Diversity and status of sea turtle species in the Gulf of Guinea islands

In West Africa, the Gulf of Guinea islands are important nesting places for four sea turtle species. The Green turtle (Chelonia mydas), the Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), the Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) and the Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) turtles nest on Bioko's southern beaches. The Green, Hawksbill and Leatherback turtles breed on Príncipe and São Tomé. The Leatherback turtle nests, at least, on Annobón. The Leatherback turtle is reported on the four islands for the first time, and the Olive Ridley turtle for Bioko. Bioko is probably the most important island in terms of number of species and nesting individuals; the Green turtle being the most abundant species. However, the nesting places are at present restricted to barely 20 km along the coastline. On Príncipe and São Tomé, the most common species is the Hawksbill turtle. Sea turtle nesting populations are being severely depleted on the four islands. The main causes of cverexploitation are the meat and egg trade on Bioko and the Hawksbill shell-craft trade on São Tomé and Príncipe.     

Resources available to individuals and organisations involved with marine turtle research and conservation in the Mediterranean

Abstract

We review some key resources freely or cheaply available to those involved with marine turtle research and conservation in the Mediterranean. These include: Marine Turtle Newsletter, Listservs, bibliographic databases, Mediterranean specific technical manuals, IUCN Marine Turtle Specialist Group publications, internet sources and books.     

Which features of UK farmland are important in retaining territories of the rapidly declining Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur?

Capsule Turtle Doves continue to show a strong population decline; territories were more likely to be retained in areas with more nesting habitat, and more suitable foraging habitat.

Aim To determine which features of farmland in England are important for retaining Turtle Dove territories

Methods Fifty-eight grid squares with recent records of territorial Turtle Doves were resurveyed, and squares retaining Turtle Dove territories compared with those from which Turtle Doves had been lost.

Results Turtle Dove territories were detected in 48% of squares resurveyed. When correcting for the 70% detection rate of the survey methodology, territories were present in 66% of squares surveyed suggesting a 34% decline over a 2-year period. Established scrub and hedgerows?>?4 m tall positively influenced Turtle Dove presence and abundance, as did standing water. Bare ground and fallow had positive effects on Turtle Dove abundance whereas grazed land negatively impacted abundance.

Conclusion The positive effects of area of established scrub and volume of large hedgerows are likely to represent a declining density of birds selecting the best quality nest sites. We suggest instead that foraging habitat may be limiting distribution.     

Primary moult and body-mass of the Cape Turtle Dove Streptopelia capicola,and its abundance relative to the Laughing Dove S. senegalensis,in the Western Cape

Underhill, L.G., Underhill, G.D. & Spottiswoode, C.N. 1999. Primary moult and body-mass of the Cape Turtle Dove Streptopelia capicola, and its abundance relative to the Laughing Dove S. senegalensis, in the Western Cape. Ostrich 70 (3&4): 196–199.

The duration of primary moult of adult Cape Turtle Doves Streptopelia capicola was estimated to be 192 days. 23 November was the estimated mean starting date, with 95% of birds starting within 88 days of this date. The mean body-mass of adults was 148 g and of first-year birds was 130 g. In residential areas, Cape Turtle Doves were trapped less frequently than Laughing Doves S. senegalensis; at most rural sites, Cape Turtle Doves comprised about two-thirds of the catch. On a dairy farm, where doves were attracted to cattle feed, 1 % of doves were Cape Turtle Doves. The emerging pattern is that Laughing Doves predominate at sites where food is provided on a long-term basis.     

Week-end bias at observatories

Capsule Although subject to human disturbance Turtle Doves do nest successfully in these olive and orange orchards.

Aim To investigate the breeding ecology of Turtle Doves in a man‐made agricultural habitat in central Morocco.

Methods Turtle Dove nests were monitored in orange and olive orchards over three years (2006, 2007 and 2008). Nest abundance, nest location, egg‐laying chronology, clutch size, nest survival rates and breeding success were determined and compared between orchard types.

Results The Moroccan population of Turtle Doves start breeding earlier than European populations. Clutch size, nest survival rates and breeding success were similar in orange and olive orchards. Nest location differed between orange and olive trees. Nest densities were 16 nests/ha in olive orchards and 45 nests/ha in orange orchards. Nest success rate averaged 48%. Daily nest survival rates did not vary according to orchard types, year and date. In the two orchards, no nest position variables were significant predictors of nesting success.

