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[EN] Teamwork, i.e., the ability to work effectively with others in a group, is sometimes used in the classroom to help students perform practical activities with greater competence. In fact, this work methodology allows students to foster mutual trust and create a good climate. Having a shared vision of the problems they have to solve allows them to be more empathetic and thus develop soft skills. Students' acquisition of teamwork competence is a continuous and progressive process. Teachers should monitor this process in order to assess the development of teamwork competence. Also, evidence of students' performance during their learning experiences should be collected and analyzed, both by the teacher and by other students. The case study presented in this article was designed to assist in the development of students' teamwork competence. The educational experience was carried out in the Chemistry laboratory practical sessions with students of the Aerospace Engineering Degree at the Universitat Politècnica de València, during their first year. The students worked in the laboratory in pairs. After finishing the third of the four practice sessions, the students were asked to fill in a questionnaire together with the session report (37 recorded their answers). The aim was to assess their involvement in teamwork and their satisfaction with this way of working. It asked about the effectiveness of the teamwork in terms of contributions, time management in the laboratory sessions, their time management until the delivery of the report, their attitude as a team and the quality of the work in the laboratory. Another questionnaire was given to the students at the end of the course with questions about the efficiency of their work as a team, including those about the degree of collaboration in the group, the ability to discuss, learning, motivation and partnership. Students were very supportive of the lab sessions and felt that working as a team motivated them to work better. The first questionnaire showed that about 80% (specifically 81.1%) of the respondents felt that they cooperated very well and had very bright ideas, while the remaining 20% felt that working in a team enabled them to have good ideas and that they worked well together. No student felt that it had been difficult to agree on what they needed to do as a team. It was also found that students felt that their time management was good and that they were generally able to get things done on time (91.9%), while the remaining 8.1% felt that there were delays from time to time and found it difficult to work as a team. Finally, 83.8% felt that the quality of the work was good, while 16.2% felt that the work had been good. The second questionnaire showed that students perceived that their grades could improve with teamwork and that they had a good time doing it. This study will be improved by adding control groups having the same practical sessions but individually in order to contrast the results., This work has been sponsored by the Vice-Rectorate for Organization of Studies, Quality and Accreditation of the Universitat Poltècnica de València (Valencia, Spain) as part of the UPV's Educational Innovation and Improvement Projects.

[EN] Education must prepare students to find solutions for the global and local challenges of today and the future, by conferring students the knowledge, skills and attitudes to address them, including environmental degradation. Soils perform a number of key environmental, social and economic functions (e.g. production of food and biomass, nutrient cycling, water filter, climate control). Various Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are connected with soil. Sustainable soil use is crucial for many SDGs. Target 2.4 of SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) mentions the implementation of resilient agricultural practices to improve land and soil quality. Target 3.9 of the SDG 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing) indicates that the number of deaths and illnesses from soil pollution and contamination must be substantially reduced. Target 12.4 of SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) mentions reducing the release of chemicals to soil to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment. Target 15.3 of SDG 15 (Life on Land) includes the restoration of degraded soil. Although soil is not mentioned in other SDG targets, it is related to other SDGs. We present the results of the analysis of the activity performed by the students related to soil and SDGs and the transversal competence ¿knowledge of contemporary problems¿. In the activity, the students were asked to write down with reasons the SDGs that soil is related to. Afterward, they were asked to write down soil degradation processes and their consequences for people lives and the environment. Next the students worked in groups on the link between soil functions and soil degradation processes using communication material designed by the Food and Agriculture Organization. Finally, they answered a questionnaire, and five open questions to explain the link between soil and the SDGs 2, 3, 6, 13 and 15. The students gave a value of 9.1 out of 10 to the importance of knowledge toward an integrated approach to the environment. The students rated the importance of studying Soil Science to increase their ability to perceive and realize the existence and uniqueness of soils with 8.7 out of 10. The need to raise awareness about soils among people who are not in direct contact with soils was rated with 9.2 out of 10. The students who knew that the SDGs have 169 targets were 85%. The students related the statement ¿Women remain a minority in soil science¿ to SDGs 5 (Gender Equality) and 10 (Reduced inequalities). Ninety-five percent of the students stated that "zero hunger" is not only a question of crop production, but it is also related to the quality of education, malnutrition, etc. All the students stated that there is now scientific evidence that healthy soils support nutritious and healthy food and, therefore, contribute to people's health. When students were asked about the origin of toxicity in the soil that can affect human health, 50% named heavy metals, 35% radioactive elements, 35% organic chemicals, and 15% diseases due to exposure to soil organisms. The students were asked if they knew that zinc deficiency is the fifth leading cause of death and disease in the developing world; only 52% said that they did. Soil science has important links to several SDGs and students must know them to advance in their achievement.

Due to restrictions on pesticide and nitrogen use in high-input European agricultural systems, many of the biostimulants used in horticulture are being incorporated into turfgrass management programs—although often with little understanding. A set of experiments was carried out on perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) cultivated in pots in a greenhouse in 2013 and 2014 to test the effect of three biostimulants: two composed of nitrifying bacteria (B1 and B2), and the other a mixture of amino acids, polysaccharides, nitrogen, and micronutrients (B3). Apart from the biostimulant treatment, nutritional stress was incorporated into the study to demonstrate if biostimulants could temporarily replace the fertilization role and so lessen the environmental impact. Turfgrass treated with B1 resulted in an increase in quality compared with untreated turf, and the positive effect lasted 2 and 3 months in 2013 and 2014, respectively. Additionally, an extended benefit was observed when the B1 interval application was longer, even temporarily replacing fertilization when applied on stressed turfgrass. The B2 produced similar results to B1, the effect was longer, and the turf exhibited a darker color—although it caused phytotoxicity at the tip of the leaves. The B3 led to a beneficial effect on turfgrass, especially under nutritional stress; it showed a better quality, darker green color, and more growth and yield than untreated turf (despite adding less nitrogen than during either mineral fertilizer treatment). Overall results show that the tested biostimulants increase turfgrass quality even when inducing a nutritional stress.

The implementation of Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the United Nations in 2015 focuses on making a more sustainable world in all countries and for all stakeholders. Higher education institutions (HEI) play a key role in increasing students’ sustainability knowledge, transforming their attitudes and motivating them to promote or engage in sustainability behaviors. HEI can take several measures to fulfill these objectives, but it is important to develop efficient tools to assess the starting point at which university students are at. In this study, a survey was conducted that addressed students from different Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) degrees to investigate their knowledge and awareness of sustainability and SDGs. This survey (n = 321) showed students’ levels of knowledge and initial awareness. Many UPV students state that they are aware of the SDGs, but most do not fully understand these 17 goals and their current implementation but think that the SDGs are important for their daily lives. Therefore, finding links between the SDGs and daily interests is necessary to advance toward further implementation to allow us to fulfill all SDGs. These results offer a good starting point for evaluating future training and awareness actions to improve sustainability-related educational strategies.

