Thermal niche helps to explain the ability of dung beetles to exploit disturbed habitats

In terrestrial ecosystems, insects face a wide range of temperatures among habitats and time; consequently, the thermal niche is one of the main determinants of habitat selection and temporal patterns of activity. The replacement of native forests changes micro-climatic conditions and reduces the diversity of dung beetles; however, the physiological mechanisms behind these changes are not clear. We explore the role of the thermal niche in dung beetles to explain the ability of native species to exploit human-created habitats. Using infrared thermography, we measured variables associated with the thermal niche in 17 native species and used linear mixed-effects model and ANOVAs to compare disturbed habitats and the native forest. Endothermy and body mass explained the ability of dung beetles to exploit human-created open habitats. Small and diurnal species with very low endothermy were able to exploit deforested open habitats; evening/nocturnal/crepuscular species showed similar body mass and high endothermy in all habitats. Regarding thermoregulation mechanisms, none of the species (except one) showed defined or efficient mechanisms of physiological thermoregulation. In view of the accelerated process of forest replacement and climate change, a more profound understanding of the physiological requirements of species is essential to predict and mitigate future extinctions.Financial support was provided by CONICET (Project UE IBS # 22920160100130CO to M. Di Bitteti), UCAR-MAGyP (BIO 23, PIA 10105-14057 to G. Zurita) and ANPCyT (PICT-PRH 2702 to G. Zurita)

Key factors affecting trophic preferences and diversity of dung beetles in the Atlantic forest of Argentina: a conservation proposal

La sustitución de ecosistemas naturales es una de las principales causas de pérdida de biodiversidad, ya que modifica las condiciones climáticas y recursos alimenticios para los organismos. En este trabajo se muestran los resultados de dos estudios ya publicados en el Bosque Atlántico de Argentina, uno asociado con el efecto de la perturbación de ecosistemas naturales sobre las preferencias tróficas de coleópteros copro-necrófagos y el otro asociado con el efecto de diferentes factores (presencia/ausencia de cobertura de dosel arbóreo, presencia/ausencia de ganado y vegetación nativa o exótica) sobre su riqueza y composición. En ambos estudios los coleópteros copro-necrófagos fueron muestreados en bosque nativo y cuatro usos de la tierra. Los resultados muestran que la perturbación ambiental afecta, en parte, a la preferencia trófica de coleópteros copro-necrófagos, ya que algunos tienden a tolerar las nuevas condiciones tróficas mientras que otros no, y que la pérdida de cobertura de dosel arbóreo es el factor principal que afecta su diversidad. La conclusión de este trabajo es que la perturbación antrópica afecta las preferencias tróficas y la diversidad de coleópteros copro-necrófagos, sobre todo en aquellos ambientes que pierden la cobertura de dosel arbóreo, por lo que su mantenimiento es la principal recomendación de manejo sugerida en este trabajo.The replacement of natural ecosystems is one of the main causes of biodiversity loss, since it modifies climatic conditions and food resources for organisms. This work presents the results of two previous studies performed in the Atlantic Forest of Argentina, one evaluating the influence of human disturbance on dung beetles trophic preferences and the other dealing with the effects of different factors (presence/absence of canopy cover, presence/absence livestock and native or exotic vegetation) on dung beetles diversity (both richness and composition). In both studies dung beetles were sampled in native forest and under four land uses. The results show that environmental disturbance affects the trophic preference of dung beetles; some species were able to tolerate and exploit new resources while others became locally extinct. The second main result was that the absence of canopy is the main factor impacting dung beetles diversity. Human disturbance affects trophic preferences and the diversity of dung beetles, particularly in those land uses where the canopy was eliminated, therefore their conservation is the main recommendation suggested in this work.Los financiamientos utilizados para llevar a cabo los estudios presentados en este trabajo son los siguientes: CONICET (Proyecto UE IBS # 22920160100130CO otorgado a Mario Di Bitetti), UCAR-MAGyP (BIO 23, PIA 10105-14057 otorgados a Gustavo Zurita) y ANPCyT (PICT-PRH 2702 otorgado a Gustavo Zurita)

Populations and assemblages living on the edge: dung beetles responses to forests-pasture ecotones

Edge effects alter insect biodiversity in several ways. However, we still have a limited understanding on simultaneous responses of ecological populations and assemblages to ecotones, especially in human modified landscapes. We analyze edge effects on dung beetle populations and assemblages between livestock pastures and native temperate forests (Juniperus and pine-oak forests (POFs)) to describe how species abundances and assemblage parameters respond to edge effects through gradients in forest-pasture ecotones. In Juniperus forest 13 species avoided the ecotones: six species showed greater abundance in forest interior and seven in pasturelands, while the other two species had a neutral response to the edge. In a different way, in POF we found five species avoiding the edge (four with greater abundance in pastures and only one in forest), two species had a neutral response, and two showed a unimodal pattern of abundance near to the edge. At the assemblage level edge effects are masked, as species richness, diversity, functional richness, functional evenness, and compositional incidence dissimilarity did not vary along forest-pasture ecotones. However, total abundance and functional divergence showed higher values in pastures in one of the two sampling localities. Also, assemblage similarity based on species’ abundance showed a peak near to the edge in POF. We propose that conservation efforts in human-managed landscapes should focus on mitigating current and delayed edge effects. Ecotone management will be crucial in livestock dominated landscapes to conserve regional biodiversity and the environmental services carried out by dung beetles

