scholarly journals First records of illegal harvesting and trading of black corals (Antipatharia) in Madagascar

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gildas Todinanahary ◽  
Lucas Terrana ◽  
Thierry Lavitra ◽  
Igor Eeckhaut
2010 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 319-332 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. J. Murillo ◽  
P. Durán Muñoz ◽  
A. Altuna ◽  
A. Serrano

Abstract Murillo, F. J., Durán Muñoz, P., Altuna, A., and Serrano, A. 2011. Distribution of deep-water corals of the Flemish Cap, Flemish Pass, and the Grand Banks of Newfoundland (Northwest Atlantic Ocean): interaction with fishing activities. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 68: 319–332. The distribution of deep-water corals of the Flemish Cap, Flemish Pass, and the Grand Banks of Newfoundland is described based on bycatch from Spanish/EU bottom trawl groundfish surveys between 40 and 1500 m depth. In all, 37 taxa of deep-water corals were identified in the study area: 21 alcyonaceans (including the gorgonians), 11 pennatulaceans, 2 solitary scleractinians, and 3 antipatharians. The greatest diversity of coral species was on the Flemish Cap. Corals were most abundant along the continental slope, between 600 and 1300 m depth. Soft corals (alcyonaceans), sea fans (gorgonians), and black corals (antipatharians) were most common on bedrock or gravel, whereas sea pens (pennatulaceans) and cup corals (solitary scleractinians) were found primarily on mud. The biomass of deep-water corals in the bycatches was highest in previously lightly trawled or untrawled areas, and generally low in the regularly fished grounds. The information derived from bottom-trawl bycatch records is not sufficient to map vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs) accurately, but pending more detailed habitat mapping, it provides a valuable indication of the presence/absence of VMEs that can be used to propose the candidate areas for bottom fishery closures or other conservation measures.


2009 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 341-350 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laza Andriamandimbiarisoa ◽  
Christopher Raxworthy ◽  
Kristopher Karsten ◽  
Stanley Fox

AbstractMadagascar is a high conservation priority. Rainforests receive most of the focus, but the dry deciduous and spiny forests of south-western Madagascar house many endemics, are under high deforestation pressure, and remain largely unprotected. Charismatic vertebrates, like chameleons, face a secondary threat: harvesting for the commercial pet trade. Six chameleons inhabit the arid southwest near Toliara: Furcifer antimena, F. belalandaensis, F. labordi, F. lateralis, F. oustaleti, and F. verrucosus. We measured population densities of three of those species. Furcifer verrucosus has a large distribution, was dense (97.7 ha–1; 95% CI = 60.2-158.6), and inhabited forests and anthropogenic habitats. Furcifer labordi was much less dense (30.8 ha–1; 13.4-70.9), has a restricted range, and has a unique life history that makes it susceptible to perturbations from deforestation or illegal harvesting. Furcifer antimena was the least dense (17.0 ha–1; 9.3-30.9) and has an even smaller distribution range. We lack density data for F. lateralis, but this species was abundant in anthropogenic habitats. Within their respective ranges, there are currently no protected areas for F. antimena and only few for F. labordi; these two species are far less abundant than the more widely spread F. verrucosus. We recommend that high conservation priority be focused on F. antimena and the southern populations of F. labordi due to their restricted distributions, susceptibility to extirpation, lower population densities, and lack of formal protection. Establishing protected areas in the Ranobe region and north of the Fiherenana River, in the Belalanda region, would help protect important populations of these vulnerable species.


2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 1102 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Bo ◽  
M. Barucca ◽  
M. A. Biscotti ◽  
M. R. Brugler ◽  
A. Canapa ◽  
...  

