Reproductive Biology and Spawning Periodicity of Endeavour Shrimps Metapenaeus endeavouri (Schmitt, 1926) and Metapenaeus ensis (de Haan, 1850) from a Central Queensland (Australia) Fishery

Metapenaeus endeavouri and M. ensis from coastal trawl fishing grounds off central Queensland, Australia, have marked seasonal reproductive cycles. Female M. endeavouri grew to a larger size than female M. ensis and occurred over a wider range of sites and depths. Although M. ensis was geographically restricted in distribution to only the shallowest sites it was highly abundant. Mating activity in these open thelycum species, indicated by the presence or absence of a spermatophore, was relatively low and highly seasonal compared with closed thelyeum shrimps. Seasonal variation in spermatophore insemination can be used as an independent technique to study spawning periodicity in open thelycum shrimps. Data strongly suggest an inshore movement of M. endeavouri to mature and spawn. This differs from most concepts of Penaeus species life cycles, but is consistent with the estuarine significance in the life cycle of Metapenaeus species. Monthly population fecundity indices suggest summer spawning for both species, which contrasts with the winter spawning of other shrimps from the same multispecies fishery.

Group portrait at the farewell banquet for Dr. William Antopol from the laboratory staff of Mount Sinai Hospital; Ken's Chop House, New York city Portraits Groups

Digital Image

Portrait of William and Charlotte Engel Levison Portraits Couples

Digital Image

Dr. William Levison working at a desk Portraits Men

Digital Image

Portrait of Dr. William Levison Portraits Men

Digital Image

Portrait of Dr. William Levison in military uniform Portraits Men

Digital Image

Group US Army military portrait including Dr. William Levison (top row, third from left); Schofield Barracks, Hawaii Portraits Groups Men

Digital Image

Dr. William Levison (seated, far left) with other U.S. Army medial doctors and nurses with Christmas Tree in background Portraits Groups

Digital Image

Portrait of Dr. William Levison smoking a corn pipe Portraits Men

Digital Image

William Niclas standing next to the Oder River Portraits Men

Digital Image

William Niclas (far left) next to Herr Richards and an unidentified man and woman; Ratibor, Poland Portraits Men

Handwritten on verso: Mormons, Ratibor

The conservation status of the world’s reptiles

Effective and targeted conservation action requires detailed information about species, their distribution, systematics and ecology as well as the distribution of threat processes which affect them. Knowledge of reptilian diversity remains surprisingly disparate, and innovative means of gaining rapid insight into the status of reptiles are needed in order to highlight urgent conservation cases and inform environmental policy with appropriate biodiversity information in a timely manner. We present the first ever global analysis of extinction risk in reptiles, based on a random representative sample of 1500 species (16% of all currently known species). To our knowledge, our results provide the first analysis of the global conservation status and distribution patterns of reptiles and the threats affecting them, highlighting conservation priorities and knowledge gaps which need to be addressed urgently to ensure the continued survival of the world’s reptiles. Nearly one in five reptilian species are threatened with extinction, with another one in five species classed as Data Deficient. The proportion of threatened reptile species is highest in freshwater environments, tropical regions and on oceanic islands, while data deficiency was highest in tropical areas, such as Central Africa and Southeast Asia, and among fossorial reptiles. Our results emphasise the need for research attention to be focussed on tropical areas which are experiencing the most dramatic rates of habitat loss, on fossorial reptiles for which there is a chronic lack of data, and on certain taxa such as snakes for which extinction risk may currently be underestimated due to lack of population information. Conservation actions specifically need to mitigate the effects of human-induced habitat loss and harvesting, which are the predominant threats to reptiles.

Group portrait at the farewell banquet for Dr. William Antopol from the laboratory staff of Mount Sinai Hospital; Ken's Chop House, New York city Portraits Groups

Digital Image

Portrait of William and Charlotte Engel Levison Portraits Couples

Digital Image

Dr. William Levison working at a desk Portraits Men

Digital Image