Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear un derstanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5–7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8–11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world’s most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepre sented in biodiversity databases.13–15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may elim inate pieces of the Amazon’s biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological com munities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple or ganism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region’s vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most ne glected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lostinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time, and attempts to address it require a clear understanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space. While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes, vast areas of the tropics remain understudied. In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world's most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity, but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepresented in biodiversity databases. To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications may eliminate pieces of the Amazon's biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological communities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge, it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple organism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region's vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most neglected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lost

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear understanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5,6,7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8,9,10,11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world's most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepresented in biodiversity databases.13,14,15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may eliminate pieces of the Amazon's biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological communities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple organism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region's vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most neglected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lost

Evo-devo of non-bilaterian animals

The non-bilaterian animals comprise organisms in the phyla Porifera, Cnidaria, Ctenophora and Placozoa. These early-diverging phyla are pivotal to understanding the evolution of bilaterian animals. After the exponential increase in research in evolutionary development (evo-devo) in the last two decades, these organisms are again in the spotlight of evolutionary biology. In this work, I briefly review some aspects of the developmental biology of nonbilaterians that contribute to understanding the evolution of development and of the metazoans. The evolution of the developmental genetic toolkit, embryonic polarization, the origin of gastrulation and mesodermal cells, and the origin of neural cells are discussed. The possibility that germline and stem cell lineages have the same origin is also examined. Although a considerable number of non-bilaterian species are already being investigated, the use of species belonging to different branches of non-bilaterian lineages and functional experimentation with gene manipulation in the majority of the non-bilaterian lineages will be necessary for further progress in this field

Two new species of the genus Vosmaeropsis Dendy, 1892 (Porifera, Calcarea), with comments on the distribution of V. sericata (Ridley, 1881) along the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean

Cavalcanti, Fernanda F., Bastos, Nilma, Lanna, Emilio (2015): Two new species of the genus Vosmaeropsis Dendy, 1892 (Porifera, Calcarea), with comments on the distribution of V. sericata (Ridley, 1881) along the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean. Zootaxa 3956 (4): 476-490, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3956.4.

Three new species of the genus Paraleucilla Dendy, 1892 (Porifera, Calcarea) from the coast of Bahia State, Northeastern Brazil

Cavalcanti, Fernanda F., Menegola, Carla, Lanna, Emilio (2014): Three new species of the genus Paraleucilla Dendy, 1892 (Porifera, Calcarea) from the coast of Bahia State, Northeastern Brazil. Zootaxa 3764 (5): 537-554, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3764.5.

Paraleucilla Dendy 1892

Genus Paraleucilla Dendy, 1892 “ Amphoriscidae with leuconoid organization. The thick wall is divided into two regions. The outer region is supported by the skeleton which remains essentially inarticulated, with the apical actines of cortical tetractines pointed inwards, and a layer of triactines and/or tetractines with the unpaired actine pointed outwards. The inner region of the choanoskeleton is intercalated between the original subatrial skeleton and the atrial one, and it is supported by large triactines and/or tetractines, that are scattered in disarray, and whose form is similar to the spicules found in the outer layer of the choanoskeleton, or inside the atrial skeleton. Because the original subatrial layer still remains in the outer part of the choanosome, facing the cortical tetractines, there are no typical subatrial spicules adjacent to the atrial skeleton” (Borojevic et al. 2002).Published as part of Cavalcanti, Fernanda F., Menegola, Carla & Lanna, Emilio, 2014, Three new species of the genus Paraleucilla Dendy, 1892 (Porifera, Calcarea) from the coast of Bahia State, Northeastern Brazil, pp. 537-554 in Zootaxa 3764 (5) on page 539, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3764.5.3, http://zenodo.org/record/22494

Paraleucilla incomposita Cavalcanti, Menegola & Lanna, 2014, sp. nov.

