Abstract:The Neotropics house two guilds of large arboreal vertebrate seed predators: parrots and the pitheciin primates. Both have diets dominated by immature fruits. The possibility of members of the Pitheciinae (genera Cacajao, Chiropotes and Pithecia) acting as occasional seed dispersers has been mooted, but not experimentally shown. We combined primate behavioural data and seed germination data from three separate field studies in the Brazilian states of Amazonas and Pará to analyse patterns of post-consumption seed survivorship for seeds discarded by three pitheciin species (Cacajao melanocephalus ouakary, Chiropotes chiropotes and Chiropotes albinasus). We then calculated the frequency of dispersal events for four species eaten by C. m. ouakary. All three primate species dropped intact seeds while feeding, and 30.7% of 674 dropped seeds germinated ex situ. Undamaged seeds from unripe and ripe samples germinated (29.3% and 42.7%, respectively), and all three primate species carried some fruits up to 20 m from the parent tree before consuming them. Potential seed-dispersal events varied from 1 (Macrolobium acaciifolium) per fruiting cycle to more than 6500 (Duroia velutina), suggesting that there are differences in dispersal potential. In summary, although they are highly specialized seed predators, these primates may also act as important dispersers for some plant species, and effective dispersal is not restricted to ripe fruits, as immature fruits removed from a tree may continue to mature and the seeds later germinate, a much-neglected aspect of dispersal ecology. The possibility that similar events occur in parrots should be experimentally investigated.

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We analyse the behaviour of Cacajao melanocephalus ouakary feeding at patches of germinating seedlings in dried-out flooded forest. Seedlings of Eschweilera tenuifolia (Lecythidaceae) were the most commonly eaten (88.9%). Some seed patches were revisited over several days, while others were consistently ignored. We tested 3 predictions relating uacari terrestrial foraging behaviour to: (1) arboreal escape route proximity, (2) seed patch size choice and (3) temporal patterns of repeat exploitation. Comparison of fed-at and ignored patches revealed significant preferences for larger patches, and for those close to arboreal refuges but distant from dense ground-based vegetation. Support for these predictions is interpreted as evidence for predation risk-sensitive foraging.

Although plant-inhabiting ants are known to act as effective deterrents to a variety of vertebrate and invertebrate herbivores, this has been reported only once before for primates, a group better known for their predation of ants. In the present study, we investigated the effects that colonies of Pseudomyrmex viduus ants living in individual Macrolobium acaciifolium (Fabaceae) trees have on the rates of visitation and fruit removal by four taxa of seed-predating vertebrates: the primate Cacajao melanocephalus ouakary; macaws (Ara spp.); large parrots (Amazona spp.); and the Northern Amazonian red squirrel (Sciurus igniventris). We found that ant presence significantly reduced both rates of visitation and of fruit removal by C. m. ouakary. The same pattern of reduced fruit removal was also observed for other seed predators (parrots, macaws, and squirrels) but not for visitation rates (although this may be a result of the small sample size). This appears to be only the second-known demonstration of the repellent effect of ants on primates and, indeed, the first for squirrels and psittacine birds.

A qualidade laboratorial é defi nida como a garantia de que toda e qualquer etapa do processo de teste é realizada corretamente. Buscando a melhoria da qualidade dos laboratórios tornou-se necessária a criação de padrões mínimos de organização para que os mesmos funcionassem. O laboratório clínico deve assegurar a confiabilidade dos serviços laboratoriais prestados por meio de controle - interno e externo - da qualidade. Todas as ações sistemáticas necessárias para dar confiança aos serviços laboratoriais a fim de atender as necessidades de saúde do paciente e prevenir a ocorrência dos erros é definido por componente operacional do sistema de controle de qualidade que podem ser medidos por meio dos indicadores de qualidade. O objetivo do trabalho foi identificar os indicadores de qualidade mais usados entre os laboratórios clínicos e em qual fase do processo de testagem observa-se uma maior quantidade de erros. Foi realizada uma revisão integrativa de artigos pesquisados na Biblioteca Virtual de Saúde com as palavras-chave: Indicadores de qualidade e Laboratório Clínico, no período de 2016 a 2021, nos idiomas inglês, espanhol e português. Foram selecionados 15 artigos que abordavam as fases extra-analíticas e analíticas, sendo que a maioria dos autores abordou a fase pré-analítica, visto a elevada quantidade de erros observada nesta etapa, seguido da etapa pós-analítica e de forma superficial, foi citada a etapa analítica, visto que a mesma apresenta a menor quantidade de erros no laboratório. A utilização adequada de indicadores de qualidade é uma ferramenta muito útil na gestão do laboratório, principalmente nas etapas extra-analíticas. Cabe a cada gestor a escolha dos indicadores de qualidade que melhor atendam às suas necessidades, considerando além dos aspectos econômicos, a segurança do paciente.