From River Management to River Basin Management: A Water Manager’s Perspective

Chironomid larvae were sampled sequentially from small experimental rice fields in southern New South Wales, Australia. Sampling was undertaken during the 1995, 1997, 1998 and 1999 crop establishment periods, starting 10 days after flooding (DAF) and continuing at 5 day intervals until 35 DAF. No agrochemical treatments were applied to the fields at any stage. Seventeen species were identified from 3429 recovered larvae. The most abundant species were Chironomus tepperi Skuse (0–91% of 35 day totals), Procladius paludicola Skuse (7–78%) and Polypedilum nubiferum (Skuse) (2–12%). No other taxon accounted for more than 8% of recovered larvae in any year. C. tepperi colonised fields more rapidly than other taxa and, when present, had only a single generation. The abundance of C. tepperi varied dramatically from year to year: from total absence in 1997 to a peak density exceeding 13 000 larvae m⁻² in 1998. Significant differences between post-flood sampling times (R = 0.407, p= 0.009) and between years (R = 0.495, p = 0.001) were found using ANOSIM2 analysis. C. tepperi had a greater impact on community variability at 10 and 15 DAF (42–58%) than any other species, with P. paludicola exerting the most influence from 20 DAF onwards. Exceptionally high densities of C. tepperi in 1998 led to high levels of turbidity, which apparently prolonged the duration of the single C. tepperi cohort by suppressing water temperatures. Comparison of plant densities in the monitored bays to those in nearby bays receiving effective chemical protection shows that rice plant loss increased in response to higher C. tepperi densities. No plant loss occurred in 1997 when C. tepperi was absent, suggesting the other chironomid species present in the fields are not routinely involved in causing significant crop damage.     

Nucleolar relationships in some Australian Chironomus species

Members of a group of Australian Chironomus species in the pseudothummi complex show wide variation in number and location of nucleolar organizing regions (NORs). The structure of these regions has been examined by phase contrast microscopy and silver banding of salivary gland polytene chromosomes. Presence of nucleoli was also checked on other types of chromosomes in some species. The contribution of the silver banding technique to nucleolar studies in these chironomid chromosomes is discussed. Nucleoli often seem to emerge from groups of (up to 9) bands. Further studies are necessary to confirm the presence of rRNA cistrons in all of these bands. Banding differences, in particular absence of bands from homologous regions of some species which have smaller nucleoli or lack particular nucleoli, have been found. In the case of Ch. tepperi, however, little banding difference is apparent in the 16B region between the N(IV)⁺ and N(IV)^– chromosomes, although in situ hybridization (Eigenbrod 1978) shows a deletion of rRNA cistrons in the N(IV)^– stock. Differences in heterochromatin amount have also been observed at different NORs. A scheme for the evolution of nucleolar-producing regions in this Chironomus group in terms of these and other known chromosomal changes is presented and discussed.     

Location of a sex-determining region in Chironomus tepperi Skuse (Diptera: Chironomidae) using irradiation-induced chromosomal rearrangements

Sex-linked irradiation-induced rearrangements have been used to locate the sex-determining region of Chironomus tepperi in the proximal region of arm A. This differs from the location for sex determination in related species. The applicability of this technique and the significance of the different locations of the sex-determining region are discussed.     

Ants of the genus Myrmecia Fabricius: A review of the species groups and their phylogenetic relationships (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmeciinae)

Abstract. Myrmecia Fabricius is revised at species-group level. Nine groups are recognized: those of M.aberrans, M.cephalotes, M.gulosa, M.mandibularis, M.nigrocincta, M.picta, M.pilosula, M.tepperi and M. urens. A key to the species groups is provided, and worker diagnoses, illustrations and species lists are given for each. Eight groups are constituted much as in the previous classification of John Clark, but defined using new characters. Phylogenetic relationships are investigated, with six cladograms derived from four sets of data, each with a different outgroup. The most plausible cladograms suggest that: (1) the aberrans group is the sister group to the others; (2) the pilosula, tepperi and mandibularis groups constitute a monophyletic assemblage, though monophyly of the first two is not confirmed; (3) the gulosa, nigrocincta, urens and picta groups constitute a monophyletic assemblage, though monophyly of the picta group is not confirmed; (4) the phylogenetic position of the cephalotes group is unclear.     

