Goes online

I ssu e 1 Sep t em ber 2016

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GOES Gl obal Op p or t u n i t i es f or Ecol ogi cal Su st ai n abi l i t y

Bi od i v er si t y on cam p u s

Au t u m n i s h er e: W h er e ar e t h e Ch est n u t Tr ees?

H ave you ever won der ed wh at pl an ts ar e su r r ou n din g Read abou t Am er ican you on cam pu s? Expl or e an d Ch estn u t Restor ation an d get fr ee tick ets to th e H or se-ch estn u t l eaf-m in er in vasion

Su m m er of Con ser v at i on W h at you r fel l ow stu den ts wer e u p to du r in g th e su m m er : savin g an im al s an d l ivin g in ju n gl es. W h at is you r stor y?

Th i s i ssu e of GOES i s d ed i cat ed t o t h e p eop l e w h o p u bl i sh ed t h ei r ar t i cl es i n t h i s f i r st i ssu e: Abigail Keel y-An n Tu l l , El ean or Ran dal l , H il ar y Con l an , Joh n W al sh , Katie Gol dsbr ou gh , Leven te Kiss, M ar io Sh im bov,Tyl er Ku l fan , Steven Al l ain an d Nigel Cooper

Tabl e of con t en t s W h at is GOES? For ewor d by th e Ch ief Editor...................... 2 H ave you h ear d abou t th e l ich en s?........................................... 3 W el com e (back ) to ARU.................................................................. 4 Biodiver sity on Cam br idge Cam pu s......................................... 5-6 Societies, sch ol ar sh ips..................................................................... 7-8 You r stor ies............................................................................................ 9-12 Au tu m n is h er e: W h er e ar e th e Ch estn u t Tr ees?............. 13-14 Book r ecom m en dation s.................................................................. 15

Pl ease be awar e th at th is is an open -access e-m agazin e m ain l y for stu den ts. GOES is n ot affil iated with An gl ia Ru sk in Un iver sity. No su bscr iption or pu bl ish in g fees. Pictu r es ar e su bject to copyr igh t, pl ease ask per m ission befor e u sin g th em .

W ebsi t e: h ttps:/ / gl obal oppor tu n itites.co Facebook : Gl obal Oppor tu n ities for Ecol ogical Su stain abil ity Em ai l : bor ok a.k iss@ stu den t.an gl ia.ac.u k

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Cov er p h ot o

by Juniper

Th is pictu r e was tak en on ARU's Cam br idge cam pu s.

H or se-ch estn u t tr ees seem to be th e fir st sign s of th e qu ick l y ar r ivin g au tu m n . H owever , wh en you l ook ar ou n d th e par k s you m igh t n otice th at th e oth er tr ees ar e n ot r eady yet. Peopl e m igh t th in k th at th is is n atu r al bu t as th e ar ticl e on Page 15 expl ain s, th e H or se-ch estn u t tr ees ar e u n der attack by an in vasive l eaf-m in er. It was a h ar d decision to pick th e fir st cover pictu r e for GOES. Peopl e m igh t be m or e in cl in ed to pick u p a m agazin e with a cu te an im al on th e cover or an aston ish in g l an dscape pictu r e.

I tr ied th em ou t for GOES bu t th is m atter k ept bu ggin g m e.

Rai si n g aw ar en ess ou t w ei gh s m ar k et i n g. Th er e wil l be pl en ty of cu te pictu r es in th e m agazin e so k eep r eadin g!

W h at i s GOES? For ewor d by the Chief Editor , Founder of GOES

You can r ead m an y 'H ow to save m on ey' gu ides for stu den ts bu t you do n ot r ead 'Live in a ten t du r in g th e su m m er s' often . Th at is wh at I h ave been doin g for 2 year s n ow. Lim ited el ectr icity an d r eception in spir es cr eativity an d m y im agin ation . On e r ain y n igh t I was fil l in g ou t a fel l owsh ip appl ication for m wh er e th ey wer e ask in g ?H ow do you wan t to ch an ge th e wor l d? an d I was scr ibbl in g down ideas an d th en ? I wr ote down th at it wou l d be gr eat to bu il d a r esear ch in stitu te fr om scr atch . Th is idea gr abbed my im agin ation an d I en ded u p wr itin g pages abou t it wh il e I was in th e Nam ib Deser t. I wr ote abou t th is idea in sch ol ar sh ip appl ication s an d after r eceivin g th e Gol den Oppor tu n ities Sch ol ar sh ip fr om th e Am er ican Society of Agr on om y, I th ou gh t it is m y tu r n to get actu al l y star ted.

Th is m agazin e an d th e website is th e fir st step of tr yin g to give som eth in gs back to th e peopl e wh o su ppor t m e. I was am azin gl y

l u ck y to h ave r eceived th e An gl ia Fou n dation Sch ol ar sh ip twice fr om my fan tastic u n iver sity to go to th e Kal ah ar i for 6 week s in 2015. W h il e qu eu in g at Tesco I stil l im agin e th e savan n a an d th e sweet sim pl icity of l ife th at I got to exper ien ce th er e. Th is year I com pl eted a Bor eal an d Com m u n ity Ecol ogy cou r se an d in ter n ation al wor k sh op in Fin l an d th an k s to th e sam e sch ol ar sh ip. It gave m e th e

Receivin g th ese sch ol ar sh ips h ave th ou gh t m e a gr eat deal an d wou l d r eal l y l ik e to en cou r age ever yon e el se to appl y for oppor tu n ities so you wil l be abl e to exper ien ce th ese you r sel f!

Peopl e con gr atu l ate m e on r eceivin g sch ol ar sh ips yet, al l of th is can be th an k ed to ever y su ppor tive fr ien d, col l eagu e, teach er or str an ger in th e bu s stop wh o con tr ibu tes to m y 'in toxicatin g en th u siasm ' an d I wou l d n ot be abl e to do an y of th ese th in gs with ou t th em .

" Th in k gl obal , act l ocal "

Logo designed by Adam Akos Rozsa

oppor tu n ity to l ear n abou t gr ou ses pl u m m etin g in to a sn ow so th ey can h ave a n est with ou t l eavin g tr ack s ar ou n d th e en tr an ce, to see spider s wal k on sn ow, to m ar vel at th e Nor th er n Ligh ts on a fr ozen l ak e wh il e ever yon e was r u n n in g to get th eir cam er as, to h u g a 400 year ol d pin e tr ee an d sin g son gs ar ou n d a cam pfir e with oth er stu den ts wh o al l wan t to u n der stan d an d pr otect th is won der fu l n atu r e of ou r s. By exper ien cin g th e two extr em e h abitats (on e bein g ver y dr y, oth er bein g ver y col d), I h ave seen h ow l ife fl ou r ish es despite u n favou r abl e con dition s an d l im itation s.

Pl an ts, fu n gi, an im al s an d u s h u m an s, can adopt to an extr aor din ar y r an ge of con dition s.

W h et h er y ou ar e a L i f e Sci en ce, Bi om ed i cal , Com p u t er Sci en ce or a Sp or t Sci en ce st u d en t or d oi n g Fi l m St u d i es, Gr ap h i c Desi gn or Ph ot ogr ap h y cou r se, w e can w or k i n t er d i sci p l i n ar y t o d o som e am azi n g t h i n gs!

I wil l tr y to do m y best to m otivate peopl e an d star t-u p th is in depen den t m agazin e to l et ever yon e k n ow abou t oppor tu n ities in n etwor k in g, scien ce an d con ser vation . Baby steps. I wou l d al so l ik e to give ever yon e th e oppor tu n ity to pu bl ish th eir stor ies, pr ojects an d ar t. It is you r ar ticl es an d wor k th at is goin g to spice up th is m agazin e so Juniper (Bor oka) Kiss August 20 16, Cam br idge

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H AVE YOU H EARD ABOUT TH E L I CH EN S?

by Juniper

t h e v u l p i n i c aci d gi v es t h e l i ch en t h e br i gh t y el l ow col ou r

A gr ou p of sci en t i st s f ou n d ou t i s t h at l i ch en s ar e n ot on l y com p osed of a si n gl e Ascom y cet e an d a si n gl e p h ot obi on t (al gae or cy an obact er i a) bu t al so a t h i r d p ar t n er , a Basi d i om y cet e y east (Cyphoba si di um ) i s p r esen t of t h e t h al l i (t h e v eget at i v e p ar t of t h e l i ch en ) of v u l p i n i c aci d r i ch m acr ol i ch en s (Br yor i a fr em ont i i an d B. t or t usa ) L i ch en s w er e t h ou gh t t o be p l an t s t i l l 1867 w h en Sw ed i sh l i ch en ol ogi st Sch w en d en er d i scov er ed t h at t h ey ar e m ad e of sy m bi ot i c r el at i on sh i p bet w een a p h ot obi on t (p h ot osy n t h et i c) an d a m y cobi on t (f u n gal ) p ar t n er . Th ey can be f ou n d f r om t h e t r op i cs t o p ol ar r egi on s (N ash , 2008). Th e m y cobi on t p ar t n er en h an ces t h e w at er u p t ak e an d p r ot ect s t h e p h ot obi on t f r om h i gh l i gh t i n t en si t y w h i ch en abl es t h em t o be abu n d an t i n d r i er ar eas as w el l . Th ei r r ol e i n ecosy st em s i s cr u ci al , con t r i bu t i n g f r om soi l f or m at i on , cy cl i n g m i n er al t o su p p or t i n g h i gh bi od i v er si t y of m i cr o- an d m acr oor gan i sm s. On e t r ee w as f ou n d t o gi v e h om e only t o 175 sp eci es (Ap t r oot , 2001).

