scholarly journals Population Traits and a Female Perspective for Aglae and Exaerete, Tropical Bee Parasites (Hymenoptera, Apinae: Euglossini)

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
David W. Roubik

Size variation of both males and females leads to taxonomic confusion regarding wholly parasitic euglossines. The six most widespread species, Exaerete frontalis, E. smaragdina, E. dentata, E. trochanterica, E. lepeletieri, and Aglae caerulea, ranged from 12.5 to 28 mm in length (n = 522; 50 females; 472 males), and within species, some were 40-80% larger than others. The size of E. lepeletieri matches E. smaragdina and E. dentata, but not E. frontalis, which it was said to resemble. Female E. lepeletieri, here described from Amazonian Ecuador, has a range shown to also include French Guiana and Suriname. Female Aglae and Exaerete were larger than males. Statistically, female Exaerete tended toward larger individuals more than did males. Each species should parasitize Eulaema and Eufriesea that have comparable size and provisions; thus multiple hosts may cause parasite size variation. Unknown factors may promote host resource partitioning between sympatric parasites, which include up to six in Yasuní Biosphere Reserve, Ecuador, the richest known euglossine community. Scutellum and metafemur punctation, sculpture and the frontal knob of both sexes, and male mesotibial tuft and metafemur permit easy identification of the six common species and E. azteca. Existence of E. kimseyae in Panama is questionable, while E. dentata there is certainly rare. The female tibial scoop, a structure in both Aglae and Exaerete, with a proposed function in material transport, is discussed. No new phylogenetic interpretation is presented.

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roy Canty ◽  
Enrico Ruzzier ◽  
Quentin Cronk ◽  
Diana Percy

Curculionid beetles associated with willow (Salix spp.) were surveyed at 42 sites across Europe, from Greece (lat. 38.8 °N) to arctic Norway (lat. 69.7 °N). DNA sequence data provide additional verification of identifications and geographic clustering. In all, 73 curculionid species were collected from willows, of which seven were particularly abundant. The most widespread species were: Acalyptus carpini Fabricius, 1793 at 15 sites; Tachyerges stigma Germar, 1821 at 13 sites; Phyllobius oblongus (Linnaeus, 1758) at 11 sites; Phyllobius maculicornis Germar, 1824 at 10 sites; and Archarius salicivorus (Paykull, 1792), Melanapion minimum (Herbst, 1797), and Phyllobius cf. pyri (Linnaeus, 1758) all at nine sites. The mean number of curculionid species collected on willow at each site was 5.5 (range 0-14). Compared to chrysomelids, curculionids were richer in species but the species had relatively low average abundance. Widespread curculionid species appear to have scattered and patchy observed distributions with limited geographical structuring in our data. However, deeper sampling (e.g. over multiple seasons and years), would give a better indication of distribution, and may increase apparent geographical structuring. There is some site-to-site variation in colour in a few taxa, but little notable size variation. DNA barcoding, performed on some of the more common species, provides clear species clusters and definitive separation of the taxonomically more challenging species, as well as some interesting geographic insights. Our northernmost sample of Phyllobius oblongus is unique in clustering with Canadian samples of this species. On the other hand, our samples of Acalyptus carpini cluster with European samples and are distinct from a separate Canadian cluster of this species. We provide the first available DNA sequences for Phyllobius thalassinus Gyllenhal, 1834 (Hungary).


Zootaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4379 (1) ◽  
pp. 47 ◽  
Author(s):  
JACK M. CRAIG ◽  
LUIZ R. MALABARBA ◽  
WILLIAM G. R. CRAMPTON ◽  
JAMES S. ALBERT

Banded Knifefishes (Gymnotus, Gymnotidae) comprise the most species-rich, ecologically tolerant (eurytopic), and geographically widespread genus of Neotropical electric fishes (Gymnotiformes), with 40 valid species occupying most habitats and regions throughout the humid Neotropics. Despite substantial alpha-taxonomic work in recent years, parts of the genus remain characterized by taxonomic confusion. Here we describe and delimit species of the G. carapo and G. tigre clades from the southern Neotropics, using body proportions (caliper-based morphometrics), fin-ray, scale and laterosensory-pore counts (meristics), quantitative shape differences (geometric morphometrics), osteology, color patterns and electric organ discharges. We report these data from 174 Gymnotus specimens collected from 100 localities throughout the southern Neotropics, and delimit species boundaries in a multivariate statistical framework. We find six species of the G. carapo clade (G. carapo australis, G. cuia n. sp., G. chimarrao, G. omarorum, G. pantanal, and G. sylvius), and two species of the G. tigre clade (G. inaequilabiatus and G. paraguensis) in the southern Neotropics. The new species G. cuia is readily distinguished from the morphologically similar and broadly sympatric G. c. australis by a shorter head and deeper head and body, and from the morphologically similar and sympatric G. omarorum by fewer lateral-line ventral rami and fewer pored lateral-line scales anterior to the first ventral ramus. We also review the geographic distributions of all eight species of the G. carapo and G. tigre clades in the southern Neotropics, showing that G. cuia is the most widespread species in the region. These results affirm the importance of understanding the structure of variation within and between species, both geographic and ontogenetic, in delimiting species boundaries. 


