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“Coral reefs disappearing”, warns UNEP
DISSECTING ROOM
Contributed by Marilynn Larkin [email protected]
“Coral reefs disappearing”, warns UNEP UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre http://www.unep-wcmc.org ecent findings “give new urgency” to raising awareness about the need to protect and conserve coral reefs and other ecosystems, say the United Nations Environment Programme and its biodiversity information and assessment arm, the World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC). One multicentre study challenges “a long-held contention that marine species are unlikely to become extinct as a result of human activities, because of their vast geographic ranges in oceans”, warns UNEP-WCMC, who
co-sponsored the study (Science 2002; 295: 1280–84). Researchers identified ten coral reef “hotspots” where marine species will become extinct unless action is taken right away, notes lead author Callum Roberts of the University of York, UK (panel). Eight of the reef hotspots are adjacent to terrestrial hotspots— areas with the highest concentrations of species on land that are at greatest risk. Scientists who compiled the UNEP-WCMC World Atlas of Coral Reefs (accessible on the site’s home page) have also documented the rapid disCoral reef hotspots* appearance of coral reefs, Endangered hawksbill turtle swimming over a 1 Philippines which now comprise an area coral reef in the Indian Ocean 2 Gulf of Guinea of only about 244 300 km2. 3 Sunda Islands The UNEP-WCMC site also offers Related sites include the World 4 Southern Mascarene Islands an assortment of electronic texts and Ecotourism Summit (http://www.eco5 Eastern South Africa links to biodiversity sites, including tourism2002.org) and World Environ6 Northern Indian Ocean country-specific information. ment Day (June 5; http://www.unep. 7 Southern Japan, Taiwan, and southern China Even the most cursory exploorg/wed/2002), which aims to “give a 8 Cape Verde Islands ration of the site will serve as a human face to environmental issues 9 Western Caribbean wake-up call to users who have and empower people to become active 10 Red Sea and Gulf of Aden not thought much about coral agents of sustainable and equitable *Ranked by degree of threat. reefs or endangered species. The development”.
R
Exploring the Congo basin American Museum of Natural History Congo Expedition 1909–1915 http://diglib1.amnh.org
T
American Museum of Natural History Library
he Congo Expedition site is truly American Museum of Natural History; extraordinary. It brings to life Chapin, a Columbia University student a seminal voyage of discovery, in New York City, was a museum providing field notes, photographs, volunteer. illustrations, related readings, videoclips Together with a group of assistants, of the Congo’s biological and cultural the team collected hundreds of specifeatures, and interactive maps that mens and documented in watercolours cover Europeans’ knowledge of African and photographs the mammals, reptiles, geography from 1562 birds, amphibians, to 1940. fish, and anthroThe site tells the pological objects of story of Herbert Lang this hitherto inaccessiand his young assisble region. More than tant, James Chapin, 15 volumes of scienwho led a 6-year tific findings were voyage to catalogue later published based the plant and animal on the expedition’s species native to work; many were the remote Central written by Lang and African Congo River Chapin and are Basin. Lang, a searchable on the naturalist and photosite. grapher, had previThese scientists’ ously worked as a Young female guereza monkey from fascinating field taxidermist at the Farajde, Belgian Congo (1912) notebook entries,
1532
photographs, and collections of anthropological objects are also searchable, and notebook entries can also be browsed by title. Search results for a species give its common and taxonomic name, date found, locality, and a description accompanied by an image of the actual notebook page.
Click of the week Sites suitable for children Despite its garish design, Kids.gov is an excellent, easy-to-navigate portal that provides annotated links to more than 400 sites arranged by topic—eg, computers, environment, health, history, music, science, space, and much more. Links are categorised within each topic by whether they are part of the US government, a university, non-profit organisation, or a commercial entity. Although aimed at young people, many of the sites are also of interest to adults. The “linking policy” section provides criteria for inclusion. http://www.kids.gov
THE LANCET • Vol 359 • April 27, 2002 • www.thelancet.com
Mark Spalding, UNEP-WCMC
site features searchable databases, online publications, and downloadable maps of protected areas and species at risk of extinction; direct links to interactive sites covering marine, fresh water, and other habitats; findings from recent conventions; and information on the effects of climate change. The vast amount of material on these topics makes them hard to ignore. Small wonder that the UN has declared 2002 the International Year of Ecotourism (http://www.uneptie. org/pc/tourism/ecotourism/iye.htm) to promote awareness of these issues.
