Copepoda associated with the coral Gardineroseris planulata (Dana) on the Great Barrier Reef,northeastern Australia

Three new lichomolgid copepods associated with the scleractinian Gardineroseris planulata (Dana) are described: Sociellus torus, n. gen., n. sp., characterized by a 2-segmented endopod in leg 3 and the lack of an inner seta on the first segment of the endopod in legs 1–3; Odontomolgus pumilus, n. sp., of very small size and having a much elongated free segment in leg 5 of the female; and Paramolgus ampullaceus, n. sp., distinguished by the bottle-shaped genital segment of the female. In addition, the harpacticoid Alteuthellopsis corallina Humes, 1981, is reported from this coral. With the inclusion of 3 species of the poecilostomatoid genus Xarifia already described (Humes, 1985) there are now 7 species of copepods known to be associated with Gardineroseris planulata on the Great Barrier Reef.     

Copepoda Poecilostomatoida associated with Bivalvia from New Guinea

Four species of Copepoda Poecilostomatoida are recorded from the mantle cavity of bivalve molluscs collected in West New Guinea (Irian Barat, Indonesia). Two of these are new to science: Pseudanthessius dimorphus and Lichomolgus hoi n. spp.     

New records of ahermatypic scleractinian corals from the Kuril Islands

Four species of caryophyllid scleractinians, Caryophylla ambrosia, C. scobinosa, C. alaskensis, and Polymyces montereyensis, were recorded for the first time in the Sea of Okhotsk off the Kuril Islands. These findings extend the range for the species, of which three had previously been considered to be restricted to the tropical and warm Indopacific waters. These data will supplement regional reports on the bottom fauna of the most fertile and extensively commercially exploited continental shelf region of the North Pacific.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by Biologiya Morya, Latypov.     

Copepoda (cyclopoida,Lichomolgidae) associated with the Alcyonacean Nephthea in the moluccas

In the Moluccas five lichomolgid copepods are associated with soft corals of the genus Nephthea. Paramolgus nephtheanus, n. sp., from Nephthea chabrolii, Nephthea sphaerophora, Nephthea cupressiformis, Nephthea albida, and Nephthea galbuloides, Paramolgus prominulus, n. sp., from N. sphaerophora, N. cupressiformis, and N. albida, and Paramolgus accinctus, n. sp., from N. sphaerophora, N. cupressiformis, N. albida, and N. galbuloides are distinguished from conspecifics by combinations of several characters. These include, among others, the length of the caudal ramus, the form of the female genital segment, and the shape of leg 5 in the female. Mecra ellipsaria, n. gen., n. sp., from N. sphaerophora has only two setae on the fourth segment of the first antenna, the formula II, 2 on the third endopod segment of leg 3, and five aesthetes on the second segment of the first antenna of the male. In Metaxymolgus lumarius, n. sp., from N. galbuloides and N. cupressiformis, the two claws on the second antenna are longer than the fourth second antennal segment and the proximal inner expansion of leg 5 in the female has a thorn-like process. Metaxymolgus aculeatus (Humes & Ho, 1968) occurs on N. chabrolii, N. sphaerophora, N. cupressiformis, N. albida, and N. galbuloides.     

Revision of the genusPandanus stickman,part 45 newPandanus species (Pandanaceae) from New Caledonia

To the 20 species and varieties of previously known in New Caledonia, there are here described and added three more species, one each in the sectionsBernardia, Lophostigma, andVeillonia.     

Life history of the silverside Atherinomorus lacunosus (Atherinidae) in New Caledonia

The abundance, the seasonal variation and the life history of the silverside, Atherinomorus lacunosus , are studied from fish caught in the lagoons around New Caledonia. About 270 nights of fishing were carried out between 1980 and 1983. The silverside is present in most of the fishing hauls but seldom in large quantities. Fish reproduce from September to December at 1 year of age. At this time their size is about 10 cm. Mortality is high and a few individuals can survive a second year and reach 13 cm. Results from other studies indicate that in a less seasonally contrasted environment than the lagoons of New Caledonia, A. lacunosus has several spawning periods during the year. This species is thus able to adjust its phenology to the environmental conditions.     

Oncaea frosti,a new species (Copepoda: Poecilostomatoida) from the Liberian coast and the Gulf of Mexico

A new species, Oncaea frosti, is described and compared to O. venusta Philippi and O. venella Farran. The three species are closely related and difficult to distinguish, except for the differences in size of females and males and dorsal dilation of pediger 2 of females of O. frosti.     

