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Aiphanes Grandis Borchs
Palm Conservation – Palm Specialist Group Aiphanes grandis Borchs. & Balslev Status: Endangered (EN) Common name None recorded Natural range Aiphanes grandis is endemic to the western slopes of the Andes mountains in Ecuador, at elevations between 1000 and 2000 m. It occurs in cloud forest in the central and southern parts of the country. Recognition characteristics It is a large, solitary palm tree, with a stem up to 20 m tall and 10–20 cm in diameter. The stem and leaves are fiercely armed with long, black spines. The leaf blade is 200–250 cm long with up to 50 leaflets on each side, briefly jagged at apex, inserted in groups and pointing in different directions. The inflorescence is 1–1.5 m long, with up to 200 spreading branches. Flowers are white to pale yellow and fruits 2–3 cm in diameter, dull green and covered with brown, loosely attached bristles. The combination of jagged leaflets and large size distinguishes the species from all other South American palms. Natural history Little is known about the natural history of the species. The palm heart is edible, and its seeds are sometimes pureed and cooked with crude cane sugar to form a nougat-like paste. Threats to survival The estimated loss of potential habitat for A. grandis, based on habitat modeling, is 62%, most of which has occurred over the last 30–40 years. The west Andean mountain forest in southern and central Ecudor, where A. grandis occurs, harbors a high number of endemic plant species. It is also the home to remnant populations of such conspicuous palm species as Ceroxylon ventricosum and C. -
BIRDCONSERVATION the Magazine of American Bird Conservancy Fall 2016 BIRD’S EYE VIEW a Life Shaped by Migration
BIRDCONSERVATION The Magazine of American Bird Conservancy Fall 2016 BIRD’S EYE VIEW A Life Shaped By Migration The years have rolled by, leaving me with many memories touched by migrating birds. Migrations tell the chronicle of my life, made more poignant by their steady lessening through the years. still remember my first glimmer haunting calls of the cranes and Will the historic development of of understanding of the bird swans together, just out of sight. improved relations between the Imigration phenomenon. I was U.S. and Cuba nonetheless result in nine or ten years old and had The years have rolled by, leaving me the loss of habitats so important to spotted a male Yellow Warbler in with many memories touched by species such as the Black-throated spring plumage. Although I had migrating birds. Tracking a Golden Blue Warbler (page 18)? And will passing familiarity with the year- Eagle with a radio on its back Congress strengthen or weaken the round and wintertime birds at through downtown Milwaukee. Migratory Bird Treaty Act (page home, this springtime beauty was Walking down the Cape May beach 27), America’s most important law new to me. I went to my father for each afternoon to watch the Least protecting migratory birds? an explanation of how I had missed Tern colony. The thrill of seeing this bird before. Dad explained bird “our” migrants leave Colombia to We must address each of these migration, a talk that lit a small pour back north. And, on a recent concerns and a thousand more, fire in me that has never been summer evening, standing outside but we cannot be daunted by their extinguished. -
Cuba Trip Report Jan 4Th to 14Th
Field Checklist to the Birds of Cuba Cuba Trip Report Jan 4th to 14th 1 Field Checklist to the Birds of Cuba Cuba Bird List Species Scientific Name Seen Heard Order ANSERIFORMES Family Anatidae Ducks, Geese, Swans 1. West Indian Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna arborea • 2. Fulvous Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna bicolor 3. American Wigeon Anas americanas 4. Wood Duck Aix sponsa 5.Blue-winged Teal Anas discors • 6. Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata • 7. White-cheeked Pintail Anas bahamensis 8. Northern Pintail Anas acutas 9. Green-winged Teal Anas carolinensis 10. Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris 11.Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis 12. Hooded Merganser Lophodytes cucullatus 13. Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator 14. Masked Duck Nomonyx dominicus 15. Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis Order GALLIFORMES Family Phasianidae Pheasant, Guineafowl 16. Helmeted Guineafowl (I) • Family Odontophoridae New World Quail 17. Northern Bobwhite Colinus virginianus cubanensis Order PODICIPEDIFORMES Grebes 18. Least Grebe Tachybaptus dominicus • 19. Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps • Order CICONNIIFORMES Family Ciconiidae Storks 20. Wood Stork Mycteria americana 2 Field Checklist to the Birds of Cuba Cuba Bird List Species Scientific Name Seen Heard Order SULIFORMES Family Fregatidae Frigatebirds 21. Magnificent Frigatebird Fregata magnificens • Family Sulidae Boobies, Gannets 22. Brown Booby Sula leucogaster Family Phalacrocoracidae Cormorants 23. Neotropic Cormorant Phalacrocorax brasiliannus • 24. Double-crested Cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus • Family Anhingidae Darters 25. Anhinga Anhinga anhinga • Order PELECANIFORMES Family Pelecanidae Pelicans 26. American White Pelican Pelecanus erythrorhynchos 27. Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis • Family Ardeidae Herons, Bitterns, Allies 28. Least Bittern Ixobrychus exilis • 29. Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias • 30. Great Egret Ardea alba • 31. Snowy Egret Egretta thula • 32. -
Monocotyledons and Gymnosperms of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION Contributions from the United States National Herbarium Volume 52: 1-415 Monocotyledons and Gymnosperms of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands Editors Pedro Acevedo-Rodríguez and Mark T. Strong Department of Botany National Museum of Natural History Washington, DC 2005 ABSTRACT Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro and Mark T. Strong. Monocots and Gymnosperms of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Contributions from the United States National Herbarium, volume 52: 415 pages (including 65 figures). The present treatment constitutes an updated revision for the monocotyledon and gymnosperm flora (excluding Orchidaceae and Poaceae) for the biogeographical region of Puerto Rico (including all islets and islands) and the Virgin Islands. With this contribution, we fill the last major gap in the flora of this region, since the dicotyledons have been previously revised. This volume recognizes 33 families, 118 genera, and 349 species of Monocots (excluding the Orchidaceae and Poaceae) and three families, three genera, and six species of gymnosperms. The Poaceae with an estimated 89 genera and 265 species, will be published in a separate volume at a later date. When Ackerman’s (1995) treatment of orchids (65 genera and 145 species) and the Poaceae are added to our account of monocots, the new total rises to 35 families, 272 genera and 759 species. The differences in number from Britton’s and Wilson’s (1926) treatment is attributed to changes in families, generic and species concepts, recent introductions, naturalization of introduced species and cultivars, exclusion of cultivated plants, misdeterminations, and discoveries of new taxa or new distributional records during the last seven decades. -
Ornamental Garden Plants of the Guianas, Part 3
; Fig. 170. Solandra longiflora (Solanaceae). 7. Solanum Linnaeus Annual or perennial, armed or unarmed herbs, shrubs, vines or trees. Leaves alternate, simple or compound, sessile or petiolate. Inflorescence an axillary, extra-axillary or terminal raceme, cyme, corymb or panicle. Flowers regular, or sometimes irregular; calyx (4-) 5 (-10)- toothed; corolla rotate, 5 (-6)-lobed. Stamens 5, exserted; anthers united over the style, dehiscing by 2 apical pores. Fruit a 2-celled berry; seeds numerous, reniform. Key to Species 1. Trees or shrubs; stems armed with spines; leaves simple or lobed, not pinnately compound; inflorescence a raceme 1. S. macranthum 1. Vines; stems unarmed; leaves pinnately compound; inflorescence a panicle 2. S. seaforthianum 1. Solanum macranthum Dunal, Solanorum Generumque Affinium Synopsis 43 (1816). AARDAPPELBOOM (Surinam); POTATO TREE. Shrub or tree to 9 m; stems and leaves spiny, pubescent. Leaves simple, toothed or up to 10-lobed, to 40 cm. Inflorescence a 7- to 12-flowered raceme. Corolla 5- or 6-lobed, bluish-purple, to 6.3 cm wide. Range: Brazil. Grown as an ornamental in Surinam (Ostendorf, 1962). 2. Solanum seaforthianum Andrews, Botanists Repository 8(104): t.504 (1808). POTATO CREEPER. Vine to 6 m, with petiole-tendrils; stems and leaves unarmed, glabrous. Leaves pinnately compound with 3-9 leaflets, to 20 cm. Inflorescence a many- flowered panicle. Corolla 5-lobed, blue, purple or pinkish, to 5 cm wide. Range:South America. Grown as an ornamental in Surinam (Ostendorf, 1962). Sterculiaceae Monoecious, dioecious or polygamous trees and shrubs. Leaves alternate, simple to palmately compound, petiolate. Inflorescence an axillary panicle, raceme, cyme or thyrse. -
