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Maps of potential biodiversity are prominent tools for regional conservation planning because they allow to quantify the diversity of species that potentially inhabit different habitats. These maps are constructed from modeling species ecological niches based on the association between the geographical localities where species were detected and the environmental variables at those localities. Previous researches addressed the development of MPB for administrative regions using regional species distributions data to modeling ecological niches, which may lead to flawed predictions on potential biodiversity. Our aim is to assess the consequences of failing to include all available records on full species distribution to develop MPB. As a study case, we produced two MPBs for an administrative region of Argentina using RSD and FSD data sets of 14 species of insects and performed Environmental Niche Factor Analysis to model their ecological niches. Our results evidenced that both MPB were not spatially congruent in their predictions on potential biodiversity, because the ecological niches represented by RSD and FSD data were different in their position and volume. We found that the MPB based on RSD data may underpredict the potential biodiversity of distinct habitats at the landscape level, and that the use of this map may underestimate areas with different conservation potential within an administrative region. These results suggest that the choice of the extent of geographic records used to construct the MPB strongly conditions the quality and credibility of these maps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental temperature, rainfall, vegetation structure, soil composition and land use were recognized as relevant factors limiting the distribution of armadillos. The aim of this study was to identify environmental and spatial factors influencing the geographical distribution of the most widespread armadillos occurring in Argentina (Chaetophractus vellerosus, Chaetophractus villosus and Zaedyus pichiy), through the most simple and accurate explanatory modeling. General linear models (GLMs), partitioning analyses of variance and hierarchical partitioning analyses were applied to estimate the species-environment relationships. Climatic variables were recognized as the most relevant factors influencing the three species distribution, consistent with that expected from the hierarchical structure theory in ecological systems. Optimal conditions were mainly arranged in a longitudinal geographic gradient for Chaetophractus species and in a latitudinal-longitudinal gradient for Z. pichiy. The optimal habitat identified for C. vellerosus, larger than previously documented, was characterized by warm, rainy summers and moderately cold, dry winters. The distribution of C. villosus was mainly influenced by temperate conditions of temperature and isothermality, scarcity of rainfall with high seasonality and low aridity conditions, and prevalence of sandy soils. Optimal habitat of Z. pichiy was affected by low temperatures with high seasonality, scarcity of rainfall with aridity conditions and sandy soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on data from sixteen museum collections we listed the endemic tenebrionids that inhabit the Patagonian steppe. Then, according to the geographical location of the species, we identified areas of micro-endemism and hotspots within this biogeographic province. Results showed 115 endemic tenebrionid species from the Patagonian steppe, 25 areas of micro-endemism and five hotspots. We used these outcomes to identify areas of importance for conservation. Based on the comparison with other biogeographic provinces, we suggest that the Patagonian steppe constitutes a center of high endemism for tenebrionids. We hypothesize that the isolation of the Patagonian steppe from other arid areas would cause the high occurrence of endemism. In addition, we suggest processes that could be responsible for the origin of the areas of micro-endemism and hotspots identified in this work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Neotropical genus Scotobius Germar (Tenebrioni-nae: Scotobiini) comprises 61 species distributed from central Peru and southern Brazil to southern Argentine and Chile. In this contribution two species of Scotobius: S. punctatus Eschscholtz, 1831 and S. andrassyi Kaszab, 1969, that inhabit in western San Juan, Mendoza, and Neuquén provinces (Argentina) and in central Chile, along the "Cordillera de los Andes" and extra-Andean mountains in Argentina, are revised. Redescriptions using new morphological data and photographs of habitus and pronota are provided. This article informs about the geographic distribution, altitudinal ranges and the biogeographic provinces that these species inhabit. A predictive model of species distribution is presented to propose hypothesis about the factors that influence the space distribution and the allopatry of these two species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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To protect threatened species, iNaturalist, one of the most important repositories of geographic information on species' geographic distributions, deliberately adds uncertainty to otherwise precise occurrence records of threatened species. This "clouded" or "cloaked" information