Th e k i n gd om Fu n gi i s com p osed of t h e 'h i gh er f u n gi ' Ascom y cet es (y east s an d f i l am en t ou s f u n gi , som e h av e l ar ger f r u i t i n g bod i es, e.g. gou r m et t r u f f l es, Tuber m ela nospor um )an d Basi d i om y cet es (gen er al l y k n ow n 'm u sh r oom s' an d a f ew y east s). Th e 'l ow er f u n gi ' Zy gom y cet es, Ch y t r i d i om y cet es an d ot h er gr ou p s.

W h y i s t h i s d i scov er y a br eak t h r ou gh ?

Decad es of m i cr oscop i c i m agi n g h as n ot r ev eal ed t h e p r esen ce of t h e Cyphoba si di um bef or e. By ap p l y i n g f l ou r escen t i n si t u h y br i d i sat i on (FI SH ) i m agi n g sci en t i st s w er e abl e t o cr eat e a 3D i m age of t h e l i ch en t al l i (gr een : Basi d i om y cet e, p u r p l e: Ascom y cet e, r ed : al gal ch l or op h y l l ).

Th i s m et h od en abl es sci en t i st t o l ook f or f u r t h er con n ect i on s i n sy m bi ot i c r el at i on sh i p s, i n v est i gat e t h ei r p h y l ogen y an d r e-con si d er al l p r i or f i n d i n gs abou t l i ch en s. I t al so p i n p oi n t ed a l ar ge gap bet w een ou r k n ow l ed ge abou t (l i t er al l y ) m u l t i l ay er ed sy st em s.

Ref er en ces Spr ibil l e, T., Tu ivin en , V., Resl , P., Van der pool , D., W ol in sk i, H ., Aim e, M .C., Sch n eider , K., Staben th ein er , E., Toom e-H el l er , M ., Th or , G., M ayr h ofer , H ., Joh an n esson , H ., M cCu tch eon , J. P. 2016. Basidiom ycete yeasts in th e cor tex of ascom ycete m acr ol ich en s. Science, Vol 353 (6298), pp 488-492 Nash , T. H . Lich en Biol ogy (2). 2008. Cam br idge, GB: Cam br idge Un iver sity Pr ess Aptr oot, A. 2001. Lich en ized an d sapr obic fu n gal biodiver sity of a sin gl e Elaeocar pus tr ee in Papu a New Gu in ea, with th e r epor t of 200 species of ascom ycetes associated with on e tr ee. Fungal Diver sity, Vol 6, pp 1-11

3

W el com e (back ) t o ARU!

by Juniper

W h eth er you ar e a fr esh er or an 'ol d stu den t', th er e ar e al ways m or e tr ick s to get good gr ades an d n etwor k at ARU. I am star tin g m y th ir d year s n ow an d so far got 70-80% in m y m odu l es. W as it h ar d?

N ot r eally.

A fan tastic l ectu r er tol d m e th at: fir st be or gan ised, th en be on tim e an d then be sm ar t. M ost stu den ts do n ot get th e m ar k s th at r efl ect th eir k n owl edge becau se th ey for get th e deadl in es or do n ot go to th e l ectu r es wh er e th e teach er s tel l you pr ecisel y wh at th ey expect fr om you .

M y t r i ck i s u si n g Ou t l ook ev er y d ay.

If you access it via www.m y.an gl ia.ac.u k you can switch to you r Cal en d ar view. Du r in g th e fir st week of u n iver sity sit down with you r m odu l e gu ides an d pu t ever y deadl in e in you cal en dar an d set r em in der s! I u su al l y pu t th e pr actical session s in th er e as wel l so it r em in ds m e 1 day ah ead to br in g m y l ab coat. W ith deadl in es I u su al l y pu t a r em in der 3 week s ah ead. It is so sim pl e! W h at el se you can do is go to 'Peopl e' an d set u p even a gr ou p of stu den ts wh er e ever yon e can add to th e cal en dar so you l et oth er stu den ts k n ow abou t deadl in es or pu b qu izzes.

You can attach docu m en ts, pictu r es, URLs in th e m or e detail ed ver sion of an even t. It is al so gr eat to set u p Al er t s on th e VLE wh ich m ean s you wil l r eceive an em ail wh en peopl e com m en ts, a fil e gets u pl oaded (you can specify it wh il e settin g th em ). If you ar e u sin g th e com pu ter s on cam pu s, Sk y p e Bu si n ess wil l l og in au tom atical l y an d you m igh t n ot h ave n oticed it befor e. If you add you r cl assm ates an d l ectu r er s as con tacts, you wil l be abl e to see wh eth er th ey ar e "Avail abl e", at th eir com pu ter or m aybe 'Away' or 'Bu sy'.

W h en l ook in g for you r l ectu r er s th is cou l d com e in h an dy. An oth er th in g to k eep in m in d is th at tim e passes by awfu l l y qu ick l y, par ties on e after an oth er , wor k , stu dies, an d m or e par ties. I r ead r ecen tl y th at bein g at u n iver sity is n o l on ger abou t gettin g an edu cation bu t gettin g th e exper ien ce. I t sh ou l d be bot h . Th in k abou t th e ÂŁ9000 of tu ition fee. I h ear d so m an y stu den ts sayin g th at th ey ar e n ot gettin g back en ou gh for th at k in d of m on ey yet m ost of th em do n ot h ave Fir st Cl ass m ar k s. Pu t in th e effor t even in you r fir st year even wh en you r gr ades do n ot r eal l y cou n t. Sh ow you r l ectu r er s th at you ar e r eady to th r ive an d th ey wil l open so m an y door s for you ! I wor k fu l l -tim e wh il e stu dyin g par t-tim e an d I bel ieve an y oth er u n iver sity wou l d be u n h appy with m e. H er e teach er s stay til l 6pm so I can h ave a ch at with th em , pop in to m y wor k pl ace or see th em on th e week en d!

ARU W il dl ife Society's Ar r an tr ip

Gr ey seal (H alichoer us gr ypus) fr om Don n a Nook fiel d tr ip

Pictu r e fr om In tr odu ction to M ar in e Biol ogy fiel d tr ip to H ol m e Du n es, Nor fol k

Un iver sity cr eates a pl ace wh er e you can th r ive.

So t h r i v e & h av e t h e t i m e of y ou r l i f e!

Set u p al er ts on you r VLE!

Sk ate fr om a fish dissection pr actical

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Pl an t s on Cam br i d ge Cam p u s

by Juniper

Stu den ts m igh t th in k th at 'pl an ts ar e bor in g' an d wou l d r ath er go on fiel d tr ips wh er e th ey can see cu te seal pu ps th an car r y ou t vegetation su r veys.

H owever , vegetation is a cr u cial com pon en t of an y or gan ism s' h abitat wh ich wil l h ave an effect on food avail abil ity, its h eal th an d distr ibu tion .

H avin g wor k ed with pl an ts, th ey open ed m y eye h ow th ey ou twit h ostil e en vir on m en ts, com petition an d h ow in ter - an d in tr a- species in ter action s r el y on th em . Pl an t bl i n d n ess h as been r esear ch ed (Bal din g an d W il l iam s, 2016) wh er e it is pr oposed th at con ser vation in itiatives ar e biased again st pl an ts.

Pl an ts do n o m ove m u ch , gr ow cl ose to each oth er , peopl e can n ot watch th em eat (except fr om th e car n ivor ou s pl an ts), can n ot 'l ook in to th eir eyes' an d com m u n ication with th em is on e-sided. H igh sch ool text book s devote abou t 15% of th eir ch apter s to botan y (Un o, 1994). It is som ewh at sh ock in g th at "despite pl an ts com pr om isin g th e m ajor ity of feder al en dan ger ed species l ist (57%), in 2011 th ey r eceived l ess th an 3.86% of feder al en dan ger ed species expen ditu r es" (H aven s et al 2014).

Raisin g em path y with pl an ts is su ggested to be th e m ost effective appr oach to get peopl e in ter ested.

