Recent records of steppe species in Belarus,first indications of a steppe species invasion?

BELARUS IS SITUATED AT A CROSSROAD OF NATURAL BORDERS OF SPECIES DISTRIBUTIONS: the NE part is situated in a taiga zone, whereas the other part of terrain is in the European forest zone. The distance of Belarus to the steppe zone is about 330 kilometers. This geographical position and the extensive knowledge of its fauna can be used to monitor changes in the distribution of different species. An intensive study of open habitat ground beetles was carried out from 1975-2008 in Belarus, using pitfall traps, quadrate-sampling methods, hand collecting, netting and light traps. In total, more than 130 000 specimens of ground beetles belonging to 169 species were collected from 62 fields and 11 meadows of different types. 217 specimens of Calosoma investigator (Illiger 1798), 2 specimens of Calosoma denticolle (Gebler 1833), and one specimen of Harpalus subcylindricus (Dejean, 1829), Harpalus honestus (Duftschmid 1812) and Zabrus tenebrioides (Goeze 1777) were present in this material. All specimens were macropterous and exclusively caught at fields and waste grounds on sandy soil. Nowadays Belarus is the northernmost location for these species in Eastern Europe. Steppe species most probably migrated to SE Belarus from NE Ukraine, using Dnieper and its river valleys. The shift in the geographic distribution of steppe species during the last thirty years in Belarus have been attributed to a higher frequency of warmer and wetter summers in the last few decades.     

A new species of Paracreptotrema (Digenea,Plagiorchiformes, Allocreadiidae) infecting two species of poeciliids in Río Malila of the Río Pánuco basin,Hidalgo, México,with a key to the species of the genus

Paracreptotrema rosenthali sp. n. was discovered in the intestine of Xiphophorus malinche and Pseudoxiphophorus jonesii, collected from the headwaters of Río Malila, tributary of Río Conzintla, in the Río Pánuco basin, Hidalgo, México, during 2008–2009. The new species differs from the five known species of Paracreptotrema Choudhury, Pérez-Ponce de León, Brooks & Daverdin, 2006 by having vitelline follicles that extend from a level anterior to the pharynx to mid-testes, the seminal vesicle which is more extensively folded, and a wider cirrus sac. The new species resembles Paracreptotrema heterandriae in the length of its ceca, which surpasses the posterior margin of the ovary but do not reach the testes. A key to the species of Paracreptotrema is provided.     

The relative of species pools in determining plant species richness: an alternative explanation of species coexistence?

Explanations of the pattern of species have traditionally relied on small-scale, local processes occurring in ecological time. Differences in species richness have associated with different mechanisms avoiding competition, such as spatiotemporal heterogeneity (weaker competitors may find a more favourable place or time) or environmental stress (competition is assumed to be less intensive under difficult conditions). More recently, large-scale process have been taken into account, raising such questions as: which plant species may potentially grow in a certain community? Are evolutionary processes and species dispersal responsible for the differences between communities? The species-pool theory attempts to answer these general questions, and information about species pools is needed for the design of experiments where the number of species in a community is manipulated.     

A new species of Simaba (Simaroubaceae) from Pará, Brazil,with a key to the species north of the Amazon River

A new species,Simaba cavalcantei, is described and illustrated. It is considered to be intermediate between sectionsGrandiflorae andFloribundae and is distinguished from potentially sympatric species in a key to the species occurring north of the Amazon River.     

How many species of host-specific insects feed on a species of tropical tree?

The assumptions on the host specificity of beetles that led Terry Erwin to suggest that there may be over 30 million arthropod species were tested for 10 species of trees and their insect associates at a rainforest site in Papua New Guinea. The data included 391 species and 4696 individuals of herbivorous beetles collected during a one year period using hand collecting, beating, branch clipping, intercept flight traps and pyrethrum knockdown. Insect host specificity was assessed by feeding trials in captivity. The data suggest that between 23 and 37 monophagous leaf-feeding species are most likely to be present in this system, whereas Erwin's method yields an estimate of 138 monophagous species. The major factors responsible for the discrepancy between our observations and Erwin's assumptions appears to be (a) the importance of transient species; (b) the insect fauna that is shared among tree species; (c) some generalist wood-eating species may inflate the apparent species richness of leaf-feeding beetles; and (d) the proportion of specialist species varies significantly among tree species. We conclude that studies reporting the proportion of specialist insect herbivores associated with particular tropical tree species will yield only a portion of the information needed to estimate global arthropod species richness, but may be useful for elucidating certain aspects of food-web ecology in tropical rain forests.     

