Linnean ranks,temporal banding,and time‐clipping: why not slaughter the sacred cow?

In a recent study, Avise & Liu (2011) (Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 102: 707–714) presented evidence indicating that Linnean ranks are not temporally standardized (i.e. taxa of the same rank differ greatly in age). This is one more argument that ranks veil rather than convey biological comparability. The authors also discuss recent suggestions as to how these shortcomings should be overcome, in particular temporal banding (by which the same rank is assigned to taxa of the same geological age) and time‐clipping (adding a code to each taxon denoting the geological episode when it originated). In this short comment, it is argued that both temporal banding and time‐clipping may be deleterious in taxonomic practice and that the abandonment of the Linnean ranks is long overdue. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 103 , 732–734.     

Redefining the damselfly families: a comprehensive molecular phylogeny of Zygoptera (Odonata)

An extensive molecular phylogenetic reconstruction of the suborder Zygoptera of the Odonata is presented, based on mitochondrial (16S, COI) and nuclear (28S) data of 59% of the 310 genera recognized and all (suspected) families except the monotypic Hemiphlebiidae. A partial reclassification is proposed, incorporating morphological characters. Many traditional families are recovered as monophyletic, but reorganization of the superfamily Coenagrionoidea into three families is proposed: Isostictidae, Platycnemididae and Coenagrionidae. Archboldargia Lieftinck, Hylaeargia Lieftinck, Palaiargia Förster, Papuargia Lieftinck and Onychargia Selys are transferred from Coenagrionidae to Platycnemididae, and Leptocnemis Selys, Oreocnemis Pinhey and Thaumatagrion Lieftinck from Platycnemididae to Coenagrionidae. Each geographically well‐defined clade of Platycnemididae is recognized as a subfamily, and thus Disparoneurinae (i.e. Old World ‘Protoneuridae’) is incorporated, Calicnemiinae is restricted, and Allocnemidinae (type genus: Allocnemis Selys) subfam.n ., Idiocnemidinae (type genus: Idiocnemis Selys) subfam.n . and Onychargiinae (type genus: Onychargia Selys) subfam.n . and Coperini trib.n . (type genus: Copera Kirby) are described. Half of Coenagrionidae belongs to a well‐supported clade incorporating Coenagrion Kirby and the potential subfamilies Agriocnemidinae, Ischnurinae and Pseudagrioninae. The remainder is less well defined, but includes the Pseudostigmatidae and New World Protoneuridae that, with Argiinae and Teinobasinae, may prove valid subfamilies with further evidence. Ninety‐two per cent of the genera formerly included in the polyphyletic Amphipterygidae and Megapodagrionidae were studied. Pentaphlebiidae, Rimanellidae and Devadattidae fam.n . (type genus: Devadatta Kirby) are separated from Amphipterygidae, and Argiolestidae, Heteragrionidae, Hypolestidae, Philogeniidae, Philosinidae and Thaumatoneuridae from Megapodagrionidae. Eight further groups formerly placed in the latter are identified, but are retained as incertae sedis; the validity of Lestoideidae, Philogangidae and Pseudolestidae is confirmed. For some families (e.g. Calopterygidae, Chlorocyphidae) a further subdivision is possible; Protostictinae subfam.n . (type genus: Protosticta Selys) is introduced in Platystictidae. Numerous new combinations are proposed in the Supporting Information. Many long‐established families lack strong morphological apomorphies. In particular, venation is incongruent with molecular results, stressing the need to review fossil Odonata taxonomy: once defined by the reduction of the anal vein, Protoneuridae dissolves completely into six clades from five families.     

Phytosterols and Other Lipids as Survival Factors for Tetrahymena at 0–5 C

SYNOPSIS. Tetrahymena pyriformis syngen 1, mating type II, (optimal growth temperature ∼ 37 C) ordinarily dies out in 5-14 days at 0-5 C. Dying cells were lumpy, suggesting membrane damage. By supplying crude soy lecithin, survival at 0-5 C was prolonged (after growth in peptone-yeast-dextrin) to at least 22 weeks. Crude soy sterols or sitosterol or stigmasterol, and antioxidant, e.g., Ionox 330 or ascorbylpalmitate, permitted survival of cells in suspension or in growth media for at least 16-22 weeks. These sterols are known to protect against triparanol toxicity, which suggested that triparanol, which blocks cholesterol synthesis in higher animals, might enhance cold-induced injury. Triparanol was more toxic at 0–5 than at 28 C for cell suspensions and cells in growth medium; this toxicity was annulled by crude soy lecithin or β-sitosterol, the only phytosterol tested. The synthetic medium intended as a control on the crude media became toxic at 0–5 C. Protection against cold damage is discussed as a means of elucidating the role of sterols—especially phytosterols—and other lipids in maintaining the integrity of the ciliate cell membrane.     

