Observations on the specific associations found between scyphomedusae and commensal fish and invertebrates in the Philippines

Our observations on scyphomedusae from selected Philippine embayments identified specific animals commensal with five species of rhizostome scyphomedusae, Acromitoides purpurus, Mastigias sp., Phyllorhiza punctata, Rhopilema hispidum and Versuriga anadyomene. Acromitoides purpurus medusae harbor the crab Charybdis feriata, the carangid fish Alepes djedaba and the poecilostomatoid copepod Paramacrochiron sp. The carangid A. djedaba was an associate of the blue morph of A. purpurus and Rhopilema hispidum in Panguil Bay. A black-pigmented Alepes sp. was found associated with burgundy A. purpurus medusae in Carigara Bay. Charybdis feriata juveniles are common commensals of all morphs of A. purpurus, R. hispidum and P. punctata medusae. Only the zooxanthelate Mastigias sp. lacked animal symbionts. We invoke the “meeting-point hypothesis” and the general theory of fish aggregation to floating structures to explain fish symbiosis with their medusan hosts. The invertebrate-medusa associations are attributed to feeding behaviors and predator avoidance by resident commensals. This study provides record of the poorly studied scyphozoan species and their association with animals in Philippine waters. Finally, we discuss the potential reasons why the golden spotted jellyfish, Mastigias sp., appears to lack animal commensals.     

Not one but three: undetected invasive <Emphasis Type="Italic">Alnus</Emphasis> species in northwestern Patagonia confirmed with cpDNA and ITS sequences

Species of Alnus (alders) have become invaders in several parts of the world. Here we report the presence of three naturalized alien species: A. glutinosa, A. incana and A. rubra from several populations in nature reserves of northwestern Patagonia, an area of remarkably high biodiversity. Alnus glutinosa had been cited previously for Chile and southern Argentina, but A. incana and A. rubra are here reported for the first time. As we found morphological variation within and among the populations of these introduced species that makes their discrimination difficult, we used chloroplast (trnH-psbA) and nuclear ribosomal (ITS) DNA sequences to confirm their identifications from morphological characteristics. Results from nuclear and chloroplast sequence data confirm the morphological tentative identification of the three species and remark the utility of molecular information together with morphology for the detection of introduced species of taxonomically difficult groups. The invasive characteristics of these alien tree species are discussed in relation to the conservation of the nature reserves where they are found.     

Interspecific Agonistic Behavior of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Macrotermes gilvus</Emphasis> (Isoptera: Termitidae): Implication on Termite Baiting in the Philippines

The study investigated interspecific agonistic behavior of Macrotermes gilvus Hagen (Isoptera: Termitidae: Macrotermitinae) against three economically important subterranean termites in the Philippines, viz., Coptotermes gestroi Wasmann, Nasutitermes luzonicus Oshima and Microcerotermes losbanosensis Oshima. Termite-termite interactions after a 1:1 pairing experiment showed that M. gilvus workers and soldiers were highly aggressive against C. gestroi, N. luzonicus and M. losbanosensis leading to severe injury or death of the opponent termite species in a short period of time. The levels of agonism were caste and species specific. Worker termites of M. gilvus showed an equally aggressive behavior as soldiers contributing to the high mortality of opponent species used in this study. It is likely that the highly aggressive behavior of M. gilvus limits foraging activity of C. gestroi, N. luzonicus and M. losbanosensis around in-ground bait stations contributing to the low success of termite baits containing chitin synthesis inhibitors in the Philippines.     

Reconstruction of molecular phylogeny of closely related <Emphasis Type="Italic">Amorphophallus</Emphasis> species of India using plastid DNA marker and fingerprinting approaches

Plastid DNA markers sequencing and DNA fingerprinting approaches were used and compared for resolving molecular phylogeny of closely related, previously unexplored Amorphophallus species of India. The utility of individual plastid markers namely rbcL, matK, trnH–psbA, trnLC–trnLD, their combined dataset and two fingerprinting techniques viz. RAPD and ISSR were tested for their efficacy to resolves Amorphophallus species into three sections specific clades namely Rhaphiophallus, Conophallus and Amorphophallus. In the present study, sequences of these four plastid DNA regions as well as RAPD and ISSR profiles of 16 Amorphophallus species together with six varieties of two species were generated and analyzed. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian Inference based construction of phylogenetic trees indicated that among the four plastid DNA regions tested individually and their combined dataset, rbcL was found best suited for resolving closely related Amorphophallus species into section specific clades. When analyzed individually, rbcL exhibited better discrimination ability than matK, trnH–psbA, trnLC–trnLD and combination of all four tested plastid markers. Among two fingerprinting techniques used, the resolution of Amorphophallus species using RAPD was better than ISSR and combination of RAPD +ISSR and in congruence with resolution based on rbcL.     

