西藏东南部棘蛙属一新种记述(两栖纲：蛙科)

对产于西藏东南部察隅和墨脱的察隅棘蛙通过形态特征和数值分类作了进一步比较研究,结果认为：产于察隅的察隅棘蛙是一个有效种,而产于墨脱的标本应为一个新种,即墨脱棘蛙Paa medogensis sp.nov.。     

Morphological and genetic discordance in two species of Bornean Leptobrachium (Amphibia, Anura, Megophryidae)

Recent phylogenetic studies of Southeast Asian megophryid Leptobrachium, while clarifying (1) distinct specific status of three Philippine populations and (2) high genetic diversities within Bornean Leptobrachium montanum, posed two questions, (1) relationships and divergence histories of two Philippine species and Bornean Leptobrachium gunungense, and (2) possible discordance between phylogenetically and morphologically defined lineages. In order to solve these questions, and especially reviewing current taxonomy of Bornean species, we estimated the phylogenetic relationships of endemic Bornean species together with their putative relatives from Philippines and Sumatra, using 2451 bp sequences of the 12S rRNA, tRNA(val), and 16S rRNA of mitochondrial DNA genes. With respect to Leptobrachium hasseltii and Leptobrachium chapaense, lineages from Borneo, Philippines, and Sumatra formed a monophyletic group with Leptobrachium lumadorum from Mindanao as the basal clade, while two other Philippine species from Palawan and Mindoro formed a clade and nested in Bornean lineages. Sister species relationship of the two Philippine species and L. gunungense is not supported, rejecting the hypothesis of Philippine origin of L. gunungense. Phylogeny does not conform to morphological variation, and the topotypic L. montanum and one lineage of Leptobrachium abbotti are genetically very close despite their clear difference in ventral color pattern. Furthermore, each of these species forms a paraphyletic group and contains several lineages, each of which is a candidate of good species. These results clearly indicate that current taxonomy of Bornean species based on several morphological characteristics requires complete revision. Detailed studies on adult and larval morphology, as well as acoustic characteristics, are necessary to evaluate the taxonomic status of all lineages recovered.     

A phylogenetic analysis of the frog genera Vibrissaphora and Leptobrachium, and the correlated evolution of nuptial spine and reversed sexual size dimorphism

A phylogeny of the frog genus Vibrissaphora and seven Leptobrachium species was reconstructed based on 3808 base pairs of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequence data. Maximum parsimony, Bayesian, and statistical parsimony approaches were employed to reveal the historical relationships among the recovered haplotypes. The species of the genera Vibrissaphora and Leptobrachium failed to form their respective monophyletic groups. Therefore, Vibrissaphora should be part of the genus Leptobrachium. Our analysis also further delineated several species boundaries; Leptobrachium chapense is not a single species, rather, a species complex. On the other hand, although L. liui demonstrated substantial morphological variation, all populations belong to one species. The RAG-1 data revealed a case of species-level non-monophyly; when studying slowly evolving genes, population coalescence may not have been reached within species. The phylogenetic comparative analysis revealed a positive correlation between evolution of male nuptial spines and reversed sexual size dimorphism in this group. Resource defense polygyny and male parental care are possible explanations for the presence of large male size.     

Vertical distribution, segregation by size and recruitment of the yellow clam Mesodesma mactroides Deshayes, 1854 (Mollusca, Bivalvia, Mesodesmatidae) in exposed sandy beaches of the Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil

The vertical distribution and the segregation by size of the yellow clam Mesodesma mactroides Deshayes, 1854 were investigated in the intertidal zone and its limits with the lower and upper shores at exposed sandy beaches of Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. The gathering was made throughout 12 months; from the Pinhal beach towards the south of the State, in six 15 km equidistant transects, determined through random selection. In these transects, the calculation of 30 consecutive waves was made in order to determine its average amplitude point (P0), from which two points were marked towards the lower shore (P-1 and P-2) and three towards the upper shore (P1, P2 and P3). A 30 by 50 cm cylinder was buried down to the depth of 40 cm, the material was separated with a 0.25 cm mesh and the specimens were quantified and measured in length. The yellow clam presented segregation by size, especially between recruit and adult individuals, with recruits occupying preferably the zones above P0 and adults from this point towards the sea. The young specimens are distributed through all zones, mixed with adult and recruit specimens, which dismisses the hypothesis of segregation by size in function of competition for space and food, once the burying depth is directly proportional to their length. However, the segregation between recruits and adults might be related to the filtering mechanism of the adults, which could ingest the larva, as well as the fact that the recruits, being small and light, are easily transported to the regions above P0. Seasonal migration was observed for adult individuals during winter and spring, probably associated to the reproduction period of the species, being that the peak of recruitment was greater in the end of the winter and the beginning of spring.     

Developmental differences in visceral morphology of megophryine pelobatid tadpoles in relation to their body form and mode of life

Tadpoles face severe packing constraints on viscera within the pleuro-peritoneal cavity because of their extremely short torsos—a feature they share with adult anurans—and the concomitant need for relatively slender torsos for efficient locomotion. We examined the effects of differences in body form and habits on the size, shape and development of viscera in three kinds of sympatric, stream-associated pelobatid tadpoles. Leptobrachium montanumlarvae are generalized, wide, deep-bodied tadpoles. Larval Leptolalax gracilis are very slender and live in the crevices between rocks on the bottom of riffles. Larval Megophrys nasuta are intermediate between the other two in body form, and live with L. montanum in a variety of microhabitats but feed at the surface film. In all three species, liver, gall bladder, arid kidneys begin development early and grow isometrically throughout larval life. The gut and pancreas have a growth spurt shortly after hatching, then grow at a constant rate until near metamorphosis when both shrink drastically. The spleen grows at a slower rate than the body throughout the larval period. Lungs do not appear in L. gracilis until the tadpole approaches metamorphosis, which accords with its benthic habits, whereas they grow throughout the larval period in L. montanum and M. nasuta. In M. nasuta, however, the lungs are unusually wide anteriorly; this shifts buoyancy forward and facilitates the head-up feeding posture characteristic of that species. Gonads appear early in L. montanum and L. gracilis, but not until near metamorphosis in M. nasuta. We suggest that accelerated gonadal development in tadpoles characterizes species that metamorphose close to their size at first reproduction. Leptobrachium montanum, with the bulkiest body and most generalized habits, has relatively and absolutely the largest gut, liver (x of combined gut and liver volume = 24%, of total volume), and kidneys. Leptolalax gracilis, the most slender tadpole, has relatively the smallest combined gut and liver volume (x = 10% of total volume). Other premetamorphic differences among the species were observed in gut coiling, liver, pancreas and kidney shape and left/right asymmetry of urogenital organs. The major interspecific differences we observed in the size, shape, and developmental patterns of viscera in tadpoles are clearly related to interspecific differences in torso shape, microhabitat distribution and mode of feeding.     

华西雨蛙—新亚种描述

在四年横断山地区考察所获的雨蛙标本中,发现华西雨蛙一新亚种,贡山亚种（Hyla annectans gongshanensis）。它与指名亚种有别的三个特征是:1）体侧及股前后,胫后均无黑斑点。前肢腋部、上臂基部及口角均无黑小斑。2）胫跗关节达鼓膜或略超过,左右跟部仅相遇或不相遇。3）前臂和后肢胫外侧有细小疣粒缀连成一线。前臂和后肢跗部腹面疣粒较多。     

Diversity of sandflies (Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) captured in sandstone caves from Central Amazonia, Brazil

