Mould biodiversity in homes II. Analysis of mattress dust

Fungal species from 130 samples of mattress dust have been identified. The number of moulds varies from one mattress to another with extreme values ranging from less than 1000 to more than 70 000 000 CFU/g of dust (median value of 30 000 CFU/g).Eurotium repens is undoubtedly the most frequent species detected in mattress dust.Aureobasidium pullulans, Alternaria alternata, Penicillium chrysogenum, Aspergillus penicilloides andAspergillus restrictus, which were frequently isolated and/or revealed important concentrations in dust samples, are the other main occurring species. Fungal flora in mattresses are more numerous in winter, the peak period being December-January. The most important contaminations by xerophilic species occurred during that peak period, whereas non-osmophilous species were constantly present during the year. The qualitative conditions of the habitat have an influence on the abundance of moulds in mattresses. Mattresses from damp houses could be a source forAlternaria throughout the year. No significant difference has been detected between the contamination level of men and women's mattresses (P=0.651). Children's mattresses are less contaminated than adults (P=0.025). The level of contamination could be affected by perspiration.     

Catecholaminergic Neurons in the Nervous System of Neorhabdocoela (Turbellaria(

Mapping of catecholaminergic (CAergic) neurons in the nervous system has been performed in 5 species of turbellarians of the order Neorhabdocoela: in three species of typhloplanides, Mesostoma lingua, Bothromesostoma essenii, and Rhynchomesostoma rostratum, and in two species of Dalyellioida, Castrella truncata and Gieysztoria cuspidata. In spite of an essential diversity of their orthogones, the number of cerebral neurons varies insignificantly: from 4 to 5 pairs at 3 variants of geometry of their arrangement. In the presence of the medial paddle-shaped outgrowth of neuropil, two pairs of anterior cerebral neurons are located on its both sides, while 2 pairs of posterior neurons, in the inferior lateral regions of neuropil. The absence of the medial outgrowth and a stretching of neuropil provided a fan-shaped arrangement of cerebral neurons behind the eyes and on the sides of the pharynx. The three-store arrangement of cerebral neurons is revealed in the presence of a cone-shaped trunk at the anterior end of the body, when all 5 pairs of neurons are connected to each other with longitudinal and transverse processes. The rosette-shaped pharynx is innervated with five pharyngeal nerves, while the barrel-shaped pharynx, with six nerves, each of them with one bipolar neuron. From 2 to 5 pairs of neurons of the L-group were revealed. Homology of the L-group neurons has been confirmed in the order Neorhabdocoela. The total number of CAergic neurons varies from 24 to 29.     

The chalcone synthase multigene family of Petunia hybrida (V30): sequence homology,chromosomal localization and evolutionary aspects

Chalcone synthase (CHS) genes in Petunia hybrida comprise a multigene family containing at least 7 complete members in the strain Violet 30 (V30). Based on a high sequence homology in both coding and non-coding sequence, a number of CHS genes can be placed into two subfamilies. By restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis it was shown that both chromosomes II and V carry one of these subfamilies, in addition to the other CHS genes identified so far. Members of a subfamily were found to be closely linked genetically. Analysis of the Petunia species that contributed to the hybrid nature of P. hybrida (P. axillaris, P. parodii, P. inflata and P. violacea) shows that none of the CHS gene clusters is specific for either one of the parents and therefore did not arise as a consequence of the hybridization. The number of CHS genes within a subfamily varies considerably among these Petunia species. From this we infer that the CHS subfamilies arose from very recent gene duplications.     

The chalcone synthase multigene family of Petunia hybrida (V30): sequence homology,chromosomal localization and evolutionary aspects

Chalcone synthase (CHS) genes in Petunia hybrida comprise a multigene family containing at least 7 complete members in the strain Violet 30 (V30). Based on a high sequence homology in both coding and non-coding sequence, a number of CHS genes can be placed into two subfamilies. By restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis it was shown that both chromosomes II and V carry one of these subfamilies, in addition to the other CHS genes identified so far. Members of a subfamily were found to be closely linked genetically. Analysis of the Petunia species that contributed to the hybrid nature of P. hybrida (P. axillaris, P. parodii, P. inflata and P. violacea) shows that none of the CHS gene clusters is specific for either one of the parents and therefore did not arise as a consequence of the hybridization. The number of CHS genes within a subfamily varies considerably among these Petunia species. From this we infer that the CHS subfamilies arose from very recent gene duplications.     

