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.     

Molecular genetic analysis of two native desert palm genera,Washingtonia and Brahea,from the Baja California Peninsula and Guadalupe Island

The complex geological and ecological processes that have generated high levels of biodiversity and endemism in the Baja California Peninsula have been the subject of intensive study. However, relatively little is known about phylogeography of the iconic endemic palm species of this region. We therefore analyzed a total of 2,294 bp of chloroplast and 738 bp of nuclear sequence data in 169 samples of five native palm species from Baja California, Sonora and Guadalupe Island. We found that Washingtonia and Brahea palms had low levels of genetic diversity and were highly structured, with the majority of species and major geographic regions being characterized by distinct haplotypes. We also found strong support for currently recognized species in Washingtonia, but our results were less clear cut for Brahea due to haplotype sharing. Furthermore, patterns of population structure were broadly consistent with historical vicariant events such as the inundation of the Isthmus of La Paz, the formation of the Sea of Cortez, and the more recent colonization and isolation of Guadalupe Island's palms. Our findings contribute toward a growing appreciation of the complexity of plant responses to past geological changes and also provide valuable baseline genetic data on relict American palm species.     

First record of the Asiatic cyprinid Pseudorasbora parva in the Iberian Peninsula

Pseudorasbora parva is recorded for the first time in the Iberian Peninsula. Its presence in the River Ebro delta is probably due to involuntary introduction.     

Invaders or endemics? Molecular phylogenetics,biogeography and systematics of Dreissena in the Balkans

1. Zebra mussels and their relatives (Dreissena spp.) have been well studied in eastern, central and western Europe as well as in North America, because of their invasiveness and economic importance. Much less is known about the biology and biogeography of indigenous (endemic) taxa of Dreissena, in the Balkans. A better knowledge of these taxa could help us (i) understand the factors triggering invasiveness in some taxa and (ii) identify other potentially invasive species. 2. Using a phylogenetic approach (2108 base pairs from three gene fragments), Dreissena spp. from natural lakes in the Balkans were studied to test whether invasive Dreissena populations occur in such lakes on the Balkan Peninsula, whether Dreissena stankovici really is endemic to the ancient Lakes Ohrid and Prespa, and to infer the phylogenetic and biogeographical relationships of Balkan dreissenids. 3. No invasive species of Dreissena, such as Dreissena polymorpha, were recorded. The supposedly ‘endemic’D. stankovici is not restricted to the ancient Lakes Ohrid and Prespa, but is the most widespread and dominant species in the west‐central Balkans. Its southern sister taxon, Dreissena blanci, occurs sympatrically with D. stankovici in Lakes Prespa, Mikri Prespa and Pamvotis. Both species are classified into the subgenus Dreissena (Carinodreissena) of which the subgenus Dreissena (Dreissena) (which includes the invasive D. polymorpha) is the sister taxon. Dreissena blanci and D. stankovici are considered to represent distinct species. 4. On a global scale, the two Balkan species have small ranges. An early Pliocene time frame for the divergence of the subgenera Carinodreissena and Dreissena is discussed, as well as potential colonization routes of the most recent common ancestor of Carinodreissena spp. 5. The ambiguous taxonomy of dreissenids in the Balkans is addressed. As nominal D. blanci presbensis from Lake Prespa has nomenclatural priority over D. stankovici, the correct name for the latter taxon should be Dreissena presbensis.     

深圳大鹏半岛“风水林”香蒲桃群落特征及物种多样性研究

根据样方调查,对罕见的大鹏半岛"风水林"香蒲桃群落的区系组成、外貌、群落结构特征和物种多样性进行分析,并与邻近4个地区的森林群落作比较。结果表明,该群落属于南亚热带次生性常绿阔叶林,在1200m2样地中,有维管束植物86种,隶属于44科80属,其中以热带性分布属占明显优势,所占比例为89.33%。群落主要优势种为香蒲桃、乌饭树、银柴、密花树。群落外貌终年常绿,生活型以高位芽为主,占86.05%;通过对优势种群的年龄结构分析显示,该群落处于增长状态,按照Raunkiaer的频度等级定律,属于A级的种类最多,频度值为52.32。整个群落物种丰富度Magarlef指数为9.65,Shannon-Wiener指数为3.17,均匀度指数为0.71,3个层次多样性格局为"灌木层>乔木层>草本层"。物种多样性比较结果显示,大鹏半岛香蒲桃群落的物种多样性水平高于受不同程度干扰的深圳南山假萍婆群落和澳门假苹婆群落,但比保护较好的香港黄桐群落和鼎湖山厚壳桂群落低,过度的人为干扰将导致植物物种多样性的降低。     

Looking for the Iberian lynx in central Spain: a needle in a haystack?

