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Biodiversity studies: science and policy
272
Selected Abstracts
92Z/00007 Biodiversity studies: science andpolicy P.R. Ehrlich & E. O. Wilson, Science, 253(5021), 1991, pp 758-762. Biodiversity studies comprise the systematic examination of the full array of different kinds of organisms together with the technology by which the diversity can be maintained and used for the benefit of humanity. Current basic research at the species level focuses on the process of .species .formation, the standing levels of s.pecies numbers m various higher taxonomic categories, and the enomena of hyperdiversity and extinction proneness. e majorpractical concern is the massive extinction rate now caused by human activity, which threatens losses in the esthetic quality of the world, in economic opportunity, and in vital ecosystem services. -Authors 92Z/00008 Ex situ conservation of plant genetic resources: global development and environmental concerns $. I. Cohen, J. T. Williams, D. L. Plucknett & H. Shands, Science, 253(5022), 1991, pp 866-872. Conservation of plant genetic resources is achieved by protection of populations in nature (in situ) or by preservation of samples in gene banks (ex situ). The latter are essential for users of germplasm who need ready access. Ex situ conservation also acts as a back-up for certain segments of diversity that might otherwise be lost in nature and in human-dominated ecosystems. -from Authors 92Z/00009 Diversite et uniformite: remarques sur I'evolution des flores cuitivees tropicales (Diversity and uniformity: remarks on the development of farmed tropical flora) J. Barrau, Cahiers d'Outre-Mer, 43(172), 1990, pp 333-342. The farmed floras of tropical regions have developed in a direction that often leads to a degradation of their quantity. Possible measures for arresting the erosion of biological diversity of tropical cultigens are examined. -from English summary 92Z/00010 Menaces sur la flore (Threats to flora) J.-L. Guillaumet & P. Morat, Cahiers d'Outre-Mer, 43(172), 1990, pp 343-362. Discusses fire, farming after land has been cleared and burned, savanna fires, introductions, and anthropic actions. -from English summary 92Z/00011 Extinction et conservation des especes d'insectes (Extinction and preservation of insect species) Y. Gillon, Cahiers d'Outre-Mer, 43(172), 1990, pp 375-392. Preservation problems are posed for several interdependant reasons: high diversity; blo" logical and taxonomic lack of knowledge; growth; and demographic dynamics. -from English summary 92Z/00012 Les amphibiens des regions tropicales: facteurs de declin et d'extinction (The amphibians of tropical regions: factors of decline and extinction) A. Dubois, Cahiers d'Outre-Mer, 43(172), 1990, pp 393-398. The sharp decline in status of amphibians throughout the world is mainly because of the disappearance or alteration (notably by draining or because of pollution) of wet zones and on account of land clearing, followed by a replacement of the forest with farm crops. -from English summary 92Z/00013 Risques et perils pour les oiseaux d'Europe hivernant en Afrique tropicale (Risks and perils for birds from Europe wintering in tropical Africa) F. Roux, Cahiers d'Outre-Mer, 43(172), 1990, pp 399-412. Discusses the alteration and disappearance of habitats because of desertification and hy~riulic facilities in the Sahel-Sudanese zone. Pesticides affect, in particular, consumers of large insects. -from English summary
92z/00014 Causes de disparition des mammiferes terrestres tropicaux (Causes of disappearance of tropical terrestrial mammals) M. Tranier, Cahiers d'Outre-Mer, 43(172), 1990, pp 425-434. Tropical mammals are subject to: direct attacks, contractions of their natural environments, and destructive sideeffects due to ecological imbalance. -from English summary 92Z/00015 Les menaces sur ies oiseaux de la zone afrotropicale (Threats to birds in the Afro-tropical zone) C. Erard, Cahiers d'Outre-Mer, 43(172), 1990, pp 413-424. Discusses the effects of the destruction of habitats, poilution,, capture, changes in environment, and introduced species. -from English summary 92Z/00016 Introductions d'especes animales: lorsque la conservation sert de paravent aux entreprises mercantiles des 'demenageurs de la faune' (Introductions of animal species: when preservation serves as a screen for business enterprises engaged in 'moving fauna') F. Lauginie, Cahiers