A Review of Animal-Mediated Seed Dispersal of Palms
Selbyana 11: 6-21 A REVIEW OF ANIMAL-MEDIATED SEED DISPERSAL OF PALMS SCOTT ZoNA Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, 1500 North College Avenue, Claremont, California 91711 ANDREW HENDERSON New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York 10458 ABSTRACT. Zoochory is a common mode of dispersal in the Arecaceae (palmae), although little is known about how dispersal has influenced the distributions of most palms. A survey of the literature reveals that many kinds of animals feed on palm fruits and disperse palm seeds. These animals include birds, bats, non-flying mammals, reptiles, insects, and fish. Many morphological features of palm infructescences and fruits (e.g., size, accessibility, bony endocarp) have an influence on the animals which exploit palms, although the nature of this influence is poorly understood. Both obligate and opportunistic frugivores are capable of dispersing seeds. There is little evidence for obligate plant-animaI mutualisms in palm seed dispersal ecology. In spite of a considerable body ofliterature on interactions, an overview is presented here ofthe seed dispersal (Guppy, 1906; Ridley, 1930; van diverse assemblages of animals which feed on der Pijl, 1982), the specifics ofzoochory (animal palm fruits along with a brief examination of the mediated seed dispersal) in regard to the palm role fruit and/or infructescence morphology may family have been largely ignored (Uhl & Drans play in dispersal and subsequent distributions. field, 1987). Only Beccari (1877) addressed palm seed dispersal specifically; he concluded that few METHODS animals eat palm fruits although the fruits appear adapted to seed dispersal by animals. Dransfield Data for fruit consumption and seed dispersal (198lb) has concluded that palms, in general, were taken from personal observations and the have a low dispersal ability, while Janzen and literature, much of it not primarily concerned Martin (1982) have considered some palms to with palm seed dispersal. -
Aiphanes Acaulis, a New Species from Colombia
20 PRINCIPES (VOL. 29 Principe., 29(1), 1985, pp. 20-22 Aiphanes acaulis, a New Species from Colombia GLORIA GALEANO-GARCES l AND RODRIGO BERNAL-GONZALEZ2 Recent explorations for palms in north morsely toothed at apex, the upper mar western Colombia have revealed several gin produced into a cauda to 4 cm long, novelties, one of which, an interesting the apical pinnae narrowly cuneate, stemless species of Aiphanes, is described obliquely truncate at apex, 1-3 nerved, here as new to science. all pinnae glabrous above, the midnerve armed with 1-3 slender, bicolor, to 2 cm Aiphanes acaulis Galeano & Bernal sp. long bristles, glabrous below or with very nov. (Fig. 1) short, purplish-black bristles scattered on surface and veins; basal pinnae 7-24.5 Palma solitaria acaulis. Pinnae utrinque cm long along the upper margin, 0.7-2.1 18-30 regulariter in eadem planitie inser cm wide, central pinnae 10.8-27 cm long, tae, lineares vel angustissime cuneatae. 1.7-2.5 cm wide, apical pinnae 6.5-15.5 Spadix simplex. Antherae subquadraticae. cm long, to 5.6 cm wide at apex. Inflo Pistillodium inerme. rescence spicate: prophyll 16-26 cm long, Solitary, acaulescent. Leaves 8-10: 7-11 mm wide, linear, unarmed adaxi sheath 11-16 cm long, 1 cm wide, fibrous, ally, densely covered abaxially with irreg densely covered abaxially with irregular, ular brown scales and with very short, dark brown scales and with purplish-brown, appressed, purplish-brown bristles; pedun less than 0.5 mm long bristles, usually cular bract 37.5-94 cm long, unarmed, with a few -
THE LESSER ANTILLES: Aboard the Sea Cloud
