Molecular phylogeny of Macrolycus (Coleoptera: Lycidae) with description of new species from China

Macrolycus is a genus of net‐winged beetles with 69 species distributed in the eastern Palearctic and northernmost part of the Oriental region. The first molecular phylogeny of Macrolycus was produced using an rrnL + tRNA‐Leu + nad1 mtDNA fragment. The major lineages and species limits were identified with morphology and molecular data. We propose that Cerceros is a subgenus of Macrolycus to enable identification of all adult specimens in the genus without DNA sequencing. Two species groups are proposed in Macrolycus s. str. and six in Cerceros. Additionally, twelve Macrolycus species are newly described from China: M. aquilinus, M. baihualingensis, M. bicolor, M. guangxiensis, M. jianfenglingensis, M. kuatunensis, M. lizipingensis, M. parvus, M. phoeniceus, M. rhodoneurus, M. rosaceus and M. sichuanensis. Macrolycus holzschuhi is proposed to be a junior subjective synonym of M. jeanvoinei. The highest diversity of Macrolycus is found in southern China. The species from the main islands of Japan are placed in two species groups: M. excellens is a sister to remaining species of the M. murzini group and the M. flabellatus group is a monophylum of closely related species in a sister position to the M. bicolor group.     

A New Functional Equation Analogous to CAUCHT-PEXIDER Functional Equation and its Application

The CAUCHY-PEXIDER functional equation H (x±y)=F(x) G(y) is generalized to the form H ((x^c±y^c)^1/c) = F(x) G(y), c≠0, assuming the function H(x) possesses a measurable majorant on a set of positive measure. The result is used to obtain a characterization of WEIBULL distribution. This functional equation is generalized to functions of vector variables.     

The size distribution of insertions and deletions in human and rodent pseudogenes suggests the logarithmic gap penalty for sequence alignment

The size distributions of deletions, insertions, and indels (i.e., insertions or deletions) were studied, using 78 human processed pseudogenes and other published data sets. The following results were obtained: (1) Deletions occur more frequently than do insertions in sequence evolution; none of the pseudogenes studied shows significantly more insertions than deletions. (2) Empirically, the size distributions of deletions, insertions, and indels can be described well by a power law, i.e., f _k = Ck ^–b , where f _k is the frequency of deletion, insertion, or indel with gap length k, b is the power parameter, and C is the normalization factor. (3) The estimates of b for deletions and insertions from the same data set are approximately equal to each other, indicating that the size distributions for deletions and insertions are approximately identical. (4) The variation in the estimates of b among various data sets is small, indicating that the effect of local structure exists but only plays a secondary role in the size distribution of deletions and insertions. (5) The linear gap penalty, which is most commonly used in sequence alignment, is not supported by our analysis; rather, the power law for the size distribution of indels suggests that an appropriate gap penalty is w _k = a + b ln k, where a is the gap creation cost and blnk is the gap extension cost. (6) The higher frequency of deletion over insertion suggests that the gap creation cost of insertion (a _i ) should be larger than that of deletion (a _d ); that is, a _i – a _d = In R, where R is the frequency ratio of deletions to insertions. Correspondence to: W.-H. Li     

Helix-coiled transition in heteropolymers. I. Ground-state energy

A new technique is presented for treating the ground state of an heteropolymer with a random sequence of components. An exact system of equations is found for determining the ground state energy E which is equal to the polymer free energy f in the lowest-order approximation in T/V (V/2 is the large “surface” energy arising at the boundaries between coiled and “helical” sections: V ? T, U_k; U₁ and –U₂ are the free energies of the components counted from the corresponding coiled state energies). These equations are essentially simplified at certain fixed values of the ratio U₁/U₂. For integer values of U₂/U₁ and U₁/U₂ a solution is obtained with an accuracy exp(–V/U_k). The ground-state energy as a function of U₁ and U₂ is shown to be highly irregular: its derivatives have jumps at an infinite number of points. These jumps provide a fine structure of the melting curves. A smoothed over the jumps function E′ is found by way of analytic continuation from the integer values of U₁/U₂ and U₂/U₁. The accuracy of the approximation f ≈ E is estimated and the correctional term of order T/V is determined.     

