Known unknowns: Filling the gaps in scientific knowledge production in the Caatinga

Abstract

The Caatinga is an ecologically unique semi-arid region of northeast Brazil characterized by high levels of endemism and severe anthropogenic threats from agricultural development and climate change. It is also one of the least known biomes in Brazil due to a combination of inadequate investment, low regional research capacity and difficult working conditions. However, while the lack of scientific knowledge of the Caatinga is well known, the spatial and temporal distribution of knowledge production has not been investigated. This is important because such biases undermine the development of effective conservation policy and practice and increase the uncertainty associated with conservation actions. Here, we map the geography of conservation knowledge production in the Caatinga and use an innovative hurdle model to identify the presumptive factors driving these patterns. Our analysis revealed strong geographic patterns, with research sites concentrated in the east of the region and in areas close to roads and research centres. There was also a positive association between conservation knowledge production and risk of desertification, indicating that conservation scientists are responding to conservation challenges faced by Caatinga’s fauna and flora arising from climate change. Our results also highlight the pivotal role of pioneer scientists (those who develop research sites in previously unstudied/understudied areas) in determining the future geographic patterns of knowledge production. We conclude our article with a brief discussion of potential policies for increasing the spatial representativeness of conservation research in this remarkable ecosystem.

Drivers of taxonomic bias in conservation research: a global analysis of terrestrial mammals

“…Schulman, Toivonen & Ruokolainen, 2007; Amano & Sutherland, 2013; Engemann et al , 2015; Ibáñez‐Álamo et al , 2017; Correia et al ., 2019; Lessa et al . , 2019). Such geographical biases in research are likely to be reduced in the future if few research capacity countries invest greater amounts of resources in science (Fazey et al , 2005 b ) and consequently insert more conservation qualified researchers in areas with low research capacity.…”

A new species of the bee genus Paratetrapedia from northeastern Brazil mimic of the stingless bee Camargoia nordestina (Apidae, Tapinotaspidini)

“…Most of the knowledge about the biodiversity of northeastern Brazil is concentrated on the east and northern portions, while the central and western portions are poorly known (Lessa et al, 2019). There is an urgent need to collect and describe the biodiversity of central and southern portions of this region due a strong pressure for coal, pasture and soybean monoculture, mostly on grasslands areas and semi-deciduous forests of the states of Maranhão, Tocantins, Piauí, and Bahia, jointly referred to as "MATOPIBA", a very large area that is prone to an almost complete extirpation of the natural areas in the next decades (Matricardi et al, 2018).…”

Seasonal evaluation of spermatogenesis of the hematophagous bat Desmodus rotundus in the Caatinga biome

“…Upon the onset of drought, senescent leaves of woody plants are incorporated into the diet of these animals and may represent the only forage resource available to cattle in some areas. Thus, the difficulty in managing livestock during the dry season can cause a decrease in herds, consequently affecting the diet of hematophagous bats [8,9]. It is not known, however, whether such limitations affect the reproductive performance of D. rotundus.…”

“…Although testicular histology of this vampire bat species is well studied, the seasonal behavior of the cells that make up the testicular parenchyma and the rates of sperm production in this species have not been evaluated, especially in a region that experiences a severe period of water restriction [9]. Considering the influence of climatic factors on bat reproduction [7,10], it is important to obtain information regarding the same, as that would support the development of population control measures, bearing in mind the ecological importance of the species and their economic and epidemiological impact, both on livestock and on human health.…”