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Abstract

Bazzania okaritana, a new species from South Island, New Zealand, is described and illustrated, and a comparison with similar species is made. The new species is most similar to Bazzania hochstetteri (Reichardt) E.A. Hodgs. and Bazzania exempta J.J. Engel, but differs in several respects from both these species.     

Mating preferences of two species of Eccritotarsus (Hemiptera: Miridae)

ABSTRACT

Eccritotarsus spp. are biological control agents that have been sourced from Brazil and Peru to control water hyacinth in South Africa. These agents have been released in over 30 sites and were thought to be the same species. The sequencing of mitochondrial DNA and interbreeding experiments have since confirmed the cryptic species to be separate species. The Brazilian population remains E. catarinensis while the Peruvian population is now E. eichhorniae. This paper assessed the mating behaviour of both species, to investigate behavioural traits that have resulted in reproductive isolation, which could have led to speciation. Mating choices in a form of no-choice, bi-choice and multi-choice tests were conducted within and between species in a 3:1, 2:1 and 1:1 sex ratio. The E. eichhorniae pair had more single and multiple copula incidences, higher average total copula duration and higher copula latency while the E.catarinensis♀×E.eichhorniae♂ pair had less single and multiple copula incidences, lower average total copula duration and lower copula latency. When the E.eichhorniae♀ and E.catarinensis♂ were given their respective choices, they only mated with conspecifics. However, when E.eichhorniae♀ are crossed with E.catarinensis♂ they do not produce offspring. These results suggest that interbreeding will be limited in South Africa.     

Cissus xerophila (Vitaceae), a new species from the xerophytic vegetation of northeastern Minas Gerais, Brazil

A new species of Vitaceae is described and illustrated:Cissus xerophila, a simple-leaved species similar toC. verticillata (L.) Nicolson & C. E. Jarvis and related species. A key to the group in South America is presented.     

Revision of Sigaloeista Shea & Griffiths, 2010 (Helicarionidae: Gastropoda: Stylommatophora) from eastern Australia

ABSTRACT

Sigaloeista Shea & Griffiths, 2010 is a genus of small, litter-dwelling helicarionid snails that occurs in the rainforest and wet sclerophyll forest of northeastern New South Wales and southern Queensland. This group currently comprises three species known only from their shell morphology. We revise the taxonomy of this group using a comparison of key morphological features and mitochondrial genes COI and 16S, and describe four new species: Sigaloeista gracilis n. sp.; S. cavanbah n. sp.; S. dorrigo n. sp.; and S. ramula n. sp. Sigaloeista is unified by shared morphological characters including a small, glossy, discoidal shell of about 4.5 whorls, a body with a pronounced caudal horn and large, leaf-shaped shell lappets, and a reproductive system with a short vagina, absent epiphallic caecum, flagellum with internal cryptae and spermatophore with accessory spines.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:5D5D7603-06B2-4662-91BB-343E3BB5C4E8     

The species of the genus Micrambe Thomson 1863, from South Africa (Coleoptera: Cryptophagidae)

The 22 species of the genus Micrambe Thomson known from South Africa are analyzed and revised. Micrambe danielssoni sp. nov is described. Following a detailed study of the type material in different entomological collections, the status of two taxa is revised and two new synonymies are proposed: Micrambe kolbei Grouvelle 1908, syn. nov. for Micrambe minuta Grouvelle 1908, and Micrambe similis Bruce 1957, syn. nov. for Micrambe peringueyi Grouvelle 1908. A lectotypus is designated for one taxon: Micrambe capensis (Redtenbacher 1867). A key to all the species occurring in South Africa is presented.     

Predicting the current distribution and potential spread of the exotic grass Eragrostis plana Nees in South America and identifying a bioclimatic niche shift during invasion

Eragrostis plana (Poaceae) is a perennial grass introduced from South Africa to the state of Rio Grande do Sul in southern Brazil. Currently, it is considered an invasive grass in several regions of the world, including South America, where it has caused negative ecological and socio‐economic impacts. Ecological niche models, using bioclimatic variables, are often used to predict the potential distribution of invasive species. In this study we prepared two bioclimatic models for E. plana using the Genetic Algorithm for Rule‐set Production, the first based on data from its native region (South Africa) and the second on data from both the native and invaded (South America) regions. We then projected each model onto South America to identify regions vulnerable to invasion by the species, and compared our results with available records of the species in South America. Finally, we explored the model's predictions for the existence of a bioclimatic niche shift during the invasion process of E. plana in South America, using multivariate statistical analysis. The model created with native distribution data was only able to predict (with highly suitable habitat) the region of introduction of E. plana in South America. However, the current distribution, as well as the region of introduction of the species, was reliably predicted by the model created with data from both native and invaded regions. Our multivariate analysis supports a hypothesis of bioclimatic niche shift during the invasion process of E. plana in South America.     

