"Genetic Evidence that Humans Have Pushed Orang-utans to the Brink of Extinction"

Source article - Goossens B, Chikhi L, Ancrenaz M, Lackman-Ancrenaz I, Andau P, et al., 2006. Genetic Signature of Anthropogenic Population Collapse in Orang-utans. PLoS Biol, 4(2): e25.

Excerpt of abstract - ... Using the largest-ever genetic sample from wild orang-utan populations, we show strong evidence for a recent demographic collapse in North Eastern Borneo and demonstrate that this signature is independent of the mutation and demographic models used.

This is the first demonstration that genetic data can detect and quantify the effect of recent, human-induced deforestation and habitat fragmentation on an endangered

species. Because current demographic collapses are usually confounded by ancient events, this suggests a much more dramatic decline than demographic data alone and emphasises the need for major conservation efforts.

Synopsis article - Gross L., 2006. Genetic Evidence that Humans Have Pushed Orang-utans to the Brink of Extinction. PLoS Biol 4(2): e57.

Smallest fish in the world, Paedocypris progenetica

20060127-Paedocypris_progenetica-live.jpg
Originally uploaded by habitatnews.

Raffles Museum News blog carries the stories - link.

Chimpanzee behaviour research blog

Alexander Georgiev and colleagues are producing a blog from the Department of Anthropology at Harvard. He writes:

"Currently we've got one of our post-docs in the field in Kibale Forest, Uganda and while there he's writing a blog with news on what he's up to.

Trying to make this broadly educational, we've also got some stuff on the chimps that are studied there - the Kanyawara community. Lots of cool photos, too.The site will be undergoing major changes in the next months so I wanted to get feedback from people: any comments and suggestions would be great.

Do you like the blog as it is? What is it that you'd like to get more info on in particular? Do you think having this kind of 'personal touch' from researchers in the field might be useful in helping students to feel more engaged in the study of animal behaviour in general and chimps in particular? Yes/no - why?

Looking forward to any constructive criticism." - georgiev AT fas.harvard.edu

Link

Comeback of the green turtles

Something good to start the year with - Green turtles (Chelonia mydas populations in Ascension island has tripled since the 1970s and now there are some 11000 to 15000 turtles with numbers rising exponentially, say studies by marine biologist Annette Broderick of Exeter University, U.K.

'Jeff Seminoff, an ecologist who chairs the IUCN's green turtle task force says, "By maintaining the globally endangered status [for all turtles], you can lose focus on the critically endangered populations."

See "Green Turtles Make a Comeback." By John Whitfield. ScienceNOW Daily News, 20 Jan 2006.

Photo credit: Science online

"Thai Rice Field Yields Treasure Trove of Mammal Fossils"

"Thai Rice Field Yields Treasure Trove of Mammal Fossils." By Stefan Lovgren. National Geographic News, 03 Jan 2006.

Excerpts - "The fossil belonged to a stegodon, a prehistoric elephant-like animal that was once common in the region. The scientists soon began unearthing a treasure trove of fossils: skulls of a gavial (a crocodile-like reptile) and a spotted hyena, deer antlers, and a buffalo horn.

"I've never seen such a community of large mammals in one excavation," said Yaowalak [Yaowalak Chaimanee], who has since been studying the remains.

"During the cold periods of the Middle Pleistocene era [1.8 million years ago to 11,500 years ago], mammalian communities shifted southwards in Asia in a similar way to Europe and North America," Jaeger said.

As the climate changed and the forested area turned into floodplains, the animal species may have gone extinct."

But it was the location of the finding—a rice field—was what really intrigued her. Most important fossils in Thailand have been found in caves."

'Researchers may have to broaden their ongoing search for Homo erectus in Thailand beyond caves.'

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