Expert range maps of global mammal distributions harmonised to three taxonomic authorities

AimComprehensive, global information on species' occurrences is an essential biodiversity variable and central to a range of applications in ecology, evolution, biogeography and conservation. Expert range maps often represent a species' only available distributional information and play an increasing role in conservation assessments and macroecology. We provide global range maps for the native ranges of all extant mammal species harmonised to the taxonomy of the Mammal Diversity Database (MDD) mobilised from two sources, the Handbook of the Mammals of the World (HMW) and the Illustrated Checklist of the Mammals of the World (CMW).LocationGlobal.TaxonAll extant mammal species.MethodsRange maps were digitally interpreted, georeferenced, error-checked and subsequently taxonomically aligned between the HMW (6253 species), the CMW (6431 species) and the MDD taxonomies (6362 species).ResultsRange maps can be evaluated and visualised in an online map browser at Map of Life (mol.org) and accessed for individual or batch download for non-commercial use.Main conclusionExpert maps of species' global distributions are limited in their spatial detail and temporal specificity, but form a useful basis for broad-scale characterizations and model-based integration with other data. We provide georeferenced range maps for the native ranges of all extant mammal species as shapefiles, with species-level metadata and source information packaged together in geodatabase format. Across the three taxonomic sources our maps entail, there are 1784 taxonomic name differences compared to the maps currently available on the IUCN Red List website. The expert maps provided here are harmonised to the MDD taxonomic authority and linked to a community of online tools that will enable transparent future updates and version control

Expert range maps of global mammal distributions harmonised to three taxonomic authorities

Aim Comprehensive, global information on species' occurrences is an essential biodiversity variable and central to a range of applications in ecology, evolution, biogeography and conservation. Expert range maps often represent a species' only available distributional information and play an increasing role in conservation assessments and macroecology. We provide global range maps for the native ranges of all extant mammal species harmonised to the taxonomy of the Mammal Diversity Database (MDD) mobilised from two sources, the Handbook of the Mammals of the World (HMW) and the Illustrated Checklist of the Mammals of the World (CMW). Location Global. Taxon All extant mammal species. Methods Range maps were digitally interpreted, georeferenced, error-checked and subsequently taxonomically aligned between the HMW (6253 species), the CMW (6431 species) and the MDD taxonomies (6362 species). Results Range maps can be evaluated and visualised in an online map browser at Map of Life (mol.org) and accessed for individual or batch download for non-commercial use. Main conclusion Expert maps of species' global distributions are limited in their spatial detail and temporal specificity, but form a useful basis for broad-scale characterizations and model-based integration with other data. We provide georeferenced range maps for the native ranges of all extant mammal species as shapefiles, with species-level metadata and source information packaged together in geodatabase format. Across the three taxonomic sources our maps entail, there are 1784 taxonomic name differences compared to the maps currently available on the IUCN Red List website. The expert maps provided here are harmonised to the MDD taxonomic authority and linked to a community of online tools that will enable transparent future updates and version control.Output Status: Forthcoming/Available Online Output Type: Data Article Additional co-authors: Kira McCall, Ajay Ranipeta, Anna Schuerkmann, Michael A. Torselli, Thomas Lacher Jr, Russell A. Mittermeier, Anthony B. Rylands, Wes Sechrest, Don E. Wilson, Agustín M. Abba, Luis F. Aguirre, Joaquín Arroyo-Cabrales, Diego Astúa, Andrew M. Baker, Gill Braulik, Janet K. Braun, Jorge Brito, Peter E. Busher, Santiago F. Burneo, M. Alejandra Camacho, Paolo Cavallini, Elisandra de Almeida Chiquito, Joseph A. Cook, Tamás Cserkész, Gábor Csorba, Erika Cuéllar Soto, Valeria da Cunha Tavares, Tim R. B. Davenport, Thomas Deméré, Christiane Denys, Christopher R. Dickman, Mark D. B. Eldridge, Eduardo Fernandez-Duque, Charles M. Francis, Greta Frankham, William L. Franklin, Thales Freitas, J. Anthony Friend, Elizabeth L. Gadsby, Guilherme S. T. Garbino, Philippe Gaubert, Norberto Giannini, Thomas Giarla, Jason S. Gilchrist, Jaime Gongora, Steven M. Goodman, Sharon Gursky-Doyen, Klaus Hackländer, Mark S. Hafner, Melissa Hawkins, Kristofer M. Helgen, Steven Heritage, Arlo Hinckley, Stefan Hintsche, Mary Holden, Kay E. Holekamp, Rodney L. Honeycutt, Brent A. Huffman, Tatyana Humle, Rainer Hutterer, Carlos Ibáñez Ulargui, Stephen M. Jackson, Jan Janecka, Mary Janecka, Paula Jenkins, Rimvydas Juškaitis, Javier Juste, Roland Kays, C. William Kilpatrick, Tigga Kingston, John L. Koprowski, Boris Kryštufek, Tyrone Lavery, Thomas E. Lee Jr, Yuri L. R. Leite, Roberto Leonan M. Novaes, Burton K. Lim, Andrey Lissovsky, Raquel López-Antoñanzas, Adrià López-Baucells, Colin D. MacLeod, Michael A. Mares, Helene Marsh, Stefano Mattioli, Erik Meijaard, Ara Monadjem, F. Blake Morton, Grace Musser, Tilo Nadler, Ryan W. Norris, Agustina Ojeda, Nicté Ordóñez-Garza, Ulyses F. J. Pardiñas, Bruce D. Patterson, Ana Pavan, Michael Pennay, Calebe Pereira, Joyce Prado, Helder L. Queiroz, Matthew Richardson, Erin P. Riley, Stephen J. Rossiter, Daniel I. Rubenstein, Dennisse Ruelas, Jorge Salazar-Bravo, Stéphanie Schai-Braun, Cody J. Schank, Christoph Schwitzer, Lori K. Sheeran, Myron Shekelle, Georgy Shenbrot, Pipat Soisook, Sergio Solari, Richard Southgate, Mariella Superina, Andrew B. Taber, Maurício Talebi, Peter Taylor, Thong Vu Dinh, Nelson Ting, Diego G. Tirira, Susan Tsang, Samuel T. Turvey, Raul Valdez, Victor Van Cakenberghe, Geraldine Veron, Janette Wallis, Rod Wells, Danielle Whittaker, George Wittemyer, John Woinarski, Dietmar Zinner, Nathan S. Upham, Walter Jet

