Morphology, biology and geographical distribution of the mosquito Aedes (Ochlerotatus) sergievi (Diptera, Culicidae)

New data on morphology and differential diagnosis of adults (variability of the pattern of mesonotum and wings, difference from all other species of the cantans group of the Palaearctic fauna by the spot of the scales on the mesepimeron reaching its lower edge, difference of its male genitalia from those of Ae. montchadskyi Dub.), biology (period of activity and predomination indices of the females attacking man, breeding places and period of occurrence of preimaginal phases in the south of the East Transbaikalia and Krasnoyarsk Region), and geographical distribution (from the Tuva ASSR and south of Krasnoyarsk Region in the west to the south of the Chita Region in the east, misidentification in East Kazakhstan, confinement of the range to the Mongolian district of the Kazakhstan-Mongolian province of the Central Asian subregion of the Holarctic that suggests that the main part of its distribution range is situated in Mongolia) are given for the recently described species of mosquitoes, Aedes sergievi Danilov, Markovich et Proskuryakova, 1978 from the south of East Siberia.     

油菜3个栽培种发芽期耐盐性评价

对油菜种质资源进行耐盐性评价是培育耐盐油菜品种的基础性工作。本研究在室内分别采用3种盐(NaCl)浓度(86 mmol/L、170 mmol/L、256 mmol/L)对芥菜型油菜(Brassica juncea)、白菜型油菜(B.rapa)和甘蓝型油菜(B.napus)等3个栽培种的203份种质资源进行盐胁迫,结果表明盐胁迫对各栽培种的发芽率有不同程度抑制作用,白菜型油菜表现最好,甘蓝型油菜次之,芥菜型油菜最差。基于发芽率筛选出14份优异种质。进一步利用梯度浓度盐(NaCl)溶液对其进行胁迫,发现各栽培种发芽率均随着盐浓度的升高呈下降趋势,符合Boltzmann曲线,但白菜型油菜下降最为缓慢。通过比较盐胁迫下各栽培种6个性状值(胚轴长、根长、总鲜重、地上部分鲜重、总叶绿素含量和电导率)后发现,白菜型油菜发芽期耐盐性优于甘蓝型油菜和芥菜型油菜。对170 mmol/L NaCl胁迫下14份种质各性状值的主成分分析表明,白菜型油菜Br2、甘蓝型油菜Bn1和Bn3为最耐盐种质,可用于耐盐油菜品种的培育。     

Fresh waters and fish diversity: distribution, protection and disturbance in tropical Australia

Background

Given the globally poor protection of fresh waters for their intrinsic ecological values, assessments are needed to determine how well fresh waters and supported fish species are incidentally protected within existing terrestrial protected-area networks, and to identify their vulnerability to human-induced disturbances. To date, gaps in data have severely constrained any attempt to explore the representation of fresh waters in tropical regions.

Methodology and Results

We determined the distribution of fresh waters and fish diversity in the Wet Tropics of Queensland, Australia. We then used distribution data of fresh waters, fish species, human-induced disturbances, and the terrestrial protected-area network to assess the effectiveness of terrestrial protected areas for fresh waters and fish species. We also identified human-induced disturbances likely to influence the effectiveness of freshwater protection and evaluated the vulnerability of fresh waters to these disturbances within and outside protected areas. The representation of fresh waters and fish species in the protected areas of the Wet Tropics is poor: 83% of stream types defined by order, 75% of wetland types, and 89% of fish species have less than 20% of their total Wet Tropics length, area or distribution completely within IUCN category II protected areas. Numerous disturbances affect fresh waters both within and outside of protected areas despite the high level of protection afforded to terrestrial areas in the Wet Tropics (>60% of the region). High-order streams and associated wetlands are influenced by the greatest number of human-induced disturbances and are also the least protected. Thirty-two percent of stream length upstream of protected areas has at least one human-induced disturbance present.

Conclusions/Significance

We demonstrate the need for greater consideration of explicit protection and off-reserve management for fresh waters and supported biodiversity by showing that, even in a region where terrestrial protection is high, it does not adequately capture fresh waters.     

