Analysis of threatened endemic trees of the Western Ghats of India sheds new light on the Red Data Book of Indian Plants

The Red Data Book of Indian Plants (RDB) is a reference manual that lists threatened angiosperms, gymnosperms and pterydophytes. Because it is widely used as an analytical tool and is a major reference for impact assessments on vegetation, it is important that the RDB be as comprehensive and up to date as possible. This study is an attempt to cross-check the listings in the RDB using vegetation inventories and another reference manual, the Atlas of Endemics of the Western Ghats, India []. Field inventories across the Western Ghats gave an estimate of the species relative abundances and the Atlas provided quantitative information on the number of records for the endemic species in herbaria, literature, and during field surveys. The results of this analysis indicate that the RDB and the Atlas agree statistically regarding the conservation status of endemic trees. However, the proportion of threatened species per Atlas record category behaves erratically, indicating that some threatened endemic trees are not listed in the RDB. Our results suggest that the status of threatened plant species should be reexamined on a priority basis using quantitative methodology. An updating of the RDB is urgently needed, particularly for the endemic plants of the Western Ghats. We provide a list of species that are likely to be threatened, yet are not listed.     

Macroinvertebrate distributions and the conservation value of aquatic Coleoptera, Mollusca and Odonata in the ditches of traditionally managed and grazing fen at Wicken Fen, UK

1. Water-filled ditches are an important ecological feature of lowland Britain. Originally dug to facilitate wetland drainage, ditches often provide refuges for aquatic flora and fauna of high conservation value.
2. The ditches, ponds and major waterways of a traditionally managed undrained fen and the ditches of a previously drained cattle-grazed fen meadow were sampled at Wicken Fen National Nature Reserve for Coleoptera, Mollusca and Odonata, and for physical, chemical and biological variables.
3. Multivariate analysis showed a clear division between ditches on the two fens, and between larger and smaller waterbodies.
4. Individual ditches possessed distinctive faunas. Ditch age and bank profile were important factors influencing faunal species composition.
5. Invertebrate distributions were shown to be significantly correlated with macrophyte distribution.
6. Waterbodies were ranked in terms of their species quality, using a point-scoring system; there was no correlation between rankings for the three invertebrate groups; only ditch age and detritus levels were correlated with species quality score (for Coleoptera).
7. Ditch management recommendations are discussed in the light of these results.     

A preliminary world list of threatened conifer taxa

Conifers (the fast-growing softwoods of the world) occur as the dominant plants of most temperate rainforest communities. Almost all are tall forest trees, whose high commercial value creates conservation vulnerability for many local species in our increasingly resource-hungry world. Counting species, of an estimated 600 world total 362 would fall into this category and consequently appear on this list. This paper provides a preliminary analytical world census list of 416 conifer taxa (species, subspecies and varieties) considered to be of conservation concern.     

Brain GABA and glutamate levels in workers of two ant species （Hymenoptera： Formicidae）： Interspecific differences and effects of queen presence/absence

Presence of amino acid neurotransmitters gamma-aminobutyric acid （GABA） and glutamate （Glu） in ant brains was reported in very few studies. To learn more about factors influencing GABA and Glu levels in ant brains, we applied high-performance liquid chromatography to measure levels of these compounds in single brains of workers of 2 ant species, Myrmica ruginodis （subfamily Myrmicinae） and Formica polyctena （subfamily Formicinae） taken from queenright/queenless colony fragments and tested in dyadic aggression tests consisting of an encounter with a nestrnate, an alien conspecific or a small cricket. Brain glutamate levels were higher than those of GABA in both tested species. Brain GABA levels （in μmol/brain） and GABA ： Glu ratio were higher in M. ruginodis （a submissive species） than in E polyctena （a dominant, aggressive species） in spite of smaller brain weight of M. ruginodis. Brain glutamate levels （in μmol/brain） did not differ between the tested species, which implies that glutamate concentration （in μmol/mg of brain tissue） was higher in M. ruginodis. Queen absence was associated with increased worker brain GABA levels in E polyctena, but not in M. ruginodis. No significant effects of opponent type were discovered. As GABA agonists enhance friendly social behavior in rodents, we hypothesize that elevated brain GABA levels of orphaned workers of F.polyctena facilitate the adoption of a new queen. This is the first report providing information on GABA and glutamate levels in single ant brains and documenting the effects of queen presence/absence on brain levels of amino acid neurotransmitters in workers of social Hymenoptera.     

Revisiting Green Data species lists

The management and active enforcement of the increasing number of conservation-related instruments (e.g. the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), The World Conservation Union (IUCN) Red Data Lists and pending invasive species regulations), and the number of listed plant and animal taxa that they are likely to incorporate, are already straining national regulatory, enforcement and border control agencies. Against the backdrop of increasing capacity constraints (financial and logistic) and uncertainty faced by these authorities, we support calls for a radical shift in the traditional approach to the management of threatened species (either Red Data List or CITES listed) and the maintenance of the integrity of biological systems (viz. the control of potentially invasive species). This entails the establishment of National Green Data Species Lists (proposed by Imboden (1989) in World Birdwatch 9:2). The Green List would be a reciprocal list of species that are not threatened (not Red Data listed), not affected by trade (not CITES listed) or pose little threat of invasion according to importing authorities. This reciprocal list does not require negotiation of new international treaties and will simply piggy-back on existing treaties. In addition, it will shift the 'burden of proof', including the financial investment required for species Green Data listing, the verification of origins, taxonomic and conservation status determination, from regulating authorities to traders.     

The importance of the oil-shale Bings of West Lothian,Scotland, to local and national biodiversity

Summary

The oil-shale bings of West Lothian, Scotland, are a group of post-industrial waste sites, unique in Britain and Western Europe. The industrial exploitation of oil-bearing rocks has created a habitat with its own distinctive flora and fauna. The floral diversity of individual sites has been documented as species lists in several studies. A comprehensive list of more than 350 plant species, with supplementary information on animal species, was compiled from an extensive literature review of these studies. From these data it was possible to determine the extent of species variation within and between bings, identify locally and nationally rare species, and thus to determine the importance of the oil-shale bing habitat at a local and national scale. The results will go some way to allay concerns about the loss of local biodiversity, generally throughout the country side, due to changes in agricultural practices and increased urbanisation. Findings from the bings and evidence from other types of derelict land suggest that species are not lost, they have moved to new habitats.     

中国红蚁属一新种记述(膜翅目,蚁科)

描述陕西佛坪红蚁属1新种,即郑氏红蚁Myrmica zhengi sp.nov.。新种体色极浅;头部正面观方形;前中胸背板刻纹横形,但极不规则;并胸腹节刺粗壮,基部宽;后腹第1节背板基侧具明显细纵刻纹与近似种类相区别。模式标本保存于陕西师范大学动物研究所,副模标本分存于广西师范大学生命科学学院、西北农林科技大学昆虫博物馆、东北师范大学生命科学学院和西南林业大学标本馆昆虫标本室。