The Gammaridean and Caprellid Amphipoda of Southern Africa

It is the intention of this thesis to bring together the existing scattered data concerning the Amphipoda of southern Africa, to add records from unidentified collections and to present the whole in a form that will provide a firm basis for future work in this field. The collections examine d are principally those of the University of Cape Town, the South African Museum and the National Institute for Water Research. These collections are together much larger than any previously reported from southern Africa (in excess of 90 000 specimens from several thousand stations). Findings are presented in a series of five regional papers. Each paper includes brief descriptions of principal collecting areas and their faunas and an analysis of species collected. Station data, references and distributions are provided for all species, while a short diagnosis is given with the first reference to each species. A total of 299 gammaridean and caprellid species is recognised. One family (Temnophliidae), four genera (Chaka, Cunicus, Dikwa, Janice) and 39 species are described as new to science; while 21 others are recorded from southern Africa for the first time. Nine existing species are relegated as synonyms. Following the five regional taxonomic papers, a synoptic guide to the benthic amphipods of the region is provided. This is intended to provide the non-specialist with a means of identifying his own material. A brief guide to methods of collection, storage and examination is provided and is followed by comprehensive fully illustrated keys to the families, genera and species of gammaridean and caprellid Amphipoda recorded from Africa south of 20 degree S, 0-1000m. The figures cover virtually all species, including many never before illustrated and will hopefully reduce the need for exhaustive knowledge of morphological nomenclature, or of extensive reference facilities, before identifications can be made. An appendix provides reference to more detailed descriptions of each species, gives their distributions world-wide and within southern Africa, and lists common synonyms. A concluding chapter discusses modes of dispersal of amphipods and possible origins of the southern African fauna. The region can apparently be divided into tropical, subtropical and temperate provinces, the first two dominantly populated by species of tropical origins and the third rich in endemic forms. This pattern is paralleled in other groups such as the polychaeta. It is concluded that although southern Africa is rich in endemic species and genera it is not a centre for the evolution of major taxa but rather an evolutionary outpost where immigrant forms have evolved under reduced pressure

Sources of nutrition in intertidal sea anemones from the south-western Cape, South Africa

Respiration rates of seven species of intertidal sea anemones from the south-western Cape, South Africa were measured with and without illumination to determine whether zooxanthellae contributed to their nutritional needs. Light had no significant effect on oxygen exchange in any of the species, suggesting that all are azooxanthellate. Diets of anemones from two sites, Wooley’s Pool in False Bay and Blouberg on the Atlantic coast some 20 km north of Cape Town, were examined by gut content analysis. Seven species occurred at Wooley’s Pool, but only one (Bunodactis reynaudi) at Blouberg. At Wooley’s Pool 39.4% of anemones contained food, while at Blouberg only 7.4% did so. A wide spectrum of prey taxa were consumed by the various anemone species, although considerable dietary overlap occurred. Pelecypods, gastropods and isopods were ingested by all the species examined. Pelecypods dominated the diet of B. reynaudi at Blouberg (91% occurrence), but were recorded in only 42% of the same species at Wooley’s Pool. The frequency of occurrence of pelecypods in the guts of the other species ranged from 9% (Anthothoe stimpsoni) to 28% (Actinia equina). Gastropods were the main prey items eaten by Anthopleura michaelseni (67% occurrence), Pseudactinia flagellifera (43%) and Pseudactinia varia (42%), while isopods were the most frequently occurring constituent in the diets of A. stimpsoni (62%) and Bunodosoma capensis (16%). A. equina was the only species for which insects were a regular part of the diet (26% occurrence). Platyhelminths were found only in the guts of B. capensis (11%); holothurians only in B. reynaudi at Wooley’s Pool (2%), and crinoids only in P. flagellifera (2%). Large quantities of algal material and indigestible debris were also ingested, indicating that sea anemones are non-selective feeders. Cluster analysis and multi-dimensional scaling techniques revealed four distinct feeding groups among the anemone assemblages. These are characterized as microphagous (A. stimpsoni), generalist (S. capensis and A. equina), macrophagous (S. reynaudi at Wooley’s Pool, A. michaelseni, P. flagellifera and P. varia) and specialist bivalve- feeder (B. reynaudi at Blouberg)

Korsaranthus natalensis (Carlgren, 1938) nov. comb. (Cnidaria: Actiniaria) a mobile sea anemone attacking octocorals

