DOCSLIB.ORG

Informing Decisions on an Extremely Data Poor Species Facing Imminent Extinction

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Informing Decisions on an Extremely Data Poor Species Facing Imminent Extinction Informing decisions on an extremely data poor species facing imminent extinction M ATTHEW J. GRAINGER,DUSIT N GOPRASERT P HILIP J.K. MC G OWAN and T OMMASO S AVINI Abstract Some of the species that are believed to have the Convention on Biological Diversity’s Strategic Plan for highest probability of extinction are also amongst the Biodiversity – (Secretariat of the Convention on most poorly known, and this makes it extremely difficult Biological Diversity, ) and target . of the to decide how to spend scarce resources. Assessments of UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (UN Sustainable conservation status made on the basis of loss or degradation Development Knowledge Platform, ). Our understand- of habitat and lack of records may provide compelling indi- ing of how high the probability of extinction is for individual cations of a decline in geographical range and population species is variable, as is our ability to identify places that size, but they do not help identify where conservation action should be priorities for action. In some instances, species might be best targeted. Methods for assessing the probabil- are well known and easily detectable, meaning that there ity of extinction and for modelling species’ distributions is a sound basis for identifying where and how to act. For exist, but their data requirements often exceed the informa- other species, however, it is extremely difficult to be confi- tion that is available for some of the most urgent conserva- dent about their proximity to extinction, let alone decide tion cases. Here we use all available information (localities, where searches should be focused or where conservation in- expert information, climate and landcover) about a high- terventions should be implemented. This variation in our priority Vietnamese bird species (Edwards’s pheasant understanding is typically a result of variable information Lophura edwardsi) to assess objectively the probability of about species, across both space and time, which, in turn, its persistence, and where surveys or other conservation ac- is attributable to factors such as detectability (Bibby et al., tion should be targeted. It is clear that the species is on the ), search effort (Boakes et al., ) and how well infor- threshold of extinction and there is an urgent need to survey mation is documented and made accessible (Boakes et al., Bach Ma National Park (including the extension) and to b). consider surveying Ke Go Nature Reserve. This approach South-east Asia has been highlighted as a region where has potential to help identify where conservation action there is both a high risk of extinction of many vertebrate should be targeted for other Critically Endangered species species (e.g. Hoffmann et al., ) and a severe lack of in- for which there is an extreme scarcity of information. formation on where and how to act to prevent their extinc- tion (Duckworth et al., ). These concerns led to a call for Keywords Data, Edwards’s pheasant, extinction, Lophura urgent action to address the threats facing tropical Asia’s edwardsi, optimal linear estimator, Siamese fireback, silver species, at the World Conservation Congress (IUCN, pheasant ), and the establishment of the Asian Species Action Partnership (ASAP, ). For many of these species the available data on location or ecology are few, and they are often considered to be of Introduction poor quality, which typically refers to old records for pecies that are considered to be close to extinction which the date and location are uncertain. Using these re- Sare often a target for conservation action. This may in- cords without critical appraisal of the nature of this uncer- volve dedicated action by conservation organizations, tainty could result in subjective assessments of where a working nationally or internationally (e.g. the Alliance for species may still occur, what its habitat is and where searches Zero Extinction, and BirdLife International through its should be focused. ’ Preventing Extinctions Programme), or the establishment Since Edwards s pheasant Lophura edwardsi was recate- of global policy targets, such as Aichi Target of the gorized as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List in there has been increasing attention to its conservation. It is vital, therefore, that as much information as possible, MATTHEW J. GRAINGER and PHILIP J.K. MCGOWAN (Corresponding author) School even if of unknown quality, is used as the basis for defining of Biology, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK ’ E-mail [email protected] the species status and deciding what conservation action should be undertaken. Here we make use of all available in- DUSIT NGOPRASERT and TOMMASO SAVINI Conservation Ecology Programme, King ’ Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok, Thailand formation to model the potential for extinction of Edwards s Received January . Revision requested February . pheasant and compare this with the two other Lophura spe- Accepted May . First published online August . cies inhabiting the same area. We