Seasonal cycle of zooplankton abundance and biomass in Hamsilos Bay,Sinop, Southern Black Sea,Turkey

In this investigation, zooplankton was studied between July 2015 and June 2016 in Hamsilos Bay to examine spatial and temporal variations in abundance, biomass and taxonomic composition. The recorded mean zooplankton abundance and biomass were 3770.35 ind. m^?3 and 25.06 mg m^?3 in the inner station, 3928.11 ind. m^?3 and 28.19 mg m^?3 in the middle station and 3948.22 ind. m^?3 and 28.74 mg m^?3 in the outer station, respectively. The high abundance and biomass values observed in September 2015 were attributed to Oithona davisae (4575 ind. m^?3 at the inner station) and Penilia avirostris (33.4 mg m^?3 at the outer station), respectively. Copepoda was the most abundant during the entire period of the survey. In terms of abundance and biomass, Copepoda was followed by meroplankton and Cladocera. Most species within the zooplankton community exhibited evident seasonality throughout the year in Hamsilos Bay. This was particularly apparent for O. davisae, Centropages ponticus, Cladocera and meroplankton, which were abundant in summer–autumn, and for Pseudocalanus elongatus, which was more abundant during winter and spring. It has been determined that O. davisae, which is a non-indigenous cyclopoid copepod species of the Black Sea, has successfully inhabited southern Black Sea and has established a permanent population in this area.     

Biology and life history of the araneophagic assassin bug Stenolemus bituberus including a morphometric analysis of the instars (Heteroptera,Reduviidae)

Stenolemus bituberus is an araneophagic “assassin bug” (Heteroptera; Reduviidae; Emesinae) that typically is found living in spider webs. We documented the life history of S. bituberus in the field for 13 months, determining its developmental phenology and microhabitat characteristics as well as describing its mating and predatory behaviour. We also included a morphometric analysis of the instars. Our study revealed that S. bituberus is univoltine with five juvenile instars. Although S. bituberus is found in the webs of spiders from a wide range of genera, it is found most commonly in the webs of Achaearanea, Badumna, Pholcus, and Stiphidion. Multiple juveniles often were found on a single web, but adults tended to be more solitary. Stenolemus bituberus appears to have two distinct hunting strategies: “stalking”, in which they slowly approach the spider, make contact and then strike; and “luring”, in which they attract the spider within range by manipulating the silk with their legs.     

Polygyny,oviposition, life cycle and longevity of the three subspecies of leaf-cutting ants,Acromyrmex subterraneus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

ABSTRACT

Research related to the comparative biology of phylogenetically close ant species has received little attention, although it is the basis for understanding the systematics of some sibling groups. The objective was to study the polygyny, oviposition, life cycle and longevity of the three subspecies of leaf-cutting ants. For that, we studied: oviposition rate – queens from three colonies were individually placed in plastic containers, and at 24-hour intervals, the laid eggs were quantified over a period of 96 hours; the workers’ life cycle – the development of immature ants was observed every 24 hours and, as a result, the duration of each stage of development was determined; the workers’ longevity – newly emerged adults were tagged and returned to the fungus chamber of their respective nests, and daily observations were made in each of the nest’s chamber. Laying rates were variable in the three queens studied, with a mean of total eggs laid of 271 for Acromyrmex subterraneus brunneus, 113 for Acromyrmex subterraneus subterraneus and 119 for Acromyrmex subterraneus molestans.The incubation period was 21.2 days in A. s. brunneus, 22.8 days in A. s. subterraneus and 20.4 days in A. s. molestans. The larval phase and pupal phase lasted on average 22.5 and 21.2 days in A. s. brunneus, 22.8 and 15.8 days in A. s. subterraneus and 17.2 and 14.2 days in A. s. molestans, respectively. Life cycle was different in the studied taxa, from 62 to 77 days in A. s. brunneus, from 59–68 days in A. s. subterraneus and from 51 to 55 days in A. s. molestans. The workers’ longevity varied between subspecies A. s. brunneus, A. s. subterraneus and A. s. molestans.     