Russian fauna of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chrysotus</Emphasis> (Diptera,Dolichopodidae): Part 1. <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chrysotus cilipes</Emphasis> Meigen and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ch. laesus</Emphasis> Wied. species-Group

Based on examination of the collections of the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences and Voronezh State University, a list of species of the group Chrysotus cilipes Meigen and Ch. laesus Wied. was compiled for the fauna of Russia, including 8 species: Chrysotus amurensis Negrobov, Ch. caerulescens Negrobov, Ch. cilipes Meigen, Ch. laesus (Wiedemann), Ch. parilis Parent, Ch. pennatus Lichtwardt, Ch. pseudocilipes Hollis, and Ch. suavis Loew.     

A phylogenetic study of sex determiner location in a group of Australasian Chironomus species (Diptera,Chironomidae)

Sex determination in a group of phylogenetically related Chironomus species, of the pseudothummi complex, from south-eastern Australia and New Zealand is male heterogametic, controlled by a male determiner. The male determiner has been located at least to the level of the chromosome arm in most members of this phylogenetic group. It varies in location among many of the species and there are some phylogenetic patterns discernable, which are discussed in relation to the possible origin of the sex determiner. There is a group of species, Ch. oppositus ff. oppositus and whitei, Ch. australis, Ch. alternans a and Ch. alternans c, which appear to be central to this phylogeny, in which the sex determiner is located near the centromere of the CD chromosome, the most common location in the Australasian group. This is different from the most common location, arm F, of the thummi complex in Europe and North America. There is also a group, comprising Ch. oppositus f. tyleri, Ch. cloacalis, Ch. alternans b and Ch. nepeanensis, in which the sex determiner is on arm G. The arm A sex determiners, found in Ch. tepperi, Ch. oppositus ff. whitei and connori, and Ch. occidentalis, may be of common origin or they may be independently derived, as must be the arm B (Ch. duplex) and arm F (Ch. oppositus f. whitei) sex determiners. In Ch. oppositus f. whitei, four different chromosomal locations for the sex determiner have been identified. It is not yet clear whether these represent an unstable polymorphism or indicate the existence of cryptic subgroupings within this form. Although the location of the sex determiners can be assigned to particular chromosome arms, the precise location cannot be determined, therefore the assumption of common origin may not always be correct. Also, this uncertainty means that it is impossible at present to differentiate between a complex system of sex determination and the possibility of a translocatable sex determiner as explanations of the variability in sex determiner location. The forms of Ch. oppositus are redefined and renamed to avoid confusion caused by the previous names.It is a pleasure to dedicate this paper to Professor Hans Bauer, a pioneer of chironomid karyosystematics, on the occasion of his 80th birthday     

Variation in propensity to defend by reproductive gall morphs in two species of gall-forming thrips

Summary.Six species of Australian phleaothripine gall forming thrips on Acacia have two morphs. One morph, referred to as a soldier, has reduced antennae and wings and greatly enlarged fore femora, which are thought to be adaptations for gall defence. For most species, female soldier morphs have reduced reproductive output relative to dispersing females and these species have been regarded as eusocial. We examine defensive behaviour of soldier morphs using in situ presentation of gall invading kleptoparasites. We show that the gall-morph of Oncothrips tepperi attack kleptoparasites more often (N=87 interactions, n = 11 attacks) than does the gall-morph of Oncothrips morrisi (N = 231, n = 1). This difference in proclivity for defence is coincident with a lower reproductive output by the gall-morph in O. tepperi compared to O. morrisi. Our results also show an almost complete absence of attack behaviour by the gal l-morph of O. morrisi. Lastly, we show that there is no difference in proclivity for defence between soldier and foundress morphs of O. tepperi. These observations taken together call into question the suitability of the term 'soldier' as applied to the gall-morph of the gall-forming thrips of Australia.     

A new gypsophilous species of Chaenorhinum (Antirrhinaceae) from the south-east of the Iberian Peninsula

A new strict gypsophilous species of Chaenorhinum, Ch. gamezii, is described. It is an annual to perennial species found in extremely arid locations upon Triassic gypsic habitats in the south-eastern Iberian Peninsula. This species has an eglandular heterotrichous indumentum, which is related to Ch. segoviense and Ch. flexuosum. However, Ch. gamezii has a characteristic combination of vegetative and micromorphological features (trichomes and ornamentation of the seeds) that are not present in any other taxon of the genus. Herein, the affinities and differences with related species are studied and discussed. For its differentiation, an original key is presented with comparative figures of indumentum and seeds, and a complete iconography. Knowledge of the species ecology, biogeography, demography and threats is also provided, and according to that, Ch. gamezii should be considered as a critically threatened species (critically endangered, according to IUCN criteria). Future conservation proposals are discussed.     

