Paleogeography of the Ordovician bryozoans of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Diplotrypa</Emphasis> Nicholson (Trepostomida)

The stratigraphic and paleogeographic ranges of Ordovician bryozoans of the genus Diplotrypa (Trepostomida: Halloporidae) are analyzed. It is shown that they were then limited in geographic range to the Paleobaltic Basin (the most probable center of origin of the genus Diplotrypa) and to the West Arctic and North American basins. The Silurian bryozoans of this genus were represented by only a few species. In addition, the intercolonial variability of the species Diplotrypa abnormis (Modzalevskaya, 1953) and D. petropolitana (Nicholson, 1879) is studied; Upper Ordovician specimens of these species have been discovered from the Leningrad Region of Russia for the first time. The colonies of these species from the Leningrad Region are compared here with those of Podolia (Western Ukraine) and Vaygach Island (western sector of the Russian Arctic).     

Siptionella,a new bivalve genus of Parallelodontidae from the Upper Eocene of Ukraine

A new genus of the family Parallelodontidae (Bivalvia: Arcoidea), Siptionella gen. nov., with four species from the Upper Eocene of Ukraine and Germany and the Maestrichtian of Denmark is described. From the Upper Eocene of Ukraine, two species, the type species of the genus S. prompta (Berezovsky, 2002), previously described by the author within the genus Porterius, and the new species S. demissa sp. nov. are described and figured.     

New species of the genus Acar (Bivalvia) from the Eocene of Ukraine

New bivalve species of the genus Acar from the Upper Eocene of Dnepropetrovsk (Ukraine) are described. The differences in ontogenetic development of these species from the close genus Barbatia are discussed.     

Terrestrial lithophilic algae in a granite canyon of the Teteriv River (Ukraine)

Sixty-eight species of algae were found on granite outcrops of a canyon of the Teteriv River in the forest zone of Ukraine (Cyanoprokaryota 1 species, Chlorophyta 49, Streptophyta 11, Xanthophyta 2, Eustigmatophyta 1, Bacillariophyta 4). Two of these are new records for the flora of Ukraine [Spirotaenia bryophila (Brébisson) Lütkemüller and Coelastrella multistriata (Trenkwalder) Kalina et Pun?ochá?ová] and several are rare and interesting species [Stichococcus mirabilis Lagerheim, Dictyochloropsis splendida Geitler, D. reticulata (Tschermak-Woess) Tschermak-Woess, Mesotaenium macrococcum (Kützing) Roy et Bisset, M. chlamydosporum De Bary, Klebsormidium cf. bilatum Lokhorst]. The species composition of algae of this granite canyon was characterized by the following specific features: a high diversity of green algae (mainly trebouxiophycean and streptophycean algae); a considerable species diversity and abundance of green conjugating algae among the mentioned streptophycean algae; a low species diversity of cyanoprokaryotes, as well as the presence of the genera Mesotaenium Nägeli and Trentepohlia Martius in the dominating complex. Two slopes of the canyon with different expositions and plant cover were characterized by different proportions of epilithic and chasmoendolithic groups of algae as well as different dominating complexes. The species composition of algae from granite canyon of forest zone was the most similar to the more humid and shaded habitats of a granite canyon of steppe zone of Ukraine studied previously.     

New species of parasitoid wasps of the family Eurytomidae (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea) from the United Arab Emirates

Two new species of the genus Eurytoma, Eu. emirata Zerova, sp. n. and Eu. cornutella Zerova, sp. n., and two new species of the genus Nikanoria, N. globosa Zerova, sp. n. and N. cuspidata Zerova, sp. n., are described from the United Arab Emirates. This is the first record of genera and species of Eurytomidae from the United Arab Emirates. Holotypes and paratypes of the new species are deposited in the collection of Institute of Zoology, the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (Kiev).     

