Medicinal plants and diabetes: an ethnopharmacological study in Brazilian Northeast / Plantas medicinales y diabetes: un estudio etnofarmacológico en el noreste brasileño

Despite access to conventional medical therapies, the use of complementary medicine is increasing in many communities. The present study aimed to evaluate the popular knowledge of medicinal plants used to treat diabetes and its co-morbidities, in four rural communities in the municipality of Vitória de Santo Antão, in the Brazilian State of Pernambuco. The relative importance of a particular medicinal plant was calculated based on the percentage of mentions (IR%). The similarity between the communities was quantified using the Sørensen index (Ss). Interviews were conducted with 141 patients, of these, 83 reported use of medicinal plants as an alternative treatment. Overall there were 186 mentions, covering 61 ethnospecies. In relation to IR%, Mentha × villosa presented the highest value.Knowing the factors that influence selection of medicinal plants sheds light on the mechanisms through which patterns of use develop and this may help to preserve this knowledge.

A pesar del acceso a las terapias médicas convencionales, el uso de la medicina complementaria está aumentando en muchas comunidades. El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar el conocimiento popular de las plantas medicinales utilizadas para el tratamiento de la diabetes y sus comorbilidades, en cuatro comunidades rurales del municipio de Vitória de Santo Antão, en el estado brasileño de Pernambuco. La importancia relativa de una planta medicinal en particular se calculó en base al porcentaje de menciones (% de IR). La similitud entre las comunidades se cuantificó mediante el índice de Sørensen (Ss). Se realizaron entrevistas con 141 pacientes, de estos, 83 informaron el uso de plantas medicinales como tratamiento alternativo. En total hubo 186 menciones, cubriendo 61 etnoespecies. En relación al% de RI, Mentha × villosa presentó el valor más alto. Conocer los factores que influyen en la selección de plantas medicinales arroja luz sobre los mecanismos a través de los cuales se desarrollan los patrones de uso y esto puede ayudar a preservar este conocimiento.

Validating the career adapt-ability scale in Mexico and examining the relative importance of career adaptability and employability in career success / Validando a escala de capacidade de adaptação à carreira no México e examinando a importância relativa da adaptabilidade e empregabilidade para o sucesso na carreira / Validación de la escala de adaptabilidad de carrera en México y examen de la importancia relativa de la adaptabilidad de carrera y la empleabilidad para el éxito profesional

Employability and career adaptability are two related constructs that are considered significant factors in career success. Career adaptability is the readiness to cope with current and anticipated career-related tasks, transitions, and changes, whereas employability is the ability to retain or obtain a job in the labor market. This paper presents a Spanish translation of the Career Adapt-Abilities Scale (CAAS) and analyses the relative importance of career adaptability and employability in predicting career success (job performance and job satisfaction) in a sample of 160 young Mexican working adults. Our results supported the internal consistency and factor structure of CAAS. Relative weights and commonality analysis indicated that both constructs shared explained outcome variance, but they had different importance in predicting career outcomes. Thus, employability is still relevant despite the rising importance of career adaptability. Career adaptability should be included in employability programs, refining the two concepts into a more parsimonious measure.

Empregabilidade e adaptabilidade na carreira são dois construtos relacionados que são considerados fatores significativos para o sucesso na carreira. Adaptabilidade de carreira é a disposição para lidar com tarefas, transições e mudanças atuais e previstas relacionadas à carreira, enquanto empregabilidade é a capacidade de manter ou obter um emprego no mercado de trabalho. Este artigo apresenta uma tradução para o espanhol da Career Adapt-Abilities Scale (CAAS) e analisa a importância relativa da adaptabilidade e empregabilidade na carreira de predizer o sucesso na carreira (desempenho e satisfação no trabalho) em uma amostra de 160 jovens trabalhadores adultos mexicanos. Nossos resultados apoiaram a consistência interna e a estrutura fatorial do CAAS. Pesos relativos e análise de semelhança indicaram que ambos os construtos compartilhavam a variância explicada dos resultados, mas tinham importância diferente na previsão dos resultados da carreira. Assim, a empregabilidade ainda é relevante, apesar da importância crescente da adaptabilidade à carreira. A adaptabilidade de carreira deve ser incluída nos programas de empregabilidade, refinando os dois conceitos em uma medida mais parcimoniosa.

