Rare and new small-celled taxa of Navicula s. str. in the Gulf of Gdansk and in its freshwater affluents

Presented are results of morphological (LM and SEM) and taxonomical investigations on very small-sized Navicula spp. from the brackish waters of the Gulf of Gdansk and some freshwater affluents. Detailed studies revealed that most of the taxa in question are either new for science or previously described but rather poorly known. Dominant in that assemblage of extraordinarily small-celled Navicula species, specimens mostly below 10 μm in length, are Navicula germanopolonica Witkowski & Lange-Bertalot and Navicula paulschulzii Witkowski & Lange-Bertalot as established taxa. New for science are Navicula aleksandrae, Navicula bozenae and Navicula viminoides ssp. cosmomarina. From common freshwater habitats no species are known that could be confused with the new taxa.     

中国鱼腥藻属的两个新记录种

迄今为止,全球范围共报道出100多种鱼腥藻,中国记录报道的仅有50余种,但有些种类的描述仍较模糊.最近在福建、浙江等地进行野外调查时,发现了多种丝状蓝藻.其中就有2种鱼腥藻在中国尚未报道:威格鱼腥藻(Anabaenaviguieri Denis et Frémy 1923)和史密斯鱼腥藻(Anabaena smithii(Komárek)Watanabe 1992).     

扎龙自然保护区宽带鼓藻属(鼓藻目)一新种

2011-2012年间对扎龙国家级自然保护区的藻类标本进行采集及观察鉴定.研究发现,该区域鼓藻类植物生物多样性较高,共观察到90个分类单位.研究过程中发现宽带鼓藻属的一个新种——Pleurotaenium parvulum Li,FanWei.该物种特征为植物体单细胞,细胞小型,长圆柱形;半细胞顶端平截,其缘边横断面可见5个小结节;细胞壁平滑或具点纹;半细胞具两个轴生星状的色素体,每个色素体具1个蛋白核.本文比较了该物种与其相近种类之间的差异.     

Morphologie und Infraciliatur einiger limnischer Ciliaten (Protozoa: Ciliophora)

The morphology, the infraciliature, and the silverline system of the fresh-water ciliatesUrotricha armata Kahl, 1927,Longifragma obliqua (Kahl, 1926) nov. gen., andTrochilioides fimbriatus nov. spec. are described. The new genusLongifragma is characterized by aProrodon-like “brosse” and an incompleteUrotricha-like somatic infraciliature. A new species,Urotricha dragescoi nov. spec., is suggested for theU. armata Kahl, 1927 of Dragesco et al. (1974).Trochilioides fimbriatus differs by its complex cyrtos from the other members of the genus.      

Testacea (Protozoa: Rhizopoda) in the Epilithion of the Lotic Stretch of Running Waters of Different Degrees of Saprobity (Czechoslovakia)

In 1976 to 1981 Testacea were followed in the epilithion of the lotic stretch of running waters of different degrees of saprobity. 225 samples were processed altogether; 56 taxa and 1859 individuals were found in them. For the individual degrees of saprobity the index of species diversity (H') was calculated as well as the index of saprobity (S). Most taxa and individuals were found in the beta-mesosaprobic degree. The following may be considered characteristic species for the oligosaprobic degree: Centropyxis sylvatica and Cyphoderia ampulla. For the beta-mesosaprobic degree they are Centropyxis aculeata, Euglypha acanthophora and Trinema lineare. Other species cannot be considered to be realiable indicators.     

Diatoms from the genus Achnanthidium in flowing waters of the Appalachian Mountains (North America): Ecology, distribution and taxonomic notes

Diatoms from the genus Achnanthidium are abundant in rivers, streams, and springs of the Appalachian Mountains. They inhabit clean and polluted waters, including those affected by acid mine drainage. The identification of Achnanthidium taxa is difficult due to their small cell size and insufficient information in the diatom floras. We studied the taxonomy and ecology of Achnanthidium in Appalachian rivers by analyzing a data set of benthic diatom samples and corresponding water chemistry data collected during several water-quality surveys from 181 sampling sites. Ten species were identified using scanning electron and light microscopy: A. alpestre (Lowe & Kociolek) Lowe & Kociolek, A. atomus (Hustedt) Monnier, Lange-Bertalot, & Ector, A. deflexum (Reimer) Kingston, A. duthii (Sreenivasa) Edlund, A. eutrophilum (Lange-Bertalot) Lange-Bertalot, A. cf. gracillimum (Meister) Lange-Bertalot, A. cf. latecephalum Kobayasi, A. minutissimum (Kützing) Czarnecki (sensu lato), A. reimeri (Camburn) comb. nov., and A. rivulare Potapova & Ponader. The distribution of common taxa in relation to water chemistry was studied by fitting non-parametric regression models (generalized additive models, GAM, and non-parametric multiplicative regression models, NPMR) to species relative abundances. Studied Achnanthidium species differed considerably in their responses to water chemistry. These results suggest that species-level identifications will lead to more accurate bioassessments.     

