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Biodiversity Journal 2015, Monograph: 529-668

  • Biodiversity Journal, 6 (2): 529-592 - MONOGRAPH

    Pietro Lo Cascio
    Worldwide checklist of the island mutillid wasps (Hymenoptera Mutillidae)

    ABSTRACT
    The family of Mutillidae includes 776 taxa among species and subspecies recorded for 311 islands worldwide, whose distribution is provided in the present checklist. A brief review of some traits that characterize the insular faunas of these hymenopteran parasitoids is given. The main constraints to the dispersal on islands are due to the apterogyny and the occurrence of suitable hosts. Species richness is generally correlated with island size. Although probably still underestimated, the greatest number of species is found on Sri Lanka (82), Borneo (77), Madagascar (70) and Taiwan (61). Endemics are more than half (55%) of the whole insular mutillids and are found mostly in the oceanic islands and in those that have undergone to a long-time isolation. On the contrary, endemic genera are represented only on few islands (Madagascar, Sri Lanka and, secondarily, New Guinea, Sulawesi and Canary).

  • Biodiversity Journal, 6 (2): 593-596 - MONOGRAPH

    Siriwan Suksri, Sitthi Kulabtong, Somprasong Wittayanupakorn, Chirachai Nonpayom & Somsak Thonghul
    Three new records of freshwater fishes (Cypriniformes Cyprinidae, Atheriniformes Phallostethidae and Perciformes Osphronemidae) from Thailand

    ABSTRACT
    A priapium fish, Neostethus lankesteri Regan, 1916 (Atheriniformes Phallostethidae) is newly recorded from the estuary of Maeklong Basin and estuary of Chao Phraya Basin, Central Thailand; the mouthbrooder betta, Betta prima Kottelat, 1994 (Perciformes Osphronemidae) is newly recorded from the small stream in Chonburi Province, East Thailand, and Rasbora daniconius (Hamilton, 1822) is a new record for Tenasserim Basin, west Thailand. Description and distribution data of the three freshwater fish are provided here.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 6 (2): 597-632 - MONOGRAPH

    Napoko Malika Kangoyé, Adama Ouéda, Laurent Granjon, Adjima Thiombiano, Wendengoudi Guenda & Jakob Fahr
    Diversity and distribution of bats (Mammalia Chiroptera) in Burkina Faso

    ABSTRACT
    Herein we review available information on the bat fauna of Burkina Faso, synthesizing data on a considerable number of museum specimens collected in the country between 1964 and 2010. We aim to give an exhaustive review of the locally occurring taxa and their distribution overlaid on different phytogeographic areas. To achieve this objectives, available information about bats in Burkina Faso were gathered to a database from scientific publications and museums from 1964 to 1993. This database was complemented by new field collections from 2002 to 2009. In total, 3,480 bat specimens, collected over a period of 46 years from 164 localities and belonging to 51 species, were examined. The different taxa are distributed into 24 genera and nine families. The fauna includes the following families: Pteropodidae (seven species), Hipposideridae (seven species), Emballonuridae (three species), Nycteridae (five species) and Molossidae (six species) and occur in all phytogeographical zones in Burkina Faso. However, Rhinolophidae (three species) were absent in the North-Sahelian zone but occur in the other parts of the country. Similarly, Vespertilionidae (17 species) were absent in the South-Sahelian. Rhinopomatidae (two species) were only present in the extreme north and the extreme south of the country, while the Megadermatidae (one species) were present only in the Sudanian zone.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 6 (2): 633-636 - MONOGRAPH

    Parinesa Moshefi & Ata Bahojb-Almasi
    Effects of climate changes on agriculture

    ABSTRACT
    This paper reviews literature concerning a wide range of processes through which climate change could potentially impact agriculture. Agriculture is strongly influenced by weather and climate and, at present, the aggregate impacts of climate change on global-scale agricultural productivity cannot be reliably quantified.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 6 (2): 637-662 - MONOGRAPH

    Khaldoun Ali, Pierpaolo Rapuzzi & Sleiman Ihsan
    Contribution to the knowledge of the Longhorn Beetles (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae) of the Syrian Coastal Region

    ABSTRACT
    51 species including 10 subspecies belonging to 37 genera from 25 tribes are reported from the Syrian Coastal Region (SCR). Nine species were recorded for the first time in Syria. The status of 2 subspecies previously recorded was considered doubtful, and alternatives were suggested. Modern classification of the identified species is given; type species and some synonyms of taxa are also mentioned. A checklist of Cerambycidae fauna of the SCR is suggested. This knowledge of the Cerambycidae in SCR was a result of the study and examination of a total of 1224 specimens collected from 173 sites distributed across the different areas of the SCR during the period from 2011 until 2014. Collected specimens were prepared, examined, and then identified. All specimens were curated and permanently preserved in Entomology Laboratory of Tishreen University. Available chorotypes, distribution ranges of the identified species are provided; relating remarks, personal observations, and, sometimes, suggestions are also supplied.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 6 (2): 663-668 - MONOGRAPH

    Kerzabi Rachida, Abdessamad Merzouk, Stambouli-Meziane Hassiba & Benabadji Noury
    Germination of Atriplex halimus Linnaeus, 1753 (Caryophyllales Chenopodiaceae) in North West Algeria

    ABSTRACT
    In arid and semi-arid ambients, soil salinity is a constraint for the development of plants and a threat for balanced diet. Current data in the Mediterranean basin report up to 16 million hectares of salt soil, 3.2 million of which in Algeria. Germination in vitro of seeds of Atriplex halimus Linnaeus, 1753 (Caryophyllales Chenopodiaceae) in both synthetic media (nutrient agar, and Mueller Hinton) reached rates of 80% at 25 °C and 50% at 5 °C. The taxon shows a good resistance to salt; because of high salinity treatments (500 to 600 meq/l), there is a delay in germination but not complete inhibition of the process.