Northward Range Research Articles

New Measurements of Cyanobacterial Toxins in Natural Waters Using High Performance Liquid Chromatography Coupled to Tandem Mass Spectrometry

The presence and levels of the cyanobacterial toxins microcystin-LR, anatoxin-a, and cylindrospermopsin were measured in various Wisconsin waters where algal nuisance or bloom conditions were noted. Out of 74 samples analyzed, 36 had detectable levels of microcystin-LR (49%), and four had detectable levels of anatoxin-a (5%). Cylindrospermopsin, the toxin produced by Cylindrospermopsis (a warm water species that has been moving its range northward, including to Wisconsin), was not detected in the field samples tested. Concentrations of microcystin-LR ranged from 1.2 to 7600 microg L(-1). Anatoxin-a ranged from 0.68 to 1750 microg L(-1), which is the highest concentration reported from around the world. Cyanobacterial toxins, because of their high potency, deserve continued scrutiny by resource managers and public health officials responsible for recreational waters.

Bluetongue in Europe and the Mediterranean Basin: History of occurrence prior to 2006

Bluetongue virus (BTV) exists around the world in a broad band covering much of the Americas, Africa, southern Asia and northern Australia. Historically, it also occasionally occurred in the southern fringes of Europe. It is considered to be one of the most important diseases of domestic livestock. Recently BTV has extended its range northwards into areas of Europe never before affected and has persisted in many of these locations causing the greatest epizootic of bluetongue (BT), the disease caused by BTV, on record. Indeed, the most recent outbreaks of BT in Europe are further north than this virus has ever previously occurred anywhere in the world. The reasons for this dramatic change in BT epidemiology are complex but are linked to recent extensions in the distribution of its major vector, Culicoides imicola, to the involvement of novel Culicoides vector(s) and to on-going climate-change. This paper investigates these recent outbreaks in the European theatre, up to the beginning of 2006, highlights prospects for the future and sets the scene for the following papers in this special issue.

The first records of Aegopinella ressmanni (Westerlund, 1883) in the Czech Republic extends its distribution range northwards

The first records of Aegopinella ressmanni (Westerlund, 1883) in the Czech Republic extends its distribution range northwards

The first records of Aegopinella ressmanni (Westerlund, 1883) in the Czech Republic extends its distribution range northwards

A topsoil-dwelling Eastern Alpine terrestrial snail Aegopinella ressmanni (Westerlund, 1883) was found for the first time in the Czech Republic at nine sites in E Bohemia. Abundant populations of the species occurred in wet habitats of the Tichá Orlice River valley between the village of Hnátnice and the town of Brandýs nad Orlicí. These Czech populations were found 250 km far from the known northernmost sites in Germany and Austria.

Epibiont species richness varies between holdfasts of a northern and a southerly distributed kelp species

All habitats are modified to some extent by the species that live within them. Kelp is known to have a very strong influence on the surrounding environment providing a habitat for a wide range of organisms including marine mammals, fish and invertebrates. Here we examine the consequences of a subtle shift in the relative abundance of two species of kelp, Laminaria digitata and Laminaria ochroleuca, and compare the holdfast epibiont assemblages on both. These species are morphologically very similar and both provide important biologically generated habitats. The distribution of these kelp species is predicted to alter as a consequence of climate change with L. ochroleuca extending its range northward and potentially outcompeting L. digitata in the north-eastern Atlantic. The epibiont fauna common to both species of kelp were predominantly made up of annelids, molluscs and bryozoans. Most of the epibiont flora we found on the holdfasts was from the class Rhodophyceae. Multivariate analysis showed that the richness of epibiont species associated with L. ochroleuca was significantly lower, a mean of 0.62 species per cm3, when compared to the northern species, L. digitata which had a mean of 1.13 species per cm3. Laminaria digitata also had more unique epibiont species indicating that species richness of holdfast assemblages is likely to decline if L. digitata is replaced by L. ochroleuca. These data illustrate the importance of studying biologically generated habitats when considering the potential consequences of climate change on marine assemblages.

Do distributional shifts of northern and southern species of algae match the warming pattern?

