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Full-Text Articles in Biodiversity

Next-Generation Field Guides, Elizabeth J. Farnsworth, Miyoko Chu, W. John Kress, Amanda K. Neill, Jason H. Best, John Pickering, Robert D. Stevenson, Gregory W. Courtney, John K. Vandyk, Aaron M. Ellison Oct 2014

Next-Generation Field Guides, Elizabeth J. Farnsworth, Miyoko Chu, W. John Kress, Amanda K. Neill, Jason H. Best, John Pickering, Robert D. Stevenson, Gregory W. Courtney, John K. Vandyk, Aaron M. Ellison

John K. VanDyk

To conserve species, we must first identify them. Field researchers, land managers, educators, and citizen scientists need up-to-date and accessible tools to identify organisms, organize data, and share observations. Emerging technologies complement traditional, book-form field guides by providing users with a wealth of multimedia data. We review technical innovations of next-generation field guides, including Web-based and stand-alone applications, interactive multiple-access keys, visual-recognition software adapted to identify organisms, species checklists that can be customized to particular sites, online communities in which people share species observations, and the use of crowdsourced data to refine machine-based identification algorithms. Next-generation field guides are user …


Insect Visitation Of Peduncular And Petiolar Extrafloral Nectar Glands On Castor Bean (Ricinus Communis L.) Plants In Southern California, Victor D. Carmona Dec 2013

Insect Visitation Of Peduncular And Petiolar Extrafloral Nectar Glands On Castor Bean (Ricinus Communis L.) Plants In Southern California, Victor D. Carmona

Victor D. Carmona-Galindo

Castor bean (Ricinus communis L.) is a myrmecophytic plant species with specialized extrafloral nectar (EFN) glands that serve to attract predatory insects, which in return defend plant-tissues against herbivores. The EFN glands on castor bean plants are located along the leaf petioles as well as on the peduncles of its imperfect (unisexual) flowers. This field-project evaluates the richness, diversity, and species assemblage of insects visiting EFN glands located on (female and male) flower peduncles and leaf petioles on castor bean plants growing in a Southern California coastal landscape. We detected that EFN glands on female-flower peduncles were visited by an …


On Hypogean Roncocreagris (Arachnida: Pseudoscorpiones: Neobisiidae) From Portugal, With Descriptions Of Three New Species, Ana Reboleira, Juan Zaragoza, Fernando Gonçalves, Pedro Oromí Jun 2013

On Hypogean Roncocreagris (Arachnida: Pseudoscorpiones: Neobisiidae) From Portugal, With Descriptions Of Three New Species, Ana Reboleira, Juan Zaragoza, Fernando Gonçalves, Pedro Oromí

Ana Sofia P.S. Reboleira

Three new hypogean species of the Iberian genus Roncocreagris Mahnert, 1974 are described from mainland Portugal: R. borgesi sp. nov. and R. gepesi sp. nov. from caves in the Sicó massif, and R. occidentalis sp. nov. from caves in the Montejunto and Cesaredas karst plateau. This brings to nine the number of known hypogean species of the mostly Iberian genus Roncocreagris: five from Portugal and four from Spain. Ecological comments and new localities for some of the previously known species are also included.


The World’S Deepest Subterranean Community - Krubera-Voronja Cave (Western Caucasus), Alberto Sendra, Ana Sofia P.S. Reboleira Jun 2013

The World’S Deepest Subterranean Community - Krubera-Voronja Cave (Western Caucasus), Alberto Sendra, Ana Sofia P.S. Reboleira

Ana Sofia P.S. Reboleira

Subsurface biota extends over a wide variety of habitats that can be spatially interconnected. The largest communities of this subsurface biota inhabit cavities and are well known mainly in caves where biologists are able to have access. Data about deep subterranean communities and arthropods living under one thousand meters was unknown. An expedition to world’s deepest cave, Krubera-Voronja in Western Caucasus, revealed an interesting subterranean community, living below 2000 meters and represented by more than 12 species of arthropods, including several new species for science. This deep cave biota is composed of troglobionts and also epigean species, that can penetrate …