Expansion of Harmonia axyridis Pallas (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) to European Russia and adjacent regions

An invasive alien species, the harlequin ladybird Harmonia axyridis (Pallas, 1773), has quickly expanded its distribution in Eastern Europe. Records of H. axyridis from 31 localities in Lithuania, Latvia, the Ukraine, European Russia, and the Northern Caucasus are summarized and mapped. Within the last few years this species has established in south Latvia, on the Baltic Sea shore (Kaliningrad oblast and Lithuania), in the western and central Ukraine, Crimea, and in the Northern Caucasus. Besides that, individual specimens have been found in 4 more localities in European Russia. The species is recorded from Lipetsk oblast (European Russia), Crimea, and Nikolaev oblast (the Ukraine) for the first time.     

Contributions to the knowledge of the fauna of Palaearctic Latridiidae (Coleoptera)

A new species, Dienerella kerzhneri, was described from Kazakhstan. Four species are recorded from new localities: Enicmus atriceps Hansen (recorded from Belarus), Melanophthalma sericea (Mann.) and Migneauxia crassiuscula (Aubé) (the Ukraine), and Corticarina obfuscata Strand (the Caucasus).     

Fish otoliths from the Priabonian (Late Eocene) of North Italy and South-East France - Their paleobiogeographical significance

The study of the Late Eocene (Priabonian) otolith associations from Possagno, North-East Italy, and from the Synclinal d’Allons in Haute Provence, South-East France, allows for the reconstruction of a teleost fauna of 55 taxa, which is the most diversified assemblage presently known from the Upper Eocene Paleo-Mediterranean basin. Thirty-six taxa are identified at the species level, and five of those are new: “genus Alepocephalidarum” astrictus, “genus Lophiiformorum” canovae, “genus Agonidarum” sudans, “genus Uranoscopidarum” cochlearis and Aseraggodes laganum. In the Synclinal d’Allons, the otolith associations reflect a tropical to subtropical neritic environment with a few mesopelagic fishes. At Possagno, the associations indicate an environment that changed from one that was deep and exposed to the pelagic realm and then evolved to a more shallow sea with a well-diversified benthic life and less mesopelagic fishes. A paleobiogeographical analysis of all known data on Priabonian otoliths, worldwide, shows clearly a western Atlantic (Louisiana) and an eastern Atlantic-Paleomediterranean association. In the eastern Atlantic-Paleomediterranean association, the Aquitaine association not only differs from the Possagno-Allons association in function of its more distant geographical position, but also by its stronger oceanic character in the southern part of the basin, and by the occurrence in the north, of a very shallow water facies (Saint-Estephe Formation) that contains some taxa which are known nowhere else in the Priabonian. The Ukraine fauna is characterized by a high number of species, which have an Oligocene record in other European sites. The northern geographic location of Ukraine, combined with the good connections to both the North Sea Basin and the Turgai street can provide the explanation. Many Oligocene species (or their close relatives) probably already existed at Eocene times in more northern regions, but could penetrate only in more southern European seas since the strong cooling at the beginning of the Oligocene.     

Features of the genetic structure of the earthworms <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aporrectodea</Emphasis> (Superspecies) <Emphasis Type="Italic">Caliginosa</Emphasis> (Oligochaeta: Lumbricidae) complex in Ukraine

An investigation of the genetic structure of the Aporrectodea caliginosa-A. trapezoids diploidpolyploid complex of earthworms found in the Ukraine is performed by means of biochemical genetic marking with respect to six loci (Aat, Es-1,-2,-3, and-4, and Mdh) and karyotyping. All 646 individuals from 21 samples are analyzed at the biochemical gene level and karyotype samples are obtained from 70 specimens. As a result, diploid amphimictic A. caliginosa individuals (2n = 36), which form panmictic populations, and triploid (2n = 54) A. trapezoides individuals, represented by 19 hypothetical clones discovered in the course of an analysis of 157 specimens, are clearly differentiated. A clear trend towards dominance of the triploid forms in the steppe zone of Ukraine is discovered. Here they represent roughly 70% as against 12% of all A. (superspecies) caliginosa individuals in the northern forest regions. Based on the stated nature of the heterozygosity of the loci studied and the behavior of the chromosomes in meiosis, it may be claimed that the cloned forms are allotriploids, formed as a result of hybridization of a series of related forms, which, judging from the allelic pools, does not include amphimictic species that now inhabit the territory of Ukraine. That is, either the apomictic clones of A. trapezoides lack a local origin and their appearance among the fauna of Ukraine is a consequence of settlement in arid steppe regions that are unfavorable for earthworms or, on the other hand, amphimictic A. caliginosa is an invasive species.     

