利福平对红裸须摇蚊幼虫肠道微生物群落结构及功能的潜在影响北大核心

【目的】摇蚊是水生生态系统中重要的昆虫种类之一,其肠道微生物与个体生长发育、环境适应等过程密切相关,本研究旨在探究抗生素处理对摇蚊幼虫肠道微生物群落结构及功能的潜在影响。【方法】利用16S rRNA基因扩增子测序技术对利福平处理的红裸须摇蚊(Propsilocerus akamusi)幼虫肠道内容物中的菌群进行分析和比较,应用Tax4Fun法对其肠道菌群功能进行预测。【结果】利福平处理能够改变红裸须摇蚊幼虫肠道群落结构和多样性,宿主肠道菌群中拟杆菌门(Bacteroidota)(P<0.05)以及脱铁杆菌门(Deferribacterota)(P<0.001)的相对丰度显著上升,而变形菌门(Proteobacteria)与厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)相对丰度有所下降。在属水平上,利福平处理使耶尔森菌属(Yersinia)、假单胞菌属(Pseudomonas)、脱硫弧菌属(Desulfovibrio)的相对丰度有所降低,其中脱硫弧菌属(Desulfovibrio)显著降低。与此同时,共线性网络分析表明利福平处理后细菌群落稳定性大幅下降,菌种之间关联性显著减弱。通过京都基因与基因组百科全书(Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes,KEGG)通路注释预测出红裸须摇蚊幼虫肠道菌群基因与基因信息处理、新陈代谢、人类疾病等功能相关,利福平处理可以使肠道菌群基因的抗药性功能显著上升,而内分泌和代谢疾病功能显著下降。【结论】研究结果揭示了抗生素利福平对红裸须摇蚊幼虫肠道细菌群落结构及功能的潜在影响,为进一步探索摇蚊肠道菌群发挥的必要作用奠定理论基础。     

三种跳虫肠道菌群的多样性分析及功能预测

【目的】跳虫在土壤生态系统中发挥着重要的作用。本研究旨在调查Sinella(Coecobrya)oligoseta,Proisotoma minuta和Tomocerus missus 3种跳虫肠道菌群的结构和多样性以及潜在功能。【方法】采用16S rDNA扩增子测序法对以上3种跳虫成虫肠道内容物中的菌群进行分析和比较;应用Tax4Fun法对其肠道菌群基因进行功能预测。【结果】3种跳虫中成虫肠道菌群多样性最高的是T.missus,最低的是S.(C.)oligoseta。在门水平上3种跳虫成虫肠道中最主要的菌群均为变形菌门(Proteobacteria)、厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)和拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes),放线菌门(Actinobacteria)也具有较高的丰度;在属水平上S.(C.)oligoseta肠道中假单胞菌属Pseudomonas的丰度(16.21%)明显高于P.minuta和T.missus肠道中的丰度(分别为0.87%和1.37%);P.minuta肠道中弧菌属Vibrio的丰度(25.81%)明显高于S.(C.)oligoseta和T.missus肠道中的丰度(分别为3.35%和0.004%)。另外,KEGG pathway注释预测出3种跳虫成虫肠道菌群基因功能涉及碳水化合物和氨基酸代谢、传染性疾病和耐药性。【结论】S.(C.)oligoseta,P.minuta和T.missus这3种跳虫肠道菌群在门水平上的核心菌群相同,而在属水平上的优势菌属丰度存在较大差异,其影响因素应该包括物种自身遗传特点及栖息地环境中微生物种类和数量的不同。在这3种跳虫肠道内发现放线菌,有利于新型放线菌的开发及其代谢产物的利用,并且它们的肠道内很可能存在耐药性和致病性菌株,这为跳虫肠道菌群的功能研究指引了新方向。     

