Chironomid community structure deduced from larvae and pupal exuviae of a chalk stream

Species abundances of Chironomidae (Insecta: Diptera) have often been excluded from studies of benthic river communities because of difficulties associated with sampling and identifying larvae. Chironomid pupal exuviae are easier to collect and identify and could be used to determine community structure if shown to be representative of local larval assemblages. Larvae were sampled along a 20 m chain secured over mid-channel gravels, upstream of two collection points for pupal exuviae. Proportional taxa abundances of pupal exuviae and larvae sampled from 130 m of stream were directly compared by a ² test of independence and also separately fitted to four models of species abundance distribution. Observed proportions of taxa were not independent of the life stage sampled. The greatest discrepancies occurred with species of pupal exuviae that were absent as larvae from the gravel. The log series model provided the best fit with both pupal and larval data. Collections of pupal exuviae had greater species richness and evenness than samples of larvae. This was considered to be a consequence of sampling larvae from the gravel habitat alone.     

Two New Species of Aphelenchoididae (Nemata) from Declining Red Pines in Maryland

Aphelenchoides resinosi n. sp. and Ektaphelenchus joyceae n. sp. are described and illustrated from red pines of the Allegheny plateau of Maryland, USA. The new species were found in trees infested with Bursaphelenchus xylophilus. Primary diagnostic characters of A. resinosi females are constriction of the head, basal stylet knobs, tong postuterine sac, two incisures in the lateral field, and conical tail four to five anal body widths long with a simple terminal mucro. Diagnostic characters of the males are two pairs of subventral caudal papillae and spicule shape: Primary diagnostic characters of E. joyceae females are a slight constriction of the head, six similar lips, conical tail, and short postuterine sac. Diagnostic characters of the males are spicule size and shape, a single row of spermatocytes, and one pair of caudal papillae. Within-tree distributions of A. resinosi and E. joyceae are presented. A total of 70% of both red-needled and chlorotic-needled trees in the study were positive for A. resinosi and E. joyceae. Branch hierarchy was related to the percentage of samples positive for A. resinosi.     

DOES RECOMBINATION CONSTRAIN NEUTRAL DIVERGENCE AMONG BACTERIAL TAXA?

A coalescence model for predicting the fate of neutral divergence among closely related taxa distinguishable as separate DNA sequence clusters is presented here. The model simulates iteratively the positive feedback between sequence divergence and sexual isolation among taxa, where increases in sequence divergence result in reduced recombination, and reduced recombination results in increased sequence divergence. Iteration of this feedback is continued until sequence divergence either converges on a steady state or reaches a runaway process. The eventual outcome of sequence divergence was shown to depend on four estimable population-genetic parameters: the expected intrataxon sequence diversity, the baseline rate of intertaxon recombination, the sensitivity of the recombination rate to sequence divergence, and the neutral mutation rate. The model can be used to determine whether neutral divergence among actual taxa is destined to stop at an equilibrium level, or whether neutral divergence will reach a runaway process. Application of the model to the group of taxa containing Bacillus subtilis and its closest relatives showed these taxa to be on a trajectory of unbounded neutral divergence from one another.     

四种锚首虫科包括一新种的描述(单殖纲:指环虫目:锚首虫科)

本文报道采自广东阳江闸坡中华海鲶鳃上的锚首虫科四个虫种。包括一新种瘤钩小沙汉虫Chauhanellustuberhamatussp．nov.。它以背中央大钩钩尖基部内侧具瘤状结构而区别于本属已记述的21个种。其余为弯曲小沙汉虫C．flexiosus、海鲶血梗虫Hamatopedunculariaarii、和简单血梗虫H．simplex。     

贵州省腹袋属一新种记述(吸虫纲:同盘科)

本文记述寄生于贵州省丹寨县水牛瘤胃内同盘科腹袋亚科腹袋属内吸虫的一个新种,巨盘腹袋吸虫Gastrothylaxmagnadiscussp．nov.,简述了该属的简史,并将新种与该属已有的种类的主要特征列表进行了比较。     

中国弯茎叶蝉属一新种记述(同翅目:叶蝉科:片角叶蝉亚科)

本文记述中国弯茎叶蝉属FlexocerusKnohetFang1新种,吴萸弯茎叶蝉Flexocerusevodianussp．nov.,新种外形特征与弯茎叶蝉FlexocerusflexureuskuohetFang相似。模式标本保存在贵州农学院。     

银川异伊螨新种记述（蜱螨亚纲：犹伊螨科）

本文记述一新种,即银川异伊螨。标本采自银川市日本埋葬虫体上,文中列表比较了相近种长沟异伊螨和玉溪异伊螨的区别。     

雕盾螨属一新种记述（蜱螨亚纲：巨螯螨科）

本文记述雕盾螨属一新种;吴氏雕盾螨采自吉林省白城的土壤和马粪中。模式标本保存于全国鼠疫布氏菌病防治基地。     

中国孔蛛属一新种（蜘蛛目：跳蛛科）

本文记述蜘蛛目跳蛛科孔蛛属一新种,宋氏孔蛛,新种Ｐｏｒｔｉａ ｓｏｎｇｉ ｓｐ．ｎｏｖ．,标本采自甘肃文县。     

角绥螨属在中国首次发现及一新种记述（蜱螨亚纲：囊螨科）

本文记述角绥螨属一新种,中华角绥螨Ａｎｔｅｎｎｏｓｅｉｕｓ ｓｉｎｉｃｕｓ ｓｐ．ｎｏｖ．,标本采自云南剑川县大绒鼠巢中。该属在中国尚系首次发现。