Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 56 (2), pp. 103–118, 2010
Title: Review of the Paleotropical Neogastrini earthworms (Oligochaeta, Acanthodrilidae: Benhamiinae) with description of two new genera
Author: Csuzdi, Cs.
Author's address: Systematic Zoology Research Group of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and Hungarian Natural History Museum, H-1088 Budapest Baross u. 13, Hungary, E-mail: csuzdi@nhmus.hu
Abstract: The earthworm tribus Neogastrini is reviewed. On the basis of the calciferous glands" opening the two African Pickfordia (Omodeoscolex) species are separated in a new genus Afrogaster gen. nov. From the collection of the Natural History Museum, London a new Neogastrini species representing a new genus Pickfordiella eudrilina gen. et sp. n. is described. A key to the Paleotropical Neogastrini species is given.
Key words: earthworms, Neogastrini, Africa, S America, Afrogaster gen. n. Pickfordiella gen. n.
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Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 56 (2), pp. 119–138, 2010
Title: Development and morphology of Unduloribates undulatus (Berlese, 1914) (Acari: Oribatida) and some remarks on the Unduloribatidae
Authors: Pfingstl, T. and Krisper, G.
Authors' address: Institute of Zoology, Karl-Franzens University, Universitätsplatz 2, A-8010 Graz, Austria, E-mail: guenther.krisper@uni-graz.at
Abstract: Unduloribates undulatus, a moss-dwelling species living in alpine habitats of the European Alps, the Sudeten mountain range (Giant
Mountains), and the Carpathians, is redescribed in detail and information
on the ontogenetic development is given. The species-specific characteristics
are ten pairs of long and spiniform notogastral setae, long and spinose
interlamellar setae, a slender, longish lenticulus and the juveniles
show a plicate integument, a lateral carinate opisthosomal dorsum,
uniform short spiniform notogastral setae, keel-like lamellae and
femoral porose areas. The comparison with U. brevisetosus,
U. dianae, U. hebes and U. medusa showed clear
separation of all species. Koreoribates, the second genus of
Unduloribatidae, is a junior synonym of Unduloribates, as the
described characters of its only species, K. foliatus, well
fit the known range of traits in the latter genus.
Key words: morphology, development, Phenopelopoidea, Koreoribates, taxonomy
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Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 56 (2), pp. 139–151, 2010
Title: Sexual size dimorphism in free-living populations of Mus musculus: Are male house mice bigger?
Authors: Haisová-Slábová, M.1,2, Munclinger, P.1 and Frynta, D.1
Author's addresses: 1Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Vini<@232>ná 7, CZ-128 44 Praha 2, Czech Republic, E-mail: frynta@centrum.cz Abstract: We studied sexual size dimorphism (SSD) in captive house mice derived from free-living commensal (inhabitants of buildings and stores) and
non-commensal (field and/or semidesert dwellers) populations. While
females of commensal populations and most strains of laboratory mice
are more or less tolerant to each other, females from non-commensal
populations are as highly aggressive as their male conspecifics. As
body size considerably contributes to fighting success, we addressed
the question whether sexual size dimorphism in commensal mice, with
larger males, can be attributed to the switch to the commensal way
of life. For this purpose, we performed a laboratory common garden
experiment in which non-commensal populations of Mus musculus domesticus
from Jordan and SW Iran were compared with Greek commensal mice belonging
to the same subspecies. M. m. musculus and natural hybrids
of these subspecies from the Czech Republic were also included. Growth
was recorded for 102 litters and 592 juveniles born during the experiments,
and SSD calculated on the basis of within litter comparisons between
the sexes. Males were considerably larger (SSD = 1.05) at the age
of 35 days. Newborn males tended to be larger than newborn females
but this tendency rapidly disappeared during the early postnatal period.
Starting from a nearly monomorphic state at the age of two weeks,
size difference between the sexes was established gradually up to
the end of the experimental period. We found no significant differences
in SSD among the studied populations at any age. Hence, we suppose
that the present SSD in the house mouse could be explained by selective
forces operating in the non-commensal way of life, which is ancestral
with respect to the commensal one.
Key words: Mus musculus, wild mice, sexual dimorphism, commensalism, Middle East
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Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 56 (2), pp. 153–172, 2010
Title: Intraspecific genetic variation and phylogeography of the oak gallwasp Andricus caputmedusae (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae): effects of the Anatolian Diagonal
Author: Mutun, S.
