http://hdl.handle.net/10256/11211 Sun, 11 May 2025 07:26:05 GMT 2025-05-11T07:26:05Z http://hdl.handle.net/10256/26298 Selecció d'espècies d'insecte per a la seva cria i explotació com a pinso per a animals monogàstrics : un enfocament biològic i de sostenibilitat Teixido Siuraneta, Pau In recent decades, interest in the use of insects as a food source for monogastric animals has significantly increased both in the scientific community and in the agri-food industry. This interest is based on the need to find sustainable alternatives to traditional protein sources, such as soy and fishmeal, which have a high environmental impact. Soy production is associated with massive deforestation, especially in the Amazon, causing habitat loss and a decrease in biodiversity. Fishmeal, obtained from fishing and aquaculture, contributes to the overexploitation of fish stocks and the spread of diseases, affecting the sustainability of the oceans. This study explores the viability of breeding three insect species: the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens), the mealworm (Tenebrio molitor), and the domestic cricket (Acheta domesticus) for animal feed production. These insects are promising candidates due to their high efficiency in food conversion, ability to recycle organic waste, and reduced water and land requirements. The main objective is to assess the biological, environmental, and sustainability efficiency of each of these species to determine their suitability for sustainable animal feed production. The methodology includes a review of the scientific literature, analysis of the species' life cycles, evaluation of their ability to convert organic waste into useful biomass, and comparison of the nutritional value with traditional protein sources. Aspects such as water consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and land use are also considered. The results show that insects have high food conversion efficiency, recycle organic waste, and require less water and land than traditional sources. Their production generates fewer greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to climate change mitigation. The produced biomass is comparable in nutritional value, providing an adequate and healthy diet for monogastric animals. The conclusions indicate that insect-based feed production is a more sustainable alternative with a lower environmental impact than traditional sources. Replacing soy and fishmeal with insects could alleviate pressure on natural ecosystems, reduce deforestation, and minimize the overexploitation of fish stocks and the spread of diseases. This contributes to global sustainability and food security, highlighting the importance of the study in the context of sustainable agri-food practices. Implementing this alternative could revolutionize the agri-food industry, offering innovative and sustainable solutions for the future of animal feeding Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10256/26298 2024-07-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10256/26297 Impacte de les infraestructures elèctriques sobre l’avifauna a la Vall del Ridaura : avaluació de riscos i proposta de mesures correctores Román Carré, Oriol The Vall del Ridaura, between the municipalities of Santa Cristina de Aro, Castell-Platja d'Aro, Sant Feliu de Guíxols in the Baix Empordà region and Llagostera in the Gironès region, has its landscape modified by electrical infrastructures that often present an enormous danger for the birdlife present in this area. These birds can collide or be electrocuted by these structures if there are no measures to mitigate or eliminate this impact. The birds most affected by this problem are usually large birds such as birds of prey, gulls, Ciconiiformes or even birds linked to bodies of water. The aim of this study is to give a numerical value indicating the danger of each power line in order to propose corrective measures that go hand in hand with the danger and prioritize them according to the type of each support. During the months of January, February and March, a total of 816 electrical supports were sampled within the study area, looking for signs of electrocution (carcasses or animal remains) and categorizing support by support, geolocating and photographing them. On the other hand, it has been seen that the Vall del Ridaura is an area where, in general, the pylons are not isolated and do not have corrective measures and that many resources should be invested by the companies that manage these infrastructures to reduce the risk of electrocution on wild birds. Of the 52 lines sampled, 35 are considered non-dangerous while 17 would be dangerous. Translated into kilometers, almost 73 km of lines would have non-dangerous supports and 10.5 km of lines with dangerous supports. Finally, there was little evidence of electrocutions, only three, as many opportunistic mammals can take advantage of these below-line paths to forage for food without much effort. This is why a parallel and complementary study has been carried out to adjust this value, which is considered to be very biased from the real one, and to be able to estimate the time that passes between a bird being electrocuted and a scavenger foraging. A total of sixteen baits