The taxonomic utility of micromorphology in Lepidaploa (Vernonieae: Asteraceae)

Lepidaploa belongs to tribe Vernonieae, one of the most complex tribes of Asteraceae, and the relationships within Lepidaploa and among related genera are poorly understood. Microcharacters may be of taxonomic value and may be used in the identification of taxa at different ranks. To evaluate the reliability of microcharacters as taxonomic markers in this group, we analysed the micromorphology of phyllaries, florets and cypselae in detail in 23 species of Lepidaploa .The species were studied using stereo, light, and scanning electron microscopy. Eight trichome types (eglandular and glandular) were observed on phyllaries, florets and cypselae, in addition to crystals, idioblasts and other microstructures. The results demonstrates that the ocurrence of different combinations of trichome types and crystals, presence of a stylar basal node, idioblasts and glandular apical anther appendages are highly useful to differentiate between related species of Lepidaploa and a diagnostic key using these characters is presented. However, these characters are not of much use to distinguish between closely related genera of Vernonieae since most characters appear homeoplasic and are found in representatives of different genera.     

The Beothukis/Culmofrons problem and its bearing on Ediacaran macrofossil taxonomy: evidence from an exceptional new fossil locality

The late Ediacaran siliciclastic successions of eastern Newfoundland, Canada, are renowned for their fossils of soft‐bodied macro‐organisms, which may include some of the earliest animals. Despite the potential importance of such fossils for evolutionary understanding, the taxonomic framework within which Ediacaran macrofossils are described is not clearly defined. Rangeomorphs from a newly discovered fossil surface on the Bonavista Peninsula, Newfoundland, require us to reconsider contemporary use of morphological characters to distinguish between genera and species within Ediacaran taxa. The new surface exhibits remarkable preservational fidelity, resolving features smaller than 0.1 mm in dimension in both frondose and non‐frondose taxa. Such preservation permits the recognition of rarely observed fourth‐ and fifth‐order rangeomorph branching, offering unparalleled opportunities to investigate the fine‐scale construction of rangeomorph taxa including Culmofrons plumosa Laflamme et al., 2012. Our observations enable resolution of taxonomic issues relating to rangeomorphs, specifically overlap between the diagnoses of the frondose genera Beothukis Brasier and Antcliffe, 2009 and Culmofrons. We propose a taxonomic framework for all Ediacaran macrofossils whereby gross architecture, the presence/absence of discrete morphological characters and consideration of growth programme are used to distinguish genera, whereas morphometric or continuous characters define taxa at the species level. On the basis of its morphological characters, Culmofrons plumosa is herein synonymized to a species (Beothukis plumosa comb. nov.) within the genus Beothukis. This discussion emphasizes the need to standardize the taxonomic approach used to describe Ediacaran macrofossil taxa at both the genus and species levels, and raises important considerations for future formulation of higher‐level taxonomic groups.     

Gastric teeth of some thoracotreme crabs and their contribution to the brachyuran phylogeny

The gastric teeth of three ocypodoid species were investigated using scanning electron microscopy, and the morphological results were discussed with respect to the known food preferences. The species were chosen in particular because of contrasting ideas about their relationships within the Thoracotremata. For the genera Heloecius, Dotilla, Mictyris, and “Uca” (s. str.), we find a specific correlation of the gastric teeth with the suspension feeding. The lateral gastric teeth of Uca have no prominent lateral teeth cusps, and most of their teeth surface consists of transverse comb‐like lamellae. However, this possible food adaptation does not exclude the usability of specific teeth characters to distinguish species of suspension feeders. The closer relationship of the Dotillidae to grapsoid lines of gecarcinid or sesarmid crabs suggested by molecular data is not supported by the gastric teeth. For the genus Ucides, we found several characters that distinguish Ucides from the remaining ocypodoid genera Heloecius, Dotilla, Mictyris, and “Uca.” In particular, the structures of the lateral and the dorsomedian teeth show some similarities to genera of the Gecarcinidae and Sesarmidae. Our results suggest that foregut characters can be used for phylogenetic analyses. J. Morphol. 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Leaf epidermal character variation and evolution in Gaultherieae (Ericaceae)

