Surviving the Deluge: British servicemen in World War I

We estimate the correlates of death and injury in action during the First World War for a sample of 2400 non-officer British servicemen who were born in the 1890s. Among these 13.1% were killed in action and another 23.5% were wounded. Not surprisingly we find that the probability of death or wounding increases with time in the army and was higher among infantrymen. For a serviceman who enlisted in the infantry at the beginning of the war and continued in service, the probability of being killed in action was 29% and the probability of being either killed or wounded in action was 64%. We examine, for ordinary soldiers, the hypothesis that death and injury was more likely for those from higher socioeconomic backgrounds as is suggested in the literature on the ‘lost generation’. While such selectivity applies when comparing officers with other ranks it does not apply among the ordinary soldiers who comprised 95% of the army.     

Coralline algal facies and their palaeoenvironments in the Late Eocene of Northern Italy (Calcare di Nago, Trento)

Summary The Calcare di Nago is a carbonate unit of Middle-Late Eocene (Bartonian and Priabonian) age which is well exposed at the north-eastern end of Lake Garda, on the western margin of the Lessini Shelf (Southern Alps). This unit is highly fossiliferous as far as the coralline red algae and large foraminifera are concerned. Corals, bryozoans, echinoderms, and molluscs are also present. The present study deals with the relationships among the coralline taxa, the coralline growth-forms, and their facies development in the Priabonian part of the type section of the Calcare di Nago. The taxonomic investigation led to the identification of 15 coralline red algal species belonging to 7 non-geniculate and 2 geniculate genera. One species of Peyssonneliacean (red alga) and one of Halimedacean (green alga) were also recognized. The quantitative and qualitative analyses based on coralline red algae and large foraminifera enabled five facies to be distinguished: Algal crust-branch rudstone, Algal/Discocyclina packstone, Coralalgal boundstone, Rhodolith mound wacke/packstone, and Rhodolith pavement. According to the coralline assemblages, coralline growth-forms, and large foraminiferal associations, the five facies reflect solid and soft substrate types. Some of these facies are dominated byin situ rhodoliths, others by reworked algal debris. In the architecture of an interpreted prograding carbonate ramp, shallow water facies are dominated by members of the subfamily Mastophoroideae, while deeper water facies are dominated by those of the subfamily Melobesioideae and family Sporolithaceae. There is a significant increase both in size and in constructional voids of the rhodoliths with depth. A concomitant decrease in algal species diversity with depth has been also recognized. LargeDiscocyclina assemblages are localized across the inner and mid ramp boundary.Pellatispira andBiplanispira are present only in the uppermost mid-ramp.Nummulites, Assilina, andSpiroclypeus are dominant together with small orthophragminids both in the mid- and uppermost outer ramp facies.     

云南兽类鼩鼱科一新纪录——台湾灰麝鼩

于2006年10月及2015年8月在中国云南省采集到台湾灰麝鼩(Crocidura tanakae Kuroda,1938)3号成体标本。1号雄性与1号雌性的标本来自屏边县大围山自然保护区(22°53′59″N,103°41′23″E,2 088 m),另1号雌性标本采自富宁县里达镇半边箐(23°28′11"N,105°35′59″E,1 442 m)。其尾毛长而稀疏,尾长变异大,后足宽大,后足足底和掌外侧垫突出、聚集且呈圆形,这些特征与模式产地的标本吻合。其线粒体Cyt b与地模标本的遗传距离为1.6%。采集地生境为原生林与次生林交界处和落叶季雨林。     

The First Iguanodontid Dinosaur Tracks from the Swiss Alps (Schrattenkalk Formation,Aptian)

Until now dinosaur tracks from Switzerland were only known from Triassic and Late Jurassic strata. We report here for the first time the occurrence of ornithopod tracks from the Schrattenkalk Formation (Late Aptian) from the Swiss Central Alps. The locality is situated in an abandoned quarry on the shore of Lake Lucerne close to the village of Beckenried. The steeply inclined surface has more than 50 tracks (in three trackways) of ornithopod dinosaurs that are attributed to iguanodontids. Three trackways can be followed for distances of 25 to 35 m. The lengths the footprints (mean: 30 cm) point to animals ranging in size of from 4 to 6 m, with estimated hip heights between 1.8 and 2 m (hip height 6 FL) and 1.4 to 1.7 m (hip height 5 FL). One of the trackways shows two succesive manus impressions, indicating facultative quadrupedal gait. The track bearing layer consists of shallow water micrites with traces of emersion, and it is overlain by bioclastic grainstones. Previously the Upper Schrattenkalk Member in the Helvetic realm was thought to have formed on a large shelf far away from any continents. The present discovery will shed new light on the paleogeographic position of the Helvetic nappes.     