Two new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Henriettea</Emphasis> (Melastomataceae,Henrietteeae) for the flora of the Greater Antilles

Two new species of Melastomataceae are described and illustrated: Henriettea sierrae from the mountains of eastern Cuba, and Henriettea multigemma from the Sierra de Bahoruco in the Dominican Republic, Hispaniola. Both species belong to the complex of squamous Henriettea species endemic to the Greater Antilles. Henriettea sierrae is distinguished by its ciliate leaves, foliose bracteoles at the base of the flowers, and lanceolate petals with lateral teeth in their apical third. Henriettea multigemma is distinguished by its fascicles of numerous flowers that are borne of suberose protuberances formed by multiple flower buds in the leafless nodes of the stems, and by the presence of leaves with apical domatia.     

Application of high-resolution melting analysis for differentiation of spoilage yeasts

A new method based on high resolution melting (HRM) analysis was developed for the differentiation and classification of the yeast species that cause food spoilage. A total 134 strains belonging to 21 different yeast species were examined to evaluate the discriminative power of HRM analysis. Two different highly variable DNA regions on the 26 rRNA gene were targeted to produce the HRM profiles of each strain. HRM-based grouping was compared and confirmed by (GTG)5 rep-PCR fingerprinting analysis. All of the yeast species belonging to the genera Pichia, Candida, Kazachstania, Kluyveromyces, Debaryomyces, Dekkera, Saccharomyces, Torulaspora, Ustilago, and Yarrowia, which were produced as species-specific HRM profiles, allowed discrimination at species and/or strain level. The HRM analysis of both target regions provided successful discrimination that correlated with rep-PCR fingerprinting analysis. Consequently, the HRM analysis has the potential for use in the rapid and accurate classification and typing of yeast species isolated from different foods to determine their sources and routes as well as to prevent contamination.     

The ecology of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Altrichthys azurelineatus</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">A. curatus,</Emphasis> two damselfishes that lack a pelagic larval phase

Out of more than 380 species of damselfish, only three lack a pelagic larval phase, Acanthochromis polyacanthus, that ranges from the Philippines to the Great Barrier Reef, and two species in the genus Altrichthys, A. azurelineatus and A. curatus, that are restricted to the Calamian Archipelago (Palawan province) in the Philippines. Therefore in a very restricted geographic area, northern Palawan, Philippines, all three species co-occur. The goal of this study was to fill a knowledge gap about the ecology of Altrichthys, where very little is currently known. Using census and behavioral approaches at 14 sites on six islands, we were able to identify adult densities, nest densities, nesting habitat preference, and brood behavior and abundance. We found that densities were very high (more than 17 individuals/100 m² for one species) and A. azurelineatus may be displacing A. curatus at deeper depths where habitat seems of higher quality. Only one out of 14 surveyed sites contained only one species, Altrichthys curatus. Different habitat use and feeding behavior suggest that niche partitioning may play an important role in the life history of these sympatric species.     

Application of diet theory reveals context-dependent foraging preferences in an herbivorous coral reef fish

