Coelomomyces opifexi (Pillai & Smith). Coelomomycetaceae: Blastocladiales.

Summary Coelomomyces opifexi is a pathogen of two species of brackish mosquitoes in New Zealand, the endemic Opifex fuscus and the introduced Australian species Aedes australis. Since the activity of the fungus is confined to the south east coast of the South Island, which also corresponds to the present distribution pattern of Aedes australis in New Zealand, it is suggested that the Coelomomyces may have also been derived from Australian sources.The host species breed in supralittoral pools of rapidly fluctuating salinities ranging from fresh water to hypersaline conditions. Temperature, hydrogen ion concentration, salinity, pool size, biotic composition factors were compared between infection and non-infection pools. With the exception of salinity readings there was no significant difference in the two.Field studies showed that there was a correlation between a lower range of salinities and the appearance of infected larvae in the pool. A few supralittoral pools appear to be located in sheltered situations

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Zusammenfassung In Neuseeland ist Coelomomyces opifexi pathogen für zwei Arten brackiger Stechmücken, den endemischen Opifex fuscus und die eingeführte Australische Art Aedes australis. Da die Tätigkeit des Pilzes, wie die heutige Verbreitung von Aedes australis nur auf die südöstliche Küste der Südinsel beschränkt ist, wird vermutet, daß Coelomomyces auch australischer Herkunft ist.Die Wirtspecies erzeugen in Küstenlachen schnellveränderliche Salzhaltigkeiten wechselnd von frisch bis zu übersalzig. Faktore wie Temperatur, Ph, Salzhaltigkeit, Lachegröße und biotischer Aufbau in infizierten und nichtinfizierten Lachen sind verglichen worden. Dabei gab es keine bedeutenden Unterschiede außer dem Salzigkeitsgrad.Aus den dortigen Forschungen hat sich herausgestellt, daß es eine Wechselbeziehung zwischen einem niedrigen Salzhaltigkeitsbereich und der Erscheinung infizierter Larven gibt. Man hat verschiedene Lachen in beschützenden Lagen mit einem minimalen Meereseinfluß gefunden. Unter günstige Verhältnisse stellen sie eine Ansteckungsquelle dar.

     

Tolypocladium cylindrosporum (Deuteromycotina: Moniliales), a fungal pathogen of the mosquito Aedes australis

A blastoconidial preparation of the New Zealand isolate of T. cylindrosporum was tested in two field trials against larvae of the freshwater mosquito Aedes subalbirostris and the brackish water species Ae. australis. There was some reduction in the population of the Ae. subalbirostris larvae and larvae collected from the test pools exhibited signs of fungal infection when reared in the laboratory. In the brackish pools there was no observable decrease in the larval populations even though Ae. australis is the natural host of T. cylindrosporum [NZ]. Water volume fluctuations in the test pools were a major difficulty experienced when monitoring the results.Tests against field-collected non-target fauna indicated that T. cylindrosporum is non-specific in action. Species of daphnid, dixid larvae and copepods were all susceptible to infection at varying degrees.     

Tolypocladium cylindrosporum [Deuteromycetes,Moniliaceae] a new pathogen of mosquito larvae

Tolypocladium cylindrosporum Gams isolated fromAedes australis Erichson in New Zealand, and another strain isolated from soil in Czechoslovakia have shown pathogenicity for larvae of mosquitoes. The infection was transmited with conidia suspended in water and hyphae entered the body of larvae from the midgut. First symptoms of the infection appear 5 days after infection; in 7 days all exposed larvae were killed. Pupae and adult mosquitoes were not infected. Both strains grow and sporulate well on Sabouraud's agar. Somme morphological data show the variability of hyphae, conidiophores and conidia.     

Coelomomyces opifexi Pillai & Smith (Coelomomycetaceae: Blastocladiales) IV. Host range and relative susceptibility of Aedes australis and Opifex fuscus larvae

Abstract

The host range of Coelomomyces opifexi was investigated. Of the three species of mosquito larvae tested, Aedes australis and Opifex fuscus were susceptible whereas Culex pervigilans was refractory to infection. The results of laboratory infection experiments using inoculum derived from larvae of both species clearly indicated that Ae. australis larvae are more susceptible to infection than O. fuscus; this conclusion is supported by observations of natural infection pools. Of three species of copepods also tested, only Tigriopus sp. cf. angulatus became infected; Cyclops vernalis and C. bicuspidatus proved refractory to infection.     

