The Tipulidae (Diptera) of northern Morocco with a focus on the Rif region,including the description of a new species of Tipula (Lunatipula) and an updated checklist for Morocco

An overview of the Tipulidae known to occur in northern Morocco with an emphasis on the Rif mountains is given, incorporating new distribution data based on recently collected material in the area. Dolichopeza (Dolichopeza) hispanica, Tipula (Lunatipula) subpustulata, and Tipula (Yamatotipula) afriberia afriberia are recorded for the first time for the Rif. Tipula (L.) stimulosa Mannheims, 1973 and T. (Vestiplex) vaillanti vaillanti Theowald, 1977 are reported for the first time for the Rif and Morocco. Tipula (Lunatipula) pseudocinerascens Strobl, 1906 and Tipula (Savtshenkia) confusa van der Wulp, 1883 are recorded for the first time for the Rif, Morocco and North Africa. A new species of the subgenus Lunatipula, T. (L.) pjotri n. sp., is described and illustrated. Nephrotoma exastigma, previously reported for the Rif, seems to be absent in Morocco. Reports of Tipula (Emodotipula) obscuriventris Strobl, 1900 for Morocco actually refer to T. (E.) leo. This brings the number of Tipulidae for Morocco to 39 species and for the Rif to 28. An updated checklist of the Tipulidae of Morocco is provided.     

Notes on Erysiphales (Ascomycetes) from Patagonia, Argentina

Fifteen Erysiphaceous taxa found on 20 host plant species in Patagonia are documented. A new species Oidium maculatae (type host: Viola maculata) is described. Berberis linearifolia, Buddleja globosa, Prosopis alpataco and Viola maculata, are new host plants for Erysiphales. Three new combinations on fungi and host plant species were founded: Erysiphe howeana – Fuchsia magellanica; E. patagoniaca – Nothofagus pumilio and N. antarctica. The genus Sawadaea and the species S. bicornis on Acer negundo and A. pseudoplatanus, are new records for South America. New host plants recorded for Argentina: Consolida ajacis, Galega officinalis and Plantago lanceolata. New host plants recorded for Patagonia: Galium aparine, Melilotus albus, Petunia × hybrida, Potentilla anserina, and Spiraea × bumalda. Oidium longipes is a new record for Argentina and Golovinomyces riedlianus is a new record for Patagonia.     

Eulophidae (hymenoptera) parasitoids of Phyllonorycter apparella and phyllonorycter populifoliella (Lepidoptera, Gracillariidae), pests of Populus tremula and populus nigra in Ul’yanovsk province, Russia

Parasitoid complexes of two species of the genus Phyllonorycter (Ph. apparella and Ph. populifoliella) reared from 2 plants (Populus tremula and P. nigra) were studied in Ul’yanovsk Province, Russia. Twenty species of parasitoids are new for Ph. apparella and 12 are new for Ph. populifoliella. Minotetrastichus frontalis and Pnigalio agraules are the dominant species for both parasitoid complexes. The highest relative abundance was observed for Ph. apparella on Populus tremula (75%) and for Ph. populifoliella on P. nigra (61%). The parasitoid complexes of Ph. apparella and Ph. populifoliella show high similarity (the Jaccard coefficient is 0.65).     

Length-weight relationships of eight fish from seagrass meadows in Wenchang,China

The length-weight relationships (LWRs) were studied for eight seagrass fish from Wenchang, China, using gill nets (150*1 m, mesh size 0.5 cm), including Gerres oblongus, Ambassis kopsii, Halichoeres nigrescens, Sillago aeolus, Yongeichthys criniger, Oxyurichthys tentacularis, Lethrinus haematopterus and Hypoatherina tsurugae, in November 2017, March and August 2018. Results suggest that mean LWR parameters b for these eight seagrass fish varied from 2.801 for L. haematopterus to 3.640 for A. kopsii, and r² valued from .950 for L. haematopterus to 0.993 for H. nigrescens. This study will help us to better understand the ecological parameters these seagrass fish.     

BIODEGRADABILITY OF HYDROCARBONS BY CYANOBACTERIA1

Five cyanobacterial species (Phormidium sp., Nostoc sp., Anabaena sp. Aphanothece conferta, and Synechocystis aquatilis) isolated from the Suez Canal coast at the city of Ismailia (Egypt) were tested for biodegradation of four hydrocarbon (HC) compounds: two aliphatic compounds (n‐octadecane and pristine) and two aromatic compounds (phenanthrene and dibenzothiophene). High degradation efficiencies for the two aliphatic compounds were measured for A. conferta (64% for n‐octadecane and 78% for pristine) and S. aquatilis (85% for n‐octadecane and 90% for pristane). However, the other biodegradation percentages ranged between weak and moderate percentages.     

