The classification of the Proterosuchia

The earliest archosaurs (Upper Permian and Lower Trias) have been classified in many different ways. All classifications introduced during the period 1945-67 are compared and then themselves classified and evaluated.
The typical characters of these archosaurs are listed. Most of them may be placed in a single suborder, the Proterosuchia, which is divided into two families, the Proterosuchidae and the Erythrosuchidae. The composition of each family is considered. Lists of genera in each family are given and of those generic names which should be regarded as nomina dubia. The placing of several genera in the synonymy of Erythrosuchus is rejected. The possible conspecificity of Chasmatosaurus vanhoepeni and C. alexanderi is considered.
A simplified scheme for the evolution of the Proterosuchia is drawn up.     

Phylogenetic foundation of spirochetes

The spirochetes are free-living or host-associated, helical bacteria, some of which are pathogenic to man and animal. Comparisons of 16S rRNA sequences demonstrate that the spirochetes represent a monophyletic phylum within the bacteria. The spirochetes are presently classified in the Class Spirochaetes in the order Spirochetales and are divided into three major phylogenetic groupings, or families. The first family Spirochaetaceae contains species of the genera Borrelia, Brevinema, Cristispira, Spirochaeta, Spironema, and Treponema. The second family Brachyspiraceae contains the genus Brachyspira (Serpulina). The third family Leptospiraceae contains species of the genera Leptonema and Leptospira. Novel spirochetal species, or phylotypes, that can not be presently cultivated in vitro, have been identified from the human oral cavity, the termite gut, and other host-associated or free-living sources. There are now over 200 spirochetal species or phylotypes, of which more than half is presently not cultivable. It is likely that there is still a significant unrecognized spirochetal diversity that should be evaluated.     

被子植物非国产科汉名的初步拟订

报道了中国产12种苔藓植物染色体数目,结果为:壶苞苔Blasia pusilla,n=9;艳 绿光苔Cyathodium smaragdinum,n=9;紫背苔Plagiochasma rupestre,n=9;石地钱Rebou lia hemisphaerica,n=9;宽片叶苔Riccardia latifrons,n=10;尖叶美喙藓Eurhynchium eustegium,n=11;东亚沼羽藓Helodium sachalinense,n=11;白齿藓Leucodon sciuroides,     

Phylogenetic analysis of the class Sporozoea (phylum Apicomplexa Levine, 1970): evidence for the independent evolution of heteroxenous life cycles

A phylogenetic analysis of representative genera in the class Sporozoea was undertaken using biological and morphological features to infer evolutionary relationships among the widely recognized groups in the class. Gregarines were used as a functional outgroup to the remaining sporozoa (adeleids, eimeriorins, haemosporinids, and piroplasms). The piroplasms were shown to be closely related to the adeleid parasites. Species of Babesia and Theileria were shown not to form a sister group to the haemosporinids as has been frequently suggested. The data indicate that the biologically diverse family Haemogregarinidae should be divided into at least 3 families (Haemogregarinidae Neveu-Lemaire, 1901, containing the genera Haemogregarina and Cyrilia; Karyolysidae Wenyon, 1926, containing the genus Karyolysus; Hepatozoidae Wenyon, 1926, containing the genus Hepatozoon) because the 4 genera currently within the family do not form a monophyletic group. Correlation between parasite phylogeny and taxonomic affinities of their definitive hosts suggests that the definitive hosts of heteroxenous sporozoa are their ancestral hosts. Heteroxenous sporozoan life cycles apparently have evolved independently to adapt to changes in the feeding behaviors of their definitive hosts.     

Species Diversity and Floristic Characteristics of Vascular Plants in Nanji Island,Zhejiang Provience

A total of 393 species (sub type included) in 267 genera, 97 families were reported in Nanji Island, the main island of Nanji Islands National Nature Reserve. After eliminating all the cultivated and invasive species, there were still 304 species in 210 genera and 81 families belonging to wild vascular plants; To better understand the floristic characteristics of Nanji, we applied analysis in 3 levels: At family level, the largest families in pteridophyte were ranked as Pteridaceae、Thelypteridaceae、Lygodiaceae、Dryopteridaceae; In seed plants, almost the largest ones were Cosmopolitan, while the small ones dominented the most, quantitatively and proportionately; The characteristic families of seed flora were consisted of Liliaceae、Amaryllidaceae、Urticaceae、Verbenaceae, cause they got high ratio of VFICS/WFIW; At genus level, the Pantropical Distribution (3810%)、the North Temperate Distribution (1630%) and the East Asia distribution (1131%) formed the main part of seed flora; The proportion of the category of temperate distribution and tropical distribution was 6072% and 3928% respectively; Took 6 other sites as reference, through cluster analysis and R/T ratio comparisons, It was proved that Nanji Island were most similar to that of Wuyanling of Zhejiang Provience but showed more tropical affinities; At species level, wild seed plants can also be divided into 9 areal subtypes, The Yangtze River & Southern Proviences sub type dominented at 5390%, following by South China sub type at 2078%. The results showed that Nanji Island had a distinctive transitional characteristics of flora from north to south China with more tropical biological properties, thus the floristic division of Nanji should on the southern margin area of east China.     