Conclusion Although highly frequented by people, fruit orchards seem to be suitable breeding habitats for Turtle Doves in this region.     

European Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur diet composition in Southern Spain: the role of wild seeds in Mediterranean forest areas

Capsule: The diet of European Turtle Doves Streptopelia turtur in Mediterranean forest contained a large volume of wild plant seed but from a small number of key species.

Aims: To determine which seed species are consumed by Turtle Doves in Mediterranean forest areas.

Methods: Digestive tract contents were identified and evaluated for 222 Turtle Doves shot by hunters during three consecutive years.

Results: Thirty seed species were identified in the diet, but only a few species represented most of the volume and frequency. Wild plant seeds appeared in 65.8% of digestive tracts and showed significant variation between years. Although the main wild seed species consumed each year varied annually, certain species were found in the diet every year in high volume and frequency. Adults showed a more diverse and numerous consumption of wild seeds than did juveniles. Plastic granules were also found in 3.8% of individuals.

Conclusion: A greater number of wild seed species was found in the diet in contrast to previous studies performed in farmland. Echium plantagineum and Amaranthus deflexus could be important seed sources for Turtle Doves in Mediterranean forest. Additionally, the herbaceous species found in the diet whose seeds ripen earlier in the season might play an important role in Turtle Dove reproductive performance, since they are frequently the only available food in the first half of the breeding season.     

Effects of orchard type and breeding period on Turtle Dove nest density in irrigated agroecosystems

Capsule The density of nests of the Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur in Moroccan irrigated agroecosystems was 68% higher in orange orchards than in olive orchards, and 42% higher in the early breeding period compared to the late period. Agricultural practices and hunting activity are the main factors affecting this vulnerable species.     

Heavy metals in marine turtle eggs and hatchlings in the Mediterranean

Abstract

The concentrations of cadmium, lead, iron, copper and zinc were analysed in Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta) hatchling samples (eggshells, remaining yolk, and liver) from beaches of southwest Turkey. Cd, Pb, Fe, and Cu concentrations were higher in embryo liver than in yolk. Zn concentration was higher in yolk. Hg concentrations in all yolk samples were below the detection limit, but levels could be measured in some embryo livers.     

Seasonal elevational movements of Eastern Olive Sunbird Cyanomitra olivacea in the Uluguru Mountains,Tanzania

Little is known about the seasonal elevational movements for most tropical avifauna species. Seasonal elevational movements of the Eastern Olive Sunbird Cyanomitra olivacea were studied along an elevational gradient from 600 to 1 500?m above sea level in the Uluguru Mountains, Tanzania, between May 2005 and February 2006. The recapture of ringed individuals along an elevational gradient across seasons provided evidence for the seasonal elevational movement of the Eastern Olive Sunbird in the Uluguru Mountains and the first documented evidence for this species in the Eastern Arc Mountains as a whole. Due to forest fragmentation and lack of corridors connecting high- and low-altitude forests in the Uluguru Mountains, the results have implications for conservation of the forest along the entire elevational gradient as well as for other forest bird species that have been documented to make seasonal elevational movements in the Uluguru Mountains and the entire Eastern Arc Mountains.     

Landscape-scale detection and mapping of invasive African Olive (Olea europaea L. ssp. cuspidata Wall ex G. Don Ciferri) in SW Sydney,Australia using satellite remote sensing