Temperature‐dependent development of the parasitoid Tachinaephagus zealandicus on five forensically important carrion fly species

The influences of temperature and host species on the development of the forensically important parasitoid Tachinaephagus zealandicus Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) were studied at six constant temperatures in the range of 15–30°C. T. zealandicus completed development successfully between 15°C and 27°C on five species of Calliphoridae, Calliphora albifrontalis Malloch, Calliphora dubia Macquart, Lucilia sericata Meigen, Chrysomya rufifacies Macquart and Chrysomya megacephala Fabricius. No adult parasitoids emerged from any of the host species reared at 30°C. Temperature and host species significantly influenced development time, emergence success and progeny size. Development was significantly longer on Ch. megacephala and Ch. rufifacies at 18–24°C and significantly longer on Ch. rufifacies and C. albifrontalis at 15°C and 27°C. Parasitoid emergence success was greatest at 21°C, declined at the temperature extremes (15°C and 27°C) and was significantly lower on Ch. megacephala and Ch. rufifacies than on the three other host species. Progeny numbers per host pupa were highest at 21–24°C, declined on either side of this temperature range and were significantly lower on L. sericata, Ch. rufifacies and Ch. megacephala than on either C. dubia or C. albifrontalis. An effect of host species on sex ratio was only observed at 27°C, at which a higher proportion of T. zealandicus females emerged from Ch. megacephala and Ch. rufifacies than from the other host species. The thermal requirements for development (developmental thresholds, thermal constant, optimum temperature) of T. zealandicus in each host species were estimated using linear and non‐linear models. Upper and lower developmental thresholds ranged between 29.90°C and 31.73°C, and 9.73°C and 10.08°C, respectively. The optimum temperature for development was estimated at between 25.81°C and 27.05°C. Given the significant effect of host species on development time, the use of parasitoid–host‐specific developmental data in forensic application is recommended.     

新疆西部雏蝗属一新种记述（直翅目：网翅蝗科）

记述采自新疆西部网翅蝗科雏蝗属 Chorthippus 1新种,即新源雏蝗 Ch. xinyuanensis sp. nov.。新种近似于狭窝雏蝗Ch. foveatus Xia & Jin, 1982和长角雏蝗Ch. longicornis (Latreille),1804。与二者的主要区别为:前胸背板沟前区与沟后区等长;前胸背板侧隆线间最宽处为最狭处的1.7倍;前翅到达第6节背板中部(♂);中脉域约与肘脉域等宽(♂)。模式标本保存于陕西师范大学动物研究所标本室。     

Comparison of Chironomus usenicus and Chironomus curabilis with species of the group plumosus (Diptera) inferred from the mitochondrial DNA Gene COI and by the polytene chromosomes banding pattern

The sequence of a 595-bp fragment of the mitochondrial COI gene was determined for the species Chironomus usenicus and Chironomus curabilis of the genus Chironomus. Phylogenetic reconstructions based on the analysis of the COI gene sequence coincide on the whole with cytogenetic data, permitting Ch. usenicus and Ch. curabilis to be regarded as members of the group plumosus. Chironomus usenicus and Ch. plumosus have identical COI gene sequences. Two hypotheses explaining this identity are considered: inheritance of mtDNA from one of the parental species during hybridogenesis and horizontal transfer of mitochondrial genes.     

SEM morphological survey on the egg shell in the italian Anostracans (Crustacea,Branchiopoda)

The screening of the egg shell morphology of all italian species of Anostracans (14) by means of SEM, as well as the analysis of preliminary data on electrophoretical patterns of the adults, concerning the genus Chirocephalus (five species), suggest the need for a reconsideration, from a taxonomical point of view, especially as far as the species of the diaphanus group (Ch. diaphanus, Ch. ruffoi, Ch. salinus, Ch. sibyllae) are concerned.In this light, within the above mentioned group remarkable differences have been observed for Ch. ruffoi, whilst for other species like Ch. diaphanus and Ch. sibyllae, conspecificity is suspected. Electrophoretical and reproductive isolation studies, in progress, will provide a clearer understanding of the actual situation.Research carried out with M.P.I. (60%) and C.N.R. (chBr. 83.02549.04 Gruppo di Biologia Naturalistica) financial support.Research carried out with M.P.I. (60%) and C.N.R. (chBr. 83.02549.04 Gruppo di Biologia Naturalistica) financial support.     

