changeRangeR: An R package for reproducible biodiversity change metrics from species distribution estimates

Conservation planning and decision-making rely on evaluations of biodiversity status and threats that are based upon species' distribution estimates. However, gaps exist regarding automated tools to delineate species' current ranges from distribution estimates and use those estimates to calculate both species- and community-level biodiversity metrics. Here, we introduce changeRangeR, an R package that facilitates workflows to reproducibly transform estimates of species' distributions into metrics relevant for conservation. For example, by combining predictions from species distribution models (SDMs) with other maps of environmental data (e.g., suitable forest cover), researchers can characterize the proportion of a species' range that is under protection, metrics used under the IUCN Criteria A and B guidelines (Area of Occupancy and Extent of Occurrence), and other more general metrics such as taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity and endemism. Further, changeRangeR facilitates temporal comparisons among biodiversity metrics to inform efforts toward complementarity and consideration of future scenarios in conservation decisions. changeRangeR also provides tools to determine the effects of modeling decisions through sensitivity tests. Transparent and repeatable workflows for calculating biodiversity change metrics from SDMs such as those provided by changeRangeR are essential to inform conservation decision-making efforts and represent key extensions for SDM methodology and associated metadata documentation.journal articl

Lista preliminar de los mamíferos (Mammalia: Theria) del departamento de Nariño, Colombia

To consolidate the available information on terrestrial and marine mammals of the department of Nariño, voucher specimens from national collections as well as records from international museum databases and the scientific literature were investigated. A checklist of 182 mammalian species is presented. Out of those, 24 species are considered as threatened under some category in Colombia. Our work reveals the need of new efforts to fill out the mammalian information gaps for this portion of the country

Lista preliminar de los mamíferos (Mammalia: Theria) del departamento de Nariño, Colombia

To consolidate the available information on terrestrial and marine mammals of the department of Nariño, voucher specimens from national collections as well as records from international museum databases and the scientific literature were investigated. A checklist of 182 mammalian species is presented. Out of those, 24 species are considered as threatened under some category in Colombia. Our work reveals the need of new efforts to fill out the mammalian information gaps for this portion of the country.En busca de la consolidación de la información disponible sobre mamíferos del área continental y marina del departamento de Nariño, revisamos ejemplares depositados en colecciones nacionales, así como registros consignados en bases de datos de colecciones internacionales y la bibliografía disponible. Se presenta una lista de 182 especies de mamíferos, 24 de las cuales se encuentran incluidas en alguna categoría de amenaza a nivel nacional. Se resalta la necesidad de nuevas investigaciones en el departamento para complementar los grandes vacíos de información relacionados con el conocimiento de los mamíferos del suroccidente de Colombia

Lista preliminar de los mamíferos (Mammalia: Theria) del departamento de Nariño, Colombia

En busca de la consolidación de la información disponible sobre mamíferos del área continental y marina del departamento de Nariño, revisamos ejemplares depositados en colecciones nacionales, así como registros consignados en bases de datos de colecciones internacionales y la bibliografía disponible. Se presenta una lista de 182 especies de mamíferos, 24 de las cuales se encuentran incluidas en alguna categoría de amenaza a nivel nacional. Se resalta la necesidad de nuevas investigaciones en el departamento para complementar los grandes vacíos de información relacionados con el conocimiento de los mamíferos del suroccidente de Colombia.Artículo revisado por pare

Análisis geográfico y conservación del zorro andino Lycalopex culpaeus (Mammalia, Canidae) en Colombia

The Andean fox Lycalopex culpaeus (Molina, 1782) has been included in the category of threat Vulnerable in Colombia, however, there are not available studies that support at the national level the inclusion of this species in that category. In this work, we delimited the distribution area and we discuss the category of threat of the species in Colombia. For this, we used a niche modelling approach using the Maximun Entropy (Maxent) algorithm. Using Geographical Information Systems, we highlighted areas in which the species is protected. Our results show that the Andean fox can be found potentially from Nariño until Huila departments (8,877 km), and the National System of Protected Areas in Colombia protected 1,742 km (19.6%) of the potential distribution of the species. Despite the species is considered Vulnerable in Colombia, we found that it does not meet the criteria for allocation in that category, due to the absence of tangible evidence that supported a population decline, decreased in area of occupancy, or habitat quality in the decade prior to the risk assessment. Considering the validated records and information on the distribution area of the species in Colombia, we suggest a re-assignation of the category to the category Near Threatened (NT)

changeRangeR: An R package for reproducible biodiversity change metrics from species distribution estimates

