TRY plant trait database – enhanced coverage and open access

Plant traits - the morphological, anatomical, physiological, biochemical and phenological characteristics of plants - determine how plants respond to environmental factors, affect other trophic levels, and influence ecosystem properties and their benefits and detriments to people. Plant trait data thus represent the basis for a vast area of research spanning from evolutionary biology, community and functional ecology, to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem and landscape management, restoration, biogeography and earth system modelling. Since its foundation in 2007, the TRY database of plant traits has grown continuously. It now provides unprecedented data coverage under an open access data policy and is the main plant trait database used by the research community worldwide. Increasingly, the TRY database also supports new frontiers of trait‐based plant research, including the identification of data gaps and the subsequent mobilization or measurement of new data. To support this development, in this article we evaluate the extent of the trait data compiled in TRY and analyse emerging patterns of data coverage and representativeness. Best species coverage is achieved for categorical traits - almost complete coverage for ‘plant growth form’. However, most traits relevant for ecology and vegetation modelling are characterized by continuous intraspecific variation and trait–environmental relationships. These traits have to be measured on individual plants in their respective environment. Despite unprecedented data coverage, we observe a humbling lack of completeness and representativeness of these continuous traits in many aspects. We, therefore, conclude that reducing data gaps and biases in the TRY database remains a key challenge and requires a coordinated approach to data mobilization and trait measurements. This can only be achieved in collaboration with other initiatives

Ecogeographic patterns of coloration in velvet ants (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae)

A coloração pode desempenhar múltiplas funções na vida dos animais, desde termorregulação até proteção contra danos da radiação ultravioleta, aposematismo, camuflagem e atração sexual. Porque essas características dependem da fisiologia do animal, padrões de coloração são altamente influenciados por condições ambientais em que as espécies estão inseridas, podendo assim, variar ao longo de sua distribuição. Estudos sobre as variações desses traços ao longo de diferentes gradientes geográficos são, portanto, fundamentais para a melhor compreensão dos processos ecológicos e evolutivos que moldam a coloração animal. As fêmeas de vespas Mutillidae (formigas-feiticeiras) apresentam padrões de coloração marcantes que são reconhecidos como sinais aposemáticos, formando um dos maiores anéis miméticos do Reino Animal. No entanto, as causas subjacentes à evolução desses padrões de cor permanecem incertas, uma vez que o mimetismo Mülleriano e Batesiano podem não ser as únicas forças seletivas por trás da coloração aposemática. Portanto, no presente estudo, buscamos elucidar se a coloração em formigas-feiticeiras responde a variações bioclimáticas, testando três regras ecogeográficas: a hipótese do Melanismo Térmico; a hipótese da Fotoproteção; e a regra de Gloger. Para isso, utilizamos fotografias de 511 espécimes de fêmeas de vespas Mutillidae distribuídas em 21 países e extraímos dados sobre a coloração na forma dos canais HSV. Por fim, analisamos se a variação na coloração observada é determinada por fatores bioclimáticos, considerando o sinal filogenético: temperatura, radiação solar, umidade e ambientes com baixa luminosidade. Nossos resultados foram consistentes com a hipótese da Fotoproteção e a regra de Gloger. Espécies com coloração mais escura ocuparam habitats com mais vegetação, maior umidade e radiação solar. Animais mais escuros também ocorreram em ambientes mais quentes, sugerindo que Mutillidae não responde às previsões da hipótese do Melanismo Térmico. Nossos resultados ainda sugerem que, em ambientes de floresta, formigas-feiticeiras apresentam menor saturação e heterogeneidade da cor. Já fêmeas com coloração mais avermelhada e mais heterogêneas ocuparam habitats mais abertos. Os resultados apresentados aqui, fornecem as primeiras evidências de que componentes abióticos do ambiente podem agir como filtros ecológicos e forças seletivas sobre os padrões de coloração em formigas-feiticeiras. Finalmente, sugerimos que os estudos utilizando Mutillidae como modelo para complexos miméticos levem em conta que o mimetismo pode estar também sob influência de fatores climáticos e não só de predadores.Color can play multiple roles in the lives of animals, from thermoregulation to protection against damage from ultraviolet radiation, aposematism, camouflage and sexual attraction. Because these traits depend on the physiology of the animal, color patterns are highly influenced by the environmental conditions in which the species are distributed, thus varying throughout their distribution. Studies on the variations of these features over different geographic gradients are, therefore, fundamental for a better understanding of the ecological and evolutionary processes that shape animal coloration. Females of Mutillidae wasps (velvet-ants) have striking color patterns that are recognized as aposematic signals, forming one of the largest mimetic rings in the Animal Kingdom. However, the causes underlying the evolution of these color patterns remain uncertain, since Müllerian and Batesian mimicry may not be the only selective forces behind aposematic color. Therefore, in the present study, we seek to elucidate whether coloration in velvet-ants responds to bioclimatic variations, testing three ecogeographic rules: The Thermal Melanism hypothesis; the Photoprotection hypothesis; and Gloger\'s rule. For this, we used photographs of 511 specimens of female Mutillidae wasps distributed in 21 countries and extracted data on the color in the form of the HSV color channels. Finally, we analyzed whether the variation in color observed is determined by bioclimatic factors, considering the phylogenetic signal: temperature, solar radiation, humidity, and environments with low light. Our results were consistent with the Photoprotection hypothesis and Gloger\'s rule. Species with darker coloration occupied habitats with more vegetation, higher humidity, and solar radiation. Darker animals also occurred in warmer environments, suggesting that Mutillidae do not respond to the predictions of the Thermal Melanism hypothesis. Our results also suggest that, in forest environments, velvet-ants have lower color saturation and heterogeneity. Females with more reddish and heterogeneous color occupied more open habitats. The results presented here provide the first evidence that abiotic components of the environment can act as ecological filters and selective forces on the coloration patterns in velvet-ants. Finally, we suggest that studies using Mutillidae as a model for mimetic complexes consider that mimicry may also be under the influence of climatic factors and not only predators

