Negative density dependence characterizes mutualistic interactions between birds and fruiting plants across latitudes.

Negative density dependence (NDD) in biotic interactions of interference such as plant-plant competition, granivory and herbivory are well-documented mechanisms that promote species' coexistence in diverse plant communities worldwide. Here, we investigated the generality of a novel type of NDD mechanism that operates through the mutualistic interactions of frugivory and seed dispersal among fruit-eating birds and plants. By sampling community-wide frugivory interactions at high spatial and temporal resolution in Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Peru, Brazil and Argentina, we evaluated whether interaction frequencies between birds and fruit resources occurred more often (selection), as expected, or below expectations (under-utilization) set by the relative fruit abundance of the fruit resources of each plant species. Our models considered the influence of temporal scales of fruit availability and bird phylogeny and diets, revealing that NDD characterizes frugivory across communities. Irrespective of taxa or dietary guild, birds tended to select fruits of plant species that were proportionally rare in their communities, or that became rare following phenological fluctuations, while they mostly under-utilized abundant fruit resources. Our results demonstrate that negative density-dependence in frugivore-plant interactions provides a strong equalizing mechanism for the dispersal processes of fleshy-fruited plant species in temperate and tropical communities, likely contributing to building and sustaining plant diversity. This article is part of the theme issue 'Diversitydependence of dispersal: interspecific interactions determine spatial dynamics'.

A highly resolved nuclear phylogeny uncovers strong phylogenetic conservatism and correlated evolution of fruit color and size in Solanum L.

Mutualisms between plants and fruit-eating animals were key to the radiation of angiosperms. Still, phylogenetic uncertainties limit our understanding of fleshy-fruit evolution, as in the case of Solanum, a genus with remarkable fleshy-fruit diversity, but with unresolved phylogenetic relationships. We used 1786 nuclear genes from 247 species, including 122 newly generated transcriptomes/genomes, to reconstruct the Solanum phylogeny and examine the tempo and mode of the evolution of fruit color and size. Our analysis resolved the backbone phylogeny of Solanum, providing high support for its clades. Our results pushed back the origin of Solanum to 53.1 million years ago (Ma), with most major clades diverging between 35 and 27 Ma. Evolution of Solanum fruit color and size revealed high levels of trait conservatism, where medium-sized berries that remain green when ripe are the likely ancestral form. Our analyses revealed that fruit size and color are evolutionary correlated, where dull-colored fruits are two times larger than black/purple and red fruits. We conclude that the strong phylogenetic conservatism shown in the color and size of Solanum fruits could limit the influences of fruit-eating animals on fleshy-fruit evolution. Our findings highlight the importance of phylogenetic constraints on the diversification of fleshy-fruit functional traits.

Lack of local genetic representation in one of the regions with the highest bird species richness, the Peruvian Amazonia.

Peru ranks among the three countries with the highest bird species diversity globally and a majority of those species are found in the Peruvian Amazon. However, birds in this area are currently facing serious anthropogenic threats. Genetic and genomic methods are becoming important tools for avian biodiversity monitoring and conservation planning. Comprehensive molecular libraries that are publicly available are key to the effective deployment of these tools. We analyze the information gaps for four molecular markers in the most important genetic sequence databases, Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD) and NCBI GenBank, for bird species of the Peruvian Amazonia. We found that 64% of Peruvian Amazonian bird species have gene sequences for COI, 59.5% have CYTB sequences, 16.4% have 12S sequences, and only 0.6% have 18S sequences. However, these numbers decrease drastically to 4.3% for COI sequences when we only consider specimens sampled in Peru. Our data also showed that 43.8% of Peruvian Amazonian endemic species (n = 32) are missing sequences of any screened marker uploaded to GenBank or BOLD. Our results will encourage and guide efforts of the scientific community to complete reference libraries for Peruvian avian species that will be useful for future DNA-based monitoring projects that include birds.

