Spreading and Establishment of the Non Indigenous Species Caprella Scaura (Amphipoda: Caprellidae) in the Central Region of the Aegean Sea (Eastern Mediterranean Sea)

Caprella scaura is an invasive amphipod, native to the Indian Ocean, which has already spread to several regions of the world, including the Mediterranean Sea. The present study reports the first occurrence of the species on fish farms cages in Greece, in the Pagasitikos Gulf. Specimens were collected from colonies of the bryozoan Bugula neritina. Basic aspects of the population dynamics of the species, such as the population structure, sex ratio, and size frequency were studied for 13 months and tested for differences between two depth levels (30 cm and 5 m). Population density was significantly different between the two sampled depths. All the demographic categories were present during the whole study period, indicating that the species follows a continuous reproduction pattern in the region. Males were typically larger than females, but females were more abundant in most samples. It seems that the species is well established in the region and is probably moving towards the northern parts of the Aegean Sea.

Does Depth Matter? Reproduction Pattern Plasticity in Two Common Sponge Species Found in Both Mesophotic and Shallow Waters

Determining demosponge reproductive strategies is essential to understanding their ecology and life history, as well as for the management of benthic marine environments. This is especially important in mesophotic ecosystems, which have been suggested to serve as a refuge for shallow-water populations and for which knowledge is lacking. Here we compared the reproductive strategies of two common Mediterranean demosponges species: Chondrosia reniformis and Axinella polypoides, which can be found in both shallow and mesophotic habitats along the Israeli coast. Samples were collected over 2 years, via SCUBA diving from the shallow coast (2–32 m) and Remotely Operated Vehicle from the mesophotic sponge grounds (95–120 m). A. polypoides and C. renifornis differed in oocyte morphology and development, but both demonstrated reproductive plasticity with regard to temperature and depth: temperature appears to regulate their reproduction in the shallow water, as both species exhibited seasonality; whereas, in the mesophotic zone, where the temperature amplitude is much smaller, seasonality was not observed for either species. Furthermore, in the mesophotic zone, C. reniformis exhibited low fecundity and probably invests more in asexual reproduction by budding. Mesophotic A. polypoides, in contrast, exhibited enhanced and continuous asynchronous sexual reproduction year-round. Our findings suggest that reproduction plasticity may be a general rule for sponge species that inhabit different habitats; such plasticity could allow sponges to thrive in different environmental conditions. These findings further emphasize the importance of protecting the mesophotic sponge grounds, which can serve as a refuge in the face of the adverse impact of anthropogenic disturbances and rising seawater temperatures.

Gonadal maturity of Crassostrea corteziensis cultivated in the Gulf of California

The gonadal maturation of the pleasure oyster Crassostrea corteziensis during four cultivation cycles (November 2004-June 2005, N4J5; August 2014-February 2016, A14F16; September 2015-December 2016, S15D16; September 2016-August 2017, S16A17) was studied in the southeastern Gulf of California, Mexico. Although C. corteziensis exhibited the typical reproductive phases (undifferentiated or resting, initial gametogenesis, advanced gametogenesis, maturity, spawning and post-spawning), the intensity of reproduction and the timing of the onset of the different phases of gonadal development varied in each cultivation cycle. Reproductive peaks were observed in different months (N4J5 in May, A14F16 in July, S15D16 in May and S16A17 in June) during spring and summer. Spawning correlated with temperature in the N4J5 and A14F16 cultivation cycles but it showed no correlation with chlorophyll-a concentration in any of the cultivation cycles. C. corteziensis presented an opportunistic continuous reproductive strategy with spawning occurring during several months of the year. The modification of the species' reproduction pattern could contribute to the natural settlement of larvae, increasing the natural production of this native oyster resource in the southeast of the Gulf of California, where it has been fished intensively.

