Phenology of neotropical pepper plants (Piperaceae) and their association with their main dispersers, two short-tailed fruit bats, Carollia perspicillata and C. castanea (Phyllostomidae)

To relate differences in phenological strategies of a group of closely related plants to biotic (pollinators, dispersers) and abiotic (water, light) factors, we studied leafing, flowering, and fruiting phenology of 12 species of Piper (Piperaceae) in a neotropical lowland forest in Panama for 28 months. We asked how Piper may partition time and vertebrate frugivores to minimize possible competition for dispersal agents. Based on habitat preferences and physiological characteristics we discriminate between forest Piper species (eight species) and gap Piper species (four species). Forest Piper species flowered synchronously mostly at the end of the dry season. Gap Piper species had broader or multiple flowering peaks distributed throughout the year with a trend towards the wet season. Both groups of Piper species showed continuous fruit production. Fruiting peaks of forest Piper species were short and staggered. Gap Piper species had extended fruiting seasons with multiple or broad peaks. Both groups of Piper species also differed in their time of ripening and disperser spectrum. Forest Piper species ripened in late afternoon and had a narrow spectrum consisting mainly of two species of frugivorous bats: Carollia perspicillata and C. castanea (Phyllostomidae). Fruits of gap Piper species, in contrast, ripened early in the morning and were eaten by a broader range of diurnal and nocturnal visitors, including bats, birds, and ants. We conclude that the differences in flowering phenology of forest and gap Piper species are primarily caused by abiotic factors, particularly the availability of water and light, whereas differences in fruiting patterns are mostly influenced by biotic factors. The staggered fruiting pattern of forest Piper species may reflect competition for a limited spectrum of dispersers. The long and overlapping fruiting periods of gap Piper species are associated with a larger spectrum of dispersers and may be a strategy to overcome the difficulty of seed dispersal into spatially unpredictable germination sites with suitable light conditions.     

中国苦苣苔科植物的多样性与地理分布（附表）

物种多样性编目是开展生物多样性保护的重要基础,该研究结合最新分子系统学研究成果以及近年来发表的新资料,对中国苦苣苔科植物多样性和地理分布数据进行了统计和分析.结果表明:中国苦苣苔科植物共有44属671种(含种下单位,下同),其中特有属11个;特有种573种,占总种数的85.39%.种数最多的10个属依次为广义报春苣苔属(180种)、广义马铃苣苔属(122种)、石蝴蝶属(39种)、半蒴苣苔属(39种)、芒毛苣苔属(38种)、长蒴苣苔属(35种)、石山苣苔属(31种)、吊石苣苔属(31种)、蛛毛苣苔属(28种)、汉克苣苔属(22种).在地理分布上,种数排名前10的省份(区)有广西(260种,33属)、云南(236种,30属)、贵州(96种,28属)、广东(93种,17属)、四川(85种,21属)、湖南(58种,13属)、西藏(39种,9属)、湖北(29种,15属)、福建(26种,13属)、江西(25种,9属).含中国特有苦苣苔科植物的属中排前10位的分别为广义报春苣苔属(178种)、广义马铃苣苔属(119种)、石蝴蝶属(37种)、半蒴苣苔属(35种)、石山苣苔属(30种)、长蒴苣苔属(29种)、吊石苣苔属(23种)、蛛毛苣苔属(19种)、芒毛苣苔属(19种)、汉克苣苔属(11种).这表明中国南部和西南部是苦苣苔科植物的一个分布中心,特别是石灰岩地区有着高度的物种多样性和特有性,广义报春苣苔属、广义马铃苣苔属、石蝴蝶属、半蒴苣苔属、石山苣苔属、吊石苣苔属等为我国典型的优势属.此外,根据目前的研究现状,还对我国苦苣苔科植物资源的调查、分类学和系统发育研究、保护和可持续利用等进行了讨论.     

Ticks (Acari: Ixodoidea: Argasidae,Ixodidae) of China

This paper presents results of an investigation and listing of tick species found in China during a survey in all 28 provinces. This will be a step towards a definitive list of tick species and their distribution. To date, the tick fauna of this area consists of 117 species in the following families: Argasidae-Argas (7 species), Carios (4 species) and Ornithodoros (2 species); Ixodidae-Amblyomma (8 species), Anomalohimalaya (2 species), Dermacentor (12 species), Haemaphysalis (44 species), Hyalomma (6 species), Ixodes (24 species) and Rhipicephalus (8 species). Some well known ticks carrying and transmitting many infectious agents to man and domestic animals are also found in China. These include Ixodes persulcatus, Haemaphysalis longicornis, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, R. (Boophilus) microplus and Hyalomma asiaticum. It is worth mentioning that Ixodes rangtangensis Teng and Haemaphysalis xinjiangensis Teng should be relegated to a synonym of I. moschiferi and Hae. danieli, respectively. The distribution of ticks over the provinces of China is also discussed. The information on ticks in some areas such as Henan is not exhaustive.     

