Diet and niche breadth and overlap in fish communities within the area affected by an Amazonian reservoir (Amapá, Brazil)

We investigated the niche breadth and overlap of the fish species occurring in four environments affected by the Coaracy Nunes reservoir, in the Amapá Brazilian State. Seasonal samples of fishes were taken using a standard configuration of gillnets, as well as dragnets, lines, and cast­nets. Five hundred and forty stomach contents, representing 47 fish species were analyzed and quantified. Niche breadth and overlap were estimated using indexes of Levins and Pianka, respectively, while interspecific competition was evaluated using a null model (RA3). ANOVA and the Kruskal­Wallis test were used, respectively, to evaluate differences in niche breadth and overlap between areas. The data indicate that the majority of the fish species belong to the piscivore, omnivore, and detritivore guilds. These species have likely colonized the environments due to the availability of suitable feeding resources, and the favorable physical conditions created by the river damming. Overall, few species have ample niches, but most of them are highly specialized. Resources seasonal variation had little effect on the feeding behavior of most species in the study areas. The null models indicated that competition was not a factor determining on community structure

Biologia reprodutiva de Micropogonias furnieri (Desmarest, 1823) (Teleostei, Sciaenidae): 2. Relação gonadossomática, comprimento e peso dos ovários como indicadores do período de desova

Gonadosomatio index (RGS) , mean ovaries length and weight variations has been analysed in order to verify if they may be used as quantitative indicators of spawning period and gonadal development in Micropogonias funieri, population I (23º-29ºS). The analysis of the relationships between gonadosomatio index and total weight single valuesy for females in the same maturity stage, didn't show dependence, being a constant value for each stage, which makes it useful as an a indicator of gonadal development. The three indices showed cyclic Variations with modal values corresponding to the three spawning periods (autumn, winter and spring-summer).Analisaram-se as variações da relaçao gonadossomática (RGS), do comprimento e do peso médios dos ovários por estádio de maturidade e durante um ano, procurando-se estabelecer indicadores quantitativos do grau de desenvolvimento gonadal e dos períodos de desova da população I de Micropogonias funieri. Constatou-se que, para fêmeas num mesmo estádio de maturidade, nao ocorre dependência entre valores individuais de RGS e peso total, sendo a RGS constante para cada estádio, o que permite sua utilização como indicador do grau de desenvolvimento gonadal. Ocorreram variações cíclicas paralelas nos valores dos três indicadores, cujos valores modais coincidem com os períodos de desova (outono, inverno e primavera-verão), o que nos permite utiliza-los como indicadores desses períodos

Variación de ictioplanton en dos arroyos de ambientes de mangle del estuario de curuçá, pará, Brazil

Fish larvae diversity and abundance were compared between two mangrove creeks (C1 and C2) of the Curuçá Estuary, state of Pará, Brazil, from November 2003 to September 2004. Both habitats exhibited similar taxa composition, with 14 families and 32 identified species. The engraulids were the most abundant, representing 60% and 79% of the individuals in C1 and C2, respectively, while the carangids exhibited the highest diversity, with seven species. Monthly larval abundance in C1 followed the same variation pattern as salinity, with significantly more individuals at the beginning of the rainy season (November to January) and a minimum at the end of the rainy period (MAY). Larvae in C1 were predominant at night and during flood tides. Ichthyoplankton abundance was lower in C2 than C1, but remained constant over time, except for the month of July, when larvae were statistically more abundant. Larvae were more numerous in the daytime and during ebb tides. Differences in the nychthemeral and monthly abundances between the two creeks were related to the ontogenic stages of the larvae, with a predominance of pre-flexion/flexion stages in C1 and the post-flexion stage in [email protected] comparó la diversidad y la abundancia de larvas de peces de dos quebradas de manglares (C1 y C2) del Estuario Curuçá, estado de Pará, Brasil, desde noviembre de 2003 hasta septiembre de 2004. Los dos hábitat presentaron una composición similar de taxa con 14 familias y 32 especies identificadas. Los engraúlidos fueron los más abundantes representando 60% y 79% de los individuos en C1 y C2 respectivamente; en tanto que los carángidos presentaron la mayor biodiversidad con siete especies. La abundancia mensual de las larvas en C1 siguió el mismo patrón de variación de la salinidad, con un número significativamente mayor de individuos al inicio de la estación de lluvias (noviembre a enero) y el mínimo al final del mismo periodo (mayo). Las larvas en C1 predominaron durante la noche y en los periodos de inundación. La abundancia de ictioplanton fue menor en C1 que en C2 aunque permaneció constante en el tiempo, excepto en el mes de julio cuando las larvas fueron estadísticamente más abundantes. Las larvas fueron más numerosas durante el día y en la marea baja. Las diferencias en las abundancias nictimeral y mensual entre las dos quebradas se asociaron con los estados ontogénicos de las larvas, con una predominancia de los estados de pre-flexion/flexion en C1 y el estado de post-flexion en C2

Neotropical freshwater fisheries : A dataset of occurrence and abundance of freshwater fishes in the Neotropics

