scholarly journals Status and conservation of Imperial and Red-necked Parrots Amazona imperalis and A. arausiaca on Dominica

1991 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter G. H. Evans

SummaryPopulations of both Imperial and Red-necked Parrots on Dominica have declined during the present century with substantial contractions in range, particularly from the southern portion of the island. Parrot densities may be relatively low anyway due to the effects of centuries of hunting. However, declines have been accelerated by habitat destruction and loss of food plants and nesting sites as a result of both human encroachment on the forest and damage caused by Hurricanes David and Allen in 1979 and 1980 respectively. The hunting of birds for meat and for the live cage-bird trade were important threats in the past but conservation education programmes over the last 10 years, and enforcement of legislation prohibiting those activities, have greatly reduced these pressures. Ten years after the debilitating effects of the two hurricanes, the populations of both parrot species (but particularly Red-necks) are showing signs of recovery. Present estimates (May 1990) are of c.80 Imperial Parrots and c.300 Red-necked Parrots in the wild. The major threat to both parrot species is presently habitat destruction, with forested areas being cleared at an accelerating rate for the planting of tree crops, particularly bananas. This process has been aided by recent development programmes towards the building and improvement of feeder roads, making previously remote areas much more accessible. The need for the north-west portion of the Northern Forest Reserve (which includes the entire Morne Diablotin massif) to be declared a national park is ever more critical if the two parrot species are to survive in the long term.

2016 ◽  
Vol 67 (8) ◽  
pp. 1229 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. Nachón ◽  
M. Mota ◽  
C. Antunes ◽  
M. J. Servia ◽  
F. Cobo

Knowledge regarding the marine phase of twaite shad (Alosa fallax (Lacépède, 1803)) and allis shad (Alosa alosa (Linnaeus, 1758)) remains limited. To understand the coastal and continental distribution and dynamic of migration of these species, in the present study we collected official data records of marine landings (kg), separated according to species, for all fish markets in Galicia (north-west of the Iberian Peninsula) and undertook freshwater field sampling campaigns. The findings indicate that both species of shad exhibit a coastal distribution near the rivers where they spawn, namely the Minho and Ulla rivers. Catches at sea declined from January, a phenomenon that can be understood as the onset of migration to the rivers. Bycatch reports are important because both A. fallax and A. alosa are listed in the Annex V of the European Union Habitats Directive, which lists animal species whose exploitation and taking in the wild may be subject to management measures. However, for a better management of these species it is necessary to understand the magnitude of displacements and connection of shad populations at sea.


2007 ◽  
pp. 61-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. V. Morozova ◽  
L. B. Zaugolnova ◽  
L. G. Isaeva ◽  
V. A. Kostina

Results of a syntaxonomical study of the oligotrophic forests of northern European Russia are presented. The main forest types have been classified into 2 orders of the class Vaccinio-Piceetea, 4 alliances, 6 associations and 1 community. The new alliance Empetro-Piceion all. nov., which includes zonal spruce and birch northern forest association Empetro-Piceetum, has been established. These communities are formed according to cold temperature and high (sometimes temporarily) soil moisture and are characterized by the lower tree canopy, mosaic herb and moss-lichen layers with boreal mosses, sphagnum and lichens. In the middle taiga subzone these communities are replaced by Eu-Piceetum myrtilletosum. The forests with lichens are referred to order Cladonio-Vaccinietalia and divided into 4 associations. Lichen pine forests of the north-west of boreal zone were described as ass. Flavocetrario nivalis—Pinetum ass. nov. This association with a great number of lichens is differentiated by Cladonia arbuscula subsp. mitis, Flavocetraria nivalis, Cetraria ericetorum, Stereocaulon grande, Dicranum fuscescens, D. drummondii, Nephroma arcticum and species of Cladonia. The ass. Cadonio arbusculae—Pinetum (Caj. 1921) K.-Lund 1967 contains lichen pine forests with lower number of lichens and is distributed mostly in middle part of the taiga zone. The spruce-pine forests with mixed moss-lichen cover correspond to ass. Vaccinio-Pinetum. Ass. Hedysaro-Laricetum represents rich and well differentiated larch forests in the east of European Russia.


Bothalia ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tara J. Pirie ◽  
Rebecca L. Thomas ◽  
Mark D.E. Fellowes

Background: Leopards (Panthera pardus) show genetically determined colour variation. Erythristic (strawberry) morphs, where individuals are paler and black pigment in the coat is replaced by a red-brown colour, are exceptionally rare in the wild. Historically, few records exist, with only five putative records known from India.Objectives: To record the presence of erythristic leopards in our study site (Thaba Tholo Wilderness Reserve, Mpumalanga) and to collate records from across South Africa. Method: A network of camera traps was used to record individual leopards at Thaba Tholo. We also surveyed local experts, searched the popular South African press, and used social media to request observations.Results: Two out of 28 individual leopards (7.1%) recorded in our study site over 3 years were of this colour morph. We obtained records of five other erythristic leopards in the North West and Mpumalanga regions, with no reports outside of this population.Conclusions: Erythristic leopards are widely dispersed across north-east South Africa, predominantly in the Lydenburg region, Mpumalanga. The presence of this rare colour morph may reflect the consequences of population fragmentation.