Evolution of host specificity in fleas: is it directional and irreversible?

Evolutionary trends in the evolution of host specificity have been the focus of much discussion but little rigorous empirical testing. On the one hand, specialization is often presumed to lead irreversibly into evolutionary dead ends and little diversification; this would mean that generalists might evolve into specialists, but not vice versa. On the other hand, low host specificity may limit the risk of extinction and provide more immediate fitness benefits to parasites, such that selection may favour evolution toward a generalist strategy. Here, we test for directionality in the evolution of host specificity using a large data set and phylogenetic information on 297 species of fleas parasitic on small mammals. The analyses determined whether host specificity, measured both as the number of host species exploited and their taxonomic diversity, was related to clade rank of the flea species, or the number of branching events between an extant species and the root of the phylogenetic tree (i.e., the total path length from the root of the tree to the species). Based on regression analyses, we found positive relationships between the number of host species used and clade rank across all 297 species, as well as within one (Hystrichopsyllidae) of four large families and one of seven large genera investigated separately; in addition, we found a positive relationship between the taxonomic diversity of host species used and clade rank in another of the seven genera. These results suggest a slight evolutionary trend of decreasing host specificity. Using a much more conservative likelihood ratio test, however, a random walk, or null model, of evolution could not be discarded in favour of the directional trends in all cases mentioned above. Still, these results suggest that host specificity may have tended to decrease in many flea lineages, a process that could have been driven by the benefits of exploiting a wide range of host species.     

Does host‐plant diversity explain species richness in insects? A test using Coccidae (Hemiptera)

1. The megadiverse herbivores and their host plants are a major component of biodiversity, and their interactions have been hypothesised to drive the diversification of both. 2. If plant diversity influences the diversity of insects, there is an expectation that insect species richness will be strongly correlated with host‐plant species richness. This should be observable at two levels (i) more diverse host‐plant groups should harbour more species of insects, and (ii) the species richness of a group of insects should correlate with the richness of the host groups it uses. However, such a correlation is also consistent with a hypothesis of random host use, in which insects encounter and use hosts in proportion to the diversity of host plants. Neither of these expectations has been widely tested. 3. These expectations were tested using data from a species‐rich group of insects – the Coccidae (Hemiptera). 4. Significant positive correlations were found between the species richness of coccid clades (genera) and the species richness of the host‐plant family or families upon which the clades occur. On a global scale, more closely related plant families have more similar communities of coccid genera but the correlation is weak. 5. Random host use could not be rejected for many coccids but randomisation tests and similarity of coccid communities on closely related plant families show that there is non‐random host use in some taxa. Overall, our results support the idea that plant diversity is a driver of species richness of herbivorous insects, probably via escape‐and‐radiate or oscillation‐type processes.     

AN ANATOMIC-SYSTEMATIC STUDY OF THE CLASSICAL TRIBE FESTUCEAE (GRAMINEAE)

Using the classical tribe Festuceae as a frame of reference, 135 grass genera have been examined in an effort to determine natural generic relationships which often have been obscured by parallel and convergent evolution. Studies of embryo and leaf structure, ligules, lodicules, and lemmas have greatly enlarged, verified, and nearly completed existing evidence that the classical concept of the Festuceae is highly artificial and that the tribe contains many genera which are only remotely related. A more nearly phylogenetic system is achieved when more than two-thirds of these genera are distributed among 4 major groups, which may be worthy of subfamily rank: 55 genera are retained in the festucoid group, 46 are moved to the eragrostoid, 2 to the bambusoid, 13 to the arundoid, and 8 to a recently designated group labelled the centothecoid. Three genera remain unplaced; and material was unavailable or insufficient to make accurate determinations for 8 genera.     

