Morphological variation in populations of Bletia purpurea (Orchidaceae) and description of the new species B. riparia

Bletia purpurea is the most widespread species in its genus. Morphological variation has been recognized throughout the range of its distribution. In this paper, the morphological variation from 63 populations (583 individuals) ofBletia purpurea is assessed to determine whether more than one species were present. Forty-four quantitative and qualitative characters were examined by univariate analyses and exploratory multivariate analyses. Univariate analyses indicate that quantitative characters such as lateral sepal width, petal. width, lip length, and lip width are significantly different for populations from Acazónica, Mexico. Floral parts in the populations from Acazónica are the smallest among all populations. Qualitative characters such as petals covering the lip midlobe and horizontal lip position are found exclusively in the same populations. We concluded that these populations should be described as a new species,B. riparia. Multivariate analyses indicated that morphological variation among the other populations cannot be ascribed to geographic distribution or ecological factors.     

A review of the chronostratigraphical ages of Middle Triassic to Late Jurassic dinoflagellate cyst biozones of the North West Shelf of Australia

The chronostratigraphical ages of the 20 dinoflagellate cyst zones and one dinoflagellate cyst assemblage for the Middle Triassic (Ladinian) to the Jurassic-Cretaceous transition of the North West Shelf of Australia are comprehensively reviewed. Evidence from macro- and micropalaeontology, palynology and strontium isotopes made available after the establishment of these biozones in the 1980s has been used to reassess the ages of this important zonal scheme and to calibrate it to the international stratigraphical stages. The Shublikodinium Superzone is renamed herein as the Rhaetogonyaulax Superzone, and based on conodont evidence is determined to span the Ladinian to Early Sinemurian. This is significantly shorter in duration than was originally envisaged (Late Anisian to Late Pliensbachian). The Luehndea Assemblage is a low diversity dinoflagellate cyst association which marks a eustatic rise; it is subdivided into two subzones. It is of latest Pliensbachian to Early Toarcian age, based largely on palynological evidence. The Bajocian to earliest Oxfordian Pareodinia ceratophora Superzone represents the inception of a continuous Mesozoic-Cenozoic dinoflagellate cyst record in Australia. It comprises seven zones, which are considered to be slightly older than originally interpreted. The overlying Pyxidiella Superzone is characterised by diverse dinoflagellate cyst associations. It is Early Oxfordian to Kimmeridgian in age, and comprises three zones. The bases of the Wanaea spectabilis and Wanaea clathrata zones are reinterpreted as being slightly older than originally proposed. The superjacent Fromea cylindrica Superzone is Tithonian to earliest Valanginian and modified ages are indicated for four of the nine zones. This unit is dominated by endemic dinoflagellate cysts, reflecting a global trend towards provincialism at this time due to a regressive eustatic regime.     

West Nile Virus Exposure in Black Bears of Northeastern Wisconsin

ABSTRACT Knowledge of the distribution and pathology of West Nile virus (WNV) in black bears is a necessary tool that allows wildlife managers to implement a management plan, set harvest quotas, and relocate nuisance bears. We studied the presence and significance of WNV titers in free-roaming black bears (Ursus americanus) in northeastern Wisconsin between February 2003 and March 2005. Serum neutralizing antibodies to WNV, with confirmation by plaque-reduction neutralization test to both WNV and Saint Louis encephalitis, identified exposure in 13 of 74 (17.6%) bears. This compares with a 6% infection rate in black bears in Virginia and 22% in European brown bears (Ursus arctos). Pathologic effects from exposure to WNV were not seen in any of the black bears studied.     

引水和疏浚工程对杭州西湖轮虫群落结构的影响

1990年、1995年和2003年观察了引水和疏浚工程支配下浅水、富营养化杭州西湖（Ⅰ-Ⅲ站）浮游轮虫的群落变化,研究内容包括种类组成和优势种演变、密度和生物量、以及生物多样性指数。西湖轮虫的第一优势种由引水前的螺形龟甲轮虫（Keratella cochelearis）,引水后演变为1990年的裂痕龟纹轮虫（Anuraeopsis fissa）和1995年的暗小异尾轮虫（Trichocerca pusilla）,疏浚工程后针簇多肢轮虫（Polyarthra trigla）上升为西湖轮虫第一优势种。不同采样站中,引水促使了Ⅰ站（进水口）轮虫优势种的演变和轮虫丰度的显著下降,并使轮虫生物量与水体叶绿素a含量之间的相关性最强（相关系数达0.7080,p〈0.01）;疏浚促使了Ⅲ站（出水口）轮虫优势种的演变和抑制了轮虫丰度的快速增加,并使轮虫生物量与水体高锰酸盐指数之间的相关性最强（相关系数0.5440,p〈0.25）。Ⅰ-Ⅲ站轮虫生物量与水体综合营养状态指数之间均有显著的正相关性。随着引入西湖水量的显著减少、疏浚工程的实施和西湖自身富营养化的推进,Ⅰ站和Ⅱ站轮虫的丰度急剧增加,生物多样性持续下降,Ⅲ站轮虫丰度增加较缓。这预示着Ⅰ站和Ⅱ站水体的富营养化进程快于Ⅲ站。     

