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The trade in wild animals involves one-third of the world's bird species and thousands of other vertebrate species. Although a few species are imperiled as a result of the wildlife trade, the lack of field studies makes it difficult to gauge how serious a threat it is to biodiversity. We used data on changes in bird abundances across space and time and information from trapper interviews to evaluate the effects of trapping wild birds for the pet trade in Sumatra, Indonesia. To analyze changes in bird abundance over time, we used data gathered over 14 years of repeated bird surveys in a 900-ha forest in southern Sumatra. In northern Sumatra, we surveyed birds along a gradient of trapping accessibility, from the edge of roads to 5 km into the forest interior. We interviewed 49 bird trappers in northern Sumatra to learn which species they targeted and how far they went into the forest to trap. We used prices from Sumatran bird markets as a proxy for demand and, therefore, trapping pressure. Market price was a significant predictor of species declines over time in southern Sumatra (e.g., given a market price increase of approximately $50, the log change in abundance per year decreased by 0.06 on average). This result indicates a link between the market-based pet trade and community-wide species declines. In northern Sumatra, price and change in abundance were not related to remoteness (distance from the nearest road). However, based on our field surveys, high-value species were rare or absent across this region. The median maximum distance trappers went into the forest each day was 5.0 km. This suggests that trapping has depleted bird populations across our remoteness gradient. We found that less than half of Sumatra's remaining forests are >5 km from a major road. Our results suggest that trapping for the pet trade threatens birds in Sumatra. Given the popularity of pet birds across Southeast Asia, additional studies are urgently needed to determine the extent and magnitude of the threat posed by the pet trade.

International audience; Aim Life history traits and range size are key correlates of genetic diversity in trees. We used a standardized sampling protocol to explore how life history traits and range size relate to the magnitude, variance and structuring (both between- and within-population) of genetic diversity in Neotropical tree species. Location The Neotropics Methods We present a meta-analysis of new population genetic data generated for 23 Neotropical tree species (=2,966 trees, 86 populations) across a shared and broad geographic area. We compared established population genetic metrics across these species (e.g., genetic diversity, population structure, fine-scale genetic structure), plus we estimated the rarely used variance in genetic diversity among populations. We used a multivariate, maximum likelihood, multimodel inference approach to explore the relative influence of life history traits and range size on patterns of neutral genetic diversity. Results We found that pioneer and narrow range species had lower levels but greater variance in genetic diversity—signs of founder effects and stronger genetic drift. Animal-dispersed species had lower population differentiation, indicating extensive gene flow. Abiotically dispersed and pioneer species had stronger fine-scale genetic structure, suggesting restricted seed dispersal and family cohort establishment. Main conclusions Our multivariable and multispecies approach allows ecologically relevant conclusions, since knowing whether one parameter has an effect, or one species shows a response in isolation, is dependent on the combination of traits expressed by a species. Our study demonstrates the influence of ecological processes on the distribution of genetic variation in tropical trees, and will help guide genetic resource management, and contribute to predicting the impacts of land use change.

Aim Deforestation and climate change are two of the most serious threats to tropical birds. Here, we combine fine-scale climatic and dynamic land cover models to forecast species vulnerability in rain forest habitats. Location Sulawesi, Indonesia. Methods We sampled bird communities on four mountains across three seasons in Lore Lindu National Park, Sulawesi, Indonesia (a globally important hotspot of avian endemism), to characterize relationships between elevation and abundance. Deforestation from 2000 to 2010 was quantified, and predictors of deforestation were identified. Future forest area was projected under two land use change scenarios – one assuming current deforestation rates and another assuming a 50% reduction in deforestation. A digital elevation model and an adiabatic lapse rate were used to create a fine-scale map of temperature in the national park. Then, the effects of climate change were projected by fitting statistical models of species abundance as a function of current temperature and forecasting future abundance based on warming from low- and high-emissions climate change. Results The national park lost 11.8% of its forest from 2000 to 2010. Model-based projections indicate that high-elevation species (white-eared myza Myza sarasinorum and Sulawesi leaf-warbler Phylloscopus sarasinorum) might be buffered from deforestation because their ranges are isolated from human settlement, but these species may face steep population declines from climate change (by as much as 61%). The middle-elevation sulphur-bellied whistler Pachycephala sulfuriventer is predicted to undergo minor declines from climate change (8–11% reduction), while deforestation is predicted to cause larger declines of 13–19%. Main conclusions The biological richness and rapid deforestation now occurring inside the national park emphasize the need for increased enforcement, while our modelling suggests that climate change is most threatening to high-elevation endemics. These findings are likely applicable to other highland tropical sites where deforestation is encroaching from below and climate change is stressing high-elevation species from above.

