Rewilding with large herbivores:Positive direct and delayed effects of carrion on plant and arthropod communities

Carrion of large animals is an extremely nutrient rich, ephemeral resource that is essential for many species, but is scarce in the anthropogenic Western-European landscape due to legislative restrictions. Rewilding, a novel conservation strategy that aims at restoring natural processes with minimal human intervention, is increasing in popularity and could lead to increased carrion availability in the landscape. It is therefore important to understand the effects of carrion on biodiversity. We investigated the direct and delayed (five months) effects of red deer (Cervus elaphus) carcasses on plants and arthropods in the Oostvaardersplassen, the Netherlands, one of the oldest rewilding sites in Europe. Specifically, we tested whether carrion has a positive direct effect on the abundances and diversity of various arthropod functional groups, as well as a delayed effect on the vegetation and arthropods through the increased nutrient availability. During the active decomposition stage in spring, we, not surprisingly, observed higher abundances of carrion associated species (scavengers and their specialized predators) at the carrion sites than at control sites without carrion, but no higher abundances of predators or detritivores. In late summer, after near-complete decomposition, plant biomass was five times higher, and nutritional plant quality (C:N ratio) was higher at the carrion sites than at the control sites. Arthropod abundance and diversity were also manifold higher, owing to higher numbers of herbivorous and predatory species. Regression analysis showed that abundances of herbivores and detritivores were positively related to plant biomass, and predator abundances were positively related to abundances of herbivores and detritivores, suggesting bottom-up effects propagating through the food chain. Our results show that even in a naturally nutrient-rich ecosystem like the Oostvaardersplassen, carrion can have strong positive effects on local plant biomass and nutritional quality and arthropod abundances, lasting the whole growing season. We found evidence that these effects were first directly caused by the presence of carrion, and later by the enhanced nutrient availability in the soil. This highlights the importance of the indirect pathways by which carrion can structure arthropod communities

Alpha-gliadin genes from the A, B, and D genomes of wheat contain different sets of celiac disease epitopes

BACKGROUND: Bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) is an important staple food. However, wheat gluten proteins cause celiac disease (CD) in 0.5 to 1% of the general population. Among these proteins, the α-gliadins contain several peptides that are associated to the disease. RESULTS: We obtained 230 distinct α-gliadin gene sequences from severaldiploid wheat species representing the ancestral A, B, and D genomes of the hexaploid bread wheat. The large majority of these sequences (87%) contained an internal stop codon. All α-gliadin sequences could be distinguished according to the genome of origin on the basis of sequence similarity, of the average length of the polyglutamine repeats, and of the differences in the presence of four peptides that have been identified as T cell stimulatory epitopes in CD patients through binding to HLA-DQ2/8. By sequence similarity, α-gliadins from the public database of hexaploid T. aestivum could be assigned directly to chromosome 6A, 6B, or 6D. T. monococcum (A genome) sequences, as well as those from chromosome 6A of bread wheat, almost invariably contained epitope glia-α9 and glia-α20, but never the intact epitopes glia-α and glia-α2. A number of sequences from T. speltoides, as well as a number of sequences fromchromosome 6B of bread wheat, did not contain any of the four T cell epitopes screened for. The sequences from T. tauschii (D genome), as well as those from chromosome 6D of bread wheat, were found to contain all of these T cell epitopes in variable combinations per gene. The differences in epitope composition resulted mainly from point mutations. These substitutions appeared to be genome specific. CONCLUSION: Our analysis shows that α-gliadin sequences from the three genomes of bread wheat form distinct groups. The four known T cell stimulatory epitopes are distributed non-randomly across the sequences, indicating that the three genomes contribute differently to epitope content. A systematic analysis of all known epitopes in gliadins and glutenins will lead to better understanding of the differences in toxicity among wheat varieties. On the basis of such insight, breeding strategies can be designed to generate less toxic varieties of wheat which may be tolerated by at least part of the CD patient population

