Caribbean Amphipoda (Crustacea) of Panama. Part II: parvorder Hadziidira.

Amphipods in the parvorder Hadziidira are typically associated with algae, sponges, or coral rubble. Members of the parvorder have a gnathopod 2 that is stouter than gnathopod 1, a pair of dorsal robust setae on urosomite 2, and a basofacial robust seta on the uropod 1 peduncle. Within the parvorder, six families are documented from Bocas del Toro, Panama, represented by 26 species. This research documents range extensions for all 26 species and an identification key to the species of Caribbean Hadziidira of Panama is provided.

ResumenLos anfípodos del parvorden Hadziidira suelen estar asociados con algas, esponjas o escombros de coral. Los miembros del parvorden tienen un gnatópodo 2 que es más robusto que el gnatópodo 1, un par de setas dorsales robustas en el urosomita 2 y una seta basofacial robusta en el pedúnculo del urópodo 1. Dentro del parvorden se documentan seis familias de Bocas del Toro, Panamá, representadas por 26 especies. Esta investigación documenta extensiones de rango para las 26 especies y se proporciona una clave de identificación para las especies de Hadziidira caribeña de Panamá.

Caribbean Amphipoda (Crustacea) of Panama. Part I: parvorder Oedicerotidira.

Amphipods in the parvorder Oedicerotidira are burrowers, furrowers, or surface skimmers. Members of the parvorder share a well-developed posteroventral lobe on coxa 4, an equilobate coxa 5, an immensely elongate pereopod 7 that differs in structure from pereopod 6, and an entire telson. Within the parvorder, only the family Oedicerotidae has been documented from Bocas del Toro, Panama, represented by two species. This research documents a range extension for Hartmanodesnyei (Shoemaker, 1933) and describes a new species of Synchelidium Sars, 1892. An identification key to the species of Caribbean Oedicerotidae of Panama is provided.

Two new sponge inhabiting leucothoid amphipod species from the Western Atlantic.

Two new leucothoid amphipod species are described from the Western Atlantic Ocean. Leucothoe mucifibrosa sp. nov., collected from Belize, may represent a member of the Paraleucothoe group with a specific sponge host preference. Leucothoe darthvaderi sp. nov., collected from South Florida, is part of the Leucothoe spinicarpa species complex and has demonstrated a shift in host preference over time, possibly associated with environmental perturbances.

Maerid amphipods (Crustacea: Amphipoda) from Okinawa, Japan with description of a new species.

Two species of Maeridae are reported from extensive tidal flat collections on the east coast of Okinawa Island, Japan. A range extension is reported for Ceradocus mizani Lim, Azman Othman, 2010. Elasmopus mukuinu sp. nov. is described and is most similar to species in the Elasmopus pectenicrus (Bate, 1862) group in Hughes Lowry (2011). The new species is distinguished from other species based on the gnathopod 2 propodus bearing a subrectangular hump near insertion of the dactylus, the propodus being covered in dense tufts of long setae and the posterior margins of pereopods 5, 6, and 7 (almost smooth, serrate, and crenulate, respectively).

Assessing the Use of DNA Detection Platforms Combined with Passive Wind-Powered Spore Traps for Early Surveillance of Potato and Tomato Late Blight in Canada.

Quantitative PCR (qPCR), loop-mediated amplification (LAMP), and lateral flow strip-based recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA-LFS) assays were assessed for early detection of Phytophthora infestans, the global causal agent of potato and tomato late blight, on passive wind-powered spore traps known as Spornados. Spore traps were deployed in potato and tomato fields during the 2018, 2019, and 2020 growing seasons in the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island, and Ontario. All assays used DNA extracts from Spornado cassette membranes targeting the P. infestans nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer. A total of 1,003 Spornado samples were qPCR tested, yielding 115 positive samples for P. infestans spores. In further assessment of these samples, LAMP detected P. infestans in 108 (93.9%) of 115 qPCR positive samples, and RPA-LFS detected it in 103 (89.6%). None of the assays showed cross-reaction with other Phytophthora species or pathogenic fungi known to infect potato and tomato. The qPCR detected ≤1 fg of P. infestans DNA, and LAMP and RPA-LFS amplified 10 fg in as little as 10 min. All assays detected P. infestans before the first report of late blight symptoms in commercial potato or tomato fields within each region or province. The combination of Spornado passive samplers with qPCR, LAMP, or RPA-LFS proved a valuable spore trapping system for early surveillance of late blight in potato and tomato. Both LAMP and RPA-LFS showed potential as alternative approaches to qPCR for in-field monitoring of P. infestans.

Taiwanese Leucothoidae (Crustacea: Amphipoda), Including Three New Species from Dongsha Atoll.

