Beyers, R. L., Hart, J. A., Sinclair, A. R., Grossmann, F., Klinkenberg, B., & Dino, S. (n.d.).
Resource Wars and Conflict Ivory: The Impact of Civil Conflict on Elephants in the Democratic Republic of Congo – The Case of the Okapi Reserve. Retrieved September 23, 2017, from
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0027129 This article describes the negative impacts on the Okapi Wildlife Reserve, located in the Democratic Republic of Congo. They looked specifically at elephants and how poaching and other human interactions negatively impacted the elephants within that area. The method used in this study was to “evaluate changes in the numbers of elephants in the reserve” and then look at the human influence and negative actions of humans within that reserve. The subjects of the study were both the elephants in the wildlife reserve as well as the humans in that area. They found that over time, the demand for ivory has greatly increased and therefore putting more elephants in danger. The highest rate of poaching so far happened between 2002 and 2004, when the demand for ivory and bushmeat were at their highest. After new laws had been put into place, elephant poaching has greatly decreased since 2004 but still remains a threat. This study would not be of use for my project because even though it takes place on the Okapi Wildlife Reserve, it focuses only on elephants and does not have much to do with okapis at all.
Danowitz, M., & Solounias, N. (n.d.). The Cervical Osteology of Okapia johnstoni and Giraffa camelopardalis. Retrieved September 19, 2017, from
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0136552 This article describes the differences in the lengths of a giraffe’s neck versus an okapi’s Neck (cervical osteology). An okapi is considered a short-necked ungulate, while a giraffe would be a long-necked ungulate. The method used in this study was to “compare the anatomy and serial morphology of the cervical vertebrae of G. camelopardalis and O. Johnstoni.” The subjects used in this study were three different specimens of each species. They found that both the okapi and the giraffe have a “spinous process” which “comprises the dorsal vertebral body.” The main difference between the two was that the okapi had an anterior arch that was uninterrupted while the giraffe had an anterior arch that was interrupted. I think this study would be of use for my research project because it shows the differences in the structure of the head and neck between the okapi and giraffe. It could help me to explain the differences in the evolution of spinal structure of both the okapi and giraffe.
Solounias, N., & Danowitz, M. (n.d.). Astragalar Morphology of Selected Giraffidae. Retrieved September 21, 2017, from
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0151310 This article describes the artiodactyl astragalus adaptation which allows the species to have a specialized axis of motion. It focuses more on giraffes but the okapi is very much related to the giraffe, therefore it pertains to the okapi as well. The method of this study was to “identify twelve giraffid species” and “describe the detailed morphological features of the astragalus of each.” The subjects used in this study were the twelve giraffid species, including okapi. The study found that each giraffid species contained a variation of the astragalar adaption, which is what allows these species to have a specialized axis of motion. The study would not be of much use to my research project because there is only a small portion of information on okapis, which talks more in terms of anatomy and I am not familiar with the anatomy of the okapi.
Stanton, D. W., Hart, J., Galbusera, P., Helsen, P., Shephard, J., Kümpel, N. F., . . . Bruford, M.
W. (n.d.). Distinct and Diverse: Range-Wide Phylogeography Reveals Ancient Lineages and High Genetic Variation in the Endangered Okapi (Okapia johnstoni). Retrieved September 18, 2017, from http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0101081 This article describes the genetic structure of the okapi as well as its evolutionary history.
Okapis are an endangered species, which are native to the Democratic Republic of Congo. The methods used for collecting data included “study area and sampling, molecular methodology, sequence analysis, partitioning of genetic diversity, and population and sequence divergences.” The subjects that were used in this study were sixty-nine different okapi samples, which included feces, preserved skin samples, museum samples, etc. The study found that the samplings all related back to the origin of the Congo River area. The also found that the phylogenetic tree for okapi is most closely related to that of a giraffe. This study is of use for my project because it provided a good amount of useful information on the genetic background of okapis and their origin.
Taylor, M. F., Suckling, K. F., & Rachlinski, J. J. (2005, April 01). Effectiveness of the Endangered Species Act: A Quantitative Analysis | BioScience | Oxford Academic.
Retrieved September 24, 2017, from
https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/article/55/4/360/270568/The-Effectiveness-of-the-E ndangered-Species-Act-A
This article describes the research done in order to find out the effectiveness of the Endangered Species Act. This is relative to okapis because okapis are an endangered species. The methods used in this study included looking at endangered species survival and recovery over a period of time after the Endangered Species Act went into place, ,as well as seeing how well the plans assisted in species recovery. The subjects in this study were endangered species and threatened species. The study found that by listing a species under the Endangered Species Act, it enhanced the species’ recovery over time and by designating a critical habitat to those endangered species, it helped to promote the species’ survival and recovery. The study also found that “dedicated recovery plans assist species recovery,” “multispecies recovery plans are less effective,” “listing and regulation assist in in species recovery,” and “Endangered Species Act does not favor animals over plants.” One of the most important findings was that “endangered species show less recovery than threatened species.” This study is not of much use for my project because it does not give me any information on my species but rather the endangerment that my species. Although, it is helpful in understanding how the ENdangered Species Act has helped many species recover and increase in numbers.