A new genus of Mantispidae (Insecta: Neuroptera) from the Eocene of Germany, with a review of the fossil record and palaeobiogeography of the family

A new mantispid genus and species Symphrasites eocenicus gen. sp. nov. is described from the Middle Eocene of the Messel Pit fossil site, Germany. It has been placed, with confidence, in the subfamily Symphrasinae, the fossils of which were previously unknown. A review of the known fossil species of Mantispidae is provided, and their systematic placements are discussed. Liassochrysa stigmatica Ansorge & Schlüter, 1990 is assigned to Mantispidae, and therefore Liassochrysidae is a new synonym of Mantispidae; a second, more complete specimen of Mesomantispa sibirica Makarkin, 1997 is described from the Early Cretaceous Baissa locality, Russia; Mantispidiptera Grimaldi, 2000 is excluded from the family; Vectispa Lambkin, 1986 is referred to subfamily Mantispinae; and the assignment of Whalfera Engel, 2004 to Rhachiberothidae is validated. The origin and palaeobiogeography of the mantispids are briefly discussed: the concept of ousted relicts – which assumes that former widely distributed taxa were replaced with groups originating in the tropics – is assumed to best explain the present distribution of the family.  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 149 , 701–716.     

A remarkable fossiliferous mass flow deposit in the Eocene Eckfeld Maar (Germany)—sedimentological, taphonomical, and palaeoecological considerations

The distal part of a mass flow deposit has been excavated across an area of 400 m² in the basinal facies of the Eckfeld Maar. The high concentration and diversity of fossils in mainly excellent preservation (i.e. leaves, fruits/seeds, wood, molluscs, vertebrate teeth, and bones such as undeformed sculls) is unique and underline its outstanding importance concerning sedimentological, taxonomical, and palaeoecological aspects. Together with a subaerial landslide from the inner crater slope, shoreline deposits—previously acting as a highly effective taphonomic filter—were transported towards the central lake basin. Complex processes like erosion, flow turbulence, and subsequent turbidity currents produced a characteristic sedimentary sequence. The interpretation of sedimentological, taphonomical, and physiological leaf characters allows an insight into the thus preserved shore line environment and provides information on the surrounding vegetation. Embedded leaves from open stands and understorey indicate dynamic successions on rather steep and unstable inner slopes of the crater.     

First substantial Middle Eocene record of the Lithornithidae (Aves): A postcranial skeleton from Messel (Germany)

A postcranial skeleton of a representative of the palaeognathous Lithornithidae (Aves) is described from the Middle Eocene of Messel in Germany. The specimen is slightly smaller than Lithornis plebius from which it, however, differs in limb bone proportions. It constitutes the latest fossil record of the Lithornithidae in Europe, whose only other Middle Eocene record is a fragmentary tibiotarsus from North America.     

Paleoecology of early middle Eocene bats from Messel,FRG. aspects of flight,feeding and echolocation

By their diversified flight apparatus Messel bats occupied specific flight niches similar to those of extant tropical bats. The small Palaeochiropteryx tupaiodon is considered to be most specialized for hunting close to the ground and for hovering inside dense vegetation. Contrarily, Hassianycteris spp. most likely were high and fast flyers in the open space.

The analysis of gut contents proves that Palaeochiropteryx spp. exclusively fed on small moths and caddis flies, i.e. slow and low flying insects. For P. tupaiodon this confirms the foraging strategy independently from wing morphology. Hassianycteris spp. preyed mainly on beetles or other insects with thick cuticules.

Inner ears of Messel microbats are less specialized compared to those of recent species. Especially P. tupaiodon shows no acoustical specialization with regard to its hunting habitat. Thus, we assume that during the early evolution of bats the development of different flight styles and wing shapes preceded acoustical refinements of the echolocation system.     

Individual bee foragers are less-efficient transporters of pollen for plants from which they collect the most pollen in their scopae

Premise

Bees provision most of the pollen removed from anthers to their larvae and transport only a small proportion to stigmas, which can negatively affect plant fitness. Though most bee species collect pollen from multiple plant species, we know little about how the efficiency of bees' pollen transport varies among host plant species or how it relates to other aspects of generalist bee foraging behavior that benefit plant fitness, such as specialization on individual foraging bouts.

