A first report of Prolinograptus packhami Rickards and Wright, 1997 from Baltica,Poland

A well-preserved isolated graptolite Prolinograptus packhami Rickards and Wright, 1997, well known from Australia, is described for the first time in Europe. The genus has now been recognized in three continents (Australia, Europe and North America). The Australian P. packhami occurs in the Neocucullograptus inexpectatus/Neocucullograptus kozlowskii biozonal interval, while the form from the Mielnik IG-1 core, Poland, appears earlier, in the Bohemograptus praecornutus Biozone. Prolinograptus, of unclear origin, is one of the least-known genera of the subfamily Linograptinae. P. packhami, along with Neodiversograptus palmeri and Prolinograptus orangensis, form a group of very diminutive specimens, with slender stipes and thecal apertures showing varying degrees of eversion. Scanning electron microscope examination revealed the presence of some micro-ornamentation on the rhabdosome surface of the Polish Prolinograptus, similar to that known in retiolitids (Retiolitidae).     

A new species of the Weevil genus Auleutes Dietz (Coleoptera, Curculionidae: Ceutorhynchinae) from the U. S. A.

A new species, Auleutes alexanderi sp. n. formerly confused with and similar to the Holarctic A. epilobii (Pk.) is described from the Middle West and Southeast United States. The new species differs from A. epilobii in the rostrum densely covered with broad white scales in males and longer, less strongly curved and matte, not striate, and less flattened in females and in the structure of the aedeagus with a broad membranous medial part along the entire length.     

New radiolaria of the family Prunobrachidae from the uppermost Cretaceous of the eastern Polar Urals

New radiolarian genera and species from Upper Cretaceous siliceous clays of borehole 22 (Polar Urals) are described. The family Prunobrachidae Pessagno, 1975 is reviewed. The new genus Pseudobrachium gen. nov. has a dumbbell skeleton without a patagium and Spinibrachium gen. nov. has apophysis-like spines and a patagium in the central part of the skeleton. Five new species, Spinibrachium amoni, Prunobrachium kozlovae, P. boreale, Pseudobrachium gracile, and P. trilobatum, are described; they are of great importance for paleogeography and stratigraphic correlation of Campanian deposits.     

Ein dendroider Graptolith (Ophigraptus hercyniae n. g. n. sp.) von der Unter-/Mitteldevon-Grenze im Harz (Deutschland)

The graptoliteOphigraptus hercyniae n. g. n. sp. has a roughly bilaterally symmetrical, frond-shaped linear rhabdosome with a rounded-zigzag to meandering main stipe, and alternating, typically regularly arranged side-branches with one to three dichotomies.     

Undulograptus dicellograptoides n. sp., an abnormal diplograptid from the Late Arenig of western Newfoundland, Canada

The unusual diplograptidUndulograptus dicellograptoides n. sp. from the late ArenigUndulograptus dentatus Zone of western Newfoundland is described from isolated material. The species bears two reclined stipes and resembles a species of the stratigraphically younger genusDicellograptus. The dicellograptid to dicranograptid rhabdosome form appeared several times independently in the Diplograptina.     

The early Ludfordian leintwardinensis graptolite Event and the Gorstian–Ludfordian boundary in Bohemia (Silurian,Czech Republic)