2型糖尿病足患者肠道菌群特征及与临床生化指标相关性研究

摘要 目的：通过16S rRNA测序技术检测研究对象肠道菌群，探讨2型糖尿病足患者肠道菌群特征及其与主要临床生化指标的相关性，为基于肠道菌群途径治疗糖尿病足提供新的理论基础。方法：选取研究对象分为糖足组（A组，n=32）、糖尿病组（B组，n=32）、对照组（C组，n=31）三组，收集三组研究对象粪便标本及空腹血糖、糖化血红蛋白、炎症指标等主要临床生化指标，采用16S rRNA测序技术检测受试者肠道菌群，分析2型糖尿病足患者肠道菌群特征及其与主要临床化验指标的相关性。结果：1.与糖尿病组和对照组比较，糖足组血糖、血脂水平、炎性指标明显升高（P<0.05）。2.糖足组物种丰富度明显小于其他两组（P<0.05），三组间α多样性和?茁多样性存在差异（P<0.05）。3.糖足组中，弧菌属（尤以脱硫弧菌）、粪球菌属、厌氧棍状菌属等有害标志性物种丰度较其他两组增加，而双歧杆菌属、阿克曼菌属、普氏栖粪杆菌属、乳杆菌属等有益标志性菌种较其他两组减少。4.Spearman相关性分析表明瘤胃球菌属与FPG、HbA1c、WBC、NE%、CRP、 ESR等指标成负相关（P<0.05），志贺菌属与WBC、NE%、CRP、ESR等指标成正相关（P<0.05），脱硫弧菌属与FPG、HbA1c、TG、WBC、NE%、CRP等指标成正相关（P<0.05）。结论：糖足组肠道菌群更加紊乱，而紊乱的肠道菌群特征与糖足组更加紊乱的糖代谢、脂质代谢以及更严重的炎症状态有关。因此，肠道菌群紊乱可能与2型糖尿病足的发生发展密切相关。     

乳腺癌患者抑郁症状与肠道微生物相关性研究

目的 探究乳腺癌患者抑郁症状与肠道微生物的相关性。方法 选取辽宁省肿瘤医院2018年1月至2019年1月诊断及治疗的乳腺癌伴抑郁患者28例,作为抑郁组,同时选取无抑郁的乳腺癌患者28例作为对照组。对两组患者进行肠道微生物检测,使用Pearson模型探究患者肠道微生态特征与抑郁水平的相关性。结果 两组肠道菌群的组成存在一定差异,两组拟杆菌目、肠杆菌科、普氏菌属、克雷伯菌属、链球菌属、埃格特菌属、乳杆菌属、拟杆菌属、帕拉拟杆菌属、瘤胃球菌属的丰度具有差异(P0.05),两组样本菌群多样性具有差异。Pearson相关性分析显示,乳杆菌属与抑郁自评量表(BDI)评分呈显著负相关(r=-0.792,P0.001);拟杆菌目、克雷伯菌属与BDI评分呈显著正相关(r=0.458,0.477,P=0.003,0.002)。结论 乳腺癌患者抑郁症状与肠道菌群中的拟杆菌目、乳杆菌属、克雷伯菌属具有相关性。     

