Ecoregion priorization for terrestrial vertebrate conservation

Orientador: Thomas Michael LewinsohnTese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de BiologiaResumo: Procurei identificar prioridades de conservação para vertebrados terrestres em diferentes escalas geográficas (da regional/continental à global), usando ecorregiões como unidades geográficas. Mais especificamente, avaliei (1) a correlação entre riqueza e endemismo exibida por vertebrados terrestres que ocorrem em ecorregiões do Brasil e a eficiência de cada classe de vertebrados terrestres (anfíbios, répteis, aves e mamíferos) como grupos indicadores para a identificação de prioridades de conservação em ecorregiões brasileiras; (2) identifiquei ecorregiões prioritárias para a representação eficiente de todos os vertebrados terrestres, incluindo aqueles endêmicos e ameaçados de extinção, na região Neotropical, e o quanto essas ecorregiões representam da fauna existente nessa província biogeográfica; (3) identifiquei ecorregiões prioritárias para a representação eficiente de todos os anuros (Amphibia: Anura) ameaçados de extinção na região Neotropical e como a inclusão de características da história de vida (e.g. modo reprodutivo) desse grupo no processo de priorização pode auxiliar no delineamento dessas áreas prioritárias; (4) de maneira similar, assinalei ecorregiões prioritárias para a conservação de todos os carnívoros (Mammalia: Carnivora) na região Neotropical e no mundo, e como a inclusão de características ecológicas, evolutivas e da história de vida desse grupo - associadas a custos econômicos (US$/km2) da aquisição de terras em ecorregiões - pode auxiliar no delineamento dessas áreas prioritária. Os resultados apontam, de maneira geral, ecorregiões localizadas no sul do México, América Central, Andes tropicais, sul da América do Sul, sudeste asiático e Filipinas, e a Mata Atlântica brasileira como áreas de extrema relevância, cuja conservação eficiente, por meio de redes de reservas cuidadosamente implementadas, poderia minimizar consideravelmente as ameaças atuais aos vertebrados terrestres. A identificação de áreas prioritárias para a conservação da biodiversidade que vão de uma escala regional/continental à global, é apenas um primeiro passo no estabelecimento de estratégias de conservação in-situ que garantirão a persistência de espécies por períodos ecológicos e evolutivos relevantes para sua existência. Os trabalhos incluídos nessa tese reforçam o arcabouço teórico e metodológico da avaliação de conservação e oferecem bases científicas para o delineamento de regiões prioritárias para a conservação de biodiversidade em um mundo em constante mudança.Abstract: I aimed to identify conservation priorities for terrestrial vertebrates across different spatial scales (from regional/continental to global), using ecoregions as geographic units. I have evaluated, in particular, (1) the congruence between overall richness and endemism patterns among terrestrial vertebrates that occur in Brazil, and the effectiveness of each vertebrate class (amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals) as indicator groups for identifying conservation priorities among Brazilian ecoregions; (2) I have identified priority sets of ecoregions that are effective in representing terrestrial vertebrate diversity in the Neotropics, including those endemics and threatened of extinction; (3) I have also identified priority sets of ecoregions for the conservation of Neotropical threatened anurans, and have also evaluated how the inclusion of species lifehistory traits (e.g. reproductive modes) in the prioritization process may help to improve areasetting analysis; (4) similarly, I have highlighted Neotropical and Global priority sets of ecoregions for the conservation of all carnivores (Mammalia: Carnivora), and again, how the inclusion of biological traits - along with economic costs (US$/km2) of land acquisition within ecoregions - may help in the delineation of these priority set of areas. In general, results highlighted ecoregions found in southern Mexico, Central America, tropical Andes, southern South America, southeast Asia and the Philippines, and the Brazilian Atlantic Forest as extremerelevance areas. Their effective conservation, through the implementation of carefully designed reserve networks, could therefore minimize significantly current threats to terrestrial vertebrates. Identification of a comprehensive set of natural areas, as presented here, is a first step towards an in-situ biodiversity maintenance strategy, which only subtends a much more complex process of policy negotiation and implementation. The studies included in the thesis contribute to a joint framework for the development of national and continental strategies for biodiversity conservation, adding to burgeoning initiatives to plan the application of finite funds and efforts where they will be most effective.DoutoradoDoutor em Ecologi

