Syrticola mediterraneus n. sp., a harpacticoid copepod from the Bay of Calvi,Corsica

Syrticola mediterraneus n. sp. belonging to the family Cylindropsyllidae Sars (sensu Lang, 1948) is described from the Bay of Calvi (Corsica). The species is closely related to (?) Notopontia galapagoensis Mielke, 1982 and Syrticola flandricus Willems & Claeys, 1982. The former species is now transferred to the genus Syrticola as Syrticola galapagoensis n. comb.     

Phylogenetic and symbiotic diversity of Lupinus albus and L. angustifolius microsymbionts in the Maamora forest,Morocco

Out of 70 bacterial strains isolated from root nodules of Lupinus albus and L. angustifolius grown in the soils from the Maamora forest in Morocco, 56 isolates possessed the nodC symbiotic gene, as determined by nodC-PCR, and they were able to renodulate their original hosts.The phenotypic analysis showed that many strains had great potential for using different carbon compounds and amino acids as sole carbon and nitrogen sources. The majority of strains grew in media with pH values between 6 and 8. Only one strain isolated from L. angustifolius was able to grow at low pH values, whereas fourteen strains nodulating L. albus grew at pH 5. No strain developed at 40 °C, and eighteen strains grew at NaCl concentrations as high as 855 mM. A total of 17 strains solubilized phosphates, whereas 20 produced siderophores and seven produced IAA. Only three strains, Lalb41, Lang10 and Lang16, possessed all three plant growth promoting activities. The strains were grouped into eight genetic groups by rep-PCR. Analysis of the 16S rRNA sequences of eight strains representing the different groups showed that they were members of the genus Bradyrhizobium. The sequencing of the five housekeeping genes atpD, glnII, dnaK, gyrB and recA, from the eight representative strains, and the phylogenetic analysis of their concatenated sequences, showed that both plants were nodulated by different Bradyrhizobium species. Accordingly, two strains, Lalb41 and Lalb5.2, belonged to B. lupini, whereas two strains, Lalb2 and Lang17.2, were affiliated to B. cytisi, and one strain, Lang2, was close to B. canariense. The fourth group of strains, Lalb25, Lang14.3 and Lang8.3, which had similarity values of less than 96% with their closest named species, B. cytisi, may belong to two new genospecies in the genus Bradyrhizobium. All the strains nodulated Lupinus cosentinii, L. luteus, Retama sphaerocarpa, R. monosperma, Chamaecytisus albus, but not Vachellia gummifera, Phaseolus vulgaris or Glycine max. The nodA, nodC and nifH sequence analyses and their phylogeny confirmed that the strains isolated from the two lupines were members of the symbiovar genistearum.     

Revision of three camaenid and one bradybaenid species (Gastropoda,Stylommatophora) from China based on morphological and molecular data,with description of a new bradybaenid subspecies from Inner Mongolia,China

We have revised the taxonomy of three camaenid and one bradybaenid species from China and described one new subspecies of the genus Bradybaena (Family Bradybaenidae) from Inner Mongolia, China. The genitalia of three Satsuma (Family Camaenidae) species S. mellea stenozona (Moellendorff, 1884), S. meridionalis (Moellendorff, 1884), comb. n. and S. uncopila (Heude, 1882), comb. n. assigned to the genus Bradybaena previously,lack a dart sac and mucous glands. Moreover, the molecular phylogeny has revealed close relationships between the three species and the genus Satsuma. Two species, S. stenozona (Moellendorff, 1884) from Fuzhou and Ganesella citrina Zilch, 1940 from Wuyi Mountain, are considered as synonymous and should be a subspecies of S. mellea mellea (Pfeiffer, 1866) because of the morphological and molecular similarities. Meanwhile, the other two are placed in the genus Satsuma: S. meridionalis (Moellendorff, 1884), comb. n. and S. uncopila (Heude, 1882), comb. n. G. virgo Pilsbry, 1927 differs from species of the genera Ganesella and Satsuma not only in its shell, but also in anatomical characters, such as having a dart sac and mucous gland, and lacking a flagellum. Additionally, phylogenetic analyses highly support the sister relationship with other Bradybaena species. Thus, placement of G. virgo Pilsbry, 1927 in the genus Bradybaena issuggested.     

