Overlapping measurements in the length of the genitalia of Leptidea sinapis/reali collected in Slovenia triggered an investigation of a possible natural hybridization between these two well known sibling species of butterflies. Random polymorphic DNA (RAPD) was used to generate species specific markers and sequences of the cytochrome oxidase subunit one gene for determination of the progeny. RAPD's clustering and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) phylogeny were congruent with the taxonomic placement of specimens of both species, but slightly incongruent with the results of the analysis of genital morphology. Two specimens with L. reali genitalia measurements, but genetically belonging to L. sinapis, had species specific RAPD markers of both species indicating probable hybrid origin. All the specimens with genitalia of intermediate length were also genetically assigned to L. sinapis indicating a possible one way introgression as predicted from their genitalia morphology. Leptidea sinapis was found predominantly in xerothermic habitats in Slovenia, whereas L. reali was more of a generalist except in the sub-Mediterranean region where it is limited to humid meadows.
Recently described Myotis alcathoe has been recorded in Ukraine for the first time and at eight new localities in three distant and geographically diverse areas of Poland (the mountains, the uplands and the lowlands). This data extends its distribution range in Central Europe and confirms it as a native breeding species in Poland. Specific identification of bats was confirmed by sequencing ND1 gene of mtDNA. In Poland its reproduction has been recorded in Łężczok reserve, Silesian Foothill and in Roztocze National Park. Bats were observed mostly within old broadleaved and mixed forests, near water, at altitude ranging from 112 to 736 m a.s.l. The only known roosting site for the species is a cave which is used both in spring and during the swarming period. In Poland the species co-occurred with both M. brandtii and M. mystacinus or with M. brandtii at all sites.
Colletes anchusae Noskiewicz, 1924 and C. wolfi Kuhlmann, 1999 (Colletidae) are closely related bee species with vicariant distributions, the former occurring in east and southeast Europe and Turkey, the latter restricted to the Italian peninsula. Microscopical analysis of scopal pollen revealed that in Europe both species are monolectic collecting pollen exclusively from flowers of Cynoglottis barrelieri (All.) Vural & Kit Tan (Boraginaceae). In Turkey, C. anchusae possibly visits also Cynoglottis chetikiana Vural & Kit Tan. The distributions of the two bee species and of Cynoglottis coincide. The females of both Colletes species are equipped with stout, curved bristles on their foretarsi used for scraping pollen out of the narrow flower tube of Cynoglottis. Compared to other European species of Colletes the foretarsi of C. anchusae and C. wolfi are shortened, presumably an adaptation to the short corolla tube of their host plant.
Both sexes of Achalcus bicolor sp.n., Achalcus longicercus sp.n., and Australachalcus latipennis sp.n. are described as additions to the Nearctic achalcine fauna. Diagnoses of five unnamed Achalcus species represented only by females are given. A key to Nearctic males and females including 10 unnamed species is provided. The new Achalcus records considerably extend the known distribution of the genus in North America, especially in the central and eastern states. Australachalcus latipennis sp.n. is the first known Nearctic species of this predominantly Neotropical and New Zealand genus. Achalcus bicolor sp.n. from Montana, Manitoba and Ontario clearly belongs to the Achalcus flavicollis species group. The eastern Achalcus longicercus sp.n. is not included in the latter species group due to the lack of a dorsal bristle on tibia I and the absence of a preapical anterodorsal bristle on femur III in both sexes. It features postgonites with strong hook-like apical processes possibly unique to this species. The presence and number of dorsal bristles on tibia I seem to be of both diagnostic and phylogenetic relevance. All northern achalcine species were collected between June and September, whereas some Californian species were taken in May and Australachalcus latipennis sp.n. from Arizona in October - November.
