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Strata situated within the South China Craton host several key Cambrian macroalgal assemblages, including those of the Chengjiang, Kaili, and Tsinghsutung Lagerstatte. In this report, Cambrian macroalgae are described for the first time from the North China Craton, an area that, during the early Paleozoic, was not contiguous with the South China Craton. The material collected from the Mantou Formation and overlying Zhangxia Formation (Miaolingian Series) in Shandong Province is preserved as carbonaceous compressions and includes abundant simple tubular forms. These fall into two groupings on the basis of size and have characteristics broadly comparable to Fuxianospira gyrata and Sinocylindra yunnanensis, both of which are well-known from the Chengjiang biota and may represent simple siphonous green algae. Additional material includes irregular circular to oval films referable to Morania fragmenta and a tuft-like form superficially similar to Marpolia spissa, taxa with possible cyanophyte affinities described initially on the basis of material from the Burgess Shale but also known from the Cambrian of South China. The material is typical of the “Cambrian Flora” and provides further support for the cosmopolitan distribution of this noncalcified macroalgal flora at low latitude settings during the Cambrian.

We carried out the physicochemical characterization of extreme environments of acidic geothermal springs of the Copahue Thermal Complex, and isolated and cultivated algae used for therapeutic and medicinal purposes. Ecophysiological aspects, algal photosynthetic responses and potential toxicity of sediments were analysed. At the 15 sampling sites (pH: 2.0-6.7, conductivity: 283-3230 µS/cm, temperature: 22-60 °C), 11 Cyanobacteria species of a total of 24 algae were identified. The species richness was low with true inhabitants of highly acidic waters: Cyanidium caldarium, Euglena mutabilis, Chlamydomonas acidophila, Achnanthidium minutissimum, and Eunotia exigua, and cosmopolitan species of thermal springs: Mastigocladus laminosus, Leptolyngbia boryana and Phormidium tergestinum. All the species were well adapted to low light levels (15-55 µmol photon.m-2.s-1), and photosynthetic responses were similar to those in comparable environments. pH and temperature were important factors in algal distribution, and N:P relationship suggests that P is the limiting nutrient for algal growth. Fractions controlling P availability in the muds were those bound to organic matter, and Fe/Al oxyhydroxides. Healing muds have the ability to precipitate metals and would not be toxic. Cadmium and other potentially toxic metals were in very low concentrations and pose no risk for the human use as healing muds and bathing.

Members of the class Myxosporea Bütschli, 1881 have a cosmopolitan distribution in a wide variety of fish species worldwide. In the present study, the black scorpionfish Scorpaena porcus collected from the Sinop coasts of the Black Sea was investigated for myxosporean parasites using both conventional and molecular methods in the period between September 2015 and August 2019. Using morphological and morphometric data, the myxosporean parasite Ceratomyxa scorpaeni Garbouj, Rangel, Castro, Hmissi, Santos, Bahri, 2016 was identified in the gall bladder of host fish. Molecular analysis of the 18S rDNA gene confirmed the identity of this parasite as C. scorpaeni. This is the first report of its occurrence in the Black Sea.

The present article deals with the description of one new and two known nematode species extracted from insects, as well as from the dwelling places of insects, viz., compost, rotting wood and bark, based on light microscopic and scanning electron microscopic observations. The species were tested for pathogenicity towards insects and found to have the potential to kill insect pests. A detailed morphological characterization of the species along with information on their associations with insects can be utilized to assess their relevance in insect pest management. Oigolaimella winchesi (Goodey, 1929) is reinstated and differentiated from both O. agilis (Skwarra, 1921) and O. longicauda (Claus, 1862) on the basis of number of liplets; shape of spermatozoa in spermatheca; structure of spicules and gubernaculum. Also, the molecular characterization of the cosmopolitan species O. longicauda (Claus, 1862) and Oigolaimella trilineata sp. n. has been done based on D2/D3 segment of LSU 28s rDNA gene and phylogenetic inferences have been made by performing a Bayesian analysis. A biogeographical distribution of species of Oigolaimella is provided and the relationships of its congeners are analyzed and discussed along with a key to identification of species.

Myxomycetes are terrestrial protists with many presumably cosmopolitan species dispersing via airborne spores. A truly cosmopolitan species would suffer from outbreeding depression hampering local adaptation, while locally adapted species with limited distribution would be at a higher risk of extinction in changing environments. Here, we investigate intraspecific genetic diversity and phylogeography of Physarum albescens over the entire Northern Hemisphere. We sequenced 324 field collections of fruit bodies for 1-3 genetic markers (SSU, EF1A, COI) and analysed 98 specimens with genotyping by sequencing. The structure of the three-gene phylogeny, SNP-based phylogeny, phylogenetic networks, and the observed recombination pattern of three independently inherited gene markers can be best explained by the presence of at least 18 reproductively isolated groups, which can be seen as cryptic species. In all intensively sampled regions and in many localities, members of several phylogroups coexisted. Some phylogroups were found to be abundant in only one region and completely absent in other well-studied regions, and thus may represent regional endemics. Our results demonstrate that the widely distributed myxomycete species Ph. albescens represents a complex of at least 18 cryptic species, and some of these seem to have a limited geographical distribution. In addition, the presence of groups of presumably clonal specimens suggests that sexual and asexual reproduction coexist in natural populations of myxomycetes.

