Revision of Australian Matini diving beetles based on morphological and molecular data (Coleoptera,Dytiscidae, Matinae), with description of a new species

Morphological characters and mitochondrial DNA sequence data were used to revise the Australian diving beetles in the genera Allomatus Mouchamps, 1964 and Batrachomatus Clark, 1863. As a result of these studies Allomatus syn. n. is synonymised with Batrachomatus, and Allomatus nannup Watts, 1978 from SW Australia and Allomatus wilsoni Mouchamps, 1964 from SE Victoria are transferred to Batrachomatus. The four Australian Matini species knownso far are re-described, and Batrachomatus larsoni sp. n. from the Windsor Tableland in NE Queensland is described. After more than 40 years Batrachomatus wilsoni has been re-discovered in two rivers in Victoria. We delineate the species using traditionally employed morphological structures such as in the male genitalia and body size, shape and colour pattern, as well as mitochondrial cox1 sequence data for 20 individuals. Important species characters (median lobes, parameres and colour patterns) were illustrated. We provide an identification key and outline distribution and habitat preferences of each species. All Australian Matini are lotic, inhabiting permanent and intermittent streams, creeks and rivers.     

中国大陆沿海新记录种——卷眼斑鲆（Pseudorhombus oculocirris）

斑鲆属（Pseudorhombus, Bleeker, 1862）隶属于鲽形目（Pleuronectiforms）牙鲆科（Paralichthyidae）,根据Eschmeyer’s Catalog of Fishes记录有效种类有25种;根据李思忠等（1995）的《中国动物志：硬骨鱼纲 鲽形目》记载,目前在中国大陆海域有标本记录的有11种。本研究在2007年到2021年在海南的文昌、陵水和三亚分别采集到了9尾有眼侧有5个眼状斑纹的标本,并和该属25种鱼类的原始形态特征进行了比较。比对结果发现,该样品符合Amaoka（1969）定名的卷眼斑鲆（P. oculocirris Amaoka, 1969）形态特征。该种类目前只在日本和越南有报道,本研究是首次在中国大陆海域采集,故为新记录种。本研究结合卷眼斑鲆原始描述、相关文献和采集到的9尾标本的形态特征对该种类进行了详细的再描述,并首次提供了线粒体分子条形码（GenBank登录号为OL307681、OL307682和OL307683）。该种的主要形态特征为背鳍65–76;臀鳍50–57;有眼侧胸鳍11–13,无眼侧胸鳍10–12;尾鳍条2 + 13 + 2;第一鳃弓鳃耙4–7 + 17–20;侧线鳞71–82;脊椎骨10 + 26 = 36;背鳍前边几个鳍条稍长且基部只有1/5–1/3连有鳍膜,下眼上缘具有指状皮突。本研究的发现进一步扩大了该种的分布范围和提供了种类鉴定的分子依据,本报道将会为牙鲆科鱼类生物多样性和系统演化研究提供科学依据。     

如何上好“绪论”第一课：以“普通植物病理学”课程为例

“绪论”是高校所有课程的第一课,上好“绪论”第一课可第一时间在学生心中播下对该门学科的使命感、进取心和责任心的“种子”。作者通过多年的教学研究与实践,认为“绪论”教学的首要目的是激发学生的好奇心和求知欲,点燃学生的进取心和紧迫感,进而喜欢和会学这门课程。为达到上述教学目的,我们构建了“绪论”第一课授课内容、方法与目的三者相吻合的教学模式：首先,采用生动有趣和灵活多样的手段导入情景和实物,并设问;随后通过循循善诱和启迪独立思考,师生共同探究和感悟该学科属性、形成发展历史、目前研究现状及未来发展前景,以及教与学的目的、任务和方法等,从而让学生树立上进心和责任心,增强学好该课程的决心和信心。本文以普通植物病理学课程为例,展示了采用“绪论”第一课的教学模式开展的教学过程。多年的教学实践证明,“绪论”第一课教学模式导入的“绪论”内容规范、系统、全面、与教学目标相契合。并且,其内涵丰富、可操作性强、实施效果好,对提高教学质量十分奏效,适合推广应用。     

