Ecological modeling and distribution analysis of digger scorpions: Odontobuthus doriae,Odonthubutus bidentatus (Scorpiones: Buthidae) and Scorpio maurus (Scorpiones: Scorpionidae) in Iran using the maximum entropy method

Prediction models are essential for the potential geographic distribution of scorpions, prevention of scorpion stings and diverse applications in conservation biology. There is limited information about habitat suitability and the factors affecting the distribution of Iranian digger scorpions. This study was undertaken to model the distribution of three types of digger scorpion in Iran, Odontobuthus doriae Thorell, Odonthubutus bidentatus Lourenco (Scorpiones: Buthidae) and Scorpio maurus Pocockin (Scorpiones: Scorpionidae), and investigate the factors affecting its distribution using the maximum entropy method. A total of 20 environmental and climate variables were used for modeling and evaluation of the ecological niche. The similarities and differences between the ecological overlap of the digger scorpions were evaluated using comparative environmental niche model (ENM Tools software). The results showed that the main factors for habitat suitability of O. doriae were soil type, mean temperature of the wettest quarter and slope. The variables for S. maurus were soil type, precipitation of the coldest quarter and slope. Annual temperature range, mean temperature of the driest quarter and land use had the greatest influence on the distribution of O. bidentatus. The ecological niches for O. doriae and O. bidentatus overlapped. The niche of these species differed from the niche of S. maurus. This approach could be helpful for the prediction of the potential distribution of three digger scorpion species and this model can be an effective for the promotion of health.

     

Scorpions of the genus Odontobuthus Vachon, 1950 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from Iran: Phylogenetic relationships inferred from mitochondrial DNA sequence data

The molecular phylogeny of the genus Odontobuthus Vachon, 1950 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) in Iran was evaluated using two mitochondrial DNA genes, cytochrome c oxidase, subunit I (COI) and 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA). The molecular phylogenetic analyses were performed using Maximum Parsimony, Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian inference methods. The resulting topologies supported two main clades: the clade comprising Odontobuthus doriae, O. bidentatus, and O. tavighiae, and another one which is the O. tirgari clade. The results clearly presented additional support for the taxonomic validity of the recently described species, O. tirgari and O. tavighiae. In addition, the monophyly of two previously described species O. doriae and O. bidentatus was confirmed. According to the data presented here, three taxonomically valid species belonging to the genus Odontobuthus occur in Iran.     

Evidence for Eurogondwana: the roles of dispersal,extinction and vicariance in the evolution and biogeography of Indo‐Pacific Hormuridae (Scorpiones: Scorpionoidea)

Scorpions previously assigned to the genus Liocheles Sundevall, 1883, of the family Hormuridae Laurie, 1896, are widely distributed in the tropical forests of the Indo‐Pacific region. Revisionary systematics of these poorly known scorpions has revealed a tremendous diversity of species. As part of an ongoing investigation, the first analysis of Indo‐Pacific hormurid scorpion phylogeny based on morphological data scored for all currently recognized species of Hormiops Fage, 1933 , Hormurus Thorell, 1876, and Liocheles, is presented. The taxonomy of these scorpions is reassessed and their biogeography reinterpreted in the light of the phylogeny. Phylogenetic, morphological, and distributional data support the revalidation of Hormiops and Hormurus, previously synonymized with Liocheles. The phylogeny indicates that the Australasian hormurids are more closely related to the Afrotropical and Neotropical hormurids than to the Indian hormurids, as previously proposed, refuting the “out‐of‐India” origin of Asian hormurids. A recent paleogeographical hypothesis, the “Eurogondwana model”, is supported instead. According to this hypothesis, hormurid scorpions colonized Laurasia from Africa via the Apulia microplate (Europa terrane) in the Cretaceous, subsequently colonized the Australo‐Papuan archipelago in the early‐mid Cenozoic, and then went extinct in the Northern Hemisphere during the second half of the Cenozoic. These results suggest that, contrary to the traditional paradigm, dispersal and extinction may affect spatial and temporal biotic distributions as much as vicariance, even in animals with limited vagility, such as scorpions.     

