First reported occurrence of wewokellid sponges (Calcarea, Heteractinida) from the Permian of central Iran

The new calcisponges Regispongia fluegeli n. sp., and Iranospongia circulara n. gen. n. sp., are described from central Iran. These are the first heteractinid sponges reported from the Permian of the region. These wewokellid sponges are large, irregularly cylindrical forms with a distinct axial spongocoel. The calcareous spicular skeletons of both taxa have been overgrown and are recrystallized. However, the preserved skeleton of Regispongia fluegeli does include large polyactines in the main endosomal layer and small octactines and possibly other polyactine spicules in both the relatively massive dermal layer and the distinct, delicately spiculed, gastral layer. Iranospongia is characterized by a discontinuous ring of vertical exhalant canals interior to the dense dermal layer, and by an interior skeleton net that includes common coarse vertical fibers. Individual spicules in Iranospongia are commonly obscured, but locally some remnants of possible polyactines occur in outer parts of the skeleton.     

A new species ofEupenicillium from marine sediment

A new species ofEupenicillium isolated from marine sediment,Eupenicillium limosum, is described and illustrated. This species is characterized by subglobose ascospores with spinulose surface ornamentation and irregular biverticillate penicilli.     

Substratum preference of the tropical estuarine crabs,Uca tangeri Eydoux (Ocypodidae) and Ocypode cursor Linne (Ocypodidae)

The vertical and horizontal distribution of two burrowing mud crabs, (Ocypodidae) and Ocypode cursor Linne 1758 (Ocypodidae) are described for the Bonny Estuary (7° 00' E: 4° 20′ N), S. Nigeria. Substratum preference is the most prominent factor influencing distribution, but lack of tolerance to low salinities (< 6%_o) is also important, and prevents Ocypode cursor from occurring close to freshwater. The two species have slightly different sediment organic content and grade size requirements. Ocypode cursor was concentrated in well drained sandy sediment above mid-tide-level, whilst Uca tangeri was found in water-logged areas slightly above and below Mid-tide-level. This vertical demarcation is attributed to differential feeding and burrowing adaptations related to different substrata, rather than to differential tolerances to desiccation.     

The Morphology of Cysts and Motile Cells of Gyrodinium instriatum (Dinophyta), a Species New to the Seas of Russia

The germination of dinoflagellate cysts isolated from the surface sediment from Peter the Great Bay (Sea of Japan) provided motile cells of Gyrodinium instriatum. This is the first report on this species for the seas of Russia. The morphology of both collected and germinated cysts and motile cells is described, and data on the ecology and distribution of the species are provided.     

Phellinus setifer sp. nov. andP. acontextus, two noteworthy polypores from temperate areas of Japan, with notes on their allies

Type examination ofTrametes gilvoides revealed that it is distinct from the fungus hitherto known asPhellinus gilvoides in Japan.Phellinus setifer sp. nov. is described for the Japanese materials. This species is characterized by effusedreflexed basidiocarps with strigose pileus surface, often dentate dissepiments, subulate setae, and cylindrical basidiospores.Phellinus acontextus, known only from the type material collected in Nepal, is newly reported from Japan. This species is characterized by sessile and often pendent basidiocarps with multisulcate pileus surface, very thin context, lack of setae, and dark-colored basidiospores. Cultural characters of the two species are also described.Phellinus acifer comb. nov. is proposed.Phellinus contiguus andP. ferreus are newly reported from Japan.     

A New Basidiomycetous Yeast Species, Cryptococcus mycelialis, Related to Holtermannia Saccardo et Traverso

A new species of the genus Cryptococcus, Cr. mycelialis (the type strain VKM Y-2863), is described based on the taxonomic study of four strains isolated from soil and plant samples collected on the South Georgia and East Falkland islands. This species differs from the known Cryptococcus species in its ability to form a true monokaryotic mycelium with pseudoclamp connections and haustoria. The species can be distinguished from the phylogenetically related and phenotypically similar species Holtermannia corniformis and Cr. nyarrowii by some assimilatory reactions, maximum growth temperature, and sensitivity to mycocins.     

New species ofRelbunium (Rubiaceae) from Brazil,with notes on flavonoid and peroxidase patterns

Three new species ofRelbunium, R. humilioides, R. catarinense, andR. longipedunculatum (Rubiaceae), endemic in the southern states of Brazil, are described. Flavonoid patterns from two-dimensional thin layer chromatography and peroxidase patterns from gel electrophoresis are presented for two of them. The relationships of the new species, their taxonomic position, and their evolutionary significance within the genus are discussed.The Systematics and Evolution of the GenusRelbunium (Rubiaceae), I.     

