Peracarid composition,diversity and species richness in the area of the Northeast Water polynya,East Greenland (Crustacea,Malacostraca)

During the ARK XI-2 expedition with RV Polarstern in September/October 1995, a transect of epibenthic sledge (EBS) samples was taken in the area of the Northeast Water Polynya off the Greenland coast, from the shelf down into the deep sea. A total of 85,304 specimens of Peracarida were collected at seven stations. These individuals comprised 45 families, 103 genera and 180 species. With regard to abundance, Cumacea occurred with highest numbers, 31,269, followed by Isopoda, Amphipoda, Mysidacea and Tanaidacea. Species richness was highest in Amphipoda with 94 species, followed by Isopoda with 43 species, Cumacea with 20 species, Tanaidacea with 15 and Mysidacea with 8 species. Species richness was highest at the shallowest station 37-016 and lowest at the deepest station 37-021, whereas the opposite pattern was found for abundance. Diversity and eveness were highest at the southernmost station and lowest at the deepest station. Amphipoda occurred more frequently at the shallower stations, while Cumacea were very frequent at the deepest station. Numbers of species were lowest for Cumacea at the deepest station, while Amphipoda and Isopoda generally occurred with high species richness at all stations. On the basis of the species composition stations were compared.     

Spatial congruence between biotic history and species richness of Muscidae (Diptera,Insecta) in the Andean and Neotropical regions

Considering that Earth and life evolve together, the present study aims to verify whether the species richness patterns are spatially congruent to biotic history. Niche conservatism was adopted as a background hypothesis to associate species richness with phylogenetic information. A parallel analysis between this procedure and cladistic biogeography was undertaken. Eleven Muscidae genera that were previously systematically reviewed for phylogenetic hypotheses were chosen for the analysis. The genera were split into ‘basal’ and ‘derived’ species, following terminal taxon root distance within each genus. Richness patterns were contrasted for the most basal and most derived 33% of species, and richness maps were constructed at 220 × 220 km grid size. A difference richness map was drawn by derived minus basal values (=derived?basal). For regions with difference values around zero, a component analysis was performed and compared with relationships established by other studies. Derived and basal species richness showed a very concise richness gradient in the Neotropical region and it was compatible with its known biogeographical history. In the Andean region, richness did not show any pattern. The area cladogram grouped Subantarctic subregion in a polytomy and Central Chile as a paraphyletic group. All hypotheses about area relationship were divergent and no vicariant pattern could be recognized in Andean region. In Neotropical region, Muscidae results corroborated a previous component relationship. The hypothesis that Paleogene climatic changes could drive the biotic component’s split was suggested. In the Andean region, recently ice sheet covering events had driven the species to disperse and/or extinct resulted in absence of pattern seen either in richness analysis or in component analysis. It is believed that species richness is linked to biotic history and this fact may be considered when evaluating hypotheses to explain broad‐scale richness gradients.     

Oichnus Bromley Borings in the Irregular Echinoid Hemipneustes Agassiz from the Type Maastrichtian (Upper Cretaceous,The Netherlands and Belgium)

Three ichnospecies of Oichnus Bromley occur in tests of the large holasteroid echinoid Hemipneustes striatoradiatus (Leske) in the type area of the Maastrichtian (Upper Cretaceous) in The Netherlands and Belgium; Oichnus simplex Bromley (penetrative), Oichnus paraboloides Bromley (nonpenetrative and showing two distinct morphologies), and Oichnus excavatus isp. nov. (nonpenetrative). The two distinct morphologies of O. paraboloides (both shallow, one with a central boss) are gregarious, but do not occur together on the same specimens, suggesting they were generated by different taxa. Oichnus paraboloides with a central boss occurs on H. striatoradiatus from the upper Nekum Member, Maastricht Formation (Maastrichtian, Upper Cretaceous). Tests of the host echinoid are smaller in the overlying Meerssen Member, Maastricht Formation, where they are infested by O. excavatus, the largest borings considered herein, which have concave walls and a large central boss. Blisters inside tests from the Meerssen Member show that this infestation occurred when the echinoid was alive. It is postulated that producers of these borings in H. striatoradiatus may have been genetically related and increased in size during the Maastrichtian even as the host echinoids showed a size decrease. This size increase in H. striatoradiatus was genetic and cannot be related to increase in size of borings.     

