8 research outputs found
Genus Landoltia (Araceae): A Newly Recorded Aquatic Genus from Sri Lanka
No full textMembers of the genus Lemna, commonly known as duckweeds, have the capacity to produce huge biomass with a broad range of potential applications and are popular as ornamentals in the aquatic plant industry. However, the species identity of the Lemna that occur in Sri Lanka is questionable as various literature recognize different species as occurring in Sri Lanka. There has been no detailed taxonomic study carried out on the genus Lemna in the recent past. The conservation and sustainable utilization of biodiversity solely rely on the correct identification of the species. Hence, the present study was carried out to identify the species diversity of Lemna occurring in Sri Lanka. Fieldwork was carried out from October 2022 to August 2023, covering the wet, intermediate, and dry zones of the country as the genus Lemna is recorded to occur in these zones. Qualitative and quantitative vegetative characters were recorded in the field and in the laboratory by the naked eye or by using a Stereo microscope. The quantitative data included the number of roots, root length, frond length and width, and number of veins while the qualitative data included the shape of the root tip, the presence of prophyllum, frond shape, the presence of papilla, frond symmetry and the nature of frond surface. Morphological data were subjected to Hierarchical Cluster Analysis, using the PAST software. Based on the results, four distinct clusters were recognised, of which three clusters resembled morphological characters of Lemna species. However, a distinct cluster that separated at a distance of 0.56 resembled morphological characters different to Lemna, viz., the presence of a prophylum, turiens and multiple roots, characters considered as absent in the genus Lemna. The literature survey reveals that these characters are unique to the genus Landoltia, Hence the study confirmed the presence of a new genus Landoltia for the first time in Sri Lanka. The results of the present study would be useful in initiating further studies on the identification of the species. Due to the minute nature of these plants, molecular studies are recommended for confirmation of their species identity.
Keywords: Conservation, Landoltia, Lemna, Morphometric analyses, Species diversit
Valuing rail infrastructure performance in a multi actor context
No full textTechnology, Policy and Managemen
2D modeling temperature development of mass concrete structures at early age - 2018
No full textAlper Yıkıcı (MEF Author)In this paper, a 2D finite volume analysis methodology was used to predict temperature development within three different bridge pier caps. MATLAB® was employed to generate a program that solves the governing heat transfer equation where development of thermo-physical concrete properties was defined as a function of degree of hydration. The rate of heat generation was obtained experimentally via adiabatic calorimetry and the activation energy was determined following the ASTM C 1074 procedure to implement equivalent age concept. 2D finite volume analysis results were presented in comparison with the recorded concrete temperatures from the field. Accordingly, temperature time histories at the center and the side surface of the bridge pier caps were predicted reasonably well using the concrete mixture information and the measured concrete hydration properties.WOS:0005502533000742-s2.0-85134814600Conference Proceedings Citation Index- ScienceProceedings PaperHaziranYÖK - 2017-1
Assessing Tree Species Richness and Diversity in the Kankaniyamulla Forest Reserve
No full textKankaniyamulla Forest Reserve (331.167 ha) is a secondary moist mixed evergreen forest located in the Northwestern Province (7.4051° N, 80.0283° E) with an average temperature of 24.07°C and an average annual rainfall of 1,689.4 mm. The estimated terrain elevation is 65 m above sea level. It harbours two tanks, and the buffer zone of the forest is subjected to high anthropogenic activities such as collecting plants for betel cultivation, firewood and for medicinal purposes. Hence, this forest is an important component of nearby villagers. However, the floristic composition of the forest is yet to be studied. Hence, this study aimed to identify the floral diversity of woody species in the Kankaniyamulla forest reserve. Data were collected from April to August 2024 on trees having more than 20 cm girth at breast height. GBH and spatial distribution of each tree were recorded along four random transects of 1,106 m, 1,315 m, 503 m, and 2,292 m, respectively with a width of 4 m. Shannon’s diversity index and Simpson’s index were used to determine species diversity. A total of 1,390 trees were recorded during the study and Shannon’s diversity index values of four transects were 2.20, 2.49, 1.96, and 2.05, respectively, indicating moderate diversity with several species. Transect 2 represents the highest diversity of tree species, while the lowest was in transect 3. The most dominant species was Swietenia macrophylla (Meliaceae) followed by Artocarpus nobilis (Moraceae) and Nothopegina beddomei (Anacardiaceae) and the least abundant species was Adenanthera pavonina (Fabaceae). Species richness of four transects were 34, 27, 18 and 18, respectively; thus, transect 1 reflects the highest ecological health and complexity. In this study, 24 families were identified, and the most abundant families were Fabaceae, Moraceae and Anacardiaceae. According to the National Red List (2020), one endangered species; Diospyros quaesita (Ebenaceae) three Vulnerable species; Pericopsis mooniana (Fabaceae), Canarium zeylanicum (Burseraceae) and Gyrinops walla (Thymelaeaceae) and four Near Threatened species, Vitex altissima, Donella lanceolate, Dipterocarpus zeylanicus and Albizia lebbeck were recorded. The forest continues to demonstrate high ecological resilience while human activities have influenced the forest composition. The findings provide baseline information for future conservation and sustainable utilization strategies, emphasizing the need for biodiversity conservation, and focusing on the need for targeted management practices to maintain species diversity and support long-term forest regeneration.