Arachniden-Neufunde im mitteleuropäischen Unterkarbon bis Perm — Beitrag zur Revision der Familie AphantomartidaePetrunkevitch 1945 (Arachnida, Trigonotarbida)

On the basis of rich new material covering a broad time span from the Lower Carboniferous (Viséan) to the Lower Permian (Asselian), the trigonotarbid family AphantomartidaePetrunkevitch 1945 is revised. According to investigations presented here it includes only one genus,Aphantomartus Pocock 1911, with two species,A. pustulatus (Scudder 1884) undA. areolatus (Pocock 1911). Many synonyms that existed in the literature until now, the stratigraphic occurrence, palaeobiogeographic distribution as well as taphonomic aspects are discussed. Besides some newly found as well as newly investigated specimens both the oldest and the youngest (the youngest trigonotarbid hitherto known) representatives of the family are presented.     

New Data on the Taxonomy of the Weevil Subgenus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Caucasoplinthus</Emphasis>, Genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Plinthus</Emphasis> (Coleoptera,Curculionidae)

The taxonomic composition of the subgenus Caucasoplinthus Davidian, 1995 is revised. The immunis and granulosus groups are downgraded to subgroups of the silphoides and fallax groups, respectively; the voriseki subgroup is transferred from the fallax to the fausti group. Plinthus attilai Davidian et Savitsky, sp. n. and P. ljudae Davidian et Savitsky, sp. n. are described from Turkey and Abkhazia, respectively. New data on the taxonomy, distribution, and ecology of some little-known species are presented. The following new synonymy is established: Molytes vittatus Motschulsky, 1839 (= Meleus irroratus Reitter, 1884, syn. n., = Meleus faldermanni Faust, 1884, syn. n., = Meleus difficilis Faust, 1884, syn. n.).     

The relationship of the genus Schizopera Sars within the family Diosaccidae (Copepoda: Harpacticoida)

A review of Schizopera Sars indicates that four species are so much more primitive in the antenna and leg setation that they should be removed to a new genus, Eoschizopera, which can be considered as a direct and immediate ancestor of Schizopera. A further, new, species is described in this new genus. The relationships within this branch of the family Diosaccidae are discussed and the scheme of family evolution proposed by Lang is modified to include Eoschizopera and other genera not considered by him (Goffinella, Protopsammotopa, Psammotopa, Actopsyllus, Balucopsylla, Schizoperoides). Actopsyllus hartmannorum Kunz is removed to a further new genus- Helmutkunzia.     

Species of the subgenus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Baudia</Emphasis> of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Badister</Emphasis> (Coleoptera,Carabidae) from the southern Sikhote-Alin Mountains

Data on two species of the subgenus Baudia Ragusa, 1884, B. ishigakiensis Habu, 1975 and B. marginellus Bates, 1873 new to the fauna of the southern Sikhote-Alin Mountains, are presented. A key to species of this subgenus is provided. Holotypes of B. nigriceps A. Morawitz, 1863 and B. ussuriensis Jedli?ka, 1937 are designated. New data on the distribution of the species in Eastern Asia are given.     