Coelomomyces opifexi Pillai & smith (Coelomomycetaceae: Blastocladiales) V. Development of the fungus in pupae and adults of Aedes australis

Abstract

Late-instar Aedes australis larvae were experimentally infected with Coelomomyces opifexi, and the subsequent development of the fungal parasite was studied. Five separate experiments involving 1190 infected larvae were conducted. Of these larvae, 114 continued development and pupated; 38 of them contained sporangia. Histological studies indicated that parasite development slowed down, if not ceased, following pupation of infected larvae, and the presence of sporangia in adults reflected the degree of advancement of infection in the larvae at pupation.     

Dr. R. J. McKinlay Gardner Interviewed by Dr. Hon Fong L. Mark

Dr. Mac Gardner graduated in medicine from the University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand in 1968. After hospital residencies he undertook training in clinical genetics in New Zealand, and then the U.K., France and Canada. He returned to New Zealand as a specialist in genetics in 1977, but for the past 14 years he has been a consultant in medical genetics with Genetic Health Services Victoria in Melbourne, Australia.     

Evidence of daily spawning in natural populations of the New Zealand snapper Pagrus auratus (Sparidae)

Synopsis New Zealand snapper, Pagrus auratus, were captured by trawling from NE New Zealand over two successive spawning seasons, and examined for acute temporal changes in gonad condition. Fish with oocytes completing final oocyte maturation predominated during the morning, with a peak in ovulated fish occurring just after midday. Afternoon catches were dominated by fish in which the most advanced oocytes had yet to begin final maturation. This suggests that ovulation is synchronised to occur soon after midday, and the high proportion (up to 100% of the catch) of fish with particular gonad stages captured at any one time indicates that daily spawning involves most of the population. Diurnal changes in oocyte diameter support a daily spawning rhythm, with numbers of large hydrated oocytes peaking in the late morning, followed by the disappearance of these oocyte stages in the afternoon. Snapper captured alive by longlining were returned to the laboratory to examine the relationship between ovulation and probable time of spawning. Unovulated fish generally ovulated close to midday on the day of capture (morning captures), or the following day (afternoon captures). The viability of ovulated eggs (proportion undergoing division after fertilization) decreased markedly after oviduct residence times of over 8 hours. This suggests that natural spawning occurs before the late evening. The results of this study are consistent with anecdotal evidence suggesting that spawning occurs every day during the late afternoon or early evening, and is similar to the reproductive patterns displayed by a number of closely related sparids. Department of Zoology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand     

Occurrence of the common wasp,Vespula vulgaris (L.) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) in New Zealand

Abstract

After occurring sporadically in New Zealand since 1921, the common wasp, Vespula vulgaris (L.), was found in March and April 1983 to be established in Dunedin, where 6 nests were discovered. Subsequent examination of museum specimens showed that queens had been collected in Wellington in 1978, and nests by January 1982. Christchurch was invaded in early 1984, several workers were collected near Auckland in March and April 1984, and workers were reported at Nelson in March and May 1984. The Dunedin nests were up to 6 times the size of nests recorded from the Northern Hemisphere, and produced up to 23 times as many new queens. Workers, nest size, and nest productivity were sufficiently different from those reported in western North America to suggest that the New Zealand population originated elsewhere. Colour patterning of the head and pronotum readily separate New Zealand V. vulgaris from New Zealand V. germanica. The nest carton of V. vulgaris is brown; that of V. germanica is grey. Conditions in New Zealand appear to be favourable for V. vulgaris; it can be expected to spread and it may at times reach the high population levels experienced in Europe and the western United States.     

Distribution,origin and speciation,wing development,and host‐plant relationships of New Zealand Targaremini (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae)

Three faunal areas—northern (Three Kings Islands, Northland, Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula, and offshore islands), central (most of Nelson, north‐east Buller, Marlborough, Marlborough Sounds, Kaikoura, northern North Canterbury), and southern (Fiordland, southern Otago Lakes, southern Central Otago, southern Dunedin, Southland, Stewart Island) —are each characterised by the local endemicity of about 20% of the total targaremine species of New Zealand. They are separated by areas of no endemicity. Arbitrary subareas are delineated in the northern and southern areas. Species not endemic to a single faunal area have wider ranges covering more than one area. The targaremine faunal areas and subareas are compared with those recognised for other units of the New Zealand biota. Instances of allopatric and parapatric species are listed. All 30 targaremine species in New Zealand are endemic; the effects of Pleistocene cold climate on their distribution and speciation are discussed. Wing development is discussed in relation to its role in initial distribution and dispersal over geographical barriers, and in subsequent adaptations to ecological niches and/or post‐Pleistocene extensions of range. Analysis of host‐plant data reveals that the Targaremini have no marked host specificity; ecologically significant data are presented for several species.     

