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We present notable distributional updates for 14 species from western Ecuador (seven amphibians and seven reptiles). Our findings include the northernmost confirmed sighting of Pristimantis kuri and the southernmost documented record of Imantodes inornatus and Lepidoblepharis buchwaldi. Additionally, we document new records and notes on the distribution range of Agalychnis spurrelli, Hyloscirtus alytolylax, Engystomops montubio, Pristimantis muricatus, Pristimantis nyctophylax, Pristimantis walkeri, Chironius flavopictus, Chironius grandisquamis, Dendrophidion graciliverpa, Ninia schmidti, and Urotheca fulviceps. These observations significantly contribute to filling information gaps in our understanding of these species' distributions. The data, derived from samples collected across diverse forested areas in the western region of Ecuador (provinces of Bolívar, Cañar, Guayas, El Oro, and Los Ríos), provide valuable insights into the ecology and conservation of these species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract We present notable distributional updates for 14 species from western Ecuador (seven amphibians and seven reptiles). Our findings include the northernmost confirmed sighting of Pristimantis kuri and the southernmost documented record of Imantodes inornatus and Lepidoblepharis buchwaldi. Additionally, we document new records and notes on the distribution range of Agalychnis spurrelli, Hyloscirtus alytolylax, Engystomops montubio, Pristimantis muricatus, Pristimantis nyctophylax, Pristimantis walkeri, Chironius flavopictus, Chironius grandisquamis, Dendrophidion graciliverpa, Ninia schmidti, and Urotheca fulviceps. These observations significantly contribute to filling information gaps in our understanding of these species' distributions. The data, derived from samples collected across diverse forested areas in the western region of Ecuador (provinces of Bolívar, Cañar, Guayas, El Oro, and Los Ríos), provide valuable insights into the ecology and conservation of these species.

We report the occurrence of Lithobates catesbeianus (Shaw, 1802), Bullfrog, in a protected semidecidu-ous forest in the city of Guayaquil, Guayas, Ecuador and in a nearby wildlife management center. Bosqueira Pro-tected Forest is an isolated spot of diversity surrounded by urbanization, quarries, and highways. We found a juvenile Bullfrog in a water canal on the edge of the protected forest, near a private housing complex, and several tadpoles in an artificial pond in a wildlife management center located near the reserve. This is the first sighting of the invasive L. catesbeianus in a native ecosystem in Guayaquil. We also report the this species from, three other provinces of Ecuador, based on observations in iNaturalist. These records reinforce the ability of L. catesbeianus to adapt easily to varied environmental conditions and to disturbed areas. The invasion of L. catesbeianus towards semideciduous forest represents a new threat to biodiversity, particularly the endemic fauna, due to predation or competition. In future studies, it will be important to fully evaluate the Bullfrog diet and population status to esti-mate its impact on remnant forests of Guayaquil.

Amphibian and reptile diversity from Isla Santay (Durán, Ecuador) has been underestimated due to the lack of monitoring throughout the island. Historically, this island has also been affected by anthropic landscape changes which limit the occurrence of certain species and favors the dispersion of opportunistic or more tolerant species. Such species dynamics tend to be more evident on islands, since their isolation limits species’ mobility. We present an updated checklist of the herpetofauna of Isla Santay Durán, Ecuador, and report for the first time the occurrence of two introduced species, Anolis sagrei Duméril & Bibron, 1837, Brown Anole, and Hemydactylus frenatus Duméril & Bibron, 1836.

