Conservation status of habitats (Directive 92/43 EEC) of coastal and low hill belts in a Mediterranean biodiversity hot spot (Gargano – Italy)

The Gargano is one of the richest Mediterranean areas in biodiversity. The work reports an assessment of the presence and conservation status of the habitats according to the 92/43/EEC Directive of Gargano coastal and low hill belts, their relationships with plant communities, threatened species, phytoclimatology, threats, and suggestions for management purposes. The field surveys revealed 33 habitats of Directive, and 6 of them are priority (1150^* Coastal lagoons, 2250^* Coastal dunes with Juniperus ssp., 2270^* Wooded dunes with Pinus pinea and/or Pinus pinaster, 6220^* pseudo-steppe with grasses and annuals of the Thero-Brachypodietea, 7210^* Calcareous fens with Cladium mariscus and species of the Caricion davallianae, 91AA^* Eastern white oak woods). The updates of six Special Areas Conservation and three Special Protection Areas of Natura 2000 network are provided.     

五种齿突蟾在横断山南潜在地理分布预测

由于栖息地质量下降,近年来齿突蟾属物种种群数量急剧减少,明确齿突蟾属物种空间分布,是监测、管理、保护齿突蟾属物种的基础。横断山区可能是齿突蟾属的起源中心和分化中心,但齿突蟾属在横断山区的地理分布格局尚不明确。利用优化后Maxent模型,首次预测西藏齿突蟾Scutiger boulengeri、刺胸齿突蟾Scutiger mammatus、胸腺齿突蟾Scutiger glandulatus、圆疣齿突蟾Scutiger tuberculatus、贡山齿突蟾Scutiger gongshanensis 5种高海拔齿突蟾属物种在横断山南生物多样性保护优先区域的潜在地理分布,并分析其与环境因子的关系。结果显示,5种齿突蟾属物种在横断山南的潜在地理分布格局存在差异,西藏齿突蟾主要分布在横断山南的北部,圆疣齿突蟾主要分布在横断山南东北部的四川省境内,贡山齿突蟾主要分布在横断山南的西南部,刺胸齿突蟾和胸腺齿突蟾的潜在分布格局较为相似,在横断山南的中部、西北部地区都有较多分布,但胸腺齿突蟾潜在分布区更为碎片化。另外,横断山南北部地区的齿突蟾属丰富度明显高于南部地区。环境变量贡献率和刀切法结果显示温度因子和降水因子是决定横断山南齿突蟾属潜在分布的主要因素,最冷季降水量对西藏齿突蟾、贡山齿突蟾、圆疣齿突蟾潜在分布有重要影响,但它们对最冷季降水量的偏好存在差异。此外,研究也显示,通过评估潜在的Maxent参数组合,选择最佳的Maxent模型是有效且必要的。     

The H-mshi antigen is conserved among standard BALB/cBy, C57BL/6J, and wild-derived CAST/Ei and SPRET/Ei inbred strains of mice

 The recessive male sterility and histoincompatibility mutation (mshi) arose spontaneously in the standard inbred mouse strain BALB/cBy. In addition to generating sterility in homozygous males, mshi controls the loss of a minor histocompatibility antigen designated H-mshi. To determine whether the H-mshi antigen normally expressed by the BALB/cBy strain (H-mshi^c) is the same as or different from the antigen (H-mshi^x) expressed by the standard inbred C57BL/6J strain or the wild-derived CAST/Ei and SPRET/Ei strains, animals heterozygous for the mutant antigen-loss allele (H-mshi ^– ) and H-mshi ^x were grafted with tail skin from BALB/cBy mice. The long-term retention of grafts by these hosts indicates that the H-mshi antigen encoded by the BALB/cBy, C57BL/6J, CAST/Ei, and SPRET/Ei strains is histogenically identical. Conservation of this minor histocompatibility antigen among these evolutionarily diverse strains suggests that H-mshi encodes a functionally important cellular product(s). Received: 1 August 1998 / Accepted: 26 October 1998     

Regeneration of native vascular plants facilitated by Ischaemum aristatum var. glaucum tussocks: an experimental demonstration

Facilitation of a perennial tussock grass, Ischaemum aristatum var. glaucum, was hypothesized to be the provision of germination safe sites against inundation. We conducted field census and seed addition experiments to test this hypothesis. Facilitation effects of I. aristatum var. glaucum tussocks were obvious; in contrast to 280 seedlings/m² of ten native species observed on tussocks, seedlings hardly emerged on bare ground, even after seed addition. Although effects of moss occurrence at tussocks were not significant on the total number or species richness of emerged seedlings, significantly positive effects were observed on the seedling survival of some species, including endangered species. Conservation of facilitators will efficiently ensure the regeneration success of native vascular plants.     

