Gastropod biodiversity at the 'Evolution Canyon' microsite, lower Nahal Oren, Mount Carmel, Israel

Twenty-six species of gastropods (terrestrial, shell-bearing snails and slugs) were recorded at the 'Evolution Canyon' microsite, lower Nahal Oren, Mount Carmel, Israel. Twenty-five species were recorded at the temperate, mesic north-facing slope (NFS) and 20 species at the xeric south-facing slope (SFS). Out of these species, six were NFS specific ( Pilorcula raymondi hebraica , Euchondrus septemdentatus , Monacha crispulata , Pyramidula rupestris hierosolymitana , Truncatellina haasi , and Vitrea contracta ) and one was SFS specific ( Prolimax eustrictus ). The interslope difference was probably partly due to missing forest species at the SFS in comparison with the NFS. Twenty-two species were Levantine endemics (84.6%) and four species were more widely distributed in the Palaearctic region (15.4%). The Levantine species are inhabitants of the mesic and mainly mountainous regions, but four species ( Granopupa granum , Calaxis hierosolymarum , Cecilioides acicula , and Helix engaddensis ) also penetrate the deserts. Seven species ( Buliminus labrosus , H. engaddensis , Levantina spiriplana caesareana , Metafruticicola fourousi , Monacha syriaca , Sphincterochila cariosa , and Xeropicta vestalis joppensis ) were significantly more abundant on the SFS than on the NFS. The local physical microclimatic sharp divergence leads to gastropod adaptive interslope biotic divergence caused by natural selection.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 93 , 147–155.     

Regeneration patterns and persistence of the fog-dependent Fray Jorge forest in semiarid Chile during the past two centuries

The persistence of rainforest patches at Fray Jorge National Park (FJNP) in semiarid Chile (30°40′S), a region receiving approximately 147 mm of annual rainfall, has been a source of concern among forest managers. These forests are likely dependent on water inputs from oceanic fog and their persistence seems uncertain in the face of climate change. Here, we assessed tree radial growth and establishment during the last two centuries and their relation to trends in climate and canopy disturbance. Such evaluation is critical to understanding the dynamics of these semiarid ecosystems in response to climate change. We analyzed forest structure of six forest patches (0.2–22 ha) in FJNP based on sampling within 0.1 ha permanent plots. For the main canopy species, the endemic Aextoxicon punctatum (Aextoxicaceae), we used tree‐ring analysis to assess establishment periods, tree ages, growing trends and their relation to El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), rainfall, and disturbance. The population dynamics of A. punctatum can be described by a continuous regeneration mode. Regeneration of A. punctatum was sensitive to different canopy structures. Growth release patterns suggest the absence of large scale human impact. Radial growth and establishment of A. punctatum were weakly correlated with rainfall and ENSO. If water limits forests patch persistence, patches are likely dependent on the combination of fog and rain water inputs. Forest patches have regenerated continuously for at least 250 years, despite large fluctuations in rainfall driven by ENSO and a regional decline in rainfall during the last century. Because of the positive influence on fog interception, forest structure should be preserved under any future climate scenario. Future research in FJNP should prioritize quantifying the long‐term trends of fog water deposition on forests patches. Fog modeling is crucial for understanding the interplay among physical drivers of water inputs under climate change.     

Morphological Constraints of Shoot Demography of a Clonal Plant: Extra- and Intravaginal Tillers of Festuca rubra

Abstract Festuca rubra forms tillers in two different ways: extravaginally and intravaginally. Demography of these two tiller types was observed in seventeen selected tussocks of Festuca rubra s.s. over four growing seasons. Extravaginal tillers were bigger at birth and on the average produced twice as many daughter tillers per tiller. In general, the natality and mortality of extravaginal tillers were less regular than that of intravaginal tillers. Overall tillering rate per tiller was correlated with the density of the surrounding vegetation; mortality, natality and tiller life span were not. High density of the surrounding vegetation did not result in increased formation of extravaginal tillers. The proportion of the extravaginal tillers was not correlated with the density of the F. rubra tussocks. There is no evidence for foraging by extravaginal tillers, but they do act as founders of small clusters of tillers.     

The identity of the type-species of Gonatocerus Nees (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae)

The validity of Gonatocerus Nees is discussed, and the identity of the type-species, G.longicornis, is established. Generic and specific synonymy is listed, and the neotype female of G.longicornis is redescribed.     