A newCercophora with aChrysosporium-like anamorph

A new species ofCercophora, isolated from river sediment collected from Sakai River in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, is described and illustrated. It is distinguished from the other knwon species by the morphology of its ascomatal peridium and ascospores, and by itsChrysosporium-like anamorph.     

Emericella appendiculata, a new species from Chinese soil

Emericella appendiculata, a new species isolated from soil of the Pamire Plateau, is described and illustrated. It is characterized by grayish green non-ostiolate ascomata surrounded by a thick layer of hülle cells, membranaceous peridium, prototunicate asci, violet-brown, lenticular ascospores which are ornamented by two stellate equatorial crests, capitate convex surfaces, and long filiform appendages, and anAspergillus anamorph with biseriate conidiogenous cells.     

柔毛赤车, 广西荨麻科一新种

描述了自广西西南部发现的荨麻科(Urticaceae)赤车属(Pellionia)一新种,柔毛赤车(P. mollissima)。此种的特征是其瘦果具短线纹和瘤状突起,据此果实特征,可将此种与赤车属的其他种相区别。     

Morphological, Ecological and Molecular Studies of Vannella simplex Wohlfarth-Bottermann 1960 (Lobosea, Gymnamoebia), with a new Diagnosis of this Species

Vannella simplex (Gymnamoebia, Vannellidae) is one of the most common amoebae species, recorded from a variety of regions. It was originally described as a freshwater species, but has also been reported from shallow-water regions of the Baltic Sea. In the present work, we investigated the morphology and biology of three V. simplex isolates, originating from geographically distant regions. Among them is one brackish water strain, isolated from artificial cyanobacterial mats, which were originally sampled in Nivå Bay (Baltic Sea, The Sound). The strain is cyst-forming and can thrive at salinity ranges from 0–50 ppt. Phylogenetic relationships were investigated by sequencing partial SSU rDNA of the cultured V. simplex isolates. Additional sequences were obtained from four environmental DNA extractions of sediment samples collected from different localities in Switzerland. Analysis of all obtained sequences revealed a monophyletic group. Based on the analysis and comparison of morphological, ecological and molecular data sets we compiled a distribution map of V. simplex and propose an emendation of this species.     

A remarkable new species in the lichen genusPlacopsis from Papua New Guinea (lichenized ascomycetes,Agyriaceae)

Placopsis auriculata Lumbsch & Kashiwadani is described from Papua New Guinea. This new species is characterized by the presence of campylidia-like helmet-shaped soralia and the presence of the gyrophoric acid chemosyndrome. Hiascic acid is reported for the first time from theAgyriaceae. The distinction of that species from other sorediate species ofPlacopsis is briefly discussed.     

On the anatomy and taxonomy of Cerebratulus hepaticus Hubrecht, 1879 (Nemertini) from the Mediterranean (Banyuls-sur-Mer)

The anatomy of an insufficiently described species of heteronemertine, Cerebratulus hepaticus, is redescribed. The species is characterized by, inter alia, a cephalic lacuna with strands of longitudinal muscle fibres, a proboscis with three muscle layers, neurochord cells in the brain, a dermis in the foregut region with no or few longitudinal muscle fibres which is separated from the outer longitudinal muscle layer by connective tissue. The taxon is compared with two other Cerebratulus species, C. fuscus and C. marginatus. The material was collected at Banyuls-sur-Mer (France) in the Mediterranean.     

柔毛赤车, 广西荨麻科一新种

描述了自广西西南部发现的荨麻科(Urticaceae)赤车属(Pellionia)一新种,柔毛赤车(P.mollissima)。此种的特征是其瘦果具短线纹和瘤状突起,据此果实特征,可将此种与赤车属的其他种相区别。     

Heavy metal concentrations in common freshwater snails of Azraq Oasis,Jordan

Heavy metal concentrations in three freshwater snails, an aquatic plant, sediment, and water from Azraq Oasis pools in the Jordanian desert were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. There were significant differences in metal accumulation among snail species. These snails are ranked according to their metal accumulation capacity in the order: Melanoides tuberculata > Melanopsis praemorsa > Theodoxus jordani. Although there were no significant differences among the size classes of these snails in metal concentrations, larger snails contained generally higher levels of metals than the smaller ones. The concentration factors for the selected snails exceeded 10³, while it ranged from 0.1–10.2 × 10³ for Typha angustata plants. Among sampling sites, metal concentrations in M. praemorsa, T. angustata, sediment, and water were not significantly different, except for Fe in M. praemorsa which was highest at station 3, and Cd and Cr which were highest in water and sediment of station 4. The seasonal variation in metal content was found to be species and metal-dependent.     

