Distribution and taxonomy of shallow marine Ostracods from Northern Socotra Island (Indian Ocean) - Yemen

Forty-seven species belonging to 30 genera of ostracods have been identified from Recent shallow marine sediments collected along the northern coastline of the island of Socotra (Indian Ocean). The systematics and distribution of these ostracods are discussed. Three genera, Loxoconcha, Bosasella, and Xestoleberis are found to have high species diversity. The species Loxoconcha ghardaqensis, Moosella striata are best documented in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden while Kotoracythere inconspicua and Triebelina sertata were found to be the most widespread species. The fauna shows a close affinity to other ostracod assemblages of the Indo-Pacific region, East African coast and Red Sea.     

Comparative ecological analysis of the ostracod faunas from low- and high-polluted southwestern Spanish estuaries: a multivariate approach

The distribution and abundance of both living and total ostracod populations from the estuaries of the southwestern Spanish coast are discussed. A total of 68 species were obtained from 120 bottom samples collected in the channels, channel margins and salt marshes. Four assemblages were recognized in this area: (a) Urocythereis oblonga assemblage, with marine species well-represented in sandy substrates located near the mouths; (b) Loxoconcha rhomboidea assemblage, mainly developed in the quiet tidal channels conected with the main channels of the marine domains; (c) Loxoconcha elliptica assemblage, enclosing the most cosmopolitan and euryhaline species, very abundant in muddy sediments and low to moderate hydrodynamic conditions; and (d) Leptocythere porcellanea assemblage, only observed in the clayey-silty channel margins of the most protected ebb channels.In these transitional environments, very unfavorable conditions for the ostracod development were found in: (a) the erosional channels and channel margins; (b) most of the salt marsh samples with high subaerial exposure; and (c) sectors with high metallic pollution levels and acidic waters.     

Phylogenetic relationships among the Notharctinae of North America

Study of over 1,000 specimens representing all notharctine genera and species leads to the conclusion that current concepts about the relationships of genera within the Notharctinae are incorrect. The following describes the more probable relationships among these genera. 1) Smilodectes and Notharctus are more closely related to each other than either is to any known early Eocene notharctine. Synapomorphies linking these genera include relatively narrow upper and lower molars, a relatively low-crowned P4, and paraconid size reduction on M1-3. 2) Among known Wasatchian notharctines, a clade consisting of Copelemur tutus and Cop. praetutus shares several lower molar synapomorphies with the Notharctus-Smilodectes clade, and therefore appears to form the Wasatchian sister group of Bridgerian notharctines. Synapomorphies documenting this relationship include well-developed entoconid notches on P4-M2, an anteriorly placed paraconid on M2, and a long premetacristid on M2. 3) Copelemur and Pelycodus are independently derived from early North American Cantius. Recent suggestions that the European adapine taxa Leptadapis priscus and Microadapis sciureus share special phylogenetic relationships with Smilodectes are rejected. The reduced (or lack of a) paraconid and morphology of the paracristid and other features identified as synapomorphies linking these adapines with Smilodectes are also characteristic of most other adapines as well (e.g., other species of Leptadapis, Adapis, Europolemur, and Anchomomys). Such traits developed independently in Smilodectes, which is clearly a notharctine on the basis of many synapomorphies and thus are not evidence of a close phylogenetic relationship between Smilodectes and L. priscus or M. sciureus.     

