Relationships ofLomatium among other genera ofApiaceae

Lomatium is the largest North American genus ofApiaceae (=Umbelliferae). Relations amongLomatium and other genera have not been well understood. TheApiaceae-Araliaceae lineage and genera of North AmericanApiaceae were analyzed phenetically and cladistically in turn, and seven phenetic alliances of genera are identified. Data on frequencies of character-state combinations were assembled and usingSporne's notions of maximal and minimal co-variation of states, two character-states were identified that are derived among Umbellifer genera. Using cladistic analysis of the alliance consisting ofLomatium and six other genera we identified three sister groups toLomatium:Polytaenia alone;Polytaenia withPseudocymopterus, and a group of four genera. Not all genera in the group of seven withLomatium are supported by autapomorphies impeding phylogenetic reconstructions. Both phenetics and cladistics have helped to suggest and evaluate relationships; to call attention to groups requiring further study, and in particular to identify derived character-states.     

Seasonal Changes in Lorica Sizes and the Species of Tintinnida in the New York Bight*

SYNOPSIS. Tintinnida of the New York Bight (a bend in the coastline) were identified during the 1-year period August 1973–August 1974. Recurring genera included Stenosemella and Tintinnopsis; seasonal genera were mainly the hyaline Favella, Metacylis, and Helicostomella; exotic or unusual genera included Parafavella and Ptychocylis. Large size differences in loricae were found seasonally, related apparently, to water temperature.     

Free-living culturable bacteria and protozoa from the rhizoplanes of three floating aquatic plant species

Terrestrial plant roots exude compounds that promote the proliferation of microorganisms, a phenomenon called the rhizosphere effect. However, little is known about the influence of roots of aquatic plants on microbial populations. We compared cultivable bacteria and protozoa from the rhizoplanes of Azolla filiculoides Lam., Lemna gibba L., and Ricciocarpus natans L., collected at the Tecocomulco Lagoon (Hidalgo, Mexico). The functional bacterial groups isolated from A. filiculoides, L. gibba and R. natans, were macro- and microscopically characterized, and phylogenetically identified using the 16S rDNA gen. About 96% of isolates corresponded to Gram-negative bacteria, and potential N-fixing free-living bacteria (diazotrophic bacteria) were the most abundant. Molecular analysis detected 15 bacterial genera in the rhizoplane of R. natans, whereas A. filiculoides and L. gibba only yielded five genera, among which Aeromonas was predominant. Twenty-five genera of flagellated and 20 genera of ciliated protozoa were identified. Bodo was the more abundant flagellated, whereas Halteria was the most frequent ciliate. All three aquatic plants showed the rhizospheric effects. The most abundant and diverse community of protozoa was found in A. filiculoides, which also had the most abundant bacterial community, but the highest bacterial diversity was found in R. natans.     

The composition,diversity, and distribution of mosquito fauna (Diptera: Culicidae) in Kosovo

The aim of this study is to identify the mosquito species that currently exist and their distributions in Kosovo in order to determine current potential endemic zones and areas at a higher risk for future epidemics. These scientific data will be shared with public health authorities for implementing mosquito control programs. During a two‐year period of monitoring in 48 localities in 23 provinces in Kosovo, a total of 1,604 mosquitoes representing 13 species and six genera were collected and morphologically identified. Members of species complexes were also classified to species using DNA barcoding. In total, 13 species were identified with Culex pipiens s.l., the predominant species with an abundance rate of 39%. The remaining 12 species identified were grouped into five genera: Anopheles, Aedes, Coquillettidia, Culiseta, Uranotaenia, including species that are vectors of arboviruses in other parts of the world.     

Antibiotic Susceptibility as a Taxonomic Characteristic of Proteobacteria of the Genera Alteromonas, Pseudoalteromonas, Marinomonas, and Marinobacter

Type strains of bacteria of the genera Alteromonas, Pseudoalteromonas, Marinomonas, and Marinobacterand symbiotrophic bacteria isolated from the Far Eastern bivalve mollusks Crenomytilus grayanusand Mizuhopecten yessoensisand identified as Pseudoalteromonas nigrifaciensand P. citreawere tested for susceptibility to antibiotics. Of the ten antibiotics used in this study, benzylpenicillin, polymyxin, lincomycin, and oleandomycin were valuable for the polyphasic taxonomy of marine aerobic proteobacteria. Marine bacteria of the genera studied exhibited characteristic antibiotic susceptibility profiles, which were useful for the differentiation of the genera.     