The taxonomic value and evolutionary significance of 30 leaf epidermal characters from 238 samples representing 127 species of all seven genera in the tribe Gaultherieae (Ericaceae) and two outgroup genera were investigated by scanning electron microscopy. The character states were coded and optimized onto a maximum‐likelihood tree based on previous molecular data with Fitch parsimony and hierarchical Bayesian analysis to trace the evolution of character states throughout all internodes in the phylogenetic tree for Gaultherieae. Leaf epidermal characters were found to be largely consistent within species, but highly variable at interspecific and higher taxonomic levels. The most recent common ancestral states of 15 characters diagnosed various lineages recovered from prior studies, some with no prior morphological support. Relatively high frequencies of state change occur in the eastern Asian clade Gaultheria series Gymnobotrys + Diplycosia, the American clade G. subsection Dasyphyta p.p., the core East Asian clade and the Australia/New Zealand clade. The characters with the highest frequencies of state change are the outer stomatal ledge ornamentation type, the stomatal apparatus level, stomatal density and area, and the type of abaxial trichomes. These character state change patterns may provide insight into the ecological adaptions of Gaultherieae during their evolutionary history. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2015, 178 , 686–710.     

A SYNOPSIS OF THE GENERA AND SPECIES OF THE TRIBE THELEBOLEAE (= PSEUDOASCOBOLEAE)

Examination of genera of the Pseudoascoboleae (Ascomycetes, Discomycetes, Ascobolaceae) revealed that many were polytypic. Characters presently used to distinguish these genera are considered to be artificial and true relationships cut across accepted generic lines. Of the genera treated, Thecotheus and parts of Ascophanus, since their asci blue in iodine and their spores bear callose-pectic markings, are considered more closely related to the Pezizeae. Other genera are excluded from the Pseudoascoboleae because of other striking characters. Since the Pseudoascoboleae is shown to be an artificial grouping, it is proposed to abandon the name, using instead the tribe name Theleboleae, placed in the Pezizaceae rather than the Ascobolaceae, for all of those genera with asci that do not blue in iodine, with smooth, elliptical spores without oil guttules, and with eight-spored and multispored species. Four new genera are described: Iodophanus, for species of Ascophanus with iodine-positive asci; Coprotus, for segments of Ascophanus and Ryparobius; Caccobius, for species intermediate to Ascozonus and Thelebolus; and Trichobolus, for the setose members of Thelebolus. The species of Ryparobius not belonging to Coprotus are transferred to Thelebolus.     

Phylogenetic classification of the Drosophilidae Rondani (Diptera): the role of morphology in the postgenomic era

Molecular sequences now overwhelm morphology in phylogenetic inference. Nonetheless, most molecular studies are conducted on a limited number of taxa, as DNA rarely can be analysed from old museum types or fossils. During the last 20 years, more than 150 molecular studies have challenged the current phylogenetic classification of the family Drosophilidae Rondani based on morphological characters. Most studies concerned a single genus, Drosophila Fallén, and included only few representative species from 17 out of the 78 genera of the family. Therefore, these molecular studies were unable to provide an alternative classification scheme. A supermatrix analysis of seven nuclear and one mitochondrial genes (8248 bp) for 33 genera was conducted using outgroups from one calyptrate and four ephydroid families. The Bayesian phylogeny was consistent with previous molecular studies including whole genome sequences and divided the Drosophilidae into four monophyletic clades. Morphological characters, mostly male genitalia, then were compared thoroughly between the four clades and homologous character states were identified. These states were then checked for 70 genera and a revised phylogenetic, family‐group classification for the Drosophilidae is proposed. Two genera –Cladochaeta Coquillett and Diathoneura Duda – of the tribe Cladochaetini Grimaldi are transferred to the family Ephydridae. The Drosophilidae is divided into two subfamilies: Steganinae Hendel (30 genera) and Drosophilinae Rondani (43 genera). A further two genera, Apacrochaeta Duda and Sphyrnoceps de Meijere, are incertae sedis, and Palmophila Grimaldi, is synonymized with Drosophila syn.n. The Drosophilinae is subdivided into two tribes: the re‐elevated Colocasiomyini Okada (nine genera) and Drosophilini Okada. The paraphyly of the genus Drosophila was not resolved to avoid affecting the binomina of important laboratory model species; however, its subgeneric classification was revised in light of molecular and morphological data. Three subgenera, namely Chusqueophila Brncic, Phloridosa Sturtevant and Psilodorha Okada, were synonymized with the subgenus Drosophila (Drosophila) Fallén syns.n. Among the 45 species groups and 5 species complexes of Drosophila (Drosophila), 22 groups and 1 complex were transferred to the subgenus Drosophila (Siphlodora) Patterson & Mainland and 6 groups, 2 species subgroups and 3 complexes are considered incertae sedis within the genus Drosophila. Different morphological characters provide different signals at different phylogenetic scales: thoracic characters (wing venation and presternal shape) discriminate families; grasping and erection‐related characters discriminate subfamilies to tribes; whereas phallic paraphyses, i.e. auxiliary intromittent organs, discriminate genera and Drosophila subgenera. The study shows the necessity of analysing morphological characters within a molecular phylogenetic framework to translate molecular phylogenies into taxonomically‐comprehensive classifications.     

