RESUMEN
Synchronous monocarpy in long-lived plants is often associated with pollination by wind, in part because infrequent mass flowering may satiate pollinators. Selfing in synchronous monocarps may provide reproductive assurance but conflict with the benefits of outcrossing, a key evolutionary driver of synchrony. We predicted that animal-pollinated species with synchronous flowering would have unspecialised flowers and attract abundant generalised pollinators, but predictions for selfing and outcrossing frequencies were not obvious. We examined the pollination biology of Isoglossa woodii (Acanthaceae), an insect-pollinated, monocarpic herb that flowers synchronously at 4-7-year intervals. The most frequent visitor to I. woodii flowers was the African honeybee, Apis mellifera adansonii. Hand-pollination failed to enhance seed production, indicating that the pollinators were not saturated. No seed was set in the absence of pollinators. Seed set was similar among selfed and outcrossed flowers, demonstrating a geitonogamous mixed-mating strategy with no direct evidence of preferential outcrossing. Flowers contained four ovules, but most fruits only developed one seed, raising the possibility that preferential outcrossing occurs by post-pollination processes. We argue that a number of the theoretical concerns about geitonogamous selfing as a form of reproductive assurance do not apply to a long-lived synchronous monocarp such as I. woodii.
Asunto(s)
Acanthaceae/fisiología , Abejas , Polinización , Animales , Flores/anatomía & histología , Flores/fisiología , Reproducción , SudáfricaRESUMEN
The variety of services provided by clergy on behalf of mentally retarded persons and their families was investigated. Rating scales, administered during semi-structured interviews, were used with a diverse sample of 40 pastors to explore: services already provided; willingness to undertake other services; felt competence to provide the services on a comprehensive list; suggestions for dividing the responsibility for each service among parents, clergy, and secular professionals. The data displayed a wide range of services provided by the sample as a whole, revealed substantial individual differences, and showed clear preferences for some areas of service over others. Involvement in a given area was strongly associated with feelings of competence but not feelings of responsibility. Relationships with secular specialists and prospects for enhancing the clergy's involvement were discussed.
Asunto(s)
Clero/psicología , Discapacidad Intelectual/terapia , Relaciones Profesional-Familia , Adulto , Anciano , Atención a la Salud , Humanos , Discapacidad Intelectual/psicología , Persona de Mediana Edad , Cuidado Pastoral , Responsabilidad SocialRESUMEN
Biliary pleural fistula is an uncommon but potentially fatal complication of hepatic trauma. We report successful surgical management of such a problem in a 13-year-old along with a review of the literature, the importance of the demonstration of bile in a pleural effusion after thoracentesis in the diagnosis, and of an aggressive approach in management of biliary pleural fistulas.