Isotopic evidence for dietary niche overlap between barking deer and four-horned antelope in Nepal

BACKGROUND: Morphologically similar sympatric species may have a high degree of niche overlap. Barking deer Muntiacus vaginalis and four-horned antelope Tetracerus quadricornis are solitary ungulates of the Indian sub-continent. Limited information is available regarding their trophic ecology, particularly of the endemic four-horned antelope. We present stable carbon (δ(13)C), nitrogen (δ(15)N), and sulphur (δ(34)S) isotopic values, and nitrogen content (%N) of faeces from barking deer and four-horned antelope living in lowland Nepal to assess trophic niche differentiation of these herbivores along the browser-grazer continuum. We also describe trophic differences between those two species in ecological niches and seasonal effects on their diets. RESULTS: We found that the barking deer and four-horned antelope consumed C(3) plant sources exclusively. The niche partitioning in their diet was reflected by δ(34)S values. Some seasonal effects observed were: δ(13)C and δ(15)N were significantly lower in the dry season diet of four-horned antelope than that of barking deer, while δ(34)S values were significantly higher in the winter diet; monsoon diet was similar for both species. Faecal N levels for barking deer and four-horned antelope were similar throughout all the seasons, indicating that both species adapted their feeding behaviour so as to maximize protein intake, in accordance with season and environment. CONCLUSIONS: Barking deer and four-horned antelope both are browsers; their dietary sources overlapped during monsoon but differed during the dry season. Conservation actions focused on resource management during the dry season to reduce food scarcity and competition over limited resources is likely to be the most effective. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40709-015-0029-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Avaliação de campanhas de saúde com ênfase na sífilis congênita: uma revisão sistemática Evaluation of health campaigns with emphasis on congenital syphilis: a systematic review

Campanhas têm sido instrumentos de políticas públicas de saúde, freqüentemente utilizadas no Brasil para esclarecer, motivar ou conseguir o apoio da população e/ou dos profissionais de saúde, em ações relevantes para a saúde pública. Esta revisão procurou levantar subsídios para a avaliação de campanhas de saúde, particularizando-se as metodologias utilizadas, tendo em vista a avaliação de campanhas dirigidas ao controle da sífilis congênita. Os conjuntos de palavras-chave utilizados foram "sífilis congênita + avaliação"; "campanhas de saúde + avaliação" e, "campanha + saúde + avaliação". As bases de dados pesquisadas foram a Medline (Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online) da National Library of Medicine (EUA), a LILACS (Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde) e da PAHO (Pan-American Health Organization), no período de 1980 e 2003. Foram incluídos 37 artigos nessa revisão, sendo 15 referentes à sífilis congênita e avaliação e 22 à campanha de saúde e avaliação. A revisão realizada mostrou que existe um espaço a ser preenchido neste campo, principalmente no que se refere à construção metodológica. Apesar da palavra avaliação constar nesses vários artigos, a fundamentação teórica encontrada não foi totalmente condizente com as propostas apresentadas.<br>Campaigns are healthcare public policies means frequently used in Brazil, to educate, motivate or achieve population and/or healthcare professionals in relevant public health actions. This review pursued the gathering of input to assess health campaigns, specifically the methodologies used, focusing on congenital syphilis control campaigns. Keywords used were "congenital syphilis + assessment", "health campaigns + assessment" and, "campaign + health + assessment". Databases surveyed were Medline (Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online) of National Library of Medicine, LILACS (Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences) and PAHO (Pan-American Health Organization), from 1980 to 2003. Thirty seven articles in this review, 15 related to congenital syphilis and assessment and 22 to healthcare campaigns and assessment. Review accomplished indicated a gap to be filled in this field specially related to methodology design. Notwithstanding the word "assessment" inclusion in these articles, the theoretical rationale determined was not consistent with the submitted proposals