Effects of Fabaceae and Poaceae Pollen Accessibility and Traits on the Pollinivory of Adult Chrysoperla externa (Hagen) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae).

Pollen is a food source for adult Chrysoperla externa (Hagen), whose larvae are biocontrol agents against pests. However, adults may face challenges in foraging for pollen due to differences in pollen accessibility and variability in pollen morphology and chemistry. In the laboratory, we investigated the ability of adult C. externa to consume pollen from flowers of Cajanus cajan, Canavalia ensiformis, Crotalaria juncea, Flemingia macrophylla, Avena strigosa, Pennisetum glaucum, Sorghum bicolor, and Zea mays, and we explored whether adults chose any of these pollens based on their quantitative and qualitative features. Cajanus cajan and F. macrophylla pollen were the only ones not consumed by adults when confined to flowers. Pollen removed from the preanthesis buds was offered simultaneously for 24 and 48 h. In both periods, adults consumed more of the medium-sized P. glaucum (with the second largest exine thickness) and large-sized Z. mays (with the thinnest exine) pollen, even though they had significantly less crude protein than Fabaceae pollen, whose sizes varied from medium (C. juncea, with the thickest exine) to large (C. ensiformis, whose exine thickness was equal to that of P. glaucum). Overall, adults consumed more Poaceae pollen than Fabaceae pollen, but the palynological features and the protein contents did not affect this choice. Our results highlighted that C. juncea, P. glaucum, S. bicolor and Z. mays are good pollen sources for adult C. externa and should be considered promising candidates in the selection of insectary plants to deploy in biocontrol programs aimed at the conservation of this lacewing.

Importance of palynology in the taxonomy of Piptolepis Sch.Bip. (Asteraceae: Lychnophorinae), a genus endemic to Brazil.

Lychnophorinae comprises 19 genera and 117 species. Its representatives are found mostly in the rocky grasslands ("campos rupestres") of Minas Gerais, Bahia, and Goiás States, Brazil. This study presents a palynological investigation of 10 species belonging to the genus Piptolepis, endemic to the rocky grasslands of the Espinhaço Mountains, in Minas Gerais State. The plant material used in this investigation was obtained from specimens deposited in Brazilian herbaria. Pollen grains were processed by the acetolysis method, measured, described, and photomicrographed in light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Morphological observations revealed Piptolepis pollen to be large, prolate spheroidal in most species, 3-colporate, ectoapertures long, sexine subechinolophate or sublophate. Endoapertures vary from almost circular, lalongate or lalongate, with a median constriction observed only in three species. Three types of spines were identified: prostrate and disorganized, elongated and narrow, and conical, erect, apex acute in the other species. This first palynological study of Piptolepis species allowed the separation of representatives of the genus using pollen keys. The most significant characters were pollen shape, ornamentation, endoaperture, and presence of median constriction in the endoaperture. The findings presented here do not support the infrageneric classification of Piptolepis, as pollen characters were not unique to any section.

Taxonomy, palynology and distribution notes of seven species of Passiflora L. (Passifloraceae s.s.) newly recorded from Brazil.

Passiflora subgenus Astrophea is one of the five recognised subgenera of Passiflora. Brazil presents ca. 26 species of this subgenus with the majority distributed in the Amazon Basin. During the ongoing taxonomic revision of the Brazilian species of subg. Astrophea, seven species previously unknown for the country were recorded: Passiflora amoena, P. fuchsiiflora, P. jussieui, P. ovata, P. plumosa, P. quelchii, and P. tessmannii. The new records expand the species distribution ranges, especially for P. plumosa, which was exclusively known from its type locality and P. quelchii, which was known only for southeastern Guyana. The authors provide taxonomic and palynological descriptions, distribution maps and illustrations for these species, in the hope that the knowledge and understanding of Brazilian Passifloraceae s.s. will be improved.

Reducing patient waiting time and length of stay in an Acute Care Pediatric Emergency Department.

Prolonged waiting times and length of stay in Pediatric Emergency Department, are the two of the most challenging patient and clinical outcomes of healthcare institution. These emerged due to various reasons, namely: the use of triaging process and patient flow criteria that eventually lead to bottlenecks and overcrowding in the ED. After realizing the root causes of the prolonged waiting times and length of stay, the KASCH ED instigated a team to study the factors and thereby arrive at a considerable conclusion that will result in an improvement. The quality improvement project was initiated and steps were undertaken to improve the flow, reduce the waiting times, and reduce the overcrowding in Pediatric Emergency Acute Care Unit. The primary cause identified was inadequate team awareness and lack of the ED process flow, thus creating confusion as to where the type of patients based on the triage level will be assessed, managed and treated. Using the Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale (CTAS) as guide in triaging patients, a theory called Pediatric Rapid Assessment and Management (PRAM) was introduced in the Acute Care Unit. This certain model is basically aimed to rapidly assess and managed the patients who were triaged as Level III and Level IV within a period of 30 minutes. Several PDSA cycles were tested and implemented in order to assure that the process fit the criteria and the process flow will be improved. Following the completion of each cycle, significant improvements were noted, such as patients being assessed in Initial Assessment Room on average time less than the target of 15 minutes. In like manner, patients' length of stay on average less than 15 minutes in PRAM bed. The total time for assessment and plan of management is with a target time of less than 30 minutes. The team continuously drive th process and monitored the key performance indicators of the PRAM during the study period and subsequent improvement strategies were likewise implemented.

