HETEROCHROMATIN BANDING IN BOYKINIA,HEUCHERA, MITELLA,SULLIVANTIA, TIARELLA,AND TOLMIEA (SAXIFRAGACEAE)

Karyotypic differences were sought among species of Boykinia, Heuchera, Mitella, Sullivantia, Tiarella, and Tolmiea utilizing a modification of the Hy-banding technique. Prominent centromeric and some telomeric heterochromatin banding was observed. Boykinia aconitifolia and species of Sullivantia possess an identical banded karyotype, while four species of Heuchera, Mitella diphylla, Tiarella cordifolia, and Tolmiea menziesii (the latter at the tetraploid level) are characterized by a second, slightly different banded karyotype. In Sullivantia, Giemsa C-banding stains the same chromosomal regions revealed by Hy-banding. Larger amounts of heterochromatin are present in chromosomes of species of Heuchera, Mitella, Tiarella, and Tolmiea than in chromosomes of Sullivantia species and Boykinia aconitifolia. These karyological observations confirm generic relationships and demonstrate the systematic applicability of chromosome banding techniques to plants with very small chromosomes.     

Barcodes Reveal 48 New Species of Tetrahymena,Dexiostoma, and Glaucoma: Phylogeny,Ecology, and Biogeography of New and Established Species

Tetrahymena mitochondrial cox1 barcodes and nuclear SSUrRNA sequences are particularly effective at distinguishing among its many cryptic species. In a project to learn more about Tetrahymena natural history, the majority of >1,000 Tetrahymena‐like fresh water isolates were assigned to established Tetrahymena species with the remaining assigned to 37 new species of Tetrahymena, nine new species of Dexiostoma and 12 new species of Glaucoma. Phylogenetically, all but three Tetrahymena species belong to the well‐established “australis” or “borealis” clades; the minority forms a divergent “paravorax” clade. Most Tetrahymena species are micronucleate, but others are exclusively amicronucleate. The self‐splicing intron of the LSUrRNA precursor is absent in Dexiostoma and Glaucoma and was likely acquired subsequent to the “australis/borealis” split; in some instances, its sequence is diagnostic of species. Tetrahymena americanis, T. elliotti, T. gruchyi n. sp., and T. borealis, together accounted for >50% of isolates, consistent with previous findings for established species. The biogeographic range of species found previously in Austria, China, and Pakistan was extended to the Nearctic; some species show evidence of population structure consistent with endemism. Most species were most frequently collected from ponds or lakes, while others, particularly Dexiostoma species, were collected most often from streams or rivers. The results suggest that perhaps hundreds of species remain to be discovered, particularly if collecting is global and includes hosts of parasitic forms.     

Spatial distribution of cichlids in Tzendales River,Biosphere Reserve Montes Azules,Chiapas, Mexico

Located within Mexico’s Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve, the Tzendales River is part of the Usumacinta River Basin, which supports the largest diversity of cichlid fishes in Middle America. We evaluated temporal and spatial variation of species richness and distribution of cichlids in the Tzendales River; we collected 14 species with nine native and five endemic. The species with greatest relative abundances and broadest spatial distributions were Vieja intermedia and Amphilophus nourissati; and the rarest and most spatially restricted species were Thorichthys meeki and Parachromis friedrichsthalii. Environmental characteristics varied seasonally although fish assemblages and distributions were relatively stable over time. Based on habitat use patterns, three species associations were observed: (1) Amphilophus nourissati, Petenia splendida, Vieja argentea, V. bifasciata, V. intermedia, V. pearsei, V. synspila and V. ufermanni; (2) ‘Cichlasoma’ salvini and Parachromis friedrichsthalii; and (3) Thorichthys helleri and Thorichthys meeki. Two rheophilic species, Theraps lentiginosus and Theraps irregularis, had low habitat overlap with all of the other cichlid species. Canonical correspondence analysis showed that the depth, current speed and quantity of rocks in the substrate defined the spatial distribution of species in dry season. Cichlids of the Tzendales River appear to partition habitat in a manner that reduces resource competition.     

