Stephen R. Goldberg

Bio: Stephen R. Goldberg is an academic researcher from Whittier College. The author has contributed to research in topics: Gekkonidae & Physaloptera. The author has an hindex of 29, co-authored 407 publications receiving 5142 citations. Previous affiliations of Stephen R. Goldberg include Pennsylvania State University & Bishop Museum.

Gastrointestinal helminths of 51 species of anurans from Reserva Cuzco amazónico, Peru

Abstract: Six hundred eighty-two anurans representing 51 species collected from the Reserva Cuzco Amazonico, Peru, were examined for helminths, One species of Trematoda (Glypthelmins parva), 1 species of Cestoda (Cylindrotaenia americana), 14 species of Nematoda (Aplectana hylambatis, Batracholandros spectatus, Cosmocerca brasiliense, Cosmocerca parva, Cosmocerca podicipinus, Cosmocercella phyllomedusae, Ochoterenella vellardi, Oswaldocruzia lopesi, Physalopteroides venancioi, Rallietnema gubernaculatum, Schrankiana inconspicata, Schrankiana larvata, Schrankiana schranki, and Schrankianella brasili) were found. Larvae representing Acuarioidae gen. sp., Brevimulticaecum sp., Physaloptera sp., Porrocaecum sp., Ophidascaris sp., and the Acanthocephala were also found. No host harbored more than 4 helminth species (larval forms included, x ± SD): 1.4 ± 0.7 helminth species/infected anuran; 5.9 ± 13.6 helminths/infected anuran. Cosmocerca brasiliense had the greatest prevalence (162 of 682 anurans, 24%; mean intensity = 1.8); Aplectana hylambatis had the greatest mean intensity (13.4; prevalence, 33 of 682 anurans, 5%). No host species harbored more than 7 helminth species (larval forms included); 2.8 ± 1.6 helminth species/host species. Cosmocerca brasiliense was the most common helminth: 34 of 51 anuran species (67%). Twenty-nine new host records are reported.

Reproductive Ecology of Two Tropical Iguanid Lizards: Tropidurus torquatus and Platynotus semitaeniatus

Abstract: The reproductive ecology of two tropidurine iguanid lizards (Platynotus semitaeniatus and Tropidurus torquatus) was studied in northeastern Brazil over a period of 12 months. Reproductively mature females of T. torquatus ranged from 70 to 107 mm SVL and there were females during all months with enlarged vitellogenic follicles. Mature females of P. semitaeniatus ranged from 58-83 mm SVL. An a priori comparison revealed that more reproduction took place in both species during the dry season (July-Nov.) than during the wet season (Dec.-June). A large percentage of females of both species were, however, reproductive during the early wet season. During every month at least some of the males contained sperm and were thus capable of reproducing. However, a seasonal cycle in testes size was apparent, with largest testes occurring during the dry season. Masses of fat bodies of males and females were greatest during the non-reproductive season and least during the reproductive season. Single clutches of eggs of Tropidurus were deposited under rocks on the ground but large communal nests of Platynotus were found in rock crevices.

Transport of helminths to hawaii via the brown anole, anolis sagrei (polychrotidae)

Abstract: Sixty-two brown anoles, Anolis sagrei, from Oahu, Hawaii were examined for helminths. Anolis sagrei was introduced to Hawaii, presumably from the Caribbean. Two species of trematodes, Mesocoelium monas and Platynosomum fastosum, 3 species of nematodes, Atractis scelopori, Physaloptera squamatae, and Physocephalus sp., 1 acanthocephalan, Acanthocephalus bufonis, and 1 pentastome, Raillietiella frenatus, were found. Atractis scelopori and P. squamatae, previously unknown in Hawaii, are widely distributed in the Caribbean and were most likely transported to Hawaii with the introduced anoles. Mesocoelium monas, P. fastosum, Physocephalus sp., A. bufonis, and R. frenatus have been previously reported from Hawaiian herptiles; A. sagrei most likely acquired infections of these parasites from Hawaiian populations. This study indicates that helminths can be transported with their introduced hosts and become established in the colonized areas and that introduced lizards may quickly acquire species of previously est...

Gastrointestinal Helminths from Six Species of Frogs and Three Species of Lizards, Sympatric in Pará State, Brazil

Abstract: Forty-three frogs representing 6 species (Dendropsophus cachimbo, Scinax fuscomarginatus, Leptodactylus fuscus, Leptodactylus martinezi, Leptodactylus mystaceus, and Leptodactylus rhodomystax) and 35 lizards representing 3 species (Kentropyx calcarata, Leposoma osvaldoi, and Potamites ecpleopus) collected in the Brazilian state of Para were examined for helminths. One species of Trematoda, Brachycoelium salamandrae, and 12 species of Nematoda, adults of Capillaria recondita, Cosmocerca brasiliense, Cosmocerca podicipinus, Falcaustra belemensis, Falcaustra maculata, Kentropyxia sauria, Oswaldocruzia vaucheri, Physaloptera retusa, Schrankiana formulosa, Schrankiana fuscus, Schrankiana schranki, and juveniles of Acuariidae gen. sp., were found. Only B. salamandrae occurred in both frogs and lizards. There were 1.53 ± 0.13 (x ± 1 SE) helminth species/infected frogs and 28.52 ± 11.7 helminth individuals/infected frogs and 1.12 ± 0.08 helminth species/infected lizards and 6.47 ± 1.58 helminth individua...

