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Evaluation of the salmonid sensitivity to the pathogenic oomycetes at the early development stage /
No full textDiscovering high species diversity of Ophiotaenia tapeworms (Cestoda: Proteocephalidae) of watersnakes (Colubridae) in North America /
No full textTapeworms of the genus Ophiotaenia La Rue, 1911 parasitize herptiles (= amphibians and ‘reptiles’) throughout the world, with about 100 species recognised as valid. In the present work, the North American species found in watersnakes (Colubridae) are reviewed. An examination of the holotype of Ophiotaenia perspicua La Rue, 1911, the type species of the genus, and other specimens from Nerodia rhombifer (Hallowell) revealed that two species were used for the species description. The ‘true’ O. perspicua has a small scolex and small, round suckers. This species is redescribed based on new material from Oklahoma, USA. The other species from N. rhombifer, Ophiotaenia laruei n. sp., has a larger scolex and larger, almost triangular suckers. Examination of the types of O. variabilis (Brooks, 1978) from N. rhombifer and N. cyclopion (Duméril, Bibron et Duméril) from Louisiana, USA has revealed that it is a mixture of two or more species. Because of poor quality of these specimens, it is not possible to adequately characterise O. variabilis, which is considered a species inquirenda. In addition, two new species are described from Nerodia fasciata confluens (Blanchard). Ophiotaenia currani n. sp. from Mississippi, USA is characterised by elongate, narrow proglottids, few testes, and a relatively long cirrus sac. Ophiotaenia tkachi n. sp. from Louisiana, USA is characterised by relatively short and wide proglottids, more testes, and an unusual terminal part of the vagina with folds. Morphologically similar tapeworms of N. fasciata confluens, N. erythrogaster (Förster), N. sipedon (Linnaeus), and Agkistrodon piscivorus (Lacépède) (Viperidae) from Arkansas and Oklahoma, USA, which are genetically nearly identical, are considered to be conspecific with O. tkachi n. sp. The present data suggest a high, previously undescribed species diversity of proteocephalid tapeworms in watersnakes in North America, and generally strict host specificity of these tapeworms
Solar heating may explain extreme diel flight altitude changes in migrating birds /
No full textGreat reed warblers, Acrocephalus arundinaceus,1 and great snipes, Gallinago media,2 exhibit a diel cycle in flight altitudes—flying much higher during the day than the night—when performing migratory flights covering both night and day. One hypothesis proposed to explain this behavior is that the birds face additional heating by solar radiation during daytime and hence must climb to very high, and thus also very cold, altitudes to avoid overheating during daytime flights.1,2 Yet, solar heat gain in birds has been shown to drastically decrease with wind speed,3,4 and the quantitative heating effect by solar radiation on a bird flying with an airspeed of 10 m/s or more is unknown. We analyzed temperature data from multisensor data loggers (MDLs)5,6 placed without direct exposure to solar radiation on great reed warblers (the logger covered by feathers on the back) and great snipes (the logger on the leg, covered from the sun by the tail). We found that logger temperatures were significantly higher (5.9°C–8.8°C in great reed warblers and 4.8°C–5.4°C in great snipes) during the day than during the night in birds flying at the same altitudes (and thus also the same expected ambient air temperatures). These results strongly indicate that the heat balance of the flying birds is indeed affected by solar radiation, which is in accordance with the hypothesis that solar radiation is a key factor causing the remarkable diel cycles in flight altitude observed in these two long-distance migrant bird species.1,2
A new addition to the Mycota of Lithuania /
No full textTwelve macrofungal species collected in 2012–2020 were identified as new records to the Lithuanian My-cota: Agaricus subperonatus, Desarmillaria ectypa, Entoloma eminens, Hebeloma quercetorum, Hydnellum scabrosum, Hygrophoropsis rufa, Hohenbuehelia unguicularis, Hortiboletus bubalinus, Lactarius mammosus, Lactarius scoticus, Melanogaster broomeanus, Schizophyllum amplum. Descriptions of the fungi studied and notes on their habitats and distribution are provided
Substantial light woodland and open vegetation characterized the temperate forest biome before Homo sapiens /
