Elephant importation from range countries: ethical and practical considerations for accredited zoos

Zoo elephant populations are in serious demographic peril. Advances in elephant management and care are expected to lead to improved reproductive success. The existing cohort of reproductively viable adult females is aging, however, and effective changes may not come fast enough to sustain the population over time. If so, importation of captive, semi‐domesticated, and wild elephants from range countries may be necessary for zoo programs to survive. Yet, due to the high profile elephants now have with animal rights activists, there may be increasing legal and political barriers to elephant importation. This makes it especially important that zoos become more proactive in addressing remaining weaknesses in elephant management and care and building the case for elephants in zoos. This article summarizes the key considerations for AZA‐accredited zoos that are contemplating future importations. These include ethical, legal, practical, public relations, and other considerations. The authors strongly recommend that zoos position themselves for possible future importations immediately instead of waiting until the last minute. It is equally critical that zoos recognize their existing vulnerabilities and attempt to address them proactively; only then, can they take control of their own fate and reduce the potential for later regret. Zoo Biol 25:219–233, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

香港1993-2009年水果市场动态研究——香港动态经济植物学研究(三)

该文报告了1993-2009年香港水果市场的几种情况:(1)香港农产品由本地生产的数量少,绝大部分依靠进口;(2)水果是众多农产品中进口价值最高一类产品,每年进口价值比进口蔬菜加大米总和还要多;(3)在50多种水果品种中,占总进口量90%的19种水果进口情况;(4)各种水果来自全球65个国家,进口值最多的15个国家进口水果情况;(5)由中国内地进口的水果从1993年占总进口值14%到2009年下降至5%。并对这几种水果市场情况进行了讨论。     

The systematic distribution of vascular epiphytes – a critical update

Vascular epiphyte species exclusively, or at least primarily, germinate and grow on other plants without contact with the soil and, in contrast to mistletoes, without parasitizing their hosts. The last review of the systematic distribution of this diverse group of plants dates back more than two decades. The present study pursues three major goals: (1) it critically discusses conceptual problems arising from the distinction of epiphytes from non‐epiphytes; (2) it presents a compilation of epiphytic diversity derived from a vast number of sources; and (3) it arranges epiphyte diversity in an up‐to‐date taxonomic framework. The resulting compilation, which identifies 27 614 species of vascular epiphytes (including primary hemiepiphytes) representing 913 genera in 73 families, or approximately 9% of extant vascular plant diversity, is meant to be an important tool for studies on the ecology and evolution of epiphytes, but also for comparative studies with a focus on other life forms. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London     

The Impact of the Deepwater Horizon: The Evolving International Legal Regime for Offshore Accidental Pollution Prevention,Preparedness, and Response

The Deepwater Horizon incident in the Gulf of Mexico has ignited unprecedented global attention and debate on and global review of the efficiency and effectiveness of the existing international regimes governing offshore operations; particularly, accidental pollution prevention, preparedness, and response mechanisms. This article looks at these developments.     

Accidental importation of a Japanese bat into New Zealand

Abstract

A juvenile female Japanese pipistrelle (Pipistrellus javanicus abramus) wap found dead on 9 December 1981 in Hamilton, New Zealand, in a package of car parts from Japan. This is apparently the first accidental importation of an exotic bat to New Zealand.