Ecotourism and mangrove conservation in Southeast Asia: Current trends and perspectives.

Mangroves in Southeast Asia provide numerous supporting, provisioning, regulating, and cultural services that are crucial to the environment and local livelihoods since they support biodiversity conservation and climate change resilience. However, Southeast Asia mangroves face deforestation threats from the expansion of commercial aquaculture, agriculture, and urban development, along with climate change-related natural processes. Ecotourism has gained prominence as a financial incentive tool to support mangrove conservation and restoration. Through a systematic literature review approach, we examined the relationships between ecotourism and mangrove conservation in Southeast Asia based on scientific papers published from 2010 to 2022. Most of the studies were reported in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam, respectively, which were associated with the highest number of vibrant mangrove ecotourism sites and largest mangrove areas compared to the other countries of Southeast Asia. Mangrove-related ecotourism activities in the above countries mainly include boat tours, bird and wildlife watching, mangrove planting, kayaking, eating seafood, and snorkeling. The economic benefits, such as an increase in income associated with mangrove ecotourism, have stimulated infrastructural development in ecotourism destinations. Local communities benefited from increased access to social amenities such as clean water, electricity, transportation networks, schools, and health services that are intended to make destinations more attractive to tourists. Economic benefits from mangrove ecotourism motivated the implementation of several community-based mangrove conservation and restoration initiatives, which attracted international financial incentives and public-private partnerships. Since mangroves are mostly located on the land occupied by indigenous people and local communities, ensuring respect for their land rights and equity in economic benefit sharing may increase their intrinsic motivation and participation in mangrove restoration and conservation initiatives. Remote sensing tools for mangrove monitoring, evaluation, and reporting, and integrated education and awareness campaigns can ensure the long-term conservation of mangroves while sustaining ecotourism's economic infrastructure and social amenities benefits.

Exploring the nexus of smart technologies and sustainable ecotourism: A systematic review.

Sustainable smart ecotourism, utilizing smart technologies like smartphones, artificial intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT), aims to minimize harm to natural and cultural ecosystems, promoting education and environmental conservation. This review aims to examine the concept of sustainable smart ecotourism, analyzing existing literature to gain insights into the significance, components, challenges, and contributions to sustainable development on a global scale. A systematic review was conducted to evaluate sustainable smart ecotourism using PRISMA guidelines. The review focused on scholarly, peer-reviewed studies from developing countries, using databases like ScienceDirect, Jstor, Taylor & Francis, and IEEE. The study used Joanna Briggs Institute and Cochrane Risk of Bias tools to assess study quality. Thematic analysis techniques were used to extract and synthesize data, identifying patterns and trends relevant to smart ecotourism sustainability. Dual analyst verification ensured data integrity and reliability. After conducting a thorough quality evaluation using the Joanna Briggs Institute Checklist and Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool, we identified 29 studies of exceptional quality from an original pool of 9583 records. The use of thematic analysis sheds light on the diverse and important role of the IoT in promoting sustainable ecotourism. This study uncovered both the obstacles and possibilities associated with this technology. The findings provide important insights into the worldwide implementation of smart ecotourism techniques and highlight the significant impact of technology in promoting sustainable tourism models. Smart ecotourism involves multiple stakeholders to enhance environmental impact. Key characteristics include dynamic interactions, co-creation of value, sustainable development, resource sharing, and innovation services. Technology like IoT is crucial for sustainable tourism management. Collaboration with governments, local stakeholders, and organizations is recommended for sustainable policies. As a result of this study, sustainable ecotourism policies result from a collaborative effort between local communities, government agencies, and practitioners in the industry. Smart technologies, including AR/VR and AI, have the potential to enhance operational efficiency while reducing environmental concerns. Ecotourism, partnerships, and education are key to successful implementation and capacity building.

Guidelines for Managing Radon Hazards in Tourist Volcanic Caves in Spain.

Tourist volcanic caves are in high demand for ecotourism and geotourism lovers, as well as by sun and beach tourists as a complementary activity during their holidays. There are six tourist volcanic caves in the Canary Islands, all of them managed by the local administration of the island. The managers of these caves must ensure the safety of visitors and workers, who are exposed to natural hazards, such as radon, inherent to the environment in which the activity takes place. The methodology for analyzing natural radon radiation is based on the latest studies published by experts in this field and on previous experiences in tourist caves. This article proposes a protocol for the correct management of radon in tourist caves in the Canary Islands, adapted to current regulations, to mitigate effects on the health of visitors and workers.

An ecotourism suitability index for a world heritage city using GIS-multi criteria decision analysis techniques.

The concept of ecotourism has experienced a significant surge in popularity over the past two decades, primarily driven by the multitude of adverse impacts associated with mass tourism. The objective of the study was to develop a comprehensive ecotourism suitability index to guide policymakers in implementing tourism development policies. Given the considerable appeal of the study area to both local and international tourists, it is essential to conduct a systematic evaluation to pinpoint suitable areas for ecotourism development. This necessity arises from the study area's placement within a fragile ecosystem and its proximity to a UNESCO World Heritage site. We employed a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) integrated environment coupled with a fuzzy Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) methodology. The GIS-MCDA integrated framework leverages the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and a weighted linear combination that seeks to amalgamate many features and criteria to assess ecotourism potential by integrating 20 criteria into six separate categories: landscape, topography, accessibility, climate, forest and wildlife, and negative factors. Weights were allocated to each criterion and factor based on the expert's opinions of their impact on the development of ecotourism. The final ecotourism suitability index comprised five unique classes: very high, high, moderate, less, and not suitable. Results reveal that out of the total areas, 45.4 % (259 km2) are within the high and very high suitable classes. The sensitivity analysis suggested that ecotourism potentials are more favorable to forest and accessibility variables. The generated index can be utilized as a road map since validation verified a 64 % accuracy. Given the dearth of earlier research, this study provides vital support for the development of sustainable ecotourism projects in the study area.

