Phylogenetics of family Enterobacteriaceae and proposal to reclassify Escherichia hermannii and Salmonella subterranea as Atlantibacter hermannii and Atlantibacter subterranea gen. nov., comb. nov.

Multilocus sequence analysis based on hypervariable housekeeping proteins was utilized to differentiate closely related species in the family Enterobacteriaceae. Of 150 housekeeping proteins, the top 10 hypervariable proteins were selected and concatenated to obtain distance data. Distances between concatenated proteins within the family were 0.9–41.2%, whereas the 16S rRNA and atpD‐gyrB‐infB‐rpoB concatenated sequence (4MLSA) distances were 0.8–6.0% and 0.9–22.1%, respectively. These data indicate that phylogenetic analysis by concatenation of hypervariable proteins is a powerful tool for discriminating species in the family Enterobacteriaceae. To confirm the discriminatory power of the 10 chosen concatenated hypervariable proteins (C10HKP), phylogenetic trees based on C10HKP, 4MLSA, and the 16S rRNA gene were constructed. Comparison of average bootstrap values among C10HKP, 4MLSA and 16S rRNA genes indicated that the C10HKP tree was the most reliable. Location via the C10HKP tree was consistent with existing assignments for almost all species in the family Enterobacteriaceae. However, the C10HKP tree suggested that several species (including Enterobacter massiliensis, Escherichia vulneris, Escherichia hermannii, and Salmonella subterranea) should be reassigned to different clusters than those defined in previous analyses. Furthermore, E. hermannii and S. subterranea appeared to fall onto a branch independent from those occupied by the other Enterobacteriaceae. Therefore, we propose Atlantibacter gen. nov., such that E. hermannii and S. subterranea would be transferred to genus Atlantibacter as Atlantibacter hermannii, comb. nov. and Atlantibacter subterranea. comb. nov., respectively.     

Sargassum boreale sp. nov. (Fucales, Phaeophyceae) from Hokkaido, Japan

A new species, Sargassum boreale Yoshida et Horiguchi is described. It belongs to the subgenus Bactrophycus section Teretia, with cylindrical receptacles and is distinct from Sargassum confusum C. Agardh, S. pallidum (Turner) C. Agardh and Sargassum microceratium (Turner) C. Agardh in having a rather elongated stem with smooth surface and distantly issuing main branches, with narrow leaves. The distinction between S. boreale and these species is also revealed by a difference in internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS‐2) sequences. In addition to the base substitutions, the existence of a large gap in S. boreale distinguishes this species from others. Sargassum boreale is distributed around Hokkaido and Saghalien to 50°N latitude. A key to the species of section Teretia is provided.     

Semenovia pulvinata,S. dissectifolia,S. imbricata and S. vachanica spp. nov. from Tajikistan and other nomenclatural combinations in Semenovia (Apiaceae)

The new species Semenovia pulvinata Pimenov & Kljuykov, S. dissectifolia Ukrainskaja & Kljuykov, S. imbricata Ukrainskaja & Kljuykov, and S. vachanica Ukrainskaja & Kljuykov from the mountains of Pamiro‐Alai, Tajikistan and adjacent Afghanistan, are described and illustrated. For the Chinese species S. millefolia (Diels) V. M.Vinogr. & Kamelin, also known as Heracleum millefolium Diels, the correct name is S. torilifolia (H. Boissieu) Pimenov comb. nov. based on Peucedanum torilifolium H. Boissieu. For another closely related Chinese species, Peucedanum malcolmii Hemsl. & H. Pearson, also belonging to Semenovia, the new combination S. malcolmii (Hemsl. & H. Pearson) Pimenov is proposed. Heracleum thomsonii C. B. Clarke var. glabrior C. B. Clarke from Kashmir (Ladakh) is regarded as an independent species of Semenovia, S. glabrior (C. B. Clarke) Pimenov & Kljuykov.     