Resistance to fresh and salt water in intertidal mites (Acari: Oribatida): implications for ecology and hydrochorous dispersal

The resistance to fresh water and seawater in three intertidal oribatid mite species from Bermuda, Alismobates inexpectatus, Fortuynia atlantica and Carinozetes bermudensis, was tested in laboratory experiments. Larvae are more sensitive to fresh and salt water, nymphs and adults showed equal tolerances. Fortuynia atlantica and A. inexpectatus were more resistant to salt water whereas C. bermudensis survived longer in fresh water. Differences in the resistance to fresh and salt water among the three species may be related to their different vertical occurrences in the eulittoral zone but also to the ability of single species to dwell in periodically brackish waters. In all three species half of the specimens survived at least 10 days in fresh water and more than 18 days in salt water. Maximal submersion time in fresh and salt water ranged from 40 to 143 days. Based on median lethal times it could be estimated that each species would be able to survive transport in seawater along the Gulf Stream over a distance of 3,000 km, from Central America to Bermuda. Thus hydrochorous dispersal should be assumed as the most likely mode of dispersal in intertidal fortuyniid and selenoribatid mites.     

Using chorotypes to deconstruct biogeographical and biodiversity patterns: the case of breeding waterbirds in Europe

Aim To deconstruct the biodiversity pattern of the 152 waterbird species breeding in Europe to better understand its multiple causal processes. Location Continental Europe, Iceland and the British Isles. Methods We considered the orders that are typically comprised by swimming, diving or wading birds, which inhabit marshes, fens, peatlands and fresh, brackish or salt waters, including coastal waters. We used the 55 main river basins of Europe as geographical units, and searched for either chorotypes (groups of similar species distributions) or gradual replacement of species throughout the river basins. Chorotypes were recognized by applying a probabilistic classification method to the distributions. Then we used GLM to characterize the extent and the species richness of each chorotype according to energy availability (higher levels of environmental energy favouring the presence of species), climatic stress due to an excess of energy, availability of water, productivity, seasonality and surface area. Results One hundred and forty species significantly aggregate into nine chorotypes. The other 12 species, most of them marine, are centred on Great Britain, dropping away progressively on coasts further away from there. Differences in either the availability of energy or climatic stress significantly characterized the distribution of seven chorotypes comprising 90.8% of the species. Main conclusions Chorotypes are meaningful and useful to deconstruct biodiversity patterns. Our results suggest that energy is the main factor related to the biogeographical patterns of breeding waterbirds in Europe, and provide an insight into regional trends of species richness previously analysed with a habitat‐scale perspective.     

Patterns of Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Humpback Whales at the Southern Limit of the Southeast Pacific Breeding Area

Understanding the patterns of spatial and temporal distribution in threshold habitats of highly migratory and endangered species is important for understanding their habitat requirements and recovery trends. Herein, we present new data about the distribution of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in neritic waters off the northern coast of Peru: an area that constitutes a transitional path from cold, upwelling waters to warm equatorial waters where the breeding habitat is located. Data was collected during four consecutive austral winter/spring seasons from 2010 to 2013, using whale-watching boats as platforms for research. A total of 1048 whales distributed between 487 groups were sighted. The spatial distribution of humpbacks resembled the characteristic segregation of whale groups according to their size/age class and social context in breeding habitats; mother and calf pairs were present in very shallow waters close to the coast, while dyads, trios or more whales were widely distributed from shallow to moderate depths over the continental shelf break. Sea surface temperatures (range: 18.2–25.9°C) in coastal waters were slightly colder than those closer to the oceanic realm, likely due to the influence of cold upwelled waters from the Humboldt Current system. Our results provide new evidence of the southward extension of the breeding region of humpback whales in the Southeast Pacific. Integrating this information with the knowledge from the rest of the breeding region and foraging grounds would enhance our current understanding of population dynamics and recovery trends of this species.     

Oxytropis sobolevskajae sp. nov. (Fabaceae: Papilionoideae,Galegeae) from Tuva Republic (south Siberia,Russia)

Oxytropis sobolevskajae Pjak, a new species endemic to Tuva Republic (south Siberia, Russia), is described and illustrated. The new species belongs to O. sect. Xerobia Bunge subsect. Ampulla Vass. and is confined to the central Tuva depression. This species is probably most closely related to O. leptophylla (Pall.) DC., from which it is easily distinguished by the number of leaflet pairs, the length and type of inflorescence, and the length of the keel cusp.     

