Pronophiline butterflies (Satyridae) of the Cordillera de Mérida, Venezuela

The 36 species of the tribe Pronophilini known from the Cordillera de Merida, the main Andean mountain range in Venezuela, are listed, together with three others probably erroneously described or labelled as from the range. The general ecological characteristics of the tribe are described, using the Merida species as examples. These include its restriction to high altitudes, endemism in mountain 'islands', species partitioning up the altitude gradient, mimicry within the tribe, and seasonality. The evolutionary relationships of the 16 endemic species are analyzed. Two new genera, six new species, two new subspecies and one new form are described. Three new synonymies are established, three new combinations made, new status is given to two taxa and the status of one taxon is revised.     

Pronophiline butterflies (Satyridae) of the three Andean Cordilleras of Colombia

The 125 species of the satyrid butterfly tribe Pronophilini known from the three Andean Cordilleras of Colombia are listed, together with two species whose Colombian status is doubtful. The biological, ecological and biogeographical features of the tribe are described, using the listed species as examples. The features include restriction to moist conditions at high altitudes, endemism in the Cordilleras and in areas and on slopes within them, allopatric speciation and subspeciation, parapatric distributions of related species up the altitude gradients, intraspecific variation and polymorphism and apparent mimicry. The criteria used for classifying the taxa and assessing their relationships are discussed. Seventeen new species, three new subspecies and one new form are described. At the species level, 11 new synonymies are established, two synonymies are rejected, the status of 15 other taxa is revised, and 23 new combinations are made. At the generic level, two new synonymies are established, and one genus is resurrected.     

云南蕨类植物小志

根据ＰＹＵ（云南大学蕨类植物标本室）保存的标本,报道云南蕨类植物若干新资料,内容为：３新种,２新变种,中国分布新记录２种,云南分布新记录１属３种,１个种的新组合名称,另１个种的属、科位置的订正及其新组合名称。     

中国兰科兜兰属一新记录种——白旗兜兰

报道了中国兰科Orchidaceae兜兰属Paphiopedilum的一新分布种--白旗兜兰Paphiopedilum spicerianum (Rchb. f.) Pfitzer, 对该种的形态以及在新分布地的居群大小、生境和伴生植物等做了详细描述。白旗兜兰由于人为采挖而变得十分稀少, 建议尽快对该新分布地进行保护。     

On species of genus Lepadella (Eurotatoria:Monogononta:Colurellidae) from North-Eastern India,with remarks on Indian taxa

Ten species of Lepadella Bory de St. Vincent, 1826, including one new species and one new form, are documented from North-Eastern India. Two of these species are new records from this country and six are new reports from N.E. region. Comments are also made on the status and distribution of various Indian taxa.     

Chusquea sect. Swallenochloa (Poaceae: Bambusoideae) and allies in Brazil

The 13 high altitude/latitude, dwarf species ofChusquea in Brazil are described, illustrated, and mapped, and their morphology, habitats, distributions, and taxonomic affinities are discussed. Two keys to species are provided, one based solely on vegetative characters, and the other on vegetative and flowering characters.Chusquea erecta, C. nutans, C. riosaltensis,C. windischii, C. caparaoensis, andC. nudiramea are described as new, andC. microphylla is elevated to specific status. Two subspecies are recognized within the variableC. mimosa: C. mimosa subsp.australis and subsp.mimosa. Seven species are formally classified withinChusquea sect.Swallenochloa; the remaining six species are classified into two informal categories, theNudiramea andHeterophylla groups. A list of all the species currently included withinChusquea sect.Swallenochloa is provided.     

Threatened plants of New Caledonia: Is the system of protected areas adequate?

With 76% of its 3063 native species of flora endemic, the New Caledonia biodiversity hotspot has long been recognized as having a high potential for conservation. Under the new IUCN Red List categories, 25% of the endemic plants are at risk (Conservation Dependent, Vulnerable, Endangered, Critically Endangered), and five species are already extinct. A review of their distribution demonstrates that 83% of the threatened species do not occur at all in a conservation area, and only 11% have their conservation status improved by a protected area. The protected area network is geographically and floristically very unbalanced, with the rainforest and high altitude maquis in the south concentrating most of the conservation effort. Conversely, the middle and northern segments of the island, as well as all of the dry west coast, are left without adequate conservation area. Two vegetation types, the sclerophyll forest and the unique low/middle altitude maquis, are virtually totally unprotected. We conclude that the current network of protected areas needs to be considerably expanded, in terms of both geographical/floristic subregions within New Caledonia and vegetation type covered. With only 54% of the conservation area covered by strict mining restrictions, existing reserves need to have their conservation efficiency improved by a more vigorous enforcement of their status, and by extending mining bans to all of them.     

