ALBERT

Description: Gesellschaftliche Blindheit nennt der Ökonom und Umweltforscher Hans-Jochen Luhmann es, wenn die Öffentlichkeit die Augen verschließt: vor den Situationen großen Schadensausmaßes, den drohenden Gefahren und den Vorboten von Umwelt- und Gesundheitskatastrophen. Überzeugt, dass die Gesellschaft systematisch das Katastrophale an den unvermeidlichen Risiken vermeiden kann, hat er die Strukturen des Nichtwissenwollens untersucht, um daraus Strategien für die Vermeidung von zukünftigen Katastrophen zu entwickeln. "Wir haben es nicht gewusst!" - diese Blindheit der Gesellschaft hat Methode. Sie dingfest zu machen, sie in detaillierten Fallstudien aus den Bereichen Produkte, Technik, Banken/Unternehmen und Umwelt nachzuweisen, ist die Voraussetzung für ein Risiko-Management, das diese Bezeichnung verdient. Hans-Jochen Luhmann hat in "Die Blindheit der Gesellschaft" die Entdeckung von Umweltrisiken als Geschichte einer verzögerten Wahrnehmung gedeutet. Die Auflösung von gesellschaftlicher Blindheit - so seine These - kann nur dann gelingen, wenn ein neuer Standort bezogen wird. Ein Standort, der auf Erfahrung beruht, der das Verhalten in der Vergangenheit als Blindheit gegenüber dem Raubbau am Ganzen erscheinen lässt. Eine neue, gesellschaftliche, sphärenübergreifende "Sicherheitskultur" ist zu schaffen.

Description: Numerical experiments with idealized OGCM are carried out to investigate the oceanic eastern boundary problems. The experimental results indicate that the eastward flow due to the north–south gradient of the surface density returns to the interior region through the lower half of the mixed layer, and this return flow generates a density jump just above the thermocline. Formulation for the mixed layer depth distribution at the eastern boundary is also presented, which is derived only from the geostrophy and no-normal flow condition. This formulation agrees well with the numerical experiment, and can be an appropriate eastern boundary condition for theoretical ventilated thermocline model with no deficiency of the mass balance on the boundary. Furthermore, the effects of such eastern boundary structure on the subtropical thermocline are studied. On the shallow thermocline in the subtropics, eastern boundary ventilated region emerges, which is identified as a region of high potential vorticity. In the deep thermocline, which does not outcrop in the subtropics, a cross-gyre ventilation occurs. This cross-gyre ventilation is caused by the density structure along the eastern boundary.

Description: The paper presents first results from the upper 54 m of a 723.91 m ice core drilled on Academy of Sciences Ice Cap in 1999-2001, supplemented by data from shallow ice cores. The glacier's peculiarity is the infiltration and refreezing of melting water thereby changing original isotopic and chemical signals. Therefore, stratigraphical observations in these ice cores are more difficult than in those from central Greenland or Antarctica. However, the 1963 maximum of artificial radioactivity from atmospheric nuclear tests is clearly detectable in the deep ice core and the d180 profile of a 12.82 m shallow core shows annual variations. Consequently, an almost seasonal time resolution of paleoclirnate record could be expected at least for the upper part of the main core. The Chemobyl layer was detected by increased 137 Cs activity in depths between 11.81 m and 12.51 m related to the 2000 surface. The resulting mean annual net mass balance is 53 ± 2 g cm-2 a- 1. Data from dielectric profiling (DEP) of the main core show considerable peaks in conductivity; one of them was interpreted as volcano event. According to the resulting chronology this part of the core represents approximately the last 100 years.

Description: Respiration, ammonia excretion and decompression tolerance were studied in several species of lysianassoid amphipods captured at four stations in the deep Arabian Sea with an isolated trap maintaining them at in situ temperature. The amphipods were decompressed from their ambient to atmospheric pressure during recovery. Six amphipods, belonging to the species Eurythenes gryllus, Paralicella caperesca and Abyssorchomene abyssorum, survived decompression from depths between 1920 and 4420 m. The physiological condition of these specimens was good inferred by the fact that their swimming and resting behaviour appeared normal, they reacted to disturbance by light and vibration, and were able to ingest food to maintain full guts. Most of the amphipods (421 individuals), however, were recovered dead, which allows information about their decompression tolerance and their vertical migration ability to be deduced. Weight-specific respiration rates of the deep-sea amphipods that were fed prior to the experiments were not lower than in shallow-water amphipods living at similar temperatures. Differences in respiration rates between the specimens are discussed with regard to body size, species specificity and food supply. Weight-specific ammonia excretion rates were extremely high when compared with shallow-water relatives, indicating a capability for rapid digestion. This may be an adaptation to the unpredictable food supply in the deep sea as it enables the amphipod to empty its digestive tract quickly, thus making it available for additional food. Rapid digestion also enables the animals to regain mobility soon after feeding, permitting them to move to new food sources.

Description: Studies of hexachlorocyclohexane-isomers (HCHs) and selected triazine herbicides in solution and suspension were carried out in the Pomeranian Bight in 1995. The concentrations of HCHs and triazines were determined by gas-liquid chromatography (GC) or by GC in connection with quadrupole mass spectrometry(GC/MS). Particulate and dissolved material were separated by means of an in-situ filtration/extraction system. The seasonal variability and regional distribution of the various components were investigated in January, April, July and September 1995. Their distribution in the western Pomeranian Bight is described. The concentrations of individual hexachlorocyclohexane-isomers were in the range of 100–1 000 pg l–1 in solution and 20 to 60 pg l–1 in suspension. The levels of the triazines in solution showed pronounced differences between the individual components (atrazine (2–20 ng l–1), simazine (5–30 ng l–1), terbuthylazine (〈 5 ng l–1)), but they were one order of magnitude higher compared with the hexachlorocyclohexane-isomers. The concentration of triazines in suspension was low, often below the limit of detection (25 pg l–1).

Description: This study addresses the decomposition of diatoms in different permeable North Sea sand beds. During three cruises in 2001 to the southern German Bight, the regeneration of nutrients was assessed after the experimental deposition of organic matter corresponding to a typical spring diatom bloom in in situ and on-board chamber experiments. The diatom pulse was followed by a high regeneration of nutrients during the first day: 5–10% d−1 of the added nitrogen was converted to NH4+ and up to 0.67% d−1 of the added biogenic silica was dissolved to Si(OH)4. These results are used to interpret the response of pore water nutrient concentrations in permeable North Sea sands to seasonal nutrient and phytoplankton dynamics in the water column. The rapid advective solute exchange in these permeable sediments reduces the accumulation of regenerated nutrients, and, thus pore water concentrations of Si(OH)4, PO43− and NH4+ decreased with increasing permeability. All sands were characterized by relatively high NO3− concentrations down to 10 cm sediment depth, indicating that the upper sediment layers are oxidized by advective flushing of the bed. Our results demonstrate that biogenic silica and organic matter are rapidly degraded in permeable coastal sands, revealing that these sediments are very active sites of nutrient recycling.

Description: The Western Antarctic Peninsula is one of the regions most affected by stratospheric ozone depletion and global climate warming, resulting in an increased UVB radiation and a fast glacier retreat. During the last 10 years intensive studies on the seaweed communities and the physiology of single species were conducted at Potter Cove. It was found that UVB radiation can decrease the diversity of the seaweed community by direct and indirect effects (exerting negative effects on the grazers). A higher sediment inflow into the water column due to the melting glaciers is decreasing the light availability for photosynthesis, changing the lower depth distribution of the seaweeds. Additional laboratory and field experiments on the physiological performance and recruitment success of seaweed spores showed a strong species specific susceptibility to UV and photosynthetically active radiation. Altogether the seaweed community at Potter Cove is strongly shaped by the changes of their abiotic environment.