Mining activities cause substantial decimation of environment and biological diversity. Plant populations are disrupted by the operation of coal mining. The present study deals with the ecological assessment of tree species and physicochemical properties of soil in the Dhandardihi coal mining area of Raniganj Coal Field (RCF), West Bengal, India. For this purpose, three coal mine generated wasteland were randomly selected from the Dhandardihi coal mining area. A sum of 23 different tree species belonging to 22 genera and 16 different families were recorded. Most of the tree species showed rare or lower frequency class. Shannon diversity index was varied from 2.224 to 2.572. The findings of the Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) indicated that the available nitrogen and phosphate content of the soil were the factor which heavily impacted the composition of tree species in the study area. The study indicated that Streblus asper and Senna siamea can be recommended for effective eco-restoration of the concerned sites due to cosmopolitan distribution, high regeneration potential with stable population structure. The findings could be used as an impactful means for predicting the suitability of specific species to revegetate mined regions. Even further, the findings suggest adverse effects of the mining operations on the area’s vegetation. Those actions really need to be monitored regularly along with suitable policies should be framed in terms of eco-restoration of mined wastelands based on indigenous vegetation.

The large-scale dispersal of deep-sea harpacticoid copepods is an increasing focus for ecological studies. A fundamental prerequisite for monitoring and explaining their geographical distribution is precise descriptions of their morphology. Four new, closely related species of the family Paramesochridae (Copepoda, Harpacticoida) were found in the deep sea of the Pacific (San Diego Trough and off Chile), the Atlantic Ocean (Porcupine Abyssal Plain and Angola Basin), and the Atlantic and Indian Ocean sectors of the Southern Ocean (Weddell Sea and off Crozet Island). The discovery of Emertonia berndi sp. nov., E. hessleri sp. nov., E. ilse sp. nov., and E. serrata sp. nov. increases the number of known deep-sea species in this genus to ten. The new species are placed in Emertonia Wilson, 1932 because of their one-segmented endopods on the second and third swimming legs. The presence of a two-segmented endopod on the fourth swimming leg allocates them to the “andeep-group” within this genus. The four species can be distinguished from their congeners by the strongly serrated spines on the exopods of their swimming legs and an outwardly directed flexible seta on the exopod of the fifth leg. It is conveivable that these two specific characters evolved only once in the genus Emertonia. Their apparently cosmopolitan distribution covers thousands of kilometres and spans all major oceans. This biogeographical pattern may be explained by resuspension events followed by passive transport by benthic currents. Discrepancies in their dispersal ranges may be a result of changing geological and oceanographic boundaries.

The scleractinian reef building coral Madracis decactis is a cosmopolitan species. Understanding host–symbiont associations is critical for assessing coral’s habitat requirements and its response to environmental changes. In this study, we performed a fine grained phylogenetic analyses of Symbiodiniaceae associated with Madracis in two locations in the Southwest Atlantic Ocean (Abrolhos Bank and St. Peter and St. Paul Archipelago). Previous studies have argued that Madracis is a specialist coral, with colonies harboring a single symbiont from the genus Breviolum (formerly clade B). However, these previous studies have not precisely addressed if Madracis is colonized by several types of Symbiodiniaceae simultaneously or whether this coral is a specialist. The hypothesis that Madracis is a generalist coral host was evaluated in the present study. A total of 1.9 million reads of ITS2 nuclear ribosomal DNA were obtained by Illumina MiSeq sequencing. While Symbiodiniaceae ITS2 sequences between two sampling depths were almost entirely (62%) from the genus Breviolum (formerly clade B), shallow (10–15 m) populations in Abrolhos had a greater diversity of ITS2 sequences in comparison to deeper (25–35 m) populations of St. Peter and St. Paul Archipelago. Cladocopium (formerly clade C) and Symbiodinium (formerly clade A) were also found in Abrolhos. A single Madracis colony can host different symbiont types with > 30 Symbiodiniaceae ITS2-type profiles. Abrolhos corals presented a higher photosynthetic potential as a possible result of co-occurrence of multiple Symbiodiniaceae in a single coral colony. Multiple genera/clades of Symbiodiniaceae possibly confer coral hosts with broader environmental tolerance and ability to occupy diverse or changing habitats.

Animals of the intertidal zone tolerate substantial environmental fluctuations. Survival under such unstable conditions requires specific adaptations. Several intertidal species have evolved endogenous mechanisms that follow tidal rhythms permitting behavioural alignment with periodic inundation. For example, aggregation behaviour in the springtail Anurida maritima (Guerin-Meneville, 1836) (Collembola: Neanuridae) is controlled by a free-running clock with a period of ~ 12.4 h. This cosmopolitan species is found in the upper intertidal zone where it forages during low tide. Before high tide, specimens aggregate in cracks in the substrate or under rocks to survive inundation. Here we report that the closely related intertidal species Anurida bisetosa Bagnall, 1949, displays a similar endogenously controlled circatidal behaviour. To obtain a minimum age estimate for this shared derived trait, we sequenced the full mitochondrial genome of A. bisetosa, which was then used for phylogenetic inference and molecular dating. The mitochondrial genomes of A. maritima and A. bisetosa are highly divergent. This divergence extends throughout the whole mitochondrial genome and is mirrored by a similar pattern in the nuclear internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) region. Dating analyses suggest the species potentially split more than 40 million years ago. Under the assumption that the endogenously-controlled rhythmic behaviour evolved once in an ancestor of the two species, the trait must be of older age. Use of a single genetic marker and a limited number of fossil calibration points constrains accuracy of the age estimate, but nevertheless, it offers a glimpse at otherwise ‘intangible’ palaeoecological and palaeoethological attributes.

