Science for Saving Species Research Findings Factsheet Project 2.3.5

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Science for Saving Species Research Findings Factsheet Project 2.3.5 Science for Saving Species Research findings factsheet Project 2.3.5 The discovery of two novel papillomaviruses in native and invasive Christmas Island geckos In brief Context Papillomaviruses commonly infect Papillomaviruses are widespread related to a bird papillomavirus their host’s skin and mucosal in the animal kingdom. In this than other reptile papillomaviruses. membranes (mucous membranes study, we discovered two new We examined seven lizard species include the surface of the mouth, papillomaviruses in the highly for the presence or absence of the the conjunctiva, the entire digestive invasive Asian house gecko two viruses, and found it in three, tract and the reproductive tract). (Hemidactylus frenatus) and including one Critically Endangered Papillomaviruses infect all animals, mute gecko (Gehyra mutilata) species, Lister’s gecko, which now including humans, with amphibians on Christmas Island and Cocos exists only in captive breeding the sole exception. The majority (Keeling) Islands, and in the populations on Christmas Island of papillomavirus infections either Critically Endangered Lister’s and in Taronga Zoo in Sydney. present no symptoms or present as geckos (Lepidodactylus listeri) As the viruses may pose a threat benign wart-like lesions; however, in their captive breeding to this species and potentially to a minority of them can cause colony on Christmas Island. other threatened species, research cancer. A well-known example of a These two viruses are very similar into their ecology and ability to papillomavirus that causes cancer is genetically, show unique genomic cause disease in affected reptiles the virus that causes cervical cancer features, and are more closely is a high priority. in women. Unlike some other types of viruses, papillomaviruses are considered highly “host specific”, Jess in the field spotlighting geckos on which means they are rarely Christmas Island. transmitted between different species, even very closely related ones. The rate of discovery of new papillomaviruses is increasing, and more than 400 of these viruses have now been identified across all host species. The majority of these viruses have humans and other mammals as hosts. We have discovered two papillomavirus species in geckos inhabiting Christmas Island and the nearby Cocos (Keeling) Islands, and although such viruses are not unknown in reptiles, these two represent the first discovery of papillomaviruses in lizards. Image: David Phalen What the research What we did looked at We undertook a number of Our discovery that two new procedures to uncover answers species of papillomaviruses are to the aims of this research infecting lizards on Christmas project. First, we set out to look at Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands the genetic make-up of the two has prompted investigation into viruses. To do this for a virus or any the genetics and biology of the other organism, it is necessary to viruses. To add to the urgency and determine the order of the bases importance of the research, one (part of DNA that stores information of the affected lizards, although and gives DNA its genetic code) once common on Christmas Island, that make up the DNA. This we is now a threatened species. achieved by sequencing the DNA using advanced genetic technology. To uncover as much as possible Once we had sequenced the DNA, The genome layout of the about these newly discovered papillomavirus. Image: Jess Agius we confirmed the number, type and viruses, we developed a number ordering of each gene for each virus. of diverse research aims. These included: 1. Identifying the presence and significance of the viral genes, which is important for understanding their disease- After we resolved the genetic causing mechanisms structure of each of the two new viruses, we were interested 2. Describing the evolutionary in understanding how they are relationship of these two new related to papillomaviruses that papillomaviruses to other viruses had already been described, and 3. Determining the distribution their evolutionary similarities and of these viruses in the tissues differences. This kind of study is of affected lizards known as phylogenetics. We aligned the gene sequences of a diverse 4. Determining the proportion range of papillomaviruses that are of lizards affected with distantly and closely related to those papillomavirus DNA, which is that we had discovered. When we vital for understanding how had the final alignment, we entered common the viruses are it into a statistical model to create a within the island populations. tree showing common ancestors, viral relatedness, and how the viruses evolved through time. Simplified phylogenetic tree showing relatedness of gecko papillomaviruses to other reptile and bird papillomaviruses. Image: Jess Agius Key findings To understand the types of tissues Our genetic analysis of both the viruses are more closely related to a the papillomaviruses were able new papillomavirus genomes papillomavirus that is hosted by a sea to infect we collected a variety of