Observations on the settlement of the brachiolaria larvae of Stichaster australis (Verill) and Coscinasterias calamaria (Gray) (Echinodermata: Asteroidea) in the laboratory and on the shore

The settling behaviour is described and substratum preferences of advances brachiolaria larvae of Stichaster australis (Verrill) and Coscinasterias calamaria (Gray) were determined with larvae reared in the laboratory and the results correlated with field observations of habitat preferences of juvenile starfish at Maori Bay on the west coast of Auckland, New Zealand.C. calamaria larvae settled on almost any hard substratum provided it was coated with a ‘primary’ film. Recently metamorphosed C. calamaria could not be found at Maori Bay and it is inferred that there is low recruitment from the plankton to the Maori Bay population.S. australis larvae would only settle, metamorphose, and feed on the encrusting coralline alga Mesophyllum insigne (Foslie) Adey. Nursery areas of offshore boulders covered with this alga are present at Maori Bay and these were found to support populations of juvenile starfish. M. insigne appears to provide a stable and abundant food source for juvenile S. australis.     

Identifying eradication units in an invasive mammalian pest species

Eradication of invasive species is an important component for species conservation and ecosystem restoration. Success of eradications is dependent on knowledge of population connectivity in order to determine reinvasion pathways, and hence populations requiring simultaneous eradication (eradication units). The common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) was introduced into New Zealand from Australia and Tasmania, and now occupies a wide range of habitats across the majority of New Zealand. Possums are one of the most destructive invaders within New Zealand, with extensive control operations occurring throughout the country. Understanding the population connectivity of possums on mainland New Zealand (North and South Islands) will enhance the success of planned eradications. We examined the genetic population structure of invasive possums to identify gene flow, thus reinvasion pathways, between seven populations around Dunedin and on the Otago Peninsula where eradication of possums is occurring. Genetic variation at 12 microsatellite loci was comparable between all sampled populations and exhibited a significant isolation by distance pattern. Bayesian clustering methods supported the existence of two population clusters, indicating the presence of a reinvasion pathway onto the Otago Peninsula from urban areas at the Southern end of the Peninsula. To avoid recolonisation, all possums on the Otago Peninsula should be eradicated simultaneously, with the implementation and ongoing maintenance and monitoring of an urban buffer zone. We recommend pre-eradication genetic analyses be adopted by all pest managers to define appropriate eradication units, thereby maximising eradication success and avoiding costly failures.     

Helicotylenchus vulgaris Yuen, 1964 (Nematoda: Hoplolaimidae): A new record for New Zealand

Abstract

Helicotylenchus vulgaris Yuen, 1964 was extracted in large numbers from soil around grass roots in an ap ple orchard at Kurow, North Otago. This is the first time the species is recorded in New Zealand. The material is described and illustrated.     

Few genetic differences between Victorian and Western Australian blue penguins,Eudyptula minor

Abstract

Blue penguins, Eudyptula minor, breeding on Penguin Island, Western Australia are considerably larger than other blue penguins in Australia. If genetic isolation is the cause, it may have implications for the conservation status of some blue penguin populations. We compared the sequences of two mitochondrial gene regions (cytochrome‐b and the control region) from Western Australian blue penguins with other populations of blue penguins from Australia and New Zealand. We found few differences between sequences from Western Australia, Phillip Island, Victoria and Otago, New Zealand, although all three differed considerably from other New Zealand blue penguins. Sequences for the control region from the Western Australian blue penguins and 30 more birds breeding at various Australasian sites provided further support for two major clades within Eudyptula; an Australian clade (including Otago) and a New Zealand clade.     

Davallia (Polypodiales: Davalliaceae) macrofossils from Early Miocene Otago (New Zealand) with in situ spores

Fossil fern fronds referable to the extant fern genus Davallia (Polypodiales: Davalliaceae) bearing sporangia with in situ spores are described from the Early Miocene Foulden Maar diatomite deposit, Otago, New Zealand. The fronds are the first published Southern Hemisphere macrofossil record for the family and provide valuable palaeoclimate data supporting warm conditions in Early Miocene New Zealand. The matching of Davallia fronds to the form spore taxon Polypodiisporites radiatus shows that the genus has had a long, apparently continuous history throughout late Cenozoic New Zealand.     

A review of the New Zealand Chirostylidae (Anomura: Galatheoidea) with description of six new species from the Kermadec Islands

Prior to the present study, seven species of deep‐sea Chirostylidae (‘squat lobsters’), were known from New Zealand: Gastroptychus novaezelandiae, Uroptychodes spinimarginatus, Uroptychus australis, Uroptychus maori, Uroptychus novaezelandiae, Uroptychus politus, and Uroptychus tomentosus. All species are examined from type material and discussed, original illustrations supplemented, and new records provided where available. Uroptychus maori and Uroptychus novaezelandiae are re‐described. The chirostylid fauna of the Kermadec Islands, a remote group of islands north‐east of New Zealand, is studied. Uroptychus alcocki and Uroptychus scambus are reported for the first time from New Zealand, and six new species of the genus Uroptychus are described. Distributional patterns of New Zealand species are discussed and a key to New Zealand Uroptychus species is presented. © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 155 , 542–582.     