Phylogeny and classification of the Stenophlebioptera (Odonata: Epiproctophora)

The Juraheterophlebiidae, new family of the “heterophlebioid” lineage, the Henrotayiidae, new family of the “anisopteroid” lineage, the Prostenophlebiidae and the Liassostenophlebiidae, new families of the Stenophlebioptera, and three new genera and species of the Stenophlebiidae are described from the Mesozoic of Germany, Spain, England, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia. The phylogenetic positions of the families Erichschmidiidae and Gondvanogomphidae are discussed. A tentative phylogenetic analysis of the Anisopteromorpha is proposed. This significantly extends our knowledge on the palaeogeographical distribution of the Stenophlebioptera and the Epiproctophora (“dragondamselflies”).     

Distastefulness as a defense mechanism in Aplysia brasiliana (Mollusca: Gastropoda)

An unusual courtship pattern for fiddler crabs is described from field observations in Panama. This behavior pattern, referred to here as “directing,” differs considerably from the more frequently observed communal courtship system found in close relatives of Uca deichmanni. A male involved in “directing” approaches a female and attempts to carry or maneuver her into his burrow for mating. The female usually struggles to escape from the male. This activity often attracts other males which attempt to “direct” the female if she escapes from the first male. A male is most successful in “directing” a female into his burrow if a) he is larger than the female, b) the female is wandering (a sign of physiological receptivity) prior to the “directing” attempt, and c) several males attempt to “direct” the female at once. The results suggest that females are choosing mates by inciting several males to compete for them. The males which successfully “direct” the struggling females are probably the most fit males.     

A Cultural History of Animals (6 Volumes)

ABSTRACT

Handling and training methods of horses, which specially emphasize the importance of understanding horse body language and the use of reinforcements, are often used in practice, yet their effects are not completely known. This study investigated whether the use of a sympathetic approach during the preparation for public auctions influenced the reactivity of young horses towards humans. Sixteen thoroughbred yearlings were prepared for the public auctions during one month: eight horses (“Control”) were handled according to conventional practices, while the others (“Treated”) were handled with two sessions of basic training based on body language. The reactivity of horses was assessed in the presence of an “unfamiliar person” and a “familiar person” inside the horse's box. The experimenter recorded the presence/absence of selected behaviors during seven observational moments: “approaching the box,” “opening the box door,” “entering the box,” and four consecutive observations every thirty seconds. Reactivity of horses was ranked during the first experience of “bit,” “grooming,” “shower,” and application of the “surcingle.” Heart rate was telemetrically recorded during this final test. At the end of the auction preparation, “Treated” horses exhibited more “contact” (p = 0.08) and “lick” (p < 0.05) behaviors in the presence of a person. “Control” horses showed higher (non-significant) percentages of negative (more nervous) rankings during “bit,” “grooming,” and “surcingle” tests. Two “Control” horses showed aggressive behavior during the application of the surcingle and the test was interrupted to guarantee person and animal safety. In this pilot study, horses handled with a sympathetic approach showed less reactive behaviors compared with “Control” horses. It would be interesting to enlarge the sample size and assess if the use of non-coercive handling during the whole training period influences their welfare positively and for a long time.     

The Karyotypes of Angelica dahurica and Their Taxonomical Significance (Umbelliferae)

The present paper deals mainly with the karyotype analysis of five materials in Angelica dahurica collected in Yanbian of Jilin, Anguo of Hebei, Yuxian of Henan, Hangzhou of Zhejiang and Suining of Sichuan. They are under the names “Dongbeidahuo”, “Qibaizhi”, “Yubaizhi”, ”Hangbaizhi” and “Chuanbaizhi” respectively. Among then “Dongbeidahuo” is a wild plant, which occurs in northeastern China, and the others are cultivated as important crude drugs in some provinces. “Qi-Baizhi” and “Yubaizhi” have been identified as conspecific with the wild Baizhi-“Do-Ngbeidahuo” (A. dahurica) according to the external morphological features, whereas the other cultivated ones, “Hangbaizhi” and “Chuanbaizhi”, treated as a variety (A. dahurica var. formosana). The results of karyotype analysis are shown in Plate 1, 2, with the formula 2n=22 =12 m+2 m^SAT+4sm+4st. The karyotypes described here are constantly characterized by satellites attached to the fourth pair of metacentric chromosomes and differ from the published reports on the other species of the genus. It is reasonable to say that the five materials collectively named “Baizhi” are taxonomically closely related to each other and could be regarded as conspecific. Since the second chromosome pair is submetacentric in “Dongbeidahuo”, it may be justifiable to separate the wild plant from the cultivated ones and treat them as two separate varieties.     

