Caracterización de los ambientes asociados a poblaciones naturales de Pavonia cymbalaria (Malvaceae) en pastizales de Sierra de la Ventana (Buenos Aires)

El objetivo de este trabajo es contribuir al conocimiento de la biología de Pavonia cymbalaria,una especie nativa de las Sierras Australes Bonaerenses. Este conocimiento contribuirá a (1) promover su uso como especie ornamental, (2) su conservación y (3) estimular el interés y la valoración pública de la biodiversidad del sistema serrano. Se seleccionaron siete poblaciones de P. cymbalaria, dos de ellas creciendo bajo bosques de Pinus halepensis, para caracterizar distintos ambientes en donde se encuentra a la especie creciendo en forma silvestre. En cada población se estudiaron las características del ambiente inmediatamente asociado a seis ejemplares de la especie. Se midieron dieciséis parámetros ambientales, y dos índices estimativos de la cantidad y duración de los órganos florales desarrollados para este trabajo: el índice de intensidad floral y el índice de longitud del período floral. Mediante análisis de correlación pudo establecerse que las plantas ubicadas a la sombra y en el piso de los bosques presentaron en general una floración menos profusa y presentaron un follaje más deteriorado que las plantas que se encontraban a pleno sol, poniendo en evidencia el efecto negativo que ejerce, en este caso, la presencia de una especie exótica (Pinus halepensis) sobre la supervivencia y permanencia de ejemplares de P. cymbalaria.The objective of this work is to contribute to the biology of Pavonia cymbalaria A. St. Hil & Naudin (Malvaceae), a native species of the Southern mountains of Buenos Aires Province. This knowledge will contribute to (1) promote its use as an ornamental species, (2) its conservation and (3) stimulate the interest and public valuation of mountain systems biodiversity. Seven populations of P. cymbalaria were selected. Two of them were growing under Pinus halepensis forests to characterize different environments were the herbaceous species is growing in the wild. Environmental characteristics immediately associated to six individuals of the species were studied on each population. Sixteen environmental parameters and two indexes, which estimate the quantity and duration of floral organs, were measured. These indexes included those of floral intensity and length of the floral period. Correlation analyses allowed to know that plants located in the shade and forest floor flowered less intensively and presented a more deteriorated foliage than those growing in the sun. This makes evident the negative effects of P. halepensis on the survival and persistence of P. cymbalaria individuals.Fil: Torres, Y. A.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida; ArgentinaFil: Long, M. A.. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia; ArgentinaFil: Zalba, Sergio Martín. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia. Grupo de Estudios en Conservación y Manejo; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca; Argentin

Descripción de la cipsela y de la plántula de Grindelia ventanensis (Asteraceae), especie endémica con potencial ornamental

En este trabajo se describen la cipsela y, por primera vez, la plántula de Grindelia ventanensis, un subarbusto con potencial ornamental endémico de las Sierras Australes de la provincia de Buenos Aires. También se presenta la cronología de floración y producción de semillas y se evalúa la relación entre el tamaño de las cipselas y el desarrollo de las plantas jóvenes respecto de la procedencia, cultivada o silvestre, de los propágulos. Las poblaciones cultivadas florecieron y produjeron semillas antes que las silvestres. Las cipselas de poblaciones cultivadas resultaron más pequeñas y las plántulas originadas a partir de ellas mostraron una mayor mortalidad. Las plántulas originadas de cipselas de poblaciones silvestres desplegaron su primera hoja verdadera entre los 7 y 21 días y presentaron una supervivencia a los 35 días de más del 70%. El menor tamaño de las cipselas de plantas cultivadas podría estar relacionado con las condiciones de cultivo o con un efecto fundador. La mayor supervivencia de las plantas germinadas de cipselas mayores resulta un dato de importancia al momento de seleccionar un stock de cultivo.En este trabajo se describen la cipsela y, por primera vez, la plántula de Grindelia ventanensis, un subarbusto con potencial ornamental endémico de las Sierras Australes de la provincia de Buenos Aires. También se presenta la cronología de floración y producción de semillas y se evalúa la relación entre el tamaño de las cipselas y el desarrollo de las plantas jóvenes respecto de la procedencia, cultivada o silvestre, de los propágulos. Las poblaciones cultivadas florecieron y produjeron semillas antes que las silvestres. Las cipselas de poblaciones cultivadas resultaron más pequeñas y las plántulas originadas a partir de ellas mostraron una mayor mortalidad. Las plántulas originadas de cipselas de poblaciones silvestres desplegaron su primera hoja verdadera entre los 7 y 21 días y presentaron una supervivencia a los 35 días de más del 70%. El menor tamaño de las cipselas de plantas cultivadas podría estar relacionado con las condiciones de cultivo o con un efecto fundador. La mayor supervivencia de las plantas germinadas de cipselas mayores resulta un dato de importancia al momento de seleccionar un stock de cultivo

