ALBERT

Notes: Abstract This paper shows how evolutionary algorithms can be described in a concise, yet comprehensive and accurate way. A classification scheme is introduced and presented in a tabular form called TEA (Table of Evolutionary Algorithms). It distinguishes between different classes of evolutionary algorithms (e.g., genetic algorithms, ant systems) by enumerating the fundamental ingredients of each of these algorithms. At the end, possible uses of the TEA are illustrated on classical evolutionary algorithms.

Notes: Abstract The reputations of scientists among their contemporaries depend not only on accomplishment, but also on interactions affected by influence and personality. The historical lore of most fields of scientific endeavor preserve these reputations, often through the identification of founders, innovators, and prolific workers whose contributions are considered fundamental to progress in the field. Historians frequently rely on the historical lore of scientists to guide their studies of the development of ideas, exhibiting justifiable caution in reassessing reputations in the light of current knowledge. However, the transmission of historical lore can obscure the relative importance of accomplishment, influence and personality in shaping contemporary reputations, leaving the historian to either accept reputations at face value or attempt to reconstruct the context in which they were created. The science of taxonomy, because of its rules of priority, leaves a relatively accurate record of historical accomplishment through the persistence of taxa in catalogues and faunal guides. These records allow the modern historian an unbiased means to assess the relative accomplishments of historical figures and therefore a means to critically reassess reputations independent of personality and influence. In the historical lore of North American ichthyology, Louis Agassiz at Harvard and Spencer Baird at the Smithsonian emerge as central figures in the early development of the field during the mid-1800s, contributing not only through the quality and quantity of their science, but also through their roles as institutional leaders and mentors to workers who followed. Charles Girard, originally a student of Agassiz's and later a coworker with Baird, receives little notice in the history of ichthyology, and his reputation is that of a minor player in the initial description of the North American fish fauna, and one whose work appears to have been flawed or even careless when compared to his contemporaries. However, a review of both contemporary and modern taxonomic works reveals that Girard's productivity far exceeded that of either Agassiz or Baird. Furthermore, an examination of the tendency of Girard and his contemporaries to introduce synonymous names into the literature, which might reflect careless or uncritical work, suggests that Girard was among the more accomplished workers of hisera, including Agassiz and Baird. Girard's low ranking in the folklore of North American ichthyology, therefore, can not be attributed to discernible shortcomings in his scientific work, but rather to a public and private campaign of criticism waged by Agassiz after Girard's departure from Harvard. While Agassiz's dispute with Girard stemmed from their personal interactions, he expressed them as criticisms of Girard's work, and thus helped shape Girard's scientific reputation as it has been transmitted through the lore of ichthyology. This case study reveals how scientific reputation may not always rest on accomplishment, but can be influenced by personal interactions obscured by time but nonetheless important to history.

Notes: Abstract Two lignicolous species ofMycena (Agaricales, Basidiomycetes) are described and illustrated from eastern, Japan:Mycena auricoma sp. nov., forming ephemeral coprinoid basidiomata and belonging to sectionRadiatae, was found on a dead fallen twig ofQuercus serrata. It appears to close to a Malaysian species,“Trogia” crinipelliformis. Mycena spinosissima in sectionSacchariferae, new to Japan, was collected from dead bark ofAphananthe aspera, a dead fallen inflorescence ofCryptomeria japonica, and a dead fallen twig ofQuercus serrata.

Notes: Abstract Macrocyst formation in the sexual cycle was found in three dictyostelid species:Dictyostelium monochasioides, Polysphondylium candidum, andP. pseudo-candidum. Mating tests suggested thatD. monochasioides andP. pseudocandidum were heterothallic andP. candidum was homothallic. The primary walls of macrocysts had partially or fully degenerated, while the inner walls, believed to be tertiary walls, showed an undulate structure.

Notes: Abstract Cryptophiale sphaerospora sp. nov. is described and illustrated based on a single collection attached to a synnematous fungus,Janetia synnematosa, from a dead bamboo culm. It differs from other species ofCryptophiala in having spherical to subspherical conidia and a cerebroid layer of phialides. The overall morohology of this species is smaller than that of previously described species.

