Universalmuseum Joanneum

Dermoloma is traditionally known as a small genus of agarics classified in the family Tricholomataceae. This study implemented a multilocus phylogeny of six DNA regions to recognize phylogenetic species within the genus. The species concept is reinforced by observations of well-defined morphological characters enhanced by long term sampling effort in Europe and North America. Thirty European Dermoloma species are described, including 16 new species from Europe and three from North American. These species are classified into two subgenera morphologically distinguished by spores with positive or negative amyloid reaction. A new genus Neodermoloma is introduced for the Dermoloma-like species N.campestre. Localized or continental-scale species endemicity was confirmed based on studied material, but more inclusive phylogenetic clustering supported a mixture of North American species among the European clades. Of the 22 names validly published from Europe prior to this study, 11 could be assigned to well-defined Dermoloma species recognized here. Of the remaining 11 names, two were considered representing Dermoloma species not recorded since their description, and nine were established as later synonyms of other species. Morphological studies of Dermoloma are challenging due to the relatively low number of characters suitable for identification of species. The majority of morphological characters showed continuous variation with high overlap throughout the genus. For this reason, species identification requires an awareness of morphological variability within species, and multiple distinguishing characters need to be combined, and furthermore, often a barcode sequence is needed for a certain identification. Stable isotope analysis in Dermoloma of δ13C and δ15N revealed an ecological signature similar to known CHEGD fungi, i.e. Clavariaceae and Hygrocybe s.l. This indicates that Dermoloma species are biotrophic but neither ectomycorrhizal nor saprotrophic and may form mutualistic root endophytic associations with vascular plants.

ZusammenfassungIm römerzeitlichen Marmorsteinbruchrevier Spitzelofen in Kärnten wurde bei archäologischen Ausgrabungen auch Hammerschlag gefunden, der aus einer frühmittelalterlichen Brandschicht stammt. Radiokarbondatierungen dieser Schicht weisen den Befund in das 8. bzw. 9. Jahrhundert n. Chr. Im Zuge der metallurgischen Untersuchung wurde plättchenförmiger Hammerschlag festgestellt. Die Dicke der Plättchen variiert zwischen etwa 30 und 100 µm. Es kann davon ausgegangen werden, dass diese Plättchen durch Verzunderung während des Schmiedevorgangs entstanden. Weiters wurde kugelförmiger Hammerschlag beobachtet, bei dem es sich um ein Gemisch aus geschmolzenem Eisen und Schlacke handelt, das beim Hochtemperaturschmieden (> 1200 °C) vom Werkstück wegspritzt. Diese Teilchen haben einen Durchmesser von etwa 250 µm. Der archäologische Kontext, der Hammerschlag und die Radiokarbondatierungen belegen eine mit der Marmorgewinnung zusammenhängende Schmiedetätigkeit im 8. und 9. Jahrhundert n. Chr. In einer einfachen Feldschmiede wurden die durch die Benutzung stumpf gewordenen Steinbruchwerkzeuge nachgeschärft. Dieser somit indirekt gewonnene Nachweis einer frühmittelalterlichen Steingewinnung am Spitzelofen deckt sich zeitlich mit der Marmorverwendung für die frühmittelalterlichen Flechtwerksteine in Karantanien (772 bis 817/828 n. Chr.).

The distribution of the rare assassin bug (Peirates hybridus) in the Czech Republic underwent significant changes during the 20th and 21st centuries. The species disappeared from the territory in the mid20th century, but has recently recolonised it and rapidly spread be yond its original range. The species was rediscovered in Moravia after 50 years (in 1998), and after more than 100 years also in Bohemia (in 2021). At the start of the 21st century, it rapidly spread through the valleys of large rivers and into previously inhabited areas. The expansion of the species is likely due to a combination of factors related to climate change. Historically, P. hybridus was found in naturally rich xerothermic habitats. Today, the bug is commonly found also in open rud eral habitats or sparse forests. It shares these habitats often with several threatened species. Appropriate management, such as mosaic mowing, grazing, cut ting of woody plants, and regulated trampling by hik ers or heavy equipment operation, can support not only the assassin bug but also other endangered spe cies. Considering the dynamic pattern of change in the northern boundary of the site over the last century, it is recommended to monitor its distribution in the future. Given the current rate of species expansion, we pro pose that the species' threat category be downgraded from Critically Endangered to a lower level, or even re move from the Red List if expansion continues.

During a four-day collection period, 89 ground beetle species were found in the upper course of the Neretva valley near Ulog. Many of them are classified as riparian floodplain specialists. A large proportion of these species, such as Bembidion conforme, have their main distribution in Central Europe, but are very rare in the Balkans. Consequently, these findings form important arguments revealing the upper Neretva to be of high importance in terms of nature conservation.