AbstractWell‐documented changes in species abundances and distributions coinciding with global warming have been increasing during recent years. A trend of raising sea‐surface temperature has also been observed along the Portuguese coast which could affect intertidal species' ranges. The present study aimed at evaluating the direction and intensity of distribution changes of macroalgae in the area. The last 50‐year trend of coastal air and sea temperature was reassessed, providing an accurate estimate of the warming process. Information on species' range shifts was obtained by comparing data from recent resurveys with historical records of algal distributions collected during the 1950s and 1960s. Although a prevalence of northward migrations was anticipated, this work showed a marked difference in the average direction of changes between cold‐ and warm‐water species. Cold‐water species, when considered together, showed no particular shifting trend, because the number of species that shifted north or south was the same. Contrarily, all shifting warm‐water species expanded their range northwards. Therefore, generalizations about poleward range shifts due to increasing temperature should be made with caution.

OCCURRENCE OF THE MILLIPED GENUS SCYTONOTUSC. L. KOCH, 1847 (POLYDESMIDA: POLYDESMIDAE)IN ALBERTA, CANADA

The milliped genus Scytonotus C. L. Koch, 1847, occupies four areas of North America, one east of the Central Plains and three west of the Continental Divide (one coastal and two in the interior) (Shelley 1993, Hoffman 1999, Shelley et al., 2005). The western coastal area extends along the Pacific from Yakutat Bay, Alaska, to Marin and San Joaquin counties, California, including all intervening offshore islands except the Queen Charlottes, British Columbia (BC). One interior area encompasses the Wasatch and Teton mountains, and associated ranges, in western Wyoming, eastern Idaho, and northern Utah, and the other centers on the Columbia River Valley and the Rocky and Selkirk Mountains from Revelstoke and Yoho National Parks, BC, to southeastern Washington, northern Idaho, and western Montana (Kevan 1983; Shelley 1990, 1993, 2002). Three species inhabit the last area, but only S. columbianus Chamberlin, 1920, occurs in BC, where it extends northward to the vicinity of Takkakaw Falls in Yoho. While recently perusing samples in the Virginia Museum of Natural History (VMNH), Martinsville, I discovered one with three unidentifiable females of Scytonotus from “Sta. 2,” 4,000', Jasper National Park, Alberta, the first record of the genus from this Canadian province. The specimens were collected on 2-4 October 1964 by the late D. R. Whitehead, an experienced arthropod field collector, so there is no reason to suspect a labeling error; Jasper is also where he routinely collected beetles in the course of doctoral program at the University of Alberta. The precise location of “Sta. 2” is unknown, but Dr. Whitehead sampled extensively in the vicinity of Mt. Edith Cavell, some 144 km (90 mi) NNW of the site in Yoho. “Sta. 2” may not have been here, but the southern boundary of Jasper Park is ca. 88 km (55 mi) NNW of the Yoho locality, and the northward generic range extension is probably between these distances because the part of the Park north of Jasper village and highway 16 is largely roadless and inaccessible. Males are necessary for a specific determination, but considering the magnitude of this extension and the fact that the locality lies east of the Divide, a formidable distribution barrier that runs along the border between BC & Alberta, the species seems more likely to be undescribed than S. columbianus. Canadian biologists should be aware of the possibility of an undescribed milliped species in Jasper, and if true, it will be the second that is known only from the Park, the other being Austrotyla borealis Shear, 1971 (Chordeumatida: Conotylidae), whose holotype and only known specimen was collected by Dr. Whitehead in 1967 at “Sta. 5,” precise location also unknown (Shear 1971; Shelley 1990, 2002; Hoffman 1999). Volume 118, Number 3, May and June 2007 319

Breeding Range Extension of the Northern Saw-whet Owl in Quebec

Abstract Although the breeding range of the Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus) is restricted to North America, the northern limits of its range are still unclear. In Quebec, the most northerly confirmed breeding records had come from the Saguenay area (Chicoutimi; 48° 25′ N, 71° 03′ W) in balsam fir- (Abies balsamea) white birch (Betula papyrifera) forest and on the Gaspe Peninsula (Amqui; 48° 28′ N, 67° 25′ W) in balsam fir-yellow birch (B. alleghaniensis) forest. Between 1998 and 2003, however, we documented nine Northern Saw-whet Owl nests in balsam fir-black spruce (Picea marina) forest in boreal Quebec on the Mingan Terraces. These records extend the species' known breeding range northward to >50° N.

