Biological Conservation Newsletter
No. 104
December 1991
Editor: Jane Villa-Lobos
NATIONAL ZOO'S NEW GENETICS LABORATORY
On November 14, 1991 the Smithsonian Institution's National Zoo opened its new molecular genetics laboratory which will aid the Zoo's efforts to save endangered animals and to help scientists understand complex aspects of evolutionary biology. The molecular genetics laboratory will be used to help resolve problems like selecting the best individuals for mating from severely depleted animal populations. Increasingly, populations of endangered species are reduced to a few individuals before zoos and other conservation organizations can initiate carefully managed breeding programs to save them from extinction. With so few potential mates available for breeding, it is vital for zoologists to understand a species' genetics and, especially how closely individuals are related so that pairs can be established based on their potential for producing healthy, non-inbred offspring. The same careful evaluations must be made when selecting zoo-born animals of an endangered species for reintroduction into nature. With the molecular genetics lab, such analyses will be possible, even if an animal's pedigree is unknown.
At the lab scientists can also look at the genetics of individual endangered animals that died hundreds of years ago, by taking DNA-bearing tissue from preserved museum specimens and studying it in the lab. By employing newly developed techniques of DNA amplification, genes of animals that lived in the distant past can be compared to those of animals living today. These studies will provide useful information to conservation biologists on the amount of genetic diversity that has been lost by an endangered species population. Also, studies of the tissues of extinct animals preserved at museums and comparisons with living, related species may shed light on the process and rate at which new species develop.
Another function of the molecular genetics laboratory will be to train graduate students and post-doctoral level biologists in the techniques of molecular biology research.
A SUMMIT-MEETING FOR CITES AND PLANTS
By Bruce MacBryde
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) will have its 8th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (now 112 member nations) on 2-13 March 1992 in Kyoto, Japan. For plants, several comprehensive or profound topics and potential listings are on the agenda.
Among the draft resolutions for decision in Kyoto are: 1) revising the criteria for inclusion of species (fauna and flora) in CITES Appendices I and II; 2) detailing the administrative responsibilities of CITES Scientific Authorities; 3) a less strict definition of artificial propagation; 4) adopting rigorous criteria to begin registration of those nurseries that qualify in the artificial propagation of particular Appendix I taxa; 5) a possible means to exclude regulation of artificially propagated, flasked seedlings of Appendix I orchid species; and 6) initiating preparation of a complete checklist of Orchidaceae with the genera (approx. 4,000 species) most in trade. Also the Parties will select the six members for the CITES Plants Committee, which will elect a chairman and vice-chairman.
Eleven countries have proposed amendments to CITES appendices for plants. Most pivotal are several proposals to include well-known tropical timber species: Dalbergia nigra (Brazil), Gonystylus bancanus (Indomalesia), Guaiacum officinale (N. South America & Caribbean), Intsia (tropic Asia), Pericopsis elata (tropic W. Africa), Schinopsis (S. South America), and Swietenia (2 ssp.) (Caribbean, tropic America). Other notable proposals would add the first bromeliads (Tillandsia) to CITES and the Venus flytrap (Dionaea). Twelve plants are proposed for delisting. Eight are neotropical trees: Batocarpus costaricensis, Caryocar costaricense, Cynometra hemitomophylla, Oreomunnea pterocarpa, Platymiscium pleiostachyum, Quercus copeyensis, Tachigali versicolor, and Vantanea barbourii. Three occur in the Philippines: Alocasia sanderiana, Areca ipot, and Hedychium philippinense; and Didiciea cunninghamii is from the Himalayas. Another concern is the need for stronger export-import controls, shown in several proposals to uplist some genera or species of cacti: Ariocarpus (3 species, Mexico-US), Discocactus (Brazil-Bolivia), Melocactus (Brazil), Turbinicarpus (14 taxa in Mexico), and Uebelmannia (Brazil).
To provide or obtain information, contact: Bruce MacBryde, Office of Scientific Authority, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 725 Arlington Square Bldg., Washington, DC 20240. Tel: (703) 358- 1708; Fax: (703) 358-2276.
