A New Genus of Marine Scuticociliate (Protozoa, Ciliophora) from Northern China, with a Brief Note on Its Phylogenetic Position Inferred from Small Subunit Ribosomal DNA Sequence Data

ABSTRACT. The morphology, infraciliature, and silverline system of a new marine scuticociliate, Wilbertia typica n. g., n. sp., collected from coastal waters off northern China, were investigated. The new genus Wilbertia is characterized as follows: sculptured and dorso-ventrally flattened body; dominant buccal field that is almost completely surrounded by the paroral membrane; three apically positioned long membranelles, arranged in parallel; membranelle (M)1 and M2 prominent, M3 small; reticulate silverline system. The type species W. typica n. sp. is defined by having a conspicuous anterior beak-like protrusion; five to eight caudal cilia; M1 four-rowed, M2 two-rowed; M3, single-rowed, bipartite; 15 or 16 somatic kineties; contractile vacuole positioned just posterior to the buccal field; globular macronucleus. The small subunit ribosomal DNA sequence of W. typica is 98.5% similar to the similar morphotype, Eurystomatella sinica . Phylogenetic analyses indicate that Wilbertia groups with Eurystomatella sinica forming a branch that diverges at a deep level from all other pleuronematid scuticociliates. The molecular and morphological data indicate that Wilbertia should be placed within the family Eurystomatidae, which is closely related to the well-known Cyclidiidae.     

Biogenic Origin of Polymetallic Nodules from the Clarion-Clipperton Zone in the Eastern Pacific Ocean: Electron Microscopic and EDX Evidence

Polymetallic/ferromanganese nodules (Mn-nodules) have been assigned a huge economic potential since they contain considerable concentrations of manganese, copper, nickel, iron, and cobalt. It has been assumed that they are formed by, besides hydrogenous, nonbiogenic processes, biogenic processes based on metabolic processes driven by microorganisms. In the present study, we applied the techniques of digital optical microscopy and high-resolution scanning electron microscopy to search for microorganisms in Mn-nodules. They were collected from the Clarion-Clipperton Zone in the Eastern Pacific Ocean and are composed of Mn (23.9%), Cu (0.69%), Ni (1.02%), Fe (10.9%), and Co (0.29%). These Mn-nodules, between 2.3 and 4.8 cm, show a distinct lamination; they are composed of small-sized micronodules, 100 to 450 μm in size, which are bound together by an interstitial whitish material. In the micronodules, a dense accumulation of microorganisms/bacteria could be visualized. Only two morphotypes exist: (1) round-shaped cocci and (2) elongated rods. The cocci (diameter: ≈3.5 μm) are arranged in bead-like chains, while the rods (≈2 × 0.4 μm) are arranged either as palisades or in a linear row. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analyses showed that the areas rich in microorganisms/bacteria are also rich in Mn, while in regions where no microorganisms are found, the element Si is dominant. We suggest that growth of the Mn-nodules starts with the formation of “micronodules.” The formation of micronodules is assumed to be mediated by microorganisms. After accretion of biogenic and additional nonbiogenic minerals, the micronodules assemble to large nodules on the sea floor through additional inclusion of nonbiogenic material.     

Phylogenetic position of the parasitoid nanoflagellate Pirsonia inferred from nuclear-encoded small subunit ribosomal DNA and a description of Pseudopirsonia n. gen. and Pseudopirsonia mucosa (Drebes) comb. nov

Sequences of the nuclear encoded small subunit (SSU) rRNA were determined for Pirsonia diadema, P. guinardiae, P. punctigerae, P. verrucosa, P. mucosa and three newly isolated strains 99-1, 99-2, 99-S. Based on phylogenetic analysis all Pirsonia strains, except P. mucosa, clustered together in one clade, most closely related to Hyphochytrium catenoides within the group of stramenopiles. However, P. mucosa was most closely related to Cercomonas sp. SIC 7235 and Heteromita globosa and belongs to the heterogenic group of Cercozoa. In addition to the SSU rDNA sequences, P. mucosa differs from the stramenopile Pirsonia species in some characteristics and was therefore redescribed in this paper as Pseudopirsonia mucosa. The three newly isolated strains 99-1, 99-2, and 99-S differed by 28 bp in their SSU rDNA sequences from their closest neighbour P. diadema and only 1 to 3 bp among themselves. These base differences and a host range similar to P. formosa were sufficient to assign them as new strains of P. formosa.     

