The geography of diversification in the mormoopids (Chiroptera: Mormoopidae)

The traditional explanation of the distribution of the Mormoopidae is that this family originated in southern Central America or northern South America, later expanding its range north to Mexico and the West Indies, and differentiating into eight species. An alternative fossil-based hypothesis argues that the family originated in the northern Neotropics, reached the Caribbean early in its history, and dispersed to South America after the completion of the Isthmus of Panama. The present study analyses new and previously published sequence data from the mitochondrial 12S, tRNA^val, 16S, and cytochrome b , and the nuclear Rag 2, to evaluate species boundaries and infer relationships among extant taxa. Fixed differences in cytochrome b often coincide with published morphological characters and show that the family contains at least 13 species. Two additional, morphologically indistinct, lineages are restricted to Suriname and French Guiana. Phylogeny-based inferences of ancestral area are equivocal on the geographical origin of mormoopids, in part because several internal nodes are not resolved with the available data. Divergences between Middle American and Antillean populations are greater than those between Mexico/Central America and South America. This suggests that mormoopids diversified in northern Neotropics before entering South America. A northern neotropical origin for mormoopids is congruent with both the Tertiary fossil record and recent phylogenetic hypotheses for the sister family to the Mormoopidae, the Phyllostomidae.  © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2006, 88 , 101–118.     

The two-horned chamaeleons of East Africa

There have been numerous attempts to resolve the taxonomy of the two-horned chamaeleons of East Africa. However, the high levels of intraspecific variation and reported sympatry of morphologically distinct taxa indicate that their current classification is unsatisfactory. Tissue samples were collected from specimens from most mountain massifs (excluding the Nguu) where two-horned chamaeleons are known to occur and were used to sequence partial 12S and 16S rRNA, as well as ND2 mtDNA genes. These specimens and further museum material were used to review morphological variation and to define discriminating characters for each taxon. Phylogenetic analyses of gene sequences show clear genetic divergence between allopatric populations, although two lineages occur in sympatry in the East Usambara Mountains, and is supported by divergent morphology. In light of these results a formal revision of the taxonomy of all East African two-horned chamaeleons is proposed and seven species are recognized ( Kinyongia boehmei , K. fischeri , K. matschiei , K. multituberculata , K. tavetana , K. uluguruensis and K. vosseleri ). These taxa form a monophyletic group except for K. uluguruensis , which seems to be more closely related to one-horned species. Most of these taxa have been previously described and subsequently reduced to synonyms. Two other previously described two-horned taxa are not recognized as valid: Chamaeleo tornieri is considered species inquiriendae , and C. fischeri werneri is placed in synonymy with K. multituberculata . A dichotomous key is provided for the identification of these taxa and some aspects of their conservation, ecology and evolutionary origins are also discussed.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 152 , 367–391.     

A synopsis of Goniothalamus species (Annonaceae) in Thailand, with descriptions of three new species

A comprehensive taxonomic revision of Goniothalamus species (Annonaceae) occurring in Thailand is presented for the first time. Twenty-five species are recognized, including three that are described as new to science ( Goniothalamus aurantiacus from South-Western Thailand, Goniothalamus maewongensis from Northern Thailand, and Goniothalamus rongklanus from Northern and North-Eastern Thailand). Several taxonomic and nomenclatural misunderstandings are corrected. The name G. griffithii is shown to be widely misapplied for populations in Northern Thailand, for which the name G. calvicarpus should be applied; 'true' G. griffithii is restricted to South-Western Thailand and Myanmar. In addition, the widely used name G. marcanii is shown to be a synonym of G. tamirensis , and the name G. latestigma , previously regarded as a synonym of G. undulatus , is reinstated. Goniothalamus cheliensis is furthermore newly recorded from Thailand. Most species are restricted to Peninsular Thailand and represent a Malesian floristic component.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 156 , 355–384.     

