The calanoid copepods of the Nile system

At least 11 or 12 calanoid taxa occur in the Nile system. One species is typical of the river and of Lake Chad (Th. galebi); two are restricted to Lake Victoria (Th. galeboides, T. stuhlmanni), but both might be only subspecies to more widespread species. One is restricted to Lakes Edward and George (T. worthingtoni) but is a little known species. No calanoids are on record from Lakes Albert and Kyoga, while the species reported from Lake Turkana (T. banforanus) is out of range, and almost certainly represents an erroneous record. Among the remaining species, four are East-African, ranging from the southern tip of the continent to the Ethiopian plateau and the Nile valley (P. schultzei, Th. mixtus, T. kraepelini, T. cf orientalis), while two are Sahelian species that span Africa from east to west (M. mauretanicus, T. processifer et ssp.).Two new synonyms are introduced. One new subspecies (T. processifier friedae) is described from the Ethiopian plateau. It is suggested that Tropodiaptomus orientalis (Brady, 1886), the type species of its genus, should not be considered a nomen dubium, but should be redescribed on its type female(s) and on topotypical males from Sri Lanka.     

New Atlantic material and redescription of the type specimens of the giant abyssal amphipod Alicella gigantea Chevreux (Crustacea)

French abyssal campaigns SEABED 2 and DEMERABY to the Central Atlantic Ocean collected new specimens of the largest known amphipod Alicella gigantea Chevreux in baited traps and for the first time by bottom trawling. Type material from the Madeira Abyssal Plain is fully redescribed. New Atlantic material and the new Pacific material reported by other authors elsewhere are compared to the types. Some aspects of feeding are investigated and an analysis of the stomach contents of a giant male specimen provides an estimate of minimum feeding rate for this necrophagous amphipod.
Les campagnes abyssales françaises SEABED 2 et DEMERABY ont permis de récolter dans l'Atlantique Central, par nasses appâtées et pour la première fois par chalutage benthique, de nouveaux exemplaires du plus grand amphipode connu Alicella gigantea Chevreux. Le matérieltype de l'espèce provenant de la Plaine Abyssale de Madeirc est redécrit en détail et le nouvcau matérial atlantique lui est comparé, ainsi que le nouveau matériel du Pacifique décrit par d'autres. Certains aspects de la nutrition sont abordés et l analyse du contenu stomacal d'un exemplaire male géant a permis d'estimer le taux de nutrition minimum de cet amphipode nécrophage.     

Neglect as project: how two societies forget

La tendance est aujourd'hui à vouloir oublier les détails, voire les souvenirs, des anciennes manières de faire lorsque les idées et les modes d'action nouveaux deviennent prédominants. L'article part de l'idée que l'oubli commence par la négligence, et plus précisément par la négligence de certains modes de comportement ou signes et pratiques matérielles rappelant un passé considéré comme désormais indésirable. Dans une communauté millénariste des Caraïbes, les souvenirs et pratiques techniques du passé sont découragés par un «travail idéologique>> qui met constamment en regard l'ordre ancien et le monde nouveau dans un processus de création : l'oubli «dirigé>>. Dans un village albanais postcommuniste, en revanche, le fait de négliger une technologie apparaît comme un processus spontané plus transparent. Dans les deux cas, les souvenirs sont consubstantiels d'un monde matériel ancien, qui doit être évité ou détruit.     

Some recent puzzles in biological control

Six recent examples of biological control successes are described with comments on how these have been achieved. They are that ofPromecotheca cumingi Baly in Sri Lanka,Diatraea saccharalis (F.) in Barbados,Mythimna separata (Wlk.) in New Zealand,Nezara viridula (L.) in Australia,Chilo partellus (Swinh.) in Pakistan andEupatorium odoratum L. in Sri Lanka (as compared with other areas). Each shows some peculiar features which may well be of interest when considering future biological control attempts. In general it is postulated that since the introduction of the beneficial species into a new area is the final test of its capabilities this should not be delayed in order to find out more about its detailed ecology, which may actually be irrelevant. Once it is shown that an introduction cannot be harmful it should be attempted, in order to obtain possible economic results as quickly as possible.