La empleabilidad y la adaptabilidad de carrera son dos constructos relacionados que se consideran factores importantes para el éxito profesional. La adaptabilidad de carrera es la disposición para hacer frente a las tareas, las transiciones y los cambios actuales y previstos relacionados con la carrera, mientras que la empleabilidad es la capacidad de conservar u obtener un empleo en el mercado laboral. Este artículo presenta una traducción al español de la Career Adapt-Abilities Scale (CAAS) y analiza la importancia relativa de la adaptabilidad de carrera y la empleabilidad para predecir el éxito profesional (desempeño y satisfacción laboral) en una muestra de 160 jóvenes adultos trabajadores mexicanos. Nuestros resultados respaldaron la consistencia interna y la estructura factorial de CAAS. Las ponderaciones relativas y el análisis de similitudes indicaron que ambos constructos compartían la varianza explicada de los resultados, pero tenían una importancia diferente en la predicción de los resultados profesionales. Por tanto, la empleabilidad sigue siendo relevante a pesar de la creciente importancia de la adaptabilidad de carrera. La adaptabilidad profesional debe incluirse en los programas de empleabilidad, refinando los dos conceptos en una medida más parsimoniosa.

Length-weight relationship, feeding traits and nutritional value of mahi mahi (Coryphaena hippurus) in the south-eastern Arabian Sea

Aim: The present study was conducted to investigate the length-weight relationship, food and feeding behaviour and proximate composition of an oceanic epipelagic fish, Coryphaena hippurus landed along Karnataka, south-eastern Arabian SeaMethodology: Length-weight relationship, feeding and proximate composition of C. hippurus was studied for a period of one year. The size composition, feeding intensity, frequency, occurrence and index of relative importance (IRI) was determined for each diet component in the stomach. Monthly proximate composition in the dolphin fish was estimated. Results: The fork length of the specimens of C. hippurus collected along Karnataka coast ranged from 30- 123 cm and fishes having length range from 33-73 cm represented 79% of the total fish sampled. The estimated b values of C. hippurus for both males and females were less than 3 which indicated negative allometric growth; the fish grows faster in length than weight. The most dominant item recorded in the gut of C. hippurus was pelagic and mesopelagic teleosts. Cephalopods (squids, cuttlefish and octopus) were the second important food constituent while crustaceans consisting of crabs and shrimps formed very less quantity. Interpretation: Information on length-weight relationship, feeding behaviour and proximate composition of mahi mahi would be useful for developing suitable management plans for the conservation and judicious exploitation of this commercially important resource.

La densidad, riqueza y composición arbóreas definen parches detectados remotamente en una selva subperennifolia

Recientemente se ha abordado la delimitación de parches de vegetación a través de clasificaciones orientadas a objetos con datos multiespectrales. En esta investigación se presenta una propuesta de caracterización de selvas secundarias basada en matrices de semejanza de composición específica, estructura de la vegetación arbórea e índices de diversidad, partiendo de una clasificación orientada a objetos de imágenes multiespectrales. El área de estudio corresponde a una selva mediana subperennifolia con antecedente de aprovechamiento agrícola bajo el sistema de roza tumba y quema (Ac: hace 8-23 años), aprovechamiento forestal selectivo (Fs: hace 43-53 años), y aprovechamiento forestal selectivo e incendio forestal (Fc: hace 21-28 años). Se delinearon tres parches de vegetación de acuerdo al historial de uso, y se analizaron las diferencias entre las medias de las métricas de campo de cada parche con un análisis de varianza multivariado permutacional (P < 0.001). Con un modelo logístico multinomial se identificaron, de entre más de 20 covariables, la riqueza de especies, densidad de tallos por hectárea, y el primer eje de variación del ordenamiento NMDS de la composición específica, como los atributos de la vegetación más distintivos. El parche Fc, presenta los mayores valores en diversidad de Shannon-Wiener, riqueza de especies, y densidad de tallos mayores a 7.5 cm de diámetro. El Fs tiene los mayores promedios de biomasa, área basal y altura individual, y el Ac tiene los menores valores de todas las métricas anteriores. Las especies de mayor Índice de Valor de Importancia fueron: Ac; Bursera simaruba y Psidia psipula, Fs: Gymnanthes lucida y Manilkara zapota, Fc: G. lucida y B. simaruba.

