Systenostrema alba Larsson 1988 (Microsporidia, Thelohaniidae) in the Dragonfly Aeshna viridis (Odonata, Aeshnidae) from South Siberia: morphology and molecular characterization

An octospore microsporidium was found in the nymphs of Aeshna viridis, collected in intermittent streams near Novosibirsk, Siberia, Russia in 2003. Spores were uninucleate and measured 6.1+/-0.07 x 3.0+/-0.04 microm on fresh smears. The polar filament was anisofilar having 10-11 anterior coils (thicker filament diam.) and 10-11 posterior (thinner filament diam.) coils. Sporophorous vesicles were persistent and measured 12.3+/-0.23 x 11.9+/-0.20 microm. The infection was restricted to the adipose tissue and caused the formation of whitish "cysts" containing mature octospores. Based on ultrastructural similarity we consider this Siberian isolate to be Systenostrema alba, a species described from Aeshna grandis collected in Sweden (Larsson 1988). Maximum likelihood, neighbor joining, and maximum parsimony analyses of the small subunit rDNA all placed Systenostrema alba (Accession no. AY953292) as the sister taxon to a clade consisting of Thelohania solenopsae, Tubulinosema ratisbonensis, and Tubulinosema acridophagus.     

Transfer of Nosema locustae (Microsporidia) to Antonospora locustae n. comb. based on molecular and ultrastructural data

Nosema locustae is a microsporidian parasite of grasshopper pests that is used as a biological control agent, and is one of the emerging model systems for microsporidia. Due largely to its diplokaryotic nuclei, N. locustae has been classified in the genus Nosema, a large genus with members that infect a wide variety of insects. However, some molecular studies have cast doubt on the validity of certain Nosema species, and on the taxonomic position of N. locustae. To clarify the affinities of this important insect parasite we sequenced part of the rRNA operon of N. locustae and conducted a phylogenetic analysis using the complete small subunit rRNA gene. Nosema locustae is only distantly related to the nominotypic N. bombycis, and is instead closely related to Antonospora scoticae, a recently described parasite of bees. We examined the ultrastructure of mature N. locustae spores, and found the spore wall to differ from true Nosema species in having a multi-layered exospore resembling that of Antonospora (one of the distinguishing features of that genus). Based on both molecular and morphological evidence, therefore, we propose transferring N. locustae to the genus Antonospora, as Antonospora locustae n. comb.     

Increasing the number of molecular markers resolves the phylogenetic relationship of ‘Cepaea’ vindobonensis (Pfeiffer 1828) with Caucasotachea Boettger 1909 (Gastropoda: Pulmonata: Helicidae)

‘Cepaea’ vindobonensis has been shown to be closely related to Caucasotachea in recent molecular studies. The phylogenetic relationships within this clade and especially the phylogenetic position of ‘Cepaea’ vindobonensis were, however, not well resolved. Our phylogenetic analyses on the basis of an increased number of molecular genetic loci from the mitochondrial and nuclear genomes unambiguously demonstrate that ‘Cepaea’ vindobonensis represents the sister group of the Caucasotachea taxa, with C. leucoranea from the Caspian region of Azerbaijan and Iran being the sister species of the remaining Caucasian and eastern Pontic Caucasotachea species. We argue for the inclusion of ‘Cepaea’ vindobonensis in Caucasotachea rather than for a re‐erection of a monotypic genus Austrotachea for the species because of the overall low degree of morphological differentiation and the low number of species in the group.     