Structure,zonation, and species diversity of the mayfly communities of the Belá River basin,Slovakia

Four mayfly taxocoena which correspond to zones in the river continuum concept of Vannote et al. (1980) and to the zonation concept of Illies & Botoaneanu (1963), were distinguished by cluster analysis in the Belá River basin, Slovakia.By principal components analysis, taxocoena were shown to be separated along a complex gradient dominated by altitude and slope.An increase of species diversity was observed downstreams. The species-diversity data can be fitted to a geometric series, and interpreted by the niche preemption hypothesis. Equitability and the ratio of Baetidae to Heptagenidae are supposed to indicate ecological conditions.     

Allometry of aboveground biomasses in mangrove species in Itamaracá, Pernambuco, Brazil

Allometric equations to estimate aboveground biomass (AGB) and plant part biomasses (PPB) of three mangrove species, Rhizophora mangle, Avicennia schaueriana, and Laguncularia racemosa, were determined in Itamaracá, Pernambuco, Brazil (7°48′44″S and 34°49′39″W). Twenty-three to thirty-six trees of each species, ranging in height (H) from 1.6 to 11.8 m and in diameter, at breast height or above prop roots (D), from 2 to 21 cm, were measured, cut, and separated into stems, branches, leaves, and prop roots. Biomass proportions in each tree part were similar among species, excluding prop roots: stems 37–47%, branches 41–46%, and leaves 11–17%. Prop roots represented 37% of AGB in R. mangle. Tree size had a significant but not large influence on biomass distribution among plant parts: as stem diameters increased the proportions allocated to leaves decreased and those to stems and branches increased. AGB and PPB were significantly related to D and D² × H and the best fittings were obtained with power equations. A few equations from literature fitted the data reasonably well for AGB of one or two of the species but resulted in large errors for the others. Applying the equations to previous measurements of tree diameters in a sample area, AGB for the mangrove site was estimated at 105 Mg ha⁻¹, with 78, 19, and 3% corresponding to biomasses of R. mangle, L. racemosa, and A. schaeuriana trees, respectively.     

Revision of the Agrilus beatissimus species–group (Coleoptera,Buprestidae) with description of five new species from Southeast Asia

The newly defined Agrilus beatissimus species–group comprising seven species from Southeast Asia is revised. The key to species is provided and complemented with illustrations of habitus, genitalia and type specimens. The following five new species are described: Agrilus bilyanus sp. nov. (Thailand); A. campana sp. nov. (Laos); A. galazopos sp. nov. (Laos); A. plurifrons sp. nov. (Laos, Myanmar) and A. undatus sp. nov. (Laos). Comprehensive commented references, data on type specimens and new faunal records are cited. The distribution is updated for A. beatissimusDescarpentries and Villiers 1963 and A. dunoyeriBaudon 1968.     

A new species of Megischus Brullé (Hymenoptera, Stephanidae) from China, with a key to the Chinese species

A new species of Megischus Brullé from China, Megischus aplicatussp. n.,is described and illustrated. A key to the Chinese species of Megischus is added. The holotype is deposited in the Parasitic Hymenoptera Collection of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou.     

Conflict of use for multi-purpose tree species in the state of Pará, eastern Amazonia, Brazil

Although diversified forest management is promoted as a strategy aimed at slowing tropical deforestation, little is known about the viability of integrating timber and non-timber forest products in the same forest management plans. In this study we offer an initial characterization of multi-purpose tree species in the State of Pará, the principal Amazonian logging region. We identify the species used for both timber and non-timber extraction, and classify these according to their commercial value. We relate multi-purpose species to their ecological traits, the type of non-timber forest use and the fraction of the tree harvested. Although a high number of species present a potential conflict of use, this conflict is only relevant in four of them: D. odorata, T. serratifolia, T. impetiginosa and H. courbaril. Nevertheless, the nature and relevance of this conflict will ultimately depend on the importance that the non-timber use has for the livelihoods of forest-dependant people, the commercial value and the ecological resilience of these species.     

Brumptomyia angelae, a new species of Phlebotominae (Diptera, Psychodidae) of the Atlantic forest of the state of Paraná, Brazil

The male of Brumptomyia angelae, sp. nov., a new species of Phlebotominae (Diptera, Psychodidae) of the Atlantic forest of the state of Paraná, Brazil, is described and illustrated. This new taxon is closely related to Brumptomyia ortizi Martins, Silva & Falc?o 1971, Brumptomyia nitzulescui (Costa Lima, 1932), and Brumptomyia troglodytes (Lutz, 1922). The male genitalia of these three latter species have also been drawn.     

