Contemporary State of Preservation of the Lichen Biota in the Eastern Part of the “Paprocie Serpentynitowe w Masywie Ślęży” Ecological Area

The purpose of this study was to assess the contemporary conditions of the lichen biota in the eastern part of the “Paprocie Serpentynitowe w Masywie Ślęży” ecological area in the Sudetes Foothills. The studies were carried out at three localities selected from 10 sites that were designed to protect the Asplenium fern genus. A total of 47 lichen species were found in the three localities. For each of the recorded species, the state of preservation in the Ślęża Massif area was assessed according to three factors: frequency at all three localities, general viability of the thalli, and stability in occurrence on the habitat. Stability was defined based on contemporary and historical data. From the analysis, most of the species (17) were classified as taxa with “moderate preservation status” in the study area. However, the preservation status of the 18 newly recorded taxa was defined as “insufficient data” due to the lack of previous records. Other species received a “very good preservation status” (three taxa) and “good preservation status” (nine taxa). The analyses allowed us to document the current number of taxa, determine their health condition, and indicate trends in the transformation within the lichen biota of the serpentinite rocks in the study area. Moreover, some actions were proposed to actively protect the valuable lichens in the ecological area of “Paprocie Serpentynitowe w Masywie Ślęży.”

Shell Anomalies in the European Aquatic Stem Turtle Pleurosternon bullockii (Paracryptodira, Pleurosternidae)

The uppermost Jurassic to lowermost Cretaceous stem turtle Pleurosternon bullockii is the pleurosternid (Testudinata, Paracryptodira) known by the largest number of specimens worldwide, composing the largest European collection of Lower Cretaceous complete and partial shells for a turtle taxon. The availability of numerous specimens as well as their generally good preservation allowed for recent detailed characterization of the shell of this species, including states that are variable at the intraspecific level (individual variability, sexual dimorphism, and ontogenetic development). However, extreme cases of morphological variation corresponding to anomalies have not been addressed in detail, neither for P. bullockii nor for any other member of Paracryptodira. In this context, the study of several shell anomalies in P. bullockii is carried out here. Fourteen specimens showing anomalies are recognized and examined here to determine the frequency and distribution of these shell anatomical deviations. All these anomalies are described and figured. The morphogenetic cause of each of them is discussed. As a consequence, a relatively broad spectrum of anomalies is reported for P. bullockii. None of the anomalies seem to present negative consequences for vital activities of the specimens since none compromised the main functions of the shell.

Sample collection/stabilization and DNA/RNA extraction from swab samples for microbiome or metagenome analyses

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A new stonefly species (Plecoptera: Perlodidae) from Eocene Baltic amber and questions on the wing venation potential for species diagnostic of fossil Plecoptera

Examination of Baltic amber Plecoptera reveals a new species of Isoperla: Isoperla baltica sp. nov. The placement of this new species is supported by an in-depth comparison of apomorphies supporting families, subfamilies, and suborders. Contrary to previous descriptions of many fossil species, we took advantage of the good preservation of the genitalia to describe and compare this new species to its extant congeners. Finally, we discuss the usefulness and limitations of relying on wing venation to identify diagnostic characters in Plecoptera by figuring a specimen of Pteroliriope sinitshenkovae Cui, Béthoux, Kondratieff, Shih & Ren, 2016 with numerous crossveins and an original organization of forewing veins.

Are Nemiana Palij and Beltanelliformis Menner (Beltanelloides (Sokolov)) synonyms or different genera?

During recent decades, the issue of the nature of Ediacaran cyclic imprints, including the widely distributed in Podillia (southwestern Ukraine) Nemiana simplex Palij, 1976, and the less common Beltanelliformis brunsae Menner, 1974 (Beltanelloides sorichevae (Sokolov), 1965) has been actively debated. Several new and similar forms were discovered in other regions of the Globe. The disk-like outlines were considered to be sufficient characters to synonymize several earlier recognized genera and species. The main additional features used to distinguish cyclic genera included such features as the shape and sculpture of surfaces, facial differences, and geological age. Novel palaeobiochemical studies of these ancient remains opened a new phase of discussions on the possible identities of the organisms that formed these fossil structures. Sometimes the remains are covered with thin brown films providing biochemical evidence for the cyanobacterial nature of some structures, for example Beltanelliformis brunsae. However, these films are found only in clayey or carbonate environments (rocks). For Nemiana Palij, characteristic features are clustered communities and budding. In contrast, Beltanelliformis brunsae formed taphonomic communities of closely arranged disks almost identical in their shape and size. Nemiana simplex structures are confined to clastic rocks (mostly thin-grained sandstones or siltstone), which are not suitable for good preservation of imprints and organic remains of ancient animals, cyanobacteria, algae, and plants. Considering these and some additional considerations, synonimization of Nemiana та Beltanelliformis, as well as some other Ediacaran fossil structures differing in their morphology, is at best premature.

