There is a world somewhere between reality and fiction. Although ignored by many, it is very real and so are those living in it. This forum is about the natural world. Here, wild animals will be heard and respected. The forum offers a glimpse into an unknown world as well as a room with a view on the present and the future. Anyone able to speak on behalf of those living in the emerald forest and the deep blue sea is invited to join.
(05-07-2020, 01:06 AM)Spalea Wrote: I would like to post this account inside the "In the edge of extinction - Lions", seeming to me more appropriate... By the way:
New genetic study of lions may help to prevent them going extinct.
" A large international team of researchers has conducted an extensive genetic analysis of lions, and in so doing, has learned about their evolutionary history. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the group describes how they confirmed long-term divisions between extant lion populations and showed genetic diversity among modern samples.
Prior research has shown that historically, lions have lived in many parts of the word, even in America. Most such species went extinct, however, including the cave lions that once roamed what is now Eurasia approximately 15,000 years ago. Today, lions live in parts of Africa and India and are endangered—just 20,000 African lions remain in the wild today, and their numbers are dwindling. In this new effort, the researchers carried out an extensive examination of the lion genome as part of an effort to save them from extinction. The work involved analyzing the genomes of 20 specimens, including the cave lion and 12 historic lines that were known to live sometime between the 15th and 20th centuries—and six specimens from modern African and Asiatic lions. One of the major findings was that modern lions and several extinct lions shared a common ancestor. They also found that approximately 70,000 years ago, two unique lineages of modern lion lineages emerged—and that cave lions lived in cold climates. The researchers note that prior studies of the lion genome involved analysis of mitochondrial DNA—in this study, they went much further by looking at the whole genome—some of which was derived from 30,00-year-old lion fossils. They learned that modern lines split off from two different lineages in Africa—one in northern parts of Africa, the other in the south. The researchers also found that the Asiatic lions living in the Gir forest in India have low genetic diversity due to their small population. And they found that the Asiatic lions evolved from the northern range lions in Africa, though they still had remnants of southern lions in their genome. They did not find any evidence of African lions being introduced into India in modern times. The researchers suggest their findings will help with lion conservation efforts in both India and Africa. "
(05-07-2020, 01:06 AM)Spalea Wrote: I would like to post this account inside the "In the edge of extinction - Lions", seeming to me more appropriate... By the way:
New genetic study of lions may help to prevent them going extinct.
" A large international team of researchers has conducted an extensive genetic analysis of lions, and in so doing, has learned about their evolutionary history. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the group describes how they confirmed long-term divisions between extant lion populations and showed genetic diversity among modern samples.
Prior research has shown that historically, lions have lived in many parts of the word, even in America. Most such species went extinct, however, including the cave lions that once roamed what is now Eurasia approximately 15,000 years ago. Today, lions live in parts of Africa and India and are endangered—just 20,000 African lions remain in the wild today, and their numbers are dwindling. In this new effort, the researchers carried out an extensive examination of the lion genome as part of an effort to save them from extinction. The work involved analyzing the genomes of 20 specimens, including the cave lion and 12 historic lines that were known to live sometime between the 15th and 20th centuries—and six specimens from modern African and Asiatic lions. One of the major findings was that modern lions and several extinct lions shared a common ancestor. They also found that approximately 70,000 years ago, two unique lineages of modern lion lineages emerged—and that cave lions lived in cold climates. The researchers note that prior studies of the lion genome involved analysis of mitochondrial DNA—in this study, they went much further by looking at the whole genome—some of which was derived from 30,00-year-old lion fossils. They learned that modern lines split off from two different lineages in Africa—one in northern parts of Africa, the other in the south. The researchers also found that the Asiatic lions living in the Gir forest in India have low genetic diversity due to their small population. And they found that the Asiatic lions evolved from the northern range lions in Africa, though they still had remnants of southern lions in their genome. They did not find any evidence of African lions being introduced into India in modern times. The researchers suggest their findings will help with lion conservation efforts in both India and Africa. "
05-07-2020, 01:46 PM( This post was last modified: 05-07-2020, 02:23 PM by BorneanTiger )
(05-07-2020, 11:04 AM)Spalea Wrote:
(05-07-2020, 10:56 AM)BorneanTiger Wrote:
(05-07-2020, 01:06 AM)Spalea Wrote: I would like to post this account inside the "In the edge of extinction - Lions", seeming to me more appropriate... By the way:
New genetic study of lions may help to prevent them going extinct.
" A large international team of researchers has conducted an extensive genetic analysis of lions, and in so doing, has learned about their evolutionary history. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the group describes how they confirmed long-term divisions between extant lion populations and showed genetic diversity among modern samples.
Prior research has shown that historically, lions have lived in many parts of the word, even in America. Most such species went extinct, however, including the cave lions that once roamed what is now Eurasia approximately 15,000 years ago. Today, lions live in parts of Africa and India and are endangered—just 20,000 African lions remain in the wild today, and their numbers are dwindling. In this new effort, the researchers carried out an extensive examination of the lion genome as part of an effort to save them from extinction. The work involved analyzing the genomes of 20 specimens, including the cave lion and 12 historic lines that were known to live sometime between the 15th and 20th centuries—and six specimens from modern African and Asiatic lions. One of the major findings was that modern lions and several extinct lions shared a common ancestor. They also found that approximately 70,000 years ago, two unique lineages of modern lion lineages emerged—and that cave lions lived in cold climates. The researchers note that prior studies of the lion genome involved analysis of mitochondrial DNA—in this study, they went much further by looking at the whole genome—some of which was derived from 30,00-year-old lion fossils. They learned that modern lines split off from two different lineages in Africa—one in northern parts of Africa, the other in the south. The researchers also found that the Asiatic lions living in the Gir forest in India have low genetic diversity due to their small population. And they found that the Asiatic lions evolved from the northern range lions in Africa, though they still had remnants of southern lions in their genome. They did not find any evidence of African lions being introduced into India in modern times. The researchers suggest their findings will help with lion conservation efforts in both India and Africa. "
Daniel Rosengren:" This impala was one of two impalas that had gotten stuck in the mud. I could tell that they had not been stuck for long as they still had a lot of energy. I had a short thought about letting nature have its way and I probably shouldn't have interfered. But I couldn't help myself. I grabbed this one by the horns and pulled it out. But once out it panicked and ran straight into the muddy river again, ten meters downstream and got itself into the mud even further out than it was before. The other impala was an adult male. It was heavier to pull out and once out, I must confess I was a bit reluctant to let go of the long pointy horns not to get injured myself. He was very strong and fighting. I managed to, in one motion, push him away from me and at the same time letting go. Luckily he ran away.
Now back to the first one, by now it was too far out for me to reach it from solid ground. Luckily a couple of friends arrived and they took out a tow rope from their car and we started lassoing with it. We were really bad at lassoing. But, after many tries, we finally got the loop around the horns and could pull it to safety on land. By this time it was too exhausted to run away so we put it in the shade of a bush to rest. I came by later and it pleased me that it had left. Happy ending for the impalas. Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. "
Dereck Joubert:" ‘Soul of the Elephant’ took us on a truly extraordinary journey … and it seemed apt to share a snippet from the film on a day dedicated to raising awareness about the plight of the many species at risk of being lost forever. Elephants are among the most iconic, remarkable, intelligent creatures on Earth … and contemplating their possible extinction in the wild due to our human actions is deeply unsettling. This worldwide crisis has made us acutely aware of our interconnectedness, and there is hope that we will begin to understand one vital lesson: with every extinction, this planet becomes less habitable for any number of dependant species — including ours. "