Paraleucilla incomposita sp. nov. Etymology. From Latin incomposita, meaning “disorganized”. This refers to the wide inner region below the inarticulated skeleton (outer region), where spicules are present without any apparent organization. Diagnosis. Paraleucilla with a single apical osculum ornamented with a fringe of trichoxea. Several giant diactines protrude from its surface. The cortical skeleton is formed by a basal system of tetractines and by a few tangential triactines. Subatrial skeleton is composed of abundant tetractines and a small number of triactines. There are two categories of tetractines that can be easily distinguished from each other by the size of their apical actines. The inner region is wide. The atrial skeleton is composed of tetractines. Type material. Holotype: UFBA POR 4246. [Martim Pescador Reef, Arraial d’Ajuda (16 ° 29 ’S 39 °03’W), Bahia, Brazil; 14 /V/ 2012; depth: 3 meters; collected by Romário Guedes]. Type locality. Arraial d’Ajuda, Bahia, Brazil. Description. Tubular sponge (Figure 7 A) measuring 1.3 x 0.4 cm (osculum-basis axis and width, respectively). The surface is strongly hispid due to the presence of several diactines. Frequently, these spicules are broken close to the tip, but some of them have a sharp tip projecting through the sponge surface. The osculum is apical and ornamented with a short fringe of trichoxeas (Figure 7 B). There are several layers of sagittal triactines at the base of the fringe. They are in part covered by the diactines from the sponge surface. The atrial cavity is large and hispid. The aquiferous system is leuconoid. Giant diactines project through the sponge surface. These spicules penetrate the choanosome (Figure 7 C). The cortical skeleton is composed of a basal system of tetractines and a few triactines arranged tangentially to the cortex. The choanoskeleton has trichoxea and is divided into an inarticulated (outer) region and a disorganized (inner) region (Figures 7 D, E). The former is composed mainly by the apical actines of the cortical tetractines and by the unpaired actines of two categories of subatrial tetractines, as well as by a few subatrial triactines. These latter spicule categories are larger than the cortical spicules. The inner (disorganized) region is well developed. It has scattered spicules that are similar to the large subatrial tetractines and triactines mentioned above. The atrial skeleton is composed of small tetractines, which project their apical actines into the atrial cavity (Figure 7 F). Spicules: (Table 3). Cortical triactines (Figure 8 A): The actines range from cylindrical to slightly conical and blunt. The paired actines are commonly curved. Their size is variable. [Paired actines: 150 – 225.3 ± 49.0 – 300 / 22.2 ± 7.3 µm; unpaired actine: 130 – 233.3 ± 52.9 – 340 / 22.2 ± 6.8 µm (n= 1 specimen)]. Cortical tetractines (Figure 8 B): Actines are slightly conical and sharp. In general, the basal actines are regular, and the paired actines are slightly curved. The apical actine is straight and variable in size. [Paired actines – 110 – 190.7 ± 46.2 – 340 / 17.5 ± 2.5 µm; unpaired actine – 130 – 217.7 ± 34.8 – 270 / 22.3 ± 3.1 µm; apical actine: 80 – 209.0 ± 56.7 – 320 / 18.5 ± 2.3 µm (n= 1 specimen)]. Subatrial tetractine I (Figures 4 F-H; 8 C): Actines are slightly conical and blunt. The basal actines are equiangular and equiradiated. The paired actines are straight or slightly curved. The apical actine is thick and shorter than the basal actines. [Paired actines: 210 – 271.7 ± 23.9 – 320 / 28.5 ± 4.6 µm; unpaired actine: 200 – 283.3 ± 36.6 – 370 / 30.0 ± 3.7 µm; apical actine: 140 – 162.5 ± 26.3 – 200 / 25.0 ± 4.1 µm (n= 1 specimen)]. Subatrial tetractine II (Figure 8 D): Size is variable (see Figure 4 F-H), but all actines are slightly conical and blunt. The basal actines are regular or sagittal, and the unpaired actine is longer than the paired actines. The apical