Ecological wood anatomy of NepaleseRhododendron (Ericaceae). 1. Interspecific variation

The relationship of selected wood anatomical characters of NepaleseRhododendron with stem diameter, plant height, altitude, and plant form was investigated. We studied one to three specimens each of 26 species: five species each of trees and subtrees I, three species of subtrees II, and 13 species of shrubs. Multiple regression analysis and actual distribution of character values show that pore characters and multiseriate ray ratio have a stronger correlation with stem diameter than altitude; that pore density, vessel element length, fiber-tracheid length, and multiseriate ray density and width are equally related to altitude and stem diameter, or to altitude and plant height; and that bar number, and multiseriate ray area and height have a stronger connection with altitude. Among the characters, average pore area is most strongly correlated with stem diameter and increases exponentially as diameter increases. For wood structure of NepaleseRhododendron, 17 to 63 % of the variation is affected by non-anatomical factors. The general trends in wood structure of NepaleseRhododendron show that trees and subtrees form one continuous unit whereas shrubs form another that often has wider ranges of variation.     

Short-term variation in species richness across an altitudinal gradient of alpine summits

In response to climate warming, high altitude alpine vegetation may be replaced by typically lower altitude species, as species re-assemble and migrate to new areas. However, empirical evidence showing vegetation change in response to climate warming is largely unavailable for Australian alpine areas. Here, we examine changes in species richness with respect to climate and altitude over a 7?year period at a range of spatial scales in a re-survey of five alpine summits that are part of the Global Observation Research Initiative in Alpine Environments monitoring network. Eighty species were recorded in 2011 across all summits, an increase of 6 species since 2004. Mean species richness increased at the whole-of-summit scale from 45 to 50 species (about 12?%). At this scale, the rate of species richness increase was almost one new species per year, with 15 new species recorded at one summit. Here, shrub and graminoid species showed the largest increases. At the smaller spatial scales, changes in species richness were less pronounced. Turnover at the species and community level was typically moderate at all spatial scales and on all summits. The strength and direction of species richness change (the difference in species richness between the two sample periods, +/?) was not related to altitude nor variation in climate. Future re-surveys of the summits will confirm whether these short-term variations in species richness, particularly increases in shrubs, are indeed signals of longer-term trends and interactions with a changing climate.     

Notes on the taxonomy of Stentor Oken (Protozoa, Ciliophora) and a description of a new species

The taxonomy of a heterotrichous ciliate genus Stentor has beeninvestigated on the basis of the author's old notebooks andphotographs of the species found in and around Hiroshima City,Japan. In addition to the ten known species that were found,including the ones synonymized by Foissner and Wölfl (Foissnerand Wölfl, 1994), a new species was also present and isdescribed in this article. The results of grafting an organismof one species with another from either the same or a differentspecies are also given. Use of stock-cultured, live specimensis recommended to observe the characters overlooked or disregardedby Foissner and Wölfl (Foissner and Wölfl, 1994) andto perform the grafting experiment which gives subsidiary informationon the taxonomic status of the strains concerned.     

Diversity of Carabidae (Insecta, Coleoptera) in epiphytic Bromeliaceae in central Veracruz, Mexico

This paper documents the existence of carabid assemblages associated with bromeliads on the Cofre de Perote, Veracruz, Mexico. Based on bromeliads sampled over three altitudinal ranges, the assemblages included at least 26 species with an arboreal lifestyle and another 11 species that are not strictly arboreal. Seven species are new to science, urging us to pay attention to the arboreal fauna in forest conservation studies. Composition of carabid assemblages associated with bromeliads changes with altitude. In lowlands, it is comprised almost entirely of species of Lebiini, with the Platynini dominating assemblages found in bromeliads >1,000 m above sea level. Our data suggest that carabids use bromeliads to reduce stresses associated with drought periods, the exact timing of which depends on altitude. The unexpected low diversity of the carabid fauna associated with bromeliads at middle altitude is explained in terms of anthropogenic conversion of the original forest to pastureland. Given the importance of arboreal elements, further fragmentation of subtropical and tropical mountain forest significantly threatens overall carabid diversity.     

广西大头蚁属分类研究及三新种记述(膜翅目:蚁科)(英文)

记述广西大头蚁属昆虫１３种,其中３新种,即奇大头蚁Ｐ．ａｐｈｒａｓｔａｓｐ．ｎｏｖ．,长柄大头蚁Ｐ．ｌｏｎｇｉｓｃａｐａｓｐ．ｎｏｖ．和淡黄大头蚁Ｐ．ｆｌａｖｅｒｉａｓｐ．ｎｏｖ．,中国１新纪录种费氏大头蚁Ｐ．ｆｅａｅＥｍｅｒｙ,提出１新地位种香港大头蚁Ｐ．ｈｏｎｇｋｏｎｇｅｎｓｉｓＷｈｅｅｌｅｒ,ｎｅｗｓｔａｔｕｓ。新种奇大头蚁与香港大头蚁近似,主要不同为头部刻纹,尤其是头部的奇特形状,即不仅头顶具横形凹陷,头侧也具斜形凹陷。新种长柄大头蚁与阿伦大头蚁Ｐ．ａｌａｎｉＢｉｎｇｈａｍ相似,不同之处为：唇基具中脊;唇基前缘凹陷;第１结节上缘完整。此外,小型工蚁触角极长,柄节比达１６４～１６７,在同属各种中也是少见的。新种淡黄大头蚁与兴起湖大头蚁Ｐ．ｆｕｎｋｉｋｏｅｎｓｉｓＷｈｅｅｌｅｒ相似,主要区别为大型工蚁头长大于宽;唇基不具中脊;小型工蚁后头缘具粗大网状刻纹。后一特征可与同属中大多数种类相区别。新种正模标本保存于陕西师范大学动物研究所,副模标本及其余研究标本保存于广西师范大学生物系。     