Group composition,home range,and diet of the maroon leaf monkey (Presbytis rubicunda) at Tanjung Puting Reserve,Central Kalimantan,Indonesia

Maroon leaf monkeys (Presbytis rubicunda) were studied at the Orangutan Research Conservation Project study area at the Tanjung Puting Reserve in Central Indonesian Borneo for approximately 15 months in 1974, 1975, and 1977. Over 250 observation hr involving 300 encounters with the monkeys were logged. Troop size ranged from three to eight individuals in the nine troops surveyed with only one adult male being present in each troop. Home range size varied from 0.33 km² to 0.99 km² and correlated with troop size. Forty-six different food types were observed eaten by the maroon leaf monkeys; of these foods, 52% consisted of fruits, 36% of leaves, and 12% of flowers.     

Salvia siirtica sp. nov. (Lamiaceae) from Turkey

Salvia siirtica Kahraman, Celep & Do?an sp. nov.(Lamiaceae) is described and illustrated as a new species from the northern part of Siirt province in southeast Anatolia, Turkey, where it was found growing in open forests of Quercus. It is morphologically similar to S. indica L., but differs by having densely glandular pilose to villous stems and petioles, close verticillasters, smaller flowers, clearly concave calyx apices, entirely white corollas and smaller nutlets. Salvia siirtica and S. indica are also distinguished by their nutlet and pollen micromorphologies, illustrated by SEM images. The nutlet surface of S. siirtica is very finely wrinkled and its pollen has 3–4 primary lumina per 25 μm², compared to 5–8 in S. indica. Conservation status assessment, distribution map, and notes on biogeography and ecology of the new species are provided.     

New Developments in Selenium Biochemistry: Selenocysteine Biosynthesis in Eukaryotes and Archaea

We used comparative genomics and experimental analyses to show that (1) eukaryotes and archaea, which possess the selenocysteine (Sec) protein insertion machinery contain an enzyme, O-phosphoseryl-transfer RNA (tRNA)^[Ser]Sec kinase (designated PSTK), which phosphorylates seryl-tRNA^[Ser]Sec to form O-phosphoseryl-tRNA^[Ser]Sec and (2) the Sec synthase (SecS) in mammals is a pyridoxal phosphate-containing protein previously described as the soluble liver antigen (SLA). SecS uses the product of PSTK, O-phosphoseryl-tRNA^[Ser]Sec, and selenophosphate as substrates to generate selenocysteyl-tRNA^[Ser]Sec. Sec could be synthesized on tRNA^[Ser]Sec from selenide, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and serine using tRNA^[Ser]Sec, seryl-tRNA synthetase, PSTK, selenophosphate synthetase, and SecS. The enzyme that synthesizes monoselenophosphate is a previously identified selenoprotein, selenophosphate synthetase 2 (SPS2), whereas the previously identified mammalian selenophosphate synthetase 1 did not serve this function. Monoselenophosphate also served directly in the reaction replacing ATP, selenide, and SPS2, demonstrating that this compound was the active selenium donor. Conservation of the overall pathway of Sec biosynthesis suggests that this pathway is also active in other eukaryotes and archaea that contain selenoproteins. X.-M. Xu and B. A. Carlson contributed equally to the studies described herein.     

