New synonyms and records of Costa Rican and Panamanian dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae)

To better understand the dung beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) biodiversity of Costa Rica and Panama, new synonyms, records, distributions, and updates are presented. This paper analyzes the distribution and taxonomy of Phanaeus olsoufieffi Balthasar, 1939 in Panama and establishes the following new subjective synonym: Phanaeus panamensis Moctezuma and Halffter, 2021 = Phanaeus olsoufieffi Balthasar, 1939. Color morphs of Phanaeus pyrois Bates, 1887 in Costa Rica are analyzed. The Costa Rican distribution of Onthophagus bidentatus Drapiez, 1819 and O. marginicollis Harold, 1880 is stud­ied. Onthophagus bidentatus is recorded for Costa Rica for the first time. A population analysis of barcode mtDNA, color morphs, and morphological and genitalia characters for different body sizes of Onthophagus cyanellus is undertaken. An mtDNA barcode tree is presented to assess the molecular identity of O. cyanellus resulting in the reaffirmed subjective synonymy, Onthophagus mesoamericanus Zunino and Halffter, 1988 = O. cyanellus Bates, 1887

Análisis histórico de la clasificación de los Coleoptera Scarabaeoidea o Lamellicornia

This study presents an historic analysis of the classification process of the Scarabaeoidea (Insecta: Coleoptera). The analysis is divided in three periods including 59 authors, beginning with Linné in 1735, and  finishing in 2001 with Pretorius and Scholtz. The first period (1735-1856) was chosen, since it encompasses a time period prior to the publication of Darwin’s “The Origin of Species”, and is therefore a classification process arguably free of any Darwinian evolutionary influences. There was a very quick development, in a relatively short period of time (1735-1796), in the number and type of characters used for classification purposes. On some occasions, certain authors reverted to the pre-Linnean tradition of using ecological characters. Likewise, the hierarchic structure of classifications developed rapidly into systems that any modern taxonomist can relate to. Authors like Linné, Fabricius and Latreille, who worked for long periods of time developing classificatory systems, always revolutionized systematics in their very first study. Later on, they remained conservative and made improvements only to the details of systematics. By 1856, the classification of the scarab beetles looks very akin to any present-day system. It is obvious that classifications similar to modern ones can be approximated without having to rely on Darwinian evolutionary principles. The second period (1869-1955) includes a comparative synthesis on the classification of the Coleoptera Lamellicornia based on faunistic and taxonomic works dealing with species from Central America, Europe, India and Indochina, as well as classic world wide checklists, that are representatives of the taxonomical criteria of 17 authors; the possible influence of Darwin’s theories is discussed for each classification. Apparently, the main structure of the classification of scarab beetles during this time does not show substantial changes in relation with the proposals of Burmeister or Lacordaire. A large number of new morphological characters were added to the traditional ones, but the family level characters and their use were nearly the same as in the middle of the XIX century. Male genital capsules, internal organs and structures of the immature stages were cited for the first time as useful taxonomic characters, but as accesories of the traditional adult characters. Relations between the groups were eventually exposed as dendrogrames by Sharp and Muir (1912), Paulian (1948) and Crowson (1955), but without clear references to evolutionary theories. These classifications were more complex than the preceding ones, because of the addition of nearly 11,000 new species discovered along 80 years of world exploration. The third period (1957-2001) resumes and analyzes the classification proposals undertaken by 28 authors, based on monographs, faunal studies, keys for regional fauna, papers oncomparative morphology, and studies specifically devoted to the understanding of phyletic relationships and evolutionary processes in Scarabaeoidea, for the whole group or for suprageneric groupings of this superfamily. One can detect the patent influence of organic evolution theories on these studies, as well as a progressive reflection of relationships in the proposed classifications, mainly through the use of cladistic and pheneticist approaches. Lately, molecular approaches