Resurrection of Rabdophaga salicivora Shinji (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), a Japanese gall midge formerly misidentified as a North American species, Rabdophaga rigidae (Osten Sacken), with observations on the phylogenetic relationships of its populations in Japan and the Russian Far East

Intercontinental biotic connections between Eurasia and North America are common in many gall midge genera (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), but only a few species have been recorded from both continents. In Japan, four gall midge species had been previously considered to be identical to North American species, but three of these cases have already been disproved. We examined the remaining species, Rabdophaga rigidae, which had been originally described from Japan as Rabdophaga salicivora in 1938, later recorded from the Russian Far East in 1967, and synonymized with a North American species, R. rigidae, in 1982. Morphological features and partial sequence data of the mtDNA cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) region suggested that the Japanese species is a distinct species and is identical to the species recorded from the Russian Far East. We therefore apply the original name, R. salicivora, to the Japanese and the Russian species. In addition, on the basis of a molecular phylogenetic analysis, we conclude that R. salicivora possibly came to the Japanese Archipelago through the Korean Peninsula and established itself first in the southern parts of Japan. Then, it expanded its distribution range to northern parts of Honshu, but could not reach Hokkaido, probably because of the Tsugaru Strait between Honshu and Hokkaido.     

Phylogenetic analyses of the isonychiid mayflies (Ephemeroptera: Isonychiidae) in the northeast palearctic region

We investigated the molecular phylogeny of isonychiid mayflies inhabiting the East Palearctic region, Isonychia (Isonychia) japonica, Isonychia (Isonychia) ignota, Isonychia (Isonychia) ussurica and Isonychia (Prinoides) shima. We discuss their genetic structures, phylogeny and phylogeography. We collected a total of 100 specimens of isonychiid mayfly species from 47 localities of the Northeast Palearctic region (the Japanese archipelago, the Korean peninsula, the Russian Far East and Mongolia). We analyzed the DNA sequences at the mtDNA COI and 16S rRNA regions, and the nuDNA Histone H3 region. As a result of our genetic analyses of the four Northeast Palearctic isonychiid mayflies, their monophyly at the species level was supported by both the mtDNA (COI and 16S rRNA regions) and the nuDNA (Histone H3 region). In addition, it also became clear that significantly large genetic differentiation exists at the inter‐species level; thus, the relationship of “shima + (japonica + (ignota + ussurica))” is supported. Among the four isonychiid mayflies of the Northeast Palearctic area, I. (P.) shima was shown to be a basal‐most linage within the included species     

Distribution and species composition of juvenile and adult scombropids (Teleostei,Scombropidae) in Japanese coastal waters

Two scombropid fishes, Scombrops boops and Scombrops gilberti, are closely related and commercially important species in Japan. These species are often confused in commercial markets because of their morphological similarity. In this study, scombropid specimens collected from various Japanese coastal waters were subjected to polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR–RFLP) analysis and phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene in mitochondrial DNA. These analyses showed that all the scombropid specimens collected from localities in the Sea of Japan were identified as S. boops, whereas those from the Pacific Ocean included two species, S. boops and S. gilberti. Almost all juvenile (<200 mm standard body length, S_L) S. gilberti originated from the Pacific coastal waters of the northern Japan, whereas adults (>400 mm S_L) were found only in deep water off the Izu Peninsula to the Izu Islands. This suggests that S. gilberti might migrate extensively during its life cycle. In addition, differences in the number of specimens and the distribution between the two species suggest that S. gilberti is less abundant than S. boops in Japanese waters.     

A new species of the genus Palaeagapetus Ulmer (Trichoptera, Hydroptilidae) from Japan

A new species of hydroptilid caddisfly, Palaeagapetus fukuiensis sp. nov., is described based on adult and immature stages from Japan. The habitat and food of this species are noted. This species is more closely similar to the Russian Far Eastern species of Palaeagapetus than to the Japanese species.     

Hermit crabs Pagurus parvispina Komai, 1997 and Discorsopagurus maclaughlinae Komai, 1995 (Decapoda: Paguridae): New records for Russian waters of the Sea of Japan

The hermit crab Pagurus parvispina Komai, 1997 (Decapoda: Paguridae) was found in Vostok Bay (Peter the Great Bay, Sea of Japan) at a depth of 50?C65 m. Earlier, this species was recorded from the type locality in northern Japan at a depth of 150?C200 m. The finding of P. parvispina in Vostok Bay is its first record in Russian waters and substantially expands the distribution area of this species in the Sea of Japan. Discorsopagurus maclaughlinae Komai, 1995 inhabits Russian waters and was earlier identified as Orthopagurus schmitti (Stevens, 1925); its taxonomical position is discussed.     