Length–weight and length–length relationships of seven fish species from the Ili River and tributaries,northwest China

Length–weight and length–length relationships were estimated for seven fish species belonging to four families from the Ili River and its tributaries, northwest China. From April to October 2013 and May to October 2014, specimens were collected monthly for a total of 783 specimens. This study presents the first references on LWRs for Diptychus maculates, Gymnodiptychu dybowskii, Perca schrenkii, Silurus meridionalis and Schizothorax pseudoaksaiensis pseudoaksaiensis, and LLRs for G. dybowskii, P. schrenkii, S. meridionalis, S. pseudoaksaiensis pseudoaksaiensis, Triplophysa strauchii and Triplophysa stoliczkai.     

Age,growth and reproduction of Marcusenius pongolensis,Oreochromis mossambicus and Schilbe intermedius in an oligotrophic impoundment in Swaziland

The age, growth and reproductive biology of Marcusenius pongolensis, Oreochromis mossambicus and Schilbe intermedius were investigated in the Mnjoli Dam, Swaziland. Otolith annulus formation occurred in winter for M. pongolensis, and in spring/summer for O. mossambicus and S. intermedius. Maximum ages of 8, 6 and 8 years were recorded for M. pongolensis, O. mossambicus and S. intermedius, respectively. Growth was described by the von Bertalanffy growth model as L_t = 238.73(1 − exp^{−0.27(t+2.27}) mm fork length (FL) for M. pongolensis, L_t = 226.83(1 − exp^{−0.45(t+2.02)}) mm total length (TL) for O. mossambicus, and L_t = 214.59(1 − exp^{−0.60(t+1.20)}) mm FL for S. intermedius. Sexual maturity was estimated for male and female M. pongolensis at 134 mm FL and 119 mm FL, respectively. Marcusenius pongolensis matured within their first year. Female O. mossambicus and S. intermedius matured at 239 mm TL and 205 mm FL, corresponding to 2 and 4 years of age, respectively. Extended spawning periods, with two spawning peaks was observed for M. pongolensis, one in spring (September) and the second in autumn (March) and one peak over late‐summer for S. intermedius.     

CHROMOSOME NUMBERS IN PERITYLE AND RELATED GENERA (PERITYLANAE-COMPOSITAE)

Chromosome numbers are presented for 28 species of the genus Perityle, one putative inter-sectional hybrid, two species of Amauria, one species of Eutetras, and one species of Pericome. For Perityle, initial counts are recorded for 12 species of sect. Laphamia (n = 16, 17, 18, 36, ca. 102) and 11 species of sect. Perityle (n = 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 34, 51). Chromosome numbers for the two species of Amauria (n = 18) are first reports for the genus. Including the current information, chromosome numbers have been recorded for 37 of the approximately 50 species recognized for Perityle. At least 24 taxa have numbers of n = 17, suggesting a base chromosome number of x = 17 for Perityle.     

Length–weight and length–length relationships for eight fish species from the Jarrahi River,southwestern Iran

Length–weight and length–length relationships were estimated for eight fish species belonging to three families from the Jarrahi River in southwestern Iran. The study was performed between June 2009 and September 2011. Weight–length relationships were estimated using the logarithmic form of the equation W = aL^b. The b values varied between 2.96 and 3.61 and determined as 3.42 for Alburnus mossulensis Heckel, 1843; 3.33 for Alburnoides idignensis Bogutskaya and Coad, 2009; 2.85 for Barbus grypus Heckel, 1843; 3.61 for Barilius mesopotamicus Berg, 1932; 3.16 for Cyprinion kais (Heckel, 1843); 3.36 for Cyprinion macrostomum Heckel, 1843; 3.27 for Paraschistura nielseni (Nalbant and Bianco, 1998); and 2.96 for Glyptothorax silviae Coad, 1981. This study presents the first LWR and LLR references for these species in the Jarrahi River.     

