Taxonomic diversity of the terrestrial bird and mammal fauna in temperate and boreal biomes of the northern hemisphere

Abstract. Using comprehensive range information of northern Hemisphere birds and mammals, we assessed the taxonomic diversity of these two groups in four different regions: Europe, east Asia, and western and eastern North America. East Asia is the richest region in the number of bird and mammal species, genera, families and orders, except that mammal species richness is highest in western North America. Eastern North America is taxonomically the poorest region, but when only forest-associated taxa were considered in mammals taxonomic diversity is equally low in Europe and in eastern North America, and in birds, Europe is the least diverse region. Patterns in endemic taxa follow overall taxonomic diversity. The proportion of shared taxa between regions is higher among boreal species and genera than among all taxa. A comparison with tree species diversity underpins the role of east Asia as the most diverse of all northern biota. Largely congruent patterns at different taxonomic levels emphasizes the role of historical processes, such as differential extinction rate in response to paleoenvironmental fluctuations, in producing these patterns, but we stress the need for more research on the coevolution of species diversity and habitat diversity.     

Relationships between length and weight of freshwater macroinvertebrates in Japan

Relationships between weight (W; dry weight) and length (L; head capsule width, total body length or head carapace length) were examined in 31 Japanese freshwater macroinvertebrate taxa, using the form W = aL ^b . The relationships were expressed as data of the lowest taxonomic level and data of higher taxonomic levels. The length–weight relationships obtained in this study were similar to those obtained in North America and Europe at the lowest taxonomic level, whereas they could be different from those obtained in North America and Europe at the higher taxonomic levels. We suggest that researchers should make their own regressions for a target taxon or use the regression for the same taxon as possible lower taxonomic level in the local area.     

GB‐to‐TNT: facilitating creation of matrices from GenBank and diagnosis of results in TNT

This paper presents a pipeline, implemented in an open‐source program called GB→TNT (GenBank‐to‐TNT), for creating large molecular matrices, starting from GenBank files and finishing with TNT matrices which incorporate taxonomic information in the terminal names. GB→TNT is designed to retrieve a defined genomic region from a bulk of sequences included in a GenBank file. The user defines the genomic region to be retrieved and several filters (genome, length of the sequence, taxonomic group, etc.); each genomic region represents a different data block in the final TNT matrix. GB→TNT first generates Fasta files from the input GenBank files, then creates an alignment for each of those (by calling an alignment program), and finally merges all the aligned files into a single TNT matrix. The new version of TNT can make use of the taxonomic information contained in the terminal names, allowing easy diagnosis of results, evaluation of fit between the trees and the taxonomy, and automatic labelling or colouring of tree branches with the taxonomic groups they represent. © The Willi Hennig Society 2012.     

A comparison of the taxonomic richness of temperate plants in East Asia and North America

The taxonomic richness of seed plants at different taxonomic levels was compared between temperate East Asia and North America at both continental and semi-continental scales. In each comparison, land area and latitude range were adjusted to a comparable level between the two continental regions. East Asia is significantly more diverse than North America. In general, differences in taxonomic diversity arise at and below the genus level. At the continental scale, East Asia has 1.3 and 1.5 times as many genera and species, respectively, as North America. The northern part of East Asia has 1.1 times as many species as the northern part of North America. At the genus level, the northern part of East Asia is less diverse than the northern part of North America by a factor of 0.94. This pattern indicates that the diversity bias between the two continental regions results from the flora of southern East Asia. The diversity differences between East Asia and North America are not homogenously distributed across different plant groups. At the species level, East Asia had significantly more species than expected in magnoliids, alismatids, Liliidae, ranunculids, and rosids and had significantly less species in the Commelinidae, Caryophyllidae, and euasterids than North America.     