Description: From temperature measurements down through the 3001 m deep borehole at the North Greenland Icecore Project (NorthGRIP) drill site, it is now clear that the ice at the base, 3080 m below the surface, is at the pressure-melting point. This is supported by the measurements on the ice core where the annual-layer thicknesses show there is bottom melting at the site and upstream from the borehole. Surface velocity measurements, internal radio-echo layers, borehole and ice-core data are used to constrain a time-dependent flow model simulating flow along the north-northwest-trending ice-ridge flow-line, leading to the NorthGRIP site. Also time-dependent melt rates along the flowline are calculated with a heat-flow model. The results show the geothermal heat flow varies from 50 to 200 mW m–2 along the 100km section of the modeled flowline. The melt rate at the NorthGRIP site is 0.75 cm a–1, but the deep ice in the NorthGRIP core originated 50 km upstream and has experienced melt rates as high as 1.1 cm a–1.

Description: In May 1999, drilling of a borehole through the entire ice strata (around 750 m) was initiated on the Akademiya Nauk glacier of Komsomolets Island, Severnaya Zemlya Archipelago. The Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (AARI), St. Petersburg Mining Institute (SPMI) and Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI, Germany) take part in this venture. For undertaking drilling activities, a dismantling drilling complex was designed and manufactured at SPMI by request of AWI. It includes a drilling house, land drilling equipment and two sets of the electromechanical drill KEMS-127 that also allows drilling of subglacial mountain rocks. The core has a maximum length of 1.5 m and a diameter of 106 mm. Drilling started in spring of 1999 and 54 m was drilled. In April 2000, the borehole drilling was continued. Up to a depth of 109 m, a "dry" method was used. Then the borehole was filled with aviation kerosene TS-1. By the end of seasonal work (May 9, 2000), the borehole bottom reached a depth of 504.7 m. After the drilling was stopped, a complex of geophysical observations was carried out that included measurements of the borehole diameter, the axis deviation angle from the vertical, temperature at different depths and drilling fluid pressure. An analysis of the data obtained allows a conclusion about the reliability and stability of the drilling technology and equipment and developing recommendations to continue drilling that is planned to do during 2001 season.

Description: Sediment and water can potentially be altered, chemically, physically and biologically as they are sampled at the seafloor, brought to the surface, processed and analysed. As a result, in situ observations of relatively undisturbed systems have become the goal of a growing body of scientists. Our understanding of sediment biogeochemistry and exchange fluxes was revolutionized by the introduction of benthic chambers and in situ micro-electrode profilers that allow for the direct measurement of chemical fluxes between sediment and water at the sea floor and for porewater composition. Since then, rapid progress in the technology of in situ sensors and benthic chambers (such as the introduction of gel probes, voltammetric electrodes or one- and two-dimensional optodes) have yielded major breakthroughs in the scientific understanding of benthic biogeochemistry. This paper is a synthesis of discussions held during the workshop on sediment biogeochemistry at the “Benthic Dynamics: in situ surveillance of the sediment–water interface” international conference (Aberdeen, UK—March 25–29, 2002). We present a review of existing in situ technologies for the study of benthic biogeochemistry dynamics and related scientific applications. Limitations and possible improvement (e.g., technology coupling) of these technologies and future development of new sensors are discussed. There are countless important scientific and technical issues that lend themselves to investigation using in situ benthic biogeochemical assessment. While the increasing availability of these tools will lead research in yet unanticipated directions, a few emerging issues include greater insight into the controls on organic matter (OM) mineralization, better models for the understanding of benthic fluxes to reconcile microelectrode and larger-scale chamber measurements, insight into the impacts of redox changes on trace metal behavior, new insights into geochemical reaction pathways in surface sediments, and a better understanding of contaminant fate in nearshore sediments.

Description: Baited cameras and traps were deployed at four stations in the deep Arabian Sea to investigate the composition of the necrophagous fauna and to evaluate whether regional differences in trophic conditions are reflected by differing scavenger assemblages. The ophidiid fish Barathrites iris, the large lysianassoid amphipod Eurythenes gryllus, the aristeid prawn Plesiopenaeus armatus, and zoarcid fishes of the genus Pachycara were abundant at the bait at all stations. The ophidiid Holcomycteronus aequatorius, the liparid fish Paraliparis sp., and galatheid crabs of the genus Munidopsis occurred in considerable numbers at single sites. Trap catches further contained lysianassoid amphipods of the genera Paralicella, Abyssorchomene and Paracallisoma. In contrast to scavenger assemblages of the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean, macrourid fishes were virtually absent at the bait. E. gryllus and B. iris consumed the main proportion of the bait, while consumption was at most moderate in all other taxa. Feeding strategies of the respective taxa are inferred from their behavior at the bait and discussed with regard to the profit that can be drawn from food falls. Differences between stations were pronounced with respect to species dominating bait consumption. E. gryllus appeared in highest numbers at the bait in the productive northern and central Arabian Sea where a relatively high availability of food items is expected to sustain high population densities. High numbers of B. iris in the least productive southern part indicate their ability to persist under food-poor conditions and may correspond to a high dependency on food falls. E. gryllus and B. iris both occurred in smaller numbers in the particularly productive western Arabian Sea. This may reflect a reduced dependency on food falls, due to an access to alternative food sources, rather than small population densities. Smaller numbers of E. gryllus and B. iris resulted in slower bait consumption and gave Pachycara spp. the opportunity to contribute considerably to bait consumption. The relation between scavenger assemblages and trophic conditions is discussed with respect to results obtained under differing trophic regimes in the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean.

Description: This paper presents a new non-invasive technique for measuring sediment O2 uptake that, in its concept, differs fundamentally from other methods used to date. In almost all natural aquatic environments, the vertical transport of O2 through the water column toward the sediment surface is facilitated by turbulent motion. The new technique relies on measuring 2 parameters simultaneously and at the same point in the water above the sediment: the fluctuating vertical velocity using an acoustic Doppler velocimeter and the fluctuating O2 concentration using an O2 microelectrode. From these 2 parameters, which typically are measured 10 to 50 cm above the sediment surface for a period of 10 to 20 min and at a frequency of 15 to 25 Hz, the vertical flux of O2 toward the sediment surface is derived. Based on measurements performed under actual field conditions and comparisons with in situ flux-chamber measurements, we believe that this new technique is the optimal approach for determining O2 uptake by sediments. The technique is superior to conventional methods as measurements are done under true in situ conditions, i.e. without any disturbance of the sediment and under the natural hydrodynamic conditions. Furthermore, this technique can be used for bio-irrigated or highly permeable sediments, such as sands, where traditional methods often fail. While this paper only focuses on O2 uptake by sediments, the technique can also be applied to other solutes that can be measured at a sufficiently high temporal resolution.

