On a new anoplocephalid cestode Biporouterina psittaculae gen. et sp. nov. from Layard's paroquet Psittacula calthropae (Layard 1849)

A new genus and species of anoplocephalid cestode infesting Layard's paroquet is described from Ceylon.     

The Taxonomic Status of Mico marcai (Alperin 1993) and Mico manicorensis (van Roosmalen et al. 2000) (Cebidae,Callitrichinae) from Southwestern Brazilian Amazonia

Species level taxonomic revisions of New World monkeys are scarce but necessary if we are to obtain a clear picture of this group’s diversity. In this work I revise taxonomically the little known marmoset Mico marcai¸ originally described as Callithrix argentata marcai Alperin, 1993, in light of more recently collected material. I show that this species is significantly different in facial pigmentation and pelage color from all other marmosets of the genus Mico in the Madeira–Tapajós interfluvium. The form first described as Callithrix manicorensis is treated as a junior synonym of Mico marcai, as there are no morphological differences or geographical barriers between the two putative taxa. Mico marcai occurs in the Aripuanã–Manicoré interfluvium, limited in the north by the Rio Madeira and in the south by enclaves of savannah vegetation. Mico marcai occurs in sympatry with Callibella humilis through at least part of its range, representing the only known case of sympatry of two species of marmoset. The northern range of Mico marcai is relatively undisturbed and has few human settlements, its southern limit, on the other hand, is crossed by a major Brazilian highway, and in the same region at least seven hydroelectric reservoirs are planned to be built.     

On compromise in foraging and an experiment by Krebs et al. (1977)

A vectorized version of the method of stochastic dynamic programming is used to demonstrate that behaviour observed in Parus major by Krebs et al. (1977) is more consistent with the hypothesis that animals compromise between time and energy in foraging than with the hypothesis that they maximize their rate of energy gain.     

Deviation from the line of least resistance does not exclude genetic constraints: a comment on Berner et al. (2010)

Berner et al. (2010) found that freshwater adaptation of three-spined sticklebacks had not followed the direction of maximal evolvability. Based on this, they suggested that ancestral variance structure has not appreciably biased adaptive diversification. We reanalyze their data to show that evolution has happened in directions of much larger than average evolvability, and we conclude that their data are consistent with an influence of ancestral variational constraints.     

On the measurement of glucose in brain: A comment to Sacks et al. (1983)

The measurements reported by Sacks et al. (4) were examined critically and shown to be faulty. When performed correctly, the measurements yielded results that correspond closely to those predicted by the model of the brain uptake of 2-deoxyglucose formulated by Sokoloff et al. (5).In the Comment section, the Journal publishes papers that discuss possible inadequacies in methods or interaction, or posible misunderstandings. It is the hope that this facilitates the establishment of useful results and approaches, rather than stimulating polemics. It is in this spirit that this letter is published as a comment on a paper previously published in the Journal. With this, we consider the discussion closed as far as the Journal is concerned.The Editor.     

How to allow SAR collapse across local and continental scales: a resolution of the controversy between Storch et al. (2012) and Lazarina et al. (2013)

Up‐scaling species richness from local to continental scales is an unsolved problem of macroecology. Macroecologists hope that proper up‐scaling can uncover the hidden rules that underlie spatial patterns in species richness, but a machinery to up‐scale species richness also has a purely practical side at the scales and for the habitats where direct observations cannot be performed. The species–area relationship (SAR) could provide a tool for up‐scaling, but no valid method has yet been put forward. Such a method would have resulted from Storch et al.'s (2012) suggestion that there is a universal curve to which each rescaled SAR collapses, if Lazarina et al. (2013) had not shown that it does not: both arguments were supported by data analyses. Here we present an analytical model for mainland SAR and argue in favour of the latter authors. We identify 1) the variation in mean species‐range size, 2) the variation in forces that drive SAR at various scales, and 3) the finite‐area effect, as the reasons for the absence of collapse. Finally, we suggest a rescaling that might fix the problem. We conclude, however, that ecologists are still far from finding a practical, robust and easy‐to‐use solution for up‐scaling species richness from SARs.     

Molecular phylogeny and taxonomy of the genus Chaetophora (Chlorophyceae,Chlorophyta), including descriptions of Chaetophoropsis aershanensis gen. et sp. nov.

The broadly defined genus Chaetophora consisted of species with minute, uniseriate branching filaments enveloped in soft or firm mucilage forming macroscopic growths that are spherical, hemispherical, and tubercular or arbuscular, growing epiphytically on freshwater aquatic plants and other submerged surfaces in standing or fast‐flowing water. Recent molecular analyses clearly showed that this genus was polyphyletic. In this study, eight strains of Chaetophora and three strains of Stigeoclonium were identified and successfully cultured. In combination with the morphological data, a concatenated data set of four markers (18S + 5.8S + ITS2+ partial 28S rDNA) was also used to determine their taxonomic relationships and phylogenetic positions. The molecular analysis resolved the broadly defined Chaetophora to at least two genera. Species with a globose thallus of genus Chaetophora formed a separate monophyletic clade, which clearly separated from, a type of lobe‐form Chaetophora species. Therefore, we propose to erect a new genus, Chaetophoropsis, which includes all globose species of the Chaetophora. Chaetophoropsis aershanensis was determined to be a new species, based on its special characteristic of profuse long rhizoids. Stigeoclonium polyrhizum, as the closest relative to Chaetophoropsis, revealed its distant relationships to other species of Stigeoclonium. A globose thallus with a thick, soft mucilage matrix, and special rhizoidal branches lent further support to the placement of S. polyrhizum in the genus Chaetophoropsis and had the closest relationship to C. aershanensis. Taxonomic diversity was proven by distinctive morphological differences and by phylogenetic divergence in the broadly defined Chaetophora identified herein.     

