Molecular and phytochemical systematics of the subtribe Hypochaeridinae (Asteraceae,Cichorieae)

The systematics of the Hypochaeridinae subtribe was re-evaluated based on a combination of published and new molecular data. Newly found clades were additionally characterized using published and new phytochemical data. In addition to flavonoids and sesquiterpene lactones, which had been reviewed recently as chemosystematic markers in the Cichorieae, we analysed the reported occurrences of caffeic acid derivatives and their potential as chemosystematic markers. Our molecular results required further changes in the systematics of the genus Leontodon. Based on previous molecular data, Leontodon s.l.—i.e. including sections Asterothrix, Leontodon, Thrincia, Kalbfussia, and Oporinia (Widder 1975)—had been split into the genera Leontodon s.str. (sections Asterothrix, Leontodon, and Thrincia) and Scorzoneroides (sections Kalbfussia and Oporinia). Instead of splitting Leontodon into even a higher number of segregate genera we propose to include Hedypnois into Leontodon s.str. and here into section Leontodon. Moreover, sections Asterothrix and Leontodon should be merged into a single section Leontodon. The newly defined genus Leontodon is characterised by the unique occurrence of hydroxyhypocretenolides. The monophyly of the genus Hypochaeris is neither supported nor contradicted and potentially comprises two separate molecular clades. The clade Hypochaeris I comprises the majority of the European and Mediterranean as well as all South American taxa of Hypochaeris s.l. while the clade Hypochaeris II encompasses only H. achyrophorus L., H. glabra L., H. laevigata Benth. & Hook.f., and H. radicata L.     

Molecular phylogeny ofIva (Asteraceae,Heliantheae) based on chloroplast DNA restriction site variation

Iva s.str. (comprising ten species) was examined by cpDNA restriction site variation to determine phyletic relationships within the group. The results were compared with relationships proposed from other data. A total of 86 restriction site mutations was detected, 47 of which proved phylogenetically informative. A single most parsimonious tree was obtained using both Wagner and Dollo parsimony. The tree revealed three main lineages that are congruent with the three chromosome lineages (base numbers of x = 16, 17, 18). The monophyly of the x = 16 and 18 groups was supported strongly by molecular data, while the monophyly of x = 17 lineage was only supported moderately. Relationships among the three lineages indicate that the sect.Iva is paraphyletic because sect.Linearbractea is nested within it. Both morphological data and the secondary chemical data are in agreement with the proposed cpDNA phylogeny. Because of this agreement, sect.Iva is revised such that,I. axillaris was excluded and positioned within the newly proposed sect.Rhizoma. Patterns and rates of cpDNA evolution were also examined. The results indicated an uneven evolution in the chloroplast genome with different rates of cpDNA evolution in at least a few species ofIva. However, the evolutionary clock hypothesis can not be rejected within most of the lineages inIva.     

Systematic Rearrangement of Korean <Emphasis Type="Italic">Scirpus</Emphasis> L. s.l. (Cyperaceae) as Inferred from Nuclear ITS and Chloroplast <Emphasis Type="Italic">rbcL</Emphasis> Sequences

The genus Scirpus L. s.l. (Cyperaceae) has been accepted as a polyphyletic taxon by most plant taxonomists. This genus was separated into different genera by several different authors: Scirpus s. str., Trichophorum Pers., Bolboschoenus (Asch.) Palla, Schoenoplectus (Rchb.) Palla, and Schoenoplectiella Lye. The heterogeneity of Korean Scirpus s.l. has not yet been studied. We examined 17 taxa of Korean Scirpus s.l. by morphological characters and phylogenetic analyses based on nuclear ITS and chloroplast rbcL sequences. Phylogenetic analyses using maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian method provided sufficient resolution. The phylogeny revealed the polyphyly of Korean Scirpus s.l. with five distinct clades. These clades correspond to Bolboschoenus, Schoenoplectus s.str., and Schoenoplectiella, Scirpus s.str., and Trichophorum, respectively. These five genera were delimited in terms of the morphology of tuber, bract, and inflorescence. By virtue of our findings, we suggest that the 17 taxa of Korean Scirpus s.l. should be placed into five genera as follows: Bolboschoenus (two species), Schoenoplectus (three species), Schoenoplectiella (six species), Scirpus s.str. (five species), and Trichophorum (one species).     