Summary 1. Linked demographic-bioclimatic models are emerging tools for forecasting climate change impacts on well-studied species, but these methods have been used in few management applications, and species interactions have not been incorporated. We combined population and bioclimatic envelope models to estimate future risks to the viability of a cockatoo population posed by climate change, increased fire frequency, beak-and-feather disease and reduced management. 2. The South Australian glossy black-cockatoo Calyptorhynchus lathami halmaturinus is restricted to Kangaroo Island, Australia, where it numbers 350 birds and is managed intensively. The cockatoo may be at particular risk from climate change because of its insular geographic constraints and specialised diet on a single plant species, Allocasuarina verticillata. The cockatoo population model was parameterised with mark-resight-derived estimates of survival and fecundity from 13 years of demographic data. Species interactions were incorporated by using a climate-change-driven bioclimatic model of Allocasuarina verticillata as a dynamic driver of habitat suitability. A novel application of Latin Hypercube sampling was used to assess the model’s sensitivity to input parameters. 3. Results suggest that unmitigated climate change is likely to be a substantial threat for the cockatoo: all high-CO2-concentration scenarios had expected minimum abundances of

The United States conserves imperiled species with the Endangered Species Act (ESA). No studies have evaluated the ESA's coverage of species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, which is an accepted standard for imperiled species classification. We assessed the ESA's coverage of IUCN-listed birds, mammals, amphibians, gastropods, crustaceans, and insects, and studied the listing histories of three bird species and Pacific salmonids in more detail. We found that 40.3% of IUCN-listed U.S. birds are not listed by the ESA, and most other groups are underrecognized by >80%. Species with higher IUCN threat levels are more frequently recognized by the ESA. Our avian case studies highlight differences in the objectives, constraints, and listing protocols of the two institutions, and the salmonids example shows an alternative situation where agencies were effective in evaluating and listing multiple (related) species. Vague definitions of endangered and threatened, an inadequate ESA budget, and the existence of the warranted but precluded category likely contribute to the classification gap we observed.

An important question for tropical forest restoration is whether degraded lands can be actively managed to attract birds. We censused birds and measured vegetation structure at 27 stations in young (6–9-yr old) actively and passively restored pasture and old growth forest at Las Cruces Biological Station in southern Costa Rica. During 481 10-min point counts, we detected a high diversity—186 species—of birds using the restoration area. Surprisingly, species richness and detection frequency did not differ among habitats, and proportional similarity of bird assemblages to old growth forest did not differ between restoration treatments. Bird detection frequency was instead explained by exotic grass cover and understory stem density—vegetation structures that were not strongly impacted by active restoration. The similarity of bird assemblages in actively and passively restored forest may be attributed to differential habitat preferences within and among feeding guilds, low structural contrast between treatments, or the effect of nucleation from actively restored plots into passively restored areas. Rapid recovery of vegetation in this recently restored site is likely due to its proximity to old growth forest and the lack of barriers to effective seed dispersal. Previous restoration studies in highly binary environments (i.e., open pasture vs. tree plantation) have found strong differences in bird abundance and richness. Our data contradict this trend, and suggest that tropical restoration ecologists should carefully consider: (1) when the benefits of active restoration outweigh the cost of implementation; and (2) which avian guilds should be used to measure restoration success given differential responses to habitat structure. Resumen Una pregunta importante para la restauracion ecologica en los tropicos