Data from: Jaguar Movement Database: a GPS-based movement dataset of an apex predator in the Neotropics

The field of movement ecology has rapidly grown during the last decade, with important advancements in tracking devices and analytical tools that have provided unprecedented insights into where, when, and why species move across a landscape. Although there has been an increasing emphasis on making animal movement data publicly available, there has also been a conspicuous dearth in the availability of such data on large carnivores. Globally, large predators are of conservation concern. However, due to their secretive behavior and low densities, obtaining movement data on apex predators is expensive and logistically challenging. Consequently, the relatively small sample sizes typical of large carnivore movement studies may limit insights into the ecology and behavior of these elusive predators. The aim of this initiative is to make available to the conservation-scientific community a dataset of 134,690 locations of jaguars (Panthera onca) collected from 117 individuals (54 males and 63 females) tracked by GPS technology. Individual jaguars were monitored in five different range countries representing a large portion of the species’ distribution. This dataset may be used to answer a variety of ecological questions including but not limited to: improved models of connectivity from local to continental scales; the use of natural or human-modified landscapes by jaguars; movement behavior of jaguars in regions not represented in this dataset; intraspecific interactions; and predator-prey interactions. In making our dataset publicly available, we hope to motivate other research groups to do the same in the near future. Specifically, we aim to help inform a better understanding of jaguar movement ecology with applications towards effective decision making and maximizing long-term conservation efforts for this ecologically important species

ATLANTIC MAMMAL TRAITS: a data set of morphological traits of mammals in the Atlantic Forest of South America

Univ Estadual Paulista, UNESP, Dept Ecol, Inst Biociencias, BR-13506900 Rio Claro, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Santa Catarina, Ctr Ciencias Biol, Dept Ecol & Zool, Florianopolis, SC, Brazil|Caipora Cooperat, Florianopolis, SC, BrazilUniv Estadual Santa Cruz, Programa Posgrad Ecol & Conservac Biodiversidade, Lab Ecol Aplicada Conservacao, Ilheus, BA, BrazilUniv Estadual Santa Cruz, CMARF, Ilheus, BA, BrazilUniv Brasilia, Dept Ecol, Inst Ciencias Biol, Lab Ecol Vertebrados, Brasilia, DF, BrazilUniv Fed Santa Maria, Dept Ecol & Evolut, Santa Maria, RS, BrazilUniv Sao Paulo, Inst Biociencias, Dept Zool, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Espirito Santo, Ctr Ciencias Humanas & Nat, Dept Ciencias Biol, Vitoria, ES, BrazilUniv Fed Minas Gerais, Inst Ciencias Biol, Dept Biol Geral, Belo Horizonte, MG, BrazilUniv Fed Mato Grosso de Sul, Inst Biociencias, Campo Grande, MS, BrazilUniv Fed Parana, Dept Zool, Curitiba, Parana, BrazilUniv Fed Parana, Programa Posgrad Ecol & Conservcao, Curitiba, Parana, BrazilUniv Estado Rio de Janeiro, Dept Ecol, Rio De Janeiro, RJ, BrazilUniv Estadual Paulista, UNESP, Inst Biociencias, Dept Zool, Rio Claro, SP, BrazilUniv Extremo Sul Catarinense, Programa Posgrad Ciencias Ambientais, Criciuma, SC, BrazilUniv Sao Paulo, ESALQ, Dept Ciencias Biol, Piracicaba, SP, BrazilUniv Nacl Misiones, CONICET, Inst Biol Subtrop, Puerto Iguazu, Misiones, ArgentinaAsociac Civil Ctr Invest Bosque Atlantico, Puerto Iguazu, Misiones, ArgentinaFIOCRUZ Amazonas, Inst Leonidas & Maria Deane, Manaus, Amazonas, BrazilUniv Estadual Paulista, UNESP, Dept Zootecnia, Jaboticabal, SP, BrazilField Museum Nat Hist, Integrated Res Ctr, Chicago, IL 60605 USAUniv Fed Pernambuco, Ctr Biociencias, Dept Zool, Lab Ciencia Aplicada Conservacao Biodiversidade, Recife, PE, BrazilInst Chico Mendes Conservacao Biodiversidade, Ctr Nacl Pesquisa & Conservacao Mamiferos Carnivo, Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Vale Rio dos Sinos, Sao Leopoldo, RS, BrazilUniv Reg Cariri, Dept Biol, Lab Ecol Mamiferos, Crato, CE, BrazilUniv Fed Rio de Janeiro, Dept Ecol, Lab Vertebrados, Rio De Janeiro, RJ, BrazilUniv Federal Mato Grosso do Sul, Programa Posgrad Ecol & Conservacao, Campo Grande, MS, BrazilIPE, Nazare Paulista, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Minas Gerais, Programa Posgrad Zool, Belo Horizonte, MG, BrazilUniv Estado Minas Gerais, Dept Ciencias Biol, Ibirite, MG, BrazilPREA, Programa Educ Ambiental, Juiz De Fora, MG, BrazilChinese Acad Sci, Inst Zool, Key Lab Zool Systemat and Evolut, Beijing, Peoples R ChinaMinist Salud Nacion, Inst Nacl Med Trop INMeT, Puerto Iguazu, Misiones, ArgentinaUniv Fed Vicosa, Dept Engn Florestal, Vicosa, MG, BrazilUniv Fed Goias, Inst Biociencias, Jatai, Go, BrazilInst Chico Mendes Conservacao Biodiversidade ICMB, Ctr Nacl Pesquisa & Conservacao Primatas Brasilei, Joao Pessoa, PB, BrazilCtr Rescate Fauna Silvestre Guira Oga, Puerto Iguazu, ArgentinaFdn Hist Nat Felix de Azara, Buenos Aires, ArgentinaProjeto Carnivoros Iguacu, Foz Do Iguacu, PR, BrazilUniv Estadual Paulista, Dept Med Vet Prevent & Reprod Anim, Fac Ciencias Agr & Vet Jaboticabal, Jaboticabal, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Integracao Latinoamer, Inst Latinoamer Ciencias Vida & Nat, Foz Do Iguacu, PR, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Ciencias Ambientais, Diadema, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Paraiba, Dept Sistemat & Ecol, Lab Mamiferos, Joao Pessoa, Paraiba, BrazilIUCN Peccary Specialist Grp, Campo Grande, MS, BrazilWWF Brazil, Campo Grande, MS, BrazilChicago State Univ, Dept Biol Sci, Chicago, IL USAUniv Fed Rio de Janeiro, Nucleo Ecol & Desenvolvimento Socioambiental Maca, Macae, RJ, BrazilUniv Vila Velha, Programa Posgrad Ecol Ecossistemas, Vila Velha, ES, BrazilUniv Fed Rio de Janeiro, Museu Nacl, Dept Vertebrados, Rio De Janeiro, RJ, BrazilUniv Fed Bahia, Programa Posgrad Ecol, Salvador, BA, BrazilUniv Fed Paraiba, Dept Sistemat & Ecol, Programa Posgrad Ciencias Biol Zool, Lab Mamiferos, Joao Pessoa, Paraiba, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Ciencias Ambientais, Diadema, SP, BrazilWeb of Scienc

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 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