Two siphonostomatoid copepods (Coralliomyzontidae) associated with the ahermatypic coral Tubastraea in the Moluccas

Two siphonostomatoid copepods (Coralliomyzontidae) are associatedwith the ahermatypic coral Tubastraea micracantha at Banda inthe Moluccas. Cholomyzon brevisetigerum, new species, hasunusually short setae on the caudal rami. Corallimyzonlatitergum, new species, has an enlarged, posteriorly slightlytrilobate tergum on the third metasomal somite and lacksleg 4.     

Fire and succession in the ultramafic maquis of New Caledonia

Aim This study investigates the role of fire and post fire succession in determining the structure and composition of vegetation on ultramafic iron crust soils. Location The study was conducted in the Plaines des Lacs region of southern New Caledonia. Methods A survey was made of eighty-eight sites, recording floristic composition, trunk size-class distributions, regeneration after fire, growth ring counts of Dacrydium araucarioides (Podocarpaceae) and historical information on past fires. Floristic data was ordinated using multidimensional scaling and an index of succession based on structural and historical information. A transition matrix model was developed to predict the effect of fire frequency on vegetation composition. Results The vegetation is undergoing postfire succession from maquis to forest, after about 75 years, and eventually to rainforest. Gymnostoma deplancheanum has a key role as an early colonist that produces shade, the bulk of the litter, and forms nitrogen fixing nodules with Frankia sp. However, the open canopy of Gymnostoma and slow litter decay creates flammable conditions. Though many species resprout from rootstocks, only thirty-nine persist through fires while 114 others colonize at later successional stages, as the litter layer and shade increase. Some early successional species are later excluded but these can persist locally in swamps and on rocky hill tops. Forest and rainforest are less flammable and the matrix model suggests that ignition frequency has a critical role in determining the abundance of maquis or forest. Main conclusions The vegetation mosaic represents a post fire succession from open maquis to forest. Palynological and charcoal records from late Pleistocene sediments suggest that fire has been a major factor determining the development of maquis vegetation since before the arrival of humans. Recently, frequent fires have converted much of the vegetation to maquis, posing a threat to some forest species and largely eliminating rainforest from iron crust soils.     

First record of Aulacidae (Hymenoptera: Evanioidea) from New Caledonia with descriptions of three new species of Aulacus Jurine

Abstract The parasitoid wasp family Aulacidae is recorded for the first time from New Caledonia, and three new species are described: Aulacus burwelli, A. coracinus , and A. emineo . Although recorded from just a few specimens, these species appear to be restricted to the moist evergreen rainforest areas of the main island of Grande Terre. They appear unrelated to Australian members of the family, based on a number of characters associated with the forewing venation and hind coxal morphology, as well as size and colour. A key to distinguish the species is presented, as well as information on their distribution and possible relationships.     

Three new genera of Leptophlebiidae (Ephemeroptera) from New Zealand

Abstract

Three new genera—Austroclima, Mauiulus, and Cryophlebia—are established for species of Leptophlebiidae from New Zealand. The following new combinations are included: Austroclima sepia (Phillips) and Cryophlebia aucklandensis (Peters). Atalophlebioides sepia is redescribed as Austroclima sepia and a neotype is designated. Two new species, Austroclima jollyae and Mauiulus luma, are described. All life stages are described, and the relationships of each genus are discussed. Keys are given to male and female imagos, subimagos, and nymphs of each species, and to all New Zealand genera with species previously placed in Atalophlebioides.     

Therodamas tamarae, a new species of copepod (Poecilostomatoida: Ergasilidae) parasitic on Plagioscion squamosissimus (Heckel) from the Araguaia River, Brazil; with a key to the species of the genus

Therodamas tamarae n.sp. is described based on females removed from branchial filaments of Plagioscion squamosissimus (Teleostei, Sciaenidae) caught in a lake near the Araguaia River, State of Goiás, Brazil. The new species shares with Therodamas elongatus (Thatcher, 1986) the same host, a similar reaction from the host to the presence of the parasites, and the same general shape of body; in addition, the two species are from the Amazon basin. On the other hand, it resembles T. fluviatilis Paggi, 1976 in the structure of legs 1 to 4. An identification key for Therodamas species, as well as comments on the distribution of the species, are included.     

Tropical dry forests in New Caledonia

Tropical dry forest is the most endangered major vegetation type in the New Caledonia biodiversity hotspot. Vegetation surveys following a transect method used by Gentry were undertaken in two tropical dry forest sites, Ouen-Toro and Pindai, in order to compare species richness, floristic composition, and structure. Pindai contained significantly higher species richness than Ouen-Toro, although there was little difference in forest structure. Tropical dry forest sites in New Caledonia were compared to seven other biodiversity hotspots with tropical dry forest where Gentry's transect method was employed. New Caledonia and other tropical dry forests on islands contain significantly lower species richness than mainland tropical dry forests in biodiversity hotspots. However, New Caledonia contained the highest number of threatened species based on IUCN global conservation categories. Tropical dry forest in New Caledonia appears to be the world's most endangered tropical dry forest based on the extent of forest, number of reserves, and threatened species. Management of tropical dry forests on private and community lands is absolutely imperative to the long-term persistence of this ecosystem.     