The Neotropical region hosts 4225 freshwater fish species, ranking first among the world's most diverse regions for freshwater fishes. Our NEOTROPICAL FRESHWATER FISHES data set is the first to produce a large-scale Neotropical freshwater fish inventory, covering the entire Neotropical region from Mexico and the Caribbean in the north to the southern limits in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. We compiled 185,787 distribution records, with unique georeferenced coordinates, for the 4225 species, represented by occurrence and abundance data. The number of species for the most numerous orders are as follows: Characiformes (1289), Siluriformes (1384), Cichliformes (354), Cyprinodontiformes (245), and Gymnotiformes (135). The most recorded species was the characid Astyanax fasciatus (4696 records). We registered 116,802 distribution records for native species, compared to 1802 distribution records for nonnative species. The main aim of the NEOTROPICAL FRESHWATER FISHES data set was to make these occurrence and abundance data accessible for international researchers to develop ecological and macroecological studies, from local to regional scales, with focal fish species, families, or orders. We anticipate that the NEOTROPICAL FRESHWATER FISHES data set will be valuable for studies on a wide range of ecological processes, such as trophic cascades, fishery pressure, the effects of habitat loss and fragmentation, and the impacts of species invasion and climate change. There are no copyright restrictions on the data, and please cite this data paper when using the data in publications

Prospective observational cohort study on grading the severity of postoperative complications in global surgery research

Background The Clavien–Dindo classification is perhaps the most widely used approach for reporting postoperative complications in clinical trials. This system classifies complication severity by the treatment provided. However, it is unclear whether the Clavien–Dindo system can be used internationally in studies across differing healthcare systems in high- (HICs) and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Methods This was a secondary analysis of the International Surgical Outcomes Study (ISOS), a prospective observational cohort study of elective surgery in adults. Data collection occurred over a 7-day period. Severity of complications was graded using Clavien–Dindo and the simpler ISOS grading (mild, moderate or severe, based on guided investigator judgement). Severity grading was compared using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Data are presented as frequencies and ICC values (with 95 per cent c.i.). The analysis was stratified by income status of the country, comparing HICs with LMICs. Results A total of 44 814 patients were recruited from 474 hospitals in 27 countries (19 HICs and 8 LMICs). Some 7508 patients (16·8 per cent) experienced at least one postoperative complication, equivalent to 11 664 complications in total. Using the ISOS classification, 5504 of 11 664 complications (47·2 per cent) were graded as mild, 4244 (36·4 per cent) as moderate and 1916 (16·4 per cent) as severe. Using Clavien–Dindo, 6781 of 11 664 complications (58·1 per cent) were graded as I or II, 1740 (14·9 per cent) as III, 2408 (20·6 per cent) as IV and 735 (6·3 per cent) as V. Agreement between classification systems was poor overall (ICC 0·41, 95 per cent c.i. 0·20 to 0·55), and in LMICs (ICC 0·23, 0·05 to 0·38) and HICs (ICC 0·46, 0·25 to 0·59). Conclusion Caution is recommended when using a treatment approach to grade complications in global surgery studies, as this may introduce bias unintentionally

The surgical safety checklist and patient outcomes after surgery: a prospective observational cohort study, systematic review and meta-analysis

© 2017 British Journal of Anaesthesia Background: The surgical safety checklist is widely used to improve the quality of perioperative care. However, clinicians continue to debate the clinical effectiveness of this tool. Methods: Prospective analysis of data from the International Surgical Outcomes Study (ISOS), an international observational study of elective in-patient surgery, accompanied by a systematic review and meta-analysis of published literature. The exposure was surgical safety checklist use. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality and the secondary outcome was postoperative complications. In the ISOS cohort, a multivariable multi-level generalized linear model was used to test associations. To further contextualise these findings, we included the results from the ISOS cohort in a meta-analysis. Results are reported as odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals. Results: We included 44 814 patients from 497 hospitals in 27 countries in the ISOS analysis. There were 40 245 (89.8%) patients exposed to the checklist, whilst 7508 (16.8%) sustained ≥1 postoperative complications and 207 (0.5%) died before hospital discharge. Checklist exposure was associated with reduced mortality [odds ratio (OR) 0.49 (0.32–0.77); P\u3c0.01], but no difference in complication rates [OR 1.02 (0.88–1.19); P=0.75]. In a systematic review, we screened 3732 records and identified 11 eligible studies of 453 292 patients including the ISOS cohort. Checklist exposure was associated with both reduced postoperative mortality [OR 0.75 (0.62–0.92); P\u3c0.01; I2=87%] and reduced complication rates [OR 0.73 (0.61–0.88); P\u3c0.01; I2=89%). Conclusions: Patients exposed to a surgical safety checklist experience better postoperative outcomes, but this could simply reflect wider quality of care in hospitals where checklist use is routine

Critical care admission following elective surgery was not associated with survival benefit: prospective analysis of data from 27 countries

This was an investigator initiated study funded by Nestle Health Sciences through an unrestricted research grant, and by a National Institute for Health Research (UK) Professorship held by RP. The study was sponsored by Queen Mary University of London