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Résumé L'auteur décrit six récents exemples de succès en matière de lutte biologique et ajoute des commentaires sur leur réalisation. Il s'agit de la lutte contrePromecotheca cumingi Baly au Sri Lanka,Diatraea saccharalis F. aux Barbades,Mythimna separata Walk. en Nouvelle Zélande,Nezara viridula L. en Australie,Chilo partellus Swinh. au Pakistan etEupatorium odoratum L. au Sri Lanka (en comparaison avec d'autres régions). Chaque cas montre quelques particularités qui pourraient bien être instructives lors de futurs essais de lutte biologique. En général, l'auteur postule que l'introduction des espèces utiles dans une nouvelle région peut seule apporter la preuve définitive de leur capacité d'action et que cette introduction ne doit pas être retardée sous le prétexte de recherches sur leur écologie détaillée, ce qui peut en réalité être une faute. Dès qu'il est prouvé qu'une introduction ne peut pas être nuisible, elle doit être tentée de manière à obtenir des résultats d'ordre économique le plus vite possible.

     

Les copépodes en Sri Lanka (Calanoïdes et Cyclopoïdes)

A revision of the list of Copepoda produced recently by Fernando (1980) was necessary to take in account the progress of knowledge in this field. 25 species were listed. Now, seven of them keep their name. Another one is placed in another genus. Seven mistakes were corrected. Two species are new for Science,Microcyclops elegans andThermocyclops orientalis. Two varieties of already known species are also described. Eleven species are new for Sri Lanka. Three other, noted by Fernando (1980) do not seem to exist in Sri Lanka and four were not found again in the numerous samples studied.

     

On Indiacypris luxata (Brady), a freshwater ostracod (Crustacea: Entomostraca) from Sri Lanka

Indiacypris luxata (Brady), a freshwater ostracod from Sri Lanka is described and both the valves and the limbs and soft parts are figured.     

Cryptic species,taxonomic inflation,or a bit of both? New species phenomenon in Sri Lanka as suggested by a phylogeny of dwarf geckos (Reptilia,Squamata, Gekkonidae,Cnemaspis)

We evaluated the status of 16 of 22 recognized Sri Lankan Cnemaspis Strauch species, and flagged overlooked diversity with two mitochondrial (cyt b & ND2) and two nuclear markers (RAG1 & PDC) totalling 2829 base pairs. A fossil-calibrated timetree and sampling of other South Asian Cnemaspis provide insights into the diversification of the genus in peninsular India and Sri Lanka. Phylogenetic analyses consistently inferred two broad clades within South Asian Cnemaspis, with Sri Lankan species in two clades, which we call the podihuna and kandiana clades. Each Sri Lankan clade as a whole is sister to Indian taxa and nested within Indian lineages. Cnemaspis modigliani Das from Indonesia is a member of the kandiana clade. This suggests a minimum of two dispersal events between India and Sri Lanka and one between Sri Lanka/India and South-east Asia. South Asian Cnemaspis date back to at least the Eocene, in Sri Lanka to the early Miocene, with late Miocene diversification in the kandiana clade. All but one of the named species we sampled is likely to be valid, and 10 divergent unnamed lineages may warrant specific recognition. A resolution of Sri Lankan Cnemaspis taxonomy will require thorough sampling and the use of both morphological and molecular data.     

A contribution to the knowledge of the anostracan fauna of Iran

We report the finding of three anostracan species, Chirocephalus skorikowi Daday, 1913, Branchinecta orientalis Sars, 1901 and Branchinella spinosa. Milne-Edwards, 1840 in different localities in northwestern Iran. C. skorikowi was recorded in a lake at an elevation of 2400 m, whereas B. orientalis was found in a pond at 1280 m a.s.l. Co-existing B. spinosa and B. orientalis were collected in a pool close to the town of Tabriz, formerly indicated by Brehm (1954) as Estakr Chah, presently named EalGoli. Unlike Brehm (1954), we did not find Streptocephalus in the area of Tabriz.     

