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Tydeid mites have a cosmopolitan distribution and are associated with diverse substrates such as soil, plants, stored products, and animals like vertebrates and insects. Here we report two new species of tydeid mites living inside stingless bee colonies in Brazil. Lorryia meliponarum n. sp. and Melissotydeus bipunctata n. sp. are described and illustrated, and in addition a key to the species of Melissotydeus is presented.

Members of the SAR11 clade, despite their high abundance, are often poorly represented by metagenome‐assembled genomes. This fact has hampered our knowledge about their ecology and genetic diversity. Here we examined 175 SAR11 genomes, including 47 new single‐amplified genomes. The presence of the first genomes associated with subclade IV suggests that, in the same way as subclade V, they might be outside the proposed Pelagibacterales order. An expanded phylogenomic classification together with patterns of metagenomic recruitment at a global scale have allowed us to define new ecogenomic units of classification (genomospecies), appearing at different, and sometimes restricted, metagenomic data sets. We detected greater microdiversity across the water column at a single location than in samples collected from similar depth across the global ocean, suggesting little influence of biogeography. In addition, pangenome analysis revealed that the flexible genome was essential to shape genomospecies distribution. In one genomospecies preferentially found within the Mediterranean, a set of genes involved in phosphonate utilization was detected. While another, with a more cosmopolitan distribution, was unique in having an aerobic purine degradation pathway. Together, these results provide a glimpse of the enormous genomic diversity within this clade at a finer resolution than the currently defined clades. This work was supported by grant ‘VIREVO’ CGL2016-76273-P [AEI/FEDER, EU] (cofounded with FEDER funds) from the Spanish Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad to FRV, and grants CGL2013-40564-R and SAF2013-49267-EXP from the Spanish Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad, grant ACIF/2015/332 from Generalitat Valenciana and grant 5334 from the Betty Moore Foundation to MMG. FRV was also a beneficiary of the 5top100-program of the Ministry for Science and Education of Russia. JHM was supported by a Ph.D. fellowship from the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (BES-2014-067828). MLP was supported by a postdoctoral fellowship from the Spanish Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad (IJCI-2017-34002).

A "metapopulation" is a group of populations of the same species separated by space but linked by dispersal and migration. Metapopulations of macroscopic organisms tend to have geographically-restricted distributions, but this does not seem to be the case in microbial eukaryotes due to their astronomical abundance. The term "metapopulation" was first applied to protists' biogeography in the article Finlay and Fenchel (2004), published in PROTIST, which contributed to the popularity of the paper. The article considered protist species as consisting of a single, cosmopolitan population. Here, we recall this paper, and assess developments during the last 15 years with respect to the question of protist species distribution on the surface of the earth.

Melting snowfields in polar and alpine regions often exhibit a red and orange colouration caused by microalgae. The diversity of these organisms is still poorly understood. We applied a polyphasic approach using three molecular markers and light and electron microscopy to investigate spherical cysts sampled from alpine mountains in Europe, North America and South America as well as from both polar regions. Molecular analyses revealed the presence of a single independent lineage within the Chlamydomonadales. The genus Sanguina is described, with Sanguina nivaloides as its type. It is distinguishable from other red cysts forming alga by the number of cell wall layers, cell size, cell surface morphology and habitat preference. Sanguina nivaloides is a diverse species containing a total of 18 haplotypes according to nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer 2, with low nucleotide divergence (≤3.5%). Based on molecular data we demonstrate that it has a cosmopolitan distribution with an absence of geographical structuring, indicating an effective dispersal strategy with the cysts being transported all around the globe, including trans-equatorially. Additionally, Sanguina aurantia is described, with small spherical orange cysts often clustered by means of mucilaginous sheaths, and causing orange blooms in snow in subarctic and Arctic regions., Red and orange spherical cysts causing snow colouration across several continents were investigated with regards to their geographic distribution, ecology, ultrastructure and phylogeny; the cosmopolitan distribution of a new independent lineage Sanguina within the Chlamydomonadales was molecularly confirmed.

The presence of the rotifer species Brachionus rotundiformis from the B. plicatilis species complex in Lake Arcturo, a saline lake in the Genovesa Island of the Galápagos Islands, is here reported. This is the first record of the species for the rotifer fauna of Ecuador as well as of the species complex to the Galápagos Islands. This finding is consistent with the idea of high dispersion capacity, and of cosmopolitan distribution of this species complex. Because Genovesa Island is uninhabited, passive transport by wind currents and zoochory by migrant birds seem to emerge as the most plausible factors in this process of colonization. Integrative studies on the morphological variations, genetic, molecular, and ecological aspects are still required to further understand the process of dispersion and the ecology of this member of the B. plicatilis species complex in this remote and isolated locality, and the exact taxonomical position of the island’s population to the other members of the complex.

Most large raptors on migration avoid crossing the sea because of the lack of atmospheric convection over temperate seas. The osprey Pandion haliaetus is an exception among raptors, since it can fly over several hundred kilometres of open water. We equipped five juvenile ospreys with GPS-Accelerometer–Magnetometer loggers. All birds were able to find and use thermal uplift while crossing the Mediterranean Sea, on average 7.5 times per 100 km, and could reach altitudes of 900 m above the sea surface. Their climb rate was 1.6 times slower than over land, and birds kept flapping most of the time while circling in the thermals, indicating that convections cells were weaker than over land. The frequency of thermal soaring was correlated with the difference between the sea surface and air temperature, indicating that atmospheric convection occurred when surface waters were warmer than the overlaying air. These observations help explain the transoceanic cosmopolitan distribution of osprey, and question the widely held assumption that water bodies represent strict barriers for large raptors.

Among the 30 known genera within subfamily Peiratinae, only the genusSirtheneahas a cosmopolitan distribution. The results of our studies are the first comprehensive analysis concerning one of the representatives of mentioned subfamily based on joint phylogenetic analyses of molecular and morphological data as well as molecular dating. A total of 32 species were included into the dataset with all known species of the genusSirthenea. Material of over 400 dry specimens was examined for the morphological part of this study. The cosmopolitan distribution ofSirtheneaand the inaccessibility of specimens preserved in alcohol required the extraction of DNA from the dried skeletal muscles of specimens deposited in 24 entomological collections. The oldest specimens used for the successful extraction and sequencing were collected more than 120 years ago in India. We performed Bayesian Inference analyses of molecular and morphological data separately, as well as combined analysis. The molecular and morphological data obtained during our research verify the correlation of the divergence dates of all knownSirtheneaspecies. Results of the relaxed molecular clock analysis of the molecular data show that, the genusSirtheneastarted diverging in the Late Cretaceous into two clades, which subsequently began to branch off in the Paleocene. Our results of phylogenetic analyses suggest that thefossula spongiosaand its development could be one of the most important morphological characters in the evolution of the genus, most likely associated with the ecological niche inhabited bySirthenearepresentatives. Confirmation of the results obtained in our studies is the reconciliation of the evolutionary history ofSirtheneawith the biogeographical processes that have shaped current global distribution of the genus.

