Bolboforma n. gen. (Protozoa?) — eine neue stratigraphisch wichtige Gattung aus dem Oligozän/Miozän Nordwestdeutschlands

One new genus and 11 new species belonging to a group of problematic protozoan forms are described from the Northwest German Tertiary basin. Stratigraphic ranges of the different species are given.     

Miosira rhoenana n. gen. n. sp. (Bacillariophyceae) aus miozänen limnischen Sedimenten der Rhön im Vergleich mit anderen zentrischen Diatomeen

A mass occurrence of peculiar centric diatoms was found in a freshwater diatomite included in Miocene deposits of the Rhoen mountains in Central Germany. Similar forms were determined asMelosira jouseana in the literature. However, detailed observations in the LM and SEM exhibit morphologic characteristics which are completely unknown inMelosira and inAulacoseira. Regular triangulate and trilobate outlines of the valve faces occur and dominate besides circular ones. Variable support partitions and pillars are inserted between discus and Ringleiste. Such stabilizing elements are lacking in all comparable recent and known fossil genera. Instead of the extensive cingulum inAulacoseira the cells possess only a single copula which encloses the very short collum. A structure (l“fringe-curtain“) starting from the distal margin of this copula covers like a grid the mantle of the associated valve. Sulcus and pseudosulcus do not occur and rimoportulae or fultoportulae were not observed. Therefore a new genus is introduced with a new species,Miosira rhoenana. Miosira jouseana in the new combination is based onMelosira jouseana Moiseeva 1971.     

Bakkeius moragai n. gen. et n. sp. and Pojmanskia riosae n. gen. et n. sp. (Trematoda: Digenea: Brachylaimoidea) in birds from the Area de Conservación Guanacaste, Costa Rica

We describe 2 new species of leucochloridiid-like brachylaimoid digeneans parasitizing a variety of birds in the Area de Conservación Guanacaste, Costa Rica, each of which we assign to a new genus. According to Pojmanska's (Pojmanska, T. 2002a. Superfamily Brachylaimoidea Joyeux & Foley, 1930. In Keys to the Trematoda, D. I. Gibson, A. Jones, and R. A. Bray [eds.]. CAB International and The Natural History Museum, London, U.K., p. 31-36.) key for the Brachylaimoidea, we are unable to place either species in any family. One species most closely resembles members of Leucochloridium by having well-developed suckers, lacking an esophagus, and having cecal shoulders, gonads at the posterior end, and the genital pore at posterior end of body but differs by having symmetrical testes, a posttesticular ovary, and a terminal genital pore; thus, we propose the genus Bakkeius for it. The second new genus resembles members of Michajlovia by having ventral genital pores but differs by having extracecal uterine loops in the forebody, a cirrus sac containing the pars prostatica and seminal vesicle, and gland cells surrounding the genital pore; thus, we propose Pojmanskia for it. These new genera must currently be treated as incertae sedis according to Pojmanska (op. cit.); however, we feel that future phylogenetic analyses will require emendation of the family diagnosis for Leucochloridiidae to include those taxa with terminal and ventral genital pores and with preovarian testes.     

Pachypteria sinaitica n. sp. - eine aufgewachsene,austernähnliche muschel aus dem unterkarbon Ägyptens

A pseudomonotide pelecypod-Pachypteria sinaitica n. sp. - is described from Abu Durba Formation (Visé) of southwest Sinai. The new species forms a link with rather similar populations in the Lower Carboniferous of Marocco. Like the oysters, but byssate and cemented with its right valve,P. sinaitica n. sp. built up small limestone beds within a marginal marine environment of sedimentation. As regards the isotopie composition, the carbonates of the shell were secreted in a water of approximately 25° C.It follows, that the littoral waters of the southern Tethys were warmer during the Lower Carboniferous than those of present Red Sea.     

