Flavonoids of the primitive liverwort Takakia and their taxonomic and phylogenetic significance

The flavonoid chemistry of Takakia is described for the first time. T. lepidozioides, thought to be amongst the most primitive of extant liverworts, contains a high level and wide variety of flavone C- and O-glycosides, many of which are unique. New flavonoids include the 8-O-glucuronide and 8-O-xylosylglucoside of takakin (8-hydroxyacacetin), luteolin 6-C-arabinoside-8-C-pentoside, kaempferol 3-O-glucoside-7-O-xyloside and a number of tricetin C-glycosides. The only other known Takakia species, T. ceratophylla, contains the same 4 major constituents but significantly lacks flavonols. The often suggested relationship of Takakia with the order Calobryales is not supported by the available flavonoid data. Biochemical affinities of Takakia with all major liverwort orders are noted and the flavonoid data are interpreted as supporting the concept of Takakia as an isolated branch among the ancestors of modern bryophytes.     

The morphology of the upper lip of Cypridoidea ostracods: taxonomic and phylogenetic significance

This paper represents the first study of the morphology of the upper lip (labrum) and hypostome of ostracods using scanning electron microscopy (S.E.M.). There is considerable variation in the upper lip morphology of the 23 species of Cypridoidea (Podocopina) ostracods used in this study. The detail of the upper lip morphology of each species is very distinctive, so that species determination can be made on this feature alone, but it is not useful in diagnosing genera or subfamilies. The hypostome is not readily studied due to the large amounts of dense pseudochaetae (small, setae-like projections) protruding from it and hence is considered not to be a useful taxonomic feature. Several features of the upper lip and mouth region are documented for the first time. Comparisons of the general morphology of the upper lips of Recent ostracods with the upper lip of the fossil ostracod Pattersoncypris micropapillosa Bate, 1972, indicate that there has been very conservative evolution in these features since the Cretaceous.     

Larva and pupa of Cyphopisthes descarpentriesi Paulian (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Ceratocanthidae) and their phylogenetic implications

Abstract Pupae and mature larvae of the Australian ceratocanthid beetle, Cyphopisthes descarpentriesi Paulian 1977, are described and extensively illustrated. This is the sixth species of the family for which immature stages are known and the first from the Australian region. Unlike other ceratocanthid larvae described before, those of Cyphopisthes Gestro lack stridulatory teeth on the middle and hind legs and any trace of a frontoclypeal suture on the cranium. Reduced one-segmented labial palpi in Cyphopisthes are unique in Scarabaeoidea. Monophyly of the family is not corroborated by larval characters. Absence of spiracular closing apparatus in larvae is reported in the family for the first time. Like pupae of Ceratocanthus White and Germarostes Paulian, those of Cyphopisthes have thoracic projections, but their shape and location are different. Spiracles are found on abdominal segments 2−4 of pupa; that on segment 2 differs in colour and location from the others.     

The structures of amentoflavone glycosides isolated from Psilotum nudum

On the basis of new spectroscopic evidence, structures are proposed for three amentoflavone glycosides and an apigenin di-C-glycoside previously isolated from Psilotum nudum. The major glycoside is identified as the 7,4′,4′“-tri-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, minor glycosides as the 4′,4′“-di-O-β-D-glucopyranoside and 7,4′“-di-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, and the apigenin di-C-glycoside as vicenin-2. The amentoflavone glucosides are all new natural products.     