Given their dormancy capability (long-term resistant stages) and their ability to colonise and reproduce, microscopic aquatic animals have been suggested having cosmopolitan distribution. Their dormant stages may be continuously moved by mobile elements through the entire planet to any suitable habitat, preventing the formation of biogeographical patterns. In this review, I will go through the evidence we have on the most common microscopic aquatic animals, namely nematodes, rotifers, and tardigrades, for each of the assumptions allowing long-distance dispersal (dormancy, viability, and reproduction) and all the evidence we have for transportation, directly from surveys of dispersing stages, and indirectly from the outcome of successful dispersal in biogeographical and phylogeographical studies. The current knowledge reveals biogeographical patterns also for microscopic organisms, with species-specific differences in ecological features that make some taxa indeed cosmopolitan with the potential for long-distance dispersal, but others with restricted geographic distributions.

Desmophyllum dianthus is a cosmopolitan species usually found at 1000–2500 m depth in the deep ocean, but in the Patagonian fjords can be found in shallow waters up to 8 m due to deep-water emergence. The purpose of this study was to determine the reproductive biology and seasonality of the scleractinian cup coral D. dianthus from the Chilean fjord region using histological techniques. Corals were collected via SCUBA approximately every 3 months from August 2012 to September 2013 from three sites—Lilihuapi (n = 76) and Punta Huinay (n = 59) in the Comau Fjord; and Morro Gonzalo (n = 44) in the Renihue Fjord (42.0°S–42.35°S). This study determined that D. dianthus is dioecious, and reproduction is highly seasonal, spawning at the end of austral winter (August) and beginning gamete production in early spring (September). Gametogenesis tracks with known fjord primary productivity and the fjords were coolest and most saline in August, potentially cueing spawning. Owing to the presence of late-stage oocytes in August 2012 and the absence of larvae, we hypothesize that D. dianthus’s mode of reproduction is broadcast spawning. Oogenesis starts in September with previtellogenic oocytes (25–200 μm) that slowly develop into vitellogenic oocytes (200–380 μm) by June. Fecundity is high compared to other deep-sea scleractinians, ranging from 2448 (± 5.13 SE) to 172,328 (± 103.67 SE) potential oocytes per polyp. This research provides the first insight into Desmophyllum dianthus’s reproductive biology and yields an important baseline for continuing work on this benthic habitat builder.

Elucidation of the potential roles of single-celled eukaryotes (protists) in ecosystem function and trophodynamics in hydrothermal vent ecosystems is reliant on information regarding their abundance, distribution and preference for vent habitats. Using high-throughput 18S rRNA gene sequencing on a diverse suite of hydrothermally influenced and background water samples, we assess the diversity and distribution of protists and identify potential vent endemics. We found that 95% of the recovered sequences belong to operational taxonomic units (OTUs) with a cosmopolitan distribution across vent and non-vent habitats. Analysis of 'vent only' OTUs found in more than one vent sample and co-occurrence network analysis comparing protist groups to extremophilic reference organisms suggest that the most likely vent endemics are infrequently encountered, potentially in low abundance, and belong to novel lineages, both at the phylum level and within defined clades of Rhizaria and Stramenopila. Potential endemism is inferred for relatives of known apusomonads, excavates and some clades of Syndiniales. Similarity in community composition among samples was low, indicating a strong stochastic component to protist community assembly and suggesting that rare endemics may serve as a reservoir poised to respond to changing environmental conditions in these dynamic systems.

Individual-based models are increasingly used by marine ecologists to predict species responses to environmental change on a mechanistic basis. Dynamic Energy Budget (DEB) models allow the simulation of physiological processes (maintenance, growth, reproduction) in response to variability in environmental drivers. High levels of computational capacity and remote-sensing technologies provide an opportunity to apply existing DEB models across global spatial scales. To do so, however, we must first test the assumption of stationarity, i.e., that parameter values estimated for populations in one location/time are valid for populations elsewhere. Using a validated DEB model parameterized for the cosmopolitan intertidal mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis, we ran growth simulations for native, Mediterranean Sea, populations and non-native, South African populations. The model performed well for native populations, but overestimated growth for non-native ones. Overestimations suggest that: (1) unaccounted variables may keep the physiological performance of non-native M. galloprovincialis in check, and/or (2) phenotypic plasticity or local adaptation could modulate responses under different environmental conditions. The study shows that stationary mechanistic models that aim to describe dynamics in complex physiological processes should be treated carefully when implemented across large spatial scales. Instead, we suggest placing the necessary effort into identifying the nuances that result in non-stationarity and explicitly accounting for them in geographic-scale mechanistic models.

Polyploidy is one of the major forces of plant evolution and widespread mixed-ploidy species offer an opportunity to evaluate its significance. We therefore selected the cosmopolitan species Urtica dioica (stinging nettle), examined its cytogeography and pattern of absolute genome size, and assessed correlations with bioclimatic and ecogeographic data (latitude, longitude, elevation). We evaluated variation in ploidy level using an extensive dataset of 7012 samples from 1317 populations covering most of the species' distribution area. The widespread tetraploid cytotype (87%) was strongly prevalent over diploids (13%). A subsequent analysis of absolute genome size proved a uniform Cx-value of core U. dioica (except for U. d. subsp. cypria) whereas other closely related species, namely U. bianorii, U. kioviensis and U. simensis, differed significantly. We detected a positive correlation between relative genome size and longitude and latitude in the complete dataset of European populations and a positive correlation between relative genome size and longitude in a reduced dataset of diploid accessions (the complete dataset of diploids excluding U. d. subsp. kurdistanica). In addition, our data indicate an affinity of most diploids to natural and near-natural habitats and that the tetraploid cytotype and a small part of diploids (population from the Po river basin in northern Italy) tend to inhabit synanthropic sites. To sum up, the pattern of ploidy variation revealed by our study is in many aspects unique to the stinging nettle, being most likely first of all driven by the greater ecological plasticity and invasiveness of the tetraploid cytotype.

Kinorhyncha is a phylum of microscopic, benthic marine invertebrates found throughout the world, from the Arctic to Antarctica and from the intertidal zone to the deep sea. Within the most species-rich genus, Echinoderes, we find a putatively monophyletic species group, the so-called Echinoderes coulli-group. The remarkable morphological similarities of the E. coulli-group species and the fact that the group has a global distribution even though most of the species are restricted to intertidal habitats, has led to the hypothesis that dispersal and speciation within the group has been driven by the process of continental drift. However, this has never been confirmed empirically. With morphology and two molecular loci, COI and 18S, we calculated phylogenetic trees by analysing datasets separately and in combination using Maximum Parsimony, Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference. Using different models of evolution in combination with different statistical approaches, we show that two major clade divergences were consistent with historic drifting of continents, suggesting that vicariance has played an important role for the speciation within the E. coulli-group. Furthermore, we found that reconstructions of past tectonic drifting since the Devonian (416–359 million years ago) were able to explain present species distributions, and suggest that the group originated in a supposedly vast shallow marine environment in north-eastern Gondwana by the mid-late Silurian, 426–416 million years ago.

