nature News, Opinion and Issues

nature News, Opinion and Issues | The Earth Times http://www.earthtimes.org the earth times is an environment specific news agency and news resource covering green news, environmental issues and opinion en-us PHP/5.2.17 earthtimes/environment/naturehttp://feedburner.google.com Tarsier Secretly Squeaking
Tarsier (Tarsius Syrichta), the world's smallest primate in the Philippines; Credit: Shutterstock

High in the Filipino rainforest, speeches are being made and trysts announced. Predators and prey may well be limited in their understanding, but the tiniest primate, the tarsier has been letting us turn a deaf ear. "Tarsiers are among only a handful of mammals known to communicate in the pure ultrasound," quotes the lead author in the Royal Society's Biology Letters, Marissa Ramsier.

At 20kHz, adult human ears turn off and we call the higher frequencies, "ultrasound." These graphs simply illustrate the extreme 91kHz abilities of Tarsier Syrichta and possibly other tarsiers. Other clever hearers include whales, the domestic cat (which you can frighten away with ultrasound), bats, rodents and the moths which are hunted by bats. This is the first primate, apart from owl monkeys at 45kHz, to be proved to use, "silent communication," just as if it were trying to avoid being detected. This is of course one of the most likely reasons for its use of ultrasound. You can't hear it. Other predators certainly can't and many prey items can't either! A private and also very efficient chat line, helping to eliminate low frequency interruptions.

the tiniest primate, the tarsier auditory and acoustic capability

the tiniest primate, the tarsier auditory and acoustic capability

Philippine tarsier and its auditory and acoustic capabilities. (a) Tarsius syrichta in its natural habitat, Mindanao, Philippines. (b) Representative ABR waveform series for 45 kHz stimuli. (c) Average audiogram and standard error of six individuals; the high-frequency limit was extrapolated from the thresholds at 45 and 64 kHz. (d) Spectrogram of vocalization shows the call duration (approx. 650 ms) and dominant frequency (approx. 70 kHz); signal intensity is represented by the density of the red-black scale; Credit: Biology Letters doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2011.1149

This tarsier from Mindanao has a higher vocal range than other tarsiers too. Having 15 distinct calls below 16kHz, other tarsiers have alarm, rival-deterring and social calls, but T. syrichta seemed to "talk" less. With such rare, endangered species as the tarsiers, experimentation was impossible till recent sub-dermal electrodes with minimum invasive effect were invented. Anaesthetised and placed in sound chambers, it is difficult to justify the animals' use, but if we can save several species by understanding their audio-environment, then this clean use of wild animals is justified. All of the six used were totally unharmed by the procedure and quite probably these researchers were the most care-conscious available, using at all times the protocol of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Dartmouth College.

Vocal recordings from Bohol and Leyte islands were a much simpler kettle of tarsiers. 35 tarsiers to be exact. When handled (possibly indicating alarm) and within temporary enclosures, ultrasound was emitted. The dominant call frequency was defined as the most energetic, while the lowest frequency showed up on spectrograms like that shown in fig 1. Distinct vocal recordings between 67 and 79kHz were like other tarsiers (which use 34kHz maximum), but at much higher frequency.

The big eyes of tarsiers lack a reflective retina (tapetum) like those of other nocturnal animals, despite being visual predators of Arthropods. In dark clouded conditions, Ramsier, Cunningham et al from various Philippine and US universities suppose an auditory aid. Moths and katydid crickets use ultrasound and such intense hearing could simply detect rustling noises in trees. A very well adapted little primate has just shocked us again with unique abilities, possibly keeping it extant while other species in the Philippine jungles approach extinction.

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]]> http://www.earthtimes.org/nature/tarsier-secret-squeaking/1819/ nature Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:11:00 GMT http://www.earthtimes.org/nature/tarsier-secret-squeaking/1819/ Shark skin boosts swim speed and cuts drag
Zebra shark via Shutterstock

Special skin helps sharks swim faster, but artificial human 'shark skin' swimsuits aren't quite as effective, says an American scientist. Shark skin is coated in sharp scales, similar to teeth, called dermal denticles (or (placoid scales) that affect the flow of water to reduce drag and increase thrust.

The Speedo Fastskin II swimsuit aims to mimic shark skin and improve swim times but Harvard University's George Lauder says the idea behind the high-tech swimsuit needs more consideration, saying: "All of the shark skin studies were done on flat shark skin mimics that were held straight and immovable. But shark skin moves.".

Talking of the artificial swimsuit, George Lauder says, "In fact, it's nothing like shark skin at all. What we have shown conclusively is that the surface properties themselves, which the manufacturer has in the past claimed to be bio-mimetic, don't do anything for propulsion."

However, the Speedo swimsuit may improve swimmers' performances in other ways, he says.

"There are all sorts of effects at work that aren't due to the surface. Swimmers who wear these suits are squeezed into them extremely tightly, so they are very streamlined. They're so tight could actually change your circulation, and increase the venous return to the body, and they are tailored to make it easier to maintain proper posture even when tired. I'm convinced they work, but it's not because of the surface."

George Lauder and Masters student Johannes Oeffner examined how sharkskin reacts with water and what the effect is of its motion. Their discoveries, just published in The Journal of Experimental Biology, show how shark skin increases thrust.

The pair bought fresh shark skin from a Boston market and removed parts, including the denticles, and attached to rigid aluminium foil. This was place in a flow tank, wiggled to mimic the movement of a fish and its speed measured.

The denticles were then sanded smooth and the foil model was set up again. Its speed was measured in the same way and found to be faster, which proved the shark skin's denticles impeded a rigid swimmer.

"But then we remembered our premise that the sharks aren't rigid," says George Lauder, so they repeated the experiment but this time flexing the model like a real fish.

The effect was dramatic with a 12.3% increase in speed over the smoothed skin.

The pair the tested the swimming performance of swimsuits that mimic shark skin - a sharp-edged riblet design and the Speedo Fastskin FS II fabric. Although the riblet design increased the flexible foil's swimming speed by 7.2%, the Speedo fabric made no difference.

The scientists then examined how shark skin affects fluid flows around the body. They returned the flexible shark skin foil to the water and used lasers to look at its swirling motion. They found that as well as reducing drag, the skin created extra thrust.

George Lauder says, "That's the number one surprise. It's not just the drag-reducing properties, but the denticles alter the structure of flow near the shark skin in a way that enhances thrust."

The scientist is now hoping to design physical models to see how changes in the arrangements of denticles affect fluid flows over the skin. He also hopes to build a computational model to learn more about the beneficial effects of the skin on thrust and drag.

The research, entitled The hydrodynamic function of shark skin and two biomimetic applications, was financed by America's National Science Foundation.

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Gill raker demand threatens manta and mobula rays
When great white sharks attack - and how seals try to get away
Preventing bycatch shark loss
Sharks and marine turtles in trouble around the world
Finned sharks found washed up on New Zealand's coast

]]> http://www.earthtimes.org/nature/shark-skin-boosts-swim-speed-cuts-drag/1818/ nature Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:22:00 GMT http://www.earthtimes.org/nature/shark-skin-boosts-swim-speed-cuts-drag/1818/ Study highlights worrying numbers of UK ladybirds
Invasive Harlequin ladybird via Shutterstock

The problem is affecting native species across mainland Europe as well as the UK and is thought to be the result of misguided attempts at biological control. We have seen biological control backfire several times over the last two centuries, with the 'control' species often becoming a pest species itself or having other unpredicted effects.