Molecular phylogeny of treecreepers (Certhia) detects hidden diversity†

We sequenced a part of the mitochondrial cytochrome‐b gene from the seven treecreeper species, including 18 subspecies, to reconstruct the phylogeny of the genusCerthia. Species status of all seven species could be affirmed.Certhia discolor,C. himalayana,C.nipalensis, andC.tianquanensis, the species with relatively small distribution ranges in southeast Asia and simple territorial song, are found at the base of all phylogenetic trees, although without good support. A comparatively recent sister species ofC. tianquanensisisC. nipalensis, replacingC. discoloras closest relative.Certhia familiaris,C. brachydactylaandC. americanaform a derived set of species (again only weak support). The closest relative ofC. americanaisC. brachydactyla. TheC. familiarissubtree is deeply split into two well‐defined population groups: a Eurasian group including populations in northern China (Qinling range northward and all Eurasia) and a Sino‐Himalayan group (Himalayas and China excluding northern China). In accordance with acoustic characters, the three subspecieshodgsoni,mandelliiandkhamensisof the Sino‐Himalayan group are combined and elevated to species rank:Certhia hodgsoni.Certhia discolor manipurensisis deeply split from nominatediscoloras well, and is also promoted to species level. WithinC. brachydactyla(western palearctic) and withinC. hodgsoni(Himalayas, China) several populations form well‐supported separate lineages that diverged quite recently and represent subspecies level. In all other species, molecular–genetic and vocal characters support traditional species delimitation.

SUPERCOOLING OF THE RED IMPORTED FIRE ANT (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE) ON A LATITUDINAL TEMPERATURE GRADIENT IN TEXAS

Since its introduction into the United States, the imported red fire ant (Solenopsis invicta Buren), a freeze-intolerant species, has extended its range northward and now occupies areas where winter temperatures are consistently below freezing. The objective of our study was to determine if more northern S. invicta had greater supercooling capability than more southerly S. invicta. Such information would help to delineate the northern boundary of range expansion. We collected S. invicta colonies in early summer, late summer, and early spring from 3 locations along a latitudinal gradient in Texas. Supercooling point determinations were made immediately after colonies were collected and after colonies were acclimated in the laboratory for 1 and 2 months. Regardless of time or acclimation period, the northernmost colonies (−5.91 ± 0.21°C) had higher mean supercooling points than the southernmost colonies (−16.49 ± 0.11°C). Colonies from central Texas had intermediate mean supercooling points (−10.40 ± 0.19°C). This pattern is difficult to explain. Tests from a broader geographic range might allow us to better assess supercooling ability in S. invicta. Additionally, we tested whether supercooling points were affected by body size. We found no relationships between supercooling points and head capsule widths. However, there was little variation in head capsule widths of the minor workers that we measured. Differences in supercooling points might be evident only on a larger scale of body size.

Status of the Nile Monitor (Varanus niloticus) in Southwestern Florida

The Nile Monitor (Varanus niloticus), the longest lizard in Africa, was first observed in southwestern peninsular Florida in the Cape Coral area of Lee County ca. 1990. From April 2001 through 7 July 2003, we compiled 146 sightings or captures of this species by local residents or ourselves. Numerous individuals of all size classes have been observed or collected, suggesting the occurrence of a reproducing population. Although our records are mostly confined to Cape Coral, our data indicate that V. niloticus has recently expanded its range northwards and to nearby islands. Because this large lizard has the potential to disperse into nearby ecologically sensitive areas and preserves where it could pose a serious threat to waterbirds, Burrowing Owls (Athene cunicularia), sea turtles, and other native wildlife, population monitoring and eradication are warranted.

