Novel diversity within Roseofilum (Desertifilaceae,Cyanobacteria) from marine benthic mats with description of four new species

Benthic cyanobacterial mats (BCMs) are natural phenomena in marine environments. Reports of BCMs occurring across coastal marine environments have increased, partly driven by nutrient loading and climate change; thus, there is a need to understand the diversity involved in the proliferations and potential toxicity of the BCMs. Furthermore, marine cyanobacterial mats are observed growing on and affecting the health of corals with one specific cyanobacterial genus, Roseofilum, dominating the microbial mats associated with black band disease (BBD), a destructive polymicrobial disease that affects corals. To explore the diversity of Roseofilum, cyanobacterial mats from various marine habitats were sampled, and individual isolates were identified based on morphology, 16S rRNA gene phylogenies, 16S–23S ITS rRNA region sequence dissimilarities, and phylogenomics. Four novel species of Roseofilum were isolated from benthic marine mats, three from the coasts of Florida, United States (R. capinflatum sp. nov., R. casamattae sp. nov., and R. acuticapitatum sp. nov.) and one from the coast of France (R. halophilum sp. nov.). Our analyses revealed that Roseofilum associated with coral BBD and those not associated with corals but rather from coastal benthic mats are systematically distinct based on both phylogenetic and phylogenomic analyses. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and LC–MS data indicated that microcystin production was found in one of the four species.     

Biodiversity and monitoring of colorless filamentous bacteitrtn sulfide aquatic systems of North Caucasus region

Bacterial mats in sulfide aquatic systems of North Caucasus are basically composed by the species of genera Thiothrix and Sphaerotilus. Additionally, several non-filamentous sulfur-oxidizing bacteria were isolated from the mats and several minor 16S rRNA phylotypes were found in clone libraries from these mats. The minor components were affiliated with Proteobacteria, Chlorobia, Cyanobacteria and Firmicutes. Even in an individual mat population heterogeneity of Thiothrix spp. was revealed by analysis of 16S rRNA gene and RAPD-PCR. Five Thiothrix isolates were described as new species Thiothrix caldifontis sp. nov. and Thiothrix lacustris sp. nov. In the Thiothrix-Sphaerotilus type of bacterial mat the proportion of dominant organisms might be influenced by sulfide concentration in the spring water. The higher sulfide concentration (more than 10 mg/1) in the spring water is more favorable for the development of bacterial mats with dominant Thiothrix organisms than for Thiothrix-Sphaerotilus type of sulfur mat.     

Two New Species of the Enigmatic Leptokoenenia (Eukoeneniidae: Palpigradi) from Brazil: First Record of the Genus Outside Intertidal Environments

Two new species of Leptokoenenia Condé 1965 (Eukoeneniidae: Palpigradi), Leptokoenenia pelada sp. nov. and Leptokoenenia thalassophobica sp. nov., are described based on both male and female specimens collected in iron ore caves from the Brazilian Amazon. This is the first record of the genus for the Americas. Furthermore, a new combination is stated for Eukoenenia gallii based on its morphology.     

High Diversity of Testate Amoebae (Amoebozoa,Arcellinida) Detected by HTS Analyses in a New England Fen using Newly Designed Taxon‐specific Primers

Testate (shell‐building) amoebae, such as the Arcellinida (Amoebozoa), are useful bioindicators for climate change. Though past work has relied on morphological analyses to characterize Arcellinida diversity, genetic analyses revealed the presence of multiple cryptic species underlying morphospecies. Here, we design and deploy Arcellinida‐specific primers for the SSU‐rDNA gene to assess the community composition on the molecular level in a pilot study of two samplings from a New England fen: (1) 36‐cm horizontal transects and vertical cores; and (2) 26‐m horizontal transects fractioned into four size classes (2–10, 10–35, 35–100, and 100–300 μm). Analyses of these data show the following: (1) a considerable genetic diversity within Arcellinida, much of which comes from morphospecies lacking sequences on GenBank; (2) communities characterized by DNA (i.e. active + quiescent) are distinct from those characterized by RNA (i.e. active, indicator of biomass); (3) active communities on the surface tend to be more similar to one another than to core communities, despite considerable heterogeneity; and (4) analyses of communities fractioned by size find some lineages (OTUs) that are abundant in disjunct size categories, suggesting the possibility of life‐history stages. Together, these data demonstrate the potential of these primers to elucidate the diversity of Arcellinida communities in diverse habitats.     

