Late Pliocene diversity and distribution of Drynaria(Polypodiaceae) in western Yunnan explained by forest vegetation and humid climates

The palaeodiversity of flowering plants in Yunnan has been extensively interpreted from both a molecular and fossil perspective. However, for cryptogamic plants such as ferns, the palaeodiversity remains poorly known. In this study, we describe a new ferny fossil taxon, Drynaria lanpingensis sp. nov. Huang,Su et Zhou(Polypodiaceae), from the late Pliocene of northwestern Yunnan based on fragmentary frond and pinna with in situ spores. The frond is pinnatifid and the pinnae are entirely margined. The sori are arranged in one row on each side of the primary vein. The spores have a semicircular to bean-shaped equatorial view and a tuberculate surface. Taken together with previously described fossils, there are now representatives of three known fossil taxa of Drynaria from the late Pliocene of western Yunnan.These finds suggest that Drynaria diversity was considerable in the region at that time. As Drynaria is a shade-tolerant plant, growing preferably in wet conditions in the understory of forests, its extensive existence may indicate forest vegetation and humid climates in western Yunnan during the late Pliocene.This is in line with results from floristic investigations and palaeoclimatic reconstructions based on fossil floras.     

A NEW GENUS OF HIODONTIDAE FROM LUOZIGOU BASIN, EAST JILIN

<正> Manchurichthys (Saito, 1936) has been, for a long time, the only representative of fossil vertebrate known from the Oil-bearing member of Dalazi Formation, Luozigou Basin, East Jilin. Since 1978, some new materials have been collected there by the Regional Geological Brigade of Jilin Province and the present author. Two more forms of fossil fishes are not known to occur in the rocks of this section. One is Sinarnia luozigouensis (Li, 1984) which is referred to Amiiformes; the other, Yanbiania (gen. nov.), is described in this paper and included in the osteoglossomorphan family Hiodontidae.     

A revision of Clematis sect. Atragene （Ranunculaceae）

Clematis sect. Atragene is revised in this paper based on the examination of a large number of herbarium specimens, extensive field observations, and morphometric analyses. Brief taxonomic history and geographical distribution of the section are given, the relationships among the species are discussed, and the evolutionary trends of some characters in the section are evaluated. The staminodes of the plants in this section may have evolved from the outer stamens with petaloid filaments and gradually disappearing anthers. Subsequently, they may have evolved in two different ways. One possibility is that the staminodes elongate and become lanceolate, as long as sepals, and their apices turn into attenuate. The other is that the staminodes are spathulate, but not elongating, as long as stamens, and their apices turn into retuse from obtuse and rounded. The evolutionary trend of sepals may be from thin to thick in texture, and the veins from non-prominent to prominent. As a result, five new series are established and nine species, two subspecies and nine varieties （including three new ranks） are recognized in this section. An identification key is provided, and each taxon is described and illustrated. Clematis sibirica and Clematis ochotensis are treated as subspecies of Clematis alpina due to their subtle differences and lack of, or few, overlapping distributions. Clematis fusijamana and Clematisfauriei are recognized as varieties of C. alpina ssp. ochotensis for the continuous variation of the velutinous strips on the sepal margins. Clematis iliensis is treated as variety of C. alpina ssp. sibirica for the continuous variation of leaf division types. Extensive variations in sepal color and basal caruncle size support degrading Clematis chiisanensis as a variety of Clematis koreana. The North American ser. Occientales may be primitive, whereas ser. Macropetalae may be the most advanced taxon in this section. Ser. Alpinae and ser. Koreanae are closely related to each other. However, the systematic position of ser.     

Primate phylogeny: molecular evidence for a pongid clade excluding humans and a prosimian clade containing tarsiers

Unbiased readings of fossils are well known to contradict some of the popular molecular groupings among primates,particularly with regard to great apes and tarsiers.The molecular methodologies today are however flawed as they are based on a mistaken theoretical interpretation of the genetic equidistance phenomenon that originally started the field.An improved molecular method the ’slow clock’ was here developed based on the Maximum Genetic Diversity hypothesis,a more complete account of the unified changes in genotypes and phenotypes.The method makes use of only slow evolving sequences and requires no uncertain assumptions or mathematical corrections and hence is able to give definitive results.The findings indicate that humans are genetically more distant to orangutans than African apes are and separated from the pongid clade ～17.6 million years ago.Also,tarsiers are genetically closer to lorises than simian primates are.Finally,the fossil times for the radiation of mammals at the K/T boundary and for the Eutheria-Metatheria split in the Early Cretaceous were independently confirmed from molecular dating calibrated using the fossil split times of gorilla-orangutan,mouse-rat,and opossum-kangaroo.Therefore,the re-established primate phylogeny indicates a remarkable unity between molecules and fossils.     