Description: As an introduction to a number of researches of his own the author wishes to give the following data: „Veen” has two meanings in Dutch: 1. in a petrographic sense (peat) Von Büllow’s definition was accepted: „Torf” ist zu deflnieren als ein meist dunkles, kohlenstoffreiches und ± saures Gemenge unvollständig spezifisch-zersetzter Pflanzenteile, das erdgeschichtlich jüngste Glied der Verwantschaftsreihe der Kohlen, dessen Bildung noch heute andauert.” 2. in a plant-sociological-geographic sense (bog) the following definition has been suggested: a bog is a plot, the surface of which consists of a layer of peat, either covered or not with vegetation, with which that layer is genetically connected. The classification of bogs according to their position with regard to the water-level of the surroundings (Staring) and that of the geological chart were rejected on account of their ambiguous character. The classification suggested by Van Baren according to the environment in which the bogs have been formed, was likewise thought insufficient. Preference was given to the classification according to the plants which gave rise to the peat (eutrophic, mesotrophic and oligotrophic bogs) and according to the origin of the water needed for peat formation (topogenous, ombrogenous and soligenous bogs). The conditions of peat-formation are of a botanical (presence of a vegetation and micro-organisms), climatologic (presence of a certain temperature and moisture) and geological nature (presence of a basin, valley or dead river-branch, certain level of ground water, a possible impervious layer). With reference to a number of authors (Picardt; Van Lier; Grisebach, Venema and Staring; Weber) the alteration in conception as to peatformation from the 17th via the 18th and 19th to the 20th century has been given. The word „Peel” cannot be derived from „palus”. Nothing is certain about its origin. It may mean the low land, bog or marsh. The bogs of the Peel lie on the Brabant-Limburg border-plateau (fig. 2). Lorié and Pannekoek van Rheden have shown that the peatformation of the Peel is likely to have occurred in channels, which have been formed by the Meuse, in co-operation with wind and rain (fig. 4). The bogs were therefore in the first instance topogenous formations, which afterwards developed into ombrogenous bogs. For his own research the author collected peat in three ways: 1. by cutting lumps of peat from open profiles; 2. by boring with a simple peat-bore (photograph 1); 3. by boring with the Utrecht peat-bore, an improvement on Dachnowski’s (fig. 5). To assist in the pollen-analytic examination the samples were treated according to Erdtman’s method. The latter has the following advantages compared with the usual treatment with a 10% KOH-solution: 1. the surface-structures of the pollen-grains are more distinct and as a result the grains themselves can be recognized better; 2. the pollen is more concentrated, so that in spite of the method taking up much time, a saving of time is possible. How the method is applied may be found in the chapter concerned (p. 38 and following). For the stratigraphic examination the samples were broken apart in a glass-bowl of water and viewed with a binocular microscope. Dry sandy samples were broken in water, when seeds and other vegetative parts came floating to the top; next they were put with a brush on thick blotting paper and studied through the binocular microscope. The designations for the sediments and species of peat have been derived from Fægri & Gams. For Scheuchzeria peat a new designation has been added. A plea was made for replacing the word pollen-analysis by „palynology”. A survey of the observations and examinations up to abt. 1935 closes the introduction (see the diagrams of Weber, Erdtman and Duyfjes in the figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9). The author’s own research refers to the Southern and Astense Peel, as in the remaining grounds of the geological chart indicated I 4v (= raised bog) no samples could be taken owing to the digging off having progressed too far. 10 profiles were examined. The situation of the bore-sites has been given in the geological chart of the grounds (fig. 3). The result of the examination (figs. 10—27) and the discussion on it may be summerized as follows: Zoning of pollen-diagrams The sub-zoning of the late- and post-glacial periods according to Blytt & Sernander has proved useful as a zoning of pollen-diagrams, provided atlantic and sub-boreal are joined. It is desirable to replace Blytt & Sernander’s terminology by a different one, because the authors gave a climatologic connotation to their names of periods. The limit between pleistocene and holocene was drawn between preboreal and boreal as Florschütz did. As phases of the holocene the following names were suggested: young post-glacial = sub-atlantic mid post-glacial = sub-boreal and atlantic old post-glacial = boreal. Neither in the Peel nor elsewhere in Holland have Allerød-deposits been found. They are not likely to be found either, as on account of the long distance from the land-ice-margin the flora will have been hardly or not at all influenced by the Allerød interstadial period. For Holland therefore the zoning of the late-glacial according to Firbas (1935) may be considered sufficient. The names of the periods do not bear a climatologic connotation as those of the post-glacial phases do. For the sake of a unity the following names have been suggested: young late-glacial = pre-boreal mid late-glacial = sub-arctic period old late-glacial = arctic period. Forest-history In a table (p. 98), in which likewise the Peel diagrams of Weber, Erdtman and Duyfjes have been inserted, the examined profiles have been arranged from North to South. From each profile it has been stated whether it originated in a certain period (+) or not (—). The sub-arctic phase was characterized by forests of Betula and Pinus and was followed by the pre-boreal phase, in which Corylus and Alnus occurred. Also from the other Dutch diagrams (see list on p. 99) it appeared that in the Netherlands the Alnus pollen occurs with an equal frequency before, during and after that of the Quercetum mixtum. The old post-glacial zone of the diagrams shows a peak in the Pinusline. In contrast with the from Mid-Europe there is not always a maximum in the Corylus-curve after the Pinus-peak. In other Dutch diagrams this phenomenon is likewise found. Only in 28% of all Dutch profiles with a boreal zone does a hazel-maximum succeed a Pinus one. They often co-incide (16%), while in the remaining cases no hazelpeak has been established. There is no fixed order of sequence in the occurrence of the components of the Quercetum mixtum, either in the Peel or elsewhere in Holland. The mid post-glacial is the phase of culmination of warmth-loving forest elements: Alnus pollen shows the highest percentage in this zone. Quercus pollen also occurs in great quantities, while Ulmus and Tilia take up an important place up to the „Grenzhorizont”. The absolute and empiric Fagus pollen limits are found at different heights in the mid post-glacial zone of the diagrams, the rational limit lies somewhere near the „Grenzhorizont”. In the young post-glacial phase the Fagus pollen attains fairly high percentages (up to 30%). The maxima in the East and South-east of the Netherlands are between 20% and 38%; they decrease towards the coast and increase towards the South-east (Hautes Fagnes, Belgium) and East (Germany). It seems incorrect to class the Netherlands almost entirely among the oak-alderterritory poor in beeches, as Firbas did. An attempt has been made to fit the Peel-diagrams into Overbeck & Schneider’s zonation system. For the territory for which it has been made there are already difficulties (p. 104), for use in the Peel and other Dutch diagrams there are even more objections (p. 68, 104). Godwin’s zonation system appeared to be a little less forced, but not quite useful on account of too many details. From his horizons that of Ulmus proved useless for the continent. Neither for the Peel nor for the Netherlands and its surrounding territory can a detailed zonation system be designed. It has proved difficult to proceed any farther than Rudolph’s „Grundsukzession”: birch, pine-hazel-mixed oak-forest-beech, in which the alder generally joins the mixed oak-forest and the hornbeam the beech. Before drawing far-reaching conclusions from the course of the curves (as has been done by some authors) more palynological researches are needed in accordance with the actuality principle, known from geology. Pollen-grains from warmth-loving trees in seemingly sub-arctic spectra In profile 4 (Deurnse Peel II) pollen-grains of Abies, Alnus, Picea, Tilia, Ulmus and Corylus were found in the „late-glacial” zone (figs. 14, 15). Investigations were made as to which of the following possibilities would be the cause of their appearance: 1. in taking and preparing the samples pollution occurred; 2. pollen-transport over long distances has taken place; 3. the pollen-grains found have got secondarily into the deposit; 4. warmth-loving trees have occurred in favourable circumstances in the late-glacial phase or 5. in an interstadial period or in an interglacial phase. The said pollen-grains probably hail from a Würm interstadial or interglacial phase. Interglacial peat On the site of the bore-point 7 it was possible to collect samples from the layers under the peat. The upper 40 cm of the diagram Griendtsveen IX (fig. 27) of this profile proved a repetition of the lower 40 cm of the Griendtsveen I profile (fig. 18). The diagram shows that pollen of Carpinus, Picea and Abies occurs showing the deposit to be of interglacial age. The pollen-curves, however, pass unnoticed from an interglacial into a post-glacial portion. The limit is likely to be found between the two, about 30 cm below the mowing field. There is therefore a great stratigraphic hiatus. Pollen-analytically it could not be decided from which interglacial period the profile hails; on account of its situation on the middle terrace, it was deemed likely that it was an Eem sea deposit. The examined profile probably corresponds to Jessen & Milthers’ zone g; showing it to have been formed at the end of the Eem sea period. The Meuse therefore cannot have flowed through this part of the Astense Peel after the mid Eemean phase. Stratigraphy This is difficult to summarize. Compare various profiles. Individual mention may be made here of: 1. peat on a podsol layer; this was found in two places (Deurnse Peel I Kraaienhut and Griendtsveen VIII). Peat-formation may be thought to have occurred in the following way: heather started growing on drift-sand giving rise to a podsol layer. As the latter is impervious the vegetation surface became marshy. The heath was replaced by a Caricetum from which peat arose. Gradually more Eriophorum occurred, from which almost pure vaginatum peat arose. The bog-surface grew moister and moister, Sphagnum cuspidatum and Scheuchzeria could grow on it and formed a „Vorlaufstorf”. Only then could non-extremehydrophile Sphagna join in peat-formation. 2. the occurrence of Scheuchzeria-peat after the „Grenzhorizont” period. This species of peat, which is often found at the basis of the old Sphagnum-peat as a mesotrophic transition vegetation, has for the Netherlands only been found in the young post-glacial phase in the Peel (Deurnse Peel I Kraaienhut, Griendtsveen V and VIII and Nederweerd). At present the plant is very rare. The severe decline of this plant was also observed elsewhere. Probably it is caused by the gradual drying up or reclaiming of the raised bogs. Of the present station of Scheuchzeria near Ommen a short description has been given (p. 59 and photographs 2, 3, 4). 3. the „Grenzhorizont”. Where the young Sphagnum-peat has not been dug for the preparation of moss-litter, the Peel bogs show a clear „Grenzhorizont” (photograph 8). The conceptions about its origin have been discussed. The distinct separation between the old and the young Sphagnum-peat was not considered sufficiently explained. Though on the whole the „Grenzhorizont” is synchronous in the North-west European profiles, the point of transition from old to young Sphagnumpeat was fairly unstable and easily changeable as to time. Generally the date of the „Grenzhorizont” is fixed at about 500 A.D., though there are differences in opinion. There is a lack of archeological correlation which renders a correct dating impossible. Interference of man in the Peel Three ways of interference were stated: 1. peat has been dug off for the greater part in the territory of the Peel: young Sphagnum-peat for the preparation of moss-litter, old Sphagnum-peat for fuel. The trees which appeared when the bog was dug up in the „Veenderij der Maatschappij Griendtsveen” are sometimes in so good a condition, that they are used for building sheds. The 1 st, 2nd and 4th beam in the foreground of the shed in photo 5 has been sawn from a 30 m long subfossil pine. 2. in a native peat-digging it was possible to collect recent young Sphagnum-peat. 40 to 50 years ago the peasants living there had dug peat in holes, which were afterwards left to themselves. Sphagnum started growing again and the holes were filled in again. The diagram (fig. Griendtsveen VII) represents the surrounding heath with scattered pines and birches, sown by the wind, and a pine-plantation close by. 3. in the profiles Nieuwe Peel, Griendtsveen VI and VII it has been fixed by the indications given by Firbas, that only in the surface layers of the bog has corn-pollen occurred. So in these parts cultivation of cereals will be of recent date. This also appeared from the history of the reclamation of the said territory.