Question: Is satellite imagery an effective tool for mapping and examining the distribution of the invasive species Olea europaea L. ssp. cuspidata at a regional landscape scale? Location: Southwest Sydney, Australia. Methods: Remote sensing software was used to classify pixels of Olea europaea L. ssp. cuspidata (African Olive) and major vegetation types from satellite imagery, using a “supervised classification” technique across a 721 km² study area in the Cumberland Plain region of western Sydney. A map of African Olive distribution was produced from the image analysis and checked for accuracy at 337 random locations using ground observation and comparison with existing vegetation maps. The African Olive distribution data were then used in a GIS analysis with additional spatial datasets to investigate the relationship between the distribution of African Olive and environmental factors, and to quantify the conservation threat to endangered native vegetation. Results: A total area of 1907 ha of dense African Olive infestation was identified, with an omission error of 7.5% and a commission error of 5.4%. African Olive was found to occur on the steepest slopes (mean slope 14.3°) of the vegetation classes examined, with aspect analysis identifying a high prevalence on south- and southwest-facing slopes. The analysis also quantified the level of African Olive infestation in endangered ecological communities, with Western Sydney Dry Rainforest (25% affected) and Moist Shale Woodland (28% affected) identified as most vulnerable to African Olive invasion. Conclusion: The distribution of African Olive can be efficiently mapped at a landscape scale. This technique, used in association with additional spatial datasets, identified African Olive as a significant environmental weed in SW Sydney, occupying a greater area than previously recognised and threatening several endangered native vegetation communities.     

Hemiacodon engardae, a new species of omomyid primate from the earliest Uintan Turtle Bluff Member of the Bridger Formation, southwestern Wyoming, USA

In this paper, we describe a new species of Hemiacodon known only from University of Colorado Museum Loc. 92189 (Donna's Locality) in the Turtle Bluff Member of the Bridger Formation, Green River Basin, southwestern Wyoming. Donna's locality has yielded a diverse mostly small-bodied mammalian assemblage of Bridgerian and first appearance Uintan mammalian taxa, as well as range-through taxa. Together with H. engardae sp. nov., the faunal assemblage from Donna's Locality and more recently discovered localities in the same stratigraphic interval provides the first conclusive paleontological evidence of an earliest Uintan age (Ui1A biochron) for the Turtle Bluff Member of the Bridger Formation.The new species is represented by a sample of 11 specimens consisting of well-preserved upper and lower premolars and lower molars. H. engardae is distinct from H. gracilis on the basis of overall larger size as well as a combination of features of the premolars and molars related to a greater development of shearing crests. This suggests that H. engardae may have incorporated more foliage into its diet than the Bridgerian species, H. gracilis.     

Revision of the Genus Protostelium (Eumycetozoa) I: The Protostelium mycophaga Group and the P. irregularis Group

ABSTRACT The most commonly encountered protostelids are nominal members of the genus Protostelium Olive & Stoianovitch. These are Protostelium mycophaga Olive & Stoianovitch and P. irregularis Olive & Stoianovitch. Both species share the common features of long-stalked fruiting bodies with single, uninucleate, deciduous spores and trophic states that consist solely of uninucleate amoebae, but they are quite different with respect to their detailed structure at both the light and electron microscopic levels. Based on this evidence, it seems unlikely that the species are congeneric, and it is proposed that P. irregularis be assigned to Soliformovum n. g. Examination of other species of Protostelium indicates that P. nocturnum Spiegel should be retained in the genus and that P. expulsum Olive & Stoianovitch should be reassigned to Soliformovum. The group most closely related to Protostelium, under this new concept, is the genus Planoprotostelium Olive & Stoianovitch, while Soliformovum is best treated as a genus of Eumycetozoa incertae sedis, though it does share some similarities with the group that includes the genera Ceratiomyxella Olive & Stoianovitch, Nematostelium Olive & Stoianovitch, and Schizoplasmodium Olive & Stoianovitch.     

Moult,breeding season,mass, wing length,and dispersal in Cape Robins (Cossypha caffra) and Olive Thrushes (Turdus olivaceus): results from mist-netting garden birds

We compared a data set from the Western Cape, South Africa (GDU, n = 170 Olive Thrushes (Turdus olivaceus), n = 475 Cape Robins (Cossypha caffra)) with our captures in the Eastern Cape, South Africa (n = 197 Olive Thrushes, n = 203 Cape Robins). In both regions Olive Thrushes began moult in December-January, while wing-moult lasted for 89 days in the Western Cape compared to 53 days in the Eastern Cape. Cape Robins began moult in early November in the Western Cape, early January in the Eastern Cape and again the duration of wing-moult was longer in the Western Cape (64 days) than in the Eastern Cape (50 days). For both species the start of moult coincided with the end of the breeding season. Cape Robins were heavier and longer-winged in the Western Cape than in the Eastern Cape. There was no significant difference in mean mass or mean wing length of the Olive Thrush between the two provinces. Both ringing and atlas data suggest that Cape Robins are relatively more common than Olive Thrushes in the Western Cape, but not in the Eastern Cape. In the Eastern Cape we observed colour-ringed robins (n = 2) and thrushes (n = 2) on their breeding territory in all months of the year, suggesting that some individuals of both species are strongly resident.     