Retail Indicators Forecasting and Planning

We present a methodology to handle the problem of planning sales goals. The methodology supports the retail manager to carry out simulations to find the most plausible goals for the future. One of the novel aspects of this methodology is that the analysis is based not on current sales levels, as most previous works do, but on those in the future, making a more precise and accurate analysis of the situation. The work presents the solution for a scenario using three sales performance indicators: foot traffic, conversion rate and ticket mean value for sales, but it explains how it can be generalized to more indicators. The contribution of this work is in the first place a framework, which consists of a methodology for performing sales planning, then, an algorithm, which finds the best prediction model for a particular store, and finally, a tool, which helps sales planners to set realistic sales goals based on the predicted sales.  First we present the method to choose the best indicator prediction model for each retail store and then we present a tool which allows the retail manager estimate the improvements on the indicators in order to attain a desired sales goal level; the managers may then perform several simulations for various scenarios in a fast and efficient way. The developed tool implementing this methodology was validated by experts in the subject of administration of retail stores yielding good results

Integrating Decision-Making Support in Geocollaboration Tools

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Synthesis, Experimental and Theoretical Study of Azidochromones

A series of 2-(haloalkyl)-3-azidomethyl and 6-azido chromones has been synthetized, characterized and studied by theoretical (DFT calculations) and spectroscopic methods (UV-Vis, NMR). The crystal structure of 3-azidomethyl-2-difluoromethyl chromone, determined by X-ray diffraction methods, shows a planar framework due to extended π-bond delocalization. Its molecular packing is stabilized by F∙∙∙H, N∙∙∙H and O∙∙∙H hydrogen bonds, π∙∙∙π stacking and C–O∙∙∙π intermolecular interactions. Moreover, AIM, NCI and Hirshfeld analysis evidenced that azido moiety has a significant role in the stabilization of crystal packing through weak intermolecular interactions, where analysis of electronic density suggested closed-shell (CS) interatomic interactions.Centro de Química InorgánicaInstituto de Física La Plat

The World Spider Trait database : a centralised global open repository for curated data on spider traits

Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press.Spiders are a highly diversified group of arthropods and play an important role in terrestrial ecosystems as ubiquitous predators, which makes them a suitable group to test a variety of eco-evolutionary hypotheses. For this purpose, knowledge of a diverse range of species traits is required. Until now, data on spider traits have been scattered across thousands of publications produced for over two centuries and written in diverse languages. To facilitate access to such data, we developed an online database for archiving and accessing spider traits at a global scale. The database has been designed to accommodate a great variety of traits (e.g. ecological, behavioural and morphological) measured at individual, species or higher taxonomic levels. Records are accompanied by extensive metadata (e.g. location and method). The database is curated by an expert team, regularly updated and open to any user. A future goal of the growing database is to include all published and unpublished data on spider traits provided by experts worldwide and to facilitate broad cross-taxon assays in functional ecology and comparative biology. Database URL:https://spidertraits.sci.muni.cz/.Peer reviewe

The World Spider Trait database: a centralized global open repository for curated data on spider traits

