Africa goes Europe: The complete phylogeography of the marbled white butterfly species complex Melanargia galathea/M. lachesis (Lepidoptera: Satyridae)

Climatic oscillations influence the distribution of species in time. Thermophilic species survived the ice ages in refugia around the Mediterranean. Northern Africa is one of the possibly important refugia. In this study we test the genetic differentiation between northern African and European populations, using the marbled white butterfly species complex, Melanargia galathea/M. lachesis, as a model. We studied 18 allozyme loci in 876 individuals from 23 populations representing a major part of Europe (northern Spain to Romania) and the western part of northern Africa (Atlas Mountains). The African populations resemble the European ones in allelic richness; their genetic diversity is higher than in Europe. Cluster analysis discriminated five European genetic groups: M. lachesis, a western European lineage, and three eastern European lineages. However, the African samples did not form a separate cluster within this phenogram, but clustered randomly within the Balkan/southeastern European groups. The genetic differentiation among the African populations (F_ST 8.8%) was higher than that within any of the European lineages (F_ST 2.6–5.5%). The high genetic diversity and the relatively strong differentiation of the four African populations sampled in a comparatively limited area of the Atlas Mountains indicate that the most probable origin of M. galathea is northern Africa, with its sibling species, M. lachesis, evolving in parallel in Iberia. Most probably, M. galathea colonised Europe first during the Eem interglacial, some 130 ky ago. Since M. lachesis must have existed on the Iberian peninsula during that period already, M. galathea should have reached Europe via Italy. The genetic differentiation to distinct groups in Europe most probably evolved during the following Würm glacial period.     

来自东亚的黑耳属一新种,亚东黑耳

“亚东黑耳”是西藏近几年备受关注的一种特色野生珍稀食用菌,但对其分类学地位尚无定论。本文基于分子系统学和形态学研究了东亚、欧洲和北美洲与亚东黑耳相近的黑耳属标本,发现碟形黑耳Exidia recisa是个物种复合群,已知包括4个种,欧洲有碟形黑耳和浅波黑耳E. repanda两个种,北美洲有钝齿黑耳E. crenata,东亚的为1新种,本文将其描述为亚东黑耳Exidia yadongensis。这4个种在系统发育关系中相近,形态相似,但亚东黑耳的子实体边缘基本是全缘,担孢子大小为12-16×3-4μm (Q=3.62-3.83),而欧洲的碟形黑耳E. recisa和北美洲的钝齿黑耳E. crenata子实体边缘通常锯齿状,担孢子分别为13-15.5×2.8-3.8μm (Q=4.51)和12-14×3-4μm (Q=4.11),浅波黑耳E. repanda具有垫状至波浪状折叠的子实体,区别于其他3个种的盘状至耳状的子实体,其担孢子为12.7-15.7×2.8-3.7μm (Q=4.33-4.57)。此外,亚东黑耳具有树状分枝和叉形的子实层侧丝,但其他3个种只有树状分枝的子实层侧丝。尽管亚东黑耳广泛分布于东亚地区,但由于亚东黑耳的汉语名称已经在中国普遍使用,所以我们提出了上述拉丁学名。     

Historical biogeography of the lineage Atopochara trivolvis PECK 1941 (Cretaceous Charophyta)

The evolutionary species Atopochara trivolvis represents a unique case of a charophyte with a well-documented, long-lasting fossil record of biostratigraphical interest and a worldwide distribution. This provides an excellent basis for analysing the historical biogeography of this important species. The origin of the lineage is recorded in the Early Berriasian of Western Europe, where an archipelago-like palaeogeography would have favoured allopatric speciation and small-sized original biogeographic ranges. The species first reached Eastern Europe during the Valanginian and expanded to China during the Hauterivian. It expanded worldwide during the Barremian–Aptian, first colonizing North Africa and South America through the Guinea Corridor and subsequently reaching North America. The Barremian–Aptian worldwide expansion was probably facilitated by the monoecious nature of A. trivolvis, which allowed for long-distance animal dispersal, as is the case with extant Chara. An initial fragmentation in the biogeographic range of A. trivolvis can be detected in the Albian–Cenomanian, when the species displayed up to 5 different morphotypes in scattered localities of Eurasia and North America. During the Turonian sea-level highstand A. trivolvis became extinct also from most of these localities, while, in the Latest Cretaceous plesiomorphic populations of A. trivolvis ulanensis survived in Mongolia and Northern China. The species became completely extinct near the K/T boundary.     

