Engineered maize as a source of astaxanthin: processing and application as fish feed.

Astaxanthin from a transgenic maize line was evaluated as feed supplement source conferring effective pigmentation of rainbow trout flesh. An extraction procedure using ethanol together with the addition of vegetal oil was established. This resulted in an oily astaxanthin preparation which was not sufficiently concentrated for direct application to the feed. Therefore, a concentration process involving multiple phase partitioning steps was implemented to remove 90 % of the oil. The resulting astaxanthin raw material contained non-esterified astaxanthin with 12 % 4-keto zeaxanthin and 2 % zeaxanthin as additional carotenoids. Isomeric analysis confirmed the exclusive presence of the 3S, 3'S astaxanthin enantiomer. The geometrical isomers were 89 % all-E, 8 % 13-Z and 3 % 9-Z. The incorporation of the oily astaxanthin preparation into trout feed was performed to deliver 7 mg/kg astaxanthin in the final feed formulation for the first 3.5 weeks and 72 mg/kg for the final 3.5 weeks of the feeding trial. The resulting pigmentation of the trout fillets was determined by hue values with a colour meter and further confirmed by astaxanthin quantification. Pigmentation properties of the maize-produced natural astaxanthin incorporated to 3.5 µg/g dw in the trout fillet resembles that of chemically synthesized astaxanthin. By comparing the relative carotenoid compositions in feed, flesh and feces, a preferential uptake of zeaxanthin and 4-keto zeaxanthin over astaxanthin was observed.

Notes on the genus Libellulosoma Martin, 1906, and related genera (Odonata: Anisoptera: Corduliidae).

The holotype of Libellulosoma minuta, until now regarded as the unique specimen of this monotypic genus and considered lost for half a century, was found again in the dragonfly collection of the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle in Paris. A second specimen, also from Madagascar (probably East Madagascar) was found in the collection René Martin together with the holotype. A redescription, including the structure of the secondary copulatory apparatus, is provided. The genus Libellulosoma is closely related to the genera Pentathemis and Aeschnosoma, and its membership in the clade Aeschnosomata is well supported. Evidence from biogeography, the fossil record, and phylogeny indicates that this group, possible sister group of remaining Corduliidae s.s., was probably already present in the Early Cretaceous.

The larva of the genus Palaeosynthemis Förster, 1903 (Odonata: Anisoptera: Synthemistidae) and a generic key to the larvae of non-New Caledonian Synthemistidae.

The larva of Palaeosynthemis Förster, 1903, based on P. cyrene (Lieftinck, 1953), is described and illustrated for the first time. A diagnosis of the genus is given. A larval generic key to all known non-New Caledonian genera of Synthemistidae is provided.

Description of the last-instar larva of Zenithoptera lanei Santos, 1941 (Odonata: Libellulidae).

The larva of Zenithoptera lanei Santos, 1941 is described and illustrated based on three exuviae of reared larvae collected in Misiones, Argentina, Roraima and Amazonas, Brazil. A comparison with the larva of Z. anceps Pujol-Luz, 1993 is included.

Simultaneous alignment and folding of 28S rRNA sequences uncovers phylogenetic signal in structure variation.

Secondary structure models of mitochondrial and nuclear (r)RNA sequences are frequently applied to aid the alignment of these molecules in phylogenetic analyses. Additionally, it is often speculated that structure variation of (r)RNA sequences might profitably be used as phylogenetic markers. The benefit of these approaches depends on the reliability of structure models. We used a recently developed approach to show that reliable inference of large (r)RNA secondary structures as a prerequisite of simultaneous sequence and structure alignment is feasible. The approach iteratively establishes local structure constraints of each sequence and infers fully folded individual structures by constrained MFE optimization. A comparison of structure edit distances of individual constraints and fully folded structures showed pronounced phylogenetic signal in fully folded structures. As model sequences we characterized secondary structures of 28S rRNA sequences of selected insects and examined their phylogenetic signal according to established phylogenetic hypotheses.

The larva of the genus Misagria Kirby, 1889 (Odonata: Libellulidae).