Distribución geográfica y abundancia poblacional de Plegadis ridgwayi, el ibis de la Puna (Threskiornithidae) con énfasis en las poblaciones del Perú / Geographical distribution and population abundance of Plegadis ridgwayi, Puna ibis (Threskiornithidae) with emphasis on the populations of Peru

Resumen El ibis de la puna Plegadis ridgwayi, es una especie de Threskiornithidae que habita humedales andinos y realiza migraciones altitudinales hacia la costa. Datos propios, de GBIF, información bibliográfica y del Censo Neotropical de Aves Acuáticas (1992 a 2015) muestran que el ibis de la puna Plegadis ridgwayi se distribuye en Ecuador, Perú, Bolivia, Argentina y Chile, con las mayores densidades poblacionales en Perú y Bolivia en siete y tres localidades respectivamente, que acumulan más del 1% de la población biogeográfica. Se encuentran de 0 a 5000 m de altitud, con las mayores densidades entre 3000 a 4500 m y 0 a 500 m. La mayor incidencia de registros ocurre al sur y centro del Perú, así como costa del centro y norte del Perú. La ampliación de la distribución hacia el norte y costa peruana puede deberse a la disponibilidad ambiental y al deterioro de su hábitat andino. En cuatro humedales costeros del centro del Perú se registraron hasta 818 ibis en 2006, la gran mayoría en Pantanos de Villa y Paraíso. El número de migrantes costeros parece relacionado a la intensidad de sequías en la sierra del Perú central. La abundancia de ibis en el lago altoandino de Junín muestra una disminución histórica, con énfasis después de la sequía de 2004-2005. La expansión distribucional requiere investigar la posible hibridación con las otras especies del género antes alopátridas.

Abstract The Puna ibis Plegadis ridgwayi, is a species of Threskiornithidae that inhabits Andean wetlands and makes altitudinal migrations to the coast. Data from us, GBIF, bibliographic information and the Neotropical Waterbird Census (1992 to 2015) show that this species occurs in Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, and Chile, with a core area in Peru and Bolivia. It is most abundant in the latter two countries, with seven and three localities with more than 1% of the biogeographic population, respectively. They are found from 0 to 5000 m altitude (with peaks at 3000 to 4500 m and 0 to 500 m). The highest incidence of records is in southern and central Peru. There are high values of environmental availability in part of the high Andean zone from Ecuador to northern Chile and northwestern Argentina, as well as the coast of central and northern Peru. The expansion of the distribution towards the Peruvian north and coast may be due to environmental availability and the deterioration of its Andean habitat. In four coastal wetlands in central Peru, up to 818 ibises were recorded in 2006, the vast majority in Pantanos de Villa and Paraíso. The number of coastal migrants seems to be related to the intensity of droughts in the highlands of central Peru. The abundance of ibis in the high Andean Lake of Junín shows a historical decline, with emphasis after the 2004-2005 drought. This distributional expansion requires investigation of possible hybridisation with the other formerly allopatric species of the genus.

Las aves del departamento de Loreto, Perú / The birds from Department of Loreto, Peru

Resumen Presentamos una lista actualizada de las especies de aves del departamento de Loreto. La lista está basada en la revisión de ejemplares de colecciones científicas, registros históricos, publicaciones y observaciones de campo. Reportamos 1040 especies de aves para Loreto, 72 de ellas en alguna categoría de amenaza, 72 migratorias y 13 endémicas de Perú. Percnostola arenarum, Pithys castaneus y Polioptila clementsi son endémicas de Loreto. Las familias con mayor número de especies son Tyrannidae, Thamnophilidae y Thraupidae. La lista presentada tiene alta confiabilidad debido al respaldo de cerca del 81% de las especies en especímenes de colecciones científicas y apenas el 1.5% solo por reportes de avistamientos realizados por ornitólogos. Las especies de aves de Loreto representan alrededor del 55% del total reportado para el Perú y en Passeriformes el 52% de los estimado para la Amazonia. La distribución de los registros muestra que es necesario explorar áreas cercanas a las fronteras con Colombia y Brasil, así como las cordilleras que comparten con Amazonas y San Martín. En base a la distribución de la avifauna amenazada y endémica se propone priorizar el estudio y protección de áreas montanas y de bosques de arena blanca en particular.

