Dermophis oaxacae

Number of Pages: 2Integrative BiologyGeological Science

Minascaecilia sartoria

Number of Pages: 1Integrative BiologyGeological Science

Gymnopis, G. multiplicata

Number of Pages: 2Integrative BiologyGeological Science

The ossification sequence of Aneides lugubris, with comments on heterochrony

ABSTRACT. -Post-hatching ontogeny is described for the skeleton of a large, direct-developing, terrestrial plethodontid salamander, Aneides Iugubris. This species appears to have the most prolonged ontogeny of the plethodontids. Until the end of the second year of life, osteological ontogeny is similar to that of other species, but beyond that point major changes occur. Ossification of the long bones continues throughout life and is never completed. Elements such as the pelvic plate ossify continuously, but never completely. Mesopodial elements remain cartilaginous throughout life. The most dramatic changes relate to the feeding system. The anterior part of the skull becomes grotesquely enlarged in the largest specimens, with extensive coossification. Maxillary and dentary teeth decrease in number but increase in size and complexity. Features identified as "supportive adaptations" appear during ontogeny, more so in the feeding than in the locomotory mechanism. Data are interpreted in the framework of recent studies of heterochrony

Libbie Hyman

66 p. : ill. ; 26 cm.Study of invertebrates at the American Museum of Natural History / Neil H. Landman and Judith E. Winston -- Libbie Hyman and the American Museum of Natural History / Judith E. Winston -- Libbie Hyman at the University of Chicago / Jane Maienschein -- Libbie Hyman and comparative vertebrate anatomy / Marvalee H. Wake -- Contributions of Libbie H. Hyman to knowledge of land planarians: relating personal experiences (Tricladida: Terricola) / Robert E. Ogren -- Libbie Henrietta Hyman: her influence on teaching and research in invertebrate zoology / M. Patricia Morse -- Systematics of the flatworms- Libbie Hyman's influence on current views of the Platyhelminthes / Seth Tyler.Includes bibliographical references."This issue of Novitates consists of papers presented at a symposium on the life and work of American zoologist Dr. Libbie Henrietta Hyman, 1888-1969, held at the annual meeting of the American Society of Zoologists in Atlanta, Georgia, December 1991. Judith E. Winston provides an introduction to Libbie Hyman's early years. Growing up in Fort Dodge, Iowa, young Libbie demonstrated a love of nature and a drive for learning that eventually led to a scholarship at the University of Chicago, where she majored in zoology. Jane Maienschein covers Libbie Hyman's Chicago period. During that period Libbie gained experience in experimental biology by participation in Charles Manning Child's research program on metabolic gradients, which applied the "Chicago style" of biology. The lack of good manuals for the comparative anatomy and zoology labs she taught as a graduate student led Libbie to develop her own laboratory manuals, published by the University of Chicago Press. Marvalee Wake discusses Libbie Hyman's interactions with the press about these guides. Hyman's correspondence with press officials revealed her growing frustration as she desired more time to work on invertebrates, but was persuaded to revise vertebrate anatomy texts instead. Despite her protests, her seminal ideas and approaches to learning vetebrate anatomy were profoundly important. Judith Winston discusses Libbie's productive career at the American Museum of Natural History. In 1930, Dr. Hyman left Chicago to pursue the invertebrate work that interested her most-and found a welcome in G. K. Noble's Department of Experimental Biology at the AMNH. With his help she obtained an unpaid position as a research associate, office space, and use of the AMNH library, vital to her project, a treatise on invertebrate zoology. Her 6 volume treatise, The Invertebrates, was published between 1940 and 1967 by McGraw-Hill. In 1943 she transferred to the AMNH Department of Invertebrates. Neil Landman outlines the history of that Department in the Museum, and Libbie's connection with it. M. Patricia Morse discusses Dr. Hyman's influence on invertebrate zoology in general. Her treatise set the tone for invertebrate zoology courses and the publication of books on the subject. Each volume was eagerly received by zoologists, not only for thorough coverage of the literature (including non-English language literature), but also for uniformity of approach, comprehensive illustrations, and thoughtful synthesis of phylogenetic relationships for each group covered. Robert Ogren discusses Libbie Hyman's contributions to land planarian taxonomy. Hyman was the first American zoologist recognized as an authority on Turbellaria, Tricladida, and Terricola. Contributions began after her 1937 appointment as research associate at the American Museum of Natural History and continued for 25 years, resulting in 11 taxonomic papers, the last published in 1962. Seth Tyler discusses Libbie Hyman's overall influence on the systematics of turbellarian flatworms, especially through the comprehensive review of flatworms published in Volume II of The Invertebrates. The system of classification she adopted for the phylum Platyhelminthes was that of Bresslau, dating to 1933. Modern systematists have clarified the phylogenetic relationships of flatworm groups, in particular by using characters discerned with electron microscopy; and application of principles of cladistic systematics has been important in grouping turbellarians and the major groups of parasitic flatworms into supraordinal taxa. A number of competing systems for these higher-level groupings have been proposed, and these are being tested with molecular techniques comparing nucleic-acid sequences. Still, the current best-accepted system clearly bears Hyman's stamp; her views of evolution in the phylum and its taxonomy are still relevant"--P. 2