Upper Devonian carbonates deposited through the Frasnian/Famennian (F/F) stage boundary in the Xom Nha Formation, Central Vietnam, were studied. The section is mainly composed of fossiliferous, brecciated, and laminated limestone beds, while shale beds occur in a subordinate number. Microfacies generally suggests a hemipelagic setting on an outer shelf environment with low sedimentation rates. A sediment accumulation rate of 0.217 cm/kyrs for this section is calculated. The Xom Nha section does not exhibit characteristic black shales or black limestones through the F/F boundary, but instead shows a similar lithology in comparison to other F/F sections in Southeast Asia. The carbonates yielded abundant conodonts, which represent mainly cosmopolitan species but the section differs from most sections in Europe in showing relatively high numbers of Palmatolepis linguiformis species. Deposition through the F/F boundary interval reported here for the Xom Nha section appears to have occurred during a ~1.2 Ma, and shows well-defined climate cyclicity.

En la última década se ha incrementado el interés por estudiar los hongos de la familia Botryosphaeriaceae debido a las enfermedades que inducen en cultivos de importancia económica a su amplia distribución cosmopolita y a la asociación observada entre la patogénesis y el estrés del hospedante. Se han reportado más de diez especies asociadas a síntomas en diferentes partes de una misma planta, lo que indica que un número importante de especies de esta familia no presentan especificidad en rango de hospedantes. Además, diversos estudios han demostrado la capacidad de estos hongos para ‘brincar’ de sus hospedantes nativos originales a cultivos agrícolas que se establecen en áreas cercanas, pertenecientes a la misma familia botánica o a una familia diferente. El objetivo de este trabajo es revisar marcadores morfológicos y moleculares para la identificación taxonómica de especies de la familia Botryosphaeriace, su distribución geográfica, rango de hospedantes agrícola y aspectos de desarrollo para la enfermedad incluyendo modos de dispersión. La información presentada podrá ser de utilidad en la etiología, identificación y diagnóstico de especies de Botryosphaeriace así como el manejo de las enfermedades causadas que ellas inducen.

Current knowledge on environmental distribution and taxon richness of free-living bacteria is mainly based on cultivation-independent investigations employing 16S rRNA gene sequencing methods. Yet, 16S rRNA genes are evolutionarily rather conserved, resulting in limited taxonomic and ecological resolutions provided by this marker. The faster evolving protein-encoding gene priB was used to reveal ecological patterns hidden within a single operational taxonomic unit (OTU) defined by >99% 16S rRNA sequence similarity. The studied subcluster PnecC of the genus Polynucleobacter represents a ubiquitous group of abundant freshwater bacteria with cosmopolitan distribution, which is very frequently detected by diversity surveys of freshwater systems. Based on genome taxonomy and a large set of genome sequences, a sequence similarity threshold for delineation of species-like taxa could be established. In total, 600 species-like taxa were detected in 99 freshwater habitats scattered across three regions representing a latitudinal range of 3,400 km (42 degrees N to 71 degrees N) and a pH gradient of 4.2 to 8.6. In addition to the unexpectedly high richness, the increased taxonomic resolution revealed structuring of Polynucleobacter communities by a couple of macroecological trends, which was previously only demonstrated for phylogenetically much broader groups of bacteria. An unexpected pattern was the almost complete compositional separation of Polynucleobacter communities of Ca2+-rich and Ca2+-poor habitats. This compositional pattern strongly resembled the vicariance of plant species on silicate and limestone soils. The new cultivation-independent approach presented opened a window to an incredible, previously unseen diversity, and enables investigations aiming on deeper understanding of how environmental conditions shape bacterial communities and drive evolution of free-living bacteria.

We analysed 114 DNA samples collected in different locations within the stock G breeding grounds, including Ecuador and the northern and southern Pacific of Colombia. We genotyped 15 microsatellite loci, sexed all samples, and performed genotype comparisons. Genotype comparisons were done using a DNA register of previously genotyped individuals from the Colombian breeding ground and the Antarctic Peninsula feeding Area. We confirmed connectivity between feeding grounds in Antarctic Peninsula and breeding grounds in Colombia and Ecuador using microsatellite loci. We found recaptures within each sampling location in the same year, but we also found a few recaptures in the same locations between years both in breeding and feeding grounds. Interestingly, we found recaptures between breeding and feeding grounds using samples collected 20 years apart, providing some information about longevity in this stock. Further comparisons with other data sets (Brazil, North Pacific) are needed to understand the migratory connectivity of this stock. RESUMEN En este estudio, se analizaron 114 muestras de ADN colectadas en diferentes localidades en la zona de reproducción de la población G (stock G), incluyendo la costa de Ecuador y localidades en el norte y sur del Pacífico colombiano, así como muestras obtenidas en la primera expedición científica colombiana a la Antártica en el estrecho de Gerlache. Se genotipificaron 15 loci microsatellites y se realizaron comparaciones de los genotipos obtenidos. Para estas comparaciones se utilizó una base de datos genéticos de individuos tanto en zonas de reproducción de Colombia y la zona de alimentación alrededor de la península Antártica. Se confirmó la conectividad existente entre las zonas de alimentación alrededor de la península Antártica y las zonas de reproducción en Colombia y Ecuador utilizando marcadores microsatélites. Se encontraron recapturas entre localidades en un mismo año, pero también se obtuvieron algunas recapturas en una misma localidad entre años diferentes, tanto en zonas de reproducción como de alimentación. Se encontraron recapturas de individuos en muestras colectadas con 20 años de diferencia, dando información preliminar sobre la longevidad de los animales de esta población.