have also been recruited; but even with all this technology, the main problem remains that most studies do not consider all the diversity of the Scarabaeoidea in one single analysis. Mention must be made of Endrödi’s study (1966), who is the first to consider the whole group in analytic and comparative style, proposing to subdivide the Lamellicornia into five families: Scarabaeidae, Melolonthidae, Trogidae, Passalidae and Lucanidae. This proposal has been supported by Martínez (1970-1990), Machatschke (1972-1974), and Morón (1976-2002). So far, no one has refuted this proposal by doing an equivalent or more modern analysis of his grouping. Medvedev (1976) and Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1977) have also made comparative studies, which, like Endrödi’s proposal, have not been accepted by English speaking authors. Paulian’s (1948-1988) and Balthasar’s (1963) proposals were based mainly on the action of elevating subfamilies to the family status, so they do not really represent a new proposal. Using different points of view Lawrence and Newton (1982, 1995) and Scholtz (1990-1995) have supported Crowson’s (1955-1981) proposals of 6-10 families of Scarabaeoidea. Historical, economic and sociopolitical factors have been influencing the development of the schools of systematics during the XX century. American authors have supported most of the time classificatory schemes that go against dividing the Scarabaeoidea, although lately they have started to adopt the 12 families scheme of Lawrence and Newton. On the other hand, European authors have tended to favor groupings with as many as 25 families, as proposed by Paulian and Balthasar. Although the studies undertaken by the South African school show a stronger methodological basis, the proposal of 15 families has not been accepted by Lawrence and Newton, although they have incorporated a great part of its structure. This last proposal shows still several problems to be solved in the family that includes the Scarabaeinae, Aphodiinae, Melolonthinae, Dynastinae, Rutelinae, and Cetoniinae; but it is shown by Jameson and Ratcliffe (2002) as the contemporary option to frame the study of the Scarabaeoidea.Se presenta una revisión histórica del proceso de clasificación y el desarrollo de la sistemática de los Lamellicornia o Scarabaeoidea (Insecta: Coleoptera), dividida en tres períodos. El análisis comprende un estudio histórico-comparativo sobre el desarrollo del tipo y número de caracteres, así como el número y características de los géneros y agrupamientos en taxones supragenéricos. El primer período abarca 14 autores en diferentes fechas, iniciando en 1735 con Linné y terminando en 1856 con Lacordaire. En este período se abordan trabajos anteriores a la publicación del “Origen de las Especies”, por lo cual las ideas evolucionistas darwinianas no tuvieron influencia sobre la sistemática del grupo. En el segundo período se presenta una comparación de las propuestas de clasificación de los Coleoptera Scarabaeoidea, publicadas entre 1869 y 1955 por 17 autores de trabajos faunísticos y taxonómicos regionales o en catálogos mundiales. Se destacan los principales caracteres morfológicos utilizados para la separación supragenérica y las inovaciones introducidas por cada uno de ellos, señalando en su caso, la posible influencia de las teorías de Darwin. Se concluye que el esquema general de clasificación durante este período no cambió substancialmente con respecto al de Burmeister o Lacordaire, y que las ideas evolucionistas tuvieron poca repercusión en estas clasificaciones, las cuales son más complejas que las del primer período, sobre todo por la adición de más de 11,000 especies nuevas obtenidas durante 80 años de exploraciones mundiales. En el tercer período se resumen y analizan las propuestas de clasificación publicadas entre 1957 y 2001 por 28 autores de monografías, estudios faunísticos y claves regionales, artículos sobre morfología comparativa, y trabajos expresamente enfocados al esclarecimiento de las relaciones filéticas y los procesos evolutivos de los Scarabaeoidea en conjunto, o por grupos supragenéricos particulares de esta superfamilia. En la mayor parte de estos estudios es evidente la influencia de las teorías sobre la evolución orgánica, y se observa como progresivamente se busca que las clasificaciones reflejen las relaciones entre sus elementos, principalmente a través de enfoques feneticistas y cladistas

Presencia de Rhinospathe albomarginata Chevrolat, 1878 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) como plaga de Erythrina costaricensis Micheli, 1874 (Fabales: Fabaceae)

