Archives
v2i1.26ISSN: 1800-427X (print)
eISSN: 1800-427X (online)
DOI:10.47605/tapro.v2i1.26
Submitted date: 29 March 2010
Accepted date: 22 December 2010
Published date: 30 December 2010
Pp. 30–47.
THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON GLOBAL WILDLIFE AND TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS
Thilina Surasinghe*
*E-mail: tsurasi@clemson.edu
Abstract
Climate change and biodiversity are interconnected, where climate change is reshaping global biodiversity. Unsustainable human activities that increase accumulation of greenhouse gases and hinder the natural balance of atmospheric greenhouse gases aggravate the effects of climate change on biodiversity. Rising seas-levels could inundate coastal habitats and stem the flow of nutrients from the ocean to the terrestrial ecosystems. Altered climate regimes directly affect wildlife, their behavior, migration, foraging, growth and reproduction. Climate change could disturb the dynamic equilibrium of terrestrial ecosystems by affecting ecosystem productivity, biomass production, hydrological balance, and trophic interactions. Further, climate change intensifies natural disasters and shifts in natural disturbance regimes. Such processes impose physiological and environmental stress on terrestrial ecosystems which adversely affect the ecosystem resistance and resilience. Moreover, warming atmosphere causes thermal optima to shift towards high latitudes and high altitudes. Terrestrial biota readily responds to temperature, where both flora and fauna alter distributions toward more favorable climatic conditions. Some climatic parameters that drive life history events, such as photoperiod, are fixed, while others, such as the timing of spring weather, are changing because of greenhouse gasses. The resulting mismatch between fixed and variable drivers of phenology, such as in mating, breeding, migration, hibernation, and post-hibernation activities, will disadvantage some species and benefit others. This will result in new ecosystems. Warming temperature favors biological activities of wildlife pathogens, since high temperature increases breeding rate, survival, hatching success and transmission of wildlife parasites and disease-causing agents. Climate change dissociates species interactions, mutual associations and a multitude of ecosystem functions. Ultimately, climate change predisposes native terrestrial wildlife to extinction and alters the functions and structure of terrestrial ecosystems. Biodiversity provides ecosystem services including the regulation and mitigation of the adverse impacts of climate change. Therefore, biodiversity conservation and terrestrial ecosystem management is critical to address climate change. Robust climate-oriented models with the use of GIS and remote sensing technology are needed to make effective predictions about the spatial and temporal effects of climate change.
Key words : Biodiversity, global warming, phenological changes, range shifting, wildlife diseases
Section Editor: Lee Harding
eISSN: 1800-427X (online)
DOI:10.47605/tapro.v2i1.26
Submitted date: 29 March 2010
Accepted date: 22 December 2010
Published date: 30 December 2010
Pp. 30–47.
THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON GLOBAL WILDLIFE AND TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS
Thilina Surasinghe*
*E-mail: tsurasi@clemson.edu
Abstract
Climate change and biodiversity are interconnected, where climate change is reshaping global biodiversity. Unsustainable human activities that increase accumulation of greenhouse gases and hinder the natural balance of atmospheric greenhouse gases aggravate the effects of climate change on biodiversity. Rising seas-levels could inundate coastal habitats and stem the flow of nutrients from the ocean to the terrestrial ecosystems. Altered climate regimes directly affect wildlife, their behavior, migration, foraging, growth and reproduction. Climate change could disturb the dynamic equilibrium of terrestrial ecosystems by affecting ecosystem productivity, biomass production, hydrological balance, and trophic interactions. Further, climate change intensifies natural disasters and shifts in natural disturbance regimes. Such processes impose physiological and environmental stress on terrestrial ecosystems which adversely affect the ecosystem resistance and resilience. Moreover, warming atmosphere causes thermal optima to shift towards high latitudes and high altitudes. Terrestrial biota readily responds to temperature, where both flora and fauna alter distributions toward more favorable climatic conditions. Some climatic parameters that drive life history events, such as photoperiod, are fixed, while others, such as the timing of spring weather, are changing because of greenhouse gasses. The resulting mismatch between fixed and variable drivers of phenology, such as in mating, breeding, migration, hibernation, and post-hibernation activities, will disadvantage some species and benefit others. This will result in new ecosystems. Warming temperature favors biological activities of wildlife pathogens, since high temperature increases breeding rate, survival, hatching success and transmission of wildlife parasites and disease-causing agents. Climate change dissociates species interactions, mutual associations and a multitude of ecosystem functions. Ultimately, climate change predisposes native terrestrial wildlife to extinction and alters the functions and structure of terrestrial ecosystems. Biodiversity provides ecosystem services including the regulation and mitigation of the adverse impacts of climate change. Therefore, biodiversity conservation and terrestrial ecosystem management is critical to address climate change. Robust climate-oriented models with the use of GIS and remote sensing technology are needed to make effective predictions about the spatial and temporal effects of climate change.
