Gastrointestinal parasites of the Samango monkey,Cercopithecus mitis,in Natal,South Africa

Eight gastro-intestinal tracts of Cercopithecus mitis labiatus from Karkloof, Natal, and 121 fecal samples from C. m. erythrarchus from Cape Vidal, Natal, were examined for helminth parasites and/or their eggs. Fecal samples from six of the C. m. labiatus were examined for protozoan cysts. Five protozoon and six helminth species were identified from C.m labiatus. Most adult worms occurred in the caecum and colon, gut regions which also contained the highest volatile fatty acid levels. The eggs of nine helminth species were recovered from C. m. erythrarchus fecal samples; protozoans were not looked for in these samples.     

Polymorphic microsatellite loci from the red urchin,Strongylocentrotus franciscanus,with comments on heterozygote deficit

Strongylocentrotus sea urchins are common subjects for studies in developmental and cell biology, reproductive biology, ecology, and evolution. We report 14 microsatellite loci from the red urchin, S. franciscanus, isolated for the purpose of estimating paternal success of males in experimental group spawns. Most of these loci were found to be highly polymorphic in a population from British Columbia. A high frequency of null alleles appears responsible for heterozygote deficit at a majority of these loci, but if used with appropriate caution, these microsatellites should be effective markers for studies of Strongylocentrotus populations.     

Design, Development, and Use of Molecular Primers and Probes for the Detection of Gluconacetobacter Species in the Pink Sugarcane Mealybug

Molecular tools for the species-specific detection of Gluconacetobacter sacchari, Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus, and Gluconacetobacter liquefaciens from the pink sugarcane mealybug (PSMB) Saccharicoccus sacchari Cockerell (Homiptera: Pseudococcidae) were developed and used in polymerase chain reactions (PCR) and in fluorescence in situ hybridizations (FISH) to better understand the microbial diversity and the numerical significance of the acetic acid bacteria in the PSMB microenvironment. The presence of these species in the PSMB occurred over a wide range of sites, but not in all sites in sugarcane-growing areas of Queensland, Australia, and was variable over time. Molecular probes for use in FISH were also designed for the three acetic acid bacterial species, and shown to be specific only for the target species. Use of these probes in FISH of “squashed” whole mealybugs indicated that these acetic acid bacteria species represent only a small proportion of the microbial population of the PSMB. Despite the detection of Glac. sacchari, Glac. diazotrophicus, and Glac. liquefaciens by PCR from different mealybugs isolated at various times and from various sugarcane-growing areas in Queensland, Australia, these bacteria do not appear to be significant commensals in the PSMB environment.     

New species of the genera Pseudallobenedenia Yamaguti, 1966 and Lagenivaginopseudobenedenia Yamaguti, 1966 (Monogenea: Capsalidae) in the Indo-Pacific

Two new capsalid species, Pseudallobenedenia arabica n. sp. from the gills of Pristipomoides filamentosus (Lutjanidae) from the Arabian Sea and Lagenivaginopseudobenedenia tinrowi n. sp. from the gills of Etelis carbunculus (Lutjanidae) from the eastern Pacific Ocean are described and illustrated. P. arabica differs from the most similar species, P. opakapaka Yamaguti, 1966, in the greater width of the body, its larger haptor and anterior adhesive discs, the form and sizes of the testes and ovary, and differences in host and locality. L. tinrowi differs from its congener, L. etelis Yamaguti, 1966, in the larger size of the body and its organs, the absence of eye-spots and Goto's glands, and differences in the arrangement of the genital organs. All of the species in these two genera differ from other capsalids by the presence of a voluminous uterus and an extremely long penis forming a loop. All species in these two genera are parasites of fishes of the family Lutjanidae and are reported from Indo-Pacific subtropical areas.     

Phylogeny, biogeography, and species boundaries within the Alexandrium minutum group

