Review on the use of sexually dimorphic characters in the taxonomy of Diabroticites (Galerucinae,Luperini, Diabroticina)

Sexual dimorphism occurs frequently in Chrysomelidae Latreille, 1802 and is particularly variable in subfamily Galerucinae Latreille, 1802. This diversity has been early noted by authors a potential source of taxonomic characters. The section Diabroticites (Luperini Gistel, 1848) is one of the largest assemblies of chrysomelid genera with currently 823 valid species in 17 genera (12 based on dimorphic characteristics), being most diverse in the neotropical region. Apart from a revision work on the type specimens for the section, there are no general taxonomic studies for this group. The occurrence of sexually dimorphic characteristics in the section Diabroticites is revised and their practical taxonomic relevance evaluated. A total of 240 species was studied (145 species with males available), representing 15 out of the 17 genera included in Diabroticites. The analysis of characters was based on the study of specimens in south-american collections, literature and the aid of photos in online databases. Sexual dimorphism occurred in most species analyzed. Dimorphic features were divided in general (i. e., occur in higher taxa) and special characters (those that support the definition of species and genera). Special dimorphism was observed in every tagma, and most modifications occur in antennae. Characters used as diagnostic of genera often do not correspond to the modifications present in species included in them. Many modifications were considered by earlier authors as a single character, probably due to vague definitions. Most generic definitions are, therefore, inaccurate. The study of morphology and the homology assessment of characters are needed to increase understanding of the genera in Diabroticites.     

THE SISTER GROUP OF THE PALEOTROPICAL TRIBE ARGOSTEMMATEAE: A REDEFINED NEOTROPICAL TRIBE HAMELIEAE (RUBIACEAE, RUBIOIDEAE)

Abstract— The sister group of the monophyletic tribe Argostemmateae, including Argostemma and Neurocalyx , is not the tribe Hedyotideae, or a part of it, as earlier assumed, but the monophyletic tribe Hamelieae, here redefined. It comprises the genera Hamelia, Hoffmannia (here including Xerococcus), Deppea (here including Schenckia), Pinarophyllon , and Omiltemia . The two tribes Argostemmateae and Hamelieae are a monophyletic group characterized by seven synapomorphies. A cladogram is presented showing the relationships of the seven genera based on 31 characters. One group of characters, the aestivation of the corolla, is shown to be much more complicated than hitherto assumed. In the Hamelieae the aestivation can be imbricate (to the right or to the left and quincuncial or not), contorted (to the right), alternative, or even valvate. The Argostemmateae occur in the Old World Tropics, and their distribution supports the hypothesis that at least parts of southeast Asia are a part of Gondwanaland. The vicariant pattern within the Argostemmateae indicates that the large area from west Africa through northern India to southeast Asia is vicariant to Ceylon and southern India. The distribution of the Old World tribe Argostemmateae is vicariant to the essentially Central American tribe Hamelieae.     

Shaniodendron,a New Genus of Hamamelidaceae from China

During investigating rare and endangered plants in China, the authors made morphological observation on Hamamelis subaequalis H. T. Chang and discovered that it is apetalus, different from the tribe Hamamelideae, in addition to other morphological characters, which differ from the genera of the tribes Distylteae and Fothergilleae(Hamamelidaceae). Therefore, a new genus-Shaniodendron is described.     

Systematics of the genera of Bodotriidae (Crustacea: Cumacea)

The cumacean family Bodotriidae includes 382 species in 31 genera grouped in three subfamilies: Bodotriinae, Mancocumatinae and Vaunthompsoniinae. Generic diagnoses are based on few characters that often have overlapping states among genera, complicating the understanding of the relationships within the group. The goals of this study are to illuminate the phylogenetic relationships among the genera of the Bodotriidae using morphological characters and to review the systematics of the family. For this purpose, all species within each genus were studied from the literature to code all the variability of genera for 109 variable morphological characters. Phylogenetic analyses show that there is independent reduction of the pleopods in two clades from a plesiomorphic state of five pairs, while the number of exopods of peraeopods has been reduced gradually in more derived groups of bodotriids. The subfamily Bodotriinae is the most derived and the Vaunthompsoniinae the most basal, and is paraphyletic with the Mancocumatinae embedded within it. No discriminatory characters were found between the subfamilies Mancocumatinae and Vaunthompsoniinae and they are not clearly separated in the phylogeny. Mancocumatinae is synonymized with Vaunthompsoniinae and all the genera of the former Mancocumatinae should be included within Vaunthompsoniinae. Analyses of character evolution justify a few other taxonomic changes. All genera were redescribed based on all the coded characters and a complete list of all valid species for each genus is included. Finally, dichotomous keys for identification to genus level are provided.  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 151 , 1–58.     