STRIDULATORY ORGAN AND ULTRASONIC EMISSION IN CERTAIN SPECIES OF PONERINE ANTS (GENUS: ECTATOMMA AND PACHYCONDYLA,HYMENOPTERA, FORMICIDAE)

ABSTRACT

Five species of neotropical Ponerinae ants, Ectatomma permagnum Forel, E. quadridens Fabr., E. ruidum Roger, E. tuberculatum Olivier and Pachycondyla apicalis Latreille, were studied. The genus Ectatomma, consisting of 14 species in the tropical forests of Central and South America, has been studied previously in relation to the stridulatory organ only. Stridulations were heard, in the four species considered in this paper, during artificial disturbance of individuals or of the whole colony; so the role of sound production during normal life is still uncertain. Pachycondyla apicalis, belonging to Central American forests, is occasionally present in cocoa and coffee plantations.

The recordings made under laboratory conditions revealed the emission of pulse trains with very clear pulses extending in frequency to more than 75 kHz. The sounds recorded from the workers of the genus Ectatomma appeared homogeneous in their acoustic structure. They were typically emitted in long sequences and were made of pulse-trains consisting of two subunits (disyllabic chirps) characterized by pulses with opposite phase, produced by the alternate movement of the simple plectrum against the pars stridens. In sounds recorded from workers of Pachycondyla we found sequences of monosyllabic chirps, made by single trains of pulses. Pictures and measurements on the stridulatory apparatus were made with a scanning electron microscope.     

Quantifying the Trade in Cycads (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Encephalartos</Emphasis> Species) in the Traditional Medicine Markets of Johannesburg and Durban,South Africa<Superscript>1</Superscript>

Quantifying the Trade in Cycads ( Encephalartos Species) in the Traditional Medicine Markets of Johannesburg and Durban, South Africa. Cycads have been used for traditional purposes for centuries, mainly as a source of starch during droughts and famines. In South Africa, Encephalartos species are traded for traditional medicine (TM) in local TM markets. The 2009 IUCN Red Data assessment for South African flora lists 78% of the 37 indigenous Encephalartos species as “Threatened”, with three species already “Extinct in the Wild” (EW). South African cycads face an extinction crisis, primarily due to collecting for the horticultural trade. The trade in Encephalartos for TM also has a significant impact on several species, and is largely understudied. In this paper, the trade in Encephalartos for TM was quantified in South Africa’s two largest TM markets, Faraday in Johannesburg and Warwick in Durban. Harvesting of South African Encephalartos for TM involves the removal of bark strips and/or whole stem sections. Encephalartos species were sold at 26% and 13% of the stalls at Faraday and Warwick, respectively, with an estimated 9.0 metric tons traded at Warwick in 2009. Stem samples purchased in the markets were assigned to stem diameter size classes using a size class chart, and regression analysis was used to validate the allocations. Most harvesting was from sub-adult and adult cycads, and it appears that bark strips are removed from large arborescent plants, whereas smaller individuals and subterranean-stemmed species are harvested by removing the entire plant. There is generally a positive relationship between stem diameter and leaf base length as well as stem diameter and pith radius. The former can be used as a predictor of stem diameter size class for market samples that prove difficult to assign to diameter classes using the chart. Overall, this is the first study to quantify the trade in Encephalartos for TM in South Africa with reference to the size classes of the plants traded.     

Osteohistology of the non-mammaliaform traversodontids Protuberum cabralense and Exaeretodon riograndensis from southern Brazil

Abstract

The current study presents a detailed analysis of the osteohistology of the Triassic non-mammaliaform traversodontid cynodonts Protuberum cabralense and Exaeretodon riograndesis. The data provided here adds new information on the growth patterns of South American traversodontids. A single subadult individual of P. cabralense revealed bone tissues comprising uninterrupted fibrolamellar bone. Patches of slower growing lamellar bone at the periphery of one of the elements suggests a transition to overall slower growth in later ontogeny. The bone tissues of E. riograndensis also exhibit uninterrupted fibrolamellar bone during early ontogeny, but growth became cyclical from mid-ontogeny. The early rapid, sustained growth observed in these taxa is similar to that seen in other traversodontids, and may be related to the achievement of large body size in the derived members of the clade.     

Heterogeneity in shore flies – the case of Glenanthe Haliday (Diptera: Ephydridae) in the Old World

Old World species of the genus Glenanthe are treated comprehensively with an emphasis on the unusually diverse morphological heterogeneity discovered in structures of the male terminalia. As perspective for this treatment, the tribe Lipochaetini, in which Glenanthe is placed, is characterized and discussed, and an annotated key to the four included genera is provided to facilitate their identification. Glenanthe is demonstrated to be a monophyletic lineage within Lipochaetini. Seven Old World species of Glenanthe are now known, including two new Afrotropical species as follows (type locality in parenthesis): G. namibia n. sp. (Namibia. Mukwe: Divuju: Okavango River [18°04’04”S, 21°28’51”E] and G. danielssoni n. sp. (Republic of South Africa. Cape Province: De Hoop Nature Reserve [34°27’S, 28°25’E]. The identity of G. fuscinervis Becker, revised status (raised from synonymy with G. ripicola (Haliday)), is clarified, and found to be conspecific with Hydrina ochracea Oldenberg, which is recognized as a junior synonym. Papp’s synonymy of Glenanthe fasciventris Becker with Hydrellia (Glenanthe) ripicola Haliday is confirmed, and herein we relegate G. iranica Canzoneri & Rampini also as junior synonym of G. ripicola. The remarkable diverse structures of the male terminalia of all included species are described and illustrated and distribution maps are also provided.     