扎龙国家级自然保护区硅藻植物特征及其环境指示作用

2011年春、夏、秋季对扎龙国家级自然保护区内的硅藻群落结构进行研究.通过鉴定,共发现硅藻门植物112个分类单位,包括96种16变种,隶属于2纲6目9科32属.通过对硅藻植物的种类组成、聚类分析等方法,对扎龙国家级自然保护区内的硅藻植物分布情况进行初步研究,结果表明,扎龙国家级自然保护区内硅藻植物种类较为丰富,保护区内水体普遍为受轻污染或中度污染状态,个别水域存在富营养化情况,春、夏、秋季节中,秋季的富营养情况较为严重.结合水体的理化指标,通过对扎龙国家级自然保护区水体中硅藻的优势种、指示种的分析,发现该水域喜碱性、半咸水种类及中污带的种类较多,说明保护区水体受到轻微的污染,个别水域出现富营养状态.扎龙国家级自然保护区水体呈中-弱碱性、微盐,表明该区域受到了土地盐碱化的影响.     

Classification and distribution of Oligocene Aetiocetidae (Mammalia; Cetacea; Mysticeti) from western North America and Japan

Abstract Fossil whales in the very rare, primitive, extinct cetacean family Aetiocetidae are small, relict, toothed mysticetes that persisted into Late Oligocene time after more highly derived baleen-bearing mysticetes had already evolved. No known aetiocetid could be ancestral to baleen-bearing mysticetes, but aetiocetid morphology is in many ways intermediate between archaeocetes and baleen-bearing mysticetes, demonstrating the probable transitional steps passed through in the evolution of baleen-bearing mysticetes. Their discovery indicates that mysticetes evolved from Archaeocetes, and supports theories of the monophyly of Cetacea. Late Oligocene aetiocetids have been found on both sides of the North Pacific Ocean: on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada; in Oregon and Washington, USA; in Baja California Sur, México; and the islands of Kyushu and Hokkaido, Japan. The most primitive North American aetiocetid, Chonecetus sookensis Russell, 1968, is from the early Late Oligocene Hesquiat Formation on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. A more derived, Late Oligocene species, Chonecetus goedertorum Barnes and Furusawa, new species, from the Late Oligocene Pysht Formation, Olympic Peninsula, Washington, has the primitive placental mammalian tooth count of 11/11. The type genus of the family, Aetiocetus Emlong, 1966, has as its type species, A. cotylalveus Emlong, 1966, known only from the Late Oligocene Yaquina Formation on the coast of Oregon. It has 11 upper teeth on each side of the rostrum. A more derived species, Aetiocetus weltoni Barnes and Kimura, new species, from a higher stratigraphic level in the Yaquina Formation, has a more posteriorly positioned cranial vertex and a tooth count of 11/12. We describe four new species of aetiocetids in three genera from the Late Oligocene Morawan Formation near Ashoro, Hokkaido, Japan. The most primitive, Ashorocetus eguchii Barnes and Kimura, new genus and species, has a primitive stage of cranial telescoping, and is closely related to Chonecetus Russell, 1968. Another, Morawanocetus yabukii Kimura and Barnes, new genus and species, in some ways intermediate between Chonecetus and Aetiocetus, has a suite of unique derived characters, including a much foreshortened brain case. The third, Aetiocetus tomitai Kimura and Barnes, new species, is the most primitive species of Aetiocetus yet discovered. The fourth, Aetiocetus polydentatus Sawamura, new species, the most derived species of Aetiocetus known, has a highly telescoped cranium, homodonty, polydonty and a dental count of 13–14/14–15. The fossil record now indicates considerable diversity in the family, with several different contemporaneous lineages in three new subfamilies: Chonecetinae, Morawanocetinae and Aetiocetinae. Aetiocetids are not known outside the North Pacific. Many Recent mysticetes are essentially cosmopolitan, and aetiocetids might have also been relatively widely dispersed. We suspect that with time their remains will be found around other ocean basins also. If so, then they may be potentially useful in trans-oceanic geological correlations.     

