Observations on Japanese species of the genus Martensia (Delesseriaceae, Rhodophyta), with the description of Neomartensia gen. nov.

The morphology of vegetative and reproductive structures of Martensia fragilis Harvey, Martensia australis Harvey and Martensia flabelliformis Harvey ex J. Agardh was studied based on material collected from Japan. M. fragilis and M. australis have cystocarps with terminal carposporangia, and their membranous portions are composed of cell layers with regularly stacked flat cells of similar size. M. flabelliformis has the following combination of characters: (i) carposporangia are formed in short chains; and (ii) the membranous portion is composed of irregularly arranged flat cells of various sizes. These characters are distinctly different from those of Martensia and warrant the establishment of Neomartensia gen. nov., with the type species Neomartensia flabelliformis comb. nov.     

Two new species of Martensia (Delesseriaceae, Rhodophyta) from Jeju Island, Korea

Two new species of Martensia (Delesseriaceae, Rhodophyta) are described from Jeju Island, Korea. Martensia jejuensis is characterized by the thallus of long linear axes and a proximal membranous part (initial blade), the linear axes that are derived from the longitudinal lamellae of the latticework, the flabellate bladelets arising from the linear axes terminally and laterally, the leading margins of the latticework giving rise to spine‐like or spatulate projections at intervals, and tetrasporangia borne on the whole thallus except for the spatulate projections. Martensia bibarii is characterized by the fimbriate aspect, the ribbon‐like blade with lobes, the flabellate bladelets derived from the lobes of the blade, the bladelets bearing the fringe or the latticework distally, the fringe consisting of many fine and strap‐shaped lamellae, and tetrasporangia borne only on the blade.     

TWO TYPES OF AUXILIARY CELL AMPULLAE IN GRATELOUPIA (HALYMENIACEAE,RHODOPHYTA), INCLUDING G. TAIWANENSIS SP. NOV. AND G. ORIENTALIS SP. NOV. FROM TAIWAN BASED ON rbcL GENE SEQUENCE ANALYSIS AND CYSTOCARP DEVELOPMENT1

Few species in the genus Grateloupia have been investigated in detail with respect to the development of the auxiliary cell ampullae before or after diploidization. In this study, we document the vegetative and reproductive structures of two new species of Grateloupia, G. taiwanensis S.‐M. Lin et H.‐Y. Liang sp. nov. and G. orientalis S.‐M. Lin et H.‐Y. Liang sp. nov., plus a third species, G. ramosissima Okamura, from Taiwan. Two distinct patterns are reported for the development of the auxiliary cell ampullae: (1) ampullae consisting of three orders of unbranched filaments that branch after diploidization of the auxiliary cell and form a pericarp together with the surrounding secondary medullary filaments (G. taiwanensis type), and (2) ampullae composed of only two orders of unbranched filaments in which only a few cells are incorporated into a basal fusion cell after diploization of the auxiliary cell and the pericarp consists almost entirely of secondary medullary filaments (G. orientalis type). G. orientalis is positioned in a large clade based on rbcL gene sequence analysis that includes the type species of Grateloupia C. Agardh 1822 , G. filicina. G. taiwanensis clusters with a clade that includes the generitype of Phyllymenia J. Agardh 1848 , Ph. belangeri from South Africa; that of Prionitis J. Agardh 1851 , Pr. lanceolata from Pacific North America; and that of Pachymeniopsis Y. Yamada ex Kawab. 1954, Pa. lanceolata from Japan. A reexamination of the type species of the genera Grateloupia, Phyllymenia, Prionitis, and Pachymeniopsis is required to clarify the generic and interspecific relationships among the species presently placed in Grateloupia.     

CRYPTIC DIVERSITY AND PHYLOGENETIC RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THE MASTOCARPUS PAPILLATUS SPECIES COMPLEX (RHODOPHYTA,PHYLLOPHORACEAE)1

Mastocarpus papillatus (C. Agardh) Kütz. is a common intertidal red alga occurring along the west coast of North America from Baja California to Alaska. Sequencing of both the chloroplast‐encoded rbcL gene and the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of ～200 specimens from California to Alaska revealed that M. papillatus is actually a complex of at least five species. All five species have high bootstrap support in phylogenetic analyses of both genetic regions, and in the case of the ITS marker, the species also have distinctive patterns of indels. Three of the species are localized in the mid‐ to upper intertidal, whereas two of the species occur in the low intertidal. The species also have different geographic ranges that overlap in the Vancouver Island area of British Columbia. No distinctive, reliable morphological differences were observed among the species. Although a variety of names are available for species in the complex, it is not yet clear which name goes with which species. As part of the survey, I also sequenced other species of Mastocarpus in the northeast Pacific region, and I provide new distribution records for M. jardinii ( J. Agardh) J. A. West and for a nonpapillate and probably undescribed species of Mastocarpus.     