Machine Vision Based Measurement of Dynamic Contact Angles in Microchannel Flows

When characterizing flows in miniaturized channels, the determination of the dynamic contact angle is important. By measuring the dynamic contact angle, the flow properties of the flowing liquid and the effect of material properties on the flow can be characterized. A machine vision based system to measure the contact angle of front or rear menisci of a moving liquid plug is described in this article. In this research, transparent flow channels fabricated on thermoplastic polymer and sealed with an adhesive tape are used. The transparency of the channels enables image based monitoring and measurement of flow variables, including the dynamic contact angle. It is shown that the dynamic angle can be measured from a liquid flow in a channel using the image based measurement system. An image processing algorithm has been developed in a MATLAB environment. Images are taken using a CCD camera and the channels are illuminated using a custom made ring light. Two fitting methods, a circle and two parabolas, are experimented and the results are compared in the measurement of the dynamic contact angles.     

Fast and Robust Stereo Vision Algorithm for Obstacle Detection

Binocular computer vision is based on bionics, after the calibration through the camera head by double-exposure image synchronization, access to the calculation of two-dimensional image pixels of the three-dimensional depth information. In this paper, a fast and robust stereo vision algorithm is described to perform in-vehicle obstacles detection and characterization. The stereo algorithm which provides a suitable representation of the geometric content of the road scene is described, and an in-vehicle embedded system is presented. We present the way in which the algorithm is used, and then report experiments on real situations which show that our solution is accurate, reliable and efficient. In particular, both processes are fast, generic, robust to noise and bad conditions, and work even with partial occlusion.     

THE SKULL OF HAPALODECTES (?ACREODI, MAMMALIA), WITH NOTES ON SOME CHINESE PALEOCENE MESONYCHIDS

<正> Hapalodectes has long been considered as a small mesonychid specialized toward a carnivorous and piscivorous mode of life. Its rare fossil record was known from the early Eocene of North America and middle and upper Eocene of Asia. Knowledge of this genus is still restricted to two species based mainly on some fragmentary materials.A part of the right mandible of the type species, H. leptognathus, was first described by Osborn and Wortman (1892), but was referred by them to Dissacus, and renamed as Hapalodectes by Matthew (1909). Szalay and Gould (1966) erected a new subfamily, Hapalodectinae, and then all known material were restudied by the former author (Szalay, 1969). No additional material of the genus has been reported since then.The newly discovered specimens described in this paper are the first, and so far the only, cranial evidence of Hapalodectes. The fossils were collected from early Eocene (Ling-cha Formation), Hengdong, Hunan, during two field seasons of 1982-1983. The purpose of the present paper is to place on record the morphology of this well-preserved cranial material and to discuss briefly its significance, it is hoped that the information about the cranial morphology of Hapalodectes will increase our understanding of its relationship with Mesonychidae.We are indebted to Drs. Everett H. Lindsay and Chow Minchen for correcting English summary. We would like to express our gratitude to Dr. Malcolm C. McKenna for his valuable comments and correcting English summary and the facilitating the casts of the type species of Hapalodectes at the American Museum of Natural History. Ms. Ann Bleefield and Meng jin help us to get the casts, Zhai R. j. and Qi T. lend us unpublished material for the comparison, all the photographs are taken by Wang J. f. and figures are drawn by shen W. L., we thank all of them for their kind help.     