W ou l d we appr oach pl an ts with a differ en t in ter est if th ey wer e to l ook m or e l ik e an im al s, su ch as th e M on k ey or ch ids (Dr acula spp.)?

ARU's gr eat ch apl ain Nigel Cooper is a tr u e pl an t en th u siast, al ways h appy to sh ar e h is k n owl edge an d I l ear n ed basic ID sk il l s fr om h im du r in g Bot an y Bi t es. W ith h is k in d h el p we su r veyed th e cam pu s on a l ovel y day.

5

H av e a l ook ar ou n d t h e cam p u s an d f am i l i ar i se y ou r sel f w i t h basi c p l an t i d en t i f i cat i on sk i l l s!

M on k ey or ch ids m ak e you won der if Evol u tion h as a sen se of h u m ou r Pictu r es avail abl e at: h ttp:/ / www.dr acu l a-species.eu /

Vegetation on cam pu s can be categor ised in th e fol l owin g way: 1) N at i v e sp eci es 2) I n v asi v e/ n on -n at i v e sp eci es 3) H or t i cu l t u r al sp eci es

Tr ees an d m ost bu sh es ar e h or ticu l tu r al species. If you ar e com in g fr om Br oad Str eet befor e th e gate you wil l be wel com ed by th e com m on l y k n own '"l ivin g-fossil ", Ginko biloba th at h as ou t-su r vived th e din osau r s an d can l ive u p to 3.500 year s. Th r ou gh th e gate, you wil l fin d a cath edr al -effect can opy of a Pl an e tr ee (Platanus x hispanica) al so cal l ed Lon don pl an e tr ee. En ter in g fr om Br adm or e Str eet you wil l al so see Pl an e tr ees bu t you wil l al so fin d a n ative fer n ; H ar t's ton gu e (Asplenium scolopendr ium , see pictu r e above). Now con cen tr atin g on wil dfl ower s it is r ecom m en ded th at you gr ab th e Collins W ild Flower Guide book fr om th e l ibr ar y (582.1 STR) an d h an d-l en ses.

W al k in g beh in d th e Sin cl air bu il din g you wil l see a sign for a Biodiver sity Patch / Pock et wh er e a patch of gr ass h as n ot been m owed for som e tim e .

Th er e h ides a r ar e, n ative Bee or ch id (Ophr ys apifer a) wh ich bl ossom ed du r in g th e su m m er.

You can fin d th e Rou gh M eadow-gr ass (Poa tr ivialis) weed by l ook in g for tu fty fl ower h eads an d if you r u n you r fin ger s down on th e edge of th e l eaves, you wil l fin d it r ath er r ou gh . Tr y to fin d in th e sam e ar ea: Cock s-foot (Dactylus glom er ata) , Gr eater pl an tain (Plantago m ajor ) an d Au tu m n h awk bit (Leontodon autum nalis) .

W al k in g towar ds th e M ack en zie Str eet (Col l ier Road) en tr an ce you wil l sm el l th e sweet scen t of H on eysu ck l e (Lonicer a per iclym enum ) . You wil l al so bu m p in to a cou pl e of bel l fl ower s, Cr eepin g bu tter cu p (Ranunculus r epens) , Yel l ow cor ydal is (Pseudofum ar ia lutea) an d Am er ican wil l owh er b (Epilobium adenocaulon) on th e ston e wal l beh in d th e Ru sk in bu il din g. If you wal k th r ou gh th e l ittl e path between th e Cosl ett an d W ebb bu il din gs you wil l fin d m or e biodiver sity ar eas beh in d th e fen ces on th e r igh t. H ave a gl im pse at th e tal l bu t gr im l ook in g H or se-ch estn u t tr ees (Aesculus hippocastanum ; r ead m or e abou t th e l eaf-m in er 's in vasion in Eu r ope on Page 14). You wil l fin d th e Bog Gar d en on th e l eft side. H il ar y pl an ted m an y n ative pl an ts an d spr in k l ed spr in g an d woodl an d seed m ixes h er e. Th e fir st water -l ovin g pl an t th at m igh t stan d ou t ar e th e H or setail s (Equisetum spp).

Usin g an iden tification book you can fin d Ragged r obin (Lychnis flos-cuculi) , Devil 's bit scabiou s (Succisa pr atensis) , Sel f-h eal (Pr unella spp.) , W ater aven s Geum r ivale) , Com m on dog viol et (Viola r iviniana) , Red cam pion (Silene dioica) , Pu r pl e l oosestr ife (Lythr um salicar ia) and Yel l ow l oosestr ife (Lysim achia vulgar is) . W al k in g ar ou n d Peter Tayl or you can h ave a peek at th e al l otm en ts on th e r igh t (after th e Ten n is Cou r t).

W h en you ar e on you r way back to H el m or e, you wil l h ave th e ch an ce to stop an d sit down at m y favou r ite pl ace on cam pu s: between th e David an d H el m or e bu il din gs, n ext to th e gen tl e sou n din g con str u ction site. You wil l fin d th r ee ben ch es u n der n eath a m agn ificen t Nor way M apl e tr ee (Acer platanoides) . You m ay n otice th e bir d feeder th at I pu t ou t l ast Novem ber. Bir d sigh tin gs ar e m ost l ik el y on th e week en d wh il e tak in g a br eak fr om th e l ibr ar y (n atu r al l y ever yon e spen ds th e week en ds at th e l ibr ar y).

W h i t e Cl ov er (Tr i foli um r epens) L esser bu r n et t sax i f r age (Pi m pi nella sa xi fr a ga )

Sel f -h eal (Pr unella vulga r i s)

Pi cr i s echi oi des

Ox-eye da i sy (Leuca nt hem um vulga r e )

or Ci r si um vulga r e

Cr eat i n g t h e Bog Gar d en

by H ilar y Conlan, PhD Student Th e Biodiver sity Steer in g Com m ittee is wor k in g on im pr ovin g th e biodiver sity on th e ARU cam pu ses. As par t of th is, Cam br idge Natu r al H istor y Society k in dl y u n der took a pl an t su r vey of th e Cam br idge cam pu s in M ay 2015. W h il e we wer e goin g ar ou n d th e cam pu s, I n oticed a Cu ck oo fl ower (Car dam ine pr atensis) in bl oom in th e l ittl e gr ass ar ea beh in d Peter Tayl or. Th is spot is in th e sh ade an d often dam p wh ich m ak es it n ot a ver y in vitin g ar ea for su n bath in g stu den ts. As th e ar ea is al r eady cover ed in m oss, it seem ed to m e th at bog pl an ts or sh ade l ovin g pl an ts wou l d th r ive h er e.

Th e ARU W il dl ife Society appl ied for gr an t m on ey fr om th e Stu den Un ion to cr eate th is ar ea an d th e u n iver sity gr ou n dsm an du g u p an ar ea of tu r f.

In M ar ch 2016, th e 250 pl u g pl an ts wer e pl an ted by fou r Life Scien ce Ph D stu den ts. Th e ar ea wil l tak e a wh il e to establ ish bu t it is h oped th at th e pl an ts wil l pr ovide pol l en an d n ectar sou r ce, as wel l as pr ovidin g a diver se h abitat for in ver tebr ates.

I f u si n g k ey s t o I D p l an t s i s a st r u ggl e (i t i s f or m e), y ou can al w ay s ask f or a bi t of h el p f r om N i gel w h o i s v er y h ap p y t o t al k abou t p l an t s (an d cak es) an d w i l l sh ow y ou t h e ch ar act er s on p l an t s w h i ch h e p i ck s f r om h i s ow n gar d en !

Ref er en ces Bal d i n g, M . an d W il l iam s, K., 2016. Pl an t bl in dn ess an d th e im pl ication s for pl an t con ser vation . Conser vation Biology, pp 1-8 Un o, GE. 1994. Th e state of pr ecol l ege botan ical edu cation . Th e Am er ican Biology Teacher , Vol 56, pp 263?26 H av en s, K, Kr am er A.T., Gu er r an t, Jr. E.O. 2014. Gettin g pl an t con ver sation r igh t (or n ot): th e case of th e Un ited States. I nter national Jour nal of Plant Sciences ,Vol 175, pp 3?10

Pu r p l e l oosest r i f e (Lyt hr um sa li ca r i a )

Br i st l y ox -t on gu e (Pi cr i s echi oi des) Bog gar d en

Ri gh t : Dav i d Bu i l d i n g L ef t : Pet er Tay l or

I d en t i f y an d p h ot ogr ap h 10 n at i v e p l an t s ar ou n d cam p u s, get f r ee a t i ck et t o t h e Cam br i d ge Bot an i cal Gar d en s!

Em ail m e on bor ok a.k iss@ stu den t.an gl ia.ac.u k

6

SOCI ETI ES & TH EI R BEN EFI TS

"The t r ue si gn of i nt elli gence i s not knowledge but i m a gi na t i on."

