Jeroen
Third BINCO newsletter
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VIDEO Camera trap project Meerdaalwoud (Belgium) 2014
The camera traps that were placed in Meerdaalwoud last spring (February-May 2014) shot quite some interesting images. A compilation of those images has been put together in this short video. English subtitles are available. A full report can be read here (Dutch only).
https://youtu.be/TDyAPjsF-KE
Jimma zone travel guide
Another Ethiopia-related project! We created a concise travel guide based on our personal experiences in the lesser-known and therefore less touristic south-west of Ethiopia. Are you planning on travelling through Ethiopia and you are interested in ecotourism? Then this short guide might give you some ideas on what to see and where to go. There's also a printer friendly version.
Update from Beleta-Gera – Ethiopia
The large mammal project is still up and running. The camera traps will soon be relocated a second time. During the first month, numerous mammals (and birds) have already been very photogenic, including these two magnificent creatures.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-48QIT4ObE
The shining guest ant – Third observation in Flanders
The shining guest ant (Formicoxenus nitidulus) is threatened with extinction according to the Flemish red list. Our observation of this species in Zoersel is the third in Flanders. These small ants (2-3 mm) are only found in and around nests of their hosts: red wood ants. Since red wood ants (of which 4 species occur in Belgium) are already relatively rare and protected, their guests suffer the same fate. The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) marks the shining guest ant as Vulnerable. A typical and easily recognisable trait (when using a microscope) is a small forward-pointing spine on the underside of the second node of the abdomen (post-petiole).
For the publication, cick here (English abstract only)
For more information about this species:
http://www.arkive.org/shining-guest-ant/formicoxenus-nitidulus/
http://www.bwars.com/index.php?q=ant/formicidae/myrmicinae/formicoxenus-nitidulus
Update Expedition Beleta Gera – Ethiopia
The first month of our fieldwork in Ethiopia has passed. The amphibians are enjoying the rainy season and croak abundantly in both natural and not-so-natural habitats. Most reptiles hid themselves quite well for now, but we’ll find them eventually. Our first expedition to the Gera forest has ended and was fruitful to say the least. The camera traps are in place and the first results look promising! We’ll keep you updated.
New Pico Bonito expedition species
During this expedition (June 2013) through the, for now, intact rainforest of Pico Bonito, Honduras, several species were found new to science. For now, the scientific description of a new frog- and newt species are not yet published. However, a new species of damselfly, sampled during the same expedition is now described in the scientific journal Zookeys. The new species was called Amphipteryx jaroli, named after the famous scientist Jared Diamond. These and other discoveries were also published (in Dutch) in the “Standaard evening” of 3 june, 2014.
A print of the article in the “Standaard evening” can be found here (in Dutch).
A link to the scientific article in Zookeys can be read here.