Genealogy of scaly reptiles rewritten

Comprehensive analysis of the genetic relationships among all the major groups of snakes, lizards, and other scaly reptiles has resulted in a radical reorganisation of the family tree of these animals. The analysis was done by two biologists working at Penn State University: S. Blair Hedges, professor of biology, and Nicolas Vidal, a postdoctoral fellow in Hedges' research group (Now curator at the National Museum in Paris). The old tree is based primarily on morphology. The new tree is based exclusively on comparisons of the molecular structure of the animals' genes. Because the current tree has been widely accepted for nearly a century, there will be a delay of few years before the general scientific community gets used to the new tree. The research is reported in the current issue of the journal C. R. Biologies

IV World Congress on Mountain Ungulates,Guidelines for the Submission of Abstracts and Presentation of Posters

IV World Congress on Mountain Ungulates,
12-15 September, 2006, Munnar, Kerala, India


Guidelines to Authors for the Submission of Abstracts

The Conference Organizers wish to make the compilation and printing of Abstracts of the IV World Congress on Mountain Ungulates, a valuable substitute until the papers are published in Journals. Therefore, we request all the authors to submit abstracts (500 - 600 words) for the papers/posters that they wish to present at this Congress. The abstracts should be submitted by email to Dr. A.J.T.Johnsingh, ajtjohnsingh@ncf-india.org, Dr. S. Sathyakumar, ssk@wii.gov.in and Mr. Mohan Alembath, alembath@gmail.com

The following format be used for the abstract submission.

Font type: Times New Roman, Font size: 12 pt, Length: 500 – 600 words

Category: Oral Presentation / Poster Presentation

Title: Should be precise and not exceed 15 words (in UPPER CASE)

Name(s) of Author(s) & Affiliation including Email

Abstract: 500 - 600 words in 1.5 line spacing (to include a brief introduction to the study, species studied, study area and study period, methodology, results, discussion, conclusions, and a maximum of five key references).
.

Key words: 5 to 7.

Last Date for submission of Abstract: 31 May 2006

Also provide information on the following in a separate page

Name(s) of Author(s) & Affiliation including Email

Mountain Ungulate Species studied: (give Common & Scientific names)

Geographical coordinates of the study area: In Degrees, Minutes, Seconds (For example 12o 34’ 56” N 65 o, 43’, 21” E)

Geographical location/addresses of the author(s): City/Town, State, Country (also give geographical coordinates)

The above information are for the Congress data base / website to give all of us an idea on the Mountain Ungulate Species studied, study area coverage in the world, and the geographic location/addresses of mountain ungulate biologists and managers.

Guidelines to Authors for the Presentation of Posters

The authors are requested to kindly follow the format specified below for the presentation of posters to ensure uniformity and save space.

Poster Size: 35” X 55” Poster orientation: Portrait ; Lamination: optional

Title: Should be precise and not exceed 15 words (in UPPER CASE)

Name(s) of Author(s) & Affiliation including Email

Photographs of the Mountain Ungulate Species Studied and the Presenter(s): The photo of presenter(s) will be useful so that delegates could recognize and contact him/her regarding the poster during the time of congress.

Poster Content: Introduction to the study, species, study area and study period, methodology, results, discussion, conclusions, a maximum of five key references and acknowledgements. Please include a map of the study area, tables, figures and photos wherever necessary. Text Font Minimum Size 28 point, so that the poster is readable from a distance of at least 1.5 m from the panel.

Additional space that would be available below your poster on the panel could be used for displaying any exhibit (such as samples brought from the field, additional photographs, a folder containing the displayed poster in A4 size and business cards of authors for delegates to see/collect).

Time for putting up and removal of posters will be intimated to all delegates at the beginning of the Congress. Board Pins, Sticking Tapes, Scissors etc. will be provided at the venue by the Organizers.

UN General Assembly urges governments to protect endangered sea turtles and sea birds

A resolution adopted by consensus by the 191 nation General assembly on Monday, has urged governments to take urgent steps to protect endangered sea turtles and sea birds from an indiscriminate fishing technique. Large fishing vessels in the Pacific Ocean use a form of industrial fishing known as longline fishing, snaring millions of sea turtles and birds along with the fish they catch. One of the hardest-hit is the leatherback sea turtle. Scientists have issued warning that leatherback could disappear in the next five to 30 years unless fishing techniques are altered. The resolution also advocates closing some fishing areas on a seasonal or continuous basis

Rare snails successfully bred

London Zoo, in an attempt to save Bermudan land snail from extinction has successfully bred them in captivity. Less than 300 remain in free ranging state. A colony of 56 Bermudan land snails were flown to London Zoo in February after the native population fell to critically low levels. The programme was designed to establish a secure population away from their natural habitat.