Structure and stand development in three subalpine Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) stands in Paneveggio (Trento, Italy)

1. Three permanent plots (100×0 m) were established in the subalpine Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) forest of Paneveggio in the spring of 1993, to begin a long-term forest ecosystem research project. The main purpose of these plots was to provide information about subalpine Norway spruce stand dynamics and to provide suggestions for close-to-nature silviculture. 2. The three stands were selected to represent the most common forest structures in the Paneveggio forest. The first stand is close to forestry roads, has a relatively regular and continuous canopy, and thinning and cutting operations only ended in the 1980s; the second stand is far from forest roads and has developed without anthropogenic influence for several decades; the third one is located at the present upper limit of the pure spruce forest and, apparently, was heavily used in the past as a pasture. 3. The first step in the investigation was to describe the structure and to study the history of the three stands using both written evidence from manage- ment plans and biological archives from tree rings. 4. The stands in plots 1 and 2 began to establish after a disturbance that removed part of the previous stands according to dendroecological studies, which are partially supported by written evidence. The remaining parts of these stands were eliminated by two major disturbances that occurred during the following decades. Written records about the use of the forest lead us to assume that the initial disturbances that occurred in the two stands were logging activities as a part of a group shelterwood system. The stand in plot 2 has developed without significant human interference for about half a century as confirmed by the presence of many dead trees. The stand in plot 3 consists of old trees that were part of an open stand and a secondary population that established after cessation of grazing. 5. The study has confirmed that dendroecological techniques can be used to identify occurrence and intensity of previous disturbance in forests stands, although at Paneveggio it is difficult to distinguish between natural and anthropogenic disturbances in the tree ring record. The presence of human activity necessitates investigation of multiple lines of evidence. 6. Paneveggio's forest management plans were useful in the interpretation of the data obtained through dendroecological analysis, although events did not always correspond because data from the management plans (yearly thinning, felling, wind-throw damage) never gave stand-level details, but applied to areas of several hectares. Despite these limitations, the information included in the management plans is of crucial importance in studying stand history and only by using all these sources of information is it possible to delineate the most important features of the history and disturbance that affected the origin and subsequent growth of the forest stands.     

云南兽类鼠科一新纪录——南洋鼠

正中国科学院昆明动物研究所哺乳动物生态与进化学科组于2014年9月20日在云南省西双版纳傣族自治州景洪市勐龙镇勐宋村(北纬21°30'00″,东经100°29'24″,海拔1 604 m)附近的常绿阔叶林中使用sherman捕获两号疑似费氏树鼠属标本。通过形态学鉴定结合分子遗传比较,确定这两号标本为南洋鼠(Chiromyscus langbianis)。     

中国土壤原生动物新纪录种(纤毛虫门：多膜纲；异毛目)

报道了首次在中国土壤中鉴定到的、隶属于纤毛虫门多膜纲异毛目的７种原生动物。这些种类是泥炭藓苔扭虫、透明赭虫、长赭虫、透明扭头虫、弯曲扭头虫、旋短端突虫和梅氏扁豆虫。     

First report of Thelazia callipaeda (Spirurida, Thelaziidae) in wolves in Italy

Thelazia callipaeda (Spirurida, Thelaziidae) infects the eyes of humans and rabbits as well of domestic and wild carnivores (i.e., dogs, cats, and foxes). The first three cases of infection by T. callipaeda eyeworms in wolves (Canis lupus) are here described with up to 96 nematodes collected from a single animal. The host competence of wolf was demonstrated by the retrieval of adult worms in the eyes of all examined animals. All nematodes collected were evaluated by morphologic and molecular techniques. Sequence analysis of the partial mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene (cox1) confirmed that only one haplotype of T. callipaeda was present. The competence of wolves as a definitive host for T. callipaeda is discussed in view of the relevance of wild fauna in maintaining and spreading eyeworm infection in humans and domestic animals.     