Notes: Abstract In contrast to animals, the slowly evolving mitochondrial nucleotide sequences of plants appear well suited to investigate phylogenetic relations between old taxonomic groups. Analysis ofnad5 gene sequences in 47 bryophytes, the living representatives of very early land plants, confirm this assessment. Statistically reliable phylogenetic trees are obtained with different mathematical approaches. A group I intron sequence conserved in thenad5 gene of all 30 mosses and 15 liverworts investigated supports a sister group relationship of the two classes. The intron sequence adds phylogenetic information for fine resolution on top of the conserved exon sequences down to the level of classically defined orders or families, respectively. This intron is not present in the hornwortsAnthoceros husnotii andA. punctatus. The results allow statements on diverging taxonomic interpretations and support the monophyly of the liverworts, mosses, Jungermanniidae, Marchantiidae and Bryidae, and allow recognition of subclasses like Hypnanae and Dicrananae. Among the mosses, the derived orders (subclass Bryidae) are confidently set apart from the Sphagnales, Andreaeales, Polytrichales and Tetraphidales with Buxbaumiales occupying a mediating position. Among the liverworts, full support is found for the classic separation of simple (jungermanniid) and complex thalloid (marchantiid) species with a strikingly low mitochondrial sequence divergence among the latter.

Notes: Abstract Since 1992, as part of a study to circumscribe the genus Porphyra in New Zealand, an extensive culture programme has been developed at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. This collection currently houses more than 800 cultures and 150strains. We currently recognise at least 20 species in New Zealand, most of which are undescribed. Close observation of reproduction and the development of conchocelis-phase filaments grown in the laboratory, under controlled conditions of temperature, irradiance and photoperiod, has enabled the recognition of characters that can assist in species separation. The comparative taxonomic value of a range of such characters is discussed, including reporting a novel reproductive mode.

Notes: Abstract Although Porphyra is commercially farmed in many countries, in South Africa only small harvests of wild populations for sale as nori have been carried out. The discovery that Porphyra improves growth of South African abalone (Haliotis midae) farmed inland-based tanks has led to increased pressure to harvest wild populations. This paper reports on a survey of the distribution and seasonality of Porphyra in the southern Western Cape. Porphyrawas present at all sites surveyed, and showed considerable temporal variation. A significant amount of the Porphyra present is in reserves and therefore protected from harvesting. Close rexamination of one site revealed seasonal populations of Porphyra that occupied different niches dependent on season. Recruitment peaked in spring and autumn, leading to dense summer and winter populations. Summer populations generally grew lower in the eulittoral than winter populations. No pattern in the mortality of larger thalli wasde tected, though sporeling mortality was high following recruitment peaks. Although it seems that most sites in the southern Western Cape are suitable for harvesting, the taxonomy of the genus in the region urgently needs revision if populations are to be appropriately managed.

Notes: Abstract The generic concepts inAniptodera, Halosarpheia, Nais andPhaeonectriella are discussed and those species occurring in freshwater are described, some with illustrations. Five new species:Aniptodera lignicola, A. mauritaniensis, A. megalospora, A. palmicola, Phaeonectriella appendiculata are also described. A key to the freshwater species in the above genera and a synoptic diagram of their ascospores are provided.

Notes: Abstract A new speciesDactylospora mangrovei is described and illustrated and compared withD. haliotrepha andD. canariensis, all marine inhabiting species.Dactylospora haliotrepha andD. mangrovei are tropical/sub-tropical mangrove species collected in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Taiwan and Thailand, whileD. canariensis was described from temperate waters. A map of the geographical distribution of the three marineDactylospora species is presented.

Notes: Abstract A new species ofArecophila and a species previously known asAmphisphaeria coronata are described and illustrated from dead culms of bamboo.Arecophila bambusae sp. nov. is distinct in the genus in having ellipsoidal ascospores with slightly round ends, and asci with a narrow subapical ring.Arecophila coronata comb. nov. has asci with a wedgeshaped apical ring and weakly striated ascospores enclosed in wide mucilaginous sheath.

Notes: Abstract In this paper we present a taxonomy of manufacturing problems, labeled in a general sense as Design, Production, or Distribution problems. One or more basic systems concepts, such as complexity and adaptation, attach themselves to each such problems. By combining the hierarchical Design—Production—Distribution idea with system concepts, we establish the fact that there is, indeed, a significant systems component to most problems of modern manufacturing.

Notes: Abstract The pollen morphology of the taxa belonging to the generaAetheorhiza Cass.,Launaea Cass.,Reichardia Roth andSonchus L. in the Iberian Peninsula has been studied with light and electron microscopy. The pollen is 3(-4)-zonocolporate and echinolophate (without polar lacunae, but in general with prelacunae), with equatorial ridges and 15–20 lacunae: 3–4 poral, 6–8 abporal and 6–8 paraporal. Small to medium size, P × E = 19−36 × 23–42 µm; sometimes two different sizes have been found. Exine 3–9 µm thick and ornamentation microreticulate and echinate. The results clearly show the relationships between genera.

