Detailed Congener Research Articles

Description of Eretmocera hafeetensis sp. nov. from UAE (Lepidoptera, Scythrididae)

Eretmocera hafeetensissp. nov., a moth in the family Scythrididae, is described and illustrated based on the examination of three male and 13 female specimens collected at the foot of Jebel Hafeet, an isolated 1,140 metres-high massif just south of Al Ain, after which the new species is named. The new species is distinct from congeners in details of its male and female genitalia and is also readily separated in the field from other Eretmocera species. The new addition brings the number of confirmed species in this genus represented in the UAE to three. The discovery of this species at Ain Al Waal, Jebel Hafeet highlights the conservation importance of this and similar nearby locations, which are beginning to reveal unique species among its already species-rich fauna at a time of huge human encroachment into the area.

A new species of Esola Edwards, 1891 (Crustacea, Copepoda, Harpacticoida, Laophontidae) from the Caribbean coast of Colombia.

A new species of the harpacticoid copepod genus Esola is described from specimens collected in Rodadero Beach, on Gaira Bay, on the Caribbean coast of Colombia. The species, E.wellsisp. nov., is described, illustrated, and com­pared with its congeners. Esolawellsisp. nov. differs from its known congeners in details of the armature of legs 1–4. It most closely resembles E.bulbifera (Norman, 1911) in the armature formula of P1–P5 but differs from the latter in several respects, including the female antennule segmentation (7-segmented in E.bulbifera but distinctly 6-segmented in E.wellsisp. nov.) and in the shape and size of the male P3ENP2 apophysis, among other characters. This is the second species of the genus known from the Caribbean and the second record of Esola in the Northwestern Tropical Atlantic. The genus now contains eight species. A key to the known species of the genus is also included.

A new sinistral species of the land-snail genus Satsuma (Pulmonata: Camaenidae) from China

ABSTRACTThe species of Satsuma are mostly endemic to East Asia except for one species distributed in Batan Island of the Philippines. More than 99% of the known species of this genus are endemic to the island environment. Only three species are currently known to occur on the mainland. Here we describe a new sinistral Satsuma species from China, Satsuma guandi n. sp. We studied the shell morphology and genital anatomy of the new species and reconstructed the molecular phylogeny of the genus based on partial nucleotide sequences of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and nuclear markers from the ribosomal RNA cistrons (the internal transcribed spacer and the external transcribed spacer regions). The new species differs from other sinistral Satsuma species by having a strongly angulated shell and an open dark brownish-red umbilicus. The new species also differed from all other sinistral congeners in details of its reproductive anatomy. The molecular analysis supports the validity of the new species within the genus Satsuma.

First record of Eurysyllis (Annelida, Phyllodocida, Syllidae) from off the Brazilian coast, with the description of three new species

Eurysyllis Ehlers, 1864 is a syllid genus currently comprising seven species, of which members are characterized by a relatively small, dorso-ventrally flattened body, with the dorsum covered by longitudinal rows of tubercles, and appendages (i.e., antennae, peristomial and dorsal cirri throughout) composed of a single article each. The analysis of the material collected off the southeastern Brazilian coast resulted in the identification of three new species of Eurysyllis, which also represent the first record of the genus off Brazil. The new species differ from each other and from their congeners in details of the shape of tubercles, number of eyes, and morphology of falcigers. These three new species are herein described and compared to their most similar congeners; a key for the identification of all species of Eurysyllis is provided.

Three new species of Curimatopsis (Characiformes: Curimatidae) from the Amazon basin.

Three new species of Curimatopsis are described from major tributaries of the Amazon basin. Curimatopsis guaporensis n. sp., from the Rio Madeira, belongs to the Curimatopsis evelynae clade and can be distinguished by the distinctive shape of the dark blotch on the caudal peduncle and by the position and shape of the nostrils. Curimatopsis pallida n. sp., from the Rio Negro, also related to C. evelynae, is distinguished from all congeners by the complete absence of pigmentation on the lateral surface of the caudal peduncle. Curimatopsis jaci n. sp., apparently endemic to the upper Rio Tapajós, belongs to the Curimatopsis macrolepis clade and differs from all congeners in details of body pigmentation. Meristic and morphometric features supplement diagnoses for the three new species. These species are hypothesized to belong to the two main clades of Curimatopsis on the basis of previous studies of osteology and external morphology and supplement a recent genetic study that revealed several cryptic and yet undescribed species within the genus. An updated identification key to the species of Curimatopsis is also provided.

Narcine baliensis, a new species of electric ray from southeast Asia(Chondrichthyes: Torpediniformes).