then examine the spatial Oryx, 2019, 53(3), 484–490 © 2017 Fauna & Flora International doi:10.1017/S0030605317000813 Downloaded from https://www.cambridge.org/core. IP address: 170.106.40.139, on 28 Sep 2021 at 22:46:57, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605317000813 Data poor species facing extinction 485 uncertainty associated with the location data to determine if Modelling time to extinction a species distribution model could be produced to guide sur- vey effort. Finally, we produce a Bayesian model to predict The optimal linear estimator (Cooke, ; Roberts & Solow, ’ current habitat availability and identify sites where the spe- ; Solow, ), or Cooke s estimator (Collen et al., cies may still occur. ), is a non-parametric extinction date estimator. The approach is based on the Weibull distribution, a two- parameter model that has its origin in engineering risk analysis (Solow, ; Collen et al., ). The technique The study species: Edwards’s pheasant is considered robust where the probability of observing a In Edwards’s pheasant was uplisted to Critically species is low, and it does not assume that sighting effort Endangered (BirdLife International, ) because of the has been equal over time (Rivadeneira et al., ). Even lack of recent records (the last being a poached individual when the assumptions are not met fully because of the real- in ; one record in is unconfirmed and another ities of search effort and data availability, the optimal linear is of a captive individual with an unknown history; S.P. estimator is broadly accurate (Collen et al., ; Clements Mahood & J.C. Eames, pers. comm.), extremely high hunt- et al., ). Its prediction of time to extinction (TE) based ing pressure, and habitat fragmentation and degradation on the k most recent sightings is described by Solow ( ). throughout its known range (BirdLife International, ). There is uncertainty regarding how best to determine k. All of this led to increasing concern for the survival of the In theory it should be only the most recent sightings (Solow, species. Since , searches have been conducted at some ), but Collen et al. ( ) showed that increasing the potential sites but no evidence of the species’ existence has number of sightings used (tested to a maximum of sight- been found, although other Galliformes species have been ings) increases the accuracy of prediction. However, the ’ recorded (Pham & Le, ). First described in , records large gap in the sighting record of Edwards s pheasant dur- of the species are restricted to central Vietnam (Ha Tinh, ing the First Indochina War and the subsequent Vietnam – Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thein Hue Provinces), an War ( ) invalidates the assumptions of the optimal area long considered to be of conservation concern because linear estimator if applied to a series of records that spans of high endemism and the high level of threat to which spe- this gap (C. Clements, pers. comm., December ) and cies are subjected (Eames et al., ). Two other forms of so we used only the most recent records ( onwards). The Lophura were thought to be closely related species until re- data for this analysis consisted of the year of each confirmed cently, but are now considered to be conspecific: the imper- observation and a test year ( ). We used the package ial pheasant L. imperialis has been shown to be a naturally sExtinct (Clements, )inRv. (R Development occurring hybrid of Edwards’s pheasant and the silver Core Team, ) to calculate the optimal linear estimator ’ pheasant L. nycthemera (Hennache et al., ), and the for Edwards s pheasant and two congeneric species, the sil- Vietnamese pheasant L. hatinhensis is now considered to ver pheasant and the Siamese fireback L. diardi, which are be an inbred form of Edwards’s pheasant (Hennache extant in the region. Data for these other Lophura pheasants et al., ). Henceforth we refer to all forms of the species were also extracted from Boakes et al. ( a), with more re- as Edwards’s pheasant. The species went unrecorded be- cent records extracted from the Global Biodiversity tween the early s and late s, during which time Information Facility (GBIF, ). much of its suspected habitat was further defoliated and de- graded (BirdLife International, ). Spatial uncertainty We suspect that there is positional uncertainty associated Methods with some, if not all, of the location points and that for some records this is up to km (some locations were re- Location data ported as the nearest commune, village or district centre). Positional uncertainty in species distribution models has Geo-referenced location data for Edwards’s pheasant were been evaluated for cases in which errors were known and extracted from the Galliformes database of Boakes et al. relatively small (, km), and found to have little effect (a). As noted above, records previously ascribed to L. (Graham et al., ; Johnson & Gillingham, ). hatinhensis and L.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • CITES Cop16 Prop. 17 IUCN-TRAFFIC Analysis (PDF, 88KB)