Seed morphology of modern and fossil Ampelocissus (Vitaceae) and implications for phytogeography

Seeds are useful in distinguishing among extant genera of Vitaceae and provide a good basis for interpretation of fossil remains in reconstructing the evolutionary and phytogeographic history of this putatively basal Rosid family. Seeds of Ampelocissus s.l. including Pterisanthes and Nothocissus are distinguished from those of all other vitaceous genera by long, parallel ventral infolds and a centrally positioned oval chalazal scar. Principal component analysis facilitates recognition of four Ampelocissus s.l. seed morphotypes differentiated by dorsiventral thickness, width of ventral infolds, chalazal depth, and degree of dorsal surface rugosity. While these intergrade, their end-member morphologies are distinctive and coincide well with inflorescence morphology, extant geographic distribution, and ecology. Seven fossil morphospecies are recognized. Ampelocissus parvisemina sp. n. (Paleocene of North Dakota; Eocene of Oregon) and A. auriforma Manchester (Eocene of Oregon) resemble extant Central American species; A. bravoi Berry (Eocene of Peru) is similar to one group of Old World extant species; and A. parachandleri sp. n. (Eocene of Oregon) and the three European fossil species A. chandleri (Kirchheimer) comb. n., A. lobatum (Chandler) comb. n., and A. wildei sp. n. (Eocene to Miocene) resemble another group of extant Old World Ampelocissus. All these fossils occur outside the present geographic range of the genus, reflecting warmer climates and former intercontinental links.     

The Palaearctic centers of taxonomic diversity of fleas (Siphonaptera)

The Palaearctic flea fauna includes 921 species and 479 subspecies from 96 genera of 10 families. Of them, 858 species (94%) from 43 genera are endemic to the Palaearctic; they comprise 40% of the Palaearctic Hystrichopsyllidae, 24% of Ceratophyllidae, and 20% of Leptopsyllidae. Ranges of 581 species (63% of the Palaearctic fauna) are situated within one province or subregion of the Palaearctic. Species with ranges including a part of Asia (592) comprise 87% of the total fauna; 72% of the species (517) are endemic to the Palaearctic. The largest centers of taxonomic diversity of Palaearctic fleas are situated in the East Asian, Central Asian, and Turano-Iranian Subregions: 320 species of fleas (214 of them endemic) from 59 genera (8 endemic) are known from the East Asian Subregion; 270 species (over 120 endemic) from 54 genera (5 endemic) are distributed in the Central Asian Subregion. The Turano-Iranian fauna comprises 213 species (103 endemic) from 47 genera (3 endemic); about 160 species occur in the Turanian Subprovince closest to the Russian borders, one-third of them (52 species, or 33%) are endemic; 69 species more are endemic to the entire Asian part of the Palaearctic. Extra-Asian and extra-Siberian ranges are known in 190 flea species. In the western Palaearctic, 76 species are endemic to the European Province, and 57 species, to the Mediterranean Province; 36 species have Euro-Mediterranean distribution. The fauna of the Saharo-Arabian Subregion comprises 30 species (12 endemic), 6 species have ranges of the Mediterranean-Saharo-Arabian type. Scenarios of the origin of the Siphonaptera at the Triassic-Jurassic boundary are hypothesized. Formation of the Palaearctic flea fauna was mostly supported by the Asian-Indo-Malayan and East Asian-Western American palaeofaunal centers of taxonomic diversity. The long history of faunal exchange between the east Palaearctic and the west Nearctic is manifested by the distribution of the parasites of rodents and insectivores, fleas of the genera Stenoponia, Rhadinopsylla, Nearctopsylla, and Catallagia, belonging to several subfamilies of the Hystrichopsyllidae, as well as members of a number of other flea families. A great number of endemic species in the genera Palaeopsylla and Ctenophthalmus (Hystrichopsyllidae), both in the European and Asian parts of the Palaearctic, can be explained by the junction of the European and Asian continental platforms in the late Cretaceous and their subsequent isolation during the Paleocene. A considerable contribution to the flea fauna in the Russian territory was made by the East Asian-Nearctic center of taxonomic diversity, with a smaller role of the European palaeofauna. Immigration of species of the family Pulicidae from the Afrotropical Region is restricted to the southern territories of Russia.     

