Phylogenetic diversity and ecological features in the Egyptian flora

Until fairly recently, regional-scale ecological and evolutionarypatterns have tended to be ignored as conservation efforts have been concernedwith species and their habitats. Here we compare frequencies in the Egyptianflora of particular rank sizes (order, family and genus) with patterns ofspecies abundance (classified as very rare, rare, common, or very common) and anarray of life-history attributes. The angiosperm flora of Egypt is representedby 2446 taxa (2088 species), including taxa in 10 subclasses, 51 orders, 120families, and 742 genera. A high degree of monotypism was observed: four ordersare monotypic (each existing as single species), and have very rare overallabundances; 30 families are monotypic (17 of which are very rare or rare); and 354genera are monotypic (over 70% of which are very rare or rare). Fourteenfamilies (in particular the Resedaceae and Zygophyllaceae) have at leastone-fifth of their global species represented in the Egyptian flora. Introducedspecies in general, and tree, aquatic herb and liana life forms all are especially well represented among monotypic genera. Native taxa are highlyrepresented among rare and very rare abundance classes, while introduced taxadid not differ significantly in their abundance patterns, compared to overallflora values. Few large genera (>20 spp.) occur in the flora, with mostspecies concentrated in genera containing 8–19 species per genus.Similarly, few families were highly speciose. Annual and herbaceous species weresignificantly over-represented, mainly among large, speciose genera andfamilies. However, perennials, trees, shrubs, aquatic herbs, lianas and parasiticspecies were found mainly in families and genera having very few taxa.Life-history attributes may have important implications to speciation rates.Taxonomically based results, involving abundances and life-history attributes,are discussed in the context of biodiversity and conservation.     

南京市加拿大一枝黄花入侵地群落的物种组成与多样性特征研究(附表)

为探究外来植物加拿大一枝黄花(Solidago canadensis)入侵与南京市本土植物多样性的关系,该文采用踏查及样方调查对其入侵地群落的物种组成与多样性进行研究。结果表明:(1)入侵地群落中共有维管植物200种(含种下单元),隶属于62科156属,其中被子植物195种,裸子植物1种,蕨类植物4种; 数量最多的是菊科(Asteraceae)和禾本科(Poaceae)植物,分别有25种和24种; 从生活型来看,草本植物占多数,有133种,占所有种的66.50%; 此外,群落内尚有其他外来植物29种。群落中重要值最大的是加拿大一枝黄花,为40.00%; 其次是救荒野豌豆(Vicia sativa),为7.00%。(2)从植物区系看,非入侵地中植物科的区系分布型共4个,而入侵地植物科的区系类型仅有3个,其中泛热带分布、世界分布和北温带分布为两者均有,东亚和北美间断分布型仅在非入侵地中存在。非入侵地植物科的区系以世界分布型为主,有13科,占该类型群落中所有科的39.39%; 入侵地则以泛热带分布型为主,有16科,占总科数的45.71%。非入侵地中植物属的区系分布型有10个,而入侵地有12个,两者区系成分相近,旧世界热带型和热带亚洲至热带大洋洲分布型仅在入侵地中出现。北温带分布型和世界分布型同为两者中最主要成分。入侵地及非入侵地群落属的区系R/T值分别为0.58和0.38,种系分化度分别为3.29和3.11。(3)重度入侵群落的Margalef指数(E)与非入侵及轻度入侵群落相比,显著降低; 此外,重度入侵群落的Simpson指数(D)、Shannon-Weiner(H'')指数和Pielou指数(J)均显著低于非入侵、轻度入侵、中度入侵群落。(4)不同生境之间加拿大一枝黄花群落的E、D、H''和J均无显著性差异。该研究可为南京地区的加拿大一枝黄花入侵地的治理防控和生态恢复,以及进一步的科学研究提供强有力的理论支撑。     

Trichome morphology provides phylogenetically informative characters for Tremandra, Platytheca and Tetratheca (former Tremandraceae)