Morphology of prezoea in the porcelain crab <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pachycheles stevensii</Emphasis> (Decapoda: Anomura: Porcellanidae) reared under laboratory conditions

Pachycheles stevensii Stimpson, 1858 is the only species of the family Porcellanidae (Decapoda, Anomura) living in the Russian waters of the Sea of Japan. The morphology of prezoeal larval stages of this crab obtained under laboratory conditions for the first time was studied and described in detail.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Biologiya Morya, Kornienko.     

Fauna of Calcareous Sponges (Calcarea) in Russian Waters of the Sea of Japan

Based on the collection of the Zoological Institute (Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg) and the data available in the literature, a list of calcareous sponges (Calcarea) of the Russian waters of the Sea of Japan was compiled. It comprises 15 species belonging to ten genera and seven families. Among these sponges, five species were found in the Sea of Japan for the first time: Leucetta poculiformis (Hozawa), Sycon protectum Lambe, Grantia uchidai Hozawa et Tanita, Heteropia medioarticulata Hozawa, and Leucopsila stilifera (Schmidt). Data on the distribution and ecology of the calcareous sponges in the area of study are reported.     

Morphological features of the larvae of spider crab <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pugettia quadridens</Emphasis> (Decapoda: Majidae) from the Northwestern Sea of Japan

The entire cycle of larval development of the spider crab Pugettia quadridens (de Haan, 1850) (Decapoda: Majidae), widespread in Peter the Great Bay (Sea of Japan) is studied under the laboratory conditions. The development cycle of this species comprises prezoea, zoea I, zoea II, and megalopa. At a temperature of 18–20° C larval development took from 11 to 15 days. Zoea II is described in detail for the first time. Many morphological characters are found distinguishing zoea and megalopa of P. Quadridens in Russian waters from the larvae of this species in Japanese and Korean waters. Some characters of larvae are similar in P. Quadridens and the related species of the genus Pugettia. The larvae of P. Quadridens occur in the plankton of Vostok Bay from late June to late October with a density up to 5 ind/m³ at a surface water temperature of 13–21°C. They are easily distinguished from the other brachyuran larvae of this region by the absence of lateral spines on the carapace.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by Biologiya Morya, Kornienko, Korn.     

Migration of Sakhalin taimen (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Parahucho perryi</Emphasis>): evidence of freshwater resident life history types

Sakhalin taimen (Parahucho perryi) range from the Russian Far East mainland along the Sea of Japan coast, and Sakhalin, Kuril, and Hokkaido Islands and are considered to primarily be an anadromous species. We used otolith strontium-to-calcium ratios (Sr/Ca) to determine the chronology of migration between freshwater and saltwater and identify migratory contingents of taimen collected from the Koppi River, Russia. In addition, we examined taimen from the Sarufutsu River, Japan and Tumnin River, Russia that were captured in marine waters. Transects of otolith Sr/Ca for the Sarufutsu River fish were consistent with patterns observed in anadromous salmonids. Two fish from the Tumnin River appeared to be recent migrants to saltwater and one fish was characterized by an otolith Sr/Ca transect consistent with marine migration. Using these transects as benchmarks, all Koppi River taimen were classified as freshwater residents. These findings suggest more work is needed to assess life history variability among locations and the role of freshwater productivity in controlling migratory behavior in taimen.     

Review of the population structure and ecology of S. mentella in the Irminger sea and adjacent waters

Significant controversies exist over the three types of Sebastes mentella found in the Irminger Sea and adjacent waters. Preliminary genetic studies have given evidence for the existence of three distinct groups, characterized using several molecular genetic markers. The biological or ecological significance of these between-group differences has, however, not been evaluated. In the present paper, we review the life cycle of S. mentella in this area, based on published data. Spawning of S. mentella in the Irminger Sea takes place in a single area above Reykjanes Ridge. The larvae drift towards East Greenland from where they are carried to West Greenland (NAFO Subareas 0+1). Later they return to East Greenland where the main nursery area has been identified. There is evidence for a migration of juvenile fish from the nursery area into the open Irminger Sea, where many different cohorts spawn. We also compare these ecological data with the genetic results and we conclude that the observed genetic differences can be derived from possible genetic drift, selection or mostly from temporal variation (age dependency). which has also been reported for other species with as high longevity as S. mentella. We conclude that S. mentella in the Irminger Sea and adjacent waters comprises one single population.     