Investigating Concordance among Genetic Data, Subspecies Circumscriptions and Hostplant Use in the Nymphalid Butterfly Polygonia faunus

Subspecies are commonly used taxonomic units to formally describe intraspecific geographic variation in morphological traits. However, the concept of subspecies is not clearly defined, and there is little agreement about what they represent in terms of evolutionary units, and whether they can be used as reliably useful units in conservation, evolutionary theory and taxonomy. We here investigate whether the morphologically well-characterized subspecies in the North American butterfly Polygonia faunus are supported by genetic data from mitochondrial sequences and eight microsatellite loci. We also investigate the phylogeographic structure of P. faunus and test whether similarities in host-plant use among populations are related to genetic similarity. Neither the nuclear nor the mitochondrial data corroborated subspecies groupings. We found three well defined genetic clusters corresponding to California, Arizona and (New Mexico+Colorado). There was little structuring among the remaining populations, probably due to gene flow across populations. We found no support for the hypothesis that similarities in host use are related to genetic proximity. The results indicate that the species underwent a recent rapid expansion, probably from two glacial refugia in western North America. The mitochondrial haplotype network indicates at least two independent expansion phases into eastern North America. Our results clearly demonstrate that subspecies in P. faunus do not conform to the structuring of genetic variation. More studies on insects and other invertebrates are needed to better understand the scope of this phenomenon. The results of this study will be crucial in designing further experiments to understand the evolution of hostplant utilization in this species.     

Spatial Pattern of Vascular Plant Diversity in North America North of Mexico and its Floristic Relationship with Eurasia

This paper reports: (1) patterns of taxonomic richness of vascularplants in North America (north of Mexico), an area accountingfor 16.6% of the total world land, in relation to latitudinaland longitudinal gradients; (2) floristic relationships betweendifferent latitudinal zones, longitudinal zones, and geographicregions of North America; and (3) floristic relationships betweenNorth America and Eurasia at various geographic scales. NorthAmerica was geographically divided into twelve regions, whichwere latitudinally grouped into four zones, each with threeregions, and longitudinally grouped into three zones, each withfour regions. The native vascular flora of North America consistsof 162 orders, 280 families, 1904 genera and 15352 species.Along the latitudinal gradient, species richness shows a strikingincrease with decreasing latitude (e.g. the northernmost latitudinalzone has only 11.7% of the number of species in the southernmostlatitudinal zone). However, about 63% of the species of thenorthernmost latitudinal zone are also present in the southernmostlatitudinal zone of North America. Among the three longitudinalzones, the zone on the Pacific coast has 1.48 and 1.64-timesas many species as the zones in the interior and on the Atlanticcoast, respectively. About 36% of the species in the zone ofthe Atlantic coast also occur in the Pacific coast zone. However,each of over 40% of the species in North America occupies lessthan 10% of the total land area of North America. Some 48% ofthe genera and 6.5% of the species of North America are alsonative to Eurasia. In general, the number of genera common toNorth America and Eurasia increased from the north to the southand from the west to the east of North America, whereas thenumber of species common to the two continents decreased alongthe same two geographic gradients.Copyright 1999 Annals of BotanyCompany Asia, biodiversity, Europe, floristic similarity, latitudinal and longitudinal gradients, North America, taxonomic richness.     

Erysiphe abbreviata on cherry bark oak--morphology, phylogeny and taxonomy

Powdery mildew on cherry bark oak (Quercus falcate var. pagodifolia) collected in Tennessee, USA, was determined to be Erysiphe abbreviata, a species confined to North America. The diagnostically important anamorph of this species is described for the first time. Sequence analyses of the rDNA ITS region and D1/D2 domains of the 28S rDNA were used to obtain phylogenetic data for and taxonomic conclusions about this species. The structure of the anamorph (Oidium subgen. Pseudoidium) and the molecular data support the placement of this species in Erysiphe emend. (including Microsphaera) as a species separate from the Eurasian Erysiphe alphitoides.     

Landscape heterogeneity predicts gene flow in a widespread polymorphic bumble bee, Bombus bifarius (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Bombus bifarius is a widespread bumble bee that occurs in montane regions of western North America. This species has several major color pattern polymorphisms and shows evidence of genetic structuring among regional populations, and the taxonomic status of regional populations has repeatedly been debated. We test whether observed structure is evidence for discrete gene flow barriers that might indicate isolation or instead reflects clinal variation associated with spatially limited dispersal in a complex landscape. We first consider color pattern variation and identify geographical patterns of B. bifarius color variation using cluster analysis. We then use climate data and a comprehensive set of B. bifarius natural history records with an existing genetic data set to model the distribution of environmentally suitable habitat in western North America and predict pathways of potential gene flow using circuit theory. Resistance distances among populations that incorporate environmental suitability information predict patterns of genetic structure much better than geographic distance or Bayesian clustering alone. Results suggest that there may not be barriers to gene flow warranting further taxonomic considerations, but rather that the arrangement of suitable habitat at broad scales limits dispersal sufficiently to explain observed levels of population differentiation in B. bifarius.     