is shared with other biodiversity repositories, such as the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). Although a mechanism exists by which users can obtain unbiased information, it requires the user to ask each data owner for the exact location of the record, which is difficult as many data providers may have participated in assembling the currently available data. To test for effects of adding uncertainty in estimation of the ecological niche and the potential distribution, we modeled the climatic requirements of three amphibian species using five sets of records: (i) a set of records at full accuracy and precision, and (ii) the same records but with 25 %, 50 %, 75 % and 100 % of biased occurrences induced by applying the iNaturalist protocol for introducing biases into biodiversity records. The three species present contrasting distribution sizes (from micro-endemic to widely distributed in the Sierras Pampeanas Centrales in Argentina). By employing ecological niche models, we showed that inducing bias generates misleading estimates of geographic distributions and ecological requirements even in situations in which the percentage of biased information is "low." We also evaluated the percentage of occurrence records of IUCN-threatened vertebrates in GBIF provided by iNaturalist, and found that, for 2011 to present, the majority of GBIF records comes from this citizen science repository. These results could have relevant implications for conservation strategies. This effect accentuates the Wallacean and Hutchinsonian shortfalls, which are already some of the most significant impediments to developing effective conservation strategies. The iNaturalist data-cloaking initiative certainly will aid in protecting some threatened species, but could prove harmful to others. We encourage researchers to consider the precision and accuracy of the occurrence data used in their analyses, and we urge iNaturalist to simplify procedures by which credible researchers can access the full-accuracy data. • iNaturalist adds uncertainty to otherwise precise occurrence records of IUCN Red List of threatened species. • Using niche models, we assessed the effects of the iNaturalist protocol for introducing biases to occurrence records. • From 2011 to the present most of the GBIF available occurrences of IUCN-threatened vertebrates are provided by iNaturalist. • iNaturalist manipulations change the range of the species significantly in both geographic and environmental spaces. • Researchers should consider the precision and accuracy of the occurrence data used in their analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: To assess different dimensions of treatment satisfaction in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) receiving insulin therapy. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. We included 183 patients with T2DM followed by diabetes specialists in an ambulatory setting: 93 treated with neutral protamine Hagedorn insulin (NPH) and 90 with insulin glargine (IG). We used a Spanish version of the Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (DTSQ) for Argentina. Results: Overall treatment satisfaction was 30.04 (SD 5.40) for a maximum score of 36. The lowest score observed was for the satisfaction item “Flexibility of treatment” (4.7 out of 6, SD 1.27), and the highest score for the item “Recommending treatment to others” (5.39 out of 6, SD 1.23). In patients treated with IG, the overall treatment satisfaction score was 30.56 (SD 4.43); and 29.64 (SD 6.13) for those receiving NPH, not reaching a statistically significant difference. Perception of hypoglycemia was infrequent, with a mean score of 1.82 out of 6 (SD 1.62). For hyperglycemia, the mean score was 2.62 out of 6 (SD 1.54). In both cases, we found no difference between patients treated with IG and those treated with NPH insulin. Conclusion: This is the first study describing patient satisfaction with treatment in T2DM patients in Argentina. We have found levels of treatment satisfaction similar or greater to those described in developed countries. We expect that the results of this study may encourage physicians not to delay the initiation of insulin therapy in poorly controlled patients. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The diet of the pichi armadillo (Zaedyus pichiy) was determined based on analysis of stomach contents of 26 dead individuals confiscated from poachers near Cerro Nevado, Mendoza Province, Argentina. Sand accounted for 66±24% of stomach contents'' dry weight. Beetles were the predominant food item in 14 and ants in 5 stomachs, while 5 animals had mainly ingested plant material. The remainder had mostly fed on fly larvae and arachnids. Coleoptera (mainly adults and Scarabeidae larvae) and plant material (seeds, leaves, and roots) were found in all stomachs examined. All pichis had fed on ants of different species and stages, suggesting that pichis eat any ant species they can find and actively prey on nests. Scorpions and spiders were observed in over 60% of stomachs but represented a low aggregate percent weight. Vertebrates were rarely found. Based on these results, the pichi of Mendoza Province can be described as an opportunistic omnivore that mainly feeds on insects and seems to be the least carnivorous of all carnivore–omnivore armadillos. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]