590 Tiere (Zoologie)
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Trypoxylon (Trypargilum) mexicanum (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae) belongs to the albitarse group, which includes the larger species of the genus. Its native distribution extends throughout Central America from Mexico to Panama. Here it is reported for the first time from Hispaniola, West Indies. Because it is difficult to envisage such a conspicuous species having eluded capture any naturalist or aculeate specialist previously, I consider that it has recently arrived on the island. It may have arrived due to the trade with Central America, since the nests, made of mud, can easily transport the immatures that subsequently emerge and disperse after their arrival on the island. T. mexicanum is established at least in the Dominican Republic, with a wide distribution and large populations. This demonstrates the ecological success of a recently established population on the island, perhaps due to escape from natural enemies and an absence of other limiting factors. The females were observed at puddles of water on the roads where they pick up mud with which they construct their tubular nests. Brood cells were provisioned exclusively with several species of spiders of Araneidae. An endemic spider, Eustala bisetosa Bryant was also used as prey. Other data about natural history is also provided.
New locality records for Culiseta inornata (Williston) are reported from Big Pine Key, Grassy Key, and No Name Key in Monroe County, Florida. Five specimens were collected in dry ice-baited light traps. An old, previously unrecognized record for Anopheles grabhamii Theobald from Miami, Dade County, Florida, is reported based on specimens found in the Florida State Collection of Arthropods.
Published claims in 1887-1903 that the mole cricket Neocurtilla hexadactyla (Perty) occurs in Puerto Rico all seem to be derived from a misidentification made by Agustín Stahl, a medical practitioner and collector of natural history objects, published in 1882. That species does not seem now to occur in Puerto Rico and almost certainly never did. However, the opportunity still exists for it to colonize by wind-assisted flight from islands to the southeast just as we believe did the mole cricket Scapteriscus didactylus (Latreille) as an immigrant. Stahl evidently mistook the latter for the former. According to some subsequent authors, he also stated that it (the mole cricket now believed to be S. didactylus) arrived in the port of Mayagüez in a cargo of guano about 1850 from Peru and thus colonized Puerto Rico. We found no verification for that story, and we doubt it. The first detection of the presence of S. didactylus in Puerto Rico may have been by a French expedition in 1797, but this species may have been present much earlier. Two other species of Scapteriscus were later detected in Puerto Rico. One, S. abbreviatus Scudder, was detected in 1917 and likely arrived as a contaminant of ship ballast some time earlier, perhaps at the port of Mayagüez. The other, S. imitatus Nickle and Castner, was detected about 1940 and seems to have been introduced inadvertently, as a result of mistaken identity. In broad terms, S. didactylus, S. abbreviatus, and S. imitatus are adventive species (meaning they arrived from somewhere else and are not native) in Puerto Rico. The vernacular name changa in Puerto Rico is owned by S. didactylus, which is called West Indian mole cricket in the English-speaking Caribbean. Historical accounts suggest that populations of S. didactylus and of two pest Phyllophaga spp. (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) surged after 1876/1877 and declined after 1920. This coincidence suggests that the cause may have been the same. The cause of the rise might conceivably have been introduction of the mongoose Herpestes javanicus (E. Geoffroy St. Hilaire) in 1877 (because it may have destroyed vertebrate predators) and the cause of the decline might conceivably have been introduction of the toad Bufo marinus L. in 1920, because it is a predator of Phyllophaga and Scapteriscus.
The distribution and biology of the beetles Leptinillus validus (Horn) and L. aplodontiae Ferris are summarized for North America. The beetles are ectoparasitic on rodents; L. validus on the beaver, Castor canadensis Linnaeus (Castoridae) throughout the northern part of its range, and L. aplodontiae on the mountain beaver, Aplodontia rufa (Rafinesque) (Aplodontidae) in the Pacific Northwest.
Mutual grooming in two genera of silvanid beetles is described, and appears to be the first report of this behavior in the order Coleoptera. In Uleiota debilis (LeConte), allogrooming recipients were either stationary or moved away during the acts, without solicitation or facilitation. In Nausibius major Zimmermann, allogrooming was much more extensive and the individual being groomed appeared to facilitate the process by immobility or by changes in posture, there were no recognizable sexual overtones, no solicitations, and no avoidance movements. Gregarious behaviors of some other silvanid beetles are reviewed.
This article outlines changes in procedures and production policies for the journal Insecta Mundi. Background data and discussions leading to these necessary changes are explained. Updated instructions for authors are presented. A full current version of author instructions will be posted on the latest Center for Systematic Entomology URL.
Mittel- und Nordeuropäische Weberknechte aus dem Senckenberg Museum Frankfurt (Arachnida: Opiliones)
(2005)
Central and North European harvestmen from the Senckenberg Museum Frankfurt (Arachnida: Opiliones). About 1100 individuals belonging to 32 opilionid species (300 series), mainly of German origin, were identified based on material provided by, and stored at, the Senckenberg Museum, Frankfurt (Main). A list of all species with habitat information is included. Comments on two remarkable species (Oligolophus hanseni, Odiellus spinosus) are given. The comments include the importance of some series as reference material from MARTENS (1978), additions to regional faunas and the expansion of the known distribution of some thermophilous species.
New data on the sex ratio of 16 populations of the endemic harvestman Megabunus lesserti Schenkel, 1927 in the northeastern Alps confirm the previously assumed pattern of geographic parthenogenesis. Bisexuals inhabit a small area between the eastern margin of the Northern Calcareous Alps and the Ennstaler Alps, which was not covered by ice during the last (Würm) glaciations. Postglacially recolonized areas are occupied by parthenogenetic clones. Some all-female samples were found in close geographic proximity to bisexual populations. Apparently isolated occurrences at the western (Ammergau Alps) and southwestern (Carinthian) limits of the range proved to consist exclusively of females. A single male recorded in the Karwendel Mts. near Innsbruck is interpreted preferentially as a case of spanandry, being a fatherless "mistake" without any significant function.
Zwischen November 2003 und Januar 2004 wurde in einem Auwald bei Ingelheim am Rhein mittels Bodenfallen die Weberknechtfauna untersucht. Hierbei konnten insgesamt 1643 Individuen determiniert werden, welche sich auf 6 Arten aus 3 Familien verteilten. Besonders bemerkenswert sind die thermophilen Arten Astrobunus laevipes, Nemastoma dentigerum und Trogulus martensi. Zusätzlich wurden Bodenfallen eines benachbarten Auwaldes von Juni bis Oktober 2004 ausgewertet, die zusätzliche Daten zur Phänologie einiger stenochroner Arten erbrachten. Biotopansprüche, Vikarianzen und Konkurrenzvermeidung werden diskutiert.
The paper presents new records of the spider Atypus muralis Bertkau, 1890 in the valleys of the rivers Saale and Unstrut in the south of Saxony-Anhalt in Middle Germany. All specimens were males, caught by pitfall traps in xerothermic steppic grasslands on steep slopes. The geographic distribution of Atypus muralis in the eastern parts of Germany and habitat traits are discussed with special reference to regional climate, vegetation type and soil conditions. The phenology of aboveground activity of Atypus muralis males is shown.
One specimen of the jumping spider Evarcha jucunda was discovered in the fruit department of a general store in Gießen, Germany. The species has obviously been introduced with transported fruit from mediterranean countries.
The rare spider species Agroeca dentigera Kulczyński, 1913 (Liocranidae) and Entelecara omissa O. P.-Cambridge, 1902 (Linyphiidae), have been found in a small coastal freshwater fen in Lomma (55°42'N 13°4'E), north of Malmö in Scania in southernmost Sweden. A. dentigera was also found on a salt water meadow south of Malmö. Both species have been found only in a few wet localities in Europe. Entelecara depilata Tullgren, 1955, is a junior synonym of Entelecara omissa O. P.-Cambridge, 1902, new synonymy.
The emerging of an acrocerid fly from an adult female of the wolf spider Pardosa saltans (C.L. Koch, 1833) was observed near Karlsruhe (Baden-Württemberg, Germany). This record supports previous results suggesting that acrocerids infect the spider's body, and not the egg sacs. A short review of the life history of acrocerids and the development of their larvae is provided, casting doubt on the infection of spider cocoons by these parasitoids.