Notes: Abstract The phylogeny of the subfamilyRubioideae (Rubiaceae) was estimated from sequence variation in therps16 intron (cpDNA) in 143 ingroup and 5 outgroup taxa. The analysis largely confirms a recent one based onrbcL sequences, but branch support is often much stronger. Three of the traditional subfamilies are supported,Rubioideae, Cinchonoideae s. str., andIxoroideae s. l. while there is no support forAntirheoideae. TheRubioideae are the sister group of all otherRubiaceae and comprise the tribesAnthospermeae, Coccocypseleae, Cruckshanksieae, Coussareeae, Gaertnereae, Hedyotideae, Knoxieae, Morindeae, Ophiorrhizeae, Paederieae, Pauridiantheae, Perameae, Psychotrieae, Rubieae, Spermacoceae, Theligoneae, andUrophylleae. TheHamelieae andHillieae belong to theCinchonoideae. Rachicallis andSiemensia should be transferred from theHedyotideae to theCinchonoideae. ThePauridiantheae, Urophylleae, Ophiorrhizeae, andRaritebe form the basalmost subclade of theRubioideae. The second basalmost clade consists of the generaLasianthus andPerama. The third basalmost clade consists of the tribesCoussareeae, Coccocypseleae andCruckshanksieae, and the generaDeclieuxia andHindsia. The tribesKnoxieae, Anthospermeae, Argostemmateae, Paederieae, Theligoneae, Rubieae, Hedyotideae, andSpermacoceae are members of one clade. TheKnoxieae are monophyletic ifOtiophora, Otomeria, andPentas are included. The tribeAnthospermeae is supported as monophyletic, but its subtribes are not. ThePaederieae, together withTheligonum, form a paraphyletic grade basal to theRubieae. TheHedyotideae, includingSchismatoclada, form a grade at the base of theSpermacoceae. TheGaertnereae are monophyletic and distinct from thePsychotrieae. TheMorindeae are monophyletic and includeDamnacanthus andMitchella. Schradera is the sister group of theMorindeae. ThePsychotrieae are monophyletic when theGaertnereae, Lasianthus, andDeclieuxia are excluded. The recognition of a subtribeHydnophytineae leaves the rest of thePsychotrieae paraphyletic.Psychotria is paraphyletic with respect to all other genera of the tribe. Approximately 50 genera are here classified for the first time based on molecular data.

Notes: Abstract Previous molecular phylogenetic analyses have demonstrated that Saxifragaceae sensu lato are polyphyletic, with component lineages scattered throughout the eudicots. As part of our effort to elucidate the relationships of members of Engler and Prantl's Saxifragaceae s. l., we undertook a molecular systematic study of subfamily Brexioideae, which comprises three genera:Brexia, Ixerba, andRoussea. Not all taxonomic treatments have concurred, however, in placing these genera together. To elucidate relationships among these three genera as well as their relationships to other angiosperms we constructed large data sets ofrbcL, 18S rDNA, andrbcL + 18S rDNA sequences. Our phylogenetic analyses indicate clearly that Brexioideae are polyphyletic.Brexia is part of a celastroid clade that also includesParnassia, Lepuropetalon, and Celastraceae.Ixerba appears as sister to a large eurosid I clade;Roussea appears as part of Asterales. Molecular data, therefore, indicate that Brexioideae are a polyphyletic assemblage and component genera should ultimately be incorporated into other groups. Our studies continue to demonstrate the polyphyly not only Saxifragaceae s. l., but also of its constituent subfamilies.

Notes: Abstract Almond, Amygdalus communis L., is an ancient crop of south west Asia. Selection of the sweet type marks the beginning of almond domestication. Wild almonds are bitter and eating even a relatively small number of nuts can be fatal. How man selected the sweet type remains a riddle. Also, the wild ancestor of almond has not been properly identified among the many wild almond species. Breeding experiment, which is the most critical test for identifying the wild progenitors of other crops, is ineffective in almond, because it is interfertile with many wild taxa. The so-called wild A. communis of central Asia cannot be regarded as a genuine wild form, but as a feral form, or remains of old afforestation. The wild taxa morphologically akin to almond, A. korshinskyi (H.-M.) Bomm. and A. webbii Spach, are also feral types occurring in the Middle East and southern Europe, respectively. The taxon A. fenzliana (Fritsch) Lipsky is the most likely wild ancestor of almond for three reasons: 1. It is a genuine wild type forming extensive thickets of large trees young seedlings and all the intergradations between them in nature; 2. Its morphology, and particularly the partially pitted grooved nut-shell are within the range of variation of almond, and 3. A. fenzliana is native of Armenia and western Azerbaijan in the Middle East where almond was apparently domesticated.

