Zoological Studies最新文献

{"title":"Seasonal Variations of the Zooplankton Community in the Western Gulf of Mexico: is there an Influence of the Warm Eddy Jumbo?","authors":"Elia Lemus-Santana, Laura Sanvicente-Añorve, Miguel Alatorre-Mendieta","doi":"10.6620/ZS.2024.63-57","DOIUrl":"10.6620/ZS.2024.63-57","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In the Gulf of Mexico, the Loop Current sporadically sheds warm anticyclonic eddies that travel into the gulf and whose influence on the zooplankton community of the western region is not known. This research examined the zooplankton community dynamics in the western Gulf of Mexico during three seasons: July 2010 (summer), January 2011 (winter), and October-November 2012 (fall), and the possible effect of the warm eddy called Jumbo, released from the Loop Current in the middle of 2012 and that approached the western side of the gulf at the end of the year. We hypothesized shifts in the composition and/or biomass of the zooplankton fauna collected during the fall period due to the transport of organisms from elsewhere or because of a rapid response of zooplankton to warmer environmental conditions. This could result in a greater similarity of the fall season to the summer rather than to the winter. Zooplankton samples were taken onboard the oceanographic vessel Justo Sierra and a total of 82 oceanographic stations were sampled with a Bongo net; at each sampling station, temperature and salinity were measured with a CTD profiler. Both environmental and zooplankton data were treated through a Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCO) to explore their relationship. Fourteen zooplankton groups were recognized in all three sampling periods, with seasonal variations in biomass. The PCO showed that July was characterized by high-temperature values (~27°C), low chlorophyll concentration (< 1 mg/m³), the dominance of copepods, chaetognaths, and luciferids, as well as high biomass values of crustacean larvae (decapods stomatopods), signaling this season as the reproductive period. January was characterized by higher chlorophyll concentration (1-1.3 mg/m³), lower temperatures (18-22°C), and a high biomass of amphipods, ostracods, and jellyfishes; October-November registered similar environmental conditions to July, but the PCO and the associated distance among centroids indicated that the zooplankton community structure was more similar to January. The occurrence of the 14 groups in all the seasons, reveals no shifts in the composition in the study area. Besides, the similarity of the fall to the winter in the zooplankton structure discarded the hypothesis. Our results suggest that the zooplankton community follows its natural seasonal dynamics and shows high resilience to eventual hydrographic phenomena, such as anticyclonic eddies.</p>","PeriodicalId":49331,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Studies","volume":"63 ","pages":"e57"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-12-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12422922/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145066088","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Light-induced Petrel Groundings in New Caledonia.","authors":"Philippe Borsa, Jennifer Mareschal, Vivien Chartendrault","doi":"10.6620/ZS.2024.63-59","DOIUrl":"10.6620/ZS.2024.63-59","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study aims to identify the petrel species affected by artificial light pollution in New Caledonia, describe the spatial and temporal patterns of light-induced groundings, and infer the factors involved. The study took place across Grande Terre (New Caledonia's main island) from 2007 to 2009. A network of concerned citizens reported grounded seabirds. Live grounded birds were rescued and released when possible, or euthanized. Groundings were mapped at the scales of both Grande Terre and Nouméa, the main city. Negative binomial regression was used to analyze the effects of light intensity and proximity to shore on the number of groundings. Of the 523 grounded seabirds recorded between 2007 and 2009, 80.2% were wedge-tailed shearwaters (<i>Ardenna pacifica</i>), 14.2% were Gould's petrels (Pterodroma leucoptera), and 5.4% were Tahiti petrels (<i>Pseudobulweria rostrata</i>). Combining all three species, an estimated 64.9% of grounded individuals were fledglings. Groundings of Gould's petrels and wedge-tailed shearwaters peaked during their respective fledging seasons (April and May). The number of lights and the proximity to shore were identified as highly significant positive factors explaining the number of groundings. Groundings were particularly numerous at industrial sites and airports. Mortality upon discovery or within days after exceeded 47.8% in the wedge-tailed shearwater, 35% in Gould's petrel, and 23% in the Tahiti petrel. The results highlight the detrimental impact of outdoor artificial lighting on three petrel species breeding on Grande Terre, including the threatened Gould's petrel and the near-threatened Tahiti petrel. They provide evidence to support the urgent implementation of artificial light reduction policies at the periphery of Nouméa, around industrial sites, and near airports especially during the fledging periods.