FUTURE MEETINGS
January 24-25, 1992. "Tropical Forest Medical Resources and the Conservation of Biodiversity", a symposium organized by the Rainforest Alliance in collaboration with the New York Botanical Garden's Institute of Economic Botany, will be held at Rockefeller University. Representatives from the pharmaceutical industry, conservation groups and the medical community will be participating. For fee and registration information, contact: Sarah Laird, Rainforest Alliance, 270 Lafayette Street, Suite 512, New York, New York 10012; Tel: (212) 941-1900; Fax: (212) 941-4986.
CURRENT LITERATURE
Anon. 1991. Conservation International launches program in
the Maya heartland. Tropicus 5(3): 3. (Peten, Guatemala)
Anon. 1991. Last wilderness in the Philippines under threat.
Tropicus 5(3): 1, 6. (Palanan wilderness of northern
Luzon)
Abensperg-Traun, M. 1991. Survival strategies of the Echidna
Tachyglossus aculeatus Shaw 1792 (Monotremata:
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Anderson, B. 1991. The swamp bear's last stand. Nature
Conservancy 41(5): 16-21. (Louisiana's rare black bear)
Baskin, J. and Baskin, C. 1991. An eight-year greenhouse
germination study of the Cedar Glade endemic Onosmodium molle
subsp. molle. Nat. Areas J. 11(4): 190-192.
(Seed-banking rare plants)
Beissinger, S. and Snyder, N. (eds.) 1991. New World
Parrots in Crisis. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington,
D.C. 256 pp.
Booth, W. 1991. Vast change predicted for America's forests.
Washington Post November 1: A4. (Effects of global
warming)
Borota, J. 1991. Tropical Forests. Some African and Asian
Case Studies of Composition and Structure. Developments in
Agricultural and Managed-Forest Ecology 22. Elsevier Science
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Buchele, D. et al. 1991. Ecology of the endangered
species Solidago shortii. III. Seed germination ecology.
Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 118(3): 288-291.
Buchele, D. et al. 1991. Ecology of the endangered
species Solidago shortii II. Ecological life cycle.
Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 118(3): 281-287.
Buck, S. 1991. Understanding Environmental Administration
and Law. Island Press, Covelo, California. 225 pp.
Campbell, W. 1991. Mbaracayu rescue. Nature Conservancy
41(5): 6. (Purchase of 143,000 acres in eastern Paraguay
saves forest)
Casado, S. and Montes, C. 1991. Estado de conservacion de
los humedales peninsulares espanoles. Quercus 66: 18-26.
(Spain)
Cash, C. 1991. The Slipper Orchids. Timber Press,
Portland, Oregon. 228 pp. (Conservation status listed)
Cereza, J. 1991. El reino de las canones. El nuevo Parque
Nacional de la Sierra y Canones de Guara. Quercus 66: 27-
33. (Spain)
Ciesla, W. 1991. Cypress aphid: a new threat to Africa's
forests. Unasylva 42(167): 51-55.
Conner, R. and Rudolph, D. 1991. Forest habitat loss,
fragmentation, and red-cockaded woodpecker populations. Wilson
Bull. 103(3): 446-457. (Texas)
Cowling, R. and Bond, W. 1991. How small can reserves be? An
empirical approach in Cape Fynbos, South Africa. Biol.
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Dean, W., Milton, S., Watkeys, M. and Hockey, P. 1991.
Distribution, habitat preference and conservation status of the
red lark Certhilauda burra in Cape Province, South Africa.
Biol. Conservation 58(3): 257-274.
Dickinson, R. 1991. A commentary on: probable impact of
deforestation on hydrological processes. Climatic Change
19(1-2): 175-176.
Dobson, A. and Absher, R. 1991. How to pay for tropical rain
forests. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 6(11): 348-351.
(Economic plants, ecotourism)
Donnelly, M. 1991. Cuba opens doors to sea turtle
biologists. Marine Conservation News 3(4): 7.
Eldredge, M. 1991. Sanctuary status may not be enough to
protect Flower Garden Banks. Marine Conservation News
3(4): 13. (Coral reefs off coast of Texas)
Fabregat, C. and Mateo, G. 1991. Valores botanicos de la
Sierra de Javalambre. Quercus 67: 30-35. (Endemism, Spain)
Facklam, H. and Flacklam, M. 1991. Plants, Extinction or
Survival? Enslow Publishers, Inc., Hillside, New Jersey. 96
pp.
