The vegetation and climate history of the last glacial cycle in a new pollen record from Lake Fimon (southern Alpine foreland, N-Italy)

The sediments of Like Fimon N Italy contain the first continuous archive of the Late Pleistocene environmental and climate history of the southern Alpine foreland We present here the detailed palynological record of the interval between Termination II and the List Glacial Maximum The age-depth model is obtained by radiocarbon dating in the uppermost part of the record Downward we con elated major forest expansion and contraction events to isotopic events in the Greenland Ice core records via a stepping-stone approach involving intermediate correlation to isotopic events dated by TIMS U/Th in Alpine and Apennine stalagmites and to pollen records from mime cores of the Iberian margin Modelled ages obtained by Bayesian analysis of deposition are thoroughly consistent with actual ages with maximum offset of +/- 1700 years Sharp expansion of broad-leaved temperate forest and of sudden water table rise mark the onset of the Last Interglacial after a treeless steppe phase at the end of penultimate glaciation This event is actually a two-step process which matches the two step rise observed in the isotopic record of the nearby Antro del Corchia stalagmite respectively dated to 132 5 +/- 2 5 and 129 +/- 1 5 ka At the interglacial decline mixed oak forests were replaced by oceanic mixed forests the latter persisting further for 7 ka till the end of the Eemian succession Warm-temperate woody species are still abundant at the Eemian end corroborating a steep gradient between central Europe and the Alpine divide at the inception of the last glacial After a stadial phase marked by moderate forest decline a new expansion of warm broad leaved forests interrupted by minor events and followed by mixed oceanic forests can be identified with the north-alpine Saint Germain I The spread of beech during the oceanic phase is a valuable circumalpine marker The subsequent stadial-interstadial succession lacking the telocratic oceanic phase is also consistent with the evidence at the north alpine foreland The Middle Wurmian (full glacial) is marked by persistence of mixed forests dominated by conifers but with significant lime and other broad leaved species A major Arboreal Pollen decrease is observed at modelled age of 38 7 +/- 0 5 ka (larch expansion and last occurrence of lime) which his been related to Heinrich Event 4 The evidence of afforestation persisting south of the Alps throughout most of MIS 3 contrasts with a boreal and continental landscape known for the northern alpine foreland pointing to a sharp rainfall boundary at the Alpine divide and to southern air circulation This is in agreement with the Alpine paleoglaciological record and is supported by the pressure and rainfall patterns designed by mesoscale paleoclimate simulations Strenghtening the continental high pressure during the full glacial triggered cyclogenesis in the middle latitude eastern Europe and orographic rainfall in the eastern Alps and the Balkanic mountains thus allowing forests development at current sea level altitudes (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved

A high resolution 15,600-year pollen and microcharcoal record from the Cederberg Mountains, South Africa

The Cederberg Mountains (Western Cape Province, South Africa) are located within the Fynbos Biome, which exhibits some of the highest levels of species richness and endemism in the world. The region's post-glacial vegetation history, however, remains largely unknown. Presented here are high resolution pollen and microcharcoal records spanning the last 15,600 years obtained from the De Rif rock hyrax midden from the Driehoek Valley of the central Cederberg. In this region, previous pollen studies have shown muted variability in vegetation community composition during periods of globally marked climatic variability (e.g. the last glacial-interglacial transition). In our record, however, significant changes in vegetation composition are apparent. Most notably, they indicate a shift from ericaceous/restioid fynbos (present from 15,600 to 13,300 cal yr BP) to a brief, but prominent, development of proteoid fynbos at the beginning of the Holocene around 11,200 cal yr BP. This vegetation shift is associated with increased moisture at the site, and coincides with reduced fire frequency as indicated by the microcharcoal record. At 10,400 cal yr BP, there is a marked reduction in Protea-type pollen, which is replaced by thicket, characterised by Dodonaea, which became the dominant arboreal pollen type. This shift was likely the result of a long relatively fire-free period coupled with warmer and wetter climates spanning much of the early Holocene. A brief but marked decrease in water availability around 8500-8000 cal yr BP resulted in the strong decrease of Dodonaea pollen. The vegetation of the mid- to late Holocene is characterised by the increased occurrence of Asteraceae and succulent taxa, suggesting substantially drier conditions. These data give unprecedented insight into the vegetation dynamics across a period of substantial, rapid climate change, and while they confirm the presence of fynbos elements throughout the last 15,600 years, the results highlight significant fluctuations in the vegetation that were triggered by changes in both climate and fire regimes. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Distribution, occurrence and biotoxin composition of the main shellfish toxin producing microalgae within European waters: A comparison of methods of analysis