The geographic range and bloom frequency of the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium minutum and other members of the A. minutum group have been increasing over the past few decades. Some of these species are responsible for paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) outbreaks throughout the world. The origins of new toxic populations found in previously unaffected areas are typically not known due to a lack of reliable plankton records with sound species identifications and to the lack of a global genetic database. This paper provides the first comprehensive study of minutum-group morphology and phylogeny on a global scale, including 45 isolates from northern Europe, the Mediterranean, Asia, Australia and New Zealand.Neither the morphospecies Alexandrium lusitanicum nor A. angustitabulatum was recoverable morphologically, due to large variation within and among all minutum-group clonal strains in characters previously used to distinguish these species: the length:width of the anterior sulcal plate, shape of the 1′ plate, connection between the 1′ plate and the apical pore complex, and the presence of a ventral pore. DNA sequence data from the D1 to D2 region of the LSU rDNA also fail to recognize these species. Therefore, we recommend that all isolates previously designated as A. lusitanicum or A. angustitabulatum be redesignated as A. minutum. A. tamutum, A. insuetum, and A. andersonii are clearly different from A. minutum on the basis of both genetic and morphological data.A. minutum strains from Europe and Australia are closely related to one another, which may indicate an introduction from Europe to Australia given the long history of PSP in Europe and its recent occurrence in Australia. A minutum from New Zealand and Taiwan form a separate phylogenetic group. Most strains of A. minutum fit into one of these two groups, although there are a few outlying strains that merit further study and may represent new species. The results of this paper have greatly improved our ability to track the spread of A. minutum species and to understand the evolutionary relationships within the A. minutum group by correcting inaccurate taxonomy and providing a global genetic database.     

Similarities,differences, and seasonal patterns in the diets ofEulemur rubriventer andEulemur fulvus rufus in the Ranomafana National Park,Madagascar

I studied the diets of two sympatric species ofEulemur (E. fulvus rufus andE. rubriventer) in the Ranomafana National Part in southeastern Madagascar from July 1988 through August 1989. Both species were highly frugivorous throughout the year and devoted similar amounts of time to feeding daily; the composition of their diets were similar. Three aspects of both lemur species' diets were correlated with seasonal food availability: changes in interspecific dietary overlap, the length of feeding bouts, and the amount of time devoted to feeding daily. Throughout the year neither species had a more diverse or more folivorous diet than its sympatric congener. However, there were several consistent year-round differences between their diets.E. f. rufus initiated more feeding bouts daily that were shorter in duration than those ofE. rubriventer. E. f. rufus also consistently exploited more unripe fruits and mature leaves thanE. rubriventer did throughout the study.E. f. rufus migrated from the study site during a period of fruit scarcity. These dietary patterns are discussed here in regard to feeding patterns observed in other sympatric congeneric primate species, whether these dietary differences can contribute to these two species' ability to coexist, and how differences in diet may be influenced by differences in social structure. I suggest that subtle, consistent differences in diet and seasonal dietary differences are sufficient to allow these two species to coexist.     

On the occurrence of the Bittern,Botaurus stellaris,in Turkey

Abstract

This paper reviews 53 records of the Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) in Bulgaria (1912–1989) from published and unpublished sources. The phonology, distribution, ecology and behaviour of these migrants are described and discussed. Attention is drawn to “pale” Whimbrels which may belong to the rare subspecies albuaxillaris.     

Molecular phylogeny and taxonomic revision of the genera Baudinella Thiele, 1931, Retroterra Solem, 1985 and Molema Köhler, 2011 endemic to the coastal Kimberley,Western Australia (Gastropoda,Camaenidae)

Baudinella Thiele, 1931, Retroterra Solem, 1985 and Molema Köhler, 2011 are three genera of camaenid land snail endemic to coastal regions of the Western Australian Kimberley. Each of these genera has fairly distinct shells, but all exhibit a rather similar configuration of the reproductive system, which is characterized by lack of a penial sheath and presence of an elongated and coiled bursa copulatrix. By combining comparative morphology of shell and penial anatomy with analyses of the mitochondrial DNA fragments 16S rRNA (16S) and cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI), the phylogenetic relationships amongst representative species of these genera are addressed to test the monophyly of taxa and to identify new species. Our results show that all three genera are members of a single camaenid radiation. Five new species are described: two new species of Baudinella, B. magna n. sp. from the Institute and Montesquieu Archipelagos and B. margaritata n. sp. from Pitta Gorge in the Prince Regent Reserve, one new species of Molema, Molema tenuicostata n. sp., from near Talbot Bay, and two new species of Retroterra, R. dichroma, and R. nana, from the Prince Regent Reserve.     

Early Hominid diversity, age and biogeography of the Malawi-Rift

Remains of earlyHomo andParanthropus have been recovered from two contemporaneous sites (Uraha and Malema) in the “Hominid Corridor” in Northern Malawi (Chiwondo Beds). Faunal dating suggests an age of 2.5–2.3 Ma for both hominids. The two specimens, a mandible attributed toHomo rudolfensis (UR 501 from Uraha), and a maxillary fragment ofParanthropus boisci. (RC 911 from Malema) known only from eastern Africa, represent the southernmost known distribution of these taxa. The biogeographic significance of these hominids from the Malawi-Rift lay in their association with the eastern African endemic animal group. Biogeographic variation in south-eastern Africa may be linked to habitat change occurring due to climate change, with maximum change occurring around 2.5 Ma.     

