海南兰科植物新资料（Ⅲ）

报道了海南兰科植物6个新记录种：密花石豆兰Bulbophyllum odoratissimum（J．E．Smith）Lindl．、金唇兰Chrysoglossum ornatum B1．、勐海隔距兰Cleisostoma menghaiense Z．H．Tsi、无叶美冠兰Eulophia zollingeri（Rchb．f）J．J．Smith、心叶球柄兰Mischobulbum cordifolium（Hook．f）Schltr．及台湾白点兰Thrixspermum formosanum（Hayata）Schltr．。凭证标本保存于中国科学院植物研究所国家植物标本馆（PE）。     

Microbial degradation of formaldehyde in white mineral dispersions preserved with formaldehyde-releasing biocides

Two different formaldehyde-degrading microorganisms, Pseudomonas putida and Methylobacterium extorquens, were isolated from calcium carbonate slurry containing the formaldehyde-releasing biocide (ethylenedioxy) dimethanol. Their relative formaldehyde biodegradation and formic acid production kinetics were studied in broth and in calcium carbonate slurry for each microorganism individually, as well as in mixed cultures. Furthermore, the minimal inhibition concentration (MIC) was determined. The results indicated that in slurry, M. extorquens is more tolerant of formaldehyde than P. putida. In slurry, microbial-induced oxidation of formaldehyde caused a temporary accumulation of formic acid, which is presumed to be responsible for pH drop and destabilisation of the calcium carbonate slurry suspension systems. In addition, the residual formaldehyde concentration was observed to drive dominance and recovery of individual formaldehyde-resistant microorganisms in the slurry. Overall, this investigation indicated that biodegradation of formaldehyde in calcium carbonate slurry is brought about by alternating dominance of bacterial genera of mixed formaldehyde-resistant microbial populations.     

无菌兔、SPF兔和普通兔脏器系数的比较

目的对普通级新西兰兔进行剖宫产,获得无菌兔,比较无菌兔、SPF兔和普通级兔的脏器系数。方法采取剖宫产手术获得无菌兔,在无菌隔离器内人工哺乳饲养。用电子天平和刻度尺测量无菌兔、SPF兔和普通兔心、肝、脾、肺、肾、肾上腺、胸腺、脑等脏器的脏器重量和长度,计算脏器系数。结果经检测无菌兔符合国家标准;无菌级、SPF级和普通级新西兰兔在左颌下腺、右颌下腺、心脏、肺、胆囊、脾脏、左肾上腺、右肾上腺、子宫＋卵巢、左睾丸、胃长、蚓突长度、盲肠长度、盲肠总重、盲肠干重、胃总重、胃干重等17项指标差异显著（P〈0.05）;脑、肝脏、左肾、右肾、胰脏、右睾丸、胃宽、小肠长度、直肠长度、大肠长度等10项指标差异不显著（P〉0.05）。结论不同等级微生物环境对新西兰兔脏器系数有显著影响。     

Tri-locus sequence data reject a “Gondwanan origin hypothesis” for the African/South Pacific crab genus Hymenosoma

Crabs of the family Hymenosomatidae are common in coastal and shelf regions throughout much of the southern hemisphere. One of the genera in the family, Hymenosoma, is represented in Africa and the South Pacific (Australia and New Zealand). This distribution can be explained either by vicariance (presence of the genus on the Gondwanan supercontinent and divergence following its break-up) or more recent transoceanic dispersal from one region to the other. We tested these hypotheses by reconstructing phylogenetic relationships among the seven presently-accepted species in the genus, as well as examining their placement among other hymenosomatid crabs, using sequence data from two nuclear markers (Adenine Nucleotide Transporter [ANT] exon 2 and 18S rDNA) and three mitochondrial markers (COI, 12S and 16S rDNA). The five southern African representatives of the genus were recovered as a monophyletic lineage, and another southern African species, Neorhynchoplax bovis, was identified as their sister taxon. The two species of Hymenosoma from the South Pacific neither clustered with their African congeners, nor with each other, and should therefore both be placed into different genera. Molecular dating supports a post-Gondwanan origin of the Hymenosomatidae. While long-distance dispersal cannot be ruled out to explain the presence of the family Hymenosomatidae on the former Gondwanan land-masses and beyond, the evolutionary history of the African species of Hymenosoma indicates that a third means of speciation may be important in this group: gradual along-coast dispersal from tropical towards temperate regions, with range expansions into formerly inhospitable habitat during warm climatic phases, followed by adaptation and speciation during subsequent cooler phases.     