Miocene pinnipeds of the otariid subfamily Allodesminae in the North Pacific Ocean: Systematics and relationships

Abstract Fossil pinnipeds in the extinct otariid subfamily Allodesminae are large, relatively highly evolved marine carnivores that became abundant and diverse in Middle Miocene time and were restricted to the North Pacific Ocean. Their record extends from early Middle Miocene through Late Miocene, with records from California, Oregon, Washington, Baja California and Japan. Allodesmines are characterized by extreme sexual dimorphism, a large orbit, retracted orbital margin of the zygomatic arch, a deeply mortised jugal-squamosal junction, wide palate, bulbous cheek tooth crowns, nearly flat tympanic bulla with wrinkled ventral surface, a large tympanohyal fossa, large ear ossicles and deep mandible. Eleven allodesmine species are known (eight of which are named), in at least four genera, and most belong to the typical genus Allodesmus Kellogg, 1922. The earliest and most generalized allodesmine known is from the early Middle Miocene (ca 16 Ma) Astoria Formation in coastal Oregon. The last known records are from Late Miocene rocks (ca 10 Ma) in California and Washington. New taxa proposed here are: the genus Brachyallodesmus Barnes and Hirota, to contain Allodesmus packardi Barnes, 1972; the genus Megagomphos Hirota and Barnes, to contain Allodesmus sinanoensis (Nagao, 1941); the species Allodesmus sadoensis Hirota, (Middle Miocene, Japan); the species Allodesmus megallos Hirota (Middle Miocene, Japan); and the species Allodesmus gracilis Barnes (Middle Miocene, California). Additionally, the genus Atopotarus Downs, 1956, and the species Allodesmus kelloggi Mitchell, 1966, are resurrected. Allodesmines were apparently a rapidly evolving group, and most appear to have been adapted to roles later filled by otariine, dusignathine and imagotariine otariids, and the Phocidae (true seals). They became extinct in Late Miocene time and left no living descendants. Although some of their characters evolved convergently with various living species of the pinniped family Phocidae, Allodesminae are an otariid group and not part of the evolutionary history of Phocidae.     

Limnological Studies in a Subtropical System (Lake Sattal,India)

A limnological study was carried out in the subtropical Lake Sattal (Kumaun Himalaya) during 1979. The lake was thermally stratified during warm months and a low percentage saturation of dissolved oxygen occurred in the bottom waters. Two maxima of phytoplankton occurred in the Eastern basin in contrast to only one in the Western basin. The peak in the latter developed more than a month (October) after the second peak in the former (August). Bacillariophyceae contributed highest in the Western basin (43.2%) whereas the Dinophyceae had the least share in the Eastern basin (8.0%). Most of the dominant phytoplankters were: Synedra ulna, Fragilaria, Gymnodinium, Crucigenia and Closteridium siamensis. Interestingly, blue-green alga Nostoc, dominated for some time in autumn. A total of 12 genera of rotifers, 6 genera of cladocerans and 1 genus of copepods were found in Lake Sattal basins. Dominant zooplankters included Keratella, Cyclops, Anuraeopsis, Polyarthra and Trichocerca, and there is a high ratio of rotifers to copepods and cladocerans. On comparing the averaged values of both the basins, the Eastern basin showed a 64% larger population of zooplankton than the Western basin. A comparison is made with the plankton of the other subtropical lake-systems of this region.     

A new species of Middle Miocene sperm whale of the genus Scaldicetus (Cetacea; Physeteridae) from Shiga-mura, Japan

