Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

What are the role of birds and ants in regeneration of the ornithochoric tree?

O processo de dispersão de sementes é um importante passo no ciclo reprodutivo das plantas. Geralmente uma semente dispersa por um vetor primário, como uma ave, passa por eventos subsequentes que podem alterar sua probabilidade de estabelecimento, por exemplo a dispersão secundária por formigas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a contribuição relativa de dispersores primários (aves) e secundários (formigas) para a regeneração de Xylopia sericea, uma planta ornitocórica amplamente distribuída pelo Brasil. O estudo foi conduzido em um fragmento de floresta semidecídua de Mata Atlântica em Viçosa (MG) entre fevereiro/2016 e março/2017. Foi estimada a produção de diásporos disponíveis para a dispersão utilizando coletores de diásporos alocados abaixo da copa de sete plantas de X. sericea. Foram realizados levantamentos de dispersores primários e secundários por meio de observações diretas da copa e de estações de amostragens utilizando diásporos como iscas, respectivamente. Por fim, entre julho/2016 e março/2017 foi acompanhada em campo a sobrevivência e distribuição de plântulas de X. sericea produzidas por cada agente dispersor. A produção média de diásporos/árvore foi de 820 e a maioria (67,2%) caiu viável abaixo da copa. As 12 espécies de aves observadas removeram 17,4% dos diásporos na copa, sendo 60% consumidos por dispersores legítimos que dispersaram em média por 6,6 m de distância. Aves predadoras consumiram 30% dos diásporos removidos por aves, representando um custo para a dispersão, no entanto ainda com estes custos. aves podem produzir potencialmente 8,6 plântulas ao final do processo. No solo, formigas removeram 46,5% dos diásporos e foram mais importantes quantitativamente para a dispersão que aves. Foram registradas 34 espécies de formigas e 181 interações com diásporos, sendo 37,6% remoções a uma distância média de 0,33 m. Destes, a metade foi realizada por formigas potencialmente granívoras que também podem prejudicar a regeneração de plântulas. No entanto o resultado geral encontrado demonstrou que plântulas próximas a ninhos sobreviveram mais que as distantes e a dispersão secundária incorporou praticamente o dobro de plântulas ao saldo final de plântulas produzidas por dispersores (15,9). Assim, embora possa haver grande variação e custos relacionados às interações com aves e com formigas, no processo de dispersão de X. sericea, a dispersão em duas fases é bastante vantajosa para espécie.The seed dispersal process is an important step in the plants’ life cycle. Generally, a seed dispersed by a primary vector like birds undergoes subsequent events that may alter its establishment probability, for example, secondary dispersal by ants. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relative contribution of primary and secondary seed dispersal by birds and ants to Xylopia sericea regeneration. This tree is an ornithochorous plant widely dis- tributed in Brazil. This project was conducted between February/2016 and March/2017, in a semideciduous atlantic forest fragment, located at Viçosa – MG. The available seeds production to dispersal was estimated using seeds collectors placed under seven X. sericea plants in 2016. Surveys about primary and secondary dispersers were made through focal observations and seed stations using seed baits, respectively. X. sericea seedlings survival and distribution by each disperser was monitored in the field between July/2016 and March/2017 the. The average seed production was 820 and most of the produced seeds (67.2%) available were dropped under the canopy. From all canopy seeds, 17.4% were removed by 12 observed bird species, where 60% were eaten by legitimate seed dispersers and they dispersed an average distance of 6,6 m. Predator birds consumed 30% of seeds removed by birds, representing a cost to dispersion. However, even with these costs, birds can potentially produce 8.6% seedlings at the end of the process. In the soil, ants removed 46.6% of seeds and in general were quantitatively more important than birds. About ants, was registered 34 species and 181 seeds interactions, where 37,6% were removals at an average distance of 0,33 m. Of these, a half was accomplished by potentially granivorous ants that may impair the seedlings regeneration. Despite this, general results demonstrated that seedlings found close to ant nests have survived more than seedlings found further from said nests. Furthermore, the secondary dispersion incorporated practically twice as many seedlings into the final balance of seedlings produced by dispersers (15.9%). Alt- hough there may be great variation and costs related to interactions with birds and ants in the X. sericea dispersion process, both dispersion phases are quite advantageous for this trees species.Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superio