Tibial combs in the Cydnidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) and their functional, taxonomic and phylogenetic significance

Tibial combs in representatives of the family Cydnidae are described in detail for the first time. The structure was studied in 98 species of 58 genera representing all the subfamilies, among them 16 species were investigated using scanning electron microscopic (SEM) techniques. In addition, Parastrachia japonensis (Scott, 1880) of the family Parastrachiidae, and two species of Dismegistus Amyot and Serville, 1843 (a genus of uncertain systematic position within Pentatomoidea) have also been studied. Morphological terminology is proposed for all the structures connected with tibial combs and the term 'the tibial comb complex' is suggested; its functional, taxonomic and phylogenetic significance is also discussed. The genera of Cydnidae can be classified into two groups depending on differences in the tibial comb complex, when it is present; moreover, its absence in the tribe Scaptocorini (Cephalocteinae) is demonstrated for the first time and is regarded as an autapomorphy of this tribe. Data on the occurrence of tibial combs in other families of true bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) are also briefly reviewed, and an anagenetic trend in their evolution in terrestrial Heteroptera is hypothesized. The presence of tibial combs on all legs is regarded as the most plesiomorphic state.     

A revision and phylogenetic analysis of Stapeliopsis (Apocynaceae)

A survey of morphological characters is carried out for Stapeliopsis . The information obtained from this is combined with molecular data from the plastid trn L-F DNA region and ITS1 of the nuclear encoded 18S−26S rRNA cistron, to obtain a hypothesis of the evolutionary relationships among the species. It is shown that Stapeliopsis is monophyletic in a combined molecular and morphological analysis. Stapeliopsis is sister to a clade containing Huernia , Orbea and Tromotriche . The species of Stapeliopsis group into two clades. One contains S. khamiesbergensis , S. neronis and S. urniflora , and this is highly supported. The remaining species fall into an unsupported clade in which S. exasperata is sister to the others. The genera Hermanschwartzia Plowes and Neopectinaria Plowes are rejected. It is shown that a synapomorphy for Stapeliopsis is the laterally flattened inner corona-lobes, which touch the anthers only at their bases. Eight species of Stapeliopsis are recognized, with no subgeneric divisions.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 148 , 125–155.     

Comparative body wall musculature and muscle fibre ultrastructure in branchiobdellidans (Annelida: Clitellata), and their phylogenetic significance

The body wall muscles in five species of branchiobdellidans are all arranged in the oligochaete pattern and the muscle fibres are obliquely striated. The structure of the circular muscle fibres do vary to some degree. The longitudinal muscle fibres in Ankyrodrilus legaeus, Branchiobdella kozarovi, and Xironogiton instabilis all are round circomyarian and thus double-obliquely striated. These species represent three of the four genera composing the family Branchiobdellidae. Although Bdellodrilus illuminatus and Cambarincola fallax, from the families Bdellodrilidae and Cambarincolidae, respectively, also possess a few round circomyarian fibres, most are polyplatymyarian comparable to single-obliquely striated fibres. A similar division of branchiobdellidan families is obtained based on the number of anterior nephridial pores. The muscular structure in the branchiobdellidans shows both similarities and differences with the leeches and the lumbriculid oligochaetes. One phylogenetic explanation for this is that the branchiobdellidans separated from the common clitellate ancestor before the oligochaetes and leeches became recognizable taxa.     

Head capsule characters in the Hymenoptera and their phylogenetic implications

The head capsule of a taxon sample of three outgroup and 86 ingroup taxa is examined for characters of possible phylogenetic significance within Hymenoptera. 21 morphological characters are illustrated and scored, and their character evolution explored by mapping them onto a phylogeny recently produced from a large morphological data set. Many of the characters are informative and display unambiguous changes. Most of the character support demonstrated is supportive at the superfamily or family level. In contrast, only few characters corroborate deeper nodes in the phylogeny of Hymenoptera.     