Keywords: Kankaniyamulla forest, Secondary forest, Species richness, Tree species diversity, Forest conservatio
Buea asylos Cumberlidge & Mvogo Ndongo & Clark & Daniels 2019, comb. nov.
No full textBuea asylos (Cumberlidge, 1993) comb. nov. (Figures 1 (a,b), 4(a), 5(a,b,g), 6(a,b), 7(a,d) and 8(a,d,g)) Type species. Potamonemus asylos Cumberlidge, 1993, by present designation. Potamonemus asylos Cumberlidge, 1993: 576 – 584, figs 3, 4, 5a – b, 6a – c, 8a – b; tables 2, 3; Cumberlidge 1999: figs 40C, 41C,F, 42C,F, 43C,F, 44C, 53G, 54 – 57, 61E, 65F, table IX; Ng et al. 2008: 171; Cumberlidge 2011a: 78, 80, 82, 86, table 6.1; Cumberlidge 2011b: 190; Mvogo Ndongo et al. 2017b: 3, table 1; Daniels et al. 2015, table 1. Material examined Type material. Cameroon: Buea asylos (Cumberlidge, 1993) comb. nov. adult ♂ holotype, CW 27.6, CL 18.3, CH 9.0, FW 7.5 mm, between Buea (4.153484°N, 9.299551°E) and Kumba (4.638727°N, 9.441354°E), South-West Region, coll. R.H.L. Disney, 1969 (NHM 1994.587 donation from NMU 1969 /1991). Paratypes, 3 ♀♀, CWs 25.4, 23.7, 18.7 mm, 3 ♂♂, CWs 22.3, 20.1, 19.8 mm, between Buea (4.153484°N, 9.299551°E) and Kumba (4.638727°N, 9.441354°E), South-West Region, coll. R.H.L. Disney, 1969 (NHM 1994.588 – 591), DNA voucher specimens (Daniels et al. 2015, table 1). Adult ♂, CW 22.4, CL 15.8, CH 6.8, FW 6.9 mm, Buea (4.153484°N, 9.299551°E) Kumba area, South-West Region, coll. R. H.L. Disney, 1969 (NMU TRW 1969.22), specimen photographed here. Other material examined. Adult ♀, CW 23.2, CL 17.2, CH 7.4, FW 7.4 mm, Buea (4.153484°N, 9.299551°E), Kumba area, South-West Region, coll. R.H.L. Disney, 29 April 1969 (NMU TRW 1969.13 a). Adult ♂, CW 19.8, CL 14.5, CH 6.8, FW 6.9 mm, 3 subadult ♂♂, CWs 16.4, 15.6, 14.9 mm, subadult ♀, CW 15.3 mm, 9 juv., Okia Stream, Kumba area, South-West Region, coll. R.H.L. Disney, 9 May 1969 (NMU TRW 1969.27). Adult ♂, CW 19.0 mm, 3 subadult ♂♂, CWs 18.4, 15.8, 12.6 mm, subadult ♀, CW 17.9 mm, 2 juv., Okia Stream, Kumba area, South-West Region, coll. R.H.L. Disney, 27 March 1969 (NMU TRW 1969.29). Limbé (formerly Victoria), South-West Region, 2 ♂♂, CWs 21.3, 20.1 mm, coll. E. Fickenday, 6 November 1912, ‘ edible land crabs ’ (ZIM K-3607). Diagnosis Exorbital tooth absent where anterolateral margin meets lateral orbital margin (Figures 1 (a,b) and 4(a)); major cheliped dactylus broad, flattened, not arched (Figures 1 (b) and 5(a,b)); lower margin of cheliped merus with four large jagged pointed teeth (Figures 1 (b) and 6(a,b)); anterior corners of carapace surface smooth; carapace grooves shallow to absent (Figures 1 (a) and 4(a); Cumberlidge 1993, figs. 2a, 3a). Description Same as for the genus and for P. asylos comb. nov. (see Cumberlidge 1993, 1999). Distribution Buea asylos comb. nov. is endemic to the rainforest zone of south-western Cameroon between the towns of Kumba, Buea and Limbé (Cumberlidge 1993, 1999). Type locality Between Buea and Kumba, south-western Cameroon. Ecology Buea asylos comb. nov. is restricted to the humid lowland and montane rainforests of south-western Cameroon in the area near Mount Cameroon (4095 m asl) that has an annual average rainfall of more than 5000 mm (Mvogo Ndongo et al. 2017a, 2017b). Remarks Significant morphological differences between B. asylos comb. nov., P. mambilorum and P. sachsi were found in the G1, G2 and mandible (Figures 7 (a – f) and 8(a – c,g – i)) that are used here to define Buea gen. nov. Other noteworthy characters of B. asylos comb. nov. include those of the chelipeds and carapace of that set it apart from the two species of Potamonemus: the cheliped merus lower medial margin has large jagged teeth (Figure 6 (a,b)) (vs small granules in Potamonemus, Figure 6 (c,f)), the cheliped carpus medial margin of B. asylos comb. nov. has a small but distinct pointed proximal tooth (Figure 5 (g)) (vs a small granule-sized tooth in Potamonemus, Figure 5 (h,i)), the cheliped dactylus is distinctly broadened (Figures 1 (b) and 5 (a)) (vs distinctly slim or arched in