SEASONAL VARIATION IN BIRD ASSEMBLAGE COMPOSITION IN A DRY FOREST OF SOUTHWESTERN MEXICO

Abstract · Tropical dry forests are characterized by a marked seasonality throughout the year. The response of bird assemblages and species abundance to the seasonal changes of dry forests, as evidenced by bird feeding habits, can contribute to a greater understanding of the ecological processes in this ecosystem. In this study, we estimated variations in richness, abundance and composition of bird assemblages as well as their main feeding habits during two seasons of the year (dry and rainy) in a tropical dry forest in southwestern Mexico. Visual and auditory sampling was performed from February 2010 to February 2011 with a fixed-radius point count method (123 point counts distributed across nine transects). A total of 82 bird species belonging to 28 families were recorded in the study area. Although we found more species and a higher abundance in the dry season than in the rainy season, only the abundance of insectivorous-frugivorous and omnivorous birds was significantly higher. According to an ordination analysis, the composition and abundance of bird assemblage changed seasonally. A total of 21 resident birds were found in the dry season (March–June). Some omnivorous and granivorous birds, such as Streak-backed Oriole (Icterus pustulatus) and Blackchested Sparrow (Peucaea humeralis), were the most abundant species in both seasons. Other species, such as Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis) and Golden-cheeked Woodpecker (Melanerpes chrysogenys), both insectivorous-frugivorous, were also abundant in two seasons. The greater diversity of avian feeding guilds in the dry season could be influenced by the reproductive activity that occur during this season and by the presence of Bursera fruits, as confirmed in other studies. Resumen · Variación estacional en la composición de ensambles de aves en un bosque tropical seco del suroeste de México Los bosques tropicales secos se caracterizan por una marcada estacionalidad climática a lo largo del año. Comprender la respuesta de los ensambles de aves y la abundancia de las especies de acuerdo a sus hábitos de alimentación, respecto a los cambios estacionales en el bosque seco, contribuye al conocimiento de los procesos ecológicos en este ecosistema. En este estudio, estimamos la variación de la riqueza, abundancia y composición de las aves y sus tipos de dieta en dos estaciones del año (secas y lluvias) en un bosque tropical seco al suroeste de México. Se realizaron muestreos visuales y auditivos durante un año (febrero de 2010 a febrero de 2011), con el uso de puntos de conteo de radio fijo (123 puntos distribuidos en nueve transectos). Se registró un total de 82 especies de aves que pertenecen a 28 familias. La estación seca presentó mayor riqueza de especies y abundancia de aves que la estación lluviosa, pero solo la abundancia de las aves insectívoro-frugívoras y omnívoras fue significativamente mayor en la estación seca. De acuerdo al análisis de ordenación, la composición y abundancia del ensamble de aves cambió estacionalmente. Se encontró un total de 21 aves residentes en los meses secos del año, que corresponde a la temporada reproductiva (marzo–junio). Algunas aves omnívoras y granívoras como la calandria dorso rayado (Icterus pustulatus) y el zacatonero pecho negro (Peucaea humeralis) fueron las más abundantes en ambas temporadas. Otras especies como tirano pálido (Tyrannus verticalis) y carpintero enmascarado (Melanerpes chrysogenys), ambas insectívoro-frugívoras, también fueron abundantes en las dos estaciones. La mayor diversidad de gremios alimenticios de las aves en la estación seca podría estar influenciada por las actividades reproductivas que transcurren durante esta temporada, y por la presencia de frutos de Bursera spp., como se ha observado en otros estudios

Inhibition of Acetylcholinesterase in Wild Bird Populations Exposure to Pesticides

El uso generalizado de plaguicidas en los campos agrícolas ha resultado en la exposición de especies de vida silvestre. Las especies de aves han mostrado una disminución sustancial de su población y una contracción de su distribución en los agroecosistemas, lo que se ha relacionado con la intensificación de la agricultura. En este estudio se evalúa la AChE en sangre en diferentes especies de aves (Turdus rufopalliatus, Icterus pustulatus, Melanerpes chrysogenys, Crotophaga sulcirostris; ambos géneros) en tierras agrícolas del estado de Guerrero, sur de México. Los resultados muestran una tendencia a ser sensibles en las hembras a la inhibición de AChE. Nuestros resultados también sugieren que la inhibición de la AChE por plaguicidas podría tener repercusiones en la población de especies de aves.The widespread use of pesticides in agricultural fields has resulted in the exposure of wildlife species. Bird species have shown substantial population decline and range contraction in agroecosystems, which have been linked to the intensification of agriculture. In this study AChE evaluation in blood in different species of birds (Turdus rufopalliatus, Icterus pustulatus, Melanerpes chrysogenys, Crotophaga sulcirostris; both genders) in agricultural lands of the state of Guerrero, southern Mexico. The result show a tendency to susceptible the female birds at inhibition AChE. Our results also suggest that inhibition of AChE due to pesticides could have repercussions in the population of bird species

Role of age and comorbidities in mortality of patients with infective endocarditis