Effects of changing temperature on benthic marine life in Britain and Ireland

Abstract The coastal waters surrounding Britain and Ireland became warmer during the 20th century and, according to the UK Climate Impact Programme 2002 scenarios of change and other sources, average annual seawater temperatures may rise a further 2°C or more by the 2050s. This warming is part of a global rise in sea‐ and air‐surface temperatures that will cause changes in the distribution and abundance of species. Initially, there will not be a wholesale movement northwards of southern species or retreat northwards of northern species, because many additional factors will influence the responses of the different organisms. Such factors include the hydrodynamic characteristics of water masses, the presence of hydrographical and geographical barriers to spread and the life history characteristics (reproductive mode, dispersal capability and longevity) of species. Survey data over the past century show how organisms react to changes of the order of 0.5°C, and in the last two decades, when sea temperatures have risen by as much as 1°C, there have been significant local changes in the distribution of intertidal organisms. These past changes provide a clue to more extensive changes expected in the future if global warming develops as predicted. Where species affected by climate change are dominant or key structural or functional species in biotopes, there may be a change in the extent and distribution of those biotopes. Some, dominated by predominantly northern species such as the horse mussel Modiolus modiolus, may decline and reduce their value as rich habitats for marine life. Others, characterized by southern species, for example the sea fan Eunicella verrucosa and the alcyonacean Alcyonium glomeratum, may increase in extent. Using information on the life history characteristics of species, their present distribution and other factors, a key supported by a decision tree has been constructed to identify ‘types’ of organism according to their likely response to temperature rise. Conspicuous and easily identified rocky substratum species are good candidates to track change. Using the key, many species are shown as likely to increase their range northwards significantly. In contrast, fewer will decline in abundance and extent in the north. If, as anticipated, global warming continues, then species with distributions already accurately mapped, or being mapped at present, will provide baseline data to test forecasts. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Timing of diapause induction and its life‐history consequences in Nezara viridula: is it costly to expand the distribution range?

Abstract. 1. From the early 1960s to 2000 Nezara viridula (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) expanded its range northwards in Japan and reached Osaka following climate warming recorded in the region.2. The timing of diapause induction and its effect on life‐history traits were studied under quasi‐natural conditions in Osaka. Egg masses were placed outdoors in six series in July–November 1999. Developmental events were monitored until September 2000.3. Adult diapause was induced in September–October in agreement with the photoperiodic response obtained under laboratory conditions. Induction of diapause in early October ensured the highest winter survival. Nymphs that hatched after late September died by December–April showing that the species cannot survive winter in the nymphal stage.4. Life‐history traits varied between the early (non‐diapause reproduction) and late (post‐diapause reproduction) series. Thus, non‐diapause females produced significantly fewer egg masses than did females that reproduced only after diapause. The timing of diapause induction strongly affected overwintering success and post‐diapause performance: females that became adults and entered diapause in October lived longer, had a longer period of oviposition, and produced more eggs in larger egg masses than females that attained adulthood and entered diapause in September.5. Females from the early series reproduced until late November, although progeny from the late September eggs were destined to die during the winter. Pre‐winter reproduction of adults that emerged in mid‐September or later was a result of the imperfect timing of diapause induction. It is an ineffective allocation of resources and may be considered the ecological cost of range expansion.6. To establish in the region, N. viridula will probably evolve a lengthening of the critical photoperiod of the diapause induction response. This will allow the species to enter diapause earlier and, thus, avoid maladaptive late‐autumn reproduction but, perhaps, increase the cost of diapause because of a possible adverse impact of pre‐winter high temperature conditions on overwintering.

The Status and Distribution of the Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus in Russia I: Western Russia and Western Siberia.