Comparative anatomical analyses of the forearm muscles of Cebus libidinosus (Rylands et al. 2000): manipulatory behavior and tool use

The present study describes the flexor and extensor muscles in Cebus libidinosus' forearm and compares them with those from humans, chimpanzees and baboons. The data is presented in quantitative anatomical indices for similarity. The capuchin forearm muscles showed important similarities with chimpanzees and humans, particularly those that act on thumb motion and allow certain degree of independence from other hand structures, even though their configuration does not enable a true opposable thumb. The characteristics of Cebus' forearm muscles corroborate the evolutionary convergence towards an adaptive behavior (tool use) between Cebus genus and apes.     

Tubificidae (oligochaeta) from the Ross Sea (Antarctica), with descriptions of one new genus and two new species

Three species,Torodrilus gelidus sp. nov. (subfamily Rhyacodrilinae),Rossidrilus terraenovae gen. et sp. nov. (Limnodriloidinae), and a second unnamed species of Limnodriloidinae, are reported from marine sediments in Terra Nova Bay, Ross Sea. Torodrilus gelidus is distinguished fromT. lowryi Cook, 1970 by its setal pattern (with few exceptions, both anterior and posterior setae are single-pointed in sexually mature specimens ofT. gelidus) and the morphology of its male protuberances (the latter folded over a midventral bursa in segment XI).Rossidrilus terraenovae is characterized by large diverticula attached to the oesophagus in the posterior part of segment IX, unpaired male and spermathecal pores, heavily muscular and entally ciliated atrial ampullae, elongate prostatic pads, and a deep, unpaired and muscular, copulatory sac. It is the first species of its subfamily to be described from Antarctic waters.     

Birds from the Far East in Central Europe: some side-notes to Pfeifer et al. (2007)

The “reverse migration hypothesis” as the explanation for the vagrancy of Far Eastern birds in Europe is commented on. It is concluded that, as the postulated switch of 180° along a great circle line would lead the eastern or even central Siberian birds to North America rather than to Europe, the application of the “reverse migration hypothesis” to them seems untenable (which, however, does not preclude its plausibility in case of transatlantic, southern European, or even southwestern Siberian vagrants). On the other hand, patterns of appearance of the Turdus [naumanni] superspecies (Machalska et al. 1967) suggest the relationship of the phenomenon of vagrancy to post-breeding nomadic movements and/or periodical invasions of non-migrating species.     

Occurrence of Pseudomonas avellanae (Psallidas) Janse et al. and related pseudomonads on wild Corylus avellana trees and genetic relationships with strains isolated from cultivated hazelnuts

Surveys in submediterranean forests of central Italy were carried out during 1996–98 to verify the possible presence of bacterial canker caused by Pseudomonas avellanae in wild hazelnut trees ( Corylus avellana L.). Wilted twigs were noticed several times especially in summer. In other cases, wild C. avellana trees growing near to hazelnut orchards appeared completely wilted. Isolates that were pathogenic to C. avellana , showing a different degree of virulence, were obtained in both situations. Biochemical, physiological and nutritional tests as well as the comparison of whole-cell protein profiles, revealed the presence of 16 isolates identical to P. avellanae reference strains that had previously been isolated in the same area and five deviating isolates. Repetitive-PCR genomic fingerprinting performed by using BOX (Box elements), ERIC (Enterobacterial Repetitive Interkingdom Consensus) and REP (Repetitive Extragenic Palindromic) primer sets and analysed by means of upgma , revealed the existence of two main groups of pseudomonads pathogenic to C. avellana . Group A includes P. avellanae strains isolated in northern Greece and central Italy as well as the isolates obtained from the wild C. avellana trees grown near the cultivated hazelnut orchards. Group B includes strains previously isolated in northern, southern and other areas of central Italy as well as the isolates obtained from C. avellana wild trees showing twig dieback. Control measures should be taken to avoid the spread of bacterial canker of hazelnut in the forests of central Italy.     

On a cranial bony nodular protuberance on Mourasuchus pattersoni Cidade et al. 2017 (Crocodylia,Alligatoroidea) from the late Miocene of Venezuela

Mourasuchus pattersoni, from the late Miocene Urumaco Formation of Venezuela, is the fourth and most recent species described for the genus. The holotype, and only known specimen, is comprised of an almost complete skull with both mandibular rami and several postcranial remains. In ventral view, the right palatine bone has a spherical, nodular bony protuberance located on the anterior portion, near the suture with the maxilla. Unfortunately, we cannot assign a specific diagnosis based only on macroscopic inspection. Its appearance, form and location are compatible with three conditions: torus palatinus, a common benign intraoral bone overgrowth; osteoma, a benign neoplasical overgrowth of the bone; and hamartoma, an overgrowth of normal bone tissue that can only be differed from an osteoma by histological features. While occurrences of torus palatinus or hamartomas are not yet known in the nonhominid vertebrate fossil record, there are previous records of osteomas in fossil vertebrates, including in crocodylians, such as a specimen assigned to ‘Crocodylus sp.’ from the Eocene, aside from several records for living crocodylians. Future studies are needed to uncover an accurate diagnosis of this unusual structure and help increase our knowledge of paleopathology in fossil crocodylomorphs in general, especially in the Caimaninae clade.