Species diversity and endemism in the Daphnia of Argentina: a genetic investigation

Although the temperate regions of South America are known to have a diverse daphniid fauna, there has been no genetic evaluation of the existing taxonomic system or of the affinities between the North and South American faunas. The present study analyses mitochondrial DNA sequences and allozyme variation to investigate species diversity in 176 Daphnia populations from Argentina. This work established the presence of at least 15 species in Argentina, six of which are either undescribed or are currently misidentified and two of which represent range extensions of North American taxa. Eleven of the Argentine species appear endemic to South America, while the remaining four also occur in North America. In the latter cases, the close genetic similarity between populations from North and South America indicates the recent exchange of propagules between the continents. While biological interactions and habitat availability have undoubtedly contributed to the observed species distributions, chance dispersal has apparently played a dominant role in structuring large-scale biogeographical patterns in this genus and probably in other passively-dispersed organisms.  © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2004, 140 , 171−205.     

A synopsis of Goniothalamus species (Annonaceae) in Peninsular Malaysia, with a description of a new species

The species of Goniothalamus (Annonaceae) occurring in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore are revised, updating the previous taxonomic treatment by James Sinclair, published in 1955. A total of 18 species is recognized, including a new species, G. tomentosus . Collections referrable to G. tomentosus were previously determined as ' G. marcanii '; examination of the types of G. marcanii reveals that the two taxa are not conspecific, however, and a new name is accordingly validated here. Goniothalamus tomentosus has closest affinities with the Javan/Sumatran species G. costulatus . Other important nomenclatural changes include the reduction of G. umbrosus to synonymy with G. tapis .  © 2003 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2003, 142 , 321−339.     

A new species of Betula section Betulaster (Betulaceae) from China

A new species of Betulaceae, Betula fujianensis , is described and illustrated from Luoboyan Reserve, Fujian Province, south-eastern China. Betula fujianensis is distributed in subtropical evergreen and deciduous broad-leaved mixed forest at elevations above 500 m, mostly as scattered individuals and occasionally as populations alone or with B. luminifera . Betula fujianensis belongs to section Betulaster and differs from other species in general morphology and phenology. A key to all species currently recognized in this section is presented, and the relationships between the new species and its closely related taxa are discussed.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 156 , 523–528.     

Dendrobium wangliangii (Orchidaceae), a new species belonging to section Dendrobium from Yunnan, China

Dendrobium wangliangii G. W. Hu, C. L. Long & X. H. Jin, a new species from the north of the Yunnan Province in China is described and illustrated. The morphological differences between the new species and the related species, Dendrobium flexicaule , and its endangered status are discussed.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 157 , 217–221.     

Nomenclatural changes in preparation for a World Rubiaceae Checklist

During the preparation of a World Rubiaceae Checklist , numerous unplaced taxa were encountered, including illegitimate and invalid names, and species for which generic placement is uncertain. In this contribution, 35 new combinations and 20 new names are proposed, and the names of three taxa are validated.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 157 , 115–124.     

Taxonomic status and relationships of bracken ferns (Pteridium: Dennstaedtiaceae) of Laurasian affinity in Central and North America

Detailed quantitative comparisons confirm and extend the discrimination of four major morphotypes amongst brackens of Laurasian affinity in Central and North America. These are recognized here at subspecies level as: Pteridium aquilinum sspp. feei , pubescens , latiusculum , and pseudocaudatum . Measurements of spore size indicate that sporophytes of P. aquilinum ssp. feei are diploid (2 n  = 104), as are sspp. pubescens , latiusculum , and pseudocaudatum . Phenetic cluster analysis based on DNA fingerprinting by arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction groups these four subspecies as genomically more similar to each other than to any taxa from other geographical regions. The chloroplast haplotype of ssp. feei is the same as that of sspp. latiusculum , pseudocaudatum , and pubescens with respect to the absence of both of the short direct repeats in the rps 4– trn S region (haplotype A), whereas the European ssp. aquilinum (haplotype B) has one of these repeats, and the Southern Hemisphere brackens P. arachnoideum and P. esculentum (haplotype C) have the other.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 157 , 1–17.     

