Search publications of the members of the Royal Belgian institute of natural Sciences
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Evaluation of a high-resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometer for the gas chromatographic determination of selected environmental contaminants
- A benchtop high-resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOF MS) was evaluated for the determination of key organic microcontaminants. The major advantage of the TOF MS proved to be the high mass resolution of about 0.002 Da (10 ppm). Consequently, the detectability of polar pesticides, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyls is excellent, and detection limits are in the order of 1-4 pg injected mass. Best mass spectral resolution was obtained for medium-scale peaks. It is a disadvantage that the calibration range is rather limited, viz. to about two orders of magnitude. The high mass spectral resolution was especially useful to improve the selectivity and sensitivity when analyzing target compounds in complex samples and to prevent false-positive identifications. © 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
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Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci in Galápagos caterpillar hunters (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Calosoma)
- Five microsatellite loci were isolated from the Galápagos caterpillar hunter Calosoma granatense. Polymorphism ranges from four to 14 alleles, and observed and expected heterozygosities range from 0.138 to 0.889 and 0.197-0.902, respectively. Cross-amplification of the developed primers was successful in the related species C. leleuporum.
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Some gastronomic aspects of bird species in still life paintings of Frans Snyders (Antwerp, 1579-1657)
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Post-mortem findings and causes of death of harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) stranded from 1990 to 2000 along the coastlines of Belgium and Northern France
- Between the years 1990 and 2000, an attempt was made to determine the causes of death of 55 harbour porpoises stranded along the Belgian and northern French coasts. From 1990 to 1996, only five carcasses were collected as against seven in 1997, eight in 1998, 27 in 1999 and eight in 2000. The sex ratio was normal and most of the animals were juvenile. The most common findings were emaciation, severe parasitosis and pneumonia. A few cases of fishing net entanglement were observed. The main microscopical lesions were acute pneumonia, massive lung oedema, enteritis, hepatitis and gastritis. Encephalitis was observed in six cases. No evidence of morbillivirus infection was detected. Pneumonia was associated with bacteria or parasites, or both. The causes of death and the lesions were similar to those previously reported in other countries bordering the North Sea. The cause of the increased numbers of carcasses in 1999 was unclear but did not include viral epizootics or net entanglement. A temporary increase in the porpoise population in the southern North Sea may have been responsible. © 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
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Multivariate morphometrics of soft body parts in terrestrial slugs: Comparison between two datasets, error assessment and taxonomic implications
- Ten flexible characters for two collections of a pulmonate land slug that differed in their method of preservation (ethanol or freezer/ethanol), were measured four times - twice with calipers and twice with a stage micrometer - by two different people. Repeated measurements were used to estimate the measurement error (ME) associated with the ten characters. ME ranged from 2\% to 90\% and differed significantly between the characters. Characters with low mean values and a high flexibility showed the largest ME. With the stage micrometer, one measurer obtained significantly higher ME, but both measurers obtained the same ME with calipers. There was no detectable effect of preservation method on the size and shape of characters, yet, results differed when characters were measured with either calipers or a stage micrometer. One measurer obtained significantly larger mean values for three characters with calipers. Additionally, presumed species differences between three Carinarian species (Arion fasciatus, A. silvaticus and A circumscriptus; subgenus Carinarian Hesse 1926) were tested using principal component analysis and canonical discriminant analysis. Despite possible measurer biases and high ME, the different datasets yielded highly similar results, indicating that biometrical data of soft, flexible structures may yield valuable and reliable data which can be examined statistically. Our results indicate that A. fasciatus is larger than the other two species, but it is hard to distinguish from both of the other species when size is not considered. Arion silvaticus and A. circumscriptus can be separated only when colour characters are used. © 2002 The Linnean Society of London.