A preliminary study of oligochaetes in Poyang Lake,the largest freshwater lake of China,and its vicinity,with description of a new species of Limnodrilus

The oligochaete fauna of the largest freshwater lake of China, Poyang Lake, has never been investigated before. On the basis of a preliminary survey in the lake and its vicinity in 1997–1999, 25 species belonging to 20 genera and 5 families are recorded. Among them, one genus, Cernosvitoviella (Enchytraeidae), and two species, Bratislavia unidentata (Naididae), Potamothrix bedoti (Tubificidae), are recorded from China for the first time. Another tubificid, Limnodrilus paramblysetus sp. nov., is new to science. It is similar to L. amblysetus Brinkhurst et al., 1990 in chaetal shape but differs in having short hooded penis sheaths.     

Method for distinguishingLimnodrilus hoffmeisteri andLimnodrilus claparedeianus (Oligochaeta,Tubificidae) and its applicability in Lake Suwa

It is still next to impossible to distinguish species using immature worms of theLimnodrilus genus. A method was developed to separate mixed immature populations ofLimnodrilus hoffmeisteri andLimnodrilus claparedeianus into each species. The ratio of setal upper tooth length to lower tooth length, inL. hoffmeisteri andL. claparedeianus, ranged from 0.9 to 1.6 and from 1.3 to 2.1, respectively. Even if the median value of the frequency overlapped, this indistinguishable portion did not exceed 6% of each population.     

A quantitative method for ranking the water quality tolerances of benthic species

This method compares relative tolerances of benthic organisms to levels of water pollutants using contingency table analyses. Ratings of the pollution tolerance of benthic species may thus be more accurately assigned, improving the previously proposed biotic indices. Preliminary application of this method utilizes six species of tubificid worms of the genera Limnodrilus and Tubifex, among which several trends in water tolerance seemed to have become apparent.Based on paper presented May 12, 1978 at the Twenty-sixth Annual Meeting of the North American Benthological Society, Winnipeg, Manitoba     

A reappraisal of the family Comasteridae A. H. Clark, 1908 (Echinodermata: Grinoidea), with the description of a new subfamily and a new genus

The family Comasteridae is divided into four subfamilies on the basis of syzygy positions in the division series and proximal arm. Use of this character results in major differences in perceived relationships between genera compared with that obtained when traditional subfamilial characters are used. The primary character previously used to determine comasterid subfamilies, cirrus ornamentation, is rejected as unimportant in recognizing taxa any higher than species. Seventeen genera, including a new genus from the tropical western Atlantic, and 99 species are now recognized in the Comasteridae. Four of these genera and five species cannot be placed within the newly diagnosed subfamilies. Characters of generic importance are considered to be pinnule comb form, mouth position and, to a lesser extent, the characters traditionally used to distinguish genera.     

How many marmoset (Primates: Cebidae: Callitrichinae) genera are there? A phylogenetic analysis based on multiple morphological systems

The marmosets, tribe Callitrichini, are the most speciose clade in the subfamily Callitrichinae, containing 21 species. However, there is no consensus among molecular and morphological systematists as to how many genera should be recognized for the group. To test the morphological support for the alternative generic classifications, this study presents a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis. It is the first such analysis to include all 21 species and employ continuous and discrete osteological, pelage and tegument, karyological and vocal characters. This dataset was combined with nucleotide sequences from two mitochondrial and four nuclear regions. Separate analyses showed that, among morphological datasets, osteological characters were best at solving relationships at more inclusive levels, whilst pelage characters were most informative at the interspecific level. This suggests the presence of different transformation rates for the two character sets. When a single most parsimonious tree was obtained using the 83‐character matrix, three main clades were identified, supporting the division of the marmosets into three genera: Callithrix, Cebuella and Mico. The total evidence analysis that included an additional 3481 molecular characters corroborated most of the morphology‐based clades and also supported a three‐genus classification of the marmosets. This is the first morphological study to support an Amazonian marmoset clade (Cebuella + Mico), which is also strongly supported in exclusively molecular phylogenies, and to synonimize Callibella under Mico.     

