Importation,releases, and establishment ofNeochetina spp. (Col.: Curculionidae) for the biological control of water hyacinth,Ecchhornia crassipes (Lil.: Pontederiaceae), in Benin,West Africa

Water hyacinth,Eichhornia crassipes (Martius) Solms-Laubach (Pontederiaceae) was first reported in Bénin in 1977 and about 10 years later became the major floating water weed in the south east, obstructing boat traffic and fisheries. Water hyacinth multiplies in permanently fresh water in the swampy upper reaches of the Sô River and in tributaries of the Ouémé River. From there it is moved by wind and water flow to the coastal lagoons. The coastal lagoons are brackish during the dry season and water hyacinth eventually dies. In 1991,Neochetina eichhorniae (Warner) (Col.: Curculionidae) of South American origin was imported from Australia via quarantine in Britain to Bénin. A small infestation of the fungusBeauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill. (Hyphomycetes) was eliminated from the colony before release by sterilizing eggs and rearing a fungus-free generation. Between late 1991 and mid 1993, about 23,900N. eichhorniae were released at 11 localities along the Ouémé River and in the head waters of the Sô River. Regular monitoring revealed feeding scars by adults on leaves and tunnelling by larvae in petioles at all release sites. By October 1993,N. eichhorniae had spread up to 20 km from some release sites.Neochetina bruchi Hustache was imported in 1992. A total of about 5,700 weevils has been released in six localities since mid 1992. Recoveries of offspring were made in all but one locality. Despite the negative impact of water flow, wind, penetration of salt water, and removal of infested water hyacinth by fishermen,N. eichhorniae andN. bruchi are established in Bénin in a situation typical for coastal West Africa.     

Pleistocene mammals from travertine deposits of the Denizli basin (SW Turkey)

The Denizli basin, which is famous by its modern travertine accumulations such as that of Pamukkale is located at the eastern junction of Büyük Menderes and Gediz grabens in the western Anatolian extensional province. This basin contains large travertine formations, the origin and age of which are still debated. This study briefly recalls the tectonic and stratigraphic context of travertine occurrences and describes some vertebrate remains, which have recently been recorded in travertines. The material mainly consists of jaw fragments referred to Equus aff. suessenbornensis Wüst, 1901, lower teeth and antlers of Dama sp. and some lower teeth of Bos sp. The presence of E. aff. suessenbornensis, indicates a Middle Pleistocene age in agreement with thermoluminescense dating of the travertines.     

Carboniferous aulate corals from Azrou-Khenifra Basin (Morocco): Distribution and phylogenetic relationships

The Carboniferous outcrops from the Azrou-Khenifra Basin (central Morocco) have yielded solitary and fasciculate aulate corals. Although mostly rare, their presence has significance for extending the known stratigraphic range of two genera. Both Solenodendron and Semenoffia which were previously restricted to the Tournaisian-Viséan interval are now recognised to range up into the Serpukhovian. Moreover, Solenodendron is now last recorded in lower Bashkirian strata, having survived the end-Serpukhovian (mid-Carboniferous) faunal crisis. New phylogenetic relationships are proposed within this aulate group of corals for the western Palaeotethys, based on detailed examination of their morphology, microstructure and stratigraphic range. The distribution of solitary and fasciculate aulate corals in the Azrou-Khenifra Basin (Morocco) is comparable with that of the Béchar Basin (Algeria), and some species are commonly recorded in Europe. A new species, Aulokoninckophyllum potyi is described.     

Précisions paléontologiques et stratigraphiques sur divers inocérames cénomaniens et,en particulier,sur ceux de la Sarthe figurés par E. Guéranger en 1867

Modern determinations are given for the Inocerams figured by E. Guéranger in his work «Album paléontologique du département de la Sarthe.The validity of I. angulatus d'Orb. and I. scalprum J. Böhm is discussed as well as the variability of I. virgatusSchlüter.     

