Phenotypic differentiation and phylogenetic signal of wing shape in western European biting midges,Culicoides spp., of the subgenus Avaritia

In the past decade biting midges of the subgenus Avaritia (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) have been popular subjects of applied entomological studies in Europe owing to their implication as biological vectors in outbreaks of bluetongue and Schmallenberg viruses. This study uses a combination of cytochrome oxidase subunit I barcode sequencing and geometric morphometric analyses to investigate wing shape as a means to infer species identification within this subgenus. In addition the congruence of morphological data with different phylogenetic hypotheses is tested. Five different species of the subgenus Avaritia were considered in the study (C. obsoletus (Meigen); C. scoticus Kettle and Lawson; C. chiopterus (Meigen); C. dewulfi Goetghebuer and C. imicola (Kieffer)). The study demonstrated that over 90% of individuals could be separated correctly into species by their wing shape and that patterns of morphological differentiation derived from the geometric morphometric analyses were congruent with phylogenies generated from sequencing data. Morphological data produced are congruent with monophyly of the subgenus Avaritia and the exclusion of C. dewulfi from the group containing C. obsoletus, C. scoticus and C. chiopterus. The implications of these results and their importance in a wider context of integrating multiple data types to interpret both phylogeny and species characterization is discussed.     

Larval and Adult Characters in Animal Phytogeny

SYNOPSIS. Protostomes and deuterostomes can be characterizedby two completely separate sets of characters. Protostome charactersare downstream- collecting ciliary bands with compound ciliaon multiciliate cells and central nervous system with apicalbrain and ventral paired or fused cords; spiral cleavage isonly found in the protostome group Spiralia. Deuterostome charactersare upstream-collecting ciliary systems with separate ciliaon monociliate cells, dorsal central nervous system and lossof the larval apical organ in the adults, and archimery withprosome, mesosome and metasome. Only the ectoproct bryozoanslack all the justmentioned characters; they are referred tothe protostomes on basis of their metamorphosis which resemblesthat of entoprocts. The two bilateral groups have probably evolvedindependently from a radial, gastraea-like ancestor     

Respiration during the metamorphosis of sexuals in Lasius flavus (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

ABSTRACT. The respiration of metamorphosing gyne Lasiusflavus Fab. has been measured in field and laboratory populations. Twelve morphological stages are identified and their respiratory rate investigated. Only five physiological phases are distinguished. The specific respiratory rate varies between these phases, to produce the U-shape characteristic of insects. There is good agreement between the data from English field and Danish laboratory populations. The minimum rate is only 40% of the maximum. Except at the beginning and end of metamorphosis, the Q₁₀ is significantly different in the two temperature intervals 10–20 and 20–30C. Metamorphosis was completed in approximately 33 days at 20C. The total oxygen consumption by the gynes during metamorphosis was 2.4 ml. Their weight loss amounted to 2.2 mg, or 36% of the dry weight and, of this, 0.67mg was accounted for by fat. Assuming the rest was carbohydrate, consumption of these reserves would release 62.9 J, which, for this combination of fat and carbohydrate, can be calculated to be equivalent to 3.1 ml oxygen which is in reasonable agreement with the figure calculated from the measurement of oxygen consumption. The specific respiratory rate in English field populations of male pupae varies in the same way as the gyne-pupae, but it is about 50% higher.     

Morphological Approaches to Phylogeny

SYNOPSIS. Traditional views on the interrelationships of themajor animal groups are based on morphological characters, butmolecular data of various types have in the last decade givenindications of new and sometimes quite puzzling phylogenies.This should be an incentive not only to reevaluation of theavailable morphological characters but also to new studies tofill the voids in our knowledge. Modern morphology is not concernedonly with traditional studies of structure and ontogeny of organsystems, but also with newer methods, such as SEM, TEM, immunocytochemistry,and cell marking. This has given morphology new dimensions,but it also has shown that vast areas of the animal kingdomremain very poorly known even through traditional studies. Phylogenetictrees built on morphology (and molecular trees with morphologicalcharacters added) demonstrate morphological characters thatare in conflict with the phylogeny, and therefore should bereinvestigated; they also indicate areas where new researchcan contribute significantly to our understanding of the pathwaysof the evolution. Morphological phylogeny has the distinct advantagethat characters of ancestors can be inferred and the evolutionarychanges checked in terms of functional continuity and hypothesesof adaptation.     

Energetics and foraging behaviour of the European seed harvesting ant Messor capitatus: II. Do ants optimize their harvesting?