Author's address: Abant Yzzet Baysal University Faculty of Science and Arts Department of Biology, 14280, Bolu, Turkey, E-mail: smutun@ibu.edu.tr
Abstract: Physical barriers and major climatic oscillations in the Pleistocene
are of enormous importance for the distribution and current population
genetic structure of many animal taxa. Anatolia was one of the main
corridors for postglacial colonization of Europe and it is characterized
by rich biodiversity. In the present study, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)
RFLPs were used to assess i) the phylogeographic relationships among
26 populations of an oak gallwasp, Andricus caputmedusae, and
ii) the impact of the heterogenous topography on the geographic structure
of populations. PCR was used to amplify a ca. 2540 base pair
mtDNA region spanning the genes ND4, ND4L, tRNAThr, tRNAPro,
ND6 and part of cytochrome b. Digestion of this region with eight
restriction enzymes yielded a total of 31 haplotypes that divided
sampled populations into three phylogenetic assemblages reflecting
their geographic location. The average haplotype and nucleotide diversities
within populations were 0.4631 and 0.101214, respectively. AMOVA analysis
attributed high levels of genetic variation to variation within <%-1>populations
(31.26%), variation within groups (24.85%), and variation among groups
(43.89%).<%0> Estimation of the age of divergence between mitochondrial
lineages with reference to the geological history of Anatolia suggests
that the current population structure of A. caputmedusae was
shaped by both the Pleistocene climatic fluctuations and the heterogenous
topography of Anatolia.
Key words: Anatolian diagonal, Andricus caputmedusae, mtDNA, oak gallwasp, phylogeography
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Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 56 (2), pp. 173–186, 2010
Title: Habitat preference and prey selection of Marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus) in overwintering area of southeast China
Authors: Luo, Z. K.1, 2, Hou, Y.1, Wu, F. Q.2, Wu, S. B.3 and Wang, T. H.1
Authors' addresses: 1School of Life Sciences, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Urbanization and Ecological Restoration, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, P. R. China, E-mail: luozukui@126.com, thwang@bio.encu.edu.cn Abstract: Marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus) populations have declined dramatically in China for a variety of reasons, in particular habitat
destruction. In order to better understand this key protected species
in its overwintering area, we conducted a-four-year investigation
of marsh harrier habitat preference and prey selection in the Shahu
Nature Reserve, an area of low human population density. Of the four
habitats monitored, grassland was the first choice for marsh harrier
despite the presence of grazing cattle, with both the highest mean
rank and lowest coefficient of variation. The abundances of the two
prey types (common pheasant and passerine birds) varied significantly
in different habitats, and the regression relationships between marsh
harrier and the two prey types in different habitats were completely
independent of each other. The habitat preference of the marsh harrier
associated with both prey types was influenced not only by habitat
type, but also by habitat structure. The type and abundance of prey
varied with different habitat types and structures, but the abundance
of marsh harrier did not change accordingly.
Key words: habitat preference, prey selection, marsh harrier, key protected species, overwintering area, SE China
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Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 56 (2), pp. 187–200, 2010
Title: Spatial variation in prey composition and its possible effect on reproductive success in an expanding eastern imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca) population
Authors: Horváth, M.1, Szitta, T.2, Firmánszky, G.3, Solti, B.4, Kovács, A.1 and Moskát, C.5
Authors' addresses: 1MME BirdLife Hungary, H-1121 Budapest, Költõ u. 21, Hungary Abstract: Reproductive success of raptor species is significantly affected by the quantity and/or quality of available prey. In our study we analysed
prey composition of breeding imperial eagles (Aquila heliaca)
in East Hungary, where 434 nesting events in 81 different territories
had been monitored between 1995 and 2004. We identified 1297 prey
items originating from 43 bird and 16 mammalian species (532 and 764
specimens, respectively). Three prey species, the brown hare (Lepus
europaeus), the hamster (Cricetus cricetus) and the pheasant
(Phasianus colchicus), seem to have especially important role
in the diet of imperial eagles in Hungary, although their relative
frequencies varied greatly among different regions. We found that
eagles were less productive in a region where hamster was the main
prey (West Zemplén Mts) as compared to a recently colonized hare-dominated
region (Heves Plain), suggesting that hares may provide a better food
source than hamsters. The increase of game species in the diet of
imperial eagles could generate hostility in hunters. Possible conflict
between nature conservation and small-game management may be resolved
by raising public awareness and by common projects to improve hare
and pheasant habitats.
Key words: breeding success, raptor, Cricetus cricetus, Lepus europaeus, Phasianus colchicus, Hungary
2Applied Ecology Laboratory and Department of Plant Production and Agroecology, Agricultural Faculty, University of South Bohemia, Studentská 13, CZ-370 05, <@200>eské Bud<@236>jovice, Czech Republic, E-mail: mslabova@zf.jcu.cz
2School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430070, P. R. China
3Department of Biology, Fuling Normal College, Chongqing 408003, P. R. China
2Bükk National Park Directorate, H-3304 Eger, Sánc u. 6, Hungary
3Aggtelek National Park Directorate, H-3758 Jósvafõ, Tengerszem oldal 1, Hungary
4Mátra Múzeum, H-3200 Gyöngyös, Kossuth u. 40, Hungary
5Animal Ecology Research Group of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and Hungarian Natural History Museum, H-1083 Budapest, Ludovika tér 2, Hungary