Gash, J. and Shuttleworth, W. 1991. Tropical deforestation:
albedo and the surface-energy balance. Climatic Change
19(1-2): 123-134.
George, S. and Wayne, R. 1991. Island foxes: a model for
conservation genetics. Terra 30(1): 18-27. (Santa Cruz
Island, California)
Greller, A. et al. 1991. A vascular flora of the
forested portion of Cunningham Park, Queens County, New York:
Corrections and additions - III. Bull. Torrey Bot. Club
118(3): 330-332. (List of plants under New York State
Conservation Law)
Harvey, L. 1991. A commentary on: tropical deforestation and
atmospheric carbon dioxide. Climatic Change 19(1-2): 119-
122.
Henderson, A. and Balick, M. 1991. Attalea
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43(3): 189-194.
Henderson-Sellers, A. 1991. A commentary on: tropical
deforestation: albedo and the surface-energy balance. Climatic
Change 19(1-2): 135-138.
Hooper, R., Krusac, D. and Carlson, D. 1991. An increase in
a population of red-cockaded woodpeckers. Wildlife Soc. Bull.
19(3): 277-286. (South Carolina)
Houghton, R. 1991. Tropical deforestation and atmospheric
carbon dioxide. Climatic Change 19(1-2): 99-118.
Hubbuch, C. 1991. Lightning strikes rare cycads.
Fairchild Trop. Gard. Bull. 46(4): 35. (Microcycas
calocoma, growing at Fairchild Tropical Garden)
Hubbuch, C. 1991. Palm diversity in cultivation: a question
of conservation. Fairchild Tropical Garden Bull. 46(2):
22-28.
Hudson, W. (ed.) 1991. Landscape Linkages and
Biodiversity. Island Press, Covelo, California. 224 pp.
Johnson, S. 1991. The occurrence of state rare species on
Hog Island in the Virginia Coast Reserve. Bull. Torrey Bot.
Club 118(3): 326-328. (Plants)
Keller, M., Jacob, D., Wofsy, S. and Harriss, R. 1991.
Effects of tropical deforestation on global and regional
atmospheric chemistry. Climatic Change 19(1-2): 139-158.
Klein, W., Jr. 1991. Rare and endangered botanists.
Fairchild Trop. Gard. Bull. 46(4): 4-5. (Puerto
Rico/Virgin Islands Endangered Plant Task Force meeting, Center
for Plant Conservation)
Lanier-Graham, S. 1991. The Nature Directory: A Guide to
Environmental Organizations. Walker and Co., New York, New
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Mackie, C. 1991. Forest-gatherers of the Kenyah Dayak.
Tropicus 5(3): 5. (Indonesia)
Marland, G. 1991. A commentary on: tropical forests and the
greenhouse effect: a management response. Climatic Change
19 (1-2): 227-232.
Marquez, C., Morillo, G. and Cayot, L. 1991. A 25-year
management program pays off: repatriated tortoises on Espanola
reproduce. Noticias de Galapagos 50: 17-18. (Ecuador)
Martin, C. 1991. The Rainforests of West Africa: Ecology-
Threats-Conservation. Birkhauser, New York, New York.
McFall, D. (ed.) 1991. A Directory of Illinois Nature
Preserves. Illinois Department of Conservation, Springfield,
Illinois. 382 pp.
Medellin, R. 1991. The Selva Lacandona: an overview.
Tropical Conservation & Development Program Newsletter 24:
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Meher-Homji, V. 1991. Probable impact of deforestation on
hydrological processes. Climatic Change 19(1-2): 163-174.
Milan, V. 1991. Species in peril: the Philippine tamaraw.
Tropicus 5(3): 12. (Water buffalo)
Musokotwane, I. 1991. Is there a future for the teak forests
of Zambia? IUCN Forest Conservation Programme Newsletter
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Myers, N. 1991. Tropical forests: present status and future
outlook. Climatic Change 19(1-2): 3-32.
