Reproductive mechanisms and dynamics of habitat colonization in Microcerotermes biroi (Isoptera: Termitidae)

Abstract. 1. Previous studies on the arboreal termite community in coconut plantations of northern New Guinea showed that Microcerotermes biroi is the most abundant species, despite the fighting superiority of two competitor species Nasutitermes princeps and N.novarumhebridarum. In this study we tested the hypothesis that the success of M.biroi is due to its efficiency at colonizing new habitats following nuptial flights.
2. We demonstrated experimentally the ability of M.biroi colonies to replace their reproductives when removed, or to produce reproductives in satellite nests when isolated from the remainder of the colony. Replacement reproductives were always neotenics, derived from nymphs or workers.
3. Despite the ability of neotenics to differentiate within their home colonies, 84% of field colonies were headed by dealated imagos. This value constitutes a minimum estimate of the proportion of field colonies founded independently by imagos after the nuptial flight.
4. The monitoring of a young plantation during the first 31/2 years of its colonization by arboreal nesting termites revealed its invasion by M.biroi , which colonized 63% of the trees while neither Nasutitermes species appeared.
5. Our results demonstrate that M.biroi is actually a pioneer species, able to invade a new habitat by means of nuptial flights. They outline the importance of each species' reproductive strategy in shaping the arboreal-nesting termite community.     

Parabrosmolus novaeguineae,a new genus and species of the subfamily Brosmophycinae from Papua New Guinea (Bythitidae,Ophidiiformes)

Parabrosmolus novaeguineae, a new genus and species of the subfamily Brosmophycinae (family Bythitidae) is described, based on a single specimen from Papua New Guinea. The genus is unique in the tribe Brosmophycini in having six branchiostegal rays and ten precaudal vertebrae, and is also similarly distinguished from two brosmophycine genera,Melodichthys andBeaglichthys, tribal allocations of the two latter being uncertain.Parabrosmolus also differs from all other genera in the subfamily by the following combination of characters: head scaly, anal fin origin slightly before midpoint of body, eye diameter shorter than snout length, three developed rakers on first gill arch and 16 (14+2) caudal fin rays.     

Caste morphology and development in Termitogeton nr. planus (Insecta,Isoptera, Rhinotermitidae)

The termite family Rhinotermitidae displays a wide diversity in its patterns of social organization in castes. The genus Termitogeton probably branched off early in the evolution of this family. We studied the developmental pathways of a putative undescribed species from New Guinea, Termitogeton nr planus. The development begins with two white inactive instars (larvae), the second of which possesses small wing buds. These are followed by a relatively homogenous group of active immature stages (pseudergates) among which a biometric study revealed the presence of four instars. The first of these instars possesses wing buds that regress at subsequent molts. The external morphology of older instars resembles that of higher termite workers. Older pseudergates can differentiate into presoldiers and then into soldiers, but they are also able to molt into a unique stage with long wing pads (nymph), preceding the imago. Colony maturity can be reached with about 10(3) individuals. The sex ratio is near 1:1 in all castes except soldiers, among which females are more numerous than males. The caste pattern of T. nr. planus is reminiscent of those of the Kalotermitidae and Termopsidae, and of Prorhinotermes among the Rhinotermitidae. None of these taxa possess a true worker caste, permanently diverted from imaginal development: social tasks are done by unspecialized immatures that retain a full array of developmental options, including that of proceeding to the imago. The most remarkable trait of T. nr. planus is the presence in all second-instar individuals of wing buds that later regress to reappear in the single nymphal stage. We suggest that the traditional definitions of the terms larvae, nymphs, and pseudergates should be revised because they cannot be satisfactorily applied to the castes of Termitogeton.     

Caprellids (Crustacea: Amphipoda) from Papua New Guinea,with the description of a new species

This is the first study of caprellid amphipods from the coast of Papua New Guinea. Several collections from Madang Lagoon (north) and Bootless Bay (south) have been studied. Seven species in seven genera are recorded, of which Pseudoproto papua sp. nov. is described as new to science. The genus Pseudoproto Mayer, 1903 has consisted, so far, of only one species, Pseudoproto fallax Mayer, 1903. Although only a single male has been found of Pseudoproto papua sp. nov., differences in antennae, mouthparts, gnathopod 2 and pereopods 3 and 4 have revealed that it represents a new species of Pseudoproto. Lateral view figures of all species, together with a key to species level for the Caprellidea from Papua New Guinea are also included. Communicated by H.-D. Franke     

Contributions to the Cladocera fauna from Papua New Guinea

Twenty-eight taxa of the Cladocera are identified in collections from Papua New Guinea, 17 being new records for New Guinea, bringing the total number of Cladocera taxa reported for this region to 39. Most of the taxa are circumtropical. One species (Sarsilatona papuana) is endemic to Papua New Guinea and northern Australia. The species list includes two species that are normally listed as Holarctic:Alonella nana andAlona rustica. Widespread genera such asDaphnia, Pleuroxus, Disparalona, Acroperus were strikingly absent from the Papua New Guinean material.     