Phylogenetic relationships and biogeographical history of the genus Rhinoclemmys Fitzinger, 1835 and the monophyly of the turtle family Geoemydidae (Testudines: Testudinoidea)

Rhinoclemmys is an interesting genus of turtles biogeographically and ecologically, being the only genus of the family Geoemydidae that occurs in the New World and inhabiting a wide range of habitats from aquatic to highly terrestrial. Here we present a molecular phylogeny of Rhinoclemmys using both mitochondrial and nuclear genes. Our results strongly support the monophyletic and subfamilial status of Rhinoclemmys within the monophyletic family Geoemydidae. Within Rhinoclemmys , two clades are strongly supported, i.e. R. annulata  +  R. pulcherrima and R. areolata  +  R. punctularia  +  R. diademata  +  R. funerea  +  R. melanosterna , but the positions of R. nasuta and R. rubida are still weakly supported. In terms of the biogeographical history, the results of this study, coupled with palaeontological evidence, corroborate the hypothesis that this group migrated from Asia to the Americas across the Bering Strait during the early Eocene. The radiation of Rhinoclemmys in Central and South America corresponds well with vicariance events, including the emergence of the Sierra Madres of Mexico and the Nuclear Highland, and dispersals across the Panama land bridge. Interestingly, our resulting phylogeny suggests this group invaded South America at least four times and that dispersal of R. nasuta to South America probably took place in the early Miocene before the emergence of the Isthmus of Panama. We finally discuss our phylogenetic results with regard to the monophyly of the family Geoemydidae and in the context of previous morphological analyses. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 153 , 751–767.     

Evolutionary and ecological implications of genome size in the North American endemic sagebrushes and allies (Artemisia, Asteraceae)

The genome size of 51 populations of 20 species of the North American endemic sagebrushes (subgenus Tridentatae ), related species, and some hybrid taxa were assessed by flow cytometry, and were analysed in a phylogenetic framework. Results were similar for most Tridentatae species, with the exception of three taxonomically conflictive species:  Artemisia bigelovii Gray,  Artemisia pygmaea Gray, and  Artemisia rigida Gray. Genome size homogeneity (together with the high morphological, chemical, and karyological affinities, as well as low DNA sequence divergence) could support a recent diversification process in this geographically restricted group, thought to be built upon a reticulate evolutionary framework. The Tridentatae and the other North American endemic Artemisia show a significantly higher genome size compared with the other subgenera. Our comparative analyses including genome size results, together with different kinds of ecological and morphological traits, suggest an evolutionary change in lifestyle strategy linked to genome expansion, in which junk or selfish DNA accumulation might be involved. Conversely, weed or invasive behaviour in Artemisia is coupled with lower genome sizes. Data for both homoploid and polyploid hybrids were also assessed. Genome sizes are close to the expected mean of parental species for homoploid hybrids, but are lower than expected in the allopolyploids, a phenomenon previously documented to be related with polyploidy.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 94 , 631–649.     

Genital morphology and taxonomy of the water strider Aquarius remigis (Say) (Insecta, Hemiptera-Heteroptera: Gerridae)

The shape of the dorsal vesical plate was used to determine the extent of morphological differentiation among populations of the water strider Aquarius remigis (Say) (Hemiptera-Heteroptera: Gerridae), and between species assigned to the A. remigis species group. Populations were sampled throughout North America and Mesoamerica, and included paratypes of A. remigoides Gallant & Fairbairn, and material collected from the type localities of A. amplus (Drake & Harris) and A. nyctalis (Drake & Hottes). If taxonomy is to be inferred from the shape of the dorsal vesical plate, as suggested by previous authors, several taxonomic issues need to be reconsidered. First, there was one species distributed widely across North America and deep into Mexico that is very likely to represent A. remigis , meaning that populations from the western USA previously assigned to ' A. nyctalis ' should be synonymized with this species. Second, A. remigoides as currently defined also includes some populations of A. remigis , and is probably much less widely distributed in the south-eastern USA than previously thought. A hybridization zone in Pennsylvania between A. remigis and A. remigoides , as inferred from measurements of body size and allozyme electrophoresis, is not congruent with data from the male genitalia, which indicated a transition zone between the two forms in Virginia much further to the south. Finally, A. amplus was widespread in Mexico, reaching into Guatemala to the south and into Arizona to the north.  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 90 , 381–398.     