AN EXAMINATION OF PACHYMENIA AND AEODES (HALYMENIACEAE,RHODOPHYTA) IN NEW ZEALAND AND THE TRANSFER OF TWO SPECIES OF AEODES IN SOUTH AFRICA TO PACHYMENIA1

A phylogenetic study was conducted of species of Halymeniaceae from New Zealand presently placed in Aeodes or Pachymenia, based on maximum‐likelihood (ML), maximum‐parsimony (MP), and Bayesian analyses of rbcL and nuclear internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA sequences. We used molecular and morphological data in combination with exhaustive sampling of herbarium collections to clarify the taxonomy and distributions of New Zealand members of Pachymenia and Aeodes. Our study confirms the presence of three erect species of Pachymenia on the New Zealand mainland, and we resurrect the name Pachymenia dichotoma J. Agardh for the widely distributed, southernmost species. Species of Aeodes from South Africa are shown to be closely related to Pachymenia carnosa (J. Agardh) J. Agardh, the type species of Pachymenia, and are accordingly transferred to Pachymenia.     

THERMAL ECOPHYSIOLOGY OF LAURENCIA PACIFICA AND LAURENCIA NIDIFICA (CERAMIALES,RHODOPHYTA) FROM TROPICAL AND WARM‐TEMPERATE REGIONS1

Laurencia is a globally distributed genus with about 80 species (order Ceramiales) that inhabit tropical, subtropical, and warm‐temperate regions of both sides of the Atlantic and Indo‐Pacific oceans. This study investigated how two species of Laurencia distributed in different thermal environments (California and Hawaii) varied in their photosynthetic responses to temperature. The thermal ecophysiology of both species was investigated at different temporal scales (short‐term responses and seasonal acclimatization) using oxygen evolution and pulse‐amplitude‐modulated (PAM) fluorometry. Our results indicated that seasonal acclimatization of both species of Laurencia influenced the short‐term photosynthetic response at both locations. Greater seasonal differences in the photosynthetic performance were observed for L. pacifica Kylin, which reflects the ability of this species to acclimatize to local environmental conditions characterized by short‐term fluctuations and a broader annual temperature range. Photosynthetic performance of L. nidifica J. Agardh was consistent with the less variable local environment (no short‐term fluctuations and a narrower temperature range). These results suggest that acclimatization to temperature variability in the environment can influence the degree of flexibility of physiological responses of species in this genus.     

INDUCTION AND REDUCTION OF ANTI‐HERBIVORE DEFENSES IN BROWN AND RED MACROALGAE OFF THE KENYAN COAST1

Herbivory is particularly intense in tropical benthic communities, suggesting preference of constitutive, rather than inducible, anti‐herbivory defense. The objective of the study was to examine whether anti‐herbivore defenses in the red alga Hypnea pannosa J. Agardh and the brown algae Sargassum asperifolium Hering and G. Martens ex J. Agardh and Cystoseira myrica (S.G. Gmelin) C. Agardh could be induced and subsequently reduced in response to grazing by the amphipod Cymadusa filosa Savigny. During a 14‐day treatment phase, algae were exposed to amphipod grazing or were left ungrazed (control). Subsequently, one subset of algae was used in feeding assays, whereas another was cultivated for additional 14 days without consumers (recovery phase). At the end of each phase, bioassays were conducted to detect defensive traits in terms of differences in consumption rates of grazed and control pieces of live algae and agar‐based food containing nonpolar algal extracts. Consumption of grazed live S. asperifolium and H. pannosa specimens was lower than of control algae. Furthermore, nonpolar extracts of grazed S. asperifolium and C. myrica were less preferred than those from control algae. Defensive responses were exclusively detected after the treatment phase, although strong preference of ungrazed H. pannosa and C. myrica over grazed conspecifics continued throughout the recovery phase. These findings suggest that phenotypic plasticity in anti‐herbivory defense of marine macroalgae 1) might be more common than previously shown, 2) could be switched on and off within 2 weeks, and 3) can be found in nonpolar algal extracts.     