Dissecting the variance-covariance structure in insect physiology: the multivariate association between metabolism and morphology in the nymphs of the sand cricket (Gryllus firmus)

Energy metabolism in animals has been largely studied in relation to exogenous sources of variation. However, because they give insight into the relationship between whole metabolism and lower organizational levels such as organs and tissues, examination of endogenous determinants of metabolism other than body mass is itself very important. We studied the multivariate association of body parts and several aspects of energy metabolism in an insect, the nymphs of the sand cricket, Gryllus firmus. By using a variety of both univariate and multivariate techniques, we explored the resultant variance-covariance matrix to build a path diagram with latent variables. After controlling for body mass, we found a significant canonical correlation between metabolism and morphology. According to the factor loadings and path coefficients, the most important contributions of morphology to the correlation were thorax and abdomen size measures, whereas the most important metabolic contribution was resting metabolism. Activity metabolism was mostly explained by body mass rather than body parts, which could be a result of resting rates being chronic consequences of the functioning of the metabolic machinery that the insect must maintain.     

Macroevolution of hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae): the effect of using higher‐level taxa in studies of biodiversity,and correlates of species richness

We test a near‐complete genus level phylogeny of hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) for consistency with a null model of clade growth having uniform probabilities of speciation and extinction among contemporaneous species. The phylogeny is too unbalanced for this null model. Importantly, the degree of imbalance in the phylogeny depends on whether the phylogeny is analysed at the genus level or species level, suggesting that genera ought not to be used uncritically as surrogates for species in large‐scale evolutionary analyses. Tests for a range of morphological, life‐history and ecological correlates of diversity give equivocal results, but suggest that high species‐richness may be associated with sexual selection and diet breadth. We find no correlation between species‐richness and either body size or reproductive rate.     

The effects of pitfall trap diameter on ant species richness (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and species composition of the catch in a semi-arid eucalypt woodland

Abstract Ants play an important role in Australian biodiversity and environmental impact assessments, with pitfall-trapping being the principal sampling method. However, the relationship between trap diameter and ant species catch has not been investigated in the context of survey design. Using four different trap diameters, each at a density of one trap per 100 m2, the present study asks three questions: (i) given an equal number of traps, do traps with larger diameters catch more species than smaller-diameter traps?; (ii) do traps with small diameters bias against large or rare species?; (iii) for equal area of the trap mouth, do small but more numerous traps catch more species than fewer but large traps? A total of 84 species were sampled within the 1600 m2 study site, with numbers of species for trap diameters of: 18mm (46 species), 42mm (56 species), 86mm (62 species) and 135mm (64 species). At equal trap density, 18 mm traps caught significantly fewer species than larger traps. Traps of 86 mm and 135mm were no more efficient than 42mm traps. Only 86mm and 135mm traps caught all species > 10mm in length (6 species). For equal area of the trap mouth, small traps were more efficient than large traps. Differences in the catch of the different-sized traps were due primarily to different capture rates of the rare species (40 species): 18mm traps caught 25% of rare species, 42 mm caught 41%, 86 mm caught 44% and 135 mm caught 52%. The role of rare ant species in environmental impact studies is discussed.     

The introduction of chlorpromazine in Belgium and the Netherlands (1951-1968); tango between old and new treatment features

The introduction of chlorpromazine in Belgium and the Netherlands demonstrates an intriguing tango between old and new treatments. Chlorpromazine, marketed by the French company Rhône Poulenc entered psychiatry as an adjunct to existing therapies. Instead of promoting chlorpromazine as a revolutionary therapy, we see early efforts to market Largactil as a supplement to the armoury of psychiatric treatments. These marketing efforts matched the idiosyncrasies of national and local styles and cultures. Despite continuities with earlier therapeutic developments, we support the notion of a therapeutic revolution. In the early sixties supply and demand provoked a turn towards more standardized therapeutic regimes.     

Influence of changes in salinity and light intensity on growth of phytoplankton communities from the Schelde river and estuary (Belgium/The Netherlands)

In the Schelde continuum, a succession in the phytoplankton community is observed along the transition from the river to the freshwater tidal reaches of the estuary and from the freshwater to brackish reaches of the estuary. The goal of this study was to experimentally evaluate the contribution of changes in salinity and light climate to this succession. In summer 2000 and in spring 2001, phytoplankton communities from the river, the freshwater tidal reaches and the brackish reaches of the estuary were incubated under high or low light intensities and exposed to a change in salinity. HPLC analysis was used to evaluate the response of different algal groups to changes in light intensity and salinity. When incubated at a light intensity corresponding to the mean underwater light intensity of the freshwater tidal reaches, growth of phytoplankton from the river as well as from freshwater tidal reaches was significantly lower than when incubated at a light intensity corresponding to the mean underwater light intensity of the river. The phytoplankton community from the freshwater tidal reaches did not appear to be better adapted to low light intensities than the phytoplankton community from the river. Although diatoms were expected to be less sensitive to a reduction in light intensity than green algae, the opposite response was observed. Freshwater and brackish water phytoplankton were negatively affected by respectively an increase or decrease in salinity. However, the effect of salinity was not strong enough to explain the disappearance of freshwater and brackish water phytoplankton between a salinity of 0.5 and 10 psu, suggesting that other factors also play a role. In the freshwater phytoplankton communities from the river and the freshwater tidal reaches, green algae and diatoms responded in a similar way to an increase in salinity. In the brackish water phytoplankton community, fucoxanthin displayed a different response to salinity than lutein and chlorophyll a.     

