Two new endemic species of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Omphreus</Emphasis> (Carabidae: Coleoptera) from Montenegro

Two new species, viz. Omphreus (Omphreus) prekornicensis sp. n. (from Medjedje Peak, Mt. Prekornica, C Montenegro) and Omphreus (Omphreus) bjelasicensis sp. n. (from Biogradska Gora National Park, Mt. Bjelasica, E Montenegro), are described and diagnosed. Male and female genitalia and other taxonomically important characteristics are illustrated. The new species are clearly distinct from their closest congeners and represent endemic relicts inhabiting limited regions of the Dinaric mountain system in Montenegro.     

The imprint of Quaternary glaciers on the present-day distribution of the obligate groundwater amphipod Niphargus virei (Niphargidae)

Aim A plausible yet untested biogeographical scenario suggests that Quaternary glaciers shaped the present‐day distribution of the groundwater amphipod Niphargus virei. This study was designed to test two hypotheses pertaining to this scenario: (1) the probability of occurrence of N. virei in ice‐free areas decreases in the vicinity of the Würm glacier; and (2) dispersal is sufficiently low for the historical record of glacial effects to persist over time. Location The study area was located in the southern Jura Mountains, France. Methods A total of 497 sites were sampled to ascertain the distribution of N. virei in the southern Jura. Amplified fragment length polymorphism was analysed from a subset of 24 sites. The relationships between the probability of occurrence of N. virei and distance to the Würm glacier or elevation were investigated using a logistic regression. Spatial autocorrelation analyses were performed on both the residuals of the logistic regression and genetic distance to test the significance of dispersal and barriers to post‐glacial recolonization. The influence of catchment boundaries as barriers to dispersal was examined using different neighbouring relationships between sites. We tested the statistical significance of the reduction in deviance and gain in precision of an autologistic regression that took into consideration the influence of dispersal constraints on the distribution of N. virei. Results Niphargus virei rarely occurred in formerly glaciated areas, and its probability of occurrence in ice‐free areas decreased in the vicinity of the Würm glacier. Combined autocorrelation analyses of spatial distribution and spatial genetic structure showed that: (1) the distance at which spatial autocorrelation was no longer significantly positive did not exceed 16 km; (2) genetic differentiation fitted a model of isolation by distance; and (3) catchment boundaries acted as barriers to dispersal. The autologistic regression with dispersal constraints significantly increased our capacity to predict the distribution of N. virei. Maps of probabilities of occurrence suggested that post‐glacial recolonization was impeded by the extension of glacial outwash. Main conclusions The present distribution of N. virei in southern Jura is probably the result of a historical range reduction driven by glaciation coupled with restricted dispersal and isolation by distance.     

Contrasting patterns in local and zonal family richness of stream invertebrates along an Andean altitudinal gradient

1. Describing and understanding patterns in biological diversity along major geographical gradients is an important topic in ecology. Samples collected from a large number of physically and chemically comparable stream sites along a 4000 m gradient of altitude in the Andes of Ecuador served to characterise patterns of family richness of aquatic macroinvertebrates at the scale of the stream site (local) and at that of discrete altitudinal zones. 2. Both mean local and zonal family richness decreased by about 50% from sea level to 4000 m a.s.l. Local richness declined linearly, while zonal richness remained constant from sea level up to a threshold altitude of about 1800 m, whereafter it decreased. 3. From sea level to 1800 m few families were lost from zonal richness and few were gained. From 1800 to 3800 m the decrease in the number of families was accounted for by a loss of families present in lowland streams, with few new families gained. Hence, there was relatively little turnover of families along the entire gradient. 4. The diverging pattern of local and zonal richness was caused by sporadically occurring families inflating zonal richness at mid‐altitudes. If the sporadic families were represented by the same species found commonly in the lowlands, then the mid‐altitudinal zonal richness would be maintained by a ‘rescue effect’. More probably, however, the sporadically occurring families found at mid‐altitudes are each represented by new species replacing each other along the gradient, the families progressively diminishing in species richness and occurrence as the overall temperature tolerance of the family is approached. 5. This study demonstrates that spatial scale affects altitudinal patterns in the taxonomic richness of stream invertebrates. It also showed that family‐level identification can facilitate interpretation of sources and sinks of biodiversity along geographic gradients.     

Preliminary Studies of the Tardigrade Fauna of the Faroe Bank

Four cruises to the Faroe Bank have collected bottom samples for qualitative analysis of the meiofauna. The preliminary results show a very rich tardigrade fauna, with a large proportion of species new to science. At present 35 species of tardigrades belonging to 4 families (6 sub-families) have been found, of these are 22 new to science (63%). The 35 species comprise more than 20% of all known marine tardigrades. Halechiniscidae is represented by 30 species (1 Euclavarctinae, 11 Styraconyxinae, 12 Tanarctinae, 3 Halechiniscinae, 2 Florarctinae and 1Dipodarctinae). This family comprises 87.87% of the specimens sorted out so far. Specimens from the subfamilies Tanarctinae (46.63%) and Styraconyxinae (31.54%) are dominating. Batillipedidae is represented with 3species (8.63% of the specimens) and Coronarctidae (1.89%) and Stygarctidae (1.61%) with a single species each. Samples with similar sediment from 104—260 m depth have similar species distribution in the families. This implicates that the sediment is the key factor involved in the species distribution and that depth is less important. The calcareous sediment is a unique substrate and the tardigrade fauna of the Faroe Bank can be compared with that of sub-tropical and tropical coralline sand. The composition of species exhibits a strong taxonomic affinity with the tardigrade fauna from more southern latitudes, i.e. the Mediterranean Sea and the south-eastern coast of USA.     