A multi-locus plastid phylogenetic analysis of the pantropical genus Diospyros (Ebenaceae), with an emphasis on the radiation and biogeographic origins of the New Caledonian endemic species

We aimed to clarify phylogenetic relationships within the pantropical genus Diospyros (Ebenaceae sensu lato), and ascertain biogeographical patterns in the New Caledonian endemic species. We used DNA sequences from eight plastid regions (rbcL, atpB, matK, ndhF, trnK intron, trnL intron, trnL-trnF spacer, and trnS-trnG spacer) and included 149 accessions representing 119 Diospyros species in our analysis. Results from this study confirmed the monophyly of Diospyros with good support and provided a clearer picture of the relationships within the genus than in previous studies. Evidence from phylogenetic analyses suggests that Diospyros colonized New Caledonia multiple times. The four lineages of Diospyros in New Caledonia also differ in their degree of diversification. The molecular data indicate that one lineage is paleoendemic and derived from an ancient Australian species. The other three lineages are more closely related to several Southeast Asian species; two of them are neoendemics, and one has radiated rapidly and recently.     

A multilocus phylogeny of Malagasy scincid lizards elucidates the relationships of the fossorial genera Androngo and Cryptoscincus

A phylogeny for 29 species of scincine lizards from Madagascar, based on 3693 bp of six mitochondrial and five nuclear genes, revealed multiple parallel evolution of adaptations for a burrowing life, and unexpected relationships of the monotypic genera Androngo and Cryptoscincus. Androngo trivittatus was sister to Pygomeles braconnieri, and Cryptoscincus minimus was deeply nested within the genus Paracontias, all of these being fossorial taxa of elongated bodies and partly or fully reduced limbs. To account for these results, we place Cryptoscincus as a junior synonym of Paracontias, and discuss possible taxonomic consequences that may affect the status of Androngo, once additional data become available.     

Tabanidae (Diptera) of Saudi Arabia

Samples were collected from southern, central and eastern regions of Saudi Arabia using Malaise traps and sweep nets. Nine species of Tabanidae were identified, two for the first time from Saudi Arabia, Hybomitra peculiaris (Szilády) and Atylotus pulchellus (Loew).Therefore, the total number of Tabanidae in Saudi Arabia is 31 species. Remarks of the species recorded in this study were given. A key to the genera of Tabanidae occurring in the Arabian Peninsula is also provided. Available literature for Saudi Arabian Tabanidae is summarized and provided. It is concluded that the tabanid fauna of Saudi Arabia is more similar to that of the Palaearctic region than to the Afrotropical region.     

Phylogenetic relationships of a new species of pseudoxyrhophiine snake (Reptilia: Lamprophiidae: Thamnosophis) suggest a biogeographical link between western and northern Madagascar

We describe a new species of the pseudoxyrhophiine snake genus Thamnosophis from a dry forest of the karstic massif Tsingy de Bemaraha in central western Madagascar. Thamnosophis mavotenda sp. n. is characterised by 19 dorsal scale rows, 188 ventrals, 110 subcaudals, and by colouration (e.g. yellow head sides). Morphological and molecular phylogenetic data indicate that the species is most closely related to the recently described Thamnosophis martae from the far north of the island which inhabits dry karstic forest and subhumid lowland rainforest. This species pair represents a well-supported example of a sister-group relationship in snakes between northern Madagascar and the Tsingy de Bemaraha plateau, and corroborates preliminary observations in other reptile species. We discuss this finding in the light of recent hypotheses on the biogeographic zonation of Madagascar.