Annotated checklist of Albanian butterflies (Lepidoptera,Papilionoidea and Hesperioidea)

The Republic of Albania has a rich diversity of flora and fauna. However, due to its political isolation, it has never been studied in great depth, and consequently, the existing list of butterfly species is outdated and in need of radical amendment. In addition to our personal data, we have studied the available literature, and can report a total of 196 butterfly species recorded from the country. For some of the species in the list we have given explanations for their inclusion and made other annotations. Doubtful records have been removed from the list, and changes in taxonomy have been updated and discussed separately. The purpose of our paper is to remove confusion and conflict regarding published records. However, the revised checklist should not be considered complete: it represents a starting point for further research.     

On the scorpion fauna of Egypt,with an identification key (Arachnida: Scorpiones)

The taxonomy and diversity of the scorpion fauna of Egypt was examined based on a large collection from most parts of the country and in view of recent revisionary systematics. We assessed the validity of listed records in light of new taxonomic findings and geographic distribution data and present a new list and an identification key to the scorpion fauna of Egypt consisting of 31 species, 18 of which were collected during this survey. Four species were not accepted for the list because no voucher material was available.     

Extinctions of vascular plants in Spain

The catalogue of extinct plants in Spain, comprising 27 taxa is updated. Included are four species not previously classified as extinct in Spain: Cyclamen purpurascens, Grammitis quaerenda, Stratiotes aloides and Vallisneria spiralis. We analyze the causes of extinction and explore the possible influence of botanical collections in species loss. The obtained data suggest that habitat loss has been the main cause of extinction and the impact of collecting is demonstrated to be irrelevant. We list the 21 species that have been designated as extinct in previous catalogues but which no longer have that status, 14 of them having been recovered thanks to botanical exploration and collection works.     

The phytoplankton of spring Lake,Michigan

Summary Spring Lake in Michigan U.S.A. is a highly productive body of water, containing many rare and unknown phytoplanktonic algae. A list of 283 species identified and their general distribution during the eight months of collection is brought.     

Scale insects (Homoptera,Coccinea) in greenhouses of the Polar-Alpine Botanical Garden: Host plants,monitoring, and control

A list of the coccid species damaging plants in the collection of the greenhouses of the Polar-Alpine Botanical Garden, Kola Peninsula, is given. The dynamics of the pests’ presence and number of their hosts since 1957, and effect of pesticides on the pests are shown.     

Herbarium records do not predict rediscovery of presumed nationally extinct species

Rediscoveries of species previously thought to be extinct present a dilemma to conservation biology. On one hand, such instances offer the chance to change the course of events away from one that would have led to extinctions. On the other hand, public support for conservation may wane if scientists are frequently seen to overstate and prematurely declare extinctions. Recent studies have adopted a probabilistic approach to infer extinction, using sightings or collections and statistical models to calculate the chance that a species may still be extant. We conduct the first broad-scale test of such models using a recently compiled national red list and national herbarium collection records, including collections of presumed nationally extinct species made after the red list publication, which constitute “rediscoveries”. There was little evidence that the probabilities calculated by these models were associated with rediscoveries over a 3.5-year period. Current probabilistic models of extinction using sighting records could hence be inadequate for use with most natural history collection data.     

Chironomids fauna (Diptera, Chironomidae) in some waterbodies and watercourses of Mongolia

An annotated list of chironomid species from some waterbodies and watercourses of Mongolia identified by an imaginal developmental stage is presented. The list includes 97 species of 39 genera and 5 subfamilies: Tanypodinae (6 species), Diamesinae (1), Prodiamesinae (2), Orthocladiinae (33), and Chironominae (55). Of all found chironomid imagos, 11 species have been earlier identified for the Mongolian fauna, the other 86 species have been registered for the first time. The largest number of species has been recorded in Lake Sangiyn-Dalai—28; in Lake Ugiy and River Ider—19 species. In the rest of the lakes, the number of recorded species varies from 18 to 10 species, and in rivers, from 13 to 2. Most of the species are boreal and widespread. The number of Paleoarctic species amounts to 44 and Holarctic species amounts to 49.     

The Plume-Moth Fauna (Lepidoptera,Pterophoridae) of the Republic of Belarus

Entomological Review - A list of 35 species of the family Pterophoridae from the Republic of Belarus is provided based on examination of the collection of the Zoological Institute, Russian Academy...     

The mammals of Jebel Marra, Sudan

A small collection of mammals was made on Jebel Marra, Darfur Province, Sudan, in November 1964. Fifteen species were collected and information is given on their habitat, reproductive condition, and moulting. A general account of Jebel Marra and a list of the 36 recorded mammals from the mountain are included.     