Dietary preferences of grazers can drive spatial variability in top-down control of autotroph communities, because diet composition may depend on the relative availability of autotroph species. On Caribbean coral reefs, parrotfish grazing is important in limiting macroalgae, but parrotfish dietary preferences are poorly understood. We applied diet-switching analysis to quantify the foraging preferences of the redband parrotfish (Sparisoma aurofrenatum). At 12 Caribbean reefs, we observed 293 redband parrotfish in 5-min feeding bouts and quantified relative benthic algal cover using quadrats. The primary diet items were macroalgal turfs, Halimeda spp., and foliose macroalgae (primarily Dictyota spp. and Lobophora spp.). When each resource was evaluated independently, there were only weak relationships between resource cover and foraging effort (number of bites taken). Electivity for each resource also showed no pattern, varying from positive (preference for the resource) to negative (avoidance) across sites. However, a diet-switching analysis consisting of pairwise comparisons of relative cover and relative foraging effort revealed clearer patterns: parrotfish (a) preferred Halimeda and macroalgal turfs equally, and those two resources were highly substitutable; (b) preferred Halimeda to foliose macroalgae, but those two resources were complementary; and (c) also preferred turf to foliose macroalgae, and those resources were also complementary. Thus parrotfish grazing rates depend on relative, not absolute, abundance of macroalgal types, due to differences in substitutability among resources. Application of similar analyses may help predict potential changes in foraging effort of benthic grazers over spatial gradients that could inform expectations for reef recovery following the protection of herbivore populations.     

Molecular phylogeny of the marine <Emphasis Type="Italic">Prasiola</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rosenvingiella</Emphasis> species (Chlorophyta: Prasiolales) from southeastern Kamchatka

Molecular phylogenetic tools are often useful in distinguishing cryptic species with similar morphologies, but they can also be helpful in identifying morphotypes of a species, which displays completely different shapes. We performed molecular-phylogenetic analysis of supra-tidal green algae in the Kamchatka peninsula that belong to the order Prasiolales (Trebouxiophyceae, Chlorophyta). Based on rbcL sequences results, two new species were recorded for the first time in Kamchatka. Approximately 1.4% of the field-collected Rosenvingiella constricta had a unique uniseriate hood-like blade shape, although their rbcL sequences were 100% identical with typical multiseriate filamentous plants. Kamchatka’s population of R. constricta showed 99.4–99.6% identity in rbcL sequences with the populations from Canada and New Zealand. Another similar-looking Rosenvingiella species collected from the same locality had 93.5% identity of the rbcL gene sequence with R. constricta. Morphological and geographical analyses also suggested that this species might be a new species of the genus Rosenvingiella. Prasiola delicata was recorded for the first time in Kamchatka. The Kamchatka population of P. delicata showed 100% identity in rbcL gene sequence with the population from Vancouver, but differed from the Canadian population morphologically.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Bruguiera hainesii</Emphasis>, a critically endangered mangrove species,is a hybrid between <Emphasis Type="Italic">B. cylindrica</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">B. gymnorhiza</Emphasis> (Rhizophoraceae)

Bruguiera hainesii (Rhizophoraceae) is one of the two Critically Endangered mangrove species listed in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Although the species is vulnerable to extinction, its genetic diversity and the evolutionary relationships with other Bruguiera species are not well understood. Also, intermediate morphological characters imply that the species might be of hybrid origin. To clarify the genetic relationship between B. hainesii and other Bruguiera species, we conducted molecular analyses including all six Bruguiera species using DNA sequences of two nuclear genes (CesA and UNK) and three chloroplast regions (intergenic spacer regions of trnL-trnF, trnS-trnG and atpB-rbcL). For nuclear DNA markers, all nine B. hainesii samples from five populations were heterozygous at both loci, with one allele was shared with B. cylindrica, and the other with B. gymnorhiza. For chloroplast DNA markers, the two haplotypes found in B. hainesii were shared only by B. cylindrica. These results suggested that B. hainesii is a hybrid between B. cylindrica as the maternal parent and B. gymnorhiza as the paternal one. Furthermore, chloroplast DNA haplotypes found in B. hainesii suggest that hybridization has occurred independently in regions where the distribution ranges of the parental species meet. As the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species currently excludes hybrids (except for apomictic plant hybrids), the conservation status of B. hainesii should be reconsidered.     