Pollen morphology of Carapa species (Meliaceae) from the Brazilian Amazon / Morfologia polínica de Carapa (Meliaceae) espécies da Amazônia brasileira

The crabwood (Carapa) represents an important source of natural resources. The objective of this work was to study the pollen morphology of the three species of Carapa (Meliaceae) registered in the Brazilian Amazon. The pollen grains were obtained from floral buds, pistillate and staminate flowers of Carapa guianensis, C. surinamensis and C. vasquezii. In order to explore the taxonomic implications of the pollen study for these species of Carapa, lactic acetolysis method was used for light microscopy study. Furthermore, the non-acetolyzed material was used in the study of the scanning electron microscopy. It was found that the three Carapa species present little variations in pollen morphology. Compared to the other species this study, Carapa vasquezii has higher values for the length and width of endoaperture; however, it has lower values for polar and equatorial diameter, equatorial diameter in polar view and apocolpium side.

A andiroba (Carapa) representa uma importante fonte de recursos naturais. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar a morfologia polínica das três espécies de Carapa (Meliaceae) registradas na Amazônia brasileira. Os grãos de pólen foram obtidos de botões florais, flores pistiladas e estaminadas de Carapa guianensis, C. surinamensis e C. vasquezii. A fim de explorar as implicações taxonômicas do estudo de pólen para estas espécies de Carapa, o material foi preparado de acordo com o método de acetólise láctico, permitindo a utilização de estudos de microscopia de luz. Além disso, o material não-acetolisado foi utilizado no estudo da microscopia eletrônica de varredura. O estudo mostra que as três espécies de Carapa apresentam pequenas variações na morfologia polínica. Comparada com as outras espécies deste estudo, Carapa vasquezii têm valores mais elevados para o comprimento e largura da endoabertura, entretanto, tem valores inferiores para diâmetro polar, equatorial, diâmetro equatorial em vista polar e lado do apocolpo.

Nesting and use of pollen resources by Tetrapedia diversipes Klug (Apidae) in Atlantic Forest areas (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) in different stages of regeneration

Nesting and use of pollen resources by Tetrapedia diversipes Klug (Apidae) in Atlantic Forest areas (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) in different stages of regeneration. The nesting in trap-nests and use of pollen sources in larval food by Tetrapedia diversipes Klug, 1810 (Apidae) was compared between regenerating areas of Atlantic Forest. The study was conducted between April 2008 and October 2009 at União Biological Reserve, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. T. diversipes nested in 66 trap-nests and showed a peak of nesting during the months of highest rainfall. The most frequent pollen type in brood cells during the wet season was Dalechampia sp. 1. During the dry season, the type Ludwigia sp. was the most frequent, followed by Dalechampia sp. 2. The high frequency of Dalechampia and Ludwigia species in the larval food, observed in both habitats and in the two seasons could be considered relevant for T. diversipes, suggesting highly selective diet based primarily on two plant species unrelated, but similar in size of pollen grains.

Nidificação e uso de fontes de pólen por Tetrapedia diversipes Klug (Apidae) em áreas de Mata Atlântica (Rio de Janeiro, Brasil) em diferentes estágios de regeneração. A nidificação em ninhos-armadilha e o uso de fontes de pólen no alimento larval por Tetrapedia diversipes Klug, 1810 (Apidae) foram comparados entre áreas de Floresta Atlântica em regeneração. O estudo foi realizado entre abril de 2008 e outubro de 2009 na Reserva Biológica União, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. T. diversipes nidificou em 66 ninhos-armadilha e apresentou um pico de nidificação durante os meses de maior precipitação pluviométrica. O tipo polínico mais frequente nas células de cria durante a estação chuvosa foi Dalechampia sp. 1. Durante a estação seca, o tipo Ludwigia sp. foi o mais frequente, seguido de Dalechampia sp. 2. A alta frequência de espécies de Dalechampia e Ludwigia no alimento larval, observada em ambos os habitats e nas duas estações deve ser considerada um fato relevante para T. diversipes, sugerindo uma dieta altamente seletiva baseada primariamente em duas espécies vegetais não relacionadas, porém semelhantes quanto ao tamanho dos grãos de pólen.