Isospora peromysci Davis, 1967 (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) in Peromyscus leucopus and P. maniculatus (Rodentia: Cricetidae) from Texas

Oocysts of Isospora peromysci (Davis, 1967) (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) were recovered from the feces of 1/30 (3.3%) white-footed mice, Peromyscus leucopus , in Johnson County, Texas. This report represents a new host and geographic record for the parasite. The coccidium was also found in 1/20 (5.0%) deer mice, P. maniculatus , from the same locale. Morphological data are provided on the sporulated oocyst of I. peromysci and comparisons are made with previously published information on the species from other geographic localities.     

Characterization of 15 single nucleotide polymorphism markers for chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes)

We report the characterization of 15 new single nucleotide polymorphism markers for a threatened species, the chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes), developed using a targeted gene approach. These markers are derived from the Y chromosome and autosomal regions of the genome and show frequency differences between chimpanzee subspecies from central and western Africa. These single nucleotide polymorphism markers are the first to be designed for the genotyping of wild chimpanzee populations and will provide a useful addition to the genetic tools employed for the conservation management of this threatened species.     

Does Confirmed Pathogen Transfer between Sanctuary Workers and Great Apes Mean that Reintroduction Should not Occur?

This commentary discusses the findings and conclusions of the paper “Drug resistant human Staphylococcus aureus findings in sanctuary apes and its threat to wild ape populations.” This paper confirms the zoonotic transfer of Staphylococcus aureus in a sanctuary setting. The assertion that this in itself is enough to reconsider the conservation potential of ape reintroduction provides an opportunity to discuss risk analysis of pathogen transmission, following IUCN guidelines, using S. aureus as an example. It is concluded that ape reintroduction projects must have disease risk mitigation strategies that include effective biosecurity protocols and pathogen surveillance. These strategies will assist with creating a well planned and executed reintroduction. This provides one way to enforce habitat protection, to minimise human encroachment and the risks from the illegal wildlife trade. Thus reintroduction must remain a useful tool in the conservation toolbox. Am. J. Primatol. 74:1076‐1083, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Phenology of Stomoxyinae in a Kenyan forest

Abstract. The biology of nineteen taxa of African Stomoxyinae was studied during experiments with odour-baited Vavoua traps in Nairobi National Park, Kenya. Both male and female Stomoxys were captured in similar numbers with C0₂ released at 2 1/min or octenol released at 2 mg/h. Some species of Haematobosca reacted synergistically to a combination of these two attractants, producing large increases in catch. Stygeromyia and Rhinomusca responded only to C0₂, and Prostomoxys did not respond to either bait. Many different activity patterns were documented in these genera, but most activity was concentrated just prior to sunset. For example, at peak densities nearly 1500 Stomoxyinae representing fourteen taxa were caught in a single trap between 18.00 and 19.00 hours. The Stomoxyinae community was exceptionally diverse when compared with other biting fly communities. Using data from traps set with different odour baits in the park forest, Shannon-Wiener diversity indices (H') varied from 2.5 to 2.8, and evenness (J') varied between 0.61 and 0.68. The Stomoxys population was extremely female-biased at the start of the rainy season, with species such as S.inornatus and S.boueti consisting of nearly 100% females. Sex ratios equalized when the first rainy-season generation emerged. Population doubling times estimated from trap indices were approximately 12–16 days in two habitats (forest and riverine woodland).     

Mating or ovipositing? A crucial decision in the life history of the cabbage aphid parasitoid Diaeretiella rapae (M’Intosh)

1. The reproductive fitness of a parasitoid depends on its mating and ovipositing success. Virgin haplodiploid females can reproduce, but produce only males, and may diminish fitness by producing more male offspring than required. Therefore, females must decide on whether to mate or oviposit first. 2. This study was conducted to assess the mating versus ovipositing decision and its impact on the reproductive fitness of Diaeretiella rapae (Hymenoptera: Aphididae), an endoparasitoid of the cabbage aphid Brevicoryne brassicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae). 3. When newly emerged females were given a choice between mating and ovipositing, about 62% of D. rapae females preferred to mate before ovipositing. Those females who oviposited before mating parasitised only 10% of the available aphids. After mating, females superparasitised their hosts with fertilised eggs, which resulted in a highly female‐biased sex ratio in the offspring. 4. Mating success was very high (91%) in the presence of hosts (cabbage aphid nymphs) compared with that in the absence of aphids. However, mating success was not influenced by the quality (size) of the hosts present in the mating arena, despite a parasitoid preference for larger hosts during oviposition. The time between pairing and mating was also shorter in the presence of host aphids. The mean number of aphids parasitised and the parasitism rate were significantly greater after mating.     