The Valencia Anchor Station (VAS) is an Earth Observation super site run by the University of Valencia, where a fair number of satellite remote sensing missions are validated. Within the framework of the Joint ESA-EUMETSAT “OLCI Land Validation (OLCI-Land-Val)” project, and of the Joint Research Center Ground-Based Observations for Validation (GBOV) of Copernicus Global Land Products, the Climatology from Satellites Group (GCS) has installed a total of 16 FAPAR (Fraction of Absorbed Photosynthetic Active Radiation) stations over a large vineyard area, where the GCS has carried out an extended number of field campaigns following the vine phenological cycle to validate the relevant parameters related to chlorophyll and N2 content, LAI (Leaf Area Index), surface temperature and soil moisture together with the Sentinel-3-A and -B more OLCI-specific products OLCI FAPAR and OTCI (OLCI Terrestrial Chlorophyll Index).This presentation shows the work carried out from the design and assembly of the FAPAR fixed stations, and the data series processed for the entire study period (2016-2021), to the different observations and validations carried out during the intensive observation campaigns. carried out in the area. Specifically, the data collection carried out consists of measurements using the SPAD 502 Plus Chlorophyll Meter which instantly measures the chlorophyll content or “greenness” of the plants, and whose calibration is carried out by means of cold extraction in the laboratory. These measurements are also used for the validation of the OTCI product obtained from Sentinel-3, as well as for its correlation with the continuously measured FAPAR and with the corresponding Sentinel-3 OLCI FAPAR product. Additionally, LAI data are included to establish the vegetation cover as well as soil moisture content and radiative surface temperature as a reference for the hydric stress conditions suffered by the vegetation.At the same time, a study of the vegetation cover has been carried out on the study area using the products MCD15A3H, MCD12Q1-2 and MOD-MYD13, to establish a soil correction of the data collected at the plant level.This leads to results where FAPAR and chlorophyll can be observed at three different levels, namely, in-situ plant, in-situ 300m x 300m with correction for the influence of the soil and satellite data. This research is important as a starting point in the validation of new indices with greater physical foundation and as confirmation of the robustness of the sensors on board the Sentinel 3-A, -B satellites for the continuity of the programme.

[EN] The innovation and results obtained from designing and applying a survey based on science fiction superheroes are presented as a leveling instrument regarding the association of legal concepts and rights with the chosen characters. The innovation is applied to different degrees of the Polytechnic University of Valencia. Characters well known to the students are chosen and the results obtained show us the ability to associate fundamental rights, as well as branches of the right to the characters, showing that the students perfectly differentiate and correctly associate the concepts. It is a gamification tool in the classroom based on science fiction that is very attractive for students and that can be extrapolated to any legal discipline and at any University for the assessment of knowledge by students., [ES] Se presenta la innovación y resultados obtenidos de diseñar y aplicar una encuesta basada en superhéroes de ciencia ficción como instrumento de nivelación referente a la asociación de conceptos jurídicos y derechos con los personajes elegidos. La innovación se aplica a distintas titulaciones de la Universitat Politècnica de València. Se eligen personajes muy conocidos por el alumnado. Los resultados obtenidos nos demuestran la capacidad de asociar derechos fundamentales, así como ramas del derecho a los personajes, evidenciando que el alumnado diferencia perfectamente y asocia de forma correcta los conceptos. Resulta una herramienta de gamificación en el aula basada en la ciencia ficción muy atractiva para el alumnado y que puede ser extrapolada a cualquier disciplina jurídica y en cualquier Universidad para la valoración de conocimientos por parte del alumnado., Trabajo realizado en el marco del Proyecto de Innovación y Mejora Educativa (PIMEs) “Gamificación y TICs: diseño de actividades audiovisuales basadas en la ciencia ficción para la dinamización docente en un entorno presencial, semipresencial y virtual”, presentado en el marco de la convocatoria de Proyectos de Innovación y Mejora Educativa (PIMEs) llevada a cabo en la Universitat Politècnica de València para el curso 2020-2022 obteniendo resolución favorable de la Comisión de Evaluación y Seguimiento de Proyectos de Innovación y Convergencia (CESPIC) en su sesión de septiembre de 2020 y concedido por el Vicerrectorado de Estudios y Convergencia Europea de la Universitat Politècnica de València. Años 2020-2022.

[EN] Universities play an important role in accomplishing the so-called Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), equiping students with knowledge and skills to address the sustainability challenges through the teaching-learning process. The implementation of knowledge of the SDGs among teachers and students is urgent, being thus essential to assess their previous knowledge level. In order to evaluate the previous knowledge about the SDGs of students of different degrees and masters of the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), a questionnaire was designed. The questionnaire was answered by 425 students. The analysis of the answers revealed the need to review some of the questions, as well as the convenience of including others that collect evidences on sources of information and professional and personal implications of the SDGs. In general, the results showed a high level of knowledge about the SDGs. The differences observed between subjects could be related to their context within the degree, as well as the profile of the student in each of them. The information obtained will also help in the design of activities for the training of students of different subjects in relation to the SDGs., [ES] Las universidades juegan un papel importante en el cumplimiento de los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible (ODS), ya que en el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje equipan al alumnado con conocimiento y habilidades para abordar los desafíos de la sostenibilidad. Urge la puesta en marcha del conocimiento de los ODS entre profesorado y alumnado, resultando fundamental conocer su nivel previo de conocimiento. Con el fin de evaluar el conocimiento previo sobre los ODS del alumnado de diferentes grados y másteres de la Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), se diseñó un cuestionario, que fue respondido por un total de 425 alumnos/as de distintas titulaciones de la UPV. El análisis de las respuestas reveló la necesidad de revisar alguna de las preguntas, así como la conveniencia de incluir otras que recojan datos sobre fuentes de información e implicaciones profesionales y personales de los ODS. En general, los resultados mostraron un nivel elevado de conocimiento sobre ODS. Las diferencias observadas entre asignaturas podrían estar relacionadas con su contexto dentro de la titulación, así como con el perfil del alumnado de cada una de ellas. La información obtenida se orientará al diseño de actividades para la formación del alumnado de las distintas asignaturas en relación a los ODS., La publicación de este trabajo ha sido parcialmente financiada por el proyecto de innovación educativa (PIME 20-21/224) concedido por el Vicerrectorado de Estudios, Calidad y Acreditación de la Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV). Los autores agradecen también el apoyo proporcionado por el Instituto de Ciencias de la Educación (ICE) de la UPV.

[EN] Sustainable development goals (SDGs) are the main instrument of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development of United Nations (UN) adopted in 2015. The 17 SDGs seek a whole approach in different thematic issues including poverty, water, energy education, climate, or peace. They are a supremely ambitious and transformational vision according the statement signed by Heads of State and Government and High Representatives meet at 70th anniversary meeting of UN. One of the main points to get the success of the SDGs is to spread their existence and engage all the population in meet their goals. University is one of the main places than can contribute to their knowledge and education is one of the SDGs. Universities can support students to develop knowledge and skills to solving the complex sustainable development challenges our world/society faces. Biotechnology can help to achieve SDGs by enabling a more sustainable development in different areas like health, biodiversity, desertification, food security and production or industrial processes. In the present study a test was carried out in first year students of Biotechnology degree to assess the preliminary knowledge of SDGs. The participation was very high, and the students showed a high basic knowledge. Activities during the term will be carried out to improve and deepen their knowledge. Further and more complex assessment will be done to get more insight of the SDG understanding of the students., The publication of this work has been funded by a project of Educational Improvement and Innovation awarded by the Vice Dean for Studies, Quality and Accreditation of the Universitat Politècnica de València (Spain).

