Land nemertines of Australia

An account of the distribution of Australian land nemertines includes new specimens found in Queensland and near Canberra. Characters uniting Australian Geonemertes and distinguishing between G. australiensis, G. hillii and G. dendyi are redefined. A new species G. stocki is described and related to the other three species.     

The Pteridophytes of Rodrigues Island

A review of the pteridophytes of Rodrigues and their ecology is presented, based on a brief survey in 1973 and earlier records. Twenty-five species are listed, two of the Selaginella species being endemic. Three additional species have been recorded as native or naturalized: Lycopodium cernuum, Ophioglossum pendulum and Salvinia molesta. Four species not recorded since 1879 are presumed extinct. Nature reserves are needed to preserve the remnants of native plant communities.     

Ultrastructure of the ascospores of the new yeast genus Sporopachydermia Rodrigues de Miranda

Development of the ascospores of Sporopachydermia lactativora and S. cereana was studied in ultrathin sections. The spores have a very thick wall consisting of a thin dark outer layer and a double light inner layer the outer part of which is very wide and often irregular. During germination, this part disappears, the outer dark layer breaks up and the inner part of the light layer remains around the protoplast during development to a vegetative cell.This investigation was supported by the Netherlands Organization for the Advancement of Pure Research (Z.W.O.).     

Reproduction ofAmphiporus lactifloreus (Hoplonemertini) on tidal flats: implications for studies on the population biology of nemertines

The reproductive period and life-history parameters were investigated for the hoplonemertineAmphiporus lactifloreus found on the tidal flats of the island of Sylt in the northern Wadden Sea. Every six weeks 20 individuals were collected and then histologically examined to determine the development stage of their reproductive organs.A. lactifloreus reproduces in the late autumn, its peak reproduction being in the second half of November. Individuals from all size classes >20 mm body length produced gametes. Individuals of the cohorts that reproduced in the late autumn of 1992 persisted and grew until July 1993, indicating thatA. lactifloreus is an iteroparous species. The length of relaxed individuals was significantly correlated with their length under anaesthetized conditions, but the regression changed significantly after the reproductive period. Length under ‘relaxed’ conditions was significantly correlated with weight (wet weight, dry weight, and ash-free dry weight); these relationships did not vary significantly before or after the reproductive period. Our results show that important life-history data of intertidal nemertines can be obtained without time-consuming histological studies. On the basis of these findings, recommendations for future studies on the population biology of intertidal nemertines are given. Regular length measurements of nemertines under ‘relaxed’ conditions are proposed as a useful tool for tracking the growth and survival of annual cohorts of intertidal nemertines.     

The effect of contraceptive implants on the behavior of female Rodrigues fruit bats,Pteropus rodricensis

This study investigated the effects of a melengestrol acetate contraceptive implant on the behavior of captive Rodrigues fruit bats (Pteropus rodricensis). Eighteen female bats (nine controls and nine implanted animals) were studied over three 4 week periods: prior to implantation, immediately postimplantation, and 6 months postimplantation. The only significant differences found 6 months postimplantation were that time spent hanging alert decreased in both groups and, concurrently, amount of time spent engaged in other activities, most noticeably social interactions, increased. In connection with this, the number of nearest neighbors increased. However, these changes were seen in all bats and were also associated with the increasing size of the resident colony. There were no significant differences between the two groups of bats in the number of nearest neighbors or sexual partners over the course of the study. The physical effects of the contraceptive implants, increased weight gain and retarded hair regrowth above the incision site, were very clearly shown. There was a 22% rate of rejection/loss of the implants. None of the implanted bats produced offspring postimplantation. This study has shown that melengestrol acetate implants are an effective way to limit reproduction in female Rodrigues fruit bats, at least in the short term, and have no effect on the behavior of this highly social species. © 1996 Wiley-Liss. Inc.     

Impact of native forest restoration on endemic crickets and katydids density in Rodrigues island

Native species of oceanic islands are often unique and of conservation concern. Native habitat restoration schemes are now conducted on many oceanic islands, and are often characterized by both the small sizes of the restored areas, and the high degradation level prior to restoration. Whereas arthropods are often neglected in restoration schemes, on small tropical islands they may represent the largest proportion of extant native terrestrial animals surviving habitat degradation. The island of Rodrigues, in the South Western Indian Ocean, is typical of such cases. The only patches of forest and bushes remaining on Rodrigues in 1996 were dominated by non-native invasive species. Since 1996, restoration schemes were conducted in Grande Montagne Nature Reserve. Benefits of these 15?years of native forest restoration were assessed on endemic Orthoptera density and diversity using acoustic monitoring and insect density measurements. Unrestored exotic plant-dominated areas were a low-density reservoir for endemic Orthoptera, many of which were new to science. Habitat restoration increased by four to seven times the density of these endemic Orthoptera, depending on the restoration scheme. The presence of managed areas did not significantly increase the density of endemic Orthoptera on the neighboring unrestored exotic plant-dominated areas.     

