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The family Cimicidae consists of 6 subfamilies, 23 genera, and 91 species. Nineteen new species names, one new species, and one new genus have been proposed since the monograph by Usinger was published in 1966. A checklist includes the world cimicid fauna with sinonymy. A selected bibliography is concerned with cimicids as potential disease vectors; the bibliography is a comprehensive treatment of the cimicid literature of the Americas and islands of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans.
Application of vibrational spectroscopy to the problem of structure determination of molecules of biological interest goes back to the early uses of raman and infrared spectroscopy in the study of organic molecules. For reviews of earlier work the reader is referred to compilations by Kohlrausch (1943) and by Jones and Sandorfy (1956), whereas more recently a comprehensive discussion has been presented by Bellamy (1975). These compilations accentuate the correlation of vibrational spectra with molecular structure from an essentially empirical point of view and culminate in the establishment of empirical correlation charts. For typical examples the reader is referred to Weast (1974) and Bellamy (1975). There have been many treatments of the theoretical basis of molecular vibrational spectroscopy. Among them the classical work by Herzberg (1945) and by Wilson et al. (1955) should be mentioned. Applications of infrared spectroscopy (IR) to structure problems of biological interest have been summarized by Susi (1969), Fraser and MacRae (1973), and Wallach and Winzler (1974). It was remarked quite eraly that relevant structural information about biological systems often requires study in aqueous solution, which forms the natural environment for most biologically important systems. Besides critical control of experimental conditions and samples the conventional methods of raman spectroscopy may be applied to aqueous solutions in a quite straightforward manner, cf. the contribution by Lord and Mendelson, Chapter 8. The condition of biological environment, i.e., the study in aqueous solutions, by IR spectroscopy is difficult to achieve by conventional absorption technique, since the high absorption coefficient of water in wide regions of the mid and far infrared implies use of thin layers and high concentrations. As a consequence the application of special techniques for measurement of IR spectra of biological material has been a necessity in many cases. This contribution covers the following topics: (1) specific spectroscopic techniques used in this field, in particular for membrane spectroscopy, (2) discussion of typical results derived from application of IR techniques to model and natural membrane systems and to important constituent molecules of such systems.
I conducted an 18 month study on the behavior and ecology of two species of sympatric caviid rodents (Kerodon rupestris and Galea spixii) in northeastern Brazil. Preliminary observations indicated that Kerodon was a habitat specialist. occurring only in large boulder piles. whereas Galea appeared to be a habitat generalist. occurring in a variety of open habitats excepting the boulder piles inhabited by Kerodon. This situation presented an ideal field experiment to compare the social structures in these two closely related genera. I first established breeding colonies of both in order to describe their behavioral displays and to discern their function. Complete behavioral repeltoires. including vocalizations. are presented for both Kerodon and Galea. Reproduction and growth. behavioral development. sexual behavior. agonistic behavior. and use of space were all examined both quantitatively and qualitatively in the colonies and in the field. Time budgets were calculated and analyzed for both genera. Differences in rates of growth and behavioral development between the two genera afe probably related to ecological aspects of their significantly different microhabitat preferences. Data on sexual and agonistic behavior collected in the colonies suggested that Kerodon exhibited resource defense polygyny, whereas the Galea mating system approximated male dominance polygyny. Field data supported the colony observations. These differences in mating systems may be related to the different habitat preferences observed. Kerodvll is compared to other resource defense polygynists. Finally, a model for the evolution of behavior in the family Caviidae is presented. The social organizations of the various genera seem to be very responsive to ecological requirements. The importance of social organization in ecological adaptation is discussed.
The ant genera Ankylomyrrna Bolton, Atopomyrmex Andre, Cyphoidris Weber, Ocymyrmex Emery, Pristomyrmex Mayr (= Odontomyrmex Andre, = Hylidris Weber, = Dodous Donisthorpe) and Terataner Emery (= Tranetera Arnold) are revised for the Ethiopian zoogeographical region. Keys and descriptions of species are presented for each genus and the genera are defined on a world-wide basis. In Atopomyrmex two species are recognized and four new infraspecific synonyms are established. Three new species are described in the previously monotypic genus Cyphoidris. Twenty-three species of Ocymyrmex are recognized of which seven are described as new; seven new synonyms are established and new Status as valid species is granted to seven previously infraspecific forms. Five Pristomyrmex species are recognized of which one is new; five new Synonyms are proposed in this genus. In Terataner the former subgenus Tranetera is newly synonymized and six species recognized, of which one is new. The six Terataner species of Madagascar are summarized, one new species is described and a key presented. The genus Baracidris is described as new, containing two new species from West and central Africa. A key to Ethiopian region myrmicine genera in which the antennal club has two Segments is given under Baracidris.