Neotropical Siluriformes as a Model for Insights on Determining Biodiversity of Animal Groups.

We performed an analysis of the descriptions of new species of Neotropical Siluriformes (catfishes) to estimate the number of new species that remain to be described for a complete knowledge on biodiversity of this order, to verify the effectiveness of taxonomic support, and to identify trends and p...

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Main Authors: Renata Rúbia Ota, Hugo José Message, Weferson Júnio da Graça, Carla Simone Pavanelli
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2015-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4500457?pdf=render
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author Renata Rúbia Ota
Hugo José Message
Weferson Júnio da Graça
Carla Simone Pavanelli
author_facet Renata Rúbia Ota
Hugo José Message
Weferson Júnio da Graça
Carla Simone Pavanelli
author_sort Renata Rúbia Ota
collection DOAJ
description We performed an analysis of the descriptions of new species of Neotropical Siluriformes (catfishes) to estimate the number of new species that remain to be described for a complete knowledge on biodiversity of this order, to verify the effectiveness of taxonomic support, and to identify trends and present relevant information for future policies. We conducted a literature review of species descriptions between January 1990 and August 2014. The following metadata were recorded from each article: year of publication, number of species, journal and impact factor, family(s) of the described species, number of authors, age of the authors and coauthors, country of the first author's institution and ecoregion of the type-locality. From accumulation of descriptions, we built an estimate model for number of species remaining to be described. We found 595 described species in 402 articles. The data demonstrated that there has been an increased understanding of the diversity of Siluriformes over the last 25 years in the Neotropical region, although 35% of the species still remain to be described. The model estimated that with the current trends and incentives, the biodiversity will be known in almost seven decades. We have reinforced the idea that greater joint efforts should be made by society and the scientific community to obtain this knowledge in a shorter period of time through enhanced programs for promoting science, training and the advancement of professionals before undiscovered species become extinct. The model built in this study can be used for similar estimates of other groups of animals.
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spelling doaj.art-d2d68b4d208c4f2d8676c73619beddf72022-12-22T01:14:59ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032015-01-01107e013291310.1371/journal.pone.0132913Neotropical Siluriformes as a Model for Insights on Determining Biodiversity of Animal Groups.Renata Rúbia OtaHugo José MessageWeferson Júnio da GraçaCarla Simone PavanelliWe performed an analysis of the descriptions of new species of Neotropical Siluriformes (catfishes) to estimate the number of new species that remain to be described for a complete knowledge on biodiversity of this order, to verify the effectiveness of taxonomic support, and to identify trends and present relevant information for future policies. We conducted a literature review of species descriptions between January 1990 and August 2014. The following metadata were recorded from each article: year of publication, number of species, journal and impact factor, family(s) of the described species, number of authors, age of the authors and coauthors, country of the first author's institution and ecoregion of the type-locality. From accumulation of descriptions, we built an estimate model for number of species remaining to be described. We found 595 described species in 402 articles. The data demonstrated that there has been an increased understanding of the diversity of Siluriformes over the last 25 years in the Neotropical region, although 35% of the species still remain to be described. The model estimated that with the current trends and incentives, the biodiversity will be known in almost seven decades. We have reinforced the idea that greater joint efforts should be made by society and the scientific community to obtain this knowledge in a shorter period of time through enhanced programs for promoting science, training and the advancement of professionals before undiscovered species become extinct. The model built in this study can be used for similar estimates of other groups of animals.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4500457?pdf=render
spellingShingle Renata Rúbia Ota
Hugo José Message
Weferson Júnio da Graça
Carla Simone Pavanelli
Neotropical Siluriformes as a Model for Insights on Determining Biodiversity of Animal Groups.
PLoS ONE
title Neotropical Siluriformes as a Model for Insights on Determining Biodiversity of Animal Groups.
title_full Neotropical Siluriformes as a Model for Insights on Determining Biodiversity of Animal Groups.
title_fullStr Neotropical Siluriformes as a Model for Insights on Determining Biodiversity of Animal Groups.
title_full_unstemmed Neotropical Siluriformes as a Model for Insights on Determining Biodiversity of Animal Groups.
title_short Neotropical Siluriformes as a Model for Insights on Determining Biodiversity of Animal Groups.
title_sort neotropical siluriformes as a model for insights on determining biodiversity of animal groups
url http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4500457?pdf=render
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