Al ber t Ei n st ei n L ot s of p eop l e ask m e h ow I f i n d sch ol ar sh i p s, cou r ses, ev en t s et c. I n t h i s sect i on I col l ect ed t h e m ai n soci et i es t h at I got t o k n ow ov er t h e y ear s.

Th er e ar e an over wh el m in g n u m ber of societies ou t th er e wh er e you wil l fin d a com m u n ity of peopl e with th e sam e in ter est, l ook in g for col l eagu es an d su ppor t in th e sam e fiel d.

Becom in g a m em ber an d par ticipatin g in th ese com m u n ities h ave so m u ch poten tial . I got th e ch an ce to go to Afr ica, Fin l an d an d Am er ica becau se I k eep appl yin g for sch ol ar sh ips.

N ow i t i s y ou r t u r n !

L i n n ean Soci et y of L on d on W ebsi t e: www.l in n ean .or g M em ber sh i p : Stu den t Associatesh ip or Associatesh ip, Recom m en dation Letter n eeded Cost : £10 or £26 per an n u m Ben ef i t s: fr ee copy of The Linnean an d PuLSE bi-an n u al pu bl ication s, access to col l ection s an d l ibr ar y in Lon don , excl u sive even ts, h al f m em ber sh ip pr ice of Society of Biol ogy

M ar i n e Bi ol ogy Associ at i on (M BA) Roy al Soci et y of Bi ol ogy (RSB) W ebsi t e: www.r sb.or g.u k M em ber sh i p : Stu den t Affil iate Cost : £15 per an n u m Ben ef i t s: 20% discou n t on W il ey Bl ack wel l an d Oxfor d Un iver sity Pr ess, tr avel gr an ts of £500, con fer en ce gr an ts, fr ee su bscr iption to The Biologist m agazin e an d sever al n ewsl etter s M ak e su r e you ch eck ou t th eir l ist of Un der gr adu ate Stu den tsh ips an d Even ts

W ebsi t e: www.m ba.ac.u k M em ber sh i p : Stu den t Cost : £25 per an n u m Ben ef i t s: fr ee copy of the M ar ine Biologist bi-an n u al m agazin e, M BA an n u al r epor t, discou n ts on tr ain in g cou r ses an d con fer en ces, 20% discou n t on Cam br idge Un iver sity Pr ess, Oxfor d Un iver sity Pr ess an d Eu r ospan Gr ou p, on l in e access to th e en tir e jou r n al ar ch ive (1887-1999) an d th e Nation al M ar in e Biol ogical Libr ar y,bu r sar ies an d fel l owsh ips

Th e Ocean ogr ap h y Soci et y (TES) Br i t i sh Ecol ogi cal Soci et y (BES)

W ebsi t e: www.tos.or g

W ebsi t e: www.br itish ecol ogical society.or g

M em ber sh i p : Stu den t or Regu l ar

M em ber sh i p : Stu den t Cost : 1st Year : FREE th en £21 per an n u m

Cost : FREE for M ar in e Biol ogy stu den ts, or $60 for Regu l ar M em ber s

Ben ef i t s: r edu ced fees at even ts, r esear ch (u p to £5,000 or £20,000), tr avel (u p to £1,000 for Ph D stu den ts) an d ou tr each (u p to £2,000) gr an ts, m en tor in g sch em e, fr ee copy of Bulletin qu ar ter l y n ewsl etter ,m on th l y eBu l l etin n ewsl etter , access to al l BES jou r n al con ten t

Ben ef i t s: fr ee copy of Oceanogr aphy m agazin e an d access to N ew Fr ontier s in Ocean Explor ation, discou n ts on even ts an d con fer en ces, access to job sear ch tool s, m on th l y TOS N EW S n ewsl etter ,awar ds,

Ot h er soci et i es:

7

Br i t i sh Com p u t er Soci et y (www.bcs.or g) Soci et y of Bot an i cal Ar t i st s (www.soc-botan ical -ar tists.or g)

Soci et y of Bu si n ess Econ om i st s (www.sbe.co.u k ) Ch ar t er ed Soci et y of Desi gn er s (www.csd.or g.u k ) Ch ar t er ed Soci et y of For en si c Sci en ces (www.csofs.or g)

Am er i can Soci et y of Agr on om y (ASA)

Associ at i on f or t h e St u d y of An i m al Beh av i ou r (ASAB)

W ebsi t e: www.agr on om y.com

W ebsi t e: www.asab.or g

M em ber sh i p : Un der gr adu ate Stu den t

M em ber sh i p : Stu den t (pr in t or h ar d copy)

Cost : $20

Cost : £15 or £25 per an n u m

Ben ef i t s: sch ol ar sh ips, fel l owsh ips, awar ds, Gol den Oppor tu n ity Sch ol ar s M en tor sh ip, cer tified cou r ses, W ebin ar s, pu bl ish , access to Digital Libr ar y,in ter n al job oppor tu n ities, discou n ts on even ts an d cou r ses

Ben ef i t s: e-n ewsl etter ,copy of Anim al Behaviour jou r n al , r esear ch gr an t (u p to £7,500), u n der gr adu ate sch ol ar sh ips, con fer en ce atten dan ce gr an ts (£400), awar ds

Zool ogi cal Soci et y of L on d on (ZSL ) Am er i can Associ at i on f or t h e Ad v an cem en t of Sci en ce (AAAS) W ebsi t e: www.aaas.or g an d www.scien cem ag.or g M em ber sh i p : Stu den t Cost : Digital $65, Pr in t $95 per an n u m Ben ef i t s: access to th e jou r n al Science (Science Tr anslational M edicine, Science Signaling, Science Advances and Science I m m unology) week l y an d ar ch ive fr om 1880, Science & Diplom acy qu ar ter l y pu bl ication , Car eer Devel opm en t Cen ter , discou n ts on AAAS pu bl ication s, cou r ses an d m eetin gs

Br i t i sh Soci et y f or Pl an t Pat h ol ogy

W ebsi t e: www.zsl .or g M em ber sh i p : W il dl ife Ch am pion or Stu den t Fel l owsh ip Cost : £36 (W il dl ife Ch am pion ) or £37.5 (Stu den t Fel l owsh ip) per an n u m Ben ef i t s: n on -m em ber s: Er asm u s Dar win Bar l ow Expedition s, EDGE Fel l owsh ip, Su m m er Fiel d Cou r se in M on gol ia m em ber s: u n l im ited access to ZSL Lon don Zoo an d ZSL W h ipsn ade Zoo, fr ee car par k , 1 addition al gu est, sh op an d café discou n ts, Scien tific M eetin gs, 60% off a su bscr iption to Anim al Conser vation, Fel l ow?s r ate for th e Jour nal of Zoology, 25% off al l book s by W il ey Bl ack wel l Pu bl ish in g, bor r owin g r igh ts in th e ZSL l ibr ar y,copy of Review of the Year

W ebsi t e: www.bspp.or g.u k M em ber sh i p : Stu den t Cost : £25 (1 jou r n al ) or £50 (2 jou r n al s)

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Ben ef i t s: jou r n al s: Plant Pathology, M olecular Plant Pathology, fel l owsh ips, tr avel an d con fer en ce gr an ts, M Sc pr oject bu r sar y, u n der gr adu ate vacation bu r sar y sch em e, vol u n teer in g in ter n sh ips, access to pu bl ication ar ch ive

W ebsi t e: www.an im al beh aviou r society.or g

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M em ber sh i p : Stu den t (on l in e or paper ) Cost : $25 or $60 Ben ef i t s: copy of Anim al Behaviour jou r n al , e-n ewsl etter , discou n ted fees for con fer en ces, gr an ts (500-2,000$), car eer awar ds

W ebsi t e: www.bto.or g M em ber sh i p : Sin gl e, Join t or Fel l ow Cost : £36 (Sin gl e) or £45 (Join t) per an n u m Ben ef i t s: fr ee copy of BTO N ews m agazin e, 20% discou n t on BTO tr ain in g cou r ses, m on th l y e-n ewsl etter ,fr ee book fr om th e Bir d Ph otogr aph er of th e Year com petition , vol u n teer in g oppor tu n ities

Roy al En t om ol ogi cal Soci et y

Gen et i cs Soci et y W ebsi t e: www.gen etics.or g.u k M em ber sh i p : Un der gr adu ate Stu den t Cost : £5 per an n u m Ben ef i t s: e-n ewsl etter ,su m m er stu den tsh ips, an n u al wor k sh op, discou n ts on H er edity an d Genes and Developm ent jou r n al s

W ebsi t e: www.r oyen soc.co.u k M em ber sh i p : Fu l l -tim e Stu den t Cost : £25 per an n u m Ben ef i t s: copy of Antenna qu ar ter l y pu bl ish ed m agazin e pl u s Ecological Entom ology, I nsect Conser vation and Diver sity, Physiological Entom ology, System atic Entom ology, M edical and Veter inar y Entom ology, I nsect M olecular Biology, Agr icultur al and For est Entom ology su bscr iption , access to th e l ibr ar y (over 30,000 r epr in ts, r ar e book col l ection s pr e-datin g 1850), m an y awar ds (r an gin g £100-1,000)

