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This study is the first attempt to assess the diversity of beetles (Coleoptera) in terrestrial moss cushions on three West Indian islands (Hispaniola, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico) based on 10 years of moss sampling in 18 localities. In total 1711 adult beetles were collected. They belong to 234 species from 30 families. The most species and specimen rich families are Staphylinidae (86 morphospecies and 1195 specimens), Curculionidae (61 morphospecies and 131 specimens), and Chrysomelidae (16 morphospecies and 185 specimens). In addition to basic bryobionts feeding on moss tissues, moss cushions host a diverse fauna of mycophagous and saprophagous Coleoptera together with predaceous species of beetles. Our results suggest that community composition in moss inhabiting beetles is determined both by geographical isolation processes and, to a lesser degree, by environmental variation across altitudinal gradients. This confirms that the greater relevance of geographical isolation is a common pattern in organisms with limited dispersal ability. Beetle abundance was not significantly related to either the volume of moss or the substrate. Despite being not significant (but close to), the observed trend was to higher beetle abundance in moss cushions collected on trees than in those collected on soil/rock. This may be resulting from the greater diversity of fungi and higher number of beetle fungivores associated with tree growing moss communities.

Anderson, Robert S., Higinio, María Fernanda Bermúdez (2022): Koreguajus antennatus Anderson and Bermúdez Higinio, a new genus and new species of Sphenophorina (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Dryophthorinae; Rhynchophorini) from Colombia. Zootaxa 5190 (4): 595-600, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5190.4.10

Active rock glaciers are among the most common cryospheric landforms in high-altitude mid-latitude mountain ranges. Over both short (years to decades) to long (centuries to millennia) time scales, their activity strongly influences the hydrology and geomorphology of alpine environments. Consequently, rock glaciers reflect paleoclimatic conditions and can be seen as an important player in erosion processes affecting high mountains slopes. Because they represent a visible expression of mountain permafrost and a considerable water reserve in the form of ground ice, rock glaciers are important landforms in the geomorphological and hydrological evolution of mountain systems, particularly in context of climate crisis. However, our understanding of rock glacier dynamics and its evolution at different time scales still need to be improved.In this study, we present a multi-method approach, including field observations, remote sensing and geochronology, to study the rock glacier system of the Vallon de la Route (Combeynot Massif, western French Alps). Remote sensing images and correlation techniques are used to document the rock glacier movement field on time scales ranging from days to decades. In addition, to estimate displacement over periods ranging from centuries to millennia, we use surface exposure dating with terrestrial cosmogenic nuclides (10Be quartz) on boulder surfaces along the longitudinal line of the rock glacier, targeting different positions from the headwall to the terminus.The remote sensing analysis processed between 1960 and 2018 agree with the geomorphological observations: the lower two units of the rock glacier are stationary/relict, the transition unit presents small displacement and not over its entire area, and the upper two active units above 2600 m elevation show integrated velocities between 14 and 15 cm a-1. 10Be surface exposure ages are ranging from 13.10 ± 0.51 to 1.88 ± 0.14 ka and their spatial distribution reveals an inverse first-order correlation between surface exposure age and elevation, and a positive correlation with horizontal distance to the headwall. These observations support the hypothesis that boulders fall from the headwall and remain on the surface of the rock glacier as they are transported down the valley. Our results also suggest that the rock glacier is characterized by two major phases of activity. The first phase, beginning around 12 ka, has a 10Be age gradient, following a quiet period between ~6.2 and 3.4 ka prior to the emplacement of the two present-day upper active units. Rock glacier started to be active again by 3.4 ka and still is now above 2600 m a.s.l. These results allow to quantify headwall erosion rates of between 1.0 and 2.5 mm a-1, greater than the watershed-integrated denudation rates estimated on millennial time scales. This suggests that the rock glacier system supports the maintenance of high rock wall erosion by acting as a conveyor of debris and allowing freshly exposed bedrock surfaces to be affected by erosional processes.

Anderson, Robert S. (2023): A new species of Toxorhinus Lacordaire (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Dryophthorinae; Rhynchophorini) from Ecuador. Zootaxa 5270 (2): 337-342, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5270.2.9, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5270.2.9

A combination of morphological and molecular techniques were used to revise the genus Ellescus Dejean, 1821 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Ellescini) in North America. Four valid species of Ellescus are documented from the Nearctic Region. These are the widespread, hypervariable E. ephippiatus (Say, 1831), the Holarctic E. bipunctatus (Linnaeus, 1758) (of which E. borealis (Carr, 1920) new synonym is found to be a new junior synonym), the west coast endemic E. californicus (Casey, 1885) (resurrected from synonymy with E. ephippiatus (Say, 1831)), and the temperately distributed E. michaelinew species. A neotype is designated for E. bipunctatus. The European species, E. scanicus (Paykull, 1792), is determined to have been erroneously reported from North America. An illustrated identification key, distributional data, and DNA sequences (CO1, ITS2) are provided to facilitate identification of the Ellescus species in North America. Notably, CO1 failed to delineate E. ephippiatus and E. michaeli, but the faster-evolving ITS2 reliably separated these taxa, further supporting the use of multiple markers in taxonomic studies and the utility of ITS2 in weevil species delineation.