Long-term survival despite low genetic diversity in the critically endangered Madagascar fish-eagle

The critically endangered Madagascar fish-eagle ( Haliaeetus vociferoides ) is considered to be one of the rarest birds of prey globally and at significant risk of extinction. In the most recent census, only 222 adult individuals were recorded with an estimated total breeding population of no more than 100–120 pairs. Here, levels of Madagascar fish-eagle population genetic diversity based on 47 microsatellite loci were compared with its sister species, the African fish-eagle ( Haliaeetus vocifer ), and 16 of these loci were also characterized in the white-tailed eagle ( Haliaeetus albicilla ) and the bald eagle ( Haliaeetus leucocephalus ). Overall, extremely low genetic diversity was observed in the Madagascar fish-eagle compared to other surveyed Haliaeetus species. Determining whether this low diversity is the result of a recent bottleneck or a more historic event has important implications for their conservation. Using a Bayesian coalescent-based method, we show that Madagascar fish-eagles have maintained a small effective population size for hundreds to thousands of years and that its low level of neutral genetic diversity is not the result of a recent bottleneck. Therefore, efforts made to prevent Madagascar fish-eagle extinction should place high priority on maintenance of habitat requirements and reducing direct and indirect human persecution. Given the current rate of deforestation in Madagascar, we further recommend that the population be expanded to occupy a larger geographical distribution. This will help the population persist when exposed to stochastic factors (e.g. climate and disease) that may threaten a species consisting of only 200 adult individuals while inhabiting a rapidly changing landscape.     

Assessing Ecoregional-Scale Habitat Suitability Index Models for Priority Landbirds

ABSTRACT Emerging methods in habitat and wildlife population modeling promise new horizons in conservation but only if these methods provide robust population-habitat linkages. We used Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) data to verify and validate newly developed habitat suitability index (HSI) models for 40 priority landbird species in the Central Hardwoods and West Gulf Coastal Plain/Ouachitas Bird Conservation Regions. We considered a species’ HSI model verified if there was a significant rank correlation between mean predicted HSI score and mean observed BBS abundance across the 88 ecological subsections within these Bird Conservation Regions. When we included all subsections, correlations verified 37 models. Models for 3 species were unverified. Rank correlations for an additional 5 species were not significant when analyses included only subsections with BBS abundance >0. To validate models, we developed generalized linear models with mean observed BBS abundance as the response variable and mean HSI score and Bird Conservation Region as predictor variables. We considered verified models validated if the overall model was an improvement over an intercept-only null model and the coefficient on the HSI variable in the model was >0. Validation provided a more rigorous assessment of model performance than verification, and models for 12 species that we verified failed validation. Species whose models failed validation were either poorly sampled by BBS protocols or associated with woodland and shrubland habitats embedded within predominantly open landscapes. We validated models for 25 species. Habitat specialists and species reaching their highest densities in predominantly forested landscapes were more likely to have validated models. In their current form, validated models are useful for conservation planning of priority landbirds and offer both insight into limiting factors at ecoregional scales and a framework for monitoring priority landbird populations from readily available national data sets.     

Landscape Habitat Suitability Index Software

ABSTRACT Habitat suitability index (HSI) models are traditionally used to evaluate habitat quality for wildlife at a local scale. Rarely have such models incorporated spatial relationships of habitat components. We introduce Landscape HSImodels, a new Microsoft Windows® (Microsoft, Redmond, WA)—based program that incorporates local habitat as well as landscape-scale attributes to evaluate habitats for 21 species of wildlife. Models for additional species can be constructed using the generic model option. At a landscape scale, attributes include edge effects, patch area, distance to resources, and habitat composition. A moving window approach is used to evaluate habitat composition and interspersion within areas typical of home ranges and territories or larger. The software and sample data are available free of charge from the United States Forest Service, Northern Research Station at http:www.nrs.fs.fed.ushsi .     

Isolation of active ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase from glanded cotton (G. hirsutum)

Ribulose, 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase has been isolated from leaves of glanded cotton, (Gossypium hirsutum L. cv. TM1), by techniques described. A yield exceeding 4.5 mg enzyme per gram leaf tissue has been obtained by utilizing a sodium homogenizing buffer without the addition of any reducing agent. Sodium dodecylsulfate gel electrophoresis of the enzyme shows the fraction to be relatively free of contaminants. Enzymic assays of the isolate give a specific activity of 1.1 μmol CO₂ fixed (min-mg protein)^?1 at 30°C.