The British species of Schizoporella (Bryozoa: Cheilostomatida)

Three new species are described in the cheilostomate bryozoan genus Schizoporella Hincks, 1877. British records of Scliizoporella dunkeri Reuss are shown to represent two previously unnamed species. Scliizoporella dunkeri is the senior synonym of the Adriatic species Schizoporella longirostris Hincks. Material of S. longirostris from British localities is referred in part to S. dunkeri and in part to a previously unnamed species.     

The metazoan parasites of freshwater fishes in the Corrib catchment area, Ireland

A survey of the parasites of 243 fish belonging to 13 species, from the Corrib catchment area, western Ireland, was undertaken. At least 32 species of metazoan parasites were shown to be present. Diplostomum gasterostei, Tylodelphys clavata, Eubothrium salvelini, Cucullanus truttae, Raphidascaris acus, Ergasilus gibbus and Salmincola gordoni appear to be first records for Ireland and Phyllodistomum conostomum has not previously been reported from the British Isles. New host records involving Lamptera planeri, Salvelinus alpinus, Abramis brama, Noemacheilus barbatulus, Anguilla anguilla and Pungitius pungitius for the British Isles are given.     

The distribution and reproduction of Pterosiphonia complanata

The geographical distribution of the red alga Pterosiphonia complanata (Clem.) Falkenb. is described. New records confirm that it is restricted to the warmer waters of the North Atlantic and extend its known distribution in the British Isles where it is at the northern limits of its range. The apparent scarcity and restricted distribution of the species in the British Isles and the absence of sexual plants throughout its range are discussed in relation to the habitat and possible life history of the species.     

Distribution of Ixodes ricinus in the British Isles: investigation of historical records

Ixodes ricinus Linnaeus (Acari: Ixodidae) is the most abundant and widely distributed tick in the British Isles, and is a vector for a number of bacterial, viral and protozoal pathogens of both medical and veterinary importance. This report provides an update to the historical distribution data of I. ricinus, published by the Biological Records Centre (BRC), Monks Wood in The Provisional Atlas of the Ticks (Ixodidae) of the British Isles by K. P. Martyn (1988), and is supplemented with additional BRC records since 1988, additional data from published scientific literature and unpublished field studies, and enhanced with spatial and temporal information on tick stages collected and their host associations. Records have been mapped at 10 km resolution and enhanced to 5 km, 1 km and 0.1 km. Differentiation between records representing one-off collections from those representing populations of I. ricinus has been achieved through the classification of the records into either reported or established populations. Detailed seasonality and host associations of records are investigated, highlighting the value in obtaining additional detailed contemporary data to aid risk assessments and research within this field.     

Additions to the Wild Fauna and Flora of the Royal Botanic Gardens,Kew

Material from the Malaise trap operated by D. Baldock in 2002 continues to be identified and records of beetles omitted in previous supplements are listed here. Other casual records from various sources are also given. Tom Cope has continued his studies on the Wild Flora of the Gardens. Diego Fontaneto and Tim Barraclough collected rotifers in the gardens in November 2004. Members of the British Arachnological Society visited Kew on 10th September 2004 and a complete list of spiders and harvestmen found in the gardens is attempted.     

The distribution of the crayfish, Austropotamobius pallipes, in British waters

SUMMARY. The distribution of Austropotamobius pallipes , the only freshwater crayfish indigenous to the British Isles, is examined using over 300 records collected since 1970. The majority of records are for England where crayfish are found in areas associated with base-rich easily weathered substrata. Waters containing crayfish tend to be in the pH range 7–9, with calcium levels above 5 mg l⁻¹. Crayfish are found in a wide variety of habitats ranging from deep water-filled quarries with a soft substratum to shallow fast-flowing streams.     

Rare and little-known fishes in British seas in 1970 and 1971

Records of occurrence of species of interesting, little-known, or rare fishes in British seas for the years 1970 and 1971 are given. The significance of these records is discussed briefly in some cases.     

20世纪初以前西方学者对中国冬虫夏草的记载和研究

冬虫夏草在中国是一种著名的药材。最早记录它的文献是15世纪的藏医籍《千万舍利》。随着法国传教士巴多明(Parennin)于1723年将冬虫夏草标本从北京寄往法兰西科学院,西方学术界开始了对这种中国药材的认识和研究历程。在1841年英国昆虫学家韦斯特伍德(Westwood)开始鉴定这种真菌以前,西方学者认为冬虫夏草的真菌子实体是植物的根。此后,英国真菌学家贝克莱(Berkeley)分别在1843和1856年将其定名为"Sphaeria Sinensis"和"Cordyceps sinensis"。但是为学界广泛使用并沿用至今的,却是意大利植物学家萨卡多(Saccardo)在其1883年的专著中为冬虫夏草的定名"Cordyceps sinensis(Berk.)Sacc."。在20世纪初以前,西方人对中国冬虫夏草的记录和描述具有多重价值,对于了解中国冬虫夏草的使用历史而言是重要的补充资料。     

Taxonomy of the genus Sclerochilus Sars (Crustacea: Ostracoda) from British waters with a pictorial key

Nine species of the ostracod genus Sclerochilus which live in British waters are diagnosed and illustrated, including lour new species: S. hicksi, S. rudjakovi, S. schornikovi , and S. whatleyi . The appendages of the genotype, S. contortus , are illustrated for the first time, and many previous records of that species are shown to be erroneous. A pictorial key is provided to facilitate identification.     

Evidence for the presence of an additional allele in the F system of British Friesian cattle blood

The antithetical relationship of the F and V alleles in British Friesian cattle was found to be imperfect. The presence of another allele was inferred. It was suspected of being native to the British Isles.
Parentage records that contravened the assumption that F +V– and F–V + animals were homozygous were not necessarily erroneous.
Black and white cattle in the Netherlands have received semen from a bull carrying the allele.     

