Plant resources used by the Ayoreo of the Paraguayan Chaco

An ethnobotanical study was carried out among the Ayoreo of the Paraguayan Chaco to document their use of food plants. Scientific and Ayoreo names as well as uses have been provided for 33 gathered and 12 cultivated food plants. The agricultural and gathering practices are presented and discussed     

Tree ash as an Ayoreo salt source in the Paraguayan Chaco

The Ayoreo, an Amerindian group of the Paraguayan Chaco, use ash from several plant species as sources of salt. The elemental composition of the ash ofMaytenus vitis-idaea, Lycium nodosum, Trithrinax schizophylla and another sample which serve as salt sources are reported and the use of vegetal salts by indigenous South American populations is discussed. The relatively high sodium content ofM. vitis-idaea may explain the widespread use of this species as a salt source by Chaco Amerindians.     

Gastric nematodes of the Paraguayan caiman, Caiman yacare (Alligatoridae).

Examination of the stomach contents of 115 Caiman yacare Daudin, 1802, from Paraguay revealed the presence of the nematodes Brevimulticaecum baylisi (Travassos, 1933), Brevimulticaecum stekhoveni (Baylis, 1947), Contracaecum sp. of Railliet and Henry, 1912, Dujardinascaris paulista (Travassos, 1933), Eustrongylides sp. of Jagerskiold, 1909, Micropleura vazi Travassos, 1933, and Ortleppascaris alata (Baylis, 1947). Nematode prevalence was 28%; greatest species prevalence (14%) was found for B. baylisi. Greatest mean intensity, 25.4, was for Contracaecum sp. All occurrences are new host and distribution records.     

Wildlife for sale

Myanmar, famous for the smuggling of opium and gemstones, is losing much of its wildlife to illegal traders. In 1998, a survey of goods for sale in two border towns showed a thriving trade in body parts from some of the world's most endangered species.     

Diversity,distribution and conservation status assessment of Paraguayan palms (Arecaceae)

Indigenous palm species of Paraguay are presented with data on their diversity, distribution, threats and conservation status. The Paraguayan palm flora consists of 23 native species in 11 genera, representing two of the five subfamilies recognized in the group. The palm distribution in the country is strongly related to the different ecoregions present in Paraguay, with number of species by ecoregion being as follow: Cerrado (18), Upper Parana Atlantic forest (6), Wet Chaco (4), Pantanal (2), and Dry Chaco (1). Half of the species display an acaulescent habit reflecting an interesting ecological adaptation to natural fires in the Cerrado. The alarming rate of habitat modification that the country is undergoing since 1940s has put palms under a high risk of extinction in the wild. A GIS model was used to calculate the extent of occurrence and the area of occupancy of the species in order to assess their conservation status applying the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. This analysis shows that about 30% of the species are threatened; one species is Critically Endangered, three of them are Endangered, and three are Vulnerable. One species (Acrocomia hassleri) is considered Near Threatened, 13 are Least Concern whereas two species are insufficiently known and therefore unable to be assessed. Important areas for palm conservation in Paraguay were identified, revealing the importance of the Amambay department. Conservation measures for the threatened species identified are proposed.     

Plants of common use in Paraguayan folk medicine for regulating fertility

Information on the use of plants for contraception and abortion inducement among the rural indigenous inhabitants of Paraguay was collected by surveying 223 obstetricians and 17 local vendors. Information obtained on 33 commonly used plants is presented in tabular form. For each plant, the table provides 1) the scientific name; 2) the local name; 3) the part of the plant used; 4) how the plant is prepared for consumption; 5) the quantity used, described as a bunch, a handful, a few roots, or pieces; and 6) the taste, described as either pleasant, bitter, or sour. 2 or more of these plants are frequently mixed and administered in combination. The proportions used in these combinations are not very exact. The plants are taken in combination either to create a more concentrated effect or to insure that at least one effective drug will be consumed. 14 of these combinations are presented.     

Trypanosoma cruzi from the Paraguayan Chaco: Isoenzyme Profiles of Strains Isolated at Makthlawaiya1

At Makthlawaiya, in the Paraguayan Chaco, the prevalence of Trypanosoma (Schizotrypanum) cruzi infection among both domestic Triatoma infestans and domestic dogs was 38%, and IgG anti-T. cruzi antibody was detected by the quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 80% (105/133) of human sera. Ninety percent (25/28) of T. cruzi strains isolated from both T. infestans and dogs showed heterozygous isoenzyme profiles for glucose phosphate isomerase, phosphoglucomutase and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase. These strains appeared to be closely related to Bolivian zymodeme 2. Three Paraguayan T. cruzi strains showed homozygous isoenzyme profiles, similar to those of major Brazilian zymodemes. It was concluded that T. cruzi strains with heterozygous isoenzyme profiles predominate in domestic transmission cycles in this highly endemic area of the Paraguayan Chaco.     

Trypanosoma cruzi from the Paraguayan Chaco: isoenzyme profiles of strains isolated at Makthlawaiya

At Makthlawaiya, in the Paraguayan Chaco, the prevalence of Trypanosoma (Schizotrypanum) cruzi infection among both domestic Triatoma infestans and domestic dogs was 38%, and IgG anti-T. cruzi antibody was detected by the quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 80% (105/133) of human sera. Ninety percent (25/28) of T. cruzi strains isolated from both T. infestans and dogs showed heterozygous isoenzyme profiles for glucose phosphate isomerase, phosphoglucomutase and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase. These strains appeared to be closely related to Bolivian zymodeme 2. Three Paraguayan T. cruzi strains showed homozygous isoenzyme profiles, similar to those of major Brazilian zymodemes. It was concluded that T. cruzi strains with heterozygous isoenzyme profiles predominate in domestic transmission cycles in this highly endemic area of the Paraguayan Chaco.     

Geographical ecology of Paraguayan bats: spatial integration and metacommunity structure of interacting assemblages

We examined the relative contributions of regional spatial characteristics and local environmental conditions in determining Paraguayan bat species composition. We used a suite of full and partial redundancy analyses to estimate four additive partitions of variance in bat species composition: (a) unexplained variation, (b) that explained purely by spatial characteristics, (c) that explained purely by local environmental conditions and (d) that explained jointly by space and environment. The spatial component to bat species composition was greater than the environmental component and both pure spatial and pure environmental characteristics accounted for significant amounts of variation in bat species composition. Results from variance decomposition suggest that the mass effects model describes metacommunity structure of Paraguayan bats better than species sorting or neutral models. Such mass effects may potentially be general for bats and could explain the inability of purely local factors to fully account for bat community organization. Mass effects also have substantial conservation implications because rescue effects may enhance the persistence of mobile species in fragmented landscapes with relatively few protected sites.     

Comparative rates of natural osteological disorders in a collection of Paraguayan birds

A Series of bird skeletons collected in areas of Paraguay without severe human distrubance were examined for ostelogocial abnormalities. The majority of pathological lesions were the result of tauma and a significant portion to the pectoral girdle. Several groups showed a relatively high prevalence rate, e.g. hawks and owls, which is presumably related to the method of food capture. The interpretation of the results is discussed in regards to zooarchaeological analysis for which it is important to separate natural rates of bone disorder from other potential influences before human-induced factors can be implicated.