    Ref. CoP16 Prop. 17 Deletion of Imperial Pheasant Lophura imperialis from Appendix I Proponent: Switzerland, as Depositary Government, at the request of the Animals Committee (prepared by France) Summary: The Imperial Pheasant Lophura imperialis is a rare dark-blue pheasant known in the wild from just four records from Viet Nam. First described in 1924 from a single live pair, it is now accepted as being an occasional naturally-occurring hybrid between Silver Pheasant L. nycthemera and Edward’s Pheasant L. edwardsi. A bird captured in 1990 was likely a hybrid between L. nycthemera and Vietnamese Pheasant L. hatinhensis which itself has been found to be an inbred form of L. edwardsi. There have been no other confirmed reports of Imperial Pheasant in the wild. A captive stock was established in Europe and the USA from a pair caught in 1923, which were subsequently cross-bred with Lophura nycthemera to create new stock. Birds with Imperial Pheasant phenotype have also been created in captivity by hybridizing Silver Pheasant and Edward’s Pheasant. Lophura imperialis and L. edwardsi were both listed in CITES Appendix I in 1975. Since 1975 international trade in 31 L. imperialis individuals has been reported in the CITES trade database, all but four declared as captive-bred. These four comprise animals exported before 1999 from non-range States with no source code included in the record. There is no reason to suppose that these were not also captive-bred. Lophura imperialis is proposed for removal from Appendix I on the basis that it is no longer recognised as a species.
    [Show full text]
  • Hybridization & Zoogeographic Patterns in Pheasants
    University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Paul Johnsgard Collection Papers in the Biological Sciences 1983 Hybridization & Zoogeographic Patterns in Pheasants Paul A. Johnsgard University of Nebraska-Lincoln, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/johnsgard Part of the Ornithology Commons Johnsgard, Paul A., "Hybridization & Zoogeographic Patterns in Pheasants" (1983). Paul Johnsgard Collection. 17. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/johnsgard/17 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Papers in the Biological Sciences at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Paul Johnsgard Collection by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. HYBRIDIZATION & ZOOGEOGRAPHIC PATTERNS IN PHEASANTS PAUL A. JOHNSGARD The purpose of this paper is to infonn members of the W.P.A. of an unusual scientific use of the extent and significance of hybridization among pheasants (tribe Phasianini in the proposed classification of Johnsgard~ 1973). This has occasionally occurred naturally, as for example between such locally sympatric species pairs as the kalij (Lophura leucol11elana) and the silver pheasant (L. nycthelnera), but usually occurs "'accidentally" in captive birds, especially in the absence of conspecific mates. Rarely has it been specifically planned for scientific purposes, such as for obtaining genetic, morphological, or biochemical information on hybrid haemoglobins (Brush. 1967), trans­ ferins (Crozier, 1967), or immunoelectrophoretic comparisons of blood sera (Sato, Ishi and HiraI, 1967). The literature has been summarized by Gray (1958), Delacour (1977), and Rutgers and Norris (1970). Some of these alleged hybrids, especially those not involving other Galliformes, were inadequately doculnented, and in a few cases such as a supposed hybrid between domestic fowl (Gallus gal/us) and the lyrebird (Menura novaehollandiae) can be discounted.
    [Show full text]
  • Proposal for Amendment of Appendix I Or II for CITES Cop16
    Original language: French CoP16 Prop. 17 CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES OF WILD FAUNA AND FLORA ____________________ Sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties Bangkok (Thailand), 3-14 March 2013 CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSALS FOR AMENDMENT OF APPENDICES I AND II A. Proposal Delete Lophura imperialis from Appendix I and Amend the standard reference for birds adopted by the Conference of the Parties in the Annex to Resolution Conf. 12.11 (Rev. CoP15): "Dickinson, E. C. (ed.)(2003): The Howard and Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World. Revised and enlarged 3rd Edition. 1039 pp. London (Christopher Helm)", inserting the following text in square brackets: [for all bird species – except for Lophura imperialis and the taxa mentioned below] B. Proponent Switzerland, as Depositary Government, at the request of the Animals Committee (proposal prepared by France)1. C. Supporting statement 1. Taxonomy 1.1 Class: Aves 1.2 Order: Galliformes 1.3 Family: Phasianidae 1.4 Genus, species, including author and year: Lophura imperialis, Delacour et Jabouille, 1924 Birdlife International no longer recognizes the imperial pheasant (Lophura imperialis) as a species (2011). According to the IUCN Species Survival Commission / World Pheasant Association Galliformes Specialist Group, Lophura imperialis is no longer a valid name and the taxon should be considered a natural hybrid between the species Lophura edwardsi (Oustalet, 1896) and Lophura nycthemera (Linné, 1758). As a result, Lophura imperialis has been removed from the IUCN Red List. 1 The geographical designations employed in this document do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the CITES Secretariat or the United Nations Environment Programme concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.