85 Literaturquellen und 61 Arten sind dem "Verzeichnis der Spinnen (Araneae) des nordwestdeutschen Tieflandes und Schleswig-Holsteins" von Fründ et al., welches 1994 publiziert wurde, hinzuzufügen. Neun Arten sind aus diesem Verzeichnis zu streichen. Aktuell sind 653 Spinnenarten aus der Region bekannt, wobei mindestens 21 Nachweise zweifelhaft sind. Diese insgesamt hohe Artenzahl resultiert offensichtlich aus der Flächengröße und der landschaftlichen Vielfalt der Region, die Küstengebiete sowie naturnahe und anthropogen geschaffene Lebensräume in verschiedenen Naturräumen des Tieflands einschliesst.
The data presented by HÄNGGI et al. (1995) and BOLAÑOS (2003) on the habitats of a large number of European spiders are examined, most of which appear to show non-specific preferences. The abundance and frequency peaks of the 384 species graphs (HÄNGGI et al. 1995) can be explained by assuming that habitat tolerance varies with geographical location. This can be demonstrated on a local level within a particular country or throughout the European range of a species. Examples are described. Many published ecological studies of spider faunas seem to have assumed that the habitat preferences of a species is a fixed characteristic wherever they occur but evidence is presented to show that this may apply to only a few species. A number of examples are described showing how preferences change with latitude and longitude within Europe. It is proposed that most species can be categorised as stenotopic, mesotopic or eurytopic, although there is a gradual change from one group to another, with no clear boundaries. Supporting evidence for regional variation in habitat tolerance is scarce. More studies are required of individual species throughout their European distribution and detailed descriptions of their habitats in different parts of their range. Definitions of micro-, macro- and minor habitats are presented as useful tools for field studies of spider faunas. It is also recommended that future faunal surveys should use the same system of habitat classification so that the results are comparable with other studies. The most appropriate method is described by BUCHAR & RŮŽIČKA (2002) but could be made more precise by the use of scientific measuring equipment for light/shade, dryness/humidity and temperature. Finally the importance of checking the validity of some published records is stressed because misidentifications are sometimes frequent.
Cicurina japonica (Araneae: Dictynidae) - eine nach Mitteleuropa eingeschleppte Kräuselspinnenart
(2005)
Die ersten beiden Nachweise der ursprünglich ostasiatisch verbreiteten Kräuselspinnen-Art Cicurina japonica (Simon, 1886) für Europa werden vorgestellt. Die umfangreichen Funde im Areal des ehemaligen Güterbahnhofes der Deutschen Bundesbahnen (DB) in Basel erlauben ansatzweise eine ökologische Charakterisierung der Art.
Die Spinnengemeinschaft der Stamm- und stammnahen Bodenregion von vier Forststandorten auf rekultivierten Kippenböden des Niederlausitzer Braunkohlenreviers wurde untersucht. Von 1997-1998 wurde die Stammzönose mittels Stammeklektoren und zusätzlich 1998 die epigäische Spinnenfauna der stammnahen Bereiche durch Bodenfallen erfasst. Als Referenz zu den untersuchten Kippenstandorten diente ein alter Kiefernreinbestand auf natürlich geschichtetem Boden. Von den erfassten Spinnen (6368 Individuen) waren 50,2% juvenil. Die adulten Tiere konnten 123 Arten aus 23 Familien zugeordnet werden. Eine Art, Clubiona leucaspis, war neu für Sachsen, 23 Arten werden in der Roten Liste Deutschlands (n = 16), Brandenburgs (n = 13) und Sachsens (n = 15) aufgeführt. Die unterschiedliche Vorgeschichte (rekultiviert oder natürlich) und der Baumbesatz (Kiefer oder Birke) der Untersuchungsflächen bedingte zum Teil deutliche Unterschiede hinsichtlich verschiedener populationsökologischer Parameter (Familien-, Artenzahl, Diversität, Aktivitätsbiomasse). Die Ergebnisse werden hinsichtlich der daraus resultierenden Folgen für den Natur- und Artenschutz, die Dominanzstruktur der Spinnenzönosen, die natürliche Schädlingsregulation diskutiert. Die Abwesenheit einzelner Taxa (hier: Coelotes terrestris und Hahnia helveola) wird als Indikator für eine Unterbrechung der Faunentradition interpretiert.
Findings of the pseudoscorpion species Chthonius tetrachelatus (Preyssler, 1790) on the island of Helgoland in the North Sea are described.
The first record of this species outside the Alps is presented from the Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. The locality, Bad Neuenahr, represents a considerable extension of the known range of a species which has up till now been regarded an endemic of southern Switzerland.
Larinioides sclopetarius is one of very few Central European spiders known to be found in colonies in which the orb-webs are attached to each other. Individuals of different generations cooperate at least in web-building, i.e. they share the same framework or irregular “web carpet”. This behaviour is called parasocial and up to now it has been studied mainly in subtropical and tropical species. Parasocial (colonial) life can lead to total degeneration of the orb-webs and is the result of increased tolerance, which depends on local superabundance of prey. Initial surveys in Essen (Germany) showed that groups of 60 to 200 individuals do not seem to be exceptional. More detailed studies on the group-living of L. sclopetarius are needed.
On the knowledge of the pseudoscorpion fauna of East Germany. Based on the examination of over 23. 000 specimens, distribution, frequency/dominance, morphometric data and ecology of the East German false scorpions are presented. Most samples were collected by the authors, the rest are from museums and other persons. 38 species were recorded The preferred habitats and strata of the most species are described. Phoresy was observed for Allochernes peregrinus, Lamprochernes chyzeri, L. nodosus and Pselaphochernes scorpioides. Nine species live in ants nests. Zoogeographic aspects of the species assemblage are discussed in the world wide context. Distribution limits of four species run across the area of investigation.
Dreissena cochleata
(1873)
Arachnoidea camtschadalica
(1926)
1.1 Introduction 1.1.1 Aim of project .To compare the abundance of invertebrate and weed seed food resources available to birds on orzanic and conventional farmland. The objective of the studv was to assess accurately the likely benefit of these farming systems to birds feeding on farrn'land, by sampling invertebrates and weed seeds. 1.1.2 Factors implicit to achieving the project aims Variation between farms within one system could influence' invertebrate or weed seed abundance and bias results, To minimise such effects and provide results 'representative of the farming systems as a whole, sampling was based on an extensive approach; farms were sampled in groups. The inference that either of the farming systems is beneficial to feeding birds is dependent on: (i) prior knowledge of the relevance of a particular invertebrate or seed as a food-source: evidence (ii) that this foodsource is present in sufficient abundance and (iii) that the food-source is readily accessible, The methodology described below was refined to address these criteria. 1.1.3 Methodology Sampling concentrated on cereal crops, with an additional comparison of organic grass ley fields at a limited number of sites. Sampling initially consisted of sucking invertebrates from the crop using a vacuum insect net and extraction from soil cores. To aid the interpretation of results from this sampling, it was decided that more information was required on the diet of birds. This was achieved by analysing faecal sacs for undigested fragments of invertebrates that therefore represented a dietary component. Skylark chick faecal sacs were chosen for analysis as this was the key species for the intensive ornithological studies and samples could be taken during routine fieldwork. As a result of this study, the main invertebrate sampling technique was changed to pitfall traps, since this was a superior method for assessing those invertebrates found to be important food-sources. It was also anticipated that pitfall trapping would provide more accurate estimates of invertebrate availability, with greater numbers per sample, than the previous two techniques. Studies of weed seed food resources consisted of field surveys using a quadrat to assess the presence and abundance of species, and the use of a small hand held suction machine to suck seeds from post-harvest stubble. The interpretation of the results emphasised the aspects of the ecology of species known to be food-sources that might influence their availability to birds. 1.2 Soil core and vacuum samples 1.2.1 Significantly more dipteran immature stages and Coleoptera were found in soil cores on organic grass ley fields and significantly more earthworms on organic cereal fields than conventional cereal fields. Earthworms and dipteran larvae such as tipulids are known to be important food-sources for birds that specialize in soil invertebrates. 1.2.2 Total numbers of invertebrates trapped by both methods did not differ significantly between the two farming systems. Significantly more invertebrates were trapped, however, by both methods on organic grass ley fields than either conventional or organic cereals. 1.2.3 Significantly more Staphylinidae tCol.), especially the species Tachyporus hypnorum, were found on conventional fields, The relevance of this species as a food-source is, however, doubtful. 1.2.4 The weevil Sitona lineatus and the carabid Demetrias atricapillus were found in significantly greater numbers on organic fields. The former may constitute a food-source for skylarks, which have been shown to feed on this insect under laboratory conditions. 1.3 Faecal sac analysis 1.3.1 Carabid beetles were an important component of skylark chick diet, forming 47 % of identifications. In some cases it was possible to identify the species present. 1.3.2 Coleoptera, other than carabids, from the families Elateridae, Curculionidae, Chrysomelidae and Staphylinidae were identified as food-sources. 1.3.3 Spiders and tipul ids were also important components. 1.3.4 Reservations are expressed that the technique may under-represent soft-bodied invertebrates, which are susceptible to complete digestion by skylark chicks. 1.4 Pitfall trap samples 1.4.1 Twelve key species of carabid beetles were analysed. of which five cornmon species were trapped in significantly greater numbers on organic farms. These were Pterostichus melanarius (the dominant species captured), Pterostichus madidus, Harpalus affinis, Harpalus rufipes and Nebria brevi collis. The other species analysed showed no significant variance between farming systems. 1.4.2 Williams' Index of Diversity was significantly greater for conventional fields, although caution is expressed over the reliability of this result due to the small sample size of species. 1.5 Botanical studies 1.5.1 The abundance of weed plants in quadrats was significantly greater on organic fields. 1.5.2 The abundance of weed seeds was not significantly different between farming systems. However, the relative proportions of monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous seeds in samples differed between farming systems. A larger proportion of the seeds from organic fields were dicotyledonous and from conventional fields were monocotyledonous. 1.5.3 Preliminary examination of the size of plants and the number of seeds produced suggested that those on organic fields may have been nitrogen deficient. 1.5.4 Weed species were significantly more diverse on organic fields. although diversity has less relevance to bird feeding than abundance. 1.6 Proposals for future work 1.6.1 Replication of the pitfall trapping exercise in subsequent years would substantiate the trends established from the data of one season. It would also be beneficial 10 extend the range (If habitats sampled to take into account set-aside and other crops besides cereals. 1.6.2 More comprehensive information. on the diet of farmland birds in general. could he achieved by analysing the faecal sacs of a wider variety of species. 1.6.3 Greater integration of field studies on birds with invertebrate sampling would enhance the effectiveness of the latter as an indicator of diet. Areas of farmland frequently selected as feeding sites by birds could be sampled intensively for invertebrates and compared to other areas, selected at random. This would provide useful information on the invertebrates likely to be important as food-sources and the habitats that favour them. 1.6.4 Extending the range of farms sampled would provide more accurate results. 1.6.5 More work is required to-investigate the possible link between nitrogen deficiency in plams and organic systems, and its implications for the provision of bird food-sources, particularly for weed abundance and phytophagous insects.
