Pseudocrossidium aureum (Bartr.) Zand. (Pottiaceae, Musci) new to Utah

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;} Pseudocrossidium aureum (Bartr.) Zand. (Pottiaceae, Musci) is reported as new to Utah from a loclity in Wayne County. The species distribution is noted and comparisons are made with the other three species of Pseudocrossidium found in North America.     

Annotated key to Eriogonum (Polygonaceae) of Nevada

Seventy - three species of Eriogonum (Polygonaceae) are reported for Nevada. A key is provided for the identification of these species along with brief notes on their distribution in the state and elsewhere.         

Avian mortality due to power lines in the Canary Islands with special reference to the steppe-land birds

Biodiversity is being lost worldwide at an increased rate particularly as the result of human activities and infrastructure. Avian mortality through collision with power lines has been an important topic in animal ecology research, but studies of this kind have never been undertaken in the Canary Islands, a volcanic archipelago located near the northwest African coast that has important seabird colonies, several endemic bird species and endemic races of steppe-land birds of conservation concern. During two contrasting periods in 2008 (breeding vs post-breeding), a total of 366 km of power lines were surveyed on this archipelago covering the entire distributional range of the most important steppe-land bird species (i.e. 232 km, Fuerteventura; 134 km, Lanzarote). In all, 310 carcasses representing 23 families and 26 species were detected. We estimated with distance Sampling that 25.5% and 6.3% of individuals of the total population of Houbara bustards, Chlamydotis undulata fuertaventurae, and Eurasian stone curlews, Burhinus oedicnemus insularum, respectively, were killed in a year. We encourage the Canary Islands authorities (Consejería de Medio Ambiente del Gobierno de Canarias) to try to minimize the Houbara bustard collision rate, particularly in the northern plains of Lanzarote (i.e. Jables de Famara), as a means to reduce mortality of this emblematic species in this insular environment.     

Baronia brevicornis caterpillars build shelters to avoid predation

In at least 18 Lepidoptera families, caterpillars build shelters that mainly serve to regulate microclimate (humidity, temperature) and/or to avoid predation. We aimed to explore the function of the tubular structures built with the leaves of the host plant, Acacia cochliacantha Humboldt and Bonpland ex Willdenow (Fabaceae), by a lepidopteran endemic to Mexico, Baronia brevicornis Salvin. We experimentally evaluated whether tubular structure building behaviour is induced by high temperature or predator odour, and if shelters reduce or enhance predation of B. brevicornis caterpillars. We used Calosoma angulatum as predator. Our analyses showed that caterpillars did not make the tubular structures in response to high temperature. We also found no difference in predators’ visual recognition of sheltered versus unsheltered caterpillars. Caterpillars did not build shelters but they moved more often when exposed to predator odour. Unsheltered caterpillars were more frequently consumed when predators were allowed to interact with sheltered and unsheltered caterpillars. Hence, the tubular structures built by B. brevicornis are most likely a strategy for reducing predation, for example by C. angulatum.     

Iphitime cuenoti Fauvel (Eunicidae), a polychaete new to British waters

Summary

The polychaete Iphitime cuenoti was found inhabiting the branchial chamber of the spider crab Macropodia longirostris in the Isle of Man area. The species of Iphitime and previous records of their occurrence are summarised. The sexual dimorphism of the polychaete is discussed, and its mode of nutrition and relations with its host considered. Ophryotrocha geryonicola, another polychaete inhabiting the branchial chamber of decapods, is compared with Iphitime.     

Charles Immanuel Forsyth Major's expedition to Madagascar, 1894 to 1896: beginnings of modern systematic study of the island's mammalian fauna

Charles Immanuel Forsyth Major (1843–1923) made the first synoptic systematic collection of mammals from Madagascar in the last decade of the 19th century. To reconstruct Major's obscurely known itinerary, we located 994 specimens that originated from his 1894–1896 expedition and determined their identification, dates and locality of collection, and current institutional repository. Fifty species were recovered from 26 localities centred in the Central Highlands and Eastern Humid Forest of east‐central Madagascar. The geographic position of several type localities is refined and their coordinates estimated, and the type locality of one taxon (Microgale pusilla Major, 1896) is accordingly amended. Biographical details of the man, the biodiversity significance of his collections and the historical context of his discoveries are discussed.     

Pronghorn responses to hunting coyotes

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;} Six accounts of pronghorn antelope ( Antilocapra americana ) chasing or attacking coyotes ( Canis latrans ) are described: three chases by individual pronghorn does, two by herds of antelope, and one joint effort by a pronghorn doe and a Short-eared Owl ( Asio flammeus ). Modifications of Berger's (1979) ungulate antipredatory defense model are proposed.       