revealed that they are relatively bird, the northern fulmar (Fulmarus organs from lizards on Christmas similar to one another, sharing 89% glacialis), than to other reptile Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands of their genetic identity. The two papillomaviruses. The evolutionary and extracted the DNA from the viruses contain the same number tree we generated also showed that organ cells. We tested DNA from and types of genes, and in identical both these lizard viruses are primitive, six species of gecko and one positions in the genome; and meaning that they evolved before species of skink for the presence they each contain the four core any other known bird or reptile or absence of papillomavirus DNA: genes that are found across all papillomavirus. papillomaviruses. In addition, they • Lister’s gecko We found papillomavirus DNA across each have one accessory gene that (Lepidodactylus listeri) all the organ types tested (liver, skin, is not found in all papillomaviruses • Asian house gecko mouth and colon), and in three of and which has been associated (Hemidactylus frenatus) the seven lizard species sampled with interference with immunity, • Mute gecko (Gehyra mutilata) (Asian house gecko, mute gecko successful establishment of infection and Lister’s gecko). The viruses • Sri Lankan house to allow the virus to replicate, and were more frequently detected gecko (Hemidactylus the transformation of cells to a in samples collected from the parvimaculatus) cancerous form. However, unlike head and skin of the lizards, • Flat-tailed gecko other papillomaviruses, which all with positive samples from the (Hemidactylus platyurus) contain at least six genes, both colon and liver less common. • Mourning gecko of the two new papillomaviruses The new papillomavirus species (Lepidodactylus lugubris) we identified contained only five. They therefore represent the were detected on both Christmas • Blue-tailed skink smallest, simplest structure of any Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands, (Cryptoblepharus egeriae) currently known papillomaviruses. with one species more common Once we knew about the presence than the other for both locations. Our phylogenetic analysis of the or absence of disease in various The Cocos (Keeling) Islands had a viruses revealed that, as we expected, tissues from multiple animals, we higher number of lizards affected both are more closely related to could determine the proportion, with papillomaviruses (32%) than did bird and reptile papillomaviruses or prevalence of affected lizards Christmas Island (27%). Of the lizards than to those that are hosted by to non-affected lizards. We then we tested for papillomaviruses, the mammals. Interestingly, though, compared these proportions widely distributed Asian house gecko we found that both these lizard between locations and species. showed most frequent infection. RIGHT: Asian house gecko where papillomavirus DNA was first discovered Image: Jess Agius Implications and recommendations The discovery of two novel uncertain as yet, these viruses have Additional surveillance of Lister’s, papillomaviruses in three gecko the potential to cause declines in mute and Asian house geckos species on two distinct islands Lister’s geckos and to devastate can help to assess the patterns presents multiple concerns the remaining populations. of papillomavirus disease, that is, for species conservation and whether it is declining, stable or Further work towards uncovering management. In addition to infecting increasing in the lizard populations. the ecology of these viruses two of the most invasive and Although we have not detected and their ability to cause disease widespread geckos, the Asian house papillomavirus infection in the in affected animals is urgently and mute geckos, these viruses have Christmas Island blue-tailed skink, required. The knowledge acquired also been identified in the Critically continued surveillance of these from this work can then feed into Endangered Christmas Island skinks, and the last free-ranging conservation management actions Lister’s gecko. The Lister’s gecko is Christmas Island endemic giant for the Lister’s gecko, and also the conservation-dependent, surviving gecko (Cyrtodactylus sadleiri), will Christmas Island blue-tailed skink, only in captive breeding programs be important to confirming the which is also Critically Endangered on Christmas Island and at Taronga continuing freedom from disease, and extinct in the wild, and a Zoo, Sydney. Although the ultimate and assuring the continuing health species that is in close contact effects of the papillomaviruses on of the population. with Lister’s geckos. the health of affected animals is Jess in the lab microscopically examining lizard samples for papillomaviruses. Image: Laura Pulscher Cited material Agius, J. E., Phalen, D. N., Rose, K. & Eden, J.-S. 2019. New insights into Sauropsid Papillomaviridae evolution and epizootiology: Discovery of two novel papillomaviruses in native and invasive Island geckos. Virus Evolution, 5(2), doi: 10.1093/ve/vez051 Further Information Jessica Agius [email protected] This project is supported through funding from the Australian Government’s National Environmental Science Program..
