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

Consumo, digestibilidade e desempenho de novilhas alimentadas com casca de café em substituição à silagem de milho Intake, digestibility and performance of dairy heifers fed coffee hulls replacing of corn silage

Objetivou-se avaliar a substituição da silagem de milho pela casca de café em dietas de novilhas leiteiras sobre os consumos, as digestibilidades aparentes totais dos nutrientes e o desempenho dos animais. Foram utilizadas 24 novilhas holandesas, puras e mestiças, distribuídas, de acordo com o peso inicial dos animais, em delineamento em blocos casualizados com quatro tratamentos (níveis de casca de café: 0,0; 7,0; 14,0 e 21,0% na base da MS total) e seis repetições. Diariamente, todas as novilhas foram alimentadas com 2 kg de concentrado. Os consumos de MS aumentaram linearmente, enquanto os consumos de matéria natural (MN) não foram influenciados pela inclusão de casca de café nas dietas. O aumento no consumo de MS foi de aproximadamente 20 g para cada unidade de casca de café adicionada na dieta (% MS) e o consumo médio de MN foi de 13,84 kg/dia. As digestibilidades de MS, MO, PB, CT e FDN e a concentração de NDT das dietas reduziram linearmente com a substituição da silagem de milho pela casca de café, observando-se redução de 0,158 unidades percentuais na digestibilidade da MS para cada unidade de casca de café adicionada na dieta (% MS). A inclusão de casca de café afetou de modo negativo o ganho de peso, que reduziu linearmente (5,51 g de PV por unidade de casca de café adicionada a dieta) conforme aumentaram os níveis de casca de café em substituição a silagem de milho. Em dietas para novilhas leiteiras, a casca de café pode substituir a silagem de milho em níveis de até 14% na MS total.<br>The objective was to evaluate the replacement corn silage by coffee hulls in the diet on performance, total apparent digestibility of dairy heifers. Twenty-four dairy Holstein heifers, purebred and crossbred, were assigned, according to animal initial weight, to a randomized block design with four treatments (Coffee hulls levels: 0.0, 7.0, 14.0, and 21.0% DM basis) and six replicates. All heifers were daily fed 2.0 kg concentrate. DM intake linearly increased, while fresh matter (FM) intake was not affected by the inclusion of coffee hulls in the diets. The increment of DM intake was approximately 20 g per unit of coffee hulls added to the diet (% DM) and the average intake of FM was 13.84 kg/d. Digestibilities of DM, OM, CP, CHO, NDF and the concentration of NDT in the diet linearly decreased with the replacement of corn silage by coffee hulls, observing a reduction of 0.158 percent units in the digestibility of the DM per unit of coffee hulls added to the diet (% DM). The inclusion of coffee hulls negatively affected the weight gain that linearly decrease (5.51g BW) per unit of coffee hulls added to the diet), as the coffee hulls levels increased, in replacement of corn silage. Coffee hulls could replace corn silage up to 14% level, DM basis, in diets for dairy heifers

Brazilian Flora 2020: Leveraging the power of a collaborative scientific network

International audienceThe shortage of reliable primary taxonomic data limits the description of biological taxa and the understanding of biodiversity patterns and processes, complicating biogeographical, ecological, and evolutionary studies. This deficit creates a significant taxonomic impediment to biodiversity research and conservation planning. The taxonomic impediment and the biodiversity crisis are widely recognized, highlighting the urgent need for reliable taxonomic data. Over the past decade, numerous countries worldwide have devoted considerable effort to Target 1 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC), which called for the preparation of a working list of all known plant species by 2010 and an online world Flora by 2020. Brazil is a megadiverse country, home to more of the world's known plant species than any other country. Despite that, Flora Brasiliensis, concluded in 1906, was the last comprehensive treatment of the Brazilian flora. The lack of accurate estimates of the number of species of algae, fungi, and plants occurring in Brazil contributes to the prevailing taxonomic impediment and delays progress towards the GSPC targets. Over the past 12 years, a legion of taxonomists motivated to meet Target 1 of the GSPC, worked together to gather and integrate knowledge on the algal, plant, and fungal diversity of Brazil. Overall, a team of about 980 taxonomists joined efforts in a highly collaborative project that used cybertaxonomy to prepare an updated Flora of Brazil, showing the power of scientific collaboration to reach ambitious goals. This paper presents an overview of the Brazilian Flora 2020 and provides taxonomic and spatial updates on the algae, fungi, and plants found in one of the world's most biodiverse countries. We further identify collection gaps and summarize future goals that extend beyond 2020. Our results show that Brazil is home to 46,975 native species of algae, fungi, and plants, of which 19,669 are endemic to the country. The data compiled to date suggests that the Atlantic Rainforest might be the most diverse Brazilian domain for all plant groups except gymnosperms, which are most diverse in the Amazon. However, scientific knowledge of Brazilian diversity is still unequally distributed, with the Atlantic Rainforest and the Cerrado being the most intensively sampled and studied biomes in the country. In times of “scientific reductionism”, with botanical and mycological sciences suffering pervasive depreciation in recent decades, the first online Flora of Brazil 2020 significantly enhanced the quality and quantity of taxonomic data available for algae, fungi, and plants from Brazil. This project also made all the information freely available online, providing a firm foundation for future research and for the management, conservation, and sustainable use of the Brazilian funga and flora