Evaluation of ecotourism suitability based on AHP-GIS: Taking Xiaoxiangling area of the Giant Panda National Park and the surrounding communities as an example.

The primary goal of national parks is to protect ecological environment, but also with the functions of scientific research, education, and recreation. Aiming for the realization of universal sharing, we used the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to construct an ecotourism suitability evaluation system by selecting four factors, including landscape resources, ecological environment carrying capacity, recreation utilization capacity and social condition, taking Xiaoxiangling area of Giant Panda National Park and the surrounding communities as an example. We evaluated the ecotourism suitability based on GIS, and conducted a questionnaire survey of tourists, to propose suggestions on the functional zoning in terms of ecotourism suitability and subjective choice preferences of tourists. The results showed that the ecotourism suitability of the evaluation area could be classified into five levels. The most suitable areas were located nearby the natural landscape resources and far away from the core conservation area, and the least suitable areas distributed at the edge of the core conservation area. According to the results of suitability analysis, the evaluation area was divided into suitable development area, moderate development area, and restricted development area. Combined with the tourist preferences, we divided the recreational activities in the evaluation area into seven activities, namely, ecotourism, eco-camping, science education, leisure vacation, agricultural and animal husbandry culture experience, eco-education, and mountain adventure. These findings could help provide suitable services for different tourists and offer reference for the ecotourism developmental planning of the Xiaoxiangling area of the Giant Panda National Park.

Expanding records of occurrence of the whale shark (Rhincodon typus) in The Bahamas and a call for sustainable tourism practices.

This report updates our understanding of whale shark occurrences in The Bahamas by drawing upon a variety of data sources. Our findings reveal previously unreported sighting locations, often associated with tourism activities, underscoring the pivotal role played by nontraditional data sources in addressing knowledge gaps. These revelations emphasize the ongoing necessity for monitoring efforts. Additionally, we have found cases that raise concerns related to unregulated human-shark interactions in the region, highlighting the pressing need for sustainable tourism practices within Bahamian waters.

Climate and biodiversity change constrain the flow of cultural ecosystem services to people: A case study modeling birding across Africa under future climate scenarios.

Global change is currently impacting ecosystems and their contributions to people (i.e. ecosystem services). These impacts have consequences for societies and human well-being, especially in Africa. Historically, efforts have focused on assessing global change from a social or biophysical perspective, treating them as separate entities. Yet, our understanding of impacts to social-ecological systems remains limited, particularly in the Global South, due to a lack of data, tools, and approaches accounting for social and ecological aspects of ecosystem services. This is especially relevant for cultural ecosystem services as they are less tangible. We use a simple indicator and important provider of a multitude of cultural ecosystem services, birding, to understand how climate, biodiversity, and land use change will impact cultural ecosystem services across Africa. We explore how emerging tools and data can overcome limitations in mapping and modeling cultural ecosystem services, particularly in analyzing human preferences and behavior at large spatiotemporal scales and in data-poor regions. Leveraging crowdsourced data from eBird and using machine learning techniques we map and model recreational birding to assess the underlying social-ecological relationships and the impact of future climate and environmental change. We show that bird species richness, protected areas, accessibility, and max temperature contribute most to birding suitability across the continent. Further, we show spatial shifts in the suitability of birding under three future climate scenarios (SSP126, 370, and 585). Models suggest climate and biodiversity change will increasingly constrain the flow of birding related cultural ecosystem services across Africa. This has implications for human-nature interactions, development of countries, management of protected areas, and overall human well-being in the future. More generally, we highlight opportunities for crowdsourced datasets and machine learning to integrate non-material ecosystem services in models and thus, enhance the understanding of future impacts to ecosystem services and human well-being.

Let us take a walk to the sustainable tourism practices: a qualitative study through the lens of tourism experts.

The rising opportunities of sustainable tourism have brought many policies to control the exploitation of the environment and increase the reach of luxurious, safe, and authentic experiences to the different segments of tourists. This study seeks to prioritize the variables influencing the development of sustainable tourism and pinpoint key success factors that align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It adopts a tri-dimensional framework encompassing economic, social, and environmental aspects, further delineated into eleven sub-dimensions, to provide a quantitative evaluation of sustainable tourism. We conducted interviews with 26 tourism industry experts hailing from eight countries, analyzing their responses using interval type-2 fuzzy sets. The results underscore the critical role of specific components in advancing sustainable tourism. In the economic dimension, "financial resources and tourism costs" emerge as vital factors. In the social dimension, "health and safety" takes center stage, while "green infrastructure" plays a pivotal role in the environmental dimension. These findings underscore the significance of these aspects in promoting sustainable tourism. Furthermore, this study explores the strategic importance of sustainable tourism equity in shaping tourism planning and development for emerging markets.

Facilitators and hinderers for designing augmented reality for ecotourism SME's experiences: A service Design approach.

Designing Augmented Reality (AR) throughout service experiences remains under studied in several industries, despite the fact of growing consumer interest and use through different platforms and applications globally. Consequently, there is growing interest in understanding the what, the why and the how for designing AR applications in practice to boost ecotourism experiences, with the purpose of enhancing customer value creation and organizations differentiation. Consequently, the authors conducted an eleven-month practical theoretical study in 10 ecotourism SMEs purposefully recruited in Latin America, adopting service design as a main research framework. Using interviews, contextual analyses, buyer personas, observation, storytelling creation sessions, prototyping sessions and accompaniment sessions as research methods, researchers studied, (1) what were the key facilitators and hinderers for designing AR in practice at the SMEs ecotourism context following a service design lens and, (2) how the inherent principles of service design influence ecotourism SME's for the strategically adoption of AR in their service experiences. The study suggests key elements that can facilitate or hinder designing AR at ecotourism SME's Experiences in practice. Furthermore, the authors suggest a practical protocol for designing AR for ecotourism SMEs from the lens of service design (SD), User Experience (UX), and Augmented Reality (AR). Finally, the study also contributes to shade light on the marketing role and potential adoption of Augmented Reality (AR) in practice in SME's through a service design lens.