Molecular recognition by gold, silver and copper nanoparticles

The intrinsic physical properties of the noble metal nanoparticles,which are highly sensitive to the nature of their local molecular environment,make such systems ideal for the detection of molecular recognition events.The current review describes the state of the art concerning molecular recognition of Noble metal nanoparticles.In the first part the preparation of such nanoparticles is discussed along with methods of capping and stabilization.A brief discussion of the three common methods of functionalization:Electrostatic adsorption;Chemisorption;Affinity-based coordination is given.In the second section a discussion of the optical and electrical properties of nanoparticles is given to aid the reader in understanding the use of such properties in molecular recognition.In the main section the various types of capping agents for molecular recognition;nucleic acid coatings,protein coatings and molecules from the family of supramolecular chemistry are described along with their numerous applications.Emphasis for the nucleic acids is on complementary oligonucleotide and aptamer recognition.For the proteins the recognition properties of antibodies form the core of the section.With respect to the supramolecular systems the cyclodextrins,calix[n]arenes,dendrimers,crown ethers and the cucurbitales are treated in depth.Finally a short section deals with the possible toxicity of the nanoparticles,a concern in public health.     

NEW FOSSIL CROCODILES FROM CHINA

Since the publication of my paper on fossil crocodiles in 1948,our knowledge con-cerning this group is considerably increased and many new forms have been described byYoung and Chow(1953),Bohlin,(1953),Sun(1958),Yeh(1958),Young(1961)and Liu(1961).Recently,some tolerably well preserved crocodiles with rich remains of copro-lites have been discovered from Nanhsiung in N.Kwangtung.This is particularly in-teresting because it is most probably of paleocene in age,according to the mammalianremains found from the same horizon.In addition a fragment of skull was found bythe Bureau of Geology of Inner Mongolia from Otok S.W.of this territory,of lowerCretaceous,according to field observation.They are described in the present notes.     

PONTIAN MAMMALS OF WENQUAN,SINKIANG

Some mammalian fossils collected by the authors in Autumn of 1963 from thewestern part of Zungarica Basin in Sinkiang are described in the present notes.Thelocality lies in the extreme west of Zungarica Basin at Ta-ku-sze-tai valley of Wenquandistrict on the southern side of the Altao Mountains,and it is the first Tertiary localityin Sinkiang represented by a mammalian assemblage,the stratigraphic occurrence ofwhich is known.The fossils are rather well preserved and occur in a clay“pocket”intercalated as a lens in a series of sandstones,marls and conglomerates.The age ofthe fossil bearing Tertiary beds at Ta-ku-sze-tai is Early Pliocene as characterized bythe presence of Gazella dorcadoides,Indarctos sinensis and?Lycyaena dubia,which arethe common elements of Hipparion fauna in North China.     

Predating strategy of rodents on acorns of Quercusaliena var. acuteserrata under different predating risks and fate of acorns

The effects of rodents on forest regeneration have been highlighted in many ecological studies. In 2002 and 2003, the acorns of Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata were subjected to 12 different treatments. The daily dynamics and the amount of acorns that were finally left intact, predated in situ, or removed off were examined and documented. The ratios of acorns that were infested by bugs before and after predation by rodents were carefully documented. It was found that: (1) the ratios of acorns infested by bugs before and after predation by rodents showed significant difference (P > 0.05), suggesting that rodents would not prey on acorns during the predating process if acorns had been already infested by bugs. (2) When compared with the controls, the fate of acorns could be roughly classified into four types: acorns that were simply buried or placed on black paper showed no significant differences with the controls in their response to rodents, suggesting that rodents have no sensitivity to the little change of odor resulting from burying and may be more adapted to black background. Acorns attached with strings, dyed with black ink, cut into halves, or placed on white/green/red paper were predated in situ with much lower predation rates and lasted the same duration. Compared with the controls, the acorns were removed away by rodents with the same first day rate and the removal lasted longer. The final removal rate of the acorns by rodents was increased, whereas that of predation in situ was decreased, and none were left in the spot. This may suggest that rodents in this case increased their predation risk expectation and adopted a strategy of “less predation proportion in situ”. Acorns that were burnt were not predated in situ as well as removed in the first day, but the rates were raised to the maximum in the forth and fifth day and then declined to zero. Consequently, the final ratios of predation in situ and removal considerably decreased with many acorns, nearly 50%, being left intact. It can be hypothesized that the rodents responded to the change in odor of acorns by using the strategies of “less predation proportion in situ” and “less predating activities”, thereby resulting in larger number of acorns remained intact. Acorns that were enwrapped were barely predated in situ, removed in the first day with a normal predation rate, which declined to nearly zero in the second day and then increased till it declined again from the fourth day to the final day. The final rate of predation in situ was lower than 5% without acorns remained intact, and the rate of removal of acorns showed a considerable relative increase. This suggests that when there was a change in both odor and status of acorns, rodents also adopted the “spying” and “less predation proportion in situ” strategy, Because the predation risk is critical, the sense of sight would play an important role in rodent's living. (3) Definite amounts of acorns were predated in situ, discarded, removed away, predated ex situ, lost and hoarded separately.     

