Pollen morphology and relationships of the Misodendraceae (Santalales)

The stem–parasitic family Misodendraceae is composed of a single genus, Misoden–drum , of 12 species endemic to the subantarctic Nothofagus forests of Chile and Argentina. Pollen of nine species was examined in the light microscope and scanning and transmission electron microscopes. Pollen is spheroidal (P/E 1 :1), sparsely echi–nate and polyporate. Aperture number is variable within and among species ranging from (3–)4–19 pores scattered randomly over the surface. Ultrastructurally, the pollen wall is composed primarily of endexine with the ektexine represented only by spines and an occasional thin granular layer between these elements. Pollen data indicate ties with the recently resurrected santalalean family Eremolepidaceae including Lepidoceras.     

An extraordinary shift in life habit within a genus of cyclopid copepods in Lake Tanganyika

We here describe a new species of cyclopid copepod, Eucyclops bathanalicola sp. nov. , parasitic on a gastropod endemic to Lake Tanganyika, Bathanalia straeleni (Cerithioidea, Paludomidae). E. bathanalicola is distinguished by the possession of praecoxal claws on the maxillules, by the modified maxillae which lack any trace of an endopod on the powerful distal claw, and by the reduction of the maxillipeds to minute unarmed lobes. In the character states exhibited by the female body, antennules and swimming legs 1–5, the new species closely resembles a typical free living Eucyclops . The impact of the adoption of parasitism as a life habit is expressed primarily in the modification of the postmandibular mouthparts. As a member of the Cyclopidae, this species represents a unique foray into a parasitic lifestyle from an otherwise free-living group of copepods inhabiting Lake Tanganyika. This is the first record of a parasitic copepod on a mollusc host within this ancient lake and only the second family of freshwater gastropods reported to host copepods.  © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2006, 146 , 275–285. No claim to original US government works.     

Distribution, morphological description, and molecular characterization of Xiphinema and Longidorous spp. associated with plants (Miscanthus spp. and Panicum virgatum) used for biofuels

Longidorid plant pathogens, specifically Longidorus and Xiphinema , are known to reduce the biomass and seed yields of several monocotyledonous host plants and may serve as vectors for certain plant viruses. The occurrence and densities of species in these genera in the Midwestern United States may be of concern in the production of two biofuel plant species – Miscanthus ( Miscanthus × giganteus ) and Panicum virgatum . Here we present results from a morphological and molecular survey of plant parasitic nematodes in which two species of Xiphinema ( X. americanum and X. rivesi ) and one species of Longidorus ( L. breviannulatus ) were detected. A total of 73 soil samples were collected from 19 sites (nine Miscanthus and 10 P. virgatum ) in three states during 2008. Xiphinema spp. was found in 36% of the Miscanthus plots and in 26% of the P. virgatum plots with a population density range of 22–857/100 cm³ soil. L. breviannulatus was detected in association with Miscanthus plot in Havana, IL, in large numbers (54/100 cm³ soil). The occurrence of this species was associated with severe damage to the fibrous root system, including stunting and necrosis. Short notes, measurements, illustrations and molecular data are given to the species level.     

New species of Stigmatomyces from Asia

Four new species of Stigmatomyces (Ascomycota, Laboulbeniomycetes, Stigmatomycetinae) parasitic on flies (Diptera) are described. These are S. aphaniosomae, parasitic on an undescribed species of Aphaniosoma (Chyromyidae) from Jordan; S. deemingii, parasitic on Milichia pubescens (Milichiidae) from Yemen; S. macanus, parasitic on Phortica spp. (Drosophilidae) from Taiwan; and S. mosilli, parasitic on Mosillus subsultans (Ephydridae) from Pakistan. Chyromyidae is a new host family for Laboulbeniales, and S. aphaniosomae is the first of the Laboulbeniales to be reported from Jordan.     

