New Species of Eimeria (Protozoa: Eimeriidae) from Malaysian Rats*

SYNOPSIS. Four new species of Eimeria were found in a survey of 255 rats of 14 species in Malaysia. E. tikusi n. sp. and E. edwardsi n. sp. are described from Edwards' rat Rattus edwardsi. The ellipsoidal, single-layered oocysts of E. tikusi average 30.3 by 24.4 μ. A micropyle is absent; a polar granule is present. Ovoid sporocysts average 14.2 by 9.8 μ. A sporocyst residuum and Stieda body are present. The ovoid, 2-layered oocysts of E. edwardsi average 29.1 by 21.8 μ. A micropyle is present; a polar granule is absent. Ellipsoidal to ovoid sporocysts average 14.5 by 6.5 μ. A sporocyst residuum is present; Stieda body is small or absent. E. surifer n. sp. is described from the red spiny rat Rattus surifer. Its ellipsoidal 3-layered oocysts average 34.7 by 24.8 μ. A micropyle is absent; a polar granule is present. The ellipsoidal sporocysts average 15.4 by 9.5 μ. A sporocyst residuum, Stieda body and sub-Stieda body are present. E. sabani n. sp. is described from the long-tailed giant rat R. sabanus. Its ellipsoidal 2-layered oocysts average 28.5 by 21.7 μ. A micropyle is absent; a polar granule is present. The ellipsoidal-to-ovoid sporocysts average 11.9 by 8.0 μ. A sporocyst residuum and Stieda body are present.     

In Vitro Multiple Shoot Regeneration in Syzygium aromaticum

Multiple shoots were induced from nodal segments of seedlingsof Syzygium aromaticum, on Murashige and Skoog's (MS) basalmedium at half strength salts and Gamborg's medium (B5), supplementedwith BAP and NAA. Six to eight shoots were obtained when 3 mgl^–1 BAP and 0.5 mg l^–1 NAA were used in the medium.Both MS medium and B5 medium showed more or less similar resultsregarding the proliferation of the explants. Syzygium aromaticum (L) Merr and Perry (clove), multiple shoots, regeneration     

A seasonal evergreen forest in Belize: unusually high tree species richness for northern Central America

Most of the undisturbed forests of northern Central America remain undescribed. Some studies predict that tree species richness in lowland forests of northern Central America should be much lower than in similar forest types in southern Central America. This paper describes the physical and biological structure of two permanent, one-hectare plots on a valley floor in the Bladen Nature Reserve, Belize and compares these plots with other forests in the Neotropics. The plots have 91 and 89 species of trees ≥ 10 cm diameter (327 and 358 individuals, respectively) and comparable or higher measures of alpha-diversity than other such forests in Central America. The recorded tree species richness from other forests in northern Central America may be lower than those in southern Belize. The plots are dominated by Mortoniella pittieri Woodson (Apocynaceae), a disjunct from Costa Rica and Nicaragua. More than 50% of the tree species have distributions ranging into Bolivia or Peru, and >75% are wide-ranging species. The plots have a lower tree density and a higher proportion of large trees (>70 cm dbh) than other wet Neotropical forests. Like other Neotropical forests, tree species in the plots are generally aggregated and have a high proportion of vertebrate-dispersed fruits. © 2002 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2002, 138 , 275–296.     

Large body size in the pygmy swordtail Xiphophorus pygmaeus

Fishes in the genus Xiphophorus (swordtails and platyfishes) are well known for the influence of the pituitary ( P ) locus on variation of male size at maturity both within and among species. We report the discovery of large male size (>29 mm SL) in several populations of the swordtail X. pygmaeus , a species previously thought to consist of only small males (<29 mm SL). Large size is geographically restricted, and average male size varies significantly by site and year sampled in a pattern suggesting a recent origin and slow spreading of the large male phenotype. However, large male size is not strongly paternally inherited in this species, as it is in its two closest relatives, X. nigrensis and X. multilineatus , showing that large size does not result from the same genetic ( P locus) mechanism. Large X. pygmaeus males do not court, can exhibit the gold morph, do not possess swords and have slender body shape. In these traits they resemble small conspecific males and small males of X. nigrensis and X. multilineatus rather than large males of these latter two species. This shows that correlations between morphological and behavioural traits that occur in X. nigrensis and X. multilineatus are absent in X. pygmaeus.     

