Xylophagous entomofauna in branches of oaks (Quercus spp.) and its significance for oak health in the Karst region of Slovenia

Samples of dying branches from 121 trees of Quercus pubescens, Q. cerris, and Q. petraea were taken from 102 sites in Seslerio autumnalis-Quercetum petraeae and Ostryo-Quercetum pubescentis forests. After nine months’ rearing in eclectors, branches were cut to 20-cm sections, and signs of infestation as well as larvae and adult insects were noted. We analysed 395 sections of branches from Q. pubescens, 125 sections from Q. cerris, and 85 sections from Q. petraea. We found 44 adult insects: 45% were from the Cerambycidae family (Callimus angulatus ssp. angulatus, Poecilium alni, and Exocentrus adspersus), 18% were from the Scolytinae subfamily (Scolytus intricatus, Xyleborus dispar), 4% from the Buprestidae family (Coraebus florentinus), 4.5% from the Cleridae family (Tilloidea unifasciata), and 28.5% from other families. In addition, 145 larvae were found: 50% from the Cerambycidae family, 39% from the Buprestidae family, 4% from the Scolytinae subfamily, and 7% from other families. Significant difference in the abundance of adult insects and larvae with regard to the diameter of branch sections and the host species were found. 78% of dying branches showed signs of infestation. Species of the Buprestidae, Scolytinae, and Cerambycidae represent important factors in the decline in oak vitality in the lower Karst region of Slovenia.     

Detection of tick‐borne Anaplasma bovis,Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Anaplasma centrale in Spain

The genus Anaplasma (Rickettsiales: Anaplasmataceae) includes species of medical and veterinary importance. The presence of Anaplasma spp. in ticks from birds, as well as in Haemaphysalis punctata (Ixodida: Ixodidae) specimens collected from cattle and vegetation in northern Spain was investigated. A total of 336 ticks from birds [174 Ixodes frontalis (Ixodida: Ixodidae), 108 H. punctata, 34 Hyalomma marginatum (Ixodida: Ixodidae), 17 Ixodes ricinus (Ixodida: Ixodidae) and three Ixodes spp.], and 181 H. punctata specimens collected from cattle (n = 71) and vegetation (n = 110) were analysed. Anaplasma bovis was detected in five H. punctata, including two from birds (1.9%) and three from vegetation (2.7%). Four I. frontalis (2.3%) (one co‐infected with ‘Candidatus Midichloria mitochondrii’) and one I. ricinus (5.9%) removed from birds, as well as four H. punctata (5.6%) collected from cattle showed Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection. In addition, Anaplasma centrale was found in two H. punctata, one from a cow (1.4%) and the other from vegetation (0.9%). This study represents the first evidence of the presence of A. bovis in European ticks, and reports the first detection of A. bovis and A. centrale in H. punctata, and the first finding of A. phagocytophilum and ‘Ca. Midichloria mitochondrii’ in I. frontalis.     

Characterization of Monoclonal Antibodies for Identification of Borrelia japonica,Isolates from Ixodes ovatus

Monoclonal antibodies for identification of Borrelia japonica isolated from tick, Ixodes ovatus and long-tailed shrew, Sorex unguiculatus in Japan and Borrelia related to Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato) were prepared and characterized. All isolates belonging to B. japonica and isolates from I. dentatus and cottontail rabbit in North America reacted with MAb O1441b against flagellin which was prepared from immunized mice with strain HO14, type strain of B. japonica, but isolates from I. persulcatus, patient, and wood mouse, Apodemus speciosus ainu, in Japan, and isolates belonging to B. burgdorferi, B. garinii and B. afzelii from North America and Europe did not. Strains used in this study reacted with MAb P62 against common antigen which was prepared from immunized mice with strain NT24 isolated from I. persulcatus in Japan, but B. japonica did not. These MAbs are useful for identification and differentiation of B. japonica and B. burgdorferi sensu lato in Japan.     

