Onthophagus cervicornis Kirby, 1825, new synonym under Onthophagus dama (Fabricius, 1798) (Coleoptera,Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae)

After examining syntypes of Onthophagus cervicornis Kirby, 1825, previously considered to be a synonym of the North American Onthophagus striatulus (Palisot de Beauvois, 1809), we confirm the true identity and new synonymy under South Asian Onthophagus dama (Fabricius, 1798).     

Tardigrades of Louisiana and Arkansas, United States of America

The distribution of tardigrades in the states of the southern United States is poorly known. There are no published records from the state of Louisiana, while in Arkansas only one species has been reported. Samples of mosses and lichens from trees and rocks were collected from three sites in central and southern Louisiana and six sites in western Arkansas. Leaf litter samples were collected from one site in Louisiana. Nine species of tardigrade were found in Louisiana and 22 in Arkansas. The number of species per sample ranged from one to six.     

Phylogenetic relationships of Middle American cichlids (Cichlidae, Heroini) based on combined evidence from nuclear genes, mtDNA, and morphology

Heroine cichlids are the second largest and very diverse tribe of Neotropical cichlids, and the only cichlid group that inhabits Mesoamerica. The taxonomy of heroines is complex because monophyly of most genera has never been demonstrated, and many species groups are without applicable generic names after their removal from the catch-all genus Cichlasoma (sensu Regan, 1905). Hence, a robust phylogeny for the group is largely wanting. A rather complete heroine phylogeny based on cytb sequence data is available [Concheiro Pérez, G.A., Říčan O., Ortí G., Bermingham, E., Doadrio, I., Zardoya, R. 2007. Phylogeny and biogeography of 91 species of heroine cichlids (Teleostei: Cichlidae) based on sequences of the cytochrome b gene. Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. 43, 91–110], and in the present study, we have added and analyzed independent data sets (nuclear and morphological) to further confirm and strengthen the cytb-phylogenetic hypothesis. We have analyzed a combined cytb-nuclear (RAG1 and two S7 introns) data set of 48 species representing main heroine lineages to achieve further resolution of heroine higher taxonomic levels and a combined cytb-morphological data set of 92 species to stabilize generic taxonomy. The recovered phylogenies supported the circumamazonian—CAM—Heroini (sensu Concheiro Peréz et al., 2007) as a monophyletic group, that could be divided into six main clades: (1) australoheroines (the southernmost heroine genus Australoheros), (2) nandopsines (the Antillean genus Nandopsis), (3) caquetaines (including the north western Amazonian genera Caquetaia and Heroina), (4) astatheroines (including Astatheros, Herotilapia and Rocio), (5) amphilophines (including Amphilophus and related genera), and (6) herichthyines (including Herichthyis and related genera). Nuclear and mitochondrial data partitions arrived at highly congruent topologies. Suprageneric relationships were influenced mainly by the nuclear signal, as well as the most basal phylogenetic position of Australoheros within CAM heroines. The new phylogeny of the tribe Heroini provides robust framework to stabilize the taxonomy of the group and for future comparative studies on these morphologically and ecologically diverse freshwater fishes. Morphology was mostly informative at the genus level and aid in determining the monophyly and composition of heroine genera. Upon acceptance of all putative genera, as recovered in this study, the Heroini would be with 35 genera the most genus-rich clade of Neotropical cichlids.     

Systematic revision of Neotropical Achalcus and a related new genus (Diptera: Dolichopodidae, Achalcinae) with comments on their phylogeny, ecology and zoogeography

A revision of the species of the subfamily Achalcinae of the Neotropical region is presented. A new genus, Australachalcus gen. nov. , is erected based on the presence of six dorsocentral bristles and synapomorphies in the hypopygium. Eight new Achalcus species ( bilineatus , brevicornis , costaricensis , cyanocephalus , maculipennis , micromorphoides , niger , tibialis ) and eight new Australachalcus species ( acornis , browni , cummingi , incisicornis , pseudorobustus , robustus , setosus , variabilis ) are described, and Achalcus albipalpus Parent, A. brevinervis Van Duzee, A. longicornis Van Duzee and Enlinia edwardsae (Van Duzee) are newly referred to Australachalcus and redescribed. A key to males of all species and females of eight species is provided. One Palaearctic species, Achalcus melanotrichus Mik, and nine New Zealand Achalcus species ( chaetifemoratus , luteipes , medius , minor , minusculus , minutus , nigroscutatus , relictus , separatus ) described by Parent are also transferred to Australachalcus . In Neotropical Achalcinae, three Achalcus and more than four different Australachalcus species groups can be distinguished, whereas all Holarctic Achalcus species belong to the single A. flavicollis species group. In the Neotropics, Australachalcus is nearly entirely confined to Chile, whereas Achalcus is recorded from Costa Rica, Venezuela, Ecuador, Colombia, Peru and Chile, with no or little overlap in distribution between the separate species groups. Beyond Chile, most achalcine species treated here were collected at higher altitudes. Most Chilean species are only active during the southern summer, whereas in Costa Rica achalcine representatives are encountered throughout the year.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 143 , 27–73.     