AbstractIntroduction: Rhinospathe albomarginata Chevrolat, 1878 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) initially described in 1878, is distributed in Costa Rica and Panama. Objective: To document the presence of Rhinospathe albomarginata as a pest of Erythrina costaricensis Micheli, 1894 (Fabales: Fabaceae) in a recently established silvopastoral system, under intensive-use field conditions. Materials and methods: This emergent observational work was carried out at the Alfredo Volio Mata Experimental Station, Ochomogo, Cartago province, Costa Rica, in a grazing lot between July 27 and August 10 of 2016; measurements were made of the foliar area and number of affected trees, and a natural repellent was applied for its control. Results: The insect's presence as a pest of E. costaricensis, and the damage done to the leaf area were documented, where 40,3 % of the trees showed a mean damage in the range of 5 to 10 % of the leaflet surface, in some samples up to 20 %. Conclusion: This note is the first record of the beetle as a pest in this tree species; the applied organic bioinput (extract of Bocconia frutescens L., 1753. Papaverales: Papaveraceae) showed insect repellent properties. Keywords: Rhinospathe, Erythrina costaricensis, silvopastoral system, forage trees.ResumenIntroducción. Rhinospathe albomarginata Chevrolat, 1878 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Entimini) fue descrita originalmente por Chevrolat en 1878) con distribución en Costa Rica y Panamá. Objetivo: documentar la presencia de Rhinospathe albomarginata como plaga de Erythrina costaricensis Micheli (Fabaceae) en un sistema silvopastoril intensivo (SSPi) recientemente establecido, bajo condiciones de campo. Materiales y métodos: Este trabajo observacional emergente se llevó a cabo en la Estación Experimental Alfredo Volio Mata (EEAVM), Ochomogo, provincia de Cartago, Costa Rica. En un lote de pastoreo entre el 27 de Julio (aparición) y el 10 de agosto de 2016, se hicieron mediciones del área foliar y número de árboles afectados y se aplicó un repelente natural para su control. Resultados: Se documentó la presencia del insecto en el follaje de E. costaricensis en 40,3 % de los árboles y el daño medio tuvo un rango del 5 al 10 % del área foliar, en algunas observaciones alcanzaron hasta el 20 % del área del folíolo. Conclusión: Esta nota es el primer registro del escarabajo referido en la especie forrajera arbórea; y muestra que el bioinsumo orgánico aplicado (extracto de Bocconia frutescens) presenta propiedades repelentes de insectos. Palabras clave: Rhinospathe, Erythrina costaricensis, sistema silvopastoril, árboles forrajeros

Apoptosis-Related Gene Expression Profiling in Hematopoietic Cell Fractions of MDS Patients

Contains fulltext : 168172.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)Although the vast majority of patients with a myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) suffer from cytopenias, the bone marrow is usually normocellular or hypercellular. Apoptosis of hematopoietic cells in the bone marrow has been implicated in this phenomenon. However, in MDS it remains only partially elucidated which genes are involved in this process and which hematopoietic cells are mainly affected. We employed sensitive real-time PCR technology to study 93 apoptosis-related genes and gene families in sorted immature CD34+ and the differentiating erythroid (CD71+) and monomyeloid (CD13/33+) bone marrow cells. Unsupervised cluster analysis of the expression signature readily distinguished the different cellular bone marrow fractions (CD34+, CD71+ and CD13/33+) from each other, but did not discriminate patients from healthy controls. When individual genes were regarded, several were found to be differentially expressed between patients and controls. Particularly, strong over-expression of BIK (BCL2-interacting killer) was observed in erythroid progenitor cells of low- and high-risk MDS patients (both p = 0.001) and TNFRSF4 (tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily 4) was down-regulated in immature hematopoietic cells (p = 0.0023) of low-risk MDS patients compared to healthy bone marrow

A global agenda for advancing freshwater biodiversity research

Global freshwater biodiversity is declining dramatically, and meeting the challenges of this crisis requires bold goals and the mobilisation of substantial resources. While the reasons are varied, investments in both research and conservation of freshwater biodiversity lag far behind those in the terrestrial and marine realms. Inspired by a global consultation, we identify 15 pressing priority needs, grouped into five research areas, in an effort to support informed stewardship of freshwater biodiversity. The proposed agenda aims to advance freshwater biodiversity research globally as a critical step in improving coordinated actions towards its sustainable management and conservation

