Exploitation of the invasive Asian Hornet Vespa velutina by the European Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus

ABSTRACT

This paper reports the first case of predation on the nests of Asian Hornet Vespa velutina by the European Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus, as well as the use of this resource by a breeding pair to provision their nestlings. The Asian Hornet is listed among the 100 most invasive alien species and is expanding in Western Europe. Our finding opens the door to a number of questions, including the effects of this additional allochthonous resource on the European Honey Buzzard populations, as well as the potential of this raptor as a biocontrol agent.     

Three New Species of Gelechiid Moths (Lepidoptera,Gelechiidae) from the Southeastern Regions of the European Part of Russia

Three new species of gelechiid moths (Gelechiidae) are described from the arid regions of the southeastern European part of Russia (Astrakhan and Orenburg provinces): Bryotropha satschkovisp. n., Monochroa aenigmasp. n., and Scrobipalpa achtubicasp. n.

     

Past and future climate-driven shifts in the distribution of a warm-adapted bird species,the European Roller Coracias garrulus

ABSTRACT

Capsule: The distribution range of the European Roller Coracias garrulus has undergone large changes over geological times, but although the species is warm-adapted, the human induced climate change is predicted to affect negatively the range of the currently large populations.

Aim: Information on species-specific vulnerability to climate change is crucial not only for designing interventions and setting conservation goals, but also to inform conservation decision-making. Our goal was to map climate suitability for the European Roller in the Western Palaearctic under current climate, and for past (last glacial maximum and mid-Holocene) and future (2050 and 2070) climate scenarios.

Methods: We used MaxEnt for species distribution modelling based on the reconstructed distribution map of the species.

Results: Our results suggest that during glacial periods Rollers persisted in small southern refugia, and then spread and colonized northern latitudes during the mid-Holocene. In the future, our models forecast a shift in climatically suitable range towards northern latitudes and an overall small range contraction (4.5–5.5%). Warmer temperatures will increase climate suitability in northern countries where the species is currently declining or became locally extinct. On the other hand, wide suitable areas under current climatic conditions are predicted to become unsuitable in the future (35–38% by 2050 and 2070, respectively), significantly impacting large populations such as those in Romania, Spain, Bulgaria and Hungary. French and Italian populations are identified to be future key populations for Roller conservation.

Conclusions: Our findings suggest that future climate changes will likely amplify the impacts of existing threats on the majority of large European Roller populations in Europe.     

DIFFERENCES IN THE CALLS OF EUROPEAN AND NORTH AMERICAN BLACK-BILLED MAGPIES AND THE YELLOW-BILLED MAGPIE

ABSTRACT

We compared several features of the chatter call of two races of black-billed magpies, the nominate, European race Pica pica pica and the North American race P.p. hudsonia and the yellow-billed magpie P. nuttalli. The chatter calls of the two North American species were much more similar to each other than either was to the European magpie. This information together with the recently determined similarities in the behaviour and social organisation of the two North American species, suggests that the phylogenetic affinities of these two species are closer than is implied by their taxonomic status.     

The discriminant power of biometrics for sex determination in European Bee-eaters Merops apiaster

ABSTRACT

Capsule A combination of several biometric measures enables the reliable sexing of the European Bee-eater Merops apiaster, a species with subtle sex differences in plumage and morphometry.

Aims To explore variation in biometrics and their suitability to discriminate sex in adult European Bee-eaters Merops apiaster.

Methods We sampled populations of a long-distance migratory species with low sexual size dimorphism, the European Bee-eater Merops apiaster, from colonies in western Iberia (Portugal) and Central Europe (Germany) to investigate body size variation and derive population-specific and general sex discriminant functions.