A phenetic study of Cassia sensu lato (Leguminosae-Caesalpinioideae: Cassieae: Cassiinae) in Thailand

Cassia L. sensu lato, a large heterogeneous genus of flowering plants, occurs naturally in the tropics around the world. Recent works based on floral morphology have supported a division of this genus into three genera, namely Cassia L. s. str., Chamaecrista Moench and Senna Mill. In order to investigate this new classification, 508 specimens of 18 taxa of the genus Cassia s.l. grown in Thailand were analyzed using cluster analysis and canonical discriminant analysis. The total 32 vegetative and reproductive morphological characters were employed in these analyses. In cluster analysis, Cassia s.l. can be separated into four groups, respectively viz. Chamaecrista, Senna alata, Senna and Cassia s /str. The four-cluster grouping is discussed. From a canonical discriminant analysis using the four-cluster grouping as a priori groups, it can be concluded that Cassia s. str., Senna, and Chamaecrista are indeed distinct taxa. The three most important characters that separate the three genera are filament length, fruit length, and ovary stalk length. These quantitative characters, together with some qualitative characters, were useful in constructing an identification key to these genera. Among the three genera, it was also found that Senna is rather a heterogeneous taxon. The difference between the studied species was discussed.     

Phylogenetic analysis of the Malvadendrina clade (Malvaceae s.l.) based on plastid DNA sequences

Phylogenetic relationships within Malvaceae s.l., a clade that includes the traditional families Bombacaceae, Malvaceae s.str., Sterculiaceae, and Tiliaceae, have become greatly clarified thanks to recent molecular systematic research. In this paper, we use DNA sequences of four plastid regions (atpB, matK, ndhF, and rbcL) to study relationships within Malvadendrina, one of the two major clades of Malvaceae s.l. The four data sets were generally in agreement, but five terminal taxa manifested highly unexpected affinities in the rbcL partition, and the non-coding sequences of the trnK intron were found to provide limited phylogenetic information for resolving relationships at the base of Malvadendrina. The remaining data strongly support the existence of six major clades within Malvadendrina: Brownlowioideae, Dombeyoideae, Helicteroideae, Malvatheca (comprising Bombacoideae and Malvoideae), Sterculioideae, and Tilioideae. These data also resolve the placement of two problematic taxa: Nesogordonia (in Dombeyoideae) and Mortoniodendron (in Tilioideae). The relationships among the six clades are not definitively resolved, but the best-supported topology has Dombeyoideae as sister to the remainder of Malvadendrina (posterior probability PP=80%) and Sterculioideae as sister to Malvatheca (PP=86%). This early branching position of Dombeyoideae is supported by similarities in floral characters between members of that clade and outgroup taxa in Byttnerioideae. Similarly, the sister-group relationship of Sterculioideae and Malvatheca receives support from androecial characteristics, like subsessile or sessile anthers and an absence of staminodes, shared by these two clades.     

Infrageneric phylogeny of the genus Gentiana (Gentianaceae) inferred from nucleotide sequences of the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) of nuclear ribosomal DNA