Zwischen 2001 und 2003 wurden umfangreiche Daten zur phytophagen Käferfauna des östlichen Westfalen (Schwerpunkt) unter Berücksichtigung ihrer Wirtspflanzen erhoben. Bisher nicht publizierte Daten aus dem angrenzenden Niedersachsen sowie dem Bergischen Land und weiteren Regionen wurden ebenfalls berücksichtigt. Im Mittelpunkt der Erhebungen standen infolge der Klimaerwärmung sich ausbreitende Arten. Darüber hinaus wurde gezielt nach verschollenen Arten gesucht, da angenommen wurde, dass aufgrund des wärmeren Großklimas eine bessere Chance bestehen müsste, verschollene Arten der überwiegend wärmeliebenden phytophagen Käfer wieder nachzuweisen. Die Grunde für das Auffinden zahlreicher neuer oder verschollener Arten werden diskutiert. Die wichigsten Ursachen sind rezente Einwanderung bzw. Wiederausbreitung, Seltenheit (bzw. zeitlich und räumlich limitiertes Auftreten), aber auch Übersehen oder bisherige Verwechslung mit ähnlichen Arten. Behandelt werden 21 Nitiduloidea-, 5 Phalacridae-, 3 Cerambycidae-, 67 Chrysomelidae-, 2 Bruchidae- und 207 Curculionoidea-Arten. 15 Arten sind neu für Westfalen, davon sind 3 Arten gleichzeitig neu für NRW. Als Wiederfunde werden für Westfalen 25 Arten aufgeführt. Für 17 Arten, die in der älteren westfälischen Literatur genannt werden, wird die Streichung aus der westfälischen Fauna aufgrund von Fehldetermination bzw. Verschleppung diskutiert. Phänologien werden für folgende Arten dargestellt: Squamapion atomarium, Squamapion oblivium, Otiorhynchus laevigatus, Trachyphloeus alternans, Trachyphloeus asperatus, Orthochaetes setiger, Smicronyx swertiae, Mitoplinthus caliginosus. Rezente Ausbreitungsvorgänge werden bei Coptocephala rubicunda, Chrysolina hyperici (Wiederausbreitung), Phyllotreta procera, Longitarsus dorsalis (Wiederausbreitung), Malvapion malvae (Wiederausbreitung), Sirocalodes mixtus, Rh/nusa asel/us, Olibrus pygmaeus, Phalacrus fimetarius, Longitarsus lewisil, Larinus turbinatus, Rhinocy/lus conicus und Bradybatus fallax erörtert.
This study treats 76 species, in which 58 species and 14 genera are described as new. The species are arranged in 28 families and 56 genera. The oribatid or cryptostigmatid mites are cosmopolitan group of more than 6500 species relegated to approximate 700 genera and 134 families. The body length of most oribatid species ranges 300-1200 µ. The oribatid mites are darkly coloured and covered with a rigid exoskelecton. The life cycle consists of egg, larva, protonymph, tritonymph, deutonymph and adult. These mites are best known as inhabitants of litter and upper soil strata, their small size and shunning of light caused them to receive little attention for many years. In recently studies of soil fauna, it has been shown that is an economic importance for human, i.e. many species feed on surface plant detritus, and may therefore play a major role in maintaining the fertility of soils; they could become an indicator of soil physical and chemical characters. Some species have also been shown to act as vectors of various tapewonns; they feed almost exclusively on tyroglyphid mites and attack the parasitic hymenopteran, Polynotus zosini; and several species are associated with plant, they have been reported to damage the leaf, the foot and the stem of potato, strawberry, turlip, citrus and mushroom. Systematic studies of these mites are scarcely found in Taiwan. The present paper deals with 76 species, 56 genera in 28 families, among them, 58 species and 14 genera are described as new. The author hopes that this study constitutes an example to show that the wealth of fascinating information could be gained and also hopes that this finding might be useful for elucidating the taxonomy of oribatid mites in Taiwan.
Techniques for collecting, handling, preparing, storing and examining small molluscan specimens
(2007)
Micromolluscs are small-sized molluscs (< 5 mm), and include the great majority of undescribed molluscan taxa. Such species require special collecting, sorting and handling techniques and different storage requirements to those routinely used for larger specimens. Similarly, the preparation of shells, opercula, radulae and animals poses some challenges for scanning electron microscopy (SEM). An overview of experiences with various techniques is presented, both positive and negative. Issues discussed include those relating to storage of dry specimens and interaction of specimens with glass, gelatine and paper products, handling techniques and storage in various fluids. Techniques for cleaning shells for SEM are described and compared, as well as those for radular extraction. The interactions of chemicals used for the dissolution of tissue with calcareous micromolluscs are described. Methods for handling and mounting small radulae for SEM are detailed and brief guides to SEM and light photography are given. An appendix listing details of frequently-used chemicals is provided.
1. The central nervous system of Nereis virens occupies a deeper position. than does that of most Polychaetes. It is separated from the hypodermis by the circular muscles, and is enveloped by an elaborate protective tissue. 2. The protective tissue consists of two parts jan inner spongy layer, the neuroglia, of ectodermic origin, and an outer sheath, the neurilemma, of mesodermic origin. 3. The" mushroom bodies" of insects and decapod Crustacea are represented in the brain of Nereis by the anterior masses of small nuclei. 4. The optic ganglion, which in some species of Nereis lies beneath the anterior eye, may in other species lie within the brain capsule. 5. There is no neuropil in the ventral nerve cord. 6. There are three longitudinal connectives between each two successive ganglia of the ventral nerve cord, one small median and two larger lateral ones. 7. The sheaths of the nerve fibres of the ventral cord have no nuclei, and hence must be a product of the fibres themselves. 8. The nerve cells of the ventral cord commonly have one or more centrosomes. 9. The giant fibres are nervous in function, and are put into relation with peripheral organs through ordinary centrifugal fibres. 10. The giant fibres give off no fibrillations, and nervous relation with other fibres is established directly between the axis cylinders. 11. Certain decussating fibres are always united in pairs by anastomoses between the axis cylinders where they cross each other. 12. Certain centripetal fibres of the same set are always united by anastomoses between the ends of the branches. 13. Contact between axis cylinders may possibly be one of the means of bringing nerve fibres into functionall'elation with each other.