A proposal for characterizing habitat of forests, obtained from an object-oriented classification of RapidEye multiespectral imagery, based on dissimilarity matrices of vegetation structure, species diversity and composition is presented. The study area is a forested landscape mosaic after slash and burn agriculture (Ac: 8-23 years ago), selective logging (Fs: 43-53 years ago), and selective logging and forest fire (Fc: 21-28 years ago). The site is located in the central part of Quintana Roo, México, where three vegetation patches were delineated according to remotely sensed multiespectral imagery. Mean differences between vegetation structure properties of each vegetation patch were obtained through a permutational multivariate analysis of variance (P < 0.001). Species richness, stem density per hectare, and the axis-1 scores of the non-metric multidimensional scaling ordination of specific composition were identified as the vegetation attributes more relevant to differentiate the vegetation patches by a multinomial logistic model. Fc vegetation patch is characterized by the greatest mean values on Shannon-Wiener index, species richness, and stem density. The Fs has the greatest mean values of canopy height, basal area, and biomass at 80 percentile, and the Ac vegetation patch has the lowest values of all mentioned metrics. The species with the greatest relative importance value were: Ac: Bursera simaruba and Psidia psipula, Fs: Gymnanthes lucida and Manilkara zapota, Fc: G. lucida and B. simaruba. The uncertainty associated with the metrics assessed by vegetation patch was smaller than the uncertainty of the whole area, because of the efficient variability aggregation of the field data. We conclude that multiespectral information is a reliable tool for distinguishing vegetation patches with specific features, as stem density, specific composition, and species richness.

Research progresses of relative importance of temporal envelope cues in different frequency regions / 上海交通大学学报（医学版）

Based on the dominant fluctuation rates, the speech information in temporal domain could be divided into temporal envelope, periodic fluctuation information and temporal fine structure. Temporal envelope cues are essential for speech recognition, which could be transmitted to cochlear implanters by cochlear imlpants. The roles of temporal envelope cues from various frequency regions in speech recognition are diverse. Influenced by the testing materials, research methods, listening backgrounds and the parameters used to extract temporal envelope, the relative weights of temporal envelope across frequency regions would change accordingly. The research methods as well as their advantages or disadvantages and research results of relative weights of temporal envelope cues in different frequency regions are reviewed, and the possible reasons why the relative weights of temporal envelope cues in different frequency regions for non-tonal language and tonal language were different were discussed simply.

The Impact of Sample-size and Sample-process on Several Usual Importance Evaluate Methods / 中国卫生统计

Objective Implement random sample from a simulation population,to evaluate the The impact of samplesize and sample-process on several usual importance evaluate methods,observe the stability of those methods.Methods This study introduced existed importance methods,using PROC SURVEYSELECT procedure to sample a fixed population for 1000 times,generating 1000 same size sample,to evaluate the stability of relative importance methods.We sampled the population to generate datasets with different sample size to observe impact of sample-size on those methods.Results The sum of squared correlation coefficients' estimator is bigger than model R-square,squared standardized regression coefficients' sum is smaller.In contrary,sum of the Product Measure,Relative Weight and Dominance Analysis are extremely close to model R-square.When the sample size small than 1000,the estimator have obviously variation,but the variation decreased when the sample size rise up.Conclusion The dominance analysis has best stability,also has the best match of model R2 in those methods.

Do faces and body postures integrate similarly for distinct emotions, kinds of emotion and judgent dimensions? / ¿Las caras y posturas corporales se integran de forma similar para distintas emociones, las clases de emoción y dimensiones del juicio?

