OCCUPANCY, RELATIVE ABUNDANCE, AND ACTIVITY PATTERNS OF GREAT CURASSOW (CRAX RUBRA) IN SOUTHEASTERN MEXICO

Abstract ∙ The Great Curassow (Crax rubra) plays a key role in the regeneration of Neotropical forests through seed dispersal and predation of several plant species. Due to poaching, habitat loss, and fragmentation, C. rubra is globally at risk, and has become rare or locally extinct throughout of its range. Viable populations may occur in southeastern Mexico, particularly in Los Chimalapas region, in the state of Oaxaca, but this has not yet been verified. Recently, camera traps have been used for ecological studies of cracids, and other birds in the understory of rain forests. Our aim was to document the occupancy, relative abundance, and activity patterns of C. rubra in the understory of a tropical rain forest in Los Chimalapas region, through data gathered from camera traps. We gathered data from 27 camera traps and used occupancy models to analyze the effect of microhabitat on the detection (the probability that at least one individual of a species will be detected, given that the species inhabits the area of interest) and occupancy (the probability that a randomly selected site or sampling unit contains at least one individual of the species) probabilities. The best model indicated that C. rubra detection probability was higher in sites with higher records of a potential predator, the margay (Leopardus wiedii). The occupancy probability of C. rubra was 0.94 (SE = 0.06), and its detection probability ranged from 0.08 (station with zero records of L. wiedii) to 0.79 (stations with 27 records of L. wiedii). This association may be due to L. wiedii tracking the abundance of a potential prey (i.e., C. rubra) or because both species select sites with similar structural components of vegetation. Other models showed lower support, such as those models linking the presence of C. rubra to other predators and human presence. The species was mainly recorded as solitary individuals and showed more frequent activity in the morning and afternoon. The presence of chicks and juveniles suggest that there are suitable conditions for the establishment of a reproductive population of C. rubra in the region. Los Chimalapas still has connections with both, conserved (i.e., Selva El Ocote Biosphere Reserve) and highly deforested areas (i.e., the Uxpanapa region), and should be a priority region for C. rubra conservation.Resumen ∙ Ocupación, abundancia relativa y patrón de actividad del Hocofaisán (Crax rubra) en el sureste de México El Hocofaisán (Crax rubra) juega un importante papel en la regeneración en los bosques Neotropicales a través de la dispersión y depredación de varias especies de plantas. Debido a la intensa cacería, pérdida de hábitat, y fragmentación, C. rubra está en riesgo y llega a ser rara o extirpada localmente en varias partes de su área de distribución. Se piensa que pueden encontrarse poblaciones viables en el sureste de México, particularmente en la región de Los Chimalapas, en el estado de Oaxaca, pero esto aún no ha sido verificado. Recientemente las trampas cámara han sido usadas para los estudios ecológicos de crácidos y otras aves en el sotobosque de los bosques tropicales. Nuestro objetivo fue documentar la ocupación, abundancia relativa y patrón de actividad de C. rubra en una selva alta en la región de Los Chimalapas, a través de datos generados por las trampas cámara. Obtuvimos datos de 27 sitios con trampas cámara y usamos los modelos de ocupación para analizar el efecto del microhábitat en las probabilidades de detección (probabilidad de que al menos un miembro de la especie sea registrado, dado que la especie habita el área de interés) y ocupación (probabilidad de que un sitio o unidad de muestreo seleccionado al azar contenga al menos un individuo de la especie). El mejor modelo indicó que la probabilidad de detección de C. rubra fue alta en sitios con más registros de un depredador potencial, el margay (Leopardus wiedii). La probabilidad de ocupación de C. rubra fue 0.94 (SE = 0.06) y la probabilidad de detección varió de 0.08 (sitios sin registros de L. wiedii) a 0.79 (sitios con 27 registros de L. wiedii). Esta asociación puede deberse a que L. wiedii sigue a una presa potencial abundante (i.e., C. rubra) o porque ambas especies seleccionan sitios con componentes estructurales similares de la vegetación. Otros modelos mostraron un soporte bajo, tales como aquellos donde la presencia de C. rubra está ligada a otros depredadores y a la presencia humana. La especie fue principalmente registrada como individuos solitarios y mostró actividad más frecuente en la mañana y tarde. La presencia de crías y jóvenes sugiere que hay condiciones adecuadas para el establecimiento de una población reproductiva de esta especie en la región. Los Chimalapas aún tiene conexión con áreas conservadas (i.e., Reserva de la Biosfera Selva El Ocote) y altamente deforestadas (i.e., Uxpanapa), y debe ser una región prioritaria para la conservación del C. rubra.

Why do I treat my patients with mild hepatitis C?

