Discomycetes on decayed tree fern. (3) Lachnum lanariceps and Lachnum oncospermatum new to Japan

Two species were newly identified in Japan. Lachnum lanariceps was characterized by a central and cylindrical stipe and hairs containing pale yellow pigment with red or garnet resinous matter. Lachnum oncospermatum was identified after comparison with the holotype of Dasyscyphus oncospermatis. This fungus has the characteristics of wrinkled apothecium and branched stipe.     

Cytogeographical study of four aneuploids ofCarex oxyandra Kudo in Japan

Chromosome numbers were determined for 342 clones ofCarex oxyandra collected from 35 localities in Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu, Japan. Four intraspecific aneuploids, 2n=18, 20, 24 and 26, were found. In meiotic division, only bivalent chromosomes were observed in all clones at metaphases I and II, suggesting that the aneuploids are established gamodemes. In the mitotic metaphase chromosomes, trimodal variation in chromosome length was observed. The 2n=26 clones found on Mt. Hiko had two particularly small chromosomes. The cytodemes with higher number of chromosomes are distributed in more southern areas of Japan.Carex oxyandra, therefore, accompanied with chromosome fragmentations, might spread the geographical distribution to the southern parts. The morphological characters of leaves, spikes, scales, perigynia and nuts were similar among the four cytodemes, except for the small leaves on plants from Yaku Island.     

新疆鳞网衣属地衣的初步研究

采用形态解剖、化学等传统分类方法,对新疆天山的鳞网衣属地衣进行了初步研究,发现该属的3个种,其中脑状鳞网衣（Psora cerebriformis W. A. Weber）和小红褐色鳞网衣［Psora luridella (Tuck.) Fink］是中国新记录种。文中对鳞网衣属3个种进行了详细的描述,并提供了相关彩色图片。     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Neobisium babinzub</Emphasis> sp. n. and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Neobisium tarae</Emphasis> sp. n. (Neobisiidae,Pseudoscorpiones) from the central Balkan Peninsula (Serbia)

Two new pseudoscorpion species, Neobisium babinzub sp. n., and N. tarae sp. n. (Neobisiidae, Pseudoscorpiones), were collected in soil and leaf-litter on Mt. Stara Planina and Mt. Tara, Serbia, diagnosed and thoroughly illustrated. The main morphological characteristics of the two taxa clearly demonstrate their adaptation to life in soil.     

Three new species ofCrinipellis found in Iriomote Island, southwestern Japan, and central Honshu, Japan

Three new species ofCrinipellis (Agaricales, Basidiomycetes) in Japan are described and illustrated:Crinipellis canescens sp. nov., forming small, canescent basidiomata, was found on a dead fallen twig in the subtropical laurelleaved forest of Iriomote Island (southwestern Japan);Crinipellis corvina sp. nov., forming fibrillose-strigose, puriplish black hairs enveloping the whole basidioma, was found on bark ofTorreya nucifera in Mt. Takao, Tokyo;Crinipellis nigricaulis sp. nov., having a reddish brown pileus with a minute, black papilla and a blackish stipe accompanied by blackish, branched rhizomorphs, was found on leaf litter in the lowland forest of Kanagawa.     

The earthworm genus Pleionogaster (Clitellata: Megascolecidae) in southern Luzon, Philippines

An earthworm biodiversity survey of the Philippines has yielded 14 new species of the perichaetine megascolecid genus Pleionogaster, previously known from only a few species from scattered Philippine locations. Bicol, the southern peninsula of Luzon, has intact forests on several isolated volcanic peaks and other remote areas. Collections made in these forests yielded the following new species, here presented by type location: Mt. Malinao, Pleionogaster albayensis, P. bicolensis, P. castilloi, P. malinaoensis, P. tiwiensis; Mt. Isarog, P. ffitchae, P. isarogensis; Mt. Bulusan, P. bulusanensis, P. hongi, P. sorsogonensis; Catanduanes Island, P. nautsae, P. viracensis; Caramoan Peninsula, P. caramoanensis, P. nillosae. Most of the species were found only in the neighborhood of the type locality, but P. bicolensis occurs in two locations in northern Bicol. Intraspecific variation in P. castilloi was observed between northern and southern flanks of Mt. Malinao. The importance of several previously overlooked Pleionogaster traits is demonstrated by their homogeneity within species reported here.Full article published online at http://www.senckenberg.de/odes/06-08.htm.     

