Kurze Mitteilung: Fischsterben durch Prymnesium saltans Massart im Kleinen Jasmunder Bodden (Rügen) im April 1990

Mass mortality caused by Prymnesium saltans Massart in the Kleiner Jasmunder Bodden (Rügen), April 1990 A report on the reasons, spread and extent of a mass mortality in a Bodden water near the Isle of Rügen (Germany). The cause of mass fish mortality was an abundance of the toxic algae Prymnesium saltans Massart, with approx. 300000000 cells per liter.     

Die Graptolithen des Ordoviziums von Rügen (Norddeutschland, Vorpommern)

Graptolite faunas from theHolmograptus lentus,Pterograptus elegans, Hustedograptus teretiusculus andNemagraptus gracilis Zones are identified in the Ordovician succession of Rügen. The well sections bear incomplete, often fault-bounded successions. Tectonic stacking is present in the Rügen 3h core. A sedimentological gap is expected in the Arenig. About twenty graptolite species are described and their local biostratigraphic ranges are documented. Most of the faunal elements are described for the first time from the Ordovician of northern Germany. The faunal associations belong to the Atlantic Faunal Province.     

Helgoland (Germany): hemogenetic study of an island population

24 haemogenetic markers (5 erythrocyte antigenes, 6 polymorphisms of serum proteins, 12 polymorphisms of red cell enzymes) had been studied in up to 80 individuals from the island of Helgoland (Germany). The cluster analysis separates clearly the Helgoland sample from the neighbouring populations as well as from European standard data. This special position is interpreted partly by genetic peculiarities developed in the course of time, partly as a consequence of genetic drift.     

Intraspecific chromosome variation between different populations ofCtenomys dorbignyi (Rodentia, Ctenomyidae) from Argentina

We used banding techniques to analyze the karyotypes of 17 individuals ofCtenomys dorbignyi Contreras and Contreras, 1984, from populations in Corrientes (Mbarigüí, the type locality, and Sarandicito) belonging to the previously known range of the species, and Entre Ríos (Tiro Federal and Paso Vera) representing a new geographically isolated group of populations. All known populations have 2n=70 although the extreme geographic isolation of the different localities suggested the possibility of chromosomal divergence. We found three different karyomorphs; two of them (Mbarigüí and Sarandicito) had 6 pairs of biarmed autosomes and 28 pairs of telocentric autosomes, with an FN=80. Pair 20 (telocentric) was the carrier of the only detected NOR. However, pair 2 was clearly different in each of these two, being metacentric in Sarandicito and submetacentric in Mbarigüí. The third fixed karyomorph differed significantly from the others, showing 8 pairs of biarmed autosomes and 26 pairs of telocentric autosomes, with an FN=84. Pair 3 (biarmed) was the carrier of the single NOR detected. The NOR carrier also showed a marked heteromorphism (Corrientes vs Entre Ríos) evidenced by differences in the length of the short arm. These observations revealed a chromosomal polytypism that was expected owing to the disjunct geographic distribution of the species.     

Nachweis der Chlorotischen Blattfleckung des Apfels und der Verzwergung von Malus platycarpa in ringfleckiger Chaenomeles (Kurze Mitteilung)

Die Insel Vilm liegt südöstlich der Insel Rügen im Rügenschen Bodden und umfaßt annähernd 94 ha. Sie ist 2,5 km lang und erhebt sich bis zu 37,5 m über den Meeresspiegel. Die Insel Vilm ist seit 1990 ein Teil des Biosphärenreservates Südost‐Rügen. Das Bundesamt für Naturschutz unterhält hier die Außenstelle Internationale Naturschutzakademie (INA). Angesichts der relativ isolierten Lage der Insel und der durch Kulturmaßnahmen kaum beeinflußten oder veränderten Flora erschien es aus ökologischer und epidemiologischer Sicht interessant, das Vorkommen pflanzenpathogener Viren zu untersuchen.

Die folgenden Viren wurden in verschiedenen Pflanzenarten bestimmt: cherry leafroll virus in Betula pendula Roth.; ash mosaic virus in Fraxinus excelsior L.; tobacco rattle virus in Galium mallugo L.; cucumber mosaic virus in Malva sylvestris L. und Rhamnus cathartica L.; plum pox virus in Prunus spinosa L. und sorbus ring pattern mosaic virus in Sorbus aucuparia L.