We report the occurrence of Lithobates catesbeianus (Shaw, 1802), Bullfrog, in a protected semideciduous forest in the city of Guayaquil, Guayas, Ecuador and in a nearby wildlife management center. Bosqueira Protected Forest is an isolated spot of diversity surrounded by urbanization, quarries, and highways. We found a juvenile Bullfrog in a water canal on the edge of the protected forest, near a private housing complex, and several tadpoles in an artificial pond in a wildlife management center located near the reserve. This is the first sighting of the invasive L. catesbeianus in a native ecosystem in Guayaquil. We also report the this species from, three other provinces of Ecuador, based on observations in iNaturalist. These records reinforce the ability of L. catesbeianus to adapt easily to varied environmental conditions and to disturbed areas. The invasion of L. catesbeianus towards semideciduous forest represents a new threat to biodiversity, particularly the endemic fauna, due to predation or competition. In future studies, it will be important to fully evaluate the Bullfrog diet and population status to estimate its impact on remnant forests of Guayaquil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amphibian and reptile diversity from Isla Santay (Durán, Ecuador) has been underestimated due to the lack of monitoring throughout the island. Historically, this island has also been affected by anthropic landscape changes which limit the occurrence of certain species and favors the dispersion of opportunistic or more tolerant species. Such species dynamics tend to be more evident on islands, since their isolation limits species' mobility. We present an updated checklist of the herpetofauna of Isla Santay Durán, Ecuador, and report for the first time the occurrence of two introduced species, Anolis sagrei Duméril & Bibron, 1837, Brown Anole, and Hemydactylus frenatus Duméril & Bibron, 1836. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A transition towards an economy able to decouple economic growth from resource throughput is needed. An answer to this issue is the circular economy since it pushes the frontiers of sustainability by implementing value ecosystems in which products and materials are used as many times as necessary. Circular business models such as product lease and pay-per-use also called product/service systems (PSS) or product as a service (PaaS) focus on selling service and performance instead of products. The main objective of this paper is to gain more insights into the level of acceptance that the lease/share model of a washing machine can have on developing world citizens from the province of Guayas, Ecuador, a country in South America. In addition, this research aims to study which determinants could affect said acceptance. For the collection of information, this research employed a case study approach. A discrete choice experiment together with different attribute levels and other socio-demographic characteristics were analyzed. Respondents were predominantly focused on the buying market (60%), followed by the pay-per-month model (29.5%), and the pay-per-use model (7.6%). Only 3.5% of the respondents would at this point consider laundry services. The consumer characteristics that were found most important in influencing choice for a payment model were: age, income, and education level of the household head, together with the household size and socio-economic group of the families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecuador is a country in which only a third of the municipalities classify their waste before it is collected by garbage collection services. The country generates 4.06 million metric tons of waste each year, which is constituted of 62% of organic, 25% of recyclable and 13% are of another type of wastes. Of this total, only 4% is recycled, diminishing the space for landfills and increasing the cost of solid waste management. For this reason, the need for urban solid waste recycling systems has become very important. A waste transfer station is an important component of a waste management system and functions as a link between a community´s solid waste collection program and the final waste disposition. The study area was Grand Guayaquil which is the conglomeration of Guayaquil city and its closed neighbor surrounding cities (Duran, Samborondon, and Daule) from the province of Guayas in Ecuador, where waste transfer stations are used to temporarily store, and classify nonhazardous recyclable waste, sold by informal waste pickers, for after commercialization to recycling facilities. The main objective of this paper was to gain more insights into the geo-location of waste transfer stations, together with the quantification and characterization of recyclable waste they store for further reselling in five different cities of the province of Guayas, Ecuador. By knowing the location of these waste transfer stations and the types of recyclable materials they accept, future research can design a reverse logistic system which includes the informal collection sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

La cuenca del río Guayas es la más grande del Ecuador, formado por la confluencia de los ríos Daule y Babahoyo. Estudios anteriores evidencian que están expuestos a descargas directas de aguas residuales y químicos usados en prácticas agrícolas. Por lo que existe concentraciones de cadmio (Cd) en agua y sedimento que podría estar siendo bioacumulado por el caracol manzana (Pomacea canaliculata). El cadmio es un contaminante cosmopolita que causa un gran impacto ambiental, atribuyéndosele efectos carcinogénicos al ser humano. Con el objetivo de comprobar si esta especie es un bioindicador de la presencia de cadmio en los ríos Guayas, Daule y Babahoyo se compararon las concentraciones en agua, sedimento y el caracol manzana. Todas las muestras se llevaron a peso seco, se digirieron y se analizaron por espectrofotometría de absorción atómica de llama. Por medio de correlación de Pearson y análisis de componentes principales se comprobó que existe correlación entre las concentraciones biodisponibles de Cd en sedimento y Cd en agua (r2 =0,768, p=0,000), así mismo, Pomacea canaliculata presentó una correlación positiva con las concentraciones de Cd biodisponible en sedimento (r2 =0,528, p=0,004). Finalmente, concluimos que Pomacea canaliculata es un bioindicador confiable de la presencia de Cd en el medio acuático.