Predating strategy of rodents on acorns of Quercusaliena var. acuteserrata under different predating risks and fate of acorns

The effects of rodents on forest regeneration have been highlighted in many ecological studies. In 2002 and 2003, the acorns of Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata were subjected to 12 different treatments. The daily dynamics and the amount of acorns that were finally left intact, predated in situ, or removed off were examined and documented. The ratios of acorns that were infested by bugs before and after predation by rodents were carefully documented. It was found that: (1) the ratios of acorns infested by bugs before and after predation by rodents showed significant difference (P > 0.05), suggesting that rodents would not prey on acorns during the predating process if acorns had been already infested by bugs. (2) When compared with the controls, the fate of acorns could be roughly classified into four types: acorns that were simply buried or placed on black paper showed no significant differences with the controls in their response to rodents, suggesting that rodents have no sensitivity to the little change of odor resulting from burying and may be more adapted to black background. Acorns attached with strings, dyed with black ink, cut into halves, or placed on white/green/red paper were predated in situ with much lower predation rates and lasted the same duration. Compared with the controls, the acorns were removed away by rodents with the same first day rate and the removal lasted longer. The final removal rate of the acorns by rodents was increased, whereas that of predation in situ was decreased, and none were left in the spot. This may suggest that rodents in this case increased their predation risk expectation and adopted a strategy of “less predation proportion in situ”. Acorns that were burnt were not predated in situ as well as removed in the first day, but the rates were raised to the maximum in the forth and fifth day and then declined to zero. Consequently, the final ratios of predation in situ and removal considerably decreased with many acorns, nearly 50%, being left intact. It can be hypothesized that the rodents responded to the change in odor of acorns by using the strategies of “less predation proportion in situ” and “less predating activities”, thereby resulting in larger number of acorns remained intact. Acorns that were enwrapped were barely predated in situ, removed in the first day with a normal predation rate, which declined to nearly zero in the second day and then increased till it declined again from the fourth day to the final day. The final rate of predation in situ was lower than 5% without acorns remained intact, and the rate of removal of acorns showed a considerable relative increase. This suggests that when there was a change in both odor and status of acorns, rodents also adopted the “spying” and “less predation proportion in situ” strategy, Because the predation risk is critical, the sense of sight would play an important role in rodent's living. (3) Definite amounts of acorns were predated in situ, discarded, removed away, predated ex situ, lost and hoarded separately.     

Male spike strobiles with Gnetum affinity from the Early Cretaceous in western Liaoning,Northeast China

A fossil with Gnetum affinity was found in the Jianshangou Member （Barremian Age） of the Yixian Formation （Lower Cretaceous Epoch） of the Jehol Group in western Liaoning, northeastern China. The single fossil specimen is represented by both elongate-cylindrical male spike strobiles which borne within a nodal bract of cauliflorous branch. The spike strobiles have apparent nodes, invisible internodes, and numerous verticillate involucral collars. The microsporangiate units within involucral collars are not seen. The male spike strobiles with verticillate involucral collars occur exclusively in Gnetum; hence, the fossil strobiles are attributed to a new taxon, Khitania columnispicata gen. ＆ sp. nov., being closely related to Gnetum. The general isotopic dating suggests an age of Barremian, ca. 125-122 million years （Myr） ago for the Jianshangou Member. The palaeoecological and palaeoclimatic inference based on the compositions of flora and fauna, and lithological characters of the fossil locality suggests that the fossil plants grew in a subtropical mesophytic forest and under a warmer climate. The remains of male spike strobiles are the first record of gnetalean macrofossil. It documents the evolution of the distinct gnetoid morphology and indicates a wider range of distribution of Gnetaceae in the Early Cretaceous than present day.     