First confirmed record of the Corsac Fox,Vulpes corsac,from Iran and considerations on its status (Mammalia: Canidae)

The occurrence of the Corsac Fox, Vulpes corsac, is replete with ambiguity and uncertainty in the literature. We present the first confirmed record of the species from Iran. In the course of a survey, we found two Corsac Fox furs in Tehran Market in 2013 and separately recorded one adult and a group of three young in semi-arid steppes in central Turkmen Sahra, Golestan Province, in June 2014. Great Gerbil (Rhomobomys opimus), Libyan Jird (Meriones libycus), and Long-eared Hedgehog (Hemiechinus auritus) are among prey items. The Corsac Fox has a limited range in Iran and is threatened by habitat fragmentation and road kill.     

First record of a rare pelagic octopod,Ocythoe tuberculata (Cephalopoda: Ocythoidae), in Korea

The family Ocythoidae is found throughout the temperate and subtropical waters of the world’s ocean and contains a single species, Ocythoe tuberculata. Recently, a single female specimen of the rare pelagic species O. tuberculata was collected off Uljin in the East Sea/Sea of Japan of Korea by squid jigging for the first time. The appearance of this species could be considered as evidence of the changes in species distribution of sea surface. However, further studies are required to investigate whether this phenomenon is temporary or continuous.     

New World primates,new frontiers: Insights from the woolly spider monkey,or muriqui (Brachyteles arachnoides)

Despite over 25 years of intensive research, much of our knowledge of primate behavior has been limited to a small number of Old World, semiterrestrial species. With the exception of chimpanzees, these species share consistent patterns of behavior, including aggressive competition between males, male dominance over females, male dispersal and female kin groups, that have come to characterize the Order Primates. However, as research has expanded to include a number of newly studied species, such generalizations about primate behavior are no longer appropriate. Data presented on the wooly spider monkey, or muriqui (Brachyteles arachnoides), provide examples of the ways in which traditional views of primate behavior are being reconsidered. In muriquis, and in several other New World monkeys, female kin groups do not occur because females disperse from their natal groups. In addition, aggressive competition between males is virtually absent; and, female muriquis appear to be codominant with males. Constraints on sexual dimorphism may help to explain why muriquis (and other New World primates) differ so fundamentally from the better known semi-terrestrial Old World monkeys.Logo of the 1988 International Primatological Society.     

世界自然遗产预选地施秉鱼类物种组成

通过对贵州省中国南方喀斯特第二批世界自然遗产提名预选地施秉县的鱼类物种组成进行调查,共采集到鱼类46种,隶属于7目15科39属,其中鲤形目(Cypriniformes) 有28种,占本次调查的61％.在物种组成上,土著鱼类是该区域河流的主体,有40种,占87％;外来鱼类有6种,约占13％.其中外来入侵物种有食蚊鱼(Gambusia affinis);大银鱼(Protosalanx hyalocroaniah属于人工放养;从人工养殖地逃逸到野外的鱼类有4种,分别为草鱼(Ctenopryngodon idellus)、鲢(Hypophthalmichthys molitrix)、鳙(Aristichthys nobilis)和团头鲂(Megalobrama amblycephala).     

First report of Garella musculana (Erschov, 1874) (Lepidoptera: Nolidae) in Italy with insights into its identity

The Asian walnut moth, Garella musculana (Erschov, 1874) (Lepidoptera: Nolidae), is a major pest of walnut. Native to Central Asia, it was found to be invasive in 2008 in Sevastopol (Crimea) and nowadays widespread in Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania and Russia. Here, we account for the finding of G. musculana in NE Italy (Veneto region) in 2021, where adults were found in a light lamp, representing the first record of the Asian walnut moth for this country and Western Europe. Adult specimens were identified morphologically on both external characters and genitalia features. G. musculana larvae and damage were also observed on a plantation of Juglans regia L. (Fagales: Juglandaceae) located in Veneto in October 2021. A COI-barcoding analysis was performed to attain a molecular characterization of our specimens and probate our morphological identification. However, because no sequence of G. musculana was present in major gene databases and the similarity of our sequences with those attributed to Garella ruficirra (Hampson, 1905) (Lepidoptera: Nolidae) made clear that these taxa deserved further scrutiny regarding their specific distinction. Some subtle differences in the male terminalia could be found between them and their vast geographic distributions, but the strong similarity in most features calls for further morphological and genetical insights on a broad set of samples to assess whether they represent two closely related, substantially parapatric species, or a unique, geographically varying entity. Solving this issue may turn out crucial in the identification and proper management of walnut moths of the genus Garella.     