The Use of the Mortality Rate of Marine Fish Prelarvae for the Estimation of Zinc and Lead Toxicity

The effect of zinc on the prelarvae of the Japanese anchovy Engraulis japonicus and on the sand flounder Limanda punctatissima punctatissima and of lead on the prelarvae of the Japanese anchovy was investigated. The median lethal concentrations and maximum ineffective concentrations for a 96-h exposure were calculated. The maximum ineffective concentrations of metals did not exceed their background levels in Peter the Great Bay (Sea of Japan) but were markedly lower than the maximum permissible concentrations (MPC) set for waters of the seas of the Russian Federation. The prelarvae of the Japanese anchovy and the sand flounder can be useful for evaluation and comparison of the toxicity of pollutants and for the estimation of regional MPC levels for pollutants of marine waters.     

Distribution and genetic characteristics of Ephoron shigae (Ephemeroptera: Polymitarcyidae) in Korea

Ephoron shigae is distributed in Far East Russia, Korea and Japan, where it inhabits rivers, streams and lakes. Although this mayfly is a geographically parthenogenetic species, unisex populations have been observed only in Japan. We aimed to answer the following three questions: (i) whether there is a unisex population of E. shigae in Korea; (ii) whether migration and gene flow exists between E. shigae populations in Korea and Japan; and (3) whether E. shigae populations are fragmented in Korea because of mountains running to the north and south. We observed 20 populations across Korea and investigated the sex ratio in 12 populations. Our results showed that all the populations were bisex, and we believe that there is no unisex population of E. shigae in Korea. In addition, we examined the genetic structure of E. shigae in Korea by using the COI gene. The results showed that the Korean populations were clearly divergent from the Japanese populations; the level of genetic distance between the Korean and Japanese populations was interspecific rather than intraspecific. Therefore, parthenogenetic populations of E. shigae probably belong to unisex populations that originated in Japan, while the individuals would have not migrated to Korea. The Korean populations did not show clear fragmentation by geographic barrier, although this mayfly with extremely short adult stage (up to 2 h) could be a comparatively strong disperser across Korea.     

The formation of the Lycodinae fauna (Perciformes: Zoarcidae) of the Sea of Japan

The subfamily Lycodinae is represented in the Sea of Japan by two genera (Lycodes and Petroschmidtia) and seven species (Lycodes japonicus, L. nakamurae, L. raridens, L. tanakae, L. teraoi, L. yamatoi, and Petroschmidtia toyamensis), which are widely distributed on the shelf and upper continental slope. Based on the geographic and bathymetric distribution of eelpouts of the Sea of Japan and adjacent waters, two groups of closely related species with different types of distribution ranges were distinguished. The first group includes pairs of species that live primarily on the continental slope and are completely isolated in the Sea of Japan or in the Sea of Okhotsk. The second group is comprised of upper interzonal species of the Sea of Japan that are found on the continental slope and shelf, as well as in the southern Sea of Okhotsk from Terpeniya Bay to the southern Kuril Islands. Their related species in the Sea of Okhotsk are mostly found to the north of the Terpeniya Bay. The study of the eelpout distribution and the data on the geological history and paleoclimate of the Far East show that the Lycodinae fauna of the Sea of Japan was formed from North Pacific eelpout-like fishes during the isolation of the sea in the late Pliocene-early Pleistocene, which was concomitant with the general cooling of the Earth’s climate. During the Pleistocene interglacials, the eelpout migrations were unidirectional, from the Sea of Japan to the southern Sea of Okhotsk. The reconstruction of the formation of the Sea of Japan Lycodinae fauna suggests that the related taxa from the Sea of Japan and the Sea of Okhotsk are separate species, while the northern and southern forms of species from the Sea of Japan (Lycodes yamatoi and L. teraoi) are no more than subspecies.     

