Flat-footed Females and Missing Males: A New Genus and Species of Pleciofungivoridae (Diptera: Bibionomorpha) Represents the First Record of the Family from Mid-Cretaceous Kachin Amber

A new genus and species, Cretopleciofungivora simpsoni gen. et sp. nov., from the extinct family Pleciofungivoridae (Diptera: Bibionomorpha), is discovered in mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber. Previously, this family was known only from imprints in sedimentary rocks of the Jurassic and the Lower Cretaceous. Discovery of a representative of Pleciofungivoridae in Kachin amber confirms the presence of the family in the Upper Cretaceous. The new species has a unique structure of fore tarsus, with lobed and extended tarsal segments II to IV, a feature hitherto known only in a few species of extant Sciaroidea. Although not particularly rare, the new species is currently known only from female specimens. Possible reasons for this phenomenon, very unusual in Sciaroidea, are briefly discussed, including parthenogenesis as a potentially plausible hypothesis.     

Comparative probabilistic assessment of the hydrological performance of reconstructed and natural watersheds

The oil sands industry has committed to returning the mine sites to a productive condition. The reconstructed soil covers must have sufficient available water holding capacity (AWHC) to supply enough moisture over the growing season, to promote vegetation. In order to assess the sustainability of various soil cover alternatives, a generic, system dynamic watershed model entitled GSDW was used along with the available historical meteorological records to estimate the maximum soil moisture deficit and annual evapotranspiration fluxes. A probabilistic framework was adopted; consequently, frequency curves of the maximum annual moisture deficit values are constructed and used to assess the probability that various reconstructed and natural watersheds can provide the associated moisture demands. In general, the study showed a tendency for the reconstructed watershed to provide less moisture for evapotranspiration than natural systems. Watersheds of various soil types, layering, thicknesses and topography were studied. The gained knowledge was used to predict the possible performance of a hypothetical reclamation cover. The results indicated that the hypothetical cover performed in a similar manner to the thickest existing soil cover which confirmed a high probability of that cover to survive under the same existing climatic conditions. Moreover, this probabilistic framework was found to be useful for integrating information gained from natural watersheds (e.g. the canopy of mature natural systems and transfer the results to the reconstructed system). The results show that the canopy influenced the moisture deficit regime positively which signifies a greater possibility that reconstructed covers will adapt to vegetation type. In brief, the adopted approach enables better understanding of the response of reconstructed systems via multiple simulations of ‘what‐if’ scenarios using different soil/vegetation alternatives. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Palynological Analysis of Amber-Bearing Clay from the Lower Cretaceous of Central Lebanon

An amber-bearing lignitic layer of sandy clay from the Lower Cretaceous of Central Lebanon (Mderej-Hammana)yielded a well-preserved,moderately variegated palynoflora,which origin is mixed between land plants and marine microflora.Its detailed analysis led to fulfill its inventory,to propose a paleoenvironmental reconstruction,and to draw the paleoclimate which prevailed over the region:an estuarian area under a rather humid,temperate climate;a variety of ferns grew near the shore-side and in the inward l...     

基于重构等高线的格网细化模型

以规则格网DEM为基础,利用回放等高线与原等高线进行比较,提出两个误差指标和一种格网细化模型,以生成多分辨率的格网DEM,并提高DEM的等高线精度。针对该模型的两个关键步骤,进行了较为详细的论述。通过对一幅实际地形数据进行试验,比较不同方法得出的DEM等高线精度,为DEM精度研究,特别是多分辨率DEM精度研究,提供了一种新的方法和思路。     

The oldest osoriine rove beetle from Cretaceous Burmese amber (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae)

A remarkable new genus and species, Mesallotrochus longiantennatus n. gen. n. sp., is described and figured based on a well-preserved individual in the lowermost Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian) amber from Myanmar. Mesallotrochus is placed in the extant tribe Thoracophorini based on its general habitus, including the protibia with inner edge straight, without ctenidium, exposed protrochantins, open procoxal cavities, and more or less flatted body. Mesallotrochus is separated from other allied genera by the long antennae, very long maxillary palpomere 4, contiguous procoxae, and well-developed anterolateral pronotal angles. The new discovery of the oldest Osoriinae from about 99 million years not only suggests the antiquity of the subfamily, but also bears significant biogeographic implications.     