Virusverdächtige Symptome wurden auch an anderen Pflanzenarten gefunden. Wildäpfel und Wildbirnen waren virusfrei. In Wasserproben aus Sümpfen und dem ufernahen Bereich der See wurde ein tobamovirus isoliert.     

Genetics,geography, and culture: The population of S. Pietro Island (Sardinia,Italy)

An interesting aspect of the island of Sardinia (Italy) is the wide range of genetic variability within the island itself. The variability is widened by the presence of some populations of different ethnic origin who speak a language other than Sardinian. This work deals with the study of the genetic structure of the Carloforte population which inhabits the tiny island of S. Pietro 4 km off the southwest coast of Sardinia. S. Pietro was first populated in 1738 by emigrants coming from the island of Tabarka (Tunisia) who spoke an archaic form of the Ligurian dialect. Data on genetic polymorphisms in the Carloforte population are presented and discussed in relation to some Sardinian and Italian populations. Data on demographic and matrimonial structure are also presented. The genetic analyses show the Carloforte population as being clearly separated from both Sardinians and continental Italians. The isolation of Carloforte, highlighted by language diversity, endogamy, and consanguinity levels and marriage area, supports the idea of genetic diversity linked to cultural peculiarity. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Enhanced colour polymorphisms in island populations of the land snail Euhadra peliomphala

Variations in visible genetic polymorphisms are assumed to decrease in populations on small islands because of intense founder effects, genetic drift and inbreeding. However, we have found evidence of a marked enhancement of colour polymorphisms within populations on small oceanic islands that were colonized from the mainland. The source populations on the mainland of the land snail Euhadra peliomphala in four oceanic islands were estimated by phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial DNA sequences. Diversity of shell colour was higher in the island populations than in the source populations on the mainland. In addition, the shell colour morphs differed not only among populations from different islands but also between the island populations and the source populations on the mainland. By contrast, no mtDNA variations were found in any of the island populations, even though the source populations possessed high mtDNA diversity. Thus, components of colour morphs changed in the island populations after their colonization, and colour polymorphisms are enhanced in these islands despite the loss of genetic variation. The above findings suggest that ecological mechanisms such as morphological release owing to a release from competition may overcome the tendency toward reduced genetic variation in islands to enhance the colour polymorphism.  © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2004, 81 , 417–425.     

Palynofacies and spore assemblage variations of upper Viséan (Mississippian) strata across the southern North Sea

Viséan strata are penetrated by exploration wells in the southern North Sea, reaching from the Firth of Forth in Scotland to offshore northwest Germany and to Rügen Island, northeastern Germany, south of the Baltic Sea. Several wells have been studied representing different late Viséan depositional settings ranging from proximal near-shore clastic facies (Firth of Forth, Northwest of Germany) to distal carbonate platform facies (Rügen Island). Variations of the miospore assemblages from the coeval (NM and VF Miospore Biozones) parts of these sections were analyzed with respect to palynofacies, spore abundance; morphological composition; diversity and palaeobotanical/palaeoecological affinities. While assemblages from similar down-depositional dip facies settings remain similar (even over east-west distances of > 750 km), all of the above attributes show significant variations from proximal to distal depositional settings (< 200 km to the southeast). These down-depositional dip changes appear to be continuous, but the greatest degree of change is seen at the boundaries between deltaic and non-deltaic near shore facies; between near-shore coastal clastic and carbonate platform facies; and between inner-and outer-carbonate platform facies.Miospore abundances, assemblage diversities and the number of coincident genera between the sections are reduced in moving towards distal depositional settings. This reduction most effects rounded triangular and triangular miospores, while the proportion of rounded miospores increases significantly. The palaeobotanical/palaeoecological character of the miospores also clearly changes in moving from coastal clastic to carbonate platform depositional settings. These changes appear to be largely controlled by taphonomic effects such as primary input and sorting during transportation and deposition, such that a facies-related pattern is apparent. Variations in late Viséan miospore assemblages across the studied area appear to be most closely related to the different facies realms suggesting that previously identified differences in miospore assemblages from Germany and Britain reflect depositional facies rather than regional variations in parent vegetation or climate.     