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Mouthpart deformities and nucleolus activity in field-collected Chironomus riparius larvae
- Chironomid mouthpart deformities and aberrations of their polytenic chromosomes are sublethal responses to toxic stress. These endpoints have been used in several cases as bioindications for sediment pollution. In the present study we aimed to establish whether there was an association between mouthpart deformities and nucleolus activity in the polytenic chromosomes. Such information could be useful to gain insight into the mechanisms involved in the occurrence of mouthpart deformities and their consequences on the larvae. Third-instar larvae of Chironomus riparius were collected at a site downstream of a sewage treatment plant mostly contaminated by pesticides. Larvae were then raised in the laboratory in aquaria containing sediment and water from the study location. During a 16-day period, larvae ready to molt to the fourth instar were reared individually. Within a few hours of their molt, the larvae were preserved. The presence of mouthpart deformities (menturn, mandibles, and pecten epipharyngis) and the percentage of active nucleoli were assessed. Those larvae presenting menturn deformities had a significantly higher incidence of active nucleoli in their polytenic chromosomes than nondeformed larvae. Because a high number of active nucleoli generally indicates increased rRNA synthesis, deformed larvae seemed to exhibit a higher protein synthesis than normal individuals. The synthesis of additional proteins may increase deformed larva tolerance to toxicants.
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Isoelectric focusing as a tool to evaluate carabid beetles as predatory agents of the pest slug Arion lusitanicus
- Isoelectric focusing was investigated to detect esterases of the pest slug Arion lusitanicus in the crop contents of predatory carabid beetles. The method is exceptionally well suited for field studies, as it is fast, cheap, easy to apply, and almost species-specific. The identification of A. lusitanicus was enabled by four characteristic, stable esterase electromorphs. The profile clearly differed from the band patterns of the digestive enzymes of the carabid beetles, from esterases of other potential prey species and even from the enzymes of early developmental stages of the slug. To test the heaviest stained isoenzyme for its decay under controlled conditions, three carabid species were fed on a fixed amount of slug hepatopancreas. In Carabus cancellatus and Pterostichus melanarius the enzyme lost 35\% of its activity after 16 h, fitting a logarithmic curve, whereas in Carabus granulatus the same decay status was already reached after 8 h following a linear regression. Both, the similarities and differences between beetle species might be due to their mode of extra- versus intraintestinal digestion and the amount of hepatopancreas fed. The temperature during digestion was also influential, as the regression slopes of esterase activity between the two temperature regimes tested in C. granulatus were significantly different. The volume of crop contents decreased during digestion in both Carabus species, corresponding to the decline in esterase. In contrast, the crop volume of P. melanarius reached its maximum almost 4 h after ingestion. This was interpreted as an effect of its mode of ingestion and time-elapsed enzyme production. © 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
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Presence of Anopheles culicifacies B in Cambodia established by the PCR-RFLP assay developed for the identification of Anopheles minimus species A and C and four related species
- A polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assay developed for identification of five species of the Anopheles minimus Theobald group and a related mosquito species of the Myzomyia Series (Diptera: Culicidae) was applied to morphologically identified adult female specimens collected in Ratanakiri Province, north-eastern Cambodia. In addition to finding An. aconitus Dönitz, An. minimus species A and An. pampanai Büttiker & Beales, some specimens showed a new restriction banding pattern. Siblings of specimens that exhibited this new PCR-RFLP pattern were morphologically identified as An. culicifacies James sensu lato. Based on nucleotide sequences of the ribonuclear DNA internal transcribed spacer 2 region (ITS2) and the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene (COI), these specimens were recognized as An. culicifacies species B (sensu Green & Miles, 1980), the first confirmed record of the An. culicifacies complex from Cambodia. This study shows that the PCR-RFLP assay can detect species not included in the initial set-up and is capable of identifying at least seven species of the Myzomyia Series, allowing better definition of those malaria vector and non-vector anophelines in South-east Asia.
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The east carpathian loess record: A reference for the middle and late Pleniglacial stratigraphy in central Europe [La sequence loessique du domaine est-carpatique: Une référence pour le pléniglaciaire moyen et supérieur d'Europe centrale]
- The East Carpathian regional sequence established for the middle and late pleniglacial loess is based on records from the Palaeolithic sites Molodova V (Ukraine), Mitoc-Malu Galben (Romania) and Cosautsi (Moldova). The special importance of this long sequence lies 1) in the high quality of the pedosedimentary and climatic records favoured by the position of the three sites within the terrace system of the Dniester and Prut basins and 2) in the high chronological resolution within the period posterior to 33,000 BP determined by the archaeological context of the multilayered Palaeolithic sites. A large number of these layers with a quite regular distribution within the sequence appeared to be rich in good quality organic material for accurate radiometric dating. This made possible to establish a well documented pedosedimentary and climatic succession encompassing the main part of the middle pleniglacial and almost the whole upper pleniglacial, with a resolution degree around one millennium or several centuries. The analysis of this new sequence revealed a quite coherent internal structure that illustrates the complexity of the sedimentary and climatic dynamics within the time span 33,000-10,000 BP.
