Miocene variability of Calcidiscus gr. leptoporus and possible evolutionary relationship with another Coccolithaceae: Umbilicosphaera gr. sibogae.

Bibliographic data concerning the variability of coccosphere and coccoliths during the life-cycle of two extant Coccolithophorid species (Calcidiscus gr. leptoporus and Umbilicosphaera gr. sibogae) are summarized and completed by new observations on the structure of the proximal shield by fossil coccoliths. Thorough investigation of the proximal shield of C. gr. leptoporus in the latest Miocene (Messinian) assemblages from three oceanic localities (central Pacific, eastern equatorial Atlantic and southwestern Indian oceans) indicates the co-occurrence of two types of coccoliths: (1) typical C. gr. leptoporus and (2) specimens constituted by a distal shield similar to that of C. leptoporus, but with a proximal shield comparable to that of U. sibogae, although no typical U. sibogae occurs on the basis of the distal views. Such intermediate coccoliths have been previously described from the Badenian (middle Miocene) of central Europe. Whereas the authors considered them as a new species (Cycloperfolithus carlae), they are interpreted here as transitional morphotypes revealing an evolutionary link between C. gr. leptoporus and U. gr. sibogae, during the late Miocene. Consequently, the palaeontological 'species' carlae is hereby transferred to the genus Calcidiscus. These observations also point out the possibility of a diachronous evolution of the two shields of the same coccolith type, underlining the necessity for a better knowledge of the proximal shield structure, usually somewhat neglected.     

中国裸厉螨属1新种和1新记录（蜱螨亚纲：中气门目：厉螨科）

记述裸厉螨属1新种：古蔺裸厉螨Gymnolaelaps gulinensis sp．nov．和1新记录：奥地利裸厉螨Gymnolaelaps austrgacus（Sellnick,1935）。     

Do fecal shields provide physical protection to larvae of the tortoise beetles Plagiometriona flavescens and Stolas chalybea against natural enemies?

During their larval phase, Plagiometriona flavescens (Boheman, 1855) and Stolas chalybea (Germar, 1824) (Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae), carry masses of feces and exuviae on their back called fecal shield, and it is suggested to protect larvae against natural enemies. We investigated if the physical barrier provided by the shield plays any role in the defense of these larvae. We conducted a field experiment checking the mortality of larvae of both species with their natural shields substituted by an artificial shield, with shields removed and with their shields intact. Mortality controls for each of the 3 shield treatments were carried out on host plants protected against natural enemies. On both species we observed that larvae with their shields intact had a significant lower mortality proportion than larvae with artificial shields or without shields. Control larvae on protected plants had low mortality. Our results agree with literature data, showing that fecal shields do not provide a physical protection to larvae but are important in their defense, probably due to the chemicals present in them.     

维螨属2新种记述(蜱螨亚纲:中气门目:维螨科)

记述维螨属2新种:河南维螨Veigaia henanensis sp.nov.和福建维螨Veigaia fujianensis sp.nov.     

Variation in the effectiveness of abdominal shields of cassidine larvae against predators

The abdominal shields of the larvae of two tansy [Tanacetum (Chrysanthemum) vulgareL., Asteraceae] feeding species of Cassida (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) were tested for their ability to deter attacks by predatory insects. Cassida stigmatica Suffr. which carries an abdominal shield made of the exuviae only, and C. denticollis Suffr. which builds a compact faecal shield, were compared. Adult earwigs (Forficula auriculariaL., Dermaptera: Forficulidae), adult ladybird beetles (Coccinella septempunctata(L.), Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), and larval lacewings (Chrysoperla carnea Steph., Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) were used as predators and tested in dual choice bioassays. Against earwigs, shields of both cassidine species acted as a protective device. Earwigs preferred to feed on larvae without shields over larvae with intact shields. Adult ladybirds did not differentiate between C. stigmaticalarvae with and without exuvial shields. However, C. denticollis larvae with faecal shields were contacted at a higher frequency by ladybird beetles, even though they were less often consumed, i.e., their shield served as protection. In an olfactometer assay, faecal shields of C. denticollis were shown to have no attractive effect on the ladybird beetles. The protection for larvae with shields is likely to be caused by mechanical effects, namely the ability to move the shields. Control insects, where faecal shields of C. denticollis were glued on larvae of Galleria mellonella L. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), could not move their shields and were consequently consumed by the predator. Feeding by larvae of lacewings was not influenced by the presence or absence of the faecal shield. Thus, the effectiveness of the abdominal shields of tansy-feeding cassidine larvae varies with predator species, and might be based more on mechanical, than on chemical modes of action.     