Terrestrial isopods (Crustacea: Isopoda: Oniscidea) from Brazilian caves

To date, six species of terrestrial isopods were known from Brazilian caves, but only four could be classified as troglobites. This article deals with material of Oniscidea collected in many Brazilian karst caves in the states of Pará, Bahia, Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso do Sul, and São Paulo, and deposited in the collections of the Museu de Zoologia, Universidade de São Paulo, the Coleção de Carcinologia do Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, and the collection of the Natural History Museum, Section of Zoology ‘La Specola’, Florence. Three new genera have been recognized: Spelunconiscus gen. nov. and Xangoniscus gen. nov. (Styloniscidae), and Leonardoscia gen. nov. (Philosciidae). Twenty‐two species have been identified, 11 of which in the families Styloniscidae, Philosciidae, Scleropactidae, Plathyartridae, Dubioniscidae, and Armadillidae are new to science: Leonardoscia hassalli sp. nov., Metaprosekia quadriocellata sp. nov. , Metaprosekia caupe sp. nov. , Amazoniscus leistikowi sp. nov. , Novamundoniscus altamiraensis sp. nov. , Trichorhina yiara sp. nov. , Trichorhina curupira sp. nov. , and Ctenorillo ferrarai sp. nov. from Pará; Xangoniscus aganju sp. nov. from Bahia; and Spelunconiscus castroi sp. nov. and Trichorhina anhanguera sp. nov. from Minas Gerais. Four new species in the families Styloniscidae ( Spelunconiscus castroi sp. nov. and Xangoniscus aganju sp. nov. ), Philosciidae ( Leonardoscia hassalli sp. nov. ), and Scleropactidae ( Amazoniscus leistikowi sp. nov. ) with highly troglomorphic traits can be considered as troglobitic, whereas all the remaining species are either troglophilic or accidentals. Brazilian caves are now under potential threat because of recent legislation, and the knowledge of the subterranean biodiversity of the country is thus of primary importance. © 2014 The Linnean Society of London     

On the Cyprideis species flock (Crustacea, Ostracoda) in Lake Tanganyika, with the description of four new species

Four new species, belonging to three genera, of ostracods from Lake Tanganyika are described: Mesocyprideis nitida sp.nov., Romecytheridea belone sp.nov., R. plegma sp. nov. and Cyprideis loricata sp. nov. The Cyprideis species flock of Lake Tanganyika now consists of 17 formally described species (16 endemic) in 6 genera (4 endemic). The geographical and ecological distribution of the four species is briefly discussed and some supplementary remarks on the radiation of the Cyprideis species flock in Lake Tanganyika are offered.     

Nucleotide diversity of the homoeologous adh1 loci in the American allotetraploid Oryza species

On Kilimanjaro, Tanzania two rather different forms of Chlorophytum comosum were observed. One form occurred on higher altitudes, the other on lower altitudes. Morphological, molecular and ecological studies conclude that the two forms both are entitled to species recognition. The high altitude form must still be referred to C. comosum s.l., while the low altitude form is a new species and it is described as C. rhizopendulum Bjorå & Hemp sp. nov. The two species inhabit mutually completely exclusive habitats on Kilimanjaro. Whereas C. comosum has a wide ecological potential, C. rhizopendulum has narrow ecological demands as a highly adapted specialist. The two species are easily distinguished morphologically. Molecular studies show that C. comosum is of polyphyletic origin, and the species complex needs revision.     