The major advances achieved in the treatment of HCV by the development of new direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) allow treatment of almost the entire spectrum of patients with chornic infection. As a result of the exceedingly high cost of DAAs in many countries, IFN-free DAA regimens are mostly reserved to patients with advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis. Hence, treatment of patients with milder liver disease is often deferred. This could ultimately result in an increased burden of advanced liver disease and in increased long-term costs of management. Moreover, studies performed during the ‘interferon era’ and the early data on interferon-free regimens show that patients without severe fibrosis achieve higher rates of sustained virological response with less treatment-related adverse events. Unfortunately, there is no univocal way to predict the progression of liver fibrosis and therefore to identify the patients with early disease who would require urgent HCV treatment. Many studies have also demonstrated that treatment-induced HCV clearance reduces all-cause mortality regardless of the stage of liver fibrosis, pointing to an effect on extrahepatic manifestations of HCV infection. Last but not least, pharmacoeconomic studies show that DAA treatment of patients with mild HCV disease is cost-effective even at high prices of drugs, thus suggesting the opprtunity to treat regardless of the stage of liver disease

Caracterización de la vegetación y la fauna silvestre con fines ecoturísticos, de seis fincas cafetaleras en la comunidad El Bramadero, Condega, Estelí

El presente estudio se realizó en seis fincas cafetaleras en la zona de amortiguamiento del Parque Ecológico Municipal Cerro Canta Gallo, en la comunidad El Bramadero Condega Esteli, zona característica del bosque de nebliselva. El estudio comprende una caracterización de las especies forestales y la fauna silvestre. Determinándose la riqueza y abundancia de especies, la existencia de especies carismáticas y especies forestales que presenten alguna importancia ecológica para el ecosistema. Para la obtención de los datos de flora se utilizó el método de Gentry (Transeptos de 2x50m), para los datos de mamíferos, reptiles y anfibios se establecieron transeptos de 20x150m y para el caso de las aves fueron puntos de conteo de 25m de radio. Los datos obtenidos indican la presencia de 44 especies forestales distribuidas en 24 familias botánicas, siendo las fincas El Bosque, La Providencia, Linda Vista y La Quebrada las más diversas con diferencias significativas, tanto en la categoría fustal (KW = 30.02, p <0.0001), como en latizal (KW = 16.79, p < 0.0047). Los principales usos que se les da a las especies forestales en la zona son: construcción, leña, carpintería y sombra para café, en las fincas se encontraron especies de importancia ecológica para la fauna silvestre en el aspecto alimenticio como los aguacates (Nectandra sp), el Roble Encino ( Quercus segoviensis) entre otras, y como cobertura el Liquidámbar ( (Liquidambar styraciflua), por sus caracteriscas en la parte baja del fuste. Los datos obtenidos de fauna silvestre permitieron identificar 62 individuos, que están agrupados en 23 especies, 20 familias, 22 géneros y 14 órdenes de las cuales 15 son aves, 7 mamíferos, 1 reptiles y 3 anfibios. Los órdenes más abundantes según el número de familias son: Piciformes con 4 familias y Rodentia con 3 familias, identificándose un total de siete especies como carismáticas: Puma, (Puma concolor), Mono Congo (Alouatta palliata), Tucán Pico iris (Ramphastos sulfuratus), Pavón (Crax rubra), Rana de ojos rojos (Agalychnis callidryas), Carpintero (Campephilus guatemalensis) y Venado Cola Blanca (Odocoileus virginianus). Las fincas La Providencia, La estrella 2, la Quebrada y Linda Vista resultaron ser las mas diversas, pero estas diferencias no son significativas (X 2 = 2, p>0.16)

Secondary forest is utilized by Great Curassows (Crax rubra) and Great Tinamous (Tinamus major) in the absence of hunting

Deforestation and hunting are the leading human-driven disturbances causing population declines of the vulnerable Great Curassow (Crax rubra) and the near threatened Great Tinamou (Tinamus major). These threats typically co-occur, with synergistic effects. We investigated habitat use of Great Curassows and Great Tinamous in the Matapalo corridor of the Osa Peninsula, southwest Costa Rica, where they are not hunted, to understand whether disturbed habitats can be suitable for these species. We analyzed camera trap data from 56 locations and 5579 trapping days using occupancy modeling. We obtained 195 independent captures of Great Curassows at 33 of 56 locations (59%) and 429 independent captures of Great Tinamous at 37 of 56 locations (66%). Great Curassow occupancy did not vary with habitat type but was negatively influenced by distance from roads and by elevation; detection probability varied with habitat type. Great Tinamou occupancy probability was principally related to habitat type; primary, secondary and plantation forest areas all displayed high occupancy probabilities, but occupancy of agricultural land was low. Our work suggests that secondary-growth forests can offer valuable complementary habitat to assist in the recovery of these declining species, at least when hunting is controlled and intact forests are nearby