Diadromus pulchellus in North America: field release against leek moth and new characters to distinguish it from Diadromus subtilicornis,a native diamondback moth parasitoid

We report successful overwintering of Diadromus pulchellus in North America (Ontario) following introduction of this species from Europe to control the leek moth, Acrolepiopsis assectella, a recently established alien species. Field rearing revealed that the native Diadromus subtilicornis emerged only from diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella, whereas D. pulchellus was reared almost exclusively from leek moth. The single D. pulchellus reared from diamondback moth was anticipated because host range studies found this species could develop on both leek moth and diamondback moth in the laboratory, although, it had not been previously reported from diamondback moth in the field in Europe. DNA barcoding of specimens of both Diadromus spp. confirmed their species status and novel morphological characters are presented to distinguish D. pulchellus from D. subtilicornis. In addition, DNA from specimens of D. subtilicornis from Europe clustered with DNA from specimens across Canada, confirming that it is a single Holarctic species. Finally, a new host association for D. subtilicornis is recorded from the dame's rocket moth: Pseudoplutella porrectella.     

POLYSACCHARIDES FROM THE ENVELOPES OF HETEROCYSTS AND SPORES OF THE BLUE-GREEN ALGAE ANABAENA VARIABILIS AND CYLINDROSPERMUM LICHENIFORME1

The polysaccharides from the envelopes of heterocysts of Cylindrospermum licheniforme Kütz., and of heterocysts and spores of Anabaena variabilis Kütz., like those from the differentiated cells of Anabaena cylindrica Lemm., have a 1,3-linked backbone consisting of glucosyl and mannosyl residues in a molar ratio of approximately 3:1. As is the case with A. cylindrica the polysaccharides from A. variabilis and from the heterocysts of C. licheniforme have terminal xylosyl and galactosyl residues as side branches. In addition, the polysaccharide from C. licheniforme resembles that from A. cylindrica in having terminal mannosyl residues as side branches (absent from A. variabilis). The polysaccharides from A. variabilis resemble that from A. cylindrica in having glucose-containing side branches (absent from the heterocyst polysaccharide from C. licheniforme), but in contrast to the polysaccharides from the other two species they also have terminal arabinosyl residues as side branches. All of the polysaccharides mentioned appear to be structurally related; we present tentative structures for those not previously investigated. In contrast, the envelope of spores of C. licheniforme contains only a largely 4-linked galactan. The bulk of this envelope is not polysaccharide in nature, and contains aromatic groups.     

Phylogeny and morphology of the freshwater red alga Nemalionopsis shawii (Rhodophyta,Thoreales) from Nepal

Phylogenetic relationships and morphological characters are presented for a population of Nemalionopsis shawii Skuja collected from Nepal. Molecular data (sequences of rbcL and cox1) were generated and morphological characters were described in detail. The rbcL sequence analyses showed that specimens from Nepal are most similar to N. shawii from Indonesia and Japan and that these entities form a clade with high support (>95% bootstrap and 0.95 posterior probability). The cox1 barcode sequence, however, only had 90.9–91.9% identity with specimens of N. shawii from Hawaii. The rbcL sequence of the specimen from Nepal was positioned in a clade having sequence identity of 99.3–99.7% with three samples: N. shawii from Indonesia and two from Japan identified as N. tortuosa. The comparison of morphological characters of Nemalionopsis from Nepal allowed unequivocal identification with N. shawii. Identifications from previous studies using molecular data were mistaken since most reports of N. shawii are actually of N. tortuosa or vice‐versa. This confusion of names presumably occurred because most specimens previously sequenced were from culture collections or from ‘Chantransia’ stages. Small tufts of ‘Chantransia’ stage were observed growing epiphytically on gametophytes and on the basal system. Carpogonia and spermatangia were fully described in specimens from Nepal. Monosporangia were not observed, whereas carposporangia were unequivocally described for the first time in the genus. An unusual flat strap‐like basal system was observed, interpreted as an additional mode of maintenance in nature under unfavorable environmental conditions.     

