title: CracidMex1: a comprehensive database of global occurrences of cracids (Aves, Galliformes) with distribution in Mexico.
abstract: Cracids are among the most vulnerable groups of Neotropical birds. Almost half of the species of this family are included in a conservation risk category. Twelve taxa occur in Mexico, six of which are considered at risk at national level and two are globally endangered. Therefore, it is imperative that high quality, comprehensive, and high-resolution spatial data on the occurrence of these taxa are made available as a valuable tool in the process of defining appropriate management strategies for conservation at a local and global level. We constructed the CracidMex1 database by collating global records of all cracid taxa that occur in Mexico from available electronic databases, museum specimens, publications, "grey literature", and unpublished records. We generated a database with 23,896 clean, validated, and standardized geographic records. Database quality control was an iterative process that commenced with the consolidation and elimination of duplicate records, followed by the geo-referencing of records when necessary, and their taxonomic and geographic validation using GIS tools and expert knowledge. We followed the geo-referencing protocol proposed by the Mexican National Commission for the Use and Conservation of Biodiversity. We could not estimate the geographic coordinates of 981 records due to inconsistencies or lack of sufficient information in the description of the locality. Given that current records for most of the taxa have some degree of distributional bias, with redundancies at different spatial scales, the CracidMex1 database has allowed us to detect areas where more sampling effort is required to have a better representation of the global spatial occurrence of these cracids. We also found that particular attention needs to be given to taxa identification in those areas where congeners or conspecifics co-occur in order to avoid taxonomic uncertainty. The construction of the CracidMex1 database represents the first comprehensive research effort to compile current, available global geographic records for a group of cracids. The database can now be improved by continuous revision and addition of new records. The CracidMex1 database will provide high quality input data that could be used to generate species distribution models, to assess temporal changes in species distributions, to identify priority areas for research and conservation, and in the definition of management strategies for this bird group. This compilation exercise could be replicated for other cracid groups or regions to attain a better knowledge of the global occurrences of the species in this vulnerable bird family.
authors: El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, unidad Campeche. Avenida Rancho Polígono 2-A, Ciudad Industrial, Lerma, Campeche, Campeche, 24500, Mexico ; Present address: Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia. Ciudad Universitaria, Av. Carrera 30 No. 45, Bogotá DC, 111321, Colombia.
authors: Gonzalo
authors: G
authors: Pinilla-Buitrago
authors: El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, unidad Campeche. Avenida Rancho Polígono 2-A, Ciudad Industrial, Lerma, Campeche, Campeche, 24500, Mexico.
authors: Miguel Angel
authors: MA
authors: Martínez-Morales
authors: Red de Biología y Conservación de Vertebrados, Instituto de Ecología, AC. Carretera antigua a Coatepec No. 351, El Haya, Xalapa, Veracruz, 91070, Mexico.
authors: Fernando
authors: F
authors: González-García
authors: El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, unidad San Cristóbal. Carretera Panamericana y Periférico Sur s/n, Barrio María Auxiliadora, San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas, 29290, Mexico.
authors: Paula L
authors: PL
authors: Enríquez
authors: El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, unidad San Cristóbal. Carretera Panamericana y Periférico Sur s/n, Barrio María Auxiliadora, San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas, 29290, Mexico.
authors: José Luis
authors: JL
authors: Rangel-Salazar
authors: Zoológico Miguel Álvarez del Toro. Calzada Cerro Hueco s/n, Colonia Zapotal, Apartado Postal 6, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, 29094, Mexico.
authors: Carlos Alberto Guichard
authors: CA
authors: Romero
authors: Museo de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Apartado Postal 70-399, México DF, 04510, Mexico.
authors: Adolfo G
authors: AG
authors: Navarro-Sigüenza
authors: Facultad de Biología, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolas de Hidalgo. Edificio R, Ciudad Universitaria, Morelia, Michoacán, 58000, Mexico.
authors: Tiberio César
authors: TC
authors: Monterrubio-Rico
authors: El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, unidad Campeche. Avenida Rancho Polígono 2-A, Ciudad Industrial, Lerma, Campeche, Campeche, 24500, Mexico.
authors: Griselda
authors: G
authors: Escalona-Segura
keywords: Aves; Cracidae; Crax; Darwin Core; Mexico; Neotropic; Oreophasis; Ortalis; Penelope; Penelopina; chachalacas; curassows; geographic record; guans