Summary Trichomes of Tremandra R.Br. ex DC., Platytheca Steetz and Tetratheca Sm. (Elaeocarpaceae, former Tremandraceae), together with two outgroup species of Elaeocarpus L., are illustrated using scanning electron microscopy, and their distribution on various plant organs is documented. Various trichomes types were identified that relate taxa: simple hairs, stellate hairs, short glandular trichomes, long glandular trichomes, and three forms of tubercules. Both outgroup and ingroup taxa have simple hairs. Stellate hairs are confirmed as unique to Tremandra. Prominent and sculptured multicelled tubercules, some bearing a stout hair, are characteristic of Platytheca. Smaller multicelled tubercules occur in both Platytheca and Tetratheca, except for the Western Australian taxon Te. filiformis Benth. (possibly plesiomorphic). Unicellular tubercules (papilla) characterise two species of Tetratheca. Short glandular trichomes, usually found on the ovary, also occur in both of these genera but not in all species (possibly secondary losses), while long glandular trichomes, usually on stems and leaves, occur only in some groups of Tetratheca. Within Tetratheca, Western Australian taxa that have five-merous flowers fall into three ‘groups’: seven species (together with one from South Australia) that have short glandular trichomes but no long glandular trichomes; six species that have long glandular trichomes but no short glandular trichomes; and four species that have both trichome types. All other species of Tetratheca have four-merous flowers and form two ‘groups’: 12 eastern species (including one from South Australia) that have both short glandular trichomes and long glandular trichomes; 4 western species and six eastern species that lack short glandular trichomes. On the basis of these characters, a phylogenetic hypothesis for the three genera is presented.     

Phylogeography of the endemic St. Lucia whiptail lizard Cnemidophorus vanzoi: Conservation genetics at the species boundary

Vicariance and isolation leading to speciation of reptiles on islands is well exemplified in a number of taxa in the Caribbean. The St. Lucia whiptail (Cnemidophorus vanzoi), considered a single species, is found on two small islets (Maria Major and Maria Minor) off the main island of St. Lucia. From lizards collected from both localities, we gathered morphological measurements and analysed the genetic divergence between populations, using a molecular survey of ∼ ∼2800 mtDNA base pairs and 8 microsatellites. There are significant differences in body size and general form and fixed but small mtDNA differences between island populations. Microsatellites reveal low diversity within populations but very high differentiation between islands with non-overlapping allele size ranges at all except one microsatellite and two loci exhibiting single-base polymorphism, fixed between islands. Based on these results, we examine published criteria to determine whether the studied island forms could be considered true species. According to the phylogenetic species concept and Moritz’s evolutionary significant unit (ESU) criteria, the two lizard populations can be considered separate entities. Crandall et al.’s (2000, Trends Ecol. Evol., 15, 290–295) broader categorization of population distinctiveness, based on concepts of ecological and genetic exchangeability, produces conflicting results depending on the interpretation of the observed ecological data. Following Fraser and Bernatchez’s (2001, Mol. Ecol., 10, 2741–2752) framework for management decisions when ecological data are not sufficient we propose that the lizard populations on the Maria islands are on differing evolutionary trajectories and thus at the species boundary. The populations are of high priority to conservation, thus meriting separate management.     

Molecular systematics of the Old World Astragalus (Fabaceae) as inferred from nrDNA ITS sequence data

This study represents a nuclear rDNA ITS-based phylogenetic analyses of a greater sampling of the Old WorldAstragalus compared to our previous work (212 vs. 134 taxa). Phylogenetic relationships among 212 species (213 accessions) of the Old WorldAstragalus, including newly segregated monotypic genusPodlechiella, the two aneuploid New WorldAstragalus, and five related genera, were inferred from analyses of nuclear rDNA ITS sequences using maximum parsimony. A total of 658 nucleotide sites and four binary characters for indels were analyzed. The results of phylogenetic analyses suggest sect.Phyllolobium, comprising mostly the Chinese species, is placed outside of the so-calledAstragalus s. str. and is a well-supported monophyletic group. The monotypic annual segregate genusThlaspidium (≡Astragalus sect.Thlaspidium, A. thlaspi), is clearly nested withinAstragalus s. str. Among the many sections analyzed here, only sects.Cenanthrum, Caraganella, Eremophysa, Incani, Laxiflori, andLotidium are strongly supported as monophyletic. Our analysis, in agreement with previous studies, shows that the North American euploidAstragalus species are scattered throughout the Old World groups of the genus.     