Abstract We present an updated list of bird species from Department of Loreto. The list is based on the review of specimens from scientific collections, historical records, publications, and field observations. We report 1040 species of birds in Loreto, 72 in some threat category, 72 migratory and 13 endemics to Peru. Percnostola arenarum, Pithys castaneus and Polioptila clementsi are endemics to Loreto. The families with the highest numbers of species are Tyrannidae, Thamnophilidae and Thraupidae. The list presented is highly reliable due to the support of about 81% of the species on specimens from scientific collections and only 1.5% from sighting reports by ornithologists. Bird species from Loreto represent about 55% of the total reported for Peru and in Passeriformes 52% of those estimated for the Amazonia. The distribution of reports shows that it is necessary to explore areas close to the region's borders with Colombia and Brazil, as well as the mountain ranges shared with Amazonas and San Martin. Based on the distribution of threatened and endemic avifauna, we propose to prioritize the study and protection of montane areas and white-sand forests.

Estudios ornitológicos en Loreto, Perú: notas sobre su historia / Ornithological studies in Loreto, Peru: Notes on its history

Resumen En 1542 Orellana llega al Amazonas e inicia una historia de exploración continua de Loreto. Sin embargo, los estudios de las aves de este departamento recién empiezan en el siglo XIX con las exploraciones de Johann Baptist von Spix, Johann Jakob Von Tschudi, Francis-Louis de Castelnau, Emile Deville, Edward Bartlett, John Hauxwell y Henry Walter Bates quienes colectan para museos europeos y estadounidenses. En 1850 llega Antonio Raimondi al Perú incorporándose a la Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos e iniciando los estudios nacionales de aves loretanas en 1859 y 1869. Raimondi colaboró activamente con Władysław Taczanowski, asistidos por Konstanty Jelski y Jan Stolzmann, cuyas colectas en Loreto fueran usadas en Ornithologie du Pérou, primer tratado de la avifauna peruana, conservándose algunos especímenes en el Museo de Historia Natural de la UNMSM (MHN). A inicios del siglo XX, Malcolm Anderson y Wilfred Osgood y posteriormente los hermanos Olalla colectaron para museos estadounidenses, marcando el inicio del predominio norteamericano en la ornitología en Perú. El investigador peruano Javier Ortiz de la Puente, primer jefe de la Sección Aves del MHN, realizó colectas en Loreto en 1948 y 1952, antes de su prematura muerte. María Koepcke, siguiente responsable de la Sección Aves del MHN, colecta en Pacaya-Samiria en 1967. John Patton O'Neill visita Loreto en 1963, iniciándose un interés que lo llevaría a impulsar la ornitología en Perú por varias décadas. La investigación continua de la avifauna loretana convirtió a esta región en un punto clave para entender los patrones de diversificación de las aves amazónicas.

Abstract In 1542 Orellana arrived in the Amazon and began a history of continuous exploration of Loreto. However, the birds' study of Loreto began in the 19th century with the explorations of Johann Baptist von Spix, Johann Jakob von Tschudi, Francis-Louis de Castelnau, Emile Deville, Edward Bartlett, John Hauxwell and Henry Walter Bates, who collected for European and American museums. In 1850 Antonio Raimondi arrived in Peru, joining the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, and starting national studies of birds of Loreto in 1859 and 1869. Raimondi actively collaborated with Władysław Taczanowski, assisted by Konstanty Jelski and Jan Stolzmann, whose collections in Loreto were used in Ornithologie du Pérou, the first treatise on Peruvian avifauna. Some of these specimens are preserved in the Museo de Historia Natural of the UNMSM (MHN). At the beginning of the 20th century, Malcolm Anderson and Wilfred Osgood and later the Olalla brothers collected for American museums, marking the beginning of American predominance in ornithology in Peru. The Peruvian researcher Javier Ortiz de la Puente, the first head of the Bird Section of the MHN, collected in Loreto in 1948 and 1952, before his unfortunate death. María Koepcke, next head of the MHN Bird Section, collected in Pacaya-Samiria in 1967. John Patton O'Neill visited Loreto in 1963, initiating an interest that would lead him to promote ornithology in Peru for several decades. The continuous research of Loreto's avifauna turned this region into a key point to understand the diversification patterns of Amazonian birds.