Coccidia of Malaysian Mammals: New Host Records and Descriptions of Three New Species of Eimeria*

SYNOPSIS. In a survey of parasites of wild mammals of Malaysia 3 new species of Eimeria were found. Eimeria tupaiae sp. n. is described from the common tree shrew, Tupaia glis. Its ellipsoidal to spherical, 3-layered oocysts average 20 × 19 μm. A micropyle is absent; an oocyst residuum and polar granule are present. Ellipsoidal sporocysts average 11 × 7 μm. A sporocyst residuum and Stieda body are present. Eimeria ptilocerci sp. n. is described from the pen-tail tree shrew, Ptilocercus lowii. The ellipsoidal to spherical, 2-layered oocysts average 23 × 20 μm. A micropyle and oocyst residuum are absent; polar granules are present. The ellipsoidal sporocysts average 13 × 7 μm. A sporocyst residuum and Stieda body are present. Eimeria muuli sp. n. is described from the pencil-tailed tree mouse, Chiropodomys gliroides. The ellipsoidal single-layered oocysts average 25 × 19 μm. A micropyle and oocyst residuum are absent; a polar granule is present. The ellipsoidal sporocysts average 13 × 8 μm. A sporocyst residuum and Stieda body are present. In addition, new host records are reported as follows: E. miyairii Ohira from Whitehead's rat Rattus whiteheadi and the Malaysian wood rat, R. tiomanicus; E. separata Becker & Hall from Mueller's rat, R. muelleri, the chestnut rat, R. fulvescens, and the Malaysian wood rat, R. tiomanicus; E. nieschulzi Dieben from the red spiny rat, R. surifer and the chestnut rat, R. fulvescens; and E. callosciuri Colley from the grey-bellied squirrel, Callosciurus caniceps and the black-banded squirrel, C. nigrovittatus.     

New Species of Eimeria (Protozoa: Eimeriidae) from Malaysian Squirrels*

SYNOPSIS. In a survey of 520 squirrels of 19 species from Malaysia, 6 new species of Eimeria were found. Three are described from the subfamily Petauristinae: E. kylopetis n. sp. from the red-cheeked flying squirrel Hylopetes spadiceus; E. aeromysis n. sp. from the large black flying squirrel Aeromys tephromelas; E. malayensis n. sp. from the spotted giant flying squirrel Petaurista elegans. Three are described from the subfamily Sciurinae: E. hippuri n. sp. from the horse-tailed squirrel Sundasciurus hippurus; and E. notati and E. pahangi n. spp. from the plantain squirrel Callosciurus notatus.     

Morphological Adaptations of the Ear in the Rodent Family Heteromyidae

Middle and inner ear structure and auditory sensitivity havebeen studied in all five genera of the rodent family Heteromyidae.In the most xericc genera (Dipodomys and Microdipodops) themiddle ears are greatly inflated the tympano-ossicular systemvery efficient the organ of Corti extremely modified and low-frequencysensitivity extremely acute. In the most mesic genera (Heteromysand Liomys) the middle and inner ears show few modificationsand the low frequency sensitivity is rather poor. Perognathusis intermediate in habitat structure, and low frequency sensitivity.Experimental data demonstrate that the low frequency sensitivityin Dipodomys is adaptive in predator avoidance.     

Wood CO2 efflux in a primary tropical rain forest

The balance between photosynthesis and plant respiration in tropical forests may substantially affect the global carbon cycle. Woody tissue CO₂ efflux is a major component of total plant respiration, but estimates of ecosystem‐scale rates are uncertain because of poor sampling in the upper canopy and across landscapes. To overcome these problems, we used a portable scaffolding tower to measure woody tissue CO₂ efflux from ground level to the canopy top across a range of sites of varying slope and soil phosphorus content in a primary tropical rain forest in Costa Rica. The objectives of this study were to: (1) determine whether to use surface area, volume, or biomass for modeling and extrapolating wood CO₂ efflux, (2) determine if wood CO₂ efflux varied seasonally, (3) identify if wood CO₂ efflux varied by functional group, height in canopy, soil fertility, or slope, and (4) extrapolate wood CO₂ efflux to the forest. CO₂ efflux from small diameter woody tissue (<10 cm) was related to surface area, while CO₂ efflux from stems >10 cm was related to both surface area and volume. Wood CO₂ efflux showed no evidence of seasonality over 2 years. CO₂ efflux per unit wood surface area at 25° (F_A) was highest for the N‐fixing dominant tree species Pentaclethra macroloba, followed by other tree species, lianas, then palms. Small diameter F_A increased steeply with increasing height, and large diameter F_A increased with diameter. Soil phosphorus and slope had slight, but complex effects on F_A. Wood CO₂ efflux per unit ground area was 1.34±0.36 μmol m^?2 s^?1, or 508±135 g C m^?2 yr^?1. Small diameter wood, only 15% of total woody biomass, accounted for 70% of total woody tissue CO₂ efflux from the forest; while lianas, only 3% of total woody biomass, contributed one‐fourth of the total wood CO₂ efflux.