Results Overall, male Bee-eaters were larger than females while Bee-eaters from Germany and Portugal did not differ in size, except for primary length and tail length. The best single measurement to discriminate sex was wing length for Portuguese birds and tail tip length for German birds, as in the combined dataset. Multivariate discriminant functions of head-bill, wing and tail tip lengths provided the highest discriminant accuracy, discriminating sex for 91% of the birds from Portugal, 96% from Germany and 94% when using the combined dataset. Nonetheless, the discriminant accuracy remained high in the functions using only two variables for Portugal (head-bill and tail tip 91%, head-bill and wing 88%, wing and tail tip 88%), Germany (head-bill and tail tip 95%, wing and tail tip 97%) and in the combined dataset (head-bill and tail tip 92%, wing and tail tip 93%).

Conclusions Population specific discriminant functions allow sexing of European Bee-eaters by morphometry with high degree of accuracy at least for Iberia and Central European populations. Such discriminant functions can be used to assign the sex of adult Bee-eaters reliably and swiftly while the bird is still in the hand, highlighting the potential of these functions for rapidly sexing species with low degrees of sexual size and plumage dimorphism.     

Pterygoneurum papillosum (Bryopsida: Pottiaceae), a new moss species from Germany

Abstract

Pterygoneurum papillosum is described as a new species from southwestern Germany. It is widespread in vineyards on calcareous, waterlogged, marly soils and is characterized by papillose cells dorsally, the papillae usually being bifurcated. The costal lamellae are narrow, divided into 2-4 segments and not reaching the leaf base. In addition, a key to the European species of Pterygoneurum is given.     

Mayflies of the Northern Levant (Insecta: Ephemeroptera)

Abstract

For 31 species of mayflies, new records on their distribution are presented. Most of them are new to the Middle East or to the northern Levant (Turkey, Syria, Lebanon). The fauna is composed for the most part of species widespread in Europe (63%), a relatively high number (26%) of endemic species, and a few Caucasian (8%) and South European (3%) species. Using the genus Prosopistoma as an example, it is shown that the mayfly fauna of the northern Levantine has been isolated from the faunas of Africa and Asia for a very long period.     

A new species of Boletopsis Associated with Pinus sylvestris L. in Scotland

Summary

The identity of a recent Scottish collection thought to be Boletopsis leucomelaena was examined with the help of molecular techniques. This poroid fungus proved to be a new species of Boletopsis differing from the European species occurring with Pinus sylvestris, which should continue to be called B. grisea. The new name Boletopsis peplexa is introduced for all the Scottish collections with Pinus sylvestris.     

Limited effect of hare grazing and short-term climatic variations on the most common alpine vegetation community in the Snowy Mountains,Australia

Background: In the alpine zone of the Snowy Mountains, grazing by mammals is limited. However, introduced European hare numbers have increased since the 1970s.

Aims: To estimate the density of hares and hence grazing pressure among years. To assess the response of biomass, vegetation height and composition to a cessation of hare grazing.

Methods: We used indices of hare abundance based on spotlighting and counts of hare pellets on a transect. The effect of hare grazing on tall alpine herbfield was assessed by using 15 paired exclosure and control quadrats for six years.

Results: The indices of hare abundance suggested densities similar to those in upland areas of Britain. Grazing did not affect the composition, cover of herbs or graminoids or, for 2010, vegetation height or biomass. Variation in vegetation and hare numbers among years was not correlated with climatic variables. Observations of selective grazing suggested that impacts on vegetation may be localised and restricted to certain species. Prior analyses of hare pellets indicated that hares might spread seed of native and exotic species.

Conclusions: Hares are having no general effect on tall alpine herbfield but may affect certain plant species via selective grazing or by spread of viable seed.     

Using water chemistry to define ecological preferences within the moss genus Scorpidium,from Wales,UK

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Three Scorpidium species: S. scorpioides, S. cossonii and S. revolvens are often associated with habitats of high conservation value. This is the first attempt to define the chemical niches for these Scorpidium species in Wales (UK) and allows us to compare these with earlier European datasets.     