New species of Metrinura Mendes (Zygentoma: Nicoletiidae) from Queensland, Australia

Abstract  Two new species of silverfish of the genus Metrinura Mendes are described from the Undara lava flow region, Queensland, Australia. Metrinura subtropica sp. nov. was collected in caves and Metrinura tropica sp. nov. from under rocks or logs. A key to all species in the genus is provided.     

A new species of the spider genus Baalzebub (Araneae,Theridiosomatidae) from Brazilian caves

A new species of the spider genus Baalzebub Coddington from Brazil, B. acutum sp. nov., is described and illustrated based on 95 specimens collected from caves around the Iron Quadrangle in the state of Minas Gerais. This species is recognized by male palpal bulb with strong and large conductor covering almost entire embolus, and epigyne of females with long and tapered scape, which extends towards the spinners. Baalzebub acutum sp. nov. is the second species recorded from Brazil, the first for Brazilian caves, bringing the total number of species in the genus to seven in the world.     

Genome biology of a novel lineage of planctomycetes widespread in anoxic aquatic environments

Anaerobic strains affiliated with a novel order‐level lineage of the Phycisphaerae class were retrieved from the suboxic zone of a hypersaline cyanobacterial mat and anoxic sediments of solar salterns. Genome sequences of five isolates were obtained and compared with metagenome‐assembled genomes representing related uncultured bacteria from various anoxic aquatic environments. Gene content surveys suggest a strictly fermentative saccharolytic metabolism for members of this lineage, which could be confirmed by the phenotypic characterization of isolates. Genetic analyses indicate that the retrieved isolates do not have a canonical origin of DNA replication, but initiate chromosome replication at alternative sites possibly leading to an accelerated evolution. Further potential factors driving evolution and speciation within this clade include genome reduction by metabolic specialization and rearrangements of the genome by mobile genetic elements, which have a high prevalence in strains from hypersaline sediments and mats. Based on genetic and phenotypic data a distinct group of strictly anaerobic heterotrophic planctomycetes within the Phycisphaerae class could be assigned to a novel order that is represented by the proposed genus Sedimentisphaera gen. nov. comprising two novel species, S. salicampi gen. nov., sp. nov. and S. cyanobacteriorum gen. nov., sp. nov.     

Amphipod crustaceans from anchihaline cave waters of the Galapagos Islands

Three species of blind Amphipoda are recorded from anchihaline cave waters in the Galapagos Islands. One of these, Galapsiellus leleuporum (Monod, 1970) was previously know from the islands; the male is described for the first time. The other two belong to families with predominantly (though not exclusively) deep-sea members: Valettietta cavernicola sp. nov. (family Lysianassidae; and Antronicippe serrata gen. et sp. nov. (family Pardaliscidae). The genus Valettietta was not previously recorded from caves; it contained two abyssal species in the Atlantic, while a third species was recorded from the Pacific in a vertical haul between 0 and 5300 m. Antronicippe is closely related to Spelaeonicippe , a genus with two species known from anchihaline caves in the Canary Islands and the West Indies.     

Rivularia halophila sp. nov. (Nostocales,Cyanobacteria): the first species of Rivularia described with the modern polyphasic approach

ABSTRACT

Natural populations of a Rivularia-like cyanobacterium were collected from the carbonate deposits of the temporarily flooded littoral zone of a hypersaline, high elevation lake, The Laguna Negra, Andes, Argentina. Subsequently, the cyanobacterial strain PUNA-NP3, named after its origin (Puna Volcanic Plateau) was isolated from these Rivularia-like rounded, pillow-like, black microbial mats. None of the previously described species of the genus Rivularia occupy inland, hypersaline aquatic environments. After morphological examination of this strain, we found clear morphological autapomorphies, such as mucilaginous pads at the bases of the young trichomes, wide trichomes and filaments, and uniquely branched trichomes. Furthermore, based on results from 16S rRNA phylogeny and analysis of the 16S-23S ITS region, PUNA-NP3 was found to be an independent lineage of the evolutionary tree. Based on the combination of ecological, morphological and molecular evidence, we name strain PUNA-NP3 Rivularia halophila sp. nov. a new species under requirements of the International Code of Nomenclature for Algae, Fungi and Plants.     