Most of the range of the Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus falls within the borders of Russia and the associated republics. Although most research on this species has been conducted in Europe and Japan, a growing body of work has been developed since 1980 in Russia. As this work has mostly appeared only in Russian, and often in local journals, the accessibility and availability of that literature to non-Russian scientists has been extremely limited. We have compiled and reviewed the Russian literature, as it pertains to this species, from four regions. We have also attempted to give an overview of the populations, their breeding biology, wintering range, migration, and moulting behaviour in: 1) Western Russia (west of the Ural Mountains), 2) Western Siberia (east of the Urals and west of the Yenisei River, 3) Central and Eastern Siberia (from the Yenisei to the Lena), and 4) The Russian Far East (from the Lena to the Bering Sea). Each of these four regions is as large, or considerably larger than the area occupied by the European population, which is currently the only region for which accurate information on population size is available.The Whooper Swan population in Russia is large, generally secure, and seemingly expanding its range northwards. It suffers from a wide range of anthropogenic influences, including disturbance, habitat degradation, habitat loss, and hunting, but in some areas is also re-occupying breeding haunts where such negative influences have declined. The Whooper Swan ranges in Russia from the Kola Peninsula in the northwest east to the Anadyr Valley of Chukotka and to Kamchatka. The northern limit to its range lies close to 67°-68°N. There is circumstantial evidence for a continued general expansion of its breeding range northwards. The breeding range extends south to 62°N in western parts of European Russia, but as far south as 55°N to 50°N in Sakhalin and Kamchatka. It winters south to 47°-50°N in the west, however its southernmost wintering grounds are in Japan where for climatic reasons it can be found in large numbers at latitudes as low as between 35°N and 40°N. In Russia, the Whooper Swan is a breeding bird of the northern taiga, of forest-tundra, and in some places of the tundra too. Human influences during the mid 20th century have, in some areas, particularly in the west, greatly reduced the Whooper Swan's population and range below 19th century and early 20th century levels. Over the latter part of the 20th century, however, it has begun to re-occupy its former range. Population estimates vary enormously even for the same regions making overall estimation of the population virtually impossible. For example estimates for Western Russia and Western Siberia range from as few as 10, 000 to more than 100, 000 (Ravkin 1991, Rees et al. 1997). There is considerable room for further research in this the largest portion of the Whooper Swan's range. The population of the Russian Far East is thought likely to be in the region of 60, 000 birds based on numbers wintering in Kamchatka, Japan, the Korean Peninsula and China.Although the majority of the Whooper Swan's world population breeds in Russia, most of these birds migrate to areas beyond Russian borders to winter in adjacent countries, around the Baltic Sea, the Caspian Sea, and the Sea of Japan. The timing of migration varies from region to region, but in autumn at least does seem largely driven by sharp falls in temperature, particularly of daytime temperatures from 5°C to 0°C. Evidence from widely different areas in Russia point to spring and autumn migration taking place in different waves. In spring, pairs and families predominate among early migrants, nonbreeders among later migrants.

Spatio-temporal distribution of yellowfin tuna Thunnus albacares and bigeye tuna Thunnus obesus in the Tropical Pacific Ocean in relation to large-scale temperature fluctuation during ENSO episodes

Historical catch and effort data collected from tuna longliners during 1962 and 1997 are used to investigate how the spatio-temporal distribution of the two most economically important species of tunas in the Tropical Pacific Ocean (TPO) (i.e. yellowfin Thunnus albacares and bigeye Thunnus obesus) varies with the ocean temperature fluctuations that occur during El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events. Relatively high hook rates of both species were mostly associated with regions where sea surface temperature (SST) increased during El Niño or La Niña years. Conversely, relatively low hook rates were associated with regions where SST fell during La Niña years, especially in the eastern TPO. The hook rates of these regions varied concurrently or within 3 months after the onset of an ENSO, as determined by the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI). We speculate that the displacement of the preferable water column and the change in availability of fishing gear during ENSO are the two possible reasons causing the change of hook rates. During El Niño periods, the part of the water column preferred by bigeye tuna was expended in western regions of the eastern TPO and compressed in the east. This appeared to lead to a displacement of bigeye from east to west. During La Niña episodes, yellowfin tuna appeared to undergo a meridian displacement and expend their preferred range northwards.

Soil hardness, a factor affecting the range expansion of Mogera wogura in Japan.