Embryology of the Turbellaria and its phylogenetic significance

Developmental characters — including oocyte and yolk cell structure, patterns of cleavage, and modes of gastrulation — are presented and examined in relation to the phylogeny of the Turbellaria. Eggshell granules, which have been demonstrated to occur in the oocytes of entolecithal eggs and the yolk cells of ectolecithal eggs, are compared among species, and their potential value as a taxonomic character is discussed. The quartet 4d spiral cleavage of the entolecithal egg of polyclads is described as reminiscent of the primitive pattern of early development for the Turbellaria. This is compared to duet spiral cleavage of acoels, and possible phylogenetic schemes involving the two types of spiral cleavage are reviewed. The link between the precise spiral cleavage, which characterizes development of most archoophorans, and blastomere separation (Blastomeren-Anarchie), which occurs in several neoophoran orders, is established by the occurrence of quartet 4d spiral cleavage in one neoophoran order, and of both quartet spiral cleavage and Blastomeren-Anarchie in different species of a second neoophoran order. The epibolic gastrulation of polyclads is described as primitive for the Turbellaria because of its similarity to that of other members of the Spiralia. Although no identical process occurs in neoophoran development, the earlier event of formation of the hull membrane in some neoophorans, and the later event of formation of the definitive epidermis in all neoophorans studied are presented as processes of possible homology to the epibolic gastrulation of polyclads. The lack of correspondence between polyclads and neoophorans in the relationship of the definitive body axes to the egg axis is discussed, and an hypothesis is advanced to account for the differences. The phylogenetic relationships indicated by known developmental phenomena differ only slightly from the scheme presented by Karling in 1974.     

The phylogenetic significance of flavonoids in Crambe L. (Cruciferae)

A total of 21 flavonoid compounds has been detected in 14 species of Crambe. In general, both the sections of the genus and the species can be distinguished easily by their flavonoid patterns. The members of Crambe sections Crambe and Dendrocrambe seem to be the most primitive with their perennial or rhizocarpous habit. They show a diversity of flavonol glycosides, derived from either kaempferol or quercetin. The presumed presence of proanthocyanidins confers an additional primitive character to Crambe section Dendrocrambe. In contrast, members of Crambe section Leptocrambe show a relatively poor pattern where the quercetin glycosides have disappeared. In the case of C. hispanica and C. abyssinica flavonols are completely absent while two flavones, luteolin and apigenin appear in glycosidic form; these are probably the most evolved Crambe species and exhibit an annual habit. A dendrogram exclusively based on data of the presence or absence of flavonoids has been constructed. It is similar to the one that could have been expected from use of morphological data alone, but it does provide some hints on the possible phylogenetic relationships between the species. Flavonoid evidence also supports the hypothesis on an east-west Mediterranean disjunction within the genus.     

The phylogenetic significance of sperm morphology in the Platyhelminthes

The phylogenetic significance of flatworm sperm morphology is discussed against the background of general spermatology. The modified type of spermatozoon of the Nemertodermatida, a group of primitive flatworms, indicates that the Platyhelminthes evolved from forms characterized by the primitive type of metazoan sperm and by the primitive mode of fertilization, implying the release of sperm freely into sea water.The occurrence of aberrant types of spermatozoa in most platyhelminths is obviously a consequence of early evolution of the internal mode of fertilization, which characterizes all true members of this group. It can be concluded, from the ultrastructure of these aberrant spermatozoa that higher metazoans cannot have evolved from seriated flatworms related to the recent Seriata (Proseriata and Tricladida). Even the seemingly primitive Acoela have such aberrant spermatozoa that evolution of higher metazoans from acoels related to the recent Acoela seems highly improbable.The ultrastructure of the spermatozoa of the parasitic groups of flatworms (Monogenea, Digenea, Cestoda) is very similar to that found in the Kalyptorhynchia, a further indication that the parasitic groups are related to the rhabdocoel turbellarians.     

