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Biodiversity Journal 2017, 8 (3): 773-868

  • Biodiversity Journal, 8 (3): 773-774
    Christoph Bückle
    Eupteryx petasitidis Ferrari, 1882 (Auchenorrhyncha Cicadellidae)
  • Biodiversity Journal, 8 (3): 775

    Arnaldo Bordoni
    Observations on some Staphylinids (Coleoptera). 286° contribution to the knowlewdge of the Staphylinidae

    ABSTRACT
    Holotype depositories of some species of Afrotropical Xantholinini are listed and a new name is proposed for Thyreocephalus mirabilis Bordoni, 2016.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 8 (3): 777-782

    Faiza Oudjane, Naziha Bourenane & Tahar Wafa
    Feeding habits and condition of the seabream Sparus aurata Linnaeus, 1758 (Perciformes Sparidae) in the gulfs of Skikda and Annaba (Northeast of Algeria)

    ABSTRACT
    The Feeding habits of the royal seabream Sparus aurata Linnaeus, 1758 (Perciformes Sparidae) in the northeast of Algeria were continuously monitored from April 2013 to May 2014. A study was carried out on the digestive content of 380 specimens, with a total length ranging between 18.1 cm and 48 cm. Overall, 1615 preys belonging to ten different phyla (Chordata, Echinodermata, Crustacea, Chlorophyta, Mollusca, Annelida, Bryozoa, Platyhelmintha, Nemathelmintha, Tallophyta), were computed. The reoyal seabream S. aurata has a widely varied diet. At a juvenile stage it is omnivorous, feeding on different benthic preys (i.e. shellfishes, molluscs, annelids, plants), on pelagic ones (fishes, eggs and Copepods), and Chlorophycea algae, as well. On a further stage, it shows a predatory feeding behavior, with molluscs constituting its preferential food as shown by the Main food index (MFI) values.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 8 (3): 783-806

    Pioneer Taashwa Gamundani, Christopher Magadza & Shakkie Kativu
    Contemporary spatial distribution pattern, breeding status and habitat suitability criteria for the African skimmer, Rynchops flavirostris Vieillot, 1816 (Aves Laridae) in the Zambezi Valley, Zimbabwe

    ABSTRACT
    Reports indicate a decline in spatial distribution, reproduction and population size of the African Skimmer, Rynchops flavirostris Vieillot, 1816 (Aves Laridae) in the Zambezi Valley, Zimbabwe following construction of Lake Kariba. The objective of the present study was to assess contemporary distribution and breeding status of R. flavirostris in Lake Kariba and upstream and downstream of the lake in Zimbabwe. The study also developed habitat suitability criteria for Habitat Risk Index (Ri) and established the dominant substrates, soil moisture levels, soil temperature and food abundance for R. flavirostris in lentic and lotic environs of the Zambezi Valley, in order to establish the appropriate habitat conditions for the species. A survey method was used to determine R. flavirostris distribution and breeding status within the valley. Soil moisture level was measured by categorising levels into wet, damp, and dry soils and the category with the highest frequency was used to define habitat substrate moisture levels. Dominant substrate was visually estimated basing on proportion of soil particle sizes. Habitat risk was assessed on the basis of potential risk from anthropogenic and natural factors. Seine net fishing was conducted to estimate food abundance at sampling sites in Lake Kariba. Significant differences in sample means of measured habitat attributes between sites occupied by R. flavirostris and those unoccupied by the species were tested by two sample t tests with separate variance. One-way ANOVA was used to test for significant differences in habitat conditions among sampling sites. Three-way ANOVA was used to test for significant interactions of habitat conditions on R. flavirostris abundance in lentic and lotic environs. Preference ratios for habitat conditions were used to develop habitat suitability criteria. Results revealed that R. flavirostris was inhabiting and breeding in Lake Kariba and upstream and downstream of the lake. The species tolerance of habitat risk was observed to vary significantly (p<0.05, One-way ANOVA) among the three sections of the valley. Within the lake, R. flavirostris mostly preferred sandbars of moderate Habitat Risk Index (0.4<R<0.7). Contrary, R. flavirostris showed absolute preference to sandbars with low Habitat Risk Index (R<0.4) in habitats upstream and downstream of the lake. Significant differences (p<0.05; One-way ANOVA) in R. flavirostris abundance among sites of varying substrates were observed. Habitat Suitability Indices showed that R. flavirostris preferentially selected predominantly silty and sandy habitats in both lentic and lotic environs. Significant difference (p<0.05; One-way ANOVA) was also observed on R. flavirostris abundance among sites with different soil moisture content in the valley. R. flavirostris showed low preference for dry habitats in both lentic and lotic environs. No significant difference (p>0.05; One-way ANOVA) in temperature was observed on sandbars occupied by R. flavirostris within the lake and upstream and downstream of the lake. R. flavirostris preferentially selected sandbars with food abundances greater than 0.15 fish/m2 within Lake Kariba. This study conclusively revealed that food availability, dominant substrate, soil moisture level and habitat risk emanating from both natural and anthropogenic factors at sandbars were important determinants of habitat suitability criteria for R. flavirostris in the Zambezi Valley.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 8 (3): 807-818