Two new species of the genusMenziesia from Japan

Two species ofMenziesia, M. katsumatae andM. yakushimensis, are described as new to science. The former is characterized by having a long axis of the inflorescence with 15–20 bracts while the other species has a short axis with about ten bracts.M. katsumatae is restricted to the Hakusan range extending northward to Mt. Hōdatsuzan in the Noto Peninsula.M. yakushimensis has been considered asM. purpurea Maxim. in Kyūshū, but it is clearly distinguishable from the latter by the color and shape of the corolla and the presence of fasciculate glandular-hairs at the base of the corolla lobes. It is endemic to the higher altitudes of Yaku-shima Island, Kagoshima Prefecture.     

Geographic Microsatellite Variability in Central American Howling Monkeys

In 1997, we began to assess the genetic variability and the potential conservation risk of the increasing human impact on the howling monkeys of Ometepe Island in southern Nicaragua. We captured and collected blood from 29 howling monkeys (Alouatta palliata) at two geographically separated localities in a single area (San Ramon) on Ometepe Island, Nicaragua, during two field seasons. We also collected blood from a community of 10 Alouatta pigra in the Scotland Half Moon region in Belize. We extracted DNA from the blood and analyzed 12 microsatellite loci. The number of alleles per locus (allele variability) is less for most (but not all) loci in the Ometepe versus the Belize sample and less than earlier published reports of mixed geographic samples from Central America. The results are noteworthy in that both the Ometepe Island sample and the Belize sample possess greater allelic heterozygosity for most loci than reported in other Central American howling monkey populations. The Ometepe and Belize groups also demonstrated differences in allele frequencies at each geographic location. There appeared to be adequate gene flow in both locations despite extensive fragmentation due to agriculture and other human land usage.     

香港鹅耳枥(桦木科)的群落特征

为保护香港特有植物香港鹅耳枥,基于典型样地调查,对香港鹅耳枥所在群落进行了研究。结果表明,在225 m2的样地内,有维管植物37科66属68种。建群种为香港鹅耳枥,个体高度最高3 m,所在群落植株平均高度0.92 m,分层不明显。位于中国香港岛的香港鹅耳枥处于衰退状态,小个体极少。因此,建议采取就地保护和迁地保护措施,以重建种群。     

Addition and reexamination of Japanese species belonging to the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cercospora</Emphasis> and allied genera. VI. Four <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudocercospora</Emphasis> species from Ohshima Island,Tokyo

Four fungi belonging to the genus Pseudocercospora were collected from Ohshima Island, which has commonly been called Izu-ohshima, Tokyo. Among them, two on Helwingia japonica and on Stachyurus praecox var. matsuzakii are recognized as new species, and named P. izuohshimensis and P. hachijokibushi, respectively. Styrax japonica var. jippei-kawamurae was newly added to the host list of P. fukuokaensis. Presence of P. myrticola in Japan was reconfirmed in examining a fresh diseased material on Myrtus communis.     

Molecular variation of Spiranthes sinensis (Orchidaceae) in Japan, with special reference to systematic treatment of seasonally differentiated groups and a dwarf form, f. gracilis, from Yakushima Island

Molecular variations of Spiranthes sinensis Ames var. australis (R.Br.) H. Hara et Kitam. ex Kitam. in Japan were examined to evaluate the validity of the seasonally differentiated groups and a dwarf form of the species, which is endemic to Yakushima Island, Japan. Sequence differences in the plastid trnL-F locus clearly distinguished Japanese S. sinensis var. australis from S. sinensis var. sinensis collected from Ryukyu. In contrast, the trnL-F sequence of S. sinensis var. australis from Sabah, Malaysia, clearly differed from that of Japanese S. sinensis var. australis, suggesting genetic heterogeneity of Spiranthes sinensis var. australis in Asia. Moreover, a molecular analysis based on the sequences of nuclear ITS1 regions indicated that there are two major groups of S. sinensis var. australis in Japan, with a geographic distribution boundary on Kyushu Island. However, the trnL-F and ITS1 sequences did not support the genetic differentiation of the seasonally differentiated groups or the dwarf form from the other Japanese individuals. Based on these molecular data, the systematic treatment of physiological and morphological variations in the Japanese population of S. sinensis. var. australis is discussed.     