Male description of Horcomutilla projectifrons (Cresson, 1902) (Hymenoptera, Mutillidae) and the first host record for the genus

Lopez, Vinicius M., Bartholomay, Pedro R., Lima, Felipe V.O., Silvestre, Rogerio (2019): Male description of Horcomutilla projectifrons (Cresson, 1902) (Hymenoptera, Mutillidae) and the first host record for the genus. Zootaxa 4559 (3): 573-576, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4559.3.

Revision of the Traumatomutilla americana species group (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae)

Traumatomutilla is a diverse genus of Neotropical velvet ants (Mutillidae). Here we revise the T. americana species group, recognizing three species. Mutilla dubia Fabricius, 1804, M. simulans Smith, 1855, M. albata Smith, 1879, and M. obsoleta (Klug, 1821) are proposed as junior synonyms of Traumatomutilla americana (Linnaeus, 1758). Traumatomutilla maula Casal, 1969, Ephuta punctosignata André, 1906, Mutilla latevittata Cresson, 1902, and M. oculifera Smith, 1855 are proposed as junior synonyms of Traumatomutilla quadrum (Klug, 1821). Mutilla acara Cresson, 1902, M. polita Smith, 1855, M. gemina Gerstaecker, 1874, M. trinacria Gerstaecker, 1874, M. lasiogastra Burmeister, 1875, and M. cuyana Burmeister, 1875 are proposed as junior synonyms of Traumatomutilla ocellaris (Klug, 1821). Traumatomutilla bellifera (Gerstaecker, 1874) is transferred to the T. trochanterata species-group; T. lunigera (Gerstaecker, 1874) and T. compar (André, 1898) are transferred to the T. inermis species-group. Both sexes are redescribed for all species. Notes on the biology and host association for T. ocellaris are provided. Finally, identification keys to the species and color forms of the T. americana group are provided. Copyright © 2019 Magnolia Press

Odontogenic cysts in children and adolescents: a 21-year retrospective study

Aim: To investigate the distribution of odontogenic cysts in patients aged 0 to 18, referred to Department of Pathology, University Hospital of the Federal University of Maranhão, Brazil, to determine the most common types of lesions and their distribution according to gender and anatomical site involved. Methods: Histopathological data were collected from a database of lesions classified as odontogenic cysts that were indicated for surgical removal and histopathological analysis. Data were subjected to descriptive analysis. Results: Thirty cases of odontogenic cysts were identified, and dentigerous cysts were the most frequent (n=17). Most occurrences were in males (66.7%) and the most frequent site was the posterior mandible (73.3%). Conclusions: Odontogenic cysts in children and adolescents are mostly developmental cysts, especially dentigerous cysts, occurring predominantly in males, with a predilection for the posterior mandible

ATLANTIC ANTS: a data set of ants in Atlantic Forests of South America

International audienc

NEOTROPICAL ALIEN MAMMALS: a data set of occurrence and abundance of alien mammals in the Neotropics

Biological invasion is one of the main threats to native biodiversity. For a species to become invasive, it must be voluntarily or involuntarily introduced by humans into a nonnative habitat. Mammals were among first taxa to be introduced worldwide for game, meat, and labor, yet the number of species introduced in the Neotropics remains unknown. In this data set, we make available occurrence and abundance data on mammal species that (1) transposed a geographical barrier and (2) were voluntarily or involuntarily introduced by humans into the Neotropics. Our data set is composed of 73,738 historical and current georeferenced records on alien mammal species of which around 96% correspond to occurrence data on 77 species belonging to eight orders and 26 families. Data cover 26 continental countries in the Neotropics, ranging from Mexico and its frontier regions (southern Florida and coastal-central Florida in the southeast United States) to Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay, and the 13 countries of Caribbean islands. Our data set also includes neotropical species (e.g., Callithrix sp., Myocastor coypus, Nasua nasua) considered alien in particular areas of Neotropics. The most numerous species in terms of records are from Bos sp. (n = 37,782), Sus scrofa (n = 6,730), and Canis familiaris (n = 10,084); 17 species were represented by only one record (e.g., Syncerus caffer, Cervus timorensis, Cervus unicolor, Canis latrans). Primates have the highest number of species in the data set (n = 20 species), partly because of uncertainties regarding taxonomic identification of the genera Callithrix, which includes the species Callithrix aurita, Callithrix flaviceps, Callithrix geoffroyi, Callithrix jacchus, Callithrix kuhlii, Callithrix penicillata, and their hybrids. This unique data set will be a valuable source of information on invasion risk assessments, biodiversity redistribution and conservation-related research. There are no copyright restrictions. Please cite this data paper when using the data in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us on how they are using the data

TRY plant trait database - enhanced coverage and open access

10.1111/gcb.14904GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY261119-18