Notes on Goodmania and Oxytheca (Polygonaceae: Eriogonoideae)

An examination of Parry’s collections of Oxytheca at ISC has prompted the following comments. The holotype of O. luteola is at ISC, not IA. It is maintained as Goodmania, a genus distinct from Oxytheca, in spite of Watson’s comparison of the species to O. caryophylloides in an 1882 letter to Parry. Parry’s “West Colorado, 1888” is not part of the type of O. parishii var. goodmaniana. Annotation labels using the epithet “spiculata” for the South American subspecies of O. dendroidea should be changed to “subsp. chilensis”.     

Time-Qualified Reference Limits (Chronodesms) for 24-Hour Blood Pressure Values: Classical and Bayesian

Background – This paper is a concrete example of the problems raised by the need of constructing the time-qualified reference limits (chronodesms) for blood pressure (BP), in order to clinically estimate the hemodynamic parameter in its intrinsic nychtohemeral variability. Methods – Assuming that the noninvasive ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) is the eligible technique for this need, it must be realized that the BP chronodems may be of two types, depending on the sample being used for their calculation. The first type may be regarded as “ a priori ” because of the fact that they are derived by a sample of normotensive subjects who are unavoidably recruited via “ causal ” sphygmomanometric measurements and reclassified as normotensive by comparing their ABPM to the fixed reference limits (monodesms) given by WHO (monodiagnosis). Therefore, the “ a priori ” BP chonodesms are by principle derived by subjects who could not be correctly classified as normotensive, their ABPM being not tested versus the time-varying physiological limits. The second type may regarded as “ a posteriori ” in virtue of the fact that they may be constructed on a sample which contemplates the previous subjects who result to be true normotensive via the reassessment of their ABPM versus the “ a priori ” BP chronodesms (chronodiagnosis). The “ a posteriori ” chronodesms may be regarded as biometrically reliable, whether the sample for their construction is additionally constituted by those subjects of the local population who have been erroneously monodiagnosed as hypertensive, while they result to be true normotensive via the chronodiagnostic comparison of their ABPM versus the “ a priori ” BP chronodesms. Results – The biometric reliability of the “ a posteriori ” BP chronodems is demonstrated by the fact that their upper limits are statistically significantly less pronounced due to the fact that they are provided by a sample which has been depured by the falsely monodiagnosed normotensives. Conclusions – The “ a posteriori ” BP upper chronodesms are the time-qualified reference limits which should be used in clinical practice for the chronodiagnosis of hypertension.     

Functional morphology of amplexus (clasping) in spinicaudatan clam shrimps (Crustacea,Branchiopoda) and its evolution in bivalved branchiopods: A video‐based analysis