On the Evolution of Dopa decarboxylase (Ddc) and Drosophila Systematics

We have sequenced most of the coding region of the gene Dopa decarboxylase (Ddc) in 24 fruitfly species. The Ddc gene is quite informative about Drosophila phylogeny. Several outstanding issues in Drosophila phylogeny are resolved by analysis of the Ddc sequences alone or in combination with three other genes, Sod, Adh, and Gpdh. The three species groups, melanogaster, obscura, and willistoni, are each monophyletic and all three combined form a monophyletic group, which corresponds to the subgenus Sophophora. The Sophophora subgenus is the sister group to all other Drosophila subgenera (including some named genera, previously considered outside the Drosophila genus, namely, Scaptomyza and Zaprionus, which are therefore downgraded to the category of subgenus). The Hawaiian Drosophila and Scaptomyza are a monophyletic group, which is the sister clade to the virilis and repleta groups of the subgenus Drosophila. The subgenus Drosophila appears to be paraphyletic, although this is not definitely resolved. The two genera Scaptodrosophila and Chymomyza are older than the genus Drosophila. The data favor the hypothesis that Chymomyza is older than Scaptodrosophila, although this issue is not definitely resolved. Molecular evolution is erratic. The rates of nucleotide substitution in 3rd codon position relative to positions 1 + 2 vary from one species lineage to another and from gene to gene. Received: 2 June 1998 / Accepted: 3 September 1998     

Hemibranchiate sphaeromatids (Crustacea: Isopoda) from Queensland, Australia, with a world-wide review of the genera discussed

All known Queensland species of the isopod family Sphaeromatidae, subfamily Sphaeromatinae (= hemibranchs), are discussed. The following new taxa are erected: Calcipila cornuta, gen. nov., sp. nov. ; Cymodoce tribullis, sp. nov. ; Cymodoce bipapilla, sp. nov. ; Paracilicaea aspera, sp. nov. ; Cilicaeopsis glebosa, sp. nov. ; Cilicaeopsis furculata, sp. nov. ; Cilicaea calcarifera, sp. nov. ; Zuzara curtispina, sp. nov. ; Zuzara digitata, sp. nov. ; and Clianella brucei, sp. nov. Exosphaeroma intermedium Baker is transferred to the genus Sphaeroma Latreille. The genus Dynoides Barnard is reviewed and its current synonymy is contested. With several new records, this brings the total number of sphaeromatid species known from Queensland to 49, 24 of which are in the subfamily Sphaeromatinae. A checklist of all sphaeromatid species occurring in Queensland waters is given. From the rest of Australia: Cymodoce tuberculata Haswell is given the replacement name Cymodoce haswelli, nom. nov. ; Cymodoce granulata Miers is made a junior synonym of Cerceis trispinosa (Haswell) (subfamily Dynameninae); Zuzara diadema Leach, Z. dicantha (Milne Edwards) and Z. Integra Haswell are made junior synonyms of Z. semipunctata Leach; Cilicaeopsis dakini Tattersall is tentatively transferred to the genus Paracilicaea Stebbing. The genera discussed are reviewed world-wide and among the non-Australian species: Exosphaeroma papillae Bayliff is transferred to the genus Sphaeroma; Sphaeroma irakiensis Ahmed is made a junior synonym of Sphaeroma annandalei annandalei Stebbing; Cymodoce richardsoniae Nobili is shown to be distinct from Cymodoce truncata Leach; Cymodoce eupyga Nobili is transferred to the genus Paracilicaea; Dynoides amblysinus Pillai, Dynoides castroi Loyola e Silva and Exosphaeroma globicaudum (Dana) are transferred to the genus Clianella Boone; Dynoides brasiliensis (Loyola e Silva; and Sphaeroma savignn Milne Edwards sensu Dana, 1853 are declared to be conspecific with Clianella castroi. The name Sorrentosphaera Verhoeff is made a junior synonym of Dynamene Leach (subfamily Dynameninae.     

