Isolation of a new vahlkampfiid amoeba from soil: Paravahlkampfia lenta n. sp.

When the genus Paravahlkampfia was distinguished from the genus Vahlkampfia on the basis of significant differences in small subunit ribosomal DNA sequences, Paravahlkampfia ustiana was the only described species of this new genus. More recently, a vahlkampfiid strain has been isolated (from soil from an upland farm in Scotland) which has trophozoite and cyst morphology more similar to P. ustiana than to other non-flagellating vahlkampfiid species. Also, it clusters with P. ustiana in phylogenetic trees derived from 5.8S ribosomal DNA sequences. However, it is significantly different from P. ustiana in both phenotype and internal transcribed spacer sequence. Consequently, a new species, Paravahlkampfia lenta, is proposed.     

Chirognathia dracula gen. et spec. nov. (Gnathostomulida) from the west coast of North America

A new gnathostomulid genus and species, Chirognathia dracula gen. et spec. nov., is described from intertidal surf grass (Phyllospadix) rhizomes on high-energy coasts of Vancouver Island (Canada) and Bodega Bay (California). The characteristics of the reproductive system place the new genus in Bursovaginoidea-Scleroperalia and features of the mouth parts (except for the absence of a jugum) assign it to the family Gnathostomulidae. Chirognathia nov. gen. is characterized by a delicate, transverse shield-shaped basal plate and by jaws with three tooth rows, of which the median appears as a bundle.     

毛离褶伞——一种孢子杆状的离褶伞科新属和新种

根据形态和分子系统发育证据,描述采自我国西南的新属和新种毛离褶伞Tricholyophyllum brunneum。与离褶伞科其他属不同,该新属的菌盖表皮为毛皮状,菌柄表皮为不连续的毛皮状,有褶缘囊状体,担孢子长椭圆形至圆柱形。     

Bracca olafhenkeli sp. nov., a new species of the Ennominae (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) from Sulawesi (Indonesia)

Bracca olafhenkeli sp. nov. is described from the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia, to which it is considered endemic. Morphological characters such as the basic pattern and coloration as well as the genitalia clearly indicate that the species is a typical member of the genus Bracca Hübner, but large, white apical spots on the forewings and extremely broad, white marginal bands on the hindwings render it unmistakable among its congeners. The new species is abundant in montane areas of North, Central and South Sulawesi and seems to be restricted to primary forests. The biology is unknown.     

Molecular phylogeny and taxonomic revision of Chlamydomonas (Chlorophyta). I. Emendation of Chlamydomonas Ehrenberg and Chloromonas Gobi, and description of Oogamochlamys gen. nov. and Lobochlamys gen. nov

The genus Chlamydomonas (including Chloromonas) is one of the largest green algal genera comprising more than 600 species. To initiate a comprehensive analysis of the phylogeny and systematics of the genus, we determined nuclear-encoded SSU rRNA sequences from 32 strains of Chlamydomonas, Chloromonas and Chlorogonium with emphasis on oogamous taxa and related strains, and incorporated these into global molecular phylogenetic analyses of 132 strains of Chlorophyceae. In addition, we studied the morphology and reproduction of oogamous and related strains by light microscopy. We recognize and designate 18 monophyletic lineages (clades) within the Chlorophyceae, 11 of which are confined to the CW (basal bodies displaced clockwise) subgroup. The majority of clades recognized within the Chlorophyceae do not correspond to any of the traditional classification systems, which are still largely based on the organization level. Strains assigned to Chlamydomonas and Chloromonas were found in seven different clades confirming the polyphyly of the two genera as presently conceived. To initiate the taxonomic revision of Chlamydomonas, C. reinhardtii is proposed as the conserved type of the genus. In consequence, species in clades other than the clade containing C. reinhardtii must be transferred to other genera, a process initiated in this contribution. The oogamous strains studied represent a monophyletic lineage, which is described as Oogamochlamys gen. nov. comprising three species (O. gigantea, O. zimbabwiensis and O. ettlii spec. nov.). The sister clade to Oogamochlamys consists of isogamous strains characterized by chloroplasts with incisions and is described as Lobochlamys gen. nov. with two species (L. culleus and L. segnis). Another clade is characterized by asteroid or perforated, parietal chloroplasts and contains the type species of Chloromonas (C. reticulata). Thus, the polyphyletic Chloromonas (traditionally defined as “Chlamydomonas without pyrenoids”) can be legitimized as a monophyletic genus by restriction to this clade and is here emended on the basis of chloroplast characters (the clade contains strains with or without pyrenoids thus rejecting the character “absence of pyrenoids”).     