In-situ observations and photographs of an unusual and spectacular red and white striped, mobile anemone, which appears to feed on gorgonians on sublittoral habitats on the south and east coasts of South Africa, prompted a closer examination of two preserved specimens. The specimens are identical with Condylactis natalensis  Carlgren, 1938, which was described from a single preserved specimen and has not since been reported. The redescription of the species indicates that a new genus, Korsaranthus, is required to accommodate it within the family Actiniidae. Most significant characteristics of K. natalensis are the lack of p-mastigo- phores in its cnidome and the folded, distal-most part of its actinopharynx, features that compare with members of order Ptychodactiaria, which are predators of octocorals, too

Digestion rates of prey eaten by intertidal sea anemones from the south-western Cape, South Africa

Digestion rates were determined for natural prey items offered to each of seven species of sea anemones found at Wooley's Pool in False Say and to the single species (Bunodactis reynaudl) recorded at Siouberg on the Atlantic coast of the south-western Cape, South Africa.This was done by examining prey items removed from the coelenterons at regular intervals after feeding and assessing their degree of digestion according to a predetermined scale. There was considerable variation in the gut retention times between different anemone species offered the same prey types, with Actinia equina consistently showing the shortest gut retention times (12 h for amphipods, 15 h for pelecypods and 23 h for isopods). Of the various prey categories tested, amphipods tended to be the most rapidly digested group, while molluscs and echinoderms usually remained in the coelenteron the longest. Mean gut retention times in B. reynaudi, the only species found both in False Bay (1 TC) and on the cold west coast (12'C) were markedly longer (72 vs 60 hand 43 vs 30 h for pelecypods and gastropods respectively) at the lower temperature.S. Afr. J. Zool. 1997,32(4

Additions to the marine decapod (Crustacea: Decapoda) fauna of South Africa

This report adds five previously unreported species to the decapod crustacean fauna of South Africa, as well as removing one species previously listed in error. It also documents locality (and/or reference specimen) data for 12 other species, most of which had been depicted in regional field guides, but without reporting when and where they had been collected. Almost all the species added were already known from adjacent African countries and their ranges are here extended into South Africa. Although some of these records are based on photographs, rather than collected specimens, it is argued that such records should be accepted as adequate evidence for inclusion of at least visually-distinctive crustacean species into the regional fauna

Moderate hypothermia within 6 h of birth plus inhaled xenon versus moderate hypothermia alone after birth asphyxia (TOBY-Xe): a proof-of-concept, open-label, randomised controlled trial

Background Moderate cooling after birth asphyxia is associated with substantial reductions in death and disability, but additional therapies might provide further benefit. We assessed whether the addition of xenon gas, a promising novel therapy, after the initiation of hypothermia for birth asphyxia would result in further improvement. Methods Total Body hypothermia plus Xenon (TOBY-Xe) was a proof-of-concept, randomised, open-label, parallel-group trial done at four intensive-care neonatal units in the UK. Eligible infants were 36–43 weeks of gestational age, had signs of moderate to severe encephalopathy and moderately or severely abnormal background activity for at least 30 min or seizures as shown by amplitude-integrated EEG (aEEG), and had one of the following: Apgar score of 5 or less 10 min after birth, continued need for resuscitation 10 min after birth, or acidosis within 1 h of birth. Participants were allocated in a 1:1 ratio by use of a secure web-based computer-generated randomisation sequence within 12 h of birth to cooling to a rectal temperature of 33·5°C for 72 h (standard treatment) or to cooling in combination with 30% inhaled xenon for 24 h started immediately after randomisation. The primary outcomes were reduction in lactate to N-acetyl aspartate ratio in the thalamus and in preserved fractional anisotropy in the posterior limb of the internal capsule, measured with magnetic resonance spectroscopy and MRI, respectively, within 15 days of birth. The investigator assessing these outcomes was masked to allocation. Analysis was by intention to treat. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00934700, and with ISRCTN, as ISRCTN08886155. Findings The study was done from Jan 31, 2012, to Sept 30, 2014. We enrolled 92 infants, 46 of whom were randomly assigned to cooling only and 46 to xenon plus cooling. 37 infants in the cooling only group and 41 in the cooling plus xenon group underwent magnetic resonance assessments and were included in the analysis of the primary outcomes. We noted no significant differences in lactate to N-acetyl aspartate ratio in the thalamus (geometric mean ratio 1·09, 95% CI 0·90 to 1·32) or fractional anisotropy (mean difference −0·01, 95% CI −0·03 to 0·02) in the posterior limb of the internal capsule between the two groups. Nine infants died in the cooling group and 11 in the xenon group. Two adverse events were reported in the xenon group: subcutaneous fat necrosis and transient desaturation during the MRI. No serious adverse events were recorded. Interpretation Administration of xenon within the delayed timeframe used in this trial is feasible and apparently safe, but is unlikely to enhance the neuroprotective effect of cooling after birth asphyxia