Presence of Neotyphodium-like endophytes in European grasses

In order to improve knowledge of Neotyphodium‐likc fungi in European grasses, microscopic detection of endophytic mycelium was achieved in living grasses and in seeds. Samples of grasses were gathered near permanent pastures or along paths in France (93 samples, 13 genera, 22 species). Typical convoluted mycelium was found inside leaf sheaths of four genera, especially in Festuca and Lolium spp. The results suggest that endophytes were present most often in the southern regions where plants may suffer from summer drought. Endophytes were looked for in 489 seed samples (63 genera, 237 species) received from 24 European botanical gardens. Neotyphodium was found in seeds of only six genera (22 species), especially in Festuca (15 species) and Lolium (three species). No endophytic mycelium was found in the other 215 species, although other work had demonstrated the presence of the fungus in 39 of the species analysed. Neotyphodium‐likc mycelium was detected for the first time in Festuca juncifolia, F. trachyphylla, F. vaginata, F. pseudodalmatica, F. rupicaprina, F. arenaria, Vulpia ciliata and Micropyrum tenellum. Further studies are needed for the correct identification of the Neotyphodium species observed.     

Systematics and evolution of the genus Clathrobaculus Cossmann, 1912 (Gastropoda, Mathildidae)

The morphology and ontogeny of Jurassic gastropods those have been included in the genera Clathrobaculus Cossmann, 1912 and Gordenella Gründel, 1990 are discussed. Based on the ontogenetic research of their shells, several types of ontogeny are established in the species of these genera. The suggestion is made that the genus Gordenella should be considered as a junior synonym of Clathrobaculus within the family Mathildidae. The protoconchs of Clathrobaculus species are studied to reveal their morphological variability and a number of distinguishing characters in which they differ from the protoconchs of other mathildid genera. Four species of Clathrobaculus, of which two are new (C. medidilatatus and C. inconstantiplicatus), are described from the Jurassic deposits of the European part of Russia. The composition of C. fahrenkohli (Rouillier, 1846) and C. krantzi (Rouillier, 1849) is emended, and the protoconchs of these species and of the species C. inconstantiplicatus are described for the first time.     

The ontogeny of Loxoconcha japonica Ishizaki, 1968 (Cytheroidea, Ostracoda, Crustacea)

The ontogeny of the cytheroidean species Loxoconcha japonica is documented from the earliest instar to the adult. The first instar (instar A-8) of L. japonica is different from that of cypridoidean species in that it has an additional appendage, the furca, present. From instar A-7 onwards, the appearance of the appendages is similar to that of cypridoidean and bairdioidean species. The furca is well developed in instars A-8 to A-5, and is probably an important appendage in these early instars, despite its reduced form in the adults. Some appendages of L. japonica (e.g. the antennae) gain very few setae and claws through ontogeny, compared with species from other superfamilies. This possibly reflects paedomorphic evolution of this species.     

A Taxonomic Study of European and East African Species of the Genera Pelecopsis and Trichopterna (Araneae, Linyphiidae), with Descriptions of a New Genus and Two New Species of Pelecopsis from Kenya

On the basis of the results of an analysis primarily of the morphology of the male palps and palpal organs the delimitation of the erigonine genera Pelecopsis Simon and Trichopterna Kulczyński and the phylogenetic relationships between European and East African species of these genera are discussed. For the East African species Pelecopsis convexa (Holm), and P. bacelarae (di Caporiacco), together with two undescribed species from Nigeria, the new genus Locketia is established. Pelecopsis humiliceps sp.n. and P. albifrons sp.n., both from Kenya, are described and P. tenera (Holm, 1962), preocc. P. tenera (Schenkel, 1927), is replaced by P. tenuipalpis nom.n. Viewpoints are presented on evolutionary trends and phylogeny of European and East African Pelecopsis species.     