Prasiola (Prasiolales,Trebouxiophyceae) in Japan: a survey of freshwater populations and new records of marine taxa

Recent collections from marine and freshwater locations have enabled the investigation of diversity of Prasiola in Japan. Sequence data from the rbc L and tuf A markers revealed the presence of three marine species and one freshwater species. Prasiola delicata was confirmed to occur on Daikokujima, Prasiola calophylla was found for the first time in Japan from Hokkaido, and a species within the P. meridionalis/linearis/stipitata complex was found on both Hokkaido and Daikokujima. Collections from a range of populations of freshwater Prasiola, identified here as P. japonica, were found to be conspecific and identical in rbc L and tuf A sequences to freshwater collections from Nepal, Korea, and China.     

Novel hosts of the Eucalyptus canker pathogen Chrysoporthe cubensis and a new Chrysoporthe species from Colombia

The pathogen Chrysoporthe cubensis (formerly Cryphonectria cubensis) is best known for the important canker disease that it causes on Eucalyptus species. This fungus is also a pathogen of Syzygium aromaticum (clove), which is native to Indonesia, and like Eucalyptus, is a member of Myrtaceae. Furthermore, C. cubensis has been found on Miconia spp. native to South America and residing in Melastomataceae. Recent surveys have yielded C. cubensis isolates from new hosts, characterized in this study based on DNA sequences for the ITS and β-tubulin gene regions. These hosts include native Clidemia sericea and Rhynchanthera mexicana (Melastomataceae) in Mexico, and non-native Lagerstroemia indica (Pride of India, Lythraceae) in Cuba. Isolates from these hosts and areas group in the sub-clade of C. cubensis accommodating the South American collections of the fungus. This sub-clade also includes isolates recently collected from Eucalyptus in Cuba, which are used to epitypify C. cubensis. New host records from Southeast Asia include exotic Tibouchina urvilleana from Singapore and Thailand and native Melastoma malabathricum (Melastomataceae) in Sumatra, Indonesia. Consistent with their areas of occurrence isolates from the latter collections group in the Asian sub-clade of C. cubensis. DNA sequence comparisons of isolates from Tibouchina lepidota in Colombia revealed that they represent a new sub-clade within the greater Chrysoporthe clade. Isolates in this clade are described as Chrysoporthe inopina sp. nov., based on distinctive morphological differences.     

Isolation of polymorphic microsatellite loci in Hemerocallis fulva and Hemerocallis citrina (Hemerocallidaceae)

Twenty microsatellite loci were isolated from a hybrid of two daylilies, Hemerocallis fulva and Hemerocallis citrina. We characterized individuals from two H. fulva populations and two H. citrina populations in Japan and observed three to 20 alleles per locus in H. fulva and one to 19 alleles per locus in H. citrina. Mean observed heterozygosity within populations ranged from 0.35 to 0.85 in H. fulva and from 0 to 0.95 in H. citrina. In about a half of the loci, the observed heterozygosity did not deviate from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. These loci are proved useful in studying gene flow and qualitative trait loci mapping using the two species.     

Regulatory potential of nonautonomous mariner elements and subfamily crosstalk

Two naturally occurring nonautonomous mariner elements were tested in vivo for their ability to down-regulate excision of a target element in the presence of functional mariner transposase. The tested elements were the peach element isolated from Drosophila mauritiana which encodes a transposase that differs from the autonomous element Mos1 in four amino acid replacements, and the DTBZ1 element isolated from D. teissieri which encodes a truncated protein consisting of the first 132 residues at the amino end of the normally 345-residue transposase. We provide evidence that the protein from the peach element does interact to down-regulate wildtype transposase, indicating that at least some nonautonomous elements in natural populations that retain their open reading frame may play a regulatory role. In contrast, our tests reveal at most a weak interaction between transposase from the autonomous Mos1 element and the truncated protein from DTBZ1 and none between Mos1 transposase and that from the distantly related mariner-like element Himar1 identified in the horn fly Haematobia irritans. Hence, the extent of regulatory crosstalk between mariner-like elements may be limited to closely related ones. The evolutionary implications of these results are discussed. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Relationships of herbivore feeding and plant flavonoids (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae and Anacardiaceae: Rhus)