Firmiana calcarea sp. nov. (Malvaceae) from limestone areas in Guangxi,China

A new species of Malvaceae, Firmiana calcarea C. F. Liang & S. L. Mo ex Y. S. Huang, is described and illustrated. The new species is similar to F. hainanensis Kosterm., but differs from it by the following characteristics: shrubs, leaf cordate or ovate, entire or 3‐lobed, leaf thinly stellate‐puberulent adaxially, lateral veins 2–4 on each side of midrib, flowers pale‐rose, follicle glabrous, and seeds 2–4 in each follicle. It has been found only in Longgang National Nature Reserve, Longzhou County, southwestern Guangxi, China.     

Ecological studies on the community of drifting seaweeds in the south-eastern coastal waters of Izu Peninsula, central Japan. II: Seasonal changes in plants showing maximum stipe length in drifting seaweed communities

The authors examined seasonal patterns in 20 sargas‐saceous species (maximum stipe length of ≥45 cm) from 902 patches of drifting seaweeds in the southeastern coastal waters of the Izu Peninsula, central Japan, between spring and autumn, 1991–1993. The first analysis, dealing with plants occurring for three consecutive years, examined the top three ranked species determined from monthly pooled means of frequency of appearance in these 3 years. The second analysis examined not only the top‐ranked species in monthly means in each year, but also the continuity of appearance of species among years. The third analysis was made from dendrogram analysis based on monthly samples from each year. The first and second analyses revealed three seasonally discernible changes. From April to June, dominance shifted from Sargassum horneri (Turner) C. Agardh to Sargassum yamamotoi Yoshida with a stable transition; in July, S. yamamotoi, Sargassum macrocarpum C. Agardh, Sargassum crispi‐folium Yamada and Sargassum piluliferum (Turner) C. Agardh appeared consistently in an unstable domination with low frequency of appearance by Sargassum nipponicum Yendo, Sargassum fulvellum (Turner) C. Agardh, S. macrocarpum or S. crispifolium; in August to October, there was a stable shift from S. macrocarpum to Sargassum micracanthum (Kützing) Endlicher and Sargassum ringgoldianum Harvey. In the third analysis, monthly samples from each year were divided into four groups, characterized using the top five ranks. This characterization indicated that the top‐ranked species shifted from S. horneri to S. yamamotoi, to S. macrocarpum and to S. micracanthum with the change of seasons. Because of an overlap in the characteristic species in these three analyses, seven species (S. horneri, S. micracanthum, S. yamamotoi, S. macrocarpum, S. ringgoldianum, S. nipponicum and S. crispifolium) were regarded as dominant species. Results are compared to our previous study and it is suggested that the similarity in the pattern of plant community during seasonal changes over the period from April to June and in July resulted from both stable and unstable changes, respectively, but discrepancies in the pattern of plant community during seasonal change from August to October were the result of differences in the frequency of appearance of S. ringgoldianum and S. macrocarpum in August 1991. These results indicated that the seasonal changes of dominant species in the plant community from April to October in this study area were periodic except in July.     

COOLIA CANARIENSIS SP. NOV. (DINOPHYCEAE), A NEW NONTOXIC EPIPHYTIC BENTHIC DINOFLAGELLATE FROM THE CANARY ISLANDS1

A new photosynthetic dinoflagellate species, Coolia canariensis S. Fraga sp. nov., is described based on samples taken from tidal ponds on the rocky shore of the Canary Islands, northeast Atlantic Ocean. Its morphology was studied by LM and SEM. It is almost spherical and has a thick smooth theca with many scattered pores. Plate 1′ is the biggest of the epithecal plates, and 7″ is twice as wide as it is long. Phylogeny inferred from the D1/D2 regions of the LSU nuclear rDNA of three strains of C. canariensis and several strains of other Coolia species, C. monotis, C. sp., showed that C. canariensis strains clustered in a well‐supported clade distinct from the other species. No toxins were detected using mouse bioassay, liquid chromatography with Fluorescence detection (LC‐FLD) or liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry (LC‐MS). Its pigment composition is of the peridinin type of dinoflagellates. Together with this new species, many other strains of C. monotis from the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea have been analyzed for toxin presence, and no evidence of toxin production related to yessotoxins (YTXs) was found, as was previously suggested for C. monotis from Australia.     