Famennian (Late Devonian) ammonoids from the Ouarourout section (Saoura Valley,Algeria)

In North Africa, the ammonoids constitute an important part of the Devonian marine macro-invertebrates. New material has been recently collected in the ‘Argiles de Marhouma’ Formation from several sections located near Béni-Abbès in the Saoura Valley (Ougarta Mountains, Algerian Sahara). Red nodular limestones (i.e., ‘griotte’ facies) characterize this formation rich in ammonoids. The assemblages from the Ouarourout section are composed of Goniatitida and Clymeniida constituting 30 species and 19 genera belonging to 11 families, with Cyrtoclymenia, Erfoudites, Kosmoclymenia, Planitornoceras, Platyclymenia, and Prionoceras, as the most abundant genera. The taxonomic comparison and the biostratigraphic correlations are made by considering the assemblages recorded in the Anti-Atlas of Morocco, which are very close to those observed in Algeria. In the Ouarourout area, the ‘Argiles de Marhouma’ Formation contains middle and late Famennian ammonoid assemblages and three biostratigraphic intervals can be identified: Planitornoceras, Platyclymenia and Medioclymenia.     

Rongeurs et lagomorphes du Miocène inférieur de Béon 2 (MN4, Montréal-du-Gers,SW France)

About 200 micromammal isolated teeth (rodents, lagomorphs) originating from the middle Orleanian locality of Béon 2 (Montréal-du-Gers, SW France) are described. The rodent fauna is dominated by myomorphs (7 species), including the cricetid Democricetodon aff. hispanicus Fahlbusch, the melissiodontid Melissiodon sp., the glirids Peridyromys murinus (Pomel), Pseudodryomys aff. ibericus, Pseudodryomys aff. simplicidens, and Glirudinus modestus (Dehm), and the eomyid Ligerimys aff. florancei. Sciuromorphs are represented only by Heteroxerus rubricati Crusafont, Villalta and Truyols. Within lagomorphs, 2 dental morphs referred to the ochotonid Prolagus Pomel are identified in Béon 2. They correspond to Prolagus oeningensis (König) and P. aff. vasconiensis. On a biostratigraphical point of view, this study confirms the location of Béon 2 at the early part of the MN4; this locality is older than other regional sites such as Pellecahus, Béon 1, La Romieu, and Bézian (MN4b), and it is coeval to Artenay, in the Loire basin. In particular, glirids and lagomorphs from Béon 2 testify to close relationships with micromammal localities referred to the MN3 biozone.     

Microphallidae (Digenea) d'Afrique du Sud,Parasites de Charadrii (Aves). Seconde Note

Les auteurs apportent de nouvelles informations géographiques et diagnostiques concernant plusieurs microphallidés (Trematoda: Digenea) récoltés chez des Charadrii (Aves) des c^otes de Namibie (Afrique du Sud): Maritrema eroliae Yamaguti, 1939 de Charadrius marginatus Vieillot; Odhneria odhneri Travassos, 1921 de Arenaria interpres L.; Microphallus bilobatus Cable, Connor &; Balling, 1960 de C. marginatus; et Levinseniella propinqua Jägerskiöld, 1907 de C. marginatus et A. interpres. Ces espèces représentent une localisation géographique nouvelle et de nouveaux h^otes. Le phallus (organe copulateur m^ale) de M. bilobatus de Namibie et celui du type des Caraïbes sont comparés et illustrés. Les atriums génitaux de L. propinqua récoltés en Namibie ainsi qu'à Marcus Island (southwest Cape Province, Afrique du Sud) sont illustrés et discutés; l'espèce parait cosmopolite. Abstract The authors present new geographical and diagnostic information for microphallids (Trematoda: Digenea) from the coast of Namibia (southern Africa): Maritrema eroliae Yamaguti, 1939 from Charadrius marginatus Vieillot; Odhneria odhneri Travassos, 1921 from Arenaria interpres L.; Microphallus bilobatus Cable, Connor &; Balling, 1960 from C. marginatus; and Levinseniella propinqua Jägerskiöld, 1907 from C. marginatus and A. interpres. These are new geographical and host records. The position and variability of the phallus (male copulatory organ) in M. bilobatus from Namibia and in the type-species from the Caribbean Sea are compared and illustrated. The genital atria of L. propinqua from Namibia and from Marcus Island (southwest Cape Province, Southern Africa) are illustrated and compared. This species appears to be cosmopolitan.     