</p>","PeriodicalId":49331,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Studies","volume":"63 ","pages":"e59"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-12-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12422920/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145066112","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"First Evidence of Indirect Oviposition in Phasiinae (Diptera: Tachinidae) with Insights on <i>Leucostoma</i> Meigen, its New Neotropical Distribution, and Host Association.","authors":"Rodrigo de Vilhena Perez Dios, Talita Roell, Graciano Tejada Hurtado","doi":"10.6620/ZS.2024.63-54","DOIUrl":"10.6620/ZS.2024.63-54","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Flies of the family Tachinidae are known for being arthropod parasitoids. Phasiinae, the bug-killing flies, is one of its subfamilies, which is specialized in heteropteran hosts (Hemiptera: Heteroptera). Flies of this group are known to oviposit directly on their heteropteran hosts, and many parasitize important agricultural pests, making them relevant for biological control. Among phasiines, the tribe Leucostomatini is easily distinguished by their characteristic female terminalia, which has structures that resemble a pincer. <i>Leucostoma</i> Meigen is the largest genera with 28 species, and only 10 being recorded in the Neotropical Region. Herein, we present the first direct evidence of an indirect oviposition strategy in bug-killing flies. We observed females of <i>Leucostoma acirostre</i> Reinhard ovipositing directly on the host plant of their hosts. This possibility has already been considered in the literature, and a discussion of this new strategy is presented, as it is relevant for understanding Tachinidae evolution, as well as developing biological control strategies. This is the first record of <i>L. acirostre</i> for the Neotropical Region, as well as a new host record for the rhopalid <i>Harmostes parafraterculus</i> Göllner-Scheiding. Alongside, <i>Leucostoma aterrimum</i> (Villers) specimens were collected from <i>Liorhyssus hyalinus</i> (Fabr.) of Peru, an important quinoa pest from the region, and the first record of the species and host association for the country. We update the distribution of both species, with new records for South America. Both species are redescribed, including photographs, new data for the puparium, and male and female terminalia (both illustrated). Lastly, we discuss the validity of the few <i>Leucostoma</i> non-heteropteran host records, as they are all probably mistakes, and comment on the widespread distribution of some of the genus' species and host use.</p>","PeriodicalId":49331,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Studies","volume":"63 ","pages":"e54"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-12-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12417140/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145041738","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"An Integrated Taxonomy Approach Identified the Final Stage of Giant Phyllosoma of <i>Parribacus antarcticus</i> (Lund, 1793) (Crustacea: Decapoda: Scyllaridae) from Taiwan Waters.","authors":"Guo-Chen Jiang, Chien-Hui Yang, Kaori Wakabayashi, Tin-Yam Chan","doi":"10.6620/ZS.2024.63-56","DOIUrl":"10.6620/ZS.2024.63-56","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A bizarre marine planktonic organism giant phyllosoma with a body length of 79 mm was collected off Taiwanese waters for the first time. The specimen is positively identified as <i>Parribacus antarcticus</i> (Lund, 1793) by DNA barcoding, representing the largest and the first final stage giant phyllosoma with identification confirmed. The characteristics of the phyllosoma from Taiwan is described and illustrated in detail. As morphometric ratios previously proposed for identifying phyllosomae of <i>Parribacus</i> failed to assign correctly the species of the Taiwanese specimen, there is still no reliable morphological character for separating these giant phyllosomae. A key to the different phyllosoma stages of <i>P. antarcticus</i> is provided.</p>","PeriodicalId":49331,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Studies","volume":"63 ","pages":"e56"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-12-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12417139/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145042040","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Commentary: Integrative Taxonomy Reveals Freshwater Shrimp Diversity (Decapoda: Atyidae: <i>Neocaridina</i>) from Kyushu and Southern Honshu of Japan, with a Discussion on Introduced Species.","authors":"Yusuke Fuke","doi":"10.6620/ZS.2024.63-53.","DOIUrl":"10.6620/ZS.2024.63-53.","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Shih et al. (2024) reported on the detection of <i>Neocaridina</i> species in Japan and their morphological characteristics in <i>Zoological Studies</i>. Eleven taxa were identified based on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis and morphological examination. Among these, they identified two taxa that formed sister groups: <i>N. denticulata</i> and <i>N. davidi</i>, which are primarily found in Japan and China. In this commentary, I argue that both species are actually <i>N. davidi</i>. This conclusion was previously drawn by Onuki and Fuke (2022) based on their examination of genome-wide SNPs, mtDNA, and morphological data. The doubts raised about this identification represent a serious issue in terms of conservation, as <i>N. denticulata</i> is a native species, whereas <i>N. davidi</i> is considered an invasive alien species in Japan. Two likely reasons for this misidentification are the oversight of previous studies and the inability to account for the effects of interspecific and intraspecific hybridization. Inaccurate or unsubstantiated identifications pose significant challenges to taxonomy and conservation, underscoring the need for research grounded in reliable methods and well-characterized specimens.