The internal transcribed spacers (ITSs) of nuclear ribosomal DNA have been sequenced for 20 species of Gentiana. By incorporating previously released sequence data of eight species, phylogenelic analyses using Fitch parsimony and character-state weighted parsimony were carried out. The length of ITS 1 in the taxa surveyed ranged from 223 to 238 bp and ITS2 from 216 to 234 bp. Sequence divergence between pairs of species ranged from 5.0% to 48.9% in ITS1, from 1.1% to 45.3% in ITS2, and from 3.2% to 46.1% in combined data of ITS1 and ITS2. The ITS phylogeny was generally congruent with morphological classifications except that G. asclepiadea was revealed to be closely related to section Gentiana instead of section Pneumonanthe and section Stenogyne was shown to be a paraphyletic group of the genus Gentiana that would be better excluded from the genus. A divergence among the three European endemic sections and the remaining sections of the genus other than section Stenogyne was revealed. Thus the European species of the genus together do not form a monophyletic group. A close relationship between the sections Chondrophyllae s. l. (including section Dolichocarpa), Cruciata and Pneumonanthe was suggested. The section Frigidae s. l. (including sections Monopodiae, Isomeria, Microsperma, and Phyllocalyx) contained two well-supported clades: section Frigidae s. str. and all others together. The monophyly of the typically dysploid group section Chondrophyllae s. l. was confirmed. Optimization of chromosome numbers on the ITS phylogeny suggested that 2/1 = 26 is a plesiomorphic state for the clade comprising sections Frigidae s. l., Cruciata, Pneumonanthe, and Chondrophyllae s. l., and probably 2n = 20 is a plesiomorphic state for the dysploid group, section Chondrophyllae s. l.     

Phylogeny and the fossil record of the Helophoridae reveal Jurassic origin of extant hydrophiloid lineages (Coleoptera: Polyphaga)

We performed a phylogenetic analysis focused on the hydrophiloid family Helophoridae (Coleoptera: Polyphaga) in order to test the phylogenetic position of selected Mesozoic fossils assigned to the Hydrophiloidea. The analysis is based on 92 characters of larvae and adults, and includes all extant subgenera of Helophorus and representatives of all other extant hydrophiloid families. Based on this analysis, we provide additional evidence for the monophyly of the helophorid lineage containing the families Helophoridae, Georissidae and Epimetopidae, as well as the first hypothesis on the phylogenetic relationships within Helophorus, revealing three main clades: Lihelophorus, Rhopalohelophorus and the clade of sculptured small subgenera; the subgenera Helophorus s.str., Gephelophorus, Trichohelophorus and Transithelophorus are recognized as paraphyletic or polyphyletic. Inclusion of fossil species in the analysis reveals the Mesozoic genera Hydrophilopsia Ponomarenko, Laetopsia Fiká?ek et al. (adult forms) and Cretotaenia Ponomarenko (larval form) as basal extinct clades of the helophorid lineage, the former genus Mesosperchus Ponomarenko as containing probable stem taxa of Helophorus and the former genus Mesohelophorus Ponomarenko as a member of the Helophorus clade containing extant sculptured subgenera. The extant subgenus Thaumhelophorus syn.nov. is synonymized with Rhopalohelophorus. Our results show that the family Helophoridae may be dated back to the late Jurassic (c. 150 Ma) and the extant clades of Helophorus back to the Early Cretaceous (c. 136 Ma). The basal groups of Helophorus and the supposed basal extinct lineages of the helophorid lineages are shown to be aquatic as adults. A single origin of trichobothria and ventral hydrophobic pubescence in the common ancestor of the Hydrophiloidea is hypothesized, indicating ancestral aquatic habits in the adult stage for the whole Hydrophiloidea.     

Phylogenomic delineation of Physcomitrium (Bryophyta: Funariaceae) based on targeted sequencing of nuclear exons and their flanking regions rejects the retention of Physcomitrella,Physcomitridium and Aphanorrhegma

