Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time, and attempts to address it require a clear understanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space. While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes, vast areas of the tropics remain understudied. In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world's most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity, but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepresented in biodiversity databases. To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications may eliminate pieces of the Amazon's biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological communities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge, it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple organism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region's vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most neglected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lost

Stock assessment of Prochilodus nigricans (Actinopterygii: Characiformes: Prochilodontidae) using two distinct algorithms, in the context of a small-scale Amazonian fishery

Background. Despite the importance of inland fishery, assessments of exploited inland stocks have relied on data-deficient databases, mainly in developing countries. In this paper, we employed two distinct analytical methods to evaluate the stock status of Prochilodus nigricans Spix et Agassiz, 1829, the most important fish in the Amazonian freshwater landings. In this study, we intended to test the sustainability of small-scale fisheries comparing two different methods. Materials and methods. The population dynamic of P. nigricans was studied using length and weight data for fish caught in Manacapuru Lake and the lower stretch of the Solimões River. Estimates of maximum sustainable yield and corresponding fishing mortality for 2012 and 2013, using Beverton–Holt curve, indicated an overfishing status for both years. At the same region, fishers were interviewed and their knowledge on the P. nigricans stock status was assessed using a stock assessment methodology based on fishers’ knowledge, known as ParFish. Results. Both yield per recruit curves employed to assess the stock status of P. nigricans in 2012 and 2013 and ParFish approach indicate an overfishing status, but ParFish also found a high uncertainty level around 47%. Conclusion. The use of ParFish algorithm and traditional knowledge can provide qualitatively similar results to conventional models, such as the Beverton–Holt approach. The ParFish approach shows the advantage including confidence intervals to its estimates

Stock assessment of Prochilodus nigricans (Actinopterygii: Characiformes: Prochilodontidae) using two distinct algorithms, in the context of a small-scale Amazonian fishery

Background. Despite the importance of inland fishery, assessments of exploited inland stocks have relied on data-deficient databases, mainly in developing countries. In this paper, we employed two distinct analytical methods to evaluate the stock status of Prochilodus nigricans Spix et Agassiz, 1829, the most important fish in the Amazonian freshwater landings. In this study, we intended to test the sustainability of small-scale fisheries comparing two different methods. Materials and methods. The population dynamic of P. nigricans was studied using length and weight data for fish caught in Manacapuru Lake and the lower stretch of the Solimões River. Estimates of maximum sustainable yield and corresponding fishing mortality for 2012 and 2013, using Beverton–Holt curve, indicated an overfishing status for both years. At the same region, fishers were interviewed and their knowledge on the P. nigricans stock status was assessed using a stock assessment methodology based on fishers’ knowledge, known as ParFish. Results. Both yield per recruit curves employed to assess the stock status of P. nigricans in 2012 and 2013 and ParFish approach indicate an overfishing status, but ParFish also found a high uncertainty level around 47%. Conclusion. The use of ParFish algorithm and traditional knowledge can provide qualitatively similar results to conventional models, such as the Beverton–Holt approach. The ParFish approach shows the advantage including confidence intervals to its estimates

Safety of hospital discharge before return of bowel function after elective colorectal surgery

© 2020 BJS Society Ltd Published by John Wiley & Sons LtdBackground: Ileus is common after colorectal surgery and is associated with an increased risk of postoperative complications. Identifying features of normal bowel recovery and the appropriateness for hospital discharge is challenging. This study explored the safety of hospital discharge before the return of bowel function. Methods: A prospective, multicentre cohort study was undertaken across an international collaborative network. Adult patients undergoing elective colorectal resection between January and April 2018 were included. The main outcome of interest was readmission to hospital within 30 days of surgery. The impact of discharge timing according to the return of bowel function was explored using multivariable regression analysis. Other outcomes were postoperative complications within 30 days of surgery, measured using the Clavien–Dindo classification system. Results: A total of 3288 patients were included in the analysis, of whom 301 (9·2 per cent) were discharged before the return of bowel function. The median duration of hospital stay for patients discharged before and after return of bowel function was 5 (i.q.r. 4–7) and 7 (6–8) days respectively (P < 0·001). There were no significant differences in rates of readmission between these groups (6·6 versus 8·0 per cent; P = 0·499), and this remained the case after multivariable adjustment for baseline differences (odds ratio 0·90, 95 per cent c.i. 0·55 to 1·46; P = 0·659). Rates of postoperative complications were also similar in those discharged before versus after return of bowel function (minor: 34·7 versus 39·5 per cent; major 3·3 versus 3·4 per cent; P = 0·110). Conclusion: Discharge before return of bowel function after elective colorectal surgery appears to be safe in appropriately selected patients

Safety of hospital discharge before return of bowel function after elective colorectal surgery

Background: Ileus is common after colorectal surgery and is associated with an increased risk of postoperative complications. Identifying features of normal bowel recovery and the appropriateness for hospital discharge is challenging. This study explored the safety of hospital discharge before the return of bowel function. Methods: A prospective, multicentre cohort study was undertaken across an international collaborative network. Adult patients undergoing elective colorectal resection between January and April 2018 were included. The main outcome of interest was readmission to hospital within 30 days of surgery. The impact of discharge timing according to the return of bowel function was explored using multivariable regression analysis. Other outcomes were postoperative complications within 30 days of surgery, measured using the Clavien\u2013Dindo classification system. Results: A total of 3288 patients were included in the analysis, of whom 301 (9\ub72 per cent) were discharged before the return of bowel function. The median duration of hospital stay for patients discharged before and after return of bowel function was 5 (i.q.r. 4\u20137) and 7 (6\u20138) days respectively (P &lt; 0\ub7001). There were no significant differences in rates of readmission between these groups (6\ub76 versus 8\ub70 per cent; P = 0\ub7499), and this remained the case after multivariable adjustment for baseline differences (odds ratio 0\ub790, 95 per cent c.i. 0\ub755 to 1\ub746; P = 0\ub7659). Rates of postoperative complications were also similar in those discharged before versus after return of bowel function (minor: 34\ub77 versus 39\ub75 per cent; major 3\ub73 versus 3\ub74 per cent; P = 0\ub7110). Conclusion: Discharge before return of bowel function after elective colorectal surgery appears to be safe in appropriately selected patients