旅游环境舒适度评价及其时空分异——以杭州西湖为例

旅游环境舒适度是影响旅游者出行决策和消费行为的重要因素,进一步影响到目的地适游期长短和旅游设施利用率。影响旅游舒适度的因素主要包括气候与环境两方面。以杭州西湖景区为研究对象,尝试将影响舒适度的空气质量、噪音等环境因素与气候因素共同纳入评价体系,选取温度、相对湿度、二氧化碳、一氧化碳、噪音5项指标和6个代表性检测点,进行为期1a定时定点检测,在排除二氧化碳与一氧化碳影响的基础上,构建了旅游环境舒适度评价模型,研究景区尺度存在的旅游环境舒适度时空分异特征。研究发现:不舒适时段主要集中在1月上旬到2月下旬,舒适和较舒适时段主要集中于2月下旬到7月中旬、8月下旬到11月下旬;山区与湖区各项环境指标要优于近城区、游客集聚区及交通繁忙区,平均舒适度山区(1.30)湖心区(1.66)城区(1.82)近城区(2.02)游人集聚区(2.47)交通繁忙区(2.48)。6个观测点在不同时段表现的舒适度差异也不同,差异最大的时段出现在4月中旬到5月中旬,差异最小时段出现在1月上旬到2月下旬。温湿度与噪音存在反向协同作用,引起环境舒适度变化。温湿度舒适时段往往旅游活动频繁,导致噪音升高降低了旅游环境舒适度。温湿度不舒适期旅游活动减少使得声环境相对舒适。     

Morphometric divergence in populations of Anastrepha obliqua (Diptera,Tephritidae) from Colombia and some Neotropical locations

The West Indian fruit fly, Anastrepha obliqua, is one of seven species of quarantine importance of its genus and is one of the most economically important fruit fly pests in Colombia. The taxonomic status of this species is a key issue for further implementation of any pest management program. Several molecular studies have shown enough variability within Anastrepha obliqua to suggest its taxonomic status could be revised; however, there are no morphological studies supporting this hypothesis. The aim of this work was to describe the morphological variability of Colombian populations of Anastrepha obliqua, comparing this variability with that of other samples from the Neotropics. Measurements were performed on individuals from 11 populations collected from different geographic Colombian localities and were compared with populations from Mexico (2), Dominica Island (1), Peru (1) and Brazil (2). Linear morphometric analyses were performed using 23 female morphological traits, including seven variables of the aculeus, three of the thorax, and six of the wing; seven ratios among them were also considered. Discriminant function analyses showed significant morphological differentiation among the Colombian populations, separating them into two groups. Furthermore, in the comparisons between Colombian samples with those from other countries, three clusters were observed. The possibility of finding more than one species within the nominal Anastrepha obliqua population is discussed.     

Phylogeography of Mus (Nannomys) minutoides (Rodentia,Muridae) in West Central African savannahs: singular vicariance in neighbouring populations

We studied the phylogeography of the strict savannah pygmy mice Mus (Nannomys) minutoides in West Central Africa. A total of 846 base pairs of the cytochrome b sequence were obtained for 66 individuals collected in Gabon, Cameroon, Republic of Congo and Central African Republic. These sequences were compared to those of M. minutoides from other African countries and to eight other species of the genus Mus. We performed maximum likelihood, Bayesian and nested clade analyses, as well as neutrality tests and time estimates. We show that M. minutoides is a well‐differentiated monophyletic species that separated from other pygmy mice 1.17 Myr ago. A distinct West Central African M. minutoides clade diverged early from the other African populations of the species, with a more recent common ancestor dating 0.14 Myr. West Central African populations are globally homogeneous, despite the present fragmentation of savannahs by the rain forest. However, our analyses show an unexpected vicariance between geographically close savannahs, embedded in the rain forest in Central Gabon. One of these populations is genetically more similar to very distant peripheral populations than to three closely neighbouring populations situated on both sides of the Ogooué River. A non‐river geographical barrier probably persisted in this area, durably isolating these local populations. This hypothesis about the history of the savannah landscape should be testable through the biogeographical analysis of other strict savannah small mammal species.     

Arylcyanoacrylamides as inhibitors of the Dengue and West Nile virus proteases

The 3-aryl-2-cyanoacrylamide scaffold was designed as core pharmacophore for inhibitors of the Dengue and West Nile virus serine proteases (NS2B-NS3). A total of 86 analogs was prepared to study the structure–activity relationships in detail. Thereby, it turned out that the electron density of the aryl moiety and the central double bond have a crucial influence on the activity of the compounds, whereas the influence of substituents of the amide residue is less relevant. The para-hydroxy substituted analog was found to be the most potent inhibitor in this series with a K_i-value of 35.7 μM at the Dengue and 44.6 μM at the West Nile virus protease. The aprotinin competition assay demonstrates a direct interaction of the inhibitor molecule with active centre of the Dengue virus protease. The target selectivity was studied in a counterscreen with thrombin and found to be 2.8:1 in favor of DEN protease and 2.3:1 in favor of WNV protease, respectively.