Philopotaminae of Madagascar (Trichoptera: Philopotamidae)

The Malagasy fauna includes two genera of Philopotaminae: Wormaldia McLachlan 1865 and an endemic new genus, Ranarijaodes n. gen. The Malagasy and African (sensu stricto) lineages of Wormaldia are distinct. Apomorphic characters (the shape of the phallic apparatus for the African species and the splitting of the median lobe of the tenth tergite for the Malagasy species) confirm their separation. New captures are reported for two of the four previously known species of Wormaldia. Seven new species are described: Wormaldia ambahibeae n. sp., W. faharoa n. sp., W. fahatelo n. sp., W. randriamasimananai n. sp., W. fahefatra n. sp., W. legrandi n. sp. and W. fahadimy n. sp. Ranarijaodes n. gen. is close to Dolophilodes Ulmer 1909. It is described for the three new species Ranarijaodes fiana n. sp., R. angapi n. sp. and R. atsimo n. sp. The 14 Malagasy species of Philopotaminae are endemics of the island. Their geographical distributions and ecological preferences are described and discussed.     

Synopsis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mickelia</Emphasis>, a newly recognized genus of bolbitidoid ferns (Dryopteridaceae)

Our recent molecular phylogenetic study revealed a previously unrecognized clade of six species that is sister to Elaphoglossum. Within this clade, four species are currently classified in Bolbitis, one in Lomagramma, and one in Acrostichum. For this clade, we propose the name Mickelia, with M. nicotianifolia as the type species. We also make new combinations for the species in our phylogenetic study shown to belong to Mickelia (M. bernoullii, M. guianensis, M. hemiotis, M. nicotianifolia, M. oligarchica, and M. scandens) and two other species believed to belong to the clade based on morphology (M. lindigii, M. pergamentacea). A new hybrid and two new species are also described (M. ×atrans, M. furcata, and M. pradoi). In total, Mickelia consists of ten species and one hybrid. It is entirely neotropical. We provide a key to the genera of bolbitidoid ferns and a synopsis of Mickelia that gives for each species a complete synonymy, geographical distribution, comparative discussion, and illustration.     

A synopsis of Costa Rican Ruellia (Acanthaceae), with descriptions of four new species

We describe four new species of Ruellia from Costa Rica; three from the Osa Peninsula, Puntarenas province (R. exilis, R. mira, R. odorata), and one from the southwestern corner of San José province (R. norvegigratiosa). Ruellia matagalpae is reported as a new record for the country. New combinations are made in Ruellia for the two Costa Rican species of Blechum (R. blechum and R. costaricensis). Three species are reduced to synonymy, and another species is considered doubtfully worthy of recognition. Notable range extensions are reported for two species. Corollas and fruits of all 22 Costa Rican species of Ruellia are shown and compared as easily used identification aids. An informal guide to species groups and a dichotomous key to the 22 species are presented.     

A review of the Malagasy endemic genus Cyrtolophus Fairmaire and description of Pseudocyrtolophus n. gen. (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae: Adoretini)

Summary

After lectotype designations for both names, the synonymy between Cyrtolophus grandicornis Fairmaire, 1895 and Cyrtolophus viduus Ohaus, 1912, n. syn., is proposed. Pseudocyrtolophus n. gen. is described to accommodate Cyrtolophus limbicollis Ohaus, 1912, its type species, and a second species, Pseudocyrtolophus australis n. sp., which is described and compared to its most related species. The lectotype of Cyrtolophus limbicollis is designated. All species are illustrated. A map showing their distribution in Madagascar is given.     

The Cyatheaceae (Polypodiopsida) of Peru

A summary is presented of all Peruvian species of scaly tree ferns (Cyatheaceae). A total of 83 species is native to Peru (Sphaeropteris 1 sp., Alsophila sect. Alsophila 9 spp., Alsophila sect. Gymnosphaera 1 sp., Cyathea 72 spp.), with 13 endemic species in Cyathea and one in Alsophila. The following new species are described and illustrated: Alsophila gastonyi, Cyathea chontilla, C. nephele, C. polliculi, and C. praetermissa. The genera Cnemidaria and Trichipteris are no longer recognized and merged in Cyathea. Necessary combinations are made for Cyathea alatissima, C. nervosa, and C. uleana. Cyathea serpens is presented in detail and its relationship is discussed. An artificial key to the Peruvian species of Cyatheaceae is provided.     