Harlequin ladybirds originate in Asia and are causing problems across Europe, but particularly in Britain, Belgium and Switzerland. The study, published in Functional Ecology, warns of dwindling numbers in 8 of Britain's native species; of particular note are native two-spotted ladybirds that are similar to the harlequin in appearance and habits yet smaller in size.

This gives the harlequin an advantage over food sources and habitat territory. The more food a ladybird eats, the more defensive chemicals it can produce and it therefore becomes unpalatable to predators, increasing its chances of survival: "Producing warning signals and chemical defences is costly so when individuals lack access to an abundant supply of food they produce relatively weak chemical defences," said Jon Blount from Exeter University.

Harlequin Ladybird Pupa - Harmonia axyridis

Harlequin Ladybird Pupa - Harmonia axyridis via Shutterstock

The similar appearance of the harlequin and native British species means that gardeners are not advised to squash suspected invasive species for fear of killing more native individuals. It is also important to remember that not all UK native ladybirds are spotted, so it is unadvisable to squish any striped, yellow or other unusual ladybird on the assumption that it is invasive; only 26 of our native 46 ladybird species resemble the spotted caricature of a ladybird.

Harmonia axyridis, the harlequin ladybird, has been spotted in Europe over the last decade, and is thought to be a species brought in by both commercial and domestic methods to control aphid problems. It is particularly worrying that some mail-order companies could inadvertently supply invasive species for release on domestic gardens. Helen Roy, Centre for Ecology & Hydrology said of mail-order ladybirds:

"I would highly recommend gardeners to make their gardens suitable for ladybirds and encourage them in, rather than releasing mail order insects. Ladybirds are so mobile they simply disperse after release, even if in a greenhouse."

The multi-country study from several partnership universities investigates other possible causes of the decline in the UK species' numbers, however there seem to be clear links between the arrival of the harlequin and the decline in native species population numbers.

Harlequin Ladybird larvae - Harmonia axyridis

Harlequin Ladybird larvae - Harmonia axyridis via Shutterstock

"This study provides strong evidence of a link between the arrival of the harlequin and declines in other species of ladybird," said Helen Roy from the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology.

The study made use of the general public's amateur recording of sightings and covered an incredibly large surface area with over 85,000 observations in the UK alone.

The ecosystem services provided by native species are under threat according to Tim Adriaens from the INBO (Institute for Nature and Forest) in Belgium. "Ladybirds provide an incredibly useful ecological function by keeping aphids in check... At the continental scale, the arrival of the harlequin could impact on the resilience of ecosystems and severely diminish the vital services that ladybirds deliver."

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]]> http://www.earthtimes.org/nature/study-highlights-worrying-numbers-uk-ladybirds/1812/ nature Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:38:10 GMT http://www.earthtimes.org/nature/study-highlights-worrying-numbers-uk-ladybirds/1812/ Endangered green turtle migration mapped
A green turtle escaping from a snorkeller in western Pacific: note the colour via Shutterstock

Cruising the eastern Pacific is everyone's dream, but the green turtle, the only herbivore among the sea turtles, seems to have it made in one sense. With less human predation than previously, animals that can escape nets gather in seagrass beds worldwide to feed.

Nesting is rare these days, but some sites remain in Turkey despite the perilous critically endangered state of the Mediterranean population. Elsewhere, the chelonian is endangered but its nest sites exist around Ascension in the Atlantic, and around Caribbean and Australian coasts. The worst situation is in the north of the Indian Ocean where Pakistani sites are rarely protected.

Maternal ancestry is now used to determine rookery sites and foraging grounds from south Alaska to the Antarctic Ocean. Two populations of Chelonia mydas, have been determined, instead of the varying species names that used to be given. Even black turtle was a pseudonym, because the green colour is often unseen beneath the shell (carapace) as seen in the Aussie below:

Variations corresponding to the Australasian and central/eastern Pacific haplotypes (left and right turtles, respectively) caught at the Gorgona foraging study site. Putative west Pacific turtles exhibited a much lighter golden-brown coloration with indentation in the lower carapace edges, in contrast to the darker "black" carapaces of the typical eastern Pacific individuals. Photo: Javier Rodriguez-Zuluaga; Credit: doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0031486.g002

The Pacific variations show just how variable the species populations there are. This could be genetic, but equally important is the early (carnivorous) diet in the plankton.

The invaluable Gorgona National Park, not far from Galapagos, was used for the sampling of turtles by snorkelling at night around the eastern reefs. Careful removal of up to 3mm of skin tissue provided the mitochondrial DNA, analysed by the Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Tissue Bank of the Colombian Alexander von Humboldt Biodiversity Research Institute (IAvH), in Cali, Colombia. Compared to Japanese, Australian and various Pacific island DNA, the turtles' geographic origins were sought and seven "haplotypes" (basically, part of the genotype), found.

The results were good, predictable and will lead to useful further research. Michoacan, in Mexico and Galapagos, being nearby, contributed most to the catch, while Ecuadorian rookeries, further south, were also well represented.

Dots represent locations from where haplotypes were identified, excluding an Australasian hypothetical rookery. Turtles were caught by hand in the coral reefs of La Azufrada and Playa Blanca on the east side of the island; Credit: doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0031486.g001

The western Pacific rookeries were supposed to produce the golden specimens figured above, being 11% of the total sample of 55, some being identical to French Polynesian and Japanese samples from feeding sites. Micronesia (Elato and Ngulu)is strongly suspected with one haplotype, too.

Happily the nucleotide diversity was the second highest yet observed. In the Atlantic, nothing like this diversity exists. All the evidence points to a huge Pacific diversity, but mixing of these young adults and juveniles takes place at Gorgona. A stopover situation like that of airlines comes to mind.

This busy turtle "station" has had 700 sampled visits by individual turtles in 10 years. It implies that Gorgona's importance could be crucial in what we must remember is the survival of an endangered species.

Bali and other Indonesian sites, along with the aforementioned areas decimate the egg numbers and adults are almost equally at risk in other areas. Ocean currents such as the California Current and the North Equatorial Current help to bring these turtles to Gorgona. The northern Pacific is therefore under-represented, but the adult animals are tremendous ocean travellers, allowing for some mixing at breeding. The first map indicates some local origins:

Tracks from three drifters deployed near Eastern Pacific breeding ground heading towards the vicinity of the Gorgona study site (red cross). RE = Revillagigedo Islands, Mexico; MI = Michoacan, Mexico; GA = Galapagos Islands, Ecuador; Gor = Gorgona Island, Colombia. Rectangle in broken lines highlight area with frequent eddies provoking recurrent looped tracks with increased speed (about 2X average) but longer entrainment within the current system. Countries' EEZ boundaries are indicated with two-letter abbreviations. Drifter data from NOAA/AOML Global Lagrangian Drifter Data (www.aoml.noaa.gov/envids/gld/krig/parttrk_id_temporal.php); Credit: doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0031486.g006

Two drifter tracks initiating on the eastern edge of Western Pacific green turtle habitats leading to areas near the Gorgona study site (red cross). Total duration indicated in the figures. Green turtle rookery locations and abundances derived from IOSEA Marine Turtle Mapping System (stort.unep-wcmc.org/imaps/indturtles) and the Marine Turtle Database maintained by C. J. Limpus at Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Australia. Purple circles indicate Pacific basin breeding colonies that have been genetically characterized (see Table 2); green circles show populations with no genetic studies. Drifter data from NOAA/AOML Global Lagrangian Drifter Data (http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/envids/gld/krig/parttrk_id_temporal.php); Credit: doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0031486.g007

This latter map tries to emphasise just how far these young turtles have already reached in their eventful lives. Note the red line ends in our Micronesian atolls! It's basically an easterly movement, with recovery needed after the juveniles' journey, but do they ever return for the traditional egg-laying at their native beach. Stragglers they might possibly be, but thanks to research by the American countries (Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador and Panama), worldwide interest will now be stimulated in the destinies and fate of these enchanting mariners.