[Purpose]: The aim of this study was to analyse the characteristics of patients with IE in three groups of age and to assess the ability of age and the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) to predict mortality. [Methods]: Prospective cohort study of all patients with IE included in the GAMES Spanish database between 2008 and 2015.Patients were stratified into three age groups:<65 years,65 to 80 years,and ≥ 80 years.The area under the receiver-operating characteristic (AUROC) curve was calculated to quantify the diagnostic accuracy of the CCI to predict mortality risk. [Results]: A total of 3120 patients with IE (1327 < 65 years;1291 65-80 years;502 ≥ 80 years) were enrolled.Fever and heart failure were the most common presentations of IE, with no differences among age groups.Patients ≥80 years who underwent surgery were significantly lower compared with other age groups (14.3%,65 years; 20.5%,65-79 years; 31.3%,≥80 years). In-hospital mortality was lower in the <65-year group (20.3%,<65 years;30.1%,65-79 years;34.7%,≥80 years;p < 0.001) as well as 1-year mortality (3.2%, <65 years; 5.5%, 65-80 years;7.6%,≥80 years; p = 0.003).Independent predictors of mortality were age ≥ 80 years (hazard ratio [HR]:2.78;95% confidence interval [CI]:2.32–3.34), CCI ≥ 3 (HR:1.62; 95% CI:1.39–1.88),and non-performed surgery (HR:1.64;95% CI:11.16–1.58).When the three age groups were compared,the AUROC curve for CCI was significantly larger for patients aged <65 years(p < 0.001) for both in-hospital and 1-year mortality. [Conclusion]: There were no differences in the clinical presentation of IE between the groups. Age ≥ 80 years, high comorbidity (measured by CCI),and non-performance of surgery were independent predictors of mortality in patients with IE.CCI could help to identify those patients with IE and surgical indication who present a lower risk of in-hospital and 1-year mortality after surgery, especially in the <65-year group

Avifauna de Campo Morado, Guerrero, México Avifauna of Campo Morado, Guerrero, Mexico

Se presenta una lista de 124 especies de aves para la región de Campo Morado, Guerrero, México, con información sobre el estatus estacional, categoría de riesgo y endemismo. Se resaltan 15 registros sobresalientes, ya sea porque son nuevos para el estado, o porque amplían su distribución geográfica y/o modifican su distribución estacional conocida. Además se discute la importancia de la localidad dentro de la cuenca del río Balsas.We report a list of 124 bird species from Campo Morado, Guerrero, Mexico, with information on seasonality, risk categories, and endemism. Fifteen records are noteworthy, as they are new state records, expand significantly their known geographical distribution, and/or modify their seasonal status within the area. We also highlight the importance of the study area within the Balsas River Basin

Neotropical ornithology: Reckoning with historical assumptions, removing systemic barriers, and reimagining the future

A major barrier to advancing ornithology is the systemic exclusion of professionals from the Global South. A recent special feature, Advances in Neotropical Ornithology, and a shortfalls analysis therein, unintentionally followed a long-standing pattern of highlighting individuals, knowledge, and views from the Global North, while largely omitting the perspectives of people based within the Neotropics. Here, we review current strengths and opportunities in the practice of Neotropical ornithology. Further, we discuss problems with assessing the state of Neotropical ornithology through a northern lens, including discovery narratives, incomplete (and biased) understanding of history and advances, and the promotion of agendas that, while currently popular in the north, may not fit the needs and realities of Neotropical research. We argue that future advances in Neotropical ornithology will critically depend on identifying and addressing the systemic barriers that hold back ornithologists who live and work in the Neotropics: unreliable and limited funding, exclusion from international research leadership, restricted dissemination of knowledge (e.g., through language hegemony and citation bias), and logistical barriers. Moving forward, we must examine and acknowledge the colonial roots of our discipline, and explicitly promote anti-colonial agendas for research, training, and conservation. We invite our colleagues within and beyond the Neotropics to join us in creating new models of governance that establish research priorities with vigorous participation of ornithologists and communities within the Neotropical region. To include a diversity of perspectives, we must systemically address discrimination and bias rooted in the socioeconomic class system, anti-Blackness, anti-Brownness, anti-Indigeneity, misogyny, homophobia, tokenism, and ableism. Instead of seeking individual excellence and rewarding top-down leadership, institutions in the North and South can promote collective leadership. In adopting these approaches, we, ornithologists, will join a community of researchers across academia building new paradigms that can reconcile our relationships and transform science. Spanish and Portuguese translations are available in the Supplementary Material.• Research conducted by ornithologists living and working in Latin America and the Caribbean has been historically and systemically excluded from global scientific paradigms, ultimately holding back ornithology as a discipline.• To avoid replicating systems of exclusion in ornithology, authors, editors, reviewers, journals, scientific societies, and research institutions need to interrupt long-held assumptions, improve research practices, and change policies around funding and publication.• To advance Neotropical ornithology and conserve birds across the Americas, institutions should invest directly in basic field biology research, reward collective leadership, and strengthen funding and professional development opportunities for people affected by current research policies.Peer reviewe

Role of age and comorbidities in mortality of patients with infective endocarditis.

The aim of this study was to analyse the characteristics of patients with IE in three groups of age and to assess the ability of age and the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) to predict mortality. Prospective cohort study of all patients with IE included in the GAMES Spanish database between 2008 and 2015.Patients were stratified into three age groups: A total of 3120 patients with IE (1327  There were no differences in the clinical presentation of IE between the groups. Age ≥ 80 years, high comorbidity (measured by CCI),and non-performance of surgery were independent predictors of mortality in patients with IE.CCI could help to identify those patients with IE and surgical indication who present a lower risk of in-hospital and 1-year mortality after surgery, especially in th