Octopuses have gained considerable worldwide commercial importance. Hence, this study was conducted to differentiate between the Octopoda species in the Egyptian Mediterranean waters. The study extended from January 2019 to December of the same year. Octopus specimens were seasonally obtained from the fishing trawlers operating in the Egyptian Mediterranean waters from Sidi Abd El-Rahman, west of Alexandria to Rosetta in the east. The different organs were illustrated using a zoom stereoscopic WildM8 microscope provided with a special camera Lucida drawing tube and photographed by a Canon G7Xdigital camera. Four Egyptian Mediterranean octopus species were detected, among which Eledone moschata, Octopus vulgaris, Callistoctopus macropus, and Macrotritopus defilippii were identified. Whereas three of them: Octopus vulgaris, Callistoctopus macropus, and Macrotritopus defilippi are classified as cosmopolitan species in distribution. Considerably, the species Eledone moschata are widely distributed in the Mediterranean Sea.

This study documents a comprehensive taxonomic treatment of the New World Ummidia species. At the onset of this work the genus comprised 27 species and one subspecies with a cosmopolitan distribution that includes North America, South America, Asia, northern Africa, and Europe; of these species the majority of the nominal diversity can be attributed to the New World where 20 species have been previously described. Ummidia oaxacana (Chamberlin, 1925) is considered a nomen dubium; U. tuobita (Chamberlin, 1917) and U. absoluta (Gertsch and Mulaik, 1940) are both considered junior synonyms of U. audouini (Lucas, 1835); the subspecies U. carabivora emarginata (Atkinson, 1886) is considered a junior synonym of U. carabivora (Atkinson, 1886); U. pygmaea (Chamberlin and Ivie, 1945) is considered a junior synonym of U. beatula (Gertsch and Mulaik, 1940); U. celsa (Gertsch and Mulaik, 1940) is considered a junior synonym of U. funerea (Gertsch, 1936); Hebestatis lanthanus (Valerio, 1987) is considered a junior synonym of U. rugosa (Karsch, 1880). Thirty-three new species are described: U. neilgaimani, U. gingoteague, U. rongodwini, U. okefenokee, U. richmond, U. macarthuri, U. colemanae, U. rosillos, U. mercedesburnsae, U. paulacushingae, U. waunekaae, U. gertschi, U. timcotai, U. gabrieli, U. pesiou, U. rodeo, U. huascazaloya, U. anaya, U. cuicatec, U. brandicarlileae, U. riverai, U. frankellerae, U. hondurena, U. yojoa, U. matagalpa, U. carlosviquezi, U. varablanca, U. quepoa, U. cerrohoya, U. quijichacaca, U. tibacuy, U. neblina, U. tunapuna.

Despite the widespread belief that an extensive body of knowledge exists for the sucking lice (Anoplura), some of their common, Eurasian or even cosmopolitan species still lack complete taxonomic descriptions, especially those for their nymphal stages. This applies especially to the most common rodent parasites: the lice of the genus Hoplopleura. In Europe, only two of the five most common Hoplopleura species have full taxonomic characteristics with a description of the nymphal stages. This study enriches the current state of knowledge for another species, Hoplopleura longula and presents the first description of its nymphal stages. The study includes five rare louse specimens (two nymphs I, one nymph II, two nymphs III) of H. longula collected from 63 Eurasian harvest mice Micromys minutus. The collected lice were fixed and preserved in 70% ethyl alcohol solution and then placed in polyvinyl-lactophenol to form total preparations. Only two of the five species found in Eurasia (H. acanthopus, H. affinis, H. captiosa, H. edentula and H. longula) have been given full taxonomic descriptions, including immature stages. This paper presents a description of the nymphal stages of H. longula (described for the first time).

The oribatid mite population was studied in the zonal permafrost pale yellow taiga soil of Central Yakutia, East Siberia. In general, the population of oribatid mites in the studied soil is highly original due to the following features: a considerable difference in the set of species and supraspecific taxa between the studied fauna and those of the neighboring territories; a “fragmentary” character of the oribatid community showing a large proportion of families represented by single genera and of genera represented by single species, as well as low “potential species richness”; strong dominance of the cosmopolitan species Tectocepheus velatus in the community.

AIM: Insular populations face different conditions than those living on continents, thus, resulting in the evolution of typical insular phenotypes, like smaller body sizes or reduced colourations. However, the generality of the so‐called “island rule” has been questioned, and intraspecific analyses on the effects of insularity on cosmopolitan species are lacking. Here, we tested the predictions of the island rule in the cosmopolitan common barn owl group. LOCATION: World. TAXON: Barn owl species complex. METHODS: We compared wing and bill length, as well as melanin‐based plumage traits, between thousands of insular and continental barn owls living in the Afro‐Palearctic region (Tyto alba), in the Americas (Tyto furcata) and in Australasia (Tyto javanica). We also tested whether the difference between insular and continental populations in these phenotypic traits varies among islands/archipelagos of different size and isolation. RESULTS: In all the regions, we found differences between insular and continental owls in all the traits but bill length, with insular populations convergently evolving shorter wings and paler colourations. In addition, the difference in wing size between insular and continental populations is particularly marked on small and remote island systems, while melanin‐based traits are less expressed especially on large islands. MAIN CONCLUSIONS: We thus provide unprecedented evidence that insular conditions drive predictable phenotypic variations, even at the intraspecific level in different biogeographic regions, possibly promoting speciation events. In addition, our results also indicate that selective advantages of a given colouration can arise as the by‐product of positive selection on individuals displaying phenotypic traits which can favour island colonization and are genetically linked to melanization.