es si el habitat puede ser alterado para atraer aves. Aves proporcionan servicios importantes a bosques en regeneracion que incluyen dispersion de semillas, control de artropodos, y polinizacion. Se hizo un inventario de aves y medimos la estructura de la vegetacion en 27 puntos en pastizales bajo recuperacion (de 6-9 anos) y en bosque primario en la Estacion Biologica Las Cruces en el sur de Costa Rica. Mediante 481 conteos de 10-min, detectamos una diversidad alta—186 especies—de aves en el area bajo restauracion. No se detectamos diferencias en la riqueza de especies ni su frecuencia de deteccion entre los tres habitats. La similitud proporcional de ensambles a bosque primario tampoco fue diferente entre los tratamientos. En cambio, la frecuencia de detecciones fue afectada por la densidad de cobertura de zacates y tallos pequenos – dos variables poco impactadas por la restauracion activa. La similitud en la ensamble de aves entre sitios bajo restauracion activa y pasiva puede ser atribuida a diferencias en la preferencia de habitat entre y dentro de gremios de aves, poca diferencia estructural entre los sitios, o por el efecto de nucleacion desde sitios bajo restauracion activa hacia sitios de restauracion pasiva. La rapidez en la recuperacion en este sitio esta atribuida probablemente se debe a la cercania de bosque primario y la falta de barreras para la dispersion de semillas. Estudios anteriores en habitats con mucho contraste (i.e., pastos abiertos y plantaciones de arboles) han encontrado diferencias grandes en abundancia y riqueza de aves. Nuestros datos contradicen esta tendencia y sugieren que ecologos de la restauracion tropical deben considerar: (1) si los beneficios de la restauracion activa sobrepasan el costo de implementacion; y (2) cuales son los gremios especificos que se deben usar para medir el exito de la restauracion, ya que hay diferentes respuestas a estructura de habitat.

The Esmeraldas Woodstar (Chaetocercus berlepschi) is a poorly known and endangered hummingbird endemic to lowland and foothill moist forest in coastal western Ecuador. We encountered 11 new localities, observed two copulations, and found 26 nests of the species from October 2007 to April 2008. We observed the generally accepted descriptions of the female must have come from mis-labeled specimens of juvenile males and were incorrect. We collected the first three confirmed females of the species and describe their characteristics. The correct identification of female C. berlepschi and recognition of the species' breeding habitat should facilitate more effective conservation of the species.

Many ecological relationships that are inherently reciprocal are often studied from one perspective only (Agrawal et al. 2007). One example is the interaction between tropical forests and nearctic-neotropical migratory songbirds (hereafter migrants). Several studies have determined that some migrant populations are limited by conditions at their tropical wintering grounds in Central America, South America and the Caribbean (Marra et al. 1998, Mills 2006); however, the ecological role of migrants in these tropical forests is poorly understood.

Although ephemeral ponds act as small hotspots of plant, invertebrate, and salamander diversity, the importance of such ponds for birds has been little studied. We hypothesized that ephemeral ponds on the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee would support a greater abundance, richness, and diversity of birds than the surrounding hardwood forests. In 2004, we recorded all birds seen or heard in 10 min within 50-m radius circles at 25 ephemeral ponds. We repeated the counts at control sites located 150 m from each pond in the surrounding forest. To quantify potential food availability, we captured aerial invertebrates using sweep nets at four points around a subsample of eight ephemeral ponds and at an equal number of control sites. We found significantly greater bird abundance, richness, and species diversity at ephemeral ponds than at control sites, and that pond area was not associated with either bird abundance or richness. Bird community composition at pond and control sites was similar. Aerial invertebrates were significantly more abundant at ephemeral ponds than at adjacent forest sites, providing one possible explanation for greater bird abundance at ephemeral ponds.

