Note on the occurrence of Siphlonurus autumnalis (Ephemeroptera: Siphlonuridae) in a Montana spring brook

The little-known mayfly Siphlonurus autumnalis McDunnough (Ephemeroptera: Siphlonuridae) was collected from several locations in its floodplain habitats along the Middle Fork of the Flathead River in western Montana. To confirm identification, nymphs were reared along with an associated species, S. occidentalis Eaton (Ephemeroptera: Siphlonuridae). Adults emerged from 6 September until 16 October. Habitats are described and the first photos of the 2 sexes are provided.     

Unusual tooth wear in elk at Glacier National Park, Montana

An unusual wear pattern in the cheek teeth of elk-wapiti, in which the third premolars and first molars of the upper jaw wear excessively into corresponding teeth in the lower jaw, was found in a Glacier National Park, Montana, elk skull. This unusual wear pattern was previously reported from elk of the Yellowstone-Jackson, Wyoming, herd.     

Two new species of Epimerella Kulijev, 1967 (Acari,Oribatida, Epimerellidae) from Turkey

Two new species of the genus Epimerella, E. luxtoni sp. nov. and E. subiasi sp. nov. collected from Yozgat Pine Grove National Park in Turkey are described. A key to the species of Epimerella is provided.     

Land snail diversity in Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota

Eighty-two soil samples and additional hand-collection in Wind Cave National Park yielded over 2000 terrestrial gastropod specimens. The specimens represent 26 different species, including a South Dakota species of concern, Vertigo arthuri . New South Dakota state records for Gastrocopta pellucida and Vertigo tridentata were recorded. Samples from grassland habitats were less likely to contain snails and had lower species richness than samples from either forest or shrubland habitats. Canyons, creek beds, bases of limestone cliffs, and shrublands are important habitats for snails in the park.     

Trichoptera and other macroinvertebrates in springs of the Great Basin: species composition, richness, and distribution

Detailed surveys of aquatic invertebrates in 28 springs along the western border of the Great Basin were made using pan traps, emergence traps, black lights, and benthic sampling devices from 1994 to 1998. Although all macroinvertebrate groups were collected, caddisflies (Insecta: Trichoptera) were sampled most intensively. Fifty-eight species of caddisflies were collected from the 28 springs, with up to 18 species from a single spring. Although several springs had very similar physicochemical characteristics, none had identical trichopteran species composition. Using Wards minimum variance clustering technique, and with all macroinvertebrates identified to the lowest possible level, we found 3 taxa assemblages. These assemblages occurred in springs with the following physical conditions: (1) warm water (15.9° C), low elevation (1794 m); (2) cold water (8.5° C), mid-elevation (2334 m); and (3) cold water (6.6° C), high elevation (1794 m). Although the warm water group had a distinct assemblage of invertebrates (amphipods, gastropods, Trichoptera), distinct assemblages did not separate the 2 cold water groups. Discriminant analysis indicated that temperature, conductivity, alkalinity, and elevation were most responsible for discriminating group 1 from groups 2 and 3; temperature and elevation distinguished the latter 2 groups. Spring permanence, lack of disturbance, and cold water temperatures were the factors most responsible for explaining higher species richness of Trichoptera.     

Saproxylic beetles (Coleoptera) and hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) from a Mediterranean forest: towards a better understanding of their biology for species conservation

This report represents the first integrative study on saproxylic Coleoptera and Diptera Syrphidae from a representative Mediterranean forest in Cabañeros National Park in Central Spain. We collected 107 beetles, representing 32 families, and 25 species of hoverfly. Two undescribed and numerous rare beetle species were recorded, as were four hoverflies considered to be threatened species in Europe. We compiled biological information for all of the taxa encountered and recorded new data on their feeding habits, breeding microsites, and known tree associations. We found that the saproxylic biodiversity in this National Park was characterized by a significant number of Central European and North African species. Our results on the saproxylic assemblage, comprising many rare and poorly known species, of a typical Mediterranean forest represent a first step toward improved understanding of the saproxylic community and establishing the basis for conservation strategies in this region.     

Some relationships between internal parasites and brown trout from Montana streams

Forty - five percent of 306 brown trout from 16 Montana streams were infected with one or more of the nematodes Cystidicoloides salvelini, Bulbodacnitis globosa, Rhabdochona sp., and Eustrongylides sp. The relationships between incidence and intensity of nematode infections and age and sexual maturity of the host fish were studied. Generally, sexually mature female brown trout had a higher rate of infection and had more nematodes per infected fish than immature female brown trout. Higher incidence and intensity of infection in sexually mature fish was attributed to more aggressive feeding behavior leading to more exposure to the intermediate hosts (mayflies) of the nematode parasites.         