Isolation and characterization of ten new polymorphic microsatellite loci in the mud crab, Scylla paramamosain

We developed polymerase chain primers for ten microsatellite loci in the mud crab, Scylla paramamosain. All markers were obtained from a (CA)₁₅ and (CT)₁₅-enrichment DNA library, and characterized in 30 individuals from one wild population. The number of alleles per locus varies between 8 and 18, and the observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.6207 to 0.9333 and from 0.5886 to 0.9243, respectively. These polymorphic loci provide a valuable tool for population genetic analysis and parentage determination in this species.     

Genome size variation and species relationships in the genus Hydrangea

Genome size and base composition in 16 species and subspecies of the Hydrangea, a woody ornamental genus of Hydrangeaceae, were evaluated by flow cytometry in relation to their chromosome number. This is the first such study concerning the genome size of these species together with a karyotype study of the most important species, Hydrangea macrophylla subsp. macrophylla (Hortensia), from an economical point of view. The 2C DNA content ranged from 1.95 pg in Hydrangea quercifolia to 5.00 pg in Hydrangea involucrata. The base composition ranged from 39.9% GC in Hydrangea aspera subsp. sargentiana to 41.1% in Hydrangea scandens subsp. scandens (significant difference at p < 0.05). The smallest genome sizes were those of the three species originating from North or South America. Most of the species studied presented a chromosome number of 2n = 2x = 36, except for those of the section Aspereae which showed 2n = 30, 34 and 36. A primary karyotype has been made for the first time for H. macrophylla subsp. macrophylla. Phylogenetic relationships between species, the origin of chromosome number and an exploration of the genetic diversity within the genus are discussed. Received: 24 July 2000 / Accepted: 31 October 2000     

Non-native Species and Rates of Spread: Lessons from the Brackish Baltic Sea

The Baltic Sea, a semi-enclosed brackish water region, has been inoculated by non-indigenous species for centuries. Today, much of its biological diversity is of foreign origin (i.e. xenodiversity), intentionally or unintentionally moved by humans over ecological and geographical barriers. As many as 98 introduced species have been recorded in the Baltic Sea and Kattegat. The role and abundance of much of the unique native brackish water fauna of the Baltic Sea are threatened by these non-indigenous species. The rate of primary introductions into the Baltic has increased since the 1950s; the secondary rate of spread of non-indigenous species within the basin varies from 30–480 km/year. We review here the invasion histories of the brown alga Sargassum muticum (introduced in the early 1990s), the mud snail Potamopyrgus antipodarum (1887), the barnacle Balanus improvisus (1844), the polychaetes Marenzelleria viridis (1985) and Polydora redeki (1963), the cladoceran Cercopagis pengoi (1992) and the mysid shrimp Hemimysis anomala (1962). This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Leptonotus vincentae,a new pipefish species (Syngnathidae: Syngnathinae) from the south-west Atlantic Ocean near northern Patagonia

A new species of pipefish Leptonotus vincentae sp. nov. (Syngnathidae) is described on the basis of 12 specimens found in shallow waters (<2 m depth) of San Antonio Bay, Patagonia, Argentina, in the south-west Atlantic Ocean. The species is distinguished from congeners by the combination of: dorsal-fin rays 30–33, pectoral-fin rays 12–13, trunk rings 18–19, tail rings 43–46, subdorsal rings (2–4) + (5.5–8) = (8.5–10), head length 13–14% standard length, snout length 35–55% head length and snout depth 21–30% in snout length. Although this species has often been mistaken for Leptonotus blainvilleanus, most diagnostic characters of the two species differ. Both species are clearly distinguished by their snout length. L. blainvilleanus has a relatively longer snout than L. vincentae sp. nov. The new species is similar to a south-west Pacific species, Leptonotus elevatus. However, L. vincentae sp. nov. differs from this species in that it exhibits a lower number of dorsal-fin rays and a relatively longer head.     