Low Genetic Diversity in Wide-Spread Eurasian Liver Fluke Opisthorchis felineus Suggests Special Demographic History of This Trematode Species

Opisthorchis felineus or Siberian liver fluke is a trematode parasite (Opisthorchiidae) that infects the hepato-biliary system of humans and other mammals. Despite its public health significance, this wide-spread Eurasian species is one of the most poorly studied human liver flukes and nothing is known about its population genetic structure and demographic history. In this paper, we attempt to fill this gap for the first time and to explore the genetic diversity in O. felineus populations from Eastern Europe (Ukraine, European part of Russia), Northern Asia (Siberia) and Central Asia (Northern Kazakhstan). Analysis of marker DNA fragments from O. felineus mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 and 3 (cox1, cox3) and nuclear rDNA internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) sequences revealed that genetic diversity is very low across the large geographic range of this species. Microevolutionary processes in populations of trematodes may well be influenced by their peculiar biology. Nevertheless, we suggest that lack of population genetics structure observed in O. felineus can be primarily explained by the Pleistocene glacial events and subsequent sudden population growth from a very limited group of founders. Rapid range expansion of O. felineus through Asian and European territories after severe bottleneck points to a high dispersal potential of this trematode species.     

THE DISTRIBUTION,ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATIONAL STATUS OF THE LICHEN GENUS BIATORA IN CENTRAL EUROPE

Abstract: The genus Biatora is still undercollected in many parts of its distributional range. On the basis of recent collections made by the authors and additional herbarium material not studied previously, more detailed statements on the ecology, distribution and conservational status of Biatora species in Central Europe are possible. Distribution maps are provided for B. fallax , B. mendax , B. ocelliformis , B. rufidula , B. sphaeroidiza , and B. vernalis . Biatora species are almost exclusively non-saxicolous and, in general, prefer humid habitats. Many species are chionophilous and extremely shade-tolerant. Three main distributional patterns can be observed: (sub-)arctic-alpine species, sub-oceanic-montane species, and species of montane coniferous or mixed coniferous forests. Biatora efflorescens , B. flavopunctata and B. subduplex are relatively frequent species and are not threatened. Biatora rufidula and B. vacciniicola must be regarded as extinct in Central Europe. The following species are reported for the first time from the respective countries: B. chrysantha from Romania, B. efflorescens from Romania and Ukraine, B. fallax from Austria and Ukraine,B. mendax from the Czech Republic, B. ocelliformis from Romania, and B. sphaeroidiza from Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic and Romania.     

Aquatic Heteroptera (Nepomorpha,Gerromorpha) in small intermittent rivers of Ukraine steppe zone

Small intermittent rivers are some of the most widespread types of water currents in the steppe zone. In the ecosystems of the intermittent rivers we have found 28 species of water bugs that compose the majority of the described fauna in the south Ukraine. Our study added two new species to the faunistic list of this zone (Sigara fossarum, Hydrometra gracilenta), and finally confirmed the presence of Micronecta scholtzi in Ukraine. We also studied the seasonal changes of biotopic distribution and quantitative characteristics of aquatic Heteroptera. It was shown thatfor water bugs the ecosystem of the small intermittent rivers consists of three closely connected components: the riverbed, the flooded areas and the extra inundated constant basins. During the droughty period when the riverbed is dry, the extra inundated basins (including artificial ones – sandy pits) serve as refugia. The wintering of many species takes place there, especially when the riverbed is not filled before the cold period. However, the reproduction of most species takes place in the riverbed and associated flooded areas. Thus, this work is a confirmation and development of the concept for “a uniform architectonic complex of a river valley”.     