Expert range maps of global mammal distributions harmonised to three taxonomic authorities

AimComprehensive, global information on species' occurrences is an essential biodiversity variable and central to a range of applications in ecology, evolution, biogeography and conservation. Expert range maps often represent a species' only available distributional information and play an increasing role in conservation assessments and macroecology. We provide global range maps for the native ranges of all extant mammal species harmonised to the taxonomy of the Mammal Diversity Database (MDD) mobilised from two sources, the Handbook of the Mammals of the World (HMW) and the Illustrated Checklist of the Mammals of the World (CMW).LocationGlobal.TaxonAll extant mammal species.MethodsRange maps were digitally interpreted, georeferenced, error-checked and subsequently taxonomically aligned between the HMW (6253 species), the CMW (6431 species) and the MDD taxonomies (6362 species).ResultsRange maps can be evaluated and visualised in an online map browser at Map of Life (mol.org) and accessed for individual or batch download for non-commercial use.Main conclusionExpert maps of species' global distributions are limited in their spatial detail and temporal specificity, but form a useful basis for broad-scale characterizations and model-based integration with other data. We provide georeferenced range maps for the native ranges of all extant mammal species as shapefiles, with species-level metadata and source information packaged together in geodatabase format. Across the three taxonomic sources our maps entail, there are 1784 taxonomic name differences compared to the maps currently available on the IUCN Red List website. The expert maps provided here are harmonised to the MDD taxonomic authority and linked to a community of online tools that will enable transparent future updates and version control

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Patch and landscape responses of bird abundance to fragmentation in agroecosystems of east-central Argentina

