Herpetofauna of the Maninjau caldera, West Sumatra, Indonesia, with special account to geckos

The field surveys were conducted in the Maninjau Lake region, Sumatera Barat, Indonesia, in February 2020, mainly on the north-eastern slope of the Maninjau caldera at 450–600 m a.s.l. The slopes of the Maninjau caldera are naturally covered by a tropical rainforest that remains quite undisturbed from an altitude of 900 m up to the crater ridge. Natural vegetation of the northern and eastern slopes at altitudes from 450 and 500 to 600 m a.s.l. is replaced by rice plantations or mixed forest gardens. The typical habitat consisted of an evergreen broad-leaved forest on the slopes along a mountain creek and around a waterfall. Herein, we report 11 new species records for the Maninjau caldera; 9 new species records for Agam Regency; 3 new species records for Sumatra and Indonesia and 1 species of Cnemaspis Strauch, 1887 new for science. The morphology of rare and poorly known species of the bent toed gecko, Cyrtodactylus agamensis (Bleeker, 1860) is described for the first time. A high diversity of Cyrtodactylus Gray, 1827 occurs in Indochina and on the Thai-Malay Peninsula (150 species) but only six species in Sumatra. The Malay-Indochinese genus Cnemaspis has a recent spurt of diversity and now reaches eight species in Sumatra and only one species reaches Java. Current gecko diversity in Sumatra comprises 29 species in eight genera. The level of endemism level in geckos is very high and reaches 48%. The herpetofauna of Maninjau Caldera includes 26 amphibian and 46 reptile species. The faunistic core of the West Sumatran herpetofauna consists of Malay-Sundaic, Sumatran endemic, Sunda-Indochinese and widely distributed Oriental elements. The West Sumatran herpetofauna is characterized by the presence of a mutual species with Indochina, Malaysia, east India, Myanmar, the Andaman and Nicobar islands and Sri Lanka, often with disjunction in the huge territory of Indochina; species with continuous distribution from the Indian subcontinent to Papua and Oceania; and generalist species with wide pan-Indopacific distribution.

Form and Function Predict Acoustic Transmission Properties of the Songs of Male and Female Canyon Wrens

To function effectively, animal signals must transmit through the environment to receivers, and signal transmission properties depend on signal form. Here we investigated how the transmission of multiple parts of a well-studied signal, bird song, varies between males and females of one species. We hypothesized that male and female songs would have different transmission properties, reflecting known differences in song form and function. We further hypothesized that two parts of male song used differentially in broadcast singing and aggressive contests would transmit differently. Analyses included male and female songs from 20 pairs of canyon wrens (Catherpes mexicanus) played and re-recorded in species-typical habitat. We found that male song cascades used in broadcast singing propagated farther than female songs, with higher signal-to-noise ratios at distance. In contrast, we demonstrated relatively restricted propagation of the two vocalization types typically used in short-distance aggressive signaling, female songs and male “cheet” notes. Of the three tested signals, male “cheet” notes had the shortest modeled propagation distances. Male and female signals blurred similarly, with variable patterns of excess attenuation. Both male song parts showed more consistent transmission across the duration of the signal than did female songs. Song transmission, thus, varied by sex and reflected signal form and use context. Results support the idea that males and females of the same species can show distinctly different signal evolution trajectories. Sexual and social selection pressures can shape sex-specific signal transmission, even when males and females are communicating in shared physical environments.

Three New Diatom Species from Spring Habitats in the Northern Apennines (Emilia-Romagna, Italy)

Using light (LM, including plastid characterization on fresh material) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), as well as a thorough morphological, physical, chemical, and biological characterization of the habitats, the present study aims at describing three species new to science. They belong to the genera Eunotia Ehrenb., Planothidium Round and L. Bukht., and Delicatophycus M.J. Wynne, and were found in two contrasting spring types in the northern Apennines. The three new species described differ morphologically from the most similar species by: less dense striae and areolae, and the absence of a ridge at the valve face-mantle transition (SEM feature) [Eunotia crassiminor Lange-Bert. et Cantonati sp. nov.; closest established species: Eunotia minor (Kütz.) Grunow]; narrower and shorter cells [Planothidium angustilanceolatum Lange-Bert. et Cantonati sp. nov.; most similar species: Planothidium lanceolatum (Bréb. ex Kütz.) Lange-Bert.]; barely-dorsiventral symmetry, set off ends, and lower density of the central dorsal striae [Delicatophycus crassiminutus Lange-Bert. et Cantonati sp. nov.; most similar species: Delicatophycus minutus M.J.Wynne]. Two of the three species we described are separated from the closest species by dimensions. Their description improved knowledge on two taxa (Eunotia minor s.l. and Planothidium lanceolatum s.l.) likely to be only partially resolved species complexes. We could also refine knowledge on the ecological profiles of the three newly-described species. Eunotia crassiminor sp. nov., as compared to Eunotia minor, appears to occur in colder inland waters with a circumneutral pH and a strict oligotrophy as well with respect to nitrogen. The typical habitat of Planothidium angustilanceolatum sp. nov. appears to be oligotrophic mountain flowing springs with low conductivity. Delicatophycus crassiminutus sp. nov. was observed only in limestone-precipitating springs, and is therefore likely to be restricted to hard water springs and comparable habitats where CO2 degassing leads to carbonate precipitation. Springs are a unique but severely threatened wetland type. Therefore, the in-depth knowledge of the taxonomy and ecology of characteristic diatom species is important, because diatoms are excellent indicators of the quality and integrity of these peculiar ecosystems in the face of direct and indirect human impacts.