Summary Eighteen leaf flavonoid compounds were isolated from several populations of Rhus tripartita from xeric habitats in Israel, ornamental Schinus terebinthifolius from Israel, and three species of Rhus (vulgaris, natalensis, tenuinervis) from mesic habitats in Kenya. Foodplant preference testing of Rhus-feeding Leaf Beetles (Blepharida sacra from Israel and B. marginalis and B. conradsi from Kenya) correlated well with the flavonoid composition of the different foodplants. Blepharida sacra and B. marginalis foodplant preferences demonstrated an herbivore sibling relationship but there is evidence, including foodplant ecology and distribution, that they are separate species. The herbivorefoodplant coevolution of the xeric B. sacra-R. tripartita is distinct from that of the mesic B. marginalis-R. vulgaris/natalensis, however, this study also indicates possible ancestral relationships between the herbivore species as well as between the plant species.     

Serological Studies of the Antigenic Similarity between Typhus Group Rickettsiae and Weil-Felix Test Antigens

The sera from two patients with murine typhus reacted with whole cells of Rickettsia prowazekii, R. typhi, and Proteus vulgaris OX19, and with lipopolysaccharides (LPS) from the spotted fever group rickettsia strain TT-118 and P. vulgaris OX19 in the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Sera from these patients reacted with ladder-like bands of LPS from R. prowazekii and R. typhi in the immunoblot, whereas the reactivity of these sera with LPS from P. vulgaris OX19 differed from each other. These results indicate that LPS from the typhus group rickettsiae and P. vulgaris OX19 contain similar epitopes.     

Molecular Evolution of P Transposable Elements in the Genus Drosophila. II. The obscura Species Group

A phylogenetic analysis of P transposable elements in the Drosophila obscura species group is described. Multiple P sequences from each of 10 species were obtained using PCR primers that flank a conserved region of exon 2 of the transposase gene. In general, the P element phylogeny is congruent with the species phylogeny, indicating that the dominant mode of transmission has been vertical, from generation to generation. One manifestation of this is the distinction of P elements from the Old World obscura and subobscura subgroups from those of the New World affinis subgroup. However, the overall distribution of elements within the obscura species group is not congruent with the phylogenetic relationships of the species themselves. There are at least four distinct subfamilies of P elements, which differ in sequence from each other by as much as 34%, and some individual species carry sequences belonging to different subfamilies. P sequences from D. bifasciata are particularly interesting. These sequences belong to two subfamilies and both are distinct from all other P elements identified in this survey. Several mechanisms are postulated to be involved in determining phylogenetic relationships among P elements in the obscura group. In addition to vertical transmission, these include retention of ancestral polymorphisms and horizontal transfer by an unknown mating-independent mechanism.     

Genetic diversity,endemism and phylogeny of lampreys within the genus Lampetra sensu stricto (Petromyzontiformes: Petromyzontidae) in western North America