Statilia maculata (Thunberg, 1784) – the first invasive praying mantis (Mantodea,Mantidae) in the fauna of Russia

Summary

Recent years have seen an increasing number of alien praying mantis species being introduced and establishing populations across Europe. Here we add to this count, reporting a stable and spreading population of an Asian species, Statilia maculata (Thunberg, 1784), in Krasnodar Krai of Southern Russia. This is the first introduced praying mantis species in the Russian fauna and the first representative of the genus Statilia Stål, 1877 in Europe. We review what is known about biology of this species and provide diagnostic characters to distinguish nymphs, adults and oothecae from native and introduced European species of praying mantis. Our attempts at captive breeding identify humidity as one of the most important factors limiting possible spread of S. maculata. Invasion to neighbouring territories and other countries with a humid subtropical climate remains a very real possibility with an unknown outcome for local ecosystems.     

Are the responses of plant species to Quaternary climatic changes idiosyncratic? A demographic perspective from the Western Alps

Background: Previous studies have indicated that several plant species had shown remarkable resistance to Pleistocene climate changes and survived the Last Glacial Maximum in scattered ice-free refugia within the European Alps and peripheral areas nearby. The ‘Expansion–Contraction’ model has been proposed to describe the responses of organisms to Pleistocene climate change. Nevertheless, the timing and extent to which species were affected by Quaternary glaciations remain uncertain.

Aims: To test whether the ‘Expansion–Contraction’ model appropriately describes plant distribution responses to Pleistocene climate change in the Western Alps.

Methods: We employed two Bayesian coalescent-based methods on plastid DNA sequences to infer the demographic histories of Ranunculus kuepferi, R. glacialis, Biscutella laevigata, Saxifraga oppositifolia, Primula allionii, P. marginata, Silene cordifolia and Viola argenteria.

Results: R. kuepferi conformed to the ‘Expansion–Contraction’ model, while other species did not. For example, P. allionii showed an alarming population decline during the Middle-Late Pleistocene.

Conclusions: The application of Bayesian coalescent-based methods to plastid DNA data offers useful insights into plant demography as a function of palaeoclimatic events. Our findings favour an idiosyncratic response of plant species in the Western Alps to Pleistocene climate change.     

Taxonomic re-evaluation of the Azolla genus in Portugal

ABSTRACT

The Portuguese and the European Flora refer to the presence of two or three Azolla species in Portugal: A. filiculoides Lam., A. caroliniana Willd. and/or Azolla mexicana Presl., the latter included in the last edition of Flora Europaea. In the present work, the taxonomy of Azolla species is reviewed using the two most important characters that can distinguish between these two/three species: papillae in the dorsal leaf lobe and perine architecture of the megaspore apparatus. Other characteristics, such as the hyaline border cells of the dorsal leaf lobes and the number of glochidia septa in microsporangium massulae, are also used. All the Azolla specimens, collected from several locations in Portugal, were identified as Azolla filiculoides Lam. This identification disagrees with previous published reports on Azolla taxonomy in Portugal as well as with herbarium identification.     

SPECIES-SPECIFIC SOUNDS IN WATER BUGS OF THE GENUS MICRONECTA. PART 2, CHORUSING

ABSTRACT

Although chorusing behaviour has been reported previously in six species of corixid water bugs, including one European species of Micronecta, no analysis of chorusing has been published for Micronecta. Studies of a large pond in SE Australia show that chorusing occurred in the most common species of Micronecta in the study area, M. concordia. Pulse-trains synchronized with those of other individuals nearby were the predominant acoustic output of M. concordia males throughout the stridulating season, from mid-winter to mid-summer. At the start of the season, chorusing began with an exponential increase in the percentage of synchronized signals over a period of six days.     

