Mecistocephalus guildingii Newport, 1843, a tropical centipede with amphi-Atlantic distribution (Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha

Mecistocephalus guildingii Newport, 1843 (Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha: Mecistocephalidae) is redescribed, and its geographical distribution revised and updated, after examination of 28 specimens from different localities together with critical assessment of published accounts and records. Mecistocephalus guildingii Newport, 1843 (= Mecistocephalus punctilabratus Newport, 1845, n. syn.; = Lamnonyx leonensis Cook, 1896, n. syn.; = Mecistocephalus maxillaris guadeloupensis Demange and Pereira, 1985, n. syn.) is distinguished from other Mecistocephalus species, with which it has been often confused, mainly in head elongation and some features of the clypeus. M. guildingii has been reported hitherto from less than two dozen sites on the eastern side of tropical Americas, however it is actually established in islands and coastal sites on both sides of the tropical part of the Atlantic ocean: on the American side from Bermuda through the Antilles to southern Brazil; on the African side in the Cape Verde archipelago and from Gambia to Liberia. It is also established in a locality on the Pacific coast of Mexico, and has been found occasionally inland in Brazil and in European hothouses and other disturbed anthropic sites. � 2009 Magnolia Press

Oxidative damage associated with thermal stress in Pocillopora verrucosa from the Mexican Pacific [Daño oxidativo asociado al estrés térmico en Pocillopora verrucosa en el pacífico Mexicano]

Coral communities are under increasing pressure from anomalous increases in sea surface temperature. These events have had negative effects on reef ecosystems and it is important to get a better understanding of the cellular mechanisms that allow organisms to survive the stress period before bleaching is evident. To gain insight into the effect of increased temperature on coral communities off the Pacific coast of central Mexico, we evaluated CuZnSOD (superoxide dismutase) activity in branches of Pocillopora verrucosa by simulating stress conditions (31 oC) and non-stress conditions. There was an increase in SOD activity after 18 h of exposing the corals to 31 oC, while no increase in activity was observed at 28 oC. These results were used to quantify the maximum levels of CuZnSOD activity before Symbiodinium were expelled to prevent cell damage due to oxidative stress. We determined that CuZnSOD can be used as a molecular marker to quantify stress levels, prior to bleaching, in coral communities of the region

Response to sudden increases in temperature (thermal shock) under laboratory conditions in the coral Pocillopora verrucosa [Respuesta al incremento abrupto de temperatura (shock térmico) en el coral Pocillopora verrucosa en condiciones de laboratorio]

Coral bleaching is an increasing worldwide phenomenon associated with climate change. Bleaching results from the interaction of biotic and abiotic variables including sudden changes in temperature. To evaluate the response to sudden changes in temperature (thermal shock) prior to bleaching, fragments of Pocillopora verrucosa were subjected to experimental thermal stress. The fragments were acclimatized at 27°C during eight days and then exposed to thermal shock at two temperatures (28.5°C and 30.5°C) for 72 h. The stress response was evaluated quantifying the total lipid content, symbiont density, and tissue damage. Changes in the evaluated estimators were evident at 30.5°C when an initial increase in the amount of lipids was detected, followed by a decrease after 30 h; symbiont density diminished up to 84% at the end of the experiment relative to the initial density estimated. The control and 28.5°C treatments presented no differences. Damage to the polyp tissue was mainly observed as a thinning of the mesenteries and the gastrodermal layer. The study area is strongly influenced by internal waves that cause sudden changes in temperature, so understanding how corals respond to these daily fluctuations will allow us to estimate their survival potential and help future management and conservation efforts in this region

The seaweeds Sargassum spp. and Macrocystis pyrifera: An alternative for cattle forage in the Baja California peninsula?