</p>","PeriodicalId":49331,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Studies","volume":"63 ","pages":"e53"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-12-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12417129/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145041725","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"New Species of the Digger Scorpions, <i>Odontobuthus</i> Vachon, 1950 (Buthidae) from Southern Iran.","authors":"Hossein Barahoei, Mehran Shahi","doi":"10.6620/ZS.2024.63-48","DOIUrl":"10.6620/ZS.2024.63-48","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Odontobuthus</i> Vachon, 1950, with nine described species, is a genus of digger scorpions in the Buthidae family, which can be distinguished by having large tooth-like processes on the ventrosubmedian carinae of the second and third metasomal segments. Morphological and molecular investigation of coastal specimens from the Hormozgan province in Iran led to the discovery of a new species named <i>Odontobuthus persicus</i> sp. nov. that is described here. It is closely related to <i>O. chabaharensis</i> morphologically. The new <i>Odontobuthus</i> species has two large and conical tooth-like processes on ventrosubmedian carinae of the second and third metasomal segments, while <i>O. chabaharensis</i> has three or four medium to large tooth-like processes. Based on phylogenetic analysis using partial <i>COI</i> sequences, the new species is placed as a sister taxon of <i>O. brevidigitus</i>. Genetic differences with the other species of <i>Odontobuthus</i> (mean = 0.107) confirmed the validity of this species.</p>","PeriodicalId":49331,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Studies","volume":"63 ","pages":"e48"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-12-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12406227/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145001772","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Taxonomic Study of the Chalcidoid Wasps <i>Sycoscapter</i> Saunders (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) Associated with Monoecious <i>Ficus</i> in Taiwan, with Description of Four New Species.","authors":"Po-An Chou, Wen-Bin Yeh, Zhi-Hui Su, Hsy-Yu Tzeng","doi":"10.6620/ZS.2024.63-34","DOIUrl":"10.6620/ZS.2024.63-34","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>As a prominent group of nonpollinating fig wasps widely distributed in the paleotropics, <i>Sycoscapter</i> Saunders has been subject to limited taxonomic attention. This study presents the first comprehensive taxonomic investigation of <i>Sycoscapter</i> wasps associated with five Taiwanese monoecious fig species, employing both molecular and morphological methods. Phylogenetic analyses using <i>COI</i> and <i>COI</i>+<i>28S</i> data revealed the presence of five species associated with monoecious figs in Taiwan and neighboring regions: <i>Sycoscapter</i> <i>gajimaru</i> (Ishii), <i>Sycoscapter</i> <i>piceoscapus</i> Chou & Tzeng sp. nov., <i>Sycoscapter monticola</i> Chou & Tzeng sp. nov., <i>Sycoscapter</i> <i>ishiianus</i> Chou & Tzeng sp. nov., and <i>Sycoscapter</i> <i>littoralis</i> Chou & Tzeng sp. nov. Morphologically, these five <i>Sycoscapter</i> species possessed distinctive characteristics, including the male head shape, which distinguished them from related species. Furthermore, males of all five species exhibited rudimentary wing vestiges, commonly found in wasps associated with monoecious figs but absent in those associated with dioecious figs. Overall, this study enriches our understanding of chalcidoid fauna in Taiwan and provides insight into the mechanisms that sustain intricate ecosystems.</p>","PeriodicalId":49331,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Studies","volume":"63 ","pages":"e34"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-12-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12450918/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145132409","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Checklist and DNA Barcoding of the Scorpaenidae (Teleostei: Scorpaeniformes) in Taiwan.","authors":"Tak-Kei Chou, Wen-Chien Huang, Wei-Cheng Jhuang, Te-Yu Liao","doi":"10.6620/ZS.2024.63-37","DOIUrl":"10.6620/ZS.2024.63-37","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Species of the family Scorpaenidae are easily misidentified due to their similar appearances, a result of camouflaging to their surroundings. In recent years, many species from this family have been described, and generic placements of some species have been revised. Previously, there were 80 species belonging to 29 genera of the Scorpaenidae recorded in Taiwanese waters. However, their taxonomy has not been revised for decades. It is necessary to update the checklist of the Scorpaenidae occurring in Taiwanese waters based on updated morphological and molecular data. In