TAXONOMIC REVISION OF SARGASSUM SPECIES (FUCALES,PHAEOPHYCEAE) FROM NEW CALEDONIA BASED ON MORPHOLOGICAL AND MOLECULAR ANALYSES1

Sargassum C. Agardh (1820) is a taxonomically difficult genus distributed worldwide and reported as the most species‐rich genus of the Fucales. It is especially abundant in the Pacific where decreasing species richness is reported to occur from west to east. New Caledonia has been recognized as one of the hotspots of Sargassum diversity; however, species lists available for this region are old and incomplete and have not yet been updated with regard to the latest taxonomic revisions published. This study aimed at revising Sargassum diversity in New Caledonia and to assess its geographic affinities with neighboring Pacific regions. We used combined morphological and DNA analyses on new collections and examined numerous type specimens. Although 45 taxa have been listed in the literature, most of them have been either transferred to synonymy since or misidentified, and in this study, only 12 taxa were recognized as occurring in New Caledonia. They belong to the subgenus Sargassum sect. Binderianae (Grunow) Mattio et Payri (2), sect. Ilicifoliae (J. Agardh) Mattio et Payri (2), sect. Polycystae Mattio et Payri. (1), sect. Sargassum (4), sect. Zygocarpicae (J. Agardh) Setch. (2), and subgenus Phyllotrichia (Aresh.) J. Agardh (1). New Caledonian Sargassum flora appeared as the second richest in the region after the Pacific coast of Australia, with which it has shown high similarity, and shared species with all neighboring regions. One species, S. turbinarioides Grunow, is considered as endemic to New Caledonia. The low genetic diversity detected among several polymorphic species belonging to sect. Sargassum is also discussed.     

MOLECULAR PHYLOGENY OF GRACILARIA SPECIES INFERRED FROM MOLECULAR MARKERS BELONGING TO THREE DIFFERENT GENOMES1

The nucleotide sequence data of molecular markers 18S rRNA, RUBISCO spacer, and cox2‐3 intergenic spacer were integrated to infer the phylogeny of Gracilaria species, collected from the western coast of India, reducing the possibility of misidentification and providing greater phylogenetic resolution. A phylogenetic tree was constructed using cox2‐3 and RUBISCO spacer sequences, exhibiting the same clustering but differing slightly from that of the rRNA‐based phylogenetic tree. The phylogeny inferred from the combined data set confers an analogous pattern of clustering, compared with those of trees constructed from individual data sets. The combined data set resulted in a phylogeny with better resolution, which supported the clade with higher consistency index, retention index, and bootstrap values. It was observed that Gracilaria foliifera (Forssk.) Børgesen is closer to G. corticata (J. Agardh) J. Agardh varieties, while G. salicornia (C. Agardh) E. Y. Dawson and G. fergusonii J. Agardh both originated from the same clade. The position of G. textorii (Suringar) De Toni faltered and toppled between G. salicornia and G. dura (C. Agardh) J. Agardh; however, G. gracilis (Stackh.) M. Steentoft, L. M. Irvine et W. F. Farnham was evidently distant from the rest of the species.     

MORPHOLOGICAL AND GENETIC VARIATION IN THE POPULATIONS OF SARGASSUM HEMIPHYLLUM (PHAEOPHYCEAE) IN THE NORTHWESTERN PACIFIC1

Difficulty in species identification of Sargassum (Sargassaceae, Fucales) is partly attributed to the high polymorphism among its individuals and populations. This study aimed at assessing morphological and genetic variations in two varieties, var. hemiphyllum J. Agardh and var. chinense J. Agardh, of Sargassum hemiphyllum (Turner) C. Agardh, a widely distributed species in the northwestern Pacific. We investigated 26 measurable, five numerical, and 33 categorical morphological parameters associated with different branching levels of specimens from each of six localities within its distribution range using cluster analysis (CA) and principal coordinate analysis (PCoA). Leaf size of the primary and secondary branching levels and the vesicle size of the secondary branches of the specimens examined were determined to be the most important morphological parameters that were significantly different among populations. Change in leaf and vesicle length of individuals among the six populations followed a latitudinal gradient, with smaller leaves and vesicles associated with northern populations and larger ones in the southern populations. The possible influence of the gradual change in sea surface temperatures (SSTs) along this gradient in the northwestern Pacific on leaf and vesicle morphologies of this species was suggested. PCR‐RFLP analysis of the RUBISCO spacer in the chloroplast genome revealed two distinct and highly homogenous clades, a China clade and a Japan‐Korea clade, which corresponded to var. chinense and var. hemiphyllum, respectively. The formation of refugia along the “Paleo‐coast” in the East China Sea during glacial periods is suggested to have led to the vicariance of ancestral populations of S. hemiphyllum and thus to have promoted genetic differentiation. The massive freshwater outflow of the Yellow and Yangtze rivers may continue to act as a barrier, prolonging the allopatric distribution of the two varieties.     