The Mediterranean black coral fauna includes type species of four antipatharian genera belonging to four different families, therefore phylogenetic studies hold great potential for enhancing systematics within the order. The analysis of six Mediterranean antipatharian species by means of nuclear sequence data of internal transcribed spacer (ITS1 and ITS2) rDNA confirms the separation into different families, as was previously noted on a morphological basis, with a clear distinction of the family Leiopathidae, whose position is supported by a unique number of mesenteries and lack of spines on thicker ramifications. The position of a newly recorded black coral species for the Mediterranean basin belonging to the genus Phanopathes is discussed. Antipathes dichotoma, the type species of the genus Antipathes, on which the order Antipatharia was based, does not group with other members of the family Antipathidae. Supporting a recent finding based on mitochondrial markers, this suggests a critical need for revision of the families that will be impacted by reassignment of this nomenclaturally important taxon.


Zootaxa ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 4244 (2) ◽  
pp. 277 ◽  
Author(s):  
LUCAS TERRANA ◽  
IGOR EECKHAUT

Eenymeenymyzostoma nigrocorallium n. sp. is the first species of myzostomid worm associated with black corals to be described. Endoparasitic specimens of E. nigrocorallium were found associated with three species of antipatharians on the Great Reef of Toliara. Individuals inhabit the gastrovascular ducts of their hosts and evidence of infestation is, most of the time, not visible externally. Phylogenetic analyses based on 18S rDNA, 16S rDNA and COI data indicate a close relation to Eenymeenymyzostoma cirripedium, the only other species of the genus. The morphology of E. nigrocorallium is very unusual compared to that of the more conventional E. cirripedium. The new species has five pairs of extremely reduced parapodia located on the body margin and no introvert, cirri or lateral organs. Individuals are hermaphroditic, with the male and female gonads both being located dorsally in the trunk. It also has a highly developed parenchymo-muscular layer on the ventral side, and the digestive system lies in the middle part of the trunk. A three-dimensional digital model of this worm’s body plan has been constructed whereby the external morphology and in toto views of the observed organ systems (nervous, digestive and reproductive) can be viewed on-screen: http://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.17911.21923. 


2016 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. B. Khadka ◽  
A. L. Hammet ◽  
A. Singh ◽  
M. K. Balla ◽  
Y. P. Timilsina

This paper focuses on the ecological status and diversity indices: Simson’s Index (C), Simson’s Index of Dominance (D) and Shannon-Weaver Index (H) of Dactylorhiza hatagirea and its associates- Rheum australe and Rumex nepalensis in Lete village of Mustang District within the Annapurna Conservation Area. The study was conducted during the monsoon season (June/July) of 2013 in the Lete VDC of Mustang District. The study site possessed an area of 4.5 ha. Altogether, 100 circular plots, each with 25 m2 area, were laid out purposively within the study area; the sampling intensity being 5.55%. The relative frequency, the relative density, the abundance, the relative coverage and the Important Value Index of the species were found to be 61.11, 53.91, 1,061.54, 72.2 and 187.24 respectively. Similarly, the Simson’s Index (C), the Simson’s Index of Dominance (D) and the Shannon-Weaver Index of the species were found to be 0.41, 0.59 and 3.27 respectively, indicating relatively even and relatively diverse community. The study showed relatively higher values of all the parameters of D. hatagirea as compared to its associates indicating good ecological value. However, threats remain due to the illegal harvesting of this valuable orchid and overgrazing in the study site.Banko JanakariA Journal of Forestry Information for NepalVol. 26, No. 1, Page: 45-52, 2016


Holzforschung ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 73 (6) ◽  
pp. 517-523 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tingting Feng ◽  
Qiwei Li ◽  
Yesheng Wang ◽  
Simin Qiu ◽  
Mengling He ◽  
...  

