Inland Localities Research Articles

The occurrence of gapeworm (Syngamus trachea) in willow grouse.

21.4% of the willow grouse (Lagopus lagopus) examined from a coastal locality in northern Norway were infected with Syngamus trachea. None of the willow grouse examined from an inland locality with colder and longer winters were infected with the parasite. It is suggested that the parasite may influence survival of the grouse population.

Size and environmental salinity in the modern euryhaline ostracod Cyprideis torosa (Jones, 1850), a biometrical study

Samples from living populations of the ostracod Cyprideis torosa, taken at various inland brackish-water localities in The Netherlands, are biometrically analyzed. A negative correlation is found between the mean size of the carapace (adult females) and the salinity level of the environment. The results are discussed and compared with published data on the size-salinity relationship in ostracods.

THE EFFECT OF COMPLETE REMOVAL OF HIPPOPOTAMUS ON GRASSLAND IN THE QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK, UGANDA

SummaryCoincident with the shooting out of hippopotamus in May 1958 20 permanent 30.46 m line intercept transects were established on the denuded grassland of the Mweya Peninsula, Queen Elizabeth National Park, western Uganda, to assess botanical changes in basal cover, species composition and frequency. Between May 1958 and May 1959, grass basal cover (GBC) decreased from 14.7% to 5.3% and bare ground increased from 78.3% to 83.6%. After four years total ground cover was 10.9% GBC, 27.2% litter, 1.3% dicotyledons and 60.6% bare ground.Changes occurred in grass species composition. The perennial carpet grass, Chrysochloa orientalis, declined from 37.7% GBC (transect frequency 100%) to 6.6% (87%) by May 1962. Bunch grasses showed marked recovery: Sporobolus pyramidalis increased from 8.0% GBC (60%) to 27.6% (100% frequency). Cynodon dactylon, initially prominent in two lakeside transects only, declined from 9.2% GBC to 2.1%, then became re‐established in inland localities and recovered to 11.7% GBC.The variable rainfall (714 mm annual average) and its influence on plant growth is discussed and the advantage of mechanically increasing effective rainfall mentioned. Authorities for plant names are given in Table 3.

Les Gammaridés des Eaux Continentales et Saumâtres du Sud-Est de la Région Armoricaine et du Nord du Bassin d’Aquitaine

Fieldwork in French “départements” along the Atlantic coast from southern Brittany to the northern part of the Aquitaine Basin, revealed 324 inland and brackish localities with gammarids. Particularly interesting are 21 new stations of Echinogammarus spinulicornis (which was known from 3 places only, all more to the south). This species prefers the mid-course of rivers, especially habitats without vegetation.

WIDESPREAD DISTRIBUTION OF PHLEBOTOMUS RONDANI AND BERTÉ (DIPTERA: PSYCHODIDAE) IN AUSTRALIA

AbstractA collection of Phlebotomus has been assembled which includes approximately 7,800 adult specimens from 306 separate collections from 100 different localities in Australia. Most of the specimens are from inland localities that receive precipitation < 30 in. (762 mm)/annum. Very few have been collected from the east coastal strip of the continent where the rainfall is higher. Patterns of distribution of the described species are briefly discussed.

DENDROBLAX EARLII(COLEOPTERA : LUCANIDAE) ATTACKING TELEPHONE POLES

Little has been recorded about the biology of the indigenous lucanid Dendroblax earlii (White), the larva of which remains undescribed. Holloway (1961) reports one instance of large lamellicorn larvae, thought to be those of D. earlii, feeding in a heap of turf. Although the beetle has been collected from both North and South Islands, accurate altitude records are lacking for those taken at inland localities (Holloway, 1963). During September 1969, sections of three hardwood telephone poles with extensive insect damage from ground level to their bases, were forwarded to the Forest Research Institute by K. Field, Forest Service Timber Inspector, Napier. The poles had been erected at Te Pohue (1240 ft. a.s.l.) on State Highway No.5, at least 35 years earlier. Damage consisted of longitudinal grooves open to the outer service and extending 8.2 cms radially into the pole. Adult remains of D. earlii (a pro thorax abdomen, elytron and wing), 22 late instar larvae and a damaged pupa were recovered from the sample. Because of their association with the adult remains the larvae were assumed to belong to the same species. Many late instar larvae were reported to have been dislodged before dispatch.

Irish and French Fresh Water Populations of Gammarus duebeni subspecifically Different from Brackish Water Populations

THE amphipod, Gammarus duebeni Liljeborg, 1852, is predominantly found in brackish coastal waters, with a marked preference for marginal biotopes, such as supralittoral rockpools. It is also known from fresh water habitats, discussed in detail by Hynes1 and Sutcliffe2. These fresh water habitats fall into two groups: (1) isolated localities near the coast, with more sodium than usual through gales from the sea, and (2) inland localities with a low sodium content2. To the second group of localities belong the inland regions of Ireland and of Brittany (France), roughly west of the line Lannion–Lorient.

