Species diversity of bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) in Iwokrama Forest, Guyana, and the Guianan subregion: implications for conservation

Fourteen species of bats are reported for the first time from Guyana (Saccopteryx gymnura, Micronycteris brachyotis, M. homezi, Lichonycteris obscura, Anoura latidens, Vampyressa pusilla, Vampyrodes caraccioli, Eptesicus chiriquinus, Cynomops paranus, Molossops neglectus, Molossus sp., Molossus coibensis, Molossus sinaloae, and Promops centralis) bringing the known bat diversity for the country to 121 species. Information including measurements, reproductive data, distribution, and taxonomy are provided for these species. Seven of these new records were collected in the Iwokrama International Rain Forest Programme site in central Guyana. Eighty-six bat species are now documented from Iwokrama Forest which is the highest species diversity for bats reported from any protected area in the world. There are, however, few tropical sites that have relatively complete inventories. A summary for bat species diversity in southern Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana indicates that at least 146 species of bats are known from the Guianan subregion. Intense inventory surveys, especially in the often neglected subcanopy, suggest that species richness is probably underestimated in most Neotropical areas. Likewise, species-level diversity in the Guianan subregion is higher than previously suggested. Surveying and monitoring biodiversity are critical to developing a National Protected Areas System in Guyana.     

Sesquiterpene lactones from Liatris acidota, L. Aspera and L. Mucronata

Examination of Liatris mucronata gave the known 15-hydroxylated heliangolides liscundin, liscunditrin, punctaliatrin and two new closely related heliangolides. Liatris acidota furnished six new similar but 15-deoxygenated heliangolides as well as euparin and 3β-acetoxytaraxaster-20-en-30-aldehyde. Liatris aspera gave a known glycosidic germacradienolide and a new germacradienolide as well as several known flavones and a known benzofuran. Structures were established by spectroscopic methods and chemical transformations.     

Eudesman-12,8β-olides and other terpenes from Artemisia species

The aerial parts of Artemisia iwayomogi afforded, in addition to already known terpenes, eleven new cudesmanolides whereas four new guaianolides were found in A. gmelinii. No sesquiterpene lactones were detected in the aerial parts of A. santolinifolia which afforded two new nerolidol derivatives besides several other already known compounds. From A. caerulescens var. cretacea six eudesmanolides were isolated, one of which has not been reported previously. The structures were elucidated by high field ¹H NMR spectroscopy and chemical transformations. The chemotaxonomic significance of sesquiterpene lactones within the section Abrotanum and the subgenus Seriphidium is briefly discussed.     

Flavonoids from Brickellia chlorolepis and B. dentata

Eleven flavonoids including three new glycosides were isolated from Brickellia chlorolepis and one new and nine known flavonoids were obtained from B. dentata. The new glycosides from B. chlorolepis are 6-methoxykaempferol 3-rhamnoglucoside, spinacetin 3-rhamnogalactoside and veronicafolin 3-rhamnoglucoside. The known compounds identified from B. chlorolepis are patuletin, casticin, artemetin, eupatolitin 3-galactoside, quercetin 3-rhamnogalactoside, rutin, isorhamnetin 3-galactoside and eupatin 3-SO₃Ca_{$\text{1}\text{2}$}. B. dentata contains the new glycoside eupalitin 3-galactoside and nine known compounds: pectolinarigenin, salvigenin, eupafolin, cirsiliol, eupatorin, eupatolitin, eupatolitin 3-glucoside, eupatolitin 3-galactoside and eupatin.     

Furanoheliangolides from two Eremanthus species and from Chresta sphaerocephala

The investigation of Eremanthus crotonoides afforded in addition to known compounds three new furanoheliangolides, while from E. glomerulatus six new furanoheliangolides and eremantholides were isolated. From the aerial parts of Chresta sphaerocephala a new guaianolide was obtained, while the roots contained known furanoheliangolides. The chemotaxonomy of the subtribe Lychnophorinae is discussed briefly.     

