216 research outputs found
Season 10 Episode 6: Passing the Plate: Tithing Practices
No full textIf American Christians gave away just ten percent of their income, the resulting eighty-five billion dollars could fund—and solve—many of the world\u27s m ost pressing needs. Patricia Snell of Notre Dame\u27s Center for the Study of Religion and Society, and co-author of Passing the Plate: Why American Christians Don’t Give Away More Money, describes the motives, practices, and myths of charitable giving. Shirley Hoogstra hosts. Episode #1006
Conolophus marthae Gentile & Snell, 2009, new species
No full textConolophus marthae new species Galápagos pink land iguana Figs. 2–5 Holotype. A free-ranging adult male permanently branded with the number 117. A Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) with the number 091- 601 - 303 was hypodermically inserted in one of the posterior legs. The individual was captured and released approximately four km north of the Equator on the top of Volcan Wolf, Isla Isabela, Galápagos National Park, Ecuador (0.03792 ° N; 91.36324 °W, datum WGS 84, as recorded by a Garmin 12 CX handheld GPS). The individual was captured by A. Jaramillo on June 8 th 2006, blood was drawn by G. Gentile. Photos were shot by G. Gentile. Blood in lysis buffer voucher n. MCZRR 450 (as reported in the Genbank records FJ 716129 and FJ 716130) is hosted in the reptile collection (as specimen n. R 450) of the Civic Museum of Zoology (MCZR, Rome, Italy,). Original photo files, named as “Morphobank_m 27772.jpg” (Figure 2), “Morphobank_m 27773.jpg, Morphobank_m 27774.jpg, M o r p h o b a n k_m 2 7 7 7 5. j p g, M o r p h o b a n k _m 2 7 7 7 6. j p g, M o r p h o b a n k _m 2 7 7 7 7. j p g, a n d Morphobank_m 27778.jpg” (Figures 3 A, 3 B, 3 C, 3 D, 3 E, and 3 F, respectively), and the movie “Morphobank_m 27779.wmv” are included in a project titled as the present paper, hosted in Morphobank (http://www.morphobank.org). Such photos and video form a basis of the description and should be considered also as illustrating the type specimen, for purposes of Article 73.1. 4 of the Code (ICZN, 1999), but see also the paragraph “Notes added in proofs”. All material refers to the same individual (free ranging, with PIT number 091- 601 - 303), elected as Holotype. Diagnosis. Conolophus marthae sp. nov. is distinguished from C. pallidus and C. subcristatus by the following color pattern: pinkish head, pinkish and black (dark) body and legs, with a typical black-striped pattern on the mid to posterior dorsal body; stripes are along the dorsal-ventral axis, may be irregular and their number variable; stripes may join to form a more complex pattern; stripes occur on the ventral body, but are less evident; dark tail. Other distinctive, but slightly variable morphological traits co-occur in males: i) adipose nuchal crest with small or reduced conic scales, ii) poorly elevated (pyramid-shaped) or almost flat dorsal head scales. Conolophus marthae sp. nov. is also distinguished from the other two congeneric species by a distinctive pattern of head-bob behavior (Fig. 6, see Morphobank accession code: p 241). The new species is unequivocally distinguished from C. pallidus and C. subcristatus by the several diagnostic sites in the sequence of the control region and cytochrome b gene of the mtDNA, reported in Table 1, and by a completely different, non overlapping, size-range of alleles at the microsatellite locus CS 7 (Tzika et al., 2008; Gentile et al. 2009). Alleles at locus CS 7 range between 245 and 333 bases (as defined in Gentile et al. 2009). Description of Holotype in life. Sex: Male Age: Adult Weight: 5.0 Kg. Morphological measurements: SVL: 47.0 cm; VTL: 61.4 cm; head length: 78.22 mm; head width: 63.76 mm; internostril distance: 17.89 mm; eye-eye distance: 35.19 mm. Control region 786 465 12 24 795 471 51 25 796 474 69 63 C. subcristatus and C. pallidus G 807 T T A C T C T 492 T A T C T G C 75 A G A C G G T C 85 T C. marthae sp. nov. C 814 C A T T G T C 498 A G C T A A A 117 G A C T A A C T 92 C 831 525 135 93 847 528 147 167 Cytochrome b 867 536 171 168 868 547 207 179 873 550 249 198 C. subcristatus C 889 C C C C C C C 553 C C A T T T C 255 A A A G C C T 204 C G C. pallidus. 890....... 561....... 267....... 