The life cycle of Hydroperla crosbyi (Plecoptera: Perlodidae)

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} Hydroperla crosbyi in Texas exhibited a univoltine, fast life cycle over the three - year study period. Adults emerged in February – March when mean daily stream temperature reached ca. 15 C. Reared females in the lab deposited up to three egg masses. Mean fecundity of dissected females was 787 eggs/female. Oviposition in the field was observed and described. Eggs were triangular in cross section, brown, and measured 400 µ m × 535 µ m. They underwent an ca. seven-month diapause until mean daily stream temperature decreased to 18 C. Eyespots appeared, and hatching followed in two to three weeks. First instar nymphs were measured and described. Male and female nymphs underwent 12 and 14 instars, respectively, and could be sexed by the sixth. Fast growth occurred in the coldest season and Simuliidae and Chironomidae larvae were preferred food throughout development. Eggs contained a mean of 6.21 cal/mg. Ash - free mean caloric value of last instar nymphs was 6.0 cal/mg. Adult males and females lost 33.8 percent and 57.6 percent, respectively, of their caloric pool through their ca. 12 days of life.        

Seasonal abundance and life cycle of Archaeomysis articulata (Crustacea: Mysidacea) on a sandy beach of western Hokkaido,Japan

Abundance and life cycle of the sandy beach mysid Archaeomysis articulata Hanamura were investigated based on seasonal collections over 2 years in the surf-swept intertidal zone of an open sandy beach in Ishikari Bay, western Hokkaido, Japan. The number of mysids in the intertidal zone increased from winter to spring, reaching its maximum in summer to autumn (average >2500 ind. m^-2), and decreased considerably towards the end of the year. The abundance was maintained at a minimal level (<200 ind. m^-2) throughout the winter. The breeding season was March to November, during which the liberation of young was most intensive from late April to mid-October. Three alternate generations, including overwintering, spring and summer generations, were suggested from field observations. Archaeomysis articulata is primarily iteroparous; only a restricted number of breeding females could produce more than two broods. The life span was estimated to be 7–9 months for the overwintering generation and 2.5–3.5 months for the spring–summer generations. The sex ratio fluctuated at samplings, with a tendency toward female dominance (overall mean=54%). The number of embryos carried by a single female ranged from 16 to 94, tending to increase with increasing size of females. The size of egg-like embryos varied seasonally from 0.45 to 0.54mm, being largest in spring and smallest in summer, with no correlation to the length of females; water temperature is considered an important factor in regulating the size of eggs. The embryonic development time was estimated to be 1.5 months for the spring generation (water temperature 5–10°C), and much shorter than this for the summer and overwintering generations. The mortality rate during embryonic development was estimated to be 7–18%.     

Biology and life cycle of Scopelocheirus hopei (A. Costa, 1851), a scavenging amphipod from the continental slope of the Mediterranean

The biology of Scopelocheirus hopei, a deep-sea (500 m) scavenging amphipod that lives on the continental slope of Mediterranean canyons, was studied. Animals were collected using a baited trap. A new method was developed for reproducibly measuring the exact length of the animals. All the categories of individuals were always present in the samples. The emergence of offspring occurs in successive cohorts. Individuals of the two sexes do not grow at the same rate: the males grow more quickly than the females, but their lifespans are shorter. The males are always less numerous than the females. Two production cycles occur. The females produce offspring all year round. The mean fecundity was found to be 218 eggs per female. The growth pattern was modelled. A strong correlation was observed between the length and the weight of the animals collected. Several hypotheses are proposed to explain the results obtained.     

The life cycle of Diploproctodaeum arothroni Bray and Nahhas, 1998 (Digenea: Lepocreadiidae), with a comment on the parasitic castration of its molluscan intermediate host

Diploproctodaeum arothroni Bray and Nahhas, 1998 Bray, R. A. and Nahhas, F. M. 1998. Diploproctodaeum arothroni n. sp. (Digenea: Lepocreadiidae) from the pufferfish Arthron hispidus (Tetraodontidae) from Suva, Fiji, with a revised key to the species of the genus.. Systematic Parasitology, 40: 55–59. [Crossref] , [Google Scholar] (Digenea: Lepocreadiidae) was found in the intestine of its type‐host, Arothron hispidus, a tetraodontid fish permanently resident in a lagoon within the mangrove swamps on the Egyptian coast of the Gulf of Aqaba. Larval forms of this trematode (sporocysts, rediae, and cercariae) were found in the gonads and digestive gland of Crassostrea cuccullata (Ostreidae), a common oyster in the same lagoon. So, the life cycle of D. arothroni is elucidated under natural conditions; eggs are directly ingested by the oyster; mother sporocysts and rediae reach their maturity 3–5 and 9–11 weeks after infection; rediae contain 18–25 developing cercariae; fully mature cercariae are trichocercous, without penetration glands, emerge from the oyster during the night 14–15 weeks after infection, their existence in seawater being very brief and transitory, and rapidly encyst on aquatic vegetation or other surfaces (there is no second intermediate host); encysted metacercaria are not progenetic; 4‐day‐old metacercariae encysted on filamentous algae fed to A. hispidus developed into fully mature worms 8–9 weeks after infection. This cycle is completed in about 24 weeks and has its own characteristics, which differentiate it from the other known lepocreadiid life cycles. All of the developmental stages are figured and described. Parasitic castration in the females of C. cuccullata caused by the parasite was studied histologically and is described and discussed.     