Br i t i sh En t om ol ogi cal an d N at u r al H i st or y Soci et y W ebsi t e: www.ben h s.or g.u k M em ber sh i p : Stu den t Cost : £6 per an n u m

Bi och em i cal Soci et y W ebsi t e: www.bioch em istr y.or g M em ber sh i p : Un der gr adu ate Cost : £10 per an n u m Ben ef i t s: au tom atic m em ber sh ip of Th e Feder ation of Eu r opean Bioch em ical Societies (FEBS) an d access to FEBS Fel l owsh ips, m on th l y e-n ewsl etter ,copy of th e N ext Steps car eer s book l et, access to Biochem ical Jour nal an d Biochem ical Society Tr ansactions, bu r sar ies to atten d a Bioch em ical Society Focu sed M eetin g, Tr ain in g Even t or W or k sh op of u p to £300 an d discou n ted r egistr ation fees for Bioch em ical Society an d Royal Society of Biol ogy Tr ain in g Even ts, 50% off on fir st 2 year s m em ber sh ip su bscr iption of th e Royal Society of Biol ogy,bu r sar ies

Ben ef i t s: access to l ibr ar y an d col l ection s, pu bl ication of Key Refer ence W or ks, e-n ewsl etter

Associ at i on of Op t om et r i st s (www.aop.or g.u k ) Roy al Soci et y f or Br i t i sh Ar ch i t ect s (www.ar ch itectu r e.com / ) Br i t i sh Associ at i on of Sp or t an d Ex er ci se Sci en ces (www.bases.or g.u k )

Br i t i sh N u r si n g Associ at i on (www.bn a.co.u k ) Br i t i sh Psy ch ol ogi cal Soci et y (www.bps.or g.u k ) Per son al Fi n an ce Soci et y (www.th epfs.or g/ )

8

ARU St u d en t Ar t i cl es Ju n gl e t r i p i n Cu su co N at i on al Par k

by M ar io Shim bov , BSc Zool ogy Th is su m m er I wen t to San Pedr o Su l a, H on du r as for two week s. As soon as I wal k ed ou t of th e air por t m y dr eam s becam e r eal ity. At th e begin n in g of ou r ju n gl e tr ain in g we wen t in to to th e h ear t of Cu su co N at i on al Par k (CN P). Th e gr ou p con sisted of five u n iver sity stu den ts in cl u din g m ysel f. Ou r job was to h el p as r esear ch assistan ts.

Car r yin g two r u ck sack s th r ou gh th e ju n gl e I n oticed th at th e vegetation ch an ged fr om br oad-l eaf to pin e for est. W e r each ed ou r fir st cam p, La Lagu n a at el evation of 2000 m etr es. On ou r jou r n ey we saw m an y an im al s su ch as M or el et's al l igator l izar d (M esaspis m or eletii) an d cou n tl ess in sects th at wer e a r eal ch al l en ge to iden tify.

Cl ose to an am azin g pl ace cal l ed th e Dwar f For est, we wer e l u ck y en ou gh to spot an extr em el y ven om ou s bu t peacefu l l y coil ed H on du r as M on tan e pitviper (Cer r ophidion wilsoni) . W e con tin u ed ou r r ou gh an d sweaty h ik e to La Lu pe an d set u p for th e n igh t. W e spen t th e n igh t ar ou n d th e fir e with two l ocal gu ides wh o join ed ou r gr ou p, we san g son gs wh il st m ak in g h on ey com bs on a stick . Th at n igh t was ver y spir itu al an d fu n . Ear l y in th e m or n in g we h ear d som e H owl er m on k eys (Alouatta spp) th at h ave extr em el y l ou d cal l s an d we took th e oppor tu n ity to ch ase th em ar ou n d th e ju n gl e. Few days of stu dyin g abou t th e for est an d gettin g to k n ow th e H on du r an in digen ou s peopl e an d th eir tr adition s in depth , ou r con n ection gr ew str on ger. Th e in cr ease in d ef or est at i on cau sed by u n au th or ised for eign com pan ies l ead to th e disappear an ce of th e vil l age San to Tom as, wh er e we stopped to h ave ou r l u n ch . Adaptation in th ese for ests ar e u n iqu e con sider in g th e abiotic factor s. Th ese h igh l y special ized an im al s wou l d n ot be abl e to su r vive an ywh er e el se in th e wor l d.

W an der in g n ear by str eam s com in g back fr om El Cor tecito we stu m bl ed u pon th e m ost ven om ou s sn ak e in H on du r as, M icr ur us diastem a al so k n own as Cor al il l o. W e al so spotted th e m ost beau tifu l Eyel ash viper , Bothr iechis schlegelii. W e h an dl ed som e h ar m l ess am ph ibian s su ch as th e cu te l ook in g Gl ass fr og (H yalinobatr achium fleischm anni) an d th e col or fu l M exican cl im bin g sal am an der (Bolitoglossa m exicana) . I al so wor k ed on tr yin g to fin d a sol u tion to th e ch ytr id fu n gu s Batr achochytr ium dendr obatidis wh ich cau ses death in am ph ibian s.

Th e l ast week at cam p passed by so qu ick l y, it fel t l ik e it was ju st a m om en t? An am azin g on e.

I t i s h ar d t o ex p l ai n , t h i s ex p er i en ce i n t h e ju n gl e m ak es y ou r eal i ze h ow cr u ci al an d f r agi l e n at u r e i s. W e h av e t o be m or e con cer n ed abou t t h e m ar k s an d t h ei r con sequ en ces t h at w e ar e r esp on si bl e f or as a h u m an r ace.

9

Sav i n g Dogs i n Cy p r u s

by Abigail Keely-Ann Tull, BSc An im al Beh aviou r an d W el far e Du r in g spr in g 2014, I began a sear ch for ou r n ew fam il y dog.

Even tu al l y, I cam e acr oss a Facebook page ?SPDC Sav i n g Pou n d Dogs- Cy p r u s? H er e I fou n d m y per fect dog an d m y jou r n ey in to for eign an im al r escu e began . SPDC, a n on -pr ofit or gan isation , h as been cr eated by a gr ou p of an im al l over s with a m ission to save str eet dogs an d th ose in th e m u n icipal ity pou n ds of Nicosia an d Lim assol . Th e ch ar ity was fir st fou n ded in M ar ch 2014 by a gr ou p of vol u n teer s. Al l h om el ess dogs fou n d by th e m u n icipal ity in Cypr u s wou l d be given 15 d ay s to be cl aim ed befor e bein g pu t down . W ith ou t SPDC m or e th an a th ou san d dog in 2014/ 15 al on e wou l d h ave been l eft to su ffer or been pu t to sl eep.

Ar y a i n Cy p r u s Vol u n teer s wor k h ar d, con tin u al l y spen din g tim e to feed, water , exer cise an d tr eat th e dogs. Eu r opean vol u n teer s h el p with pr om otion , fin din g foster or for ever h om es. After fol l owin g th e ch ar ity for sever al m on th s, I decided to tr avel to Cypr u s to witn ess th e situ ation for m ysel f, accom pan ied by m y cl ose fr ien d Dean n a H am m on d. Du r in g ou r two week tr ip we witn essed som e h or r en dou s sigh ts, open in g ou r eyes to th e dir e su ffer in g of th ese caged dogs. Th is l eft u s deter m in ed to h el p an d we join ed th e UK adm in team . I am n ow activel y in vol ved in fu n d-r aisin g, pr om otion , foster in g an d bein g fl igh t par en t.

If you wou l d l ik e to fin d ou t m or e abou t SPDC pl ease em ail m e: abigail tu l l 390@ gm ail .com

Fox y L od ge W i l d l i f e Rescu e

by Eleanor Randall, BSc M ar in e Biol ogy with Biodiver sity an d Con ser vation I h ave been vol u n teer in g at Fox y L od ge sin ce M ay 2014. W e h el p in ju r ed, m istr eated, aban don ed or or ph an ed wil dl ife.

Located in th e seaside town of H em sby in Nor fol k at th e h om e of Joh n an d Ton ia Gar n er wh o set u p th e r escu e cen ter in 2008 with m on ey r eceived fr om th eir weddin g. Sin ce star tin g u p Foxy Lodge a wide var iety of wil dl ife h ave been r escu ed r an gin g fr om com m on species su ch as pigeon s to th e r ar e k in gfish er.

Rabbits, squ ir r el s, deer , fox, h edgeh ogs an d even a seal pu p ar e am on gst th e m am m al s we h ave r eh abil itated an d r el eased.