d'Outre-Mer, 43(172), 1990, pp 435-450. Plans to introduce 3500 head of ungulates from southem Africa into Ivory Coast Guinean savanna were abandoned. -from English summary 92Z/00017 Reproduction en captivite et reintroduction dans la nature, point de passage necessaire pour les especes menacees (Reproduction in captivity and reintroduction: a passage phase necessary for threatened species) J. F. Asmode, Cahiers d'Outre-Mer, 43(172), 1990, pp 465-474. When a species attains a sufficient population level in captivity, its reintroduction can be considered. -from English summary 92Z]00018 Extinction et conservation des especes dans le monde tropical: quel avenir pour les Mollusques? (Extinction and conservation of species in the tropics: what future for molluscs?) P. Bouchet, Cahiers d'Outre-Mer, 43(172), 1990, pp 475-488. Dozens of non-marine mollusc species have already become extinct this century. The highest toll is being exacted on island faunas. Small protected areas, covering a few tens or hundreds of hectares, although too small to maintain viable vertebrate populations, would probably suffice to preserve most threatened invertebrate species. -from English summary 92Z/00019 Menace et sauvegarde des especes des recifs coralliens (Threat and conservation of coral reef species) B. Salvat, Cahiers d'Outre-mer, 43(172), 1990, pp 489-502. No reef species can be considered as being endangered, but degradation of some habitats and overfishing of some species constitute a threat for some stocks. -from English summary 92Z/00020 Problemes actueis de conservation des especes de cetaces, plus particulierement en zone intertropicale (Current problems regarding the conservation of cetacean species, particularly m intertropical zones) D. Robineau, Cahiers d'Outre-Mer, 43(172), 1990, pp 503-518. It is possible to be relativelyoptimistic regarding the future of large cetaceans, which now benefit from complete protection, but schools of pelagic dolphins are currently menaced because of present commercial fishing methods that result,in certain regions, in a large number of accidented captures. Changes brought about in river and coastal environments, as well as increased pollution, also threaten extinction of several species of small cetaceans. -from English summary
Selected Abstracts
92Z/00007 Biodiversity studies: science andpolicy P.R. Ehrlich & E. O. Wilson, Science, 253(5021), 1991, pp 758-762. Biodiversity studies comprise the systematic examination of the full array of different kinds of organisms together with the technology by which the diversity can be maintained and used for the benefit of humanity. Current basic research at the species level focuses on the process of .species .formation, the standing levels of s.pecies numbers m various higher taxonomic categories, and the enomena of hyperdiversity and extinction proneness. e majorpractical concern is the massive extinction rate now caused by human activity, which threatens losses in the esthetic quality of the world, in economic opportunity, and in vital ecosystem services. -Authors 92Z/00008 Ex situ conservation of plant genetic resources: global development and environmental concerns $. I. Cohen, J. T. Williams, D. L. Plucknett & H. Shands, Science, 253(5022), 1991, pp 866-872. Conservation of plant genetic resources is achieved by protection of populations in nature (in situ) or by preservation of samples in gene banks (ex situ). The latter are essential for users of germplasm who need ready access. Ex situ conservation also acts as a back-up for certain segments of diversity that might otherwise be lost in nature and in human-dominated ecosystems. -from Authors 92Z/00009 Diversite et uniformite: remarques sur I'evolution des flores cuitivees tropicales (Diversity and uniformity: remarks on the development of farmed tropical flora) J. Barrau, Cahiers d'Outre-Mer, 43(172), 1990, pp 333-342. The farmed floras of tropical regions have developed in a direction that often leads to a degradation of their quantity. Possible measures for arresting the erosion of biological diversity of tropical cultigens are examined. -from English summary 92Z/00010 Menaces sur la flore (Threats to flora) J.