江西省缓步动物四个新纪录种记述

本文报道了江西省缓步动物4个新记录种:双裂角棘影熊虫Cornechiniscus lobatusRamazzotti,1943(异缓步纲,棘影熊虫科),节值大生熊虫Macrobiotus harmsworthiMurray,1907(真缓步纲,大生熊虫科),胡氏大生熊虫Macrobiotus hufelandiSchultze,1833(大生熊虫科)和杜氏高生熊虫Hypsibius dujardiniDoyére,1840(高生熊虫科)。     

青海省缓步动物区系初步调查

记述了青海省发现的14种缓步动物,它们属于2纲、3目、4科、10属.2种(叉状大生熊虫Macrobiotus furciger Murray,1906和马氏等高熊虫Isohypsibius marcellinoi Binda & Pilato,1971)是中国新纪录种,12种(叶状角棘影熊虫Cornechiniscus lobatus Ramazzotti,1943、加拿大棘影熊虫Echiniscus canadensis Murray,1910、文氏棘影熊虫Echiniscus wendti Richters, 1903、小刻面假棘影熊虫Pseudechiniscus facettalis Petersen,1951、缓步米氏熊虫Milnesium tardigradum Doyére,1840、哈氏大生熊虫Macrobiotus hamsworthi Murray,1907、胡氏大生熊虫Macrobiotus hufelandi Schultze,1833、瑞氏大生熊虫Macrobiotus richtersi Murray, 1911、介小生熊虫Minibiotus intermedius Palte,1889、苏格兰双相熊虫Diphascon scoticum Murray,1905、黄色腹矛熊虫Doryphoribius flavus Iharos,1966和杜氏高生熊虫Hypsibius dujardini Doyére,1840)是青海省新纪录种.本文系青海省对该类动物的首次报道.     

中国神农架国家森林公园苔藓中的缓步动物

记述了采自湖北省西部神农架国家森林公园苔藓中的缓步动物12种,包括:日本棘影熊虫Echiniscus japonicus Morikawa,1951;双粒棘影熊虫Echiniscus bigranulatus Richters,1907中国新纪录种;华美假棘影熊虫Pseudechiniscus facettalis Petersen,1951;于猪假棘影熊虫Pseudechiniscus suillus(Ehrenberg,1853);迟缓小斑熊虫Milnesium tardigradum(Doyère,1840);隐匿大生熊虫Macrobiotus adelges Dastych,1977;锦葵大生熊虫Macrobiotus hibiscus Barros,1942中国新纪录种;胡芬大生熊虫Macrobiotus hufelandi Schultze,1833;华丽大生熊虫Macrobiotus richtersi Murray,1911;陆栖大生熊虫Macrobiotus terricola Mihel(c)I(c),1949;水生趾生熊虫Dactylobiotus aquatilis Yang,1999;金猴等高熊虫Isohypsibius jinhouensis sp. Nov..所有的标本均保存于中国科学院水生生物研究所.     

中国缓步动物门二新种及三新纪录种和亚种(异缓步纲,棘影熊虫科;真缓步纲,小斑熊虫科,大生熊虫科,高生熊虫科)

记述采自河南省洛阳市、湖北省京山县和四川省都江堰市的缓步动物门2新种及3新纪录种和亚种：异缓步纲棘影熊虫科的四棘棘影熊虫,新纪录Echiniscus quadrispinosus Richters,1902;真缓步纲小斑熊虫科的都江小斑熊虫,新种Milnesium dujiangensis sp.nov,大生熊虫科的节值大生熊虫戴冠亚种,新纪录Macrobiotus harmsworthi coronatus Barros,1942;高生熊虫科的大指等高熊虫,新纪录Isohypsibius macrodactylus(Maucci,1978)和京山等高熊虫,新种Isohysibius jingshanessis sp.nov.     