The Sarcophagidae (Diptera) of the Middle East

A list of 285 species of Sarcophagidaе in the Middle East countries is presented with distributional data, including Bahrain (3 species), Cyprus (46), Egypt (both African and Asian parts) (114), Iran (83), Iraq (17), Israel (113), Jordan (14), Kuwait (3), Lebanon (13), Oman (2), Gaza Strip (5), Palestinian Authority (42), Quatar (1), Saudi Arabia (37), Syria (42), Turkey (both European and Asian parts) (157), United Arab Emirates (14) and Yemen (15). Three new synonyms are established: Blaesoxipha delilah Lehrer, 2006 = Agriella setosa Salem, 1938, syn. n.; Blaesoxipha nahaliana Lehrer, 2008 = Blaesoxipha popovi Rohdendorf, 1937, syn. n.; and Liosarcophaga daccanella Lehrer, 2008 = Liosarcophaga (s. str.) dux (Thomson, 1869), syn. n. Four new combinations for species names are proposed: Liopygia (Engelisca) adhamae (Lehrer & Abou-Ziad, 2008), comb. n.; Liosarcophaga (s. str.) pedestris (Villeneuve, 1910), comb. n.; Liosarcophaga (Pandelleisca) theodori (Lehrer, 1998), comb. n., and Liosarcophaga (Pharaonops) tewfiki (Salem, 1940), comb. n.     

Antrodia onychoides (Egel.) Ryv. specie nuova per l'Italia. II

Abstract

Antrodia onychoides (Egel.) Ryv., new to Italy and very rare species in Europe. II. - The paper is concerned with the first Italian collection of A. onychoides, a resupinate polypore. From the literature, this is the fourth European finding of Antrodia onychoides and follows the first collection, occurred in 1913 near Oslo, in Norway, the second in France and the third in Finland.

Macroscopically A. onychoides could be misdetermined as a Tyromyces however, on the basis of microscopical features, there is no doubt concerning its determination as a species of Antrodia genus.     

Folsomia of China I – fimetaria group (Collembola: Isotomidae)

An annotated list of the species of Folsomia fimetaria group recorded in China is given. The new diagnostics of Folsomia candida sensu lato and sensu stricto are proposed basing on European and Asiatic material. Folsomia postsensilis n. sp. is described from Ningxia and Qinghai Provinces. It is characterized by the combination of posterior position of medial sensilla on abdomen, presence of ocelli and short furca.     

The non-native vascular flora of the Falkland Islands

Summary

Non-native species form a significant, but under-recorded, component of the Falkland Islands vascular flora. With this in mind a comprehensive re vie w of the non-native flora of the Falkland Islands was undertaken for the first time since the publication of the definitive Flora in 1968. We have recorded 175 non-native taxa, from 46 families, from the Falkland Islands which are listed with accompanying notes on habitat, status and distribution. Twenty-nine of these are likely to be commonly encountered, though only Aira praecox, Cerastium fontanum, Rumex acetosella and Sagina procumbens are near ubiquitous throughout. The origins of much of the non-native flora are obscure, however most species seem to be of European descent, and a significant proportion of taxa seem to have become established after introductions for agricultural and horticultural purposes.     

European earthstars in Geastraceae (Geastrales,Phallomycetidae) – a systematic approach using morphology and molecular sequence data

Abstract

Phylogenetic relationships among European earthstars were inferred using sequence data from the nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed region (ITS1, 5.8S and ITS2), partial nuclear large subunit (LSU), and partial translation elongation factor 1-alpha (Tef-α). The phylogenetic analyses recovered 11 clades that correlate to 31 morphological species and species groups. A close relationship of Myriostoma coliforme and Geastrum was supported by the molecular data. The genus Radiigera was found to be polyphyletic, and the four species were recovered in different clades within Geastrum. Radiigera bushnellii, R. flexuosa, R. fuscogleba and R. taylori are therefore combined in Geastrum. One of the supported terminal clades is likely to represent an undescribed species that occurs in east central Europe. Notes on the morphology and ecology for each species are given, including a key to the 31 species of earthstars occurring in Europe.