Middle Devonian bothriolepiform antiarchs (Pisces,Placodermi) from central Kazakhstan and their implication for the antiarch system and phylogeny

The bothriolepiform antiarchs Tenizolepis asiatica (Obrucheva, 1955), Bothriolepis kassini Malinovskaja, 1988, and B. babichevi Malinovskaya, 1992 from the Givetian (Middle Devonian) of Central Kazakhstan are redescribed. Tenizolepis bychkovi Malinovskaya, 1992, known from the Konyr Formation of the Trudovoe vertebrate locality, is considered to be a synonym of B. babichevi. The history of investigation of bothriolepiforms from Kazakhstan is discussed. The system and phylogeny of antiarchs are discussed.     

Stenolaemate bryozoans from the Geirud Formation (Upper Devonian/Lower Carboniferous) of Central Alborz (Iran)

Two bryozoan species are described from the Geirud Formation (Upper Devonian/Lower Carboniferous) of Central Alborz (Iran). Trepostome Schulgina mutabilis Troizkaya, 1975 is known from the Upper Devonian (Famennian) of Central Kazakhstan. The new species Ascopora geirudensis n. sp. is the earliest known representative of the rhabdomesine genus Ascopora Trautschold, 1876.     

New brachiopod species from the order acrotretida from the Cambrian of central Kazakhstan

Four new brachiopod species from the order Acrotretida (class Lingulata): Picnotreta saryarkensis sp. nov., Stilpnotreta propria sp. nov., Anabolotreta firma sp. nov., and Batenevotreta variabilis sp. nov. are described from the Agyrek Mountains, northeastern Central Kazakhstan from two olistoliths of limestones, which contain the uppermost Middle and lowermost Upper Cambrian fauna and are located in the Upper Ordovician olistostrome. These new species supplement the described earlier brachiopod assemblage from this region (Koneva and Ushatinskaya, 2008). Strong age and intraspecific variability of some Kazakh acrotretids is shown.     

Upper Cretaceous flora of Karakumzholy, northeastern Aral Region

Upper Cretaceous plant impressions from the reddish gray sandy and clayey deposits of the Zhirkindek Formation of the Karakumzholy locality (the Lower Syr Darya Uplift, Kazakhstan) were studied. This Turonian flora includes two species of fern (Filices) and several angiosperm species. The angiosperms Ettingshausenia cuneifolia (Bronn) Stiehler (described previously as Platanus cuneifolia Bronn) and Trochodendroides arctica (Heer) Berry dominate at the locality. The former species is a typical representative of the Upper Cretaceous flora of the Euro-Sinian subtropical phytogeographic region of Eurasia, while the latter belongs to the temperate Siberian-Canadian phytogeographic region.     

Historical biogeographical patterns of the species of Bursera (Burseraceae) and their taxonomic implications

Aim The plant genus Bursera, with 104 species of trees and shrubs, has been used as a model for biogeographical analyses because of its high species richness and large number of endemic species. The biogeographical patterns of Bursera and their implications for its phylogenetic classification are reviewed in order that some hypotheses on the historical biogeography of tropical Mexico can be proposed. Location Bursera is found in the south‐western USA, most of Mexico, mainly below 1700 m elevation in tropical forests, with some species in xeric shrublands, diversifying along the Pacific slope, Central America, and north‐western South America. A few species occur on the Galapagos and Revillagigedo archipelagos, some of which are endemics, whereas in the Antilles species are distributed extensively, with several endemics in the Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica, and Hispaniola. Methods Data from specimens in herbaria and the literature were used to construct a matrix of 104 species in 160 areas. Distributional patterns of the species of Bursera were inferred applying track analysis, parsimony analysis of endemicity (PAE), and Brooks parsimony analysis (BPA). Results Track analysis revealed four individual tracks: (1) a circum‐Caribbean track, comprising species of the Bursera simaruba species group; (2) an Antillean track, including species that have been transferred to Commiphora based on their pollen traits; (3) a Mexican Pacific track, including species of the B. fragilis, B. microphylla, and B. fagaroides species groups, called ‘cuajiotes’; and (4) a Neotropical Pacific track, including the two species groups assigned to section Bullockia, in which the individual track of the Bursera copallifera species group is nested within the track of the B. glabrifolia species group. The four tracks overlap in a node in the Mexican Pacific slope, where they are highly diversified. PAE allowed us to identify 22 areas of endemism: 12 in Mexico (11 along the Mexican Pacific slope), six in the Antilles, two in Central America, one in South America, and one in the Galapagos. The general area cladogram obtained by BPA has two main clades: one includes the greater Antilles; and the other, 12 Mexican areas of endemism. Main conclusions Bursera fragilis, B. microphylla, and B. fagaroides species groups can be treated together as a new section within Bursera, sect. Quaxiotea, because they are segregated from the other groups of sect. Bursera based on morphological, anatomical, molecular and geographical evidence.     