Biology and life cycle of Tmetonyx similis (G. O. Sars, 1891) (Amphipoda,Lysianassidae), a scavenging amphipod from the continental slope of the Mediterranean

The present study focused on the biology and life cycle of Tmetonyx similis, a scavenging amphipod inhabiting the continental slope of the north‐western Mediterranean. All the categories of individuals were observed in the samples. The emergence of offspring occurs in successive cohorts. The lifespan of the females is longer than that of the males, but the sex ratio is strongly in favour of the males. The fecundity was found to be lower than that of the other female crustaceans present in these samples. The growth pattern was modelled. A strong correlation was observed between the length and the weight of the animals collected. Several hypotheses are proposed to explain a sex ratio in favour of males. This result may be explained by a migratory process of the females of T. similis. A comparison of the reproduction strategy is given for the three main scavenger crustacean species (amphipods and isopod) collected in this area.     

Studies on the Indian species of the genus Coccophagus Westwood, 1883

Summary

Two species of muntjac deer, the Indian and the Reeves', were introduced into England in the nineteenth and the present centuries. Feral muntjac deer now occur widely over the southern half of England. Their identity, however, is uncertain with claims being made for both species and for hybrids. Skulls and jaws of the two species of muntjac deer from their native countries and from feral animals from eight counties in England have been examined. From these measurements and from chromosome studies it is concluded that the feral muntjac deer in England are Reeves' muntjac. No evidence has been found to substantiate claims for the presence of either the Indian muntjac or hybrids.     

A new species of the genus Cytheridella (Crustacea,Ostracoda) from Nigeria,West Africa

Cytheridella tepida sp. nov., a freshwater ostracod, is described from Nigeria, West Africa. It has been compared with five extant species of the genus Cytheridella. Cytheridella tepida was collected from slow-flowing streams characterized by warm water. Some other ecological notes on its habitat are given.     

Contributions to the life history of Sacramento perch, Archoplites interruptus, in Pyramid Lake, Nevada

During a two-year period (1976&ndash;1977), 180 Sacramento perch ( Archoplites interruptus ) were sampled from Pyramid Lake, Nevada, on a monthly basis using several capture methods in all lake areas. Age and growth determinations of these fish were inconsistent with previous research on this species. Sacramento perch are entirely carnivorous, adults feeding primarily on tui chub ( Gila bicolor ). Fish accounted for 6 percent of the diet (by volume) of Sacramento perch less than 300 mm fork length, and 98 percent for those exceeding 300 mm. Amphipods, Odonata, and Chironomidae composed 6.3, 5.7, and 1.8 percent, respectively, of the stomach contents by volume for all sizes combined. Females spawned from June to August when water temperatures approached 20 C, and their gonad weight was about 6 percent of the total body weight. A sample of 20 female perch had a mean fecundity of 84,203 eggs. The mean diameter of mature eggs was 0.88 mm. Sacramento perch almost exclusively inhabit the littoral zone of Pyramid Lake. Activity, as indicated by net catches, was greatest during the warm months of May to October. Monthly catches were significantly correlated with temperature (r = 0.577, P < 0.01). No short-term changes in population abundances were observed during 1976&ndash;1977.     

Effects of anthropogenic land use on Odonata in playas of the Southern High Plains

Playas are ephemeral wetlands that are the only source of aboveground freshwater in the southern Great Plains, making them of vital importance to aquatic and amphibious animals. Playas are also highly threatened from anthropogenic land use (chiefly agriculture, which decreases hydroperiod through increased sedimentation). We examined community structure of adult odonates (dragonflies and damselflies) in playas differing in the 2 main regional forms of surrounding land use (cropland vs. grassland). Analysis of odonate diversity revealed high overlap between cropland and grassland playas. Traditional species-area theory did not fit observed patterns, as there appears to be a threshold playa size that supports maximal odonate diversity; this nonlinear response may reflect a tradeoff between hydroperiod and availability of emergent vegetation that is required for perching and oviposition. Since agriculture effectively reduces playa depth but not size of the overall playa watershed, this may mean that cropland playas serve as "ecological traps." This property has important implications for regional odonate diversity.     