PADRÃO DE REPRODUÇÃO DO CAPITAL E CAPITALISMO DEPENDENTE NO BRASIL ATUAL

<p>A Teoria Marxista da Dependência (TMD), com o objetivo de entender as formas de reprodução do capital, nas distintas formações econômico-sociais, em diferentes períodos históricos do desenvolvimento capitalista, construiu o conceito de Padrão de Reprodução do Capital (PRC), apoiada na conhecida forma geral do ciclo do capital industrial, que é, também, a forma do ciclo do capital-dinheiro – conforme formulado por Marx. Este texto discute o alcance e o limite desse conceito para a compreensão da formação econômico-social brasileira contemporânea. Aponta que, embora ele contribua para o entendimento de formações econômico-sociais concretas, seu nível de abstração não permite perceber diferenças importantes existentes entre elas – em especial as latino-americanas. Como consequência, propõe, de forma complementar e em um nível menor de abstração, o conceito de Padrão de Desenvolvimento Capitalista (PDC), devidamente redefinido, e que se refere apenas a uma formação econômico-social singular (única pela sua história).</p><p>CAPITAL AND CAPITALISM REPRODUCTION STANDARD DEPENDENT IN CURRENT BRAZIL</p><div><p>The Marxist Theory of Dependency (MTD), with the aim of understanding the ways in which capital is reproduced in different economic and social formations in different historical periods of capitalist development, constructed the concept of Capital Reproduction Pattern (CRP), supported in the known general form of the cycle of industrial capital, which is also the form of the money-capital cycle - as formulated by Marx. This text discusses the scope and limit of this concept for the understanding of contemporary Brazilian socio-economic formation. It is pointed out that, although it contributes to the understanding of concrete socio-economic formations, its level of abstraction does not allow to perceive important differences existing between them - especially the Latin American ones. As a consequence, it is proposed, in a complementary way and in a lower level of abstraction, the concept of a Capitalist Development Pattern (CDP), duly redefined, and which refers only to a unique socio-economic formation (unique in its history).</p><p><strong>Key words: </strong>Marxist Theory of Dependence; Dependent Capitalism; Capital Reproduction Pattern; Capitalist Development Pattern; Brazilian Economy</p></div><div><p class="trans-title">CAPITAL ET NORME DE REPRODUCTION DU CAPITALISME DEPENDANT DU BRESIL ACTUEL</p><p>La Théorie Marxiste de la Dépendance (TMD), dans le but de comprendre la façon dont le capital est reproduit dans différentes formations économiques et sociales dans différentes périodes historiques du développement capitaliste, a construit le concept de Modèle de Reproduction du Capital (MRC), soutenu dans la forme générale connue du cycle du capital industriel, qui est aussi la forme du cycle du capital-argent - tel que formulé par Marx. Ce texte discute la portée et la limite de ce concept pour la compréhension de la formation socio-économique brésilienne contemporaine. Il est souligné que, bien qu’il contribue à la compréhension de formations socio-économiques concrètes, son niveau d’abstraction ne permet pas de percevoir les différences importantes existant entre eux - en particulier les latino-américains. En conséquence il est proposé, d’une manière complémentaire et dans un niveau d’abstraction inférieur, le concept de Modèle de Développement Capitaliste (MDC), dûment redéfini, qui se réfère uniquement à une formation économique et sociale singulière (unique pour son histoire).</p><p><strong>Key words: </strong>Théorie Marxiste de la Dépendance; Capitalisme Dépendant; Modèle de Reproduction de Capital; Modèle de Développement Capitaliste; Économie brésilienne</p></div>

Ontogenesis, morphology and higher classification of archaeococcids (Homoptera: Coccinea: Orthezioidea)