Plant extinction in New Caledonia: protection of sclerophyll forests urgently needed

The sclerophyll forests which once extended over the lowlands of the west coast of New Caledonia are now reduced to small fragments representing about 2% (10 000 ha) of their original area. Much of the remaining forests are degraded. Threats to sclerophyll forests come from land clearance, grazing by cattle or deer, and fire. In sclerophyll forests, 223 endemic phanerogam species occur and 59 of these are specific to this forest type. Several of the 59 specific species are known only from a few plants at a single locality and are critically endangered. Pittosporum tanianum sp. nov. became extinct shortly after its discovery in 1988, and becomes the first documented plant extinction in New Caledonia. A further 15 species of New Caledonian plants, not recorded for several decades, are discussed, and it is concluded that between 4 and 9 of them may be extinct. The existing reserves containing sclerophyll forests are inadequate to protect the remaining biodiversity of the forests. Four immediate steps needed to protect sclerophyll forests are (i) restoration of Leprédour Island; (ii) purchase and restoration of selected privately owned forests; (iii) management of publicly owned forest near Népoui; and (iv) ex situ conservation of certain species.     

New Data on Scleractinians from the Northwestern Sea of Japan

three species of scleractinians, individual caryophyllids Caryophyllia alaskensis, C. japonica, and the colonial dendrophyllid Dendrophyllia arbuscula were described for the first time for the Sea of Japan. The findings of these corals in different areas of Peter the Great Bay, Sea of Japan, allow us to expand their geographic range and the depth range of their distribution. The depth of inhabitation reached 1280 m for C. alaskensis and up to 15–3 m deep for D. arbuscula.     

Alkaliphilus serpentinus sp. nov. and Alkaliphilus pronyensis sp. nov., two novel anaerobic alkaliphilic species isolated from the serpentinite-hosted Prony Bay Hydrothermal Field (New Caledonia)

Two novel anaerobic alkaliphilic strains, designated as LacT^T and LacV^T, were isolated from the Prony Bay Hydrothermal Field (PBHF, New Caledonia). Cells were motile, Gram-positive, terminal endospore-forming rods, displaying a straight to curved morphology during the exponential phase. Strains LacT^T and LacV^T were mesophilic (optimum 30 °C), moderately alkaliphilic (optimum pH 8.2 and 8.7, respectively) and halotolerant (optimum 2% and 2.5% NaCl, respectively). Both strains were able to ferment yeast extract, peptone and casamino acids, but only strain LacT^T could use sugars (glucose, maltose and sucrose). Both strains disproportionated crotonate into acetate and butyrate. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that strains LacT^T and LacV^T shared 96.4% 16S rRNA gene sequence identity and were most closely related to A. peptidifermentans Z-7036, A. namsaraevii X-07-2 and A. hydrothermalis FatMR1 (95.7%–96.3%). Their genome size was of 3.29 Mb for strain LacT^T and 3.06 Mb for strain LacV^T with a G + C content of 36.0 and 33.9 mol%, respectively. The ANI value between both strains was 73.2 %. Finally, strains LacT^T (=DSM 100337 = JCM 30643) and LacV^T (=DSM 100017 = JCM 30644) are proposed as two novel species of the genus Alkaliphilus, order Clostridiales, phylum Firmicutes, Alkaliphilus serpentinus sp. nov. and Alkaliphilus pronyensis sp. nov., respectively. The genomes of the three Alkaliphilus species isolated from PBHF were consistently detected in the PBHF chimney metagenomes, although at very low abundance, but not significantly in the metagenomes of other serpentinizing systems (marine or terrestrial) worldwide, suggesting they represent indigenous members of the PBHF microbial ecosystem.     

Printed in Great Britain Mandobius regalis gen. et sp.n. (Copepoda: Poecilostomatoida: Lichomolgidae) associated with the coral Pectinia lactuca in New Caledonia

A new genus, Mandobius gen.n, containing a new species, M. regalis sp.n., is associated with the coral Pectinia lactuca in New Caledonia. The new copepod differs conspicuously from the allied genus Paramolgus in having only one seta on the first segment of the first antenna, in the formula 1,11,3 for the third segment of the endopodite of leg 1, and in the formula 11,1,5 for the third segment of the exopodite of leg 4.