Ontogenetic variation in diet and habitat of Irrawaddy dolphins (Orcaella brevirostris) in the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea

Irrawaddy dolphins (Orcaella brevirostris) are threatened, little‐known cetaceans primarily jeopardized by fishing gear entanglement. Information regarding life history, foraging ecology, and movement are crucial to determine management units and conservation regions. This is the first analysis of the ontogenetic changes in diet and habitat of Irrawaddy dolphins from the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea using stable isotopes from skin and teeth. Results suggest limited age and sex structure indicated by weak ontogenetic and sexual variability in δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C in teeth. Significant variation in δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values were observed between three Gulf regions and the Andaman Sea, indicating distinct regional groups. Isotope mixing models run on soft tissues from the eastern Gulf revealed a diet based primarily on fishes and secondarily on crustaceans, suggesting overlap with fishery targets. Conservation strategies that focus on reducing regional competition with humans and bycatch mortality are proposed. Fishing gear improvements and monitoring of fishing operations are a potential immediate response to reduce anthropogenic impact.     

Stable Isotopes (δD, δ13C, δ15N) Reveal Associations Among Geographic Location and Condition of Alaskan Northern Pintails

Abstract: Information on spring migration routes, geographic linkages among winter, spring, and breeding locations, and potential geographic effects on arrival body condition of northern pintails (Anas acuta) are currently unknown. Through a combination of stable-isotope measurements of tissues representing different periods of dietary integration and body composition analyses, we examined these linkages for pintails breeding in Alaska, USA. We collected 77 females at 4 locations upon spring arrival. We performed carbon (δ¹³C), nitrogen (δ¹⁵N), and hydrogen (δD) isotope measurements on flight feathers, breast feathers, and whole blood, and we conducted body composition analyses. Inference based on stable-isotope values in pintail tissues suggests that philopatry to Alaska was strong, as most of the collected females had stable-isotope values consistent with the boreal forest of Canada or western Alaska and most spring migrating females had whole-blood values indicating use of a food web in the boreal forest before collection. These patterns highlight the importance of the boreal forest for production and staging of pintails. Breast feather isotope values grown during prealternate molt were variable and covered the currently documented distribution of wintering pintails. Our results indicate associations among specific geographic areas, habitat use, and arrival condition of female pintails settling in Alaska. Females that wintered or staged in coastal habitat (as indicated by elevated δ¹³C values) arrived with less body fat compared to those that we inferred to have wintered or staged on inland freshwater habitat. Those females we inferred to use coastal areas appeared to rely more heavily on agricultural fields for nutrient acquisition (as indicated by elevated δ¹⁵N but low δ¹³C values). Our results provide the first link between low-condition females and inferred use of specific geographic areas before arrival. Conservation on wintering grounds should focus on restoration and protection of wetland complexes that provide adequate natural food resources in proximity to coastal systems that are heavily used by wintering pintails. Conservation efforts should also focus on the boreal forest, not only for pintail, but for other boreal-dependent species such as lesser scaup (Aythya affinis) (JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT 72(3):715–725; 2008)     

Nachweis von Fusarien und deren Mykotoxinen in Futterkonservaten aus Grünlandbeständen mit differenzierter Bewirtschaftungsintensität

Conservation forage (17 hay and 18 grass silage samples) from 15 farms with different intensities of grassland management in the Federal State of Brandenburg were examined for contamination with fusaria and their mycotoxins. The numbers of culturable filamentous fungi in hay were determined by plate counting andFusarium isolates were classified taxonomically. The mycotoxins Zearalenone (ZEA) and Deoxynivalenol (DON) were extracted from hay as well as silage by different procedures and detected chromatographically (HPLC). The numbers of filamentous fungi in the hay samples were 10² and 10⁶ CFU/g FM independently of intensive or extensive management. Only fourFusarium species were identified.Fusarium culmorum, a potential toxin producing species, was most frequently detected (52% of all isolates). ZEA was found in two hay and four silage samples (6-66 μg/kg), DON in three hay and seven silage samples (63–1290 μg/kg). There were no differences between forage samples of extensive and intensive cultivated grassland of the year 2003 regarding numbers of fusaria and the content of their mycotoxins.

Presented at the 26^th Mykotoxin-Workshop in Herrsching, Germany, May 17–19, 2004.     

Book review

International Regulation of Whaling: From Conservation of Whaling to Conservation of Whales and Regulation of Whale‐Watching, by Patricia Birnie. Oceana Publications, 1985. 2 volumes: Vol. I ISBN 0–379–20602–1: Vol. II ISBN 0–379–20604–8, $100 per set.     

