Komodo Research Articles

FRAMING ANALYSIS OF THE NEWS KOMODO 'JURRASIC PARK' PROJECT ON LIPUTAN6.COM AND TEMPO.CO

This study aims to obtain an overview and analyze an understanding of the way Liputan6.com and Tempo.co frame reporting on the Komodo 'Jurassic Park' Project. This is related to the virality of a photo of a Komodo dragon blocking a project truck. Currently, in the three areas of Komodo National Park, two different investors are currently building tourist facilities. This development stems from President Jokowi's dream of making Komodo National Park and Labuan Bajo as premium tourism. The framing analysis model that used in this study belongs to Zhongdang Pan and Gerald M. Kosicky. The results obtained from this study are the similarities of journalists in writing facts. Both Tempo.co and Liputan6.com highlighted statements from government people (who were involved in this project). Liputan6.com also includes public opinion on twitter against this project while Tempo.co positions that this project does not harm the community or Komodo because the government pays attention to environmental, social and cultural aspects.

Population structure, genomic diversity and demographic history of Komodo dragons inferred from whole-genome sequencing.

Population and conservation genetics studies have greatly benefited from the development of new techniques and bioinformatic tools associated with next‐generation sequencing. Analysis of extensive data sets from whole‐genome sequencing of even a few individuals allows the detection of patterns of fine‐scale population structure and detailed reconstruction of demographic dynamics through time. In this study, we investigated the population structure, genomic diversity and demographic history of the Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis), the world's largest lizard, by sequencing the whole genomes of 24 individuals from the five main Indonesian islands comprising the entire range of the species. Three main genomic groups were observed. The populations of the Island of Komodo and the northern coast of Flores, in particular, were identified as two distinct conservation units. Degrees of genomic divergence among island populations were interpreted as a result of changes in sea level affecting connectivity across islands. Demographic inference suggested that Komodo dragons probably experienced a relatively steep population decline over the last million years, reaching a relatively stable Ne during the Saalian glacial cycle (400–150 thousand years ago) followed by a rapid Ne decrease. Genomic diversity of Komodo dragons was similar to that found in endangered or already extinct reptile species. Overall, this study provides an example of how whole‐genome analysis of a few individuals per population can help define population structure and intraspecific demographic dynamics. This is particularly important when applying population genomics data to conservation of rare or elusive endangered species.

Reviews: Komodo National Park as a conservation area for the komodo species (Varanus komodoensis) and sustainable tourism (ecotourism)

Abstract. Hidyarko AIF, Gayatri AC, Rifa VA, Astuti A, Kusumaningrum L, Mau YS, Rudiharto H, Setyawan AD. 2021. Komodo National Park as a conservation area for the komodo species (Varanus komodoensis) and sustainable ecotourism. Intl J Trop Drylands 5: 27-40. Komodo National Park (East Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia) is a biodiversity conservation area with the main aim to protect the original habitat and remaining population of Komodo dragon species (Varanus komodoensis Ouwens, 1912). Nonetheless, the area also has great potential as one of the objects of tourist attraction. The purpose of this study is to see the sustainable function of conservation and tourism in Komodo National Park. Komodo National Park covers land area of more than 603 square kilometers and 1214 square kilometers of marine habitat. The land habitats have 277 species of animals while the marine habitats have 253 species of corals, more than 1,000 species of fish, and 25 species of whales and dolphins. One of the main attractions of the Komodo National Park area is the ancient giant reptile of the Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis). The tourism management of Komodo National Park (KNP) is currently done through an ecotourism approach. The tourism zone is determined based on part of the Komodo National Park which has the potential for land and marine tourism with a diversity of flora and fauna. The participation of communities living around KNP in the ecotourism business can increase local economics and conservation awareness; as well as their participation in conservation. Meanwhile, the factors that hinder community participation in tourism development are limited budget, apathy and low public awareness, fluctuations in tourist visits, and difficulties in marketing ecotourism products.

Major histocompatibility complex genes and locus organization in the Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis).