New information is provided on the distribution of 19 species of lichens belonging to the genus Caloplaca (Teloschistales) in the Czech Republic. Six species are new to this country: C. epithallina, C. erodens, C. inconnexa, C. phlogina, C. polycarpa and C. thuringiaca. The species C. albolutescens, C. cerinella, C. chlorina, C. chrysodeta, C. dichroa, C. flavocitrina, C. herbidella and C. marmorata are reported from the Czech Republic, but little is known about their distribution in this country. Caloplaca biatorina, C. obliterans, C. rubelliana, and C. xantholyta are rediscovered after more than 50 years. The presence of Caloplaca crenulatella, recently reported as new to this country, is confirmed and is actually one of the most common species of this genus. Ecological and chorological data are given for each species, and taxonomic and nomenclatural notes for C. albolutescens and C. chlorina are amended.
Since the publication of “The Atlas of European Mammals” in 1999 plenty of new data have been collected on the distribution of Apodemus spp. in Lithuania. These data have changed our knowledge of the comparative distribution of ?A. sylvaticus and A. uralensis in the country. Essentially, A. uralensis is widespread in the north-western part of the country, whereas A. sylvaticus is found only in southern and eastern Lithuania. Both species reach the limits of their geographical ranges in Lithuania.
The actual distribution of gudgeons native to the River Kuban (Gobio sp., Romanogobio pentatrichus, R. parvus) is described based upon new taxonomic conclusions and reliable species identifications. Numerous new materials were collected during several expeditions by the authors in 2001-2003 to the Northern Caucasus, Western Transcaucasia, Voga, Kuban, Don and other rivers of the Sea of Azov and were re-examined from collections of the Zoological Institute (St. Petersburg, Russia) and the Chair of Zoology of Kalmykia State University (Elista, Russia).
A new genus and species, Horakia kubani gen. n., sp. n., of Meligethinae from Thailand are described and compared with the closely related genus Cryptarchopria Jelínek. Cryptarchopria infima (Grouvelle) is recorded from the islands Ambon and Seram (Maluku, Indonesia), and its association with flowers of the palm Areca catechu L. is established for the first time. Diagnostic characters of the genus Kabakovia Kirejtshuk, 1979 are discussed, and Kabakovia latipes (Grouvelle, 1908) is recorded from Nepal for the first time.
The occurrence of common gudgeon in the River Morača drainage of southern Montenegro was investigated. Low numbers of specimens were recorded in four out of five localities investigated on the Zeta River and at a single locality on the lower part of the River Morača. Allozyme analysis revealed that the specimens examined belong to the species Gobio gobio (Linnaeus, 1758). The lower number of lateral line scales in common gudgeon from the Ohrid-Drim-Skadar system, as compared with other European populations, probably indicates clinal variability. The results also demonstrate that the subspecies Gobio gobio ohridanus Karaman, 1924 is not a valid taxon.
Článek předkládá aktuální pohled na problematiku neolitické těžební lokality Bílý kámen u Sázavy (okr. Benešov). Své výsledky opírá jak o analýzu dostupných starších nálezů, tak o poznatky získané novým archeologickým výzkumem. Zjištění ukazují, že tradovanou představu o jedné z nejvýznamnějších památek po pravěké těžební činnosti nesilicitových hornin ve střední Evropě bude nutné podstatně revidovat. Již konstatování, že se nejedná o hlavní zdroj suroviny mramorových náramků kultury s vypíchanou keramikou (5100/5000–4500/4400 cal BC) otevírá nový prostor ve zdánlivě dávno vyřešené diskusi. Zároveň získaná radiokarbonová data obohacují naše poznání o aktivity probíhající na Bílém kameni v pozdním středověku a raném novověku. and The article presents a current view of the issue of the Neolithic mining site of Bílý kámen near Sázava (Czech Republic, Benešov district). The results are based both on an analysis of earlier finds and on the finds from a new archaeological excavation. The findings show that the traditional idea of one of the most important monuments of prehistoric mining activities of non-silicate rock in Central Europe will need to be substantially revised. The fact that it is not the main source of the raw material of marble bracelets during the period of the Stroked Pottery culture (5100/5000–4500/4400 cal BC) opens new space in a seemingly long-resolved discussion. Radiocarbon data enrich our knowledge of the activities taking place at Bílý kámen in the Late Middle Ages and Early Modern period.