Euzkadiella erenoensis n. gen. n. sp. ein stromatopore mit spikulärem skelett aus dem oberapt von ereño (prov. guipuzcoa,nordspanien) und die systematische stellung der stromatoporen

Euzkadiella erenoensis n. gen. n. sp. from the Early Cretaceous of Ereño (Prov. Guipuzcoa, northern Spain) is the first known »stromatoporoid« with a spicular skeleton and a basal skeleton consisting of calcific spherulites. The stromatoporoid sponge shows subtylostyle, oxea and strongyle megascleres. Microscleres are unknown. The sclere arrangement appears as disorganized bundles connected by horizontal sclere bridges. This sclere arrangement is characteristic of the order Haplosclerida (Class Demospongiae, Subclass Ceractinomorpha). The new species is compared with the modern coralline spongesCalcifibrospongia andAstrosclera, and with the Mesozoic stromatoporoids of the families Milleporellidae and Actinostromariidae. In both subclasses of the Demospongiae and within the Class Calcarea stromatoporoid basal skeletons are observed. Therefore the subclass Stromatoporoidea does not exist as a true systematic unit.     

Beiträge zur Kronblattmorphologie. VII. Die Kronblätter einiger Linaceen

Zusammenfassung Die Kronblätter der untersuchten LinaceengattungenReinwardtia, Linum, Hesperolinon undHugonia zeichnen sich alle durch ein gesteigertes Wachstum des Blattrückens aus. Dies führt beiReinwardtia undLinum neben einer nur an jungen Blättern erkennbaren dorsalen Ausbuchtung der Blattbasis über die Ansatzstelle des Blattes hinaus zur Ausbildung der charakteristischen Lamellen, die im Bereich des Nagelteiles den morphologischen Blattrand begleiten. BeiHesperolinon hingegen zeigt der Blattrücken nur partielles Wachstum in der Umgebung der Blattansatzstelle, welches zu einem Emporheben des mit dem Blatt kongenital verwachsenen Staminodiums (dens interjectus) und zu einem schleifenartigen Aufbiegen der echten basalen Blattränder führt. Die hypopeltaten Kronblätter vonHugonia schließlich verdanken ihre Schildform ebenfalls dem gesteigerten Wachstum des Blattrückens und sind daher als gespornte Blätter zu bezeichnen. Wie nämlich der Verlauf des echten Blattrandes an jungen Petalen zeigt, wird die an sich herzförmige Blattgestalt durch einen medianen Rückenauswuchs zum geschlossenen Schilde abgerundet. Die Deutung des Stieles dieser Kronblätter als eine stielartige Verschmälerung der Unterblattbasis oder als eine stielartige Verlängerung der Ansatzstelle des Blattes, der Achse also, wird offengelassen.Daß jene Stelle am Kronblatt, an der das gesteigerte Wachstum des Blattrückens vor sich geht, dem Unterblatt angehört, konnte an verbildeten pollensacktragenden Kronblättern vonReinwardtia trigyna gezeigt werden. An diesen sind nämlich öfters alle Teile eines normalen Blattes wohl erkennbar ausgebildet. Wie auch anderswo festgestellt, entspricht die Platte der Spreite, der Nagel dem Stiel und die Nagelbasis dem Unterblatt, das mitunter Andeutungen von nebenblattartigen Randausgliederungen aufweist.     

Eine Chironomiden-Larve (Insecta: Diptera) aus der Fur-Formation (Paleozän, ? Unter-Eozän; NW-Dänemark)

From the Upper Paleocene/Lowermost Eocene Fur Formation (Moler) of NW Jutland, Denmark, a dipteran larva (fourth instar) is described. On grounds of its morphology and dimensions the specimen can be assigned to the family Chironomidae (non-biting midges). Owing to the mode of development of this family in aquatic habitats, a transport of the larva by wind or active flight to its place of burial can be excluded. Instead, the larva could have been a leftover of a fish meal or transported by currents. The specimen is the first representative of chironomids in the Fur Formation and, additionally, the first wingless stage described from these deposits.     