Ectomycorrhizal fungal communities of native and non-native Pinus and Quercus species in a common garden of 35-year-old trees

Non-native tree species have been widely planted or have become naturalized in most forested landscapes. It is not clear if native trees species collectively differ in ectomycorrhizal fungal (EMF) diversity and communities from that of non-native tree species. Alternatively, EMF species community similarity may be more determined by host plant phylogeny than by whether the plant is native or non-native. We examined these unknowns by comparing two genera, native and non-native Quercus robur and Quercus rubra and native and non-native Pinus sylvestris and Pinus nigra in a 35-year-old common garden in Poland. Using molecular and morphological approaches, we identified EMF species from ectomycorrhizal root tips and sporocarps collected in the monoculture tree plots. A total of 69 EMF species were found, with 38 species collected only as sporocarps, 18 only as ectomycorrhizas, and 13 both as ectomycorrhizas and sporocarps. The EMF species observed were all native and commonly associated with a Holarctic range in distribution. We found that native Q. robur had ca. 120% higher total EMF species richness than the non-native Q. rubra, while native P. sylvestris had ca. 25% lower total EMF species richness than non-native P. nigra. Thus, across genera, there was no evidence that native species have higher EMF species diversity than exotic species. In addition, we found a higher similarity in EMF communities between the two Pinus species than between the two Quercus species. These results support the naturalization of non-native trees by means of mutualistic associations with cosmopolitan and novel fungi.     

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

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

Taxonomy and phylogeny of Puccinia lagenophorae: a study using rDNA sequence data, morphological and host range features

Puccinia lagenophorae is a rust fungus originating from Australasia which has spread throughout the world. A phylogenetic analysis of taxa related to this species was performed using rDNA (LSU, ITS) sequence data. The analyses revealed a well-supported cluster including all specimens of P. lagenophorae. By evaluating morphological and sequence data, the species is taxonomically re-defined and a list of synonyms is provided. Puccinia distincta on Bellis perennis, a species recently separated from P. lagenophorae, P. saccardoi, a species on the Goodeniaceae, and P. byliana, a species so far only known from South Africa, are reduced to synonymy in P. lagenophorae, as are several other species. Our analysis indicates that P. lagenophorae is likely not derived from the northern hemisphere species P. obscura, but from a species from Australia host-alternating between Asteraceae (aecial host) and Cyperaceae/Juncaceae (telial host). Another related species, P. stylidii (on Stylidium sp., Stylidiaceae) may have been derived from the same parental species as P. lagenophorae. From ontogenetical and morphological studies, the presence of pycnia could not be confirmed in the life cycle of this species, and the width of the pedicel of teliospores at the point of attachment was found to be highly variable and not a taxonomic character. The number of known host species is approximately 150, including 41 new host plants recorded herein.     

Host specialization and species diversity in the genus Stylops (Strepsiptera: Stylopidae), revealed by molecular phylogenetic analysis

Host specialization is an important ecological characteristic of parasitic species. The identification of the parasitic strategy of the genus Stylops (Strepsiptera; Stylopidae) is, however, ambiguous. According to the number of recognized species based on existing taxonomy, highly specialized and supergeneralistic species exist in this genus. Our research aims to clarify the concept of host specialization in the genus Stylops, in which all of the members are parasites of Andrena bees. Based on the phylogenetic analysis of the parasites (mostly females) and the mapping of hosts onto the phylogenetic tree, we tested three hypotheses of host specialization: (1) each species of the genus Stylops is associated with a single host species; (2) Stylops species are specialized to a group of closely related hosts; and (3) a single Stylops species is a generalist, parasitizing all host Andrena species in this particular region. Our evidence clearly shows a close relationship between the parasite and the host: one species of Stylops attacks one or a few host species of Andrena bees, usually from a single subgenus. Moreover, a moderate generalistic strategy is also likely in a few Stylops species. According to our results, the species diversity of the strepsipteran parasites of bees must be reconsidered. A single European species of Stylops should be divided into a higher number of valid species. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London     

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PRESENCE OF A MOTHER CELL WALL AND SPECIATION IN THE UNICELLULAR MICROALGA NANNOCHLORIS (CHLOROPHYTA)1