Invasions across secondary forest successional stages: effects of local plant community, soil, litter, and herbivory on Hovenia dulcis seed germination and seedling establishment

Species abilities for seed germination and seedling survival under different situations are good predictors of their capacity to colonize a broad range of habitats. Biotic conditions related to understory cover, and abiotic factors such as litter thickness and soil moisture can be determinants of plant establishment. We evaluated seed germination, seedling survival, and growth of the invasive tree Hovenia dulcis under experimental field conditions in three successional stages (open, semi-open, and closed vegetation) of a fragmented seasonal deciduous forest in southern Brazil. Our hypotheses were that H. dulcis seed germination, seedling survival, and seedling growth decrease along the successional gradient, that these factors are positively affected by soil moisture and percentage of bare soil, and negatively affected by understory cover and litter thickness. We also tested the hypothesis that herbivory on H. dulcis would decrease along the successional gradient. Our main finding was that H. dulcis can germinate and establish along all forest successional stages because it is shadetolerant. Abiotic factors were more important than biotic factors for seed germination. Soil moisture positively affected seed germination while litter thickness negatively influenced seed germination. Percentage of bare soil negatively influenced seedling survival. Germination rates were higher in closed vegetation, whereas seedling survival was higher in semi-open vegetation, and growth rates were higher in open vegetation. There was no difference in herbivory among successional stages. The results of our study show that intermediate forest succession stages congregate the most favorable conditions for H. dulcis establishment, likely making them more susceptible to invasion.Fil: Dechoum, Michele. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; BrasilFil: Zenni, Rafael D.. Universidade do Brasília; BrasilFil: Castellani, Tania. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; BrasilFil: Zalba, Sergio Martín. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Rejmánek, M.. University of California at Davis; Estados Unido

Nesting of the Pampas Meadowlark (Sturnella defilippii) in Buenos Aires province, Argentina

