Abundant Subfamily Research Articles

Diversity and Abundance of Ants from Tehsil Nerwa of District Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India

The present study focused on diversity, abundance and functional groups of ants from Tehsil Nerwa of District Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. A total of 693 ant specimens representing 33 species belonging to 22 genera of 4 subfamilies were collected. Myrmicinae is the most diverse and abundant subfamily. Dolichoderinae is the least diverse subfamily while Ponerinae is the least abundant subfamily. During this study also reports range extension of 3 invasive species. 2 Species are endemic to the region. In this study seven functional groups of ants were identified. These are: “Generalized Myrmicinae”, “Opportunists”, “Subordinate Camponotini”, “Hot climate Specialists”, “Cold climate Specialists”, “Cryptic Species”, and “Specialist Predators”. The area is very susceptible to anthropogenic activity, as indicated by the prevalence of invasive species there. Therefore, some stringent measures should be taken to preserve the deteriorating ecosystem of the study area.

OATP1A2 mediates Aβ1-42 transport and may be a novel target for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease with an unknown cause. Many studies have suggested that the imbalance between the clearance and accumulation of β-amyloid protein (Aβ) in the brain of AD patients is the main cause of AD development of AD. Meanwhile, drug transporters play a key role in the transport of drugs and endogenous substances in vivo as well as in the development of many diseases. Could they be related to the imbalance between Aβ clearance and accumulation? OATP1A2 is the most abundant subfamily of organic anion transporting polypeptides (OATPs) that transport amphipathic substrates. Its high bilateral expression in brain endothelial cells suggests it plays a crucial role in delivering drugs and neuroactive peptides to brain tissue. Could it also be involved in mediating the production and accumulation of Aβ in the central system? This could lead to an imbalance between Aβ clearance and accumulation, ultimately resulting in AD development. This hypothesis would be bold and novel in the field of science. In this study, we successfully established the OATP1A2-HEK293T transgenic cell model, and found that the uptake of Aβ1-42 by OATP1A2-HEK293T cells was significantly higher than that of NC-HEK293T control cells and human astrocytes by adding different concentrations of Aβ1-42 to the cells of each group, suggesting that OATP1A2 expressed in the human brain is involved in Aβ amyloid protein transport.

Diversity and Species Composition of Ants in Urban and Suburban Environments in Bejaia City (Algeria)

We conducted an ant inventory in urban and suburban spaces in Bejaia city to deal with this need for more information about ant biodiversity in the Algerian urban environment. The two methods, hand collecting and pitfall traps, are carried out 24 days in three months (May, June, and July) of 2022. In the urban habitats, 2,653 ant individuals were collected, comprising ten species, six genera and three subfamilies. In the suburban habitats, 6,706 ant specimens were collected, comprising 19 species, 11 genera, and three subfamilies. The most abundant subfamilies in both urban and suburban habitats are Formicinae, followed by Myrmicinae and Dolichoderinae. The results showed that suburban habitats are more diversified (H’= 1.72) than urban habitats (H’= 1.25). The equitability values for suburban and urban habitats are moderate, with 0.58 and 0.54, respectively. The Jaccard similarity index value is 0.45, indicating an essential turnover of ant species between urban and suburban habitats. The ant community’s composition differed between sampled sites (NMDS, Stress = 0.013). The average dissimilarity (as per SIMPER) was 90.37%. Four species (T. simrothi, L. cf. grandis, P. cicatricosa, and L. myops) contributed to 70% of the differences between sites of urban and suburban habitats.