Phylogenetic relationships of Microdontinae (Diptera: Syrphidae) based on molecular and morphological characters

The intrasubfamilial classification of Microdontinae Rondani (Diptera: Syrphidae) has been a challenge: until recently more than 300 out of more than 400 valid species names were classified in Microdon Meigen. We present phylogenetic analyses of molecular and morphological characters (both separate and combined) of Microdontinae. The morphological dataset contains 174 characters, scored for 189 taxa (9 outgroup), representing all 43 presently recognized genera and several subgenera and species groups. The molecular dataset, representing 90 ingroup species of 28 genera, comprises sequences of five partitions in total from the mitochondrial gene COI and the nuclear ribosomal genes 18S and 28S. We test the sister‐group relationship of Spheginobaccha with the other Microdontinae, attempt to elucidate phylogenetic relationships within the Microdontinae and discuss uncertainties in the classification of Microdontinae. Trees based on molecular characters alone are poorly resolved, but combined data are better resolved. Support for many deeper nodes is low, and placement of such nodes differs between parsimony and Bayesian analyses. However, Spheginobaccha is recovered as highly supported sister group in both. Both analyses agree on the early branching of Mixogaster, Schizoceratomyia, Afromicrodon and Paramicrodon. The taxonomical rank in relation to the other Syrphidae is discussed briefly. An additional analysis based on morphological characters only, including all 189 taxa, used implied weighting. A range of weighting strengths (k‐values) is applied, chosen such that values of character fit of the resulting trees are divided into regular intervals. Results of this analysis are used for discussing the phylogenetic relationships of genera unrepresented in the molecular dataset.     

Characterization of digestive carbohydrase activity in the gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata)

Six species of Phallodrilinae are reported from Hainan Island in southern China. The mesopsammic Aktedrilus yiboi sp. nov. is new to science. It is characterized by a combination of (1) small, straight, conical, strongly cuticularized penis sheaths, (2) posterior prostate glands being associated with the most ectal parts of the atria, and (3) small spermathecal ampulla. Bathydrilus ampliductus Erséus, 1997 is recorded for the first time since it was originally described from Australia's Northern Territory.     

Genera and species of Baetidae in Japan: <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nigrobaetis,Alainites, Labiobaetis</Emphasis>, and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tenuibaetis</Emphasis> n. stat. (Ephemeroptera)

We describe morphological characters of the genera Nigrobaetis, Alainites, Labiobaetis, and Tenuibaetis n. stat. and provide generic situations of six Japanese species: Nigrobaetis chocoratus n. comb., N. sacishimensis n. comb., Alainites atagonis, A. florens, A. yoshinensis, and Tenuibaetis pseudofrequentus. To evaluate the polarities of the morphological characters and the monophyly of Nigrobaetis, Alainites, Labiobaetis, and Tenuibaetis, character states of these four genera were compared with the genus Cloeon as an outgroup. Labiobaetis is considered to be a monophyletic group supported by a wide paraglossa. Tenuibaetis is a monophyletic group that is distinguishable from the related genera by robust setae with a medial ridge on the dorsomedian surface of the nymphal femur. We did not find any synapomorphic characters of Nigrobaetis or Alainites. Although we tentatively treat Nigrobaetis and Alainites as distinct genera, they are considered to be paraphyletic taxa.     