A Re-Examination of Observations on the Distribution of Gammarus duebeni Lilljeborg in Relation to the Salt Content in Fresh Water

Most of our knowledge on the distribution of the amphipod Gammarus duebeni Lilljeborg in fresh-water localities is due to the investigation by Hynes (1954). This species occurs on several small islands off the west coast of Wales, Scotland and Ireland, and on the Lizard Peninsula, Cornwall, the Isle of Man, the Faroes, the Shetlands and Iceland. It is found in the fresh waters of Ireland (Reid 1939; Macan & Lund 1954) and it also occurs in a few streams on the west coast of Brittany (Hynes 1959) and at an inland locality in Norway (0kland 1959). G. duebeni is a common member of the brackish-water fauna of salt-marshes and estuaries round the coasts of northern and western Europe From a detailed study of several of the fresh-water localities in Britain, Hynes (1954) was unable to find support for suggestions that there are two distinct physiological races of G. duebeni in fresh and brackish water (Reid 1939; Beadle & Cragg 1940a) and particular attention to the chemical composition of the water failed to explain why G. duebeni is confined to only a few streams in the areas where the species is found. He concluded that G. duebeni usually occurs only in fresh water where G. pulex (L.) is absent, and the distribution of G. duebeni was interpreted as due to its inability to compete with G. pulex in fresh water (Hynes 1954, 1955a). However, recent investigations of sodium regulation in G. duebeni from brackishand fresh-water localities have shown that from a physiological viewpoint, G. duebeni living in the fresh waters of Ireland is distinct from G. duebeni living in both brackishand fresh-water localities in England, Scotland and the Isle of Man (Sutcliffe 1967a; Sutcliffe & Shaw, unpublished). This paper re-interprets observations on the distribution of G. duebeni in the light of these physiological findings and presents some new information on the occurrence of G. duebeni in fresh water in Scotland and Ireland.

Discovery of Breeding Black-Capped Petrels on Hispaniola

THE status of the Black-capped Petrel (Pterodroma hasitata), which formerly bred on several West Indian islands, has been obscure since late in the nineteenth century, when the location of the diminishing breeding colonies was lost to science. The early history and decline of this species has been well summarized by Bent (1922) and Murphy (1936). Both authors suggested that the species might be nearing extinction. In 1951, a breeding colony of the closely allied Cahow (Pterodroma cahow) was discovered on Bermuda (Murphy and Mowbray, 1951). This event bode well for the status of P. hasitata for it soon became evident from a study of the Cahow that the survival problems facing that species since the seventeenth century must have been greater than any likely to have confronted the Black-capped Petrel. It seemed probable, even in 1960, that a breeding colony of the latter might survive in some part of the former range. Published references to the bird after 1900 support this view, although they deal mainly with sightings and specimen records. Nichols (1913) and Wetmore (1927) have observed P. hasitata at sea during the present century. Wetmore saw several Black-capped Petrels in the Sargasso area of the Caribbean in 1920. In view of the vast ocean range characteristic of most petrels, this species must still have been fairly numerous at that date. A similar conclusion might be drawn from the record of an adult female found dead on Fairfield Beach, Connecticut, after the disastrous hurricane of 21 September 1938 (Holman, 1952). Hobley (1932) reported an adult picked up apparently exhausted in the streets of Roseau, in Dominica, on 2 May 1932. Although there is no positive indication that this bird came from a breeding colony on Dominica, it may be significant that this is the only island within the former breeding range of P. hasitata on which the mongoose (Herpestes auropunctatus) has not been introduced. The remaining published records pointed to Hispaniola as the last major breeding ground, and also gave some indication of comparative breeding success as late as 1938. Wetmore and Swales (1931) noted the capture of a specimen at Moca, an inland locality in the Dominican Republic, on 15 May 1928, and in another paper Wetmore (1932) stated that no less than 4 specimens were taken and fully 100 observed on this occasion. At a later date, Wetmore (1939) reported on a fledgling, not long out of the nest, captured on the streets of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on 30 June 1938. James Bond (pers. comm.), who visited La Selle Ridge in Haiti in the summers of 1928, 1930, and 1941, was told by the natives that a ducklike nocturnal bird occurred there in winter. This seems

RECORDS OF THE BREEDING OF 'SALTWATER ANOPHELES GAMBIAE' AT INLAND LOCALITIES IN SOUTHERN AFRICA.

RECENT1–5 work has shown that at least four genetically distinct forms comprise the A. gambiae complex. Paterson6 has outlined arguments for regarding them as separate species. On the eastern half of Africa three species occur, ‘saltwater A. gambiae’ and the two freshwater-breeding species, species A and species B (= group A and group B3). These forms are apparently morphologically inseparable, though the frequency of females bearing four white bands on their palps, as against three, is usually much higher in populations of ‘saltwater A. gambiae’ than of the two freshwater-breeding species. Identification of the species is best achieved by performing crossing experiments with ‘type’ colonies of the different species. Interspecific crosses produce sterile F1 males1–4 with testes and accessory glands reduced to varying degrees according to the cross and its direction. In crosses between ‘saltwater A. gambiae’ and either species A or species B, F1 sex ratios supply further information1,2,4, but crosses between the two freshwater species usually produce normal sex ratios4. A physiological test (salinity-tolerance test) is available7 to distinguish first stage larvae of ‘saltwater A. gambiae’ from those of either species A or species B.