Genetic differentiation among local populations of Asian elephant

Electrohoretically detectable enetic variation for 29 kinds of blood protein encoded by 33 loci was analyzed for 78 Asian eletants (Elephas maximus) which were collected from its four local populations: Sri Lanka, Souti India, Thailand and Nepal. Elehants in Sri Lanka are classified into the subspecies E.m. maximus, and those from the other tlree localities into the subspecies E. m. indicus. Six variable loci were detected, and one of them, the tetrazolium oxidase locus, was observed to show a complete allele substitution between the subspecies. Average heterozgosity within local populations were in a range of 0.0152 ? 0.0303. Whereas the Nei's genetic distance among three local populations of the subspecies indicus were 0.0013 ? 0.0031, the distance between the subspecies indicus and maximus were 0.0328 ? 0.0370, indicating that the two subspecies were well differentiated genetically.     

Colletotrichum acutatum is the main cause of Colletotrichum leaf disease of rubber in Sri Lanka

Colletotrichum gloeosporoides has been described as the causal agent of Colletotrichum leaf disease of rubber in Sri Lanka and other parts of the world since 1905. A study carried out on vegetative and reproductive characteristics of 52 isolates from Colletotrichum leaf disease lesions on Hevea brasiliensis in Sri Lanka revealed that only 18 isolates belong to Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. The remaining 34 isolates represented C. aculatum indicating that C. acutatum is the main cause of Colletotrichum leaf disease in Sri Lanka.This revised version was published online in October 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Two new species of Eutrombidium Verdun, 1909 (Acari: Prostigmata: Eutrombidiidae) from Asia and a new host record for this genus

Two new species of larval mites are described Eutrombidium laosanum n. sp. ectoparasitic on undetermined Gryllidae (Orthoptera) from Laos and Indonesia (Lingga Islands) and E. sigirijanum n. sp. ectoparasitic on undetermined Tenebrionidae (Coleoptera) from Sri Lanka.     

The Cladocera of Sri Lanka (Ceylon), with remarks on some species

The freshwater Cladocera of Sri Lanka has been revised based on the study of over 700 zooplankton samples collected from all habitat types during 1965–1980. The cladoceran fauna is represented by six families; members of the families Polyphemidae, Leptodoridae and Holopedidae are absent. The common temperate genus Daphnia is rare.Sixty-two species have been recorded from Sri Lanka. Of these, five are new records. Remarks on a few species are given with illustrations. The distribution of Cladocera in different types of habitats is discussed. The greatest species diversity was found in ponds. The Sri Lankan fauna is numerically and in species diversity typical of tropical cladoceran fauna. It resembles the southern Indian fauna very closely except for the absence in Sri Lanka of the genera Acroperus and Camptocercus.     

Helicobacter pylori in School Children From the Western Province of Sri Lanka

Background. Little is known about the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori in Sri Lanka and nothing is known about its prevalence in children. Therefore the prevalence of H. pylori in a group of school children in Sri Lanka was determined. Materials and Methods. The presence of H. pylori colonisation was determined by detection of faecal antigen and salivary antibody (IgG) by enzyme immuno assay, in 184 children aged between 5 and 19 years, in the Western Province‐Colombo district of Sri Lanka. Results. Overall, only 12/184 (6.5%) had detectable H. pylori antigen in their stools and were considered infected with H. pylori, while 51/184 (27.7%) had H. pylori IgG in saliva. H. pylori salivary IgG declined with age while H. pylori antigen detection increased with age. H. pylori infection, as determined by salivary antibody (66%), was greater in children living in overcrowded conditions, although this was not statistically significant. Conclusion. The prevalence of H. pylori among school children in Sri Lanka was 6.5% by detection of faecal antigen and 27.7% by detection of salivary antibody, respectively. Initial infection with H. pylori appeared to occur in early childhood whilst active disease began in late childhood. Overcrowding appears to facilitate the transmission of the organism. Overall the prevalence of H. pylori was low in Sri Lanka compared with other countries in South‐east Asia.     