Abstract Conservation planning and decision‐making rely on evaluations of biodiversity status and threats that are based upon species' distribution estimates. However, gaps exist regarding automated tools to delineate species' current ranges from distribution estimates and use those estimates to calculate both species‐ and community‐level biodiversity metrics. Here, we introduce changeRangeR, an R package that facilitates workflows to reproducibly transform estimates of species' distributions into metrics relevant for conservation. For example, by combining predictions from species distribution models (SDMs) with other maps of environmental data (e.g., suitable forest cover), researchers can characterize the proportion of a species' range that is under protection, metrics used under the IUCN Criteria A and B guidelines (Area of Occupancy and Extent of Occurrence), and other more general metrics such as taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity and endemism. Further, changeRangeR facilitates temporal comparisons among biodiversity metrics to inform efforts toward complementarity and consideration of future scenarios in conservation decisions. changeRangeR also provides tools to determine the effects of modeling decisions through sensitivity tests. Transparent and repeatable workflows for calculating biodiversity change metrics from SDMs such as those provided by changeRangeR are essential to inform conservation decision‐making efforts and represent key extensions for SDM methodology and associated metadata documentation

Avance del proceso de evaluación de riesgo de extinción de los mamíferos en Colombia

The extinction risk assessment of mammals in Colombia has been carried out heterogeneously in the last 16 years. However, assessments of Colombian mammals are outdated. For this reason, it is necessary to renew the assessment of the risk of extinction of mammals in Colombia. This process is carried out in an articulated manner and with the support of experts and entities according to the criteria of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). This work has also served to consolidate information on poorly documented species with information from biological collections or photo-trapping. The evaluation process will end in 2022 with the efforts of the Colombian Society of Mammalogy, the Alexander von Humboldt Biological Resources Research Institute, the Colombian Association of Zoology, and the support of other organizations.La evaluación de riesgo de extinción de los mamíferos de Colombia se ha realizado heterogéneamente en los últimos 16 años. Sin embargo, las evaluaciones de los mamíferos de Colombia están desactualizadas. Por esta razón, se hace necesario renovar la evaluación del riesgo de extinción de los de mamíferos de Colombia. Este proceso se realiza de manera articulada y con el apoyo de expertos y entidades según los criterios de la Unión Internacional para la Conservación de la Naturaleza (IUCN). Esta labor ha servido además, para consolidar información de especies pobremente documentadas con información de colecciones biológicas o con fototrampeo. El proceso de evaluación terminará en 2022 con los esfuerzos de la Sociedad Colombiana de Mastozoología, el Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Biológicos Alexander von Humboldt, la Asociación Colombiana de Zoología y el apoyo de otras organizaciones

Operationalizing expert knowledge in species' range estimates using diverse data types

Estimates of species’ ranges can inform many aspects of biodiversity research and conservation-management decisions. Many practical applications need high-precision range estimates that are sufficiently reliable to use as input data in downstream applications. One solution has involved expert-generated maps that reflect on-the-ground field information and implicitly capture various processes that may limit a species’ geographic distribution. However, expert maps are often subjective and rarely reproducible. In contrast, species distribution models (SDMs) typically have finer resolution and are reproducible because of explicit links to data. Yet, SDMs can have higher uncertainty when data are sparse, which is an issue for most species. Also, SDMs often capture only a subset of the factors that determine species distributions (e.g., climate) and hence can require significant post-processing to better estimate species’ current realized distributions. Here, we demonstrate how expert knowledge, diverse data types, and SDMs can be used together in a transparent and reproducible modeling workflow. Specifically, we show how expert knowledge regarding species’ habitat use, elevation, biotic interactions, and environmental tolerances can be used to make and refine range estimates using SDMs and various data sources, including high-resolution remotely sensed products. This range-refinement approach is primed to use various data sources, including many with continuously improving spatial or temporal resolution. To facilitate such analyses, we compile a comprehensive suite of tools in a new R package, maskRangeR, and provide worked examples. These tools can facilitate a wide variety of basic and applied research that requires high-resolution maps of species’ current ranges, including quantifications of biodiversity and its change over time

Socio-cultural factors and female entrepreneurship

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the main socio-cultural factors that influence women entrepreneurship in Catalonia, using institutional economics as a theoretical framework. The empirical research employs logistic regression models (rare events logit), utilizing data obtained from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor project (GEM). The main findings highlight that 'fear of failure' and 'perceived capabilities' are the most important socio-cultural factors on the probability of becoming a woman entrepreneur. The research contributes both theoretically, advancing knowledge of the socio-cultural factors that affect female entrepreneurship, and practically, helping in the development of educational programmes and support policies to promote entrepreneurial activity. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York