205.. C. marthae sp. nov. T 891 T T T T T T T 573 A T C C C C T 291 G T T A T T C 247 T A 914 600 295 318 948 633 315 335 967 666 321 338 1014 683 363 508 C. subcristatus C Y R T C C C T G A C C T C T C T A A G T T G A 1053 693 369 509 C. pallidus. T G..................... 1059 700 372 512 C. marthae sp. nov. T G C C T T T C A G A T C T C A C G G C C C A C 1062 702 408 651 1068 706 411 696 1071 721 417 834 1081 723 426 850 1087 747 463 1098 C. subcristatus A T T C C C T C C T C T C C T G C G C A T A G C C. pallidus.... A................... C. marthae sp. nov. G C C T T T C T T C T C T G C A T A T G C G T A Meristic characteristics: N. supralabial scales: 7 (left side) and 9 (right side); n. infralabial scales: 10 (left side) and 9 (right side); n. scales around the parietal scale: 8; n. scales around the mental scale: 9; n. scales around the rostral scale: 8; n. scales along the middle-dorsal line: 17; n. scales around the inguinal scar: 46. Number of femoral pores: 19 (left leg) and 18 (right leg). Morphological characteristics: Snout elongated, not shortened. Tympanum taller than wide. Scales flat or almost flat above the tympanum, in the post-orbital region. Slightly more elevated pyramid-shaped scales occur in the dorsal head. Nuchal crest pronounced, adipose, with small conic scales which are reduced or almost flat along the ridge of the anterior half of the crest. Conic scales are more prominent, but not spinose, along the ridge of the posterior half. Dorsal crest less developed, with small conic scales along the ridge. Caudal crest poorly developed. Round-cross-section tail, not laterally compressed. Fingers of fore and hind legs with short claws, not recurved. Coloration: pinkish head, pinkish and black (dark) body and legs, with a black-striped pattern on the mid to posterior dorsal body. On both sides, five vertical black stripes occur between forelimb and hind limb, along the dorsal-ventral axis. The first stripe is interrupted. Stripes 2–5 are joined horizontally, describing a complex pattern. Stripes are present but less evident on the ventral body. Dark tail. Behavioral characteristics: The head-bob display (nodding behavior) consists of repeated modules. Each module comprises three series of multiple head movements (“ups and downs”; Fig. 6 a–c) and is completely executed within a time interval of 4–5 seconds. Frequency of movements performed in each series is high, with 4 to 6 movements per second. Two sub-series, separated by a few deciseconds, may be recognized within series 2. A fourth, additional series, similar to series 3, may be observed occasionally (Fig. 6 d). Etymology. The new species is named in memory of Martha Rebecca Gentile, second daughter of the first author. Martha prematurely left this world. She was born dead, as consequence of a medical doctor’s negligence, on August 20 th 2003. Distribution. Thus far, this species is known to occur only on Volcan Wolf (Fig. 1), the northernmost volcano of Isla Isabela (Galápagos National Park, Ecuador). Remarks. The new species is easily distinguished from the other two congeneric species. The color pattern is typical of the new species and was never observed in any of the populations of the other two named species. The origin and the nature of the pink pigmentation deserve further investigation. Nevertheless, it is instructive to note that when we surgically removed one pink scale, blood flowed out of the tissue of the removed scale, which immediately lost its pink color. Traits i) and ii) in the diagnosis are more evident in males, whereas they are variable and generally less pronounced in females. Although in the Plaza Sur population of C. subcristatus almost flat dorsal head scales may be observed, such a trait never co-occurs in combination with the other traits characteristic of C. marthae sp. nov. Although the “head-bob” pattern is slightly different between C. subcristatus populations in different islands (Gentile, unpublished data), the nodding behavior of C. marthae sp. nov. is very distinctive and characteristic. This is particularly relevant since it is exhibited in sympatry (syntopy) with C. subcristatus. None of the other species of land iguanas or any marine iguanas show a similar pattern (see Carpenter, 1982, for a comparison). Conolophus marthae sp. nov. is distinct from the other two congeners by about 7 % mtDNA genetic divergence, much higher than genetic divergence between C. pallidus and C. subcristatus (less than 2 %, Gentile