(1) a. The mating behavior (including copulation) is described for the first time in the following species: Pardosa modica, P. emertoni, P. saxatilis, P. lapidicina, Lycosa helluo, .L. gulosa, Dolomedes scriptus, Phidippus clarus, P. audax, Philodromus pernix, and Coriarachne versicolor. b. The courtship only is described for the first time in Phidippus purpuratus. c. In Lycosa rabida and Pardosa milvina new data concerning the copulation, and in Schizocosa crassipes new data concerning courtship, are added to what is already available from Montgomery's work. d. In Tibellns oblongus and Xysticus triguttatus new data are added to the accounts of Gerhardt, and of Emerton, respectively. (2) a. On the basis of a large number of observations and experiments with the males of 19 species from 4 families of vagabond spiders, it is pointed out that the senses involved in courtship may vary with the species. b. There is no evidence that a sense of smell is used in sex recognition by any spiders. At least this sense plays no part in initiating courtship activity in the male. c. There is no evidence that Attid males can "recognize" the females by any sense other than sight. At any rate, it appears that the visual stimulus is the only one that suffices to incite courtship in this family. d. In one Lycosid observed, Pardosa emertoni, the courtship behavior is elicited only when the male can both see and touch the female. e. In the Pisaurid, Dolomedes scriptus, the sole stimulus for courtship is the chemoperception by contact of an ether-soluble substance normally covering the cuticle of the female. f. In the Lycosid, Pardosa milvina, the chemoperception by contact of an ether-soluble substance normally covering the cuticle of the female, together with the simultaneous perception of tactile stimuli will elicit courtship. This probably holds for P. saxatilis, Lycosa rabida, Schizocosa crassipes, and perhaps for Pardosa modica. Moreover, the sight of a moving Lycosid of about their own size may, in some cases, be sufficient for these males to start courting. g. In the Lycosids, Pardosa banksi, and probably Lycosn gulosa and L. helluo, only the simultaneous perception of both tactile and tacto-chemical stimuli suffices. Visual stimuli play no part in eliciting courtship. h. The condition in the Thomisids is in all probability similar to that in the preceding group of Lycosids. (3) a. In the case of those species in which contact chemoperception occurs it is shown that perception is not limited to the tarsi. Such stimuli can be perceived on all the segments of the legs as well as on the abdomen. From the known distribution of the slit sense organs it is probable that they are the chemoreceptors involved in courtship.
The classifications of the Hystricomorpha in English text-books of Zoology are based upon the one proposed by Alston in 1876 (P.Z.S. 1876, pp. 90-97), which was itself an amplification and in some particulars a modification of the arrangement suggested by Waterhouse in 1848. Alston added to the group the family Dinomyidae, which, following Peters, he placed between the Dasyproctidae and Caviidae; and the Otenodactylinae, which he ranked as a subfamily of Octodontidae. He also transferred Petromys from the Echymyina (Echinomyinae), where it was placed by Waterhouse, to the Octodontinae. ...
Naturschutz in Germany
(1936)
La presente nota, contiene la descrizione di 9 specie di Campodeidae del Nord America, le quali sono ritenute nuove per la scienza e in numero di tre sono anche riferite a nuovi generi. Oltre a tali specie io conosco del Nord America la Campodeidae succinea Nicolet (= C. americana Pack.), comunissima negli Stati del Nord Est, che sarà descritta in una nota sulle Campodee d'Europa, e la C. mexicana Pack., specie assai distinta che verrà illustrata prossimamente in un lavoro sui Tisanuri del Messico.
Distribution and variation in deer (Genus Odocoileus) of the Pacific Coastal Region of North America
(1936)
Beschreibung der Arten: Trechus (Anophthalmus Strm.) vranensis n. sp. Lathrobium (Glyptomerus Müll.) Wingelmülleri n. sp.
Descriptions of new Coleoptera from Madagasar, recently added to the British Museum Collection
(1878)
1. In investigating a spontaneous epidemic disease of rabbits, a micro-organism was isolated in pure cultures which reproduced the characteristic lesions of the natural disease.
2. The bacteriological characters of this bacillus are described and the impossibility of identifying it with previously recorded organisms justifies its being considered a new species. The name Bacterium monocytogenes is proposed.
3. Animal passage raised "virulence" when the doses were well chosen, and increased virulence accentuated the production of necrotic lesions. Overwhelming doses of culture resulted in lowering of "virulence" by animal passage.
4. Bacterium monocytogenes, in doses less than the M.L.D., produced in the circulating blood of rabbits an extreme monocytosis. The responses of the other white cells. were either transient or inconstant.
5. Repeated doses of the organism became progressively less effective as stimuli to large mononuclear production.
6. The cell content of the thoracic duct did not reflect the high degree of monocytosis in the circulating blood.
7. On intrapleural injection of peptone broth and B. coli, the cells of the resultant exudate were primarily polymorphonuclears, even though the circulating blood showed a high monocytosis. With intrapleural injection of B. monocytogenes, when the blood stream was rich in large mononuclears, a pleural exudate containing 30 per cent of these cells was obtained.
8. Phagocytosis experiments in vitro showed that the large mononuclears, while they phagocyted B. coli indifferently, took up B. monocytogenes with an avidity in all respects equal to that of the polymorphonuclear neutrophiles.
The study of rich material of Pterophoridae from Siberia and the Russian Far East revealed 96 species to inhabit these regions. 24 of them are reported for the first time from Asian Russia and 11 species and 2 genera (Sibiretta gen. nov. and Septuaginta gen. nov.) are described as new. Furthermore the genus Snellenia gen. nov. is described and isolated from the genus Stenoptilia, and previously unknown females are described for three species.
The morphology of the skeletal portions of the sting apparatus is described and compared in 63 genera of myrmicine ants in order to evaluate its taxonomic potential in this difficult subfamily. The survey covers about half of the myrmicine genera, and an but 3 small tribes (Ochetomyrmecini, Melissotarsini, Stegomyrmicini). Interspecific variation in the apparatus is described in a third of the genera examined. In addition, the sting apparatus of the primitive ponerine ant, Amblyopone pallipes is described for comparison with the primitive myrmicines; and the sting associated glands (poison gland, Dufour's gland) are illustrated for single species of Amblyopone, Basiceros, Monomorium, Aphaenogaster, Crematogasier, and Zacryptocerus.
