Phylogenetic and taxonomic relationships of northern Far Eastern phoxinin minnows, Phoxinus and Rhynchocypris (Pisces, Cyprinidae), as inferred from allozyme and mitochondrial 16S rRNA sequence analyses

Analyses of allozyme (18 loci) and partial mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences (1295 bp, 16S rRNA) support the classification of phoxinin minnows from the northern Far East into 2 genera of 8 species: Phoxinus phoxinus, Rhynchocypris oxycephalus, R. perenurus, R. czekanowskii, R. kumgangensis, R. semotilus, R. lagowskii and R. sp. (bergi ?). Although R. lagowskii from Japan and the Amur basin and R. sp. from Vladivostok region to Korea have been classified into a single species by many authors as R. lagowskii, they form separate clusters in both analyses, suggesting different specific status. Some R. oxycephalus and R. perenurus had the mtDNA haplotypes of R. lagowskii and R. czekanowskii, respectively, which probably indicates that local introgression of mtDNA occurred through inter-specific hybridization. Rhynchocypris forms a monophyletic cluster with dace genera Tribolodon and Pseudaspius, not with Phoxinus. Eurasian and American Phoxinus are suggested to be paraphyletic.     

Genetic divergence and phylogenetic independence of Far Eastern species in subfamily Leuciscinae (Pisces: Cyprinidae) inferred from mitochondrial DNA analyses

Classification of freshwater fish in the subfamily Leuciscinae, Cyprinidae is hampered by complexity or lack of morphological diversity. In this study, analyses based on mtDNA sequences were undertaken to clarify phylogenetic relationships among Far Eastern, North American and European species in the Leuciscinae. Evolutionary rate in cytochrome b gene (Cyt-b) and D-loop sequences appear to be almost constant in Leuciscinae. The topology of phylogenetic trees generated by neighbor-joining (NJ) and maximum likelihood (ML) methods based on Cyt-b gene and D-loop sequences was similar. Five major clades, designated clades 1-5, and a minor clade were discriminated. Most of the Far Eastern, North American and European species were included in the major clades. Clade 1, comprised almost entirely of Far Eastern phoxinins, is monophyletic and greatly diverged from the other species of Leuciscinae. From the present phylogenetic relationships and the previous studies, we present the following hypotheses with respect to the evolutionary history of the Far Eastern phoxinins. The Far Eastern species should be classified into Far Eastern-specific genera, although ichthyologists have still insisted that the species should be included in the European genera. The Far Eastern clade 1 consists of two subclades, including genera Pseudaspius-Tribolodon and Far Eastern Phoxinus species. According to our phylogenetic analyses, Pseudaspius leptocephalus and Tribolodon species should be reclassified into the same genus. On the basis of evolutionary rate in Cyt-b gene in Cyprinidae, it is estimated that the Far Eastern lineage diverged approximately 10-14 million years ago (mya) from the common ancestor of Leuciscinae. It is deduced that speciation of the Far Eastern species occurred until approximately 4 mya, in relation to the formation of the Sea of Japan and the Japanese Islands.     

Phylogenetic analysis of Altai osmans of the genus Oreoleuciscus (Pisces, Cyprinidae, Leuciscinae), based on the analysis of the cytochrome oxidase 1 gene (Co-1) sequence

Molecular genetic analysis of Altai osmans of the genus Oreoleuciscus from two different parts of the range was carried out. In this study, based on the mitochondrial Co-1 gene sequence, a total of 25 fish specimens belonging to four genera were examined: (1) O. humilis, 2 specimens; O. potanini, 13 specimens; (2) Pseudaspius leptocephalus, 1 specimen; (3) Tribolodon brandtii, T. hakonensis, and T. sachalinensis from the GenBank database, 8 speciens; and (4) Leuciscus waleckii, 1 specimen (used as an outgroup). The p-distances were very low both within and between the species: (1) 0.20 +/- 0.03%; (2) 0.40 +/- 0.12%; and (1-2) 0.80 +/- 0.04%. To visualize the relationships among all of the species examined, the neighbor joining (NJ), maximum parsimony (MP), Bayesian (BA), and maximum likelihood (ML) trees were constructed. The results obtained using these methods were very similar. It was demonstrated that species assignment of the individuals (barcoding) with the help Co-1 gene was effective, despite of very low divergence of the two osman taxa, which was comparable with typical intraspecific values in other animal groups. Taxonomic status of O. potanini and O. humilis requires further investigation with paying attention to low genetic distances between these species along with the lack of material from sympatric parts of the ranges.     