THE LESSER ANTILLES: Aboard the Sea Cloud FEBRUARY 10-18, 2016 Red-necked Parrot, Amazona arausiaca LEADERS: VICTOR EMANUEL, BARRY LYON, DAVID ASCANIO, PETER ZIKA & JOHN HARRISON COMPILED BY: DAVID ASCANIO VICTOR EMANUEL NATURE TOURS, INC. 2525 WALLINGWOOD DRIVE, SUITE 1003 AUSTIN, TEXAS 78746 WWW.VENTBIRD.COM THE LESSER ANTILLES ABOARD THE SEA CLOUD FEBRUARY 10-18, 2016 By David Ascanio Once again, a sea with pastel blue or green colors, an incredible and rich history, outstanding cuisine, and the beautiful and breathtaking Sea Cloud, combined with exquisite birds resulted in a memorable journey across six of the Lesser Antilles to see all of the endemic parrots, tremblers, hummingbirds, orioles, and bullfinches that these islands offer. Our treasure wasn’t gold, nor sugar. It was every one of the endemic or the restricted distribution birds. It seemed as if every island offered a unique challenge to finding these treasures. Barbados was the easy task. In Dominica and Martinique we practiced patience. In Guadeloupe we built a successful group dynamic, while St. Lucia and St. Vincent challenged us with trails. Each day offered a unique experience, as if each of the Lesser Antilles had a distinctive personality. We started in British-flavored Barbados. A visit to the Graeme Hall Reserve allowed views of one of the few populations of Little Egret in the Americas. We also saw our first target species, the Barbados Bullfinch, one that’s so common that you can see it wandering around the swimming pool area of the hotel. After a full day sailing north, we made it to Dominica. -
Alpha Codes for 2168 Bird Species (And 113 Non-Species Taxa) in Accordance with the 62Nd AOU Supplement (2021), Sorted Taxonomically
Four-letter (English Name) and Six-letter (Scientific Name) Alpha Codes for 2168 Bird Species (and 113 Non-Species Taxa) in accordance with the 62nd AOU Supplement (2021), sorted taxonomically Prepared by Peter Pyle and David F. DeSante The Institute for Bird Populations www.birdpop.org ENGLISH NAME 4-LETTER CODE SCIENTIFIC NAME 6-LETTER CODE Highland Tinamou HITI Nothocercus bonapartei NOTBON Great Tinamou GRTI Tinamus major TINMAJ Little Tinamou LITI Crypturellus soui CRYSOU Thicket Tinamou THTI Crypturellus cinnamomeus CRYCIN Slaty-breasted Tinamou SBTI Crypturellus boucardi CRYBOU Choco Tinamou CHTI Crypturellus kerriae CRYKER White-faced Whistling-Duck WFWD Dendrocygna viduata DENVID Black-bellied Whistling-Duck BBWD Dendrocygna autumnalis DENAUT West Indian Whistling-Duck WIWD Dendrocygna arborea DENARB Fulvous Whistling-Duck FUWD Dendrocygna bicolor DENBIC Emperor Goose EMGO Anser canagicus ANSCAN Snow Goose SNGO Anser caerulescens ANSCAE + Lesser Snow Goose White-morph LSGW Anser caerulescens caerulescens ANSCCA + Lesser Snow Goose Intermediate-morph LSGI Anser caerulescens caerulescens ANSCCA + Lesser Snow Goose Blue-morph LSGB Anser caerulescens caerulescens ANSCCA + Greater Snow Goose White-morph GSGW Anser caerulescens atlantica ANSCAT + Greater Snow Goose Intermediate-morph GSGI Anser caerulescens atlantica ANSCAT + Greater Snow Goose Blue-morph GSGB Anser caerulescens atlantica ANSCAT + Snow X Ross's Goose Hybrid SRGH Anser caerulescens x rossii ANSCAR + Snow/Ross's Goose SRGO Anser caerulescens/rossii ANSCRO Ross's Goose -
Wetland Aliens Cause Bird Extinction
PRESS RELEASE Embargoed until 00:01 GMT on 26 May 2010 Wetland aliens cause bird extinction Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK, 26 May, 2010 (IUCN/BirdLife) - BirdLife International announces today, in an update to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ for birds, the extinction of Alaotra Grebe Tachybaptus rufolavatus. Restricted to a tiny area of east Madagascar, this species declined rapidly after carnivorous fish were introduced to the lakes in which it lived. This, along with the use of nylon gill-nets by fisherman which caught and drowned birds, has driven this species into the abyss. “No hope now remains for this species. It is another example of how human actions can have unforeseen consequences”, says Dr Leon Bennun, BirdLife International’s Director of Science, Policy and Information. “Invasive alien species have caused extinctions around the globe and remain one of the major threats to birds and other biodiversity.” Another wetland species suffering from the impacts of introduced aliens is