Accelerated modern human-induced species losses: Entering the sixth mass extinction

Abstract: The oft-repeated claim that Earth’s biota is entering a sixth “mass extinction” depends on clearly demonstrating that current extinction rates are far above the “background” rates prevailing between the five previous mass extinctions. Earlier estimates of extinction rates have been criticized for using assumptions that might overestimate the severity of the extinction crisis. We assess, using extremely conservative assumptions, whether human activities are causing a mass extinction. First, we use a recent estimate of a background rate of 2 mammal extinctions per 10,000 species per 100 years (that is, 2 E/MSY), which is twice as high as widely used previous estimates. We then compare this rate with the current rate of mammal and vertebrate extinctions. The latter is conservatively low because listing a species as extinct requires meeting stringent criteria. Even under our assumptions, which would tend to minimize evidence of an incipient mass extinction, the average rate of vertebrate species loss over the last century is up to 100 times higher than the background rate. Under the 2 E/MSY background rate, the number of species that have gone extinct in the last century would have taken, depending on the vertebrate taxon, between 800 and 10,000 years to disappear. These estimates reveal an exceptionally rapid loss of biodiversity over the last few centuries, indicating that a sixth mass extinction is already under way. Averting a dramatic decay of biodiversity and the subsequent loss of ecosystem services is still possible through intensified conservation efforts, but that window of opportunity is rapidly closing.

Global effects of land use on local terrestrial biodiversity

Abstract: Human activities, especially conversion and degradation of habitats, are causing global biodiversity declines. How local ecological assemblages are responding is less clear--a concern given their importance for many ecosystem functions and services. We analysed a terrestrial assemblage database of unprecedented geographic and taxonomic coverage to quantify local biodiversity responses to land use and related changes. Here we show that in the worst-affected habitats, these pressures reduce within-sample species richness by an average of 76.5%, total abundance by 39.5% and rarefaction-based richness by 40.3%. We estimate that, globally, these pressures have already slightly reduced average within-sample richness (by 13.6%), total abundance (10.7%) and rarefaction-based richness (8.1%), with changes showing marked spatial variation. Rapid further losses are predicted under a business-as-usual land-use scenario; within-sample richness is projected to fall by a further 3.4% globally by 2100, with losses concentrated in biodiverse but economically poor countries. Strong mitigation can deliver much more positive biodiversity changes (up to a 1.9% average increase) that are less strongly related to countries' socioeconomic status.

A new species

Abstract: We redescribe the only previously known species of Myrsidea from bulbuls, M. pycnonoti Eichler. Sixteen new species are described; they and their type hosts are: M. phillipsi ex Pycnonotus goiavier goiavier (Scopoli), M. gieferi ex P. goiavier suluensis Mearns, M. kulpai ex P. flavescens Blyth, M. finlaysoni ex P. finlaysoni Strickland, M. kathleenae ex P. cafer (L.), M. warwicki ex Ixos philippinus (J. R. Forster), M. mcclurei ex Microscelis amaurotis (Temminck), M. zeylanici ex P. zeylanicus (Gmelin), M. plumosi ex P. plumosus Blyth, M. eutiloti ex P. eutilotus (Jardine and Selby), M. adamsae ex P. urostictus (Salvadori), M. ochracei ex Criniger ochraceus F. Moore, M. borbonici ex Hypsipetes borbonicus (J. R. Forster), M. johnsoni ex P. atriceps (Temminck), M. palmai ex C. ochraceus, and M. claytoni ex P. eutilotus. A key is provided for the identification of these 17 species.

Pervasive human-driven decline of life on Earth points to the need for transformative change

Abstract: The human impact on life on Earth has increased sharply since the 1970s, driven by the demands of a growing population with rising average per capita income. Nature is currently supplying more materials than ever before, but this has come at the high cost of unprecedented global declines in the extent and integrity of ecosystems, distinctness of local ecological communities, abundance and number of wild species, and the number of local domesticated varieties. Such changes reduce vital benefits that people receive from nature and threaten the quality of life of future generations. Both the benefits of an expanding economy and the costs of reducing nature's benefits are unequally distributed. The fabric of life on which we all depend-nature and its contributions to people-is unravelling rapidly. Despite the severity of the threats and lack of enough progress in tackling them to date, opportunities exist to change future trajectories through transformative action. Such action must begin immediately, however, and address the root economic, social, and technological causes of nature's deterioration.