Assessing potential biological control of the invasive plant, tree-of-heaven, Ailanthus altissima

Tree-of-heaven, Ailanthus altissima, is a deciduous tree indigenous to China and introduced into North America and Europe. It is a serious threat to ecosystems in introduced areas, as the plant is very competitive, and also contains allelopathic chemicals that may inhibit growth of surrounding native plants. In addition, the plant contains secondary chemicals that make it unpalatable to some insects. In this paper we assess potential biological control of this plant by reviewing literature associated with natural enemies of the plant from both its native and introduced regions in the world. Our literature surveys revealed that 46 phytophagous arthropods, 16 fungi, and one potyvirus were reported attacking tree-of-heaven, some apparently causing significant damage in China. Two weevils, Eucryptorrhynchus brandti and E. chinensis, are major pests of the plant in China and are reportedly restricted to tree-of-heaven, showing promise as potential biological control agents. Nymphs and adults of a homopteran insect, Lycorma delicatula and larvae of two lepidopteran species, Samia cynthia and Eligma narcissus, may also cause severe damage, but they are not host specific. Two rust fungi, Aecidium ailanthi J. Y. Zhuan sp. nov. and Coleosporium sp. have been reported on tree-of-heaven in China and are also promising potential candidates for biological control of the plant. Nine insect herbivores and 68 fungi are associated with tree-of-heaven in its introduced range in North America, Europe, and Asia. An oligophagous insect native to North America, the ailanthus webworm, Atteva punctella, may be a potential biocontrol agent for the plant. Among the fungal species, Fusarium osysporum f. sp. perniciosum, caused wilt of tree-of-heaven in North America and may have the potential to control the plant, but its non-target effect should be carefully evaluated. Our review indicates that there is potential for using insects or pathogens to control tree-of-heaven.     

Miocene Ethiopian amber: A new source of fossil cryptogams

Amber is renowned for the exceptional preservation state of its inclusions, allowing detailed morphological analysis and providing relevant environmental, palaeoecological, geographical, and geological information. Amber deposits are predominantly known from North America, Europe, and Asia, and are considered to be rare on the continents that formed Gondwana. The recent discovery of fossiliferous amber deposits in Ethiopia, therefore, provides an inimitable opportunity to close gaps in the fossil record of African terrestrial biota and to study organisms which are otherwise rare in the fossil record. Here we show that diverse cryptogams are preserved in highest fidelity in Miocene Ethiopian amber. We describe gametophyte fragments of four liverworts: Thysananthus aethiopicus sp. nov. (Porellales, Lejeuneaceae), Lejeunea abyssinicoides sp. nov. (Porellales, Lejeuneaceae), Frullania shewanensis sp. nov. (Porellales, Frullaniaceae), and Frullania palaeoafricana sp. nov. (Porellales, Frullaniaceae). Furthermore, we describe a pleurocarpous moss of the extant genus Isopterygium (Hypnales, Pylaisiadelphaceae) and a lichen representing the order Lecanorales. These new specimens represent the first amber fossils of liverworts, mosses, and lichens from the African continent and render Ethiopian amber as one of the few worldwide amber deposits preserving bryophytes (mosses and liverworts) or lichens. Fossil species of Thysananthus were recorded in Eocene Baltic and Oligocene Bitterfeld as well as Miocene Dominican and probably also Miocene Mexican ambers. Fossils that can unequivocally be assigned to Lejeunea have only been found in Dominican amber so far. Neotropical ambers contain only one taxon of Frullania to date, while the genus is most diverse in Baltic, Bitterfeld, and Rovno ambers, formed in temperate regions. The new fossils support a tropical to subtropical origin of Ethiopian amber. The new African liverwort fossils are included in an updated list of leafy liverworts described from worldwide Cenozoic ambers to date.     