Selection on spore dispersal mechanisms in mosses is thought to shape the transformation of the sporophyte. The majority of extant mosses develop a sporangium that dehisces through the loss of an operculum, and regulates spore release through the movement of articulate teeth, the peristome, lining the capsule mouth. Such complexity was acquired by the Mesozoic Era, but was lost in some groups during subsequent diversification events, challenging the resolution of the affinities for taxa with reduced architectures. The Funariaceae are a cosmopolitan and diverse lineage of mostly annual mosses, and exhibit variable sporophyte complexities, spanning from long, exerted, operculate capsules with two rings of well‐developed teeth, to capsules immersed among maternal leaves, lacking a differentiated line of dehiscence (i.e., inoperculate) and without peristomes. The family underwent a rapid diversification, and the relationships of taxa with reduced sporophytes remain ambiguous. Here, we infer the relationships of five taxa with highly reduced sporophytes based on 648 nuclear loci (exons complemented by their flanking regions), based on inferences from concatenated data and concordance analysis of single gene trees. Physcomitrellopsis is resolved as nested within one clade of Entosthodon. Physcomitrella s. l., is resolved as a polyphyletic assemblage and, along with its putative relative Aphanorrhegma, nested within Physcomitrium. We propose a new monophyletic delineation of Physcomitrium, which accommodates species of Physcomitrella and Aphanorrhegma. The monophyly of Physcomitrium s. l. is supported by a small plurality of exons, but a majority of trees inferred from exons and their adjacent non‐coding regions.     

Phylogenetic relationships of the Chinese Labeoninae (Teleostei,Cypriniformes) derived from two nuclear and three mitochondrial genes

Zheng, L‐P., Yang, J‐X., Chen, X‐Y. & Wang, W‐Y. (2010) Phylogenetic relationships of the Chinese Labeoninae (Teleostei, Cypriniformes) derived from two nuclear and three mitochondrial genes. —Zoologica Scripta, 39, 559–571. The majority of genera within the Labeoninae occur in the South of China and the phylogeny of the subfamily Labeoninae has been a controversial topic over the years. The early and more recent phylogenetic results based on morphology are not in agreement, and some of the molecular analyses contradict those based on morphology. However, none of the previous studies has included an extensive sampling of Labeoninae genera. In this study, partial sequences of two nuclear (exon 3 of recombination activating protein 1 and rhodopsin) and three mitochondrial genes (cytochrome b, cytochrome oxidase subunit I and 16S ribosomal RNA) from 39 ingroup taxa and 11 outgroup taxa were used analysed to provide a hypothesis of phylogenetic relationships within the Chinese Labeoninae. The results supported the monophyly of Labeoninae and refuted the subdivision within Labeoninae based on the oromandibular morphology. It also further confirmed that the presence of a disc on lower lip arose through convergent evolution. Labeo was the basal clade and Osteochilus was closely related to Cirrhinus, forming the second basal clade. The monophyly of Garra and Bangana was refuted in this study, and they were both subdivided into two lineages. One lineage of Garra had closer relationships with Crossocheilus and Akrokolioplax, and the other lineage had closer relationships with Placocheilus. One lineage of Bangana represented the species with broadly interrupted postlabial groove; these species represented the true Bangana. The other lineage of Bangana included the species with continuous postlabial groove, and these species should be assigned to a new genus. Discogobio, as currently conceived, was paraphyletic, but it rendered monophyletic with the inclusion of Discocheilus. These results indicated that Discocheilus should be synonymised with Discogobio. Hongshuia and Sinocrossocheilus, respectively, formed independent lineages related to a lineage consisting of Pseudocrossocheilus plus seven other nominal genera. The relationships received weak support, but the repeatability of the clades could form the basis of recognising only the three genera mentioned above.     

Molecular ecology and phylogenetics of the water beetle genus Ochthebius revealed multiple independent shifts to marine rockpools lifestyle