Seasonal Dynamics Of Ant Communities In Forest Ecosystems: Statistical Analysis And Ecological Insights

A seasonal diversity was conducted in the forest of Bagepalli range of Chikkaballapur forest of Karnataka, India from August 2022 to August 2023. 21 species of ants were observed in this range belonging to 15 genera by following three methods such as pitfall traps, handpicking and bush beating. The abundant subfamily was Formicinae with 5 genera and under Myrmicinae, two genera were observed under the subfamily Ponerinae and one genus each from Subfamilies Pseudomyrmicinae and Dolichoderinae. The most abundant species were found to be Camponotus compressus followed by Oecophylla smaragdina. From the collection of ants few invasive species were also observed such as Anoplolepis gracilipes and Plagiolepis sp.. Two mathematical indices were followed and those were Shannon-Weaver Index and Simpson Index to study the diversity and compare the species richness from the three seasons – summer, monsoon and winter, and a statistical data was formed, the abundance in species were also observed to study which species were dominant and during which season. The maximum diversity was observed during the monsoon season followed by the summer and the least diversity was during the winter. The ants usually prefer a moist environment. The study assumes that the ant diversity can predict the environment.

A generalizable protocol for expression and purification of membrane-bound bacterial phosphoglycosyl transferases in liponanoparticles

Phosphoglycosyl transferases (PGTs) are among the first membrane-bound enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of bacterial glycoconjugates. Robust expression and purification protocols for an abundant subfamily of PGTs remains lacking. Recent advancements in detergent-free methods for membrane protein solubilization open the door for purification of difficult membrane proteins directly from cell membranes into native-like liponanoparticles. By leveraging autoinduction, in vivo SUMO tag cleavage, styrene maleic acid co-polymer liponanoparticles (SMALPs), and Strep-Tag purification, we have established a robust workflow for expression and purification of previously unobtainable PGTs. The material generated from this workflow is extremely pure and can be directly visualized by Cryogenic Electron Microscopy (CryoEM). The methods presented here promise to be generalizable to additional membrane proteins recombinantly expressed in E. coli and should be of interest to the greater membrane proteomics community.

Syringa oblata genome provides new insights into molecular mechanism of flower color differences among individuals and biosynthesis of its flower volatiles.

Syringa oblata is a high ornamental value tree owing to its elegant colors, unique aromas and wide adaptability, however, studies on the molecular mechanism underlying the formation of its ornamental traits are still lacking. Here, we presented a chromosome-scale genome assembly of S. oblata and the final genome size was 1.11 Gb with a contig N50 of 4.75 Mb, anchored on 23 chromosomes and was a better reference for S. oblata transcriptome assembly. Further by integrating transcriptomic and metabolic data, it was concluded that F3H, F3'H, 4CL and PAL, especially the F3'H, were important candidates involved in the formation of floral color differences among S. oblata individuals. Genome-wide identification and analysis revealed that the TPS-b subfamily was the most abundant subfamily of TPS family in S. oblata, which together with the CYP76 family genes determined the formation of the major floral volatiles of S. oblata. Overall, our results provide an important reference for mechanistic studies on the main ornamental traits and molecular breeding in S. oblata.

Check List of Species Richness and Abundance of Orthoptera Fauna in Bharathi Park, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India

Order Orthoptera is one of the largest and most important invertebrate groups for environmental monitoring and assessment. Orthoptera faunal composition was carried out at Bharathi Park, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India to evaluate the present status of various species. PAST software was used to perform various statistical analyses to estimate the Orthoptera composition. Overall, 334 individuals belonging to 22 species, 19 genera, 17 tribes under 10 subfamilies, and four families of Orthoptera were recorded. Species richness (59.09%) and species abundance (70.06%) were recorded highest in the Acrididae family followed by Pyrgomorphidae, Tettigoniidae, and Gryllidae. Oedipodinae was the most species-rich (27.27%) and the most abundant subfamily, accounting for 30.24% of the total collected individuals. During the study period, 10 dominant, five intermediate dominance, four incidental, and three rare species were observed. Among these, Spathosternum prasiniferum was found to be the most dominant species (D=18.26) and the least dominant (D = 0.6) species was Euconocephalus pallidus. Based on the principal component analysis, the distribution of species along with the first two PCs (PC1= 33.87% and PC2=28.68%) accounted for the highest variance of the total variances. Cluster analysis showed that Acrotylus humbertianus and Teleogryllus mitratus, Conocephalus maculates and Gryllus bimaculatus Orthopterans were similar to each other. The value of the Shannon diversity index (2.27), Simpson index (0.87), Margalef index (2.2), and α-diversity (5.75) were higher in Acrididae when compared with other families. Value of Evenness (0.93) was highest in Gryllidae. Statistical analysis infers that the richness and abundance percentage of Orthopterans significantly varied between species to species and family to family.