针叶树病原菌异担子菌属的物种多样性及相关检疫建议

异担子菌属Heterobasidion种类是北半球针叶树最严重的森林病原菌,在世界范围内能侵染27种针叶树,对欧洲和北美洲的经营林己造成重大损失.基于传统形态学研究,认为异担子菌属有2个种,即多年异担子菌H.annosum和岛生异担子菌H.insulare,然而单孢交配实验研究证明2个种为复合种.分子系统发育分析研究表...     

红菇属研究进展

红菇属Russula是一类具有较高经济和研究价值的食药用真菌,部分种类有毒。从红菇属的资源和分类、分子系统学、遗传多样性与应用研究等方面,本文对近年的研究进展进行了综述。红菇属研究存在的主要问题是形态特征记述误差较大导致的鉴定不准确,现有分子系统学研究和遗传多样性研究只涉及了少数种类的单基因片段,我国已报道的大量原初描述于欧洲和北美洲的种名是否在我国有分布尚存在争议,解决上述问题是今后红菇属研究的主要方向。     

Phylogenetic relationships of Loxosceles and Sicarius spiders are consistent with Western Gondwanan vicariance

The modern geographic distribution of the spider family Sicariidae is consistent with an evolutionary origin on Western Gondwana. Both sicariid genera, Loxosceles and Sicarius are diverse in Africa and South/Central America. Loxosceles are also diverse in North America and the West Indies, and have species described from Mediterranean Europe and China. We tested vicariance hypotheses using molecular phylogenetics and molecular dating analyses of 28S, COI, 16S, and NADHI sequences. We recover reciprocal monophyly of African and South American Sicarius, paraphyletic Southern African Loxosceles and monophyletic New World Loxosceles within which an Old World species group that includes L. rufescens is derived. These patterns are consistent with a sicariid common ancestor on Western Gondwana. North American Loxosceles are monophyletic, sister to Caribbean taxa, and resolved in a larger clade with South American Loxosceles. With fossil data this pattern is consistent with colonization of North America via a land bridge predating the modern Isthmus of Panama.     

黑木耳复合群中种类学名说明

黑木耳在我国已经有1 000多年栽培历史,是我国最重要的栽培真菌之一,多年来我国黑木耳的学名一直使用模式产地为欧洲的Auricularia auricula-judae。最近的研究表明A. auricula-judae实际为一复合种,该复合种在全球范围内有5个种。其中A. auricula-judae仅分布于欧洲;美洲有2个种,生长在针叶树上的美洲木耳A. americana和生长在阔叶树上的尚未命名的木耳。中国该类群有3个种：自然分布和栽培最广泛的黑木耳的学名应为A. heimuer,此外,短毛木耳A. villosula在我国东北也广泛分布,并有少量栽培,生长针叶树上的木耳为美洲木耳A. americana,主要分布于中国东北和华北。     

Biogeographical connections between the Maghreb and the Mediterranean peninsulas of southern Europe

The glacial–interglacial cycles have caused severe range modifications of species' distributions. In Europe, thermophilic species had to retreat into geographically distinct southern refugia during glaciations. This process produced strong genetic imprints, which are still detectable by the present pattern of genetic differentiation and the distribution of regional diversity. To reveal the biogeographical imprints in the western Mediterranean, we analysed 26 populations of the butterfly Maniola jurtina spread over large areas of its European and North African distribution range. The samples were analysed using allozyme electrophoresis. We detected three genetic groups, divided into Western Europe, Central/Eastern Europe, and Italy with the Maghreb. The North African samples randomly cluster within the Italian samples. Even the population sampled in Morocco is genetically closely related to these samples and not to the geographically neighbouring Iberian ones. Parameters of genetic diversity showed similar values over the whole study area. The observed genetic pattern reflects possible glacial refugia in Europe located in the Iberian Peninsula and the Balkans. For North Africa and Italy, our data reveal a colonization of Africa originating from Italy.  © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2009, 98 , 693–703.     