Le plus ancien hippopotame fossile (Hippopotamus laloumena) de Madagascar (Belobaka,Province de Mahajanga)

The Upper Pleistocene site Belobaka XVII (about 20,000 years) has yielded some Hippopotami remains included in a very hard breccia. Among this material two lower premolars, a juvenile calcaneus, two juvenile metatarsals and a first abaxial phalange have been cleaned and can be studied. They belong to Hippopotamus laloumena Faure and Guérin, 1990, allowed us to know for the first time the P/2 and P/3 of that species and confirm its validity. Belobaka is then the third Malagasyan site where H. laloumena has been found, and the first which yielded Pleistocene hippopotami remains.     

Composition and distribution of the family Cacurgidae (Insecta; grylloblattida)

The family Cacurgidae is revised. In addition to the type genus Cacurgus Handlirsch, 1911 from the Upper Carboniferous of the United States, Ideliopsis ovalis Carpenter, 1948 from the Lower Permian of the United States and Kitshuga ryzhkovae gen. et sp. nov. from the Upper Permian of Russia are included in this family. An undescribed genus from the Upper Carboniferous of Argentina (Béthoux and Nel, 2002) is also placed in this family. Relationships of Cacurgidae are discussed, and the family is included in the order Grylloblattida.     

Decouverte de Septorella brachycera grambast et de Septorella ultima Grambast (Charophytes,Clavatoracees) dans le Maestrichtien superieur des Petites Pyrenees. Consequences stratigraphiques

The discovery of an assemblage of Clavatoraceae including Septorella brachycera and S. ultima in the “Marnes d'Auzas” (upper Maestrichtian) of the Petites Pyrénées constitutes the first element of comparison between the upper Cretaceous of the Petites Pyrénées and Provence, but creates a problem with regard to the subdivision of the provencial Rognacian, based, in part, on the superposition of these two species.     

Analyse pollinique des dépôts lacustresdu Pléistocène inférieur de Banyoles (Bañolas,site de la Bòbila Ordis - Espagne): un élément nouveau dans la reconstitution de l'histoire paléoclimatique des régions méditerranéennes d'Europe occidentale

Clays from Bòbila Ordis near Banyoles have yielded a rich pollen flora. Three pollen zones are recognizable: the lower and the middle parts are dominated by components of a deciduous forest (with numerous exotic taxa); in the upper part, Pinus pollen and NAP (especially Compositae) are in a majority with an increase of mediterranean taxa towards the top. This floristic evolution may be connected with a climatic change characterized by a decrease in humidity which is itself linked to a world cooling. We suggest a possible relation with the pollen flora published by H. Elhai. The pollen diagram of Bòbila Ordis is the second so far established from Lower Pleistocene deposits in the Mediterranean countries of Western Europe; chronologically it follows the Bernasso (Languedoc) pollen diagram and confirms the latter results.     

Glossomyophorus costatus nov. gen. nov. sp., Rudiste (Caprotinidae) nouveau de l'Aptien du domaine méditerranéen central et oriental

A new caprotinid rudist, Glossomyophorus costatus nov. gen. nov. sp. is described and figured from the Lower Cretaceous of Saudi Arabia, Bosnia (Yugoslavia) and southern Italy. Its costulate shell has a straight, tubular (attached) right valve, with a single, central tooth, and an openly enrolled, elongate left valve, with two subequal teeth. It differs from other caprotinids in possessing an erect, tongue-shaped posterior myophore in the left valve, the muscle scar of which directly flanks the body cavity, with no intervening accessory cavity joined to the central tooth socket. This scar faces onto the posterior wall of a laminar posterior myophore in the right valve. A single accessory cavity in each valve separates the posterior myophore from the shell wall. That in the right valve is similar in size to the teeth sockets, such that sections across the valve have a distinctive array of three more or less equal sockets. Evolutionary affinities with Monopleura or with Caprotina are equally possible. At present the genus is only known from the Lower Aptian of the Central and Eastern mediterranean Subprovinces and thus might serve as a valuable biostratigraphic and palaeobiogeographic marker.     

