A new species of Tetrastemma (Nemertea: Enopla: Monostiliferoidea) from Ria de Foz, north-western Spain, found living in the mantle cavity of the bivalve mollusc Scrobicularia plana

A new species of monostiliferoidean nemertean, Tetrastemmafozensis , from the mantle cavity of the bivalve mollusc Scrobicularia plana , in the Ría de Foz, north-western Spain, is described and illustrated. Other nemerteans from the mantle cavity of Scrobicularia collected in Poole Harbour, southern England, are provisionally identified as conspecific with the Ria de Foz material, but show certain anatomical differences whose taxonomic significance cannot at present be assessed.     

The genus Amphiporus Ehrenberg (Nemertea, Enopla, Monostiliferoidea)

The literature relating to the 145 nemertean species at one time or another included in the monostiliferoidean genus Amphiporus Ehrenberg, 1831 is reviewed. Because the designated type species, A. albicans , must be declared a nomen dubium , the status of the genus itself becomes uncertain. The 33 species which, at least in part, have previously been transferred to other genera are tabulated and the taxonomic status of the remaining forms is re-evaluated. Most are identified as nomina nuda, nomina dubia, species inquirendae or synonymous with other taxa, but one species, A. bimaculatus , is transferred to the genus Nipponnemertes .     

A study of genetic diversity in Populus nigra subsp. betulifolia in the Upper Severn area of the UK using AFLP markers

A survey of amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) was conducted to examine genetic diversity in 146 individuals of British, native black poplar ( Populus nigra subsp. betulifolia ) and three individuals considered by collectors to be non- betulifolia poplars. Using two primer pairs, a total of 147 bands were detected of which 82 (56%) were polymorphic in at least one individual. Cluster analysis and principal coordinates analysis of the calculated similarity matrix revealed a low level of genetic diversity, although a loose clustering into five groups could be identified, one of which contained the non- betulifolia individuals. Examination of the spatial distribution of the other four groups (all betulifolia ) revealed a general correlation between geographic proximity and genetic similarity. On the basis of the polymorphism observed, it was possible to identify a small number of individual plants which exhibit maximum diversity and might therefore be suitable for inclusion in a replanting programme designed to maintain at least the existing low level of polymorphism observed within British black poplar.     

Avian productivity in urban landscapes: a review and meta-analysis

There is an urgent need to thoroughly review and comprehend the effects of urbanization on wildlife in order to understand both the ecological implications of increasing urbanization and how to mitigate its threat to biodiversity globally. We examined patterns in comparative productivity of urban and non-urban passerine birds, using published estimates from paired comparisons, and by reviewing and developing explanations in terms of resources, competitors, predators and other specifically urban environmental factors. The most consistent patterns were for earlier lay dates, lower clutch size, lower nestling weight and lower productivity per nesting attempt in urban landscapes; these were supported by a formal meta-analysis. Nest failure rates did not show consistent patterns across the species considered. We suggest that food availability is a key driver of differences in passerine demography between landscapes. In urban habitats, human-provided food may improve adult condition over winter, leading to earlier lay dates and, in some species, to higher survival and higher breeding densities, but paucity of natural food may lead to lower productivity per nesting attempt. We demonstrate that additional comparative research is needed on a wider range of species, on the effects of natural and human-provided food availability, and on the differences in survival and dispersal between urban and non-urban populations. Importantly, better-targeted research and monitoring is needed in areas that are at greatest threat from urbanization, especially in the developing world.     

Life cycle assessment of native plants and marginal lands for bioenergy agriculture in Kentucky as a model for south-eastern USA

The Brookings Institute analysis rate both Lexington and Louisville, Kentucky (USA) as two of the nation's largest carbon emitters. This high carbon footprint is largely due to the fact that 95% of electricity is produced from coal. Kentucky has limited options for electric power production from low carbon sources such as solar, wind, geothermal, and hydroelectric. Other states (TN, IN, OH, WV, and IL) in this region are similarly limited in renewable energy capacity. Bioenergy agriculture could account for a proportion of renewable energy needs, but to what extent is unclear. Herein, we found that abandoned agricultural land, not including land that is in fallow or crop rotation, aquatic ecosystems, nor plant-life that had passed through secondary ecological succession totaled 1.9 Mha and abandoned mine-land totaled 0.3 Mha, which combined accounted for 21% of Kentucky's land mass. A life cycle assessment was performed based on local yield and agronomic data for native grass bioenergy agriculture. These data showed that utilizing Kentucky's marginal land to grow native C ₄ grasses for cellulosic ethanol and bioelectricity may account for up to 13.3% and 17.2% of the states 2 trillion MJ energy consumption and reduce green house gas emissions by 68% relative to gasoline.     

Herbicide toxicities in some Australian anurans and the effect of subacute dosages on temperature tolerance

Tadpoles of the anurans, Adelotus brevis, Limnodynastes peroni, and Bufo marinus were exposed to a range of concentrations of up to ten different herbicides. The Median Tolerance Limit (TL₅₀) was calculated for each toxicant from data obtained by static bioassay. Some adult frogs (Litoria ewingi and Limnodynastes tasmaniensis) were subjected to greater concentrations of several of the toxicants. Toxicity varied greatly among the tadpoles exposed to various toxicants with fenoprop being the most toxic chemical tested, while no differences were observed in behaviour or activity between the exposed and control adult frogs. A significant reduction occurred in the thermal tolerance of one to two week old A. brevis exposed to subacute dosages of amitrole-T, picloram, and 2,2-DPA.