Taxonomy, distribution and ecology of Zoysia macrantha desv., an Australian native species with turf breeding potential

Only three of the 11 species in the genus Zoysia Willd. have thus far contributed to commercially available turfgrass varieties. One of the neglected taxa is Z. macrantha Desv., an Australian native species further divided into two subspecies. The coarser Z. macrantha subsp. macrantha occurs on sand dunes, headlands and tidal areas along eastern and southeastern coasts from about 23 to 38°S latitude. The shorter, denser-growing Z. macrantha subsp. walshii M.E. Nightingale is found on the southern mainland (South Australia and Victoria from longitude 137° to 148°E and at latitudes higher than 36°S), adjacent offshore islands, and northern, eastern and central Tasmania to 43°S growing on the edges of coastal, sub-coastal and even inland salt lakes, in riverine environments, and from moist grassy depressions (both coastal and inland) to rocky headlands. The latter subspecies has the more discontinuous and specialised distribution, largely determined by the need for an appropriate level of peat, clay or silt in the soil to maintain adequate moisture during the dry summers in southern Australia while at the same time avoiding anything more than temporary waterlogging. It grows on low fertility soils ranging from strongly acid to neutral or mildly alkaline, and is often very closely grazed by marsupials. Both subspecies are salt and drought tolerant, but not notably shade tolerant. Their potential to add greater drought tolerance in particular to the Asian Zoysia material in current use through future breeding programs is discussed.

Deep-sea chitons from sunken wood in the West Pacific (Mollusca: Polyplacophora: Lepidopleurida): taxonomy, distribution, and seven new species

Natural deposits of sunken wood provide an important habitat for deep-sea invertebrates. Deep-sea chitons in the primitive order Lepidopleurida are typically collected rarely and as single specimens. However, these animals have been recovered in large densities associated with sunken wood in the tropical West Pacific, in groups of up to 50 individuals. Four deep- sea expeditions in the West Pacific, to the Philippines, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu, recovered a large number of poly- placophorans. We have examined the morphology as well as the range and distribution of these species, based on the larg- est collection ever examined (more than 1300 individuals). These species show potentially adapted characters associated with exploitation of sunken wood as habitat, such as protruding caps on sensory shell pores (aesthetes) and large interseg- mental bristles with potential sensory function. In this study we investigated the twenty-two species recovered, including seven newly described here (Leptochiton consimilis n. sp., L. angustidens n. sp., L. dykei n. sp., L. samadiae n. sp., L. longisetosus n. sp., L. clarki n. sp., L. schwabei n. sp.), and provide the first identification key to the 34 lepidopleuran chitons known from sunken wood worldwide.

STUDIES ON TAXONOMY, DISTRIBUTION, ECOLOGY AND REPRODUCTIVE POTENTIAL OF ROTIFERS FROM SELECTED CENTRES IN COCHIN BACKWATER SYSTEM, KERALA

The studies were conducted in nine stations with varying ecological characteristics along Cochin backwaters and adjoining canals. Many workers opined that the distribution of rotifers is cosmopolitan. The significance of rotifers as first food for early larvae was indicated by Fujita. Aquaculture is a fast growing field in fisheries sector and it is gaining more importance as the fish landings and supply are getting irregular. A consistent supply of fish/shellfish can only be achieved through aquaculture. The success of any culture activity depends on the timely production of seeds of finfishes/shellfishes. The availability of wild seed is seasonal and erratic. So, a dependable source of seed of fishes and shellfishes is possible only through large scale production in hatchery. A successful seed production activity depends on the availability of a variety of suitable live feed organisms in sufficient quantities at the proper time for use in the larval stages. As the live feeds promote high growth rates, easy digestion, assimilation and the quality of not contaminating the culture water when compared to other artificial feeds, make the culture of live feed organisms the principal means of providing food for the larvae of finfishes and shellfishes. Rotifers are considered to be an excellent and indispensable food for larvae of many finfishes and crustaceans. It (1960) was the first to culture Brachionus plicatilis for feeding marine fish larvae, and now it is being extensively used as live feed in hatcheries all over the world. They are a group of microscopic organisms coming under the Phylum Rotifera which comprises of about 2000 species. Their slow swimming habits, ability to tolerate a wide range of salinities, parthenogenetic mode of reproduction and ability to get enriched easily, make rotifers an ideal live feed organism. The major factors such as temperature, salinity and food that influence the reproductive potential and thereby the population size of rotifer, Salinity is one of the most important aspect influencing the reproductive rate of rotifers. The feed type and feed concentration play a vital role in influencing the reproductive rate of rotifers. For culture of rotifers, the commonly used micro algae belong to Chlorella, Nannochloropsis, Isochrysis and Tetraselmis. While some studies have suggested that, algal diet has little effect on reproductive rates in 1979 while using the rotifer, Brachionus plicatilis as feed for the larvae of red sea bream, Pagrus major. It is generally accepted that rotifers play a pivotal role in the successful rearing of marine fish larvae.

