Ottia meiospora (Ottiaceae,Rhodophyta), a new genus and family endophytic within the thallus of Nothocladus (Batrachospermales,Rhodophyta)

A new genus, Ottia, and family, Ottiaceae, are proposed within the Acrochaetiales to accommodate the uniseriate red algal endophyte of batrachspermalean taxa previously named Balbiania meiospora. Prior to this study, Balbiania investiens was transferred to its own family and order (Balbianiales) based on comparative DNA sequence data and a distinctive reproductive morphology. However, the second species described in this genus, B. meiospora, continued to be treated as a species of Audouinella (A. meiospora) pending further investigation. Phylogenetic analyses of sequence data confirmed only a distant relationship between the two endophytes, and a closer alliance of B. meiospora to Acrochaetiales. The data also showed that Ottia meiospora was the deepest diverging lineage in the Acrochaetiales, sister to all of the currently recognized genera and families. In this study, we review the classification of what we now call O. meiospora – reported from Australia, New Zealand and Brazil – based on sequence and morphological data. Morphological observations provided little clarity around the reproductive morphology or the life cycle of this endophyte of Nothocladus s. lat. found commonly in mainland Australia but, to date, less so in New Zealand.     

Habitat Heterogeneity,Coexistence and Habitat Utilization in Five Backswimmer Species (Notonecta spp.; Hemiptera,Notonectidae)

In this study, we present data on life history, distribution and coexistence among five backswimmer species, Notonecta glauca, N. lutea, N. maculata, N. obliqua and N. reuteri, from 72 waters in a study area on the Swedish west coast. Two temporal life history patterns were found; species reproducing in the autumn (N. reuteri and N. lutea) and those reproducing in the spring (N. glauca N. obliqua and N. maculata). Female backswimmers were generally larger than conspecific males, except for N. lutea, in which the sexes were similar in size. The sex ratio of N. glauca, N. lutea and N. reuteri did not differ from 1/1. The most abundant species was N. glauca (49% of the waters inhabited by backswimmers) and then N. obliqua (19%), N. maculata (14%), N. lutea (10%) and N. reuteri (8%). In all, 972 individuals were recorded. The species were sequenced, with reference to their habitat use (from species occurring in temporal habitats to more stable and complex ones), as follows; N. maculata – N. glauca – N. obliqua – N. reuteri – N. lutea. N. glauca had the widest habitat distribution pattern. Two species combinations in pools were most commonly found and the five species were never found together. Possible competition among adults, according to their habitat distribution, may occur for: N. glauca with all species; N. obliqua mainly with N. glauca; N. lutea mainly with N. reuteri; N. reuteri mainly with N. lutea and N. glauca; N. maculata mainly with N. glauca. If body size is an important factor in the competitive ability between individuals, not merely species but also sex and temporal aspects have to be considered. The most intense competition should then exist between N. lutea and N. reuteri females.     

Natural distribution, spread, and variation, in the tobacco mosaic virus infecting Nicotiana glauca in Australia

Nicotiana glauca is a naturalised introduced species widely distributed in Australia. A survey of stands in the central zone of its recorded distribution has shown that a type of tobacco mosaic virus which characteristically induces a bright yellow mosaic symptom (TMV-Y) is commonly associated with N. glauca throughout this zone. Surveys of a natural community of N. glauca less than 5 yr old, and in an experimental block, showed that TMV-Y could spread at a rate, and in a pattern, which could not be explained by contact transmission alone, and which indicated that an airborne vector was probably involved in transmission. These results together have led to the conclusion that the common association of TMV-Y with N. glauca is due to spread of the virus by an unknown vector(s). Seed transmission of TMV-Y in N. glauca has not been detected. Molecular hybridisation analysis has shown that all but one of the TMV-Y isolates studied were related to TMV-U², and that the isolate which was unrelated to U², was partially related to TMV-U¹, TMV-U⁵, and tomato mosaic virus. Selected isolates which showed a close relationship to TMV-U², also showed a close relationship to TMV-U⁵, a distant relationship to TMV-U¹, and tomato mosaic, and very little or no relationship with three other tobamoviruses (sunn-hemp mosaic virus, odontoglossum ringspot virus, and cucumber virus 4). These results show that the Australian TMV-Y isolates are similar to the TMV isolated from N. glauca in California.     

Taxonomic review of Hemistola Warren, 1893 from China,with descriptions of seven new species (Lepidoptera: Geometridae,Geometrinae)

The genus Hemistola Warren from China is reviewed, and seven new species are described: H. viridimargo, sp. nov., H. glauca sp. nov., H. asymmetra sp. nov., H. arcilinea sp. nov., H. flavifimbria sp. nov., H. orbiculosoides sp. nov. and H. stueningi sp. nov. Two species, acyra and christinaria, are transferred from Hemistola to Maxates and Comostola, respectively: Maxates acyra comb. nov. and Comostola christinaria comb. nov. Including the 25 species previously known from China, a total of 32 species is now recorded. All Chinese species are redescribed. Generic characters based on all species are summarized. Illustrations of adults and genitalia are presented.     