Revisión del conocimiento actual y conservación de la lechuza de los arenales Athene cunicularia (Molina, 1782) en el Perú / A review of the knowledge and conservation of the Burrowing Owl Athene cunicularia in Peru

Resumen La lechuza de los arenales Athene cunicularia (Aves: Strigidae) se distribuye desde Canadá hasta Tierra del Fuego en América. Ocupa una gran variedad de hábitats naturales, ambientes urbanorurales y agroecosistemas. En el Perú residen tres subespecies A. c. nanodes, (Berlepsch y Stolzmann, 1892), A. c. juninensis (Berlepsch y Stolzmann, 1902) y A. c. cunicularia (Moliln, 1782). El presente trabajo, constituye una revisión de la bibliografía complementada con datos propios, con la finalidad de identificar el estado actual del conocimiento de la biología y estado de conservación de A. cunicularia con especial énfasis en las poblaciones que habitan en el Perú.

Abstract The Burrowing Owl, Athene cunicularia, is distributed from Canada to Tierra del Fuego in America. It occupies a wide variety of natural habitats, urban-rural environments, and agro-ecosystems. Three subspecies reside in Peru: A. c. nanodes (Berlepsch and Stolzmann, 1892), A. c. juninensis (Berlepsch & Stolzmann, 1902) and A. c. cunicularia (Molina, 1782). The present work constitutes a bibliography review, supplemented with our own data, to identify the current state of knowledge about the biology and conservation status of A. cunicularia; with special emphasis on the populations that inhabit Peru.

Trabajos originales Preferencia de hábitats y estacionalidad de las especies de aves de los Pantanos de Villa en Lima, Perú / Habitat preferences and seasonality of bird species of Pantanos de Villa in Lima, Peru

Resumen En el Refugio de Vida Silvestre Pantanos de Villa se analizó la preferencia de hábitat de las aves residentes y migratorias en función a la estacionalidad de 211 especies de aves, de las cuales 97 son residentes, 82 migratorias y 32 visitantes ocasionales. De acuerdo con el uso de los hábitats: 80.1% de especies habitan en cualquiera de los hábitats de pantanos, 40.8% en el litoral marino, 37.9% en parques y jardines, 33.2% en pantanos y la playa marina, 34.1% en pantanos y los parques y jardines y 1.0% en la playa arenosa marina y los parques y jardines. La mayor similitud de especies se encuentra entre las que habitan en la zona arbustiva y parques y jardines con 82.3%. La intensidad de las fluctuaciones de la riqueza de especies varía según el hábitat que ocupan con los mayores valores entre marzo y mayo en los espejos de agua (25) y en el litoral marino (24). La gestión de Pantanos de Villa debe priorizar el mantenimiento de la heterogeneidad de hábitats debido a la baja similitud entre varios de ellos y exclusividad de especies para los mismos. La comparación entre las preferencias de hábitat de las aves y las plantas muestra que es necesario tener en cuenta más de un taxón en la toma de decisiones para el manejo y conservación de la biodiversidad de los humedales costeros.

Abstract In the wildlife refuge Pantanos de Villa, habitat preferences of resident and migratory birds were analyzed according to the seasonality of 211 species of birds, of which 97 were residents, 82 migratories and 32 occasional visitors. According to use of habitats: 80.1% of species live on any of these wetlands, 40.8% in the marine coast, 37.9% in parks and gardens, 33.2% in wetlands and the beach, 34.1% in wetlands and parks and gardens and 1.0% in marine sandy beach and parks and gardens. Higher species similarity was between those living in "shrubland zones" and "parks and gardens" (82.3%). Fluctuation intensity of the species richness varied according to their occupance habitats, with the highest value observed between March and May in the water bodies (25) and marine coast (24). Management of the Pantanos de Villa must prioritize maintenance of heterogeneity of habitats because the low similarity degree would show species exclusivity of each of them. Comparisons between preferences of habitats of birds and plants would demonstrate the need of consider more than one taxa in decision-making for the management and conservation of biodiversity of coastal wetlands.