A review of fossil cycad megasporophylls, with new evidence of Crossozamia pomel and its associated leaves from the lower permian of Taiyuan, China

Four species of cycad megasporophyll from the Lower Permian of Taiyuan, China, are described as Crossozamia chinensis (Zhu and Du) comb. nov., C. minor sp. nov., C. spadicia sp. nov. and C. cucullata comb. nov. together with the associated leaves Tianbaolinia circinalis gen. et sp. nov., Yuania chinensis Zhu and Du and Taeniopteris taiyuanensis Halle. An axis bearing megasporophylls in organic connection is described for the first time. Two possible evolutionary pathways from this structure to those of the female reproductive organs of extant cycads are proposed, involving either the reduction of the megasporophylls and their compaction on the axis, or the reduction of the “strobilus” axis. It is suggested that migration of cycads from North China to Europe might have occurred through transportation of their buoyant seeds by the palaeoceanic currents of the Tethys sea.     

Phylogeography of western Palaearctic reptiles – Spatial and temporal speciation patterns

A phylogeographic analysis of eight species complexes of European reptiles was performed using different molecular methods. While mitochondrial genes (mainly cytochrome b sequences) enabled conclusions about phylogeography and differentiation, additional application of bisexually inherited markers provided information about speciation stages. As species with similar distribution patterns in southern and Central Europe were selected, matching phylogeographic patterns are useful for drawing general conclusions:

(1) The species complexes are in different stages of speciation. In some cases, cryptic species were detected.

(2) Highest genetic diversity occurs in southern Europe, the Near East and the Caucasus, regions corresponding with glacial refuges in the Iberian, Apennine and Balkan Peninsulas as well as in Turkey and the Caucasus. Often, several microrefugia must have existed in close neighbourhood. Additional microrefugia were located in southern France and in the Carpathian Basin.

(3) North Africa and the Middle East did not serve as glacial refuges for Central or northern European lineages and are typically inhabited by independent clades.

(4) Evidence for multiple range retractions and expansions, which were postulated for the times of Pleistocene climatic oscillations, could be found in the Balkans, but in Central Europe their traces have been wiped out by the last glacial. Only the Holocene invasion has left imprints in the genomes from this area.

(5) Central and northern Europe were recolonized from Balkan and Pontic refugia in the Holocene.

(6) Groups from the Iberian and Apennine Peninsulas rarely conquered other regions. This limitation can be attributed to the barrier function of the Pyrenees and the Alps.

Chemistry of Cirsium and Carduus: a role in ecological risk assessment for biological control of weeds?

Prediction of host plant range and ecological impact of exotic phytophagous insects, such as insects for classical biological control of weeds, represents a major challenge. Recently, the flowerhead weevil (Rhinocyllus conicus Fröl.), introduced from Europe into North America to control exotic thistles (Carduus spp.), has become invasive. It feeds heavily on some, but not all species of native North American thistles (Cirsium spp.). We hypothesized that such non-target use among native plants could be better predicted by knowledge of characteristic chemical profiles of secondary compounds to supplement the results of host specificity testing. To evaluate this hypothesis, we reviewed the literature on the chemistry of Cirsium and Carduus thistles. We asked what compounds are known to be present, what is known about their biological activity, and whether such information on chemical profiles would have better predicted realized host range and ecological effects of R. conicus in North America. We found an extensive, but incomplete literature on the chemistry of true thistles. Two main patterns emerged. First, consistent chemical similarities and interesting differences occur among species of thistles. Second, variation occurs in biologically active groups of characteristic compounds, specifically flavonoids, sterols, alkaloids and phenolic acids, that are known to influence host plant acceptance, selection, and feeding by phytophagous insects. Surprisingly, sesquiterpene lactones, which are characterisitic in closely related Asteraceae, have not been extensively reported for Cirsium or Carduus. The minimal evidence on sesquiterpene lactones may reflect extraction methods vs. true absence. In summary, our review suggests further research on thistle chemistry in insect feeding is warranted. Also, since the exotic Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) is an invasive thistle of current concern in North America, such research on mechanisms underlying host range expansion by exotic insects would be useful.     

