Some Jurassic conifers from Israel

Four new species of conifer twigs are described from well-preserved compressions isolated from black shales found in Makhtesh Ramon, a large cirque in southern Israel. They are dated as Lower Jurassic. Three of the species appear to be xeromorphic, a fourth–evidently hygrophi -lous–presumably represents an undergrowth. A new species of male cone, Masculostrobus harrisianus , with spirally arranged scales, is claimed to belong to Cupressinocladus rainonensis Chaloner & Lorch, an opposite-leaved conifer previously described from the same locality.     

Nutrient limitation of Myriophyllum spicatum growth in situ

SUMMARY. 1. The hypothesis that the submersed macrophyte biomass in natural weedbeds is nutrient limited was tested in situ by an enrichment experiment.
2. The response of Myriophyllum spicatum was significant and positive for N-enrichment, resulting in a 30–40% increase in biomass over controls. There was no response to phosphorus or to potassium enrichment.
3. Plant length and number of shoots per rephcate were also significantly increased by nitrogen additions but again showed no response to phosphorus and potassium.
4. Water depth differences were also found to affect the plant responses in some cases.
5. The macrophyte response to fertilization was similar to that recorded for emergent macrophytes and terrestrial crops but much smaller than for phytoplankton.     

Additional Records of Trematodes of Amphibians and Reptiles from Taiwan

Three monogenetic and 23 digenetic trematodes of amphibians and reptiles are reported from Taiwan, 14 for the first time. One new family and genus and five new species of Digenea are described: Omphalometridae, Leurosoma taiwanense sp.n. from Bufo bufo bankorensis; Dicrocoeliidae, Paradistomum taiwanense sp.n. from Natrix stolata; Ocadiatrematidae, Ocadiatrema taiwanense fam. gen. et sp.n. from Ocadia sinensis; Lecithodendriidae, Prosthodendrium (Paralecithodendrium)taiwanense sp.n. from Ocadia sinensis; Pleurogenidae, Nenimandijea taiwanense sp.n. from Rana plancyi fukienensis .