Supramolecular materials: molecular packing of tetranitrotetrapropoxycalix[4]arene in highly stable films with second-order nonlinear optical properties

Highly stable films of tetranitrotetrapropoxycalix[4]arene (9) with second-order nonlinear optical (NLO) properties and a noncentrosymmetric structure were obtained by a novel crystallization process at 130-140 degrees C in a de electric field. The packing of 9 in these films was elucidated by a combination of X-ray diffraction, angle-dependent second- harmonic generation, and scanning force microscopy (SFM). The experimental results agree well with solid-state molecular dynamics calculations for these films. No crystalline phase was observed for nitrocalix[4]arene derivatives with longer or branched alkyl chains; this explains the limited NLO stability of films of these calixarenes. Scanning force microscopy o­n the aligned films of 9 showed two distinct surface lattice structures: a rectangular lattice (a = 9.3, b = 11.7 Angstrom) and a pseudohexagonal lattice (d approximate to 11.4 Angstrom). The combination of these data with the interlayer distance of 8.9 Angstrom (X-ray diffraction) allowed the packing of molecules of 9 in these structures to be fully elucidated at the molecular level

Ptiliola brevicollis Matthews 1860

Ptiliola brevicollis (Matthews, 1860) (Figs. 3, 9, 12) Material studied. THE NETHERLANDS: Prov. of Groningen: ɗ [Figs. 3, 9, 12], 4 ΨΨ, Overschild, Schildmeer, UTM LE 5506, 18.ix. 2004, heap of decaying grass, Vorst (cOV); Prov. of Overijssel: Ψ, Fortmond, Duursche Waarden, UTM LD0306, 24.iv- 14.v. 1998, window trap at river meadow, Vorst (cOV); Ψ, Weerribben, Woldakkers, UTM GU0153, 31.viii. 2001, heap of old hay and reeds, edge of Alnus forest, Vorst (cOV); Prov. of Limburg: Ψ, Urmond, UTM FS 9552, 22.viii. 2000, heap of horse manure, forest edge, Vorst (cOV). GERMANY: Saarland: 2 ΨΨ, Nennig, 8.vi. 1996, heap of decaying hay, Vorst (cOV). LATVIA: Krāslava Distr.: 1 ex, Šķeltiņi, 1.viii. 1995, A. Barševskis (cOV). POLAND: Śląsk Voivodship: Ψ, "Silesia, Teschen" [= Cieszyn], Th. von Wanka (RMNH). SWEDEN: Uppland: ɗ, Storvreta, 30.x. 1993, A. Lindelöw (cMS).Published as part of Vorst, Oscar, 2007, Ptiliola flammifera (Młynarski) reinstated as a species distinct from P. kunzei (Heer) (Coleoptera: Ptiliidae), pp. 63-68 in Zootaxa 1546 on page 66, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17800

Ptiliola

Key to the Palaearctic species of Ptiliola 1. Smaller, length (labrum to elytral apex) usually less than 0.59 mm; pronotum less transverse, sides more rounded, posterior angles little defined (Fig. 3). Male: aedeagal sclerites not reaching half the length of the aedeagus, strongly sclerotized (Figs. 9, 12); metaventrite simple ................... P. brevicollis (Matthews) - Larger, length usually more than 0.59 mm; pronotum more transverse, sides less rounded, somewhat narrowed anteriad (Figs. 1, 2). Male: aedeagal sclerites larger, more than half the length of the aedeagus, sclerotization weaker (Figs. 7, 8, 10, 11); metaventrite simple or ornated with a tuft of hairs (Fig. 4)...... 2 2. Apical fringe of elytra regular and somewhat wider (Fig. 5) (this character is best appreciated by transmitted light microscopy). Pronotal reticulation somewhat coarser and less pronounced, especially towards the frontal margin (Fig. 1); as a result the overall appearance of the pronotum, when studied under reflecting light, more shiny. Male: aedeagus smaller; aedeagal sclerites in ventral view more stout (Fig. 8); metaventrite smoothly excavated, apically bordered by a distinct tuft of erect hairs (Fig. 4).................................... .............................................................................................................................. P. flammifera (Młynarski) - Apical fringe of elytra more narrow, towards the suture fused to form a few brush-shaped extensions (Fig. 6). Pronotal reticulation somewhat finer and more pronounced (Fig. 2); as a result the overall appearance more dull. Male: aedeagus larger; aedeagal sclerites in ventral view more slender, somewhat contracted in the middle (Fig. 7); metaventrite simple ............................................................................... P. kunzei (Heer)Published as part of Vorst, Oscar, 2007, Ptiliola flammifera (Młynarski) reinstated as a species distinct from P. kunzei (Heer) (Coleoptera: Ptiliidae), pp. 63-68 in Zootaxa 1546 on page 67, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17800