Key words : Biodiversity, global warming, phenological changes, range shifting, wildlife diseases
Section Editor: Lee Harding
v2i1.25ISSN: 1800-427X (print)
eISSN: 1800-427X (online)
DOI:10.47605/tapro.v2i1.25
Submitted date: 29 March 2010
Accepted date: 07 October 2010
Published date: 30 December 2010
Pp. 25–29, Pl. 1
ADDRESSING THE WALLACEAN SHORTFALL : AN UPDATED CHECKLIST OF ICTHYOFAUNA OF CHEMBARAMPAKKAM TANK
J.D. Marcus Knight*
*E-mail: jdmarcusknight@yahoo.co.in
Abstract
Fish fauna of Chennai has been systematically surveyed for the past 100 years. Subsequent surveys have not been as comprehensive as the first study. As a result premature conclusions about species extinctions and species displacement by introduced species have emerged in publications from time to time. In this paper, I present a comprehensive survey of Chembarampakkam tank, one of the freshwater tanks in Chennai which has been surveyed for the past 100 years. The results highlight the significance of Wallacean shortfall.
Key words : Chembarampakkam, Chennai, diversity, freshwater fish, Madras, non-native
Section Editor: Rema Devi
eISSN: 1800-427X (online)
DOI:10.47605/tapro.v2i1.25
Submitted date: 29 March 2010
Accepted date: 07 October 2010
Published date: 30 December 2010
Pp. 25–29, Pl. 1
ADDRESSING THE WALLACEAN SHORTFALL : AN UPDATED CHECKLIST OF ICTHYOFAUNA OF CHEMBARAMPAKKAM TANK
J.D. Marcus Knight*
*E-mail: jdmarcusknight@yahoo.co.in
Abstract
Fish fauna of Chennai has been systematically surveyed for the past 100 years. Subsequent surveys have not been as comprehensive as the first study. As a result premature conclusions about species extinctions and species displacement by introduced species have emerged in publications from time to time. In this paper, I present a comprehensive survey of Chembarampakkam tank, one of the freshwater tanks in Chennai which has been surveyed for the past 100 years. The results highlight the significance of Wallacean shortfall.
Key words : Chembarampakkam, Chennai, diversity, freshwater fish, Madras, non-native
Section Editor: Rema Devi
v2i1.24ISSN: 1800-427X (print)
eISSN: 1800-427X (online)
DOI:10.47605/tapro.v2i1.24
Submitted date: 29 March 2010
Accepted date: 18 December 2010
Published date: 30 December 2010
Pp. 6–24.
DESCRIBING NEW SPECIES
Alain Dubois*
*E-mail: sapo421@gmail.com
Abstract
Describing new species is a fundamental work for the knowledge of the endangered biodiversity of our planet, a large proportion of which is still unknown to science. To be really useful to all other comparative disciplines of biology, this work must be carried out in a professional manner. This requires following a strict methodology for the taxonomic recognition of species and for their nomenclature. The taxonomic work must be based upon actual specimens, kept in permanent collections, and on phenetic and cladistic analyses and comparisons based on their characters, attributes and relacters. Different “kinds of species” (bisexual panmictic, parthenogenetic, gynogenetic, etc.) must be distinguished and characterized. For the progress of taxonomic knowledge, revisionary works of supraspecific taxa are much more important than mere descriptions of “new species”. Descriptions and diagnoses must be carried out in a standardized manner. As for the nomenclatural methodology, taxonomists should strictly follow the rules of the Code, in particular regarding its three-level structure (distinguishing availability, allocation and validity of nomina), the principles of coordination, of nomenclatural foundation, of onomatophores and of priority. No new nomen should be created if an available one exists, possibly “hidden” in a synonymy, for the species recognized by modern work. More attention and care should be paid by taxonomists to the problems related to the etymology, aspect and length of nomina: for a proper communication with all other biologists and nonbiologists, the latter should be short, euphonious, clearly distinct and original.