were placed under four power lines and it was found that after 6 days 94% of these baits had been depredated. In addition, a total of 5 photographic trapping cameras have been placed at different points to find out which animals are most prone to this opportunistic behavior Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10256/26297 2024-07-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10256/26296 Estudi de l’edat i creixement del barb de muntanya (Barbus meridionalis): una comparativa entre rius intermitents i permanents Pineda Merino, Laia The mountain barbel (Barbus meridionalis) is an endemic species of the northeastern Iberian Peninsula and southern France, currently classified as "near threatened" by the IUCN. Despite its critical status, little is known about its biology, especially regarding age and growth. Although it is adapted to the seasonality of Mediterranean rivers, in a scenario of climate change and prolonged droughts, it is crucial to compare growth between populations in permanent rivers and rivers that become intermittent during the summer due to drought. This study is conducted in four tributary rivers of the Ter River basin: two intermittent rivers (the Llémena river and the Osor stream) and two permanent rivers (the Terri River and the Brugent river). Growth patterns are analyzed using the Von Bertalanffy model, which requires knowing the age and size of each individual at each age. To determine this, the back-calculation method is used based on the growth rings of the scales. Additionally, size structure, somatic condition status, and mortality rates are analyzed. The results indicate that fish from intermittent rivers show slower growth patterns compared to fish from permanent rivers, which exhibit more sustained growth and greater longevity. Furthermore, a more structured population is observed in permanent rivers, with a wider range of sizes and individuals reaching larger sizes, as well as a greater abundance of smaller size classes, indicating higher recruitment. Intermittent rivers show lower somatic condition (Kn) values, reinforcing the hypothesis that river intermittency negatively impacts the health and well-being of fish. Moreover, it is clearly seen that the mortality rate is higher and survival lower in intermittent rivers (Llémena and Osor) compared to permanent rivers (Brugent and Terri). It is concluded that river intermittency is a critical factor affecting the biology of the mountain barbel. These results can contribute to improving conservation strategies for this threatened species, as well as a better understanding of the ecological effects of hydrological variability in Mediterranean rivers Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10256/26296 2024-07-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10256/26295 La Preeclàmpsia : etiologia, evolució i tractament Oliveras Fontàs, Mònica Preeclampsia is a significant maternal health problem with the presence of hypertension and proteinuria or other end-organ damage after twenty weeks of gestation, increasing the risk of several serious complications. Its etiology is unclear, as it is a heterogeneous syndrome with various clinical and pathophysiological presentations. The leading cause is believed to be placental malperfusion resulting from the abnormal remodelling of the spiral arteries, leading to a hypoxic environment and impaired nutrient and oxygen transfer. Cytokines released due to hypoxia alter the maternal vascular response, affecting immune homeostasis. Genetic events, particularly the FLT-1 gene, play an essential role in developing preeclampsia, as do multiple cardiometabolic factors. Preeclampsia develops in two stages: placental development in early pregnancy, and systemic maternal endothelial dysregulation and inflammation. Preeclampsia has two subtypes: early-onset, before the thirty-seventh week; and late-onset, from the thirtyfourth week of gestation. The risks are greater in early-onset preeclampsia. For prevention, the use of aspirin at low doses (50-150 mg daily) before 16 weeks of gestation reduces the risk of preeclampsia. Regarding detection, the Bayes theorem developed by the Fetal Medicine Foundation makes it possible to estimate the specific individual risks of preeclampsia, showing a high detection rate. The most significant biomarkers in preeclampsia include serum placental growth factor (PIGF) and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 ratio (sFLT-1). High levels of sFLT-1 and low levels of PIGF are associated with a greater risk of preeclampsia. Endocan-1 is also a proposed biomarker, as its levels increase in preeclampsia maternal plasma. At the moment, the only definitive treatment for preeclampsia is delivery, but early detection allows better intervention. Low-dose aspirin and curcumin have been proposed as therapeutic options, as they reduce the risk of development. Finally, treatment with magnesium sulfate reduces the occurrence of convulsions in eclampsia. Despite all these advances, more research is still needed to understand the molecular mechanisms better, discover new biomarkers, and contribute to improving diagnosis and treatment Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10256/26295 2024-07-01T00:00:00Z