Larval competition between Aphidius ervi and Praon volucre (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae) in Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

Interspecific competition between parasitoid larvae may influence the size, structure, and stability of the population, leading to a reduction in total parasitism and thus restricting the pest control. Aphidius ervi (Haliday) and Praon volucre (Haliday) are endoparasitoids that possess a wide host range and present considerable potential for the biological control of the aphid Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas). The larval competition between A. ervi and P. volucre, and the possible intrinsic competitive superiority of one of the parasitoids in M. euphorbiae, have been studied. In single parasitism experiments, mated parasitoid females (n=10) were maintained individually in contact with M. euphorbiae hosts (n=30) inside petri dishes containing lettuce leaf discs and maintained in environmental chamber at 22 ± 1°C, 70 ± 10% RH, and 12-h photophase. The multiple parasitism experiments consisted of exposing single parasitized aphids (n=120) to the second parasitoid species. Two oviposition events were performed with a 4-h interval between them, namely the following: sequence A (oviposition by A. ervi, followed by P. volucre) and sequence B (oviposition by P. volucre, followed by A. ervi). Oviposition sequence A generated 24 A. ervi and 55 P. volucre adults, whereas oviposition sequence B generated 23 and 49 adults. P. volucre is an intrinsically superior competitor compared with A. ervi, and the use of the two species simultaneously may result in competitive exclusion and influence the stability of the parasitoid population.     

The phylogenetic problem of Huia (Amphibia: Ranidae)

A taxonomic consensus for the diverse and pan-global frog family Ranidae is lacking. A recently proposed classification of living amphibians [Frost, D.R., Grant, T., Faivovich, J., Bain, R. H., Haas, A., Haddad, C.F.B., de Sá, R.O., Channing, A., Wilkinson, M., Donnellan, S.C., Raxworthy, C.J., Campbell, J.A., Blotto, B.L., Moler, P., Drewes, R.C., Nussbaum, R.A., Lynch, J.D., Green, D.M., Wheeler, W.C., 2006. The amphibian tree of life. B. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 297, 1-370] included expansion of the Southeast Asian ranid frog genus Huia from seven to 47 species, but without having studied the type species of Huia. This study tested the monophyly of this concept of Huia by sampling the type species and putative members of Huia. Molecular phylogenetic analyses consistently recovered the type species H. cavitympanum as the sister taxon to other Bornean-endemic species in the genus Meristogenys, rendering all previously published concepts of Huia as polyphyletic. Members of Huia sensu [Frost, D.R., Grant, T., Faivovich, J., Bain, R. H., Haas, A., Haddad, C.F.B., de Sá, R.O., Channing, A., Wilkinson, M., Donnellan, S.C., Raxworthy, C.J., Campbell, J.A., Blotto, B.L., Moler, P., Drewes, R.C., Nussbaum, R.A., Lynch, J.D., Green, D.M., Wheeler, W.C., 2006. The amphibian tree of life. B. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 297, 1-370.] appear in four places within the family Ranidae. A clade containing the type species of Odorrana is phylogenetically unrelated to the type species of Huia, and Odorrana is removed from synonymy with Huia. These findings underscore the need to include relevant type species in phylogenetic studies before proposing sweeping taxonomic changes. The molecular phylogenetic analyses revealed a high degree of homoplasy in larval and adult morphology of Asian ranid frogs. Detailed studies are needed to identify morphological synapomorphies that unite members in these major clades of ranid frogs.     

