Occurrence, Distribution and Morphological Description of 11 Species of Endemic Giant Pill-Millipedes of the Genus Arthrosphaera (Diplopoda: Sphaerotheriida: Arthrosphaeridae) in Southern India
The endemic giant pill-millipedes belonging to the genus Arthrosphaera has a long history of occurrence and distribution in the Indian Subcontinent. According to the earlier and recent records, up to 40 species of Arthrosphaera are confined to southern India and Sri Lanka. Being detritus feeders, they are sensitive to narrow range of abiotic factors and their population is dwindling due to severe human interference especially landscape modification or modern forestry/agricultural practices. There is an urgent need to update the status, occurrence and distribution in distinct ecological conditions of pill-millipedes in southern India as they are important component in organic matter decomposition as well as nutrient turn over in the forests or plantations. Based on recent surveys, the present study attempts to update occurrence, distribution and morphological description (light and scanning electron microscopy) with a diagnostic key for identification of 11 species of pill-millipedes occurring in the Western Ghats of India with commentary on their distribution pattern in different ecological conditions and impact of edaphic factors.
Observations on 2 new species of cephaline gregarines (Protozoa: Sporozoa) of the genus StenodutusRamachandkan, 1976 from sphaerotherid millipedes in Kerala, India
Summary The morphology and life-history of 2 new species of cephaline gregarines, Stenodudus nitida n. sp. from the intestine of Arthrosphaera nitida Pocock and S. disticta n. sp. from A. disticta Pocock , A. dalyi Pocock and Arthrosphaera sp. are described and their systematic positions discussed. S. nitida n. sp.: The sporonts reach 892 by 532.8μm. Gametocysts spherical, 434.9μm in diameter and have an ectocyst and endocyst. Spores ovoid, 3.8 by 1.4μm or 4.2 by 1.4μm, with hyaline episphore having round polar projections. S. disticta n. sp.: The sporonts reach 835.2 by 316.8μm. Gametocysts ovoid, 432 by 402.8μm in dimensions and have a hyaline cyst wall. Spores ellipsoid, 12.6 by 5.8μm, with hyaline epispore having round polar projections.
An Internet-based Real-time Heavy Rainfall Display System
A new storm warning system, which can be accessed through the Internet and by cellular phones is described. At the time of a heavy rainfall for disaster prevention, it is important that every resident understand how heavy is that rainfall. A real-time heavy rainfall display system designed for all of Japan provides such information (http://www.disaster-i.net/rain/). In that system values for 1-hour precipitation, 24-hour accumulated precipitation, etc. are displayed at every observatory. Advantages are that not only the latest observations but differences from the historical highest records can be seen. Almost all information is displayed by characters so that users have easy access to the system even when the communication network is crowded. Access date for the six months after the system opened shows that the average daily number of accesses of the top page was 306, and the largest number 3078. The maximum number for daily access to all the pages was about 21,500. This is about 2% of the number obtained on the same day for a similar system operated by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (http://www.river.go.jp/).