Tropical ecosystems are often biodiversity hotspots, and invertebrates represent the main underrepresented component of diversity in large‐scale analyses. This problem is partly related to the ...scarcity of data widely available to conduct these studies and the lack of systematic organization of knowledge about invertebrates' distributions in biodiversity hotspots. Here, we introduce and analyze a comprehensive data compilation of Amazonian ant diversity. Using records from 1817 to 2020 from both published and unpublished sources, we describe the diversity and distribution of ant species in the Brazilian Amazon Basin. Further, using high‐definition images and data from taxonomic publications, we build a comprehensive database of morphological traits for the ant species that occur in the region. In total, we recorded 1067 nominal species in the Brazilian Amazon Basin, with sampling locations strongly biased by access routes, urban centers, research institutions and major infrastructure projects. Large areas where ant sampling is non‐existent represent about 52% of the basin and are concentrated mainly in the northern, southeastern and western Brazilian Amazon. We found that distance to roads is the main driver of ant sampling in the Amazon. Contrary to our expectations, morphological traits had lower predictive power in predicting sampling bias than purely geographic variables. However, when geographic predictors were controlled, habitat stratum and traits contribute to explain the remaining variance. More species were recorded in better‐sampled areas, but species richness estimation models suggest that areas in southern Amazonian edge forests are associated with especially high species richness. Our results represent the first trait‐based, large‐scale study for insects in Amazonian forests and a starting point for macroecological studies focusing on insect diversity in the Amazon Basin.
Ricardo von Diringshofen (1900–1986) was a Natural History enthusiast who collected an incredible variety of objects, mostly insects, which amount to over 2 million specimens. We present here a brief ...biography of Ricardo von Diringshofen, including the history of his insect collection and the processes of purchase and incorporation of his collection by the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo.
Current evidence suggests that intraoperative goal-directed haemodynamic therapy (GDT) should be considered for high-risk patients undergoing major gastrointestinal surgery. We aimed to evaluate if ...an algorithm using venoarterial carbon dioxide difference (CO2 gap) and pulse pressure variation (PPV) as therapeutic targets during GDT would decrease the major complications after gastrointestinal surgery.
This was a before-and-after study (n = 204) performed in a tertiary hospital on patients who underwent elective open major gastrointestinal surgeries. The inclusion criteria were surgeries expected to last more than two hours, family and physician's agreement on total postoperative support, and survival expectancy of at least three months. The exclusion criteria were previous haemodynamic instability, presence of infection, cardiac arrhythmias, and emergency surgery. In the intervention group (IG), an algorithm was applied using fluids, dobutamine, and noradrenaline during the intraoperative period aiming at MAP > 65 mm Hg, SpO2 > 95%, CO2 gap < 6 mm Hg, and PPV < 13%. The control group (CG) comprised consecutive eligible patients who were operated by the same team before the institution of the algorithm.
The rates of moderate and severe postoperative complications were lower in the IG (11% vs. 23%; IC: RR = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.246-0.929; P = 0.025). The respective 90- and 180-day mortality rates in the IG and CG were 9.8% vs. 22.5% (P = 0.014) and 12.6% vs. 25.5% (P = 0.020).
An algorithm aiming to minimise the CO2 gap and normalise PPV was feasible and effective in decreasing rates of moderate and severe complications after surgery in high-risk patients.