STATUS, RELATIONSHIPS, AND DISTRIBUTION OF MESOPLODON BOWDOINI ANDREWS, 1908 (CETACEA: ZIPHIIDAE)

The specific status of Mesoplodon bowdoini Andrews is reviewed and new information on its morphology, reproduction, and distribution is presented. This species of beaked whale, known only from 35 specimens, has a southern, circumpolar distribution north of the Antarctic convergence, between 32° and 54°30'S. It shares with M. bahamondi Reyes, Van Waerebeek, Cárdenas and Yáñez from the south Pacific Ocean including New Zealand (this paper) and M. carlhubbsi Moore from the north Pacific, a number of morphological features such as prominential notches in the maxillary bones in the skull. It is less similar to M. stejnegeri True from the north Pacific and M. ginkgodens Nishiwaki and Kamiya from the tropical Indo-Pacific. Mesoplodon bowdoini can be distinguished from all other species of Mesoplodon by the shape of its teeth (male and female), and differences in the morphology of its skull, especially the proportions of the rostrum, separation of the nasals, the shape of the prominential notches, and the nature of the antorbital processes. The species' distinguishing external characteristics are: a robust body up to about 4.50 m long; a low melon and short, thick beak; an elevated jawline posteriorly; and a low, blunt-tipped, triangular dorsal fin. The occurrence of fetuses of M. bowdoini in May and September, and perinatal juveniles in May and June, indicates a summer-autumn breeding season in the New Zealand region; the length at birth is estimated at about 2.20 m.     

A taxonomic reevaluation of Phrynops (Testudines: Chelidae) with the description of two new genera and a new species of Batrachemys

Relationships among turtle species loosely categorized within the South American genus Phrynops are explored. Three once recognized genera (Batrachemys, Mesoclemmys and Phrynops) that were demoted to subgenera, and then synonymized with Phrynops, are demonstrated to warrant full recognition based on morphometric analysis, skull osteology, and mitochondrial and nuclear gene sequencing. Mesoclemmys is resurrected from the synonymy of Phrynops as a monotypic genus including M. gibba. The genus Rhinemys, previously a synonym of Phrynops, is resurrected for the species R. rufipes. Ranacephala gen. nov. is described to include the species R. hogei. The genus Batrachemys is resurrected from the synonymy of Phrynops and includes B. dahli, B. nasuta, B. raniceps, B. tuberculata, and B. zuliae. The taxon vanderhaegei is placed in Bufocephala gen. nov. The genus Phrynops is redefined to include the taxa P. geoffroanus, P. hilarii, P. tuberosus, and P. williamsi. Cladistic analysis of morphological data supports this taxonomy. A new species of Batrachemys is described from the western Amazon region, and is distinguished by having facial markings in juveniles, a relatively wide head, and a flattened shell. The new species, B. heliostemma sp. nov., is sympatric with and most similar to the recently resurrected form Batrachemys raniceps in the upper Amazonian region of Peru and adjacent Brazil, Ecuador, Venezuela, and Colombia. Lastly, morphometric data from living and museum specimens of all species of Batrachemys are presented.     

Verbascum eskisehirensis sp. nov. (Scrophulariaceae) from central Anatolia, Turkey

Verbascum eskisehirensis Karavel., Ocak & Ekici sp. nov. (sect. Bothrosperma Murb.) is described and illustrated from Turkey. This new species is confined to B3 Eskisehir in central Anatolia. A morphological comparison is made with the closely related species; V. oreophilum K. Koch and V. pyramidatum M. Bieb. In addition, a cluster analysis was conducted and a distribution map of the new species and the related species is also given.     

雪雀属系统发育关系的研究（雀形目：文鸟科)

雷雀属Montifringilla7种36个形态特征作为分类单元,进行支序分析。以麻雀属Passer、石雀属Petronia部分种类作为比较外群,讨论雪雀属的分类地位及其与近缘属麻雀属、石雀属系统发育关系;分析了雪雀属内种间的系统发育。支序分析的结果表明雪雀属为单系群,建议将雪雀属划分成两个亚属,讨论了雪雀属种类在进货上的位置,在3个近缘属的系统发育关系中,麻雀属类群较原始,雪雀属类群较进化,石雀属在进货中介于二之间。     

Mechanisms used by the inhabitants of a sand flat in the White Sea to colonize aggregates of Mytilus edulis Linnaeus, 1758 (Bivalvia: Mytilidae)