Subterranean Species Of Acipes Attems, 1937 (Diplopoda, Julida, Blaniulidae), Henrik Enghoff, Ana Reboleira Apr 2013

Subterranean Species Of Acipes Attems, 1937 (Diplopoda, Julida, Blaniulidae), Henrik Enghoff, Ana Reboleira

Ana Sofia P.S. Reboleira

Two new blind, cave-dwelling species of the genus Acipes Attems, 1937, are described from the Algarve, southern Portugal: A. machadoi n. sp. and A. bifilum n. sp. Acipes andalusius Enghoff & Mauriès, 1999, is reported from the mesovoid shallow substratum in Alicante (Spain), 250 km from the type locality in Andalusia.


The Genus Boreviulisoma Brolemann, 1928—An Iberian-N African Outlier Of A Mainly Tropical Tribe Of Millipedes (Diplopoda: Polydesmida: Paradoxosomatidae), Ana Reboleira, Henrik Enghoff Apr 2013

The Genus Boreviulisoma Brolemann, 1928—An Iberian-N African Outlier Of A Mainly Tropical Tribe Of Millipedes (Diplopoda: Polydesmida: Paradoxosomatidae), Ana Reboleira, Henrik Enghoff

Ana Sofia P.S. Reboleira

The genus Boreviulisoma Brolemann, 1928, is revised. The synonymy of Liliputia Attems, 1952, under Boreviulisoma is confirmed, but L. badia Attems, 1951, from Spain, is resurrected, as Boreviulisoma badium, from synonymy under B. liouvilleiBrolemann, 1928 (the type species of Boreviulisoma) from Morocco. Boreviulisoma barrocalense n. sp. is described from the subterranean environment of the Algarve, the southernmost province of Portugal. The distribution of the three known species of Boreviulisoma is mapped, main characters of the genus and its species are reviewed and a key to species of the genus is included. The isolated occurrence of Boreviulisoma badium and B. barrocalense …


Literature Survey, Bibliographic Analysis And A Taxonomic Catalogue Of Subterranean Fauna From Portugal, Ana Reboleira, Fernando Gonçalves, Pedro Oromí Jan 2013

Literature Survey, Bibliographic Analysis And A Taxonomic Catalogue Of Subterranean Fauna From Portugal, Ana Reboleira, Fernando Gonçalves, Pedro Oromí

Ana Sofia P.S. Reboleira

A bibliographic analysis of the hypogean biological studies in Portugal is made, compiling 138 publications related to the subterranean invertebrate fauna, since its begining in 1870 until November 2012. A catalogue of hypogean endemic taxa is provided, listing 27 troglobionts and 63 stygobionts, described to be obligate hypogean and endemic from mainland Portugal (Macaronesian archipelagos excluded). The first impetus on troglobiont studies was provided by the prospections of Barros Machado during 1940’s and by an expedition of Lindberg in the spring of 1961; and the major information about stygobiont species was provided by the former Instituto de Zoologia “Dr. Augusto …


Invertebrate Communities Of Groundwater-Dependent Refugia With Varying Hydrology And Riparian Cover During A Supraseasonal Drought, Rosemary A. Burk, James H. Kennedy Jan 2013

Invertebrate Communities Of Groundwater-Dependent Refugia With Varying Hydrology And Riparian Cover During A Supraseasonal Drought, Rosemary A. Burk, James H. Kennedy

Rosemary A. Burk

Extreme disturbances eliminate aquatic biota and alter community structure and function. During a supraseasonal drought in north-central Texas in the summer and fall 2006, macroinvertebrate communities from persistent groundwater-dependent macrohabitats of varying hydrology and riparian shading were investigated to study their role as invertebrate refugia, and to characterize the taxonomic and functional community structure of benthic assemblages. Ash Creek was the only stream with surface flow within a 35-km radius during the drought. Two perennial and three intermittent stream sites were studied that included perennial riffles, a perennial pool, shaded disconnected pools, and disconnected pools in full sun. Riffles had …