Nanoptilium flammiferum

Nanoptilium flammiferum and N. aequisetum Młynarski (1985) described two new species in his treatment of the Polish species of Ptiliola (then Nanoptilium). He recognized P. flammifera (Młynarski, 1985) and P. aequiseta (Młynarski, 1985) in addition to P. kunzei and P. b re v i c o l l i s. Judging from the original descriptions and especially the pronotal shapes figured, both species should be very close to P. k u n z e i. The species were separated from P. kunzei by the type of male metasternal pubescence, subtle differences in pronotal shape and characteristics of the apical fringe of the elytra. Some of these characters are unconventional in ptiliid taxonomy. There are no records published of those two species since. Recently, Johnson (2003) concluded that both “species” should be considered forms and therefore synonyms of P. kunzei. His judgement was based on careful consideration of the original descriptions, which do not mention differences in the male genitalia nor spermathecae, and the observation that “male European specimens of Ptiliola kunzei seen by me have pubescence characters of aequiseta ”. Unfortunately, type specimens of both species were not accessible for study. Recently, I got hold of several specimens of a Ptiliola species different from P. b re v i c o l l i s and P. kunzei, that matches the description of P. flammifera. Close examination revealed additional differential characters in pronotal structure and aedeagus indicating that P. flammifera should be reinstated as a proper species. Depositories cMS Collection M. Sörensson, Lund, Sweden cOV Collection O. Vorst, Utrecht, The Netherlands MHNG Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle, Genève, Switzerland (G. Cuccodoro) RMNH National Museum of Natural History, Naturalis, Leiden, The Netherlands (A. van Assen) WML World Museum Liverpool, United Kingdom (G. Knight) ZMAN Zoological Museum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (B. Brugge)Published as part of Vorst, Oscar, 2007, Ptiliola flammifera (Młynarski) reinstated as a species distinct from P. kunzei (Heer) (Coleoptera: Ptiliidae), pp. 63-68 in Zootaxa 1546 on pages 63-64, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17800

Naturalis Biodiversity Center (NL) - Coleoptera

Database contains specimen records from the Coleoptera collection of the Naturalis Biodiversity Center (Leiden, Netherlands). The specimens come from the National Museum of Natural History (RMNH; Rijksmuseum voor Natuurlijke Historie), later National Museum of Natural History, Naturalis in Leiden, Zoological Museum Amsterdam (ZMA) (mostly not digitised) and Wageningen University. The dataset "Zoological Museum Amsterdam, University of Amsterdam (NL) - Coleoptera_Types_Orient" former dataset:6e27e0c0-c065-11dd-a311-b8a03c50a862 at GBIF is fully incorporated in this dataset. The collection is largely arranged according to the Coleopterorum Catalogus but the family classification is currently updated to Bouchard e.a. 2011. Therefore classification can be inconsistent at the moment. The bulk of the data originate from a digitization project and need further clean up. Many taxa are not digitised below generic level. Important collections come from the Netherlands, the former Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) and Surinam (formerly Dutch Guyana)