Can network metrics predict vulnerability and species roles in bird-dispersed plant communities? Not without behaviour.

Network metrics are widely used to infer the roles of mutualistic animals in plant communities and to predict the effect of species' loss. However, their empirical validation is scarce. Here we parameterized a joint species model of frugivory and seed dispersal with bird movement and foraging data from tropical and temperate communities. With this model, we investigate the effect of frugivore loss on seed rain, and compare our predictions to those of standard coextinction models and network metrics. Topological coextinction models underestimated species loss after the removal of highly linked frugivores with unique foraging behaviours. Network metrics informed about changes in seed rain quantity after frugivore loss. However, changes in seed rain composition were only predicted by partner diversity. Nestedness, closeness, and d' specialisation could not anticipate the effects of rearrangements in plant-frugivore communities following species loss. Accounting for behavioural differences among mutualists is critical to improve predictions from network models.

Solapamiento de la dieta de Passer domesticus y Zonotrichia capensis en un agroecosistema de la costa central del Perú / Diet overlap of the invasive House Sparrow and the native Rufous-collared Sparrow in an agroecosystem of Central Coast of Peru

Se analizó el solapamiento de las dietas de dos especies de gorriones en un agroecosistema de la costa central del Perú, una de las especies es invasora (Passer domesticus), mientras que la otra es nativa (Zonotrichia capensis). El presente trabajo muestra que a pesar de que Z. capensis tiene una dieta más diversa (H’= 2.07) que P. domesticus (H’=1.63), presentan alta similitud entre ellas (Dmax=0.15, p>0.05). El índice de Schoener fue ɸ=0.73 y junto con en el análisis de escalamiento multidimensional no métrico muestran un amplio solapamiento en la dieta de ambos gorriones en los diferentes meses de evaluación. Estos resultados permiten concluir que existe un potencial impacto de la invasión de Passer domesticus sobre la especie nativa Zonotrichia capensis por presentar un marcado solapamiento del alimento.

We analyse the diet overlap of two species of sparrows in an agroecosystem of the Central Coast of Peru, one of the species is invasive House Sparrow, while the other is native Rufous-collared Sparrow. We show that although native species has a more diverse diet (H'= 2.07), than invasive species (H' = 1.63), they present high similarity between them (Dmax = 0.15, p> 0.05). The Schoener index was ɸ = 0.73 and together with the non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis they show a broad diet overlap of both sparrows in the different months of evaluation. These results allow to conclude that there is a potential impact of the invasion of House Sparrow on the native species Rufous-collared Sparrow by food overlap.

Comparison of the macintosh and airtraq laryngoscopes in morbidly obese patients: a randomized and prospective study.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Morbid obesity is associated with a difficult management of the airway. There is no agreement on these patients being difficult to intubate, but if they are difficult to ventilate with facial mask, then the fast control of their airway becomes a priority. This study compares the quickness and success in tracheal intubation, glottic view, hemodynamic response, and complications from the use of the Macintosh and Airtraq laryngoscopes in morbidly obese patients for scheduled surgery. DESIGN: Prospective, observational, and randomized study. SETTING: Operating room. PATIENTS: Forty-six American Society of Anesthesiologists III patients. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomly assigned to undergo tracheal intubation using a Macintosh (n=23) or an Airtraq laryngoscope (n=23). MEASUREMENTS: The following were compared: intubation time, laryngeal vision, the necessity of additional maneuvers to carry out the tracheal intubation, the success of the maneuvers, complications, and hemodynamic response. MAIN RESULTS: The preoperative conditions of the studied patients were similar in both groups. The average time of the intubation was 17.27±16.1 seconds and 22.11±13.62 seconds in the Airtraq and Macintosh groups, respectively (P=.279). With the Airtraq device, 95.65% of patients presented a glottic view 1 and 2a (P=.006) and less optimizing maneuvers were needed to perform the tracheal intubation (P=.001). There were no cases of difficult intubation, failed intubation, or difficult ventilation. A statistically significant increase in the heart rate was detected with the use of the Macintosh laryngoscope. A patient with redundant epiglottis could not be intubated with the Airtraq laryngoscope. CONCLUSION: Both devices allow quick and safe management of the airway. The Airtraq laryngoscope improved the glottic view by the modified Cormack-Lehane classification, reduced the need for additional maneuvers for tracheal intubation, and also reduced the degree of sympathetic stimulus detected by a minor increase in heart rate after tracheal intubation.