No full textThe extent of vegetation openness in past European landscapes is widely debated. In particular, the temperate forest biome has traditionally been defined as dense, closed-canopy forest; however, some argue that large herbivores maintained greater openness or even wood-pasture conditions. Here, we address this question for the Last Interglacial period (129,000-116,000 years ago), before Homo sapiens-linked megafauna declines and anthropogenic landscape transformation. We applied the vegetation reconstruction method REVEALS to 96 Last Interglacial pollen records. We found that light woodland and open vegetation represented, on average, more than 50% cover during this period. The degree of openness was highly variable and only partially linked to climatic factors, indicating the importance of natural disturbance regimes. Our results show that the temperate forest biome was historically heterogeneous rather than uniformly dense, which is consistent with the dependency of much of contemporary European biodiversity on open vegetation and light woodland
Two new genera, two new subgenera, and four new species of /
No full textTwo new genera (Fangeilema gen. n. and Kuatunittia gen. n.), two new subgenera (Fangeilema (Danieloma) subgen. n. and Kuatunittia (Paraxenittia) subgen. n.), and four new species, Fangeilema (Fangeilema) amoena sp. n. (Northern Vietnam), Fangeilema (Danieloma) confusa sp. n. (China: Shaanxi and Yunnan), Kuatunittia (Paraxenittia) erlanga sp. n. (China: Sichuan), and Kuatunittia (Paraxenittia) sapa sp. n. (Northern Vietnam) are described. Two new combinations are introduced: Fangeilema (Fangeilema) lucida (Fang, 2000), comb. n. and Kuatunittia (Kuatunittia) klapperichi (Daniel, 1954), comb. n. A lectotype is designated for Systropha klapperichi Daniel, 1954. Adults as well as male and female genitalia of the new and related taxa are illustrated
Evolution of European bison image and its implications for current species conservation /
No full textVisual media are one of the fastest and most effective tools informing the public about conservation goals and convincing societies to support conservation actions. Similar mechanisms functioned in the past, only within a much longer time scale and different communication channels. We analyse the evolution of European bison's depictions between 1500 and 1900 in the context of building public awareness of the species and its conservation needs. Experts evaluated the anatomical accuracy of thirty eight images of the species from the period analysed, and their conservation appeal was assessed by using an online survey of the general public. Existing knowledge and previous publications allowed authors to describe the development of the scientific knowledge about European bison in 1500-1900. By juxtaposing this with anatomical accuracy of depictions, a conclusion was reached that the accuracy of depictions was not directly linked to the state of knowledge about the species. In the survey, the public reception of the accuracy of historical pictures of European bison, as well as their potential to be used in conservation campaigns, was connected with subjective appeal of depicted animals. This lesson can be translated to modern conservation campaigns using mass media and global communication channels: popularization of knowledge on species of concern should be accompanied by appealing depictions of these species to strengthen public reception
Sarcocystis species richness in sheep and goats from Lithuania /
No full textContradictory data is available on the intermediate host specificity of Sarcocystis spp. in farm animals. Therefore, the current work aimed at molecularly testing samples of sheep and goats reared in Lithuania to identify Sarcocystis species described in other intermediate hosts but suspected to be non-canonical parasites to these small ruminants. For this purpose, muscle samples from 47 domestic sheep and nine goats were examined. Sarcocystis species were identified using direct and nested PCR targeting cox1 and sequencing of positive amplified products. Along with the detection of the canonical Sarcocystis spp. in their respective intermediate hosts, the DNA of S. capracanis and S. morae was detected in sheep, although these species were previously thought to be specific to goats and deer, respectively. In addition, DNA from S. arieticanis and S. tenella was found in goats, even though these two species were believed to be sheep-specific. Notably, under light microscopy, only sarcocysts of S. capracanis specific to goats were observed. Thus, future research on the life cycle and host-specificity of Sarcocystis spp. examined is warranted