Examining The Causes Of Rarity For The Odonata Of Illinois, Miranda R. White, Paul V. Switzer Jan 2013

Examining The Causes Of Rarity For The Odonata Of Illinois, Miranda R. White, Paul V. Switzer

Paul V. Switzer

Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) play an important role in habitat management and conservation, but our understanding of the causes of commonness versus rarity in this group is limited. In this study we examined the causes of rarity for the Odonata of Illinois. Using S-ratings for conservation status and published habitat classifications for Illinois odonates, we investigated whether habitat type (lotic versus lentic) or habitat specificity (whether they were limited to a specific type of aquatic habitat) was related to commonness. We found that lotic species and habitat specialists were more likely to be rare than lentic and generalist species. More …


Anthropogenic Impacts Of Irrigation On The Arthropod Community Structure Of A Coastal Sage Scrub Habitat In Los Angeles, Victor D. Carmona Dec 2012

Anthropogenic Impacts Of Irrigation On The Arthropod Community Structure Of A Coastal Sage Scrub Habitat In Los Angeles, Victor D. Carmona

Victor D. Carmona-Galindo

We evaluated the effects of an irrigation system on the community structure of arthropods in a coastal sage scrub chaparral habitat. We placed 5 traps in the irrigated site and 5 traps in control site, for a total of 10 sticky traps (using Tree Tanglefoot) in an area adjacent to Ballona Wetlands in Los Angeles, California. The traps were set at the irrigated and non-irrigated site on Telegraph Weed for one week. Results showed that morphospecies richness, relative abundance, and taxonomic order representation were higher at the control site than at the irrigated site. Our study documents how anthropogenic impacts …


Catalogue Of Type Material In The Entomological Collection Of The University Of La Laguna (Canary Islands). I – Arachnida, Ana Reboleira, Antonio Pérez, Nuria Macías-Hernandez, Heriberto López, S. De La Cruz, Pedro Oromí Oct 2012

Catalogue Of Type Material In The Entomological Collection Of The University Of La Laguna (Canary Islands). I – Arachnida, Ana Reboleira, Antonio Pérez, Nuria Macías-Hernandez, Heriberto López, S. De La Cruz, Pedro Oromí

Ana Sofia P.S. Reboleira

A catalogue of arachnid type specimens of the collection kept at the Department of Animal Biology, University of La Laguna (Spain) is presented. It harbours type material of 104 species belonging to 23 families of arachnids, represented by 21 holotypes and 164 paratypes for 23 species of pseudoscorpions, and 49 holotypes, 218 paratypes and 3 syntypes for 81 species of spiders. This collection is using the criteria and standards of the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) for cataloguing and computerization of the specimens. Type specimens were checked with the original descriptions, and relevant additional information from original labels not included …


Lusoblothrus, A New Syarinid Pseudoscorpion Genus (Arachnida) From Portugal, Occupying An Isolated Position Within The Holarctic Fauna, Ana Reboleira, Juan Zaragoza, Fernando Gonçalves, Pedro Oromí Oct 2012

Lusoblothrus, A New Syarinid Pseudoscorpion Genus (Arachnida) From Portugal, Occupying An Isolated Position Within The Holarctic Fauna, Ana Reboleira, Juan Zaragoza, Fernando Gonçalves, Pedro Oromí

Ana Sofia P.S. Reboleira

The new pseudoscorpion genus Lusoblothrus of the family Syarinidae is described from a cave in the Algarve region, southern Portugal, to accommodate L. aenigmaticus sp. nov., whose morphological affinities within the Holarctic syarinid fauna are not clear and resembles the Gondwanan genera. This discovery emphasizes the relevance of the Algarve region as a hotspot for relictual hypogean fauna within the Iberian Peninsula.


