Systematic affinities of two enigmatic New Zealand passerines of high conservation priority, the hihi or stitchbird Notiomystis cincta and the kokako Callaeas cinerea

2006 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 281-284 ◽  
Author(s):  
John G. Ewen ◽  
Ian Flux ◽  
Per G.P. Ericson
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Conservation Priority ◽  
High Conservation ◽  
Notiomystis Cincta

Population densities and conservation assessments for three species of chameleons in the Toliara region of south-western Madagascar

2009 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 341-350 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laza Andriamandimbiarisoa ◽  
Christopher Raxworthy ◽  
Kristopher Karsten ◽  
Stanley Fox
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Conservation Priority ◽  
Population Densities ◽  
Pet Trade ◽  
Anthropogenic Habitats ◽  
Spread F ◽  
Illegal Harvesting ◽  
High Conservation ◽  
Conservation Assessments ◽  
Lower Population

AbstractMadagascar is a high conservation priority. Rainforests receive most of the focus, but the dry deciduous and spiny forests of south-western Madagascar house many endemics, are under high deforestation pressure, and remain largely unprotected. Charismatic vertebrates, like chameleons, face a secondary threat: harvesting for the commercial pet trade. Six chameleons inhabit the arid southwest near Toliara: Furcifer antimena, F. belalandaensis, F. labordi, F. lateralis, F. oustaleti, and F. verrucosus. We measured population densities of three of those species. Furcifer verrucosus has a large distribution, was dense (97.7 ha–1; 95% CI = 60.2-158.6), and inhabited forests and anthropogenic habitats. Furcifer labordi was much less dense (30.8 ha–1; 13.4-70.9), has a restricted range, and has a unique life history that makes it susceptible to perturbations from deforestation or illegal harvesting. Furcifer antimena was the least dense (17.0 ha–1; 9.3-30.9) and has an even smaller distribution range. We lack density data for F. lateralis, but this species was abundant in anthropogenic habitats. Within their respective ranges, there are currently no protected areas for F. antimena and only few for F. labordi; these two species are far less abundant than the more widely spread F. verrucosus. We recommend that high conservation priority be focused on F. antimena and the southern populations of F. labordi due to their restricted distributions, susceptibility to extirpation, lower population densities, and lack of formal protection. Establishing protected areas in the Ranobe region and north of the Fiherenana River, in the Belalanda region, would help protect important populations of these vulnerable species.

A new endemic family of New Zealand passerine birds: adding heat to a biodiversity hotspot

2007 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Driskell ◽  
Les Christidis ◽  
B. J. Gill ◽  
Walter E. Boles ◽  
F. Keith Barker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Evolutionary History ◽  
Divergence Time ◽  
Biodiversity Hotspot ◽  
Passerine Birds ◽  
New Family ◽  
Close Relationship ◽  
History Of ◽  
Anthornis Melanura ◽  
Notiomystis Cincta

The results of phylogenetic analysis of two molecular datasets sampling all three endemic New Zealand ‘honeyeaters’ (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae, Anthornis melanura and Notiomystis cincta) are reported. The undisputed relatedness of the first two species to other honeyeaters (Meliphagidae), and a close relationship between them, are demonstrated. However, our results confirm that Notiomystis is not a honeyeater, but is instead most closely related to the Callaeidae (New Zealand wattlebirds) represented by Philesturnus carunculatus in our study. An estimated divergence time for Notiomystis and Philesturnus of 33.8 mya (Oligocene) suggests a very long evolutionary history of this clade in New Zealand. As a taxonomic interpretation of these data we place Notiomystis in a new family of its own which takes the name Notiomystidae. We expect this new phylogenetic and taxonomic information to assist policy decisions for the conservation of this rare bird.

Revision of the Pachycondyla wasmannii-group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Zootaxa ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 3609 (2) ◽  
pp. 101-141
Author(s):  
JEAN CLAUDE RAKOTONIRINA ◽  
BRIAN L. FISHER
Keyword(s):  
Identification Key ◽  
Conservation Priority ◽  
Key To Species ◽  
Species Limits ◽  
Distribution Maps ◽  
High Conservation

Defining species limits and describing species of ants are important to identify taxa and habitats with elevated diversity in areas of high conservation priority such as the Malagasy region. The Pachycondyla wasmannii-group is revised in the Malagasy region where eight species are recognized, four of which are new: P. masoala sp. n., P. planicornis sp. n., P. tavaratra sp. n., and P. vazimba sp. n. Four species have been previously described: P. cambouei Forel, P. comorensis (André), P. perroti Forel, and P. wasmannii Forel. Pachycondyla perroti admista Forel is newly synonymized under P. perroti. Pachycondyla cambouei is widespread in eastern Madagascar, morphologically variable, and divided into seven morphotypes. An identification key to species and distribution maps are provided for the genus in the Malagasy region. All species are known only from Madagascar except P. wasmannii, which occurs also on Anjouan of the Comoros Islands.

scholarly journals Historical distribution data of New Zealand endemic families Callaeidae and Notiomystidae (Aves, Passeriformes)