Molecular taxonomic identification in the absence of a ‘barcoding gap’: a test with the endemic flora of the Canarian oceanic hotspot

We use a comprehensive subset of Canarian angiosperms corresponding to 23 families, 35 genera and 60 Canarian endemic taxa to test whether this flora is suitable to taxonomic identification with the two proposed plant DNA barcode sequences and whether these sequences may reveal the existence of cryptic species overlooked by morphology. The rate of discrimination success between the insular congeneric samples using the rbcL+matK combination and a ‘character‐based’ approach (where we use only the combination of nucleotide positions in an alignment that allows unambiguous species identification) is higher (82.29%) than that obtained with the ‘distance‐based’ approach (80.20%) used by the CBOL Plant Working Group in 2009 and also when compared with tests conducted in other floras. This suggests that the molecular identification of the Canarian endemic flora can be achieved as successfully as in other floras where the incidence of radiation is not as relevant. The facts that (i) a distance‐based criterion was unable to discriminate between congeneric and conspecific comparisons and (ii) only the character‐based discrimination criterion resolved cases that the distance‐based criterion did not, further support the use of a character discrimination approach for a more efficient DNA barcoding of floras from oceanic islands like the Canaries. Thus, a barcoding gap seems not to be necessary for the correct molecular characterization of the Canarian flora. DNA barcodes also suggest the possible existence of cryptic taxa to be further investigated by morphology and that the current taxonomic status of some of the taxa analysed may need revision.     

国外绿豆种质资源农艺性状的遗传多样性分析

以来自15个国家和地区的352份绿豆种质资源为材料,评价其5个质量性状和10个数量性状的遗传变异水平。结果表明:除美国等5个不同地区的14份材料未正常开花结荚外,其余338份材料的农艺性状具丰富的遗传变异。其中质量性状中叶形和幼茎色的遗传多样性指数最高(0.69),数量性状中荚长(2.08)和百粒重(2.07)的最高。UPGMA聚类将338份参试材料分为6大类群,各类群有其独特的性状特征,其中第5类群早熟、矮秆、大粒,可为杂交育种亲本选配提供理想亲本。亚蔬(ARC-AVRDC)(泰国)、菲律宾、印度、印度尼西亚、韩国、美国和俄罗斯等7个不同地理区域材料间具有显著的遗传变异,其中俄罗斯的遗传多样性指数最高,韩国最低;印度尼西亚的生育期较短,主茎节数、单荚粒数、单株荚数和单株产量最高,属于早熟、大粒、高产的种质,可以为我国新品种的选育提供基础材料;UPGMA聚类可将这7个不同地理区域的材料划分为3类,其中印尼和韩国的材料各被划分为一类,其他5个国家聚为第Ⅲ类,群体间的性状表现与其地理来源有一定的关系。     

古蔺牛皮茶树种质资源性状初步研究

为开展四川重要茶树种质资源古蔺牛皮茶种质资源的收集、保存与评价工作,在古蔺牛皮茶树资源中选取了具代表性的8种不同类型茶树(Ⅰ~Ⅷ类)作为研究对象,并对其植物学特征、生物学特性及主要生化成分进行了观测。结果表明:供试茶树在形态特征、遗传和品质性状等方面,表现出较丰富的多样性。其种群多为灌木,树姿半开张状;芽叶绿色,茸毛中等,叶为椭圆形,叶尖渐尖;花多为中花型,花柱3~4裂;果实多为球形和肾形,种子多为球形,主要表现出栽培型茶树性状。古蔺牛皮茶春梢的生化成分含量较丰富,其茶多酚含量为(19.71±0.39)%~(30.16±0.22)%,游离氨基酸总量为(2.20±0.11)%~(4.88±0.12)%,咖啡碱含量为(3.45±0.17)%~(4.41±0.09)%。结合主要生化成分含量、酚/氨值和儿茶素组分等可推论,Ⅴ、Ⅵ类适制红茶,其他类型则适制绿茶。综合供试茶树的形态和生化成分含量特征,初步鉴定供试的牛皮茶树分属茶组植物分类系统中的秃房茶和茶,Ⅴ和Ⅵ类茶树较为原始,其他类型则进化程度较高。供试茶树中存在具育种价值的资源,其中Ⅴ类和Ⅵ类可作为高儿茶素含量的育种材料,Ⅱ类可作为选育优质绿茶品种的育种材料。     