Revision of the genus Adorodocia Brenske 1893 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Rutelinae: Adoretini) endemic to Madagascar

Summary. The Adoretini of the Malagasy endemic genus Adorodocia Brenske 1893 is revised. Fourteen new species and one new subspecies are described and compared with their most closely related species: A. constricta n. sp., A. cuccodoroi n. sp., A. flava n. sp., A. liliae n. sp., A. marginata n. sp., A. peyrierasi n. sp., A. pseudoconstricta n. sp., A. pseudoflava n. sp., A. pseudostrigata n. sp., A. recta n. sp., A. robusta n. sp., A. sogai n. sp., A. vadoni n. sp., A. viettei n. sp. and A. vittaticollis flavipes n. ssp. The synonymy between Adoretus strigatus Waterhouse 1878, and Pseudadorodocia aenigma Arrow 1901, is confirmed. Thus, based on the results of this study, the genus Adorodocia includes 16 species, and one of them is represented by two subspecies. Diagnostic characters to separate the species in the genus deal mostly with the shape of parameres, color of body and legs, shape of pronotum and female eighth tergite, setation of pronotum and elytra. Key to species, diagnoses and distribution for each species are provided. Endophallus and female genitalia are illustrated for the first time for this genus.     

Pselaphotumulus,a new genus of pselaphine endemic to New Zealand (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae: Pselaphitae)

ABSTRACT

Pselaphotumulus Owens and Carlton, gen. nov., is described as the sixth genus in the tribe Pselaphini known from New Zealand. Three new species are described: Pselaphotumulus aorerei, sp. nov., Pselaphotumulus dubius, sp. nov. and Pselaphotumulus unus, sp. nov.. Three species, Pselaphus cavelli (Broun 1893), Pselaphus oviceps (Broun 1917) and Pselaphus urquharti (Broun 1917) are transferred to Pselaphotumulus, nov. combs. Lectotypes from type series in the New Zealand Broun Collection (Natural History Museum, London) are designated for these three species. Habitus photographs, distributional maps and line drawings of diagnostic characters are provided for each species. A key to species is provided. Searches of museum collections have not yielded representatives outside of New Zealand, suggesting that this is the first endemic genus in the tribe Pselaphini described from the New Zealand’s main islands, specifically, the South Island. Pselaphotumulus species exhibit restricted distribution patterns that approximately coincide with the Pacific/Indo Australian Plate boundary.     

Fifteenth annual research symposium University of Glasgow, 1975

Background: All human land use (LU) affects the distribution of plant species; however, the impacts vary with the type/intensity of LU. For managing ecosystems, it is therefore essential to understand the effects of LU types on the distribution of plant species on a macroscale.

Aims: The objectives of our study were to quantify the effects of various LU types on the distribution of vascular plant species in Japan and to determine in particular the extent to which LU was an important factor for the distribution of common species.

Methods: Based on a logistic regression model and variation partitioning being applied to each plant species, we evaluated the partial deviance by six LU types, four climatic types and three topographic and geological factors for 647 plant species at 14,412 sites in Japan.

Results: The effect of LU was significant for species present at multiple sites. Of the six LU types, secondary vegetation and plantation were the most important factors determining species distribution for many species.

Conclusions: Our results suggest that distribution of the common species is largely affected by LU on macroscale. The design of LU relating to secondary vegetation and plantations will thus be important in determining changes in the vegetation composition within Japan.     

A revision of the Chinese Catops Paykull 1798 of the Catops fuscus species group (Coleoptera: Leiodidae: Cholevinae)

Five species of the Catops fuscus species group are reported from China. Three species are newly described: C. hlisnikovskyi n. sp. from the Beijing municipality and Jiangsu province, C. schuelkei n. sp. from Sichuan and Yunnan provinces, and C. smetanai n. sp. from Sichuan and Yunnan provinces. Female of C. sasajii Nishikawa 2007 is described and the species is reported from Hubei, Sichuan and Yunnan provinces for the first time. Catops nigricans (Spence 1813) is reported for the first time from China (Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region). Important morphological characters are illustrated and the distribution of all species in China is mapped. Preliminar phylogenetic analysis separates (C. hlisnikovskyi n. sp.+C. fuscus fuscus Panzer 1794) as a sister clade to C. nigricans+(C. sasajii+(C. schuelkei n. sp.+C. smetanai n. sp.)), with C. paramericanus Peck & Cook 2002 as outgroup.     

Phylogeny and systematics of the Acrapex apicestriata (Bethune-Baker, 1911) species complex (Lepidoptera,Noctuidae, Noctuinae,Apameini, Sesamiina) with the description of eight new species from the Afrotropics