Rare plant and vertebrate species have been documented to contribute disproportionately to the total morphological structure of species assemblages. These species often possess morphologically ...extreme traits and occupy the boundaries of morphological space. As rare species are at greater risk of extinction than more widely distributed species, human‐induced disturbances can strongly affect ecosystem functions related to assemblage morphology. Here, we assess to what extent the distributions of ant morphological traits are supported by morphologically extreme species and how they are distributed among habitats in a global biodiversity hotspot, the Brazilian Amazon. We used a morphological database comprising 15 continuous morphological traits and 977 expert‐validated ant species distributed across the Brazilian Amazon. We produced species range estimates using species distribution models or alpha hulls (when few records were available). Next, we conducted a principal components analysis to combine traits into a space with reduced dimensionality (morphospace). Then, we identified morphologically extreme species in this space and quantified their contributions to morphological diversity across different habitat types in the Brazilian Amazon Basin. We identified 114 morphologically extreme ant species across the Amazon ant morphospace. These species also accounted for a large percentage of morphospace filling, exceeding 99% representation in the most disturbed habitats in the Amazon. Our results suggest that a few morphologically extreme species capture most of the variation in ant morphology and, therefore, the spectrum of ecosystem functions performed by ants in the Brazilian Amazon Basin. Further, unlike in many other groups, these extreme morphologies were represented by the set of most common species. These results suggest greater functional redundancy and resilience in Brazilian Amazon ants, but more broadly, they contribute to our understanding of ecological processes that sustain ecosystem functions.
The rarity of organisms is related either to a natural origin or human-induced impacts, and rare species are more susceptible to extinction. The Atlantic Forest is an endangered biome with a diverse ...ant fauna. This study focuses on identifying forms of rarity in ant species recorded in the leaf litter in fragments of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, as a more acute knowledge of rare species can support more appropriate conservation strategies. To do so, we applied the Rabinowitz method to leaf litter ants, considering data on geographical distribution, habitat specificity, and local occurrence to classify them into “forms of rarity”. We then investigated the variation in the composition of forms between phytophysiognomies, and whether environmental variables predict the richness of rare species or not. We also analyzed the degree to which each species is endangered using lists of fauna threatened with extinction from two databases on ants in the Atlantic Forest. In total, we analyzed 242 ant species collected in the forest leaf litter, with 50.4 % classified as “Common”, and the remaining 49.6 % presenting some “form of rarity”. In general, phytophysiognomies have a similar composition of forms. Environmental predictors influence each form differently. Among all species analyzed (rare and common), seven presented some degree of threat (global, national and state lists). Therefore, conservation strategies must aim at the inclusion of rare ants to ensure their diversity.
The present catalogue lists ant types of 12 traditional Myrmicinae ant tribes (Adelomyrmecini, Basicerotini, Blepharidattini, Crematogastrini, Formicoxenini, Lenomyrmecini, Myrmicini, ...Phalacromyrmecini, Pheidolini, Stegomyrmecini, Stenammini and Tetramoriini) housed in the Formicidae Collection of the Hymenoptera Laboratory, Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo (MZSP), Brazil, completing the publication of Myrmicinae types deposited in this institution. We adopted the traditional classification for Myrmicinae tribes to follow the already published catalogues regarding the Attini, Cephalotini, Dacetini and Solenopsidini and published catalogues in this series. In total, the present catalogue includes types of 213 nominal species, of which 169 are still valid. Twelve species listed here are represented by holotypes only, 28 by holotypes and paratypes, 102 species by paratypes only, 65 species by syntypes, and five species by lectotypes and paralectotypes. We record the label information, morphological condition of the specimens, nomenclatural changes, and type status, following the recommendations of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN).
Habitat transformation and species loss bring enormous environmental damage, whereas establishing protected areas promotes more sustainable use of environmental resources through biodiversity ...conservation. In this study, we aimed to point out gaps in ant knowledge and provide a species checklist that contributes to biodiversity conservation in the transition areas between Cerrado and Caatinga biomes, constantly threatened by land use changes. This checklist integrates data from previous studies developed at “Área de Proteção Ambiental do Rio Pandeiros” (APA Pandeiros), Minas Gerais, Brazil, involving ant diversity and their contribution to ecological processes accessed and described in the studies. We showed and discussed how authors managed and provided information regarding methodologies and habitats sampled. We listed 143 ant species formally named. Pheidole, Camponotus and Cephalotes were the most speciose genera, with more than ten species each. Among ants involved in ecological processes, 40 are linked to diaspore removal (part of seed dispersal) and 30 to carcass interaction (part of the decomposition process). Unbaited pitfall traps, epigeic stratum and Cerrado sensu stricto, were the top sampling method, stratum, and habitats among ant studies. We presented proposals for the best management and integration of data from surveys in APA Pandeiros (e.g., sharing the results of the studies with the APA managers, creating a database, and the local community). These surveys are fundamental for understanding biodiversity and ecological processes and provide valuable information to conservation biology. Therefore, neglecting the importance of the Cerrado-Caatinga transition can lead to irreparable setbacks for scientific knowledge and biodiversity.