The relation between habitus and habitat structure as evidenced by a new species of Glochinema (Nematoda, Epsilonematidae) from the plateau of the Great Meteor Seamount1

Glochinema kentrosaurides sp. n. is described from coarse biogenic sands on the plateau of the Great Meteor Seamount at 455 m depth. It is characterized by two rows of 12 long thorns between the caudal body enlargement and the tail base, by two bands of hair-like spines dorsally on the body enlargement, by a diverse waffle-like ornamentation of the cuticle, by a pair of small dorsal pharyngeal thorns, by five to six rows of ambulatory setae adding up to a total of 28 setae in the male and 24 in the female, and by a sexual dimorphism in the form of the amphids. It is the first record of Glochinematinae from the Atlantic, all others being known from the Pacific so far. The distinguishing features of all species of Glochinema Lorenzen, 1974 are summarized. The new species blurs the distinction between the genera Glochinema and Metaglochinema Gourbault & Decraemer, 1996. It is discussed that some of the salient external features may have less systematic importance than hitherto believed because of their variation in response to habitat structure.     

Phylogenetic relationships between tuna species of the genus Thunnus (Scombridae: Teleostei): Inconsistent implications from morphology,nuclear and mitochondrial genomes

In order to infer phylogenetic relationships between tuna species of the genus Thunnus, partial sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome b and ATPase genes were determined in all eight species. Supplemental restriction analysis on the nuclear rRNA gene was also carried out. Pacific northern bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus orientalis) was found to have mtDNA distinct from that of the Atlantic subspecies (T. t. thynnus) but very similar to that from the species albacore (T. alaluga). In contrast, no differentiation in nuclear genome was observed between the Atlantic and Pacific northern bluefin tunas. The Atlantic northern bluefin and southern bluefin tunas possessed mtDNA sequences very similar to species of yellowfin tuna group and not so similar to albacore and bigeye tunas which were morphologically assigned to the bluefin tuna group. The molecular data indicate that (1) mtDNA from albacore has been incorporated into the Pacific population of northern bluefin tuna and has extensively displaced the original mtDNA, and (2) albacore is the earliest offshoot, followed by bigeye tuna in this genus, which is inconsistent with the phylogenetic relationships between these tuna species inferred from morphology. Correspondence to: S. Chow     

Rare, threatened and alien species in the gastropod communities in the clay pit ponds in relation to the environmental factors (The Ciechanowska Upland, Central Poland)

The objectives of the present survey were to formulate a zoocenological analysis of the gastropod communities in clay pit ponds, as well as to determine the relationships between the gastropods and their environments, and to evaluate the water habitats in terms of their ecological-conservation value. The physical and chemical parameters of water, gastropod species and macrophytes occurring in the ponds indicate mesotrophic conditions. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) reveals a correlation between gastropod density and nitrates, a correlation between gastropod density and alkalinity, and additionally shows a correlation between gastropod density and chlorides. The pond surface area, nitrates, chlorides concentrate, alkalinity, and substratum have all affected these gastropod communities. The occurrence of the first permanent population of Ferrissia clessiniana (Jickeli, 1882) was recorded in Poland. Valvata naticina Menke 1845 has become a critically rare species (CR) due to the pollution of water environments. Five other species, e.g. Anisus vorticulus (Troschel, 1834) and Planorbis carinatus O.F. Müller, 1774 are recorded on the Polish Red List of Species. The clay pit ponds of the Ciechanowska Upland, because of their distinctive environmental features, provide a refuge where a number of rare, threatened and alien gastropod species live.     

The Tetramorium squaminode species group (Hymenoptera,Formicidae) in the Arabian Peninsula,with a new record from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and keys to Arabian species

The Arabian species of the Tetramorium squaminode-group are treated. Tetramorium squaminode Santschi, 1911 is recorded for the first time from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Arabian Peninsula. Keys to the two Arabian species of the Tetramorium squaminode-group, Tetramorium latinode Collingwood & Agosti, 1996 and Tetramorium squaminode, based on worker and queen castes, are given and a regional distribution map is provided. Notes on habitats of Tetramorium squaminode are presented.     