Zapata Rail Cyanolimnas cerverai from Cuba. It has been uplisted to Critically Endangered and is under threat from introduced mongooses and exotic catfish. An extremely secretive marsh-dwelling species, the only nest ever found of this species was described by James Bond, a Caribbean ornithologist and the source for Ian Fleming’s famous spy’s name. And it’s not just aliens. Wetlands the world over, and the species found in them, are under increasing pressures. In Asia and Australia, numbers of once common wader species such as Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris and Far Eastern Curlew Numenius madagascariensis are dropping rapidly as a result of drainage and pollution of coastal wetlands. -
Notes on the Pollination Ecology of the Palm Genus Johannesteijsmannia (A Recaceae )
Journal of Pollination Ecology, 6(15), 2011, pp 108-117 — Short Communication — NOTES ON THE POLLINATION ECOLOGY OF THE PALM GENUS JOHANNESTEIJSMANNIA (A RECACEAE ) Y.M. Chan* and L.G. Saw Forest Biodiversity Division, Forest Research Institute Malaysia, 52109 Kepong, Selangor, Malaysia Abstract The floral biology and flower visitors of the tropical palms Johannesteijsmannia altifrons, J. magnifica and J. perakensis were investigated. We combined the data from this study with published data of J. lanceolata to give an overview of the reproductive biology and pollination system of the genus. Anthesis peaks from 0500–1100 hrs when the inflorescences are visited mainly by flies, beetles and stingless bees ( Trigona ), the last are potential pollinators. The breeding system is facultative selfing, indicating the ability of the species to reproduce in the absence of pollinators or in isolation. Keywords: reproductive biology, pollinator, breeding system, flower biology, Coryphoideae, Johannesteijsmannia INTRODUCTION The reproductive biology of J. lanceolata has been well- documented (Chan et al. 2011b): It is self-compatible, the Studies on reproductive biology and pollination ecology flowers are homogamous with diurnal anthesis and are can help to shed light on plant-pollinator relationships, visited by bees, flies and ants. For the remaining members of evolution, and also possible reasons for the persistence, the genus, such information is lacking. Thus, we extended rarity, genetic diversity or species richness of plants (e.g. the investigations into the floral biology and pollination of J. Bawa et al. 1985; Henderson 2002; Rymer et al. 2005; altifrons , J. magnifica and J. perakensis , to determine the Barfod et al. 2011). -
Perennial Edible Fruits of the Tropics: an and Taxonomists Throughout the World Who Have Left Inventory
United States Department of Agriculture Perennial Edible Fruits Agricultural Research Service of the Tropics Agriculture Handbook No. 642 An Inventory t Abstract Acknowledgments Martin, Franklin W., Carl W. Cannpbell, Ruth M. Puberté. We owe first thanks to the botanists, horticulturists 1987 Perennial Edible Fruits of the Tropics: An and taxonomists throughout the world who have left Inventory. U.S. Department of Agriculture, written records of the fruits they encountered. Agriculture Handbook No. 642, 252 p., illus. Second, we thank Richard A. Hamilton, who read and The edible fruits of the Tropics are nnany in number, criticized the major part of the manuscript. His help varied in form, and irregular in distribution. They can be was invaluable. categorized as major or minor. Only about 300 Tropical fruits can be considered great. These are outstanding We also thank the many individuals who read, criti- in one or more of the following: Size, beauty, flavor, and cized, or contributed to various parts of the book. In nutritional value. In contrast are the more than 3,000 alphabetical order, they are Susan Abraham (Indian fruits that can be considered minor, limited severely by fruits), Herbert Barrett (citrus fruits), Jose Calzada one or more defects, such as very small size, poor taste Benza (fruits of Peru), Clarkson (South African fruits), or appeal, limited adaptability, or limited distribution. William 0. Cooper (citrus fruits), Derek Cormack The major fruits are not all well known. Some excellent (arrangements for review in Africa), Milton de Albu- fruits which rival the commercialized greatest are still querque (Brazilian fruits), Enriquito D.