Epiphyte plants use by birds in Brazil

This study firstly reviewed the interspecific interaction records between birds and epiphyte plants in Brazil. Forty two documents, including articles, scientific notes, books and thesis, and 35 personal records and from collaborators were argued, totaling 112 species of birds that interacted with 97 species of epiphyte plants. Two articles treated the theme specifically and another 40 treated related subjects, such as: pollination of epiphytes, ecology and feeding behavior of birds. Studies were concentrated mainly in Atlantic Forest, in the southeastern Brazilian region. The epiphyte species more visited by birds was Aechmea nudicaulis (Bromeliaceae). The main visitor of epiphytes was Ramphodon naevius (Trochilidae). According to the number of authors' citations an index of generality in bird-epiphyte interactions was created. As result the index inferred that the ovenbird Cichlocolaptes leucophrus and the bromeliad Nidularium procerum are less generalist and more specialist species in bird-epiphyte interactions. The totality of the papers showed a considerable number of bird species that use the epiphytes plants and its resources, including nectar, fruits, invertebrates, nest material, nesting place, water and bath. Considering the importance of epiphytes to supply a variety of resources for birds, these results highlighted the necessity of additional and specific studies about the theme in various Brazilian regions and biomes.

Taxonomic diversity, niche width and similarity in the use of plant resources by bees (Hymenoptera: Anthophila) in a cerrado area

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Grass-dominated stream sites exhibit low fish species diversity and dominance by guppies: an assessment of two tropical pasture river basins

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Predaceous ant fauna in new sugarcane fields in the state of São Paulo, Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Contribution of forest species to the floristic composition of a forested savanna in southeastern Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Seasonal diet shifts of seven fish species in an Atlantic rainforest stream in Southeastern Brazil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Palm harvesting affects seed predation of Euterpe edulis, a threatened palm of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Padrões ecológicos da comunidade de ácaros em euforbiáceas de um fragmento de mata estacional semidecidual, no Estado de São Paulo

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Bioacústica e sítio de vocalização em taxocenoses de anuros de área aberta no noroeste paulista

O sítio de vocalização e os parâmetros acústicos do canto de anúncio foram determinados para 18 espécies de anuros em seis corpos d'água na região noroeste paulista. A freqüência dominante do canto de anúncio foi positivamente correlacionada com o CRC das espécies: as espécies pequenas vocalizaram em uma freqüência mais alta e as maiores vocalizaram em uma freqüência mais baixa. A similaridade nos parâmetros espectrais e temporais do canto de anúncio foi alta entre 94% das espécies registradas. A similaridade no uso do sítio de vocalização foi baixa, apenas 22% das espécies apresentaram alta sobreposição, apesar de cerca de metade das espécies terem sido generalistas no uso de sítio de vocalização. Analisando conjuntamente a similaridade no uso de sítio de vocalização, no hábitat e nos parâmetros do canto de anúncio, a proporção de espécies com alta sobreposição diminui de 94% para 11%, correspondente à sobreposição entre um único par de espécies: Dendropsophus elianeae e D. minutus. Espécies com sobreposição no sítio de vocalização apresentaram segregação nos parâmetros acústicos e, espécies com sobreposição nos parâmetros acústicos tenderam a partilhar sítio de vocalização. Esse resultado sugere a ocorrência de complementaridade de nicho, pois as espécies que ocuparam uma posição similar em uma dimensão tenderam a diferir em outra dimensão. A homogeneidade estrutural dos corpos d'água, a severidade climática da região e o elevado grau de conversão do ambiente natural em áreas de cultivo limitam a abundância das populações e a riqueza de espécies. A baixa sobreposição no sítio de vocalização está, provavelmente, associada a insaturação das comunidades amostradas.

Anuran captured in pitfall traps in three agrossystem in Northwestern São Paulo State, Brazil

Embora seja geralmente assumido que a agricultura influencia negativamente populações de anfíbios, existem poucos estudos sobre os efeitos dos cultivos agrícolas em anuros neotropicais. Visando contribuir para diminuir essa lacuna de conhecimento, no presente estudo buscamos verificar quais espécies de anuros estão presentes nos agrossistemas. Para isso, usamos dados de anuros capturados em armadilhas de queda, inicialmente proposto para o levantamento da fauna de opiliões em três agrossistemas (milho, soja e seringal). Nós registramos quatro espécies de anuros nas armadilhas de queda: Leptodactulus fuscus, L. mystacinus (Leptodactylidae), Eupemphix nattereri e Physalaemus cuvieri (Leiuperidae). Na plantação de milho foram registradas quatro espécies e 30 indivíduos, no seringal quatro espécies e 11 indivíduos e na plantação de soja três espécies e oito indivíduos. Nossos resultados mostram que os anuros estão presentes nos agrossistemas, principalmente espécies de anuros generalistas.