Devonian antiarchs (Pisces,Antiarchi) from central and Southern European Russia

Antiarchi (Pisces, Placodermi) from the Devonian of central and southern European Russia (Central Devonian Field) are studied. Antiarchs belong to three families, the Asterolepididae, Remigolepididae (suborder Asterolepidoidei), and Bothriolepididae (suborder Bothriolepidoidei). The diagnoses of the order, two suborders, three families, and five genera (two of which are new) are given. Sixteen species, including one new, are described; ten taxa are determined in open nomenclature. Morphological structures of representatives of these families are considered in detail. Classifications of antiarchs and their position in the system of the lower vertebrates are discussed. Devonian vertebrate localities of central and southern European Russia that have yielded antiarchs are listed. Each locality is characterized by its ichthyoassemblage.     

Trichodinid ectoparasites (Ciliophora: Peritrichida) of wild and cultured freshwater fishes in Taiwan,with notes on their origin

During 1988 parasitological surveys were carried out on the freshwater fish fauna on the island of Taiwan in 12 localities that included fishery stations, reservoirs, fish markets as well as natural rivers and swamps. A total of 28 fish species were examined, representing 14 families. This paper reports on the parasites of the genus Trichodina (Ciliophora, Peritrichida) of Taiwan. Fourteen trichodinid species were recorded of which five are new. Trichodinids collected in this study can be divided into four categories, based on their host association and possible region of origin. The first category includes trichodinids with an African origin, T. centrostrigeata Basson, Van As & Paperna, 1983, T. heterodentata Duncan, 1977, T. compacta Van As & Basson, 1989 and possibly T. canton n. sp. The second category is species with an Eurasian origin and includes T. acuta Lom, 1961, T. modesta Lom, 1970, T. mutabilis Hirschmann & Partsch, 1955, T. nigra Lom, 1961 and T. nobilis Chan, 1963. The third category comprises one species, T. maritinkae Basson & Van As, 1990, with an Afro-Asian distribution. The last category is composed of new species that are most likely native to Asia: these are T. matsu n. sp., T. mandarin n. sp., T. wulai n. sp. and T. pagoda n. sp.     

New data on the systematics of the palaearctic species of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dolichopus signifier</Emphasis> group (Diptera,Dolichopodidae)

Three new species of the genus Dolichopus Latr. (Diptera, Dolichopodidae) are described. All these species are closely related to Dolichopus signifer Haliday, 1832 and form a species-group including this species. Dolichopus taimyricus sp. n. is described from the southern tundra of the Taimyr Peninsula (northern Central Siberia); D. zlobini sp. n. was collected in the Pamirs (Tajikistan) and D. asymmetricus sp. n., in the mountains of Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. A key to all these species of the group is given.     

Molecular phylogeny of Central and South American slider turtles: implications for biogeography and systematics (Testudines: Emydidae: Trachemys)

We analyse phylogeny, systematics and biogeography of slider turtles (Trachemys spp.) using sequence data of four mitochondrial genes (3242 bp) and five nuclear loci (3396 bp) of most South American and southern Central American taxa and representatives of northern Central American, West Indian and North American slider species (16 species and subspecies) and allied North American species (genera Chrysemys, Deirochelys, Graptemys, Malaclemys, Pseudemys). By applying maximum likelihood, relaxed molecular clock and ancestral range analyses, we provide evidence for two successive colonizations of South America by slider turtles. In addition, we show that the current species delineation of Central and South American slider turtles is incorrect. Our data suggest that Trachemys grayi is a distinct polytypic species that embraces, besides the nominotypical subspecies, T. g. emolli and T. g. panamensis. Trachemys ornata is also polytypic with the subspecies T. o. ornata, T. o. callirostris, T. o. cataspila, T. o. chichiriviche and T. o. venusta. Moreover, T. adiutrix should be regarded as a subspecies of T. dorbigni. All studied Trachemys species are inferred to have originated in the Late Miocene to Early Pliocene. The ancestor of the two subspecies of T. dorbigni colonized South America most probably prior to the establishment of the land bridge connecting Central and South America, whereas the two South American subspecies of T. ornata represent a younger independent immigration wave from Central America.     