肥胖人群肠道菌群特征分析及机器学习模型

【背景】肠道菌群与人体健康之间的关系吸引了越来越多的关注,成为目前热门的研究热点。【目的】基于美国肠道计划公开数据库,对肥胖和健康人群肠道菌群进行比较分析,解析肥胖人群肠道菌群特征,并基于肠道菌群建立机器学习模型预测人群肥胖的状态,为基于肠道菌群干预肥胖提供理论基础。【方法】从公开数据库中获取美国肠道计划中的肠道菌数据,经过筛选得到1 655个健康(18.530)成年人的肠道菌群数据。针对α多样性,进行了Wilcox秩和检验分析并通过logsitic回归判定α多样性与肥胖之间的关系;对Unweighted Unifrac、Weighted Unifrac和Bray-Curtis三种β多样性距离进行主成分分析(principal component analysis,PCA),探索肥胖与健康人群在肠道菌群组成上的差异;对于物种差异,进行Wilcox秩和检验探索差异菌属;通过PICRUSt分析预测可能的代谢通路,同时与肠道菌群进行相关性分析。利用Scikit-Learn软件包基于属水平的肠道菌群数据建立肥胖分类机器学习模型,并进行网络搜索确定最佳模型参数。【结果】经过Wilcox秩和检验,发现肥胖人群的α多样性都较健康人群显著下降,logistic回归表明α多样性与人体肥胖状态有相关性。经过基于Weighted unifrac、Unweighted unifrac和Bray-curtis三种距离的PCA,肥胖和健康人群的肠道菌群结构上无明显差异;在门水平上,肥胖人群中的Firmicutes和Bacteroidetes比值较低,在属水平上共发现57个在两组之间具有显著性差异的属,其中肥胖人群中的Ruminococcus相对丰度较高,而Prevotella、Akkermansia和Methanobacteriales的相对丰度较低;PICRUSt预测的代谢通路有63个代谢通路在两组之间具有显著差异;梯度提升回归树对于基于肠道菌群预测肥胖人群效果最好,受试曲线下与坐标轴围成的面积(area under curve,AUC)值可以达到0.769,测试集精度可以达到0.725。【结论】基于大规模的肠道菌群数据揭示了肥胖人群肠道菌群的特征,将机器学习运用到肥胖预测上面,为精准膳食、精准医疗提供新的研究思路和理论基础。     

江苏无锡健康与肠病人群肠道脱硫弧菌数量及肠道菌群多样性

[目的]研究息肉、溃疡性结肠炎、直肠结肠癌和健康人群肠道中脱硫弧菌数量的差异,及不同人群肠道菌群的多样性,分析脱硫弧菌数量及肠道菌群多样性与肠道疾病之间的潜在关系.[方法]采用实时荧光定量PCR(RT-PCR)的方法,对58名受试者肠道脱硫弧菌的数量进行定量分析.采用PCR-DGGE技术,对不同人群的肠道脱硫弧菌和肠道菌群结构进行分析,结合16S rRNA V3区测序分析不同人群肠道菌群多样性的差异.[结果]RT-PCR分析显示,所有受试者均为脱硫弧菌阳性,其中息肉(2.9×106cfu/mL)和溃疡性结肠炎人群(1.2×106 cfu/mL)肠道中脱硫弧菌的数量明显高于健康人群(7.0×105 cfu/mL),直肠结肠癌人群(6.8×105 cfu/mL)肠道中脱硫弧菌的数量与健康人群无明显差异.DGGE图谱聚类分析结果表明,肠道疾病人群肠道中脱硫弧菌的菌群相似度较高,而与健康人群之间的差异较大.16S rRNA V3区基因测序显示肠道疾病人群与健康人群在肠道菌群多样性和优势菌群方面均有明显差异.[结论]通过RT-PCR与DGGE相结合的方法,说明肠道脱硫弧菌数量的增多是息肉和溃疡性结肠炎疾病的一个重要特征,且其菌群组成在肠道疾病人群与健康人群之间存在明显差异.与健康人群相比,肠道疾病人群的肠道微生物多样性升高,优势菌群发生偏移,菌群失衡.     

广东本地及移民学龄儿童饮食结构和肠道菌群差异分析

【目的】探究广东本地及移民学龄儿童的饮食结构及肠道菌群分布的差异。【方法】以广东深圳为采样点,随机抽样选取48名广东本地儿童和34名移民儿童,进行膳食问卷调查和晨便采集。采用Mann-Whitney U test分析本地及移民儿童饮食因子摄入频率的差异,并使用Illumina Miseq高通量测序技术对儿童的肠道菌群进行测序分析。【结果】82例儿童的膳食模式大多以米饭为主食,搭配蔬菜、优质肉类以及水果。但本地儿童在复合碳水化合物、蔬菜、海产品方面有更高的摄入量(P<0.05),而移民儿童在水果、低脂牛奶、酸奶产品方面有更高的摄入量(P<0.05)。α多样性结果显示,移民组的Chao1指数(P<0.001)和Ace指数(P<0.001)均显著高于本地组。在菌属水平,本地儿童肠道普氏菌属(P=0.027)和副拟杆菌属(P=0.040)丰度显著高于移民组。LEfSe分析同样显示菌群的组间差异主要由本地组的普氏菌科、普氏菌属等造成。RDA结果提示,蔬菜和低脂牛奶的摄入水平显著影响本地儿童肠道菌群的分布,初步提示本地儿童的饮食习惯可能影响肠道普氏菌属和副拟杆菌属的丰度。【...     

