralittoral flooring through the use of visual underwater extraction. Anticipating the type and quantity of waste in each area will allow for the implementation of effective awareness, promoting action for preventative and corrective measures at the urban level. The results show a direct dependence between urban density and the presence of waste, as well as an equation that makes it possible to anticipate the amount of waste according to urban density and its relational vector. There is no discontinuity between them, as each area is affected by others to the extent that they establish the parametric continuity conditions determining each field. Therefore, it is possible to relate them beyond a one-on-one relationship. This approach fosters sustainable tourism development, reducing pressure on the sea and enhancing the utilisation of tourism revenues in measures to address waste-related challenges and promotes sustainable tourism development in Europe's coastal regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have been identified as significant point sources of microlitter particles (MPs) released into the environment. Simultaneously, they play a crucial role in effectively removing a substantial amount of MPs originated from domestic and industrial activities. This study evaluates the presence and chemical composition of MPs within the range of 5 mm to 25 µm in effluents from three WWTPs in the Canary Islands, each undergoing distinct treatment processes: pretreatment (PRET), activated sludge (AS), and membrane bioreactor (MBR) over an eight-month period. The concentrations of MPs exhibited substantial variations in the three effluent samples: 7461.50 ± 3843.87 MP/L in PRET, 32.71 ± 19.55 MP/L in AS, and 9.53 ± 5.21 MP/L in MBR. The predominant forms of MPs were fragments (58–66%) and fibers (27–33%), with the most prevalent size class being within the range of 150–25 µm. The mass concentrations of plastics, analyzed through pyrolysis gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (Pyr-GC/MS), were determined as 123.33 µg/L for PRET, 17 µg/L for AS, and 10 µg/L for MBR. This study revealed a diverse polymer profile, with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyolefins (PE and PP) predominantly present. This work enhances our understanding of MP dynamics and provides a valuable reference for future assessments, aiding in the selection of effective removal technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The Canary Islands were initially colonized around 200 CE by North African Berber populations who brought with them domestic plants and animals. These communities remained isolated until the arrival of Europeans in the Late Middle Ages which triggered the conquest of the archipelago. Its geostrategic location in the framework of Atlantic expansion facilitated the arrival of people, knowledge, goods, plants, and animals which served to shape the new Canarian society. This study explores the dietary practices of this period through the zooarchaeological analysis of the faunal remains recovered at the Hospital de San Martín (fifteenth to the eighteenth centuries), Las Palmas (Gran Canaria, Spain). Our results suggest that caprines were the main taxa consumed. This follows both the pre-colonial Indigenous tradition and, according to historical sources, the subsequent European period. The faunal assemblage recovered also reveals the first directly radiocarbon-dated cases in the Canary Islands of three hitherto unknown species: cattle, chicken, and rabbit. Moreover, the results evidence a progressive increase throughout the Modern Era of chicken and rabbit, and that translocating these new species to the archipelago during the European expansion led to a diversification of meat resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The subtropical free troposphere plays a critical role in the radiative balance of the Earth. However, the complex interactions controlling moisture in this sensitive region and, in particular, the relative importance of long‐range transport compared to lower‐tropospheric mixing, remain unclear. This study uses the regional COSMO model equipped with stable water isotopes and passive water tracers to quantify the contributions of different evaporative sources to the moisture and its stable isotope signals in the eastern subtropical North Atlantic free troposphere. In summer, this region is characterized by two alternating large‐scale circulation regimes: (i) dry, isotopically depleted air from the upper‐level extratropics, and (ii) humid, enriched air advected from Northern Africa within the Saharan Air Layer (SAL) consisting of a mixture of moisture of diverse origin (tropical and extratropical North Atlantic, Africa, Europe, the Mediterranean). This diversity of moisture sources in regime (ii) arises from the convergent inflow at low levels of air from different neighbouring regions into the Saharan heat low (SHL), where it is mixed and injected by convective plumes into the large‐scale flow aloft, and thereafter expelled to the North Atlantic within the SAL. Remarkably, this regime is associated with a large contribution of moisture that evaporated from the North Atlantic, which makes a detour through the SHL and eventually reaches the 850–550 hPa layer above the Canaries. Moisture transport from Europe via the SHL to the same layer leads to the strongest enrichment in heavy isotopes (δ2H correlates most strongly with this tracer). The vertical profiles over the North Atlantic show increased humidity and δ2H and reduced static stability in the 850–550 hPa layer, and smaller cloud fraction in the boundary layer in regime (ii) compared to regime (i), highlighting the key role of moisture transport through the SHL in modulating the radiative balance in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structures of the volcanic seamounts of the Atlantis-Great Meteor group, as well as areas of the archipelagos of the Cape Verde Islands, the Canary Islands and the Azores are analyzed. Their simplest type is a cone-like structure with one summit (Maio seamount). A more complex type consists of two closely spaced volcanic edifices (Nola seamount). The seamounts were also formed as a result of the activity of a central-type volcano and a fissure system (The-Paps seamount). A more complex morphology is presented by the mountains that were formed as a result of the activity of an underwater volcano of the central type, which was combined with the activity of three to four radial fissure volcanic systems (the Tropic seamount). The seamounts were also formed only during fissure eruptions (the Condor seamount, the Cadamosto seamount). These are ridges, tens of kilometers long without a clearly defined summit. All above types of seamounts, with their rise above sea level, subsequent abrasion and subsidence lead to the creation of flat-topped structures (guyots) (the Senghor seamount). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A phytochorological and ecobiological study of the nine species, two subspecies and two varieties of the genera Aeonium and Greenovia in La Gomera is carried out, with special attention to F1 hybridization in nature. To the ten hybrids already described on the island, seven new hybrids were discovered, which are the subject of a separate publication. In all the known hybrids I determined whether the parents were sympatric or allopatric. The geographical coincidence of the parents was a sine qua non requirement for hybridization to occur in all the hybrids known so far, since pollen transfer by biotic and abiotic agents does not function between disjunct areas. The two prezygotic reproductive barriers that currently prevent interspecific hybridization in Aeonium or intergeneric hybridization between Aeonium and Greenovia are the geographic separation of populations and the different flowering times. The ability to survive and reproduce successfully of F1 hybrids in Aeonium and Greenovia is usually lower than that of the parent species and they generally disappear from the environment in the first filial generation without leaving offspring. The fundamental principles that govern F1 hybridization in La Gomera are extracted, and after verifying that they were also fulfilled in the other mountainous islands, they were synthesized in eight principles, which provide an updated vision of hybridization in the genus Aeonium. Citation: Arango O. 2024: Principles governing F1 hybridization in the genera Aeonium and Greenovia in La Gomera, Canary Islands. – Willdenowia 53: 257–268 Version of record first published online on 23 January 2024. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Date stone beetles tunnel into the seeds of several palm species, where they establish brood galleries in which they spend their entire life cycle. Their larvae, which consume the seed's albumen, pupate and hatch in the seed, with multiple generations co-existing until all the seed's albumen has been consumed. Little is known about the initial tunneling and nature of the establishment of the brood galleries. Through experimentation with seeds of the Canary Islands Date Palm, this study shows that the beetles exhibited an overwhelming preference for a penetration at the grooved side. Behavioral observations showed that, in order to penetrate, the date stone beetle needs to be able to push its mandibles into the epicarp of the seed. The main thrust is generated by the hind legs which requires traction as provided by the groove. When tunneling, the mid legs function as a pivot, while the fore legs enable lateral control. When in the tunnel cavity the pair of mid legs act as wall anchors. Gustatory cues prevent the beetle from tunneling through to the other side. The nature of these gustatory cues remains unclear at this point and awaits future research. The cryptic spermatophagus date stone beetle (Coccotrypes dactyliperda Fabricius, 1801) tunnels into palm seeds for oviposition and subsequent establishment of brood galleries. Based on behavioral observations this paper describes the biomechanical and gustatory parameters that govern the initial excavation of the tunnels and the subsequent establishment of the galleries. When tunneling into Canary Islands Date Palm (Phoenix canariensis Chabaud, 1882) seeds, penetration principally occurs at the dorsal side of the seed, in particular the groove, which allows the beetle to gain the required traction. Tunneling is executed in a circular fashion with clockwise or counter-clockwise repositioning in approximately one-eighth to one-quarter turns. Biomechanically, the three pairs of legs provide thrust (hind legs), pivoting (mid legs), and lateral control (fore legs). Gustatory cues, the nature of which remains unclear at this point, prevent the beetle from tunneling through to the other side. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cumbre Vieja volcano, located in La Palma Island (Canary Islands, Spain), erupted on 19 September 2021. Some papers have been published in the past in which the tsunamis generated by a potential massive landslide due to a collapse of one of the volcano flanks are investigated. However, a potential slide of the lava flow down the island slope has not been considered yet. A numerical model has been applied to simulate the propagation of the tsunami generated by such slide and to assess its consequences in the near field (Canary Islands and west coast of Africa). The model provides maps of maximum wave heights and arrival times of the tsunami, as well as time series of water surface elevation at several selected locations. Since the volume involved in such potential slide is a priori not known, several values were tested and their effects compared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For a century, the discovery of ferromanganese (Fe–Mn) nodules in the World Ocean was universally and indisputably credited to the Challenger circum-global oceanographic expedition of 1872–1876, during which the first manganese nodules and crusts were dredged up from the sea floor in February–March 1873. A century later, a counterclaim appeared