et al. 2009). Twenty-four nucleotide sites of the control region and seventy-two nucleotide sites in cyt b gene sequences are diagnostically different and allow distinguishing between the new species and the other congeneric ones. The deep divergence is estimated to have started in a period when the Galápagos did not have their current configuration (Gentile et al. 2009). The absence of alleles shared with the other two species at the microsatellite locus CS 7 and the presence of several private alleles at other loci (Tzika et al., 2008; Gentile et al., 2009) indicate genetic isolation, even with the syntopic population of C. subcristatus. Occasional hybridization between marine (Amblyrhynchus cristatus Bell, 1825) and land iguanas (C. subcristatus) may still occur on Isla Plaza Sur, generating a black, brow-striped F 1 hybrid (Rassmann et al., 1997). Conolophus marthae sp. nov. lacks in any of the adaptive traits exhibited by marine iguanas (shortened snout; laterally compressed tail; developed caudal crest; long, recurved claws) and genetic data (Gentile et al. 2009) provide strong evidence that C. marthae sp. nov. did not originate by hybridization between marine and land (yellow) iguanas. A total of 120 individuals of Conolophus marthae sp. nov. were observed and sampled in three field trips, in 2005, 2006, and 2009 (see the paragraph “Notes added in proofs”). Besides the taxonomic implications, C. marthae sp. nov. is very important as it is the only evidence of deep divergence within the Galápagos land iguana lineage. In fact, the new species carries an ancient evolutionary legacy, being the only remnant of a lineage originated when the Galápagos archipelago did not have its present configuration. Conolophus marthae sp. nov. is a narrow endemism and its population size is small. Its inclusion in the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as "critically endangered" has been recommended (Gentile et al. 2009).Published as part of Gentile, Gabriele & Snell, Howard, 2009, Conolophus marthae sp. nov. (Squamata, Iguanidae), a new species of land iguana from the Galápagos archipelago, pp. 1-10 in Zootaxa 2201 on pages 2-8, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18962
Population genetics of Galapagos land iguana (genus Conolophus) remnant populations
No full textThe Galapagos land iguanas (genus Conolophus) have faced significant anthropogenic disturbances since the 17th century, leading to severe reduction of some populations and the extinction of others. Conservation activities, including the repatriation of captive-bred animals to depleted areas, have been ongoing since the late 1970s, but genetic information has not been extensively incorporated. Here we use nine species-specific microsatellite loci of 703 land iguanas from the six islands where the species occur today to characterize the genetic diversity within, and the levels of genetic differentiation among, current populations as well as test previous hypotheses about accidental translocations associated with early conservation efforts. Our analyses indicate that (i) five populations of iguanas represent distinct conservation units (one of them being the recently discovered rosada form) and could warrant species status, (ii) some individuals from North Seymour previously assumed to be from the natural Baltra population appear related to both Isabela and Santa Cruz populations, and (iii) the five different management units exhibit considerably different levels of intrapopulation genetic diversity, with the Plaza Sur and Santa Fe populations particularly low. Although the initial captive breeding programmes, coupled with intensive efforts to eradicate introduced species, saved several land iguana populations from extinction, our molecular results provide objective data for improving continuing in situ species survival plans and population management for this spectacular and emblematic reptile
Conservation of Galápagos land iguanas: genetic monitoring and predictions of a long-term program on the island of Santa Cruz
