THE ANATOMY OF CYLINDROTIS QUADRASI FORM OKINAWA ISLAND, JAPAN AND THE SUBFAMILIAL POSITION OF THE GENUS CYLINDROTIS MOLLENDORFF, 1895 (ARCHAEOPULMONATA: ELLOBIIDAE)

Cylindrotis quadrasi Mollendorff, 1895, the type species ofthe ellobiid genus Cylindrotis, was collected from Okinawa Island,southwest Japan. This is the first record of C. quadrasi inJapan and the third in the world. The anatomical charactersof this species, i.e. shell, head-foot, pallial cavity, radula,stomach, reproductive system, and central nervous system, aredescribed in detail for the first time. The significance ofthese observations is discussed and the subfamilial positionof Cylindrotis is reconsidered. Cylindrotis was included inthe Pythiinae, the most primitive group of the Ellobiidae, basedon the conchological characters alone. However, the male andfemale tracts of the reproductive system are entirely separated,and other internal organs exhibit highly derived conditions.Accordingly, Cylindrotis is transferred from the Pythiinae tothe Ellobiinae. Among the genera of the latter subfamily, Cylindrotisseems to be allied to Blauneria Shuttleworth, 1854 and LcucophytiaWinckworth, 1949. (Received 1 February 1993; accepted 7 June 1993)     

REVISION OF THE GENUS ACAVUS FROM SRI LANKA (GASTROPODA: ACAVIDAE)

The genus Acavus from Sri Lanka includes three species, Acavushaemastoma (Linnaeus), Acavus superbus (L. Pfeiffer) and Acavusphoenix (L. Pfeiffer) with two subspecies, Acavus phoenix phoenix(L. Pfeiffer) and Acavus phoenix castaneus new subspecies.The conchological and anatomical differences between these species,as well as their intraspecific variation are described. Theirdistribution is shown on maps and all locality records are listed.The presence of extensive intraspecific polymorphism, the developmentof geographical subspecies and the presumable hybridizationbetween some species show that the Acavus species are not isolatedrelict species, but that speciation is in progress and thatthe radiation of the Acavus species is probably much youngerthan the radiation of the acavid genera. The three Acavus speciesare not acutely endangered at present. In contrast to manyother land snails, there is no risk of a rapid decline of theAcavus species due to deforestation, because these species alsooccur in synanthropic habitats. (Received 22 December 1998; accepted 2 October 1999)     

Morphological and Molecular Resolution of a Putative Cryptic Species Complex: a Case Study of Notoacmea Fascicularis (Menke, 1851) (Gastropoda: Patellogastropoda)

Evidence that Notoacmea fascicularis (Menke, 1851) is a complexof at least two distinct taxa of species rank is ambiguous.A discriminant function analysis of conchological data showsa weak geographic effect, while radular morphology clearly delineatestwo sympatric groups with rare intermediates. Lastly, moleculardata (mt cytochrome c oxidase subunit I) suggests a single speciesand a geographic effect. We consider N. fascicularis to be a singletaxon, variable for radular lateral tooth morphology. In thepast these two different radular morphologies would be indicativeof generic rank. Our knowledge of the intraspecific variability ofmost gastropod characters is poor, and this makes specific identificationsor groupings based on single character systems such as the radulaprecarious. Adequate sampling and evaluation of population-levelcharacter states (conchological, anatomical and molecular) isneeded to identify as well as falsify cryptic species complexes. (Received 28 August 1997; accepted 6 May 1998)     

THE BIOMPHALARIA HAVANENSIS COMPLEX (GASTROPODA: PLANORBIDAE) IN CUBA: A MORPHOLOGICAL AND GENETIC STUDY

Conchological, anatomical and genetic characteristics werecompared among several populations of the Biomphalaria havanensis complexfrom Cuba and other localities in the Caribbean region. Two morphometricmeasures (height and diameter) distinguished two closely similarmorphs of the shell. The reproductive system also separated thesemorphs, particularly upon comparison of sizes of the penis sheathand the preputium. The two morphological groups differed in9 to 12 fixed alleles according to population. Further allozymicdata analyzed in the present work confirmed this difference.The results strongly support the assumption that the B. havanensis complexincludes two distinct species: B. havanensis, for which thetype locality is the swampy area near the vicinity of Havana,Cuba and Biomphalaria sp. a species which commonly occurs inCuba and in Dominican Republic. The taxonomic identity of Biomphalariasp. is discussed. (Received 28 January 2000; accepted 15 August 2000)     

On the controversial questions of the taxonomy of Bivalvia (Mollusca): Too many species or too few characters?