Taxonomic review of the genus Orius (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae) in the Korean Peninsula

A total of five species the genus Orius are revised from the Korean Peninsula, containing four native species, O. minutus (Linnaeus 1758), O. sauteri (Poppius 1909), O. nagaii Yasunaga 1993 and O. strigicollis (Poppius 1914), and an introduced species for biological control, O. laevigatus Fieber 1860. Orius laticollis Reuter 1884, formally recorded in the Korean Peninsula, is deleted from the Korean fauna registry. The preparation of the macerated slide specimen was applied to this group for the first time, which is confirmed to be effective to identify the Orius species, especially the female specimens whose genital structures have been hardly observed in the traditional dissection method. Observing macerated specimens, new taxonomical characters are documented.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis> signal peptidase recognizes and cleaves archaeal signal sequence

Tk1884, an open reading frame encoding α-amylase in Thermococcus kodakarensis, was cloned with the native signal sequence and expressed in Escherichia coli. Heterologous gene expression resulted in secretion of the recombinant protein to the extracellular culture medium. Extracellular α-amylase activity gradually increased after induction. Tk1884 was purified from the extracellular medium, and its molecular mass determined by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry indicated the cleavage of a few amino acids. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the purified Tk1884 was determined, which revealed that the signal peptide was cleaved between Ala26 and Ala27 by E. coli signal peptidase. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report describing an archaeal signal sequence recognized and cleaved by E. coli signal peptidase.     

Holocene reef building on eastern St. Croix, US Virgin Islands: Lang Bank revisited

New core and seismic data suggest that widespread reef building started on Lang Bank by 8,900 CalBP and was dominated by Acropora palmata for the next three millennia. Accretion rates averaged 5.81 m ky^?1, a rate that was sufficient for reefs to keep pace with rising sea level on the bank throughout their history. Seismic data show a deep platform interior that was flooded well in advance of reef building along the elevated rim. As a result, those reefs were buffered from sediment stress by their higher positions and active water flow to the west. A. palmata disappeared from the shallow margin by 6,350 yr ago, and reef building on Lang Bank largely ceased by 5,035 CalBP. The reasons for these dramatic events are unclear. Water depth over the reefs was generally shallower than when they started to build, and sea level was slowing dramatically. The new data described here show that reefs flourished on Lang Bank throughout the hiatus suggested by earlier studies (10–7 kyrs BP), and the ultimate demise of shelf-edge reefs is clearly not associated with either poor water quality or sudden sea-level rise. In addition, accretion rates from eastern St. Croix and throughout the Caribbean were well below the high values (≥10 m ky^?1) that have been widely assumed. These data collectively argue against models that require extreme environmental or oceanographic phenomena to drown reefs on Lang Bank where reef building was too fast to be outpaced by Holocene sea-level rise. This also bears on more generalized Caribbean models that depend on the presumed reef history on eastern St. Croix.     

A taxonomic review of the Gyrinidae (Coleoptera) in Korea

A taxonomic review of Korean Gyrinidae is presented. Seven species [Dineutus orientalis (Modeer, 1776), Gyrinus gestroi Régimbart, 1883, Gyrinus japonicus Sharp, 1873, Gyrinus pullatus Zaitzev, 1908, Orectochilus punctipennis Sharp, 1884, Orectochilus Regimbarti Sharp, 1884 and Orectochilus villosus (Müller, 1776)] in three genera are recognized, one of which (Orectochilus punctipennis Sharp, 1884) is reported for the first time in Korea. We also found that Gyrinus curtus Motschulsky, 1866 previously recorded in Korea was an incorrect identification of Gyrinus pullatus Zaitzev, 1908. Habitus and SEM photographs, distribution maps, keys, and diagnoses of genera and species are provided.     

Taxonomy and life history of the Acropora-eating flatworm Amakusaplana acroporae nov. sp. (Polycladida: Prosthiostomidae)