Some ecological aspects of the edible oyster Crassostrea cucullata (born) occurring in association with mangroves in negombo lagoon,Sri Lanka

Ecology of an oyster population (Crassostrea cucullata (Born)), associated with the roots of Rhizophora micronata Link, on an islet in the Negombo lagoon on the west coast of Sri Lanka, was studied. The associated fauna was described.I.H.E. Oude Delft 95, Delft, Holland     

Cellulolyse in vitro. Technique d'etude et verification electronique

Resume Les auteurs proposent une technique simple permettant l'étude de la transformation de la cellulose insoluble par un micromycète:Trichoderma viride Pers. ex S. F. Gray. Grâce à cette méthode on obteit une source continue de cellulase. La stérilité finale du matériel a été vérifiée aux microscopes photonique et électroniques. Les modifications provoquées par l'enzyme sont décrites à l'aide de ces instruments.     

Phylogenetic position of the Ohiya rat (Srilankamys ohiensis) based on mitochondrial and nuclear gene sequence analysis

Buzan, E. V., Pagès, M., Michaux, J. & Krystufek, B. (2011). Phylogenetic position of the Ohiya rat (Srilankamys ohiensis) based on mitochondrial and nuclear gene sequence analysis. —Zoologica Scripta, 40, 545–553. We investigated the phylogenetic position the Ohiya rat, endemic to Sri Lanka, Srilankamys (Rodentia, Murinae), within the tribe Rattini based on the combined analysis of three independent genes (a mitochondrial one and two nuclear exons). Three major lineages (the Maxomys, the Dacnomys and the Rattus divisions) were retrieved as monophyletic groups within the tribe Rattini. Srilankamys was not affiliated to any of the representatives of the Dacnomys division as it was supposed based on morphological characters, but clearly appeared as the first genus to diverge among the Rattus division. The Mindanao Shrew Mouse, Crunomys melanius, emerged as a part of the Maxomys division raising questions about the validity of the Crunomys and the Maxomys divisions as currently defined. Molecular date of divergence between Srilankamys and the other representatives of the Rattus division falls within the interval 6.7 ± 0.74 Mya, coinciding with the time of the isolation of Sri Lanka from the Deccan peninsula and the aridification period owing to the climate change at the end of the Miocene epoch. We suggest that the isolation of Sri Lanka from the continent, reinforced by the action of a seasonal monsoon‐dominated climate, would have led to the isolation of some ancestral rodents of the Rattus division, which would have differentiated later into the Ohiya rat by a vicariant process. In a more general point of view, our study supports the previous results obtained on other organisms and evidence that Sri Lanka appears to be characterized by a particular fauna as compared to the Indian mainland. This island would therefore be considered as a specific distinct hotspot of biodiversity.     

Isolation and Molecular Characterization of Entamoeba nuttalli Strains Showing Novel Isoenzyme Patterns from Wild Toque Macaques in Sri Lanka

We have proposed the revival of the name Entamoeba nuttalli for a virulent ameba strain, P19‐061405, from a rhesus macaque and located it phylogenetically between E. histolytica and E. dispar. As E. nuttalli was originally described for an ameba found in a toque macaque in Sri Lanka, the prevalence and characteristics of Entamoeba species in wild toque macaques were examined. PCR analysis of 227 stool samples from six locations showed positive rates for E. nuttalli, E. dispar, and E. histolytica of 18.5%, 0.4%, and 0%, respectively. Fifteen E. nuttalli strains were cultured successfully from five locations. The 18S ribosomal RNA gene showed only three nucleotide differences in comparison with P19‐061405 strain. In isoenzyme analysis, the pattern of hexokinase in Sri Lankan strains was different from that of P19‐061405 strains and the difference was confirmed by analysis of the genes. Hepatic inoculation of one of the Sri Lankan E. nuttalli strains in hamsters resulted in amebic abscess formation and body weight loss. These results demonstrate that E. nuttalli is prevalent in wild toque macaques and that several characteristics of the strains are unique. We conclude that use of the name E. nuttalli is appropriate for the new Entamoeba species found in nonhuman primates.     

