Nodosus Research Articles

DNA barcoding of selected alpine beetles with focus on Curculionoidea (Coleoptera)

Selected beetles, mainly weevils, from the Alpine Arc were barcoded. From 187 samples of 106 assigned species of the families Curculionidae (152 samples, mainly Entiminae, Cyclominae and Hyperinae), Carabidae (18), Apionidae (6), Chrysomelidae and Staphylinidae (each 1 sample), sequences from the COI (subunit 1 of the cytochrome oxydase gene) were obtained, with a success of more than 86% (162 samples). In the cases of Otiorhynchus pupillatus Gyllenhal, 1834, O. nodosus (O. F. Muller, 1764), O. meridionalis Gyllenhal, 1834, Dichotrachelus koziorowicziDesbrochers des Loges, 1873, D. augusti F. Solari, 1946 and D. maculosus Fairmaire, 1869 more diversity was hidden than foreseen in the beginning, suggesting partly cryptic (not yet described) species. One name is thus resurrected from junior synonymy (O. civisStierlin, 1861stat. rev. from synonymy with O. meridionalis). In another case with strictly parthenogenetically reproducing populations of O. pupillatus and O. nodosus in the Swiss Alps, several lineages from hypothetical postglacial immigration events, or alternatively complexes of species in statu nascendi might explain the results observed. Moreover, some morphologically debated species-pairs/triples confirmed to be problematic too, even with our COI sequence data [Hypera nigrirostris (Fabricius, 1775) – ononidis (Chevrolat, 1863) – melarynchus (Olivier, 1807)]. On the other hand, in some cases the lspecies' identity, based on the monophyly of the investigated populations, could be confirmed [Anthonomus rubi (Herbst, 1795), Polydrusus chaerodrysius Gredler, 1866, P. paradoxus Stierlin, 1859]. In the hyperdiverse genus Otiorhynchus Germar, 1822, some preliminary insights into the systematics at the subgenus-level could be made, suggesting that many changes of the present morphologically based systematic structure will be necessary.

NORIAN AMMONOIDS FROM THE NAYBAND FORMATION (IRAN) AND THEIR BEARING ON LATE TRIASSIC SEDIMENTARY AND GEODYNAMIC HISTORY OF THE IRAN PLATE

A Middle Norian (Alaunian 2) ammonoid assemblage from north of Esfahan (Central Iran) is described and chronostratigraphically evaluated. Formerly known as Distichites fauna, it represents a geographically widely distributed and stratigraphically important fossil level in the lower part of the Upper Triassic Nayband Formation. The new distichitid ammonoid genus Mesodistichites with the new species M. evolutus are introduced; additional faunal members are Noridiscites nodosus n. sp. and the leiostracean Stenarcestes diogenis and Pinacoceras cf. imperator. The Nayband Formation of the Esfahan region, belonging to the Zefreh-Soh Facies, is lithostratigraphically emended to contain three formally introduced members (Parsefid, Venher and Niazmargh members), which are all of Norian age, whereas Rhaetian sediments are missing. These members are correlated with Norian lithostratigraphic units of the type sequence of the formation in Nayband, eastern Iran. Integration of all Iranian Nayband data allows the recognition of three 3rd order sequences within this formation and the proof of a major pre- or syn-Jurassic unconformity across Central Iran and the Central-East Iranian Microcontinent (CEIM) related to the Main-Cimmerian event. Because of the latter and of major lithostratigraphic and facial differences, we propose to exclude the Nayband Formation from the Shemshak Group. A careful review of the available biostratigraphic data from northern and southern Iran let us further assume that the collision of the Iran Plate with Eurasia occurred in the later Early Carnian and was concurrent to the onset of the Carnian Humid Episode.

PERMIAN CRINOIDS FROM THE SAIWAN AND KHUFF FORMATIONS,SOUTHEASTERN OMAN

Early Permian (Sakmarian) crinoids are described from six horizons in the Saiwan Formation of the Huqf area of southeastern Oman. Each horizon yielded only one to three taxa. All specimens lived in a shallow water environment characterized by mixed siliciclastic or siliciclastic-carbonate sedimentation. Disarticulated arm plates of an indeterminate articulate crinoid are described from a tempestite bed in the Khuff Formation (Wordian) of the Haushi area. The Saiwan Sakmarian crinoids are some of the earlier, although not the earliest Permian crinoids known. Representatives of both primitive (sycocrinids) and advanced (scytalocrinids, blothrocrinids, texacrinids, and cromyocrinids) cladids and articulates are present in the Saiwan crinoids that are dominated by advanced dendrocrinids and belong to families previously reported from the Carboniferous or Permian. They show greatest affinity to the late Sakmarian/early Artinskian fauna from the Callytharra Formation of Western Australia. New taxa described herein double the number of genera (three) previously reported from the same area. The diversity of the Saiwan crinoids is relatively low when compared to the large faunas reported from Timor, Western Australia, Russia, and North America. However, they show affinity with each of the larger faunas. New taxa described are Coeliocrinus arenaceous n. sp., Moapacrinus ? omanensis n. sp., Huqficrinus biserialis n. gen. and sp., and Campbellicrinus nodosus n. sp.

Isozyme evidence for hybridization between Potamogeton nutans and P. nodosus (Potamogetonaceae) in Britain

Isozyme evidence for hybridization between Potamogeton nutans and P. nodosus (Potamogetonaceae) in Britain

A gynophore inDesmoschoenus(Cyperaceae)

Abstract For the first time a gynophore is reported in florets of the rare New Zealand endemic Desmoschoenus spiralis (Cyperaceae). It relates closely to structures reported for florets of Scirpus nodosus and strengthens the case for inclusion of both species within tribe Ficineae.