Componentes socioculturales y ambientales que inciden en el ecoturismo comunitario / Socio-cultural and environmental components affecting community-based ecotourism / Componentes socioculturais e ambientais que influenciam o ecoturismo baseado na comunidade

RESUMEN El ecoturismo tiene crecimiento constante en el mundo por el favorecimiento económico, conservación y protección del ambiente. El objetivo del articulo es analizar los componentes socioculturales y ambientales que inciden en el ecoturismo comunitario. Se realizó una exploración documental a partir de artículos, libros y capítulos de libro de la base de datos de citaciones y resúmenes Scopus, mediante la búsqueda de categorias: ecoturismo, relaciones y elementos. El periodo de consulta fue entre los años 20I5 al 202I. Solo se consideraron los trabajos publicados en inglés, español y português, la muestra final fue de 98 documentos. Los resultados exponen las tendências actuales de las investigaciones en ecoturismo comunitario: sus impactos positivos y negativos, elementos socioculturales en capital cultural y condiciones y estilos de vida; ambientales como capacidad de carga y educación ambiental; las relaciones con las políticas, tendencias de los lugares de producción como China y Malasia, y la tecnologia implementada en servicios y productos. En conclusión, el ecoturismo es heterogêneo, busca equilibrio entre lo económico, ambiental y cultural. La participación comunitaria, gestión y planeación, educación ambiental, políticas de apoyo y TIC son esenciales.

ABSTRACT Ecotourism is growing steadily around the world for its economic benefits, conservation, and environmental protection. The article aims to analyze the socio-cultural and environmental components that have an impact on community-based ecotourism. A documentary exploration was carried out using articles, books, and book chapters from the Scopus database of citations and abstracts, by searching for categories: ecotourism, relationships, and elements of ecotourism. The consultation period was from 20I5 to 202I. Only papers published in English, Spanish and Portuguese were considered, the final sample was 98 papers. The results expose current trends in community-based ecotourism research: their positive and negative impacts, socio-cultural elements in cultural capital and living conditions and lifestyles; environmental elements such as carrying capacity and environmental education; relationships with policies, trends in production sites such as China and Malaysia, and technology implemented in services and products. In conclusion, ecotourism is heterogeneous, seeking a balance between economic, environmental, and cultural aspects. Community participation, management and planning, environmental education, policy support, and ICT are essential.

RESUMO O ecoturismo está a crescer constantemente em todo o mundo pelos seus benefícios económicos, conservação e protecção ambiental. O objectivo deste artigo é analisar as componentes socioculturais e ambientais que influenciam o ecoturismo baseado na comunidade. Foi realizada uma exploração documental utilizando artigos, livros e capítulos de livros da base de dados Scopus de citações e resumos, procurando categorias: ecoturismo, relações e elementos. O período de consulta foi de 20I5 a 202I. Apenas foram considerados artigos publicados em inglês, espanhol e português, a amostra final foi de 98 documentos. Os resultados expõem as actuais tendências de investigação em ecoturismo de base comunitária: os seus impactos positivos e negativos, elementos socioculturais no capital cultural e condições e estilos de vida; elementos ambientais como a capacidade de carga e educação ambiental; relações com políticas, tendências em locais de produção como a China e Malásia, e tecnologia implementada em serviços e produtos. Em conclusão, o ecoturismo é heterogéneo, procurando o equilíbrio entre económico, ambiental e cultural. A participação comunitária, gestão e planeamento, educação ambiental, apoio político e TIC são essenciais.

The butterflies of Cristalino Lodge, in the Brazilian southern Amazonia: An updated species list with a significant contribution from citizen science / As borboletas do Cristalino Lodge, no sul da Amazônia: Uma lista atualizada de espécies com contribuição significativa da ciência cidadã

Abstract The richest butterfly communities in the world are found in the Amazon rainforest. Despite of this, and the importance of species inventories for the knowledge of diversity patterns, there are few comprehensive lists of butterflies for localities in the Brazilian Amazon. Here, we present an updated list of the butterflies of Cristalino Lodge (Alta Floresta, Mato Grosso, Brazil), in southern Amazonia, based on specimens collected by researchers and photographic records taken by ecotourists, butterfly watchers, and tour guides. With 1010 species recorded, this is currently the largest list of butterflies published for a single locality in Brazil and the first to reach (and surpass) 1000 species, with more than one third of the records coming from citizen science. The region has about 29% of the butterfly species in Brazil and one of the greatest richnesses known in the country, inferior only to areas in the western Amazon. Its fauna is mainly composed of species widely distributed in lowland Amazonia, with the addition of some species typical of the Cerrado. It has a relatively low number of species of the tribe Ithomiini (Nymphalidae: Danainae), generally considered a good indicator of the total butterfly diversity in neotropical forests, which points to the need for caution when using a single taxonomic group as a surrogate of richness of entire communities. The present work highlights the importance of citizen science and ecotourism centers for inventories and data on species distribution in diverse tropical forests.