The association between the phytoplankton, Rhopalosolen species (Chlorophyta; Chlorophyceae), and Anopheles gambiae sensu lato (Diptera: Culicidae) larval abundance in western Kenya

Algae are important food resources of the larvae of the African malaria vectors, Anopheles gambiae Giles and Anopheles arabiensis Patton (Anopheles gambiae sensu lato), and other zooplankton, but empirical evidence remains meager about the agal flora in ephemeral water bodies. The animals present in natural aquatic habitats in western Kenya were sampled from July to November 2002 to study abiotic and biotic environmental factors determining A. gambiae sl larval abundance. The five highest concentrations of third and fourth instars and pupae (hereafter referred to as old-stage larvae) were sampled in conjunction with the unicellular epizoic green algae, Rhopalosolen species (Chlorophyta; Chlorophyceae). Canonical correspondence analysis revealed that the presence of Rhopalosolen species was the most important determinant of the animal assemblage. The density of old-stage A. gambiae sl larvae was positively correlated with the presence of Rhopalosolen species, but the density of first and second instars of A. gambiae sl was not. The water bodies with Rhopalosolen sp. yielded larger mosquitoes in spite of the higher density of larvae. We demonstrated that the productivity of water bodies in terms of the larvae of malaria vectors can differ in magnitude depending on the agal flora. We discuss phytoplankton as a regulator of mosquito larval populations.     

The species composition and ecological features of pea crabs of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinnixa</Emphasis> White, 1846 (Brachyura: Pinnotheridae) in Peter the Great Bay,the Sea of Japan

This paper provides an overview of pea crabs of the genus Pinnixa White, 1846 (Brachyura: Pinnotheridae) that occur along the Russian coast of the Sea of Japan. Three species of the genus have been recorded for this area: P. tumida Stimpson, 1858, P. rathbuni Sakai, 1934, as well as P. banzu Komai, Nishi & Taru, 2014, which is the first record for the fauna of Russia. All species clearly differ ecologically: P. tumida was found in Posyet Bay in the intestine of the burrowing holothurian Paracaudina chilensis (Müller, 1850); P. rathbuni, in burrows of the echiuroid Urechis unicinctus (von Drasche, 1881); and P. banzu, in tubes of the polychaete Chaetopterus cautus Marenzeller, 1879. The paper also provides a definitive key to Pinnixa species and data on the size, behavior, symbionts, and parasites of P. rathbuni and P. banzu.     

The relation between the feeding activity of wintering shovelers (Anas clypeata) and the horizontal distribution of zooplankton in Lake Teganuma,Japan

We investigated seasonal changes in the number and feeding activity of Shovelers wintering in Lake Teganuma in connection with temporal and horizontal fluctuations of zooplankton, and analyzed esophageal contents of a captured Shoveler. Zooplankton community was dominated by rotifers followed by copepods during the study period. Horizontal distribution of both invertebrate taxa differed; rotifers most abundant in the western and eastern parts of the lake in February–March, and cyclopoid copepodids and nauplii more common in the northeast area of the eastern portion of the lake. The number and feeding activity of Shovelers increased from January to March in the northeast area of Lake Teganuma. A Shoveler captured in the area had mostly consumed cyclopoid copepodids despite the fact that rotifers dominated in the zooplankton community at that location. These results suggest that the horizontal distribution and feeding activity of the Shovelers were correlated with the distribution of the cyclopoid copepodids.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Magadania skopetsi</Emphasis>, a new genus and species of Zoarcidae (Teleostei: Perciformes) from the Sea of Okhotsk

A new genus and species of zoarcid fish, Magadania skopetsi, is described on the basis of 17 specimens (83.4–115.9mm SL) from the intertidal zone of the northern coast of the Sea of Okhotsk, near Magadan, Russia. This species differs from other known zoarcid genera and species by having the following combination of characters: suborbital bones 5, the suborbital canal with 6–8 small pores; first epibranchial fan-shaped; palatopterygoid series reduced; supraoccipital broadly contacting exoccipital; posttemporal ventral ramus weak; upper lip continuous at symphysis; palatine teeth, pelvic fins and scales present; lateral line configuration mediolateral, incomplete, absent on posterior half of body; vertebrae 18–22+78–83=97–104. The closest genus cannot be determined cladistically except that the species is a member of the subfamily Gymnelinae. During the spawning season, M. skopetsi lives under stones near the outer marginal area of the intertidal zone.     

