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 24 domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, ten anteaters, and six sloths. Our dataset 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 south of the USA, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to its austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n=5,941), and Cyclopes sp. has the fewest (n=240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n=11,588), and the least recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n=33). With regards 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 datasets of Neotropical Series which 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 dataset

Sexual dimorphism based on body proportions and ontogenetic changes in the Brazilian electric ray Narcine brasiliensis (von Olfers, 1831) (Chondrichthyes: Narcinidae)

Sexual dimorphism in the Brazilian electric ray Narcine brasiliensis from the south-western Atlantic coast was evaluated based on body proportions and ontogenetic changes. All regions of the body were found to have differences in body proportions between the sexes, except the spiracles. The nature of allometric and isometric relationships differed mainly in terms of the six largest body dimensions. Some of these differences can be supported by the species’ life history. Principal components analysis (PCA) and analysis of similarities (ANOSIM) distinguished the adults’ body proportions by sex. Similarity percentage analysis (SIMPER) selected six variables that best discriminated between the sexes with a cumulative difference up to 70% (tail width, disc width, length between snout and first dorsal fin, pelvic fin width, length between snout and the widest part of the disc, and disc length). It was possible to select seven stable dimensions, both ontogenetic and sexual, that are recommended for use in taxonomic studies. These dimensions were interspiracular distance, spiracle length and width, upper and lower tooth band width, pelvic fin length, and length of posterior lobe of the pelvic fin. It is important to consider the differences in body proportions within a species in order to properly characterise the population and estimate its most reliable parameters.Keywords: Elasmobranchii, morphometry, relative growth, Torpediniforme

Evaluation Of 10-day Period Precipitation, Maximum And Minimum Air Temperature Data From The Ecmwf Model In Sao Paulo State [avaliação Dos Dados Decendiais De Precipitação E Temperatura Máxima E Mínima Do Ar Simulados Pelo Modelo Ecmwf Para O Estado De São Paulo]

The weather and climate has a direct influence in agriculture, it affects all stages of farming, since soil preparation to harvest. Meteorological data derived from automatic or conventional weather stations are used to monitor these effects. These meteorological data has problems like difficulty of data access and low density of meteorological stations in Brazil. Meteorological data from atmospheric models, such as ECMWF (European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecast) can be an alternative. Thus, the aim of this study was to compare 10-day period precipitation, maximum and minimum air temperature data from the ECMWF model with interpolated maps from 33 weather stations in Sao Paulo state between 2005 and 2010 and generate statistical maps pixel by pixel. Statistical index showed spatially satisfactory (most of the results with R2 > 0.60, d > 0.7, RMSE < 5°C and < 50 mm; Es < 5°C and < 24 mm) in period and ECMWF model can be recommended for use in the Sao Paulo state.173397407Blain, G.C., (2006) Relação Entre Os Dados Meteorológicos ECMWF Preparados Pelo JRCMARS- FOOD E Dados De Superfície Para Estimativa De Produtividade De Soja No Estado De São Paulo, Brasil, pp. 61-68. , In: INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON CROP MONITORING AND FORECASTING IN SOUTH AMERICA, 2., 2006. Proceedings... Montevideo: South America Scientific Network on Crop Monitoring and ForecastingDeppe, F., (2006) Validation Studies of ECMWF Precipitation Data With Observed SIMEPAR Ground Data (meteorological Stations), pp. 83-92. , In: INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON CROP MONITORING AND FORECASTING IN SOUTH AMERICA, 2., 2006. Proceedings... Montevideo: South America Scientific Network on Crop Monitoring and ForecastingDeppe, F., (2007) Comparação De Estimativas De Precipitação Com Dados Observados (estações Meteorológicas), pp. 3319-3326. , In: SIMPÓSIO BRASILEIRO DE SENSORIAMENTO REMOTO, 12., 2007, Florianópolis. Anais... São José dos Campos: INPEKnowledge Base. Technical Articles: FAQ What is The Jenks Optimization Method?, , http://support.esri.com/en/knowledgebase/techarticles/detail/26442, ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS RESEARCH INSTITUTE, Acesso em: 19 mar. 2012Hoogenboom, G., Contribution of agrometeorology to the simulation of crop production and its applications (2000) Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 103, pp. 137-157. , Amsterdam(2011) Dados Meteorológicos Simulados Pelo Modelo Do ECMWF, , http://mars.jrc.ec.europa.eu/mars/About-us/FOODSEC/Data-Distribution, JOINT RESEARCH CENTRE, Acesso em: 30 mar. 2011Long, M.E.F., Hurtado, R.H., Murphy, G.M., (2006) Validación De Lãs Temperaturas Máximas Y Mínimas Diarias De La Región Pampeana Estimadas Por El Modelo Atmosférico Del ECMWF, pp. 37-44. , In: INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON CROP MONITORING AND FORECASTING IN SOUTH AMERICA, 2., 2006. Proceedings... Montevideo: South América Scientific Network on Crop Monitoring and ForecastingMelo, R.W., Fontana, D.C., (2007) Estimativa Do Rendimento De Soja Usando Dados Do Modelo Do ECMWF Em Um Modelo Agrometeorológico-espectral No Estado Do Rio Grande Do Sul, pp. 279-286. , http://marte.dpi.inpe.br/col/dpi.inpe.br/sbsr@80/2006/11.14.16.16/doc/279-286.pdf, In: SIMPÓSIO BRASILEIRO DE SENSORIAMENTO REMOTO, 13., 2007, Florianópolis. Anais... São José dos Campos: INPE, Acesso em: 05 ago. 2012Pereira, A.R., Angelocci, L.R., Sentelhas, P.C., (2002) Agrometeorologia: Fundamentos E Aplicações Práticas, p. 478. , Guaíba: AgropecuáriaPerson, A., Grazziani, F., User Guide to ECMWF Forecast Products. Meteorological Bulletin M3.2, p. 153. , Reading,UK: ECMWF, mar. 2007. version 4Serio, L., Spescha, L., Murphy, G.M., (2006) Validación De Lãs Precipitaciones Decádicas De La Région Pampeana Na Estimadas Por El Modelo Atmosférico Del ECMWF, pp. 45-52. , In: INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON CROP MONITORING AND FORECASTING IN SOUTH AMERICA, 2., 2006. Proceedings... Montevideo: South America Scientific Network on Crop Monitoring and ForecastingSodoudi, S., Daily precipitation forecast of ECMWF verified over Iran (2010) Theoretical and Applied Climatology, 99, pp. 39-51. , WienWillmott, C.J., On the validation of models (1981) Physycal Geography, 2, pp. 184-194. , DelawareWillmott, C.J., Matsuura, K., Advantages of the mean absolute error (MAE) over the root mean square error (RMSE) in assessing average model performance (2005) Climate Research, 30, pp. 79-82. , Oldendorf