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Scientists Discover a New Pacific Iguana and More Clues to a Longtime Mystery





A new iguana has been discovered in the central regions of Fiji. The colorful new species, named Brachylophus bulabula, joins only two other living Pacific iguana species, one of which is critically endangered. The scientific name bulabula is a doubling of bula, the Fijian word for ‘hello,’ offering an even more enthusiastic greeting.



Pacific iguanas have almost disappeared as the result of human presence. Two species were eaten to extinction after people arrived nearly 3,000 years ago. The three living Brachylophus iguana species face threats from loss and alteration of their habitat, as well as from feral cats, mongooses and goats that eat iguanas or their food source.



“Our new understanding of the species diversity in this group is a first step in identifying conservation targets,” said Robert Fisher, a research zoologist at the U.S. Geological Survey in San Diego, and coauthor of a study on the new iguana with scientists from the Australian National University and Macquarie University in Australia.



An important study finding for conservation of the genetic diversity in these iguanas is that, with only one exception, each of the 13 islands where living iguanas were sampled showed at least one distinct iguana genetic line that was not seen elsewhere.



The Fiji crested iguana, Brachylophus vitiensis, is gone from many islands it once occupied and is now listed as Critically Endangered on the “Red List” of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The IUCN is the largest global environmental network. “Unfortunately, this new study indicates that the other previously-identified Pacific iguana species, Brachyophus fasciatus, is probably critically endangered also,” Fisher said.



The mystery of how the Pacific iguanas originally arrived has long puzzled biologists and geographers. Their closest relatives are found nearly 5,000 miles away across the ocean in the New World.



“The distinctive Fijian iguanas are famous for their beauty and also their unusual occurrence in the middle of the Pacific Ocean because all of their closest relatives are in the Americas,” said Scott Keogh, an Associate Professor at the Australian National University in Canberra, Australia, and lead author of the study.



The highest islands of Fiji have been continuously above sea level for at least the last 16 million years, and the current study’s findings suggest that the Pacific iguanas, both extinct and living, were likely on the islands much of that time. Ancestors of the Pacific iguanas may have arrived up to 13 million years ago after making a 5,000 mile rafting trip from the New World.



Realizing that scientists are just now describing the diversity in even such colorful and distinctive groups as Pacific iguanas is important in setting biodiversity targets for the Pacific Basin.



"This island basin is currently under attack by a number of invasive species such as the brown tree snake, various rat species and the coqui frog, which tend to reduce biodiversity," said Fisher. "Climate change may reduce coastal habitats and alter coastlines in the Pacific, further putting biodiversity at risk. A more accurate understanding of the patterns and processes that impact diversity in these unique island groups will help land managers set appropriate goals for conservation of these resources."



The new discovery is published in a recent special edition of Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B that pays tribute to Charles Darwin’s contribution to the Pacific region. The other coauthors of the study are Danielle Edwards at the Australian National University, and Peter Harlow at Macquarie University in Australia.



The USGS provides science for a changing world. For more information, visit www.usgs.gov.



Subscribe to USGS News Releases via our electronic mailing list or RSS feed.





http://online.wr.usgs.gov/ocw/htmlmail/2008/September/web/index.html

HellsingHQ

Alloces

Vforvendetta- a great guy

Things You’ll Need:

One length of Ash wood. It should reach from the ground to just below your navel and range from an inch and a half to two and a quarter inches in diameter.

Birch twigs, as many as you want in your broom. Notes on choosing and length are included below in "tips".

Thin strips of willow bark, to bind your birch twigs with.

"Coat Thread" or yarn, to bind the ends of the willow strips. (optional)

Essential oil of choice.

Purified warm water.

Sea salt (optional)

Sacred Tool

Step1Work within a sacred area: As with any sacred tool, a besom should be made within sacred space. You should begin as a normal ritual, by casting a circle and giving thanks. Purify and dedicate the wood before you begin construction. 'Charging' the broom to any specific purpose should be done after the broom is completed, or while weaving the twigs to the stave.

Step2Place the strips of willow into the water and leave them to soften for at least 10 minutes. The longer you leave them, the easier it will be to work with.

Step3Preparing the Handle: Anoint and bless your ash wood stave with the essential oil. Sigil/rune carvings or any other ornamentation of the handle should be done at this point. If the besom is to be dedicated to a specific purpose or deity, you may ask them to bless it as you begin crafting.

Step4Weaving the bristles: Gather all of your birch twigs and arrange them into small, even groups. Remove two pieces of the willow bark and lay them side by side on a flat surface. Tie the two bark pieces together by wrapping a short length of thread around the end several times and knotting it off. Take the first group of birch twigs and crisscross the willow strips back and forth between each piece to bind them together (this is weaving). Tie off the other end of the willow strips with thread. Do not worry, the thread will not show in the finished broom. Repeat with the remaining groups of birch twigs. The thread may be omitted, but it makes the weaving considerably more difficult.

Step5Attaching to the broom: There are multiple ways to do this. Some drill a small hole in the end of the ash stave and thread yarn through it, then wrap the yarn around each bundle of twigs. A second method is to tie together each willow strip so that the birch twigs form one continuous panel. The panel is then wound tightly around the end of the stave, and secured by tying additional willow bark around it.A third method is to wrap each small group of twigs directly to the handle with yarn or thread.Whatever your method, you will want to "finish" the broom by weaving an additional two inch swath of willow bark about one inch from the top of the bristles. Some traditions attach small charms, or weave herbs and sea salt in amongst the bristles before attaching the "finishing" layer of willow bark.Once you have "finished" the besom, you may dedicate it to a spirit or deity of your choice, or charge it with protective energies. Traditionally, it can be hung over a doorway or stood with bristles facing upwards to protect a home. It is also used to "sweep away" residual psychic energies and negativity in a circle.Continue with the remainder of your ritual and close/ground the circle as normal.





*NOTE* this is listed from the following web site for those that might want to look up more information on the witches broom.



http://www.ehow.com/how_2308391_make-besom.html?ref=fuel&utm_source=yahoo&utm_medium=ssp&utm_campaign=yssp_art