复合噬菌体裂解酶对白羽肉鸡肠道菌群结构和肝脏抗氧化酶指标的影响

【背景】噬菌体裂解酶具有良好的安全性与抑菌特性,有望替代抗生素作为一种饲料添加剂应用于改善畜禽肠道菌群和预防动物疾病。【目的】以白羽肉鸡为饲喂对象,分别饲喂复合噬菌体裂解酶与抗生素制剂,评估噬菌体裂解酶对畜禽肠道菌群的影响及其作为替抗饲料添加剂的应用潜能。【方法】以3日龄健康白羽肉鸡为饲喂对象,在基础饲粮上添加由噬菌体裂解酶TSPphg和噬菌体裂解酶MMPphg获得的复合噬菌体裂解酶制剂(200 mg/kg)与50μg/g的金霉素制剂,分别进行比较饲喂管理。利用第三代测序技术对28 d时白羽肉鸡肠道菌群进行高通量测序,借助生物信息学分析肠道菌群多样性和优势菌群(丰度前10)相对丰度,揭示各分组组间与组内差异,并对肝脏主要氧化酶活性进一步比较。【结果】饲喂复合噬菌体裂解酶和金霉素制剂对白羽肉鸡肠道菌群有一定影响,均降低了肠道菌群相对丰度与多样性,而且Shannon指数与空白组相比存在显著差异(P0.05)。优势菌群中,复合噬菌体裂解酶组相较于金霉素组和空白组,拟杆菌门的相对丰度发生了显著上升,而厚壁菌门的相对丰度发生了显著下降(P0.05)。同时,在属水平上,粪杆菌属的相对丰度发生了显著上升,而螺杆菌属的相对丰度发生了显著下降(P0.05),这一趋势与多数替代抗生素产品饲喂家禽后肠道菌群变化趋势类似,更有利于家禽肠道的健康。此外,饲喂复合噬菌体裂解酶组相较于金霉素组和空白组,过氧化氢酶(Catalase,CAT)和超氧化物歧化酶(Superoxide Dismutase,SOD)活性均发生了显著上升(P0.05)。【结论】噬菌体裂解酶能够有效改善畜禽肠道菌群,促进畜禽肠道菌群的微生态健康及提高机体免疫力,将噬菌体裂解酶替代抗生素应用于畜禽养殖具有较好的前景,值得进一步研究。     

高通量测序分析小头裸裂尻鱼皮肤和肠道的微生物多样性

【目的】解析小头裸裂尻鱼不同部位的微生物群落结构、物种组成、多样性特征以及菌群功能差异。【方法】通过Illumina MiSeq扩增子高通量测序,分析小头裸裂尻鱼皮肤黏膜、肠道黏膜和肠道内容物3个部位微生物菌群组成差异,并通过Tax4Fun预测菌群潜在功能。【结果】皮肤黏膜微生物α多样性最高,其Shannon指数显著高于肠道黏膜(P<0.05)和肠道内容物(P<0.001)。主坐标分析表明,皮肤黏膜微生物显著区别于其他2个部位。在门水平小头裸裂尻鱼3个部位相对丰度前五的微生物类群均为放线菌门(Actinobacteria)、变形菌门(Proteobacteria)、厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)、绿弯菌门(Chloroflexi)和蓝藻门(Cyanobacteria),其中肠道内容物中放线菌门相对丰度(46.53%)显著高于肠道黏膜(29.23%,P<0.05)和皮肤黏膜(25.83%,P<0.01);肠道黏膜中变形菌门的相对丰度(40.33%)显著高于肠道内容物(26.10%,P<0.05)。对各部位相对丰度前10的菌群进行分析发现,小头裸裂尻鱼皮肤黏...     