Muscicapa sodhii, sp. nov. Sulawesi Streaked Flycatcher urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 54B169C6-CD09-455C-B80E-0FB178611BD4 Holotype MZB.Ornit.33.525; adult male, collected 23 Jun 2012. Left testis 4×2.5 mm, pale tan in color; no brood patch; no cloacal protuberance (Plate 1, Figure 8). Skull 100% pneumatized; no bursa; no enlarged gape flanges. Little fat; stomach and intestine full of small black items (saved in alcohol). No head, body, wing, or tail molt. Collected by the Prawiradilaga field party; prepared by Pamela C. Rasmussen, field number LL-PCR-2012-010. Diagnosis A small, drab gray-brown muscicapid flycatcher with indistinct facial patterning, strong dusky streaking below, and short primary projection. Differs from Muscicapa griseisticta in having the bill longer and more strongly hooked but relatively less broad; a weaker face pattern, with indistinct pale eyering (vs. prominent), dark spotting on throat (vs. mostly white throat), an ill-defined malar stripe and no pale moustachial stripe (vs. strong); much shorter and more rounded wing; shorter undertail coverts; and shorter, slightly more notched tail. Differs from Muscicapa sibirica in its longer, deeper, and, in Sino-Himalayan forms of M. sibirica, broader bill, much weaker head and throat pattern, much clearer streaking below, on a whitish background (vs. mostly dark background, especially in Sino-Himalayan forms); much shorter primary projection and first primary; shorter undertail coverts; and compared to M. s. sibirica, shorter and less notched tail. Differs from all forms of Muscicapa dauurica, as well as M. segregata and M. randi, especially in the strongly streaked underparts of M. sodhii. Differs additionally from M. dauurica in its shorter primary projection (longer only than M. d. umbrosa) and its more strongly hooked and, compared to M. d. dauurica, narrower bill; from M. randi and M. segregata in its shorter tail, less extensive pale area on lower mandible, and longer undertail coverts, and from M. segregata in its narrower bill and shorter tarsi. The song of the new species is higher-pitched than that of all similar Asian species, and differs from them additionally in its combination of relatively narrow bandwidth, few note repetitions, mostly clear, longer notes, few harmonics, and low similarity between adjacent strophes. Description of holotype Color terms using Munsell Color’s [29] notation are shown in Table 10. Bill black, terete, with prominent culmen ridge and fairly strong hook, moderately broad, narrowing evenly toward tip, the distal fifth markedly narrow. Proximal third of lower mandible pale, distinctly so and sharply contrasting with black distal two-thirds of lower mandible, the pale extending around the ramal branches. Rictal bristles fairly prominent, moderately stiff, black. Forehead graybrown with distinct dark brown centers and pale gray-brown edges, these markings larger on larger feathers of crown, and becoming obscure on feathers of rear crown. Nape and hindneck nearly uniform gray-brown. Sides of head uniform gray-brown, as nape. Lores mixed white and gray-brown, the feathers tipped dark giving a grizzled appearance, extends as narrow band over bill and as narrow (one feather row) indistinct eye ring, strongest in front of and below eye, weak above and behind eye. Pale lores grade into face below eye and sides of throat, which are indistinctly speckled. Chin and throat white, lightly and finely speckled gray-brown. There is no marked moustachial or malar streak; there is even gradation from pale grizzled lores to speckled throat and uniform graybrown auriculars. Speckled throat grades into profusely streaked breast, which grades into more uniform brown breast sides and flanks, and less profusely streaked belly, especially center of belly. Flanks browner, less distinctly streaked than belly sides, and center of lower belly unmarked white. Ground color of entire underparts white. Vent unmarked white. Feathers of lower tibia white. Mantle as nape. Feathers of back (below mantle) mostly lost during preparation due to shot damage, but same color as mantle. Rump and uppertail coverts plain gray-brown, as mantle. Primaries plain dark brown, darker than body plumage. Tertials paler, especially the outer webs. Secondaries as primaries but with very narrow pale edgings. Marginal coverts (leading wing edge coverts; [30]) mixed dark brown and white. All upperwing coverts dark gray-brown with indistinct, broad pale grayer edges. Tail uniform drab dark brown, slightly paler and grayer on proximal outer feathers. Soft part colors (from freshly dead specimen): Iris dark brown, narrow orbital ring black; bill black, basal third of lower mandible pale yellowish-cream; tarsi brownish-black, toepads grayish-tan, claws black. Measurements of holotype Body weight 12.5 g; culmen from feathers 10.3 mm, wing length (flattened) 64 mm, tarsus 12.5 mm, tail 44.0 mm. Frequency other the . for scored SD or after measured superscripts were as variable indicated the of taxa instances and other many species how is new field the each in between n) studied; recordings Mann-Whitney (tests in individuals significance size 10. n n in, kHz; superscript pone. 0112657 range (SD