派伦螨属1新种和革板螨属1新种及都匀革板螨雄螨描述(蜱螨亚纲:中气门目:派盾螨科)

记述派伦螨属1新种:遵义派伦螨Parholaspulus zunyiensis sp.nov.和革板螨属1新种:江西革板螨Gamasholaspis jiangxiensissp.nov.,并描述都匀革板螨Gamasholaspis duyunensis Chen,Guo et Gu,1994雄螨.     

革板螨属3新种和派伦螨属1新种（蜱螨亚纲：中气门目：派盾螨科）

记述革板螨属3新种和派伦螨属1新种：井冈山革板螨Gamasholaspis jinggangshanensis sp．nov．,何氏革板螨Gamasholaspis hochyicheni sp．nov．,新阿革板螨Gamasholaspis novakimotoi sp．nov．和沙县派伦螨Parholaspulus shaxianensis sp．nov．     

Cost of shield defence for tortoise beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Abstract.

• 1 Tortoise beetle larvae possess a shield composed of exuviae and faeces which functions as an effective defence against some invertebrate predators.
• 2 In the laboratory, Charidotella bicolor, Deloyala guttata and Chelymorpha cassidea larvae with their shields experimentally removed did not exhibit enhanced performance (i.e. decreased development time, increased body mass, or higher survival) compared to control larvae with shields intact.
• 3 Disturbance caused during shield removal did not adversely affect larvae because performance did not differ among controls (undisturbed larvae with intact shields), disturbance controls (shield removal simulated, but shield left in place), and larvae with shields removed.
• 4 Larvae without shields did not exhibit compensatory feeding to reconstruct the shield following its removal.
• 5 In a field experiment in which predators were excluded, larvae with shields removed did not develop faster than controls; in fact, survival was slightly reduced (10%) for larvae without shields and may have resulted from desiccation.
• 6 For slow-moving tortoise beetle larvae, the cost of bearing the shield is minimal. Thus, larval shields, composed of recycled waste products, provide an inexpensive mode of protection from some natural enemies.

     

Two new taxa in the Section Papillosae of the genus Mallomonas (Synurophyceae) from the Ocala National Forest, Florida, USA

Two new species of Mallomonas, M. binocularis and M. delanciana , are described from small, acidic, poorly buffered waterbodies in the Ocala National Forest, Florida, U.S.A. Both taxa are in the Section Papillosae, consist of relatively small cells covered with domed scales each bearing a single bristle, and have small tripartite scales with a small symmetrically placed dome. Scales of Mallomonas binocularis have shields that are covered with evenly-spaced papillae, two distinctive pores at the base of the V-rib and unornamented flanges. Mallomonas binocularis is most similar to Mallomonas paxillata, M. papillosa, M. rasilis and M. calceolus , but can be distinguished from the latter taxa on the basis of scale structure and bristle morphology. Scales of Mallomonas delanciana have shields with widely spaced papillae, a series of parallel ribs on the anterior flanges that usually continue around the dome, unornamented posterior flanges and lack rimmed pores in the posterior region of the shield. The density of the papillae on the shield, features of the dome and anterior flange, and the structure of bristles, clearly serve to separate M. delanciana from closely related species including M. papillosa, M. calceolus and Mallomonas conspersa.     

寄螨属1新种和新革螨属1新种(蜱螨亚纲:中气门目:寄螨科)

记述寄螨属1新种:棒毛寄螨Parasitus clavasetosus sp.nov.和新革螨属1新种:丛枝新革螨Neogamasus fasciculus sp.nov.     

中国美绥螨属1新种和大陆1新记录（蜱螨亚纲：中气门目：美绥螨科）

记述中国美绥螨属1新种：拟筐美绥螨Ameroseius imitocorbiculus sp．nov．和大陆1新记录：越南美绥螨Ameroseius vietnamensis Micherdzinski,1955。     

新革螨属1新种记述和峨居常革螨及异形新革螨补充描述（蜱螨亚纲：中气门目：寄螨科）

记述新革螨属1新种：泰安新革螨Neogamasus taianensis Ma et Sun, sp. nov.,并对峨眉常革螨Vulgarogamasus emeishanensis Ma et Wang.1996和异形新革螨Neogamasus anomalus Ma et Yan,1998进行补充描述。     

Unexpected reactions of a generalist predator towards defensive devices of cassidine larvae (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae)