The combination of liver stiffness measurement and NAFLD fibrosis score improves the noninvasive diagnostic accuracy for severe liver fibrosis in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

BACKGROUND &amp; AIMS: The accuracy of noninvasive tools for the diagnosis of severe fibrosis in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) in clinical practice is still limited. We aimed at assessing the diagnostic performance of combined noninvasive tools in two independent cohorts of Italian NAFLD patients. METHODS: We analysed data from 321 Italian patients(179 Sicilian-training cohort, and 142 northern Italy-validation cohort) with an histological diagnosis of NAFLD. Severe fibrosis was defined as fibrosis ≥ F3 according to Kleiner classification. The APRI, AST/ALT, BARD, FIB-4, and NFS scores were calculated according to published algorithms. Liver stiffness measurement(LSM) was performed by FibroScan. Cut-off points of LSM, NFS and FIB-4 for rule-in or rule-out F3-F4 fibrosis were calculated by the reported formulas. RESULTS: In the Sicilian cohort AUCs of LSM, NFS, FIB-4, LSM plus NFS, LSM plus FIB-4, and NFS plus FIB-4 were 0.857, 0.803, 0.790, 0.878, 0.888 and 0.807, respectively, while in the northern Italy cohort the corresponding AUCs were 0.848, 0.730, 0.703, 0.844, 0.850, and 0.733 respectively. In the training cohort, the combination of LSM plus NFS was the best performing strategy, providing false positive, false negative and uncertainty area rates of 0%,1.1% and 48% respectively. Similar results were obtained in the validation cohort with false positive, false negative and uncertainty area rates of 0%,7.3% and 40.8%. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of LSM with NFS, two complementary, easy-to-perform, and widely available tools, is able to accurately diagnose or exclude the presence of severe liver fibrosis, also reducing of about 50-60% the number of needed diagnostic liver biopsies

Presión de caza sobre crácidos (Cracidae: Aves) en concesiones forestales en Perú

The impact of timber exploitation on biodiversity is usually increased by hunting in the exploited area. Proper forest management practices on areas under commercial exploitation minimize hunting and damage to the forest. Large species of Cracidae, the most endangered family of birds in the Neotropics, are among the first to be affected in a Neotropical forest damaged by timber-extraction activities, and where at least moderate hunting occurs. Herein an assessment of cracids is carried out in three areas with selective logging in Peru in 2004 and 2005, is used to evaluate hunting pressure. Tree inventory trails were used as transects, and density was calculated using the line transect methodology. Four species of cracids were evaluated, and density was calculated for three of them. The area with lower hunting pressure, Maderyja, showed higher cracid diversity and was the only with the presence of razor-billed curassows (Mitu tuberosum) and blue-throated pining-guans (Pipile cumanensis), two sought-after prey species. Areas where hunting intensity is higher had lower cracid diversity. The density of the M. tuberosum was high in Maderyja: 11.3 ind/km2 (95% CI: 7.4 – 17.3 ind/km2). In contrast, Spix’s guan (Penelope jacquacu) did not show a marked difference among areas, unless compared to heavily hunted sites. The higher diversity of cracids and the density found for razor-billed curassows suggests Maderyja had low hunting pressure in the past and is properly managed towards wildlife. Currently, the Peruvian Amazon is being opened for forestry concessions and hydrocarbons exploitation and proper management towards wildlife is necessary to guarantee the conservation of susceptible taxa such as cracids.Prácticas adecuadas de manejo forestal en áreas bajo explotación comercial reducen la caza y los daños al bosque. Las especies de aves de gran tamaño como los Cracidae, la familia más amenazada de aves en el Neotrópico, se encuentran entre las primeras afectadas por la extracción madedera y con la actividad de caza aunque sea moderada. En el presente trabajo, como una forma de evaluar la presión de caza, entre 2004 y 2005, se estudiaron las poblaciones de crácidos en tres zonas donde se realiza tala selectiva en el Perú. Senderos para inventario de árboles fueron utilizados como transectos, y la densidad se calculo utilizando la metodología de transecto lineal. Cuatro especies de crácidos fueron evaluados, y la densidad fue calculada para tres de ellos. El área con menor presión de la caza, Maderyja, mostro una mayor diversidad de crácidos y fue la única con la presencia del Paujil Común (Mitu tuberosum) y la Pava de Garganta Azul (Pipile cumanensis), dos codiciadas presas. La diversidad de crácidos fue menor en áreas con intensidad de la caza mayor. La densidad de M. tuberosum fue mayor en Maderyja: 11,3 ind/km2 (95% CI: 7,4 – 17,3 ind/km2). Por el contrario, la Pava de Spix (Penelope jacquacu) no mostró diferencia significativa entre las áreas, salvo comparada con sitios con intensa actividad de caza. La mayor diversidad de crácidos y la densidad encontrada para M. tuberosum sugiere que Maderyja tuvo baja presión de la caza en el pasado y tiene un adecuado manejo de la biodiversidad. En la actualidad, la Amazonía peruana se abre para las concesiones forestales y la explotación de hidrocarburos y el manejo adecuado a la vida silvestre es necesario para garantizar la conservación de los taxones sensibles como crácidos