The colonization of artificially created aggregates of the mussel Mytilus edulis by organisms that inhabit an intertidal sand and mud flat was studied in a field experiment. The sediment of 40 experimental plots was cleared of macrofauna. Thirty of these plots were covered with fishing nets, on which either live mussels (ten plots, type M) or mussel dummies (ten plots, type D) were placed; on ten plots, the nets were left empty (type Z). The remaining ten plots without nets but with a cleared surface (type E) were the control. For comparison, samples were taken from the ambient intact community. After 16 days of exposure, the community on the plots differed from the ambient one. In the E-Z-D-M series, only 7 out of 29 taxa that were found in the samples differed significantly in abundance. Chironomid larvae, adults, and spat of M. edulis and Mya arenaria were most abundant on the plots with a hard substrate (Z, D, M). Adult Jaera sp., Oligochaeta, Littorina saxatilis, and Nemertea were more abundant on the type M plots. The abundance of spat of Macoma balthica and Hydrobia ulvae did not differ significantly. The results indicate that the biological activity of mussels M. edulis in dense assemblages facilitated immigration of adult animals of other species. The M. edulis aggregates either had no influence on the spat of mollusks or they attracted it as a hard substrate for settlement.     

Clarification of the taxonomic status and relationships of Pteridium caudatum (Dennstaedtiaceae) in Central and South America

Contemporary systematic treatments of the Central and South American bracken ferns in the genus Pteridium Gled. ex Scop. recognize morphotype caudatum as either a full species or a variety of P. aquilinum (L.) Kuhn. Geographically representative sporophytes of morphotype caudatum , including the type in the Linnaean Herbarium, are shown using spore size, guard-cell length and morphology of the cells of the false indusium to be tetraploid (based on 4 n  = 208). DNA fingerprinting of field-collected Venezuelan samples supports the generalization that morphotype caudatum is a fertile allotetraploid containing genomic elements otherwise distinctive of the southern hemisphere diploid P. arachnoideum (Kaulf.) Maxon, together with elements characteristic of northern hemisphere diploids including the North American P. aquilinum var. pubescens Underw. and P. aquilinum var. pseudocaudatum (Clute) A. Heller. Evidence of genetic isolation from taxa with overlapping distributions, as well as morphological, biochemical and ecological data, validate recognition of P. caudatum (L.) Maxon at species level. Heterogeneity observed within P. caudatum is consistent with multiple origins through independent hybridization events. Pteridium caudatum is strikingly analogous to the tropical Asian/Australasian allotetraploid P. semihastatum (N. Wallich ex J. G. Agardh) S. B. Andrews [= P. yarrabense (Domin) N. A. Wakef.].  © 2002 The Linnean Society of London . Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2002, 140 , 237−248.     

THE EVOLUTION OF GENETIC CORRELATIONS: AN ANALYSIS OF PATTERNS

The genetic correlation is a central parameter of quantitative genetics, providing a measure of the rate at which traits respond to indirect selection (i.e., selection that does not act upon the traits under study, but some other trait with which they have genes in common). In this paper, I review the pattern of variation among four combinations of traits: life history × life history (L × L), morphological × morphological (M × M), life history × morphological (L × M), and behavioral × behavioral (B × B). A few other combinations were investigated, but insufficient data were obtained for separate analysis. A total of 1798 correlations, distributed over 51 different animal and plant species, were analyzed. The analysis was conducted at two levels: first by dividing the data set solely by trait combination, and second by blocking the data by trait combination and species. Because selection will tend to fix alleles that show positive correlations with fitness traits faster than those that are negative and because the latter are expected to arise more frequently by mutation, correlations between life-history traits are predicted to be more often negative than those between morphological traits. This prediction was supported, with the ranking in decreasing proportion of negative correlations being: L × L > L × M > B × B > M × M. The mean magnitude of the genetic correlation shows little variation among morphological and life-history combinations, and the distribution of values is remarkably flat. However, the estimated standard errors and the coefficient of variation (SE/r_G) are large, making it difficult to separate biological factors influencing the pattern of dispersion from experimental error. Analysis of the phenotypic and genetic correlations suggest that for the combinations M × M and L × M, but not L × L or B × B, the phenotypic correlation is an adequate estimate of the genetic correlation.     