Diversity and abundance of ant fauna in horticultural ecosystems at Karaikal district, U.T. of Puducherry

The abundance and diversity of ant fauna was studied from June 2019 to February 2020 using 3 different collection methods (pitfall trap, in situ counts and net sweeping method) and 3251 individuals under 6 subfamilies of Formicidae were recorded. The most abundant subfamily was Myrmicinae with 46.90% species followed by Formicinae (37.22%). The biodiversity analysis with Shannon-Wiener index, Simpson's index and Equitability index revealed that the diversity was more for Myrmicinae (1.5750, 4.6831 and 0.7574) and Margalef richness index maximum with Ponerinae (0.9320). Among the 38 ants observed, the population of Pheidole spathifera (Forel) (Myrmicinae) was the maximum during August, 2019 and the least during June, 2019.

Diversity of Ground-Dwelling Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Phulchowki Hill, Lalitpur, Nepal

The study assesses the diversity of ground-dwelling ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Phulchowki Hill, Lalitpur, Nepal focusing their species richness altitudinally and seasonally. Ants were sampled from June 2018 to February 2019using pitfall traps, bait traps and hand collection methods covering an altitudinal range from 1500 m to 2700 m in five selected sites (1500 m, 1800 m, 2100 m,2400 m, and 2700 m). A total of 1443 specimens representing four subfamilies, 12genera and 18 morph species were collected. Formicinae (57.58%) was recorded as the most abundant subfamily followed by Myrmicinae (38.53%), Ponerinae (2.21%) and Pseudomyrmicinae (1.66%). Camponotus was the most speciose (4morphospecies) genus and was most abundant in all seasons. The highest Similarity index (0.667) was recorded between the first and second sites among five sites. Species richness (16), Shannon diversity index (1.504) and abundance (631) were the highest in autumn. Similarly, species richness (12), Shannon diversity index (1.399) and species evenness (0.563) were recorded highest at 2100 m altitude, while species abundance (519) was maximum at 1500 m.

First Ever Data on the Occurrences of Acrididae (Acridoidea: Orthoptera) Grasshoppers in the North West Region of Cameroon

This article is a pioneer checklist of Acrididae species in the North West Region of Cameroon. This study was prompted by the absence of information on Orthoptera fauna that are found in this region. From November 2016 to September 2017, grasshoppers were collected by hand picking and the help of sweep nets from fields, lawns, farms and vegetation surrounding farms in the capital towns of the seven divisions that make up the region. Seventeen (17) species were captured and identified. These included: Acrida turrita, Coryphosima stenoptera product, Gymnobothrus temporalis, Odontomelus kamerunensis, Roduniella insipida (Acridinae), Catantops melanostrictus, Catantopsilus elongatus, Oxycatantops spissus, (Catantopinae), Cyrtacanthacris aeruginosa, Ornithacris pictula (Cytacanthacridinae), Eyprepocnemis plorans (Eyprepocnemidinae), Acrotylus patruelis, Gastrimargus africanus, Heteropternis thoracica, Trilophidia conturbata, Morphacris fasciata (Oedipodinae) and Afroxyrrhepes obscuripes (Tropidopolinae). Acridinae and Oedipodinae were the most abundant subfamilies with 5 species each. The seventeen (17) species identified in this study were recorded for the first time from the North West Region of Cameroon with one of them Ornithacris pictula magnifica recorded for the first time in Cameroon.