中国地图衣3个新记录种

在对采自新疆天山和八一林场的地图衣标本进行分类学研究时,发现3个中国新记录种—— 平茶渍地图衣(Rhizocarpon atrovirellum)、绿孢地图衣(R.furax)和黑瘤地图衣(R.simillimum)。该文对这3个种的分类学特征进行了详细描述,并提供了相关照片。     

Constant association of ophiostomatoid fungi with the bark beetle <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ips subelongatus</Emphasis> invading Japanese larch logs

Ceratocystiopsis, Ceratocystis, Grosmannia, and Ophiostoma species were isolated from Ips subelongatus and beetle-infested Japanese larch logs collected at several areas in central and northern Honshu Island, Japan, to determine constant associates of I. subelongatus. Ceratocystiopsis minuta, two species of Ceratocystis, three species of Grosmannia, and four species of Ophiostoma were isolated. Of the fungi isolated in the present study, G. laricis, O. brunneociliatum, and O. piceae were constant associates of the beetles. Ceratocystis fujiensis, Ceratocystiopsis minuta, and Ophiostoma sp. F were occasionally isolated with high frequencies of occurrence but were not consistent associates. Ceratocystis fujiensis was most often isolated as the leading fungal invasion in the sapwood of Japanese larch logs invaded by I. subelongatus, confirming that the fungus acts as a primary invader of sapwood in beetle-attacked logs. Contribution No. 221, Laboratory of Plant Parasitic Mycology, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba     

Restricted plant species on sub-Antarctic Macquarie and Heard Islands

The recent distributional history of two Macquarie Island vascular plant species, Carex trifida, Poa litorosa, and the Heard Island vascular plant, Ranunculus crassipes is examined. C. trifida is known from only one small population on the north west coast of Macquarie Island. Four populations of P. litorosa were first recorded in the 1980s; we believe however, that it was first observed, but misidentified in the 1950s. R. crassipes was first discovered on Heard Island in the late 1980s. We argue that all three species are indigenous and arrived on their respective islands within the last 200 years by natural processes, most likely from warmer neighbouring islands, where these species have more extensive distributions. There have been small-scale changes in distribution of all species, mainly expansion. Further expansion of all three species is expected as a response to warming climate. Feral rabbit grazing is having a confounding negative influence on populations of P. litorosa.     

First report of the Asian seaweed <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sargassum filicinum</Emphasis> Harvey (Fucales) in California,USA

We report the occurrence of the brown seaweed Sargassum filicinum Harvey in southern California. Sargassum filicinum is native to Japan and Korea. It is monoecious, a trait that increases its chance of establishment. In October 2003, Sargassum filicinum was collected in Long Beach Harbor. In April 2006, we discovered three populations of this species on the leeward west end of Santa Catalina Island. Many of the individuals were large, reproductive and senescent; a few were small, young but precociously reproductive. We compared the sequences of the mitochondrial cox3 gene for 6 individuals from the 3 sites at Catalina with 3 samples from 3 sites in the Seto Inland Sea, Japan region. The 9 sequences (469 bp in length) were identical. Sargassum filicinum may have been introduced through shipping to Long Beach; it may have spread to Catalina via pleasure boats from the mainland.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Codium fragile</Emphasis>: rhizomatous growth in the<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Zostera</Emphasis> thief of eastern Canada

A rhizomatous growth form of Codium fragile is described for the first time. Plants were collected in the Gulf of St. Lawrence in estuaries dominated by Zostera marina. Rhizomatous plants developed from propagules of whole plants that settled horizontally. Horizontal axes of C. fragile were up to 1 m long in plants collected in situ. Plants developed several to dozens of erect axes at right angle to the base. Horizontal growth of up to 0.2 m was found in field experiments where fragments were tied to plastic mesh and left in situ for 4 months. The unconsolidated filaments at the base of C. fragile often wrapped around the rhizomes of Z. marina and up to five separate attachment sites to eelgrass were found in single plants of C. fragile. In four estuaries, 57–100% of Codium plants with identifiable substratum were attached to shoots and rhizomes of Z. marina. The rhizomatous growth form was found in plants identified as C. fragile ssp. tomentosoides (Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island) and C. fragile ssp. atlanticum (Prince Edward Island), suggesting that this is a phenotypic response to growth in soft bottom environments.Communicated by K Lüning     

Occurrence of symbiotic turbellarians in the oyster,Crassostrea virginica

Crassostrea virginica was collected from several locations where it is cultured, both along the Northumberland Strait of New Brunswick and Malpeque Bay on the coast of Prince Edward Island. The oysters were found with two turbellarians on their gills. Urastoma cyprinae (Graff) was found in the oysters mostly during the warmer months of the year in numbers averaging as high as 50 worms per host (N = 50) and with as much as 78% of the host population infected (N = 100). Paravortex gemellipara (Linton) was also found during warmer months, but much less frequently or abundantly.Both male and female oysters were found to have U. cyprinae. No eggs or recent young of U. cyprinae were found in hosts; female-mature individuals of P. gemellipara with young were found from June through August.     