云南省丽江苔藓中缓步动物(异缓步纲:棘节目:棘影熊虫科;真缓步纲:近爪目:大生熊虫科,高生熊虫科)

记述了采自云南省丽江县的缓步动物13种,包括：安哥拉棘影熊虫Echiniscus angolensis da Cunha etal,凹口棘影熊虫Echiniscus cavagnaroi Schuster,米吉棘影熊虫Echiniscus migiurtynus Franceschi,华美假棘影熊虫Pseudechiniscus facettalis Petersen,丽江苔小猪熊虫Bryodelphax lijian-gensis sp.nov,隐匿大生熊虫Macrobiotus adelges Dastych,云杉大生熊虫Macrobiotus yunshanensis sp.nov,华丽大生熊虫Macrobiotus richtersiJ.Murr,双甲高生熊虫Hypsibius biscuitiformis Bartos,锐齿高生熊虫Hypsibius runae Bartos。棒形双相熊虫Diphascon clavatum(Bartos)。云南等高熊虫Isohypsibius yunnanensis spnov,隆肿等高熊虫Isohypsibius tuberculatus(Plate)。本文所用标本均保存在中国科学院水生生物研究所。     

中国东部武夷山风景区苔藓中的缓步动物

记述了采自中国东部福建省武夷山风景区苔藓中的缓步动物11种,包括:日本棘影熊虫Echiniscus japonicus Morikawa,1951中国东部新纪录种;结痂棘影熊虫Echiniscus scabrospinesus Fontoura,1982中国东部新纪录种;华美假棘影熊虫Pseudechiniscus facettalis Petersen,1951中国东部新纪录种;迟缓小斑熊虫Milnesium tardigradum(Doyère,1840);埃卡门大生熊虫Macrobiotus ariekammensis Weglarska,1965中国东部新纪录种;节值大生熊虫,模式亚种Macrobiotus harms worthi harmsworthi Murray,1907;华丽大生熊虫Macrobiotus richtersi Murray,1911;陆栖大生熊虫Macrobiotus terricola Miheli,1949;异常拉玛熊虫Ramazzottius anomalus(Ramazzotti,1962)中国新纪录种;肥曲拉玛熊虫Ramazzottius oberhaeuseri(Doyère,1840);黄色具矛熊虫Doryphoribius flavus(Iharos,1966)中国东部新纪录种。所有的标本均保存于中国科学院水生生物研究所。     

中国缓步动物2新纪录种（缓步动物门，大生熊虫科，高生熊虫科）记述

本文记述了缓步动物门2新纪录种,阿瑞科姆大生熊虫Macrobiotus ariekammensis Wêglarska, 1965和帕氏双相熊虫Diphascon patanei Binda & Pilato, 1971.阿瑞科姆大生熊虫模式标本爪无附棘,但中国标本有.帕氏双相熊虫模式标本的吸咽较来自中国标本的吸咽要短圆一些,前者吸咽的长宽比是1.21～1.25∶1,而后者的吸咽平均长宽比为1.47∶1.     

缓步动物门三新种及一新记录种记述

记述了得自云南省和河南省苔藓与丝状绿藻中的缓步动物门三新种和一新记录种:异缓步纲棘影熊虫科的西藏角棘影熊虫新记录种 Cornechiniscus tibetanus)Maucci, 1979)和石林假棘影熊虫,新种 Pseudechiniscus shilinensis sp. nov.;真缓步纲大生熊虫科的河南趾生熊虫,新种 Dactylobiotus henanensis sp. nov.;高生熊虫科的昆明高生熊虫,新种 Hypsibius kunmingensis sp. nov..       

陕西缓步动物二新纪录种记述

记述了陕西省2个缓步动物新纪录种,它们是毕氏假棘影熊虫Pseudechiniscus facettalis(异缓步纲,棘影科)和介小生熊虫Minibiotus intermedius(真缓步纲,高生熊虫科)。     

四川省缓步动物2新纪录种记述

记述了四川省绵阳缓步动物2个新纪录种。它们是缓步动物门（Tardigrada）、真缓步纲（Eutardigrada）、近爪目（Parachela）、大生熊虫科（Marcobiotidate）,Doryphoribius属的Doryphoribius qinlingensis Li,Su＆Yu和缓步动物门、异缓步纲（Heterotardigrada）、棘影目（Echiniscoidea）、棘影科（Fchiniscidae）、角棘影属（Cornechiniscus）的Cornechiniscus lobatus Ramazzotti。     

New molecular data for tardigrade phylogeny, with the erection of Paramacrobiotus gen. nov.

