Taxonomic studies on the ant genus Ponera Latreille, 1804 (Hymenoptera,Formicidae), with the description of a new species from India

Four species of the ant genus Ponera Latreille, 1804, are recorded from India. The present study reports one new species Ponera sikkimensis sp. n., a divergent population of Ponera indica Bharti & Wachkoo, 2012 and one new record, Ponera paedericera Zhou, 2001 from India. An identification key and distributions for the four known Indian species of Ponera based on the worker caste are provided.     

Two new taxa of Achnanthidium and Encyonema (Bacillariophyceae) from the Yom River,Thailand, with special reference to the areolae occlusions implying ontogenetic relationship

We discovered two new taxa of Achnanthidium and Encyonema occurring with high abundance in the upstream of the Yom River, which is one of four major rivers in Northern Thailand. Achnanthidium pseudoconspicuum var. yomensis var. nov. closely resembles Achnanthidium pseudoconspicuum var. pseudoconspicuum in scanning electron microscopy (SEM), but has clearly different valve morphometry under the light microscopy (LM). Achnanthidium pseudoconspicuum var. yomensis is also similar to A. japonicum in valve morphology under LM, but differs to this species based on SEM observation. Encyonema yuwadeeanum sp. nov. shows similarities to Encyonema leei and Encyonema subkukenanum, but differs in valve shape and/or polar fissure shape. We discuss the possible valve ontogenetic relationship between Achnanthidium and Cymbellales based on the detailed areolae structures of these two new taxa.     

抗癌镇痛肽AGAP肺靶向融合体在毕赤酵母中的表达

利用构建好的质粒pPIC9K-RGD-4C-His Tag-AGAP（analgesic-antitumor peptide,抗癌镇痛肽）进行单酶切线性化,然后电转化毕赤酵母GS115,电转之后的菌落通过菌落PCR进行筛选,最终得到阳性菌落。阳性菌落经增菌培养,甲醇诱导后的上清SDS-PAGE电泳后经western blot检测证明,抗癌镇痛肽肺靶向融合体已经成功得到表达。     

Tree dieback and regeneration in secondary Acacia zanzibarica woodlands on an abandoned cattle ranch in coastal Tanzania

Questions: Bush encroachment is a major problem when African savanna ecosystems are used for cattle ranching. How do secondary woodlands develop after ranching is abandoned? What are the patterns and rates of tree mortality and regeneration? Location: Mkwaja Ranch (now part of Saadani National Park) in coastal Tanzania. Methods: Ninety‐seven circular plots (4‐m radius) were set in secondary Acacia zanzibarica woodland along a gradient of tree density. Variables relating to tree and grass layers and soil characteristics of plots were recorded. Seedlings were counted twice in the wet seasons, and resprouts once. Tree flowering and pod production were assessed during the fruiting season, while survival of trees initially present was recorded after 12 and 32 months. Interrelationships among variables were investigated using multiple linear regression, binary logistic regression and mixed effects models. Results: After 32 months, over one‐third of trees in plots had died. Most died after fire, especially on heavy soils, and mortality was significantly related to the tree live biomass ratio and soil conditions. Seed production was very low, especially in denser stands. Numbers of seedlings correlated with soil and grass variables but not with seed rain. Half of trees killed above‐ground produced coppice shoots from the base; in contrast, root suckering was independent of topkill. By the end of the study, no seedlings survived and no resprouts emerged above the grass layer. Conclusions: A. zanzibarica woodlands at Mkwaja Ranch were able to develop because of ranching, and can only persist under intensive grazing. The woodlands do not represent a successional stage towards forest and will probably revert to predominantly grassland vegetation within 10–20 years unless grazing pressure from wild ungulates increases considerably and/or fire regimes change.     

Cranial deformation in a subadult sample from Değirmentepe (Chalcolithic,Turkey)

Human skeletal remains from the Chalcolithic period of De?irmentepe, Turkey, near the Euphrates River, display artificial cranial deformation of the circular type. Human skeletal remains belonging to 31 individual have been dated to the Chalcolithic period (second half of the fifth millennium BC, uncalibrated). The remains include foetuses, infants, children and juveniles; but no adult skeletons. Either the adults were buried elsewhere or flooding of the Euphrates dragged the adult remains away. Artificial cranial deformation was observed in 13 of the 31 subadults ranging in age from 1 month to 13–14 years. De?irmentepe villagers might have used one or two circular constricting bands with the intent of producing artificial head deformation. As far as Anatolia and the Near Eastern region is concerned, the widespread use of circular head deformation may be an indication of longer‐distance trade and more need for ethnic markers. Am J Phys Anthropol 115:238–244, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Biogeographical patterns of marine larval trematode parasites in two intermediate snail hosts in Europe