Three new species,a new combination,and a neotypification in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dahlstedtia</Emphasis> (Leguminosae,Millettieae, Papilionoideae) from South America

Three new species of Dahlstedtia, D. burkartii, D. dehiscens, and D. lewisiana, are described from South America, and their relationships with related species are discussed. Dahlstedtia burkartii, from Argentina, has pink flowers with standard straight, whereas D. dehiscens and D. lewisiana, both from Brazil, have purplish to lilac flowers with a reflexed standard petal. A new combination, Dahlstedtia peckoltii, is proposed based on Lonchocarpus peckoltii and a neotype is selected for the latter. Information about geographic distribution and phenology of the species is provided.     

Ecnomus of Madagascar,species without modified spur (Trichoptera: Ecnomidae)

The 11 Malagasy species of the genus Ecnomus McLachlan, 1864 that do not belong to the psychomyiellodes species group are studied. One of them (Ecnomus salgiel Malicky, 2015) was recently described from Nosy Be Island. Ten are new and described: Ecnomus felix n. sp., E. dobignyi n. sp., E. matsaboryi n. sp., E. granjoni n. sp., E. commersoni n. sp., E. menavavae n. sp., E. ikopaensis n. sp., E. rubermortis n. sp., E. evidens n. sp., and E. tendroensis n. sp. All are endemic to Madagascar. Their distributions on the island are briefly described according to ecological data.     

New species and a new combination in Myrtaceae from northeastern South America

Three new species of Myrtaceae (Calyptranthes bracteata, Eugenia gonglycocarpa, andMyrcia rupta) from northeastern South America are described and illustrated, and a new combination (Eugenia tetramera) is proposed. The closed-calyx and the completely or partially fused cotyledons ofMyrcia rupta, unusual features for the genus, are discussed and compared with related species inMyrcia andMarlierea.     

一株屎肠球菌烈性噬菌体的分离鉴定及基因组测序分析

【背景】屎肠球菌为ESKAPE(由屎肠球菌、金黄色葡萄球菌、肺炎克雷伯菌、鲍曼不动杆菌、铜绿假单胞菌和肠杆菌属六大超级细菌的拉丁学名首字母组成)病原体之一,对多种抗菌药物具有耐药性,严重威胁全球人类健康,被世界卫生组织列入亟须研发新抗菌药的病原体名单。【目的】分离针对屎肠球菌的烈性噬菌体,测定其基本生物学特性并进行基因组测序分析,为屎肠球菌噬菌体疗法提供原料。【方法】从牧场污水中分离筛选出一株烈性屎肠球菌噬菌体,命名为Enterococcus phage 1A11,通过透射电镜观察噬菌体的形态,测定其最佳感染复数、一步生长曲线和裂解谱,并进行全基因组的测序和分析,以阐释该噬菌体的基本生物学特性。【结果】电镜下可观察到屎肠球菌噬菌体1A11具有典型的正二十面体头部结构和较长的尾部结构,属于有尾病毒目长尾病毒科,而且测得其最佳感染复数为0.01,裂解周期为70 min,潜伏期为30 min,暴发期为40 min,并特异性地对部分屎肠球菌产生裂解作用。噬菌体1A11的基因组大小为42 750 bp,GC含量为34.71%,含有70个推定的开放阅读框(open reading frame, O...     

Phylogenetic systematics of the gondwanan Empis macrorrhyncha group (Diptera,Empididae, Empidinae)

The Empis macrorrhyncha group (Diptera: Empididae) from cool to warm temperate areas of South America and Australia is diagnosed and cladistically analysed, and five new species, Empis animosa sp.n. , E. austera sp.n. , E. maculosa sp.n. , E. occidentalis sp.n. and E. pedivillosula sp.n. , are described. Cladistic analysis of 23 adult morphological characters for 14 species of the group generated a single tree of 28 steps (CI = 0.82; RI = 0.93). Monophyly was established on the basis of a single apomorphy, possession of a bilobed cercus of the male hypopygium. Three main clades were inferred: clade 1 included three Patagonian and a single southwestern Australian species; clade 2 included two species from southeastern Australia; clade 3 included a large Patagonian group of five species and a single southeastern Australian species. The E. fulvicollis complex (clade 1) is a sister‐group of the E. macrorrhyncha complex (clades 2 + 3). A provisional historical biogeographic hypothesis is advanced correlating the appearance of the South American and Australian sister lineages with the timing of the break‐up of Gondwana.