Systematics and phylogeny of the Aglajidae (Opisthobranchia: Mollusca)

The generic limits within the Aglajidae are reviewed and modified, based on the study of 21 species. Navanax Pilsbry, 1895 is reinstated as a genus distinct from Aglaja. The generic placement of several species is altered from previous works. An evaluation of morphological characters suggests that each of six genera has distinctive external morphology. The systematic value of twelve characters is critically reviewed. The evolutionary relationships of the Aglajidae and its genera to other philinacean familes are discussed.     

Physiological and biochemical contributions to the taxonomy of the genera Ankistrodesmus and Scenedesmus

The 17 Ankistrodesmus strains studied do not produce extracellular amylolytic enzymes. 20 out of 28 Scenedesmus strains, however, are able to hydrolyse starch.The groups of strains previously characterized physiologically and biochemically were assigned to established species of the genera Ankistrodesmus (including Monoraphidium) and Scenedesmus.Abbreviation GC Guanine + cytosine     

Secondary metabolites of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Penicillium</Emphasis> fungi isolated from permafrost deposits as chemotaxonomic markers

Species identification of slow-growing fungi of the genus Penicillium isolated from ancient permafrost deposits was performed using micro- and macromorphological characteristics as well as the composition of secondary metabolites. The strains producing clavine ergot alkaloids fumigaclavines A and B and festuclavine were assigned to the species P. palitans Westling 1911, whereas the strains forming ochratoxins A and B were identified as P. verrucosum Dierckx 1901.     

Biogeography, geographic variation and habitat preference in the Amazilia Hummingbird,Amazilia amazilia Lesson (Aves: Trochilidae), with notes on the status ofAmazilia alticola Gould

Summary This paper reviews the biogeography, geographic variation, and habitat characteristics of the Amazilia Hummingbird (Amazilia amazilia). Based on morphological features, habitat preferences, and bioacoustics, I propose that the currently recognized subspeciesA. a. alticola should be regarded as a species distinct fromA. amazilia. Synapomorphic characters found in both taxa indicate membership of the same superspecies, together with the Colombian speciesA. castaneiventris. Considering the distributional focus ofA. alticola in the Andes of southern Ecuador, the English species name Loja Hummingbird is suggested.

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Biogeographie, geographische Variation und Habitatwahl der Lesson-Amazilie (Amazilia amazilia Lesson; Aves: Trochilidae), mit Anmerkungen zum Status vonAmazilia alticola Gould

Zusammenfassung Die vorliegende Studie stellt die Ergebnisse von Untersuchungen zur Biogeographie, geographischen Variation, Habitatwahl und Taxonomie der Lesson-Amazilie (Amazilia amazilia) vor. Das Taxon umfaßt gegenwärtig fünf Unterarten, die von W-Ecuador bis SW-Peru verbreitet sind und überwiegend submontane Lebensräume besiedeln. Die Ventralfärbung unterliegt klinaler Variation; weiße Gefiederanteile nehmen von nördlichen zu südlichen Populationen ab, rotbraune Partien dagegen zu. Eigenständige morphologisch-morphometrische Kennzeichen sowie Unterschiede in den Habitatpräferenzen und in der Gesangsstruktur rechtfertigen es, die bisherige UnterartA. a. alticola als Paraspezies (A. alticola, Loja-Amazilie) anzuerkennen. Der Vulgärname weist auf den rezenten Verbreitungsschwerpunkt in den südecuadorianischen Anden hin. Aufgrund der engen Verwandtschaft bildenA. amazilia undA. alticola sowie die in Kolumbien endemische ArtA. castaneiventris eine Superspezies.

     

Mesocosm studies on the influence of phosphate enrichment on ammonium and nitrate flux in an oligotrophic lake

The fate of ¹⁵NH _inf4 ^sup+ and ¹⁵NOinf3⁻ was followed in control and PO _inf4 ^sup3− enriched 1570 l mesocosms filled with epilimnetic water from an oligotrophic Rocky Mountain lake. Volumetric incorporation of ¹⁵NH _inf4 ^sup+ and ¹⁵NO _inf3 ^sup− into phytoplankton and bacterioplankton (particulates between 280 and 0.7 μm), and crustacean zooplankton > 80 μm was enhanced by PO _inf4 ^sup3− , but no increase in biomass specific rates of uptake by phytoplankton and bacteria occurred for either form of ¹⁵N. Dilution of both ¹⁵NH _inf4 ^sup+ and ¹⁵NO _inf3 ^sup− by ¹⁴NH _inf4 ^sup+ and ¹⁴NO _inf3 ^sup− , respectively, was evident indicating regeneration of these nutrients, but regeneration rates were not effected by PO _inf4 ^sup3− enrichment. The results illustrate the strong trophic coupling between N dynamics and PO _inf4 ^sup3− enrichment in this system.     

Intraspecific variability of Brachionus plicatilis

An extensive study of frontal margins of the lorica of Brachionus plicatilis was undertaken in an attempt to define its variability within this species. Specimens from mass cultures and from the natural environment were examined.     

Two new species of Multiclavula (lichenized basidiomycetes) from savanna soils in Rwanda (East Africa)

Two new species of Multiclavula are described from Rwanda: M. akagerae , with a thallus consisting of turgescent glomerules, and M. rugaramae , with a thallus composed of flattened, rounded, marginate, and dispersed squamules. They grow on soil in frequently burned savannas or on lateritic soils in eastern Rwanda. The genus Lepidostroma should probably be reduced into synonymy with Multiclavula .  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 155 , 457–465.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Blepharodon crabronum</Emphasis> (Apocynaceae: Asclepiadoideae), a new species from the pre-Cambrian serranias of eastern Bolivia

Summary   Blepharodon crabronum from the pre-Cambrian serranias of eastern Bolivia is described and illustrated.