Methods

We compared the pollen collected and transported by three bee species for 46 co-occurring plant species. Specifically, we compared the relative abundance of pollen taxa in the individual bees' scopae, structures where bees store pollen to provision larvae, with the relative abundance of pollen taxa on the rest of bees' bodies, which is more likely to be transferred to stigmas.

Results

Bees carried five times more pollen grains in their scopae than elsewhere on their bodies. Within foraging bouts, bees were relatively specialized in their pollen collection, but transported proportionally less pollen for the host plants on which they specialized. Across foraging bouts, two bee species transported proportionally less pollen for some of their host plants than for others, though differences didn't consistently follow the same trend as at the foraging bout scale.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that foraging-bout specialization, which is known to reduce heterospecific pollen transfer, also results in less-efficient pollen transport. Thus, bee foragers that visit predominantly one plant species may have contrasting effects on that plant's fitness.

     

Pollen Morphology and Taxonomic Position of the Genus Pentaphragma Wall. (Pentaphragmataceae)

The pollen morphology of some Pentaphragma Wall, species has been studied by light- and electron microscopy. To improve the rehydration of the dried material used, compound fixatives have been applied. Intine-held vesicles and fibrillar network in gaps and spaces of the exine stain positively for protein. The pollen morphology of the genus differs strongly from that of Campanulaceae, and shows distinctive characters of its own. Hence from a palynological point of view it appears correct to place the genus in a separate family.     

Polyamine derivatives from the bee pollen of Quercus mongolica with tyrosinase inhibitory activity

Eighteen constituents, including nine new compounds, were isolated from the bee pollen of Quercus mongolica. The structures of the new compounds were established on the basis of combined spectroscopic analysis. Structurally, the nine new compounds are polyamine derivatives with phenolic moieties which were assigned as one putrescine derivative, mogolicine A (2), seven spermidine derivatives, mongolidines A-G (3–5, 8, 12, 14, 17) and one spermine derivative, mogoline A (18). Evaluation of the biological activity of isolated compounds revealed that the polyamine derivatives with coumaroyl and caffeoyl moieties showed tyrosinase inhibition with IC₅₀ values of 19.5–85.8 μM; however, the addition of a methoxy group to phenolic derivatives reduced the inhibitory activity.     

The identification of fossil angiosperm pollen and its bearing on the time and place of the origin of angiosperms

Studies in the 1970's reporting the occurrence of fossil pollen types in the Cretaceous, coupled with surveys of extant pollen morphology of primitive flowering plants, laid the foundation for proposing a Lower Cretaceous origin of angiosperms. Over the last 30 years, morphological, ultrastructural, and ontogenetic studies of both extant and fossil pollen have provided an array of new characters, as well as greater resolution in defining character polarities. Moreover, a range of fossil pollen types exhibiting angiosperm characters occur in low frequency within Triassic and Jurassic sediments. The pollen data provide evidence of a pre-Cretaceous origin of angiosperms. Speciation and extinction rates were likely equal during the Triassic and Jurassic, resulting in the paucity of angiosperm pollen types from different geographic areas in the Atlantic – South American/African rift zone. It was not until the Lower Cretaceous that origination rates exceed extinction rates, resulting in the subsequent diversification of angiosperms and the origin of the eudicots.     

Determination of metals as bio indicators in some selected bee pollen samples from Jordan

This study was done to determine the degree of metals and heavy metals in some bee pollen sample as biological indicator for environmental pollution. Sample were collected from industrial, urban and agricultural areas of Jordan in year 2017. Eight metals (As, Cd, Cu, Mg, Pb, Ni, Se, and Zn) continents analyzed by using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrum, (ICP-OES).Results were statistically interpreted by using ANOVA analysis. Metals content in bee pollen from Jordan and China were determined within the following ranges (minimum–maximum mg/kg); Cu (copper): 11.338–0.032, Zn (Zinc): 77.022–25.24, Ni (Nickel): 2.839 to <0.01, Se (Selenium): 3.03 to <0.04, Mg (Magnesium): 1575.19–641.388, Pb (Lead): 2.567 to <0.03, Cd (Cadmium): <0.005, As (Arsenic): <0.02. The results showed that there were no statistically significant differences among metals in the bee pollen. It has also found that bee pollen produced in Jordan may be a good source of some trace elements like Se and Mg and can be used as an environmental indicator and for quality control.     

