| The monthly e-Bulletin supplements SPECIES, SSC’s published newsletter, and aims to keep staff, members and the wider IUCN network up-to-date with news and announcements from the Species Survival Commission. Previous issues are available to download in the archives.
| e-Bulletin Ferbruary 2006 |
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Headline news
A STING IN THE TAIL FOR SHARKS AND RAYS
ROTI ISLAND SNAKE NECKED TURTLE BECOMES ALL BUT EXTINCT
Profiles
GENETIC DIVERSITY IN THE LYNX POPULATION IN BIALOWIEZA PRIMEVAL FOREST, POLAND – SSC CAT SPECIALIST GROUP PROJECT OF THE MONTH
Announcements
SPECIES 44 NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE
SSC WEBSITE REVISION
LAUNCH DATE OF THE 2006 IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES
AMPHIBIAN BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION COURSE
SPECIES STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS
Publications
DNA AND TISSUE BANKING FOR BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
A STING IN THE TALE OF SHARKS AND RAYS
The number of species of sharks and rays on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species will increase based on the findings of a three-day expert workshop in Peterborough, UK, hosted by the SSC Shark Specialist Group and Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), that examined the conservation status of the species in the Northeast Atlantic and Mediterranean waters. The workshop confirms the widely-accepted notion that slow-growing sharks and rays are exceptionally vulnerable to over-fishing, and that deep-water species are being depleted at an alarming rate. Full story: http://www.iucn.org/en/news/archive/2006/02/20_pr_sharks.htm
ROTI ISLAND SNAKE NECKED TURTLE BECOMES ALL BUT EXTINCT
The Roti Island snake-necked turtle (Chelodina mccordi) is a small, long-necked turtle, found only in the wetlands of the island of Roti, in eastern Indonesia. Since this endemic turtle was described as a new species in 1994, international demand for it has intensified to the point where the species has become all but extinct in the wild. Full story:
http://www.traffic.org/news/press-releases/Roti_island.html
GENETIC DIVERSITY IN THE LYNX POPULATION IN BIALOWIEZA PRIMEVAL FOREST, POLAND – SSC CAT SPECIALIST GROUP PROJECT OF THE MONTH
This project is to study the effect of forest fragmentation on genetic diversity of the Eurasian lynx Lynx lynx population and the relationship between kinship and social behaviour in lynx. The forest is highly isolated but the isolation is not complete – some lynx have been proved to travel between neighbouring forests – however, it is not known if the range and the rate of these movements are sufficient for maintenance of adequate genetic diversity of this population. This is the latest project to be featured on the SSC Cat Specialist Group website (www.catsg.org)
| Announcements and Meetings |
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SPECIES 44 NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE
The latest issue of Species, SSC’s newsletter, is now available electronically from the SSC website ( http://www.iucn.org/themes/ssc/ ). A special feature of this issue is the first of a two part focus on the SSC Specialist Group and Task Force Chairs. The second part will appear in the next issue. Due to a growing SSC network and escalating mailing costs, only a limited print-run is being produced for those members who have poor Internet access. They should contact species@iucn.org.
SSC WEBSITE REVISION
It is planned to update the SSC website in early March to bring it in line with the overall IUCN visual identity and to give the site a fresher look. It is very much a work in progress and will continue to evolve but this is a major first step. Comments and feedback from SSC members are most welcome. Please contact Julie Griffin, who has been taking the lead in this project, at julie.griffin (at) iucn.org
LAUNCH OF THE 2006 IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES
The latest update of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the world’s most authoritative source of information on the status of plants and animals, will take place on 4 May 2006 (00:01 GMT). It is one of the key tools used to determine the status of the Earth’s biodiversity. A major new element since the last update in 2004 is the inclusion of many freshwater and marine species, notably sharks and rays, for the first time. A comprehensive information package will be available on the day on the SSC and IUCN websites.
AMPHIBIAN BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION COURSE 19 -30 JUNE 2006
The Amphibian Biodiversity Conservation Course is a 12 day course designed for amphibian species managers concerned with the conservation of the species and who want to learn more about the theory and practice of managing species recovery. For more information contact www.durrellwildlife.org
SPECIES STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS
Wendy Strahm, Plants Officer for Fauna, has left IUCN after more than 13 years of service to the Species Programme.
Carol Poole has joined as Assistant to the SSC Chair, starting on 2 March. Carol has a biological undergraduate background, an MPhil in Environmental Management and a number of years work experience to stand her in good stead for her new role.
Amy Spriggs former SSC Chairs Assistant has left to take up a new post with Conservation International in Cape Town, SA and we wish her every success in her new job.
Anna Knee Species Programme Communications Officer is now on maternity leave until August 2006. The post will be covered at 60% during this time by her job-share colleague Andrew McMullin.
DNA AND TISSUE BANKING FOR BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
A joint publication between IUCN and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Arising from a collaborative project on DNA banking, phylogeny and conservation of the South African flora, DNA and Tissue Banking for Biodiversity and Conservation provides the practical and legislative framework necessary to establish more DNA banks and is essential reading for anyone wishing to understand the application of genetic technologies to conservation. For more information see: www.kew.org
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If you would like more information on any of the items included in this issue or wish to submit an item to future issues, please contact Andrew McMullin (mcmullina iucn.org
h); tel: +41 (0)22 999 0153. |