CFTR mutations in Turkish and North African cystic fibrosis patients in Europe: implications for screening

AIMS: To obtain more insight into the variability of the CFTR mutations found in immigrant cystic fibrosis (CF) patients who are living in Europe now, and to estimate the test sensitivity of different frequently used methods of DNA analysis to detect CF carriers or patients among these Turkish or North African immigrants. METHODS: A survey among 373 European CF centers asking which CFTR mutations had been found in Turkish and North African CF patients. RESULTS: 31 and 26 different mutations were reported in Turkish and North African patients, identifying 64.2% (113/176) and 87.4% (118/135) alleles, respectively (p < 0.001). The mean sensitivity (detection rate) of three most common CFTR mutation panels to detect these mutations differed between Turkish and North African people, 44.9% (79/176) versus 69.6% (94/135) (p < 0.001), and can be increased to 57.4% (101/176) and 79.3% (107/135) (p < 0.001), respectively, by expanding these panels with 13 mutations which have been found on two or more alleles. CONCLUSION: 35.8% and 12.6%, respectively, of CF alleles in Turkish and North African patients living in Europe now had not been identified. Among these populations, the test sensitivity of common CFTR mutation panels is insufficient for use in screening programs in Europe, even after expansion with frequent Turkish and North African mutations. This raises questions about whether and how to implement CF carrier and neonatal screening in a multiethnic society.     

青海湖地区狗獾分类地位和狗獾属进化历史探讨

本研究选择线粒体细胞色素b (cytochrome b, Cyt b)和控制区(control region, CR)片段作为分子标记, 探讨了青海湖地区狗獾(Meles sp.)的系统发育地位和狗獾属分歧时间。研究结果支持目前将狗獾属分为4个种的结论。Cyt b和CR片段序列拼接后总长1,652 bp, 23条序列共定义了21个单倍型。研究结果表明欧亚大陆狗獾分为东西两个支系, 每个支系进一步分为两个种: 东部支系包括亚洲狗獾(M. leucurus)和日本狗獾(M. anakuma); 西部支系包括欧洲狗獾(M. meles)和西南亚狗獾(M. canescens)。贝叶斯树和单倍型网络关系图都支持青海湖地区狗獾属于亚洲狗獾。分歧时间的估算结果与古生物学证据相符, 东部支系和西部支系在2.24 Ma左右产生分歧, 西南亚狗獾在1.27 Ma左右从欧洲狗獾分出, 而日本狗獾和亚洲狗獾的分化时间为0.99 Ma左右。     

A systematic study of North American Angelica species (Apiaceae) based on nrDNA ITS and cpDNA sequences and fruit morphology

Angelica is a taxonomically complex genus widespread throughout the North Temperate Zone. Previous phylogenetic studies of the genus have focused primarily on its East Asian species. The relationships among its North American members, the monophyly of these species, and the value of fruit morphology in circumscribing its taxa have yet to be examined. This study represents the most comprehensive sampling of Angelica to date (100 species) and includes all 26 species in North America. Relationships are inferred using Bayesian inference, maximum likelihood, and maximum parsimony analyses of ITS sequences and, for multiple accessions of each North American species, cpDNA ndhF-rpl32, rpl32-trnL, and psbM-psbD sequences. The fruit morphological characters examined were those considered phylogenetically important in East Asian Angelica. The results revealed that the North American species fell into three major clades: North American Angelica clade, Archangelica clade, and the Eurasian Angelica clade. Angelica dawsonii has affinities with Lomatium brandegeei. Fourteen species within the North American Angelica clade were strongly supported as monophyletic. Two paraphyletic species resulted in new combinations in A. lineariloba and A. venenosa. Conflict between the ITS-derived and cpDNA-derived phylogenies and the lack of resolution in portions of the trees may be due to chloroplast capture and rapid species radiation. Fruit morphology supported some interspecific relationships based on molecular data, and relationships revealed by ITS and cpDNA data were roughly in accordance with fruit classification type and geographic distribution region, respectively. A diagnostic key based on fruit morphology is provided for the identification of the North American Angelica taxa.     