The cell division mechanisms of seven strains from six species of Nannochloris Naumann were analyzed and compared with those of three species of Chlorella Beijerinck and Trebouxia erici Ahmadjian using differential interference microscopy and fluorescence microscopy. Nannochloris bacillaris Naumann divides by binary fission and N. coccoides Naumann divides by budding. Distinct triangular spaces or mother cell walls were found in the dividing autosporangia of the other five strains from four species of Nannochloris, three species of Chlorella, and T. erici. In an attempt to infer an evolutionary relationship between nonautosporic and autosporic species of Nannochloris, we constructed a phylogenetic tree of the actin genes using seven strains from six species of Nannochloris, three species of Chlorella, and T. erici. Nannochloris species were polyphyletic in the Trebouxiophyceae group. Two nonautosporic species of N. bacillaris and N. coccoides were monophyletic and positioned distally. Moreover, to determine their phylogenetic position within the Trebouxiophyceae, we constructed phylogenetic tree of 18S rRNA genes adding other species of Trebouxiophyceae. Nannochloris species were polyphyletic in the Trebouxiophyceae and appeared in two different lineages, a Chlorella–Nannochloris group and a Trebouxia–Choricystis group. The nonautosporic species, N. bacillaris and N. coccoides, and three autosporic species of Nannochloris belonged to the Chlorella–Nannochloris group. Nannochloris bacillaris and N. coccoides were also monophyletic and positioned distally in the phylogenetic tree of 18S rRNA genes. These results suggest that autosporulation is the ancestral mode of cell division in Nannochloris and that nonautosporulative mechanisms, such as binary fission and budding, evolved secondarily.     

Leaf wax <Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>-alkane chemotaxonomy of bamboo from a tropical rain forest in Southwest China

The leaf waxes of 23 woody bamboo species of three subgenera, Dendrocalamus, Bambusa and Dendrocalamopsis, from the Xishuangbanna tropical rain forest in Southwest China were analyzed by gas chromatography and coupled gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The waxes of the Dendrocalamus species are dominated by C₂₇ and C₂₉ n-alkanes and their average chain length (ACL) has an average of 28.3. In marked contrast to the Dendrocalamus species, the wax composition of the Bambusa species is characterized by a broad distribution of major n-alkanes from C₂₇ to C₃₅, greater ACL values (>29) and an enhanced relative abundance (>30%) of n-alkanes with a carbon number greater than 30. Unlike the Dendrocalamus species and the Bambusa species, the Dendrocalamopsis species do not have a distinct n-alkane distribution; in some species the n-alkane distribution is comparable to that in the Bambusa species and in others to that in the Dendrocalamus species. The lipid data suggest that it might be reasonable to classify the controversial Dendrocalamopsis group as an independent genus separate from the Bambusa genus. On the basis of their smaller diversity of the dominant n-alkanes and their lower ACL values, the Dendrocalamus species might be more evolutionarily advanced than the Bambusa species, with the Dendrocalamopsis species being at an intermediate stage. The evolution and classification of the woody bamboos inferred from leaf wax n-alkanes are consistent with morphological investigations reported previously.     

Phylogenetic analysis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Kengyilia</Emphasis> species based on nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer sequences

Phylogenetic analysis was conducted based on sequences of the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) of nuclear ribosomal DNA in 17 species of Kengyilia, together with those of 18 species from Pseudoroegneria, Agropyron, Roegneria and Douglasdeweya by the maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and neighbor-joining distance methods. The results indicate that species of Kengyilia had close affinities to species of Douglasdeweya and Agropyron. The species in Kengyilia was identified as two subgroups with regard to geographic distribution, indicating that species from the same distribution had a closer phylogenetic relationship. The genus Kengyilia was found as a ligament-group between Roegneria and Agropyron. The ITS sequence is a useful tool for studying the phylogeny of closely related species.     

A New Species of Ctenomys (Rodentia: Ctenomyidae) from Patagonia Related to C. sociabilis

The genus Ctenomys includes a high number of taxa, with at least ten species from Patagonia and three recently described species for northeastern Chubut Province (Argentina). Ctenomys sociabilis is a social species of the genus Ctenomys and is currently distributed in the surrounding area of Sierra Cuyin Manzano (Neuquén Province), with a recently extinct population that occurred in Laguna Nahuelquir (Cushamen, Chubut Province). Molecular analyses have placed C. sociabilis at the base of Ctenomys clade, as the sister species to all other Ctenomys. Based on a morphological assessment (qualitative and quantitative) and DNA sequencing, we describe a new species of Ctenomys from Esquel, Chubut Province. Phylogenetic analysis shows the new species to be closely related to C. sociabilis, with evidence of solitary behavior. This new species is the first reported to be closely related phylogenetically to Ctenomys sociabilis at the base of the Ctenomys phylogeny. We provide anatomical comparisons between the new species and other species of Ctenomys from Patagonia, especially C. sociabilis.

