The Conservation of Sea Turtles: Practices and Problems

The various techniques in common use for conservation and restorationof depleted sea turtle populations are reviewed, namely: banninginternational commerce; operating artificial hatcheries, bothin the natural beach environment and in styrofoam and othertypes of incubators; "head-starting" of hatchlings in captivity;protection of nesting females by means of beach patrols; andtranslocation of eggs or hatchlings to distant areas from whichturtles have been extirpated or to which it is desired to introducenew colonies. The difficulties of monitoring the results ofall of these techniques are discussed, and potential dangersor disadvantages of each approach are reviewed. It is concludedthat, until unequivocal data become available, turtle conservationistsshould continue to pursue common sense or logically sound restorationprograms, but should constantly re-evaluate their actions inthe light of the latest available knowledge and modify or desistfrom current approaches as necessary.     

SEASONALITY, DENSITY AND DIVERSITY OF BIRDS OF A PAPYRUS SWAMP IN WESTERN KENYA

The commoner birds of a western Kenya papyrus swamp are listed. This avifauna is probably as rich as in any papyrus habitat, dominated by warblers (Sylviinae) in which interspecific competition between species of similar size is reduced by preference for swamp-edge rather than interior habitats, preference for papyrus over standing water, or vertical habitat partitioning. Comparisons with other west Kenyan habitats show that it is a specialized avifauna with low species diversity indices and few species. Density figures for common species are higher than in forest undergrowth or thicket. There is little ecological diversity of habitat in uniform stands of papyrus which form ecological islands, and this high density may be interpreted as a density compensation on a speciespoor ‘island’ compared to a species-rich ‘mainland’. Rainfall is the most seasonally variable climatic factor in west Kenyan papyrus habitats. In this climatic area of Uganda and western Kenya there is a modal egg-laying period from March to June coinciding with the long rains, and a postnuptial primary moult period from June to November, which extends into the short rains of October and November. On average, a complete moult of the remiges takes six or seven months. In general the moult of immatures begins and ends about two months later than adult moult, but birds reared during the short rains had primary moult only half complete at the beginning of the following long rains. There is very little evidence of interrupted moult. The 1969 rainfall pattern was exceptional, with the heaviest rainfall in February, and there is evidence of a correspondingly early onset of postnuptial moult in that year. Females moulted significantly earlier than males in 1969 whereas males moulted marginally earlier in other years, suggesting that female moult schedules are more flexible.     

The production and preservation of trilobite resting and furrowing traces

The production and preservation of trilobite resting and furrowing traces is discussed with special reference to specimens from Upper Cambrian strata in North Walcs, Spain, and Poland. Resting excavations are attributed largely or completely to animal activity, and do not normally rcsult from currcnt scouring. Resting excavations, furrows, and many other trace fossils are formed at the sediment-water interface and not bencath a thin sand layer or by burrowing between beds. The factors which allow the initial production of the traces on the ocean floor muds (e.g. cohesion, shear strength, low pore water pressures) will also favour their preservation during deposition of the casting sand.     

On the Origin of Thymic Lymphocytes

In the leopard frog (Rana pipiens), thymic lymphocytes do notoriginate from blood-borne stem cells that migrate into thethymus anlage; rather they arise in situ from elements in thethymic rudiment itself. After thymic differentiation, the lymphocytes(or their descendants) leave the thymus and extensively seedthe peripheral lymphoid organs. Indeed, virtually all the lymphocytesin the spleen, kidney, and bone marrow are ontogenically derivedfrom thymic cells. In postmetamorphic life, the thymus representsan organ in which lymphopoiesis is genuinely self-sustaining.Throughout the juvenile life of the frog, there is no indicationof an inward afferent stream of cells entering the intact thymus.     

Evidence for long-distance dispersal in a sedentary passerine, Gymnorhina tibicen (Artamidae)

Australian magpies (Gymnorhina tibicen) are group-living birds found across much of mainland Australia. Adults commonly remain in a breeding territory until death. Young of the year either remain on the natal (birth) site or are forced by their parents to disperse. Observational studies in south-eastern Australia suggest that most dispersing juveniles settle within 7 km of their natal territory. Therefore, despite potential for considerable gene flow (via flight), social organization predisposes magpies towards local population structuring. In this study, we measured genetic variation at both nuclear (allozyme) and mitochondrial loci and found evidence of substantial gene flow over very large distances (up to 1599 km). Thus, some juvenile magpies may disperse much greater distances than was previously thought. For mtDNA, geographic and genetic distance were strongly correlated, consistent with a pattern of isolation by distance. Therefore, although female gene flow is substantial it is apparently geographically restricted over large distances, in approximately a stepping-stone fashion. We conclude that a strong relationship between gene flow and geographic distance can develop even over large distances if populations have experienced no major historical disturbances to gene flow.     

