Two new species of Xironogiton (Clitellata: Branchiobdellida) from western North America

Xironogiton, a genus of crayfish worm (order Branchiobdellida), is historically endemic to North America. To date, six species of Xironogiton have been described, including five and one from areas west and east of the Continental Divide, respectively. Recent collections of the crayfishes Pacifastacus connectens and Pacifastacus leniusculus from the endorheic Harney Basin in south-eastern Oregon, USA, revealed the presence of two previously unknown Xironogiton species, which we describe herein. Discovery and characterisation of Xironogiton bibendumi sp. nov. and Xironogiton malheurensis sp. nov. suggests that much work remains to understand branchiobdellidan diversity in western North America, and additional targeted sampling is needed to determine intra- and interspecific variation, and thus define species limits.http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:B24AA844-4A73-48F2-B269-7CD08DC8389A http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:F1787846-BF04-44A6-949B-551EE3453F26     

A revision of Astyanax (Characiformes: Characidae) in Central and North America,with the description of nine new species

Since the restriction of Astyanax fasciatus to Brazil, most authors have assigned Central American and southern Mexican forms of Astyanax to A. aeneus. However, molecular studies support the hypothesis that more than one taxon is involved. With the aim of clarifying the number and status of species hidden behind the name ‘A. aeneus’, this revision comprises 80 populations of Astyanax (and ‘Bramocharax’) from Panama to Texas, with comparative material from South America, based on morphological characters (mostly osteological). Astyanax aeneus is hereby restricted to the Pacific slope, from Río Papagayo, Guerrero, to Honduras. Several species are resurrected from synonymy or redescribed: A. altior (restricted to north-western Yucatán), A. argentatus (Texas and northern Mexico), A. belizianus (central-southern Belize, Izabal, Caribbean Honduras), A. brevimanus (upper Usumacinta and Grijalva, Chiapas, Quiché, Alta Verapaz), A. finitimus (Veracruz, Tabasco, northern Chiapas), A. mexicanus (restricted to Colima and the Balsas River basin), A. nicaraguensis (Caribbean Nicaragua to Sixaola, Panama), A. orstedii (south-eastern Nicaragua, Costa Rica and westernmost Panama), A. panamensis (Pacific Panama), and A. petenensis (Campeche, Petén). Nine species are newly described: A. acatlanensis sp. nov. (inland Oaxaca and Puebla), A. bacalarensis sp. nov. (Quintana Roo, northern Belize, Petén), A. cubilhuitz sp. nov. (Alta Verapaz), A. macal sp. nov. (Maya Mountains, Belize), A. ocotal sp. nov. (Lake Ocotal, highland Chiapas), A. rioverde sp. nov. (San Luis Potosí), A. salvatoris sp. nov. (Tamazulapan, Oaxaca), A. tamiahua sp. nov. (northern Veracruz) and A. tehuacanensis sp. nov. (Papaloapan, Oaxaca). Others were already recognised as different from A. aeneus, among these A. cocibolca and A. nasutus, as well as species included before in the genus Bramocharax.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:ABC57223-DF66-49B6-8FE0-87CFF5D3EA03     

Systematics and distribution of the winter stonefly genus Capnia (Plecoptera:Capniidae) in North America

The genus Capnia in North America is reviewed and compared to other genera in the family. The genus is divided into 10 species groups. A key to the 51 species of Capnia in North America is given along with a listing of type localities, type repositories, diagnoses, and distributions. New illustrations of structures bearing characters important for identification and classification are presented. An annotation of the list of Capnia of North America given by Stark, Szczytko, and Baumann (1986) reflecting current generic placement of species is produced. From this list Capnia bakeri and sugluka are moved to Mesocapnia . Capnia barbata Frison is placed in synonymy under Capnia decepta . The movement of cygna (synonym of venosa ), elevata, fibula, manitoba, venosa , and wanica to Capnura (Nelson and Baumann, 1987b) is noted. Capnia disala and ensicala are placed in Paracapnia .     

Names and types of Hedysarum L. (Fabaceae) in North America

The names and types of Hedysarum L., sensu stricto, for North America are included, along with bibliographic citations, type information and place of deposit of types, and all synonyms. Lectotypes are designated for Hedysarum auriculatum Eastw., H. carnulosum Greene, H. marginatum Greene, H. pabulare A. Nels., and H. truncatum Eastw.     

Phlox longifolia Nutt. (Polemoniaceae) complex of North America

Over 1,000 herbarium specimens including 24 type specimens were examined in an attempt to achieve a clearer understanding of the Phlox longifolia complex. Four variables were measured for each specimen and the data were statistically analyzed by discriminant analysis. Using a previously published system of classification for the complex, approximately 73 percent of the measured variation among the specimens was accounted for by that system. The clustering patterns produced in this first analysis indicated that a more conservative approach would be advisable. The formulation and subsequent application of a modified system produced a grouping of specimens that accounted for 95 percent of the measured variation for the four morphological characters considered. From four species and seven subspecies previously recognized, one species with five varieties is proposed. The typification of Phlox longifolia Nutt. and other related taxa is resolved.        

Distribution and abundance of the Black-billed Magpie ( Pica pica ) in North America

Analysis of Audubon Society Christmas bird count data and certain environmental variables shows the degree to which the Black - billed Magpie is a bird of cool arid regions in North America. The abundance and distribution of this species appear to be limited by two major climatic barriers: increasing summer temperatures in the Southwest and increasing summer humidity and precipitation on the central plains.       