Forest fragmentation in agroecosystems is linked to declines of avian species worldwide. Agriculture has greatly reduced native forest cover in east-central Argentina. Assessing the influence of fragmentation on forest bird populations is vital to inform reliable conservation and management strategies for the Espinal region of Argentina. We determined the relationships of vegetation structure within native forest patches, size and shape of these patches (patch scale), composition and spatial configuration (at landscape scale) to relative abundance of 17 forest bird species during austral fall-winter and spring-summer seasons. Birds were sampled from 2007-2009 in 45 forest patches within three landscape mosaics (30 x 30 km) representing a gradient of native forest fragmentation in east-central Argentina. We used an information-theoretic approach and approximated model inference to examine the effect of predictor environmental variables at two spatial scales on patterns of forest bird abundance. Density of trees within forest patches was the main predictor of bird abundance at the patch scale. Amount of forest and spatial configuration were also important. The abundance of several bird species was greater in patches with high density of trees and landscapes characterized by more forest cover and larger patches in close proximity. We found two main avian response patterns to forest fragmentation and patch characteristics. This information contributes reliable knowledge for the design of conservation measures of agricultural landscapes in the Espinal region of Argentina

Data from: Early genetic consequences of defaunation in a large-seeded vertebrate-dispersed palm (Syagrus romanzoffiana)

Plant populations are seriously threatened by anthropogenic habitat disturbance. In particular, defaunation may disrupt plant-disperser mutualisms, thus reducing levels of seed-mediated gene flow and genetic variation in animal-dispersed plants. This may ultimately limit their adaptive potential and ability to cope with environmental change. Tropical forest remnants are typically deprived of medium to large vertebrates upon which many large-seeded plants rely for accomplishing effective seed dispersal. Our main goal was to examine the potential early genetic consequences of the loss of large vertebrates for large-seeded vertebrate-dispersed plants. We compared the genetic variation in early-stage individuals of the large-seeded palm Syagrus romanzoffiana between continuous protected forest and nearby partially defaunated fragments in the Atlantic Forest of South America. Using nine microsatellites, we found lower allelic richness and stronger fine-scale spatial genetic structure in the disturbed area. In addition, the percentage of dispersed recruits around conspecific adults was lower, although not significantly, in the disturbed area (median values: 0.0 vs 14.4%). On the other hand, no evidence of increased inbreeding or reduced pollen-mediated gene flow (selfing rate and diversity of pollen donors) was found in the disturbed area. Our findings are strongly suggestive of some early genetic consequences resulting from the limitation in contemporary gene flow via seeds, but not pollen, in defaunated areas. Plant-disperser mutualisms involving medium–large frugivores, which are seriously threatened in tropical systems, should therefore be protected to warrant the maintenance of seed-mediated gene flow and genetic diversity in large-seeded plants

Changes in bird assemblages in a wetland ecosystem after 14 years of intensified cattle farming

Human activities have modified wetlands all over the word. Water control structures that are frequently implemented in these ecosystems to keep lands free of flooding can decrease or degrade habitat for biodiversity. The Paraná River Delta, one of the largest wetlands in Argentina, has recently experienced rapid cattle grazing intensification facilitated by water control structures, resulting in extensive conversion of wetlands to pastures. It is unclear if this loss of wetlands has had a negative impact on the highly diverse bird community. Here, we evaluated the changes in bird assemblages in the Lower Delta of Paraná River after 14 years of cattle grazing intensification. We compared point count data from 1997 to 1999 with data collected in 2012 and 2013 using the same survey methods. We assessed the temporal changes in bird richness and composition using paired permutation tests and multivariate analysis. We related the bird composition to landscape changes to analyse if avian changes were associated with landscape dynamics. We found that after 14 years, the bird community differed greatly. In general, species richness decreased, especially in wet years. We found fewer wetland species in recent surveys; in particular we did not register saffron-cowled blackbird (Xanthopsar flavus), a species listed as globally vulnerable. Changes in bird composition were associated with an increase in bare soil due to land-use changes. Even though inter-annual differences in precipitation and river stage have great effects on the species present in the surveys, the absence of many wetland species in recent wet years, that is when habitat is suitable for them, is most likely due to changes in land cover. Globally, agricultural land use makes inroads into many wetlands, eroding their quality and extent. Maintenance of wetland species requires that conservation efforts focus on these vulnerable ecosystems before full-scale land conversion occurs.This study was financially supported by several projects: PNNAT 1128053 and 1128052 (INTA), PICTOCIN I 0022, PIP 0092 (CONICET), PICT Bicentenario 2227 (ANPCyT) and a bilateral cooperation agreement between CSIC & CONICET (Programa de cooperación científica con Iberoamérica from the Spanish Ministry of Education)

