From conference abstract to publication in the conservation science literature

Every two years, the conservation community comes together at The Society for Conservation Biology's International Congress for Conservation Biology (ICCB) to share new developments in conservation science and practice. Publication of content presented at conferences in scientific journals adds to a permanent record and helps increase its potential impact. However, quantitative research on publication rates for meetings relevant to conservation is lacking. We provide a data-driven exploration of the presentations at the 25th ICCB held in Auckland, New Zealand in 2011. To study publication rates and presenter demographics, we recorded titles, number of authors, presenter affiliations, gender, country of study region, publication status, and the elapsed time between presentation and publication. Of the 980 contributions (782 talks and 198 posters), 587 (60%) became publications. We found a mean time to publication of 13.7 months for all published abstracts, and 21.3 months when excluding abstracts published before the meeting. The gender breakdown of presenters was almost even (53% male, 47% female), but the representation of the countries where the presenting authors were based at was biased. The political units with the most contributions were by far the USA, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK. Presenters based in English-speaking countries made up 74% of the total sample, but this did not influence the likelihood of their abstract becoming a publication. Understanding the presentation to publication process in conservation is useful to identify biases and potential challenges that need to be addressed to make conference communications permanent and increase their reach beyond those in attendance

Patterns in research and data sharing for the study of form and function in caviomorph rodents

The combination of morphometrics, phylogenetic comparative methods, and open data sets has renewed interest in relating morphology to adaptation and ecological opportunities. Focusing on the Caviomorpha, a well-studied mammalian group, we evaluated patterns in research and data sharing in studies relating form and function. Caviomorpha encompasses a radiation of rodents that is diverse both taxonomically and ecologically. We reviewed 41 publications investigating ecomorphology in this group. We recorded the type of data used in each study and whether these data were made available, and we re-digitized all provided data. We tracked two major lines of information: collections material examined and trait data for morphological and ecological traits. Collectively, the studies considered 63% of extant caviomorph species; all extant families and genera were represented. We found that species-level trait data rarely were provided. Specimen-level data were even less common. Morphological and ecological data were too heterogeneous and sparse to aggregate into a single data set, so we created relational tables with the data. Additionally, we concatenated all specimen lists into a single data set and standardized all relevant data for phylogenetic hypotheses and gene sequence accessions to facilitate future morphometric and phylogenetic comparative research. This work highlights the importance and ongoing use of scientific collections, and it allows for the integration of specimen information with species trait data.Recientemente ha resurgido el interés por estudiar la relación entre morfología, ecología, y adaptación. Esto se debe al desarrollo de nuevas herramientas morfométricas y filogenéticas, y al acceso a grandes bases de datos para estudios comparados. Revisamos 41 publicaciones sobre ecomorfología de roedores caviomorfos, un grupo diverso y bien estudiado, para evaluar los patrones de investigación y la transparencia para la liberación de datos. Registramos los tipos de datos que se utilizaron para cada estudio y si los datos están disponibles. Cuando estos datos se compartieron, los redigitalizamos. Nos enfocamos en los ejemplares consultados, y en datos que describen rasgos ecológicos y morfológicos para las especies estudiadas. Los estudios que revisamos abarcan el 63% de las especies de caviomorfos que actualmente existen. Encontramos que raramente fueron compartidos los datos que se tomaron para especies, y menos aún para ejemplares. Los datos morfológicos y ecológicos eran demasiado heterogéneos e exiguos para consolidar en un solo banco de datos; debido a esta circunstancia, creamos tablas relacionales con los datos. Además, enlazamos todas las listas individuales de especímenes para crear un solo banco de datos y estandarizamos todos los datos pertinentes a hipótesis filogenéticas, así como los números de acceso de secuencias genéticas, para así facilitar eventuales estudios comparados de morfometría y filogenia. Este trabajo resalta la importancia de las colecciones científicas y documenta su uso, además permitiendo la futura integración de datos derivados de ejemplares con datos sobre rasgos ecomorfológicos a nivel de especie.Fil: Verde Arregoitia, Luis D.. Universidad Austral de Chile; ChileFil: Teta, Pablo Vicente. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; ArgentinaFil: D Elía, Guillermo. Universidad Austral de Chile; Chil

