The Great Mullein Continued Its Take-off but Crashes to Earth

The main spike rocketed in images from 1st and 2nd of June but was destroyed by 6 voracious caterpillars by the 6th of June (actually their activity was evident in early June). Unsurprisingly, the caterpillars are those of the Mullein moth (Cucullia verbasci), a local species in Wales. The wreckage is complete by 23rd June.

Birder's Bonus 6

Toby Hayward got this impressive shot of a threatening European robin (Erithacus rubecula) in the university Botanical Gardens at Swansea. He was wearing a red tee shirt at the times!

Seeing the Changes 26

Lots of Willow beauty (Peribatoides rhomboidaria) moths around the light.

Seeing the Changes 25

Yellow oxalis (Oxalis corniculata) and its garden escape relative, Pink oxalis (Oxalis articulata) are both in bloom in Loughor. The green berries of the Holly tree (Ilex aquifolium) are also evident. Two spot ladybirds (Adalia bipunctata) are active in search of greenfly. In Bynea, the Great bindweed (Calystegia sylvatica) has joined its smaller cousins . There are also Yellow iris (Iris pseudacorus) and Dog rose (Rosa canina) out. The Sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa) catkins are also appearing.

Walking in the Trees or Knuckling Under?

An article in the journal Science 'Walking on Trees' by Paul O'Higgins and Sarah Elton (http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/summary/316/5829/1292) suggests, largely on the basis of watching Orang-utans move around with straightened legs in trees, that bipedalism in our human ancestors may have developed before we left the canopy. They suggest that walking on branches with the arms free to gather food items was an effective lifestyle for our ancestors and, when the trees were replaced by savanna in Africa, the proto-humans were able to use these skills on the ground. This view is in direct contrast to the more established view that our early ancestors went through a knuckle-walking stage on the ground (like modern Chimpanzees and Gorillas) by bending their knees and getting additional balance from the arms. This is an intriguing suggestion but one should point out that the Orang-utan is more distant to the Human line than either Chimpanzees or Gorillas. In addition, Chimpanzees, Gorillas and Humans are the only primates to have 8 wrist bones rather than the more usual 9. It is generally argued that the 8 result from the fusion of 2 bones to provide more support when knuckle walking but this is not a conclusive argument.

Pandering to the Panda?

The Giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is a 'flagship species', providing the logo for the WWF. It has been recently reported (although he probably died in early January 2007) that the body of Xiang Xiang a 'pioneer' 80kg male released in April 2006 into a mountainous region in SW Sichuan Province has been found. This male had had three years of pre-release training in den making and food gathering (but not fighting?) as well as being fitted with a radio transmitter. Xiang Xiang had apparently been injured in a fight (probably with wild rivals) in December 2006 but after veterinary treatment was re-released essentially in the same region. His death appears to have resulted from yet more conflict with other males as he had broken ribs and damaged internal organs. Xiang Xiang was a 'pioneer' in the sense that he was the first captive bred Giant panda to be released by the panda research centre at Wolong (http://www.globio.org/about/visualarc/wildOrphans/wolong/wnr1.shtml) in an attempt to increase the numbers of wild pandas. This outcome confirms that this kind of release programme is not an easy option (especially if animals are released into areas that are already occupied and species are territorial). The Wolong centre intend to next try releasing a captive bred female as, it is argued, she is less likely to be rejected by the current residents.

Seeing the Changes 24

Broad-leaved willowherb (Epilobium montanum) has emerged in Bynea but the Rosebay willowherb is not yet in flower. The first Hedge bindweeds (Calystegia sepium) are flowering in Loughor.