This study analyzes the regulation and protection of cultural heritage of war in the Valencian Community, after the adoption of Law 9/2017, of April 7, amending Law 4/1998, on Valencian Cultural Heritage. The objects that are protected and their legal regime are mentioned, considering that their importance for heritage comes from the relationship that they had with the Spanish Civil War. Along with this, special attention is given to shelters that nowadays are preserved and visited, especially that of Alcoy (Alicante), and their enhancement for the visitor who wants to know these spaces.

[EN] Soil management plays a key role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This is due to the fact that soils perform functions and provide essential services for human activities and the sustainability of ecosystems, such as: food production and other biomass production; the storage, filtering and transformation of nutrients, water, and carbon; habitat and biodiversity reserve; platform of human activities and element of the landscape; carbon sequestration. SDGs related to soil are SDG 2 (zero hunger), SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation), SDG 13 (climate action) and SDG 15 (life of terrestrial ecosystems). Universities must play a key role in achieving the SDGs by providing students with knowledge and skills to face environmental challenges from a sustainable development perspective. In the subject of Soil Science, the students were proposed to carry out an activity about the relationship of soil organic matter management with the SDGs. Students learning about soil functions, soil organic matter and their relationships with the SDGs was verified through the answers to various questions in the final exam., [ES] El manejo del suelo juega un papel clave en la consecución de los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible (ODS). Esto se debe a que los suelos realizan funciones y prestan servicios esenciales para las actividades humanas y la sostenibilidad de los ecosistemas, como son: producción de alimentos y demás producción de biomasa; el almacenamiento, filtrado y la transformación de nutrientes, agua, y carbono; hábitat y reserva de la biodiversidad; plataforma de actividades humanas y elemento del paisaje; secuestro de carbono. ODS relacionados con el suelo son el ODS 2 (hambre cero), ODS 6 (agua limpia y saneamiento), ODS 13 (acción por el clima) y ODS 15 (vida de ecosistemas terrestres). Las universidades deben jugar un papel primordial en la consecución de los ODS proporcionando conocimiento y habilidades a los estudiantes para afrontar los desafíos medioambientales desde una perspectiva de desarrollo sostenible. En la materia de Edafología (Ciencia del suelo) se propuso a los estudiantes trabajar la relación del manejo de la materia orgánica del suelo con los ODS. El aprendizaje de los estudiantes de las funciones del suelo, la materia orgánica del suelo y su relación con los ODS fue verificado a través de las respuestas a varias preguntas en el examen final., La publicación de este trabajo ha sido parcialmente financiada por el proyecto de innovación educativa (PIME 20-21/224) concedido por el Vicerrectorado de Estudios, Calidad y Acreditación de la Universitat Politècncia de València (UPV).

In order to assess the sustainability of silvicultural treatments in semiarid forests, it is necessary to know how they affect the nutrient dynamics in the forest. The objective of this paper is to study the effects of silvicultural treatments on the net N mineralization and the available mineral N content in the soil after 13 years following forest clearings. The treatments were carried out following a randomized block design, with four treatments and two blocks. The distance between the two blocks was less than 3 km, they were located in Chelva (CH) and Tuéjar (TU) in Valencia, Spain. Within each block, four experimental clearing treatments were carried out in 1998: T0 control, and T60, T75 and T100 where 60%, 75% and 100 of basal area was eliminated, respectively. Nitrogen dynamics were measured using the resin tube technique, with disturbed samples due to the high stoniness of the plots. Thirteen years after the experimental clearings, T100, T75 and T60 treatments showed a twofold increase in the net mineralization and nitrification rates with respect to T0 in both blocks (TU and CH). Within the plots, the highest mineralization was found in sites with no plant cover followed by those covered by undergrowth. These results can be explained in terms of the different litterfall qualities, which in turn are the result of the proportion of material originating from Pinus halepensis Mill. vs. more decomposable undergrowth residues.

[EN] The effects of a thinning treatment on soil respiration (Rs) were analysed in two dryland forest types with a Mediterranean climate in east Spain: a dry subhumid holm oak forest (Quercus ilex subsp. ballota) in La Hunde (HU); a semiarid postfire regenerated Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis) forest in Sierra Calderona (CA). Two twin plots were established at each site: one was thinned (T) and the other was the control (C). Rs, soil humidity and temperature were measured regularly in the field at nine points per plot distributed into three blocks along the slope for 3 years at HU and for 2 years at CA after forest treatment. Soil heterotrophic activity was measured in laboratory on soil samples obtained bimonthly from December 2012 to June 2013 at the HU site. Seasonal Rs distribution gave low values in winter, began to increase in spring before lowering as soil dried in summer. This scenario indicates that with a semiarid climate, soil respiration is controlled by both soil humidity and soil temperature. Throughout the study period, the mean Rs value in the HU C plot was 13% higher than at HU T, and was 26% higher at CA C than the corresponding CA T plot value, being the differences significantly higher in control plots during active growing periods. Soil microclimatic variables explain the biggest proportion of variability for Rs: soil temperature explained 24.1% of total variability for Rs in the dry subhumid forest; soil humidity accounted for 24.6% of total variability for Rs in the semiarid forest. As Mediterranean climates are characterised by wide interannual variability, Rs showed considerable variability over the years, which can mask the effect caused by thinning treatment., This study was supported by research projects Hydrological characterisation of forest structures on a plot scale for adaptive management (CGL2011-28776-C02-02) and SILWAMED (CGL2014-58127-C3-2) funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and FEDER funds. CEHYRFO-MED (CGL201786839-C3-2-R), RESILIENT-FORESTS (LIFE17 CCA/ES/000063) and SilvAdapt. net (RED2018-102719-T) are also acknowledged. The authors are grateful to the Valencia Regional Government, VAERSA, ACCIONA and the "Sierra Calderona" Natural Park for their support in allowing us to use experimental forests and for their assistance in fieldwork. We also thank Rafael Herrera from the Centro de Ecologia, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Cientificas, Caracas, Venezuela, and the anonymous reviewers for critically reviewing the manuscript.