in the literature, crediting Nordenskiöld's expedition on Sofia in 1868, five years before the Challenger findings, for the discovery of Fe–Mn nodules in the ocean. This counterclaim, widely accepted without scrutiny, was based on the Gustaf Lindström (1884) chemical analysis of a single bottom sediment sample among 14 samples from two Arctic expeditions led by Nordenskiöld: Sofia 1868 and Vega 1878–1880. The Lindström (1884) report published as an eight-page brochure in Swedish remained almost unknown to the research community until now. A close examination of this report and other historical evidence revealed that the counterclaim of discovery by the Sofia 1868 expedition to the Kara Sea is invalid based on three notable facts: (1) Sofia never sailed in the Kara Sea; (2) the single bottom sediment sample with an extremely high content of Mn (24%), was collected in the Kara Sea during the Vega Expedition across the Northeast Passage; (3) the Vega sampling was in 1878, not in 1868. Meanwhile, five and a half years prior to the Vega sampling, the first Fe–Mn nodules and crusts were dredged up from the sea floor on 18 February and March 7, 1873 during the Challenger expedition. These findings have been promptly reported and published in May 1873. Thus, the credit for the discovery of ferromanganese nodules in the World Ocean firmly belongs to the Challenger expedition. • The discovery of ferromanganese nodules in the World Ocean is revisited. • The Lindström (1884) paper with chemical analyses of sediment samples from Nordeskiöld's expeditions is examined. • The discovery of ferromanganese nodules in the World Oceanduring the Challenger 1872–1876 expedition is confirmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While sustainable development is recognized as an essential requirement for achieving economic goals without degrading the environment, major problems arise in defining methods for formulating and implementing sustainable strategic actions at the macro-level, including islands. Bearing in mind this limitation, this research paper will attempt to present a strategic planning methodology for drawing up strategic issues for tourism development from the point of view of sustainability, which is particularly appropriate to islands. The authors first review existing literature on sustainable development with a view to defining a conceptual approach to sustainability and identifying particular areas for sustainable tourism development in the island context. A methodology for formulating strategic issues for sustainable tourism development in Gran Canaria is then drawn up. Sociocultural aspects, the environment and the economy, with particular emphasis on tourism, are examined in order to identify major strategic issues for sustainable development in Gran Canaria. Copyright Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geodiversity can be defined as the spatial variability of geo-elements. Its emergence as a research field is relatively recent, with a wide range of approaches and methods of evaluation and quantification already in use. The work described in this paper was carried out from a novel perspective. Firstly, the emphasis is specifically centred on geomorphological diversity. Secondly, mathematical ecology calculations are applied which tackle the problem on the basis of a larger number of diversity parameters. In addition, whereas most authors have focussed on mountainous and/or continental areas, for the first time a study of this type is applied to coastal landscapes. The analysis covers the full 459 km of volcanic coastline of the islands of Gran Canaria and La Palma (Canary Islands). These two oceanic islands were chosen for purposes of diversity comparison given their differing stages of geomorphic development. In accordance with an ad hoc geomorphological taxonomy, as developed in this study, 14 geomorphic groups and 42 subgroups were identified and quantified according to their presence [1] or absence [0] along the coastline. A cartographic-analytical method (coastline data-storing or CDS), based on the computation of binary information in the cartographic vector of the coastline, enabled calculation of the occurrence probability of these groups and subgroups. Both at local level (analyses of coastal morphoassemblages ) and general level, three components of geomorphological diversity (richness, evenness and dissimilarity) were estimated, through indices of richness (R), Shannon's entropy (H′) and Rao's quadratic entropy (Q). The data reveal that geomorphological coastal diversity is between 11.1% and 48.2% higher in Gran Canaria than in La Palma. The method was subjected to a fractal stress test through iterative mapping procedures to assess the effect of scale on the behaviour of the relative frequencies and indices. The variability that was obtained allowed the extraction of corrected values in the indices for La Palma (H′ c  = 1.88 ± 0.008 and Q c  = 0.183 ± 0.004) and Gran Canaria (H′ c  = 2.11 ± 0.019 and Q c  = 0.232 ± 0.003). A moving-window test was also applied as a rarefaction method to confirm the contrast in diversity in coasts of different size. The results enabled to advance hypotheses about the relation between coastal geomorphic diversity and geological age of islands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The analysis presented in this paper is innovative, due to the lack of studies analysing how airlines compete in managing demand for domestic passenger air transport from mainland Spain to the Canary Islands. This research examines five Canary Island airports on 52 routes in order to explain the determinants of tourist air travel in this market. The regression analysis used the 2-stage least squares structural equation approach' with the implementation of instrumental variables in three equations: i) demand, ii) market share, and iii) price on each route. The results show that tourism in the Canary Island is very sensitive to income of the generating regions and prices of airline tickets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because