Heteromysis cocoensis n. sp. (Crustacea: Mysida: Mysidae) from coastal waters of Isla del Coco, Costa Rica

A survey of the invertebrate fauna of coral reef hard bottom communities in the shallow waters of Isla del Coco yielded a new species of mysid belonging to the genus Heteromysis S. I. Smith, 1873. Heteromysis (Olivemysis) cocoensis, n. sp. was collected from coral rubble at depths of 8 to 34 m. It differs from its congeners by having male pleopods 1, 3, and 4 with modified setae. Within the subgenus Olivemysis Băcescu, 1968, the new species is morphologically most similar to Heteromysis. ekamako Wittmann and Chevaldonne, 2017 from the Pacific, Heteromysis. gomezi Băcescu, 1970, H. mayana Brattegard, 1970, and H. rubrocinta, Băcescu, 1968 from the Western Atlantic, and Heteromysis. dardani Wittmann, 2008, Heteromysis. wirtzi Wittmann, 2008, and Heteromysis. sabelliphila Wittmann and Wirtz, 2017 from the Eastern Atlantic. However, H. cocoensis n. sp. is distinguished from these six apparently closely related species by the following combination of characters: flagellate, modified setae on articles 1 and 3 of the antennular peduncle, and setation of thoracic endopod 3, male pleopods 1, 3 and 4, uropodal endopods, and the apical and lateral margins of the telson. A diagnostic table separating these eight species is given.Universidad de Costa Rica/[]/UCR/Costa RicaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Ciencias Básicas::Facultad de Ciencias::Escuela de Biologí

Of the importance of a leaf: the ethnobotany of sarma in Turkey and the Balkans

BACKGROUND: Sarma - cooked leaves rolled around a filling made from rice and/or minced meat, possibly vegetables and seasoning plants - represents one of the most widespread feasting dishes of the Middle Eastern and South-Eastern European cuisines. Although cabbage and grape vine sarma is well-known worldwide, the use of alternative plant leaves remains largely unexplored. The aim of this research was to document all of the botanical taxa whose leaves are used for preparing sarma in the folk cuisines of Turkey and the Balkans. Methods: Field studies were conducted during broader ethnobotanical surveys, as well as during ad-hoc investigations between the years 2011 and 2014 that included diverse rural communities in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, Albania, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Romania, and Turkey. Primary ethnobotanical and folkloric literatures in each country were also considered. Results: Eighty-seven botanical taxa, mainly wild, belonging to 50 genera and 27 families, were found to represent the bio-cultural heritage of sarma in Turkey and the Balkans. The greatest plant biodiversity in sarma was found in Turkey and, to less extent, in Bulgaria and Romania. The most commonly used leaves for preparing sarma were those of cabbage (both fresh and lacto-fermented), grape vine, beet, dock, sorrel, horseradish, lime tree, bean, and spinach. In a few cases, the leaves of endemic species (Centaurea haradjianii, Rumex gracilescens, and R. olympicus in Turkey) were recorded. Other uncommon sarma preparations were based on lightly toxic taxa, such as potato leaves in NE Albania, leaves of Arum, Convolvulus, and Smilax species in Turkey, of Phytolacca americana in Macedonia, and of Tussilago farfara in diverse countries. Moreover, the use of leaves of the introduced species Reynoutria japonica in Romania, Colocasia esculenta in Turkey, and Phytolacca americana in Macedonia shows the dynamic nature of folk cuisines. Conclusion: The rich ethnobotanical diversity of sarma confirms the urgent need to record folk culinary plant knowledge. The results presented here can be implemented into initiatives aimed at re-evaluating folk cuisines and niche food markets based on local neglected ingredients, and possibly also to foster trajectories of the avant-garde cuisines inspired by ethnobotanical knowledge

THE INFLUENCE OF MEDITERRANEAN CYCLONES ON THE WEATHER IN OLTENIA DURING THE FIRST MONTH OF SUMMER

Defining the Mediterranean cyclones as “semi-permanent centers” active only in the cold half of the year would suggest that they are not active in summer, and their influence on the weather of southern Europe and Romania is insignificant during this season. The statistical-climatological study presented in this paper shows that the daily frequency of occurrence of the Mediterranean cyclones during the month of June in the period 1981-2010, which influenced the weather in Oltenia, is 8%. Thus, they can be active all year round and can cause episodes of severe weather, depending on the position of other baric centers (the Azores High, The Icelandic Depression). Climatological aspects were investigated using meteorological data for June in the period 1981-2010, available from the quality check database of National Meteorological Administration, Bucharest. For describing the general context, climatological data was used to provide a global overview. Reanalysis data of sea-level pressure and geopotential height at 500 hPa, available from NOOA-NCEP/NCAR, were also used