Genomic clues to the parental origin of the wild flowering cherry <Emphasis Type="Italic">Prunus yedoensis</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">nudiflora</Emphasis> (Rosaceae)

Prunus yedoensis Matsumura is one of the popular ornamental flowering cherry trees native to northeastern Asia, and its wild populations have only been found on Jeju Island, Korea. Previous studies suggested that wild P. yedoensis (P. yedoensis var. nudiflora) is a hybrid species; however, there is no solid evidence on its exact parental origin and genomic organization. In this study, we developed a total of 38 nuclear gene-based DNA markers that can be universally amplifiable in the Prunus species using 586 Prunus Conserved Orthologous Gene Set (Prunus COS). Using the Prunus COS markers, we investigated the genetic structure of wild P. yedoensis populations and evaluated the putative parental species of wild P. yedoensis. Population structure and phylogenetic analysis of 73 wild P. yedoensis accessions and 54 accessions of other Prunus species revealed that the wild P. yedoensis on Jeju Island is a natural homoploid hybrid. Sequence-level comparison of Prunus COS markers between species suggested that wild P. yedoensis might originate from a cross between maternal P. pendula f. ascendens and paternal P. jamasakura. Moreover, approximately 81% of the wild P. yedoensis accessions examined were likely F1 hybrids, whereas the remaining 19% were backcross hybrids resulting from additional asymmetric introgression of parental genotypes. These findings suggest that complex hybridization of the Prunus species on Jeju Island can produce a range of variable hybrid offspring. Overall, this study makes a significant contribution to address issues of the origin, nomenclature, and genetic relationship of ornamental P. yedoensis.     

Molecular authentication of two medicinal plants <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ligularia fischeri</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ligularia stenocephala</Emphasis> using allele-specific PCR (AS-PCR) strategy

Ligularia fischeri (Gom-chi) and Ligularia stenocephala (Gon-dal-bi) are popular edible herbs in Korea. L. fischeri is used to treat jaundice, hepatitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and scarlet fever, while L. stenocephala is used to treat anxiety, weakness, and menstrual disorders. The herbal medicinal activities of these two herbs differ, but they are very difficult to distinguish based on their morphologies, especially in their dried forms. In an effort to distinguish these two plant species, we sequenced three barcoding genes in plastids, matK, rbcL, and trnH-psbA. From the analysis of sequence variations, we detected five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) between two the species. Allele specific (AS)-primers in the SNPs were employed in discrimination of the two species. Of the five AS-primer sets, one primer pair in matK gene showed reproducibly distinguishable PCR amplification between plants of L. fischeri and L. stenocephala. The method is reproducible and efficient, and is the first reported molecular method to discriminate between L. fischeri and L. stenocephala.     

Molecular taxonomy and morphological characterization reveal new species and new host records of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Torula</Emphasis> species (Torulaceae,Pleosporales)

Four new species and two new host records of Torula (Torulaceae, Pleosporales) are described and illustrated from herbaceous litter collected in Italy and Thailand. The new species possess colony, conidiophore and conidial characteristics that fit within the generic concept of Torula. Detailed morphological observations clearly demarcate four of these from extant species and are hence described as new (Torula chiangmaiensis sp. nov., Torula pluriseptata sp. nov., Torula chromolaenae sp. nov., Torula mackenziei sp. nov.). Details of asexual morphs are described, and justifications for establishing these new species are provided. The nuclear are sequenced ribosomal RNA genes as well as protein coding genes to infer phylogenetic relationships and discuss phylogenetic affinities with morphologically similar species. Our morphological distinction is further supported by phylogenetic discrimination. In particular, phylogenies depict a close relationship of Torula chiangmaiensis and T. pluriseptata to T. hollandica, while T. chromolaenae and T. mackenziei constitute an independent phylogenetic lineage basal to T. herbarum and T. ficus. Torula ficus and T. masonii are also described and their phylogeny investigated as new host records from Bidens pilosa and Iris germanica, respectively.     

Reproductive interference between two serious pests,oriental fruit flies <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bactrocera carambolae</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">B. dorsalis</Emphasis> (Diptera: Tephritidae), with very wide but partially overlapping host ranges