A multiplex panel of microsatellite markers for widespread sub‐Saharan rodents of the genus Mastomys

We isolated and characterized 12 polymorphic microsatellite loci in the sub‐Saharan rodent Mastomys huberti. We tested cross‐species amplification of all these loci in three closely related Mastomys species: M. coucha, M. erythroleucus and M. natalensis. Multiplex panels comprising 11 loci were developed and their application to a set of individuals in each species allowed clear and easy characterization of allele sizes. Statistics from 31 M. huberti coming from one locality in Mali showed no deviation from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium except for one locus, and no significant linkage disequilibria between loci.     

TAXONOMY OF ADAMSIELLA L.E. PHILLIPS ET W.A. NELSON,GEN. NOV. AND EPIGLOSSUM KÜTZING (RHODOMELACEAE,CERAMIALES)1

In a taxonomic/phylogenetic study of the genus Lenormandia, several species were found to differ significantly from the type species, L. spectabilis Sonder, in apical morphology, blade‐surface pattern, medullary construction, the presence of pseudopericentral cells, and the position of reproductive structures. These species constitute two groups that differ morphologically, a finding largely supported by analysis of 18S rRNA sequences, as reported previously. The two putative Lenormandia species from New Zealand, along with two previously undescribed species also from New Zealand, comprised one such group, designated here by the new genus name Adamsiella L.E. Phillips et W.A. Nelson, gen. nov. and including A. melchiori L.E. Phillips et W.A. Nelson, sp. nov., A. lorata L.E. Phillips et W.A. Nelson, sp. nov., A. angustifolia (Harvey) L.E. Phillips et W.A. Nelson, comb. nov., and A. chauvinii (Harvey) L.E. Phillips et W.A. Nelson comb. nov. Adamsiella differs from Lenormandia by incurved apices, a chevron surface pattern, and reproductive structures on dorsi‐ventrally flattened apically incurved polysiphonous branchlets usually produced at the margins. Two species endemic to Australia formed the second group designated by the resurrected generic name Epiglossum and also characterized by a strongly incurved apex and chevron surface pattern but with reproductive structures produced on terete polysiphonous branchlets found either on the midrib or elsewhere on the blade surface but not the margins. Epiglossum contains E. smithiae (J.D. Hooker et Harvey) Kützing and E. proliferum (C. Agardh) L.E. Phillips, comb. nov.     

THE BEHAVIOUR OF EGRETTA GARZETTA AND E. INTERMEDIA

Slotow, R. H., Mendelsohn, J. M. &; Perrin, M. R. 1987. The diet of adult and nestling Blackshouldered Kites, and breeding success. Ostrich 59:150-154.

Blackshouldered Kite diet was examined at Settlers, Transvaal, by pellet analysis. Rodents made up 98% by number of the adult diet, comprising 51% Otomys angoniensis, 31% Praomys natalensis, and 16% Rhabdomys pumilio. There was no apparent selection for either prey species or age groups. As the breeding cycle progressed the chances of success increased. We found no evidence that nestling survival was related to the quality of their diet.     

A revision of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Heterospathe elegans</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Arecaceae</Emphasis>) complex in New Guinea

Summary  Three closely affiliated species of Heterospathe Scheff. (H. elegans (Becc.) Becc., H. humilis Becc. and H. versteegiana Becc.) from New Guinea are revised. They are reduced to a single species which is divided into two subspecies, and the new combination H. elegans subsp. humilis (Becc.) M. S. Trudgen & W. J. Baker is made. The subspecies can be readily distinguished by their growth habit. Epitypes are designated for the three previously published names, as informative material on the habit is not included in the existing type specimens. A new, potentially related species is described as H. pullenii M. S. Trudgen & W. J. Baker.     