Potamonemus, Figure 5 (c,e)), and the carapace proportions of B. asylos comb. nov. are wider (CW/FW 3.35, vs 3.08 – 3.12), longer (CW/FW 2.32, vs 2.22 – 2.25), and higher (CW/FW 1.10, vs 0.96 – 1.07) than in Potamonemus. Conservation status The extinction risk status of B. asylos comb. nov. was assessed in 2008 using the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List protocols (Cumberlidge 2008a) as Data Deficient (DD) in view of the lack of information on its extent of occurrence (EOO), ecological requirements, population size, population trends and long-term threats (Cumberlidge 1993, 2011a, 2011b; Cumberlidge et al. 2009; IUCN 2012). The three locations available in this study give a recalculated EOO of 142 km 2, and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 12 km 2, using GeoCAT (http://geocat.kew.org; Bachman et al. 2011), but these are still probably underestimates given the paucity of the locality data (but if taken alone would point to a Red List threatened category). The extinction risk status of P. mambilorum (seven locations, EOO 43,291 km 2; Cumberlidge 2008b) and P. sachsi (four locations, EOO 24,219 km 2; Cumberlidge 2008c) were assessed in 2008 (Cumberlidge 2008b, 2008c) as Least Concern (LC) and Vulnerable (VU), respectively, (Cumberlidge 1993, 2011a, 2011b; Cumberlidge et al. 2009; IUCN 2012). Although the recalculations of the EOO and the AOO for these three species do not in themselves warrant a reassessment of their extinction risk, there is reason to believe that the threat status of these species may have intensified since the last assessment. For example, recent field work in the wetland ecosystems of the South-West and Littoral regions of Cameroon by the second author indicates that these habitats are being impacted by deforestation and by intensive agricultural practices that are severely altering the flow patterns of small streams and impacting the aquatic biodiversity (Mvogo Ndongo et al. 2017a, 2017b, 2017c, 2018). Awareness of these current threats to the habitats of B. asylos comb. nov., P. mambilorum and P. sachsi means that each of these taxa is likely to be reassigned to a more threatened category once new IUCN Red List extinction risk assessments have been carried out. There is a need for further field research specifically aimed at gathering the data needed for an extinction risk assessment of these littleknown endemic species from this understudied biodiversity hotspot.Published as part of Cumberlidge, Neil, Mvogo Ndongo, Pierre A., Clark, Paul F. & Daniels, Savel R., 2019, A new genus for the freshwater crab Potamonemus asylos Cumberlidgeı 1993 ı (Brachyura: Potamoidea: Potamonautidae) from Cameroonı Central Africaı with a key to the genera of the Potamonautinae, pp. 659-676 in Journal of Natural History 53 (11) on pages 665-666, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2019.1583390, http://zenodo.org/record/367549
Different iron storage strategies among bloom-forming diatoms
No full textAuthor Posting. © The Author(s), 2018. This is the author's version of the work. It is posted here by permission of National Academy of Sciences for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 115(52), (2018): E12275-E12284. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1805243115.Diatoms are prominent eukaryotic phytoplankton despite being limited by the micronutrient iron in vast expanses of the ocean. As iron inputs are often sporadic, diatoms have evolved mechanisms such as the ability to store iron that enable them to bloom when iron is resupplied and then persist when low iron levels are reinstated. Two iron storage mechanisms have been previously described: the protein ferritin and vacuolar storage. To investigate the ecological role of these mechanisms among diatoms, iron addition and removal incubations were conducted using natural phytoplankton communities from varying iron environments. We show that among the predominant diatoms, Pseudo-nitzschia were favored by iron removal and