The monograph summarizes original research data and published literature data on reproduction, life cycles, individual development and morphology of scale insects of the superfamily Orthezioidea (archaeococcids). The superfamily system is accepted mainly in its traditional concept, i.e. with four well-defined families: Margarodidae s. l., Ortheziidae, Carayonemidae, and Phenacoleachiidae. The tribe Matsucoccini (Margarodidae s. l.: Xylococcinae s. l.) is considered as a most archaic group of scale insects according to morphological, reproductive and ontogenetic characters. A complicated ontogenesis with an alternation of movable/immovable instars and with arostrate imago of both sexes (as in Matsucoccus Cockerell, 1909 and many other Margarodidae s. l.) is presumed to be initial in scale insect evolution and such ontogenesis is supposed to be an apomorphy of suborder Coccinea. Distribution of different variants of ovoviviparity/viviparity amongst scale insect families is overviewed. It is demonstrated that the evolution of scale insects shows multiple cyclic conversions of oviparous reproduction pattern to ovoviviparous/viviparous ones with the appearance of new and new peculiar adaptations to eggs protection; the most ancient scale insects (Matsucoccini and their ancestor) were probably facultatively ovoviviparous, whereas the origin of the whole neococcid phylogenetic line (Coccoidea s. s.) was probably connected with obligate complete ovoviviparity, which also appeared in some “derived” archaeococcids of the tribe Iceryini (Margarodidae s. l.), in the families Phenacoleachiidae and Carayonemidae. New taxonomic additions and changes in generic composition of some tribes are provided for the family Margarodidae s. l., in its subfamilies Monophlebinae and Callipappinae s. l. The tribe Labioproctini tr. nov. (Monophlebinae) is erected for six genera possessing peculiar quadrilocular wax pores: Aspidoproctus Newstead, 1901, Hemaspidoproctus Morrison, 1927, Labioproctus Green, 1922, Lecaniodrosicha Takahashi, 1930, Misracoccus Rao, 1950, and Walkeriana Signoret, 1876. The presence of quadrilocular pores are considered as a synapomorphic character of the Labioproctini tr. nov. and Ortheziidae. Disputable taxonomic position of Xenococcidae Tang, 1992 is discussed and this family is also placed in Orthezioidea. New genera and species are described and illustrated, based mainly on material collected in the Oriental region: Eremostoma klugei gen. et sp. nov., Crambostoma largecicatricosum gen. et sp. nov. (both in Callipappinae s. l.: Coelostomidiini s. l.), Buchnericoccus reynei sp. nov., Monophlebus neglectus sp. nov. (both in Monophlebinae: Monophlebini), Crypticerya ovivivipara sp. nov., Icerya oculicicatricata sp. nov., I. siamensis sp. nov. (all three in Monophlebinae: Iceryini).

Sustainability of Seahorses: Lessons Learned of Local Wisdom from Bintan Islands, Riau Islands Province

Seahorse (Hippocampus spp.) has a high economic value in Bintan Island that leads to its exploitation by coastal community intensively. This study was to assess local knowledge on seahorse ecology which was captured across shoreline near the coastal communities. The research was conducted in SebongPereh village Bintan Island. The data were collected by conducting depth interviews and focus group discussion on seahorse fishermen which was selected purposively. The results revealed local fishermen have ecological knowledge related to habitat types, behavior, and monthly variation in abundance, size and reproduction pattern. The result also showed that the existence of the seahorse during the catch season moves around, follow the condition of the seaweed and tidal of sea water. This local knowledge was used by fishermen as a strategy in determining the fishing time and catchment area of a seahorse. Through such local wisdom, local fishing communities established a local institution to manage conversation and sustainability use of seahorse in waters of SebongPereh village.

Nesting in the lizard Phyllopezus pollicaris (Squamata: Phyllodactylidae) and a phylogenetic perspective on communal nesting in the family

Communal nesting occurs in many reptile species. The hypotheses that explain the evolution of such behaviours are still controversial, but will be better understood as more communal nesting records are described in the literature. We report the findings of two communal nests of Phyllopezus pollicaris, including the largest known nest for the species. Our study is the first to provide a communal nesting record for squamate species in a Cerrado core area. We provide nest photographs and detailed neonate measurements and weight. Nests were found during the dry season, in contrast with the reproduction pattern previously described for the species in the Cerrado periphery. We also conducted an extensive literature review seeking all available information on communal nesting information in Phyllodactylidae, and present this information in the context of a phylogenetic tree of phyllodactylid genera. We suggest that studying the correlation between communal nesting evolution and reproductive investment will become a fertile field as more information on lizard nesting becomes available in the literature.