Two new Brazilian species of the genus Coelocephalapion Wagner, 1914 placed in the C. nodicorne species-group (Brentidae: Apioninae) reared from Euphorbiaceae are described and illustrated: Coelocephalapion paleariae sp. n. (Type locality: Botucatu, São Paulo state; reared from seeds Croton glandulosus L.) and Coelocephalapion geraldinhoi sp. n. (Type locality: Dores do Indaiá, Minas Gerais state; reared from leaf galls on Croton antisyphiliticus Mart.). Aside from species descriptions, we also provide a key to species of the C. nodicorne species-group.

Research and evidence-based medicine (EBM) education are important elements of emergency medicine (EM) residency training; however, curricular time is limited and integrating novel strategies to engage learners and improve understanding of complex concepts is challenging. We sought to develop a unique research escape hunt educational experience to teach EM residents basic research and EBM skills using an active-learning, team-based strategy.A nine-station escape room-scavenger hunt was designed around educational content including (1) predictive statistics and diagnostic test characteristics, (2) interpretation of data and statistical analysis, (3) study design, (4) informed consent for research, and (5) the ethical principles guiding research. Stations required participants to use a variety of strategies to solve puzzles, with a correct response required to progress through the escape hunt. Teams worked together to solve each station's puzzles, with opportunities to reinforce the content in real time. Subsequent sessions were presented in a virtual format using Zoom breakout rooms over the past 2 years.Postactivity assessments were grounded in Kirkpatrick's model and focused on participants' reactions, learning, and behavior. Participants reported high levels of satisfaction (100% [21/21] "satisfied" or "extremely satisfied") and engagement (95% [20/21] "engaged" or "very engaged") with the activity, as well as increased comfort with the research and EBM concepts covered (91% [19/21] "agree" or "strongly agree" increased comfort), and demonstrated improvements in knowledge across each content area presented (91% [19/21]).This practical, team-based curriculum was found to be a successful way to engage residents with research methodology and EBM content. This curriculum is feasible for both in-person and virtual formats and we will continue to use this as a component of our EM residency program moving forward.

The originally monobasic genus Crostis Casey, 1922 (type species Crostis subexplanata Casey, 1922 from Brazil) is redefined based on two named and approximately 15 unnamed species occurring between the southern United States and northern Argentina. Three oblong-ovate northern species here grouped informally as the Crostis boreas species group are described: Crostis boreas Prena & Anderson new species from Arkansas and Texas in the U.S.A. and Querétaro and Tamaulipas in Mexico, Crostis boreodes Prena & Anderson new species from Guanajuato and Michoacán in Mexico, and Crostis caperata Prena & Anderson new species from Chiapas in Mexico. The South American Baridius thoracicus Kirsch, 1875 is transferred from Lamprobaris Champion, 1908 to Crostis, as Crostis thoracica (Kirsch) new combination.

Active rock glaciers are some of the most frequent cryospheric landforms in midlatitude high-elevation mountain ranges. Their activity strongly influences the hydrology and geomorphology of alpine environments over short (years to decades) and long (centuries to millennia) timescales. Being conspicuous expressions of mountain permafrost and important water reserves in the form of ground ice, rock glaciers are seen as increasingly important actors in the geomorphological and hydrological evolution of mountain systems, especially in the context of current climate change. Over geological timescales, rock glaciers both reflect paleoclimate conditions and transport rock boulders produced by headwall erosion, and they therefore participate in shaping high mountain slopes. However, the dynamics of rock glaciers and their evolution over different timescales remain under-constrained. In this study, we adopt a multi-method approach, including field observations, remote sensing, and geochronology, to investigate the rock glacier system of the Vallon de la Route (Combeynot Massif, western French Alps). Remotely sensed images and correlation techniques are used to document the displacement field of the rock glacier over timescales ranging from days to decades. Additionally, to estimate displacement over periods from centuries to millennia, we employ terrestrial cosmogenic nuclide (quartz 10Be) surface-exposure dating on rock boulder surfaces located along the central flow line of the rock glacier, targeting different longitudinal positions from the headwall to the rock glacier terminus. The remote sensing analysis demonstrates that between 1960 and 2018 the two lower units of the rock glacier were motionless, the transitional unit presented an integrated surface velocity of 0.03±0.02 m a−1, and the two upper active units above 2600 m a.s.l. showed a velocity between 0.14±0.08 and 0.15±0.05 m a−1. Our results show 10Be surface-exposure ages ranging from 13.10±0.51 to 1.88±0.14 ka. The spatial distribution of dated rock glacier boulders reveals a first-order inverse correlation between 10Be surface-exposure age and elevation and a positive correlation with horizontal distance to the headwall. These observations support the hypothesis of rock boulders falling from the headwall and remaining on the glacier surface as they are transported down valley, and they may therefore be used to estimate rock glacier surface velocity over geological timescales. Our results also suggest that the rock glacier is characterized by two major phases of activity. The first phase, starting around 12 ka, displays a 10Be age gradient with a rock glacier surface velocity of about 0.45 m a−1, following a quiescent period between ca. 6.2 and 3.4 ka before the emplacement of the present-day upper two active units. Climatic conditions have favored an integrated rock glacier motion of around 0.18 m a−1 between 3.4 ka and present day. These results allow us to quantify back-wearing rates of the headwall of between 1.0 and 2.5 mm a−1, higher than catchment-integrated denudation rates estimated over millennial timescales. This suggests that the rock glacier system promotes the maintenance of high rock wall erosion by acting as debris conveyor and allowing freshly exposed bedrock surfaces to be affected by erosion processes.