Photography-based taxonomy is inadequate, unnecessary, and potentially harmful for biological sciences

The question whether taxonomic descriptions naming new animal species without type specimen(s) deposited in collections should be accepted for publication by scientific journals and allowed by the Code has already been discussed in Zootaxa (Dubois & Nemésio 2007; Donegan 2008, 2009; Nemésio 2009a–b; Dubois 2009; Gentile & Snell 2009; Minelli 2009; Cianferoni & Bartolozzi 2016; Amorim et al. 2016). This question was again raised in a letter supported by 35 signatories published in the journal Nature (Pape et al. 2016) on 15 September 2016. On 25 September 2016, the following rebuttal (strictly limited to 300 words as per the editorial rules of Nature) was submitted to Nature, which on 18 October 2016 refused to publish it. As we think this problem is a very important one for zoological taxonomy, this text is published here exactly as submitted to Nature, followed by the list of the 493 taxonomists and collection-based researchers who signed it in the short time span from 20 September to 6 October 2016

Ansiedade dos estudantes diante da expectativa do exame vestibular

Este estudio investigó la ansiedad de los estudiantes en las escuelas privadas en un estado de Brasil en el examen de ingreso. La muestra fuese compuesta de 124 estudiantes de la escuela secundaria participantes del PISM (Proceso de Admisión Común), siendo 66 mujeres e 58 hombres, 69 alumnos del 1er año de escuela secundaria y 55 del 3er año. Los estudiantes respondieron a un cuestionario socio-demográfico y al Inventario de Ansiedad Rasgo-Estado (IDATE), en sus propias aulas. Hubo una diferencia significativa en relación con el género (p=0,036) que se encontró un mayor nivel de ansiedad estado en el 1er año de las mujeres en comparación con los hombres del 1er año (p = 0,004). El mismo resultado se encontró con respecto a la ansiedad-rasgo: las mujeres de 1er año son más ansiosas que los hombres del 1er año (p=0,000).O presente estudo investigou a ansiedade dos jovens estudantes de escolas particulares de um estado do Brasil em relação ao exame vestibular. A amostra foi composta por 124 estudantes do ensino médio participantes do vestibular seriado PISM (Processo de Ingresso Seletivo Misto), sendo 66 do gênero feminino e 58 do gênero masculino, 69 alunos do 1º ano do ensino médio e 55 do 3º ano. Os estudantes responderam a um questionário sócio-demográfico e ao Inventário de Ansiedade Traço-Estado (IDATE) na suas próprias salas de aula. Foi observada uma diferença significativa quanto ao gênero (p=0,036) sendo que foi encontrado um maior nível de ansiedade-estado nas mulheres do 1º ano comparativamente aos rapazes do 1ºano (p=0,004). O mesmo resultado foi encontrado com relação à ansiedade-traço: moças do 1º ano são mais ansiosas do que rapazes do 1º ano (p=0,000).This study investigated the anxiety of private schools students at the expectation of attending colleges' entrance examination in one Brazilian state. The sample consisted of 124 high school students participating in the PISM series of examination (Joint Selective Admission Process). They were 66 females and 58 males, 69 students from the 1st year and 55 from the 3rd year. Students answered a sociodemographic questionnaire and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory in their respective classrooms. A significant difference regarding gender (p=0.036) was found, women from the 1st year presented higher levels of state-anxiety compared to men from the 1st year (p=0.004). The same result was found with respect to the trait-anxiety, women from the 1st year were more anxious than men from the 1st year (p=0.000)

Erratum to: 36th International Symposium on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s13054-016-1208-6.]

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