Abstract A nearly complete skeleton of a fossil sperm whale from the Middle Miocene age Bessho Formation at Shiga-mura, Nagano Prefecture, the most complete fossil physeterid skeleton found in Japan, is here named Scaldicetus shigensis, new species. Its abruptly tapered rostrum, deep supracranial basin, and high occipital crest are typical of physeterids. Large teeth with crenulate enamel on conical crowns, present in both the palate and mandible, are consistent with the genus Scaldicetus du Bus, 1867, a genus originally based on fossils discovered in the Antwerp Basin, Belgium. Scaldicetus shigensis is relatively primitive, having a relatively long, slender rostrum, large zygomatic arches, large tympanic bullae, prominent occipital condyles, low tooth count and a sloping occipital shield that is deeply emarginated laterally by large temporal fossae. The probable mandibular tooth count is 12, only one more than the primitive eutherian mammalian dentition. Despite its abundant primitive characters, Scaldicetus shigensis has very asymmetrical external nares, comparable to the living sperm whale, Physeter catodon, and is in this way more derived than most of the contemporaneous fossil physeterids. At a time when other sperm whales were more highly evolved, Scaldicetus shigensis retained a primitive occipital shield, large tympanic bullae, and low tooth count, as in primitive Oligocene odontocetes such as Agorophiidae. It was a relict form in Middle Miocene time, and provides an indication of a primitive stage of sperm whale evolution heretofore undocumented. Fossils from elsewhere previously referred to as Scaldicetus, largely on the basis of tooth characters, range in age from Early Miocene to Plio-Pleistocene time. Cranial material that would clarify relationships is lacking for most of these, and this time range seems too long for a cetacean genus. Because of this simplistic approach to identifications, Scaldicetus is probably a grade taxon, not a natural biological grouping. However, the tooth morphology of Scaldicetus shigensis is correct for the genus Scaldicetus, so we provisionally assign it to this genus. Redefinition of the genus Scaldicetus and revision of the Physeteridae are beyond the scope of the present study.     

浮游藻类三个常见属(颤藻属、直链硅藻属和针杆藻属)学名变更的解释

根据近年来国外文献所涉及的藻类分类学研究进展,着重解释了蓝藻门的颤藻属和硅藻门的直链硅藻属和针杆藻属的一些浮游种类的学名变更情况,同时介绍了国际上最新的蓝藻门颤藻目和硅藻门的分类概况．根据Anagnostidis和Komfirek的分类,原颤藻属的大部分浮游种类进入了新属『浮游蓝丝藻属](Planktothrix),其他种类则分别属于[湖生蓝丝藻属](Limnothrix)、胶鞘藻属(Phormidium)和现在的颤藻属(Oscillatoria)等多个颤藻目的类别．根据Krammer和Lange-Bertalot的分类,原直链硅藻属的浮游种类进入了新属[浮生直链藻属](Aularoseira),另外的种类归属于Orthoseira、Ellerbeckia和现在的直链硅藻属(Melosira)等硅藻类别中：原针杆藻属的浮游种类并入脆杆藻属(Fragilaria),其他种类进入菱形藻属(Nitzschia)、双尖菱板藻属(Hantzschia)和现在的针杆藻属(Synedra)中．     

Redescription of the rare species Podospongia loveni (Porifera) from the Cantabrian Sea

Podospongia [du Bocage, B., 1869. Eponges siliceuses nouvelles du Portugal et de l’Île Saint-Iago (Archipel de Cap-Vert). Jornal de Sciencias mathematicas, physicas e naturais 2, 159–162], which at present includes only five species, is a rare genus generally found in deeper waters down to 600 m depth from Natal coast in South Africa, to New Caledonia, the Central and North Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea. Species of this genus are characterised by a choanosomal skeleton composed of tracts of megascleres radiating from a centrum and stipitate body. Microscleres are spinorhabds and aciculospinorhabds packed in a vertical arrangement in the ectosome and scattered throughout choanosome.As a result of two oceanographic projects (Ecomarg, date; Cocace, date) on the continental shelf of the Cantabrian Sea, ten stipitate sponge specimens were collected and assigned to Podospongia loveni [du Bocage, B., 1869. Eponges siliceuses nouvelles du Portugal et de l’Île Saint-Iago (Archipel de Cap-Vert). Jornal de Sciencias mathematicas, physicas e naturais 2, 159–162]. Since the holotype was destroyed [Kelly, M., Samaai, T., 2002. Family Podospongiidae de Laubenfels, 1936. In: Hooper, J.N.A., Soest, RW.M., (Eds.), Systema Porifera: A Guide to the Classification of Sponges, New York, pp. 694–702] and with the existence of several specimens from a close region, we hereby redescribe this species. scanning electron microscopy pictures of the spicules and skeletal architecture of P. loveni are for the first time provided.     

