Bees visiting flowers of Thymus longicaulis (Lamiaceae)

The aim of this study was to investigate the bee fauna foraging on Thymus longicaulis flowers. Samplings were conducted walking along a transect during the T. longicaulis blooming period (April–June). A total of 547 bee specimens, belonging to 40 different species, were recorded during the survey. Apis mellifera and Bombus terrestris were the most abundant visitors that foraged on thyme. Pollen grains collected on the bodies of the bees suggest that these pollinators may play an important role in the pollination of this plant.     

Contribution to the marine algae from the coast of West Pakistan III. Marine Vaucheria from Karachi

The coast of West Pakistan is represented by three marine Vaucheria, i.e. V. piloboloides Thur., V. longicaulis Hopp., and V. marina Lyngbye. (?). The latter two species are new records from this area. The ecology and distribution of these species have been described.     

Two newVeronica species (Scrophulariaceae) of Turkey and Iraq

Veronica davisii M. A.Fischer, sp. n., limited to the mountains of Kurdistan (S. E. Turkey and N. Iraq), is related to the Turkish-CaucasianV. gentianoides Vahl.—V. montbretii M. A.Fischer, sp. n., a local endemic of Erzincan prov. (E. Anatolia), shows affinities to the CaucasianV. liwanensis C. Koch and to the Turkish endemicV. oltensis Woron. & Schelk. from Erzurum province.     

Antimicrobial activity of Thymus longicaulis C. Presl essential oil against respiratory pathogens

Thymus longicaulis C. Presl is a small aromatic perennial herb used as a traditional remedy for cold, flu and cough. Composition of the essential oil of T. longicaulis from Croatia and its in vitro antimicrobial activity against the most common respiratory pathogens were evaluated. The yield of essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation from aerial plant parts was 1.2%. According to the GC-MS analysis, a total of forty one compounds (99%) were identified. Thymol (46.3%), ??-terpinene (16.2%), thymyl methyl ether (11.4%), and p-cymene (9.4%) were the main components. Antimicrobial activity of the essential oil against six clinically isolated bacterial and yeast strains was determined using standard disc agar diffusion method and microdilution broth assay. The essential oil exhibited antimicrobial activity towards all tested respiratory pathogens. The most sensitive strains were Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae(MIC=0.78 mg/mL), while Staphylococcus aureus was the most resistant (MIC>25.00 mg/mL). Our results indicate that T. longicaulis essential oil could be effective against clinically relevant respiratory pathogens which have the ability to develop resistance to antimicrobial drugs.     

Phylogenetic affinities of the Iraqi populations of Saw-scaled vipers of the genus Echis (Serpentes: Viperidae), revealed by sequences of mtDNA genes

The Saw-scaled vipers of the species Echis carinatus range from Sri Lanka and India westwards to Iraq, including the eastern Arabian Peninsula. We collected the species in southern Iraq and compared two mtDNA genes (16S and Cyt b) with other populations of this species and with other species of the genus. Analyses of both Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference confirmed E. carinatus as a monophyletic species. The samples from Iraq cluster with populations of the species from Pakistan and UAE. Populations from India, however, are situated in a separate phylogenetic lineage. This can be explained by the geographic barriers between western (Iraq, Pakistan and UAE) and eastern (India) populations of the species. Soleyman Mountain in southern Pakistan is the main barrier between them and its role is reflected in the genetic distance between populations.     

Developing jellyfish strategy hypotheses using circulation models

Four species of ergasilid copepods were collected from gill filaments of three species of fishes from Khor al-Zubair Lagoon, Iraq. The mugilid Liza subviridis hosted the new species Ergasilus iraquensis and Ergasilus pararostralis. Ergasilus synanceienis sp. n. was found on the synanceiid Leptosynanceia melanostigma(Day). The fourth species, Dermoergasilus varicoleus Ho, Jayarajan & Radhakrishnan, 1992 was found parasitizing the mugilid Liza abu, and is a new record for Iraq.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">In vitro</Emphasis> propagation from young and mature explants of thyme (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Thymus vulgaris</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">T. longicaulis</Emphasis>) resulting in genetically stable shoots