Diet and feeding ecology of gray woolly monkeys (lagothrix lagotricha cana) in Central Amazonia: Comparisons with other Atelines

I studied gray woolly monkeys (Lagothrix lagotricha cana)in an undisturbed central Amazonian terra firme forest, near the headwaters of the Urucu river, Tefé, Amazonas, Brazil (5°50’S, 65°16’W). I report the diet and feeding ecology of a group of 39–41 individuals, based on systematic feeding observations obtained during 11 months. Woolly monkeys are primarily frugivorous; mature fruits and young seeds account for 83 and 7% of 3298 feeding records, respectively. On a seasonal basis, however, they relied heavily on young foliage (16%), seed-pod exudates (6%), and flowers (3%), particularly during the greatest annual period of ripe fruit scarcity, as determined by a phenological survey. Animals represent only 0.1% of their year-round diet, and they spent little time capturing arthropods and other prey items. Although at least 225 plant species, belonging to 116 genera and 48 families, are in their diet, the three top-ranking families (Moraceae, Sapotaceae, and Leguminosae) account for 43% of their food species and 63% of the time they spent feeding on a year-round basis. I compare the feeding ecology and diet of L. 1. canain the Urucu and other taxa of Lagothrixin upper Amazonia — the last large-bodied Neotropical primates to be studied — to those of other ateline genera: Atelesand Brachyteles. An erratum to this article is available at .     

砒砂岩区不同立地类型人工油松林下草本种群生态位特征及其环境解释

黄土高原砒砂岩区是我国水土流失最为严重的地区之一,油松(Pinus tabuliformis)是该区水土保持与水源涵养的优势乔木。以几种不同立地类型人工油松林为对象,应用Levins生态位宽度指数、Pianka生态位重叠指数和冗余度分析(RDA),研究林下草本群落生态位特征及其与环境的相互响应。结果表明:所调查的150个油松林下草本样方中,共发现31种草本植物,隶属于11科24属,阳性旱生植物居多。不同立地类型人工油松林下草本群落生态位特征不同,生态位宽度指数及生态位重叠指数均表现阳坡大于阴坡,平坡好于斜缓坡,但整体指数均较小,表明物种对环境资源利用程度较低,种间竞争度不大,群落处于相对稳定状态。通过对比典范对应分析(CCA)及冗余度分析(RDA),RDA排序更能较好揭示生态位特征与环境因素的关系,得出乔灌层郁闭度、土壤有机质、土壤含水率和坡度是林下草本群落生态位特征各异的主导环境因子。     

Ectomycorrhizal fungal communities on seedlings and conspecific trees of Pinus mugo grown on the coastal dunes of the Curonian Spit in Lithuania

Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) communities of mature trees and regenerating seedlings of a non-native tree species Pinus mugo grown in a harsh environment of the coastal region of the Curonian Spit National Park in Lithuania were assessed. We established three study sites (S1, S2, and S3) that were separated from each other by 15 km. The ECM species richness was rather low in particular for mature, 100-year-old trees: 12 ectomycorrhizal taxa were identified by molecular analysis from 11 distinguished morphotypes. All 12 taxa were present on seedlings and on mature trees, with between 8–11 and 9–11 taxa present on seedlings and mature trees, respectively. Cenococcum geophilum dominated all ECM communities, but the relative abundance of C. geophilum mycorrhizas was nearly two times higher on seedlings than on mature trees. Mycorrhizal associations formed by Wilcoxina sp., Lactarius rufus, and Russula paludosa were also abundant. Several fungal taxa were only occasionally detected, including Cortinarius sp., Cortinarius obtusus, Cortinarius croceus, and Meliniomyces sp. Shannon’s diversity indices for the ECM assemblages of P. mugo ranged from 0.98 to 1.09 for seedling and from 1.05 to 1.31 for mature trees. According to analysis of similarity, the mycorrhizal communities were similar between the sites (R = 0.085; P = 0.06) and only slightly separated between seedlings and mature trees (R = 0.24; P < 0.0001). An incidental fruiting body survey that was conducted weakly reflected the below-ground assessment of the ECM fungal community and once again showed that ECM and fruiting body studies commonly supply different partial accounts of the true ECM fungal diversity. Our results show that P. mugo has moved into quite distinct habitats and is able to adapt a suite of ECM symbionts that sufficiently support growth and development of this tree and allow for natural seedling regeneration.     