Unravelling chemical signatures in Mammoth Tusks

Adam Rountrey, a graduate student in geology at the University of Michigan and his advisor, Daniel Fisherare are analysing the chemical signatures in mammoth tusks to understand the lives of the ancient elephant like creatures. Mammoths are related to African and Asian elephants and roamed vast stretches of North America and Eurasia until their extinction about 10,000 years ago. Mammoth tusks grow a little bit every day. Akin to using rings to reveal a tree's age, markings and chemical signatures in tusks help scientists to find out details like when a mammoth reached maturity and what it ate. The findings were presented recently at the annual meeting of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology in Mesa, Arizona.

'Life in the Undergrowth' - Sir David Attenbourough’s latest series

Sir David Attenbourough’s latest venture 'Life in the Undergrowth’ peeps in to the remarkable microscopic world of invertebrates. It is an incredible piece of cinematographic excellence. For every one of us, there are 200 million invertebrates. Microscopic world of butterflies, spiders, beetles, worms, and many other amazing creatures are presented in breathtaking details. Get to know fascinating facts like, how do insects fly? Why do cicadas spend so long underground? How do insects breathe underwater? and many more.

Boost for Central Asian Saiga Antelope Conservation

The 8th meeting of the conference of the Parties to the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), which concluded yesterday, has approved a Memorandum of Understanding for the conservation and management of the Saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica tatarica). The agreement and action plan were ratified by Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan and formally signed byTurkmenistan’s Minister of Nature Protection, as well as by the Mongolian Minister of Environment, IUCN, the CMS Secretariat and WWF. Saiga antelope is now recognized as endangered by the IUCN (World Conservation Union). The MOU covers the Central Asian populations in Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Russia. Saiga, which numbered over one million, as recently as the early 1990s, has now been reduced to around 40,000.

Escaped salmon threaten wild Atlantic stocks

Saboteurs have slashed five cages in a salmon farm in New Brunswick, Canada and released thousands of farm-bred fish. This villainous act can jeopardise the few remaining wild Atlantic salmon in North America. This is a nightmarish situation. Farmed fish are bred for fast growth, but have lost many key genetic characteristics and usually do not survive at sea. This is spawning time for local wild salmon. Salmon hatch in rivers and streams, then spend one or two years in the ocean, returning to their native streams to spawn. Unlike Pacific salmon, Atlantic salmon do not die after spawning, but return annually for a number of years to spawn again.

Dolphin therapy for depression

University of Leicester researchers have found that Swimming with dolphins alleviate mild to moderate depression. All the volunteers who took part in the trial stopped taking antidepressant drugs or undergoing psychotherapy at least four weeks before the start of the experiment. The researchers say dolphins' aesthetic value, and the emotions raised by the interaction may be the factors inducing healing properties. Dolphin therapy is already used to help children undergoing rehabilitation for a range of conditions. This is a shot in the arm for pet assisted therapy. The study is published in the British Medical Journal.

Basking Shark, Henderson Petrel – Britain appeals for protection

Britain is pressing other Governments to give more protection to Basking Shark and Henderson Petrel listed as endangered by IUCN. Plankton-eating basking shark is the largest shark found in British waters. Meat and fins of Basking Shark are considered a delicacy in some countries. The fins of a single shark can fetch up to 20,000 pounds on the international market. Most of the world's Henderson petrels breed on the tiny, uninhabited Henderson Island, a British territory in the southern Pacific Ocean. Henderson petrel's decline is believed to be caused by predation by rats and overfishing. Britain believes only concerted action by international community can ensure the survival of these two species.

China plans Green Tax

China is planning a consumption tax for disposable chopsticks, plastic bags, diapers and other environmentally harmful goods starting next year. Chinese authorities say the move is aimed at bringing about an “environmentally friendly society.” Levying the tax is also intended to discourage consumers. However Chinese scholars also warned that it was difficult to identify products as disposable. The move follows the step of New Zealand, which will tax the emission of smoke and dust, and Sweden, which will levy a traffic congestion tax starting 2006.

