Two new species of nudibranchiate molluscs from the west coast of North America, with a revision of the family Cuthonidae

Two species of nudibranch molluscs are described from the northeastern Pacific Ocean on the west coast of North America. These are: a new aeolid species of Cuthona Alder & Hancock, 1855 (family Cuthonidae) from the Oregonian marine zoogeographical province and a new dorid species of Acanthodoris Gray, 1850 (family Onchidorididae) from the Panamic province in the Gulf of California. The internal anatomy and external features of each species are compared with related species. Differences in structure of the radula, reproductive system and other morphological aspects are described. A revision of the family Cuthonidae is included. Evidence is presented to include the genera Trinchesia Ihering, 1879, and Precuthona Odhner, 1929, within the genus Cuthona. Cuthona alpha Baba & Hamatani, 1963, is synonymized with Catriona columbiana (O'Donoghue, 1922). We consider the New World Cuthonidae to be composed of the following five genera: Catriona Winckworth, 1941; Cuthona Alder & Hancock, 1855; Embletonia Alder & Hancock, 1851; Tenellia Costa, 1877; and Tergipes Cuvier, 1805.     

Aeolid nudibranchs (Gastropoda: Opisthobranchia) of the family Tergipedidae from New Zealand waters

Four species of the genus Cuthona Alder & Hancock are recorded for the first time. Two of these species are Cuthona beta (Baba & Abe, 1964) and C. alpha Baba & Hamatani, 1963: although the local specimens differ in some features, principally ceratal arrangement, length of the radula and colour, the differences are considered too slight to warrant separation. The other two are new, being distinguished by a combination of features: C. scintillans sp. nov. by the large size reached (24 mm), rhinophores, oral veil and number of ceratal rows (13), the rounded foot-angles, green diverticula and yellow surface pigmentation, and number of denticles on the largest radular teeth (9); C. reflexa sp. nov. by the simple colouration, short radula (30 teeth), terminal position of the cusp, a very short or no vagina and the renal opening above the anus.
The name Tergipedidae (= Cuthonidae) is given priority and its use reviewed. Three subfamilies are recognized viz. Cuthonellinae, Cuthoninae and Tergipedidinae, each founded on the division of the digestive gland. Thirteen genera are listed, but only seven are firmly established as being distinctive and belonging to the family; one of the remaining six, Guyvalvoria Vayssiere, 1906, is certainly valid, but, because the ceratal arrangement is only superficially known, its place in the family could not be determined.     

Aeolid opisthobranch molluscs (Glaucidae) from the Indian Ocean and the south-west Pacific

Eight aeolid opisthobranch molluscs of the subfamilies Facelininae, Favorininae, and Herviellinae are reported from Tanzanian waters, and two species from Northwestern India. New records from Queensland, Australia greatly extend the range of two species reported from Tanzania. Phidiana militaris (Alder & Hancock) and P. indica (Bergh) are shown to be distinct and a species from New Zealand, originally identified as P. militaris , is shown to be new. P. bourailli (Risbec), previously reported only from New Caledonia, is described from Tanzania, as is a new species of Phidiana. Favorinus japonicus Baba is reported from Tanzania, the first published record outside Japan, a new species of Godiva is described from Tanzania and Queensland, and three new species of Sakuraeolis are described, one from India and two from Tanzania. A new species of Herviella is described from Tanzania.     

Progenesis in the evolution of the nudibranch mollusks genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dendronotus</Emphasis> (Gastropoda: Nudibranchia)

The morphology and postlarval ontogenesis of the radula in 11 species of the genus Dendronotus Alder et Hancock, 1845, has been studied. Four types of radula are recognized in adult mollusks. Proposed evidence suggests that small species of Dendronotus have evolved by progenesis.     

Estimates of biochemical genetic diversity within and between the nudibranch molluscs Adalaria proxima (Alder & Hancock) and Onchidoris muricata (Muller) (Doridacea: Onchidorididae)

A total of 13 enzymes, coded by 14 loci, were successfully examined by horizontal starch gel electrophoresis in the intertidal dorid nudibranchs Adalaria proxima (Alder & Hancock) and Onchidorismuricata (Muller). The derived genetic identity and similarity values provided estimates more typical of congeneric, than only confamilial, species. The suggestion is that these two species hold a recent common ancestry, and that Adalaria proxima (with its more advanced, pelagic lecithotrophic larva) is an evolutionary derivative of the Onchidoris muricata stock. At least three loci (Pgm and Fum, A. proxima; Pep-2, O. muricata) are all highly polymorphic.     

EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN OPISTHOBRANCHIA: DOTIDAE (DENDRONOTOIDEA), ARMINIDAE AND MADRELLIDAE (ARMINOIDEA)

An account is given of Doto, Armina and Madrella species collectedon diving and dredging expeditions to the Ligurian, Tyrrhenian,Adriatic, Ionian and Aegean Seas during the period 1973–1988,supplemented by material collected around Naples (southern Italy)and Banyuls (French Côte Vermeille). In all, 5 speciesof Doto, 3 of Armina and 1 of Madrella were investigated, yielding5 new records for the eastern Mediterranean Sea and one speciesnew to science, Armina tricuspidata from the Tyrrhenian Sea.The common arminid on the American coast from North Carolinato Texas is not A. tigrina as claimed by Abbott(1954) and byEyster (1981), but is a new species, for which we propose thename Armina abbotti. Consideration of world-wide records of Madrella leads to theconclusion that the senior Madrella sanguinea Angas, 1864, embracesM. ferruginosa Alder & Hancock, 1864, M. aurantiace Vayssière,1903 and M. granularis Baba, 1949 (but not the Japanese M. gloriosaBaba, 1949, which is probably distinct). ^*T.E. Thompson died in a car accident 1 January 1990. (Received 2 May 1989; accepted 4 November 1989)     

Aeolid nudibranchs (Gastropoda: Opisthobranchia) of the family Glaucidae from New Zealand waters

Two new species of aeolid, a new genus being created for one of them, are described along with another two species, one Phidiana militaris (Alder & Hancock) (= Learchis militaris ) a new record for New Zealand, the other, Glaucus atlanticus , found only once before. Jason mirabilis gen. et sp. nov. is distinguished by a ventral tongue-like process with a ridged chitinous covering which replaces the radula (still present but vestigial) and by the greatly subdivided rhinophoral lamellae. Babaina caprinsulensis sp. nov. differs from its Californian relative in having papillate rhinophores. The New Zealand specimens of Phidiana militaris differ slightly in colouration from those described for elsewhere in the Indo-Pacific.
The Glaucidae is enlarged to include the Babainidae, Facelinidae and Favorinidae, the main familial characteristics being the simple oral glands, sharp radular tooth and pugnacious behaviour. Possible evolutionary trends within the family based on the arrangement of the cerata and penial structure are traced out. The Babaininae, pleuroproctic with a notal ridge and irregular disposition of the cerata, is considered the most primitive subfamily and the Hervellinae, with cerata in single rows, the most advanced. The many facelinid genera previously recognized are reduced to two, Antionetta Schmekel and Phidiana Gray.     

Evaluation of antimicrobial activity of the lichens Lasallia pustulata, Parmelia sulcata, Umbilicaria crustulosa, and Umbilicaria cylindrica

The antimicrobial properties of acetone, methanol, and aqueous extracts of the lichens Lasallia pustulata, Parmelia sulcata, Umbilicaria crustulosa, and Umbilicaria cylindrica were studied comparatively in vitro. Antimicrobial activities of the extracts of different lichens were estimated by the disk diffusion test for Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, and fungal organisms, as well as by determining the MIC (minimal inhibitory concentration). The obtained results showed that the acetone and methanol extracts of Lasallia pustulata, Parmelia sulcata, and Umbilicaria crustulosa manifest antibacterial activity against the majority of species of bacteria tested, in addition to selective antifungal activity. The MIC of lichen extracts was lowest (0.78 mg/ml) for the acetone extract of Lasallia pustulata against Bacillus mycoides. Aqueous extracts of all of the tested lichens were inactive. Extracts of the lichen Umbilicaria cylindrica manifested the weakest activity, inhibiting only three of the tested organisms.     

中国疱脐衣属的新种与新资料

本文报道了中国疱脐衣属四个新分类单位,其中包括三个新种:华东疱脐衣(Lasallia sinorientalis Wei),大理疱脐衣(L.daliensis Wei),苍山疱脐衣(L.caeonshanensis Wei)及东亚疱脐衣一新变种:樊净山变种(L.asiae-orientalis var.fanjingensis Wei)。此外,还从东亚疱脐衣的模式标本中首次发现了该种的子囊盘,并作了补充描述。作者认为,根据有关中国地衣区系的现有知识,迄今尚未发现分布于中国的疱脐衣(Lasallia pustulata(L.)Merat)。而华东疱脐衣可能是疱脐衣在亚洲的地理替代种。     

EOLID NUDIBRANCHIATE MOLLUSCA FROM BARBADOS

17 species of eolid nudibranch are described from Barbados inthe Caribbean sea of which three are new: Cuthona iris, Cuthonabarbadiana and Learchis evelinae. The present status of thefamilies Cuthonidae and Facelinidae is discussed. (Received 8 July 1982;     