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Palynology, paleoenvironments, and organic carbon isotope evolution in lagoonal Paleocene-Eocene boundary settings in North Belgium
- Integration of new data in sedimentology, micropaleontology and carbon isotope analysis of the Paleocene-Eocene boundary sequence in northern Belgium enables differentiation of a series of biotic and tectonic events, generally associated with the brief episode of global warming, known as the Initial Eocene Thermal Maximum (IETM, formerly LPTM), and to establish their succession in time. The onset of the carbon isotope excursion (CIE), positioned at the base of the Tienen Formation, is shown to precisely coincide with the onset of a massive Apectodinium abundance, and to be coincident or very close to the development of deeply incised paleovalleys. The organic carbon isotope curve recorded in the lagoonal settings of northern Belgium, presents a complex structure, marked by multiple anomalies and, consequently, is not believed to result from a single instantaneous event. The most negative values (-26\%) are recorded in the Apectodinium-dominated interval (75\%) in the lower part of the Tienen Formation. However, the range of the Apectodinium acme (50\%) suggests that the IETM probably lasted until the end of the deposition of the Tienen Formation. The kaolinite influxes at its base and within its middle part are proved to be unrelated to the CIE. The integration of the dinoflagellate cyst and the carbon isotope data has led to the establishment of a refined chronostratigraphic framework, allowing the depositional history of the southern North Sea Basin to be deciphered. During pre-IETM and post-IETM times widely uniform marine depositional regimes existed throughout the area because of tectonic quiescence. This strongly contrasted with the IETM interval, which is marked by restricted complex lagoonal conditions and differential subsidence. In spite of the extreme warm climate and the tectonic instability of the area, vegetation was relatively stable across the IETM and marked by low extinction and first-occurrence rates. © 2003 Geological Society of America.
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A perspective on the importance of reproductive mode in astrobiology
- Reproduction is a vital characteristic of life, and sex is the most common reproductive mode in the eukaryotic world. Sex and reproduction are not necessarily linked mechanisms: Sexuality without reproduction exists, while several forms of asexual reproduction are known. The occurrence of sexuality itself is paradoxical, as it is very costly in evolutionary terms. Most of the hypotheses (more than 20) attempting to explain the prevalence of sex fall into two categories: Sex either creates good gene combinations for adaptation to environments or eliminates bad gene combinations counteracting the accumulation of mutations. In spite of this apparent wealth of beneficial effects of sex, asexuality is not rare. Most eukaryotic, asexual lineages are short-lived and can only persist through the presence of sexual roots, but at least two animal groups, bdelloid rotifers and darwinulid ostracods, seem to claim the status of ancient asexuals. Research on (a)sexuality is relevant to astrobiology in a number of ways. First, strong relationships between the origin and persistence of life in extreme environments and reproductive mode are known. Second, the "habitability" of nonterrestrial environments to life greatly depends on reproductive mode. Whereas asexuals can do equally well or better in harsh environments, they fail to adapt fast enough to changing abiotic and biotic environments. Third, it has been shown that plants reproduce mainly asexually in space, and sperm production and motility in some vertebrates are hampered. Both findings indicate that extraterrestrial life under conditions different from Earth might be dominated by asexual reproduction. Finally, for exchange of biological material between planets, the choice of reproductive mode will be important. © Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
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Valve surface structure of Candona neglecta Sars, 1887 (Crustacea, Ostracoda)
- The valves of Candona neglecta Sars, 1887, a common freshwater ostracod occurring throughout the Holarctic, were formerly described to bear tiny tubercles and spinules. It is here shown with the help of the scanning electron microscope that the valves of this species actually appear to be smooth. The tubercles and spinules described by previous authors correspond to conspicuously wide pore canals that mimic tiny surface structures when observed in the stereomicroscope. The taxonomic importance of this character is briefly discussed and a diagnosis of the neglecta-group of Candona Baird, 1845 is given. The genus name Neglecandona, which was introduced in 2001, is unavailable in the sense of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature.