Two new species of Siphonostomatoida (Copepoda) found on cnidarians in Tokara Islands,Southern Japan

ABSTRACT

Two new species of siphonostomatoid copepods are described based on specimens collected off Tokara Islands located in the northern part of the Ryukyu Islands, Southern Japan. Cholomyzon multisetum sp. nov. (Coralliomyzontidae) found from the orange cup coral Tubastraea coccinea Lesson, 1829 (Hexacorallia: Scleractinia: Dendrophylliidae) has the following characters: armature formula of the antennule of the female; the outer lobe of the maxillule; and numbers of elements on the legs 1 to 3. Another species, Entomopsyllus takara sp. nov. (Entomolepididae), was found from both the Indo-Pacific blue coral Heliopora coerulea (Pallas, 1766) (Octocorallia: Helioporacea: Helioporidae) and the race coral Distichopora violacea (Pallas, 1766) (Hydrozoa: Anthoathecata: Stylasteridae). This new species of the male specimen is characterized by the antennule with shortest sixth segment, the endopod of leg 2 bearing two inner setae on the second segment and five setae on the third segment, the third exopodal and endopodal segments of leg 3 bearing three spines and three setae, respectively, and the third exopodal segment of leg 4 bearing four setae. These two species represented the first records of the families Coralliomyzontidae and Entomolepididae from Japanese waters.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:7C8DED0A-9CEB-405D-9BBF-FAF2043B0858     

Status and life history notes on the native fishes of the Alvord Basin, Oregon and Nevada

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} Three fishes, two species of Gila, and an undescribed subspecies of cutthroat trout, are endemic to the Alvord Basin. Historically, the Alvord cutthroat trout, Salmo clarki ssp., inhabited the larger creeks of the basin but has been extirpated in pure form because of introgression with introduced rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri. Gila boraxobius is restricted to the thermal waters of Borax Lake and its outflows in the northern part of the basin. This species is endangered because of alteration of its fragile habitat. The Alvord chub, G. alvordensis, is recorded from 16 localities throughout the basin, including springs, creeks, and reservoirs. Although G. alvordensis as a species is not in jeopardy, many populations are small and could be easily eliminated by habitat destruction or by the introduction of exotic fishes. Competition with exotic guppies, Poecilia reticulata, has extirpated the Thousand Creek Spring population of Alvord chubs. Both species of Gila are opportunistic omnivores, consuming primarily chironomids, microcrustaceans, and diatoms. The Borax Lake chub also consumed large numbers of terrestrial insects, but specialized feeding on molluscs was noted in the West Spring population of Alvord chubs. Borax Lake chubs spawn throughout the year; however, most spawning occurs in early spring. Borax Lake chubs mature at a small size, occasionally less than 30 mm standard length, and seldom live more than one year. Alvord chubs are typically much larger than the Borax Lake species and live at least into their fifth year.     

Biodiversity and biogeography of non-marine Mollusca on the islands of the Southern Ocean

There are no terrestrial and freshwater molluscs associated with Continental nor Maritime Antarctica. The malacofaunas of the cool-temperate and sub-Antarctic islands of the Southern Ocean are extremely depauperate, comprising a mere 68 site-records of 51 species from 27 genera in 13 families. The South Atlantic records are confined to the Falkland Islands, which harbour nine species (one bivalve, five pond snails and three terrestrial aliens), and South Georgia, where there is one Notodiscus sp. (Charopidae). The fauna of the South Indian Ocean islands of Prince Edward, Crozet, Kerguelen and Heard, comprises two alien slugs and endemic Notodiscus hookeri (Charopidae). The majority of species occur on the South Pacific Ocean Islands of Macquarie, Campbell, Auckland, Snares, Antipodes, Bounty and Chatham to the south and east of New Zealand. The Chatham fauna is dissimilar to that on the other South Pacific Islands, though both represent vicariant remnants of common South Pacific Is./New Zealand Athoracophoridae, Charopidae and Punctidae. There is, other than the broad South Indian Ocean distribution of Notodiscus hookeri, little evidence of Holocene dispersal and colonization. Indeed the Southern Ocean is an effective barrier and the different regional (South Atlantic/Indian/Pacific) faunas are principally vicariant and derived from local survivors of Pleistocene glaciation.     