[ES] Se presenta la innovación y resultados obtenidos de diseñar y aplicar un BreakoutEdu basado en la normativa de Derecho civil valenciano, para favorecer el aprendizaje de conceptos jurídicos relacionados con la Huerta valenciana. A través de tres familias ficticias que desarrollan su actividad en el ámbito agrario, se diseña un juego interactivo para los alumnos de Derecho civil II del Máster en Gestión Administrativa. Los resultados observados son una mejora en el aprendizaje y una mayor dinamización en el aula, además de favorecer la inquietud por la legislación aplicable. Consideramos que el diseño atractivo tipo cómic de la estructura de la actividad, ayuda a captar la atención del alumnado y mejora su capacidad cognitiva. La experiencia se puede extrapolar a otras asignaturas, ya que el diseño se centra en conceptos reutilizables, y no contextualizados., [EN] The innovation and results obtained from designing and applying a BreakoutEdu based on the regulations of Valencian Civil Law are presented, to promote legal concepts learning related to the Valencian Huerta. Through three fictitious families that develop their activity in the agricultural field, an interactive game is designed for the students of Civil Law II of the Master ́s Degree in Administrative Management. The results observed included: an improvement in learning and a greater revitalization in the classroom, in addition to favouring the concern for the applicable legislation. We consider that the attractive comic-type design of the structure of the activity helps to capture the attention of students and improves their cognitive ability. The experience can be extrapolated to other subjects, since the design focuses on reusable, non-contextualized concepts., Trabajo realizado en el marco del Proyecto de Innovación y Mejora Educativa (PIMEs) “Diseño de materiales docentes basados en recursos audiovisuales de humor para la mejora del aprendizaje y su evaluación en ciencias sociales y jurídicas”, presentado en el marco de la convocatoria de Proyectos de Innovación y Mejora Educativa (PIMEs) llevada a cabo en la Universitat Politècnica de València para el curso 2017-2018 obteniendo resolución favorable de la Comisión de Evaluación y Seguimiento de Proyectos de Innovación y Convergencia (CESPIC) en su sesión de 24 de julio de 2018 y concedido por el Vicerrectorado de Estudios y Convergencia Europea de la Universitat Politècnica de València. Años 2018-2020. Investigadora principal: Francisca Ramón Fernández. Investigadores: Vicente Cabedo Mallol, María Emilia Casar Furió, Vicent Giménez Chornet, Cristina Lull Noguera y Juan Vicente Oltra Gutiérrez, Enrique Orduña Malea y Amparo Soriano Soto y en el marco del Proyecto I+D+i RTI2018-097354-B-100. (2019-2022), y Proyecto de I+D+i Retos MICINN PID2019-108710RB-I00 ( 2020-2022)

[EN] Marginal semi-arid forests in areas currently affected by climate change are a challenge to forest management, which has to focus on key functional traits that can effectively contribute to resistance under extreme drought. We studied the effects of thinning in a marginal forest by quantifying functional responses relating to growth, carbon and water fluxes. Two experimental plots were established, one thinned in 2012 and the other one left as a control. The environmental conditions varied substantially during the 4-year study period, although dry years predominated. There were signs of dieback in the control with a decreasing inter-annual trend in LAI, as opposed to the treated plots, where LAI by the end of the study almost reached pre-thinning levels. Sap flow and transpiration were greatly enhanced by the treatment, with thinned trees transpiring 22.41 tree(-1) day(-1) in the growing season, about twice the control figures. The seasonal patterns of transpiration and soil moisture were uncoupled, indicating a contribution of deep groundwater to the former flux. In the control, limitations to water and carbon dynamics (canopy conductance) occurred at soil moisture values below 16%, whereas in the thinned trees these limitations appeared when soil moisture dropped below 10%. Overall, oaks' transpiration was enhanced with thinning to the point that stand-water use surpassed that of the control by the second half of the study period, averaging 24% of gross rainfall in both plots. Soil evaporation increased from 12 to 20% of gross rainfall after treatment in the overall period. The treatment had a profound watering effect in this marginal forest, led by fewer trees using the same amount of water as those in the untreated overstocked plot. This research may provide guidelines for ecohydrology-oriented silviculture in stands experiencing tree encroachment and transformation into shrublands that are more prone to global change-induced disturbances., This study is a component of the research projects HYDROSIL (CGL2011-28776-C02-02), SILWAMED (CGL2014-58127-C3-2) and CEHYRFO-MED (CGL2017-86839-C3-2-R), funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and the FEDER fund of the EU. The authors are grateful to the Valencia Regional Government (CMAAUV, Generalitat Valenciana) and ACCIONA for their support in allowing the use of the experimental forest La Hunde and for their assistance in the fieldwork.

[EN] Soil organic carbon pools have an important role in the maintenance of ecosystems as a source of energy for soil microorganisms. Soil biological and biochemical properties are essential for the decomposition of organic matter. These soil properties can be affected by thinning, which is considered sustainable when the soil properties are maintained or improved. We studied the effects of selective thinning and shrub clearing, performed with an ecohydrological approach, in a marginal Holm oak forest in a semiarid area on soil properties. The effects of thinning (T) were compared with an untreated area (control, C). Fine woody debris was ground into mulch onto the thinned area. Forest floor and mineral soil properties were analyzed between five months and seven years after the thinning. In the forest floor, gravimetric water content (GWc(ff)) and water soluble organic carbon (WSOCff) were analyzed and compared between T and C. In mineral soil, GWC(ms), soil organic carbon (SOC), WSOCms, soil basal respiration (BR), soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and soil enzymes (acid phosphatase (Acid PA) and urease (URE)) were analyzed. In the early stage, the results showed slightly higher SOC and WSOms in T likely due to fine woody debris left on the forest floor. However, seven years after the thinning the effects of the thinning on all the studied variables were negligible. All variables showed high spatial-temporal variability. Our results suggest that selective thinning and shrub clearing in the studied site do not affect negatively soil properties when woody debris is left on the forest floor., This study is a component of research projects: HYDROSIL (CGL2011-28776-C02-02) and SILWAMED (CGL2014-58+127-C3-2), RESILIENT-FORESTS (LIFE17 CCA/ES/000063) and CEHYRFO-MED (CGL2017-86839-C3-2-R) funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, and the FEDER fund and the EU. The authors are grateful to the Valencia Regional Government (CMAAUV, Generalitat Valenciana) for it supports in allowing the use of the experimental forest. We thank Joana Oliver for her laboratory and technical assistance and Dr. Rafael Herrera for valuable comments on the manuscript.

[EN] It presents the innovation and results obtained from applying the audiovisual "The first monday in may" as a resource to improve learning. Through the visisionado of the same and the answer of a survey we can observe that the students of the Master in Cultural Management improve their learning on contents that can observe in the documentary and to discuss on its application in the cultural industries. The results obtained show a favorable influence on the use of audiovisual media in the classroom as a tool for improving the learning of concepts, as well as the ethical and professional commitment to the issues raised., [ES] Se presenta la innovación y resultados obtenidos de aplicar el audiovisual “The first monday in may” como recurso para mejorar el aprendizaje. A través del visionado del mismo y la contestación de una encuesta podemos observar que los alumnos del Máster en Gestión Cultural mejoran su aprendizaje sobre contenidos que pueden observar en el documental y discutir sobre su aplicación en las industrias culturales. Los resultados obtenidos muestran una influencia favorable a la utilización de los medios audiovisuales en el aula como herramienta para la mejora de aprendizaje de conceptos, así como el compromiso ético y profesional a las cuestiones planteadas., Trabajo realizado en el marco del Proyecto de Innovación y Mejora Educativa (PIMEs) “Diseño de materiales docentes basados en recursos audiovisuales de humor para la mejora del aprendizaje y su evaluación en ciencias sociales y jurídicas”, presentado en el marco de la convocatoria de Proyectos de Innovación y Mejora Educativa (PIMEs) llevada a cabo en la Universitat Politècnica de València para el curso 2017-2018 y en el marco del Proyecto I+D+i «Retos investigación» del Programa estatal de I+D+i orientado a los Retos de la Sociedad del Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades: RTI2018-097354-B-100.