On the phylogeny of Euryteinae (Crustacea,Copepoda, Cyclopoida), with description of one new species from Korea

Euryte koreana sp. nov. is described from the shallow littoral on the East Coast of South Korea, and represents the first record of the subfamily Euryteinae Monchenko, 1974 in the Pacific Ocean north of the tropics. It belongs to a group of species that have the caudal rami length/width ratio of around four, but differs from all congeners by a number of morphological features. Detailed drawings and extensive scanning electron micrographs of many characters of ornamentation provided for this species should serve as a benchmark for distinguishing closely related species in this subfamily with conservative macro-morphology. A morphologically distinct population from anchialine caves in Mallorca, identified previously as Euryte longicauda Philippi, 1843, is described as another new species: Euryte jaumei sp. nov. To test the phylogenetic relationships of its members and previous hypotheses about generic placement of two species associated with scleractinian corals, several cladistic analyses are performed on all 16 currently recognized species of Euryteinae and two outgroups, Neocyclops australiensis Karanovic, 2008 and Troglocyclops janstocki Rocha and Iliffe, 1994, using 25 morphological characters. All resulting trees suggest a close relationship between the two commensal species and them as a sister clade to all other Euryteinae. They are transferred into a newly erected genus Coraleuryte gen. nov., as C. bellatula (Humes, 1991) comb. nov. and C. verecunda (Humes, 1992) comb. nov., and a revised diagnoses is provided for the genus Euryte Philippi, 1843. Obtained cladograms also show that Ancheuryte Herbst, 1989 is nested deeply within the Euryte clade, so the genus is synonymized and its only species is transferred, as E. notabilis (Herbst, 1989) comb. nov. A key to species of Euryteinae is also provided.     

Cystoporida (Bryozoa) from the Emsian Stage (Lower Devonian) of the Salair Ridge and Gorny and Rudny Altai

Eight bryozoan species of the order Cystoporida are described from the Emsian Stage of the Lower Devonian in the western Altai-Sayan Folded Area. Five of them are new species: Fistulipora salairiensis sp. nov., Fistuliramus fasciculus sp. nov., Fistuliphragma sibirica sp. nov., F. moniliformis sp. nov., and Fistulocladia cincinnata sp. nov. The others belong to the genera Ganiella, Physallidopora, and Fistuliporidra. Most of the cystoporid species studied from the Emsian Stage in the Altai-Sayan Folded Area are widespread laterally. Six cystoporid species have a narrow stratigraphic range and are, therefore, characteristic species of the bryozoan biostratigraphic zones of this region. The species of Physallidopora cantabrica Ernst et Buttler and Fistuliporidra hibera Ernst et Buttler, for the first time encountered in the Emsian of Gorny and Rudny Altai, were previously described from coeval deposits in northwestern Spain.     

First description of an euryoecious acanthoecid choanoflagellate species,Enibas tolerabilis gen. et sp. nov. from a salar in the Chilean Andes based on morphological and transcriptomic data

