Influence of alpine plants on soil nutrient concentrations in a monoculture experiment

The ability of different alpine species to influence soil nutrient concentrations was quantified by growing monocultures of 17 species on a homogenized acid alpine soil mixture. The experiment was carried out at 2750 m a.s.l. in the Teberda Reserve, Northwest Caucasus. Soil nuturient contents (NH₄, NO₃, P, Ca, Mg, and K) and pH were analyzed after 6 years. The same soil mixture but without plants was used as a control. The plant species had significant effects on all soil properties. Different species groups tended to decrease different nutrients to different extents, e.g.Matricaria caucasica had the lowest level for NO₃ andFestuca ovina for P. Many species increased the cation content (Ca, Mg, K) in the soil in comparison with the control. Prevention of cation leaching seems to be the main mechanism of these increases, because initial cation contents were higher than the final. All species, exceptSibbaldia procumbens, increased soil pH in comparison with the final control. Significant differences among taxonomic groups (families) were found for exchangeable Ca, Mg, and pH.Fabaceae decreased cation contents (Ca, Mg), but tended to increase nitrogen (NH₄, NO₃).Cyperaceae (Carex spp.) tended to decrease ammonium content, and bothAsteraceae andCyperaceae tended to decrease nitrate concentrations. The phosphorus content tended to be reduced by grasses. There was no strong correspondence between properties of native soils of 4 alpine communities and nutrient concentrations for species preferring those communities.     

Population strategies in severe environments: alpine plants in the northwestern Caucasus

Abstract. This study attempts to show a differentiation into strategy types among plant species of four alpine communities in the northwestern Caucasus, Russia. Four groups of population characteristics (traits) were examined: above-ground biomass, seed size, seed yield and occurrence of a persistent seed bank. In addition, values for relative growth rate and a morphology index were estimated. Agglomerative Cluster Analysis and Principal Component Analysis were applied to a data set with 42 species from these communities and six species characteristics. In the Geranium gymnocaulon meadow, the most productive community, large gaps occur created by wild boars and bears. Here, the response of 13 species to disturbance was also analysed. Strategy types were approached both according to Grime: ‘competitive’, ‘ruderal’, ‘stress-tolerating’ and according to Ramensky, Rabotnov and Romanovsky: ‘violent’ ≈ dominant (V), ‘explerent’ ≈ explorative (E) and ‘patient’ ≈ endurant (P). Differentiation into strategy types was more obvious in productive alpine grasslands than in lichen heaths and snowbed communities. The grassland dominants Festuca varia, Geranium gymnocaulon and Hedysarum caucasicum showed a more or less ‘violent’ strategy. Species approaching an Estrategy, e.g. Matricaria caucasica, Sibbaldia procumbens and Gnaphalium supinum, were also found in the grasslands but prevailed in the snowbed communities. Species with a ‘patient’ strategy prevailed in the lichen heaths. We conclude that plant strategy types are well-differentiated, this is also seen in plant communities occurring under severe high-mountain conditions. We also suggest that the approaches by Grime and Ramensky/Rabotnov/Romanovsky are not so similar as has been assumed earlier and that the R/R/R types are better differentiated and ecologically better interpretable. We emphasize the gradient character of strategy ‘types’ and would characterize plant species by the degree of adaptation to conditions: (1) from small seed size and large persistent seed bank to large seed size and absence of a seed bank; (2) from high to low biomass and seed production, with relative growth rate as a less important partially correlated trait.     

An illustrated key to and diagnoses of the species of Histeridae (Coleoptera) associated with decaying carcasses in Argentina

A key to 16 histerid species associated with decaying carcasses in Argentina is presented, including diagnoses and habitus photographs for these species. This article provides a table of all species associated with carcasses, detailing the substrate from which they were collected and geographical distribution by province. All 16 Histeridae species registered are grouped into three subfamilies: Saprininae (twelve species of Euspilotus Lewis and one species of Xerosaprinus Wenzel), Histerinae (one species of Hololepta Paykull and one species of Phelister Marseul) and Dendrophilinae (one species of Carcinops Marseul). Two species are new records for Argentina: Phelister rufinotus Marseuland Carcinops troglodytes (Paykull). A discussion is presented on the potential forensic importance of some species collected on human and pig carcasses.     