In the present paper we describe the diversity of phlebotomine sandflies collected in three sandstone caves in the municipality of Presidente Figueiredo, state of Amazonas, Brazil. The phlebotomines were captured during 2006 with CDC light traps. Guano samples from inside the Gruta Refúgio do Maruaga were collected to investigate the presence of immature specimens. A total of 2,160 adult phlebotomines representing 15 species were captured. Pintomyia pacae was the dominant species in Gruta dos Animais (1,723 specimens) and Gruta dos Lages (50 specimens) and Deanemyia maruaga new comb (280 specimens) was the dominant species in Gruta Refúgio do Maruaga. A total of 18 guano samples were collected and seven of these samples included immature specimens. A total of 507 immature specimens were captured; 495 of these specimens were larvae and 12 were pupae. The presence of paca (Agouti paca) footprints near Gruta dos Animais and Gruta dos Lages suggests the association of Pi. pacae with this rodent. This finding may explain the abundance of Pi. pacae in these locations, while the species is relatively rare in the forest. Deanemyia maruaga is a cave species that uses guano to breed during its immature stages. Adult specimens of this species are apparently parthenogenetic and autogenous and represent the second record of parthenogenesis for the subfamily Phlebotominae.     

Observations on the life history and descriptions of coccidia (Apicomplexa) from the western chorus frog,Pseudacris triseriata triseriata,from eastern Nebraska

Two hundred and twenty-four anurans of 6 species (47 adults and 16 tadpoles of Rana blairi, 35 R. catesbeiana, 31 Hyla chrysoscelis, 30 adults and 46 tadpoles of Pseudacris triseriata triseriata, 11 Bufo woodhousii, and 8 Acris crepitans) from Pawnee Lake, Lancaster County, Nebraska, were surveyed for coccidian parasites during March 2001 to May 2002. Of these, 23 of 30 (77%) adults and 4 of 46 (9%) tadpoles of P. t. triseriata shed oocysts of Isospora cogginsi n. sp. Oocysts of I. cogginsi were ovoid, 19.3 x 15.1 (18-23 x 11-20) microm, with a thin, smooth, colorless, single-layered wall, with no micropyle or oocyst residuum. Sporocysts were ovoid, 13.3 x 9.9 (11-15 x 9-13) microm, with a thin, colorless, smooth wall, and Stieda body absent. Sporocyst residuum was present, 5.5 x 5.3 (4-7 x 4-7) microm, consisting of numerous granules. Histological examination of frogs and tadpoles infected with the new species revealed endogenous stages including mature meronts, developing microgamonts, mature microgametes, mature macrogamonts, and young unsporulated oocysts located in the cytoplasm of the epithelial cells of the small intestine. Concurrently, 2 adult P. t. triseriata shed oocysts of Eimeria streckeri. Oocysts of E. streckeri were spherical, 15.7 x 15.4 (14-17 x 14-19) microm, with a thin, smooth, single-layered, colorless wall with an oocyst residuum composed of numerous granules surrounding a large vacuolated area, with a previously undescribed globularlike body present within the vacuole, and no micropyle. Sporocysts were ovoid, 9.1 x 6.1 (7-10 x 5-7) microm, with a thin, colorless, smooth wall with a Stieda body and sporocyst residuum. Our results are the first to document infection of adult and tadpole stages of frogs of the same species with the same species of coccidian, indicating that adult frogs may contaminate breeding ponds with oocysts during their breeding season and infect tadpoles directly by the ingestion of sporulated oocysts.     