Evolutionary trends in Tetrastigma (Vitaceae): Morphological diversity and taxonomic implications

Tetrastigma (Miq.) Planch. (Vitaceae) is a genus with ca. 100 species showing great morphological diversity. Previous molecular phylogenetic studies suggested that traditional classification systems are not consistent with the molecular phylogeny, and Tetrastigma is undergoing further systematic investigation. We traced the evolutionary trends of 20 morphological characters within a robust phylogenetic framework. Our results revealed that many morphological characters show either multiple transitions or few state changes, however, some characters show distinct variation. The two subgenera in Tetrastigma (subgen. Tetrastigma and subgen. Palmicirrata) based on unbranched/bifurcate versus digitately branched tendrils are not supported because subgen. Tetrastigma is paraphyletic. However, the unbranched versus bifurcate/digitately branched tendril is of taxonomic utility to characterize some of the major clades. Inflorescences in Tetrastigma appear axillary, but are leaf‐opposed on a compressed axillary shoot. We found most of the species in Tetrastigma retained the ancestral compound dichasial inflorescence, except those of clade IV that have derived pseudo‐umbellate inflorescences. Other characters including habit, leaf organization, and berry shape provide additional morphological support for the major clades. Our morphological analysis and recent molecular study suggest each of the five major clades within Tetrastigma be treated as distinct taxonomic sections (five sections in the genus).     

A combined morphological and molecular phylogenetic analysis of Parthenocissus (Vitaceae) and taxonomic implications

Parthenocissus (the Virginia creeper genus, Vitaceae) consists of 13 species and shows a disjunct distribution between Asia and North America. We investigated the inflorescence structure, calyx morphology, appendages on the inner side of petals, leaf epidermis, pollen and seed characters throughout the genus. A combined phylogenetic analysis with 27 morphological and 4137 molecular characters was conducted and the result was largely congruent with that of the previous molecular work, but with higher resolution. The combined analysis identified two clades corresponding to the Asian and North American taxa. Parthenocissus feddei was resolved as closely related to the clade containing P. cuspidifera, P. heterophylla and P. semicordata. The four species share synapomorphies of having conspicuously raised veinlets, an obscurely five‐ (to eight‐) lobed calyx, appendages on the inner side of petals covering the entire length of anthers and foveolate pollen exine ornamentation. Within the Old World clade, the pentafoliolate species were weakly supported as more closely related to species with both simple and trifoliolate leaves. Furthermore, the ancestral states of tendril apices, inflorescence structure, appendages on the inner side of petals and exine ornamentation of pollen grains were reconstructed on the molecular strict consensus tree. The appendages on the inner side of petals and exine ornamentation of pollen grains were suggested to be important characters in the taxonomy of Parthenocissus, especially for species with trifoliolate leaves. Finally, the previous classifications of Parthenocissus were evaluated within the phylogenetic framework. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, ?? , ??–??.     

Taxonomic revision of Dictyochales (Dictyochophyceae) based on morphological,ultrastructural, biochemical and molecular data

The taxonomy of the siliceous members of Dictyochales has been based exclusively on the structure of their silica skeletons. In this study, other morphological, ultrastructural, pigment and molecular characters, in addition to the silica skeletons, were used in the systematics of the siliceous members of this group. As very little is known about the ultrastructure of Dictyocha octonaria, cells of both the skeleton‐bearing and naked forms were also studied. A cladistic analysis based on morphological data and a molecular phylogeny based on nuclear coded small subunit ribosomal DNA retrieved a well‐supported monophyletic Dictyochales. D. octonaria and D. speculum were resolved together with strong support. There was no support for a clade for the three species currently placed in Dictyocha; D. fibula is clearly distinct from the other two Dictyocha taxa, D. speculum and D. octonaria. It is highly likely there are two or three undescribed species within D. octonaria/D. speculum clade and two undescribed genera within the Dictyochales, based on the positions of sequences from uncultured eukaryotes present in GenBank. These findings necessitate a taxonomic revision of the three siliceous, skeleton‐bearing species. Because D. fibula is the type species of Dictyocha, we propose that D. octonaria and D. speculum be reassigned respectively to the genus Octactis as O. octonaria Hovasse and O. speculum (Ehrenberg) F. H. Chang, J. M. Grieve & J. E. Sutherland, comb. nov.     

