Screening Global Positioning System Location Data for Errors Using Animal Movement Characteristics

Abstract: Animal locations estimated by Global Positioning System (GPS) inherently contain errors. Screening procedures used to remove large positional errors often trade data accuracy for data loss. We developed a simple screening method that identifies locations arising from unrealistic movement patterns. When applied to a large data set of moose (Alces alces) locations, our method identified virtually all known errors with minimal loss of data. Thus, our method for screening GPS data improves the quality of data sets and increases the value of such data for research and management.     

Taxonomic Studies of the Marine Genus Marcusaedrilus Righi & Kanner (Oligochaeta,Tubificidae), with Descriptions of Seven New Species from the Caribbean Area and Australia*

The definition of Marcusaedrilus Righi & Kanner, 1979, is modified to include M. hummelincki Righi & Kanner, 1979, M. luteolus sp.n. (both from the Caribbean), and six new species from the Great Barrier Reef, M. grandiculus sp.n., M. minusculus sp.n., M. tuber sp.n., M. capricornae sp.n., M. sacculatus sp.n., and M. irregularis sp.n. The genus is largely distinguished from the closely related Limnodriloides Pierantoni, 1903, by its partially ciliated atria and its tripartite spermathecae.     

Vrijenhoekia balaenophila, a new hesionid polychaete from a whale fall off California

Vrijenhoekia balaenophila gen. nov., sp. nov. (Polychaeta, Hesionidae) is described from a whale carcass at near 3000 m depth in Monterey Canyon off the coast of California. The phylogenetic relationships of V. balaenophila are assessed in a parsimony analysis of morphological data together with nucleotide data from 28S rDNA, 16S rDNA and cytochrome oxidase I genes. Within the hesionids V. balaenophila belongs to Psamathini, where it is the sister group to Sirsoe . Among psamathins it is morphologically distinguished by having six glandular lip pads around the mouth opening, papilla-shaped neuropodial lobes on segment 3, extreme length of the dorsal cirri, and by a characteristic growth pattern in which the maximum number of segments is already formed in subadults, and further growth takes place through size increase of the segments.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 152 , 625–634.     

The genus Rhanteriopsis (Asteraceae–Inuleae)

The genus Rhanteriopsis Rauschert, belonging to the f/iula–group of the Asteraceae–Inuleae, is monographed in a study based on herbarium material. Rhanteriopsis has a disjunct distribution with a westerly occurrence in Lebanon and Syria and an easterly distribution in Iran and Iraq along the Iranian border. Eour species are recognized: R. hombvcina (Boiss. & Hausskn.) Rauschert, R. lanuginosa (DC.) Rauschert, R. microcephala (Boiss.) Rauschert and R. puberula (Boiss. & Hausskn.) Rauschert. The morphology and phytogeography of the genus are discussed, a cladogram is proposed and a taxonomic treatment is provided.     

Host‐plant genotype mediates supply and demand of animal food in an omnivorous insect

1. Omnivorous predators can protect plants from herbivores, but may also consume plant material themselves. Omnivores and their purely herbivorous prey have previously been thought to respond similarly to host‐plant quality. However, different responses of omnivores and herbivores to their shared host plants may influence the fitness, trophic identity, and population dynamics of the omnivores. 2. The aim of the present study was to show that an omnivorous heteropteran (Anthocoris nemorum L.) and two strictly herbivorous prey species respond differently to different genotypes of their shared host plant, Salix. Some plant genotypes were sub‐optimal for the omnivore, although suitable for the herbivores, and vice versa. 3. The contrasting patterns of plant suitability for the omnivore and the herbivores highlight an interaction between plant genotype and omnivores' access to animal food. Plant genotypes that were sub‐optimal for the omnivore when herbivores were experimentally excluded became the best host plants when herbivores were present, as in the latter situation additional prey became available. By contrast, the quality of plant genotypes that were intrinsically suitable for omnivores, did not improve when herbivores were present as these plant genotypes were intrinsically sub‐optimal for herbivores, thus providing omnivores with almost no additional animal food. 4. The differential responses of omnivores and their prey to the same host‐plant genotypes should allow omnivores to colonise sub‐optimal host plants in their capacity as predators, and to colonise more suitable host plants in their capacity as herbivores. It may thus be difficult for Salix to escape herbivory entirely, as it will rarely be unsuitable for both omnivores and pure herbivores at the same time.     