Faunistic complexes of the Cladocera (Crustacea,Branchiopoda) of Eastern Siberia and the Far East of Russia

Faunistic complexes of 155 species of the Cladocera found in Eastern Siberia and the Far East of Russian Federation are described. The eight complexes are specified: unrevised widely spread species (51), the widespread Eurasian faunistic complex (34 species), the circumpolar complex (4 species), the East Asian and American (Beringian) complex (8 species), the endemic East Asian complex (19 species), the southern thermophilic complex (12 species), the mountainous endemic complex (3 species), and the Baikal endemic complex (8 species). Directions for further studies are suggested. Faunistic investigations of the modern level in the East Palearctic represent an independent task, which should be accomplished by taxonomists in close cooperation with specialists on local faunas.     

Mitochondrial DNA polymorphism in populations of aboriginal residents of the Far East

An analysis of mtDNA polymorphism in eight populations of aboriginal residents (N = 519) of the Far East has been performed. The majority of haplogroups revealed in the examined groups were of East Eurasian origin. Haplogroup D was revealed in seven populations and its frequency varied from 2.8% in Koryaks to 28.3% and 28.9% in Nanaians and Evenks, respectively. Chukchi and Koryak populations, which belong to the same language family, exhibited haplogroup G, which has the same motive and indicates the genetic kinship of both populations. The presence of East Eurasian haplogroups A and D with a strong predominance of haplogroup A in Chukchi indicates the closer relationship of this population both with Asian and Canadian Eskimos and northern Atapasks on the other side of Bering Strait. The high level of genetic variability was revealed in populations belonging to the Tungus-Manjur group. The high frequency of east Eurasian haplogroups in Nanaians could result from close historical associations with Siberian Evenks.     

秦岭森林锈菌区系

从1983～1995年,作者在秦岭地区采集了以树木锈菌为主的森林植物锈菌30属90余种。对这些锈菌的生态和生物地理分析表明：秦岭锈菌以温带型占明显优势（65％）,且多分布于海拔1300～2800m的中山针阔叶林带中。该地区锈菌区系的地理成分以东亚成分为主,尤以中国-日本成分为主;欧亚-北美成分和旧世界温带成分在秦岭占有相当比例（约30％）。古热带成分等其它地理成分的锈菌也汇集于此。秦岭地区锈菌区系起源古老。     

Importance of acetylator phenotype in the identity of Asian populations

The Marma, Tripura, and Chakma are tribal populations of South Asian countries such as Bangladesh. The populations are thought to be immigrants who started moving from their original home in the Far East toward the west and south. We randomly selected 80 Marma, 53 Tripura, and 43 Chakma to determine acetylation capacity and acetylator phenotype. The mean acetylation capacities were 63% in the Marma, 65% in the Tripura, and 70% in the Chakma. The acetylator phenotype was bimodally distributed as fast and slow acetylator. The frequencies of fast acetylator were 83% in the Marma, 89% in the Tripura, and 88% in the Chakma. According to acetylation capacity, the tribes are different from the founder nontribal populations of Bangladesh. They identify themselves as having a separate single population origin. The frequency of fast acetylator predicted served as the acetylator status of the Far East Asian population. The segregation of populations by acetylator phenotype on geographic longitude might be appropriate for geonational identification of Asian populations.     

Les relations entre l’Extrême-Orient eurasien et le nord de l’archipel du Japon au Paléolithique

