Incidence of keratinophilic fungi from selected soils of Kerala state (India)

One hundred and fifty-eight soil samples were collected from various areas of four districts of Kerala and screened for prevalence of keratinophilic fungi and related dermatophytes. From the positive samples (60.75%), a total of eight genera with 15 species were isolated viz., Arthroderma simii (0.63%), Chrysosporium indicum (20.25%), C. keratinophilum (6.96%), C. lobatum (1.26%), C. pannicola (1.26%), C. tropicum (5.06%), Chrysosporium state of Arthroderma cuniculi (1.26%), Chrysosporium state of Ctenomyces serratus (2.53%), Gymnascella hyalinospora (1.26%), Malbranchea aurantiaca (0.63%) M. fulva (1.26%), Microsporum gypseum complex (12.65%), Pseudogymnoascus roseus (1.26%), Trichophyton mentragrophytes (1.26%), and T. terrestre (3.16%).This revised version was published online in October 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Exotic fish species in a global biodiversity hotspot: observations from River Chalakudy,part of Western Ghats,Kerala, India

We record here the occurrence of five exotic fish species viz Oreochromis mossambicus, Gambusia affinis, Osphronemus goramy, Xiphophorus maculatus and Poecilia reticulata in the Chalakudy River, part of the Western Ghats, a global biodiversity hotspot in Kerala, India. O. mossambicus was ubiquitous in occurrence with large shoals being encountered at all sampling sites spread along the downstream-upstream gradient of the river, including at an altitude of 1050 m ASL. Osphronemus goramy was recorded from the downstream region of the river while Gambusia affinis was recorded from three sampling sites located downstream as well as midstream. Xiphophorus maculatus was collected from a second order stream flowing through a tea plantation at an altitude of 1050 m ASL. Samples of brooders and early fry of Poecilia reticulata indicate that the fish has already established a breeding population in the river. Possible threats to the indigenous fish fauna of the Chalakudy River as a result of the invasion and proliferation of these exotics is discussed.     

Sandfly species diversity in association with human activities in the Kani tribe settlements of the Western Ghats,Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India

Sandfly prevalence in the Kani tribe settlements of Western Ghats in India was investigated. A total of 1,279 sandflies comprising 17 species was obtained. Sandfly abundance showed a negative correlation (r = -0.97, p = 0.003) with increase in altitudinal ranges from 0-1,000 m. When sandfly samples were grouped according to landscape characteristics of the location, the estimated Shannon-Weiner index (H) and species richness index (S) were high and species evenness index (J) was low in settlements located at 0-300 m altitudinal range. On the contrary, the values of H and J were high, while S was low at 301-600 m altitudinal range. With further increase in altitude, species diversity, S and J were low. Though the relative abundance of sandflies decreased with increase in altitude, the influence of altitudinal variation could not be attributed to determine sandfly diversity, since the number of sampling units were not uniform at all the altitudinal gradients due to nonavailability of suitable resting shelters. Sandfly species showed great aggregation at 0-300 m altitude interval, where not only the number of settlements were maximum (n = 19), but also the environmental conditions favoured sandfly abundance due to the concentration of tribal settlements, human dwellings and his activities.     

Revision of Dolabraulax Quicke (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) with the description of three new species from south India

The braconine genus, Dolabraulax Quicke is reported for the first time from the Indian sub-continent and three new species, namely D. aruni Ranjith sp. nov., D. athirae Ranjith sp. nov. and D. jalalae Ranjith sp. nov. are described and illustrated. A key to all species of Dolabraulax is provided and its generic diagnosis is revised.     

A new Indian species of Riccia L. with connections to northern Australia

Introduction. During a recent explorative field trip to the Western Ghats a new species of Riccia was discovered with possible links to the northern Australian species, Riccia caroliniana Na-Thalang.

Key Results. Morphological similarities between the new species, R. sahyadrica and R. caroliniana include the ventral positioning of the photosynthetic tissue in the ventral section of the thallus in specialised structures known as ventral lamellae. These form a v-shaped patterning along the ventral surface of the thallus and are unique to these two species. Both species also bear similar spores with differences in the micro-ornamentation. Differences between the two species also extend to sexual condition, whereby R. caroliniana is dioicous and R. sahyadrica is monoicous.

Conclusions. A new species, Riccia sahyadrica Manju & Cargill is described and illustrated and compared to the only other morphologically similar species, R. caroliniana endemic to northern Australia. Both species possess the unique characteristic of bearing ventral photosynthetic tissue in contrast to the dorsal position typically seen in all other Riccia species.     

Airborne fungal spores in a sawmill environment in Palakkad District, Kerala, India

Concentration of airborne fungal spores inindoor and outdoor environments of a sawmill in Palakkad district of Kerala, India was studied with Burkard Personal Slide Sampler from January to December 1997. Total spore concentration in the indoor and outdoor showed a 3:2 ratio. Higher spore count was observed in indoor in January and in outdoor in October. Thirty three fungal spore types were identified from the indoor and twenty six from the outdoor. Aspergillus/Penicillium, Cladosporium, Nigrospora, Ganoderma, `other basidiospores' and ascospores were the dominant components of the airspora. Aspergillus/Penicillium, the most dominant spore type in the indoor contributed 51.19% and Cladosporium, the most dominant spore type in the outdoor contributed 44.75% of the total spores. The study revealed high prevalence of predominantly allergenic fungal spores in the sawmill environment.     

An extinct species of Basella: pollen evidence from sediments (~80 ka) in Kerala,India

Abstract

The genus Basella belongs to family Basellaceae and is comprised of five species. Out of these, Basella alba is pantropical in distribution, B. paniculata is endemic to south-eastern Africa and the other three species viz. B. excavata, B. leandriana and B. madagascariensis are endemic to Madagascar. The palynological study of an organic layer buried ~80 ka in Chaganacherry, Kerala revealed a rich diversity of rainforest pollen and estuarine/marine palynomorphs indicating warm and humid climate coupled with sea level high stand. The Basella pollen recorded from this sediment shows intermediate characters of two extant Basella species. While it resembles B. paniculata in being pantocolpate (20), it shows affinity with B. alba in sexine characters. The recovered pollen was therefore, ascertained to be a new species, named here as B. keralensis sp. nov. The age correlation of the studied sediment was carried out by fingerprinting (Rare Earth Elements) of Youngest Toba Tuff (YTT) (glass shards) which spread in the atmosphere through a volcanic eruption in Sumatra ~74 ka and also with marine palynomorph markers correlating the interglacial Marine Isotopic Stage 5a (~80 ka). It is inferred that earlier, the genus Basella comprised of six species out of which Basella keralensis sp. nov. became extinct and until now neither the fossil record nor the extant form of this is known in records from any part of the World.     

A new species of Ceylonitermellus Emerson, 1960 (Blattodea: Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae) from India with a key to the genus

Ceylonitermellus Emerson is a rarely collected soil inhabiting nasute termite endemic to Oriental region with three known species. A fourth species, Ceylonitermellus sahyadriensis sp. nov. is described and illustrated based on morphological characters of soldier and gut morphology of workers. Both the castes have poorly sclerotized body and paler in colour. This is the second species from India and fourth species of the genus from world. The species can be distinguished from the closely related C. periyarensis by the pyriform and shorter head capsule and with other two species of the genus by its larger head capsule as compared to C. kotuae and smaller head capsule as compared to C. hantanae. The new species was collected from tropical evergreen forest from a small colony near the base of a tree.LSID: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:34616357-2CC9-46B2-8B8D-3CFD984CED89.