The oceanographic conditions of the Pacific Ocean are largely modified by El Niño (EN), affecting several ecological processes. Parasites and other marine organisms respond to environmental variation, but the influence of the EN cycle on the seasonal variation of parasitic copepods has not been yet evaluated. We analysed the relation between infection parameters (prevalence and mean intensity) of the widespread parasitic copepods Caligus bonito and Charopinopsis quaternia in the dolphinfish Coryphaena hippurus and oceanography during the strong 2015–16 EN. Fish were collected from capture fisheries on the Ecuadorian coast (Tropical Eastern Pacific) over a 2-year period. Variations of sea surface temperature (SST), salinity, chlorophyll a (Chl-a), Oceanic Niño Index (ONI), total host length (TL) and monthly infection parameters of both copepod species were analysed using time series and cross-correlations.

We used the generalised additive models for determine the relationship between environmental variables and infection parameters. The total body length of the ovigerous females and the length of the eggs of C. bonito were measured in both periods. Infection parameters of both C. bonito and Ch. quaternia showed seasonal and annual patterns associated with the variation of environmental variables examined (SST, salinity, Chl-a and ONI 1+2). Infection parameters of both copepod species were significantly correlated with ONI 1+2, SST, TL and Chl-a throughout the GAMLSS model, and the explained deviance contribution ranged from 16%-36%. Our results suggest than an anomaly higher than +0.5°C triggers a risen in infection parameters of both parasitic copepods. This risen could be related to increases in egg length, female numbers and the total length of the ovigerous females in EN period. This study provides the first evidence showing that tropical parasitic copepods are sensitive to the influence of EN event, especially from SST variations. The observed behaviour of parasitic copepods likely affects the host populations and structure of the marine ecosystem at different scales.

Based on a case study in the Llanganates Sangay Ecological Corridor, this research analyzes the characteristics of land acquisition for the creation of private protected areas within the framework of the neoliberal conservation and strict conservation model. This study is based on the argument that contrary to its purported win-win approach, neoliberal conservation leads to processes of dispossession, displacement, and exclusion of local populations in the interest of large companies. Dispossession processes do not necessarily happen in traditionally violent ways but through increasingly sophisticated mechanisms, such as land acquisition. In this context, even though neoliberal conservation is presented as a mechanism for solving current environmental issues and achieving sustainable development, it can in fact be used for the expansion of the green economy.

Colta and Guamote are two cantons in the province of Chimborazo that together form one of the microcenters with the greatest biodiversity of high Andean tubers native to Ecuador. The study focused on establishing the socio-environmental factors that encourage in-situ conservation of this type of agrobiodiversity in the area. The techniques used to gather information were participatory workshops with producers and in-depth interviews with both producers and qualified informants. The results showed that in-situ conservation of native varieties depends on four factors: seed availability, the management provided throughout the crop cycle, uses within farms and the influence of market demand. The author concludes that producers prefer to conserve native varieties that are also required in the market in their plots and that interventions to promote the reintroduction of native varieties should include adaptation measures to climate change as a transversal factor.

A new caligid copepod species, Pupulina mantensis sp. n. is described based on female and male specimens collected from the gills of the myliobatid elasmobranch Aetobatus cf. narinari Euphrasen, 1790 captured off the Pacific coast of Ecuador. The new species has a unique combination of characters that diverges from its known congeners, including: (i) weakly developed posterolateral processes on the genital complex; (ii) large spines on posterior surface of maxilliped basis (iii) abdomen slender, unsegmented, approximately 1/2 length and 1/5 width of genital complex; (iv) third exopodal segment of leg II with single long naked spine adjacent to minute, naked lateral spine; (v) velum of leg II with adjacent patch of denticles; (vi) caudal rami slightly less than half the length of genital complex; (vii) post-antennal process with robust, posteriorly directed tine, sclerotized stump posterolaterally, and two multi-sensillate papillae located on or near base of process (viii) post-oral process oval. The overall prevalence of P. mantensis sp. n. on its host was 37.5% and its mean abundance was 1.87 specimens per host. This is the second record of the genus Pupulina from Ecuador and the second record of Pupulina infecting rays of the Myliobatinae genus Aetobatus, of the subfamily Myliobatinae, after its discovery on A. ocellatus in Australia, thus confirming this expansion of its previously known host range to a new elasmobranch subfamily.

The diagnostic on community perceptions of Protected Areas (pa) in Manabí, Ecuador, identified the following key factors for the acceptation of the pa: the history of establishment of the community and of the pa, the ethnic origin, the interaction with government and research institutions, as well as the implementation of natural and cultural conservation policies. The three pas studied show a low level of acceptation, there is a perception that biological conservation practices are being imposed with little or no economic, social and cultural benefit. The community of Agua Blanca reveals changes of reinterpretation and appropriation of the pa as a result of academic interactions. Over 30 years after the creation of pas, there is no clear evidence of their efficiency for the promotion of community development or for the conservation of biocultural heritage. We suggest that there is a need to identify the potential risk of biocultural heritage loss and to promote governance as well as multidisciplinary research.

Background Rural communities in the Amazonian southern border of Ecuador have benefited from governmental social programmes over the past 9 years, which have addressed, among other things, diseases associated with poverty, such as soil transmitted helminth infections. The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence of geohelminth infection and several factors associated with it in these communities. Methods This was a cross sectional study in two indigenous communities of the Amazonian southern border of Ecuador. The data were analysed at both the household and individual levels. Results At the individual level, the prevalence of geohelminth infection reached 46.9% (95% CI 39.5% to 54.2%), with no differences in terms of gender, age, temporary migration movements or previous chemoprophylaxis. In 72.9% of households, one or more members were infected. Receiving subsidies and overcrowding were associated with the presence of helminths. Conclusions The prevalence of geohelminth infection was high. Our study suggests that it is necessary to conduct studies focusing on communities, and not simply on captive groups, such as schoolchildren, with the object of proposing more suitable and effective strategies to control this problem.