Search results for "Caudata"

2020

While many morphological, physiological, and ecological characteristics of organisms scale with body size, some do not change under size transformation. They are called invariant. A recent study recommended five criteria for identifying invariant traits. These are based on that a trait exhibits a unimodal central tendency and varies over a limited range with body mass (type I), or that it does not vary systematically with body mass (type II). We methodologically improved these criteria and then applied them to life history traits of amphibians, Anura, Caudata (eleven traits), and reptiles (eight traits). The numbers of invariant traits identified by criteria differed across amphibian orders…

Updated status of Anostraca, Notostraca and Spinicaudata (Crustacea Branchiopoda) in Sicily (Italy): review and new records.

2006

A survey on distribution, phenology and status of large branchiopod crustaceans (Branchiopoda: Anostraca, Notostraca, Spinicaudata) in Sicily and in circum-Sicilian islands was carried out from autumn 2000 to winter 2004/2005 with the purpose of providing an organised contribution to the knowledge of the distribution of these crustaceans in the region. Data from literature on Sicilian large branchiopods has been briefly reviewed, and field surveys allowed us to add new data on their actual consistency in the area. Current Sicilian large branchiopod fauna is characterised by a low species richness and diversity, having possibly been impoverished by the high anthropic impact which has interes…

Scaled chrysophytes (Chrysophyceae and Synurophyceae) from national park lakes in southern and central Finland

1989

A total of 34 scaled chrysophyte taxa (18 Mallomonas spp., 6 Synura spp., 2 Chrysosphaerella spp., 6 Spiniferomonas spp. and 2 Paraphysomonas spp.) were recorded by SEM techniques in 61 samples from 59 lakes locating in 8 national parks of southern and central Finland in July 1987. Most of the lakes were small forest and peat bog lakes with acid (pH 4.6–7.2) and soft-water and with variable water colour (10–350 mg Pt/l). The number of taxa per lake varied from 0 to 15 and it correlated very significantly with the water pH. The species structure was rather typical for the oligotrophic and acid lakes. Besides the eurytypic and common species like Mallomonus caudata (fr. 72.1% of lakes), M. cr…

Presence of Pomphorhynchus laevis in Salamandra salamandra

1995

AbstractInfection of Salamandra salamandra larvae (Amphibia: Urodela) with the fish acanthocephalan Pomphorhynchus laevis was detected in a fish-free mountain brook. Gammarus fossarum was found to be the intermediate host. The parasites were probably inadvertently introduced through fish breeding practices. Evidence was obtained that Pomphorhynchus laevis persists, at least for several months, in postmetamorphic fire salamanders.

A new Northeast Asian Lynceus (Crustacea: Branchiopoda: Laevicaudata) with uniquely modified thoracopods and an evaluation of DNA barcoding for clam …

2020

A new species of smooth clam shrimp (Branchiopoda: Laevicaudata) from Mongolia and China is described here based on both morphological and genetic differences. The new species, Lynceus grossipedia n. sp., has unique features, including asymmetrically modified male thoracopods (left side thoracopods III-VI), male claspers “movable finger” (=endopod) with delicate setation, and broad, bicarinate male and female rostrum. Lynceus grossipedia n. sp. is compared with the genera Paralimnetis Gurney, 1931 and Lynceiopsis Daday, 1912 and a recently described Lynceus Müller, 1776 from China, also showing modified male thoracopods. Lynceus mandsuricus Daday, 1927 is declared nomen inquirendum. DNA bar…

First Record of Eurasian Spoonbills Platalea leucorodia feeding on Branchiopoda in a temporary wetland

2020

The diet of the Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia is poorly documented with only the most common prey groups known, namely small fishes, amphibians, reptiles, crustaceans, molluscs, worms, leeches and plant material. Here, the first observations of three small crustaceans, Branchiopoda Triops cancriformis (Notostraca), Chirocephalus diaphanus (Anostraca), and Cyzicus tetracerus (Spinicaudata) are documented as prey of the Eurasian Spoonbill in a temporary wetland near the San Teodoro salt pan (Marsala, western Sicily). These observations provide a new insight into the foraging ecology of the species, showing its extreme opportunism in targeting small prey when feeding in a temporary we…

The role of spatial and environmental factors as determinants of large branchiopod distribution in Tunisian temporary ponds

2015

Egg and embryo proteins in European newts (genus Triturus) and their taxonomic potential

1987

AbstractPolyacrylamide disc electrophoresis was carried out on water soluble proteins of eggs and embryos of Triturus alpestris, T. boscai, T. cristatus, T. helveticus, T. marmoratus and T. vulgaris. "Major bands" and "minor bands" were defined and species specific phenotyps are described. The patterns of major bands proved to be rather constant during embryonic development up to approximately stage 30 (stretched tailbud stage). The method as used in this study is considered to be practical and relevant for diagnostic studies on Triturus species.

Determining stingray movement patterns in a wave-swept coastal zone using a blimp for continuous aerial video surveillance

2020

Stingrays play a key role in the regulation of nearshore ecosystems. However, their movement ecology in high-energy surf areas remains largely unknown due to the notorious difficulties in conducting research in these environments. Using a blimp as an aerial platform for video surveillance, we overcame some of the limitations of other tracking methods, such as the use of tags and drones. This novel technology offered near-continuous coverage to characterise the fine-scale movements of stingrays in a surf area in Kiama, Australia, without any invasive procedures. A total of 98 stingray tracks were recorded, providing 6 h 27 min of movement paths. The tracking data suggest that stingrays may u…

Multilocus phylogenetics of smooth clam shrimps (Branchiopoda, Laevicaudata)

2021

International audience; Laevicaudatan branchiopods, also called ‘smooth clam shrimps’ or ’pea shrimps’, are rare crustaceans found exclusively in temporary, small freshwater bodies, which stay dry most of the year. Only 42 laevicaudatan species have been described so far, 90% of which belong to the genus Lynceus. The first multilocus phylogeny of the group is provided here, based on 15 Lynceus species from North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and New Caledonia and using nine molecular markers (two mitochondrial and seven nuclear genes, including newly designed primers). Genetic data suggest populations of Lynceus brachyurus from Europe and North America to represent a co…