Biological Conservation Newsletter
No. 105
January 1992
Editor: Jane Villa-Lobos
PRESERVING WILD RELATIVES OF FOOD CROPS
The Department of Agriculture has established two test sites in Ecuador for preserving wild relatives of food crops in their native habitats.
Botanist Calvin R. Sperling initiated the in situ experiment to study if wild plant reserves can be a companion to seed banks. U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service currently oversees a system of banks or repositories in the United States where genetic material of plants from around the world is stored.
Agricultural Research Service botanists Calvin Sperling and Jim Duke, in collaboration with staff of the Ecuadorian National Agricultural Institute and The Nature Conservancy, selected two test sites in the Ecuadorian highlands. They made a quick inventory of the wild relatives of agricultural crops present in two reserves, one in the south and one in the north of the country. Wild relatives of potatoes, blueberries, currants, gooseberries, blackberries and beans were found, as well as wild tomatoes and walnuts, which were growing nearby.
Saving a plant species in its native habitat also preserves other organisms which may prove to be ecologically important. Scientists believe it is better to conserve them in situ in ecosystem reserves than to collect and preserve only small samples of germplasm resources in seed banks. It may be as cost effective to collect what a researcher needs each time from the wild, at a reserve, as it is to maintain the total diversity of wild relatives in a gene bank.
In situ preservation is successful only if the inventoried area is kept undisturbed, monitored and managed. Countries such as Mexico have taken steps to preserve wild plants as a safeguard against losing its biodiversity. Mexico established an in situ reserve for Zea diploperennis , the only perennial wild relative of maize, in the Sierra de Manantlan. At this site, a sizeable acreage protects this recently discovered, rare endemic plant species along with its associated vegetation.
In situ reserves constitutes a biological insurance policy for germplasm resources within a natural ecosystem and provide an opportunity for scientists to study the ecological components and evolutionary processes. Information from these studies may benefit future generations.
BIODIVERSITY PROGRAM WITH RUSSIA
In 1992 the National Academy of Sciences will jointly sponsor a three-week summer program in biodiversity with experts from the Russian republic. The program will involve an interdisciplinary team of ten American specialists and ten Russian specialists, all of whom have earned the Ph.D. degree or achieved equivalent accomplishments since January 1, 1984.
The focus of the program will be on anthropogenic impacts on biodiversity. The June 1992 summer session will consist of three weeks of joint research and consultations at two sites in California. The program will investigate how federal, state and local authorities are cooperatively working with scientific and public interest groups. In this regard, many factors bear on the preservation of biodiversity, and a wide range of topics in the natural and social sciences are relevant to the general theme. The 1993 session will have a similar orientation. It will be held at a Russian site with problems analogous to those of California: encroachment of urbanization, pollution and industry on flora and fauna.
To apply to this program please submit five copies of each of the following to the Office of Soviet and East European Affairs, National Research Council, 2102 Constitution Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20418, Attn: Kathleen K. Trivers, (202) 334-3654 by February 7, 1992: curriculum vitae; list of publications; description of the relevance of participation in the program to present activities and long-term plans; two letters of recommendation; and a statement of intent to participate in the full three weeks of both the 1992 and 1993 programs. Notification date: March 9, 1992.
GRANTS/FELLOWSHIPS
The Sophie Danforth Conservation Biology Fund has available
grants of up to $1000. Projects that enhance biodiversity and
maintain ecosystems receive the highest funding priority. Field
studies, environmental education programs, and the development of
techniques for propagation programs are also appropriate.
Proposals for single-species preservation are inappropriate.
Proposals are due 1 May, and grants will be awarded in July.
Contact: Anne Savage, Director of Research, Roger Williams Park
Zoo, Elmwood Avenue, Providence, RI 02905; Tel. (401) 785-9450.
The Catherine Beattie Fellowship was created to promote the conservation of rare and endangered flora in the United States through the programs of the Center for Plant Conservation, headquartered at the Missouri Botanical Garden. The research grant enables a horticulture student to conduct field research on the biology and management of rare plants in conjunction with the Center's Botanic Garden programs.
Preference is given to students whose projects focus on the endangered flora of the Carolinas and the southeastern United States. For further information, contact: Scholarship Committee, c/o Mrs. Monica Freeman, The Garden Club of America, 598 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10022.
COURSES IN TROPICAL DIVERSITY
The Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS) is offering a three-week field course, Tropical Diversity, to be taught in Costa Rica, August 1-21, 1992. This course offers an intensive, total immersion experience that will require full-time dedication. The course will work at three different sites, carefully chosen to exemplify the wide range of tropical habitats. Academic credit (3 hours) will be granted through the University of Costa Rica.