Palm oil production without threatening tropical forests

Consumers of Palm Oil can now partake it with a clean conscience following acceptance by the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) — a group of producers, buyers, retailers, financial institutions and NGOs — on a set of criteria for the responsible production of palm oil. Bad practices in parts of the industry have brought about high ecological and social costs. WWF has urged the companies to implement these criteria as soon as possible to ensure the conservation of tropical forests that are valuable for both people and endangered species, such as elephants, tigers, and orang-utans. As sustainable palm oil production gains momentum, it will stop further destruction and save some of the world’s most biodiversity rich forests. WWF initiated Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) in co-operation with business partners in 2003.

Submarine sonars threatens Dolphin and Whale Survival

A new report brought out by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) says the use of powerful submarine sonar is harming the ability of some 71 types of cetaceans - whales, dolphins and porpoises - to communicate, navigate and hunt. These low frequency sounds travel vast distances, hundreds if not thousands of kilometres from the source. Species like the Beluga whale, Blanville's beaked whale and the Goosebeak whale are seriously at risk

Wolf hunting – Environmentalists slam Swiss Government

The Swiss proposal to allow hunting of wolves has come in for criticism from environmentalists. Swiss officials argue that the wolf population presents a threat to local communities in mountain areas. The proposal was packaged as a measure for ameliorating the conflict with mountain farming. Taking up the cudgel, WWF said the proposal was "unacceptable and irresponsible, and any culling in the Alps would be a disaster for the wolf population there." Wolves were driven to extinction throughout most of Western Europe by the beginning of the last century. Dedicated conservation efforts have seen the animals returning to the European Alps from Italy’s Apennine Mountains. WWF does not agree that the wolf population in Switzerland constitutes a threat to local communities, and says there is no legitimate reason to decrease the wolf’s protected status.

Major Tiger Poaching Ring busted

Four poachers responsible for killing at least 10 tigers have been nabbed near Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan. The police are hot on the heels of those who received these tigers and those who smuggled them. Police officials said that it is quite possible that these arrested poachers were responsible for more killings. Detailed investigations are on.Environmentalists have urged the Government to carry forward the investigations on a war footing.

EU Tightens Rules to Protect Baltic Cod and Herring

Baltic Cod and Herring are under threat due to over fishing. On Tuesday EU fisheries ministers agreed to streamline rules for trawling in the Baltic. This move augurs well for the Cod and Herring. Cuts to annual fishing quotas are in the offing. Minimum sizes for catches will be stipulated. Driftnets will be outlawed across the Baltic from 2008.

France makes major commitment to international conservation

France and the World Conservation Union (IUCN) has signed a four-year framework agreement on conservation. From 2005 to 2008, France will provide support to a shared programme of work totalling 8.3 million Euros, promoting conservation mainly in the francophone world. The agreement will strengthen IUCN’s work supporting the implementation of multilateral environmental agreements. It will also support the development of the IUCN biodiversity conservation programmes in Oceania, the Caribbean and the European Overseas Territories.

UK calls for action to save rare birds of prey

At the eighth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Migratory Species, which is taking place in Nairobi, Kenya, UK has urged world governments to sign up an agreement that would protect migratory birds of prey and owls. Many of these inter-continental migrants face major threats, such as shooting, poisoning, illegal trade or loss of habitat, somewhere in their migratory range within Africa / Eurasia. Research carried out by Nature Bureau published in September this year, found that more than half of the 60 species of migratory birds of prey found in Africa and Eurasia are threatened, with extinction. The UK has proposed an inter-governmental conference to carry forward the proposals.

A dozen West African countries to sign UN treaty on protection of elephants

A dozen West African countries are scheduled to sign a treaty on protection of elephants at a United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) meeting in Kenya's capital, Nairobi. Elephant population in West Africa has plummeted to around 5,000 and 13,000 in recent years. Setting up wildlife "corridors" and many other measures, including cross-border co-operation better equipment for staff is on the agenda. Scientific activities in the elephants' migratory range will be co-ordinated closely. Benefits to local communities will also be ensured.

Chile - Pulp mill devastates black-necked swan sanctuary

In what appears to be an environmental catastrophe, a recently opened pulp mill in Chile has devastated Carlos Anwandter Nature Sanctuary, one of South America’s most biologically rich wetlands, decimating its famed population of black-necked swans. Numerous other species are also threatened. Before the pulp mill, there were more than 5,000 black necked swans in Carlos Anwandter. A WWF team, which visited Carlos Anwandter recently, could find only four black-necked swans.