The late Gorstian to early Ludfordian hemipelagic succession of the south‐eastern part of the Prague Synform preserves a rich fossil record dominated by 28 species of planktic graptoloids associated with pelagic myodocopid ostracods, pelagic and nektobenthic orthocerid cephalopods, epibyssate bivalves, nektonic phyllocarids, rare dendroid graptolites, brachiopods, crinoids, trilobites, sponges and macroalgae. Faunal dynamics have been studied with particular reference to graptolites. The early Ludfordian leintwardinensis graptolite extinction Event manifests itself as a stepwise turnover of a moderate diversity graptolite fauna rather than an abrupt destruction of a flourishing biota. The simultaneous extinction of the spinose saetograptids Saetograptus clavulus, Saetograptus leintwardinensis and the rare S. sp. B. at the top of the S. leintwardinensis Zone was preceded by a short‐term acme of S. clavulus. Cucullograptus cf. aversus and C. rostratus vanished from the fossil record in the lower part of the Bohemograptus tenuis Biozone. No mass proliferation of Bohemograptus has been observed in the postextinction interval. Limited indigenous speciation gave rise to Pseudomonoclimacis kosoviensis and Pseudomonoclimacis cf. dalejensis. Egregiograptus (the only novel element of cryptic origin) made its earliest occurrence in association with the latest cucullograptids. A postextinction graptolite assemblage of moderate diversity, composed for the most part of long‐ranging taxa, persisted through the middle and upper tenuis Biozone until new rediversification in the Neocucullograptus inexpectatus Biozone. Unlike the graptoloids, the planktic, epiplanktic, nektonic and nektobenthic shelly fauna did not suffer significant extinction in the early Ludfordian. The Gorstian–Ludfordian boundary is placed at the lowest occurrence of S. leintwardinensis in spite of the very modest graptolite record available from the Ludfordian GSSP where no graptolites occur below the basal bed of the Lower Leintwardine Formation. Elsewhere, the Gorstian–Ludfordian boundary has been placed at the base of the Saetograptus linearis Biozone which has been considered roughly correlative with the leintwardinensis Biozone. Indeed, our morphometric study places the worldwide biozonal index species S. linearis in synonymy with S. leintwardinensis and thus considerably enhances the biostratigraphical utility of the latter index species. Pseudomonoclimacis antiqua sp. nov. is described.     

In vitro reassembly of the membranous vesicle from Escherichia coli outer membrane components: Role of individual compnents and magnesium ions in reassembly

A method was developed for the reassembly of membranous vesicle from the sodium dcoxycholate-dissociated outer membrane components of Escherichia coli. The removal of the detergent by dialysis and the presence of Mg²⁺ were essential for the reassembly.Membrane protein alone did not form any membranous structure. Closed membranous vesicles similar to the native outer membrane were reassembled only when protein was mixed with both lipopolysaccharide and phospholipid in deoxycholate solution and subsequently dialyzed. The membrane showed a distinct trilaminar structure with a center-to-center distance between two dark lines of 53 Å, which is a characteristic of the native outer membrane. This characteristic trilaminar structure was shown to be due to the presence of lipopolysaccharide. Phospholipd was required for the vesicularization of membrane. Lipopolysaccharide and/or phospholipid formed a membranous structure in the absence of protein, while the morphology of their negatively stained sample was quite different from that of the native outer membrane unless the outer membrane protein was added to the reassembly mixture.The protein from the cytoplasmic membrane was unable to reform membranous vesicle with lipopolysaccharide and phospholipid, indicating that the reassembly system discriminated outer membrane proteins from cytoplasmic membrane proteins.     

Reconstruction of the proximal ends of retiolitid rhabdosomes (Graptolithina) from the Upper Wenlock and the Lower Ludlow

Detailed study of the ultrastructures on the cortical lists of retiolitids occurring after the lundgreni event has been undertaken. The extremely well preserved material from the Go?dap borehole of Poland (Baltica) enables classification of clathrial lists into two types—with single and double seams. Significantly different seam development is observed between two groups of retiolitids occurring before and after the lundgreni event. The study of seams and increments on the lists enables reconstruction of the membrane arrangement of the rhabdosomes. Reconstruction of the proximal ends, the arrangement of the ancora umbrella, and the layout of the proximal ventral and lateral orifices of five genera, Neogothograptus, Holoretiolites, Plectograptus, Spinograptus, and Quattuorgraptus n. gen., is presented. The new genus Quattuorgraptus is separated from Spinograptus because of the different development of the ancora umbrella and the width of the lateral walls of the rhabdosome.     