Heterobasidiomycetes from Belize

Summary  Twenty-eight species of heterobasidiomycetes (phylum Basidiomycota) belonging to the orders Auriculariales, Dacrymycetales, Exidiales, Platygloeales, Sebacinales, Septobasidiales and Tremellales from Belize are described or reported. Endoperplexa phlebioides, Heterochaete pentadelphai and Sebacina pileata are described as new. The genus Aphelariopsis is considered a possible synonym of Septobasidium and the new combination Septobasidium kupemontis is proposed. The new combination Endoperplexa obscura is also proposed.     

A revised classification of the genus Matrona Selys, 1853 using molecular and morphological methods (Odonata: Calopterygidae)

An extensive review of the genus Matrona is presented based on mitochondrial (COI) and nuclear (ITS) sequences from 150 samples which cover all the known taxa of this genus. The separation of two main clades (oreades group: M. oreades, M. corephaea and M. taoi; basilaris group: M. basilaris, M. nigripectus, M. cyanoptera, M. japonica and M. annina) is strongly supported. The classification of all traditional recognized species is confirmed. The Hainan population separates very well from mainland M. basilaris populations, which is also confirmed by geometric morphometric analysis of wing shape. Given the implications of the molecular analysis the genus Matrona is grouped into two subgenera: subgen. Matrona (type species M. basilaris) and D ivortia subgen. nov. (type species M. oreades). A new species, M . ( M .) mazu sp. nov. , from Hainan is described. Brief taxonomic notes on the nine recognized species of the genus are given. Lectotype designations of M. basilaris and M. nigripectus are published. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London     

RFLP analysis of cpDNA in the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hypericum</Emphasis>

The chloroplast DNA of 43 species including 16 sections from the genus Hypericum was studied by PCR-RFLP analysis. The PCR-amplified products of four cpDNA regions, trnC-trnD, psbC-trnS, trnL-trnF and rbcL were digested with four restriction endonucleases. A high level of interspecific variation was detected while intraspecific diversity was not observed. The resulting parsimony analysis indicated the monophyletic assemblage of the sections Androsaemum, Olympia, Drosocarpium and Trigynobrathys. Monophyly of Hypericum is weakly supported, but close relationships of H. perforatum and H. maculatum are indicated. The members of Ascyreia are weakly resolved, but clustering of H. kouytchense and H. oblongifolium is well supported, however, H. reptans is nested with Olympia. CpDNA profiles and the positions on the parsimony tree indicate that the chloroplast donor among the putative parents of the hybrid species H. ×inodorum is H. androsaemum.     

TFS1: A suppressor of cdc25 mutations in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Summary The TFS1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a dosage-dependent suppressor of cdc25 mutations. Overexpression of TFS1 does not alleviate defects of temperature-sensitive adenylyl cyclase (cdc35) or ras2 disruption mutations. The ability of TFS1 to suppress cdc25 is allele specific: the temperature-sensitive cdc25-1 mutation is suppressed efficiently but the cdc25-5 mutation and two disruption mutations are only partially suppressed. TFS1 maps to a previously undefined locus on chromosome XII between RDN1 and CDC42. The DNA sequence of TFS1 contains a single long open reading frame encoding a 219 amino acid polypeptide that is similar in sequence to two mammalian brain proteins. Insertion and deletion mutations in TFS1 are haploviable, indicating that TFS1 is not essential for growth.     