In general, acanthoecid choanoflagellates have been described to occur exclusively in brackish water to marine habitats. Only recently, two studies have proven their existence in inland waters. One of them has shown, that an acanthoecid species from a small lake (near Apia on the island of Upolu, Samoa) is strictly freshwater adapted, not able to tolerate even brackish water. In this study, we present the first euryoecious acanthoecid species, able to live and reproduce in freshwater as well as under hypersaline conditions. The new species, Enibas tolerabilis gen. et sp. nov. was isolated in 2017 from the Salar de Ascotán in the Altiplano at 3750 m a. s. l., Northern Chile. The salinity at the time of sampling was 6 PSU. A series of autecological experiments have revealed a salinity tolerance from freshwater up to 70 PSU. In our phylogenetic analysis, E. tolerabilis gen. et sp. nov. clustered within the family of Acanthoecidae, forming a well-supported sister clade together with two other, environmental choanoflagellate sequences. We erected a new genus, Enibas gen. nov. and described the morphology, molecular biology and autecology for E. tolerabilis gen. et sp. nov. which has a stephanoecid-like lorica morphology. We emphasize that the definition of the genus Stephanoeca, being polyphyletic, is in urgent need of revision as we showed that this morphology is present in both acanthoecid families.     

Why most of the Timiriaseviinae (Ostracoda,Crustacea) became extinct

Mesozoic and Cenozoic species of Timiriaseviinae, like the recent species have ecological and biological properties defining them as k-strategists. The extinction of most of them could be due to the contraction of their niche during the Cyprididae explosion in the Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous. Their narrow ecological tolerance limits and poor dispersion abilities made them very vulnerable during major environmental disturbances. Their low rate of speciation during the Tertiary and Quaternary in Europe did not allow to start a new cycle of diversification. This could be due to the change of the reproductive pattern from bisexual to parthenogenetic.     

Biodiversity and monitoring of colorless filamentous bacteria in sulfide aquatic systems of North Caucasus region

Bacterial mats in sulfide aquatic systems of North Caucasus are basically composed by the species of genera Thiothrix and Sphaerotilus. Additionally, several non-filamentous sulfur-oxidizing bacteria were isolated from the mats and several minor 16S rRNA phylotypes were found in clone libraries from these mats. The minor components were affiliated with Proteobacteria, Chlorobia, Cyanobacteria and Firmicutes. Even in an individual mat population heterogeneity of Thiothrix spp. was revealed by analysis of 16S rRNA gene and RAPD-PCR. Five Thiothrix isolates were described as new species Thiothrix caldifontis sp. nov. and Thiothrix lacustris sp. nov. In the Thiothrix-Sphaerotilus type of bacterial mat the proportion of dominant organisms might be influenced by sulfide concentration in the spring water. The higher sulfide concentration (more than 10 mg/l) in the spring water is more favorable for the development of bacterial mats with dominant Thiothrix organisms than for Thiothrix-Sphaerotilus type of sulfur mat.     

Systematics and palaeoecology of middle Toarcian Asteroidea (Echinodermata) from the “Seuil du Poitou”, Western France

Complete, articulated starfish fossils are rare. However, more frequently encountered dissociated skeletal elements (ossicles) permit reliable taxonomic identification, making them a valuable data source for diversity estimates. Nearly 300 asteroid ossicles, collected from the middle Toarcian marls in western France can be assigned to five species. Four species and two genera are described: Comptoniaster vrinensis nov. sp. (Goniasteridae), Poncetaster crateri nov. gen. nov. sp. (Stauranderasteridae), Galbaster recurrans nov. gen. nov. sp. (Goniasteridae) and Pentasteria? liasica nov. sp. (Astropectinidae). The known diversity of Early Jurassic asteroids is increased from 12 to 16 species. These taxa illustrate the diversification of crown-group asteroids early in the Jurassic, following the Permo-Triassic crisis. They also reflect bias of the fossil record, and imply the existence of numerous ghost lineages in the evolutionary trees of extant groups. Variation in asteroid diversity across the “Seuil du Poitou” was driven by ecological constraints. The relative frequency (abundance of ossicles and diversity) of goniasterids and stauranderasterids increases in shallower environments. The Benthopectinidae, represented by Plesiastropecten hallovensis, occurred primarily from deep-shelf sediments. Similar ecological patterns are observed for more recent fossil and extant relatives, which further supports the idea of conservative evolution in post-Palaeozoic starfishes since the Early Jurassic.