Status of the largest extant population of the critically endangered Aeolian lizard Podarcis raffonei (Capo Grosso, Vulcano island)

The Aeolian wall lizard Podarcis raffonei is an island endemic that survives only on three tiny islets, and on the Capo Grosso peninsula of the Vulcano island, thus is among the European vertebrates with the smallest range and one of the most threatened by extinction. This species is declining due to competition and hybridization with the non-native lizard Podarcis siculus, but a regular monitoring program is lacking. Here we assessed the size and status of the Capo Grosso population of P. raffonei on Vulcano. In September 2015 we captured 30 individuals showing the typical brown phenotype of P. raffonei, while one single male showed a green phenotype, apparently intermediate between P. raffonei and the non-native Podarcis siculus. In May 2017, only 47% of 131 individuals showed the typical brown phenotype (P. raffonei-like) and 53% showed the green phenotype (P. siculus-like). Based on N-mixture models and removal sampling the estimated size of the Capo Grosso population was of 800–1300 individuals in 2017, being similar to 2015; available data suggest that the total range of the species could be as small as 2 ha. The frequency of individuals with the typical P. raffonei phenotype dramatically dropped between two samplings with a parallel increase of individuals displaying the green phenotype. Observation on outdoor captive-bred individuals demonstrates plasticity for colouration in P. raffonei individuals from Capo Grosso, with several individuals showing the typical brown pattern in September 2017 and a green pattern in March 2021. Non-exclusive hypotheses, including hybridization with P. siculus and plasticity in colour pattern of P. raffonei, are discussed to explain the phenotypic shifts of the P. raffonei population of Capo Grosso. While genomic evidence is required to reach conclusions and investigate eventual hybridization, it is urgent to undertake a programme for the monitoring and management of this lizard.

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On two species of Euryxanthops Garth & Kim, 1983, from Taiwan, with a note on variation in E. orientalis (Sakai, 1939) (Decapoda, Brachyura, Xanthidae)

Crustaceana ◽

10.1163/15685403-00003449 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 88 (7-8) ◽

pp. 767-774

Author(s):

Pi-Hsien Kuo ◽

Chia-Wei Lin ◽

Peter K. L. Ng

Keyword(s):

The Philippines ◽

Colour Pattern ◽

Single Male ◽

Southern Taiwan ◽

Southwestern Taiwan ◽

First Time

Two rare xanthid crabs of the genusEuryxanthopsGarth & Kim, 1983 were collected from Donggang fish port in southwestern Taiwan.EuryxanthopsflexidentatusGarth & Kim, 1983, is recorded from Taiwan for the first time; this species was originally described from the Philippines on the basis of a single male. The taxonomy of a second species,E. orientalis(Sakai, 1939), is also treated and the variations in carapace form, in anterolateral margin armature, and in colour pattern are discussed. The known range of this species is also extended to southern Taiwan.

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Multinomial N ‐mixture models for removal sampling

Biometrics ◽

10.1111/biom.13147 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 76 (2) ◽

pp. 540-548

Author(s):

Linda M. Haines

Keyword(s):

Mixture Models ◽

Removal Sampling

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Volcanic Gas Hazard Assessment in the Baia di Levante Area (Vulcano Island, Italy) Inferred by Geochemical Investigation of Passive Fluid Degassing

Geosciences ◽

10.3390/geosciences11110478 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (11) ◽

pp. 478

Author(s):

Iole Serena Diliberto ◽

Marianna Cangemi ◽

Antonina Lisa Gagliano ◽

Salvatore Inguaggiato ◽

Mariana Patricia Jacome Paz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Monitoring Program ◽

Ground Surface ◽

Volcanic Area ◽

Volcanic Gas ◽

Vulcano Island ◽

Starting Point ◽

Gas Hazard ◽

Sampling Procedures ◽

Atmospheric Concentrations ◽

Aeolian Archipelago

In a volcanic area, the composition of air is influenced by the interaction between fluids generated from many different environments (magmatic, hydrothermal, meteoric, and marine). Any physical and chemical variation in one of these subsystems is able to modify the outgassing dynamic. The increase of natural gas hazard, related to the presence of unhealthy components in air, may depend on temporary changes both in the pressure and chemical gradients that generate transient fluxes of gases and can have many different causes. Sometimes, the content of unhealthy gases approaches unexpected limits, without clear warning. In this case, an altered composition of the air can be only revealed after accurate sampling procedures and laboratory analysis. The investigations presented here are a starting point to response to the demand for a new monitoring program in the touristic area of Baia di Levante at Vulcano Island (Aeolian archipelago, Italy). Three multiparametric geochemical surveys were carried in the touristic area of Baia di Levante at Vulcano Island (Aeolian archipelago, Italy) in 2011, 2014, and 2015. Carbon dioxide (CO2) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) are the main undesired components, usually present at the local scale. Anomalous CO2 and H2S outputs from soil and submarine bubbling vents were identified; the thermal anomaly of the ground was mapped; atmospheric concentrations of CO2 and H2S were measured in the air 30 cm above the ground surface. Atmospheric concentrations above the suggested limits for the wellbeing of human health were retrieved in open areas where tourists stay and where CO2 can accumulate under absence of wind.