Phylogenetic Relationships Among Colletotrichum Pathogens of Strawberry and Design of PCR Primers for their Identification

Isolates of Colletotrichum acutatum, C. fragariae and C. gloeosporioides pathogenic to strawberry plants were examined by sequence analysis of the 5.8S‐ITS region. Phylogenetic relationships among isolates of Colletotrichum are, for the most part, congruent with the molecular groups established in earlier works. 5.8S‐ITS sequence analysis showed a high level of genetic divergence within C. acutatum. Isolates of this species clustered into two very distinct clusters with further subdivision. The divergences between C. fragariae and C. gloeosporioides were too low to distinguish them as separate species. On the basis of the sequence data, specific primers were designed both to identify isolates belonging to the genus Colletotrichum, and to distinguish isolates of the species C. acutatum. The specificity of these primers was validated by testing a wide range of strawberry isolates of Colletotrichum, non‐strawberry isolates of Colletotrichum and other fungi used as controls. Although the 5.8S‐ITS sequences were not polymorphic enough to allow the construction of C. gloeosporioides‐specific primers, specific PCR amplification followed by an MvnI digestion provides a tool to specifically identify strawberry isolates of C. gloeosporioides.     

Karyotype evolution and phylogenetic analyses in the genus Cardiospermum L. (Paullinieae,Sapindaceae)

Cardiospermum L. belongs to the Paullinieae tribe (Sapindaceae) and comprises 16 species. Of these, 12 species are present in South America and all occur in Brazil. Cardiospermum shows the most variable chromosome number of the tribe. Phylogenetic relationships within the genus Cardiospermum, especially with other species of the tribe, are poorly understood. This research focuses on characterisation of the karyotypic features of Cardiospermum using conventional cytogenetic methods, CMA/DAPI chromosome banding and fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH). To elucidate the phylogeny of the genus, the nuclear markers ITS1 and ITS2 were sequenced and analysed using maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference. Cardiospermum shows important diversity in basic numbers, with x = 7, 9, 10, 11 and 12. All species studied have metacentric and submetacentric chromosomes, some species have subtelocentric chromosomes, while telocentric chromosomes are absent. The interphase nuclei differentiate the Cardiospermum species into two groups. The CMA₃/DAPI chromosome banding revealed the presence of an AT‐rich terminal region in C. corindum, C. grandiflorum and C. urvilleoides, whereas GC‐rich regions were found in C. grandiflorum, C. halicacabum var. halicacabum, C. halicacabum var. microcarpum, C. heringeri and C. integerrimum. FISH revealed syntenic and non‐syntenic distribution of the 18‐5.8‐26S and 5S rDNA. The syntenic distribution always occurred in the short arms of the same chromosome in all of the species. The phylogenetic relationships reveal, in part, the taxonomic arrangement of the genus Cardiospermum.     

Deyeuxia sorengii sp. nov. (Poaceae,Agrostidinae) from the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau

Deyeuxia sorengii B. Paszko & W. L. Chen, a new species of Deyeuxia from the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau, China, is described and illustrated. The new species is morphologically similar to D. zangxiensis P. C. Kuo & S. L. Lu, but differs from it by having a well‐developed and conspicuously hairy rachilla prolongation and a straight awn. Deyeuxia sorengii occurs in alpine meadows of central Xizang and central Qinghai. The first records of Deyeuxia zangxiensis are reported from western and eastern Xinjiang and northeastern Qinghai (China).     

New Systematic Insights in the Ceramium Sinicolacomplex: Resurrection of C. Interruptum S. & G. (Ceramiaceae,Rhodophyta)