瑞香属和荛花属的数量分类研究

瑞香属和荛花属为瑞香科瑞香亚科的落叶或常绿灌木,中国西南部是瑞香属和荛花属的重要分化中心。全世界共有瑞香属95种、荛花属70种,中国分布有瑞香属52种、荛花属49种。瑞香属和荛花属的分类学研究一直存在不同程度的分歧。花盘形状和果实类型在传统分类中一直是区分瑞香属和荛花属的典型特征,而花盘形态和果实类型在2个属中存在交叉和过渡,部分植物分类学家根据这些特征将两个属进行过不同程度的归并。该研究采用数量分类法对瑞香属77种(变种)和荛花属62种(变种)植物,选取32个形态学性状进行聚类分析和主成分分析。结果表明:聚类分析和主成分分析均显示两属均未形成单系类群。在主成分分析中,前3个主成分分析的贡献值为35.56%,传统分类中用来区分两属的花盘形状、叶序及果实类型等特征对前3个主成分贡献相对较小,因此,传统分类学中对这两个属进行区分的性状并没有典型的分类学意义。同时,聚类图和主成分分析得到的散点图均不能将这两个属区分开来。数量分类研究结果显示两属植物存在明显的交叉,支持瑞香属和荛花属不是两个独立自然类群的观点。     

An investigation of the cranial evolution of Asian pitvipers (Serpentes: Crotalinae), with comments on the phylogenetic position of Peltopelor macrolepis

Guo, P., Jadin, R.C., Malhotra, A. and Li, C. 2009. An investigation of the cranial evolution of Asian pitvipers (Serpentes: Crotalinae), with comments on the phylogenetic position of Peltopelor macrolepis—Acta Zoologica (Stockholm) 91 : 402–407. We investigated the evolution of 12 cranial characters of 31 species of Asian pitvipers by examining the character state changes on a consensus tree modified from broadly consistent molecular results. We found that these characters appear stable with only one intraspecific polymorphism. Nine of the 12 characters form useful synapomorphies, whereas three are ambiguous and evolutionarily plastic. Clades that are supported with numerous apomorphies are the Trimeresurus group [consisting of the recently defined genera Trimeresurus sensu Malhotra and Thorpe (2004) , Parias, Popeia, Viridovipera, Himalayophis, and Cryptelytrops] and the genera Protobothrops, Parias, and Viridovipera. Two species previously considered as congeners but now known to be distantly related, Ovophis monticola and ‘Ovophis’okinavensis, have nearly identical character states, demonstrating substantial convergence in cranial characters. Finally, we attempt to infer the phylogenetic position of Peltopelor macrolepis by comparing its cranial features with that of other pitvipers.     

Taxonomic Study of Korean <Emphasis Type="Italic">Scirpus</Emphasis> L. s.l. (Cyperaceae) II: Pattern of Phenotypic Evolution Inferred from Molecular Phylogeny

Scirpus L. s.l. is well known as one of the polyphyletic groups in Cyperaceae. Recent molecular phylogenetic studies clearly suggested that Scirpus s.l. should be separated into several independent genera. In this study, we intend to present the morphological variations and patterns of phenotypic evolution based on molecular phylogeny of Korean Scirpus s.l. Five genera, including 21 taxa from Korean Scirpus s.l., were examined: three species of Bolboschoenus, three species of Schoenoplectus, eight species of Schoenoplectiella including one hybrid, five species of Scirpus, and two species of Trichophorum. For morphological analyses, 23 and 48 characters were selected from vegetative and reproductive organs, respectively. Molecular phylogeny was inferred from a nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer, the chloroplast rbcL gene, and the chloroplast trnL-F region. Distinct characteristics and quantitative variation was presented for identification of the five genera and their species. A pronounced pattern of morphological character change was reduction, although many other character states seem to be homoplastic. We suggest that the reduction of phenotypic characteristics has been expressed in terms of condensation of internodes, reduction of leaf blade, and simplification of inflorescence among five genera of Korean Scirpus s.l.     

Foliar architecture and anatomy of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bernardia</Emphasis> and other genera of Acalyphoideae (Euphorbiaceae)

A comparative study of leaf architecture and anatomy of 42 species of Bernardia and other genera related of Acalyphoideae was undertaken to identify characters that support infrageneric and specific delimitation. Thirty variable foliar architectural and anatomical characters were studied. Some characters are consistent (e.g., venation pattern, secondary and tertiary vein arrangement, presence or absence of agrophic veins, type of areoles, bundle sheath cell type, presence or absence of fibers in the mesophyll, trichome type, stomata location, and type of crystals), and characterize genera. In addition, foliar character distribution within Bernardia supports the most recent infrageneric classification.