actine is thin and very short; it is sometimes vestigial. [Paired actines: 150 – 223.0 ± 36.2 – 320 / 19.0 ± 3.3 µm; unpaired actine: 170 – 255.3 ± 45.3 – 330 / 21.0 ± 4.4 µm; apical actine: [20 – 36.7 ± 10.3 – 60 / 11.7 ± 2.4 µm (n= 1 specimen)]. Subatrial triactines (Figure 8 E): Regular. All actines are slightly conical with blunt tips. The paired actines are slightly curved. [Paired actines: 220 – 260.8 ± 19.7 – 290 / 24.2 ± 3.6 µm; unpaired actine: 210 – 281.7 ± 40.9 – 350 / 24.6 ± 4.0 µm (n= 1 specimen)]. Atrial tetractine (Figure 8 F): All actines are cylindrical and sharp. The unpaired actine is often shorter than the paired actines, but spicules with a regular basal system can also be found. The apical actine is long and straight or slightly curved. [Paired actines: 130 – 211.7 ± 30.6 – 260 / 10.3 ± 1.3 µm; unpaired actine: 100 – 169.7 ± 28.3 – 220 / 11.2 ± 2.1 µm; apical actine: 40 – 119.0 ± 34.0 – 190 / 10.0 ± 0.0 µm (n= 1 specimen)]. Diactines (Figure 8 G): Fusiform and slightly curved. The tips are sharp, but in some spicules the tip that is inserted in the sponge (the proximal tip) is thicker than the other tip (the distal one) and is blunt. [975 – 1431.2 ± 447.5 – 2300 / 34.4 ± 9.4 µm (n= 1 specimen)]. Trichoxea: Thin and long. Spicule Actine Length (µm) Width (µm) N Mean SD Mean SD Cortical triactine paired 225.3 49.0 22.2 7.3 30 unpaired 233.3 52.9 22.2 6.8 30 Cortical tetractine paired 190.7 46.2 17.5 2.5 30 unpaired 217.7 34.8 22.3 3.1 30 apical 209.0 56.7 18.5 2.3 30 Subatrial tetractine I paired 271.7 23.9 28.5 4.6 30 unpaired 283.3 36.6 30.0 3.7 30 apical 162.5 26.3 25.0 4.1 0 4 Subatrial tetractine II paired 223.0 36.2 19.0 3.3 30 unpaired 255.3 45.3 21.0 4.4 30 apical 36.7 10.3 11.7 2.4 30 Subatrial triactine paired 260.8 19.7 24.2 3.6 12 unpaired 281.7 40.9 24.6 4.0 12 Atrial tetractine paired 211.7 30.6 10.3 1.3 30 unpaired 169.7 28.3 11.2 2.1 30 apical 119.0 34.0 10.0 0.0 30 Diactine -- 1431.2 447.5 34.4 9.4 12 Ecology. This specimen was found attached to a rodophyte macroalga. Remarks. Paraleucilla incomposita sp. nov., like P. perlucida and P. princeps, has an atrial skeleton composed exclusively of tetractines. Paraleucilla perlucida can be easily differentiated from P. incomposita sp. nov. by its diactines, which are always organized into tufts, whereas in the diactines of P. incomposita sp. nov. are dispersed in the skeleton. In addition, the size of these diactines is also different between species [P. perlucida: 175 – 303.6 ± 127.4 – 562.5 / 11.8 ± 1.2 µm; P. incomposita sp. nov: 975 – 1431.2 ± 447.5 – 2300 / 34.4 ± 9.4 µm]. Paraleucilla princeps and P. incomposita sp. nov. can be distinguished mainly by the compositions of their subatrial skeletons: P. princeps has one category of tetractines, while P. incomposita sp. nov. has two categories of tetractines and one category of triactines (the latter is not abundant; Figures 4 F-G; Figures 8 C-E). In addition, the size of the apical actine on each atrial tetractine is different [P. princeps: 180 – 450 / 8 –12 µm; P. incomposita sp. nov.: 40 – 119.0 ± 34.0 – 190 / 10 ± 0.0 µm]. Of the new species described here, P. incomposita sp. nov. is the only one with abundant giant diactines (that are never organized in tufts) projecting through its surface. Moreover, it is the only species with tangential triactines on its surface, and with an atrial skeleton composed exclusively of tetractines. The choanoskeletal composition (number of spicule categories, and their size and shape; Figure 4; Tables 1-3) also differs between these three new species.Published as part of Cavalcanti, Fernanda F., Menegola, Carla & Lanna, Emilio, 2014, Three new species of the genus Paraleucilla Dendy, 1892 (Porifera, Calcarea) from the coast of Bahia State, Northeastern Brazil, pp. 537-554 in Zootaxa 3764 (5) on pages 547-550, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3764.5.3, http://zenodo.org/record/22494