Subpopulation genetic structure of a plant panmictic population of Castanea sequinii as revealed by microsatellite markers

Castanea squinii Dode, an endemic tree widely distributed in China, plays an important role both in chestnut breeding and forest ecosystem function. The spatial genetic structure within and among populations is an important part of the evolutionary and ecological genetic dynamics of natural populations, and can provide insights into effective conservation of genetic resources. In the present study, the spatial genetic structure of a panmictic natural population of C. sequinii in the Dabie Mountain region was investigated using microsatellite markers. Nine prescreened microsatellite loci generated 29–33 alleles each, and were used for spatial autocorrelation analysis. Based on Moran’s I coefficient, a panmictic population of C. sequinii in the Dabie Mountain region was found to be lacking a spatial genetic structure. These results suggest that a high pollen-mediated gene flow among subpopulations counteract genetic drift and/or genetic differentiation and plays an important role in maintaining a random and panmictic population structure in C. sequinii populations. Further, a spatial genetic structure was detected in each subpopulation’s scale (0.228 km), with all three subpopulations showing significant fine-scale structure. The genetic variation was found to be nonrandomly distributed within 61 m in each subpopulation (Moran’s I positive values). Although Moran’s I values varied among the different subpopulations, Moran’s I in all the three subpopulations reached the expected values with an increase in distances, suggesting a generally patchy distribution in the subpopulations. The fine-scale structure seems to reflect restricted seed dispersal and microenvironment selection in C. sequinii. These results have important implications for understanding the evolutionary history and ecological process of the natural population of C. sequinii and provide baseline data for formulating a conservation strategy of Castanea species. __________ Translated from Acta Phytoecologica Sinica, 2006, 30(1): 147–156 [译自: 植物生态学报]     

Cryptic species diversity in a widespread bumble bee complex revealed using mitochondrial DNA RFLPs

Cryptic species diversity is thought to be common within the class Insecta, posing problems for basic ecological and population genetic studies and conservation management. Within the temperate bumble bee (Bombus spp.) fauna, members of the subgenus Bombus sensu stricto are amongst the most abundant and widespread. However, their species diversity is controversial due to the extreme difficulty or inability morphologically to identify the majority of individuals to species. Our character-based phylogenetic analyses of partial CO1 (700 bp) from 39 individuals spread across their sympatric European ranges provided unequivocal support for five taxa (3–22 diagnostic DNA base pair sites per species). Inclusion of 20 Irish specimens to the dataset revealed ≥2.3% sequence divergence between taxa and ≤1.3% within taxa. We developed a PCR-RFLP based method for unequivocally distinguishing amongst the four cryptic European taxa of this subgenus, B. cryptarum, B. lucorum, B. magnus and B. terrestris, and used it to analyse 391 females of the former three species collected across Ireland, all of which could be unambiguously assigned to species. Bombus lucorum was the most widely distributed and abundant of the cryptarum–lucorum–magnus species complex, comprising 56% of individuals, though it was significantly less abundant at higher altitudes (>200 m) whilst B. cryptarum was relatively more abundant at higher altitudes. Bombus magnus was rarely encountered at urban sites. Both B. lucorum and B. terrestris are nowadays reared commercially for pollination and transported globally. Our RFLP approach to identify native fauna can underpin ecological studies of these important cryptic species as well as the impact of commercial bumble bees on them.     