上海濒危植物现状及保护对策

通过实地网格化调查、标本查阅及历史资料搜集对上海濒危植物现状及保护对策进行了研究,结果表明:上海共有国家重点保护和濒危野生植物23科27属28种,建议上海重点保护的野生植物有54科82属101种。上海原生植物减少、外来植物增多、生物多样性降低等是上海一些原生植物变为濒危的主要原因。今后应建立上海濒危植物保护体系,重点保护上海的植物多样性中心,并尽快立法公布上海地方重点保护野生植物名录;加强植物多样性保护宣传,保护上海的野生植物资源并防范外来植物入侵。     

Possibility of using old collection material for determining the fertility of biting midges (Ceratopogonidae)

Possibility of determination of the actual fecundity of midges on females with mature eggs preserved in the collection (dry or in alcohol) for decades has been studied. The procedure of work is described. A list of species is given, in which the fecundity was determined in this way.     

On the chironomid (Diptera,Chironomidae) fauna in Lake Sevan

An annotated list of the chironomid species collected in Lake Sevan in the first 10 days of October 2006 and 2007 is presented. Chironomid species were identified by the aquatic stages of their development (larvae and pupae) and imagoes. The list includes 26 species, among which nine species were recorded in the lake for the first time. Altogether, 53 species of chironomids have been recorded in Lake Sevan.     

The orthopteroid insects described by Linnaeus, with notes on the Linnaean collection

A list is given of the recently recurated Orthoptera s.l. held by the Linnean Society of London. The status of specimens in the collection is evaluated, eight lectotype designations are made, and the orthopteroid species described by Linnaeus are listed alphabetically.     

Updated taxonomic list and conservation status of chondrichthyans from the exclusive economic zone of Venezuela,with first generic and specific records

Using the last taxonomic review of chondrichthyans of the world, we selected the species distributed in the north-western Atlantic Ocean (NWA) and compared it with the available published literature related to the class Chondrichthyes in the Venezuelan exclusive economic zone. We also revised information from worldwide databases such as: FAO (NWA-31 area), GBIF, iSpecies, IUCN and OBIS, as well as available museum collection databases. The taxonomic validity was checked using the Catalogue of Fishes of the California Academy of Sciences and recent references. The past published Venezuelan lists of chondrichthyans combined included nine orders, 30 families and 108 species. The updated list with 12 orders, 36 families and 122 species increased by three new orders, six families, three shark genera, nine shark species (one replacing another species), one chimaera genus, two chimaera species, three batoid genera and six batoid species (two replacing other species). Four holotype specimens (two sharks and two rays) are deposited in Venezuelan Museums. Most of the species have an IUCN conservation status, including four species catalogued as Critically Endangered, six as Endangered and 18 species as Vulnerable. Deep-sea fisheries, scientific exploration and taxonomic/genetic revisions might add future increments to the Venezuelan chondrichthyan list.     

The orthopteroid insects described by Linnaeus,with notes on the Linnaean collection

A list is given of the recently recurated Orthoptera s.l. held by the Linnean Society of London. The status of specimens in the collection is evaluated, eight lectotype designations are made, and the orthopteroid species described by Linnaeus are listed alphabetically.     

准噶尔西部山地黄耆属丁字毛类群的研究

在野外调查、标本鉴定和文献考证的基础上,对准噶尔西部山地黄耆属丁字毛类群进行了研究.结果表明：该地区黄耆属丁字毛类群有26种,包括中国分布新记录1种,即多角黄耆（Astragalus polyceras Kar.et Kir.）,《中国植物志》遗漏种4种,即留土黄耆（A.hypogaeus Ledeb.）、灌木黄耆（A.suffruticosus DC.）、流沙黄耆（A.sabuletorum Ldb.）和亚黄耆（A.consanguineus Bong.et Mey.）.为6种植物补充了地区分布新资料.列出了分种检索表,对每个种类的文献引证及地理分布进行了简要记述,并对中国分布新记录及《中国植物志》遗漏种进行了形态学描述.     

Contributions to the rotifer fauna of ORISSA,India

This paper deals with 36 species of monogonont rotifers (belonging to 10 eurotatorien families) collected from Sambalpur (Orissa State) in Eastern India. Of the reported taxa, 15 species have been added as new records to the previous list from this region while one species represents a new record from this country.     

New data on the European fauna of encyrtid wasps (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea, Encyrtidae)

On the basis of examination of the collection of the Natural History Museum (london), an annotated list of 36 encyrtid species with new records for 12 countries is given: one species new for both Ukraine and Croatia; two, for Austria, Cyprus, and Norway; three, for U.K.; four, for Germany and Spain; five, for Bulgaria; six, for Italy; eight, for France, and twelve, for Greece.     

A review of Rhynchophorous beetles (Coleoptera, Curculionoidea) of the Meshchera Lowland

A total of 385 species of the Curculionoidea (except for the Dryophthoridae and Scolytidae) have been revealed in the Meshchera Lowland. The list comprises 2 species of Nemonychidae, 4 species of Anthribidae, 11 species of Rhynchitidae, 2 species of Attelabidae, 58 species of Apionidae, 6 species of Nanophyidae, 8 species of Erirhinidae and 294 species of Curculionidae.