Up to few years ago, the phylogenies of tardigrade taxa have been investigated using morphological data, but relationships within and between many taxa are still unresolved. Our aim has been to verify those relationships adding molecular analysis to morphological analysis, using nearly complete 18S ribosomal DNA gene sequences (five new) of 19 species, as well as cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI) mitochondrial DNA gene sequences (15 new) from 20 species, from a total of seven families. The 18S rDNA tree was calculated by minimum evolution, maximum parsimony (MP) and maximum likelihood (ML) analyses. DNA sequences coding for COI were translated to amino acid sequences and a tree was also calculated by neighbour-joining, MP and ML analyses. For both trees (18S rDNA and COI) posterior probabilities were calculated by MrBayes. Prominent findings are as follows: the molecular data on Echiniscidae (Heterotardigrada) are in line with the phylogenetic relationships identifiable by morphological analysis. Among Eutardigrada, orders Apochela and Parachela are confirmed as sister groups. Ramazzottius (Hypsibiidae) results more related to Macrobiotidae than to the genera here considered of Hypsibiidae. Macrobiotidae and Macrobiotus result not monophyletic and confirm morphological data on the presence of at least two large groups within Macrobiotus. Using 18S rDNA and COI mtDNA genes, a new phylogenetic line has been identified within Macrobiotus , corresponding to the ' richtersi-areolatus group'. Moreover, cryptic species have been identified within the Macrobiotus ' richtersi group' and within Richtersius . Some evolutionary lines of tardigrades are confirmed, but others suggest taxonomic revision. In particular, the new genus Paramacrobiotus gen. n. has been identified, corresponding to the phylogenetic line represented by the ' richtersi-areolatus group'.     

Seasonal and Altitudinal Variation in the Distribution and Abundance of Tardigrada on Dugger Mountain, Alabama

A seasonal survey of the distribution of terrestrial tardigrades on Dugger Mountain, Alabama, was conducted during the time period from April 1997 through April 1998. Cryptogams from five trees (Quercus alba), three on north-facing slopes and two on south-facing slopes, were sampled seasonally at three stations (645 m, 410 m, 183 m) along an unnamed tributary of the South Fork of Terrapin Creek. Trees were chosen based on their location outside the riparian zone. Tardigrades were extracted from the samples, mounted individually in Hoyer's medium, and identified to species with phase microscopy. Seasonal and altitudinal variations in the distribution of the populations on the north- and south-facing slopes were determined. Present on Dugger Mountain were tardigrades belonging to 12 species (Macrobiotus cf. areolatus/tonollii, Macrobiotus cf. echinogenitus, Macrobiotus islandicus, Macrobiotus richtersi, Minibiotus intermedius, Milnesium tardigradum, Diphascon pingue, Hypsibius pallidus, Echiniscus cf. arctomys, Echiniscus virginicus, Pseudechiniscus ramazzottii, and Pseudechiniscus suillus). Due to the small numbers of individuals of each species, the total numbers of tardigrades of all species were pooled. There were no significant differences in the mean number of species or the mean number of all tardigrades per sample at each station (altitude). However, seasonal differences in both abundance and number of species were detected in pooled samples due to the high numbers collected in spring 1997.     

Cuticle structure and systematics of the Macrobiotidae (Tardigrada, Eutardigrada)

The cuticle of tardigrades is characterized by three main layers: epicuticle, intracuticle and procuticle. Pillars are present in the epicuticle of almost all heterotardigrades, but these structures are also known in a few species of eutardigrades. The apparent heterogeneity of the cuticular ultrastructure in several species of the Macrobiotidae (Eutardigrada) prompted us to analyse the structure of the cuticle in this family. Eleven species in several genera were investigated with light and/or electron microscopy. All the species of the genera Murrayon and Dactylobiotus showed pillars in the epicuticle, whereas the examined species of Macrobiotus , Richtersius and Xerobiotus completely lacked pillars. Therefore, in the Macrobiotidae, in contrast to what appears with light microscopy, the cuticle is homogeneous within each genus examined at the electron microscopic level. Considering the absence of pillars in the Macrobiotidae a synapomorphy, we propose the erection of two new subfamilies. Macrobiotinae subfam. n. is characterized by the absence of pillars in the epicuticular layer and includes, in addition to the genera Macrobiotus, Xerobiotus and Richtersius, the genera Pseudohexapodibius, Adorybiotus, and probably also Minibiotus, Calcarobiotus and Pseudodiphascon . Murrayinae subfam. n. is characterized by the presence of pillars in the epicuticular layer and includes the genera Murrayon, Dactylobiotus and, probably, Macroversum.     