Echinocythereis symmetrica n. sp. — eine neue Ostracoden-Art aus dem Oberoligozän der Grube Sophia Jacoba,Schacht 8 (SW Erkelenz,NRW)

From nearshore Upper Oligocène sediments of the coal mine of Sophia Jacoba (SW Erkelenz, NRW), the ostracodeEchinocythereis Symmetrien n. sp., family Trachyleberididae Sylvester-Bradley 1948 is described.     

Das nördlichste Vorkommen paläogener Säugetiere in Europa

The localities Dalum and Osteroden near Fürstenau (Lower Saxony, NW-Germany) represent the northern-most occurrences of Palaeogene mammals in Europe.Eurohippus parvulus messelensis at Dalum indicates mammal zone MP 11, hence lower Geiseltalian (middle Eocene), instead of MP 10, ?Cuisian“ (= Grauvian, early Eocene) asTobien (1986) assumed. The same holds true for an upper molar from Balegem (Belgium), whileArctocyon primaevus as well asA. matthesi from Dalum andA. matthesi from Osteroden are evidently reworked from the late Paleocene.     

Climate-related challenges in long-term management of Säkylän Pyhäjärvi (SW Finland)

Säkylän Pyhäjärvi (SW Finland) is an example of a large and shallow lake suffering from eutrophication. During the last 20 years, the quality and general usability of water in Pyhäjärvi have shown considerable variation driven by both a variety of human activities and climate-related factors such as wet and dry years. The lake has been thoroughly studied for decades and has been the object of comprehensive restoration activities both in the catchment and in the lake since the 1990s. Large variety of water protection measures like wetlands, sedimentation ponds and filtering systems have been implemented in the catchment area to reduce external nutrient load. Another important tool for Pyhäjärvi restoration is biomanipulation, done by local commercial fishermen in winter. Twenty-five percent of the annual phosphorus input is removed with fish catch. Currently, restoration work is facing new challenges: short or even nearly missing ice cover period and increased winter time nutrient load from the catchment. In the 2000s, there were 3 years with exceptionally short ice period, allowing only brief winter seining periods. Consequently, the biomanipulation catch was very low in 2007 and 2008 leading to observable food web effects. Phosphorus load was especially high in winters 2006/2007 and 2008/2009. On the basis of the data of 1987–2008, we have tested the hypothesis if climate-related winter time variables like phosphorus load, air temperature and precipitation would affect the water quality of the lake in following summer, here measured as chlorophyll a concentration in the lake water. A linear model has been used and a validation procedure has been performed to select the best variables. Our results indicate some of the linkages between climate-related catchment processes and the ecological status of the lake.     

Interkalarblätter beiPedicularis L.

Zusammenfassung Pedicularis besitzt wie einige andere Mitglieder der TribusPedicularieae (Scrophulariaceae) sogenannte Interkalarblätter, frondose Deckblätter an der Basis der Floreszenz, die in ihrer Achsel mehr oder minder weit rückgebildete, oft auf primordialer Stufe sistierte Blüten bergen. Die durch sie gekennzeichnete Hemmzone der Floreszenz kann bis zur Laubblattrosette der Pflanze hinabreichen. Ihre Gegenwart darf in taxonomischer Hinsicht nicht vernachlässigt werden. Die basipetale Hemmung der Blüten kann eine basipetale (zentrifugale) Aufblühfolge vortäuschen.Seinem verehrten Lehrer, Herrn Prof. Dr.Wilhelm Troll, zum 70. Geburtstag gewidmet.     

Buschmannia roeringi n. gen., n. sp. (Archaeocyatha) aus der Nama-Gruppe Südwestafrikas

From the Buschmann-Klippe-Formation, mainly considered as Late Precambrian in age until now, the ArchaeocyathaBuschmannia roeringi, n. gen., n. sp. is described. Based on this discovery, an Early Cambrian age for the Nama-group is assumed.