Resumo As comunidades de borboletas mais ricas do mundo são encontradas na Amazônia. Apesar disso, e da importância dos inventários de espécies para o conhecimento dos padrões de diversidade, existem poucas listas abrangentes de borboletas para localidades da Amazônia brasileira. Aqui, apresentamos uma lista atualizada das borboletas do Cristalino Lodge (Alta Floresta, Mato Grosso, Brasil), no sul da Amazônia, baseada em espécimes coletados por pesquisadores e em registros fotográficos feitos por ecoturistas, observadores de borboletas e guias turísticos. Com 1010 espécies registradas, essa é atualmente a maior lista de borboletas publicada para uma localidade no Brasil e a primeira a atingir 1000 espécies, sendo mais de um terço dos registros provenientes da ciência cidadã. A região apresenta cerca de 29% das espécies de borboletas do Brasil e uma das maiores riquezas conhecidas no país, inferior apenas a áreas no oeste da Amazônia. Sua fauna é composta principalmente por espécies amplamente distribuídas na planície amazônica, com adição de algumas típicas do Cerrado. Possui um número relativamente baixo de espécies da tribo Ithomiini (Nymphalidae: Danainae), que é geralmente considerada uma boa indicadora da riqueza total de borboletas em florestas neotropicais, o que aponta para a necessidade de cautela ao se usar um grupo taxonômico como previsor da riqueza de comunidades inteiras. O presente trabalho destaca a importância da ciência cidadã e dos centros de ecoturismo para inventários e dados sobre distribuição de espécies em florestas tropicais diversas.

Canine visceral leishmaniosis in an area of fishing tourism, Bonito Municipality, Mato Grosso do Sul, Central-West Brazil / Leishmaniose visceral canina em área de turismo pesqueiro, município de Bonito, Mato Grosso do Sul, Centro-Oeste do Brasil

ABSTRACT: The study aimed to investigate Leishmania infection in a population of dogs (92 animals) in a fishing area of Bonito Municipality, and evaluate comparatively the serological methods used, immunoenzymatic assay (ELISA), indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT), and rapid Dual Path-Platform test (DPP®). Blood and aspirate of bone marrow samples were used and parasitological investigation was also performed, such as parasite isolation in Neal, Novy, Nicolle (NNN) medium culture, Woo technique, Giemsa stained smears and specific identification by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). IFAT revealed 56/92 seropositive, the ELISA 8/92 and the DPP®41/92. Regarding the agreement between the serological tests by the Kappa index, there was a slight agreement between ELISA/IFAT and ELISA/DPP®, and fair agreement in IFAT/DPP®. The NNN culture was positive in three out of 21 dogs, and identified by PCR as Leishmania infantum chagasi. No samples were positive by the Woo technique. Our results showed low agreements between the serological tests recommended by the Brazilian Ministry of Heath, and it is necessary to associate other diagnostic techniques, such as parasitological tests and PCR, to increase the sensitivity for canine visceral leishmaniosis diagnosis, mainly regarding asymptomatic dogs in endemic areas.

RESUMO: O estudo teve como objetivo verificar a infecção por Leishmania em uma população de cães (n=92 animais) de uma área de turismo de pesca no município de Bonito e avaliar comparativamente os métodos sorológicos utilizados, ensaio imunoenzimático (ELISA), reação de imunofluorescência indireta (RIFI) e teste rápido de plataforma dupla (DPP®). Testes parasitológicos também foram realizados, como o isolamento do parasita em meio de cultura Neal, Novy, Nicolle, técnica de Woo, esfregaços em lâminas coradas com Giemsa e identificação específica pela reação em cadeia da polimerase (PCR). A RIFI revelou sorologia positiva de 56/92, ELISA 8/92 e DPP®41/92. Quanto à concordância entre os testes sorológicos pelo índice Kappa, houve um ligeiro acordo entre ELISA/RIFI e ELISA/DPP®, e uma concordância razoável entre RIFI/DPP®. A cultura NNN foi positiva em três cães, e identificada por PCR como Leishmania infantum chagasi. Nenhuma amostra foi positiva pela técnica de Woo. Nossos resultados mostraram baixas concordâncias entre os testes sorológicos recomendados pelo Ministério da Saúde, sendo necessário associar a outras técnicas de diagnóstico, como testes parasitológicos e PCR, para aumentar a sensibilidade ao diagnóstico de leishmaniose visceral canina, principalmente, com relação aos cães assintomáticos em áreas endêmicas.

Variación espacio-temporal de la ictiofauna del Parque marino Xel-Há, Caribe mexicano y su relación con parámetros fisicoquímicos / Spatio-temporal variation of the ichthyofauna in Xel-Ha, Mexican Caribbean Marine Park and its relationship to physico-chemical parameters

Resumen:Xel-Há es un parque ecoturístico marino donde no se permite ningún tipo de extracción de flora o fauna. Una de las principales atracciones turísticas en este parque son los peces de arrecife, no existiendo trabajos publicados sobre la comunidad íctica para este sitio. En este estudio se analizó la variación espacio-temporal de la comunidad íctica en diferentes zonas del parque marino Xel-Há. Para ello, se realizaron censos visuales durante un año en 21 transectos fijos de 100x5 m, distribuidos en cinco zonas del parque: "Bocana", "Centro", "Brazo Norte", "Cueva" y "Río", que incluyen la bocana del mar, canales de manglares y un sitio con aportes de agua dulce. Para caracterizar la comunidad de peces, se estimaron los descriptores ecológicos: riqueza de especies, diversidad, abundancia y densidad a partir del promedio de los censos y se compararon entre zonas y tres temporadas (lluvias, "nortes" y secas). El grado de similitud entre zonas y temporadas se evaluó mediante un análisis de escalamiento multidimensional no métrico. El reemplazo en la composición de especies entre temporadas fue determinado con la presencia-ausencia de peces. Además, se aplicó un análisis de componentes principales para evaluar si las variables fisicoquímicas como temperatura, salinidad y concentración de oxígeno disuelto influyen en la variación de las comunidades de peces. Se registró un total de 22 641 individuos que correspondieron a 63 especies, siendo "nortes", la temporada donde se presentó la mayor abundancia (7 991 organismos). Las especies mejor representadas basados en su abundancia total y frecuencia de aparición fueron: Haemulon sciurus, H. flavolineatum, Lutjanus griseus, Acanthurus coeruleus, Abudefduf saxatilis y Gerres cinereus. La diversidad incrementó de lluvias a secas y comparando entre zonas la riqueza de especies y diversidad fue menor en "Río". Entre temporadas, el 54 % de las especies fueron residentes durante todo el año; se observaron cuatro especies exclusivas para lluvias y tres para secas. La diversidad fue el único descriptor que permitió observar variación entre temporadas. El oxígeno disuelto fue la variable que más influyó en la variación de la comunidad de peces entre zonas. El parque Xel-Há, alberga cerca del 20 % de la biodiversidad de peces reportada para el Caribe mexicano y la predominancia de juveniles de varias especies confirma su importancia como sitio de crianza.