Se provee una definición y las características de las especies emblemáticas. De acuerdo con éstas, se presentan 27 taxa emblemáticas de la ciudad de Guayaquil y de la provincia del Guayas, en la costa de Ecuador, estas son: 14 especies de plantas vasculares y 13 especies de fauna. Las especies emblemáticas de plantas vasculares para Guayaquil y la provincia del Guayas son: Cordia macrantha (Boraginaceae), Bursera graveolens (Burseraceae), Laguncularia racemosa var. glabriflora (Combretaceae), Pseudosamanea guachapele (Fabaceae), Gustavia angustifolia (Lecythidaceae), Ceiba trichistandra, Gossypium barbadense, Ochroma pyramidale (Malvaceae), Thalia pavonii (Marantaceae), Psidium guayaquilense (Myrtaceae), Nymphaea oxypetala (Nymphaeaceae), Epidendrum bracteolatum, Encyclia angustiloba (Orchidaceae) y Simira ecuadorensis (Rubiaceae). Las especies emblemáticas de fauna para Guayaquil y la provincia del Guayas son: Simosciurus stramineus (Sciuridae), Ara ambiguus subsp. guayaquilensis, Forpus coelestis, Psittacara erythrogenys (Psittacidae), Myrmia micrura (Trochilidae), Crocodylus acutus (Crocodylidae), Mastigodryas reticulatus (Colubridae), Coniophanes dromiciformis (Dipsadidae), Trilepida guayaquilensis (Leptotyphlopidae), Iguana iguana (Iguanidae), Ceratophrys stolzmanni (Ceratophryidae), Porphyrobaphe iostoma (Orthalicidae) y Eulaema polychroma (Apidae).

Cerca de 80.000 personas con discapacidad en nuestro país laboran en empresas públicas y privadas, según lo reconoce Consejo Nacional de Discapacidades. Noticia que publica el diario el Telégrafo, el día sábado 24 Octubre 2015. Por otra parte, también se revela por parte del Vicepresidente de la CONADIS, Xavier Torres, que el 70% de las empresas cumple con la norma de contratación. Por lo expuesto, mediante esta investigación procuramos examinar si el problema se concentra en el predominio y conjunto de variables externas e internas que prevalecen en la exigua inserción laboral de las personas con discapacidad sobre todo aquella con educación superior, y la respectiva aplicación de la Ley Orgánica de discapacidad ( LOD) por parte de las empresas a esa realidad, por lo tanto la interrogante establecida se orienta en el siguiente sentido de: ¿Identificar a qué factores obedece la inserción laboral y el respeto a la aplicación de las leyes establecidas a favor de las personas con discapacidad en la provincia de Guayas?, ¿ Identificar cuáles son las expectativas que genera este sector considerado vulnerable en nuestra sociedad en el ámbito laboral y si el cumplimiento de sus derechos y oportunidades que se manifiestan elementos sociales externos, como el bajo nivel académico, anacrónicas condiciones del puesto de trabajo, abandono de ayudas técnicas, etc.? Los métodos empleados fueron: el históricológico, analítico-sintético, el etnográfico y la Investigación Acción Participativa. Entre las técnicas se encuentran la entrevista, le encuesta, el grupo de discusión y el análisis documental.

