Phylogeny and biogeography of Thyridosmylus (Neuroptera: Osmylidae)

The first phylogenetic analysis of the genus Thyridosmylus Krüger is presented. All species from China were scored in a morphological analysis, along with extralimital species from India (Thyridosmylus pustulatus Kimmins) and Madagascar (Thyridosmylus marmoratus Fraser), and were compared with out‐group exemplars from Spilosmylus Kolbe, Thaumatosmylus Krüger and Osmylus Latreille. A monophyletic Thyridosmylus sister to Spilosmylus is confirmed based on this analysis, with the Malagasy Thyridosmylus marmoratus as sister to the Oriental Thyridosmylus species. Based on the results of this analysis, the biogeography of world Thyridosmylus is discussed. It is proposed that the genus originated in Gondwana no later than the Late Cretaceous (88 Ma) before the break‐up of the Madagascar–India continent. A new species, Thyridosmylus paralangii sp.n., is described from Guangxi Province, whereas two species [Thyridosmylus langii (McLachlan) and Thyridosmylus perspicillaris minor Kimmins] are recorded from China for the first time. Four synonyms are identified: Thyridosmylus laetus Yang et al. syn.n. , Thyridosmylus similaminor Yang syn.n. , Thyridosmylus vulgatus Yang syn.n. and Thyridosmylus mimoroides Yang syn.n. A key to the species of the world is provided.     

Bryophyte production and decomposition in tundra ecosystems

Bryophytes attain maximum relative importance in terms of biomass and production in the tundra biome. They contribute an average of 30% to the vegetation cover across a broad range of tundra sites, but often reach 100% cover in wetter and more protected situations. Figures for bryophyte phytomass span several orders of magnitude depending on severity of habitat conditions. Very high standing crops reflect organic matter accumulation due to low decomposition rates at the wettest sites. Initial annual loss rates are commonly below 10% in bryophyte-dominated habitats throughout the tundra. Bryophyte production ranges from less than 1 g m^-2 yr^-1 in polar desert, to more than 1000gm^-2yr^-l at wetter sites in the sub-Antarctic where a long growing season prevails.
However, many published values for tundra bryophyte production are based on suspect methodology and cannot be accurately compared between sites. The new generation of lightweight field-portable equipment for measuring gas exchange and microclimatic variables provides the potential for improving our knowledge of bryophyte productivity in relation to environmental factors in the tundra biome.
It is unfortunate, therefore, that the emphasis has shifted away from bryophyte autecological studies at important northern sites where increasing human impact is threatening this fragile biome type.     

Generalist dung attraction response in a New Zealand dung beetle that evolved with an absence of mammalian herbivores

1. Dung beetles (Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) are integral parts of many ecosystems because of their role in decomposition of dung; particularly mammal dung, which forms the diet of both larvae and adults. 2. New Zealand dung beetles are unusual as they are flightless and evolved on islands with a highly depauperate mammal fauna and thus without the usual dung resource used by dung beetles elsewhere. The diet of New Zealand dung beetles is unknown. 3. We hypothesised (1) that the endemic dung beetle Saphobius edwardsi would be attracted to a broad range of food types, and (2) that S. edwardsi would be able to survive and reproduce on a range of dung types and puriri (Vitex lucens) humus. 4. Laboratory choice tests identified that S. edwardsi was attracted to a range of mammal, bird, invertebrate, and reptile dung types, but not to non‐dung food sources. Five‐month no‐choice tests found that beetle survival rates were lower for beetles fed with humus compared with those fed on mammal, bird, or invertebrate dung. None of the beetles reproduced. 5. This study suggests S. edwardsi have a strong preference for dung, and are likely to be broad dung generalists in their feeding behaviour.     

Spring phenology in boreal Eurasia over a nearly century time scale

It has been widely reported that tree leaves have tended to appear earlier in many regions of the northern hemisphere in the last few decades, reflecting climate warming. Satellite observations revealed an 8-day advance in leaf appearance date between 1982 and 1991 in northern latitudes. In situ observations show that leaf appearance dates in Europe have advanced by an average of 6.3 days from 1959 to 1996. Modelling of leaf appearance on the basis of temperature also shows a marked advance in temperate and boreal regions from 1955 to 2002. However, before 1955, reported studies of phenological variations are restricted to local scale. Modelling, ground observations and satellite observations are here combined to analyse phenological variations in Eurasian taiga over nearly a century. The trend observed by remote sensing consists mainly in a shift at the end of the 1980s, reflecting a shift in winter and spring temperature. In western boreal Eurasia, a trend to earlier leaf appearance is evident since the mid-1930s, although it is discontinuous. In contrast, the strong advance in leaf appearance detected over Central Siberia using satellite data in 1982–1991 is strengthened by late springs in 1983–1984; moreover, in this region the green-up timing has displayed successive trends with opposite signs since 1920. Thus, such strong trend is not unusual if considered locally. However, the recent advance is unique in simultaneously affecting most of the Eurasian taiga, the leaf appearance dates after 1990 being the earliest in nearly a century in most of the area.