Squamatinia Algharbica Gen. N. Sp. N., A Remarkable New Coletiniinae Silverfish (Zygentoma: Nicoletiidae) From Caves In Southern Portugal, Ana Reboleira, Fernando Gonçalves, Pedro Oromí, Luís Mendes Mar 2012

Squamatinia Algharbica Gen. N. Sp. N., A Remarkable New Coletiniinae Silverfish (Zygentoma: Nicoletiidae) From Caves In Southern Portugal, Ana Reboleira, Fernando Gonçalves, Pedro Oromí, Luís Mendes

Ana Sofia P.S. Reboleira

A new genus of Coletiniinae silverfish (Nicoletiidae) similar to Coletinia Wygodzinsky and Lepidospora Escherich is described to accommodate the new species Squamatinia algharbica gen. n. sp. n. Many individuals were collected over all seasons of the year in four caves of the Algarve karst massif in the south of Portugal. An identification key for the known genera of Coletiniinae is provided, as well as some biogeographical and ecological comments.


Mites (Arachnida: Acari) Collected On Rubber Trees Hevea Brasiliensis (Willd. Ex A.Juss.) Müll.Arg. In Santana, Amapá State, Brazil, Rodrigo Souza Santos Rss Jan 2012

Mites (Arachnida: Acari) Collected On Rubber Trees Hevea Brasiliensis (Willd. Ex A.Juss.) Müll.Arg. In Santana, Amapá State, Brazil, Rodrigo Souza Santos Rss

Rodrigo Souza Santos RSS

The purpose of this study was to elaborate a preliminary list of the mite species associated with rubber trees in the municipality of Santana, in the state of Amapá, Brazil. Two collections of rubber tree leaves were conducted on May 2nd and June 5th , 2010. Twenty-five plants were sampled at random. Three leaves were collected per plant, from the lower third of the crown. The samples were placed in paper bags, packed in an isothermal box chilled gel-based pulp plant (Gelo-X®), and transported to the Entomology Laboratory at Embrapa Amapá, in Macapá. The leaflets were examined under a stereomicroscope, …


Rapid Diversification Of Tragopogon And Ecological Associates In Eurasia, Charles Bell Dec 2011

Rapid Diversification Of Tragopogon And Ecological Associates In Eurasia, Charles Bell

Charles D. Bell

No abstract provided.


Phylogeny And Diversification Of Valerianaceae (Dipsacales) In The Southern Andes, Charles D. Bell Dec 2011

Phylogeny And Diversification Of Valerianaceae (Dipsacales) In The Southern Andes, Charles D. Bell

Charles D. Bell

No abstract provided.


Description Of The Larva And Female Genitalia Of Trechus Gamae With Data On Its Ecology, Ana Reboleira, Vicente Ortuño Apr 2011

Description Of The Larva And Female Genitalia Of Trechus Gamae With Data On Its Ecology, Ana Reboleira, Vicente Ortuño

Ana Sofia P.S. Reboleira

The third instar larva and the female genitalia of Trechus gamae Reboleira et Serrano (Coleoptera Carabidae Trechini) are described, illustrated and commented. Larvae and imagos were collected in deep parts of caves from Estremenho karstic massif in the centre Portugal. The work provides the first study on hypogean beetle larvae from Portugal, increasing the knowledge about hypogean microendemic species from the Lusitanic district of the Iberian Peninsula. The morphological diagnostic characters of the female genitalia corroborate the inclusion of T. gamae in the “T. fulvus-group”. Some new data on the ecology of this species are also given.


