The Eastern South Pacific Ocean (ESPO) is a nutrient-rich and highly diverse region that plays a pivotal role in the global seafood trade. Despite its importance, the seafood industry in this region is hindered by complex supply chains and insufficient regulation frameworks, which facilitate illegal practices, including mislabeling. DNA-based methods have emerged as essential tools for seafood authentication, helping to mitigate mislabeling and supporting conservation strategies. This study provides the first comprehensive review of DNA-based methods used globally to identify seafood species from the ESPO. Historical and current techniques were systematically examined, with a focus on emerging technologies that offer promising applications in the field. Nearly three decades of research have enabled the successful identification of over 200 commercially valuable species using more than ten distinct DNA-based methods. Fish and mollusks constituted the most extensively studied seafood groups, with DNA sequencing emerging as the predominant technique. Furthermore, a global mislabeling meta-analysis, encompassing 1806 seafood products from the ESPO, revealed an estimated mislabeling rate of 24.8% (95% CI [22.9–26.9]). Notably, a substantial proportion of mislabeled and substituted products corresponds to highly threatened shark species, with the highest rates recorded in Colombia and Peru. This raises serious conservation concerns, particularly given that nations bordering the ESPO are major players in the global shark trade. Overall, the findings of this review underscore the urgent need to integrate advanced DNA-based techniques into existing regulatory frameworks. They also establish a solid foundation for developing targeted policies and encouraging collaborative efforts among nations in this region.
El objetivo fue proponer nuevas estrategias sanitarias para el manejo de residuos sólidos frente a la contaminación ambiental local en distritos de la costa peruana. Estudio cuantitativo, proyectivo, con modalidad proyecto factible. Se empleó un muestreo censal en tres municipalidades de Lima Metropolitana, trabajando con 62 funcionarios con competencia en materia ambiental. Los resultados indican en el diagnóstico que existen valores muy bajos que deben ser atendidos; en lo que respecta a la factibilidad, la matriz FODA determinó que la propuesta es viable. Se concluye que las estrategias sanitarias propuestas para el manejo de residuos sólidos en los distritos costeros de la costa peruana pueden ser efectivas en la reducción de la contaminación ambiental local y la promoción de un entorno más saludable y sostenible.
This study reports the psychometric-multivariate characterization of the sensory space of a Smallanthus sonchifolius fructose syrup obtained via enzymatic hydrolysis, addressing the need for robust evaluation of novel functional sweeteners. A 12-member selected analytical panel (selected from 38 candidates; 31.6% retention) evaluated the matrix using a 16-item, four-dimensional psychometric instrument. Content validity was pre-established by expert consensus (global Aiken’s V = 0.824, 95% CI [0.798, 0.852]), and panel reliability was confirmed through Friedman’s test across three replicates (p > 0.05 for D2, D3, D4). Results from Principal Component Analysis (PCA) explained 90.17% of the total variance, identifying two primary axes: somatic-emotional integration (PC1: 64.15%) and contextual-cognitive differentiation (PC2: 26.02%). Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) segmented three distinct perceptual archetypes within the panel (k = 3), with the “Temporally Driven” segment (C3) emerging as the dominant profile (50%). The findings demonstrate that yacon syrup perception is characterized by statistical score homogeneity across oral body-mapping and experiential familiarity dimensions. This psychometric approach provides a high-fidelity map of the sensory experience, offering a reproducible baseline for the quality control and standardization of functional yacon-derived products.
This study evaluated the influence of Pseudocnus dubiosus density on the bioremediation of organically enriched marine sediments collected from El Ferrol Bay (Áncash, Peru). A laboratory experimental design was applied, comprising one control treatment without organisms and three treatments with increasing densities of P. dubiosus (27, 41 and 54 individuals per experimental unit), each with three replicates. The physicochemical parameters of the system, sediment organic matter reduction and the organoleptic changes associated with the process were assessed. The results showed that the presence of the organism significantly enhanced organic matter removal compared with the control, which achieved only a 0.97% cumulative reduction, whereas the treatments with organisms reached 34.42%, 40.97% and 43.36%, respectively. In the higher-density treatments, turbidity increased, while nitrate, phosphate and chemical oxygen demand (COD) decreased, suggesting intensified bioturbation, particle resuspension and transformation of organic compounds at the sediment–water interface. Although all evaluated densities produced a favourable functional response, the greatest numerical efficiency was recorded at the highest density. Overall, the findings support the potential of P. dubiosus as a benthic organism for application in bioremediation strategies aimed at coastal ecosystems degraded by organic matter accumulation.
Hypanus brevis (Garman, 1880) and H. dipterurus (Jordan & Gilbert, 1880) are currently considered as a conspecific lineage of the "diamond stingray" from the Eastern Pacific. This taxonomic group has been the subject of nomenclatural disputes for about 145 years. To clarify the historical confusion surrounding this lineage, we employed an integrative taxonomic approach using specimens from the Eastern North and Eastern South Pacific (ENP and ESP). The genetic results, based on single and multilocus mitochondrial analyses, revealed a distinct evolutionary unit in the ESP. While morphological analyses detected subtle differences between ENP and ESP specimens, most characters exhibited significant overlap (e.g., disc shape, dentition patterns, body coloration), suggesting low evolutionary divergence. A calibrated molecular clock analysis estimated this divergence at approximately 3.09 Ma. In accordance with Garman's (1880) original description based on specimens from Paita (northern Peru), we formally resurrect H. brevis from synonymy with H. dipterurus . Our findings suggest an anti-tropical speciation pathway, with core populations of H. brevis and H. dipterurus restricted to the temperate waters of the ESP and ENP, respectively. Notably, a single, fixed COI haplotype was detected in all H. brevis specimens from the north-central Peruvian coast. This result may indicate a severe bottleneck event, raising concerns about the genetic health and long-term viability of this vulnerable species. Finally, we analyzed historical fishery data of H. brevis to infer its current population status, suggesting targeted conservation measures and precautionary management to prevent further loss of genetic diversity.