El pastizal pampeano es posiblemente el ecosistema más degradado de Argentina, debido principalmente al avance de las actividades agrícolas y ganaderas. Esto produce un impacto negativo sobre las aves de pastizal, entre las que se encuentra la Loica Pampeana (Sturnella defilippii), una especie considerada Vulnerable. En este trabajo reportamos datos sobre un grupo reproductivo de Loica Pampeana en proximidades de Bahía Blanca, provincia de Buenos Aires. Durante la primavera y el verano de 2003 seguimos 16 nidos de esta especie en un potrero con baja intensidad ganadera. Registramos el nacimiento y el abandono del nido por parte de los pichones y los eventos de depredación, así como el comportamiento de los adultos. El 18 de noviembre encontramos el primer nido y los hallazgos se sucedieron hasta el 6 de diciembre. Los nidos estaban dispuestos siguiendo un patrón agrupado, y tenían forma de taza con un diámetro mayor de 9.5 cm, un diámetro menor de 8.9 cm y una profundidad de 5.2 cm. Estaban construidos principalmente con gramíneas y ubicados directamente en el suelo, recostados sobre matas de Stipa spp. y Piptochaetium spp. El tamaño promedio de la puesta fue de 3.14 huevos por nido. El 50% de los nidos detectados fueron depredados. Nuestros resultados refuerzan la opinión de otros autores acerca de la importancia de los pastizales naturales para la reproducción de esta especie.Pampas grasslands are possibly the most severely degraded ecosystem in Argentina, mainly due to the advance of animal and crop farming. These activities have a negative impact on grassland birds, including the Pampas Meadowlark (Sturnella defilippii), a species considered Vulnerable. In this paper we present data from a reproductive group of Pampas Meadowlark in the vicinity of Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires Province. During the spring and summer of 2003 we found 16 nests in a field with a low stocking rate. We recorded hatching and nest abandonment by nestlings, as well as predation and adult behaviour. We found the first nest on 18 November, and the others up until 6 December. Nests were arranged in a clustered pattern; they were cup shaped with an external diameter of 9.5 cm, an internal diameter of 8.9 cm and a depth of 5.2 cm. They were mainly constructed with grasses, and placed on the ground amongst tussocks of Stipa spp. and Piptochaetium spp. The mean clutch size was 3.14 eggs per nest. Half of the detected nests were predated. Our results reinforce the opinion of other authors concerning the importance of natural grasslands for the reproduction of this species

Trojan hosts: the menace of invasive vertebrates as vectors of pathogens in the Southern Cone of South America

Invasive alien species (IAS) can act as vectors for the introduction of pathogens in ecosystems and their transmission to threatened native species (TNS), leading to biodiversity loss, population reductions and extinctions. We assessed pathogens potentially occurring in a set of IAS in the Southern Cone of South America and identified TNS potentially vulnerable to their effects. Also, we assessed how risk analysis systems proposed or adopted by national authorities in the study region value the importance of pathogens. We identified 324 pathogens in the selected IAS, which could potentially affect 202 TNS. Wild boar (Sus scrofa) was the IAS with the largest number of pathogens (91), followed by domestic dog (Canis familiaris) (62), red deer (Cervus elaphus) (58), rock dove (Columba livia) (37), American vison (Neovison vison) (18), European hare (Lepus europaeus) (17), common starling (Sturnus vulgaris) (12), common slider (Trachemys scripta) (6), and American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) (2). Most TNS were in the “vulnerable” IUCN category, followed by “endangered” and “critically endangered” species. Bacteria were the most frequently represented pathogens (112), followed by ectoparasites (78), viruses (69), protozoa and other (65). The direct effects of IAS on native wildlife are beginning to be addressed in South America, and their potential impact as pathogen spreaders to native wildlife has remained largely unexplored. Risk analysis systems associated with the introduction of IAS are scarce in this region. Although the existing systems contemplate hazard analyses for the co-introduction of pathogens, they underestimate the potential impact of diseases on TNS. Conservation efforts in the region would benefit from systems which give pathogen risk a relevant place, and from government agencies promoting targeted disease surveillance in IAS and wildlife.Fil: la Sala, Luciano Francisco. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas y Biomédicas del Sur. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia. Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas y Biomédicas del Sur; ArgentinaFil: Burgos, Julian M.. Marine And Freshwater Research Institute; IslandiaFil: Scorolli, Alberto Luis. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia. Grupo de Estudios en Conservación y Manejo; ArgentinaFil: VanderWaal, Kimberly. University of Minnesota; Estados UnidosFil: Zalba, Sergio Martín. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia. Grupo de Estudios en Conservación y Manejo; Argentin

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

First record of a Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) nesting in Buenos Aires province

Wereporta nest of Black Vultures,the first for Buenos Aires Province.It was found on the ground in a coastal sand dune,covered by the endemic bush Neosparton darwinii