The classification of the Proterosuchia

The earliest archosaurs (Upper Permian and Lower Trias) have been classified in many different ways. All classifications introduced during the period 1945-67 are compared and then themselves classified and evaluated. The typical characters of these archosaurs are listed. Most of them may be placed in a single suborder, the Proterosuchia, which is divided into two families, the Proterosuchidae and the Erythrosuchidae. The composition of each family is considered. Lists of genera in each family are given and of those generic names which should be regarded as nomina dubia. The placing of several genera in the synonymy of Erythrosuchus is rejected. The possible conspecificity of Chasmatosaurus vanhoepeni and C. alexanderi is considered. A simplified scheme for the evolution of the Proterosuchia is drawn up.     

Phylogeny of the scathophagidae (Diptera, calyptratae) based on mitochondrial DNA sequences

The family Scathophagidae constitutes, together with members of the families Muscidae, Fannidae, and Anthomyiidae, the Muscoidea superfamily. The species Scathophaga stercoraria has been used extensively to investigate questions in animal ecology and evolution, particularly as a model system for studies of sperm competition and life history evolution. However, no phylogenetic studies have ever been performed on the Scathophagidae and the relationships within this family remain unclear. This study represents a molecular approach aimed at uncovering the phylogenetic relationships among 61 species representing 22 genera of Scathophagidae. A fragment of the terminal region of the mitochondrial gene COI (subunit I of the cytochrome oxidase gene) was sequenced in scathophagid species covering a wide geographic area, as well as a diverse spectrum of ecological habitats. Several clades grouping different genera and species have been identified, but the resolution power of the COI was insufficient to establish the exact relationships between these clades. The molecular data confirm the existence of a group consisting of the genera Delina, Chylizosoma, and Americina, which could represent the subfamily Delinae. Concerning the controversial position of the genus Phrosia, our data clearly suggest that it should be removed from the Delinae and placed within the genus Cordilura. Monophyly of most genera was confirmed, except for the genus Scathophaga, which should be divided into several different taxa.     

Floral structure and evolution in the Anacardiaceae

WANNAN, B. S. & QUINN, C. J, 1991. Floral structure and evolution in the Anacardiaceae. Carpel morphology and anatomy is investigated in 17 genera and carpellode morphology in 12 genera. There is an evolutionary sequence in the family from poorly differentiated, nearly apocarpous gynoecia towards syncarpous gynoecia with clearly defined stigmata, styles and ovaries. There has also been marked reduction culminating in pseudomonomery. The carpellodes of the male flowers appear more conservative, and provide evidence of affinities between genera with quite different fertile gynoecia. The characters have been polarized using Burseraceae as a sister group. Data from these sources, as well as from pericarp anatomy, wood anatomy and biflavonoid content indicate that the long standing intrafamilial classification into five tribes is artificial, and that the two small satellite families, Blepharocaryaceae and Julianiaceae should be included in the family. A large monophyletic group is recognized comprised of essentially four of the existing tribes (Anacardiëae, Dobineëae, Semecarpeae, Rhoëae), as well as the two satellite families. This group incorporates two subgroups of more closely allied genera. The remaining genera (mostly Spondiadeae) are very diverse, and for the present are placed in an artificial group characterised by a set of plesiomorphs. Relationships within this group must be resolved before a satisfactory taxonomy of the family can be achieved.     

Systematic position and phylogenetic relationships of the family Omphalometridae (Digenea, Plagiorchiida) inferred from partial lsrDNA sequences

The phylogenetic relationships and systematic position of the digenean genus Omphalometra Looss, 1899 and several other closely related genera, have always been controversial and opinions of different authors on the systematic rank and content of this group have varied greatly. Molecular analysis based on the partial sequences of the large subunit ribosomal DNA gene of representatives of the genera Omphalometra, Rubenstrema and Neoglyphe as well as previously published sequences of members of five families of Plagiorchioidea, has demonstrated: (1) close phylogenetic relationships between these three genera, and (2) a strong support of their position within the family Plagiorchiidae as a well-defined separate clade considered here as a subfamily Omphalometrinae. Molecular data do not support the close affinities of the members of Omphalometrinae and genus Opisthioglyphe as has been suggested by majority of previous authors. Among Omphalometrinae, Omphalometra flexuosa (a parasite of moles, Talpidae) occupies a basal position in relation to Rubenstrema exasperatum and Neoglyphe locellus (both parasitic in shrews, members of the more evolutionary advanced family Soricidae). An extremely low level of lsrDNA sequence divergence between Neoglyphe and Rubenstrema suggests very close phylogenetic relationships of these two genera. Results of the molecular analysis are briefly discussed in comparison with the previously published systems.     