The paraphyletic group Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato is comprised of parasitic tapeworms of wild and domestic canids such as wolves (Canis lupus) and coyotes (Canis latrans), which serve as definitive hosts, and ungulates, which are the intermediate hosts. Members of this tapeworm group are characterized by both cosmopolitan distribution and zoonotic disease potential. This survey (conducted from 2012 through 2017) was designed to provide insight into the prevalence and distribution of this parasite in wild canids in Wyoming. Echinococcus sp. infections were documented in 14 of 22 gray wolves (63.6%), 1 of 182 coyotes (0.55%) and 0 of 5 red foxes (Vulpes fulva). Echinococcus granulosus s. l. was confirmed in 4 of these 14 specimens obtained from wolves with two parasite specimens corresponding morphologically with E. canadensis (G8/G10). These results suggest that wolves serve as the major definitive host of E. granulosus s. l. in Wyoming, while coyotes do not play an equivalent role. Limited sample size precludes evaluation of the importance of the red fox as a favorable definitive host. Whereas this study documents the occurrence of E. granulosus s. l. in Wyoming, the zoonotic disease risk does not appear to be high. Education remains the key to disease prevention, coupled with good hygienic practices by humans and anthelmintic treatment of domestic dogs exhibiting elevated risk of exposure.

This paper presents the first record of Naucrates ductor ( Linnaeus 1758) from Syrian waters. One specimen (300 mm TL, 294.29 g TW) was caught by purse-seine nets at about 60 m depth from Lattakia coast, on 25 September 2020. This record represents the first of this cosmopolitan species that entered the Syrian waters (Eastern Mediterranean).

Woodlice were not recorded in the fauna of undisturbed terrestrial ecosystems of the Russian Far East. Initially, in this region, three species of this group lived only on the littoral and were well studied by marine biologists. In the 20th century, separate records of woodlice began to appear in terrestrial ecosystems, and in recent years, the number of finding points and species has increased. Since the beginning of the 21st century, the fauna of synanthropic woodlice has already reached ten species. The only species that successively invaded untouched forest ecosystems is Porcellio scaber. Along with other cosmopolitan species, the alien species Hyloniscus riparius also penetrated here, the distribution of which in the European part of Russia became widespread. Penetration of woodlice in the territory where they never existed may cause the extinction of the indigenous saprophagous species and lead to a decrease in the level of biological diversity in the soil and the sustainability of ecosystems in the long term.

Plant communities within many of the world’s waterways are losing diversity where flows are stabilised for security and enriched from land-use intensification. Understanding the phenotypic plastici...

Background Heterotrichous ciliates are common members of microeukaryote communities which play important roles in both the transfer of material and the flow of energy in aquatic food webs. This group has been known for over two centuries due to their large body size and cosmopolitan distribution. Nevertheless, species identification and phylogenetic relationships of heterotrichs remain challenging due to the lack of accurate morphological information and insufficient molecular data. Results The morphology and phylogeny of two heterotrichous ciliates, namely Gruberia foissneri spec. nov. and Linostomella vorticella (Ehrenberg, 1833) Aescht in Foissner et al., 1999, were studied using rigorous methods (living morphology, stained preparations, and small subunit rDNA sequence data). Gruberia foissneri spec. nov. is morphologically very similar to G. uninucleata Kahl, 1932, however, it can be distinguished from the latter by having more ciliary rows (about 32 vs. about 20) and macronuclear shape (sausage-shaped vs. ellipsoid). Based on a combination of previous and present studies, an improved diagnosis of L. vorticella is supplied and several taxonomic anomalies are clarified. In addition, phylogenetic analyses based on SSU rDNA sequence data support the generic assignment of these two species. Conclusions Modern ciliate taxonomy should be performed by means of detailed living observation, stained preparations and molecular information. For those species that have been reported in previous studies, it is necessary to provide as much useful information as possible using state-of-the-art methods in order to resolve taxonomic anomalies.

Members of the aquatic clade of reptiles Sauropterygia quickly evolved and diversified during the Triassic, acquiring different lifestyles and trophic roles with a cosmopolitan distribution. Although the first Triassic sauropterygian remains from the Iberian Peninsula were found more than a century ago, most of the relatively abundant recovered fossils have provided scarce taxonomic information. The finding of new fossil sites and taxa during the last decade, as well as the review of the previously known specimens, has allowed us to perform an update of the Iberian record of Triassic sauropterygians, a new faunal list being provided. All the major clades of Triassic sauropterygians are present in the Iberian Peninsula, including placodonts, pachypleurosaurs, pistosauroids and nothosauroids (i.e., simosaurids and nothosaurs). At least 13 different sauropterygian taxa are recognized here. The Iberian record of Triassic sauropterygians is composed by both endemic forms and species and genera also identified in other parts of the world, not only in some European regions, but also in the Middle East and China.

