A total of 52 individuals of Acomys dimidiatus were collected in Bushehr Province, Minab and Geno Biosphere Reserve in Hormozgan Province, Iran for the first time during the summer of 2003 and 2005. ANOVA results revealed significant differences in all characters of these rodents between the study sites, with the exception of the length of diastema and that of anterior palatine foramen. The Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that Khaeez and Jam samples (Boushehr) belonged to separate groups These samples were similar in cranial width. Minab samples had a positive association with occipitonasal, condylobasal, zygomatic and mandible lengths. Some of Geno samples were similar to Minab samples, but others differed because of the negative relationship with such characters as occipitonasal, condylobasal, zygomatic and mandible lengths. The comparison of cranial characteristics revealed the importance of occipitonasal and condylobasal lengths in distinguishing between the populations. Our results suggest ...
Taxonomic revisions and reviews of leaf-mining Lepidoptera, with documentation and description of new taxa were among the main goals of research conducted at the Biosystematics Research Group (previously Minological Unit) of Vilnius Pedagogical University, Lithuania. Among 405 new species described by members of the Research Group (solely or with co-authors, i. e. D. R. Davis, G. S. Robinson, E. J. van Nieukerken, W. Mey, D. C. Lees), 322 species belong to Nepticuloidea and Tischerioidea and represent a large portion (nearly 1/3) of the currently known world fauna of nepticuloids and tischerioids. Thirteen synonyms or unpublished species which have already been discovered and recognized but await publication (about 80 species) were excluded from the count. In the current paper, a taxonomic checklist of all taxa described up to the end of 2009, with data on the described species’ geographical distribution and deposition of the type-series is given for the first time, together with some discussion about the authorship, chronology of description and geographical origin of new discoveries (new species and genera).
Lithophane alaina Boursin, 1957 is mentioned here for the first time for the Iranian fauna. This species is diagnosed with respect to its other Iranian congeners. Notes on the bionomy and distribution of the species are given. A male adult and its genitalia are illustrated. An identification key is presented for Lithophane spp. in Iran.
Tipula (Vestiplex) adungensis Alexander, 1963 and Tipula (Vestiplex) Eurydice Alexander, 1961 are reported as new to the fauna of China, and Tipula (Vestiplex) distifurca Alexander, 1942 and Tipula (Vestiplex) himalayensis Brunetti, 1911 as new to Myanmar. The data are based on material collected in 1931 and preserved in the Natural History Museum, London, Great Britain. The current article presents information concerning finding localities, habitats, numbers of collected specimens and general distribution. The female of Tipula (Vestiplex) eurydice Alexander, 1961 is described for the first time together with original photographs of the main diagnostic features.
This study presents the up-to-date list of the aphid species (family Aphididae, 63 species and one subspecies of 28 genera altogether) reported from Trakai district (Lithuania). It is based on the reference data (23 species altogether, 1927–1966) and original material collected in 1986 and 2007, with the comments on their distribution. Dysaphis leefmansi and Uroleucon cichorii subsp. leontodontis are reported for the first time in the aphid fauna of Lithuania, Aphis valerianae for the first time in the Palaearctic region. Consequently, the list of aphid species in Lithuania has grown to 336 species.
The caddisfly species Sericostoma schneideri is widespread in the southwestern part of Europe. For the first time it was found above latitude 54° North in Lithuania. The larvae were detected in 20 lowland rivers of Lithuania varying in size from medium to large ones. The main morphological features distinguishing between larvae of two different Sericostoma species occurring in Lithuania (Sericostoma schneideri and S. personatum) are presented.
We tested the assumption that beavers can differently impact land reclamation canals (open drains) in two types of landscapes – hilly moraine uplands (uplands) and clayey plains (plains). The two types of landscapes differ in physical peculiarities as well as in the level of agricultural use, which influence beaver impact and capabilities of this ecosystem engineer to renaturalize open drains. Generally, beavers had a greater impact on open drains in uplands. It was expressed in a higher proportion of beaver sites with beaver-made channels and beaver-formed wetlands and in wider beaver impoundments, compared with plains. Beaver sites in land reclamation canals in plains had longer impoundments; however, the mean number of beaver dams per site did not reliably differ between the two landscape types. We found beaver sites being more expressed in outskirt and forest canals than in field canals in both landscapes. The longevity of beaver sites (many of which persist for decades due to interchanging recolonization and temporal abandonment) is among the most important factors determining beaver impact on open drains. The longevity of beaver sites seems to be influenced by relief features, beaver population structure, canal type, and extent of beaver persecution by humans, which differs in two studied landscapes.