Description: Nooit zal ik die Donderdagmorgen 10 Augustus 1944 vergeten, toen ik op het laboratorium hoorde dat in de krant — wie las dat vod nog in die tijd — stond dat UITTIEN gefusilleerd was. Het drong eerst niet goed tot mij door. Het kon niet waar zijn. De krant werd gehaald. Ja, daar stond zijn naam in een lange lijst van lotgenoten en het verschrikkelijke, het onherroepelijke, begon langzaam tot mij door te dringen. Koud en gevoelloos stond daar het bericht, van een leugenachtige argumentatie voorzien, dat men ook UITTIEN, die zachtmoedige, gevoelige, intelligente man, had vermoord. Woorden waren hiervoor op dat moment niet te vinden. Ik had alleen behoefte zijn oudste zuster, waaraan hij zeer gehecht was, op te zoeken. Door de slechte treinverbindingen kon ik eerst de volgende dag naar Brummen. Daar trof ik een diep verslagen kring van familie en vrienden van UITTIEN. Wij konden het ons nog zo moeilijk realiseren dat wij hem niet weer zouden zien. Eerst nu wij hem voor goed verloren hadden beseften wij in volle omvang hoe groot wel de plaats was die hij in ons aller leven innam. Van nature had UITTIEN weinig belangstelling voor politiek. Hij vond dat hij daar niets van wist en er dus ook niet aan mee behoefde te doen. Hij had dan ook de gewoonte zijn stembiljet blanco, ja zelfs zonder het open te vouwen, weer meteen in de bus te laten glijden, zeer tot ongenoegen van de partij-mannen die bij een dergelijke gelegenheid op het stembureau plegen te zitten. Wel was hij met hart en ziel het Koninklijk Huis toegedaan. Later heeft hij zijn blanco stemmerij opgegeven, daar het hem duidelijk was dat hij op die manier ongewild toch wel eens de door hem toen reeds verafschuwde N.S.B. zou kunnen steunen. De gang van zaken in Duitsland opende hem de ogen en reeds voor de oorlog liet hij zijn antinazi instelling duidelijk blijken. Zo zond hij na de overval van de Duitsers op Tsjecho-Slowakije een paar overdrukjes aan een botanicus in dat land met op het adres: .... Tsjecho-Slovakia, temporarily occupied by Germany. Dit had tot zijn intens genoegen een geheel onverwacht gevolg, n.1. een stroom van overdrukjes van allerlei Tsjechische botanici waarvan hij nog nooit gehoord had. Na de overval op ons land, het bombardement van Rotterdam, dat diepe indruk op hem maakte, en de daarop volgende bezetting, was UITTIEN dan ook een felle tegenstander van Duitsers en N.S.B.ers. Hij uitte dat waar hij kon in woord en daad. Op de Middelbare Koloniale Landbouwschool te Deventer waar hij leraar was, leidde dat tot wrijvingen met een N.S.B.-collega, die alles aan zijn Duitse meesters rapporteerde. Op 31 Aug. 1941, de verjaardag van H.M. de Koningin, kwam het tot een ernstige, maar niet onvermakelijke botsing met de Deventer zwarthemden, vanwege het feit dat hij binnenshuis met een oranjedas rondliep. Zijn huis aan de Dahliastraat werd door de N.S.B.ers belegerd, hetgeen een grote volksoploop en kloppartij tot gevolg had. Korte tijd daarna werd hij wegens dit feit en zijn „tartende” houding tegen de N.S.B.-collega ontslagen. Daar het departement een gunstige wachtgeldregeling maakte was dit geheel tot zijn genoegen. Sindsdien toch kon UITTIEN zich met nog meer energie wijden aan de taak, die hij zich ten bate van de oorlogvoering gesteld had, nl. het bijhouden van een uitvoerig dagboek en het verspreiden van door de radio opgevangen nieuwsberichten en van illegaal uitgegeven geschriften. Het is buitengewoon jammer dat dit dagboek in de laatste oorlogsmaanden door brand verloren is gegaan. Zijn folkloristische neigingen kwamen hem bij het samenstellen van dit dagboek goed van pas. Dagelijks tekende hij alles aan wat hij hoorde. Elk nieuwtje, elk gerucht, elke anecdote, met nauwkeurige opgave van plaats, tijd enz. Hoewel dus alles door elkaar kwam te staan, nl. alleen in de volgorde zoals hij de berichten kreeg, was het toch een verhaal dat men met spanning zat te lezen. Dat kwam natuurlijk ook vooral door de originele wijze waarop hij het gehoorde op schrift stelde. Zijn dagboek zou ongetwijfeld voor de geschiedschrijving van deze jaren van belang zijn geweest. Hoe ver zijn medewerking aan de illegale bladen zich uitstrekte, kan ik niet zeggen, daar hij dat begrijpelijk ook voor zijn familie en naaste vrienden verborgen hield. Wellicht heeft hij wel eens iets in deze bladen geschreven, maar zijn voornaamste medewerking was zeker de verspreiding. Op 29 Januari 1944 werd hij, op grond van verdenking van medewerking aan de verspreiding van „Trouw”, gearresteerd en naar het concentratiekamp Vught overgebracht. Voor zover wij wisten was er echter geen enkel positief bewijs tegen hem. Dat was dan ook waarschijnlijk de reden dat hij zelf dacht vrij te komen. De weinige brieven die hij uit zijn gevangenschap mocht schrijven waren merendeels opgewekt en getuigden van zijn onvergankelijke gevoel voor humor. Helaas werden zijn optimistische gedachten, geuit in zijn laatste brief, niet tot werkelijkheid. Hij schreef daarin dat hij nu wel spoedig dacht thuis te komen. In plaats daarvan werd echter zijn groep plotseling voor een standgerecht gebracht, en niet voor een gewone militaire rechtbank waarop zij recht hadden. De zaken gingen voor de Duitsers in die dagen slecht. De Amerikanen en Engelsen waren in het Westen doorgebroken. Vermoedelijk is er uit Berlijn een bericht gekomen, dat maar weer eens een voorbeeld moest worden gesteld om de schrik erin te houden. Zo werden deze mensen zonder dat iemand iets van de gang van zaken afwist ter dood veroordeeld en gefusilleerd. Weer was op een misdadige wijze met verkrachting van elk begrip van humaniteit en rechtsgevoel, aan 23 landgenoten het leven ontnomen, rouw en verbeten woede achterlatend.