Phylogenetic structure of four Lampetra species from the Pacific drainage of North America (western brook lamprey Lampetra richardsoni, Pacific brook lamprey Lampetra pacifica, river lamprey Lampetra ayresii and Kern brook lamprey Lampetra hubbsi) and unidentified Lampetra specimens (referred to as Lampetra sp.) from 36 locations was estimated using the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. Maximum parsimony and Bayesian inferences did not correspond with any taxonomic scheme proposed to date. Rather, although L. richardsoni (from Alaska to California) and L. ayresii (from British Columbia to California) together constituted a well‐supported clade distinct from several genetically divergent Lampetra populations in Oregon and California, these two species were not reciprocally monophyletic. The genetically divergent populations included L. pacifica (from the Columbia River basin) and L. hubbsi (from the Kern River basin) and four Lampetra sp. populations in Oregon (Siuslaw River and Fourmile Creek) and California (Kelsey and Mark West Creeks). These four Lampetra sp. populations showed genetic divergence between 2·3 and 5·7% from any known species (and up to 8·0% from each other), and may represent morphologically cryptic and thus previously undescribed species. A fifth population (from Paynes Creek, California) may represent a range extension of L. hubbsi into the Upper Sacramento River.     

Comparative analysis of volatile components from labial glands of male Japanese bumblebees (Bombus spp.)

The volatile components from the labial glands of males of six Japanese bumblebee species were analyzed and compared. Clear species‐specificity was found. Ethyl dodecanoate was identified as the major component from the glands of Bombus (Bombus) hypocrita hypocrita and Bombus (Bombus) hypocrita sapporoensis while dihydrofarnesal and dihydrofarnesol were the major components from Bombus (Bombus) ignitus. Citronellol and trans,trans‐farnesol were found from Bombus (Pyrobombus) ardens ardens and Bombus (Diversobombus) diversus diversus, respectively. trans,trans‐Farnesol was also found from Bombus (Diversobombus) diversus tersatus in Hokkaido. Such differences strongly suggest that these chemicals play an important role in reproductive isolation between sympatric species of Japanese bumblebees.     

Free-floating Ulva in the southwest Netherlands: species or morphotypes? a morphological,molecular and ecological comparison

Free-floating Ulva L. biomass in the eutrophic brackish ‘Veerse Meer’ lagoon (southwest Netherlands) consists of four morphologically identified species: U. curvata (Kützing) De Toni, U. lactuca L., U. rigida C. Agardh and U. scandinavica Bliding. U. curvata could be recognized easily because of the characteristic central cavity in the holdfast of the attached plants, the arrangement of cells in rows and the single pyrenoid in each cell. U. rigida was distinguished by the thick thallus and the large number of pyrenoids. The Veerse Meer isolate, however, was slightly different from the isolate from the Oosterschelde estuary (the Netherlands). U. lactuca and U. scandinavica showed a high degree of overlap in thallus thickness and cell size, but U. scandinavica usually possessed more pyrenoids. However, doubts have frequently been expressed about the use of some morphological characters in Ulva taxonomy. To determine the validity of such characters in the identification of Ulva species, the morphological variation within and between morphological species was recorded and a molecular data set generated. To detect possible ecophysiological differences between species, optimum temperatures and salinities for growth were determined experimentally. The sequences of the nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) and flanking regions of U. lactuca, U. rigida and U. scandinavica from the Veerse Meer were all identical, but differed from that of U. rigida from the Oosterschelde estuary. Ulva species from the Veerse Meer were most closely related to U. armoricana and U. rigida from Brittany (2.9% and 3.5% divergence respectively); the difference between U. rigida from the Veerse Meer and from the Oosterschelde estuary was 7.5%. Rooted trees, based on a comparison of these sequences with sequences of other Ulva and Enteromorpha species obtained from the literature, using Monostroma arcticum as outgroup, suggested that Ulva is paraphyletic with respect to Enteromorpha. The optimum temperature for growth of U. curvata was 25?°C; for all other species it was 10?°C. The optimum salinity for growth was 30?°C for all isolates. It is concluded that U. lactuca, U rigida and U. scandinavica from the Veerse Meer are all members of one highly polymorphic species.     