of their geographical isolation, many areas depend mainly on imported fossil fuels for their water and energy production. In this context, the Canary Islands are one such remote area. Due to the topography of the islands, there are numerous isolated areas on each of the islands far from the major population centres. These are known as ‘islands within islands’. The main aim of this paper is to determine the feasibility or otherwise of supplying from renewable energy sources both the energy and water needs of the 219 inhabitants of El Risco located in the municipality of Agaete on the island of Gran Canaria (Spain). For this purpose, the potential use of existing renewable resources in this isolated area has been analysed, using hydrogen as energy vector. A reverse osmosis (RO) plant is integrated into the system to ensure water self-sufficiency and, in turn, constitutes a double storage system (hydrogen-water). Based on the results obtained from the study, the technical feasibility of the system is confirmed, with an annual energy production of 1,743,031 kWh/year compared to a consumption of 672,314.32 kWh/year, as well as a potable water production volume of 46,546.80 m 3 /year obtained from the RO plant. The reliability of the system is confirmed in the economic analysis, obtaining a renewable electricity cost of 0.107 €/kWh compared to 0.18 €/kWh when using conventional electricity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper the Canary archipelago is used as a study case to analyse and improve the municipal solid waste (MSW) planning process. The research has been conducted in four steps, namely, the Delphi technique helped to capture the knowledge of the local experts, the fuzzy TOPSIS to rank the MSW treatment methods more consistently, the System Dynamics to design a mathematical model based on MSW official historical data from 1999 up to 2014, and Scenario Analysis to forecast the future evolution of the MSW until 2030 under different policies. According to the results obtained by simulating several possible and desirable scenarios, the model predicts that by maintaining the current policies (Business As Usual scenario), it will be impossible to meet the targets of the MSW European Directive. The model also estimates the annual ratios to be reached for each component of the MSW so that they can comply with the European Directive, e.g. regarding to recycling (Scenario 2) and organic and rest fraction collection (Scenario 3) and the influences of the resident population and the equivalent touristic population on the total MSW generation until 2030. This methodological approach could be replicated in other territories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a research paper on the relationship between the wet body weight of limpets from Santa Cruz de Tenerife in Canary Islands and trace metal contents such as lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), and cadmium (Cd). The study involves 570 limpets which were frozen until analyzed, dried under infrared (IR) irradiation, and converted to white ash. It also analyzes the similar behavior of some metals in the shellfish through principal component analysis and Ward's agglomerative method.

The aim of this research work is to study the effect of salt mist ageing on the physico-mechanical properties of two ignimbrites from the Canary Islands (Spain). Due to their insular nature and extensive coastlines, these regions are highly susceptible to atmospheric salt aerosols, which is a significant weathering agent for building materials. The ignimbrites analysed are marketed under the names "Azul Lomo Tomás de León" and "Marrón de Abades" and are widely used as building stones. Petrographic, mineralogical and chemical properties were obtained via polarisation microscopy, X-ray diffraction and X-ray fluorescence. The samples were subjected to 60 cycles of a salt mist environment, following relevant European standards. Scanning electron microscopy images of the specimens were analysed along with physical properties, including apparent density, open porosity, water absorption, colourimetry and ultrasound propagation velocity, initially and after every 20 cycles, allowing us to assess their evolution during the ageing test. Mechanical properties were evaluated using uniaxial compressive strength and flexural strength under concentrated load tests on two groups of specimens: one unaged and the other subjected to 60 ageing cycles. With the exception of apparent density, the other properties show a decrease between 5% and 30%. However, open porosity increases and is one of the properties most affected by the ageing test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fungal endophyte originating from the Canary Islands was identified as a potent antagonist against the fungal phytopathogen Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, which causes the devastating ash dieback disease. This endophyte was tentatively identified as Pezicula cf. ericae, using molecular barcoding. Isolation of secondary metabolites by preparative high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) yielded the known compounds CJ-17,572 (1), mycorrhizin A (3) and cryptosporioptides A–C (4–6), besides a new N-acetylated dihydroxyphenylalanin derivative 2, named peziculastatin. Planar structures were elucidated by NMR and HRMS data, while the relative stereochemistry of 2 was assigned by H,H and C,H coupling constants. The assignment of the unknown stereochemistry of CJ-17,572 (1) was hampered by the broadening of NMR signals. Nevertheless, after semisynthetic conversion of 1 into its methyl derivatives 7 and 8, presumably preventing tautomeric effects, the relative configuration could be assigned, whereas comparison of ECD data to those of related compounds determined the absolute configuration. Metabolites 1 and 3 showed significant antifungal effects in vitro against H. fraxineus. Furthermore, 4–6 exhibited significant dispersive effects on preformed biofilms of S. aureus at concentrations up to 2 