ABSTRACT The fundamental charge of conservation biology is to preserve biological diversity. Yet, efforts to accomplish this goal have focused too narrowly on reversing the slide toward extinction in already threatened or endangered species. In this review, we argue that conservation biologists and fisheries managers should broaden their vision to include efforts to preserve the ecological and evolutionary processes that ultimately give rise to new biodiversity. Our view is based upon the simple observation that biological diversity is a function of both the rate at which new taxa originate as well as the rate at which established taxa are lost to extinction. Efforts to stem extinction that fail to maintain the ecological and evolutionary processes of speciation are ultimately unsustainable. We suggest that common, widespread species are particularly important to the origin of new diversity and argue that conservation biologists should pay particular attention to the evolution of diversity within such species. We illustrate several key points to this argument using the desert minnow, Utah chub <em>Gila atraria</em>, as a model system. In particular, we show that conservation efforts in common species must focus on clearly delineating conservation unit boundaries and that particular care should be paid to unique ecological and evolutionary diversity within such species.We also show the importance of understanding and conserving the range of ecological and evolutionary interactions that are common hallmarks of abundant and widespread taxa.We conclude our review by suggesting several specific areas of future research in Utah chub that would help more clearly define conservation and management priorities in this species.


2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 91-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth L. Tokarz ◽  
Pablo Álvia ◽  
Renato Valencia ◽  
Simon A. Queenborough

AbstractHerbaceous plants are often under-studied in tropical forests, despite their high density and diversity, and little is known about the factors that influence their distribution at microscales. In a 25-ha plot in lowland Amazonian rain forest in Yasuní National Park, Ecuador, we censused six species of Heliconia (Heliconiaceae) in a stratified random manner across three topographic habitat types. We observed distribution patterns consistent with habitat filtering. Overall, more individuals occurred in the valley (N = 979) and slope (N = 847) compared with the ridge (N = 571) habitat. At the species level, Heliconia stricta (N = 1135), H. spathocircinata (N = 309) and H. ortotricha (N = 36) all had higher abundance in the valley and slope than ridge. Further, H. vellerigera (N = 20) was completely absent from the ridge. Conversely, H. velutina (N = 903) was most common in the drier ridge habitat. The two most common species (H. stricta and H. velutina) had a reciprocal or negative co-occurrence pattern and occurred preferentially in valley versus ridge habitats. These results suggest that taxa within this family have different adaptations to the wetter valley versus the drier ridge and that habitat partitioning contributes to coexistence.


2000 ◽  
Vol 60 (3) ◽  
pp. 503-509 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. E. ALMEIDA ◽  
E. F. RAMOS ◽  
E. GOUVÊA ◽  
M. do CARMO-SILVA ◽  
J. COSTA

Ctenus medius Keyserling, 1891 is a common species in several spots of Mata Atlântica, however there is a great lack of studies in all aspects of its natural history. This work aims to elucidate aspects of ecotope preference compared to large spiders, and to provide data on the development of chromatic patterns during its life cycle. The observations on the behavior of C. medius were done in the campus of Centro Universitário de Barra Mansa (UBM) by means of observations and nocturnal collections using cap lamps. For observations on the development of chromatic patterns, spiderlings raised in laboratory, hatched from an oviposition of a female from campus of UBM, and others spiderlings collected in field were used. The field observations indicate that: C. medius seems to prefer ecotopes characterized by dense shrub vegetation or herbal undergrowth; Lycosa erythrognatha and L. nordeskioldii seems to prefer open sites; Phoneutria nigriventer seems to prefer shrub vegetation and anthropogenic ecotopes as rubbish hills; Ancylometes sp. seems to prefer ecotopes near streams. Concerning chromatic patterns, it was observed that males and females show well distinct patterns during the last two instars, allowing distinction by sex without the use of a microscope. Through chromatic patterns it was also possible to draw a distinction between C. medius and C. ornatus longer that 3 mm cephalothorax width. 69 specimens of C. medius (males and females) collected in the campus of UBM did not show a striking polymorphism in chromatic pattern, but one among 7 adult females collected in National Park of Itatiaia, showed a distinct chromatic pattern.


Zootaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4497 (2) ◽  
pp. 151 ◽  
Author(s):  
AARE LINDT ◽  
AXEL HAUSMANN ◽  
JAAN VIIDALEPP

The Neotropical geometrine genus Oospila Warren, 1897 includes seventy-nine species and was revised by Cook & Scoble (1995). The genus is distinctive in having a row of raised abdominal crests, which are composed of specialized, erect, metallic shining scales. This paper focuses on the integrative morphological and molecular delimitation of the smallest Oospila species. The wing patterns and genitalia structures of males and females are illustrated. Cook & Scoble (1995) distinguished 13 species groups within Oospila. We discuss the species of the Oospila flavilimes species group, the O. stigma species group and O. miccularia species group below, and separate the O. arpata species complex into a group of its own. Nine new species and two new subspecies are described in this paper: O. cristae sp. n. from Ecuador, O. falcata sp. n. from French Guiana, O. pallidaria boliviensis subsp. n. from Bolivia, and O. loreenae sp. n. from Bolivia (flavilimes species group), O. ehakernae sp. n. from Costa Rica, O. similiplaga bolarpata subsp. n. from Bolivia (arpata species group), O. brehmi sp. n. and O. bifida sp. n. both from Bolivia, O. moseri sp. n. from Brazil, O. absaloni sp. n. and O. pipa sp. n. both from Ecuador (miccularia species group). Oospila similiplaga (Warren) (stat. nov.) is raised here from synonymy with O. arpata (Schaus) and O. imula (Dognin) from synonymy with O. miccularia (Guenée), respectively. Oospila agnetaforslundae nom. nov. is proposed as a replacement name for Oospila marginata Schaus, 1912 (nec Oospila marginata Warren, 1897), raising it to species rank from synonymy of Oospila permagna (Warren, 1909). With this paper, the number of Neotropical Oospila species is raised to 88. 


Insects ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 124
Author(s):  
Jana Branwen Helebrandová ◽  
Petr Pyszko ◽  
Aleš Dolný

Emerald damselfly Lestes sponsa is a common species within the temperate zone, with no special need for protection. The tactic of submerged oviposition is well known from other Odonata species, but has rarely been noticed or described in Lestes sponsa. Our study investigated the tactics of oviposition in this species, and shows that submerged oviposition indeed occurs frequently in Lestes sponsa. We experimentally tested the difference in the roles of males and females during the submerged ovipositional behaviour by combining males/females from submerging populations with males/females from non-submerging populations. We discovered that, whereas submerging males coupling with non-submerging females did not lead to submersion, the opposite combination of pairs submerged. Other patterns of submersions are discussed further in this paper. Our research led to the conclusion that damselflies have the ability to learn and react to different situations in keeping with the learning potential of insects in general.


1999 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 355-366 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.-C. Svenning

An evaluation of whether large arborescent palms depend on large treefall gaps for recruitment to the adult stage is reported. Specifically three hypotheses were tested: (1) The light requirement of juveniles of tall arborescent palms increases as they grow in size. (2) Tall arborescent palms depend on gaps over 0.10 ha for growth and survival to maturity, due to high light requirements during the stem height growth phase. (3) Stilt-rooted palms are not dependent on gaps for juvenile height growth. The hypotheses were evaluated using data on size and crown position of individuals of tall arborescent palm species as well as data on the forest-phase in which each individual grew. The study site was a 50-ha plot in old-growth rain forest in Amazonian Ecuador. The first hypothesis was accepted for the two most common species, Iriartea deltoidea and Oenocarpus bataua, but tentatively rejected for the arborescent palm community as a whole. The second hypothesis was rejected for Iriartea and the community as a whole. Only Oenocarpus had strongly gap-dependent recruitment. The results for Iriartea and Oenocarpus were consistent with the third hypothesis.