Benthic insect fauna of a clean-water stream on Utah's Colorado Plateau, USA

Extensive collecting using a variety of methods was conducted in 1994 and 1995 in association with Pleasant Creek in south central Utah, USA, in an effort to inventory the aquatic insects. Collecting efforts yielded 133 insect taxa from 12 sample sites in 8 study areas from near the headwaters of Pleasant Creek and downstream to where it flows out of Capitol Reef National Park. Applying Protocol III methodology of Plafkin et al. (1989), we determined species assemblages of benthic insects and calculated selected ecological indices based on monthly collections from March through August 1994. Richness, equitability index, and mean diversity index values at all sample sites approached, or were greater than, the generally accepted values for clean-water streams in the mountains of the western United States.     

The influence of habitat features on amphibian distribution in Northeastern Greece

Environmental and isolation variables relating to abundance of breeding amphibians, species richness and community structure at different spatial scales were examined in the Dadia-Lefkimi-Soufli Forest National Park, Evros, Greece. Logistic regression and a generalized linear model were used to relate several habitat characteristics to species occurrence and species richness. The community structure responses to breeding-pond features were examined at four spatial scales using canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). The richest communities live in low-altitude ponds, with stony or clay bottoms, high solar exposure and abundant submerged and floating vegetation. The CCA models were significant (p < 0.005) and revealed the influence of altitude, percentage of field and broadleaf forest coverage, and number of water bodies on amphibian species assemblages at all four spatial scales. There is a specific need for holistic management of amphibians that will consider habitat connectivity, particularly between aquatic and terrestrial habitats, at a larger, more interconnected scale.     

Assessing high compositional differences of beetle assemblages across vertical woodland strata in the New Forest,Hampshire, England

Closed-canopy woodlands are complex ecosystems with strong vertical environmental stratification. The degree to which this vertical stratification has led to compartmentalisation in invertebrate assemblages in temperate woodlands has been researched to a limited extent, yet there are still gaps in our understanding. Here, we used five different sampling methods to sample beetles across vertical strata of nine woodland sites in the New Forest National Park, Hampshire, England. The sampling methods yielded 2412 individuals across 157 species, of which 46 were significant indicator species for one stratum or a combination of strata. Multivariate analysis of composition showed a strong separation at a subfamily level between strata, with many only found in a single stratum. This suggests a strongly compartmentalised vertical stratification of the beetle assemblages at both species and higher taxonomic levels. Our results display that multiple strata need to be sampled to obtain true estimates of overall beetle species richness in woodlands and forests. Limitations in using a single sampling method and biases using mixed sampling method protocols across a vertical transect are also discussed.     

Swedish nemerteans (phylum Nemertea), with description of a new hoplonemertean genus and species

A survey of the nemertean fauna along the Swedish west coast found specimens of 20 genera and 32 species, of which one genus and species is new to science (Tetraneuronemertes lovgreni gen. et sp. n.). The proportions of the three taxa Hoplonemertea, Heteronemertea, and Palaeonemertea are 34, 55, and 11%, respectively, with respect to specimen numbers, and the proportions for species within these taxa are 53, 31 and 16%, respectively. The most common species encountered during the survey were the heteronemerteans Lineus bilineatus, Micrura fasciolata, and Micrura purpurea, the hoplonemertean Nipponnemertes pulcher, and the palaeonemertean Cephalothrix rufifrons.     

Parasite community of the golden cownose ray Rhinoptera steindachneri Evermann and Jenkins 1891 (Chondrichthyes: Myliobatidae), in Acapulco Bay,Guerrero, Mexico

The parasite community of the ray Rhinoptera steindachneri from Acapulco Bay was examined and quantified; analyses were based on the sex of the host and the date of sampling. A total of 171 specimens of R. steindachneri were examined during July–August of 2010, and May and July of 2012. Twenty-one species of parasites were found: three species of Monogenea; eight adult and one larval species of Cestoda; one larval species of Nematoda; five species of Copepoda; two species of Isopoda; and one species of Hirudinea. Cestodes had the greatest species richness (43% of the total species), followed by the copepods (24%). Two species of cestode, Glyphobothrium sp. and Rhinebothrium sp., were collected only from adult rays. At the component community level, species richness showed statistically significant variation between 13 and 16 species, which is similar to previous reports for other species of rays. The parasite component communities and infracommunities of R. steindachneri exhibited similar patterns: high species number and low numerical dominance by a particular species of parasite. The differences of body size of male vs. female rays, and a change in diet and feeding behaviour with the age of R. steindachneri, are likely important factors in the structuring of their parasite communities.     