用功能生态学方法揭示峨眉髭蟾蝌蚪和棘腹蛙蟾蝌蚪共存的原因

采用功能生态学的研究方法,选取了3个指标(功能丰富度、功能定位和功能生态位的重叠程度)对峨眉山清音阁黑龙江中峨眉髭蟾蝌蚪和棘腹蛙蝌蚪共存的原因进行了解析。结果表明,峨眉髭蟾蝌蚪功能丰富度的实测值远远小于棘腹蛙蝌蚪。采用自助法随机抽样15和51个个体时,峨眉髭蟾蝌蚪的功能丰富度值显著小于棘腹蛙蝌蚪。同时,非参数多元方差分析的结果显示二者的功能定位存在显著差异。此外,二者功能生态位重叠程度的实测值与采用自助法计算所得值均极低。以上结果表明二者的功能生态位存在明显分化,表现为峨眉髭蟾蝌蚪个体较大,开口较小,眼间距较大,尾部发达且多采用背腹弯曲的游泳模式;而棘腹蛙蝌蚪开口较大,眼睛间距较小,尾部较为短小且多采用脊椎弯曲的游泳模式。鉴于功能性状可以反映生物体对生长环境的响应,推测两种蝌蚪主要栖息地的微生境也存在分化。     

Amphibian communities associated with billabong habitats on the Murrumbidgee floodplain,Australia

Abstract A study of frog species richness and abundance at four permanent billabongs located in and around the city of Wagga Wagga, southern New South Wales, was carried out from the spring of 1991 to the autumn of 1992. During the sampling period a total of 404 individual adult frogs from six species were recorded. No egg masses or tadpoles were detected during a total of 32 survey hours. Four species of the Family Myobatrachidae represented 81% of the total number of adult individuals sampled, the remaining species belonging to the Family Hylidae. There were significant differences in the mean species richness and mean total number of adult individuals among billabongs. Significant positive correlations were recorded between total adult individuals, total frog species richness and the number of riparian plant species recorded at all billabongs. There were no significant correlations between adult frog numbers and meteorological and water quality parameters. The adults of the four most abundant frog species exhibited significant association with particular microhabitats surrounding billabongs; Crinia parinsignifera was associated with the creeping grass Paspalum distichum, Limnodynastes fletcheri with the rush Eleocharis sphacelata, L. tasmaniensis with sedges Cyperus spp. and the grass P. distichum and Litoria peronii with red gum Eucalyptus camaldulensis and introduced tree species. Differences in adult frog abundance between billabongs appears to be related to the disturbance of riparian vegetation by domestic stock, while the absence of eggs and tadpoles from these permanent billabongs may be explained by the presence of abundant exotic fish species in the billabongs.     

泽陆蛙和饰纹姬蛙蝌蚪不同热驯化下选择体温和热耐受性

用泽陆蛙（Fejervarya limnocharis）蝌蚪和饰纹姬蛙（Microhyla ornata）蝌蚪做研究模型,检测热驯化（20 、25 和30 C）对选择体温（Tsel）、低温耐受性（CTMin）和高温耐受性（CTMax）的影响。结果显示,两种蝌蚪的Tsel既不受驯化温度的影响,也不存在种间差异;泽陆蛙蝌蚪的CTMin显著小于饰纹姬蛙蝌蚪,而CTMax和VTR则显著大于饰纹姬蛙蝌蚪;CTMin和CTMax随驯化温度的升高而升高,VTR则随驯化温度的升高而减小。研究结果表明,热驯化显著影响两种蝌蚪的CTMin、CTMax和VTR,而对两种蝌蚪的体温调定点无显著影响;这些热生物学特征对两种蝌蚪有效适应环境温度变化、利用资源、减少种间竞争具有重要的生态学意义。     

Abundance and diversity of human-biting flies (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae, Culicidae, Tabanidae, Simuliidae) around a nickel-copper smelter at Monchegorsk, northwestern Russia.

In the summers of 2001 and 2002, we quantitatively sampled human-biting flies in twelve sites located 1.6 to 63 km from a large copper-nickel smelter at Monchegorsk on the Kola Peninsula, Russia. We collected 429 specimens of three species of Ceratopogonidae, 92 specimens of seven species of Culicidae, 76 specimens of seven species of Tabanidae, and 4,788 specimens of 19 species of Simuliidae. Culicoides chiropterus was for the first time reported from the Kola Peninsula. Catches of Culicidae and Simuliidae decreased near the smelter, presumably due to the combined action of toxicity of pollutants, pollution-induced forest damage, and decline in vertebrate density. An abundance of Ceratopogonidae and Tabanidae, the size of the most common black fly species, Simulium pusillum, and the diversity of all families did not change along the pollution gradient.     