Little-known Atlantic Cheilostome Bryozoans at the entrance to the Mediterranean

Seven little-known Atlantic species of Bryozoa have been found in the Straits of Gibraltar and are re-described in this paper. For six species their known geographical ranges are significantly increased. They are illustrated by SEM for the first time. New ecological and anatomical data are included. Escharella hexaespinosa Arístegui, 1984 is considered to be a junior synonym of Escharella praealta (Calvet, 1907), n. comb.     

Amphipod diversity at three Tunisian lagoon complexes in relation to environmental conditions

The amphipod communities of different wetland types belonging to three coastal lagoons complexes in northern Tunisia, Ichkeul (37°06′ to 37°14′ N, 09°35′ to 09°56′ E), Ghar El Melh (37°06′ to 37°10′ N, 10°08′ to 10°14′ E) and Korba (36°34′ to 36°38′ N, 10°52′ to 10°54′ E), were studied with respect to species composition and abundance and their relationship with abiotic environmental characteristics, namely air and soil temperature and humidity, soil grain size and the soil content of organic matter and heavy metals. Both highest abundance and highest diversity of amphipods were observed in the lagoon complex of Ichkeul, which is characterized by higher contents of organic matter but also by higher heavy metal concentrations in the soil than the lagoon complexes of Ghar El Melh and Korba. Although amphipod abundance does not seem to linearly depend on environmental parameters, unimodal Canonical Correspondence Analysis suggests that amphipod abundance is related to grain size of the soil, to the soil content of organic matter and to several heavy metals.     

Multiple paths to aquatic specialisation in four species of Central American Anolis lizards

Aquatic anoles present an interesting ecomorphological puzzle. On the one hand, the link between habitat use and morphology is well established as convergent within the Caribbean anole radiation. On the other hand, aquatic anoles do not appear to form an ecomorphological group – rather, it appears that there may be several ways to adapt to aquatic habitats. We explore this issue by examining the ecology, morphology and performance of four species of Central American aquatic anoles belonging to two different lineages. Overall, we find that aquatic anoles overlap in multiple ecological and morphological dimensions. However, we do find some differences in substrate use, claw and limb morphology, and bite force that distinguish Anolis aquaticus from the other three species (A. lionotus, A. oxylophus and A. poecilopus). Our results suggest that A. aquaticus is adapted to climb on boulders, whereas the other species utilise vegetation in streamside habitats.     

Contribution to the knowledge of the genus Pseudomonocelis Meixner, 1943 (Rhabditophora: Proseriata)

A new species of the genus Pseudomonocelis (P. caribbea sp. n.) is described. It is distinguished from congenerics by shape and size of the copulatory organ and relative positions of mouth and genital openings. It is the first species of the genus found in America. Sampling in east Africa (Zanzibar island) revealed two species, attributed to P. pardii and, tentatively, to P. cavernicola, both originally described from Somaliland. Morphological differences between Tanzanian and Somali specimens are reported. The Mediterranean P. ophiocephala, based on extensive morphological and karyological survey of 13 populations, is interpreted as constituting at least two sibling species, distinguishable solely on the basis of karyotype. Results support the notion that the present perception of the contribution of interstitial Rhabditophora to marine biodiversity may be unrepresentative.     

An identification guide to Eurysternine dung beetles (Coleoptera,Scarabaeidae)

An identification guide to the genus Eurysternus is presented. One new species, confusus is described from South America. The synonymies inflexus (Germar) (=planipennis Lucas), parallelus Castelnau (=femoralis Lucas), hirtellus Dalman (=cirratus Harold), calligrammus Dalman (=opacus Lucas), foedus Guérin-Méneville (=claudicans Kirsch), velutinus Bates (=hypocrita Balthasar), and caribaeus (Herbst)(=peruanus Harold) are established, and four previously established synonymies confirmed. Lectotypes are designated for the following species of Eurysternus: mexicanus Harold, plebejus Harold, angustulus Harold, velutinus Bates, hypocrita Balthasar, hamaticollis Balthasar, nebulosus Kirsch, peruanus Harold, sulcifer Balthasar, cirratus Harold, planipennis Lucas, cyanescens Balthasar, femoralis Lucas, and for Onitis deplanatus Germar.

Neotypes are designated for the following species of Eurysternus: magnus Castelnau, marmoreus Castelnau, impressicollis Castelnau, foedus Guérin-Méneville, hirtellus Dalman, opatrinus Perty, parallelus Castelnau, cayennensis Castelnau, and for Scarabaeus caribaeus Herbst.

Type-species are designated for the genera Eurysternus Dalman and Aeschrotes Saint-Fargeau & Serville.     