Myers, N. and Goreau, T. 1991. Tropical forests and the
greenhouse effect: a management response. Climatic Change
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Organization of American States. 1990. Economic Biology
of Underutilized Tropical Plants. Regional Scientific &
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Palmer, T. 1991. The final act? Buzzworm 3(6): 31-36.
(Future of the Endangered Species Act)
Patterson, K. 1991. NOAA considers marine sanctuary in
Hawaii. Marine Conservation News 3(4): 15. (Kahoolawe
Island)
Patterson, K. 1991. Washington sanctuary plan fails to
protect key areas. Marine Conservation News 3(4): 10-11.
(Washington Outer Coast National Marine Sanctuary)
Pearce, F. 1991. Indonesia prepares to pulp itself. BBC
Wildlife 9(10): 666-667. (World's largest exporter of paper &
wood pulp)
Peters, R. and Lovejoy, T. (eds.) 1991. Global Warming
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Connecticut. 552 pp.
Pickart, A. 1991. The evolution of a rare plant monitoring
program: a case study at the Lanphere-Christensen Dunes preserve.
Nat. Areas J. 11(4): 187-189. (Menzies' wallflower,
California)
Poole, C. 1991. The gift of a no-man's-land. BBC Wildlife
9(9): 636-643. (Demilitarized Zone, South Korea)
Prance, G. 1991. A commentary on: tropical forests: present
status and future outlook. Climatic Change 19(1-2): 33-36.
Quinn, N. 1991. This creature of habit is running out of
habitat. Nature Canada 20(4): 21-25. (Wood turtle,
threatened)
Reading, R., Clark, T. and Kellert, S. 1991. Towards an
endangered species reintroduction program. Endangered Species
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Rome, A. 1991. Protecting natural areas through the planning
process: the Chesapeake Bay example. Nat. Areas J. 11(4):
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Rosenberg, N. 1991. A commentary on: deforestation, climate
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Climatic Change 19(1-2): 211-214.
Rowley, G. 1991. Saphesia flaccida: here today, gone
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South Africa)
Rowntree, P. and Lean, J. 1991. A commentary on: possible
climatic impacts of tropical deforestation. Climatic Change
19(1-2): 197-200.
Rudolph, C. and Conner, R. 1991. Cavity tree selection by
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Salati, E. and Nobre, C. 1991. Possible climatic impacts of
tropical deforestation. Climatic Change 19(1-2): 177-196.
Shaw, T. 1991. Rain forest reprieve. Washington Post
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to ecologically correct woods)
Shevock, J. and Allen, G. 1991. A new variety of
Erythronium citrinum (Liliaceae) from the Scott Mountains
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localized endemic)
Simberloff, D. and Boecklen, W. 1991. Patterns of extinction
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Climatic Change 19(1-2): 201-210.
Skow, J. 1991. Everything looks different when you are up in
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environmental air force)
Spence, J. 1991. Notes on cryptogamic plants of Utah: range
extensions and species new to the state from Capitol Reef
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(Rare and endangered plants)
Stolzenburg, W. 1991. Treasures of the Sierra Nevada.
Nature Conservancy 41(5): 8-15. (Sierra Nevada de Santa
Marta, Colombia)
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Viejo, J. and Lopez Munguira, M. 1991. Conservacion de las
mariposas espanolas. Quercus 67: 16-29. (Spain)
Vincent, M. 1991. Trifolium reflexum L. (buffalo
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Michigan Botanist 30(2): 65-68.
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of tropical deforestation on global and regional atmospheric
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Wake, W. 1991. Species in danger. Nature Canada
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Warwick, C. 1991. Tender-age moribund endangered terrapins.
BBC Wildlife 9(9): 630-632. (Red-eared terrapin)
Wiser, S. 1991. Two North Carolina locations for
Calamagrostis cainii Hitch., previously considered endemic
to Mt. LeConte, Tennessee. Castanea 56(2): 147-149. (Very
rare)
Wolbarst, A. (ed.) 1991. Environment In Peril.
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Young, N. 1991. Species in peril: Chinese river dolphin.
Marine Conservation News 3(4): 3.
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