Tropical Diversity is intended primarily for graduate students in the life and social sciences who seek an intensive introduction to tropical ecology. Applications are also welcome from faculty and postdocs, in particular those who wish to make a research shift toward the tropics or to enhance their teaching. Advanced undergraduates will also be considered provided that they have adequate course work in the life sciences and demonstrated independence and maturity.
The application deadline is April 15, 1992; selections will
be announced by mid May. The course fee covers all costs except
airfare to Costa Rica and personal expenses: $1,550 for students
and faculty from OTS member institutions, $2,600 for others.
Additional information and application forms may be requested
from: Dr. Lucinda McDade, Organization for Tropical Studies, P.
O. Box DM, Duke Station, Durham, NC 27706; Tel. (919) 684-5774;
Fax (919) 684-5661.
The Ecology of the Rainforest: Tropical Biology and Conservation, sponsored by a consortium of colleges and universities and administered by the Council on International Educational Exchange, will be held June 18-August 6 at the Monteverde Institute, Monteverde, Costa Rica. The program provides students with credit (10 semester hours) for three courses: tropical biology, independent research in field biology and Spanish language/agroecology. Students attend lectures on a broad range of topics in tropical biology emphasizing the ecology of tropical ecosystems and the factors affecting conservation in the tropics.
Applicants must have 2 semesters of college-level biology or environmental studies and a 2.75 overall grade point average. Deadline for applications is March 15. For further information, contact: University Programs, Council on International Educational Exchange, 205 East 42nd St., New York, NY 10017; Tel. (212) 661-1414, ext. 1236.
FUTURE MEETINGS
February 6-9. The Second Global Structures Convocation, a
working conference on international laws and institutions for
sustainable development and a viable global community, will be
held at the J.W. Marriott Hotel, Washington, DC. The convocation
will search for gloabl structures needed to achieve a world
community that is environmentally healthy, free from war, and
economically sound. Registration fee: $100. For information,
write: The Second Global Structures Convocation, 1000 16th
Street, N.W., Suite 810, Washington, DC 20036.
February 6-11. The annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) will meet in Chicago, Illinois. Over 200 sessions are organized with symposia topics, such as crisis in health care, preserving world peace, industry and the changing workforce, climate and global change, environmental modeling and policy, ethics and research policies, and medicines and technologies of the future. For more information, write: AAAS Meeting Promotion Dept., 1333 H Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20005.
CURRENT LITERATURE
Anon. 1991. Hawaii faces extinction crisis. Pacific Daily
News November 9.
Anon. 1991. Insects are worth saving. Canadian
Biodiversity 1(3): 36-38. (IUCN resolution on conservation of
insects and other invertebrates)
Abate, T. 1992. Which bird is the better indicator species
for old-growth forest? BioScience 42(1): 8-9. (Northern
spotted owl vs. marbled murrelet)
Akai, I. 1991. Protected area management and community
development in Japan. TigerPaper 18(2): 11-14.
Akaka, M. 1991. Hawaii's extinction crisis demands action
now. Honolulu Star-Bulletin November 28: A-13.
Ames, M. 1991. Saving some cetaceans may require breeding in
captivity. BioScience 41(11): 746-749. (Chinese river
dolphin)
Anderson, K. 1991. Wild plant management: cross-cultural
examples of the small farmers of Juamave, Mexico, and the
southern Miwok of the Yosemite region. Arid Lands Newsletter
31: 18-23.
Anderson, R. and Shafer, D. 1991. Holocene biogeography of
spruce-fir forests in southeastern Arizona - implications for the
endangered Mt. Graham red squirrel. Madrono 38(4): 287-
295.
Bishop. M. 1991. A new tune for an ancient harmony. The
ICF Bugle 17(4): 2-3. (Black-necked cranes, Tibet)
Boersma, P. 1991. Status of wild and captive penguin
populations. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 6(12): 381-382.
Borowsky, R. and Kallman, K. 1991. Loss of polymorphism in a
declining population of Xiphophorus variatus. J. of
Heredity 82(5): 387-390. (Poeciliid fish, Mexico)
Boucher, N. 1991. Smart as gods. Can we put the Everglades
back together again? Wilderness 55(195): 10-21. (Florida)
Breen, C. 1990. Are intermittently flooded wetlands of arid
environments important conservation sites? Madoqua 17(2):
61-65. (Namibia)
Bruemmer, F. 1992. And then there were none. Int.
Wildlife 22(1): 20-23. (Gulf of St. Lawrence, once home of
walruses)
Brush, G. 1991. The Chesapeake Bay. Geotimes 36(12):
21-23. (Preserving water quality in Maryland)
Burke, R. 1991. Relocations, repatriations, and
translocations of amphibians and reptiles: taking a broader view.