Studies of multitrophic interactions show that insect faeces may act as a defensive device against predators, as kairomone source for attraction of antagonists and as a significant energy source for micro-organisms. In the present study, we investigated effects of larval faeces from leaf beetles of the subfamiliy Cassidinae towards a generalist predator, the ant Myrmica rubra. Most cassidine larvae collect their faeces together with exuviae as so-called abdominal defensive shields on two movable spines at the posterior tip. The effects of these abdominal shields towards M. rubra were studied in three cassidine species, which feed mono- or oligophagously upon tansy (Chrysanthemum vulgare): Cassida denticollis and C. sanguinosa which possess such faecal shields and, for comparison, C. stigmatica with shields made of exuviae only (=skin shield). Bioassays revealed that larvae with both faecal and skin shields were attacked by the ant M. rubra more often than larvae whose shields had been removed. This attractiveness of shields towards ants contrasts with other studies, which found that abdominal shields of chrysomelid larvae act as defensive mechanisms against generalist predators like ants. To characterize the attractive cues of the shields, we studied possible chemical and physical stimuli. Olfactometer bioassays with M. rubra and chemical analyses revealed that plant-derived volatiles from faecal shields of C. denticollis attracted the ant, whereas odour from skin shields of C. stigmatica did not. Skin shields also emitted volatiles which derived from tansy, but in much lower quantities. Exclusion of contact to surface chemicals of a faecal shield reduced the ants' aggressive behaviour, whereas a change in the moisture content of a faecal shield had no influence. Visual stimuli cannot be ruled out as enhancing the ants' reaction towards faecal shields with their attractive volatiles, and are suggested to play a major role in the ants' response towards skin shields. This novel attractive effect of the abdominal shields of cassidine larvae is discussed, especially with respect to host plant chemistry and possible functions of the shields that might outweigh the negative consequences of the attraction of the predator M. rubra. Received: 22 June 1998 / Accepted: 2 November 1998     

Individual Heterogeneity in Use of Human Shields by Mountain Nyala

The ‘human shield hypothesis’ describes the situation where prey species use humans as shield from natural predation. We tested the human shield hypothesis in a population of mountain nyala (Tragelaphus buxtoni) subjected to predation from the nocturnal spotted hyena (Crocuta Crocuta) in the Bale Mountains National Park, Ethiopia by radio‐marking 15 mountain nyala (seven females and eight males) and tracking them for up to 2 yr. Occurrence of hyena estimated by faecal transects decreased close to human settlements substantiating the occurrence of a zone with lower risk of hyena predation. The diurnal pattern in the average distance between mountain nyala relocations and human settlements was consistent with the human shield hypothesis with significantly shorter distances during night (when exposed to predation) than during day. However, mountain nyala showed large individual heterogeneity in use of human shields. While nearly all individuals occasionally moved out of the park to human settlements during night, the frequency of such excursions varied from 0% to 71%. The excursions occurred year‐round and were not driven by seasonal access to crops. We have previously demonstrated a strong negative effect of humans on the large‐scale distribution pattern of mountain nyala. The use of human shield documented here is indicative of a positive small‐scale effect of humans. Our study thus supports the view that the effect of human–wildlife interactions can be scale‐dependent.     

中国派盾螨科三新纪录属及三新种记述(蜱螨亚纲：革螨股)

记述派盾螨科3新种：武汉派盾螨Parholaspis wuhanensis sp.nov.,亚弧讷派螨Neparholaspis subarcuatus sp.nov.和湖北真派螨 Euparholaspulus hubeiensis sp.nov.。三属均为中国首次记录。     

Osteoderm morphology and development in the nine-banded armadillo, Dasypus novemcinctus (Mammalia, Xenarthra, Cingulata)

Among modern mammals, armadillos (Xenarthra, Cingulata) are the only group that possesses osteoderms, bony inclusions within the integument. Along the body, osteoderms are organized into five discrete assemblages: the head, pectoral, banded, pelvic, and tail shields. The pectoral, banded, and pelvic shields articulate to form the carapace. We examined osteoderm skeletogenesis in the armadillo Dasypus novemcinctus using serial and whole-mount histochemistry. Compared with the rest of the skeleton, osteoderms have a delayed onset of development. Skeletogenesis begins as condensations of osteoblasts secreting osteoid, localized within the papillary layer of the dermis. Osteoderm formation is asynchronous both within each shield and across the body. The first osteoderms to mineralize are situated within the pectoral shield of the carapace, followed by elements within the banded, head, pelvic, and tail shields. In general, within each shield ossification begins craniomedially and proceeds caudally and laterally, except over the head, where the earliest elements form over the frontal and parietal bones. The absence of cartilage precursors indicates that osteoderms are dermal elements, possibly related to the all-encompassing vertebrate dermal skeleton (exoskeleton). The mode of development of D. novemcinctus osteoderms is unlike that described for squamate osteoderms, which arise via bone metaplasia, and instead is comparable with intramembranously derived elements of the skull.     