µg/mL, while the biofilm formation of C. albicans was also inhibited. Thus, cryptosporioptides might constitute a potential source for the development of novel antibiofilm agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incorporation of digital didactic materials into the teaching and learning process of students, both in Early Childhood and Primary Education, inevitably entails changes. Some of them concern teacher training, others the interactions and roles of the members of the educational community, and others the innovation, a priori, of the educational process itself. In this context, characterized by the digitization of classrooms, questions arise that this research aims to answer: What vision do teachers have of the incorporation of these media? In what learning situations are they used and for what purposes? Are there differences between the use of digital resources in the infant and primary school stages? This article aims to analyze and compare the perceptions of teachers in two different contexts: the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands and the Valencian Community. By means of a qualitative study, the focus is on knowing the teachers' assessment of the usefulness of these resources and on identifying the uses given to them in classroom practices. The results show how, despite the widespread use of digital materials in both stages, some teachers are rethinking their use with students at an early age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From 19 September to 13 December 2021, volcanic eruptions took place at the Cumbre Vieja ridge, Las Palmas, Canary Islands. Thereby, fine ash and volatiles, like sulfur dioxide (SO2), were emitted and transported over hundreds to thousands of kilometers away from the island. Continuous lidar observations with the multiwavelength-Raman-polarization lidar PollyXT were performed at the Ocean Science Center at Mindelo, Cabo Verde, in the framework of the Joint Aeolus-Tropical Atlantic Campaign (JATAC) 2021/2022 enabling the characterization of the atmospheric state above Mindelo during the eruption period. A special feature of the system operated at Mindelo is, that measurements of the particle extinction coefficient, the particle extinction-to-backscatter ratio (lidar ratio) and the particle linear depolarization ratio are available at all three wavelengths (355, 532 and 1064 nm). The typical aerosol conditions over Mindelo are a clean marine planetary boundary layer (PBL) up to approx. 1 km and above a Saharan dust layer (SAL, up to 6 km) during northern hemispheric summer and fall. A particle extinction coefficient smaller than 200 Mm−1, a lidar ratio smaller than 30 sr and a particle linear depolarization ratio close to 0 % have been typically observed within the planetary boundary layer, while a lidar ratio between 40 and 60 sr and a linear depolarization ratio between 20 and 30 % are characteristic for the SAL above. In contrast, during the time of the volcanic eruptions, a strongly polluted PBL was observed on specific days beginning on the 23 September 2021, whereby the particle extinction coefficient and the lidar ratio increased up to 800 Mm−1 and 80 sr (at 355 nm), respectively. On 24 September, the aerosol optical depth, determined by an AERONET (Aerosol Robotic Network) sun photometer, was as high as 0.9 and 1.1 (daily averages at 500 and 340 nm). HYSPLIT (Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory) trajectories indicate air mass transport from Canary Islands to Mindelo at heights below 2 km. The observed pollution in the PBL over Mindelo is attributed to sulfate aerosol from the volcanic eruption at Las Palmas as the particle linear depolarization ratio was low (≤ 3 %) and, thus, does not indicate non-spherical particles, such as Saharan dust or volcanic ash. We thus conclude that sulfate aerosol formed from gaseous precursors during the transport (2–3 days for a distance of 1500 km) from Las Palmas towards Cabo Verde. No indications of volcanic ash over Mindelo were found in the SAL. This finding is supported by the HYSPLIT trajectories, which show that air masses in higher altitudes originate from the African continent and not from the Canary Islands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Cardiopulmonary dirofilariasis is a vector-borne zoonotic disease caused by the nematode parasite Dirofilaria immitis. This disease is cosmopolitan and mainly affects canids and felids and accidentally humans. The Canary Islands (Spain) are considered an endemic area and some of its islands such as the islands of Tenerife and Gran Canaria (provincial capitals) are considered hyperendemic. The aim of our study was to develop a quantitative proposal of the risk of infection by D. immitis using an ecological niche model (ENM), taking into account environmental and bioclimatic variables that affect the presence of culicid mosquitoes, to maximize its resolution and, in addition, estimate the impact of future climatic conditions in 2080 on the risk of infection. Nineteen environmental and bioclimatic variables were processed and modeled using ArcMap 10 and MaxEnt 3.4. The model was weighted by the number of Dirofilaria spp. generations and validated with the prevalence and geolocation of D. immitis-infected dogs across the Canary Islands. The risk map of D. immitis infection in the Canary Islands is high in all the islands, except for the higher altitude areas, and as for the analysis of range change, the projection for 2080 does not show a large increase in the extension of areas suitable for Culex spp., but rather a modification in the distribution of these areas. This model will help veterinary and public health professionals to carry out more effective and localized prevention and control of cardiopulmonary dirofilariosis (heartworm disease). Heartworm disease is a vector-borne zoonotic disease caused by Dirofilaria immitis. The Canary Islands (Spain), geolocated close to the coast of Western Sahara, is an archipelago considered hyperendemic where the average prevalence in domestic