Evaluation of abundance indexes in open population studies: a comparison in populations of small mammals in southern Brazil / Avaliação de índices de abundância em estudos de populações abertas: uma comparação em populações de pequenos mamíferos do sul do Brasil

Many manuscripts comparing populations and/or analysing the structure of animal communities use indexes of captures as synonymous of abundance. However, the basic methods more suitable to this assumption - probabilistic estimates based on equal capture probability - have not been considered. In this study, the deviations caused by different types of capture indexes are compared with a common probabilistic population estimator (Cormack-Jolly-Seber). The analyses showed that Minimum Number Known Alive (MNKA) and the number of individuals showed greater association with the population estimator than with non-probabilistic indexes based on recaptures. Therefore, none of the indexes presented the same performance to estimate population size estimation which can lead to ecological misinterpretation. Some recommendations were also described.

Muitos estudos comparam populações e/ou analisam a estrutura de comunidades animais usando índices de captura como se fossem sinônimos de abundância. No entanto, os métodos mais adequados considerando o pressuposto - estimativas probabilísticas baseadas na igualdade da probabilidade de capturas - não têm sido considerados. Neste estudo, os desvios causados por diferentes tipos de índices de captura são comparados com um dos mais comuns estimadores populacionais probabilísticos (Cormack-Jolly-Seber). As análises mostraram que o número mínimo de animais conhecidos vivos (MNKA) e o número de indivíduos apresentaram maior associação com o estimador populacional do que com os índices não probabilísticos baseados em recapturas. Entretanto, nenhum dos índices apresentou o mesmo desempenho do estimador populacional o que pode levar a interpretações equivocadas. Algumas recomendações foram também descritas.

Comparative evaluation of human papilloma virus-DNA test verses colposcopy as secondary cervical cancer screening test to triage screen positive women on primary screening by visual inspection with 5% Acetic acid.

INTRODUCTION: Visual inspection with 5% Acetic acid (VIA) as a low cost screening method has good sensitivity with the limitation of low specificity and low positive predictive values. The present study therefore evaluates the performance of secondary testing by human papillomavirus (HPV) test and Colposcopy in a single‑visit screening approach to increase program effectiveness in limited health‑care resources settings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a cross‑sectional cervical cancer screening trial, 3629 women (30‑65 years) were screened by primary screening test VIA. VIA test positive women were subsequently tested for the presence of oncogenic HPV types by hybrid capture II and with colposcopy. The reference investigation histopathology was performed for all primary screen positive women. RESULTS: Data for 3613 evaluable women showed 352 (9.7%) women positive on primary screening by VIA. VIA had a sensitivity of 93% (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.76‑0.99) and specificity of 91% (95% CI: 0.90‑0.92) respectively to detect the cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2+ . HPV DNA and colposcopy as secondary tests to triage VIA positive women had a sensitivity of 61% (95% CI: 0.41‑0.78), 43% (95% CI: 0.24‑0.63) and specificity of 99% (95% CI: 0.99‑1.00), 99% (95% CI: 0.99‑0.99) respectively for detecting CIN2+ lesions. CONCLUSION: Two step screening model combining highly sensitive low cost test like VIA for primary screening followed by more specific HPV DNA test as triage test for primary screen positive can be a cost‑effective cervical screening strategy in resource constrained settings.

Survey of the nocuité of the contraptions and techniques of artisanal fishing on the populations of navy turtles of the bay of Loango (Congo).

Chelonia marine turtle species preservation is one of the international community challenges through the world. In Congo-Brazzaville, the Renatura organization (ONG) is engage to the biodiversity marine turtle species protection. Among the five of seven marine turtle species encountered in the coast, Turtle lute (Dermochelys coriacea); Green turtle (Chelonia mydas); Olive turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea); Turtle caouanne (Caretta caretta) and Turtle overlapped (Eretmochelys imbricata). All these species of navy turtles well that protected by different international conventions, undergo several threats among which the nets and contraptions of traditional fishing constitute one of the main reasons of their decline. Indeed the accidental captures in the nets of the traditional fishers represent a serious threat for the navy turtles. This problem is delicate to manage because these holds don't depend directly on the will of the fishers. Indeed the turtles take themselves inauspiciously in the nets and entangle themselves of it while trying to clear itself/themselves of the net. To remedy this situation, Renatura Congo has, in 2005, initiated a program of liberation of the accidental captures of navy turtles in the nets of traditional fishing. About 1500 liberations are done annually by the agents of Renatura Congo. The liberation of these turtles doesn't constitute a long-term solution. Also, before the size of their accidental captures, it appeared to us necessary to bring our contribution in the survey of the nocuité of the contraptions and techniques of traditional fishing used to the bay of Loango in order to meter in evidence those that are more harmful. Such an objective reaches once, will allow us to improve these contraptions and techniques in order to reduce the risks of accidental captures while maintaining the level of the holds of fish and other aquatic organisms.

Bat diversity of Ilha da Marambaia, Southern Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil (Chiroptera, Mammalia) / Diversidade de morcegos da Ilha da Marambaia, Sul do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil (Chiroptera, Mammalia)

Few sites have been well sampled for bats, and samplings in islands are even scarcer. Therefore, the objectives of the present study were: (1) to list the bat species of Ilha da Marambaia; (2) to compare richness, abundance and biomass of bat guilds found there; (3) to analyse abundance patterns of bat species; and (4) to compare richness, abundance and composition of the bat fauna among different kinds of environment. To capture bats we used mist nets set in five different environments, totalising 3559.2 net-hours, during 37 nights between October 2006 and August 2008. A total of 1,133 captures were accomplished, comprising 34 species from five families. The most abundant species was Molossus molossus. Frugivorous bats exhibited higher richness, abundance and biomass if compared to other guilds. Most species (N = 22) exhibited abundances between 1 to 10 percent of all captures. Sixteen species were restricted to just one of the environments sampled. The high richness may be attributed to sampling carried out in several environments, and to the capture of insectivorous species over water bodies.

Poucos são os locais satisfatoriamente amostrados para morcegos e menos ainda as ilhas. Os objetivos deste estudo foram listar as espécies de morcegos da Ilha da Marambaia, comparar a riqueza, abundância e biomassa das guildas de morcegos encontradas, analisar o padrão de abundância das espécies de morcegos e comparar a riqueza, abundância e composição entre os diferentes ambientes amostrados. O método de amostragem consistiu do uso de redes de neblina armadas em cinco ambientes diferentes, totalizando 3559,2 redes-hora, em 37 noites entre outubro de 2006 e agosto de 2008. Foram obtidas 1.133 capturas, compreendendo 34 espécies de cinco famílias. A espécie mais abundante foi Molossus molossus. Os frugívoros apresentaram maior riqueza, abundância e biomassa. A maior parte das espécies (N = 22) apresentou abundâncias entre 1 e 10 por cento do total de capturas. Dezesseis espécies foram restritas a apenas um dos ambientes amostrados. A elevada riqueza encontrada pode ser atribuída à realização de coletas em vários ambientes, e a captura de espécies insetívoras sobre a água.