Notes: Abstract We report the results of two methods of DNA analysis to elucidate phylogenetic relationships among 29 Vicia subgen. Vicia species in comparison with two species of subgenus Vicilla sect. Vicilla. The methods employed were RAPD analysis of total genomic DNA and PCR-RFLP analysis of five chloroplast genes, rbcL, rpoB, 16S, psaA and trnK. The results of each method were similar and complementary, and support the current taxonomic systems of subsp. Vicia. According to RAPD and PCR-RFLP analysis the Narbonensis complex can be considered a well separated section, which may be related to section Vicia. Sections Vicia, Atossa and Wiggersia are separate, but closely related sections. Species of the section Hypechusa form a single monophyletic section, where V. lutea, V. anatolica and V. hyrcanica are quite remote from other species. Our results suggest that within the subgenus Vicia, V. faba is more closely related to V. bithynica and that these two species are most closely related to section Peregrinae. We found that PCR-RFLP of cp DNA provided more precise information concerning relationships between Vicia sections than RAPD analysis. However, RAPD analysis was more informative concerning diversity of closely related Vicia taxa, such as the variable groups, section Narbonensis and V. sativa aggregate.

Notes: Abstract V. sativa L. sensu strictu was introduced in Rio Grande do Sul (Southern Brazil) by Italian settlers and is nowadays cultivated for forage in backyards and fields. V. angustifolia L. is a widespread highly polymorphic naturalized ruderal. Both taxa grow sympatrically and morphologically transitional types are often found. We analyzed 37 accessions of V. sativa, V. angustifolia, intermediate types, and V. cordata Wulf. ex. Hoppe from Rio Grande do Sul, for karyotypes, corolla and legume color, seed color pattern, pod constrictions and phenological development. Karyotypes allowed a clear distinction between the taxa: V. sativa (2n=12) had a metacentric marker chromosome, V. angustifolia and intermediate types (2n=12) only acrocentric chromosomes and V. cordata presented 2n=10. Flowering and fruiting periods were shorter for V. sativa than for V. angustifolia, which was separated into early and late flowering groups. Qualitative characters separated the taxa by Jaccard coefficients into three groups: V. sativa at 0.5 similarity level, V. angustifolia and intermediate types at 0.6 and V. cordata joined V. sativa at 0.12. Our results show that karyotypes and a range of qualitative characters are diagnostic for the aggregate represented in Southern Brazil.

Notes: Abstract Daphnia sarsi Daday, 1902 is redescribed from Patagonian populations and type material. Its taxonomic and nomenclatorial status is discussed. Because of the homonymy with D. sarsi Schödler, 1877, assigned to Australian populations, D. dadayana is proposed as new name. It is concluded that D. dadayana is a valid species with several morphological peculiarities and the proposed synonymies with D. carinata and D. similis can not be supported. Its subgeneric position is intermediate between Daphnia s. str. and Ctenodaphnia and there is an ontogenetical shift of the dorsocephalic suture from Ctenodaphnia-like to Daphnia-like. The possible origin of the group of species assigned to the subgenus Daphnia from a Ctenodaphnia-like ancestor is suggested.

Notes: Abstract Eight species of the genus Sabatieria, one of which is new to science, are described from the Strait of Magellan and the Beagle Channel, Chile. Sabatieria coomansi n. sp. is characterised by a rather long body (3236–4012 μm) with conspicuous lateral differentiation; head diameter 24 μm, amphids 2.25 turns; long spicules (132–149 μm) or 1.6–1.9 abd, 23–26 precloacal supplements, tail 3.3–3.6 abd. This species belongs to the praedatrix group (Platt, 1985). Sabatieria arcuata is found since its original description by Wieser in 1954. Six other species, i.e., S. celtica Southern, 1914, S. falcifera Wieser, 1954, S. furcillata Wieser, 1954, S. granifer Wieser, 1954, S. mortenseni (Ditlevsen, 1921) and S. parabyssalis Wieser, 1954 are redescribed in detail with emphasis on new or shortly described morphological features.

Notes: Abstract Heliodiaptomus elegans Kiefer, 1935, incompletely described from Myanmar, is redescribed on specimens from Thailand. A Chinese congener, H. serratus Shen & Tai, 1962, is sunk into the synonymy of H. elegans.

Notes: Abstract Three new species of Rhabdocoela belonging to the Families Dalyellidae: Microdalyellia bipennata, and Typhloplanidae: Mesocastrada iberiensis, and Mesostoma extremeniensis are described. Fourteen species of the Orders Catenulida, Macrostomida, Proseriata and Rhabdocoela are cited the first time for Extremadura (southwest Spain).