2012 ◽  
Vol 81 (4) ◽  
pp. 347-363 ◽  
Author(s):  
Malkiat S. Saini ◽  
Rifat H. Raina ◽  
Zakir H. Khan

ABSTRACT Bombus rufofasciatus SMITH is a Tibetan species, widely distributed in the Oriental region. It is a medium tongued species abundant in both the north-east and north-west Indian Himalaya, covering an altitude range from 2400 to 4200 m. Because of its abundance and very wide distribution, it is associated with a sizeable number of host plants. Males and workers are similar in colour pattern, but the queen is a little different. The species shows a preference for highaltitude mountain slopes and is found in abundance in the open meadows of Affarwatt, Sheeshnag, Daksum, the Razdan Pass and the Lahul-spiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh in the north-western Himalaya. For preference it forages on Aconitum spp. (Ranunculaceae), Trifolium spp. (Papilionaceae), Cirsium spp. (Asteraceae) and certain members of Lamiaceae. Due emphasis has been laid on its detailed taxonomic descriptions, synonymy, host plants, pollination ecology, distribution pattern and illustrations. 51 food plants of this species have been recorded for the first time from the areas under study.


1980 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 149 ◽  
Author(s):  
WE Magnusson

C. povosus in northern Australia does not use all available vegetation for making nests, but those materials that it does use are used in proportion to their availability. Discriminant function analysis was used to quantify the suitability of sites for nesting in terms of vegetation. Crocodiles do not select sites for nests only on the basis of available nesting materials; most nests are made on the north-west banks of rivers (mean direction: 293", angular deviation 61"). There are at least 933 suitable nesting sites for C. porosus on the Liverpool and Tomkinson Rivers. This suggests that the present population of adult crocodiles could increase by a factor of 18 before nest sites became limiting.


2013 ◽  
Vol 82 (2) ◽  
pp. 95-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rifat H. Raina ◽  
Malkiat S. Saini ◽  
Zakir H. Khan

Abstract Bombus pyrosoma MORAWITZ is an Oriental species. In the Indian Himalaya it is widely distributed in Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Sikkim with a long seasonal activity period. Queens and males were examined from the Kashmir Himalaya during June, August and September with altitudinal distribution ranges from 2300 to 4200 m. The species is abundant from 3000 to 4000 m in the Kashmir Himalayan belt and was found foraging on large wild flowers in open areas of the mountains. It has a preference for some species of Lamiaceae, as well as Taraxacum officinale and Cirsium spp. (Asteraceae), and Trifolium spp. (Fabaceae). The queens are very large, whereas males are medium-sized. Both have very different colour patterns. Due emphasis has been laid on its thorough taxonomic descriptions, food plants, synonymy, distribution pattern and illustration.


Soil Research ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 141 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. J. Sheridan ◽  
C. J. Rosewell

The impact of raindrops on the soil surface and surface water runoff are two of the agents of soil detachment and sediment transport. The magnitude of these erosion processes is a function of the erosive potential, or erosivity of a rainstorm. The erosivity of rainfall is commonly quantified using the R factor developed for the universal soil loss equation. R is the average of the annual sum of the individual storm erosivity values and can be estimated from published relationships between the storm energy and the rainfall intensity. Currently the most likely source of R-values in Victoria is a hand-drawn contour map produced more than 20 years ago by an expert panel and published in an out-of-print handbook. A new R-value contour map for Victoria is presented, developed from current empirical relationships between rainfall intensity–frequency–duration and R. The R contours vary in value across the state by about a factor of 4, from <800 MJ.mm/ha.h.year in the north-west, to >2700 MJ.mm/ha.h.year in the eastern ranges. The new map improves the resolution and accuracy of erosivity values for Victoria, especially in steeper, forested areas, and will assist in the prediction and modelling of erosion and water quality.


Author(s):  
Daryl A. Cornish ◽  
George L. Smit

Oreochromis mossambicus is currently receiving much attention as a candidater species for aquaculture programs within Southern Africa. This has stimulated interest in its breeding cycle as well as the morphological characteristics of the gonads. Limited information is available on SEM and TEM observations of the male gonads. It is known that the testis of O. mossambicus is a paired, intra-abdominal structure of the lobular type, although further details of its characteristics are not known. Current investigations have shown that spermatids reach full maturity some two months after the female becomes gravid. Throughout the year, the testes contain spermatids at various stages of development although spermiogenesis appears to be maximal during November when spawning occurs. This paper describes the morphological and ultrastructural characteristics of the testes and spermatids.Specimens of this fish were collected at Syferkuil Dam, 8 km north- west of the University of the North over a twelve month period, sacrificed and the testes excised.


2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roald Amundsen ◽  
Godfred Hansen
Keyword(s):  

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