Faces and bodies are typically seen together in most social interactions, rendering probable that facial and bodily expressions are perceived and eventually processed simultaneously. The methodology of Information Integration Theory and Functional Measurement was used here to address the following questions: Under what rules do facial and bodily information integrate in judgments over different dimensions of so-called basic and self-conscious emotions? How does relative importance of face and body vary across emotions and judgment dimensions? Does the relative importance of face and body afford a basis for distinguishing between basic and self-conscious emotions? Three basic (happiness, anger, sadness) and two social self-conscious emotions (shame and pride) were considered in this study. Manipulated factors were 3-D realistic facial expressions (varied across 5 levels of intensity) and synthetic 3-D realistic body postures (3 levels of intensity). Different groups of participants judged expressed intensity, valence, or arousal of the combined presentations of face and body, meaning that judgment dimension was varied between-subjects. With the exception of arousal judgments, averaging was the predominant integration rule. Relative importance of face and body was found to vary as a function of judgment dimension, specific emotions and, for judgments of arousal only, type of emotion (basic versus self-conscious).

Caras y cuerpos son típicamente observados en conjunto en muchas de las interacciones sociales, haciendo probable que tanto las expresiones faciales como las expresiones corporales sean percibidas y eventualmente procesadas simultaneamente. La metodología de la Teoría de Integración de la Información y la Medición Funcional fue usada en este estúdio para contestar las siguientes preguntas: ¿bajo qué reglas son integradas las informaciones faciales y corporales en los juicios sobre diferentes dimensiones de las llamadas emociones autoconcientes?, ¿cómo la importáncia relativa de la cara y del cuerpo varían a través de las emociones y las dimensiones de los juicios? ¿La importancia relativa de la cara y del cuerpo permiten tener una base para para diferenciar entre las emociones básicas y las autoconcientes? En este estudio se consideraron tres emociones básicas (felicidad, ira y tristeza) y dos emociones autoconcientes (verguenza y orgullo). Los factores manipulados fueron las expresiones faciales realistas en modelos de 3D (variadas a través e 5 niveles de intensidad) y posiciones corporales realistas en modelos de 3D (que variaron en 3 niveles de intensidad). Diferentes grupos de participantes juzgaron la intensidad de las expresiones, la valencia, o la estimulación de las diferentes presentaciones de combinaciones de caras y cuerpos, el significado de las dimesiones del juicio fue variado entre-sujetos. Con excepción de los juicios sobre la estimulación, la regla de integración del promedio fue la predominante. La importancia relativa de la cara y del cuerpo fueron observadas al variar en función de las dimensiones del juicio, de las emociones específicas y, en el caso de los juicios de estimulación solo para un tipo de emoción (básicas versus autoconscientes).

Práticas terapêuticas tradicionais: uso e conhecimento de plantas do cerrado no estado de Pernambuco (Nordeste do Brasil) / Therapeutic traditional practices: usage and knowledge of cerrado plants in the state of Pernambuco (Northeastern Brazil)

Este trabalho visa registrar as práticas terapêuticas da comunidade Catolé utilizando a diversidade local das plantas medicinais verificando a versatilidade das espécies, consenso de uso e conhecimento dos informantes. Foram registradas 46 espécies nativas com fins medicinais, pertencentes a 42 gêneros e 26 famílias com destaque para Fabaceae. Dez espécimes apresentaram grande versatilidade de uso, no entanto Ximennia americana L. e Croton heliotropiifolius Kunth., apresentaram os maiores valores de IR (2,0 e 1,65). As indicações terapêuticas foram agrupadas em 15 categorias de sistemas corporais, com maior fator de consenso entre os informantes para; Doenças infecciosas e parasitárias (1,0), Transtorno do sistema respiratório (0,82) e Doenças das glândulas endócrinas, da nutrição e do metabolismo (0,81). Devido à diversidade de espécies nativas registradas, pode-se concluir que a preservação dessa área é de grande importância para a conservação da biodiversidade local e os informantes envolvidos possuem um vasto conhecimento da vegetação contribuindo para o conhecimento de plantas potencialmente úteis do cerrado.