Phenotypic Diversity and Plasticity of Photoresponse Across an Environmentally Contrasting Family of Phytoflagellates

Organisms often employ ecophysiological strategies to exploit environmental conditions and ensure bio-energetic success. However, the many complexities involved in the differential expression and flexibility of these strategies are rarely fully understood. Therefore, for the first time, using a three-part cross-disciplinary laboratory experimental analysis, we investigated the diversity and plasticity of photoresponsive traits employed by one family of environmentally contrasting, ecologically important phytoflagellates. The results demonstrated an extensive inter-species phenotypic diversity of behavioural, physiological, and compositional photoresponse across the Chlamydomonadaceae, and a multifaceted intra-species phenotypic plasticity, involving a broad range of beneficial photoacclimation strategies, often attributable to environmental predisposition and phylogenetic differentiation. Deceptively diverse and sophisticated strong (population and individual cell) behavioural photoresponses were observed, with divergence from a general preference for low light (and flexibility) dictated by intra-familial differences in typical habitat (salinity and trophy) and phylogeny. Notably, contrasting lower, narrow, and flexible compared with higher, broad, and stable preferences were observed in freshwater vs. brackish and marine species. Complex diversity and plasticity in physiological and compositional photoresponses were also discovered. Metabolic characteristics (such as growth rates, respiratory costs and photosynthetic capacity, efficiency, compensation and saturation points) varied elaborately with species, typical habitat (often varying more in eutrophic species, such as Chlamydomonas reinhardtii), and culture irradiance (adjusting to optimise energy acquisition and suggesting some propensity for low light). Considerable variations in intracellular pigment and biochemical composition were also recorded. Photosynthetic and accessory pigments (such as chlorophyll a, xanthophyll-cycle components, chlorophyll a:b and chlorophyll a:carotenoid ratios, fatty acid content and saturation ratios) varied with phylogeny and typical habitat (to attune photosystem ratios in different trophic conditions and to optimise shade adaptation, photoprotection, and thylakoid architecture, particularly in freshwater environments), and changed with irradiance (as reaction and harvesting centres adjusted to modulate absorption and quantum yield). The complex, concomitant nature of the results also advocated an integrative approach in future investigations. Overall, these nuanced, diverse, and flexible photoresponsive traits will greatly contribute to the functional ecology of these organisms, addressing environmental heterogeneity and potentially shaping individual fitness, spatial and temporal distribution, prevalence, and ecosystem dynamics.

Distinguishing between Epipactis leptochila (Narrow-lipped Helleborine), Epipactis helleborine (Broad-leaved Helleborine) and their putative hybrid, Epipactis x stephensonii at the Warburg reserve, Oxfordshire

A drought in May 2020 curtailed snail damage to a population of Epipactis leptochila (Godfrey) Godfrey (Narrow-lipped Helleborine) such that in July there were 33 flowering plants in an area well known for this species at the Warburg nature reserve in Oxfordshire (v.c.23). Despite growing in a heavily-shaded area under beech, the typical habitat of E. leptochila, some of these plants were actually E. helleborine L. (Crantz) (Broad-leaved Helleborine) based on recognized distinguishing characteristics. We took morphological measurements (19 floral characters and 10 vegetative characters) for all the flowering plants present and were able to confirm by statistical analysis our initial species identifications. We were able also to discriminate between the species reasonably accurately using leaf characters alone, such as leaf colour, leaf length to width ratios and the angle of turn of the bottom three leaves. Using the outcomes from this analysis we were able to make predictions about the identity of most of the 82 non-flowering plants present. There were 4 plants that defied clear initial allocation to one or the other species and were suspected to be the hybrid E. x stephensonii Godfrey. Statistical analysis confirmed that these plants were indeed distinguishable from either parent, and most characters were intermediate to some degree between the two. The morphology of these putative hybrids is described pending molecular confirmation of their identity.

