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Wednesday, June 27th, 2018
| Time | Event | ||||
| 10:02a | [Crustacea • 2018] Xiphocaridinella otapi • Cryptic Diversity of Stygobiotic Shrimp Genus Xiphocaridinella Sadowsky, 1930 (Decapoda: Atyidae): The First Case of Species Co-occurrence in the Same Cave System in the Western Caucasus
Abstract DNA barcoding of stygobiotic shrimps of the genus Xiphocaridinella Sadowsky, 1930 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Atyidae) collected in underground streams flowing inside two neighboring large karst caves (Otap and Abrskil сaves) revealed the presence of two distinct genetic lineages representing the first case of species co-occurrence in the Western Caucasus. The paper presents the complete morphological re-description of stygobiotic atyid shrimp Xiphocaridinella ablaskiri (Birštein, 1939) and the description of a new species using genetic and morphological analysis. Other known cases of co-occurrence of several stygobiotic shrimp species in the same cave system as well as new genetic data (COI mtDNA) on Western Caucasian species of the genus Xiphocaridinella are discussed in the paper. Keywords: Crustacea, Decapoda, Atyidae, Xiphocaridinella, stygobiotic, stygobiont, shrimps, new species, species co-occurrence, Western Caucasus  Ivan Marin. 2018. Cryptic Diversity of Stygobiotic Shrimp Genus Xiphocaridinella Sadowsky, 1930 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Atyidae): The First Case of Species Co-occurrence in the Same Cave System in the Western Caucasus. Zootaxa. 4441(2); 201–224. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4441.2.1 Ivan Marin. 2017. Troglocaris (Xiphocaridinella) kumistavi sp. nov., A New Species of Stygobiotic Atyid Shrimp (Crustacea: Decapoda: Atyidae) from Kumistavi Cave, Imereti, Western Georgia, Caucasus. Zootaxa. 4311 (4), 576–588. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4311.4.9 | ||||
| 1:55p | [Botany • 2017] Primulina wuae (Gesneriaceae) • A New Species from southern China
Abstract: A new species, Primulina wuae F.Wen & L.F.Fu (Gesneriaceae), is described from the southern part of China. This new species is most similar to Primulina pseudoroseoalba Jian Li et al., P. roseoalba (W.T.Wang) Mich.Möller & A.Weber, P. subrhomboidea (W.T.Wang) Yin Z.Wang and P. beiliuensis B.Pan & S.X.Huang var. fimbribracteata F.Wen & B.D.Lai, but differs from these in characters such as the size and indumentum of the bracts, the indumentum of the pedicels and anthers, the length of the pistils etc. A provisional conservation assessment is also provided. Keywords. Critically endangered, IUCN conservation assessment, limestone flora, new taxon, Primulina pseudoroseoalba
Primulina wuae F.Wen & L.F.Fu sp. nov. Etymology. The new species is named after Ms Xiang-Hong Wu, who first discovered and collected this rare species and who accompanied us on a number of subsequent field expeditions in Quanzhou, Guangxi. S. Li, Z.B. Xin, X. Hong, L.F. Fu and F. Wen. 2017. Primulina wuae (Gesneriaceae), A New Species from southern China. Gardens' Bulletin Singapore. 69(2); 307 - 313. ResearchGate.net/publication/321675822_Primulina_wuae_Gesneriaceae_a_new_species_from_souther  | ||||
| 2:13p | [Ichthyology • 2018] Distribution and Recruitment of Young-of-the-Year Giant Sea Bass, Stereolepis gigas, off Southern California
This study identified nursery habitat, recruitment patterns, the planktonic larval duration (PLD), size and age at settlement, and growth rate of the young-of-the-year (YOY) Giant Sea Bass (GSB), Stereolepis gigas, off Southern California. A total of 160 YOY GSB were sighted on 150 transects over a three-year period. Young-of-the-year GSB were relatively rare (maximum density of 40/ha) and recruitment was limited to a few areas. In 2014–2015, densities of YOY GSB were significantly higher at six locations off sandy beaches nearest the heads of submarine canyons off Redondo Beach, Newport Beach, and La Jolla, California. The vast majority of occurrences of YOY (73%) were within 500 m of the heads of submarine canyons. Three color phases of YOY were discovered ranging (smallest to largest individuals) from black to brown to orange. Recruitment occurred from July through February with peak abundances occurring in the late summer months from August through October. YOY occurred at depths from 2 m to nearly 10 m. Overall, size of YOY GSB increased with depth in the shallow sand riffle zone. YOY grew rapidly at 1.23 mm/day (n = 23) with collected individuals ranging from 31 to 84 d old based on daily ring increments in otoliths. The planktonic larval duration was estimated to be about one lunar month (26.8±2.4 d) based on the presence of the first settlement check and size of earliest settlers. Size at settlement was estimated to be 14.4±3.0 mm TL (10.6±2.5 mm standard length [SL]). This information adds substantially to our knowledge of early developmental processes and recruitment patterns of Giant Sea Bass that are crucial to our understanding of their life history and to making informed decisions regarding fisheries management policies and conservation efforts.
