http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/ The latest reptilian news from around the web and around the world. en Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:42:27 GMT vBulletin 10 http://www.aussiepythons.com/http://feeds2.feedburner.com/~fc/AussiePythonsSnakes/News?bg=DEE2DF&fg=2A5D34&anim=0 Subscribe with My Yahoo!Subscribe with NewsGatorSubscribe with NetvibesSubscribe with GoogleSubscribe with PageflakesSubscribe with Live.com http://feed.aussiepythons.com/~r/AussiePythonsSnakes/News/~3/bKS6MrDcYJQ/ Sun, 05 Feb 2012 05:20:02 GMT In the first experimental study of the founder effect in a natural setting, researchers found that natural selection does not overwhelm the founder effect. *Published On:*... In the first experimental study of the founder effect in a natural setting, researchers found that natural selection does not overwhelm the founder effect.

Published On: 03-Feb-12 07:11 AM
Source: ScienceDaily

Go to Original Article ]]> Reptile News News Bot http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/reptile-news-5375/caribbean-lizards-settle-founder-effect-179830/ http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/reptile-news-5375/caribbean-lizards-settle-founder-effect-179830/ http://feed.aussiepythons.com/~r/AussiePythonsSnakes/News/~3/UePmcORslVg/ Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:20:06 GMT A biologist who released lizards on tiny uninhabited islands in the Bahamas has shed light on the interaction between evolutionary processes that are seldom observed. He... A biologist who released lizards on tiny uninhabited islands in the Bahamas has shed light on the interaction between evolutionary processes that are seldom observed. He found that the lizards' genetic and morphological traits were determined by both natural selection and a phenomenon called founder effects, which occur when species colonize new territory.

Published On: 03-Feb-12 07:11 AM
Source: ScienceDaily

Go to Original Article ]]> Reptile News News Bot http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/reptile-news-5375/castaway-lizards-provide-insight-elusive-179676/ http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/reptile-news-5375/castaway-lizards-provide-insight-elusive-179676/ http://feed.aussiepythons.com/~r/AussiePythonsSnakes/News/~3/rEASoX2tRyo/ Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:40:04 GMT A RUNAWAY croc named Chainsaw has been discovered in a western Sydney backyard.Image: http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/zSDHtGpPybKVTZL3eCH71crkag0/0/di ... A RUNAWAY croc named Chainsaw has been discovered in a western Sydney backyard.



Published On: 02-Feb-12 04:16 PM
Source: AAP via NEWS.com.au

Go to Original Article ]]> Reptile News News Bot http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/reptile-news-5375/runaway-croc-found-sydney-backyard-179635/ http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/reptile-news-5375/runaway-croc-found-sydney-backyard-179635/ http://feed.aussiepythons.com/~r/AussiePythonsSnakes/News/~3/q8WtkKK-27g/ Thu, 02 Feb 2012 04:37:35 GMT Just saw this story. Chainsaw the croc goes walkabout in Sydney (http://www.smh.com.au/environment/animals/chainsaw-the-croc-goes-walkabout-in-sydney-20120202-1quvd.html) Just saw this story.

Chainsaw the croc goes walkabout in Sydney ]]> Reptile News Grogshla http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/reptile-news-5375/croc-goes-walkabout-sydney-179630/ http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/reptile-news-5375/croc-goes-walkabout-sydney-179630/ http://feed.aussiepythons.com/~r/AussiePythonsSnakes/News/~3/OOXKvDAonFY/ Thu, 02 Feb 2012 03:40:01 GMT ELEPHANTS could become the "10-tonne cane toads" of the Australian outback if they were introduced to control invasive grasses, an environmental group says.



Published On: 02-Feb-12 02:09 PM
Source: AAP via NEWS.com.au

Go to Original Article ]]> Reptile News News Bot http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/reptile-news-5375/elephants-10-tonne-cane-toad-179624/ http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/reptile-news-5375/elephants-10-tonne-cane-toad-179624/ http://feed.aussiepythons.com/~r/AussiePythonsSnakes/News/~3/vdbltOvHLEk/ Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:42:23 GMT Elephants could battle pests in Australia (http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8412531) It also mentions releasing Komodo dragons in Oz lol. *Unleashing wild... Elephants could battle pests in Australia

It also mentions releasing Komodo dragons in Oz lol.


Unleashing wild elephants into Australia's outback could be one way of fighting invasive pests and reducing fire hazards, an Australian scientist says.
Some of his contemporaries are not convinced, however, saying the only result might be a jumbo-sized environmental headache.
In an article for the journal Nature, David Bowman paints a vision of the enormous mammals roaming through Australia's savannas chomping down on gamba grass - an African pest.
Professor Bowman, an environmental change biologist at the University of Tasmania, says all options need to be honestly considered to manage Australia's changing environment.
He suggests problems with fire and feral animals could be managed by introducing elephants, rhinoceroses and Komodo dragons.
With around five per cent of the continent being burnt in bushfires last year, the introduction of large animals could help reduce the amount of the flammable gamba grass that is widespread in northern areas, Prof Bowman says.
"It is too big for marsupial grazers (kangaroos) and for cattle and buffalo," he writes.
"But gamba grass is a great meal for elephants or rhinoceroses.
"The idea of introducing elephants may seem absurd, but the only other methods likely to control gamba grass involve using chemicals or physically clearing the land, which would destroy the habitat."
Prof Bowman argues that the government should stop spending millions on "piecemeal" programs that inevitably fail.
Instead, he said, a "holistic approach" needed to be taken to manage predators, control feral animals and get herbivores to eat the flammable grasses that turn the continent into a tinderbox.
"Using mega-herbivores may ultimately be more practical and cost-effective, and it would help to conserve animals that are threatened by poaching in their native environments."
He said it would be essential to proceed cautiously but argued that the usual approaches weren't working.
"The full spectrum of options needs to be canvassed in an open and honest way."
Dr Rickey Spencer, from the University of Western Sydney, said Prof Bowman's comments raised important issues but were "careless".
"If we did go down that road of introducing elephants to Australia, we had better develop the technology to clone the sabre-tooth tigers to eventually control the elephants," he said in a statement.
Meanwhile Don Driscoll, a fellow at the Australian National University, said he did not think introducing elephants was viable but it was important to consider all options.
"Invasive species have wiped out much of Australia's natural heritage ... and international trade combined with pressures to increase agricultural productivity worsen the problem," Dr Driscoll said in a statement ]]> Reptile News GSXR_Boy http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/reptile-news-5375/elephants-battle-pests-australia-179604/ http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/reptile-news-5375/elephants-battle-pests-australia-179604/ http://feed.aussiepythons.com/~r/AussiePythonsSnakes/News/~3/GSdBVzW7Zow/ Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:30:04 GMT WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- A burgeoning population of huge pythons - many of them pets that were turned loose by their owners when they got too big - appears to be... WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- A burgeoning population of huge pythons - many of them pets that were turned loose by their owners when they got too big - appears to be wiping out large numbers of raccoons, opossums, bobcats and other mammals in the Everglades, a study says....

Published On: 31-Jan-12 07:22 AM
Source: Associated Press
Author: By MATT SEDENSKY

Go to Original Article ]]> Reptile News News Bot http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/reptile-news-5375/pythons-apparently-wiping-everglades-mammals-179467/ http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/reptile-news-5375/pythons-apparently-wiping-everglades-mammals-179467/