Abstract:Xel-Ha is a private marine park where the extraction of flora and fauna is not allowed. Here, reef fish are one of the main touristic attractions, but there are no published surveys focused on fish community in this site. In this study we analyzed the spatio-temporal variation of the fish community in different areas of the marine park Xel-Há. Abundance and richness were estimated during one-year period (2012-2013); visual censuses using fixed transects of 100x5 m each distributed in 21 transects along five sites were established in different zones: "Bocana", "Center", "North branch", "Cave" and "River", including the inlet mouth to the sea, brackish mangrove channels and a zone with freshwater influence. To characterize the fish community, we used species richness, abundance, diversity, and density compared among zones and climatic seasons (rain, "norths" and dry). The similarity among zones and seasons was estimated using a multidimensional scaling analysis. The replacement on the species composition among seasons and sites was realized based on the presence-absence of fish. The influence of physicochemical variables such as temperature, salinity and dissolve oxygen concentration in the fish community was estimated by a principal component analysis. A total of 22 641 individuals were recorded corresponding to sixty-three species over the year. Abundance was higher during the windy season (locally named "norths") with 7 991 organisms. The most representative species according with abundance and frequency of occurrence were: Haemulon sciurus, H. flavolineatum, Lutjanus griseus, Acanthurus coeruleus, Abudefduf saxatilis, and Gerres cinereus. Diversity increased from the rainy to the dry season; species richness and diversity was lower in "River" than other sites in Xel-Ha. Most species (54 %) species were residents through the year. Four non-shared species were observed during the rainy season and three in dry season. Dissolved oxygen was the most influential variable on the fish community composition among zones. Xel-Ha houses nearly 20 % of fish biodiversity reported for the mexican Caribbean, and the predominance of juveniles of several species confirms its role as a nursery area. Rev. Biol. Trop. 64 (4): 1353-1367. Epub 2016 December 01.

BIBLIOMETRICS OF THE PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES IN NATURAL ENVIRONMENT: TERMS IN USE / BIBLIOMETRIA DAS ATIVIDADES FÍSICAS NO MEIO NATURAL: TERMOS EM USO / BIBLIOMETRÍA DE LAS ACTIVIDADES FÍSICAS EN MEDIO NATURAL: TÉRMINOS EN USO

Currently, several terms are used to define physical activities in the natural environment, which gives the impression that, despite the standardization of names and the adjustments of Ecotourism and Adventure Ecotourism made by the Brazilian Association of Technical Standards there is not synchronization and agreement between these activities. This study has two main purposes. First, to analyze the nomenclatures of physical activity offers practiced in nature, through national websites related to intellectual property, adventure tourism and national tourism in the state of Sergipe in Brazil. Second, to find out if there is a differentiation between the terms and their definitions. For this purpose, a documentary research was conducted, which attempted to analyze companies registered on three platforms and their services. Corroborating the literature, there are different terms which apply to similar corporal practices; in other words, there is not standardization of Ecotourism and Adventure Tourism on the websites. However, the lack of clarity and standardization of terms and definitions can offer a higher risk for practitioners. Eco-fitness can be a new a possibility to standardize activities, which could facilitate the supervision of qualified professionals and the reduction of unnecessary risks.

En la actualidad, varios términos son utilizados para definir actividades físicas practicadas en el medio natural, lo que da la impresión de que, a pesar de la normalización de los nombres y definiciones de Ecoturismo y Turismo de Aventura por la Asociación Brasileña de Normas Técnicas (ABNT), no hay sincronía y consenso entre tales actividades. El objetivo de este estudio fue dividido en dos: el primer objetivo fue analizar las nomenclaturas de las ofertas de actividades físicas practicada en la naturaleza a través de sitios web relacionados con propiedad intelectual, turismo de aventura, turismo en el ámbito nacional y turismo en el estado de Sergipe (Brasil). El segundo objetivo fue averiguar si hay diferenciación validada entre los términos y sus definiciones. Para este fin se realizó una investigación documental donde se buscó analizar las empresas registradas en tres plataformas y los servicios que ofrecían. Corroborando con la literatura, hay diversos términos que se refieren a prácticas corporales similares, es decir, se verificó que no hay estandarización de términos referidos a Ecoturismo y Turismo de Aventura en los sitios web de registros de empresas y marcas. Sin embargo, la falta de claridad y estandarización de términos y definiciones puede ofrecer un mayor riesgo para los practicantes. Ecofitness quizás sea una nueva posibilidad de estandarización actividades, lo que facilita la supervisión de los profesionales habilitados y la reducción de riesgos innecesarios.

Na atualidade, vários termos são utilizados para definir as atividades físicas no meio natural, o que dá a impressão de que, apesar da normalização dos nomes e os ajustes de Ecoturismo e Turismo de Aventura pela Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas [ABNT], não há sincronização e consenso entre ditas atividades. O objetivo deste estudo foi dividido em dois, o primeiro objetivo foi analisar as nomenclaturas das ofertas de atividades físicas praticadas na natureza através dos website relacionados com a propriedade intelectual e o turismo de aventura em âmbito nacional e turismo no estado de Sergipe (Brasil). O segundo objetivo foi descobrir se há diferenciação entre os termos e suas definições. Para isso foi feita uma pesquisa documental onde se buscou analisar empresas cadastradas em três plataformas e os serviços que oferecem. Corroborando com a literatura, há diversos termos que se referem a práticas corporais similares, ou seja, não tinha estandardização dos termos que se referem ao Ecoturismo e Turismo de Aventura nos website das entradas de empresas e marcas. No entanto, a falta de clareza e estandardização de termos e definições pode oferecer um maior risco para os profissionais. Ecofitness pode ser uma nova possibilidade de atividades de normalização, o que facilita a supervisão de profissionais qualificados e a redução de riscos desnecessários.

