Dispersión Legítima De Semillas Por Aves En El Bosque Y Matorral Serrano De La Provincia De Córdoba

Birds play a fundamental role in many ecosystems because through endozoochory they can disperse lots of fruits and herefore its seeds. In the southern hemisphere, temperate forests and hills scrub of Córdoba-Argentina are characterized by great floristic diversity and an important richness of birds. However, only few studies focusing on the role of birds as dispersers of fruits and seeds have been conducted in this ecosystem. The aims of this study was to investigate if birds are dispersing fruits or seeds in the forest and hills scrub; analyse if fruits or seeds dispersion is scattered along seasons; and to assess whether seeds suffer physical damage when passing through the digestive tract of birds. During July, August, September and December 2012, fruits and seeds from birds pellets were collected while walking through two linear transects (length and width) of 1,450 x 20 and 1,200 x 5 m, respectively. Results showed that birds dispersed seeds during all seasons although the largest proportion was observed during autumn and winter when more than 70% of birds pellets contained seeds. The highest proportion of damaged seeds occurred in September (11%), but overall proportion of seeds that had physical damage was very low. Finally, our results revealed that birds have an important role in seeds dispersion on the forest and hills scrub ecosystem, and most of these dispersed seeds were exotic

Rol Ecológico Del Zorro Pampeano (Lycalopex Gymnocercus) Como Dispersor De Semillas En Ambientes De Agroecosistema Y Bosques Serranos De Argentina

El zorro pampeano (Lycalopex gymnocercus) es un carnívoro de amplia distribución que posee una dieta omnívora donde los frutos/semillas conforman una parte muy importante de la misma. El objetivo de este trabajo fue conocer y describir las especies de frutos/semillas que el zorro pampeano dispersa en ambientes de agroecosistemas y bosques serranos de la provincia de CórdobaArgentina. Para ello se realizaron muestreos mensuales y se recolectaron fecas frescas de zorro en ambos ambientes. Las fecas fueron procesadas bajo lupa estereoscópica y los frutos/semillas fueran separados e identificados a nivel específico. De acuerdo con nuestros resultados se contabilizaron 46 especies diferentes de frutos/semillas en el ambiente de agroecosistemas de los cuales el 37% correspondieron a especies autóctonas. En el ambiente de bosque serrano se contabilizaron 26 especies diferentes de las cuales el 61.5% eran de especies autóctonas. El 69% y 84% de los frutos/semillas de agroecosistema y bosque serrano respectivamente estaban sanas. En ambos ambientes el zorro pampeano juega un rol esencial en la dispersión “legítima” de semillas mediante endozoocoria. Pampas fox (Lycalopex gymnocercus) is a widely distributed carnivore with an omnivorous diet, with fruits and seeds being a very important part of this diet. The aim of this research was to study and describe the fruits and seeds dispersed by the Pampas fox in the agroecosystems and hill forests of Córdoba province in Argentina. For this, monthly samplings were carried out in order to collect fresh fox feces in both environments. The feces were analyzed under a stereoscopic magnifying glass and fruits and seeds were separated and identified at the species level. In the agroecosystem environment, 46 fruit and seed species were counted, and from those, 37% corresponded to autochthonous species. Furthermore, in the hill forest environment, 26 different species were counted, of which 61.5% were autochthonous. This study showed that 69% of the fruits and seeds from the agroecosystem and 84% from the mountain forest were healthy. In both environments, the Pampas fox plays an essential role in the dispersal of seeds through endozoochory

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Correction to: Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake

Ecología del conejo silvestre (Oryctolagus cuniculus) en un sistema dunar costero

Resumen de la tesis doctoral. Departamento de Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Universidad de Sevilla, Diciembre de 2007

Endozoocoria por el zorro gris pampeano, Lycalopex gymnocercus, (Carnivora: Canidae) y germinación del tala, Celtis ehrenbergiana (Rosales: Cannabaceae)

