A Newly Revised Classification of the Protozoa*

SYNOPSIS The subkingdom Protozoa now includes over 65,000 named species, of which over half are fossil and ～ 10,000 are parasitic. Among living species, this includes ～ 250 parasitic and 11,300 free-living sarcodines (of which ～ 4,600 are foraminiferids); 1.800 parasitic and 5,100 free-living flagellates: ～ 5,600 parasitic “Sporozoa” (including Apicomplexa, Microspora, Myxospora, and Aseetospora); and ～ 2,500 parasitic and 4,700 free-living ciliates. There are undoubtedly thousands more still unmamed. Seven phyla of PROTOZOA are accepted in this classification—SARCOMASTIGOPHORA. LABYRINTHOMORPHA, APICOMPLEXA, MICROSPORA, ASCETOSPORA, MYXOSPORA, and CILIOPHORA. Diagnoses are given for these and for all higher taxa through suborders, and representative genera of each are named. the present scheme is a considerable revision of the Society's 1964 classification, which was prepared at a time when perhaps 48,000 species had been named. It has been necessitated by the acquisition of a great deal of new taxonomic information, much of it through electron microscopy. It is hoped that the present classification incorporates most of the major changes that will be made for some time. and that it will be used for many years by both protozoologists and non-protozoologists.     

Signal convergence in fruits: a result of selection by frugivores?

The Dispersal Syndrome hypothesis remains contentious, stating that apparently nonrandom associations of fruit characteristics result from selection by seed dispersers. We examine a key assumption under this hypothesis, i.e. that fruit traits can be used as reliable signals by frugivores. We first test this assumption by looking at whether fruit colour allows birds and primates to distinguish between fruits commonly dispersed by birds or primates. Second, we test whether the colours of fruits dispersed by primates are more contrasting to primates than the colours of bird‐dispersed fruits, expected if fruit colour is an adaptation to facilitate the detection by seed dispersers. Third, we test whether fruit colour has converged in unrelated plant species dispersed by similar frugivores. We use vision models based on peak sensitivities of birds’ and primates’ cone cells. We base our analyses on the visual systems of two types of birds (violet and ultraviolet based) and three types of primates (trichromatic primates from the Old and the New Worlds, and a dichromatic New World monkey). Using a Discriminant Function Analysis, we find that all frugivore groups can reliably discriminate between bird‐ and primate‐dispersed fruits. Fruit colour can be a reliable signal to different seed dispersers. However, the colours of primate‐dispersed fruits are less contrasting to primates than those of bird‐dispersed fruits. Fruit colour convergence in unrelated plants is independent of phylogeny and can be better explained by disperser type, which supports the hypothesis that frugivores are important in fruit evolution. We discuss adaptive and nonadaptive hypotheses that can potentially explain the pattern we found.     

Cladistic review of generic taxonomic characters in Xyleborina (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae)

Abstract A cladistic analysis of morphological characters of the subtribe Xyleborina (Curculionidae, Scolytinae) is presented. An examination of individual characters revealed little phylogenetic information in many characters currently used for delimiting genera. Phylogenetically stable characters were used for the evaluation of the contemporary generic concept. The following genera have been recovered as monophyletic: Cnestus, Dryocoetoides, Eccoptopterus, Xylosandrus, Schedlia, Sampsonius and Taurodemus. The following genera have been found to be polyphyletic: Amasa, Ambrosiodmus, Arixyleborus, Coptoborus, Coptodryas, Cryptoxyleborus, Cyclorhipidion, Euwallacea, Leptoxyleborus, Taphrodasus, Theoborus, Webbia, Xyleborinus and Xyleborus. The analysis permitted the resurrection of four genera: Anisandrus, Microperus, Pseudowebbia and Streptocranus. A number of new combinations at specific level are given: Anisandrus cornutus (Schaufuss, 1891), A. dispar (Fabricius, 1792), A. eggersi (Beeson, 1930), A. improbus (Sampson, 1913), A. longidens (Eggers, 1930), A. maiche Stark, 1936, A. obesus (LeConte, 1868), A. sayi Hopkins, 1915, A. apicalis (Blandford, 1894), A. hirtus (Hagedorn, 1904), Microperus myristicae (Schedl, 1939), M. eucalypticus (Schedl, 1938), M. huangi (Browne, 1983), M. intermedius (Eggers, 1923), M. kadoyamaensis (Murayama, 1934), Pseudowebbia armifer (Schedl, 1942), P. seriata Browne, 1963, P. squamatilis (Schedl, 1955), P. trepanicauda (Eggers, 1923), P. curvatus (Browne, 1986), Streptocranus bicolor Browne, 1949, S. bicuspis (Eggers, 1940), S. capucinulus (Schedl, 1942), S. forficatus (Schedl, 1957), S. fragilis Browne, 1949, S. longicauda Browne, 1960, S. longispinis Browne, 1986, S. mirabilis Schedl, 1939, S. usagaricus (Eggers, 1922), S. sexdentatus (Eggers, 1940). The characters most useful for generic‐level taxonomy of Xyleborina were identified and their states refined and illustrated. An accompanying illustrated multiple‐entry electronic key for the updated xyleborine classification has been published on‐line at www.scolytid.msu.edu .     