小刺甲属系统学研究(鞘翅目,拟步甲科)

对中国及其毗邻地区的小刺甲属Myatis Bates,1879进行了系统学研究,共记录7种,绘制了新种和已知种的特征图和的成虫照片,编制了世界小刺甲属已知种检索表,并对该属的系统进化关系进行了初步的支序分析.标本保存在河北大学博物馆.新种描述如下.     

REEXAMINATION OF PHYLOGENETIC RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THE COLONIAL VOLVOCALES (CHLOROPHYTA): AN ANALYSIS OF atpB AND rbcL GENE SEQUENCES

The chloroplast-encoded atp B gene was sequenced from 33 strains representing 28 species of the colonial Volvocales (the Volvocaceae and its relatives) to reexamine phylogenetic relationships as previously deduced by morphological data and rbc L gene sequence data.1128 base pairs in the coding regions of the atp B gene were analyzed by MP, NJ, and ML analyses. Although supported with relatively low bootstrap values (75% and 65% in the NJ and ML analyses, respectively), three anisogamous/oogamous volvocacean genera— Eudorina, Pleodorina, and Volvox, excluding the section Volvox (= Euvolvox, illegitimate name), constituted a large monophyletic group (Eudorina group). Outside the Eudorina group, a robust lineage composed of three species of Volvox sect. Volvox was resolved as in the rbc L gene trees, rejecting the hypothesis of the previous cladistic analysis based on morphological data that the genus Volvox is monophyletic. In addition, the NJ and ML trees suggested that Eudorina is a nonmonophyletic genus as inferred from the morphological data and rbc L gene sequences. Although phylogenetic status of the genus Gonium is ambiguous in the rbc L gene trees and the paraphyly of this genus is resolved in the cladistic analysis based on morphological data, the atp B gene sequence data suggest monophyly of Gonium with relatively low bootstrap values (56–61%) in the NJ and ML trees. On the basis of the combined sequence data (2256 base pairs) from atp B and rbc L genes, Gonium was resolved as a robust monophyletic genus in the NJ and ML trees (with 68–86% bootstrap values), and Eudorina elegans Ehrenberg represented a paraphyletic species positioned most basally within the Eudorina group. However, phylogenetic status and relationships of the families of the colonial Volvocales were still almost ambiguous even in the combined analysis.     

GENETIC VARIABILITY OF BRAZILIAN STRAINS OF THE MICROCYSTIS AERUGINOSA COMPLEX (CYANOBACTERIA/CYANOPHYCEAE) USING THE PHYCOCYANIN INTERGENIC SPACER AND FLANKING REGIONS (cpcBA)

The genetic and morphological variability among 15 Brazilian strains of Microcystis aeruginosa (Kütz.) Kütz. collected from four locations was examined and compared with several reference strains of M. aeruginosa , M. viridis (A. Br.) Lemm. and M. wesenbergii (Kom.) Kom. in Kondr. Brazilian strains were classified by morphological features and by comparison of the nucleotide sequences of the cpc BA intergenic spacer and flanking regions. Our results indicate that Brazilian strains classified as M. aeruginosa are phylogenetically diverse compared with reference strains of M. aeruginosa and that the current taxonomy underestimates genetic diversity within M. aeruginosa. The data also demonstrate that morphological criteria alone are inadequate to characterize Microcystis species. Although colonial characters were shown to vary considerably in culture, some genetic lineages demonstrated consistent cellular diameter ranges, indicating that cell size has value as a taxonomic character. The detection of six M. aeruginosa genotypes in a single water body indicates that morphological approaches can also seriously underestimate the diversity of Microcystis bloom populations.     