The aim of this paper is to present a review of current knowledge concerning the Paleolithic records and the related natural environmental setting in the Eurasian Far East and Hokkaido, located at the northern tip of the Japanese islands. At present, it is quite difficult to answer whether the archaic humans dispersed from Siberia and northern China across the Amur River basin and Sakhalin into Hokkaido or not, because there is no reliable evidence indicating the Lower and Middle Paleolithic in Hokkaido. We demonstrate that the Upper Paleolithic assemblages in Hokkaido can be divided into at least three phases such as the early Upper Paleolithic (EUP), the middle Upper Paleolithic (MUP), and the late Upper Paleolithic (LUP), based on a synthesis of available radiocarbon dates and the techno-typological characteristics of lithic assemblages. It is reasonable to suggest that the lithic assemblage from the Rubenosawa site, located in northern Hokkaido, and some of lithic assemblages at the transition from the Middle to Upper Paleolithic or the initial Upper Paleolithic (IUP) in Siberia share the relative similarities of techno-typological attributes in the reduction sequences, although the reliable radiocarbon dates have not been obtained from the Rubenosawa site unfortunately. Also, the emergence of microblade technology at the MUP in Hokkaido, such as represented by the microblade assemblage recovered from the Kashiwadai-1 site, central Hokkaido, indicates a close interaction between the Eurasian Far East and Hokkaido. As a result, the comparison of archaeological evidence in these regions provides us with a suggestion that the appearance and development of the Upper Paleolithic assemblages in Hokkaido were sometimes associated with the human dispersions and the mutual contacts crossing between the Eurasian Far East and Hokkaido.     

Plant viruses of the Asian territory of Russia: Taxonomy and nomenclature

This review presents the results of long-term study of the species diversity of plant viruses on the Asian territory of Russia. The known and new viruses were revealed in agro- and biocenoses and identified not only for the Far East and Siberia but also for Russia. Based on the criteria of traditional and molecular-genetic taxonomy, 50 viruses were referred to 8 families and 18 genera of the currently known 17 families and 78 genera of plant viruses. The taxonomic status of new phytopathogenic viruses revealed on the Asian territory of Russia was defined.     

A natural hybrid of Leuciscus cephalus macedonicus X Chalcalburnus chalcoides macedonicus (Pisces, Cyprinidae) from Lake Volvi (Macedonia, Greece)

A massive hybridization between Leuciscus cephalus macedonicus and Chalcalburnus chalcoides macedonicus has been recognized and studied by examining 67 specimens from Lake Volvi (Macedonia, Greece). The majority of meristic and other characters present an intermediate position in the hybrid (total hybrid index Vh = 38.37). Nevertheless, the best expression of intermediacy is shown most clearly by the numbers of anal fin soft rays, lateral line scales and gill rakers, and also by the height of the dorsal fin and the length of the base of anal fin. Of the examined hybrid specimens. 92.5% were females. It seems that hybridization takes place during the reproduction period in the main streams flowing into the lake under special conditions which hinder the migration of the majority of the population of C. chalcoides from the lake to the breeding sites. It is suggested that individuals of C. chalcoides , which manage to arrive in these sites, mate with L. cephalus , the normal inhabitant of the streams, thus producing the hybrid.     

Taxonomy of phytopathogenic viruses identified in the Russian far east

The work is devoted to a problem of study of the taxonomy phytopathogenic viruses of Far East. The performance to genera, species and strain of viruses identified in Far East region is briefly given. A genus Potyvirus in more detail is described, as the greatest number identified on Far East phytoviruses is included into structure of this genus. In the given article the classification phythopathogenic of Russian Far East is represented, for which basis the classification of viruses of the message of International Committee on the taxonomy of viruses (1995) is taken.     

Echinogobius hayashii, A new genus and species of gobiidae

Echinogobius hayashii, a new genus and species of Gobiidae is described, based on 11 specimens from Japan and Australia. This genus is distinguishable from all other gobiid genera in having the following combination of characters: first spine of first dorsal fin hard and straight, about 1.5 times second spine in thickness; first spine of second dorsal fin hard, with similar thickness as first soft ray of second dorsal fin, supported by two normally-sized pterygiophores; snout convex; preopercular spine absent; predorsal scales absent; all scales cycloid. The species occurs between 1–20 m in clear water on clear sandy bottoms influenced by fast tidal currents. Based on our observations, it is not associated with an alpheid shrimp.     

Early agriculture and crop transmission among Bronze Age mobile pastoralists of Central Eurasia

Archaeological research in Central Eurasia is exposing unprecedented scales of trans-regional interaction and technology transfer between East Asia and southwest Asia deep into the prehistoric past. This article presents a new archaeobotanical analysis from pastoralist campsites in the mountain and desert regions of Central Eurasia that documents the oldest known evidence for domesticated grains and farming among seasonally mobile herders. Carbonized grains from the sites of Tasbas and Begash illustrate the first transmission of southwest Asian and East Asian domesticated grains into the mountains of Inner Asia in the early third millennium BC. By the middle second millennium BC, seasonal camps in the mountains and deserts illustrate that Eurasian herders incorporated the cultivation of millet, wheat, barley and legumes into their subsistence strategy. These findings push back the chronology for domesticated plant use among Central Eurasian pastoralists by approximately 2000 years. Given the geography, chronology and seed morphology of these data, we argue that mobile pastoralists were key agents in the spread of crop repertoires and the transformation of agricultural economies across Asia from the third to the second millennium BC.     

