Tetramorium Parvioculum Sp. N. (FORMICIDAE: MYRMICINAE), A new species of the T. Simillimum group from Gibraltar

We describe a new species of Tetramorium, which has so far only been found in Gibraltar. Tetramorium parvioculum sp. n. belongs to the simillimum-group, which is of Afrotropical origin. It is likely that this species is a non native and was imported with plant material originating from tropical Africa. The ecology of this new species is discussed

Three new exotic species of ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) for Madeira, with comments on its myrmecofauna

Three new exotic species of ants are recorded for the Macaronesian island of Madeira: Cardiocondyla obscurior Wheeler, 1929, Lepisiota capensis (Mayr, 1862) and Pheidole navigans Forel, 1901. The well-known invasive Pheidole megacephala is now rare on Madeira, possibly because of competition with P. navigans. We did not come across the Argentine ant – Linepithema humile, which was once very common in the Funchal area. Despite extensive searching, the presumed endemic Temnothorax wollastoni (Donisthorpe, 1940) remains unknown other than from the type material. Presence, abundance and extinction of invasive and exotic ants are dynamic processes and we stress the importance of continuous sampling

Current knowledge, status and future for plant and fungal diversity in Great Britain and the UK Overseas Territories

Societal Impact Statement We rely on plants and fungi for most aspects of our lives. Yet plants and fungi are under threat, and we risk losing species before we know their identity, roles, and potential uses. Knowing names, distributions, and threats are first steps toward effective conservation action. Accessible products like field guides and online resources engage society, harnessing collective support for conservation. Here, we review current knowledge of the plants and fungi of the UK and UK Overseas Territories, highlighting gaps to help direct future research efforts toward conserving these vital elements of biodiversity. Summary This review summarizes current knowledge of the status and threats to the plants and fungi of Great Britain and the UK Overseas Territories (UKOTs). Although the body of knowledge is considerable, the distribution of information varies substantially, and we highlight knowledge gaps. The UK vascular flora is the most well studied and we have a relatively clear picture of its 9,001 native and alien taxa. We have seedbanked 72% of the native and archaeophyte angiosperm taxa and 78% of threatened taxa. Knowledge of the UKOTs flora varies across territories and we report a UKOTs flora comprising 4,093 native and alien taxa. We have conserved 27% of the native flora and 51% of the threatened vascular plants in Kew's Millennium Seed Bank, UK. We need a better understanding of the conservation status of plants in the wild, and progress toward completion or updating national red lists varies. Site‐based protection of key plant assemblages is outlined, and progress in identifying Important Plant Areas analyzed. Knowledge of the non‐vascular flora, especially seaweeds remains patchy, particularly in many UKOTs. The biggest gaps overall are in fungi, particularly non‐lichenized fungi. Considerable investment is needed to fill these knowledge gaps and instigate effective conservation strategies

The ecology of migrant and resident passerines around the Strait of Gibralter

EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Technomyrmex vexatus (Santschi, 1919) from Gibraltar (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): a new ant species for Europe and genus for Iberia

The ant species Technomyrmex vexatus (Santschi, 1919) (Formicidae: Dolichoderinae) is recorded from Gibraltar on the Iberian Peninsula. This comprises the first record of the species in Europe and of the genus Technomyrmex Mayr, 1972 in Iberia. The species was found on the Rock of Gibraltar, where it is apparently common in thick maquis vegetation

Buprestis (Yamina) sanguinea Fabricius, 1798 (COLEOPTERA: BUPRESTIDAE) en Gibraltar

Se localizó durante el verano del 2000 una población de Buprestis (Yamina) sanguinea F. en Gibraltar, desarrollándose a expensas Ephedra fragilis Desf. Esto confirma la cita de Obenberger (1930) para el Peñón, y marca una expansión grande a la distribución conocida de esta especie. Los imagos viven aproximadamente desde el 25 de julio hasta el 14 de agosto. Se incluyen fotografías de ejemplares macho y hembra recolectados en el Peñón, del fitohospedador y de un agujero de emergencia.A population of Buprestis (Yamina) sanguinea F. was found on the Rock of Gibraltar during the summer of 2000, feeding on Ephedra fragilis Desf. This confirms a record by Obenberger in 1930, and provides a marked expansion of this species' known distributional range. Adults are active from approximately the 25th July to the 14th August. Photographs of male and female specimens collected in Gibraltar, the host plant and an exit hole are included

The genus Pyramica Roger, 1862 (Hymenoptera:Formicidae) in Cádiz province (southern Spain), with a description of methods for their capture

Three species belonging to the genus Pyramica are recorded from the area of the Strait of Gibraltar in southern Cádiz province (Andalusia), Spain: Pyramica argiola (Emery, 1869), Pyramica baudueri (Emery, 1875) and Pyramica membranifera (Emery, 1869). For two of these, P. argiola and P. baudueri, this is the first record for the province. The method with which they were captured is discussed

Biometry and phenology of two sibling Phylloscopus warblers on their circum-Mediterranean migrations

The Mediterranean Sea is known as an ecological barrier for numerous migratory birds flying from European breeding grounds to African wintering sites. Birds generally avoid migration over open sea and fly over land. In the Mediterranean Basin, few land bridges or bottlenecks for migratory birds exist. The narrowest are at the western and eastern extremes: the Strait of Gibraltar and Israel. Comparative studies between these locations are extremely rare to date. Therefore, in order to elucidate the differences between the two flyways, we compared data collected simultaneously for two sister leaf warbler species, the Bonelli’s Warbler complex, Phylloscopus bonelli and Ph. orientalis, at ringing stations in the western Mediterranean Basin Gibraltar, and the eastern Eilat, Israel. Data on biometrics and passage dates of individuals trapped at Gibraltar and Eilat were used, and it was found that mean arrival date of Western Bonelli’s Warblers at Gibraltar was 15 days later than Eastern Bonelli’s Warblers at Eilat. Furthermore, Western Bonelli’s Warblers had shorter wings than Eastern Bonelli’s Warblers. On the other hand, birds in Eilat were in poorer body condition than individuals in Gibraltar. The comparison between geographically distant stop-over sites contributes to furthering our understanding of the development of migration strategies across ecological barriers in sibling species. Our study showed that populations that breed in southwestern Europe migrate through Gibraltar and winter in West Africa are able to accomplish migration in comparatively good body condition. This is in contrast to those that winter in East Africa, migrate through Israel and have to endure the combined challenge of crossing the Sahel, Sahara and Sinai deserts before reaching their breeding grounds across southeast Europe and southwest Asia. Hence, the discrepancies described between the western and the eastern flyway suggest that individuals in the west, in general, migrate shorter distances, have a physiologically less demanding crossing of the North African deserts and appear to stage before their crossing the Strait of Gibraltar, a privilege unavailable to the migrants of the eastern flyway

On regular wintering of Eurasian Penduline Tits Remiz pendulinus in northern Morocco

The Eurasian Penduline Tit Remiz pendulinus was until recently considered to be an accidental winter visitor to Morocco. Regular wintering was suspected in the north-west of the country but had been poorly documented. The ringing data collected in the Smir marshes (north-west Morocco) during the period 2004-2008 indicate that Eurasian Penduline Tits regularly winter in Morocco. During the study period, 50 birds were caught on 68 occasions. The intra-seasonal recapture data, i.e. autumn to the following spring, and winter observations showed that some individuals over-wintered locally at this site. The inter-annual recapture data indicate that wintering birds return regularly to the Smir marshes.OSTRICH 2011, 82(1): 39–4