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A New Species of Vietnamophryne with an Extended Description of Vietnamophryne orlovi

Russian Journal of Herpetology ◽

10.30906/1026-2296-2021-28-6-355-368 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 28 (6) ◽

pp. 355-368

Author(s):

Thanh Vinh Nguyen ◽

Chung Van Hoang ◽

Jiang Jianping ◽

Nikolai L. Orlov ◽

Hoa Thi Ninh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

National Park ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Type Specimen ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Colour Pattern ◽

Ecological Specialization ◽

Single Male ◽

Northern Vietnam ◽

A New Species

We describe Vietnamophryne cuongi sp. nov., a new species of microhylid frog from northern Vietnam, based on morphological and molecular differences. Although superficially similar to remaining Vietnamophryne members, the new species differs by a number of diagnostic morphological characters, such as body size, habitus, head dimensions, finger and toe morphology, skin texture, as well as colour pattern. Phylogenetic analyses based on a fragment of the mitochondrial 16S gene place the new species to be sister to V. orlovi, from which it differed by 2.4% genetic divergence. We also describe the first female known of V. orlovi, collected in the forest of Phia Oac-Phia Den National Park, Cao Bang Province. The latter species, for which we provide an extended description herein, was recently described based on the single male type specimen only from the same site in northern Vietnam. Vietnamophryne cuongi sp. nov. is only known from three specimens, two adult females and a juvenile, from the evergreen tropical forest of Ba Vi National Park, Hanoi. As such, it is likely to be at high risk of habitat loss. Considering its high ecological specialization and the small known distribution range of the new species, we propose Endangered as IUCN Red List status.

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Dimensions of Multiskilling

Language Speech and Hearing Services in Schools ◽

10.1044/0161-1461.3001.04 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 30 (1) ◽

pp. 4-10 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Carole E. Johnson

Keyword(s):

Hearing Loss ◽

Service Delivery ◽

Monitoring Program ◽

School Age Children ◽

School Age ◽

Support Personnel ◽

Educational Personnel ◽

Educational Audiology ◽

Children With Hearing Loss ◽

Improve Service Delivery

Educational audiologists often must delegate certain tasks to other educational personnel who function as support personnel and need training in order to perform assigned tasks. Support personnel are people who, after appropriate training, perform tasks that are prescribed, directed, and supervised by a professional such as a certified and licensed audiologist. The training of support personnel to perform tasks that are typically performed by those in other disciplines is calledmultiskilling. This article discusses multiskilling and the use of support personnel in educational audiology in reference to the following principles: guidelines, models of multiskilling, components of successful multiskilling, and "dos and don’ts" for multiskilling. These principles are illustrated through the use of multiskilling in the establishment of a hearing aid monitoring program. Successful multiskilling and the use of support personnel by educational audiologists can improve service delivery to school-age children with hearing loss.

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A Guide to Coding and Billing for the Audiological Management of Patients Receiving Ototoxic Medical Treatments

Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups ◽

10.1044/2019_pers-sig8-2018-0028 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 4 (5) ◽

pp. 936-946

Author(s):

Dawn Konrad-Martin ◽

Neela Swanson ◽

Angela Garinis

Keyword(s):

Otoacoustic Emissions ◽

Best Practice ◽

Private Insurance ◽

Monitoring Program ◽

Current Method ◽

International Classification Of Diseases ◽

Ethical Practice ◽

Party Payer ◽

High Frequency Audiometry ◽

Icd 10

Purpose Improved medical care leading to increased survivorship among patients with cancer and infectious diseases has created a need for ototoxicity monitoring programs nationwide. The goal of this report is to promote effective and standardized coding and 3rd-party payer billing practices for the audiological management of symptomatic ototoxicity. Method The approach was to compile the relevant International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10-CM) codes and Current Procedural Terminology (CPT; American Medical Association) codes and explain their use for obtaining reimbursement from Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance. Results Each claim submitted to a payer for reimbursement of ototoxicity monitoring must include both ICD-10-CM codes to report the patient's diagnosis and CPT codes to report the services provided by the audiologist. Results address the general 3rd-party payer guidelines for ototoxicity monitoring and ICD-10-CM and CPT coding principles and provide illustrative examples. There is no “stand-alone” CPT code for high-frequency audiometry, an important test for ototoxicity monitoring. The current method of adding a –22 modifier to a standard audiometry code and then submitting a letter rationalizing why the test was done has inconsistent outcomes and is time intensive for the clinician. Similarly, some clinicians report difficulty getting reimbursed for detailed otoacoustic emissions testing in the context of ototoxicity monitoring. Conclusions Ethical practice, not reimbursement, must guide clinical practice. However, appropriate billing and coding resulting in 3rd-party reimbursement for audiology services rendered is critical for maintaining an effective ototoxicity monitoring program. Many 3rd-party payers reimburse for these services. For any CPT code, payment patterns vary widely within and across 3rd-party payers. Standardizing coding and billing practices as well as advocacy including letters from audiology national organizations may be necessary to help resolve these issues of coding and coverage in order to support best practice recommendations for ototoxicity monitoring.

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