The Parvidrilidae – a diversified groundwater family: description of six new species from southern Europe,and clues for its phylogenetic position within Clitellata (Annelida)

The Parvidrilidae Erséus, 1999 constitute the most recently described family of oligochaete microdriles. Prior to this study, Parvidrilus strayeri Erséus, 1999, and Parvidrilus spelaeus Martínez‐Ansemil, Sambugar & Giani, 2002, found in groundwaters of the USA (Alabama) and Europe (Slovenia and Italy), respectively, were the only two species in this family. In this paper, six new species – Parvidrilus camachoi , Parvidrilus gianii , Parvidrilus jugeti , Parvidrilus meyssonnieri , Parvidrilus stochi , and Parvidrilus tomasini – and Parvidrilus gineti (Juget, 1959) comb. nov. are added to the family. With all species being stygobiont, the Parvidrilidae is unique in being the only family of oligochaetes worldwide comprising taxa that are restricted to groundwater habitats. Parvidrilids are exceedingly small worms whose principal morphological characteristics are the presence of hair setae in ventral bundles, the markedly posterior position of setae within the segments, the presence of mid‐dorsal glandular pouches in mesosomial segments, the lateral development of the clitellum, the presence of a single male pore in segment XII, and the presence (or absence) of a single spermatheca. The phylogenetic relationships of the Parvidrilidae within the Clitellata were investigated using the nuclear 18S rRNA gene, and the most representative and taxonomically balanced data set of clitellate families available to date. The data were analysed by parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian inference. Irrespective of the method used, Parvidrilidae were placed far from Capilloventridae, one family once suggested to be closely related to parvidrilids. Although closer to Enchytraeidae than Phreodrilidae, two other suggested putative sister families, the exact position of Parvidrilidae within Clitellata still remained uncertain in the absence of branch support. The examination of reproductive structures, together with the similarity of other important anatomical traits of the new species herein described, reinforced the idea that phreodrilids were the best candidate to be the sister group to parvidrilids on morphological grounds. A fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene, used as a barcode, also genetically characterized a few Parvidrilus species. The observation that two species diverge from each other by high genetic distances, even though their type localities are more or less only 100 km apart, is interpreted in the context of low dispersal abilities of inhabitants of the subterranean aquatic ecosystem, and habitat heterogeneity. The Parvidrilidae appear to be a diversified, Holarctic, and probably widely distributed family in groundwater, but very often overlooked because of the small size and external similarity with the polychaete family Aeolosomatidae of its members. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, 166 , 530–558.     

基于线粒体COI基因的大蚊属Tipula系统发育及长角大蚊亚属Tipula (Sivatipula)分类地位初步研究(双翅目:大蚊总科)

大蚊属Tipula Linnaeus,1758是大蚊科中种类最多的属,目前其单系性尚未得到全面验证.此外,长角大蚊亚属Tipula (Sivatipula) Alexander,1964因其极长的触角以及独有的精子泵结构,明显不同于大蚊属其他亚属,使其亚属的分类地位存在争议.本研究基于COI序列对19个大蚊属物种及5个其他属物种进行了系统发育分析,并计算了物种间的遗传距离.研究结果表明:(1)邻接树(NJ)和最大似然树(ML)均显示长角大蚊亚属与大蚊属其他亚属未形成单系,大蚊属的单系性没有得到支持;(2)基于遗传距离和系统发育分析并结合形态信息,结果显示长角大蚊亚属独立于大蚊属内其他亚属,应将其提升为属级分类单元.     

大白蚁属Macrotermes分子研究进展

大白蚁属Macrotermes是等翅目白蚁科大白蚁亚科(Isoptera: Termitidae: Macrotermitinae)中的一类高等培菌白蚁。本文综述了1996年来有关大白蚁属分子研究的文章,提供了截止目前大白蚁属Macrotermes 生物学信息,并分析了目前大白蚁属的分子研究现状,含等翅目系统关系,大白蚁属种间关系,大白蚁拟工蚁与食性演变,大白蚁属与其共生菌关系,及其分子研究的发展方向,特别是中国大白蚁属分子研究现状。     

Phylogenetic relationships of Pterocarya (Juglandaceae) with an emphasis on the taxonomic status of Iranian populations using ITS and trnH-psbA sequence data

