Frugivory and seed dispersal by birds in Cereus jamacaru DC. ssp. jamacaru (Cactaceae) in the Caatinga of Northeastern Brazil

Studies of the dispersal modes of plants aid our understanding of the dynamics of resource and its availability for dispersal agents. The present work sought to characterize the fruiting patterns of the native Caatinga (dryland) cactus Cereus jamacaru, identify its principal dispersers, and evaluate the effects of seed passage through digestive tract of dispersers on its germination. Cereus jamacaru present an annual fruiting pattern and fruiting peaks occurred during June/2009 and February/2010. A total of 135 visits by nine species of resident Caatinga bird species were recorded. The most frequent visiting bird species were Paroaria dominicana and Euphonia chlorotica. Length of bird visits varied from 15 seconds to 4 minutes and seeds removed by birds travelled 10.6 ± 11.2 m until dispersers make the first landing perch, in some cases more than 40 meters away. Germination tests show birds had a high quantity of viable seeds of C. jamacaru in its feces. Seeds that passed through the digestive tract of birds showed a similar germinability of the seeds of the control group. However, the seeds dispersed by birds showed lowest mean germination time related to the control group seeds. This study highlights the potential role of birds as seed dispersers of C. jamacaru, swallowing the whole seeds and defecating intact seeds, accelerating the germination process and transporting seeds away from the mother plant

Prevalence of Anemia in Children Three to 12 Months Old in a Health Service in Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil La prevalencia de anemia en niños de 3 a 12 meses de vida en un servicio de salud de Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil Prevalência de anemia em crianças de 3 a 12 meses de vida em um serviço de saúde de Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil

Iron deficiency anemia is the most common nutritional deficiency among children. This cross-sectional, descriptive and quantitative study is part of a multicenter project, which verified the prevalence of anemia in children aged three to 12 months, treated by a health service unit in Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil. Interviews with mothers and determining hemoglobin dosage were carried out with 121 children who participated in the study. Two international criteria were adopted as parameters of anemia according to the children's age. Descriptive statistics, measures of central tendency and associations were used for data analysis. The prevalence of anemia among 69 children aged three to 5 months was 20.2% and 48.0% among 52 children aged six to 12 months. The total prevalence of anemia was 32.2%. There was significant association between anemia and children's age, and anemia and the consumption of liquid cow's milk.<br>Entre las carencias nutricionales de niños, la anemia ferropénica es la más frecuente. Estudio transversal, descriptivo, cuantitativo es un extracto de un proyecto multicéntrico que verificó la prevalencia de anemia en niños de 3 a 12 meses de edad, en un servicio de salud de Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil. Fueron realizadas entrevistas y dosificación de hemoglobina en los 121 niños. Dos criterios internacionales fueron adoptados como parámetro de anemia, de acuerdo con la edad del niño. Estadística descriptiva, medidas de tendencia central y testes de asociación fueron usados para el análisis de datos. La prevalencia de anemia en los 69 niños de 3 a 5 meses fue del 20,2%, y en los 52 niños de 6 a 12 meses fue del 48,0%. En total, la prevalencia de anemia fue del 32,2%. Encontró asociación significativa entre anemia y edad del niño y anemia y el consumo de leche de vaca liquido.<br>Das carências nutricionais entre crianças, a anemia ferropriva constitui-se no evento mais frequente. Este é um estudo transversal, descritivo, quantitativo, recorte de um projeto multicêntrico, que verificou a prevalência de anemia em crianças de 3 a 12 meses, em um serviço de saúde em Ribeirão Preto, SP. Foram realizadas entrevistas e dosagem de hemoglobina de 121 crianças que participaram do estudo. Adotaram-se dois critérios internacionais como parâmetros de anemia, de acordo com a idade da criança. Para a análise dos dados foram utilizadas estatística descritiva, medidas de tendência central e associações. A prevalência de anemia nas 69 crianças de 3 a 5 meses foi de 20,2% e naquelas 52, de 6 a 12 meses, foi de 48%. A prevalência total de anemia foi de 32,2%. Encontrou-se associação significativa entre anemia e idade da criança e anemia e uso de leite de vaca fluido