Effects of prey type on suspension-feeding behavior in Nile tilapia

Using freshly collected field samples and enrichment cultures, eight genera of cryptomonads from the Salton Sea are recorded for the first time. Comparative data from light and scanning electron microscopy were utilized to identify these genera and species. The genera included Chroomonas, Falcomonas, Hemiselmis, Plagioselmis, Pyrenomonas/Rhodomonas, Storeatula, Teleaulax, and the kathablepharid Leucocryptos. One putative genus remains unidentified and may represent a new taxon. SEM has not been conducted on this cryptomonad, but it has been isolated and is being maintained in culture. The genera and species identified from the Salton Sea are typical of marine rather then freshwater environments and may play an important role in primary productivity and as preferred food organisms for zooplankton.     

CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN PHYLOGENY AND MORPHOLOGY OF SNOWELLA SPP. AND WORONICHINIA NAEGELIANA,CYANOBACTERIA COMMONLY OCCURRING IN LAKES1

In this study, the first reported isolates of the genera Snowella and Woronichinia were characterized by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and morphological analysis. Phylogenetic studies and sequences for these genera were not available previously. By botanical criteria, the five isolated strains were identified as Snowella litoralis (Häyrén) Komárek et Hindák Snowella rosea (Snow) Elenkin and Woronichinia naegeliana (Unger) Elenkin. This study underlines the identification of freshly isolated cultures, since the Snowella strains lost the colony structure and were not identifiable after extended laboratory cultivation. In the 16S rRNA gene analysis, the Snowella strains formed a monophyletic cluster, which was most closely related to the Woronichinia strain. Thus, our results show that the morphology of the genera Snowella and Woronichinia was in congruence with their phylogeny, and their phylogeny seems to support the traditional botanical classification of these genera. Furthermore, the genera Snowella and Woronichinia occurred commonly and might occasionally be the most abundant cyanobacterial taxa in mainly oligotrophic and mesotrophic Finnish lakes. Woronichinia occurred frequently and also formed blooms in eutrophic Czech reservoirs.     

Investigation on diversity and population succession dynamics of indigenous bacteria of the maize spermosphere

The spermosphere, an important habitat to the plant micro-ecosystem, has a unique significance to seed microbial ecology, but has been poorly researched. In this study, the mature seeds of reciprocal cross maize (Zea mays L., Nongda108) were collected to investigate the diversity and population succession dynamics of indigenous spermosphere bacteria at 12, 24 and 36 h into seed germination using 16S rDNA library construction. In the spermosphere of Nongda108A (Huang C × 178), the dominant bacteria genera identified were Pseudomonas and Burkholderia. The proportion of Pseudomonas increased from 59.60 to 75.00% then 82.61%; while Burkholderia decreased from 39.39 to 25.00% then 15.22% at 12, 24 and 36 h, respectively. Bacillus, Paenibacillus and Stenotrophomonas were the dominant genera in Nongda108B. The proportion of Paenibacillus after 12, 24 and 36 h into germination decreased from 68.00 to 46.15 to 13.27%, respectively. The proportion of non-Paenibacillus genera increased from 32.00 (Stenotrophomonas) to 53.85 (Bacillus) to 77.55% (Burkholderia) from 12 h to 24 h to 36 h, respectively. Some dominant bacteria genera identified from maize spermosphere have been identified as common PGPR.     

The use of wild edible plants in western and central Anatolia (Turkey)

In this study, 121 wild edible plants used as food in Anatolia were surveyed to determine the plant parts used and their detailed preparation methods. The results of this study show that the plants may be boiled, fried in fat, and eaten raw or as rolled vegetables. They may also be consumed as pickles, fruits, sweets and spices, and drunk as cold and hot drinks. Thirty species (8 genera) were identified as belonging to the Lamiaceae family, 15 species (15 genera) belong to the Asteraceae family, 13 species (5 genera) belong to the Rosaceae family, 8 species (7 genera) belong to the Brassicaceae family, 6 species (3 genera) belong to the Orchidaceae family and 5 species (5 genera) belong to the Apiaceae family. The genera represented by the highest number of species in the study are as follows:Sideritis L. is represented by 13 species, Origanum L. by 7 species,Rubus L. by 5 species,Thymus L. by 4 species andRumex L. by 4 species.     