Essai d'une révision des espèces européennes & circaméditerranéennes de la famille des Lampyrides
(1884)
The Indian Hill Mynah (Gracula religiosa) was studied in the field in Assam in north-east India. The aims of the study were two-fold: (i) to understand better this bird's exceptional ability in captivity to imitate human speech; and (ii) to provide background understanding to studies of the importance of early auditory experience and of vocal imitation in the development of normal song patterns in birds. First is given a brief description of the distribution, general behaviour, and breeding biology of this arboreal, sexually isomorphic, semi-gregarious species. The remainder of the monograph deals with vocalizations; these were either tape-recorded in the field, or transcribed directly using a written notation developed for the purpose. Any wild adult Mynah of either sex possesses four categories of vocalizations: (i) 'Chip-call'; a loud piercing squeak made in contexts which include alarm. (ii) 'Um-sound'; a soft grunt, acting in close range social contexts, and (like chip-calls) common to all individuals. (iii) 'Whisper-whistles': several soft sounds of types unique to the individual. (iv) 'Calls': several loud noises, of extremely varied patterns. The bulk of the monograph deals with 'calls', as defined thus. Calls were compared quantitatively with one another by a method developed which measured the degree of overlap of one sonogram with a tracing of a second sonogram. Both by this method and by ear, calls were divided into discrete types, without intermediates. Birds of either sex have a repertoire of usually between five and twelve such call types, some of which are produced much more commonly than others. Repertoires tend to be larger in birds which call more frequently, or which have mates with large repertoires. The repertoire of a given bird stays largely constant from year to year in size. composition, and proportions. No bird shares any of its call types with its mate, but it shares several of them with near neighbours of the same sex. There is a progressive change of dialect with distance, such that birds nesting more than about 14 km apart have no call types in common. No general characteristics of call structure could be found which were indicative of the sex of the caller, but in a known locality the call type made immediately reveals the sex of the bird producing it. Call types are learnt by selective imitation of neighbouring individuals during a young bird's first several months. A call type common in the repertoire of one bird tends also to be common in the repertoire of a neighbour, except at the edge of the limited range of that call type. Which particular call type a calling bird selects from among those in its repertoire is discussed. Few call types could be related to non-auditory contexts. A bird is likely to repeat the call type last made, and also tends to standardize the order in which it produces its different call types; this standard order tends to be the same as that of its neighbours. A birdtends also to reply at once and to standardize the call type it makes in immediate reply to a particular call type of its mate; again, neighbouring pairs of birds tend to use the same standardized call and reply types. The length of the interval between a particular call and its reply tends to be constant in a given pair of birds, and approximately the same in neighbouring pairs. These are all further aspects of extensive but selective vocal imitation by Mynahs of adult birds; other species are not imitated. Information on calling when in contact with other pairs came mainly from playback experiments, when single calls were presented to nesting pairs of Mynahs. Response strength was measured by the incidence of flight, number of subsequent vocalizations, latency of response, and proportion of playbacks ignored. When presented with playbacks of calls of familiar types (of neighbours) and of unknown types (of strangers), birds responded more strongly to the familiar than to the unknown call types. They did, however, respond somewhat to the unknown call types, which were of patterns never previously heard by them, presumably recognizing these as being Mynah calls by their sound quality. Mynahs responded as strongly to playbacks of neighbours' calls which were not in their own repertoire as to playbacks of neighbours' calls which were. A bird tends to match at once the call last heard (either from a tape recorder or from a wild neighbour), itself producing the same call type at once, if it possesses it in its own repertoire. That call type, and others associated with it, also occurs more frequently thereafter. Thus calls heard affect calls made, and vice-versa since other individuals nearby behave similarly. A change of nearest neighbours in successive years was shown to affect one pair's repertoire proportions. Further playback experiments showed that Mynahs were able to distinguish between a single call made by their neighbours and a single call of the same call type made by their mates. Small but consistent differences were found in the sonograms of such calls of the same type made by different birds. The structure of a single call type may change gradually with distance. The development of vocalizations with age is briefly described. In the final discussion sections, the ways in which, and the extent to which, Mynahs are able to determine the species, home locality, sex and individual identity of other Mynahs are outlined. There follow consideration, and comparison with other species: (i) of various aspects of repertoires; (ii) of the distribution of call types among different individuals; (iii) of the dynamic aspects of calling, and a scheme is proposed which accounts for the selection for utterance of a particular call type from the repertoire; and (iv) of the organization and coordination of calling. The lack of imitation of other species in the wild is discussed, and contrasted with the several ways in which wild Mynahs imitate one another in various aspects of their calling.
Beitrag zur Käferfauna Griechenlands : sechstes Stück: Malacodermata, Cleridae, Ptinidae, Anobiadae
(1859)
Fauna of the Chilka Lake : the Polyzoa of the lake and of brackish water in the Gangetic Delta
(1915)
Eight species of Polyzoa ilave been found in brackish water on the coasts of India, but of these only three occur, so far as we know, in the Chilka Lake. A fourth was abundant some years ago in small pools of brackish water near its inner.shore, but has now disappeared and has not been taken in the lake itself. A list of the eight species will be found in the Table of Contents on the opposite page. One half of these species are apparently endemic in estuarine tracts, maritime swamps and lagoons in India, while the other half are cosmopolitan or at any rate very widely distributed. The two series may be tabulated thus:· ENDEMIC INDIAN SPECIES. Membranipora bengalensis, Victorella bengalensis, Loxosomatoides colonialis, Loxosomatoides laevis. WIDELY DISTRIBUTED SPECIES. Membranipora hippopus, Bowerbankia caudata, Alcyonidium mytili, Barentsia discreta. ...
The Polyzoa discussed or described in this paper are all from fresh or brackish water. The majority are from the Tale Sap in the north-eastern part of the Malay Peninsula} but a few come from the Tai-Hu in the Kiangsu Province of China. I have also included notes on one Indian form. The following species are to be considered: ENTOPROCTA. Chitaspis athleticus, gen. et sp. nov., from the Tale Sap. CTENOSTOMATA. Alcyonidium mytili, Dalyell, from Indian estuaries, etc. Triticella pediceltata (Alder), from the Tale Sap. Bowerbankiacaudata, Hincks, from the Tale Sap and Perak. Paludicella elongata, Leidy, from the Tai-Hu. Paludicella pentagonalis, sp. nov., from the Tale Sap. Victorelta bengalensis, Annandale, from the Tale Sap. Hislopia cambodgiensis (Jullien), from the Tai-Hu. Hislopia malayensis. sp. nov., from Jalor in the Malay Peninsula. It will be as well to defer consideration of the biology and distribution of these species until I have been able to deal systematically with the Phylactolaemata and Cheilostomata collected on my tour. All that need be said here is that while the species of Paludicella and Hislopia are from fresh water, the others. on the list are from brackish water.
A considerable change has taken place in the Polyzoa of the ponds this winter, apparently owing to last summer's floods, which broke down the embankment that separated the ponds from the river, joining thelll together temporarily. It will, therefore, be well to publish the observations arising from. a visit to Port Canning in December, 1907, both as regards the species already recorded and as regards a new genus that appears to have been introduced since last winter. A con1parison with European specimens, moreover, has also made it necessary to recognize the Bengal Victorella as a distinct species.
Hatten Sie schon einmal die Gelegenheit, Fledermäuse an einem warmen Abend bei der Vorführung ihrer Flugkünste zu beobachten? Es ist einfach faszinierend, wie diese kleinen Säugetiere mit ihren unglaublichen Sinnes- und Flugleistungen feinsten Hindernissen ausweichen, allerkleinste Insekten orten und in akrobatischen Flugmanövern erbeuten. Durch ihre nächtliche Lebensweise sind sie dem Menschen eher verborgen und unbekannt geblieben. Der geräuschlose Flug und das Vermögen, sich bei Dunkelheit sicher zu orientieren, sind weitere Eigenschaften, die für den einen erstaunlich, für den anderen unglaublich, ja sogar unheimlich sind. Früher wurden diese fliegenden Säugetiere deshalb mit Dämonen und Zauberei in Zusammenhang gebracht. Unsere heimischen Fledermäuse haben damit nichts gemein. Im Gegenteil – da sie sich ausschließlich von Insekten und anderen Gliedertieren ernähren, stehen sie sogar in unserem Dienst, denn viele der in der Dunkelheit fliegenden Insekten sind in der Land- und Forstwirtschaft nicht gern gesehen und den Menschen häufig lästig. Da die meisten der insektenfangenden Vögel nur bei Tage jagen, bleiben die Nachtinsekten von ihnen so gut wie verschont. Durch die nächtliche Jagd füllen die Fledermäuse diese „Lücke“ im Haushalt der Natur. In Baden-Württemberg gelten insgesamt 23 Fledermausarten als heimisch. Die Nymphenfledermaus als 23. Art wurde erst 2005 entdeckt. Derzeit sind von 19 Arten Fortpflanzungsvorkommen bekannt. Viele sind als sehr selten einzustufen. Innerhalb der letzten rund 50 Jahre sind die Fledermausbestände bei uns zum Teil dramatisch zurückgegangen – und dies, obwohl alle 23 Arten unter Naturschutz stehen. Dieses Heft möchte Ihnen die Lebensweise der Fledermäuse näher bringen und Schutzmöglichkeiten zu einer langfristigen Sicherung der Fledermausbestände erläutern.
Welche Tiere und Pflanzen es auf unserer Erde überhaupt gibt und wie sie verbreitet sind, ist eine der Kardinalfragen biologischer Grundlagenforschung. Diese Erkenntnis hat sich gerade in den letzten Jahren auch in der Öffentlichkeit durchgesetzt und Biodiversität ist schon fast ein Modewort geworden. Die ungeheure Artenvielfalt der Insekten und hier auch ganz besonders der Käfer kann ohne die Mithilfe der sogenannten Liebhaber oder Amateure nicht erfasst werden. Solche Liebhaber sind eben nicht verschrobene Gestalten, die mit Schmetterlingsnetz und Botanisiertrommel durch Wald und Wiese streifen, sondern sie sind unverzichtbare Grundlagenforscher, die die Basis schaffen für alle weiterführenden biologischen Untersuchungen, wie beispielsweise über Bestandsveränderungen, Vergleich von Ökosystemen oder praktische Naturschutzarbeit. Dass dem so ist, haben Jürgen Frank und Eberhard Konzelmann mit dem vorliegenden Grundlagenwerk über die Käfer Baden-Württembergs eindruckvoll und beispielhaft bestätigt. Die Käfer sind eine der größten Organismen-Gruppen, die wir auf unserem Planeten kennen und sie besitzen eine große ökologische Plastizität in allen terrestrischen Lebensräumen, nur im Meer fehlen sie. Damit besitzen sie auch eine gute Indikatorfunktion und die Untersuchung der Käfergemeinschaften lässt auch Rückschlüsse auf andere Tier- und Pflanzengruppen zu. Das neue Verzeichnis belegt den aktuellen Bestand von rund 4800 Käferarten in Baden-Württemberg auf der Basis abgesicherter und nachprüfbarer Fundnachweise in den letzten 50 Jahren. Das sind mehr als 3/4 aller in Deutschland vorkommenden Arten. Die Arten werden nicht nur aufgelistet, sondern es wird die genaue Anzahl der Funde in den großen Naturräumen des Landes (Rheinebene, Schwarzwald, Neckarland, Schwäbische Alb und Oberschwaben) differenziert dokumentiert.
