Non-invasive detection of animal nerve impulses with an atomic magnetometer operating near quantum limited sensitivity

Magnetic fields generated by human and animal organs, such as the heart, brain and nervous system carry information useful for biological and medical purposes. These magnetic fields are most commonly detected using cryogenically-cooled superconducting magnetometers. Here we present the frst detection of action potentials from an animal nerve using an optical atomic magnetometer. Using an optimal design we are able to achieve the sensitivity dominated by the quantum shot noise of light and quantum projection noise of atomic spins. Such sensitivity allows us to measure the nerve impulse with a miniature room-temperature sensor which is a critical advantage for biomedical applications. Positioning the sensor at a distance of a few millimeters from the nerve, corresponding to the distance between the skin and nerves in biological studies, we detect the magnetic field generated by an action potential of a frog sciatic nerve. From the magnetic field measurements we determine the activity of the nerve and the temporal shape of the nerve impulse. This work opens new ways towards implementing optical magnetometers as practical devices for medical diagnostics.Comment: Main text with figures, and methods and supplementary informatio

Checkliste der Schwebfliegen (Diptera: Syrphidae) Österreichs

Im Rahmen der vorliegenden Arbeit wird erstmals eine Gesamtartenliste der aus Österreich nachgewiesenen Schwebfliegen vorgestellt. Um einen möglichst detaillierten Überblick zu bieten, wird die Verbreitung der Arten nach den jeweiligen Bundesländern differenziert angegeben. Ein Vergleich der Schwebfliegenfauna Österreichs mit den angrenzenden Ländern soll Aufschluss über den aktuellen Kenntnisstand dieser populären Fliegenfamilie geben.Durch eine umfassende Literaturrecherche wurden alle bisher publizierten und verfügbaren Daten zu Schwebfliegen aus Österreich zusammengetragen und in einer Datenbank verarbeitet. Darüber hinaus wurden diese - großteils historischen - Daten mit eigenen Auf-sammlungen und weiteren Streufunden von Kollegen ergänzt. Knapp 19.000 Datensätze und 270.000 Individuen als Einzelnachweise (Datenstand Juni 2018) bilden das Fundament dieser Arbeit.In der vorliegenden „Checkliste der Schwebfliegen (Diptera: Syrphidae) Österreichs“ werden 419 Arten aufgelistet. Darüber hinaus werden weitere 22 Schwebfliegen-Arten erwähnt, jedoch aus Mangel an Belegen nicht in die Gesamtartenliste aufgenommen. Für sieben weiter Arten liegen Nachweise vor, allerdings konnte noch keine finale Artdetermination erfolgen. Daher bleiben diese Arten bis auf Weiteres unberücksichtigt. Elf Schwebfiegen sind neu für Österreich.Die höchste Zahl nachgewiesener Arten liegt gegenwärtig für die Steiermark vor: Hier sind 334 Arten bekannt. Danach folgen Niederösterreich mit 296 Arten und Oberösterreich mit derzeit 271 bestätigten Arten. Die Schwebfliegenfauna Vorarlbergs weist 211 Arten auf. Deutlich geringere Zahlen haben das Burgenland mit 175 Arten, Kärnten mit 162 Arten und Osttirol mit 141 Schwebfliegenarten. Für Salzburg konnten 139 Arten dokumentiert werden, für Nordtirol 131 Arten. Drei Arten konnten keinem Bundesland zugeordnet werden, wurden jedoch für Österreich bestätigt.This paper is the first to present a complete checklist of Austrian syrphid fly species. The species distributions are given by state in order to retain a precise overview of this group. Hoverfly species richness in Austria was analysed and the number compared with that of neighbouring countries to establish a concise and current synopsis on this popular fly family.By means of an exhaustive review of published literature and additional data on Austrian syrphid flies, a complete listing of species was compiled and processed in a database. This mostly historic data was further augmented by personally collected specimens and additional data gathered by colleagues. The framework of this research is based on 19,000 data sets and 270,000 individual records (as of June 2018). The thus compiled 'Checklist of Austrian syrphid flies (Diptera: Syrphidae)' lists 419 species. In addition to these species an additional 22 are mentioned in the list, but have been omitted due to a lack of records. Data on seven more species exists, these were left out as the material has not yet been identified to species level. Eleven syrphid fly species are new for Austria; Anasimyia contracta CLAUßEN & TORP, 1980; Brachyopa grunewaldensis KASSEBEER, 2000...In addition, 326 individual first records were collected for individual states. With 334 species, Styria currently hosts the largest amount of documented species per state. Lower Austria came in second with 296 confirmed species, followed by Upper Austria with 271. Vorarlberg's syrphid fly fauna is represented by 211 species. A considerably lower amount of syrphid fly species are exhibited by Burgenland with 175 species, Carinthia with 162 and Eastern Tyrol with 141. In addition, 139 species were documented for Salzburg and 131 for Northern Tyrol. Three species were not assignable to any specific Austrian state and thus represent general records for Austria.eingereicht von Helge Heimburg, BScZusammenfassungen in Deutsch und EnglischAbweichender Titel laut Übersetzung des Verfassers/der VerfasserinKarl-Franzens-Universität Graz, Masterarbeit, 2018(VLID)294696

A checklist of the hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) of Austria

Heimburg, Helge, Doczkal, Dieter, Holzinger, Werner E. (2022): A checklist of the hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) of Austria. Zootaxa 5115 (2): 151-209, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5115.2.

Faunistical overview of the European species of the genera Brachyopa Meigen, 1822 and Hammerschmidtia Schummel, 1834 (Diptera: Syrphidae)

The European fauna of the genera Brachyopa Meigen, 1822 and Hammerschmidtia Schummel, 1834 is reviewed. The distribution and phenology based on extensive literature and database research are provided. The biology of adults as well as larval habitats are treated. An illustrated key is presented for easy identification of the adults, including three species known from adjacent Mediterranean countries. A key to the larvae, based on the available literature, is also provided. The data originate from a study of available literature, from several databases and from the private collections of the authors. The data are compiled into one large dataset in which all the available information is gathered together with the source of the data. Based on the biology and trend analysis for each species it is indicated whether they show stable, fluctuating or extremely fluctuating populations. The habitat preferences of the adults and larvae are used to discuss possible threats to each of the species for future survival. Finally, the main habitat of all species is discussed from a conservation point of vie

National records of 3000 European bee and hoverfly species: A contribution to pollinator conservation

Pollinators play a crucial role in ecosystems globally, ensuring the seed production of most flowering plants. They are threatened by global changes and knowledge of their distribution at the national and continental levels is needed to implement efficient conservation actions, but this knowledge is still fragmented and/or difficult to access. As a step forward, we provide an updated list of around 3000 European bee and hoverfly species, reflecting their current distributional status at the national level (in the form of present, absent, regionally extinct, possibly extinct or non-native). This work was attainable by incorporating both published and unpublished data, as well as knowledge from a large set of taxonomists and ecologists in both groups. After providing the first National species lists for bees and hoverflies for many countries, we examine the current distributional patterns of these species and designate the countries with highest levels of species richness. We also show that many species are recorded in a single European country, highlighting the importance of articulating European and national conservation strategies. Finally, we discuss how the data provided here can be combined with future trait and Red List data to implement research that will further advance pollinator conservation