Problems emerging in the course of taxonomic studies and species diagnostics of freshwater bivalves are discussed by the example of one of the bivalve groups (the family Unionidae). It is shown that one of the causes of the current, diametrically opposing views on specific and generic systematics of Bivalvia is the fact that researchers revising taxonomic groups ignore complex analysis of several independent characters (conchological, anatomical, biochemical, genetic, etc.).     

ANATOMICAL STUDIES REVEAL NEW PHYLOGENETIC INTERPRETATIONS IN LISSACHATINA (PULMONATA: ACHATINIDAE)

This is essentially a preliminary report on the revision ofsubgenus Lissachatina of the African land snail family Achatinidae.It extends the conchological revisionary work of J.C. Bequaert(1950) along the complementary line of comparative anatomicalstudies of the reproductive tracts. This is directed towardthe goal of a better understanding of phylo-geny in this family.Species emphasized are Achatina albopicta E.A. Smith,1878; A.allisa Reeve, 1849; A. fulica Bowdich, 1822; A. loveridgei Clench& Archer, 1930; A. zanzibarica Bourguignat, 1879, and thenew species A. eleanorae. Relegated tosynonymy are A. albicansPfeiffer, 1851; A. delorioli Bonnet, 1864; and A. iredalei Preston,1910. Tangible anatomical characters separate subgenera Lissachatinaand Achatina. A. capelloi Furtado, 1886; A. craveni E.A. Smith,1881; and A. connollyi Preston, 1912 are transferred from Lissachatinato Achatina s.s. Other transfers are in progress. (Received 26 September 1994; accepted 25 November 1994)     

Paramphistomum daubneyi: characteristics of infection in three lymnaeid species

Experimental infections of two South American lymnaeids (Lymnaea neotropica and L. viatrix var. ventricosa) with Paramphistomum daubneyi were carried out to determine if these snail species could sustain larval development of this digenean and, if so, to specify their potential for cercarial production. A French population of Galba truncatula infected and raised according to the same protocol served as controls. In both experiments, prevalence of P. daubneyi infections in snails did not significantly differ from each other. In snail groups evaluated for cercarial shedding (first experiment), a significantly lower number of shed cercariae was noted for L. neotropica, while those from G. truncatula and L. v. ventricosa did not differ significantly from each other. Dissection of infected snails at day 65 post-exposure at 20 °C (second experiment) found significantly lower burdens of P. daubneyi rediae and cercariae in the bodies of L. neotropica than in those of G. truncatula and L. v. ventricosa. Compared to total cercarial production observed in dissected snails, the percentage of cercariae which exited from snails was 75.6% for G. truncatula, 21.6% for L. neotropica, and 91.4% for L. v. ventricosa. This last species seems to be a good candidate for metacercarial production of P. daubneyi.     

The limited value of traditional morphometric features in stromatoporoid taxonomy

The morphological variation of stromatoporoids, which are solitary organisms, is partitioned into its presumably genetic and environmental components. Potentially heritable, environmentally mediated and residual components of morphological variability were estimated in a test set containing Devonian stromatoporoids of the genus Gerronostromaria from southern Poland using analysis of variance. The taxonomic importance of traditional morphometric features is limited, because they are dominated by the intra‐skeletal component of variance. Conventional metrics were therefore replaced by stereological and textural quantities. Both stereological and textural features are dominated by the inter‐skeletal and inter‐locality components of variation and thus may be valuable in taxonomic and environmental studies of stromatoporoids. Statistical analyses of these characters (principal component analysis and cluster analysis) were performed. Of 13 characters considered most useful in taxonomic studies, only five have been used previously in conventional species definitions.     