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Meris imagery of belgian coastal waters: Mapping of suspended participate matter and chlorophyll-A
- This paper describes a first application-oriented analysis of MERIS products for Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) and Chlorophyll-a (CHL) concentration in Belgian coastal waters. Regional algorithms designed for Belgian waters have been implemented and compared with the standard MERIS products, termed Total Suspended Matter and Algal2 respectively. The standard and regional SPM products seem robust and give similar data. Notwithstanding a more complete match-up validation analysis, these products seem sufficiently mature for use in applications such as sediment transport model validation. Results for CHL products are less convincing and further analysis is required before this data can be reliably used. In particular the MERIS Product Confidence flags have not yet been validated. The red and near infrared bands are particularly important in turbid coastal waters and should be considered a priority for further validation. MERIS full resolution mode is attractive for SPM mapping when compared with other sensors. For CHL mapping in coastal waters the superior spectral resolution and algorithm design give MERIS a distinct advantage over other ocean colour sensors. The disadvantages of MERIS, particularly for SPM mapping, are the reduced frequency (related to swath and sunglint) and availability of data.
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Mapping of chlorophyll and suspended particulate matter maps from CHRIS imagery of the oostende core site
- The image set created on 5 August 2003 by CHRIS/PROBA is analyzed to assess the feasibility of producing suspended particulate matter (SPM) and chlorophyll (CHL) maps. To produce these maps images are first destriped, atmospherically corrected and georeferenced. Once the data processing is finished, the results are compared with seaborne measurements and data products retrieved from other ocean colour sensors. The data processing with its associated problems, the comparison with seaborne and other data and the creation of SPM and CHL maps are described in this paper. Conclusions and recommendations are made in the context of considering CHRIS/PROBA as a model for the future generation of small ocean colour missions.
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Abundance and production of riparian trees in the lowland floodplain of the Queets River, Washington
- Riparian zones associated with alluvial rivers are spatially dynamic, forming distinct vegetative mosaics that exhibit sharp contrasts in structure and processes related to the underlying biophysical template. The productivity of riparian plants, especially trees, influences streamside community characteristics as well as the forms and fluxes of organic matter to adjacent streams - thereby strongly impacting patterns of channel morphology, water flow, sedimentation, and habitat in rivers. As part of a comprehensive investigation of riparian dynamics in coastal rain forest rivers of the Pacific Northwest (USA), we examined riparian tree abundance (density, basal area, and biomass) and rates of production (basal area growth [BAI] and bole wood biomass increase [P]) of seven common species - red alder (Alnus rubra), Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis), bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum), western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla), black cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa), vine maple (Acer circinatum) and willow (Salix spp.) - in the lowland floodplain of the Queets River (Olympic National Park), Washington. Measurements were made annually for three years (1999 - 2001) in 16 permanent plots on three biophysical templates that formed a toposequence - active floodplain, young terrace and mature terrace. Stem density was highest in the active floodplain (∼27,000 stems/ ha), decreasing in the young terrace (∼2,700 stems /ha) and the mature terrace (∼500 stems/ha). Basal area and total stem biomass were lowest in the active floodplain (∼16 m2/ha and ∼18 Mg dry weight/ha, respectively) and higher on the young terrace (∼32 m2/ha and ∼134 Mg dry weight/ha) and on the mature terrace (∼69 m2/ha and ∼540 Mg dry weight /ha). Total plot-scale BAI was not significantly different among the physical templates with mean values ranging from approximately 1.4 (low terrace) to approximately 2.8 m2/ha/y (active floodplain). In contrast, P was significantly higher on the mature terrace (10.3 Mg/ha) than the active floodplain (3.2 Mg/ha) but there was no significant difference between young terrace (6.5 Mg/ha) and mature terrace. For the entire Queets River floodplain (57 km2 over 77 km of river length), the mature terrace contributed 81\% of the total annual production (28,764 Mg) whereas the active floodplain and young terrace accounted only for 5 and 14\%, respectively. Overall, we show that riparian trees grow quickly in this coastal Pacific Northwest system and that the older riparian forests on mature terraces are the main contributors to stem production at the plot and floodplain scales for at least 350 years after stand initiation. This suggests that, in combination with the rapid lateral migrations of many alluvial rivers, the older riparian forests on those terraces are important and sustained sources of organic matter (especially large woody debris, LWD) that, over decades to centuries, shape the character of coastal rivers in the Pacific Northwest. © 2005 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc.