Webwatch
Contributed by Marilynn Larkin [email protected]
“Coral reefs disappearing”, warns UNEP UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre http://www.unep-wcmc.org ecent findings “give new urgency” to raising awareness about the need to protect and conserve coral reefs and other ecosystems, say the United Nations Environment Programme and its biodiversity information and assessment arm, the World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC). One multicentre study challenges “a long-held contention that marine species are unlikely to become extinct as a result of human activities, because of their vast geographic ranges in oceans”, warns UNEP-WCMC, who
co-sponsored the study (Science 2002; 295: 1280–84). Researchers identified ten coral reef “hotspots” where marine species will become extinct unless action is taken right away, notes lead author Callum Roberts of the University of York, UK (panel). Eight of the reef hotspots are adjacent to terrestrial hotspots— areas with the highest concentrations of species on land that are at greatest risk. Scientists who compiled the UNEP-WCMC World Atlas of Coral Reefs (accessible on the site’s home page) have also documented the rapid disCoral reef hotspots* appearance of coral reefs, Endangered hawksbill turtle swimming over a 1 Philippines which now comprise an area coral reef in the Indian Ocean 2 Gulf of Guinea of only about 244 300 km2. 3 Sunda Islands The UNEP-WCMC site also offers Related sites include the World 4 Southern Mascarene Islands an assortment of electronic texts and Ecotourism Summit (http://www.eco5 Eastern South Africa links to biodiversity sites, including tourism2002.org) and World Environ6 Northern Indian Ocean country-specific information. ment Day (June 5; http://www.unep. 7 Southern Japan, Taiwan, and southern China Even the most cursory exploorg/wed/2002), which aims to “give a 8 Cape Verde Islands ration of the site will serve as a human face to environmental issues 9 Western Caribbean wake-up call to users who have and empower people to become active 10 Red Sea and Gulf of Aden not thought much about coral agents of sustainable and equitable *Ranked by degree of threat. reefs or endangered species. The development”.
R
Exploring the Congo basin American Museum of Natural History Congo Expedition 1909–1915 http://diglib1.amnh.org
T
American Museum of Natural History Library
he Congo Expedition site is truly American Museum of Natural History; extraordinary. It brings to life Chapin, a Columbia University student a seminal voyage of discovery, in New York City, was a museum providing field notes, photographs, volunteer. illustrations, related readings, videoclips Together with a group of assistants, of the Congo’s biological and cultural the team collected hundreds of specifeatures, and interactive maps that mens and documented in watercolours cover Europeans’ knowledge of African and photographs the mammals, reptiles, geography from 1562 birds, amphibians, to 1940. fish, and anthroThe site tells the pological objects of story of Herbert Lang this hitherto inaccessiand his young assisble region. More than tant, James Chapin, 15 volumes of scienwho led a 6-year tific findings were voyage to catalogue later published based the plant and animal on the expedition’s species native to work; many were the remote Central written by Lang and African Congo River Chapin and are Basin. Lang, a searchable on the naturalist and photosite. grapher, had previThese scientists’ ously worked as a Young female guereza monkey from fascinating field taxidermist at the Farajde, Belgian Congo (1912) notebook entries,
1532
photographs, and collections of anthropological objects are also searchable, and notebook entries can also be browsed by title. Search results for a species give its common and taxonomic name, date found, locality, and a description accompanied by an image of the actual notebook page.
Click of the week Sites suitable for children Despite its garish design, Kids.gov is an excellent, easy-to-navigate portal that provides annotated links to more than 400 sites arranged by topic—eg, computers, environment, health, history, music, science, space, and much more. Links are categorised within each topic by whether they are part of the US government, a university, non-profit organisation, or a commercial entity. Although aimed at young people, many of the sites are also of interest to adults. The “linking policy” section provides criteria for inclusion. http://www.kids.gov
THE LANCET • Vol 359 • April 27, 2002 • www.thelancet.com
Mark Spalding, UNEP-WCMC
site features searchable databases, online publications, and downloadable maps of protected areas and species at risk of extinction; direct links to interactive sites covering marine, fresh water, and other habitats; findings from recent conventions; and information on the effects of climate change. The vast amount of material on these topics makes them hard to ignore. Small wonder that the UN has declared 2002 the International Year of Ecotourism (http://www.uneptie. org/pc/tourism/ecotourism/iye.htm) to promote awareness of these issues.
Webwatch