Phlebotomine fanna (diptera: psychodidae) in anarea of fishing tourism in centtral-western Brazil / Fauna flebotomínea (Diptera: Psychodidae) em área de turismo pesqueiro no Centro-Oeste do Brasil

The aim of this study was to identify behavioral aspects of the sandfly fauna of a fishing tourism area in the municipality of Bonito (MS). Monthly captures were undertaken from December 2009 to November 2010, using automatic CDC type light traps, from 18h00 to 06h00, in a forested area, a savannah area, peridomiciles and animal shelters near peridomiciliary areas. Nyssomyia whitmani was the most frequent out of a total of 6,699 specimens collected, belonging to 16 species, followed by Psathyromyia bigeniculata and Lutzomyia longipalpis, found in all the environments investigated, though in their greatest numbers in the animal shelters. Ny. whitmani exhibited its highest frequencies during the dry months, coincident with the fishing season, when the risk of transmission of cutaneous leishmaniasis for tourists and inhabitants increases. Noteworthy was the finding of two species naturally infected by flagellates: Ny. whitmani and Pa. bigeniculata. The local population and visiting tourists should be warned of the threat posed by leishmaniasis and the health authorities alerted to the need for adopting environmental sanitary measures, especially regarding such animal shelters as they seem to provide favorable conditions to the proliferation, maintenance and breeding opportunities of phlebotomines.

O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar aspectos do comportamento da fauna flebotomínea de área de turismo pesqueiro localizada no município de Bonito (MS). Foram realizadas capturas mensais no período de dezembro de 2009 a novembro de 2010, utilizando armadilhas luminosas automáticas do tipo CDC das 18:00h às 6:00h, em matas, área de cerrado, peridomicílios e abrigos de animais próximos a áreas peridomiciliares. De um total de 6.699 espécimes coletados, pertencentes a 16 espécies, Nyssomyia whitmani foi a mais frequente, seguida de Psathyromyia bigeniculata e Lutzomyia longipalpis, encontradas em todos os tipos de ambientes, porém com maior expressão em abrigos de animais. Ny. whitmani apresentou frequências mais elevadas nos meses mais secos, coincidentes com a estação da pesca, o que eleva o risco de transmissão da leishmaniose tegumentar a turistas e moradores da área. Importante ressaltar o encontro de duas espécies naturalmente infectadas por flagelados: Ny. whitmani e Pa. bigeniculata. A população local e turistas devem ser advertidos da ameaça que representam as leishmanioses e as autoridades de saúde alertadas para adoção de medidas de saneamento ambiental, principalmente com relação aos abrigos de animais, que parecem fornecer condições favoráveis para a proliferação, manutenção e reprodução de flebotomíneos.

Evaluación de la sustentabilidad en espacios rurales relacionados con el ecoturismo. estudio de caso en la selva lacandona, chiapas,México / Assesment of thee sutainability in rural spaces related to ecotouriism. case study in lacandon jungle, chiapas, Mexico

Esta investigación realiza una evaluación ex-post de la sustentabilidad en espacios rurales relacionados con el ecoturismo, centrada en un estudio comparativo de tres empresas enclavadas en la Reserva de la Biosfera Montes Azules (REBIMA) y una empresa más ubicada fuera de ella, todas en el municipio de Ocosingo, Chiapas, México. 75% de los entrevistados son hombres con edad promedio de 36 años, siete años de escolaridad y 1,9 hectáreas. La principal fuente de ingresos es el ecoturismo, que presenta una relación beneficio-costo venida a menos de 2,7 a 1,7, entre 2007 y 2011, respectivamente. La evidencia indica un desequilibrio en el acceso a subsidios, donde la pertenencia étnica desempeña un rol trascendental.

This research performs an ex-post evaluation of the sustainability in rural spaces related to ecotourism, focused on a comparative study of three companies located in the Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve (MABR) and another company located outside, all of them in the town of Ocosingo, Chiapas, México. 75% of respondents are male with an average age of 36 years, seven years of schooling and 1,9 hectares. The main source of income is ecotourism, which presents a cost-benefit relationship that has ran down from 2,7 to 1,7 between 2007 and 2011, respectively. The evidence indicates an imbalance in the access to subsidies, where the ethnical ownership plays a transcendental role.

Ecotourism and primate habituation: Behavioral variation in two groups of white-faced capuchins (Cebus capucinus) from Costa Rica / Ecoturismo y habituación de primates: variación en comportamiento de dos grupos de monos carablanca (Cebus capucinus) en Costa Rica

The increase of ecotourism operations within Costa Rica during the last 20yrs has brought more and more humans into close, direct contact with several wildlife species. One of these species is the white-faced capuchin (Cebus capucinus), highly gregarious, and with exposure over time, willing to come into close vicinity of humans and their developments. Such contact has its advantages and disadvantages for the ecotourism industry. We observed white-faced monkeys in order to assess the impact of human presence and development on monkey behavior, with a focus on aggressive, affiliative, and foraging behaviors in Curú Wildlife Refuge (CWR), located in Puntarenas, Costa Rica, and to ascertain the degree of over-habituation of capuchin populations at CWR. Though there exists no discrete behavioral parameters that measure over-habituation, it can be defined as an extreme state of habituation in which non-human primates not only lose fear of humans, but also actively include humans in social interactions or treat them as a food resource. We used instantaneous focal animal and group scan sampling during 8wks in March and April 2012. Two groups (approximately 20-30 individuals each) of capuchins were observed; the first near the tourist development at the Southwestern area of CWR, representing a habituated population that regularly foraged, rested, and groomed in the presence of humans. The second, was observed in the Northeastern area of CWR, did not visit the center of human activity and exhibited fear of humans. The habituated group exhibited significantly fewer instances of threatened behavior in response to human presence (p<0.0001) than the non-habituated group, and spent significantly more time eating and foraging (p<0.0001). While the habituated monkeys at CWR may not be over-habituated, they could become that way as development, especially ecotourism, increases. Over-habituation is a problem that affects capuchins in certain ecotourism sites in Costa Rica. It is critical that the consequences of habituation be studied more carefully, primarily in areas where ecotourism operations draw visitors to wildlife habitats. Rev. Biol. Trop. 62 (3): 909-918. Epub 2014 September 01.