Richness of Wild Bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in a Forest Remnant in a Transition Region of Eastern Amazonia

Eastern Amazonia is an area with great biological diversity that has suffered rapid deforestation and forest fragmentation over the years. Because of the scarcity of data on the fauna and flora, the northwest of the state of Maranhão has become a priority area for studies that seek to gain a better understanding of bee fauna. Between August 2013 and December 2014, in collections at two-month intervals, a total of 1047 bees belonging to 70 species were collected using two methods (an insect net and scent-baited traps). Apinae was the most abundant subfamily and had the greatest species richness (63 species and 1039 individuals); the most notable tribes in this subfamily were Meliponini (20 species and 445 individuals) and Euglossini (24 species and 452 individuals). In all, 62.8% of the total richness was sampled with an insect net and 34.2% with bait traps. Bees were present in every collection month, and August and December were the months with the greatest richness and abundance, respectively. Although the species accumulation curve did not stabilize, the results were positive as three new species were recorded for the Maranhão state: Bombus transversalis (Olivier, 1789); Xylocopa suspecta Moure and Camargo, 1988; and Xylocopa macrops Lepeletier, 1841, and eleven for the Amazonian region of the state.

Beta diversity of four braconid subfamilies (Braconidae, Agathidinae, Braconinae, Doryctinae and Macrocentrinae) of the Ria Lagartos Biosphere reserve in Yucatan, Mexico, with some considerations on biological habits

The species diversity composition and phenological behaviour of four braconid subfamilies (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Agathidinae, Braconinae, Doryctinae and Macrocentrinae) were monitored in three vegetation communities (dune vegetation, tropical deciduous forest and savannah) of the Ria Lagartos Biosphere Reserve (RLBR) in Yucatan, Mexico. Braconid wasps were collected with Malaise traps every 15 days over one year (June 2008 to June 2009). A total of 2,476 specimens were inventoried comprising 233 species and 63 genera. The composition of braconids and their lifestyles differed among the three vegetation communities studied. Doryctinae was the most diverse and abundant subfamily in RLBR (40 genera, 145 species, 990 specimens) and the tropical deciduous forest recorded the maximum abundance and diversity (H’= 4.1; alpha value= 1.059), with 61 exclusive species. Phenological sequence indicates an influence of the rainy season in braconid diversity, but its effects differed among braconid subfamilies and among the vegetation communities. Finally, the importance of the RBRL as a conservation site for this hymenopterous wasp is discussed.

Ant diversity in Muhan Pokhari area of Shivapuri-Nagarjun National Park, Nepal

Ant diversity was studied in Muhan Pokhari area of Shivapuri-Nagarjun National Park (SNNP)at 1,700 m to 1,900 m asl during winter and summer seasons of 2017. Ants were collected using pitfall traps, leaf litter sampling, bait and hand collection methods along a transect of50 m in each of all 5 sites (1,700 m, 1,750 m, 1,800 m, 1,850 m and 1,900 m). Altogether 817individual ants were collected representing 5 sub-families, 16 genera and 23 morpho species. Formicinae (57.67%) was the most abundant sub-family, followed by Myrmicinae (40.39%), Pseudomyrmicinae (0.8%), Ponerinae (0.73%) and Dolichoderinae (0.37%). Camponotus (437individuals) was the most abundant genus followed by Aphaenogaster (287). Species richness was higher in winter (17 morph species) than in spring (14 morph species). Shannon-Wiener diversity index (1.4618) and Evenness index (0.5539) were higher in spring season. Pitfall trap method was found most effective with highest number of individual ants (567) and of 21 species. The Shannon-Weiner diversity index was highest for pitfall method (1.3039) whereas evenness index was highest for the bait method (0.62615). Two genera Pachycondylaand Echinopla were recorded for the first time in Nepal.