NIH-supported national islet transplantation registry

An estimated 300,000 to 500,000 cases of type 1 diabetes exist today in the United States. Despite strict monitoring and attempts at control, people with type 1 diabetes still face the prospect of diminished health and earlier death than the general population. Islet transplantation offers an alternative to insulin usage and a potential treatment for type 1 diabetes mellitus. There are more than 30 islet transplant centers in the world focusing their efforts on the challenges and methods of this procedure. As the field of islet transplantation matures and the number of islet transplants performed increases, detailed analyses on factors that predict patient and graft survival are needed. This increased amount of data will allow for a better understanding of the safety and efficacy of islet transplantation. In response to the need for more complete information in the field, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases is sponsoring the North American Collaborative Islet Transplant Registry (CITR). The mission of CITR is to expedite progress and promote safety in islet/β-cell transplantation through the collection, analysis, and communication of comprehensive and current data on all islet/β-cell transplants performed in North America. Compiling and analyzing data from all transplant centers in North America will accelerate the identification of both critical risk factors and key determinants of success, and thereby guide transplant centers in developing and refining islet/β-cell transplant protocols, leading to an advancement in the field of islet transplantation. Participation in CITR is voluntary, and more than 22 transplant centers have been invited to join. Seven centers are actively participating in CITR, with an additional 11 centers in the process of joining. Both an executive committee and a scientific advisory committee guide CITR. All islet transplants performed in North America since January 1, 1996, are captured by the CITR database. Through an electronic, Internet-based data capture system, quality control procedures, and minimization of duplicate efforts at the transplant center, the most relevant and succinct information are entered. From these data a comprehensive report will be published annually. In addition, special analyses will be performed and published periodically.     

Molecular insights into the taxonomy of Glyceria (Poaceae: Meliceae) in North America

Eighteen Glyceria species grow in the United States and Canada, with 16 being native to the region. We used data from morphology and three chloroplast DNA intergenic regions to address taxonomic questions concerning Glyceria in North America, particularly the status of G. declinata, G. occidentalis, G. fluitans, G. striata, and G. elata in western North America. The chloroplast data confirmed the presence of two European species, G. declinata and G. fluitans, in western North America. Glyceria occidentalis was exceptional among the taxa studied in having chloroplast genotypes that fell into two different clades, one of which contained G. fluitans and the other the North American species G. leptostachya. The morphological data showed G. occidentalis to be intermediate between G. fluitans and G. leptostachya with respect to their distinguishing characters. Based on these results, we hypothesize that G. occidentalis consists of hybrids between G. fluitans and G. leptostachya. Glyceria elata and G. striata, which have sometimes been treated as a single species, had different chloroplast genotypes, supporting their recognition as distinct taxa. DNA data from all three intergenic regions would be needed for unequivocal identification of the non-hybrid species examined.     

Longitudinal patterns of plant diversity in the North American boreal forest

Spatial patterns of plant diversity in the North American boreal forest were examined according to three plant life forms (woody plants, herbaceous plants, and bryophytes) and two taxonomic levels (species and genus), using sixty 9-ha plots sampled in white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) and black spruce (Picea mariana (P. Mill.) B.S.P.) ecosystems along a transcontinental transect from the Pacific coast eastwards to the Atlantic coast. The patterns of inventory diversity (represented by alpha diversity), differentiation diversity (represented by the similarity index, habitat-heterogeneity index, similarity decay rate, and length of the first axis in detrended correspondence analysis), and pattern diversity (represented by the mosaic diversity index) were assessed along the transect in both ecosystem types. At the stand level, central North America had the highest alpha diversity in terms of the number of species or genera, and western North America had a higher alpha diversity than eastern North America. At the continental scale, herbaceous plants had the highest beta diversity in terms of floristic change from the eastern to western North America, bryophytes had the lowest beta diversity, and woody plants were in the middle, regardless of ecosystem type and taxonomic level. Central North America had the lowest mosaic diversity across the boreal transect of North America. The white spruce ecosystems had a higher alpha diversity than the black spruce ecosystems regardless of plant life form, taxonomic level and geographic location. The white spruce ecosystems tended to have more bryophytes, less woody plants, and higher species:genus ratio than the black spruce ecosystems. In general, the white spruce and black spruce ecosystems shared the same patterns in diversity changes at different spatial scales, plant life forms, and taxonomic levels across the transect studied. The existing patterns of plant diversity in the North American boreal forest area resulted from a combination of ecological processes and spatial configuration.     