Cellulose-decomposing fungi of salt marshes in Egypt

Seventy-five species and three varieties which belong to thirty-four genera were identified from 74 soil samples collected from salt marshes in Egypt. The most frequent fungi wereAspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger, Cladosporium herbarum andAlternatia alternata, followed byAspergillus terreus,Curvularia spicifera andPenicillium notatum. Six genera were of moderate occurrence:Penicillium, Futarium, Curvularia, Rhizopus, Stachybotrys, andChaetomium. Five genera were of low occurrence:Paecilomyces, Oephalosporium, Epicoccum, Mucor andMyrothecium.     

Global changes may be promoting a rise in select cyanobacteria in nutrient‐poor northern lakes

The interacting effects of global changes—including increased temperature, altered precipitation, reduced acidification and increased dissolved organic matter loads to lakes—are anticipated to create favourable environmental conditions for cyanobacteria in northern lakes. However, responses of cyanobacteria to these global changes are complex, if not contradictory. We hypothesized that absolute and relative biovolumes of cyanobacteria (both total and specific genera) are increasing in Swedish nutrient‐poor lakes and that these increases are associated with global changes. We tested these hypotheses using data from 28 nutrient‐poor Swedish lakes over 16 years (1998–2013). Increases in cyanobacteria relative biovolume were identified in 21% of the study sites, primarily in the southeastern region of Sweden, and were composed mostly of increases from three specific genera: Merismopedia, Chroococcus and Dolichospermum. Taxon‐specific changes were related to different environmental stressors; that is, increased surface water temperature favoured higher Merismopedia relative biovolume in low pH lakes with high nitrogen to phosphorus ratios, whereas acidification recovery was statistically related to increased relative biovolumes of Chroococcus and Dolichospermum. In addition, enhanced dissolved organic matter loads were identified as potential determinants of Chroococcus suppression and Dolichospermum promotion. Our findings highlight that specific genera of cyanobacteria benefit from different environmental changes. Our ability to predict the risk of cyanobacteria prevalence requires consideration of the environmental condition of a lake and the sensitivities of the cyanobacteria genera within the lake. Regional patterns may emerge due to spatial autocorrelations within and among lake history, rates and direction of environmental change and the niche space occupied by specific cyanobacteria.     

Photosynthetic pathway and morphological functional types in the vegetation from North-Beijing agro-pastoral ecotone, China

Photosynthetic pathways (C₃, C₄, and CAM) and morphological functional types were identified for the species from vegetation in agro-pastoral ecotone, North Beijing. 792 vascular plant species (nearly half of the total species in the ecotone), in 66 families and 317 genera, were identified with C₃, C₄, and CAM photosynthesis (Table 1). 710 species (90 % of the identified species in Table 1) in 268 genera and 64 families were found with C₃ photosynthesis, 68 species (9 % of the total identified species) in 40 genera and 7 families with C₄ photosynthesis, and 14 species in 4 genera and 1 family with CAM photosynthesis. Gramineae is the leading family with C₄ photosynthesis (43 species), Cyperaceae ranks the second (16 species) followed by Chenopodiaceae (5 species). The significant increase of C₄ proportion (C₄/total species) with land deterioration suggested the plants of this type are remarkably responsive to land use in the ecotone. 792 species were classified into nine morphological functional types and the changes of most of these types (e.g. perennial forbs (PEF), annual grasses (ANG), and annual forbs (ANF)) were consistent with habitats and vegetation dynamics in the agro-pastoral ecotone. Hence the photosynthetic pathways, combined with the morphological functional types, are efficient indications for studying the linkage between species and ecosystems in the ecotone.     