On The Iberian Endemic Subgenus Lathromene (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Paederinae): Description Of The First Hypogean Domene Fauvel, From Portugal, Ana Reboleira, Fernando Gonçalves, Pedro Oromí Feb 2011

On The Iberian Endemic Subgenus Lathromene (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Paederinae): Description Of The First Hypogean Domene Fauvel, From Portugal, Ana Reboleira, Fernando Gonçalves, Pedro Oromí

Ana Sofia P.S. Reboleira

Domene (Lathromene) lusitanica n. sp. from Sicó karstic massif in Portugal is described and compared with other species of the subgenus, representing the first hypogean rove beetle from mainland Portugal. A comparison between Domene lusitanica n. sp. and the other species of the Iberian endemic subgenus Lathromene is made using diagnostic characters. An identification key for the males of Lathromene species is presented, and biogeographical and ecological comments are also included. The species of Domene known from the Iberian Peninsula are listed and their distributions are mapped.


Acute Toxicity Of Mercury And Chromium To Clarias Batrachus (Linn), Azhaguraj Ramakrishnan Jan 2011

Acute Toxicity Of Mercury And Chromium To Clarias Batrachus (Linn), Azhaguraj Ramakrishnan

Azhaguraj Ramakrishnan

Pollution of the aquatic ecosystems by heavy metals is a worldwide problem. In the present study, Clarias batrachus was exposed to Mercury and Chromium for 24, 48, 72 and 96 hrs. The median lethal concentration (LC50) of mercury to C. batrachus for 24, 48, 72 and 96 h of exposure were 1.4 ppm, 1.2 ppm, 1.0 ppm and 0.8 ppm respectively. The median lethal concentration (LC50) of chromium to C. batrachus for 24, 48, 72 and 96 h of exposure were 120 ppm, 115 ppm, 110 ppm and 102 ppm respectively. The acute toxicity levels were derived from LC50 concentrations …


The First Hypogean Dipluran From Portugal: Description Of A New Species Of The Genus Litocampa (Diplura: Campodeidae), Ana Reboleira, Alberto Sendra, Fernando Gonçalves, Pedro Oromí Nov 2010

The First Hypogean Dipluran From Portugal: Description Of A New Species Of The Genus Litocampa (Diplura: Campodeidae), Ana Reboleira, Alberto Sendra, Fernando Gonçalves, Pedro Oromí

Ana Sofia P.S. Reboleira

A new species of subterranean Campodeid Dipluran of the genus Litocampa mendesi n. sp. is described. Despite the presence of this genus in Spain, this is the first record in Portugal, and it is also the first Portuguese species of hypogean Diplura. The new species combines unique characters absent in the European and American species of the genus. Litocampa mendesi n. sp. was collected only in one part of a cave of the Jurassic karstic massif of Algarve, the southwesternmost part of the Iberian Peninsula. The morphological features of this species show some adaptations to hypogean life but not a …


Regional Assemblages Of Lygus (Heteroptera: Miridae) In Montana Canola Fields, Sue Blodgett, R. A. Ritter, A. W. Lenssen, M. L. Taper Oct 2010

Regional Assemblages Of Lygus (Heteroptera: Miridae) In Montana Canola Fields, Sue Blodgett, R. A. Ritter, A. W. Lenssen, M. L. Taper

Sue Blodgett

Sweep net sampling of canola (Brassica napus L.) was conducted in 2002 and 2003 to determine Lygus (Heteroptera: Miridae) species composition and parasitism levels in four regions of Montana. Regardless of region or seasonal change, Lygus elisus (Van Duzee) was the dominant species in all canola fields sampled, averaging 60–99% of the total adult populations. Lygus borealis (Kelton), Lygus keltoni (Schwartz) and Lygus lineolaris (Palisot) were detected at much lower levels. Total lygus population density was greatest in the southwest and central regions. The northeast and southwest regions had the greatest lygus species diversity. The proportion of L. elisus increased …


Description Of The Third Instar Larva Of A Hypogean Ground Beetle, Trechus Alicantinus (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Trechinae), Vicente Ortuño, Ana Reboleira May 2010