Rotoitidae, a curious new family of Chalcidoidea (Hymenoptera) from New Zealand

Abstract. A new chalcidoid family, Rotoitidae fam.n., is described from New Zealand. The probable systematic affinities of Rotoitidae are discussed and the type genus and a single included species, Rotoita basalis gen. et sp.n., are described and illustrated.     

Asymmetry in an Ordovician conulariid cnidarian

Sendino, C., Zágor?ek, K. & Taylor, P.D. 2012: Asymmetry in an Ordovician conulariid cnidarian. Lethaia, Vol. 45, pp. 423–431. Conulariids are fossils of the presumed polyps of an extinct scyphozoan cnidarian group. Their cone‐shaped skeletons normally show perfect tetraradial symmetry. However, in the Ordovician species Metaconularia anomala ( Barrande 1867 ) from Drabov (Czech Republic), tetraradial symmetry is compromised in three ways: (1) the skeleton often shows torsion; (2) the four sides may vary in width at the same level within one individual; and (3) one side may be deleted to give a triradial skeleton. Almost 2000 specimens were studied in museum collections. About 56% of analysed specimens are twisted in an anticlockwise direction (sinistral) when viewed from the apex towards the aperture, 28% show no torsion, 1% exhibit clockwise torsion (dextral) and the remaining 15% cannot be classified. Maximum measured torsion rate was 1.5°/mm. A significant negative correlation between torsion rate and length suggests that more highly torted individuals may have survived less well. Almost 5% of individuals show loss of one side for at least part of their lengths. Although many individuals have four sides of equal width, in a significant proportion the sides are of unequal width, up to a maximum/minimum side width ratio of 2 (i.e. widest face twice the width of the narrowest). In the absence of a satisfactory taphonomic model to explain the asymmetries, they are regarded as mirroring asymmetries in the living conulariids, with the strong preference for sinistral torsion interpreted as an example of a fixed asymmetry that was genetically controlled and heritable. It is speculated that the signalling protein Nodal as well as Hox‐like genes were involved in controlling the asymmetries described in M. anomala.     

European cave shrimp species (Decapoda: Caridea: Atyidae), redefined after a phylogenetic study; redefinition of some taxa,a new genus and four new Troglocaris species

Endemic atyids of southern Europe have been ascribed to Dugastella, and to subterranean Typhlatya and Troglocaris: Dugastella is epigean, and Typhlatya and Troglocaris are subterranean. An extensive collection from all centres of distribution in southern Europe (excepting the Caucasus) was morphologically examined. A taxonomic redefinition of the group, at different levels, is based on recently published and newly generated molecular phylogeny, whereas newly established taxa have also been morphologically defined. The accordance between the phylogenetic tree and the geographical distributions suggested that a re‐evaluation of some traditionally used morphological characters should generate the most parsimonious solution: this enabled a novel taxonomic division. Gallocaris gen. nov. is erected for the French Troglocaris inermis Fage, 1937, which is more closely related to the epigean Dugastella valentina (Ferrer Galdiano, 1924) than to its supposed congeners. Both western Mediterranean Typhlatya species are closely related to their Caribbean congeners. All other European cave shrimps constitute a monophylum, Troglocaris, which is divisible into subgenera (already with available names): the holo‐Dinaric Troglocaris (Troglocaris) Dormitzer, 1853, south‐eastern mero‐Dinaric Troglocaris (Troglocaridella) Babi?, 1922, and Troglocaris (Spelaeocaris) Matja?i?, 1956, and the Caucasian Troglocaris (Xiphocaridinella) Sadovsky, 1930. Four new species are described: Troglocaris (Troglocaris) bosnica sp. nov. , Troglocaris (Spelaeocaris) prasence sp. nov. , Troglocaris (Spelaeocaris) kapelana sp. nov. , and Troglocaris (Spelaeocaris) neglecta sp. nov. The distribution of all established species is shown, and the value of the morphological characters is discussed. © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 155 , 786–818.     

Absence of BoLA class I antigens on bovine spermatozoa

Summary. Forty AI bulls were tested for BoLA class I antigens by means of eight specific polyclonal reagents. By means of immobilization and sperm penetration tests these antigens were not detected on sperm cells. Isoimmunization studies with the use of sperm as antigenic stimuli and insemination of frozen spermatozoa diluted in specific reagents did not prove the presence of BoLA class I antigens on bovine spermatozoa. The cytotoxic tests used in this investigation were not reliable.