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The rapid advance of anthropogenic activities, resulting in the accelerated conversion of natural habitats, represents a significant threat to global biodiversity. This impact affects species, including large herbivores, whose habitat loss and fragmentation lead to population declines and local or global extinctions. Due to their large size, ungulates are crucial for conservation strategies such as “umbrella species”. White-lipped peccaries (Tayassu pecari) and collared peccaries (Dicotyles tajacu), belonging to the Tayassuidae family, are important subjects of study objects due to their vulnerability and overexploitation. Understanding their genetic diversity is crucial, especially when considering the use of non-invasive samples for genetic analysis. This thesis is structured in two chapters. The first evaluates the efficiency of hair traps and active search as methods of collecting hair of peccaries, and it highlights the advantages and challenges of both methods. The second chapter assesses the feasibility of using hair for genetic studies of peccary species, and it also discusses the challenges in obtaining good-quality DNA from the hair samples. The results indicate significant differences in the effectiveness of capture methods for the two species, with hair traps being more effective for white-lipped peccaries and active search for collared peccaries. Despite the high number of hairs collected and greater amplification success, we found no consensus genotypes for collared peccaries. On the other hand, four genetic markers proved promising for white-lipped peccaries, allowing preliminary analysis of their genetic diversity. Finally, this study recommends both non-invasive sampling methods for Tayassuidae and the use of hairs for genetic analysis. We also encourage further studies to improve collection techniques and molecular biology, which are essential for the conservation of both species.O rápido avanço das atividades antrópicas, que resulta na conversão acelerada de habitats naturais, representa uma ameaça significativa à biodiversidade global. Este impacto afeta espécies, incluindo grandes herbívoros, cuja perda e fragmentação de habitat levam a declínios populacionais e extinções locais ou globais. Devido ao seu grande tamanho corporal, os ungulados são cruciais para estratégias de conservação como "espécies guarda-chuva". Notavelmente, queixadas (Tayassu pecari) e catetos (Dicotyles tajacu), pertencentes à família Tayassuidae, são importantes objetos de estudo devido a sua vulnerabilidade e superexploração. Compreender a diversidade genética dessas espécies é fundamental, principalmente quando se considera o uso de amostras não invasivas. A tese estrutura-se em dois capítulos: o primeiro avalia a eficiência de cercados e da busca ativa, como métodos de coleta de pelos de taiaçuídeos, destacando vantagens e desafios. O segundo capítulo avalia a viabilidade do uso dos pelos para estudos genéticos de ambas as espécies e os desafios na obtenção de DNA de boa qualidade. Os resultados indicam diferenças significativas na eficácia dos métodos de captura para as duas espécies, sendo os cercados mais eficazes para queixadas e busca ativa para catetos. Apesar do alto número de pelos coletados e do maior sucesso de amplificação, não foi possível obter genótipos consensos para catetos. No entanto, para queixadas, quatro marcadores genéticos mostraram-se promissores, permitindo uma análise preliminar da diversidade genética da população. Finalmente, este estudo recomenda métodos de amostragem não invasivos para Tayassuidae e o uso de pelos para análises genéticas. Também incentivamos a realização de novos estudos para aprimorar as técnicas de coleta e de biologia molecular, essenciais à conservação das espécies.Agência(s) de foment

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

NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES: a data set on carnivore distribution in the Neotropics

Mammalian carnivores are considered a key group in maintaining ecological health and can indicate potential ecological integrity in landscapes where they occur. Carnivores also hold high conservation value and their habitat requirements can guide management and conservation plans. The order Carnivora has 84 species from 8 families in the Neotropical region: Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Otariidae; Phocidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae. Herein, we include published and unpublished data on native terrestrial Neotropical carnivores (Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae). NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES is a publicly available data set that includes 99,605 data entries from 35,511 unique georeferenced coordinates. Detection/non-detection and quantitative data were obtained from 1818 to 2018 by researchers, governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private consultants. Data were collected using several methods including camera trapping, museum collections, roadkill, line transect, and opportunistic records. Literature (peer-reviewed and grey literature) from Portuguese, Spanish and English were incorporated in this compilation. Most of the data set consists of detection data entries (n = 79,343; 79.7%) but also includes non-detection data (n = 20,262; 20.3%). Of those, 43.3% also include count data (n = 43,151). The information available in NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES will contribute to macroecological, ecological, and conservation questions in multiple spatio-temporal perspectives. As carnivores play key roles in trophic interactions, a better understanding of their distribution and habitat requirements are essential to establish conservation management plans and safeguard the future ecological health of Neotropical ecosystems. Our data paper, combined with other large-scale data sets, has great potential to clarify species distribution and related ecological processes within the Neotropics. There are no copyright restrictions and no restriction for using data from this data paper, as long as the data paper is cited as the source of the information used. We also request that users inform us of how they intend to use the data

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