Pterocarya fraxinifolia (Lam.) Spach., a relict tree species of the Juglandaceae family, is native to the Great Caucasus, Anatolia, and to the Hyrcanian forests of the southern Azerbaijan and Northern Iran. In this study, the phylogenetic relationship of the species, sampled in selected Iranian populations, and the global biogeography of the genus Pterocarya were addressed. Leaves were collected from 8 to 10 trees from three geographically isolated habitats. The samples were analyzed with nuclear (internal transcribed spacer [ITS] regions) and chloroplast (trnH-psbA) DNA markers. The obtained results were compared and analyzed with the data registered in NCBI GenBank. It is reported that the ITS regions varied from 644 to 652 for Pterocarya genus, but we did not observe polymorphisms for Iranian Pterocarya. The phylogenetic tree divided the Pterocarya genus in three clades: clade 1 grouping exclusively the samples P. fraxinifolia, clearly separated from the East Asiatic taxa; clade 2 that includes the species P. hupehensis and P. macroptera; clade 3 clustering P. stenoptera and P. tonkinensis. Although the Iranian Pterocarya samples and P. fraxinifolia from the Caucasus were in the same clade, they presented two different secondary structures. The Iranian populations showed the maximum genetic distance with P. stenoptera and P. tonkinensis. Our analysis demonstrates that the traditional division of all the six species sampled throughout their distribution area as well as the phylogeny of the genus Pterocarya needs to be reviewed.     

A review of recent taxonomic concepts and developments in the Gracilariaceae (Rhodophyta)

Despite much effort in the past decade to resolve the taxonomy of algae in the Gracilariaceae, the family remains problematic. Genetic concepts have become equivocal as their diagnostic reproductive features have been reported as mixed in single species. Species concepts are often also uncertain since the full phenotypic range of a species is seldom known or appreciated. This paper reviews some of the recent taxonomic controversy from the viewpoints of morphology and molecular biology. As more observations are made, features like spermatangial configuration and mode of gonimoblast nutrition, once considered characteristic of genera and subgenera, are emerging as a continuum of types that may vary within species. Culture studies to establish the reproductive anatomy of a life history and to test crossabilities are invaluable to species concepts but also may yield false results owing to clonal variability and intraspecific sterility. Characteristics of DNA have been effective in clarifying some aspects of gracilariacean taxonomy and phylogeny, and may be able to resolve the major inconsistencies if more widely applied. NRCC 38089     

Molecular phylogenetic relationships reveal taxonomic and biogeographic clades in Dianella (flax lilies; Asphodelaceae,Hemerocallidoideae)

A phylogeny of Dianella is presented based on Bayesian and maximum parsimony analyses of a combined molecular data set using three chloroplast markers (trnQ^UUG–5'rps16, 3'rps16–5'trnK^(UUU) and rpl14–rps8–infA–rpl36) and two nuclear markers (ITS and ETS). Accessions included most Dianella species, including all species from Australia, the centre of diversity for the genus, and related outgroup genera Eccremis, Stypandra, Thelionema and Herpolirion. The phylogeny showed Stypandra sister to Herpolirion + Thelionema, and confirmed the monophyly of Dianella. Within Dianella, a number of clades were resolved that revealed biogeographic relationships. Accessions from south-western Australia (extending into South Australia) formed the earliest diverging clade, followed by D. serrulata from New Guinea, sister to all other clades of Dianella from Australia and other regions. Tropical North Queensland species, including the D. pavopennacea complex, were related to a clade of accessions from New Caledonia and the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific, and a clade that included samples of D. carolinensis (Caroline Islands) and the widespread D. ensifolia from South-East Asia and across the Indian Ocean to Mauritius and Madagascar. However, D. ensifolia is not monophyletic, with accessions from Japan and Taiwan related to a clade of Queensland samples that are part of the D. revoluta complex. Three New Zealand species (diploid, 2n?=?16) were found to be related to Norfolk Island D. intermedia (type locality; octoploid, 2n?=?64). In contrast ‘D. intermedia’ from Lord Howe Island was resolved as sister to the eastern Australian D. caerulea complex. The phylogenetic results indicate the need for taxonomic revision, particularly revision of the species ‘complexes’ D. longifolia and D. caerulea in Australia, and recognition of more than one species within D. ensifolia and within D. sandwicensis on the Hawaiian Islands.     