Infection rates of Borrelia burgdorferi in different instars of Ixodes ricinus ticks from the Dutch North Sea Island of Ameland

Between 1988 and 1993, a total of 7173 I. ricinus ticks, predominantly nymphs, were collected from the vegetation on the Dutch North Sea Island of Ameland. A proportion of the ticks (n=547) was screened for the presence of Borrelia by immunofluorescence. Infection rates of Borrelia varied, in nymphs (n=347) from 13% to 46% and in adults, (n=122) from 20% to 43%. The infection rate in larvae (n=84) collected in 1993 was 21%, showing that transovarial transmission of B. burgdorferi occurs in the I. ricinus population on Ameland. Two tick-naive sheep seroconverted for B. burgdorferi after field-collected adult or nymphal I. ricinus were allowed to feed on them. Larval progeny (n=168) of 15 female adult ticks fed on one of these sheep were free from B. burgdorferi. B. burgdorferi was isolated in culture from field-collected adult ticks. Serotyping using monoclonal antibodies against outer surface proteins A and C indicated that both isolates belonged to genospecies B. garinii, and this was confirmed by DraI restriction analysis of the variable DNA sequence between the 5S and 23S rRNA genes.     

海南岛宽额鳢(Channa gachua)群体遗传变异与生物地理过程

为了解海南岛宽额鳢(Channa gachua)的群体遗传分化和亲缘生物地理过程,采集了云南元江和海南岛5个水系(昌化江、陵水河、藤桥河、万泉河及南渡江)共6个种群168个宽额鳢个体,基于线粒体细胞色素b(Cyt b)基因全序列(1142 bp)对其遗传多样性和遗传分化程度进行了评估,并探讨了地质和气候等因素如何塑造了这一物种的亲缘地理结构及演化历史。基于Cyt b序列构建的系统树结果将所有个体分成两个主要谱系(A和B),谱系A包括海南岛所有种群,其中,部分昌化江个体形成独立的亚支(A2),其余个体聚为另一亚支(A1),谱系B为云南元江的全部个体,各谱系间的遗传分化指数均较高。种群历史动态分析表明,各谱系均没有发生种群扩张,但A1亚支与谱系B曾在约1万年前发生过有效种群数量减小的事件。根据研究结果推测,更新世冰期期间,北部湾因海平面下降而暴露,大陆和海南岛的水系发生接触,越南北部水系(包括元江/红河)通过一条联系雷州半岛和海南岛的古河道流入南海,因而冰期期间宽额鳢有机会从元江(红河)扩散至海南岛西南部,随后在海南岛内部,宽额鳢进一步扩散,并以五指山为种群间基因交流的重要地理障碍,各水系间种群发生基因交流和遗传分化。     

Glacial Effects on Sequence Divergence of Mitochondrial COII of Polyura eudamippus (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) in China

Sequence divergence of mitochondrial COII was analyzed in 50 specimens belonging to five subspecies of Polyura eudamippus (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) collected from southern China. There were nine haplotypes in the 405 bp of partial COII sequence. Distribution of the five subspecies was primarily consistent with the spatial distribution of haplotypes. The K _st statistic showed genetic differentiation among these subspecies, except between the pair of P. e. kuangtungensis and P. e. formosana, which were separated by the Taiwan Strait. This is consistent with the 10,000-year history of the Taiwan Strait, not long enough for detectable differentiation. The present distribution pattern of COII haplotypes of P. eudamippus should be shaped by the alteration of Pleistocene glaciations, and Yunnan might be the refugium of P. eudamippus in the ice age, judging from the abundant haplotypes remaining. There were two routes for P. eudamippus in the postglacial expansion, one northward to Sichuan, Chongqing, and Hubei and another eastward to the southeastern coast of mainland China and Taiwan Island. Because the haplotype of butterflies on Hainan Island (P. e. whiteheadi) was completely different from that of mainland China, it was estimated that butterflies on Hainan Island might be from the Indo-China Peninsula rather than from mainland China.