A new species of numbfish, Narcine baliensis, sp. nov., is described from the tropical eastern Indian Ocean from Indonesia. It is superficially similar to N. brevilabiata and N. atzi in aspects of its color pattern, but is distinguished from both congeners in details of its color pattern, in tooth band morphology, and in proportions of its dorsal fins, among other features. Narcine baliensis, sp. nov., is unique in having a dorsal color pattern composed of large, circular, ovoid or elongate dark brown spots or blotches on dorsal disc along with more numerous small (about eye-sized or slightly greater) brownish, subcircular spots, with large blotches and small spots surrounded by a very slender creamy-white pattern, as well as in having broadly circular upper and lower tooth bands of about the same width and shape. The genus Narcine is now composed of 20 valid species, but uncertainty remains concerning the identification and morphological variation of some of its species in the tropical Indo-West Pacific region.

Gas-phase and particle-phase PCDD/F congener distributions in the flue gas from an iron ore sintering plant

The activated carbon injection-circulating fluidized bed (ACI-CFB)-bag filter coupling technique was studied in an iron ore sintering plant. For comparison, the removal efficiencies under the conditions without or with ACI technology were both evaluated. It was found that the polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofuran (PCDD/F) removal efficiency for total international toxic equivalence quantity (I-TEQ) concentration was improved from 91.61% to 97.36% when ACI was employed, revealing that ACI was very conducive to further controlling the PCDD/F emissions. Detailed congener distributions of PCDD/Fs in the gas-phase and particle-phase of the Inlet and Outlet samples were determined. Additionally, the PCDD/F distribution for the Fly ash-with ACI sample of was also studied.

Simultaneous removal of PCDD/Fs and NOx from the flue gas of a municipal solid waste incinerator with a pilot plant

The pilot-scale plant on the simultaneous removal of PCDD/Fs and NOx from the flue gas of a municipal solid waste incinerator is presented. In order to research the influence of temperature on the catalytic decomposition of PCDD/Fs and the selective catalytic reduction of NOx, the experiments were performed at 220°C, 260°C, and 300°C, and the congener profiles of PCDD/Fs for the samples collected at the inlet and outlet were illustrated. Noteworthy, the detailed congener distributions of PCDD/Fs in the gas-phase and particle-phase of the inlet and 300-outlet (decomposition temperature=300°C) samples are presented, and the removal efficiencies ηg-I-TEQ and ηp-I-TEQ reached to 94.94% and 99.67%, respectively. The effect of the SCR process on the removal of PCDD/Fs was also studied at a relatively low temperature of 220°C. Additionally, the NOx emissions and the SCR efficiencies were investigated.

Can polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) signatures and enantiomer fractions be used for source identification and to age date occupational exposure?

Detailed polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) signatures and chiral Enantiomer Fractions (EFs) of CB-95, CB-136 and CB-149 were measured for 30 workers at a transformer dismantling plant. This was undertaken to identify sources of exposure and investigate changes to the PCB signature and EFs over different exposure periods. Approximately 1.5g of serum was extracted and PCB signatures were created through analysis by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC×GC–TOFMS) and EFs calculated following analysis by gas chromatography with high resolution mass spectrometry (GC–HRMS). A total of 84 PCBs were identified in the serum samples with concentrations of the 7 indicator PCBs ranging from 11–350ngg−1 of serum (1.2–39μgg−1 lipid). The PCB signatures were interpreted using principal component analysis (PCA) which was able to distinguish workers with background or recent minimal exposure from those with prolonged occupational exposure. Occupationally exposed individuals had a similar PCB profile to Aroclor A1260. However, individuals with prolonged exposure had depleted proportions of several PCB congeners that are susceptible to metabolism (CB-95, CB-101 and CB-151) and elevated proportions of PCBs that are resistant to metabolism (CB-74, CB-153, CB-138 and CB-180). The results also identified a third group of workers with elevated proportions of CB-28, CB-60, CB-66, CB-74, CB-105 and CB-118 who appeared to have been exposed to an additional source of PCBs. The results show near complete removal of the CB-95 E2 enantiomer in some samples, indicating that bioselective metabolism or preferential excretion of one enantiomer occurs in humans. By considering PCB concentrations along with detailed congener specific signatures it was possible to identify different exposure sources, and gain an insight into both the magnitude and duration of exposure.

New species of Cyphocharax (Characiformes: Curimatidae) from the upper rio Negro, Amazon basin

A new species of Cyphocharax, Curimatidae, apparently endemic to the blackwater upper rio Negro of the Amazon basin in northern Brazil, is described.The new species is readily distinguished from its congeners by the presence of a distinctly longitudinally elongate, posteriorly vertically expanding patch of dark pigmentation along the midlateral surface of the caudal peduncle, with the patch extending from the base of the middle caudal-fin rays anteriorly past the vertical through the posterior terminus of the adipose fin. The new species additionally differs from all congeners in details of body and fin pigmentation and meristic and morphometric ratios. Evidence for the assignment of the species to Cyphocharax and the occurrence of other species of the Curimatidae apparently endemic to the upper rio Negro catchment is discussed.