The Iberian lynx Lynx pardinus has suffered a dramatic reduction in its range throughout the Iberian Peninsula and at present is one of the most endangered mammals in the world. The latest studies report that, out of the 48 breeding areas that existed in 1990, only two populations are left in southern Spain. As a consequence, some of the formerly largest populations, such as Montes de Toledo (central Spain), are to all intents and purposes regarded as extinct. To determine the current distribution of Iberian lynx outside the two recognized populations, we surveyed five different areas where the species is considered extinct and collected 581 faeces for the genetic identification of the species. We identified 18 samples as belonging to Iberian lynx in four out of the five areas studied, providing clear evidence for the presence of lynx in central Spain. In some areas the species was detected repeatedly at different localities and on different dates, indicating a regular occurrence of an unknown number of individuals. The conservation implications of these results are discussed in terms of the genetic importance of the individuals found and future reintroductions of the species from an ongoing captive-breeding programme.     

Modelling chorotypes of invasive vertebrates in mainland Spain

We investigated the existence of chorotypes – assemblages of species with similar geographical ranges – of invasive species in a host territory, and their potential use to advocate similar control or management strategies for species in the same chorotype. We analysed the distribution of 13 exotic terrestrial vertebrate species (six birds, six mammals, and one reptile) with well‐known distributions in mainland Spain. We used the presence/absence data on a grid of 10 km × 10 km UTM cells from the Atlases of terrestrial vertebrates of Spain. These data were aggregated to a grid of 50 km × 50 km UTM cells, because it entailed no loss of meaningful information and allowed dealing with a much lower number of cells. Using cluster analysis and a probabilistic assessment of the classification, we identified seven significant chorotypes: four multispecific and three monospecific. The compound chorotypes grouped together species that tended to share certain characteristics about their introduction, release cause, establishment, and spread. We modelled the chorotypes using a favourability function based on a generalized linear model and 31 variables related to spatial situation, topography, lithology, climatic stability, energy availability, water availability, disturbances, productivity, and human activity. Climatic factors affected the favourability for every chorotype, whereas human variables had a high influence in the distribution of three chorotypes involving eight species. On the basis of these variables, we identified favourable areas for all the chorotypes in mainland Spain. The favourability for a chorotype in an area may be a useful criterion for evaluating the local conservation concern due to the whole set of species. Favourable but unoccupied areas can be used to infer possible colonization areas for each chorotype. We recommend using chorotypes to optimize broad‐scale surveillance of invasive species.     

Patterns of extinction and persistence of Arctotertiary flora in Iberia during the Quaternary

The native or allochthonous nature of certain extant species of the Iberian Peninsula is a matter of some controversy given our lack of knowledge regarding the survival and extinction processes to which they have been subject. The aim of the present work is to provide a review of the current knowledge regarding these processes during the Quaternary. The Middle Pleistocene Transition was a period of noticeable disappearance of Arctotertiary taxa in the Iberian Peninsula, related to the alteration in glacial cyclicity and climate change, including an increase in the severity of glaciations, a reduction in the length of the interglacial periods, and increased dryness during the coldest times. It is difficult to maintain that human activities played any important part in the complete or near-complete disappearance of some taxa during the Quaternary. In the Late Pleistocene and Holocene, however, the extinction of Cedrus, Picea and Carpinus might be related to climate change, competition with other taxa, and anthropogenic disturbances. In contrast, the extreme reduction or even complete disappearance of Platanus or Syringa seems to be due to natural causes alone. The available geological, molecular and palaeobotanical data suggest that some Arctotertiary taxa persisted over long periods of time during the Quaternary in the Iberian Peninsula. Indeed, the fossil record of one important group of taxa, including Castanea, Ceratonia, Carpinus and Juglans, shows its continued presence throughout the Quaternary.