Contribution to the knowledge of the leaf-beetle fauna (Coleoptera,Chrysomelidae) of Eastern Kazakhstan

Chrysolina undulata asperata Lopatin is promoted to the species Chrysolina asperata Lop., stat. n., and is redescribed. A new species, Chrysolina tatianae Mikhailov sp. n. closely related to Ch. ordinata Gebl., is described from the Narymo-Bukhtarminskaya Depression, based on the adults and 2nd-instar larva. New data on the ecology and distribution of Chrysolina kabaki Lop., Ch. katonica Lop., and Ch. oirota Lop. are given.     

On the validization of the name Chironomus (Camptochironomus) pallidivittatus sensu edwards, 1929 and elimination of the name Chironomus pallidivittatus Malloch, 1915

The name Chironomus pallidivittatus sensu Edwards is widely used by specialists for the European species described by Edwards, whereas the use of the name Ch. tentans var. pallidivittatus Malloch is limited. In the light of the wide use of the name Chironomus pallidivittatus sensu Edwards, particularly in fields outside taxonomy, combined with virtually no publications on the Ch. tentans variety pallidivittatus Malloch, we recommend that the original Malloch’s application of the name should be suppressed in favor of that of Edwards, 1929. At the same time, synonymy of Ch. pallidivittatus s. Malloch with Ch. tentans Fabricius supposed by Townes (1945) is erroneous. Detailed cytogenetic (Kiknadze et al., 1996) and morphological (Shobanov et al., 1999) studies of North American, European, and Asian populations demonstrated the common occurrence of Ch. dilutus Shobanov, Kiknadze et Butler, 1999 in the Nearctic. This species is different from Ch. tentans but identical with Ch. tentans var. pallidivittatus Malloch, 1915 and the “Nearctic Ch. tentans” sensu Townes (1945).     

A karyological study of three species of Scincidae (Reptilia)

In this paper the Authors decribe the karyogram of three species of Scincidae (Chalcides chalcides chalcides, Chalcides ocellatus tiligugu, and Mabuya striata). The diploid number of these species is 2n=28. It is not possible to subdivide the chromosome set in micro- and macrochromosomes or to recognize the heterochromosomes morphologically. Ch. ocellatus and M. striata have very similar karyograms; that of Ch. ch. chalcides is different in that chromosomes 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 are acrocentric. Pericentric inversion is probably involved in the karyotypic evolution of these species.     

First record of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chrysosporium europae,Ch. fluviale</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ch. minutisporosum</Emphasis> in Slovakia

During a survey of keratinophilic fungi from soil and children’s sandpit samples in city park of Nitra and Nová Baňa (Slovakia) three noteworthy Chrysosporium species, namely Ch. europae, Ch. fluviale and Ch. minutisporosum were encountered. The species are briefly characterized here with respect to their identification, ecology and distribution. They represent newly recorded fungal taxa from Slovakia.     

New species of leaf-beetles (Coleoptera,Chrysomelidae) from China: X

New species of the subfamily Chrysomelinae, Chrysolina maximi from Yunnan Province, Ch. nesterovae, Ch. matruelis, and Ch. mikhailovi, Yunnaedon foveatus and Yu. belousovi, Oreomela magnifica and O. geae, all from Sichuan, Taipinus kabaki and T. magnus from Shaanxi, and also two new species of the subfamily Galerucinae, Meristoides rugosa and M. obscura spp. n. from Sichuan, are described.     

A new gnetalean pollen genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chomsiipites</Emphasis> from cretaceous deposits of the eastern mediterranean

Four species of a new genus, Chomsiipites—Ch. libanicus sp. nov., Ch. pyriformis sp. nov., Ch. dzyubae sp. nov., and Ch. zaklinskaiae (Azèma et Boltenhagen) comb. nov.—are described from the Albian-Cenomanian of western part of Central Lebanon, Eastern Caspian Region, Albian-Turonian of Gabon, and Albian-Senonian of Angola (Equatorial Africa).