A key to Neodohrniphora (Diptera: Phoridae), parasites of leaf-cutter ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

A key to the females of Neodohrniphora Malloch is provided. A species referred to as Apocephalus sp. by Eibl-Eibesfeldt and Eibl-Eibesfeldt (1967) is assigned to N. attae sp. nov., and to a newly designated subgenus Eibesfeldtphora for the N. curvinervis (Malloch) group of species. Neodohrniphora frontalis (Curran) is confirmed as a synonym of N. (E). curvinervis. The paratype of N. (N.) acromyrmecis Borgmeier differs from the lectotype, and is reassigned to N. (N.) similis Prado. A new subgenus, Wallerphora, is designated for N. (W.) mexicanae sp. nov. from Mexico.     

Herklotsichthys Whitley 1951 to replace Harengula Valenciennes 1847 for indo-pacific species (Pisces: Clupeidae)

Abstract

In agreement with a recent work by Berry, the Indo-Pacific species of Harengula are here separated from those of the New World at generie level. The names Clupalosa Bleeker 1849, Paralosa Bleeker 1868 and Wilkesina Fowler 1923, hitherto considered available for Indo-Pacific species of Harengula, are shown to have been based on species of Sardinella. Harengula dispilonotus Bleeker, the type species of Herklotsella Fowler 1934, is an Indo-Pacific species of Harengula. Herklotsella Fowler is, however, preoccupied by Herklotsella Herre 1933, a siluroid genus. Herklotsichthys Whitley 1951 must, therefore, be used for those Indo-Pacific species until now placed in Harengula.

Characters separating Sardinella from both Harengula and Herklotsichthys are discussed and a key is given.     

Observations on the morphology and classification of weevils (Coleoptera,Curculionoidea) with a key to major groups

A brief account of the present state of weevil taxonomy is followed by a detailed study of certain structures used in their classification, namely the venter, abdominal tergites, sternite 8 of the male, apex of the hind tibia and deciduous mandibular processes. A key to some 50 families and subfamilies of Curculionoidea is followed by a list of family-group taxa. The following changes are made: Brachyceridae, Erirhinidae, Cryptolaryngidae and Raymondionymidae are promoted to family rank from Curculionidae; Antliarhininae is demoted to a subfamily of Brentidae, and Allocoryninae to a subfamily of Oxycorynidae; Coptonotini is demoted to a tribe of Curculionidae-Scolytinae; Carinae, Subfam. n. is erected for Car Blackburn (genus incertae sedis) is Belidae; Dinomorphini is demoted to a tribe of Molytinae and Brachyceropsidinae is revived from synonymy with Dinomorphinae (Curculionidae); Brachyderini, Eremnini, Otiorhynchini and Sitonini are demoted to tribes of Entiminae; Desmidophorinae is transferred from Brentidae to Brachyceridae; Ocladiini is promoted to a tribe of Desmidophorinae (from Curculionidae-Cryptorhynchinae); Campyloscelini (including Phaenomerina) is transferred from Rhynchophoridae to Curculionidae-Zygopinae; Carphodicticinae is promoted to subfamily rank and transferred from Curculionidae-Scolytinae to Platypodidae; Perieges Schönherr is transferred from Curculionidae-Thecesterninae to Cryptolaryngidae and Agriochaeta Pascoe from Cryptorhynchinae to Hyperinae (Curculionidae); Schedlarius Wood and Mecopelmus Blackman are transferred from Coptonotidae to Platypodidae.     

Neotropical Lispe (Diptera: Muscidae): notes,redescriptions and key to species

The following species of the fly genus Lispe are redescribed: L. albitarsis (Stein, 1898), L. latana Snyder, 1949, L. levis (Stein, 1911), L. lisarba Snyder, 1949, L. nasoni (Stein, 1898), L. serotina Wulp, 1896, L. setuligera (Stein, 1911) and L. vilis (Stein, 1911). Additionally, a new diagnosis is proposed for L. rufitibialis Macquart, 1843, and in order to fix the identity of the name the lectotype is designated. To facilitate species identification, a pictorial key for the species of Lispe in the Neotropical region and distribution maps are presented, together with the first published illustrations of the male terminalia of L. latana, L. levis and L. lisarba, and the female of L. lisarba.     

Review of the genus Bolbonaso Emeljanov with checklist and key to Indian Caliscelidae (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea)

A list of species of the family Caliscelidae Amyot et Serville known from India with data on distribution and sources for identification and a key to genera are given. The genus Bolbonaso Emeljanov, 2007 is revised. A new species, Bolbonaso chandri sp. nov., is described from Eastern India (Assam and Meghalaya States). Bolbonaso tapirifacies (Parshad, 1981) is redescribed and recorded for the first time from Southern India (Karnataka State). The lectotype is designated for Chirodisca eximia (Stål, 1859) which is recorded for the first time from Pakistan. New faunistic data in Nepal are listed for Delhina eurybrachydoides Distant, 1912.