Taxonomy and sexual dimorphism of a new species of Loxoconcha (Podocopida: Ostracoda) from the Pleistocene of the Japan Sea

A new ostracod, Loxoconcha kamiyai sp. nov. in the Family Loxoconchidae, is described from the Pleistocene Omma Formation of Japan. Its geological and geographical distributions suggest that this species was once endemic to the Japan Sea, where it would have evolved until the Pliocene. Since the early Pleistocene, this species would have become extinct within this marginal sea during glacial maxima, probably due to its narrower salinity tolerances and geographical distributions than those of extant species inhabiting the euryhaline environments in other seas. The distributional patterns of pore systems in this species strongly suggest its closest phylogenetic affinities to a living species, Loxocorniculum mutsuense . These two species show a unique adult sexual dimorphism in the anterior element of the hingement. Taking the female hingement morphology as a standard, the male hingement can be explained in terms of heterochrony, i.e. paedomorphosis. Sexual hingement dimorphism with paedomorphosis occurs in only one phylogenetic group of the genus Loxoconcha , which is distinguished by the ontogenetic distributional patterns of pore systems. This morphology may represent relict primitive characters of ancient ostracods and could be an important character for evaluating the history of sexual dimorphism in ostracods since the Palaeozoic.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 153 , 239–251.     

Molecular Systematics and Evolution of Arabidopsis and Arabis

Abstract: We provide a phylogenetic analysis of the genera Arabidopsis and Arabis based on nuclear ribosomal DNA sequences. We show that traditional taxonomical concepts within tribe Ara-bideae, which includes these genera, are highly artificial. Arabis and Arabidopsis are paraphyletic and consist of several different independent lineages. The genus Capsella, originally placed in tribe Lepideae, is related to North American Arabis and the Arabidopsis thaliana lineage. Other genera, including East Asian Yin-shania, North American Halimolobus, cosmopolitan Barbarea and Cardamine, and European Aubrieta are positioned among different Arabis lineages. One Arabis species, Arabis pauciflora, is only distantly related to tribe Arabideae. Base chromosome number reduction from n = 8 to n = 5 to 7 occurred several times, suggesting that lower base chromosome numbers than n = 8 are derived in tribe Arabideae. Current knowledge on the evolution and systematics of the genera Arabis and Arabidopsis and relationships within the mustard family are summarized and discussed in the light of convergent evolution and transfer of knowledge from Arabidopsis thaliana as a molecular model plant to other species of the Cruciferae.     

A cladistic analysis of wax scales (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Coccidae: Ceroplastinae)

Seven genera of wax scales (Ceroplastinae) have been accepted as valid by some or all coecidologists: Ceroplastes Gray, Ceroplastidia Cockerell, Cerostegia De Lotto, Gascardia Targioni Tozzetti, Paracerostegia Tang, Vinsonia Signoret and Waxiella De Lotto. The status of most these genera is controversial. The present study reviews the taxonomic history of wax scales and presents a new classification based on cladistic analysis of morphological data from the adult females of eighty-three species. The analysis indicates that the wax scales form a monophyletic group, that Waxiella is monophyletic but that Ceroplastidia, Gascardia and Vinsonia are not, and fails to support the generic status of Cerostegia and Paracerostegia. Apart from the type species of Vinsonia , which was placed as a sister to the rest of wax scales, the only other species assigned to Vinsonia and most species of all other genera fall within Ceroplastes in the cladogram. Recognition of any of these genera renders Ceroplastes paraphyletic or polyphyletic. Thus, cladistically, the wax scales should be classified into one genus, Ceroplastes.     