Key words : Descriptions, diagnoses, methodology, nomenclature, nomina, specimens, taxa, taxonomy
Section Editor: Colin Groves
eISSN: 1800-427X (online)
DOI:10.47605/tapro.v2i1.24
Submitted date: 29 March 2010
Accepted date: 18 December 2010
Published date: 30 December 2010
Pp. 6–24.
DESCRIBING NEW SPECIES
Alain Dubois*
*E-mail: sapo421@gmail.com
Abstract
Describing new species is a fundamental work for the knowledge of the endangered biodiversity of our planet, a large proportion of which is still unknown to science. To be really useful to all other comparative disciplines of biology, this work must be carried out in a professional manner. This requires following a strict methodology for the taxonomic recognition of species and for their nomenclature. The taxonomic work must be based upon actual specimens, kept in permanent collections, and on phenetic and cladistic analyses and comparisons based on their characters, attributes and relacters. Different “kinds of species” (bisexual panmictic, parthenogenetic, gynogenetic, etc.) must be distinguished and characterized. For the progress of taxonomic knowledge, revisionary works of supraspecific taxa are much more important than mere descriptions of “new species”. Descriptions and diagnoses must be carried out in a standardized manner. As for the nomenclatural methodology, taxonomists should strictly follow the rules of the Code, in particular regarding its three-level structure (distinguishing availability, allocation and validity of nomina), the principles of coordination, of nomenclatural foundation, of onomatophores and of priority. No new nomen should be created if an available one exists, possibly “hidden” in a synonymy, for the species recognized by modern work. More attention and care should be paid by taxonomists to the problems related to the etymology, aspect and length of nomina: for a proper communication with all other biologists and nonbiologists, the latter should be short, euphonious, clearly distinct and original.
Key words : Descriptions, diagnoses, methodology, nomenclature, nomina, specimens, taxa, taxonomy
Section Editor: Colin Groves
v2i1.23ISSN: 1800-427X (print)
eISSN: 1800-427X (online)
DOI:10.47605/tapro.v2i1.23
Published date: 30 December 2010
Pp. 1–5
EDITORIAL : Taxonomy in the century of extinctions : taxonomic gap, taxonomic impediment, taxonomic urgency
Alain Dubois
Section Editor: Taprobanica, the journal of Asian Biodiversity
Our knowledge of the living species of the earth is still dramatically incomplete. Actually, few domains of scientific knowledge are in such an unsatisfying situation. Taxonomists have so far described less than 2 million species, whereas, using various methods, the total number of species was estimated to at least 7–8 million, but perhaps 10, 50, 100 million or even more. This huge taxonomic gap is both quantitative and qualitative, as very little is known of most of the species that have been “described” and named so far. If the work of increment of our database on specific diversity continued at the same pace as in the past, centuries would be necessary to complete our inventory of the planet’s species. However, time is pressing, because of the biodiversity crisis. The aggressions of the biosphere by our civilisation result in a drastic destruction and disappearance of natural ecosystems and, combined with other threats (physico-chemical and biotic pollution, over-exploitation by man, etc.), entail mass extinctions of species which will be irreversible. Many of the species that are currently disappearing with the forests, aquatic and other habitats that harboured them, will carry away forever with them not only molecules or other inventions of life that could have been useful to medicine, agronomy or other human needs, but also a plethora of irreplaceable information on biodiversity, evolution, adaptation and innovations, not to mention their aesthetic and cultural value. No serious hope exists to really stop or even significantly reduce the destructions on hand, as they are due both to human demographic growth and to the destructive kind of relations our current societies have with their environment, two factors that are not likely to change in the coming decades.