Merging paleobiology with conservation biology to guide the future of terrestrial ecosystems

Conservation of species and ecosystems is increasingly difficult because anthropogenic impacts are pervasive and accelerating. Under this rapid global change, maximizing conservation success requires a paradigm shift from maintaining ecosystems in idealized past states toward facilitating their adaptive and functional capacities, even as species ebb and flow individually. Developing effective strategies under this new paradigm will require deeper understanding of the long-term dynamics that govern ecosystem persistence and reconciliation of conflicts among approaches to conserving historical versus novel ecosystems. Integrating emerging information from conservation biology, paleobiology, and the Earth sciences is an important step forward on the path to success. Maintaining nature in all its aspects will also entail immediately addressing the overarching threats of growing human population, overconsumption, pollution, and climate change.Peer reviewe

Comparative Skull Osteology of Karsenia koreana (Amphibia, Caudata, Plethodontidae)

The recent discovery of a plethodontid salamander, Karsenia koreana, in Korea challenged our understanding of the biogeographic history of the family Plethodontidae, by far the largest family of salamanders, which otherwise is distributed in the New World with a few European species. Molecular studies suggest that Karsenia forms a clade with Hydromantes (sensu lato), which includes among its species the only other Old World plethodontids. We studied the skull of K. koreana and compared it with that of other plethodontid genera, especially members of the subfamily Plethodontinae, which it resembles most closely in general anatomy. The anatomy of its skull corresponds to the most generalized and apparently ancestral condition for plethodontids. No clearly autapomorphic states were detected, and no synapomorphies can be found that would link it to other genera. The Karsenia skull is cylindrical and well ossified, giving an impression of strength. In contrast, the skull of Hydromantes is highly derived; the skull is flattened and the bones are weakly ossified and articulated. Hydromantes and Karsenia share no unique anatomical features; differences between them are especially evident in the hyobranchial skeleton, which is generalized in Karsenia but highly modified in Hydromantes, which is well known for its highly projectile tongue. Plethodon and Plethodon-like species, including Karsenia and to a lesser degree Ensatina, represent the more generalized and apparently ancestral plethodontid morphology. Specialized morphologies have evolved along only a few morphological axes within the Plethodontidae, resulting in a pattern of rampant homoplasy. Our analysis of the anatomy of the new Asiatic lineage illuminates some potential mechanisms underlying adaptive morphological evolution within the Plethodontidae.The authors thank Jessica Maisano and the members of the DigiMorph CT scan facilities at the University of Texas, Austin, for their help with the scanning and segmentation processes. D. Vieites and R. Bonett collected the Karsenia; Sean Rovito collected the Hydromantes platycephalus that was scanned. They also acknowledge the assistance of M. S. Min and the late S. Y. Yang, and the agencies that provided the necessary collecting permits. James Hanken and an anonymous reviewer contributed numerous comments that greatly improved the manuscriptPeer Reviewe