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Sharks and marine turtles in trouble around the world
Celebrating Turtles: World Turtle Day 2011
Africa's sea turtles need extra protection
China and U.S. announce fisheries and climate change deals
WSC wades in to stop US bog turtle decline

]]> http://www.earthtimes.org/nature/green-light-migrating-turtles/1806/ nature Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:45:55 GMT http://www.earthtimes.org/nature/green-light-migrating-turtles/1806/ Most ancient crocodile discovered, Aegisuchus witmeri
Artist's Rendering of Shieldcroc (Aegisuchus witmeri); Credit: Orginal artwork by Henry P. Tsai, University of Missouri

Crocodiles and their relatives the crocodyliforms, go back a long way and were as diverse as imagination itself. From land to sea, herbivorous species to giant predators, they can be held as one of the true great marvels of animal evolution. Their current representatives are smaller, but no less mean and successful, just as they have outlasted almost every other tetrapod group.

The Tethys Sea between northern Laurasia and Gondwanaland seems to be the real origin of the ancient crocodiles, instead of the Laurasian origin which was once thought likely. This map shows several species, all thought to be an early offshoot of the real crocodilian (and alligator) line.

A. More recent land forms (Europe and Africa) are shown in white - Early Late Cretaceous Mollweide projections Tethyean continental geography. 1, Aegisuchus witmeri; 2, Aegyptosuchus peyeri; 3, Laganosuchus thaumastos; 4, Stomatosuchus inermis. B, Biogeographical relationships, and stratigraphic ages of Aegisuchus and relevant crocodyliforms; Credit: PLoS ONE (doi:info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0030471.g006)

Africa is the home of many crocodilians. The journal, PLoS ONE has now released a paper from Casey M. Holliday (UM) and Nicholas M. Gardner (Marshall University, W. Virginia) revealing the Moroccan granddaddy of them all. Remarkable for their longevity, this Archosaur group has survived since the Late Cretaceous (Mesozoic), 95 million years ago. This species, Aegisuchus witmeri, had such an enormous 5-foot skull that its body dimensions are impossible to work out. No similar crocodile is known, so the estimate of 30 feet is a guesstimate based on all of its relations.

Shieldcroc Fossil; Credit: University of Missouri

This thin-jawed ancestral form probably caught fish, like many of its modern descendants. It may even have created a trap with its long jaws and simply opened its mouth to swallow its prey. Other crocodyliforms ate plants, went marine or ate insects, but this one is a big bad croc just as we know them. Only the braincase is recovered from the rock, but that enables brain volume and hence skull size to be calculated.

Nile crocodiles via Shutterstock

Closest relatives include a fossil that was destroyed by Allied bombing of Cairo in WW2 (Stomatosuchus) and another Egyptian, Aegyptosuchus, that survived to tell the tale. A huge shield on top of the Aegisuchus witmeri skull characterises this species, hence the 'Shieldcroc' nickname it has been given, but it clearly has the same skull roof as its Egyptian cousin. Modern crocodilians show the same morphology, but they are smaller, even though they still have those 'bad' habits.

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Twenty critically endangered Siamese crocodiles hatch in Lao PDR

]]> http://www.earthtimes.org/nature/shieldcroc-ancient-crocodile-aegisuchus-witmeri/1804/ nature Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:14:00 GMT http://www.earthtimes.org/nature/shieldcroc-ancient-crocodile-aegisuchus-witmeri/1804/ Humpback whales singing different songs
Humpback whale breaching via Shutterstock

Humpback whales in the Indian Ocean look like they have the X-Factor when it comes to singing. Humpbacks at opposite ends of the Southern Indian Ocean are singing different songs, a Wildlife Conservation Society Study (WCS) has revealed for the first time; normally, whales in the same area of the ocean sing songs with similar themes.

Lead author, Anita Murray, says, "In the Northern Hemisphere, within an ocean basin, whales sing songs that are composed of the same themes. However, whales in the southern Indian Ocean are singing almost completely different songs.

"Songs from Madagascar and Western Australia only shared one similar theme, the rest of the themes were completely different.

"The reason for this anomaly remains a mystery. It could be the influence of singing whales from other ocean basins, such as the South Pacific or Atlantic, indicating an exchange of individuals between oceans which is unique to the Southern Hemisphere."

The study, involving researchers from WCS, Australia and Columbia University, USA, suggests there could be a limited exchange between humpback whales in the two regions and may explain how whale culture develops.

The songs that can last half an hour contain complex parts or themes made up of high and low wails, shrieks and moaning sounds. The males are usually responsible and sing at winter breeding areas, summer feeding spots and migratory routes.

It seems likely that individual humpback whales transmit songs at feeding areas or when migration occurs, as that is when various populations mix. Another possibility is that male 'troubadours' visit breeding grounds between seasons.

The researchers recorded 19 humpback whale singing off the Madagascar coast and in Western Australia in the 2006 breeding season using underwater microphones. In all, they recorded more than 20 hours of singing.

Analysis showed that the songs were mostly very different. Of 11 themes recorded, only one was shared by both communities.

As only one breeding season was recorded, the team is keen to see the study repeated.

Humpback whale via Shutterstock

Director of WCS's Ocean Giants Program, Dr. Howard Rosenbaum, says, "These song comparisons complement our findings based on other methods, such as those from genetic analysis, to understand how whale populations interact with one another."

Salvatore Cerchio, a WCS conservationist, adds, "We have glimpsed here a snapshot of differences in repertoire between humpback whale population of the Indian Ocean during a single season. Continued monitoring of these songs can provide us with valuable information on how whale songs are exchanged and how those channels of cultural transmission can be protected in the future."

Anita Murray carried out the research as a graduate student at Columbia University and the Wildlife Conservation Society and is currently studying for doctorate at the University of Queensland, Australia.

Other authors of the study include Salvatore Cerchio, Yvette Razafindrakoto and Howard Rosenbaum from the Wildlife Conservation Society; Robert McCauley, of Curtin University, Perth, Australia; Curt S. Jenner of the Centre for Whale Research, Fremantle, Australia; Douglas Coughran of the Department of Environment and Conservation, Perth; and Shannon McKay of the School of Life and Environmental Science, Warrnambool, Australia.

The study is published in the January edition of Marine Mammal Science and can be seen on its website.