    [Show full text]
  • Gamebird Conservation
    Threatened Ducks and Geese West Indian Whistling Duck Hawaiian Goose Gamebird Conservation Freckled Duck by Jack Clinton-Eitniear Crested Shelduck San Antonio, Texas Baykal Teal New Zealand Brown Teal Laysan Duck Pink-headed Duck Madagascar Pochard During the first half of the nine­ from the list at the end of this article, Scaly-sided Merganser teenth century, had you ventured into they have a rather formidable chal­ Lesser White-fronted Goose a meat market in ew York or Balti­ lenge ahead of them. Red-breasted Goose more, you might well have encoun­ While it is encouraging to note that Ruddy-headed Goose tered a rather "fishy" tasting duck a number of species facing troubles in White-winged Duck offered for sale. That duck, often said the wild are well represented in cap­ Madagascar Teal to have rotted as few desired to eat tivity it is equally saddening that Hawaiian Duck them, was that of a Labrador Duck most are not. Having had the pleasure Marbled Teal (Camptorhynchus labradorius)~ a of working with tragopans, as well as Baer's Pochard now extinct species. While dis­ brown-, blue- and white-eared pheas­ Brazilian Merganser covered inhabiting the northeast sea­ ants in the late sixties, I know well of White-headed Duck board in 1789, the duck, for reasons their awe-inspiring beauty. Anyone unknown, had disappeared by 1878. who is tempted to associate bright Threatened Pheasants, While at least four species of water­ colors of enchanting combinations Francolins, Quail & Peafowl fowl have passed into extinction, I with only small birds needs to visit a Bearded Wood-partridge know of only one Gallinaceous bird, pheasant collection.
    [Show full text]
  • Forktail 30 Short Notes.P65 135 11/26/2014, 11:51 AM 136 SHORT NOTES Forktail 30 (2014)
    Forktail 30 (2014) SHORT NOTES 135 References Mayr, E. & Cottrell, G. W., eds. (1986) Checklist of the birds of the world, 11. Abdulali, H., & Unnithan S. (1986) Removal of the Northern Leaf Warbler, Cambridge, Mass.: Museum of Comparative Zoology. Phylloscopus trochilus acredula (Linnaeus) from the Indian avifauna. J. Rasmussen, P. C. & Anderton, J. C. (2005) Birds of South Asia: the Ripley guide. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 83: 209. Washington DC & Barcelona: Smithsonian Institution & Lynx Edicions. Ali, S. (1954) The birds of Gujarat. Part I. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 52: 374– Vaurie, C. (1959) The birds of the Palearctic fauna: order Passeriformes. 458. London: Witherby. Ali, S. & Ripley, S. D. (1983) Handbook of the birds of India and Pakistan, 8. Whistler, H. & Kinnear, N. B. (1934) The Vernay scientific survey of the Eastern Bombay: Oxford University Press. Ghats. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 36: 561–590. Clement, P. (2006) Species account: Willow Warbler. P.649 in J. del Hoyo, A. Zacharias, V. J., Oelke, H. & Bhardwaj, A. K. (1997) Occurrence of the Willow Elliott & D. A. Christie, eds. Handbook of the birds of the world, 11. Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus (Linnaeus) in Thekkady, Kerala, S. India. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. Indian Forester 123: 975. Grimmett, R., Inskipp, C. & Inskipp, T. (1998) Birds of the Indian subcontinent. London: Christopher Helm. V. J. ZACHARIAS, Biology Division, Northern Virginia Community Jerdon, T. C. (1840) Catalogue of the birds of the peninsula of India, arranged College, Manassas, VA 20109, USA. Email: [email protected] according to the modern system of classification; with brief notes on their habits and geographical distribution, and description of new, Nathan H.