Ov er 900 wil dl ife casu al ties ar e adm itted ever y year an d advice given to over 1200 peopl e. Pr ovidin g food for th e an im al s con sists of 5,500 tin s of dog an d cat food, 700k g of ch ick en , 1000k g of var iou s bir d seeds, 200k g of cat an d h edgeh og biscu its, 200k g of fish an d 70k g dr ied m eal wor m s. Al l of th ese expen ses add u p qu ick l y.

On e of ou r m ost m em or abl e cases is Dai sy t h e Roe d eer . Sh e was fou n d by th e r oadside at n igh t. Daisy?s m oth er died in a car acciden t after givin g bir th to h er. Sh e wou l d n ot h ave su r vived with ou t car e an d food bu t settl ed in to Foxy Lodge wel l . Su r r ou n ded by dogs, Daisy was con vin ced th at sh e is on e of th em as wel l .

W or k in g at Foxy Lodge h as given m e th e oppor tu n ity to wor k fir st h an d with th ese fascin atin g an im al s an d l ear n m or e abou t th em cl ose u p. I h ave gain ed m an y pr actical sk il l s wh ich en abl e m e to h an dl e wil dl ife safel y.

Roxy,Daisy an d M aisie

10

H ast y s Ad v en t u r e Far m - Ed u cat i n g an d r e-at t ach i n g ch i l d r en t o t h e r eal i t i es of f ar m i n g

by Katie Goldsbr ough, BSc Zool ogy Th e Sm ith fam il y of St Osyth , Essex, h ave been far m in g for over 100 year s.

H astys adven tu r e far m is a br an ch off pr oject fr om th eir m ain far m , cr eated with th e aim of edu catin g par en ts an d ch il dr en on th e far m to for k con cept an d h igh qu al ity an im al wel far e.

Br itish an im al wel far e stan dar ds ar e becom in g th e h igh est in th e wor l d. Red Tr act or Food St an d ar d s was establ ish ed in 2000 an d is th e UK?s l ar gest food an d far m stan dar ds sch em e cover in g en vir on m en tal pr otection , food tr aceabil ity, food safety an d an im al wel far e. Th e total of 88,000 UK far m s ar e in vol ved, in cl u din g Sm ith Far m s. H astys l ivestock con sists of Jacobs?s sh eep, pigm y goats, ch ick en s, 4 H ol stein cal ves, a H er efor d cow an d h er cal f an d two pigs. Th ey wil l expan d th e var iety of an im al s as th e bu sin ess gr ows. Edu cation al tal k s tak e pl ace at feedin g tim es wh ich we h ope wil l edu cate par en ts on th eir m eat an d dair y pu r ch ases, en cou r agin g th em to bu y l ocal pr odu ce an d UK far m assu r ed foods. Th ese tal k s al so aim to teach ch il dr en abou t wh er e th eir m eat, dair y, l eath er , wool , eggs etc. com e fr om an d th e pr ocess of gettin g th em to th e sh ops so th ey can bu y th ese pr odu cts. Th er e is a m u tu al feel in g between far m er s an d m ysel f th at t h i s gen er at i on of ch i l d r en ar e d et ach ed f r om t h e r eal i t i es of f ar m i n g an d w h er e t h ei r f ood act u al l y com es f r om . Not ju st m eat an d dair y bu t al so agr icu l tu r al pr odu cts an d th is issu e can on l y be addr essed with edu cation , wh ich H astys ar e aim in g to ach ieve.

Katie h as k in dl y ar r an ged th at we wil l be abl e to visit H astys togeth er ! Look ou t for th e n ewsl etter s an d on GOES's website for m or e detail s! W e ar e al so pl an n in g on fil m in g a sh or t docu m en tar y abou t th e far m , stu den ts doin g Ph otogr aph y an d Fil m do get in tou ch if you wou l d be h appy to l an d u s a h an d!

Sav i n g t h e ?Sk y d an cer ?

by John ?ZeeOx?W alsh, ARU staff Despite a h eal th y popu l ation wor l dwide, H en h ar r ier s (Cir cus cyaneus) ar e in ser iou s tr ou bl e in th e UK. Th is year in En gl an d, th er e wer e ju st t h r ee n estin g attem pts, despite th e fact th e cou n tr y sh ou l d be su ppor tin g n ear er 330 br eedin g pair s. Th e r eason s beh in d th e decl in e is su bject to m u ch debate, with m an y sim pl y bl am in g con tin u al il l egal per secu tion , in l in e with th e ?m yster iou s? death s of oth er pr otected r aptor species, su ch as Gol den eagl es (Aquila chr ysaetos) .

Oth er s h ave cou n ter ed by sayin g n atu r al pr edation , l ow vol e n u m ber s an d even bad weath er m ay be to bl am e. An in depen den t petition (r ecen tl y passin g th e 100,000 si gn at u r es n ecessar y for a for m al Gover n m en t debate) pu ts th e bl am e squ ar el y on th e peopl e th at r u n th e ?k eeper ed? gr ou se m oor s th at th e bir ds u su al l y n est on .

11

M ain tain in g h igh Red Gr ou se n u m ber s for sh ootin g is big bu sin ess, an d H en H ar r ier s cer tain l y l ik e to eat gr ou se!

Ack n owl edgin g th is con fl ict of in ter est, th e RSPB h as l on g tr ied to wor k with l an down er s, an d (sh ootin g-r el ated)

bodies su ch as th e GW CT an d M oor l an d Association , bu t even it h as r ecen tl y decided to pu l l ou t of Defr a?s on ce-l au ded H en H ar r i er Act i on Pl an as it fel t th at vol u n tar y r egu l ation h ad fail ed, l eavin g l icen sin g th e on l y viabl e option .

W ou l d l icen sin g be en ou gh ?

Now th at th e su bject is to be exam in ed at W estm in ster , th e petition er s wil l ar gu e th at a fu l l ban of Dr iven Gr ou se Sh ootin g is th e on l y way for war d, despite th e in evitabl e l oss of jobs an d ch an ge in l an d u se. Eith er way, it is at l east pl easin g th at su ch con ten tiou s en vir on m en tal issu es wil l l ik el y be gettin g a h igh er pr ofil e in th e UK m edia over th e com in g m on th s.

W at ch t h i s sp ace? an d t h e sk i es!

H en H ar r ier LIFE Pr oject is a five-year pr ogr am m e of h en h ar r ier con ser vation wh ich focu ses on seven Special Pr otection Ar eas (SPAs) design ated for br eedin g h en h ar r ier s .

Pictu r e avail abl e at: h ttps:/ / www.bir dgu ides.com / species/ species.asp?sp=030083

A br i ef i n t r od u ct i on t o a Cam br i d ge h er p et ol ogi st

by St even Alla i n, BSc Zoology, ARU Gr a dua t e Th er e ar e n ot t oo m an y p eop l e i n t h e w or l d t h at ar e eccen t r i c an d en t h u si ast i c abou t am p h i bi an s an d r ep t i l es com par ed to th ose th at ar e abou t m am m al s or bir ds. H owever , I am on e of th e m in or ity. M y jou r n ey star ted in 2012 wh en I star ted m y cou r se at ARU. I k n ew wh at I wan ted to get ou t of m y degr ee bu t I was u n su r e wh at action s I n eeded to tak e to get th er e. Du r in g m y stu dies I fr an tical l y em ail ed ever yon e in th e fiel d of h er petol ogy (th e stu dy of r eptil es an d am ph ibian s) in or der to tr y to gain som e exper ien ce. I cam e acr oss th e Cam br i d gesh i r e an d Pet er bor ou gh Am p h i bi an an d Rep t i l e Gr ou p (of wh ich I am n ow ch air m an ). Th r ou gh th is gr ou p I was abl e to gain exper ien ce in su r veyin g an d m on itor in g am ph ibian s an d r eptil es in Cam br idgesh ir e. Now I spen d m ost of m y tim e coor din atin g th e m on itor in g on l ocal l evel to gau ge h ow Cam br idgesh ir e?s h er petofau n a is doin g.

I am al so in vol ved in a n u m ber of oth er pr ojects an d or gan isation s fr om ar ou n d th e wor l d.

Th e sal am an der ch ytr id fu n gu s (Batr achochytr ium salam andr ivor ans) th r eaten s Eu r opean sal am an der s an d I am par t of a team wh o is cu r r en tl y cr owd-fu n din g to r u n a m on itor in g cam paign in Bel giu m . I am a m em ber of th e SAVE TH E FROGS! Task For ce an d th e IUCN Species Su r vival Com m ission Am ph ibian Red Listin g Au th or ity. I fr equ en tl y bl og for The W ander ing H er petologist an d CPARG u pdatin g th e wor l d an d ou r m em ber s of th e val u abl e con ser vation wor k we ar e doin g in Cam br idgesh ir e. Th e wor k I do th r ou gh CPARG even tu al l y gets con ver ted in to a m an u scr ipt befor e bein g pu bl ish ed in l ocal jou r n al s.

