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Two new lichenicolous species of Arthonia (Ascomycota: Arthoniomycetes) from Tasmania /
No full textEight lichenicolous species of Arthonia from Tasmania are treated. Two are described as new: A. aurantia Kantvilas & Motiej., which infects the thallus of a Leprocaulon-like lichen and is characterised by vivid orange, K+ magenta ascomata, 0.07−0.1(−0.15) mm wide, and 1-septate, macrocephalic ascospores, 10−12.5(−13.5) × 4−5.5 µm; and A. endocarpa Kantvilas & Motiej., which infects the apothecia of Amandinea neoconglomerata Elix, and has non-amyloid asci interspersed with those of the host, and is characterised by 1-septate, macrocephalic ascospores, 8.5−13 × 4.5−6 µm. Two other species, A. epiphys-cia Nyl. and A. stictaria Nyl., are here recorded for Tasmania for the first time. Salient features of all species are compared
Haemoproteus jenniae (Haemoproteidae, Haemosporida) infects gulls (Larus spp.) in South Africa, with redescription of Haemoproteus skuae /
No full textHaemoproteus spp. are dipteran-borne protozoa that infect erythrocytes and reticulo-endothelial cells of birds. These parasites are not usually transmitted between birds belonging to different orders. The suborder Lari (order Charadriiformes) comprises ∼170 avian species, the majority of which are aquatic, including gulls, terns, auklets, murres and skuas, among others. In spite of the diversity of this avian group, there is limited known diversity of haemosporidian parasites, with only 4 recorded Haemoproteus morphospecies thus far. We examined the blood smears of 21 kelp gulls (Larus dominicanus) captured at a breeding colony in South Africa, as well as Haemoproteus-positive archival blood smears of 15 kelp gulls and 1 Hartlaub's gull (Larus hartlaubii) sampled while under care at seabird rehabilitation facilities in South Africa. Haemoproteus sp. infection was detected in 19% of wild-caught kelp gulls. All parasites from the gulls were morphologically identified as Haemoproteus jenniae, a species previously recorded in Lari birds at the Galapagos Islands (Ecuador), Rocas Atoll (Brazil) and Poland. Gene sequencing uncovered a new cytochrome b lineage, LARDOM01, which was closely related to the previously reported H. jenniae lineage CREFUR01. Additionally, we evaluated a hapantotype blood smear of Haemoproteus skuae, which had been described infecting a brown skua (Catharacta antarctica) in South Africa. We provide a redescription of H. skuae and discuss the morphological characters distinguishing it from H. jenniae. Further research is necessary to improve our knowledge about the host and geographic distribution, health effects and phylogeny of H. jenniae and H. skuae
Vavizola hela – new species and genus of Afrotropic Lasiocampini (Lepidoptera, Lasiocampidae) /
No full textA new genus Vavizola gen. n. and a new species Vavizola hela sp. n. are described from southern Kenya and northern Tanzania. They belong to the former so-called “Pachypasa sensu lato” group. Morphology of the new genus is compared with 5 other genera from the group and the full-length sequences of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) are compared with 9 genera from the group, both confirm the description
Environmental and human impact on gully erosion recorded in fan sediments: A case study of the Vilnius area, Lithuania /
No full textGeomorphological and sedimentological research carried out in the vicinity of Vilnius (SW Lithuania) aimed to determine the age and stages of development of gullies in relation to climatic conditions and human activity. Two gullies located on the northern slope of the Vilnia river valley were examined in detail. The sedimentological features of the sediments which form fans at the mouths of the gullies were analysed. Three main lithological units were distinguished. On the basis of radiocarbon datings, the beginning of gully erosion was determined to be in the Middle Ages. This process began with intensive settlement in this area. Further stages of a cutting which were distinguished include early modern times and the period from the seventeenth century to the present day
Avian malaria parasites modulate gut microbiome assembly in Canaries /
No full textRodent and human malaria parasites cause dysbiosis in the host gut microbiome, but whether Plasmodium species affecting birds cause dysbiosis in their hosts is currently unknown. Here we used a model of avian malaria infection to test whether parasite infection modulates the bird microbiome. To this aim, bird fecal microbiomes were characterized at different time points after infection of canaries with the avian malaria parasite Plasmodium homocircumflexum. Avian malaria caused no significant changes in the alpha and beta diversity of the microbiome in infected birds. In contrast, we discovered changes in the composition and abundance of several taxa. Co-occurrence networks were used to characterize the assembly of the microbiome and trajectories of microbiome structural states progression were found to be different between infected and uninfected birds. Prediction of functional profiles in bacterial communities using PICRUSt2 showed infection by P. homocircumflexum to be associated with the presence of specific degradation and biosynthesis metabolic pathways, which were not found in healthy birds. Some of the metabolic pathways with decreased abundance in the infected group had significant increase in the later stage of infection. The results showed that avian malaria parasites affect bacterial community assembly in the host gut microbiome. Microbiome modulation by malaria parasites could have deleterious consequences for the host bird. Knowing the intricacies of bird-malaria-microbiota interactions may prove helpful in determining key microbial players and informing interventions to improve animal health