Setchell & Gardner (1924) provided a taxonomic treatment for the genus Ceramium from lower California and the Gulf of California, Mexico, in which they described several new species, including C. sinicola S. & G. described from Ensenada, BCN and C. interruptum S. & G. described from the vicinity of La Paz, BCS. The latter was later reduced to variety rank in C. sinicolaby Dawson (1950), a taxonomic decision that has subsequently been widely adopted. Phylogenetic analyses inferred from three molecular markers (chloroplast‐encoded rbcL, the RUBISCO spacer, and nuclear encoded SSU rDNA) from recent collections from the Pacific North‐west (California, Oregon) and the Gulf of California reveal a well supported assemblage of three corticated taxa: C. codicolaJ. Ag. 1894, C. sinicola and C. sinicola var. interruptum. Sequence divergence values among the three taxa are sufficient to warrant separate species ranking; hence, we reinstate C. interruptum as a widely distributed epiphyte for the region. C. sinicolais more closely related to C. codicolathan to C. interruptum, with the former two restricted to the host Codium. The molecule‐based relationships are congruent with evolutionary trends in cortication pattern and attachment mode.     

MARINICHLORELLA KAISTIAE GEN. ET SP. NOV. (TREBOUXIOPHYCEAE,CHLOROPHYTA) BASED ON POLYPHASIC TAXONOMY1

We describe three coccoid green algal strains belonging to a new genus and species, Marinichlorella kaistiae Z. Aslam, W. Shin, M. K. Kim, W.‐T. Im et S.‐T. Lee, in seawater samples from the South Sea of Korea. These strains were maintained at 25°C–30°C under a 12:12 light:dark (L:D) photoregime in an ASN‐III medium at a pH of 7.5. These strains were tolerant of high salinity (7.5% NaCl) (w/v) and temperature (40°C). Molecular phylogenetic analyses using 18S rRNA gene sequence data resolved these organisms to a clade separate from green coccoid algae with similar morphology. The DNA–DNA hybridization results demonstrated very low relatedness of these organisms to phylogenetically related species of the genera Chlorella and Parachlorella. The molar guanine + cytosine content (G + C mol%) of the genomic DNA of these organisms ranged from 64.7 to 69.1 mol%. Based on molecular phylogeny, DNA–DNA hybridization, and other morphological studies, we propose a new taxon, Marinichlorella kaistiae, to describe these strains and classify them in the family Chlorellaceae. The type strain is KAS007^T (= KCTC AG10303^T = IAM C‐620^T).     

Rungia sinothailandica sp. nov. (Acanthaceae) from China and Thailand

Rungia sinothailandica (Acanthaceae), a new species from Yunnan, China and Chiang Rai, Thailand is described and illustrated. A colour plate, line drawing and distribution map of R. sinothailandica are provided. Rungia sinothailandica is similar to R. pinpienensis H. S. Lo, but differs in the broadly ovate sterile bracts and obovate‐elliptic fertile bracts, the crispate and tawny bracts margin, the 2‐lobed upper lip of the corolla and puberulent capsule. It is also similar to R. burmanica (C. B. Clarke) B. Hansen, but is easily distinguished by pubescent stems and leaves, the cymbiform‐oblong bracteoles and the 2‐lobed upper lip of corolla.     

rbcL gene sequences reveal relationships among north-east Pacific species of Porphyra (Bangiales, Rhodophyta) and a new species, P. aestivalis

Phylogenetic analyses of the rbcL (chloroplast Rubisco large subunit) gene from 23 newly sequenced species of Porphyra, primarily from the north‐east Pacific, one Bangia and previously published sequences from both genera resolve relationships among most species of Porphyra and reveal five clades of species with Porphyra‐type morphologies among a number of Bangia lineages: (1) P. papenfussii V. Krishnam; (2) P. mumfordii S. C. Lindstrom et K. M. Cole and P. rediviva Stiller et Waaland together with a group of north Atlantic species, including the type of the genus, P. purpurea (Wahl‐enb.) C. Agardh; (3) P. cuneiformis (Setch. et Hus) V. Krishnam., P. occidentalis Setch. et Hus, P. schizo‐phylla Hollenb., and P. variegata (Kjellm.) Kjellm. and their Atlantic sibling species, all distromatic; (4) P. aestivalis sp. nov. and its north Atlantic sibling, P. birdiae C. D. Neefus et A. C. Mathieson; and (5) a speciose clade containing both Pacific and Atlantic representatives. Close relationships are confirmed between sibling species previously identified by iso‐zymes, morphology and chromosomal features. The morphologically similar dioecious P. pseudolanceolata V. Krishnam., P. conwayae (S. C. Lindstrom et K. M. Cole) stat. nov., and P. lanceolata (Setch. et Hus) G. M. Smith occur in a strongly supported subclade in clade 5 together with the monoecious P. fallax S. C. Lindstrom et K. M. Cole. Results presented here highlight the need for intensive taxon sampling and for examination of different parts of the genome to understand more fully relationships among species and higher level taxa in the Bangiales.     