Abstract The preference in seed selection by Messor capitatus (Latreille) was studied with artificial seeds (weighted styropore spheres) in the laboratory and with natural seeds in the field. The laboratory experiments showed no strong preference for size of the artificial seeds in the range 3–8 mm (diameter). A mass of about 400 mg was selected when artificial seeds of 5-5.5 mm were offered at different distances from the nest.
In the field experiments, crushed seeds were placed 2 m from the nest and ants showed a clear preference for the size class 2.0–3.0 mm in diameter, which is much smaller and lighter than the preference for the artificial seeds. The preference of seeds from different plants showed very big variability. There was no correlation between the preference and any of the following variables of the seeds: fresh mass, dry mass, water content, energy content, and nitrogen content. No evidence for energy optimizing in food selection in Messor capitatus was found.
The energetic reward of bringing any seed back to the nest will, under all normal conditions, be much higher than the energetic expenditure. For example, the energetic content in a wheat seed is about 650 Joule, which is sufficient energy for a worker ant of Messor capitatus to carry the seed for a distance of 6.5 km at a temperature of 30^oC.     

Projected Availability of Natural Cavities for Wood Ducks in Southern Illinois

Abstract: Wood ducks (Aix sponsa) and other species use tree cavities in forested wetlands and adjacent upland forests for nest sites and cover. The availability of tree cavities suitable for nesting is important to the population dynamics of hole-nesting species, but there is little quantitative information on how forest succession and maturation affect densities of suitable nest sites in eastern deciduous forests. Several studies have measured availability of tree cavities for nesting wood ducks, but data on cavity formation and persistence rates are needed to model changes in cavity abundance. We measured abundance and persistence of tree cavities suitable for nesting wood ducks in southern Illinois, USA, during 1993-2002. We simulated changes in abundance of nest cavities in the Mississippi River floodplain and adjacent upland forests using estimates of tree cavity densities by tree-diameter size classes and 10-year cavity persistence rates by tree species. Cavities were disproportionately common in the largest size classes, but tree species varied in their propensity to form cavities. Beech (Fagus grandifolia; 0.41 cavities/tree) and sycamore (Plantanus occidentalis; 0.50 cavities/tree) were prolific cavity producers, whereas a small proportion (0.05 cavities/tree) of cottonwoods (Populus deltoides) contained cavities. Kaplan-Meier estimates of annual and 10-year cavity persistence averaged 0.95 and 0.64, respectively. Cavity persistence also differed among species (P = 0.02): cottonwoods had the lowest (0.54) and sycamores had the highest (0.89) 10-year tree cavity persistence rates. Tree fall (50.0%), cavity floor deterioration (37.5%), and narrowing of the cavity entrance (12.5%) were the most prevalent causes of tree cavity loss. Forest stand projections indicated that cavity abundance will increase up to 34% over recent levels during the first 10 years and by 44% after 50 years. Most of this increase will be contributed by tree species that are not commonly used by wood ducks, but cavities will increase in oaks (Quercus spp.) and beeches as the forest matures into cavity-bearing size classes. Sycamores will steadily contribute cavities, but cottonwood is predicted to provide fewer cavities due to low survival of cavity-bearing size classes. Our results suggest that availability of nest and den sites for cavity-dependent wildlife will increase as eastern deciduous forests mature over the next half century. Cost-effectiveness of artificial nest box programs should be reevaluated in light of projected changes in tree cavity availability as deciduous forests mature in the eastern United States.     

Three new species of Loxosoma (Entoprocta) from Phuket, Thailand, with a review of the genus

Three new species of Loxosoma are described, L. nung and L. song , on the polychaete Pectinaria brevispinis from the reef flat in front of Phuket Marine Biological Center, and L. sum on the polychaete Axiothella obockiensis from a sand flat at Nai Yang Beach, Phuket Island. The genus Loxosoma is briefly reviewed. Species originally referred to Loxosoma but now transferred to Loxosomella are listed; insufficiently characterized species probably belonging to Loxosomella are listed as well. The monospecific genus Loxostemma is synonymized with Loxosoma . The subgenus name Loxosomina is proposed to replace the junior homonym Loxomorpha .     

Mm, a new factor in the porcine M blood group system

By means of a new antiserum, Mm, the Mae phenotype can be shown to be controlled by the Maem allele, the Mef phenotype by either the original Mef or a new Mefm allele, and the Mbe(f) phenotype by the Mbe(f)m allele. The complexity of the porcine M system is now extended to 13 internationally recognized blood group factors controlled by at least 19 alleles.     

The Microlepidoptera described by Linnaeus and Clerck

Abstract The identities of the Microlepidoptera described by Linnaeus and Clerck have been critically reviewed. Evidence used to reassess usage of Linnaeus and Clerck names comes in part from the surviving material of these two authors, from their publications and those of subsequent revisers, and from contemporary collections. Results are presented in the form of an alphabetic catalogue of the species-group names used by Linnaeus and Clerck for Microlepidoptera, with a complete listing of material in the Linnaeus and Clerck collections. Lectotypes are designated for most of the species and new synonymies are proposed.