    [Show full text]
  • Altitudinal Differences in Habitat Use by Siamese Fireback Lophura Diardi and Silver Pheasant Lophura Nycthemera in Khao Yai National Park, Thailand
    Altitudinal differences in habitat use by Siamese fireback Lophura diardi and silver pheasant Lophura nycthemera in Khao Yai National Park, Thailand * NITI SUKUMAL and TOMMASO SAVINI King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Conservation Ecology Program, School of Bioresources & Technology, 83 Moo 8 Thakham, Bangkhuntien, Bangkok 10150, Thailand. * Correspondence author - [email protected]; [email protected] Paper presented at the 4 th International Galliformes Symposium, 2007, Chengdu, China. Abstract Over the last past 25 years, Siamese fireback appear to have undergone a range extension, expanding into higher elevation habitat in Khao Yai National Park, Thailand, where previously silver pheasant predominated. To investigate this expansion, thought to have been triggered by climate change and subsequent changes in forest microhabitat conditions, a long-term project was initiated. The aim of this study was to investigate the altitudinal use of habitat of the two Lophura species. We used colour bands (rings) and radio-collars to study the birds. In the areas where pheasants were observed, we collected data on elevation and slope. The results reveal a distinct difference in habitat use and elevation between the two species, although Siamese fireback were observed at higher elevation, they prefer level areas while silver pheasant were found mainly on slopes. The results indicate differences in suitable habitat for each of the two sympatric species which appeared to be separated along an elevational gradient of approximately 15 degrees with a small overlapping area where both species cohabit in close contact. However, all nests of both Siamese fireback and silver pheasant were found on steep slopes (above 15 degrees).
    [Show full text]
  • AC26 Doc. 13.2.1, Annex – 1 Species: Argusianus Argus
    AC26 Doc. 13.2.1 Annex English only / únicamente en inglés / seulement en anglais WORLD PHEASANT ASSOCIATION - CITES GALLIFORMES PERIODIC REVIEW FINAL REPORT The approach used by the World Pheasant Association in the preparation of this report was to: Outline information gathered about the species considered for evaluation in this review was first drawn from consolidated sources, with the intent of providing a baseline summary. Consequently, only a small number of base references (containing the most current information) were referred to. The term ‘Information is not readily available’ used in sections throughout the document, indicates that the sources consulted did not contain such information and, therefore, additional information may be available either in the literature or from informed sources., such as range states Draft accounts were then circulated to members of the IUCN SSC-WPA Galliformes Specialist Group who had particular knowledge about a species. For some species, there were no known species experts. Specialist Group members checked information provided and supplemented it where possible. Responses varied in the level of detail returned for each species. All information is taken from BirdLife International species factsheets 2011 unless otherwise referenced. Species considered for review: Scientific name Common name Status on IUCN Red List Argusianus argus Argus pheasant Near Threatened Catreus wallichii Cheer pheasant Vulnerable Crossoptilon harmani Tibetan eared-pheasant Near Threatened Gallus sonneratii Grey junglefowl
    [Show full text]
  • WPA Survey of Captive Birds 2020
