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

Necessidades de treinamento organizacional e motivação para trabalhar Training needs and work motivation: analysis of the relationship

Apesar de contribuir com a programação, a execução e a avaliação de resultados, a etapa de análise de necessidades tem sido constantemente negligenciada pela literatura científica e pela prática profissional de treinamento, cujos volumosos investimentos, portanto, tendem a ser desperdiçados. Os modelos que orientam este importante campo foram propostos há aproximadamente 50 anos, de forma que não são capazes, atualmente, de orientar teórica e metodologicamente estudiosos e praticantes da área. Nesse sentido, esta pesquisa objetivou, mediante execução de análise de covariância em amostra de 213 participantes, investigar a relação entre motivação para o trabalho e complexidade de necessidades de treinamento, com vistas a permitir a composição futura de modelos teóricos de análise de necessidades integrados, não apenas por componentes relacionados às tarefas, como prescrito na literatura, mas, também, por variáveis relativas aos níveis individual, grupal e organizacional de análise. Especificamente, quatro objetivos específicos, cada qual associado a procedimentos e técnicas de pesquisa particulares, foram determinados: (1) elaborar, por meio de pesquisa documental e grupo de foco, e validar, teórica e empiricamente, a partir de entrevista individual e realização de análises fatoriais exploratórias, instrumento para aferição das necessidades de treinamento; (2) adaptar e validar estatisticamente o instrumento de medida de motivação para trabalhar, também em função de análises fatoriais exploratórias; (3) com teste de diferença de médias entre amostras independentes, formar grupos de comparação em função do no nível de motivação para trabalhar dos respondentes; e (4) identificar variáveis de controle estatístico para composição do modelo final de investigação a partir de correlações bivariadas. Os resultados obtidos satisfizeram todos esses quatro objetivos intermediários de pesquisa: bons índices psicométricos de validação e confiabilidade dos instrumentos de necessidades e de motivação foram obtidos; dois grupos de comparação puderam ser estatisticamente formados em função dos níveis de motivação de seus integrantes; e o tempo de serviço pôde ser selecionado como variável de controle estatístico para a composição do modelo final de investigação. Apesar desses resultados positivos, a análise de covariância efetuada não evidenciou relação alguma entre motivação e necessidades de treinamento, contrariando parte da literatura, não diretamente relacionada à área de treinamento, que atesta esta relação direta. Este resultado torna necessária a ampliação e o aprofundamento de pesquisas nesse sentido, principalmente pelo fato de a motivação ser uma das principais variáveis individuais responsáveis pela explicação de medidas de desempenho pós-treinamento.<br>Although contributing to the planning, execution and results evaluation, the needs analysis subsystem has been consistently neglected by the training scientific literature and professional practice, whose bulky investments, therefore, tend to be wasted. The models that guide this important field have been proposed about 50 years ago, so they are not capable, today, of theoretical and methodological guide scholars and practitioners in the area. Thus, this study aimed, through implementation of analysis of covariance in a sample of 213 participants, to investigate the relationship between motivation to work and complexity of training needs, in order to allow the composition of future needs analysis theoretical models integrated not only for components related to the tasks, as prescribed in the literature, but also by variables related to the individual, group and organizational level of analysis. Specifically, four specific objectives, each one associated with particular procedures and research techniques were determined: (1) developing, through documental research and focus group, and validate, theoretically and empirically, from individual interviews and exploratory factor analysis, instrument for measuring training needs; (2) adapt and statistically validate the instrument to measure motivation to work, also through of exploratory factor analysis; (3) to test for mean differences between independent samples produce comparison groups depending on the level of respondents' motivation to work; and (4) identifying control variables for statistical composition of the final research, from bivariate correlations. The results satisfied all of these four intermediate goals: good psychometric indices of reliability and validity of the instruments of needs and motivation were obtained; two groups could be statistically formed according to level of motivation of its members; and the time service might be selected as a control variable for the statistical composition of the final investigation model. Despite these positive results, the covariance analysis performed did not show any relation between motivation and training needs, contrary to conventional wisdom, not directly related to the training area, which certifies this direct relationship. This result makes it necessary to expand and deepen research in this direction, mainly because the motivation is one of the main individual variables responsible for the explanation of post-performance training measures