scholarly journals Where Topsent went wrong: Aka infesta a.k.a. Aka labyrinthica (Demospongiae: Phloeodictyidae) and implications for other Aka spp.

Author(s):  
Christine Hanna Lydia Schönberg ◽  
Lydia Beuck

Early descriptions for species of Aka were poor in detail, and the only spicule type that occurs in this genus does not vary much between species, which led to taxonomic confusion. Moreover, the type specimens of five species of Aka are lost, causing considerable problems. Mediterranean specimens of Aka were identified as Aka labyrinthica (Hancock, 1849) by Topsent (1900), even though this species was originally described from the Indo-Pacific. All following publications on Mediterranean Aka accepted Topsent's decision. We assessed this problem with new samples from the Ionian Sea. Our material consisted of only one specimen of Aka, and we had to rely mainly on spicule characters for comparison with other species. We developed a system for species recognition solely based on spicular characters and biometry, involving a combination of the parameters oxea length, width, tip form and angle of curvature. This approach was surprisingly accurate. Forming ratios of the above parameters was less helpful, but can sometimes provide additional information. We identified our sample as Aka infesta (Johnson, 1899), and describe it as a minute-fistulate species with large, multicamerate erosion traces and stout, smooth oxeas. Our data further imply that A. labyrinthica sensu Hancock has not yet been found in the Mediterranean. Aka labyrinthica sensu Topsent is a collection of different species not including A. labyrinthica sensu Hancock.

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 283-294
Author(s):  
Marina Mancini

In 2020 Greece and Italy concluded a maritime delimitation agreement, extending the already-established boundary line between their respective continental shelf areas to the other maritime areas to which they are entitled under international law. The Greek authorities hailed the agreement as a great success, stressing that it fully reflects their position vis-à-vis maritime delimitation in the Mediterranean and it meets their national interests in the Ionian Sea. This article critically analyzes the agreement, in the light of various recent events, and it finds that it serves Italian interests too. In particular, the 2020 Italo-Greek agreement furthers Italy’s growing interest in delimiting the maritime zones to which it is entitled under international law, so as to prevent its rights and jurisdiction over them being impaired by the proclamation of overlapping zones by its neighbours. It also sets the stage for future proclamation by Italy of an EEZ covering the waters adjacent to its territorial sea in the Ionian Sea.


Check List ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 1646 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Tiralongo ◽  
R. Baldacconi

Microlipophrys adriaticus (Steindachner & Kolombatovic, 1883) is an endemic blenny of the Mediterranean Sea. It is also known from the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea. However, unlike other species of combtooth blennies, M. adriaticus is a fish with a limited distribution in Adriatic Sea, especially in the north, where it can be common. We report here the first record of this species from the waters of the Ionian Sea.


2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 1419-1421
Author(s):  
Manpreet Kaur ◽  
K. S. Khera

The Red Wattled Lapwing is an important bird of the agro-ecosystem of the Punjab state, feeding on insects, seeds and nectar. The present study was carried out to gather information on the egg parameters (morphometry and its components), which is lacking for this species. The eggs were observed in the nest construct-ed in the agricultural fields of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, Punjab. Egg length, width and weight were measured using vernier caliper and portable weighing balance, respectively, in laboratory. The egg parameters like egg volume, specific gravity and shape index were also calculated. Weight of egg components (yolk, albumen and shell) were also measured using weighing balance. Results revealed that average values of egg breadth, length and shape index were: 30.05±0.331 (mm), 41.29±0.573 (mm) and 72.83±0.930, respectively. Whereas whole egg weight, albumen weight, yolk weight, shell weight, albumen percentage, yolk percentage, shell percentage, egg volume and specific gravity were 17.49±0.634(gm),7.17±0.374 (gm), 9.05±0.233 (gm), 1.26±0.070 (gm), 40.84±0.941 (%), 51.92±0.830 (%), 7.22±0.280 (%), 17.07±0.531(cm3) and 1.02±0.009 (gm/cm3), respectively. This study pro-vides important information that can help the avian taxonomists in species classification, as bird’s egg diverges widely in shape, volume, weight and percentage of albumen, yolk and shell. Therefore, we can use the egg parameters as additional information in bird systematic.