    Private Breeders & Zoo Collections (109) Approx 50% ringed Common name Latin name Adults Juveniles M F M F ? Breeding 12 Pairs 2020 Young Pairs Mth+ Satyr tragopan Tragopan satyra 31 32 14 19 5 Temminck's tragopan Tragopan temminckii 42 45 15 18 36 Cabot's tragopan Tragopan caboti 39 31 11 13 9 Koklass pheasant Pucrasia macrolopha 13 14 23 16 23 Himalayan monal Lophophorus impeyanus 23 25 11 7 36 Red junglefowl Gallus gallus 6 6 11 7 5 Ceylon junglefowl Gallus lafayettei 6 5 6 8 Grey junglefowl Gallus sonneratii 16 25 15 13 17 Green junglefowl Gallus varius 1 kalij pheasant - unknown subspecies Lophura leucomelana 3 1 1 White-crested kalij pheasant Lophura l. hamiltoni 5 4 2 Nepal Kalij pheasant Lophura l. leucomelana 7 7 1 4 Crawfurd's kalij pheasant Lophura l. crawfurdi Lineated kalij pheasant Lophura l. lineata 1 1 2 1 Silver pheasant - unknown subspecies Lophura nycthemera 2 3 1 True silver pheasant Lophura n. nycthemera 15 18 26 23 5 Berlioz’s silver pheasant Lophura n. berliozi 2 2 Lewis’s silver pheasant Lophura n. lewisi 5 5 3 3 Imperial pheasant Lophura imperialis 1 1 Edwards's pheasant Lophura edwardsi edwardsi 72 66 21 22 18 Vietnamese pheasant Lophura e. hatinhensis 50 45 17 20 18 Swinhoe's pheasant Lophura swinhoii 11 13 4 4 6 Salvadori's pheasant Lophura inornata 6 4 1 Malaysian crestless fireback Lophura e. erythrophthalma 7 10 4 2 2 Bornean crested fireback pheasant Lophura i. ignita/nobilis 3 4 1 1 Malaysian crestless fireback/Vieillot's Lophura i.
    [Show full text]
  • Edwards's Pheasant from Vietnam Critically Endangered and Possibly
    Edwards's Pheasant from Vietnam Critically endangered and possibly extinct in the wild Edwards's Pheasant was only found in the lowland forests of central Vietnam. It was always extremely rare but loss of its forest habitat, poaching and defoliation during the Vietnam war has resulted in no sightings of wild birds since the year 2000. For this reason, it now seems likely that the species is extinct in the wild. Many field surveys and camera traps have been deployed throughout its home range in recent years without success. To date, no researcher has ever seen or studied this species in the wild. History The species was originally only known from four skins of three males and one female sent by a missionary to the Paris Museum in 1895. The bird was named after a well-known French ornithologist at that time, Alphonse Milne-Edwards. In 1923, Jean Delacour, probably the greatest expert on pheasant species the world has ever known, went to Vietnam and was able to capture 22 Edwards's Pheasants and 15 survived the long journey back to France on a ship. Only three of these were females, but Delacour managed to breed the species successfully and now there may be as many as a thousand in captivity throughout the world. In 1994, the species had not been seen in Vietnam for many years, so WPA sent four pairs to Hanoi Zoo from the UK. Two year later, a wild male was discovered in a snare and taken to Hanoi Zoo, where it was able to breed successfully with one of the UK females.
    [Show full text]
  • Captive Breeding Symposium
    PH 1 993 \,VPA CAPTIVE ETFREEDI]\IG SYIVIPOSITJIVI A]VTVV FÈP =OO WPA INTERNATIONAL CAPTIVE BREEDING SYMPOSIUM ORGANISED BY WPA BENELUX AND THE CAPTIVE BREEDING ADVISORY COMMITTEE II . 12 SEPTEMBER 1993 Editor Madelon van der Zee-Willems CONTENTS page Welcome F.J. Daman Introduction J.A.Assink Demograhy and Population Genetics in Conservation Programs Mv. H. de Bois 8 Captive Breeding Strategy for the Galliformes J.A. Assink 9 An Update on the Re-Introduction of the Cheer Pheasant in Pakistan M. Hussain 16 Breeding the Ctrinese Monal in Captivity Cheng Cai Yun 25 Captive Brceding of Vo Quy's Pheasant in Hanoi Zoo Dang Gia Tung 32 Monitoring eggs R. Harvey 37 Parasites and Galliformes O. Vanparijs 43 Breeding Grouse - A review of their Captive Status and Practical Aviculture D. Hancock M The Breeding of Quail and Partridge in Captivity G.E.S. Robbins 54 Breeding Cracids in the USA Ms. R. Plassé 59 WPA Intemational Projects, the Future T.W.I. Lovel 67 The Royal Society of Antwerp celebrating its 150th Anniversary and, Antwerp City acting as the Cultural Capital of Europe may be good reasons for organizing this lst Captive Breeding Symposium of the World Pheasant Association at Antwerp Zoo. But these were only festive circumstances creating a suitable climate, not the real fundamental reasons. Galliformes and WPA itself were just "enough" for us to offer our jubilating house as a place to meet for this special occasion. When Dr Lovel, one of WPA s founders, came to Antwerp Zoo short after the start, he immediately, got active co-operation and enthusiasm.