Revision of the Cales noacki species complex (Hymenoptera,Chalcidoidea, Aphelinidae)

The genus Cales (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) includes 13 species worldwide, of which 10 form a highly morphologically uniform species complex with a native range in the Neotropical region. We recognize ten species previously attributed to a single Neotropical species, Cales noacki Howard, which in the strict sense is a species broadly disseminated to control woolly whitefly. A neotype is designated for C. noacki, and it is redescribed based on specimens molecularly determined to be conspecific with the neotype. Newly described species include: C. bicolor Mottern, n.sp ., C. breviclava Mottern, n.sp ., C. brevisensillum Mottern n.sp ., C. curvigladius Mottern, n.sp ., C. longiseta Mottern, n.sp ., C. multisensillum Mottern n.sp ., C. noyesi Mottern, n.sp ., C. parvigladius Mottern, n.sp . and C. rosei Mottern, n.sp . Species are delimited based on a combination of morphological and molecular data (28S‐D2 rDNA and COI). Additional specimens are included in the phylogenetic analyses and although these likely represent several new species, we lack sufficient specimen sampling to describe them at this time. Cales are highly morphologically conserved and character‐poor, resulting in several cryptic species. A molecular phylogeny of the known Neotropical species based on 28S‐D2–5 rDNA and a 390‐bp segment of COI is included, and identification keys to males and females are provided. This published work has been registered in ZooBank, http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:7FEB0479‐9B2E‐48E8‐8603‐4B7C2759D4EC .     

Rhinomonas nottbecki n. sp. (Cryptomonadales) and Molecular Phylogeny of the Family Pyrenomonadaceae

The cryptomonad Rhinomonas nottbecki n. sp., isolated from the Baltic Sea, is described from live and fixed cells studied by light, scanning, and transmission electron microscopy together with sequences of the partial nucleus‐ and nucleomorph‐encoded 18S rRNA genes as well as the nucleus‐encoded ITS1, 5.8S, ITS2, and the 5′‐end of the 28S rRNA gene regions. The sequence analyses include comparison with 43 strains from the family Pyrenomonadaceae. Rhinomonas nottbecki cells are dorsoventrally flattened, obloid in shape; 10.0–17.2 μm long, 5.5–8.1 μm thick, and 4.4–8.8 μm wide. The inner periplast has roughly hexagonal plates. Rhinomonas nottbecki cells resemble those of Rhinomonas reticulata, but the nucleomorph 18S rRNA gene of R. nottbecki differs by 2% from that of R. reticulata, while the ITS region by 11%. The intraspecific variability in the ITS region of R. nottbecki is 5%. In addition, the predicted ITS2 secondary structures are different in R. nottbecki and R. reticulata. The family Pyrenomonadaceae includes three clades: Clade A, Clade B, and Clade C. All Rhinomonas sequences branched within the Clade C, while the genus Rhodomonas is paraphyletic. The analyses suggest that the genus Storeatula is an alternating morphotype of the genera Rhinomonas and Rhodomonas and that the family Pyrenomonadaceae includes some species that were described multiple times, as well as novel species.     