Die vorliegende Veröffentlichung umfasst zwei Grundbausteine. Zum einen die offizielle Rote Liste mit Nennung der Gefährdungskategorien, zum anderen ein revidiertes systematisches Gesamtartenverzeichnis der Mollusken Baden-Württembergs. Die Rote Liste dient zum schnellen Feststellen der jeweiligen Gefährdungskategorien der einzelnen Arten in Baden-Württemberg und ist wie üblich alphabetisch nach Gattungen geordnet. Sehr großer Wert wurde auf die sorgfältige Analyse der Ergebnisse gelegt (Kapitel 7). Das Gesamtartenverzeichnis dient der aktuellen systematischen Einordnung aller Arten, weshalb hier die Taxa im Kontext des wissenschaftlichen Systems der Mollusken aufgeführt werden. Im systematischen Artenverzeichnis soll der momentane Kenntnisstand über die Mollusken Baden-Württembergs in knapper Darstellung zum Ausdruck kommen. Hier sind auch die bekannten Unterarten aufgeführt und es werden zusätzliche Informationen zum Verbreitungstyp, zur Verbreitung (Vorkommen in den Naturräumen 3. Ordnung) sowie zur Ökologie (Zuordnung einzelner Arten zu bestimmten Biotoptypen) gegeben. Mit diesen Zusatzinformationen werden Rote Listen und Artenverzeichnisse zu Gradmessern der Biodiversitätsforschung. In über 130 ‚Anmerkungen‘ werden die entsprechenden Angaben zur Systematik, Verbreitung und Ökologie präzisiert und es wird auf die hierfür zu Grunde liegende Literatur verwiesen. Alle Angaben der Roten Liste sind auch im ausführlichen systematischen Artenverzeichnis enthalten. In beiden Listen sind die Arten mit ihrer laufenden Nummer aufgeführt. Damit ist ein problemloser Wechsel von der Roten Liste zu den Angaben im systematischen Artenverzeichnis gewährleistet. Der Forschungsstand findet sich vielfach in der historischen Literatur, die deshalb eine sorgfältige und kritische Berücksichtigung erfuhr (siehe Anmerkungen und Literaturverzeichnis). Einen unschätzbaren Wert haben in diesem Zusammenhang die zahlreichen Veröffentlichungen David Geyer‘s, die den Beginn der modernen Regionalfaunisik in Baden-Württemberg kennzeichnen. Ein eigenes Kapitel zur Forschungsgeschichte hätte jedoch den vorgegebenen Rahmen dieser Arbeit gesprengt.
In der jüngsten Vergangenheit hat die Anwendung der inzwischen veralteten Liste zunehmend Probleme bereitet und zwar nicht nur im Zusammenhang mit der Begründung von Naturschutzmaßnahmen, sondern auch bei Bewertungen von Flächen z.B. im Rahmen von Umweltverträglichkeitsstudien und Eingriffsplanungen. Die Diskrepanz zwischen einer früheren Rote-Liste-Einstufung und der heutigen, auf erweiterten Erkenntnissen beruhenden Bewertung der Bestandssituation bestimmter Arten muss unweigerlich zu falschen Schlüssen hinsichtlich der Wertigkeit der zu beurteilenden Flächen führen (vgl. WESTRICH & SCHWENNINGER 1997). Es war deshalb sehr zu begrüßen, dass die Landesanstalt für Umweltschutz Karlsruhe eine Neubearbeitung ermöglicht hat. Dabei sollte gleichzeitig auch den zwischenzeitlich vom Bundesamt für Naturschutz modifizierten Gefährdungskategorien und -kriterien Rechnung getragen und die Fülle an neuen wissenschaftlichen Erkenntnissen integriert werden. Diese waren, soweit möglich, bereits in der Roten Liste der Bienen Deutschlands (WESTRICH et al. 1998) berücksichtigt worden. Da eine Rote Liste stets das im Bezugsraum nachgewiesene Artenspektrum zur Grundlage haben muss, war es erforderlich, auch die Faunenliste im Vorfeld zu aktualisieren, zumal seit dem Erscheinen des Grundlagenwerks zahlreiche Arten erstmals in Baden-Württemberg aufgefunden werden konnten.
In Baden-Württemberg sind in dem 30-jährigen Zeitraum einschließlich dervorliegenden insgesamt fünf Fassungen der Roten Liste der gefährdeten Vogelarten erschienen, die jeweils auf den neuesten Stand der Erforschung der Vogelwelt Baden-Württembergs gebracht wurden. Die einzelnen Fassungen der Roten Liste sind 1973 (1. Fassung, Berthold, Ertel & Hölzinger 1974, 1975), 1977 (2. Fassung, Berthold, Ertel, Hölzinger, Kalchreuter & Ruge 1977), 1981 (3. Fassung, Hölzinger, Berthold, Kroymann & Ruge 1981), 1996 (4. Fassung, Hölzinger, Berthold, König & Mahler 1996) und 2007 (5., vorliegende Fassung) herausgegeben worden. In diesem über 30-jährigen Zeitraum wurden die Kriterien für die Roten Listen entsprechend dem Fortschritt der ornithologischen Forschung zunehmend mehr auf quantitative Grundlagen gestellt. Die Roten Listen waren und sind das Ergebnis systematischer und programmatisch orientierter Bestandsaufnahmen der Vogelwelt abseits emotionaler und naturschutzpolitischer Beurteilung.
Mammalian retinae have rod photoreceptors for night vision and cone photoreceptors for daylight and colour vision. For colour discrimination, most mammals possess two cone populations with two visual pigments (opsins) that have absorption maxima at short wavelengths (blue or ultraviolet light) and long wavelengths (green or red light). Microchiropteran bats, which use echolocation to navigate and forage in complete darkness, have long been considered to have pure rod retinae. Here we use opsin immunohistochemistry to show that two phyllostomid microbats, Glossophaga soricina and Carollia perspicillata, possess a significant population of cones and express two cone opsins, a shortwave-sensitive (S) opsin and a longwave-sensitive (L) opsin. A substantial population of cones expresses S opsin exclusively, whereas the other cones mostly coexpress L and S opsin. S opsin gene analysis suggests ultraviolet (UV, wavelengths <400 nm) sensitivity, and corneal electroretinogram recordings reveal an elevated sensitivity to UV light which is mediated by an S cone visual pigment. Therefore bats have retained the ancestral UV tuning of the S cone pigment. We conclude that bats have the prerequisite for daylight vision, dichromatic colour vision, and UV vision. For bats, the UV-sensitive cones may be advantageous for visual orientation at twilight, predator avoidance, and detection of UV-reflecting flowers for those that feed on nectar.
Mémoire sur plusieurs animaux de la Nouvelle-Hollande dont la description n'a pas encore été publiée
(1804)
Leistus elegans n. sp.
(1891)
Die vorliegende Rote Liste sowie das Artenverzeichnis der Köcherfliegen (Trichoptera) Baden-Württembergs basieren im Wesentlichen auf den Ergebnissen einer seit 1993 im Auftrag der Landesanstalt für Umweltschutz Baden-Württemberg durchgeführten landesweiten Erfassung der Köcherfliegenfauna sowie einer umfangreichen Literaturrecherche. Die Einstufung in die Gefährdungskategorien der Roten Liste ist damit das Resultat einer Bewertung der Bestandssituation der in Baden-Württemberg vorkommenden Köcherfliegenarten.
Vor über 10 Jahren wurde die erste Fassung einer Roten Liste und Checkliste gefährdeter Laufkäferarten Baden-Württembergs publiziert (TRAUTNER 1992), eine zweite Fassung, getrennt in Rote Liste und Artenverzeichnis, folgte 1996 (TRAUTNER 1996a, TRAUTNER & BRÄUNICKE 1996). Seit dieser Zeit hat sich der Kenntnisstand zu Verbreitung, Habitatansprüchen und Gefährdungssituation der Laufkäferarten in Baden-Württemberg wesentlich verbessert. Eine Neufassung der Roten Liste als wichtiges Instrument für die Praxis in Naturschutz und Landschaftsplanung war daher dringend erforderlich.