Fischreste (Selachii,Actinopterygii) aus der Wealdentonscholle von Lobber Ort (Mönchgut/Rügen/DDR)

A fossil fish fauna from an erratic Wealden clay deposit in the tillitic cliff of Lobber Ort (Isle of Rügen/GDR) is described (Hybodus sp.,Polyacrodus sp.,Lissodus rugianus n. sp.,Lepidotes cf.mantelli Agassiz,Lepidotes sp., Pycnodontiformes fam., gen. et sp. indet). The fauna indicates brackish-fresh water conditions and resembles those from British Purbeck and Wealden deposits and from the Wealden deposits of Hannover. The exceptional environmental features within the depositional area of the NW-European Wealden facies have obviously accelerated speciation processes within the genusLissodus Brough 1935 during the Earliest Cretaceous.     

Unraveling the evolutionary history of the nematode Pristionchus pacificus: from lineage diversification to island colonization

The hermaphroditic nematode Pristionchus pacificus is a model organism with a range of fully developed genetic tools. The species is globally widespread and highly diverse genetically, consisting of four major independent lineages (lineages A, B, C, and D). Despite its young age (~2.1 Ma), volcanic La Réunion Island harbors all four lineages. Ecological and population genetic research studies suggest that this diversity is due to repeated independent island colonizations by P. pacificus. Here, we use model‐based statistical methods to rigorously test hypotheses regarding the evolutionary history of P. pacificus. First, we employ divergence analyses to date diversification events among the four “world” lineages. Next, we examine demographic properties of a subset of four populations (“a”, “b”, “c”, and “d”), present on La Réunion Island. Finally, we use the results of the divergence and demographic analyses to inform a modeling‐based approximate Bayesian computation (ABC) approach, where we test hypotheses about the order and timing of establishment of the Réunion populations. Our dating estimates place the recent common ancestor of P. pacificus lineages at nearly 500,000 generations past. Our demographic analysis supports recent (<150,000 generations) spatial expansion for the island populations, and our ABC approach supports c>a>b>d as the most likely colonization order of the island populations. Collectively, our study comprehensively improves previous inferences about the evolutionary history of P. pacificus.     

Ernst Rüdin: Hitler’s Racial Hygiene Mastermind

Ernst Rüdin (1874–1952) was the founder of psychiatric genetics and was also a founder of the German racial hygiene movement. Throughout his long career he played a major role in promoting eugenic ideas and policies in Germany, including helping formulate the 1933 Nazi eugenic sterilization law and other governmental policies directed against the alleged carriers of genetic defects. In the 1940s Rüdin supported the killing of children and mental patients under a Nazi program euphemistically called “Euthanasia.” The authors document these crimes and discuss their implications, and also present translations of two publications Rüdin co-authored in 1938 showing his strong support for Hitler and his policies. The authors also document what they see as revisionist historical accounts by leading psychiatric genetic authors. They outline three categories of contemporary psychiatric genetic accounts of Rüdin and his work: (A) those who write about German psychiatric genetics in the Nazi period, but either fail to mention Rüdin at all, or cast him in a favorable light; (B) those who acknowledge that Rüdin helped promote eugenic sterilization and/or may have worked with the Nazis, but generally paint a positive picture of Rüdin’s research and fail to mention his participation in the “euthanasia” killing program; and (C) those who have written that Rüdin committed and supported unspeakable atrocities. The authors conclude by calling on the leaders of psychiatric genetics to produce a detailed and complete account of their field’s history, including all of the documented crimes committed by Rüdin and his associates.     

沿海岛屿与内陆藓类植物遗传多样性和分化的比较研究——以真藓(Bryum argenteum Hedw.)为例

基于11个内陆居群和32个岛屿居群的252份标本,采用ISSR分子标记技术对真藓（Bryum argenteum Hedw.）的遗传多样性进行了研究。结果显示：岛屿与内陆居群间的遗传多样性差异显著,岛屿居群间的分化程度（G_st=0.453）大于内陆居群（G_st=0.387）,岛屿居群的遗传分化与地理来源间存在极显著相关性（r=0.478,n=175,P<0.001）。地理隔离效应是导致岛屿居群间遗传分化的重要因素。岛内居群间的遗传分化水平较低,仅有29.4%~29.7%的遗传多样性存在于居群间。聚类分析表明,43个居群可划分为10大类群,真藓遗传关系受地理因素和生境异质性的影响,水域隔离影响了真藓繁殖体在岛屿间的传播。     