Generic relationships of the Cracini

20 p. : ill., map ; 24 cm.Includes bibliographical references (p. 18-20)

Estudio base para el monitoreo ecológico de especies conspicuas de aves y mamíferos en la Estación Biológica Sirena, Parque Nacional Corcovado, Puntarenas, Costa Rica

Proyecto de Graduación (Licenciatura en Ingeniería Forestal) Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica, Escuela de Ingeniería Forestal, 2013.A study based on an ecological monitoring conspicuous species of birds and mammals at the Sirena Biological Station, Corcovado National Park. Two types of coverage were selected: primary forest (BP) and secondary forest (BS) for each type, there were 9 nine days of work and two periods of the day (morning and afternoon). Wildlife sampling was executed simultaneously using two methods: path traces and point count sightings with infinite radius. There were 8 species of mammals and 3 species of birds found. The puma and white-lipped peccary were observed outside the sampling period. An inventory of tree species for each type of coverage also took place, using circular plot radius 5 m. 20 species were recorded for BP and 14 species for BS. The technique of linear and mixed models indicated that for the variables "number of individuals", "distance" and "height" there were found no significant differences in the interactions coverage * day period and in each of these main effects. By multivariate analysis techniques based on principal coordinates (CP), conglomerates and discriminant analysis identified four groups of species of wildlife. Outstanding variable for group 1 (red brocked deer (Mazama americana), agouti (Dasyprocta punctata), squirrel (Sciurus granatensis), great tinamou (Tinamus major), great curassow (Crax rubra) and bare throated tiger heron (Tigrisoma Mexicana)) was "transit", for group 2 (collared peccary (Pecari tajacu) and tapir (Tapirus bairdii)) "fingerprint", for group 3 (coati (Nasua narica) and northern tamandua (Tamandua Mexicana)) "type of coverage" and for group 4 (primates) "number of individuals", "distance" and "height". This study could serve as a simple guide for the implementation of ecological monitoring in Sirena Biological Station, integrating volunteers of Protected Areas (ASP), as well as professionals in the field of biological sciences.Estación Biológica Sirena, Parque Nacional Corcovado, Puntarenas, Costa Ric

TM6SF2 rs58542926 is not associated with steatosis and fibrosis in largecohort of patients with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C

Background & Aims: We tested the putative association of the rs58542926 variant of TM6SF2, a recently described genetic determinant of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, with steatosis and fibrosis in genotype 1(G1) chronic hepatitis C(CHC) patients. Methods: A total of 694 consecutively biopsied Caucasian G1 CHC patients were genotyped for TM6SF2 rs58542926, IL28B rs12979860 and PNPLA3 rs738409. Steatosis was classified as absent (<5%), mild-moderate(5-29%) and severe( 6530%), Fibrosis was considered severe if=F3-F4. Results: Carriers of TM6SF2 rs58542926 (6.3% of patients) exhibited lower serum levels of cholesterol (P=0.04) and triglycerides (P=0.01), but a similar distribution of steatosis severity (P=0.63), compared to noncarriers. Prevalence and severity of steatosis were reduced in IL28B C allele carriers (P=0.005) and elevated in PNPLA3G allele carriers (P<0.001). After adjustment for age, gender, body mass index and homoeostasis model assessment score, steatosis severity was independently associated with IL28B rs12979860 (odds ratio [OR] 0.69, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.55-0.86, P=0.001) and PNPLA3 rs738409 (OR 1.84, 95% CI 1.46-2.83, P<0.001), but not TM6SF2 rs58542926 (OR 1.48, 95% CI 0.82-2.69, P=0.19). Variants of TM6SF2 (30.9% vs. 25%, P=0.40), IL28B and PNPLA3 were not directly associated with fibrosis severity, although variants of IL28B and PNPLA3 promoted steatosis (OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.06-1.75, P=0.01) that in turn is associated with severe fibrosis. Conclusions: In G1 CHC patients, TM6SF2 rs58542926 does not affect the histological severity of liver damage. However, IL28B rs12979860 and PNPLA3 rs738409 modify steatosis