A search for the pine-tree lappet moth (Dendrolimus pini (Linnaeus, 1758)) and Siberian silk moth (D. sibiricus (Tschetverikov, 1908)) was carried out by using sticky traps baited with synthetic sex pheromone blends. The traps intended for search of D. pini were operated in 19 localities of pine forests all over Lithuania during the period 2004–2006, and for D. sibiricus in 47 localities of such habitats as town parks, botanical gardens, forest trees nurseries and forest lots all over Lithuania during the period 2005–2006. In total, 32 moth species were identified from sticky traps intended for search of D. sibiricus: however, not a single Siberian silk moth was found. D. pini composed the biggest part of moths caught by traps for D. sibiricus, the frequency of D. pini was the highest, and it could be ascertained as not accidental. Other trapped moth species were revealed to be non-target. Two new localities of the occurrence of a very rare for Lithuania moth species, Bryotropha senectella (Zeller, 1839),...
The growth parameters, mortality rates, exploitation rate, recruitment pattern, yield/biomass per recruit and the corresponding fishing mortality at this level of Parailia pellucida (Boulenger) in the Anambra flood river system, southeastern Nigeria, was studied using the length-frequency based analysis of FiSAT II software. Growth parameters were as follows: asymptotic length (L∞) = 11.03 cm TL, growth curvature (K) = 0.63 yr-¹. The total mortality (Z) = 2.42 yr-¹, natural mortality (M) = 1.68 yr-¹, and fishing mortality (F) was 0.74 yr-¹. Exploitation rate (E) was 0.31. P. pellucida exhibited the bimodal continuous recruitment pattern. The Selection Ogive procedures for relative yield/biomass per recruit showed that Emax was 0.70. The stock was not overexploited (E < Emax); the fishing pressure should be maintained and monitored to guide against possible overexploitation since the flood river system operates unrestricted and unregulated fisheries activities.
The current article summarizes the faunal and bibliographical information on weevils of the Latvian fauna belonging to the genera Larinus, Lixus, Rhinocyllus, Coniocleonus, Stephanocleonus, Bothynoderes, Cyphocleonus and Cleonis. A total of 462 specimens of these genera were reviewed. The analysis of the bibliography of Latvian Lixinae was made for the first time. The first record of Larinus turbinatus Gyllenhal, 1835 in the Latvian fauna is reported. One species, Stephanocleonus tetragrammus (Pallas, 1781) is excluded from the list of Latvian Coleoptera. The annotated list including 15 species and 7 genera as well as an illustrated key to Latvian Lixinae are given.
The aim of the study was to determine the growth rate and growth parameters of freshwater bream (Abramis brama (L.)) in a mesotrophic Lake Rubikiai and evaluate species growth in the light of environmental conditions in Lithuanian lakes. Age was determined for 209 fish. The age of freshwater bream caught was 1–13 years; 7- to 9-year-old individuals prevailed. The length-weight relationship for the entire population was described by the equation W = 0.0159 × L3.076. Von Bertalanffy growth equations for standard length and weight were Lt = 65.7[1-e−0.085(t–0.482);]; Wt = 6198[1-e−0.085(t–0.482);]3.076. The overall growth performance index (ϕ') was 2.565. The average absolute annual standard length increment (i1–10) was 3.59 cm. Freshwater bream from Lake Rubikiai was characterised by average growth, compared to populations of other investigated Lithuanian lakes and water bodies from various geographical locations. The species was found to grow faster in mesotrophic lakes than in eutrophic lakes. Freshwater bream growth rate positively correlated with lake maximum and mean depth, water transparency, but negatively correlated with the percentage of wetland areas.
The current paper summarizes information on the Latvian fauna of Altica Geoffroy, 1762. Faunal data on 10 species of this genus are presented. Altica ampelophaga Guérin-Méneville, 1858 is excluded from the list of Latvian Coleoptera. The bibliographical information on this flea beetle genus in Latvia is summarized for the first time. Original photos of female styles of all Altica species of the local fauna and the annotated list of Latvian Altica, including 14 species are provided. Keywords: ColeopteraChrysomelidae Altica Latviafaunafemale styles
The aim of this paper was to examine spatial distribution of badger setts (N = 20) and fox dens (N = 42) in relation to habitat availability (estimated on the basis of 100 random points) and human impact on their environment (settlements, sylviculture practice). Badgers displayed a tendency to locate their setts close to habitats of moderate fertility, but avoided poor and young Scotch pine monocultures created by humans (<50 years old). Generally, foxes did not show any preference as to location of their dens, but they settled significantly closer (within 31–1486 m, median 497 m) to human settlements than badgers did (403–1841 m, median 675 m). Also, distances to open areas were different for both species, but not significantly. In comparison to foxes (2%), badgers more frequently (30%) settled in Strictly Protected Areas where human activity in sylviculture had not been as intensive as in surrounding areas for many years. It allows confirming that disturbances in forest ecosystems caused by human sylviculture (especially cultivation of young coniferous monoculture) influence the spatial distribution of badger setts to some degree. It can also be concluded that foxes are less anthropophobic than badgers in the Kampinos Forest.
The current article presents faunistic data on 18 leaf-beetle (Chrysomelidae) species in Lithuania. Three species of them, Chrysolina herbacea (Duftschmid, 1825), Gonioctena intermedia (Helliesen, 1913) and Phyllotreta dilatata Thomson, 1866, are mentioned for the local fauna for the first time. The reviewed material is deposited in collections of Kaunas Tadas Ivanauskas Zoological Museum. A short review of the history of leaf-beetle research in Lithuania is given.