The Ear Region of the Pen-tailed Treeshrew, Ptilocercus lowii Gray, 1848 (Placentalia, Scandentia, Ptilocercidae)

The ear region of the pen-tailed treeshrew, Ptilocercus lowii Gray, 1848 (Scandentia, Ptilocercidae), is described and illustrated in detail based on five museum specimens from the National Museum of Natural History, two with the auditory bulla removed exposing the intratympanic surfaces. Soft tissues (arteries, veins, nerves, and muscles) are reconstructed onto the adult skulls based on published reports of these elements in a fetal P. lowii. Comparisons are made with four specimens of the common treeshrew, the tupaiid Tupaia glis (Diard, 1820), from the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, including one with the auditory bulla removed. The mammalian ear region widely is regarded to be a rich source of characters for phylogenetic analysis. This study supports this view by identifying numerous features that are shared between the two treeshrews as well as numerous features that distinguish them. Several features used in the past to distinguish tupaiid treeshrews from primates are found to differ between P. lowii and T. glis: the composition of the bony tubes for the internal carotid artery and the composition of the intrabullar septa and spaces. Despite the compositional differences, it seems likely that the bony carotid tubes and intrabullar septa and spaces shared by P. lowii and T. glis occurred in their common ancestor. Evaluating the utility of these and other ear region features awaits future phylogenetic analysis of treeshrews and related Euarchontoglires.     

Mariner-like sequences are present in the genome of the fruitfly,Drosophila melanogaster

No mariner-like elements (MLEs) have been described until now in the genome of Drosophila melanogaster despite many experiments using molecular methods. However, analyses of sequence data from the Berkeley Drosophila Genome Project show that there are DNA sequences corresponding to pieces of MLE in the genome of D. melanogaster. The sequences of these elements have diverged considerably (about 40%) from any other sequences observed elsewhere. Moreover, the putative amino acid sequences encoded by the best conserved regions reveal that these sequences are clearly homologous to MLEs transposase.     

Eggs and clutches of the Spheroolithidae from the Cretaceous Tiantai basin,Zhejiang Province,China

Numerous discoveries in the Tiantai basin of Zhejiang Province, China, enrich our understanding of the parataxonomy, paleobiology and taphonomic histories of fossil eggs from a diverse array of Cretaceous oofamilies. We describe the most abundant of these egg types catalogued in the Zhejiang Museum of Natural History, Spheroolithus cf. zhangtoucaoensis (oofamily Spheroolithidae). Scanning electron microscopy, here utilised for the first time on Spheroolithus eggs from Tiantai, and petrographic microscopy reveal 0.81–1.37-mm thick eggshell composed of a single structural layer of calcite with slightly flaring shell units, irregular pores, horizontal accretion lines and a sweeping extinction pattern under crossed polars. This contradicts previous reports of the presence of two structural layers in Tiantai Spheroolithus. Clutches consist of 2–13 eggs arranged in an irregular, single-layered pattern. As these eggs are among the oldest Asian examples of Spheroolithus currently known, they may shed light on the early evolution of this oogenus. This study establishes the definitive presence of the Spheroolithidae in the Tiantai basin, contra recent reports, and provides the framework for ongoing examination of egg diversity and taphonomy in the Tiantai basin.     

Phylogenetic resolution and systematics of the Asian tree frogs,Rhacophorus (Rhacophoridae,Amphibia)