The ultimate stadium of Misagria parana Kirby, 1889 is described and illustrated for the first time based on reared material. The larva was hitherto unknown for the genus. Based on M. parana, M. divergens Westfall, 1992 and M. cf. calverti a larval generic diagnosis is given. Larva of the genus Misagria Kirby, 1889 is briefly compared to the strongly similar larvae of the Neotropical genera Cannaphila Kirby, 1889, and Dasythemis Karsch, 1889. Larvae of Misagria can be separated from those of Dasythemis by the number of palpal setae (seven in Misagria vs four in Dasythemis) and by the shape of ventral tarsal setae (trifid setae present in Misagria), and from those of Cannaphila by the number of palpal setae (seven vs five or six) and the chaetotaxy of middorsal abdominal segments (segments three to nine with a diffuse clump of long setae in Misagria vs no diffuse clump in Cannaphila).

Description of Microgomphus farrelli sp. nov. (Odonata: Anisoptera: Gomphidae) based on adults of both sexes and larvae from Northern Thailand.

The new gomphid species, Microgomphus farrelli sp. nov., is described and illustrated on the basis of male and female adult specimens and larvae collected from Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son province, Northern Thailand. It is compared with other species of the genus. Based on the larvae this species is most closely related to Microgomphus svihleri (Asahina, 1970), comb. nov., which is the senior and valid synonym of Microgomphus thailandicus Asahina, 1981, syn. nov.

Notes on the genus Navicordulia Machado & Costa, 1995 (Odonata: Anisoptera: Corduliidae s. str.): description of a new species, phylogenetic affinities and aspects of biogeography.

Based on a single male specimen, a remarkable new species of the genus Navicordulia is described from the Massif du Mitaraka in French Guiana (Tumuc-Humac Mountains). Another new species of this genus is also reported from the same locality but is not described. This is the first record of the genus from French Guiana, hitherto being unknown within a radius of more than 1000 km. Apparent rarity or absence of records is probably due to its secretive habits. Navicordulia tumucurakensis sp. nov. presents unique characters not present in other species of the genus including: almost no excavation of the anal angle, proximal sternal pilose ridge of abdominal segment 7 transformed into two large lateral oreillets disconnected from the median carina, additional distal sternal pilose ridge transformed into a medial knob, epiproct not extending beyond the distal half of the cerci, very long cerci surpassing those of described species, cerci lacking ventro-medial carina and tubercle and exhibiting a distal ventral brush of hair-like setae. It is a forest species inhabiting hilly landscapes at low altitude, unlike other closely related intertropical species which are encountered in more elevated areas above 850 m. It is most closely related to N. longistyla, a typical cerrado species from the central Brazilian plateau or possibly to N. nitens from the central south Venezuelan Guaiquinima Tepui. Based on unique derived male abdominal structures and also on the female ovipositor and related structures, the South American genus Navicordulia and the Southeast Asian/Melanesian genus Metaphya are considered current adelphotaxa. This disrupted geographic distribution could be explained by a common ancestor having had a Gondwanian dispersal until the Late Cretaceous or Paleocene.

Checklist of dragonflies and damselflies (Insecta: Odonata) of the Amazonas state, Brazil / Checklist das libélulas (Insecta: Odonata) do estado do Amazonas, Brasil

Abstract: Here we provide a checklist of the odonates from Amazonas state, Brazil. We registered 324 species and 101 genera, making Amazonas the Brazilian state with the most Odonata species recorded. The families with the highest number of species were Coenagrionidae with 32 genera and 101 species, followed by Libellulidae with 28 genera and 100 species and Gomphidae with 12 genera and 45 species. Some regions of Amazonas state remain poorly explored, such as the southern area, and large municipalities, such as São Gabriel da Cachoeira. This work underlines the importance of the biological diversity from Amazonas state and the Amazonian Biome for Odonata species richness in Brazil and shows that many areas in the world's largest tropical forest have not yet been sampled.

Resumo: Aqui nós apresentamos a lista de espécies de libélulas presentes no estado do Amazonas, Brasil. Nós registramos 324 espécies e 101 gêneros, tornando o estado com o maior número de espécies de libélulas registradas no país. As famílias com maior número de espécies foram Coenagrionidae, com 32 gêneros e 101 espécies, seguido por Libellulidae, com 28 gêneros e 100 espécies e Gomphidae com 12 gêneros e 45 espécies. Regiões do estado do Amazonas permanecem pouco exploradas, como a parte sul e os municípios com grande extensão territorial, como São Gabriel da Cachoeira. Este trabalho reconhece a importância da diversidade biológica do estado do Amazonas e do bioma Amazônico para a riqueza de espécies de Odonata no Brasil e mostra que ainda existem muitas áreas não amostradas na maior floresta tropical do mundo.