Description: The Tenasserim lutung Trachypithecus barbei was previously known from museum specimens and field observations only. We discovered a zoo specimen and present the first confirmed evidence for the continued existence of the species since 1967. We describe the cranial pelage and coloration characteristics of this species which were previously unknown. We present first molecular evidence for recognizing T. barbei as a distinct species and for assessing its phylogenetic affinities relative to other members of the genus Trachypithecus. We document the taxonomic history of T. barbei and present a distribution map based on a compilation of all known locality records.

Description: The morphology, function and distribution of exocrine glands of copepods have rarely been studied in detail and almost nothing is known about them in the sea lice species L. salmonis and C. elongatus. This study utilised a novel application of a light-microscopy staining technique to reveal a variety of glands m nauplius, copepodid, chalimus, preadult and adult stages. The stain, 3’,3-diaminobenzidine tetrahydrochloride (DAB), applied to fresh material, differentiated a population of exocrine glands and enabled a study of their distribution. The stain was successful in highlighting the ducts and pores associated with the larger glands. The locations of gland sub-populations were conserved in all life-stages, although glands in the swimming legs were found to be better represented in mobile and freeswimming stages i.e. copepodids, preadults and adults. Glands associated with the mouth-tube were also located. Other, nonglandular, peroxidase-positive regions were also highlighted by the stain. These regions were found mainly in preadult and adult stages where they formed characteristic bi-symmetrical patterns on the cuticle of the dorsal surface. A study of some calanoid copepods suggested that peroxidase-positive glands are a feature peculiar to caligid copepods. This staining technique has proven useful for elucidating the ontogeny of gland populations in caligids.

Description: Many papers on the taxonomy of fossil crustaceans are often based upon poorly preserved material and/or specimens that have been insufficiently prepared. The purpose of the present note is to outline some preparation methods that are applied in our (J.S.H. Collins and S.L.J.) ongoing studies of anomuran and brachyuran decapods from the Middle Danian limestones at Fakse quarry (Denmark), which have greatly enhanced the quality of our material. The techniques briefly outlined here involve: 1 – staining method; 2 – water blasting (as a cleaning tool in preparation of fossils); and 3 – negative preparation (with acid). Some of these techniques will have wide applications in other fields of paleontological research.

Description: To verify if and to what extent egg and nauplii development of the salmon lice take place during winter, the development from egg to the copepodid stage at 2,3,4,5 and 10°C was examined. Newly extruded egg strings from a winter population of salmon lice were individually placed in 6 ml stagnant hatching systems. Initially, no significant differences in egg development time were found between these and larger aerated systems, though a tendency for less synchronised hatching of the total egg string was detected in the stagnant systems (difference〈 12 h). In light versus dark conditions the time to hatching was significantly prolonged by darkness (10-15%). The use of small stagnant experimental units was a pronounced simplification of hatching methods used earlier. At low temperature all but one pair of egg strings hatched. Time to first hatching was found to be 45.1±0.5 days at 2°C, 35.2±0.4 days at 3°C, 27.6±0.2 days at 4°C, 21.6±0.1 days at 5°C and 8.7±0.1 days at 10°C. The developmental time to hatching correlated to temperature fitted the polynomial function: Days to first hatching=0.6638 T² – 12.492T + 67.116 (R²=0.99). A high proportion of the nauplii developed to the copepodid (infectious stage) stage at 4°C and higher but only a small proportion at 2 and 3°C. Total developmental time to copepodid ranged from 12.7 days at 10°C to 68.5 days at 2°C or to the polynomial function Days to first copepodid = 1.0236 Tˉ² – 19.129 T + 101.5 (R²=0.995). The «physiological age» at hatching, i.e. the product of days and the respective temperature, showed not to be linearly correlated to temperature, but showed a maximum at 4°C. Average age at hatching was 90°days at 2°C and 110° days at 4°C. Thus the egg strings of the winter population appeared to be adapted to very low temperature by reducing the time for egg development. The present results show that eggs of salmon lice can develop to the infectious stage during winter along the Norwegian west coast.

Description: In a collection of terrestrial isopods from Venezuela, a distinct species was identified which does not fit any of the known genera. Therefore, a new taxon Metaprosekia gen.n. is instituted to accomodate the new species. An analysis of its morphological characters revealed a close relationship to the genus Prosekia Vandel, 1968 and allied genera. The phylogeny of this group is discussed and one of its poorly known representatives, Xiphoniscus mirabilis Vandel, 1968 is redescribed on the basis of the type material.