Nucleotide variation of the Est-6 gene region in natural populations of Drosophila melanogaster

We have investigated nucleotide polymorphism in the Est-6 gene region in four samples of Drosophila melanogaster derived from natural populations of East Africa (Zimbabwe), Europe (Spain), North America (California), and South America (Venezuela). There are two divergent sequence types in the North and South American samples, which are not perfectly (North America) or not at all (South America) associated with the Est-6 allozyme variation. Less pronounced or no sequence dimorphism occurs in the European and African samples, respectively. The level of nucleotide diversity is highest in the African sample, lower (and similar to each other) in the samples from Europe and North America, and lowest in the sample from South America. The extent of linkage disequilibrium is low in Africa (1.23% significant associations), but much higher in non-African populations (22.59, 21.45, and 37.68% in Europe, North America, and South America, respectively). Tests of neutrality with recombination are significant in non-African samples but not significant in the African sample. We propose that demographic history (bottleneck and admixture of genetically different populations) is the major factor shaping the nucleotide patterns in the Est-6 gene region. However, positive selection modifies the pattern: balanced selection creates elevated levels of nucleotide variation around functionally important (target) polymorphic sites (RsaI-/RsaI+ in the promoter region and F/S in the coding region) in both African and non-African samples; and directional selection, acting during the geographic expansion phase of D. melanogaster, creates an excess of very similar sequences (RsaI- and S allelic lineages, in the promoter and coding regions, respectively) in the non-African samples.     

朝鲜北部的苔藓植物

朝鲜是同我国一江之隔的友好邻邦,它有着很多与我国东北地区共同的植物种类。因此,对朝鲜苔藓植物的研究,为进一步研究我国东北地区苔藓植物种属的起源、演化和分布区等具有重要的意义。笔者于1979年7月17日至8月29日,曾以中国科学院植物分类学赴朝考察组的组员身份,到朝鲜进行了苔藓植物学方面的考察并收集了有关资料。根据这些标本资科和有关文献,加以分析和研究后写成了本文。     

The influence of Pleistocene glacial refugia on tawny owl genetic diversity and phylogeography in western Europe

The glacial refugia hypothesis indicates that during the height of the Pleistocene glaciations the temperate species that are today widespread in western Europe must have survived in small and climatically favourable areas located in the southern peninsulas of Iberia, Italy and Balkans. One such species is the tawny owl, a relatively sedentary, nonmigratory bird presently distributed throughout Europe. It is a tree-nesting species closely associated with deciduous and mixed coniferous woodlands. In this study I used control region mtDNA sequences from 187 individuals distributed among 14 populations to determine whether current genetic patterns in tawny owl populations were consistent with postglacial expansion from peninsular refugia. European, North African and Asian tawny owls were found to represent three distinct lineages, where North Africa is the sister clade to all European owls. Within Europe, I found three well-supported clades that correspond to each of the three allopatric refugia. Expansion patterns indicate that owls from the Balkan refugium repopulated most of northern Europe, while expansion out of Iberia and Italy had only regional effects leading to admixture in France. Estimates of population divergence times between refugia populations are roughly similar, but one order of magnitude smaller between Greece and northern Europe. Based on a wide range of mutation rates and generation times, divergence between refugia appears to date to the Pleistocene.