Mycoflora of bean,broad bean,lentil, lupine and pea seeds in Saudi Arabia

Using the seed-plate method on glucose-Czapek's agar at 28 °C (±2 °C), 24 genera and 60 species in addition to two varieties were collected from bean, broad bean, lentil, lupine and pea seeds. The most frequent genera were Aspergillus (16 species + two varieties), Penicillium (14 species), Rhizopus (1 species) and Yeasts, followed by Fusarium (3 species), Mucor (4 species) and Drechslera (3 species). From the preceding genera, Aspergillus niger, A.flavus, Penicillium citrinum, Rhizopus stolonifer, Fusarium moniliforme or F. oxysporum, Mucor hiemalis or M. racemosus and Drechslera spicifera were the most prevalent species.     

Aegilops (Poaceae) in Italy: taxonomy,geographical distribution,ecology, vulnerability and conservation

ABSTRACT

Aegilops L. includes wild species from which, over millennia, man has cultivated forms of Triticum L. Ten species of Aegilops occur in Italy. Three species are allochthonous and eight out of ten species are recorded in the Apulia region. Five out of the ten species have been included in Red Lists. Each taxon is presented and discussed, citing old and new sites of occurrence, by examining specimens from many different herbaria, and describing their ecology and habitats, according to the Directive 92/43 EEC. A new taxonomic key, for the identification of all Aegilops species growing in Italy, is provided. The occurrence of Aegilops caudata L., A. peregrina (Hack. in J. Fraser) Maire & Weiller and A. speltoides Tausch in Italy is doubtful.     

SPORE MORPHOLOGY IN THE CYATHEACEAE. II. THE GENERA LOPHOSORIA,METAXYA, SPHAEROPTERIS,ALSOPHILA, AND NEPHELEA

Scanning electron microscopy and transmitted light microscopy are used in a palynological study of Lophosoria, Metaxya, Sphaeropteris, Alsophila, and Nephelea of the tree fern family Cyatheaceae. The monotypic American genera Lophosoria and Metaxya each have a unique spore morphology which reinforces the taxonomic distinctness of these genera as indicated by their other characters. All investigated paleotropical species of Sphaeropteris develop a single type of perine characterized by coarse, pointed projections. In the neotropics, the Sphaeropteris horrida group shares this perine type, whereas all other neotropical Sphaeropteris species appear to have a different kind of perine with fine hair-like processes. The exine in paleotropical Sphaeropteris appears uniformly unsculptured, whereas in the neotropics several exine morphologies are found. In Alsophila all investigated neotropical species and the vast majority of the paleotropical species are characterized by a basically ridged perine morphology and an unsculptured exine. In several paleotropical Alsophila species, however, a perine with hair-like processes similar to those in neotropical Sphaeropteris is found, and the exine in several species is variously pitted. In at least one paleotropical Alsophila species, the porate exine morphology is indistinguishable from that in the neotropical genus Cnemidaria. The spores of the American genus Nephelea are similar to those of the majority of Alsophila species in ridged perine morphology and unsculptured exine. Several new instances of atypical spore numbers per sporangium are reported in Sphaeropteris and Alsophila. These and the palynological data are discussed in a taxonomic framework. The spore morphology in these genera is consistent with Tryon's recent generic revision of the family.     

Evolutionary chromosomal differentiation among four species of Conoderus Eschscholtz, 1829 (Coleoptera, Elateridae, Agrypninae, Conoderini) detected by standard staining, C-banding, silver nitrate impregnation, and CMA3/DA/DAPI staining

The speciose Brazilian Elateridae fauna is characterized by high karyotypic diversity, including one species (Chalcolepidius zonatus Eschscholtz, 1829) with the lowest diploid number within any Coleoptera order. Cytogenetic analysis of Conoderus dimidiatus Germar, 1839, C. scalaris (Germar, 1824,) C. ternarius Germar, 1839, and C. stigmosus Germar, 1839 by standard and differential staining was performed with the aim of establishing mechanisms of karyotypic differentiation in these species. Conoderus dimidiatus, C. scalaris, and C. ternarius have diploid numbers of 2n(♂) = 17 and 2n(♀) = 18, and a X0/XX sex determination system, similar to that encountered in the majority of Conoderini species. The karyotype of C. stigmosus was characterized by a diploid number of 2n=16 and a neoXY/neoXX sex determination system that was highly differentiated from other species of the genus. Some features of the mitotic and meiotic chromosomes suggest an autosome/ancestral X chromosome fusion as the cause of the neoXY system origin in C. stigmosus. C-banding and silver impregnation techniques showed that the four Conoderus species possess similar chromosomal characteristics to those registered in most Polyphaga species, including pericentromeric C band and autosomal NORs. Triple staining techniques including CMA₃/DA/DAPI also provided useful information for differentiating these Conoderus species. These techniques revealed unique GC-rich heterochromatin associated with NORs in C. scalaris and C. stigmosus and CMA₃-heteromorphism in C. scalaris and C. ternarius.     