Strategies for measuring and modelling carbon dioxide and water vapour fluxes over terrestrial ecosystems

Continuous and direct measurements of ecosystem carbon dioxide and water vapour fluxes can improve our ability to close regional and global carbon and hydrological budgets. On this behalf, an international and multidisciplinary group of scientists (micrometeorologists, ecophysiologists and biogeochemists) assembled at La Thuile, Italy to convene a workshop on ‘Strategies for Monitoring and Modelling CO₂ and Water Vapour Fluxes over Terrestrial Ecosystems’. Over the course of the week talks and discussions focused on: (i) the results from recent field studies on the annual cycle of carbon dioxide and water vapour fluxes over terrestrial ecosystems; (ii) the problems and pitfalls associated with making long-term flux measurements; (iii) alternative methods for assessing ecosystem carbon dioxide and water vapour fluxes; (iv) how direct and continuous carbon dioxide and water vapour flux measurements could be used by the ecological and biogeochemical modelling communities; and (v) if, how and where to proceed with establishing a network of long-term flux measurement sites. This report discusses the purpose of the meeting and summarizes the conclusions drawn from the discussions by the attending scientists. There was a consensus that recent advances in instrumentation and software make possible long-term measurements of carbon dioxide and water vapour fluxes over terrestrial ecosystems. At this writing, eight research teams have conducted long-term carbon dioxide and water vapour flux experiments and more long-term studies are anticipated. The participants advocated an experimental design that would make long-term flux measurement valuable to a wider community of modelers, biogeochemists and ecologists. A network of carbon dioxide and water vapour flux measurement stations should include ancillary measurements of meteorological, ecological and biological variables. To assess spatial representativeness of the long term and tower-based flux measurements, periodic aircraft-based flux experiments and satellite-based assessments of land cover were recommended. Occasional cuvette-based measurements of leaf-level carbon dioxide and water vapour fluxes were endorsed to provide information on the biological control of surface fluxes. They can also provide data to parameterize ecophysiological models. Flask sampling of stable carbon isotopes was advocated to extend the flux measurements to the global scale.     

Oviposition preference of Lycaena salustiusfor,and larval performance on,a novel host plant: an example of ecological fitting

1. ‘Ecological fitting’ is the process whereby the suites of traits an organism carries from previous evolutionary relationships are used to enable colonisation of novel environments or resources. 2. The concept has much explanatory power in studies of novel host associations, particularly when data suggest a deviation from optimal foraging theory, but is often overlooked in studies of herbivore host selection behaviour in favour of evolutionary hypotheses. 3. In the present study, the concept was used to explain the unusual host selection behaviour of the New Zealand endemic oligophagous butterfly Lycaena salustius Fabricius, the larvae of which feed on endemic Polygonaceae species and the introduced and closely related Fagopyrum esculentum Moench. 4. In field cage oviposition choice assays involving only endemic plants, females preferred to oviposit on the rare Muehlenbeckia astonii Petrie. However, the novel host F. esculentum was overwhelmingly preferred in an additional greenhouse assay. In larval no‐choice performance assays, fitness indicators were variable for the novel host. 5. This imperfect relationship between oviposition preference and larval performance is discussed as a possible example of ecological fitting and highlights the potential use of the concept as an explanatory tool in novel host selection behaviour studies.     

Molecular phylogeny and generic‐level taxonomy of the widespread palaeotropical ‘Heteropsis clade’ (Nymphalidae: Satyrinae: Mycalesina)

The mycalesine butterfly genus Heteropsis Westwood, 1850 (Satyrinae: Mycalesina) has recently been conceived to be represented in three major palaeotropical regions (Madagascar, Africa and Asia), but there has been no formal taxonomic treatment covering this entire group. Studies aimed at understanding the evolutionary success of Mycalesina in the Old World tropics have been hampered by the lack of both a robust phylogeny and a stable nomenclature for this satyrine subtribe. Here, we present a well‐supported molecular phylogeny based on 10 genes and 133 exemplar taxa, representing almost all known species groups of Heteropsis (s.l.), and including all but four known species in Madagascar. We also combine sequences of the exemplars with a morphological matrix of 428 characters. The widespread ‘Heteropsis clade’ is confirmed as monophyletic, but lineages in different geographic regions also form endemic and well‐supported clades with deep divergences among them. Here we establish this group as comprising three genera, Heteropsis (Malagasy region only), Telinga Moore, 1880 (Asia), and Brakefieldia gen.n. (Africa). We recover the genera Telinga and Brakefieldia as sisters with high support. Each genus is taxonomically characterized and a revised synonymic checklist is appended with new combinations and some changes in rank. With a well‐resolved topology and updates to the taxonomy of the group, researchers are now in a position to explore the drivers of the spectacular radiation of the group, notably in Madagascar, where the highest phenotypic and species diversity occurs. This published work has been registered in ZooBank, http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:AAF9F440‐A2D6‐4483‐BF35‐9BC074D9D29B .