eISSN: 1800-427X (online)
DOI:10.47605/tapro.v2i1.23
Published date: 30 December 2010
Pp. 1–5
EDITORIAL : Taxonomy in the century of extinctions : taxonomic gap, taxonomic impediment, taxonomic urgency
Alain Dubois
Section Editor: Taprobanica, the journal of Asian Biodiversity
Our knowledge of the living species of the earth is still dramatically incomplete. Actually, few domains of scientific knowledge are in such an unsatisfying situation. Taxonomists have so far described less than 2 million species, whereas, using various methods, the total number of species was estimated to at least 7–8 million, but perhaps 10, 50, 100 million or even more. This huge taxonomic gap is both quantitative and qualitative, as very little is known of most of the species that have been “described” and named so far. If the work of increment of our database on specific diversity continued at the same pace as in the past, centuries would be necessary to complete our inventory of the planet’s species. However, time is pressing, because of the biodiversity crisis. The aggressions of the biosphere by our civilisation result in a drastic destruction and disappearance of natural ecosystems and, combined with other threats (physico-chemical and biotic pollution, over-exploitation by man, etc.), entail mass extinctions of species which will be irreversible. Many of the species that are currently disappearing with the forests, aquatic and other habitats that harboured them, will carry away forever with them not only molecules or other inventions of life that could have been useful to medicine, agronomy or other human needs, but also a plethora of irreplaceable information on biodiversity, evolution, adaptation and innovations, not to mention their aesthetic and cultural value. No serious hope exists to really stop or even significantly reduce the destructions on hand, as they are due both to human demographic growth and to the destructive kind of relations our current societies have with their environment, two factors that are not likely to change in the coming decades.
v1i2.22ISSN: 1800-427X (print)
eISSN: 1800-427X (online)
DOI:10.47605/tapro.v1i2.22
Submitted date: 30 August 2009
Accepted date: 12 October 2009
Published date: 22 November 2009
Pp. 135–136.
COMMON SKINK Eutropis carinata (REPTILIA : SCINCIDAE) FEED ON ENDEMIC SEMI-SLUG Ratnadvipia irradians (LIMACOIDEA : ARIOPHANTIDAE)
D.M.S. Suranjan Karunarathna & A.A. Thasun Amarasinghe*
*Corresponding author. E-mail: thasun.taprobanica@gmail.com
The skinks belong to the genus Eutropis is widely distributed in South and South East Asia and is represented in Sri Lanka by seven species, the largest and the most common of which is common skink Eutropis carinata (Schneider, 1801). In Sri Lanka E. carinata is widely distributed in open areas, closed canopy forest, home gardens and plantations in wet and dry zones below 1,000 m altitude. The Sri Lankan endemic semi-slug genus Ratnadvipia consists of two species, Ratnadvipia irradians (Pfeiffer, 1853) and Ratnadvipia karui Raheem & Naggs, 2006. Ratnadvipia is almost exclusively confined to the tropical lowland rain forests, intermediate zone and up to the suitable habitats within the dry zone. Although snails are usually not an item of skink diet, we have observed a semi-slug in E. carinata gut.
Section Editor: Sujan Henkanaththegedara
eISSN: 1800-427X (online)
DOI:10.47605/tapro.v1i2.22
Submitted date: 30 August 2009
Accepted date: 12 October 2009
Published date: 22 November 2009
Pp. 135–136.
COMMON SKINK Eutropis carinata (REPTILIA : SCINCIDAE) FEED ON ENDEMIC SEMI-SLUG Ratnadvipia irradians (LIMACOIDEA : ARIOPHANTIDAE)
D.M.S. Suranjan Karunarathna & A.A. Thasun Amarasinghe*
*Corresponding author. E-mail: thasun.taprobanica@gmail.com
The skinks belong to the genus Eutropis is widely distributed in South and South East Asia and is represented in Sri Lanka by seven species, the largest and the most common of which is common skink Eutropis carinata (Schneider, 1801). In Sri Lanka E. carinata is widely distributed in open areas, closed canopy forest, home gardens and plantations in wet and dry zones below 1,000 m altitude. The Sri Lankan endemic semi-slug genus Ratnadvipia consists of two species, Ratnadvipia irradians (Pfeiffer, 1853) and Ratnadvipia karui Raheem & Naggs, 2006. Ratnadvipia is almost exclusively confined to the tropical lowland rain forests, intermediate zone and up to the suitable habitats within the dry zone. Although snails are usually not an item of skink diet, we have observed a semi-slug in E. carinata gut.
Section Editor: Sujan Henkanaththegedara
Hubungi Kami
The ultimate aim of the journal is to provide an effective medium for communication of the latest and best scientific information.
Copyright © 2020 Taprobanica. All Rights Reserved
Jasa Pembuatan Website by IKT