Western European Species Research Articles

Selection and Use of Bio-Indicators to Assess the Possible Effects of Climate Change in Europe

From paleoecological records it is well known that past climate changes have led to considerable changes in the species composition of ecosystems and larger spatial units such as landscapes and even continents. The observed increase in average global temperature since the beginning of this century is strong compared to previous warming periods and, if the climate models are correct, future warming will be even stronger and faster. Especially in Western Europe, where the landscape has been greatly fragmented by human activities, the ongoing and projected changes in climate will impose additional stress on the natural biodiversity which is already greatly reduced. In order to be able to detect responses of individual species to climate change, to assess 'critical levels' and to develop anticipating measures, better information on climate sensi- tivity of species (and ecosystems) is essential. This paper will discuss criteria and methods for the selec- tion of bio-indicators for climate change. Examples of changes in distribution and phenology of some western European species, which are possibly related to a changing climate, are given. The preliminary results of a pilot study on the selection of indicator species for the Netherlands are presented and discussed. The paper concludes with a discussion on the need of, and possibilities for, more systematic long-term ecological research and monitoring of the effects of climate change on species and ecosystems in Europe.

Essential oils from Achillea species of different geographic origin

Essential oiis were distilied from the following Achillea species: A. biserrata, A. clypeolata, A. crithmifolia, A. filipendulina, A. macrophylla, A. pannonica, A. pyrenaica, A. sibirica, A. taygetea and A. tenuifolia. GC-MS analysis of the oil revealed the presence of several mono- and sesquiterpenes along with the phenol carvacrol. The main monoterpenes were ⨿-pinene, 1,8-cineole and camphor, whereas germacrene-D and bisabolene oxide were the main sesquiterpenes. Principal component analysis of the oil components provided a good discrimination of species according to their geographic origin. Balkan species A. clypeolata, A. crithmifolia and A. tenuifolia were clearly separated from Central and Western European species such as A. macrophylla, A. pannonica, A. pyrenaica and A. taygetea. The North Asian A. sibirica was evidently separated from the Minor Asian A. biserrata and A. filipendulina.

Northern North Sea benthic Ostracoda: modern distribution and palaeoenvironmental significance

The ostracod faunas of the northern North Sea exhibit a depth-related distribution that is controlled by substrate and hydrographic conditions. Four biofacies are defined on the basis of total (live + dead) counts. Sandy substrates shallower than 110 m are characterized by Robertsonites tuberculatus and Cytheropteron latissimum. These species are replaced by Acanthocythereis dunelmensis and Palmenella limicola on sandy muds in the Fladen Ground (110-150 m). Muellerina abyssicola dominates from 175-250 m in the Norwegian Channel, giving way to Krithe praetexta at greater depths on soft-bottom substrates. The results are compared with data from the Skagerrak and the western European shelf area. Temperature ranges for the commonest taxa show that North Sea faunas contain endemic western European species (temperature range on average 2-20 °C), some southern species (5-26 °C) and taxa that range to high latitudes (-2 to +14 °C). Southern species are confined to the southern and western margins of the North Sea due to low summer bottom temperatures (<6 °C) in the central North Sea and low winter bottom temperatures (<4 °C) in the shallow waters off Germany and Denmark. The applicability of species temperature ranges and of sublittoral faunal provinces in palaeoenvironmental studies in the eastern Atlantic is assessed.

Phenetic and ecological relationships between species of the subgenus Hercostomus (Gymnopternus) in western Europe with the description of two new species (Diptera: Dolichopodidae)

AbstractAs revised here, the subgenus Gymnopternus Loew of the genus Hercostomus (Diptera: Dolichopodidae) comprises nine western European species. H. aerosus, H. metallicus and H. assimilis are re‐described, and H. silvestris and H. blankaartensis are described as new. Keys to males and females are given which include all western European species of this subgenus. A phenogram based on twenty‐seven morphological attributes is compared with cluster analyses based on the habitat preferences and seasonal activity patterns. The results are discussed in the light of the niche separation versus coexistence principles.

On the habitats, distribution and life-cycles of the Western European species of the genus Helochares Mulsant (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae)

Adult water beetles were collected from 841 localities in the Netherlands. The distribution maps of the three species of the genus Helochares (Coleoptera; Hydrophilidae) in the Netherlands are given. They are based on specimens from museum collections and this investigation. H. lividus occurs all over the Netherlands, except for the north-east. This northern limit of its European distribution area coincides with the 8.5°C isotherm for the mean year temperature. H. obscurus is limited in its distribution to clay and peat-bog, but in the sandy coastal dune area H. obscurus replaces H. punctatus. H. punctatus is limited in its distribution to soils consisting of peat-moor or sand, but it is absent from the coastal dune area.

REPRODUCTIVE and LARVAL ECOLOGY OF MARINE BOTTOM INVERTEBRATES

REPRODUCTIVE and LARVAL ECOLOGY OF MARINE BOTTOM INVERTEBRATES

A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY OF VARIETAL FORMS IX BUXUS

American Journal of BotanyVolume 27, Issue 6 p. 349-357 Article A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY OF VARIETAL FORMS IX BUXUS Thomas H. Alphin, Thomas H. Alphin The Blandy Experimental Farm, University of Virginia, Boyce, VirginiaSearch for more papers by this author Thomas H. Alphin, Thomas H. Alphin The Blandy Experimental Farm, University of Virginia, Boyce, VirginiaSearch for more papers by this author First published: 01 June 1940 https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1537-2197.1940.tb14694.xAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Volume27, Issue6June 1940Pages 349-357 RelatedInformation

Societies and Academies

LONDONEntomological Society, Jan. 6.—Prof. Westwood, president, in the chair.—Mr. McLachlan exhibited a collection of coloured figures of the transformations of twenty-one species of Japanese Sphingidæ, beautifully executed by a native artist employed hy Mr. George Lewis, long resident in Japan. Prof. Westwood exhibited the net-work cocoon of a small moth from New Granada, attached to a leaf on which was also placed the body of a butterfly (one of the Hesperidæ), strongly affected by fungoid growths. Mr. E. Saunders exhibited two species of Buprestidæ from the Pelew and Caroline Islands respectively, apparently belonging to a, new genus, yet resembling, in external characters, two species of Chryovdema from the E. India Islands.—Mr. Champion exhibited two species of Coleoptera new to Britain.—Mr. Miller called attention to a recently printed Government report respecting the ravages of the vine-scourge (Phylloxera uastatrix}. An interesting discussion took place, in the course of which Prof. Westwood stated that, to the best of his belief, the first notice of its occurrence in Europe was made by himself in a paper read before the Ashmolean Society of Oxford regarding its ravages in this country.—Dr. Sharp communicated a paper on the water-beetles of Japan, in which he mentioned that, although there were many European species occurring in the Japanese Islands, yet there was also a cons derable admixture of Asiatic forms. — Mr. Wollaston followed by a paper on the Cossonidæ of the same islands. He stated that the ordinary European types of that family do not prevail in Japan, but are replaced by kindred or representative forms. Mr. Pascoe thought that the fauna of Japan, like that of Madagascar or New Zealand, might be termed a satellite fauna, which, while having many endemic forms, had yet a great deal in common with the neighbouring continent. Mr. Bates asked that judgment upon the question be suspended; although many Western European species were also found in Japan, the collective faunas of the two regions were totally different, and if they found only one fauna in common, the majority of the genera ought to be the same, which was apparently not the case.