Ptiliola kunzei Heer 1841

Ptiliola kunzei (Heer, 1841) (Figs. 2, 6, 8, 11) Type material. Lectotype (by present designation): Ψ: [no original label], " Lectotypus / Trichopteryx kunzei Heer, 1841 / design. O.Vorst 2007 " (WML, Collection F. Chevrier). Paralectotypes: 2 exx: [no original label], " Paralectotypus / Trichopteryx kunzei Heer, 1841 / design. O.Vorst 2007 " (WML, Collection F. Chevrier). Additional material studied. THE NETHERLANDS: Prov. of Drenthe: 2 ΨΨ, Anderen, Eexterveld, UTM LD 4647, 29.v. 2005, cattle dung in grazed heath land, O. Vorst (cOV); 2 ɗɗ [Figs. 2, 6, 8, 11], 2 ΨΨ, Dwingeloosche Heide, UTM LD 2452, 6.ix. 2003, cattle dung in grazed heath land, Vorst (cOV); 2 ΨΨ, Uffelte, Oosterzand, UTM LD 1554, 26.viii. 2006, cattle dung in grazed heath land, Vorst (cOV); Prov. of Gelderland: Ψ, Apeldoorn, Kerkhoven (RMNH); Prov. of Utrecht: Ψ, Doorn,. viii. 1888, Neervoort van de Poll (RMNH); Prov. of Zuid-Holland: ɗ, Den Haag, v [May], Everts (RMNH); Prov. of Noord-Brabant: ɗ, Westelbeers, Landschotsche Heide, 11.vi. 2006, horse dung in forest, Vorst (cOV); Prov. of Limburg: ɗ, Neercanne, 17.x. 1950, Excursion St. Pietersberg (RMNH); 1 ɗ 2 ΨΨ, St. Pietersberg, 23.iii. 1950, Excursion St. Pietersberg (RMNH); 2 ɗɗ, Weert,. vi. 1919, MacGillavry (ZMAN). GERMANY: Niedersachsen: 3 exx, Aldrup, 25.vi. 1959 (ɗ), 28.iv. 1962 (Ψ), 6.x. 1962 (ɗ), Kerstens (RMNH); Saarland: Ψ, Nennig, 8.vi. 1996, heap of decaying hay, Vorst (cOV). SWITZERLAND: Genève: ɗ, 3 exx, La Plaine, 19.ix. 1983, rotting plant material, Besuchet (MHNG); Vaud: ɗ, Ψ, 6 exx, Bussigny, 6.vi. 1953, horse droppings, Besuchet (MHNG). LATVIA: Valga Distr.: Ψ, Meżmuiża, Rauza River, UTM MD 3959,14. vi. 2005, river bank in Alnus forest, Vorst (cOV). FINLAND: Oulu Prov.: ɗ, 2 ΨΨ, Hiidenportti National Park, UTM PL0286, 2.viii. 2006, decaying boletes in mixed forest, Vorst (cOV); Prov. of Western Finland: ɗ, 2 ΨΨ, Lahdenkylä, UTM MJ 1070, 4.viii. 2006, horse droppings in forest, Vorst (cOV). Remarks. Heer (1841) attributed Trichopteryx kunzei in his “Fauna Coleopterorum Helvetica” to Chevrier, who, however, never published this manuscript name. The type locality was cited as Genf (= Geneva). No syntypic material of this species could be traced in the collections of the Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich (M. Schmid, personal communication), where the Heer collection is preserved, nor in MHNG (G. Cuccodoro, personal communication). In the Chevrier collection, kept at WML, there are three unlabelled specimens standing as Ptilium kunzei. From Chevrier's catalogue that accompanies his collection it becomes clear that these should be treated as syntypes. The entry under “ Kunzei Mihi” reads: “G. HFH.”, where “G.” is used as shorthand for Geneva and “HFH.” most likely stands for Heer's Fauna Helvetica. The three specimens are conspecific and fit the current interpretation of Trichopteryx kunzei. A female specimen, whose identity could be confirmed by the apical fringe of the elytra, is herewith designated as lectotype.Published as part of Vorst, Oscar, 2007, Ptiliola flammifera (Młynarski) reinstated as a species distinct from P. kunzei (Heer) (Coleoptera: Ptiliidae), pp. 63-68 in Zootaxa 1546 on pages 65-66, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17800

