A new subspecies of the mantis Hierodula patellifera (Mantodea: Mantidae) from the Daito Islands, the Ryukyus, Japan

A new subspecies of the Asian mantis Hierodula patellifera (Audinet-Serville, 1839), Hierodula patellifera daitoanassp. nov., is described based on specimens collected from the Daito Islands, the Ryukyus, Japan. This new subspecies is distinguished from the nominotypical subspecies H. patellifera patellifera in adulthood by the relatively larger body size, the larger number of antennal segments, the presence of a white marking along the dorsal-inner surface on the procoxa, and marginal spines of the procoxa comprising two large and several small tooth-like projections.

Changeability in the pattern of white marking on a leaf of Trifolium repens L. is a bioindicator of presence in soil of agricultural lands of nitrate nitrogen and heavy metals

Aim. Conduct research between the variability of the pattern of white marking on a leaf of Trifolium repens L. and the content of nitrate nitrogen and heavy metals in soil of hayfield and pasture. Methods. Collection of leafs was carried out in 2019 during the period of mass flowering of plant. Identification of drawings of white marking on a leaf was carried out according to the method of IT. Paponova and P.Ya. Schwartzman, using the tables of J. L. Briubecker. Soils were tested for nitrate nitrogen and heavy metals in accordance with recommended methods. Results. In the total sample of T. repens L. collected from territories of the hayfield and pasture, detected 8 phenotypes, formed by a series of 7 alleles of gen V. In the sample from the territory of the hayfield, the phenotype O was most often found, in the sample from the territory of the pasture - the phenotypes of AH and C, much more often than in the territory of the hayfields – the phenotype of the BHC. In the hayfield, the frequency of «wild» phenotypes was higher, in the grassland – «mutant» phenotypes. In each of the studied territories unique phenotypes were detected: on the territory of hayfield – phenotype C in the form of a four-leaf, on the territory of the pasture – phenotypes of BHB and E. Pasture soil had a significantly higher content of nitrate nitrogen (almost 4 times), Fe (almost 2.5 times), Mn (1.6 times), Zn (2.4 times), Cu (1.8 times), Pb (more than 2 times) and Cd (more than 2 times) compared to soil of hayfield. Conclusions. A correlation was found between the frequency of T. repens phenotypes detected in the pattern of white markings on the leave and the presence in soil of hayfield and pasture of nitric nitrogen and heavy metals. However, it should be evaluated with caution, as the relationship between these indicators is although probable, but requires further investigation. Keywords: Trifolium repens L., white marking on a leaf, bioindicator, soil, nitrate nitrogen, heavy metals.

Morphogenetic polymorphism of Trifolium repens L. in the pattern of white marking on a leaf on the territory of the city of Sumy with a different anthropogenic load

Aim. The peculiarities of morphogenetic polymorphism of Trifolium repens L. in the pattern of white marking on a leaf on the territory of the city Sumy with a different anthropogenic load. Methods. Collection of leafs was carried out in 2018 during the period of mass flowering of plants from the test sites covered with T. repens L. up to 60%, located in geographically distant territories of various neighborhoods of the city. Identification of drawings of white marking on a leaf was carried out according to the method of I.T. Paponova and P.Ya. Schwartzman, using the tables of J.L. Briubecker. Results. In the total sample of T. repens L. collected from territories of the city with a different anthropogenic load, 16 phenotypes and 14 genotypes, formed by a series of 7 alleles of gen V, were revealed. In specimens most often there are wild phenotypes. Among the mutant phenotypes dominate heterozygotes and are detected in the phenotype as double stains. The greatest variety of phenotypes is established on the territories of urban parks, the smallest – on the roadside and lawns of the highway. Conclusions. The phenotypic variability of T. repens L. on the territory of the city with a different anthropogenic stress indicates polymorphism of life strategies that allows maintaining a high adaptive potential in the local populations of the species. Keywords: phenotypic and genotypic polymorphism, Тrifolium repens L., white marking on a leaf, anthropogenic load.

A revision of Hynobius stejnegeri, a lotic breeding salamander from western Japan, with a description of three new species (Amphibia, Caudata, Hynobiidae)

A lotic-breeding salamander Hynobius stejnegeri, formerly called H. yatsui, from western Japan is revised based on genetic and morphological evidence, and three species are described: H. guttatus sp. nov. from Chubu-Kinki districts of Honshu Island, H. tsurugiensis sp. nov. from east highland of Shikoku Island, and H. kuishiensis sp. nov. from other parts of Shikoku Island. Thus, H. stejnegeri sensu stricto is restricted to Kyushu Island. Of these four species, H. kuishiensis sp. nov. contains two distinct mitochondrial lineages, but this split is not reflected in differentiation of allozyme (nuclear genome) markers. These species are morphologically similar to each other but can be differentiated by several characteristics, especially in combination of dorsal coloration, the number of vomerine, upper, and lower jaw teeth, and depth of vomerine teeth series. In coloration, H. guttatus sp. nov. is brown or dark brown mostly with tiny white to brownish white marking, while H. tsurugiensis sp. nov. is dark brown with bright yellow continuous markings. Hynobius kuishiensis sp. nov. is reddish purple or dark brown with small to continuous brownish white markings, in contrast to reddish purple or dark brown with small to large brownish white markings in H. stejnegeri.

An Investigation of Coat Colour Distribution of West African Dwarf Goats

This study was carried out to determine coat colour distribution of West African Dwarf (WAD) goat in Abeokuta North and South Local Government Areas of Ogun State, Nigeria. Three thousand, three hundred and ten (3310) WAD goats were randomly sampled consisting of 2511 (75.86%) does and 799 (24.14%) bucks. Animals were prevalently maintained on semi-intensive management. Various coat colours identified were black with highest frequency of 941 (28.42%), brown 436 (13.17%), badgerface 346 (10.45%), grey 254 (7.67%), buckskin 222 (6.70%), lateral belly 154 (4.65%), white and black 149 (4.50%), white and brown 134 (4.05%), white and black marking 105 (3.17%), black and white marking 92 (2.78%), spotted white 88 (2.66%), spotted black 80 (2.42%), blackmash 63 (1.90%), tan 61 (1.84%), white 57 (1.72%), bezoar 49 (1.48%), spotted brown 40 (1.21%), lateral stripes 33 (1.00%), with swiss marking having the lowest frequency of 6 (0.18%). The gene frequency was estimated using Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium equation which resulted as 0.70 and 0.30 for eumelanin and Phaeomelanin respectively. Chi-square (χ2) analysis was further carried out, which revealed that the difference between observed frequency and expected frequency was significant (P < 0.05) implying that the segregation in the area of study was not supported by Mendelian ratio of 3:1. High level of variation was observed in coat colour among goats in the areas studied with black coat colour being the predominant. Hence, conscious selection could be embarked upon to investigate the influence of coat colour on adaptation, thermoregulation, growth and productivity.