are 0.5 p>;; no;. journal ± Mean () f measures ns: = taxon1 0.05 ≤ p = 2 0.01 = p ≤ 3 p 0.001 ≤ = / doi 10.1371: doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0112657.g006 Paratype MZB.Ornit.33.530, unsexed adult (gonads destroyed by pellet), collected 25 Jun 2012 (Figure 8). No brood patch; no cloacal protuberance. Skull 100% pneumatized; no bursa; no enlarged gape flanges. Little fat; stomach full with several hard, rough, black, 2×2 mm seeds, beetle elytra, and other insect parts (contents saved in alcohol). Relatively large tapeworm found in pieces in abdominal cavity saved in alcohol. No head molt but body molt light, and molt present in primaries, secondaries, and rectrices. Collected by the Prawiradilaga field party; prepared by Pamela C. Rasmussen, field number LL-PCR-2012-014. Body weight 12.0 g; culmen from feathers 11 mm, wing length (flattened) 62 mm, tarsus 13.4 mm, tail 44.5 mm. Variation in the type series The holotype is in worn plumage and was not molting, while the paratype was molting but mostly in fresh plumage. Differences in color and pattern are striking in direct comparison—the holotype is much browner above, the paratype much grayer. The holotype lacks distinct pale edges to tertials and secondaries, while the paratype has distinct buff edges to all these, narrow on secondaries and broader on tertials. The holotype has indistinct brown streaking from breast to flanks, with a white center of belly and vent; the throat brown-spotted, most densely on chin and least on lower central throat. The paratype has the same pattern below but the streaks below are bolder, grayer, and broader. The paratype (unlike the holotype) was prepared with one wing partially spread, and its primary underwing coverts are heavily dark streaked, looking mostly dark. The undersides of the primaries and secondaries are dark brown (paler in old feathers) with broad pale tan edgings, narrowest near tips. Both have similar face patterns, but while there is a narrow pale grizzled area over the bill that meets in the center in the holotype, this Variables deemed most important in bold italic, those of somewhat lesser importance in bold only, and those not considered important in regular font. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0112657.t009 pale area is interrupted by the bill base in the paratype. The lower face (below plain auriculars) is blotchy, in the holotype with no discernible pale submoustachial and darker malar area, while in the paratype there is a moderately marked paler submoustachial and dark malar. Mantle feathers when fresh (as in the paratype) look uniform/monotone but actually have broad pale edges/tips on both sides then diffuse dark blotches. When worn (as in the holotype) the pale edges disappear and the feathers are then dark-tipped. Secondary greater coverts are vaguely paler tan-edged in fresh plumage (as in the paratype), not prominently as on secondaries and tertials. In worn plumage (as in the holotype), the wing feathers are much more uniform but the primaries look distinctly darker than the tertials, which wear to medium-pale brown, especially on the lateral webs. Specimens examined No other specimens of the new species are known to exist. Etymology The new species is named in honor of the late Professor Navjot S. Sodhi (1962– 2011) for his monumental contributions to conservation biology and ornithology in Southeast Asia. Dr. Sodhi played a leading role in elucidating the effects of habitat disturbance on biodiversity, especially birds, across Southeast Asia (e.g. [31–36]). This research provided a fundamental understanding of the ecology of Southeast Asian forests and critical information required for conservation planning. In addition, Dr. Sodhi was an outstanding mentor for many students including D.L.Y. and J.B.C.H. for whom he was an honours and doctorate supervisor, respectively. The English name recognizes the endemic distribution of the species, with the descriptive term ‘‘Streaked’’ to avoid possible confusion with other endemic Sulawesi flycatchers. Remarks Distribution and habitat The species is known by our two specimens, the sightings and photographs of others, and our song recording from Baku Bakulu, Central Sulawesi. In 1997 King et al. [19] observed the flycatcher in a ‘‘very patchy remnant of forest’’ near Baku Bakulu. During our fieldwork in 2011 and 2012, the Baku Bakulu area was a mosaic of mature cacao plantations and small patches of remnant forest trees (Figure 9). This mixed agro-forest landscape abuts mature secondary and primary forest in Lore Lindu National Park. Despite the disturbance in the area, we found several forest-dependent species there, including Rufous-throated Flycatcher Ficedula rufigula, Sulawesi Dwarf Kingfisher Ceyx fallax, and Red-bellied Pitta Pitta erythrogaster. The flycatcher was seen at all levels in remnant forest trees in the agro-forest landscape. There are also several sight records of M. sodhii from Danau Tambing, Badeaha, and the Sedoa area in the Napu Valley on the northeastern side of Lore Lindu National Park. So far, the species is not known from the western side of the park, where fewer birdwatchers visit, but some ornithological studies have been done [35, 