Characterization of nine microsatellite loci for a globally vulnerable species, Reeves’s Pheasant (Syrmaticus reevesii)

Reeves’s Pheasant, Syrmaticus reevesii, is an endemic species of China. Due to habitat loss, poaching and human disturbance, its wild population has been decreased drastically and it is listed as a globally vulnerable species by IUCN/BirdLife/WPA (IUCN 2008). Here, we report nine new polymorphic microsatellite markers isolated from the Reeves’s Pheasant. The number of alleles per locus varies between four and fourteen, with expected heterozygosity ranging from 0.349–0.776 (n  = 90). These polymorphic loci provide a valuable tool for future population studies that relate to the conservation of this pheasant.     

Development and characterization of polymorphic microsatellite loci in the endangered Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis)

The finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides) is one of the smallest cetacean species widely distributed in the shallow coastal waters of the Indo-Pacific Oceans. The population size of the Yangtze subspecies (N. p. asiaeorientalis) has sharply decreased in the last two decades and access to objective data on its population structure and genetic diversity would be of great assistance for their proper management. Here we report on the isolation of nine polymorphic microsatellite using the “Fast Isolation by AFLP of Sequences Containing repeats” (FIASCO) protocol. Polymorphism was assessed using 30 porpoise individuals randomly sampled in the Yangtze River. The number of alleles per locus varies from 2 to 9, with an average value of 5.56, whereas the ranges of observed and expected heterozygosities were 0.300–0.633 (mean 0.496) and 0.473–0.804 (mean 0.659), respectively.     

Mayflies of the Northern Levant (Insecta: Ephemeroptera)

Abstract

For 31 species of mayflies, new records on their distribution are presented. Most of them are new to the Middle East or to the northern Levant (Turkey, Syria, Lebanon). The fauna is composed for the most part of species widespread in Europe (63%), a relatively high number (26%) of endemic species, and a few Caucasian (8%) and South European (3%) species. Using the genus Prosopistoma as an example, it is shown that the mayfly fauna of the northern Levantine has been isolated from the faunas of Africa and Asia for a very long period.     

Demonstration of IS<Emphasis Type="Italic">711</Emphasis> transposition in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brucella ovis</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brucella pinnipedialis</Emphasis>

Background  

The Brucella genome contains an insertion sequence (IS) element called IS711 or IS6501, which is specific to the genus. The copy number of IS711 varies in the genome of the different Brucella species, ranging from 7 in B. abortus, B. melitensis and B. suis to more than 30 in B. ovis and in Brucella strains isolated from marine mammals. At present, there is no experimental evidence of transposition of IS711, but the occurrence of this element with a high copy number in some species, and the isolation of Brucella strains with "ectopic" copies of IS711 suggested that this IS could still transpose.     

Species composition and distribution of ichthyoplankton in the waters of northeast Sakhalin

Data on the species composition and abundance of the ichthyoplankton obtained in 2012, 2014, and 2015 in the waters of northeast Sakhalin are presented; these data were collected during the standard accounting surveys to estimate the egg concentration and breeders of Alaska pollock Theragra chalcogramma. The areas of the main concentrations of eggs and larvae of a number of commercial fish species have been determined, interannual variations in their abundance have been analyzed, and the distribution of ichthyoplankton with some parameters of the environment, such as depth, temperature, and main currents, has been linked. During the study period, 30 species representing 11 families were recorded in the ichthyoplankton. The average concentration of ichthyoplankton varies within the range of 113–201 ind./m². The pollock eggs absolutely dominated by 78–89%; followed by the eggs of the Bering flounder Hippoglossoides robustus (5–8%). It was found that the number of eggs and larvae of flounders and of a number of the other fish species in the northern part of the study area increases during the years characterized by a large volume of runoff of Amur River.     