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Effects of environmental pollution on microsatellite DNA diversity in wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus) populations
- Ten microsatellite DNA loci were surveyed to investigate the effects of heavy metal pollution on the genetic diversity and population genetic structure of seven wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus) populations along a heavy metal pollution gradient away from a nonferrous smelter in the south of Antwerp (Flanders, Belgium). Analysis of soil heavy metal concentrations showed that soil Ag, As. Cd, Cu, and Pb decreased with increasing distance from the smelter. Genetic analyses revealed high levels of genetic variation in all populations, but populations from the most polluted sites in the gradient did not differ from those of less-polluted sites in terms of mean observed and expected heterozygosity level and mean allelic richness. No correlation was found between measures of genetic diversity and the degree of heavy metal pollution. However, an analysis of molecular variance and a neighbor-joining tree suggested a contamination-related pattern of genetic structuring between the most polluted and less polluted sites. Pairwise FST values indicated that populations were significantly genetically differentiated, and assignment tests and direct estimates of recent migration rates suggested restricted gene flow among populations. Additionally, genetic differentiation increased significantly with geographical distance, which is consistent with an isolation-by-distance model. We conclude that, at least for our microsatellite DNA markers, genetic diversity in the studied wood mouse populations is not affected greatly by the heavy metal pollution. © 2005 SETAC.
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Seasonal variation of floc characteristics on tidal flats, the Scheldt estuary
- The flocculation mechanism dominates the fate of suspended matter in the estuarine environment. By modifying the texture of suspended matter, flocculation is one of the principle factors determining the transport and deposition of suspended matter in estuaries. Surveys of the seasonal variation of dispersed particle and non-dispersed particle characteristics, organic matter content as well as suspended matter deposition in two contrasting intertidal environments, one freshwater and one brackish water, in the Scheldt estuary were undertaken at fortnightly intervals for a year. The study of non-dispersed particle, i.e. floc, is mainly focused on floc size, shape, and microstructure, properties presumed to be significant in the suspended matter transport processes in the estuary. In this study, floc size as well as floc sphericity correlate positively with the change of organic matter content and reveal that floc grows in a three-dimensional way with increasing organic matter. It is observed that relatively condensed, small and elongated flocs appear in winter and spring periods, while loose, large and spherical flocs occur during the summer. The study also reveals that suspended matter transported as dense flocs with size range of ca. 105-250 μm have a greater effect on its short-term deposition than loose flocs with size range of ca. 250-500 μm. As the measured suspended matter deposition is much higher in winter-spring than in summer, it is deduced here that highly compact and relatively dense flocs contribute to deposition during winter and spring periods resulting in a stable layer, while loosely formed flocs likely lead to an easier erodible layer during the summer. This study concludes that floc structure-related density is a more significant parameter than floc size in the suspended matter deposition processes. © Springer 2005.
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Suspended matter in the Scheldt estuary
- The Scheldt estuary is characterised by a specific energy pattern resulting from the interaction of wave energy, tidal energy and river energy. It divides the estuary into three parts and governs suspended matter transport and distribution pattern. Observation of suspended matter transport shows the existence of three estuarine turbidity maxima (ETM), a marine-dominated ETM in the lower estuary at the river mouth, a river-dominated ETM in the upper estuary with suspended matter concentration reaching up to 300 mg/l, and the most important tide-dominated ETM in the middle estuary with suspended matter concentrations from several hundred milligrams per litre up to a few grams per litre. Resuspension is the dominant phenomenon in this last ETM due to the tidal related bottom scour, which is initiated when a critical erosion velocity of 0.56 m/s is exceeded. An assessment of residual current along the axis of the estuary shows distinctive pattern between the surface water flow and the near bottom water flow. Also the local morphology of the river, natural or man-made, has a prominent effect on the orientation and strength of the residual currents flowing along either side of the river or river bend. Evaluation of suspended matter concentration in relation to the current flow shows no systematic correlation either because of phenomena as scour lag and settling lag mainly in the middle estuary, or because of the current independency character of uniform-suspension mainly in the upper and lower estuary. Quantification of suspended matter load exhibits a net downstream transport from the upper estuary, a near-equilibrium sustainable status in the middle estuary and a net upstream transport of suspended matter from the lower estuary. The characteristic of suspended matter is induced by and is a function of e.g. tidal phase, spring-neap tide, longitudinal and vertical distribution mechanisms, seasons, short and long terms of anthropogenic influence and/or estuarine maintenance. Suspended matter is dominated by complex and cohesive organo-mineral aggregates. It consists of a variable amount of an inorganic fraction (average of 89\%) and an organic fraction and occurs largely as flocs, the size of which is remarkably larger in the upper estuary and smallest within the ETM in the middle estuary. Independent time series measurements (1990-2000) of suspended matter property show an increasing sand fraction, a decreasing organic matter content, a rise in δ13C as well as a decrease in water transparency. These independent measurements exhibit coherent consequences of estuarine maintenance operations. Maintenance dredging of the shipping channel and harbours and dumping operation in the Scheldt strengthen marine influence further landward, resulting in a sustained tidal range increment and upstream flow and transport of suspended matter. © Springer 2005.