Une espéce nouvelle ďophisaurus (lacertilia,anguidae) de ľoligocène des phosphorites du quercy. révision de la sous-famille des anguinae

Ophisaurus roqueprunensis is a new anguine species (Lacertilia, Anguidae) from the Oligocene of the Phosphorites du Quercy (France). Blade-like teeth are the main feature of the new taxon. Several characters demonstrate the monophyletic nature of the Anguinae subfamily. The Anguinae subfamily is now subdivided into three groups: the genusPseudopus, with enlarged (molariform) teeth at the rear of the dental row; the anguine lizards with blade-like teeth (caniniform) or theAnguis —Ophisaurus harti lineage and the AmericanOphisaurus lizards, a group that shares no derived character and, thus, is a metataxon.Ophisaurus roqueprunensis is placed within theAnguis- Ophisaurus harti lineage. Phyletic relationships within those three taxons are envisaged.     

Reticulate evolution in the apogamous Dryopteris varia complex (Dryopteridaceae,subg. Erythrovariae,sect. Variae) and its related sexual species in Japan

Apogamous fern species are often difficult to distinguish from related species because of their continuous morphological variations. To clarify the genetic relationships among the members of the Dryopteris varia complex, we analyzed the nucleotide sequences of the plastid gene rbcL and the nuclear gene PgiC. We also analyzed the diploid sexual species D. caudipinna and D. chinensis, which have not been included in the complex, but were recently shown to be closely related to the complex in a molecular phylogenetic study. The PgiC sequences of the diploid sexual species, D. varia, D. saxifraga, D. sp. ‘protobissetiana’ (undescribed diploid sexual species), D. caudipinna, and D. chinensis, were well differentiated and hence designated A, B, C, D, and E, respectively. Thus, the PgiC constitution of apogamous species in the complex was as follows: D. bissetiana, B + C; D. kobayashii, B + C + E); D. pacifica, A + C, A + B + C, or A + C + D; D. sacrosancta, A + C + E; and D. saxifragivaria, B + C. These results suggest that these apogamous species are formed by hybridizations of species including not only the three diploid sexual species of the D. varia complex (A, B, and C) but also the two diploid sexual species D. caudipinna (D) and D. chinensis (E), which do not belong to the complex.     

Présence du crocodilienPhosphatosaurus (Mesosuchia,Dyrosauridae) dans le paléocène du niger et du Mali

Jaw fragments of the large dyrosaurid crocodilianPhosphatosaurus Bergounioux, 1955, previously known only from the Lower Eocene of Tunisia, are described from the Lower Palaeocene of Niger and Mali. Teeth described by Gemmellaro from the Maastrichtian of Egypt are also referred to a similar form. Although too incomplete to be specifically identified, all these remains indicate that this group of dyrosaurids with a robust snout and large teeth has differentiated early. The evolution of the genusPhosphatosaurus was marked by an elongation of the mandibular symphysis. Résumé Des restes de mâchoires du grand Crocodilien dyrosauridéPhosphatosaurus Bergounioux, 1955, connu jusqu’ici seulement dans l’Eocène inférieur de Tunisie, sont décrits en provenance du Paléocène inférieur du Niger et du Mali. Des dents du Maestrichtien d’Egypte décrites par Gemmellaro sont aussi rapportées à une forme similaire. Bien que trop incomplets pour être identifiés spécifiquement, tous ces restes montrent que ce groupe de Dyrosauridae à museau robuste et à grosses dents s’est différencié de façon précoce. L’évolution du genrePhosphatosaurus a été marquée par une elongation de la symphyse mandibulaire.     