Threatened species, a re-evaluation of the status of eight endemic plants of the Gala´pagos

Although still in relatively good condition, the Gala´pagos Archipelago suffers from increasing human pressures. Apart from direct actions like hunting and logging, endemic plants and animals are threatened by introduced species, and in many cases the present status of the populations is not known. The conservation status of eight plant species considered endangered was studied from literature and field surveys and the main threats were determined. Each of the eight species is endemic to only one island but in some cases is also present on nearby islets. Of these eight species, one is considered extinct, one critically endangered, and the others suffer various levels of threat. As in all island systems of the world, the main threats are introduced organisms, both plants and animals. The extinct species probably disappeared owing to invasion by Lantana camara, one of the most aggressively invasive plants of the islands, and the most endangered species is threatened by goats. The remaining species seem to be regenerating well and we can expect positive results from protection efforts. Today, only one of the eight species benefits from a direct protection action.     

β-Galactosidase of Pediococcus species: induction,purification and partial characterization

Summary Six strains of Pediococcus pentosaceus and two of P. acidilactici had intracellular -galactosidase (-gal) activity when grown in the presence of lactose; all but two strains of P. pentosaceus and one of P. acidilactici had such activity when grown in the presence of glucose. Synthesis of -gal by P. pentosaceus ATCC 25745 was inducible with lactose, galactose, melibiose, lactobionic acid and possibly cellobiose but not with glucose, sucrose, maltose, glycerol, fructose or mannose. Lactose, galactose and possibly maltose, melibiose and lactobionic acid but not glucose, sucrose, glycerol, cellobiose, fructose or mannose induced -gal synthesis by P. acidilactici ATCC 25740. Synthesis of -gal was partially inhibited in P. pentosaceus ATCC 25745 and P. acidilactici ATCC 25740 by glucose added to the medium during growth in the presence of galactose or lactose. Isopropyl -d-thiogalactopyranoside failed to induce synthesis of -gal by either strain during growth on glucose. -Gal from P. pentosaceus ATCC 25745 had a molecular weight of 66,000 and activity optima of pH 6.5 and 45° C. Activity of the enzyme was stimulated by reducing agents, Mg²⁺, Mn²⁺, Zn²⁺ and Co²⁺ but not by Ca²⁺, and was markedly inhibited by ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA), HgCl₂, 1,10-phenanthroline, and an oxidizing agent. The K _mvalues of the enzyme for o-nitrophenol--d-galactopyranoside and lactose were 3.07 and 7.0 mM, respectively, suggesting its low affinity for lactose. Offprint requests to: E. H. Marth     

New species of the genus Ortheziola ?ulc (Hemiptera,Coccoidea, Ortheziidae)

This paper describes three new Ortheziola species of the Palaearctic and Oriental regions. The specimens were extracted from forest litter using Berlese funnels, and are from the collections of Muséum d’Histoire naturelle de Genève, Switzerland. Thus the genus Ortheziola sensu stricto now includes 12 species. An identification key, distribution map and new locality records for the Ortheziola species currently known are provided.     

Malaxis chica,a new species of Orchidaceae from Nuevo León,Mexico

A new species from northern Mexico,Malaxis chica, is described and illustrated. It is distinguished by its small, unifoliate habit, subumbellate inflorescences, and sagittate lip with long basal lobes.Malaxis chica is compared to three species—M. corymbosa, M. salazarii, andM. rosei—with which it shows some morphological similarity.     

3,000 species and no end – species richness and community pattern of woodland macrofungi in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania,Germany

In addition to newly generated and continuously growing datasets in mycological research, existing compilations are of high value to assess the fungi of a whole region. In the present study, a private database with ca. 65,000 entries of macromycetous fruit body observations in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany, was analysed. Observed species richness of tree-associated mycorrhizal and saprobic fungi exceeded 3,000 taxa. The total fungal species richness could not be determined with confidence but will possibly exceed 4,000. Distinct species turnover with respect to host trees was observed. However, the rate of community overlap clearly differed between mycorrhizal and saprobic fungi and deciduous and coniferous trees. By separating the data into abundant core species and rare satellite taxa potential indicator species are presented, whose preservation will be beneficial to many other fungi and the entire ecosystems they live in.     

Two new species of genus Ateleute Förster (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Cryptinae) with a key to the Oriental species

Three species of Ateleute Förster 1869 belonging to the tribe Cryptini of the subfamily Cryptinae (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae), collected from Jiangxi Province, China, are reported, of which two are new for science: Ateleute ferruginea Sheng, Broad & Sun, sp. n. and AAteleute zixiensis Sheng, Broad & Sun, sp. n. One, AAteleute densistriata (Uchida, 1955), was previously known from China and Japan. A key to the species of genus Ateleute known in the Oriental Region is provided.