12. Jan Kohlmeyer,Ingeborg Schmidt und N. Balakrishnan Nair: Eine neue Corollospora (Ascomycetes) aus dem Indischen Ozean und der Ostsee

Auf einer Holzprobe (Mangifera indica L.) aus dem Indischen Ozean (Cochin Harbour, Kerala State, Indien) und auf Resten von Fucus vesiculosus L. aus der Ostsee bei Rügen (Deutschland, DDR) wurde Corollospora pulchella Kohlm., Schmidt et Nair sp. nov. gefunden. Im Holz hatten sich die Perithecien vorwiegend auf Kalkschalen leerer Gänge von Nausitora hedleyi Schepman, auf Schalen von Martesia striata L. und auf Sandkörnern entwickelt. Die neue Art wird ausführlich beschrieben und mit den bisher bekannten fünf Spezies der marinen Gattung Corollospora verglichen. Die für dieses Genus charakteristischen Merkmale werden diskutiert und in ihrem Wert abgewogen.     

沿海岛屿与内陆藓类植物遗传多样性和分化的比较研究——以真藓(Bryum argenteum Hedw.)为例

基于11个内陆居群和32个岛屿居群的252份标本,采用ISSR分子标记技术对真藓( Bryum argenteum Hedw.)的遗传多样性进行了研究。结果显示:岛屿与内陆居群间的遗传多样性差异显著,岛屿居群间的分化程度( G st = 0. 453)大于内陆居群( G st = 0. 387),岛屿居群的遗传分化与地理来源间存在极显著相关性( r = 0. 478, n = 175, P < 0. 001)。地理隔离效应是导致岛屿居群间遗传分化的重要因素。岛内居群间的遗传分化水平较低,仅有29. 4%~ 29. 7%的遗传多样性存在于居群间。聚类分析表明,43个居群可划分为10大类群,真藓遗传关系受地理因素和生境异质性的影响,水域隔离影响了真藓繁殖体在岛屿间的传播。     

Genetic and morphometric diversity in Wallacea: geographical patterning in the horse shoe bat, Rhinolophus affinis

Genetic and morphometric variation was examined in eleven island populations of the horse‐shoe bat, Rhinolophus affinis, at the easterly end of this widespread species’ range and encompassing the Australian–Oriental biogeographic interface. Allozyme variation revealed mean heterozygosity levels within islands of 0.047, which is near the mammalian average. However, heterozygosity tended to decline from west to east as populations approached the periphery of the species’ distribution, and was lowest in those islands that were separated by the greatest sea‐crossing from source populations. There is extensive between‐island genetic differentiation (mean F_ST = 0.40) and relationships between islands are associated with their arrangement in geographical space; genetic distance is correlated with geographical distance and the genetic arrangement of islands is associated with longitude. The arrangement of islands as indicated by variation in body and skull metrics is also associated with their geographical positions, and the metric and genetic measures are themselves associated. While other taxa in the region have shown genetic‐geographical concordances, R. affinis is the only one that displays concordant patterns in metrical features. These patterns in biological diversity are interpreted as arising from the sequential island population structure and clines in key biogeographic gradients.     

Die Wirkung von Harnmarken auf Artgenossen beim Haushund

An 11 Versuchstagen wurden die Reaktionen von insgesamt 3 Rüden und 2 Hündinnen auf einem rund 2stündigen Spaziergang in nicht oder wenig bekanntem Gebiet beobachtet. Auf einem ersten Rundgang wurden die spontan abgegebenen Harnmarken eines Versuchstieres mit kleinen Objekten markiert, dann ein zweiter Hund an loser Leine den gleichen Weg (meist in umgekehrter Richtung) entlanggeführt und dessen Reaktionen auf die markierten Stellen registriert. Im ganzen wurden bei den ersten Rundgängen 261 Harnmarken abgesetzt. In 47,1 % der Fälle ging der im zweiten Rundgang vorbeigeführte Hund ohne ersichtlichen Grund an der Harnmarke vorbei. Bei Beachtung der Marken zeigten sich 6 verschiedene Reaktionen: 1. Beschnuppern, 2. Harnen über oder neben die Marke, 3. Scharren mit den Hinterpfoten nach Überharnen, 4. Belecken der Marke, 5. Knurren beim Scharren, 6. Zähneklappern nach Beschnuppern und Belecken. Die Marken von feindlichen Rüden und läufigen Hündinnen werden nach Beschnuppern signifikant häufiger als die eigenen bzw. diejenigen einer nichtläufigen Hündin mit einer weiteren Reaktion beantwortet. Die Marken nichtläufiger Hündinnen und die eigenen Marken ergaben keine unterschiedlichen Reaktionen beim Rüden. Eine Hündin reagiert auf die Marken eines (feindl.) Rüden nicht mehr als ein Rüde auf die eigenen Marken. Die Harnmarken vermitteln dem Hunderüden Informationen darüber, ob sie von einer läufigen Hündin, einem fremden Rüden oder von ihm selbst (bzw. einer nicht-läufigen Hündin) stammen.     