Oreonectes guilinensis (Teleostei,Cypriniformes, Nemacheilidae), a new loach species from Guangxi,China

A new loach Oreonectes guilinensis sp. nov. is described from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. It is the second surface-dwelling fish identified in the genus Oreonectes after the type species Oreonectes platycephalus. This new species can be distinguished from other species within the genus by the combination of the following features: a round caudal fin, 13–14 branched rays, an incomplete lateral line with 4–6 pores, a short pelvic fin located some distance from the anus, a scale-covered body, a stout build (body width 14.0%–16.7% of standard length), a posterior chamber of well-developed airbladder and a yellowish-brown body with a lateral dark brown strip. The maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis based on cytb gene recovered this new species in a well-supported clade with the type species O. platycephalus, sister to the Lefua clade. Morphological comparisons as well as our phylogenetic tree support Oreonectes shuilongensis, Oreonectes daqikongensis, Oreonectes jiarongensis as species of Troglonectes. Based on our results there are 6 valid species in the genus Oreonectes.     

Blastobotrys,Sporothrix and Trichosporiella: generic delimitation,new species,and a Stephanoascus teleomorph

The morphological and physiological characters of the species of Blastobotrys, and of a number of similar species of Sporothrix, Trichosporiella and Candida were studied. Blastobotrys is defined as having mother cells (primary conidia) which form distinct, secondary conidia. Sporothix has non-catenulate conidia, or the conidia are catenulate without marked differentiation of conidia of first and second order. Trichosporiella is delimited from Candida by a stronger coherence between hyphal cells, arthroconidia being absent. Four new Blastobotrys species are described, and two unnamed species; two new combinations are proposed in Trichosporiella. Related species in other genera are briefly discussed. A new Stephanoascus teleomorph is described in two strains originally identified as Sp. fungorum. Two diagnostic keys to the described taxa, using either morphological or physiological characters, are given.     

The Boxgrove,England, middle Pleistocene herpetofauna: Paleogeographic,evolutionary, stratigraphic,and paleoecological relationships

Triturus vulgaris (smooth newt), Triturus helveticus or T. vulgaris (palmate or smooth newt), Triturus sp. (newt), Pelobates fuscus (common spadefoot), Bufo bufo (common toad), Bufo calamita (natterjack toad), Bufo sp. (toad), Rana arvalis (moor frog), Rana temporaria (common frog), Rana sp. (frog), Anguis fragilis (slow worm), Lacerta cf. L. vivipara (common lizard), Natrix natrix (grass snake), and Natrix sp. (grass, viperine, or dice snake) were identified at the Middle Pleistocene Boxgrove Site, West Sussex, England. This is the first British fossil record of Pelobates fuscus and the earliest fossil record in Britain for the endangered species Bufo calamita. All of these herpetological species are extant and all of them occur in Britain today with the exception of Pelobates fuscus and Rana arvalis that presently live on the European continent.

The Boxgrove, Westbury, and West Runton British pre‐Anglian Middle Pleistocene herpetofaunas show no apparent differences among themselves in patterns of species composition, diversity, or number of exotics. But these three herpetofaunas together have [1] less species diversity and [2] fewer exotic continental species than in the Cudmore Grove British post‐Anglian Middle Pleistocene herpetofauna.

Only the Terrestral Sequence Unit at Boxgrove yielded enough herpetological species for paleoecological interpretation. These taxa indicate a quiet pool surrounded by a somewhat humid vegetated area that gave way to a more xerophytic sandy area, and a paleoclimate at least as warm and perhaps somewhat warmer than occurs in the area today.     

A new species of Armodoris (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Nudibranchia, Akiodorididae) from McMurdo Sound, Antarctica

Recently collected specimens of Armodoris from McMurdo Sound, Antarctica, were morphologically examined and sequenced. Comparison between this new material and literature sources revealed that it belongs to an undescribed species, Armodoris anudeorum. Although this new species is externally very similar to Armodoris antarctica (the only previously known species of Armodoris), these two species differ in several details of their external morphology, and particularly in their reproductive anatomy and radular morphology. This is the second known species of Armodoris; thus, this paper doubles the known diversity of this exclusively Antarctic group.     