El aumento de actividades ecoturísticas en Costa Rica durante los últimos 20 años ha ocasionado que más y más personas entren en contacto directo y cercano con varias especies de vida silvestre. Una de estas especies es el mono carablanca (Cebus capucinus), que es muy gregario y, al pasar el tiempo, tiende a acercarse a los humanos y sus instalaciones. Tal contacto tiene ventajas y desventajas para la industria del ecoturismo. Observamos monos carablanca con el fin de evaluar el impacto de la presencia humana y la infraestructura en el comportamiento de estos animales, enfocando los comportamientos de agresión, acicalamiento y forrajeo para determinar el grado de habituación excesiva de las poblaciones de monos capuchinos en el Refugio de Vida Silvestre Curú, Puntarenas, Costa Rica. Aunque no existen parámetros específicos de comportamiento para medir la habituación excesiva, se puede definir esta condición como un estado en que los primates no humanos no solamente pierdan su temor a los humanos, sino que también incluyen a las personas activamente en sus interacciones sociales o las consideran como una fuente de alimentación. Los monos carablanca fueron observados a través del muestreo instantáneo focal y por escaneo grupal durante ocho semanas de marzo y abril de 2012. Dos grupos (aproximadamente 20-30 individuos cada uno) fueron observados; uno cerca del desarrollo turístico en la parte suroeste del refugio, que representó una población habituada que de manera regular comía, descansaba y se acicalaba en presencia de humanos; el segundo grupo, que se observó en el noreste del refugio, no visitaba el centro de actividad humana y mostraba temor hacia los humanos. El grupo habituado mostró significativamente menos ocasiones de comportamiento amenazante ante la presencia humana (p<0.0001) y empleó más tiempo comiendo y buscando alimento (p<0.0001). Aunque el grupo de habituados en Curú probablemente no tenga habituación excesiva, esta condición podría surgir más adelante, especialmente si aumenta el desarrollo, y en particular el ecoturismo. La habituación excesiva es un problema que afecta a los monos carablanca en ciertos sitios secoturísticos de Costa Rica. Es de suma importancia que las consecuencias de la habituación excesiva se estudien más a fondo, principalmente en las áreas donde las actividades ecoturísticas atraen visitantes a los hábitats de la vida silvestre.

Especies promisorias para el ecoturismo en Campo Aventura Roca Madre, Toluviejo-Sucre, Colombia / Promising species for the development of ecotourism in Campo Aventura Roca Madre, Toluviejo-Sucre, Colombia

Objetivo. Determinar las especies de flora y fauna más importantes para el desarrollo del ecoturismo, en una localidad del departamento de Sucre, Colombia. Materiales y métodos. Se hizo un listado de las especies de flora y fauna observadas en el sendero ecológico de un centro de ecoturismo en Toluviejo, Sucre y se calculó su abundancia, importancia económica, estado de conservación y adaptaciones, que fueron evaluadas mediante un índice de importancia potencial para el ecoturismo, que suma los valores que se asignan a las variables consideradas de interés. Resultados. Se detectaron 18 especies promisorias de fauna, de 91 especies observadas y 16 especies vegetales de 53 observadas. Los animales de mayor potencial ecoturístico resultantes, fueron: Dendrobates truncatus y Saguinus oedipus, especies endémicas de Colombia, seguidas por Basiliscus basiliscus, Atta sp., Morpho peleides, Lycorea halia y Ara ararauna; todas estas con una alta abundancia y fácil detección. Dentro de las plantas, Anacardium excelsum obtuvo el mayor índice de importancia, como resultado de su endemismo y sus adaptaciones. Las especies Piper auritum, Matayba escrobiculata, Tabernaemontana cymosa y la comúnmente conocida como jazmín de monte, fueron fácilmente detectables y abundantes, además Brownea ariza y Tabebuia rosea resultaron las más representativas por la belleza de sus flores. Conclusiones. Se determinaron las especies que pueden ser de interés para los ecoturistas y esto hace posible mejorar el producto que se oferta a partir de profundizar en su conocimiento.

Objectives. To determine the species of flora and fauna relevant for development of ecotourism in a location of Sucre, Colombia. Materials and methods. A list of various species at the ecotourism center in the municipality of Toluviejo, Sucre, was studied which included abundance, economic and conservation relevance and adaptation data. The census was estimated and evaluated according to our index of potential importance for ecotourism, by adding the values assigned to each of the variables of interest. Results. 18 promising species of fauna and 16 promising species of plants were found. Animals with higher ecotourism potential were Dendrobates truncatus and Saguinus oedipus, endemic to Colombia, followed by Basiliscus basiliscus, Atta sp. Morpho peleides, Lycorea halia, Ara ararauna, all these of high abundance and easy detection. Regarding plants, Anacardium excelsum obtained the highest value as a result of endemism and their adaptations. Piper auritum, Matayba escrobiculata, Tabernaemontana cymosa and the specie commonly known as "jazmín de monte", were easily detectable and abundant. Brownea ariza and Tabebuia rosea were the best candidates because of the beauty of their flowers. Conclusions. The species that may be of interest to eco-tourists were determined and this makes it possible to improve the product offering from deepening their knowledge.