AbstractAquilariaLam. is an important group of trees that produce agarwood, which is widely used for manufacturing medicine, perfumes and incense. The members of the genusAquilariaare close to being extinct due to illegal harvesting and are now protected in many countries. In this study, five DNA barcodes [internal transcribed spacer (ITS), maturase K (matK),psbA-trnH, ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase (rbcL) andtrnL-trnF] and their combinations were evaluated for the discrimination of the major (16 out of 21) species ofAquilariabased on three criteria: sequence variation, genetic distances and the discrimination ability. In addition, we attempted to determine the phylogenetic relationship betweenAquilariaandGyrinopsspecies using three phylogenetic analysis methods. We observed that the combination barcode ITS+trnL-trnF had a good discrimination ability based on the best match and best close match methods, provided more genetic information, and clearly indicated the comprehensive phylogenetic relationship between mostAquilariaandGyrinopsspecies. Considering the overall performance of these barcodes, the ITS+trnL-trnF is a suitable barcode for the identification ofAquilariaspecies.


Oryx ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 428-436 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joana M. Hancock ◽  
Safiro Furtado ◽  
Sonia Merino ◽  
Brendan J. Godley ◽  
Ana Nuno

AbstractConservation regulations aimed at restricting resource use are commonly used to manage and protect natural resources but their implementation depends on the compliance of resource users. The design of effective regulations should be informed by an understanding of the factors that affect compliance, considering contextual socio-economic information. Changes have been implemented in the national legislation protecting marine turtles in the Cape Verde archipelago, where historical and recent records indicate heavy human predation pressure on nesting and foraging marine turtles. We present an assessment of levels of illegal harvesting and consumption of marine turtle products on two of the islands, Boa Vista and Santiago, and an analysis of their potential drivers. Key stakeholders were interviewed to investigate the perceived impact of the main interventions employed in Cape Verde to reduce illegal harvesting, trade and consumption of marine turtles. Despite an apparent decrease in harvesting and consumption, our results suggest there has been a shift from subsistence harvesting to trade in Boa Vista. The existence of laws to protect marine turtles was perceived as a deterrent to harvesting, and awareness campaigns and a lack of availability were perceived as reasons for the decrease in consumption in Boa Vista and Santiago, respectively. Aiming to inform ongoing discussions, we recommend a multi-targeted approach focusing on both suppliers and consumers to magnify conservation effectiveness. Regular impact evaluation focusing on harvest and consumption is needed to improve the design of regulations and inform policy decision making.


PeerJ ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. e7279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan M. Friedlander ◽  
Jonatha Giddens ◽  
Enric Ballesteros ◽  
Shmulik Blum ◽  
Eric K. Brown ◽  
...  

Clipperton Atoll (Île de La Passion) is the only atoll in the Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP) ecoregion and, owing to its isolation, possesses several endemic species and is likely an important stepping stone between Oceania, the remainder of the TEP, including other oceanic islands and the west coast of Central America. We describe the biodiversity at this remote atoll from shallow water to depths greater than one thousand meters using a mixture of technologies (SCUBA, stereo baited remote underwater video stations, manned submersible, and deep-sea drop cameras). Seventy-four unique taxa of invertebrates were identified during our expedition. The majority (70%) of these taxa were confined to the top 400 m and consisted mostly of sessile organisms. Decapod crustaceans and black corals (Antipatharia) had the broadest depth ranges, 100–1,497 m and 58–967 m, respectively. Decapods were correlated with the deepest depths, while hard corals were correlated with the shallow depths. There were 96 different fish taxa from 41 families and 15 orders, of which 70% were restricted to depths <200 m. While there was a decreasing trend in richness for both fish and invertebrate taxa with depth, these declines were not linear across the depth gradient. Instead, peaks in richness at ∼200 m and ∼750 m coincided with high turnover due to the appearance of new taxa and disappearance of other taxa within the community and is likely associated with the strong oxygen minimum zone that occurs within the region. The overall depth effect was stronger for fishes compared with invertebrates, which may reflect ecological preferences or differences in taxonomic resolution among groups. The creation of a no-take marine reserve 12 nautical miles around the atoll in 2016 will help conserve this unique and relatively intact ecosystem, which possesses high predator abundance.


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