Molecular and morphological examination of Cyrtobagous sp. collected from Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil, Australia, and Florida

Two members of the floating fern genus Salvinia (Salviniaceae), S. minima Baker and S. molesta Mitchell, have established in the United States. Cyrtobagous salviniae Calder and Sands (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), long established on Florida S. minima, was released in Texas and Louisiana as a biocontrol agent for both species. Subsequently, sequence analysis of the 28S rRNA D2 expansion domain suggested that the Florida and Brazilian populations (used worldwide for biocontrol) of C. salviniae might constitute two cryptic species. In response, the Brazilian weevil was imported from Australia and released instead onto S. molesta. We sampled C. singularis Hustache and C. salviniae from their native ranges in Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay and sequenced them (D2) along with Australian and Florida samples. The genetic distance between C. singularis and C. salviniae samples is much greater (almost 5×) than the distance between either the Florida and Brazilian samples or the Brazilian and Argentinean/ Paraguayan C. salviniae samples. Since C. singularis and C. salviniae are cryptic species, the Florida and Brazilian populations (or for that matter Brazilian and Argentinean/Paraguayan) could reasonably be described as demes or ecotypes. Occurrence data indicates that, in parts of their ranges, C. salviniae and C. singularis are not only sympatric but also feed on the same plant species at the same site. While host adaptation (species preferences) likely occurs within local demes, both species seem capable of adapting to the available resource (Salvinia species). Finally, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primer was developed to distinguish the Florida and Brazilian/Australian types.     

A new genus of African Acrometopini (Tettigoniidae: Phaneropterinae) based on morphology,chromosomes, acoustics,distribution, and molecular data,and the description of a new species

A new genus, Altihoratosphaga, is erected for species formerly assigned to Horatosphaga Schaum, 1853, and a new species is described. Four species are included in Altihoratosphaga: Altihoratosphaga nomima (Karsch, 1896), Altihoratosphaga montivaga ( Sjöstedt, 1909 ), Altihoratosphaga nou (Hemp, 2007) and Altihoratosphaga hanangensis sp. nov. All four species are restricted to Tanzanian localities, and, except for A. nomima, for which no ecological data are available, are confined to montane forest habitats. Data on ecology, acoustics, chromosomes, and molecular relationships are provided, as well as a key to Altihoratosphaga species. The present‐day distribution of Altihoratosphaga species suggests former migration events at times when wetter and colder climatic fluctuations favoured connections between montane forest communities, which today are isolated, enabling flightless taxa such as Altihoratosphaga and Monticolaria to spread. © 2010 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2010, 158 , 66–82.     

Description of two new species of Nostoc (Nostocales,Cyanobacteria) from central Mexico,using morphological,ecological, and molecular attributes

The present study describes two new Nostoc species, N. montejanii and N. tlalocii, based on a polyphasic approach that combines morphological, ecological, and genetic characteristics. The five investigated populations, including those from newly collected material from central Mexico, were observed to possess morphological features characteristic of the Nostoc genus. Results showed that both new species are strictly associated with running water, and they show clear differences in their habitat preferences. The 16S rRNA gene sequences of the five strains displayed between 98% and 99% similarity to the genus Nostoc sensu stricto. The 16S rRNA gene phylogenetic analyses inferred using Bayesian inference, maximum likelihood, and parsimony methods, placed these five strains in two separate clades distinct from other Nostoc species. The secondary structures of the 16S–23S internal transcribed spacer rRNA region in the two new species showed >10.5% dissimilarities in the operons when compared with other Nostoc species. In addition, clear morphological differences were observed between the two Mexican species, including the color of the colonies (black in N. montejanii and green in N. tlalocii), the size of the cells (greater in N. montejanii), and the number of polyphosphate granules present in the cells (one in N. montejanii and up to four in N. tlalocii).     