Sobrevivência e crescimento inicial de Ocotea pulchella (Lauraceae) em uma floresta de restinga da Ilha do Cardoso, SP

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Effects of microhabitat on palm seed predation in two forest fragments in southeast Brazil

The establishment of plants depends crucially on where seeds are deposited in the environment. Some authors suggest that in forest understory seed predation is lower than in gaps, and higher than at the forest edge. However, most studies have been carried out in large forest patches and very little is known about the effects of microhabitat conditions on seed predation in forest fragments. We evaluated the effects of three microhabitats (gaps, forest edge, and understory) on seed predation of two palm species (Euterpe edulis and Syagrus romanzoffiana) in two semi-deciduous forest fragments (230 and 2100 hat in southeast Brazil. Our objective was to test two hypotheses: (1) Low rodent abundance in small fragments as a result of meso-predator action levels leads to lower seed predation in small fragments. (2) Most mammal species in small fragments are generalists with respect to diet and habitat, so that seed predation is similar in different microhabitats (gaps, forest edge and understory) in the small fragment, but not in the larger one. The study community of small fragments is usually composed of generalist species (in diet and habitat aspects), so we expected the same rate of seed predation among microhabitats (gaps, forest edge and understory) in the tested smaller fragment. The experiment was carried out in the dry season (for E. edulis) and in the wet season (for S. romanzoffiana) in 1999. We conclude that post-dispersal seed predation in forest fragments can be directly connected with mammal communities, reflecting their historical and ecological aspects. (C) 2004 Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of the performance of pharmacists in terms of providing health assistance at a university hospital

OBJETIVE: This study aimed to assess the practices of pharmacists in Hospital Care. Method - we interviewed 20 pharmacists from the Pharmacy Division by applying a structured instrument, in September 2005. This instrument addressed aspects related to the main activities at the Hospital Pharmacy, which were assessed according to indicators organized into five areas: sector management, hospital pharmacotechniques, committee activities, information and pharmacotherapeutic follow-up, as well as teaching and research activities.RESULTS: the Pharmacy Division considered all structural aspects under analysis as essential for the good development and application of its services. We found that some essential services, such as the Medication Information Service and Pharmacotherapeutic Follow-up, were absent. Pharmacist professionals were dissatisfied about human resource and physical structure dimensioning, and they presented as not very active in terms of Pharmaceutical Care.CONCLUSION: Results indicate that care is still centered on the drug, with few clinical activities. We suggest reformulations in service management, particularly in the management of pharmacists.

Reproductive phenology of climbers in a Southeastern Brazilian forest

The reproductive phenology of the entire climber community (96 species of lianas and 40 species of vines) in a semideciduous forest in Southeastern Brazil (22 degrees 49'45''S; 47 degrees 06'33''W and 670 m altitude) was observed from March 1988 to February 1991. Phenological observations were made weekly by walking along a 10.5 km trail in the interior and at the forest edges of the Santa Genebra Reserve (SGR). The most species-rich families of climbers were Bignoniaceae (22), Malpighiaceae (17), Sapindaceae (12) and Asteraceae (12). Flowering patterns for woody lianas and herbaceous vines differed. Lianas had two flowering peaks: a minor peak in March in the transition from wet to dry season, and a major peak in October during the transition from dry to wet season. The flowering peak for herbaceous vines was in April. Fruiting of lianas was highly seasonal, with one peak in the late dry season (July-August). Fruiting for vines was less seasonal with a slight peak in March. These differences were consistent with the predominance of wind-dispersed fruits among lianas (72% of species) versus vines (52%). Low rainfall, high leaf fall, and strong winds during the dry season favor wind dispersal. More species of vines (40%) have animal-dispersed seeds than lianas (19%), and most vines fruited during the wet season. Phenological patterns of climbers and trees and treelets at SGR differed. The life form of lianas and their system of reserve economy may allow them to reproduce during periods unfavorable to trees. Displacement of peak flowering periods of trees and climbers pollinated by bees and small generalist insects may decrease competition for pollen vectors among species of these two groups of plants. Whereas the fruiting patterns of wind-dispersed trees and climbers at SGR were similar (most species fruiting during the dry season), animal-dispersed trees and treelets fruited throughout the year while animal-dispersed climbers exhibited a pronounced peak in late wet season. The distinct phenological patterns of climbers, generally complementary to those presented by trees, resulted in constant availability of Bowers and fruits throughout the year and enhances the importance of this plant group in Neotropical forests.

Assessment of pharmacotherapeutic safety of medical prescriptions for elderly residents in a long-term care facility

The present study aimed to estimate the prevalence of elderly using potentially inappropriate medications (PIM) and with occurrence of potentially hazardous drug interactions (PHDI), to identify the risk factors for the prescription of PIM and to evaluate the impact of pharmaceutical intervention (PI) for the prescription of safer therapeutic alternatives. Therefore, a cross-sectional study was performed in a long-term care facility in São Paulo State, between December/2010 and January/2011. The medical records of the patients >= 60 years old who took any drugs were consulted to assess the pharmacotherapeutic safety of the medical prescriptions, in order to identify PIM and PHDI, according to the Beers (2003) and World Health Organization criteria, respectively. PI consisted of a guidance letter to the physician responsible for the institution, with the suggestions of safer equivalent therapeutics. Approximately 88% of the elderly took at least one drug, and for 30% of them the PIM had been prescribed. Most of the PIM identified (53.4%) act on the central nervous system. Among the 13 different DI detected, 6 are considered PHDI. Polypharmacy was detected as a risk factor for PIM prescription. After the PI there was no change in medical prescriptions of patients who had been prescribed PIM or PHDI. The data suggests that PI performed by letter, as the only interventional, method was ineffective. To contribute it a wide dissemination of PIM and PHDI among prescriber professionals is necessary for the selection of safer treatment for elderly. Additionally, a pharmacist should be part of the health care team in order to help promote rational use of medicines.