We performed a meta-analysis of the newly assembled Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) genome to characterize the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) of the species. The MHC gene clusters of the Komodo dragon are gene dense, complex, and contain counterparts of many genes of the human MHC. Our analysis identified 20 contigs encompassing ~ 6.9 Mbp of sequence with 223 annotated genes of which many are predicted orthologs to the genes of the human MHC. These MHC contigs range in size from 13.2kb to 21.5 Mbp, contain an average of one gene per 30kb, and are thought to occur on at least two chromosomes. Eight contigs, each > 100kb, could be aligned to the human MHC based on gene content, and these represent gene clusters found in each of the recognized mammalian MHC subregions. The MHC of the Komodo dragon shares organizational features of other non-mammalian taxa. Multiple class Iα and class IIβ genes are indicated, with linkage between classical class I and immunoproteasome genes and between framework class I genes and genes associated with the mammalian class III subregion. These findings are supported in both Komodo genome assemblies and provide new insight into the MHC organization of these unique squamate reptiles.

Imagined Dragons

The presence of a large lizard, the Komodo dragon, in eastern Indonesia first came to the attention of Dutch authorities in 1912. Over the next thirty years these reptiles became one of the most desired celebrity species in the world for explorers to seek, zoos to display, and the public to imagine. From these experiences with captive Komodo lizards, a greater understanding of the behavior and morphology of the animal developed. This literature was shared in polycentric networks of science prior to the Second World War among zookeepers, explorers, and government officials, reflecting early efforts in the development of transnational knowledge of the biology of a unique species. This article is part of the “Crossroads of Indo–Pacific Environmental Histories” special issue of Pacific Historical Review.

Cranial Structure of Varanus komodoensis as Revealed by Computed-Tomographic Imaging.

Simple SummaryWe investigated the head of Komodo dragons using CT imaging. Cross-sections show that all cranial bones can be delineated, while soft tissue structures are evident but not clearly identifiable without an anatomical atlas. Additional three-dimensional reconstructed and maximum intensity projection images of the head were presented to depict bony structures. The anatomical structures identified on the CT images could help further assess the head of the Komodo dragon.This study aimed to describe the anatomic features of the normal head of the Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) identified by computed tomography. CT images were obtained in two dragons using a helical CT scanner. All sections were displayed with a bone and soft tissue windows setting. Head reconstructed, and maximum intensity projection images were obtained to enhance bony structures. After CT imaging, the images were compared with other studies and reptile anatomy textbooks to facilitate the interpretation of the CT images. Anatomic details of the head of the Komodo dragon were identified according to the CT density characteristics of the different organic tissues. This information is intended to be a useful initial anatomic reference in interpreting clinical CT imaging studies of the head and associated structures in live Komodo dragons.

Prey Preferences and Body Mass Most Influence Movement Behavior and Home Range Area of Komodo Dragons

Lizards, as predators, can use different prey foraging strategies that are expected to influence daily movement behavior and home range use. Variation in lizard movement behavior can be achieved via frequency changes in movement step lengths and turning angles that can facilitate distinctive prey-searching and foraging strategies. Komodo Dragons (Varanus komodoensis) exhibit a distinct dietary transition at ∼18 kg, where lizards switch from consuming small-bodied and abundant prey species to highly dispersed adult ungulate prey. Our study examined competing models for the relative effects of ontogenetic dietary shift, body mass, sex, time of day, and arboreal habitat use on Komodo Dragon movement behavior (i.e., the proportional use of Lévy flight movement steps) and home range area (i.e., 50 and 95% utilization distributions). Model ranking indicated that two models incorporating the proportion of adult ungulates and body mass best explained the increased use of Lévy flight movement behavior of Komodo Dragons. Body mass also best explained the increase in the 50 and 95% utilization distribution Kernel home range areas. However, the slope of this relationship was less steep than that predicted by metabolic scaling theory and suggested that attributes specific to Komodo Dragons, or their environment, may attenuate their spatial requirements. This study demonstrates that because of distinct shifts in diet and other activities associated with large body size, Komodo Dragons alter movement behavior and increase their home range area to optimize environmental resource use.

Not Goanna Get Me: Mutations in the Savannah Monitor Lizard (Varanus exanthematicus) Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Confer Reduced Susceptibility to SympatricCobra Venoms.