中国兰科植物研究杂记

中国西藏墨脱县位于东喜马拉雅和印缅交界地区,是雅鲁藏布江大峡谷国家级自然保护区的核心区域,是喜马拉雅生物多样性热点地区之一。该文通过对中国西藏墨脱的科学考察,报道了中国兰科植物2个新记录种,即西藏牛角兰(Ceratostylis radiata)和格当石豆兰(Bulbophyllum psychoon),并提供了描述和图片。西藏牛角兰花为纯白色,花辐射对称,唇瓣3裂,茎长2~2.5 cm,明显区别于该属内其他种。格当石豆兰与齿瓣石豆兰(Bulbophyllum levinei)相似,但不同之处在于格当石豆兰的花瓣卵形,先端锐尖。凭证标本分别保存于西藏自治区高原生物研究所(XZ)和中国科学院植物研究所(PE)标本馆中。2个新记录种原分布均在印度、缅甸和越南等地区,在中国西藏的发现说明了中国西藏墨脱的植物区系和原分布地有一定的关系,同时也印证了中国西藏墨脱属于亚热带地区,且2个新记录种的分布海拔超出了原分布地范围,开花的时间也相对推迟。此新记录种的发现对摸清该区植物种类和丰富中国西藏植物区系提供了更加详实的资料。     

The Reproductive Biology and Larvae of the First Tadpole-Bearing Frog,Limnonectes larvaepartus

Most of the reproductive modes of frogs include an exotrophic tadpole, but a number of taxa have some form of endotrophic development that lacks a feeding tadpole stage. The dicroglossid frog genus Limnonectes ranges from China south into Indonesia. The breeding biologies of the approximately 60 described species display an unusual diversity that range from exotrophic tadpoles to endotrophic development in terrestrial nests. There have been mentions of oviductal production of typical, exotrophic tadpoles in an undescribed species of Limnonectes from Sulawesi, Indonesia. Here we examine newly collected specimens of this species, now described as L. larvaepartus and present the first substantial report on this unique breeding mode. Typical exotrophic tadpoles that are retained to an advanced developmental stage in the oviducts of a female frog are birthed into slow-flowing streams or small, non-flowing pools adjacent to the streams.     

Further notes on the natural history of the South American pepper frog, Leptodactylus labyrinthicus (Spix, 1824) (Anura, Leptodactylidae)

Leptodactylus labyrinthicus tadpoles reach a large size in the nest through consumption of trophic eggs. We previously suggested that the trophic eggs are laid just after amplexus has finished, but our new data do not support this hypothesis. We also present further details on the natural history of the species with regard to breeding activity, spawning site, retreats and the ability of tadpoles in preying upon fully-growth heterospecific tadpoles. We also show that the tadpoles are mainly nocturnal and take diurnal refuges. We collected the data in Brazil in three localities within the Cerrado Biome. We examined burrows used by L. labyrinthicus males, verified if females still contained mature eggs just after released from amplexus, and tested the ability of tadpoles in preying fully-growth heterospecific tadpoles. Field observations and experiments were conducted on tadpole activity time, hiding behaviour and level of susceptibility to predation by the bird leaf-scrapers in four sheltering situations. Reproduction could start before the first rains; this may be advantageous by allowing the tadpoles to exploit eggs of other frogs. We found one floating nest built in a temporary pool. The nest of the species is normally circumscribed in an excavated basin beside the water body. Adult males were found during the day with their head-out of the entrance of underwater burrows, which were perforations through dense root mats beside calling/spawning sites. Probably, these burrows in permanently water-filled soil are actively excavated by males. Females released all their eggs during the amplexus, so trophic eggs are not produced by the currently-accepted mechanism. Fully-grown heterospecific tadpoles were not preyed upon by L. labyrinthicus tadpoles, which can prey only slow-moving newly hatched ones. Field tadpoles took shelter under mud/dead leaves during daylight and became exposed on the bottom at night. Free-ranging leaf-scrapers removed dead leaves from a pool with their beaks and preyed upon tadpoles. In the experiments, the tadpoles sheltered under gravel/leaves during daylight, but they were exposed at night. Leaf-scrapers ate all exposed tadpoles, but no tadpole of the gravel/leaves trays was consumed. Hence the nocturnal habits and use of diurnal refuges may protect the tadpoles from visual predators, such as the leaf-scrapers.     