WCS, which aims to save wildlife and wild places worldwide, began studying humpback whales in the 1960s. Over the last 10 years, its Ocean Giants Program has carried out extensive molecular analysis of humpback whale populations in the southern Atlantic and Indian oceans to find out more about discrete populations.

The humpback whale is a baleen whale that reaches around 50 feet (15 metres) in length. It has long pectoral fins and a head with knobs on the top and lower jaw. Until 1966, when it was protected by the International Whaling Commission, it was hunted commercially. It is not known exactly how many exist in the wild.

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Humpback Numbers Higher
International deal on whale sanctuaries
Humpback whales in super-aggregation in Antarctica
'Remixes' top humpback whale song charts

]]> http://www.earthtimes.org/nature/humpback-whales-singing-songs/1802/ nature Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:09:00 GMT http://www.earthtimes.org/nature/humpback-whales-singing-songs/1802/ Inuit insight into killer whale (Orcinus orca) predation and prey
Killer whale pod via Shutterstock

The prey of killer whales (Orcinus orca) in the Arctic is little studied, except of course by native Inuit peoples. New research has used a novel technique to introduce us to, or provide an insight into this Inuit science, if you like. They certainly know their business, which in this case involves their competitor for prey items, the killer whale. The Inuit have always relied upon marine mammals for their basic survival. Food, clothing and transport all came from raw animal products.

Local Orcinus orca in the north-east Pacific were feeding on fish, while humans used different mammalian prey. But in eastern Canada, nobody seemed to know what the local Orcinus orca ate. The effect of global warming is now changing that equation.

While some Inuit communities still rely on customary sources, the whales have found that warm water provides new populations with different diets around Hudson Bay, where loss of sea ice is very evident. Traditional Inuit stories are informative about the killers' diet in Foxe basin (bowhead whales) and Baffin island (narwhal). Even the Orcinus orca hunting techniques are minutely described.

In "Prey items and predation behaviour of killer whales in Nunavut, Canada based on Inuit hunter interviews," Steven Ferguson said "Utilising local knowledge through TEK (Traditional Ecological Knowledge) will help scientists understand the effect of global warming and loss of sea ice on Arctic species and improve collaborative conservation efforts in conjunction with local communities." 105 interviews in 11 Nunavut communities produced the following results:

1. There was little prey specialisation beyond the use of marine mammals including phocid seals, narwhals, beluga and bowhead whales, in that order.

2. No fish were consumed according to most interviewees, with only seven relating none-first-hand experience of fish eating.

Killer whale (Orcinus orca) via Shutterstock

As top predators, Orcinus orca are important to conservation of marine ecosystems. The eastern Canadian ecotype of Orcinus orca is obviously a mammal-eating one, during the open water season. Following up this Inuit interview research technique, we can hope to discover more about how to conserve the fauna, especially when we consider the natural winter ecology of the killer whales.

Now there is open water for most of the year, it could be that calves of whales, such as bowheads, will be even more vulnerable than previously. Equally, we need to know how killers feed in the winter - do they migrate or exist on fish? It's fascinating to see if this kind of research can fill in the details needed for adequate conservation action, as the ice slowly melts.

The full research paper was published this week in the journal Aquatic Biosystems.

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Fussy killers - Weddell seals on the menu for Orca

]]> http://www.earthtimes.org/nature/killer-whale-orcinus-orca-predation-prey-inuit-insight/1798/ nature Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:08:00 GMT http://www.earthtimes.org/nature/killer-whale-orcinus-orca-predation-prey-inuit-insight/1798/ Invasive Burmese Pythons vs. The Everglades
Burmese Python in the Everglades, Florida via Shutterstock

Invasive species such as the grey squirrel in the UK or the rabbit in Australia have caused untold damage to the native flora and fauna of their new homes. Guam in the South Pacific had a problem so severe that the brown tree snake almost destroyed all local bird populations on the island and Florida has had one particular invasive species that is causing concern.

The Burmese python is one of the largest snakes in the world and is indigenous to Southeast Asia. With lengths often over 3.5 metres, it is a formidable predator. While it prefers rodents, it is not averse to attacking animals as large as deer. Despite its reputation (or perhaps because of it), it is quite a popular pet, and when owners have started having problems looking after them they have often been released into the wild.

The Florida Everglades National Park offers an ecosystem similar in many ways to the Asian tropical rainforests that would naturally be their homes. This favourable environment has led to a thriving population that studies have shown has placed a significant burden on the biodiversity of the area.

A study led by Michael Dorcas, of Davidson College, and published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, has highlighted the main issues caused. Comparing road-kill surveys carried out before 2000 with those done between 2003 and 2011, alarming decreases were seen for some mammals, with bobcat observations decreasing by 87.5%, raccoon and opossum observations decreasing by over 98% and rabbits completely absent from the recent surveys.

The surveys also noted that the declines went hand-in-hand with increases in Burmese pythons. Areas without significant populations of the invasive species saw smaller changes in mammal numbers and areas free of pythons saw mammal numbers unchanged from previous surveys.

Close-up of a Burmese python via Shutterstock

Anecdotal evidence points to similar declines with tourists and local experts reporting severe drops in sightings of small mammals that had previously been abundant in the national park and reports of "nuisance raccoon incidents" vanishing after 2005.

The researchers suggested some theories as to why the impact has been so great and it seems that it may be a combination of factors. These might include the foraging grounds of the small mammals being the preferred hunting grounds of the pythons and also the fact that the Everglades National Park had been free of snakes large enough to predate mammals of this size until the recent establishment of breeding populations approximately 11 years ago.

There are additional worries that this work did not cover, including the possibility that bird numbers have been similarly affected.

Director of the U.S. Geological Survey, Marcia McNutt, has called for "decisive and deliberate human action" to resolve the issue.

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]]> http://www.earthtimes.org/nature/burmese-pythons-everglades-invasive-species/1796/ nature Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:19:00 GMT http://www.earthtimes.org/nature/burmese-pythons-everglades-invasive-species/1796/ That Solar Wind and the Aurora Borealis
Giant solar flare shoots ions out into space for millions of km (illustration) via Shutterstock

You don't have to be Alaskan or an Icelander but it helps. The aurora (goddess of the dawn) borealis (*you should know who he is?*) is the phenomenon on the tip of everyone's tongue, but in September, 1859, London was lit up at one o'clock in the morning, along with Sydney, Tokyo and Boston, by one of the most aggressive spurts of solar energy ever heard of. The link with the Sun is the IMF. Not the money one. This is the Interplanetary Magnetic Force or solar wind. No, not in Star Wars. It is formed by solar flares of ions from the Sun, which by virtue of their own magnetic field, interfere with every planets own field by causing geomagnetic storms, or at least a disturbance, creating coloured light effects around the planets' poles.

In the case of the earth, oxygen and nitrogen at varying distances from the surface cause the light to be blue, violet, green or red. Their ions light up as electrons bombard them in the same way as in a cathode ray tube (TV to you.)