An isoenzyme marker linked to the incompatibility locus in cherry

Analysis of two cherry progenies from semi-compatible crosses for the esterase enzyme system showed extremely distorted segregation ratios for Est-5. Analysis of two progenies from compatible crosses for esterase and for stylar ribonuclease proved that Est-5 is linked with the incompatibility locus S. The recombination fraction is 4%. About a fifth of some 50 cultivars or selections genotyped for Est-5 were heterozygous. The various heterozygotes could provide ’testers’ for the presence in cultivars of unknown genotype of 8 of the 11 known S alleles. A seedling suitable for testing S ₉ has been identified and crosses have been made to raise testers for S ₁₀ and S ₁₁ . Isoenzyme analysis of the four progenies for glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, and of one of them for isocitrate dehydrogenase, showed no evidence for the linkage of Got-1 or Idh-2 with S, contrary to a previous report. Estimation of linkage with S in semi-compatible crosses is discussed. Received: 16 April 1999 / Accepted: 22 June 1999     

Length–weight and length–length relationships for 11 species of the genus Alburnoides Jeitteles, 1861 (Cyprinidae) from Iran

Length–weight (LWR) and length–length (LLR) relationships were estimated for 11 Alburnoides species from 15 localities throughout Iran. These represent the first reports of LWR and LLRs data for 10 species, including: Alburnoides coadi (40 specimens), A. damghani (30), A. eichwaldii (110), A. holciki (30), A. idigensis (113), A. namaki (30), A. nicolausi (30), A. parhami (30), A. qanati (30) and A. tabarestanensis (30) and first LLR data for A. samiii. Nine of these species are endemic and two are native to Iran. The length–weight parameter b for these species ranged from a minimum of 2.94 for Alburnoides nicolausi to a maximum of 3.37 for Alburnoides parhami, with regression coefficients (r²) ranging from 0.91 to 0.99. All LLRs were highly significant (r² > 0.96).     

New names for homonyms in the genus Dactylogyrus Diesing, 1850 (Monogenea, Dactylogyridae)

The following new replacement names for homonyms in the genus Dactylogyrus Diesing are proposed: Dactylogyrus acrossocheili nom. nov. for D. forcipatus Wu & Wang, 1983; D. birgii nom. nov. for D. simplex Birgi & Lambert, 1987; D. cheni nom. nov. for D. orientalis Hu & Chen, 1979; D. hui nom. nov. for D. xenocypris Hu & Chen, 1979; D. limae nom. nov. for D. hamatus Chinabut & Lim, 1994; D. mikailovi nom. nov. for D. gracilis Mikailov, 1974; D. pakistanensis nom. nov. for D. mrigali Rizvi, 1978; D. papernai nom. nov. for D. magnum Paperna, 1973; D. saurogobii nom. nov. for D. falcatus Wu, Wang & Song, 1983; and D. semifasciolatae nom. nov. for D. lineatus Luo & Lang, 1982.     

New chromosome numbers, meiotic behaviour and pollen fertility in American taxa of Lupinus (Leguminosae): contributions to taxonomic and evolutionary studies

Original chromosome determinations are presented for 20 American Lupinus taxa, including, for the first time, unifoliolate species, together with first data on meiotic behaviour and pollen fertility for some South American species. Most of the Brazilian multifoliolate L. lanatus, L. rubriflorus, L. multiflorus, L. paranensis, L. bracteolaris and L. reitzii and unifoliolate L. crotalarioides, L. guaraniticus and L. velutinus accessions analysed presented regular chromosome pairing. Meiotic indexes and estimations of pollen viability were higher than 90% for all species and accessions analysed, reflecting the generally regular meiotic behaviour of these plants. Chromosome numbers were determined for the first time for the eastern South‐American species L. guaraniticus, L. crotalarioides, L. paranensis, L. paraguariensis and L. velutinus (n = 18 or 2n = 36) and for the Andean L. ballianus, L. eanophyllus, L. huaronensis, L. semperflorens, plus another eight taxa (2n = 48) from Peru and Bolivia, and L. bandelierae (2n = 36) from Bolivia. Chromosome numbers were confirmed for L. lanatus, L. rubriflorus (2n = 36), L. bracteolaris (2n = 34) and L. microphyllus (2n = 48). In the three accessions of the North American unifoliolate species, L. cumulicola and L. villosus, a chromosome number (2n = 52) previously unknown among American taxa was found. The results of the study, plus published data, support the suggestions that south‐eastern South American species are a group cytologically differentiated from the Andean as well as from most other American ones, and that the Brazilian and the North American unifoliolate Lupinus had independent origins. © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2006, 150 , 229–240.     