Check List ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 701-727 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodrigo Brincalepe Salvador ◽  
Barbara Mizumo Tomotani ◽  
Colin Miskelly ◽  
Susan M. Waugh
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Distribution Data ◽  
Museum Specimens ◽  
Critical Periods ◽  
Human Settlement ◽  
Late 19Th Century ◽  
European Settlement ◽  
Historical Distribution ◽  
Notiomystis Cincta

Callaeidae (wattlebirds) and Notiomystidae (stitchbirds) are New Zealand-endemic sister-taxa; while widespread before human settlement, they subsequently became critically endangered or extinct. Aside from presently managed populations, information about them is scarce and actual specimens even scarcer. Herein, we provide a snapshot of these families’ historical distribution during the critical periods of European settlement and expansion in New Zealand (19th and early-20th centuries), exploring new data and insights resulting from this approach. We include an extensive catalogue of worldwide museum specimens to facilitate future research. We report the last known record/specimen of huia Heteralocha acutirostris (Gould, 1837) and late 19th century specimens of North Island saddleback Philesturnus rufusater (Lesson, 1828) from Cuvier Island that confirm its occurrence there. We failed to find specimens of North Island saddleback and stitchbird Notiomystis cincta (du Bus de Gisignies, 1839) (with one and two exceptions, respectively) from named locations on the mainland.

Designation of a lectotype for Notiomystis cincta hautura Mathews, 1935 (Aves: Passeriformes: Meliphagidae)

Zootaxa ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 2754 (1) ◽  
pp. 67 ◽  
Author(s):  
GEORGE R. ANGEHR
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Natural History ◽  
Type Specimen ◽  
American Museum ◽  
Label Data ◽  
The North ◽  
Notiomystis Cincta ◽  
Locality Information

Mathews (1935) described the population of the New Zealand endemic hihi, or stitchbird Notiomystis cincta (Du Bus) from Little Barrier Island (Hauturu) as the subspecies hautura, distinct from the nominate subspecies on the mainland of the North Island. Mathews based his description on a series in the American Museum of Natural History, New York, but did not designate a type specimen. The AMNH specimens vary in the quality of the label data associated with them, and the locality information on some is somewhat uncertain.

Floristic composition and conservation value of the stubble-field weed community, dominated by Stachys annua in western Hungary

Biologia ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gyula Pinke ◽  
Robert Pál
Keyword(s):  
Vegetation Type ◽  
Floristic Composition ◽  
Ambrosia Artemisiifolia ◽  
Significant Decline ◽  
Food Sources ◽  
Conservation Priority ◽  
Farmland Birds ◽  
Coturnix Coturnix ◽  
The Past ◽  
High Conservation

AbstractThe stubble-field weed community, dominated by Stachys annua, was generally distributed in Hungary until the 1950s on mid-heavy and heavy, base-rich soils. Stachys annua is an excellent nectar-producer, and from the nectar collected in its habitats popular stubble-honey was produced. This vegetation type has suffered significant decline, mainly due to the early ploughing of stubbles associated with the intensification of agriculture. In the present study, the floristic composition of this community is assessed based on 213 phytosociological records, and its distribution in the past ten years in western Hungary is mapped. Sixty-five percent of the species are of Eurasian, European and Mediterranean elements, and the largest proportion of the species are spring-germinating summer annuals. The proportion of insect-pollinated plant species is approximately 70%, and the species composition also offers significant seed food sources for farmland birds, e.g. Coturnix coturnix and Perdix perdix. Therefore this community should deserve a high conservation priority for biodiversity. The factors that offer the greatest threats to the continuing existence of this community type are intensive agricultural management and the increasing spread of Ambrosia artemisiifolia.

The phytogeography of rare vascular plants in Ontario and its bearing on plant conservation

1992 ◽  
Vol 70 (3) ◽  
pp. 469-490 ◽  
Author(s):  
George W. Argus
Keyword(s):  
Coastal Plain ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Plant Conservation ◽  
Rare Plants ◽  
Hudson Bay ◽  
Conservation Priority ◽  
Northern Ontario ◽  
Rare Taxa ◽  
High Conservation ◽  
Further Development

The phytogeographic patterns displayed by the 550 rare vascular plant taxa in Ontario, including 349 that are rare nationally, are correlated with counties, site regions, and floristic provinces. Rare taxa are concentrated in southwestern Ontario decreasing northward, with secondary concentrations along the Hudson Bay coast. Rare taxa in Ontario are predominantly peripheral taxa, which have their main ranges outside of Ontario. Many of these taxa, however, have a high Canadian conservation priority because they are also at risk in adjacent states or provinces. Rare taxa with Appalachian and Coastal Plain affinities are most common in southwestern Ontario. Arctic and boreal affinities predominate in Northern Ontario. These patterns are correlated with temperature and moisture parameters, which are incorporated with the Hills' site regions classification. Most high conservation priority taxa occur in the Carolinian region, the most highly settled and most highly agriculturalized part of the province. There is an urgent need for conservation of the remaining forest and wetlands in this region. The fragmentary ecosystems still remaining must be protected from further development. There is a need to study the correlation of rare plant occurrences with existing parks and reserves throughout the province to facilitate the identification of priority regions for protection. Key words: rare plants, phytogeography, conservation, Ontario.

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