We present DNA taxonomy of abyssal polychaete worms from the eastern Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ), central Pacific Ocean, using material collected as part of the Abyssal Baseline (ABYSSLINE) environmental survey cruises ‘AB01’ and ‘AB02’ to the UK Seabed Resources Ltd (UKSRL) polymetallic nodule exploration contract area ‘UK-1’, the Ocean Mineral Singapore exploration contract area ‘OMS-1’ and an Area of Particular Environmental Interest, ‘APEI-6’. This is the fourth paper in a series to provide regional taxonomic data with previous papers reporting on Cnidaria, Echinodermata and Mollusca. Taxonomic data are presented for 23 species from 85 records within four polychaete families: Capitellidae, Opheliidae, Scalibregmatidae and Travisiidae, identified by a combination of morphological and genetic data, including molecular phylogenetic analyses. Two taxa (genetically separated from one another) morphologically matched the same known cosmopolitan species,Ophelina abranchiatathat has a type locality in a different ocean basin and depth from where no genetic data was available. These two species were assigned the open nomenclature ‘cf.’ as a precautionary approach in taxon assignments to avoid over-estimating species ranges. Twelve (12) taxa are here described as new species,Ammotrypanella keenanisp. nov.,Ammotrypanella kerstenisp. nov.,Ophelina curlisp. nov.,Ophelina ganaesp. nov.,Ophelina juhazisp. nov.,Ophelina martinezarbizuisp. nov.,Ophelina meyeraesp. nov.,Ophelina nunnallyisp. nov.,Oligobregma brasieraesp. nov.,Oligobregma tanisp. nov.,Oligobregma whaleyisp. nov.andTravisia ziegleraesp. nov.For the remaining nine taxa, we have determined them to be potentially new species, for which we make the raw data, imagery and vouchers available for future taxonomic study. The CCZ is a region undergoing intense exploration for potential deep-sea mineral extraction from polymetallic nodules. We present these data to facilitate future taxonomic and environmental impact study by making both data and voucher materials available through curated and accessible biological collections.

The common bait wormMarphysasanguinea(Montagu, 1813), originally described from the south coast of England, is the type species of the genus. This species has been widely reported from all around the world and has been considered as cosmopolitan until recently. This is partly because the original description was very brief and poorly illustrated, and also because all species superficially look similar. In order to clarify the situation,M.sanguineawas redescribed and a neotype was designated by Hutchings and Karageorgpoulos in 2003. Recently, specimens from Cornwall, close to the type locality, were sampled, examined morphologically, and used to obtain COI gene sequences for this species. Molecular results permitted us to confirm the identity and presence ofM.sanguineaalong the French coasts and to highlight the presence of inaccurate sequences of this species on GenBank. Use of this “false” cosmopolitan species at a worldwide scale by many biologists is also discussed in this paper.

Fungi are cosmopolitan organisms capable of colonising different types of soils in different ecosystems of the planet. Soils represent the main source of isolation of fungi studied in Antarctica, in which different species ranging from endemic to cosmopolitan species adapted to the cold are found. Despite the extreme conditions, different types of soils occur in Antarctica, such as those present in the Antarctic Peninsula, as well as those characterised as ultraligotrophic in continental Antarctica. These soils vary in their physicochemical characteristics such as the presence of organic matter with varying concentrations of carbon, nitrogen, and minerals. In recent years, some fungal communities have been characterised in the soils of different regions of Antarctica, such as morainic, sulphur-rich, thermal, ornithogenic, oligotrophic, and ultraoligotrophic soils. Owing to their high genetic, biochemical, and physiological plasticity, fungi are able to survive, colonise, and disperse in different types of Antarctic soils and act in different ways in the region. Their main ecological functions are decomposition and nutrient cycling in extreme environments such as those in Antarctica. This chapter aims to present the current picture of the diversity of fungi present in the different types of Antarctic soils, their possible functions and ecological relations, as well as their potential in possible biotechnological applications.

The marine diatom Guinardia delicatula is a cosmopolitan species that dominates seasonal blooms in the English Channel and the North Sea. Several eukaryotic parasites are known to induce the mortality of this species. Here, we report the isolation and characterization of the first viruses that infect G. delicatula. Viruses were isolated from the Western English Channel (SOMLIT-Astan station) during the late summer bloom decline of G. delicatula. A combination of laboratory approaches revealed that these lytic viruses (GdelRNAV) are small tailless particles of 35–38 nm in diameter that replicate in the host cytoplasm where both unordered particles and crystalline arrays are formed. GdelRNAV display a linear single-stranded RNA genome of ~9 kb, including two open reading frames encoding for replication and structural polyproteins. Phylogenetic relationships based on the RNA-dependent-RNA-polymerase gene marker showed that GdelRNAV are new members of the Bacillarnavirus, a monophyletic genus belonging to the order Picornavirales. GdelRNAV are specific to several strains of G. delicatula. They were rapidly and largely produced (

The megadiverse genus Carex (c. 2000 species, Cyperaceae) has a nearly cosmopolitan distribution, displaying an inverted latitudinal richness gradient with higher species diversity in cold-temperate areas of the Northern Hemisphere. Despite great expansion in our knowledge of the phylogenetic history of the genus and many molecular studies focusing on the biogeography of particular groups during the last few decades, a global analysis of Carex biogeography and diversification is still lacking. For this purpose, we built the hitherto most comprehensive Carex-dated phylogeny based on three markers (ETS–ITS–matK), using a previous phylogenomic Hyb-Seq framework, and a sampling of two-thirds of its species and all recognized sections. Ancestral area reconstruction, biogeographic stochastic mapping, and diversification rate analyses were conducted to elucidate macroevolutionary biogeographic and diversification patterns. Our results reveal that Carex originated in the late Eocene in E Asia, where it probably remained until the synchronous diversification of its main subgeneric lineages during the late Oligocene. E Asia is supported as the cradle of Carex diversification, as well as a “museum” of extant species diversity. Subsequent “out-of-Asia” colonization patterns feature multiple asymmetric dispersals clustered toward present times among the Northern Hemisphere regions, with major regions acting both as source and sink (especially Asia and North America), as well as several independent colonization events of the Southern Hemisphere. We detected 13 notable diversification rate shifts during the last 10 My, including remarkable radiations in North America and New Zealand, which occurred concurrently with the late Neogene global cooling, which suggests that diversification involved the colonization of new areas and expansion into novel areas of niche space., This work was carried out with financial support by the National Science Foundation (Award #1255901 to ALH and Award #1256033 to EHR), the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (project CGL2016–77401‐P to SM-B and ML), the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (McIntire Stennis project 1018692 to DS) as well as postdoctoral fellowships towards SM‐B (Universidad Pablo de Olavide, PP16/12‐APP), and PJ‐M (National Science Foundation, Award #1256033, and the Smithsonian Postdoctoral Fellowship program).

The fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) is a cosmopolitan species with a resident population in the Mediterranean Sea. Due to its habitat, open seas often far from ports and airfields, and its long-distance migratory behaviour, studying and monitoring its distribution is costly. Currently, many opportunistic sightings (OS) reports are available, which provide a source of potentially useful, low-cost information about the spatio-temporal distribution of this species. Since 1993, the Spanish Institute of Oceanography has compiled a dataset comprising 874 records of OS of nine species of cetaceans in the western Mediterranean Sea and adjacent waters. The aim of this study was to use this dataset to investigate the differential use of these waters by the fin whale when compared with other cetaceans. We compared the presence of fin whales with the presence of any other cetacean species in the dataset. Binary logistic regression was then used to model these occurrences according to several spatio-temporal variables expected to reflect their habitat use. Several significant models reveal that fin whales are more prone than other cetaceans to use the waters over the slope of the Gulf of Lion in summer. This finding confirms that the Gulf of Lion is an area of importance for this species and suggests that the slope of the continental shelf could be particularly important. Our study shows how OS can be a source of useful information when appropriately analyzed., Sí

Haemogregarina bigemina is one of the most prevalent haemogregarines of marine fishes and has long been considered an enigmatic and cosmopolitan species. However, to determine whether H. bigemina truly represents a single global species, or whether it should be partitioned into several species or subspecies, and to confirm its taxonomic status among the Haemogregarina, molecular analysis is required. Here, we provide the first molecular characterisation of H. bigemina from one of its type hosts, Lipophrys pholis, in the UK using 18S rDNA sequences. Phylogenetic and p-distance comparisons of the newly generated H. bigemina sequences with those published from other haemogregarine taxa and related apicomplexans suggest that H. bigemina falls outside of the “Haemogregarina” clade as well as the Adeleorina altogether, forming a separate apicomplexan marine clade, and appears to be in fact more closely related to other non-haemogregarine Apicomplexa genera. Further work including sequences of H. bigemina and H. bigemina-like parasites observed from fishes in other localities is now needed to investigate this further., Graphical abstract Image 1, Highlights • First molecular characterisation of a named marine fish blood parasite. • New insights into the phylogenetics of cosmopolitan H. bigemina. • Proposes that globally H. bigemina likely represents a species complex rather than a single species. • Molecular evidence that marine fish blood parasites form a family outside the Adeleorina.

This study presents an integrative bioacoustics approach to discriminate eight species of odontocetes found on the outer continental shelf and slope of the western South Atlantic Ocean. Spinner, Atlantic spotted, rough-toothed, Risso’s, bottlenose, short-beaked common dolphins, killer and long-finned pilot whales were visually confirmed during recordings with a 3-element omnidirectional hydrophone array. Spectral and time parameters of whistles and echolocation clicks were used in a discriminant function analysis and a classification tree model. As a first step, whistles and clicks were analysed separately; a further analysis consisted of both vocalisations jointly classified. All species showed species-specific properties in their vocalisations. Whistles had greater misclassification rates when compared to clicks. The correct classification was enhanced by the joint step, given the 5.8% error in the discriminant function analysis and a misclassification rate of 18.8% in the tree model. In addition, Receiver Operating Characteristic curves resulting from the tree algorithm analysis exhibited better model efficiency for all species in the joint classification. These findings on acoustical discrimination of such abundant and cosmopolitan species contribute to delphinid classification systems.

WOS:000482699500005 Total of 26, 22 and 32 sites in Konya, Antalya and West Mediterranean basins in Turkey, respectively, were sampled twice during 2017 to compare the non-marine ostracod diversity. A total of 1787 individuals belonging to 31 species were recorded from all basins. Of which, nine species are common among basins when Fabaeformiscandona fragilis is new for Turkey. High species diversity was found at middle elevational intervals. The highest and lowest Shannon diversity index values were recorded for both Konya (H = 2.19) and Antalya (H = 1.90) basins, respectively. The highest beta diversities values are encountered between closed the Konya and other open basins. Species and environmental variables composition among basins and elevational intervals showed significant differences (p < 0.05, ANOSIM). Of species, cosmopolitans (e.g., Candona neglecta, Ilyocypris bradyi, Psychrodromus olivaceus) provide an important contribution to the differences in diversities among basins and elevational intervals. According to Canonical Correspondence Analysis, elevation appeared to be the common influential variables in all basins. Results suggest that alpha diversity is under the control of local and regional factors when beta diversity is primarily affected by regional factor. Although cosmopolitan species are positive indicators, they seem to make a significant contribution to alpha and beta diversities of ostracods.

Studies have demonstrated that many cosmopolitan species actually consist of divergent clades that present high levels of morphological stasis throughout their evolutionary histories.Phallus indusiatuss.l. has been described as a circum-tropical species. However, this distribution may actually reflect the lack of taxonomic resolution due to the small number of diagnostic morphological characters, which leads to the identification of new records as populations ofP. indusiatus. Here, we examine the diversity ofP. indusiatus-like species in Brazilian Amazonia. We show a clear congruence between detailed morphological data and ITS, nuc-LSU andatp6 based phylogenetic analyses and three new species are described within the Brazilian indusiate clade. These results highlight the importance of more detailed investigation, with the inclusion of molecular information, in Neotropical fungi.

Fungi are well known for their important roles in terrestrial ecosystems, but filamentous and yeast forms are also active components of microbial communities from marine ecosystems. Marine fungi are particularly abundant and relevant in coastal systems where they can be found in association with large organic substrata, like seaweeds. Antarctica is a rather unexplored region of the planet that is being influenced by strong and rapid climate change. In the past decade, several efforts have been made to get a thorough inventory of marine fungi from different environments, with a particular emphasis on those associated with the large communities of seaweeds that abound in littoral and infralittoral ecosystems. The algicolous fungal communities obtained were characterized by a few dominant species and a large number of singletons, as well as a balance among endemic, indigenous, and cold-adapted cosmopolitan species. The long-term monitoring of this balance and the dynamics of richness, dominance, and distributional patterns of these algicolous fungal communities is proposed to understand and model the influence of climate change on the maritime Antarctic biota. In addition, several fungal isolates from marine Antarctic environments have shown great potential as producers of bioactive natural products and enzymes and may represent attractive sources of biotechnological products.