No full textThe distribution of the Galápagos land iguanas Conolophus subcristatus has been strongly affected by human activities in the last century. Previously widespread throughout the whole archipelago, today they inhabit only few islands, with populations often small and isolated. In this study, we analyzed the population genetic structure of land iguanas from Santa Cruz Island to investigate the genetic implications of a semi-captive conservation program that started in middle 1970s and is still ongoing. Nine microsatellites were used to measure the level of genetic variability and to detect potential evidence of inbreeding and genetic sub-structure. Furthermore, we used approximate Bayesian computation, together with software packages for coalescent-based simulations, to test a priori hypotheses in different demographic scenarios. Despite the abrupt reduction in size of the original population, no evidence of inbreeding was found, and the levels of genetic variability were similar to those of undisturbed populations of the archipelago. Nevertheless, the source and the repatriated populations started differentiating (FST=0.016) and genetic sub-structure was found. Following our results and the simulation of possible future scenarios, we suggest the genetic measures that should be adopted to avoid further genetic variability depletion and preserve this vulnerable endemic species
Multidimensional sexual perfectionism
No full textPerfectionism is a multidimensional personality characteristic that can affect all areas of life. This article presents the first systematic investigation of multidimensional perfectionism in the domain of sexuality exploring the unique relationships that different forms of sexual perfectionism show with positive and negative aspects of sexuality. A sample of 272 university students (52 male, 220 female) completed measures of four forms of sexual perfectionism: self-oriented, partner-oriented, partner-prescribed, and socially prescribed. In addition, they completed measures of sexual esteem, sexual self-efficacy, sexual optimism, sex life satisfaction (capturing positive aspects of sexuality) and sexual problem self-blame, sexual anxiety, sexual depression, and negative sexual perfectionism cognitions during sex (capturing negative aspects). Results showed unique patterns of relationships for the four forms of sexual perfectionism, suggesting that partner-prescribed and socially prescribed sexual perfectionism are maladaptive forms of sexual perfectionism associated with negative aspects of sexuality whereas self-oriented and partner-oriented sexual perfectionism emerged as ambivalent forms associated with positive and negative aspects
Progress in the peripheries: improvement and national image in the fictions of Ireland, Scotland and Wales, 1780 - 1830
No full textThis thesis examines the relationship between improvement and national image in Irish, Scottish and Welsh novels published between 1780 and 1830. Given the social, economic, and physical impacts of the agricultural and industrial revolutions in this period, the project focuses on texts that illuminate the tension between engaging with popular portrayals of picturesque landscapes, rural tradition and Celtic primitivism, and advocating or accepting the need for economic modernization that may compromise those national images. Exploring the dialogical nature of the ‘national tale’, a genre whose parameters are extended here to include regional focuses within the relevant national settings, this study contextualizes literary representations of landscape and estate management by incorporating analysis of contemporaneous non-fiction accounts found in tours and agricultural surveys.
This thesis is presented in four sections. The introduction examines the usefulness of ‘national tale’ as a genre label in current scholarly debate and explores the influence of writers such as Daniel Defoe, William Marshall and Tobias Smollett on textual representations of landscape and tourism. Chapter one focuses on English-language Welsh novels from the 1780s and 1790s, highlighting the potential ideological disconnect between sustaining a public image of Wales as a picturesque idyll and acknowledging the signs of industrialization. Chapter two explores Maria Edgeworth’s approach to antiquarianism, tradition and the travelogue in her post-Union presentations of benevolent improvement in Ireland. Chapter three examines the way writers such as Christian Isobel Johnstone and Alexander Sutherland negotiate the popular image of the Romantic Highlands while exploring the sustainability and consequences of improvement
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