Development of SCAR marker in Casuarina equisetifolia for species authentication

Casuarina equisetifolia is one of the most extensively introduced tree species outside its natural range and is a true multipurpose species, providing a range of services and products for industrial and local end users. Natural hybrids of C. equisetifolia have been reported and a putative hybrid of C. junghuhniana and C. equisetifolia is commercially cultivated in Thailand and India. In Taiwan, studies have also revealed that most plants of Casuarina are the result of introgressive hybridization involving C. equisetifolia, C. glauca, and C. cunninghamiana causing difficulty in species identification. The present study was aimed at developing DNA markers for the identification of C. equisetifolia. Seven ISSR primers were amplified in 120 individuals belonging to three species of Casuarina (C. equisetifolia, C. glauca and C. junghuhniana) and two Allocasuarina species (A. littoralis and A. huegeliana). One species-specific amplicon at 650 bp amplified in all individuals of C. equisetifolia was cloned, sequenced and primer pairs were developed and designated as IFGTBCE01. The sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) marker was multiplexed with internal SSR primer pair (positive control) and amplified in ten randomly selected individuals of C. equisetifolia, C. junghuhniana, C. glauca, A. littoralis and A. huegeliana. The species-specific band amplified only in C. equisetifolia at 500 bp. Subsequently, the SCAR marker was validated in 30 individuals collected from 10 provenances belonging to 9 countries and in 10 locally selected clones. The marker was validated in the natural male hybrid of C. equisetifolia × C. junghuhniana which is widely planted in India for fast growth, wide adaptability and good form. Hence, this marker can be used for accurate and rapid identification of the species during certification and determination of putative hybrids in breeding programs.     

中国单格孢属（丝孢纲）的种

报道单格孢属的两个新种,一个新组合,5个中国新记录种和两个未定名种,同时,对所有已知在中国发现的本属真菌的种进行了归纳总结并制作了检索表。新种小黑球单格孢Monodictys nigraglobulosa的典型特征是产生黑色近球形的分生孢子,具有黑而厚的隔膜;横向单格孢Monodictys transversa的分生孢子横向生长,即孢子的横向量度大于其高度。两个未定名种具有单格孢属的特征,但目前的材料所表现的分种特征还不够充分,暂称之为Monodictys sp.1和Monodictys sp.2,供进一步研究探讨。新组合为方单格孢Monodictys quadrata(Atk.)G.Z.Zhao&T.Y.Zhang。研究标本保存在山东农业大学植物病理学标本室(HSAUP)。     

Phylogenetic relationships and biogeography of Ptilophora (Gelidiales,Rhodophyta) with descriptions of P. aureolusa,P. malagasya,and P. spongiophila from Madagascar

The genus Ptilophora currently includes 16 species occurring mostly in subtidal habitats of the Indo‐Pacific Ocean, but its global diversity and biogeography are poorly understood. We analyzed mitochondrial cox1, plastid rbcL and plastid psbA sequences from specimens collected in southern Madagascar during the 2010 Atimo Vatae expedition and studied their morphologies. Both morphological and molecular data sets demonstrated the presence of five species in southern Madagascar: Ptilophora hildebrandtii, P. pterocladioides, and three new species described here, P. aureolusa, P. malagasya, and P. spongiophila. Ptilophora aureolusa is distinguished by its compound pinnae with uniformly spaced pinnules. Ptilophora malagasya has an indistinct midrib and irregularly spaced pinnules. Ptilophora spongiophila, heavily coated with sponges, has cylindrical to flattened main axes, lateral and surface proliferations, and spatulate tetrasporangial sori. The species of Ptilophora found in Madagascar are endemic, except P. hildebrandtii, which also occurs in eastern Africa. Ptilophora comprises four phylogenetic groups that map to eastern Australia, Japan, western Australia/Southeast Asia/Madagascar/eastern Africa, and Madagascar/eastern Africa/Aegean Sea. Biogeographical analysis revealed that the ancestor of Ptilophora originated in Australia, but most of the species radiated from Madagascar.     