Malacological survey of Biomphalaria snails in municipalities along the Estrada Real in the southeast of the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil / Pesquisa malacológica de Biomphalaria em municípios da Estrada Real, situados no sudeste do Estado de Minas Gerais

INTRODUCTION: The increasing practice of ecotourism and rural tourism in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, highlights the importance of studies concerning the occurrence of potential intermediate hosts of Schistosoma mansoni. This study aimed to identify species of Biomphalaria snails in municipalities along the Estrada Real, an important Brazilian tourism project. METHODS: The specimens were collected in different water collections of 36 municipalities along the Estrada Real in the southeast of the State of Minas Gerais. Biomphalaria species were characterized using both morphological and molecular approaches. The research was conducted between August 2005 and September 2009 and all the sites visited were georeferenced using GPS. RESULTS: Six Biomphalaria species were found in 30 of the 36 municipalities studied: glabrata, tenagophila, straminea, peregrina, occidentalis and schrammi. The first three species of Biomphalaria, recognized as intermediate hosts of S. mansoni, were present in 33.3 percent, 47.2 percent and 8.3 percent of the municipalities studied, respectively. The mollusks were found in different types of water collections and no infection by S. mansoni was detected. The highest occurrence of Biomphalaria concentration was verified in the area covered by the Caminho Novo route (Diamantina/MG to Rio de Janeiro/RJ). CONCLUSIONS: Considering the occurrence of schistosomiasis in the State of Minas Gerais and the socioeconomic repercussions involved in the Estrada Real Project, this work focuses on the vulnerability of water collections due to the presence of Biomphalaria mollusks and emphasizes the need for epidemiological surveillance and sanitary and educational measures integrated with the local community and tourism sectors.

INTRODUÇÃO: O aumento das práticas de ecoturismo e turismo rural, em Minas Gerais, Brasil, evidencia a importância de se realizarem estudos sobre a ocorrência de hospedeiros intermediários do Schistosoma mansoni, no estado. O presente trabalho objetivou a busca e identificação das espécies de caramujos Biomphalaria encontrados em municípios mineiros pertencentes à Estrada Real, um importante projeto de turismo brasileiro. MÉTODOS: Os moluscos foram coletados em 36 municípios da Estrada Real, no sudeste de Minas Gerais. A pesquisa foi realizada de agosto de 2005 a setembro de 2009 e todos os locais visitados foram georreferenciados com o uso de GPS. RESULTADOS: Dos 36 municípios estudados, 30 apresentaram a ocorrência de pelo menos uma entre as seis espécies de Biomphalaria: glabrata, tenagophila, straminea, peregrina, occidentalis e schrammi. As três primeiras espécies citadas, reconhecidas como hospedeiras intermediárias do S. mansoni, estavam presentes em 33,3 por cento, 47,2 por cento e 8,3 por cento dos municípios estudados, respectivamente. Os moluscos foram encontrados em diferentes tipos de coleções hídricas e em nenhum deles foi detectada infecção pelo S. mansoni. Houve maior ocorrência de Biomphalaria na área referente ao Caminho Novo (Diamantina/MG ao Rio de Janeiro/RJ). CONCLUSÕES: Considerando-se a ocorrência da esquistossomose, no Estado de Minas Gerais, e as repercussões socioeconômicas que envolvem o projeto Estrada Real, este trabalho aponta para a vulnerabilidade das coleções hídricas devido à presença de moluscos Biomphalaria e enfatiza a necessidade de vigilância epidemiológica e medidas educativas e sanitárias integradas com a comunidade local e setores de turismo.

Evaluation of collaborative strategies for ecotourism and recreational activities in natural parks of Rio de Janeiro / Avaliação de estratégias colaborativas para atividades ecoturísticas e recreativas em parques ecológicos do Rio de Janeiro

Na cidade do Rio de Janeiro, as agências gestoras de unidades de conservação ambiental do tipo parque vêm tentando atingir cinco objetivos principais estabelecidos pelo Sistema Nacional de Unidades de Conservação Ambiental (SNUC), adotando diretrizes de gestão participativa para essas unidades. Dois desses objetivos referem-se ao desenvolvimento de atividades recreativas que envolvem o contato com a natureza e o ecoturismo. Este artigo apresenta as análises e conclusões relativas à implementação de estratégias de colaboração com empresas para atingir tais objetivos. Ele é parte de um conjunto de pesquisas mais amplo. Foram realizados estudos de caso em oito parques, por meio de dezenas de entrevistas com gestores e outros atores sociais interessados, assim como pesquisa documental e observação direta. Os resultados sugerem que o objetivo ecoturístico está longe de ser alcançado e que as estratégias colaborativas utilizadas são insuficientes para contrabalançar as limitações organizacionais, materiais e humanas que sobrecarregam essas agências. Com base na amostra, concluiu-se também que os três poderes de governo envolvidos na gestão dos parques carecem de uma visão estratégica, no sentido de considerar o ecoturismo nas unidades de conservação da cidade como um meio poderoso de incentivar o desenvolvimento local sustentável.

In the city of Rio de Janeiro, the management agencies of environmental conservation units of the park type have been attempting to meet five primary objectives set by the National System for Conservation Units (NSCU), using participatory management guidelines for these units. Two of these objectives relate to the development of recreation activities that involve contact with nature and ecological tourism. This article presents the analyses and conclusions regarding the implementation of collaborative strategies with businesses to achieve such objectives; it is part of a series of research studies having a broader scope. Case studies were conducted in eight parks by means of dozens of interviews with managers and other interested social actors, as well as by documentary research and direct observation. The results suggest that the ecotourism objective is still far from being reached, and that the collaborative strategies used are not sufficient to compensate for the organizational, material and human limitations that encumber these agencies. It was also concluded for the sample that there lacks a strategic vision on the part of the three branches of government involved in the management of these parks in the sense of viewing ecotourism in the city's conservation units as a powerful means to foster local sustainable development.