    Bouhadiba Sultana, Belhoucine Fatma, Belhadj Hanane, Alioua Amel & Boutiba Zitouni
    Quantification of two metallic elements in the Mullet, Mugil cephalus Linnaeus, 1758 (Perciformes Mugilidae), fished at the bay of Oran (NW Algeria)

    ABSTRACT
    Aware of the problem of marine pollution, the Algerian authorities and the national scientific community are increasingly interested in environmental studies, with a view to assessing risks and protecting our coastal ecosystem. For this reason, several studies are carried out on the studies of the degree of contamination of the Algerian coasts as well as the fishery products. This research is partly rooted in a monitoring mission to conduct an integrated study of the marine environment. The objectives of this work are oriented towards societal questions and to provide elements of assistance to the management of this environment for the local actors. This study focused on the evaluation of the concentrations of the two heavy metals Lead (Pb) and Zinc (Zn) in Mullet, Mugil cephalus Linnaeus, 1758 (Perciformes Mugilidae), caught in the Oran bays. This fish reflects very well the quality of its biotope; it is a very abundant species in Algerian coastal waters and very appreciated by the Algerian consumer. The harvesting campaigns were carried out for fourteen months from February 2012 to March 2013, the quantification of heavy metal concentrations was carried out in three organs: liver (the detoxification organ), gonads ( the reproductive organs) and flesh (representing the part consumed by humans). Heavy metal concentrations were determined by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry as a function of several parameters. The mean concentrations of Lead and Zinc in muscle, liver and fish gonads in Oran Bay are below standards, i.e. the grades are generally low in the two metals studied and do not exceed the normative limits required in fish. This study indicates a limited bioavailability of two metals (Lead and Zinc) in the fishery products. Results of biochemical analysis revealed metallic contents below the maximum allowable doses (D.M.A), which other studies have confirmed. These heavy metals are present at low concentrations in nature and in living organisms.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 8 (3): 819-826

    Sunil Kumar Gupta & Kailash Chandra
    A new genus (Orthoptera Acrididae Acridinae) and three species of short-horned grasshoppers from India

    ABSTRACT
    A new genus Keshava n. gen. (Orthoptera) of the subfamily Acridinae (type species Keshava shishodensis n. sp.) with three new species are described from Chhattisgarh, India. Taxonomical notes are provided.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 8 (3): 827-832

    Rinaldo Nicoli Aldini
    Morphological observations on a gynandromorph of Anacridium aegyptium (Linnaeus, 1764) (Orthoptera Acridiidae)

    ABSTRACT
    This paper describes and illustrates a gynandromorph of Anacridium aegyptium (Linnaeus, 1764) (Orthoptera Acridiidae). Its morphological features are compared with normal male and female features in this species. Biometric data are also provided. This is the first case of gynandromorphism reported in A. aegyptium. The specimen was collected in the field near Imperia (northern Italy).

