Endangered plant-parrot mutualisms: seed tolerance to predation makes parrots pervasive dispersers of the Parana pine.

Parrots are largely considered plant antagonists as they usually destroy the seeds they feed on. However, there is evidence that parrots may also act as seed dispersers. We evaluated the dual role of parrots as predators and dispersers of the Critically Endangered Parana pine (Araucaria angustifolia). Eight of nine parrot species predated seeds from 48% of 526 Parana pines surveyed. Observations of the commonest parrot indicated that 22.5% of the picked seeds were dispersed by carrying them in their beaks. Another five parrot species dispersed seeds, at an estimated average distance of c. 250 m. Dispersal distances did not differ from those observed in jays, considered the main avian dispersers. Contrary to jays, parrots often dropped partially eaten seeds. Most of these seeds were handled by parrots, and the proportion of partially eaten seeds that germinated was higher than that of undamaged seeds. This may be explained by a predator satiation effect, suggesting that the large seeds of the Parana pine evolved to attract consumers for dispersal. This represents a thus far overlooked key plant-parrot mutualism, in which both components are threatened with extinction. The interaction is becoming locally extinct long before the global extinction of the species involved.

Evolução da infestação por aedes aegypti (diptera: culicidae) nos municípios do oeste do estado de Santa Catarina / Evolution of aedes aegypti (diptera: culicidae) infestation in the western municipalities of Santa Catarina State

Este estudo objetivou avaliar a evolução da infestação de Aedes aegypti e sua relação com fatores climáticos. Os dados secundários foram obtidos no sistema de informações da DIVE-SC, referente aos focos de Aedes aegypti de 2008 a 2013, nos 37 municípios a 4ª Regional de Saúde de Santa Catarina. Os dados relativos à pluviometria e temperatura foram fornecidos pela EPAGRI. Foram registrados 2.448 focos em 14 dos 37 municípios estudados. No ano de 2013, houve um crescimento de 100% no número de municípios com a presença do vetor. A maior taxa foi, em 2013, no município de Guatambu. Os focos que ocorreram nos meses de setembro e outubro estão associados com a pluviosidade, enquanto que os focos de novembro, janeiro, fevereiro e março estão associados com as altas temperaturas e, dezembro, com ambos os fatores. Os resultados auxiliam no entendimento dos fatores de risco para a ocorrência da transmissão viral da dengue na região e poderão auxiliar na implementação de políticas públicas de prevenção à doença.

This study aimed to evaluate the evolution of Aedes aegypti infestation and its relation to climatic factors. The secondary data obtained from the DIVE-SC, relating to outbreaks of Aedes aegypti from 2008 to 2013, in the 37 municipalities that make up the 4th Regional Health of Santa Catarina. The data on rainfall and temperature were provided by the EPAGRI-SC. 2,448 outbreaks were reported in 14 of the 37 cities studied. In 2013, there was a 100% growth in the number of municipalities with the presence of the vector. The highest rate was, in 2013, in the municipality of Guatambú. The outbreaks that occurred in the months of September and October are associated with rainfall, whereas the outbreaks of November, January, February and March are associated with high temperatures and, in December, with both factors. These results will help in understanding the risk factors for the occurrence of dengue virus transmission in the region and may assist in the implementation of public policies to prevent this disease.