Decouverte de restes de Cyprinidae (Poissons teleosteens)dans l'Oligocene moyen de Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhone)

Cyprinid Fish-remain (an articulated skeleton of Varhostichthys sp. and isolated pharyngeal teeth) have been found in the Upper part of the “argiles de Saint-Henri”, a Middle oligocene formation of Marseilles basin. The finding of these Fish-remains confirms that these deposits have been sedimented under fresh-water conditions.     

Technologie de conservation et de stockage du pollen de Bouleau (Betula verrucosa)

Good preservation and storage of birch pollen (Betula verrucosa Ehrh.) is desirable for two reasons; for one it enables a deeper knowledge of the biological state of the pollen and for the other, since birch pollen is a bio-indicator of air quality, its study under optimal conditions (preservation and biological state) at the biological, structural, ionic and immunological level is essential for analysing the effect of atmospheric pollution on the pollen. For this reason this study has involved both pollen collected under natural conditions and pollen from urban sites (in situ). For a period of two and half years we have studied different methods of preservation and different storage temperatures by in vitro germination tests on a 10% sucrose Heslop-Harrison medium using rehydrated pollen. The best preservation is obtained with freeze-drying for half an hour and subsequent storage at 80°C. The in vitro germination test on in situ pollen shows that the germination percentage is a reliable parameter for estimating the impact of atmospheric pollution on pollen because it varies in accordance with the degree of pollution at the urban sites.

La mise au point de la conservation et du stockage du pollen de Bouleau (Betula verrucosa Ehrh.) présente un double intérêt; d'une part elle permet d'approfondir la connaissance de la qualité de l'air, d'acte fort l'étude dans les meilleures conditions possibles au niveau biologique, structural, ionique et immunologique, est indispensable pour analyser l'action de la pollution atmosphérique sur ces pollens. En conséquence ce travail a été mené sur des pollens témoins et sur des pollens récoltés dans des sites urbains in situ. Durant deux ans et demi, nous avons réalisé des tests de germination, sur le milieu Heslop-Harrison (saccharose 10%) et avec des pollens ayant subi une réhydratation, pour analyser la fiabilité de différentes méthodes de conservation et de stockage de — 80°C. Les tests de germination in vitro sur les pollens in situ montrent que le pourcentage de germination est un paramètre fiable pour l'impact de la pollution atmosphérique sur les pollens, en effet ce pourcentage varie en fonction du degré de pollution des sites urbains.     

Cycle de développement d'Harmonia axyridis (Col. Coccinellidae) dans son aire d'introduction: Le Sud-Est de la france

Résumé L'étude d'une coccinelle exotique originaire de Chine (Harmonia axyridis Pallas) réalisée dans les conditions naturelles d'Antibes montre qu'elle est bivoltine: les adultes de la l^re génération présentent une activité estivale et ceux de la 2^c un repos hivernal. La durée de développement de cet aphidiphage depuis le dép?t des œufs jusqu'à l'émergence des adultes varie de deux mois (avril et mai) à trois semaines (ao?t). Cette coccinelle reste en activité d'avril à octobre et interrompt sa reproduction lorsque les températures moyennes deviennent basses (<12°C) et les jours courts. Les résultats obtenus permettent d'envisager à la fois la réussite de son introduction dans le Sud-Est de la France et la mise au point d'une méthode qui favorise l'installation de sa diapause au laboratoire.

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Summary A study of a Chinese ladybird (H. axyridis Pallas) realized in natural conditions in Antibes (South of France) shows that this species is bivoltine: the adults of the 1rst generation are active during summer while those of the 2nd one hibernate. The duration of development of this aphidophagous coccinellid, from oviposition to adults emergence, varies from two months in April and May to three weeks in August. This ladybird remains in activity from April to October and interrupts its reproduction when the temperature is low (<12°C) and the daylight short. According to the results of this study, there is a good prospect for the introduction of this species in the south-east of France and the elaboration of a method favouring induction of its diapause in the laboratory.