Labdane derivatives from hemizonia species

The investigation of three Hemizonia species afforded in addition to known compounds seven new labdane derivatives, all derived from labd-13-en-15-ol. The absolute configuration of these diterpenes was determined by degradation of the triol by periodate cleavage, which afforded a known norditerpene ketone. From H. fitchii two new chromene esters and the cis-isomer of a known coumarate were isolated. H. congesta afforded in addition to labdane derivatives a hydroxycubebol.     

Flavone C-glycosides from Coronilla varia

One new and 5 known flavone C-glycosides were isolated from leaves and stems of Coronilla varia. The new compound was shown to be isoorientin 2″-O-rhamnoside. The known compounds were isovitexin, isoorientin, isovitexin 4′-O-glucoside, isoorientin 4′-O-glucoside, and isoorientin 7-O-glucoside.     

Cytotoxic components of Zingiber zerumbet,Curcuma zedoaria and C. domestica

One new and five known compounds, which all showed cytotoxic activity, were isolated from the rhizomes of Zingiber zerumbet. The new compound was 3″,4″-O-diacetylafzelin. The known compounds were zerumbone, zerumbone epoxide, diferuloylmethane, feruloyl-p-coumaroylmethane and di-p-coumaroylmethane. Several substituted cinnamoylmethanes were synthesized and tested for cytotoxic properties. Among these were tricinnamoylmethane and triferuloylmethane. The structures were elucidated mainly by spectroscopic methods and ¹³C NMR data are given.     

11β,13-Dihydroguaianolides from Artemisia douglasiana and a thiophene acetylene from A. schmidtiana

The aerial parts of Artemisia douglasiana afforded, in addition to some known sesquiterpene lactones, 22 new closely related guaianolides. A new thiophene acetylene was isolated from the aerial parts of A. schmidtiana together with some known sesquiterpene lactones. The structures were elucidated by high field ¹H NMR spectroscopy.     

Chemical constituents from the whole plant of Liparis japonica

A new lignanoid (1), together with six known lignanoids (2–7) and four known flavonoids (8–11), were isolated from the EtOAc extract of Liparis japonica. Their structures were determined by analyzing the HRESIMS, NMR, CD spectroscopic data, and comparing with the reported literatures. Among them, 1 was a new compound, 2–11 were first isolated from L. japonica and the genus of Liparis. The chemotaxonomic significance of these isolates was comprehensively discussed.     

The genus Erechthias Meyrick of Ascension Island,including discovery of a new brachypterous species (Lepidoptera,Tineidae)

One previously named and two new species of the tineid genus Erechthias Meyrick are described and illustrated from the small, remote, mid-Atlantic Ascension Island. With these additions the Lepidoptera fauna of Ascension now totals 38 known species. Little is known regarding the biology of the two new species of Erechthias, and none of the species has been reared from larvae from Ascension. Erechthias minuscula (Walsingham) is a widespread, largely pantropical species first described from the West Indies. Larvae of Erechthias minuscula are known to be scavengers on a wide variety of dead plant material. Erechthias ascensionae,new species, is one of two species of Erechthias now known to be endemic to the island. The other endemic species, Erechthias grayi, new species, is further remarkable in having wing reduction occurring in both sexes. It is one of the few species of Lepidoptera known where this extreme of brachyptery involving both sexes has evolved. The larvae of Erechthias grayi are believed to be lichenivorous, and larval cases suspected to represent this species are illustrated.     

Flavonoid glycosides from the aerial parts of Curcuma comosa

Four new flavonoid glycosides, curcucomosides A–D (1–4), three known flavonoid glycosides, 5–7, and four known diarylheptanoids, 8–11, were isolated from the ethanol extract of the aerial parts of Curcuma comosa. The structures of the new compounds were established as rhamnazin 3-O-α-l-arabinopyranoside (1), rhamnocitrin 3-O-α-l-arabinopyranoside (2), rhamnazin 3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-O-α-l-arabinopyranoside (3), and rhamnocitrin 3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-O-α-l-arabinopyranoside (4) by spectroscopic analysis and chemical reactions whereas those of the known compounds were identified by spectral comparison with those of the reported values.     