PATTERNS OF REPRODUCTION IN FOUR LITTORINA SPECIES

The reproductive periodicities of four Iittorinids, Littorinaneglecta, L. nigrolineata, L. saxatilis and L. arcana were examinedin sympatric populations at Porth Swtan, Anglesey, North Wales.Three species, L. neglecta, L. nigrolineata and L. arcana, werefound to show marked reproductive periodicity. L. saxatilisshowed no periodicity and large numbers of animals were foundin breeding condition throughout the year. The oviparous speciesL. nigrolineata and L. arcana, came into reproductive conditionin the late summer or early autumn, L. nigrolineata in Augustand L. arcana in September, and their populations at Porth Swtanhad few individuals in breeding condition in the late springand early summer. L. neglecta, however, showed a periodicitywith high numbers of breeding animals throughout the springand summer and very low numbers in the autumn. For L. neglectathe basis of reproductive periodicity is shown to be the synchronizedannual life cycle of individuals of this species. It is thereforebelieved to differ from the other three species in which individualsare longer-lived and are supposed to undergo seasonal periodsof reproductive inactivity. (Received 2 March 1982;     

ALLOZYME COMPARISON OF LITTORINA SPECIES FROM THE NORTHWESTERN PACIFIC

Three unknown Littorina species were revealed by allozyme studyof snails from the northwestern Pacific. One of them was foundin Kasatka Bay (Pacific coast of Iturup Island, south KurileIslands) together with L. sitkana, which it resembled in anatomicalfeatures, but the genetic distance between these species wasD=0.622. The second one was found in Tauiskaya Inlet (northernpart of Okhotsk Sea) and was again similar to L. sitkana inmorphological and anatomical features, but D=1.160. The thirdspecies was found in Egvekinot Inlet (Anadyrskiy Gulf, BeringSea) in sympatry with L. natica, to which was close genetically(D=0.256) although it differed in shell shape. (Received 4 April 2005; accepted 26 August 2005)     

GENETIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION OF LEAF EPIDERMAL ANATOMY IN PUCCINELLIA (POACEAE)

Phenotypic plasticity of anatomical leaf epidermal characters was assessed in the halophytic grass genus Puccinellia, to identify those of potential taxonomic utility. Characters with the greatest taxonomic potential are those that exhibit genetic variation and low plasticity. For the analysis, field-collected clones were divided and grown under a series of moisture and salinity regimes. Genetic variation and plasticity in response to environmental variation were assessed for 39 anatomical characters by analysis of among-clone and among-treatment variation, respectively. Both genetic variation and plasticity are widespread among the characters, and both are detected in greater frequency among continuously variable characters than among discretestate characters. Among continuously variable traits, average cell dimensions exhibit more plasticity than do maximum cell dimensions or ratios that reflect shapes and relative sizes. Among discrete-state characters, plasticity in the occurrence of papillae is found in nonstomatal intercostal cellular ranks, but not in costal or stomatal intercostal ranks. In Puccinellia, anatomical characters are, in general, neither more nor less plastic than those of macromorphology.     

PHYSIOLOGICAL VARIABILITY WITHIN TEN STRAINS OF CHAETOCEROS MUELLERI (BACILLARIOPHYCEAE)1

The effects of temperature, ionic composition, and conductivity on growth rates of ten strains of Chaetoceros muelleri Lemmerman (mostly var. subsalsum Johan. & Rushf.) were studied. Lipid content of stressed and unstressed cells and fatty acid composition were also determined. Considerable physiological variability was observed in the ten strains, although principal components analysis of physiological data indicated that all strains fell into one of two major groups: C. muelleri (var. muelleri and var. subsalsum) and an undescribed Chaetoceros species morphologically close to C. muelleri var. subsalsum. A high degree of agreement was found among morphological, physiological, and biochemical data sets, indicating that physiological and biochemical data may be helpful in making taxonomic decisions in diatoms, particularly in taxa with few morphological characters. We also conclude that nonmorphological characters such as those employed in the present study can be used to test phylogenetic hypotheses formulated from traditional morphological data.     