37]. Other records in Sulawesi are based on photographs from Matabulu and Toraut, North Sulawesi and Karaenta, South Sulawesi. Despite the number of records to date, the distribution of M. sodhii remains poorly known. Most of the handful of sites where the species has been recorded, like Bantimurung- Burusaraung and Lore Lindu National Parks, are regularly visited by birdwatchers, and are where the species has been reported multiple times. However, the remote protected areas in Sulawesi’s eastern and southeastern peninsulas are seldom visited and their avifaunas poorly known. The elevational range of Muscicapa sodhii is mainly within an elevational band of 150 m asl to 1,200 m in lowland and submontane evergreen forest and disturbed habitats. There are few records at higher elevations; the occasional observations of the species at Badeaha and Danau Tambing at c. 1,700 m may be exceptional and could involve post-breeding dispersal. While approximately half of the records are from primary lowland and submontane forests, the frequency of records (including that of the holotype and paratype) in disturbed habitats indicates that the species is tolerant of disturbance. It appears likely, however, that when it occurs in cacao plantations it requires the presence of at least scattered mature native forest trees. Vocal behavior According to King et al. [19], the pair of birds they observed at Baku Bakulu gave high-pitched calls, which were recorded and played back, eliciting a noticeable response. At 1702 h on 21 Jun 2012 at Baku Bakulu, J.B.C.H. found a singing individual of the undescribed flycatcher, sitting inconspicuously at mid-level near a fork of the main trunk of a large tree on a small hill-slope. The bird opened its bill noticeably while singing, and looked around a little, but otherwise sat quite still, making it hard to detect even though it was not hidden by foliage. After making a few recordings, P.C.R. played these quietly back to the flycatcher, which did not exhibit any obvious change in behavior but continued singing until 1707 h. It then flew off and we heard and recorded it singing again until 1722 h in a nearby densely vegetated area, but it did not respond noticeably to playback, nor was it seen again that day. Although differences in song before and after playback were not noted in the field, the later recordings (especially AV#17427–17428) made after playback are composed of short strophes, often of a single motif, while in the earlier-made cuts of the same individual most strophes are considerably longer and contain several motifs. Behavior Although the behavior of M. sodhii remains poorly known, scattered documentation from local and visiting birdwatchers have allowed some aspects of foraging behavior and breeding ecology to be established. Like some other closely related Muscicapa flycatchers, M. sodhii appears to be an obligate insectivore that forages inconspicuously at all levels but perhaps mainly mid-levels. During our field work in 2011 and 2012, we observed single individuals sallying for flying doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0112657.g009 insects, including large damselflies, from perches from several feet above ground to the subcanopy. Other known prey items as inferred from published photographs include orthopterans, including katydids (www.orientalbirdimages. org). Observations from other birdwatchers (e.g. [38–40]) indicate that the species may sporadically participate in mixed foraging flocks with other small passerines such as whistlers and white-eyes. We did not observe breeding during our field work in May–Jun, but breeding details have been reported in three birdwatching trip reports. Farrow and Robson [41] and Hutchinson [42] observed adult birds attending single juveniles at Bantimurung-Bulusaraung in early Oct, while Hutchinson [43] reported one adult feeding a juvenile adjacent to Lore Lindu National Park near Wuasa in late Sep. The fact that breeding has only been reported in Sep–Oct despite multiple records (n=17) from every month from Apr to Oct in the Lore Lindu and Bantimurung areas suggests that breeding, at least in central-south Sulawesi, may coincide with the start of the monsoon season. In North Sulawesi, the species is known to breed in May based on photographs deposited in the Oriental Birds Image database (www.orientalbirdimages.org) of a fledgling documented in May 2009. Diagnosability and species status criteria Though superficially similar in appearance to M. griseisticta, M. sodhii is a wellmarked species (see Diagnosis) that does not show close morphological approach to any other known taxon. In mtDNA it differs by at least 4.1% from all congeners, and it is highly distinct morphologically from the taxa that it is most similar to in mtDNA. Bearing in mind the small sample of singing individuals and that further vocal sampling is needed, M. sodhii also appears to differ in song from its congeners to a similar and in some cases to a stronger extent than the others do from each other. However, even if the available vocal sample proves unrepresentative, morphological and genetic differences clearly indicate species status. We therefore consider that, under any modern species concept, M. sodhii