Phylogenetic Afficity of \u3ci\u3eGenolopa\u3c/i\u3e (Digenea: Monorchiidae) With Descriptions of Two New Species

The validity of Genolopa Linton, 1910 has been controversial because the observation of presently recognized critical diagnostic morphological features (spines in the genital atrium and a bipartite, anteriorly spined terminal organ) were omitted from the original diagnosis, and these features were not universally appreciated as important diagnostic features until 2008. Modern taxonomists have been further challenged by inappropriate fixation techniques that have resulted in various interpretations of morphological features. Consequently, named species in the genus have fluctuated among other monorchiid genera depending on various interpretations by taxonomists, and a modern consensus on classifying these species is lacking. This study combines a molecular approach with modern conventional morphological techniques to investigate the validity of Genolopa as a lineage within the Monorchiidae. New morphology and molecular sequence data from the type-species of Genolopa were studied, and two new species in the genus were described, Genolopa vesca n. sp. and Genolopa minuscula n. sp. Interrelationships among the Monorchiidae were explored using Bayesian inference analysis of the partial 28S rDNA fragment, incorporating three species of Genolopa for the first time. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that the genus represents a natural lineage, supporting the presence of spines in the genital atrium in conjunction with a bipartite and anteriorly spined terminal organ as key features of the generic diagnosis. This study also provides for the first time partial 28S rDNA data for Postmonorchis orthopristis, Lasiotocus trachinoti, Lasiotocus glebulentus, and an unidentified species of Lasiotocus

Phylogenetic Affinity of Genolopa (Digenea: Monorchiidae) with Descriptions of Two New Species

The validity of Genolopa Linton, 1910 has been controversial because the observation of presently recognized critical diagnostic morphological features (spines in the genital atrium and a bipartite, anteriorly spined terminal organ) were omitted from the original diagnosis, and these features were not universally appreciated as important diagnostic features until 2008. Modern taxonomists have been further challenged by inappropriate fixation techniques that have resulted in various interpretations of morphological features. Consequently, named species in the genus have fluctuated among other monorchiid genera depending on various interpretations by taxonomists, and a modern consensus on classifying these species is lacking. This study combines a molecular approach with modern conventional morphological techniques to investigate the validity of Genolopa as a lineage within the Monorchiidae. New morphology and molecular sequence data from the type-species of Genolopa were studied, and two new species in the genus were described, Genolopa vesca n. sp. and Genolopa minuscula n. sp. Interrelationships among the Monorchiidae were explored using Bayesian inference analysis of the partial 28S rDNA fragment, incorporating three species of Genolopa for the first time. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that the genus represents a natural lineage, supporting the presence of spines in the genital atrium in conjunction with a bipartite and anteriorly spined terminal organ as key features of the generic diagnosis. This study also provides for the first time partial 28S rDNA data for Postmonorchis orthopristis, Lasiotocus trachinoti, Lasiotocus glebulentus, and an unidentified species of Lasiotocus

Sound Production Patterns of Big-Clawed Snapping Shrimp (\u3ci\u3eAlpheus\u3c/i\u3e spp.) are Influenced by Time-of-Day and Social Context

Snapping shrimp are perhaps the most pervasive sources of biological sound in the ocean. The snapping sounds of cryptic shrimp colonies in shallow coastal habitats worldwide create a near-continuous crackling with high spatiotemporal variability, yet the underlying acoustic ecology is not well understood. This study investigated sound production rates and acoustic behavior of snapping shrimp species common in the Western Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico (Alpheus heterochaelis and Alpheus angulosus). Snap rates were measured in a controlled laboratory setting under natural light, temperature, and substrate conditions for shrimp held individually, in pairs, and in a ten-shrimp mesocosm, to test hypotheses that acoustic activity varies with time-of-day and social context. Spontaneous snapping was observed for 81 out of 84 solitary shrimp monitored. Time-of-day influenced snap output for individuals and same-sex pairs-higher rates occurred during dusk and night, compared to daylight hours, but this pattern was inconsistent for opposite-sex pairs and a mixed-sex group. These laboratory results provide insight into behavioral rhythms that may influence snapping patterns in natural populations, and underscore the limited understanding of a major sound source in marine environments. (C) 2017 Acoustical Society of America