Vertical distribution of wild Yakushima macaques (Macaca fuscata yakui) in the western area of Yakushima Island, Japan: Preliminary report

A census of wild Yakushima macaques (Macaca fuscata yakui) was carried out in a 23-km² area of the western coast of Yakushima Island, Japan. We analyzed the census data to investigate changes in monkey distribution associated with the vertical distribution of vegetation. In the lowland coastal zone of 0–300 m above sea level (a.s.l.), 4.8 troops and 62.4–99.8 monkeys are estimated to have existed per km². In the mountainside zones of 300–900 m a.s.l., the troop density decreased to 1.3–1.6 troops/km². Since there was no difference in size between the coastal and mountainside troops, population density should decrease with altitude to about 30–36 monkeys per km². On the other hand, 2.4 troops and about 36 monkeys were estimated to have inhabited per km² in the mountain summit zone of 900–1,323 m a.s.l. Nature Conservation College     

Dominance of an invasive earthworm in native and non-native grassland ecosystems

More attention is currently being focused on earthworm invasions; however, in many ecosystems the relative abundance of native and invasive earthworm species is unknown. We characterized earthworm populations of two grassland types within the Palouse region: native prairie remnants and Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) set asides planted with exotic grasses. The earthworm community in both grassland types was completely dominated by the exotic-invasive Aporrectodea trapezoides. Only one individual of a native species, Driloleirus americanus (the giant Palouse earthworm), was found in a prairie remnant. No differences were found between prairie remnants and CRP sites for mean earthworm density (24–106 individuals m⁻²) or fresh weight (12–45 g m⁻²). Our results suggest that the combined effects of land-use change, habitat fragmentation and competitive interactions have resulted in the decimation of native earthworm populations and dominance of invasive earthworms in native and non-native grasslands of the Palouse region.     

Respiratory gas exchanges of termites from the Sabah (Borneo) assemblage

Abstract.Oxygen uptake and carbon dioxide release at 28°C were determined in worker castes of twenty-six species of forest termites from the Danum Valley Conservation Area, south-east Sabah, by Warburg manometry. Metabolic rate varied inversely with body weight in a suite of soil-, wood/soil- and wood-feeding species, giving a slope (in a log–log plot) of – 0.63. However, a number of large species, actively foraging forms such as Macrotermes malaccensis, M. gilvus, Havilanditermes atripennis and Hospitalitermes hospitalis, but also the wood-feeding Schedorhinotermes sarawakensis, showed an oxygen consumption greater than expected for their body weight. Rates of methane emission were above 0.100 μmol g^–1 h^–1 in seventeen species, with very high fluxes in two wood/soil-feeders, Termes borneensis (0.546 ± 0.163 μmol g^–1 h^–1) and Prohamitermes mirabilis (0.303 ± 0.123 μmol g^–1 h^–1). Of the fifteen remaining species, seven were soil-feeders, five were wood-feeders, two were wood/litter-feeders and a single species fed on lichen and moss. Low or negligible CH₄ emissions (< 0.100 μmol g^–1 h^–1) were observed in three other species, all wood-feeders. An apparent respiratory quotient (RQ_app) was calculated using xCO₂ and xO₂ (corrected for methane emission, but not hydrogen). Mean RQ_app was at or above 1.00 in eleven species and between 0.95 and 1.00 in a further six species, the two sets of species together representing all trophic groups, including lichen-feeders. This is argued to be consistent with carbohydrate being the principal substrate supporting respiration.     

Two new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Microlicia</Emphasis> D. Don (Melastomataceae) from Bahia,NE Brazil

Two new species of Microlicia (Melastomataceae), M. flavovirens and M. contasensis, from the Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, Brazil are described and illustrated and their diagnostic characters discussed. Conservation assessments based on IUCN criteria are given for both species.     

Importance of <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis> technology to future conservation programmes worldwide

The latest IUCN statistics show that of over 12,000 plant species, 70% are threatened, 19% are critically endangered and 28 species are extinct in the wild. Target 8 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC) highlights the importance of ex situ conservation of critically endangered plants. Long-term germplasm storage for species with recalcitrant seeds needs alternative measures. In vitro methods complement seed banking and other ex situ measures and are vital for long-term conservation. Conservation Biotechnology at RBG Kew is currently working on a number of rare and threatened recalcitrant species from biodiversity-rich areas of the world to develop good quality in vitro propagules for cryopreservation, recovery and restoration projects. The importance of successful in vitro propagation methods, transplantation technologies, cryopreservation and international networking for the integrated conservation of these species are discussed in detail.     

