Isolation and characterization of six microsatellites in the Mexican beaded lizard Heloderma horridum

Six polymorphic microsatellite loci were isolated and characterized in the threatened Mexican beaded lizard, Heloderma horridum. The number of alleles per locus ranged from three to 12, with observed heterozygosity estimates ranging from 0.00 to 0.77, and expected heterozygosity estimates ranging from 0.00 to 0.73. These microsatellites will provide a valuable tool for the investigation of the genetic variation and structure of both wild and captive H. horridum populations.     

Analysis of forestry impacts and biodiversity in two Pyrenean forests through a comparison of moth communities （Lepidoptera, Heterocera）

We have compared the biodiversity variations in moth communities between unmanaged forests and commercial forests in a mountainous environment （Pyrenees France）. The aim was to evaluate the impact of forestry activities on moth diversity. The data collected from the insects were analysed with a Bayesian specific similarity index （noted SSP index） and by statistical biodiversity indexes comparison. It was seen that diversity and richness were decreased in the plantation compared to the unmanaged forest. Interestingly, the composition of the communities of moths was shown to be not only related to the presence/absence of host plants, but also to be in relation with changes in the differences in forest architecture （i.e. the relative coverage by the different vegetation levels）. However, the moth community in the commercial forest still has a high capacity to converge with the moth community present in more natural forests. We report here a list of 177 species of moths, providing information on the distribution of some uncommon species, poorly studied as yet in the Pyrenees.     

Sexual dimorphism of arrestment and gregariousness in the bed bug (Cimex lectularius) in response to cuticular extracts from nymphal exuviae

Releaser pheromones have direct behavioural effects to arrest, attract or disperse insects, whereas interactions within groups of social insects are often influenced by primer pheromones. The behaviour of insects displaying intermediate levels of sociality is largely unexplored in this context. In the present study, both the gregariousness and arrestment (settling near the odour source) of bed bugs Cimex lectularius L. (Hemiptera: Cimicidae) in response to conspecific exuvial extracts are described. Adult males are arrested on filter papers with extracts derived from exuviae of fifth‐instar nymphs. Adult females and nymphs display no significant evidence for such behaviour. Adults of both sexes show no preference for extracts of male versus female fifth‐instar exuviae. Arrestment of adult males does not occur on papers treated with fourth‐instar exuvial extracts. Because the insects are assayed behaviourally in groups, an index is calculated describing how far bugs are away from being located independently of one another, as a measure of gregariousness. Adult males have lower values for this index (i.e. locations are closer to independence). Adult females, nymph cohorts and mixed age groups all have higher values for this index, which tend to increase over time. Females exhibit a clear increasing dose‐dependent relationship for this index. It is concluded that the extracts of fifth‐instar nymphal exuvia arrest males on refuges that possess the odour source. However, gregariousness is induced in females, without evidence of a tendency to assemble near the odour source.     

One hundred years of instability in ensiferan relationships

Although Ensifera is a major insect model group, its phylogenetic relationships have been understudied so far. Few phylogenetic hypotheses have been proposed, either with morphological or molecular data. The largest dataset ever used for phylogeny reconstruction on this group is molecular (16S rRNA, 18S rRNA and 28S rRNA sequences for 51 ensiferan species), which has been used twice with different resultant topologies. However, only one of these hypotheses has been adopted commonly as a reference classification. Here we re‐analyse this molecular dataset with different methods and parameters to test the robustness and the stability of the adopted phylogeny. Our study reveals the instability of phylogenetic relationships derived from this dataset, especially for the deepest nodes of the group, and suggests some guidelines for future studies. The comparison between the different classifications proposed in the past 70 years for Ensifera and our results allows the identification of potential monophyletic clades (katydids, mole crickets, scaly crickets + Malgasia, true crickets, leaf roller crickets, cave crickets) and the remaining unresolved clades (wetas, Jerusalem crickets and most of the highest rank clades) in Ensifera phylogeny.     

Vertebrate Axial and Appendicular Patterning: The Early Development of Paired Appendages

Determination of paired fin or limb number, identity and positionare key issues in vertebrate development and evolution. Phylogeniesincluding fossil data show that paired appendages are uniqueto jawed vertebrates and their immediate ancestry; that suchfins evolved first as a single pair in an anterior location;that appendicular endoskeletons are primitively AP asymmetric;and that pectoral and pelvic fins primitively differ. It isconjectured that Hox gene expression patterns along the lateralplate mesoderm establish boundaries that contribute to localisationof AP levels at which signals initiate outgrowth from the bodywall. Such regionalisation may be regulated independently ofthat in the paraxial mesoderm and axial skeleton. When combinedwith current hypotheses of Hox gene phylogenetic and functionaldiversity, these data suggest a new model of fin/limb developmentalevolution. This coordinates body wall outgrowth regions withprimitive boundaries established in the gut, and the fundamentalnon-equivalence of pectoral and pelvic structures.     

Chlorophyll Fluorescence during Drying and Rehydration in the Mosses Rhytidiadelphus loreus (Hedw.) Warnst.,Anomodon viticulosus (Hedw.) Hook. & Tayl. and Grimmia pulvinata (Hedw.) Sm.

Chlorophyll-fluorescence parameters of three mosses, Rhytidiadelphusloreus (Hedw.) Warnst.,Anomodon viticulosus (Hedw.) Hook &Tayl. and Grimmia pulvinata (Hedw.) Sm. were measured duringdrying, and following remoistening after a period of desiccation.Most changed little with drying until the full-turgor pointwas approached, when rapid changes accompanied loss of cellwater. In R. loreus all parameters decreased together down toa water content of about 30% d.wt (RWC approx. 0.15). At lowwater contents (5–16% d.wt; RWC approx. 0.02–0.08)saturating pulses tended to suppress rather than stimulate fluorescence.In A. viticulosus F_v/F_m, q_Pand     

Parallel evolution in Marquesan partulid land snails

Partulid land snails of the genus Samoana inhabiting the Marquesas Islands of French Polynesia exist as two distinct types, the 'thick-shelled' and 'thin-shelled' species. The two types differ in size, shell-thickness, pigmentation of the shell and mantle, stickiness of the mucus, and length of the tentacles. A study of variation in allozymes indicates that the species form a monophyletic group, within which the differences between the two types have twice evolved independendy, once in the northern islands and at least once in the south. In the Society Islands the two suites of characters are found in both Partula and Samoana , where there is evidence of at least four other independent derivations of the two types. The thin-shelled species consistendy tend to occur at the higher altitudes (above 200 m). These cases of parallel evolution argue strongly that the complexes of associated characters have arisen through natural selection.