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are a natural global phenomena emerging in severity and extent. Incidents have many economic, ecological and human health impacts. Monitoring and providing early warning of toxic HABs are critical for protecting public health. Current monitoring programmes include measuring the number of toxic phytoplankton cells in the water and biotoxin levels in shellfish tissue. As these efforts are demanding and labour intensive, methods which improve the efficiency are essential. This study compares the utilisation of a multitoxin surface plasmon resonance (multitoxin SPR) biosensor with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and analytical methods such as high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for toxic HAB monitoring efforts in Europe. Seawater samples (n = 256) from European waters, collected 2009-2011, were analysed for biotoxins: saxitoxin and analogues, okadaic acid and dinophysistoxins 1/2 (DTX1/DTX2) and domoic acid responsible for paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP), diarrheic shellfish poisoning (DSP) and amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP), respectively. Biotoxins were detected mainly in samples from Spain and Ireland. France and Norway appeared to have the lowest number of toxic samples. Both the multitoxin SPR biosensor and the RNA microarray were more sensitive at detecting toxic HABs than standard light microscopy phytoplankton monitoring. Correlations between each of the detection methods were performed with the overall agreement, based on statistical 2 × 2 comparison tables, between each testing platform ranging between 32% and 74% for all three toxin families illustrating that one individual testing method may not be an ideal solution. An efficient early warning monitoring system for the detection of toxic HABs could therefore be achieved by combining both the multitoxin SPR biosensor and RNA microarray.

Taxonomic notes on Borgmeiermyia Townsend (Diptera,Tachinidae) with the first host record for the genus

Borgmeiermyia Townsend, 1935 is a small Neotropical genus of Tachinidae (Diptera) with four described species. Brief descriptions are given to the previously unknown females of B. brasiliana Townsend, 1935 and B. paraguayana Sehnal, 1998, and the male of B. peruana Arnaud, 1963. An identification key to the four known species is given, as well as comments on characters with intraspecific variation. Change of depository of the holotype of B. brasiliana from one institution to another is discussed and its current location is given. Also, the first host is recorded for the genus with the occurrence of B. paraguayana para-sitizing Phylloptera aff. ovalifolia Burmeister, 1839 (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Phaneropterinae).

Actinopterygii, Siluriformes, Loricariidae, Loricariichthys platymetopon Isbrucker and Nijssen, 1979: first record in Reservoir of Canoas II, Middle Paranapanema River, border of the states of São Paulo and Parana, Brazil.

First record of the cascudo, Loricariichthys platymetopon Isbrucker and Nijssen, 1979 in Canoas II Reservoir (Middle Paranapanema River, border of the states of São Paulo and Parana, Brazil). Its occurrence is due to the flooding of Sete Quedas waterfall, as a result of the construction of Itaipu Reservoir. Furthermore, there is absence or low abundance of natural predators, like Salminus brasiliensis, since this species has difficulties to adapt or even survive in reservoirs.

New record of Haplometroides intercaecalis (Digenea, Plagiorchiidae) infecting a Brazilian snake

Phalotris matogrossensis (Serpentes, Colubridae) was reported as a new host for Haplometroides intercaecalis ( Digenea, Plagiorchiidae). The host snake was obtained from the municipality of Anastacio, state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. One specimen of H. intercaecalis was recovered from the esophagus of the host and identified by the intercecal position of the vitellaria in the pre-acetabular region. This paper describes the second report of the occurrence of this trematode in fossorial snakes of the genus Phalotris in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.