Can-SINE dynamics in the giant panda and three other Caniformia genomes

BackgroundAlthough repeat sequences constitute about 37% of carnivore genomes, the characteristics and distribution of repeat sequences among carnivore genomes have not been fully investigated. Based on the updated Repbase library, we re-annotated transposable elements (TEs) in four Caniformia genomes (giant panda, polar bear, domestic dog, and domestic ferret) and performed a systematic, genome-wide comparison focusing on the Carnivora-specific SINE family, Can-SINEs.ResultsWe found the majority of young recently integrated transposable elements are LINEs and SINEs in carnivore genomes. In particular, SINEC1_AMe, SINEC1B_AMe and SINEC_C1 are the top three most abundant Can-SINE subfamilies in the panda and polar bear genomes. Transposition in transposition analysis indicates that SINEC1_AMe and SINEC1B_AMe are the most active subfamilies in the panda and the polar bear genomes. SINEC2A1_CF and SINEC1A_CF subfamilies show a higher retrotransposition activity in the dog genome, and MVB2 subfamily is the most active Can-SINE in the ferret genome. As the giant panda is an endangered icon species, we then focused on the identification of panda specific Can-SINEs. With the panda-associated two-way genome alignments, we identified 250 putative panda-specific (PPS) elements (139 SINEC1_AMes and 111 SINEC1B_AMes) that inserted in the panda genome but were absent at the orthologous regions of the other three genomes. Further investigation of these PPS elements allowed us to identify a new Can-SINE subfamily, the SINEC1_AMe2, which was distinguishable from the current SINEC1_AMe consensus by four non-CpG sites. SINEC1_AMe2 has a high copy number (> 100,000) in the panda and polar bear genomes and the vast majority (> 96%) of the SINEC1_AMe2 elements have divergence rates less than 10% in both genomes.ConclusionsOur results suggest that Can-SINEs show lineage-specific retransposition activity in the four genomes and have an important impact on the genomic landscape of different Caniformia lineages. Combining these observations with results from the COSEG, Network, and target site duplication analysis, we suggest that SINEC1_AMe2 is a young mobile element subfamily and currently active in both the panda and polar bear genomes.

Scarab Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Scarabaeidae) of Vidarbha, India, with Notes on Distribution

Surveys for collection of scarab beetles of different habitats of the Vidarbha region of Central India were conducted during 2013–2018. A total of 97 species of 39 genera belonging to 07 subfamilies were identified, where 10 species were newly recorded. Subfamily Scarabaeinae is dominant with 57 species under 18 genera, followed by Melolonthinae with 13 species under 05 genera. Third abundant subfamily in terms of species richness is Rutelinae with 10 species under 04 genera. Cetoniinae contributed 09 species under 08 genera. Aphodiinae and Dynastinae contributed 04 and 02 species, respectively, whereas Orphinae added only 02 species. The most dominating subfamily Scarabaeinae can be further categorized into tunnelers, dwellers and rollers according to their functional group. Tunnelers contribute about 77.19% of the species composition of Scarabaeinae followed by rollers 14.04% and dwellers 8.77%. This study also provides the location-specific occurrence data of beetles from the investigated sites. The presented comprehensive checklist is unique in compiling economically and ecologically important scarab faunal diversity of Vidarbha region of Central India.

Sub-fossil Chironomidae (Diptera) from lake sediments in Central America: a preliminary inventory.