Marine rockpools represent a dynamic ecosystem where inhabiting species usually suffer changeable conditions, with consequent phenomena of local populations’ size expansions and reductions. Nevertheless, a few specialized insect groups are known to live in marine rockpools, and among them, several species belong to the water beetle family Hydraenidae. Three groups of Ochthebius sensu lato (s.l.) live in fact in marine rockpools: the putative subgenus Calobius, the former subgenus Cobalius (both mostly Mediterranean–Macaronesian) and two species of the O. capicola group from South Africa. In this work, we performed a molecular phylogeny of Ochthebius s.l., running molecular clocks, aiming to address the following questions: Are these three groups related? Which is their position within Ochthebius s.l.? How many different times and in how many lineages of Ochthebius s.l. a shift from inland waters to marine rockpools environments happened? Is the current taxonomic status of these three groups supported by genetics? We found that Calobius, Cobalius and the O. capicola group represent three distinct groups, with no sister relationships, suggesting that a shift from fresh/brackish waters to marine rockpools happened independently at least three different times along the diversification of the genus. Cobalius represents an effective separate subgenus, whereas such a rank is not supported by molecular data for Calobius, which represents a monophyletic clade within the nominal subgenus Ochthebius sensu stricto (s.str.). However, as Calobius is monophyletic and characterized by strongly peculiar and distinguishing morphology, we suggest referring to this group as the ‘Calobius’ lineage. Three Mediterranean taxa within this lineage represent likely valid new species, to be described soon. In the same way, the taxonomy of Cobalius should be revised, with two previously formally recognized species found to be paraphyletic, and the possible presence of two additional cryptic species.     

Pachyphragma andGagria (Brassicaceae) Revisited: Molecular data indicate close relationship toThlaspi S.Str.

The systematic position ofPachyphragma macrophyllum (Brassicaceae) is unsettled. This species was either treated as a monotypic section ofThlaspi s.l. or was treated as a distinct genus.Gagria lobata apparently closely related toPachyphragma, was also given generic rank. To unravel the phylogenetic relationships ofPachyphragma andGagria, ITS sequence studies were conducted using as a reference representatives of the main lineages ofThlaspi s.l. The molecular data indicate thatGagria lobata andPachyphragma macrophyllum are closely related to members ofThlaspi s.str., an assemblage of species well separated from the otherThlaspi s.l. lineages.     

Phylogeny and biogeography of the lamioid genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phlomis</Emphasis> (Lamiaceae)

The genus Phlomis is one of the largest genera of subfamily Lamioideae (Lamiaceae) with more than 100 recognised species distributed in Asia, southern Europe and northern Africa. Morphological studies have suggested that the species can be split into two morphologically distinct groups that have previously been recognised as either sections or separate genera. The current study represents the first molecular phylogenetic study of the genus in which taxa representative of the entire genus are included. In contrast to considerable morphological and ecological variation among taxa, sequence variation in the trnL intron, the trnL – F intergenic spacer, and the rps16 intron was low, resulting in sparse phylogenetic resolution, particularly among the South West Asian and Mediterranean taxa. However, the results support a split of the genus into two separate groups that are recognised here as the genera Phlomoides and Phlomis in order to decrease taxonomic complexity. The close relationship between Phlomis s.l. and Eremostachys, pointed out by several authors, is confirmed, and in a noteworthy new finding, the small Asian genus Notochaete, is more closely related to the Phlomis s.l. lineage than previously assumed. The two monotypic genera Pseuderemostachys and Lamiophlomis as well as Notochaete hamosa are transferred to Phlomoides and three new combinations are made. Character optimisation analyses based on geographic distributions of all taxa show that the groups obtained by molecular phylogenetic analysis correlate well with biogeography. The results suggest that the Phlomis s.l. lineage has a Central Asian origin in an area around Western China.     