Male clam shrimps (Crustacea: Branchiopoda: Laevicaudata, Spinicaudata, and Cyclestherida) have their first one or two trunk limb pairs modified as “claspers,” which are used to hold the female during mating and mate guarding. Clasper morphology has traditionally been important for clam shrimp taxonomy and classification, but little is known about how the males actually use the claspers during amplexus (clasping). Homologies of the various clasper parts (“movable finger,” “large palp,” “palm,” “gripping area,” and “small palp”) have long been discussed between the three clam shrimp taxa, and studies have shown that only some structures are homologous while others are convergent (“partial homology”). We studied the clasper functionality in four spinicaudatan species using video recordings and scanning electron microscopy, and compared our results with other clam shrimp groups. General mating behavior and carapace morphology was also studied. Generally, spinicaudatan and laevicaudatan claspers function similarly despite some parts being nonhomologous. We mapped clasper morphology and functionality aspects on a branchiopod phylogeny. We suggest that the claspers of the three groups were adapted from an original, simpler clasper, each for a “stronger” grip on the female's carapace margin: 1) Spinicaudata have two clasper pairs bearing an elongated apical club/gripping area with one setal type; 2); Cyclestherida have one clasper pair with clusters of molariform setae on the gripping area and at the movable finger apex; and 3) Laevicaudata have one clasper pair, but have incorporated an additional limb portion into the clasper palm and bear a diverse set of setae. J. Morphol. 278:523–546, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Troglomorphism,trichobothriotaxy and typhlochactid phylogeny (Scorpiones,Chactoidea): more evidence that troglobitism is not an evolutionary dead‐end

The scorpion family Typhlochactidae Mitchell, 1971 is endemic to eastern Mexico and exclusively troglomorphic. Six of the nine species in the family are hypogean (troglobitic), morphologically specialized for life in the cave environment, whereas three are endogean (humicolous) and comparably less specialized. The family therefore provides a model for testing the hypotheses that ecological specialists (stenotopes) evolve from generalist ancestors (eurytopes) and that specialization (in this case to the cavernicolous habitat) is an irreversible, evolutionary dead‐end that ultimately leads to extinction. Due to their cryptic ecology, inaccessible habitat, and apparently low population density, Typhlochactidae are very poorly known. The monophyly of these troglomorphic scorpions has never been rigorously tested, nor has their phylogeny been investigated in a quantitative analysis. We test and confirm their monophyly with a cladistic analysis of 195 morphological characters (142 phylogenetically informative), the first for a group of scorpions in which primary homology of pedipalp trichobothria was determined strictly according to topographical identity (the “placeholder approach”). The phylogeny of Typhlochactidae challenges the conventional wisdom that ecological specialization (stenotopy) is unidirectional and irreversible, falsifying Cope’s Law of the unspecialized and Dollo’s Law of evolutionary irreversibility. Troglobitism is not an evolutionary dead‐end: endogean scorpions evolved from hypogean ancestors on more than one occasion. © The Willi Hennig Society 2009.     

Rethinking the (im)possible in evolution

This paper will discuss the philosophical background to evolutionary theory and present multiple counterfactuals to each of the following seven empirically unsustainable but nonetheless widespread assumptions about genomic (DNA-based) evolution:1. “All heredity transmission occurs from parent to progeny”2. “Mutations are the result of inevitable replication errors”3. “Mutations occur at constant low probabilities over time” (= there are “mutation rates”)4. “Virus infection cannot induce genetic changes giving heritable resistance”5. “Mutations cannot be targeted within the genome”6. “Spontaneous hereditary changes are localized and limited to those of small effect”7. “Cells cannot integrate DNA change with biologically useful adaptive needs”.The summary take-home lesson is that we have to change from thinking of the genome as a read-only memory (ROM) that dictates the fate of the cell or organism to conceptualizing the genome as a read-write (RW) organelle modified transiently or permanently by the cell at different time scales.     

Behaviors associated with tube-sharing in Microdeutopus gryllotalpa (Costa) (Crustacea:Amphipoda)

An earlier study showed that the onset of precopulatory behavior, or tube-sharing, in the amphipod crustacean Microdeutopus gryllotalpa (Costa) generally occurred toward the end of the females' intermolt period. Tube-sharing ended when the female molted and copulation occurred. It was hypothesized that after copulation the male would leave the female's tube, travel to another receptive female's tube, and begin tube-sharing with the new female (the “cruising male hypothesis”).The present study confirms this hypothesis for laboratory cultures. In addition, the study describes a female-typical and male-specific behavior (“blocking” and “intermittent pleopod beats”). These behaviors are only expressed during interactions between one individual who is entering, and another individual who is residing in the tube.     

