Ant Foraging As an Indicator of Tropical Dry Forest Restoration.

Variation in foraging behavior may indicate differences in food availability and allow assessment of restoration actions. Ants are prominent bioindicators used in assessing ecological responses to disturbance. However, behavioral data have been poorly incorporated as an index. The foraging performance of red harvester ants was quantified in order to evaluate the success of a restoration ecology experiment in the tropical dry forest of Sierra de Huautla, Morelos, in central Mexico. Foraging performance by granivorous, Pogonomyrmex barbatus, ants was diminished after 6 and 8 years of cattle grazing and wood harvest were excluded as part of a restoration experiment in a highly degraded biome. Despite investing more time in foraging, ant colonies in exclusion plots showed lower foraging success and acquired less seed biomass than colonies in control plots. In line with the predictions of optimal foraging theory, in restored plots where ant foraging performance was poor, ants harvested a higher diversity of seeds. Reduced foraging success and increased harvest of non-preferred foods in exclusion plots were likely due to the growth of herbaceous vegetation, which impedes travel by foragers. Moreover, by 8 years of exclusion, 37% of nests in exclusion plots had disappeared compared to 0% of nests in control plots. Ants' foraging success and behavior were sensitive to changes in habitat quality due to the plant successional process triggered by a restoration intervention. This study spotlights on the utility of animal foraging behavior in the evaluation of habitat restoration programs.

Traumatismo espinal / Spinal trauma

El tratamiento de un paciente con una fractura vertebral pasa por un correcto diagnóstico y una categorización del problema. Para la toma de decisiones terapéuticas son necesarios datos clínicos y de la propia lesión, que son aportados por los estudios radiológicos y su interpretación (AU)

The treatment of a patient with a vertebral fracture requires an accurate diagnosis and categorization of the problem. Treatment decisions must be based on clinical data and information about the lesion itself, which is provided by imaging studies and their interpretation (AU)

Spinal trauma. / Traumatismo espinal.

The treatment of a patient with a vertebral fracture requires an accurate diagnosis and categorization of the problem. Treatment decisions must be based on clinical data and information about the lesion itself, which is provided by imaging studies and their interpretation.

Morfometría del esófago abdominal y del estómago del conejo (Orycotolagus cuniculus): aplicaciones a la cirugía laparoscópica / Morphometry of the abdominal esophagus and stomach of the rabbit: laparoscopyc surgery applications

Actualmente existen pocos estudios sobre la anatomía y fisiología del tracto digestivo del conejo (Orycotolagus cuniculus), estos estudios están encaminados a la nutrición y biología del conejo, pero pocos abordan la anatomía con la visión de un cirujano. Por otro lado existen algunos estudios que proponen al conejo como modelo animal para cirugías laparoscópicas del esófago distal y el estómago. En la mayoría de los casos se utiliza como modelo sin tener en cuenta las características anatómicas específicas de esta especie, por lo que es fundamental realizar un estudio anatómico de la zona del esófago abdominal, cardias y estómago del conejo, que exprese las características y diferencias anatómicas para que los cirujanos estén más familiarizados antes de realizar prácticas laparoscópicas en esta especie. Una diferencia importante es la presencia de una porción grande de esófago abdominal. Está descrito que animales con porciones grandes de esófago abdominal, no tienen la posibilidad de regurgitar o vomitar. Esta diferencia anatómica es muy importante cuando se pretende usar a estos animales como modelo para la enfermedad por reflujo gastroesofágico (ERG).El presente trabajo se realiza con los objetivos de proporcionar a los cirujanos un estudio anatómico que permita conocer la zona del esófago abdominal, cardias y estómago del conejo, para que tengan conocimiento de las características propias en esta especie y las diferencias con el humano, en su uso como modelo animal para la cirugía del cardias y el estómago. Se realizaron medidas anatómicas al esófago y estómago de 18 conejos Nueva Zelanda Blancos de 2.5 a 3.5 Kg de peso de ambos sexos. Donde encontramos que el conejo presenta un una porción grande de esófago abdominal así como un estómago grande con una gran proporción de fundus gástrico.

Actuality, there are few studies about rabbits (Orycotolagus cuniculus) digestive tract anatomy and physiology. These studies are designed at nutrition and biology of the rabbit. But few deal with the anatomy of a surgeon's vision.There are also some researches that propose rabbits as laparoscopic surgery animal model for of the distal oesophagus and stomach. In most cases is used as a model without considering the specific anatomical characteristics of this species. So it is essential to make an anatomical study of the abdominal oesophagus, cardia, and stomach of the rabbit. This should express the characteristics and anatomical differences between species. On the way to that surgeon are more familiar before performing laparoscopic practices in this species. An important difference is the presence of a large portion of abdominal oesophagus. There is reported that animals with large portions of abdominal oesophagus, can not vomit or regurgitate. This anatomical difference is very important when trying to use these animals as a model for gastroesophageal reflux disease. This work is done with the objectives of providing surgeons an anatomical study of the abdominal esophagus, cardia and stomach of the rabbit, to have knowledge of the characteristics in this species and the differences with humans, when used as surgical animal model. Anatomical measures were made to the oesophagus and stomach of 18 males and females New Zealand White rabbits. Between 2,5 to 3,5 Kg. We find that the rabbit has a large portion of an abdominal oesophagus and a large stomach with a large proportion of gastric fundus.