[EN] Semi-arid forests are water limited environments considered as low-productive. As a result, these forests usually end up unmanaged and abandoned, with the subsequent wild fire risk increasing, water yield decreasing and a general diminishing of the forest resilience. Hydrological-oriented silviculture could be a useful alternative that increases management possibilities by combining forest productivity and water yield. However, the slight water yield increase after forest management together with the low forest productivity, could make this option insufficient for semi-arid forests, and other goods and services should be included and quantified. In this sense, the present study analyzes to what extent semi-arid forest management for water yield results effective and profitable at catchment scale, and how does it improve when it is combined with other benefits such as biomass production and fire risk diminishing. To that end, the effects of forest management of semi-arid Aleppo pine post-fire regeneration stands are analyzed in terms of water yield (TETIS-VEG model), fire risk (KDBY index and FARSITE) and biomass production, at catchment scale. Regarding to water yield, the results confirmed the slight effect of forest management on its increase (average increase of 0.27 +/- 0.29 mm yr(-1)), at the same time that highlighted the role of the upper catchment area as an important water contributor. The management produced 4161.6 Mg of biomass, and decreased in 27 +/- 17% and 25.6 +/- 14.1% the fire risk and fire propagation, respectively. Finally, a simple economic estimation of the management profitability is carried out by means of comparing the Benefit/Cost ratio of the managed and unmanaged scenarios. Both scenarios were always above the unity when just considering water as benefit, although the unmanaged scenario produced a higher ratio, as no management costs are expended. Contrarily, when wildfire was also included into the evaluation, the situation is overturned for wildfires equal or higher than 1.5 day duration, where the forest management is shown as the most convenient alternative., This study is a component of the research projects: INTEGRA (CGL2011-28776-0O2), E-HIDROMED (CGL2014-58127-C3) and CEHYRFO-MED (CGL2017-86839-C3-2-R) funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and FEDER funds, and LIFE17 CCA/ES/000063 RESILIENTFORESTS. The authors are grateful to the Valencia Regional Government (CMAAUV, Generalitat Valenciana), the VAERSA staff, the Natural Park staff and the communal authority of Serra (specially Juanjo Mayans) for their support and allowing the use of the Natural Park experimental forest.

[EN] This article contains a brief overview of the European and Spanish environmental law framework for the prevention of soil contamination, for the management of contaminated soils and for consumers health protection in relation to agricultural crops. Some important aspects of the legislative framework for the prevention and management of soil contamination include recognising the possible risk to both human health and ecosystems that certain agricultural and industrial activities pose given the use of organic and inorganic chemical substances of a hazardous nature and pathogenic microorganisms. It is worth highlighting the milestone that many national constitutions include about the right to the environment. This right entails the obligation to protect it and to, therefore, protect soil from any degradation, including contamination. Legislation that protects soil from contamination and, consequently human health and ecosystems, is related mainly to agricultural activities (use of sewage sludge on farmlands, use of wastewater for irrigation, use of organic fertilisers and pesticides), and to industrial and commercial soil-contaminating activities. Consumer protection may be achieved through a legal system of environmental liability, specific measures to prevent contaminants entering soil, managing contaminated soils and a food traceability system. It is crucial to make the penalties for soil contamination offenses, and for violators of protective prohibitions, effective, proportionate and dissuasive. Global standards and guidelines on soil contamination could provide national legislative systems with substantive and procedural legal mechanisms to help prevent and manage soil contamination., This research was conducted as part of Project DER2015-65810-P, funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, and by Project GVPROMETEOII2015-014, funded by the Regional Ministry of Culture, Education and Sport of the Valencian Autonomous Community, and by Projects HYDЯOSIL (CGL2011-28776-C02-02) and SILWAMED (CGL2014-58127-C3-2), funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and FEDER funds.

[EN] Mediterranean drylands are often nutrient poor, but parameter requirements of forest ecosystem models are usually high. Therefore, there is a need for developing parsimonious nutrients models. In that sense, this study aims to contribute to a better understanding and modelling of the hydrological and biogeochemical (carbon and nitrogen) cycles and their interactions in semiarid conditions and to test the capability of a new parsimonious model to satisfactorily reproduce them. The proposed model (TETIS-CN) and two additional widely used models were implemented in a Quercus ilex forest, and no noteworthy differences were found. Results suggest that: (1) it is important to include carbon observations in the calibration process and to consider all the existing vegetation species in the simulation; (2) a fixed daily potential uptake may not be appropriate to reproduce plant nitrogen uptake; and (3) TETIS-CN, with a lower number of parameters, proved an acceptable tool., This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation through the research projects: TETISMED (CGL2014-58127-C3-3-R), SILWAMED (CGL2014-58127-C3-2-R), CEHYRFO-MED (CGL2017-86839-C3-2-R) and TETISCHANGE (RTI2018-093717-B100), and by the project LIFE17CCA/ES/000063 RESILIENTFORESTS.

[EN] This work presents the results obtained from a new educational innovation activity applied to two Master Degrees offered at the Universitat Politècnica de València, which consisted in using one same audio-visual (Tutankamon) to evaluate - on the student side - whether students could observe two different transversal skill qualifications: a) critical thinking, and b) ethical, environmental and professional responsibility. The conclusions we have come to is that both transversal skill qualifications have been perceived by students after the episode viewing, although with differences according to the skill and Master Degree. Additionally, a high rate of acceptance of the audiovisual in the classroom has been obtained., [ES] Se presentan los resultados obtenidos de una nueva actividad de innovación docente que se ha aplicado a dos titulaciones de Máster impartidas en la Universitat Politècnica de València, consistente en utilizar un mismo audiovisual, Tutankamon, para evaluar si los estudiantes eran capaces de observar dos competencias transversales distintas: pensamiento crítico y responsabilidad ética, medioambiental y profesional. Las conclusiones a las que hemos llegado nos muestran que las dos competencias transversales han podido ser percibidas tras el visionado del episodio, aunque con diferencias en función de la competencia y el Master. Adicionalmente, se constata un alto índice de aceptación del audiovisual en el aula., Trabajo realizado en el marco del Proyecto I+D Excelencia del Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (DER2015-65810-P), 2016-2018; Proyecto “Derecho civil valenciano y europeo” del Programa Prometeo para Grupos de Investigación de Excelencia de la Conselleria de Educación, Cultura y Deporte, GVPROMETEOII2015-014 y Proyecto de Innovación y Mejora Educativa (PIMEs) “La utilización de los documentales como herramienta para la evaluación de la competencia transversal CT07 Responsabilidad ética, medioambiental y profesional”, en la convocatoria llevada a cabo en la Universitat Politècnica para el curso 2017-2018, Vicerrectorado de Estudios y Convergencia Europea de la Universitat Politècnica de València. Investigadora principal: Francisca Ramón Fernández. Investigadores: Vicente Cabedo Mallol, María Emilia Casar Furió, Vicent Giménez Chornet, Cristina Lull Noguera y Juan Vicente Oltra Gutiérrez.

