Assessing conservation priorities of xenarthrans in Argentina

Abstract

In this study, we combine species distribution models with a reserve selection approach to assess the degree of representation of xenarthrans in the existing protected area network of Argentina, and to identify conservation priority areas that may help expand the current system. Species distribution models were developed from species' occurrence records using a maximum entropy algorithm. Maps of species distributions were produced for 15 of the 16 species currently present in the country. To assess the performance of the existing protected area network in representing all modeled species, and to identify priority areas to expand the current reserve system, we used the software Zonation. Overall, all species modeled are represented in the existing protected area network. However, the percentage of their ranges covered by protected areas is very low (average = 6.7%; range = 1.7-17.6%). To represent at least 5% of the distribution of each species, 8.8% of the country's area would be needed, and species with restricted ranges have the greatest increase in representation in this scenario. When 10% of the country is set aside for conservation, species representation increases considerably, again favoring range-restricted species. Most of the areas identified as conservation priorities are under strong anthropogenic pressures, including deforestation, agricultural expansion, and hunting. Our analysis provides a preliminary assessment of conservation priorities for the xenarthrans of

Distribución Actual y Potencial deCabassous tatouayyTamandua tetradactylaen el Límite sur de su Distribución: Implicancias para su Conservación en Uruguay

“…Otros problemas son la escasa representación en unidades de conservación, la caza directa, ataques por parte de perros y atropellamientos en carreteras (Fallabrino & Castiñeira, 2006;Fallabrino et al, 2009). Esta problemática común a todos los xenartros ya ha sido detectada en trabajos recientes de distribución y conservación realizados en Argentina (Tognelli et al, 2010;Abba et al, 2012). A su vez, cambios relevantes en el uso de suelo proyectados a corto plazo para Uruguay (Achkar et al, 3 Detalle de la distribución potencial de Cabassous tatouay para Uruguay, superpuesta con las áreas del SNAP ingresadas (perí-metros en color rojo) o en proceso de ingreso (perímetros de color violeta o círculos de colores).…”

The role of macroinvertebrates for conservation of freshwater systems

“…Other studies carried out in Argentina have also clearly shown that protected areas are ineffective or insufficient for the preservation of biological diversity (Arzamendia & Giraudo, 2004;Nori et al, 2013;Tognelli et al, 2011). Although the protected areas are partial solutions to habitat degradation, they are also cornerstones of conservation (Margules & Pressey, 2000).…”

“…Worse still it is not clear which target is required to safeguard an individual species (Pidgeon, Rivera, Martinuzzi, Politi, & Bateman, 2015). Regarding vertebrates, Rodrigues et al (2004) considered that conserving 10% of the land surface was enough if the species is widely distributed, and that this percentage must be higher, 70%-100%, if the species has a restricted distribution (Kukkala & Moilanen, 2012;Tognelli et al, 2011). However, Howard et al (1998) and Kerr (1997) sustained that the minimum requirements to conserve the diversity of vertebrates will not necessarily be an effective umbrella for biodiversity in general, because many other more diverse groups (including plants and invertebrates) are expected to require considerably larger areas to be fully represented.…”

“…One problem of the Argentinian-protected areas is that they only focus on the protection of plants (Ortega-Baes et al, 2012) and vertebrates (Arzamendia & Giraudo, 2004;Corbalán, Tognelli, Scolaro, & Roig-Juñent, 2011;Nori et al, 2013;Tabeni, Bender, & Ojeda, 2004;Tognelli, Abba, Bender, & Seitz, 2011). Invertebrates are not considered when planning or considering protected areas, even if their need has been showed (Chehébar et al, 2013).…”

Distribución espacial de los eufractinos (Xenarthra, Dasypodidae) en Mendoza (región de Cuyo): aspectos biológicos, ecológicos y ambientales

“…La modificación de hábitats naturales relacionadas a la agricultura puede ejercer presiones positivas en las poblaciones de armadillos (Merrit, 2008; Abba y Vizcaíno, 2011) aunque en la mayoría de los casos la agricultura y el pastoreo se consideran presiones negativas (Aguiar y Fonseca, 2008;Tognelli et al, 2011). El estado de conservación de los…”