Myxomycetes plasmodial slime molds are very important living groups in ecosystem and cosmopolitan species In this study morphological structures Hypothallus Stalk Columella Pseudocolumella Capillitium Pseudocapillitium Peridium Cortex Calyculus and Spores of myxomycetes are given The structures have supported by the examples shown

One of the first steps to successful invasion of plant species that reproduce sexually is seed germination, which may be highly influenced by climatic conditions. We studied Poa annua, a cosmopolitan species found across all climatic zones and the only alien species that has successfully colonized the Antarctic. Our research questions were: (i) if harsh polar conditions restrict seed germination of P. annua and (ii) if the germination capacity of the Antarctic population of the species is due to high germination aptitude in the source population. We compared germination of seeds collected from eight populations around the world (maritime Antarctica, S Chile, W Argentina and E Argentina, NE USA, SW Croatia, C Poland and S Poland). We followed germination of seeds collected in the field and acquired from plants cultivated under unified optimal conditions. We found significant differences between populations in germination characteristics of seeds collected in the field. These could be associated with seed ripening in different locations. Seeds obtained under favorable conditions differed in stratification requirements. The germination potential of the Antarctic population is lowered by unfavorable polar conditions impacting seed maturation. Thus, the species’ invasion in the Antarctic seems highly restricted by the harsh environment. Environmental unsuitability may restrict invasions of other species in the same way potentially. However, this environmental barrier protecting Antarctica from invasions may be broken under a climate warming scenario.

Background Rapa Nui (Easter Island = Isla de Pasqua) is of volcanic origin, best known for about 900 man-made stone statues known as moai. It is one of the most isolated inhabited islands on Earth and studies on the diatoms of Rapa Nui are very few. Methods Light (LM) and electron microscopic (SEM) observations of a single sample collected from Rapa Nui are presented. The samples (mix of soil and organic detritus) were collected from ground of cave entrance. Results The samples were characterized by low diatom diversity and strongly dominated by terrestrial (soil) forms. Among the taxa present in the material studied were cosmopolitan forms of the genera Humidophila, Nitzschia, Angusticopula, Orthoseira, Tryblionella and Luticola. Whereas most of taxa of the enumerated genera were identifiable, only one among four Luticola species distinguished in the samples studied was identified. This taxon was L. ectorii, a cosmopolitan species known previously from South America (Brazil) and Asia (China). The three remaining species could not be assigned to any established species. Therefore, based on external and internal morphological features from light and scanning electron microscopic analysis, we describe here three species new to science, including: L. georgzizkae, L. rapanuiensis and L. moaiorum. All three taxa new to science are compared to established Luticola species and their significance for the global distribution of the genus is discussed.

Venezuela is among the top four Latin American countries with the greatest elasmobranch biodiversity. The country is also characterised by extensive artisanal fisheries, but there is a paucity of regional life-history data for many important species. Here, we provide reproductive information for one local (Carcharhinus acronotus) and six cosmopolitan species (C. brevipinna, C. falciformis, C. limbatus, Galeocerdo cuvier, Sphyrna lewini and Isurus oxyrinchus) landed by artisanal fisheries at Margarita Island, Venezuela. For two years (2006–2007), three ports and two fish markets were weekly sampled for the total length (TL), sex, and maturity stages for specimens of the assessed species. A total of 664 specimens were analysed, of which 96% were immature. We found no significant differences in the sex ratios of all species, except for C. falciformis (1.5F:1M). Based on the numbers of neonates with unhealed umbilical scars, parturition appeared to peak in the first half of the year for C. acronotus (April–June) and S. lewini (May–June). Conversely, the second half of the year appeared important for parturition in C. brevipinna (August–September), C. limbatus (July–September) and G. cuvier (September–November). Both C. falciformis and I. oxyrinchus (individuals

A water sample was obtained from an arheic oasis in the deep Sahara Desert, the Gueltates Afilal in Tamanrasset (Algeria). Five diatom strains were isolated, cultivated and identified as Tryblionella apiculata, Nitzschia supralitorea, Fistulifera saprophila, Navicula veneta and Thalassiosira pseudonana using a combination of scanning electron microscopy and next generation sequencing. The diatoms identified are opportunistic and cosmopolitan species with known tolerances to organic pollution and variations in salinities, often found in meso- and polysaprobic zones in Europe. Their complete organellar genomes have been sequenced and some exhibit features never observed among diatoms before. To our knowledge this is the first time that living specimens of diatoms from the deep Sahara are identified using modern taxonomical tools in the frame of a study which also demonstrates the possibility to cultivate such material in laboratories for further experiments on biogeography and bioindication. Our study also suggests that European identification keys can be effective when employed on diatoms from the Sahara.

Homo erectus is the first hominin species with a truly cosmopolitan distribution and resembles recent humans in its broad spatial distribution. The microevolutionary events associated with dispersal and local adaptation may have produced similar population structure in both species. Understanding the evolutionary population dynamics of H. erectus has larger implications for the emergence of later Homo lineages in the Middle Pleistocene. Quantitative genetics models provide a means of interrogating aspects of long-standing H. erectus population history narratives. For the current study, cranial fossils were sorted into six major palaeodemes from sites across Africa and Asia spanning 1.8–0.1 Ma. Three-dimensional shape data from the occipital and frontal bones were used to compare intraspecific variation and test evolutionary hypotheses. Results indicate that H. erectus had higher individual and group variation than Homo sapiens , probably reflecting different levels of genetic diversity and population history in these spatially disperse species. This study also revealed distinct evolutionary histories for frontal and occipital bone shape in H. erectus , with a larger role for natural selection in the former. One scenario consistent with these findings is climate-driven facial adaptation in H. erectus , which is reflected in the frontal bone through integration with the orbits.

In recent years, the northern Bering Sea has experienced changes in the timing of sea-ice retreat and in hydrographic conditions during the summer. The influence of these environmental changes on the diatom community has not been examined. In this study, we investigated the spatial changes in the diatom community of the northern Bering Sea during the summers of 2017 and 2018, and evaluated the effects of environmental variability on these communities. We found that the diatom cell density and diversity varied with water masses. A cluster analysis based on cell density revealed that the diatom communities were separated into four groups, and that the distributions of three of these groups were different spatially between 2017 and 2018. In the Bering Strait and the Chirikov Basin regions, the diatom communities differed between 2017 and 2018. In 2017, these diatom communities were dominated by cold-water species such as Chaetoceros gelidus and Chaetoceros spp. (subgenus Hyalochaetae), while in 2018, the community was dominated by cosmopolitan species such as Thalassionema nitzschioides and Chaetoceros spp. (subgenus Phaeoceros). NMDS and multiple regression analysis indicated that the timing of the sea-ice retreat was the most important contributor to the differences in the diatom community. In contrast, there was no year-to-year difference south of St. Lawrence Island, possibly because nutrients were depleted and phytoplankton types other than diatoms were dominant.