The relationship between aphid infestations and oviposition by aphidophagous Syrphidae (Diptera)

Oviposition by aphidophagous Syrphidae varies with the size of aphid infestations and different syrphid species have different optimum aphid population sizes for oviposition. In one experiment using potted brussels sprout plants infested with Brevicoryne brassicae L., Platycheirus manicatus (Meig.) preferred about 100 aphids per plant, P. scutatus (Meig.) about 1000 aphids per plant and Syrphus ribesii (L.) about 2000 aphids per plant. These preferences were less clear in certain Platycheirus species (e.g. P. peltatus (Meig.)), than in Syrphus species (e.g. S. luniger Meig.). Once a plant has been selected for oviposition there may still be selection of suitable colonies on that plant. For a given aphid population, S. luniger preferred a small number of large aggregates to a larger number of smaller ones, whereas S. balteatus (Deg.) preferred the opposite. The tendency of the different species to select aphid populations of different sizes and distributions is likely to decrease interspecific competition.     

Interspecific aggression in hermatypic corals from Bermuda

Interspecific aggression between hermatypic corals on Bermudian reefs has been investigated by aquarium and field studies, the latter involving induced interactions, observations from 30 m^-2 transects and random SCUBA traverses. Resultant hierarchies, constructed by ranking the abilities of species to damage competitors, show close similarities with each other and with the Jamaican hierarchy at the family level, notwithstanding some differences in the ranking of some species. Only 11% of natural-occurring interactions depart from the aquarium-derived results; in terms of species-pair combinations, 30% show partial or complete inversions from aquarium to field, with most changes involving species close together in the field hierarchy. Circular (intransitive) interactions occur mostly within a network of weakly-aggressive species in both aquarium- and fieldderived hierarchies. While number of potential interactions m^-2 varies directly with density, frequency of aggression is positively correlated with coral diversity (species richness), while frequency of no reactions and conspecific fusion (combined) shows a correspondingly negative correlation with diversity. Frequency of aggression does not appear to be depth related. Comparison of aquarium and field hierarchies suggest that digestion by mesenterial filaments is the most important mechanism of aggression under natural conditions. Sweeper tentacle activity is the most likely cause of field reversals involving Madracis mirabilis and Montastrea cavernosa. Other factors, such as stress caused by seasonal environmental extremes, may be responsible for reversals or inconsistent behaviour in other species.     

Ecology of hoolock gibbon of Bangladesh

Of the nine known species of gibbon,Hylobates hoolock is found in the evergreen and semi-evergreen forests of Bangladesh. It is monogamous, living in groups of 2–5, each group maintaining its territory, in a home range of 30–35 ha. The day range varies from 600m to 1600m. Detailed study on this gibbon has not been conducted. Therefore, a study on the ecology and behaviour of this species was made between February 1990 and January 1991. The gibbon spends 39% of the daytime in feeding, 25% in moving, 26% in resting, 4% in calling, and 6% in other social activities. They are completely arboreal and are mainly frugivorous. The total number of this species is unlikely to exceed 200. They are in danger due to their habitat destruction.     

Host Specificity, Parasite Community Size and the Relation between Abundance and its Variance

We investigated the empirical relationship between mean abundance and its variance, known as Taylor’s power law, in fleas parasitic on small mammals. It has been suggested that the exponent of this function, b, represents a true biological character of a species and, dependent on the level of host specificity, varies among species. Other empirical and theoretical studies suggest that exponent b depends on interspecific competition and varies intraspecifically. We tested these hypotheses using data from central and eastern Slovakia. We demonstrate that the slope of Taylor’s relationship (a) is repeatable within a flea species, i.e. the slope represents a true species character; (b) increases with an increase of the degree of flea host specificity; and (c) decreases with an increase in flea community size. We discuss our results with the idea that the host can mediate interactions among and within flea species. Co-ordinating editor: A. Biere     

The conserved nature and taxonomic utility of pollen morphology in Cantua (Polemoniaceae)