Antagonistic coevolutionary relationships provide intense selection pressure which drive changes in the genotype. Predator-prey interactions have caused some venomous snakes and their predators/prey to evolve α-neurotoxin resistance through changes at the orthosteric site of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. The presence of negatively charged amino acids at orthosteric site positions 191 and 195 is the ancestral state. These negatively charged amino acids have exerted a selection pressure for snake venom α-neurotoxins to evolve with strong positive charges on their molecular surface, with the opposite-charge attraction facilitating the binding by the neurotoxins. We aimed to test the effects of a series of mutations whereby one or both negatively charged amino acids are replaced by uncharged residues to ascertain if this was a novel form of reduced venom susceptibility in the varanid species. Using a biolayer interferometry assay, we tested the relative binding of α-neurotoxin-rich snake venoms against the orthosteric sites of V. giganteus (Perentie) and V. komodoensis (Komodo dragon), which both possess the negatively charged aspartic acid at position 191; V. mertensi (Merten's water monitor), which alsohas aspartic acid at position 195; and Varanus exanthematicus (savannah monitor), which lacks negatively charged amino acids at both positions 191 and 195. The orthosteric sites of these species are otherwise identical. In order to complete the structure-function relationship examination, we also tested a mutant version with the negatively charged aspartic acid at both positions 191 and 195. It was demonstrated that the presence of a negatively charged amino acid at either position 191 or 195 is crucial for the successful binding of snake venom α-neurotoxins, with V. giganteus, V. komodoensis and V. mertensi all strongly bound. The mutant version containing a negatively charged amino acid at both positions was bound equipotently to the native forms of V. giganteus, V. komodoensis and V. mertensi. Thus, the presence of a negatively charged amino acid at both positions does not increase binding affinity. In contrast, Varanus exanthematicus, lacking a negatively charged amino acid at either position, displayed dramatically less sensitivity to neurotoxins compared with the other species. V. exanthematicus is distinguished from the other species examined in this study by being a small, terrestrial, slow-moving species living sympatrically with a high density of large cobra species that have neurotoxin-rich venoms. Thus, this vulnerable prey item seems to haveevolved a novel form of reduced susceptibility to snake venom neurotoxins under a strong selection pressures from these neurotoxic predators. These results therefore contribute to the body of knowledge of predator/prey chemical arm races while providing novel insights into the structure-activity relationships of the orthosteric site of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor alpha-subunit.

Pembingkaian Isu Pembangunan Destinasi Wisata Premium Komodo Melalui Media Sosial Twitter

The issue of the development of the komodo premium tourist destination went viral because of a tweet on a social media, twitter. The tweet posted a photo of a Komodo dragon and a truck facing each other and there was a narrative questioning the sustainability of the Komodo ecosystem. These photos and narratives were then retweeted and mentioned by various other accounts and the hashtag #savekomodo appeared so that it became a trending topic and went viral. Twitter is a social media medium commonly used by Indonesian people to discuss various topics. Such topics can be framed based on perceptions and even certain account interests. This study uses a qualitative approach with framing analysis method Gamson-Modigliani model to examine how the viewpoints presented by four Twitter account posts frame the development issue of the Komodo National Park. More. The results of the study concluded that the first tweet on twitter actually attracted a response from the audience, who then reacted to the tweet while still carrying the initial tweet. The first tweet becomes the main frame which is then amplified by various reactive tweets that add a new layer of framing. The framing process grows organicly based on the audiences response on the social media network, but still carries the originall message (framing)

A Comprehensive Approach to Detect Hybridization Sheds Light on the Evolution of Earth's Largest Lizards.

