Isolation of polymorphic tetranucleotide microsatellite markers in the satin bowerbird,Ptilonorhynchus violaceus

We isolated 13 polymorphic microsatellite markers from the satin bowerbird, Ptilonorhynchus violaceus from a genomic library enriched in (AAGG)_n repetitive elements and characterized them in 20 individuals. The number of alleles ranged from two to 18 per locus with the observed heterozygosity ranging from 0.15 to 1.00. These markers will be useful for analysing questions concerning parentage, population genetic structure and models of speciation.     

Auxin and the Control of Ethylene Production during the Development and Senescence of Leaves and Fruits

The levels of endogenous IAA and the production of ethylenehave been followed during maturation and senescence in herbaceous(Phaseolus vulgaris, Ecballium elaterium) and deciduous (Prunusserrulata) leaves. Comparisons have been made with similar estimationsduring ripening of a herbaceous fruit. Ecballium elaterium.Whereas a correlation can be made between auxin content andethylene production in immature tissues, no such relationshipexists in senescing or ripening tissues where ethylene productionappears to be independent of the total endogenous auxin content.Both IAA and fusicoccin enhance ethylene production in developingleaves but fail to do so in senescent tissues. A mechanism forthe regulation of the rate of ethylene biosynthesis is described.This involves modifications in the release from a membrane-boundor membrane-enclosed compartment of cofactor(s) essential toone or more steps in the pathway. The mechanism accommodatesobserved normal and senescence-related rates of ethylene production.     

Systematic revision of the formerly monotypic genus Tanganikallabes (Siluriformes: Clariidae)

The monotypic genus Tanganikallabes, endemic to Lake Tanganyika, is a poorly known member of the family Clariidae. Examination of 142 specimens housed in museum collections has revealed the presence of at least two additional species in this genus. Tanganikallabes alboperca sp. nov. is distinguished from all congeners by the length of its pelvic fins, the presence of a depigmented vertical bar on the opercular margin, and a combination of additional morphometric (pectoral spine length, preanal length, body depth at anus) and meristic (dorsal and anal fin ray counts) characters. Tanganikallabes stewarti sp. nov. is distinguished from other Tanganikallabes species by having a relatively shorter, incomplete lateral line, and shallow body depth at the anus, as well as shorter prepelvic and preanal lengths, and a longer anal fin with a higher number of fin rays. Several morphological characters, as well as genetic data from cytochrome b (mitochondrial DNA) and 18S–ITS1–5.8S–ITS2–28S (ribosomal DNA), indicate that Tanganikallabes constitutes a monophyletic group within the Clariidae and support the recognition of additional species diversity. The monophyly of Tanganikallabes, coupled with the geographical isolation of this group to a single lake satisfy the requirements for its classification as a true species flock, the latest to be described from Lake Tanganyika. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, 165 , 121–142.     

A longirostrine Temnodontosaurus (Ichthyosauria) with comments on Early Jurassic ichthyosaur niche partitioning and disparity

Abstract: We describe an almost complete ichthyosaur skeleton from the middle Toarcian (Lower Jurassic) of the Beaujolais foothills near Lyon, France, and assign it to Temnodontosaurus azerguensis sp. nov. This new species exhibits cranial peculiarities such as a thin, elongated and possibly edentulous rostrum, as well as a reduced quadrate. These characters indicate dietary preferences that markedly differ from other species referred to Temnodontosaurus, a genus previously considered as the top predator of the Early Jurassic seas. Despite a conservative postcranial skeleton, we propose that Temnodontosaurus is one of the most ecologically disparate genera of ichthyosaurs, including apex predators and now a soft prey longirostrine hunter. Ammonites collected from the same stratigraphic level as the described specimen indicate that the new species is somewhat younger (bifrons ammonite zone) than the most known Toarcian ichthyosaurs and therefore slightly postdates the interval of severe environmental changes and marine invertebrate extinctions known as the Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Event. The present study therefore raises the question of whether postcrisis recovery of vertebrate faunas, including the radiation of Temnodontosaurus into a new ecological niche, may have been a consequence of marine ecosystem reorganization across this event.     