Record of a larval Parataeniophorus brevis from Hawaii

A 7.2 mm notochordal-length larva of Parataeniophorus brevis is described and illustrated from the fifth and the smallest specimen, collected near Hawaii. This larva is compared to all other described species of the family Mirapinnatidae, and is unique in having the unpaired fin rays developing in the finfold. The three species of Parataeniophorus can be distinguished on the basis of the number of dorsal-fin and anal-fin rays: bertelseni , 18–20 and 16–18; brevis , 13–16 and 13–15; gulosus 28–33 and 23–29, respectively.     

Types of parasitism by larvae of water mites (Acari: Hydrachnellae)

The larvae of Hydrachnellae can be divided into three types, based on the habits of the parasitic (larval) stage in the life cycle. (1) The larvae do not leave the water. Parasitizing aquatic insects, they are permanently submerged and wet. Only some species of the family Hydrachnidae belong to this type. (2) The larvae leave the water. The parasitic phase occurs either on insects living on the water surface, or in the air stores of aquatic insects. In both cases the larvae are not in direct contact with water during the parasitic phase. The Limnocharidae, Eylaidae and some species of the Hydrachnidae belong to this type. (3) The larvae parasitize insects which live in the air and which can leave the direct proximity to water; therefore it may be difficult for the mite larva to return to water. Except for the Hydrachnidae, Limnocharidae and Eylaidae, all families of the Hydrachnellae belong to this type.     

Correlated evolution of the association between aphids and ants and the association between aphids and plants with extrafloral nectaries

The evolution of extrafloral nectaries (EFN) and the evolution of ant-aphid associations may have influenced each other. Published records allowed me to determine whether aphid species are associated with ants and whether they are associated with host plant species with EFNs. On the basis of these results a comparative phylogenetic study was conducted on a subgroup of monoeocious aphid species living above the soil surface. As aphid phylogeny was unresolved below the family level, I analysed two families – Aphididae and Drepanosiphidae – separately. Within each family, a large number of random phylogenies were generated and each random tree was analysed with a standard phylogenetic approach. The results suggest, on the one hand, that being tended by ants increases the likelihood that an aphid species will evolve an association with host plants that produce EFNs, or on the other hand, that aphid species associated with host plants carrying EFNs were more likely than other species to evolve an association with ants. I present two new hypotheses – the host-selection hypothesis and the host-sharing hypothesis – to explain these evolutionary patterns. The hypothesis that ant-attended homopterans may function as EFNs is rejected by the evolutionary patterns found in this study.     

New or rarely reported chromosome numbers in taxa of subtribe Artemisiinae (Anthemideae, Asteraceae) from Mongolia

This study encompasses 25 chromosome counts of 18 species in the subtribe Artemisiinae (tribe Anthemideae) of the family Asteraceae, from Mongolia. Most (15 species) belong to Artemisia , the largest genus of the subtribe, whereas the others come from two genera very closely related to it: Ajania (two species) and Neopallasia (one species). Eleven counts are new reports, three are not consistent with previous reports and the remainder confirm scanty earlier information. The majority of the species have x  = 9 as their basic chromosome number, but there are some taxa with x  = 8. Ploidy levels range from 2 x to 6 x . The presence of B-chromosomes was detected in Ajania fruticulosa .  © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2006, 150 , 203–210.     

A new genus and two new species of Choniostomatidae (Copepoda) parasitic on two deep sea isopods

The systematic position of the little-deformed parasitic copepod family Nicothoidae to the much deformed family Choniostomatidae has been disputed for many years. The new genus Diexanthema gen. nov., based on Diexanthema desistoma sp. nov. and Diexanthema bathydiaita sp. nov. discovered on two deep-sea asellote isopod species, clearly links the family Nicothoidae (via male Diexanthema) to the family Choniostomatidae (via female Diexanthema). Based upon the extreme sexual dimorphism of this new genus, it is suggested that the family Nicothoidae be dissolved and its members placed within the family Choniostomatidae. It is concluded that the differences seen between these two parasitic groups is probably due more to host adaptations than reflecting any phylogenetic trend that is evolutionarily significant. It is felt that the deep-sea environment may serve as a refugium for archaic copepod forms which may possibly offer additional clues and insights into the phylogeny of the parasitic copepoda.
This investigation suggests that the life history and parasite/host relationships of Diexanthema desistoma are quite complicated and well geared to the life history of its isopod host, Chelator insignis.     

