Biological notes and description of egg and first instar larva of Carabus (Oreocarabus) ghilianii La Ferté-Sénectère 1847 (Coleoptera: Carabidae)

In this work, the authors describe the egg and first instar larva, hitherto unknown, of Carabus (Oreocarabus) ghilianii La Ferté-Sénectère 1847, a threatened and protected species endemic to the Iberian Peninsula. With respect to the larval morphology, a comprehensive study of the chaetotaxy of the three tagmata is presented, accompanied by a detailed iconography. In addition, data on the biology of imagoes are provided, taken in its natural habitat and in captivity, highlighting the novel fact that this species produces winter larvae. Thus, reproduction begins in late spring. Both the eggs and the larvae were obtained after captive rearing of nine specimens collected in the Sierra de Guadarrama (Madrid, Spain).     

Sierra del Colmenar 1A,a new late Messinian (Late Miocene) locality in the Bajo Segura Basin (SE Spain): biostratigraphic and palaeoenvironmental implications

Abstract

In this paper, we have studied a new micromammal site from the Sierra del Colmenar section (Elche, SE Spain), named Sierra del Colmenar 1A (SCO-1A), representing the uppermost levels of Messinian age of the Bajo Segura Basin. The sedimentary context of this locality corresponds to a costal lagoon with marine influence. The fossil site has yielded remains of Apodemus aff. gorafensis, Paraethomys meini, Apocricetus alberti, Occitanomys alcalai, Ruscinomys sp., Eliomys cf. truci, Muscardinus sp., Parasorex ibericus, Prolagus michauxi and Soricidae indet. Based on this assemblage, we propose a Late Miocene age (MN13) for the locality SCO-1A, matching the previously inferred age for the stratigraphic unit in which the fossil site is situated. According to its faunal composition, we infer warm and humid climate conditions in the moment of formation of this locality, agreeing with the environmental conditions of the Messinian age in a parallic sedimentary context.     

A new rheophytic species of Euceraea (Flacourtiaceae) from Sierra de la Neblina, Venezuela

Euceraea rheophytica is newly described and illustrated. It differs from the two other species in the genus, E. nitida and E. sleumeriana, in its much smaller and narrower leaves and in its smaller, spicate (vs. branched) inflorescences. It is known only from frequently flash-flooded riverbanks in the large, central canyon of the Sierra de la Neblina massif in southernmost Venezuela.     

The Mexican tropical deciduous forest of Baja California Sur: a floristic and structural approach

A quantitative study is presented of the tropical deciduous forest located in the Sierra de La Laguna in the southern part of the peninsula of Baja California, Mexico with data on structure, species composition, diversity, density, and abundance of perennial plants.4 study plots were selected to represent the predominant geomorphologic units, and to include topographic and climatic variations reflected by the distribution of this vegetation on the lowlands of slopes facing the Gulf of California and the Pacific Ocean.25 families containing 67 perennial species were found on the lowlands, with Leguminosae, Cactaceae, and Euphorbiaceae best represented. A high family diversity was found in the plots, but there was a low number of species per family. Dissimilarities between sites were found to be reflected significantly in growth-form abundances as well as in structural features and species diversity. Results show that the xeric environment, the low number of species, and the high incidence of dominant shrub species confer the vegetation of the lowlands simpler structural traits than those described for other tropical dry forests.     

Early Cambrian molluscs from Sierra de Córdoba (Spain)

Lower Cambrian helcionelloid molluscs are described from the Pedroche Formation in Sierra de Córdoba, southern Spain. The molluscan fauna occurs together with abundant and diverse Small Shelly Fossils (SSF) in limestone units and limestone nodules within terrigenous units. The molluscs are assigned to three new genera and six new species. Three species are previously known from North Siberia and one occurs in Australia, Altai-Sayan Fold Belt, Siberia, Central Asia, China and eastern Germany. The molluscs and other Small Shelly Fossils indicate close palaeogeographic links to Siberia and other continental blocks during the Early Cambrian.     