Herpetologica 47(3): 350-357. (Techniques for
conservation)
Burnett, J., Dauphine, C., McCrindle, S. and Mosquin, T.
1991. On the Brink: Endangered Species in Canada .
Environment Canada, Ottawa, Canada. 192 pp.
Canadian Environmental Network. 1991. The Green List.
Canadian Environmental Network, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. 424 pp.
(Guide to Canadian environmental organizations and agencies)
Cherfas, J. 1991. Disappearing mushrooms: another mass
extinction? Science 254(5037): 1458. (Europe)
Dickson, J. 1990. Conservation and the botany of Bings:
observation from the Glasgow area. Bot. Soc. Edinburgh Trans.
45(5): 493-500. (Scotland)
Duellman, W. and Koechlin, J. 1991. The Reserva Cuzco
Amazonico, Peru: biological investigations, conservation, and
ecotourism. Occ. Papers Mus. Nat. Hist. Univ. Kansas 142:
1-38.
Ehrlich, P. 1991. Canaries in the global mine. Living
Bird 10(4): 10-13. (Decline of songbirds)
Finlayson, M. and Moser, M. 1991. Wetlands. Facts on
File, Inc., New York, NY. 224 pp.
Gamez, R. 1991. Biodiversity conservation through
facilitation of its sustainable use: Costa Rica's National
Biodiversity Institute. Trends in Ecology & Evolution
6(12): 377-378.
Hall, R. 1991. Hawai'i is being invaded by illegal alien
animals and plants. 'Elepaio 51(11): 69.
Hawaii State Department of Land and Natural Resources, U.S.
Fish & Wildlife Service and The Nature Conservancy. 1991.
Hawaii's Extinction Crisis: A Call to Action. A Report on the
Status of Hawaii's Natural Heritage. Honolulu, Hawaii. 16 pp.
Hawkes, M. 1991. Seaweeds of British Columbia: biodiversity,
ecology and conservation status. Canadian Biodiversity
1(3): 4-11.
Henry, P. 1992. Swan lake. Int. Wildlife 22(1): 12-
19. (Cygnets making a comeback in Finland)
Herkert, J. 1991. Endangered and Threatened Species of
Illinois: Status and Distribution, Volume 1 - Plants. Illinois
Endangered Species Protection Board, Springfield, Illinois. 158
pp.
Heyns, P. 1990. Guidelines for the utilization of water
resources and protection of wetlands in Namibia. Madoqua
17(2): 249-251.
Hildyard, N. 1991. Sustaining the hunger machine: a critique
of FAO's SARD Strategy. The Ecologist 21(6): 239-243.
(Agenda for action for Sustainable Agriculture & Rural
Development)
Hunter, M. 1991. Conservation strategies for the giant and
red panda. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 6(12): 379-380.
Irish, J. 1990. Conservation aspects of karst waters in
Namibia. Madoqua 17(2): 141-146. (Namibia)
Johnson, D. (ed.) 1991. Palms for Human Needs in Asia.
Palm Utilization and Conservation in India, Indonesia, Malaysia
and the Philippines. A.A. Balkema Publishers, Rotterdam,
Netherlands. 264 pp.
Kanamine, L. 1991. "Silent extinction" befalls Hawaii's
flora, fauna. USA Today November 7: 5A.
Keating, D. 1991. Florida's barrier reef seen doomed by
2000. Washington Post December 29: A3. (Florida Keys)
Keatinge, T. 1990. Scotland's threatened mires and mosses:
policies to protect the peatlands of Caithness and Sutherland.
Bot. Soc. Edinburgh Trans. 45(5): 417-426.
Kong, N. 1991. The management of protected areas in
Malaysia. TigerPaper 18(2): 21-26.
Laven, R. et al. 1991. Population structure of the
recently rediscovered Hawaiian shrub Tetramolopium
arenarium. Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 78(4): 1073-1080.
(Previously considered extinct)
Les, D. et al. 1991. Genetic consequences of rarity
in Aster furcatus (Asteraceae), a threatened, self-
incompatible plant. Evolution 45(7): 1641-1650.
Lipske, M. 1992. How a monkey saved the jungle. Int.
Wildlife 22(1): 38-43. (Black howler monkey, Belize)
Loftin, K. 1991. Restoring the Kissimmee River. Geotimes
36(12): 14-18. (Florida)
McAllister, D. 1991. Estimating the pharmaceutical values of
forests, Canadian and tropical. Canadian Biodiversity = F1
1(3): 16-25.
Maehr, D., Land, E. and Roof, J. 1991. Florida panthers.
Research & Exploration 7(4): 414-431.
Mardon, D. 1990. Conservation of montane willow scrub in
Scotland. Bot. Soc. Edinburgh Trans. 45(5): 427-436.
