The local extinction of one of the greatest terrestrial ecosystem engineers, the giant armadillo (Priodontes maximus), in one of its last refuges in the Atlantic Forest, will be felt by a large vertebrate community

Fontes, Bruno Lucas; Desbiez, Arnaud Léonard Jean; Massocato, Gabriel Fávero; Srbek‐Araujo, Ana Carolina; Sanaiotti, Tânia Margarete; Bergallo, Helena Godoy; Ferreguetti, Átilla Colombo; Noia, Carlos Hartur Ribeiro; Schettino, Vítor Roberto; Valls, Renata; Moreira, Danielle de Oliveira; Gatti, Andressa; Mendonça, Eduardo de Sá; Banhos, Áureo

doi:10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e01357

Cited by 10 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…Camera trapping is one of the main tools used to advance P. maximus research (Noss et al, 2004;Porfirio et al, 2012;Desbiez & Kluyber, 2013;Aya-Cuero et al, 2017;Quiroga et al, 2017;Massocato & Desbiez, 2017;Esteves et al, 2018;Desbiez et al, 2020b,c;Di Blanco et al, 2020;Fontes et al, 2020). Records obtained by camera traps can allow the individual identification of P. maximus if properly examined (Noss et al, 2004;.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

First estimates of potential lifespan of giant armadillo (Priodontes maximus) in the wild

Desbiez¹,

Larsen²,

Massocato³

et al. 2021

Edentata: The Newsletter of the IUCN/SSC Anteater, Sloth and Ar

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This paper reports on results from two camera trapping initiatives where individual giant armadillos, Priodontes maximus, were identified and monitored over multiple years, thus providing insights into their potential lifespan. One camera trap array was located in the Brazilian Pantanal, in Mato Grosso do Sul, where an adult female was first identified in October 2011 and documented again in January 2021, leading us to estimate her age as at least 17.5 years old. The other camera trap array was located at the border of the Chaco alluvial plains in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, where a female was first registered in June 2004 and then again in January 2019; we estimate her age to be at least 18 years old. While recognizing that these two data points are insufficient to evaluate life expectancy of the species, this paper does provide the first evidence of potential lifespan of wild P. maximus. It also shows that both females were documented in the same area after intervals of 10 and 15 years, providing new clues on long-term site fidelity. This paper highlights the importance of long-term camera trap arrays for the study of cryptic nocturnal mammals that are long lived and occur at low densities.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

First estimates of potential lifespan of giant armadillo (Priodontes maximus) in the wild

Desbiez¹,

Larsen²,

Massocato³

et al. 2021

Edentata: The Newsletter of the IUCN/SSC Anteater, Sloth and Ar

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“…Alternatively, such deficit may suggest local extinctions, especially in highly sampled grid cells (>300 records). This seems particularly true across the Atlantic Forest, where high habitat modification has led to the local extirpation of many large‐bodied species, including the giant anteater and the giant armadillo (Bogoni et al, 2018; Canale et al, 2012; Fontes et al, 2020). Therefore, in highly deforested regions, our estimated local Xenarthra richness may represent an optimistic prediction of the original fauna and may not reflect the anthropogenic defaunation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identifying hotspots and priority areas for xenarthran research and conservation