Mudanças climáticas e prioridades para a conservação da biodiversidade

Processos globais como a perda de habitat, superexploração de recursos naturais, invasão biológica e mudanças climáticas estão conduzindo muitas espécies à extinção. Nesse cenário de alto risco de extinção, qual deve ser o critério para determinar prioridades de conservação? O que, onde e como proteger a biodiversidade? A resposta não é simples. Entre os efeitos esperados das mudanças climáticas, pode-se incluir o deslocamento das espécies para um espaço climático mais favorável, até mesmo fora de uma unidade de conservação. No entanto, eleger prioridades para a conservação da biodiversidade implica ir além das espécies, fazendo-se necessário a inclusão da história evolutiva e da manutenção dos processos nas comunidades. Aqui, apresentamos um panorama sobre os efeitos das mudanças climáticas sobre biodiversidade e como incluí-los em estudos de priorização espacial para a conservação. Ressaltamos a importância da conservação de anfíbios da Mata Atlântica, grupo mais ameaçado de extinção entre os vertebrados e, finalmente, apresentamos e discutimos estratégias de conservação consideram mais que a riqueza de espécies, incluindo também informações sobre a diversidade filogenética e funcional

Integrating economic costs and biological traits into global conservation priorities for carnivores

Background: Prioritization schemes usually highlight species-rich areas, where many species are at imminent risk of extinction. To be ecologically relevant these schemes should also include species biological traits into area-setting methods. Furthermore, in a world of limited funds for conservation, conservation action is constrained by land acquisition costs. Hence, including economic costs into conservation priorities can substantially improve their conservation cost-effectiveness. Methodology/Principal Findings: We examined four global conservation scenarios for carnivores based on the joint mapping of economic costs and species biological traits. These scenarios identify the most cost effective priority sets of ecoregions, indicating best investment opportunities for safeguarding every carnivore species, and also establish priority sets that can maximize species representation in areas harboring highly vulnerable species. We compared these results with a scenario that minimizes the total number of ecoregions required for conserving all species, irrespective of other factors. We found that cost-effective conservation investments should focus on 41 ecoregions highlighted in the scenario that consider simultaneously both ecoregion vulnerability and economic costs of land acquisition. Ecoregions included in priority sets under these criteria should yield best returns of investments since they harbor species with high extinction risk and have lower mean land cost. Conclusions/Significance: Our study highlights ecoregions of particular importance for the conservation of the world’s carnivores defining global conservation priorities in analyses that encompass socioeconomic and life-history factors. We consider the identification of a comprehensive priority-set of areas as a first step towards an in-situ biodiversity maintenance strategy

Frequências de genes candidatos e associações com características de carcaça e da carne em bovinos da raça Nelore e cruzados

The objective of this work was to estimate allelic frequencies of the polymorphisms IGF2/MboII (G > T) of the insulin‑like growth factor 2 (IGF2) gene, DQ499531.1:g.134A > T of the pro‑melanin‑concentrating hormone (PMCH) gene, and DQ667048.1:g.3290G > T of the RAR‑related orphan receptor C (RORC) gene in beef cattle of different genetic groups, and to evaluate the associations between these polymorphisms and traits related to carcass composition and meat quality. Data on carcass and meat quality of 499 animals was used: of 313 Nellore (Bos indicus) and of 186 Nellore crossed with different taurine (Bos taurus) breeds. For the IGF2/MboII polymorphism, the frequencies found for the G allele were 0.231 and 0.631 for Nellore and crossed breeds, respectively. For the DQ499531.1:g.134A > T polymorphism, the allelic frequencies of A were 0.850 for Nellore and 0.905 for crossed breeds. For the DQ667048.1:g.3290G > T polymorphism, the allelic frequencies of G were 0.797 and 0.460 for Nellore and crossed breeds, respectively. The evaluated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are not significantly associated with carcass and meat traits (rib eye area, back fat thickness, shear force, total lipids, and myofibrillar fragmentation index), suggesting little utility of the analyzed polymorphisms of the IGF2, PMHC, and RORC  genes as selection markers in the studied cattle populations.O objetivo deste trabalho foi estimar as frequências alélicas dos polimorfismos IGF2/MboII (G > T) do gene “insulin‑like growth fator 2” (IGF2), DQ499531.1:g.134 A> T do gene “pro‑melanin‑concentrating hormone” (PMCH) e DQ667048.1:g.3290G> T do gene “RAR‑related orphan receptor C” (RORC) em bovinos de corte de diferentes grupos genéticos, e avaliar a ocorrência de associações entre esses polimorfismos e características relacionadas à composição da carcaça e à qualidade de carne. Foram utilizados dados de carcaça e qualidade de carne de 499 animais: 313 da raça Nelore (Bos indicus) e 186 provenientes de seus cruzamentos com raças taurinas (Bos taurus). Para o polimorfismo IGF2/MboII, as frequências encontradas para o alelo G foram 0,231 e 0,631 para Nelore e cruzados, respectivamente. Para o polimorfismo DQ499531.1:g.‑134A > T, as frequências alélicas de A foram 0,850 para Nelore e 0,905 para cruzados. Para o polimorfismo DQ667048.1:g.3290G > T, as frequências alélicas de G foram 0,797 e 0,460 para Nelore e cruzados, respectivamente. Os polimorfismos de nucleotídeo único (SNPs) avaliados não se relacionam significativamente com as características de carcaça e carne (área de olho de lombo, espessura de gordura subcutânea, força de cisalhamento, lipídeos totais e índice de fragmentação miofibrilar), o que sugere pouca utilidade dos polimorfismos analisados dos genes IGF2,PMHC e RORC como marcadores de seleção nas populações bovinas estudadas