Middle-late devonian placoderms (Pisces: Antiarchi) from Central and northern Asia

Antiarch placoderms (Pisces, Placodermi, Antiarchi) from the Middle-Upper Devonian of Central and northern Asia (Asian part of the former Soviet Union) are described. Available antiarch specimens belong to 28 species (eight of which are described in open nomenclature), of 9 genera, 5 subfamilies, 6 families, 2 orders. The main localities of Middle-Late Devonian antiarchs are listed and provided with the data on stratigraphic distribution. The morphological structure of antiarchs and history of their study in Central and northern Asia are briefly considered. The principles of systematics and phylogeny of antiarchs, feature of their historical development in the Middle and Late Devonian of this area, and their paleozoogeographic relationships are discussed.     

Vegetation dynamics in central european forest ecosystems (near-natural as well as managed) after storm events

All over the world forests and woodlands are damaged or reset to initial stages by fire, insect outbreaks or storms. In Central Europe storm events are the most important natural disturbances affecting stand structures of both natural and managed forests and yet only a few studies exist on long-term forest development following the destruction of the tree layer by a storm. This paper presents a permanent plot study established in 1988 in the Bavarian Forest National Park (SE Germany) on areas, where the tree layer had been destructed by a storm on August 1, 1983. The records concerning (1) floristic composition (spermatophytes, pteridophytes, bryophytes, lichens) and cover degree, (2) location and shape of each tree higher than 1 meter (height, diameter at breast height) including position of fallen trees and (3) number of seedlings and saplings were taken in 1988, 1993 and 1998. Two windfall areas, situated next to each other in the same broad and flat valley bottom on wet soils under local cold climate conditions (potential as well as recent vegetation:Calamagrostio villosae-Piceetum bazzanietosum) were analyzed, one of them with completely free development after the storm event (“untouched”), the other with dead wood cleared off after the event, but thereafter with free development (“cleared”). The vegetation analysis separated two major trends in vegetation dynamics: (1) On the cleared plots with intensive soil-surface disturbance (removal of the damaged wood) the species composition changed towards pioneer herb vegetation (Rubus sp.), and pioneer forest species (here: birch,Betula pendula and/orB. pubescens) established. Subsequently, vegetation dynamics leading towards clusters of forest ground-layer species composition took place. (2) In untouched stands, where soil-surface disturbances were restricted to pit-and-mound-system created by uprooted trees, the patchiness of forest vegetation increased and a regeneration of mainly terminal tree species (here: Norway spruce,Picea abies) started. Stand development for the next 100 years was simulated using the model FORSKA-M. The model is individual-based and includes competition for light, soil water, and nutrients. The simulations suggest that floristic structures of cleared and untouched plots, respectively, will remain different for several decades, but within one century, the floristic structure becomes rather similar. Major processes in forest ecosystems which can be used to improve forest management and nature conservation practices have been identified based on the results of the case study.     

A review of species of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Teloleuca</Emphasis> (Heteroptera,Saldidae) in the fauna of Russia and adjacent territories

A taxonomic revision of the genus Teloleuca Reuter of the fauna of Russia and adjacent territories was made based on the Heteroptera collection of the Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences (St. Petersburg). Data on the distribution of five species (T. altaica Vinokurov, T. brancziki Reuter, T. bifasciata Thomson, T. kusnezowi Lindberg, and T. pellucens Fabricius) with dotted maps and a key to the species are given. A new species, T. altaica sp. n., is described from southern Altai (eastern Kazakhstan).     

Survey of two beet viruses in South Kazakhstan and Central Asia

During two surveys of beet root crops in South Kazakhstan and Central Asia conducted in 1988 and 1989, 465 of 990 samples were found to contain beet mosaic virus (BMV) by double-antibody sandwich (DAS) ELISA. BMV infection was widely scattered in the area surveyed, and its incidence varied considerably, reaching 100% in some fields adjacent to beet seed crops. BMV isolates from Kazakhstan, Kirgizia, Uzbekistan and Ukraine were found to be serologically closely related in DAS-ELISA test. Beet yellows virus (BYV) was not detected in any location surveyed in South Kazakhstan and Central Asia. BYV spread into the area is probably prevented by its geographical isolation.     

On high-armor bothriolepidid placoderms (Pisces,Placodermi, Bothriolepididae) from the Upper Devonian of the southern Ural Mountains and Kuznetsk Coal Basin

The bothriolepidid placoderms Bothriolepis markovskii sp. nov. from the southern Ural Mountains and Bothriolepididae gen. et sp. indet. from the Kuznetsk Coal Basin are described. The new species from the southern Ural Mountains has a high dorsal crest, resembling in this character Scottish B. cristata Traquair, Australian B. gippslandiensis Hills and B. cullodenensis Long, and B. heckeri Lukševičs from the Novgorod Region. The bothriolepidid from the Kuznetsk Coal Basin is similar to Bothriolepis from central Poland and Livnolepis from European Russia. The new finds expand the diversity and distribution of crested bothriolepidid antiarchs. Apparently, the high bone dorsal crest developed in parallel in the exoskeleton of different both-riolepidid groups.     