Maximum Sizes of Some Species of Fish in the Far East State Marine Reserve, Peter the Great Bay, Sea of Japan

The results of 6-year-long observations on the size of some fish species of the Far East State Marine Reserve (Peter the Great Bay, Sea of Japan) suggest that resident fishes attain maximum size in the waters of the reserve. Compared to previously known sizes of fish, record values were found for the white-spotted greenling Hexagrammos stelleri (540 mm), the frog sculpin Myoxocephalus stelleri (490 mm), the snowy sculpin M. brandti (418 mm); the fringed blenny Chirolophis japonicus (520 mm), and some other fishes. These data confirm the opinion that the Marine Reserve waters are the reservation of the genofond of the inhabiting fish.     

Siganidae,a new family of fishes for the Russian fauna

A representative of the family Siganidae, Mottled spinefoot (Siganus fuscescens), has been found for the first time in Russian waters. It is a Pacific, subtropical-equatorial, and Asian wide-ranging species: from the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and Japan to Papua New Guinea and Australia. In September 2013, it was collected in Far Eastern State Marine Reserve, Far East Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, near Ostrovok Fal’shivyi Cape (42°26′ N, 130°47′ E).     

First record of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Liparis frenatus</Emphasis> (Gilbert et Burke, 1912) and new findings of <Emphasis Type="Italic">L. kusnetzovi</Emphasis> Taranetz, 1935 (Pisces: Liparidae) in Russian waters of the Sea of Japan

Two specimens of Liparis frenatus (Gilbert et Burke, 1912) of 30.1 and 55.5 mm in TL were recorded in Russian waters of the Sea of Japan for the first time. Five specimens of a poorly known species, L. kusnetzovi Taranetz, 1935, were found. Data on the areas of capture and counts of plastic and meristic characters are provided. The specimens of L. frenatus and L. kusnetzovi are described and compared to the closest species of the genus.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Haploporus subtrameteus</Emphasis> (Polyporaceae,Basidiomycota) found in Japan

Haploporus subtrameteus, a rare polypore, is newly reported for Japan. This fungus was known only from three localities in the Russian Far East, Altai Mts., and three in China. The Japanese material was on a dead tree of Padus grayana around Aokigahara-marubi, Mt. Fuji. This article gives detailed morphology based on the Japanese collection and a photo in the natural habitat.     

Systematics of sculpins of the genus Radulinopsis (Scorpaeniformes: Cottidae), with the description of a new species from northern Japan and the Russian Far East

The cottid genus Radulinopsis Soldatov and Lindberg is recognized as a valid taxon including two species, R. derjavini Soldatov and Lindberg and R. taranetzi sp. nov., both distributed in shallow waters around Hokkaido, Japan, and the Russian Far East. Radulinopsis taranetzi differs from R. derjavini in having an almost naked body, teeth on the prevomer, and higher meristic counts. Radulinopsis derjugini Soldatov is synonymized with R. derjavini. A key to species of Radulinopsis and related genera is given. Based on a cladistic analysis of 18 morphological characters, Radulinopsis is the sister group of the Japanese genus Astrocottus, and the monophyletic eastern North Pacific group comprising Radulinus plus Asemichthys is the sister group of the western North Pacific group of Radulinopsis plus Astrocottus. Triglops, having a wide distribution throughout the North Pacific and North Atlantic, is putatively the sister group of a monophyletic group including these four genera. Bolin's genus Radulinus (including Radulinopsis as a subgenus) and Taranetz's subfamily Radulinae (including only Radulinus and Radulinopsis) are polyphyletic and therefore invalid. Received: September 7, 1999 / Revised: April 28, 2000 / Accepted: August 29, 2000     

Taxonomic revision of the genus Stauropoctonus Brauns, 1889 (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Ophioninae) in Japan

The Japanese species of the ichneumonid genus Stauropoctonus Brauns, 1889 are revised. As a result, three species are recognized. Stauropoctonus infuscus (Uchida, 1928 ) stat. rev. , previously synonymized with S. bombycivorus (Gravenhorst, 1829 ), is recognized as a valid species and re‐described. Stauropoctonus bombycivorus, which has already been recorded in Japan, is also recognized and re‐described based on Japanese specimens. Stauropoctonus aurantiacus sp. nov. is described based on a single male specimen from Yakushima Island, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. Stauropoctonus nigrithorax Lee & Kim, 2002 syn. nov. is newly synonymized with S. bombycivorus. Additionally, a key to the Stauropoctonus species and discussions on their phenology and collection methods are provided.