Ostracods of the genus Palaeocytheridea Mandelstam in the Middle and Upper Jurassic of Europe: 3. Stratigraphy and paleobiogeography

The analysis of distribution of endemic and cosmopolitan ostracods of the genus Palaeocytheridea shows that, in the Bajocian and Bathonian, the Tethyan and Boreal-Atlantic regions of Western and Eastern Europe developed in partial isolation, while beginning from the middle of the Lower Callovian, these parts of the European paleobasin were connected. For the Middle Jurassic of Western and Eastern Europe and, in particular, for Ukraine, the ostracod zones are recognized based on stratigraphic distribution of species of the genus Palaeocytheridea.     

Epitoniids (Gastropoda: Epitoniidae) from the late Eocene of Kazakhstan and Ukraine

Epitoniid assemblages from the Chegan Formation of Kazakhstan and the Mandrikovka Beds of Ukraine are revised. Members of five subfamilies, seven genera, and at least 14 species (nine in the Mandrikovka Beds and at least seven in the Chegan Formation) are recorded. A new species, Acirsa aralica sp. nov., from the Chegan Formation is described. Most of the other species are provided with the data on distribution, comparisons, remarks, and figures.     

Variability of microsatellite loci in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vincetoxicum</Emphasis> Wolf species in southeastern Ukraine

Genetic diversity of 13 species of the genus Vincetoxicum Wolf found in Ukraine with the use of four of eight nuclear microsatellite markers previously developed for Vincetoxicum atratum from Japan was studied. The number of alleles in studied loci varied in the range from 8 to 25. The expected heterozygosity was 0.690–0.938; the observed heterozygosity varied in the range from 0.205 to 0.806. The total rate of genetic variability of studied species was found to be comparable to the rate of variability of Vincetoxicum atratum from Japan. Microsatellite loci Vinc5, Vinc104, Vinc123, and Vinc124 can be successfully used for estimating the intra- and interspecific polymorphism of the species of genus Vincetoxicum Wolf in Ukraine.     

Diversity of the Schizophoria lineage (Brachiopoda: Orthida) in the Lower and Middle Devonian of Poland and adjacent areas

The nominative subgenus of Schizophoria (Brachiopoda, Orthida) is represented in the Lower and Middle Devonian of Poland and of the western Ukraine by six taxa: late Emsian Schizophoria (S.) interstrialis, late Eifelian S. (S.) schnuri biscissa, early Givetian S. (S.) schnuri schnuri, middle to late Givetian S. (S.) schnuri prohibita ssp.n., middle Givetian S. (S.) parvaepunctata and late Givetian S. (S.) sp.n. (unnamed for lack of sufficient material). Morphotypes referable to S. (S.) schnuri biscissa and to S. (S.) schnuri junkerbergiana co-occur in the same outcrop (not necessarily in the same levels), wherefore the separation of these subspecies may be maintained only if they are considered as chronosubspecies (unverifiable on the studied material) but not as geographic variants (hypothesis falsified by the studied material). A lectotype for S. (S.) interstrialis and a neotype for S. (S.) parvaepunctata are selected. Punctae diameter and density (either an important systematic character according to some authors or devoid of such value according to other ones) were investigated: they show important within-individual and within-sample variation, wherefore they cannot serve to distinguish related species. On the contrary, punctae character combinations are sufficiently constant to help differentiate subgenera or groups of species. In the studied material, three clusters are distinguished on the basis of the punctae characteristics: S. (Pachyschizophoria) and S. (S.) parvaepunctata differ between each other and from all other investigated species of S. (Schizophoria); the latter are indistinguishable on the sole basis of punctae characteristics.     

