The genus Troglophilus Krauss, 1879 (Orthoptera: Rhaphidophoridae) in the west Balkans

We present a revision of the genus Troglophilus in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula based on morphological and genetic analysis, and provide distribution data for the species. The results of these analyses reduced the number of the known taxa within the genus Troglophilus in this area to five valid species: Troglophilus cavicola ( Kollar, 1833 ), Troglophilus neglectus Krauss, 1879 , Troglophilus ovuliformis Karny, 1907 , Troglophilus brevicauda Chopard, 1934, and Troglophilus lazaropolensis Karaman, 1958. A new species Troglophilus zorae sp. nov. is described and Troglophilus neglectus serbicus Maran, 1958, Troglophilus neglectus vlasinensis Maran, 1958, Troglophilus bukoviki Karaman, 1968 and Troglophilus pretneri Us, 1970 are synonymized. The distribution pattern of the western Balkan species supports a general east?west migration route. We also determined the centres of origin and spreading directions of particular species according to the distribution of the taxa and the structure of the haplotypes. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 163 , 1035–1063.     

Ecological adaptations of grassland‐inhabiting flightless Orthoptera: Fulvoscirtes and Acanthoscirtes,two new genera of African Karniellina (Orthoptera,Tettigoniidae, Conocephalinae,Conocephalini)

Two new genera, Fulvoscirtes n.gen. and Acanthoscirtes n.gen. , are established within the subtribe Karniellina of Conocephalini. Fulvoscirtes is based on Xiphidion kilimandjaricum Sjöstedt, 1909 and Acanthoscirtes on Phlesirtes kevani Chopard from northern Kenya. The majority of Fulvoscirtes spp. are confined to open grasslands in the submontane zone of mountains. Fulvoscirtes contains eight species, seven of which are newly described in this paper. Three species and one subspecies occur on Mt Kilimanjaro. These are F. kilimandjaricum (Sjöstedt) constricted to the southern slopes, F. legumishera n.sp. confined to the northern side and F. sylvaticus n.sp. occurring on the western side of Kilimanjaro and on the eastern slopes of Mt Meru. Fulvoscirtes fulvus n.sp. is divided into two subspecies, F. fulvus fulvus n.ssp. found in the submontane zone of east Kilimanjaro and F. fulvus parensis n.ssp. in submontane to montane localities of the North and South Pare mountains. Fulvoscirtes fulvotaitensis n.sp. occurs in the Taita Hills of southern Kenya. Fulvoscirtes viridis n.sp. is described from savannah habitats between Mts Longido and Meru. Fulvoscirtes laticercus n.sp. is found in the Kenyan highlands, while the most southerly occurring species, Fulvoscirtes manyara n.sp. , is found on Mt Hanang and the Mbulu highlands of northwestern Tanzania. Acanthoscirtes contains three species, of which A. albostriatus n.sp. is described newly from savannah habitas of eastern Kilimanjaro. Information is given on the ecology and the acoustic behaviour of some of the species together with keys to the genera of the Karniellina and the species of Fulvoscirtes and Acanthoscirtes. The genera of Karniellina probably evolved at a time when grasslands spread in East Africa due to an increasing aridification of the climate. The earliest lineage, the genus Karniella, is adapted to more forested habitats while the majority of the genera of Karniellina prefer open grasslands. Major splits within Karniellina probably occurred with the emergence of savannah grasslands due to the ongoing fragmentation of forest habitats several millions years ago, but most species within the genera are geologically young, their radiation being boosted by climatic fluctuations of the past 1–2 Ma.     

A new experimental approach to investigate migration in Pieris brassicae L.

Abstract.

• 1 It is possible to correlate distinct sequences of flight behaviour in caged females of the migrant butterfly Pieris brassicae with the main flight direction of released individuals of the same stock. The attempts to escape out of the cage point to the same mean direction as the flights of the released butterflies. This provides an experimental tool to investigate some unsolved questions concerning migration behaviour.
• 2 This study examines the constancy of the flight direction of a group of butterflies, the specificity of the direction in two populations of different geographical origin, and the frequently reported change in flight direction of subsequent generations.
• 3 The results indicate that the main flight direction of a tested group is very constant during 2 days of observation. Different directions have been detected in populations originating from Northern Germany and Southern France, respectively. The preferred directions are discussed as an adaptation to the geographical circumstances. Subsequent generations of the population from Northern Germany also show different directions. The spring generation flies to the north, the autumn generation in the opposite direction. This result corresponds to field observations that in P.brassicae a return flight occurs in subsequent generations of a year.

     

Sex Ratio Adjustment in a Seasonally Breeding Primate Species: Evidence from the Barbary Macaque Population at Affenberg Salem

Presented are data on secondary sex ratio in a large population of semifree-ranging Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus) at Affenberg Salem. Examined were 569 births in five social groups with regard to demographic parameters, maternal age and rank. Significant differences were found between the secondary sex ratios of high ranking and low ranking females. A higher proportion of male offspring was born in the high ranking class, while both groups did not differ in fecundity rates. A detailed analysis of the reproductive cycles of 73 females showed a significant shorter interval between the end of conceptional estrus and birth in male infants and also a significantly earlier onset of deturgescence of anogenital swelling when males were conceived. These results strongly suggest that the differences in the secondary sex ratio are not due to differential abortions but rather to pre-conceptional control of sex via timing of mating in relation to ovulation.     