Cerapeplus gen.n. and the classification of micropeplids (Coleoptera: Micropeplidae)

Cerapeplus siamensis gen.n., sp.n. from Thailand is described and illustrated. The new genus is characterized by filament-based lamellar secretions arising from the lateral body margin, a feature observed for the first time in Coleoptera. Possible autapomorphies for the micropeplid genera are discussed. It is concluded that Cerapeplus and Kalissus are monophyletic; Micropeplus and/Or Peplomicrus are probably polyphyletic but both genera together form a monophyletic group. A number of characters support the family status of the micropeplids recently proposed by some authors. A revised family diagnosis is provided.     

NEW SPECIES AND RECORDS OF POLYCHAETA FROM CEYLON

A collection of polychaetes made by the author in December 1961 and April 1962 from a number of places on the coast of Ceylon was examined. Seven new species and one new subspecies are described and sixteen species are recorded new to the fauna of Ceylon. The holotypes and lectotypes have been deposited in the British Museum (Natural History).     

梧桐科一些属的分类位置探讨

梧桐科（Ｓｔｅｒｃｕｌｉａｃｅａｅ）是锦葵目中的一个多型科,科的特征比较比样化。自从Ｅ．Ｐ．Ｖｅｎｔｅｎａｔ（１８３０）建立该科以来,对于该科范围和包含的属种数目,各国学者至今尚存在各种不同的看法。作者认为,火桐属（Ｅｒｙｔｈｒｏｐｓｉｓ）应当从梧桐属（Ｆｉｒｍｉａｎａ）中分出成为单独的属;午时花属（Ｐｅｎｔａｐｅｔｅｓ）不应归入锦葵科（Ｍａｌｖａｃｅａｅ）,应当置于梧桐科;田麻属（Ｃｏｒｃｈｏｒ     

A cladistic analysis of the nomadine bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea)

Abstract. This study compares the results of Rozen's cladistic analysis of the larvae of fifteen genera of cleptoparasitic bees in the subfamily Nomadinae with an independent data set of adult characters for the same genera. Adult characters exhibited considerably higher levels of homoplasy and poorer resolution of cladistic relationships, with multiple equally parsimonious cladograms. However, comparison of a Nelson consensus tree based on adult characters with the cladogram based on larval characters reveals three components consistently supported in both analyses (the tribes Epeolini and Ammobatini, and Neopasites + Neolarra) , one component supported only by adult characters (Isepeolus + Protepeolus) , and one terminal component supported only by larval characters (Nomada + Ammobatini), as well as several more inclusive groupings based on larval characters that are difficult to compare with the adult consensus tree because it shows so much less resolution. When adult and larval characters are combined in a single data matrix, the resulting cladogram closely resembles the cladogram based on larval characters alone, although levels of homoplasy are considerably higher than in the larval analysis.
A preliminary analysis of adult characters for thirty-four genera in the Nomadinae also exhibited high levels of homoplasy and very large numbers of equally parsimonious cladograms. Nevertheless, certain consistent monophyletic groupings, most notably the Epeolini and Ammobatini, were also supported in this analysis. The one currently recognized tribe whose monophyly has received no support from any analysis is the Nomadini.
The relevance of these phylogenetic hypotheses to our understanding of host associations and variable features of egg morphology and oviposition behaviour in nomadine bees is briefly discussed.     

The neotropical genera of Marantaceae. Circumscription and relationships

The delimitation of the neotropical genera of the Marantaceae has been revised, using evidence mainly from the morphology of inflorescences and flowers. It is concluded that the generic concepts of Schumann in "Das Pflanzenreich", often questioned by 20th century American authors, are essentially sound, but that his grouping of the genera into two tribes is quite artificial. Main deviations from the treatment of Schumann are the rearrangement of the genera, somewhat different stress on diagnostic characters and a much narrower concept of the genus Myrosma. A new genus, Koernickanthe is proposed for the long known species Maranta orbiculata (Koern.) Schum. The genera are arranged into informal groups and the groups and genera recognized are: Maranta group (Maranta L., Monophyllanthe Schum.), Myrosma group (Myrosma L. f., Saranthe (Regel et Koern.) Eichl., Hylaeanthe Jonker et Jonker, Ctenanthe Eichl., Stromanthe Sond.), Calathea group (Calathea G. F. W. Meyer, lschnosiphon Koern., Pleiostachya Schum.), Monotagma group (Monotagma Schum., Koernickanthe gen. nov.) and Thalia "group" (Thalia L.). It is suggested, that each group has its closest affinities with Old World genera and that this indicates that the diversification of the marantaceous stock was far–reaching already before the Old and the New World became effectively isolated. It is further suggested that the early diversification of the family took place in Africa, the flora of which, although poor in species, is morphologically very diverse. Two new combinations are made, viz. Stromanthe stromanthoides (Macbr.) Anderss. and Koernickanthe orbiculata (Koern.) Anderss.     