Sampling multiple life stages significantly increases estimates of marine biodiversity

Biodiversity assessments are critical for setting conservation priorities, understanding ecosystem function and establishing a baseline to monitor change. Surveys of marine biodiversity that rely almost entirely on sampling adult organisms underestimate diversity because they tend to be limited to habitat types and individuals that can be easily surveyed. Many marine animals have planktonic larvae that can be sampled from the water column at shallow depths. This life stage often is overlooked in surveys but can be used to relatively rapidly document diversity, especially for the many species that are rare or live cryptically as adults. Using DNA barcode data from samples of nemertean worms collected in three biogeographical regions—Northeastern Pacific, the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Tropical Pacific—we found that most species were collected as either benthic adults or planktonic larvae but seldom in both stages. Randomization tests show that this deficit of operational taxonomic units collected as both adults and larvae is extremely unlikely if larvae and adults were drawn from the same pool of species. This effect persists even in well-studied faunas. These results suggest that sampling planktonic larvae offers access to a different subset of species and thus significantly increases estimates of biodiversity compared to sampling adults alone. Spanish abstract is available in the electronic supplementary material.     

Reproduction in a little-known New Guinea Python,Liasis papuanus (Peters and Doria)

The Papuan python Liasis papuanus, a large (exceeding 5 m) boid species inhabiting Papua New Guinea and Irian Iaya, is currently known from fewer than 20 museum specimens and is seldom seen in living zoological collections. Of an estimated 10 to 15 living specimens imported into the United States during the last two decades, seven have been housed at the Knoxville Zoological Park. In 1984–85, one pair bred successfully, resulting in the first known captive breeding of this species. We describe the husbandry of adults and hatchlings and reproductive behavior in the adult pair, as well as brooding behavior of the female that resulted in a significant increase in coil temperatures. Data on eggs and on the growth of ten hatchlings over a 2.5-year period are given.     

Taxonomic revision and phylogenetic position of Osteocephalus festae (Anura, Hylidae) with description of its larva

Osteocephalus festae is an Amazonian species recently resurrected from a synonymy with Osteocephalus buckleyi. Because few specimens are known, its morphological variation, diagnostic characters, and distribution are poorly understood. Herein we determine its phylogenetic relationships and provide a complete taxonomic account based on recently collected specimens (adults and larvae) from nine localities in Ecuador and Peru. Osteocephalus festae is most similar to Osteocephalus verruciger from which it differs in having less tuberculate dorsal skin on males, smaller tympanum, and more tooth rows in the oral disk of larvae. A phylogeny based on mitochondrial DNA sequences, genes 12S and ND1, shows that Osteocephalus festae is closely related to Osteocephalus buckleyi, Osteocephalus mutabor and Osteocephalus verruciger. A clade consisting of Osteocephalus festae, Osteocephalus verruciger, and Osteocephalus buckleyi is characterized by stream dwelling tadpoles. Surprisingly, we found paraphyly among Ecuadorian populations of Osteocephalus buckleyi and Osteocephalus verruciger. The causes for paraphyly are unknown but in Osteocephalus buckleyi may result from the existence of cryptic species.