Parasites of the genera Plasmodium and Haemoproteus (Apicomplexa: Haemosporida) are a diverse group of pathogens that infect birds nearly worldwide. Despite their ubiquity, the ecological and evolutionary factors that shape the diversity and distribution of these protozoan parasites among avian communities and geographic regions are poorly understood. Based on a survey throughout the Neotropics of the haemosporidian parasites infecting manakins (Pipridae), a family of Passerine birds endemic to this region, we asked whether host relatedness, ecological similarity and geographic proximity structure parasite turnover between manakin species and local manakin assemblages. We used molecular methods to screen 1343 individuals of 30 manakin species for the presence of parasites. We found no significant correlations between manakin parasite lineage turnover and both manakin species turnover and geographic distance. Climate differences, species turnover in the larger bird community and parasite lineage turnover in non-manakin hosts did not correlate with manakin parasite lineage turnover. We also found no evidence that manakin parasite lineage turnover among host species correlates with range overlap and genetic divergence among hosts. Our analyses indicate that host switching (turnover among host species) and dispersal (turnover among locations) of haemosporidian parasites in manakins are not constrained at this scale.

An area of high, north-eastward plunge of b-axes has been mapped in Silurian greywackes around the mouth of Strangford Lough, N. Ireland. Reconnaisance over a wider area to the south-west is consistent with the hypothesis that this steep plunge is due to the upward push exerted during the emplacement of the Newry Granodiorite. A near surface extension of the intrusion towards the east-north-east is inferred.

Skip and roll marks, probably the impressions of orthocones, are described from the Aberystwyth Grits (Lower Silurian, mid-Wales).

The peninsula between Ekmanfjorden and Dicksonfjorden has been mapped geologically. Devonian sandstones are overlain unconformably by a Permo-Carboniferous sequence of limestones (200 m.) and dolomites and gypsum (300 m.). This is followed by more than 150 metres of Permian cherts. The strata show a slight but consistent dip towards the SSE. A fault having the trend of this dip has been proved in Ekmanfjorden. Sills are intruded in the higher levels of the succession and it is suggested that the intrusions are contemporaneous with the faulting. By comparing the lithology the area can be correlated with the known sections of Billefjorden and Kongsfjorden.

The resonance lines of Mgii occur at wavelengths (2802.7 Å, 2795.5 Å) just beyond the extinction limit of the Earth's atmosphere. At such wavelengths sophisticated optical techniques can now be employed and this fact, together with the high cosmic abundance of magnesium, makes these lines particularly important for study in UV Astronomy. In the case of the Sun, the lines consist of a broad absorption with a pronounced emission core.