Odonata species of special concern for Oklahoma, USA

Assessment of conservation status is a necessary step before management plans can be formulated. Historically such assessments have a strong bias toward vertebrates, particularly endothermic terrestrial vertebrates (i.e. birds and mammals). Invertebrates, by contrast, tend to be ignored, and many insect groups, despite being species rich and reasonably well studied, such as the Odonata (damselflies and dragonflies), have not been assessed or have been assessed only at a broad geographic level (e.g. internationally or continentally). Assessment at a state level recognizes that states often are at the front of regional and local conservation and management planning and implementation. On the basis of our extensive surveys across the Great Plains state of Oklahoma in the central USA, as well as our compilation of thousands of museum specimens dating back to 1877, we were able to discern the status and distribution of each of the 161 species of odonates recorded in the state. In doing so we were able to assess a conservation rank, using NatureServe criteria, for each species.We conclude that nine species are critically imperiled (S1) in the state. These species require immediate conservation attention, initially at the level of intensive surveys to delineate the full extent of the geographic range in the state and to determine the population size and habitat needs. We categorized an additional 13 species as imperiled (S2) and placed 18 species on a “watch list” (S3). Species on these two lists will require field surveys as well, and regions of high occurrence of listed species ought to be targeted for such efforts and considered as set-asides for preservation of key members of the odonate fauna in the state

Jakatar- Proposing a New Lifestyle

There are two major effects of global warming; rising temperatures and melting glaciers. More than five million cubic miles of ice fields are continuously melting. Experts estimate if all melting drains to the sea, the sea-level would rise 216 feet. It will cause a different life style for the future. The effects of sea-level rise are scarcity of resources and a lack of habitat. We propose a new infrastructure, through the use of existing buildings, with different function to help humanity cope with rising sea-levels

Data from: Beyond surrogacy: A multi-taxon approach to conservation biogeography

Biogeographic analysis of species turnover (β diversity) of plants and animals among regions often yields conflicting results, with regions of high β diversity identified for some taxonomic groups but not others. Such discordance calls into question use of surrogate taxa to forge conservation plans. This discordance begs for a means of comparing multiple taxa across phyla in a manner that is cost-effective, considers limitations in computer resources in certain global regions, and is understood by policy makers and land managers. As a test case for a method taking into account these considerations, we used species lists for ten organismal groups (spanning plants, vertebrates, and invertebrates) to identify regions of high β diversity using Monmonier’s algorithm, a spatially explicit technique that is readily implemented and interpreted. Data were for montane (>1000 m elevation) species across the Eastern Arc of Tanzania and Kenya and surrounding areas. Our results indicate that surrogacy does not make for the most effective expenditure of conservation efforts. We also show that to use a multi-taxon approach one need not to rely on intensive surveys of areas in order to make conservation decisions, including reserve selection. Our approach also eliminates the need for complex modeling and comparisons common to many GIS-based complementarity techniques. Additionally, a wide variety of socioeconomic, political, demographic, geological, climatological, and evolutionary factors can be incorporated into the technique to help shape conservation biogeography from a local and regional perspective. This technique can bridge the gap between conservation biogeography theory and application in tropical regions and beyond

Smith-Patten_Patten_C_Program

C program to create bootstrap matrice

Smith-Patten_Patten_calculator_matrices

Calculator used for pairwise Jaccard’s dissimilarity indices; resulting matrices for all tax

An annotated list of the avifauna of Palenque, Chiapas Lista comentada de la avifauna de Palenque, Chiapas

The primary lowland rainforest around the Mayan ruins of Palenque, in the state of Chiapas, Mexico, has been the focus of much study. The second growth and the mosaic of pasture and farmland surrounding the protected area of Palenque National Park also have received some attention by researchers and visitors. Until now though, a complete avifaunal list for this area had not been compiled. In our judgment, 353 species have been recorded reliably, a hundred more than previously reported. An additional 27 species have been reported at the site on multiple occasions but for which we feel there is no definitive evidence. There are 202 regular breeders, most of them resident, and 87 migrants that winter or pass through regularly. Relative capture rates for understorey birds indicate that Phaethornis longirostris and Henicorhina leucosticta are most often caught, and some rarely seen birds, such a Geotrygon montana, are less rare than previously thought. In a state in which habitat destruction is routine, in which national parks are increasingly becoming forested islands, we need baseline data such as these to get a clearer idea of what occurs there if we are to understand anthropogenic effects on forests.La selva tropical perennifolia primaria en los alrededores de las ruinas mayas de Palenque, en el estado de Chiapas, México, ha sido objeto de muchos estudios. El bosque secundario y el mosaico de potreros y tierras agrícolas que rodean el área protegida del Parque Nacional Palenque también han recibido la atención de investigadores y visitantes. Sin embargo, hasta ahora no ha sido recopilado un inventario de la avifauna. Consideramos que 353 especies han sido registradas confiablemente, 100 más de las que han sido registradas previamente. Otras 27 especies han sido reportadas para este sitio, pero sentimos que no hay suficiente evidencia de su presencia allí. Hay 202 especies que anidan de manera regular, la mayoría residentes permanentes, y 87 migratorias que inviernan o pasan a lo largo de su ruta. Las tasas de captura relativas de las aves del sotobosque indican que Phaethornis longirostris y Henicorhina leucosticta son las especies capturadas con mayor frecuencia, y que algunas aves avistadas raramente, como Geotrygon montana, son menos raras de lo que se creía anteriormente. En un estado en que la destrucción de hábitat es común y las áreas protegidas se convierten cada vez más en islas de bosque, necesitamos información de base como la presentada aquí para tener una idea más clara de los efectos antropogénicos sobre las selvas