Here the green aurora borealis is caused by oxygen ions low in the atmosphere. If they were colliding with the solar wind higher, red colours would be created - Holy Island Causeway Northumberland, UK

Here the green aurora borealis seen at Holy Island Causeway Northumberland, UK (23/1/2012). Caused by oxygen ions low in the atmosphere. If they were colliding with the solar wind higher, red colours would be created; Credit: Reed Ingram Weir

The sunspot cycle is a rough guide to solar energy output. Every eleven years, the auroras become more prevalent, but the three years following sunspot peaks also seem to have peaks of auroral activity. Our present cycle should peak next year, but following major solar explosions the aurora has recently been giving us low latitude displays in anticipation of more to come. Digital cameras tend to distort the colours, but this often exaggerates the colours, rather than repressing the effect.

In Scotland, Norway, Alaska and around Lake Superior, photographs last week showed us how to enjoy the sky as they did in Victorian times. Yorkshire (UK) was the furthest south that this particular phenomenon reached, but New York( NY) can still hope that maybe next year the magnetosphere will respond for them.

Aurora Borealis (or Northern Lights) on Kvaloya, Norway

Aurora Borealis (or Northern Lights) on Kvaloya, NO (23/1/2012); Credit: Lars Tiede

The Earth Times will inform you of any new solar flare activity. At up to two million miles per hour, it takes a couple of days to cross the solar system and cause an aurora here, so watch out for this space, this spring. (your own pics are also welcome - please send us an email.)

[*Borealis, by the way, refers to the god of the cold north wind in Greek mythology (Boreas)*]

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]]> http://www.earthtimes.org/nature/solar-wind-aurora-borealis/1793/ nature Mon, 30 Jan 2012 23:12:38 GMT http://www.earthtimes.org/nature/solar-wind-aurora-borealis/1793/ The Latest Rapid Assessment of New Species (from Suriname)
(Species not new to science) Coprophanaeus lancifer is the largest dung beetle species in the Neotropics - This species was observed by scientists working with Conservation International's Rapid Assessment Program in southwest Suriname - (An Armored Catfish, a 'Cowboy Frog', and a Rainbow of Colorful Critters discovered in Southwest Suriname); Credit: © Piotr Naskrecki

Conservation International (CI) is a group who carry out rapid assessment programs in unexplored areas which desperately need to tell us what they have (in terms of biodiversity.) With the overpowering loss of habitats and organisms worldwide, this kind of project could turn out to be one of the most urgent tasks we have.

In the dark forests of the remote South American northlands, far south of Paramaibo, the latest survey has not surprisingly struck gold in the form of wonderful new species and many numerous specimens of otherwise rare creatures and plants.. Dr. Trond H.Larsen puts it best when he states, "Our team was privileged to explore one of the last remaining areas of vast, unroaded wilderness in the world. As a scientist, it is thrilling to study these remote lowland forests where countless new discoveries await, especially since we believe that protecting these landscapes while they remain pristine provides perhaps the greatest opportunity for maintaining globally important biodiversity and the ecosystems people depend upon for generations to come." The Amazon provides the world's greatest supply of vital freshwater, but these tributaries of the Courantyne (also known as Corantijn or Coeroeni river) have been preserved by wise governmental action in 1998. UNESCO was very impressed, giving World Heritage Site status to a central nature reserve.

In three weeks of 2010, researchers have unravelled some of the dense mystery of Kwamalasamutu, a tribal land and centre of the Trio people. They themselves were responsible for much of the expeditionary organisation, under the leadership of Granman Ashonko Alalaparoe and many of his people.

The RAP team at the Werehpai base camp, taken from the Conservation International release: An Armored Catfish, a 'Cowboy Frog', and a Rainbow of Colorful Critters discovered in Southwest Suriname; Credit: © Piotr Naskrecki

Dutch and US scientists combined with Suriname's universities to form the Rapid Assessment Program group. Ecotourism is bound to result from this specific work, while the local people have also found ancient petroglyphs from 5000 years ago in a local cave (Werehpai) to enhance the visitor experience but also the history of this little known area.

The many animals discovered are yet to be named in several cases. One "extinct" frog was found, after many years of zero sightings. The sheer numbers impress, especially viewing the complete data set:

Number of species recorded

Plants >240
Ants >100
Aquatic Beetles 144
Dung Beetles 94
Dragonflies and Damselflies 94
Katydids and Grasshoppers 78
Fishes 99
Reptiles and Amphibians 78

(Species not new to science) The Suriname horned frog or "Pac-Man frog" (Ceratophrys cornuta) is a voracious sit-and-wait predator. It has an exceptionally wide mouth, which allows it to swallow prey that is nearly as large as its own body, including mice and other frogs. This species was observed during Conservation International's Rapid Assessment Program in southwest Suriname - (An Armored Catfish, a 'Cowboy Frog', and a Rainbow of Colorful Critters discovered in Southwest Suriname); Credit: © Trond Larsen

Birds 327
Small Mammals 38
Large Mammals 29

(Species not new to science) The ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) is a medium sized cat, usually weighing up to 40 pounds. They are fiercely territorial and hunt small animals, especially rodents. - This species was observed by scientists working with Conservation International's Rapid Assessment Program in southwest Suriname - (An Armored Catfish, a 'Cowboy Frog', and a Rainbow of Colorful Critters discovered in Southwest Suriname); Credit: © Conservation International Suriname

Number of species new to science

Aquatic Beetles 16–26
Dung Beetles 10–14
Dragonflies and Damselflies 4
Katydids and Grasshoppers 7
Fishes 8

(Potentially new species): Imparfinis aff. stictonotus is a small catfish, only two inches long. Scientists caught it in a small, sandy stream in the Surinamese rainforest. They had to trek through dense jungle carrying heavy gear to find the stream where this new species occurred. This species was collected during Conservation International's Rapid Assessment Program in southwest Suriname - (An Armored Catfish, a 'Cowboy Frog', and a Rainbow of Colorful Critters discovered in Southwest Suriname); Credit: © Philip Willink

Reptiles and Amphibians 1

IHypsiboas sp. (nickname

(Potentially new species): Hypsiboas sp. (nickname "cowboy frog") has white fringes along the legs and a spur on the heel. The frog was discovered low on a small branch during a night survey in a swampy area west of the RAP base camp at the Koetari River during Conservation International's Rapid Assessment Program in southwest Suriname - (An Armored Catfish, a 'Cowboy Frog', and a Rainbow of Colorful Critters discovered in Southwest Suriname); Credit: © Paul Ouboterk

New to Suriname itself were 111 of its impressive fauna (especially some beautiful beetles) and flora, soon to be embellished, I'm sure.

The large mammals include abundant ocelot and even jaguar, for which the conservation (and isolation) are to be thanked. Tourists will flood like the Orinoco (sorry, wrong river) when they hear that.

Conservation issues are of course predominant in the conclusions of the assessment. This very rapid assessment in the Kwamalasamutu region remarks:

(1) The forests in the surroundings of Kwamalasamutu seem to have a high conservation value. Eight species new for Suriname and a substantial number of rare species were discovered.

(2) The high conservation value is also demonstrated by the fact that one of the highest tree diversity values ever recorded for Suriname was recorded At the same time, the forests sampled at Werehpai had relatively low diversity values relative to other forests in Suriname and the Guianas.