Taxonomic revision of Tipula (Vestiplex Bezzi) crane flies (Diptera, Tipulidae) in Taiwan with descriptions of six new species /
No full textSimple Summary The crane fly subgenus T. (Vestiplex) includes 189 species level taxa which are distributed throughout the Nearctic, Palaearctic, and Oriental Regions. In this work, the T. (Vestiplex) fauna of Taiwan is revised, entailing the recognition of 18 species, including six new species. DNA barcode sequences are also provided. The crane fly subgenus Tipula (Vestiplex) Bezzi, 1924 (Diptera, Tipulidae) of Taiwan is taxonomically reviewed, entailing the recognition of 18 species, with six of these species newly described, including T. (V.) diamondi sp. nov., T. (V.) formosae sp. nov., T. (V.) graciliana sp. nov., T. (V.) pseudobiserra sp. nov., T. (V.) survilai sp. nov., and T. (V.) taiwanica sp. nov. Three species, T. biaciculifera Alexander, 1937, T. niitakensis Alexander, 1938, and T. pseudobiaciculifera Men, Xue and Wang, 2016, listed previously as members of the subgenus T. (Pterelachisus) Rondani, 1842, are now formally placed as member taxa within T. (Vestiplex). Tipula subnata Alexander, 1949 and T. (V.) longarmata Yang and Yang, 1999 are designated as junior synonyms of T. (V.) coxitalis Alexander, 1935; T. (V.) nokonis Alexander, 1935 is designated as a junior synonym of T. (V.) terebrata Edwards, 1921; and T. (V.) takahashiana Alexander, 1938 is designated as a junior synonym of T. (V.) bicornigera Alexander, 1938. Included in this taxonomic revision are a key to species, species diagnoses for all species, complete descriptions for newly described species, and illustrations of the male genitalia for all species, and for female terminalia when available. DNA barcode sequences for all Taiwanese species of T. (Vestiplex) are provided. Males are associated with conspecific females based on CO1 results and maximum likelihood trees resulting from the analyses are presented. The Taiwan fauna of Tipula (Vestiplex) is highly endemic with 16 of the 18 species restricted to the island. At the species group level, no groups are endemic to Taiwan and the groups show closest biogeographic relationships to the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau
A global survey of tapeworms (Cestoda: Proteocephalidae) of 'true' frogs (Amphibia: Ranidae), including a tabulated list of all proteocephalids parasitising amphibians /
No full textProteocephalid tapeworms of frogs of the family Ranidae (`true' frogs) are reviewed with emphasis on their species diversity, host specificity and geographical distribution. New molecular data (nuclear lsrDNA and mitochondrial COI sequences) are presented for tapeworms of four species of ranid frogs in North America, including the poorly known Ophiotaenia saphena Osler, 1931 of Rana clamitans Latreille and R. catesbeiana (Shaw), which is redescribed using new material from Arkansas, USA. Tapeworms of R. sphenocephala (Cope) and R. pipiens Schreber, the latter previously identified as O. saphena, represent another, putative new species, but are not formally described due to insufficient available material. Proteocephalus papuensis Bursey, Goldberg et Kraus, 2008 from Sylvirana supragrisea (Menzies) is transferred to Ophiotaenia La Rue, 1911 as a new combination. After a critical review of the literature, only nine nominal species of Ophiotaenia are recognised as valid, which is in contrast to the large number of ranid frogs (> 440 spp.). The reasons for this striking disparity are briefly discussed, and a key based on morphology is presented for the identification of all species of Ophiotaenia from the Ranidae. Molecular data are available for only two taxa from North America that form a monophyletic group. The relationships among tapeworms of ranid frogs occurring in other zoogeographical regions are not yet known. The taxonomic status of Batrachotaenia Rudin, 1917, which was erected to accommodate proteocephalids from amphibians, is also discussed. To facilitate future studies, a tabulated summary of all 32 species of proteocephalids belonging to three genera reported from amphibians (frogs and salamanders) is presented, with information on their hosts, distribution, and taxonomically important characters, including key measurements