The Zino Petrel (Pterodroma madeira), which is also known as the Madeira Freira , is an endemic seabird to Madeira (a Portuguese island in the Atlantic ocean, 973 kilometres from Lisbon ) and they are one of the most threatened bird species in Europe; and conceivably the world (Anonymous(1), 2014; Anonymous(3), 2013; Zino, et al., 2001a; Zino, et al., 1995; Fagundes, 2014; Zino, et al., 1996; Anonymous(2), 2011; Zino, et al., 2001b; Anonymous(5), n.d.; Unknown, 2014). This species was first discovered by Padre Ernesto Schmitz, a German naturalist priest, in 1903 but was mistakenly recorded as a Fea Petrel (Pterodroma feae). In 1934, Gregory Mathews stated that the Pterodromas found on Madeira and its neighbouring island should be considered subspecies while furthermore, in 1975, Paul Alexander Zino proposed the subspecies get separated. DNA studies performed with blood samples from Zino Petrel and Fea Petrel confirmed Paul Zino’s proposal and they are now regarded as distinct species. Zino Petrel belongs to the Procellariidae family (Anonymous(3), 2013; Zino, et al., 1995; Fagundes, 2014; Zino, et al., 1996; Zino, et al., 2001a).
Biogeography
The Zino Petrel can only be found on the island of Madeira. They can be found at Pico do Arieiro, which is 1 818 metres above sea level and known to be the third highest point on the island of Madeira; and the central mountain massif of Madeira, which is about 1 600 metres above sea level. The birds prefer nesting areas that are high and flora rich because these areas are inaccessible to grazing animals which destroy their nests (Anonymous(4), n.d.; Zino, et al., 1995; Anonymous(3), 2013; Fagundes, 2014; Zino, et al., 1996; Zino, et al., 2001; Zino, et al., 2001; Anonymous(5), n.d.). The Z...
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...tion Plan For Zino's Petrel (Pterodroma madeira).
Available at: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/conservation/wildbirds/action_plans/docs/
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Zino, F., Heredia, B. & Biscoito, M., 1996. In: Globally Threatened Birds in Europe: Action Plan. Council of Europe Publishing, pp. 33-36, 38.
Zino, F. Oliveira, P; King, S; Buckle, A; Biscoito, M.J.; Neves, H.C.; Vasconcelos, A., 2001a. Conservation of Zino's Petrel Pterodroma madeira in the archipelago of Madeira. 35(2) pp 128-135.
Zino, F. Oliveira, P; King, S; Buckle, A; Biscoito, M.J.; Neves, H.C.; Vasconcelos, A., 2001b. Impact of Control of Black Rats Rattus rattus and Feral Cats Felis catus on Zino's Petrels Pterodroma madeira Nesting in the Central Mountain Massif of Madeira, Portugal.
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The red-cockaded woodpecker, an inhabitant of mature pine forests and pine-grassland ecosystems from Maryland to eastern Texas, has had a troubled history within the last decade (Roise et al, 1990). Ten years ago, James documented a population decline in America’s largest remaining red-cockaded woodpecker population (1991). Of the 2,157 clusters, or living groups, contained in national forests, 693 of them were located in Florid...
Every day many species are slowly becoming either endangered or extinct and recently an endangered bird species called piping plovers, started nesting on Revere Beach. What would seem as a miraculous discovery, many are averse to their new inhabitants on the beach. Many Revere residents are complaining because the piping plovers now occupy parts of “their” beach. But in the article “Revere Beach should welcome the piping plover” The Editorial Board believes that the presence of the piping plover could be greatly beneficial to the city of Revere and I certainly agree. What led me to select this particular article is my concern for the many endangered species in the world like the piping plover. Human hands have led many species to become endangered
Parrotfishes are the common name for members of the large fish family Scaridae, which live in coral reef ecosystems throughout the Caribbean as well as the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean. They vary in color and pattern between males, females and juveniles, with each going through a variety of color changes as they mature (Polychromatism). (Jamaica Environment Trust, 2013) “There are about eighty identified species, ranging in size from less than one to four feet in length.” (National Geographic Society, 2013). Powerful jaws of fused teeth “beaks”, and bright colors gives Parrotfish their common family name. This paper seeks to describe the diversity, geographic range, habitat, physical description, development, reproduction, lifespan, behavior, food habits, predation and threats to Parrotfish. Additionally, this paper will examine the importance of this species to the coral reef ecosystems in the Caribbean.
Soule, Michael E et al. “Ecological Effectiveness: Conservation Goals for Interactive Species.” Conservation Biology 17.5 (2003) : 1238-1250.
The Atlantic Puffin’s ecosystem contains a combination of both terrestrial, aerial, and aquatic plants and animals. For the cliff-...
Varricchio, David J., Frankie Jackson, and Clive N. Trueman. “A Nesting Trace with Eggs for
Two key scientists in “de-extinction”, Stewart Brand and George Church, hosted a symposium at Harvard Medical School called “Bringing Back the Passenger Pigeon” in February 2012. At this symposium, Church demonstrated his...
Eastman, J. (1997).14-Crow and Jay Family (Corvidae). Birds of forest, yard, and thicket. (pp. 127- 145). Mechanicsburg, Pa: Stackpole Books. Retrieved from: eBook Collection (EBSCOhost) [Accessed 3 March 2014]
Thousands of different types of birds roam the Earth as we know it today, so let’s begin consider the origin of these beings. How had these creatures come to be? What was their original form? The evolution of birds has only recently begun to explode with new information within the last decade (Savile, 1957, p. 212). Birds are unique creatures and inhabit a wide variety of locations, but constant among them is the fact that they came from Archaeopteryx. Over time, three key changes have developed with the bird’s anatomy that makes it a paradigm of evolution.
... of nesting beaches that produce a large proportion of males to try to maintain the sex ratio; planting native vegetation to provide shade to the beaches; move nests to other suitable areas or artificial nesting sites; and manipulate the temperature by adding beach sprinklers (Fuentes et al., 2011). The implications of all these strategies however would need to be extensively considered as for example, planting vegetation or creating artificial beaches could have detrimental effects on the existing flora and fauna. Additionally, areas that are suitable now, may not be suitable in years to come therefore many different obstacles need to be considered before implementing these strategies. Also creating shade may not be suitable as it is unknown whether it will create the correct temperature, and lots of tests would need to be done to keep temperature at the optimum.
Darwin’s observations from the islands made him want to come up with some explanation to why this occurred. He began to do research of each the species that had lived on these islands and observe all of the characteristics that had. He noticed that the islands h...
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Biodiversity depends on many factors, and great differences in faunal species occur between different countries. This essay focuses on comparing and contrasting the organisms that were found in Sea Point Co. Dublin, Glandalough, Co. Wicklow and Bolonia, Spain. Numerous organisms were found in one country but not the other, such as the Mantodea (Praying Mantis) which was present in Spain but not in Ireland. The abundance of species varied significantly which could be seen in the Plecoptera (Stoneflies) which had higher numbers in Ireland rather than Bolonia. There are many reasons for the differences between Irish and Spanish marine, terrestrial and freshwater fauna, both biotic and abiotic. Factors such as faunal relationships, sunlight, temperature, water chemistry and soil will all be investigated in the paragraphs to follow as they play a major role in species survival and distribution.