Phylogeny and evolution of African shrews (Mammalia: Soricidae) inferred from 16s rRNA sequences

Current phylogenetic hypotheses on the African Crocidurinae (Soricidae) are based upon morpho-anatomical, karyological, and allozyme studies. The present study attempts to resolve the interrelationships among African Crocidurinae and their relationships to Eurasian Crocidurinae and to the subfamily Soricinae, on the basis of partial mitochondrial 16s rRNA sequences (549 bp). This is the first molecular study to include all but one of the nine currently recognized African shrew genera. In agreement with current views, two major lineages emerge. The first lineage includes Myosorex and Congosorex and supports the existence of a myosoricine taxon. The second lineage includes the six remaining genera. The genus Sylvisorex appears to be polyphyletic, whereas species of the controversial genus Crocidura are monophyletic. The genus Suncus presumably originated in Africa. The monospecific genera Ruwenzorisorex and Scutisorex and the two representatives of Paracrocidura cluster with species of other genera. Grouping patterns of species from different continents suggest that there have been multiple exchanges between Africa and Eurasia. The time estimates of these exchanges, inferred from two independent fossil-based calibrations of a molecular clock, coincide with the time estimates for migration events in other mammalian taxa.     

A REASSESSMENT OF SPECIES BOUNDARIES IN CYSTOSEIRA AND HALIDRYS (PHAEOPHYCEAE,FUCALES) ALONG THE NORTH AMERICAN WEST COAST1

Application of phylogenetic species recognition to morphologically recognized species in the genera Cystoseira Agardh and Halidrys Lyngbye on North American west coasts revealed little genetic variation despite a remarkable degree of morphological variation currently used to recognize and delineate species. Whereas morphological characteristics allow recognition of two genera, four morphological species and three informal forms, maximum genetic variation among them was similar to that characteristic of the intraspecific level in European congeners and other Fucales. Among morphological species and forms, nucleotide variation in a combined 26S (large subunit (LSU)) and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) ribosomal DNA analysis was below 3% while it was 1% or less for the RUBISCO spacer of the chloroplast DNA. Comparison of the LSU data to available data for European congeners showed that the genera Cystoseira and Halidrys are not monophyletic and that the previously recognized Cystoseiraceae should be included within the family Sargassaceae. These observations suggest that the current taxonomy for the Sargassaceae fails to reflect evolutionary history because Atlantic and Pacific Cystoseira and Halidrys appear to have arrived at similar morphologies independently. Our results indicate a comparatively recent establishment on the west coast of North America of a sargassacean progenitor whose descendant taxa have experienced limited genetic divergence and are characterized by a high capacity for phenotypic variation despite their overall genetic similarity.     

江西九岭山脉种子植物区系研究

九岭山脉植物区系发生历史悠久,对研究我国早期种子植物演化、动植物迁徙、物种分布格局均具有重要作用。为探讨九岭山脉种子植物区系成因和濒危保护植物的保护利用,该文通过野外调查、标本采集和鉴定,结合经典植物地理学方法,对该山脉种子植物区系进行了研究。结果表明:(1)九岭山脉共有野生种子植物211科956属2928种,占江西种子植物1064属4028种的比例分别为89.8%和72.69%。(2)该植物区系的热带成分科占该地区种子植物总科数(不含世界分布科)的81.35%,但缺乏典型热带成分科,区系中的热带性属和温带性属数量接近,显示该植物区系由热带性质向温带性质过渡,这与九岭山脉地处重要的气候和生态交错地带有一定关联。(3)该地区共分布中国特有植物6科33属41种,特有属主要为古特有属,体现了该植物区系起源的古老性,推断该山脉在第四纪冰期环境较为稳定,为众多植物提供了“避难所”。(4)该地区的种子植物中有30科63属109种为国家重点保护植物,其中,国家I级保护植物15种,极危植物3种、濒危植物11种、易危植物20种。该山脉中的九岭山、官山和大围山已有相应的自然保护区发挥生态保护作用,而其余的山地则未建立有效保护,应对相关濒危植物所在区域加以监管,可采取就地保护或迁地保护等措施,建立相关的种质资源库,确保濒危保护植物的可持续利用。     

An update to modern taxonomy (2011) of freshwater planktic heterocytous cyanobacteria