Recommended publications
  • Unsustainable Food Systems Threaten Wild Crop and Dolphin Species
    INTERNATIONAL PRESS RELEASE Embargoed until: 07:00 GMT (16:00 JST) 5 December 2017 Elaine Paterson, IUCN Media Relations, t+44 1223 331128, email [email protected] Goska Bonnaveira, IUCN Media Relations, m +41 792760185, email [email protected] [In Japan] Cheryl-Samantha MacSharry, IUCN Media Relations, t+44 1223 331128, email [email protected] Download photographs here Download summary statistics here Unsustainable food systems threaten wild crop and dolphin species Tokyo, Japan, 5 December 2017 (IUCN) – Species of wild rice, wheat and yam are threatened by overly intensive agricultural production and urban expansion, whilst poor fishing practices have caused steep declines in the Irrawaddy Dolphin and Finless Porpoise, according to the latest update of The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™. Today’s Red List update also reveals that a drying climate is pushing the Ringtail Possum to the brink of extinction. Three reptile species found only on an Australian island – the Christmas Island Whiptail-skink, the Blue- tailed Skink (Cryptoblepharus egeriae) and the Lister’s Gecko – have gone extinct, according to the update. But in New Zealand, conservation efforts have improved the situation for two species of Kiwi. “Healthy, species-rich ecosystems are fundamental to our ability to feed the world’s growing population and achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goal 2 – to end hunger by 2030,” says IUCN Director General Inger Andersen. “Wild crop species, for example, maintain genetic diversity of agricultural crops
    [Show full text]
  • Draft Animal Keepers Species List
    Revised NSW Native Animal Keepers’ Species List Draft © 2017 State of NSW and Office of Environment and Heritage With the exception of photographs, the State of NSW and Office of Environment and Heritage are pleased to allow this material to be reproduced in whole or in part for educational and non-commercial use, provided the meaning is unchanged and its source, publisher and authorship are acknowledged. Specific permission is required for the reproduction of photographs. The Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) has compiled this report in good faith, exercising all due care and attention. No representation is made about the accuracy, completeness or suitability of the information in this publication for any particular purpose. OEH shall not be liable for any damage which may occur to any person or organisation taking action or not on the basis of this publication. Readers should seek appropriate advice when applying the information to their specific needs. All content in this publication is owned by OEH and is protected by Crown Copyright, unless credited otherwise. It is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0), subject to the exemptions contained in the licence. The legal code for the licence is available at Creative Commons. OEH asserts the right to be attributed as author of the original material in the following manner: © State of New South Wales and Office of Environment and Heritage 2017. Published by: Office of Environment and Heritage 59 Goulburn Street, Sydney NSW 2000 PO Box A290,
    [Show full text]
  • Gekkonidae: Hemidactylus Frenatus)
    A peer-reviewed open-access journal NeoBiota 27: 69–79On (2015) the origin of South American populations of the common house gecko 69 doi: 10.3897/neobiota.27.5437 RESEARCH ARTICLE NeoBiota http://neobiota.pensoft.net Advancing research on alien species and biological invasions On the origin of South American populations of the common house gecko (Gekkonidae: Hemidactylus frenatus) Omar Torres-Carvajal1 1 Museo de Zoología, Escuela de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Avenida 12 de Octubre 1076 y Roca, Apartado 17-01-2184, Quito, Ecuador Corresponding author: Omar Torres-Carvajal ([email protected]) Academic editor: Sven Bacher | Received 11 June 2015 | Accepted 27 August 2015 | Published 15 September 2015 Citation: Torres-Carvajal O (2015) On the origin of South American populations of the common house gecko (Gekkonidae: Hemidactylus frenatus). NeoBiota 27: 69–79. doi: 10.3897/neobiota.27.5437 Abstract Hemidactylus frenatus is an Asian gecko species that has invaded many tropical regions to become one of the most widespread lizards worldwide. This species has dispersed across the Pacific Ocean to reach Ha- waii and subsequently Mexico and other Central American countries. More recently, it has been reported from northwestern South America. Using 12S and cytb mitochondrial DNA sequences I found that South American and Galápagos haplotypes are identical to those from Hawaii and Papua New Guinea, suggest- ing a common Melanesian origin for both Hawaii and South America. Literature records suggest that H. frenatus arrived in Colombia around the mid-‘90s, dispersed south into Ecuador in less than five years, and arrived in the Galápagos about one decade later.