Rainforest ants of the Tiwi Islands: a remarkable centre of endemism in Australia’s monsoonal tropics

The small and isolated rainforest patches that are embedded in the predominantly savanna landscape of Australia’s monsoonal tropics support a highly distinctive and biogeographically significant ant fauna. This fauna features shade-tolerant taxa of Indo-Malayan origin, in contrast to the arid-adapted, endemic Australian taxa that dominate the surrounding savanna. The Tiwi Islands north of Darwin in the Northern Territory (NT) receive the highest mean annual rainfall (up to 2,000 mm) in monsoonal Australia, and have a particularly extensive rainforest estate that has been poorly surveyed for invertebrates. Here we describe results from intensive ant surveys at 17 sites representing the full range of Tiwi rainforest types, using subterranean traps, Winkler sacs, pitfall traps and arboreal traps, supplemented by opportunistic hand collections. Our surveys yielded a total of 87 species from 37 genera, with the richest genera being Pheidole (9 species collected), Polyrhachis (8), Camponotus (5), Rhytidoponera (5) and Strumigenys (5). The overall structure and diversity of the Tiwi rainforest fauna is comparable to that of rainforest ant faunas on the Australian mainland. However, the species have exceptional biogeographic significance. At least 21 species across 12 genera have apparently never previously been collected, three species from subcoastal northeastern Australia are recorded for the first time in the NT, and the genera Mesoponera and Onychomyrmex are documented for the first time in the NT. There was a very low incidence of exotic species, which further highlights the conservation values of this remarkable fauna.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Stemonurus corrugatus</Emphasis> (Stemonuraceae,Icacinaceae s.l.) a new species from Sarawak

Summary   Stemonurus corrugatus Utteridge & Schori is described and illustrated as a new species from Sarawak, Malaysia. The new species is similar to S. grandifolius, S. scorpioides, and S. umbellatus, and morphological differences among the taxa are discussed. A distribution map and notes on the new species’ conservation status are provided.     

Ground beetle diversity in ancient woodland remnants in north-western Germany (Coleoptera, Carabidae)

We investigated ground beetle communities (Coleoptera, Carabidae) in ancient woodland remnants in north-western Lower Saxony, Germany. A total of 90 pitfall traps was exposed in a stratified design in 10 stands of mature oak–beech and oak–hornbeam forests in the year 2003. Overall, 47 species (10,676 individuals) were recorded. Among these were the two relict species Carabus glabratus and Abax parallelus, and 14 further eurytopic forest species. Eleven species exhibited a high frequency and were found in all of the ten stands. Multiple linear regressions showed several significant relationships at two scales for species richness of different groups of carabids and for several of the measured environmental factors. Forest area, litter depth, amount of dead wood, distance to forest edge, and soil moisture were found to be key factors determining species richness. Furthermore, recent disturbance by logging reduced the number of forest species. According to direct gradient analyses soil moisture and litter depth have greatest influence on species communities of both, forest species and widespread species. Habitat suitability models for the two recorded relict species, A. paralellus and C. glabratus, were developed using logistic regression. The presence of A. parallelus in the mature ancient woodland remnants depends mainly on higher values of soil moisture, whereas for C. glabratus none of the measured environmental variables appeared to be key factors. Implications for the conservation of carabid assemblages in mature ancient woodlands include the advice to spread out logging over long periods of time and over various woodlands in order to keep the stand disturbance at a long-term low level. Variation in logging practices may help to conserve diverse structures. Afforestation with non-native tree species should be avoided in the managed ancient woodlands. Finally, especially the preservation of a high soil moisture seems to be important to conserve typical carabid communities.     

A new genus of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Monimiaceae</Emphasis> from the Atlantic Coastal Forest in South-Eastern Brazil

Summary  A new monotypic genus and a new species of Monimiaceae, Grazielanthus arkeocarpus from the Brazilian Atlantic coastal forest are described, illustrated and compared with morphologically related taxa. The new taxon occurs in the State of Rio de Janeiro in the central coastal plain and was collected in the Po?o das Antas Biological Reserve, municipality of Silva Jardim (22°30′– 22°33′S; 42°14′– 42°19′W). The new taxon is represented by dioecious climbing shrubs of the sub-canopy that have urceolate, four-lobed flowers and a fleshy hypanthium that is closed until the fruit ripens. When ripe, the hypanthium ruptures irregularly and the fruitlets are exposed. The relationships between the new genus and other neotropical (Hennecartia J. Poiss. and Macrotorus Perkins) and paleotropical (Palmeria F. Muell.) genera are discussed.     