The effects of climate change projected for 2050 to 2079 relative to the 1968–2014 reference period were evaluated using 39 CMIP5 models under the RCP8.5 emissions scenario in the Guayas River basin. The monthly normalized precipitation index (SPI) was used in this study to assess the impact of climate change for wet events and droughts from a meteorological perspective. The GR2M model was used to project changes in the streamflow of the Daule River. The climate projection was based on the four rigorously selected models to represent the climate of the study area. On average, an increase in temperature (~2 °C) and precipitation (~6%) is expected. A 7% increase in precipitation would result in a 10% increase in streamflow for flood periods, while an 8% decrease in precipitation could result in approximately a 60% reduction in flow for dry periods. The analysis of droughts shows that they will be more frequent and prolonged in the highlands (Andes) and the middle part of the basin. In the future, wet periods will be less frequent but of greater duration and intensity on the Ecuadorian coast. These results point to future problems such as water deficit in the dry season but also increased streamflow for floods during the wet season. This information should be taken into account in designing strategies for adaptation to climate change.

La agresividad de la lluvia contribuye a la erosividad del suelo en regiones de alta montaña, y por tal a la sedimentación en la parte baja de la cuenca. La reducción de incertidumbre acerca de la agresividad de la lluvia en regiones costeras y andinas contribuye a la formulación de medidas de mitigación que contribuyan a la reducción de erosión y pérdida de nutrientes. Este estudio presenta un análisis espacial y temporal de la agresividad climática en la cuenca del río Guayas ubicada en la costa y Andes ecuatoriales. Se seleccionó datos mensuales registrados de 30 estaciones pluviométricas para el periodo de 1968-2014. Se determinó zonas homogéneas de precipitación mediante el método k-means. Los resultados indicaron dos regiones homogeneas predominantes, la primera ubicada al oeste en la zona costera y andina (85.2% del área de la Cuenca), con un índice de agresividad alto y muy alto, mientras que la distribución de la precipitación en la segunda región (Alta montaña) resultó de muy baja a baja agresividad. La mayor agresividad potencial de la lluvia le corresponde una mayor acumulación de precipitación promedio anual, lo que indica una alta influencia estacional de las lluvias, i.e, una mayor cantidad de lluvia puede precipitar en un número reducido de meses consecutivos. Los valores de concentración revelan una gradiente regional en dirección este-oeste, que va de moderadamente a fuertemente estacional. El análisis de tendencias de la concentración de lluvia mensual no muestra cambios significativos en el periodo de estudio. No obstante, nuestros hallazgos explican el porqué la región oeste y sur de la cuenca del río Guayas está expuesta a problemas de sedimentación en la parte baja, producto de la capacidad erosiva de la lluvia en la parte alta y media de la cuenca.

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The aggressiveness of rain contributes to the erosion of the soil in high mountain regions, and therefore to the sedimentation in the lower part of the watershed. To know about the aggressiveness of rain in coastal and Andean regions contributes to the formulation of mitigation measures that help to the reduction of erosion and loss of nutrients. Fournier indices, Modified Fournier and precipitation concentration provide the ability to estimate the spatial and temporal distribution of the aggressiveness of the rain. This study presents a spatial and temporal analysis of climatic aggressiveness in the Guayas river watershed located on the coast and the equatorial Andes. Registered monthly data of 30 rainfall stations for the period 1968-2014 was selected. Homogeneous precipitation zones were determined by the k-means method. The results indicated two predominant homogenous regions, the first located to the west in the coastal and Andean zone (85;2% of the area of theWatershed), with a high and very high aggressiveness index, while the distribution of precipitation in the second region (High mountain) resulted from very low to low aggressiveness. The greater potential aggressiveness of rain corresponds to a greater accumulation of average annual rainfall, which indicates a high seasonal influence of rainfall, i.e., a greater amount of rainfall can precipitate in a reduced number of consecutive months. The concentration values reveal a regional gradient in the east-west direction, which goes from moderately to strongly seasonal. The trend analysis of the monthly rainfall concentration shows no significant changes in the study period. However, these findings explain why the western and southern region of the Guayas river watershed is exposed to sedimentation problems in the lower part, due to the erosive capacity of rain in the higher and middle part of the watershed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Once the projects to change the productive and energy matrix in Ecuador have started, it is understandable that the country now aims at an efficient, innovative, with high quality and environmentally friendly production. Therefore the need for a social, labor and academic study must be set in the career of Environmental Engineering focused on Region 5. The work presented in this article involved a quantitative and qualitative research. The first was focused on companies in the agricultural and industrial sector of region 5 and the second was directed to experts. In both cases the objectives aimed to determine the necessity of environmental engineers in the region 5, the profile of the graduates for an eventual career and the academic and infrastructure requirements for the success of the career and the graduates. The results encourage the creation of a career in Environmental Engineering, because there is currently a need for at least 2454 professionals. It was also noted that the University should aim to generate links with key stakeholders for the new career to be successful and fulfill its social purpose