The Saurida undosquamis group (Aulopiformes: Synodontidae), with description of a new species from southern Japan

Four lizardfishes of Saurida (family Synodontidae), S. undosquamis, S. umeyoshii sp. nov., S. macrolepis, and S. longimanus, are described. All are recognized here as the Saurida undosquamis group, characterized by having dark dots on the upper margin of the caudal fin, pectoral fin exceeding origin to pelvic fin, anterior rays of dorsal fin neither elongate nor filamentous, predorsal length greater than distance between dorsal-fin and adipose-fin origins, 46–55 pored lateral-line scales, and vomer with 0–8 teeth. Saurida undosquamis, from northern West India and West Pacific, excluding East Asia, differs from others in having lateral-line scales ridged on the caudal peduncle, conspicuously concave posterior margin of the pectoral fin, 51–55 pored lateral-line scales, and 50–53 vertebrae. Saurida umeyoshii sp. nov., from southern Japan and the East China Sea, is defined by three rows of indistinct dark blotches on, above, and below the lateral line, distribution of scale pockets with melanophores on their posterior part extending over the entire abdominal region from the lateral line in specimens over ca. 130 mm SL, lateral-line scales not ridged on caudal peduncle, 49–52 pored lateral-line scales, and 48–50 vertebrae. Saurida macrolepis, from the Indo-West Pacific, is characterized by 46–49 pored lateral-line scales and 45–48 vertebrae. Saurida longimanus, from northern West India, northwest Australia, and southern Indonesia, differs from the others in having a long pectoral fin extending past the origin of the dorsal fin. Some geographic variations are found in S. macrolepis. Saurida grandisquamis is confirmed as a junior synonym of S. undosquamis, based on examination of the type specimens. A key to species in the S. undosquamis group is included.     

安徽大别台区虫生真菌区系的物种多样性研究

对安徽大别山区虫生真菌区系的物种多样性进行了研究。结果表明该地区虫生真菌资源十分丰富 ,共有虫生真菌 5 0种 ,隶属于 4目 4科 16属。科从大到小依次为麦角菌科 (Clavicipitaceae) (2 7种 ,占 5 4 % )、丝孢科 (Hy phomycetaceae) (15种 ,占 30 % )、虫霉科 (Entomophthoraceae) (5种 ,占 10 % )、束梗孢科 (Stilbellaceae) (3种 ,占 6 % )。含 3个种以上的优势属依次为虫草属 (Cordyceps) (2 6种 ,占 5 2 % )、拟青霉属 (Paecilomyces) (6种 ,占 12 % )、白僵菌属 (Beauveria) (3种 ,占 6 % ) ,共计 35种 ,占总种数的 70 % ;含 2个种的属为刺束梗孢属 (Akanthomyces)和虫瘟霉属 (Zoophthora) ;其余 11个属皆为单种属。优势种依次为粉拟青霉 (Paecilomycesfarinosus)、细脚拟青霉 (P .tenuipes)、下垂虫草 (Cordycepsnutans)、球孢白僵菌 (Beauveriabassiana)、金龟子绿僵菌小孢变种 (Metarhiziumanisopliaevar.anisopliae)。区系地理成分划分为 7大类型 :世界分布种 (42 .11% )、欧亚大陆分布种 (10 .5 3% )、亚热带—热带分布种 (5 .2 6 % )、东亚分布种 (7.89% )、东亚—新几内亚分布种 (5 .2 6 % )、中国—日本分布种 (5 .2 6 % )和特有成分 (2 3.6 8% ) ,表现出明显的东亚区系特征 ,而且本区及     