长木蜂蜂粮酿制过程中pH值和花粉活力的测定

测定手采新鲜的芍药花粉、芍药长木蜂Xylocopa tranquebarorum（Swederus）花粉和不同酿制时间蜂粮样品的平均pH值,结果分别是6．19、5．92和4．05（40日龄蜂粮）。随着酿制时间的延长,蜂粮的pH值下降,2日龄蜂粮到3日龄蜂粮的pH值从5．57降至4．82,下降速率明显。经测定,紫藤长木蜂花粉和不同日龄蜂粮样品中紫藤花粉的纯度均在98％以上;芍药长木蜂花粉和不同日龄蜂粮样品中芍药花粉的纯度均在93％以上;测定紫藤花粉的长木蜂蜂粮和芍药花粉的长木蜂蜂粮中的花粉活力。结果表明,在1日龄蜂粮中花粉活力基本丧失,3日龄后均失去萌发力,并且不同的花粉蜂粮其花粉活力表现一致。     

Partitioning of pollen resources by two stingless bee species in the north Bahia,Brazil

Analysing the pollen stored by stingless bees allows identification of the diversity of flowering plants visited by these bees while collecting resources during a given period. However, few studies have focused on investigating the sharing of resources between species of native bees that coexist in transitional plant formations, which support conservation efforts and increase colony productivity. This study aims to describe the partitioning of pollen resources among colonies of two species of stingless bees in the state of the Bahia (Brazil) through the analysis of stored pollen. The study was conducted in neighbouring vegetation zones of the relevant species Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides and Melipona scutellaris by collecting monthly pollen samples stored by three colonies of each species over one year. The collected samples were treated using the acetolysis technique, and the partitioning of pollen resources between the two species was investigated through quali-quantitative analysis of the treated pollen. The results show that among the 16 pollen types belonging to a particular species or group identified in the Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides samples and the 18 identified in the Melipona scutellaris samples, 13 were shared by both species. The two most common pollen types stored by both species were from Mimosa arenosa (Fabaceae, Mimosoidae) and Eucalyptus sp. (Myrtaceae). These results demonstrate the niche similarity of pollen pasture between these two species and suggest that conservation efforts for these bee species should focus on the plant families most visited by bees.     

Induction of embryogenic pollen grains in situ and subsequent in vitro pollen embryogenesis in Nicotiana tabacum by treatments of the pollen donor plants with feminizing agents

Tobacco plants ( Nicotiana tabacum L., var. Badischer Burley) were treated with chemicals (sprays and soil drenches) known to affect sex expression in other species. Their effect was tested on sex balance, pollen sterility, embryogenic pollen grain (P-grain) formation in situ, and on pollen plant formation in anther and pollen cultures after anther preculture. Napthalene acetic acid (NAA) increased the length of pistils and stamens and shifted sex balance towards femaleness when the plants were raised in long or short days at 24 or 15°C. In parallel, pollen sterility, P-grain frequency in situ and pollen plant production from anther and pollen cultures were increased by NAA. Alar 85 redueed the length of pistils and stamens and shifted sex balance towards femaleness when the plants were raised in long days at 24°C, but shifted it towards maleness in short days and/or at 15°C. In parallel, pollen sterility, P-grain frequency in situ, and pollen plant production in vitro were increased when plants in long days at 24°C were treated with Alar 85, but decreased when plants in short days and/or at 15°C were treated. Ethrel, Cycocel, and GA₃ applied in a similar manner, were ineffective. Water sprays and nitrogen starvation shifted sex balance towards femaleness in long days at 15°C and increased pollen sterility, P-grain frequency in situ and pollen plant production in vitro. At 24°C, water sprays and nitrogen starvation had no effect.     