The Response of the C3-CAM Tree, Clusia rosea, to Light and Water Stress: I. GAS EXCHANGE CHARACTERISTICS

Gas exchange measurements were undertaken on 2-year-old plantsof Clusia rosea. The plants were shown to have the ability toswitch from C₃-photosynthesis to CAM and vice versa regardlessof leaf age and, under some conditions, CO₂ was taken up continuously,throughout the day and night. The light response was saturatedby 120 µmol m^–2 s^–1 typical of a shade plant. Gas exchange patterns in response to light, water and VPD wereexamined. All combinations of daytime and night-time CO₂ uptakewere observed, with rates of CO₂ uptake ranging from 2 to 11µmol m^–2 s^–1 depending upon water status andlight. Categorization of this plant asC₃, CAM or an intermediateis impossible. Differing VPD affected the magnitude of changesfrom CAM to C₃-photosynthesis (0 to 0.5 and 0 to 6.0 µmolm^–2 s^–1 CO₂, respectively) when plants were watered.Under well-watered conditions, but not under water stress, highPPFD elicited changes from CAM to C₃ gas exchange. This is unusualnot only for a shade plant but also for a plant with CAM. Itis of ecological importance for C. rosea, which may spend theearly years of its life as an epiphyte or in the forest understorey,to be able to maximize photosynthesis with minimal water loss. Key words: Clusia rosea, CAM, C₃, stress     

A new genus of African Karniellina (Orthoptera,Tettigoniidae, Conocephalinae,Conocephalini): integrating morphological,molecular and bioacoustical data

Melanoscirtes gen.n. is established within Karniellina. The members of this subtribe are small conocephaline bush crickets, confined to Africa. Melanoscirtes is erected on Phlesirtes kibonotensis, a species restricted to forest clearings and forest edge in the submontane and montane zones of Mt. Kilimanjaro. A subspecies, M. kibonotensis uguenoensis, is described from the North Pare mountains, a mountain range of the Eastern Arc adjacent to Mt. Kilimanjaro. Further species of Melanoscirtes occur on other mountain ranges of the northern branch of the Eastern Arc mountains of northern Tanzania and southern Kenya. The South Pare mountains harbour M. shengenae; the West Usambaras, M. usambarensis, and the Taita Hills, M. taitensis. All species and subspecies of Melanoscirtes exhibit a similar morphology and occupy analogous habitats on the respective mountains. The song patterns for all species found within this genus are very similar, and this, together with evidence from molecular data, suggests that allopatric speciation is the reason for the biogeographic pattern found in this genus. A key for the subspecies and species of Melanoscirtes is provided.     

Processing of ultrasound in a bush cricket's brain

The processing and categorization of conspecific and heterospecific acoustic signals is an important task of the central nervous system. In orthopteran species, carrier frequency (besides temporal cues) is one of the major discriminators. In the bush cricket species Ancistrura nigrovittata Brunner von Wattenwyl (Phaneropteridae, Barbitistini), ultrasound has potentially different meanings and may elicit vastly different behaviours depending on the context it is perceived in. In the present study, data are presented of the morphology and neuronal responses of three local brain neurones (LBNs) that respond best to ultrasound. All neurones show dense arborizations in the lateral protocerebrum, where ascending interneurones terminate. The LBN2 and LBN9 neurones are entirely restricted to one side of the brain, whereas LBN5 crosses the midline, thereby linking both hemispheres. The response maxima for LBN2 overlap closely with the peak carrier frequencies found in a species‐specific duet, which consists of sonic (16 kHz, male), as well as ultrasonic (24–28 kHz, female) sound. By contrast, LBN9 responds only to ultrasound in the range of the female reply, whereas the male song induces exceptionally long‐lasting inhibition. The LBN5 neurone shows strongest spike activity to a broad range of ultrasonic frequencies, as long as the pulse duration remains short. All three brain neurones respond to ultrasound in a unique way and may be involved in the shaping of different behavioural outcomes.     

Effects of aquatic macrophytes on organic matter deposition,resuspension and phosphorus entrainment in a lowland river

1. Although macrophytes play a key role in the structure and functioning of lowland rivers, most of the basic plant, hydrodynamic and sediment‐water interactions have only been described qualitatively. We therefore studied quantitatively, the seasonal dynamics of matter deposition and mobilisation inside and outside (free path) a representative patch of arrowhead, Sagittaria sagittifolia, in the lowland River Spree, NE Germany, in August 2006. Our in situ study combined resuspension experiments, a hydrodynamically calibrated erosion chamber and concurrent measurements of the prevailing flow characteristics and bed load. 2. Increasing entrainment rates (E) of particles (E_SPM) and total P (E_TP), with increments of shear velocity (U_*) from 0.53 to 2.42 cm s^?1, were significantly higher inside the plant patch than outside. Indeed, E_SPM and E_TP at the lowest U_* were 8‐ and 12‐fold higher inside than outside the patch, reflecting the resuspension potential of the upper nutrient‐enriched layer and the extent of pulsed P inputs even at small increases in U_*. 3. Vertical distribution of velocity (u) revealed a flow pattern of a mixing layer inside the S. sagittifolia patch, and that of a boundary layer in the free path. The highest gradient of u in the mixing layer was located in the water column at about 0.5 m depth, whereas the highest gradient of u for the boundary layer was found near the riverbed. The maximum of U_* (1.65 cm s^?1) was only 4 mm above the sediment. 4. A plant mosaic provides a low‐energetic environment promoting extensive particle trapping and the accumulation of a fine‐grained, nutrient‐enriched sediment, and forming a large resuspension potential. Consequently, after plant decay and the concomitant increase of U_* this material is preferentially entrained at higher rates. Hence, the key role of submerged macrophytes in lowland rivers is more directly related to modifying the dynamic equilibria between vegetation trapping and resuspension, than to the retention of nutrients, particularly P, and the reduction of P loads downstream to other waters.