McGoodwin, J. 1990. Crisis in the World's Fisheries:
People, Problems, and Politics. Stanford Univeristy Press,
Stanford, California. 235 pp.
Mlot, C. 1991. Extinction by global warming? BioScience
41(11): 754. (Uncompahgre fritillary butterfly, Colorado)
Payne, L. 1991. Networking. Living Bird 10(4): 24-29.
(Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network to protect
shorebird habitat)
Payne, R. 1991. Potential economic and political impacts of
ecotourism: a research note. Texas Journal of Political
Studies 13(1): 65-77.
Planterose, B. and Planterose, E. 1990. Restoring our native
woodlands: a case study on the RSPB Reserve of Isle Martin.
Bot. Soc. Edinburgh Trans. 45(5): 501-508. (Scotland)
Raven, J. 1990. The coastal fringe: habitats threatened
through global warming. Bot. Soc. Edinburgh Trans. 45(5):
437-462. (Scotland)
Reimchen, T. 1991. Biodiversity studies and forest
management in British Columbia. Canadian Biodiversity
1(3): 34-35.
Robbins, J. 1992. Can Earth survive the big mac attack? E
Magazine 3(1): 38-43, 60-61. (Reduction in meat consumption
may save the environment)
Rodgers, W. 1991. Protected area networks, conservation
adequacy and management directions: information from India.
TigerPaper 18(2): 5-10.
Rotmans, J. and Swart, R. 1991. Modelling tropical
deforestation and its consequences for global climate.
Ecological Modelling 58: 217-247.
Sachs, W. 1991. Environment and development: the story of a
dangerous liaison. The Ecologist 21(6): 252-257.
Santiapillai, C. 1991. Management of elephants in the
Xishuangbanna Nature Reserve, P.R. China. TigerPaper
18(2): 1-5.
Schrader, H. 1990. Approach of the Ministry of Wildlife,
Conservation and Tourism to wetlands in Namibia. Madoqua
17(2): 253-254.
Scott, M. 1990. Losses and gains to the Scottish flora.
Bot. Soc. Edinburgh Trans. 45(5): 403-416.
Stewart, N. 1990. Red data books for cryptogamic plants.
Bot. Soc. Edinburgh Trans. 45(5): 473-482.
Swafford, D. 1991. Rx for a sick reef. Sea Frontier
37(6): 38-43. (Florida Keys)
Swanson, R. 1991. Pesticides and endangered species: a
product labeling program to minimize exposure and risk to
protected species. Canadian Biodiversity 1(3): 12-15.
Synder, G. 1991. Will orchids survive? The current situation
in Costa Rica. Am. Orchid Soc. Bull. 60(12): 1166-1175.
TenBruggencate, J. 1991. Doomsday for Hawaii wildlife.
Honolulu Advertiser November 7.
TenBruggencate, J. 1991. The Kauai 'o'o -- a glimpse of a
vanished breed. Honolulu Sunday Star-Bulletin & Advertiser
November 17.
Upreti, B. 1991. Status of national parks and protected
areas in Nepal. TigerPaper 18(2): 27-32.
Wagner, P. 1991. Progress is destroying Hawaii's island
paradise. Honolulu Star-Bulletin November 8.
Watling, R. 1990. On the way towards a red data book on
British fungi. Bot. Soc. Edinburgh Trans. 45(5): 463-472.
Wilcock, C. 1990. Botanical sanctuaries for Scotland's
flora. Bot. Soc. Edinburgh Trans. 45(5): 509-517.
Williams, A. 1990. Numbers and conservation importance of
coastal birds at the Cape Cross lagoons, Namibia. Madoqua
17(2): 239-243.
Williams, A. 1990. Wetland birds and conservation in
Namibia: an overview. Madoqua 17(2): 245-248.
Williams, M. (ed.) 1991. Wetlands: A Threatened
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419 pp.
Wilson, E. 1991. Rainforest canopy. The high frontier.
Nat. Geographic 180(6): 78-107.
Winkelman, M. 1991. Native California plants: potential
treatment for diabetes. Arid Lands Newsletter 31: 14-17.
Wolkomir, R. and Wolkomir, J. 1992. Caught in the crossfire.
Int. Wildlife 22(1): 4-11. (Effects of Persian Gulf War on
wildlife)
Woo, B.-W. 1991. Status of management of the protected areas
in the Republic of Korea. TigerPaper 18(2): 14-20.
Wood, D. 1991. Hawaiian Islands face extensive ecological
peril. The Christian Science Monitor November 7.
Zika, P. 1991. Discovery of Juncus vaseyi (Juncaceae)
in Vermont. Rhodora 93(876): 395-397. (Threatened by human
activity)
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