Introduction,distribution, spread,and impacts of exotic freshwater gastropods in Texas

We examined the patterns of distribution, vectors of introduction, and potential ecological impacts of freshwater exotic species in Texas over the last 45 years. Currently, five species of exotic gastropods are established: channeled-type applesnail (Pomacea insularum), red-rim melania (Melanoides tuberculatus), quilted melania (Tarebia granifera), giant rams-horn snail (Marisa cornuarietis), and Chinese mysterysnail (Cipangopaludina chinensis). In contrast to the northern part of the US, where shipping appears to be the most important vector for the introduction of aquatic invasive species, aquarium and ornamental trade dominated among unintentional vectors of introduction of all freshwater exotics in Texas, resulting in different patterns of distribution, spread, and ecological impacts. The rate of spread of exotic gastropods in Texas varied from 39 waterbodies colonized over 18 years for P. insularum to only three waterbodies during last 45 years for C. chinensis. Four of five exotic gastropods were found in highly vulnerable aquifer-fed springs and rivers, which contain numerous endemic and endangered species. The fifth species, Pomacea insularum, is an agricultural pest. Potential negative ecological effects of exotic gastropods include impacts on wetlands and wetland restoration, competitive exclusion of native snails, and the introduction of exotic parasites, trematodes, which could infect fish and waterfowl, including federally protected species. Aquifer springs with stable temperature regimes are refuges for both cold and warm intolerant species. Handling editor: D. Dudgeon     

Phylogeny,species diversity and biogeographic patterns of the genus Tricleocarpa (Galaxauraceae,Rhodophyta) from the Indo-Pacific region,including T. confertus sp. nov. from Taiwan

Among four different genera in Galaxauraceae, species diversity of the genus Tricleocarpa Huisman & Borowitzka is underestimated and requires further examination. In this study, we explored a molecular phylogeny of Tricleocarpa with an emphasis on Taiwan species and reassessed species diversity of the genus from the Indo-Pacific region based on analyses of rbcL and COI-5P sequences and morphological observations. The molecular analyses showed that species of Tricleocarpa examined are grouped into seven clades: six clades in the T. cylindrica group (the T. cylindrica complex, T. confertus, T. jejuensis, T. natalensis and two uncharacterized T. ‘cylindrica’ clades) and one clade as the T. fragilis group. Overall, at least 12 species in Tricleocarpa were detected from the Indo-Pacific region, including a new species, T. confertus S.-L. Liu & S.-M. Lin, from Taiwan. Among them, T. confertus can be separated from other species of Tricleocarpa by a thallus consisting of dichotomous or trichotomous, articulated and moniliform branches with smooth surfaces, constrictions at nodes and slightly anti-triangular in shape. The cystocarp morphology of T. confertus is similar to the T. cylindrica group by having paraphyses intermixing with gonimoblast filaments. Recognition of this new species from other species is also supported by the DNA-based, algorithmic species delimitation approaches. With the combination of molecular phylogeny and species diversity reassessment, our phylogeographic analysis supported a trend that species in the T. fragilis group are restricted in their distribution to subtropical and tropical areas whereas species in the T. cylindrica group have a wide distribution, ranging from temperate through to tropical areas.     

Taxonomic review of Hemistola Warren, 1893 from China,with descriptions of seven new species (Lepidoptera: Geometridae,Geometrinae)

The genus Hemistola Warren from China is reviewed, and seven new species are described: H. viridimargo, sp. nov., H. glauca sp. nov., H. asymmetra sp. nov., H. arcilinea sp. nov., H. flavifimbria sp. nov., H. orbiculosoides sp. nov. and H. stueningi sp. nov. Two species, acyra and christinaria, are transferred from Hemistola to Maxates and Comostola, respectively: Maxates acyra comb. nov. and Comostola christinaria comb. nov. Including the 25 species previously known from China, a total of 32 species is now recorded. All Chinese species are redescribed. Generic characters based on all species are summarized. Illustrations of adults and genitalia are presented.     

Lorilichus,a new genus of feather mites (Acarina,Pterolichidae) from lories and lorikeets (Aves,Psittacidae)

Lorilichus n. g. (Pterolichidae, Pterolichinae) is restricted to the Indo-Australian parrots of the family Loriidae. Assigned to this new genus are Pterolichus (Pseudalloptes) species described by Trouessart in 1884, namely, lobiger (type-species), delibativentris, discifer, cultriventris, emargiventris and securiventris. The first three named species are illustrated and two new species, parvifolius and grandifolius, are described: the five species are from Lorius domicellus (L.).