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 domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, 10 anteaters, and 6 sloths. Our data set 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 southern United States, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to the austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n = 5,941), and Cyclopes sp. have the fewest (n = 240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n = 11,588), and the fewest data are recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n = 33). With regard 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 data sets of Neotropical Series that 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 data set. Please cite this data paper when using its data in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us of how they are using these data.

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Species distribution models are not usually calibrated with biotic predictors. Our study question is: does the use of biotic predictors matter in predicting species distribution? We aim to assess the importance of biotic predictors in the output of distribution models of the Brazilian squirrel (Sciurus aestuans) throughout South America based on fruits of Syagrus romanzoffiana – the most consumed food resource. We hypothesized that the distribution model of S. aestuans using its main food resource as a biotic predictor will be more accurate in comparison with the output of the model without the biotic predictor. We built three different distribution models: (i) distribution of S. romanzoffiana; (ii) distribution of S. aestuans without biotic predictor; and (iii) distribution of S. aestuans with biotic predictor. We evaluated performance scores, number of presence pixels and concordance between suitability maps. We found that performance scores may not vary between models with different predictors, but the output map changed significantly. We also found that models with biotic predictors seem to vary less in presence pixels. Furthermore, the main variable in the distribution model was the biotic variable. We conclude that the knowledge of a species’ biology and ecology can make better predictions of species distribution models mainly by avoiding commission errors.

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A legislação preconiza a indissociabilidade entre pesquisa-ensino-extensão no sistema de educação superior brasileiro. Historicamente, as universidades têm desenvolvido de forma satisfatória a pesquisa e o ensino, enquanto a extensão tem sido aplicada meramente para atender às exigências legais. Recentemente, a legislação voltou a centrar o foco na curricularização da extensão até o ano de 2024, em que 10% da carga horária das 1 Mestre em Desenvolvimento Socioeconômico. 2 Doutorando em Direito. Professor na UNESC. Vice-Reitor da UNESC. INSERÇÃO CURRICULAR DA EXTENSÃO:aproximações teóricas e experiências VOLUME VI disciplinas devem estar alocadas com atividades de extensão. Isso se tornou um desafio para a maioria das universidades brasileiras, uma vez que essas atividades não fazem parte de seu cotidiano.Ao buscar atender a essas regulamentações, a UNESC tem destinado, desde 2004, um percentual dos seus esforços e de seu orçamento para editais internos de extensão, selecionando projetos que visem a difundir os conhecimentos gerados pelo seu corpo docente. Para que os projetos tenham a eficácia desejada, é necessário formar um grupo de extensionistas em programas contínuos de capacitação em extensão ou em programas pontuais específicos de formação continuada.O presente capítulo discorrerá, em sua parte inicial, sobre a contextualização histórica da extensão enquanto componente da formação de nível superior sobre as ações desenvolvidas pela Pró-Reitoria de Pós-Graduação, Pesquisa e Extensão juntamente com os Fóruns Internos de Extensão, buscando levantar as demandas da sociedade de tal forma que possam ser elaborados projetos de extensão que visem a atender a essas demandas. Por fim, tratar-se-á das ações desenvolvidas pelos programas e projetos de extensão dentro da Unidade Acadêmica das Ciências Sociais Aplicadas (UNACSA).