The Devonian flora comprises abundant both endemic and widely-distributed plants and witnessed the earliest phytogeographical differentiation. One of the best studied Devonian plants, the protolepidodendralean lycopsid Leclercqia, was known to be widely distributed in the Devonian except the South China palaeocontinent. South China was situated at the northeastern periphery of the Gondwana supercontinent and had an endemic-dominated Devonian flora. In this study L. complexa and the tentaculitoid Homoctenus sp. cf. H. tenuicinctus are reported from the Middle to Upper Devonian Yidade Formation, eastern Yunnan (South China Plate). The spatio-temporal distribution pattern and stratigraphic ranges of Leclercqia are reconstructed using complementary occurrence data of both Leclercqia species and their related spore Acinosporites lindlarensis. It is indicated that Leclercqia originated in Laurasia in the Early Devonian, achieved a cosmopolitan distribution on every palaeocontinent and every palaeoclimatic zone by the late Middle Devonian, and did not survive after the early Late Devonian.

The present work aims to study the taxonomy of parasitid mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) from Egypt. The identification of newly collected specimens as well as the examination of some previously described species is presented. Cornigamasus ocliferius Skorupski & Witalinski, 1997, extracted from cow dung, is recorded for the first time from this country. Adults and deutonymphs of Parasitus consanguineus Oudemans & Voigts, 1904 and P. fimetorum (Berlese, 1904), worldwide cosmopolitan species, were found in animal dung and soil. Three genera with seven species are known from Egypt to date. Redescriptions of adults and deutonymphs are provided for the known species. Also, a taxonomic key to the Egyptian parasitids is presented.

Mites are living organisms having cosmopolitan distribution and have free to parasitic mode of life. They are microscopic and belong to the largest Arthropods. According to their habit and habitat they are of different types like plant mites, gall mites, animal mites, poultry mites etc. They dwell in dust accumulating in carpets, bedding, fabrics, furniture and poultry.They are negatively phototactic.Mites are allergens too causing allergies, eczema, asthma, rhinitia, bronchitis etc to human and animals. Humidity and temperature are the most important factors that regulate the dust mite population. Common house dust mite population can be influenced by housekeeping practices. They are killed by predators in nature and by direct exposure to sunrays. As house dust mites are widely distributed, a lot of work has been done on the seasonal dynamics and distribution. The maximum literature available in library, journals, books and internet sites have been cited and studied for the diversity of dust mites and tried to summarize here.

Migratory waterfowl play an important role in the maintenance and spread of zoonotic diseases worldwide. An example is cercarial dermatitis, caused when larval stages of schistosomes that normally develop in birds penetrate human skin. Members of the genus Trichobilharzia (Schistosomatidae), transmitted mainly by ducks, are considered to be major etiological agents of cercarial dermatitis globally. To better understand the diversity and distribution of Trichobilharzia spp., we surveyed ducks from the United States, eastern Canada, Argentina, South Africa and New Zealand. To aid in species identification of the Trichobilharzia worms recovered, regions of the Cox1, ND4 and ITS1 were sequenced. Furthermore, we provide molecular phylogenetic evidence for the cosmopolitan distribution and trans-hemispheric gene flow for one species, Trichobilharzia querquedulae, previously thought to be restricted to North America. These new samples from endemic non-migratory duck species indicate that T. querquedulae transmission occurs within each of the regions we sampled and that it is specific to the blue-winged + silver teal duck clade. Prevalence within this host group is >95% across the known range of T. querquedulae, indicating that transmission is common. Genetic divergence is evenly distributed among continents, and no phylogenetic structure associated with geography was observed. The results provide strong support for the global distribution and transmission of T. querquedulae and represent, to our knowledge, the first report of a cosmopolitan schistosome confirmed by genetic data. These data are the first known to support trans-hemispheric genetic exchange in a species responsible for causing cercarial dermatitis, indicating that the epidemiology of this group of poorly known zoonotic parasites is more complex than previously expected. Fil: Ebbs, Erika T.. University of New Mexico; Estados Unidos Fil: Loker, Eric S.. University of New Mexico; Estados Unidos Fil: Davis, Norm E.. University of Otago; Nueva Zelanda Fil: Flores, Verónica Roxana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Centro Regional Universidad Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente; Argentina Fil: Veleizán, Aylén Anabella. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Centro Regional Universidad Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente; Argentina Fil: Brant, Sara V.. University of New Mexico; Estados Unidos

The asexual generaConiella(1918) andPilidiella(1927), including their sexual morphs inSchizoparme(1923), have a cosmopolitan distribution and are associated with foliar, fruit, leaf, stem and root diseases on a wide variety of hosts. Species of these genera sometimes occur as secondary invaders of plant tissues infected by other organisms or that are injured by other causes. Several studies published over the last few decades had conflicting ideas as to whetherConiella,PilidiellaandSchizoparmeshould be regarded as synonymous or as separate genera. The present study aims to resolve the generic classification of these genera through phylogenetic analyses of the concatenated alignment of partial LSU nrDNA,rpb2, ITS nrDNA andtef1sequence data of 117 isolates, combined with their morphology. Results revealed that all strains cluster in a single well-supported clade. Conidial colour, traditionally the distinguishing character betweenConiellaandPilidiella, evolved multiple times throughout the clade, and is not a good character at generic level inSchizoparmaceae. The three genera should therefore be regarded as synonymous, with the older nameConiellahaving priority. Furthermore, this study delineated 13 new species, and new combinations were proposed for a further 15 species.

The diatom Asterionellopsis glacialis sensu lato forms high-density patches in the surf zone of some sandy beaches worldwide and was until recently considered a cosmopolitan species. With the recent description of four cryptic species, the identity of specimens found in these accumulations remains uncertain. In this study, diatom patches were sampled from two sandy beaches of the Brazilian coast: one tropical (Futuro Beach, 3° S; 38° W) and one subtropical (Cassino Beach, 32° S; 52° W). Fine structure of frustules and the sequencing of three phylogenetic markers revealed the subtropical strains to be A. guyunusae and the tropical strains to be a new species, here described as Asterionellopsis tropicalis sp. nov. A. tropicalis was differentiated morphologically by the number of striae in 10 μm at the foot pole and head (39-44; 38-45, respectively), from A. lenisilicea (46-55; 46-64), A. maritima (46-51; 46-60), and A. thurstonii (42-58; 55-70). The number of striae at the head region of the valvocopula (10 μm) helped to distinguish A. tropicalis (56-62) from A. guyunusae (61-64), but A. tropicalis was morphologically undistinguishable from A. glacialis. The sequence divergence from other identified Asterionellopsis species was 13%-16% (Cox1), 11%-12% (5.8S + ITS2) and 2%-6% (RbcL), and A. tropicalis formed a distinct monophyletic clade with high support in all analyzed phylogenetic trees (single or multi-locus). This work will aid in the understanding of the ecological and physiological diversity of diatom patches that are key to the trophic webs of sandy beaches.