A refined graptolite biostratigraphy for the late Ordovician–early Silurian of central Wales

Morphometric analysis of graptolites from the persculptus and acuminatus biozones of central Wales identifies four successive morphospecies of normalograptids. These graptolites can be used for biostratigraphical subdivision of these strata as follows: (i) an early persculptus Biozone interval containing broad forms with geniculate thecae that have the morphology of Persculptograptus persculptus with an early insertion point for the full median septum (theca 1¹); (ii) a supra‐adjacent level of early persculptus Biozone age, with narrower, parallel‐sided forms, that have been referred to as Normalograptus? aff. parvulus and have a slightly later insertion point for the full median septum (theca 1²); (iii) a third interval, encompassing the later part of the persculptus Biozone to the early acuminatus Biozone, with Normalograptus? cf. parvulus, which has the full median septum delayed to the level of theca 3–7; and (iv) a younger interval, in the mid‐acuminatus Biozone with Persculptograptus cf. persculptus specimens that do not display the median septum on its reverse side. These taxa can be used for refined biostratigraphy and correlation in the late Ordovician and early Silurian of central Wales. The progressive delay in the insertion of the median septum in these taxa may have wider application for the correlation of the interval immediately after the Hirnantian glacial maximum.     

Dental microwear in the orthodentine of the Xenarthra (Mammalia) and its use in reconstructing the palaeodiet of extinct taxa: the case study of Nothrotheriops shastensis (Xenarthra,Tardigrada, Nothrotheriidae)

The utility of orthodentine microwear analysis as a proxy for dietary reconstruction in xenarthrans (tree sloths, armadillos) was quantitatively and statistically accessed via low‐magnification stereomicroscopy. Features such as number of scratches and pits, as well as presence of gouges, hypercoarse scratches, > four large pits, > four cross scratches, and fine, mixed or coarse scratch texture were recorded in 255 teeth from 20 extant xenarthran species. Feature patterns are consistent with scar formation through abrasional (tooth–food) and attritional (tooth–tooth) contact. Number of scratches is the most dietary diagnostic microwear variable for xenarthrans, with herbivorous sloths characterized by > ten scratches and nonherbivorous armadillos by < ten scratches. Discriminant function analysis differentiated arboreal folivores (sloths) and frugivore‐folivores (sloths) both from each other and from fossorial carnivore‐omnivores (armadillos) and insectivores (armadillos). Microwear patterns in carnivore‐omnivores and insectivores are difficult to distinguish between; armadillo microwear may reflect a fossorial lifestyle (grit consumption) rather than primary diet. Cabassous centralis is anomalous in its microwear signal relative to all other insectivores. To test the utility of orthodentine microwear analysis as an indicator of palaeodiet in extinct xenarthrans, microwear in the ground sloth Nothrotheriops shastensis was quantitatively and statistically compared to microwear in extant taxa. Microwear patterns in N. shastensis are most comparable to extant folivores based on scratch number and hierarchical cluster analysis. This strongly supports an herbivorous diet for N. shastensis that is corroborated by multiple independent lines of evidence. Thus, orthodentine microwear analysis can be used to reconstruct diet in extinct xenarthrans. © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 156 , 201–222.     

