Self-pollination of the orchid Cycnoches haagii from Brazilian Cerrado results in albino phenotype seedlings

Cycnoches haagii Barb. Rodr. is an epiphytic orchid very targeted by collectors, but no reference was found in the literature about its reproductive biology. Thus, the purpose of this study was to obtain initial information regarding pollination types and its influence on seed viability of this native orchid of the Brazilian Cerrado, in order to enable future propagation and preservation programs. Pollination among flowers of the same plant (geitonogamy) or different plants (xenogamy) were carried out. Seeds extracted from the capsules were sown in B&G medium, with full and half strength. Seeds from geitonogamic resulted in 25% of albino protocorms and consequently in albino seedlings. This phenomenon did not occur in seedlings derived from xenogamic pollination. Pigment analysis showed that even the albino seedlings presented chlorophylls and carotenoids, however, in significantly minor concentrations, 16% and 37% respectively, in relation to green seedlings. Geitonogamic and xenogamic pollinations resulted in C. haagii viable seeds with high germination percentage (90%) under in vitro conditions. The germination of seeds from xenogamic pollination resulted in chlorophyll or normal seedlings only, and can be recommended at conservation programs. On the other hand, although geitonogamic pollination should be avoided at conservation programs of this orchid species as it leads to albino seedlings, it showed a very interesting system to obtain seedlings with this phenotype, an interesting plant material to future investigation.

Reproductive Technologies Used in Male Neo-Tropical Hystricomorphic Rodents

This review, which is the first of two, focuses on the male reproductive anatomy and reproductive technologies used in Neo-tropical hystricomorphic rodents with the potential for domestication, which are the agouti (Dasyprocta leporina), the capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) and the paca (Cuniculus paca). We consider over seventy references spanning from 1965 to 2020, with the majority of work being done in the past twenty years. Knowledge of the reproductive tract and reproductive technologies is critical to the conservation and preservation of these species. Although all three animals had similarities in their anatomy, such as no overt scrotums and testes located intra-abdominally in the inguinal region, some had unique features—for example, the agouti and the paca had penile spines, and two lateral penile cartilages. High spermatogenic efficiency was noted in the agouti and the paca, making them good candidates for increasing their reproductive performance in conservation programs. A review of the literature has shown that there is increasing work taking place on the reproductive technologies used in these animals; however, a lot of work is still lacking, as, to the author’s knowledge, standard protocols and artificial insemination procedures are yet to be established.

Three Barriers to Effective Programs with Payment for Ecosystem Services: Behavioral Responses in a Computer-Based Experiment

Financial incentives in the form of payment for ecosystem services (PES) can encourage participation in voluntary conservation programs, but real-world experience with PES is limited for services such as the provision of endangered species habitats. A computer-based laboratory experiment with 139 US college students as subjects suggests there are three barriers to effective PES programs: (1) financial rewards can crowd out altruism—low-level PES in the experiment was less effective than the same program without PES; (2) landowners may assuage guilt over destroying habitats by making contributions to ineffective conservation programs—participants often paired destruction of habitat with token contributions to conservation efforts; and (3) landowners may strategically exit conservation agreements in ways that are detrimental to wildlife—a large proportion of participants chose to leave agreements and destroy habitats when the PESs were structured without credible deterrence of an early exit. Fortunately, the results of the experiment also suggest research to overcome these barriers by ensuring that PES financial incentives are scaled and structured to effectively promote conservation. The lessons from this study—though they issue from the particular context of this experiment—provide suggestions about how to structure benefit sharing schemes that could be used to promote conservation in a range of settings.

Un homme est mort. Escritura fílmica de la Historia a través del cine de intervención social

El fascinante legado del cineasta René Vautier (1928-2015) choca con la escasez de referencias académicas a su obra, a pesar de su inmenso valor histórico. Vautier es un exponente clave para ilustrar las fisuras del paradigma historiográfico actual, que excluye voces y opiniones cuyo rol es instrumental para reescribir la Historia. Llevó siempre al límite su pasión por la realidad y la verdad histórica, lo que derivó en una interminable lista de problemas institucionales. A través del caso de estudio del impacto social y artístico de su documental Un homme est mort, esta investigación indaga en las razones por las que hay artistas que han sido irrelevantes para la academia francesa, al mismo tiempo que los poderes establecidos perseguían su obra, a través de peligrosas medidas que atacaban directamente a la libertad de expresión, como restricciones legales, censura o recortes económicos. Estas políticas restrictivas derivaron en un empeoramiento sustancial de las condiciones de rodaje, en la autocensura y, al quedar fuera del circuito de exhibición oficial, redujeron el impacto potencial en las audiencias. Además, al no haber existido oficialmente, estas películas no optan de manera automática a los programas de conservación pública. En definitiva, se produjo una alteración del marco conceptual que debería haberse generado a largo plazo en las relaciones entre arte y sociedad, entregándonos un imaginario cultural construido de espaldas a una parte esencial de la Historia (del arte). The captivating artistic legacy of René Vautier (1928-2015) clashes with the lack of research on the impact of his extraordinary career, given the notable value of his work. Vautier is a key example that illustrates the cracks in the schemas of traditional historiography, unable to recognise the plurality of voices and opinions that should be taken into account to rewrite History. The taste for reality and historical truth so taken to the extreme in his films resulted in a large list of institutional problems. Through the analysis of the social and artistic impact of one of his very first films, Un homme est mort, we will understand why some artists were considered secondary or irrelevant by the French academia. They were also pursued by the Establishment with extremely dangerous measures in regard to freedom of expression such as legal constraints, censorship or financial cuts. These restrictive policies first led to lower quality filming material, smaller crews, fewer projects or self-censorship; but it also implied an alternative exhibition circuit which diminished the scope of audiences. As they never existed officially, these films do not benefit from public conservation programs automatically. In addition, it altered the conceptual leap with long-term implications for art and society since our common cultural imaginary has been built without a significant piece of art history.