W h i l e w r i t i n g t h i s ar t i cl e I 'm u n d er t ak i n g a 12 w eek st u d y i n M al ay si a l ook in g at fr og biodiver sity.

I wil l be wr itin g on th is topic over th e com in g issu es, so m ak e su r e you k eep an eye ou t! I h ave com e so far in th e past fou r year s sin ce star tin g m y degr ee. It was h ar d to im agin e I wou l d Th i s i s a m al e f ou r l i n ed t r ee f r og (Polypeda t es be wh er e I am n ow wh en I sat down in leucom yst a x ) seen l ocal l y i n K ot a K i n abal u , Sabah . For t h e p ast f ew n i gh t s I h av e been v i si t i n g t h ei r br eed i n g m y fir st l ectu r e. I am a h u ge advocate si t e t o obser v e m al es cal l i n g an d t o h op ef u l l y see t h e f r ogs i n am p l ex u s or ev en l ay i n g t h e f oam n est s t h ey ar e for am ph ibian s an d r eptil es an d k n ow n f or . Th i s m al e w as p ar t i cu l ar l y p h ot ogen i c. h opefu l l y m y stor ies wil l h el p con ver t som e of you to th e scal y side.

12

Au tu m n is h er e: W h er e ar e th e Ch estn u t Tr ees?

On Th e N ecessi t y of a Cr oss-Gen er at i on al Ap p r oach t o t h e Am er i can Ch est n u t Rest or at i on Tyl er Ku l fan , BA H istor y,BSc En vir on m en tal Scien ce, M Sc Gl obal Ch an ge Th er e is a popu l ar adage r egar din g for estr y wor k : ?For ester s wor k n ow for an en d th at th ey can n ot h ope to see in th eir l ifetim e.?

Th e case of th e Am er ican Ch estn u t is on e of th e best exam pl es of th is statem en t. Newl y pl an ted h ar dwood tr ees tak e over a decade to r each sexu al m atu r ity an d a cen tu r y of gr owth to r each th e im pr essive h eigh ts an d m ass we associate with th em . For th e Am er ican Ch estn u t, th at al r eady vexin gl y l on g per iod of gr owth m u st fir st be pr eceded by gen er ation s of r esear ch an d sel ective br eedin g. Th e wor k of r estor in g th e Am er ican Ch estn u t is, a pr oject th at wil l ou tl ive th ose wh o begin it? a r el ay th at m u st be passed fr om on e gen er ation to th e n ext.

As a stu den t of h istor y, it was th e (som ewh at in con ven ien t) fact th at th e Am er ican Ch estn u t?s pl ace in Am er ican ecosystem s, econ om y, an d cu l tu r e can n ow on l y be u n der stood th r ou gh an h istor ical l en s th at in itial l y attr acted m e to th e pl igh t of th e Ch estn u t. It is on l y th r ou gh ol d accou n ts an d r ecor ds of th e past? as wel l as th e stor ies of th e peopl e wh o r em em ber th e Am er ican Ch estn u t? th at we can assem bl e a h ol istic u n der stan din g of th e r ol e th e Ch estn u t pl ayed Pictu r e avail abl e at: in ou r for ests an d h ttp:/ / gen om e.jgi.doe.gov/ Cr ypa2/ Cr ypa2.h om e.h tm l society. In deed, th at r ol e was gr eat; bu t th ose (m ysel f in cl u ded) wh o h ave n ever l ived al on gside h eal th y ch estn u t tr ees can n ever fu l l y appr eciate its r ol e an d sign ifican ce, an d th e u n for tu n ate fact r em ain s th at by 1940 th e m ajor ity of th ese tr ees wer e al r eady gon e.To r em em ber Easter n Am er ican for ests pr ior to th e in tr odu ction of th e bl igh t (Cr yphonectr ia par asitica, for m er l y Endothia par asitica, a fu n gal in fection spr eadin g fr om East Asia), we?d h ave to go back even fu r th er ? to 1904, to be exact. Th at m ean s an yon e al ive to r em em ber th e pr e-bl igh t for ests of Am er ica wou l d h ave to be at l east 109 year s ol d. Th er e?s n ot m an y of th ose ou t an d abou t.

ch estn u ts in stead of th ose Am er ican on es th at Nat Kin g Col e san g of, n ostal gia in h is voice (it br in gs a tear to m y eye).

For tu n atel y, as far as r aisin g in ter est in th e r estor ation pr oject am on g you n g peopl e is con cer n ed, th e tim e is r igh t.

Be it a tr u e an d l astin g sh ift in attitu de an d ph il osoph y or a tem por ar y fad, th e gen er ation th at is n ow com in g of age is k een l y in ter ested in en vir on m en tal con ser vation . Recen t year s h ave seen in cr eased u sage of pu bl ic tr an spor tation , con su m ption of or gan ic foods, an d opted con su m ption of al ter n ative en er gy am on g you n g adu l ts; th e n u m ber of you n g peopl e pu r su in g car eer s in ecol ogy an d su stain abl e agr icu l tu r e is sim il ar l y on th e r ise. Con cu r r en tl y, th er e is a r isin g in ter est in vol u n teer in g am on g you n g adu l ts. W ith th at in m in d, th er e h as n ever been a m or e ideal tim e for in vol vin g you n g peopl e in r estor ation effor ts. I l ik e to bel ieve th at th e m em ber s of m y own gen er ation tr u l y tak e en vir on m en tal ism ser iou sl y an d seek to com m it th eir ideal s to r eal action Con ver sel y, if ?goin g gr een ? is ju st an oth er passin g fad, wel l , we?d better cash in on it n ow befor e it goes ou t of styl e.

Am er ican Ch estn u t (Castanea dentata Fam il y: Fagaceae)

It is th e you n ger gen er ation ? m y gen er ation ? th en , th at m u st tak e u p th e task of r estor ation ; it is th e task of for ester s wh o h ave n ever seen a m atu r e Am er ican Ch estn u t, ecol ogists wh o h ave n ever witn essed a for est dom in ated by th ese tr ees, car pen ter s wh o h ave on l y ever wor k ed with r ecl aim ed ch estn u t l u m ber , str eet ven dor s wh o sel l r oasted Eu r opean

13

Pictu r e avail abl e at: h ttp:/ / vin tagepr in tabl e.com / vin tage-pr in tabl e-botan ical -r ar e-book -n or th -am er ican -sil va/ n or th -am er ican -sil va6-2/

Au tu m n is h er e: W h er e ar e th e Ch estn u t Tr ees?

H or se-ch est n u t Tr ees Un d er At t ack : I n v asi v e Pest Dam ages Th ei r Fol i age Leven te Kiss, DSc Or n am en tal tr ees ar e in dispen sabl e par ts of u r ban ecosystem s. Pl an ted al on g th e r oads, in par k s, th eir or n am en tal val u es ar e at l east as im por tan t as th e n ich es th ese tr ees pr ovide for a l ar ge n u m ber of or gan ism s.

H or se-ch estn u t (Aesculus hippocastanum ) tr ees ar e am on gst th e tal l est an d m ost vol u m in ou s tr ees pl an ted in u r ban ar eas. Th eir fol iage pr ovides exten sive sh ade an d th e wh ol e can opy is appr eciated for its decor ative val u e. A n u m ber of diseases, su ch as l eaf bl otch an d an th r acn ose, both cau sed by m icr oscopic fu n gal path ogen s som etim es dam age th eir fol iage; h owever , th e m ost ser iou s fol iar dam age star ted on l y r ecen tl y, wh en an in sect pest, Cam er ar ia ohr idella appear ed on H or se-ch estn u t tr ees.

Th is sm al l , 5 m m l on g l eaf-m in in g m oth deposits its eggs on th e l eaves fr om spr in g u n til m id-su m m er. . Th ese h atch in 2-3 week s, an d th e l ar vae (th e cater pil l ar s) star t feedin g in side th e l eaves, bu r r owin g m in e-l ik e str u ctu r es wh ich can com pl etel y destr oy th e l eaves. Th e attack ed l eaves exh ibit br own ish spots befor e fal l in g pr em atu r el y; h owever , by th at tim e, m or e th an on e gen er ation of th e m oth h ave al r eady devel oped in th e in fested l eaves. Usu al l y th e wh ol e can opy becom es br own ish by ear l y to m id-Au gu st, givin g an au tu m n al l ook of th e en tir e tr ees. H owever , th e dam age is n ot ju st aesth etic: th e pr em atu r e defol iation of l ar ge par ts of th e h or se ch estn u t can opies, year by year , affects th e accu m u l ation of stor age m ater ial s in th e tr ees, an d th u s, th eir l on g-ter m su r vival . In ter estin gl y,som etim es th e al m ost com pl etel y defol iated h or se ch estn u t tr ees star t fl ower in g again in Septem ber. Th is is an addition al l oss of en er gy for th e tr ees becau se th ose fl ower s won ?t give r ise to fr u its by th e en d of th e season . Th e qu ick spr ead of th e H or se-ch estn u t l eaf m in er acr oss Eu r ope is a wel l -docu m en ted case of a biol ogical in vasion . It was descr ibed as a n ew species in M acedon ia (Bal k an Pen in su l a) in 1986, th en in 1989 su dden l y appear ed in Au str ia, an d was r apidl y disper sed in Cen tr al an d W ester n Eu r ope in th e fol l owin g year s. By 2002, its popu l ation s r each ed th e UK: it was fir st r epor ted in Lon don , an d h as sin ce spr ead to m ost par ts of En gl an d, in cl u din g Cam br idge, som e par ts of W al es, an d th en Scotl an d.