[EN] Hydrology-oriented forest management sets water as key factor of the forest management for adaptation due to water is the most limiting factor in the Mediterranean forest ecosystems. The aim of this study was to apply Bayesian Network modeling to assess potential indirect effects and trade-offs when hydrology-oriented forest management is applied to a real Mediterranean forest ecosystem. Water, carbon and nitrogen cycles, and forest fire risk were included in the modeling framework. Field data from experimental plots were employed to calibrate and validate the mechanistic Biome-BGCMuSo model that simulates the storage and flux of water, carbon, and nitrogen between the ecosystem and the atmosphere. Many other 50-year long scenarios with different conditions to the ones measured in the field experiment were simulated and the outcomes employed to build the Bayesian Network in a linked chain of models. Hydrology-oriented forest management was very positive insofar as more water was made available to the stand because of an interception reduction. This resource was made available to the stand, which increased the evapotranspiration and its components, the soil water content and a slightly increase of deep percolation. Conversely, Stemflow was drastically reduced. No effect was observed on Runof due to the thinning treatment. The soil organic carbon content was also increased which in turn caused a greater respiration. The long-term effect of the thinning treatment on the LAI was very positive. This was undoubtedly due to the increased vigor generated by the greater availability of water and nutrients for the stand and the reduction of competence between trees. This greater activity resulted in an increase in GPP and vegetation carbon, and therefore, we would expect a higher carbon sequestration. It is worth emphasizing that this extra amount of water and nutrients was taken up by the stand and did not entail any loss of nutrients., This study is a component of research projects: HYDROSIL (CGL2011-28776-C02-02), SILWAMED (CGL2014-58127-C3-2) and CEHYRFO-MED (CGL2017-86839-C3-2-R) funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and FEDER funds. The authors are grateful to the Valencia Regional Government (CMAAUV, Generalitat Valenciana), ACCIONA for their support in allowing the use of the experimental forest and for their assistance in carrying out the fieldwork.

[EN] This paper analyzes the use of fiction series for the evaluation of transversal competence CT 09 Critical thinking, after the granting of a project of innovation teaching (PIME) by the Universitat Politècnica de València, for the year 2016. The results obtained with 33 students of the subject of Bulding Business Management, in the Master’s Degree in Building Constructions, and the evaluation of the indicated competence after watching, in which the students make a critique of the situations observed in the selected episode. The rubric established by the Universitat Politècnica de València is used for selfevaluation. We believe that the understanding is facilitated and that the students have a tool to evaluate the competence, and the ability to perceive situations related to the concepts explained in the subject is strengthened. It combines the new information and communication technologies (ICTs), which is the main objective of the innovation group, with activities that allow students to be evaluated in this competition., [ES] En el presente trabajo se analiza la utilización de series de ficción para la evaluación de la competencia transversal CT 09 Pensamiento crítico, tras la concesión de un proyecto de innovación docente (PIME) por parte de la Universitat Politècnica de València, para el año 2016.Se analizan los resultados obtenidos en 33 alumnos de la asignatura de Gestión empresarial de la edificación, en el Máster Universitario en Edificación, y la evaluación de la competencia indicada tras el visionado de una serie de ficción, en la que el alumnado realiza una crítica de las situaciones observadas en el episodio seleccionado. Se utiliza la rúbrica establecida por la Universitat Politècnica de València para la autoevaluación.Consideramos que se facilita la comprensión y que el alumnado dispone de una herramienta para evaluar la competencia, y se potencia la capacidad de percepción de situaciones relacionadas con los conceptos explicados en la asignatura. Se combina las nuevas tecnologías de la información y la comunicación (TICs), que es el objetivo principal del grupo de innovación, con las actividades que permiten al alumnado ser evaluado en dicha competencia., Trabajo realizado en el marco del PIME «La evaluación de la competencia transversal pensamiento crítico mediante la utilización de series de ficción» de la Universitat Politècnica de València, 2016-2017. Coordinado por la Dra. Dª. Francisca Ramón Fernández; Proyecto MINECO (DER2013-4256R), siendo los Investigadores Principales la Dra. Dª. Luz María Martínez Velencoso, Profesora Titular de Derecho civil, Universitat de València-Estudi General, y el Dr. D. Javier Plaza Penadés, Catedrático de Derecho civil, Universitat de València-Estudi General, y Proyecto «Derecho civil valenciano y europeo» del Programa Prometeo para Grupos de Investigación de Excelencia de la Conselleria de Educación, Cultura y Deporte, GVPROMETEOII2015-014 y del Microcluster «Estudios de Derecho y empresa sobre TICs (Law and business studies on ICT)», dentro del VLC/Campus, Campus de Excelencia Internacional (International Campus of Excellence), coordinado por el Dr. D. Javier Plaza Penadés, Catedrático de Derecho civil, Universitat de València-Estudi General, y Proyecto I+D Excelencia del Ministerio y Competitividad. “El avance del Gobierno Abierto. Régimen jurídico constitucional de la implantación de políticas de transparencia, acceso a la información, datos abiertos, colaboración y participación especialmente a través de las TIC y del Gobierno electrónico”. DER2015- 65810-P (2016-2018). Investigador Principal: Dr. D. Lorenzo Cotino Hueso. Catedrático acreditado de Derecho constitucional. Universitat de València.

[EN] Biosynthesis of proline¿or other compatible solutes¿is a conserved response of all organisms to different abiotic stress conditions leading to cellular dehydration. However, the biological relevance of this reaction for plant stress tolerance mechanisms remains largely unknown, since there are very few available data on proline levels in stress-tolerant plants under natural conditions. The aim of this work was to establish the relationship between proline levels and different environmental stress factors in plants living on gypsum soils. During the 2-year study (2009¿2010), soil parameters and climatic data were monitored, and proline contents were determined, in six successive samplings, in ten taxa present in selected experimental plots, three in a gypsum area and one in a semiarid zone, both located in the province of Valencia, in south-east Spain. Mean proline values varied significantly between species; however, seasonal variations within species were in many cases even wider, with the most extreme differences registered in Helianthemum syriacum (almost 30 lmol g-1 of DW in summer 2009, as compared to ca. 0.5 in spring, in one of the plots of the gypsum zone). Higher proline contents in plants were generally observed under lower soil humidity conditions, especially in the 2009 summer sampling preceded by a severe drought period. Our results clearly show a positive correlation between the degree of environmental stress and the proline level in most of the taxa included in this study, supporting a functional role of proline in stress tolerance mechanisms of plants adapted to gypsum. However, the main trigger of proline biosynthesis in this type of habitat, as in arid or semiarid zones, is water deficit, while the component of ¿salt stress¿ due to the presence of gypsum in the soil only plays a secondary role., This work has been supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (Project CGL2008-00438/BOS), with contribution from the European Regional Development Fund.