水稻籽粒矿质元素含量遗传及主要农艺性状相关性分析

通过了解水稻子粒钙、镁、铜、铁、锌和硒等矿质元素含量,以绿旱1号作为父本与102S、KD36S、7HS012及7HS013不育系为母本进行配组,对父本与杂交后代主要农艺及经济性状、水稻子粒中的矿质元素含量进行了遗传分析,并对各杂交后代的主要农艺性状和子粒中矿质元素含量以及各矿质元素含量间进行了相关性分析.结果表明,杂交后代农艺及经济性状多数表现出超高亲分离现象,且LK3的农艺及经济性状均表现为最好.水稻子粒矿质元素含量与部分农艺和经济性状存在明显的正相关或负相关关系,且K、Mg、Zn、Se等元素含量与水稻产量密切相关.水稻子粒中矿质元素含量大小依次为P＞K ＞Mg ＞S＞ Ca＞ Mn ＞Fe ＞Zn ＞Cu ＞Se,4个杂交后代的K元素含量表现出超高亲分离现象,LK2、LK3和LK4的Fe元素含量也表现出超高亲分离现象.水稻子粒大量与微量元素之间相关性最高,微量元素之间相关性次之,大量元素之间相关性最小,以7HS012不育系为母本得到的杂交后代农艺性状表现较好,矿质元素含量最高,7HS013次之,其他不育系表现一般.本研究为选育出耐旱及营养价值高的水稻新品种母本的选择提供了理论依据.     

Sex allocation according to multiple sexually dimorphic traits of both parents in the barn swallow (Hirundo rustica)

Parents should differentially invest in sons or daughters depending on the sex‐specific fitness returns from male and female offspring. In species with sexually selected heritable male characters, highly ornamented fathers should overproduce sons, which will be more sexually attractive than sons of less ornamented fathers. Because of genetic correlations between the sexes, females that express traits which are under selection in males should also overproduce sons. However, sex allocation strategies may consist in reaction norms leading to spatiotemporal variation in the association between offspring sex ratio (SR) and parental phenotype. We analysed offspring SR in barn swallows (Hirundo rustica) over 8 years in relation to two sexually dimorphic traits: tail length and melanin‐based ventral plumage coloration. The proportion of sons increased with maternal plumage darkness and paternal tail length, consistently with sexual dimorphism in these traits. The size of the effect of these parental traits on SR was large compared to other studies of offspring SR in birds. Barn swallows thus manipulate offspring SR to overproduce ‘sexy sons’ and potentially to mitigate the costs of intralocus sexually antagonistic selection. Interannual variation in the relationships between offspring SR and parental traits was observed which may suggest phenotypic plasticity in sex allocation and provides a proximate explanation for inconsistent results of studies of sex allocation in relation to sexual ornamentation in birds.     

Description of the male of Leptotyphlus kovaci ?ustek, 2000, the only Central European species of the Mediterranean genus Leptotyphlus Fauvel, 1874 (Coleoptera,Staphylinidae, Leptotyphlinae)

The previously unknown male of Leptotyphlus kovaci Šustek, 2000 is described and illustrated. The relationship of the species is discussed. The species is also reported from Gemerskoteplická jaskyňa near Jelšavská Teplica (Slovakia).