    [Show full text]
  • A New Record of the Christmas Island Blind Snake, Ramphotyphlops Exocoeti (Reptilia: Squamata: Typhlopidae)
    RECORDS OF THE WESTERN AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM 27 156–160 (2012) A new record of the Christmas Island Blind Snake, Ramphotyphlops exocoeti (Reptilia: Squamata: Typhlopidae). Dion J. Maple1, Rachel Barr, Michael J. Smith 1 Christmas Island National Park, Christmas Island, Western Australia, Indian Ocean, 6798, Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT – The endemic Christmas Island Blind Snake Ramphotyphlops exocoeti is a species rarely collected since initial faunal collections were conducted on Christmas Island in 1887. Twenty-three years after the last record in 1986, an individual was collected on 31 July 2009. Here we catalogue historical collection records of this animal. We also describe the habitat and conditions in which the recent collection occurred and provide a brief morphological description of the animal including a diagnostic feature that may assist in future identifi cations. This account provides the fi rst accurate spatial record and detailed description of habitat utilised by this species. KEYWORDS: Indian Ocean, Yellow Crazy Ant, recovery plan INTRODUCTION ‘fairly common’ and could be found under the trunks Christmas Island is located in the Indian Ocean of fallen trees. In 1975 a specimen collected from (10°25'S, 105°40'E), approximately 360 km south of the Stewart Hill, located in the central west of the island western head of Java, Indonesia (Geoscience Australia in a mine lease known as Field 22, was deposited in 2011). This geographically remote, rugged and thickly the Australian Museum (Cogger and Sadlier 1981). A vegetated island is the exposed summit of a large specimen was caught by N. Dunlop in 1984 while pit mountain.
    [Show full text]
  • A New Species of the Genus Lepidodactylus Fitzinger (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the Mortlock Islands, Chuuk State, Federated States of Micronesia1
    A New Species of the Genus Lepidodactylus Fitzinger (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the Mortlock Islands, Chuuk State, Federated States of Micronesia1 Donald W. Buden2 Abstract: A new species in the Group II complex of the gekkonid lizard genus Lepidodactylus Fitzinger is described based on recently collected material from Namoluk Atoll, Mortlock Islands, Chuuk State, Federated States of Micronesia. Lepidodactylus oligoporus Buden, n. sp., is distinguished from other members of Group II by differences in the numbers of midbody scale rows (130–134), fourth-toe scansors (15–19), interorbital scales (34–35), and precloacal/femoral pore-bearing scales (12–15) and by the lack of cloacal spurs and the presence of a moderate amount of webbing between the toes. In body size and scutellation, it most resembles L. novaeguineae Brown & Parker from New Guinea and L. pulcher Boulenger from the Admiralty Islands. The gekkonid genus Lepidodactylus Fit- species (lugubris group) have the terminal as zinger includes 31 species (Uetz et al. 2005) well as several subterminal scansors divided that for the most part are distributed from or notched. Among the 10 species in Group Southeast Asia southward and eastward to II (see Zug et al. 2003), L. paurolepis Ota, the Indo-Australian Archipelago and Oceania Fischer, Ineich & Case from Palau is the (Bauer and Henle 1994, Ota et al. 2000, Zug only one recorded from the Caroline Islands, et al. 2003). With the exception of the par- a chain of high volcanic islands and many thenogenetic L. lugubris (Dumeril & Bibron) more low coralline atolls spanning approxi- and its two parental species (Radtkey et al.