多囊卵巢综合征患者肠道菌群和生化免疫分子特征

【目的】比较多囊卵巢综合征(polycysticovariansyndrome,PCOS)患者与健康对照间肠道菌群谱结构特征差异,并探讨多囊卵巢综合征患者差异菌群与生化免疫指标之间的联系。【方法】选取初诊多囊卵巢综合征患者23例和健康女性对照23例,每例患者于初诊时留取粪便标本和血液标本,粪便标本提取DNA进行宏基因组测序,血清用于检测性激素和炎症因子。通过生物信息分析比较多囊卵巢综合征患者与健康对照间肠道菌群谱结构特征差异,以及与相关指标的联系。【结果】发现多囊卵巢综合征患者与健康对照的肠道菌群在门、属、种水平均有明显差异。两组间差异菌种为4个,普通拟杆菌(Bacteroides vulgatus)和弗格森埃希菌(Escherichia fergusonii)在PCOS组中的相对丰度高于对照组,并且这两种菌与PCOS的发病机制密切相关。凸腹真杆菌(Eubacteriumventriosum)和Subdoligranulum unclassified菌的相对丰度低于健康对照组。其中普通拟杆菌、凸腹真杆菌和Subdoligranulum unclassified菌3个菌种彼此间存在相关性,差异菌种与生化免疫指标间也存在相关性。发现布鲁米球菌、棒状戈登菌、脱硫弧菌、凸腹真杆菌、斯特雷沃菌5个菌的组合在PCOS患者早期诊断中具有较好的诊断效能。基因分析发现,鸟苷核苷酸从头生物合成的超途径I基因通路在PCOS人群中富集。【结论】多囊卵巢综合征患者与对照组间的肠道菌群和生化免疫指标均具有差异,并具有一定相关性,为PCOS患者的综合性诊疗提供了方向。     

Foreign exploration for Scirtothrips perseae Nakahara (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) and associated natural enemies on avocado (Persea americana Miller)

Scirtothrips perseae Nakahara was discovered attacking avocados in California, USA, in 1996. Host plant surveys in California indicated that S. perseae has a highly restricted host range with larvae being found only on avocados, while adults were collected from 11 different plant species. As part of a management program for this pest, a “classical” biological control program was initiated and foreign exploration was conducted to delineate the home range of S. perseae, to survey for associated natural enemies and inventory other species of phytophagous thrips on avocados grown in Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Trinidad, and Brazil. Foreign exploration efforts indicate that S. perseae occurs on avocados grown at high altitudes (>1500 m) from Uruapan in Mexico south to areas around Guatemala City in Guatemala. In Costa Rica, S. perseae is replaced by an undescribed congener as the dominant phytophagous thrips on avocados grown at high altitudes (>1300 m). No species of Scirtothrips were found on avocados in the Dominican Republic, Trinidad, or Brazil. In total, 2136 phytophagous thrips were collected and identified, representing over 47 identified species from at least 19 genera. The significance of these species records is discussed. Of collected material 4% were potential thrips biological control agents. Natural enemies were dominated by six genera of predatory thrips (Aeolothrips, Aleurodothrips, Franklinothrips, Leptothrips, Scolothrips, and Karnyothrips). One genus each of parasitoid (Ceranisus) and predatory mite (Balaustium) were found. Based on the results of our sampling techniques, prospects for the importation of thrips natural enemies for use in a “classical” biological control program in California against S. perseae are not promising.     