This work aims to record the therapeutical practices of the community Catolé utilizing local diversity of medicinal plants verifying the versatility of the species, consensus usage and knowledge of the informants. Were recorded 46 native species for medicinal purposes, belonging to 42 genres and 26 families, highlighting Fabaceae. Ten specimens exhibited great versatility of use, however Ximennia americana L. and Croton heliotropiifolius Kunth showed the highest values of IR (2.0 and 1.65). The Therapeutic uses were grouped in 15 categories of bodily systems, with higher factor consensus among informants in: Infectious and parasitic diseases (1.0), disorder of the respiratory system (0.82) and Endocrine, nutrition and of metabolism (0.81). Due to the diversity of native species registered, it can be concluded that the preservation of these areas is of great importance for biodiversity conservation site and the informants involved have a vast knowledge of the vegetation contributing to the knowledge of potentially useful plants of the cerrado.

Analysis and application of game theory in estimating variable importance in linear model / 第二军医大学学报

Objective To apply Shapley value analysis of the game theory for evaluating the relative importance of the predictors in the linear regression when colinearity exists, and to provide a new concept of sequential importance partial R2. Methods Shapley value analysis of game theory(proposed by Shapley in 1953) was used to evaluate the influencing factors of hemoglobin(HB) in 757 normal adults, by regressing HB on four predictors including the white blood cell(WBC), red blood cell(RBC), blood platelet(PLT) and hematocrit(HCT); meanwhile, the sequential importance partial R2 was used to analyze its practical significance. Finally the estimated results of Shapley value was compared with others measures including traditional methods and recommended method. Results A succinct set of predictors including RBC, PLT and HCT was identified for establishing a multiply regression, with their relative importance values being 0.355 3, 0.012 4 and 0.553 8, respectively. The results of relative importance were consistent between Shapley value and dominance analysis. Moreover, it was found that the partial R2 of predictors had different marginal contributions in different orders. Conclusion HCT has the largest contribution to HB, followed by RBC, and PLT has the least effect to H.B. The order of contributions is consistent with the correlation matrix, indicating that the relative importance of the predictors in Shapley value is reasonable.

Potencial terapêutico e uso de plantas medicinais em uma área de Caatinga no estado do Ceará, nordeste do Brasil / Therapeutic potential and use of medicinal plants in an area of the Caatinga in the state of Ceará, northeastern Brazil

O presente trabalho visou o levantamento etnobotânico das plantas medicinais, verificando a versatilidade das espécies utilizadas e o consenso de uso e/ou conhecimento entre os informantes, do Distrito de Aratama, no Município de Assaré, Ceará. As informações etnobotânicas foram obtidas através de entrevistas estruturadas e semi-estruturadas com os moradores locais. Foram citadas 116 espécies com fins medicinais pertencentes a 103 gêneros e 58 famílias com destaque para Fabaceae (10ssp.), Asteraceae (7spp.) e Lamiaceae (6spp.). Entre as espécies levantadas, Mentha spicata L., Rosmarinus officinalis L., Allium sativum L., Bauhinia cheilantha (Bong.), Ximenea americana L., se destacaram como as mais versáteis dentro da comunidade. As indicações terapêuticas citadas foram agrupadas em 16 categorias de sistemas corporais, dos quais as Desordens mentais e comportamentais, as Afecções ou dores não definidas, os Transtornos do sistema respiratório, as Doenças de pele e do tecido celular subcutâneo, e os Transtornos do sistema sensorial (ouvidos), mostram maior concordância entre os informantes na utilização de espécies para tratar um sistema corporal especifico. Os resultados mostraram elevada riqueza da flora medicinal presente na caatinga. Neste sentido, torna-se necessária a intensificação de estudos que avaliem e consolidem as propriedades químicas e farmacológicas destas espécies.