The earliest Timematids in Burmese amber reveal diverse tarsal pads of stick insects in the mid‐Cretaceous

Many extant insects have developed pad structures, euplantulae or arolia on their tarsi to increase friction or enhance adhesion for better mobility. Many polyneopteran insects with euplantulae, for example, Grylloblattodea, Mantophasmatodea and Orthoptera, have been described from the Mesozoic. However, the origin and evolution of stick insects' euplantulae are poorly understood due to rare fossil records. Here, we report the earliest fossil records of Timematodea hitherto, Tumefactipes prolongates gen. et sp. nov. and Granosicorpes Urates gen. et sp. nov., based on three specimens from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. Specimens of Tumefactipes prolongates gen. et sp. nov. have extremely specialized and expanded euplantulae on their tarsomere II. These new findings are the first known and the earliest fossil records about euplantula structure within Phasmatodea, demonstrating the diversity of euplantulae in Polyneoptera during the Mesozoic. Such tarsal pads might have increased friction and helped these mid-Cretaceous stick insects to climb more firmly on various surfaces, such as broad leaves, wetted tree branches or ground. These specimens provide more morphological data for us to understand the relationships of Timematodea, Euphasmatodea, Orthoptera and Embioptera, suggesting that Timematodea might be monophyletic with Euphasmatodea rather than Embioptera and Phasmatodea should have a closer relationship with Orthoptera rather than Embioptera.     

Musa chunii Hakkinen,a new species （Musaceae） from Yunnan,China and taxonomic identity of Musa rubra

The center of diversity of the genus Musa （Musaceae） is in Southeast Asia, a region not studied in detail and where new species and varieties continue to be reported. A new wild banana species, M. chunii Hakkinen from Yunnan, China is described and illustrated based on observed morphological characteristics in the field. This extremely rare new species was only found in Tongbiguan Nature Reserve, Dehong District, West Yunnan. A key to M. chunii and related taxa is provided. In addition, critical notes regarding M. rubra Kurz identity are given.     

Conifer Woods of the Pliocene Age from Yunnan, China

The Tertiary floras play an integral role in understanding the biodiversity and interactions between climate and vegetation in Yunnan, China. The fossil spores, pollen grains, and leaves in this region have been investiaged intensively. In comparison, the woods have been studied relatively little. A large number of Pliocene wood specimens was collected from the opencast lignite coal mine of Hongxing situated in Changning County of Yunnan Province. Among the collection, Tsuga cf. dumosa (D. Don) Eichler and Pinus cf. armandii Franchet were identified based on wood structures. The subtle feature oftori extensions is reported in the wood of T. cf. dumosa. Considering the climatic requirements of modern T. dumosa and P.armandii, the two species of conifer described from Pliocene sediments probably grew in mountainous terrain at an elevation of approximately 2 300 m, in a cool and humid environment.     

青海特蚋亚属一新种(双翅目:蚋科)

Simulium (Tetisimulium) xiaodaoense sp. nov. is described based on the female specimens collected from Qinghai, China. This species is assigned to the subgenus Tetisimulium, and is closely related to S. (T.) tachengense An and Mahe, 1994 and S. (T.) wutaishanense An and Yan, 2003. However, it is clearly differentiated from them by the structure of gonapophyses, genital fork, genital plate, paraproct and cercus of the female. All the specimens are kept in the Medical Entomology Collection Gallery, Academy of Military Sciences, Beijing.     

A NEW SPECIES OF ALLIGATOR FROM SHANWANG, SHANDONG

<正> A crocodilian specimen is described and identified, as a new species of Alligalor in present paper. The material was collected from the Middle Member of the Shanwang Formation, Linqu County, Shandong Province by the members of the Linqu Paleontological Museum in 1984. Nearly 40 taxa of fossil vertebrates, including fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals, have been reproted from this Miocene locality since 1930's (Yian et al. 1983, Qiu et al. 1986). Within the vertebrate fauna the fossil mammals and fishes are very rich, but the other are relatively rare. This is the first record of a crocodilan from the diatomaceous quarry of Shanwang.     

DESCRIPTIONS OF FIVE NEW SPECIES OF MEGAPHRAGMA AND PARAMEGAPHRAGMA GEN. NOV. (HYMENOPTERA: TRICHOGRAMMATIDAE) FROM CHINA

This is the fourth part of a series of papers on Chinese Trichogrammatidae. 3 newspecies of the genus Megaphragma Timberlake and 2 new species of an allied new genusParamegaphragma (gen. nov.) are described. A key to 3 species of Megaphragma is pre-pared. All the type specimens are mounted on slides and deposited in the Biological con-trol Research Institute, Fujian Agricultural College.