Cocoon silk chemistry in parasitic wasps (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonoidea) and their hosts

Bulk amino acid compositions of larval cocoon silks of 24 species of ichneumonoid parasitic wasps, representing 13 subfamilies that kill the host in a larval or prepupal stage, are compared with those of their hosts to test the hypothesis that amino acid compositions of major protein products should, in certain cases, be similar on energetic grounds. Although substantial variation in amino acid composition was found among both parasitoids and hosts, suggesting the production of different types of silks, no significant general matching was detected. However, the trend in the degree of similarity observed was in the direction predicted by a priori consideration of the nature of the parasitoid – host association. Lack of a general association may be explained by the very simple silk glands of the parasitic wasps and by the fact that, in most cases, their hosts are not completely consumed at a time when they are likely to contain any large reserves of silk proteins. The three species of Cotesia (Braconidae: Microgastrinae) investigated stood out in that their silks showed considerable interspecific variation in molar percentage amino acid composition, and this might be associated with their apparent utilization of α-helical silks rather than fibroins.  © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2004, 81 , 161–170.     

AVIAN BROOD PARASITISM AND ECTOPARASITE RICHNESS–SCALE‐DEPENDENT DIVERSITY INTERACTIONS IN A THREE‐LEVEL HOST–PARASITE SYSTEM

Brood parasitic birds, their foster species and their ectoparasites form a complex coevolving system composed of three hierarchical levels. However, effects of hosts’ brood parasitic life‐style on the evolution of their louse (Phthiraptera: Amblycera, Ischnocera) lineages have never been tested. We present two phylogenetic analyses of ectoparasite richness of brood parasitic clades. Our hypothesis was that brood parasitic life‐style affects louse richness negatively across all avian clades due to the lack of vertical transmission routes. Then, narrowing our scope to brood parasitic cuckoos, we explored macroevolutionary factors responsible for the variability of their louse richness. Our results show that taxonomic richness of lice is lower on brood parasitic clades than on their nonparasitic sister clades. However, we found a positive covariation between the richness of cuckoos’ Ischnoceran lice and the number of their foster species, possibly due to the complex and dynamic subpopulation structure of cuckoo species that utilize several host species. We documented diversity interactions across a three‐level host parasite system and we found evidence that brood parasitism has opposing effects on louse richness at two slightly differing macroevolutionary scales, namely the species richness and the genera richness.     

Canarian land snail diversity: conflict between anatomical and molecular data on the phylogenetic placement of five new species of Napaeus (Gastropoda, Pulmonata, Enidae)

Five new species of land snail (family Enidae) are described from La Gomera (Canary Islands) of which the majority, on the basis of anatomy alone, could be incorporated within a new supraspecific taxon. In addition to the morphological study of these new species, a region of the 16S mitochondrial gene is sequenced from three of the new species and a range of species of Napaeus from within its two subgenera ( Napaeinus and Napaeus ) . There is a disparity between the morphological and preliminary molecular phylogenetic data. Possible explanations for this conflict are discussed, as well as the evolutionary relationships among these different taxa, and it is suggested that this group may be an excellent model for further studies of adaptation and diversification.  © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2006, 89 , 169–187.     

Genome sequences of three species in the family Planctomycetaceae

Most of the species in the family Planctomycetaceae are of interest for their eukaryotic-like cell structures and characteristics of resistance to extreme environments. Here, we report draft genome sequences of three aquatic parasitic species of this family, Singulisphaera acidiphila (DSM 18658T), Schlesneria paludicola (DSM 18645T), and Zavarzinella formosa (DSM 19928T).     

