NEOTROPICAL XENARTHRANS: a data set of occurrence of xenarthran species in the Neotropics

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 24 domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, ten anteaters, and six sloths. Our dataset 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 south of the USA, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to its austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n=5,941), and Cyclopes sp. has the fewest (n=240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n=11,588), and the least recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n=33). With regards 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 datasets of Neotropical Series which 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 dataset

Diet of the Short-eared Owl in northwestern Argentina

Volume: 35Start Page: 68End Page: 6

The last stronghold of Muñoa's Pampas cat (Leopardus munoai) in Argentina?

The Muñoa's Pampas cat (Leopardus munoai) is a relatively understudied species restricted to open savannas and grasslands of Southern Brazil, Uruguay and NE Argentina, that has been recently split from the broader “Pampas cat” species complex. Only three documented records of the species have been published since the year 2000 for the Argentine portion of its distribution, a situation that led to speculations regarding its conservation status in Argentina. We conducted an intensive camera-trap survey (2,067 camera-trapping stations and 15,560 camera-trapping days) to assess the presence of the Muñoa's Pampas cat in an area of 275.3 km2 within the Iberá National Park and the adjacent Iberá National Reserve, Corrientes province, Argentina. Four records of Muñoa's Pampas cat were obtained, representing at least two adults and one young individual. Only one camera-trapping record of this species had been previously obtained in Argentina, during a survey carried out in 2009 in the same study area, despite an important camera-trapping effort in the Corrientes province. All camera-trap records of Muñoa's Pampas cat in Argentina are concentrated in areas of temporally flooded grasslands locally known as “Malezales”, suggesting that this habitat type is critically important for the conservation of this rare felid. The Iberá National Park and the adjacent Iberá National Reserve provide the adequate framework for the conservation of an important piece of habitat for Muñoa's Pampas cat and constitute a stronghold for the species in Argentina.Fil: Distel, Augusto. No especifíca;Fil: Di Bitetti, Mario Santiago. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Instituto de Biología Subtropical; ArgentinaFil: Cirignoli, S.. Administración de Parques Nacionales; ArgentinaFil: Di Blanco, Yamil Edgardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Instituto de Biología Subtropical; ArgentinaFil: Pereira, Javier Adolfo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; Argentin

Tree monocultures in biodiversity hotspots: impact of pine plantations on the mammal assemblages of the Atlantic Forest and the Southern Cone Mesopotamian Savanna ecoregions of South America

Large scale plantations of exotic trees (mostly Pinus and Eucalyptus) are replacing vast areas of native environments in South America, with still poorly known consequences on local communities. This is particularly worrisome in endangered ecoregions of high biodiversity that contain endemic and endangered species. This study was aimed at assessing the effects of pine plantations on the mammal assemblages of NE Argentina, in areas where plantations are rapidly increasing. We evaluated the effects of the native forest replacement by non-native pine (Pinus sp.) plantations on the composition of the assemblages of terrestrial mammals in two forest productive landscapes. In the first study area, of approximately 5,000 km2 and located in the endangered Atlantic Forest of N Misiones province, we deployed 184 camera-trap stations in three different "treatments": 53 in continuous forest, 69 in forest fragments and 62 in tree plantations. In the second, of approximately 20,000 km2 and located in the vulnerable Southern Cone Mesopotamian Savanna ecoregion of NE Corrientes province and S Misiones, we deployed 234 camera-trap stations: 35 in grasslands without cattle, 54 in grasslands with cattle, 35 in forests without cattle, 19 in forests with cattle, 54 in pine plantations without cattle and 37 in plantations with cattle. We used NMDS and PERMANOVA to assess the effect of the treatment, the structural complexity of the vegetation, the presence of cattle (in Corrientes) and several landscape variables (cost-distance to the continuous forest in Misiones, the percentage of different environments within different radiuses, and the cost of human access as a proxy for hunting pressure) on species composition. We recorded 34 species (4735 records) in Misiones and the same number of species (4460 records) in Corrientes. Mean recording rate (a proxy of relative abundance or activity) and richness were much lower in pine plantations than in natural environments in both landscapes (e.g., mean mammal richness per station in Misiones was (X±SD) 7.54±2.65 species in continuous forest, 5.97±2.46 in fragments and 3.39±1.90 in plantations). In both landscapes mammal composition was affected by treatment, the proportion of native environments in the landscape, and human access. In Misiones, the distance to the continuous forest also had a strong effect on the compositions of the assemblage. Different management practices (e.g. pruning and thinning), the presence-absence of cattle and landscape features can partially mitigate the negative effect of tree plantations on mammal assemblages. Large areas of native environments that function as population sources and forest fragments immersed in the matrix of plantations (in Misiones) are necessary to preserve the original native mammal assemblage at the landscape level. Promoting connectivity of the native environments and improving hunting controls will also mitigate negative impacts.peerReviewe