Electron tomographic analysis of cytokinesis in the brown alga Silvetia babingtonii (Fucales,Phaeophyceae)

In brown algae, membrane resources for the new cell partition during cytokinesis are mainly flat cisternae (FCs) and Golgi-derived vesicles. We used electron tomography coupled with rapid freezing/freeze substitution of zygotes to clarify the structure of transient membrane compartments during cytokinesis in Silvetia zygotes. After mitosis, an amorphous membranous structure, considered to be an FC intermediate was observed near endoplasmic reticulum clusters, lying between two daughter nuclei. FCs were arrayed at the cytokinetic plane, and a tubular membranous network was formed around them. This network might be formed by the consecutive fusion of spherical vesicles that are linked to the edges of FCs to form a membranous network (MN). At the initial stage of the formation of a membranous sac (MS) from the MN, the MS had flat and swollen parts, with the latter showing membranous tunnels. Coated pits were detected with high frequency at the swollen parts of the MS. This observation indicated that membranous tunnels disappeared by recycling of excess membrane via endocytosis, and the swollen part became flat. The MN appeared at the edges of the growing MS. MN and the MN-MS complex were observed along the cytokinetic plane in several spaces. The MS expanded by the incorporation of MN or other MS in its neighborhood. With the maturation of the new cell partition membrane, the thickness of the MS became constant and the membrane cavity disappeared. The changes in the surface area and volume of the transient membrane compartment during cytokinesis were analyzed from the tomographic data.     

The Plasmodium knowlesi MAHRP2 ortholog localizes to structures connecting Sinton Mulligan's clefts in the infected erythrocyte

During development within the host erythrocyte malaria parasites generate nascent membranous structures which serve as a pathway for parasite protein transport to modify the host cell. The molecular basis of such membranous structures is not well understood, particularly for malaria parasites other than Plasmodium falciparum. To characterize the structural basis of protein trafficking in the Plasmodium knowlesi-infected erythrocyte, we identified a P. knowlesi ortholog of MAHRP2, a marker of the tether structure that connects membranous structures in the P. falciparum-infected erythrocyte. We show that PkMAHRP2 localizes on amorphous structures that connect Sinton Mulligan's clefts (SMC) to each other and to the erythrocyte membrane. Three dimensional reconstruction of the P. knowlesi-infected erythrocyte revealed that the SMC is a plate-like structure with swollen ends, reminiscent of the morphology of the Golgi apparatus. The PkMAHRP2-localized amorphous structures are possibly functionally equivalent to P. falciparum tether structure. These findings suggest a conservation in the ultrastructure of protein trafficking between P. falciparum and P. knowlesi.     

Scale insects (Homoptera, Coccinea) of the volga area: III. Nudicauda gen. n. and other mealybugs from astrakhan

The present paper is the third part of a revision of the fauna of the Volga Area. Five species new for the Volga Area, including four new for Russia are recorded. Nudicauda gen. n. is erected with type species Nudicauda nigra (Matesova, 1957) (comb. n.). The new genus differs from other genera of mealybugs in a complex of characters and mainly in the presence of very specific oral rim tubular ducts with a broad flat ring and in an unusual ovisac with the opening over posterior tergites of the female body. In addition to the type species, N. orientalis (Borchsenius, 1949) and N. salina (Matesova, 1981) (comb. n.) are also included in the new genus. N. nigra and N. orientalis are considered as separate species, contrary to Danzig (1980). All the three species of the new genus are redescribed and illustrated. The structure of the tubular ducts of the genus Humococcus Ferris, 1953 is briefly discussed and illustrated.     

Antigonias (Antigonia, Caproidae) of the Western Indian Ocean: 2. Species with eight spiny rays in the dorsal fin

Six species of Antigonia with eight spiny rays in the dorsal fin inhabit the western part of the Indian Ocean. Three of them are described in this paper as new. They are all characterized by relatively not deep body of oval shape. A. ovalis sp. n., distributed in the central part of the ocean is characterized by the deepest body and small scales. A. quiproqua sp. n. from the Saya de Malha bank, has increased number of gill rakers; A. socotrae sp. n., from a slope of Sokotra, possesses a longer head. In addition to these, two other species can be encountered in this area: A. saya, widely distributed in the central part, and A. gr. capros, characteristic of the periphery of the tropical zone (South Africa, Walters Shoals).     

Caudal Musculature of the South Indian Flying Lizard Draco dussumieri Dum. and Bibr.