Bird diversity and conservation in the lower delta of the Paraná River, Argentina

The Delta of the Paraná River, one of the most important wetlands in South America, harbors subtropical and temperate bird species. Although this region is key for biodiversity conservation, aspects such as species composition and conservation status, and their relationship with vegetation types are poorly known. Here we described bird richness and composition of this area, with emphasis on the relationship between vegetation type and the presence of key bird species. We compiled systematic studies conducted during the 2007-2020 period and performed new surveys to elaborate a checklist of bird species and assess completeness. We reviewed a total of 12 studies distributed along five landscape units and nine vegetation types. We recorded 245 species, though the species accumulation curve indicates that the number of species could be even higher for the area. Most species were recorded in fresh water marshes, watercourses and grasslands in Entre Ríos. We identified 14 (5.7%) threatened species (e.g., Spartonoica maluroides, Limnoctites rectirostris and Sporophila palustris), most of them registered in grasslands and freshwater marshes. To our best knowledge, the list of species is the most comprehensive one for the area, showing that 23.7% of all bird species known for Argentina. Our results suggest the importance of freshwater marshes, watercourses and grasslands as key vegetation types for birds.El delta del río Paraná, uno de los humedales más importantes de América del Sur, alberga especies de aves subtropicales y templadas. Si bien esta región es clave para la conservación de la biodiversidad, aspectos como la composición de especies presentes, el estado de conservación y su relación con los tipos de vegetación son poco conocidos. En este trabajo describimos la composición de aves del Bajo Delta del Río Paraná, relacionando la ubicación en el paisaje y el tipo de vegetación con la presencia de especies clave. Para elaborar una lista de especies de aves en el Bajo Delta y evaluar su integridad recopilamos estudios sistemáticos realizados durante 2007-2020 y realizamos nuevos muestreos. Revisamos un total de 12 estudios distribuidos a lo largo de cinco Unidades de paisaje y nueve tipos de vegetación. Registramos 245 especies, aunque la curva de acumulación de especies indica que el número de especies podría ser aún mayor para el área. El mayor número de especies se registraron en pajonales y juncales, cursos de agua y pastizales en Entre Ríos. Identificamos 14 (5.7%) especies en riesgo de extinción (por ejemplo, Spartonoica maluroides, Limnoctites rectirostris y Sporophila palustris), la mayoría de ellas registradas en pastizales y pajonales. La lista de especies que se presenta aquí es, a nuestro entender, la más completa para el área, mostrando que el 23.7% de todas las especies de aves conocidas para Argentina habitan en el Bajo Delta. Nuestros resultados sugieren la importancia de los pajonales y juncales, cursos de agua y pastizales como tipos de vegetación clave para las aves.EEA Delta del ParanáFil: Fracassi, Natalia. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Delta del Paraná; ArgentinaFil: Sica, Yanina V. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigación e Ingeniería Ambiental; ArgentinaFil: Sica, Yanina V. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Magnano, Andrea Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas; ArgentinaFil: Magnano, Andrea Laura. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas; ArgentinaFil: Magnano, Andrea Laura. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas; ArgentinaFil: Vaccaro, Anahí. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Vaccaro, Anahí. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución. IEGEBA; ArgentinaFil: Landó, Roberto. Arauco Argentina S.A.; ArgentinaFil: Artero, Diego. Arauco Argentina S.A.; ArgentinaFil: Gavier Pizarro, Gregorio Ignacio. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Fisiología y Recursos Genéticos Vegetales; ArgentinaFil: Gavier Pizarro, Gregorio Ignacio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Bó, Roberto. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución. IEGEBA; ArgentinaFil: Somma, Daniel Jorge. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Delta del Paraná; ArgentinaFil: Quintana, Rubén D. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Quintana, Rubén D. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigación e Ingeniería Ambiental; ArgentinaFil: Rodriguez, María José. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia". División de Ornitología; ArgentinaFil: Cabanne, Gustavo Sebastián. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia". División de Ornitología; Argentin

Project data and code access underlying the globally integrated taxonomic structure

Data and code underlying the project and manuscript on an integrated structure of taxonom