Selected characters of the copulatory organs in the land planarian family Bipaliidae and their taxonomic significance (Tricladida: Terricola)

Preliminary analysis was made of 76 species in the monotypic family Bipaliidae, for which the copulatory apparatus has been described. Four characters from the copulatory organs were selected: profile of the female organ (three character states), approachment of the ovovitelline ducts to the female organ (two states), shape of the penial papilla (two states), and shape of the male antrum wall (three states). Data were scored for five preliminary ingroup taxa, viz., the restricted genus Placocephalus, and four other a priori defined subgroups within the family, viz., the genus Bipalium sensu stricto and three other informal taxonomic groupings. An artificial outgroup taxon was constructed on the basis of character states generalized from the Geoplanidae subfamilies Caenoplaninae, Pelmatoplaninae and Rhynchodemidae subfamily Microplaninae. Analysis of the data matrix resulted in a single most parsimonious tree with the following topology: (outgroup (Placocephalus (Bipalium, group A (group B1, group B2)))). This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Divided and undivided compound eyes in Ascalaphidae (Insecta, Neuroptera) and their functional and phylogenetic significance

The external morphology of the compound eyes of 13 species of the Ascalaphidae family (Insecta, Neuroptera) from Africa, Asia and Europe was studied in relation to the habitat, phylogeny and time of activity during the day. The six species with undivided eyes (Haplogleniinae) are nocturnal; four inhabit more or less open terrain, while two inhabit more or less dense vegetation. Of the seven species with divided eyes (Ascalaphinae), three are diurnal, one is crepuscular and nocturnal, and three are nocturnal. It was found that two of the diurnal species inhabit open terrain and open forest, and one inhabits dense vegetation; the crepuscular and nocturnal species inhabits open terrain; and two of the nocturnal species inhabit open terrain, while one inhabits dense vegetation. The results are discussed in relation to the hypothesis that divided eyes evolved from undivided eyes, originally serving as an adaptation to daytime vision in open terrain.     

分子系统发育分析揭示中国云南省间座壳属两个新种

间座壳属真菌在多种经济上重要的农作物、观赏植物和森林树木上常作为植物病原菌、内生菌或腐生菌被人熟知.本研究调查我国云南省患病植物叶片上的间座壳属真菌,通过核糖体内部转录间隔区、β微管蛋白基因、翻译延伸因子基因、钙调蛋白基因和组蛋白基因的DNA序列数据比较和形态学特征描述了 2个新种.它们是分别采集自密花胡颓子和荔枝患病...     

赤眼蜂属系统进化研究进展

赤眼蜂是一类重要的天敌昆虫,该属包括的种类达180多种,并且广泛地分布于世界各地。通过对形态特征的分析,赤眼蜂属的系统发育研究在不同的研究者中得到不同的分类系统。由于赤眼蜂的个体微小,仅04mm左右,现有的化石记录稀少,并且可用作系统发育研究的形态特征很少,导致该类群的系统发育研究仍有许多不清楚的地方。同时,近年来分子生物学的发展为赤眼蜂系统发育研究提供了很好的途径,也取得了一些共识。但仍然未能提出一套精确的、更可靠的分类系统。作者对近年来的赤眼蜂属系统进化研究进行了综述。     

Ultrastructure of the spermatozoon of Lepidogalaxias salamandroides and its phylogenetic significance

The spermatozoon of Lepidogalaxias salamandroides possesses an acrosome (putative), one or two perforatoria (putative) but no nine-triplet centrioles. Two elongated mitochondria (12 μm long) are situated in parallel between the nucleus (20 μm long) and the axoneme (53 μm long). The above features are unique among other teleosts with internal fertilization. The presence of an “acrosome” in this primitive teleost supports the hypothesis that this structure has been secondarily lost in teleosts during evolution. The uncertainty of phylogenetic placement of this fish is reflected by its unique sperm ultrastructure.     

The phylogenetic significance of the carpophore in Apiaceae

Background and aims

Fruit structural characters have traditionally been important in the taxonomy of the family Apiaceae. Previous investigations using a limited number of taxa have shown that the carpophore may be especially useful in helping to circumscribe subfamily Azorelloideae. The present study examines, for the first time, carpophore structure in 92 species from 43 genera, representing all subfamilies of Apiaceae, and including all genera assigned to subfamily Azorelloideae. Phylogenetic interpretations are made for the first time, using all available information, and a standard terminology is proposed to describe the various character states found in carpophores.