Current Condition of Pannonic Salt Steppes at Their Distribution Limit: What Do Indicator Species Reveal about Habitat Quality?

Little is known about the suite of ecological conditions under which characteristic species may continue to develop under the pressure of recent habitat deterioration. We aimed to determine the niche of three indicator species of the priority habitat Pannonic salt steppes and to find out how their vegetation composition, land use, and soil chemistry mirror the current condition of their typical habitat. A plot-based vegetation survey was conducted in degraded and in pristine (reference) inland salt steppes in East-Central Europe. We confirmed decreased habitat quality at their northern geographical limit. Most of the sites there showed a strong prevalence of generalists (e.g., Elytrigia repens) and lack of specialists, both resulting from lowered habitat extremity and inappropriate land use (abandonment). A small proportion of plots (19%) were in the same good condition as the reference vegetation in the central area. Soil analyses revealed that the studied halophytes are able to persist on desalinized soils if the land use is suitable. The occurrence of the annual Camphorosma annua (Amaranthaceae) was driven largely by abiotic stress; grazing alone is insufficient for its long-term persistence, while the perennial Artemisia santonicum (Asteraceae) and Tripolium pannonicum (Asteraceae) have higher survival chances as they are able to coexist with generalists. Overall habitat quality can be reliably determined from the analyzed ecological conditions of indicator species. The outcomes of the presented work are relevant for conservation practice and can serve as a quick tool for assessing the current stage of other grassland habitats.

Is Vipera orlovi a Distinct Hybrid Species?

The species status of Vipera orlovi is discussed in the context of the concept of hybrid speciation. The genome of this Caucasian viper is composed of the genomes of Vipera kaznakovi (major part) and of Vipera renardi (about 20%). V. orlovi is intermediate in ecology between its ‘parental species,’ however its habitat is not the typical habitat of neither V. kaznakovi nor V. renardi. As all three taxa are allopatric, there is no evidence of current geneflow between them. Pleistocene climatic changes may have mediated contact and hybridization between V. kaznakovi and V. renardi. The resulting hybrid flock may have had a wider ecological range than its parental species, enabling a descendant lineage to occupy a novel niche which was previously unoccupied. Similar scenarios of hybrid speciation have probably occurred in vipers throughout the Caucasus. Although the future fate of this hybrid speciation remains open unless full genetic isolation has occurred, we propose to grant species status to Vipera orlovi. This is in line with the genotypic cluster species concept and the unified species concept.

The Hydrolysis of Fish Protein from Giant Mudskipper (Periophthalmodon Schlosseri) using Alcalase Enzyme

Giant mudskippers (Periophthalmodon schlosseri) are amphibious fish and considered as endemic fish, so it can not be found in any other place and they live in a typical habitat in a tidal area with the mud of mangroves. Mudskipper These fish is relatively untapped as food source. This research aims to obtain the optimum conditions of enzyme concentration, pH, temperature, and hydrolysis incubation time on the degress of hydrolysis of alcalase enzyme in giant mudskipper (P. schlosseri). The production of fish protein hydrolysate was conducted by varying one parameter at a time to determine its effect without considering interactions with other parameters. The results obtained optimum hydrolysis at 1.5% alcalase concentration of protein weight, pH 7.5, temperature 50°C, and the duration of hydrolysis 2 hours. The degree of hydrolysis produced at the optimum condition was 67.44%.

Reexamining the habit, occurrence, breeding season and conservation of the pen-tailed tree shrew Ptilocercus lowii

A pen-tailed tree shrew (Ptilocercus lowii) specimen was live-trapped in 2006 in an Acacia plantation for the first known time at Samarakan Planted Forest Zone (PFZ) in Bintulu, Sarawak. However, its lack of recurring in other Acacia plantations suggests that the monoculture agricultural field is not a typical habitat for this species. Live-trapping data suggest that generally there were two breeding seasons per year for this species in Borneo: a more consistent one occurred between February and April, and a broader one between June and October. The second, the broader breeding season likely varied based on the microhabitat of each sampling site. In Samarakan PFZ, during the 2006 season, we recorded one breeding season between September and October, and in 2007 recorded one between June and July. Meanwhile, since the year 2000, this species was recorded at only 17 locations within its range of distribution in Southeast Asia, suggesting the possibility of population decline and shrinkage in its distribution range. Given the rapid disappearance of forested areas in Southeast Asia, stepping up the field studies and targeted sampling for this species becomes the priority task for all of its conservation work.