Li, J.T., Li, Y., Murphy, R.W., Rao, D.‐Q. & Zhang, Y.‐P. (2012). Phylogenetic resolution and systematics of the Asian tree frogs, Rhacophorus (Rhacophoridae, Amphibia). —Zoologica Scripta, 41, 557–570. The treefrog genus Rhacophorus, a large genus with 80 species, has a wide range, occurring eastward from India to China, Japan, South‐east Asia, the Greater Sunda Islands and the Philippines. The phylogenetic relationships and taxonomic recognition of many species are very controversial. To stabilize the taxonomy, the phylogenetic relationships among about 52 species are investigated from 96 samples using mtDNA sequence data. Matrilineal relationships based on maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods resolve three well‐supported lineages (A, B and C), although the phylogenetic relationships among three lineages remain ambiguous. Analyses support recognition of two previously assigned subgenera, Leptomantis and Rhacophorus, and these correspond to lineages A and B, respectively. Given that we have three strongly supported lineages, that these lineages are morphologically distinct, and the constrained geographic distributions of these groups, we recognize each lineage as a taxon. Subgenus Leptomantis includes species mainly from Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. Subgenus Rhacophorus contains a mix of species occurring in India, Indochina and southern China. Lineage C accommodates species distributed mostly in East Asia, including Japan and China. Based on genetic and morphological data from type localities, the taxonomic recognition of some species needs to be reconsidered. Rhacophorus pingbianensis and Polypedates spinus are considered as junior synonyms of Rhacophorus duboisi. Specimens of Rhacophorus rhodopus from Vietnam and Hainan, China likely represent an undescribed, cryptic species.     

Length–weight relationships of two schizothoracinae fish species from the Maquan River,the upper reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River,Tibet, China

Length‐weight relationships (LWRs) were determined for two endemic fish species from the Maquan River, the upper of the Yarlung Zangbo River: (Ptychobarbus dipogon Regan, 1905, Schizothorax waltoni Regan, 1905). All the specimens were collected between May and September of 2014. Length–weight relationships for these two fish species were determined for the first time, and new maximum body weights were recorded for these two species. These results will be useful for fishery research, management and conservation of the Yarlung Zangbo River.     

Ingestion of the dinoflagellate, Pfiesteria piscicida, by the calanoid copepod, Acartia tonsa

The dinoflagellate, Pfiesteria piscicida, can form harmful algal blooms in estuarine environments. The dominant copepod species usually found in these waters is Acartia tonsa. We tested the ability of A. tonsa to graze the non-toxic zoospore stage of P. piscicida and thus serve as a potential biological control of blooms of this algal species. A. tonsa grazed the non-toxic zoospore stages of both a non-inducible P. piscicida strain (FDEPMDR23) and a potentially toxic strain (Tox-B101156) at approximately equal rates. Ingestion of P. piscicida increased with cell concentration and exhibited a saturated feeding response. Both the maximum number of cells ingested (I_max) and the slope of the ingestion curve (α) of A. tonsa feeding on P. piscicida were comparable to these ingestion parameters for A. tonsa fed similar-sized phytoplankton and protozoan species. When these laboratory ingestion rates were combined with abundance estimates of A. tonsa from the Pocomoke Estuary and Chesapeake Bay, we found that significant grazing control of the non-toxic zoospore stage of P. piscicida by A. tonsa would only occur at high copepod abundances (>10 copepods L⁻¹). We conclude that under most in situ conditions the potential biological control of blooms of P. piscicida is exerted by microzooplankton grazers. However, in the less saline portions of estuaries where maximum concentrations of copepods often occur with low abundances of microzooplankton, copepod grazing coefficients can be similar to the growth rates of P. piscicida.     

Genetic variation,population structure and cryptic species within the black mudfish,Neochanna diversus,an endemic galaxiid from New Zealand

To investigate the phylogenetic relationships and geographical structure among landlocked populations of the black mudfish, Neochanna diversus, mitochondrial DNA nucleotide sequence data were sampled from seven populations from the Waikato and Northland regions of New Zealand. The complete D-loop region was sequenced from 70 individuals, with 913 bp from the tRNA-pro end used in population and phylogenetic analysis. A tandem repeat array, which ranged in size up to 200 bp, was found in most populations at the 3′ end of the D-loop that was not able to be aligned for analysis. Of the seven sites sampled, two from Northland exhibited significant sequence divergence from all other sites. There was also a clear distinction among remaining Northland sites and those from the Waikato. An additional 518 bp segment of the 16S region was sequenced from all sites and compared with the other New Zealand mudfish species, N. apoda, N. burrowsius and the Tasmanian mudfish Galaxias (Neochanna) cleaveri using Galaxias maculatus as an outgroup. Both D-loop and 16S sequence data provided strong evidence for a cryptic species of mudfish present in Northland. The significant genetic structure apparent in the black mudfish appears most probably to be attributed to geological conditions during the Pliocene, where peat wetlands became apparent in the Waikato while Northland consisted of disjunct ‘islands’. Conservation and management of these populations must take into account the historical processes that have shaped these patterns of genetic diversity.     

