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Self-regulated learning strategies are essential for learning, and to teach learners to use them, teachers must master them. The objective of this study was to identify training priorities for including these strategies in online courses for teachers, and to determine whether opinion influences the use of strategies. The design was non-experimental and cross-sectional, and involved administering the revised "Cuestionario de Evaluación de las Estrategias de Aprendizaje de los Estudiantes Universitarios" (CEVEAPEU questionnaire) to 285 teachers. The results allow us to differentiate between priority weaknesses, lower-priority weaknesses, and strengths in relation to metacognitive strategies (planning, objectives, self-evaluation, self-regulation, and context). To determine this, a frequency analysis was used, followed by a Mann-Whitney U (for 2-group variables) and Kruskal-Wallis (for 3 groups) test to determine whether opinion influences the use of strategies. Priority weaknesses were identified in the knowledge of objectives and evaluation criteria (planification); the ability to recognise when an exam has been passed (self-evaluation); modifying initial plans, dedicating more effort to difficult subjects, and learning new study techniques (self-regulation); and taking advantage of study time (context control). We concluded that opinions on self-regulated learning influence the use of strategies. Finally, work should be done on the recognition of the importance of self-regulated learning, time management strategies, self-evaluation techniques, flexibility, and self-control.

Neacomys is a genus of small spiny or bristly sigmodontine rodents that are common components of mammalian faunas in multiple biomes on Central and South America. Recent studies on this group have demonstrated that there is cryptic diversity yet to be discovered within currently recognized species that have not received comprehensive revisions, as well as in areas that have been overlooked. Here we ratify this assertion by describing a new species previously misidentified as the Narrow-footed Spiny Mouse (Neacomys tenuipes) from the Chocó biogeographic region in northwestern Ecuador, Neacomys marci Brito & Tinoco, sp. nov. Distinctiveness of this entity is supported by the combination of the following morphological characters: small size (head-body length 65–85 mm); long tail (69–126% longer than head-body length); pale buff-colored but gray-based belly fur; white throat; hypothenar pad usually absent; long nasals; and a condylar process higher than the coronoid process. Likewise genetic distance analyses and phylogenetic reconstructions based on cytochrome-b (Cytb) sequence data indicate a clear divergence from typical populations of N. tenuipes, and a sister relationship between them. The results presented here increase the diversity of Neacomys to 24 species, placing it among the most diverse genera within the sigmodontine rodents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports movement patterns and home range estimates of an Andean fox (Lycalopex culpaeus) in Cotopaxi National Park in Ecuador, representing the first GPS-tagging of the species. The GPS functioned well during the 197-day tracking period. Home range sizes ranged between 4.9 and 8.1 km2, depending on the estimation method. Movement speeds averaged 0.17 km/h at day versus 0.87 km/h at night, and distance traveled averaged 0.23 km at day versus 0.89 km at night. These preliminary results highlight the importance of collecting unbiased, high-quality data which enables an enhanced understanding on mammal behavior and human/animal interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uses data from the 1987 Household Survey to explore the relationship between educating and earnings in Ecuador. Results indicate a sharp difference in the premium associated with higher education between males and females (favoring males). Those with primary education are rewarded relatively more in the public than the private sector. Includes 14 references. (MLH)

One of the top carnivores in the Andean mountains is the Andean bear (Tremarctos ornatus, Ursidae), the only bear in South America. This is a flagship and key umbrella species in Ecuador because its conservation has a positive impact on the conservation of many other species in the Andes. But to preserve, first one must know the genetic characteristics of a species, among other things. For this, we analyzed six mitochondrial genes and seven nuclear DNA microsatellites of 108 Andean bear specimens sampled throughout Ecuador. We adopted three strategies for analyzing the data: by Province, by Region (north vs south), and by Cordillera. Four main results were obtained. First, the mitochondrial genetic diversity levels were elevated, but there were no differences in genetic diversity by Province or by Cordillera. By Regions, southern Ecuador had higher genetic diversity levels than to northern Ecuador. The genetic diversity for the microsatellites was only medium for the Andean bear at this country. Second, there was clear and significant evidence of female population expansions, for the overall sample, by Province, Region, and Cordillera. This population expansion was determined to have occurred in the time interval of 30,000–20,000 years ago (YA), during the last phase of the Pleistocene. We detected a population decrease to have occurred more recently, within the last 5000 years. It continued until about 300–200 YA when a population increase was again detected. Third, there were, practically, no phylogeographic pattern nor genetic differentiation among Andean bear populations in Ecuador by Province or by Cordillera for either mitochondrial or microsatellite markers. There was a little more genetic differentiation between northern and southern areas. Fourth, there was no trace of significant spatial genetic structure