On Barbula munyensis R.S.Williams (Pottiaceae), an overlooked species from the tropical montane forest of South America

Abstract

Barbula munyensis R.S.Williams, a neglected moss species known only from the type material collected in central Peru in 1923, is newly reported for the moss floras of Argentina and Bolivia. The species is described, illustrated, mapped, and its habitat preferences are provided. Diagnostic characters and differentiation from some closely related South American taxa, with which it may be confused, are discussed. Barbula orizabensis Müll.Hal., a similar taxon, is excluded from the South American moss flora.     

Morphology and Ultrastructure of Cryptobia eilatica n. sp. (Bodonidae: Kinetoplastida), an Ectoparasite from the Gills of Marine Fish

ABSTRACT. A marine kinetoplastid flagellate, Cryptobia eilatica n. sp., is described from the gills of cultured gilt-head sea bream Sparus aurata L. and wild black-spot sea bream Diplodus noct (Valenciennes) in the Red Sea. The trophozoite is elongated and lacks a contractile vacuole and undulating membrane. The body averages 13.5 × 4.1 μm, anterior flagellum 9.7 μm, and free portion of recurrent flagellum 15.2 μm. The ultrastructural features of the species exhibit great similarity to various previously studied Cryptobiids. Cryptobia eilatica trophozoites feed on bacteria, show a preference for the branc hial interlamellar crypts, and attach to the host epithelium by means of the recurrent flagellum. Neither penetration into the epithelial cells, nor any direct damage to host tissue was observed. Cryptobia eilatica inhabits a purely marine habitat, but its trophozoite tolerates salinities as low as 10 ppt.     

Morphology and Phylogeny of Calyptospora paranaidji n. sp. (Eimeriorina: Calyptosporidae), an Apicomplexan Parasite of the Hepatic Tissue of Cichla piquiti Kullander & Ferreira, 2006, From a Reservoir in the Brazilian Amazon Region

The coccidians of the family Calyptosporidae are parasites of the tissue and organs of fish and aquatic invertebrates, in particular in the tropical region. In contrast with other apicomplexans of the suborder Eimeriorina, the diversity and ecology of the species of the genus Calyptospora have been poorly investigated, resulting in a lacuna that restricts the understanding of the distribution and prevalence of this group of eukaryote microparasites in the Amazon region. In the present study, the integrated comparative analysis of morphological characteristics, histological and structural traits, and the sequences of a fragment of the 18S rRNA gene, provides support for the identification of a new species of Calyptospora, found parasitizing the hepatic tissue of the piscivorous blue peacock bass, Cichla piquiti, captured in the reservoir of the Estreito hydroelectric dam on the middle Tocantins River in northern Brazil. This new species was named Calyptospora paranaidji n. sp.     

Spatio‐temporal variation of biting flies,Stomoxys spp. (Diptera: Muscidae), along a man‐made disturbance gradient,from primary forest to the city of Makokou (North‐East,Gabon)

Understanding the pattern of abundance of vector populations is important to control the potential of transmission of associated pathogens. The pattern of abundance of Stomoxys Geoffroy, an ubiquitous blood‐sucking fly, is poorly known in tropical Africa. In this study, we investigated the spatio‐temporal pattern of abundance of the Stomoxys genus along a gradient of man‐made disturbance in north‐eastern Gabon. Three sites (one in primary forest, one in secondary forest and one in a man‐made environment) were monitored during 13 months using Vavoua traps. Seven species and subspecies were found to live in sympatry, but with distinct patterns of abundance with respect to space and time. The most abundant species was Stomoxys transvittatus Villeneuve, whereas the rarest species was S. xanthomelas Roubaud. Stomoxys calcitrans Linné was preferentially found in man‐made environments, whereas S. xanthomelas was preferentially found in primary forest. Stomoxys abundance was the greatest in secondary forest, then in man‐made environments and finally in primary forest. A seasonal variation in Stomoxys abundance was also found. In conclusion, forest degradation and deforestation are likely both to favour the concentration of populations of Stomoxys, and to change the specific composition of the Stomoxys community.