瓦韦属植物的分类学研究

本文首先对瓦韦属的分类简史进行了回顾。作者通过野外实地考察，研究标本，进行实验，对瓦韦属的外部形态和内部解剖性状进行了深入的研究。 对根状茎上的鳞片和覆盖在孢子囊群上的隔丝类型通过研究进行了划分。根据二者的形态结构和颜色，分别划分成8种类型和与5种类型。 通过徒手切片法系统全面研究了瓦韦属叶柄与根状茎的解剖结构。通过对叶柄的横切面观察，发现瓦韦属叶柄的维管束最少2条，最多7条，从叶柄基部、叶柄中部至叶片基部维管束逐渐合并，条数逐渐减小。维管束两个较粗，其余都较细，以半轮形、四角形、三角形、和一字型排列。通过对横状茎的横切面观察，发现夏绿种类厚壁组织较少，而常绿种类厚壁组织较多。根状茎的维管束条数最少为5条，多者达到16条，属于网状中柱，维管束排成不规则的轮状。每一条维管束由1-3层细胞组成的维管束鞘（具凯氏带）和木质部、韧皮部组成。 首次全面观察研究了瓦韦属植物叶表皮的有关构造，发现瓦韦属的气孔类型有极细胞型、共极细胞型和不规则细胞型三类，偶尔有环细胞型。叶表皮细胞有线状，微波，波状及不规则状。根据叶表皮的构造，瓦韦属可分两部分，网眼瓦韦群(section Hymenophyton ching)与非网眼瓦韦群。 此外，还对瓦韦属的叶脉类型进行了详细的观察，按脉序类型，瓦韦属可划分为二分，这和按表皮特征划分相吻合，同时参考了对本属孢子扫描电镜观察资料。 在上述互作的基础上，对瓦韦属进行了系统整理，同时将正式发表的85种，3个变种初步归并成36个种，1个变种，发现了一个新种及八个新记录，同时编制出了分种简索表，对每个种进行了简单的特征描述和列出了引证的标本。依据鳞片隔丝相近的种可划为一纽约标准将瓦韦属分成九个组(section)、 通过对瓦韦属组一级和种一级分布式样的分析初步认为喜马拉雅东部、云南、四川、南部不仅是该属的分布中心（多度中心与多样化中心），也可能是该属的起源中心，并对它的迁移路线进行了探讨。

Seagrass conservation and monitoring in Myanmar: the biodiversity, distribution and coverage of seagrasses in the Tanintharyi and Rakhine

Surveys on seagrass taxonomy, distribution and extent were carried out in 14 locations within Myeik Archipelago and along the Rakhine Coast.

Biology, ecology and conservation of the Mobulidae

The Mobulidae are zooplanktivorous elasmobranchs comprising two recognized species of manta rays (Manta spp.) and nine recognized species of devil rays (Mobula spp.). They are found circumglobally in tropical, subtropical and temperate coastal waters. Although mobulids have been recorded for over 400 years, critical knowledge gaps still compromise the ability to assess the status of these species. On the basis of a review of 263 publications, a comparative synthesis of the biology and ecology of mobulids was conducted to examine their evolution, taxonomy, distribution, population trends, movements and aggregation, reproduction, growth and longevity, feeding, natural mortality and direct and indirect anthropogenic threats. There has been a marked increase in the number of published studies on mobulids since c. 1990, particularly for the genus Manta, although the genus Mobula remains poorly understood. Mobulid species have many common biological characteristics although their ecologies appear to be species-specific, and sometimes region-specific. Movement studies suggest that mobulids are highly mobile and have the potential to rapidly travel large distances. Fishing pressure is the major threat to many mobulid populations, with current levels of exploitation in target fisheries unlikely to be sustainable. Advances in the fields of population genetics, acoustic and satellite tracking, and stable-isotope and fatty-acid analyses will provide new insights into the biology and ecology of these species. Future research should focus on the uncertain taxonomy of mobulid species, the degree of overlap between their large-scale movement and human activities such as fisheries and pollution, and the need for management of inter-jurisdictional fisheries in developing nations to ensure their long-term sustainability. Closer collaboration among researchers worldwide is necessary to ensure standardized sampling and modelling methodologies to underpin global population estimates and status.

Taxonomía y distribución de las especies ibéricas del género Sabacon Simon 1879 (Arachnida: Opiliones: Sabaconidae)

[ES] El género Sabacon (Arachnida: Opiliones) tiene distribución holártica, y en la Península Ibérica se restringe a Pirineos y Cordillera Cantábrica. Se menciona la presencia de S.viscayanus en la Sierra Cebollera, a partir del hallazgo de una hembra, lo que constituye el primer registro al sur del Ebro. En este trabajo se ha determinado la subespecie a la que pertenece esa población gracias a la captura de un macho, que corresponde a Sabacon viscayanus viscayanus. Con los ejemplares de las colecciones (ZUPV y CRBA) se han redescrito las especies ibéricas y se ha descrito por primera vez el macho de S. franzi. A su vez, se han construido mapas de distribución de todas las especies con datos citados y de las colecciones propias.