Hybridization between species occurs more frequently in vertebrates than traditionally thought, but distinguishing ancient hybridization from other phenomena that generate similar evolutionary patterns remains challenging. Here, we used a comprehensive workflow to discover evidence of ancient hybridization between the Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) from Indonesia and a common ancestor of an Australian group of monitor lizards known colloquially as sand monitors. Our data comprise $>$300 nuclear loci, mitochondrial genomes, phenotypic data, fossil and contemporary records, and past/present climatic data. We show that the four sand monitor species share more nuclear alleles with $V$. komodoensis than expected given a bifurcating phylogeny, likely as a result of hybridization between the latter species and a common ancestor of sand monitors. Sand monitors display phenotypes that are intermediate between their closest relatives and $V$. komodoensis. Biogeographic analyses suggest that $V$. komodoensis and ancestral sand monitors co-occurred in northern Australia. In agreement with the fossil record, this provides further evidence that the Komodo dragon once inhabited the Australian continent. Our study shows how different sources of evidence can be used to thoroughly characterize evolutionary histories that deviate from a treelike pattern, that hybridization can have long-lasting effects on phenotypes, and that detecting hybridization can improve our understanding of evolutionary and biogeographic patterns.[Biogeography; introgression; Komodo dragon; phylogenetic networks; phylogenomics; reticulation; Varanus.].

Human activities associated with reduced Komodo dragon habitat use and range loss on Flores

Species restricted to archipelagos are often range-restricted, dispersal limited, and persist as disjunct populations. These attributes can make island populations especially vulnerable to extinction from natural or anthropogenic processes. Ascertaining causes of habitat use, population impact, and range loss is fundamental to guiding effective conservation actions. The Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) is an endangered, island-endemic species with a highly restricted range distribution limited to a small number of islands in Eastern Indonesia. Flores Island is the largest island (13,540 km2) within the species distribution. However, with relatively few and small-protected areas, alongside a much higher incidence of human-related habitat use, Komodo dragon habitat occupancy is suspected to decrease on Flores. Here over five years, we conducted systematic surveys to evaluate Komodo dragon habitat occupancy at 346 camera monitoring stations (CMS) distributed along the Flores coastline. We successfully detected Komodo dragons at 85 of the 346 CMS on Flores. The pattern of Komodo dragon site presence indicated their distribution was confined to three isolated and highly restricted habitat areas on the west, northwestern, and northern coastal regions of Flores. Ranking of competing models indicated that proximity to farms and villages had the strongest negative effects on Komodo dragon habitat occupancy. The current predicted Komodo dragon range distribution appeared to have undergone significant range area contraction (~ 44%) at multiple coastal areas known to be occupied by the Komodo dragon detected in previous decades (i.e., 1970–2000). We attribute decreased Komodo dragon habitat use and range loss to multiple and cascading human activities. To address these threats, we advocate a range of land use planning and community conservation actions to avoid a potential Komodo dragon extirpation on the largest island habitat within their distribution.

Turning ghosts into dragons: improving camera monitoring outcomes for a cryptic low-density Komodo dragon population in eastern Indonesia

Abstract Context Detection probability is a key attribute influencing population-level wildlife estimates necessary for conservation inference. Increasingly, camera traps are used to monitor threatened reptile populations and communities. Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) populations have been previously monitored using camera traps; however, considerations for improving detection probability estimates for very low-density populations have not been well investigated. Aims Here we compare the effects of baited versus non-baited camera monitoring protocols to influence Komodo dragon detection and occupancy estimates alongside monitoring survey design and cost considerations for ongoing population monitoring within the Wae Wuul Nature Reserve on Flores Island, Indonesia. Methods Twenty-six camera monitoring stations (CMS) were deployed throughout the study area with a minimum of 400 m among CMS to achieve independent sampling units. Each CMS was randomly assigned as a baited or non-baited camera monitoring station and deployed for 6 or 30 daily sampling events. Key results Baited camera monitoring produced higher site occupancy estimates with reduced variance. Komodo dragon detection probability estimates were 0.15 ± 0.092–0.22 (95% CI), 0.01 ± 0.001–0.03, and 0.03 ± 0.01–0.04 for baited (6 daily survey sampling events), unbaited (6 daily survey sampling events) and long-unbaited (30 daily survey sampling events) sampling durations respectively. Additionally, the provision of baited lures at cameras had additional benefits for Komodo detection, survey design and sampling effort costs. Conclusions Our study indicated that baited cameras provide the most effective monitoring method to survey low-density Komodo dragon populations in protected areas on Flores. Implications We believe our monitoring approach now lends itself to evaluating population responses to ecological and anthropogenic factors, hence informing conservation efforts in this nature reserve.