History and current taxonomic status of genus Agrobacterium

The genus Agrobacterium was created a century ago by Conn who included it in the family Rhizobiaceae together with the genus Rhizobium. Initially, the genus Agrobacterium contained the non-pathogenic species Agrobacterium radiobacter and the plant pathogenic species Agrobacterium tumefaciens and Agrobacterium rhizogenes. At the end of the past century two new pathogenic species, Agrobacterium rubi and Agrobacterium vitis, were added to the genus. Already in the present century these species plus Agrobacterium larrymoorei were reclassified into genus Rhizobium. This reclassification was controversial and for a time both genus names were used when new species were described. Few years ago, after a taxonomic revision based on genomic data, the old species A. rhizogenes was maintained in the genus Rhizobium, the old species A. vitis was transferred to the genus Allorhizobium and several Rhizobium species were transferred to the genus Agrobacterium, which currently contains 14 species including the old species A. radiobacter, A. tumefaciens, A. rubi and A. larrymoorei. Most of these species are able to produce tumours in different plants, nevertheless the genus Agrobacterium also encompasses non-pathogenic species, one species able to nodulate legumes and one human pathogenic species. Taking into account that the species affiliations to five Agrobacterium genomospecies have not been determined yet, an increase in the number of species within this genus is expected in the near future.     

Thysanoptera of Bulgaria

The present checklist includes data on the species composition, geographic distribution and feeding preferences of thrips species in Bulgaria. In total, 155 species in 48 genera are listed. Of these, 125 species belong to suborder Terebrantia and include 103 species of 33 genera in family Thripidae, 14 species of two genera in Aeolothripidae, seven species of two genera in Melanthripidae and one species in Fauriellidae. In suborder Tubulifera, 30 species of 10 genera in the single family Phlaeothripidae are listed. Of the 155 Bulgarian thrips species, 87.7% are phytophagous, 4.5% are obligate predators, 5.8% are mycophagous and 1.9% are with unknown feeding preferences. Fourteen pest species are listed for Bulgaria, of which Frankliniella occidentalis, Thrips tabaci and Haplothrips tritici are of economic importance. The list provides detailed information on the horizontal and vertical distribution of Thysanoptera in 5 regions and 45 subregions of Bulgaria. The present paper also includes an evaluation of the biodiversity of Thysanoptera and the extent to which each region of the country has been studied.     

A new species of Labidocera (Copepoda,Calanoida, Pontellidae) collected from Okinawa,southwestern Japan,with establishment of five Indo-West Pacific species groups in the L. detruncata species complex

Labidocera churaumi sp. n. is described from Okinawa, southwestern Japan. The female of the new species differs from other congeners in genital compound somite with right postero-lateral and left antero-lateral processes. The male is distinguished from other congeners by the structure of the fifth leg. This new species is assigned to a newly proposed species group, the Labidocera madurae species group, within the Labidocera detruncata species complex. In this species complex five Indo-West Pacific species groups are recognized (cervi, detruncata, gangetica, madurae, and pavo) and defined on the basis of difference in sexual dimorphism.     

Hard ticks (Acari,Ixodidae) of Croatia

The present paper is based on original and literature data. In Croatia the first studies on the occurrence of ixodid species were made about 80 years ago. The number of tick species recorded in Croatia considerably increased during the 1950s, 60s, 70s and 80s of the past century. A total of 21 species of hard tick belonging to 5 genera have been recorded in Croatia. Ixodes is the best represented genus, with seven species recorded. Haemaphysalis is represented by six species, followed by Rhipicephalus with four species. Dermacentor and Hyalomma are represented by two species each. The ticks were collected on 47 different host species. Eleven tick species were collected on Bos taurus and Ovis aries, followed by Capra hircus and Equus caballus with 8 species and Canis lupus familiaris with 6 species. On the remaining 42 host species one, two or three tick species were collected. The most widespread tick is Ixodes ricinus which was found on 25 different host species.     

