Luigi Guarino

May 23, 2008May 22, 2008

They shoot horses, don’t they?

Ok, that’s just a provocative way of introducing an interesting review in Trends in Ecology and Evolution describing how harvesting from animal populations can affect their genetic make-up. ((Fred W. Allendorf, Phillip R. England, Gordon Luikart, Peter A. Ritchie, Nils Ryman (2008) Genetic effects of harvest on wild animal populations. Trends in Ecology & Evolution. Volume 23(6):327-337.)) The following three types of genetic change are highlighted:

strengthening or collapse of population structure
genetic erosion
selection

The take-home message is that management plans should recognize that harvesting changes not just the demography but also the genetics of populations. Very important for sustainable management of fisheries etc., but I bring it up here because it got me thinking: are any wild relatives of livestock exploited through harvesting? Things like these cute pigs, for example. And would the conclusions be very different for plants?

May 23, 2008

COP9 on the web

Don’t forget IISD has daily coverage of COP9 from Bonn. Meanwhile, in Rome, a grand time was had by all at International Day for Biodiversity event organized by Bioversity International at the Teatro Eliseo. It was a great celebration of diversity — biological, cultural, culinary and musical.

May 22, 2008

Platform for Agrobiodiversity Research

Bioversity International has just announced the launching of the website of the Platform for Agrobiodiversity Research. You can subscribe to a newsletter, register on and consult a directory of experts, and there’s an online forum coming.

May 22, 2008May 23, 2008

Nibbles: Maize, CWRs, CBD, Icelandic food, Coffee, Incense, Biodiversity Day, Medicinals, Farmers’ rights

The history of tejate in Mexico illuminates “central irony of globalization.” Cheers!
WWF says crop wild relatives and landraces in centres of diversity are threatened. Right.
Danny Hunter reports along much the same lines from COP9, and then reports some more. Such a workhorse!
The intricacies of Nordic food preparation. Would you say this was cooked, Jeremy?
Today’s how-x-changed-the-world story brought to you by coffee. Great after rotten shark too.
Frankincense is good for you. Hippies comment at length.
Jeremy earns his keep.
TRAFFIC promotes project â€˜Saving Plants that Save Lives and Livelihoodsâ€™ at COP9, including with video.
And the websites just keep on coming. One on Farmers’ Rights launched too.

May 22, 2008June 8, 2008

It’s competition time again!

Ok, so it’s International Day for Biodiversity today and we had this really cool idea about how to celebrate it this year. You’ll recall the theme is Biodiversity and Agriculture, so we figured we had to do something sensational, this being the Agricultural Biodiversity Weblog and all. Basically Jeremy and I were going to dress up as vegetables (or fruits — there was much debate on the subject, although thankfully not on the status of the tomato) and run through the Roman Forum shouting anti-biofuel slogans to the tune of “Taxes on the farmer feeds us all.”

Continue reading “It’s competition time again!”