Although already widespread in Laurasia, the Gondwanan Norian record of Neotheropoda (Dinosauria) is scarce, with a single taxon reported for the Los Colorados Formation of Argentina. Here the distal end of a dinosaur left femur from the Riograndia Assemblage Zone of Brazil (Norian, Candelaria Sequence, Parana Basin) is described and compared. Although fragmentary, the specimen has a morphology compatible with its attribution to Neotheropoda, being this the first record of the clade from the Brazilian Triassic. The new specimen supports a cosmopolitan distribution of Neotheropoda during the Late Triassic and highlights the potential for the discovery of additional dinosaur clades in Norian rocks of southern Brazil.

Background. Lake Patzcuaro has been exposed in the recent past to environmental deterioration with increasing eutrophication as a result of deforestation, indiscriminate use of agrochemicals, overfishing, unplanned urban growth, and sewage dumping. Goals. In order to contribute to the phycofloristic inventory of the Lake, we present the taxonomic description of the periphytic diatoms found, including morphometric information, meristic data, figures, as well as ecological and distributional notes. Methods. Sampling was carried out in four sites during two periods: after the rainy season (October 2004) and the dry season (May 2005); samples were gathered by scraping rooted and floating vegetation. Diatoms ´ thecae were cleared with hydrochloric acid and hydrogen peroxide; permanent slides were made with Naphrax® resin and analyzed through optic microscopy. Results. A total of 83 periphytic diatom species were recorded, including eight varieties and one form; 20 species (24%) represent the first records for Mexico and 57 (68.6%) are new to the study area. Sixty-two species (74.7%) have cosmopolitan distribution and six (7.2%) have tropical affinity. Species richness was slightly higher after the rainy season (October 2004) with a total of 69 taxa, compared to 65 species recorded during the dry season (May 2005). Among the sampling sites, the island of Janitzio had the highest diatom diversity (46 taxa during the dry season). Conclusions. Deterioration of Lake Patzcuaro in the previous decades has taken a toll on the health of its ecological system. Diatoms identified in this study indicate a clear tendency of eutrophication of the waterbody.

Loxosceles rufescens (Dufour, 1820), the Mediterranean recluse spider, is a cosmopolitan species with toxic venom which can occasionally cause dermatological injuries in humans. Here, we report the finding of L. rufescens through intensive survey and exploration of six natural limestone caves in the western region of Thailand. These data provide the first direct evidence of L. rufescens living in large numbers in a natural habitat outside of their native Mediterranean range. Although the currently known distribution of L. rufescens in Thailand is quite narrow (the spiders were only found in one of the six caves explored), data on their biology and local habitat preferences are provided to better understand the colonization requirements of this species in the target area.

The dinoflagellate genus Coolia, which contains potentially toxic species, is an important component of epiphytic assemblages in marine ecosystems. The morphology of C. malayensis has been illustrated from strains isolated in Asia and Oceania. In this study, strains of C. malayensis isolated from the Caribbean Sea in Puerto Rico, and for the first time from the South Atlantic Ocean in Brazil, were investigated by light, epifluorescence and scanning electron microscopies. No significant morphological differences between these new strains and other geographically distant strains of C. malayensis were observed. In the LSU rDNA phylogeny, the C. malayensis sequences from Brazil and Puerto Rico branched within the clade of strains from Oceania and Asia. The recently described species C. santacroce branched as a sister group of C. monotis, and C. palmyrensis was basal to the combined group of C. monotis/C. malayensis/C. santacroce. A tentative undescribed species from Florida and New Zealand branched as a sister group of C. malayensis. Our results confirm that C. malayensis showed a cosmopolitan distribution in tropical to subtropical waters, while the type species C. monotis remains endemic for the Mediterranean Sea and the temperate North Atlantic.

This article deals with the formation of symbiotic communities in a waterbody of the Ptich’ya Gavan nature park (Omsk) at the end of May 2010. The samples were collected by plankton nets, fixed in formalin, and examined with the use of optical microscope. The symbiotic communities consist of ciliates Ophrydium versatile and 35 other species and forms of algae and cyanobacteria inhabiting the pelagic zone of the waterbody. It is found that the species composition of producers in these communities is formed as a result of the higher adaptation of some species to specific conditions regardless of their abundance. The species with high tolerance to abiotic environmental factors (cosmopolitan species), inhabitants of polluted zones, and species with high tolerance to the concentrations of organic matter in water are most abundant.

This study reports the earliest known evidence of osteophagy by invertebrates in a continental setting from the Middle and Upper Triassic Santa Maria Supersequence, Parana Basin, Brazil. Samples from the Dinodontosaurus Assemblage Zone (Pinheiros-Chiniqua Sequence – Middle Triassic) and the Hyperodapedon Assemblage Zone (Candelaria Sequence – Upper Triassic) were analyzed and a number of trace morphologies were found, including tubes, holes and channels. We report the occurrence of Cubiculum inornatus from the Middle Triassic and Osteocallis mandibulus from the Upper Triassic and diagnose a new ichnospecies O. infestans isp. nov. The occurrence of these trace morphologies suggests that insect bone-modification behavior originated in Triassic Gondwanic environments, and dispersed during the Mesozoic, achieving a more cosmopolitan distribution during the Cretaceous.

Aeolidia papillosa (Linnaeus, ) is a well-known aeolidiid species that has been reported to have a worldwide distribution in cold-temperate waters, mainly from the northern hemisphere. Molecular tools have recently shown that most cosmopolitan species usually belong to a taxonomic species complex. Here we used integrative taxonomy to test the range of distribution of A.papillosa, and to assess the existence of a putative species complex that has been traditionally included as a single species under the name A.papillosa. Maximum-likelihood and Bayesian analyses of partial DNA sequences of the mitochondrial cytochromec oxidase subunitI and 16S rRNA genes, and the nuclear gene histone3, were used to infer phylogenetic trees. Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery (ABGD) species delimitation analyses and morphological study complemented the phylogenetic approach. Our results show that A.papillosa is a cosmopolitan and an amphi-Atlantic species, being distributed in the eastern and western Atlantic as well as in the eastern Pacific;however, some specimens from the UK and the Netherlands, together with specimens from Portugal, Galicia, and France, as well as the Californian and Oregon populations, emerge as two pseudocryptic species described herein: Aeolidia filomenaesp.nov. and Aeolidia louisp.nov., respectively. Finally, the specimens from Chilean coasts, previously attributed to A.papillosa, belong to a different species, Aeolidia campbellii (Cunningham, ), that is a senior synonym of Aeolidia serotina Bergh, . 1873