福建宁化早二叠世早期的小有孔虫动物群

本文报道的福建宁化湖村早二叠世时期与StaffellaTing共生的小有孔虫动物群,在福建地区还属首次发现。该动物群计有9属20种,称为Globivalvulina-Nodosaria组合。这一小有孔虫动物群的发现,不但为福建地区栖霞组底部补充了新的化石门类,且为石炭系二叠系的划分提供了新的依据。     

丽盲蝽属(丽盲蝽亚属)中国种类修订(半翅目:盲蝽科:盲蝽亚科)(英文)

对丽盲蝽属 (丽盲蝽亚属 )Lygocoris (subg .Lygocoris)的中国种类作了修订。文中共包括 19个种 ,其中有 12新种 ,1个中国新纪录种 ,并包括 1项新等级的认定。即暗胝丽盲蝽L .(L .)calligersp .nov .(正模 :四川峨眉山九老洞 ) ,程氏丽盲蝽L .(L .)chengisp .nov .(正模 :四川峨眉山大乘寺 ) ,晕斑丽盲蝽L .(L .)diffusomaculatussp .nov .(正模 :甘肃榆中兴隆山 ) ,淡色丽盲蝽L .(L .)dilutussp .nov .(正模 :甘肃夏河县合作 ) ,锈褐丽盲蝽L .(L .) ferrugineussp .nov .(正模 :云南哀牢山 ) ,褐盾丽盲蝽L .(L .) fuscoscutel latus (Reuter ,190 6 )stat .nov .[由L .(L .)striicornisvar.fuscoscutellatus升为种级阶元 ],广西丽盲蝽L .(L .) guangxiensissp .nov .(正模 :广西龙胜 ) ,东亚丽盲蝽L .(L .)idoneus(Linnavuori,196 3) (中国新纪录种 ) ,完脊丽盲蝽L .(L .)integricarinatussp .nov .(甘肃榆中麻家寺 ) ,林氏丽盲蝽L .(L .)linnavuoriisp .nov .(云南哀牢山簸箕坝 ) ,长翅丽盲蝽L .(L .)longipennis (Reuter ,190 6 ) ,斑盾丽盲蝽L .(L .)maculis cutellatussp .nov .(四川理县刷经寺 ) ,原丽盲蝽L .(L .) pabulinus (Linnaeus ,176 1) ,红盾丽盲蝽L .(L .)rufiscutellatussp .nov .(甘     

Short-term impact of blue mussel dredging (Mytilus edulis L.) on a benthic community

The short-term effect of mussel dredging in a brackish Danish sound was studied. A commercial dredging track was identified and an analysis of the species composition inside the track and at an adjacent control area showed that dredging changed the community structure by reducing the density of polychaetes. In order to investigate the extent and the duration of the dredging impact experimental dredging was conducted. The experimental dredging removed 50% of the mussels in two dredged areas. Immediately after dredging, a significantly lower number of species was measured inside the mussel beds in dredged areas compared to control and boundary areas. This effect lasted for at least 40 days. The analysis of the species composition showed that the dredged area had a significantly lower density, particularly of polychaetes compared to the boundary area. An increased number of species was recorded outside the mussel beds just after dredging, but this effect lasted for less than 7 days. After dredging, brown shrimps, C. crangon invaded the dredged areas. This species is an important predator of smaller invertebrates, and it is suspected that it was feeding on small vulnerable polychaetes exposed at the sediment surface after dredging. The dredging process was observed to form 2–5-cm deep furrows in the seabed, but the sediment texture and the organic content of the sediment was not affected. The biomass accumulation of individual blue mussels was significantly lower in the dredged area compared to the boundary area. This indicates that the disturbance of the mussel bed structure reduced growth and that the lowering of intraspecific food competition caused by a reduced density of mussels did not increase the accumulation of biomass in the mussels which remained in the dredged area.     

福建晋江深沪湾潮间带旧石器遗址

晋江深沪湾海滨潮间带近期发现一处旧石器时代晚期遗址,这种类型的遗址在福建省境内尚属首次。出土的石制品共87件, 分属四种类型, 从器型和加工技术判断, 与我国南方常见的砾石工业不甚相同; 伴生的哺乳动物化石有亚洲象和水牛等。根据遗址周边古牡蛎礁和古森林遗迹测年及与第四纪地层对比, 文化层年代距今25—10ka BP。坐落在潮间带的遗址, 对早期人类生存环境、生产活动和行为方面的研究具有重要意义, 也为深沪湾环境变迁和海平面升降的研究提供新的资料。     

广西崇左三合大洞的早更新世反刍类

系统记述了广西崇左三合大洞巨猿动物群中的反刍类:湖麂(Muntiacus lacustris)、凤岐祖鹿(?)相似种(Cervavitus? cf.C.fenqii)、云南黑鹿(Cervus(R.)yunnanensis)、广西巨羊(Megalovis guangxiensis)、山羊亚科属种未定(Caprinae gen.et sp.indet.)和大额牛未定种(Bos(Bibos)sp.)。与其他相关的早更新世动物群中的反刍类相比, 它们与柳城巨猿洞和田东么会洞的最相似。三合大洞的反刍类在组合上反映早更新世的时代特征及湿热的森林-草丛生态环境。这种环境非常适宜诸如巨猿这类高等灵长类的栖息。     

江西官山自然保护区蝶类区系分析

对江西官山自然保护区172种蝶类进行区系分析,结果显示该区蝶类以东洋界为主体,计106种,占总数的61．63％：古北界11种,占总数的6．40％;东洋、古北二界共有种36种,占总数的20．93％。本文记述了官山产39种蝶类分布区的南北限。