Schwebfliegen kommen in großer Zahl in fast allen terrestrischen Lebensräumen vor. Dennoch spielen sie bisher in der praktischen Naturschutzarbeit eine untergeordnete Rolle. Verglichen mit anderen Tiergruppen, wie den Tagfaltern, Laufkäfern oder Wildbienen, werden sie nur selten im Rahmen raumrelevanter Planungen berücksichtigt. Dabei decken sie wie keine andere der häufiger untersuchten Gruppen ein breites Spektrum unterschiedlicher Lebensweisen ab. Während die Imagines der meisten Arten eifrige Blütenbesucher sind und eine wichtige Funktion als Bestäuber ausüben, zeichnen sich die Larven durch eine hohe Diversität von Lebensstrategien aus. Die phytophagen Arten minieren in Stängeln, Wurzeln oder Blättern, befallen unterirdische Speicherorgane von Pflanzen oder zapfen das Kambium von Nadelbäumen an. Manche Arten leben in den Fruchtkörpern von Pilzen. Saprophage Arten nutzen abgestorbene feuchte Pflanzen, an organischem Material reiche Gewässer (Pfützen, Teiche, wassergefüllte Baumhöhlen, etc.), leben in Schleimflüssen von Bäumen, in sich zersetzendem Holz, in Säugerkot oder ernähren sich vom Abfall in Wespen- und Hummelnestern. Die zoophagen Vertreter fressen Blattläuse, Raupen, Wespen- oder Ameisenbrut. Schwebfliegen findet man in praktisch allen terrestrischen Lebensräumen, im Wald ebenso wie auf Äckern und im Grünland, auf Sandrasen wie im Hochmoor. In Mitteleuropa sind die meisten Arten eher in frischen bis feuchten Lebensräumen zu finden, Wälder und andere gehölzreiche Lebensräume sind artenreicher als ganz offene Biotope. Einen für interessierte Laien geschriebenen Überblick über die Lebensweise der Schwebfliegen hat SCHMID (1996) veröffentlicht.
We radio-tracked two male and one female Virginia northern flying squirrels (Glaucomys sabrinus fuscus) in the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia at Snowshoe Mountain Resort, in winter 2003 and Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge in winter 2004, respectively, to document winter home range and habitat use in or near ski areas. Male home range size in the winter was larger than that reported for males during summer and fall, whereas the female home range we observed was smaller than those reported for summer and fall. However, winter habitat use was similar to summer and fall habitat use reported in other studies. Virginia northern flying squirrels foraged and denned in both red spruce (Picea rubens)-dominated forests and northern hardwood forests; however, selection of red spruce-dominated forests and open areas was greater than expected based on availability. Use of northern hardwood forest occurred less than expected based on availability. Male squirrels denned near, and routinely crossed, downhill ski slopes and unimproved roads during foraging bouts, whereas the female approached, but did not cross forest edges onto roads or trails.
Stetig wächst das Bewusstsein, dass Spinnen schützenswerte Lebewesen mit einer höchst interessanten Lebensweise sind und dass sie hohe Bedeutung im Naturhaushalt besitzen. Sie werden nicht mehr so häufig wie früher als lästiges, ekeliges und totzuschlagendes "Ungeziefer" empfunden. Nicht zuletzt die faszinierenden Darstellungen von KULLMANN & STERN (1981) haben das Interesse an dieser Tiergruppe geweckt. Darüber hinaus steht heute mit BELLMANN (1997) ein Werk mit hervorragenden Abbildungen und weiteren wichtigen Grundinformationen zur Verfügung, in dem sich auch Nichtfachleute rasch und gründlich über Spinnen informieren können. In Baden-Württemberg kommen nach dem aktuellen Kenntnisstand 738 Spinnenarten vor. Bedingt durch seine Lage im Südwesten Deutschlands ist hier der Anteil der Arten mit Hauptverbreitung im Süden Europas im Ländervergleich besonders groß. Arten mit Hauptverbreitung im Osten Europas finden sich ebenfalls. Im Schwarzwald und auf der Schwäbischen Alb sind Arten des Gebirges zu Hause. Viele Menschen halten Spinnen irrtümlich für Insekten. Spinnen bilden jedoch zusammen mit Skorpionen, Weberknechten, Milben und anderen Tierordnungen, wie zum Beispiel den Pseudoskorpionen, eine eigene Tierklasse.
Several classes of chemicals that are known or suspected contaminants were found in bed sediment in Rock Creek, including polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), phthalate esters, organochlorine pesticides, dioxins and furans, trace metals and metalloids (mercury, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, lead, nickel, silver, and zinc), and polychlorinated biphenyls (total PCBs and selected aroclors). Concentrations of many of these chemicals consistently exceeded thresholdor chronic-effects guidelines for the protection of aquatic life and often exceeded probable effects levels (PELs). Exceedance of PELs was dependent on the amount of total organic carbon in the sediments. Concurrent with the collection of sediment-quality data, white sucker (Catostomus commersoni) were evaluated for gross-external and internal-organ anomalies, whole-body burdens of chemical contaminants, and gut contents to determine prey. The histopathology of internal tissues of white sucker was compared to contaminant levels in fish tissue and bed sediment. Gut contents were examined to determine preferential prey and thus potential pathways for the bioaccumulation of chemicals from bed sediments. Male and female fish were tested separately. Lesions and other necroses were observed in all fish collected during both years of sample collection, indicating that fish in Rock Creek have experienced some form of environmental stress. No direct cause and effect was determined for chemical exposure and compromised fish health, but a substantial weight of evidence indicates that white sucker, which are bottom-eeding fish and low-order consumers in Rock Creek, are experiencing some reduction in vitality, possibly due to immunosuppression. Abnormalities observed in gonads of both sexes of white sucker and observations of abnormal behavior during spawning indicated some interruption in reproductive success.
Seabirds in the UK were generally more productive in 2005 than in 2004, when productivity for many species reached an all-time low. A presumed scarcity of sandeels in 2004, especially in the North Sea, led to widespread starvation of chicks in the Northern Isles and in many places along the east coast of Britain (there is also recent evidence that prey fish were of unusually low energy content in 2004 around SE Scotland). The likely knock-on effect for 2005 was that there were few larger sandeels present (those that hatched in 2004) and it is thought that feeding on these fish allow adults to attain breeding condition in spring. This food scarcity and a cold spring led to what was among the latest breeding seasons on record. However, a late appearance of young sandeels allowed some chicks to fledge, and alternative prey species (such as sprat and small haddock) were taken also. However, it is thought that some chicks starved in this late season, as sandeels become unavailable in late summer, when they settle on the seabed. Unusually, 2005 was a very poor breeding season for many species in NW Scotland, which was spared the food shortages of 2004 and previous years; preferred prey during chick rearing were scarce in this region in 2005.