Investigation of genetic and morphological variation in the sago palm (Metroxylon sagu; Arecaceae) in Papua New Guinea

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The genetic and morphological variation in the sago palm (Metroxylon sagu, Arecaceae) in Papua New Guinea (PNG) was investigated. METHODS: Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) was used to investigate the genetic structure of 76 accessions of M. sagu, collected in seven wild and semi-wild stands in PNG. KEY RESULTS: An analysis of ten quantitative morphological variables revealed that most of these were mutually correlated. Principal component analyses of the same morphological variables showed that neither armature (presence or absence of spines) nor geographical separation was reflected clearly in the quantitative morphological variation. Similarity matrices of genetic, quantitative morphological, geographical and armature data were tested for pair-wise correlations, using Mantel's test. The results only showed a significant correlation between genetic and geographical distances. Visual inspection of principal component analyses plots and a neighbour-joining dendrogram based on genetic distances supported this trend, whereas armature showed no relation with genetic distances. CONCLUSIONS: Geographical distribution defines some weak patterns in the genetic variation, whereas the genetic variation does not reflect any patterns in the morphological variation, including armature. The present study supports the accepted taxonomy of M. sagu, recognizing only one species of M. sagu in PNG.     

Genetic characterization of the Psilotrema (Digenea: Psilostomatidae) genus by partial 28S ribosomal DNA sequences

In the present study, we successfully amplified the 28S ribosomal DNA of 3 species of the Psilotrema genus (Psilotrema oschmarini Besprozvannykh, 2007, P. acutirostris Oschmarin, 1963 and P. simillimum Muhling, 1989) from the Russian Far East. The genetic divergence between these species was estimated, and the phylogenetic relationships of the Psilotrema genus and the Psilostomatidae family were inferred. The resulting data support the independent taxonomical status of P. oschmarini as a valid species in the Russian Far East. In spite of the considerable morphological differences between P. simillimum and P. acutirostris, these species are genetically very close to each other. Genetic distances, calculated from the pairwise comparison of two obtained clusters using transversions, show that Psilostomatidae is the most divergent family. Phylogenetic analysis revealed two clusters, which corresponds to family Psilostomatidae (basal cluster) and other Echinostomatoidea species.     

Morphological comparison and DNA barcoding of four closely related species in the genera Misgurnus and Paramisgurnus (Cypriniformes: Cobitidae)

To evaluate the feasibility of morphological and genetic identification of the closely related species in the genera Misgurnus and Paramisgurnus, the morphological characters of four species in these genera and DNA barcoding of five loaches (P. dabryanus, M. anguillicaudatus, M. bipartitus, M. mohoity, and Barbatula toni) were investigated. Twelve morphological characters were measured in 542 individuals to perform the comparative analysis. Among these characters, only the caudal peduncle length (L_CP) revealed significant difference (P < 0.05) among these four species. The clustering based on morphological characters formed two clusters (P. dabryanus and M. anguillicaudatus; M. bipartitus and M. mohoity). A total of 186 COI fragments for the five loaches investigated were sequenced and analyzed. The results showed that interspecific K2P distance was much higher than intraspecific distance within the five species. Bayesian inference of phylogeny showed that individuals of these species were divided into five specific clades. Meanwhile, the COI fragments exhibited 22 character attributes for the differentiation of the five loach species based on character-based method. Our results suggested that DNA barcoding based on COI can be used as an efficient identifier of these five loach species; the combination of distance-based method, Bayesian inference and character-based approach provides higher resolution of identification at species level.     