displayed unique ferritin expression consistent with a long-term storage function. Meanwhile, Chaetoceros and Thalassiosira gene expression aligned with vacuolar storage mechanisms. Pseudo-nitzschia also showed exceptionally high iron storage under steady-state high and low iron conditions, as well as following iron resupply to iron-limited cells. We propose that bloom-forming diatoms use different iron storage mechanisms and that ferritin utilization may provide an advantage in areas of prolonged iron limitation with pulsed iron inputs. As iron distributions and availability change, this speculated ferritin-linked advantage may result in shifts in diatom community composition that can alter marine ecosystems and biogeochemical cycles.We thank the captain and crew of the R/V Melville and the CCGS J. P. Tully as well as the participants of the IRNBRU (MV1405) cruise for the California-based data, particularly K. Ellis [University of North Carolina (UNC)], T. Coale (University of California, San Diego), F. Kuzminov (Rutgers), H. McNair [University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB)], and J. Jones (UCSB). W. Burns (UNC), S. Haines (UNC), and S. Bargu (Louisiana State University) assisted with sample processing and analysis. This work was funded by the National Science Foundation Grants OCE-1334935 (to A.M.), OCE-1334632 (to B.S.T.), OCE-1333929 (to K.T.), OCE-1334387 (to M.A.B.), OCE-1259776 (to K.W.B), and DGE-1650116 (Graduate Research Fellowship to R.H.L).2019-06-1
Myrmemorpha Dufour
No full text<i>1. Myrmemorpha</i> Dufour and <i>Elachiptera</i> Macquart <p> Dufour in 1833 described a brachypterous fly in the genus <i>Myrmemorpha</i> with a species <i>brachyptera</i> from Spain and included it within the family “athéricères” and tribe “muscides de Latreille”. The descriptions of the genus and species are rather short and are illustrated by the poor drawing of an antenna. The description of the antenna (composed from three segments) occupies three-quarters of the whole generic description. Dufour wrote that the insect looks like an ant or a small wingless ‘ichneumon’, but examination through a magnifying glass had assured him that the insect was a species of Diptera. Dufour placed the new genus not far from <i>Mosillus</i> in Muscidae [now in Ephydridae].</p> <p> Macquart (1835) considered the genera <i>Myrmemorpha</i> and <i>Elachiptera</i> separately, each containing a species with reduced wings, he placed <i>Myrmemorpha</i> after <i>Elachiptera</i>.</p> <p> Afterwards Schiner (1862, 1864) discussed the affinity of <i>Myrmemorpha brachyptera</i> and concluded that <i>Myrmemorpha brachyptera</i> is a fly known to him as <i>Elachiptera brevipennis</i> Meigen and synonymized them. He assumed that Dufour had not seen the first segment of the antenna and wrongly had taken the arista as the third antennal segment. He repeated the generic synonymy in 1868 as well, using the corrected name <i>Myrmecomorpha</i> Dufour (an unjustified emendation created by Blanchard, 1840). Further unjustified and identical emendations were used by many later authors, mentioning the taxon wrongly also with Dufour, Agassiz or Corti as authors.</p> <p> Lioy (1864: 1317–8) did not repeat the synonymy of <i>Myrmemorpha</i> Dufour and <i>Elachiptera</i> Macquart but included both separately in his family Heteromyziti, in which his subfamily Elachipterini is characterized by rudimentary wings. Lioy later (1895: 293) kept up this classification in his altered family-group taxon Elachipteri, subordered to his retained family Heteromyziti.</p> <p> Bezzi (1900) in his review on the phenomenon of wing reduction in Diptera accepted the synonymy of <i>Myrmemorpha brachyptera</i> Dufour and <i>Elachiptera brevipennis</i> Meigen.</p> <p> The genus and species of Dufour were listed in the Palaearctic catalogue in synonymy with <i>Elachiptera</i> Macquart, 1835 and <i>E. brevipennis</i> (Meigen, 1830), correspondingly (Becker et al., 1905). This catalogue repeated the synonymy which was already published (and later repeated) by Schiner (1862: 431; 1864: 231), Neuhaus (1886: 295, 304), Gobert (1887: 43) and Bezzi (1900).