Molecular phylogeny of Phebalium (Rutaceae: Boronieae) and related genera based on the nrDNA regions ITS 1+2

Parsimony analyses of the internal transcribed spacer regions of nuclear ribosomal DNA (ITS 1 & ITS 2) for 38 taxa sampled from the Phebalium group (Rutaceae: Boronieae) and two outgroups confirm that, with the exception of Phebalium sensu stricto and Rhadinothamnus, six of the currently recognised genera within the group are monophyletic. The data indicate that Phebaliums. str. is paraphyletic with respect to Microcybe, and Rhadinothamnus is paraphyletic with respect to Chorilaena. Rhadinothamnus and Chorilaena together are the sister group to Nematolepis. Drummondita, included as an outgroup taxon, clustered within the ingroup as sister to Muiriantha and related to Asterolasia.The phylogeny suggests that the evolution of major clades within a number of these genera (e.g. Phebalium) relates to vicariance events between eastern and south-western Australia. Leionema is an eastern genus, with the most basal taxon being the morphologically distinct Leionema ellipticum from northern Queensland. Leionema also includes one species from New Zealand, but this species (as with some others) proved difficult to sequence and its phylogenetic position remains unknown. Taxonomic changes at the generic level are recommended.The authors wish to thank Paul G.Wilson, PERTH, for advice and discussion, and Paul Forster, BRI, for collecting and providing material of Leionema ellipticum. The project was supported by a Melbourne University Postgraduate Award (to BM), the Australian Biological Resources Study (ABRS), Australian Systematic Botany Society and Wolf Den (Australia) Investments.     

New species and new combinations in Peruvian Orchidaceae

seventeen new species and combinations are proposed in the generaChondrorhyncha, Cischweinfia, Cochlioda, Eloyella, Encyclia, Kefersteinia, Koellensteinia, Macroclinium, Rodriguezia, Solenidiopsis, andStenia. All new species are illustrated. A key is provided for 2-flowered species ofMacroclinium, PeruvianSigmatostalix, and PeruvianStenia. Solenidium (Solenidiopsis) peruvianum Schltr. is lectotypified.     

Entwicklungsgeschichte und Ultrastruktur von Pollenkitt und Exine bei nahe verwandten entomophilen und anemophilen Angiospermensippen derAlismataceae,Liliaceae, Juncaceae,Cyperaceae, Poaceae undAraceae

Some closely related members of the monocotyledonous familiesAlismataceae, Liliaceae, Juncaceae, Cyperaceae, Poaceae andAraceae with variable modes of pollination (insect- and wind-pollination) were studied in relation to the ultrastructure of pollenkitt and exine (amount, consistency and distribution of pollenkitt on the surface of pollen grains). The character syndromes of pollen cementing in entomophilous, anemophilous and intermediate (ambophilous or amphiphilous) monocotyledons are the same in principal as in dicotyledons. Comparing present with former results one can summarize: 1) The pollenkitt is always produced in the same manner by the anther tapetum in all angiosperm sub-classes. 2) The variable stickiness of entomophilous and anemophilous pollen always depends on the particular distribution and consistency of the pollenkitt, but not its amount on the pollen surface. 3) The mostly dry and powdery pollen of anemophilous plants always contains a variable amount of inactive pollenkitt in its exine cavities. 4) A step-by step change of the pollen cementing syndrome can be observed from entomophily towards anemophily. 5) From the omnipresence of pollenkitt in all wind-pollinated angiosperms studied one can conclude that the ancestors of anemophilous angiosperms probably have been zoophilous (i.e. entomophilous) throughout.

     

Taxonomic status of the species of the green algal genusNeochloris

Komárek has recently reviewed the various species assigned to the green algal genusNeochloris Starr (Chlorococcales, Chlorococcaceae) and removed those with uninucleate vegetative cells to a new genus,Ettlia. Watanabe & Floyd, unaware ofKomárek's work, also reviewed the species ofNeochloris and distributed them among three genera—Neochloris, Chlorococcopsis gen. nov., andParietochloris gen. nov.—on the basis of details of the covering of the zoospore and the arrangement of the basal bodies of the flagellar apparatus. This paper reconciles these two treatments and makes additional recommendations at the ranks of genus, family, order, and class.     