Some thelotremoid lichens of Tasmania are reviewed. The following new combinations are proposed: Gintarasia asteliae (Kantvilas & Vĕzda) Kantvilas, G. minor (Kantvilas & Vĕzda) Kantvilas and G. tasmanica (Kantvilas & Vĕzda) Kantvilas. A revised description of Schizotrema schizolomum (Müll.Arg.) Mangold & Lumbsch, based on Tasmanian collections, is provided, and the new species, S. vezdanum Kantvilas, recorded from Tasmanian and Victoria, is described and illustrated; it is characterised by a thallus containing stictic acid, 8-spored asci, and non-amyloid, muriform ascospores, 22−44 × 9−18 µm. Schizotrema guadeloupense (Hale) Mangold & Lumbsch is deleted from the Tasmanian census. Also described as new and illustrated is the Tasmanian endemic, Topeliopsis fatiscens Kantvilas, characterised by a thallus containing salazinic acid, (1−)2(−3)-spored asci and strongly amyloid, muriform ascospores, 37−100 × 19−40 µm. Thelotrema lepadodes var. endochrysoides Jatta is identified as a synonym of the cosmopolitan species T. lepadinum (Ach.) Ach.

Chondracanthus teedei is a small red alga, whose fronds are cartilaginous membranous, dark crimson to red black, turning yellow-green due to decay. The main frond axes, due to their broad branches, reach 1 cm in the oldest portions in the case of the lusitanicus variety. Originally described in Portugal, C. teedei is found widespread in the Atlantic, Mediterranean, Black Sea and Indian Ocean. This cosmopolitan species is typical of lower intertidal and shallow subtidal habitats, of sciophilous habitats in semi-exposed or protected areas, and tolerates the presence of mud and sand. Its composition may vary according to the geographical location of origin, and the time of year when it is collected. It has relatively high levels of protein (14.66%), ash (28.68%), fibres (2.21%), lipids (1.82%) and moisture (86.73%), making this alga able to be considered for its implementation as food. In addition, C. teedei var. lusitanicus produces hybrid carrageenans belonging to the lambda family (xi-theta hybrid carrageenans), in the case of tetrasporophytes, and kappa-iota-mu-nu hybrid carrageenans, in the case of female gametophytes and non-fruited thalli. The carrageenans extracted from this species have antifungal and antiviral activities, and the dry ground biomass of C. teedei has potential to be used in cosmetic formulations.

Exidia glandulosa is a cosmopolitan species, and it was commonly reported from China. Seventeen specimens with close resemblance to the species by having blackish, gelatinous basidiocarps were analyzed based on morphological and molecular data. Phylogenetic analyses were performed by the combined ITS+nLSU dataset and the combined ITS+nLSU+TEF1-a + RPB2 dataset, and 20 ITS, 20 nLSU, 22 TEF1-a, and 20 RPB2 sequences were newly generated. Seventeen specimens were gathered into three different lineages in phylogenies, and they were identified as three species, E. glandulosa s. str. and two new species, E. reflexa and E. subglandulosa, respectively. The two new species differ from E. glandulosa s. str. by the absence of papillae on hymenial surface, and E. reflexa differs from E. subglandulosa by obvious effused-reflexed basidiocarps and smaller basidia and basidiospores. Detailed characteristics with morphological photos of two new species were provided here.

Thanerocleridae is a small family of predaceous cleroid beetles with a cosmopolitan distribution. Here we describe a new genus and species, Mesozenodosus insularis gen. et sp. nov., from early Cenomanian Charentese amber from the Fouras deposit, Charente-Maritime department in south-western France. The new genus belongs to the relictual subfamily Zenodosinae represented in the Recent fauna by a single Nearctic species, Zenodosus sanguineus (Say). Mesozenodosus gen. nov. can be differentiated from Zenodosus and the two fossil zenodosine genera from the approximately contemporaneous Burmese amber by its smaller body size, more elongate body, non-carinate pronotal margins, and apical antennomere with an oval depression. The new fossil confirms a wider diversity and distribution range of Zenodosinae in the mid-Cretaceous than in the present day and provides further evidence of the relictual status of the subfamily.

17 pages, 4 tables, 8 figures, The common octopus Octopus vulgaris Cuvier, 1797, once considered a cosmopolitan species, is a species complex composed by six species: O. tetricus, O. cf tetricus and O. sinensis in the Pacific; type I and II, in the West Atlantic; and type III in the Indian Ocean around South Africa. The tropical western central Atlantic is an important octopus fishing ground targeting O. maya, O. insularis, and a cryptic species considered to be O. vulgaris type I. In order to clarify the identification of this octopod, phylogenetic analyses were carried out with mitochondrial (COI and 16S) and nuclear (rhodopsin) genes, together with morphological analyses of 16 specimens caught in the northeastern continental shelf of Yucatan (Mexico). The main morphological traits differing from O. vulgaris were the presence, position and size of enlarged suckers and hectocotylus sucker number in males. Genetic distances and haplotype networks of the species complex were estimated using 285 COI sequences of nine Octopus species from 14 different locations around the world. The octopod sequences from Yucatan clustered within a monophyletic group that included sequences of O. vulgaris type II for the three genes analyzed. Phylogenetic distances with other members of the complex ranged between 2.71 and 3.89% using COI data. These genetic results support the presence of Octopus americanus Monfort, 1802 (formerly known as O. vulgaris type II) along the Yucatan continental shelf, a new octopod extending from the north of Argentina to the northwest coast of the USA, The results of this study were obtained as part of the project “Distribution, reproduction, biomass and movement patterns of the Octopus vulgaris common octopus, Cuvier 1797, on the Yucatan coast” with funding from the National Council of Science and Technology of Mexico (CONACyT) (No. 237057). This work was partially supported by the Project CALECO (CTM2015-69519-R) funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness and FEDER Funds