Description: Various fossil lungfish taxa preserve distinct depressions on the smooth postbranchial lamina of the dermal pectoral girdle. These depressions are largely unknown in other sarcopterygian fishes, but are present in the rhizodont sarcopterygian Strepsodus. Comparisons with extant actinopterygian fishes suggest these depressions mark the point of origin for the clavobranchialis musculature, extending anterodorsally into the gill chamber to insert on the ventral surface of the ceratobranchial(s). Studios examining feeding and respiratory mechanisms of bony fishes (Osteichthyes) have emphasised the role of mandibular depression in generating negative pressures within the oral cavity to draw in water/air/food via suction. However, phylogenetically basal actinopterygians, fossil lungfish and other fossil sarcoptcrygians (such as Strepsodus) lack the apomorphies that increase suction among bony fishes. In these taxa the clavobranchialis muscles may serve to augment this negative pressure by retracting the ceratobranchials and increasing the size of the oral/ oropharyngeal cavity. A comparable action is performed by the chondrichthyan coracobranchiales muscles, particularly during feeding, and the function of these ventral gill arch muscles is likely to be a synapomorphy of jawed vertebrates (Gnathostomata). This musculature is absent from jawless vertebrates such as the Osteostraci.

Description: The case described here analyses morphological change at the boundary between ecological and evolutionary scales. The size and shape of 8 populations of two sibling species of tenebrionid beetles (Asida planipennis and A. moraguesi) are analysed using landmark-based methods. The two species differ in size, shape and in allometric trajectory. Thin-Plate Spline Analysis (TPSA) combined with Canonical Variate Analysis (CVA) reveal the specific shape changes that allow the best inter-species discrimination. These changes involve the outline of the posterior margin of the pronotum. Moreover, the landmarkbased method provides useful tools for interpreting the intraspecies variability of some continuously varying morphological characters. In the case of A. planipennis, size and shape are correlated at the inter-population level, but are independent at the intra-population level. Moreover, size and shape do not reflect any spatial (i.e., geographical) structure or phylogenetic inertia at the inter-population level. These facts favour sitespecific environmental conditions as the main cause of shape and size variability in this species. One environmental variable is suggested to be the cause of the inter-population morphological differences detected.

Description: We studied reproductive characters of a population of the tortoise Testudo h. hermanni in the Plaine des Maures (Var), and compared these to another population in southern France and to T. h. boettgeri in Greece. Clutch characters, which are measures of total reproductive investment, showed no differences between subspecies or sites after body size correction by ANCOVA. Egg characters, which measure the division of this investment among offspring, did vary significantly among both subspecies and sites after correcting for body mass. The presence of such local variation should discourage relocation of the threatened T. h. hermanni even between populations of the same subspecies.

Description: We review the Goneplacidae and review the various alternative hypotheses concerning membership within the family. We offer a new cladistic based hypothesis of phylogenetic relationships within the group.

Description: This paper reviews the quantitative morphological variation published for Sagitta setosa Müller, 1847 and two other species described within the S. serosa-complex, viz., S. euxina Moltschanoff, 1909 from the Black Sea, and S. batava Biersteker & Van der Spoel, 1966 from the Scheldt Estuary (Netherlands). Data on total (body) length, caudal length, numbers of teeth and hooks, ovary length, and dimensions of fins are compared between these three taxa. Additionally, samples from the North Sea, Mediterranean, and Black Sea are compared to look for geographic differences. Specimens from the Mediterranean were smallest with relatively long caudal segments, and few teeth and hooks, whereas specimens from the Black Sea were largest with relatively short caudal segments and many teeth and hooks. Specimens from the North Sea were intermediate with regards to these characters, but ranges overlapped and there were no obvious differences in allometry. These differences may be ecophenotypic, as the warm and salty Mediterranean Sea and cool and brackish Black Sea are at opposite ends of the environmental spectrum. The dimensions related to the fins showed clearer distinction between samples from different geographical areas, and slight differences in allometry. However, few data were available and little is known about the variance within each geographical area. We found more variation in quantitative characters within S. setosa from different parts of its range than between S. setosa and either S. hatava, or S. euxina. Sagitta batava conformed to S. setosa in terms of all the morphological characters considered. The data for S. setosa derived from Biersteker & Van der Spoel (1966) were atypical and were found to be based on misidentifications of S. elegans. Therefore, we concluded that S. batava cannot be considered a separate taxon. For S. euxina, the data were inconclusive. Quantitative data completely overlapped between S. setosa from the Black Sea and S. euxina, but few data of S. setosa from the Black Sea were available. Because samples were either composed entirely of S. setosa or S. euxina (depending on sampling season and depth) and there was a large variation in body lengths and relative ovary lengths, we consider it possible that these samples represent seasonal variants of one and the same species.

Description: The analysis of consecutive ontogenetic stages, or events, introduces a new class of data to phylogenetic systematics that are distinctly different from traditional morphological characters and molecular sequence data. Ontogenetic event sequences are distinguished by varying degrees of both a collective and linear type of dependence and, therefore, violate the criterion of character independence. We applied different methods of phylogenetic reconstruction to ontogenetic data including maximum parsimony and distance (cluster) analyses. Two different data sets were investigated: (1) four simulated ontogenies with defined phylogenies of six hypothetical taxa, and (2) a set of “real” data comprising sequences of 29 ontogenetic events from 11 vertebrate taxa. We confirm that heterochronic event sequences do contain a phylogenetic signal. However, based on our results we argue that maximum parsimony is a biased method to analyze such developmental sequence data. Ontogenetic events require a special analytical algorithm that would not neglect instances of chronological (horizontal) dependence of this type of data. One coding method, “event-pairing”, appeared to fulfill this requirement in the vertebrate analyses. However, to accurately analyze ontogenetic sequence data, a more sophisticated coding method and algorithm are needed, for example, measuring distances of dependent events.

Description: Review of: Systema Porifera, edited by J. N. A. Hooper and R. W. M. van Soest. Kluwer Academic Publ., Dordrecht, Netherlands, 2002, 1708 pp., ISBN 0-306-47260-0 This seems to be a time for the publication of big compendia. One would have thought that in this age of the internet one would be turning to convenient web-sites to find the latest catalogues of data and information about biodiversity of animal groups. Indeed, such do exist, and many of them are remarkably detailed and informative. Nevertheless, there has been a steady stream lately of traditional hardcopy volumes presenting systematic and taxonomic overviews of various groups of animals. This handsome two-volume set is amongst the latest example of these kinds of books to appear.

Description: I have long maintained that in the unfolding of exciting lines of research, seldom can one plan how to achieve a cooperative program. “Planned science,” more often than not, is forced science and not particularly productive. Far more significant is the role of serendipity in defining an exciting and innovative line of research, i.e., a truly stimulating cooperation. Fundamental advances simply cannot be planned for; one has to flow with the current. Thus it was that serendipity brought together the research group in Experimental Embryology of Prof. dr. J.A.M. van den Biggelaar at the University of Utrecht, and my own group in Systematics and Zoogeography at the University of Amsterdam. Several years ago I had received a grant proposal to review from the Dutch science research council (NWO). The proposed project intended to examine patterns of early development in the gastropod Patella in a large scale, evolutionary context. I found the project an exciting one and gave it my highest endorsement. Furthermore, so taken was I by the proposal that I made contact with its author. Prof. van den Biggelaar. I had long entertained the idea that a combination of an evolutionarily inclined group in embryology with embryologically sensitive systematists could achieve great things. I revealed myself to Jo van den Biggelaar as one of his reviewers and proposed that we meet.