Development of allele-specific single-nucleotide polymorphism-based polymerase chain reaction markers in cytochrome oxidase I for the differentiation of Bactrocera papayae and Bactrocera carambolae (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Differentiation of Bactrocera papayae Drew & Hancock and Bactrocera carambolae Drew & Hancock (Diptera: Tephritidae) based on morphological characters has often been problematical. We describe here a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay to differentiate between these two species. For detection of SNPs, fragments derived from each species were amplified using two primer pairs, COIF/COIR and UEA7/UEA10, sequenced, and aligned to obtain a contiguous 1,517-bp segment. Two new sets of primers were designed based on the 11 SNPs identified in the region. Results of the SNP-PCR test using any one of these species-specific primer sets indicate that these two species could be differentiated on basis of presence or absence of a band in the gel profile. We also tested the SNP-PCR primers on Bactrocera umbrosa F., Bactrocera cucurbitae Coquillett, Bactrocera latifrons Hendel, and Bactrocera tau (Walker) but did not detect any band in the gel, indicating the likelihood of a false positive for B. papayae is nil. This SNP-PCR method is efficient and useful, especially for immature life stages or when only adult body parts of the two species are available for identification, as encountered often in quarantine work.     

Marine biodiversity of Costa Rica: class Polychaeta (Annelida)

Three hundred and thirty two species of polychaetes belonging to 50 families are reported for Costa Rica based on previously published reports. In a few families, available material was re-examined and appropriate changes in species identifications were made. Only three species, (Glycera oxycephala Ehlers, 1887; Hemipodia pustulata (Friedrich 1956); and Scolepis (Scolepis) squamata (Miller, 1806)) have been reported from the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, and these three species have also been reported from the Pacific Coast. The families with more than 15 species are the Spionidae (26), Cirratulidae (24), Nereididae (21), Lumbrineridae (19) and Paraonidae (16). Despite extensive sampling on the Pacific coast over the last 25 years, the Costa Rican polychaete fauna, especially that of the Caribbean coast, remains poorly known.     

Suppression of cotton leafworm Spodoptera litura, flower beetle Mylabris pustulata and red cotton bug Dysdercus cingulatus by Rhynocoris marginatus (Fabr.) (Het., Reduviidae) in cotton field cages

Abstract: Mass-reared reduviid, Rhynocoris marginatus was released in large-sized cotton field cages against three cotton pests, Spodoptera litura, Mylabris pustulata and Dysdercus cingulatus . Pest species were introduced into separate cages in the absence of other pests, parasitoids and predators. Control experimental cages without R. marginatus were maintained for each prey set up during the evaluation period. R. marginatus greatly reduced the infestation of S. litura (57.5%), M. pustulata (52.3%) and D. cingulatus (45.8%). The leaves, flower and boll damages (32%, 35% and 28% by S. litura, M. pustulata and D. cingulatus , respectively) and seed-cotton yield loss (1.4, 1.6 and 1.25 times in S. litura, M. pustulata and D. cingulatus infested cages, respectively) were reduced by R. marginatus compared with such fields without R. marginatus . The field observations suggest this predator's pest suppression and damage reduction efficacy.     

Over-winter decomposition and associated macroinvertebrate communities of three deciduous leaf species in forest streams on the Canadian Boreal Shield

The decomposition of deciduous leaf material provides a critical source of energy to aquatic food webs. Changes to riparian forests through harvesting practices may alter the species composition of deciduous leaf material entering streams. We compared over-winter decomposition of three different riparian leaf species (speckled alder (Alnus incana ssp. rugosa (Du Roi) J. Clausen), white birch (Betula papyrifera Marsh.), and trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.)) to determine their importance as a food resource for macroinvertebrate communities within Boreal Shield streams in northeastern Ontario, Canada. Leaf pack decomposition of the three leaf species formed a processing continuum throughout winter, where alder and birch leaf packs decomposed at a medium rate (k = 0.0065/day and 0.0053/day, respectively) and aspen leaf packs decomposed more slowly (k = 0.0035/day). Macroinvertebrate community colonization on leaf packs changed through time regardless of leaf species. Alder leaf packs supported higher abundances of macroinvertebrates in the fall while aspen leaf packs supported greater shredder abundances in the following spring. The study shows that leaf diversity may be important for providing a sustained food resource for aquatic macroinvertebrates throughout the relatively long over-winter period in Canadian Boreal Shield streams. Riparian forest management strategies should ensure that deciduous plant species richness is sustained in riparian areas.