</p> <p> Corti (1909: 141, 145) in his revision of <i>Elachiptera</i> (as <i>Crassiseta</i> von Roser) and related genera considered <i>Myrmemorpha</i> Dufour, 1833 (as <i>Myrmecomorpha—</i> following the emendation of Scudder’s “Nomenclator”) as a valid genus and <i>brachyptera</i> Dufour as a synonym of <i>brevipennis</i> Meigen. Corti (1910) in a long and detailed discussion cited personal opinions of Enderlein and Kieffer that structures of the antenna of <i>M. brachyptera</i> as described by Dufour are not similar to any species of Hymenoptera. Both his correspondents tended towards the considered synonymy of Dufour’s and Meigen’s brachypterous species.</p> <p> Later Becker (1909a) devoted a special paper to the affinity of <i>Myrmemorpha</i> and <i>Elachiptera</i> after Corti’s publication. His conclusion was that Schiner’s opinion on the synonymy of <i>Elachiptera brevipennis</i> Meigen and <i>Myrmecomorpha brachyptera</i> Dufour was wrong, and Dufour’s insect probably was a species of Hymenoptera. Neither Schiner nor Becker had seen Dufour’s specimen(s). Becker’s opinion does not agree with Dufour’s words “Je le pris au premier coup d’oel pour une fourmi ou un petit ichneumon aptère … la loupe vint éclaircir tous me doutes et m’apprendre qu’il appartenait à l’ordre des diptères”. Nonetheless Becker accepted the similarity of <i>Myrmemorpha brachyptera</i> and <i>Elachiptera brevipennis</i> concerning colour and size. Later Becker (1910) repeated his opinion that <i>Myrmemorpha</i> Dufour may not even belong to the Diptera. Enderlein (1911), Duda (1932) and Séguy (1934) placed <i>Myrmemorpha</i> (as <i>Myrmecomorpha</i> Corti) in synonymy with <i>Elachiptera</i> Macquart, as Corti included in his genus only one species, <i>E. brevipennis</i> Meigen.</p> <p> Sabrosky (1941) included <i>Myrmemorpha</i> Dufour in his “An annotated list of genotypes of the Chloropidae of the world …” as a doubtful genus citing the opinion of Becker (1910). Narchuk et al. (1970) listed <i>Myrmecomorpha</i> Corti in synonymy with <i>Elachiptera</i> Macquart. Andersson (1977) listed <i>Myrmecomorpha</i> Corti, 1909 with the species <i>brevipennis</i> Meigen as a synonym of <i>Elachiptera.</i> In the Palaearctic catalogue Nartshuk (1984) placed <i>Myrmemorpha</i> Dufour in doubtful names. Sabrosky (1999) placed <i>Myrmemorpha</i> Dufour as a questionable genus dubium in Chloropidae.</p> <p> The first author failed to find Dufour’s specimen(s) in Paris in the collection of Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle. She asked Dr J. Roháček and Dr R.H.L. Disney on their opinion if <i>Myrmemorpha brachyptera</i> may be a wingless species of Anthomyzidae or Phoridae and received negative answers. Species of Scenopinidae, which were mentioned by Dufour have another colour, usually black and white. By the way, Dufour distinctly wrote that <i>Myrmemorpha</i> belongs to <i>“muscides”</i> not far from the genus <i>Mosillus,</i> but <i>Scenopinus</i> to “tanystomes”. It is necessary to take in account that the genus <i>Mosillus</i> was included in the family Chloropidae by Schiner (1864, 1868). There exist only few European brachypterous fly species, size about 1 old French “ligne” (= 2.256 mm) and coloured like described by Dufour, firstly <i>Elachiptera brevipennis</i> Meigen and <i>Stiphrosoma sabulosum</i> (Haliday, 1837), Anthomyzidae. The antennae of the latter species bear long distinct pubescence excluding this species from attempt at an interpretation. A further tiny brachypterous European chloropid (for example occurring abundantly on very dry SE Austrian hills, coll. von Tschirnhaus), <i>Tricimba brachyptera</i> (Thalhammer, 1913) and included until 1993 in the synonymous genus <i>Crassivenula</i> Sabrosky shows a certain colour variation: Light specimens in addition to their predominantly yellowish head and legs possess a lightened scutum with dark stripes. Also the partly swollen abdomen with its small dark or infuscated tergites within yellowish membranes appears predominantly light in such specimens. The species must be mentioned here to complete the possible range of species with a similar habitus.