Growth and Age of the Roughhead Grenadier <Emphasis Type="Italic">Macrourus berglax</Emphasis> in Waters off Southwest Greenland

Data on the age and growth of the roughhead grenadier Macrourus berglax from waters off Southwest Greenland have been obtained based on the analysis of otoliths. Specimens with a preanal length of 5?39 cm, a weight of 7?5275 g, and age from 2 to 22 years are recorded in trawl catches. Roughhead grenadier exhibits a similar rate of linear growth in waters off Southwest Greenland and other parts of the range in the Northwest Atlantic. No considerable differences from the rate of the linear growth calculated earlier from scales for the species in waters off West Greenland have been found. In the recent period, the rate of weight gain in roughhead grenadier in waters off Southwest Greenland has been lower than in the Northwest Atlantic in the first half of the 1980s. The age of mass maturation in males (7–9 years) and females (16–17 years) in waters off West and East Greenland is somewhat higher than in coastal waters of Norway and the Northwest Atlantic.     

我国东海赤潮原甲藻应属哪种？

阐述并讨论了中国东海长江口外经常发生的原甲藻赤潮原因种的种类认知问题．论述了自从Stein提出具齿原甲藻(Prorocendrum dentatum Stein)新种后迄今中外专家报告该种的描述及分布,并对比了具齿原甲藻与长江口的原甲藻的异同．研究证实我国东海的原甲藻与具齿原甲藻有较大的差别,主要表现在体积大小、藻体末端形态以及藻体前端突起的大小和形态等方面．本文汇集了国内外对具齿原甲藻与我国原甲藻的研究成果,对比认为。我国长江口外经常发生赤潮的原甲藻为东海原甲藻(Prorocendrum donghaiense Lu)．文中还讨论了由陆斗定发表的东海原甲藻需要补充修正的观点．在过去的数年中,我国东海长江口海域频繁爆发大面积的原甲藻赤潮,但对于赤潮原因种原甲藻(Prorocentrum)的定种问题存在两种不同的观点,一种观点认为本种是具齿原甲藻,另一种观点认为是东海原甲藻．为了阐明此种原甲藻的命名问题,于2002年11月在深圳召开了题为“我国东海赤潮原因种原甲藻分类学国际研讨会”．认为是P．dentatum的依据是长期以来国际上通常把类似我国东海的原甲藻定为P．dentatum,其根据是它的前端有突起等．而持不同观点的专家认为我国东海的这种原甲藻在细胞长度上与Stein描述的原P．dentatum差异很大,并且除少数样品末端尖伸外,大多数细胞末端是钝圆的．专家们还认为在日本、韩国等亚洲海域分布的被报告为P．dentatum的原甲藻与我国东海的此种原甲藻为同一种．综观各种观点,作者认为东海本种原甲藻应为东海原甲藻.     

中国长臂虾总科的动物地理学特点

本文讨论了长臂虾总科在中国分布的3个科,即拟贝隐虾科、叶颚虾科和长臂虾科的属、种在中国的分布情况及区系特点。拟贝隐虾科和叶颚虾科种类较少,分布于热带海域,我国分别在南沙群岛和西沙群岛发现1属1种和3属3种,均为广布的常见种。长臂虾科是本总科中种类最多、分布最广、十分常见的科,包括2亚科102属,世界性分布,海洋、淡水均有,我国大量分布。其起源中心应在印度－西太平洋暖水区,一部分浅海沿岸种经河口进入淡水水域, 大量发展,很少种可分布至温带区边缘;另一部分在热带珊瑚礁环境大量发展,并与许多动物类群共栖或共生。长臂虾亚科基本上是浅海－淡水自由生活类群,我国已记录9属61种,主要分布于南部,多数为东洋界热带和亚热带种,分别属东洋界(淡水)和印度－西太平洋区(海水、半咸水);而极少数种分布至北方,温带性的淡水种有2种白虾,1种小长臂虾和仅见于东北部的条纹长臂虾,属于古北界区系(淡水),海水种有黄、东海的敖氏长臂虾及细指长臂虾,属于北太平洋温带区系(海水、半咸水)。隐虾亚科全部为海洋种,主要分布在热带、亚热带海域,以珊瑚礁为主要栖息地,大部分分布于印度－西太平洋海域,80%以上的种类或多或少与其他海洋生物共栖,自由生活的种很少。根据推论,隐虾类的起源中心应在印度－西太平洋热带水域的珊瑚礁环境, 并在这一水域得到了充分的分化与发展,分别适应与腔肠动物、双壳类软体动物、海绵动物、棘皮动物和海鞘类被囊动物共栖生活;而热带美洲的类群则是在隐虾类演化到可与石珊瑚类共栖时由印度－西太平洋水域扩散过去的, 共栖宿主仅涉及腔肠动物和棘皮动物。我国南海水域已发现31属96种,极少数种也分布到东海,属于印度－西太平洋热带水域珊瑚礁区系。     