-L. Guillaumet & P. Morat, Cahiers d'Outre-Mer, 43(172), 1990, pp 343-362. Discusses fire, farming after land has been cleared and burned, savanna fires, introductions, and anthropic actions. -from English summary 92Z/00011 Extinction et conservation des especes d'insectes (Extinction and preservation of insect species) Y. Gillon, Cahiers d'Outre-Mer, 43(172), 1990, pp 375-392. Preservation problems are posed for several interdependant reasons: high diversity; blo" logical and taxonomic lack of knowledge; growth; and demographic dynamics. -from English summary 92Z/00012 Les amphibiens des regions tropicales: facteurs de declin et d'extinction (The amphibians of tropical regions: factors of decline and extinction) A. Dubois, Cahiers d'Outre-Mer, 43(172), 1990, pp 393-398. The sharp decline in status of amphibians throughout the world is mainly because of the disappearance or alteration (notably by draining or because of pollution) of wet zones and on account of land clearing, followed by a replacement of the forest with farm crops. -from English summary 92Z/00013 Risques et perils pour les oiseaux d'Europe hivernant en Afrique tropicale (Risks and perils for birds from Europe wintering in tropical Africa) F. Roux, Cahiers d'Outre-Mer, 43(172), 1990, pp 399-412. Discusses the alteration and disappearance of habitats because of desertification and hy~riulic facilities in the Sahel-Sudanese zone. Pesticides affect, in particular, consumers of large insects. -from English summary
92z/00014 Causes de disparition des mammiferes terrestres tropicaux (Causes of disappearance of tropical terrestrial mammals) M. Tranier, Cahiers d'Outre-Mer, 43(172), 1990, pp 425-434. Tropical mammals are subject to: direct attacks, contractions of their natural environments, and destructive sideeffects due to ecological imbalance. -from English summary 92Z/00015 Les menaces sur ies oiseaux de la zone afrotropicale (Threats to birds in the Afro-tropical zone) C. Erard, Cahiers d'Outre-Mer, 43(172), 1990, pp 413-424. Discusses the effects of the destruction of habitats, poilution,, capture, changes in environment, and introduced species. -from English summary 92Z/00016 Introductions d'especes animales: lorsque la conservation sert de paravent aux entreprises mercantiles des 'demenageurs de la faune' (Introductions of animal species: when preservation serves as a screen for business enterprises engaged in 'moving fauna') F. Lauginie, Cahiers d'Outre-Mer, 43(172), 1990, pp 435-450. Plans to introduce 3500 head of ungulates from southem Africa into Ivory Coast Guinean savanna were abandoned. -from English summary 92Z/00017 Reproduction en captivite et reintroduction dans la nature, point de passage necessaire pour les especes menacees (Reproduction in captivity and reintroduction: a passage phase necessary for threatened species) J. F. Asmode, Cahiers d'Outre-Mer, 43(172), 1990, pp 465-474. When a species attains a sufficient population level in captivity, its reintroduction can be considered. -from English summary 92Z]00018 Extinction et conservation des especes dans le monde tropical: quel avenir pour les Mollusques? (Extinction and conservation of species in the tropics: what future for molluscs?) P. Bouchet, Cahiers d'Outre-Mer, 43(172), 1990, pp 475-488. Dozens of non-marine mollusc species have already become extinct this century. The highest toll is being exacted on island faunas. Small protected areas, covering a few tens or hundreds of hectares, although too small to maintain viable vertebrate populations, would probably suffice to preserve most threatened invertebrate species. -from English summary 92Z/00019 Menace et sauvegarde des especes des recifs coralliens (Threat and conservation of coral reef species) B. Salvat, Cahiers d'Outre-mer, 43(172), 1990, pp 489-502. No reef species can be considered as being endangered, but degradation of some habitats and overfishing of some species constitute a threat for some stocks. -from English summary 92Z/00020 Problemes actueis de conservation des especes de cetaces, plus particulierement en zone intertropicale (Current problems regarding the conservation of cetacean species, particularly m intertropical zones) D. Robineau, Cahiers d'Outre-Mer, 43(172), 1990, pp 503-518. It is possible to be relativelyoptimistic regarding the future of large cetaceans, which now benefit from complete protection, but schools of pelagic dolphins are currently menaced because of present commercial fishing methods that result,in certain regions, in a large number of accidented captures. Changes brought about in river and coastal environments, as well as increased pollution, also threaten extinction of several species of small cetaceans. -from English summary