The inheritance of morphological variation in Pileolaria pseudomilitaris (Polychaeta: Spirorbidae)

The genetic control of morphological variation (expressed as heritability) was examined by means of laboratory culture in Pileolaria pseudomilitaris. Fourteen of 22 traits examined were shown to have an appreciable genetic component, after an analysis of variance among groups of full siblings. The range of variability for several traits is as large within a single sibling group as the difference between described species in the family.
Comparisons among samples of P. pseudomilitaris from two habitats revealed no consistent morphological dillerences. A similar comparison between P. pseudomilitaris and its nearest congener, I', potswaldi , indicated significant differences for 15 of 22 traits, although ranges overlapped for all bin two of these.     

中国四种鼯鼠的头骨形态学(英文)

针对长期以来有关鼯鼠分类地位的争议,该研究基于查看、测取60号鼯鼠成体头骨(每号头骨测取26个可量性状)共计1560个数据,运用多变量、单变量分析方法,对鼯鼠属(Petaurista)中的P.yunanensis,P.philippensis,P.hainana以及P.petaurista头骨可测量数据进行了统计学分析,以探讨上述4种鼯鼠的头骨形态差异以及P.yunanensis和P.hainana的分类地位。结果显示:(1)上述可测量头骨性状在该4种鼯鼠中不存在性二型现象;(2)上述4种鼯鼠在所测量的头骨性状上两两间均存在显著差异;(3)P.philippensis与P.hainana之间的头骨形态差异程度远大于P.yunanensis与P.philippensis之间的差异。该结果在宏观统计分析水平上为上述4种鼯鼠的种地位有效性提供了佐证,与前人基于分子水平(mtDNA)的种地位有效性研究结果相似。     

褐巢蛾属分类修订(鳞翅目,巢蛾科,巢蛾亚科)

对褐巢蛾属 Metanomeuta Meyrick进行了修订,重新描述了模式种,讨论了其形态变异;记述2个新种,即岳西褐巢蛾 Metanomeuta yuexiensis sp.nov.和疏刺褐巢蛾 Metanomeutaspinisparsula sp.nov..文中提供了成虫和外生殖器特征图,给出了分种检索表及分布图.模式标本保存在南开大学昆虫标本室.岳西褐巢蛾,新种 Metanomeuta yuexiensis sp.nov.(图3,10,13)该种与金冠褐巢蛾 Metanomeuta fulvicrinis Meyrick外部相似,但可通过外生殖器特征区别:颚形突卵圆形,末端钝圆;雌性后阴片中部微凹,前阴片不明显,囊导管基部2/3具瘤突,交配囊长卵形.正模♂,安徽岳西温泉(30°52'N,116°22'E),1995-08-08,胡祥富采,外生殖器玻片号JQ07191.副模：8♂♂,1♀,安徽岳西温泉,1995-07-25～08-22,胡祥富采. 疏刺褐巢蛾,新种Metanomeuta spinisparsula sp.nov.(图4,11,14)该种与金冠褐巢蛾Metanomeuta fulvicrinis 相似,区别在于:体为深褐色,翅面无任何斑纹;雄性颚形突略呈舌状,末端突出,抱器腹除端部有一枚较大刺突外,无明显小刺或小刺束;雌性导管端片小且非杯状,囊导管仅基部1/2 具瘤突.正模♂,湖南石门县壶瓶山江坪(29°35'N,111°22'E;480m),2002-01-05,于海丽采,外生殖器玻片号JQO6091;副模1♀,采集资料同正模.     

川滇冷杉的核型分析兼论冷杉属的进化地位

本文分析了我国特产树种川滇冷杉Abies forrestii的核型,K(2n)=24=14 m+8 sin+2 st,属2B类型,染色体相对长度组成为2n=24=2 L+10 M_2+10 M_1+2 S。冷杉属植物(除川滇冷杉)的核型全由中部和近中着丝粒染色体组成,属2A类型(表2)。根据松科各属核型的比较,作者讨论了冷杉属的亲缘关系和进化地位,并得到形态学、解剖学、生化学、古植物学等的支持。