Feijó

Wen

et al. 2022

Diversity and Distributions

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Aim Limited funds for conservation and research require the development of prioritization schemes. Traditionally, biodiversity metrics were used to delineate priority areas; however, a growing realization emphasizes that logistic factors should be also considered. Here, we combine species richness, past collection efforts, degree of habitat loss and accessibility to define priority areas and spatially orient fieldwork in a cost‐effective manner for xenarthrans. Location Neotropics. Methods We assessed spatial patterns of species richness in Xenarthra and identified diversity hotspots based on species distribution models. Spatial patterns and biases in the Xenarthra past collection efforts were analysed using a comprehensive database including 33,464 individual records for 34 species of Xenarthra. Finally, we produced priority area indices relating species richness and collection efforts with levels of habitat loss and accessibility (roads and rivers network) to highlight important but neglected areas. Results Collection efforts were concentrated to a small portion of the Neotropics (central‐western Brazil, eastern Bolivia and north‐western Argentina) and were biased towards access routes. Only 4% of the Neotropics can be considered well sampled. Major xenarthran diversity hotspots include the Amazonian lowlands of Bolivia and the dry Chaco of Paraguay and Argentina. Priority areas for research varied depending on the metric analysed. Amazon holds a high diversity that remains poorly explored. Central Argentina and eastern Brazil are priority areas for research and conservation given the low sampling efforts, high diversity and endemic species, high levels of habitat loss and a dense road network. Main conclusions Most areas of the Neotropics lack a proper assessment of the xenarthran assemblage, reflecting extensive knowledge shortfalls. Sites close to roads tend to be better sampled, but many areas with a dense road network are undersampled, being good candidates for low‐cost studies. Xenarthra diversity hotspots facing the highest levels of habitat alteration are the least protected and are priority for both research and conservation. Simultaneous efforts of data collection and conservation actions across most of the xenarthran range should be stimulated.

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“…The giant armadillo Priodontes maximus Kerr, 1792 (Mammalia: Cingulata), the largest extant species of armadillo ( Emmons and Feer, 1997 ; Carter et al, 2016 ; Desbiez et al, 2019a ), is part of one of the most ancient lineages of placental mammals, the magna-order Xenarthra ( Murphy et al, 2001 ). This is an ecologically very important species, acting as ecosystem engineers ( Leite-Pitman et al, 2004 ; Desbiez and Kluyber, 2013 ; Aya-Cuero et al, 2017 ; Massocato and Desbiez, 2018 ; Di Blanco et al, 2020 ; Fontes et al, 2020 ). It has a distribution that extends over a large area of South America; however, it occurs in discontinuous populations and at low population densities ( Cabrera, 1958 ; Desbiez et al , 2020a ; Meritt, 2006 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reduced gene flow and bottleneck in the threatened giant armadillo (Priodontes maximus): implications for its conservation

Rodrigues,

Saranholi,

Inforzato

et al. 2024

Genet. Mol. Biol.

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The progressive fragmentation and loss of habitats represent the main threats for endangered species, causing genetic consequences that may have potential implications for a population’s long-term persistence. Large mammals are the most affected species among vertebrates. The giant armadillo Priodontes maximus is a large South American mammal threatened species, showing nocturnal, solitary and fossorial behavior, occurring at low population densities, and its population dynamics are still poorly known. In this study, we carried out the first assessment of genetic variability and population genetic structure of the species, using a panel of 15 polymorphic microsatellites developed by high-throughput genome sequencing . The spatial Bayesian clustering, F st and D est results indicated the presence of two genetic clusters (K = 2) in the study area. These results suggest a reduction in gene flow between individuals inhabiting the Brazilian savanna (Cerrado) and the Pantanal wetlands, with the increased human-driven habitat modifications possibly contributing for this scenario. A bottleneck signal was detected in both populations, and a subpopulation structuring in the Cerrado may also be reflecting consequences of the extensive habitat modifications. Findings from this study provide important and useful information for the future maintenance of genetic diversity and long-term conservation of this flagship species.

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The local extinction of one of the greatest terrestrial ecosystem engineers, the giant armadillo (Priodontes maximus), in one of its last refuges in the Atlantic Forest, will be felt by a large vertebrate community

Cited by 10 publications

References 55 publications

First estimates of potential lifespan of giant armadillo (Priodontes maximus) in the wild

First estimates of potential lifespan of giant armadillo (Priodontes maximus) in the wild

Identifying hotspots and priority areas for xenarthran research and conservation

Reduced gene flow and bottleneck in the threatened giant armadillo (Priodontes maximus): implications for its conservation

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