Gall morpho-type corresponds to separate species of gall-inducing thrips (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae)

Kladothrips rugosus Froggatt has previously been considered a single polyphagous species that, in Australia, induces galls on several species of Acacia , with the gall structure varying both within and between hosts. On Acacia papyrocarpa , two types of gall are induced by this species, one with the surface ridged but the other with the surface smooth. Using sequence data from cytochrome oxidase subunit I (CO I ) and elongation factor-1 alpha gene fragments, we show that the thrips inducing these two gall-types are genetically distinct and comprise separate lineages. Uncorrected ' p ' distances calculated from CO I gene fragments were 0.000 and 0.006 within lineages and 0.074 and 0.078 between lineages. The between-lineage distances are comparable with distances between morphologically distinct species of other Acacia gall-thrips. Re-examination of adult thrips from the two gall types revealed consistent differences in body colour, as well as in body sculpture. Together with observations on gall founding behaviour, these data indicate that the thrips populations in the two gall types on A. papyrocarpa are reproductively isolated and should be considered as separate species. The form from smooth galls on A. papyrocarpa is therefore described as Kladothrips nicolsoni sp. nov. , although the form from ridged galls can be considered only as ' K. rugosus agg.'. These inconsistencies in the taxonomic status of the various units within the K. rugosus species complex are discussed, although most of them cannot be distinguished morphologically at present.  © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2006, 88 , 555–563.     

Reactions of Bili‐Uele Chimpanzees to Humans in Relation to Their Distance From Roads and Villages

In order to assess the impact of human activities on chimpanzee behavior, we compared reactions to humans of Eastern chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) living in proximity to and at a distance from roads and settlements in the Bili‐Uele landscape in Northern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). We found that chimpanzees in the remote Gangu Forest were more likely to show curious or neutral reactions to us and were less likely to flee than those living closer to roads. In addition, arboreal contact durations with Gangu chimpanzees lasted significantly longer than elsewhere. The most likely explanation for this phenomenon is that with increasing distance from roads, chimpanzees have in the recent past had fewer negative encounters with humans, and thus never learned to fear them. The discovery of this population of “naïve chimpanzees” presents us with an important research and conservation opportunity that may result in the installation of a long‐term research site and increased protection of the population. Am. J. Primatol. 74:721‐733, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Drug‐Resistant Human Staphylococcus Aureus in Sanctuary Apes Pose a Threat to Endangered Wild Ape Populations

Reintroduction of sanctuary apes to natural habitat is considered an important tool for conservation; however, reintroduction has the potential to endanger resident wild apes through the introduction of human pathogens. We found a high prevalence of drug‐resistant, human‐associated lineages of Staphylococcus aureus in sanctuary chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) from Zambia and Uganda. This pathogen is associated with skin and soft tissue diseases and severe invasive infections (i.e. pneumonia and septicemia). Colonization by this bacterium is difficult to clear due to frequent recolonization. In addition to its pathogenic potential, human‐related S. aureus can serve as an indicator organism for the transmission of other potential pathogens like pneumococci or mycobacteria. Plans to reintroduce sanctuary apes should be reevaluated in light of the high risk of introducing human‐adapted S. aureus into wild ape populations where treatment is impossible. Am. J. Primatol. 74:1071‐1075, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Reproductive structures and systematics of Buxaceae

Buxaceae belong to a grade of families near the base of eudicots. Flowers of these families are characterized by a variable number and arrangement of floral organs. In this study, the anthetic structure of the gynoecium and androecium of representatives of all genera of Buxaceae were comparatively studied, and observations on the flowering processes and pollination biology were made. Styloceras and Notobuxus were studied in detail for the first time. Various features of the morphological analysis support our earlier molecular phylogenetic study. Shared reproductive characters among Sarcococca , Pachysandra and Styloceras are the occurrence of two (rarely three) carpels, the lack of interstylar nectaries, a micropyle formed by both integuments, attractive stamens in male flowers, and fleshy fruits. In addition, Styloceras and Pachysandra share a secondary partition in the ovary. Notobuxus does not seem to be clearly distinct from Buxus . Both have a similar inflorescence and perianth structure; female flowers have three carpels, interstylar nectaries, micropyles formed by the inner integument, rudimentary arils, and they develop into capsular fruits; in male flowers stamens are sessile and the central pistillode is lacking in some species. Thus, it is questionable to justify a separation of Buxus and Notobuxus at genus level. The results further strongly support the placement of Buxaceae among basal eudicots.  © The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2002, 140 , 193–228.