Xenarthrans—anteaters, sloths, and armadillos—have essential functions for ecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts with domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, 10 anteaters, and 6 sloths. Our data set includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae (3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data on Dasypus pilosus (Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized, but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In this data paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence and quantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is from the southern United States, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to the austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n = 5,941), and Cyclopes sp. have the fewest (n = 240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n = 11,588), and the fewest data are recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n = 33). With regard to sloth species, Bradypus variegatus has the most records (n = 962), and Bradypus pygmaeus has the fewest (n = 12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to make occurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly if we integrate the xenarthran data with other data sets of Neotropical Series that will become available very soon (i.e., Neotropical Carnivores, Neotropical Invasive Mammals, and Neotropical Hunters and Dogs). Therefore, studies on trophic cascades, hunting pressure, habitat loss, fragmentation effects, species invasion, and climate change effects will be possible with the Neotropical Xenarthrans data set. Please cite this data paper when using its data in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us of how they are using these data.
Aim Environmental, spatial and historical dynamics are widely recognized as fundamental factors underlying community assembly along geographical gradients. We addressed the relative roles of these three processes on the taxonomic (TBD) and phylogenetic beta diversity (PBD) among 108 phyllostomid bat assemblages. Considering the bats’ dispersal abilities, niche requirements and tropical origin, we hypothesized that the current environmental parameters would explain most of the taxonomic and phylogenetic variation among these communities. Location Neotropics. Methods We assessed taxonomic and phylogenetic similarities among these 108 communities using species compositional data. To disentangle the effects of different processes structuring these assemblages, we conducted variance partitioning using distance‐based redundancy analyses. We also examined the spatial structure of these communities and used null models to test whether the assemblages are phylogenetically more or less dissimilar than would be expected by chance. Results Most of the variation in TBD and PBD was accounted for by spatial processes. Spatial influences were consistent for beta diversity components and for groups of species with distinct geographical range sizes. We observed a strong and non‐random spatial structure underlying the taxonomic and phylogenetic community composition. A pairwise comparison revealed that most communities had random variation with respect to phylogeny. Main conclusions Spatial processes were more effective than environmental and historical processes in explaining species and lineages composition of 108 Neotropical phyllostomid assemblages, a result that could be due to topographic complexities limiting species dispersal in this region, regardless of the bats’ dispersal capabilities. In contrast to previous studies of patterns of bat diversity at local and regional scales, our results suggest that the structure of bat assemblages is related to complementary ecological and evolutionary processes at different levels of diversity and geographical scales throughout the Neotropics.
Studies on bat ecology and distribution in the Brazilian Cerrado are scarce. Here we describe a bat assemblage from a savanna landscape in central Brazil and explore the richness, diversity, abundance and the influence of habitat and seasonality. We conducted 48 nights of sampling in both dry and wet seasons and in three habitat types. We estimated the richness and diversity indexes. We assessed the influence of habitat and season on species abundance with a generalized linear mixed model. Overall, we captured 254 individuals of 19 species and our effort sampled 90% of the estimated richness. The Phyllostomidae family was the most frequent, with 76.3% of all captures.
The giant anteater Myrmecophaga tridactyla is categorized as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, and is extinct in several locations as a result of environmental pressures. We present the first records of the giant anteater in the largest continuous expanse of the Atlantic Forest biome, in southern Brazil, highlighting its occurrence in the highlands of the Serra do Mar mountain range. During a camera-trapping survey of medium and large mammals we obtained two records of the species, one in 2013 and the other in 2014. These records from dense rainforest highlands indicate the importance of this environment for the giant anteater and highlight these areas as possible foci for future studies of the species. In addition, we present a review of the species’ occurrence in protected areas in Brazil, to provide a resource for the conservation of this species and for future re-evaluations.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.