Trichosporon mycotoxinivorans sp. nov., a new yeast species useful in biological detoxification of various mycotoxins

A yeast strain isolated from the hindgut of the lower termite Mastotermes darwiniensis (Mastotermitidae) was found to represent a new member of the genus Trichosporon. Trichosporon mycotoxinivorans is closely related to T. loubieri on the basis of the phylogenetic trees based on the D1/D2 region of 26S rDNA, an approx. 600 bp fragment of the 18S rDNA and both ITS regions. However, the two species differ at nine positions in the D1/D2 region of 26S rDNA. The IGS1 region of T. mycotoxinivorans is 401 bp long. T. mycotoxinivorans is distinguished from T. loubieri by its ability to assimilate inulin and galactitol, and its inability to grow at 40 °C. The name of this newly isolated strain refers to an important characteristics of T. mycotoxinivorans to detoxify mycotoxins such as ochratoxin A and zearalenone. Therefore this strain can be used for the deactivation of the respective mycotoxins in animal feeds.     

Gordonia lacunae sp. nov., isolated from an estuary

An actinomycete, strain BS2^T, was isolated from a sand sample collected from an estuary in Plettenberg Bay, Western Cape Province, South Africa. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities and chemotaxonomy, strain BS2^T was identified as a member of the genus Gordonia. It exhibited weak antibiosis against Mycobacterium aurum A+ and Mycobacterium smegmatis LR222. Phenotypic and phylogenetic results allowed for the differentiation of strain BS2^T from other species within the genus Gordonia. DNA–DNA hybridization further differentiated strain BS2^T from its nearest phylogenetic neighbour, Gordonia terrae NRRL B-16283^T (57.5±4.4% DNA relatedness). Strain BS2^T is therefore a novel species within the genus Gordonia, for which the name Gordonia lacunae is proposed, with the type strain being BS2^T (=DSM 45085^T=NRRL B-24551^T).     

Asteroid fauna of the northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge with description of a new species Hymenasterides mironovi sp. nov.

Asteroids collected on the north part of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge by the RV G.O. Sars in summer 2004, under the MAR-ECO programme, were studied. Asteroids were found at 17 stations, at depths ranging from 966 to 3509 m. The collection includes 32 species. One species of Hymenasterides is here described as new to science. This is the first record of the genus Hymenasterides Fisher, 1911a in the Atlantic Ocean. Previously the genus Hymenasterides included only one species, Hymenasterides zenognathus Fisher, 1911a, from the West Pacific. The new species differs from it by a larger number of paxillar spines (9-20 instead of five to seven) and by alternate adambulacral plates with one and two spines instead of one and three. An annotated check-list is given of the asteroids in the MAR-ECO collection.     

Plenasium xiei sp. nov. from the Cretaceous of Northeast China: Additional evidence for the longevity of osmundaceous ferns

A new species of the Osmundaceae, Plenasium xiei sp. nov., is herein described from the Cretaceous of Northeast China. The specimens examined here represent the earliest unequivocal record of the extant genus Plenasium in Eurasia based on fossil rhizomes. The rhizome consists of a central stem with a mantle of petiole bases and adventitious roots. The stem contains an ectophloic‐dictyoxylic siphonostele and a two‐layered cortex. The C‐shaped leaf trace bears two protoxylem bundles at the point of separation from the stele. The pith is heterogeneous. The parenchymatous inner cortex is thinner than the sclerenchymatous outer cortex. Lobed sclerenchyma bands occur at the adaxial sides of the stem xylem strands, in the concavity of the leaf trace, and along the adaxial side of the vascular bundles of the petiole base. In distal petiole portions, the sclerenchyma band splits into several groups in the transverse view. Sclerenchyma rings are heterogeneous with an abaxial sclerenchymatous arc of thick‐walled fibers. Numerous sclerenchyma strands of thick‐walled fibers appear in the petiolar inner cortex and the stipular wing. These fossils provide unambiguous evidence for the existence of subgenus Plenasium of modern Plenasium by at least the Late Cretaceous, demonstrating the longevity of this extant subgenus. Altogether the leaf and rhizome fossil records of Plenasium indicate that this genus was widely distributed across North America and Eurasia from the Early Cretaceous to the Early Cenozoic, followed by a range restriction to Eurasia in the Late Cenozoic. Extant Plenasium species are only known from East and Southeast Asia.     