A new species of Liposcelis (Psocoptera,Liposcelidae) from North America with records of another species

Summary

Four enzyme systems have been analysed in digestive gland extracts of snails of the Bulinus africanus group. Forty population samples, representing eight of the ten nominal species recognized in the group, have been examined. Three distinct enzyme types were recognized in each of three of the systems and ten types in the fourth. Few of the individual enzyme types show marked restriction in either their taxonomic or geographic distributions. However, certain combinations of types appear to be associated with some nominal taxa and others with regional distributions.     

Taxonomy and variation of the Lopidea nigridia complex of western North America (Heteroptera: Miridae, Orthotylinae)

External morphological variation in the Lopidea nigridia "complex" of western North America was examined using principal component analysis and showed continuous variation among populations in most characters. External morphology did not parallel paramere structure and did not substantiate previously recognized species. There was little correlation between dorsal coloration and paramere structure. Cluster analysis (UPGMA) using paramere and color characters failed to group populations coded as the same species and also failed to group all specimens of any one population. The variation in structure of the parameres and vesicae among populations of the nigridia complex was no greater than the interpopulational variation of these structures structures in the congeneric species marginata Uhler. Lopidea nigridia Uhler is treated as a polytypic species comprising three subspecies: Lopidea nigridia nigridia Uhler, a fuscous-white form from the sagebrush steppe of the Great Basin and the chaparral of southern California; Lopidea nigridia serica Knight, a solid red form from the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains from Alberta to Colorado and east across the Northern Great Plains to southern Manitoba; Lopidea nigridia aculeata Van Duzee, a polymorphic form varying from solid red to fuscous red and white from the Cascade Mountains and eastern slopes of the coastal ranges of British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon, the Blue and Wallawa mountains of Oregon and Washington, and throughout the Coastal and Sierra Nevada ranges of California. The following new synonymies are created: Lopidea nigridia Uhler -- Lopidea raineri Knight, Lopidea scullent Knight, Lopidea rolfsi Knight, and Lopidea wilcoxi Knight; Lopidea nigridia aculeata Van Duzee -- Lopidea nigridia hirta Van Duzee, Lopidea usingeri Van Duzee, Lopidea discreta Van Duzee, Lopidea fallax Knight, Lopidea Yakima Knight, Lopidea audeni Knight, Lopidea eriogoni Knight, Lopidea calcaria Knight, Lopidea chamberlini Knight, Lopidea angustata Knight, Lopidea rubrofusca Knight, and Lopidea flavicostata Knight and Schaffner; Lopidea nigridia serica Knight -- Lopidea medleri Akingbohungbe.     

Modeling distributions of rare plants in the Great Basin, western North America

In this 2-phase study, we developed field-validated site and landscape-level predictive models for identifying potential rare and endemic plant habitat in the Great Basin of western North America. Four species were chosen to include a range of environmental variability and plant communities. Herbarium records of known occurrences were used to identify initial sample sites. The geographic coordinates, environmental attributes, and vegetation data collected at each site were used to develop 2 predictive models for each species: a field key and a probability-of-occurrence or predictor map. The field key was developed using only field data collected at the sites on environmental attributes and associated species. Predictive maps were developed with a geographic information system (GIS) containing slope, elevation, aspect, soils, and geologic data. Classification-tree (CT) software was used to generate dichotomous field keys and maps of occurrence probabilities. Predictions from both models were then field-validated during the 2nd phase of the study, and final models were developed through an iterative process, in which data collected during the field validation were incorporated into subsequent predictive models. Cross-validated models were >96% accurate and generally predicted presence with >60% accuracy. These models identified potential habitat by combining elevation, slope, aspect, rock type, and geologic process into habitat models for each species. ACRONYMS.—CEC—cation exchange capacity, CT—classification tree, DEM—digital elevation model, GAM—generalized additive model, GIS—geographic information system, GLM—generalized linear model, GPS—geographic positioning system, ROC—receiver operating curves, STATSGO—State Soil Geographic Database, USGS—United States Geological Survey, UTM—Universal Transverse Mercator. Nomenclature and distributions: Welsh et al. 2003, Shultz et al. 2005.     

New species and new records of North America Pityophthorus (Coleoptera: Scolytidae), Part VI. The Lautus group

Four new species of Mexican Pityophthorus in the Lautus group are described: P. indefessus (Jalisco), P. inhabilis (Guerrero), P. tutulus (Veracruz), and P. vegrandis (Quintana Roo) and a new locality record is given for P. corruptus Wood.     

Branchinecta hiberna , a new species of fairy shrimp (Crustacea: Anostraca) from western North America

Branchinecta hiberna , a new species of fairy shrimp, is described from temporary pools in the Great Basin region of south central Oregon, northeastern California, and adjacent Nevada. The new species shares several characters with Branchinecta cornigera Lynch, 1958: males bear a similar large patch of small spines on the basal segment of antenna 2, and females bear the similar robust antenna 2 with medial spur, brood pouch shape, and resting egg (cyst) morphology. The new species differs from B. cornigera in the shape of the distal segment of antenna 2 and the number and size of spines on the paired penis warts of males, and in the thoracic spine pattern and lack of dorsal cephalic projections in females. Observations on behavior and ecology of B. hiberna are discussed.