We present new records for Fleischmann's Glassfrog, Hyalinobatrachium fleischmanni (Boettger, 1893), which extend the distribution of this species into central and southwestern Ecuador and thus represent the southernmost known localities. These new reports are based on specimens collected at Cerro de Hayas, province of Guayas, and Macul, province of Los Ríos. These new localities extend the known geographic range of H. fleischmanni by approximately 250 km south of previous known occurrences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the first record of the invasive Brown Anole, Anolis sagrei Duméril & Bibron, 1837, in South America based on nine specimens from Samborondón, Guayas province, Ecuador. We also present some information related to the current distribution in Ecuador, and its possible impacts on native lizard species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The floods are an annual phenomenon on the Pacific Coast of Ecuador and can become devastating during El Niño years, especially in the Guayas watershed (32,300 km2), the largest drainage basin of the South American western side of the Andes. As limited information on flood extent in this basin is available, this study presents a monitoring of the spatio-temporal dynamics of floods in the Guayas Basin, between 2005 and 2008, using a change detection method applied to ENVISAT ASAR Global Monitoring SAR images acquired at a spatial resolution of 1 km. The method is composed of three steps. First, a supervised classification was performed to identify pixels of open water present in the Guayas Basin. Then, the separability of their radar signature from signatures of other classes was determined during the four dry seasons from 2005 to 2008. In the end, standardized anomalies of backscattering coefficient were computed during the four wet seasons of the study period to detect changes between dry and wet seasons. Different thresholds were tested to identify the flooded areas in the watershed using external information from the Dartmouth Flood Observatory. A value of -2.30 ± 0.05 was found suitable to estimate the number of inundated pixels and limit the number of false detection (below 10%). Using this threshold, monthly maps of inundation were estimated during the wet season (December to May) from 2004 to 2008. The most frequently inundated areas were found to be located along the Babahoyo River, a tributary in the east of the basin. Large interannual variability in the flood extent is observed at the flood peak (from 50 to 580 km2), consistent with the rainfall in the Guayas watershed during the study period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psidium guayaquilense from western Ecuador is described and illustrated. It is most similar to P. acidum, having in common with it non-angular, rounded seeds, anthers with a few subequal glands and peduncles with wings. Psidium guayaquilense differs from P. acidum in various ways, most notably in the principal marginal veins mainly 1-3 mm from margin (versus 3-10 mm or more from margin in P. acidum); closed calyx with a prominent apiculum (versus without an apiculum or with only a weak apiculum); ovules per locule 12-40 (versus 50-70); style 8-10 mm long (versus 12-16 mm); fruit 1.5-3 cm in diameter (versus 2-5 cm); fruit wall 0.5-2.5 mm thick (versus 4-13 mm); seeds usually 4-6 (versus 20-60 or more). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The floods are an annual phenomenon on the Pacific Coast of Ecuador and can become devastating during El Niño years, especially in the Guayas watershed (32,300 km2), the largest drainage basin of the South American western side of the Andes. As limited information on flood extent in this basin is available, this study presents a monitoring of the spatio-temporal dynamics of floods in the Guayas Basin, between 2005 and 2008, using a change detection method applied to ENVISAT ASAR Global Monitoring SAR images acquired at a spatial resolution of 1 km. The method is composed of three steps. First, a supervised classification was performed to identify pixels of open water present in the Guayas Basin. Then, the separability of their radar signature from signatures of other classes was determined during the four dry seasons from 2005 to 2008. In the end, standardized anomalies of backscattering coefficient were computed during the four wet seasons of the study period to detect changes between dry and wet seasons. Different thresholds were tested to identify the flooded areas in the watershed using external information from the Dartmouth Flood Observatory. A value of −2.30 ± 0.05 was found suitable to estimate the number of inundated pixels and limit the number of false detection (below 10%). Using this threshold, monthly maps of inundation were estimated during the wet season (December to May) from 2004 to 2008. The most frequently inundated areas were found to be located along the Babahoyo River, a tributary in the east of the basin. Large interannual variability in the flood extent is observed at the flood peak (from 50 to 580 km2), consistent with the rainfall in the Guayas watershed during the study period.