Notes: Abstract Numerous specimens of Chirocephaluswere found repeatedly over the last eight years in an intermittent lake in SW Slovenia. They were first identified as Chirocephalus spinicaudatusSimon, 1886. Later it turned out that they fit the diagnosis of Chirocephalus croaticus (Steuer, 1899), a species described from a small lake in Southern Croatia, about 300 km from Slovenia. It was considered as endemic of its type locality only. Now its range expands into NW direction. The population in Slovenia is in good condition and, if there is no change in land use, could persist for a long time. A small population of the same species in a small puddle near the intermittent lake Cerkniško Jezero (about 30 km from lake Petelinjsko Jezero) was destroyed a few years ago. A detailed description of specimens of both sexes is given and some information on their ecology is added. Particular attention is given to the male legs which could provide good diagnostic characters. For comparison, legs of Chirocephalus diaphanus Prévost, 1803 are shown.

Notes: Abstract Cletocamptus merbokensis sp. nov. is described from material collected out of muddy sediments in the Merbok mangrove forest, northwest peninsula Malaysia. It is distinguished from all other known species of Cletocamptus by the presence of only two setae on P2 and P3 endopod-2 and no inner seta on P4 exopod-2; and by the form of the male P5 in which the baseoendopod and most of the endopodal and exopodal lobes are absorbed into the somatic cuticle. The higher taxonomic position of the genus is briefly discussed.

Notes: Abstract A marked salinity-related decrease in gillraker number in sea bass samples during growth was documented. All specimens share the same genetic stock and rearing conditions were constant during early ontogeny. Variation in gillraker number could be related to the ecophenotypism of this character but selection can not be excluded. Results obtained from reared specimens were compared with those reported in the literature and with data collected from wild stocks. Attention is focused on the pitfalls that the use of this character may have on the taxonomy of fish species.

Notes: Summary The Rufous-tailed Hummingbird (Amazilia tzacatl De la Llave, 1832), a widespread inhabitant of Central America and NW South America, currently comprises two subspecies (A. t. tzacatl andA. t. jucunda). Another taxon of the species complex isA. t. handleyi (Wetmore, 1963), initially described as an allospecies but here regarded only as a subspecies ofA. tzacatl. Based on diverging morphological features, the amount of geographical variation ofA. tzacatl in its South American range suggests the distinction of further populations. As a taxonomical consequence, we recognize the validity ofA. t. fuscicaudata (Fraser, 1840), and describe a new subspecies,A. t. brehmi subspec. nov., from Nariño, Colombia.

Notes: Abstract A Streptomyces strain UK10 was isolated from Ukrainian soil and identified by taxonomical studies as Streptomyces arenae var ukrainiana. HA-2-91 was isolated from the biomass of S. arenae var ukrainiana and is supposedly a polyene macrolide antibiotic belonging to the tetraene group. HA-2-91 showed promising antifungal activity (in vitro) against yeasts and filamentous fungi, including plant pathogens and dermatophytes and was found to be less toxic in mice than nystatin and rimocidin.

Notes: Abstract In the rivers and lakes of Turkey, ten species of loaches of the genus Cobitis occur, viz. C. fahireae, C. varderensis, C. splendens, C. kellei, C. puncticulata, C. strumicae, C. levantina, C. turcica, C. simplicispina and C. bilseli. Cobitis bilseli is separated into a new subgenus, Beyshehiria.

Notes: Abstract Macrothix laticornis is redescribed and compared with populations from central North America (Mexico), and from south-east Asia (Vietnam). All three are closely related, but with sufficient morphological differences to establish a laticornis species-group. Two species new for science are described, viz. M. sierrafriatensis (Mexico) and M. vietnamensis (Vietnam).

Notes: Abstract The rare Macrothrix tripectinata Weisig, 1934 is redescribed on material from the East Pamirs (Tajikistan) and Tuva (Russia). Adult and juvenile parthenogenetic females and adult males were studied using optical microscopy and SEM. The thoracic appendages and the molar surface of mandibles were investigated in detail. Selected ‘conventional’ diagnostic features are critically reviewed. The importance of characters, rarely used in the systematics of Macrothrix, such as: type of valve reticulation, similarity or dissimilarity in size of the terminal esthetascs of the antennules of females and males, presence of an abdominal projection and reticulation on the postabdomen, presence, length and armature of a male seta on the antennule, are discussed. A key for the Eurasian species of Macrothrix is proposed.