Salinisation effects on leaf litter decomposition in fresh waters: Does the ionic composition of salt matter?

1. Salinisation (i.e. increased ion concentrations) in fresh waters is a growing threat worldwide that impacts freshwater communities. However, less is known about how increased salt concentrations affect key ecosystem processes such as leaf decomposition.
2. We designed a laboratory experiment to assess the effects of a concentration gradient (1, 3, and 6 g/L) of three different salts (NaCl, CaCl₂ and CH₃CO₂K), on leaf litter decomposition mediated by microbial decomposers and the larvae of a cased caddis fly (Schizopelex festiva, Trichoptera). Leaf discs of Quercus robur inoculated with microbial decomposers (a mixture of 5 fungal species) were incubated in microcosms under every possible salt × concentration combination and without salt addition (control), with a single individual of the cased caddis fly. Half of the leaf disks were not available for consumption by the trichopteran and represent a microbial only treatment when leaf mass loss was measured.
3. Leaf decomposition driven by microbial decomposers was not affected by salinity despite the fact that all salt treatments depressed fungal biomass and microbial respiration compared to the control. However, the caddis flies were strongly affected by the high salt concentrations and consumed less leaf material at 6 g/L salt concentrations compared to control microcosms. The feeding activity of the trichopteran further depended on the salt type: CaCl₂ had the most deleterious effects.
4. Salinisation of fresh waters depresses leaf litter decomposition, mainly through deleterious effects on detritivores, the magnitude of the response being dependent on the ionic composition. Our results reiterate the need to reduce terrestrial run-off of salts into fresh waters because salinisation (especially increased levels of CaCl₂) affects invertebrates and the key ecosystem processes they drive.

     

Limnological imbalances: an antipodean viewpoint

SUMMARY. 1. It is argued that modern limnology is excessively concerned with the study of fresh waters in the northern temperate region. Limnology has been and is unbalanced in its interests and emphases and, as a result, many widely held limnological concepts need revision. 2. The genesis of the argument is outlined. It involved the initial assumption that Australia was limnologically distinctive. Later, it was realized that since most of the world is arid, semi-arid, tropical or semi-tropical, Australia was much less distinctive than originally thought. 3. Other limnological assumptions considered in the paper concern saline lakes and salinization, the importance and nature of temporary bodies of standing fresh water, biological diversity in tropical fresh waters, the evolutionary importance of permanent freshwater lakes, and the global applicability of the River Continuum Concept. Consideration suggests that some widely-held views on these matters are erroneous. 4. Thus, saline lakes are more important (scientifically, commercially), widespread and numerous environments than is generally thought. Salinization is a significant environmental hazard for many rivers in semiarid regions. Temporary bodies of standing fresh water are geographically widespread and abundant aquatic environments with high species diversity, and in which many species have restricted distributions and low dispersal abilities. Biological diversity appears to be low in tropical fresh waters. Permanent freshwater lakes are perhaps less important loci for the evolution of the freshwater biota than generally thought, temporary fresh waters more so. Finally, the River Continuum does not seem to be applicable to many running waters outside the north temperate region. 5. A number of suggestions are made of how a better balance in limnology may be arrived at: how a more globally comprehensive intellectual framework may be built. Suggestions include: an increased awareness of the frequently different natures of waters within and beyond the northern temperate region; recognition of the potential benefits to be gained from the study of waters outside the northern temperate region;     