    [Show full text]
  • Hybrid Origin of the Imperial Pheasant Lophura Imperialis (Delacour and Jabouille, 1924) Demonstrated by Morphology, Hybrid Experiments, and DNA Analyses
    Blackwell Science, LtdOxford, UKBIJBiological Journal of the Linnean Society0024-4066The Linnean Society of London, 2003? 2003 80? 573600 Original Article IMPERIAL PHEASANT ORIGIN A. HENNACHE Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2003, 80, 573–600. With 3 figures Hybrid origin of the imperial pheasant Lophura imperialis (Delacour and Jabouille, 1924) demonstrated by morphology, hybrid experiments, and DNA analyses ALAIN HENNACHE1*, PAMELA RASMUSSEN2, VITTORIO LUCCHINI3, SILVIA RIMONDI3 and ETTORE RANDI3 1Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, FRE 2632 Conservation des espèces et suivi des populations, Parc Zoologique de Clères, 76690 Clères, France 2 Michigan State University Museum and Department of Zoology, East Lansing, MI 48824–1045 USA 3Istituto Nazionale per la Fauna Selvatica, Via Cà Fornacetta 9, 40064 Ozzano dell’Emilia (BO), Italy Received 20 September 2002; accepted for publication 22 May 2003 The imperial pheasant Lophura imperialis was described in 1924 from a captive pair that was obtained in Viet- nam, and that became the sole founders of a captive line in France. Always considered a highly endangered and mysterious species, and despite concerted searches, L. imperialis was not found again in the wild until one was trapped in 1990, and the captive population gradually died out. Its status as a distinct species was unquestioned until the late 1990s when the possibility of a hybrid origin was raised. To elucidate the taxonomic status of L. imperialis, we studied all the existing museum specimens, carried out captive hybridization experiments, and analysed mitochondrial DNA and microsatellites. All these lines of evidence demonstrate congruently and conclu- sively that L. imperialis is an occasional hybrid between silver pheasant L.
    [Show full text]
  • A Survey of the Annamese Lowlands, Vietnam, and Its Implications for the Conservation of Vietnamese and Imperial Pheasants Lophura Hatinhensis and L
    Bird Conservation International (1994) 4:343-382 A survey of the Annamese Lowlands, Vietnam, and its implications for the conservation of Vietnamese and Imperial Pheasants Lophura hatinhensis and L. imperialis JONATHAN C. EAMES, FRANK R. LAMBERT and NGUYEN CU Summary During June and July 1994, five sites in the Annamese Lowlands Endemic Bird Area were surveyed for restricted-range and globally threatened birds, with the ultimate aim of identifying a suitable area for protected area establishment to safeguard populations of endemic Lophura pheasants. Vietnamese Pheasant L. hatinhensis was found at two sites situated less than 10 km apart, although only regularly encountered in one area, the Net River watershed, Quang Binh province. No conclusive evidence was found of the exist- ence of Imperial Pheasant L. imperialis at any site, although it almost certainly also occurs in the Net River watershed or close by. Where they occur, logging and hunting pose the most serious threats to the long-term survival of these endemic pheasants. Although previously believed to be largely confined to forest in flatter areas, evidence collected during the surveys suggests that L. hatinhensis is commonest on ridgetops and slopes in areas with relatively undisturbed, closed-canopy forest. Hence, a major recommendation of this study is that conservation areas for this species should include the maximum extent possible of closed-canopy or lightly logged forest that includes hilly terrain as well as lower-lying, flat areas. The most appropriate area for designation as a protected area was identified as forest in the Net River watershed. It is recommended that a full feasibility study for the establishment of such an area be undertaken as a priority, and that meanwhile a moratorium on legal logging activities and efforts to curtail illegal logging and hunting be implemented by Vietnam's Ministry of Forestry.
    [Show full text]