the present study, we revised the Taiwanese scorpaenids based on 296 specimens and updated the checklist, amounting to a total of 85 species of 29 genera, of which <i>Sebastapistes mauritiana</i> (Cuvier) is a new record, and three species from the genera <i>Phenacoscorpius</i>, <i>Scorpaenopsis</i>, and <i>Sebastapistes</i> are unable to be identified to any species. Using molecular analysis, we conducted the first comprehensive DNA barcoding study of the Scorpaenidae from Taiwanese waters based on a partial cytochrome <i>c</i> oxidase I (<i>COI</i>) gene of 655 bps. A total of 118 <i>COI</i> sequences were generated from voucher specimens of 66 species (28 genera) identified based on morphological characters. The <i>COI</i> sequences of <i>Parascorpaena maculipinnis</i>, <i>Scorpaena pepo</i>, and <i>Scorpaenopsis orientalis</i> are new to online databases. According to the Kimura-2 Parameter (K2P) genetic distance, the mean interspecific variation (15.61%) was distinctly greater than the mean intraspecific variation (0.22%), suggesting a barcoding gap. The maximum likelihood tree showed that all lineages were supported by high bootstrap values.</p>","PeriodicalId":49331,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Studies","volume":"63 ","pages":"e37"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-12-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12399982/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144976168","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ambush Site Selection by a Green Bamboo Pit Viper: Relation to Prey Abundance and Comparison between Juveniles and Adults.","authors":"Chun-Kai Yang, Yi-Ju Yang, Akira Mori","doi":"10.6620/ZS.2024.63-55","DOIUrl":"10.6620/ZS.2024.63-55","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Selecting ambush sites where prey abundance is high is vital for the foraging success of sit-and-wait predators. Ideal ambush sites, however, could vary due to different prey characteristics and intra-specific competition. We examined whether different life stages of a sit-and-wait predator, <i>Trimeresurus stejnegeri</i>, select different ambush sites, based on the observations of ambush sites of juvenile and adult snakes in three water habitats (lentic, lotic, and temporary pools) in Taiwan throughout the year. Snake stomach contents were compared between life stages in each habitat. Correlations between the monthly number of snakes observed and that of each frog species were analyzed for each habitat. Adult snakes mainly used lentic water as ambush sites and rarely used temporary pools, whereas juvenile snakes used all three habitats with a similar frequency. No clear ontogenetic diet shift was found from juveniles to adults. A high percentage of snakes from lentic water habitats had stomachs containing prey, suggesting this habitat is a better site for foraging by both juveniles and adults. Overall, our study highlights that habitat use and behavior of each prey animal and intraspecific competition as well as prey abundance should be taken into consideration when we investigate the factors that affect ambush site selection by predators.</p>","PeriodicalId":49331,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Studies","volume":"63 ","pages":"e55"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-12-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12417141/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145042051","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Wing Morphology of Japanese Bats: Predicting Ecological Features for Data-insufficient Species.","authors":"Takahiro Maki, Dai Fukui","doi":"10.6620/ZS.2024.63-36","DOIUrl":"10.6620/ZS.2024.63-36","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Wing morphology, one of the most important morphological traits in bats, is closely related to their foraging habitat and strategies and has been explored as a pivotal trait for ecological and conservation studies. However, studies on wing morphology, as well as the ecology of Japanese bats, are largely lacking. In this study, we aimed to enrich the wing morphology data of Japanese bats. The wing variables, including forearm length, aspect ratio, relative wing loading, and wing tip shape index, were assessed using museum and private specimens of 34 Japanese bat species. Hierarchical clustering of the wing variables classified the bats into nine clusters to predict their foraging ecology, including the species for which ecological knowledge was lacking. Based on the ecological knowledge of Japanese bats, the aspect ratio of bats belonging to the open-space foraging guild was significantly higher than that of those belonging to other guilds. In contrast, the wing tip shape index of bats belonging to the narrow-space foraging guild was significantly higher than those belonging to the other guilds. In conclusion, our study sheds light on the complex interplay between wing morphology and foraging ecology in Japanese bats, offering insights for future research and conservation efforts.</p>","PeriodicalId":49331,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Studies","volume":"63 ","pages":"e36"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-12-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12322670/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144790493","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}