Iridoid glucosides in Plantago alpina and P. Altissima

Two species of Plantago, namely P. Alpina and P. altissima were investigated. From the former, nine iridoid glucosides and verbascoside were isolated. Together with the known iridoids gardoside, geniposidic acid, 8-epi-loganic acid, mussaenosidic acid, aucubin, monomelittoside and melittoside, two new glucosides were found: 10-O-acetylgeniposidic acid and alpinoside, another compound with a 10-O-acetyl group. From P. altissima verbascoside and isoverbascoside were isolated together with the known iridoids gardoside, 8-epi-loganic acid, catalpol, aucubin, and hookerioside as well as the new compound desacetylhookerioside.     

Insight into the Evolution of Magnetotaxis in Magnetospirillum spp., Based on mam Gene Phylogeny

Vibrioid- to helical-shaped magnetotactic bacteria phylogenetically related to the genus Magnetospirillum were isolated in axenic cultures from a number of freshwater and brackish environments located in the southwestern United States. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, most of the new isolates represent new Magnetospirillum species or new strains of known Magnetospirillum species, while one isolate appears to represent a new genus basal to Magnetospirillum. Partial sequences of conserved mam genes, genes reported to be involved in the magnetosome and magnetosome chain formation, and form II of the ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase gene (cbbM) were determined in the new isolates and compared. The cbbM gene was chosen for comparison because it is not involved in magnetosome synthesis; it is highly conserved and is present in all but possibly one of the genomes of the magnetospirilla and the new isolates. Phylogenies based on 16S rRNA, cbbM, and mam gene sequences were reasonably congruent, indicating that the genes involved in magnetotaxis were acquired by a common ancestor of the Magnetospirillum clade. However, in one case, magnetosome genes might have been acquired through horizontal gene transfer. Our results also extend the known diversity of the Magnetospirillum group and show that they are widespread in freshwater environments.     

Two new sesquarterpenoids from the bark of Cryptomeria japonica

Two new sesquarterpenoids, i.e. ferrugicadinol A (1) and ferrugicryptomeridiol (3), and one known sesquarterpenoid, ferrugicadinol (2) were isolated from the bark of Cryptomeria japonica D. Don. Their structures were identified by extensive spectral analysis and comparison with the data of known analogues.     

Sesquiterpene lactones from Laserpitium garganicum

Besides known compounds, the roots of Laserpitium garganicum subsp. garganicum afforded a new slovanolide triester. The locations of the ester moieties were assessed by correlation with a compound of known structure.     

Neo-clerodane diterpenoids and other constituents from Baccharis species

A new neo-clerodane dilactone, desoxyarticulin, and dihydrotucumanoic acid, together with other known compounds, were isolated from Baccharis pedicellata and Baccharis marginalis. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods.     

A new sesquiterpenoid from Sclerorhachis platyrachis (Boiss.) Podlech ex Rech.f

A new eudesmane-type sesquiterpenoid together with two known flavonoids were isolated from the chloroform extract of the aerial part of Sclerorhachis platyrachis. The structure of the new compound was deduced from its comprehensive spectroscopic analysis including IR, EI-MS, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, DEPT, COSY, HMBC and HMQC and was shown to be 4R^*-hydroxy-6S^*-tigloyloxyeudesma-7S^*-11 (13)-en-12-oic acid (1). Finally, the structure of the new compound was unambiguously confirmed by single-crystal X-ray analysis. The structure of known compounds 2 and 3 were identified by comparison of their spectral data with those reported in the literature.     

Alkaloids of Toddalia asiatica (Rutaceae)

Phytochemical investigation of the alkaloidal extract of the roots of Toddalia asiatica led to the isolation of a new seco-benzophenanthridine alkaloid (1) and twelve known alkaloids (2–13). The new structure was elucidated by means of spectroscopic analysis, and the known alkaloids were identified by comparison with the literature. Among these alkaloids, 1 and 5–7 were reported from the genus Toddalia for the first time. The distribution of the isolated alkaloids at genus/family level was presented via network analysis and their chemotaxonomic significance was also discussed.     

A new species of the genus Chlorencoelia (Helotiales) from China

Chlorencoelia collections from different regions of China were examined. A new species is discovered and named as C. macrospora. The most significant features to distinguish the new species from any other known species of the genus are its very large acsi and ascospores. Three of the five known species of the genus are found from China.