Structure of a bat community in the xerophytic Caatinga of the state of Sergipe, Northeastern Brazil

The Caatinga, a Brazilian biome that covers an area of 740,000 km2, is characterized by semi-arid climatic conditions with high temperatures and irregular rains throughout the year. The present study verified the structure of the local bat community and the seasonal variation in the abundance of bats and their diversity. We sampled four points on Serra dos Macacos and Serra de Antenor, in the municipality of Tobias Barreto, Sergipe. Field campaigns were conducted monthly between February and November 2011 in the region of the Serra dos Macacos, with the same sampling effort being applied in the dry and rainy seasons. A total sampling effort of 95,040 m2⋅h resulted in the capture of 104 specimens, representing 15 species belonging to the families Phyllostomidae (12 sp.), Vespertilionidae (2 sp.) and Mormoopidae (1 sp.). The Jackknife 1 estimate indicated the occurrence of 21.3±2.07 species in the study area. There was no difference in species diversity between the two stations (t=0.65, p=0.51). The guild of frugivorous and nectarivorous bats were the most abundant in both seasons, and most representative in the rainy season. Significant seasonal difference was found in the abundance of bats between the dry and rainy seasons (χ2=16.96; df=1; p<0.05). The results were consistent with other Caatinga studies in terms of species richness and diversity, and community structure, with a predominance of nectarivorous bats and seasonal variation in the community structure.

Bronchial hyperreactivity and spirometric impairment in patients with allergic rhinitis

Background: The Link between allergic rhinitis and asthma is well known. Bronchial hyperreactivity (BHR) may be present in rhinitics. The present study is aimed at evaluating a large group of subjects suffering from allergic rhinitis alone to investigate the presence of spirometric impairment and BHR both during and outside the pollen season. Methods: 360 rhinitics (subdivided in 3 groups: seasonal, SAR, perennial, PAR, and polysensitized, PolysR) were investigated by spirometry and methacholine challenge. Results: There was a significant seasonal difference concerning the number of rhinitics with impaired FEV1 (p&lt;0.01 for SAR, p&lt;0.02 for PAR, and p&lt;0.03 for PolysR) and FEF25-75 (p&lt;0.05 for SAR, p&lt;0.03 for PAR, and p&lt;0.05 for PolysR) as well as with BHR (p&lt;0.05 for SAR and p&lt;0.03 for PAR). Conclusions: This study evidences that an impairment of spirometric parameters and BHR may be observed in patients with allergic rhinitis alone. Thus, careful evaluation of lower airways should be performed in patients with allergic rhinitis alone.

Comunidades de la mesofauna edáfica en una selva baja inuudable de la Reserva de la Biósfera de Sian Kaan,' Quintana Roo, Mexico

The flood Jowland forest is a typical ecosystem of the Sian Kaan Biosphere in southeast Mexico. Two soi1 dwelling microarthropod samples were taken fram areas with different topographles, one in the dry season (March 1995) and one in the rainy season (July 1995). In ¡he rainy season, mean density was tbree times higher. Numerica11y, the Oribatid mites predominate, followed by Collembo1a and Pauropoda. regardless of the season or location. In March, the communities are concentrated in the soil, while the July sample showed a migration to the ¡eaf litter. There was no significant seasonal difference in densities. The propOltion Acarida: Collembo1a and the value of the Oreen Agregation Index for Collembola shows the marked effeet of dry soils for this group.