Mosquito larval consumption of toxic arborescent leaf-litter,and its biocontrol potential

Previously we described the mosquito larvicidal properties of decomposed leaf-litter from deciduous trees, especially the alder Alnus glutinosa (L) Gaertn., due to toxic polyphenols and other secondary compounds. To further examine the biocontrol potential of toxic leaf-litter for mosquito control, feeding rates of third-instar mosquito larvae were assessed for examples of three genera: Anopheles stephensi Liston, Aedes aegypti (L) and Culex pipiens L. (Diptera: Culicidae). When immersed in a suspension of non-toxic leaf-litter particles (approximately 0.4 mm), pre-starved larvae of all three species ingested sufficient material in 30 min to fill the anterior gut lumen (thorax plus two to three abdominal segments). Gut filling peaked after 1-2 h ingestion time, filling the intestine up to six to seven abdominal segments for Ae. aegypti, but maxima of five abdominal segments for Cx. pipiens and An. stephensi. Using three methods to quantify consumption of three materials by third-instar larvae of Ae. aegypti, the average amount of leaf-litter (non-toxic 0.4 mm particles) ingested during 3 h was determined as approximately 20 microg/larva (by dry weight and by lignin spectrophotometric assay). Consumption of humine (approximately 100 microm particles extracted from leaf-litter) during 3 h was approximately 80 microg/larva for Ae. aegypti, but only approximately 30 microg/larva for Cx. pipiens and 15 microg/larva for An. stephensi, with good concordance of determinations by dry weight and by radiometric assay. Cellulose consumption by Ae. aegypti was intermediate: approximately 40 microg/larva determined by radiometric assay. Apparent differences between the amounts of these materials ingested by Ae. aegypti larvae (humine four-fold, cellulose two-fold more than leaf-litter) may be attributed to contrasts in palatability (perhaps related to particle size or form), rather than technical discrepancies, because there was good concordance between results of both methods used to determine the amounts of humine and leaf-litter ingested. Bioassays of toxic leaf-litter (decomposed 10 months) with 4-h exposure period (ingestion time) ranked the order of sensitivity: Ae. aegypti (LC50 < 0.03 g/L) > An. stephensi (LC50 = 0.35 g/L) > Cx. pipiens (LC20 > 0.4 g/L). When immersed in the high concentration of 0.5 g/L toxic leaf-litter (0.4 mm particles), as little as 15-30 min ingestion time (exposure period) was sufficient to kill the majority of larvae of all three species, as soon as the gut lumen was filled for only the first few abdominal segments. Possibilities for mosquito larval control with toxic leaf-litter products and the need for standardized ingestion bioassays of larvicidal particles are discussed.     

Genetic differentiation of Anopheles claviger s.s. in France and neighbouring countries

An investigation of polymorphism of 11 autosomal and one sex-linked allozyme loci was made on 18 samples of Anopheles claviger Meigen (Diptera: Culicidae) from localities across France and neighbouring sites in Germany and Switzerland, plus one sample of Anopheles petragnani Del Vecchio from the French Pyrénées. Genetic differentiation between these two sibling species was confirmed (Nei genetic distance 0.33-0.44) and two genetically distinct groups of populations were identified within An. claviger. These two forms of An. claviger showed contiguous geographical distributions, Group I found across western and Central France, Group II in eastern France and nearby parts of Germany and Switzerland. The two groups were in contact in a region near the Rhone Valley where two intermediate samples were found. The taxonomic significance of this finding is discussed in the context of the recent climatic history of Europe and in relation to the vector potential of each member of the An. claviger complex.     

Towards an ecological basis for the conservation of subalpine heath-grassland on the upper ridges of the Vosges

Abstract. The subalpine oligotrophic heath-grasslands, assigned to the Pulsatillo-Vaccinietum and Violo-Nardetum, occurring at the upper ridges in the Vosges at 1100 - 1300 m a.s.l. are of conservational interest because they form natural, mature and stable ecosystems. The Pulsatillo-Vaccinietum is particularly rich in endemic plant species and subspecies due to a local oceanic-subarctic climate and the continuous occurrence of the community throughout the Holocene period, when the association was not affected by changes in the prevailing environmental conditions. After a period of abandonment during and after World War II, agriculture was intensified through mineral fertilization and liming, sometimes mowing, and even ploughing and sowing. Seven pastures were selected to estimate the present plant biodiversity. Losses of biodiversity were assessed on the Kastelberg ridge by diachronic analysis of the vegetation composition and structure over the last 30 years. Species diversity changed in both associations through a decrease in the abundance of oligotrophic, acidophilic species, typical of the mountains of western Europe, and an extension of grassland types of the Violo-Nardetum trifolietosum. Strategies for a return to more natural conditions include the abandonment of fertilization and liming, except locally around farms. Regular mowing is needed in order to decrease the nutrient level of the sites.     