It is essential for the modern taxonomic classification of cyanobacteria to be continually updated in accordance with revisions based on molecular sequence comparisons and combined with morphological features, ecophysiological characters and other biochemical and molecular markers (“polyphasic approach”). Several genera, which are characterized by their planktic life form and contain indicator species important for the evaluation of aquatic biocenoses in majority of water bodies are recognized in the monophyletic group of heterocytous cyanobacteria. Current taxonomic revisions (and nomenclatoric consequences) of the specific contents of these heterocytous cyanobacterial generic units are covered by this article. Among these genera, 12 contain only planktic species, three remaining genera contain both planktic and non-planktic species. Comments and suggestions for future research are stressed especially in the ecologically distinct genera, which includes species dominating in the plankton of various reservoir types.     

Estimates of species diversity of free-living marine isopod crustaceans on coral reefs

 A core group of isopod crustacean genera appears to be present at many coral reef sites. Within these genera, however, species show high local endemicity. Based on the estimated percentage of endemism for the Atlantic (19% for individual sites, 90% for the tropical western Atlantic as a unit), the Indian Ocean (50%), the eastern-central Pacific (80%), and the western Pacific (40%), it is estimated that there are some 5,000 to 13,000 isopod species in the world’s coral reefs, and that some 2,000 to 6,000 of these are endemics. (At present, approximately 4,400 species of marine and 560 species of freshwater isopods have been described.) Based on the crudely estimated relative abundances of other peracaridan crustaceans in coral reefs (compared to isopods), the total diversity of reef amphipods, tanaidaceans, cumaceans, and mysidaceans is approximately 54,500 species. Accepted: 29 August 1997     

Benthic diatoms as indicators of eutrophication in tropical streams

Diatoms are frequently used as indicators of eutrophication in temperate systems, but little is known about their application to impacted African tropical systems. Five streams located within Gombe Stream National Park and five streams supporting human settlements draining into Lake Tanganyika, East Africa, were investigated for species composition, richness and diversity of epilithic algae. In addition, a trophic diatom index (TDI) developed for monitoring European rivers was applied to these tropical systems. 54 specific and infraspecific diatom taxa representing 20 genera were identified for all sites with Achnanthes s.l., Gomphonema and Navicula s.l. being the most common genera. Species richness varied between 10 and 21 in disturbed streams and 13 and 19 in undisturbed streams. Nutrients were significantly enriched in streams draining the deforested watersheds but indices of diversity and evenness (Shannon H, J and Simpson–Yule D, E) did not show any significant differences between streams in forested and deforested watersheds. Significant differences were observed between pooled data for the TDI between forested and deforested watersheds. Analysis of percent pollution tolerant diatom taxa indicates that organic pollution of streams in deforested watersheds may be contributing to eutrophication. This study shows that African diatoms, cosmopolitan or resembling well-known North American and European taxa, allows for trophic indices tailored to the autecological preferences of species to be applied to new regions, although intensive studies on these African taxa will lead to more accurate results. Measures of species-richness and diversity, historically used to describe the state of an ecosystem, may not be suitable to evaluate streams which are not grossly polluted. Electronic supplementary material Electronic supplementary material is available for this article at and accessible for authorised users.     

Comparative Anatomical Studies on the Vessel Elements of Eight Genera in Magnoliaceae

This paper deals mainly with comparative studies on vessel elements of secondary xylem in Chinese Manglietia, Manglietiastrum, Alcimandra, Parakmeria, Paramichelia, Tsoongiodendron, Aromadendron and Liriodendron. There are some differences between the genera in vessel element length and width. Manglietia species all have scalariform perforation plates, only a few also have simple perforations. The other genera have scalariform perforation plates. only one (Tsoongiodendron odorum Chun) has simple perforations in addition. There are no spiral thickenings in Manglietia except for one species [Manglietia chingii Dandy (M. temuipes Dandy)] . Paramichelia and Liriodendron have no spiral thichenings, but they are present in the other genera. In addition, some other differences in vessel elements between these 8 genera are also discussed.