Comentario sobre: Feasibility of closed-loop titration of propofol and remifentanil guided by the bispectral monitor in pediatric and adolescent patients: A prospective randomized study / Comment about: "Feasibility of closed-loop titration of propofol and remifentanil guided by the bispectral monitor in pediatric and adolescent patients: a prospective randomized study"

Automation is entrenched in our daily lives and aviation provides the safest and most efficient example. The implementation of automation in our speciality has not been as swift as it has been the case in other medical fields, for example, the development of the artificial pancreas - a device that automatically regulates the level of glycaemia - or robotic surgery. A number of automated devices were originally developed for research purposes, for administering inhaled anesthesia, intravenous anesthesia, muscle relaxants, and regional anesthesia.

Manejo de la temperatura en el perioperatorio y frecuencia de hipotermia inadvertida en un hospital general / Temperature management during the perioperative period and frequency of inadvertent hypothermia in a general hospital

Introducción: La hipotermia perioperatoria está asociada con mayor morbimortalidad, por lo que la temperatura del paciente quirúrgico debería ser una preocupación fundamental; sin embargo, es el parámetro fisiológico menos valorado. Objetivos: Evaluar el manejo de la temperatura en el perioperatorio, determinar la frecuencia de hipotermia inadvertida y los factores relacionados. Material y métodos: Estudio prospectivo observacional en pacientes adultos programados para procedimiento quirúrgico con tiempo > 30 min de anestesia. La hipotermia se definió como una temperatura de la piel de la frente <35,9°C. Se planteó la hipótesis nula de no diferencia entre los pacientes con normotermia e hipotermia. La comparación de las variables cuantitativas fue analizada con la prueba t de Student y las cualitativas con la prueba del Chi cuadrado, y después se realizó un análisis de regresión logística. Resultados: Se incluyeron 167 pacientes consecutivos; la monitorización intraoperatoria de la temperatura se usó en el 10% de los pacientes, el uso de líquidos intravenosos tibios y calentamiento con aire forzado en el 78 y el 63%, respectivamente. La frecuencia de hipotermia inadvertida fue del 56,29%, asociada a edad > 65 años, sexo femenino e índice de masa corporal >30kg/m². Esta última variable podría estar influenciada por el método de medición de la temperatura. Conclusiones: Las medidas de calentamiento sin monitorización de la temperatura no tienen el efecto esperado. La frecuencia elevada de hipotermia inadvertida hace necesaria una guía de actuación de prevención y manejo en especial en pacientes de riesgo, que en este estudio fueron edad > 65 años y sexo femenino.

Introduction: Perioperative hypothermia is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Consequently, surgical patient temperature should be the fundamental concern but, nonetheless, it is still the least valued physiological parameter. Objectives: To assess temperature management during the perioperative period and determine the frequency of inadvertent hypothermia and related factors. Material and methods: Prospective observational study in adult patients scheduled for surgical procedure with anesthesia time ≥30 minutes. Hypothermia is defined as a forehead skin temperature ≤35.9 ◦C. The null hypothesis of no difference between patients with normothermia and hypothermiawas proposed. Comparison of quantitative variableswas analyzed with the Student “t” test, and the Chi square was used for the qualitative variables. The analysis was followed by a logistic regression analysis. Results:We included 167 consecutive patients; intraoperative monitoring of temperaturewas used in 10% of patients, and the use ofwarm intravenous fluids and forced air heating in 78% and 63%, respectively. The frequency of inadvertent hypothermia was 56.29%, associated with age ≥65 years, female gender and BMI≥30 kg/m². This last variable might have been influenced by the method of temperature measurement. Conclusion:Warming measures without temperature monitoring do not result in the desired effect. The high frequency of inadvertent hypothermia requires action guidelines for prevention and management, especially in high-risk patients who, in this study, were patients≥65 years of age and females.