杉科植物的系统发育、 分类和地理分布

本文对杉科植物的分类系统作了回顾。以形态学为依据，参考其他学科的研究成果，用分支分析和表征分析两种方法探讨了杉科植物的系统演化关系．提出了新的分类系统。对杉科植物的系统分类作了修订．通过对各属现代分布和地史分布的研究，结合古地理和古气候资料，讨论了杉科植物的分布中心、起源时间、起源地、散布途径及现代分布格局的成因．主要结论如下： 1．属间关系：柳杉属是现存杉科植物中最原始的类群．水松属和落羽杉属关系密切，二者与柳杉属近缘．巨杉属和北美红杉属关系密切，是中级进化水平的类群．水杉属的系统位置比较孤立，与巨杉属和北美红杉属的关缘关系相对较近．杉木属、密叶杉属和台湾杉属关系密切，是杉科植物中的高级进化类群，其中台湾杉属最为进化． 2．系统排列：支持金松科的成立．将杉科分成5族，即柳杉族（仅含柳杉属）、落羽杉族（含水松属、落羽杉属）、北美红杉族（含巨杉属、北美红杉属）、水杉族（仅含水杉属）和杉木族（含杉木属、密叶杉属及台湾杉属）． 3．分类：经修订，杉科植物共9属12种4变种．将德昌杉木、米德杉木和厚皮杉木归并，作为杉木的变种，支持柳杉作为日本柳杉的变种、台湾杉木作为杉木的变种、秃杉和台湾杉归并的观点。 4．地理分布：我国长江、秦岭以南至华南一带是杉科的现代分布中心，我国华北北部及东北、朝鲜、日本和前苏联西伯利亚东南部等地可能为起源中心和早期分化中心，起源时间可追溯至早侏罗纪或晚三叠纪．杉科的现存各属均为古老的孑遗类群．

Rock hyrax middens: A palaeoenvironmental archive for southern African drylands

Like many of the world's subtropical regions, southern Africa is highly sensitive to changes in the earth's climate system, but a dearth of reliable palaeoenvironmental records means that relatively little is known about how regional environments have been affected over centennial to multi-millennial timescales. To a large extent this sensitivity is a function of the position of these regions at the interface between temperate and tropical circulation systems. The resulting seasonality and irregularity of rainfall have limited the development of suitable archives, such as lakes and wetlands, for the preservation of palaeoenvironmental proxies.

This paper reviews and evaluates the value of rock hyrax middens as novel palaeoenvironmental archives in southern Africa. Considered are (1) the contemporary taxonomy, distribution and ecology of hyraxes, (2) the mechanisms of hyrax midden development, their physical and chemical structure, rates of accumulation and age; and (3) the palaeoenvironmental proxies preserved within hyrax middens, including fossil pollen, stable isotopes and biomarkers. The interpretive constraints and opportunities offered by these various midden characteristics are assessed with a view to demonstrating the potential of these deposits, widespread as they are through arid and semi-arid southern Africa, in providing a more detailed and chronologically resolved view of late Quaternary palaeoenvironments across the subcontinent. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Cladistic analysis of Abracrini genera (Orthoptera, Acrididae, Ommatolampinae)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

THE SECTION SIRODOTIA OF BATRACHOSPERMUM (RHODOPHYTA, BATRACHOSPERMACEAE) IN BRAZIL

The taxonomy, distribution and ecology of Section Sirodotia of Batrachospermum in Brazil is studied. Only one species, B. delicatulum (SKUJA) NECCHI & ENTWISLE, was recognized. This species presents a wide range of morphological features, occurs in a number of distinct habitats and environmental conditions and is widely distributed in Brazil. A full account of the species taxonomy is given and the synonyMy of B. ateleium comb. nov. SKUJA is confirmed. Two growth forms (dense and open) were found in the Brazilian specimens, but they were not treated as different taxa because a continuous range was observed between them. Two morphological features were proposed for species delineation: early development of gonimoblast and presence of specialized spermatangial branches. Three distinct groups of Sirodotia species can be recognized on the basis of these criterions: B. delicatulum (gonimoblast initial arises from a semiglobular protuberance of the carpogonium), B. suecicalum KYLIN (gonimoblast initial arises from the non-protuberant side of the carpogonium) and B. segawae KUMANO and B. yutakae KUMANO (with specialized spermatangial branches).

A new, brightly colored species of Pseudoboa Schneider, 1801 from the Amazon Basin (Serpentes, Xenodontinae)

A new species of Pseudoboa, P. martinsi, is described from the Amazon basin of Brazil, with records from the states of Para, Amazonas, Roraima and Rondonia. The new species is distinguished from the other five species of the genus by a combination of scalation and coloration characters. Individuals of the new species were found in both primary and disturbed forested areas. The species seems to be predominantly nocturnal and secretive because specimens were found foraging in the litter during night.