New species of the superfamily Euphthiracaroidea (Acari: Oribatida) from Madagascar and Tanzania

Five new species of the family Euphthiracaridae are described, identified and figured from the Afrotropical region: Oribotritia breviseta sp. nov. from Andasibe National Park of Madagascar; Acrotritia paraardua sp. nov. from Vohimana Experimental Reserve, Ambohitanely Special Reserve and Andasibe National Park of Madagascar; Acrotritia paradikra sp. nov. from Ranomafana National Park and Ankarafantsika National Park of Masagascar; Microtritia diaphoros sp. nov. from the Nguru Mountains of Tanzania; and Microtritia parahauseri sp. nov from the Uluguru Mountains of Tanzania. A comparison with the most closely related species of the genera Oribotritia, Acrotritia and Microtritia is also presented.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:7965FE4C-0AF8-49C4-B894-75D4EFD049BB     

New species of Australian arid zone chelonine wasps from the genera Phanerotoma and Ascogaster (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) informed by the ‘Bush Blitz’ surveys of national reserves

Here we focus on the poorly studied braconid wasp subfamily Cheloninae for the arid zone of the Australian continent, using material, in part, resulting from comprehensive surveys of three arid zone reserves. The Bush Blitz programme is a multi-institutional project with the aim of documenting the diversity of the flora and fauna in Australia’s National Reserve System, with describing new species being a key focus of the programme. In total, 11 species from the genera Ascogaster and Phanerotoma are treated, with species’ delimitation based on both molecular and morphological data. Two species are redescribed (Phanerotoma behriae Zettel, 1988a and P. decticauda Zettel, 1988a) and nine species are described as new (Ascogaster brevivena sp. nov., A. ferruginegaster sp. nov., A. prolixogaster sp. nov., A. rubriscapa sp. nov., Phanerotoma bonbonensis sp. nov., P. bushblitz sp. nov., P. lutea sp. nov., P. nigriscapulata sp. nov. and P. witchelinaensis sp. nov.). Keys to the arid zone species of these two genera are provided, along with a species richness estimation of Australian chelonine wasps.     

Vegetation response to prescribed fire in Dinosaur National Monument

Much of western North America is dominated by dense, monotypic, late seral stands of big sagebrush ( Artemisia tridentata Nutt.). These stands often have depauperate understories with limited species richness, diversity, and herbaceous cover. The National Park Service at Dinosaur National Monument, Colorado, is using both strategic and natural prescribed fire in Wyoming big sagebrush ( Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis Beetle and Young) communities to foster intra-community (α -scale) and landscape diversity. This study analyzed an accumulated foliar cover data set between paired burn and control areas on 6 different sites during the last 20 years. Across the monitoring period, mean total vegetation cover of all combined sites was 44% control and 42% burn. Total vegetation cover in burn areas was higher than or equal to paired control areas within 2-3 years post-burn. Shrubs were essentially eliminated in burn areas, but perennial grass cover was 10-35% higher. Mean number of species on all sites and years combined was 17 control and 18 burn. Species richness was different on only 1 site-year, Dry Woman 1995 ( P = 0.001, 15 control, 9 burn). Species similarity by site and between treatments ranged from 44% to 75%. Differences in Shannon-Weiner diversity index values between paired sites occurred in 6 of 20 years ( P < 0.05). Index value differences on these 6 sites were due to a large annual grass component in burn areas. Prescribed burning successfully shifted late successional sagebrushdominated communities to earlier herbaceous-dominated successional stages without lowering total vegetation cover, while maintaining -scale diversity and species richness.     

Relationships between Centaurea maculosa and indigenous plant assemblages

Ecological impacts of invasive plants include displacement of indigenous species and declines in species richness and diversity. The objective of this study was to characterize the functional relationship between plant community composition and Centaurea maculosa Lam. (spotted knapweed) within a Festuca idahoensis / Pseudoroegneria spicatum habitat type in Montana. Density, cover, and biomass of all species were collected along a gradient of spotted knapweed cover ranging from 0% to about 100%. Step-down regression was used to determine the relationship among C. maculosa , indigenous species, species richness, and Shannon-Weavers diversity index. Regressions showed that indigenous perennial grass cover, species richness, and species diversity were inversely related to C. maculosa cover. There was no relationship between C. maculosa and indigenous forbs. While this study does not imply a causal relationship, the literature suggests that C. maculosa displaces indigenous species and/or invades areas of reduced indigenous plant cover, low diversity, or low species richness. Knowing levels of indigenous perennial grass cover will help managers predict the outcome of weed management on rangelands that are vulnerable to weed infestation.     

New species of Baetidae (Ephemeroptera) from the Upper River Sigi,Usambara, Tanzania

Additional species of mayflies are described from the relatively well-studied fauna of the Upper River Sigi in the East Usambara Mountains of Tanzania. They comprise Cheleocloeon sigiense sp. n. and Centroptiloides ornatus sp. n. A species of Afroptiloides, of which only the adult is known, is figured but not named. The composition of the assemblage of genera known as the Bugilliesia complex is critically examined.     

Revised checklist of the vascular plants of Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

Prior to 1960, when the senior author wrote a dissertation on the plant ecology of the Paunsaugunt Plateau forests of Bryce Canyon National Park, relatively little plant taxonomic work had been done in the area. A checklist was prepared in 1971 that included 218 species of higher plants. During the field seasons 1978, 1979, and 1980, additional plants were collected during a second plant community study of the forests. The junior author spent the summer of 1980 at the park collecting plants in additional plant communities and organizing the herbarium collection. This checklist includes the additional species collected and updates the nomenclature of the vascular plants presently known to occur within the boundaries of Bryce Canyon National Park.