Ptiliola flammifera Mlynarski 1985

Ptiliola flammifera (Młynarski, 1985) (Figs. 1, 4, 5, 7, 10) Material studied. THE NETHERLANDS: Prov. of Gelderland: 2 exx, De Imbosch, Nieuwe Aanleg, UTM GT024723, 7.vi. 2002 (Ψ), 28.viii. 2002 (ɗ), carcass of Highland cattle in Pinus plantation, O. Vorst (cOV); 2 exx, De Imbosch, Veertien Bunder, UTM GT0472, 30.viii. 2002 (ɗ), 19.xi. 2002 (Ψ), carcass of wild boar in mixed forest, O. Vorst (cOV); Ψ(cf P. flammifera), Doorwerth, 2.iv. 1923, Van der Wiel (ZMAN); Ψ, Loenen, Loenermark, UTM GT049742, 7.vi. 2002, carcass of Highland cattle in dense Pseudotsuga stand, O. Vorst (cOV); 6 exx, Worth-Rhederzand, Tunnekes, UTM KC 947701, 18.iv. 2003 (Ψ), 9.v. 2003 (2 ɗɗ [Figs. 1, 4, 5, 7, 10], 3 ΨΨ), carcass of Highland cattle in open Pinus forest, O. Vorst (cOV). Diagnosis. Very similar in general shape and overall appearance to P. kunzei. Size (labrum to apex of elytra): 0.60–0.66 mm (average 0.63 mm, N = 7). Pronotal pubescence is less dense than in P. kunzei; reticulation on the pronotum is somewhat coarser and less pronounced, especially towards the frontal margin (Figs. 1, 2). As a result, the overall appearance of the pronotum, when studied under reflecting light, is more shiny. The same is true for the dorsal surface of the head. The apical margin of elytra ornated with a regular 2.5-3.0 μm long fringe (Fig. 5). In P. kunzei the fringe is finer and more dense, measuring only 1.5-2.0 μm; towards the suture the fringe is fused to form a few characteristic brush-shaped structures (Fig. 6). The structure of the elytral fringe is best studied by transmitted light microscopy at high magnification (300 X) with the object in a matrix (e.g. water or a resin), or by scanning electron microscopy. Spermatheca is very similar to that of P. k u n z e i. Male aedeagus is smaller than in P. kunzei (Figs. 7, 8); the aedeagal sclerites are differently shaped, in ventral view more stout, in lateral view more curved than in P. kunzei (Figs. 10, 11). Male metaventrite (in Coleoptera this structure is—erroneously—known as metasternum, cf Beutel & Leschen 2005) is smoothly excavated, apically bordered by a distinct tuft of erect hairs (Fig. 4); the excavation and the tuft are absent in P. kunzei. Although no syntypic material was studied, the identity of this species seems without doubt. The tuft of hairs on the metaventrite in the male (Fig. 4) and the structure of the apical fringe of the elytra (Fig. 5) closely match the figures in the original description (Młynarski 1985). Bionomics. The amount of material at hand does not allow drawing firm conclusions about the ecological preferences of P. flammifera, but it seems to be generally associated with decaying organic material. Although all Dutch records are from carcasses of larger mammals this result is biased by the fact that little other potential habitats were sampled from these localities. In Poland, the species has been reported from decaying hay and horse droppings (Młynarski 1985). Possibly a forest species. Distribution. So far only known from Poland (Młynarski 1985) and the Netherlands, but probably of wider distribution.Published as part of Vorst, Oscar, 2007, Ptiliola flammifera (Młynarski) reinstated as a species distinct from P. kunzei (Heer) (Coleoptera: Ptiliidae), pp. 63-68 in Zootaxa 1546 on pages 64-65, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17800