Zootaxa ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 1710 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
MOLLY G. RIGHTMYER

The cleptoparasitic bee genus Triepeolus is a widespread, species-rich group that has never been revised throughout its geographic range. Herein I review 103 species of Triepeolus, including all but those that belong to the newly defined Triepeolus verbesinae and Triepeolus simplex species groups (these will be the topic of a subsequent paper). I present three keys to the species, which together cover the genus throughout its range in the New World; the keys are to the females of North and Central America, the males and females from Eastern North America, and the males and females from South America and the Caribbean. I propose the following 37 new species: Triepeolus antiochensis, T. argentimus, T. argus, T. bimorulus, T. charlesi, T. circumculus, T. claytoni, T. cruciformis, T. diffusus, T. dilutus, T. edwardi, T. engeli, T. exilicurvus, T. flavigradus, T. fulgidus, T. griswoldi, T. interruptus, T. isohedrus, T. jennieae, T. joliae, T. lateralis, T. margaretae, T. mauropygus, T. melanarius, T. micheneri, T. nayaritensis, T. parkeri, T. partitus, T. parvidiversipes, T. parvus, T. perpictus, T. phaeopygus, T. punctoclypeus, T. quadratus, T. simulatus, T. vernus, and T. warriti, and propose the new combinations Triepeolus laticeps (Friese), Triepeolus tepanecus (Cresson) and Triepeolus zacatecus (Cresson). I newly synonymize 45 of the 169 previously proposed Triepeolus names, for a total of 51 synonymies: T. alachuensis Mitchell under T. rufithorax Graenicher; Epeolus albopictus Cockerell, E. costaricensis Friese, and E. flavocinctus Friese under T. aztecus (Cresson); T. alpestris Cockerell, T. amandus Cockerell, and T. vandykei Cockerell and Sandhouse under T. paenepectoralis Viereck; E. bardus Cresson, T. mesillae Cockerell, and T. pimarum Cockerell under T. distinctus (Cresson); T. brunneus Cockerell under T. balteatus Cockerell; T. charlottensis Mitchell under T. brittaini Cockerell; T. cirsianus Mitchell under T. donatus (Smith); T. concinnus Cockerell under T. townsendi Cockerell; T. coquilletti Cockerell, T. helianthi arizonensis Cockerell, T. helianthi pacificus Cockerell, T. lineatulus Cockerell and Sandhouse, and T. maculiventris Cockerell under T. helianthi (Robertson); T. dichropus Cockerell, T. eldredi Cockerell, T. helianthi grandior Cockerell, T. pallidiventris Cockerell and Sandhouse, T. rectangularis Cockerell, and T. wyomingensis Cockerell under T. texanus (Cresson); T. digueti Cockerell and E. nobilis Friese under T. intrepidus (Smith); T. floridanus Mitchellunder T. georgicus Mitchell; T. fortis Cockerell, T. insolitus Cockerell, and T. trilobatus Cockerell under T. martini (Cockerell); T. foxii Cockerell under T. rufoclypeus (Fox); T. lestes Cockerell under T. subalpinus Cockerell; T. loganensis Cockerell and T. sandhousae Cockerell under T. fraserae Cockerell; T. nautlanus Cockerell under T. lunatus (Say); E. nigriceps Smith under T. robustus (Cresson); E. oswegoensis Mitchell under T. pectoralis (Robertson); T. perelegans Cockerell and T. trichopygus Cockerell and Timberlake under T. penicilliferus (Brues); T. signatus Hedicke under T. ventralis (Meade-Waldo); T. stricklandi Cockerell under T. subalpinus Cockerell; E. superbus Provancher and E. texanus nigripes Cockerell under T. remigatus (Fabricius); and E. utahensis Cockerell under T. heterurus (Cockerell and Sandhouse).


2017 ◽  
Vol 284 (1858) ◽  
pp. 20170722 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bjarte Hannisdal ◽  
Kristian Agasøster Haaga ◽  
Trond Reitan ◽  
David Diego ◽  
Lee Hsiang Liow

Common species shape the world around us, and changes in their commonness signify large-scale shifts in ecosystem structure and function. However, our understanding of long-term ecosystem response to environmental forcing in the deep past is centred on species richness, neglecting the disproportional impact of common species. Here, we use common and widespread species of planktonic foraminifera in deep-sea sediments to track changes in observed global occupancy (proportion of sampled sites at which a species is present and observed) through the turbulent climatic history of the last 65 Myr. Our approach is sensitive to relative changes in global abundance of the species set and robust to factors that bias richness estimators. Using three independent methods for detecting causality, we show that the observed global occupancy of planktonic foraminifera has been dynamically coupled to past oceanographic changes captured in deep-ocean temperature reconstructions. The causal inference does not imply a direct mechanism, but is consistent with an indirect, time-delayed causal linkage. Given the strong quantitative evidence that a dynamical coupling exists, we hypothesize that mixotrophy (symbiont hosting) may be an ecological factor linking the global abundance of planktonic foraminifera to long-term climate changes via the relative extent of oligotrophic oceans.


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