Formats of image data files that can be used for routine digital light micrography. Part one

Failing to open computer files that describe image data is not the most frustrating experience that the user of a computer can suffer, but it is high on list of possible aggravations. To ameliorate this, the structure of uncompressed image data files is described here. The various ways in which information that describes a picture can be recorded are related, and a primary distinction between raster or bitmap based and vector or object based image data files is drawn. Bitmap based image data files are the more useful of the two formats for recording complicated images such as digital light micrographs, whereas object based files are better for recording illustrations and cartoons. Computer software for opening a very large variety of different formats of digital image data is recommended, and if these fail, ways are described for opening bitmap based digital image data files whose format is unknown.     

Formats of image data files that can be used for routine digital light micrography. Part one

Failing to open computer files that describe image data is not the most frustrating experience that the user of a computer can suffer, but it is high on list of possible aggravations. To ameliorate this, the structure of uncompressed image data files is described here. The various ways in which information that describes a picture can be recorded are related, and a primary distinction between raster or bitmap based and vector or object based image data files is drawn. Bitmap based image data files are the more useful of the two formats for recording complicated images such as digital light micrographs, whereas object based files are better for recording illustrations and cartoons. Computer software for opening a very large variety of different formats of digital image data is recommended, and if these fail, ways are described for opening bitmap based digital image data files whose format is unknown.     

Computer Program Designed to Follow Fluctuations in Microbial Populations and Its Application in a Study of Chesapeake Bay Microflora

A computer program has been developed which performs cluster analysis of microorganisms using methods of numerical taxonomy. The program is designed to group related strains, identify the groups by reference to known strains, and calculate a hypothetical median organism (HMO) for each group. The HMO serves to condense taxonomic information and provides a tag for each strain cluster. Every strain in a group is compared with the HMO established for that group. A representative strain for the group is obtained by selection of the strain showing highest similarity to the HMO. New data sets can be compared with data sets of previous analyses. Hence, the occurrence of the same taxonomic groups within separate data sets can be determined. Quantitative or qualitative differences in distribution of taxonomic groups within or between data sets can be measured. The output from the computer is a graphical display, using an on-line plotter; thus, the investigator is provided with visual comparison of data sets. Results obtained from a study applying the computer program in an analysis of taxonomic data obtained for 43 bacterial strains isolated from Chesapeake Bay indicate the usefulness of this method of taxonomic analysis in microbial ecology.     

基于形态特征和mtDNA COI序列的北美五倍子蚜分类和系统发育地位研究

五倍子蚜共6属12种, 除北美分布1属1种外, 其余分布东亚。本研究采用数值分类和分子系统发育分析方法对北美五倍子蚜Melaphis rhois的形态特点和分类地位进行研究, 以倍蚜6属8种179个有翅孤雌蚜为研究对象, 对其头部、胸部、腹部的直接测量特征48个、量度间比例特征31个及转化为数值的描述特征29个共108个特征进行分析。基于欧氏距离的聚类结果显示, 北美倍蚜M. rhois与倍蚜属关系较近, 五倍子蚜8个种共形成3个大的聚类簇, 北美倍蚜M. rhois与倍蚜属的倍蛋蚜Schlechtendalia peitan和角倍蚜S. chinensis聚为一支; 铁倍蚜属的肚倍蚜蛋铁亚种Kaburagia rhusicola ovogallis和肚倍蚜枣铁亚种K. rhusicola ensigallis与小铁枣蚜属的红小铁枣蚜Meitanaphis elongallis、圆角倍蚜属的倍花蚜Nurudea shiraii和红倍花蚜N. yanoiella与铁倍花蚜属的铁倍花蚜Floraphis meitanensis分别聚为一支。另外, 测定五倍子蚜8个种共16个样本的mtDNA COI基因序列（约1.2 kb）, 最大简约法(maximum parsimony, MP)和最大似然法(maximum likelihood, ML)分子系统发育分析结果均显示北美倍蚜M. rhois与倍蚜属的关系密切, 和形态数据得到的结果一致; 但倍蚜8个种之间的聚类总体上与形态学研究结果不太一致, 铁倍花蚜属的铁倍花蚜和小铁枣蚜属的红小铁枣蚜、铁倍蚜属的肚倍蚜枣铁亚种和肚倍蚜蛋铁亚种与圆角倍蚜属的倍花蚜和红倍花蚜分别聚为一支, 彼此之间的关系尚需深入研究。     