Co-occurrence and character convergence in two Neotropical bats

When functionally similar species co-occur, they are expected to differ in at least 1 niche axis to avoid competition. In bats, small differences in body size can influence ecology, potentially reducing niche overlap. We used yellow-shouldered bats (genus Sturnira) in Mexico as a model to investigate whether interspecific differences in body size increase when 2 related and ecologically similar species occur in sympatry. We hypothesized that size divergence would take place in sympatry, following known patterns whereby larger bats eat larger fruits and smaller bats forage and roost in more cluttered habitats. We collected data on body mass, forearm length, and skull size from museum specimens to characterize the overall dimensions of these bats. Using linear mixed effect models and permutation tests, we tested for differences between areas where these species occur in sympatry or allopatry, while controlling for the confounding effect of environmental variables and sexual dimorphism. Contrary to our original hypothesis, we detected size convergence in sympatric areas, an uncommon pattern in bats. We found no evidence of character displacement for forearm length and body mass, but an effect of co-occurrence on overall skull size and head length. Convergence in overall skull dimensions may reflect shared environmental pressures and similar food resources, which may not represent a limiting factor. Interspecific differences in forearm length remain constant in sympatry or allopatry. These differences likely preceded the 2 species coming into contact and could have allowed initial and ongoing coexistence by influencing wing properties and flight. We highlight the need for multivariate approaches in the study of character displacement, as selective pressures can act differently on different traits allowing both local adaptation and coexistence

Putting susceptibility on the map to improve conservation planning, an example with terrestrial mammals

Aim To propose a general approach to spatially synthesize known predictors of vulnerability at the species level in order to identify areas directly associated with specific conservation problems. Under this problem-detection framework, the coincidence or divergence of main strengths and weaknesses can be used to propose tailor-made conservation strategies. This approach is illustrated for terrestrial mammal species evaluating two of their main components of vulnerability: life-history traits and land use pressure. Location Global. Methods We determine, at the species level, the relationships between extinction risk and two well-known predictors of vulnerability: life-history traits (intrinsic) and land use (extrinsic). Transferring these findings into the spatial domain, we identify the areas of the world where one of these two facets is predominant and those areas where both coincide. Results The proposed approach allows us to recognize four types of areas: 1) double-susceptibility areas: where both the characteristics of the species and the existing human activities pose a threat, therefore the simultaneous management of both species/habitats and human activities are needed; 2) intrinsic-susceptibility areas: where species are naturally fragile and human presence is scarce, thus species-specific management plans would be particularly efficient; 3) extrinsic-susceptibility areas: where human pressure is high but species are not intrinsically vulnerable; which requires special attention to human activities; and 4) low-susceptibility areas: where there are not remarkable threats for existing terrestrial mammals, which additionally are not particularly fragile. Main conclusions Our approach can spatially synthesize known predictors of vulnerability identifying areas where different factors predispose species to become extinct. This method builds on conservation planning approaches by targeting actions based on known strengths and weaknesses of a given area, and offering a new implementation of comparative studies of extinction risk. This approach may be applied to different species and to particular regions, focusing on different drivers, and complemented by incorporating social and economic trade-offs

Larger brain size indirectly increases vulnerability to extinction in mammals

Although previous studies have addressed the question of why large brains evolved, we have limited understanding of potential beneficial or detrimental effects of enlarged brain size in the face of current threats. Using novel phylogenetic path analysis, we evaluated how brain size directly and indirectly, via its effects on life-history and ecology, influences vulnerability to extinction across 474 mammalian species. We found that larger brains, controlling for body size, indirectly increase vulnerability to extinction by extending the gestation period, increasing weaning age, and limiting litter sizes. However, we found no evidence of direct, beneficial or detrimental, effects of brain size on vulnerability to extinction, even when we explicitly considered the different types of threats that lead to vulnerability. Order-specific analyses revealed qualitatively similar patterns for Carnivora and Artiodactyla. Interestingly, for Primates, we found that larger brain size was directly (and indirectly) associated with increased vulnerability to extinction. Our results indicate that under current conditions the constraints on life-history imposed by large brains outweigh the potential benefits, undermining the resilience of the studied mammals. Contrary to the selective forces that have favoured increased brain size throughout evolutionary history, at present, larger brains have become a burden for mammals

