Isospora Normanlevinei N. Sp. and Isospora Coluzzii N. Sp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) In Emberiza Cirlus (Cirl Bunting) (Passeriformes-Emberizidae)

ABSTRACT. The morphological characteristics of two new species of Isospora observed in Emberiza cirlus (Cirl Bunting) from Italy are reported. the oocysts of Isospora normanlevinei n. sp. are spherical or sub-spherical, with a smooth double-layered wall, and measure 24.2 times 23.7 (21.0-26.5 times 21.5-25.5) μm; each oocyst contains 2 to 10 polar granules. No micropyle or residuum was observed. the piriform sporocysts measure 19.4 times 11.2 (17.0-21.0 times 10.0-12.5) μm and contain a dispersed residuum. the Stieda body is flat; the substiedal body, with scattered clear and dark granules, may be either symmetrical or asymmetrical. the oocysts of I. coluzzii n. sp. are asymmetrical and rounded shape and measure 28.6 times 24.2 (25.0-31.5 times 21.5-26.0) μm. the oocyst has a double-layered wall and 2 to 3 polar granules. Neither micropyle nor residuum is present. the sub-ellipsoidal sporocyst, measuring 18.2 times 10.0(16.5-20.0 times 9.0-11.0) μm, has a dispersed sporocyst residuum. the Stieda complex is symmetrical.     

Euglenoid morphospecies replacement along a hydraulic gradient of the Lower Paraná Basin (Argentina)

1. This study deals with the distribution of euglenoid morphospecies along the length of the Lower Paraná River floodplain. Six sites located in the Paraná River, Estevez stream and Montiel shallow lake were surveyed monthly from May 1995 to April 1996. 2. Eighty‐eight infrageneric taxa were registered though the total density percentage of euglenoids seldom exceeded 15% of total phytoplankton. The increasing species richness towards the lake is mostly the result of a high contribution of species of Trachelomonas and naked infrageneric taxa of Euglena, Lepocinclis and Phacus, while the distribution of Strombomonas species along the transect is fairly constant. 3. The richness of euglenoid morphospecies follows a pattern opposite to that found for the entire phytoplankton community. The distribution of euglenoids differs among the three habitats defined in this study: river, stream, shallow lake. These differences depend on the hydraulic condition of each habitat, as revealed by canonical correspondence analysis. 4. The degree of association with each type of aquatic habitat varied among the species and differed between water phases. Strombomonas fluviatilis was equally constant along the length of the ecotone, while S. girardiana and S. scabra were particularly associated with the Paraná River and P. longicauda, L. truncata, T. hispida and T. similis with the lake. 5. The flood pulse establishes a clear pattern both in species richness and abundance of euglenoids. The number of species recorded during high water was more than twice that recorded during low water.     

Adaptive, taxonomic, and phylogenetic aspects of female abdominal features in Oligotrophini (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae), and four new Dasineura species from the Western Palearctic

The external structure of the end part of the female abdomen in Oligotrophini was studied. Various patterns were found, some of them representing adaptations of limited value for phylogenetic considerations, but the analysis also demonstrated synapomorphies for certain genera. For example, all known species of Gephyraulus are equipped with a pair of horn-like sensilla situated dorsally near the tip of the superior lamella. This development apparently does not occur in other Oligotrophini. Six general models regarding the cuticular sculpture of the superior lamella were distinguished in Dasineura and Macrolabis. Evolution of some of the models may have occurred several times. Lectotypes of Jaapiella catariae Rübsaamen and Wachtliella dalmaticu Rübsaamen are designated. Wachtliella rosarum (Hardy) is transferred to Dasineura. Four new species are described: Dasineura mariae sp. n., D. berti sp. n., D. helenae sp. n., and D. erodiicola sp. n.     

A giant Upper Jurassic turtle revealed by its trackways

Exceptional fossilization of large tetrapod swimming traces occurs in the Cerin Lagerstätte (Jura Mountains, France). These trackways are imprinted in Jurassic (Late Kimmeridgian) lagoonal fine-grained limestones and are attributed to giant turtles, which swam with a simultaneous movement of their forelimbs like the modern ones. These turtles swam in very shallow waters close to land, perhaps near a nesting area. As a major consequence, these new ichnologic data place the origin of true large marine turtles during the Jurassic period and not during the Cretaceous period as previously considered on the basis of skeletal remains.     

Mineralized Tissues and Exercise Physiology of Snakes

Previous studies indicate a tight correlation of predatory modes,morphology, and activity physiology in snakes. Active foragerslike the coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum) exhibit great staminaand high rates of aerobiosis and anaerobiosis during intenseexercise. The western rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis), a sit-and-waitpredator, is capable of bouts of intense activity for limitedperiods of time before exhaustion. During maximal activity therattlesnake has moderate powers of anaerobiosis and limitedpowers of aerobiosis. Superior blood buffering capacity in thecoachwhip seems at least partially responsible for its stamina.New evidence presented here indicates that low endurance inthe rattlesnake may be associated with exercise-related bonedissolution, resulting in hypercalcemia. Such hypercalcemiamay function to further debilitate the already poorly developedblood buffering capacity of the rattlesnake.     

Spatial and seasonal distribution of Culicoides imicola in Iberia in relation to the transmission of African horse sickness virus

Abstract. Collections of biting midges were made over 24 months from sixty sites spread across Iberia. Information on the distribution of the vector of African horse sickness virus, Culicoides imicola , from these 3119 samples showed that this species was annually present across south-western Spain as far as 3^o53'W and throughout most of Portugal, up to 41^o5'N. C.imicola was found in all areas where African horse sickness epizootics had occurred in 1987-90 and also in areas outside the epizootic zones.
Seasonal patterns of capture success of C.imicola , from seventeen frequently sampled sites where the vector was present, usually showed a late summer-early autumn peak. At the sites furthest south there was a discrete peak, mostly in September or October, before and after which the numbers captured increased or decreased steadily. At higher latitudes peak abundances occurred as early as May or as late as November, population build up was less uniform and numbers often declined rapidly after the peak was reached. Both the distribution and seasonal abundance patterns closely matched transmission patterns of African horse sickness virus, which rose during late summer and caused most cases during the autumn months.