Among eyeflukes,TylodelphysDiesing, 1850 includes diverse species able to infect the eyes, but also the brain, pericardial sac and body cavity of their second intermediate host. While the genus shows a cosmopolitan distribution with 29 nominal species in Africa, Asia, Europe and America, a likely lower research effort has produced two records only for all of Australasia. This study provides the first description of a species ofTylodelphysand the first record for a member of the Diplostomidae in New Zealand.Tylodephyssp. metacercaria from the eyes ofGobiomorphus cotidianusMcDowall, 1975 is distinguished from its congeners as being larger in all, or nearly all, metrics thanTylodelphys clavata(von Nordmann, 1832),T. conifera(Mehlis, 1846) andT. scheuringi(Hughes, 1929); whereasT. podicipinaKozicka & Niewiadomska, 1960 is larger in body size, ventral sucker and holdfast sizes andT. ophthalmi(Pandey, 1970) has comparatively a very small pharynx and body spination.Tylodelphyssp. exhibits consistent genetic variation for the 28S rDNA, internal transcribed spacer (ITS) andCox1 genes, and phylogenetic analyses confirm that it represents an independent lineage, closely related to North American species. Morphological and molecular results together support the distinct species status ofTylodephyssp. metacercaria, the formal description and naming of which await discovery of the adult. Furthermore, the validity ofT. strigicolaOdening, 1962 is restored,T. cerebralisChakrabarti, 1968 is proposed as major synonym ofT. ophthalmi, and species described solely on the basis of metacercariae are consideredincertae sedis,except those for which molecular data already exist.

Microcrustaceans (MCs) are an important component of freshwater ecosystems, and their local diversity is known to be driven by many factors. What are the relative contributions of these factors at the larger geographic scale? We analyzed the faunal richness and composition of freshwater Cladocera and Copepoda from 27 mainland and insular circumpolar regions (46°–85°N) to determine the main patterns of their species richness and distribution. The average warmest month air temperature was the primary factor affecting MC richness. Regional richness decreased sharply when the temperature dropped below 12–13 °C, and this effect was more pronounced for Cladocera. As a result, the Cladocera/Copepoda species ratio increased significantly with temperature. The total MC richness and cladoceran richness increased with the ice-free area of a region, while the copepod richness decreased on islands with increasing distance from the mainland. Copepod richness was lower in regions that were glaciated during the Quaternary period. Faunal composition significantly differed between cold and warm regions, as well as between the Palearctic and Nearctic, whereas it was affected by neither the glaciation history nor insularity. The contemporary climate had a stronger effect on the cladoceran distribution, whereas the copepods’ ranges were often restricted to a single continent. The former parts of the intercontinental land bridges are primarily inhabited by Holarctic or cosmopolitan species, with almost equal Nearctic and Palearctic components, which indicates repeated colonization events of these regions from various sources. These findings suggest a key role of contemporary climate (especially for cladocerans) and dispersal limitations (primarily for copepods) in structuring MC faunas at high latitudes, and they may help assess possible changes due to global warming.

Inoceramid bivalves of the upper Albian and lower Cenomanian of the United States Western Interior are revised, Eleven species-level taxa and three genera are described. Two new species, Gnesioceramus mowriensis , characterizing the Mowry Shale of the early, but not the earliest, Cenomanian, and Posidonioceramus merewetheri , of the lower Cenomanian, and on new genus, Posidonioceramus , are recognised. The Western Interior inoceramid species from this interval are strongly endemic and are not good tools for long-distance correlations, although they are very effective in regional dating. In terms of the inoceramid biostratigraphy, middle and upper parts of the upper Albian can be referred to the Gnesioceramus Biozone, represented by G . comancheanus (Cragin) and G. bellvuensis (Reeside). These taxa are endemic to the Western Interior and some adjacent areas (Gulf Coast; Greenland?), but are closely allied to the cosmopolitan species, Gnesioceramus anglicus (Woods). At approximately the Albian-Cenomanian boundary, the endemic clade of ‘ Inoceramus’ nahwisi appears, now referred to the newly erected Posidonioceramus , resulting in a distinct P. nahwisi biozone. This zone corresponds to the lower part of the ammonite Neogastroplites ’ stratigraphic range. Gnesioceramids re-appear in the early Cenomanian. Close to base of the Cenomanian, for the first in the Western Interior, the genus Inoceramus , represented by Inoceramus irenensis Warren and Stelck, 1958, apparently immigrated into the Western Interior Basin. The Western Interior inoceramids do not allow for direct correlation to chronostratigraphic standard subdivision. The Albian-Cenomanian boundary, as earlier recognized on geochronologic correlations and confirmed, to some extent, based on ammonites, may approximately be located close to the appearance level of the genus Posidonioceramus .

In this review, we approached various aspects of Opuntia sp., a forage cactus. This plant stand out for its energy potential and have peculiar morphological and physiological features that allow tolerance for long periods of drought. In addition, Opuntia species has a cosmopolitan distribution, found mainly in arid and semi-arid regions. Opuntia sp. presents phenotypic variations related to weather conditions, like polyploidy occurring in a large number of populations and high hybridization capacity. This plant has a shrub morphological characteristic with ramifications, variable size, from creeping until arboreal; it can reach up to 4 m high and a series of fleshy stems with, depending on time of year, flowers and fruits. Opuntia sp. has a typical physiology with the photosynthetic process called crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM); stomata close during the day in order to maintain hydration of tissues. The chemical composition of Opuntia sp. varies according to species, age of reticule, and season. The cactus has excellent nutritional value with high water content (about 90%)

Although the Jurassic was a period of high diversity in ichthyosaurs, only a small number of specimens have been recorded from Canada to date. We describe here a new occurrence of an ophthalmosaurid ichthyosaur from a shallow marine depositional environment within the Bowser Basin of northern British Columbia. Based on vertebral diameters and the size of the humerus, the ichthyosaur was relatively large compared to other contemporaneous forms, yet possessed teeth that were small for its body size. As well, the height to length ratio of the preserved vertebrae suggests it may have had a more elongate, less regionalized body shape. Although indeterminate at a generic level, the presence of Late Jurassic ichthyosaurs in nearshore waters of northwestern North America further demonstrates their cosmopolitan distribution.

In early March 2015, three males and two females of one unknown species of Drosophila were collected from a compost pile and some garbage cans in the west region of the city of São Paulo, state of São Paulo, Brazil. Morphologically it is easily identified by the presence of the following conspicuous features: a brownish dorsal stripe along pleura, an entirely iridescent silvery-whitish frons when seen directly from the front, and a row of cuneiform setae on anteroventral side of femur of foreleg; the former two traits being more evident in males. The species was easily reared in a modified banana-agar medium and two isofemale lines were established allowing to obtain mitotic cells showing a diploid chromosome number of 2n = 8. Based both on morphological and chromosomal features, in addition to the geographical distribution, we concluded that the unknown flies belong to Drosophila nasuta Lamb, 1914, a tropical species of the nasuta subgroup of the Drosophila immigrans species group. Photomicrographs of male imagines, terminalia, mitotic and meiotic metaphase plates, as well as of female mitotic metaphase, are included. Keywords: Karyotypes, Immigrans group, Invasive species, Nasuta subgroup, Terminalia