Insights into the Nesting Ecology and Annual Hatchling Production of the Komodo Dragon

We studied annual trends and characteristics of nesting activities and hatchling production by female Komodo Dragons (Varanus komodoensis) in Komodo National Park, Indonesia between 2002 and 2006. During this period, we recorded 12, 16, 15, 13, and 6 females nesting annually at 42 potential nesting sites. An average female nesting periodicity was estimated at 1.2±0.4 years. This result arose because most females bred annually and some biennially. Some females reused nest sites in successive years while others did not. Nesting females had significantly lower body mass compared to when they were recaptured again in a non-nesting state. All-female nesting activities were conducted within their resident valleys and suggested a strong tendency for spatial fidelity. Komodo Dragons were generally considered solitary nesters as only on one occasion were two nesting females observed to use the same nesting site. On average, 21.0±3.6 Komodo Dragon hatchlings emerged from each nest. We estimated that within the study area, nesting female Komodo Dragons produced between 129.0±21.8 and 344.0±58.16 hatchlings per annum. We discuss the ecological and evolutionary significance of these attributes. However, the main conservation management implications drawn from this study are that there are a low annual number of nesting females and associated hatchling production in Komodo National Park. Hence, a continuation of more extensive nesting surveys could provide a cost-effective and accurate way to gather important long-term demographic information for this species.

Komodo-dragon cathelicidin-inspired peptides are antibacterial against carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Introduction. The rise of carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae (CRE) is a growing crisis that requires development of novel therapeutics.Hypothesis. To this end, cationic antimicrobial peptides (CAMPs) represent a possible source of new potential therapeutics to treat difficult pathogens such as carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP), which has gained resistance to many if not all currently approved antibiotics, making treatment difficult.Aim. To examine the anti-CRKP antimicrobial activity of the predicted cathelicidins derived from Varanus komodoensis (Komodo dragon) as well as synthetic antimicrobial peptides that we created.Methodology. We determined the minimum inhibitory concentrations of the peptides against CRKP. We also characterized the abilities of these peptides to disrupt the hyperpolarization of the bacterial membrane as well as their ability to form pores in the membrane.Results. We did not observe significant anti-CRKP activity for the predicted native Komodo cathelicidin peptides. We found that the novel peptides DRGN-6,-7 and -8 displayed significant antimicrobial activity against CRKP with MICs of 4-8 µg ml-1. DRGN-6 peptide was the most effective peptide against CRKP. Unfortunately, these peptides showed higher than desired levels of hemolysis, although in vivo testing in the waxworm Galleria mellonella showed no mortality associated with treatment by the peptide; however, CRKP-infected waxworms treated with peptide did not show an improvement in survival.Conclusion. Given the challenges of treating CRKP, identification of peptides with activity against it represents a promising avenue for further research. Given DRGN-6's similar level of activity to colistin, DRGN-6 is a promising template for the development of novel antimicrobial peptide-based therapeutics.

Identifying island safe havens to prevent the extinction of the World's largest lizard from global warming.

The Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) is an endangered, island‐endemic species with a naturally restricted distribution. Despite this, no previous studies have attempted to predict the effects of climate change on this iconic species. We used extensive Komodo dragon monitoring data, climate, and sea‐level change projections to build spatially explicit demographic models for the Komodo dragon. These models project the species’ future range and abundance under multiple climate change scenarios. We ran over one million model simulations with varying model parameters, enabling us to incorporate uncertainty introduced from three main sources: (a) structure of global climate models, (b) choice of greenhouse gas emission trajectories, and (c) estimates of Komodo dragon demographic parameters. Our models predict a reduction in range‐wide Komodo dragon habitat of 8%–87% by 2050, leading to a decrease in habitat patch occupancy of 25%–97% and declines of 27%–99% in abundance across the species' range. We show that the risk of extirpation on the two largest protected islands in Komodo National Park (Rinca and Komodo) was lower than other island populations, providing important safe havens for Komodo dragons under global warming. Given the severity and rate of the predicted changes to Komodo dragon habitat patch occupancy (a proxy for area of occupancy) and abundance, urgent conservation actions are required to avoid risk of extinction. These should, as a priority, be focused on managing habitat on the islands of Komodo and Rinca, reflecting these islands’ status as important refuges for the species in a warming world. Variability in our model projections highlights the importance of accounting for uncertainties in demographic and environmental parameters, structural assumptions of global climate models, and greenhouse gas emission scenarios when simulating species metapopulation dynamics under climate change.