ATLANTIC BIRD TRAITS: a data set of bird morphological traits from the Atlantic forests of South America

Scientists have long been trying to understand why the Neotropical region holds the highest diversity of birds on Earth. Recently, there has been increased interest in morphological variation between and within species, and in how climate, topography, and anthropogenic pressures may explain and affect phenotypic variation. Because morphological data are not always available for many species at the local or regional scale, we are limited in our understanding of intra- and interspecies spatial morphological variation. Here, we present the ATLANTIC BIRD TRAITS, a data set that includes measurements of up to 44 morphological traits in 67,197 bird records from 2,790 populations distributed throughout the Atlantic forests of South America. This data set comprises information, compiled over two centuries (1820–2018), for 711 bird species, which represent 80% of all known bird diversity in the Atlantic Forest. Among the most commonly reported traits are sex (n = 65,717), age (n = 63,852), body mass (n = 58,768), flight molt presence (n = 44,941), molt presence (n = 44,847), body molt presence (n = 44,606), tail length (n = 43,005), reproductive stage (n = 42,588), bill length (n = 37,409), body length (n = 28,394), right wing length (n = 21,950), tarsus length (n = 20,342), and wing length (n = 18,071). The most frequently recorded species are Chiroxiphia caudata (n = 1,837), Turdus albicollis (n = 1,658), Trichothraupis melanops (n = 1,468), Turdus leucomelas (n = 1,436), and Basileuterus culicivorus (n = 1,384). The species recorded in the greatest number of sampling localities are Basileuterus culicivorus (n = 243), Trichothraupis melanops (n = 242), Chiroxiphia caudata (n = 210), Platyrinchus mystaceus (n = 208), and Turdus rufiventris (n = 191). ATLANTIC BIRD TRAITS (ABT) is the most comprehensive data set on measurements of bird morphological traits found in a biodiversity hotspot; it provides data for basic and applied research at multiple scales, from individual to community, and from the local to the macroecological perspectives. No copyright or proprietary restrictions are associated with the use of this data set. Please cite this data paper when the data are used in publications or teaching and educational activities. © 2019 The Authors. Ecology © 2019 The Ecological Society of Americ

ATLANTIC BIRD TRAITS

Scientists have long been trying to understand why the Neotropical region holds the highest diversity of birds on Earth. Recently, there has been increased interest in morphological variation between and within species, and in how climate, topography, and anthropogenic pressures may explain and affect phenotypic variation. Because morphological data are not always available for many species at the local or regional scale, we are limited in our understanding of intra- and interspecies spatial morphological variation. Here, we present the ATLANTIC BIRD TRAITS, a data set that includes measurements of up to 44 morphological traits in 67,197 bird records from 2,790 populations distributed throughout the Atlantic forests of South America. This data set comprises information, compiled over two centuries (1820–2018), for 711 bird species, which represent 80% of all known bird diversity in the Atlantic Forest. Among the most commonly reported traits are sex (n = 65,717), age (n = 63,852), body mass (n = 58,768), flight molt presence (n = 44,941), molt presence (n = 44,847), body molt presence (n = 44,606), tail length (n = 43,005), reproductive stage (n = 42,588), bill length (n = 37,409), body length (n = 28,394), right wing length (n = 21,950), tarsus length (n = 20,342), and wing length (n = 18,071). The most frequently recorded species are Chiroxiphia caudata (n = 1,837), Turdus albicollis (n = 1,658), Trichothraupis melanops (n = 1,468), Turdus leucomelas (n = 1,436), and Basileuterus culicivorus (n = 1,384). The species recorded in the greatest number of sampling localities are Basileuterus culicivorus (n = 243), Trichothraupis melanops (n = 242), Chiroxiphia caudata (n = 210), Platyrinchus mystaceus (n = 208), and Turdus rufiventris (n = 191). ATLANTIC BIRD TRAITS (ABT) is the most comprehensive data set on measurements of bird morphological traits found in a biodiversity hotspot; it provides data for basic and applied research at multiple scales, from individual to community, and from the local to the macroecological perspectives. No copyright or proprietary restrictions are associated with the use of this data set. Please cite this data paper when the data are used in publications or teaching and educational activities. © 2019 The Authors. Ecology © 2019 The Ecological Society of Americ