Photosynthetic and morphological functional types for native species from mixed prairie in Southern Saskatchewan, Canada

Photosynthetic pathways (e.g. C₃, C₄) and morphological functional types (e.g. trees, shrubs, high perennial grasses, perennial forbs) were identified for the native species from the Saskatchewan mixed prairie, using the data from references published between 1950 and 2003. Of the total 219 identified species in 145 genera and 45 families, 208 species in 137 genera and 44 families were found with C₃ photosynthesis, and most of these species are dominants (e.g. Agropyron dasystachyum Hook. and Stipa spartea var. curtiseta Hitchc.). 11 species in 10 genera and 3 families were identified with C₄ photosynthesis (e.g. Atriplex argentea Nutt., Andropogon scoparius Michx., Boutelou gracilis Lag., Calamovilfa longifolia Hook.). The amount of total identified C₄ species in the region is much less than that from the South Dakota mixed prairie (27 species). Gramineae is the leading family with C₄ photosynthesis (8 species), Chenopodiaceae ranks the second (2 species). Relatively less forb types [50 % perennial forbs (PEF) and 12 % annual forbs (ANF)] and more graminoid types (25 %) composition suggested that the rangelands in the region are relatively stable. Lacking of the knowledge on the optimal traits for PFTs classification in the region, further studies (e.g. C₃ and C₄ plant identification and optimal trait selection) are needed to explore the relationships between PFTs and vegetation variations, as well as land-use and climate changes.     

Morphological identification of fungi associated with Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.-Solms) Laubach in the Wouri River Basin,Douala, Cameroon

In many parts of the world, excess growth of Eichhornia crassipes (Pontederiaceae) poses a serious threat to aquatic environments. In Cameroon, where manual clearing is still undertaken, little is known about fungal diversity associated with the plant, or its potential for biological control. Surveys of the Wouri River Basin in the Littoral Region of Cameroon were conducted during a rainy season (May–October 2014) and a dry season (November 2015–April 2016) at various sites, to identify fungi associated with water hyacinth. Fungi were isolated and identified from symptomatic plant parts collected. In the rainy season, 130 fungal isolates belonging to 12 genera were identified morphologically, whereas 299 isolates belonging to 23 genera were identified during the dry season. With the exception of Fusarium oxysporum and Phytophthora sp., the genera represented new records for Cameroon, and Chaetomium strumarium, Colletotrichum gloesporioides, C. acutatum, C. dematium, Curvularia pallescens and Pytomyces chartarum were considered new host records for E. crassipes in Africa. Isolates of Acremonium zonatum, Chaetomium strumarium, Alternaria eichhorniae, Phytophthora sp. and Rhizoctonia sp. showed the highest frequency of occurrence on E. crassipes in the Wouri River Basin and, given their record as plant pathogens, could be potentially useful in the development of mycoherbicides for this weed in Cameroon.     

Plastome phylogeny and lineage diversification of Salicaceae with focus on poplars and willows

Phylogenetic relationships and lineage diversification of the family Salicaceae sensu lato (s.l.) remain poorly understood. In this study, we examined phylogenetic relationships between 42 species from six genera based on the complete plastomes. Phylogenetic analyses of 77 protein coding genes of the plastomes produced good resolution of the interrelationships among most sampled species and the recovered clades. Of the sampled genera from the family, Flacourtia was identified as the most basal and the successive clades comprised both Itoa and Poliothyrsis, Idesia, two genera of the Salicaceae sensu stricto (s.s.) (Populus and Salix). Five major subclades were recovered within the Populus clade. These subclades and their interrelationships are largely inconsistent with morphological classifications and molecular phylogeny based on nuclear internal transcribed spacer sequence variations. Two major subclades were identified for the Salix clade. Molecular dating suggested that species diversification of the major subclades in the Populus and Salix clades occurred mainly within the recent Pliocene. In addition, we found that the rpl32 gene was lost and the rps7 gene evolved into a pseudogene multiple times in the sampled genera of the Salicaceae s.l. Compared with previous studies, our results provide a well‐resolved phylogeny from the perspective of the plastomes.     