Zootaxa ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 3490 (1) ◽  
pp. 49 ◽  
Author(s):  
JAE-SANG HONG ◽  
BYUNG-MEE CHOI ◽  
AKI KUBO ◽  
MASANORI SATO

There has been a long-standing taxonomic confusion over the name of a giant nereidid worm living in Asian intertidalmud flats. To clear up the confusion, we examined the type specimens of Paraleonnates uschakovi Khlebovich and Wu,1962 described from China as well as Periserrula leucophryna Paik, 1977 described from Korea (Polychaeta: Nereididae),together with additional non-type materials newly collected from Korea, China, Taiwan, and Thailand. Our results con-firmed that Periserrula leucophryna should be reduced to a junior synonym of Paraleonnates uschakovi as previouslynoted, and that this species is widely distributed in Asia, newly recorded from Taiwan and Thailand. We also present newinformation about the arrangement of three kinds of chaetae in the parapodia as a characteristic of this species. We alsocompared this species with Paraleonnates bolus (Hutchings and Reid, 1991) described from Australia and concluded thatthese are different species. Based on our examination, we propose the amended diagnosis of the genus ParaleonnatesKhlebovich and Wu, 1962. Paraleonnates Amoureux, 1985 erected as a monotypic genus for P. guadalupensis Amoureux,1985 was judged as a junior homonym of Paraleonnates Khlebovich and Wu, 1962, and P. guadalupensis is transferred to the genus Leonnates Kinberg, 1865.


2021 ◽  
Vol 97 (1) ◽  
pp. 121-139
Author(s):  
Isabel Cristina Molina-Acevedo ◽  
Izwandy Idris

Marphysa simplex is a name that three species bear within the same genus, but each has a different authority and morphological characteristics. This homonymy condition leads to taxonomic confusion and the finite designation of name-bearing is imperative. The current study focuses on two species identified as M. simplex Crossland, 1903 and M. simplex Treadwell, 1922 and a third one, recently considered a secondary homonymy, M. simplex (Langerhans, 1884), is also assessed. The available type specimens were examined and re-described in detail using updated characters and the original descriptions. Marphysa simplex (Langerhans, 1884) is herein judged as an indeterminable species. Marphysa simplex Crossland, 1903 is confirmed as a junior synonym of M. teretiuscula (Schmarda, 1861a) because the differences are minimal. Moreover, M. teretiuscula has characteristics similar to Group B2 (Sanguinea-group; only compound spinigers), instead of the Teretiuscula-group (compound spinigers in the anterior region, subacicular limbate in all chaetigers). On the other hand, M. simplex Treadwell, 1922 is a junior primary homonym of Crossland’s species replaced by M. fijiensisnom. nov. with the chaetal arrangement similar to Group A (limbate chaetae only). In conclusion, the name M. simplex is now unacceptable. The hypothesis on species group only with limbate chaetae and the redescription on M. teretiuscula is also given.


2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 472 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. TSIAMIS ◽  
Ö. AYDOGAN ◽  
N. BAILLY ◽  
P. BALISTRERI ◽  
M. BARICHE ◽  
...  

The Collective Article ‘New Mediterranean Biodiversity Records’ of the Mediterranean Marine Science journal offers the means to publish biodiversity records in the Mediterranean Sea. The current article is divided in two parts, for records of native and alien species respectively. The new records of native species include: the neon flying squid Ommastrephes bartramii in Capri Island, Thyrrenian Sea; the bigeye thresher shark Alopias superciliosus in the Adriatic Sea; a juvenile basking shark Cetorhinus maximus caught off Piran (northern Adriatic); the deep-sea Messina rockfish Scorpaenodes arenai in the National Marine Park of Zakynthos (East Ionian Sea, Greece); and the oceanic puffer Lagocephalus lagocephalus in the Adriatic Sea.The new records of alien species include: the red algae Antithamnionella elegans and Palisada maris-rubri, found for the first time in Israel and Greece respectively; the green alga Codium parvulum reported from Turkey (Aegean Sea); the first record of the alien sea urchin Diadema setosum in Greece; the nudibranch Goniobranchus annulatus reported from South-Eastern Aegean Sea (Greece); the opisthobranch Melibe viridis found in Lebanon; the new records of the blue spotted cornetfish Fistularia commersonii in the Alicante coast (Eastern Spain); the alien fish Siganus luridus and Siganus rivulatus in Lipsi Island, Dodecanese (Greece); the first record of Stephanolepis diaspros from the Egadi Islands Marine Protected Area (western Sicily); a northward expansion of the alien pufferfish Torquigener flavimaculosus along the southeastern Aegean coasts of Turkey; and data on the occurrence of the Lessepsian immigrants Alepes djedaba, Lagocephalus sceleratus and Fistularia commersonii in Zakynthos Island (SE Ionian Sea, Greece).