La monitorización neuromuscular y su importancia en el uso de los bloqueantes neuromusculares / Neuromuscular monitoring and its importance in neuromuscular blockade

Introducción: La necesidad por incorporar nuevas guías o estrategias en la buena práctica de uso de los bloqueantes neuromusculares no es un hecho de obligado cumplimento en la actualidad dentro de la anestesiología. Solo existen recomendaciones de actuación con el propósito de convencer que la monitorización neuromuscular es una herramienta muy útil para el buen uso racional de los bloqueantes neuromusculares. Metodología: Las complicaciones surgen, y la parálisis residual es un evento destacado. Por esta razón, los autores propugnamos que la monitorización del bloqueo neuromuscular puede ser un factor determinante en la mejora del cuidado de nuestros pacientes, disminuyendo tanto la morbilidad como la mortalidad. Esta revisión y su metodología en base a la experiencia de los autores solo pretende exponer de forma sencilla conocimientos que consideramos básicos para su utilización sistemática en nuestra práctica rutinaria. Resultados y conclusiones: Esta actualización describe los principios fundamentales de los métodos que disponemos en la actualidad, priorizando las medidas cuantitativas de registro. Y también demuestra el diferente comportamiento de la musculatura al efecto de los bloqueantes neuromusculares, fundamentos relevantes que es preciso conocer. La monitorización neuromuscular es una práctica que debe utilizarse siempre que un bloqueo neuromuscular sea necesario. Somos conscientes que generar una recomendación explícita es difícil. Pero nuestro entusiasmo parte del beneficio de una experiencia personal con estos métodos que son conocidos desde antiguo. Debido a la potencial morbilidad asociada con bloqueos neuromusculares residuales, la monitorización perioperatoria de la función neuromuscular es esencial.

Introduction: The incorporation of new guidelines or strategies as part of good practices in the use of muscle relaxants is not a requirement at present in the practice of anesthesia. There are only action recommendations designed to persuade clinicians of the fact that neuromuscular monitoring is a very useful tool for the rational use of muscle relaxants. Methodology:Complications occur, and residual paralysis is a significant event. For this reason, the authors advocate that monitoring neuromuscular block may be a determining factor in improving patient care and reducing morbidity and mortality. This review and its methodology based on the experience of the authors is designed to present, in a simple format, the knowledge that considered fundamental for the systematic use of neuromuscular monitoring in every day practice. Results and conclusions: This update describes the fundamental principles of the methods available at present, emphasizing quantitative recording measurements. It then describes the different ways in which muscles respond to the effect of neuromuscular blockade, as these are critical fundamental principles that have to be known. Neuromuscular monitoring is a practice that should be implemented every time a neuromuscular block is required. We are aware of the difficulty of generating an explicit recommendation, but our enthusiasm is derived from the benefits we have personally experienced when applying these methods that have been known for a long time. Due to the potential morbidity associated with residual muscle relaxation, perioperative monitoring of neuromuscular function is essential.

El néctar de especies de Puya como recurso para picaflores Altoandinos de Ancash, Perú / Nectar of Puya species like resource for high Andean hummingbirds of Ancash, Peru