Nouvelles données sur le genre Imerites Rouchadzé, 1933 (Ammonitida,Ancyloceratina) ; réponses et précisions apportées au travail de Bert,Delanoy et Canut, 2009

This work is mainly an answer to the work of Bert, Delanoy and Canut, on the genus Imerites Rouchadzé, and we add also some points to the knowledge of this genus. An answer is given for the implication of one of the authors (J.V.) of this present work, about the origin of the genus Imerites Rouchadzé, and some significant bibliographic references, not named in the 2009 work, are specified and placed in their context. The characteristics of the ornamental stage “Pseudoshasticrioceras” mainly defined by an oval and compressed section of the whorls and by regular ventrolateral clavi, well marked, which frame the venter in a typical way (Bert et al., p. 181), don’t allow to affirm the presence of this stage during the ontogeny of all species of the genus Imerites Rouchadzé, contrary to what Bert, Delanoy and Canut (p. 30, 31) wrote. The type-species of the genus Imerites Rouchadzé is made clear by the application of the rules of the I.C.Z.N. code. The article 23, with the paragraph 23.1 of the I.C.Z.N. code, imply the senior synonymy of Imerites cristatus (Orbigny) on Imerites giraudi (Kilian), even if the Kilian's species is still the type species of the genus Imerites Rouchadzé. The taxinomical validity of the species Imerites cristatus (Orbigny) is confirmed. Its morphological variability is clarified by the distinction of four referential morphotypes, Cristatus, Giraudi, Favrei and Raricostatum. Consequently, the assumption of a shape-dimensional dimorphism into the populations of the genus Imerites Rouchadzé is rejected, awaiting irrefutable proof. A new species, Imerites stephaniae sp. nov., is described. It was collected in the Gerhardtia sartousiana Zone, in the uppermost part of the Gerhardtia provincialis Subzone, and it is a probable ancestor of the cogeneric species of the Imerites giraudi Zone.     

First radiation of Cretaceous planktonic foraminifera with radially elongate chambers at Angles (Southeastern France) and biostratigraphic implications

The study of planktonic foraminifera from the Lower Cretaceous succession at Angles (Southeastern France) directly correlated with ammonites, confirms that the origin of morphotypes with radially elongated chambers occur earlier than previously recorded. In particular, the species Hedbergella semielongata and Hedbergella roblesae bearing subclavate to clavate chambers first appear in the upper Hauterivian, just predating the onset of the oceanic anoxic Faraoni event. Based on these observations, a new zonation is proposed.     

Les assemblages lithiques des niveaux du Paléolithique moyen de l’Abri des Pêcheurs (Ardèche, Sud-Est de la France): Des occupations néandertaliennes récurrentes dans un « fossé »

The Abri des Pêcheurs has yielded an extraordinary sequence with Middle and Upper Palaeolithic levels. Humans came and stayed in a ditch-cave that has been filled in along time. During Middle Palaeolithic occupations, they used first quartz, and this site is the only case in this area. Assemblages show similar technological behaviour along time. Flint is few employed and arrived as flakes from different areas if we consider its geological variety. Functions of the site are not well established. The base of the sequence has yielded sediments with a mixing of ibex, carnivore bones and artefacts. The study of the lithic assemblages brings information on the processing systems used on quartz and flint during occupations which left few evidence and used local stones while flint is available not far from the site. Hypothesis on short and specialized occupations is discussed.     

Les Megacricetodon du gisement karstique miocène moyen de Blanquatère 1 (Pyrénées-Orientales, Sud de la France) : nouvelles espèces, implications biochronologique et phylogénique

Three Megacricetodon species are recognized in the Middle Miocene locality of Blanquatère 1 (Languedoc-Roussillon province, France). Two are new, the small-sized M. tautavelensis nov. sp. the medium to large-sized M. aunayi nov. sp., the third one being the already known M. “collongensis-gersii”, a medium-sized species found in other Miocene localities of the area. Size and morphology differentiate these species. Such a high number of contemporaneous species of the genus Megacricetodon is found for the first time in a Miocene locality in the region and indicate that the evolution of this genus in western Europe is likely more complicated. It may testify both of a biogeographical differentiation and of migration events. According to our calibration charts, the deposit is dated ca. 16 Ma ago. The position of Vieux-Collonges (MN 5) and Sansan (MN 6) on the biochronological scale is also discussed, as well as the estimated age of the biozonal boundaries MN 3/MN 4, MN 4/MN 5 and MN 5/MN 6.     