(3) The majority of the forests in the surroundings of Kwamalasamutu are in a natural and healthy state. To ensure their continued health into the future, some matters need to be addressed in close cooperation with the Kwamalasamutu community. Agricultural change would be especially useful and possibly highly profitable in such a remote area with very few consumers. (ie. the population can be easily fed at the moment, but may be persuaded to adopt new ideas/crops/business concepts)

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]]> http://www.earthtimes.org/nature/rapid-assessment-new-species-suriname/1782/ nature Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:41:00 GMT http://www.earthtimes.org/nature/rapid-assessment-new-species-suriname/1782/ Earthquake damage report for 2011 published by CATDAT
Destruction caused by the M6.3 earthquake on February 22, 2011 in Christchurch, New Zealand via Shutterstock

Armand Vervaeck regularly quotes tectonic news on www.earthquake‐report.com, but with James Daniell, he has now released an annual report on the cost and damage caused by earthquakes and volcanoes in 2011. It was to date the most damaging year on record for economic losses associated with these natural disasters.

Fewer deaths than average were recorded, with 0.035% of the 58.7 million deaths due to earthquake and tsunami. In Japan, 1.6% of all deaths were accounted for by tsunami effects from the M9.0 earthquake, while 0.62% of the New Zealand population died from their earthquake, which was M6.3. The two Turkish quakes caused less than 0.2% of the admittedly large Turkish population, but 5.6% of deaths in Van province. This map illustrates the most damaged countries:

The number of earthquakes per country in the 133+ CATDAT damaging earthquakes in various countries during 2011

The number of earthquakes per country in the 133+ CATDAT damaging earthquakes in various countries during 2011

Credit: CATDAT

Here are the building losses, worldwide, from the 133 earthquakes which caused drastic damage. For example, the Cretan quake at M6.2 required minor car repairs in Iraklion and non-structural house repairs. For these reasons, it is not included as a "damaging earthquake." (but is recorded on the report site above.) Most people were "impacted" by the Tohoku earthquake in Japan, the Turkish quake in Van and the Sikkim quake in a heavily populated area. Note the 1 million buildings damaged in Japan after the earthquake and subsequent tsunami!

buildings damaged from earthquakes in 2011

buildings damaged from earthquakes in 2011

Credit: CATDAT

The University of Adelaide has collected relevant socio-economic data now for several years and the General Sir John Monash Foundation supports the PhD research (at Karlsruhe's KIT/CEDIM).

Economic losses overall were over $5 million for direct losses, but will exceed $594 billion over the next few years, mainly in Japan, Christchurch (NZ), and Sikkim (actually affecting many countries from India, Tibet (China), Bhutan, and Nepal as far as Bangladesh.)

In terms of death tolls, the 20000 killed this year is about the annual average for the past 111 years. Over the past 111 years, the average death toll has been 21800 deaths per year. This was the highest death toll year in developed nations compared to developing nations. The economic losses are shown in this map alongside deaths.

So we can draw an international sigh of relief that this tragic year has passed, but more, similar years are to come, on average. Low deaths and high cost give the summary in one phrase. Real time, direct coverage of all earthquakes was luckily around for the first time, and may have helped some to account for their loss. We can thank these two authors for such liberal coverage and probably consider how useful such a service will now become.

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Earthquakes and 'wise toads' predicting them
Music stars net $10m for Japan disaster victims
Coca Cola reduce power consumption in vending machines due to Earthquake
Fukushima six months on: scientists assess the impacts
Radar results from Japan disaster offer hope for tsunami warning system

]]> http://www.earthtimes.org/nature/earthquake-damage-report-2011/1775/ nature Sun, 22 Jan 2012 00:39:00 GMT http://www.earthtimes.org/nature/earthquake-damage-report-2011/1775/ 'Extinct' monkey found in Borneo rainforest
A monkey that was thought extinct - The Miller's Grizzled Langur; Credit: Eric Fell

A monkey that was believed to be extinct has been discovered by scientists in Borneo. The Miller's Grizzled Langur primate was found in a rainforest, west of its previously known habitat.

The Miller's Grizzled Langur (Presbytis hosei canicrus) was so rare that there were few images of it prior to the expedition to Wehea Forest in East Kalimantan.

Brent Loken, from Simon Fraser University, British Columbia, Canada, says, "Discovery of P.h canicrus was a surprise since Wehea Forest lies outside of this monkey's known range. Future research will focus on estimating the population density for P.h. canicrus in Wehea and the surrounding forest.

"Concern that the species may have gone extinct was first raised in 2004, and a search for the monkey during another expedition in 2008 supported the assertion that the situation was dire."

The monkey belongs to the small primate genus Presbytis that lives in Borneo, Sumatra, Java and the Thai-Malay Peninsula. Up until now the habitat of the Miller's Grizzled Langur was believed to be a small area in north east Borneo, where forest fires, human interference and farming and mining had all taken their toll.

The 38,000-hectare Wehea Forest contains a large area of virtually undisturbed rainforest that is home to at least nine rare primates, including the Bornean orangutan and gibbon.

The scientists set up, watched and photographed the animals at mineral licks - and made the discovery that the Miller's Grizzled Langur was still alive.

Miller's Grizzled Langur; Credit: Eric Fell

Brent Loken says, "It was a challenge to confirm our finding as there are so few pictures of this monkey available for study. The only description of Miller's Grizzled Langur came from museum specimens.

"Our photographs from Wehea are some of the only pictures that we have of this monkey."

Dr Stephanie Spehar, Assistant Professor of Anthropology at University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, USA, explains, "East Kalimantan can be a challenging place to conduct research, given the remoteness of many remaining forested areas, so it isn't surprising that so little is known about this primate.

"We are very grateful to our local partners. This discovery represents the hard work, dedication, and collaboration of Western and Indonesian scientists, students, NGOs, as well as local communities and government."

Brent Loken adds, "While our finding confirms the monkey still exists in East Kalimantan, there is a good chance that it remains one of the world's most endangered primates.

"I believe it is a race against time to protect many species in Borneo. It is difficult to adopt conservation strategies to protect species when we don't even know the extent of where they live. We need more scientists in the field working on understudied species such as Miller's Grizzled Langur, clouded leopards and sun bears."

The full report has been published in the American Journal of Primatology.

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Colour blindness helps monkeys catch camouflaged prey
New primate species found skittering in threatened Amazon

]]> http://www.earthtimes.org/nature/extinct-monkey-millers-grizzled-langur-borneo-wehea-forest/1772/ nature Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:06:00 GMT http://www.earthtimes.org/nature/extinct-monkey-millers-grizzled-langur-borneo-wehea-forest/1772/ Pigeon variations not always due to genetics
These two pigeon breeds - the old Dutch capuchine, left, and komorner tumbler, right - are not closely related, yet they both have feathery ornamentation on their heads known as a head crest. These pigeons illustrate the notion that birds of a feather don't always stick together, at least genetically, according to a new University of Utah study of the pigeon family tree; Credit: Mike Shapiro, University of Utah

Pigeons can have very different physical features - but they are not always due to genetics, a new study reveals. One bird can possess large foot feathers, along with an unrelated pigeon, while a close relative does not, say American researchers.

Senior author, Michael Shapiro, an assistant professor of biology at the University of Utah, says, "Most people think of pigeons as rats of the sky, but in fact they're really incredibly diverse.

"What we found through this study is that birds that are only distantly related to each other can have very similar traits, and others that are very closely related to each other can look quite different in terms of their traits."