New discovery of Palaeontinid fossils from the Middle Jurassic in Daohugou, Inner Mongolia (Homoptera, Palaeontinidae)

Three new species of fossil Palaeontinidae are described from Daohugou Village, Inner Mongolia, China: Daohugoucossus shii sp. nov., D. parallelivenius sp. nov., D. lii sp. nov. The diagnosis of Dao- hugoucossus Wang, Zhang and Fang, 2006 is revised. These materials are the first complete fossil palaeontinids in the Middle Jurassic of the world. Based on observation of these new specimens, Sc of this new genus has the following combined characters: joined with R at base, diverged near M separa- tion, coalesced with R before the nodal line, extended beyond the nodal line and fused with R1 before distal end. Due to the Sc characteristics mentioned above, the genus Liaocossus Ren, Yin and Dou, 1998 can be well distinguished from “Ilerdocossus-complex”.     

Reproductive traits of the freshwater shrimp Caridina fossarum Heller, 1862 (Decapoda, Caridea, Atyidae) in the Ghomp-Atashkedeh spring (Iran)

In the present study, some biological traits of Caridina fossarum reproduction are studied in the Ghomp-Atashkedeh spring (Fasa, Shiraz, Iran), for the first time. This Iranian endemic freshwater species was studied from April 2007 to March 2008. Minimum sexable size (MSS) and absolute or relative size at the onset of maturity (SOM and RSOM) in terms of carapace length (CL) was found to be 2.4 mm, 4.3 mm and 55%, respectively. Sex ratio showed variations on a monthly basis. Sex reversal is a possible scenario for C. fossarum because the size-specific sex ratio revealed a reverse pattern. Based on the proportions of ovigerous females, the main breeding season was determined to be from April to August, demonstrating a peak during early spring. There is a period of extended recruitment at water temperatures above 20 °C. The size at which 50% of females are mature was estimated at CL = 5.03 mm from the proportion of ovigerous females during the breeding season. The pleopodal egg number varied from 3 to 75 eggs per female with a mean value 34.39 ± 14.27. The results showed that although there is a significant relationship between carapace length CL and pleopodal egg number, it is not the most important factor affecting potential fecundity in C. fossarum due to the low values of slope (= 1.51) and determination coefficient (= 0.052).     

太湖鲚鱼和鲢、鳙鱼的食物组成及相互影响分析

通过分析和比较太湖鲚鱼、鲢、鳙鱼的食物组成,研究了它们间的食物关系;并结合太湖历年鱼类渔获量资料,对渔获量变化间可能存在的相互影响进行了相关分析.结果表明:在9-12月份期间,鲢鱼、鳙鱼食物中微囊藻约占体积比的90%以上、浮游动物不足10%;用Pianka提出的公式计算鲢鱼和鳙鱼间的食物重叠系数为＞0.99,相同食物组成比例为95.40%.而同期调查0 鲚鱼食物中微囊藻约占体积的15%-35%;如不计算微囊藻仅计算浮游动物的个数组成比则为:枝角类占89.77%±13 69%,桡足类占7.84%±11.53%,轮虫占2.39%±4.95%.而简单相关、偏相关分析表明:鲚鱼和鲢、鳙鱼数量变化间的负相关关系均达到显著水平.分析认为:在富营养化条件下,太湖的鲢鱼和鳙鱼以微囊藻为主要食物;而鲚鱼和鲢、鳙鱼食物中浮游动物的种类基本相同,可能存在对浮游动物资源的激烈竞争;它们种群数量变化间的相互影响是负向的,可能存在互相抑制.     

New species of Tsaidamotherium (Bovidae,Artiodactyla) from China sheds new light on the skull morphology and systematics of the genus

A new species of Tsaidamotherium(Bovidae,Artiodactyla),T.brevirostrum,described here represents only the second discovery of the genus.Tsaidamotherium is a mid-sized late Miocene bovid with an odd-looking plate-like horn-core apparatus so far known only from northwestern China.The holotype of T.brevirostrum is a cranial part of skull from the Liushu Formation(late Miocene)of the Linxia Basin.The new species differs from the type species,T.bohlini,mainly in horn-core morphology,having the frontal horn-cores proper much smaller and less distinctly separated from the plate-shaped posterior portion.Furthermore,the new species has smaller frontal sinuses,but a thicker layer of compact bone beneath the horn-core apparatus as seen in frontal section.A complete skull with a smaller horn-core apparatus is considered to represent a female individual of T.brevirostrum.The facial part of the skull,which is first known for this genus,is very short and high,with a high nasal cavity,strongly retracted nasals,and shortened premaxillae and premolar rows.All this probably suggests that the animal with an enlarged nasal cavity,like the modern Saiga and Budorcas,may have had a special adaptation to the high plateau environment.