山西西部吕梁山中北段现代花粉散布特征

山西西部吕梁山中北段关帝山和芦芽山地区7个不同植被类型共计15个表土样品和7个捕捉器样品表土花粉组合特征和花粉通量研究表明:(1)表土和捕捉器样品花粉组合中主要类型与植被组成中优势类型一致.(2)关帝山与芦芽山现代花粉组合特征差异明显,芦芽山地区花粉组合中草本花粉占优势,百分比多高于50%,乔木花粉百分比多低于50%,花粉通量平均为27194 grains/(cm2 · a);关帝山乔木花粉占优势, 百分比多高于50%,草本花粉多低于30%,花粉通量平均为57961 grains/(cm2 · a).(3)松属、云杉属和蒿属花粉在表土样品中的百分比远高于捕捉器样品,显示较强的保存能力;落叶松属、桦属和栎属花粉在表土样品中的百分比明显低于捕捉器样品,显示花粉保存能力相对较差.(4)样品聚类分析和DCA分析结果显示:二者分析结果具有很好的一致性,花粉组合最主要的控制因子是温度.     

The laminated lake sediments of the Eckfeld maar (Middle Eocene, Germany): Types of stratification and role of organic matter

Summary The Middle Eocene lake sediments of the Eckfeld maar are situated on the southwestern margin of the Tertiary High-Eifel volcanic field (Germany) and are well known for excellently preserved fossil remains. During a driling campaign in 1996 six well sections were cored at three different locations. Three cores (E1/96, E2/96 and E3/96) penetrated deposition of the central lake facies, which is dominated by laminated organic-rich pelites within the uppermost 40 m. It is the aim of this paper to present a brief survey over the main types of stratification observed within the organic-rich portions of the Eckfeld lake sediments. Based on the varying distribution of mineral and organic matter three sediment sequences are distinguished representing different phases of lake development. The “minerogenic laminites” represent the purely clastic mineral sedimentation in a lake, which was surrounded during this early phase by a tephra rim barren of vegetation. The gradual overgrowth of the tephra rim by vegetation is reflected by the predominance of land plant detritus in the sediments of the “transtion beds”, though the siliciclastic input is still significant. In contrast, the succeeding sequence of the “biogenic laminites” is characterised by the frequent occurrence of centric diatoms (mainly of the planktonic speciesAulacoseira cf.granulata) and Chlorophyceae (mainlyBotryococcus andTetraedron) documenting the increase in autochthonous organic sedimentation in a meromictic lake.     

凤仙花属总状花序组的花粉形态及其分类学意义

总状花序组隶属于凤仙花亚属凤仙花属,以具多花的总状花序、侧生萼片2枚、子房5室、果实为线状圆柱形、种子多数、迈卵形、种皮表面具指状突起等特征区别于该亚属的其他类群。前人对凤仙花花粉形态的研究表明凤仙花属的花粉形态对于属下分类及种间界定具有重要的分类学价值。而对于总状花序组来说,有关花粉形态方面的研究少有报道,为了进一步探讨该组花粉S的形态特征及其分类学意义,该研究应用扫描电镜技术对总状花序组的21种植物的花粉进行了观察。结果表明:总状花序组植物的花粉粒均具4条萌发沟,两侧对称,极面观为矩圆形、长矩圆形或近方形;长赤道面观多为椭圆形至矩圆形,短赤道面观为椭圆形;长、短赤道轴比值多在1.4~2.4范围内;表面具网状纹饰,网眼在花粉粒表面均匀分布或赤道面的网眼较极面观的小,网脊边缘光滑或具波状突起,网眼内具不同密度的颗粒状突起。该组的花粉形态与宏观形态性状相关性较小,但花粉极面观形状、长短赤道轴的比值、网眼的分布、网脊边缘形状、网眼内颗粒物密度等特征具有种水平上的稳定性和特异性,对该组植物种间界定具有重要的意义。     

The implications of the numerical dating of the Messel fossil deposit (Eocene, Germany) for mammalian biochronology

Radiometric dating of volcaniclastic material from a borehole below the Middle Eocene Messel Formation leads to a revised numerical age of the Messel fossil deposit. Accordingly, the Grauvian/Geiseltalian boundary moves up from about 49 to 47.5 ma. The consequences of this change as well as the necessity of the Geiseltalian European Land Mammal Mega-Zone (ELMMZ)¹ for mammalian biochronology are discussed.     