The cosmopolitan maternal heritage of the Thoroughbred racehorse breed shows a significant contribution from British and Irish native mares

The paternal origins of Thoroughbred racehorses trace back to a handful of Middle Eastern stallions, imported to the British Isles during the seventeenth century. Yet, few details of the foundation mares were recorded, in many cases not even their names (several different maternal lineages trace back to 'A Royal Mare'). This has fuelled intense speculation over their origins. We examined mitochondrial DNA from 1929 horses to determine the origin of Thoroughbred foundation mares. There is no evidence to support exclusive Arab maternal origins as some historical records have suggested, or a significant importation of Oriental mares (the term used in historic records to refer to Middle East and western Asian breeds including Arab, Akhal-Teke, Barb and Caspian). Instead, we show that Thoroughbred foundation mares had a cosmopolitan European heritage with a far greater contribution from British and Irish Native mares than previously recognized.     

Genetic difference and selection in domestic cat populations of the United Kingdom and former British colonies

Summary Domestic cat populations of former British colonies provide a unique set of data with which to evaluate the historical/immigration hypothesis because such populations are believed to sample an evolving parental United Kingdom stock at various times over the last three centuries. A regression of f coefficients upon separation time between founding populations, as inferred from historical records, is statistically significant. Selection is indicated as the mechanism underlying allele frequency change.     

Antibody state to poliovirus in first year university students, 1984.

Circulating antibodies to poliovirus were estimated in a group of 300 British and 84 foreign first year students who registered at the health centre of Nottingham University in 1984. Detectable antibodies to all three poliovirus serotypes were found in 212 (71%) of the British students but in only 47 (56%) of those from abroad. Most of the British students (280; 93%) had been born in 1965 or 1966, when uptake of poliomyelitis vaccine was declining. Immunisation histories showed that 10 British and 29 foreign students (3% and 35%) had no record of any immunisation; only five British and two foreign students, however, were negative for all three poliovirus serotypes. These findings provide evidence that a high proportion of British born people aged 18-29 have adequate circulating poliovirus antibodies despite incomplete immunisation schedules. Though this is reassuring, the absence of antibodies in some students and the lack of previous immunisation against poliomyelitis in 39 suggest that reinforcing doses of vaccine at the time of leaving school or beginning further education are still warranted, particularly for students from other countries. The findings also emphasise the need for accurate immunisation records.     

Ectoparasitic insects of bats in British Columbia, Canada

One species of parasitic bug (Hemiptera : Cimicidae), 3 species of fleas (Siphonaptera: Ischnopsyllidae), and 2 species of parasitic flies (Diptera : Nycteribiidae) were collected from 9 species of bats (Chiroptera : Vespertilionidae) in southern interior and northeastern British Columbia, Canada. Female bats that return daily to maternity roosts were more frequently infested with both cimicids and ischnopsyllids than were male bats. Some differences in ectoparasite infestation can be attributed to differences in roosting behavior of the host. New national records for 2 parasite species, and 8 new host records are established for Canada.     

Cryptogamic section report for 1969

Summary

From some 50 samples collected in many parts of Scotland in 1996, 15 sites have been selected as containing rare or at least unusual desmids. The sites are listed and the desmids, some new records for the British Isles, are illustrated.     

Mapping of earthworm distribution for the British Isles and Eire highlights the under-recording of an ecologically important group

Earthworms are important soil organisms yet we have limited knowledge on the geographical distribution of species. Using data from a variety of sources representing a total of 3,941 locality records we have produced the first distribution maps of earthworm species in the British Isles The maps highlight the paucity of knowledge on this ecologically important group. A systematic approach needs to be taken to bring earthworm species data to a level comparable with other important invertebrate groups such as nematodes and isopods. Through the recent establishment of an earthworm recording scheme, the Earthworm Society of Britain, working with the Biological Records Centre and earthworm researchers across the British Isles, aim to build comprehensive distribution information for future monitoring and research purposes.     

THE RACES OF TURDUS ERICETORUM INDIGENOUS TO THE BRITISH ISLES

The diagnostic criteria, ranges, hybrid zones, and migrations of the three indigenous British races of Turdus ericetorum are defined. The migratory dispersal of T. e. catherinœ is traced, and its identity as the innominate "small, dark migrant Song-thrush" of workers is established. An explanation of the distributions of T. ericetorum races in the British Isles is advanced. T. e. ericetorum and T. e. hebridensis are ascertained to be moderately migratory, T. e. catherinœ strongly so. The findings on early records of T. e. hebridensis on passage evidence confusion between that form and T. e. catherinœ. Irish, Stornoway (Lewis, Outer Hebrides), and Orkney and Shetland breeding populations require further racial study.     

A note on the Quaternary history of Meesia longiseta Hedw. in Britain

Abstract

The Quaternary history of Meesia longiseta in the British Isles is briefly reviewed, and two new records described, one Flandrian, the other Ipswichian. A note on identification is provided.     

Reconstructing long-term ecological data from annual census returns: A test for observer bias in counts of bird populations on Skokholm 1928–2002

Long-term ecological data are essential for conservation and to monitor and evaluate the effects of environmental change. Bird populations have been routinely assessed on islands off the British coast for many years and here long term data for one such island, Skokholm, is evaluated for robustness in the light of some 20 changes in observers (wardens) on the island over nearly eight decades. It was found that the dataset was robust when compared to bootstrap data with no species showing significant changes in abundance in years when wardens changed. It is concluded that the breeding bird populations on Skokholm and other British offshore islands are an important scientific resource and that protocols should be enacted to ensure the archiving of records, the continuance of data collection using standardised protocols into the future, and the recognition of such long-term data for science in terms of an appropriate conservation designation.