This note is a preliminary study from mineralogical and chemical points of view about the possibility of using local clays from Ecuador in industrial ceramics. The chemical and mineralogical composition of clays was determined by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Also, the plasticity index (PI) was measured for each sample. Test samples were prepared by pressing and firing at different temperatures. Linear contraction (LC), water absorption capacity (WAC), and bending strength were performed to characterise the fired clays. The clay deposits studied were plastic raw materials with very high contents of quartz. The raw material in traditional ceramics in Ecuador is clay with approximate levels of silica at 60%, alumina 15%, low alkalis and carbonates, and high iron levels. The sample mineralogy indicates quartz as a primary mineral, followed by plagioclases, with hematite to a lesser extent in all the samples. Kaolinite, illite, and chlorite are the main clay minerals in the raw material samples. All the studied clays seem to be easily adaptable to a correct dry pressing ceramic process. The studied clays are an excellent raw material for the formulation of low porosity ceramic stoneware. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Con base en la información publicada por el INEC y por el Banco Central del Ecuador, en sus boletines estadísticos, el presente artículo plantea la elaboración de tres matrices de BCG, aplicables para las provincias de Pichincha, Guayas y Azuay, siempre realizando primero un análisis de la coyuntura económica del país que permita entender las variables macroeconómicas por provincia. A pesar de las diferencias existentes entre provincias, es posible, sin embargo, generar una estrategia para los planes de trabajo de los sectores económicos de cada región, en favor del desarrollo de la industria local.

The effects of climate change projected for 2050 to 2079 relative to the 1968–2014 reference period were evaluated using 39 CMIP5 models under the RCP8.5 emissions scenario in the Guayas River basin. The monthly normalized precipitation index (SPI) was used in this study to assess the impact of climate change for wet events and droughts from a meteorological perspective. The GR2M model was used to project changes in the streamflow of the Daule River. The climate projection was based on the four rigorously selected models to represent the climate of the study area. On average, an increase in temperature (~2 °C) and precipitation (~6%) is expected. A 7% increase in precipitation would result in a 10% increase in streamflow for flood periods, while an 8% decrease in precipitation could result in approximately a 60% reduction in flow for dry periods. The analysis of droughts shows that they will be more frequent and prolonged in the highlands (Andes) and the middle part of the basin. In the future, wet periods will be less frequent but of greater duration and intensity on the Ecuadorian coast. These results point to future problems such as water deficit in the dry season but also increased streamflow for floods during the wet season. This information should be taken into account in designing strategies for adaptation to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Croton churutensis is described as a new species of Croton section Cyclostigma endemic to lowland deciduous forests in coastal Ecuador. Its red latex is used locally in Guayas Province to treat wounds, stomach ulcers, and some skin conditions caused by fungal infections. The new species differs from its closest apparent relative, Croton hibiscifolius, in its arching-pendent inflorescences, short-pedicellate female flowers with quadrifid stigmas, more numerous stamens, laciniate stipules, and lower elevation habitat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]