Unciliated body surface in three species of the Umagillidae (Dalyellioida,Platyhelminthes)

Anoplodiera voluta Westblad, Seritia elegans (Westblad) and Wahlia macrostylifera Westblad are species of the family Umagillidae living in the intestine of the holothurian Parastichopus tremulus. In all three species, part of the epidermis is unciliated, but unlike unciliated epidermis in the major parasitic flat-worm groups, it is cellular and has intraepithelial nuclei. The surface of the unciliated cells in A. voluta is convex with the cells separated by lateral gaps. The cells have two distinct regions: the basal, organelle-rich part and the apical part which contains few identifiable organelles except vesicles. In W. macrostylifera the unciliated cells have a flat surface and, between them, narrower gaps that in some cases widen to paracellular compartments below the cell surface. Apically the cells contain electron-dense vesicles, often in contact with the surface. S. elegans has unciliated cells separated by gaps. In all these species, apical vesicles indicate secretory activity. Comparison of the epidermis of these three species with the neodermis of the major parasitic flatworm groups within the Neodermata does not support a close relationship of the three to the Neodermata.     

Entomological and functional role of floral strips in an organic apple orchard: Hymenopteran parasitoids as a case study

Habitat manipulation techniques improve the availability of resources required by natural enemies to increase their effectiveness. This study focused on the effects of floral strips on Hymenopteran parasitoid presence. The experiments were conducted during spring 2007 in one organic low-input apple orchard located in south-eastern France. The density and the diversity of parasitic wasps collected from sown floral strips were higher than those from mown plants. The family of parasitic wasps of Braconidae was strongly dominant, followed by Mymaridae and Pteromalidae. By studying 26 flowering species, the greatest diversity and density of parasitic wasps were collected from Potentilla reptans, Achillea millefolium, Trifolium repens and Torilis arvensis. In terms of the early flowering plants, the most important results were observed in Euphorbia helioscopia, Senecio vulgaris and Veronica persica. To give an idea of the functional role of these plants, we studied the parasitic wasps of the diapausing larvae (cocoon) of codling moth Cydia pomonella. We recorded three emerged species: Ascogaster quadridentata, Pristomerus vulnerator and the hyperparasite Perilampus fulvicornis. However, none of these species have been observed on the 26 studied plants. Hence, this result may be suggesting that the studied plants do not have a functional role concerning these parasitoids. These studies may be advantageous for biological control programs in order to select flowering plant species attracting parasitic wasps specific to fruit pests.     

New and little-known Komokiacea (Foraminifera) from the bathyal and abyssal Weddell Sea and adjacent areas

Based on samples from the south-east Atlantic and Southern Ocean collected during the ANDEEP III campaign we describe three new species, Ipoa pennata sp. nov., Septuma stellata sp. nov. and Skeletonia variabilis gen. et sp. nov. , of the enigmatic deep-sea foraminiferan superfamily Komokiacea. A further six species, Ipoa fragila Tendal & Hessler, 1977, Komokia multiramosa Tendal & Hessler, 1977, Normanina conferta (Norman, 1878), Septuma ocotillo Tendal & Hessler, 1977, S. brachyramosa Kamenskaya, 1993, and S. komokiformis Kamenskaya 1993, are redescribed. Together, these nine species occurred at 14 stations across the depth range 1549–4935 m. Normanina conferta was found at 11 stations (1579–4935 m); S. ocotillo (4526–4935 m), S. brachyramosa (1819–4730 m) and S. stellata (2603–4934 m) at six stations each; I. fragila (4649–4934 m) at five stations; K. multiramosa (4700–4935) and S. variabilis (4696–4932 m) at four stations each; I. pennata (4803–4934 m) at three stations and S. komokiformis (3103–4526 m) at two stations. Five species occur in both the North Atlantic Ocean and the Southern Ocean, suggesting that close faunal links exist between these areas. Three were first described from the North Pacific Ocean while others, including the three new species, are so far known only from the Southern Ocean.  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 151 , 219–251.     