Revision of the genera Nemotha Wood-Mason, 1884 and Tricondylomimus Chopard, 1930 stat. rev., with description of a new species (Dictyoptera: Mantodea)

The oriental species previously included in the rarely collected genus Nemotha Wood-Mason, 1884 (Mantodea: Iridopterygidae) are revised. N. coomani (Chopard, 1930) and N. mirabilis Beier, 1933 strongly differ from the type species N. metallica (Westwood, 1845) by family-level morphological features, but share a unique type of forefemoral armament with the genera Hapalopeza Stål, 1877 and Amantis Giglio-Tos, 1915, suggesting Nemotha is of a polyphyletic nature. The genus Tricondylomimus Chopard, 1930 is resurrected from synonymy to accommodate T. coomani, T. mirabilis n. comb. and the species which is newly described in this article, T. intermedius n. sp. The monotypic genus Pseudogousa Tinkham, 1937 and its species P. sinensis Tinkham, 1937 are synonymized with Tricondylomimus and T. mirabilis, respectively. The genus Tricondylomimus is placed in Iridopterygidae, while Nemotha is transferred to Hymenopodidae: Anaxarchini.     

Convergence to Normality of the Asymptotic Quasi‐Score Function on a Linear Model

The asymptotic quasi‐likelihood method is considered for the model y_t = f_t(θ) + M_t, t = 0,1, …,T where f_tθ) is a linear predictable process of the parameter of interest θ, M_t is a martingale difference, and the nature of E(M_t² | ℱ_t–1) is unknown. This paper is concerned with the limiting distribution of the asymptotic quasi‐score function of such a model. Confidence intervals and hypothesis testing of θ is derived from the limiting distribution. Comparison is made between the estimates obtained through this method and those obtained through the least squares method.     

Genus Bembidion Latreille (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in New Zealand: A revision

The cosmopolitan genus Bembidion is represented in New Zealand by 20 species, of which 19 are endemic; B. brullei appears to be a recent introduction. On phenetic characters the species fall into 7 subgenera, as follows: Zeplataphus n.subg.—maorinum Bates, dehiscens Broun, charile Bates, granuliferum n.sp., townsendi n.sp., tairuense Bates; Zeactedium Netolitzky—orbiferum Bates, musae Broun; Zeperyphodes n.subg.—callipeplum Bates; Zeperyphus n.subg.—actuarium Broun; Zemetal‐lina n.subg.—chalceipes Bates, solitarium n.sp., anchonoderum Bates, tekapoense Broun, wanakense n.sp., urewerense n.sp., hokitikense Bates, parviceps Bates; Ananotaphus Netolitzky—rotundicolle Bates; Notaphus Stephens—brullei Gemminger & Harold. The North Island population of maorinum is distinct from the typical South Island form in having reduced microscrulpture on the elytra, and is here separated as levatum n.ssp. An apparent geographic isolate of anchonoderum, represented by 2 females from Stewart Island, is provisionally recognised as stewartense n.ssp. The polymorphic complex within subg. Ananotaphus is here regarded as a single species, of which the North Island population is sufficiently distinct to warrant subspecific status as eustictum Bates; however, intergrades occur in the north‐west of the South Island. The following names fall into synonymy: latiusculum Broun (= maorinum); diaphanum Broun (= musae); nesophilum Broun (= callipeplum)’, tinctellum Broun (= chalceipes);antipodum Broun (= anchonoderum)’, tantillum Broun and probably attenuatum Broun (=hokitikense)’, clevedonense Broun and waikatoense Broun (= rotundicolle, ssp. eustictum)’, gameani Jeannel (= brullei). The relationships and aspects of the biology and ecology of the New Zealand Bembidion fauna are discussed.     