Phytophagous British insects and mites and their food-plant families: total numbers and polyphagy

The Phytophagous Insects Data Base (PIDB) was used to summarize information about 6933 species of British insects/mites and their food-plant families. Total species in 183 insect families on 127 vascular plant families were correlated with numbers of plant species in each family in Britain and Europe, accounting for 41.8% of the variation. Families with trees had more insects, while ferns and aquatic, uncommon and ephemeral plants, particularly orchids, had fewer. Seven individual insect families were analysed separately: Aphididae were more closely correlated with plant species numbers than were the more polyphagous Geometridae. Agromyzidae were uncommon on families with trees. Of insect species 75.8% fed on only one plant family and 10.1% were recorded on two families. Species feeding on three families or more were considered to be polyphagous. In the 30 largest insect families, eight had species feeding on only one plant family, while 12 had more than 20% of their species polyphagous. Proportions of family-restricted insects were high on Pinaceae, Gramineae and Compositae, but low on Corylaceae, Primulaceae and Tiliaceae. More pest species were polyphagous. Polyphagy was related to large larvae, larvae overwintering, wood-feeding, ephemeral food sources, poor dispersal abilities and omnivory. Some polyphagous species might be actively evolving in exploitation of vacant niches, leading to later progressive specialization to food-plants.     

武陵山地区种子植物区系特征与性质研究

武陵山地区位于湘鄂渝黔交界处,面积约10万km²。本文从科、属、种水平对武陵山地区种子植物区系特征和性质进行了统计分析,结果表明:(1)本区自产种子植物201科、1005属、4119种,其中裸子植物6科、19属、36种,双子叶植物166科781属、3447种,单子叶植物29科、205属、636种,含单种和少种的科和属及木本植物比较丰富;(2)本区含世界广布科40科,热带分布科91科,温带分布科70科。含种数较多的科为广布科和热带分布科,而主要特征科则是一些主产东亚(包括中国特有)的亚热带和温带分布科;(3)本区的属含我国15种分布区类型中的14种,其中以北温带分布、泛热带分布和东亚分布三类成分比较集中。中国特有属64属(占6.83%),其中不少可能就起源于本区(或)及其周围。温带分布属多于热带分布属;(4)种的地理成分有15种类型,其中绝大多数属东亚和中国特有,它们具有明显的亚热带-温带性质。中国特有种共计2682种,其中126种为本区所特有,675种为华中区特有,其他1881种则广泛分布于我国各地并大体上可分为10个亚型。种的地理成分决定了本区现代植物区系的基本特征和性质,即在旧的热带区系的基础上蜕化演变而成的温带性亚热带植物区系或亚热带山地植物区系。本区东亚成分众多,不仅是其分布中心的一部分,而且正处于东亚成分扩散和迁移的重要通道--武陵山走廊上,因此可视为东亚植物区系的一个关键地区。     

The middle ear of the skull of birds: the Pelecaniformes and Ciconiiformes

The anatomy of the middle ear region of the skull is described for the families of the Avian orders Pelecaniformes and Ciconiiformes. Emphasis is placed on the foramina and paths of the nerves and blood vessels. The morphology of the basicranium and quadrate is also discussed. Comparative analyses of the characters are used to assess taxonomic conclusions.
Extant Pelecaniformes consist of six families, four of which are monogenic: Phaethontidae, Pelecanidae, Anhingidae and Fregatidae; one is composed of two genera: Sulidae; and the last has three genera: Phalacrocoracidae. Several years ago a relationship was suggested which would ally the Phaethontidae and the Fregatidae. While these families share several non middle ear characters the anatomy of the middle ear is not compatible with any particular relationship. Indeed, several obvious differences are described. The data presented here are consistent with the idea that the Phaethontidae and the Fregatidae each form a separate group of Pelecaniform birds, with the rest of the families forming a third group. Several differences in the middle ear region of the species of Anhingidae suggest that the family may be composed of two genera.
While sharing many Ciconiiform characters the Ciconiidae have been shown not to be as closely related to the Ardeidae as they are to other families of Ciconiiformes. In addition, evidence is presented to support the recent idea that the three species of ibis (I. ibis, I. cinereus and I. leucocephalus ) be united within the genus Mycteria. Also supported is the notion that Balaeniceps is Pelecaniform in character, and not Ciconiiform.     