Polyphyly of the fern family Tectariaceae sensu Ching: insights from cpDNA sequence data

Tectariaceae are a pantropical fern family of about 20 genera, among which 8 are distributed in China. The morphological distinctiveness of the family is widely recognized, yet relatively little systematic research has been conducted on members of Tectariaceae. Phylogenetic analyses of chloroplast DNA sequence data (rbcL and atpB) from 15 species representing all 8 genera in China were carried out under parsimony criteria and Bayesian inference. The phylogenetic reconstructions indicated that the fern family Tectariaceae as traditionally circumscribed are polyphyletic. Ctenitis, Dryopsis, Lastreopsis clustered with and should be included within the newly-defined Dryopteridaceae, and Pleocnemia is also tentatively assigned to it. A narrowly monophyletic Tectariaceae is identified, which includes Ctenitopsis, Hemigramma, Pteridrys, Quercifilix, and Tectaria. In the single rbcL analysis, Arthropteris clustered with the above-mentioned monophyletic Tectariaceae. Although further investigations are still needed to identify infrafamilial relationships within the monophyletic Tectariaceae and to redefine several problematic genera, we propose a working concept here that better reflects the inferred evolutionary history of this group.     

Mycotoxins producing fungi and mycoflora of air-dust from Taif,Saudi Arabia

Using the dilution plate method, 70 species and 31 genera were collected from 20 dust samples on glucose (28 genera and 64 species) and cellulose Czapek's agar (22 genera and 46 species) at 28° C. The most common fungi were Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, A. flavus var. columnaris, Phoma glomerata, Fusarium oxysporum, Penicillium chrysogenum and Mucor racemosus; and A. nidulans, Phoma humicola, Drechslera spicifera and Stachybotrys chartarum on the two media, respectively.Toxicity test showed that about 85% of the isolates tested were toxic to brine shrimp (Artemia salina). Thin layer chromatographic analysis revealed that 13 out of 23 toxic isolates produced known mycotoxins. Toxins identified were: aflatoxins B₁ and B₂, Kojic acid and trichodermine.     

绣球属(Hydrangea L.)植物分子系统学及系统发育分析

该研究基于对绣球属(Hydrangea L.)的大尺度取样,选取国内外61种绣球属和近缘属植物,分别基于核基因片段(ITS)和叶绿体基因片段(rbcL,trnL-F,atpB)重建了绣球属及其近缘种属的系统发育关系。结果表明:(1)核基因与叶绿体基因树之间在树形上没有明显的冲突,进而基于核基因和叶绿体基因联合数据重建了绣球属及其近缘种属的系统发育关系。(2)基于联合数据构建的系统树确认了2个大分支,并得到了果实顶端截平与否这一形态学证据的强力支持;每个大分枝又分为4个类群,共确定了8个类群。部分类群也得到了广义宏观形态性状的支持,如第1类群得到了叶形、花粉以及种子形态的支持。因此,该系统发育关系的重建对于全面理解绣球属及其近缘种属的演化关系具有重要的启发。     

Methylosulfonomonas methylovora gen. nov., sp. nov., and Marinosulfonomonas methylotropha gen. nov., sp. nov.: novel methylotrophs able to grow on methanesulfonic acid

Two novel genera of restricted facultative methylotrophs are described; both Methylosulfonomonas and Marinosulfonomonas are unique in being able to grow on methanesulfonic acid as their sole source of carbon and energy. Five identical strains of Methylosulfonomonas were isolated from diverse soil samples in England and were shown to differ in their morphology, physiology, DNA base composition, molecular genetics, and 16S rDNA sequences from the two marine strains of Marinosulfonomonas, which were isolated from British coastal waters. The marine strains were almost indistinguishable from each other and are considered to be strains of one species. Type species of each genus have been identified and named Methylosulfonomonas methylovora (strain M2) and Marinosulfonomonas methylotropha (strain PSCH4). Phylogenetic analysis using 16S rDNA sequencing places both genera in the α-Proteobacteria. Methylosulfonomonas is a discrete lineage within the α-2 subgroup and is not related closely to any other known bacterial genus. The Marinosulfonomonas strains form a monophyletic cluster in the α-3 subgroup of the Proteobacteria with Roseobacter spp. and some other partially characterized marine bacteria, but they are distinct from these at the genus level. This work shows that the isolation of bacteria with a unique biochemical character, the ability to grow on methanesulfonic acid as energy and carbon substrate, has resulted in the identification of two novel genera of methylotrophs that are unrelated to any other extant methylotroph genera. Received: 19 July 1996 / Accepted: 7 October 1996