The modifications noticed in the caudal musculature of the South Indian Flying Lizard, Draco dussumieri, are described. The caudal musculature consists of the superficial ilio-caudalis and ischio-caudalis and the deeper ventral caudo-femoralis brevis and caudo-femoralis longus. There is an accessory tendon extending between the outer border of the tendon of the caudo-femoralis longus and the tendinous origin of the gastrocnemius. In the male the copulatory organ is provided with a retractor muscle. Attached to the ventral surface of the penis sheath is another muscle which helps in everting the penis. This latter muscle is present in the female also as a vestigeal one attached to the postero-lateral corners of the cloacal chamber. The modifications in the caudal musculature are attributable to the gliding habits of this lizard. Draco dussumieri, the South Indian Flying Lizard is unique in having a patagium for gliding from tree to tree. Associated with the development of the patagium, the musculature has undergone a number of adaptive modifications. The modifications of the trunk musculature have been published elsewhere (John 1970). The present communication is a study of the caudal musculature of this lizard.     

The rhabdosome structure of aSaetograptus species (Graptoloidea, Monograptacea) from a North German glacial boulder

Saetograptus sp. cf.Saetograptus leintwardinensis from the late Ludlow is described from material isolated from a glacial boulder. The species shows several unexpected rhabdosome structures, especially a considerably widening trumpetshaped sicular aperture with a forked dorsal tongue. The high infraspecific variation of the species is documented.     

Hydrogen-oxidizing Methane Bacteria II. Electron Microscopy

Comparison of the fine structure of the methanogenic organism from the culture known as Methanobacillus omelianskii with that of Methanobacterium formicicum revealed a great similarity. Both organisms exhibited a large number of intracytoplasmic membranous elements when stained with phosphotungstic acid. In contrast, no such elements were observed in Methanobacterium ruminantium.     

Description of Muscotabanus gen. nov. and Muscotabanus rafaeli sp. nov. (Diptera: Tabanidae: Diachlorini) from Amazon Basin,Brazil

A new genus of Tabanidae mimetic of flies is described: Muscotabanus new genus, Muscotabanus rafaeli new species, based on 12 females collected in the state of Amazonas, Brazil. It is presented a discussion for separating the new genus from Diachlorini species which resemblance with sarcophagids flies. It is characterised by striped thorax, banded abdomen, long slender palpus subequal antenna length, labella predominantly membranous, except for a narrow sclerotised plate, basicosta bare, wing hyaline and stigma brown.     

Growth response of Microcystis spp. to iron enrichment in different regions of Lake Taihu, China

Iron (Fe) is an essential micronutrient for algal growth and can be a potential limiting nutrient in aquatic system, especially regions that exhibits nitrogen (N) limitation. Using short-term nutrient addition bioassays, we evaluated the potential role that iron might play in modifying the response of Microcystis spp. to the anthropogenic phosphorus (P) and N enrichment in hypereutrophic Lake Taihu, the third largest freshwater lake in China. Three nutrient enrichment experiments involving additions of N (as NO₃ ^?) and P (as PO₄ ^3?) with and without Fe were conducted during 2009?C2010 in Meiliang Bay, a region characterized by summer cyanobacterial (Microcystis spp.) blooms, and East Taihu, a region largely free of cyanobacterial blooms and dominated by macrophytes. In Meiliang Bay, Fe addition alone did not significantly increase Microcystis spp. biomass. However, Fe addition occasionally increased the stimulatory effect of N and P additions on Microcystis spp., indicating that Fe was not a primary limiting nutrient for Microcystis spp. growth. Occasionally Fe was co-limiting with N and P in this region. In East Taihu, the addition of Fe alone significantly stimulated Microcystis spp. growth, while addition of N and/or P had no effects on growth, indicating that Fe was a primary limiting nutrient in East Taihu. The combined addition of Fe and N resulted in a growth response similar to Fe alone, while combined addition of Fe and P yielded greater biomass increases than the addition of Fe alone. This indicated that in East Taihu, N was not limiting and Fe and P supplies facilitated Microcystis spp. growth. These results reflect differential availabilities and limitations of N, P, and Fe in distinct regions of Taihu. The potential role of Fe in eutrophication dynamics of large, regionally complex lakes like Taihu requires further attention.     