Valuing mangrove benefits: contribution of mangrove forests to local livelihoods in Bhitarkanika Conservation Area,East Coast of India

The consumptive benefits of mangrove forests to subsistence economy receive little recognition. This paper quantifies the value of provisioning services of mangrove forests to local livelihoods in terms of forestry and fishery products. To examine the use of mangrove products, 324 households from 36 villages in the Bhitarkanika Conservation Area located in East Coast of India were surveyed using structured questionnaires. For estimating the contribution of mangrove forests to fish productivity, fish production was evaluated in three stages—inshore fishery, offshore fishery and the role of mangrove forests as nursery ground for fish and shellfish. The findings revealed that 14.2% of the fuel need of each household was being met by the forests. Other forestry products used were timber, honey and thatch grass. During the study, 14 species of fish and three of shellfish were recorded. The total catch for inshore fishery was estimated as 3.77 kg h⁻¹ having market price of US2.25. In offshore fishery the number of species caught as well as income from the catch was higher in areas with mangroves (US 2.25. In offshore fishery the number of species caught as well as income from the catch was higher in areas with mangroves (US 44.61 h⁻¹) than in those without mangroves (US$ 2.62 h⁻¹). The market price of the forestry and fishery products used by the people was estimated as US$ 2.62 h⁻¹). The market price of the forestry and fishery products used by the people was estimated as US 107 household⁻¹ annum⁻¹. The resources extracted from mangrove forests contributed to more than 14.5% of the total income of the household. This was around 30% for the households residing in the immediate vicinity of the forests. This study suggests that provisioning services provided by the mangrove forests are of significant importance to the coastal communities as they increase the resilience and sustainability of the local economy.     

Factors affecting the distribution of Red-legged Partridges Alectoris rufa in an agricultural landscape of southern Portugal

The main factors affecting the spring distribution of Red-legged Partridges Alectoris rufa were evaluated in a 1550-km² landscape of southern Portugal, where different arable systems and hunting regimes were implemented. Partridge surveys were performed in April 1995 along 90, 250-m transects. Partridge locations and a number of environmental variables were incorporated and manipulated in a vector-based GIS. A multivariate logistic model of partridge detection was fitted using forward stepwise selection, and was validated using a jack-knife approach. The probability of detecting Red-legged Partridges within the landscape was positively affected by game management, structural diversity of cover, proportion of olive tree groves and wheat fields along the transects. Conservation implications of the results and research priorities are discussed.     

RAPD variation among and within small and large populations of the rare clonal plant Ranunculus reptans (Ranunculaceae)

In the pre-alpine region of Europe numbers and sizes of populations of the clonal lake shore plant Ranunculus reptans have declined because of the regulation of lake water levels. We investigated genetic variation among and within 17 populations of different size (cover 1–10 000 m²) in R. reptans with RAPD (random amplified polymorphic DNA) profiles. We sampled 127 rosettes in 14 populations at Lake Constance and three populations at or near Lake Como. There was significant genetic variation between plants from the two lake regions (5.9%, analysis of molecular variance [AMOVA], P < 0.001), among populations within lake regions (20.4%, P < 0.001), and within populations (73.7%, P < 0.001). Under the assumptions of Wright's island model the variation among populations corresponds to a gene flow of N_em = 0.70. Within the 14 Lake Constance populations we detected significant genetic variation among subpopulations separated by only a few metres (4.0% of the within-population variation; P < 0.05). Molecular variance was 24% smaller in small populations covering <100 m² area than in larger ones (P < 0.03), indicating that samples from large populations were genetically more variable than samples representing comparable areas of smaller populations. We conclude that gene flow among populations is very limited and that genetic drift has caused reduced genetic variability of smaller populations. Conservation of genetic variability in R. reptans requires persistence of large and also of small populations (because of population differentiation), and it could be enhanced by increasing the size of small populations (to counter genetic drift).