</p> <p> The brachypterous polymorphic and tiny species of the genus <i>Stilpon</i> Loew, 1859 (Hybotidae) must be discussed, of which 11 species occur in Europe and two, <i>S. graminum</i> (Fallén, 1815) and <i>S. lunatus</i> (Walker, 1851), are recorded from the mainland of Spain (Carles-Tolrá, 2002), where Briviesca (Castil), the locus typicus of <i>M. brachyptera</i>, is located. The reason is that their antenna nearly exactly corresponds to figure 8 on the plate accompanying Dufour’s description of <i>Myrmemorpha</i>. In <i>Stilpon</i> spp. the first article is so short and hidden that it could not have been detected by Dufour through his magnifying lens. Thus, all former discussions in the literature on the so-called three-segmented antenna including the arista were superfluous. The second article (pedicel) is nearly ball like and bigger than the third one (1st flagellomere). It surrounds cap-like the basis of the 1st flagellomere. The arista inserts only slightly above the tip (supraapical) of the flagellomere and it is directed, alife, forwards and oblique outwards and slightly downwards (in Dufour’s fig. 8 it inserts at the very tip). All these details have never been discussed in the long disputes of the authors and correspondents mentioned above. Dufour correctly figured another antenna of a typical member of the Acalyptratae, “ <i>Sepedon ferrugineus</i> ” (Sciomyzidae), which shows that he was experienced in recognizing Diptera. He says that the use of his lens dispelled all his doubts if it was a member of the order Diptera. His funny report on his insect collecting during his dangerous military service focused on the “singularité” of this antenna, he knew “no genus in the long series of Muscidae ” [translated from French] with such a configuration. A further interesting detail never was discussed: Dufour characterized the fly as “il courait avec assez d’agilité et sautillait parfois” (it ran very agil and sometimes it jumped). Just this behaviour “moving running or jumping” (“… bewegten sich laufend oder hüpfend”) was published by Joost (1991) and was also observed by the second author in a <i>Stilpon graminum</i> (Fallén, 1815) population feeding on Collembola on the ground of a <i>Carex</i> swamp in Bielefeld, Germany.</p> <p> Contradicting details in Dufour’s description are [as translated]: 1) “Head plane like <i>Oscinis planifrons ”;</i> <i>Musca planifrons</i> Fabricius, 1798 was transferred to the genus <i>Platycephala</i> Fallén in the year 1820 and it is one of the largest European species of Chloropidae with a punctured and completely different frons than <i>Stilpon</i> spp. or <i>Elachiptera brevipennis</i>. Contrary, the frons of <i>Stilpon</i> spp. are narrow, slightly dusted but still shining; because the head is ovoid the frons is not outspread in a peculiar plain. 2) Length “ <i>1 lig[ne]</i> ” = 2.256 mm, contrary, <i>Stilpon</i> spp. measure only 0.8 up to 1.6 mm, but Dufour’s measuring during military service could have been only an estimate.</p> <p> Dufour’s description <i>“Rufa, nitida, scutello abdomineque nigrescentibus; alis abdomine triplo brevioribus”</i> corresponds well with the shining red-brown <i>E. brevipennis</i> and its darker hind parts (compare Fig. 9, this article). Dufour’s figure of the antenna corresponds relatively well with a <i>Stilpon</i> species. Both species occur together in one habitat (caught together by the second author). Dufour said that [translated] “the tussocks were populated by myriads of small insects”. We must assume that the author mixed up both species for his description. The appropriate Latin description is here accepted for <i>E. brevipennis</i>, the more or less correct figure for a <i>Stilpon</i> species is neglected here, as well the jumping behaviour. In the nature the first author observed small jumps in <i>E. brevipennis</i>, too. As also <i>Stilpon</i> spp. are jumping we have a cast iron proof that Dufour’s observed insects could belong as well to the chloropid as to the hybotid species. These results clarify all published doubts of the past.