Role of social and individual experience in interaction of the meadow ant Formica pratensis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) with ladybird imagines and hoverfly larvae

The ability to recognize aphidophages is one of the key points in the protection ants provide aphids against their natural enemies. Behavior of honeydew collectors from nature (“field,” control) and laboratory reared “naive” ants of Formica pratensis Retzius, which had never met either “mature” workers or aphids and aphidophages, was observed during their pairwise interactions with ladybird imagines and hoverfly larvae. The majority of the “naive” ants perceived ladybirds as an enemy at their first encounter attacking them immediately without any prior antennation. Ants seem to have a certain innate “enemy image” that lets them react very quickly to protect aphids. Hoverfly larvae were rarely attacked by both “field” and “naive” ants (>15%). During tests with ladybirds ants from nature attacked them and also demonstrated the most aggressive reactions (series of bites and “death grip”) less frequently than the “naive” ants. The percentage of ants avoiding aphidophages after a contact with their chemical defense (reflex bleeding and glue‐like saliva) was significantly higher in the control group. Whereas the “naive” ants did not learn to avoid danger, foragers from nature usually tried to avoid negative experience and used tactics of “short bites.” Overall, experience has been proved to be unimportant for displaying key behavioral reactions underlying ant–ladybird interaction. However, accumulation of experience has been assumed to play an important role in the formation of behavioral strategy that allows honeydew collectors to drive aphidophages away with lower energy costs and avoid or minimize negative consequences of aphidophages’ chemical defense.     

Camels Out of Place and Time: The Dromedary (Camelus dromedarius) in Australia

The deserts of the Australian outback are ideal territories for dromedary camels, Camelus dromedarius. Dromedaries' flexible adaptations allow them to eat 80% of Australian plant species and they obtain much of their water through ingesting vegetation; they thrive where other species perish. In many ways, the dromedary could be said to “belong” in this harsh environment. Yet for numerous Australians, particularly ranchers, conservation managers, and increasingly local and national governments, camels are perceived as pests and unwelcome invaders. Anthropologists studying human classifications of non-human animals have suggested that those species or populations that fail to fit neatly into existing classification systems come to be considered “out of place,” particularly when they enter human domains or disturb existing perceptual boundaries of environmental order. Through exploring and analyzing academic, government, and media publications, this review proposes that today's Australian dromedaries exemplify “animals out of place” and discusses how and why they have developed this status. It is further suggested that in addition to being classified as “out of place” in Australia, the dromedary has also become “out of time,” as its classification has transformed with temporal shifts in human circumstances, cultural values, and worldviews.     

Die revidierte Impact of Event-Skala (IES-R)

In response to an extremely stressful event such as a severe accident, rape or assault, human beings may develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). One of the most widely used and translated self-report measures for assessing the degree of a symptomatic response to a specific traumatic event is the Impact of Event Scale (IES) originally published in 1979. The IES comprises two subscales “Intrusion” and “Avoidance” and was revised in 1997 (IES-R). The IES-R has three subscales, i.e. “Intrusion”, “Avoidance”, and “Hyperarousal”. Psychometric properties of the IES-R are satisfactory. The IES-R is not intended to be used as a proxy for a diagnosis of PTSD but rather allows an estimation of symptom severity.     

Assessing antixenosis of soybean entries against Piezodorus guildinii (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)

Piezodorus guildinii (Westwood) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is a major soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) pest and reduces grain quality and yield worldwide. In the context of integrated pest management strategies, plant resistance stands out as an extremely valuable tool for the management of pest populations. Here, we evaluated the resistance of several soybean entries to P. guildinii using tests of attractiveness and feeding preference. We also evaluated trichome number and length as well as pod hardness to evaluate the relationships between these parameters and the resistance to stink bug. D 75-10169, PI 171451, PI 229358, PI 227687, “IAC 100,” IAC 78-2318, PI 274454, PI 274453 and “IAC 19” were less attractive and less consumed by stink bugs. D 75-10169, PI 227687 and PI 274454 received low probe numbers and a short consumption duration per probe; “IAC 100” and PI 274453 received low probe numbers; PI 171451 and PI 229358 received short probe durations; and “IAC 19” received the highest number of probes. There was no correlation between trichome density and length with the attractiveness and feeding preference of the adult insects; however, pod hardness results suggested that this morphological factor may influence the number of probes performed by the insect. PI’s entries, D 75-10169, “IAC 100” and “IAC 19” expressed antixenosis resistance and should be appropriate for use in soybean breeding programs aimed at developing entries with higher resistance to pest insects.     