Past and present distribution of stoneworts (Characeae) in The Netherlands

Across the world there is a prevailing view that freshwater algae are cosmopolitan. The notion has seldom been tested and is unlikely to be true in genetic terms. Nonetheless, some morphospecies of several groups of algae do have a worldwide distribution. Others have restricted distributions and may be regarded as endemic to a region. However there is always the possibility that they will be discovered in far away places. Australia has a rather large element of endemicity in its algal flora. From the early days of Australian phycology many new genera and species of freshwater algae have been described. Some are of such distinctive appearance or novelty as to be regarded as ‘flagship’ taxa. There is little doubt about their endemicity and their existence increases the probability of less-distinguished species also being endemic. The degree of endemicity is probably masked by the ‘force-fitting’ of European names to Australian species. Some Australian endemics are robust and are widely distributed in a variety of types of water body. Others, the frail endemics, the ones of greatest novelty and phylogenetic significance, have a very restricted range with their strongholds in dystrophic coastal lagoons where tracts or remnant patches of native vegetation survive. Their survival and the conservation of their biodiversity depends on recognition of the significance of coastal lagoons and swamps.     

Early Pleistocene human mandible from Sima del Elefante (TE) cave site in Sierra de Atapuerca (Spain): a comparative morphological study

We present a detailed morphological comparative study of the hominin mandible ATE9-1 recovered in 2007 from the Sima del Elefante cave site in Sierra de Atapuerca, Burgos, northern Spain. Paleomagnetic analyses, biostratigraphical studies, and quantitative data obtained through nuclide cosmogenic methods, place this specimen in the Early Pleistocene (1.2-1.3 Ma). This finding, together with archaeological evidence from different European sites, suggests that Western Europe was colonised shortly after the first hominin expansion out of Africa around the Olduvai subchron. Our analysis of the ATE9-1 mandible includes a geometric morphometric analysis of the lower second premolar (LP₄), a combined and detailed external and internal assessment of ATE9-1 roots through CT and microCT techniques, as well as a comparative study of mandibular and other dental features. This analysis reveals some primitive Homo traits on the external aspect of the symphysis and the dentition shared with early African Homo and the Dmanisi hominins. In contrast, other mandibular traits on the internal aspect of the symphysis are derived with regard to African early Homo, indicating unexpectedly large departures from patterns observed in Africa. Reaching the most occidental part of the Eurasian continent implies that the first African emigrants had to cross narrow corridors and to overcome geographic barriers favouring genetic drift, long isolation periods, and adaptation to new climatic and seasonal conditions. Given these conditions and that we are dealing with a long time period, it is possible that one or more speciation events could have occurred in this extreme part of Eurasia during the Early Pleistocene, originating in the lineages represented by the Sima del Elefante-TE9 hominins and possibly by the Gran Dolina-TD6 hominins. In the absence of any additional evidence, we prefer not include the specimen ATE9-1 in any named taxon and refer to it as Homo sp.     

A new species of Henriettea (Melastomataceae) from the Sierra de Baoruco, the Dominican Republic

Henriettea uniflora, which is known only from a diverse moist montane forest in the vicinity of Loma Trocha de Pey (or “Monteada Nueva”), Loma Pie de Palo, and Loma Remigio, the easternmost peaks of the Sierra de Baoruco, is described and illustrated. It is compared to species of the Henriettea squamulosa complex, especially H. squamulosa and H. ciliata. The species of this complex are characterized by an indumentum of ferruginous, stellate-lepidote hairs.     

A random process may control the number of endemic species

The richness of endemic species is often recognized as an indication of the distinctiveness of certain local faunas and is used for the definition of conservation hotspots as well. Faunas of different animal taxa were considered in sets of contiguous geographical units. Comparing the faunas of different units in one set, we found an exponential increase in the number of endemics when plotted against the number of non-endemics. A model of independent stochastic population dynamics under the control of environmental oscillations produces random fluctuations in the ranges of species. Ranges of endemic species are supposedly narrower than ranges of co-occurring non-endemic species. In such a case, the flow of a random process leads to an exponential relationship between numbers of co-occurring endemic and non-endemic species. This process also produces an apparent positive correlation between total species number and the percentage of endemics.