Detection of Olive‐infecting Viruses in Tunisia

During a virus survey in autumn 2007 and spring 2008 of two Tunisian olive mother blocks, 175 olive samples were collected from 19 different cultivars and tested by RT‐PCR for the presence of Arabis mosaic virus (ArMV), Cherry leaf roll virus (CLRV), Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Olive latent ringspot virus (OLRSV), Olive latent virus 1 (OLV‐1), Olive latent virus 2 (OLV‐2), Olive leaf yellowing‐associated virus (OLYaV) and Strawberry latent ringspot virus (SLRSV), using specific sets of primers. The PCR‐negative samples were also subjected to dsRNA and mechanical transmission tests. PCR results indicated that c. 86% of the trees were infected with at least one virus, whereas visible bands were shown by 3 of 24 PCR‐negative samples in dsRNA analysis. OLYaV was the most prevalent virus (49.1%), followed by OLV‐1 (34.3%), CMV (25.7%), OLRSV (16.6%), CLRV (13.1%), SLRSV (7.4%) and OLV‐2 (6.9%), whereas ArMV was not detected. Very high infection rates were found in the two main oil cvs. Chemlali (84.6%) and Chétoui (86.9%).     

Geographic variation and divergence of songs in the Olive Sparrow species complex

Phenotypic traits such as songs are important in species recognition. Variation in acoustic traits can form barriers to gene flow and promote speciation. Therefore, understanding song divergence is crucial in groups with controversial taxonomy such as Olive Sparrows (Arremonops rufivirgatus), a widespread Neotropical species of songbird with multiple allopatric populations. Taxonomic authorities disagree on the number of Olive Sparrow subspecies, placing them into either two or three main groups. These groups may represent separate species based on morphological traits, but trait divergence within the complex has not been examined. We studied geographic variation in the characteristics of the songs of Olive Sparrows at two geographical levels: among three proposed groups and among five allopatric populations. In a second analysis, we evaluated the strength of acoustic divergence within the complex by comparing acoustic distances among groups and allopatric populations of Olive Sparrows with the acoustic distance among three recognized species in the genus Arremonops. We analyzed 802 songs from 174 individuals across 81 locations and measured 12 variables to describe the fine structural characteristics of the songs of Olive Sparrows, Green-backed Sparrows (A. chloronotus), Black-striped Sparrows (A. conirostris), and Tocuyo Sparrows (A. tocuyensis). We found significant acoustic variation in the Olive Sparrow complex at both geographical levels. Our divergence analysis also revealed that vocal divergence within the complex is similar to or greater than that found between recognized species in the genus. Together, these results suggest that acoustic diversity within the Olive Sparrow complex probably originated by isolation in tandem with selective and/or non-selective factors.     

A possible role for flowering locus T‐encoding genes in interpreting environmental and internal cues affecting olive (Olea europaea L.) flower induction

Olive (Olea europaea L.) inflorescences, formed in lateral buds, flower in spring. However, there is some debate regarding time of flower induction and inflorescence initiation. Olive juvenility and seasonality of flowering were altered by overexpressing genes encoding flowering locus T (FT). OeFT1 and OeFT2 caused early flowering under short days when expressed in Arabidopsis. Expression of OeFT1/2 in olive leaves and OeFT2 in buds increased in winter, while initiation of inflorescences occurred i n late winter. Trees exposed to an artificial warm winter expressed low levels of OeFT1/2 in leaves and did not flower. Olive flower induction thus seems to be mediated by an increase in FT levels in response to cold winters. Olive flowering is dependent on additional internal factors. It was severely reduced in trees that carried a heavy fruit load the previous season (harvested in November) and in trees without fruit to which cold temperatures were artificially applied in summer. Expression analysis suggested that these internal factors work either by reducing the increase in OeFT1/2 expression or through putative flowering repressors such as TFL1. With expected warmer winters, future consumption of olive oil, as part of a healthy Mediterranean diet, should benefit from better understanding these factors.     

