We studied flea assemblages on rodents in different habitats of the Ramon erosion cirque in the Negev Desert to examine whether host-habitat relations influence flea spatial distribution. Eleven flea species parasitizing 12 rodent species were recorded. There was significant positive relationship between flea species richness and body mass of the host species; no relationships were found between relative richness of flea assemblage and either the number of habitats occupied by the host species or the size of host geographical range. The differences in pattern of flea parasitism among habitat types within host species were determined by both environmental features of a habitat and the specific pattern of habitat use by rodents. There was replacement of Xenopsylla conformis by Xenopsylla ramesis on Meriones crassus and Gerbillus dasyurus among different habitats. The results of ordination of the flea collections from each individual host demonstrated that the flea assemblages were segregated mainly along 4 axes, which explained 86% of total variance. Each of the ordination axes corresponded with a change in flea species composition. The directions of these changes were (1) among-hosts within a habitat and (2) among-habitats within a host.

Flea assemblages of Meriones crassus Sundevall and Gerbillus dasyurus Wagner in different habitats in the Negev Highlands of Israel were studied to determine how flea abundance and species composition on the same host change among habitats, and the environmental parameters determining specific composition of flea assemblage. Fleas of the same species parasitizing different hosts responded differently to the same set of environmental variables. Spatial distribution of fleas on M. crassus was determined by environmental parameters significantly stronger than those on G. dasyurus. Flea abundance and species composition on both host species changed among habitats. Indirect ordination of flea assemblages produced axes that presented spatial components of change in flea composition (for M. crassus--Xenopsylla conformis Rothschild versus Xenopsylla ramesis Rothschild; for G. dasyurus--Xenopsylla dipodilli Smit versus X. conformis and X. ramesis versus X. conformis). Discriminant analyses of flea assemblage on M. crassus demonstrated that fleas were segregated along 2 discriminant axes that reflected a soil structure and productivity gradient and a contrast between dry riverbeds and watershed plains. Ordination of flea assemblages on G. dasyurus produced 2 discriminant axes, both presenting a complex gradient of the soil structure and the level of primary production.

The genus Flavivirus includes related, unclassified segmented flavi-like viruses, two segments of which have homology with flavivirus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase NS5 and RNA helicase-protease NS3. This group includes such viruses as Jingmen tick virus, Alongshan virus, Yanggou tick virus and others. We detected the Yanggou tick virus in Dermacentor nuttalli and Dermacentor marginatus ticks in two neighbouring regions of Russia. The virus prevalence ranged from 0.5% to 8.0%. We detected RNA of the Alongshan virus in 44 individuals or pools of various tick species in eight regions of Russia. The virus prevalence ranged from 0.6% to 7.8%. We demonstrated the successful replication of the Yanggou tick virus and Alongshan virus in IRE/CTVM19 and HAE/CTVM8 tick cell lines without a cytopathic effect. According to the phylogenetic analysis, we divided the Alongshan virus into two groups: an Ixodes persulcatus group and an Ixodes ricinus group. In addition, the I. persulcatus group can be divided into European and Asian subgroups. We found amino acid signatures specific to the I. ricinus and I. persulcatus groups and also distinguished between the European and Asian subgroups of the I. persulcatus group.

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BackgroundReliable taxonomy underpins communication in all of biology, not least nature conservation and sustainable use of ecosystem resources. The flexibility of taxonomic interpretations, however, presents a serious challenge for end-users of taxonomic concepts. Users need standardised and continuously harmonised taxonomic reference systems, as well as high-quality and complete taxonomic data sets, but these are generally lacking for non-specialists. The solution is in dynamic, expertly curated web-based taxonomic tools.The Pan-European Species-directories Infrastructure (PESI) worked to solve this key issue by providing a taxonomic e-infrastructure for Europe. It strengthened the relevant social (expertise) and information (standards, data and technical) capacities of five major community networks on taxonomic indexing in Europe, which is essential for proper biodiversity assessment and monitoring activities. The key objectives of PESI were: 1) standardisation in taxonomic reference systems, 2) enhancement of the quality and completeness of taxonomic data sets and 3) creation of integrated access to taxonomic information.New informationThis paper describes the results of PESI and its future prospects, including the involvement in major European biodiversity informatics initiatives and programs.

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A comparative morphological analysis of the fleas from the melis-flabellum species group of the genus Paraceras (Siphonaptera, Ceratophyllidae) is undertaken. Differences in the structure of the clasper and the 8th tergite allow considering P. melis and P. flabellum separate species. Morphological characters of the Japanese form of Paraceras make possible to treat it as an independent taxon. The distribution ranges of three badger species of the genus Meles (Carnivora, Mustelidae) are shown to correspond to those of their specific parasites, i.e. the fleas of the melis-flabellum species group of the genus Paraceras. Paraceras melis is restricted to the range of the European badger, Meles meles (Europe, the Caucasus, northern Iran and southern Kirgizia), while Paraceras flabellum is limited by the range of the Asian badger, Meles leucurus (Kazakhstan, Middle Asia, Siberia, China).