Tanaidacean phylogeny,the first step: the superfamily Paratanaidoidea

This paper addresses the phylogeny of the superfamily Paratanaidoidea using computer‐assisted parsimony methods. Our morphologically based, empirical analysis uses exemplar species from all families and most genera in the superfamily. Species of Apseudomorpha, Neotanaidomorpha and Tanaidoidea were employed as out‐groups. The analysis supports most of the older systematics, including the monophyly of Paratanaididae, Leptocheliidae (in part), Nototanaididae, Pseudotanaididae and Pseudozeuxidae (excluding Heterotanaoides ). The analysis does not support the monophyly of Typhlotanaididae and Anarthruridae and suggests that both families be split up. The core genera of Typhlotanaididae are combined with the Nototanaididae under the name Nototanaididae. Other genera of Typhlotanaididae are left without family designation. Anarthruridae is divided into five families, Agathotanaididae, Anarthruridae, Leptognathiidae, Tanaellidae fam. nov. and Colletteidae fam. nov. , but a large part of the anarthrurid genera could not be designated to families. The Leptocheliidae could neither be rejected nor verified but a subfamilial division (Heterotanaidinae subfam. nov. and Leptocheliinae) seems appropriate. A new proposal for the higher‐level taxonomy of the Paratanaidoidea is presented. Many tanaidacean names have been corrected to make them agree with the presumed Latin stem ‘tanaid‐’.     

柏科分类和分布：亚科,族和属

柏科Cupressaceae和杉科Taxodiaceae有许多相似之处,近年来不少分类学家主张把两科合并成广义的柏科。原杉科中的金松属Sciadopitys与两科其他属的差异较大,被提升为单种科Sciadopity-aceae。本文根据球果可育种鳞的位置把柏科(狭义)分为2亚科,即上部种鳞不可育的柏木亚科Cupres-soideae和上部种鳞可育的澳洲柏亚科Callitroideae。综合其他形态学和解剖学证据,柏木亚科又分4族,即柏木族Cupresseae(包括:柏术属Cupressus、杂交柏属×Cupressocyparis、扁柏属Chamaecyparis和福建柏属Fokeinia)、侧柏族Thujopsideae(包括:崖柏属Thuja、罗汉柏属Thujopsis和侧柏属Platycladus)、圆柏族Junipereae(包括:圆柏属Juniperus和海参威柏属Microbiota)以及香漆柏族Tetraclineae(包括:翠柏属Calocedrus和香漆柏属Tetraclinis)。澳洲柏亚科又分3族,即澳洲柏族Actinostrobeae(包括:西澳柏属Actinostuobus、澳洲柏属Callitris、智利柏属Fitzroya和杉叶柏属Neocallitropsis)、南非柏族Widdring-toneae(包括:白智利柏属Pilgerodendron、塔斯曼柏属Diselma和南非柏属Widdringtonia)以及甜柏族Libocedreae(包括:甜柏属Libocedrus、巴布亚柏属Papuacedrus和南美柏属Austrocedrus)。柏科21个属的地理分布可划分为5种类型,即:(     

Taxonomy of the Cupressaceae: Subfamilies,Tribes and Genera

Cupressaceae and Taxodiaceae have recently been merged under the earlier name Cupressaceae s.I. by many authors, as the two families are similar in a number of morpho logical characters. Sciadopitys S. et Z., which has often been treated as a morphologically isolated member of the Taxodiaceae, has recently been considered as a monotypic family, Sciadopityaceae. The Cupressaceae s.s. may be reorganized into two subfamilies. The Cu pressoideae is composed of genera with the uppermost cone-scales infertile and can be divided into four tribes: Cnpresseae, including Cupressus, X Cupressocyparis, Charnaecyparis and Fokeinia;Thujopsideae, including Thuja, Thujopsis and Platycladusl Junipereae, including Juniperus and Microbiota; and Tetraclineae, including Calocedrus and Tetraclinis. The Callitroideae is composed of genera with the uppermost cone-scales fertile and can be divided into three tribes: Actinostrobeae, including Actinostrobus, Callitris, Fitzroya and Neocallitropsis; Widdringtoneae, including Pilgerodendron, Diselma and Widdringtonia ; Libocedreae, including Libocedrus, Papuacedrus and Austrocedrus. Five geographical distribution patterns are recognized in the 21 genera of Cupressaceae. (a) One genus, X Cupressocyparis, is a natural hybrid derived from selections in England; (b) Two genera, Cupressus and Juniperus, are distributed in Africa, Europe, Asia and North America; (c) Three genera, Thuja, Chamaecyparis, and Calocedrus, are disjnnctly distributed in Eastem Asia and North America; (d) Five genera, Actinostrobus, Callitris, Libocedrus, Papuacedrus and Widdringtonia, have limited distribution; and (e) The other 10 genera, which are monotypic, are restricted to narrow areas except Plotycladus. Three centers of genera diversity are identified in the Cupressaceae, i. e Eastern Asia with nine genera, southwestern North America with five genera, and Australia and its adjacent islands in the east　with six genera, including New Zealand,. Tasmania, New Caledonia, and New Guinea. Other important areas are western Mediterranean with three genera and Chile and Argentinawith three genera.