Ugroženost i zaštita pilastih premosnika (Sphenodon punctatus i Sphenodon guntheri)

undergraduate thesis

• Title (english): Endangerment and conservation of tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus and Sphenodon guntheri)
• Author: Mak Vujanović
• Mentor: Davor Zanella (mentor)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Science; (Department of Biology); Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2012, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: NATURAL SCIENCES; Biology

Abstract

Iako su tuatare rasprostranjene samo na otocima Novog Zelanda svijest o njihovom očuvanju mora doprijeti do znanstvenika diljem svijeta. Velika važnost premosnika leži u njihovom statusu živih fosila, i mislim da oni predstavljaju nevjerojatne izvore u prikupljanju podataka koji se mogu izvući iz njihovih životnih ciklusa, podataka koji su sigurno iznimno bitni za proučavanje ne samo evolucije i razvitka novozelandskih otoka, već i cijele Zemlje. Tuatare su jedne od rijetkih životinja preko... More kojih možemo proučavati život organizama od prije čak 200 milijuna godina i tako spoznavati istine o povijesti našeg planeta. Put ka očuvanju premosnika leži u rukama lokalnih znanstvenika, ali po mom mišljenju prije svega u svijesti tamošnjih građana koji svojim postupcima mogu uvelike pridonijeti spasu ovih gmazova. Male stvari, poput redovitog hranjenja svog mačka, te pažljivog održavanja svog zeca, ali i pomoći u istrebljivanju opasnih štakora i miševa, prvi su, no i veliki koraci u očuvanju tuatara na otocima koje dijele s ljudima. Zabranjuje se i unošenje ljubimaca na nenaseljene otoke prilikom turističke ili bilo kakve druge posjete. Volonteri su uvijek dobrodošli, a DOC se može pohvaliti s mnoštvom mladih dobrovoljaca koji su spremni dati svoj udio u zaštiti tuatara, no sve se više i ljudi starije dobi uključuje u volonterske programe. U budućnosti mi je velika želja da otputujem na Novi Zeland i barem se nakratko uključim u bogate akcije spašavanja tuatara, ali i njihovog proučavanja, što smatram svojevrsnom privilegijom u današnjem znanstvenom svijetu. Zbog svega navedenog, priča o tuatari trenutno ima sretne konotacije. Međutim, mišljenja sam da će ovi prastari gmazovi, ogledala prošlosti, naposljetku ipak izumrijeti. Naravno, to neće biti tako skoro, ali zbog prirode njihove evolucije i slabe genetičke varijabilnosti, one se neće moći nositi sa budućim naglim klimatskim promjenama. Premosnici su čak 220 milijuna godina preživljavali razne dramatične promjene u svijetu, i šteta je da se samo jedno tisućljeće kojeg su proveli s ljudima dokaže kao njihov krajnji poraz. Ali, ljudi u ovom slučaju nisu direktni krivci, naime većina ostalih vrsta i okoliša na planetu su žalosno zanemarivane i eksploatirane od strane čovjeka, ali kad zadnja tuatara ugine, mislim da ipak ne bi smjeli kriviti sami sebe. Less

Abstract (english)

Although Tuataras are distributed only on the islands of New Zealand, awareness of their conservation must reach out to scientists around the world. Tuatara’s great importance lies in their status as living fossils, and I think they’re incredible sources to collect data that can be drawn from their life cycles, data which is certainly very important for the study of not only the evolution and development of the New Zealand islands, but of the whole Earth. Tuataras are one of the few... More animals through which we can study living organisms from even before 200 million years, and so to realize the truth about the history of our planet. The way of preserving tuataras is in the hands of local scientists, but in my opinion, primarily in the minds of local citizens, and their actions which can greatly contribute into saving these reptiles. Little things, like regular feeding of your cat, and careful maintenance of your rabbit, but also help in the extermination of dangerous rats and mice are the first, but giant steps in preserving the tuatara islands that are shared with humans. It’s prohibited to introduce pets on an uninhabited island during tourist or any other visits. Volunteers are always welcome, and DOC can boast with many young volunteers who are willing to do their part in protecting the tuatara, but more and more elderly people are involved in volunteer programs. In the future, I have a great desire to travel to New Zealand and at least briefly engage into rich tuatara rescue missions and study their behavior, which I think is kind of a privilege in today's scientific world. Consequently, the story of the tuatara currently has happy connotations. However, it is my opinion that these ancient reptiles, mirrors of the past, will ultimately perish. Of course, it will not be so soon, but due to the nature of their evolution and low genetic variability, they will not be able to cope with future abrupt climate changes. Sphenodons survived 220 million years of many dramatic world changes, and it’s a shame that only one millennium in which they coexist with people, prove to be their ultimate defeat. But humanity in this case is not the direct executioner. Other species of wildlife and other environments have been woefully neglected and actively mistreated by man, but when the last tuatara dies, I think we really should not blame ourselves. Less

• Keywords: pilasti premosnici; tuatare
• Keywords (english): tuataras
• Language: croatian
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:217:751727
• Study programme: Title: Environmental Sciences; Study programme type: university; Study level: undergraduate; Academic / professional title: sveučilišni/a prvostupnik/prvostupnica (baccalaureus/baccalaurea) struke znanosti o okolišu (sveučilišni/a prvostupnik/prvostupnica (baccalaureus/baccalaurea) struke znanosti o okolišu)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2018-04-20 12:45:38