中国东部暖温带地区土壤中单格孢属（丝孢纲）真菌

从中国东部暖温带地区土壤中分离到单格孢属Monodictys真菌4种,其中,厚垣单格孢 Monodictys chlamydosporoidea为新种,此种以分生孢子隔膜处明显缢缩、细胞深色、隆起、厚垣化为主要特征;苍白单格孢Monodictys glauca为中国新记录种。对另2个国内已知种亦作了标本引证。研究标本（干制培养物）与活菌种保存在山东农业大学植物病理学标本室（HSAUP）。     

Heterobasidiomycetes from Belize

Summary  Twenty-eight species of heterobasidiomycetes (phylum Basidiomycota) belonging to the orders Auriculariales, Dacrymycetales, Exidiales, Platygloeales, Sebacinales, Septobasidiales and Tremellales from Belize are described or reported. Endoperplexa phlebioides, Heterochaete pentadelphai and Sebacina pileata are described as new. The genus Aphelariopsis is considered a possible synonym of Septobasidium and the new combination Septobasidium kupemontis is proposed. The new combination Endoperplexa obscura is also proposed.     

Tasmanian rotifera: Affinities with the Australian fauna

Plankton was collected from more than 100 lentic and lotic habitats in Tasmania. Of the 131 rotifer taxa identified, 126 are first records for the island, and 9 are first records for Australia. Three new species, Aspelta tilba, sp. nov., Lepadella tyleri sp. nov., and Testudinella unicornuta sp. nov. are described and figured. Horaëlla brehmi, which has a disjunct distribution (equatorial regions and southeastern Australia), also occurs in Tasmanian waters. The morphology and development of this rare species are discussed. Geographical affinities of the Tasmanian assemblage are considered. There appears to be a significant tropical component in the Tasmanian Rotifera.     

A new species ofArnoglossus (Pleuronectiformes: Bothidae) from the southwestern coast of Australia

A new bothid flounder,Arnoglossus micrommatus, is described from the southwestern coast of Australia (off Albany, Western Australia). This species is distinguished from other species ofArnoglossus by combination of the following characters: gill-rakers serrated on posterior margin; upper jaw length 2.83–3.12 in head length (HL); upper eye diameter 4.17–5.51 in HL; scales in lateral line 52–62; vertebrae 11+28−29=3t-40.     

An <Emphasis Type="Italic">in silico</Emphasis> analysis of the mitochondrial protein import apparatus of plants

Background  

An in silico analysis of the mitochondrial protein import apparatus from a variety of species; including Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, Chlorella variabilis, Ectocarpus siliculosus, Cyanidioschyzon merolae, Physcomitrella patens, Selaginella moellendorffii, Picea glauca, Oryza sativa and Arabidopsis thaliana was undertaken to determine if components differed within and between plant and non-plant species.     

中国单格孢属（丝孢纲）的种

报道单格孢属的两个新种,一个新组合,5个中国新记录种和两个未定名种,同时,对所有已知在中国发现的本属真菌的种进行了归纳总结并制作了检索表。新种小黑球单格孢Monodictys nigraglobulosa的典型特征是产生黑色近球形的分生孢子,具有黑而厚的隔膜;横向单格孢Monodictys transversa的分生孢子横向生长,即孢子的横向量度大于其高度。两个未定名种具有单格孢属的特征,但目前的材料所表现的分种特征还不够充分,暂称之为Monodictys sp.1和 Monodictys sp.2,供进一步研究探讨。新组合为方单格孢Monodictys quadrata (Atk.) G. Z. Zhao & T. Y. Zhang。研究标本保存在山东农业大学植物病理学标本室（HSAUP）。     

Molecular phylogeny and taxonomic revision of the genera Baudinella Thiele, 1931, Retroterra Solem, 1985 and Molema Köhler, 2011 endemic to the coastal Kimberley,Western Australia (Gastropoda,Camaenidae)

Baudinella Thiele, 1931, Retroterra Solem, 1985 and Molema Köhler, 2011 are three genera of camaenid land snail endemic to coastal regions of the Western Australian Kimberley. Each of these genera has fairly distinct shells, but all exhibit a rather similar configuration of the reproductive system, which is characterized by lack of a penial sheath and presence of an elongated and coiled bursa copulatrix. By combining comparative morphology of shell and penial anatomy with analyses of the mitochondrial DNA fragments 16S rRNA (16S) and cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI), the phylogenetic relationships amongst representative species of these genera are addressed to test the monophyly of taxa and to identify new species. Our results show that all three genera are members of a single camaenid radiation. Five new species are described: two new species of Baudinella, B. magna n. sp. from the Institute and Montesquieu Archipelagos and B. margaritata n. sp. from Pitta Gorge in the Prince Regent Reserve, one new species of Molema, Molema tenuicostata n. sp., from near Talbot Bay, and two new species of Retroterra, R. dichroma, and R. nana, from the Prince Regent Reserve.     

