A New Species of Giant Sengi or Elephant-Shrew (Genus \u3cem\u3eRhynchocyon\u3c/em\u3e) Highlights the Exceptional Biodiversity of the Udzungwa Mountains of Tanzania

A new species of sengi, or elephant-shrew, is described. It was discovered in the northern Udzungwa Mountains of Tanzania in 2005. Sengis (Order Macroscelidea, super-cohort Afrotheria) include four genera and 15 species of mammals that are endemic to Africa. This discovery is a significant contribution to the systematics of this small order. Based on 49 camera trap images, 40 sightings and five voucher specimens, the new sengi is diurnal and distinguished from the other three species of Rhynchocyon by a grizzled grey face, pale yellow to cream chest and chin, orange-rufous sides, maroon back and jet-black lower rump and thighs. The body weight of the new species is about 700 g, which is 25–50% greater than any other giant sengi. The new Rhynchocyon is only known from two populations that cover about 300 km2 of montane forest. It has an estimated density of 50–80 individuals km−2. This discovery has important implications for the conservation of the high biodiversity that is found in the forests of the Eastern Arc Mountains

Functional morphology of the gonads of the articulate brachiopod Terebratulina retusa

The reproductive anatomy, and ultrastructural features of the gonads of the articulate brachiopodTerebratulina retusa (Linnaeus), are documented based on collections made between October 1985 and October 1986 from the Firth of Lorn, west coast of Scotland. This species is dioecious, and maturity is achieved in both sexes at shell lengths greater than ~5.5 mm. There is no obvious external sexual dimorphism except for slight differences in the coloration of the gonads; testes are white/cream, ovaries are yellow/orange. The gonads occur as four palmate lobes, a pair in each valve. Gonads are formed within a mantle sinus (vascula genitalia), which is an anterior extension of the coelom, that opens posteriorly into the visceral cavity and to the exterior via a pair of metanephridia. The latter serve as gonoducts during spawning. Gametes are borne on genital lamellae formed from a reticulate lattice of connective tissue. The lamellae are an extension of the ileoparietal band and are fused along one margin to the inner mantle membrane. Developing oocytes are closely affixed to the genital lamellae and originate from a pool of proliferating germ cells at its base. Vitellogenic oocytes that are at an advanced stage are released from the genital lamellae, but are retained within thevascula genitalia. Liberated oocytes continue to accumulate yolk and eventually occlude thevascula genitalia, before being spawned. Coelomocytes were identified within the gonads. In spent females these cells appear to be phagocytic and involved in the resorption of necrotic material, while in the male they may serve as nutritive cell

Oogenesis in the articulate brachiopod Terebratulina retusa

A detailed ultrastructural description of oogenesis is presented for the articulate brachiopodTerebratulina retusa (Linnaeus), based on collections made between October 1985 and October 1986 from the Firth of Lorn, west coast of Scotland. Oogenesis has been divided into six stages, defined according to ultrastructural changes, which are thought to be important steps in the process of vitellogenesis. Special attention has been given to the possible mechanisms involved in the acquisition and assimilation of nutrients within the differentiating oocyte. Each vitellogenic oocyte is contained within a follicular envelope which is attached to a genital lamella. As maturation proceeds, accessory cells proliferate within the follicular envelope. A variety of intra-accessory cell and oocyte/accessory cell communications were identified. The process of elaboration of the oolemma is reported in detail. Lipid was identified as the major nutrient reserve of the oocyte. Late mature oocytes measure ~130 µm in diameter when spawned. The process of oosorption is also documente

Reproductive cycle of the brachiopod Terebratulina retusa on the west coast of Scotland

The reproductive cycles of two populations of the Recent articulate brachiopodTerebratulina retusa (Linnaeus) are described, based on samples taken between October 1985 and October 1986. Stereological analysis of the gonads revealed a single synchronised spawning event between late November and the end of January in the Firth of Lorn. In a second population, in Loch Fyne, spawning took place repeatedly throughout the spring and summer, with greatest spawning activity occurring in the late autumn.T. retusa from Loch Fyne were approximately three times more fecund than those from the Firth of Lorn. Productivity in the Clyde Sea area is approximately five times higher than in Firth of Lorn and higher fecundities and spawning frequencies of the Loch Fyne population are attributed, in part, to greater food availability. The initiation of gametogenesis appears to be mediated by the mobilisation of reserves stored in the outer mantle epithelium during the winter. Primary productivity increases dramatically in the spring and gametogenesis shows a corresponding increas

Temperature and starvation effects on the metabolism of the brachiopod, Terebratulina retusa (L.)

Oxygen consumption and ammonia excretion rates were assessed for Terebratulina retusa (L.) held under 3 different regimes of temperature and food availability. These were: 5.6^C, no food (cold, starved); 5.8^C, food present (cold, fed) and 10.7ˆC food present (warm, fed), which simulated winter conditions, summer conditions and an intermediate treatment. Regressions of oxygen consumption on ash-free dry weight (AFDW) had slopes which were not significantly different from each other and ranged from 0.953 to 0.999. A common slope of 0.976 was calculated and intercepts based on the common slope used to compare oxygen consumption in each treatment. The rise from cold, starved conditions to warm, fed was 24.5 per cent and this was significant (P < 0.05). Other differences were not significant (P > 0.05) but the cold, fed result was 12.6 per cent higher than cold, starved. Therefore feeding and temperature probably account for equivalent proportions of the rise in metabolism from winter to summer. Ammonia production data were much more variable. Excretion rates of a 50 mg AFDW individual (in ng-at NH<sub>3</sub>-N.h-¹) were as follows: cold, starved: 30.2 cold, fed: 7.1; and warm, fed: 22.9. Oxygen to nitrogen (O:N) ratios reflected these results. Mean O:N ratios were: cold, starved: 8.0; cold, fed: 42.4; warm, fed: 16.3. This shows that the simulated winter group relied heavily on protein to fuel their metabolism, the simulated summer group were less dependent on protein and the intermediate group probably used lipids and carbohydrates to fuel metabolic demands. This possibly reflected a trade off between food supply and increased metabolism from treatment to treatment, demonstrating a flexibility which could have been a contributing factor in the ecological tolerance and geological longevity of some brachiopod

LANL organic analysis detection capabilities for chemical and biological warfare agents

Organic analysis is the analytical arm for several Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) research programs and nuclear materials processes, including characterization and certification of nuclear and nonnuclear materials used in weapons, radioactive waste treatment and waste certification programs. Organic Analysis has an extensive repertoire of analytical technique within the group including headspace gas, PCBs/pesticides, volatile organics and semivolatile organic analysis. In addition organic analysis has mobile labs with analytic capabilities that include volatile organics, total petroleum hydrocarbon, PCBs, pesticides, polyaromatic hydrocarbons and high explosive screening. A natural extension of these capabilities can be applied to the detection of chemical and biological agents