In the area of Bad Deutsch-Altenburg (Hainburg Mountains, Lower Austria) a Middle Miocene transgression over Mesozoic basement was explored in the course of the Danube power plant project “Hainburg”. The Mesozoic basement forms a narrow ridge dipping to the northeast towards the Vienna Basin, covered by various Miocene sediments. The ridge represents a specific paleotopography that required a detailed study with 78 shallow, fully cored drill holes in an area of c. 0.5 km2. Ten drillings were selected for this study based on sedimentary composition and position relative to the Mesozoic ridge. These 10 cores, ranging in drilling depth from 26.5 to 96.4 m, were studied in respect to sedimentology, corallinacean algae, calcareous nannoplankton, foraminifers and ostracodes to reconstruct sediment distribution and paleoenvironment. Sediment distribution clearly shows that the Mesozoic ridge formed a physical barrier with siliciclastics dominating in the SW of the ridge and carbonate sediments prevailing in the NE. Based on biostratigraphy (calcareous nannoplankton, foraminifera, ostracodes, dinoflagellates) the majority of the sediments can be dated to the late Badenian (early Serravallian) only in some drillholes lower Sarmatian (upper Serravallian) sediments were detected. In terms of sequence stratigraphy, the Badenian sediments represent the transgressive and highstand systems tract of 3rd order sequence TB 2.5 (bound by the lowstands Ser 2 and Ser 3), the lower Sarmatian sediments can be correlated to sequence TB 2.6. Carbonate sediments show a wide spectrum of 13 facies which are mostly dominated by coralline algae. According to the relative positions of the drill holes a water depth between 0 and about 50 m can be reconstructed what is supported by the occurrence of the benthic biota. This biota indicates that the sedimentary succession started from the very beginning under full marine conditions. Except of basal conglomerates/breccias water energy conditions were low and turbidity high. Close to the Sarmatian boundary a reduction in salinity and depth may have occurred which is also observed in the Sarmatian sediments. Carbonate sediments and, in particular, larger benthic foraminifers indicate tropical to warm-temperate conditions for the late Badenian of the studied sections. The siliciclastic sediments NW of the Mesozoic ridge reflect riverine input indicated by the occurrence of freshwater ostracodes and characean oogonias. Calcareous nannoplankton and dinoflagellates show a high share of reworking from Upper Cretaceaous and Paleogene sediments.

ABSTRACT Based on a shark-bitten partial skeleton of an immature sirenian (Metaxytherium cf. medium) from the middle Miocene of the Styrian Basin (Austria), we report on the oldest predator–prey interaction between tiger sharks and dugongs. The bite mark-bearing ribs and vertebrae are associated with seven teeth of Galeocerdo aduncus, which are otherwise rare in the fossil record of the Styrian Basin. The unique tooth morphology of the genus Galeocerdo is reflected by an unambiguous pattern of bite marks, which is repeatedly detected on one rib fragment. Similar bite marks were reproduced experimentally by using clay instead of bone. The obtained pattern is consistent with the observed bite marks on the sirenian rib fragment, which demonstrates that tiger sharks fed upon the Metaxytherium carcass. Furthermore, we also report on the first record of the angel shark Squatina sp. within the Styrian Basin.

δ2H and δ18O values of precipitations follow an empirical linear relationship at the global scale that is called the Global Meteoric Water Line (GMWL) and characterized by a slope of 8. However, Local Meteoric Water Lines (LMWLs) may have different slopes S depending on their geographic situation. Monthly δ2H and δ18O of precipitation have been compiled from European International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) stations. Those data allowed the calculation of the slopes S of the δ2H–δ18O LMWL determined for each station. S increases with longitude ϕ from c. 5 (Portugal) to c. 9 (Russia) – they are positively correlated with relative humidity (RH), negatively with temperature and positively with the mean intra-annual amplitude of temperatures, which is a proxy of continentality. Slopes of 5–6, recorded in SW Europe, reflect mean RH (70–75%) and sea surface temperatures (c. 25°C) of the Central Atlantic Ocean where the main flux of moisture is formed before being transported by the westerlies. In addition, falling water droplets within an air column with a high RH (>80%) and low temperature are expected to escape sub-cloud evaporation. Therefore, slopes with values close to 9 are considered to reflect isotopic equilibrium conditions during the condensation of water vapour in clouds.

Abstract For evaluating the current status of Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola in Montenegro, all available sightings were compiled from published and unpublished personal sources. A hitherto hardly known record of the species for the country by a holiday group of British birdwatchers, under the guidance of renowned ornithologist Bob Scott (1938–2009), dates from May 1982. The sighting in the Ulcinj Salina, in 1982, constitutes the first record of Citrine Wagtail in Montenegro and in the Western Balkans. More than 30 years later the species was sighted, between 2013 and 2017, again in the Ulcinj Salina (May 2013, Mar 2016, Nov 2017) and in the former Tivat Salina (Apr 2014). Hence, five observations are currently on record for Montenegro.