for the Andean bear in Ecuador in agreement with the genetic differentiation analyses. This shows that the Andean Cordilleras in this country did not present an obstacle to the dispersion of this species. Therefore, all of the Andean bear specimens in Ecuador should be treated as a unique Management Unit (MU) for conservation purposes, differently to that determined for other countries as Colombia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recall referendum – a referendum triggered by citizens seeking to remove elected officials by means of a binding vote – used to be a rare institution, but since the 1990s has spread in different areas of the world. The frequency of its activation has been explained by three sets of sometimes interconnected variables: growing citizen dissatisfaction, institutional design (i.e. ease of activation), and the activity of political parties using the mechanism against their opponents, specially in contexts of low party-system institutionalization. This article proposes an additional variable: the role of electoral management bodies (EMBs) in allowing or preventing recall attempts. The empirical analysis focuses on the Ecuadorian experience, where legal provisions governing recall were introduced in 1998, modified in 2008, and amended in 2011, with a dramatic variation in the frequency of recall activations after each change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The systematics of the Humboldt's wooly monkeys (L. lagothricha; Atelidae) is essential to preserve this Neotropical primate species. Traditionally, four morphological subspecies have been described, which recently have been molecularly confirmed. However, no population genetics studies have been carried out throughout the geographical distribution of one of these subspecies, Lagothrix lagothricha poeppigii. For this reason, we analyzed nine mitochondrial genes of L. l. poeppigii mainly collected from the Ecuadorian and Peruvian Amazon in order to better understand the evolutionary history of this taxon. The mitochondrial genetic diversity levels (haplotype and nucleotide diversity) we estimated are likely the highest yet reported for L. lagothricha. Our results did not detect important genetic structure within L. l. poeppigii. Furthermore, our phylogenetic analyses did not detect any relevant molecular cluster in the area where Groves hypothesized the existence of L. poeppigii castelnaui. Therefore, based on these data, castelnaui is not a valid taxon from a molecular perspective. The most differentiated subpopulation within L. l. poeppigii was from Morona-Santiago province (Ecuador) and had a genetic distance of 0.8–1.2% relative to the other subpopulations studied. However, this genetic distance range is within the variability found within a population. We estimated the mitochondrial temporal diversification within L. l. poeppigii to have occurred during the Pleistocene, 1.8–1.2 million years ago. Similarly, all our analyses detected a strong Pleistocene female population expansion for this taxon. Diverse spatial genetic analyses, perhaps with the exception of Monmonier's Algorithm, did not detect differentiated taxa within the area analyzed for L. l. poeppigii. These genetics results could be of importance to conservation efforts to preserve this taxon as one unit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We collected blood samples (n = 49) from 43 Andean Bears (Tremarctos ornatus) in Ecuador between September 1995 and May 2006 and analyzed them for 11 serum biochemical and 13 hematological parameters. Results were grouped and compared according to the bears' life condition (captive or free-ranging), sex, age, and body mass. Free-ranging bears had higher serum glucose and monocyte levels than captive bears, but slightly lower mean cellular hemoglobin concentrations. Male bears had higher serum protein levels than female bears. Adult bears showed higher levels of cholesterol, hematocrit, and hemoglobin than subadult bears. In contrast, alkaline phosphatase and phosphorous levels were higher in sub-adult bears. Bears with a body mass >80 kg had higher levels of serum proteins and blood urea nitrogen than lighter-weight bears. Plasma triglyceride levels observed in this study were very high in relation to those reported for other bear species. Alkaline phosphatase levels were also high in comparison to those of other bear species, except the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca). Observed mean values for glutamic pyruvic transaminase, glutamic oxalic transaminase, glucose, and calcium were low in this study relative to those of captive Andean bears from other countries, whereas the mean alkaline phosphatase value was comparatively high. Mean values for glutamic pyruvic transaminase, glutamic oxalic transaminase, glucose, calcium, mean cellular hemoglobin, and mean cellular volume were lower relative to other bear species. The data presented in this paper will provide baseline reference values that may prove useful in the diagnosis of disease and assessment of nutrition in wild and captive Andean bears. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We sampled 45 Andean mountain tapirs ( Tapirus pinchaque ) from Colombia and Ecuador and sequenced 15 mitochondrial genes (two rRNA and 13 protein codifying genes)—making up 13,939 base pairs, approximately 83.1% of the total mitochondrial DNA's length. The overall sample had low to medium levels of nucleotide diversity with diversity slightly higher for the Colombian population. Both populations experienced high historical gene flow and our genetic heterogeneity analyses revealed a low genetic differentiation between them. Therefore, we did not detect any molecular subspecies, or significantly different evolutionary units for T. pinchaque . This species experienced a population expansion in the last 100,000 years but this expansion was more pronounced in the Ecuadorian population especially in the last 10,000 years, whereas the Colombian population underwent a strong bottleneck in the last 5,000 years. There was no significant spatial trend in genetic structure for the mountain tapir in Colombia and Ecuador. Phylogenetic analyses did not detect any important geographic clade within this species. Temporal split between T. pinchaque and T. terrestris might have occurred around 7–1.5 million years ago (MYA). T. pinchaque and T. terrestris + T. kabomani are two monophyletic clades, suggesting that T. kabomani is not a full species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cobia Rachycentron canadum (Linnaeus, 1766) is a highly valued fish by aquaculture producers and anglers. In spite of its wide-ranging distribution in tropical and subtropical seas, this species was absent in the Tropical Eastern Pacific until recently. In 2013 the government of Ecuador allowed the cultivation of cobia in offshore cages and in April 2015 three cages were deployed in Ecuadorian waters of the Pacific Ocean (Jaramijó, Manabí). Cobias escaped from one of these cages in August 2015 and we present the first report of R. canadum in the Colombian Pacific coast, ca. 600 km from the Ecuadorian escape locality. This is the first report of its occurrence for the entire Tropical Eastern Pacific biogeographical region. Given its predatory nature, it is to investigate the potential ecological and socio-economic consequences of the introduction of the cobia in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The article discusses racism, multiethnicity, and democracy in Latin America. Many of the Latin American countries, such as Panama, Ecuador, and Guatemala, have constitutions that embrace a multicultural, multiethnic population. Nevertheless, this does not mean that collective rights has received a major push, particularly from the elite society. Policies that relate to the indigenous and black populations, however, continue to be in the hands of of the state in most countries and have yet to resolve and transform the relations between ethnic groups, the State itself and the nation.

The cocoa cultivated in Ecuador is having greatest aroma, exquisite flavor, fragrance and quality for exportation market; it is a strategic species for the Ecuadorian agribusiness. The present study was aimed at characterizing the associate mycobiota to cocoa fruits with symptoms of Moniliasis based on morphological characters in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Infected plant materials (flowers, and fruits) were collected and processed in the laboratory to prepare humid cameras. Once isolated, using the technique of humid cameras and based on morphological criteria the following genera and species of filamentous fungi associated with cacao fruits were identified: Cylindrocladium (Morgan), Dichobotrys (Hennebert) Moniliophthora roreri (Cif.) HC Evans, Stalpers (Samson & Benny), Colletotrichum (Corda) and Phytophthora palmivora (EJ Butler). The results indicated that the morphological features are very useful to identify and characterize filamentous fungi associated with cacao pods. These microorganisms can cause deterioration of the harvested material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Babesia species (Piroplasmida) are hemoparasites that infect erythrocytes of mammals and birds and are mainly transmitted by hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae). These hemoparasites are known to be the second most common parasites infecting mammals, after trypanosomes, and some species may cause malaria-like disease in humans. Diagnosis and understanding of Babesia diversity increasingly rely on genetic data obtained through molecular techniques. Among hard ticks, several Ixodes species are known vectors of Babesia microti-like species in the Northern Hemisphere. Recently, Ixodes and Amblyomma ticks have been recorded parasitizing the Andean bear (Tremarctos ornatus) in Ecuador. Previous reports have suggested babesiosis in a fatal case of this threatened bear species in that country. This study aimed to detect Piroplasmida DNA in hard ticks collected from Andean bears at two sites in Ecuador. This species plays a critical role as an ecological engineer and a seed disperses, contributing significantly to the maintenance and health of Andean ecosystems. Twelve ticks screened with conventional PCR and Piroplasmida DNA was amplified from one Ixodes montoyanus tick collected from a free-living female Andean bear at Llanganates National Park. Two Babesia sequences were characterized: one for the 18 S ribosomal rRNA gene and another for the cytochrome c oxidase 1 gene. Phylogenetic analyses for both loci placed these sequences within the B. microti-like clade. This study reports a novel B. microti-like genotype identified in an I. montoyanus parasitizing a female Andean bear, contributing to the knowledge of the diversity of this group in South America. Given their conservation status, future epidemiological surveillance of Babesia and other tick-borne infectious agents in Andean bears is needed., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethical approval: The present study was conducted according to the legal requirements of Ecuador. Ministry of Environment and Water of Ecuador granted the necessary permits, including Collection Permits No. MAE-DNB-CM-2015-0028 for tick collection in domestic and wild fauna, as well as the permits “Systematics, Ecology, Reproductive Biology, and Genomics of the Mammals of Ecuador” (No. MAE-DNB-CM-2019-0126) and “National Mammal Collection Program” (Nos. MAAE-ARSFC-2020-0642 and MAAE-ARSFC-2021-1644) for the handling of Andean bears. All animals were treated carefully and then released into their habitats in accordance with the protocols outlined by Castellanos et al. (2016). Consent to participate: Not applicable. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)