This study is about an ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants, checking the versatility of the species used and the consensus of use and/or knowledge among informants from the Aratama District, in the municipality of Assaré, state of Ceará, Brazil. The ethnobotanical information was obtained through structured interviews and semi-structured interviews with local residents. Approximately, 116 species were mentioned for medicinal purposes, belonging to 103 genera and 58 families, especially Fabaceae (10ssp.), Asteraceae (7spp.) and Lamiaceae (6spp.). Among the surveyed species, Mentha spicata L., Rosmarinus officinalis L., Allium sativum L. and Bauhinia cheilantha (Bong.) Ximenea americana L. stood out as the most versatile in the community. The therapeutic indications mentioned were grouped into 16 categories of body systems; the mental and behavioral disorders, disorders or pain not defined, disorder of the respiratory system, skin diseases and subcutaneous tissue disorder, and disorder of the sensory system (ears) showed greater agreement among informants in the use of species to treat a specific body system. The results showed a high species richness of the medicinal flora present in the Brazilian Caatinga. Thus, it is necessary to intensify and consolidate studies assessing the chemical and pharmacological properties of these species.

Plantas medicinais cultivadas em quintais de comunidades rurais no domínio do cerrado piauiense (Município de Demerval Lobão, Piauí, Brasil) / Medicinal plants cultivated in homegardens of rural communities in the domain of Cerrado in Piaui (Demerval Lobão Municipality, Piauí State, Brazil)

O conhecimento terapêutico acumulado por populações rurais através de séculos de estreito contato com o meio possibilita a obtenção de informações acerca do uso dos recursos naturais. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi realizar um inventário das plantas medicinais cultivadas em quintais do município de Demerval Lobão, Piauí, bem como, conhecer o emprego e a importância dessas espécies na comunidade. Foram amostrados 21 quintais em nove comunidades da zona rural do município de Demerval Lobão com vegetação de cerrado. O trabalho foi conduzido com os mantenedores dos quintais a partir de entrevistas semi-estruturadas e observação direta, associada à técnica de turnê-guiada. As plantas medicinais coletadas foram catalogadas, identificadas, e depositadas no Herbário Graziela Barroso (TEPB) da Universidade Federal do Piauí (UFPI). Foram referidas 100 espécies botânicas, predominantemente herbáceas e cultivadas, distribuídas em 49 famílias, sendo Leguminosae, Euphorbiaceae e Lamiaceae as mais representativas em número de espécies. Na preparação dos remédios, as folhas foram as mais utilizadas, sendo a decocção a principal forma de preparo. As doenças mais frequentes tratadas por remédios caseiros referem-se ao sistema respiratório e digestivo. Observou-se que não há rigidez quanto à posologia e a duração do tratamento, ficando este a critério do hábito de cada pessoa entrevistada. As plantas que apresentaram índice de importância relativa e concordância de uso (CUP) acima de 60% foram cansansão (Cnidosculus urens), boldo (Plectranthus barbatus Andrews), jurema-preta (Mimosa verrucosa Benth) e cidreira (Lippia alba (Mill.) N.E.Br. ex Britton & P.Wilson). P. barbatus foi a mais citada e também a que apresentou os índices mais altos de CUP (100%), fator de correção - FC (1,00) e concordância de uso corrigido - CUPc (100%) para dores no estômago e problemas no fígado. Observou-se a necessidade de resgatar o conhecimento acerca das plantas medicinais para contribuir na melhoria da qualidade de vida dos moradores da zona rural, como primeiro passo para a valorização e adequação dos recursos da medicina popular para o tratamento de doenças mais frequentes.

Therapeutic knowledge accumulated by rural populations, through centuries of direct contact with the environment, makes possible the gathering of information concerning use of natural resources. The aim of the present study was to carry out an inventory of the medicinal plants cultivated in homegardens of Demerval Lobão Municipality, Piauí State, Brazil, as well as to learn their uses and importance in the community. A total of 21 homegardens in nine communities of the rural area of Demerval Lobão Municipality with Cerrado vegetation were sampled. The study was conducted by means of semi-structured interviews and direct observation, associated with the technique of a tour guided by the keepers of the homegardens. The collected medicinal plants were cataloged, identified and deposited in the Herbarium Graziela Barroso (TEPB) of Federal University of Piauí (UFPI). Of 100 botanical species, predominantly herbaceous and cultivated species distributed in 49 families, were cited, and the most representative families in number of species were Leguminosae, Euphorbiaceae and Lamiaceae. For the preparation of medicines, leaves were most used and decoction was the main form of preparation. The most frequent diseases treated by homemade remedies are associated with the respiratory and digestive systems. There is no rigidity as to dosage and duration of treatment; it depended on the habit of each interviewed person. The plants that presented an index of relative importance and use agreement above 60% were the following: "cansansão" (Cnidosculus urens), "boldo" (Plectranthus barbatus Andrews), black-jurema (Mimosa verrucosa Benth) and "cidreira" (Lippia alba (Mill.) N.E.Br. ex Britton & P.Wilson). P. barbatus was most cited and also the species that presented the highest indices of CUP (100%), FC (1,00) and CUPc (100%) for stomach pains and liver problems. There is the need of rescuing knowledge concerning medicinal plants to contribute to the improvement of the life quality of the inhabitants of the rural area, as a first step for the appreciation and adaptation of resources of folk medicine for the treatment of the most frequent diseases.