Population Analysis of Licuala glabra Griff. var. glabra (Palmae) using RAPD Profiling

Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) profiling revealed geneticdiversity among three populations ofLicuala glabra var. glabra,an understorey palm growing in the dipterocarp forests of Terengganu,Malaysia. The Bukit Bauk population had individuals withoutaerial stems. The Bukit Besi individuals had stem heights to30 cm, while those of the Rasau Kerteh population had stemsup to 4 m in height. Southern blot analysis confirmed that anapparent monomorphic band generated by the primer OPU-17 amongthe three different populations corresponds to the same locus.Six primers were used to generate 87 RAPD bands that formed2-state character raw data for estimating genetic distancesusing the simple matching coefficient of similarity. The phenogramgenerated by UPGMA of the RAPD data grouped the individualsfrom the three populations under three clusters. This was inagreement with the morphological grouping. The infraspecificL. glabra var.selangorensis Becc. was grouped closer to theL. glabra var. glabra individuals than to the outgroupL. scortechiniiBecc. Principal component analysis supported the observationfrom the phenogram. The results show discrete genetic structuringin the populations studied and provide useful information forfuture conservation measures. Copyright 1999 Annals of BotanyCompany Licuala glabra Griff. var. glabra, RAPD, palm, AMOVA, population, genetic diversity, conservation.     

高山松种实性状与生殖适应性

高山松(Pinus densata)是云南松(P. yunnanensis)与油松(P. tabulaeformis)自然杂交产生的二倍体杂种,是植物同倍体杂交物种形成的典型案例。高山松分布于青藏高原东南缘,占据了两个亲本种都不能正常生长的高海拔地带。良好生殖适应性的产生是物种形成的关键,但对高山松在高海拔生境下生殖适应性的变异与杂交起源遗传背景关系的研究尚未见报道。该研究通过对来自该种分布区内6个代表居群样本、13个反映高山松生殖适应性的种实性状的分析,探讨了其生殖性状在居群水平的变异模式,揭示了具有不同遗传组成和起源历史的高山松居群的生殖特性。研究结果表明:6个研究居群在种实性状上存在显著差异;可育种鳞数、总种鳞数、总种子数、可育种鳞率和可育种鳞密度等与纬度呈显著负相关关系;球果结种率与经度和生态梯度值呈显著的正相关关系;胚珠败育率则与经度和生态梯度值呈显著的负相关关系;球果长度也呈现了与经度的显著负相关。高山松球果结种率很高,平均为74%;球果的结种数、种子长和种翅长与云南松、油松及其它松属双维管亚属多数种接近;球果长度、球果总种鳞数接近油松的报道。这些结果表明,高山松在亲本种不能正常生长、繁衍的高原环境下具备正常的生殖能力;其种实特征在居群间分化显著并呈现一定的地理梯度变化。居群间的显著差异反映了其杂种起源特性,与高山松居群的遗传背景有关,也反映了处在异质生态环境中的高山松居群具有各自的生殖生态进化趋向。     

小地老虎雄蛾中胚层生殖道和附腺的细胞结构和分泌功能

通过光镜、电镜及组织化学等方法,研究了小地老虎生殖前期雄蛾中胚层生殖道和附腺的腺细胞结构和分泌功能,以及与精子形态和数量变化的关系,结果表明：(1)以缢缩位置、解剖形态、细胞结构、分泌方式、精子形态变化和数量变动为依据,将中胚层生殖道划分为修精囊、输精管、贮精囊、精包腺1～5段等8个区段;(2)中胚层生殖道和附腺具有相同的组织层次,自内向外分为单细胞上皮层、底膜、肌肉层和围膜等4层,但缺少表皮质内膜;(3)中胚层生殖道和附腺的腺细胞具有旺盛的合成和分泌蛋白质的能力,主要有内质网型和液泡型两种,前者有发达的粗面内质网和高尔基体,后者具有致密的核糖体和分泌泡;至少有4种分泌方式：即颗粒顶泌、液泡顶泌、胞质局泌和胞间分泌;修精囊、贮精囊、雄性附腺、精包腺1段的顶泌物为糖蛋白性质(PAS阳性)、局泌物为非糖蛋白性质(PAS阴性)。     