Notes: Abstract Based on the result of investigations and former records, there are five freshwater species of the genus Thermocyclops in China, namely T. taihokuensis Harada, 1931, T. crassus (Fischer, 1853), T. vermifer Lindberg, 1935, T. dybowskii (Lande, 1890), and T. kawamurai Kikuchi, 1940. Two previously recorded species, T. brevifurcatus Harada, 1931 and T. hyalinus (Rehberg, 1880) are recognized as synonyms of Thermocyclops crassus. Another species, Thermocyclops mongolicus Kiefer, 1937, described from China by Tai & Chen, is a synonym of T. taihokuensis based on this study. Thermocyclops orientalis Dussart & Fernando, 1985 was compared with Thermocyclops kawamurai Kikuchi, 1940. It shows conspicuous differences and it seems unlikely that it is a synonym of T. kawamurai. The paper presents diagnostic characteristics of each species and a key to five Chinese species of Thermocyclops.

Notes: Abstract At least 41 taxa of aquatic oligochaetes including five new records have been recorded from the ancient Lake Biwa in Japan. The lake is characterized by eurybathyal occurrence of Branchiura sowerbyi. The posterior gill filaments of B. sowerbyi develop normally in lagoons adjacent to the lake, while in the lake they weakly develop or often disappear at littoral and sublittoral depths shallower than 30 m, and they almost completely disappear in the profundal zone. The profundal population of B. sowerbyi also differs from other populations in eastern Asia in having fewer and shorter hairs, and simple-pointed crotchets, or bifid crotchets with parallel teeth, in dorsal bundles of chaetae. This suggests that an intralacustrine speciation is progressing in the profundal population. An aberrant modification is found in the pectination of dorsal crotchets in Tubifex tubifex occurring at deep profundal depths of the lake. The ventral chaetae in segment II of Teneridrilus mastix are rarely modified in Lake Biwa. This requires cancellation of the modification of chaetae in II as a diagnostic characteristic of the genus Teneridrilus. Limnodrilus amblysetus, previously known only from China, is recorded from Lake Biwa. Descriptions and taxonomic remarks are provided for Haemonais waldvogeli (new to Japan), Pristina longiseta, Stephensoniana trivandrana and Ripistes parasita (new to Lake Biwa), and Ophidonais serpentina, based on Lake Biwa material.

Notes: Abstract The marine benthic algae from North East Herald Cay, Coral Sea, South Pacific, are listed with taxonomic, bibliographic and biogeographic details. The checklist includes 66 species of which 23 are green, 2 are brown, and 41 are red algal species. The almost complete absence of brown algae from what is seemingly a typical tropical reef environment on which a true coral cay has developed is noteworthy. All samples were from the lagoon, which forms the concave side of a crescent-shaped reef and which ranges in depth from 0–30 m. The endemic Caribbean green alga Chamaedoris peniculum is recorded for the Pacific for the first time, and a possibly undescribed species of the genus Rhipiliopsis was also discovered. Although only preliminary, the survey shows that the marine flora is seemingly typical of coral cays for the general region of the Great Barrier Reef.