Relation of water odour, salinity and temperature to ascent of glass-eels, Anguilla anguilla (L.): a laboratory study

The ascent of Anguilla anguilla (L.) which shows a variable pattern, has prompted much research that is not related to environmental conditions in a simple manner. Physico-chemical parameters of the water can be used by glass-eels as orienting cues during upstream migration. Temperature, salinity and odour linked with marine and river waters are three of the most important cues. Laboratory experiments were carried out by testing the responses of groups of 20 glass-eels, acclimated to either salt or fresh water at 11° C, towards water flows differing in temperature (8, 11 and 14° C), salinity (fresh water and 33‰ salt water) and odour (natural surface, marine or odourless tap water). Preferences were tested varying any one or two of the three factors at a time, or presenting the three factors simultaneously, in all possible combinations. The three factors tested singly reveal that thermal and salinity preferences recorded using odorous waters were analogous to those already observed with odourless water. Freshwater flows are preferred to salt-water. Temperatures below the acclimation temperature are preferred to higher temperatures. Natural odorous waters are preferred to odourless water at the same salinity. Data from 2900 choices recorded in 163 tests demonstrate that salinity is the most important factor guiding flow choice. Preference for fresh water is affected more by temperature than by odour. The latter, in turn, influences more thermal than salinity choices. Odour attractiveness mainly acts by reinforcing preferred stimuli or offsetting unpleasant ones. Preference differences were found between glasseels acclimated to fresh and salt water. Preference for fresh water strongly affects the choices of the former group, blunting the effects of thermal and odorous stimuli. Salt-water reared glass-eels, less conditioned by salinity, seem to be more sensitive to thermal and odorous attractions.     

盐胁迫对不同品种小白菜种子萌发特性的影响

采用5个小白菜(Brassica chinensis)品种(‘七宝青’、‘夏冬青’、‘四月慢’、‘南京中杆’和‘605’),用100 mmol/L NaCl对种子发芽作盐胁迫处理,从发芽势、发芽率、发芽指数、盐害指数、胚长和胚鲜重等指标比较了5个小白菜品种的抗盐性。结果表明,‘七宝青’种子的耐盐性优于其它品种。     

Observations on the spawning seasons of East African reef fishes

Between 1974–1977 the gonads of a number of commercial reef fishes were examined during a study of gear improvement and stock assessment along the East African Coastal waters. Different methods of fishing ranging from modern methods of trawling to local methods of traps were used. Twenty-one families with a total of 73 species were examined. The spawning of these species occurred throughout the year with two peaks in January to March and September to November. The highest peak of breeding was in October, corresponding to the time of the South East Monsoons, and to the highest water temperature.     

‘Flying barnacles’: implications for the spread of non-indigenous species

The presence of adult barnacles of Fistulobalanus pallidus (Darwin) and Fistulobalanus albicostatus (Pilsbry) attached to field-readable plastic leg rings on the Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus in Northern Europe is reported. L. fuscus is a long-distance palaearctic migrant, breeding in temperate areas spreading widely over inland and marine habitats outside the breeding season. The species is known to perform long-distance migration to Africa and the Middle East. Combining present knowledge on the birds' migratory pattern and the home range of the barnacle species, it is concluded that the cypris larvae of F. pallidus must have settled in African waters, whereas the area where F. albicostatus settled on the bird leg rings is less certain. The barnacles were of adult size and must thus have been attached for a period of no less than 2 months. More than 30 individual barnacles could occur together on a single field-readable plastic leg ring. The barnacles could therefore, if ported alive to a new area, reproduce successfully and thus either introduce the species or genetically affect other native populations. This may pose a new and wholly unexpected transportation pathway for barnacles as invasive species.     