Biodiversity patterns in interstitial marine microturbellaria: a case study within the genus Parotoplana (Platyhelminthes: Rhabditophora) with the description of four new species

Four new species of Otoplanidae (Platyhelminthes: Rhabditophora: Proseriata) with ranges restricted to the central Mediterranean are described. These species are characterized by the presence of a tubular copulatory stylet and by a bursa lacking an open connection to the atrium. Both characters are novel for the family Otoplanidae. The four species differ mainly in details of the morphology of the sclerotized structures of the copulatory organ. Generic attribution of the new species has been problematic. Morphological characters shared with either Parotoplanina or Parotoplanella were detected. Molecular data (based on 18S rRNA and 28S D1‐D6 rRNA genes) evidenced that the new species constitute a monophyletic group falling within species of Parotoplana, with a sister/taxon relationship with Parotoplana spathifera. The genus Parotoplana, however, appears to be paraphyletic, as Parotoplanella progermaria nests within Parotoplana species. The inadequate molecular sampling, combined with the lack of sequences from the type species of both Parotoplana and Parotoplanina, suggested a cautionary taxonomic approach, and the new species are therefore attributed to the earliest generic taxon available, Parotoplana.     

Phylogenetic relationships of corallinaceae (Corallinales,Rhodophyta): taxonomic implications for reef‐building corallines

A new, more complete, five‐marker (SSU, LSU, psbA, COI, 23S) molecular phylogeny of the family Corallinaceae, order Corallinales, shows a paraphyletic grouping of seven well‐supported monophyletic clades. The taxonomic implications included the amendment of two subfamilies, Neogoniolithoideae and Metagoniolithoideae, and the rejection of Porolithoideae as an independent subfamily. Metagoniolithoideae contained Harveylithon gen. nov., with H. rupestre comb. nov. as the generitype, and H. canariense stat. nov., H. munitum comb. nov., and H. samoënse comb. nov. Spongites and Pneophyllum belonged to separate clades. The subfamily Neogoniolithoideae included the generitype of Spongites, S. fruticulosus, for which an epitype was designated. Pneophyllum requires reassesment. The generitype of Hydrolithon, H. reinboldii, was a younger heterotypic synonym of H. boergesenii. The evolutionary novelty of the subfamilies Hydrolithoideae, Metagoniolithoideae, and Lithophylloideae was the development of tetra/bisporangial conceptacle roofs by filaments surrounding and interspersed among the sporangial initials.     

Intergeneric phylogenetic relationships in catfishes of the Loricariinae (Siluriformes: Loricariidae), with the description of Fonchiiloricaria nanodon: a new genus and species from Peru

Recent investigations in the upper Río Huallaga in Peru revealed the presence of an intriguing species of the Loricariinae. To characterize and place this species within the evolutionary tree of the subfamily, a molecular phylogeny of this group was inferred based on the 12S and 16S mitochondrial genes and the nuclear gene F-reticulon4. The phylogeny indicated that this distinctive species was a member of the subtribe Loricariina. Given its phylogenetic placement, and its unusual morphology, this species is described as a new genus and new species of Loricariinae: Fonchiiloricaria nanodon. This new taxon is diagnosed by usually possessing one to three premaxillary teeth that are greatly reduced; lips with globular papillae on the surface; the distal margin of lower lip bearing short, triangular filaments; the premaxilla greatly reduced; the abdomen completely covered by plates, with the plates between lateral abdominal plates small and rhombic; a caudal fin with 14 rays; the orbital notch absent; five lateral series of plates; dorsal-fin spinelet absent; preanal plate present, large and solid, and of irregular, polygonal shape, the caudal peduncle becoming more compressed posteriorly for the last seven to 10 plates.