     

Isoasparagine as a marker amino acid in the taxonomy of Characeae

Fourteen species of Characeae were analyzed for their free amino acids. This study, in combination with previous results (Sakanoet al., 1984) showed that all the species that belong to the generaChara (6 species),Lamprothamnium (1 species),Nitellopsis (1 species),Lychnothammus (1 species) and 5Nitella species of the members of the subsectionAnarthrodactylae contained a large amount of isoasparagine. In contrast, no isoasparagine was found in the species belonging toTolypella (3 species) and otherNitella (7 species). Presence of isoasparagine in some species of Characeae (N. flexillis andNitellopsis obtusa) was found to be independent of their localities (Japan, Canada and England). Species lacking isoasparagine (N. oligogyra and N. axilliformis) did not produce isoasparagine even under the condition that induced a great increase of this amino acid in the species that contained it (C. corallina andN. flexilis). These results indicate that isoasparagine is a distinct taxonomic marker and suggest that theNitella species of the subsectionAnarthrodactylae are the most primitive group inNitelleae in that they share synthesis and accumulation of isoasparagine withChareae and, hence, support the view (Kasaki, 1964) that the subsection may be treated as an independent genus.     

Molecular Phylogenetics of the Peromyscus boylii Species Group (Rodentia: Muridae) Based on Mitochondrial Cytochrome b Sequences

Variation in the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene (1143 bp) was examined to estimate the phylogenetic relationships of taxa within the Peromyscus boylii species group. In addition, phylogenetic relationships among the aztecus, boylii, and truei species groups were addressed. Maximum-likelihood, neighbor-joining, and maximum-parsimony (weighted and equally weighted) analyses produced similar topologies with P. boylii, P. beatae, P. simulus, P. stephani, P. madrensis, P. levipes, and three undescribed taxa from western Mexico forming a monophyletic unit. At least two of the undescribed taxa from western Mexico potentially represent species. Members of the P. aztecus species group formed a clade separate from the P. boylii group and should be recognized as a distinct species group. P. sagax, P. polius, and P. pectoralis, formerly placed in the P. boylii species group, generally formed an unresolved polytomy with the P. truei, P. aztecus, and P. boylii species groups. P. attwateri formed a sister taxon relationship with members of the P. truei species group (P. difficilis and P. nasutus) and should be considered a member of this group. Members of the P. truei species group did not form a monophyletic unit, indicating that this species group is not monophyletic and may be composed of two assemblages.     

A new pelagic predatory pike cichlid (Teleostei: Cichlidae: Crenicichla) from the C. mandelburgeri species complex with parallel and reticulate evolution

The Crenicichla mandelburgeri species complex from the Middle Paraná shows parallel evolution of ecomorphs to the unrelated C. missioneira species complex from the Uruguay River. In this article, we describe a new species from the C. mandelburgeri species complex that has evolved a parallel morphology and ecology to an unrelated species from the C. missioneira species complex (C. celidochilus). The new species is a pelagic predator that feeds predominantly on fishes and together with C. celidochilus is the only known pelagic species in the large riverine genus Crenicichla. The new species is endemic solely to a small tributary (the Urugua-í) of the Middle Paraná River where it is sympatric and partly syntopic with two other closely related endemic species that, however, differ strongly in their ecomorphologies (one is a generalistic invertivore and the other a specialized molluscivore). Mitochondrial DNA phylogeny finds the new species nested within the widespread C. mandelburgeri. Reduced genome-representation ddRAD analyses, however, demonstrate that this new species is of a hybrid origin and shares ancestry with C. ypo, one of the two studied sympatric species.

     

Phylogenetic relationships and taxonomy of subfamily Zygophylloideae (Zygophyllaceae) based on molecular and morphological data

Phylogenetic analysis of noncoding trnL plastid DNA sequences and morphological data for 43 species of Zygophylloideae, representing most of the morphological and geographical variation in the subfamily, indicates that the currently recognised genera Augea (monotypic, southern Africa), Tetraena (monotypic, China), and Fagonia (c. 30 species, widespread), are embedded in Zygophyllum (c. 150 species, widespread). A generic classification based on six monophyletic and morphologically distinctive entities is proposed: Roepera with c. 60 species in Australia and southern Africa, Zygophyllum with c. 50 species in Asia, Tetraena with c. 40 species in Africa and Asia, Augea with a single species in southern Africa, Melocarpum with two species in the Horn of Africa region, and Fagonia with c. 30 species in both the Old and the New World. Scanning electron microscopy studies of testa structure provided important characters for the delimitation of some genera. New combinations (61) are made in Roepera, a resurrected genus originally described from Australia, one new name is proposed in Zygophyllum, 35 new combinations are made in Tetraena, and two new combinations are made in Melocarpum (previously Zygophyllum sect. Melocarpum).     