中国劳弗蛛属1新种记述(蜘蛛目:跳蛛科)

记述了中国劳弗蛛属1新种：剑突劳弗蛛Laufeia sicussp．nov．。     

Genus Autosticha Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Autostichidae) from Taiwan,China

Fourteen species of the genus Autosticha Meyrick,1886 are recorded from Taiwan,China.The genus Cynicocrates Meyrick,1935 is proposed as a new synonym of Autosticha,and its type species A.tachytoma (Meyrick,1935) comb.nov.is transferred to Autosticha.Autosticha cordiformis sp.nov.is described as new,and A.tachytoma is redescribed with male for the first time.A checklist of all the described species in Taiwan is given.Photographs of the new species and the newly combined species are provided.     

Population dynamics of Marginopora kudakajimensis Gudmundsson (Foraminifera: Soritidae) in the Ryukyu Islands, the subtropical northwest Pacific

The population dynamics of Marginopora kudakajimensis Gudmundsson, a dinoflagellate endosymbiont-bearing soritid foraminifer, was studied in the Ryukyu Islands, the subtropical northwest Pacific. Macroalgal samples were collected monthly between November 1995 and November 1996 at a 1-m-deep lagoonal site colonized by this species. Monthly variations in the size–frequency distributions and population density indicate that this foraminiferal population replaces itself in one year. Asexual reproduction occurs twice a year, in late spring and winter; in late spring, some of the adult individuals reproduce by multiple fission simultaneously. As a result, two cohorts (a late spring and a winter cohort) are found in the population during a year. Life span of the former cohort is up to one year, while that of the latter cohort is up to six months. Megalospheric specimens comprise up to 99% of the population with a few microspheric individuals throughout the year. The life tables and survivorship curves revealed that size-specific mortality rates were very low during the first several size classes and increased thereafter, indicating low juvenile mortality with high mortality later in life. The carbonate production rate by this Marginopora population is approximately 5 kg CaCO₃ m⁻² yr⁻¹, which is extremely higher than those reported for other larger foraminiferal species.     

中国贝蠓名表及其二新种描述(双翅目:蠓科)

本文列出了我国已知贝蠓的名表,并描述了发现于香港的贝蠓属2新种:大潭贝蠓新种Bezzia datana Yu,Chen and Liang sp.nov.和鹿颈贝蠓Bezzia lujingi Yu,Chen and Pan sp.nov.     

我国四种舞蛛记述

本文记述我国舞蛛属Alopecosa1新种：林站舞蛛A．1inzhan sp．nov．,及3新纪录种：方隔舞蛛A．akkolka Marusik,1994、客居舞蛛A．inquilina(Clerck,1757)和独行舞蛛A．solivaga(Kulczynski,1901)。新种近似于A．sokhondoensis Logunov et Marusik,1994,但新种外雌器中隔扩展部端部向前方延伸较明显,超出中隔柄部,交配管较细长,而后者外雌器中隔扩展部向前方延伸不明显,未超出中隔柄部,交配管较短;另外2者在前眼列各眼相对大小和间距方面也有差别。     

中国蚌螨属水螨1新种记述

记述了从我国浙江省淡水蚌中采到的蚌螨科Unionicolidae水螨1新种,壮肢蚌螨Unionicola（Anodontinatax）ischyropalpus sp．nov．,模式标本保存于南昌大学生物科学工程系。     

新革螨属2新种记述（蜱螨亚纲：中气门目：寄螨科）

记述新革螨属2新种：双锯新革螨Neogamasus biserrendogynii sp．nov．和双瓣新革螨Neogamasus bivalvendogynii sp．nov．。     

浙江短角瘿蚊属一新种记述(双翅目:瘿蚊科)

记述采自浙江省的短角瘿蚊1新种:狭短角瘿蚊Anarete angusta Mo et Xu,sp.nov..     

云南枝背蚱科一新属一新种(直翅目:蚱总科)

记述采自云南省绿春县牛孔乡的直翅目蚱总科枝背蚱科1新属:盾蚱属Aspiditettix gen.nov.及1新种--云南盾蚱Aspiditettix yunnanensis,sp.nov..模式标本保存于中山大学生物博物馆昆虫标本室.     