Protected by dragons: Density surface modeling confirms large population of the critically endangered Yellow-crested Cockatoo on Komodo Island

Abstract Intense trapping of the critically endangered Yellow-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua sulphurea) for the international pet trade has devastated its populations across Indonesia such that populations of >100 individuals remain at only a handful of sites. We combined distance sampling with density surface modeling (DSM) to predict local densities and estimate total population size for one of these areas, Komodo Island, part of Komodo National Park (KNP) in Indonesia. We modeled local density based on topography (topographic wetness index) and habitat types (percentage of palm savanna and deciduous monsoon forest). Our population estimate of 1,113 (95% CI: 587–2,109) individuals on Komodo Island was considerably larger than previous conservative estimates. Our density surface maps showed cockatoos to be absent over much of the island, but present at high densities in wooded valleys. Coincidence between our DSM and a set of independent cockatoo observations was high (93%). Standardized annual counts by KNP staff in selected areas of the island showed increases in cockatoo records from <400 in 2011 to ~650 in 2017. Taken together, our results indicate that KNP, alongside and indeed because of preserving its iconic Komodo dragons (Varanus komodoensis), is succeeding in protecting a significant population of Indonesia’s rarest cockatoo species. To our knowledge this is the first time DSM has been applied to a critically endangered species. Our findings highlight the potential of DSM for locating abundance hotspots, identifying habitat associations, and estimating global population size in a range of threatened taxa, especially if independent datasets can be used to validate model predictions.

Community Perception Surrounding Riung National Park to the Conservation of Komodo Dragon

People on Benteng Tengah, Nangamese and Latung have been living in Flores Island and smaller island nearby Flores, like Ontoloe, long before the establishment of national park. In 1992 and 1996, the government established Nature Conservation of Wolo Tado, Nature Conservation of Riung and Marine Nature Conservation of 17 Pulau. This decision led to government’s policy to prohibit the opening of land by burning. Local people used to open a land for agricultural purpose by setting a fire in order to regenerate the savanna to promoting the growth of young grass leaves. People use young grass to feed their cattle. This prohibition causes the people had to herd their cattle far from they live. As the consequence, threat from Komodo (Varanus komodoensis) to attack cattle is increased and people consider Komodo as pest that has to be terminated. This research aimed to study people’s knowledge about Komodo status as endangered species and its implication. Data were collected from people who lives in Benteng Tengah, Nangamese, and Latung, Regency of Ngada, East Nusa Tenggara. Data were obtained from respondents using interviews and questionnaires. Perception of local people who lives in Benteng Tengah (93%), Nangamese (93%) and Latung (100%) showed that people are aware about Komodo’s habitat vegetation. Good perception on Komodo and habitat vegetation will maintain komodo sustainability.

Phylogenomics of Monitor Lizards and the Role of Competition in Dictating Body Size Disparity.

Organismal interactions drive the accumulation of diversity by influencing species ranges, morphology, and behavior. Interactions vary from agonistic to cooperative and should result in predictable patterns in trait and range evolution. However, despite a conceptual understanding of these processes, they have been difficult to model, particularly on macroevolutionary timescales and across broad geographic spaces. Here, we investigate the influence of biotic interactions on trait evolution and community assembly in monitor lizards (Varanus). Monitors are an iconic radiation with a cosmopolitan distribution and the greatest size disparity of any living terrestrial vertebrate genus. Between the colossal Komodo dragon Varanus komodoensis and the smallest Australian dwarf goannas, Varanus length and mass vary by multiple orders of magnitude. To test the hypothesis that size variation in this genus was driven by character displacement, we extended existing phylogenetic comparative methods which consider lineage interactions to account for dynamic biogeographic history and apply these methods to Australian monitors and marsupial predators. Incorporating both exon-capture molecular and morphological data sets we use a combined evidence approach to estimate the relationships among living and extinct varaniform lizards. Our results suggest that communities of Australian Varanus show high functional diversity as a result of continent-wide interspecific competition among monitors but not with faunivorous marsupials. We demonstrate that patterns of trait evolution resulting from character displacement on continental scales are recoverable from comparative data and highlight that these macroevolutionary patterns may develop in parallel across widely distributed sympatric groups.[Character displacement; comparative methods; phylogenetics; trait evolution; Varanus.].