Evolutionary and ecological aspects of some Antarctic and sub-Antarctic penguin distributions

Penguins probably originated in the core of Gondwanaland when South America, Africa, and Antarctica were just beginning to separate. As the continents drifted apart, the division filled with what became the southern ocean. One of the remaining land masses moved south and was caught at the pole by the Earth's rotation. It became incrusted with ice and is now known as East Antarctica. Linking it to South America was a series of submerged mountain ranges that formed a necklace of islands. The northern portion of the necklace, called the Scotia Arc, is now the "fertile crescent" of the Southern Ocean. The greatest numbers and biomass of penguins are found here as well as that of krill, the primary prey species of most penguins, and many other marine predators. Today penguins are found throughout the sub-Antarctic islands and around the entire Antarctic continent. Using satellite transmitters and time-depth recorders, while taking advantage of the parental dedication of breeding birds, numerous investigators have described foraging habits of several species of penguins. The information obtained is labor intensive and costly so that studies are restricted to certain species, areas and seasons. Here I review the patterns evident among six of the most abundant and completely studied of the penguins. The variation in behavior is considerable from those species that seldom dive deeper than 20 m in search of prey to those that will dive to depths >500 m to catch mesopelagic fish and squid. Foraging trips from breeding colonies vary among species and with the season. Often the birds travel no more than 30 km and at other times the trips may exceed 600 km. Sub-Antarctic species often reach more productive waters near or within the Antarctic Polar Front zone, where the mixing of Antarctic and sub-Antarctic waters provide rich resources for their prey. Antarctic species usually remain close to shore, along the continental slope, or near the sea ice edge. Less is known about penguins during the pelagic phase between breeding cycles. What we do know is surprising in regard to their dispersal, which ranges from hundreds to thousands of kilometers from the breeding colonies.     

II. Contributions to the Ornithology of the East African Islands.

The sea-bird breeding stations in East African waters are enumerated. Between the Lamu archipelago, where many species nest, and the Rovuma the most important station is Latham Island with its Booby colony ( S. dactylatra melanops ), which existed at least 115 years ago. Less than half a dozen terneries (mainly S. dougallii and S. fuscata) are known, and no gullery. Reef-Herons, the only sea-birds to breed on bush-covered islets or in mangroves, are more widespread than the other species. The Terns lay about July, the Reef-Herons a month earlier, and the Gannets about four months later in most years.
Early records of birds in Zanzibar and Pemba are discussed specifically. The recent extinction of Francolins in Zanzibar is taken as proved.
The land-birds of Mafia and the neighbouring islets are listed and discussed, mainly on the basis of a recent collection. The avifauna is purely East African, devoid of endemics, and, considering the size of Mafia and its proximity to the mainland, astonishingly depauperate in some respects. Thirteen families (including Psittacidæ, Coliidæ, Picidæ, Alaudidæ, Timaliidæ, and Zosteropidæ) and several other coastal species are not represented. The phenology is discussed.     

Distribution of Anisakis species larvae from fishes of the Japanese waters

Human anisakiasis is caused by the consumption of raw, marinated or undercooked fish and squid infected with nematodes of the genus Anisakis Dujardin, 1845. In view of food safety, this study was carried out to examine the distribution of Anisakis species in marine fishes within Japanese waters. Seven fish species from six localities were collected and examined for Anisakis infection. Morphological and molecular (ITS region and mtDNA cox2 gene) characterization revealed the presence of two, among the three sibling species of Anisakis simplex, viz. A. simplex sensu stricto (s.s.) and A. pegreffii. Distribution data were collated with the results from the previous researches to better understand Anisakis distribution in Japanese waters. Distributions of Anisakis species were found to be locality-specific rather than host-specific, particularly between the two major species, A. simplex s.s. and A. pegreffii. Anisakis simplex s.s. is mainly found in fishes from northern Japan to Pacific sides, whereas A. pegreffii is in fishes from the Sea of Japan to East China Sea sides.     

The fossil record and biogeography of the Ciehlidae (Actinopterygii: Labroidei)

The family Ciehlidae is a large group of tropical fishes in the order Perciformes, with an estimated number of living species exceeding 1400. The modern distribution of the family Ciehlidae is predominantly in fresh waters of Central and South America, Africa, Madagascar, India and the Middle East, with fossil members known from Africa, Saudi Arabia, the Levant, Europe, South America and Haiti. Many authors have referred to the distribution as being Gondwanan and have postulated that cichlids originated over 130 million years ago, in the Early Cretaceous. However, the suggested evidence for an Early Cretaceous origin of cichlids is equally or more compatible with a much younger age of origin. Based on the biology and distribution of modern and fossil cichlids, it is more probable that they arose less than 65 million years ago, in the Early Tertiary, and crossed marine waters to attain their current distribution.