The chironomid diversity of Central America is virtually underestimated and there is almost no knowledge on the chironomid remains accumulated in surface sediments of lakes. Thus, in the present study we provide information on the larval sub-fossil chironomid fauna from surface sediments in Central American lakes for the first time. Samples from 27 lakes analysed from Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras yielded a total of 1,109 remains of four subfamilies. Fifty genera have been identified, containing at least 85 morphospecies. With 45 taxa, Chironominae were the most specious and also most abundant subfamily. Tanypodinae with 14 taxa dominated in about one third of the sites. Orthocladiinae were presented by 24 taxa, but were recorded in 9 sites, being dominant in only one site. Podonominae were collected only in one locality. Head capsules of Heterotrissocladius found in the high elevation lake Magdalena, Guatemala, represent a first record for the Neotropical region. Both relative abundance and species richness of Chironominae and Orthocladiinae showed significant relationship to elevation, while Tanypodinae were indifferent. Hopefully, the list of taxa provided by our study will be a base line for future limnological and paleolimnological investigations using chironomid remains in the region.

Mariposas en un fragmento de bosque seco tropical en Montes de María (Colombia)

La riqueza de las mariposas diurnas en los Montes de María fue caracterizada a través de tres transectos lineales de 600 m. de largo, en los cuales se establecieron 8 parcelas circulares de 15 m. de radio para realizar las capturas. Dentro de cada parcela se recolectaron especímenes usando dos métodos: red entomológica y trampas Van Someren Rydon. Se realizaron curvas de rango-abundancia para comparar la composición, abundancia y uniformidad de las especies en cada transecto; además el número esperado de especies fue calculado a través de una curva de rarefacción y extrapolación-interpolación. En total se recolectaron 301 individuos agrupados en 4 familias, 13 subfamilias, 22 tribus, 44 géneros y 55 especies. Nymphalidae con 235 individuos y 37 especies, fue la familia más importante; mientras que Biblidinae y Hamadryas februa (56 individuos) son la subfamilia y especie más relevantes. Los resultados sugieren que los bosques secos de Coraza, a pesar de su destrucción por las actividades antrópicas, poseen gran riqueza de mariposas. Lo anterior, demuestra la importancia de seguir realizando estudios de composición de mariposas que permitan conocer no solo la estructura de estas comunidades, también para incrementar el conocimiento de la entomofauna de los bosques secos dentro de la reserva.

The Targeted Sequencing of Alpha Satellite DNA in Cercopithecus pogonias Provides New Insight Into the Diversity and Dynamics of Centromeric Repeats in Old World Monkeys.

Alpha satellite is the major repeated DNA element of primate centromeres. Specific evolutionary mechanisms have led to a great diversity of sequence families with peculiar genomic organization and distribution, which have till now been studied mostly in great apes. Using high throughput sequencing of alpha satellite monomers obtained by enzymatic digestion followed by computational and cytogenetic analysis, we compare here the diversity and genomic distribution of alpha satellite DNA in two related Old World monkey species, Cercopithecus pogonias and Cercopithecus solatus, which are known to have diverged about 7 Ma. Two main families of monomers, called C1 and C2, are found in both species. A detailed analysis of our data sets revealed the existence of numerous subfamilies within the centromeric C1 family. Although the most abundant subfamily is conserved between both species, our fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) experiments clearly show that some subfamilies are specific for each species and that their distribution is restricted to a subset of chromosomes, thereby pointing to the existence of recurrent amplification/homogenization events. The pericentromeric C2 family is very abundant on the short arm of all acrocentric chromosomes in both species, pointing to specific mechanisms that lead to this distribution. Results obtained using two different restriction enzymes are fully consistent with a predominant monomeric organization of alpha satellite DNA that coexists with higher order organization patterns in the C. pogonias genome. Our study suggests a high dynamics of alpha satellite DNA in Cercopithecini, with recurrent apparition of new sequence variants and interchromosomal sequence transfer.

First records of deep-sea Munnopsidae (Isopoda: Asellota) from the Kuril Basin of the Sea of Okhotsk, with description of Gurjanopsis kurilensis sp. nov.