From capsules to nutlets—phylogenetic relationships in the Boraginales

Multiple family‐level subdivisions of Boraginales have been proposed in the past. The relationships of several constituent genera have been enigmatic, including Codon (Codonaceae), Hoplestigma (Hoplestigmataceae), Pholisma (Lennoaceae), Vahlia (Vahliaceae), and Wellstedia (Wellstediaceae), all of which are included in the present study. We present a molecular analysis with four chloroplast loci, including 89 ingroup taxa and a broad outgroup sampling in the asterids. The genus Vahlia is excluded from Boraginales and appears to represent an early branching lineage of Lamiales. The study provides a well supported topology for the relationships within Boraginales, including all of the genera with previously unclear relationships. Within Boraginales, two major clades are recognized, with “herbaceaous” Boraginales I resolved as [Codonaceae,[Wellstediaceae,[Boraginaceae]]] and “woody” Boraginales II resolved as [Hydrophyllaceae I,[Hydrophyllaceae II,[Heliotropiaceae,[Cordiaceae,[Ehretiaceae,Lennoaceae]]]]. A close relationship between Ehretiaceae and Lennoaceae is well supported, but the exact placement of Lennoaceae remains unresolved. The Cordiaceae lineage includes the monotypic genus Coldenia and the aberrant western and central African genus Hoplestigma. Woody Boraginales II are retrieved in two highly supported clades. Hydrophyllaceae are retrieved in two separate clades, but with poor support. There appear to be clear morphological progressions in vegetative, floral, and fruit morphology in both major Boraginales lineages. Thus capsular fruits are found in the first branching lineages of both clades, whereas reduced seed numbers in indehiscent fruits predominate in the more derived phylogenetic positions. Based on these results, we advocate the recognition of eight morphologically well defined clades in the order, namely Boraginaceae s.str., Codonaceae, Cordiaceae (incl. Coldenia and Hoplestigmataceae), Ehretiaceae (incl. Lennoaceae), Heliotropiaceae, Hydrophyllaceae I and Hydrophyllaceae II, and Wellstediaceae.     

狭义蛇葡萄属东亚支系的系统发生与生物地理演化

狭义蛇葡萄属(Ampelopsis s. str.)是葡萄科的落叶木质藤本植物,主要分布在北半球温带地区,特别是东亚为其重要的分布和演化中心。该研究选取了狭义蛇葡萄属15个种的37个样本,对其5个叶绿体基因片段(trnL-F、rps16、psbA-trnH、atpB-rbcL和trnK-petN)和2个核基因标记(ITS和GAI1)进行了分子测序;利用测序获得的分子数据探讨属内的系统发生关系,叶的性状演化以及生物地理起源演化。结果表明：(1)狭义蛇葡萄属是一个单系类群,属内东亚地区的物种聚成一支。(2)叶绿体基因数据分析结果表明,狭义蛇葡萄属东亚支系分为两支系,这两支系的分布范围大致与东亚植物区系的中国-日本森林和中国-喜马拉雅森林亚区范围相一致。(3)形态演化分析表明,掌状复叶为祖征,叶形态性状存在多次的独立起源和演化,其变化与系统进化没有明显的关系。(4)生物地理分析结果表明,狭义蛇葡萄属起源于北美,渐新世晚期至中新世早期迁移扩散至欧洲,中新世中期随着全球气温回暖迁移至东亚,并进一步在东亚地区快速分化形成多样化中心,这可能与中新世时期的气候温暖、受第四纪冰川影响较少以及东亚地区复杂...     

Thlaspi s.str. (Brassicaceae) versus Thlaspi s.l.: morphological and anatomical characters in the light of ITS nrDNA sequence data

 Nuclear ribosomal (ITS) DNA sequence data from representatives of eleven out of 12 genera previously included in Thlaspi sensu lato were analyzed to elucidate relationships within the former genus Thlaspi sensu lato. Sequences from Thlaspi segregates Noccaea, Masmenia, Callothlaspi, Kotschyella, Microthlaspi, and Noccidium were added to the existing data sets, and only some Thlaspi sensu lato segregates formed a monophyletic group. The recently renamed genus Pseudosempervivum, formerly part of the genus Cochlearia, has been shown to be closely related to this group as well. Microthlaspi consists of three independent lineages of which Microthlaspi umbellatum is closely related to Neurotropis. The Thlaspi s.str. taxa including the type species T. arvense, are closely related to Peltaria and Alliaria and they represent a monophyletic group. Kotschyella and Noccidium, which were also integrated into Thlaspi s.l. are not closely related to any Thlaspi lineage. Therefore, we suggest major taxonomical changes which are not in agreement with concepts based on morphological data. Our ITS based phylogeny demonstrates that subtribe Thlaspidinae comprises some additional genera such as Teesdalia, Peltaria, and Alliaria, the latter two even previously classified in other tribes than tribe Lepidieae. Received August 15, 2000 Accepted January 30, 2001     

