Coevolution-the process of reciprocal evolutionary change driven by cycles of adaptation and counteradaptation in pairs of interacting species-often produces stunning yet tractable phenotypes in the involved species (Dawkins & Krebs, 1979). As such, these exchanges have become a dominant feature of research aiming to explain the world's biodiversity (Betts et al., 2016;Feeney et al., 2014;Strauss & Irwin, 2004). Examples of coevolution are found throughout the natural world and include interactions between iconic duos, such as predatory bats which have evolved finely tuned sensory systems to hunt their moth prey and the respective moths which have, in turn, evolved to jam their predators' echolocation (Corcoran et al., 2009); and figs (Ficus sp.) that can only be pollinated by certain species of fig wasps (Agaonidae), which in turn rely on the figs to harbour their eggs and larvae as they mature (Machado et al., 2005
Summary. Morphological character data are used to show that a distinct morphotype of Dioscorea L. from the Irodo valley (East of Sadjoavato) in Antsiranana Province of Madagascar is an undescribed species, differing in its leaf arrangement, pubescence form and male inflorescence structure from all other taxa. It is described as Dioscorea irodensis Wilkin, Rajaonah & Randriamb., illustrated and a distribution map and ecological information provided. It is known from three sites, but is likely to have been eradicated from one of them. The population that has been studied in the field contains a very low number of adult plants. Tubers have been extracted for use as food at a level that appears to be unsustainable. Thus its provisional IUCN conservation status assessment is that it is critically endangered (CR). Its vernacular name in Irodo is Bemandry.Famintinana. Ny toetra sy ny bikan'ny oviala dia azo ampiasaina hanehoana fa miavaka ny oviala iray, izay hita tao anatin'ny lohasahan'Irodo (Atsinanan'i Sadjoavato, faritanin'Antsiranana) ao Avaratr'i Madagasikara, ary tsy mbola voasoritra ny mombamomba azy. Mampihavaka azy amin'ny hafa ireto toetra manaraka ireto: ny fipetraky ny ravina, ny fisian'ny volo, sy ny firafitry ny tahom-bony lahy eo aminy. Nosoritana ho Dioscorea irodensis Wilkin, Rajaonah & Randriamb. izy ity, nampiratiana an-tsary ny momba azy, namoahana saritany ny toerana misy azy, ary nomena ireo vaovao ara-ekolojika mikasika azy. Vondrona oviala miisa telo fara-faha-betsany no fantatra fa misy azy, ary efa ho fongana ny iray amin'ireo. Ny vokatry ny fanadihadiana izay natao tamin'ny vondrona oviala misy no nahitana fa vitsy ny fototra oviala lehibe afaka mamoa, ary maro ireo nohadiana ho sakafo, izay mamaritra sahady fa tsy hateza io karazana io. Noho izany, ny sata fiarovana vonjimaika IUCN dia manombana fa zavamaniry tena tandindomin-doza (CR) io karazana oviala io. Bemandry no fiantso io karazana oviala io any Irodo.
During the breeding season, male Red-backed Fairy-wrens Malurus melanocephalus can exhibit a spectrum of plumages from wholly black-and-red to entirely brown. By contrast, females generally appear completely brown, although observations of birds in the hand have revealed that some females also develop some red feathers. Here, we document, for the first time, observations of a female Red-backed Fairy-wren that has developed both black and red feathers under natural conditions. We explore possible explanations for this including whether changes to the individual's hormonal milieu could be responsible for the unusual plumage that we observed.
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