Genetic interaction between the nip1 mutation and genes affecting integration and excision in phage P2

Summary The excision of prophage P2 is controlled by two genes, int and cox. (The cox gene discussed in this report is defined by the cox class II mutants, defined by Six and Lindqvist, 1978). The combined activity of these two genes is rather inefficient, however, since only about 1% of the lysogens carrying an int ⁺ cox ⁺ prophage actually produce phage when derepressed. The efficiency of phage production (and presumably excision) can be increased 100-fold by an additional mutation called nip1 (Calendar et al., 1972), which is dominant and is located in or near the int gene.The nip1 mutation was mapped between c5, a mutation in the C gene, and an amber int mutation, int150. Phages carrying nip1 and either int150 or a cox mutation, cox3, were prepared by recombination. The nip1 mutation was found to increase excision only when it was located on the same chromosome as an active int ⁺ gene and only if cox ⁺ gene product was also available. The cox gene, known to be located between genes B and C (Lindahl and Sunshine, 1972), was further localized to a region between 77.2 to 78.1% from the conventional left end of the P2 chromosome by comparing the ability of phages with overlapping deletions to promote excision of the prophage in a P2 nip1 c5 cox3 lysogen.Other features of the integration-excision system in P2 are discussed.     

The effect of Ac dosage on the production of multiple forms of Wx protein by the wxm-9 controlling element mutation in maize

Summary The wx ^m-9 autonomous controlling element mutation produces either a single or doublet type protein in 20 day endosperm, depending on the dosage of Ac. The single protein observed in one dose Ac endosperm is the product of wx ^m-9 to Wx revertants. The doublet observed in two and three dose Ac endosperm is the product of the Ac-containing, partially suppressed wx ^m-9 gene. Mutual exclusion of the activities of the wx ^m-9 gene and its included Ac element is postulated. A competition model is presented to account for the unexpected Ac dosage effect.     

Phylogenetic relationships within Diplotaxini Kirby (Coleoptera: Melolonthidae: Melolonthinae) with emphasis on Liogenys Guérin‐Méneville

Diplotaxini Kirby is one of the 29 tribes of Melolonthinae with Nearctic, Neotropical, Paleartic, Afrotropical and Oriental distribution. According to the current classification, Diplotaxini is composed of 706 species described in 21 genera. Neotropical Diplotaxini comprise 94 species, of which 78 are members of Liogenys Guérin Méneville, the largest Neotropical genus. Until now, no phylogenetic studies on Diplotaxini have tested whether the tribe is natural or artificial. This study tested the relationships among Diplotaxini genera, created hypotheses for better defining them, and assessed the monophyly of Liogenys. Cladistic analyses using 167 adult morphological characters were performed. The 83 included taxa represent three subfamilies of Melolonthidae, four tribes of Melolonthinae, and most genera of Diplotaxini, with emphasis on Liogenys. The data were analysed using parsimony under equal and implied weights. In both analyses, the traditional concept of Diplotaxini is shown to be a polyphyletic assemblage. Empecta Erichson and Clypeasta Fairmaire are closely related to Melolontha melolontha (Linnaeus) and Pseudoliogenys Moser close to Myloxenoides Martínez (Tanyproctini). Pachrodema Blanchard is identified as the sister group of Liogenys. The monophyly of both Pacuvia Curtis and Homalochilus Blanchard is confirmed and the paraphyly of Diplotaxis Kirby is suggested. The analyses strongly supported the polyphyly of Liogenys. To render this genus monophyletic, we transferred L. ferrugata Mannerheim (related to M. melolontha) to Phyllophaga Harris, and L. micropyga Burmeister to Diplotaxis, forming Diplotaxis micropyga (Burmeister, 1855) comb.n. ; and included Homoliogenys tarsalis (Moser) and Hilarianus anguliceps Blanchard in Liogenys. As H. anguliceps is syn. junior of Liogenys punctaticollis, Hilarianus is synonymized with Liogenys. Hilarianus ovalis and Hilarianus rufinus are here assigned to Manonychus, and Hilarianus uniformis and Hilarianus suboblongus to Blepharotoma, forming: Blepharotoma uniformis comb.n. , Blepharotoma suboblongus comb.n. , Manonychus ovalis comb.n. and Manonychus rufinus comb.n.