This study analyzes the geographical distribution of 131 podocopid ostracod species recovered from the Brazilian continental shelf between Cabo de Sao Roque (lat. 05°30’S) and Cabo Frio (lat. 23oS). This very large area corresponds to the northeastern and eastern Brazilian marine regions. The 104 samples studied were collected in water depths ranging from 12 to 110 m as part of the legs 4 and 7 of the REMAC Project. The cosmopolitan species, as well as those shared with the Caribbean and/or Gulf of Mexico region, represent a small part of the ostracods herein studied and it is assumed that their dispersion was prompted by processes linked to events of relative sea level changes during the Neogene and Quaternary. The fossil record of some species spans to the Neogene, mostly from the Atlantic coast of North and Central America, while one species has Tethyan origin. Three species known from the Neogene of the Caribbean have been recorded as relicts in the study area. From the 131 species herein identified, 36.5% are more widespread in temperate waters south of Cabo Frio town, 46.5% of warm waters north of Cabo Frio town, 4% are present only in the studied area, and 11.5% are rare and probably restricted to the E region. A new province – the Brazilian Province – is herein proposed based on the species occurrence. Keywords: South Atlantic, biodiversity, Podocopida, neritic zone. Este trabalho analisa a distribuicao geografica de 131 especies de ostracodes podocopideos registradas na plataforma continental brasileira entre o Cabo de Sao Roque (lat. 05°30’S) e Cabo Frio (lat. 23oS), uma imensa area correspondente as regioes marinhas nordeste e leste. As 104 amostras estudadas foram coletadas em profundidades de 12 a 110 m como parte das expedicoes numeros 4 e 7 do Projeto REMAC. As especies cosmopolitas, assim como as compartilhadas com a regiao do Caribe e/ou Golfo do Mexico, representam uma pequena parte dos ostracodes aqui analisados, e supoe-se que sua dispersao foi influenciada por processos ligados a eventos de mudancas relativas do nivel do mar durante o Neogeno e o Quaternario. O registro fossil de algumas especies se estende ao Neogeno, principalmente da costa atlântica das Americas do Norte e Central, enquanto uma especie tem origem no Mar de Tetis. Tres especies conhecidas do Neogeno do Caribe foram registradas como relictos na area de estudo. Das 131 especies identificadas, 36,5% sao mais amplamente distribuidas nas aguas temperadas ao sul da cidade de Cabo Frio, 46,5% ocorrem nas aguas quentes ao norte da cidade de Cabo Frio, 4% estao presentes apenas na area estudada e 11,5% sao raras e provavelmente restritas para a regiao leste. Uma nova provincia, denominada Provincia Brasileira, e aqui proposta respaldada no padrao de distribuicao das especies. Palavras-chave: Atlântico Sul, biodiversidade, Podocopida, zona neritica.

Hirundo is the most species-rich genus of the passerine swallow family (Hirundinidae) and has a cosmopolitan distribution. Here we report the complete, annotated mitochondrial genomes for 25 indivi...

Актуальность. На сегодняшний день в числе приоритетных задач в глобальном плане является разработка стандартной конодонтовой шкалы для лохковского и пражского ярусов нижнего девона. В соответствии с этим в различных регионах мира активно ведется изучение конодонтовой фауны в нижнедевонских отложениях. Цель настоящих исследований - выявление закономерностей распространения конодонтов в лохковских отложениях западного склона Южного Урала для создания региональной конодонтовой шкалы. Методы. Лохковский ярус в карбонатных разрезах западного склона Южного Урала имеет двухчленное деление, отвечающее региональным подразделениям - сиякскому и шерлубайскому горизонтам. Проведено полевое палеонтологическое изучение разрезов нижнего девона в широтном течении р. Белой, выше д. Миндигулово. Пробы отбирались детально с интервалом 15-20 см. Вес проб составлял 1-2 кг. В лабораторных условиях известняки подвергались дезинтеграции в слабом 5-8 % растворе муравьиной кислоты. Нерастворимый остаток просматривался под бинокулярным микроскопом с целью выявления конодонтов. Выполнялись видовые определения и анализ выделенных конодонтов. Результаты. Многочисленные конодонты обнаружены в шерлубайском горизонте в разрезе Миндигулово. Они представлены космополитными видами, которые позволили создать региональную биозональную конодонтовую шкалу для западного склона Южного Урала. Выделено семь конодонтовых зон: L. omoalpha, A. transitans, L. eleanorae, A. trigonicus, A. kutscheri, Mas. pandora beta, Ped. gilberti. Разработанная конодонтовая шкала эквивалентна другим шкалам при-Гондванских регионов, что дает возможность напрямую выполнять глобальную корреляцию. Полученные в процессе исследований данные позволяют принять точку зрения о трехчленном делении лохковского яруса. В соответствии с этим шерлубайский горизонт равен объему "среднего" и "верхнего" подъярусов. Relevance of the research. Today, the development of a standard conodont scale for the Lochkovian and Pragian stages of the Lower Devonian is among the global priorities. In accordance with this, the study of regularity of conodonts distribution in Lower Devonian deposits is actively carried out in various regions of the world. The aim of the study is to identify regularity of conodonts distribution in the Lochkovian deposits of the western slope of the South Urals to create a regional conodont zonation. Methods. The Lochkovian stage in the carbonate sections of the western slope of the South Urals has a two-membered division corresponding to Siyak and Sherlubay Horizons. A field paleontological investigation of the sections with the Siyak and Sherlubay deposits was carried out on the base of сonodont fauna. Mindigulovo section on the Belaya River was selected as a complete one for the biozonal subdivision. The samples were taken with an interval of 15-20 cm. The weight of the samples was 1-2 kg. Under laboratory conditions, limestones were disintegrated in 5-8 % solution of formic acid. The insoluble residue was viewed under a binocular microscope in order to identify conodonts. The selected conodont fauna was analyzed. Results. Numerous conodonts were found in the Sherlubay Horizon in the Mindigulovo section. They are represented by cosmopolitan species that allowed the creation of a regional biozonal conodont scale for the western slope of the South Urals. Seven conodont zones were identified: L. omoalpha, A. transitans, L. eleanorae, A. trigonicus, A. kutscheri, Mas. pandora beta, Ped. gilberti. The developed conodont scale is equivalent to other scales of the peri-Gondwana regions, making it appropriate for direct global correlation. The data obtained in the research allow us to accept the point of view on three-term division of the Lochkovian stage. According to this, the Sherlubay Horizon is equal to "Middle" and "Uppersubstages" of Lochkovian.

