Search

Fragmentation of natural landscapes is a pervasive process in the world. Common models predict coherent change in assemblages, with less numerous species becoming locally extinct first, then species of intermediate abundance, and so forth. Relative abundance distributions should change systematically in landscapes characterized by greater change. Such a predictable sequence of change is not evident in the avifaunas of landscapes of central Victoria, Australia, where relative-abundance patterns in more affected landscapes bear little resemblance to reference distributions. I provide two sets of analyses of relative-abundance distributions: (1) analyses that do not depend on the identity of individual species and (2) abundance spectra, which use ordered lists of species ranked by species' commonness in reference systems. While abundance spectra change dramatically in smaller remnants, relative-abundance distributions change little, suggesting that the ‘ reorganization’ of abundances occurs over ecological time frames. The dispersal-limited multinomial is a flexible distribution that may fit many data sets yet be unrelated to assumptions (species neutrality) and processes (fixed total numbers of individuals) of the unified neutral theory. A more complete understanding of human impacts at landscape scales must include capacities to predict those species that will be advantaged by change, as well as those that will be disadvantaged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article unearth the secrets of the itjaritjari. First recorded by Westerners in the late 1800s, the mole, often referred to by its Aboriginal name itjaritjari, caused a stir in zoological circles with its unusual features. At no more than 14 centimetres long, its tubular body fits into the palm of the hand. It lacks eyes and has only tiny holes for ears. And its short, cream-coloured fur, spade-like front claws and a backwards-facing pouch give it an unearthly appearance. Little is known about this creature because the itjaritjari rarely surfaces, making observation in the wild virtually impossible. All specimens caught live have died within weeks in captivity for reasons that remain unclear.

Summary: Coordinating movements to music is often considered a uniquely human skill. A new study dispels this notion by showing that male Australian lyrebirds also perform ‘dance’ moves which are predictably matched with specific songs in their display routines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]