The nutritional quality of dried seaweed Macrocystis pyrifera and a group of Sargassum species were compared with desert plants, cereals and animal meals commonly used as a feed for livestock in the Baja California peninsula during the dry season. The associated digestive enzymatic activity and the presence of digestive enzymatic inhibitors and lectins were evaluated and their general chemical analysis was also considered. The protein concentration of seaweeds was low, compared to other plants. The presence of lectins and enzyme inhibitors was negligible, compared to desert legumes. The use of seaweeds as a supplementary forage for herded cattle is apparently a good strategy, despite their low protein concentration. High carbohydrate, mineral and lipid concentrations can help meet maintenance requirements, especially when grasses are not available

Near shore submarine hydrothermal activity in Bahia Banderas, western Mexico

Shallow submarine hydrothermal activity was detected in the Bahia de Banderas area, Mexico. Volcanic-type tremors were recorded by portable seismological stations onshore. Vent samples suggest a depositional sequence dominated by carbonates in the first stage (calcite and dolomite), followed by apatite and late barite veins. Layers of sequential deposition of sulfides were also observed, and are interpreted as cyclic variations of sulphur fugacity

First report of the marine barnacles Lepas anatifera and Chelonibia testudinaria as epibionts on American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus)

[No abstract available

Near shore submarine hydrothermal activity in Bahia Banderas, western Mexico

Shallow submarine hydrothermal activity was detected in the Bahia de Banderas area, Mexico. Volcanic-type tremors were recorded by portable seismological stations onshore. Vent samples suggest a depositional sequence dominated by carbonates in the first stage (calcite and dolomite), followed by apatite and late barite veins. Layers of sequential deposition of sulfides were also observed, and are interpreted as cyclic variations of sulphur fugacity

American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) attacks in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico: Presentation of five cases [Ataques de cocodrilo de río (crocodylus acutus) en puerto vallarta, jalisco, méxico: Presentación de cinco casos]

Five cases of non-fatal crocodile attacks on people in the region of Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico (2007-2010) are presented. In four cases the victim suffered amputation of upper or lower extremity, but only in one case the victim resulted in bitten on the arm. With the documentation of these five cases, the number of attacks by American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) in the coast of the Mexican state of Jalisco for the past 52 years is between 30 and 31. The results show an increase in crocodile attacks from 0,57 to 0,59 per year. We describe the cases and suggest possible explanations for the crocodile's attacks

American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) attacks in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico: Presentation of five cases [Ataques de cocodrilo de río (crocodylus acutus) en puerto vallarta, jalisco, méxico: Presentación de cinco casos]

Five cases of non-fatal crocodile attacks on people in the region of Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico (2007-2010) are presented. In four cases the victim suffered amputation of upper or lower extremity, but only in one case the victim resulted in bitten on the arm. With the documentation of these five cases, the number of attacks by American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) in the coast of the Mexican state of Jalisco for the past 52 years is between 30 and 31. The results show an increase in crocodile attacks from 0,57 to 0,59 per year. We describe the cases and suggest possible explanations for the crocodile's attacks

Testing the genetic predictions of a biogeographical model in a dominant endemic Eastern Pacific coral (Porites panamensis) using a genetic seascape approach

The coral fauna of the Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP) is depauperate and peripheral; hence, it has drawn attention to the factors allowing its survival. Here, we use a genetic seascape approach and ecological niche modeling to unravel the environmental factors correlating with the genetic variation of Porites panamensis, a hermatypic coral endemic to the ETP. Specifically, we test if levels of diversity and connectivity are higher among abundant than among depauperate populations, as expected by a geographically relaxed version of the Abundant Center Hypothesis (rel-ACH). Unlike the original ACH, referring to a geographical center of distribution of maximal abundance, the rel-ACH refers only to a center of maximum abundance, irrespective of its geographic position. The patterns of relative abundance of P. panamensis in the Mexican Pacific revealed that northern populations from Baja California represent its center of abundance; and southern depauperate populations along the continental margin are peripheral relative to it. Genetic patterns of diversity and structure of nuclear DNA sequences (ribosomal DNA and a single copy open reading frame) and five alloenzymatic loci partially agreed with rel-ACH predictions. We found higher diversity levels in peninsular populations and significant differentiation between peninsular and continental colonies. In addition, continental populations showed higher levels of differentiation and lower connectivity than peninsular populations in the absence of isolation by distance in each region. Some discrepancies with model expectations may relate to the influence of significant habitat discontinuities in the face of limited dispersal potential. Environmental data analyses and niche modeling allowed us to identify temperature, water clarity, and substrate availability as the main factors correlating with patterns of abundance, genetic diversity, and structure, which may hold the key to the survival of P. panamensis in the face of widespread environmental degradation. © 2013 The Authors