AIM: The investigation of biogeographical patterns in the diet of widely distributed predators is essential to understand their ecology, life history traits and local adaptations. However, it is particularly challenging because of their wide distribution, broad trophic spectra and high ecological plasticity. Here, we described patterns of trophic ecology in a cosmopolitan nocturnal raptor, the common barn owl group, from a biogeographical perspective. We then compared variation in diet between barn owls living in the Americas (T. furcata), and those inhabiting Europe, Middle‐East and Africa (T. alba), thus hunting on different assemblages of prey types. LOCATION: World. TAXON: Barn owl species complex. METHODS: We reviewed 790 studies reporting diet information of 971 locations (3,733,902 individual vertebrate prey), and investigated the variation in different diet parameters, reflecting taxonomic diversity, size of the prey and frequency of certain prey types according to geographical and climatic variables. RESULTS: While confirming that the barn owl is a selective mammal hunter with variable taxa constituting its staple food in different regions, we also found significant geographical and climatic trends in several diet parameters. Although prey composition differed among continents, most of the patterns, including an increase in proportion of mammal prey in cold environments, an increase in diet diversity with elevation, a decrease in small prey consumption from high to low latitudes and at increasing temperature, and a decrease in rodent predation in humid habitats, were similar between T. furcata and T. alba. A strong island effect was observed for all diet parameters. MAIN CONCLUSION: Our results indicate a generalized pattern of variation in barn owl diet across biogeographical regions, suggesting that similar prey communities occur in habitats with comparable ecological conditions and/or that different barn owl populations living in similar climate convergently evolved similar food preferences and hunting strategies.

Talaromyces minioluteus is one of the important species of genus Talaromyces, which has cosmopolitan distribution and is encountered on a wide range of different habitats. This species has not been considered as an important plant pathogen, even though it has been isolated from various plant hosts. Fruits and vegetables with Penicillium-like mold symptoms were collected from 2015 to 2017 from markets in Serbia. Isolates originating from quince, tomato, and orange fruits, onion bulbs, and potato tubers were identified and characterized on a morphological, physiological, and molecular level. Morphological and physiological examination included observing micromorphology, testing growth on six different media and at five different temperatures, and production of three enzymes. Molecular identification and characterization were performed using four molecular markers: internal transcribed spacer, β-tubulin, calmodulin, and DNA-dependent RNA polymerase II second largest subunit. The results of morphological and molecular analyses were in agreement, and they proved that the obtained isolates are T. minioluteus. In the pathogenicity assay, T. minioluteus was confirmed as a pathogen of all species tested with the exception of potato tubers. This is the first report of T. minioluteus as a postharvest plant pathogen on quince, tomato, and orange fruit and onion bulbs. Also, this is the first record of T. minioluteus in Serbia.

Permian plant fossils have never been reported from the Shan Plateau in eastern Myanmar. Recently, a black to gray carbonaceous mudstone unit containing abundant plant fossils was discovered just below the lowest part of Thitspin Limestone Formation from the Linwe Area, eastern Myanmar. Although only five taxa were identified, the plant assemblage provides the first evidence of the occurrence of Cathaysian elements in eastern Myanmar and potentially indicates the presence of a highly diverse Permian flora. Among the five species, Cordaites principalis and Annularia mucronata were cosmopolitan species; while Callipteridum cf. koraiense, Taeniopteris crassinervis Mo and Rhipidopsis lobata were mostly recorded in the Cathaysia Flora. Therefore, the present assemblage generally indicates a palaeobiogeographical affinity to the Cathaysian Province. Stratigraphically, Callipteridum cf. koraiense was mainly reported from Cisuralian to Wordian; whereas Taeniopteris crasssnervis Mo and Rhipidopsis lobata were recorded from Capitanian to Changhsingian, which suggests a general Permian age based on the plant assemblage itself only. However, the carbonaceous mudstone at the outcrop is overlain by the Thitspin Limestone Formation containing middle Guadalupian fusulinids. Based on previous faunal analyses, the Sibumasu terrane contains typical Gondwanan cold-water faunas during the early Cisuralian, warm-water faunas occurred after Sakmarian. Thus, age of the fossil-plant-containing carbonaceous mudstone is very likely between late Cisuralian and early Guadalupian as constrained by its overlying fusulinids and its warm Cathaysian palaeobiogeographical affinity.