Kristine N. White and Ryuji J. Machida (2018) Examination of leucothoid amphipods from Penghu, Green Island, and Dongsha Atoll revealed 16 species not previously reported from Taiwan. Leucothoe batillum sp. nov., Leucothoe cracentis sp. nov., and Paranamixis lunata sp. nov. are described from Dongsha Atoll. The ranges of 13 Leucothoe species are expanded to include the South China and Philippine Seas, suggesting genetic or geographic-driven connectivity between the South and East China Seas and the Philippine Sea. Leucothoe furina (Savigny, 1816), originally described from the Mediterranean or Red Sea, is reported from Taiwan, which suggests the occurrence of another species complex in the Leucothoidae.

Shifting communities after-- typhoon damage on an upper mesophotic reef in Okinawa, Japan.

Very few studies have been conducted on the long-term effects of typhoon damage on mesophotic coral reefs. This study investigates the long-term community dynamics of damage from Typhoon 17 (Jelawat) in 2012 on the coral community of the upper mesophotic Ryugu Reef in Okinawa, Japan. A shift from foliose to bushy coral morphologies between December 2012 and August 2015 was documented, especially on the area of the reef that was previously recorded to be poor in scleractinian genera diversity and dominated by foliose corals. Comparatively, an area with higher diversity of scleractinian coral genera was observed to be less affected by typhoon damage with more stable community structure due to less change in dominant coral morphologies. Despite some changes in the composition of dominant genera, the generally high coverage of the mesophotic coral community is facilitating the recovery of Ryugu Reef after typhoon damage.

Effects of causeway construction on environment and biota of subtropical tidal flats in Okinawa, Japan.

Okinawa, Japan is known for its high marine biodiversity, yet little work has been performed on examining impacts of numerous large-scale coastal development projects on its marine ecosystems. Here, we examine apparent impacts of the construction of the Kaichu-Doro causeway, which was built over 40 years ago. The causeway is a 4.75 km long embankment that divides a large tidal flat and has only two points of water exchange along its entire length. We employed quadrats, transects, sampling, visual surveys, and microbial community analyses combined with environmental, water quality data, and 1m cores, at five stations of two paired sites each (one on each side of Kaichu-Doro) to investigate how the environment and biota have changed since the Kaichu-Doro was built. Results indicate reduction in water flow, and site S1 was particularly heavily impacted by poor water quality, with low diversity and disturbed biotic communities.

Typhoon damage on a shallow mesophotic reef in Okinawa, Japan.

Little is known about effects of large storm systems on mesophotic reefs. This study reports on how Typhoon 17 (Jelawat) affected Ryugu Reef on Okinawa-jima, Japan in September 2012. Benthic communities were surveyed before and after the typhoon using line intercept transect method. Comparison of the benthic assemblages showed highly significant differences in coral coverage at depths of 25-32 m before and after Typhoon 17. A large deep stand of Pachyseris foliosa was apparently less resistant to the storm than the shallower high diversity area of this reef. Contradictory to common perception, this research shows that large foliose corals at deeper depths are just as susceptible to typhoon damage as shallower branching corals. However, descriptive functional group analyses resulted in only minor changes after the disturbance, suggesting the high likelihood of recovery and the high resilience capacity of this mesophotic reef.

A new cave-dwelling talitrid genus and species from Japan (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Talitridae).

An independently derived, blind, cave-dwelling amphipod, Minamitalitrus zoltani gen. nov., sp. nov. is described from the Hoshino-do cave on the island on Minami-Daito jima, Okinawa, Japan. This genus belongs to the Talitrus group of 15 genera and is the first record of the group from Japan. Several characters support the new genus, particularly the reduced biramous pleopods.

Engaging patients to improve the healthcare experience.

Spectrum Health suggests five considerations for engaging patients and their family members in process improvement initiatives effectively to create a better patient experience: Recruit patients who will provide the type of feedback required to warrant inclusion on a patient advisory council. Create a strong infrastructure for the councils. Ensure the councils always enjoy fresh input from new patient participants. Set clearly defined goals and implementation plans for the councils. Measure the impact.

Commensal Leucothoidae (Crustacea, Amphipoda) of the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan. Part III: coral rubble-dwellers.

Commensal leucothoid amphipods have been collected from coral rubble samples throughout the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan. Seven new species are described in two generawith valuable location data. A new locality is presented for Paranamixis misakiensis Thomas, 1997. An identification key to all described Leucothoidae of the Ryukyu Archipelago is provided.

Commensal Leucothoidae (Crustacea, Amphipoda) of the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan. Part II: sponge-dwellers.

Commensal leucothoid amphipods have been collected from the canals of their sponge hosts throughout the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan. Eleven new species are described in the genus Leucothoe with valuable location data and host records. An identification key to sponge-dwelling Leucothoidae of the Ryukyu Archipelago is provided.

Commensal Leucothoidae (Crustacea, Amphipoda) of the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan. Part I: ascidian-dwellers.

Commensal leucothoid amphipods have been collected from the branchial chambers of their ascidian hosts throughout the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan. Seven new species are described in two genera with valuable location data and host records. An identification key to ascidian-dwelling Leucothoidae of the Ryukyu Archipelago is provided.