    [Show full text]
  • Literature Cited in Lizards Natural History Database
    Literature Cited in Lizards Natural History database Abdala, C. S., A. S. Quinteros, and R. E. Espinoza. 2008. Two new species of Liolaemus (Iguania: Liolaemidae) from the puna of northwestern Argentina. Herpetologica 64:458-471. Abdala, C. S., D. Baldo, R. A. Juárez, and R. E. Espinoza. 2016. The first parthenogenetic pleurodont Iguanian: a new all-female Liolaemus (Squamata: Liolaemidae) from western Argentina. Copeia 104:487-497. Abdala, C. S., J. C. Acosta, M. R. Cabrera, H. J. Villaviciencio, and J. Marinero. 2009. A new Andean Liolaemus of the L. montanus series (Squamata: Iguania: Liolaemidae) from western Argentina. South American Journal of Herpetology 4:91-102. Abdala, C. S., J. L. Acosta, J. C. Acosta, B. B. Alvarez, F. Arias, L. J. Avila, . S. M. Zalba. 2012. Categorización del estado de conservación de las lagartijas y anfisbenas de la República Argentina. Cuadernos de Herpetologia 26 (Suppl. 1):215-248. Abell, A. J. 1999. Male-female spacing patterns in the lizard, Sceloporus virgatus. Amphibia-Reptilia 20:185-194. Abts, M. L. 1987. Environment and variation in life history traits of the Chuckwalla, Sauromalus obesus. Ecological Monographs 57:215-232. Achaval, F., and A. Olmos. 2003. Anfibios y reptiles del Uruguay. Montevideo, Uruguay: Facultad de Ciencias. Achaval, F., and A. Olmos. 2007. Anfibio y reptiles del Uruguay, 3rd edn. Montevideo, Uruguay: Serie Fauna 1. Ackermann, T. 2006. Schreibers Glatkopfleguan Leiocephalus schreibersii. Munich, Germany: Natur und Tier. Ackley, J. W., P. J. Muelleman, R. E. Carter, R. W. Henderson, and R. Powell. 2009. A rapid assessment of herpetofaunal diversity in variously altered habitats on Dominica.
    [Show full text]
  • Endemic Species of Christmas Island, Indian Ocean D.J
    RECORDS OF THE WESTERN AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM 34 055–114 (2019) DOI: 10.18195/issn.0312-3162.34(2).2019.055-114 Endemic species of Christmas Island, Indian Ocean D.J. James1, P.T. Green2, W.F. Humphreys3,4 and J.C.Z. Woinarski5 1 73 Pozieres Ave, Milperra, New South Wales 2214, Australia. 2 Department of Ecology, Environment and Evolution, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria 3083, Australia. 3 Western Australian Museum, Locked Bag 49, Welshpool DC, Western Australia 6986, Australia. 4 School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia. 5 NESP Threatened Species Recovery Hub, Charles Darwin University, Casuarina, Northern Territory 0909, Australia, Corresponding author: [email protected] ABSTRACT – Many oceanic islands have high levels of endemism, but also high rates of extinction, such that island species constitute a markedly disproportionate share of the world’s extinctions. One important foundation for the conservation of biodiversity on islands is an inventory of endemic species. In the absence of a comprehensive inventory, conservation effort often defaults to a focus on the better-known and more conspicuous species (typically mammals and birds). Although this component of island biota often needs such conservation attention, such focus may mean that less conspicuous endemic species (especially invertebrates) are neglected and suffer high rates of loss. In this paper, we review the available literature and online resources to compile a list of endemic species that is as comprehensive as possible for the 137 km2 oceanic Christmas Island, an Australian territory in the north-eastern Indian Ocean.