Notes: Abstract Fourteen aquatic oligochaetes were described between 1773 and 1828. Dramatic increases in descriptions occurred in the decades beginning 1900, 1930 and 1960. These can be associated with specific authors, such as W. Michaelsen and S. Hrabě. In the period 1970–1990, some 250 marine species (excluding Enchytraeidae) were described, largely by C. Erséus. Some of the major scholars, such as W. Michaelsen and F. Vejdovský, I. I. Malevič and P. G. Svetlov, founded centers of oligochaete study that survive in Europe today. Others, such as those in the English speaking world, have had to develop in isolation. While numerical and phenetic methods had little influence on microdrile systematics, phylogenetic (parsimony) methods have, since the first publication by B. G. M. Jamieson. Most literature prior to 1970 was taxonomic. Other earlier work documented community structure in relation to pollution. The study of Rybinsk Reservoir (Russia) stimulated a large body of ecological and biological work by T. L. Poddubnaya. The St. Lawrence Great Lakes was also a focus for worm studies until recently. Early physiological work focused on respiration, with studies dating from the 1920s. This has been continued in relation to pollution ecology and energy flow. Physiological work was notably absent from our first proceedings volume and only poorly represented since then. Future prospects are difficult to identify. Developments in ultrastructure (including sperm and muscle cells), molecular biology and parsimony or cladistic phylogenetic methods will move from rather simple initial work that shows the possibilities, to a revisionary phase where the complexities begin to be revealed before it is possible to assess their value. This author has too superficial a level of understanding to predict the outcome, but suspects that agreement among the results of several methods is needed for them to be persuasive. I would hope that multivariate methods of data analysis in pollution studies would prove superior to the development of indices and over-reliance on toxicology. Toxicity studies are of use in comparing risks among products but not in predicting field effects. Benthic biology needs a method for identifying factors that are directly related to worm biology, such as food, rather than physical and chemical factors related to the water column. Surveys, relating communities to chemical and physiographic factors will remain unpredictive. It is easier to forsee some changes in taxonomy that are almost overdue. The haplotaxids should be broken up into several small families, Haplotaxis s.s. will be one of them, with a number of highly adapted and very similar species, many currently regarded as synonymous, redefined by careful anatomical study. The lumbriculids and branchiobdellidans may well be combined into a single taxon defined by their unique semi-prosopore male ducts, with lumbriculids defined by their unique muscle structure and the branchiobdellids by many apomorphic characters related to ectocommensal life. The position of Hirudinea remains unresolved, but relationship to this taxon is not excluded. Detailed study of penes in lumbriculids is required. The naidids and tubificids seem to be a monophyly. Existing genera may be hard to analyze phylogenetically because definitions are based on atrial form, which is hard to express as characters. Chaetotaxy in Naididae will prove insufficient and many synonyms will be declared. Capilloventridae and Randiellidae require description of male ducts and gonads. They may provide evidence counter to the octogonadal theory of oligochaete descent, or of polyphyly in the group. Knowledge of phreodrilid diversity will increase. Work will increase in Asia and South America, but sub-Saharan Africa remains under explored. Fish diseases will create more interest in North American worms. New methods, including molecular studies, and renewed interest in ontogeny and detailed anatomical studies, may improve our ability to resolve clusters of taxa with few, if any, apomorphic character states that remain at the base of cladograms. An ability to include sound evidence from vestigial organs and logical arguments on a 'weight of evidence' basis is needed as an adjunct. While molecular studies seem to hold much promise, early studies can prove over simplistic and can provide conflicting hypotheses. We need to complete the review of taxonomy according to parsimony before major terminology changes, such as abandonment of the term Oligochaeta, can gain acceptance.

Notes: Abstract Accurate taxonomic identification of species at all life stages is critical to understand and predict the processes that together determine marine community dynamics. However, zooplankton assemblages may include numerous sibling and congeneric species distinguished by subtle morphological characteristics. Molecular systematic databases, including DNA sequences of homologous gene regions for selected taxonomic groups, allow the design of rapid protocols to determine species' diversity and identify individuals. In this study, the DNA sequence of a 300 base-pair region of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene was determined for eight species of three genera of calanoid copepods: Calanus finmarchicus, C. glacialis and C. helgolandicus; Neocalanus cristatus, N. flemingeri and N. plumchrus; and Pseudocalanus moultoni and P. newmani. The DNA sequences differed between congeneric species by 13 – 22% of the nucleotides; the protein sequences differed by zero to five amino acid substitutions. Both the DNA and amino acid sequences resolved the evolutionary relationships among congeneric species; relationships among the genera were not well-resolved by this region of mtCOI. Using the same conserved primers, the only amplification product for C. finmarchicus was an aberrant sequence (and putative pseudogene) which differed from the C. finmarchicus COI sequence by 36% of the nucleotides and 32 amino acid substitutions. Species-specific oligonucleotide primers were designed for Calanus spp. (which cannot be distinguished at larval stages) and Pseudocalanus spp. (which are difficult to distinguish even as adults). Individual copepods were identified using competitive, multiplexed species-specific polymerase chain reactions (PCR) in two studies of co-occurring sibling species. The first study confirmed the presence of three Calanus spp. in Oslofjord, Norway and found a predominance of C. helgolandicus. The second study determined patterns of distribution and abundance of Pseudocalanus spp. on Georges Bank in the NW Atlantic and showed that P. moultoni predominated in shallow and coastal waters, while P. newmani was more abundant in offshore regions flanking the Bank. Competitive, species-specific PCR is a useful tool for biological oceanographers. This simple, rapid, and inexpensive assay may be used to identify morphologically-similar individuals of any size and life stage, and to determine a species' presence or absence in pooled samples.

