Search results for "Phoridae"
showing 7 items of 7 documents
Using Local Ecological Knowledge of Fishers to Reconstruct Abundance Trends of Elasmobranch Populations in the Strait of Sicily
2020
Fishers “local ecological knowledge” (LEK) can be used to reconstruct long-term trends of species that are at very low biomass due to overfishing. In this study, we used historical memories of Sicilian fishers to understand their perception of change in abundance of cartilaginous fish in the Strait of Sicily over the last decades. We conducted interviews with 27 retired fishers from Mazara del Vallo harbor (SW Sicily) working in demersal fisheries, using a pre-defined questionnaire with a series of open and fixed questions related to the abundance of sharks and rays. The questionnaire included specific questions about the trends they perceived in catch or by-catch of cartilaginous fish abun…
Molecular Systematics of the Long-Snouted Deep Water Dogfish (Centrophoridae, Deania) With Implications for Identification, Taxonomy, and Conservation
2021
According to the most recent taxonomical revision, the deep-sea dogfish genus Deania encompasses four species. Three of them, D. calcea, D. profundorum, and D. hystricosa, occur in the North Atlantic. Whilst D. profundorum can be identified by the presence of a subcaudal keel, the other two species are not easily visually distinguished. Uncertainties over identification raises concerns over stock units and whether management plans are adequate. In this study we compared onboard visual identification of Deania specimens, with morphological inspection of skin denticles under stereo microscope and with independent molecular taxonomical assignment using two molecular markers. Particular emphasi…
Centromere-Like Elements in Megaselia Spiracularis (Diptera: Phoridae): A Fine-Structure and Cytogenetic Study
2004
The present study was concerned with the karyotype of a humpbacked fly, Megaselia spiracularis (Diptera: Phoridae). Chromosome preparations of neuroblasts isolated from male and female pupae uniformly showed two pairs of metacentric chromosomes and a telocentric chromosome pair. All chromosomes were homomorphic. The analysis of ultrathin serial sections through spermatogonia in metaphase using transmission electron microscopy, confirmed the presence of 3 regular chromosome pairs. In ultrathin sections, the centromeres could be detected as individual elements owing to their lesser electron density in comparison with the chromosome arms. In addition, the spindles contained two tiny elements s…
Dimethyl disulfide and dimethyl trisulfide: so similar yet so different in evoking biological responses in saprophilous flies
2014
Dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) and dimethyl trisulfide (DMTS) are used by saprophilous insects to locate breeding sites (decaying organic matter), and by brood-site deceptive flowers to attract such insects. However, little is known about the relative importance of these two compounds in eliciting electrophysiological and behavioral responses in the insects. Here, we compared the relative attractiveness of DMDS and DMTS to saprophilous flies in field choice experiments and tested whether potential differences in field responses can be explained by differences in electrophysiological antennal responses to these compounds. Field experiments revealed that the attractiveness of a mixture of these co…
First records of pollinators of two co-occurring Mediterranean Apocynaceae
2011
This article presents results of a field survey of pollinators of two Apocynaceae, Periploca laevigata subsp. angustifolia (Labill.)Markgraf (Periplocoideae) and Caralluma europaea (Guss.) N.E.Br. Asclepiadoideae) co-occurring on Lampedusa Island, Mediterranean sea. Fifteen species within nine families of Diptera have been identified as pollinators of the two plants. The families involved are Tephritidae, Milichiidae, Trixoscelididae, cathophagidae, Anthomyiidae, Muscidae, Calliphoridae, Sarcophagidae, Rhinophoridae. Families of Muscidae and Sarcophagidae are the more represented, respectively with four and three species. P. laevigata subsp. angustifolia seems to have a broader spectrum of …
The genus Troglophilus Krauss, 1879 (Orthoptera: Rhaphidophoridae) in the west Balkans
2011
We present a revision of the genus Troglophilus in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula based on morphological and genetic analysis, and provide distribution data for the species. The results of these analyses reduced the number of the known taxa within the genus Troglophilus in this area to five valid species: Troglophilus cavicola (Kollar, 1833), Troglophilus neglectusKrauss, 1879, Troglophilus ovuliformisKarny, 1907, Troglophilus brevicauda Chopard, 1934, and Troglophilus lazaropolensis Karaman, 1958. A new species Troglophilus zorae sp. nov. is described and Troglophilus neglectus serbicus Maran, 1958, Troglophilus neglectus vlasinensis Maran, 1958, Troglophilus bukoviki Karaman, 19…
Species diversity of the deep-water gulper sharks (Squaliformes: Centrophoridae:Centrophorus) in North Atlantic waters - current status and taxonomic…
2014
The gulper sharks (genus Centrophorus) are a group of deep-water benthopelagic sharks with a worldwide dis- tribution. The alpha taxonomy of the group has historically been problematic and the number of species included in the genus has varied considerably over the years and is still under debate. Gulper sharks are routinely caught in mid- and deep-water fisheries worldwide and some have shown a considerable decline in abundance in the last few decades. Clear and consistent species discrimination of Centrophorus is essential for an efficient and sustain- able management of these fisheries resources. Our study used molecular cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) and 16S ribosomal RNA gene seque…