Al th ou gh it was su ggested th at its appear an ce in M acedon ia m ay be du e to its u n wan ted escape fr om an en tom ol ogical l abor ator y, a DNA stu dy sh owed a r edu ction in gen etic diver sity of C. ohr idella popu l ation s sam pl ed in u r ban ar eas acr oss Eu r ope com par ed with th ose sam pl ed in n atu r al H or se-ch estn u t stan ds in

Il l u str ation of Cam er ar ia ohr idella fr om M ozu r aitis R., 2000.

Bal k an (Val ade et al . 2009). Ol d h er bar iu m specim en s of H or se-ch estn u t l eaves, col l ected l on g befor e th e r ecogn ition of C. ohr idella as a distin ct species, al so con tain m in es of th e m oth l ar vae, wh ich fu r th er su ppor t its Bal k an or igin (Lees et al . 2011).

To r edu ce th e dam age, fal l en l eaves sh ou l d be com posted, to destr oy th e over -win ter in g pu pae of th e l eaf m in er. Red H or se-ch estn u t (A. x car nea) as wel l as oth er cl osel y r el ated species, ar e m u ch l ess su sceptibl e to C. ohr idella attack com par ed to A. hippocastanum . Th er efor e, it cou l d be expected th at th e m agn ificen t A. hippocastanum tr ees wil l sl owl y be r epl aced by oth er or n am en tal tr ees in u r ban ar eas; th is cou l d be an in dir ect effect of th e r ecen t in vasion of th e H or se-ch estn u t l eaf m in er in Eu r ope on u r ban l an dscapes.

H or se Ch estn u t on Cam br idge Cam pu s (pictu r e by Ju n iper ) (Aesculus hippocastanum Fam il y: H ippocastanaceae)

Ref er en ces L ees, D.C., Lack , H . W ., Rou ger ie, R., H er n an dez-Lopez, A., Rau s, T., Avtzis, N., Au gu stin , S. an d Lopez-Vaam on de, C. 2011. Tr ack in g or igin s of in vasive h er bivor es u sin g h er bar ia an d ar ch ival DNA: th e case of th e H or se-ch estn u t l eaf m in er. Fr ontier s in Ecology and the Envir onm ent, Vol 9, pp 322?328 M ozu r ai t i s, R. 2000. Ch em ical com m u n ication in l eaf m in in g m oth s of th e gen u s Ph yl l on or ycter. Stock h ol m : Kem i, pp 59 Val ad e, R., Ken is, M ., H er n an dez-Lopez, A., Au gu stin , S., M ar i M en a, N., M agn ou x, E., Rou ger ie, R., Lak atos, F., Roqu es, A. an d Lopez-Vaam on de, C. 2009 M itoch on dr ial an d m icr osatel l ite DNA m ar k er s r eveal a Bal k an or igin for th e h igh l y in vasive H or se-ch estn u t l eaf m in er Cam er ar ia ohr idella (Lepidopter a, Gr acil l ar iidae). M olecular Ecology, Vol 18, pp 3458-3470

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Sp i r al s i n Ti m e an d Posei d on 's St eed by H el en Scal es

Sen su ou s Seas: Tal es of a M ar i n e Bi ol ogi st by Eu gen e H . K ap l an

H el en , a m ar in e biol ogist wh o r esides in Cam br idge, tr avel s ar ou n d th e wor l d col l ectin g stor ies, doin g r esear ch , br oadcastin g an d scu ba divin g. In "Spi r a ls i n Ti m e" you wil l be abl e to l isten to th e sea sh el l s' m yster iou s secr ets. You wil l l ear n abou t th eir evol u tion , str u ctu r e as wel l as cu l tu r al sign ifican ce. Read abou t h ow sea sil k is m ade on l y by a h an dfu l of wom en fr om pen sh el l s (Pinnus nobilis) in th e M editer r an ean an d h ow oyster m an agem en t is car r ied ou t in Gam bia. H el en 's oth er book "Posei don's St eed: The St or y of Sea hor ses, Fr om M yt h t o Rea li t y" is an oth er fan tastic book abou t th e m ystical l y design ed seah or ses. You m ay fin d you r sel f an in ter estin g disser tation topic (as I h ave).

Epic stor ies fr om a m ar in e biol ogy teach er.

Kapl an 's r em ar k abl e tal en t is to teach th e r eader s abou t th e m ixtu r e of cool an d bizar r e ph en om en on s h appen in g in th e depth s with h is joyfu l sen se of h u m ou r.

M an y datin g, cou r tsh ip tips ar e scatter ed acr oss th is book .

M ak in g l ove h as n ever been so r om an tic fr om a scien tific poin t of view. Th e ch apter titl es su ch as 'El ixir of Love', 'A Peek i n t o t h e An u s of a Sea Cu cu m ber ', 'Sexu al l y Repr essed Victor ian Taxon om ists' or 'Th e on l y M al e Repr odu ctive Or gan with a Nam e' gives you an idea of th e book .

150 del icate scien tific il l u str ation s accom pan y th ese ch apter s. It is a m u st for an yon e doin g m ar in e biol ogy m odu l es.

Book Recom m en dation s M y Fi r st Su m m er i n t h e Si er r a by Joh n M u i r

Fer al by Geor ge M on i bot t M on ibott h as tr u e passion for Br itish wil dl ife an d con ser vation . H e gives you a th or ou gh over view of pr ocesses an d pr ojects in th e UK. Tal k in g abou t th e issu es of sh eep gr azin g, h ow fl oodin g issu es cou l d be h el ped by pl an tin g tr ees. Th e m ain idea of M on ibott is to r e-in tr odu ce an im al s th at u sed to be n ative in th e UK (su ch as wol ves).

A wel l r efer en ced book .

In M on ibott's n ew book is "H ow di d we get i nt o t hi s m ess" (20 16) th e r eader wil l exper ien ce a sh ar p ch an ge in h is ton e wh en h e r esear ch es pol itics an d econ om ics in th e UK. H is book s m ak e r eader s th in k abou t th e bigger pictu r es of con ser vation pr actices, agr icu l tu r al su bsidies, gover n m en tal pol icies an d h is con tin u ou s disappr oval of W el sh sh eep gr azin g. It ch al l en ges th e r eader ,do k eep an open m in d wh il e r eadin g.

Scottish bor n M u ir (1838-1914) was a tr u e wil der n ess activist. H e con vin ced Roosevel t to cr eate th e Yosem ite, Gr an d Can yon an d Sequ oia Nation al Par k s.

H is fir st n ovel is a ch ar m in g, del igh tfu l r ead for an yon e wh o fin ds l ook in g at th e n atu r al wor l d as r om an tic as a Jan e Au sten n ovel . H e tak es th e r eader in th e m ou n tain s of Yosem ite Nation al Par k wh er e as a sh eep sh eph er d, h e spen t m ost of h is tim e iden tifyin g, descr ibin g an d sk etch in g pl an ts an d an im al s. Readin g th is book wil l m ak e you wan t to th r ow away you r m obil e an d go off to th e m ou n tain s with a sin gl e n otebook . an d a pen cil . You m ay al so ch eck ou t "Am er i ca 's wi lder ness: t he phot ogr a phs of Ansel Ada m s a nd t he wr i t i ngs of John M ui r " book th at we h ave in th e ARU l ibr ar y (779 ADA).

?A few m in u tes ago ever y tr ee was excited, bowin g to th e r oar in g stor m , wavin g, swir l in g, tossin g th eir br an ch es in gl or iou s en th u siasm l ik e wor sh ip. Bu t th ou gh to th e ou ter ear th ese tr ees ar e n ow sil en t, th eir son gs n ever cease.?

15

? John M uir

Do Not Th r ow M e Ou t!

Gl obal Oppor tu n ities for Ecol ogical Su stain abil ity w w w .gl obal op p or t u n i t i es.co bor ok a.k iss@ stu den t.an gl ia.ac.u k

Cir cu l ate m e ar ou n d Cam br idge or r ecycl e m e!