The aim of the study was to investigate species composition of the small mammal community of the Romincka Forest (NE Poland) with the aid of the tawny owl Strix aluco as a material collector and to estimate the efficiency of the methods applied. In total, 1209 small mammals were sampled, 909 of which were classified as belonging to one of the 15 species identified. Using the rarefaction method we assessed that in order to record 95% of all the mammal species present, 434 individuals randomly selected from the whole material need to be sampled (i.e. 47.7%). The estimation of the total species richness indicated that all species inhabiting the forest under study were recorded. For two less common mammals, the common pine vole Microtus subterraneus and the common dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius, we made an attempt to calculate the number of animals annually killed by the tawny owl population. Our calculations were based on the proportion of small animals in owls' diet and the density of these birds of prey. We estimated that the tawny owl population removed from 1336 to 2305 individuals of M. subterraneus and from 604 to 1041 individuals of M. avellanarius in the study area every year (i.e. 22.3–38.4 and 10.1–17.4 individuals per km2, respectively). Such analysis may be applicable to other rare species, and therefore may be an effective tool for the assessment of biological resources and their conservation planning.
The article presents investigation data on the ecological state of the Siesartis River and the diversity, distribution, community structure of fish therein. During the study period, 23 fish species belonging to nine fish families were caught. Nine of these species are protected. River lamprey Lampetra fluviatilis (L.), brook lamprey Lampetra planeri (Bloch.), salmon Salmo salar (L.) are protected under the EU Habitats Directive and the Bern Convention, grayling Thymallus thymallus (L.), vimba Vimba vimba (L.) and riffle minnow Alburnoides bipunctatus (Bloch.) are under the protection of the Bern Convention; bitterling Rhodeus sericeus amarus (Bloch.) and spined loach Cobitis taenia (L.) are protected under the Bern Convention; the bullhead Cottus gobio (L.) is protected under the EU Habitats Directive. Salmon (20.3%), riffle minnow (20.1%), minnow (17.2%) and brown trout (12.2%) dominated the Siesartis River fish community in abundance. Protected species accounted for 48.5% of the fish community abundance. In biomass, the fish community of the Siesartis River was dominated by brown trout (20.8%), sea trout (18.8%) and salmon (15.3%). The mean fish density was 34.3 ind/100 m² and the mean biomass 731.2 g/100 m². Correlations between some environmental factors and indices of fish communities were established. Fish communities were mainly impacted by the river depth, flow velocity, bottom substrate structure and the vegetation coverage rate. Judging by species diversity indices, fish abundance, density, biomass and the Lithuanian Fish Index, the ecological state of the community is very good.
Five external morphometric and 23 craniometric characters of 782 Root Vole (Microtus oeconomus) individuals trapped in N, NW, C and S Lithuania in 2001–2009 were analysed with respect to sex and age of animals. The body mass of juveniles, subadults and adults was, respectively, 6.5–27.5, 16.5–39.5 and 16.5–77.0 g, body length 52.6–105.2, 73.8–118.6 and 79.2–142.0 mm, and condylobasal skull length 19.4–27.9, 22.2–25.9 and 20.9–29.7 mm. Sexual dimorphism was characteristic mainly of adult voles. Sex-dependent differences in body and skull size were weak in subadult voles and not expressed in juveniles. On average, adult males of M. oeconomus were bigger than females. Early matured females were much smaller. The overlap of body and skull measurements in adult, subadult and juvenile voles was very high. Unmistakable assigning of voles to the age group of juveniles was correct when body mass was below 16.5 g and body length below 74 mm, while adults could unmistakably be recognized when their body mass was over 40 g and body length over 120 mm. Body mass and body length values of subadult voles were overlaid by measurements of juveniles and adult individuals. Further, subadults could not be distinguished from any skull measurements. The body mass of M. oeconomus was strongly correlated with linear body measurements and with most of the skull measurements in all age groups.
Faunal data on eight species of the tribe Cionini Schoenherr, 1825 are presented. A total of 422 specimens of this tribe were reviewed. The bibliographical information on this tribe in Latvia is summarized for the first time. The annotated list including nine species and the illustrated key to Latvian Cionini are given. Keywords: ColeopteraCurculionidaeCioniniLatviafaunaidentification key
Information on the distribution and bionomy of Otiorhynchus smreczynskii Cmoluch, 1968 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in the Eastern Baltic region is presented. This weevil species is reported from Lithuania and Estonia for the first time. A large population of the species was discovered in Daugavpils (Latvia), where it was observed on Syringa vulgaris, S. villosa, Ligustrum vulgare, Ribes alpinum, Spiraea chamaedrifolia, Cydonia oblonga and Aronia melanocarpa. Pictures of O. smreczynskii aedeagus are presented for the first time. Illustrations of typical leaf-edge-cuts made by this weevil are given.