Record of a gregarine (Apicomplexa : Neogregarinida) in the abdomen of the termite Coptotermes gestroi (Isoptera, Rhinotermitidae)

Coptotermes gestroi is an exotic species of termite that is a pest of great economical importance in Brazil. This paper relates the occurrence of a coelomic gregarine (Apicomplexa: Neogregarinida) in the abdomen of the foraging workers recently collected from field colonies of this termite. The termite hosts presented large, white abdomens because they carried 1 up to 3 cysts of gregarines filled with numerous lemon-shaped spores. Earlier developmental stages of this gregarine were not observed in the scanning microscope preparations nor in the histological slides of the infected termites. However, the lemon-shaped spores suggest a parasite gregarine of Mattesia genus, family Lipotrophidae. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Record of mimetism between mites and eggs of the neotropical termite Cornitermes cumulans (Isoptera : Termitidae)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Record of Argyrodiaptomus bergi (Crustacea: Copepoda: Calanoida) after 36 years and first record in Brazil

The first record of Argyrodiaptomus bergi (Richard, 1897) from a small roadside pool at high altitude in the southern region of Brazil is presented. This is the ninth record of this species in South America (previously known from Argentina and Uruguay) since its original description, and a new occurrence after 36 years, extending its known distribution to the northeast. The environments where this species was found differ sharply, and possible explanations include the loss of habitat, high species selectivity or deficient sampling efforts. An additional description is provided, with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) photomicrographs and line drawings. Similarly to other species of Argyrodiaptomus, such as Argyrodiaptomus falcifer (Daday, 1905), Argyrodiaptomus denticulatus (Pesta, 1927) and Argyrodiaptomus granulosus (Brehm, 1933), this species shows a restricted distribution in the lower stretches of the Paraná and Uruguay rivers, particularly in small pools. The importance of better understanding the dynamics and diversity of small water bodies is discussed.

First record of the ghost bat Diclidurus scutatus Peters (Mammalia, Chiroptera, Emballonuridae) in São Paulo city, Brazil

Devido aos seus hábitos de voar alto e se abrigar em folhas de palmeiras, há poucos registros na literatura sobre o morcego Diclidurus scutatus Peters, 1869. No Brasil, essa espécie é conhecida somente na região Norte e o presente estudo descreve sua primeira ocorrência na região Sudeste. O morcego foi encontrado morto no parapeito da janela de um apartamento do nono andar, em um edifício residencial, na área urbana da cidade de São Paulo, estado de São Paulo. Provavelmente esse morcego devia viver na Serra da Cantareira, um fragmento da mata Atlântica, próximo da cidade de São Paulo.

New record for the army ant Labidus mars (Formicidae: Ecitoninae) in the Atlantic Rain Forest of São Paulo State, Brazil

The occurrence of the army ant Labidus mars in Mogi das Cruzes (SP, Brazil) is recorded and includes additional information about the area, diet and foraging schedule of this rare army ant. This species of Ecitoninae was collected from two mature fruits of the Syagrus romanzoffiana (Arecaceae) and were probably in the foraging phase.

Amphibia, Anura, Centrolenidae, Hyalinobatrachium crurifasciatum Myers and Donnelly, 1997: First record from Brazil and geographic distribution map

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Occurrence of Ochoterenella digiticauda (Nematoda: Onchocercidae) infecting the gladiator frog Hypsiboas lundii (Anura: Hylidae) in Brazil

Hypsiboas lundii is a gladiator frog endemic to the Cerrado of central and southeastern Brazil. This species in reproductive period inhabits streams in primary and secondary forests. Despite its wide distribution, the helminth fauna of this species has not been studied yet. Fourteen individuals were sampled and examined for helminth parasites. Three males were infected with Ochoterenella digiticauda (Onchocercidade). The mean abundance and mean intensity of infection were 0.7 ± 0.5 and 3.3 ± 1.9, respectively. All parasites were found in the body cavity of H. lundii, which represents a new host record for O. digiticauda.

Another record of pennella instructa (copepoda, pennellidae) parasitizing swordfish xiphias gladius in the south atlantic, after 20 years ago

The species of the genus Pennella are highly modified copepods that have been found parasitizing several species of fishes in Atlantic waters. Although these parasites have been recorded several times in the Atlantic Ocean, little is known about them in South Atlantic waters, except for one report published 20 years ago. The present contribution reports the occurrence of Pennella instructa Wilson, 1917 parasitizing the swordfish Xiphias gladius Linnaeus, 1758 in the South Atlantic. The prevalence of infestation was 15.6% and the mean intensity of infestation was 1.6, ranging from 1 to 3.

Aethalion reticulatum (Hemiptera: Aethalionidae) feeding on Erythrina speciosa (Fabales: Fabaceae): first record of its host plant and damage characteristics

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)