The early/late Pliocene ichthyofauna from Koro-Toro, Eastern Djurab, Chad

This is the first extensive study of a freshwater fish fauna from the Pliocene site of Koro-Toro (Chad), aged 3.58 ± 0.27 Ma. The assemblage includes an abafish (Mormyriformes, Gymnarchidae: Gymnarchus), a tigerfish (Characiformes, Alestidae: Hydrocynus), six different catfishes (Siluriformes, Ariidae: Carlarius; Bagridae: Bagrus; Claroteidae: Clarotes and Auchenoglanis; Mochokidae: Synodontis; Clariidae: Clarias or Heterobranchus), perciform fishes (Perciformes, Latidae: Lates sp. cf. niloticus, and Cichlidae indet.), and a pufferfish (Tetraodontidormes, Tetraodontidae: Tetraodon). The diversity is relatively low when compared with other Chadian Neogene sites. This is probably mostly explained by the wind erosion of the outcrops being responsible for the lack of minute remains. However, we recognize that the aquatic environment recorded corresponds to open waters.     

Revision of the genus Epimesoplecia Zhang, 2007 (Diptera,Nematocera, Protopleciidae) with five new species

The genus Epimesoplecia Zhang, 2007 of Protopleciidae is revised based on five new species, Epimesoplecia plethora sp. n., Epimesoplecia prosoneura sp. n., Epimesoplecia stana sp. n., Epimesoplecia macrostrena sp. n., and Epimesoplecia ambloneura sp. n., described and illustrated from the Jiulongshan Formation of China. These new species, with clearly preserved characters of (1) compound eyes connected in males; (2) antennae, filiform or moniliform, with 16 segments; (3) r-m reaching the middle of the wing; (4) R₄₊₅ ending very close to wing apex; (5) ratio of bRs/dRs ranging from 1.6 to 10.5; (6) M₂ more than 3 times as long as dM₁₊₂; (7) legs thin and long, femur slender, almost equal to tibia; (8) tibial spurs minute; and (9) male genitalia (previously unknown), enable us to emend the diagnosis of Epimesoplecia Zhang, 2007. In addition, all described species of Epimesoplecia are characterized, their features summarized, and a key to Epimesoplecia species is given.     

A combined light and scanning electron microscopy study

The uppermost Eocene Florissant Formation, Rocky Mountains, Colorado, has yielded numerous insect, vertebrate and plant fossils. Three previous comprehensive palynological studies investigated sections of lacustrine deposits of the Florissant Formation and documented the response of plant communities to volcanic eruptive phases but overall found little change in plant composition throughout the investigated sections. These studies reported up to 150 pollen and spore phenotypes. In the present paper, we used a taxonomic approach to the investigation of dispersed pollen and spores of the Florissant Formation. Sediment samples from the shale units containing macrofossils were investigated using light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The general picture of the palynoflora is in agreement with previous studies. However, the combined LM and SEM investigation provides important complementary information to previous LM studies. While a fairly large amount of previous pollen determinations could be confirmed, the purported taxonomic affinities of several pollen phenotypes need to be revised. For example, pollen referred to as Podocarpus or Podocarpidites sp. belongs to the Pinaceae Cathaya, Malus/Pyrus actually belongs to Dryadoideae, pollen of the form genus Boehlensipollis referred to as Proteaceae/Sapindaceae/Elaeagnaceae or Cardiospermum belongs to Sapindaceae but not to Cardiospermum, and pollen of Persicarioipollis sp. B with previously assumed affinities to Polygonaceae actually belongs to Thymelaeaceae. Pandaniidites and one type of Malvacipollis cannot be linked with Pandanaceae and Malvaceae. A few taxa are new records for Florissant (Ebenaceae: Diospyros; Mernispermaceae; Trochodendraceae: Tetracentron). In general, SEM investigations complement the LM palynological studies and improve the identification of dispersed pollen and spores and enable integration of data from dispersed fossil pollen into a wide range of comparative morphological, taxonomic, evolutionary, biogeographic and phylogenetic studies.     

4. Vavilov's Law of Homologous Series—is it relevant to potatoes?

Nikolai Ivanovich Vaviloc publsihed his Law of Homologous Series in 1920, but did not include any ideas oon homologous variation in potatoes. The relevance of this fundamental concept of genetic diversity to potatoes is discussed in relation to disease and post resistance in wild potatoes from mexico and the Andes of South America.