    [Show full text]
  • 48835985.Pdf
    Bridgewater State University Virtual Commons - Bridgewater State University Biological Sciences Faculty Publications Biological Sciences Department 2015 Distribution, Natural History and the Conservation Status of Hemiphyllodactylus typus and Lepidodactylus lugubris (Reptilia: Gekkonidae) in Sri Lanka D.M.S.S. Karunarathna Thulina Dilan Surasinghe Bridgewater State University, [email protected] M.B. Madawala S.M. Wellappulli-Arachchi H.K.D. Kandambi See next page for additional authors Virtual Commons Citation Karunarathna, D.M.S.S.; Surasinghe, Thulina Dilan; Madawala, M.B.; Wellappulli-Arachchi, S.M.; Kandambi, H.K.D.; Kusuminda, T.G.T.; Priyadarshana, T.M.T.S.; and Perera, B.N.H. (2015). Distribution, Natural History and the Conservation Status of Hemiphyllodactylus typus and Lepidodactylus lugubris (Reptilia: Gekkonidae) in Sri Lanka. In Biological Sciences Faculty Publications. Paper 54. Available at: http://vc.bridgew.edu/biol_fac/54 This item is available as part of Virtual Commons, the open-access institutional repository of Bridgewater State University, Bridgewater, Massachusetts. Authors D.M.S.S. Karunarathna, Thulina Dilan Surasinghe, M.B. Madawala, S.M. Wellappulli-Arachchi, H.K.D. Kandambi, T.G.T. Kusuminda, T.M.T.S. Priyadarshana, and B.N.H. Perera This article is available at Virtual Commons - Bridgewater State University: http://vc.bridgew.edu/biol_fac/54 Sri Lanka NATURALIST Vol : viii, No : 1-2, January - December 2015 Euploea klugii Brown King Crow LC Distribution, natural history and the conservation status of Hemiphyllodactylus typus Junonia almana Peacock Pansy LC and Lepidodactylus lugubris (Reptilia: Gekkonidae) in Sri Lanka Junonia atlites Grey Pansy LC D.M.S.S. Karunarathna1,3, T.D. Surasinghe2, M.B.
    [Show full text]
  • Reptiles of Ngulu Atoll, Yap State, Federated States of Micronesia1
    CORE Metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk Provided by ScholarSpace at University of Hawai'i at Manoa Reptiles of Ngulu Atoll, Yap State, Federated States of Micronesia1 Donald W. Buden2 Abstract: Fourteen species of reptiles (two sea turtles, six geckos, six skinks) are recorded from Ngulu Atoll, Yap, Micronesia, all but the turtles for the first time. None is endemic and most occur widely in Oceania; the phylogenetic status of an undescribed species of Lepidodactylus is undetermined, and a phenotypically male Nactus cf. pelagicus is recorded from Micronesia for the first time. Lepido- dactylus moestus is the most common gecko on Ngulu Island, and Emoia caeruleo- cauda, E. impar, and E. jakati are the most abundant skinks. The islands are an important nesting site for green turtles, Chelonia mydas. Isolation, a small resi- dent human population, and traditional conservation practices contribute to sustaining turtle populations, although occasional poaching by outside visitors persists. The report of a small snake on Ylangchel Island, possibly a species of Ramphotyphlops, requires confirmation. Many of the west-central Pacific islands distribution and relative abundance of the composing Micronesia are poorly known bio- reptiles of Ngulu, and it is based largely on logically, especially the numerous, small, low- my personal observations and specimens that lying, and faunistically impoverished coralline I collected during approximately a month- atolls. These islands are difficult to reach. long field study, mainly on Ngulu Island, Those that have been studied appear to be in- and with brief visits to adjacent Ylangchel habited largely by widespread, weedy species and Wachlug islands.