Pygidiopsis ardeae n. sp. (Digenea: Heterophyidae: Pygidiopsinae) in the grey heron Ardea cinerea L. from Denmark

A new species, Pygidiopsis ardeae (Heterophyidae, Pygidiopsinae), is described, using both light and stereoscan electron microscopy, from the grey heron Ardea cinerea L. (Ardeidae) from Denmark. The species has previously (as P. genata) been recorded in dogs fed on plaice and flounders from Danish waters. It developed experimentally in domestic chickens and pigeons. No species of Pygidiopsis Looss, 1907 has previously been described from birds in northern Europe. P. ardeae is very similar to the type-species, P. genata Looss, 1907, from Egypt, but the two species have different life-cycles. P. ardeae differs from P. piclaumoreli Dollfus & Capron, 1958 from Senegal in its size and the disposition of vitelline follicles. P. plana (Linton, 1928) Price, 1933, from a green heron from the eastern USA, is larger than P. ardeae and has a wide, sac-like prepharynx.     

The prevalence of American liver fluke Fascioloides magna (Bassi 1875) in red deer from Croatian hunting grounds

From October 2002 till April 2003, 194 feces samples and 28 liver samples of red deer shot in the Republic of Croatia territory were examined to determine the prevalence of Fascioloides magna in this game population. The majority of study samples were obtained from animals originating from the east part of Croatia, and only a minor proportion from animals originating from the central and west parts and littoral of Croatia. F. magna eggs were detected in 67/194 (34.53%) feces samples and F. magna adults in 8/28 (28.57%) liver samples. The majority of invaded red deer originated from the east part of Croatia, Baranya region, where F. magna eggs were found in 64/120 (53.33%) and F. magna adults in 8/15 (53.33%) animals. F. magna eggs were detected in only 3/74 (4.05%) animals originating from the other parts of Croatia.     

Non-albicans Candida species isolated from plastic devices

In this work we point out an occurrence of non-albicans Candida species isolated from catheters, cannulas and drains. We detected eight non-albicans Candida species in 49 examined samples: C. parapsilosis (n = 26), C. tropicalis (n = 12), C. krusei (n = 4), C. claussenii, C. mesenterica (n = 2 for each), C. guilliermondii, C. kefyr and C. lusitaniae (n = 1 for each). Material examined from children hospitalized in intensive care units was the most frequent. Eight samples were from the oncology department, seven from the surgery department, six from the anaesthesiology department, four from the dialysis unit, two from the hematology department, one from the internal medicine department and one from the stomatology department. We examined cannula scraping 26 times (53%), catheter scraping 14 times (28.6%) and drain scraping nine times (18.4%). This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The freshwater medusae of the world – a taxonomic and systematic literature study with some remarks on other inland water jellyfish

Several medusa species have been described from inland waters in Australia, Eurasia, Africa and America. The chief objective of this study is to summarize all species described from freshwater and from saline lakes, because the knowledge about this group is sparse and scattered in the literature. I summarize all accessible literature to deduct how many species of freshwater medusae exist and to show their distribution, relation and their phylogenetic origin.All medusae described from freshwater except Halmomises are Olindiidae (Limnomedusae). More than 20 Olindiidae species (in 6 genera) have been recorded from freshwater. However, about half of them may not be valid species or have been described insufficiently or improperly. Within the genera Craspedacusta only 3 (or 5) species are certain (C. sowerbii, C. iseanum, C. sinensis (and maybe C. sichuanensis and C. ziguiensis)). The genera Limnocnida may consist of 6 species, three from Africa (L. tanganjicae, L. victoriae, L. congoensis) and 3 from India (L. indica, L. biharensis, L. nepalensis). The status of Astrohydra (from Japan), Mansariella and Keralika (both from India) is uncertain. Additionally, the present study suggests that Craspedacusta and at least one type of Calpasoma hydrants are identical and Astrohydra may be closely related to Craspedacusta and/or Calpasoma.A comparison of the freshwater medusae with species described from saline lakes and brackish sites (Australomedusae from Australia and Moerisia from Egypt, Black Sea, Caspian Sea and Ganges Estuary) shows that these two groups are not closely related.