Morphometric variability between and within species of Ligophorus Euzet & Suriano, 1977 (Monogenea: Ancyrocephalidae) in the Mediterranean Sea

Monogeneans belonging to the genus Ligophorus Euzet & Suriano, 1977 are parasitic on the gills of several fish species of the family Mugilidae (mullets). At present, 12 species belonging to this genus have been described in the Mediterranean Sea and each host species is infected by a number of Ligophorus species that are not found on other mullets. A multivariate study using principal component and canonical variate analyses was carried out, with the aim of investigating the extent of morphometric variability within and between the 12 Mediterranean species of Ligophorus. Significant intraspecific morphometric variation was detected between two allopatric populations of L. angustus Euzet & Suriano, 1977 parasitic on Chelon labrosus from Sardinia; however, the existence of a new species of Ligophorus needs further evidence. Analysis of interspecific variation confirms the validity of the morphological keys used at present for the identification of Ligophorus at the species level and provides a picture of the relationships between species, indicating that the two species parasitising Mugil cephalus, L. chabaudi Euzet & Suriano, 1977 and L. mugilinus (Hargis, 1955) are the most differentiated. The hypothesis that strict host-parasite ecological relationships may be the result of co-speciation processes is briefly discussed.     

Unexpected cryptic species diversity of parasites of the family Xenidae (Strepsiptera) with a constant diversification rate over time

Parasitism is one of the most successful and ancient strategies. Due to the specialized lifestyle of parasites, they are usually affected by reductions and changes in their body plan in comparison with nonparasitic sister groups. Extreme environmental conditions may impose restraints on behavioural or physiological adaptations to a specific host and limit morphological changes associated with speciation. Such morphological homogeneity has led to the diversity of parasites being underestimated in morphological studies. By contrast, the species concept has dramatically changed in many parasitic groups during recent decades of study using DNA sequence data. Here we tested the phenomenon of cryptic species diversity in the twisted‐wing parasite family Xenidae (Strepsiptera) using nuclear and mitochondrial DNA sequence data for a broad sample of Xenidae. We used three quantitative methods of species delimitation from the molecular phylogenetic data – one distance‐based (ABGD) and two tree‐based (GMYC, bPTP). We found 77–96 putative species in our data and suggested the number of Xenidae species to be more diverse than expected. We identified 67 hosts to species level and almost half of them were not previously known as hosts of Xenidae. The mean number of host species per putative species varied between 1.39 and 1.55. The constant rate in net diversification can be explained by the flexibility of this parasitic group, represented by their ability to colonize new host lineages combined with passive long‐range dispersal by hosts.     

Oral Fimbriae and Papillae in Parasitic Lampreys (Petromyzontiformes)

There are 38 species of living lampreys, 18 parasitic and 20 nonparasitic. The parasitic species feed as adults, while the nonparasitic do not. The taxonomy and systematics of the living lampreys is based primarily on dentition characters. Since the number of oral fimbriae and oral papillae have never been systematically investigated in lampreys, we compared them in 17 of the 18 parasitic lampreys to assess their usefulness as taxonomic characters. Both showed little variation with total length and sex within a species, while exhibiting greater variation between species. Parasitic species belonging to the three lamprey families could be distinguished using the number of oral fimbriae: southern hemisphere Mordaciidae (0) and Geotriidae (55–65) and northern hemisphere Petromyzontidae (81–144). However, the taxonomic usefulness of the two characters at the species level was limited. Ten out of the 17 species of parasitic lampreys were placed into four distinct groups based on their numbers of oral fimbriae, and only in two of these was the character diagnostic. Twelve out of the 17 species were placed into two distinct groups based on their numbers of oral papillae and for none of these was the character diagnostic. Blood feeders and intermediate feeders (blood + flesh) were shown to have significantly higher numbers of oral fimbriae than flesh feeders. The higher numbers of oral fimbriae in the former two types of feeders were presumed to be linked to their greater need to create a good seal for feeding purposes. Blood feeders were also shown to have significantly higher numbers of oral papillae than either intermediates or flesh feeders. The higher numbers of oral papillae in the blood feeders were presumed to be linked to their greater need to find suitable attachment sites for feeding purposes.