DNA barcoding confirms polyphagy in a generalist moth,Homona mermerodes (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

Recent DNA barcoding of generalist insect herbivores has revealed complexes of cryptic species within named species. We evaluated the species concept for a common generalist moth occurring in New Guinea and Australia, Homona mermerodes, in light of host plant records and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I haplotype diversity. Genetic divergence among H. mermerodes moths feeding on different host tree species was much lower than among several Homona species. Genetic divergence between haplotypes from New Guinea and Australia was also less than interspecific divergence. Whereas molecular species identification methods may reveal cryptic species in some generalist herbivores, these same methods may confirm polyphagy when identical haplotypes are reared from multiple host plant families. A lectotype for the species is designated, and a summarized bibliography and illustrations including male genitalia are provided for the first time.     

Scanning Electron Microscopy of Gregarines (Protozoa, Sporozoa) and Its Contribution to the Theory of Gregarine Movement

SYNOPSIS. Scanning electron microscopy was used to reveal detailed surface structure of 4 septate ( Gregarina cuneata, G. steini, G. rhyparobiae, Pileocephalus blaberae ) and one aseptate species ( Nematocystis elmassiani ) of eugregarines. The epicyte of all these gregarines is differentiated into a system of regular longitudinal folds. In the septate species these folds undulate so that these organisms glide along. The undulatory pattern is absent from Nematocystis , which does not glide. The theories and the mechanism of gregarine gliding are discussed.     

Host specificity of ambrosia and bark beetles (Col., Curculionidae: Scolytinae and Platypodinae) in a New Guinea rainforest

Abstract.  1. Bark and ambrosia beetles are crucial for woody biomass decomposition in tropical forests worldwide. Despite that, quantitative data on their host specificity are scarce.
2. Bark and ambrosia beetles (Scolytinae and Platypodinae) were reared from 13 species of tropical trees representing 11 families from all major lineages of dicotyledonous plants. Standardised samples of beetle-infested twigs, branches, trunks, and roots were taken from three individuals of each tree species growing in a lowland tropical rainforest in Papua New Guinea.
3. A total of 81 742 beetles from 74 species were reared, 67 of them identified. Local species richness of bark and ambrosia beetles was estimated at 80–92 species.
4. Ambrosia beetles were broad generalists as 95% of species did not show any preference for a particular host species or clade. Similarity of ambrosia beetle communities from different tree species was not correlated with phylogenetic distances between tree species. Similarity of ambrosia beetle communities from individual conspecific trees was not higher than that from heterospecific trees and different parts of the trees hosted similar ambrosia beetle communities, as only a few species preferred particular tree parts.
5. In contrast, phloeophagous bark beetles showed strict specificity to host plant genus or family. However, this guild was poor in species (12 species) and restricted to only three plant families (Moraceae, Myristicaceae, Sapindaceae).
6. Local diversity of both bark and ambrosia beetles is not driven by the local diversity of trees in tropical forests, since ambrosia beetles display no host specificity and bark beetles are species poor and restricted to a few plant families.