First finding of a quarantine pest,Atherigona (Acritochaeta) orientalis Schiner (Diptera: Muscidae), in Korea

The invasive quarantine pest fly, Atherigona (Acritochaeta) orientalis Schiner, is observed for the first time in tomato greenhouses in Gyeongsangbuk‐do, Korea. The genus Atherigona Rondani is also newly added to Korean fauna. Allium tuberosum is listed as a new host crop for this species. Some morphological characteristics for accurate identification and host lists are given to provide plant quarantine information for pest management.     

Length‐weight relationships of Notopterus notopterus and introduced Oreochromis niloticus from the Indus River,southern Punjab,Pakistan

This study describes the length–weight relationships (LWRs) for Oreochromis niloticus and Notopterus notopterus, collected in 2006 and 2009 respectively from the Indus River, southern Punjab, Pakistan, with W = 0.0393 L^2.72 for O. niloticus and W = 0.0121 L^2.87 for N. notopterus. Negative allometric growth is indicated for both species.     

Sexual dimorphisms in dental dimensions of higher primates

Dental dimensions and distributions of dental dimensions of males and females were compared for great apes (Pan, Gorilla, and Pongo, and humans (Homo). The results were examined and discussed with reference to fossil primates Sivapithecus and Ramapithecus. The analyses focused on patterns of sexual dimorphism, both with regard to mean dimensions and the distribution of those dimensions. Sex differences in mean canine dimensions were large and significant for Gorilla and Pongo, significant but smaller for Pan, and small but occasionally significant for Homo. The dispersions of measures were greater for males than for females in Gorilla and Pan but did not differ significantly for Pongo or Homo. Examination of the noncanine teeth revealed complex sex differences. In the anterior teeth, sex differences in mean dimensions were generally apparent for Gorilla and Pongo, less so for Pan, and least of all in Homo. The patterns of dispersion of measures of anterior teeth differed markedly from those of the canines. Pan exhibited the same pattern for anterior and canine teeth. Gorilla showed the opposite pattern. Pongo and Homo showed similar dispersions for males and females in many cases. Sex differences in posterior teeth followed the pattern of the canines for Gorilla and were absent for Pan. Pongo exhibited mean differences in dimensions across sex, but dispersions were similar. The pattern for Homo was most like that of Pongo, but with fewer significant differences. The genera differed with regard to the number of significant differences in means or dispersions along the tooth row. It is clear that the patterns of dimorphism differ qualitatively across all extant genera of great apes and humans. It appears that the pattern for Homo most closely resembles that of Ramapithecus, whereas Pongo most closely resembles Sivapithecus. The patterns for Gorilla and Pan appear to be unlike either of the fossil forms. It is suggested that the qualitatively distinct patterns of dental sexual dimorphism indicate substantial flexibility during recent primate evolution and that the degree of structural flexibility demonstrated provides a basis for appreciating potential for plasticity of gender differences in behavioral, social, and cultural systems.     

Interspecific interference and the functional response of four species of carnivorous stoneflies

1. A previous study compared the functional responses to their prey and intraspecific interference in mature larvae of Perlodes microcephalus, Isoperla grammatica, Dinocras cephalotes and Perla bipunctata. The present study extends this work by assessing interspecific interference between pairs of these species in equal numbers (one, two or three larvae per species) to provide total predator densities of two, four or six larvae. Baetis larvae as prey were replaced as they were eaten, and their density per predator was varied between 20 and 200 larvae. 2. The number of prey eaten by each competing species increased curvilinearly with prey density, the relationship being well described by a Type II model. Of the two constants in the model, handling time varied considerably between species, mean values being shortest for Perlodes, slightly higher for Isoperla, and much higher for Dinocras and Perla. It was not affected significantly either by predator density or the identity of the competing species. 3. Attack rate also varied between species and decreased with predator density. This decrease was slight for Perlodes, and also for Dinocras and Perla in competition with Isoperla. The decrease in Dinocras and Perla was similar to that for intraspecific interference. 4. The decrease in attack rate was described by a convex curve for Perlodes with the other three species and for Dinocras/Perla with Isoperla, but by a concave curve (negative power function) for Isoperla competing with the other three species, and for both Dinocras and Perla in competition with Perlodes. Prey consumption also decreased with predator density, the severity of competition with different species reflecting that for attack rate. 5. A comparison with previous results for intraspecific interference showed that the latter was dominant for Perlodes in all contests and for Dinocras or Perla competing with Isoperla, whilst interspecific interference dominated for Isoperla in all contests and for Dinocras and Perla competing with Perlodes. Both types of interference were applicable to competition between Dinocras and Perla. Isoperla was the least, and Perlodes the most, aggressive of the four species with Dinocras and Perla intermediate.     