Efforts to culture and conserve acroporid corals in aquaria have led to the discovery of a corallivorous polyclad flatworm (known as AEFW – Acropora-eating flatworm), which, if not removed, can eat entire colonies. Live observations of the AEFW, whole mounts, serial histological sections and comparison of 28S rDNA sequences with other polyclads reveal that this is a new species belonging to the family Prosthiostomidae Lang, 1884 and previously monospecific genus Amakusaplana (Kato 1938). Amakusaplana acroporae is distinguished from Amakusaplana ohshimai by a different arrangement and number of eyes, a large seminal vesicle and dorsoventrally compressed shell gland pouch. Typical of the genus, A. acroporae, lacks a ventral sucker and has a small notch at the midline of the anterior margin. Nematocysts and a Symbiodinium sp. of dinoflagellate from the coral are abundantly distributed in the gut and parenchyma. Individual adults lay multiple egg batches on the coral skeleton, each egg batch has 20–26 egg capsules, and each capsule contains between 3–7 embryos. Embryonic development takes approximately 21 days, during which time characteristics of a pelagic life stage (lobes and ciliary tufts) develop but are lost before hatching. The hatchling is capable of swimming but settles to the benthos quickly, and no zooxanthellae were observed in the animal at this stage. We suggest that intracapsular metamorphosis limits the dispersal potential of hatchlings and promotes recruitment of offspring into the natal habitat. The evolutionary and ecological significance of retaining lobes and ciliary tufts in the embryo are discussed. Camouflage, high fecundity and possible dispersal dimorphisms probably explain how Amakusaplana acroporae can cause Acropora sp. mortality in aquaria where natural predators may be absent.     

Lorilichus,a new genus of feather mites (Acarina,Pterolichidae) from lories and lorikeets (Aves,Psittacidae)

Lorilichus n. g. (Pterolichidae, Pterolichinae) is restricted to the Indo-Australian parrots of the family Loriidae. Assigned to this new genus are Pterolichus (Pseudalloptes) species described by Trouessart in 1884, namely, lobiger (type-species), delibativentris, discifer, cultriventris, emargiventris and securiventris. The first three named species are illustrated and two new species, parvifolius and grandifolius, are described: the five species are from Lorius domicellus (L.).     

Steps towards a phylogeny of the pill millipedes: non-monophyly of the family Protoglomeridae,with an integrative redescription of Eupeyerimhoffia archimedis (Diplopoda,Glomerida)

Eupeyerimhoffia archimedis (Strasser, 1965) is redescribed based on several specimens collected at a number of sites close to the type locality on Sicily, Italy. Scanning electron microscopy is used to illustrate several unusual morphological characters for a member of the Glomerida for the first time. A fragment of the mitochondrial COI gene (668bp) is sequenced for the first time in Eupeyerimhoffia to provide a species-specific barcode and to gain first insights into the genetic distances between the genera in the widespread family Protoglomeridae. The novel sequences are compared to representatives of all other genera of the family: Protoglomeris vasconica (Brölemann, 1897) from northern Spain, the dwarfed Glomerellina laurae Silvestri, 1908 from Italy and Glomeroides primus (Silvestri, 1929) from western North America. The addition of COI sequences from the two other families of the Glomerida renders the family Protoglomeridae paraphyletic with Glomeroides primus being more closely related to Glomeridella minima (Latzel, 1884) than to the other genera in the family. The large genetic distances (13.2–16.8%) between Eupeyerimhoffia and the other genera in the order, as well as its unusual morphological characters, including unique morphological adaptations to roll into a ball, are probably an indication of the old age of the group.     

贡山三尖杉的新名称(Cephalotaxus talonensis Cheng et Feng ex S.G.Lu et X.D.Lang)及分类地位

提议贡山三尖杉的新名称Cephalotaxus talonensis Cheng et Feng ex S.G.Lu et X.D.Lang替代不合法的旧名称Cephalotaxus lanceolata K.M.Feng in Cheng et al.(晚出同名)。对比贡山三尖杉和三尖杉Cephalotaxus fortunei Hooker的模式标本和自然生长状态下的叶片形态,支持将贡山三尖杉处理为种的等级,不赞同Silba(1990)将贡山三尖杉降为三尖杉的变种［Cephalotaxus fortunei Hooker var. lanceolata(Feng) Silba］。文中提供4幅参照图片。