Next issue (January 2008): Methods and Advances in Biotech

Edited by Dr. Barbara Janssens, Managing Editor – Recombinant therapeutic proteins – Technical aspects of biocatalysis – Advances in safe and efficient DNA therapy – SeSaM-Tv: A random mutagenesis method – Bioinformatics: Identifying interacting residues using boolean learning and support vector machines – 3D imaging flow cytometry – Flow cytometry technology responding to HIV-tuberculosis coinfections – Stem cell cultures: Technical aspects Many of these exciting articles are already available online under “Early View”! A sneak preview of other content can be found under “News”.     

Siphonariid development: Quintessential euthyneuran larva with a mantle fold innovation (Gastropoda; Panpulmonata)

Recent phylogenetic revisions of euthyneuran gastropods (“opisthobranchs” and “pulmonates”) suggest that clades with a planktotrophic larva, the ancestral life history for euthyneurans, are more widely distributed along the trunk of the euthyneuran tree than previously realized. There is some indication that the planktotrophic larva of euthyneurans has distinctive features, but information to date has come mainly from traditional “opisthobranch” groups. Much less is known about planktotrophic “pulmonate” larvae. If planktotrophic larvae of “pulmonates” share unique traits with those of “opisthobranchs,” then a distinctive euthyneuran larval-type has been the developmental starting template for a spectacular amount of evolved morphological and ecological disparity among adult euthyneurans. We studied development of a siphonariid by preparing sections of larval and postmetamorphic stages for histological and ultrastructural analysis, together with 3D reconstructions and data from immunolabeling of the larval apical sensory organ. We also sought a developmental explanation for the unusual arrangement of shell-attached, dorso-ventral muscles relative to the mantle cavity of adult siphonariids. Adult siphonariids (“false limpets”) have a patelliform shell but their C-shaped shell muscle partially embraces a central mantle cavity, which is different from the arrangement of these components in patellogastropods (“true limpets”). It is not obvious how shell muscles extending into the foot become placed anterior to the mantle cavity during siphonariid development from a veliger larva. We found that planktotrophic larvae of Siphonaria denticulata are extremely similar to previously described, planktotrophic “opisthobranch” larvae. To emphasize this point, we update a list of distinctive characteristics of planktotrophic euthyneuran larvae, which can anchor future studies on the impressive evolvability of this larval-type. We also describe how premetamorphic and postmetamorphic morphogenesis of larval mantle fold tissue creates the unusual arrangement of shell-muscles and mantle cavity in siphonariids. This result adds to the known postmetamorphic evolutionary innovations involving mantle fold tissue among euthyneurans.     

The fine structure of the trout blastoderm, Salvelinus fontinalis (Mitchill)

The Speckled Trout blastoderm at the late high blastula stage is characterized by two different cell populations. The “light” blastomeres comprise one cell type while the “dark” and “medium” blastomeres appear to differ from one another only in degree and thus may be considered as the second type. “Dark” and “medium” blastomeres are irregular in shape, are located centrally and deep in the blastoderm, have an abundance of smooth endoplasmic reticulum with associated 520 Å glycogen particles and a single mitochondrial profile. The “light” blastomeres have randomly arranged glycogen particles in minimal quantities in contrast to the “medium” and “dark” blastomeres and in addition exhibit three mitochondrial profiles, which could however represent artifacts. It is postulated that in the Speckled Trout cellular differentiation has commenced by the third day of incubation at 10°C and that this is manifested visually by the appearance of two different cell populations; the more differentiated “dark” and “medium” blastomeres possibly destined to give rise to the hypoblast and the less differentiated “light” blastomeres.