Alimentación del pez insectívoro neotropical Creagrutus bolivari (Pisces: Characidae) según los métodos gráfico y de importancia relativa / The diet of the neotropical insectivorous fish Creagrutus bolivari (Pisces: Characidae) according to the graphic and relative importance methods

The diet ofa neotropical fish species (Creagrutus bolivari) was studied using different methods: the Cortés 1997 graphic method and two relative importance indexes, one designed by George and Hadley in 1979 (% RIi) and another proposed by Cortés in 1997 (% IRIi). Only discrete prey (aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates) were used in the diet analysis. The occurrence (% A), number (% N) and weight (% G) frequencies were estimated for each food item. A total of 240 specimens (size range from 25.3 to 64.7 mm standard length) were analyzed. For values of % A > 50 %, % IRIi was higher than % RIi with an opposite trend (up to 130 times) for values of % A < 50 %. % IRIi overestimated the relative importance of prey for high values of % A, while it underestimated the relative importance of prey for low values of % A, showing a nonlinear relationship to % A. The variables used in the Cortés graphic method are insufficient to evaluate predator feeding strategy (generalization versus specialization). Therefore, we suggest including other variables, such as population and individual trophic niche breadth and a suitable field sampling record. An extended sampling record is necessary to classify prey as rare or dominant according to Cortés' classification. The indexes of relative importance and graphic method are complementary. Compound indexes that comprise mass, number, and occurrence provide a more accurate description of diet and allow comparative studies. The graphic analysis is easy to interpret and helps in the evaluation of prey importance and predator feeding strategy.

Se estudió la alimentación de un pez neotropical (Creagrutus bolivari) usando diferentes métodos: el método gráfico de Cortés (1997) y dos índices de importancia relativa (George y Hadley, 1979 (% RIi) y Cortés, 1997 (% IRIi)). Sólo las presas discretas (invertebrados acuáticos y terrestres) se emplearon en el análisis de dieta. Se estimó para cada ítem, las frecuencias de aparición (% A), numérica (% N) y gravimétrica (% G). Se analizó un total de 240 ejemplares (intervalo de talla desde 25.3 hasta 64.7 mm de longitud estándar). Para valores de % A > 50 %, el % IRIi resultó mayor al obtenido para el % RIi, con una tendencia opuesta (hasta 130 veces) para valores de % A por debajo del 50 %. El % IRIi sobreestimó la importancia relativa de las presas para valores altos de % A, mientras que subestimó la importancia relativa de las presas para valores bajos de % A y mostró un comportamiento no lineal a medida que varió el % A. Las variables empleadas en el método gráfico de Cortés son insuficientes para evaluar la estrategia alimentaria del depredador (generalismo-especialismo). De este modo, se sugiere incluir otras variables como el ancho de nicho trófico poblacional e individual así como un adecuado registro de campo. Es necesario un amplio registro de campo para clasificar a las presas como escasa o dominante de acuerdo a la clasificación de Cortés. Los índices compuestos que incluyen las variables: masa, número y aparición proporcionan una descripción más precisa de la dieta y permiten realizar estudios comparativos. El análisis gráfico es fácil de interpretar y ayuda a evaluar aspectos como la importancia de la presa y la estrategia alimentaria del depredador.