A new species of the genus Seticornuta Morley (Hymenoptera,Ichneumonidae, Metopiinae) from South Korea

Old World species of the genus Seticornuta Morley are reviewed. Seven species of this genus were recorded worldwide, but only one species, Seticornuta albopilosa (Cameron), was known from the Old World. Here, we report one new species, Seticornuta koreana sp. n., from South Korea, and redescribe the other known Old World species, Seticornuta albopilosa, with photographs.     

An unusually rich scuttle fly fauna (Diptera,Phoridae) from north of the Arctic Circle in the Kola Peninsula,N. W. Russia

64 species of Phoridae, in 6 genera, are reported from the Kola Peninsula, north of the Arctic Circle. The new species Megaselia elenae and Megaselia kozlovi are described. 33 species of Megaselia, only known from females, are given code numbers. Keys to the species of all the females of Megaselia and Phora are provided; and also a key to the males European Megaselia species with a notopleural cleft.     

A null model test of Floristic Quality Assessment: Are plant species’ Coefficients of Conservatism valid?

Floristic Quality Assessment (FQA) was developed as a tool for quantifying the conservation value of natural areas based on their plant species composition and richness. Floristic Quality Assessment is based on Coefficients of Conservatism (C values) assigned to each plant species in a region or state. Each species i, is assigned a value C_i, on a scale of 0–10 by expert botanists, based on its fidelity to undegraded natural areas. A criticism of Floristic Quality Assessment is the subjective nature of these C values. Our objective was to determine if C values of individual species are indicative of the C values of species with which they co-occur. If subjectively assigned species’ C values carry meaningful information about plant assemblages and the conservation value of particular habitats, then individual species should tend to co-occur with species of similar C. We tested this hypothesis using occurrences of 1014 species in 388 forests and wetlands across Illinois, USA. Using a null model approach, we found that species co-occurred with species of similar C far more often than would be expected by chance; affirming the predictive ability of subjectively assigned C values. Furthermore, we quantified the extent to which each species was under- or overvalued relative to its co-occurring species assemblages to assess if any species C values were mis-assigned. Woody plants and perennial herbs, as groups, were undervalued as ecological indicators, i.e. their C values were too low. Several non-native species, which, by convention, are assigned a C of zero, were over- or under-valued relative to native species with a C of zero. Based on species occurrences across hundreds of sites, our results indicated that, despite their subjective basis, C values carry considerable ecological information, such that a given species can be used to predict the C values of its co-occurring assemblage. However, some species C values appeared less accurate than others. Our methodological approach could be applied in other states or regions to validate and refine C value assignments.     

Annotated checklist of the leech species diversity in the Maloe More Strait of Lake Baikal,Russia

In this paper, the very first checklist of the freshwater leeches of Maloe More Strait, a special part of Lake Baikal, is presented. It includes 14 free-living and parasitic species, of which four species belong to endemic Baikal genera – two species from Baicalobdella and one species each from Baicaloclepsis and Codonobdella. The checklist highlights six potentially new morphological species recorded for the first time in the area. The exact systematic position is stated for all leech species. Each species from the list is provided with information on taxonomic synonymy, data on its geographic distribution, and ecological characteristics. New species records are additionally provided with brief morphological characteristics and photos of their external morphology.     