The role of forests on the provision and regulation of non-marketed ecosystem services is well known (Thorsen et al. 2014). This is especially important in areas like the Mediterranean, where protective forests play a major role against soil erosion and degradation, landscape quality and stabilization of the hydrological cycle. Socio-economic and cultural changes affecting rural society from the 1960s have produced a demographic decline, and with it, an abandonment of rural activities, leading to an expansion and densification of forest and scrub. Forest encroachment may decrease the streamflow from upper catchments (Gallart and Llorens 2004); this study reports a decrease in average annual flow of major Spanish rivers between 37 and 59%, partly explained by the densification of upstream forests, and increasing interception loss. Moreover, some Mediterranean basins (e.g. Segura and Jucar in Spain) present very serious problems of water scarcity, because of a combination of low/irregular rainfall and high rates of evapotranspiration, that has resulted in overuse of groundwater resources (Estrela et al. 2000a, b). These problems may even endanger urban water supply (approx. 15% of the total water supply in Spain). In addition, the Mediterranean region is already suffering some significant impacts of the climate change, such as longer dry seasons, or lower soil moisture content (Giorgi and Lionello 2008; Garcia-Ruiz et al. 2011). All these issues have raised concern about the importance of forests and water interactions in the Mediterranean (Birot et al. 2011).

Compartmentalization of toxic ions in the vacuole and accumulation of osmolytes in the cytoplasm is a common response of halophytes to high soil salinity. Soluble carbohydrates, such as sugars and polyols, are some of the compatible solutes used for osmotic adjustment and osmoprotection. Major carbohydrates were identified and quantified by high-performance anion-exchange chromatography, combined with pulsed amperometric detection (HPAEC-PAD), in five halophytic species from a Mediterranean salt marsh (Juncus acutus, Juncus maritimus, Plantago crassifolia, Inula crithmoides and Sarcocornia fruticosa). Sucrose, followed by glucose and fructose were the more representative sugars detected in J. acutus and J. maritimus, and sorbitol the only soluble carbohydrate present at significant levels in P. crassifolia. In the other two taxa analyzed, no clearly predominant carbohydrates were observed: polyols (myo-inositol and glycerol) seemed to be the most representative in I. crithmoides, albeit at relatively low concentrations, and sugars (sucrose and glucose) in S. fruticosa. Multivariate statistical analysis was used to correlate soil properties and meteorological conditions increasing soil salinity, with seasonal changes in carbohydrate contents, to establish their possible function as osmolytes and their contribution to salt tolerance in the investigated species. The obtained results confirmed sorbitol as the major functional osmolyte in P. crassifolia-as it has been described previously for other species of the genus-and suggested the participation of sucrose and, to a lesser extent, glucose and fructose in osmoregulatory mechanisms in J. acutus and J. maritimus., This study was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (project CGL2008-00438/BOS), with contribution from the European Regional Development Fund.

[EN] Different adverse environmental conditions cause oxidative stress in plants by generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Accordingly, a general response to abiotic stress is the activation of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant systems. Many phenolic compounds, especially flavonoids, are known antioxidants and efficient ROS scavengers in vitro, but their exact role in plant stress responses in nature is still under debate. The aim of our work is to investigate this role by correlating the degree of environmental stress with phenolic and flavonoid levels in stress-tolerant plants. Total phenolic and antioxidant flavonoid contents were determined in 19 wild species. Meteorological data and plant and soil samples were collected in three successive seasons from four Mediterranean ecosystems: salt marsh, dune, semiarid and gypsum habitats. Changes in phenolic and flavonoid levels were correlated with the environmental conditions of the plants and were found to depend on both the taxonomy and ecology of the investigated species. Despite species-specific differences, principal component analyses of the results established a positive correlation between plant phenolics and several environmental parameters, such as altitude, and those related to water stress: temperature, evapotranspiration, and soil water deficit. The correlation with salt stress was, however, very weak. The joint analysis of all the species showed the lowest phenolic and flavonoid levels in the halophytes from the salt marsh. This finding supports previous data indicating that the halophytes analysed here do not undergo oxidative stress in their natural habitat and therefore do not need to activate antioxidant systems as a defence against salinity., This work has been funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (Project CGL2008-00438/BOS), with contribution from the European Regional Development Fund. Thanks to Dr. Rafael Herrera for critical reading of the manuscript.

Penitrem G (7), a new indole-diterpenoid compound, has been isolated together with the already known mycotoxins penitrems A-D (1-4) and F (6) from the mycelium of Penicillium crustosum Thom. The structure of penitrem G was established on the basis of spectroscopic data. In addition, paspaline (8), another indole-diterpenoid mycotoxin that has not been previously described in this fungus, was also isolated. These compounds were tested for insecticidal activity against the hemipteran Oncopeltus fasciatus Dallas and the dipteran Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann. Penitrems A-D and F showed convulsive and insecticidal activities against both insect species. In addition, important reductions in the fecundity and fertility of the surviving C. capitata females were observed. In contrast, penitrem G and paspaline did not show any kind of activity. Mortality data and sublethal effects of the treatments have allowed preliminary structure-activity relationships to be proposed.

[ES] El Manejo Forestal Adaptativo (MFA) en entornos semiáridos tiene como objetivo adaptar el bosque a la escasez de agua mediante una regulación artificial de la estructura y la densidad del mismo. En el presente trabajo se aplica el MFA a una masa marginal de Quercus ilex con el fin de optimizar los recursos hídricos y tratando de evitar a su vez el posible impacto negativo derivado de una pérdida excesiva de suelo y nutrientes. La masa se encuentra en la Cuenca Mediterránea, dentro del Monte Público de La Hunde, Valencia (E de España), donde dos parcelas contiguas, control y tratamiento, de 1800 m2 cada una, fueron establecidas. La orientación (NO), pendiente (30 %) y densidad (861 árboles por ha) fueron las mismas en ambas parcelas. La parcela tratamiento fue aclarada en Mayo del 2012, reduciendo la densidad de 861 a 414 árboles por ha. La parcela control no fue aclarada. Los efectos del aclareo en los ciclos hidrológico y biogeoquímico fueron caracterizados en ambas parcelas y comparados entre sí. Los resultados indicaron un efecto temprano del aclareo que optimiza el ciclo hidrológico. Se encontró un incremento significativo de la transpiración, escorrentía cortical y humedad del suelo en la parcela tratada. Por el contrario, no se observaron efectos ni en la escorrentía superficial ni en la trascolación. De la misma forma, el MFA parece no afectar significativamente al ciclo biogeoquímico del bosque, ya que no se encontraron diferencias significativas en el contenido de C, N y P en el agua de ambas parcelas. La removilización de nutrientes parece verse afectada por el resalveo. La parcela tratada muestra una menor eficiencia en el uso de los nutrientes, probablemente derivada de una mayor disponibilidad de agua. Con estos resultados, podemos afirmar que la aplicación de un adecuado MFA posibilita la optimización del ciclo hidrológico sin dañar significativamente el ciclo de los nutrientes. De la misma forma, además de la satisfacción de las necesidades hídricas y nutricionales del ecosistema, el MFA incrementa la disponibilidad de agua para el resto de la cuenca.