Six new deep-water sternaspid species (Annelida,Sternaspidae) from the Pacific Ocean

Most sternaspid species have been described from shallow water, and Caulleryaspis Sendall & Salazar-Vallejo, 2013 includes one deep water species: C. gudmundssoni Sendall & Salazar-Vallejo, 2013 from Iceland. In Sternaspis Otto, 1821, the most speciose genus, most species were described from shallow water and only three thrive in deep water: S. maior Chamberlin, 1919 from the Gulf of California, S. princeps Selenka, 1885 from New Zealand, and S. riestchi Caullery, 1944 from Indonesia. The study of some deep sea sternaspids from the Pacific Ocean in the collections of six research institutions resulted in the discovery of six undescribed species, and for three of them there were abundant materials showing ventro-caudal shield development. Caulleryaspis fauchaldi sp. n. is described based on specimens from Oregon and California; it differs from the known species because it has a shield with rounded anterior margins and its peg chaetae form thin, small spines. Caulleryaspis nuda sp. n. was collected off Oregon; it is unique because its shield lacks a layer of sediment particles firmly attached, but has instead a thin layer of small particles loosely attached. Four other species are newly described in Sternaspis: S. annenkovae sp. n. was collected east off the northern Kurile Islands in about 4,000 m depth; it differs from other species by having a bicolored body, with the introvert darker than the abdomen, and its ventro-caudal shield plates are divergent resulting in a divided fan. The second species, S. maureri sp. n. was found off Peru in 1296–6489 m water depths and in the Southwestern Pacific in 795–3830 m; it resembles S. williamsae sp. n. but differs because its shield has better-developed ribs, the fan has a shallow or indistinct median notch and has lateral notches well-developed. The third species, S. uschakovi sp. n., was found in the Okhotsk Sea in 592–1366 m, off California in 1585 m, Gulf of California in 1200–1274 m, and Western Mexico in 2548 m; it resembles S. africana Augener, 1918 and S. andamanensis Sendall & Salazar-Vallejo, 2013 in having shields with a denticulate posterior margin; the latter two species live in shallow water and they differ from each other and from the new species by a combination of shield and papillae features. The fourth species, S. williamsae sp. n., was found off Oregon in 1000–2400 m, and off California in 878–1246 m; it resembles S. annenkovae because both species have shields with fans narrower than the anterior margin width, but differ in the relative development of shield features and in the relative size of prostomium and mouth; as stated above it also resembles S. maureri sp. n. but its shield has poorly-developed ribs, its median notch is distinct, and the lateral notches are poorly developed or indistinct. Keys to identify all species of Caulleryaspis and Sternaspis are also included.     

Artifact-free CT images for electron beam therapy using a patient-specific non metallic shield

Patient’s CT images taken with metallic shields for radiotherapy suffer from artifacts. Furthermore, the treatment planning system (TPS) has a limitation on accurate dose calculations for high density materials. In this study, a Monte Carlo (MC)-based method was developed to accurately evaluate the dosimetric effect of the metallic shield. Two patients with a commercial tungsten shield of lens and two patients with a custom-made lead shield of lip were chosen to produce their non-metallic dummy shields using 3D scanner and printer. With these dummy shields, we generated artifact-free CT images. The maximum CT number allowed in TPS was assigned to metallic shields. MC simulations with real material information were carried out. In addition, clinically relevant dose-volumetric parameters were calculated for the comparison between MC and TPS. Relative dosimetry was performed using radiochromic films. The dose reductions below metallic structures were shown on MC dose distributions, but not evident on TPS dose distributions. The differences in dose-volumetric parameters of PTV between TPS and MC for eye shield cases were not clearly shown. However, the mean dose of lens from TPS and MC was different. The MC results were in superior agreement with measured data in relative dosimetry. The lens dose could be overestimated by TPS. The differences in dose-volumetric parameters of PTV between TPS and MC were generally larger in lip cases than in eye cases. The developed method is useful in predicting the realistic dose distributions around the organs blocked by the metallic shields.     

Bryozoan frontal shields: studies on umbonulomorphs and impacts on classification

Umbonuloid frontal shields arc described in the type species of Lepraliella, Drepanophora, Frurionella, Tessaradoma, Hincksipora, Stephanopora , and Pseudolepralia. Consequences to classification include the following: the family group names Lepralielloidea and Lepralicllidae have subjective priority over Umbonuloidea and Celleporariidae, respectively; Cylindroporeh is excluded from the Tessaradomidae and included in the Gigantoporidae; Tessarudoma bifax Cheetham is included in Srnithsonius (Bifaxariidae); Hincksiporidae is confirmed as a family of Lepralielloidea; Stephanoporu , with newly discovered dimorphic orifices, comprises two species which are the basis for a new exechonellid subfamily Stephanoporinae; and a new umbonulomorph superfamily, Pseudolepralioidea, is established for Pseudolepraliu (Pseudolepraliidae). Kladapheles gen.n., is established for an erect branching species of Lepraliellidae from New Zealand.