Differences in parasitism of Meloidogyne incognita and two genotypes of M. arenaria on Solanum torvum in Japan

Two genotypes of root‐knot nematode, Meloidogyne arenaria (A2‐O and A2‐J), are found in Japan. They were distinguished from each other based on mitochondrial DNA sequences. The primer set (C2F3/1108) amplified a 1.7‐kb fragment from A2‐J, whereas a 1.1‐kb fragment was amplified from A2‐O. M. arenaria (A2‐O) was detected in local regions of southern Japan, whereas M. arenaria (A2‐J) was widespread from the Kyushu region to the Tohoku region. The distribution of M. arenaria (A2‐J) overlaps with the cultivation area of eggplant. Solanum torvum is used worldwide as a rootstock for eggplant cultivation, and it is resistant to Meloidogyne spp. In particular, it is reported that S. torvum is resistant to M. arenaria outside Japan. In this study, we inoculated S. torvum rootstock cultivars with M. arenaria (A2‐J), M. arenaria (A2‐O) and Meloidogyne incognita populations. Although M. incognita and M. arenaria (A2‐O) produced only a few egg masses on S. torvum, thereby confirming its resistance, the four geographical populations of M. arenaria (A2‐J) produced large numbers of egg masses on S. torvum. This study confirmed that S. torvum is resistant to M. incognita and M. arenaria (A2‐O) populations, but susceptible to populations of M. arenaria (A2‐J) in the eggplant production area of Japan.     

New insights into the systematics of Malagasy mongoose‐like carnivorans (Carnivora,Eupleridae, Galidiinae) based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences

The Malagasy carnivorans (Eupleridae) comprise seven genera and up to ten species, depending on the authority, and, within the past decades, two new taxa have been described. The family is divided into two subfamilies, the Galidiinae, mongoose‐like animals, and the Euplerinae, with diverse body forms. To verify the taxonomic status of Galidiinae species, including recently described taxa, as well as some recognized subspecies, we studied intrageneric genetic variation and structure, using both mitochondrial and nuclear markers. Our results suggest the recognition of four species in the Galidiinae, rendering each genus monospecific. We propose to recognize three subspecies in Galidia elegans (G. e. dambrensis, G. e. elegans, and G. e. occidentalis), two subspecies in Mungotictis decemlineata (M. d. decemlineata and M. d. lineata), and two subspecies in Galidictis fasciata (G. f. fasciata and G. f. grandidieri, the latter was recently described as a distinct species). Our results indicate also that Salanoia durrelli should be treated as a junior synonym of Salanoia concolor. Low levels of intraspecific divergence revealed some geographical structure for the Galidiinae taxa, suggesting that environmental barriers have isolated certain populations in recent geological time. All taxa, whether at the species or subspecies level, need urgent conservation attention, particularly those with limited geographical distributions, as all are threatened by forest habitat degradation.     

MORPHOLOGY AND TAXONOMY OF MERISTIELLA GEN. NOV. (SOLIERIACEAE,RHODOPHYTA) 1

Eucheuma acanthocladum (Harvey) J. Agardh, E. gelidium (J Agardh) J. Agardh, E. echinocarpum Areschoug and E. schrammii(P. et H. Crouan) J. Agardh from the tropical and warm temperate waters of the western Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea are transferred to a new genus, Meristiella. Meristiella exhibits the following Unique combination of characters among genera in the Solieriaceae: (1) rotated periaxial cells, (2) a loosely filamentous medulla. (3) an auxiliary cell complex, (4) Single and twin connecting filaments and (5) spinose cystocarps composed of a central, small-celled placentum, based on its reproductive features, Meristiella. is assigned to the tribe Agardhielleae. Culture experiments and herbarium studies provide evidence that E, gelidium and E. acantghocladum are conspecific. Lectotypes are designated for the included species.     

PHENOTYPIC PLASTICITY RECONCILES INCONGRUOUS MOLECULAR AND MORPHOLOGICAL TAXONOMIES: THE GIANT KELP,MACROCYSTIS (LAMINARIALES,PHAEOPHYCEAE), IS A MONOSPECIFIC GENUS1

The giant kelp genus Macrocystis C. Agardh (Laminariales, Phaeophyceae) is one of the world’s most ecologically and economically important seaweed taxa, yet its taxonomy remains uncertain. Although the genus currently contains four accepted species based on variable holdfast and blade morphology [M. pyrifera (L.) C. Agardh, M. integrifolia Bory, M. angustifolia Bory, and M. laevis C. H. Hay], numerous recent studies on Macrocystis interfertility, genetic relatedness, and morphological plasticity all suggest that the genus is monospecific. We reviewed this evidence and present an explanation for the extreme phenotypic plasticity that results in morphological variability within Macrocystis, driven by the effects of environmental factors on early development of macroscopic sporophytes. We propose that the genus be collapsed back to a single species, with nomenclatural priority given to M. pyrifera.