</p> <p> The puzzling last sentences of Dufour, comparing his new genus with the dissimilar genus <i>Scenopinus</i> Latreille, 1802 can now be intepreted better, presuming that also a <i>Stilpon</i> species must have been included in his material. He correctly placed one of his mixed up fly species in a group of more basic " Muscidae ", nearer to the more plesiomorphic genus <i>Scenopinus.</i> This genus also possesses slightly shortened wings and a rudimentary arista arising from the tip of the first flagellomere.</p> <p> As the older name <i>Myrmemorpha</i> and its emendations had not been used (except in catalogues and lists) since 1899 in at least 25 works published by at least 10 authors in the last 50 years and encompassing a span of not less than 10 years this case is excluded by the ICZN, articles 23.9.1, 23.9.2, and 23.9.3, from involving the Commission. It is not available.</p> <p> We compare the description of <i>Myrmemorpha brachyptera</i> with specimens of <i>Elachiptera brevipennis</i> and agree with Schiner that Dufour wrongly interpreted the arista as the third segment of the antenna. Therefore we consider these species as being synonyms. We add all other synonyms and their misspellings and emendations of <i>Elachiptera</i>, too. The six generic synonyms in Cherian (1975) are repeated opinions or errors from the literature and they are not discussed and partly not accepted here. A formal listing of <i>Elachiptera</i> and its synonyms is presented here:</p>Published as part of <i>Nartshuk, Emilia P. & Tschirnhaus, Michael Von, 2012, New generic synomyms in the Chloropidae (Diptera, Acalyptratae), with additional taxonomic notes, pp. 44-54 in Zootaxa 3267</i> on pages 44-46, DOI: <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/208510">10.5281/zenodo.208510</a>
The prototype detection unit of the KM3NeT detector: KM3NeT Collaboration
No full textA prototype detection unit of the KM3NeT deep-sea neutrino telescope has been installed at 3500m depth 80 km offshore the Italian coast. KM3NeT in its final configuration will contain several hundreds of detection units. Each detection unit is a mechanical structure anchored to the sea floor, held vertical by a submerged buoy and supporting optical modules for the detection of Cherenkov light emitted by charged secondary particles emerging from neutrino interactions. This prototype string implements three optical modules with 31 photomultiplier tubes each. These optical modules were developed by the KM3NeT Collaboration to enhance the detection capability of neutrino interactions. The prototype detection unit was operated since its deployment in May 2014 until its decommissioning in July 2015. Reconstruction of the particle trajectories from the data requires a nanosecond accuracy in the time calibration. A procedure for relative time calibration of the photomultiplier tubes contained in each optical module is described. This procedure is based on the measured coincidences produced in the sea by the 40K background light and can easily be expanded to a detector with several thousands of optical modules. The time offsets between the different optical modules are obtained using LED nanobeacons mounted inside them. A set of data corresponding to 600 h of livetime was analysed. The results show good agreement with Monte Carlo simulations of the expected optical background and the signal from atmospheric muons. An almost background-free sample of muons was selected by filtering the time correlated signals on all the three optical modules. The zenith angle of the selected muons was reconstructed with a precision of about 3∘. © 2016, The Author(s)