The deep-sea Munnopsidae Lilljeborg, 1864 of the Kuril Basin of the Sea of Okhotsk, the Bussol Strait, as well as the western abyssal slope of the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench (KKT) off the Bussol Strait were studied. The material was collected during the expedition SokhoBio (Sea of Okhotsk Biodiversity Studies) in the summer of 2015. The first data on the composition and distribution of the family Munnopsidae from the SokhoBio samples are presented. In total 2190 individuals of Munnopsidae from 53 species, 26 genera and seven subfamilies have been collected at 19 of 21 C-EBS stations at all 11 sites of the SokhoBio expedition. The most abundant subfamily in the samples was Ilyarachninae Hansen, 1916 (36%), followed by Eurycopinae Hansen, 1916 (29%). In the Kuril Basin 39 species of 20 genera and 5 subfamilies were found, the main portion of munnopsids here was represented by the Ilyarachninae (39%), followed by the group of genera incertae sedis (31%) and Eurycopinae (27%). The abyssal munnopsid fauna of the Kuril Basin is an intermediate in terms of diversity and species richness between the adjacent studied abyssal areas, the Sea of Japan and the open abyssal of the KKT. Half of the collected species, 27 species (51%) are shared with the KKT area, 22 species (41.5%) are common to the Kuril Basin and the Pacific sites. About 80% of the collected species are new to science. One of the new species, Gurjanopsis kurilensis sp. nov. is described herein. GurjanopsisMalyutina and Brandt, 2007 is the only genus within the Munnopsidae having a posteromedial notch in the pleotelson containing tiny uropods and the anus. A similar notch in the pleotelson containing uropods within Janiroideа Kussakin, 1967 is known only in species of Jaera Leach, 1814 (Janiridae G.O. Sars, 1897). The male pleopods of Gurjanopsis which cover the pleopodal cavity of the pleotelson are unusual for the family. This “operculum” is formed by the small pleopods 1 and 2 and the enlarged exopods of pleopods 3. This is similar to the pleopodal structure found in the primitive asellote superfamilies Aselloidea Latreille, 1802 and Stenotrioidea Hansen 1905, while in Janiroideа only pleopods 1 and 2 are operculate. The new species is the third species of the rare genus Gurjanopsis and the first record of the genus, previously only known from the deep-sea of the Arctic and the Antarctic, for the Pacific Ocean. The finding a species of Baeonectes Wilson, 1982 in abyssal depths of the Kuril Basin is the deepest record of the genus.

Structure and diversity of phyllostomid bat assemblages on riparian corridors in a human-dominated tropical landscape.

Tropical forests around the world have been lost, mainly because of agricultural activities. Linear elements like riparian vegetation in fragmented tropical landscapes help maintain the native flora and fauna. Information about the role of riparian corridors as a reservoir of bat species, however, is scanty. We assessed the value of riparian corridors on the conservation of phyllostomid bat assemblage in an agricultural landscape of southern Mexico. For 2 years (2011–2013), mist-netting at ground level was carried out twice during the dry season (December to May) and twice during the wet season (June to November) in different habitats: (1) riparian corridors in mature forest, (2) riparian corridors in pasture, (3) continuous forest away from riparian vegetation, and (4) open pastures. Each habitat was replicated three times. To determine the influence of vegetation structure on bat assemblages, all trees (≥10 cm dbh) were sampled in all habitats. Overall, 1752 individuals belonging to 28 species of Phyllostomidae were captured with Sternodermatinae being the most rich and abundant subfamily. Riparian corridors in mature forest and pastures had the greatest species richness and shared 65% of all species. Open pastures had the lowest richness and abundance of bats with no Phyllostominae species recorded. Six of the 18 species recorded could be considered as habitat indicators. There was a positive relationship between bat species composition and tree basal area. Our findings suggest that contrary to our expectations, bats with generalist habits and naturally abundant could be useful detector taxa of habitat modification, rather than bats strongly associated with undisturbed forest. Also in human-dominated landscapes, the maintenance of habitat elements such as large trees in riparian corridors can serve as reservoirs for bat species, especially for those that are strongly associated with undisturbed forest.