Review of the species of Paratenetus Spinola inhabiting America,north of Mexico (Coleoptera,Tenebrionidae)

The North American (north of Mexico) species of the tenebrionid genus Paratenetus Spinola are reviewed and a key is presented for their identification. Five species are recognized, P. gibbipennis Motschulsky, P. fuscus LeConte, P. punctatus Spinola and two sp. n., P. exutus [type locality: Tabusintac, Nova Scotia] and P. texanus [type locality: Port Isabel, Cameron County, Texas]. Two syn. n. are proposed: P. cribratus Motschulsky, 1868 with P. gibbipennis Motschulsky, 1868 and P. crinitus Fall, 1907 with P. fuscus LeConte, 1850. A lectotype is selected for Paratenetus punctatus Spinola. A type species is designated for Storthephora Mäklin, 1875 (Storthephora denticollis Mäklin, 1875).     

A new species of Amblyodus Westwood, 1878 (Coleoptera, Melolonthidae, Dynastinae) from South America

A second species of Amblyodus Westwood, 1878, Amblyodus castroi sp. n., is described from the northern South America based on 12 specimens from Brazil and Peru (Amazonian subregion). The new species is here compared with the type species of the genus, Amblyodus taurus Westwood, 1878 and both species and their male genitalia are illustrated. Diagnostic characters for the genus are discussed, especially the metatibial teeth. A distribution map including the type species and the new species is provided. The genus Amblyodus is recorded for the first time from Peru and from Brazil states of Pará and Rondônia.     

AnthWest,occurrence records for wool carder bees of the genus Anthidium (Hymenoptera,Megachilidae, Anthidiini) in the Western Hemisphere

This paper describes AnthWest, a large dataset that represents one of the outcomes of a comprehensive, broadly comparative study on the diversity, biology, biogeography, and evolution of Anthidium Fabricius in the Western Hemisphere. In this dataset a total of 22,648 adult occurrence records comprising 9657 unique events are documented for 92 species of Anthidium, including the invasive range of two introduced species from Eurasia, A. oblongatum (Illiger) and A. manicatum (Linnaeus). The geospatial coverage of the dataset extends from northern Canada and Alaska to southern Argentina, and from below sea level in Death Valley, California, USA, to 4700 m a.s.l. in Tucumán, Argentina. The majority of records in the dataset correspond to information recorded from individual specimens examined by the authors during this project and deposited in 60 biodiversity collections located in Africa, Europe, North and South America. A fraction (4.8%) of the occurrence records were taken from the literature, largely California records from a taxonomic treatment with some additional records for the two introduced species. The temporal scale of the dataset represents collection events recorded between 1886 and 2012. The dataset was developed employing SQL server 2008 r2. For each specimen, the following information is generally provided: scientific name including identification qualifier when species status is uncertain (e.g. “Questionable Determination” for 0.4% of the specimens), sex, temporal and geospatial details, coordinates, data collector, host plants, associated organisms, name of identifier, historic identification, historic identifier, taxonomic value (i.e., type specimen, voucher, etc.), and repository. For a small portion of the database records, bees associated with threatened or endangered plants (~ 0.08% of total records) as well as specimens collected as part of unpublished biological inventories (~17%), georeferencing is presented only to nearest degree and the information on floral host, locality, elevation, month, and day has been withheld. This database can potentially be used in species distribution and niche modeling studies, as well as in assessments of pollinator status and pollination services. For native pollinators, this large dataset of occurrence records is the first to be simultaneously developed during a species-level systematic study.     