Geological History,Flora, and Vegetation of Xishuangbanna,Southern Yunnan,China1

Xishuangbanna of southern Yunnan is biogeographically located at a transitional zone from tropical Southeast (SE) Asia to subtropical East Asia, and is at the junction of the Indian and Burmese plates of Gondwana and the Eurasian plate of Laurasia. The flora of the region consists of a recorded 3336 native seed plant species, belonging to 1140 genera in 197 families, among which 83.5 percent are tropical genera and 32.8 percent are endemic to tropical Asia, suggesting a strong affinity to tropical Asian flora. The vegetation of Xishuangbanna is organized into four forest types: tropical rain forest, tropical seasonal moist forest, tropical montane evergreen broad‐leaved forest, and tropical monsoon forest. The tropical rain forest in Xishuangbanna has the same floristic composition of families and genera as some lowland equatorial rain forests in SE Asia, and is dominated (with a few exceptions) by the same families both in species richness and stem dominance. The exceptions include some deciduous trees in the canopy layer, fewer megaphanerophytes and epiphytes, and a higher abundance of lianas and microphyllic plants. We consider the tropical rain forest of Xishuangbanna as a type of tropical Asian rain forest, based on their conspicuous similarities in ecological and floristic characteristics.     

Saccharomyces eubayanus and Saccharomyces arboricola reside in North Island native New Zealand forests

Saccharomyces is one of the best‐studied microbial genera, but our understanding of the global distributions and evolutionary histories of its members is relatively poor. Recent studies have altered our view of Saccharomyces’ origin, but a lack of sampling from the vast majority of the world precludes a holistic perspective. We evaluate alternate Gondwanan and Far East Asian hypotheses concerning the origin of these yeasts. Being part of Gondwana, and only colonized by humans in the last ～1000 years, New Zealand represents a unique environment for testing these ideas. Genotyping and ribosomal sequencing of samples from North Island native forest parks identified a widespread population of Saccharomyces. Whole genome sequencing identified the presence of S. arboricola and S. eubayanus in New Zealand, which is the first report of S. arboricola outside Far East Asia, and also expands S. eubayanus’ known distribution to include the Oceanic region. Phylogenomic approaches place the S. arboricola population as significantly diverged from the only other sequenced Chinese isolate but indicate that S. eubayanus might be a recent migrant from South America. These data tend to support the Far East Asian origin of the Saccharomyces, but the history of this group is still far from clear.     

Description of a new species of Phoxinus from the upper Krka River (Adriatic Basin) in Croatia (Actinopterygii: Leuciscidae), first discovered as a molecular clade

Using morphometric, meristic and qualitative characters, we confirmed a specific status of a clade discovered based on molecular data only. The newly described species Phoxinus krkae has a very local distribution in the upper Krka River but is easily morphologically distinguished from geographically neighbouring species with much wider ranges: Phoxinus lumaireul, Phoxinus marsilii and Phoxinus csikii. Phoxinus krkae is well differentiated in statistical analyses and differs from other species of Phoxinus in northern Adriatic Sea drainages and right-bank tributaries of the middle and lower River Danube by a combination of characters, none of them unique: caudal peduncle length 1.9–2.2 times minimum depth of caudal peduncle; upper lip not projecting beyond lower lip; rostral fold absent; total number of scales in lateral series 74–84; lateral line incomplete and interrupted, commonly 17–49 (< 60% of total number of scales in lateral series) with no or few canal segments on posterior body and caudal peduncle; scales on belly extending forward to over middle of distance between pelvic-fin base and pectoral-fin origin; patches of breast scales commonly connected by scattered scales or forming 1–3 regular rows of scales; total vertebrae commonly 38–39 (22 + 17, 22 + 16 or 21 + 17). The study reveals unrecognised morphological diversity within the group and provides the groundwork for future taxonomic study in Phoxinus in the Adriatic region and the Danube Basin.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cobitis elazigensis</Emphasis>, a New Species of Cobitidid Fish from Anatolia,Turkey

A new cobitidid, Cobitis elazigensis, is described from Anatolian Turkey in the province of Elazi?. The new species differs from all other members of the genus by having the following combination of characters: two Canestrini’s scales on the pectoral fin, a suborbital spine with a dorso-lateral branch (rarely simple and unbranched), large size, over 180 mm total length, total vertebrae 47–49, lateral spots reduced or absent, a spot at the upper caudal fin base, scales longer than wide with a small focus, dorsal fin rays III, 5–6, usually 6, ventral fin rays III, 6–7, usually 6, and pectoral fin rays I, 7–9.