Sorghum resolved as a distinct genus based on combined ITS1, ndhF and Adh1 analyses

Recent studies on Sorghum have attempted to determine the genetic relationships between the 17 Australian native Sorghum species and the cultivated species, with several studies contradictory in their findings. To resolve these issues within Sorghum, a detailed investigation of the phylogenetic relationships was made. The alcohol dehydrogenase 1 gene (Adh1) from 25 Sorghum species and Cleistachne sorghoides was sequenced. Independent analyses of the Adh1 data, and combined analyses of the Adh1, ITS1 and ndhF data were carried out. All Sorghum species were resolved to a distinct clade with 100% support. Within Sorghum, the Eu-sorghum species were resolved to a strongly supported lineage that included the Australian native species S. macrospermum and S. laxiflorum. All other Australian species were resolved to a second strongly supported lineage. Sorghum laxiflorum and S. macrospermum have again been identified as the Australian species most closely related to cultivated sorghum. Analysis based on three genes has shown that the 25 Sorghum species form a distinct monophyletic group, and that there is little evidence to support the recent taxonomic revision of these species into three separate genera.     

Known and two new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhytisma</Emphasis> (Rhytismatales,Ascomycota) from China

Three species of Rhytisma are described based on recently collected specimens from the Anhui province, China. Rhytisma anhuiense is a new species causing a serious tar spot disease on Rhododendron simsii. Rhytisma yuexiense is a new species, which develops its stromata only on fallen leaves of Rhododendron ovatum. Rhytisma himalense on Ilex fargesii is a known species and probably widely distributed in China. Including the two new species, 11 species of Rhytisma are known from China which are presented in a key.     

Systematic revision of the yucca moths in the Tegeticula yuccasella complex (Lepidoptera: Prodoxidae) north of Mexico

The yucca moths (Tegeticula and Parategeticula) are of great importance in studies of coevolution because of their obligate mutualism with their yucca hosts. Historically, three species of Tegeticula have been recognized. One of them, T. yuccasella, has been regarded as the pollinator of all but two yucca species, but morphological, molecular and biological data show that this is a large complex of monophagous and oligophagous species that differ greatly in their biology. It also includes derived ‘cheater’ species that do not pollinate their hosts and oviposit into fruits rather than flowers. Here the yuccasella complex north of Mexico is revised. The nominotypic pollinator species yuccasella is redescribed, and ten new pollinator species described: altiplanella, baccatella, carnerosanella, cassandra, elatella, maderae, mojavella, rostratella, superficiella and treculeanella. Two non-pollinating cheater species are recognized. One such species originally misidentified as a Prodoxus species, then synonymised with yuccasella, is re-erected as the non-pollinating intermedia. In addition, the new non-pollinator species corruptrix is described.     

A molecular assessment of species diversity in Tympanopleura and Ageneiosus catfishes (Auchenipteridae: Siluriformes)

In order to test the congruence of genetic data to the morphologically defined Neotropical catfish genera Tympanopleura and Ageneiosus and explore species diversity, we generated 17 DNA barcodes from five of six species of Tympanopleura and 12 of 13 species of Ageneiosus. To discriminate limits between species, an automatic barcode gap discovery (ABGD), a generalised mixed yule-coalescent model (GYMC) and fixed distance thresholds Kimura two-parameter (K2P; 3%) were used to discriminate putative species limits from the DNA barcodes. The ABGD, GMYC and K2P methods agreed by each generating 13 clusters: six in Tympanopleura (five nominal plus one undescribed species) and seven in Ageneiosus. These clusters corresponded broadly to the described species, except in the case of the Ageneiosus ucayalensis group (A. akamai, A. dentatus, A. intrusus, A. ucayalensis, A. uranophthalmus and A. vittatus). Haplotype sharing and low divergences may have prevented molecular methods from distinguishing these species. We hypothesise that this is the result of a recent radiation of a sympatric species group distributed throughout the Amazon Basin. One putative new species of Tympanopleura was also supported by the molecular data. These results taken together highlight the utility of molecular methods such as DNA barcoding in understanding patterns of diversification across large geographic areas and in recognising overlooked diversity.