Evolutionary convergence in Neotropical cichlids and Nearctic centrarchids: evidence from morphology,diet, and stable isotope analysis

Despite divergent evolutionary histories, Neotropical cichlids (Cichlidae) and Nearctic sunfishes (Centrarchidae) appear to have similar functional morphotypes and occupy similar ecological niches. We applied an integrative approach analyzing morphological traits, stomach contents, and stable isotope ratios (δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N) to investigate whether local assemblages of cichlids (Venezuela, Peru) and centrarchids (Texas) reveal one‐to‐one patterns of morphological and ecological convergence. Multivariate ordinations performed on diet and morphology datasets identified a broad overlap between cichlid and centrarchid assemblages. The functional morphology of the two groups has diversified in a convergent manner within the confines of ram‐suction modes of prey ingestion. Both groups had the same set of ecomorph types that corresponded to the same trophic niches, including substrate‐sifting invertivores, epibenthic invertebrate gleaners, and piscivores; the one exception was a molluscivorous sunfish, comprising a niche that was not represented in the two cichlid assemblages. Estimates of trophic positions based on stable isotope analysis revealed convergent vertical trophic structure; with few exceptions, fishes with similar morphologies had similar trophic positions. Large‐bodied piscivores had highest trophic positions, whereas small and medium‐bodied generalists and invertivores had low to intermediate trophic positions. Consistent patterns of ecomorphological convergence in these two perciform groups provide strong evidence for adaptation involving constrains in functional morphology associated with feeding. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2013, 109 , 146–164.     

A revision of the Solatium sessile species group (section Geminata pro parte: Solanaceae)

KNAPP, S., 1991. A revision of the Solatium sessile species (sectio Geminata pro parte : Solanaceae ). The taxonomy of the Solanum sessile species group (a part of the large and unwieldy section Geminata) is reviewed, based on detailed field and herbarium studies. Members of the group are found from Mexico to Bolivia in a variety of habitats. Ten species are recognized: S. obovalifolium, S. sessile, S. monadelphum, S. turgidum, S. triste, S. chlamydogynum, S. rovirosanum, S. palmillae, S. oppositifolium and conferliseriatum.     

Cretaceous angiosperm pollen from the Kachaike Formation,south-western Santa Cruz Province,Argentina

Thirty-three angiosperm pollen species are here reported from mid-Cretaceous deposits of the Kachaike Formation, Austral Basin, southern Argentina. Clavatipollenites is the most abundant angiosperm genus, with six well-defined morphological groups recognised on the basis of their reticulum morphology and sculpture. Pollen of eudicots are scarce, represented by tricolpate (Psilatricolpites spp. and Tricolpites spp.), tricolporoidate and tricolporate morphotypes (Dryadopollis spp.). Increasing complexity in the aperture structure is seen throughout the sequence; tricolpate and tricolporoidate forms are recorded in almost all samples, while tricolporate pollen grains are restricted to the middle and upper levels of the unit. The high species richness and abundance of monocolpate-ulcerate angiosperm related to monocots or magnoliids sensu lato recorded in the unit is comparable to that previously recognised in other assemblages from the early and middle Albian of the southern (e.g. Australia) and northern hemispheres (e.g. Western Portuguese basin, Europe). The recorded increase in the number of angiosperm species towards the middle and upper parts of the Kachaike Formation, with the presence of monocolpate, tricolpate, tricolporoidate and tricolporate pollen, suggests an early-early middle Albian age for these parts of the unit, in agreement with the early Albian age proposed for its basal levels on the basis of dinoflagellates.     

Five new Lamiinae (Coleoptera,Cerambycidae) from Bolivia in honor of James E. Wappes

Five new species of Lamiinae are described from Bolivia, all named after James E. Wappes: Xenofrea wappesi (Xenofreini); Anobrium wappesi (Pteropliini); Cotycicuiara wappesi, Nesozineus wappesi, and Psapharochrus wappesi (Acanthoderini). Anobrium wappesi, Cotycicuiara wappesi, and Nesozineus wappesi are included in known keys. A short note on the name and date of Anobrium oberthueri Belon, 1903 is provided.     

Natural Colonization and Establishment of a Chinook Salmon, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oncorhynchus tshawytscha</Emphasis>, Population in the Santa Cruz River,an Atlantic Basin of Patagonia

Synopsis We report the finding of an established population of exotic Chinook salmon spawning in headwaters of the Santa Cruz River system (Argentina), the first for this species in an Atlantic basin of South America. Spawning takes place in the Caterina River, a small tributary of Lake Argentino, located 488.5 km from the ocean. Anadromy was verified by correspondence of N and C stable isotope ratios with those of fish captured by bottom-trawlers in the ocean and those of anadromous rainbow trout from the same river basin. The scale patterns of most fish examined were consistent with a stream-type life cycle (i.e., seaward migration by juveniles after a full year in fresh water). Two potential origins were identified for this population: in situ introductions of fish imported directly from the USA in the early 20th century or fish from two ranching experiments conducted in southern Chile during the 1980s. In the latter case, colonization would have proceeded through the Strait of Magellan, helped by prevailing eastward currents.     