The Birch effect is a pulse in soil C and N mineralization caused by the wetting of dry soils, but the role of the soil moisture increment (Delta SWC) is still poorly understood. We quantified the relationship between Delta SWC and the Birch effect, and its interactions with pre-wetting soil moisture (preSWC) and substrate supply. Two soils (clay loam and sandy loam) under a Pinus halepensis forest were subjected to rewetting in laboratory treatments combining different Delta SWC and preSWC values, with or without additional substrate (5 mg g(-1) P. halepensis needles). Respiration flush (Delta R), changes in microbial biomass C (MBC) and net N mineralization (NMIN) were measured. Overall, we found a relationship with the form: Delta R = a Delta SWC + b, where the slope (a) was significant only when pre-wetting water potential was below a threshold value in the range of -100 to -1,200 kPa. However, the threshold alone does not fully describe the role of preSWC in slope variability. Substrate addition modified the Delta SWC sensitivity of Birch effect, enhancing it in the clay loam and suppressing it in the sandy loam. The intensity of the wetting is a dominant factor regulating Birch effect, and Delta SWC is useful for its quantification., This work was supported by a fellowship from Generalitat Valenciana, Conselleria de Educacion, Formacion y Empleo awarded to L. Lado-Monserrat (BFPI/2008/041). Thanks are due to Antonio del Campo for help in data analyses and to Antonio Lloret for laboratory work. The authors wish to thank Joana Oliver for invaluable laboratory support. The authors also thank two anonymous reviewers and Professor Stephan Glatzel from the University of Rostock, Germany, for the critical review of the manuscript.

El objetivo de este video es el análisis de la actividad potencial de la fosfomonoesterasa ácida en el suelo, determinando colorimétricamente el p-nitrofenol liberado cuando el suelo es incubado con una disolución tamponada de p-nitrofenilfosfato.

Osmolytes, used for maintaining osmotic balance and as ‘osmoprotectans’, are synthesised in plants as a general, conserved response to abiotic stress, although their contribution to stress tolerance mechanisms is still unclear. Proline, the most common osmolyte, accumulates in many plant species in parallel with an increase in external salinity, and is considered as a reliable biochemical marker of salt stress. We have measured proline levels in two halophytic, closely related Juncus species, under laboratory and field conditions, to assess the possible relevance of proline biosynthesis for salt tolerance and therefore for the ecology of these two taxa., This work has been supported by grants from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation – with contribution from the European Regional Development Fund – to O. Vicente (project CGL2008-00438/BOS), and from the Polytechnic University of Valencia to M. Boscaiu (programme PAID-06-09).

[EN] A general response of plants to high soil salinity relies on the cellular accumulation of osmolytes, which help the plant to maintain osmotic balance under salt stress condition and/or act as osmoprotectants with chaperon or reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging activities. Yet the ecological relevance of this response for the salt tolerance mechanisms of halophytes in their natural habitats remains largely unknown. In this review, we describe and discuss published data supporting the participation of compatible solutes in those mechanisms, with especial focus on soluble carbohydrates. Evidence for a functional role of carbohydrates in salt tolerance include: (i) relatively high levels of specific sugars and polyols have been detected in many halophytic taxa; (ii) an increase in salt tolerance has often been observed in parallel with increased intracellular levels of particular soluble carbohydrates, in transgenic plants overexpressing the corresponding biosynthetic enzymes; (iii) there are several examples of genes involved in carbohydrate metabolism which are induced under salt stress conditions; (iv) specific sugars or polyols have been shown to accumulate in different halophytes upon controlled salt treatments; and (v) although very few field studies on environmentally induced carbohydrate changes in halophytes exist, in general they also support the involvement of this type of osmolytes in salt stress tolerance mechanisms. We also highlight the complexities of unequivocally attributing carbohydrates a biological role in salt tolerance mechanisms of a given tolerant species. It is proposed that research on halophytes in their natural ecosystems should be intensified, correlating seasonal changes in carbohydrate contents with the degree of environmental stress affecting the plants. This could be an important complement to experiments made under more controlled (but artificial) conditions, such as laboratory set-ups., Work in the authors' laboratories was funded by a grant to O.V. from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (Project CGL2008-00438/BOS), with contribution by the European Regional Development Fund.

En este video se estudia el efecto de la humedad del suelo sobre su respiración, mediante la medición del CO2 desprendido durante la incubación del suelo en un sitema cerrado., Complemento a las clases de teoría

Objetivos recogidos en la Estrategia temática para la protección de los suelos (2006), Como complemento a las clases

Immunomodulation by fungal compounds can be determined by the capacity of the compounds to influence the cytokine production by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (hPBMC). These activities include mitogenicity, stimulation and activation of immune effector cells. Eight mushroom strains (Agaricus blazei, Coprinus comatus, Flammulina velutipes, Ganoderma lucidum, Grifola frondosa, Volvariella volvacea, Lentinus edodes, and Pleurotus ostreatus) were tested for the immunomodulating activity of the isolated protein fractions and polysaccharides fractions present in mycelia and culture liquid. The fungal proteins and polysaccharides have been investigated for their in vitro effect on the cytokine profile (IFN-gamma, IL-4, IL-10, IL-12 and TNF-alpha) of unstimulated or hPBMC stimulated with the polyclonal stimulations PMA/Ca-I, ConA or LPS. In addition to their influence on the cytokine profile, the hemagglutination activity of the fungal proteins on rabbit red blood cells was determined. Proteins from V. volvacea and G. lucidum showed immunomodulating activity without the presence of any mitogen, however, neither of them decreased the production of IL-4 and IFN-gamma in combination with a stimulus. All used stimuli resulted in an induction of IL-12 in the presence of the protein extracts, suggesting a direct effect on monocytes. This effect might lead to the indirect immunomodulation of T cell activation and cytokine production. In addition, both protein extracts showed more hemagglutination activity after trypsin treatment of the rabbit red blood cells, indicating the presence of carbohydrate-binding proteins, like lectins and FIPs. In conclusion, the protein extracts of V. volvacea and G. lucidum contain immunomodulating activity by acting directly on monocytes and thereby modulating T cell activation. Further purification of the fungal extracts is needed to clarify whether there are FIPs or lectins present that are responsible for this immunomodulating activity.

(−)-(1 S ,2 R ,3 R ,4 S )-1,2-Epoxy-1-methyl-4-(1-methylethyl)-cyclohex-3-yl acetate has previously been identified as the active compound of Minthostachys tomentosa responsible for the insecticidal activity against Oncopeltus fasciatus . Its structure was initially assigned on the basis of spectral data. In order to confirm the structure and to define the stereochemistry, stereoselective synthesis of its enantiomer, (+)-(1 R ,2 S ,3 S ,4 R )-1,2-epoxy-1-methyl-4-(1-methylethyl)-cyclohex-3-yl acetate, starting from ( R )-(−)-piperitone, was carried out using a Sharpless reaction as the key step. The natural product is dextro -rotatory while the synthetic product is levo -rotatory. Measurements of insecticidal activities of the different steroisomers revealed that only the natural product is active.