In conjunction with Professor G. Wald, we recently investigated the isomers of vitamin A, present in the marine euphausiid Crustacea Meganyctiphanes norvegica (M. Sars) and Thysanoessa raschii (M. Sars) and found that 1 1 4 s vitamin A (neo-b vitamin A) was the predominant form, comprising some 80-90y0 of the total (Plack, Fisher, Henry & Kon, 1956; Wald & Brown, 1956-7; Fisher, Kon & Plack, 19...

Desiccation-tolerant plants are able to withstand dehydration and resume normal metabolic functions upon rehydration. These plants can be dehydrated until their cytoplasm enters a 'glassy state' in which molecular mobility is severely reduced. In desiccation-tolerant seeds, longevity can be enhanced by drying and lowering storage temperature. In these conditions, they still deteriorate slowly, ...

The moss Syntrichia caninervis (S. caninervis) is one of the dominant species in biological soil crusts of deserts. It has long been the focus of scientific research because of its ecological value. Moreover, S. caninervis has a special significance in biogenesis research because it is characterized by its fast restoration of photosynthesis upon onset of rehydration of the desiccated organism. ...

Clubionidae collected in Laos and Thailand were investigated. Seven new species are described: Clubiona kai spec. nov. (male: Laos, Luang Prabang Prov.), Clubiona lala spec. nov. (female: Laos, Luang Nam Tha Prov.), Clubiona maipai spec. nov. (male: Thailand, Mae Hong Son Prov.), Clubiona kuu spec. nov. (male: Laos, Luang Prabang Prov.), Clubiona vukomi spec. nov. (male: Laos, Luang Nam Tha Pro...

A historical review of the Fannia carbonaria-group is provided and three new species are described from China: Fannia fani Wang & Wu, sp. n., Fannia nitidiventris Wang & Zhang, sp. n. and Fannia submaculata Wang & Zhao, sp. n.. One species, Fannia norvegica Ringdahl, 1934, is recorded for the first time from China. Illustrations of male terminalia of these four species and a taxonomic key to th...

The extremely skewed female-biased sex ratio in the desert moss Syntrichia caninervis was investigated by assessing the regeneration capacity of detached leaves. Juvenile, green, yellow-green, and brown leaves equating to approximately 0, 2, 6, and 12 yr of age, respectively, were detached from individuals of S. caninervis collected from 10 field populations and grown in a growth chamber for 58...

Climate change is expected to impact drylands worldwide by increasing temperatures and changing precipitation patterns. These effects have known feedbacks to the functional roles of dryland biological soil crust communities (biocrusts), which are expected to undergo significant climate-induced changes in community structure and function. Nevertheless, our ability to monitor the status and physi...