Microflora and microbial activity in palmyrah (Borassus flabellifer) palm wine in Sri Lanka

Summary Palmyrah palm wine, a traditional mild alcoholic beverage of Northern Sri Lanka, is popularly referred to as toddy. It is obtained by the natural fermentation of the sugary sap of the palmyrah palm (Borassus flabellifer L.). The microflora commonly found in palmyrah toddy were identified asSaccharomyces cerevisiae, Sacch. Chevalieri, Kloeckera apiculata, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Bacillus cereus, B. sphaericus andB. firmus. Of the yeasts, the predominant and best alcoholic fermenter wasSacch. cerevisiae. The efficiency of alcoholle fermentation in natural palmyrah toddy was 56%. This was increased to 69% by adding a pure inoculum ofSacch. cerevisiae into the toddy collecting pots. A further increase in the efficiency to 89% was attained when fresh, sterilized palmyrah sap was fermented withSacch. cerevisiae under laboratory conditions.

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Resumen El vino de la palmera palmyrah es una bebida moderadamente alcohólica tradicional del Norte de Sri Lanka a la que se conoce popularmente como toddy. Se obtiene mediante la fermentación natural de la savia azucarada de la Palmyrah (Borassus flabellifer). La microflora que se encuentra en el toddy de Palmyrah se identificó como:Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Sacch. chevalieri,Kloeckera apiculata, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Bacillus cereus,B. sphaericus, y,B. firmus. De entre las levaduras, la más predominante y también la mejor fermentadora alcohólica fueSacch. cerevisiae.

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Résumé Le vin de palme de palmyre, boisson faiblement alcoolisée produite au Nord du Sri Lanka, est vulgairement dénommé toddy, Il est obtenu par fermentation naturelle de la sève sucrée du palmier palmyre (Borassus flabillifer L.). La microflore usuelle du toddy de palmyre est constituée parSaccharomyces cerevisiae, Sacch. chevalieri, Kloeckera apiculata, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Bacillus cereus, B. sphaericus etB. firmus. Parmi les levures,Sacch. cerevisiae est la plus abondante et le meilleur agent de la fermentation alcoolique.

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Paper based on a poster presentation at the VII International Conference on the Global Impacts of Applied Microbiology, Helsinki, 12–16 August 1985.     

Hotels as sites of power: tourism, status, and politics in Nepal Himalaya

This article is about the social and cultural significance of hotels in the Nepal Himalaya. Through a socio-semiotic approach, I analyse how the hotel in Himalayan tourism functions as an architectural form that mediates different social domains, and through the process embeds the ideology of 'development' in everyday life, producing the power relations that would in turn generate their very contestations. By treating the materiality of the hotel as an anthropological tool, we are thus able more fully to understand how a community's pursuit of development and intensive engagement with tourism have resulted in the creation of new forms of subjectivity as well as social and political relationships.  

Résumé

Le présent article est consacréà la signification sociale et culturelle des hôtels dans l'Himalaya népalais. Grâce à une approche socio-sémiotique, l'auteur analyse la manière dont l'hôtel fonctionne, dans le tourisme himalayen, comme une forme architecturale médiatrice de différents domaines sociaux. Il intègre ainsi l'idéologie du « développement >> dans la vie de tous les jours, et crée des relations de pouvoir qui génèrent à leur tour leurs propres contestations. En traitant la matérialité de l'hôtel comme un outil anthropologique, on peut mieux comprendre comment la quête du développement et l'engagement intensif d'une communauté dans le tourisme ont abouti à la création de nouvelles formes de subjectivité et de relations sociales et politiques.