Performance and Consistency of Indicator Groups in Two Biodiversity Hotspots

In a world limited by data availability and limited funds for conservation, scientists and practitioners must use indicator groups to define spatial conservation priorities. Several studies have evaluated the effectiveness of indicator groups, but still little is known about the consistency in performance of these groups in different regions, which would allow their a priori selection.We systematically examined the effectiveness and the consistency of nine indicator groups in representing mammal species in two top-ranked Biodiversity Hotspots (BH): the Brazilian Cerrado and the Atlantic Forest. To test for group effectiveness we first found the best sets of sites able to maximize the representation of each indicator group in the BH and then calculated the average representation of different target species by the indicator groups in the BH. We considered consistent indicator groups whose representation of target species was not statistically different between BH. We called effective those groups that outperformed the target-species representation achieved by random sets of species. Effective indicator groups required the selection of less than 2% of the BH area for representing target species. Restricted-range species were the most effective indicators for the representation of all mammal diversity as well as target species. It was also the only group with high consistency.We show that several indicator groups could be applied as shortcuts for representing mammal species in the Cerrado and the Atlantic Forest to develop conservation plans, however, only restricted-range species consistently held as the most effective indicator group for such a task. This group is of particular importance in conservation planning as it captures high diversity of endemic and endangered species

Hung Out to Dry: Choice of Priority Ecoregions for Conserving Threatened Neotropical Anurans Depends on Life-History Traits

Background: In the Neotropics, nearly 35 % of amphibian species are threatened by habitat loss, habitat fragmentation, and habitat split; anuran species with different developmental modes respond to habitat disturbance in different ways. This entails broad-scale strategies for conserving biodiversity and advocates for the identification of high conservation-value regions that are significant in a global or continental context and that could underpin more detailed conservation assessments towards such areas. Methodology/Principal Findings: We identified key ecoregion sets for anuran conservation using an algorithm that favors complementarity (beta-diversity) among ecoregions. Using the WWF’s Wildfinder database, which encompasses 700 threatened anuran species in 119 Neotropical ecoregions, we separated species into those with aquatic larvae (AL) or terrestrial development (TD), as this life-history trait affects their response to habitat disturbance. The conservation target of 100 % of species representation was attained with a set of 66 ecoregions. Among these, 30 were classified as priority both for species with AL and TD, 26 were priority exclusively for species with AL, and 10 for species with TD only. Priority ecoregions for both developmental modes are concentrated in the Andes and in Mesoamerica. Ecoregions important for conserving species with AL are widely distributed across the Neotropics. When anuran life histories were ignored, species with AL were always underrepresented in priority sets

Search for dark matter produced in association with bottom or top quarks in √s = 13 TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector

A search for weakly interacting massive particle dark matter produced in association with bottom or top quarks is presented. Final states containing third-generation quarks and miss- ing transverse momentum are considered. The analysis uses 36.1 fb−1 of proton–proton collision data recorded by the ATLAS experiment at √s = 13 TeV in 2015 and 2016. No significant excess of events above the estimated backgrounds is observed. The results are in- terpreted in the framework of simplified models of spin-0 dark-matter mediators. For colour- neutral spin-0 mediators produced in association with top quarks and decaying into a pair of dark-matter particles, mediator masses below 50 GeV are excluded assuming a dark-matter candidate mass of 1 GeV and unitary couplings. For scalar and pseudoscalar mediators produced in association with bottom quarks, the search sets limits on the production cross- section of 300 times the predicted rate for mediators with masses between 10 and 50 GeV and assuming a dark-matter mass of 1 GeV and unitary coupling. Constraints on colour- charged scalar simplified models are also presented. Assuming a dark-matter particle mass of 35 GeV, mediator particles with mass below 1.1 TeV are excluded for couplings yielding a dark-matter relic density consistent with measurements

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Summary Background Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. Methods We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung’s disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. Findings We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung’s disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middleincome countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in lowincome countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. Interpretation Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between lowincome, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030