Types of Cuyabasa Bechyné, Palmaraltica Bechyné and Rhynchasphaera Bechyné (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini: Oedionychina) of the Naturhistorisches Museum, Basel, with keys to species and descriptions of genitalia, and new combinations for species transferred to the oedionychine genus Walterianella Bechyné.

Jan Bechyné described several genera within the species-rich subtribe Oedionychina Chapuis, 1875. A large part of his collection is housed at the Naturhistorisches Museum Basel - Georg Frey holdings (NMB). Images of type specimens of the following species are provided: Cuyabasa chiquitoensis Bechyné, 1959, Cuyabasa gastrophysoides Bechyné, 1959, Cuyabasa minor (Bechyné, 1955), Palmaraltica heteronycha Bechyné, 1959, Rhynchasphaera basisticta Bechyné, 1958, Rhynchasphaera latipleura Bechyné, 1956 and Rhynchasphaera orophila Bechyné, 1955. Additionally, photographs of Palmaraltica yepezi Bechyné & Bechyné, 1969 and Palmaraltica tomentosa (Jacoby, 1880), comb. nov. are provided. Keys to species of the treated genera are provided, as well as notes on taxonomy and distribution. Lastly, the following new combinations are established: Palmaraltica tomentosa (Jacoby, 1880), Walterianella basimaculata (Jacoby, 1905), Walterianella dimidiaticornis (Jacoby, 1905), Walterianella discolor (Jacoby, 1886), Walterianella illigeri (Jacoby, 1886), Walterianella jansoni (Jacoby, 1886), Walterianella marginicollis (Jacoby, 1885), Walterianella montana (Jacoby, 1886) and Walterianella pavonina (Jacoby, 1892), all comb. nov.

Dropping the microbead: Source and sink related microplastic distribution in the Black Sea and Caspian Sea basins.

Microplastic pollution is a growing, yet poorly understood problem. Here, we assessed the relationship between microplastic concentration and distance to rivers, shorelines, cities, sediment grain size or water depth in sediments of the world's largest (semi-)enclosed aquatic basins. Microplastic was extracted from sediment using density separation, elutriation and hydrophobic adhesion. Fibers and transparent or white microplastic particles were the most abundant shape and color. The microplastic concentration in sediments of the Black Sea was about twice as high compared to that in the Caspian Sea. Fragment concentrations decreased with depth, while fiber concentrations were independent of depth. Overall, no relationship with distance to shores, rivers and cities or with grain size was observed. However, within some depth classes concentrations were related to the distance from rivers, shores and cities.

Mollusc species from the Pontocaspian region - an expert opinion list.

Defining and recording the loss of species diversity is a daunting task, especially if identities of species under threat are not fully resolved. An example is the Pontocaspian biota. The mostly endemic invertebrate faunas that evolved in the Black Sea - Caspian Sea - Aral Sea region and live under variable salinity conditions are undergoing strong change, yet within several groups species boundaries are not well established. Collection efforts in the past decade have failed to produce living material of various species groups whose taxonomic status is unclear. This lack of data precludes an integrated taxonomic assessment to clarify species identities and estimate species richness of Pontocaspian biota combining morphological, ecological, genetic, and distribution data. In this paper, we present an expert-working list of Pontocaspian and invasive mollusc species associated to Pontocaspian habitats. This list is based on published and unpublished data on morphology, ecology, anatomy, and molecular biology. It allows us to (1) document Pontocaspian mollusc species, (2) make species richness estimates, and (3) identify and discuss taxonomic uncertainties. The endemic Pontocaspian mollusc species richness is estimated between 55 and 99 species, but there are several groups that may harbour cryptic species. Even though the conservation status of most of the species is not assessed or data deficient, our observations point to deterioration for many of the Pontocaspian species.