Description Of The Third Instar Larva Of A Hypogean Ground Beetle, Trechus Alicantinus (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Trechinae), Vicente Ortuño, Ana Reboleira

Ana Sofia P.S. Reboleira

Description and illustrations are provided for the third instar larva of Trechus alicantinus Español, 1971 obtained from a laboratory breeding. This paper aims to contribute to increase the general knowledge about microendemic hypogean species of the east of the Iberian Peninsula. Besides, it expands the existing knowledge about the preimaginal stages of the genus Trechus and the whole tribe Trechini (Coleoptera, Carabidae). Larvae can give additional information about the life style of the species. Larvae can also express, even more than the imagos, some apomorphic characters, traditionally considered a result of adaptation to the hypogean habitat, such as the regression …


Description Of New Species Of Fidicinoides Boulard & Martinelli (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) From Brazil, Rodrigo Souza Santos Rss Jan 2009

Description Of New Species Of Fidicinoides Boulard & Martinelli (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) From Brazil, Rodrigo Souza Santos Rss

Rodrigo Souza Santos RSS

The examination of entomological collections of cicadas of several Brazilian institutions revealed three undescribed species in the genus Fidicinoides Boulard & Martinelli i.e., F. dolosa sp.n., F. carmenae sp.n. and F. rosabasalae sp.n. They are described and illustrated based on the male genitalia, the right anterior femur and the operculum.


Diversity And Spatial Distribution Of Ground Arthropods In Agroecosystems, Rodrigo Souza Santos Rss Jan 2009

Diversity And Spatial Distribution Of Ground Arthropods In Agroecosystems, Rodrigo Souza Santos Rss

Rodrigo Souza Santos RSS

The knowledge of the diversity and distribution of ground arthropods contributes for the development of sustainable agricultural systems. This work was carried out at the Paulista State University, Jaboticabal campus, State of São Paulo, Brazil, during the period from February to April 2004. The objective was to analyse the community of Carabidae, Staphylinidae, Formicidae e Araneae through faunistic indexes, to determine the spatial distribution and interespecific interactions of predominant species in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.), corn (Zea mays L.) and rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis Muell. Arg.). The arthropods were sampled by pitfall traps distributed each 10 m in two …


The Cynipoid Genus Paramblynotus: Revision, Phylogeny, And Historical Biogeography (Hymenoptera, Liopteridae), Zhiwei Liu, Fredrik Ronquist, Goeran Nordlander Jan 2007

The Cynipoid Genus Paramblynotus: Revision, Phylogeny, And Historical Biogeography (Hymenoptera, Liopteridae), Zhiwei Liu, Fredrik Ronquist, Goeran Nordlander

Zhiwei Liu

The genus Paramblynotus is the most species-rich genus of the so-called macrocynipoids, the large cynipoid parasitoids of wood-boring and cone-boring insect larvae. The species range in size from some of the largest to the smallest macrocynipoids, comparable in size to microcynipoids. Paramblynotus members occur on all continents except Europe and Australia, with most species being tropical or subtropical. The biology is poorly known but a few observations indicate that the species are parasitoids of beetle larvae. In this monographic revision of the genus, we present a species-level cladistic analysis based on qualitative and quantitative features of the external morphology. For …


The Importance Of Monkey Beetle (Scarabaeidae: Hopliini) Pollination For Aizoaceae And Asteraceae In Grazed And Ungrazed Areas At Paulshoek, Succulent Karoo, South Africa, Carolin Mayer, Geofrey Soka, Mike Picker Jan 2006

The Importance Of Monkey Beetle (Scarabaeidae: Hopliini) Pollination For Aizoaceae And Asteraceae In Grazed And Ungrazed Areas At Paulshoek, Succulent Karoo, South Africa, Carolin Mayer, Geofrey Soka, Mike Picker

Geofrey Soka

No abstract provided.