安徽牯牛降的丝孢菌Ⅰ

本文报导作者采自安徽枯牛降自然保护区的18种丝孢菌,分属于5个属,其中有3个新种:牛皮冻生尾孢(Cercospora paederiicola),山鸡椒假尾饱(Pseudocercospora litseae-cubebae),鸡血藤生假尾孢(P. millettiicola)和2个中国新纪录。文中对新种进行了描述及绘图,新记录种作了简要说明。研究的标本保存在中国科学院微生物研究所真菌标本室(HMAS)。     

Changes of dung beetle communities from rainforests towards agroforestry systems and annual cultures in Sulawesi (Indonesia)

Little is known about how tropical land-use systems contribute to the conservation of functionally important insect groups, including dung beetles. In a study at the margin of Lore Lindu National Park (a biodiversity hotspot in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia) dung-beetle communities were sampled in natural forest, young secondary forest, agroforestry systems (cacao plantations with shade trees) and annual cultures (maize fields), each with four replicates (n = 16 sites). At each site we used 10 pitfall traps, baited with cattle dung, along a 100 m transect for six 3-day periods. The number of trapped specimens and species richness at the natural forest sites was higher than in all land-use systems, which did not significantly differ. Each land-use system contained, on average, 75% of the species richness of the natural forest, thereby indicating their importance for conservation. However, a two-dimensional scaling plot based on NESS indices (m = 6) indicated distinct dung beetle communities for both forest types, while agroforestry systems and annual cultures exhibited a pronounced overlap. Mean body size of dung beetles was not significantly influenced by land-use intensity. Five of the six most abundant dung beetle species were recorded in all habitats, whereas the abundance of five other species was significantly related to habitat type. Mean local abundance and number of occupied sites were closely correlated, further indicating little habitat specialisation. The low dung beetle diversity (total of 18 recorded species) may be due to the absence of larger mammals in Sulawesi during historical times, even though Sulawesi is the largest island of Wallacea. In conclusion, the dung beetle fauna of the lower montane forest zone in Central Sulawesi appears to be relatively robust to man-made habitat changes and the majority of species did not exhibit strong habitat preferences.     

Phylogenetic investigations of Sordariaceae based on multiple gene sequences and morphology

The family Sordariaceae incorporates a number of fungi that are excellent model organisms for various biological, biochemical, ecological, genetic and evolutionary studies. To determine the evolutionary relationships within this group and their respective phylogenetic placements, multiple-gene sequences (partial nuclear 28S ribosomal DNA, nuclear ITS ribosomal DNA and partial nuclear β-tubulin) were analysed using maximum parsimony and Bayesian analyses. Analyses of different gene datasets were performed individually and then combined to generate phylogenies. We report that Sordariaceae, with the exclusion Apodus and Diplogelasinospora, is a monophyletic group. Apodus and Diplogelasinospora are related to Lasiosphaeriaceae. Multiple gene analyses suggest that the spore sheath is not a phylogenetically significant character to segregate Asordaria from Sordaria. Smooth-spored Sordaria species (including so-called Asordaria species) constitute a natural group. Asordaria is therefore congeneric with Sordaria. Anixiella species nested among Gelasinospora species, providing further evidence that non-ostiolate ascomata have evolved from ostiolate ascomata on several independent occasions. This study agrees with previous studies that show heterothallic Neurospora species to be monophyletic, but that homothallic ones may have a multiple origins. Although Gelasinospora and Neurospora are closely related and not resolved as monophyletic groups, there is insufficient evidence to place currently accepted Gelasinospora and Neurospora species into the same genus.     

Die GattungKarschia — Bindeglied zwischen bitunicaten Ascomyceten und lecanoralen Flechtenpilzen?

The genusKarschia, in the earlier sense, including saprophytes and parasites on lichens, has been thought to be a non-lichenized parallel genus of the lichen genusBuellia. Modern workers included it on the one hand inBuellia, on the other hand combined it with bitunicate ascomycetes. It is now proved thatKarschia is heterogeneous and contains but superficially similar members both of the genusBuellia of theLecanorales and of typical or masked bitunicateAscomycetes. Therefore, it can not be regarded as a link betweenLecanorales andDothideales. The type species ofKarschia belongs to theDothideales.