A new species of Zygina from Papua New Guinea,and records of some leafhopper and planthopper species (Homoptera: Cicadelloidea and Delphacidae)

Abstract

Zygina medioborealis n.sp. is described from silver beet and carrots from Papua New Guinea. Indications are that this species, along with its close allies from Australia, New Zealand, and Norfolk Island, forms an incipient genus radically different from Palearctic and Nearctic Zygina Fieber. A few species of leafhopper and planthopper are listed, with their hosts; Cofana nigrilinea (Stål) is a new record for this locality.     

进口巴布亚新几内亚原木上截获吉丁虫的鉴定

描述江苏口岸首次从巴新原木上截获的8种吉丁虫,隶属于窄吉丁Agrilus,澳纹吉丁Anilara,星吉丁Chrysobothris,胸斑吉丁Belionota,驼翅吉丁Cyphogastra。编制族属检索表,介绍8种的鉴别特征,并配以8种吉丁虫的原色图,对检疫性害虫窄吉丁非中国种的分类状况作了简介。     

A new Philocheras species (Decapoda,Crangonidae) from Hansa Bay,Papua New Guinea

A new species of crangonid shrimp, Philocheras wilkinsae (Decapoda, Crangonidae) is described from Hansa Bay, Madang Province, Papua New Guinea. The new species belongs to the japonicus group, and can be distinguished from the other members of this group by carapace dentition and carination. The pleopod structure is unique in the genus.     

Argentina adulterina (Rosaceae‐Potentilleae), a new species from New Guinea

Argentina adulterina Soják sp. nova from New Guinea (Irian Jaya) is described and compared with allied species. Habitually it is similar to A. irianensis, but in leaflet dentation it agrees with A. biloba. Leaves and leaflets of these three species are illustrated and a depiction of calyces of A. adulterina and A. irianensis is presented (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

The Knight and the King: two new species of giant bent-toed gecko (Cyrtodactylus,Gekkonidae, Squamata) from northern New Guinea,with comments on endemism in the North Papuan Mountains

The diverse biota of New Guinea includes many nominally widespread species that actually comprise multiple deeply divergent lineages with more localised histories of evolution. Here we investigate the systematics of the very large geckos of the Cyrtodactylusnovaeguineae complex using molecular and morphological data. These data reveal two widespread and divergent lineages that can be distinguished from each other, and from type material of Cyrtodactylusnovaeguineae, by aspects of size, build, coloration and male scalation. On the basis of these differences we describe two new species. Both have wide distributions that overlap extensively in the foothill forests of the North Papuan Mountains, however one is seemingly restricted to hill and lower montane forests on the ranges themselves, while the other is more widespread throughout the surrounding lowlands. The taxon endemic to the North Papuan Mountains is related to an apparently lowland form currently known only from Waigeo and Batanta Island far to the west – hinting at a history on island arcs that accreted to form the North Papuan Mountains.     

The seasonal factors influencing child malnutrition on the Nembi Plateau,Papua New Guinea

A sample of children from the Nembi Plateau, Papua New Guinea, is monitored for nutritional status, episodes of sickness and disease, diets, work activity of mothers, and weight changes; and health and census records are examined for seasonal patterns of disease, deaths, birth, and birth weights. A seasonal pattern in birth weight reinforced by a seasonal pattern in growth performance and compounded by a seasonal pattern of disease suggests that the time of year in which a child is born is important to the child's growth and health. Yields, labor, and ritual surrounding the gardens give rise to the seasonal pattern of events that impinge upon the health of children.     

New species of mites (Acari: Astigmata: Heterocoptidae) from the Australian and Oriental regions,with a description of the female of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Uvallicoptes peeteri</Emphasis> Haitlinger, 1999

Heterocoptes lombokensis sp. n. from Lombok, Bali and Java (Indonesia), H. sumatrensis sp. n. from Sumatra (Indonesia), H. samueli sp. n. from Australia, H. barbarae sp. n. from New Britain Islands (Papua New Guinea), H. marcellae sp. n. from Sulawesi (Indonesia) and Nolaecoptes tanahloticus sp. n. from Bali (Indonesia) are described. The female of Uvallicoptes peeteri Haitlinger, 1999 is described and new records for this species are given. Males and females of the genus Heterocoptes are keyed.     