Using molecular tools to differentiate closely related blackfly species of the genus Simulium
(2008)
Biodiversity data are the foundation for conservation and managemet and taxonomy provides the reference system, skills and tools used to identify organisms. Species level data such as species richness, composition and diversity are common metrics. However, species level identification of organisms tends to be neglected within ecological work, especially within monitoring programmes, but also in conservation biology (Giangrande, 2003). This is because collection of species level data is time consuming, with identification of species-specific characteristics traditionally involving lengthy examination of samples using microscopy. In addition it is costly and species level data is almost impossible to collect if the taxa involved are species rich and difficult to identify (Báldi 1999). Other reasons why species level identification is neglected include the fact that sample collection can damage organisms, so diagnostic morphological features are lost, or that individuals may be in a life history stage or of a sex that does not have diagnostic morphological characteristics. Furthermore, the numbers of available expert taxonomists needed for species identification are in decline and have been for several decades. Species identification using molecular taxonomy where DNA is used as a marker is championed as a tool for resolving a range of morphological problems, such as the association of all life history stages, correlating male and female specimens to the same species and identifying partial specimens. Traditional taxonomy is built around morphological variations between species, with systematic inferences based upon shared physical characters. In molecular taxonomy on the other hand, proteins and genes are used to determine evolutionary relationships. ’DNA barcoding’ aims to provide an efficient method for species-level identification and it is thought that it will provide a powerful tool for taxonomic and biodiversity research (Hajibabaei et al. 2007). Cited strengths of a molecular based approach to species identification include the potential universality and objective nature of DNA data as taxonomic information, the usefulness of molecular data in animal groups characterized by morphological cryptic characters and the use of DNA sequence information to determine otherwise ‘unidentifiable’ biological material (such as incomplete specimens or immature specimens). Its aim is to increase the speed, precision and efficiency of field studies involving diverse and difficult to identify taxa and it has the potential to be automated to provide a rapid and consistently accurate supplementary identification system to traditional taxonomy. This project was a proof-of-concept study that investigated the feasibility of using DNA barcodes to differentiate closely related blackfly species of the genus Simulium. The longer term objective would be to apply such molecular approaches to organisms used in water quality monitoring and to biodiversity studies to provide a quick, robust but practical and cost effective tool for species identification. Great Britain is currently home to 33 morphospecies of blackfly many of which are morphologically close to other species and have been the cause of much systematic revision. In addition to evaluating the use of DNA barcodes in species identification, a non-destructive DNA extraction method was developed to preserve voucher pecimens that will allow a complete morphological classification to be carried after DNA extraction. Using molecular tools to differentiate closely related blackfly species of the genus Simulium v Finding an effective DNA barcode for an individual species involves accurate taxonomic identification and the retention of voucher specimens for future morphological studies. A rapid non-destructive method for DNA extraction from small insects was developed where no clean-up step was required prior to amplification and it was possible to extract DNA of sufficient quality in minutes retaining diagnostic morphological characteristics. For any molecular tool used for species discrimination, an important consideration is defining the specific genetic loci (e.g. the position of genes on a chromosome) to be monitored. All blackfly species in this study were successfully amplified with the standard barcoding coxI gene primer pair LCO1490 5'-GGT CAA CAA ATC ATA AAG ATA TTG G-3' and HCO2198 5'-TAA ACT TCA GGG TGA CCA AAA AAT CA-3' (Folmer et al. 1994) and we did not need to optimise or redesign the primer sequence.
Nestling growth and development studies have been a topic of interest for a greater part of the last century (Sutton 1935, Walkinshaw 1948) and continue to be of interest today. This is not surprising since studies on nestling growth can provide a wealth of biological information that has larger implications for avian management and conservation. Despite this history of studying nestling development, basic information is still limited or absent for many species. Many questions remain unanswered, and contradictory conclusions are often found in the literature (Starck and Ricklefs 1998a). Therefore, much information on aging and development can still be gained from studying the development patterns of similar species and from comparative studies, across avian orders (Minea et al. 1982, Saunders and Hansen 1989, Carsson and Hörnfeldt 1993). Additionally, nestling growth studies can yield insight into the effects of different nesting strategies on productivity (O’Connor 1978), as well as the impacts of parental effort and environmental variables on fitness (Ross 1980, Ricklefs and Peters 1981, Magrath 1991). Since low reproductive success may play a significant role in the declines of many North American passerines (Sherry and Holmes 1992, Ballard et al. 2003), a better understanding of the factors that influence reproductive success is a vital component of avian conservation (Martin 1992). Data on nestling aging can be used to improve nest survival estimates (Dinsmore 2002, Nur et al. 2004), providing information that can be used to more precisely age nests (Pinkowski 1975, Podlesack and Blem 2002), (Jones and Geupel 2007). Indeed, the relatively short time period young spend developing in the nest is a critical part of a bird’s life cycle and a nestling’s developmental path can affect its survival to independence, its survival as an adult, and its future reproductive success.
Many questions regarding gastropod phylogeny have not yet been answered like the molecular confirmation of the Heterobranchia concept based on morphological studies from Haszprunar (1985a; 1988). This taxon contains the “Lower Heterobranchia” with several “primitive” or “basal” members) and the Euthyneura (with the Opisthobranchia and Pulmonata). Phylogenetic relationships of subgroups within the Heterobranchia have not been satisfactorily resolved and monophyly of some taxa within the Heterobranchia (e.g. Opisthobranchia) is questionable. Moreover, most of the “Lower Heterobranchia” have not been included in former molecular studies. In order to resolve phylogenetic relationships within the Heterobranchia, I pursued a molecular systematic approach by sequencing and analysing a variety of genetic markers (including nuclear 28S rDNA + 18S rDNA and mitochondrial 16S rDNA + COI sequences). Maximum likelihood as well as Bayesian inference methods were used for phylogenetic reconstruction. The data were investigated a priori to tree reconstruction in order to find the most appropriate dataset for reconstructing heterobranch phylogeny. A variety of statistical tests (like Chi-Square-Test or Relative-Rate-Test) were applied and the substitution saturation was measured. The Relative-Rate-Test revealed the highest evolution rates within the “Lower Heterobranchia” (Omalogyra sp., Omalogyra fusca, Murchisonella sp., Ebala sp. and Architectonica perspectiva) and Opisthobranchia (Hyalocylis striata). Furthermore, many of the nucleotide positions show a high degree of substitution saturation. Additionally, bipartitions (splits) in the alignment were examined and visualized by split network analyses to estimate data quality. A high level of conflict indicated by many parallel edges of the same lengths could be observed in the neighbournet graphs. Moreover, several taxa with long terminal branches could be identified in all three datasets belonging to the Vetigastropoda, Caenogastropoda, “Lower Heterobranchia” or Opisthobranchia (Nudipleura). All phylogenetic analyses revealed a monophyletic Heterobranchia. Within the Heterobranchia several well supported clades could be resolved. However, the traditional classification based on morphological data could not be confirmed due to paraphyletic Euthyneura (because of the inclusion of the Pyramidellidae and Glacidorboidea) as well as paraphyletic Pulmonata and polyphyletic Opisthobranchia. Based on the phylogenetic inferred evolutionary trends regarding habitat colonisation or character complexes could be deduced. A case study was conducted in order to estimate divergence ages using a “relaxed” molecular clock approach with fossils as minimum age constraints. However, due to large 95% confidence intervals a precise dating of the nodes was not possible. Hence, the results are considered as preliminary. To test the plausibility of the newly obtained hypotheses, the results were evaluated a posteriori using a hypothesis test and secondary structures of the complete 18S rRNA and 28S rRNA. Secondary structure motifs were found within domain 43 and E23 2 &5 of the 18S rRNA as well as within domain E11 and G5_1 of the 28S rRNA, which contain phylogenetic signals to support various groups within the Heterobranchia. In addition, taxon specific motifs were found separating the Vetigastropoda from the Caenogastropoda and Heterobranchia, indicating a possible application of the secondary structure of 18S rRNA and 28S rRNA to reveal phylogenetic relationships at higher taxonomic levels such as Gastropoda or even Mollusca. The utility of the newly invented software RNAsalsa for the reconstruction of secondary structures was tested. The obtained structures were used to adjust evolutionary models specific to rRNA stem (paired basepairs) and loop (unpaired basepairs) regions with the intention of improving phylogenetic results. This approach proved unsuccessful. This molecular phylogenetic investigation provides the most comprehensive molecular study of Heterobranchia relationships to date. Substantial insights into the evolution and phylogeny of this enigmatic taxon have been gained.
Results from a comparative anatomical study of the mesosomal skeleton of Chalcidoidea are presented. External and internal features are described and illustrated for 39 chalcidoid taxa, representing 16 families and 29 subfamilies. This is the most comprehensive morphological study ever conducted for the superfamily. The mesosoma was dissected, macerated and investigated using scanning electron microscopy. The mesothorax and metathorax contributed most of the phylogenetically relevant information. The metafurca is highly variable within Chalcidoidea but seems to be relatively constant at the subfamily level. One hundred and fifty-four morphological characters were scored and analysed cladistically. Outgroup species were chosen from six apocritan superfamilies: Stephanoidea, Ceraphronoidea, Cynipoidea, Platygastroidea, Proctotrupoidea and Mymarommatoidea. Some previously suggested chalcidoid relationships were retrieved: (1) Pteromalidae: Pteromalinae + Miscogasterinae + Panstenoninae; (2) Perilampidae + Eucharitidae; (3) Chalcididae + Leucospidae + Eurytomidae; (4) Eulophidae: Eulophinae + Tetrastichinae + Entedoninae; and (5) Eupelmidae + Encyrtidae, Mymarommatoidea renders Chalcidoidea paraphyletic in our analyses; however, the taxon sample is too restricted to provide a robust hypothesis. Three previously unreported putative autapomorphies of Chalcidoidea were revealed: (1) presence of an exposed, triangular or diamond-shaped prosternum; (2) presence of a percurrent mesopleural sulcus anteriorly terminating in the acropleuron; and (3) presence of paired metapectal plates lateral to the metafurca.