The study, published on 19 January in the online journal Current Biology, examined physical characteristics of 361 pigeons from around 20% of the 350-plus breeds, including wild pigeons on the Isle of Skye, Scotland, and Salt Lake City, USA.

Researchers looked at factors including colour, pattering, size, beak shape, posture, vocals, feathering and flight capability.

There are many examples of pigeon breeds that share traits, but not genetics. The English trumpeter and old German owl pigeon each have a head crest, but they are not close relatives. English trumpeters also have feet feathers rather than scales, just like English pouters, but they are also not related.

African owl and Budapest short faced tumblers are not close relatives, but they have short beaks. On the other hand, the African owl and German owl pigeon are close relatives, but on has a plain head, the other has a head crest.

The English pouter is closely related to the Brunner pouter, but the English pouter has foot feathers, whereas the Brunner pouter does not.

The researchers also discovered:

* Free-living pigeons - including the city pigeons - possess DNA from escaped or lost racing pigeons. Feral rock pigeons in Salt Lake City are closely related to racing homers. Those in Scotland resemble the old Modena domestic breed that was a racing pigeon, but is now a show bird

* Genetic tests re-enforce the theory that most of the pigeons studied originally come from the Middle East and, more recently, India

* Breeders repeatedly selected some traits in pigeons

The English pouter pigeon breed has feathers on its feet, left, while the Brunner pouter pigeon breed on the right does not

The English pouter pigeon breed has feathers on its feet, left, while the Brunner pouter pigeon breed does not, right, yet the two breeds are closely related. University of Utah biologists study pigeons as a model for traits in other birds and animals, and found physical traits don't always reflect underlying genetics; Credit: Mike Shapiro, University of Utah

Michael Shapiro explains, "Pigeons are a remarkable example of how selection and heredity work.

"These breeds are all members of the same species, but look really different. This happened because pigeon fanciers over the ages favoured particular traits. This happened in dogs, too. It also happens to animals and other living things in the wild, except the agents of selection and change are environmental factors rather than human preference."

Pigeons were domesticated at least 5,000 years ago in the Mediterranean region and may have been used both in ceremonies and for food, Michael Shapiro believes.

"Pigeons show more variation and diversity [in traits] than any other bird species that we know of. Pigeons are a great example of a species we can use to understand which genes control some of these really interesting traits that we see in many other birds and animals.

"Charles Darwin was a real pigeon aficionado, and he relied heavily on artificial selection in pigeons to describe how natural selection works in the wild," says Michael Shapiro.

"He spends a lot of time in 'On the Origin of Species' discussing pigeons. So pigeons have an important place in the history of evolutionary thought.

"A lot of the variation that we see in different species has to do with an animal's ability to adapt to its environment. By understanding why some of these traits are so different in pigeons, we can potentially understand which genes are controlling some of these interesting traits in the wild, where these traits can help birds survive and reproduce.

"A lot of different animals use exactly the same genes to build similar body structures. By finding genes that control these structures in pigeons, we hope to understand which genes underlie normal diversity in the wild, and possibly even normal and abnormal diversity in humans, including human disease," Michael Shapiro adds.

"Pigeons have been used for decades in studies of vision, learning, flight performance, parasites, cardiovascular disease, behaviour and navigation.

"A lot of these topics have direct relevance to human health, so pigeons can help us understand our own biology."

The study mirrors conclusions previously made by geneticist experts at the University of Utah that human populations do not necessarily reflect underlying genetics.

Lynn Jorde, chair of the University of Utah's Department of Human Genetics, says, "On average, people from one population or 'race' tend to be more similar genetically to one another than to those of another population.

"But the race categories we use are quite imperfect and there is a lot of overlap genetically between populations. So there would be many instances in which a black person would be more similar to some white people than to other black people."

The researchers used pigeon DNA "micro satellite markers" to assess how similar the breeds are. They used genetic material from pigeon blood gathered at the National Pigeon Association's show in Salt Lake City and Utah Pigeon Club events. Another 1,500 feather samples came from a German pigeon show and responses from emails to numerous pigeon clubs around the world.

The researchers found the breeds fitted into nine groups: pouters and croppers, those with manes or hoods, tumblers and rollers, owl breeds, German toy breeds, homing pigeons and breeds with wattles, fantails, free-living European pigeons and the Modena. Other breeds were a combination of various groups.

The report's co-authors were biology doctoral students Sydney Stringham and Edward Osborne, postdoctoral researcher in Jorde's human genetics lab, Jinchuan Xing; biology postdoctoral researcher Jaclyn Aldenhoven and biology undergraduates Elisabeth Mulroy, David Record and Michael Guernsey.

The report was financed by the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, the National Institutes of Health, the University of Utah and Michigan pigeon breeder, Onorio Catenacci.

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Andean species threatened
A nightingale sings
Birds like it sweet, bees like it sweeter
Singing Cousins
The week's environmental news roundup: September 23rd 2011

]]> http://www.earthtimes.org/nature/coo-pigeon-variations-due-genetics/1770/ nature Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:00:00 GMT http://www.earthtimes.org/nature/coo-pigeon-variations-due-genetics/1770/ The drowning Baiji princess waits in vain
The pink boto, superficially like a Baiji via Shutterstock

Of all the world's remaining river dolphins, the Baiji or Chinese Lake Dolphin (Lipotes vexillifer) has suffered the most. From the large pink Amazonian Boto (above) - to the charmingly shy blue-grey Baiji (below) seems a big step, but once upon a time, scientists believed them to be quite closely related, despite the geographical disparity. In fact these large-brained, almost-fingered cetaceans have very primitive characteristics that place them almost in the Miocene in terms of whale variability. They are not related to each other, apart from the Indus and Ganges species. These two were obviously connected literally quite recently.

So there was this lonely princess, according to the ancient myths, who refused to marry a rich man. Her father threw her in the Yangste where the mermaid like myth relates she lives to this day, two and a half metres long, very frightened and blind, deafened by propellers which injure her frequently. The Three Gorges Dam project in the Yangste basin is likely to kill off any remaining animals, but it is probably too late. This most endangered of all whales has probably drawn her last Snow White like breath! Dangers that have engulfed this graceful species with a retrousse nose include the river traffic and immense pollution in the lakes and estuary which used to form its niche. It used to ply the river in tiny groups, although too shy to be approached at all.

Feeding was nocturnal to a large extent, throughout a middle several hundred kilometres of the giant river. A male Qi Qi, survived for 22 years in captivity, but the only recent estimate of 13 living individuals was in 1999 (2006 surveys found 0). Draw the graph yourself. From an optimum 400 in 1980; through 100 in 1990, to 13 in 1999. I make it 10% decline pa. And 10% of this princess, every year since 1999 brings us in 2012 to the number 1?