Impending extinction crisis of the world’s primates: Why primates matter

Non-human primates, our closest biological relatives, play important roles in the livelihoods, cultures and religions of many societies, and offer unique insights into human evolution, biology, behavior and the threat of emerging diseases. They are an essential component of tropical biodiversity, contributing to forest regeneration and ecosystem health. The most recent compilation of primate taxonomy lists 504 species, 197 subspecies and 79 genera distributed in the Neotropics, mainland Africa, Madagascar and Asia. Alarmingly, ~60% of primate species are now threatened with extinction as a result of unsustainable human activities, including illegal hunting and those resulting in extensive land-cover changes: industry driven agricultural production, deforestation, livestock and cattle ranching, oil and gas drilling, mining, dam building, climate change, and poor governance. Although drivers of primate decline vary by region, it is clear that decreasing the per capita demand of industrialized nations, lowering human birth rates and population growth, improving health, reducing poverty and gender biases in education, developing sustainable land-use initiatives, and preserving traditional livelihoods in primate range countries are all part of a comprehensive solution. Despite the existing threats to primate survival, we are adamant that primate conservation is not yet a lost cause. We still have the opportunity to reduce the human impact to primates and their habitats, but that demands raising greater local, regional and global public awareness of the plight of the world’s primates and the costs of their loss to ecosystem health, human culture and ultimately human survival

Global Priorities for Conserving the Evolutionary History of Sharks, Rays, and Chimaeras

In an era of accelerated biodiversity loss and limited conservation resources, systematic prioritization of species and places is essential. In terrestrial vertebrates, evolutionary distinctness has been used to identify species and locations that embody the greatest share of evolutionary history. We estimate evolutionary distinctness for a large marine vertebrate radiation on a dated taxon-complete tree for all 1,192 chondrichthyan fishes (sharks, rays and chimaeras) by augmenting a new 610-species molecular phylogeny using taxonomic constraints. Chondrichthyans are by far the most evolutionarily distinct of all major radiations of jawed vertebrates—the average species embodies 26 million years of unique evolutionary history. With this metric, we identify 21 countries with the highest richness, endemism and evolutionary distinctness of threatened species as targets for conservation prioritization. On average, threatened chondrichthyans are more evolutionarily distinct—further motivating improved conservation, fisheries management and trade regulation to avoid significant pruning of the chondrichthyan tree of life

ICCB publication rates.

Conservation Biology. Data and R code

Biases, gaps, and opportunities in mammalian extinction risk research

A subdiscipline of conservation science involves the study of differences between threatened and non-threatened species. The relevance of multispecies analyses of extinction risk to conservation practice has been questioned, but there has been no synthesis of the allocation of research effort to different regions and groups of mammals to assess whether or not sufficient knowledge is available to support conservation science where it is most needed. I reviewed 68 comparative studies of mammalian extinction risk to test whether existing research reflects our concern for threatened species. Additionally, I examined the variables used and various methodological issues that can lead to uninformative results. Known spatial and taxonomic biases in conservation science persisted in extinction risk research, leaving large proportions of globally threatened taxa unstudied. Primates and carnivores had more dedicated studies, whereas small mammals such as rodents and the Eulipotyphla (true shrews, talpids, solenodons, gymnures, and hedgehogs) lack research effort despite their high diversity, threat, and extinction record. Except for the Australian mammal fauna (a clear priority given the number of threatened, extinct, and endemic taxa), most areas of conservation importance remain underrepresented in these types of studies. Detailed country-level analyses can provide applicable results for understudied regions. I propose Southeast Asia and the Caribbean for further research, given their high levels of extinction, threat and endemism, and their unique biogeographic histories. Finally, I offer suggestions for general methodological improvements to avoid problems with missing data and statistical circularity in order to maximise conservation relevance

Implementación del sistema de control del motor para el vehículo Fórmula SAE UNAM 2011

Implementación del sistema de control del motor para el vehículo Fórmula SAE UNAM 201