Soil properties and actinorhizal vegetation influence nodulation of Alnus glutinosa and Elaeagnus angustifolia by Frankia

Nodulation (mean number of nodules per seedling) was 5 times greater for Elaeagnus angustifolia than for Alnus glutinosa overall when seedlings were grown in pots containing either an upland or an alluvial soil from central Illinois, USA. However, the upland Alfisol had 1.3 times greater nodulation capacity for A. glutinosa than for E. angustifolia. The presence of A. glutinosa trees on either soil was associated with a two-fold increase in nodulation capacity for E. angustifolia. Nodulation increases for soils under A. glutinosa were obtained for A. glutinosa seedlings in the Alfisol, but decreased nodulation for A. glutinosa seedlings occurred in the Mollisol. Greatest nodulation of E. angustifolia seedlings occurred near pH 6.6 for soil pH values ranging from 4.9 to 7.1, while greatest nodulation of A. glutinosa occurred at pH 4.9 over the same pH range. Nodulation was not affected by total soil nitrogen concentrations ranging from 0.09 to 0.20%. Mollisol pH was significantly lower under A. glutinosa trees than under E. angustifolia trees. For 4- to 8-year-old field-grown trees, A. glutinosa nodule weights were negatively correlated with soil pH, while for similar aged E. angustifolia trees nodulation in the acidic Alfisol was not detected.     

Revision of the Thelastomatoidea,Oxyurida of invertebrate hosts I. Thelastomatidae

The Family Thelastomidae (Thelastomatoidea; Oxyurida; Nematoda) is revised, genera are diagnosed and a complete list of species is given. The following genera, normally classified in the family, are not included: Linstowiella Basir is considered a member of the Pharyngodonidae and perhaps a synonym of Pharyngodon Diesing; Klossinema Lal is considered a synonym of Cephalobellus Cobb; Schubartnema Kloss is considered a taxonomic chimaera, the male corresponding to Carnoya Gilson and the female probably to Binema Basir. Two new species are proposed: Gryllophila bainae and G. klossae for material assigned to G. skrjabini (Sergiev) by Bain (1965) and Kloss (1959) respectively. The following new synonyms are proposed: Blattellicola Basir and Blatellicoloides Farooqui synonyms of Blatticola Schwenck; Basiriella Ahmed & Jabin synonym of Blattophila Cobb; Leidynema (Basiria) Farooqui synonym of Cranifera Kloss; Posterovulva Van Waerebeke synonym of Desmicola Basir; Oryctophila Van Waerebeke synonym of Johnstonia Basir; Panaesthiana Kloss synonym of Leidynemella Chitwood & Chitwood; Psilocephala Rao synonym of Cameronia Basir; Welchiella Gupta & Kaur synonym of Hammerschmidtiella Chitwood. The following new combinations are proposed: Blattophila basiri for Basiriella basiri Ahmed & Jabin, leaving Blattophila basiri Farooqui pre-occupied (and renamed B. farooquii); Cameronia psilocephala and C. aspiculata for Psilocephala psilocephala Rao and P. aspiculata Farooqui respectively; Corydiella mamba (Van Waerebeke) for Thelastoma mamba; Desmicola moramangi for Posterovulva moramangi Van Waerebeke; Johnstonia morondovae for Oryctophila morondovae; Leidynemella sphaeropoei for Oxyuris sphaeropoei Parona; Thelastoma aurangabadense, T. indica (preoccupied), T. mackenziei, T. thapari, T. unicoloris and T. welchi for Schwenkiella aurangabadense Farooqui, S. indica Rao & Rao, Suifunema mackenziei Zervos, Bulhoesia thapari Singh & Singh, Cephalobellus unicoloris Van Waerebeke and Schwenkiella welchi Farooqui, respectively.     

A synopsis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Asclepias</Emphasis> (Apocynaceae: Asclepiadoideae) in tropical Africa

In preparation for two major regional Flora accounts, Asclepias has been reassessed in tropical Africa. 38 species not assigned to the allied genera Aspidoglossum, Glossostelma, Gomphocarpus, Margaretta, Pachycarpus, Stathmostelma, Stenostelma or Xysmalobium are recognised in the region. Nine species and one subspecies are described for the first time. The inclusion of Trachycalymma again within Asclepias requires four new combinations. A further three new names or combinations are required for the transfer of Odontostelma welwitschii, Schizoglossum alpestre and Stathmostelma verdickii to Asclepias. Five names are lectotypified, and a neotype proposed for Gomphocarpus meliodorus. The conservation status of all species is assessed.