Karyologie und ökologisch-morphologische Differenzierung vonPeumus boldus (Monimiaceae,Laurales)

The karyotype analysis ofPeumus boldus reveals a remarkable differentiation of chromosomes in size and form. C-banding pattern and interphase nuclei are discribed and compared with other genera. The great variation in leaf-shape and growth-form is continuous and correlated with the very diverse habitats of the species. The recognition of infraspecific taxa is therefore not recommended. The lower leaf surface is very uniform within the monotypic genus and ± similar with that ofSiparuna. The different evolutionary strategies ofPeumus and related genera are discussed and show a different eco-systematic situation than inMollinedia andSiparuna.

     

Phylogeny and biogeography of the lamioid genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phlomis</Emphasis> (Lamiaceae)

The genus Phlomis is one of the largest genera of subfamily Lamioideae (Lamiaceae) with more than 100 recognised species distributed in Asia, southern Europe and northern Africa. Morphological studies have suggested that the species can be split into two morphologically distinct groups that have previously been recognised as either sections or separate genera. The current study represents the first molecular phylogenetic study of the genus in which taxa representative of the entire genus are included. In contrast to considerable morphological and ecological variation among taxa, sequence variation in the trnL intron, the trnL – F intergenic spacer, and the rps16 intron was low, resulting in sparse phylogenetic resolution, particularly among the South West Asian and Mediterranean taxa. However, the results support a split of the genus into two separate groups that are recognised here as the genera Phlomoides and Phlomis in order to decrease taxonomic complexity. The close relationship between Phlomis s.l. and Eremostachys, pointed out by several authors, is confirmed, and in a noteworthy new finding, the small Asian genus Notochaete, is more closely related to the Phlomis s.l. lineage than previously assumed. The two monotypic genera Pseuderemostachys and Lamiophlomis as well as Notochaete hamosa are transferred to Phlomoides and three new combinations are made. Character optimisation analyses based on geographic distributions of all taxa show that the groups obtained by molecular phylogenetic analysis correlate well with biogeography. The results suggest that the Phlomis s.l. lineage has a Central Asian origin in an area around Western China.     

Phylogeny and biosystematics ofPseudomonotes (Dipterocarpaceae) based on molecular and morphological data

The placement of a recently discovered South American monotypic genus,Pseudomonotes tropenbosii, in subfam.Monotoideae (Dipterocarpaceae) extends the geographical range of the subfamily from Africa to the Neotropics. Although morphological and anatomical evidence suggest similarities betweenPseudomonotes andMonotes, the close alliance of these two genera was questionable due to their disjunct distribution and a lack of phylogenetic analysis. In the present study, we reconstructed the phylogeny ofPseudomonotes and other putatively related taxa usingrbcL sequence data. The analysis ofrbcL sequences of 20 taxa belonging to 15 genera and eight families recovered a single most parsimonious tree. The genusSarcolaena (Sarcolaenaceae) formed a clade sister to the monophyleticDipterocarpaceae clade.Monotes andPseudomonotes formed a strongly supported group, sister to the monophyletic clade withPakaraimaea and the remaining Asiatic dipterocarp species studied. The study strongly supports the placement ofPseudomonotes within subfam.Monotoideae of theDipterocarpaceae.     

The importance of an evolutionary perspective in conservation policy planning

Prioritization of taxa for conservation must rest on a foundation of correctly identified species boundaries, enhanced by an understanding of evolutionary history and phylogenetic relationships. Therefore, we can incorporate both evolutionary and ecological processes into efforts to sustain biodiversity. In this issue of Molecular Ecology, Malaney & Cook ( 2013 ) highlight the critical value of an evolutionary biogeographical approach, combining multilocus phylogeography with climatic niche modelling to infer phylogenetically weighted conservation priorities for evolutionary lineages of jumping mice across North America. Remarkably, they find that the Preble's meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius preblei), long debated as a threatened taxon, in fact represents the southern terminus of a relatively uniform lineage that expanded well into Alaska during the Holocene. By contrast, some other relictual and phylogenetically divergent taxa of jumping mice likely warrant greater conservation priority. This study highlights the value of integrative approaches that place current taxonomy in a broader evolutionary context to identify taxa for conservation assessment, but also highlights the challenges in maintaining potential for adaptive responses to environmental change.