8A NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2008
SCIENCE
Researchers receive grant to study unique primate
Philippines trip will be used to observe tarsiers, form conservation strategies
BY MARY SORRICK msorrick@kansan.com
National Geographic awarded two University of Kansas researchers a $24,605 grant to study tarsiers, one of the more unique primates in Southeast Asia.
Jennifer Weghorst, adjunct research assistant with the Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Research Center, and Rafe Brown, assistant professor in the department of biology and curator at the Natural History Museum, will travel to the southern Philippines this spring for the first of several trips to research tarsiers.
"They are the coolest primates in the world," Brown said. "They are little pocket-sized forest goblins."
Weghorst and Brown will analyze tarsier calls and collect DNA samples from populations on different Filipino islands to help pinpoint the number of different species that may exist.
With that information, Weghorst said scientists could begin forming conservation strategies for tarsiers.
The small, nocturnal animals weigh about 130 grams and reach a foot in length when stretched out.
They are the only exclusively carnivorous primates, eating caterpillars, beetles, frogs and small lizards. Tarsiers are also easily distinguishable by their big, round eyes, Weghorst said.
mist nets to catch tarsiers. After photographing and weighing them, the researchers will take blood and tissue samples before releasing the tarsiers back into the wild.
The researchers will also compare tarsier calls among populations from different islands.
"Someone I
"They are the coolest primates in the world. They are little pocket-sized forest goblins."
RAFE BROWN Assistant professor in the Department of Biology
"Someone I know has described them as looking like Yoda," Weghorst said.
Because tarsiers live on volcanic islands that have never been in contact with each other, three to six distinct species of tarsiers could exist in the Philippines, Brown said.
out that there are different species limited to geographic areas, conservation threats would be very specific," he said.
"If we find
Though tarsiers can survive in changing habitats, Brown said deforestation from commercial and small-scale logging could still be a threat to their survival.
He said he hoped the research and conservation strategies for tarsiers would lead to habitat protection in the Philippines through the establishment of national parks and reserves.
Weghorst and Brown's tarsier research will take two years to complete. In the mean time, the team of Filipino researchers will come to the University to help analyze the tarsier findings.
Contributed by Rafe Brown
Weghorst said the research could be an important element of biodiversity conservation.
"Population dynamics would be out of whack if there were no tarsiers," she said. "And the world would be such a boring place."
This Philippine tarsier (Tarsius syricha) lives on the island of Bohol, Philippines. Its pupils are so small because the photo was taken during the day; a photo of a tarsier at night would show its large eyes almost completely filled by its pupils. Very large eyes are an adaptation for a nocturnal lifestyle.
COURT
COURT Rapper T.I. pleads guilty, to receive sentence
ATLANTA — Rapper T.I. pleaded guilty Thursday to federal weapons possession charges, and will receive a sentence that includes prison time after he completes a period of community service.
Harris, 27, who was dressed in a gray business suit, told the judge he understands the terms of the agreement.
In the year that he is awaiting sentencing, T.I., whose real name is Clifford Harris, must complete at least 1,000 hours of a total 1,500 hours of community service, talking to youth groups about the pitfalls of guns, gangs and drugs.
ing on his fulfillment of the terms of the deal and good behavior, they said.
He pleaded guilty to possession of unregistered machine guns and silencers, unlawful possession of machine guns and possession of firearms by a convicted felon.
He will be sentenced to serve about 12 months in prison after completing the community service, officials said. His prison time could be increased or reduced, depend-
Harris was arrested Oct. 13, just blocks away and hours before he was to headline the BET Hip-Hop Awards in Atlanta.
Harris was charged with possession of unregistered machine guns and silencers, as well as possession of firearms by a convicted felon.
He was allegedly trying to buy unregistered machine guns and silencers.
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