Bactrocera carambolae and B. dorsalis (Diptera: Tephritidae) are extremely destructive pests of fruits and vegetables in the Asia-Pacific region. Earlier reports have described that B. carambolae and B. dorsalis, respectively, use mainly star fruit and mango, suggesting a certain level of host partitioning which can be ascribed neither to differences in larval food qualities nor host-specific parasitoid mortality. This study specifically examined reproductive interference (antagonistic sexual interaction) between B. carambolae and B. dorsalis as a potential factor strongly affecting their host partitioning. We observed mating behaviors, especially interspecific courtships and mating, by cohabiting the conspecific and heterospecific pairs together. Consequently, we quantified their effects on the reproductive success of females. Males of both species frequently courted their own females, but they also courted females of other species. Courtship refusal by females was not selective in males of either species. This incomplete discrimination of both sexes led to frequent occurrences of interspecific sexual interactions in both species, but only B. carambolae females showed reduced reproductive success. These results suggest that B. dorsalis, superior in reproductive interference, can occupy high-quality mango, whereas B. carambolae, inferior in reproductive interference, must use low-quality star fruit.     

Interactions of Algae within the Community of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gracilaria gracilis</Emphasis> (Rhodophyta)

Interactions among the unattached red alga Gracilaria gracilis, the dominant species of an algal community, and associated algal species Chaetomorpha linum, Enteromorpha prolifera f. prolifera, and Polysiphonia sp. were studied during and after an algal bloom. It was shown that during their bloom the associated algae Enteromorpha and Polysiphonia sp. significantly decreased the photosynthetic rate of G. gracilis but did not affect its growth rate. It is suggested that the inhibition of Gracilaria gracilis photosynthesis is connected to the impact of extracellular metabolites excreted by Chaetomorpha linum, Enteromorpha prolifera f. prolifera, and Polysiphonia sp. In laboratory experiments, the photosynthetic rate of the associated species was enhanced in the presence of Gracilaria. However, no significant alterations were observed in the content of chlorophyll a, growth, and the dark respiration rates of associated algae when they were kept together with Gracilaria. It was suggested that allelopathic interactions observed among algal species during the formation of the monospecific Gracilaria community, as well as during algal blooms, are not determinative.     

Sequencing of the plastome in the leafless green mycoheterotroph <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cymbidium macrorhizon</Emphasis> helps us to understand an early stage of fully mycoheterotrophic plastome structure

To date, plastome studies of mycoheterotrophic orchids have focused on nongreen mycoheterotrophic or partially mycoheterotrophic species. Cymbidium macrorhizon is a fully mycoheterotrophic orchid that lacks leaves and roots, although its inflorescence rachis is pale green. It has degraded stomata, specific fungal partners, and high concentrations of heavy stable nitrogen and carbon isotopes. Therefore, the plastome of this species is expected to represent an early stage of a fully mycoheterotrophic plastome. In this study, we sequenced the plastomes of C. macrorhizon and closely related species (C. ensifolium, C. kanran, and C. lancifolium). Plastomes of the four Cymbidium species were almost identical structurally, but differed somewhat from those of previously studied species. The genes for the photosynthetic subunits of NADH dehydrogenase, ndhF and ndhH, were absent from all four newly sequenced plastomes, whereas only ndhJ was absent from C. ensifolium. In section Pachyrhizanthe (C. lancifolium and C. macrorhizon), ndhE, ndhI, and ndhJ were pseudogenized. With the exception of ndh and ycf, 64 protein-coding genes in C. macrorhizon were apparently functional. Most of them were highly conserved and under purifying selection. Therefore, no direct evidence is available to suggest that genes related to photosynthesis have lost their functions in C. macrorhizon. This discordance between molecular and physiological features for the trophic status of C. macrorhizon might result from a lag between photosynthetic function loss and relaxed purifying selection.     

Growth variability in the late Vendian problematics <Emphasis Type="Italic">Parvancorina</Emphasis> Glaessner

Morphological and quantitative characteristics of the growth variability of two Parvancorina species were analyzed based on new abundant material from the Vendian of the White Sea. Growth variability in this problematic taxon appears to be wider than previously suggested. We found allometric growth in the White Sea population of P. minchami Glaessner, 1958, in contrast to isometric growth in Australian representatives of the species. Another White Sea species, P. sagitta Ivantsov, 2004, shows gradual formation of anchor-shaped structure in juveniles. Based on Australian material, it was previously believed that this structure did not change during ontogeny. These two distinctive features together with a strong variability of age-related measurements distinguish Parvancorina from other early arthropods (Scania, Primicaris), and cast doubt on the growth pattern as an argument in favor of the arthropodan nature of Parvancorina.