Methods

Carpophore structure was studied in detail using light microscopy.

Key Results

Carpophores, when present, may be categorized into two main groups (B and C) based mainly on the arrangement of the vascular bundles in transverse section, and further divided into six sub-types according to the length of the carpophore (short in B1 and C1) and whether they are entire (B1–B3 and C1) or bifurcate (B4 and C2). Free carpophores are absent in subfamily Mackinlayoideae, and in tribes Lichtensteinieae and Phlyctidocarpeae, which have two opposite vascular bundles (Group A). Entire carpophores with one or two vascular bundles, or bifurcate carpophores with lateral vascular bundles (arranged side by side within the commissural plane), are the main types characterizing Azorelloideae. The short, hygroscopic carpophores found in Choritaenia are unique in Apiaceae and provide additional evidence for the exclusion of this genus from Azorelloideae. Carpophore type C2 is typical for most Apioideae sensu lato (exceptions are, for example, Arctopus and Alepidea, which have type B2).

Conclusions

A single carpophore and ventral vascular bundles not forming free carpophores are proposed to be the ancestral conditions in Apiaceae, while bifurcate carpophores with opposite vascular bundles are the derived state, present in most Apioideae. Secondary reductions seem to have occurred in several unrelated lineages in all major groups, e.g. many Azorelloideae, several protoapioids (including nearly all members of the tribe Saniculeae) and 29 euapioid genera (e.g. some Oenantheae).     

On the phylogenetic significance of sagittocysts and copulatory organs in acoel turbellarians

Viewed by SEM and TEM, sagittocysts of Convoluta bifoveolata Mamkaev, 1971, and needles of C. sagittifera Ivanov, 1952, have the same structure. Both are capsule-form extrusomes containing a protrusible needle. Only seven similar species of convolutimorph acoels symbiotic with green algae and C. sagittifera, without algae, possess extrusomes of this peculiar and complicated type. The sagittocyst is a clear synapomorphy of all these species. A sacciform ciliated antrum lacking a seminal vesicle is also characteristic of these species and also of three Japanese species of green (algae-symbiotic) convolutimorph acoels lacking sagittocysts. We suggest schemes of the possible evolution of male and female copulatory organs to provide a basis for better using such organs as phylogenetic characters. We regard the formation of a ciliated sacciform antrum as an independent evolutionary trend. This conclusion forms the basis for establishing the separate family Sagittiferidae. Species of this family seem to have originated in the West Pacific.     

The male genital tract and aedeagal components of the Diptera with a discussion of their phylogenetic significance

The male genital tract of Diptera is surveyed, based on whole dissections, with emphasis on nematocerous infraorders and especially the Culicomorpha. The genital tracts of all available nematocerous families are described and illustrated, including, for the first time, those of the families Thaumaleidae, Dixidae, Hesperinidae, and Pachyneuridae, and, as an outgroup, the mecopteran family Nannochoristidae (Mecoptera). On the basis of outgroup comparison, the Diptera + Mecoptera + Siphonaptera share the synapomorphies of accessory gland continuous with the vas deferens and U-shaped vasa deferentia. Further synapomorphies of the male genital tract provide evidence of the monophyly of the Mecoptera + Siphonaptera, Boreidae + Siphonaptera, and the Blephariceridae + Psychodidae + Trichoceridae + Anisopodidae + Brachycera. The Bibionomorpha, Culicomorpha, and Ptychopteromorpha share the synapomorphy of paired, two- to three-chambered accessory gland complexes, with secondary losses in Corethrellidae + Culicidae. It is concluded that there is no convincing evidence for the monophyly of the Chironomoidea. A sperm pump with an ejaculatory apodeme and the absence of a spermatophore are considered to be part of the ground plan of Diptera, but, because of uncertainty as to the identity of the basal lineage within Diptera and the homology of the sperm pump outside of Diptera, the polarity of these features cannot be presently interpreted.  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 150 , 711–742.