Amphirosellinia gen. nov. and a new species of Entoleuca

The new genus Amphirosellinia is erected to include five xylariaceous fungi with erumpent or immersed perithecioid stromata. Amphirosellinia fushanensis, A. nigrospora and A. tennesseensis are newly described, whereas A. evansii and A. quercina are new combinations. Synnematous, geniculosporium-like anamorphs are known for A. fushanensis, A. nigrospora, A. tennesseensis and A. evansii; the anamorph of the latter species was produced on natural substratum, whereas those of the former three species were produced in culture. Dichotomous keys are presented for the Amphirosellinia species and for some genera that might be confused with Amphirosellinia. Entoleuca ellisii also is described as new. It readily can be separated from the known species in the genus by its smaller ascospore size range and short ascospore germ slit.     

Genus-specific host range of Phomopsis amaranthicola (Sphaeropsidales), a bioherbicide agent for Amaranthus spp.

Phomopsis amaranthicola, a newly described species discovered in Florida, is under development as a biological control agent for weeds belonging to the genus Amaranthus. Host-range testing was performed on the fungus, using the centrifugal phylogenetic scheme, with Amaranthus hybridus as the focal plant. Forty-five accessions of 21 species in the genus Amaranthus were tested for susceptibility to infection by this fungus. Fifty-six plant species outside the genus Amaranthus were also tested. The latter included crops in which the fungus might be used as a bioherbicide, members of genera that are closely related to Amaranthus, and selections of species that have been reported as hosts of other species of the genera Phomopsis or Diaporthe. Phomopsis amaranthicola did not infect any of the plants from outside the genus Amaranthus but was highly pathogenic to several species in the genus Amaranthus. All Amaranthus species tested were infected to varying degrees by P. amaranthicola; the resulting mortality levels were also variable. Thus, P. amaranthicola appears to be host-specific to the members of the genus Amaranthus. The generic level of specificity of this pathogen renders it not only a safe bioherbicide agent but also one that could be used against several weedy Amaranthus species.     

Ossicaulis yunnanensis sp. nov. (Lyophyllaceae,Agaricales) from southwestern China

Ossicaulis is a small genus in the family Lyophyllaceae. Two known species, O. lachnopus, and O. lignatilis, are distributed in north temperate regions. The third taxon, O. yunnanensis sp. nov., is described from the alpine belt of subtropics of southwestern China, and this genus is also reported for the first time from China. Morphologically, the new species is characterized by its whitish basidiomata and very small basidiospores. Molecular analyses from the nuclear rDNA internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) show that the subtropical alpine species is distinct from hitherto known Ossicaulis species and has a close relationship to O. lachnopus.     

Pullaritheca longii gen. nov. and Kerryia mattenii gen. et sp. nov., lower carboniferous cupules with ovules of the Hydrasperma tenuis-type

New specimens of cupules assignable to Hydrasperma longii Matten et al. have been collected at Oxroad Bay in southern Scotland. Two of these bear large well-developed ovules that are tightly packed within the cupules and reveal the features of the relatively mature fructification. The attached ovules fall within the range of structural variation that encompasses both the isolated ovules that are the type specimens of H. tenuis and cupulate ovules described as H. tenuis from the uppermost Devonian of Ireland. However, the cupules from Scotland and Ireland have distinctly different morphologies. This demonstrates that H. tenuis ovules are produced by at least two different kinds of plants and reveals that ovule structure alone is not always a reliable taxonomic indicator among primitive gymnosperms. The genus Hydrasperma is restricted to isolated ovules because it can not be determined which, if either of the plants, represented by the currently-known cupulate morphologies, actually bore the type specimens of H. tenuis. Plants represented by the ovulate cupules from Scotland and Ireland are named Pullaritheca longii gen. nov. and Kerryia mattenii gen. et sp. nov. respectively.     

Rhopalophthalmus tartessicus sp. nov. (Crustacea: Mysidacea), a new mysid species from the Guadalquivir estuary (SW Spain)

The first representative of the genus Rhopalophthalmus in European waters, Rhopalophthalmus tartessicus sp. nov., is described from specimens sampled in the Guadalquivir estuary (southwestern Spain). At first identified as the Algerian species Rhopalophthalmus mediterraneus Nouvel, 1960, the new mysid species can be distinguished from its closest relative by its higher number of articles on the carpopropodus of the third to seventh thoracic endopods, by the well hook-shaped eighth thoracic endopod of the male, by the slender eighth thoracic endopod of the female, and by the smaller antennal scale and telson. Its geographical distribution appears restricted to estuarine habitats in southwestern Spain. Its swimming behaviour, with the ventral side facing upwards, is unusual in mysids. An updated identification key for the 19 known species in the genus, including information on the respective geographical distribution and habitat, is presented.     