dogs is high, heterogeneous, and non-uniform. In addition, Culex theileri has been reported as a vector of the disease on two of the most populated islands. Our aim was to develop a more accurate transmission risk model for dirofilariosis for the Canary Islands. For this purpose, we used different variables related to parasite transmission; the potential distribution of suitable habitats for Culex spp. was calculated using the ecological niche model (ENM) and the potential number of generations of D. immitis. The resulting model was validated with the geolocation of D. immitis-infected dogs from all islands. In addition, the impact of possible future climatic conditions was estimated. There is a risk of transmission on all islands, being high in coastal areas, moderate in midland areas, and minimal in higher altitude areas. Most of the dogs infected with D. immitis were geolocated in areas with a high risk of transmission. In 2080, the percentage of territory that will have been gained by Culex spp. is small (5.02%), although it will occur toward the midlands from coastal areas. This new model provides a high predictive power for the study of cardiopulmonary dirofilariosis in the Canary Islands, as a hyperendemic area of the disease, and can be used as a tool for its prevention and control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Injuries to the dentofacial region caused by third parties can affect physiological, sensory and esthetic functions with legal repercussions. The personal and social circumstances generated by Covid-19 and the governmental measures taken to control it, have increased the risk factors for violence and with it, the resulting injury rate. The aim of the present investigation was to compare the amount of civil liability for dental injury crimes agreed by Spanish courts, in certain Autonomous Communities, before and during the pandemic situation caused by Covid-19. For this purpose, a analytic cross-sectional study was carried out by analyzing sentences from the database of the Judicial Documentation Center. A comparison of means (one-way ANOVA) was used on the amount of compensation between the different years, and between the Autonomous Communities of Madrid, Catalonia Cataluña, Andalusia, the Canary Islands and the Valencian Community. It was observed that the year 2020 stood out for the increase in the number of cases of dental injury offenses. For its part, the Autonomous Community of Andalusia showed the highest amount of compensation during the pandemic, although the highest number of cases corresponded to the Community of Madrid. The statistical analysis yielded a probability of more than 0.05, which eliminated the possibility of significant differences in each of the comparisons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study presents isotopic information for incremental dentine collagen and bone bulk collagen from individuals from the Canary Islands (Tenerife and Gran Canaria) to explore dietary differences during childhood life. Materials and Methods: Eight individuals have been studied, which comprises 122 δ15N and δ13C incremental dentine measurements and eight bulk bone collagen analyses. A baseline of potentially consumed food sources has been developed for comparative purposes. A food reconstruction using isotopic transferred signals (FRUITS) model of probable contributions of each food source towards the diet of each individual has been developed. All samples but one belongs to the later period of indigenous occupation of the archipelago. Results: The dentine collagen data are presented in correlated δ13C and δ15N plots per individual, showing the isotopic changes throughout time. δ15N values for each individual tend to be variable whereas δ13C data are generally more stable with a range of +9.1 to +14‰ for δ15N and −17.4 to −20.8‰ for δ13C. Conclusion: The isotopic analysis allows for the reconstruction of eight dietary profiles, which allow us to estimate the different dietary protein sources. The FRUITS model shows different percentages of the primary food sources for each individual. Where both δ13C and δ15N are elevated, this could be indicative of a higher marine contribution to the diet. There appear to be two main dietary profiles identifiable in the dataset and these may be related to changes in status or place of residence. Short‐term variations in δ13C and δ15N and opposing co‐variance of isotopic values can be indicative of nutritional stress, although metabolic changes during growth are also considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on the analysis of M2 ocean tide loading (OTL) kinematic GPS vertical displacement and tidal gravity measurements using 26 GPS and four gravimetric sites across the Canary Islands archipelago. In this region, the standard deviation among recent ocean tide models is lower than 0.4 cm in amplitude and 0.3° in phase, which are suitably accurate for displacement modelling. However, for gravity we need to model regional ocean tides to achieve enough accuracy in the loading calculations. Particularly, this study improves the predicted OTL gravity variations when global ocean models are replaced with the regional model CIAM2 which assimilates local tide gauge data. These small ocean tide model errors allow us to use the differences between observed and predicted OTL values to study the elastic and anelastic properties of the solid Earth around the Canary Islands. In the prediction of OTL, we first used the recent elastic STW105 and S362ANI seismic models, obtaining average observed minus predicted residuals of 1.2–1.3 mm for vertical displacement and 3 nm s−2 for gravity. After the STW105 and S362ANI models were adjusted for anelasticity, by considering a constant quality factor Q at periods ranging from 1 s to 12.42 hr, the average misfit between observations and predicted OTL values reduced to 0.7–0.8 mm for vertical displacement and to 1 nm s−2 for gravity. However, the average vertical displacement misfit is made up from site misfits less than 0.5 mm in western islands but for the easternmost islands of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, they still reach up to nearly 2 mm at some sites, which still exceeds the uncertainty in the GPS observations. It is hypothesized that mantle upwelling underneath the Canary Islands, creating spatial variations in the elastic properties, causes the large residuals observed in the eastern islands. We reduced the shear modulus by up to 35 per cent in the upper mantle layer of 24.4–220 km depth. This produced residual observed minus model differences of about 0.7 mm for the sites on Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, comparable to the results obtained for the GPS sites across the rest of the archipelago, whose residuals in turn were also slightly reduced through the VS velocity and shear modulus reductions (by 0.2 mm on average). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water scarcity is a serious constraint for agriculture, and global warming and climate change can exacerbate it in many areas. Therefore, sustainable approaches must be implemented to deal with current and future water scarcity scenarios. Genetic and chemical approaches are being applied to manage this limitation and maintain crop yields. In particular, biostimulants obtained from natural sources such as marine algae are promising aids for coping with water deficit stress in agriculture. Here we present a bioprospection study of extracts of the macroalgae Bonnemaisonia hamifera, Galaxaura rugosa, Dasycladus vermicularis, Ulva clathrata, Cystoseira foeniculacea, Cystoseira humilis, Lobophora dagamae, Colpomenia sinuosa and Halopteris scoparia from the north coast of Tenerife, in the Canary Islands. The aqueous extracts of Bonnemaisonia hamifera, Galaxaura rugosa, Dasycladus vermicularis and Cystoseira humilis show biostimulant activity against water deficit stress in tomato seedlings under controlled conditions, providing higher tolerance than the mock-treated control. The Galaxaura rugosa extract showed the highest biostimulant activity against water deficit stress. We demonstrate that this positive effect involves the activation of the abscisic acid (ABA) pathway in Arabidopsis thaliana (arabidopsis) and Solanum lycopersicum (tomato). Application of G. rugosa extract to the root system by drenching tomato seedlings subjected to water deficit leads to improved CO2 assimilation and water use efficiency (WUEp), compared to mock-treated plants. These results highlight a new potential seaweed source of substances with osmoprotectant properties, useful for biostimulant development. Future studies may provide further insight into which components of the seaweed extract induce activation of the ABA pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents the results of the long-term monitoring of PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations using a low-cost particle sensor installed in a suburban environment in the Canary Islands. A laser-scattering Nova Fitness SDS011 sensor was operated continuously for approximately three and a half years, which is longer than most other studies using this type of sensor. The impact of African dust outbreaks on the aerosol concentrations was assessed, showing a significant increase in both PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations during the outbreaks. Additionally, a good correlation was found with a nearby reference instrument of the air quality network of the Canary Islands' government. The correlation between the PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations, the effect of relative humidity, and the stability of the sensor were also investigated. This study highlights the potential of this kind of sensor for long-term air quality monitoring with a view to developing extensive and dense low-cost air quality networks that are complementary to official air quality networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural selection plays a key role in deterministic evolution, as clearly illustrated by the multiple cases of repeated evolution of ecomorphological characters observed in adaptive radiations. Unlike most spiders, Dysdera species display a high variability of cheliceral morphologies, which has been suggested to reflect different levels of specialization to feed on isopods. In this study, we integrate geometric morphometrics and experimental trials with a fully resolved phylogeny of the highly diverse endemic species from the Canary Islands to 1) quantitatively delimit the different cheliceral morphotypes present in the archipelago, 2) test their association with trophic specialization, as reported for continental species, 3) reconstruct the evolution of these ecomorphs throughout the diversification of the group, 4) test the hypothesis of convergent evolution of the different morphotypes, and 5) examine whether specialization constitutes a case of evolutionary irreversibility in this group. We show the existence of 9 cheliceral morphotypes and uncovered their significance for trophic ecology. Further, we demonstrate that similar ecomorphs evolved multiple times in the archipelago, providing a novel study system to explain how convergent evolution and irreversibility due to specialization may be combined to shape phenotypic diversification in adaptive radiations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The literature on water use in hotels has identified numerous determinants of water consumption, but a consensus has yet to be reached on the influence of some of these factors. This article aims to enhance the current research framework on water use in the hotel sector by presenting a case study of one hotel in Tenerife, Canary Islands. The conceptual framework of water consumption in hotels is presented based on the previous literature. Starting from that, basic statistical analysis and bivariate correlations were performed on water consumption data from 2007 to 2019 to determine the significant factors affecting both total water consumption and consumption per guest night. Special attention was paid to