    [Show full text]
  • Threatened Species Nomination Form
    Invitation to comment on EPBC Act nomination to list in the Critically Endangered category: Emoia nativitatis (Forest skink) Anyone may nominate a native species, ecological community or threatening process for listing under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). You are invited to provide comment on the attached nomination to assist the Threatened Species Scientific Committee (the Committee) with its assessment of whether Emoia nativitatis (Forest skink) is eligible for inclusion in the EPBC Act list of threatened species in the critically endangered category. The Committee welcomes the views of experts, stakeholders and the general public on nominations to further inform its nomination assessment process. In order to determine if a species, ecological community or threatening process is eligible for listing under the EPBC Act, a rigorous scientific assessment of its status is undertaken. These assessments are undertaken by the Committee to determine if an item is eligible for listing against a set of criteria as set out in the guidelines for nominating and assessing threatened species and ecological communities, and threatening processes. These are available at: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/nominations.html To assist in this matter, the Committee has identified a series of specific questions on which it seeks particular guidance (Part A). The nomination for this item is provided in Part B. Individual nominations may vary considerably in quality. Therefore in addition to the information presented in the nomination, the Committee also takes into account published data and considers other information received when it prepares its advice for the Minister. Responses to this consultation will be provided in full to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities.
    [Show full text]
  • Describing Species
    DESCRIBING SPECIES Practical Taxonomic Procedure for Biologists Judith E. Winston COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY PRESS NEW YORK Columbia University Press Publishers Since 1893 New York Chichester, West Sussex Copyright © 1999 Columbia University Press All rights reserved Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data © Winston, Judith E. Describing species : practical taxonomic procedure for biologists / Judith E. Winston, p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-231-06824-7 (alk. paper)—0-231-06825-5 (pbk.: alk. paper) 1. Biology—Classification. 2. Species. I. Title. QH83.W57 1999 570'.1'2—dc21 99-14019 Casebound editions of Columbia University Press books are printed on permanent and durable acid-free paper. Printed in the United States of America c 10 98765432 p 10 98765432 The Far Side by Gary Larson "I'm one of those species they describe as 'awkward on land." Gary Larson cartoon celebrates species description, an important and still unfinished aspect of taxonomy. THE FAR SIDE © 1988 FARWORKS, INC. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Universal Press Syndicate DESCRIBING SPECIES For my daughter, Eliza, who has grown up (andput up) with this book Contents List of Illustrations xiii List of Tables xvii Preface xix Part One: Introduction 1 CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION 3 Describing the Living World 3 Why Is Species Description Necessary? 4 How New Species Are Described 8 Scope and Organization of This Book 12 The Pleasures of Systematics 14 Sources CHAPTER 2. BIOLOGICAL NOMENCLATURE 19 Humans as Taxonomists 19 Biological Nomenclature 21 Folk Taxonomy 23 Binomial Nomenclature 25 Development of Codes of Nomenclature 26 The Current Codes of Nomenclature 50 Future of the Codes 36 Sources 39 Part Two: Recognizing Species 41 CHAPTER 3.
    [Show full text]
  • Cfreptiles & Amphibians
    WWW.IRCF.ORG/REPTILESANDAMPHIBIANSJOURNALTABLE OF CONTENTS IRCF REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS IRCF REPTILES • VOL15, &NO AMPHIBIANS 4 • DEC 2008 189 • 22(1):36–38 • MAR 2015 IRCF REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS CONSERVATION AND NATURAL HISTORY TABLE OF CONTENTS FEATURE ARTICLES . ExploitingChasing Bullsnakes (Pituophis catenifer sayi ) inthe Wisconsin: Night-light Niche: On the Road to Understanding the Ecology and Conservation of the Midwest’s Giant Serpent ...................... Joshua M. Kapfer 190 . The Shared History of Treeboas (Corallus grenadensis) and Humans on Grenada: A WestA Hypothetical Excursion Indian ............................................................................................................................ Experience inRobert Hawaii W. Henderson 198 RESEARCH ARTICLES Robert Powell . The Texas Horned Lizard in Central and Western Texas ....................... Emily Henry, Jason Brewer, Krista Mougey, and Gad Perry 204 Avila University, Kansas City, Missouri 64145, USA ([email protected]) . The Knight Anole (Anolis equestris) in Florida .............................................Brian J. Camposano, Kenneth L. Krysko, Kevin M. Enge, Ellen M. Donlan, and Michael Granatosky 212 CONSERVATION ALERT awaii has no native. World’s terrestrial Mammals in Crisis or freshwater............................................................................................................................................................. reptiles or mented, and exploitation of the night-light 220 niche by the Gold . More Than Mammals
    [Show full text]