中国杜鹃花科一新记录属及铁线莲属一新种

报道杜鹃花科仙女越橘属(Andromeda)在中国东北吉林省的新分布记录,该属为单型属,广布于北美北部、欧洲北部和东亚北部,但以前中国境内未有记录。本文提供了本属的形态描述和植物野外生境照片。另外,还描述了产自云南西双版纳的铁线莲属一新种易武铁线莲Clematis peii,并绘图。该新种隶属于威灵仙组（sect. Clematis）并与C.chingii近缘,不同点在于,该新种为三出复叶,小叶片近全缘,花药较长（约3mm）,且药隔显著凸出,并讨论了该新种与sect. Clematis中其它具有三出复叶的种类在形态上的区别。     

Amorosia littoralis gen. sp. nov., a new genus and species name for the scorpinone and caffeine-producing hyphomycete from the littoral zone in The Bahamas

The new generic and species name Amorosia littoralis gen. sp. nov. is introduced for the conidial dematiaceous hyphomycete isolated from the littoral zone in The Bahamas and reported in 2001 to produce the novel aza-anthraquinone scorpinone, and also caffeine. No satisfactory generic placement was found at the time, but subsequent morphological and molecular investigations reveal that a new generic name is required. The new genus has some similarity to several fungi described in Trichocladium, but differs substantially from the type species of that genus in the form of the conidia and the lack of ornamentation. BLAST studies using the 18S and 28S rDNA gene sequences place the new genus in the Sporormiaceae. In addition to the morphological studies, an ultrastructural examination of the conspicuous porate septa of hyphae showed that they do not belong to a basidiomycete.     

Rhodospira trueperi gen. nov., spec. nov., a new phototrophic Proteobacterium of the alpha group

A new phototrophic purple bacterium was isolated from a flat, laminated microbial mat in a salt marsh near Woods Hole, Mass., USA. The spiral-shaped bacterium was highly motile and had bipolar tufts of flagella and intracytoplasmic membranes of the vesicular type. The major photosynthetic pigments were identified as the carotenoid tetrahydrospirilloxanthin and bacteriochlorophyll b. The long wavelength in vivo absorption maximum of the bacteriochlorophyll was at 986 nm. The marine bacterium showed optimal growth in the presence of 2% NaCl. It utilized a number of organic substrates as carbon and energy sources and required vitamins and sulfide as a reduced sulfur source for growth. In the presence of sulfide, elemental sulfur globules were formed outside the cells. Elemental sulfur was not further oxidized to sulfate. The new isolate had a unique lipid and fatty acid composition, and according to the 16S rRNA gene sequence, it is most similar to Rhodospirillum rubrum. It is described as a new species and assigned to a new genus with the proposed name Rhodospira trueperi. Received: 16 September 1996 / Accepted: 24 January 1997     

Leucobacter chromiireducens sp. nov, and Leucobacter aridicollis sp. nov., two new species isolated from a chromium contaminated environment

Two strains designated strains L-1^T and L-9^T were isolated from activated sludge of a treatment plant that receives wastewater from the tannery industry contaminated with chromium. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the organisms represented two new species of the genus Leucobacter. Strains L-1^T and L-9^T could be distinguished from the type strain of L. komagatae and from the type strain of “L. albus” by the B-type peptidoglycan composition, fatty acid composition, several phenotypic and physiological characteristics. The major fatty acids of the organisms were iso- and anteiso-branched C15:0 and C17:0, straight-chain C16:0 was also found in relatively high proportions. The organisms were halotolerant, grew in medium containing 9% NaCl, and all strains, including the type strain of L. komagatae grew in medium containing 5 mM Cr(VI). On the basis of the distinct peptidoglycan composition, 16S ribosomal DNA sequence analysis, percentage of DNA-DNA reassociation values, and phenotypic characteristics we are of the opinion that strain L-1^T represents a new species of the genus Leucobacter for which we propose the name Leucobacter chromiireducens and that strain L-9^T represents an additional new species of the same genus for which we propose the name Leucobacter aridicollis.