Phylogeographic analysis reveals northerly refugia for the riverine amphibian Triturus dobrogicus (Caudata: Salamandridae)

We investigated the recent evolutionary history of the Danube crested newt, Triturus dobrogicus through reconstructions of: (1) the number and position of refugia at the last glacial maximum, (2) the role of major central European rivers in pattern of post‐glacial dispersal, and (3) the present‐day distribution pattern. We analysed sequences of mitochondrial DNA (ND2, 1065 bp) and six microsatellite loci in 363 T. dobrogicus individuals from 58 populations covering the range of the species. Our analyses suggested that T. dobrogicus survived the last glacial maximum in two separate refugia positioned in northwestern Pannonia and in Southern Pannonia from where its range expanded along the Danube and Tisza Rivers. Our findings also confirmed that rivers played an important role in shaping the evolutionary history of amphibian species in Central Europe. We compared the T. dobrogicus range with another lowland amphibian, the fire‐bellied toad Bombina bombina, using species distribution modelling. In line with these models, the isolated mountains inside Pannonia are occupied not by B. bombina, but by its mountain‐dwelling sister‐species B. variegata. However, in contrast to the model, crested newts (including T. dobrogicus) are absent from these mountains. We attribute this biogeographical discrepancy to the positioning of the species’ refugia at the last glacial maximum.     

Phylogeny of North American Tolypella (Charophyceae,Charophyta) based on plastid DNA sequences with a description of Tolypella ramosissima sp. nov.

Characeae (Charophyceae, Charophyta) contains two tribes with six genera: tribe Chareae with four genera and tribe Nitelleae, which includes Tolypella and Nitella. This paper uses molecular and morphological data to elucidate the phylogeny of Tolypella species in North America. In the most comprehensive taxonomic treatment of Characeae, 16 Tolypella species worldwide were subsumed into two species, T. intricata and T. nidifica, in two sections, Rothia and Tolypella respectively. It was further suggested that Tolypella might be a derived group within Nitella. In this investigation into species diversity and relationships in North American Tolypella, sequence data from the plastid genes atpB, psbC, and rbcL were assembled for a broad range of charophycean and land plant taxa. Molecular data were used in conjunction with morphology to test monophyly of the genus and species within it. Phylogenetic analyses of the sequence data showed that Characeae is monophyletic but that Nitelleae is paraphyletic with Tolypella sister to a monophyletic Nitella + Chareae. The results also supported the monophyly of Tolypella and the sections Rothia and Tolypella. Morphologically defined species were supported as clades with little or no DNA sequence differences. In addition, molecular data revealed several lineages and a new species (T. ramosissima sp. nov.), which suggests greater species diversity in Tolypella than previously recognized.     

Cryptic variation in mole voles Ellobius (Arvicolinae,Rodentia) of Mongolia

The mole vole subgenus Ellobius is currently considered to include three species: Ellobius talpinus (distributed from SE Europe and Turkmenistan through Kazakhstan to SW Siberia), Ellobius alaicus (S Tianshan, Pamir-Alay) and Ellobius tancrei (East and West Central Asia, from the Amu-Darya to Mongolia and N China). A study focusing on the genetic variation in Ellobius from Mongolia was conducted using one mitochondrial and three nuclear markers. Two divergent allopatric lineages endemic to East Central Asia were revealed. The first lineage occurs from Dzungaria eastwards to central Mongolia and represents E. tancrei sensu stricto. The second lineage is found in East Gobi only and corresponds to a taxon described as Ellobius orientalis, which has been traditionally treated as a subspecies of E. tancrei. However, molecular and chromosome data indicate that orientalis is related not to E. tancrei but to E. talpinus, which is separated from the former by a distribution gap of ~2,000 km. The taxonomic status of the East Gobi mole vole is ambiguous, and its genetic distance from E. talpinus s. str. falls into the range characteristic for closely related vole species or semi-species. According to molecular estimates, the two taxa have been isolated since the late Middle Pleistocene. A similar divergence is observed between the East and West Central Asian lineages of E. tancrei. E. alaicus is placed as sister to the latter rendering E. tancrei sensu lato paraphyletic. The revealed phylogeographic pattern implies that East Central Asia was colonized by mole voles through multiple eastward dispersal events.