Correlation analysis of Normalized Different Vegetation Index (NDVI) difference series and climate variables in the Xilingole steppe, China from 1983 to 1999

There is a crucial need in the study of global change to understand how terrestrial ecosystems respond to the climate system. It has been demonstrated by many researches that Normalized Different Vegetation Index (NDVI) time series from remotely sensed data, which provide effective information of vegetation conditions on a large scale with highly temporal resolution, have a good relation with meteorological factors. However, few of these studies have taken the cumulative property of NDVI time series into account. In this study, NDVI difference series were proposed to replace the original NDVI time series with NDVI difference series to reappraise the relationship between NDVI and meteorological factors. As a proxy of the vegetation growing process, NDVI difference represents net primary productivity of vegetation at a certain time interval under an environment controlled by certain climatic conditions and other factors. This data replacement is helpful to eliminate the cumulative effect that exist in original NDVI time series, and thus is more appropriate to understand how climate system affects vegetation growth in a short time scale. By using the correlation analysis method, we studied the relationship between NOAA/AVHRR ten-day NDVI difference series and corresponding meteorological data from 1983 to 1999 from 11 meteorological stations located in the Xilingole steppe in Inner Mongolia. The results show that: (1) meteorological factors are found to be more significantly correlation with NDVI difference at the biomass-rising phase than that at the falling phase; (2) the relationship between NDVI difference and climate variables varies with vegetation types and vegetation communities. In a typical steppe dominated by Leymus chinensis, temperature has higher correlation with NDVI difference than precipitation does, and in a typical steppe dominated by Stipa krylovii, the correlation between temperature and NDVI difference is lower than that between precipitation and NDVI difference. In a typical steppe dominated by Stipa grandis, there is no significant difference between the two correlations. Precipitation is the key factor influencing vegetation growth in a desert steppe, and temperature has poor correlation with NDVI difference; (3) the response of NDVI difference to precipitation is fast and almost simultaneous both in a typical steppe and desert steppe, however, mean temperature exhibits a time-lag effect especially in the desert steppe and some typical steppe dominated by Stipa krylovii; (4) the relationship between NDVI difference and temperature is becoming stronger with global warming. __________ Translated from Acta Phytoecologica Sinica, 2005, 29(5): 753–765 [译自: 植物生态学报]     

Correlation analysis of Normalized Different Vegetation Index (NDVI)difference series and climate variables in the Xilingole steppe,China from 1983 to 1999

There is a crucial need in the study of global change to understand how terrestrial ecosystems respond to the climate system.It has been demonstrated by many researches that Normalized Different Vegetation Index (NDVI)time series from remotely sensed data,which provide effective information of vegetation conditions on a large scale with highly temporal resolution,have a good relation with meteorological factors.However,few of these studies have taken the cumulative property of NDVI time series into account.In this study,NDVI difference series were proposed to replace the original NDVI time series with NDVI difference series to reappraise the relationship between NDVI and meteorological factors.As a proxy of the vegetation growing process,NDVI difference represents net primary productivity of vegetation at a certain time interval under an environment controlled by certain climatic conditions and other factors.This data replacement is helpful to eliminate the cumulative effect that exist in original NDVI time series,and thus is more appropriate to understand how climate system affects vegetation growth in a short time scale.By using the correlation analysis method,we studied the relationship between NOAA/AVHRR ten-day NDVI difference series and corresponding meteorological data from 1983 to 1999 from 11 meteorological stations located in the Xilingole steppe in Inner Mongolia.The results show that:(1)meteorological factors are found to be more significantly correlation with NDVI difference at the biomass-rising phase than that at the falling phase;(2)the relationship between NDVI difference and climate variables varies with vegetation types and vegetation communities.In a typical steppe dominated by Leymus chinensis,temperature has higher correlation with NDVI difference than precipitation does,and in a typical steppe dominated by Stipa krylovii,the correlation between temperature and NDVI difference is lower than that between precipitation and NDVI difference.In a typical steppe dominated by Stipa grandis,there is no significant difference between the two correlations.Precipitation is the key factor influencing vegetation growth in a desert steppe,and temperature has poor correlation with NDVI difference;(3)the response of NDVI difference to precipitation is fast and almost simultaneous both in a typical steppe and desert steppe,however,mean temperature exhibits a time-lag effect especially in the desert steppe and some typical steppe dominated by Stipa krylovii;(4)the relationship between NDVI difference and temperature is becoming stronger with global warming.