广东中山地区气单胞菌环境株的分离、鉴定及系统发生关系

从广东省中山市的池塘水样、底泥、健康鱼、肠道及稻田土样中用Aeromonas的选择培养基分离到10株气单胞菌。通过生理生化测试、16S rDNA序列测定、与气单胞菌典型菌株的16S rDNA序列进行比对和聚类分析,对它们进行了鉴定,并研究了它们之间的系统发生关系。结果显示该地区环境中气单胞菌的优势种除A. hydrophila（HG1组）外, 还有A. caviae（HG4组）、A. jandaei(HG9组)和A. veronii(HG10组),其中后两种是国内新记录。这是国内首次对环境中气单胞菌多样性进行研究。     

Miscellaneous notes on Discomycetes of the Bonin Islands,Ani-jima Island

Cup fungi of Ani-jima Island, the Bonin Islands, were collected in November 1990 and described for the first time from Ani-jima Island. Four species,Dicephalospora rufocornea, Lachnum abnormis, Lachnum pritzelianum, andOrbilia delicatula were collected from the materials in the litter layer ofLivistona chinensis var.boninensis community around Mt. Kita-hutago in Ani-jima Island.Pulvinula globifera was collected from the soil under a camellia (Schima mertensiana) community to the southeast of Mt. Kita-hutago.Lachnum pritzelianum was new to Japan.     

New species of Phallodrilus (Oligochaeta,Tubificidae) from caves of northern Spain and southwestern France

A taxonomic account of a collection of Phallodrilus species inhabiting caves is given. The following three new species are described: P. subterraneus, P. crypticus and P. labouichensis. New material of P. aquaedulcis Hrabe, 1960 from northern Spain and southwestern France is reported. This species was previously known from West Germany. The relationship between Phallodrilus cave species and littoral and deep-sea species is discussed.     

Isolation and characterization of a novel mesophilic,fresh-water methanogen from river sediment Methanoculleus oldenburgensis sp. nov.

A new mesophilic, irregular coccoid methanogen isolated from a river sediment is described. Hydrogen plus carbon dioxide or formate served as substrates for methanogenesis in a mineral salt medium. For growth acetate is strictly required. Elevated levels of sodium chloride were not required and were inhibitory at concentrations above 1.5% (w/v). The optimal growth temperature was at 45°C. The DNA base ratio was 48.6±1 mol% G+C. The polar lipid pattern and the polyamine content were similar to that found in several Methanoculleus species. The new isolate CB-1 was assigned as Methanoculleus oldenburgensis (DSM 6216).     

Seasonal Vertical Migration and Aestivation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhyacodrilus hiemalis</Emphasis> (Tubificidae,Clitellata) in the Sediment of Lake Biwa,Japan

The vertical distribution of the tubificid worm Rhyacodrilus hiemalis Ohtaka, the numerically dominant species of oligochaete in the littoral of Lake Biwa, was studied with special reference to seasonal vertical migration in the lake sediment. Monthly collections of lake sediment cores were made using PVC tubes. Core sections of sample sediments ranged from 76 to 117 cm. The vertical distribution of the worms showed no diurnal variation; therefore diel vertical migration was not evident. Seasonal downward migration started in April, and upward migration started in October. From December to March, almost all worms remained in the near-surface sediment layer (surface to 30 cm deep), while from July to September almost all worms remained deeper than 30 cm. However, few individuals migrated deeper than 90 cm. No discontinuous layers were found in grain size composition, water content, loss on ignition, particulate carbon, nitrogen or phosphorus. In deep sediment there was no free oxygen, as evidenced by negative ORP values. For 4 months in summer, R. hiemalis aestivated, probably utilizing anaerobic respiration. It appeared that R. hiemalis moved deeper in the sediment in response to sediment temperature, because sediment temperatures in the deep layers seemed to converge at around 20–21 °C in the summer months. The life history traits of seasonal vertical migration and summer aestivation perhaps arose as an adaptation to the climatic conditions accompanying the geographical origin of R. hiemalis, and they also serve to minimize predation risk during summer when most invertebrate predatory fishes are active.