Spiders are a highly diversified group of arthropods and play an important role in terrestrial ecosystems as ubiquitous predators, which makes them a suitable group to test a variety of eco-evolutionary hypotheses. For this purpose, knowledge of a diverse range of species traits is required. Until now, data on spider traits have been scattered across thousands of publications produced for over two centuries and written in diverse languages. To facilitate access to such data, we developed an online database for archiving and accessing spider traits at a global scale. The database has been designed to accommodate a great variety of traits (e.g. ecological, behavioural and morphological) measured at individual, species or higher taxonomic levels. Records are accompanied by extensive metadata (e.g. location and method). The database is curated by an expert team, regularly updated and open to any user. A future goal of the growing database is to include all published and unpublished data on spider traits provided by experts worldwide and to facilitate broad cross-taxon assays in functional ecology and comparative biology.Fil: Pekár, Stano. Masaryk University; República ChecaFil: Wolff, Jonas O. University of Greifswald; AlemaniaFil: Cernecká, L'udmila. Slovak Academy of Sciences; ArgentinaFil: Birkhofer, Klaus. Brandenburgische Technische Universität Cottbus; AlemaniaFil: Mammola, Stefano. University of Helsinki; FinlandiaFil: Lowe, Elizabeth C.. Macquarie University; AustraliaFil: Fukushima, Caroline S.. University of Helsinki; FinlandiaFil: Herberstein, Marie E.. Macquarie University; AustraliaFil: Kucera, Adam. Masaryk University; República ChecaFil: Buzatto, Bruno A.. University of Western Australia; AustraliaFil: Djoudi, El Aziz. Brandenburgische Technische Universität Cottbus; AlemaniaFil: Domenech, Marc. Universidad de Barcelona; EspañaFil: Enciso, Alison Vanesa. Fundación Protectora Ambiental Planadas Tolima; ColombiaFil: Piñanez Espejo, Yolanda María Guadalupe. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Posadas | Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Posadas; ArgentinaFil: Febles, Sara. No especifíca;Fil: García, Luis F. Universidad de la República; UruguayFil: Gonçalves Souza, Thiago. Universidad Federal Rural Pernambuco; BrasilFil: Isaia, Marco. Università di Torino; ItaliaFil: Lafage, Denis. Universite de Rennes I; FranciaFil: Líznarová, Eva. Masaryk University; República ChecaFil: Macías Hernández, Nuria. Universidad de La Laguna; EspañaFil: Fiorini de Magalhaes, Ivan Luiz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; ArgentinaFil: Malumbres Olarte, Jagoba. Universidade Dos Açores; PortugalFil: Michálek, Ondrej. Masaryk University; República ChecaFil: Michalik, Peter. ERNST MORITZ ARNDT UNIVERSITÄT GREIFSWALD (UG);Fil: Michalko, Radek. No especifíca;Fil: Milano, Filippo. Università di Torino; ItaliaFil: Munévar, Ana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Puerto Iguazú | Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Puerto Iguazú; ArgentinaFil: Nentwig, Wolfgang. University of Bern; SuizaFil: Nicolosi, Giuseppe. Università di Torino; ItaliaFil: Painting, Christina J. No especifíca;Fil: Pétillon, Julien. Universite de Rennes I; FranciaFil: Piano, Elena. Università di Torino; ItaliaFil: Privet, Kaïna. Universite de Rennes I; FranciaFil: Ramirez, Martin Javier. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; ArgentinaFil: Ramos, Cândida. No especifíca;Fil: Rezác, Milan. No especifíca;Fil: Ridel, Aurélien. Universite de Rennes I; FranciaFil: Ruzicka, Vlastimil. No especifíca;Fil: Santos, Irene. No especifíca;Fil: Sentenská, Lenka. Masaryk University; República ChecaFil: Walker, Leilani. No especifíca;Fil: Wierucka, Kaja. Universitat Zurich; SuizaFil: Zurita, Gustavo Andres. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Posadas | Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Posadas; ArgentinaFil: Cardoso, Pedro. No especifíca

L.Loss and fragmentation of the paranaense forest: effects on diurnal raptors

Las aves rapaces constituyen un grupo potencialmente sensible a la pérdida y la fragmentación de su ambiente natural debido a sus requerimientos de hábitat extensos y a su baja densidad poblacional. Sin embargo, las rapaces parecen responder de modo diferente a la pérdida del hábitat en ecosistemas templados (donde se observan pocos efectos) y en selvas tropicales y subtropicales (con efectos más marcados). El objetivo de este trabajo es estudiar la respuesta de un grupo de aves rapaces diurnas a la pérdida y la fragmentación de la Selva Paranaense. La Selva Atlántica o Selva Paranaense en Argentina y Paraguay ha sido drásticamente reemplazada y en la actualidad solo permanece menos del 7% de su cobertura original. En relevamientos que cubrieron 4300 km2 de selva con distintos niveles de degradación y usos de la tierra, se registró un total de 14 especies de aves rapaces diurnas. Cinco especies fueron afectadas por la pérdida y la fragmentación de la selva, ya que solo fueron registradas en paisajes con una cobertura de selva mayor al 60%. Siete especies fueron registradas en paisajes con baja y alta cobertura de selva, mientras que dos especies propias de ambientes abiertos incrementaron su abundancia al aumentar la superficie de selva deforestada. La baja capacidad de las rapaces de selva para utilizar las matrices humanas, en comparación con la de especies de ecosistemas templados, sería uno de los factores que determinan la alta sensibilidad de estos ensambles. La conservación de las rapaces en la Selva Paranaense, particularmente las especies muy asociadas a la selva, implica el mantenimiento de grandes superficies continuas de selva o de grandes fragmentos conectados por corredores.Raptorial birds are affected by forest loss and fragmentation because of their low density and requirements of large habitat. However, the response of raptors to habitat loss in temperate ecosystems (where low effects were observed) and tropical and subtropical forests (with more important effects) seems to be different. Our objective was to evaluate the response of diurnal raptors to forest loss and fragmentation in the Atlantic Forest. The Atlantic Forest, or Paranaense Forest in Argentina and Paraguay, has been drastically reduced to less than 7% of its original extent. In an area covering 4300 km2 of forest and different land uses, we recorded 14 raptor species. Five species were sensible to habitat loss and fragmentation because they were only recorded in landscapes with more than 60% of forest cover. Seven species were recorded in landscapes with low and high forest cover and two species typical from open habitats increased their abundance with forest loss and fragmentation. The low capacity of rainforest raptors to adapt to human matrices, compared to raptors in temperate ecosystems, seems to be one of the factors accounting for the high sensitivity of this community. The conservation of rainforest raptors in the Paranaense Forest requires the maintenance of large areas of continuous forest and large fragments linked by forest corridors