Description: Parasitoid assemblages infesting Yponomeuta species in the Netherlands were investigated. Parasitoid species richness and community composition were related to host species, habitat, temporal and spatial variation. Both community structure and species richness did not differ among habitats. There was no significant difference in species richness between years (1994 and 1995) but there was a significant difference in community composition. Community composition and species richness both differed among host species, although this latter result was solely due to the host species Y. evonymellus. There was no significant relationship between community similarity and distance. These results indicate that the parasitoids of the moth genus Yponomeuta in the Netherlands appear to form a spatially stable, but temporally variable community. Most of the variation in community structure was, however, related to the host species. The marked difference in parasitoid species richness and community composition of Y. evonymellus when compared to the other species warrants further study.

Description: Decapods are the most diverse and complex group of crustaceans, adapted for life in all parts of the marine environment, many aquatic habitats, and some terrestrial niches. With this diversity of life styles, a vast range of morphotypes of decapods has evolved, exploiting almost every imaginable variation in morphology of the complex exoskeleton that characterizes them. Many of the morphological variants are a response to exploiting a particular niche in which the organisms live or an adaptation to particular behavioral characteristics. Assessing the significance of morphological variation in the fossil record is challenging because of the taphonomic overprint that results in loss of soft tissue, preservation of partial remains of hard parts, and vastly reduced numbers of preserved individuals as contrasted to the once-living population. The purpose of the present paper is to identify aspects of morphology that may be useful in interpreting the behavioral responses of the organism to its environment, w,th primary emphasis on morphological features of the exoskeleton that are not expressed on all individuals but that occur at low, and unpredictable, frequencies.

Description: Approximately 2,600 genera of marine crustaceans have been recognized in the fossil record, and crustaceans constitute the major component of marine arthropod diversity from the mid-Paleozoic to the Recent. Despite problems of sporadic fossil preservation and/or taxonomic ambiguity, some general statements can be made about the history of crustacean biodiversity, based on global taxonomic data bases. Ostracodes were the first major group to radiate, attaining high diversity during the Ordovician Period with other members of the Paleozoic evolutionary fauna; rates of extinction and responses to mass extinctions were also similar to those of groups within the Paleozoic fauna. Malacostracans and barnacles (cirripedes), the two other crustacean groups with important fossil records, had minor diversity throughout the Paleozoic Era. Both groups experienced diversification from the mid-Mesozoic to Recent with lower extinction rates, as characteristic members of the Modern evolutionary fauna.

Description: Carefully collected molecular data and rigorous analyses are revolutionizing today’s phylogenetic studies. Although molecular data have been used to estimate various invertebrate phylogenies lor more than a decade, this study is the first survey of different regions of mitochondrial DNA in isopod crustaceans assessing sequence divergence and hence the usefulness of these regions to infer phylogeny at different hierarchical levels. 1 evaluate three loci from the mitochondrial genome (two ribosomal RNAs (12S, 16S) and one protein-coding (COI)) for their appropriateness in inferring isopod phylogeny at the suborder level and below. The patterns are similar for all three loci with the most speciose suborders of isopods also having the most divergent mitochondrial nucleotide sequences. Recommendations for designing an order- or suborder-level molecular study in previously unstudied groups of Crustacea would include: (1) collecting a minimum of two-four species or genera thought to be most divergent, (2) sampling across the group of interest as equally as possible in terms of taxonomic representation and the distribution of species, (3) surveying several genes, and (4) carrying out preliminary alignments, checking data for nucleotide bias, transition/ transversion ratios, and saturation levels before committing to a large-scale sequencing effort.

Description: Ten species from five genera of the family Hynobiidae were studied. The number of trunk vertebrae varied between 14 and 21, and the count of costal grooves ranged from 10 to 15. Both the within-species variation and the within-population variation were recorded in some species. In both kinds the values of the coefficient of variation were quite low. In Salamandrella keyserlingii, the south-eastern samples markedly differed from remaining ones. Among the hynobiids, the genus Onychodactylus (both species) and Batrachuperus mustersi have higher number of vertebrae in the anterior part of trunk (5 and 4, respectively, versus 3), and, thus, demonstrated a distinct position. The relation between the number of trunk vertebrae and the count of costal grooves was studied. The variation in number of trunk vertebrae across urodelan families was discussed.

Description: A critical study of the morphological data sets used for the most recent analyses of metazoan cladistics exposes a rather cavalier attitude towards character coding. Binary absence/presence coding is ubiquitous, but without any explicit justification. This uncompromising application of Boolean logic in character coding is remarkable since several recent investigations have nominated absence/presence coding as the most problematic coding method available for standard cladistic analysis. Moreover, the prevalence of unspecified “absence” character states in the published data sets introduces a discrepancy between the theoretical foundations of phylogenetic parsimony and current practices in metazoan cladistics. Because phylogenetic parsimony assumes transformation of character states, its effective operation breaks down when not all character states are carefully delimited. Examples of resulting meaningless character state transformations are discussed in two categories: 1) when unspecified “absence” states are plesiomorphic; and 2) when unspecified “absence” states are apomorphic (character reversals). To facilitate future progress in metazoan cladistics, the mandatory link between comparative morphology and character coding needs to be reestablished through a more explicit study of morphological variation prior to character coding, and through a more explicitly experimental approach to character coding.

Description: Several aspects of the ecology of Jameson’s green mamba Dendroaspis jamesoni jamesoni (Traill, 1843), a large-sized arboreal elapid snake, are studied in southern Nigeria. This species 18 common and widespread in the region studied. On the basis of the analysis of both the habitats of capture of the various specimens and the results of a logistical regression model, it seems that this species inhabits a wide variety of habitats (including secondary forest patches and the plantation-forest mosaic), and that its local distribution is not influenced by the Presence of any macrohabitat parameter. Green mambas were observed both in the dry and in the wet season, without any statistical bias toward a particular season. Adult sex-ratio was aPproximately 1 : 1. Males were significantly longer than females. All adult mamba dietary records involved warm-blooded prey (mainly birds), whereas young mambas fed also upon lizards and toads. Nearly all the prey eaten by adult mambas were arboreal, and thus there was no support for the recent hypothesis that adult mambas develop an orientation to forage on terrestrial rodents. Male-male combats and matings were observed in December, January, and February (dry season), and gravid females were collected in April, May, and June (wet season). Females produced 7-16 eggs (mean 10.9), and litter size was Positively correlated with maternal length.

Description: In this second of a two-part series, carcinization in the Anomura has been reviewed from early juvenile, megalopal, and larval perspectives. Data from megalopal and early juvenile development in ten genera of the Lithodidae have provided unequivocal evidence that earlier hypotheses regarding evolution of the king crab pleon were erroneous. A pattern of sundering, and decalcification has been traced from the megalopal stage through several early crabs stages in species of Lithodes and Paralomis, with supplemental evidence from species in eight other genera. Of major significance has been the attention directed to the marginal plates of the second pleomere, which when separated in lithodids are not homologous with the adult so-called “marginal plates” of the following three tergites. Auxiliary megalopal and early juvenile lithodid data, as well as equivalent data from other paguroids, support the evolutionary direction indicated by lithodid pleonal plate development. Therefore, while carcinization, or development of a crab-like body form, has occurred in the Lithodidae, it has not proceeded from a hermit crab ancestor. Rather the data suggest the reverse, thus effectively refuting the “hermit to king” myth. Brief reviews of data available from the Lomisidae and Porcellanidae support the Proposition of independent anomuran carcinization events in these taxa as well. Results of cladistic analysis of megalopal and juvenile data, although somewhat unconventional, do not support the claim of a sister-group relation of the lithodid genera Lithodes and Paralithodes with the pagurid genus Pagurus. Attempts to subject larval phase data to similar analysis were thwarted by the tendency in paguroids, including lithodids, for lecithotrophic development. Additionally, presumed initial and terminal stage deletions disallow the ontogenetic stage homologies required for meaningful phylogenetic results.