Pollen exine morphology of nine of the ten species of Cantua (Polemoniaceae) is examined using light and scanning electron microscopy. A total of 28 specimens of C. bicolor, C. buxifolia, C. candelilla, C. cuzcoensis, C. flexuosa, C. pyrifolia, C. quercifolia, C. volcanica, and an as yet undescribed species (Cantua sp. nov.) are examined using either fresh or herbarium material. Pollen grains are found to be spheroidal, pantoporate, and quite large; mean diameter varies from 62 to 87?μm. Mean number of pores varies from 4.5 to 21.2 and mean pore size varies from 4.86 to 12.40?μm. Pollen grains of all species have insulate semitectate sexines. This feature distinguishes the pollen of Cantua species from the remainder of the Polemoniaceae. Insulae are evenly distributed over the surface of the pollen grain, with the exception of C. flexuosa and occasionally C. buxifolia, where insulae are more sparsely and haphazardly distributed. The majority of the species examined have irregularly shaped tectal insulae, with the exception of the large rounded insulae in C. quercifolia and the elongated narrow insulae in C. volcanica. Cantua quercifolia and C. volcanica have supratectal verrucae, a possible synapomorphy. In comparison to close relatives, the pollen grains of Cantua are evolutionarily conserved, and show little variation among species.     

Chromosome number variation within Philaethria butterflies (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae,Heliconiini)

The haploid chromosome number of the South American butterfly Philaethria dido varies from 12 to 88. Eight different numbers have been found in this species complex. The related Ph. pygmalion and Ph. wernickei usually show only n=29, a very frequent number in the Lepidoptera; numbers of n=15 and n=21 for these species need confirmation. The most common chromosome number for Ph. dido is also the highest, n=88, and is found in many parts of northern and central Brazil on the Amazon river and its tributaries, as well as adjacent parts of other countries. The other numbers were observed mainly in northern South America and along the east coast. Two very different numbers were found together in four localities. We did not find specimens with meiotic features suggesting hybridization between individuals with different chromosome numbers. The diverse numbers in Ph. dido may belong to good sibling species, distinguishable externally by very minor characters. Since Ph. dido is a very primitive species in the tribe Heliconiini, dating probably from the early Tertiary, it probably has had many opportunities to undergo divergent chromosome evolution in isolation. Its strong, high flight and broad ecological valence would then permit rapid spreading out and coexistence of different chromosome forms, which in some cases have been noted to show diverse behaviour in the field.Dedicated to Professor Hans Bauer on the occasion of his eightieth birthday     

Description of two new miniature species of Hylopanchax Poll & Lambert, 1965 (Cyprinodontiformes: Procatopodidae), from northeastern Gabon,with an updated diagnosis of the genus based on morphology,colouration and osteology

Two new species of the lampeye genus Hylopanchax are described from the Ivindo River basin in the Ogowe River drainage. Hylopanchax multisquamatus, new species, and Hylopanchax thysi, new species, differ from congeners by the presence of a hyaline urogenital male papilla with small black spots and a dark-brown reticulate pattern on the flanks of both males and females in preserved specimens. Hylopanchax multisquamatus is distinguished from congeners by the number of scales on the mid-longitudinal series (27–30 vs. 19–26, respectively) and by the relative anterior/posterior flank scale depth ratio (140%–150% vs. 170%–220%). Hylopanchax thysi is distinguished from all other congeners, except Hylopanchax paucisquamatus, by the presence of vertebrae (30 vs. 31–33) and is further distinguished from H. multisquamatus by the presence of a deeper caudal peduncle and much larger anterior flank scales. It is distinguished from H. paucisquamatus by the presence of a hyaline urogenital male papilla with small black spots and a dark-brown reticulate pattern on the flanks of both males and females in preserved specimens. Osteological data of Hylopanchax are presented for the first time, and an updated diagnosis based on external morphology, colouration pattern and osteology is provided. An osteological comparison with closely related species belonging to the genera Procatopus, Hypsopanchax and “Hypsopanchax” is presented. (a) A truncate and slightly downward-directed anterior process of the angulo-articular and (b) a guitar-shaped lachrymal with both its anterior and posterior margins sharply curved are here considered as diagnostic features of Hylopanchax.