39. J. Poelt: Über die Flechte Lecidea rufonigra,ihre Biologie und ein Vorkommen in Mitteleuropa

Die bisher nur aus Nordamerika und Skandinavien bekannte Flechte Lecidea rufonigra (Tuck.) Nyl. wird mit einem Fund aus Südtirol für Mitteleuropa nachgewiesen. Es wird eine Beschreibung der Art nach diesem Fund gegeben. Die Flechte sitzt in allen uns bisher bekannten Vorkommen konstant den zwergstrauchigen Lagern der Stigonema-Flechte Spilonema paradoxum auf. Sie greift mit ihren Hyphen Lagerteile dieser Flechte an, umhüllt sie und bringt sie nach einiger Zeit zum Absterben, ohne die ganzen Räschen abzutöten, die sich sogar auf toten Schuppen der Lecidea wieder neu entwickeln können. Die Beziehungen der beiden Flechtenpartner können als konstante Symbiose mit parasitischen Zügen betrachtet werden, wobei die einzelnen Befallskomplexe eventuell als temporäre Cephalodien der Lecidea anzusehen sind.     

Phylogeography of the introduced species Rattus rattus in the western Indian Ocean,with special emphasis on the colonization history of Madagascar

Aim To describe the phylogeographic patterns of the black rat, Rattus rattus, from islands in the western Indian Ocean where the species has been introduced (Madagascar and the neighbouring islands of Réunion, Mayotte and Grande Comore), in comparison with the postulated source area (India). Location Western Indian Ocean: India, Arabian Peninsula, East Africa and the islands of Madagascar, Réunion, Grande Comore and Mayotte. Methods Mitochondrial DNA (cytochrome b, tRNA and D‐loop, 1762 bp) was sequenced for 71 individuals from 11 countries in the western Indian Ocean. A partial D‐loop (419 bp) was also sequenced for eight populations from Madagascar (97 individuals), which were analysed in addition to six previously published populations from southern Madagascar. Results Haplotypes from India and the Arabian Peninsula occupied a basal position in the phylogenetic tree, whereas those from islands were distributed in different monophyletic clusters: Madagascar grouped with Mayotte, while Réunion and Grand Comore were present in two other separate groups. The only exception was one individual from Madagascar (out of 190) carrying a haplotype that clustered with those from Réunion and South Africa. ‘Isolation with migration’ simulations favoured a model with no recurrent migration between Oman and Madagascar. Mismatch distribution analyses dated the expansion of Malagasy populations on a time‐scale compatible with human colonization history. Higher haplotype diversity and older expansion times were found on the east coast of Madagascar compared with the central highlands. Main conclusions Phylogeographic patterns supported the hypothesis of human‐mediated colonization of R. rattus from source populations in either the native area (India) or anciently colonized regions (the Arabian Peninsula) to islands of the western Indian Ocean. Despite their proximity, each island has a distinct colonization history. Independent colonization events may have occurred simultaneously in Madagascar and Grande Comore, whereas Mayotte would have been colonized from Madagascar. Réunion was colonized independently, presumably from Europe. Malagasy populations may have originated from a single successful colonization event, followed by rapid expansion, first in coastal zones and then in the central highlands. The congruence of the observed phylogeographic pattern with human colonization events and pathways supports the potential relevance of the black rat in tracing human history.     

Review of the deepwater cardinalfish genus Microichthys Rüppell 1852, with the description of a new species from the Azores Islands (Teleostei: Epigonidae)

Ichthyological Research - The epinonid fish genus Microichthys Rüppell 1852 is reviewed. The genus includes three valid species: M. coccoi Rüppell 1852 and M. sanzoi Spartà 1950 from...