Rhus coriaria var. zebaria (Anacaridaceae), a new variety from Iraq

Rhus coriaria var. zebaria from Duhok/Aqrae, Kurdistan, Iraq is described as a variety new to science. Field expeditions started in spring 2011, continued during 2012 and 2013 with the aim of collecting sumac specimens from different physiographic regions of Kurdistan, Iraq. A total of ten plants for each variety were sampled. An equal number of tagged herbarium specimens were prepared. The holotype was designated and deposited together with other herbarium specimens in the herbarium of the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, Univ. of Duhok. Morphological characters of the leaf, inflorescence, flowers, infructescence, and fruit were studied. The pH value of the pericarp in addition to the hilum length was measured. Results were compared with Rhus coriaria L. var. coriaria. The most distinctive feature of the new variety is the dull whitish brown color of the drupe pericarp of var. zebaria as compared to the reddish brown color of the drupe pericarp of var. coriaria. The whitish color of the drupes of var. zebaria, in combination with their larger size, represents diagnostic characters for distinguishing this variety. In contrast, most leaf characters are of little or no taxonomic value in this species. Only shape, apex and marginal teeths of the leaflets show minor differences for separating the two varieties. Female and male inflorescences and flowers characters show no significant differences. Both hilum length and pH value characters may be useful for taxonomic application if mean values are taken in consideration.     

Evidence of Three Subspecies in Trifolium nigrescens Viv.

Germplasm accessions of Trifolium nigrescens Viv. were foundto belong to three distinct taxa which differed in morphology,hybrid seed-set in crosses among themselves and with white clover(T. repens L.), chromosomal distribution of rDNA genes, andrDNA internally transcribed spacer (ITS) region sequences. Thesetaxonomic groups correspond with T. nigrescens ssp. nigrescens,T. nigrescens ssp. petrisavii var.petrisavii and var. meneghinianum.The existence of var. meneghinianum has been rejected or ignoredin recent taxonomic treatments. The present study indicatesthat it is very distinctive and warrants at least subspeciesstatus. Phylogenetic analysis based on ITS sequences and podmorphology placed ssp. nigrescens as progenitor to the others.ITS sequences placed white clover closer to ssp. petrisaviibut neither DNA sequences nor rDNA chromosome locations clearlyshowed whether var. petrisavii or var. meneghinianum was closerto white clover. In contrast, results of hybridization studiesshowed that ssp. nigrescens gave full seed-set when pollinatedwith T. repens whereas both ssp. petrisavii var. petrisaviiand ssp. petrisavii var. meneghinianum gave poor seed-set. Allthree taxa showed close relationships with white clover andnone can clearly be shown to be a direct ancestor of T. repens.Copyright 2001 Annals of Botany Company Fabaceae, Trifolium nigrescens, Trifolium repens, internal transcribed spacer region (ITS), nuclear ribosomal DNA, interspecific hybridization     

A new approach to an old conundrum--DNA barcoding sheds new light on phenotypic plasticity and morphological stasis in microsnails (Gastropoda, Pulmonata, Carychiidae)

The identification of microsnail taxa based on morphological characters is often a time-consuming and inconclusive process. Aspects such as morphological stasis and phenotypic plasticity further complicate their taxonomic designation. In this study, we demonstrate that the application of DNA barcoding can alleviate these problems within the Carychiidae (Gastropoda, Pulmonata). These microsnails are a taxon of the pulmonate lineage and most likely migrated onto land independently of the Stylommatophora clade. Their taxonomical classification is currently based on conchological and anatomical characters only. Despite much confusion about historic species assignments, the Carychiidae can be unambiguously subdivided into two taxa: (i) Zospeum species, which are restricted to karst caves, and (ii) Carychium species, which occur in a broad range of environmental conditions. The implementation of discrete molecular data (COI marker) enabled us to correctly designate 90% of the carychiid microsnails. The remaining cases were probably cryptic Zospeum and Carychium taxa and incipient species, which require further investigation into their species status. Because conventional reliance upon mostly continuous (i.e. nondiscrete) conchological characters is subject to fallibility for many gastropod species assignments, we highly recommend the use of DNA barcoding as a taxonomic, cutting-edge method for delimiting microsnail taxa.