Ontogenetic dietary shifts in Deinonychus antirrhopus (Theropoda; Dromaeosauridae): Insights into the ecology and social behavior of raptorial dinosaurs through stable isotope analysis

The image of the highly intelligent, pack-hunting raptor has become engrained in scientific literature and popular works alike. First proposed to explain the relatively common co-occurrence of the large-bodied iguanodontian Tenontosaurus tilletti and the wolf-sized Deinonychus antirrhopus from the Lower Cretaceous of North America, a canid-like social hunting structure has become the standard depiction of dromaeosaurs in popular works over the last three decades. This reconstruction is, however, problematic largely due to the fact that highly coordinated hunting strategies are rarely observed in modern archosaurs. This has led to the alternative hypothesis that D. antirrhopus was more analogous to agonistic reptilian carnivores, like the Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis). Among the many differences between these two analogs is how social and asocial organisms rear their young, producing a diagnostic pattern based on the presence or absence of ontogenetic dietary changes. In order to test for dietary changes through growth, stable carbon and oxygen isotope (δ13C, δ18O) analysis was performed on tooth carbonate from small (<4.5 mm crown height) and large (>9 mm crown height) D. antirrhopus specimens from two microsites from the Lower Cretaceous Cloverly (Montana) and Antlers (Oklahoma) formations. Teeth from goniopholidid crocodylians and Tenontosaurus tilletti from the Cloverly Formation were also tested for comparison. The results show that the Cloverly goniopholidids, like their modern counterparts, went through a distinct transition in diet as they grew. The smallest teeth were the relatively most enriched in 13C (mean = −9.32‰; n = 5), the medium-sized teeth were the most-depleted in 13C (mean = −10.56‰; n = 5), and the largest teeth were intermediate (mean = −10.12‰; n = 6). These factors are characteristic of the dietary shifts seen in modern asocial reptiles. D. antirrhopus showed this same pattern in tooth samples collected from both rock units, with small teeth being the more enriched in 13C (mean = −8.99‰; n = 10) and the large teeth being more depleted in 13C (mean = −10.38‰; n = 10). These differences suggest that juvenile and adult D. antirrhopus from both formations likely consumed different prey. Hypothetical food sources, such as T. tilletti, are close to the 13C isotopic signal of adult D. antirrhopus, consistent with the hypothesized trophic relationship (predator-prey) between these two species. Juvenile D. antirrhopus had a diet more enriched in 13C, likely composed of smaller-bodied, but trophically-higher species. Taken together, these data add to the growing evidence that D. antirrhopus was not a complex social hunter by modern mammalian standards.

Protecting the Mbau Komodo in Riung, Flores: Local Adat, National Conservation and Ecotourism Developments

The Komodo dragon is one of the most exotic animals of the Wallacea region. Conservation efforts aimed at protecting the Komodo dragon and the unique biodiversity in the region have created a particularly strained relationship between state interests, local livelihood and tourism developments. This article examines recent antagonisms between national agencies, local interests and livelihoods by describing a unique and relatively unknown case study: the Riung Subdistrict and Sambinasi Village and the protection of the Komodo dragons by the local Baar community. Based on information from 19 qualitative in-depth interviews, and the analysis of a recent local Adat meeting in March 2019, this article shows that the Baar were successful in reclaiming land from the national conservation agencies. Meanwhile, they simultaneously formulated new local customary rules on how to treat the Komodo dragon, hence reclaiming ownership over conservation rules and empowering local institutions. Recently, all parties have subscribed to a new ecotourism agenda for further development of the area. This agenda might reshape relations between national agencies and the local communities, as conservation is increasingly linked to new forces of global tourism.