A large dominant mole species, Mogera wogura, is progressively expanding its range northwards, displacing a small inferior species, M. imaizumii, in Honshu, Japan. Three of the boundaries where the ranges of the two species abut have been found in the Agematsu region, in the Kitaono region of Shiojiri City, and in the Tatsuno-Suwa region of Nagano Prefecture, central Honshu. The range expansion of M. wogura, however, has been blocked in some areas for long periods. I investigated soil hardness, as one possible factor affecting mole distribution, in habitats on both sides of the boundaries where M. wogura's range expansion has been halted. This investigation clearly revealed that where soft (< 10 kg⁄cm2) soil layers are retained to depths of about 60 cm, or where deep (about 60 cm) soft soil occurs over more than half of the area, M. wogura is able to displace M. imaizumii. In areas where soft soils were shallower than about 60 cm, M. imaizumii was able to continue to inhabit the contact zone, thus soil hardness appears to be an important factor limiting the range expansion of M. wogura.

First Record of Daphnia lumholtzi Sars in the Great Lakes

Adults of the cladoceran Daphnia lumholtzi, native to Australia, Africa, and parts of Asia, were first collected in August 1999 in Lake Erie. Individuals were collected near East Harbor State Park, Lakeside, Ohio from vertical plankton net tows. The average number of D. lumholtzi that were found (0.03/L) indicate that D. lumholtzi is beginning to establish itself in Lake Erie. The morphology of this Daphnia differs greatly from native species because of its elongated head and tail spine. This sighting is important because it acknowledges yet another exotic invader into the Great Lakes basin and it also shows that this, normally, warm water species continues to expand its range northward.

The &lt;i&gt;Polistes&lt;/i&gt; species in northern Europe (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)¹

Records of Polistes nimpha (Christ, 1791) (P. opinabilis Kohl, 1898) from Finland, Russian Karelia, the Baltic countries and some adjacent areas, those of P. biglumis (L. 1758) from Scandinavia and those of P. dominulus (Christ, 1791) (P. gallicus auct.) from the Baltic countries are mapped. The distribution of P. biglumis is boreomontane; in Scandinavia the range is disjunct and recent nesting records in the province of Norrbotten in Sweden (about 66°N) are the northernmost of all Polistes species in the world. The northern habitats of P. biglumis in Sweden are open areas of stony ground about 150 m above sea level. The stones store insolating warmth and the microclimatic conditions are suitable for development of the brood on open combs. P. dominulus is expanding its range northwards in Europe. Nomenclature, colour variation and diagnostic characters of the three Polistes species are treated.

Systematic list of the marine fishes from Ojo de Liebre and Guerrero Negro lagoons, BCS and BC, Mexico

In this work, the first check-list of fishes from Ojo de Liebre (Scammon) Lagoon and Guerrero Negro Lagoon in Baja California Sur and Baja California, Mexico, is presented. These areas belong to Mexico’s largest protected area: El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve. Despite the outstanding features of this lagoon complex, there are no studies on its inhabitant fishes nor is there a systematical field collection with records in museums or collections in North America or any other place. The list includes 59 species of 50 genera and 36 families. The 11,864 specimens collected were cured and catalogued in the ichthyological collection of the Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas (CICIMAR-IPN) in La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Seven of the species here reported extend their known distribution range northward. One of them was registered for the first time for the Pacific west coast. The presence of tropical and temperate species in these areas confirms the idea of alternate boundaries between zoogeographic regions of California and the Eastern Pacific and establishes these limits with an icthyological mixture at latitude 28ºN. The importance and value of scientific collections is discussed.

Geographic Operating Range Evaluation of a NIR Soil Sensor

A previously developed prototype soil sensor which used near infrared (NIR) reflectance techniques was tested in the laboratory. The test set of soils included 30 Illinois soils and another 33 soils collected from across the continental U.S., all prepared at soil moisture tensions ranging from 1.5 MPa (wilting point) to 0.033 MPa (field capacity). As the geographic range represented by the included samples was increased, the predictions of organic carbon, cation exchange capacity, and soil moisture became less accurate. Calibrations obtained with soils from several states of the lower Corn Belt (Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, and Ohio) were only slightly less predictive of soil organic carbon than calibrations developed for the Illinois soils alone. Extension of the geographic range westward or northward from this area reduced the organic carbon prediction accuracy to an unacceptable level.