A new species of Ramazzottius (Tardigrada, Hypsibiidae) in a rain gutter sediment from England

Five species of tardigrades were extracted from a sample of sediment from a rain gutter. Four of these, the heterotardigrade Echiniscus testudo and the eutardigrades Milnesium tardigradum, Ramazzottius oberhaeuseri , and probably Macrobiotus cf. sandrae are typical of xerophilous habitats. The fifth species, Ramazzottius varieornatus sp. nov. , is new to science, and it can be readily distinguished from the others of the same genus by egg shell morphology, placoids and the type of cuticle.     

Tardigrades of the Australian Antarctic Territories: the Windmill Islands, East Antarctica

Six species of tardigrades, Pseudechiniscus suillus, Macrobiotus sp., Hypsibius antarcticus, Ramajendas frigidus, Diphascon chilenense and Diphascon pingue were extracted from mosses and lichens from the ice-free regions of the Windmill Islands near Casey Base, East Antarctica. Significant positive associations were found between the three common species ( Pseudechiniscus suillus, Hypsibius antarcticus, Diphascon chilenense ) and bryophytes, whereas strong negative associations were found between these species and algae and lichens. There were additional interspecific associations between the common species of tardigrades as well as between tardigrades, nematodes and rotifers.     

First evidence of achiasmatic male meiosis in the water bears Richtersius coronifer and Macrobiotus richtersi (Eutardigrada, Macrobiotidae)

Chromosome behaviour during male meioses has been studied in two bisexual amphimictic populations of two tardigrade species, namely Richtersius coronifer and Macrobiotus richtersi (Eutardigrada, Macrobiotidae). Both bisexual populations exhibit a diploid chromosome number 2n=12 and no sex chromosomes were identified. DAPI staining and C-banding data indicate that all chromosomes of the bisexual population of R. coronifer are acrocentric. In both species, at male meiotic prophase, all six bivalent homologous chromosomes are aligned side by side along their length and show no evidence of chiasmata. However, in the oocytes of both species a chiasma is generally present in each bivalent at diplotene stage. Lack of recombination is previously unknown in tardigrades, but is a well known phenomenon in many other metazoans where it is always restricted to the heterogametic sex. In tardigrades there is no evidence of heterochromosomes, but it does not mean that in tardigrades, the heterogametic sex does not exist. The adaptive and evolutionary significance of achiasmatic meiosis is discussed.     

Rearing Tardigrades: Results and Problems

We report our first results of attempts to rear four species of eutardigrades inhabiting different substrates, feeding on different kinds of food and characterized by different sexual conditions and modes of reproduction. Attempts were carried out to follow individual terrestrial carnivorous (Macrobiotus richtersi, M. joannae) and limnic herbivorous (Diphascon cf. scoticum; Isohypsibius monoicus) species. Carnivorous leaf litter-dwelling species were reared in small dishes containing agar as substrate and bacteriophagous nematodes as food. Five generations were obtained with the triploid thelytokous strain of M. richtersi, whereas three generations were obtained with the hermaphrodite species M. joannae. Diphascon cf. scoticum and I. monoicus were reared in small dishes containing algae as food and substrate. Several generations were obtained for both species. Males were never found in D. cf. scoticum and I. monoicus was hermaphroditic. Specimens isolated from hatchings were maintained and reproduced in both species, demonstrating parthenogenesis in the first one and self-fertilization in the latter. Consideration of the problems and on the future applications of tardigrade rearing are discussed.     

Tardigrades from Ecuador,with the Description of Two New Species: Mixibius ornatus n. sp. and Diphascon (Adropion) onorei n. sp. (Eutardigrada,Hypsibiidae)

Seven species are reported from Ecuador, South America, two of which, Mixibius ornatus and Diphascon (Adropion) onorei, are new to science. Mixibius ornatus n. sp. differs from Mixibius saracenus (Pilato 1973) and from M. fueginus Pilato & Binda 1997 by having a sculptured cuticle, broader claws, lunulae present, stylet supports inserted on the buccal tube in a more caudal position, and shorter placoids. Diphascon (A.) onorei n. sp. has an elongate pharyngeal bulb with small apophyses, three rod-shaped macroplacoids, a granular microplacoid, and septulum; claw bases enlarged, smooth (first three pairs of legs) or crenate (outer claws on the hind legs); a cuticular bar is present near the inner claws on the first three pairs of legs. Other species reported are Echiniscus aliquantillus Grigarick, Schuster & Nelson 1983; Minibiotus intermedius (Plate 1888); Macrobiotus coronatus De Barros 1942; Macrobiotus danielae Pilato, Binda, Napolitano & Moncada 2001, and Astatumen bartosi Weglarska 1959.