Life cycle and geographic distribution of the gymnophallid Bartolius pierrei (Digenea) on the Patagonian coast,Argentina

The life cycle of the gymnophallid Bartolius pierrei Cremonte, 2001 Cremonte, F. 2001. Bartolius pierrei n. g. n. sp. (Digenea: Gymnophallidae) from Península Valdés, Argentina. Systematic Parasitology, 49: 139–147. [Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar] (Digenea) at Fracasso Beach (the type locality) (42°25′S, 64°07′W), Península Valdés, Argentina, was elucidated. This digenean uses the clam Darina solenoides (Mactridae) as both first and second intermediate host. The Kelp Gull, Larus dominicanus, and the Red Knot, Calidris canutus rufa, a Neotropical migratory bird, act as definitive hosts. A prevalence of infection of 92% was found in the Red Knot. The cercariae of B. pierrei did not parasitize other invertebrates, not even the tellinid clam Tellina petitiana, which shares the intertidal habitat with D. solenoides. This fact could be explained by the behaviour of the cercaria and its strategy for penetration. The cercariae enter directly in the extrapallial space of the clam by piercing the exposed mantle border. Tellina petitiana could not be invaded by B. pierrei cercariae because it does not expose the mantle border when feeding. Because the Red Knot does not feed on T. petitiana, this behaviour may constitute an adaptive strategy of the parasite. Under laboratory conditions, cercariae lived up to 2 days, metacercariae became infective in 50 days, and the adult life is considerd to be shorter than 3 days. The short adult life span in gymnophallids could be a result of adaptation to migratory birds. This fact would ensure parasite dispersion (i.e. by covering long distances in a short time) and inter-breeding with other Darina-infesting populations located far apart. Bartolius pierrei is an endemic parasite of the Magellan Region, distributed where its intermediate clam host is present, from San José Gulf in Península Valdés to the southern tip of South America.     

Redescription and life cycle of Eutima sapinhoa Narchi and Hebling, 1975 (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa,Leptothecata): a hydroid commensal with Tivela mactroides (Born) (Mollusca,Bivalvia, Veneridae)

The commensal hydroid Eutima sapinhoa Narchi and Hebling, 1975 Narchi, W and Hebling, N. 1975. The life cycle of the commensal Hydromedusa Eutima sapinhoa n. sp. Marine Biology, 30: 73–78. [Crossref] , [Google Scholar] lives attached to the mantle, gills, labial palps and foot of the bivalve Tivela mactroides. The solitary polyps bud off medusae that become free, leaving the host through the exhalant water current. Newly liberated medusae were cultivated in the laboratory, attaining 7.8?mm in bell height, 13.3?mm in diameter and having eight marginal tentacles, while developing the typical eutimid medusa characters of a long peduncle, four radial canals and marginal statocysts with many statoliths. Eutima sp., previously reported from Florida, USA, is probably referable to Eutima sapinhoa. Like the other bivalve-inhabiting species of Eutima [E. ostrearum (Mattox and Crowell, 1951 Mattox, N. T and Crowell, S. 1951. A new commensal hydroid of the mantle cavity of an oyster. Biological Bulletin, 101: 162–170. [Crossref] , [Google Scholar]) and Eutima sp.] from the Atlantic Ocean, Eutima sapinhoa has no trace of marginal cirri, thereby differing from the eutimid medusae of the Pacific Ocean.     

The life cycle and natural history of the tropical aphid Cerataphis fransseni (Homoptera: Aphididae: Hormaphidinae), with reference to the evolution of host alternation in aphids

We describe the life cycle and general biology of the tropical cerataphidine aphid Cerataphis fransseni. We demonstrate that this aphid migrates between trees of Styrax benzoin and various species of palms; palm-feeding populations have previously been known as C. variabilis and C. palmae, which now become synonyms of C. fransseni. On S. benzoin the fundatrix induces a relatively simple gall which can contain >6000 aphids at maturity with a large number of reproductively sterile soldiers that protect the gall from predators. These galls are apparently produced throughout the year. Colonies on the secondary host plants, palms, are apparently obligately tended by ants whereas colonies within galls on Styrax are never tended by ants. We discuss the life cycle of this tropical aphid with respect to hypotheses for the evolution and maintenance of host alternation.