世界黄阔祝蛾属分类概述及一新种记述(鳞翅目:祝蛾科)

列出了黄阔祝蛾属Lecitholaxa Gozmany世界已知7种的名录,包括1新种和2新组合种。新组合种Lecitholaxa pogonikuma(Wu et Park)和L.Mesosura(W u et Park)系由祝蛾属Lecithocera中移入。新种南林黄阔祝蛾Lecitholaxa adonia sp.nov.采自中国湖南,新种与L.kumatai Gozmany近缘,但本种雄性外生殖器的抱器瓣较短,阳茎内有片状的阳茎针;雌性外生殖器第8腹板的尾缘几乎直,囊突大而呈椭圆形。L.kumatai Gozmany则抱器瓣较长,阳茎内无片状阳茎针;雌性第8腹板的尾缘深凹,估小而呈横条状。模式标本保存在中国科学院动物研究所。     

Population genetics and objectivity in species diagnosis

Species as evolutionary lineages are expected to show greater evolutionary independence from one another than are populations within species. Two measures of evolutionary independence that stem from the study of isolation-with-migration models, one reflecting the amount of gene exchange and one reflecting the time of separation, were drawn from the literature for a large number of pairs of closely related species and pairs of populations within species. Both measures, for gene flow and time, showed broadly overlapping distributions for pairs of species and for pairs of populations within species. Species on average show more time and less gene flow than populations, but the similarity of the distributions argues against there being a qualitative difference associated with species status, as compared to populations. The two measures of evolutionary independence were similarly correlated with F(ST) estimates, which in turn also showed similar distributions for species comparisons relative to population comparisons. The measures of gene flow and separation time were examined for the capacity to discriminate intraspecific differences from interspecific differences. If used together, the two measures could be used to develop an objective (in the sense of being repeatable) measure for species diagnosis.     

Two new species of Brueelia Kéler, 1936 (Ischnocera, Philopteridae) parasitic on Neotropical trogons (Aves, Trogoniformes)

Two new species of Brueelia are described and illustrated. These new species and their type hosts are: Brueelia sueta ex Pharomachrus pavoninus (Spix, 1824), the Pavonine Quetzal and Brueelia cicchinoi ex Trogon viridis Linnaeus, the White-tailed Trogon. Both new species differ from the only Brueelia described on Trogon mexicanus by many morphological features, including those present in the male genitalia and female vulvar margin. Partial sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene for these two new species differ from one another by 13.6% uncorrected p-distance. Whereas Brueelia cicchinoi is only 0.3% divergent from previously published COI sequences identified as Brueelia sp. from the Mexican Trogon melanocephalus Gould, 1936 and Trogon massena Gould, 1938. We also found Brueelia cicchinoi on Trogon melanurus, Trogon collaris and Pharomachrus pavoninus. Thus Brueelia cicchinoi is found on multiple trogoniform hosts across an extremely large geographic distribution and has one of the largest number of host associations among Brueelia species.     

中国假笼头菌一新种

假笼头菌属(Pseudoclathrus)是刘波和鲍运生(1980)根据模式种——柱孢假笼头菌(P．Cylindrosporus Liu et Bau)所建立的新属。 1987年,本文作者报道了雷公山假笼头菌(P．Leigonshancnsis Zhou et Zhang)一新种,本文再报道该属的另一新种——安顺假笼头菌Pseudoclathrus anshunensi Zhou et Zhang。本新种不同于柱孢假笼头菌之处主要是,新种具4条柱状臂,臂无脊沟,柄露于菌托外。而柱孢假笼头菌具6个柱状臂,每条臂均具纵脊沟,柄藏于菌托内;与雷公山假笼头菌的区别在于雷公山假笼头菌具5—6条薄带状的臂,臂肉桂色,担子果大,担孢子也较大,而新种具4条柱状臂,橙黄色,担子果和担孢子均较小。模式标本存放于贵州农学院植病教研组真菌标本室。     

The species of "Ichneumon" (Hymenoptera) described by Linnaeus

Ichneumonidae in the Linnaean and other collections have been critically assessed with regard to their status as type-specimens of species described by Linnaeus. The generic placements of the 56 nominal species of Ichneumonidae (54 originally in Ichneumon and two in Mutilla) described by Linnaeus are established after study of the extant type-material. Lectotypes are designated for eleven of the species and one new synonymy is established. Notes are given on the 33 species originally described by Linnaeus in Ichneumon but now placed in other families.