An efficient in vitro propagation protocol, applicable both to young and mature explants of two Thymus spp., results in genetically stable plantlets. In vitro-grown shoot tips of Thymus vulgaris L. were exposed to cytokinins (6-benzyladenine, kinetin, and thidiazuron) alone or in combination with auxins, gibberellic acid (GA₃) and/or silver nitrate in order to optimize in vitro shoot proliferation. Optimum shoot proliferation (97% regeneration rate, with 8.6 shoots produced per explant) was obtained when semi-solid Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium was supplemented with 1 mg L⁻¹ kinetin and 0.3 mg L⁻¹ GA₃. Rooting of the shoots was easily obtained on semi-solid MS medium that was either hormone-free or supplemented with auxins. However, the best root apparatus (92.5% rooting rate, with 19 adventitious roots per shoot) developed on MS medium supplemented with 0.05 mg L⁻¹ 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. Genetic stability was confirmed in the in vitro-germinated mother plant as well as the shoots that underwent two, four, six, eight, or ten cycles of in vitro subculturing by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. When applied to the micropropagation of mature shoot tips of T. longicaulis C. Presl subsp. longicaulis var. subisophyllus (Borbás) Jalas, the optimized in vitro propagation protocol resulted in a 97.5% shoot regeneration rate, with five shoots formed per explant, and 100% rooting. Rooted plantlets of both species were transferred to 250-mL plastic pots and successfully acclimatized by gradually reducing the relative humidity.     

Desmids of Iraq

Forty species and varieties of desmids belonging to the genera Closterium (7), Pleurotaenium (1), Euastrum (3), Cosmarium (28) and Staurastrum (1) have been described from southern Iraq including two new varieties under Cosmarium (i.e. C. cyclicum Lund, var. mesopotamianum var. nov., and C. tyrolicum (Nordst.) Krieger & Gerloff var. minor var. nov.). Most of the taxa are new records for Iraq.     

Eocyzicus spinifer sp. nov. (Conchostraca: Cyzicidae) from Iraq

A new Conchostracan species, Eocyzicus spinifer from Iraq is described. A table is given to distinguish the known species of the genus Eocyzicus.     

Dihydrostyryl-2-pyrone as a chemical marker of three non-xanthone-producing Polygala species (Polygalaceae)

The phytochemical investigation of the ethyl acetate fraction of Polygala longicaulis Kunth resulted in the isolation and identification of two dihydrostyryl-2-pyrones (1–2). This is the third species of the Polygala L. genus, along with Polygala altomontana Lüdtke, Boldrini & Miotto and Polygala sabulosa A.W. Benn., to present the accumulation of dihydrostyryl-2-pyrones. The data reported herein make an important contribution to the chemotaxonomy of this genus. This is the first report of dihydrostyryl-2-pyrone (1) and dihydrometisticin (2) in P. longicaulis and the first report of dihydrometisticin in the genus Polygala. Furthermore, this is the first grouping of non-xanthone-producing Polygala species.     

The genus Thymus (Lamiaceae) in Sicily

An update on the taxonomy and geographic distribution of the genus Thymus in Sicily is given. This study is based on literature, herbarium and field investigations. In total, five taxa belonging to Thymus sect. Serpyllum (Th.richardii subsp. nitidus, Th.longicaulis and Th.praecox subsp. parvulus) and Th. sect. Hyphodromi (Th.spinulosus and Th.paronychioides) occur in Sicily. For each one, information about taxonomy, habitat, phenology, chromosome number and distribution are provided. Furthermore, the name Thymus pedicillatus Lojac. is here typified. Finally, an analytical key for the identification of the studied taxa is proposed.     

Antioxidant activities in tropical marine macroalgae from the Yucatan Peninsula,Mexico

Extracts from 48 marine macroalgae species (17 Chlorophyta, 8 Phaeophyta and 23 Rhodophyta) from the coasts of Yucatan and Quintana Roo (Mexico) were evaluated for antioxidant activity. The antioxidant activity was measured with the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrasyl) method, and the phenolic content of each extract were also evaluated. All species exhibited a DPPH radical scavenging activity, and three species (Avrainvillea longicaulis, Chondria baileyana and Lobophora variegata) demonstrated great antioxidant potential with very low oxidation index EC₅₀ (1.44 ± 0.01, 2.84 ± 0.07 and 0.32 ± 0.01 mg mL⁻¹, respectively), significantly equivalent to EC₅₀ of some commercial antioxidants such as α-tocopherol, ascorbic acid, BHA and BHT. Moreover, extracts of the most active species exhibited reducing activities, superoxide anion radical scavenging and inhibition of lipid peroxidation. These results suggest that some macroalgae from the Yucatan peninsula have a great antioxidant potential which could be considered for future applications in medicine, food production or cosmetic industry.     

