Zoogeography of primates in insular Southeast Asia: species-area relationships and the effects of taxonomy

Given its complex zoogeography and large number of islands insular Southeast Asia makes an excellent subject for studying the interrelationships of species richness, island area and isolation. The islands are merely highpoints of an immense shallow continental shelf which during Pleistocene glacial periods was exposed periodically as dry land connecting the now isolated islands with one another. The area is home to a large number of primate taxa, including many endemic to the region (Nasalis, Presbytis, Pongo, Symphalangus, Simias, Tarsius). Worldwide, the number of described (extant) species of primates has doubled in the last two decades partially as a result of applying a different species concept (viz. Phylo-genetic Species Concept PSC as opposed to the Biological Species Concept BSC). According to Isaac et al. (Trends in Ecology and Evolution 19: 464-469, 2004) this 'taxonomic inflation' will influence the outcome of macroecological studies. We studied the species-area relationships in Primates on 118 islands in insular Southeast Asia, and used two taxonomies (PSC and BSC). The number of primate species (PSC 37 species, BSC 23 species) is highly significantly related to surface area of the islands, and the slope of the curve is similar for both PSC and BSC species (z = 0.13). Species 'newly' described under the PSC are not only from large islands but also smaller ones hence affecting neither intercept nor the slope of the curve. Area alone was a much better predictor for primate species richness than models that included other macroecological variables (latitude, longitude, altitude, distance to mainland, greatest depth between island and mainland, distance to neighbouring islands). Degree of isolation has little influence on species number but both longitude and latitude are inversely correlated with the number of species per island, suggesting that species numbers decrease in a northerly and easterly direction. The low z-values suggest that for primates the islands of Southeast Asia are perhaps less isolated than previously recognised

The Status of Three Northern Migrant Raptors Rarely Observed on Java

In the course of a study on raptor migration the central Java, Indonesia, during the periods September-January 1998 and September-October 1999, three species were recorded which have rarely, if ever, been recorded on the island: Common Buzzard Buteo buteo, Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennattts and Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus. Based on a study of the literature and museum skins, and previous experience with the respective species, their identification and status in the Indo-Malayan region is discussed. Raptors migrating through Java originate from northern Asia and might migrate further to Bali and possibly the Lesser Sunda Islands. All species are essentially open woodland species. The increase in the number of migrant species observed on Java and Bali is most likely due to an increase in focused research accompanied by better identification techniques but may also indicate an expansion of species' ranges due to changing land-use in western Indonesia, with closed canopy forest being increasingly replaced by more open types of forest and cultivated land

Trade and ethnozoological use of African lorisiformes in the last 20 years

Trade in primates is considered a major impediment to primate conservation globally. The bushmeat trade in West and Central Africa is considered largely unsustainable and represents one of the main threats to biodiversity. Furthermore, the use of primates in traditional practices and medicine includes a third of the African primate species. Little is known about the trade in the African mainland lorisiforms; pottos, angwantibos and galagos. Aiming to fill this knowledge gap we created an online survey, conducted a literature review, and analyzed CITES trade records, focusing on the last two decades. We obtained 188 questionnaire responses from researchers and people working in 31 different countries in sub-Saharan Africa. We found a total of 33 publications reporting on trade in African lorisiforms, and CITES records indicate that almost 2000 lorisiforms were traded internationally from African range countries. Fifty-three percent of respondents provided meaningful details about aspects of the trade in African lorisiforms from 50% of the range countries. Galagos were reported by respondents in larger numbers than pottos and angwantibos, and mainly occurred in the pet trade. Pottos were the most frequently mentioned taxon in the literature, when all trade types were combined. Across all of the sources (online survey, literature and CITES database), trade in pottos and angwantibos was reported from 12 countries, and galagos from 23 countries. Trade was reported to occur mainly within rural settings (64%), potentially indicating that demand is not high enough to fuel long distance trading. However, as seen in the Asian lorisiforms, once quantitative studies were conducted, the threat that trade posed became alarmingly apparent and is now considered a major impediment to their conservation. Our insight into the trade of African lorisiforms should be followed up with concerted studies, with an emphasis on quantifying trade to the species level

Nachtmerries over een wereld vol miscommunicatie

In dit betoog is vanuit het absurdisme en het surrealisme gekeken naar zeven korte (film)producties van David Lynch. Met als referentiekader de theatertheorie – het surrealisme, het surrealistisch theater der wreedheid en het absurd theater – is in de filmanalyse de aandacht met name gericht op de rol van dromen, hallucinaties en fantasieën, alsmede de rol van het woord en de communicatie tussen de personages. Uiteindelijk is het doel dan ook om meer inzicht te verkrijgen in de korte films van David Lynch en bovendien de aandacht te vestigen op korte films in het algemeen

Re-evaluating the notion of value in wildlife trade research from a service marketing perspective

The trade in wildlife and wildlife products is one of the leading causes of population decline for thousands of species. It is critical that researchers use all available theories and techniques at hand to tackle this conservation crisis. Here, we integrate current services marketing theory with our existing understanding of behaviour change in wildlife trade research and propose future areas of transdisciplinary research. We first used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic review and Meta Analysis methodology to perform a systematic literature review of 227 articles from 76 journals to explore the current understanding of value in wildlife trade literature. Our results showed over 90% of articles used the term value to describe monetary worth and no articles provided a definition or justification of this use. We then contribute to scientific discourse by presenting Service Dominant Logic from marketing theory as a novel lens through which to explore consumer behaviour and the concept of value in the wildlife trade. We outline future avenues of research that will improve the ability of conservation practitioners to create meaningful behaviour change and system transformation using a wholly novel conceptualisation that synthesises the two disciplines of marketing and conservation

Personality Types and Enrichment Engagement: Does Primate Personality Affect Enrichment Engagement And Behaviour In L'Hoest's Monkeys? How Can We Use This To Tailor Enrichment To Individual Animals?

Zoos have developed enrichment programmes to tackle behavioural abnormalities that are often caused by captivity. Primates share the same personality traits as humans, which can be determined using the Hominoid Personality Questionnaire (HPQ). Behaviour and personality traits were explored when Twycross Zoo posed two questions: does primate personality affect enrichment engagement in L’Hoest’s monkeys? and how can we use this to tailor enrichment to individual animals? 420 hours of instantaneous behavioural observations were conducted from May-July 2022, and seven HPQ’s were completed by primate care staff, determining the activity budgets and personality type of each L’Hoest’s monkey. There were four hypotheses: dominant males will be first to engage with enrichment; youngest L’Hoest’s monkeys will engage with enrichment most; lowest ranking individuals will engage with surroundings less; and they would all favour feeding enrichment. Results found a significant correlation between personality and enrichment engagement. Extroverts are more likely to get stimulation from enrichment than introverted individuals. Hay bales provided all individuals with entertainment for long periods of times. Scent oils appeared to have no effect as they were not intrigued or repulsed by it. Feeding enrichment was beneficial but only while there was food in the device. Even though they did not directly interact with the water, they were inquisitive and spent time looking over the bath and would often squeak. Patricia (most introverted), Masindi and Kayne (ambiverts) would benefit from solo enrichments as they tended to stay away from the group for large amounts of time. Gimini is largely introverted and is unlikely to engage with enrichment regardless of what it is. He tended to engage with feeding enrichment, therefore solo feeding enrichments might benefit Gimini. Kano, Bikonzi and Tumba (extroverts) were stimulated by the enrichment, and it can be suggested that they would benefit from any types of enrichment