Allopolyploid origin of Cardamine silana (Brassicaceae) from Calabria (southern Italy): karyological, morphological and molecular evidence

Endemic Cardamine silana from Calabria (southern Italy) previously reported to be related to C. raphanifolia was found to be hexaploid. Morphological characters and AFLP data were analysed to evaluate the degree of differentiation of C. silana from closely related taxa and to find parental taxa of this polyploid. Cardamine apennina from the C. pratensis group was examined as one putative parent, as indicated in previous studies of nuclear ITS sequences, along with other related taxa based on both cpDNA and ITS sequences. Both multivariate morphometric analyses of quantitative characters and evaluation of qualitative morphological characters showed: (1) closest position of C. silana to two diploids: C. acris from the Balkan Peninsula and C. apennina from Central Italy; (2) good extent of morphological separation of C. silana from related taxa; and (3) within C. acris subspecies, C. acris ssp. vardousiae from Central Greece as closest to C. silana . Neighbour-joining tree and PCoA ordinations of AFLP data, as well as patterns of AFLP bands sharing, corroborated results of multivariate morphometrics. This evidence supports an allopolyploid origin of C. silana , with C. apennina and C. acris as parental taxa. Its origin may be dated to Pleistocene glacial events, because of the presumably wider geographical distributions of its parental taxa during more humid periods at that time.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 148 , 101–116.     

Molecular diversification of salamanders of the tropical American genus Bolitoglossa (Caudata: Plethodontidae) and its evolutionary and biogeographical implications

The largest genus of salamanders, Bolitoglossa (Plethodontidae), is widespread in tropical America, where it occurs in diverse habitats and elevations, from high elevation grasslands to lowland rain forest . It has the most extensive geographical range of any salamander genus. While most species occur in Middle America, it ranges throughout most of tropical South America as well. Phylogenetic analysis of 1196 bp of two mitochondrial genes (cytochrome b , 16S RNA) from 55 species offers strong support for the monophyly of the genus and sorts the species into a number of clades. Taking into account morphology, distribution, general ecology, and prior systematic and taxonomic studies, we recognize seven subgenera, four of them new: Bolitoglossa Duméril, Bibron et Duméril, 1854, Eladinea Miranda Ribeiro, 1937, Magnadigita Taylor, 1944, Mayamandra , Nanotriton , Oaxakia and Pachymandra . All South American and some lower Middle American species are included in a single well -supported clade, Eladinea . At the species level our analyses uncover the existence of large genetic diversity within morphologically homogeneous taxa. We propose the new combination: B. (Eladinea) paraensis (Unterstein, 1930) stat. nov. , for Brazilian salamanders previously included under B. altamazonica . We evaluate evidence for the multiple colonization of the tropical lowlands by morphologically derived species groups. South America was invaded by members of one clade, Eladinea , which we infer to have dispersed to South America prior to closure of the Panamanian Portal. Despite the relatively long history of salamanders in South America, that continent now accounts for a relatively small proportion of the lineages and species of neotropical salamanders.  © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2004, 81 , 325–346.     

Festuca inops and Festuca gracilior (Poaceae): are they two different species?

According to current systematics, Festuca inops and F. gracilior are two distinct species. However, they are hardly distinguishable from each other on the basis of their morphological characters. Festuca inops is considered a diploid species endemic to Italy, while F. gracilior has a discontinuous distribution area, apparently related to chromosomal levels: diploid populations in Italy and south-east France, tetraploid populations in north-east Spain. The diploid populations of both taxa from Italy and south-east France are investigated in the present study. Nearly 1000 exsiccata were examined and morphometric analysis was carried out on macro- and micromorphological features of 119 specimens (including type-specimens) and on 20 natural populations (including loci classici ). All these data showed that the two species should be referred to a single taxon, for which the rank of species seems to be appropriate. This result is supported by karyological, ecological and chorological data and was confirmed by the results of ISSR analysis. According to nomenclatural rules, the legitimate name for the species is Festuca inops De Not.  © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2006, 151 , 239–258.