unambiguously fits the definition of a species and that its recognition as such will be non-controversial. Conservation The fairly wide elevational and distributional range of M. sodhii, and its tolerance of habitat disturbance indicate that it is not immediately at high risk from logging or habitat conversion, which is ongoing in Sulawesi’s lowlands and, increasingly, highlands [17, 18, 44, 45]. The species probably does not occur in young cacao monoculture, or where remnant forest trees are not preserved. It is a low-density species in the Lore Lindu National Park area and it appears to be uncommon elsewhere in Sulawesi, given that the species was only reported in 17 of 51 birdwatching reports we sampled since its first documentation in 1997. Nonetheless, the paucity of reports may be partly because the species had not yet been formally described. Present knowledge suggests the species does not approach the thresholds for ‘Vulnerable’ under the IUCN’s range size or inferred population trend criteria [46]. We propose that the species be placed in the ‘Least Concern’ category. Persistence of the species in small forest patches in a mosaic of cacao plantations over 15 years in Baku Bakulu shows that M. sodhii tolerates some level of disturbance and fragmentation. Our limited data however do not allow us to infer if disturbed habitats are preferred over primary forest. The scientific description of the species, including its voice, should allow comparative surveys to be done in forests and disturbed areas to learn about the species’ habitat preferences. Furthermore, it should be a priority to survey poorly-sampled areas such as Sulawesi’s eastern and southeastern peninsulas to collect distributional information on M. sodhii. Taxonomic studies are also needed to evaluate whether populations on Sulawesi’s northern and southern peninsulas are distinct from Central Sulawesi birds. Many Sulawesi bird genera have racially or specifically distinct representatives that are allopatric on the island’s peninsulas (e.g., Heinrichia, Zosterops, and Ficedula, among others), and it is possible that more than one taxon of Muscicapa is resident on the extraordinarily complex island of Sulawesi.

Each year, numerous species thought to have disappeared are rediscovered. Yet, do these rediscoveries represent the return of viable populations or the delayed extinction of doomed species? We document the number, distribution and conservation status of rediscovered amphibian, bird, and mammal species globally. Over the past 122 years, at least 351 species have been rediscovered, most occurring in the tropics. These species, on average, were missing for 61 years before being rediscovered (range of 3-331 years). The number of rediscoveries per year increased over time and the majority of these rediscoveries represent first documentations since their original description. Most rediscovered species have restricted ranges and small populations, and 92% of amphibians, 86% of birds, and 86% of mammals are highly threatened, independent of how long they were missing or when they were rediscovered. Under the current trends of widespread habitat loss, particularly in the tropics, most rediscovered species remain on the brink of extinction.

An interferometer with 1800 rotational shear does not show rotationally symmetrical aberrations. The instrument, however, is suitable for aligning zooming laser optical systems, monitoring wavefront irregularities, and verifying beamsteering tilt directions.

The ability of ion permeability-inducing agents (ionophores) to complex and transport cations and amines across membranes has provided a novel approach for the pharmacological modification of biological systems. Of particular interest is X-537A, since it not only transports alkali ions but compared to most of the known ionophores it is unusually efficient in transporting calcium as well as catecholamines. The cardiovascular effects of this agent were studied in normal anesthetized dogs. X-537A produced a dramatic augmentation of myocardial contractility with up to 210% increases in max dP/dt after intravenous doses of 1.0-1.5 mg/kg. The moderate dose of 0.5-0.75 mg/kg X-537A induced significant increases in max dP/dt (68%, P < .001), isometric ventricular segmental tension (IVST) (79%, P < .01), peak dT/dt (65%, P < .05), cardiac output (44%, P < .001), aortic systolic (18%, P < .001) and diastolic (15%, P < .001) pressures, pulse pressure (28%, P < .001), left ventricular systolic pressure (18%, P < .001), and decrease in total peripheral resistance (23%, P < .05) without significant changes in heart rate and atrioventricular conduction. Beta-blockade with large doses of propranolol showed 20% suppression of the cardiac inotropism of X-537A. The action of X-537A is typically rapid with a smooth continuous progression until maximal response is attained in 10-15 minutes, sustained for about one hour, then gradually subsides during the third hour. Such ideal cardiovascular effects of X-537A portend a profound therapeutic potential in cases of cardiac decompensation and circulatory compromise. X-537A may also prove to be a valuable tool for probing the complex factors influencing myocardial contractility.