Description: Bidder’s organ has been cited as a structure present only in males of the toad family Bufonidae, and is used as a systematic characteristic. In this study, we examined females of Bufo ictericus in order to ascertain whether this structure also occurs in females. Macroscopic observations and light microscopy technique for paraffin embedding were performed. This study reveals that females of Bufo ictericus can have a Bidder’s organ with typical morphology, and in close spatial relationship with the ovary. This suggests that the Bidder’s organ is not an exclusive structure for male toads, but that it may also occur in active females.

Description: New fossils referable to the Cancridae Latreille, 1802 extend the known stratigraphic range of the family into the middle Eocene and the geographic range into South America. Each genus within the family has been reevaluated within the context of the new material. A suite of diagnostic characters for each cancrid genus makes it possible to assign both extant and fossil specimens to genera and the two cancrid subfamilies, the Cancrinae Latreille, 1802, and Lobocarcininae Beurlen, 1930, based solely upon dorsal carapace morphology. Cheliped morphology is useful in assigning genera to the family but is significantly less useful at the subfamily and generic level. Each of the four subgenera sensu Nations (1975), Cancer Linnaeus, 1758, Glebocarcinus Nations, 1975, Metacarcinus A. Milne Edwards, 1862, and Romaleon Gistl, 1848, are elevated to full generic status. Additionally, three new genera and three new species accommodate the new, as well as some previously described taxa, and include Anatolikos new genus, Anisospinos berglundi new genus and species, and Notocarcinus sulcatus new genus and species and several new combinations. Recognition of new genera and reassignment of several species within the Cancrinae indicates that that subfamily may have arisen in the southern hemisphere, contrary to the previous interpretation of the subfamily as a primarily North Pacific or Tethyan group. The Lobocarcininae was primarily a Tethyan group.

Description: In the skeletons of three species of Indomalayan bears, pathological changes are described that could be diagnosed as spondyloarthropathy and as discarthrosis/osteoarthrosis.

Description: An international survey revealed that eleven compounds representing five pesticide types are currently being used on commercial salmon farms for sea lice control. These include two organophosphates (dichlorvos and azamethiphos); three pyrethrin/pyrethroid compounds (pyrethrum, cypermethrin, deltamethrin); one oxidizing agent (hydrogen peroxide); three avermectins (ivermectin, emamectin and doramectin) and two benzoylphenyl ureas (teflubenzuron and diflubenzuron). The number of compounds available in any one country is highly variable, ranging from 9 (Norway) to 6 (Chile, United Kingdom) to 4 (Ireland, Faeroes, Canada) to 2 (US)). Dichlorvos, Azamethiphos and cypermethrin were the most widely used compounds (5 countries) followed by, hydrogen peroxide, ivermectin and emamectin (4 countries each), teflubenzuron (3 countries), diflubenzuron (2 countries), and deltamethrin, pyrethrum and doramectin (1 country each). Although, like trichlorfon, dichlorvos use is being discontinued in several countries notably Norway and the Faeroes. In most instances the availability of sea lice chemotherapeutants is limited, many being used under extra-label veterinary prescription or exemption, and special investigation permits. Access to a broad range of compounds with different modes of action, as well as application methods, has only recently been acquired making assessment of chemotherapy, and therefore integrated pest management, difficult.

Description: Observations of whales and dolphins in the Cape Verde Islands obtained in 1995 and 1996 are reported and data on the occurrence of 14 taxa are given, including four not previously reported from the region, viz. Bryde’s Whale Balaenoptera edeni, Killer Whale Orcinus orca, Rough-toothed Dolphin Steno bredanensis, and Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba. An earlier report of Fin Whale B. physalus is reviewed and re-identified as B. cf. borealis. Status and occurrence of the Humpback Whale Megaptera novaeangliae are discussed at some length. Unpublished observations from other observers are also included and a short account on the history of whaling in the islands is given. A list of all cetacean taxa reliably recorded in the Cape Verde region is presented and unsubstantiated reports are briefly discussed.

Description: The investigation of specific characteristics of Lepeophtheirus salmonis populations on farmed salmon was made possible by the examination of the parasite infestation parameters of regular non destructive samples taken for up to six years in five bays. Perennial persistence of seasonal patterns of infestation as exhibited by intensity, prevalence and abundance was examined. Site specific characteristics were detected which appeared to be independent of inter-annual variations. Seasonal variations in individual lice size and fecundity, and temporal variation in population dynamics on the farmed fish in the five bays are considered in the context of the not inconsiderable changes in husbandry and lice control practices which have been introduced in the industry over the six year period.

Description: The effects of short-term infection with the branchurian crustacean ectoparasite Argulus foliaceus, and the fish stress hormone cortisol (which is reported to stimulate mucus discharge), were studied on the mucous cell population of the head skin of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Argulus infection did not raise plasma cortisol significantly and had no effect on the number of epidermal mucous cells in the head skin. Cortisol was administered twice to groups of trout via the food, significantly elevating circulating plasma cortisol at 24 h post feeding without affecting numbers of mucous cells, and increasing the numbers of vesicles in the upper cells of the epidermis. Subsequent infection with the parasite (6 Argulus f/fish) did not affect either plasma cortisol or total numbers of mucous cells at 48 h post-infection with the parasite, but led to a significantly lower parasite infestation per fish in the cortisol-administered groups. A 24 h culture system was used to expose pieces of trout skin to 50 ng/ml cortisol in vitro to investigate whether cortisol alone would stimulate reductions in mucous cell numbers. These were unaffected by the addition of cortisol. The in vivo and in vitro results are discussed in relation to the current understanding of crustacean host-parasite interactions.

Description: The following families are already revised and will be included in Flora Malesiana vol. 4, part 1 which is made ready for the press: Aceraceae, Actinidiaceae s.str., Alangiaceae, Ancistrocladaceae Aponogetonaceae, Burmanniaceae, Geratophyllaceae, Cochlospermaceae, Hydrocaryaceae, Juncaginaceae, Moringaceae, Myoporaceae, Nyssaceae, Philydraceae, Plumbaginaceae, Podostemonaceae Sarcospermaceae, Sphenocleaceae, Stackhkousiaceae, Styracaceae, Trigoniaceae, Zygophyllaceae.

Description: The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, Jamaica Plain, Mass. The Gray Herbarium of Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. U.S. National Herbarium, Smithonian Institution, Washington, DC. New York Botanical Gardens, Bronx Park, Fordham Br.P.O., N.Y. Bot. Gardens, Ann. Arbor, Mich. University of California, Department of Botany, Berkeley, Cal. Field museum of natural History, Department of Botany, Chicago, Ill. Great Britain. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew-Surrey (except types) British Museum, Natural History, Bot. Department, Cromwell Road, London SW & Botany School, Cambridge.