The Fine Structure of Streptomyces coelicolor : I. The Cytoplasmic Membrane System

Colonies and spore suspensions of Streptomyces coelicolor were fixed by the method of Kellenberger, Ryter, and Séchaud (1958) and embedded in methacrylate or araldite. Thin sections were cut with an A. F. Huxley microtome and examined in a Siemens' Elmiskop I. At all stages of development the hyphae of Streptomyces coelicolor have an extensive membranous component in the cytoplasm. The membranes are continuous with the plasma membrane and have a variety of configurations at different places in the hyphae. Tubular structures, vesicles, and parallel stacks of membranes are seen. In some areas concentric layers of membranes form whorled structures which are particularly frequent in the region of developing cross-walls and within maturing spores. In the spores membranous structures often lie embedded in the nuclear material. In disintegrating hyphae the intracytoplasmic membranes round off into small vesicles and remain when the rest of the cytoplasmic structure has gone. In the absence of typical mitochondria and other cytoplasmic membranous structures it is possible that the membranous component of the cytoplasm of Streptomyces coelicolor may perform the functions of the endoplasmic reticulum and/or the mitochondria of higher cells.     

Skeletal growth of a spongiose radiolarian Dictyocoryne truncatum in laboratory culture

The stages of skeletal growth of the radiolarian Dictyocoryne truncatum were observed using scanning electron and light microscopy. Four growth stages were recognized through comparison of laboratory-grown individuals with various sized skeletons which were collected by plankton tows near Barbados. Skeletal size is expressed as test height, which is the largest value among the three dimensions between a base line and arm apex of a triangular skeleton. The early stage (stage 1), with a maximum height of less than approximately 120 μm, is a uniformly spongiose, triangular skeleton lacking arms and a patagium. The next stage (stage 2) is a triangular skeleton with slightly concave sides of ca. 120–200 μm size with three arms and a lace-like patagium. Further accretion of silica on the patagium conceals its lace-like structure, making a skeleton (stage 3; ca. 200–280 μm) with a more uniformly spongiose patagium. The mature stage (stage 4) with a maximum height more than ca. 280 μm is a triangular skeleton with convex sides, resulting from an outward growth of the patagium. Additional maturation produces an accretion of spongiose silica on the central part of the skeleton, forming a thickly biconvex skeleton in transverse section. One hundred and one individuals of D. truncatum were cultured in the laboratory at 28°C, 35‰ salinity and 165 μE/m²/s light intensity, with maximum and mean longevity of 37 and 6.4 days, respectively. The mean growth of 57 specimens which grew in the laboratory culture was 24.7 μm, with a maximum of 95 μm. The initial size of cultured specimens ranged from 103 to 325 μm, covering all of the four growth stages. Some specimens grew from one stage to the next stage changing skeletal morphology. The mean growth rate of four specimens which grew from stage 3 to 4 in laboratory culture was 5.4 μm/day (range 4.5–6.5 μm/day). Sporadic growth patterns exhibiting periods of rapid growth (15–20 μm per day) punctuated by intervals of little or no growth were observed in some cultured specimens. The sporadic growth may be related to a physiological rhythm of the organisms rather than environmental factors. The silica-depositing capacity is related largely to the vitality of the organisms. Discolored specimens and specimens with weakly extended axopodia showed no skeletal growth.     

Revision of genus Melamphaes (Melamphaidae): Part 4. Multi-raker species: M. ebelingi, M. occlusus sp. nova, and M. nikolayi sp. nova

In the fourth part of the revision of the genus Melamphaes (Melamphaidae) multi-raker species (20 and more rakers at the first gill arch, rarely 19??in M. ebelingi) with eight soft rays in the ventral fin are considered. In this species, temporal spine is absent, there are 15 rays in the pectoral fin, and there are 11 to 12 abdominal vertebrae. M. ebelingi inhabits tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean. A new catch of this rare species in the northeastern part of the ocean is reported. The new species M. occlusus is described from one specimen from the subtropical part of the southwestern part of the Indian Ocean. Still another new species, M. nikolayi, is described from one specimen from the northwestern part of the Pacific Ocean (subtropical waters). A table for identification of 15 multi-raker species of the genus Melamphaes is provided.