New species of Cetopsidium (Siluriformes: Cetopsidae: Cetopsinae) from the upper rio Branco system in Guyana

Cetopsidium soniae, new species, is described from the Takutu River basin of southwestern Guyana, within the upper portions of the rio Branco of the Amazon basin. The new species differs from its congeners in details of pigmentation, the length of the pelvic fin, the form of the first rays of the dorsal and pectoral fins in mature males, the relative alignment of the dorsal and ventral profiles of the postdorsal portion of the body, the position of the anus, and the depth of the body. DNA barcodes were generated for the holotype and paratype. An examination of other samples of Cetopsidium from the rio Branco system extends the range of C. pemon into the Ireng River system of Guyana.

New Species of Cnemaspis (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Northern Cameroon, a Neglected Biodiversity Hotspot

A new species of diurnal gecko of the genus Cnemaspis is described from granite boulder habitats in gallery forests in the Monts Alantika and HossereVokre ´, north of the Adamaoua Plateau in north Cameroon. The new species is most similar to the widespread species Cnemaspis spinicollis but differs from this and all other congeners in details of both scalation (single enlarged scale beneath the penultimate interphalangeal joint of digit IV of pes, absence of an enlarged, flattened preaxial metatarsal scale, absence of tubercles on the crown and beneath the ear) and coloration (pale, with little contrast between background

Congener profiles of PCDDs, PCDFs, and dioxin-like PCBs in the breast milk samples in Tokyo, Japan

Exposure to dioxins has raised much public concern recently. We determined the congeners’ distribution of polychlorinated-dibenzo- p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dl-PCBs) in the breast milk samples collected in Tokyo, Japan. Breast milk was taken from 240 mothers, 30 days after delivery in 1999 and 2000 in Tokyo, Japan. The actual concentration and TEQ concentration of PCDDs (14 congeners), PCDFs (15 congeners), and dl-PCBs (12 congeners), and each congener’s contribution to the total TEQ level were calculated. Among all the samples, PCDDs accounted for 34.8%, PCDFs accounted for 23.5%, dl-PCBs accounted for 41.7%, which was also similar in the breast milk from the primiparae and secundiparae. The main contributors to the total TEQ with increasing percentages were 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF, 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD and 3,3′,4,4′,5-PCB (#126), and they accounted for more than 65% of the total TEQ. Detailed congener analysis in breast milk samples is effective to understand dioxin sources.

Occurrence and specific congener profile of 40 polybrominated diphenyl ethers in river and coastal sediments from Portugal.

Forty polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), from mono- through hepta-brominated, were analyzed in river and coastal sediment samples of the eight main river basins of Portugal to investigate the occurrence, geographical distribution, and detailed congener profiles. Thirty-two sediment samples taken along the different rivers from inland to the open sea revealed an increase toward the river mouth with a total PBDE concentration of 20 ng/g-dw, and levels decreased to 0.5 ng/g-dw in coastal sediments. PBDEs were detected in all samples analyzed, indicating a diffuse source of pollution in the aquatic environments. Maximum levels were encountered in sediments collected close to urban and industrial areas. Of 40 congeners included in the analytical work, 17 congeners were detected in river sediments. BDE 47 was found in all samples analyzed whereas BDEs 100 and 99 were found in more than 26 out of 32 samples analyzed at concentrations from 0.03 to 10 ng/g-dw. This study is unique in showing the presence of previously nondescribed lower brominated PBDEs in riverine and marine sediments. BDEs 7, 11, 12+13, 15, 30, 32, 17, 25, 28+33, 49, 75, and 71 were identified in two to five samples with a median of 0.03-0.55 ng/g-dw. The analytical method developed consisted of the use of Soxhlet extraction with a novel cleanup method employing alumina cartridges and analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry operated in negative chemical ionization mode.

Occurrence and congener profiles of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in environmental samples from coastal British Columbia, Canada

Environmental levels and detailed congener profiles (31 congeners and 3 coeluting congener groups) of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were assessed in a number of biota samples taken over a large geographic range covering harbours and industrial sites on Canada's West Coast. Additionally, PBDE congener profiles were determined using semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) deployed in the Fraser River, the river in Western Canada with the largest industrial activity. PBDE levels detected in biota were between 4 and 2300 ng/g lipid and these levels were compared with those reported in selected European biota to provide a wider perspective on PBDE contamination on Canada's West Coast. Thirteen-congener PBDE patterns in the environmental samples were examined using principal component analysis (PCA), and additionally, comparisons were made between the PBDE profiles in the sample groups and commercially used PBDE technical mixtures (e.g., Bromkals) on a percent composition basis. PCA on congener specific data revealed that PBDE patterns are remarkably similar over a wide geographical range in Western Canada, however, the general pattern in environmental samples varies significantly from those of the predominant technical mixtures. Finally, correlations between PBDE and other persistent and toxic co-occurring contaminants found in Dungeness crab were determined.