Occurrence of rosmarinic acid,chlorogenic acid and rutin in Marantaceae species

In a survey of the higher plants for families with rosmarinic acid-accumulating species we could show for the first time, that some species of the family Marantaceae of the order Zingiberales accumulate rosmarinic acid. Other compounds detected in Marantaceae are chlorogenic acid and rutin (quercetin 3-O-rutinoside). Out of 35 species coming from 9 different genera extracted and analysed, two species of Maranta (Maranta leuconeura, Maranta depressa) and one Thalia species (Thalia geniculata) showed the presence of rosmarinic acid. The two Maranta species additionally contained chlorogenic acid, which was also present in Stromanthe amabilis. Rutin was detected in the genera Calathea, Ctenanthe, Maranta, Pleiostachya and Thalia. For a comparison, species from six other families of the Zingiberales were analysed as well.     

Relative Abundance and Plasmodium Infection Rates of Malaria Vectors in and around Jabalpur,a Malaria Endemic Region in Madhya Pradesh State,Central India

BackgroundThis study was undertaken in two Primary Health Centers (PHCs) of malaria endemic district Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh (Central India).MethodsIn this study we had investigated the relative frequencies of the different anopheline species collected within the study areas by using indoor resting catches, CDC light trap and human landing methods. Sibling species of malaria vectors were identified by cytogenetic and molecular techniques. The role of each vector and its sibling species in the transmission of the different Plasmodium species was ascertained by using sporozoite ELISA.ResultsA total of 52,857 specimens comprising of 17 anopheline species were collected by three different methods (39,964 by indoor resting collections, 1059 by human landing and 11,834 by CDC light trap). Anopheles culicifacies was most predominant species in all collections (55, 71 and 32% in indoor resting, human landing and light trap collections respectively) followed by An. subpictus and An. annularis. All five sibling species of An. culicifacies viz. species A, B, C, D and E were found while only species T and S of An. fluviatilis were collected. The overall sporozoite rate in An. culicifacies and An. fluviatilis were 0.42% (0.25% for P. falciparum and 0.17% for P. vivax) and 0.90% (0.45% for P. falciparum and 0.45% for P. vivax) respectively. An. culicifacies and An. fluviatilis were found harbouring both P. vivax variants VK-210 and VK-247, and P. falciparum. An. culicifacies sibling species C and D were incriminated as vectors during most part of the year while sibling species T of An. fluviatilis was identified as potential vector in monsoon and post monsoon season.ConclusionsAn. culicifacies species C (59%) was the most abundant species followed by An. culicifacies D (24%), B (8.7%), E (6.7%) and A (1.5%). Among An. fluviatilis sibling species, species T was common (99%) and only few specimens of S were found. Our study provides crucial information on the prevalence of An. culicifacies and An. fluviatilis sibling species and their potential in malaria transmission which will assist in developing strategic control measures against these vectors.     

Variation in cuticular lipid profiles of black butterflies of the genus Papilio in Japan

Insect (epi)cuticular lipids characterize sex and species and often play an important role in mating behavior. We previously revealed that two black-colored swallowtail butterflies, Papilio polytes and Papilio protenor, show sexual dimorphism and species specificity in cuticular lipid composition and that P. polytes males use specific monoene components for mate discrimination. These findings suggest that their closely related species may have different profiles of cuticular lipids. We examined the cuticular lipid compositions of five Papilio species (P. bianor, P. maackii, P. helenus, P. macilentus, and P. memnon), closely related and sympatric to P. polytes and P. protenor, and discussed whether it is possible to discriminate between sexes, and between species based on their chemical profiles. The cuticular lipids consist mainly of C23–C31 aliphatic hydrocarbons, in which n-tricosane, n-heptacosane, and n-nonacosane are predominant. Several aliphatic ketones, aliphatic acids, and oxygenated terpenoids were also identified as major components shared by several species. There were no components exclusive to a particular species. Conspecific males and females shared most of the components but were mostly distinguishable based on their composition. Moreover, P. helenus males, P. polytes females, and P. protenor females had two different phenotypes of lipid composition. Although unrelated to the genetic lineage, the seven species were classified into four clusters based on their lipid profiles. The first cluster was composed of only P. memnon. The other six species were broadly classified into three clusters consisting of subclusters for each species: 1) P. polytes, P. helenus, P. macilentus, and several P. protenor females; 2) P. bianor and P. protenor; and 3) P. maackii and several P. helenus males. These results indicate that cuticular lipid profiles characterize the species and sex of the Papilio species and may be responsible for mate discrimination among them.     