Taxonomic notes on Senecio tomentosus and its allies (Asteraceae)

Distribution maps, specimen citations and taxonomic commentary are provided for 14 species ofSenecio in temperate North America allied withS. tomentosus (the “Tomentosi”). These data support the author’s treatment of the group inNorth American Flora.     

草地有害啮齿动物监测专家系统设计介绍

主要介绍了青藏高原草地有害啮齿动物监测专家系统的建造原理和方法。该系统由综合数据库、知识库、推理机、知识编辑语言及系统建造支持环境等部分组成,文中详细说明各部分的主要功能以及与其他部分的相互关系。该系统可对青藏高原有害动物种群动态进行长期监测,快速准确地预测预报草地植被受害状况,并根据生态环境特点,对有害啮齿动物综合治理进行规划,为用户提供长期治理的技术和多种可供选择的可行性方案。     

Exotic Lepidopteran Leafminers in North American Apple Orchards: Rise to Prominence, Management, and Future Threats

The European tentiform leafminers, Phyllonorycter blancardella (Fabricius) and P. mespilella (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), have infested apple, Malus domestica Borkhausen, in North America for at least 60–70 years. Unreliable taxonomic methods and lack of voucher specimens, however, have contributed to poor understanding of precisely when, where, and how these leafminers were introduced. Tentiform leafminers developed into significant foliar pests at about the time when adult resistance to broad-spectrum insecticides was detected in the 1970s and 1980s. At present, growers manage leafminers with insecticides and, to a lesser extent, with biological control. Most management programs for orchard pests rely on insecticides that are highly toxic to parasitic wasps, which hampers biological control. New techniques promoted in the context of integrated pest management (IPM) may improve biological control by reducing insecticidal use, but their adoption will depend on cost, labor, need to control other pests, and demands of the marketplace. Management programs must be flexible enough to accommodate changes in the species composition of leafminers and their parasitoids. Procedures to exclude pests may slow the rate of new introductions of leafminers and other pests, but they will not entirely protect the North American apple industry. Once new apple pests reach North America, they face few obstacles to further dispersal. The abundance of potential host plants, the lack of rigorous inspections, and new retail practices may facilitate the dispersal of exotic pests.     

Laticifers and the classification of Euphorbia: the chemotaxonomy of Euphorbia esula L.

Laticifers and the classification of Euphorbia: the chemotaxonomy of Euphorbia esula L. Articulated and non-articulated laticifer cells represent distinctive cell types of relatively recent origin and occur in only a few families. Both types are of separate phylogenetic origin, reflecting independent evolutionary trends in the Euphorbiaceae. Supra-generic groupings of this family can be segregated into three taxonomic units using the laticifer character; with either articulated laticifers, non-articulated laticifers, or no laticifers. Such units may reflect more natural assemblages than now represented in the classification of this family. Laticifers possess chemical and morphological features of potential application as taxonomic characters to aid in delimiting species and interpreting evolutionary trends. The triterpenoid profile from latex of Euphorbia species has been shown to be diagnostic for a taxon. The qualitative and quantitative composition show a high level of stability under diverse environmental and physiological conditions indicating a genetic basis for triterpenoid synthesis. Triterpenoid profiles of known accessions of European E. esula L. and related presumptive taxa from North America readily separated them into distinctive chemotaxa that include one for E. esula L., whereas morphological features were found inadequate for separating accessions to presumptive taxa. Identification of adventive spurges in North America requires diagnostic analyses of Eurasian leafy spurges for comparison. Laticifer characters used in conjunction with relevant morphological features will provide a broadened insight into phylogenetic relationships with the Euphorbiaceae.