  • Biodiversity Journal, 8 (3): 833-838

    Xiongwen Chen
    Patterns of family-species distribution for organisms in Alabama, USA

    ABSTRACT
    Biodiversity provides multiple functions to human society. Understanding the emergent properties of biodiversity in one region is important for better conservation and strategy developing. In this study, organisms of different groups (fishes, amphibians and reptiles, mammals, butterflies and plants) in Alabama were studied by methods of family-species number distribution and entropy. The results indicate that the family-species distribution of each organism group in Alabama follows a power law, but the power exponent varies among groups. There is no significant difference for the power exponents among the groups of fishes, mammals and plants, also between amphibians and reptiles and birds. The power exponent of butterflies is quite different with others. For global birds, the power exponent is significantly different with the birds group and others in Alabama. The entropy of family-species distribution is only about half of maximum entropy within each group or overall. The implications for biodiversity conservation and strategy making are discussed. Characterizing the family-species distribution at different scales will provide a quantitative approach for comparing and evaluating hierarchical properties of biodiversity.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 8 (3): 839-850

    Bruno Amati & Stefano Chiarelli
    Description of Alvania oetyliaca n. sp. from the Mediterranean Sea (Mollusca Gastropoda Rissoidae)

    ABSTRACT
    A new Mediterranean species of the genus Alvania Risso, 1826 (Rissooidea Rissoidae) is described: Alvania oetyliaca n. sp. All known specimens come from the type locality: Itilo Bay, Peloponnese, Greece. It is compared with the most similar congeners from the Mediterranean Sea: A. subcrenulata (Bucquoy, Dautzenberg et Dollfus, 1884), A. amatii Oliverio, 1986, A. nestaresi Oliverio et Amati, 1990, A. balearica Oliver et Templado, 2009, A. aliceae Amati, 2014, A. hirta Monterosato, 1884 and A. cancellata (Da Costa, 1778). It is also compared with Alvania sleursi (Amati, 1987) from the Atlantic and A. laurae Brunetti et Vecchi, 2012 from the Pleistocene of Italy.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 8 (3): 851-854

    Mauro Grano & Cristina Cattaneo
    The Balkan Terrapin Mauremys rivulata (Valenciennes in Bory de Saint-Vincent, 1833) (Testudines Geoemydidae) in the Aegean island of Chalki: native or introduced?

    ABSTRACT
    The presence of the Balkan Terrapin Mauremys rivulata (Valenciennes in Bory de Saint-Vincent, 1833) (Testudines Geoemydidae) for the Aegean island of Chalki (Dodecanese, Greece), is here recorded for the first time. Mauremys rivulata is common in continental Greece and quite widespread in many Aegean islands, however, its presence in Chalki, extremely dry island and poor of water resources, leads to important thoughts and questions.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 8 (3): 855-860

    Giacomo Marzano, Francesca Crispino, Michela Rugge & Giacomo Gervasio
    The Wolf, Canis lupus Linnaeus, 1758 (Mammalia Canidae): recolonization is still ongoing in Southern Italy: a breeding pack documented through camera traps in the Salento Peninsula

    ABSTRACT
    The authors report the presence of the wolf in the Salento Peninsula (southern Apulia) after more than a century of the absence of sightings. New data for this area resulted from the analysis of video-photographic material provided by various collaborators (referring to the three-year period 2014-2017), as well as from camera trapping activities carried out by the authors in 2017 which revealed the presence of a breeding pack. These data help to update our knowledge of the presence of the wolf in Apulia and they extend the distribution range of the species ca. 100 km southward, making this area the extreme eastern limit of the Italian populations. The investigations were also part of a project commissioned to the authors by the “Costa Otranto Leuca e Bosco di Tricase” Regional Natural Park in March 2016, whose subject was “A preliminary study of wildlife or stray animals potentially harmful to crops and breeding stocks in the Protected Area”.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 8 (3): 861-864

    Antonino Dentici
    Contribution to the knowledge of sicilian spider fauna (Arachnida Araneae)

    ABSTRACT
    In the present paper are reported new spiders from Sicily (Aranea). Additional biological and taxonomic notes are provided.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 8 (3): 865-867

    Pierpaolo Rapuzzi
    Ropalopus boreki n. sp. from Peloponnese, South Greece (Coleoptera Cerambycidae Callidiini)

    ABSTRACT
    In this paper is described a new species of Ropalopus Mulsant, 1839 from Peloponnese (South Greece) closely related with Ropalopus siculus Stierlin, 1864 from Sicily and already known from Greece (Larisa, Ossa Mt.).