Growth and demography of a re‐introduced population of White‐tailed Eagles Haliaeetus albicilla

White‐tailed Eagles Haliaeetus albicilla became extinct in Britain in 1918 following prolonged persecution. Intensive conservation efforts since the 1970s have included the re‐introduction of the species to Britain through two phases of release of Norwegian fledglings in western Scotland in 1975–85 and 1993–98. Population growth and breeding success have been monitored closely to the present day, aided by the use of patagial tags to individually mark most released birds as well as a high proportion of wild‐bred nestlings. This study reviews the growth and demography of this re‐introduced population, and makes comparisons with other European populations. For the first time, we compare the demographic rates of released and wild‐bred birds in the Scottish population. Breeding success in the Scottish population has increased over time as the average age and experience of individuals in the population have increased, and success tends to be higher where one or both adults are wild‐bred. Current levels of breeding success remain low compared with some other populations in Europe, but similar to those in Norway where weather conditions and food availability are likely to be most similar. Survival rates in Scotland are similar to those recorded elsewhere, but survival rates of released birds are lower than those of wild‐bred birds, especially during the first 3 years of life. Despite the effect of lower survival rates of released birds in limiting overall population growth rate, the recent rate of growth of the Scottish population remains high relative to other recovering populations across Europe. Differences in demographic rates of wild‐bred and released birds suggest that in future re‐introduction programmes, steps to maximize the success and output of the earliest breeding attempts would help ensure the most rapid shift to a population composed largely of wild‐bred birds, which should then have a higher rate of increase.     

Genetic and morphological variation in a Mediterranean glacial refugium: evidence from Italian pygmy shrews,Sorex minutus (Mammalia: Soricomorpha)

At the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), the southern European peninsulas were important refugia for temperate species. Current genetic subdivision of species within these peninsulas may reflect past population subdivision at the LGM, as in ‘refugia within refugia’, and/or at other time periods. In the present study, we assess whether pygmy shrew populations from different regions within Italy are genetically and morphologically distinct. One maternally and two paternally inherited molecular markers (cytochrome b and Y‐chromosome introns, respectively) were analysed using several phylogenetic methods. A geometric morphometric analysis was performed on mandibles to evaluate size and shape variability between populations. Mandible shape was also explored with a functional approach that considered the mandible as a first‐order lever affecting bite force. We found genetically and morphologically distinct European, Italian, and southern Italian groups. Mandible size increased with decreasing latitude and southern Italian pygmy shrews exhibited mandibles with the strongest bite force. It is not clear whether or not the southern Italian and Italian groups of pygmy shrews occupied different refugia within the Italian peninsula at the LGM. It is likely, however, that geographic isolation earlier than the LGM on islands at the site of present‐day Calabria was important in generating the distinctive southern Italian group of pygmy shrews, and also the genetic groups in other small vertebrates that we review here. Calabria is an important hotspot for genetic diversity, and is worthy of conservation attention. © 2010 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2010, 100 , 774–787.     

Incorporating historical museum specimens into molecular systematic and conservation genetics research

We successfully amplified mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and microsatellites from historical museum specimens of lizards and frogs dating from 1894 through to 1998. Ancient DNA techniques were used to extract whole genomic DNA from a number of different tissues, including liver, leg muscle and toe clips, followed by standard polymerase chain reaction techniques for amplification. We had a 78% success rate amplifying mtDNA from 14 museum specimens and a 57% success rate amplifying microsatellite markers for seven museum specimens. Our study demonstrates the feasibility of incorporating historical museum specimens into molecular systematic and conservation genetic studies.     

Patterns of kleptoparasitism and inquilinism in social and non-social Dunatothrips on Australian Acacia

Abstract.  1. Australian Acacia thrips and their parasitic exploiters provide a novel system for analysing fundamental questions about host–parasite evolution and ecology.
2. In this study, colony collections were used to examine interactions between members of the genus Dunatothrips and the diverse assemblage of parasitic thrips that invade domiciles constructed by the host on various species of Acacia .
3.  Dunatothrips parasites adopt a range of strategies for exploiting their hosts, including lethal fighting, host eviction, and cohabitation.
4. Social Dunatothrips ( D. aneurae and D. skene ) were more frequently parasitised than non-social D. gloius , which could be related to differences in social organisation or the fact that D. gloius has shifted onto a novel host that is distantly related to other Dunatothrips ' hosts.
5. Parasitism rates of D. aneurae and D. skene domiciles were high (46% and 51% respectively), and were positively density dependent.