Flight activity of three Spodoptera spp., Spodoptera litura, S. exigua and S. depravata, measured by flight actograph

Flight activities of three Spodoptera species were measured by the aid of flight actograph: S. litura and S. exuiga being regarded as long‐distance migratory insects, and S. depravata being non‐migratory and diapause‐inducible species. In all species tested, flight activities were observed only in scotophase, males showed far higher activities than females, being several times higher at the time of maximum flight activity, which was observed within 2 days after adult eclosion. Total flight activity in males was highest in S. litura, some being flyable even 12 days after eclosion, followed by S. exigua being one‐third compared to the former species, while in S. depravata flight activity was nearly half of that of the second species and most ceased to fly within a week after eclosion. There occurred species‐specific daily rhythms in flight activity during respective scotophase. In S. litura, both females and males exhibited a peak of flight activity shortly after light‐off and exhibited the second flight activity in late scotophase, the females slightly but the males more actively compared to early scotophase. In S. exigua, both sexes did not respond to light‐off, did not show a peak of flight activity in early scotophase, whereas males, but not females prominently increased activity toward the end of scotophase. In S. depravata, both sexes exhibited a peak of flight activity in early scotophase, and the males revived flight activity, being maximum shortly before light‐on, but the females did not show a clear rhythm in flight activity. These features observed in flight activity were discussed in relation with migratory capability.     

A new viviparous acoel Childia vivipara sp. nov. with observations on the developing embryos, sperm ultrastructure, body wall and stylet musculatures

A free‐living viviparous acoel, Childia vivipara sp. nov., from the Gullmar fjord of the Swedish coast is described. The new species is assigned to the taxon Childia based on histological, ultrastructural and molecular sequence similarities. All available molecular markers (18S rRNA, 28S rRNA and histone H3) and several morphological characters, obtained using transmission electron microscopy and confocal scanning laser microscopy of whole mount specimen stained with TRITC‐labelled phalloidin, support the placement of C. vivipara in the taxon Childia. Childia vivipara and other Childia species share the following morphological synapomorphies: well‐developed copulatory organs built of tightly packed stylet needles, proximal part of the stylet inserted into the seminal vesicle, reversed body‐wall musculature, absence of ventral diagonal muscles, presence of dorsal diagonal muscles, and presence of ventral straight longitudinal muscles between frontal pore and mouth, 9 + 1 sperm axoneme structure, six distal sperm cytoplasmic microtubules, and extensive overlap of axonemes and nucleus. The new species can be easily distinguished from other Childia species by its viviparous mode of reproduction and single curved stylet. Observations on late embryonic development based on the oldest developing embryos are discussed.     

Ectophoma iranica sp. nov. and new hosts and records of Allophoma spp. in Iran

A survey was conducted to identify fungi associated with leaf diseases of ornamental herbs, including Christ plant, dracaena, rose geranium, rose periwinkle and treasure flower, in Ahvaz, southwestern Iran. Twenty‐five symptomatic herbs were collected and studied, which led to the isolation of seven Phoma‐like strains belonging to four taxa. These fungi were characterised based on DNA sequence data for the partial large subunit 28S nrDNA (LSU‐D1/D2), the internal transcribed spacer 1 and 2 and 5.8S nrDNA (ITS) and part of the β‐tubulin (tub2) gene regions. A multi‐locus‐based phylogeny, in combination with morphology, allowed for the identification of Allophoma hayatii, A. labilis, A. tropica and a novel species of the genus Ectophoma. Ectophoma iranica sp. nov. is morphologically and genetically distinctive from previously described species. In pathogenicity tests, the two strains of E. iranica (CBS 144681 and IRAN 3354C) caused leaf spot symptoms on leaves of Catharanthus roseus. New host plant species and records for A. hayatii, A. labilis and A. tropica are reported, plus further emended characterization of A. hayatii.     

Cyanomargarita gen. nov. (Nostocales,Cyanobacteria): convergent evolution resulting in a cryptic genus

Two populations of Rivularia‐like cyanobacteria were isolated from ecologically distinct and biogeographically distant sites. One population was from an unpolluted stream in the Kola Peninsula of Russia, whereas the other was from a wet wall in the Grand Staircase‐Escalante National Monument, a desert park‐land in Utah. Though both were virtually indistinguishable from Rivularia in field and cultured material, they were both phylogenetically distant from Rivularia and the Rivulariaceae based on both 16S rRNA and rbcLX phylogenies. We here name the new cryptic genus Cyanomargarita gen. nov., with type species C. melechinii sp. nov., and additional species C. calcarea sp. nov. We also name a new family for these taxa, the Cyanomargaritaceae.