Taxonomic notes on Macromitrium catharinense (Bryopsida,Orthotrichaceae) with its new synonyms

Macromitrium catharinense Paris is a poorly known moss of the family Orthotrichaceae reported from Brazil. In the present paper, Macromitrium catharinense is taxonomically re‐evaluated, resulting in the synonymization of M. drewii H. Rob. from Ecuador and M. catharinense var. gracilius (Müll. Hal.) Paris from Brazil. The phenetic relationships between M. catharinense and other closely related species of Macromitrium from Brazil and Ecuador are also discussed.     

Acanthamoeba belonging to T3, T4, and T11: genotypes isolated from air-conditioning units in Santiago, Chile

Free-living amoebae (FLA) of the genus Acanthamoeba are widely distributed in the environment, in the air, soil, and water, and have also been isolated from air-conditioning units. The objective of this work was to investigate the presence of this genus of FLA in the air-conditioning equipment at the Institute of Public Health of Chile in Santiago, Chile. Water and air samples were collected from air-conditioning systems and were checked for the presence of Acanthamoeba spp. Positive samples were further classified at the genotype level after sequencing the highly variable diagnostic fragment 3 (DF3) region of the 18S rRNA gene. This is the first report of the T3, T4, and T11 genotypes of Acanthamoeba in air-conditioning units from Chile. Overall, the widespread distribution of potentially pathogenic Acanthamoeba strains in the studied source demands more awareness within the public and health professionals in Chile as this pathogen is emerging as a risk for human health worldwide.     

A new species, Herbertia crosae (Iridaceae), from Uruguay

Herbertia crosae (Iridaceae) is described from the stony grasslands of northwestern Uruguay. The new species resemblesHerbertia lahue but can be easily distinguished by the narrower leaves, slender habit, the smaller pale lilac flowers, the presence of yellow spots at the base of the tepals, the red, adpressed hairs along the filament column, the presence of filaments free at the apex, the channeled style arm, the recurved secondary divisions of the style arm, and the smaller fruits. A key to the species of the genus is provided in which five species are now recognized.     

Functional adaptations of the postcranial skeleton of two Miocene borhyaenoids (Mammalia, Metatheria), Borhyaena and Prothylacinus, from South America

Two Santacrucian borhyaenoids, Borhyaena tuberata and Prothylacinus patagonicus , are analyzed from a functional-adaptive perspective. Seven extant placental and marsupial models are examined in order to interpret the locomotor adaptations of the two fossils. These carnivorous models are characterized by various hunting types and locomotor habits, and the association of their skeletal adaptive features with diet, substrate preference, and locomotor performance permits a functional interpretation of the postcranium of Borhyaena and Prothylacinus . The analysis shows that the forelimb of Prothylacinus is modified to provide strength and flexibility for controlled climbing. This taxon exhibits semiplantigrade fore- and hind feet. Its vertebral column was flexible, and the hindlimb suggests an active predatory mode of hunting. The tail was muscular, heavy, and was probably used as a balancing organ. By comparison, the forelimb of Borhyaena indicates a more terrestrial mode of life, with a digitigrade forefoot, and more parasagittal movements. The tail was lighter and less muscular than in Prothylacinus . Both fossils are characterized by a powerful neck musculature related to predatory habits.     

Review of the science and practice of restoration in Argentina: increasing awareness of the discipline

The objective of this work was to obtain an overview of studies on ecological restoration carried out in Argentina to date. By means of the Scopus database, we performed two literature searches, one in Spanish (restau* and Argentina) and the other in English (restor* and Argentina). Between 1996 and 2013, 105 publications were registered, representing 2% of publications in Biology and Ecology. Most of these appeared in international journals (87%), in English (86%), and 28% were coauthored with researchers from other countries, favoring visibility at an international level. We observed an increase in the number of studies per year over time, with a significant increase beginning in 2008. Of the 18 ecological regions in Argentina, we found studies relating to 12 as well as four studies relating to restoration in urban areas. This review of the literature is intended to increase awareness of restoration in Argentina and help identify current gaps relating either to this subject or to specific ecological regions.