Observations on the morphology of some North American nemertines with consequent taxonomic changes and a reassessment of the architectonics of the phylum

A majority of the nemertine species from the western North Atlantic were originally described from life in the nineteenth century. Many of these were established by A. E. Verrill who had ‘an eye for species’ no matter which phylum he was working with, and thus when living nemertines which he described are encountered, they can usually be recognized. The morphology of most of these species has never been reported; some may prove to be species described earlier from the eastern North Atlantic. Morphological observations on the nemertine species from the North East coast of the Pacific are inadequate and have prevented satisfactory comparison with species from Japan and eastern Russia. The morphology of some species collected in the Gulf of Maine and from Cape Cod, as well as a re-examination of some of the slides of type specimens of species from the west coast of North America, indicates that their generic placement must be re-examined. The architectonic plan of the heteronemertines postulated over 100 years ago can not be substantiated and is redescribed. Three new heteronemertean genera are described: Tenuilineus gen.n. Parvicirrus gen.n., Tarrhomyos gen.n.     

Remarks on three Hypobathreae (Rubiaceae) from Rodrigues, Seychelles and Sri Lanka

Ramosmania (from Rodrigues Island, Mauritius), recently described by Tirvengadum & Verdcourt as a genus of uncertain position, is here shown to belong to the tribe Hypobathreae (subtr. Hypobathrinae). It is related to Morindopsis Hook. f.
Two other rubiaceous genera previously placed in the tribe Gardenieae, viz. Para-genipa Baillon, from the Seychelles, and Nargedia Beddome, from Sri Lanka, are also shown to belong to the tribe Hypobathreae. Paragenipa cervorum Baillon being conspecific with Randia lancifolia , (Boj. ex Bak.) Hemsl. the new combination Paragenipa lancifolia is made. From the anatomical point of view, Paragenipa is interesting on account of its remarkable seed-coat (exotesta with several layers of fibres), unusual in most Rubiaceae.
Nargedia is the first representative of the subtribe Lamprothamninae outside Africa.     

Micropropagation of Psiadia coronopus (Lam.) Benth,a threatened endemic species from the island of Rodrigues

Psiadia coronopus, a threatened endemic species from Rodrigues in the Indian Ocean, could be micropropagated by axillary budding on a MS medium containing 5 M BA alternating with culture on a medium devoid of plant growth regulators. Microcuttings were rooted in vitro and reestablished.Abbreviations BA benzyladenine - IBA indole-3-butyric aicd - NAA naphthaleneacetic acid - 4-CPA p-chlorophenoxyacetic acid     

Selaginella bifida sp. nov. (Selaginellaceae: Pteridophyta) from Rodrigues Island, Mauritius

Selaginella bifida D. Delmail, a new species of the Selaginellaceae from Rodrigues Island, (Mascarene archipelago, Mauritius) is described and illustrated. The new species is related to S. rodrigueziana Baker in phenotypic appearance, but differs by having ciliate lateral leaf margins and bifid microsporophyll apices.     

Allomaternal care: helper-assisted birth in the Rodrigues fruit bat, Pteropus rodricensis (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae)

We report observations of allomaternal care, or epimeletic (care-giving) behaviour, exhibited by one female toward another, before, during, and after giving birth, in the Rodrigues fruit bat, Pteropus rodricensis (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae). Interactions between the expectant mother and other roost mates, from the onset to completion of birth, were observed continuously over a period of approximately three hours. The attending female assisted the mother when she: (I) intermittently groomed her anovaginal region; (2) grasped her with partially outstretched wings; (3) 'tutored' her in a feet-down birthing posture; (4) groomed the emerging pup; and (5) physically assisted the mother by manoeuvring the pup into a suckling position. This is the first report of extensive assistance given by a female bat to another during parturition. We suggest that epimeletic behaviour may be common in the highly social Chiroptera, especially among primiparous or inexperienced females and/or when an expectant mother experiences difficulty during labour and parturition. Our observations support the hypothesis that roosting associations in bats may be as important as relatedness in explaining the occurrence of apparently altruistic acts.     

Wolf Land

Wolf land is in the context of the present article to be considered as an ambiguous term referring to “the land of the wolf” from the wolf’s perspective as well as from a human perspective. I start out by presenting the general circumstances of the Scandinavian wolf population, then turn to the Norwegian wolf controversy in particular. The latter half of the article consists of an elucidation of current wolf ecology related to what is here termed wolf land, and a concluding comment to the now controversial notion of wilderness. The final section of this article further includes identification of changing factors in current Scandinavian wolf ecology in terms of its semiotic niche, and ontological niche, respectively.     

云南澜沧江流域土地利用和覆盖变化

由人类活动引起的土地利用和地被覆盖的变化是地球上环境变化的主要原因。上世纪90年代是云南省经济发展和环境变化的活跃时期。本文通过现代卫星遥感技术、地理信息系统和其它多学科手段相结合 ,系统调查评估了云南澜沧江流域 1990年至 1998年间土地利用和地被覆盖的变化 ,结果显示流域中林业用地面积从 1990年的 6 4 9%增长到 1998年的6 6 4 % ,但是森林有林地 (郁闭度 >30 %的天然林和人工林 )从 1990年的 5 2 6 %减少到 1998年的 35 3%。并且分析大规模商业性森林砍伐、基础建设、经济作物的种植、刀耕火种、薪材过度采集和砍伐建筑用材等引起了森林的结构的显著变化和退化 ,从而导致了生物多样性的下降。