The Baiji (Chinese Lake Dolphin / Yangtze River Dolphin / Changjiang Dolphin / Lipotes vexillifer) little photographed and now functionally extinct; Credit: Copyright © Chinese Academy of Sciences

The College of Life Sciences in Nanjing (on the Yangtse) has produced Shixia Xu, Jianfeng Ju, Xuming Zhou, Lian Wang, Kaiya Zhou, and Guang Yang's superb research, published in the journal PLoS ONE, on what has not caused this demise, they sampled three muscle and 14 skeletal samples from dead specimens, killed, fished accidentally or stranded:

While the aforementioned environmental reasons may have finished off our tragic heroine, this erudite group prove that the genome of the species did not lack variations. It could have pulled itself out of the rut it found itself in, with just that little bit of empathy. Nine very divergent alleles were found in only 17 samples. In an isolated (for 25 million years at least) species this variability is totally unexpected. If only the poor cheetah had this same variability, but the cat species are much too inbred. We hope the other river dolphins have some of the same essential genes. The indications are that intense selection has powered the species' progress for millions of years, only to end in this dismal failure to survive. The fault lies in our species, not in our brave princess-like figure, battling the odds.

Research involved the estuary and 1700 kilometres upstream to Yichang, including Baiji's favoured habitat of Dongting Lake and Poyang Lake. The first large mammal to have been made extinct for 50 years, despite official efforts to help, has been entangled, electrocuted, cut by propellers and blasted by construction work. Parasites even joined in the aggravation, while fragmentation of the small groups means that even if one or two are left unknown in a backwater, they would never be able to meet each other.

The geography of the Yangste kiang. Nanjing University is in the second most northerly city. Yichang is in the far west with the coast to the east. The dots indicate baiji distribution by 1980s inferred from survey data (1979-1981) by Zhou; the squares indicate the remnant habitat of the baiji inferred from 1997 survey data by Zhang et al

The geography of the Yangste kiang. Nanjing University is in the second most northerly city. Yichang is in the far west with the coast to the east. The dots indicate baiji distribution by 1980s inferred from survey data (1979-1981) by Zhou; the squares indicate the remnant habitat of the baiji inferred from 1997 survey data by Zhang et al

Geography of the Yangste kiang. Nanjing University is in the second most northerly city. Yichang is in the far west with the coast to the east. The dots indicate baiji distribution by 1980s inferred from survey data (1979-1981) by Zhou; the squares indicate the remnant habitat of the baiji inferred from 1997 survey data by Zhang et al.. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0030423.g001; Credit: PLoS ONE

The pathogenic effect of the parasites or other disease may well have caused the variation, as the species battled to survive. On the other hand, thinking negative, there are some endangered species on islands that exhibit variation in similar alleles, but a lack of neutral variation. Other authors have found that there was no contraction in range as the baiji declined in population. This again indicates the fragmentation of the tiny numbers available to breed back and produce more calves. Only one was normally born every two years.

Functional extinction, as they describe her fate, for the princess seems pretty much like the real thing. Those among us who are a sucker for a happy ending are in for a disappointment - unless...

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]]> http://www.earthtimes.org/nature/baiji-river-dolphin-demise/1768/ nature Thu, 19 Jan 2012 08:38:51 GMT http://www.earthtimes.org/nature/baiji-river-dolphin-demise/1768/ Two new species of frog discovered, one the smallest vertebrate yet
A. X-ray of Paedophryne amauensis. B. X-ray of P. swiftorum. C,E,G,I. Photos of cleared and double-stained paratype of P. amauensis. Whole body. E. Head. G. Hand. I. Foot. D,F,H,J. Photos of cleared and double-stained paratype of P. swiftorum . D. Whole body. F. Head. H. Hand. J. Foot. Skeletal elements labelled as follows: Fp, frontoparietal; Il, illium; Mc1-4, metacarpals 1-4; Mt1-5, metatarsals 1-5; Mx, maxilla; N, nasal; S, Sacrum; Sp, sphenethemoid; Sq, squamosal; U, urostyle; V1, first presacral vertebra; V7, seventh presacral vertebra - Credit: PLoS ONE

Eric Rittmeier et al in the Journal PLoS ONE have given us something new and beautiful. The Paedophryne genus has four of the ten smallest creatures on four legs. You might say one small step for Paedophryne is a giant step for the evolution of the tiniest vertebrate footprints anywhere. Eric and Chris Austin of Louisiana State University and their collaborators from Bishop Museum, Hawaii and Cornell University have the pleasure of announcing these two new species of frog, one being the smallest vertebrate yet!

Scientists have discovered small is beautiful in the incredible nanotechnology we (can't) see around us in computers, robotics and elsewhere. The frog order discovered millions of years ago, eleven times over, that you can achieve the most minute adaptations and still function. The smallest reptile is inevitably a gecko, Spherodactylus ariasae, which clocks in at 16.3mm. The smallest fish Paedocypris progenetica (a little carp) at 7.9-10.3mm is now undercut by the 7.0-8.0mm of Paedophryne amanuensis. Rittmeier et al's other discovery, P. Swiftorum is of course a relative giant (8.25-8.9mm). Yes, you're talking baby's fingernail size (You certainly need a coin smaller than that dime)

Two new species of frog discovered, one the smallest vertebrate yet

Two new species of frog discovered, one the smallest vertebrate yet

A. Photograph of paratype of Paedophryne swiftorum in life B. Waveform (upper right), power spectrum (lower left) and spectrogram (lower right) of a single call series consisting of four double notes of P. swiftorum .C. Type localities of the four species of Paedophryne. Blue: P. swiftorum; red: P. amauensis; yellow: P. kathismaphlox; purple: P. oyatabu. D. Photograph of P. amanuensis on U.S. dime (diameter 17.91 mm). E. Waveform (upper right), power spectrum (lower left) and spectrogram (lower right) of the first four notes of the call of P. amauensis - Credit: PLoS ONE

The moist leaf litter of a Papua New Guinea rain forest is a fantasy of species, large and small. Interestingly most tiny frog species inhabit this kind of niche, world-wide with only two preferring the dense dampness of moss.There are nearly 500 species of bird there, including more parrot, pigeon and kingfisher species than anywhere else. There are 260 reptile species, including 13 turtles around 500 species of butterflies, 250 known mammals and critically, 200 frogs. That is without those incredible plants that form the actual environment, naturally! This particular miniatuarised frog has reduced digit size and reduced skull bones as is normal with such dwarfing for the vertebrate anatomy. All Paedophryne also show the sacrum reduced by having one fewer vertebrae.

Reduction in fecundity and increase in egg size is also normal in frog miniatures. Most of the 29 smallest lack a tadpole, which means they have to develop directly into the typical anuran shape. It's possible that direct development helps the evolution of small species, as there are larger direct developers in each of these frog groups. Water loss is vital at such a size , just as cold is to the small in volume. Because the temperate forests always have a dry season, this could explain why only permanently soggy tropical forests maintain habitats for tiny frogs. Predation by invertebrates could keep them from more aquatic habitats. Similarly, upland regions that favour our miniature frog spp. tend to have fewer invertebrate spp than low-lying regions.

The unique genus of Paedophryne has been diverging in New Guinea since their microhylid group began "radiating." This has created a schism between two halves of the genus. The two new discoveries are apparently common in their separate mountain habitats in east-central New Guinea. The researchers mainly gauge this by the frequency of their insect-like calls all day long in the forest. They live only 50cm apart for territorial reasons and will therefore significantly account for predation (very small invertebrates such as springtails) and as prey (not much larger invertebrates and vertebrates). The richness of the islands' jungle has bemused for many generations. Now we are still discovering common new plants and animals, as the mining , agricultural and industrial giants assume a sinister place in the shadows.

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Published on The Earth Times

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