Twelve morphologically similar species of Acrapex Hampson 1894, (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Noctuinae, Apameini, Sesamiina), from Western, Central and Eastern Africa are reviewed. Eight of these species are new to science and are described: Acrapex akunamatata n. sp. and A. incrassata n. sp. from Kenya; A. gracilis n. sp., A. iringa n. sp., A. lukumbura n. sp. and A. rungwe n. sp. from Tanzania; A. soyema n. sp. from Ethiopia; and A. zoutoi n. sp. from Benin. All 12 species belong to a species complex that we hereby define as the Acrapex apicestriata group. Host-plants for three of the new species are recorded: Setaria incrassata (Hochst.) Hack. for Acrapex incrassata; Cymbopogon pospishilii (K. Schum.) C.E. Hubb. for A. rungwe; and Andropogon perligulatus Stapf. for A. zoutoi. We also conducted molecular phylogenetic analyses (using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference) on a six gene multimarker molecular dataset (four mitochondrial and two nuclear gene fragments; 4581 nucleotides in length) consisting of 15 Acrapex species (including seven species from the apicestriata group) and four outgroups species from the subtribe Sesamiina (from genera Busseola Thurau 1904, Sciomesa Tams & Bowden 1953, Pirateolea Moyal, Le Ru, Conlong, Cugala, Defabachew, Matama-Kauma, Pallangyo & Van den Berg 2010 and Sesamia Boisduval & Guenée 1852). Both maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses yield a similar and well-supported topology, which supports the monophyly of the apicestriata group.     

New species,new geographical records of Neoibidionini and description of the females of Compsibidion paradoxum Martins, 1971 and Glomibidion trinidadense (Gilmour, 1963) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

Two new species of Neoibidionini from Colombia are described: Psiloibidion boteroi n. sp. and Tropidion neisi n. sp. The previous key to species of Tropidion is modified to include the new species. The females of Compsibidion paradoxum Martins, 1971 and Glomibidion trinidadense (Gilmour, 1963) are described and illustrated for the first time. Moreover, the geographical distribution is expanded for nine species of Neoibidionini.     

Weak phylogenetic signal for specialisation in antagonistic liana–tree networks

Background: Antagonistic interactions, such as parasitism and herbivory, are generally specialised and have a strong phylogenetic signal for specialisation. As lianas and trees interact antagonistically, we expect to find phylogenetic signal for specialisation.

Aims: We aimed to answer the following questions: (1) Is the liana–tree network specialised? (2) Is the specialisation of liana–tree network related to the abundance of both the life forms? (3) Is liana and tree specialisation related to species phylogeny? (4) Do phylogenetically related liana species occupy phylogenetically related tree species, and vice versa?

Methods: For three areas in southern Brazil, we calculated the specialisation value of each liana and tree species (d') and of the entire network (H₂′). Binomial regression and null models were used to test the role of abundance on d' and H₂′, respectively. We searched for the presence of phylogenetic signal with phylogenetic independent contrasts for d'. We also compared the similarity of species sets and their interaction with phylogenetic distance between them using Mantel test.

Results: All three networks had significant values of H₂′, but the values of d' did not have significant phylogenetic signals. Closely related lianas did not share similar host-tree assemblages and vice versa. Rare species were more specialised than abundant species, and abundance did not influence H₂′.

Conclusions: Our study indicates that the significant H₂′ may be due to co-evolution in some lineages of lianas and trees. Nevertheless, the abundance of species may also play an important role in species interaction, mainly rare species.     

Variation of plant diversity components in different scales in relation to grazing and climatic conditions

Background: Understanding the role of livestock grazing on plant diversity can be improved by an accurate measurement of diversity at all hierarchical scales due to the changeability of diversity components in space.

Aims: We evaluated the effects of grazing on plant species diversity at different scales of all common and rare species in two regions that have different climatic conditions (arid vs. semi-arid).

Methods: In each region, we collected abundant data of plant species from a nested sampling design that consisted of local (80 plots) and regional (16 sites) scales. We partitioned total species diversity (γ) into within plots (α_l), among plots (β_l) and among sites (β₂) using the additive partitioning.

Results: Diversity among sites contributed the most to total diversity for all and rare plant species in both regions. In addition, α₁ and β₁ diversities in ungrazed areas were greater than those in grazed areas for all and common species in both climates.

Conclusion: Abandonment of grazing after 10 years resulted in significant regeneration of common species at the local scale, with no change in rare species. We conclude that low grazing intensity is likely to be an important tool for conservation of plant diversity in which all scales should be considered.     

Past and present vegetation in relation to solifluction on Ben Arkle,Sutherland

Background: Forest succession in tropical pastures usually starts from woody vegetation patches. Patches may arise within the grass matrix at microsites with favourable soil conditions or through facilitation by established nurse plants.

Aims: We report the formation of woody vegetation patches in tropical pastures after investigating whether patch formation was associated with micro-scale terrain features and whether facilitation was important for patch initiation.

Methods: The study was conducted in three pasture sites in the Atlantic forest domain of Brazil. We compared soil, terrain and species abundance patterns among pairs of woody patch and open pasture plots.

Results: The effect of variation in soil physical and chemical attributes was limited. Some species were able to establish in the grass matrix and survive disturbance from grazing and fire, while other species only established in patches, under other already established trees or shrubs. Some of these species were exotics, which are commonly eliminated in restoration efforts.

Conclusions: Allowing the establishment of species capable of withstanding pasture environments, including exotics, can accelerate succession. Furthermore, the abilities to endure competition from grasses and survive fire are key features of species suitable for the initial stages of forest restoration in tropical pastures.