A reevaluation of the genus Exacum (Gentianaceae) in Ceylon

A taxonomic reevaluation of the Ceylonese species of the paleotropic genus of Gentianaceae, Exacum L. (ca. 40 species), is made. Eight species are recognized. Five of the species are endemic to Ceylon and three are also found in India. One species new to Ceylon is presented, viz. E. pedunculalum L., and one new combination is made, viz. E. pallidum (Trim.) Klack. Typifications, maps and a key to the species are given. The micromorphology of seeds, pollen grains, and cuticular structures as seen by means of SEM is also given and its implications for taxonomy discussed.     

A new name in Dyschoriste (Acanthaceae)

Distinctly mucronate anther cells and the 4-seeded capsule ofHygrophila pringlei Greenman together with several other additional characters, suggest that this taxon would be better treated asDyschoriste rubiginosa, nom. nov.     

Grazing insects reduce algal biomass in a neotropical stream

The Darwinulidae are the only surviving post-Palaeozoic darwinulocopine family of an extensive radiation that reached its maximum in the Permian. Whereas at least some Palaeozoic darwinulids are known from sexual populations, the surviving lineages after the end-Permian mass extinction have abandoned sex since 200 million years ago. This makes the extant family Darwinulidae one of the few putative ancient asexual groups. Only about 30 species in 5 genera are presently known. The phylogeny of these taxa is here analysed using both morphological characters and molecular data. Twelve characters on valve morphology and 17 characters pertaining to appendages are used to construct the most parsimonious (unrooted) cladogram of 12 species in 5 genera. DNA sequences of one nuclear (ITS1) and a mitochondrial (COI) gene of 6 species in 5 genera are used to construct rooted maximum parsimony trees. Both molecular and morphological trees show a high degree of congruence, indicating that Alicenula and Vestalenula mostly cluster closely together, while Penthesilenula and Microdarwinula constitute a robust group. The position of the monospecific genus Darwinulais more variable, but is mostly closer to the two former genera. Congeneric species always cluster together in the morphological cladograms, and these results thus confirm that the five genera recognised by Rossetti & Martens (1998) are good phyletic units. An approximate molecular clock (calibrated with fossil data) indicates that the extant darwinulids share a common ancestor, which lived at least 100 million years ago.     

Precopulatory behaviour and the evolutionary relationships of Discoglossidae

The phylogenetic relationships among primitive anurans remain controversial, even when several morphological and molecular approaches have been used in an attempt to resolve them. Nevertheless, very little effort has been made to study these relationships with behavioural data. We studied the relation between some precopulatory behaviour characters (male call characteristics and call recognition by females) and the different proposed phylogenies among the anuran genera Alytes, Discoglossus and Bombina . Different acoustic variables were analysed from male calls of different species of these genera; Alytes cisternasii females were used in recognition tests with calls from those species. A phenetic tree generated from male call characteristics grouped Bombina with Discoglossu s and separated these two genera from Alytes, although the tree generated from female response data did not show such a clear result. A. cisternasii females are mostly using some features that are absent in Alytes calls in order to recognize male calls. The two characters, mapped onto the three alternative phylogenetic proposals, did not resolve the trichotomy among the three genera, but suggested that the studied behavioural characters have a clear phylogenetic load.     

斑龙芋属(天南星科) 及近缘属植物的叶表皮形态

光镜、电镜下观察了天南星科天南星族下斑龙芋属2 个种及近缘属13 个种植物的叶表皮形态特征。实验结果显示, 4 属植物的叶表皮组成及其形态特征较相似, 属间不存在明显差异, 但某些特征在种间存在差异, 可作为种的鉴别特征。叶表皮特征支持将单籽犁头尖和昆明犁头尖两个种合并为一个种。15 个种的气孔器均具有2 个副卫细胞, Stebbins and Khush 认为这是气孔器类型中较具2 个以上副卫细胞更进化的一种类型, 而天南星科大多数族的气孔器都具有2 个以上的副卫细胞, 这也证明了天南星族是天南星科较进化的族。     

斑龙芋属(天南星科)及近缘属植物的叶表皮形态

光镜、电镜下观察了天南星科天南星族下斑龙芋属2个种及近缘属13个种植物的叶表皮形态特征。实验结果显示,4属植物的叶表皮组成及其形态特征较相似,属间不存在明显差异,但某些特征在种间存在差异,可作为种的鉴别特征。叶表皮特征支持将单籽犁头尖和昆明犁头尖两个种合并为一个种。15个种的气孔器均具有2个副卫细胞,Stebbins andKhush认为这是气孔器类型中较具2个以上副卫细胞更进化的一种类型,而天南星科大多数族的气孔器都具有2个以上的副卫细胞,这也证明了天南星族是天南星科较进化的族。     

Patterns of morphological variation among cardueline finches (Fringillidae: Carduelinae)

Patterns of variation in five morphological traits in cardueline finches were analysed. Among species, bill characters were the most and tail length the least variable. Species differed primarily in terms of body size, whereas genera differed in terms of bill size. Cardueline finches were far less variable compared with the amount of variation expected under a model of neutral random drift. This indicates that this group of birds is under strong stabilizing selection pressure. This could conform to models of stasis where populations are thought to travel only between adjacent adaptive peaks separated by shallow valleys. Changes in body size are correlated with speciation, whereas changes in bill morphology are correlated with divergences leading to the erection of new genera.     