Notes: Abstract It is argued, with selected examples from freshwaterfish systematics, that species should be viewed as anexpression of self-perpetuated clustered variation innature, conforming to the phylogenetic speciesconcept. The importance of species lies in thefunctional and structural significance of theirdiagnostic characters. Species can be nested by theircharacters into a tree diagram (phylogeny) orhierarchical alignment structure (classification) ofcharacter distribution, which may be taken to reflectevolution, the unifying theory of organismaldiversification. The phylogenetic species concept,which emphasizes recognition of a pattern ofvariation, describes better than any other proposedconcept the units called species by systematists.Other concepts are based on processes and normally donot permit recognition of particular taxa. Specieshave unique histories, and speciation may proceed bydifferent mechanisms. Whereas it may be postulatedthat speciation entails an irreversible change in thegenetic structure of taxa, recognized by phenotypicexpression and apparently also maintained to a largeextent by selection for a particular phenotype,species recognition must remain independent ofassumptions about species history and spatialdistribution. Species are monophyletic taxa and thespecies category does not differ significantly inphylogenetic regard from other systematic categories.Species as such are not necessarily evolutionaryunits. It is recommended to apply species names withreference to the diagnostic characters of the speciesand to abandon the type specimen described by theInternational Code of Zoological Nomenclature as anomenclatural reference unit.

Notes: Abstract Pteropoda (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Euthecosomata) described by Beets (1943, 1950, 1953) from the alleged Late Miocene/Early Pliocene asphaltic deposits of Buton (SE Sulawesi, Indonesia) are revised. The following species are distinguished: Styliola subula (Quoy & Gaimard, 1827), Cavolinia bituminata (Beets, 1953), Cavolinia mexicana (Collins, 1934), Cavolinia vendryesiana (Guppy, 1873) and Diacria mbaensis Ladd, 1934. A comparison with the Fiji pteropod associations suggests a Miocene (Tortonian to Messinian) age for the Indonesian faunules. Pteropod species described by Ladd (1934) from Viti Levu (Fiji Islands), are revised in an appendix. Five species are distinguished, viz. Creseis acicula (Rang, 1828) (?), Cavolinia gypsorum (Bellardi, 1873), C. mexicana, C. rewaensis (Ladd, 1934) and Diacria mbaensis Ladd, 1934. The presence of Cavolina gypsorum dates this association as Miocene (Tortonian–Messinian).

Notes: Abstract An overview is presented of the actinopterygian fishes from the Late Jurassic (Late Kimmeridgian and Early Tithonian) ‘Plattenkalke’ near Solnhofen (Solnhofen lithographic limestone), Bavaria, Germany. The fish fauna is very diverse, with the palaeonisciform Coccolepis, halecostomes such as Lepidotes, Heterostrophus, three genera of macrosemiids and six genera of pycnodontiforms, halecomorphs including two genera of caturids, two genera of amiids, Ophiopsis, ‘Furo’, Ionoscopus, Brachyichthys, Callopterus, Liodesmus, ?Lophiurus, five genera of pachycormids, three genera of pholidophorids, Pleuropholis, two genera of aspidorhynchids and eleven genera of basal teleosts. Although several groups have been subject of revision, most of the fauna remains poorly known. Study of this rich fauna will provide a lot of information on the phylogeny and interrelationships of halecostome fishes.

Notes: Abstract The fauna from a Late Silurian residue sample from Övedskloster (Skåne) is listed. It comprises scales of ‘Agnatha’ (rare osteostracan scales, and the thelodonts Thelodus parvidens, ‘T. traquairi’, T. sculptilis, T. admirabilis, and ‘Loganellia cuneata’) and of Gnathostomata (the acanthodians Nostolepis striata, Gomphonchus sandelensis, Poracanthodes? lehmani sp. nov., and Poracanthodes cf. punctatus, tesserae of the head and other specialised elements of the squamation; and the osteichthyan Andreolepis hedei). This fauna is considered to be as old as, or slightly younger than that from the complex of sedimentary rocks along the Anglo-Central Urals margin of the Laurussian continent affected by the Ludfordian A. hedei Event. This event marks the transition between the hedei and sculptilis Zones of the Microvertebrate Standard Zonation and can be correlated with the snajdri Conodont Interval Zone. The evidence favours a simultaneous palaeogeographical appearance of the punctatiform and porosiform poracanthodid acanthodians within the Baltica region of Laurussia.

Notes: Abstract We provide an overview of the properties of triple junctions and quadruple points. It is shown that these junctions may exhibit distinct behaviors that imply that they have and thermodynamically distinct properties in the same way that grain boundaries can be considered as thermodynamically distinct phases, separate from the material that they inhabit. It is shown that the treatment of triple junctions as thermodynamically distinct defects is a natural extension of the treatment of grain boundaries, and that it can be further extended to other junctions such as quadruple nodes. Equilibrium dihedral angles under conditions of anisotropic interfacial energy are explored, and it is found that the dihedral angles may be variable under a range of different conditions.