Stephanie A. Benseman and Larry G. Allen. 2018. Distribution and Recruitment of Young-of-the-Year Giant Sea Bass, Stereolepis gigas, off Southern California. Copeia. 106(2); 312-320. DOI: 10.1643/CE-18-021  | ||||
| 2:25p | [Herpetology • 2018] Amolops gerutu & A. australis • Elevational Size Variation and Two New Species of Torrent Frogs (Anura: Ranidae: Amolops Cope) from Peninsular Malaysia
Abstract Previously, only one species of torrent frog (Amolops larutensis) was thought to occur throughout Peninsular Malaysia. However, genomic work has demonstrated that populations from eastern Peninsular Malaysia form two separate lineages that are genetically distinct from A. larutensis that is now restricted to the western half of Peninsular Malaysia. This study demonstrates that all three lineages can be morphologically distinguished from each other, thereby providing additional support for the recognition of the eastern lineages as two distinct species. These lineages are described herein as Amolops gerutu sp. nov. from the eastern states of Kelantan, Terengganu, and Pahang, and A. australis sp. nov. from the southern-most state of Johor. In general, these two new species form a clade that is sister to A. larutensis and can be readily distinguished from it by having: (1) considerably denser and more pronounced dorsal tubercles, and (2) the posterodorsal surface of thighs having dense, dark stippling as opposed to broad vermiculations. Although differences in other morphometric characters were detected, their utility as diagnostic characters should be applied with caution due to the large intraspecific variation that overlaps among different species in many of the characters we measured. As such, we advocate for the use of tuberculation and pattern of the posterodorsal portion of the thighs as primary diagnostic characters. These characters can readily distinguish A. larutensis from the two new species. To differentiate A. australis sp. nov. from A. gerutu sp. nov. and A. larutensis, body size can be a good diagnostic character as A. australis sp. nov. is significantly smaller in both males (mean = 31.04 ± 1.59 mm) and females (mean = 46.48 ± 3.2 mm). Additionally, we show a strong positive correlation between body size and elevation, with populations from montane forests (>900 m asl) being considerably larger than populations at lower elevations. Keywords: Amphibia, Taxonomy, systematics, morphology, amphibian, cryptic species, body size  Amolops gerutu sp. nov. Tuberculated Torrent Frog Amolops larutensis Sumarli, Grismer, Anuar, Muin & Quah, 2015, pp 4,9,12. Distribution. Besides the type locality, Amolops gerutu sp. nov. has been documented from a number of other localities east of the Titiwangsa mountain range including Gunung Stong Forest Reserve, in the state of Kelantan; Lata Tembakah, Lata Belatan, and Sekayu Recreational Forest in the state of Terengganu (Dring 1979; Sumarli et al. 2015); and Sungai Lembing, Sungai Pandan Waterfall, and Chemerong Amenity Forest in the state of Pahang. At Gunung Stong, A. gerutu sp. nov. occurs in syntopy with A. larutensis (Fig. 1). Natural history. Like most congeners, Amolops gerutu sp. nov. is a strict torrent specialist that only occurs within or along torrential zones of rocky streams from lowland to montane forests. During the day, frogs dwell in rock cracks and sheltered areas among boulder stacks along streams and are rarely seen out in the open. They can be seen in abundance at night, most frequently on boulders by splash zones and occasionally on adjacent low vegetation. When disturbed, frogs dive into the rapids and float downstream. Like other congeners, tadpoles of this species are gastromyzophorous (Pham et al. 2015) and can be seen clinging onto boulders in the splash zone. On such boulders, tadpoles are usually observed above or just below the water line. Etymology. The specific epithet “gerutu” (English pronunciation “gir-roo-too”) refers to the Malay word of the same construct, meaning “tubercle”, in reference to the pronounced dorsal tubercles that are diagnostic of this species. Amolops australis sp. nov. Southern Torrent Frog Amolops larutensis, Ahmad, Senawi & Lim 2004, p 26; Belabut & Hashim, 2005, p 200; Wood, Grismer, Youmans, Nasir, Ahmad & Senawi, 2008, p 118; Grismer & Pan, 2008, p. 277 (in part); Shahriza, Ibrahim, Anuar & Muin, 2012, p 558, 561. Staurois larutensis, Belabut & Hashim, 2004, pp. 67, 69. Distribution. Amolops australis sp. nov. is only known from the southern state of Johor where it has been confirmed to occur in Endau-Rompin National Park and Bantang River Amenity Forest. It is presumed to occur more widely in suitable habitats in the surrounding southern region of Peninsular Malaysia. Natural history. The natural history of this species is similar to that of Amolops gerutu sp. nov. and A. larutensis. No information is available for tadpoles. Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin word “ australis ”, meaning “southern” in English, and is applied in reference to the distribution of this species in southern Peninsular Malaysia that also represents the southern-most distributional limit of the entire genus. Chan Kin Onn, Robin Kurian Abraham, Jesse L. Grismer and L. Lee Grismer. 2018. Elevational Size Variation and Two New Species of Torrent Frogs from Peninsular Malaysia (Anura: Ranidae: Amolops Cope). Zootaxa. 4434(2); 250–264. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4434.2.2 Kin Onn Chan, Alana M. Alexander, Lee L. Grismer, et al. 2017. Species Delimitation with Gene Flow: A Methodological Comparison and Population Genomics Approach to Elucidate Cryptic Species Boundaries in Malaysian Torrent Frogs. Molecular Ecology. DOI: 10.1111/mec.14296 |
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