2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Noelia Hidalgo Triana

 Abstract: The management of Mediterranean mountains need to know whether or not the flora is adapted to respond to fire and, if so, through what mechanisms. Serpentine outcrops constitute particular ecosystems in the Mediterranean Basin, and plants need to make an additional adaptive effort. The objective of this study is to know the response to fire of the main members of the group of serpentine plants, which habit the Spanish Mediterranean ultramafic mountain, to help in their management. For this purpose, monitoring plots were established on a burned ultramafic outcrop, which was affected by fire in August 2012.They were located in the Mediterranean south of the Iberian Peninsula, Andalusia region. The dominant vegetation of this serpentine ecosystem had been studied previously to fire; it was a shrubland composed of endemic serpentinophytes (small shrubs and perennial herbs) included in Digitali laciniatae-Halimietum atriplicifolii plant association (Cisto-Lavanduletea class) in an opened pine forest. The post-fire response of the plants was studied in the stablished burned plots by field works through permanent 200 x 10 m transect methods, consisting on checking whether they were resprouters, seeders, both of them or if they showed no survival response. Additional information about fire related functional traits is provided for the studied taxa from other studies. Of the total of plants studied (23 taxa), 74% acted as resprouters, 30% as seeders, some of which also had the capacity to resprout (13%), and only 9% of the plants did not show any survival strategy. The presence of a resprouting burl was not high (17%), although serpentine small shrubs such as Bupleurum acutifolium and the generalist Teucrium haenseleri had this kind of organ. The herbaceous taxa Sanguisorba verrucosa, Galium boissieranum and Linum carratracense were seen to be resprouters and seeders. The serpentine obligated Ni-accumulator, Alyssum serpyllifolium subsp. malacitanum, did not show any survival strategy in the face of fire and therefore their populations need monitoring after fires. In the studied ecosystems no species had traits that would protect the aerial part of the plant against fire, although most of the species are capable of post-fire generation by below ground buds. Our results show that the ecosystem studied, composed of taxa with a high degree of endemism and some of them threatened, is predominantly adapted to survival after a fire, although their response capacity may be decreased by environmental factors.


Author(s):  
Lagouvardos K ◽  
A. Karagiannidis ◽  
S. Dafis ◽  
A. Kalimeris ◽  
V. Kotroni

AbstractDuring 15-21 September 2020, an intense medicane, named Ianos, formed over the warm Mediterranean Sea. Following a path of approximately 1900 km, Medicane Ianos affected Greece resulting in four casualties and devastating damages in the western and central parts of Greece. Persistent gale force 1-minute winds up to 44 ms‒1 and wind gusts up to 54 ms‒1 were recorded in Cephalonia island (Ionian Sea), while record-breaking amounts of accumulated rainfall have been recorded in several Ionian Islands, as well as in parts of Central Greece. Analysis of the available observations showed that Ianos was the most intense medicane ever recorded in the Mediterranean. This paper aims at investigating the genesis and evolution of the medicane, based on in situ observations, satellite measurements and model analyses. Towards that objective, Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) SEVIRI imagery, combined with lightning data permitted to follow the evolution of convective activity during the various phases of Ianos. This investigation is complemented with upper-air model analyses in order to evaluate the synoptic environment within which Ianos has formed and was sustained during 7 days. Finally, the Global Precipitation Mission Core Observatory satellite (GPM-CO) overpasses over Medicane Ianos provided invaluable information about its 3-D structure, especially during its most intense phase.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Birthe Zäncker ◽  
Michael Cunliffe ◽  
Anja Engel

Abstract. The sea surface microlayer (SML) represents the boundary layer at the air-sea interface. Microbial eukaryotes in the SML potentially influence air-sea gas exchange directly by taking up and producing gases, and indirectly by excreting and degrading organic matter, which may modify the viscoelastic properties of the SML. However, little is known about the controlling factors that influence microbial eukaryote community composition in the SML. We studied the composition of the microbial community, transparent exopolymer particles and polysaccharides in the SML during the PEACETIME cruise along a west-east transect in the Mediterranean Sea, covering the western basin, Tyrrhenian Sea and Ionian Sea. At the stations located in the Ionian Sea, fungi were found in high relative abundances determined by 18S sequencing efforts, making up a significant proportion of the sequences recovered. At the same time, bacterial and phytoplankton counts were decreasing from west to east, while transparent exopolymer particle (TEP) abundance and total carbohydrate (TCHO) concentrations remained the same between Mediterranean basins. Thus, the presence of substrates for fungi, such as Cladosporium known to take up phytoplankton-derived polysaccharides, in combination with decreased substrate competition by bacteria suggests that fungi could be thriving in the neuston of the Ionian Sea.


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