Palaeoenvironments of deposition of Neogene laminated diatom mat deposits from the eastern equatorial Pacific from studies of benthic foraminifera (sites 844, 849, 851)

Massive sedimentation of mats of the diatom Thalassiothrix longissima forming laminated diatom mat deposits (LDM) occurred intermittently in the equatorial Pacific throughout the Neogene from at least 15 to 4.8 m.y. ago. The background deposition was otherwise calcareous nannofossil diatom ooze (NO). Benthic foraminifera have been used to reconstruct the benthic environment of deposition and the role of both surface waters (as a source of food) and bottom waters (including their corrosivity) during LDM deposition. Three LDM events were studied: Site 844 (11.4 Ma, early Tortonian), Site 849 (4.8 Ma, early Zanclian and 6.6–6.8 Ma, early Messinian). A control section of NO spanning the 4.8 Ma event was studied from Site 851. In addition, the carbonate high NO immediately preceding the 4.8 Ma event was examined in Site 849. From the foraminiferal evidence it can be shown that the LDM was deposited under conditions of normal oxygenation because infaunal taxa are present throughout and there was an increase in epifaunal taxa such as Cibicides spp. However, there was a reduction in test size probably because only those smaller than 250 μm were able to move through the restricted sediment pore spaces caused by the diatom mat meshwork. The rate of accumulation of tests is highest in LDM interval and may reflect reduced predation from macrofaunal endobenthos. Among the epifaunal taxa, Nuttallides spp. show a decrease in abundance in the LDM and even immediately preceding it. This may be linked to a greater influence of corrosive AABW. Species known to feed opportunistically on phytodetritus (Epistominella exigua and Alabaminella weddellensis) are common in both NO and LDM. The increased relative abundance of A. weddellensis in the LDM may be due to this species being smaller than E. exigua and better able to exploit the food resource within the restrictive mat meshwork. The foraminiferal results corroborate the previous interpretation that preservation of lamination in the LDM is due to the physical exclusion of macro endobenthos rather than oxygen depletion of the bottom waters.     

中国长妩蛛属3新种记述(蜘蛛目:妩蛛科)

记述中国妩蛛科长妩蛛属3新种:匙长妩蛛,新种Miagrammopes spatulatus sp.nov.,双叉长妩蛛,新种Miagrammopes bifurcatus sp.nov.和蹄形长妩蛛,新种Miagrammopes unguliformis sp.nov..     

海南岛菜萨蛛属2新种（蜘蛛目：球蛛科）

作者在进行中国海南岛及西沙群岛无脊椎动物资源调查研究时,发现了蜘蛛目球蛛科莱萨蛛属2新种,命名为半月莱萨蛛Lasaeola lunata sp．nov．和锥莱萨蛛Lasaeola fastigata sp．nov．。所有标本均保存在河北大学生命科学学院。文中测量单位为mm。     

中国四川省妙蝇属(双翅目:蝇科)三新种

报道采自四川省西部山区蝇科中的妙蝇属Myospila Rondani,18563新种：康定妙蝇Myospila kangdingicasp．nov．,寒妙蝇Myospila frigorasp．nov．,类寒妙蝇Myospila frigoroidasp．nov．。模式标本存于中国科学院上海生命科学研究院植物生理生态研究所。     

中国云南铜蛛属2新种（蜘蛛目：跳蛛科）

本文对采自云南的铜蛛属Chalcoscirtus Bertkau,1880蜘蛛2新种Chalcoscirtus lii sp.nov.和Chalcoscirtus yinae sp.nov..做了详细的文字描述,并附有鉴别特征图和地理分布数据.模式标本保存在湖南师范大学生命科学学院.     

中国西部刺齿(虫兆)属Homidia一新种(弹尾纲:长角(虫兆)科)

本文记述中国西部剌齿(虫兆)属1新种:中带剌齿(虫兆)H.mediofascia,sp.nov..该种区别属内其他种的主要特征是本种胸部第2节到腹部第2节背部中间具色带,第1腹节具大刚毛a1,腹部第4节后缘大刚毛7+7,粘管后侧面具光滑刚毛4根.本文还对属内5个相近种进行了比较.正模:早,陕西省安康市,2006-Ⅵ-15;副模:8♀♀,1♂以及8头酒精标本,陕西省安康市,2006-Ⅵ-15.1♀和1头酒精标本保存于南京大学,其他标本保存于台州学院生命科学学院.