Different Rates of LINE-1 (L1) Retrotransposon Amplification and Evolution in New World Monkeys

LINE-1 (L1) elements constitute the major family of retrotransposons in mammalian genomes. Here we report the first investigation of L1 evolution in New World monkeys (NWM). Two regions of the second open-reading frame were analyzed by two methods in three NWM species, the squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus), the tamarin (Saguinus oedipus), and the spider monkey (Ateles paniscus). Since these three species diverged, L1 has amplified in the Saimiri and Saguinus lineages but L1 activity seems to have been strongly reduced in the Ateles lineage. In addition, the active L1 lineage has evolved rapidly in Saimiri and Saguinus, generating species-specific subfamilies. In contrast, we found no evidence for a species-specific subfamily in Ateles, a result consistent with the low L1 activity in this species for the last ~25 My.     

First Report of Phytophthora Foliar Blight on Florida Hopbush (Dodonaea viscosa) in Italy

During 2010, a new foliar blight was detected on potted Dodonaea viscosa cv. Purpurea plants in two nurseries in Catania (Italy). On the basis of morphological and cultural features, the pathogen was identified as Phytophthora palmivora. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS)‐rDNA sequence of a representative Phytophthora isolate from hopbush showed 99% identity with other ITS sequences of different P. palmivora isolates available in GenBank, thus confirming the morpho‐cultural identification. Koch’s postulates were fulfilled by pathogenicity tests on potted D. viscosa cv. Purpurea seedlings. To our knowledge, this is the first report of P. palmivora foliar blight disease on D. viscosa.     

First step towards the biomolecular characterization of Pompia,an endemic Citrus-like fruit from Sardinia (Italy)

This study is the first molecular and biochemical analysis conducted on Pompia, a plant of unknown origin that is endemic to Sardinia; this plant is thought to belong to the Citrus genus. Here, genes coding for the enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1), catalase (CAT, EC 1.11.1.6), peroxidase (POD, EC 1.11.1.7), and polyphenol oxidase (PPO, EC 1.14.18.1) were identified. We detected the aforementioned enzymes in fresh leaf tissue and assessed the catalytic activity of each to support the molecular and biochemical data. This was the first molecular study to define the primary structure of proteins with antioxidant activity in Pompia. The study also contributed to the enrichment of gene databases and created the basis for molecular phylogenetic studies, which is important because this plant currently has no taxonomic or phylogenetic classification.     

First report of rare genera,Pteroceraphron Dessart 1981, Elysoceraphron Szelenyi 1936 and Cyoceraphron Dessart 1975 (Ceraphronidae: Hymenoptera) from India with new species descriptions

Pteroceraphron Dessart 1981, Elysoceraphron Szelenyi 1936 and Cyoceraphron Dessart 1975 are three rare genera of family Ceraphronidae (Hymenoptera: Ceraphronoidea). Pteroceraphron and Cyoceraphron are reported for the first time from India by describing Pteroceraphron apoorva Bijoy and Rajmohana sp. nov., Cyoceraphron indicus Bijoy and Rajmohana sp. nov. and Cyoceraphron sahyadri Bijoy and Rajmohana sp. nov., while Elysoceraphron is documented for the first time even from the Oriental region through Elysoceraphron aadi Bijoy and Rajmohana sp. nov. Key to genera of Ceraphronidae in India is also provided.     

The emergence of modern genetics in Spain and the effects of the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) on its development

The aim of this paper is to show how modern genetics reached Spainthrough the Junta para la Ampliación de Estudios eInvestigaciones Científicas (JAE) during the decade of 1920s, therole played by key persons, and the level of development this disciplineachieved from its different points of inception and under the conditionsof financial scarcity and political turmoil that prevailed during theSpanish Civil War (1936–1939). In addition, the effect of the war onthe continuity of the lines of research already began is outlined,identifying the main area in which genetics first reappeared: agronomy. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.