Taxonomic Revision of the Marine Genera Bathydrilus Cook and Macroseta Erséus (Oligochaeta, Tubificidae), with Descriptions of Six New Species and Subspecies

Macroseta Erséus, 1975 is considered a junior synonym to Bathydrilus Cook, 1970 after examination of the type material of B. asymmetricus Cook, 1970. Bathydrilus is defined mainly by its organization of the male duct: vas deferens entering ectal half of atrium, one prostate gland attached to ectal part of atrium, near entrance of vas deferens, another prostate attached to apical, ental end of atrium. B. atlanticus sp.n., B. hadalis sp.n., B. meridianus sp.n., B. graciliatriatus sp.n. and B. longus sp.n. are described from specimens collected from various parts of the world; most of the species are deep-sea forms. Phallodrilus rohdei Jamieson, 1977 and Phallodrilus adriaticus Hrabe', 1971 are transferred to Bathydrilus , and a Caribbean/Bermudian form is described as B. adriaticus trisetosus subsp.n. The taxonomy and morphology of the different species, including B. rarisetis (Erséus, 1975) comb.n., are discussed. Bathydrilus is included in the sub-family Phallodrilinae. It appears closely related to Phallodrilus Pierantoni, 1902, from which it is distinguished principally by differences in the relative positions of the vasa deferentia, the atria and the prostate glands.     

Taxonomy and Phylogeny of the Gutless Phallodrilinae (Oligochaeta,Tubificidae), with Descriptions of One New Genus and Twenty-Two New Species*

The gutless members of the subfamily Phallodrilinae are taxonomically revised and generically split off from their gut-bearing relatives. Inanidrilus Erséus, 1979, a much modified definition of which is presented, comprises the species leukodermatus (Giere, 1979) comb.n., speroi sp.n., fijiensis sp.n., bonomii sp.n., carterensis sp.n., gustavsoni sp.n., wasseri sp.n., scalprum sp.n., belizensis sp.n., aduncosetis sp.n., vacivus sp.n., triangulatus sp.n., ernesti sp.n., manae sp.n., falcifer Erséus & Baker, 1982, renaudae sp.n., extrmus (Erséus 1979) comb.n., mexicanus Erséus & Haker, 1982, and bulbosus Erséus, 1979. Olavius sp.n. is established to accommodate the species geniculatus (Erséus, 1981) comb.n., imperfectus sp.n., filithecatus (Erséus. 1981) comb.n. albidus (Jamieson, 1977) comb.n., propinquus sp.n., comorensis (Erséus. 1981) comb.n., cornuatus Davis, 1984, pellucidus sp.n., tenuissimus (Erséus, 1979) macer sp.n., caudatus (Erséus. 1979) comb.n., planus (Erséus, 1979) comb.n., clavatus (Erséus. 1981) comb.n., tantulus sp.n., longissimus (Giere, 1979) comb.n., alius sp.n., avisceralis (Erséus, 1981) comb.n., loisae sp.n., and hanssoni sp.n., Two subgenera are erected for tantulus—longissimus–alius (nominate subgenus Olavius) and avisceralis-loisae-hanssoni (Coralliodriloides subgen.n.), respectively. A tentative phylogeny of the gutless group, which appears monophyletic, is inferred on the basis of a partly computerized Wagner-tree analysis of all 38 species. According to this analysis. According to this analysis, Inanidrilus can be defined by one synapomorphy, more or less sickle-shaped penial setae, whereas Olavius can be discriminated by two such characters, (1) atrium comma-shaped/horizontal rather than erect and (2) copulatory sacs present.     

Behavioural and electrophysiological activity of unsaturated analogues of the pheromone tetradecyl acetate in the small ermine moth Yponomeuta rorellus

ABSTRACT In field-trapping experiments the unsaturated analogues ( E )-6-, ( E )-12-, and ( Z )-12-tetradecenyl acetate were as attractive to male Yponomeuta rorellus Latr. as the native pheromone component tetradecyl acetate. All four analogues attracted more males than virgin females did, whereas ( Z )-6-, ( E )-11-, ( Z )-10- and ( Z )-11-tetradecenyl acetate were essentially non-attractive. Addition of 1–30% of ( Z )-11-tetradecenyl acetate to the pheromone tetradecyl acetate reduced the attraction to less than 2%. Flight tunnel experiments with Y. rorellus confirmed the activity of the ( E )-6- and ( E )-12-tetradecenyl acetates and demonstrated the activity of ( E )-7-tetradecenyl acetate as well. These analogues elicited orientation behaviour, upwind flight and landing at the odour source as frequently as the native pheromone did. Single sensillum recordings from male Y. rorellus showed two types of cells in most sensilla. A large spike amplitude cell was stimulated by tetradecyl acetate and the unsaturated analogues ( E )-11-, ( E )-6- and ( E )-12-tetradecenyl acetate, and to a lower extent by the ( Z )-6-, ( Z )-11- and ( Z )-12-isomers. A cell with medium spike amplitude was stimulated by ( Z )-9-tetradecenyl and ( Z )-11-hexadecenyl acetate. Some sensilla contained a third cell firing with a small spike amplitude which was activated by ( Z )-11-tetradecenol. Thus the tetradecyl acetate receptor was stimulated not only by the behaviourally active analogues, but also by behavioural antagonists. The interaction of ( E )-11-tetra-decenyl acetate and tetradecyl acetate with the same antennal receptor cell was also demonstrated in Y.cagnagellus . Electrophysiological discrimination between behavioural attractants and antagonists and the role of behavioural antagonists in the interspecific relations between Y.rorellus and sympatric closely related species are discussed.