Additional Records of Digenetic Trematodes of Birds from Taiwan

43 species of digenetic trematodes of birds are reported from Taiwan. One new family, one new subfamily, two new genera, and nine new species are described: Taiwantrematidae fam. n. Taiwantrema arborophilae gen. et sp. n. from Arborophila crudigularis; Cyclocoelidae, Morishitium taiwanense sp.n. from A. crudigularis; Eucotylidae, Tanaisia (Tamerlania) taiwanensis sp. n. from A. crudigularis; Brachylaimidae, Leucochloridium taiwanense sp. n. from A. crudigularis; Echinostomatidae, Echinostoma taiwanense sp. n. from Zosterops japonica simplex; Dicrocoeliidae, Concinnum taiwanense sp. n. from Pycnonotus taivanus; Lecithodendriidae, Pseudocryptotropa formosae sp. n. from Pycnonotus sinensis formosae; Microphallidae, Promicrophallinae subfam. n. Promicrophallus taiwanensis gen. et sp. n. from A. crudigularis; Opisthorchiidae, Metametorchis taiwanensis sp. n. from the domestic duck.     

Shape variability in topminnows (Fundulus notatus species complex) along the river continuum

We examined intra‐ and interspecific variability in shape of three topminnow species (Funduluidae: Fundulus notatus, F. olivaceus, and F. euryzonus) across ten drainages. Within each drainage, five or more adult male topminnows were digitized at multiple sites (83 total sites) along the river continuum representing a range of stream sizes (cumulative drainage area) and hydrological conditions. Nine of the ten drainages contained two Fundulus species that were longitudinally separated along the river continuum with narrow areas of coexistence. Upstream–downstream distribution patterns were variable by drainage, allowing us to examine patterns repeated across ecologically similar species. More variability in shape was explained by drainage (19.7%) than by species (7.4%) differences. Populations of F. notatus from headwaters (three drainages) converged on a deep‐bodied form similar to F. olivaceus which was typically sampled in headwaters. Fundulus notatus shape was more closely related to stream size than in the other two species. Headwater populations of F. notatus and F. olivaceus had fineness ratios near the hydrodynamic optima of 4.5 whereas downstream populations of F. notatus had shallower bodies. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 103 , 612–621.     

Life-cycle, drift and production of Gammarus pulex L. (Amphipoda) in a Danish spring

SUMMARY. Gammarus pulex L. was studied at three sites in a Danish spring. Breeding took place during the summer and therefore cohorts could be followed. Sexual maturity was not reached until the next summer and maximum age appeared to be two years.
Changes in population size differed between stations and was tentatively related to differences in drift and numbers of predators. Generally the drift was non-selective between cohorts and within cohorts.
Yearly production estimated from production curves was 2.6 g dry weight m⁻² (the young cohort) and 1.2 g dry weight (the old cohort) at Station 1. The respective P / ratios were 3.35 and 1.22. Production of the youngest cohort at the three stations in the period September-May was 0.9–1.3 g m⁻² and P / ratios were 2.14–2.31. Total yearly production at the three stations was estimated at 4–7 g dry weight m⁻².