Aim We used published inventories of trematodes in Littorina littorea (L.) and Hydrobia ulvae (Pennant) in European seas to search for two basic biogeographical patterns in the spatial occurrence of various trematode species: (1) do parasite distribution and richness patterns in the two host snails overlap with known ecoregions of free‐living organisms; and (2) does trematode species richness in the snails follow latitudinal or longitudinal gradients? Location North East Atlantic. Methods We used multidimensional scaling (MDS), analysis of similarity (ANOSIM) and analysis of variance (ANOVA) to test whether there were overlaps of parasite distribution and richness with known ecoregions of free‐living organisms. In addition, we used linear regression analyses to test whether trematode richness in snails (corrected for sampling effort) was correlated with the latitude or longitude of the sampling sites. Results When corrected for sampling effort, mean trematode species richness per site did not differ among the different ecoregions in L. littorea. In contrast, in H. ulvae, mean species richness was much lower for sites from the Celtic Sea compared with sites from the Baltic Sea and the North Sea. Based on the results of MDS analyses, trematode species composition was distinct among ecoregions; in particular, communities from the Baltic Sea differed markedly from communities in the Celtic Sea, for both snail species. Latitude and longitude were not significantly correlated with parasite species richness in either snail species. Most trematode species had restricted distributions, and only three species in L. littorea and five species in H. ulvae occurred at more than 50% of the sites. Main conclusions There is more structure in the large‐scale distribution of trematodes in gastropods than one would expect from the large‐scale dispersal capabilities of their bird and fish final hosts. We propose mechanisms based both on limited dispersal via fish and bird final hosts and on gradients in environmental factors to explain the observed patterns.     

Biofaciès à Cuneigervillia-Pteromya et biofaciès à Eomiodon dans l'Hettangien du Quercy (Aquitaine orientale)

New research made in the Hettangian sequence in Quercy by one of us (R.C.) has led to the discovery of shell beds constituted solely of Bivalvia in two deposits in the departement of Tarn, one near Vaour, the other near Les Cabannes-de-Cordes. These Eomiodon and Cuneigervillia-Pteromya signify an environment of abnormal salinity and permit long distance correlations.     

Anthropogenic disturbances and plant biodiversity in forests of Uttaranchal,central Himalaya

Eight forest types varying in disturbance frequencies were identified along an elevational gradient in Uttaranchal, central Himalaya. Low elevation forests were close to human habitation and had high disturbance frequency, while high elevation forests were situated far from the human habitation and had low disturbance. The dominant tree species at low elevation were Pinus roxburghii and Quercus leucotrichophora, while Q. floribunda and Q. semecarpifolia dominated the high elevation forests. Pyracantha crenulata was the shrub present in all the forests except in Q. semecarpifolia forest and Anaphalis contorta, a herb species, was present in all the forests. Disturbance decreased the dominance of single species and increased the plant biodiversity by mixing species of different successional status. Species richness and diversity for all the vegetation layers were higher in low elevation–high disturbance forests. Mean tree density decreased from high to moderate and increased in low disturbance. The shrub density decreased from high to low disturbance while the reverse occured for herbs. High proportion of early successional species in disturbed forests indicated that disturbance induces succession. The mean number of young individuals increasing from high to low disturbance indicates that disturbance adversely affects regeneration. But, however, the high number of young individuals of Coriaria nepalensis, a small non-leguminous nitrogen fixing tree, in disturbed forests shows that the forest is regenerating. This species could be helpful in the re-establishment of original vegetation through triggering the regeneration of these forests. High elevation–low disturbed forests separated from low elevation–high disturbed forests. Forest type and elevation may have more influence on tree richness while shrub and herb richness may be more sensitive to disturbance and forest types.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Kuth</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Saussurea lappa</Emphasis>) cultivation in the cold desert environment of the Lahaul valley,northwestern Himalaya,India: arising threats and need to revive socio-economic values

Surveys were conducted in the cold desert environment of the Lahaul valley in the northwestern Himalaya for assessing the past and present status of Kuth (Saussurea lappa) cultivation. The findings reveal that this age-old practice now is in bottleneck. Main factors responsible for this setback to the species were the lengthy cultivation cycle, small land holdings, and even fluctuating and relatively low market prices. Owing to these constraints farmers have now started replacing cultivation of this threatened herb with pea (Pisum sativum L.), potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) and hop (Humulus lupulus L.). These crops obtained popularity due to comparatively more economic returns as well as their easy adaptability to the short growth season of the cold desert environment. Kuth cultivation in this region is among the interesting examples of domesticating wild medicinal herb by some innovative farmers during the 1920s. However, in the recent past farmers have been less interested to continue this practice due to its larger cultivation cycle, more profits with cash crops like pea and potato, and permit formalities at the time of export from the valley. In addition to being the oldest cash crop in the cold desert environment, Kuth is an endangered medicinal herb that has to be conserved on a priority basis. This study attempts to find out potential measures such as regular revision of market rates, development of existing uncultivable land under medicinal plant cultivation and strengthening the marketing network through establishment of federations of farmers at village level to revive cultivation of this important species.     

Pubertal timing, hormones, and body composition among adolescent Turkana males

The Turkana, like other East African pastoral groups, are known for their tall adult stature, achieved despite a blunted growth spurt during adolescence and continued growth into the early 20s. To investigate the hormonal mechanisms associated with the pattern of slow and continued adolescent growth, we collected data on hormonal status, height, weight, and trunk skinfolds and ethnographic self-reports of testicular maturation in a cross-sectional sample of 35 nomadic and 37 settled Turkana males aged 14-24. Hormonal determinations included testosterone (T), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in blood, in addition to urinary DHEA. Self-reports of testicular maturation showed no difference between settled and nomadic subpopulations. However, nomadic boys exhibited significantly higher levels of T, DHEA, and SHBG. Of all the hormones, only SHBG showed a significant relationship with age. Multiple regression models show blood T and SHBG to be significant independent predictors of achieved height as well as weight, controlling for age. Our results suggest that onset of puberty is substantially delayed among Turkana males, and that bioavailable T is related to growth in stature during adolescence. We suggest that SHBG acts to mediate the effects of energy availability on adolescent growth in this energetically limited population. Our findings may also have implications for understanding adolescent growth among Homo erectus.