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Restoration of tropical peat swamp rotifer communities after perturbation: An experimental study of recovery of rotifers from the resting egg bank
- In order to assess the recovery potential of tropical freshwater communities after disturbance, we performed an experimental study on the effects of exposure conditions and durations of storage on hatching of rotifer resting eggs in sediment. Well-mixed surface sediment samples from Mai Khao peat swamp on Phuket Island, Thailand, were stored under three conditions (cold -4°C & dark: CD; ambient -32-42°C & dark: AD; and ambient & daylight conditions: AL), for different periods of time (1, 2, 4, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months). The number of species hatching from the sediment was significantly affected by treatment for both short- (1-6 months) and long-term (6-20 months) exposure. Significant effects of short- and long-term exposure within treatments were also present. Both factors interacted significantly. Regarding numbers of specimens hatching, no short-term effects of differences in treatment condition were found, but increasing the duration did have an effect. Significant effects of treatment occurred after 6 months, in addition to prolonged effects of duration. Again, both factors interacted significantly. These experiments indicate that exposure time has a strong impact on the viability of resting eggs, whereas, an effect of exposure condition appears only after 6 months. So, recovery of rotifer communities from resident sediment egg banks in disturbed peat swamps can only be effectively attained when restoration occurs within a relatively short period after perturbation. © Springer 2005.
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Phylogenetic systematics of the Empis (Coptophlebia) hyalea-group (Insecta: Diptera: Empididae)
- Six clades are inferred from a phylogenetic analysis including 42 species belonging to the Empis (Coptophlebia) hyalea-group. These clades are named as follows: E. (C.) acris, E. (C.) aspina, E. (C.) atratata, E. (C.) hyalea, E. (C.) jacobsoni and E. (C.) nahaeoensis. The presence of two dorsal more or less developed epandrial projections is considered autapomorphic for the E. (C.) hyalea-group in addition to two characters previously found to support the monophyly of this group (presence of an unsclerotized zone in the middle of labella and epandrium unpaired). Amongst the cladistically analysed species, 24 are newly described [E. (C.) acris, E. (C.) aspina, E. (C.) cameronensis, E. (C.) duplex, E. (C.) incurva, E. (C.) inferiseta, E. (C.) kuaensis, E. (C.) lachaisei, E. (C.) lamellalta, E. (C.) lata, E. (C.) loici, E. (C.) longiseta, E. (C.) mengyangensis, E. (C.) menglunensis, E. (C.) missai, E. (C.) nimbaensis, E. (C.) padangensis, E. (C.) parvula, E. (C.) projecta, E. (C.) pseudonahaeoensis, E. (C.) submetallica, E. (C.) urumae, E. (C.) vitisalutatoris and E. (C.) woitapensis], five are reviewed [E. (C.) hyalea Melander, E. (C.) jacobsoni De Meijere, E. (C.) ostentator Melander, E. (C.) sinensis Melander and E. (C.) thiasotes Melander] and 13 were recently described in two previous papers. Two additional species, E. (C.) abbrevinervis De Meijere and E. (C.) multipennata Melander, are also reviewed but not included in the cladistic analysis since they are only known from the female. A lectotype is designated for E. (C.) jacobsoni. A key is provided to the six clades of the E. (C.) hyalea-group as well as to species of each clade. A catalogue of the E. (C.) hyalea-group, including 72 species, is given. The taxonomic status of 25 additional species mainly described by Bezzi and Brunetti, from the Oriental and Australasian regions, is discussed. The E. (C.) hyalea-group is firstly recorded from the Palaearctic Region and Australia. Finally, the distribution and the habitats of the species compared with their phylogeny suggest a possible relationship between the diversification of the group and forest fragmentations during the Quaternary. © 2005 The Linnean Society of London.
