Introduction: Ecotourism can alter wildlife behavior without affecting species diversity, but this is a poorly known subject. Objective: To evaluate the influence of tourist access on medium- and large-bodied mammals in Manuel Antonio National Park, Costa Rica. Methods: From April 2021 to August 2022, camera traps monitored mammals along public trails during periods of restricted and unrestricted tourist access associated with COVID-19 policies and weekly closures. Results: We recorded 16 mammal species, including the first Puma concolor documented in the park. Hill numbers did not differ significantly between restricted and unrestricted access. However, under unrestricted access, Dicotyles tajacu became more nocturnal, Nasua narica increased daytime activity, and Dasyprocta punctata showed little variation. Conclusions: Tourist access affected mammal activity patterns but not community diversity. Species-specific activity was therefore a more sensitive indicator of tourism effects than diversity metrics.
Introduction: Elasmobranchs are extremely delicate animals, thus, their manipulation implies great care to avoid excess of physical trauma and stress. In gravid females, their capture can trigger induced parturition, and considered as abortions since their survival rate has not been assessed. Objective: To document and describe capture-induced parturition events in rays during monitoring efforts in El Jobo, on the north Pacific of Costa Rica. Methods: In 2022 and 2024, three capture-induced parturition events were documented for three species of rays in El Jobo, located in the north Pacific of Costa Rica. Pregnant females were captured with hand nets while snorkeling, placed on the shore to record morphological data, and released shortly after. Results: Three capture-induced parturition events were recorded in Urobatis pardalis, Urotrygon rogersi, and in Gymnura crebripunctata. Pups’ sizes suggest that all were in the last stage of their gestation development. Unlike most reports, all females and pups were released in apparent excellent condition, representing rarely documented cases in which both females and premature offspring survive after stress-related parturition. Conclusion: These findings suggest that rapid release along a minimal handling procedure may enhance the survival of premature pups within a certain gestation development
Introduction: Given the growing interest in entomophagy as an alternative food source in Costa Rica, the production of A. domesticus represents an opportunity for the development of innovative production systems. Its consolidation requires the optimization of technical processes under local conditions and the evaluation of strategies aimed at increasing production efficiency and scalability. Objective: We evaluated the productive performance of A. domesticus (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) under four dietary regimes in the dry tropics of Costa Rica. Methods: We conducted the research at the UCR Santa Cruz Experimental Farm (Guanacaste) from October to December 2024. We evaluated four diets for A. domesticus using a completely randomized design with six replicates. After 56 days, we collected the specimens to quantify weight (fresh and dry), densities, and volumetric yields through thermal shock sacrifice and dehydration at 35°C. We analyzed the data in RStudio using Shapiro-Wilk, Levene, ANOVA, and Tukey tests (p ≤ 0,05). Results: We harvested 12 965 individuals with a balanced sex ratio (51% female, 49% male) and no significant differences between diets. The dietary regime significantly affected population growth and biomass, where dog food (D2) proved to be the least efficient. In contrast, diets for hens (D1), tilapia (D3), and chickens (D4) formed a superior and homogeneous group with the best productive parameters. Conclusions: Diet does not affect the sex ratio of A. domesticus, ensuring system stability. However, nutrition is key to yield: poultry (D1, D4) and fish (D3) concentrates are highly efficient and statistically superior to dog food (D2). This homogeneity among the leading treatments offers producers the flexibility to select inputs based on cost and regional availability without sacrificing productivity.
Introduction: Given the growing interest in entomophagy as an alternative food source in Costa Rica, the production of A. domesticus represents an opportunity for the development of innovative production systems. Its consolidation requires the optimization of technical processes under local conditions and the evaluation of strategies aimed at increasing production efficiency and scalability. Objective: We evaluated the productive performance of A. domesticus (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) under four dietary regimes in the dry tropics of Costa Rica. Methods: We conducted the research at the UCR Santa Cruz Experimental Farm (Guanacaste) from October to December 2024. We evaluated four diets for A. domesticus using a completely randomized design with six replicates. After 56 days, we collected the specimens to quantify weight (fresh and dry), densities, and volumetric yields through thermal shock sacrifice and dehydration at 35°C. We analyzed the data in RStudio using Shapiro-Wilk, Levene, ANOVA, and Tukey tests (p ≤ 0,05). Results: We harvested 12 965 individuals with a balanced sex ratio (51% female, 49% male) and no significant differences between diets. The dietary regime significantly affected population growth and biomass, where dog food (D2) proved to be the least efficient. In contrast, diets for hens (D1), tilapia (D3), and chickens (D4) formed a superior and homogeneous group with the best productive parameters. Conclusions: Diet does not affect the sex ratio of A. domesticus, ensuring system stability. However, nutrition is key to yield: poultry (D1, D4) and fish (D3) concentrates are highly efficient and statistically superior to dog food (D2). This homogeneity among the leading treatments offers producers the flexibility to select inputs based on cost and regional availability without sacrificing productivity.
Introducción: la IA ofrece nuevas posibilidades para apoyar la atención de enfermería en el proceso de cuidado; sin embargo, su aceptación por parte de los pacientes depende, en gran medida, del beneficio percibido para su atención. Objetivo: analizar la aceptación de la IA entre los pacientes que reciben servicios de enfermería y desarrollar un modelo predictivo que los clasifique según sus perfiles de adopción tecnológica. Métodos: realizamos un estudio cuantitativo, descriptivo, transversal y analítico con 704 funcionarios de una universidad pública. Aplicamos una escala Likert de 21 ítems, agrupados en cinco dimensiones, y efectuamos análisis factorial exploratorio y confirmatorio, análisis de conglomerados y análisis discriminante.Resultados: identificamos tres perfiles: escépticos (26%), neutrales (41%) y entusiastas (33%). El modelo clasificó correctamente al 98% de los participantes en la muestra de entrenamiento y al 97% en la validación interna. La percepción del uso de la IA presentó una correlación positiva alta con los beneficios percibidos (r = 0,902; p < 0,001). También encontramos asociaciones entre la edad, la antigüedad laboral y algunas de las dimensiones evaluadas. Conclusión: la aceptación de la IA varió entre los pacientes y permitió identificar tres perfiles diferenciados. El perfil neutral (41%) muestra la necesidad de ofrecer acompañamiento institucional, información y experiencias prácticas antes de incorporar estas tecnologías. Los perfiles identificados pueden ayudar a orientar estrategias de implementación acordes con las características y expectativas de los pacientes.