Evolutionary and biogeographic history of the subfamily Neoplecostominae (Siluriformes: Loricariidae)

Freshwater fish evolution has been shaped by changes in the earth's surface involving changes in the courses of rivers and fluctuations in sea level. The main objective of this study is to improve our knowledge of the evolution of loricariids, a numerous and adaptive group of freshwater catfish species, and the role of geological changes in their evolution. We use a number of different phylogenetic methods to test the relationships among 52 representative taxa within the Neoplecostominae using 4676 bps of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA. Our analysis revealed that the subfamily Neoplecostominae is monophyletic, including Pseudotocinclus, with three lineages recognized. The first lineage is composed of part of Pareiorhina rudolphi, P. cf. rudolphi, and Pseudotocinclus; the second is composed of Isbrueckerichthys, Pareiorhaphis, Kronichthys, and the species Neoplecostomus ribeirensis; and the third is composed of Pareiorhina carrancas, P. cf. carrancas, Pareiorhina sp. 1, a new genus, and all the species of the genus Neoplecostomus, except N. ribeirensis. The relaxed molecular clock calibration provides a temporal framework for the evolution of the group, which we use for a likelihood‐based historical biogeographic analysis to test relevant hypotheses on the formation of southeast Brazil. We hypothesize that headwater capture events and marine regressions have shaped the patterns of distribution within the subfamily Neoplecostominae throughout the distinct basins of southeast Brazil.     

Coalescence-based species delimitation using genome-wide data reveals hidden diversity in a cosmopolitan group of lichens

Although there is an abundance of species delimitation methods on the market, most approaches depend on predefined assignment of specimens to species or populations. Assignment-free methods, which can simultaneously infer boundaries and relationships among species, are of high importance in cases, when correct pre-assignment is difficult or not at all possible. In this study, we use assignment-free multispecies coalescent-based species delimitation (STACEY, tr2-delimitation, and BP&P), phylogenetic methods, and clustering algorithms to investigate the inter- and infraspecific relationships within a common and widespread group of lichens with contentious species boundaries. The Cetraria aculeata group presents a good example of extreme morphological variability and unclear species delimitation in lichens. Based on DNA-sequence data from 26 fungal loci and 10 microsatellite loci, as well as morphological and chemical data, our results provide evidence for the occurrence of five different taxa within the group and highlight the difficulties of morphologically distinguishing these species. We discovered a separate lineage (clade C) within C. aculeata s. str., which does not fully coincide with any of the a priori identified species C. aculeata, C. crespoae, or C. steppae and conclude that this clade constitutes a semi-cryptic, genetically isolated lineage within C. aculeata. We recognize this lineage at subspecific rank as C. aculeata subsp. steppae and synonymize Cetraria crespoae with C. aculeata subsp. aculeata. Epitypes are designated for all involved names to stabilize their usage. The PKS8 gene locus is recommended as a barcode for the separation of C. aculeata subsp. aculeata and subsp. steppae. We demonstrate the potential use of microsatellite data for species delimitation in lichens that might offer an alternative insight or be used to test species delimitation hypotheses, when dealing with closely related or potentially cryptic species. Our results also confirm the presence of an undescribed sister lineage to C. odontella previously misidentified as C. muricata and extend the known range of this lineage to Central Asia (Altay Mts.) and the Central European Alps (France, Switzerland), which calls for a critical reappraisal of records of C. aculeata and C. muricata from these mountain ranges.

     

A multilocus phylogeny of the fish genus Poeciliopsis: Solving taxonomic uncertainties and preliminary evidence of reticulation