The Hymenoptera laboratory of the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo (MZSP) houses one of the most representative collections of Neotropical ants worldwide. This is due to the wide ...geographical distribution of its specimens, and also because of the comparatively large number of types and taxa represented. The catalogue, following the general recommendations of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, lists types of the tribe Cephalotini deposited in the collection of MZSP; also providing information regarding labels, original publications, state of conservation of specimens, taxonomic status of listed species, and their current classification when different from the original. An index for the listed taxa is also provided. In total, the catalogue lists types of 43 nominal species, of which 23 are still valid, from the two recognized genera Cephalotes and Procryptocerus (four represented by holotypes, 17 by holotypes and paratypes, 15 by paratypes, five by syntypes, one by a lectotype and one by a neotype).
This catalogue lists the type specimens of 37 species of Pseudomyrmecinae ants deposited in the Hymenoptera Formicidae collection of the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, which holds ...types of the only two genera that occur in the Neotropics, Pseudomyrmex Lund and Myrcidris Ward. We record the label information, condition of the specimens, nomenclatural changes, type status, and provide an index of the listed taxa.
Este catálogo lista espécimes tipos de 37 espécies de formigas Pseudomyrmecinae depositadas na coleção de Formicidae da seção de Hymenoptera do Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, e que pertencem aos dois gêneros que ocorrem na Região Neotropical, Pseudomyrmex Lund e Myrcidris Ward. São apresentados os dados dos rótulos, estado de conservação dos exemplares, mudanças nomenclaturais, status taxonômicos e um índice para os táxons catalogados.
The present catalogue lists the "dorylomorph" ant types (Aenictinae: Aenictus; Cerapachyinae: Acanthostichus and Cerapachys; Ecitoninae: Eciton, Labidus, Neivamyrmex and Nomamyrmex; and ...Leptanilloidinae: Asphinctanilloides and Leptanilloides) housed in the Formicidae collection of the Hymenoptera laboratory, Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo (MZSP), Brazil. In total, the collection includes types of 141 nominal species, of which 56 are still valid. The majority of types of dorylomorph species in the MZSP collection are syntypes (67 species), but there are as well 13 species represented by holotypes only, 17 by holotypes and paratypes, 43 species by paratypes only, and one species by a paralectotype. We record the label information, condition of the specimens, nomenclatural changes, type status, and provide indexes of the listed taxa.
O presente catálogo lista os espécimes-tipo de espécies nominais de formigas "dorilomorfas" (Aenictinae: Aenictus; Cerapachyinae: Acanthostichus e Cerapachys; Ecitoninae: Eciton, Labidus, Neivamyrmex e Nomamyrmex; e Leptanilloidinae: Asphinctanilloides e Leptanilloides) depositados na coleção de Formicidae do Laboratório de Hymenoptera do Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo (MZSP), Brasil. No total, a coleção inclui tipos de 141 espécies nominais de formigas dorilomorfas, das quais 56 ainda são válidos. A maioria dos tipos de dorilomorfas na coleção do MZSP são síntipos (67), mas há na coleção 13 espécies representadas apenas pelos holótipos, 17 por holótipos e parátipos, 43 espécies representadas apenas por parátipos e uma espécie por um paralectótipo. São apresentados os dados de rótulos, estado de conservação dos exemplares, alterações nomenclaturais, status taxonômico e índices para os táxons catalogados.
PDF