Révision des rudistes crétacés (Bivalvia) de la Paléontologiefrançaise d’Alcide d’Orbigny

In the volume IV of the “Paléontologiefrançaise”, A. d’Orbigny deals in particular with Cretaceous rudists. Numerous type specimens of Hippuritidae, Caprinidae, Radiolitidae, Caprotinidae, Requieniidae belonging to his collection and deposited in the Muséumnationald’histoirenaturelle, Paris. Among the 78 species that he has studied, A. d’Orbigny introduced 41 as new ones. This review presents a picture of all types with a comment on the original definition, and set the statute, and the precise stratigraphical level of illustrated forms. The present work gives rise to the designation of 40 lectotypes, two syntypes and three neotypes.     

Fifteen new polymorphic microsatellite loci for the meadow brown butterfly,Maniola jurtina

We characterized fifteen microsatellite markers for the butterfly Maniola jurtina. For the six studied populations (96 samples) the total number of alleles per locus ranged from 3 to 55 and mean overall expected heterozygosity across all loci was 0.74. In spite of a high frequency of null alleles detected in part of the loci, a recurrent phenomenon in Lepidopteron, the estimation of pairwise F_ST seems rather insensitive to the presence of these null alleles as shown by the high correlation between F_ST calculated after correction for the presence of null alleles and non-corrected F_ST, indicating that the loci may be usable in population genetics, more specifically for the study of populations genetics structure.     

L’homme de Tautavel. Un Homo erectus européen évolué. Homo erectus tautavelensis

One hundred and forty-eight human remains have been discovered during excavations carried out between 1964 and 2014 in la Caune de l’Arago, in Tautavel, in the Eastern Pyrenees. They come from a detailed stratigraphic context comprising 15 archaeostratigraphic units with human presence, with ages ranging from 550 ka for unit Q at the base, to 400 ka for unit C at the top (OIS 14 to 10). During this long period of time, Man experienced two cold and dry climatic periods (stratigraphic complexes I and III), separated by a humid-temperate period (stratigraphic complex II). Most of the human remains come from units F and G, in stratigraphic complex III, associated with a cold and windy steppic environment. The human remains were mixed with the archaeological material and waste from hunted and consumed fauna. The inventory of human remains comprises a majority of cranial elements, and in particular, the anterior portion of a skull, Arago XXI, discovered on 22 July 1971, which revealed the physical aspect of the first Europeans for the first time. The remains are made up of 5 mandibles, 123 teeth (isolated or still on the alveolar arch), several post-cranial skeletal fragments: 9 upper limb elements, 19 lower limb elements, representing 30 deceased individuals, comprising 18 adults and 12 children. The study of these fossils relates them to Asian and African forms of Homo erectus, as they display common characteristics. This observation raises questions as to the existence of this group in Europe. The contribution of the collection of human fossils from Arago thus presents a threefold interest; paleontological, population-based and behavioural. The multiple remains allow us to assess the biodiversity and the composition of this small population. These remains present original features in comparison to Mauer, the classical Homo heidelbergensis European ancestor. The Arago fossils display archaic characteristics not observed on the Mauer mandible; in particular, the great anteroposterior extension of the convex arch toward the fore, the large proportions of the premolars and of the M2, the high robusticity index of the mandible body, the sub-horizontal alveolar planum and the slightly inclined prominent mylohyoidian line. The face of the skull is not yet reduced to allow for the expansion of the brain, a process which develops at a later stage. The skull is low, with an extended frontal, very marked facial prognathism and a powerful masticatory apparatus with temporal crests and a prominent torus angularis, conveying a pantagonal coronal cross-section, contrasting with the regular convexity observed on the skulls from La Sima de los Huesos and Neanderthals. A comparative analysis with the well-documented population discovered in La Sima de los Huesos shows that the latter fossils are more evolved and are more similar to the Neanderthal shape, and at the same time, not very different from the Mauer mandible. The currently known European human fossils point to the following scenario: Homo georgicus, a similar form to the habilis-rudolfensis group, bearing pre-Oldowan and Oldowan technology, was present at the gateways of Europe approximately 1.8 Ma ago. From 1.2–0.8 Ma onwards, the somewhat fragmentary records from Atapuerca, Elefante, Gran Dolina-TD6, could be related to this first lineage. The first Homo erectus with biface cultures to leave Africa arrived at the gateways of Europe some 1.2 Ma ago, as shown by the discovery of the Kocabaş skull cap in Anatolia, similar to the fossils from Buia in Eritrea and Daka in Ethiopia, dated to about 1 Ma. From 0.55 Ma, the set of 148 human remains, and in particular the skull Arago XXI, point to the presence of a new, well-documented form (distinct from Mauer). We propose to relate these remains to Homo erectus tautavelensis, thereby giving this subspecies a geographic connotation. The morphofunctional and cultural characteristics of Homo erectus tautavelensis represent the stock of a long European lineage, leading to the emergence of Neanderthals.