Statistical Analysis of Australian Temperature Data

The mean summer maximum temperatures of five Australian inland localities for a period of 65 years from 1891 to 1955 are analysed and it is shown that the temperatures have an overall parabolic trend.

GAS EXCHANGE IN THE ROOTS OF MANGROVES

ALONG THE southern and western coasts of the Florida peninsula occurs one of the greatest developments of mangrove swamp in the world. Rhizophora mangle L., the red mangrove, perching on its arched stilt roots, is the dominant species and the most marine. Another important component is Avicennia nitida Jacq., the black mangrove, which is restricted to the tidal zone and reaches its most luxuriant development on intertidal mud flats in more sheltered inland localities. Both species have a considerable tolerance for fresh water (Davis, 1943). Familiar to anyone who has visited the mangrove region are the air roots which protrude in great numbers from the mud under and around Avicennia bushes or trees. A single tree may produce several thousand of these air roots, usually 20-30 cm. high and a centimeter thick, soft and spongy, and studded with little whitish lenticels. In the mud they connect to radially-running main roots, which are also soft and spongy and contain large amounts of air (fig. 1). The vertical air-roots are often referred to as pneumatophores because it is believed that they may have the function of aerating the root system which lies buried in the mud. If one of the arching stilt roots of Rhizophora is dug out of the mud it is found to terminate in a bunch of long, spongy, finger-thick, and air-filled roots (fig. 2). The stilt root has a conspicuous development of lenticels, and one may wonder whether these might serve as ventilating ports for the mud roots. If they do, one might ask by what process the ventilation takes place, as it seems almost incredible that the voluminous roots down in the mud could be effectively ventilated by simple diffusion alone, through little lenticels high up on the stilt roots. One might also wonder how such a system, which gets its oxygen from the air, avoids getting jammed with nitrogen. However, before worrying over how the ventilation comes about one must first establish that such ventilation does take place, and this is the object of the present investigation. GAS EXCHANGE IN SUBMERGED ROOTS OF VARIOUS PLANTS.-Several investigators have analyzed the gases in roots of plants growing in water or mud which is poor in oxygen. In general these roots have been found to be aerated; how is usually not clear. Conway (1937), in a series of experiments on the sedge Cladium mariscus R. Br., found that air spaces were continuous from the leaves down into the roots. The gas connections were particularly free

Notes on the Red-capped Dotterel in Inland Localities

Notes on the Red-capped Dotterel in Inland Localities

A Study of Variation in Polypodium californicum Kaulf

The work on which this paper is based was done in 1921 and gave evidence for justification of the position taken by Eaton (1879) in dividing P. californicum into two varieties: a coastal one with coriaceous leaves, var. Kaulfussii, and a more common one with thinner leaves and extending from the coast inland, var. intermedium. In 1922 Fernald transferred these to varietal rank under P. vulgare. While the work herein reported was under way, it seemed as if some such final disposition would be desirable, but it still seems worth while to put on record more detailed figures and measurements for Californian material than have heretofore been available. The work was carried on under the direction of'Dr. Philip A. Munz of Pomona College, to whom I express deep gratitude for his helpful supervision and encouragement. Material was collected in many inland localities centering about the Pomona Valley of Southern California and in the coastal region at San Diego and Laguna Beach. In all, 174 specimens were collected, 50 of these being of the Kaulfussii type. Additional material was available in the Baker Herbarium of Pomona College and from the Herbarium of the University of California.

V.—On the Base of the Keuper in South Devon

While appreciating and agreeing with the valuable work done by Dr. Irving and Professor Hull, dealing with the New Red rocks of South Devon, as set forth in their papers on this subject in the Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc., there is only one point in which I differ from these authors; it is in relation to the rocks forming the base of the Keuper in this area.In the last of these papers both authors agree to regard certain breccias occurring at the mouth of the river Otter, and again at the mouth of the river Sid on its eastern side, as the basement beds of the Keuper.The basement breccias of the river Sid section, as explained by them, are the Otterton breccias again brought up, and repeated by the fault which occurs at the Chit rock, where the sandstones on the east side of the fault are brought up against the Keuper marls on its west side.The breccias near the mouth of the Otter have been described by Dr. Irving as calcareous or dolomitic breccias, or conglomerates, which I think quite a correct description of these beds. This description, however, certainly does not apply to the alleged breccias on the left bank of the Sid, to which I shall presently refer.The Otterton breccias or conglomerates have been traced inland by Dr. Irving to various localities, all of which I have visited and have found correctly described. The breccias in the inland localities are, however, all along the strike of the Otterton Beds, and not in any case, along the strike of the alleged breccias said to occur in the Sidmouth section.