Apostasiads, systematic anatomy, and the origins of Orchidaceae

Anatomical study of several species of the putatively primitive orchids Apostasia and Neuiviedia was based on specimens of leaves, stems and rootS. Research was carried out in the hope of providing objective information from anatomy towards unravelling the relationships of these plants, and especially towards answering the question of whether extant orchids evolved from these two genera, or from plants like them. The morphology of Apostasia and Neuwiedia has evoked the dogma of primitiveness because of the two or three anthers borne on separate filaments and the free style and stigma which characterize the flowerS. In most other orchids there is only one anther and filaments and styles are fused to form the column (gynostemium). The general anatomical structure of apostasiads shows features present in other orchids; none is restricted to Apostasia and Neuwiedia. Tracheary anatomy, however, shows vessels in roots, but not in any part of the shoot system. Vessel members are characterized by chiefly simple perforation plates in contrast with other orchids where scalariform perforation plates predominate in vessel members of the root. These phenomena, considered from the phylogenetic standpoint, would cast serious doubt on the possibility that plants with scalariform perforation plates, the ancestral, or primitive condition, could have arisen from plants with simple perforation plates, the derived, or advanced condition. On this basis the apostasiads could not have given rise to the di- and monandrous orchidS. Of the several suggested origins for orchids, Hypoxidaceae, or plants similar to them, whether in Asparagales, Liliales or Haemadorales of different authors, could have been the progenitors of orchids as a group, including the apostasiadS. Because of the unique combination of floral features in the apostasiads, their predominantly simple perforation plates, and their overall anatomical similarity to orchids in general, it would appear appropriate to consider them as a subfamily, Apostasioideae, of Orchidaceae sensu lato.     

Genetic Demographic Structure of the Belgorod Population: Age,Ethnicity, Education,and Occupation

Data from marriage records of the city of Belgorod for 1960, 1985, and 1995 have been used to determine some parameters of population structure in this city. The coefficients of correlation with respect to age of marriage between spouses in the couples contracting marriages in these years were 0.74, 0.62, and 0.80, respectively. Women of reproductively unfavorable age (under 20 or over 30 years) accounted for 5.5, 0.83, and 19% of all women contracting marriages in these years, respectively. The proportions of interethnic marriages in these years were 16.9, 14.9, and 15.6%, respectively. The percentage of Slavs decreased from 99 to 97% during the 35 years studied, whereas the proportion of Russians insignificantly increased (from 90.4 to 91.4%). The proportion of Caucasian ethnic groups increased by six time (from 0.3 to 1.8%), and that of other non-Slavic ethnic groups increased by almost two times (from 0.7 to 1.2%). The marriage convergence (K) with respect to ethnicity (0.095, 0.106, and 0.090 in 1960, 1985, and 1995, respectively) was lower than that with respect to education (0.296 and 0.350 in 1985 and 1995, respectively) or occupation (0.212 and 0.231 in 1985 and 1995, respectively). The maximum coefficients of ethnically, educationally, and occupationally assortative marriage have been found, respectively, in ethnic minority groups (A′ = 20%); in persons with higher and primary education (A′ = 37.5 and 49.9%, respectively); and in the military officers/soldiers, engineers, healthcare professionals, and researchers (the respective A′ values are 65.6, 32.2, 31.5, and 39.8%).__________Translated from Genetika, Vol. 41, No. 6, 2005, pp. 823–829.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Atramentova, Filiptsova.     

Fish species diversity in the lakes of Alma-Gol,Adji-Gol,and Ala-Gol,Golestan province,northern Iran

The study was conducted to explore fish species diversity and understand some ecological aspects of the lakes of Golestan province, which represent a group of the small and rather isolated water bodies, from September 2000 to August 2002. With respect to environmental properties, there were no significant differences among wetlands. The results revealed that non-indigenous fish species are found to be dominant in the lakes. Of ten sampled species, four, including sharp belly Hemiculter leucisculus, silver crucian carp Carassius auratus, top mouth gudgeon Pseudorasbora parva, and mosquito fish Gambusia holbrooki, were non-indigenous. Observation of sharp belly and top mouth gudgeon represent actually the first record of these species in these lakes. Endemicism was highest in Adji-Gol (52.37% native) and much lower in Alma-Gol (10.20%) and Ala-Gol (20.43%). Species richness, diversity, and evenness were highest in Adji-Gol and lowest in Ala-Gol. Dominance of non-indigenous species could be explained by their wider ecological and physiological tolerance; therefore, if greater emphasis is not placed on the conservation of native fishes, these species could face continued declines or might be quietly lost in the lakes. The text was submitted by the authors in English.