Introduction: It has been observed that foxes (Lycalopex gymnocercus) consume fruits of “tala” (Celtis ehrenbergiana), a native species of Córdoba, Argentina. This does not necessarily mean that there is a mutualistic relationship, because the seeds can suffer damage in the digestive tract. Objetive: a) To know if the seeds suffer physical damage in the digestive tract, b) To know if this passage affects the viability, germination power, and beginning and germination rate, and c) To know if the viability and germination power change after the seeds have long remained inside the feces. Methods: We compared the variables under study between fruit seeds, seeds in fresh feces, and seeds in six year old feces. Results: 100% of seeds from feces were healthy; but germination start was faster from seeds extracted from feces. Conclusion: Foxes can disperse C. ehrenbergiana seeds and accelerate their germination, which retain their viability even after long periods in the feces.Introducción: Se ha observado que los zorros (Lycalopex gymnocercus) consumen frutos de “tala” (Celtis ehrenbergiana), una especie nativa de Córdoba, Argentina. Esto no implica que exista una relación mutualista, ya que las semillas pueden sufrir daños al pasar a través del tracto digestivo. Objetivos: a) Conocer si las semillas sufren daño físico al pasar a través del tracto digestivo, b) Conocer si dicho paso afecta la viabilidad, el poder germinativo, el inicio y tasa de germinación, y c) Conocer si dicho efecto cambia luego de largos períodos de permanencia de las semillas en el interior de las fecas. Métodos: Comparamos las variables en estudio entre las semillas de frutos y las obtenidas de fecas frescas y de fecas de seis años de antigüedad. Resultados: El 100% de las semillas estaban sanas, pero el inicio de germinación fue mas rápido en semillas provenientes de las fecas. Conclusión: Los zorros pueden dispersar semillas de C. ehrenbergiana y acelerar su germinación, que conservan su viabilidad aún luego de largos períodos de tiempo en las fecas

El zorro gris pampeano (Lycalopex gymnocercus) como dispersor de las semillas de mora (Morus nigra)

Introduction: In the mountain forests of the Córdoba, Argentina, foxes (Lycalopex gymnocercus) include in their diet fruits of exotic species such as blackberries (Morus nigra), an invasive species native of Asia. Objective: To learn if blackberry seeds suffer damage in the digestive tract of foxes, and if this affects the viability, germination power, onset and germination rate. Methods: Blackberry seeds were collected in the field and from fresh feces of captive foxes; 300 seeds were randomly selected per treatment and kept in a germinator at 25 ° C. The germination criterium was the emergence of the radicle. Results: All the seeds extracted from the feces were healthy. The onset of germination occurred on the same day in both treatments, even though germination rates were higher for the seeds extracted directly from the fruits. Conclusions: Despite minor damage to the seeds, the fox is a disperser of blackberry seeds. Introducción: En los bosques serranos de Córdoba, Argentina, los zorros (Lycalopex gymnocercus) incluyen en su dieta frutos de especies exóticas como la mora (Morus nigra), una especie invasora originaria de Asia. Objetivo: Conocer si las semillas de mora sufren daños en el tracto digestivo de los zorros, y si esto afecta su viabilidad, poder de germinación, inicio y tasa de germinación. Métodos: Recolectamos semillas de zarzamora en el campo y de heces frescas de zorros cautivos, seleccionando al azar 300 semillas por tratamiento que mantuvimos en germinador a 25 ° C. El criterio de germinación fue la salida de la radícula. Resultados: Todas las semillas extraídas de las heces estaban sanas. El inicio de la germinación ocurrió el mismo día en ambos tratamientos, aunque las tasas de germinación fueron mayores para las semillas extraídas directamente de los frutos. Conclusiones: A pesar de daños menores a las semillas, el zorro es un dispersor de semillas de mora.&nbsp

Linking biodiversity, ecosystem services, and beneficiaries of tropical dry forests of Latin America: Review and new perspectives

We conducted a systematic literature review to identify and analyze research linking biodiversity, ecosystem services and their beneficiaries in tropical dry forests of Latin America. By assessing 71 studies published in the last 20 years, we addressed two questions: i) when research on links between biodiversity, ecosystem services and beneficiaries began and which of these links have been addressed the most? ii) how these links were addressed? Research on links began in 1997. Studies have been carried out mostly on a local scale and lasted for one year or more. Links between biodiversity and ecosystem services were the most frequently addressed (24% of total studies) considering biodiversity as a regulator of ecosystem processes. Plants and mammals? abundance and richness were mainly linked with regulating and provisioning services. While these links have started to be addressed, only five studies actually linked the three components. It is necessary to redirect efforts towards studies effectively linking ecosystem services and beneficiaries, a link that still remains scarcely addressed. The current challenge for research is to incorporate the beneficiaries into the study of ecosystem services in tropical dry forests of Latin America and fill the information gaps by promoting long-term studies at larger spatial scales.Fil: Quijas, Sandra. Universidad de Guadalajara; MéxicoFil: Romero-Duque, Luz Piedad. Universidad de Ciencias Aplicadas y Ambientales; ColombiaFil: Trilleras, Jenny M.. Universidad de Ciencias Aplicadas y Ambientales; ColombiaFil: Conti, Georgina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Kolb, Melanie. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; MéxicoFil: Brignone, Elisa. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto; ArgentinaFil: Dellafiore, Claudia Marisel. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto; Argentin