Russian Dialects as a Resource for Finniс Historical Lexicology

This article proposes a reconstruction of a number of Vepsian and Ludic Karelian derivatives of lexemes, referring to the dialectal vocabulary of the Russian dialects of Obonezhye region. Having been lost from the aforementioned Finnic languages due to the Russification of the population living along the transit waterways used for the development of Obonezhye region since the time of Veliky Novgorod, they have survived as substratum or borrowed units in geographically adjacent Russian dialects. Vepsian and Karelian language data are traditionally used for the etymological interpretation of the Russian dialect lexicon. The reverse approach, i.e. the involvement of Russian dialects as a resource for Finnic etymological studies has not been widely used. When reconstructing, it is important to consider such parameters as the area of the Russian word, aiming at a well-defined Finnic language etymon; patterns of phonetic substitution and adaptation of specific Finnic sounds and sound combinations into Russian dialects; the existence of a word and its semantics in related languages. Additional opportunities are provided by the use of toponymic data due to the massive character and good preservation of toponyms. The article reconstructs several Vepsian and Ludic derived lexemes which have not been recorded in dictionaries or other sources. Among them, there are lexemes with suffixes -(e)k and -(e)h (*katek ‘thin ice’, *torek ‘noise, crackling, rumbling’, *čapek ‘overgrown undercut’, räbeh ‘damp low place in the forest’), Vepsian verbal name *kütm <* kütkim ‘leash for cattle’ with the -im suffix, Ludic term *hörpäk ‘stake with branches for drying hay’ with the suffix -äk and Vepsian landscape term *pugend ~ *pugond ‘swift with a narrow bed on the river’, in which the suffix -nd (< -nto) is embodied. The source of Russian dialectal data is the monumental publication Russian Dialect Etymological Dictionary. Vocabulary of Contact Regions (2019) prepared by S. А. Myznikov. A lot of work was done in it to find Finnic roots for Russian lexemes. The author of the dictionary had natural difficulties in attributing Russian dialect lexemes, for which their Vepsian or Karelian etymon did not survive. The interpretations presented in the article, along the way, clarify, supplement, and sometimes correct the etymology of the Russian Dialect Etymological Dictionary.

Pastoral Practices, Bedding and Fodder During the Early Neolithic Through Micromorphology at Cova Colomera (Southeastern Pre-Pyrenees, Iberia)

The microstratigraphic study of the Cova Colomera (Sant Esteve de la Sarga, Lleida, Spain) confirms that there are several discontinuous ovicaprid stabling episodes in the Late Cardial Neolithic sequence (c. 5250–4780 cal BC). There are episodes with and without combustion traces. From the burnt episodes, it has been possible to identify bedding and fodder due to their good preservation and abundance in the X-32 sector, specifically the level CE14. The main constituents are grassy remains and to a lesser extent, conifer twigs and needles, beech twigs, and box leaves. These data give an idea about the landscape near the cavity. From the nonburnt episodes, we emphasize the sector W-31, specifically the top of level CE13, in which bedding and fodder appear in a smaller quantity. Its components are also well preserved, with an emphasis on sheep/goat excrements in which it has been possible to identify part of their diet composed of leaves and culms of grasses (Poaceae). From these episodes and their components, we propose that Cova Colomera had different uses as a pen of a small size herd. In some episodes, the herd was more permanent in the cave, and therefore, more waste was generated, so burning was required; and in other episodes, occupation was more sporadic and the burning of waste was not so necessary. In short, Cova Colomera allows us to propose that the study of pastoral activities in caves and rockshelters is more complex than previous studies have shown and that it is necessary to analyze these records with high-resolution techniques to broaden the knowledge of these first livestock communities.

Food Composition of the Far Eastern Skinks (Plestiodon finitimus) on the Kunashir Island (Kuril Islands, Russian Far East)

The study of 23 excrements of Far Eastern skinks collected on the Kunashir Island revealed 75 species of invertebrates that served for the skinks as a food source. Coleopteran (41 taxa from 14 families) were most diverse, which is explained by the good preservation of chitin of beetles during passage through the digestive tract of lizards. The crickets Dianemobius fascipes nigrofasciatus (Matsumura, 1904) (96 specimens), caddisflies (Trichoptera indet. 2, 36 specimens), and barkflies (Psocoptera indet., 19 specimens) prevailed in number of identified specimens in the samples.

Hoverfly (Diptera: Syrphidae) assemblage of an oak–hornbeam in the Merlino Wood Natural Reserve and implications for its conservation

Merlino Wood is a typical oak–hornbeam forest in the Po Plain hydrographic region. It is one of the few remaining lowland forests in Northern Italy and is a Regional Natural Reserve and a Site of Community Interest (code IT1160010). This is the first survey on hoverflies in the study area and they act as bioindicators to assess habitat conservation. Sampling was performed with three Malaise traps and an entomological net. A total of 61 species of Syrphidae were recorded between March and October 2019. Three of the species observed are considered to be under threat in Europe, three species have been recorded for the first time in Piedmont and Heringia latitarsis (Egger, 1865) has been recorded for the first time in Northern Italy. The Syrph the Net analysis has been used to assess habitat conservation. It shows good preservation of xylosaprophagous species, while the conservation conditions of other larval trophic categories are poor.

Congenital Symmastia: A Four-Step, Minimally Invasive Approach

Symmastia is a rare condition in which breasts are unified medially due to aberrant development of mammary tissue in the intermammary region, resulting in the appearance of an intermammary web. There are limited reports on this rare anomaly and hence, no standard protocols on its management. Additionally, creating a normal cleavage in these young patients without scars over or around the breast is a challenge from an esthetic standpoint. In this article, we present a case of congenital symmastia corrected by four steps: liposuction of the intermammary region, use of suction drains along medial breast border, transdermal bolster sutures, and customized compression garment. Esthetic creation of the medial breast footprint and good preservation of breast contours was achieved with considerably less scars. Thus, we propose our four-step approach as an effective, minimally invasive method for treating congenital symmastia.