Method of intervention in behavioral psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in elderly patients with dementia. -Focusing on individual symptom-

Settlement influences the distribution and abundance of many marine organisms, although the relative roles of abiotic and biotic factors influencing settlement are poorly understood. Species that aggregate often owe this characteristic to larval behaviour, and we investigated whether this predisposes ascidians to becoming invasive, by increasing their capacity to maintain their populations. We explored the interactive effects of larval phototaxis and geotaxis and conspecific adult extracts on settlement rates of a representative suite of 6 species of ascidians that form aggregations in the field, including 4 aliens with global distributions, and how they relate to adult habitat characteristics. In the laboratory, the larvae were (1) held in light or dark, (2) offered the choice of settling in the light or dark, or (3) held in the presence or absence of adult extract. When confined in either light or dark conditions, all species settled equally in dark and light. Four showed strong geotaxis, 3 settling preferentially on the bottom of experimental chambers, and one on the top. Offered a choice between dark and light, 2 species settled preferentially in the dark with no geotactic preferences and another 2 showed an interaction between light and geotaxis. For 4 of the species, the responses of settlers accorded with, and may contribute to, adult orientation patterns in the field. Adult extracts inhibited settlement of 3 species and failed to influence settlement of the other 3, arguing against conspecific attraction being a cause of aggregation and an explanation of the propensity of ascidians to become invasive

Tri-locus sequence data reject a Gondwanan origin hypothesis for the African/South Pacific crab genus Hymenosoma

Crabs of the family Hymenosomatidae are common in coastal and shelf regions throughout much of the southern hemisphere. One of the genera in the family, Hymenosoma, is represented in Africa and the South Pacific (Australia and New Zealand). This distribution can be explained either by vicariance (presence of the genus on the Gondwanan supercontinent and divergence following its break-up) or more recent transoceanic dispersal from one region to the other. We tested these hypotheses by reconstructing phylogenetic relationships among the seven presently-accepted species in the genus, as well as examining their placement among other hymenosomatid crabs, using sequence data from two nuclear markers (Adenine Nucleotide Transporter [ANT] exon 2 and 18S rDNA) and three mitochondrial markers (COI, 12S and 16S rDNA). The five southern African representatives of the genus were recovered as a monophyletic lineage, and another southern African species, Neorhynchoplax bovis, was identified as their sister taxon. The two species of Hymenosoma from the South Pacific neither clustered with their African congeners, nor with each other, and should therefore both be placed into different genera. Molecular dating supports a post-Gondwanan origin of the Hymenosomatidae. While long-distance dispersal cannot be ruled out to explain the presence of the family Hymenosomatidae on the former Gondwanan land-masses and beyond, the evolutionary history of the African species of Hymenosoma indicates that a third means of speciation may be important in this group: gradual along-coast dispersal from tropical towards temperate regions, with range expansions into formerly inhospitable habitat during warm climatic phases, followed by adaptation and speciation during subsequent cooler phases

Western Pacific hydroclimate linked to global climate variability over the past two millennia

Interdecadal modes of tropical Pacific ocean-atmosphere circulation have a strong influence on global temperature, yet the extent to which these phenomena influence global climate on multicentury timescales is still poorly known. Here we present a 2,000-year, multiproxy reconstruction of western Pacific hydroclimate from two speleothem records for southeastern Indonesia. The composite record shows pronounced shifts in monsoon rainfall that are antiphased with precipitation records for East Asia and the central-eastern equatorial Pacific. These meridional and zonal patterns are best explained by a poleward expansion of the Australasian Intertropical Convergence Zone and weakening of the Pacific Walker circulation (PWC) between ~1000 and 1500 CE Conversely, an equatorward contraction of the Intertropical Convergence Zone and strengthened PWC occurred between ~1500 and 1900 CE. Our findings, together with climate model simulations, highlight the likelihood that century-scale variations in tropical Pacific climate modes can significantly modulate radiatively forced shifts in global temperature