Evidence for direct effects of fire‐cues on germination of some perennial forbs common in grassy ecosystems

In grassy ecosystems of south‐eastern Australia, fire maintains richness of native forbs. It is commonly thought that fire promotes regeneration indirectly by reducing competition for light and providing gaps for recruitment, rather than directly stimulating germination. However, physiological dormancy and morphophysiological dormancy are common, and few studies have explored responses to fire‐cues among dormant or hard‐to‐germinate forbs. Recent studies from other fire‐prone ecosystems suggest that in some cases, fire‐cues may not alleviate physiological or morphophysiological dormancy, but instead promote germination in combination with treatments which alleviate dormancy. We experimentally tested the prevailing hypothesis that perennial forbs common in south‐eastern Australian grassy ecosystems do not germinate in direct response to fire. Responses to fire‐cues both inherently and in combination with treatments which alleviate dormancy were investigated for seven species. Two fire‐cues (smoke and heat) plus a treatment of both heat + smoke were applied to fresh seed at three temperatures (35/25°C, 30/20°C and 25/15°C). Following this, the effect of fire‐cues on seed that had undergone warm stratification, cold stratification and dry‐after‐ripening was investigated. Three species — Arthropodium strictum, Cheiranthera cyanea and Dianella revoluta — responded to fire‐cues inherently, although germination in C. cyanea was low. High germination of D. revoluta was found when fire‐cues were combined with warm stratification. Fire‐cues had no effect on germination of Brunonia australis, Burchardia umbellata and Eryngium ovinum. Germination of Stypandra glauca was zero following all treatment combinations. Our finding that fire‐cues promote germination of three of the seven study species did not provide sufficient evidence to reject the current hypothesis that germination of perennial forbs is not typically promoted by fire‐cues. However, this study highlights the important direct role fire‐cues can play in promoting germination of some perennial forbs both inherently and in combination with treatments used to alleviate physiological dormancy.     

Resolving the taxonomy of the Polysiphonia scopulorum complex and the Bryocladia lineage (Rhodomelaceae,Rhodophyta)

Cryptic diversity is common among marine macroalgae, with molecular tools leading to the discovery of many new species. To assign names to these morphologically similar species, the type and synonyms have to be examined, and if appropriate, new species must be described. The turf-forming red alga Polysiphonia scopulorum was originally described from Rottnest Island, Australia, and subsequently widely reported in tropical and temperate coasts based on morphological identifications. A recent study of molecular species delineation revealed a complex of 12 species in Australia, South Africa, and Europe. These species are placed in a taxonomically unresolved lineage of the tribe Polysiphonieae. The aim of this study was to resolve the genus- and species-level taxonomy of this complex and related species using molecular and morphological information. Three morphologically indistinguishable species of the complex were found at the type locality of P. scopulorum, preventing a straightforward assignment of the name to any of the molecular lineages. Therefore, we propose a molecularly characterized epitype. Polysiphonia caespitosa is reinstated for the only species found in its type locality in South Africa. We describe seven new species. Only one species of the complex can be morphologically recognized, with the other eight species indistinguishable based on morphometric analysis. The studied complex, together with another seven species currently placed in Polysiphonia and two Bryocladia species, formed a clade distinct from Polysiphonia sensu stricto. Based on observations of Bryocladia cervicornis (the generitype), we describe our seven new species in the genus Bryocladia and transfer another nine species from Polysiphonia to Bryocladia.     

中国东部暖温带地区土壤中的皮司霉属（丝孢纲）真菌

报道从中国东部暖温带地区诸省（市）土壤中分离到的皮司霉属 Pithomyces 真菌的两个新种：长棒孢皮司霉 Pithomyces longiclavisporus和淡色皮司霉Pithomyces pallidus,及两个中国新记录种：卡罗皮司霉 Pithomyces karoo和帕夫皮司霉Pithomyces pavgii;对另外三个已知种亦作了分离地点和生境的引证。研究过的标本（干制培养物）与活菌种保存在山东农业大学植物病理学标本室（HSAUP）。     

Differential seed predation on two species of Arctostaphylos (Ericaceae)

Summary The fire-prone California chaparral contains two sympatric species of shrubs: Arctostaphylos glauca and A. glandulosa. A previous study showed that in a stand where both species had similar amounts of coverage, A. glauca had fewer seeds in the soil. We attempt to answer the questions: 1) Could ground-foraging seed predators produce the lower population of A. glauca seeds in the soil? 2) Do predators select fruits randomly with respect to fruit size? 3) Do the fruits of the two species differ in the proportions of fruit components (i.e. seeds, endocarp, mesocarp, and exocarp) in ways that could be important to seed predators? Predation was measured on artificial caches of fruits, for 17 weeks. Selection by predators was examined by comparing weights of fruits recovered from soil samples with newlymatured fruits on the shrubs. Fruits components were characterized by dividing fruits into 3 fractions and weighing. More fruits of A. glauca were removed from the caches. Fruits of both species recovered from the soil were lighter than those on the shrubs. The weights of seeds, stony and fleshy fruit layers were all larger in A. glauca. Within fruits of A. glandulosa, the weights of the three components, various combinations, and ratios were all significantly correlated, while in A. glauca no other component, combination of components, or ratio examined was significantly correlated with the weights of the seeds.