En la región altoandina de Ancash la mayor diversidad de flores ornitófilas se encuentran en ambientes de matorral, en contraste a roquedales y pajonales, en los que encontramos rodales de bromelias del género Puya, cuyo néctar podría constituir un importante recurso para picaflores altoandinos en estos tipos de ambiente. Para documentar esta hipótesis, entre el 2004 y el 2005 se realizaron un total de 264 horas de observación de picaflores de dos rodales de Puya, ubicados encima de los 3000 m de altitud. El primer rodal fue de Puya raimondii en un pajonal del Parque Nacional Huascarán (9º39' S—77º13' W), el segundo fue de Puya rauhii en roquedales del Callejón de Conchucos (8º10' S—77º52' W). La frecuencia de visita de los picaflores a las inflorescencias de Puya fue evaluada desde 10 puntos fijos de observación, además capturas con redes de niebla permitieron identificar el polen de su pico y frente. En P. raimondii se identificaron cuatro especies de Trochilidae alimentándose de su néctar (Oreotrochilus stolzmanni, Patagona gigas, Aglaeactis cupripennis y Metallura phoebe), siendo O. stolzmanni la especie más frecuentemente avistada (60 por ciento). El 80 por ciento de las muestras de polen obtenidas de estos picaflores correspondían a P. raimondii. En el rodal de Puya rauhii se identificaron diez especies de Trochilidae (Colibri coruscans, Oreotrochilus stolzmanni, Patagona gigas, Aglaeactis cupripennis, Coeligena iris, Chalcostigma stanleyi, Lesbia nuna, Myrtis fanny, Metallura phoebe y Metallura tyrianthina), siendo las especies con mayores avistamientos M. phoebe (26 por ciento), C. coruscans (21 por ciento) y P. gigas (17 por ciento). El 31 por ciento de las muestras de polen obtenidas de estos picaflores correspondían a Puya. Las especies altoandinas de Puya proporcionan un importante recurso alimenticio para picaflores, en especial para los de grandes altitudes donde la diversidad de plantas disminuye.

In the high Andean region of Ancash the greatest diversity of flowers ornithophilous is in shrublands, in contrast to rocky areas and grasslands, in those that we find stands of bromelias of the genera Puya whose nectar could constitute an important resource for high Andean hummingbirds in these habitat types. To document this hypothesis, during 2004-2005, in 264 hours of observation, were evaluated the hummingbirds of two stands of Puya above the 3000 m of altitude. The first stand was of Puya raimondii in a grassland of the Huascarán National Park (9º39' S—77º13' W), the second was of Puya rauhii in rocky areas of the Conchucos Valley (8º10' S—77º52' W). The frequency of visit of hummingbirds to the inflorescences of Puya was evaluated from 10 fixed points of observation, also captures with mist nets allowed to identify the pollen of their bill and front. In P. raimondii four species of Trochilidae were identified feeding of their nectar (Oreotrochilus stolzmanni, Patagonia gigas, Aglaeactis cupripennis and Metallura phoebe), being O. stolzmanni the frequently sighted species (60 per cent). 80 per cent of the obtained samples of pollen of these hummingbirds corresponded P. raimondii. In the rodal of Puya rauhii was identified ten species of Trochilidae (Colibri coruscans, Oreotrochilus stolzmanni, Patagonia gigas, Aglaeactis cupripennis, Coeligena iris, Chalcostigma stanleyi, Lesbia nuna, Myrtis fanny, Metallura phoebe and M. tyrianthina), being the species with more sightings M. phoebe (26 per cent), C. coruscans (21 per cent) and P. gigas (17 per cent). 31 per cent of the obtained samples of pollen of these hummingbirds corresponded to Puya. The high Andean species of Puya provide an important nutritious resource for hummingbirds, especially for those of high altitudes where the diversity of plants diminishes.

Flora vascular de los Humedales de Chimbote, Perú / Vascular plants of the Chimbote Wetlands, Peru

Los humedales de Chimbote (09°05'51"S; 78°32'52"O) presentan una flora vascular compuesta por 41 especies en 18 familias. El 61 por ciento magnoliópsidas y el 39 por ciento liliópsidas. Las familias con mayor número de especies fueron Poaceae, Cyperaceae y Asteraceae. Las formas de crecimiento dominantes fueron las hierbas (85 por ciento) seguidas de arbustos (10 por ciento). En comparación con los humedales costeros de Lima, en Chimbote se presenta mayor riqueza de especies que en Medio Mundo (16 especies) y El Paraíso (25), aunque menos que en Los Pantanos de Villa (66). Un análisis de agrupamiento indica una mayor similitud con el humedal de Los Pantanos de Villa. En estos humedales se presentan cuatro tipos de comunidades vegetales. La mayor diversidad de especies es encontrada en la desembocadura del río Lacramarca.