Haemogregarina majeedi n. sp. from the freshwater fish Barbus sharpeyi Günther (Cyprinidae)

Summary

A new species of haemogregarine was found in the fish Barbus sharpeyi (Cyprinidae): Haemogregarina majeedi n. sp. which is broadly oval to reniform and with a large, subterminal nucleus. It was found with one to two schizonts within the erythrocytes and erythroblasts which were shorter and broader than normal. This is the third haemogregarine described from fishes in Iraq.     

Taxonomic revision of the Dianthus sylvestris group (Caryophyllaceae) in central–southern Italy,Sicily and Sardinia

A taxonomic revision of the populations belonging to the Dianthus sylvestris Wulfen group (Caryophyllaceae) occurring in central and southern Italy, Sardinia and Sicily has been made. This group is represented in the surveyed territories by 17 morphologically and ecologically well differentiated species: Dianthus arrosti C. Presl, D. siculus C. Presl, D. graminifolius C. Presl, D. cyathophorus Moris, D. gasparrinii Guss., D. longicaulis Ten., D. virgatus Pasquale, D. tarentinus Lacaita, D. morisianus Vals., D. japygicus Bianco & Brullo, D. sardous Bacch., Brullo, Casti & Giusso, D. busambrae Soldano & F. Conti, D. brachycalyx Huet sp. nov., D. oliastrae sp. nov., D. insularis sp. nov., D. genargenteus sp. nov. and D. ichnusae sp. nov. Besides, two new subspecies are recognized within D. ichnusae (subsp. ichnusae and subsp. toddei). This taxonomical treatment is supported by a multivariate analysis based on 25 morphological characters and 1 phenological character. Each of the taxa is described and illustrated. In addition, notes on nomenclature, ecology, chorology, taxonomical relationships and conservation status are given. Lectotypes are designated for those taxa that are based on material from the investigated territories.     

New and known species of Dactylogyrus Diesing, 1850 (Monogenea,Dactylogyridae) from cyprinid fishes of the River Tigris,Iraq

Four new Dactylogyrus species are described and two redescribed from cyprinids of the River Tigris, Iraq. These are as follows: Dactylogyrus barbioides n. sp. from Barbus grypus; D. orbus n. sp. from Barbus lacerta; D. barbuli n. sp. from Barbus barbulus; D. macrostomi n. sp. from Cyprinion macrostomi; D. pavlovskyi Bychowsky, 1949 from Barbus grypus and Barbus sharpeyi; and D. inutilis Bychowsky, 1949 from Barbus xanthopterus. A phylogenetic and zoogeographical analysis is presented.     

Some New and Rare Freshwater Algae from Iraq

One new species of Sphaeroplea (S. bourrellyii Islam), and six taxa, hitherto unrecorded from Iraq, namely, Dichotomosiphon tuberosus (A. Br.) Ernst, Johannesbaptistia pellucida (Dickie) Taylor & Drouet, Microcoleus chthonoplastes Thuret ex Gomont, M. lacustris (Rab.) Farlow, Gloeotrichia longiarticulata G. S. West, and Ammatoidea (?) normanni W. & G. S. West are described and illustrated.     

On the historical distribution and present situation of Gazelles,Gazella spp., in Turkey

Abstract

Panthera tigris strayed at least once (1887) as far south as Mossul Liwa, Iraq. The relationship of this with neighbouring occurences is mapped.     

A new species of Cyzicidae (Crustacea: Conchostraca) from Iraq

A new species of Conchostraca, Eocyzicus mesopotamiensis sp. nov., from a small pond in Iraq is described and illustrated. The account includes structural details and means of recognition. Information on the habitat is also given.