Abundance,species richness and diversity of the orb-weaving spider families Araneidae,Nephilidae and Tetragnathidae in natural habitats in Trinidad,West Indies

This study examined the biodiversity of orb-weaving spiders in natural habitats in Trinidad, a continental island with a northern South American fauna. Forty-six localities were sampled, classified into seven formations (representing vegetation structure) and 16 habitat types (based on plant species composition), using visual search and sweep-netting methods, resulting in a total of 1225 individuals of 57 species. Abundance and species richness were significantly related to formation but not habitat type, while both factors influenced species diversity, evenness and dominance. Gamma (γ) diversity had a larger component of β than α diversity did, indicating that between-habitat differences are a substantial part of regional diversity in orb-weaving spiders in Trinidad.     

Botanical composition and structure of hummingbird nests in different habitats from northwestern Patagonia (Argentina)

There are few detailed analyses of the building materials used in bird nests. This study was part of a project on interrelations between northern Patagonian plants and birds. Nests of two hummingbird species distributed in the Andean portion of southern South America: the Green‐backed Firecrown Sephanoides sephaniodes and the White‐sided Hillstar Oreotrochilus leucopleurus, were collected along a precipitation gradient in northwestern Patagonia (Argentina). Nest morphology, structure, and composition (mostly botanical in origin) were analysed. Plants used as building materials are presented for each nest, arranged by location. The main structural materials were mosses (especially those with falcate leaves) entangled with spider web. Nests were concealed in their environments by the presence of mimetic material on the outer layer (spider cocoons, leprose lichens, feathers, and hairs). Soft material was the main component of the lining (pappi, feathers, spider web, and manufactured cotton). The variety of nesting materials decreased along the precipitation gradient, while the main structural components are generally fixed.     

Natural occurrence of entomopathogenic nematode species (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae) in cotton fields of Tamil Nadu,India

A total of 200 soil samples collected from the cotton fields of 10 different districts of the state of Tamil Nadu in India were evaluated for the presence of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) belonging to Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae during 2008–2009. This survey detected the occurrence of EPN in arable lands through the use of a standard insect baiting bioassay technique. EPN were recovered from all 10 cotton growing districts with 27 positive sites (13.5%) ranging from irrigated to rain-fed cotton fields of varied soil types (sandy to clayey), soil pH (4.9–8.4), electrical conductivity (0.11–1.25 dS/m) and organic matter content (0.21–3.8%). Both morphological and molecular tools were used to identify the isolates. Among 27 positive samples, 20 samples yielded steinernematids (74%) and seven samples yielded heterorhabditids (26%). The Heterorhabditis isolates were identified as Heterorhabditis bacteriophora. The Steinernema included Steinernema carpocapsae, Steinernema siamkayai and Steinernema monticolum. Steinernema carpocapsae was the predominant species. The cropping patterns comprising cotton–vegetables had higher EPN prevalence (26%) than cotton–pulses (22%), cotton–banana (3.3%) and cotton–millets (2.8%). Steinernema carpocapsae was recovered from cotton–pulses, cotton–millets and cotton–vegetables cropping patterns, whereas H. bacteriophora was isolated from cotton–pulses, cotton–vegetables and cotton–banana cropping patterns. This study demonstrated that EPN are prevalent in the cotton fields of Tamil Nadu, India and could potentially be incorporated into biological control or integrated pest management programmes.     

Diversity and biogeography of the little known deep-sea barnacles of the genus Waikalasma Buckeridge, 1983 (Balanomorpha: Chionelasmatoidea) in the Southwest Pacific,with description of a new species

Due to the extreme scarcity of specimens, little is known about the biodiversity and biogeography of the barnacles of the genus Waikalasma Buckeridge, 1983 (Thoracica: Waikalasmatidae Ross and Newman, 2001), which inhabit the deep sea of the Southwest Pacific. Previous studies reported only a single living species, W. boucheti Buckeridge, 1996, from Vanuatu. In the present study, the collections by French deep-sea expeditions off New Caledonia (NORFOLK 1 & 2, EBISCO, SMIB 2, SMIB 4, SMIB 8, BIOCAL, MUSORSTOM 6, MUSORSTOM 4, MUSORSTOM 5, BATHUS 2), the Solomon Islands (SALOMON 1), Vanuatu (BOA1) and Papua New Guinea (BIOPAPUA) yielded specimens of Waikalasma species from 500 to 800 m depth. From molecular (DNA barcode region cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and 12S gene) and morphological analysis, a new species Waikalasma dianajonesae sp. nov., and W. boucheti were identified. From molecular phylogenetic analysis, sequence divergence in the DNA barcode region between W. dianajonesae sp nov. and W. boucheti reached > 10%. Waikalasma dianajonesae sp. nov. differs from W. boucheti in the number and size of imbricating plates on the shell and the shape of the tergum. Waikalasma dianajonesae sp. nov. and W. boucheti exhibit sympatric biogeographical distributions in the Southwest Pacific. Waikalasma dianajonesae was found in the waters of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Island, whilst W. boucheti was collected from Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and New Caledonia waters.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:713013C7-677A-478F-B5DF-FD4690A7C6A9     

Biodiversity and biogeography of the coral boring barnacles of the genus Berndtia (Cirripedia: Acrothoracica) in the West Pacific,with description of three new species

Acrothoracican barnacles of the genus Berndtia are exclusive coral borers and the type species is Berndtia purpurea Utinomi, 1950a, reported in the corals Lepastrea purpurea and Psammocora profundacella in Wakayama, Japan. We confirmed the type is only from the coral Lepastrea purpurea and is distributed from Japan, Taiwan to Hong Kong. In contrast, B. purpurea from Psammocora belongs to a new species Berndtia haradai sp. nov., which is distributed from Japan to Okinawa. The other new species identified in the present study, Berndtia denticulata sp. nov. is common in Okinawa but also collected on the Pacific side of the Philippines. Berndtia utinomii sp. nov. is found on NE coast of Taiwan, Kochi and Wakayama in Japan and Vietnam but is absent from Okinawa. All described species are diagnostic in the coloration and morphology of the opercular bars in live specimens, morphology of posterior lobes of operculum and the number of notches in maxillules.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:8B6FE5B4-C5DD-48DE-B91A-39BBBAF87636