The fish genus Poeciliopsis constitutes a valuable research system for evolutionary ecology, whose phylogenetic relationships have not been fully elucidated. We conducted a multilocus phylogenetic study of the genus based on seven nuclear and two mitochondrial loci with a thorough set of analytical approaches, that is, concatenated (also known as super‐matrix), species trees, and phylogenetic networks. Although several relationships remain unresolved, the overall results uncovered phylogenetic affinities among several members of this genus. A population previously considered of undetermined taxonomic status could be unequivocally assigned to P. scarlli; revealing a relatively recent dispersal event across the Trans‐Mexican Volcanic Belt (TMVB) or Pacific Ocean, which constitute a strong barrier to north–south dispersal of many terrestrial and freshwater taxa. The closest relatives of P. balsas, a species distributed south of the TMVB, are distributed in the north; representing an additional north–south split in the genus. An undescribed species of Poeciliopsis, with a highly restricted distribution (i.e., a short stretch of the Rio Concepcion; just south of the US‐Mexico border), falls within the Leptorhaphis species complex. Our results are inconsistent with the hypothesis that this species originated by “breakdown” of an asexual hybrid lineage. On the other hand, network analyses suggest one or more possible cases of reticulation within the genus that require further evaluation with genome‐wide marker representation and additional analytical tools. The most strongly supported case of reticulation occurred within the subgenus Aulophallus (restricted to Central America), and implies a hybrid origin for P. retropinna (i.e., between P. paucimaculata and P. elongata). We consider that P. balsas and P. new species are of conservation concern.     

Molecular phylogeny of genus Vigna subgenus Ceratotropis based on rDNA ITS and atpB-rbcL intergenic spacer of cpDNA sequences

The genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships among species in the genus Vigna subgenus Ceratotropis were investigated using sequence data from the ribosomal DNA ITS and atpB-rbcL intergenic spacer of chloroplast DNA regions. While both sets of sequences were of similar lengths about 700bp the rDNA-ITS was more informative than atpB-rbcL having 170% more polymorphic sites and five times as many parsimony-informative sites. The atpB-rbcL spacer may be appropriate for analysis of taxa above the species level in the genus Vigna. Results of analyzing rDNA-ITS revealed, with low level of statistical bias, separation of the subgenus into three groups that correspond to the three sections Aconitifoliae, Angulares, and Ceratotropis. The ancestral section is Aconitifoliae based on comparison with the outgroup species cowpea, Vigna unguiculata. The V. minima complex, V. minima, V. riukiuensis, and V. nakashimae, has a distinct evolutionary path within section Angulares. Other species in section Angulares are very closely related except V. trinervia. Vigna trinervia has an intermediate position between sections. Sequence data suggests one genome donor to V. reflexo-pilosa came from a lineage within section Angulares close to V. exilis, V. hirtella, and V. umbellata. Data presented supports the view that section Angulares is the most recently diversified section in the subgenus, as inferred by short terminal branch lengths among the species of this section.     

Molecular phylogeny of the tribe Erotini with description of a new genus from China (Coleoptera: Lycidae)

Erotini is a small tribe of net‐winged beetles known from the northern temperate zone. We investigated relationships and limits of tribes and genera using a molecular phylogeny inferred from rrnL, cox1 and nad5 mtDNA fragments. Lopheros Leconte, 1881 and Pseudaplatopterus Kleine, 1940 were inferred in current molecular analyses as terminal lineages within Erotini. Therefore, we consider Lopherotini Kazantsev, 2012 and Pseudaplatopterina Kazantsev, 2012 as junior synonyms of Erotini Leconte, 1881. The Platycis genus group comprises 19 species representing several genus‐group taxa previously placed in Platycis s. l. Konoplatycis Nakane, 1969 was recovered as a deeply rooted lineage of Erotini and we inferred another independent lineage for which we propose a new genus Sinoplatycis gen. nov. Additionally, we studied the diversity of Platycis s. l. in Asia, found their highest diversity in the temperate forest habitats of Eastern Asia and inferred the paraphyletic character of the subgenus Erotides s. str. Five new species are described from China: Sinoplatycis cardinalis sp. nov. , S. zhani sp. nov. (type species of Sinoplatycis gen. nov. ), Erotides brunnescens sp. nov. , E. pusillus sp. nov. and E. slipinskii sp. nov. The molecular phylogeny shows deep splits of Japanese species with respect to the continental Eurasian fauna and the role of shallow seas and mountain systems in the diversification of the Platycis genus group.