Exine ultrastructure of in situ peltasperm pollen from the Rhaetian of Germany and its implications

Morphology and exine ultrastructure of pollen grains of Triassic peltasperms have been studied for the first time. Pollen grains of Antevsia zeilleri from the Rhaetian of Germany are of the Cycadopites-type and monosulcate; the sculpturing is the same in the apertural and non-apertural areas. The proximal exine includes a row of lacunae covered by a solid, thick tectum and underlined by a foot layer. Pillars are hanging from the tectum between the lacunae. The exine is thinning to a homogeneous layer in the apertural region. The latter is bordered by thicker alveolate areas of the exine, in places resembling a saccus-like ultrastructure. The endexine includes white-line-centred lamellae. The exine ultrastructure is compared with that of pollen of Permian peltasperms. Although pollen types ascribed to Permian peltasperms are completely different in their general morphology, a transformation can be hypothesized by ultrastructural data from Permian Vesicaspora into Triassic Cycadopites extracted from pollen sacs of Antevsia. Comparison with Cycadopites of non-peltaspermalean (Ginkgoalean, Cycadophyte) and unknown affinities has been accomplished. The exine ultrastructure is distinctive enough to differentiate among peltaspermalean, cycadalean and bennettitalean Cycadopites; some ultrastructural features are shared with pollen of modern Ginkgo biloba. More ultrastructural data are needed as well as numerous sections of pollen grains are necessary to reveal original unchanged ultrastructure.     

Pythons in the Eocene of Europe reveal a much older divergence of the group in sympatry with boas

Extant large constrictors, pythons and boas, have a wholly allopatric distribution that has been interpreted largely in terms of vicariance in Gondwana. Here, we describe a stem pythonid based on complete skeletons from the early-middle Eocene of Messel, Germany. The new species is close in age to the divergence of Pythonidae from North American Loxocemus and corroborates a Laurasian origin and dispersal of pythons. Remarkably, it existed in sympatry with the stem boid Eoconstrictor. These occurrences demonstrate that neither dispersal limitation nor strong competitive interactions were decisive in structuring biogeographic patterns early in the history of large, hyper-macrostomatan constrictors and exemplify the synergy between phylogenomic and palaeontological approaches in reconstructing past distributions.     

Cytotoxicity effect of honey,bee pollen,and propolis from seven stingless bees in some cancer cell lines

Our effort to find new material for anti cancer from natural resources leads us to focus on stingless bee products such as honey, bee pollen, and propolis. The products were from seven stingless bees named Homotrigona fimbriata, Heterotrigona itama, Heterotrigona bakeri, Tetragonula sarawakensis, Tetragonula testaceitarsis, Tetragonula fuscobalteata, Tetragonula laeviceps. The stingless bee products were evaluated for their cytotoxicity effect on MCF-7, HeLa and Caco-2 cancer cell lines. This is the first time to be reported that the honey, ethanol extracts of bee pollen and propolis of H. fimbriata displayed more potent cytotoxicity than other stingless bee products. By chromatography and biological activity-guided fractionation, ethanol extract of propolis from H. fimbriata was fractionated and isolated its active compound named mangiferonic acid. Mangiferonic acid showed a cytotoxicity effect with IC₅₀ values 96.76 µM in MCF-7, >110.04 µM in HeLa, and > 110.04 µM in Caco-2, respectively. These results exhibited the potential of ethanol extracts from propolis of H. fimbriata to be further developed for drug and experiments to verify the function are essential.