water usage in gardens and the impact of weather conditions, as there is a lack of research focused on them. Additionally, the water management actions of the hotel were classified according to the business' themes proposed for the Sustainable Development Goals, using an internationally recognized guide, thus addressing one of the gaps identified in the literature. The results generally support previous research findings, but some discrepancies were noted regarding the number of guest nights and the effectiveness of implementing water-saving measures. This raises new questions about the characteristics of various water-saving measures, such as room renovation, and their influence on customer behavior, which may alter the intended impact on water consumption. Therefore, the findings of this study can provide an insight into unclear aspects in this area. They could also benefit hotels in terms of sustainability communication by allowing them to position their actions with an internationally recognized framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite that previous research exists, there is a need for further research on the quantitative aspects of this Nexus. Existing Water-Energy-Environment Nexus management tools and frameworks are based on indicators aiming to model the whole system, analyze the involved resources, and test potential management strategies. The environmental, social, and economic consequences of actions already taken and ongoing projects require important focus because of the strong relationship between water and energy supply, and that both are key issues for society's development and sustainability. The present research focuses on the indicators that the Water-Energy-Environment Nexus tools and frameworks use to analyze the whole problem. Existing tools often require large amounts of data, becoming a time-consuming process that lowers the capacity to evaluate the political problems of high pollutants. With the aim of accelerating time evaluation, this research builds an indicator to rapidly evaluate the Water-Energy-Environment Nexus implications of replacing fossil-based power generation systems with wind and photovoltaic renewable energy systems in the water-scarce region of the Canary Islands. This indicator allowed the rapid evaluation of storylines in a small system with well-defined boundaries. Results show that the water sustainability index improved by 6.2% in comparison to fossil-based plants, while reducing 2750 tons of CO2. Although this methodology can be easily applied in different scenarios and locations, it further development to evaluate system boundaries and to provide extensive results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beaches exposed to continuous arrivals of tourists, such as on the Canary Islands, are subject to demands for quality requirements that are more stringent than in other coastal areas with seasonal tourism. It is therefore especially necessary to evaluate the recreational quality of these beaches. This paper develops a system of indicators (accessibility, environmental quality, water quality, comfort, scenic quality, human activity and infrastructure, facilities and safety) which integrates the narratives of stakeholders, and reveals high recreational quality values at urban and semi-urban beaches, moderate to high values at semi-urban beaches, and low values for services at natural beaches. In order to increase the quality of (i) accessibility at urban and semi-urban beaches, (ii) comfort, scenic quality, facilities and safety services at semi-urban beaches and (iii) water quality, facilities and safety at natural beaches, local management practices need to be adapted in accordance with the different types of beaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we provide new bryophyte reports for Macaronesia as a whole, for single archipelagos, and for single islands. New to Macaronesia are Aneura pseudopinguis, Didymodon brachyphyllus, Diplophyllum obtusifolium, Distichium capillaceum, and Schizymenium pontevedrense. First archipelago reports concern Brachythecium albicans (Canary Islands), Bryum dichotomum (Cape Verde), B. kunzei(Canary Islands), Homalothecium aureum (Cape Verde), Hydrogonium boUeamim (Madeira), Isopterygiopsis pukheUa (Canary Islands), P oh lia cruda (Madeira), Pterygoneurum ovatum (Canary Islands), Schistidium flaccidum (Madeira), and Tortellafasciculata (Madeira). First single island reports are given for 42 species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the early 2000s, the Canary Islands emerged as the main gateway for unwanted sea migrants from Senegal into Spain. In this paper, I draw from a year of multi-sited ethnographic work to discuss the relationship between state actions to secure the border against these migrants, on the one hand; and smugglers and migrants' efforts to subvert those actions, on the other. My argument is that the relationship between the two is mutually constitutive: anti-immigration policy is a reaction to the actions of unwanted migrants, and unwanted migrants adapt to state efforts to seal the border against unwanted migration by finding and exploiting spaces of opportunity in the border. In the context of sea migration from Senegal to the Canary Islands, 2005 marks a major shift in this relationship. That year the European Union adopted a new framework for migration control (the Global Approach to Migration and Mobility), Frontex became operational, and Spain and Senegal deepened their cooperation to stop unwanted Europe-bound sea migration. This forced unwanted migrants to find creative ways to enter EU territory. I argue that combining the institutional and migrant perspectives allows us to explore the decentering of the state in the contemporary anti-immigration border regime, the emerging spatialities of the contemporary border, and understand the migrant's journey. This perspective also illuminates the messiness, violence, and multiplicity of interests involved in the bordering of Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]