Effects of antibiotics on hydrogen production and gut symbionts in the Formosan subterranean termite Coptotermes formosanus (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

Abstract Symbiotic microorganisms that inhabit the gut of Coptotermes formosanus enable this termite to degrade lignocelluloses and further produce hydrogen as an important intermediate to be recycled in its hindgut or as a byproduct to be emitted to the atmosphere. Both symbiotic protists and prokaryotes in the guts of termites demonstrated some different roles with respect to hydrogen production. In this study, the effects of two antibiotics, ampicillin and tetracycline, on hydrogen emission and the gut symbionts of C. formosanus were investigated. Hydrogen emission from termite guts was significantly enhanced when termites fed on wood diets treated with either ampicillin or tetracycline. The greatest H₂ emission rates, 2 519 ± 74 and 2 080 ± 377 nmol/h/g body weight, were recorded with the treatments of ampicillin and tetracycline, respectively, which showed 6–7 times more H₂ production than that of controls. Antibiotic‐treated diets negatively affected the prokaryotic communities and reduced their abundances, particularly on those ectosymbionts inhabiting the gut walls or in the gut fluid of C. formosanus, such as spirochetes. However, no significant reductions in the counts of gut cellulolytic protists, Pseudotrichonympha grassii and Holomastigotoids hartmanni, were recorded; and with a further observation by confocal laser scanning microscopy, the endosymbionts inhabiting P. grassii generally survived the antibiotic treatments. These results suggest that some prokaryotes may serve as the main hydrogen consumers, while P. grassii, together with its endosymbionts, may function as the main contributors for hydrogen production in the hindgut of C. formosanus.     

Studies of endemic cretinism in Papua New Guinea: digital and palmar dermatoglyphic patterns

We have tested the hypothesis that the abnormal development of the central nervous system seen in endemic cretinism might be accompanied by concurrent abnormal dermatoglyphic patterns. We compared digital and palmar dermatoglyphics of normal individuals and endemic cretins inhabiting the Huon Peninsula of Papua New Guinea. The population sampled from the Irumu River Valley included 118 males and 114 females with 22 male cretins and 23 female cretins. The population sampled from the Wantoat River Valley included 72 males and 38 females with 12 male cretins. No pathognomonic patterns were found that could identify the endemic cretin subpopulation. However, the occurrence of a number of differences between controls and cretins suggests that subtle changes in dermatoglyphic patterns accompany the anomalous development of the CNS secondary to maternal iodine deficiency. We discuss the significance of these findings and compare the dermatoglyphic patterns of normal Irumu and Wantoat natives and 21 other populations of Papua New Guinea.     

Bark Consumption by the Painted Ringtail (Pseudochirulus forbesi larvatus) in Papua New Guinea1

We documented bark consumption by painted ringtails (Pseudochirulus forbesi) and other arboreal marsupials at Mt. Stolle, Papua New Guinea. Evidence consisted of scratch marks on the boles of trees in conjunction with the removal of all moss and direct sightings of animals eating bark. Only 43 trees ≥10 cm diameter at breast height (DBH) of 19 species showed signs of consumption at the study site; five of these species were confirmed by direct sighting to be consumed by painted ringtails. We sought to determine if bark of these trees contained important dietary minerals. Analyses showed that calcium and potassium, individually and combined, were significantly more abundant in eaten versus uneaten trees of the same species. On average, eaten trees showed 4.7 and 2.2 times the amount of these minerals, respectively, as found in uneaten trees. Adult males were more likely than adult females or juvenile males to be captured at eaten trees than away from them. Two species of Syzygium and one species of Sloanea were highly selected for bark consumption, but not all trees of a species were eaten; rather, particular individuals of these species were preferred. We conclude that bark appears to be an important source of calcium and potassium, and speculate on the relationship between the limited availability of these special trees and the social behavior of painted ringtails.     

Nutritional Dimorphism in New Guinea Dioecious Figs

The life history of figs (Ficus, Moraceae) involves pollination by specialized insects and seed dispersal by vertebrate frugivores. This three-way interaction raises the possibility of conflict between pollinators and seed dispersers over fig resources. The conflict might be mediated in dioecious figs by the segregation of inflorescences with specialized male and female sexual functions, termed gall figs and seed figs, on separate trees. In dioecious figs, pollinators are intimately associated with gall figs, whereas vertebrate frugivores prefer seed figs and disperse the seeds they contain. Optimal foraging theory predicts that frugivore preference for ripe seed figs is associated with superior nutritional quality when compared to gall figs. We tested this prediction comparing nutrient and mineral properties of ripe figs in 12 functionally dioecious and two monoecious species from New Guinea. Analyses of variance indicated that gall figs contain more fiber and minerals, whereas seed figs contain significantly more carbohydrates and fat. Fruit bats, the primary dispersers of dioecious figs in New Guinea, prefer carbohydrate-rich diets, and from this perspective, seed figs offer a greater nutritional reward than gall figs. More nondigestible fiber in gall figs than seed figs would appear to discourage frugivory. Parallel differences between ripe gall figs and seed figs occur in each independent dioecious lineage whereas nutritional content in monoecious figs is more similar to seed figs. This suggests that sexual dimorphism in nutritional quality might be adaptive and associated with the maintenance of functional dioecy in figs.