Additional Notes on the Coccidian Parasites of the Soft-shell Turtle,Trionyx spiniferus Le Sueur,in Iowa,with a Description of Eimeria vesicostieda sp. n.*

SYNOPSIS Oocysts of Eimeria dericksoni Roudabush, Eimeria mascoutini Wacha & Christiansen, and Eimeria vesicostieda sp. n. were isolated from the Spiny Soft-shell Turtle, Trionyx spiniferus LeSueur, in Iowa. The sporulated oocysts of E. dericksoni are redescribed to include, for the first time, the dimensions of the sporocysts (6.0–8.5 × 3.0–5.0 μm) and the structural appearance of the Stieda body (thinly convex); the oocysts of E. vesicostieda are newly described as being thickwalled, narrowly ovoid to narrowly ellipsoid, measuring 22.0–25.5 × 16.5–20.5 μm. and having a polar granule, a sporocyst residuum, and a vesicle-like Stieda body; the oocysts of E. mascoutini are documented photographically.     

Glade use by Olive baboons and Blue monkeys in Mount Meru Game Reserve,Tanzania

Forest glades have conservation value for primates, with interspecies differences reported. Blue monkeys (Cercopithecus mitis) are forest‐glade edge species, whereas Olive baboons (Papio anubis) prefer the open grassland of the glade interior. In this study, scan sampling was used to record the presence and absence of each species, group sizes and individual behaviours in three glade types in Mount Meru Game Reserve, Tanzania. Glade characteristics and primate usage for the three glade types were studied: five man‐made, fifteen lower natural and five upper natural glades. During 200 (3‐h morning and afternoon) observation periods, Blue monkeys and Olive baboons were observed during 43% (86/200) and 31% (62/200) of the observation periods, respectively. Blue monkeys used upper natural glades more than man‐made and lower natural; Olive baboons used man‐made glades more than lower and upper natural. Differences in glade type, in regard to vegetation, altitude and disturbance due to trail routes, influenced gladetype use and species behaviours. In conclusion, although the management practice of clearing in and around man‐made glades provides no direct conservation value for Blue monkeys, it likely reduces overuse of natural glades and human–wildlife conflict by enhancing plant species richness and diversity important to Olive baboons.     

MONOGRAPH OF THE GENUS PROTOSTELIUM

Three new species of Protostelium (Order Protostelida of the Mycetozoa) are described: P. irregularis, P. zonatura, and P. pyriformis, all with rather wide distribution and occurring on dead attached plant parts, less often in soil and humus. The latter two species differ from the first and from the other two known species, P. mycophaga Olive and Stoianovitch and P. arachisporum Olive, in the endogenous origin of the stalk. P. mycophaga var. crassipes, with vesicular stalk bases, is the third variety of that species to be described. A key to the genus is included.     

Triassic turtle tracks and the origin of turtles

Turtle (Testudines) tracks, Chelonipus torquatus, reported from the early Middle Triassic (Anisian) of Germany, and Chelonipus isp. from the late Early Triassic (Spathian) of Wyoming and Utah, are the oldest fossil evidence of turtles, but have been omitted in recent discussions of turtle origins. These tracks provide significant clues as to how early the turtle Bauplan originated. Turtle trackways are quite distinctive: the manus and pes form tracks nearly parallel to the midline and indicate an unusually wide gait in which the trackway width is nearly equal to the stride length. These tracks do not fit what would be expected to be made by Triassic Pappochelys or Odontochelys, a supposed prototurtle and an early turtle, respectively. In contrast, these tracks are consistent with what would be expected from the Triassic turtles Proganochelys and Palaeochersis. The features inferred to be present in Triassic turtle tracks support the notion that Odontochelys is a derived aquatic branch of the turtle stem lineage rather than the ancestral state of all turtles. Chelonipus also resembles the Permian track Pachypes dolomiticus, generally assigned to a pareiasaur trackmaker. These revelations highlight the need to consider all available evidence regarding turtle origins, rather than just the body fossils.