We compiled Red List data from all listed cycad taxa to determine the current status of the world's most threatened plant group. Each Red List threat category had different proportions of genera, and the genera comprised different proportions of threat categories. Each Red List threat category consisted of different proportions of Red List criteria. Each genus was composed of different proportions of Red List criteria, and every genus was represented by different proportions of listed versus non-listed species. Differences among the genera and categories were substantial, revealing no canonical characteristics that define the members of this plant group. Species that are missing from the Red List or Data Deficient deserve high priority for completion of assessment and listing. Cycas is the genus that may change the most as taxonomy and Red List threat assessments continue to be modified. Distinctive overviews of the Red List data such as this one provide a unique snapshot of the conservation status of the world's cycads, and should be repeated as trends evolve.
Chilades pandava (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) larval food quality was studied to determine its influence on adult life history traits. A wild population from Cycas nongnoochiae (Cycadales: Cycadaceae) endemic habitat behaved similarly to the population collected from a garden setting. Cycas micronesica, Cycas revoluta, and Cycas seemannii leaves were used as high-quality food, whereas C nongnoochiae, Cycas taitungensis, and Cycas condaoensis leaves were used as low-quality food. The daily oviposition rate was not influenced by food quality, but longevity and lifetime fecundity of females were increased by high-quality larval food. These results indicate that in situ Cycas species impose a physiological constraint on the genetic capacity to produce offspring by C pandava. The removal of that constraint by high-quality novel Cycas species may be one reason this butterfly can increase in population rapidly after an invasion event and express greater herbivory of Cycas species within invaded regions.
The scale predator Rhyzobius lophanthae Blaisdell was introduced to Guam and Rota to control invasive Aulacaspis yasumatsui Takagi armored scale infestations on the native Cycas micronesica K.D. Hill populations. The predator demonstrated a clear preference for A. yasumatsui infesting adult plants, resulting in 100% seedling mortality due to the lack of a biocontrol of the scale on seedlings. A Y-tube olfactometer was employed to determine if scale-infested seedling leaves were less attractive to R. lophanthae than scale-infested mature tree leaves. Five paired combinations of seedling versus mature tree leaves were used. The R. lophanthae adults navigated toward scale-infested and un-infested leaves of adults and seedlings when paired with an empty chamber. However, a clear preference for adult leaves occurred when paired with seedling leaves. The results were unambiguous in charcoal-filtered air, intermediate in unfiltered air from an open laboratory, and most ambiguous when conducted with unfiltered in-situ air. The number of predators that did not make a choice was greatest for in-situ air and least for charcoal-filtered air. These results indicated that the substrate used in olfactometry influenced the results, and interpretations of charcoal-filtered air assays should be made with caution. Volatile chemical cues are involved in R. lophanthae preferring A. yasumatsui located on C. micronesica adults when infested adult and seedling leaves are present.
The Palawan Pangolin Manis culionensis is restricted to the Palawan faunal region in the Philippines. The species’ distribution and natural history are poorly known due, in part, to it only recently being recognized as a distinct species. Pangolin species around the world are threatened due to habitat loss and the illegal wildlife trade. Understanding the conservation requirements of the Palawan Pangolin will inform efforts to avert its extinction. Presently, information on the status, distribution, and natural history of pangolins is largely derived from interviews with local people, radio-telemetry, transect surveys for pangolin sign, and camera trapping. Here we test the ability of fish oil- and pig blood-baited camera traps to document the presence of Palawan Pangolin. We obtained three photos at two localities in Palawan in mangrove, lowland forest, and riverine forest.
Within a few years the monkeys and apes may replace the seals as the mammalian group in which the natural systems of social organization have been best studied. The combined effort of anthropologists, psychologists, and zoologists, which stems in part from demands made by the health-oriented sciences for better information, has instigated a wide range of field studies of primates. It is remarkable that the most careful and thorough study already completed, which will serve as a model for others, is concerned with such an elusive and hitherto mysterious animal as the gorilla. Early in 1959 John T. Emlen and George B. Schaller arrived in Africa to undertake intensive study of this species. After 6 months during which they surveyed extensive areas in the Congo, Ruanda-Urundi, and Uganda, Emlen returned to Wisconsin, but Schaller and his wife remained for rather more than a year. In the Congo the Schallers made detailed observations of several groups which altogether comprised about 200 animals. The results of this study, meticulously documented and beautifully illustrated, have been assembled in Schaller's book, The Mountain Gorilla (University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 1963. 449 pp. $10).By allowing the animals to become accustomed to his presence gradually, Schaller was able to observe groups for long periods of time with very little disturbance. Gorillas are primarily terrestrial and quadrupedal, and they live in bands which vary somewhat in size and composition. In one well-studied area the mean group size was 17 animals, with. an average of 1.7 mature males (characterized by the silver back or saddle), 1.5 subadult males (black backs), 6.2 females, 2.9 juveniles, and 4.6 infants. The groups were fairly stable over periods of many months and foraged through a home range of about 10 to 15 square miles. They are vegetarian and eat a wide variety of 7 JUNE 1963
Host and non-host plant species communicate with insect herbivores to influence oviposition decisions. We studied if Chilades pandava female adults expressed oviposition preferences among host Cycas species in 2 choice tests, counting 39,420 eggs among assays from 4 butterfly populations. A naïve butterfly population from Cycas nongnoochiae habitat oviposited 2.2-fold more eggs on leaves of Cycas species that are susceptible to butterfly herbivory than on leaves of its native host Cycas nongnoochiae. In contrast, Chilades pandava populations experienced with novel Cycas species in Thailand, Philippines, and Guam exhibited no preference in choice tests between leaves of susceptible versus leaves of minimally damaged Cycas species. The results indicated that oviposition deterrents and/or stimulants partly mediate the sustainable relationship between an endemic Cycas species and the naïve Chilades pandava population from its habitat. Alternatively, differences in infochemicals among Cycas species do not enable discrimination in oviposition choices for Chilades pandava populations that have experienced Cycas species exhibiting no evolutionary history with Chilades pandava.
A camera trap survey was conducted in the recently protected Cleopatra’s Needle Critical Habitat (CNCH) in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines from February to May 2015 at 39 camera trap sites. A bait of common pig’s blood was used at 36 sites, while the three remaining sites were surveyed without a bait and monitored a stream with a latrine site or mud bath with tracks. Seven native species were detected and three of these species were endemic to the island province. Species included: Common Palm Civet Paradoxurus philippinensis, Palawan Porcupine Hystrix pumila, Collared Mongoose Urva semitorquata, Palawan Stink Badger Mydaus marchei, Palawan Leopard Cat Prionailurus bengalensis heaneyi, Asian Small-clawed Otter Aonyx cinereus, and Malay Civet Viverra tangalunga. Analysis of the activity patterns of the three most commonly captured species revealed predominantly nocturnal activity for the Common Palm Civet, Palawan Porcupine, and Palawan Stink Badger. The Philippine Palm Civet showed occasional diurnal activity. The seven photo-captured species appeared most common, or were at the least recorded, below 750m. Five species (the Philippine Palm Civet, Palawan Porcupine, Collared Mongoose, Palawan Stink Badger, and Palawan Leopard Cat) were also recorded above 1000m. The CNCH supports two threatened species, the Palawan Porcupine and the Asian Small-clawed Otter, which are listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN, and the Collared Mongoose is listed as Near Threatened. The Palawan Leopard Cat is considered Vulnerable within the Philippines, although it has yet to be assessed by the IUCN. This documentation highlights the biodiversity significance within the newly protected critical habitat and the need to support ongoing conservation efforts within the critical habitat.
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