Marco Fábio Maia Corrêa

Feeding ecology and trophic comparisons of six shark species in a coastal ecosystem off southern Brazil.

The diets of six shark species, Sphyrna lewini, Sphyrna zygaena, Carcharhinus obscurus, Carcharhinus limbatus, Rhizoprionodon lalandii and Galeocerdo cuvier, were investigated in a subtropical coastal ecosystem of southern Brazil. Stomach content data were obtained to assess foraging niche segregation and ontogenetic shifts in the diets of these sharks. Five of the shark species off the Paraná coast were ichthyophagous, with the exception of S. zygaena, which was teutophagous. With the exception of G. cuvier, which had a generalist diet, the other five species displayed specialization in their feeding. Ontogenetic shifts were observed in C. obscurus and S. lewini with large individuals consuming elasmobranchs. Owing to the diet overlap between C. obscurus and S. lewini, C. obscurus and C. limbatus and R. lalandii and C. limbatus, future studies on the spatial and temporal distributions of these species are needed to understand the extent of competitive interactions.

Feeding comparisons of four batoids (Elasmobranchii) in coastal waters of southern Brazil

Food partitioning between species is a common strategy for avoiding resource competition which allows the coexistence of two or more species in the same place. In order to evaluate the feeding of four species of batoids regularly caught by artisanal fisheries in southern Brazil, the present study aimed to analyse and compare the diet of the four batoid species. The Chola guitarfish, Rhinobatos percellens , had a specialized diet, consisting predominantly of blue crabs Callinectes sp., followed by teleost fish. The Lesser guitarfish Zapteryx brevirostris also had a very specialized diet, consuming mainly on Polychaeta, followed by Caridea shrimp. The Cownose ray, Rhinoptera bonasus , fed mainly on Ophiuroidea, followed by Gastropoda and Bivalvia. Finally, the Rio skate Rioraja agassizi , fed on teleost fish, Gammaridae, Caridea shrimp and Dendrobranchiata shrimp. An analysis of similarity showed significant differences among species in their diet. The trophic levels of the batoids in this study are

Postoperative topical analgesia of hemorrhoidectomy with policresulen and cinchocaine: a prospective and controlled study

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of topical policresulen and cinchocaine in the postoperative pain behavior of open hemorrhoidectomy. METHODS We conducted a prospective, double-blinded, controlled study. The control group received the usual guidelines with oral medications. The topical treatment group received, in addition, the application of the ointment and was comprised of two subgroups (policresulen + cinchocaine, and placebo). Pain intensity was recorded with the visual analogue scale. RESULTS 43 patients were operated on: control group - n = 13, one excluded; placebo - n = 15; and policresulen + cinchocaine - n = 15. The mean age was 45.98 years and 37.2% were men. The average pain intensity was 4.09 (immediate postoperative), 3.22 (hospital discharge), 5.73 (day 1) , 5.77 (day 2), 5.74 (day 3), 5.65 (day 7), 5.11 (day 10), 2.75 (day 15) and 7.70 (first bowel movement), with no difference between groups in all periods. CONCLUSION This study showed no reduction in pain after hemorrhoidectomy with the use of topical policresulen and cinchocaine.