A new skink species (Oligosoma taumakae sp. nov.; Reptilia: Scincidae) from the Open Bay Islands,New Zealand

Abstract

We describe a new skink species (Oligosoma taumakae sp. nov.) from the Open Bay Islands, New Zealand. This species is diagnosed on the basis of several morphological characteristics, and its specific status is supported by mitochondrial sequence data (ND2, ND4). The new species appears to be most closely related to O. acrinasum, O. infra‐punctatum, O. otagense and O. waimatense. The new taxon appears to be rare and endemic to the island of Taumaka in the Open Bay Islands (off the west coast of the South Island). Predation by a flightless rail (weka, Gallirallus australis), native to New Zealand but introduced to the Open Bay Islands, is a major conservation concern.     

Aquanirmus austvalis n. sp. (Mallophaga: Philopteridae) from the New Zealand dabchick,Podiceps rufopecius

Aquanirmus australis n. sp., from the New Zealand dabchick (Podiceps rufopectus Gray), is described and illustrated. Although showing affinities with both the emersoni and bahli species groups, it is distinguished from the former by the female head length, which is less than 25 % of the total body length, and from the latter by the male terminal tergite, which does not extend beyond the sternal margin.     

Characteristics and N-terminal amino acid sequence of a manganese peroxidase purified from Lentinula edodes cultures grown on a commercial wood substrate

Summary Extracellular culture filtrates from ligninolytic cultures of the lignin-degrading basidiomycete Lentinula (syn. Lentinus) edodes (Berk.) Pegler contained one major peroxidase when grown on a commercial oak-wood substrate. The peroxidase was purified by polyethylenimine clarification, anion-exchange chromatography, and hydrophobic-interaction HPLC. The enzyme (MnP1) was a heme-iron protein with an apparent molecular weight of 44 600 on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis gels and an isoelectric point of pH 3.2. The native enzyme had an absorption maximum at 407 nm, which shifted to 420 nm upon H₂O₂ addition. The pyridine-hemochrome-absorption spectrum indicated that one heme group was present per enzyme as protoporphyrin IX. N-terminal amino acid sequencing showed that MnP1 had higher sequence homology with manganese peroxidases than with lignin peroxidases reported from Phanerochaete chrysosporium. L. edodes MnP1 was capable of oxidizing lignin and lignin-model compounds in the presence of manganese and H₂O₂.On leave from the Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, P. O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand.Research carried out while a visiting scientist at the USDA Forest Products Laboratory from the National Chemistry Laboratory, Pune, India 41 1008 Offprint requests to: I. T. Forrester     

Mouthparts of larvae of Opifex fuscus and Aedes australis (Diptera: Gulicidae); a scanning electron microscope study

Abstract

Larvae of the New Zealand culicid species Opifex fuscus and Aedes australis have previously been reported to show dimorphism in the structure of their labral brushes, some larvae having pectinate bristles and others only simple hairs. In the scanning electron microscope all larvae showed some degree of pectination of hairs in these brushes. There is also a gradation in the pectination. Some bristles are only sparsely pectinate; because the dimensions of their teeth are close to the limit of resolution by the compound microscope, the pectination had previously gone undetected. The mouthparts of both species are intermediate in character between those typical of filter-feeding larvae and those typical of browsing larvae. The SEM appearance of maxillary sensoria and bristles on the ventral surfaces of the mandibular brushes is described; the latter bristles comb food particles out of the labral brushes and towards the mouth. Features of the mouthparts are illustrated with scanning electron micrographs.     

RNA synthesis during spore germination in Bacillus subtilis.

Summary We have analyzed the RNA synthesized during spore germination in Bacillus subtilis. Early in germination there is little incorporation of [³H]uridine into RNA. A large increase in incorporation into RNA was found at 45–60 min into germination which was in part due to increases in the specific activity of the UTP pool. When corrected for specific activity changes, the instantaneous rate of RNA synthesis showed a seven to tenfold increase between 30 and 45 min of germination. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis studies showed that the RNA synthesized during germination appeared very similar to the RNA made during vegetative growth. DNA-RNA hybridization studies indicated that mRNA and rRNA were synthesized throughout germination. Their relative proportions remained constant and were very similar to the composition of RNA synthesized during vegetative growth.In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the doctoral degree by A.S. in the Department of Microbiology at the New York University School of Medicine