A global agenda for advancing freshwater biodiversity research

Global freshwater biodiversity is declining dramatically, and meeting the challenges of this crisis requires bold goals and the mobilisation of substantial resources. While the reasons are varied, investments in both research and conservation of freshwater biodiversity lag far behind those in the terrestrial and marine realms. Inspired by a global consultation, we identify 15 pressing priority needs, grouped into five research areas, in an effort to support informed stewardship of freshwater biodiversity. The proposed agenda aims to advance freshwater biodiversity research globally as a critical step in improving coordinated actions towards its sustainable management and conservation.Peer reviewe

New spedes and distribution records of Mesoamerican Ateuchus (Coleoptera:Scarabaeidae)

This paper describes tbree new species of Ateuchus for Mesoamerica. The new laxa are: A. gershensoni (copulatory hooks subequal in size and spinelike), A. perezvelai (small size; frons very convex; one very big copulatory hook and two smal! spine-like ones assocíated with a spiny fascies) and A. perpusillus (anterior pronotal margin incomplete; small and compac! copulatory hooks, associated with a spiny fascies) from soutbern Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras. Redescriptions are also given for A. chrysopyge (Bates) (big size; copulatory hooks, one big, a spine-like medium-sized one and a hook-like small one) and A. guatemalensis (Bates) (pronotum punctured; anterior pronotal margin almos! effaced; pygidium convex; copulatory hooks, two small and compac! and one very thin and curved). New country and distributional records are al so registered for Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras and El Salvador. Distribution map, intemal sac of aedeagus iIIustrations and photographs oí dorsal habitus are included, as well as drawings of the dorsal habitus of the three new species. The present work clarifies ¡he situation of the genus in Mesoamerica and updales knowledge of ¡he group in Mexico.Este trabajo describe tres lluevas especies de Ateuchus para lvlesoamérica Los nuevos taxa son: A. gershensoni, A. perez:velai y A.perpusillus de! sur de México, Guatemala y Honduras. Se incluyen redesclipciones de A. chrysopyge (Bates) y A. gU(llemalensis (Bates). Se citan nuevos registros de países y de distribución para México, Guatemala, Belice, Honduras y El Salvador. Se incluyen mapas, ilustraciones del saco interno del edeago y fotogmfí:.>s de] hábito dorsal, así como ilustraciones del hábito dorsal de las tres nuevas especies. Este estudio rep

The Costa Rican species of Ateuchus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

This paper is the result of a study of the genus Ateuchus Weber (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in Costa Rica. Nine species are reported, of which six are new. The previously known species are: A. aeneomicans (Harold), A. candezei (Harold) and A. rodriguezi (Preudhomme de Borre). The new taxa are: A. fetteri (profemur with fine punctures, last abdominal segment rounded, apex oC elytra slightIy shagreened); A. ginae (Iast abdominal segment very convex and broad, pronotum and head finely punctured); A. hendrichsi (!ast abdominal segment very convex and broad, head and pronotum evidentIy punctured); A. howdeni (small, anterior pronotal margin complete, elytral striae not impressed at apex, pygidial margin incomplete or almost effaced); A. solisi (Iarge, anterior pronotal margin wealdy impressed, very broad pygidium); A. zoebischi (anterior pronotal margin incomplete, proepimeron coarsely punctured, pronotal disk slightIy to evidentIy shagreened). The male internal sac oC all species is illustrated, and the species distribution is mapped. An identification key is also presented. The nine species indicate that Costa Rica has a very rich Ateuchus fauna Cor its size. For cortiparison Mexico has twelve known species and the United States three.Este trabajo es el· resultado del estudio del género Ateuchus Weber (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) en Costa Rica. Nueve especies se reportan para el país, de las cuales seis son nuevas. Las especies previamente conocidas son: A. aeneomicans (Harold), A. candezei (Harold) y A. rodriguezi (Preudhomme de Borre). Las nuevas especies son: A. fetteri, A. ginae, A. hendrichsi, A. howdeni, A. solisi y A. zoebischi. Para cada especie se ilustra el saco interno del macho, así como su distribución en un mapa. Una clave para la identificación se incluye también. Se considera que Costa Rica posee una fauna de Ateuchus muy rica para el tamaño del país, ya que comparativamente México alberga doce especies y l o s Estados Unidos tres especies conocidas