Bryophytes of Sri Lanka: a review of past exploration and taxonomic research and priorities for the future

This overview presents a historical summary of the past collectors of bryophytes (mosses, liverworts and hornworts) in Sri Lanka, formerly Ceylon, and some of the researchers who studied and published the results of their explorations. The first British collectors of the early nineteenth century were linked with the development of the Botanic Garden and herbarium in Peradeniya, of which George Gardner and George Thwaites made the greatest contributions, resulting in three publications by William Mitten on both mosses and liverworts. By the mid-nineteenth century, collectors from other countries took the lead, firstly Johannes Nietner from Germany and Odoardo Beccari from Italy. By the early twentieth century, Victor Schiffner from Austria and Max Fleischer from Germany became the leading bryologists throughout SE Asia, and both visited Ceylon. Fleischer’s work was part of a monographic revision of all mosses resulting in many new genera and species. After Fleischer, the most important bryologist was the German Theodor Herzog, who was the first to describe the ecological structure and bryological richness of different forest zones in southern Ceylon, with insight into forest loss from agricultural and population expansion, and a summary of biogeographical links of the bryoflora. The English bryologist H.N. Dixon took over from Mitten in describing many new moss species. Since independence in 1948, bryology in Sri Lanka has had major input from some local bryologists, such as B.A. Abeywickrama, as well as several important visitors, notably H. Inoue from Japan, C.C. Townsend from England, P.P.M. Tixier from France, and Maurice Onraedt from Belgium. Awareness in Sri Lanka of the need to taxonomically revise the extensive and scattered herbarium collections, has led to the running of some bryophyte workshops and training of new Sri Lankan bryologists. The ultimate goal of these efforts is to produce the first comprehensive bryophyte flora of the country, and priorities for future work are outlined.     

Characters of Leaf Epidermis in Genus Sauromatum (Araceae) and It’s Relative Genera

Leaf epidermis of 2 species in genus Sauromatum Schott were examined under light microscope and scanning electron microscope ( SEM) and compared with that of 13 species in genera Typhonium, Pinellia and Arisaema in the same tribe Area of Araceae . The result reveals that the characters of leaf epidermis between the several genera generally are very similar . However , some of the characters in the species of the same genus are variable and can be used to identify its species . The characters of leaf epidermis support to merge Typhonium kunmingense into Typhonium calcicolum . The stomata apparatus of 15 species are all brachyparacytic types with 2 subsidiary cells . This type of stomata apparatus is considered more evolutional than that with more than 2 subsidiary cells which existed in majority tribes of Araceae . This also verify some taxonomists’viewpoint that tribe Area is more evolutional in family Araceae .     

蜡梅科植物的分支分析

蜡梅科是一个仅有４属,１０种的小科,将蜡梅科的生物信息数字化,利用徐克学的和谐性分析程序,剔除了不合理的性状安排,判别关系含糊的性状极性,利用最大同步法,最小平行演化法及最大离散量分支分类法,对由性状再分析后获得的数值矩阵进行运算,推导分支图,明确各属之间的发生、发展和演化的关系。结果表明：椅子树亚科（Ｉｄｉｏｓｐｅｒｍｏｉｄｅａｅ）的椅子树属（Ｉｄｉｏｓｐｅｒｍｕｍ Ｂｌａｋｅ）在整个蜡梅科（Ｃ     

Phylogenetic relationships of the monozoic tapeworms (Eucestoda: Caryophyllidea) inferred from morphological characters

Phylogenetic relationships of all genera of the order Caryophyllidea, possibly the earliest branching group of true tapeworms (Platyhelminthes: Eucestoda) and the only one that is monozoic, have been assessed for the first time. Results of this cladistic analysis, inferred from 30 unweighted morphological characters, are only partly congruent with the existing classification, which consists of four families based on the position of the inner longitudinal muscles in relation to the internal genital organs. Whereas all but five genera of the Caryophyllaeidae form a monophyletic clade, members of the Capingentidae are split, occurring within six unrelated groups. The Lytocestidae is also paraphyletic, as some genera appear in four unrelated clades. Archigetes appears in a derived clade, indicating that its direct (monoxenous) life-cycle involving only tubificid oligochaetes is secondarily derived and not plesiomorphic among the Eucestoda, as postulated by some authors.