Checklist of the families Anisopodidae,Bibionidae, Canthyloscelididae,Mycetobiidae, Pachyneuridae and?Scatopsidae (Diptera) of Finland

A checklist of the families Anisopodidae, Bibionidae, Canthyloscelididae, Mycetobiidae, Pachyneuridae and Scatopsidae (Diptera) recorded from Finland. The Finnish species of these families were last listed in 1980. After that two species of Anisopodidae, four species of Bibionidae and six species of Scatopsidae have been added to the Finnish fauna and two species of Scatopsidae have been removed from the Finnish fauna.     

A Pine Is a Pine and a Spruce Is a Spruce – The Effect of Tree Species and Stand Age on Epiphytic Lichen Communities

With an increasing demand for forest-based products, there is a growing interest in introducing fast-growing non-native tree species in forest management. Such introductions often have unknown consequences for native forest biodiversity. In this study, we examine epiphytic lichen species richness and species composition on the trunks of non-native Pinus contorta and compare these to the native Pinus sylvestris and Picea abies in managed boreal forests in northern Sweden across a chronosequence of age classes. Overall, we recorded a total of 66,209 lichen occurrences belonging to 57 species in the 96 studied forest stands. We found no difference in species richness of lichens between stands of P. contorta and P. sylvestris, but stands of P. abies had higher total species richness. However, species richness of lichens in stands of P. abies decreased with increasing stand age, while no such age effect was detected for P. contorta and P. sylvestris. Lichen species composition progressively diverged with increasing stand age, and in 30-year-old stands all three tree species showed species-specific assemblages. Epiphytic lichen assemblages in stands of 30-year-old P. contorta were influenced by greater basal area, canopy closure, and average diameter at breast height, P. abies stands by higher branch density and canopy closure, and stands of P. sylvestris by greater bark crevice depth. Differences in lichen species richness and composition were mainly explained by canopy closure and habitat availability, and the greater canopy closure in mature P. abies stands promoted the colonization and growth of calicioid lichen species. Our results indicate that the non-native P. contorta have similar species richness as the native P. sylvestris. The main difference in lichen species richness and composition is between P. abies and Pinus spp. in managed forests of boreal Sweden.     

Phylogeny of the Augochlora clade with the description of four new species (Hymenoptera,Apoidea)

The Augochlora clade includes four genera: Augochlora Smith, Augochlorella Sandhouse, Ceratalictus Moure, and Pereirapis Moure. This is one of the richest and most widespread groups of Augochlorini bees. There are about 150 species, which occur from Argentina to Canada. The species of Augochlora clade are considered solitary to facultatively social, except Ceratalictus for which nothing is known. Wood nesting behavior arose once in the clade, in Augochlora sensu strictu. The objective of this study is to describe four new species and to present a revised phylogenetic analysis of the Augochlora clade for the placement of these species. The morphological matrix comprised 77 characters and 42 terminals, and resulted in two most parsimonious trees. The monophyly of the Augochlora clade is corroborated. Ceratalictus and Pereirapis are considered as sister groups and Ceratalictus inflexus sp. nov. came as sister to other species of Ceratalictus. Augochlora and Augochlorella are monophyletic and sister groups. Both extant subgenera of Augochlora were corroborated as monophyletic. Augochlorella comis is considered as sister group to the rest of Augochlorella species. All Augochlorella new species described belong to the Augochlorella ephyra group. Augochlorella kelliae sp. nov. is phylogenetically related to Augochlorella una. Augochlorella procliva sp. nov. and Augochlorella mavricera sp. nov. constitute a clade with Augochlorella acarinata. Including the new species, Augochlorella has 19 species and Ceratalictus 11 species. A revised key for species of Augochlorella and Ceratalictus is also presented in the Supplementary Information.