A New Species of the Chalcid Wasp Genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eurytoma</Emphasis> Illiger (Hymenoptera,Eurytomidae) from South Korea

A new species, Eurytoma koreana Zerova et Fursov, sp. n., is described from South Korea. The new species is closely related to Eurytoma verticillata (Fabricius) but differs in the structure of the antennae and the fore wings in both sexes. The holotype and paratypes are deposited in the collection of the Institute of Zoology, National Academy of Sciences ofUkraine, Kyiv, Ukraine.     

Contribution to the fauna of rove beetles of the subfamily Euasthetinae (Coleoptera,Staphylinidae) from Baikal Area and adjacent territories

A list of species of the staphylinid subfamily Euasthetinae from the Baikal Area and adjacent territories is given. Edaphus beszedesi Rtt. and Euasthetus mandschuricus Puthz are new records for Russia, Eu. superlatus Peyer., for Siberia, Eu. laeviusculus Mnnh., for the Baikal Area, and Eu. ruficapillus Lac., for western Siberia. [Records of Eu. bipunctatus and Eu. ruficapillus from “Kamenesch-Podolsk” in the original Russian text actually refer to the misspelled City of Kamenets-Podolskii in Western Ukraine and, thus, the records of these two species for Western Siberia are erroneous.—Ed.]     

Phylogenomic analyses support the position of turtles as the sister group of birds and crocodiles (Archosauria)

Background

In the mid 20^th century, Ernst Mayr and Theodosius Dobzhansky championed the significance of circular overlaps or ring species as the perfect demonstration of speciation, yet in the over 50 years since, only a handful of such taxa are known. We developed a topographic model to evaluate whether the geographic barriers that favor processes leading to ring species are common or rare, and to predict where other candidate ring barriers might be found.

Results

Of the 952,147 geographic barriers identified on the planet, only about 1% are topographically similar to barriers associated with known ring taxa, with most of the likely candidates occurring in under-studied parts of the world (for example, marine environments, tropical latitudes). Predicted barriers separate into two distinct categories: (i) single cohesive barriers (< 50,000 km²), associated with taxa that differentiate at smaller spatial scales (salamander: Ensatina eschscholtzii; tree: Acacia karroo); and (ii) composite barriers - formed by groups of barriers (each 184,000 to 1.7 million km²) in close geographic proximity (totaling 1.9 to 2.3 million km²) - associated with taxa that differentiate at larger spatial scales (birds: Phylloscopus trochiloides and Larus (sp. argentatus and fuscus)). When evaluated globally, we find a large number of cohesive barriers that are topographically similar to those associated with known ring taxa. Yet, compared to cohesive barriers, an order of magnitude fewer composite barriers are similar to those that favor ring divergence in species with higher dispersal.

Conclusions

While these findings confirm that the topographic conditions that favor evolutionary processes leading to ring speciation are, in fact, rare, they also suggest that many understudied natural systems could provide valuable demonstrations of continuous divergence towards the formation of new species. Distinct advantages of the model are that it (i) requires no a priori information on the relative importance of features that define barriers, (ii) can be replicated using any kind of continuously distributed environmental variable, and (iii) generates spatially explicit hypotheses of geographic species formation. The methods developed here - combined with study of the geographical ecology and genetics of taxa in their environments - should enable recognition of ring species phenomena throughout the world.     

Some New Species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Crassatella</Emphasis> (Bivalvia) from the Upper Eocene of Ukraine

Three new bivalve species of Crassatella (C. necopina sp. nov., C. personata sp. nov., C. singulata sp. nov.) from detrital sand of the Rybal’sky quarry of Dnepropetrovsk are described. Based on the study of additional material, the subspecies C. (C.) parisiensis Orbigny duplex Berezovsky, 2004 is ranked species (Upper Eocene; Ukraine Dnepropetrovsk, Rybal’sky quarry, Mandrikovka Beds).