Extreme rainfall-related clutch size variation in the Critically Endangered Raso Lark Alauda razae of the arid Cape Verde islands

2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 321-326 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. de L. BROOKE
Keyword(s):  
Population Size ◽  
Clutch Size ◽  
Size Variation ◽  
Extreme Rainfall ◽  
Cape Verde ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Strongly Correlated ◽  
Cape Verde Islands ◽  
Rainy Period ◽  
Island Endemic

SummaryThe Raso Lark Alauda razae is a single island endemic confined to the island of Raso in the Cape Verde islands. It has been studied via short (11–20 day), similarly-timed visits every year from 2001 to 2017. These November/December visits have occurred towards the end of the main rainy period (August–October) in the Cape Verdes. Average clutch size ranged from zero (no nests found) to 3.57 in different years and was strongly correlated with rainfall in the three months preceding the year’s visit, but not with population size, which varied 25-fold during the study period. Since the nomadic pursuit of rain is not an option for the Raso Lark, the species adjusts clutch size according to conditions prevailing on Raso.

scholarly journals European Colonization, Not Polynesian Arrival, Impacted Population Size and Genetic Diversity in the Critically Endangered New Zealand Kākāpō

2016 ◽  
Vol 107 (7) ◽  
pp. 593-602 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura M. Bergner ◽  
Nicolas Dussex ◽  
Ian G. Jamieson ◽  
Bruce C. Robertson
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Population Size ◽  
Demographic History ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Museum Specimens ◽  
Human Settlement ◽  
Island Endemic ◽  
Population Size Estimates ◽  
European Colonization

Abstract Island endemic species are often vulnerable to decline and extinction following human settlement, and the genetic study of historical museum specimens can be useful in understanding these processes. The kākāpō (Strigops habroptilus) is a critically endangered New Zealand parrot that was formerly widespread and abundant. It is well established that both Polynesian and European colonization of New Zealand impacted the native avifauna, but the timeframe and severity of impacts have differed depending on species. Here, we investigated the relative importance of the 2 waves of human settlement on kākāpō decline, using microsatellites and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) to characterize recent kākāpō genetic and demographic history. We analyzed samples from 49 contemporary individuals and 54 museum specimens dating from 1884 to 1985. Genetic diversity decreased significantly between historical and contemporary kākāpō, with a decline in mean number of microsatellite alleles from 6.15 to 3.08 and in number of mtDNA haplotypes from 17 to 3. Modeling of demographic history indicated a recent population bottleneck linked to the period of European colonization (approximately 5 generations ago) but did not support a major decline linked to Polynesian settlement. Effective population size estimates were also larger for historical than contemporary kākāpō. Our findings inform contemporary kākāpō management by indicating the timeframe and possible cause of the bottleneck, which has implications for the management of extant genetic diversity. We demonstrate the broader utility of a historical perspective in understanding causes of decline and managing extinction risk in contemporary endangered species.

Evaluation of the essential oil composition of fruits of three endemic species of Tornabenea from Cape Verde Islands

Planta Medica ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 75 (09) ◽  
Author(s):  
C Grosso ◽  
G Teixeira ◽  
I Gomes ◽  
ES Martins ◽  
JG Barroso ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Essential Oil ◽  
Endemic Species ◽  
Essential Oil Composition ◽  
Cape Verde ◽  
Oil Composition ◽  
Cape Verde Islands

Geographical differences in seasonal clutch size variation in multi-brooded bird species

Ibis ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 144 (4) ◽  
pp. 646-651 ◽  
Author(s):  
André A. Dhondt ◽  
Tracey L. Kast ◽  
Paul E. Allen
Keyword(s):  
Clutch Size ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Size Variation ◽  
Geographical Differences

scholarly journals Status assessment of raptors in Cape Verde confirms a major crisis for scavengers

Oryx ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 217-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabine M. Hille ◽  
Nigel J. Collar
Keyword(s):  
Present Status ◽  
Cape Verde ◽  
Cape Verde Islands ◽  
Live Prey ◽  
Status Assessment ◽  
Local Extinctions ◽  
Insular Populations

AbstractScavenging raptors have been postulated to be declining at a rate far higher than predatory raptors. To test this hypothesis we reviewed the historical and present status of the seven raptor species—three scavengers (two kites and a vulture), one partial scavenger (a buzzard) and three species (osprey and two falcons) that take live prey—that breed on the Cape Verde islands. Scavenging raptors have experienced steeper declines and more local extinctions than non-scavengers in Cape Verde, with the partial scavenger midway between the two groups. Causes of scavenger decline include incidental poisoning, direct persecution and declines in the availability of carcasses and other detritus. These findings, which highlight the conservation importance of the island of Santo Antão, indicate the priority that needs to be accorded to scavengers, particularly in Europe where many insular populations are reaching unsustainable levels.

Review of Cape Verde Pselactus Broun, 1886 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Cossoninae) with description of a new species, larvae and notes on biology

Zootaxa ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 4317 (2) ◽  
pp. 225 ◽  
Author(s):  
JIŘÍ SKUHROVEC ◽  
PETER HLAVÁČ ◽  
JAN BATELKA
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Short Note ◽  
Systematic Position ◽  
Cape Verde ◽  
Immature Stages ◽  
Larval Morphology ◽  
Cape Verde Islands ◽  
Current State ◽  
A New Species

The genus Pselactus in the Cape Verde Islands is reviewed. Pselactus obesulus (Wollaston, 1867) from São Vicente is redescribed and P. strakai sp. nov. from São Nicolau is described. Both species are diagnosed and illustrated; their larvae are described, larval morphology is discussed and the current state of knowledge about immature stages of Cossoninae is summarized. The systematic position of the genus within Onycholipini is reviewed, and the placement of genus in Cossoninae is discussed. A short note on biogeography of Pselactus is provided. 

Embedding Papiamentu in the mixed language debate

2012 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bart Jacobs
Keyword(s):  
17Th Century ◽  
Cape Verde ◽  
Cape Verde Islands ◽  
Guinea Bissau ◽  
Mixed Language ◽  
Basic Content ◽  
Point Of Departure ◽  
Mixed Languages ◽  
Content Vocabulary

This paper takes as a point of departure the hypothesis that Papiamentu descends from Upper Guinea Portuguese Creole (a term covering the sister varieties of the Cape Verde Islands and Guinea-Bissau and Casamance), speakers of which arrived on Curaçao in the second half of the 17th century, subsequently shifted their basic content vocabulary towards Spanish, but maintained the original morphosyntax. This scenario raises the question of whether, in addition to being a creole, Papiamentu can be analyzed as a so-called mixed (or intertwined) language. The present paper positively answers this question by drawing parallels between (the emergence of) Papiamentu and recognized mixed languages.

Global population size of a critically endangered lemur, Perrier's sifaka

2007 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 254-262 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. Banks ◽  
E. R. Ellis ◽  
Antonio ◽  
P. C. Wright
Keyword(s):  
Population Size ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Global Population
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document