Early Cretaceous Aleyrodidae (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha) from the Lebanese amber

Four new, monotypic genera of Aleyrodidae from the Lower Cretaceous Lebanese amber are described: Shapashe aithiopa gen. sp. nov.; Milqartis azari gen. sp. nov.; Aretsaya therina gen. sp. nov.; and Yamis libanotos gen. sp. nov. All new taxa represent subfamily Aleurodicinae. The key for identification of genera of Aleurodicinae from the Lebanese amber is provided. The morphological features of newly established taxa are discussed. The importance of the fossils for phylogenetic, evolutionary and ecological studies is presented.     

Further records of biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) from Upper Cretaceous Burmese amber (Myanmar)

A new biting midge Archiculicoides andersoni sp. nov. from Upper Cretaceous Burmese amber is described and illustrated. An unknown male of Leptoconops myanmaricus Szadziewski, 2004 is described and an undetermined female of the genus Archiaustroconops and Austroconops in the collection of National Museums Scotland is reported. A key for the determination of 10 named species in 6 genera of biting midges reported from Burmese amber is also provided.     

缅甸琥珀内含物的初步研究及其意义

琥珀是中生代白垩纪至新生代第三纪松柏科植物的树脂经地质作用而形成的有机混合物.目前世界上琥珀产地主要有欧洲波罗的海沿岸国家,中美洲的多米尼加、墨西哥,亚洲中国抚顺、缅甸、日本久慈和盘城、泰国,大洋洲澳大利亚、新西兰哈密尔顿等.然而,具有商业价值的白垩纪琥珀目前只有缅甸产出.缅甸琥珀资源主要分布于缅甸克钦邦密支那到德乃(Tanai)一带的胡康盆地.本研究在缅甸琥珀中观察和发现共20只生物个体,属15种生物,均属于节肢动物门.其中大部分属于昆虫纲,包含了膜翅目的蜂科、双翅目的蚊科等,另有一些未确切鉴定的种类.     

不同时期再造琥珀的微细结构对比及鉴定

再造琥珀制造技术不断更新换代,并不断取得进展。市场上能见到不同时期的再造琥珀,给实验室鉴定带来挑战。为科学鉴定这些琥珀,结合前人研究和国检（NGTC）近年来的研究成果,主要从放大检查,正交偏光,紫外荧光这三方面分别对早期和近期再造琥珀的鉴定特征进行了系统研究和阐述。结果显示,早期传统再造琥珀的“血丝”状构造明显,其在正交偏光下的特征及紫外灯下的荧光特征明显。近期再造琥珀中的“血丝”变浅,其后多数又进行了一系列后期处理,掩盖了原有的再造琥珀特征,所以其在正交偏光下的特征及紫外灯下的荧光特征均不明显。但在强透射光源照射下,仍可发现局部残余的再造特征,如沿“血丝”分布的片状炸裂纹、流动的“砂糖”状构造等。这些微细结构特征有助于对不同时期再造琥珀进行正确举别。     

First boganiine beetle in mid-Cretaceous amber from northern Myanmar (Coleoptera: Boganiidae)

Cretoboganium gei gen. et sp. nov., a new amber inclusion of the cucujoid family Boganiidae is described and figured based on a well-preserved adult from the mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber (Hukawng Valley, northern Myanmar), some 99 million years ago. Based on the presence of a pair of pronotal callosities, Cretoboganium can be firmly placed in the extant subfamily Boganiinae, a small group currently comprising two small austral genera. Our discovery represents the first fossil record for Boganiinae. It also demonstrates another example that an apparently austral group may have its sister group occurred in today’s northern hemisphere. Together with the other fossil boganiid known from the Middle Jurassic of China, the finding suggests that Boganiidae is an ancient and relict group. Moreover, the present biogeographic distribution of Boganiinae is indicative of an earlier origin of this subfamily, which likely originated before the breakup of the Gondwanan supercontinent.