The Evolutionary History of the Genus Acanthamoeba and the Identification of Eight New 18S rRNA Gene Sequence Types

ABSTRACT The 18S rRNA gene ( Rns ) phylogeny of Acanthamoeba is being investigated as a basis for improvements in the nomenclature and taxonomy of the genus. We previously analyzed Rns sequences from 18 isolates from morphological groups 2 and 3 and found that they fell into four distinct evolutionary lineages we called sequence types T1-T4. Here, we analyzed sequences from 53 isolates representing 16 species and including 35 new strains. Eight additional lineages (sequence types T5-T12) were identified. Four of the 12 sequence types included strains from more than one nominal species. Thus, sequence types could be equated with species in some cases or with complexes of closely related species in others. The largest complex, sequence type T4, which contained six closely related nominal species, included 24 of 25 keratitis isolates. Rns sequence variation was insufficient for full phylogenetic resolution of branching orders within this complex, but the mixing of species observed at terminal nodes confirmed that traditional classification of isolates has been inconsistent. One solution to this problem would be to equate sequence types and single species. Alternatively, additional molecular information will be required to reliably differentiate species within the complexes. Three sequence types of morphological group 1 species represented the earliest divergence in the history of the genus and, based on their genetic distinctiveness, are candidates for reclassification as one or more novel genera.     

基于椭圆傅里叶分析的次南极电灯鱼矢耳石形态多样性

次南极电灯鱼矢耳石形态特征具有多样性.为了深入研究其形态特征,利用南设得兰群岛外侧水域采集的456尾次南极电灯鱼(体长范围6.0～8.8 cm)样本,对其矢耳石形态进行分析和判别.根据形态特征将次南极电灯鱼耳石分为4种类型,并采用椭圆傅里叶分析法选取表征耳石类型的77个傅里叶特征系数进行了分析.结果表明: 对4种耳石类型两两比较后发现,具有显著性差异的傅里叶特征系数最多及最少分别占总体的61%和28.6%;对77个傅里叶系数进行主成分分析,前22个主成分解释了总变异的76.6%;选取了17个傅里叶特征系数进行判别分析,建立判别函数,总体判别率为87.2%;根据椭圆傅里叶分析重建的耳石轮廓反映了4种耳石类型间的差异.4种耳石类型在不同体长及体质量的次南极电灯鱼中皆有出现,表明耳石类型具有随机性,且左右耳石类型不一致,表明其左右耳石外形具有差异性.4种耳石类型中,Ⅰ型和Ⅱ型占总体的72.6%,为次南极电灯鱼耳石的主要形态;Ⅲ型和Ⅳ型占总体的27.4%,为次要形态.     

Step-wise morphological trends in fluctuating environments: Evidence in the Late Devonian conodont genus Palmatolepis

Long-term morphological changes were investigated in the conodont genus Palmatolepis, using a Fourier analysis of the outline of platform elements. Three time-slices and four Late Frasnian - Early Famennian sections on North Gondwana were studied. No difference existed between locations, but shape variations were recorded associated with the successive Kellwasser events. The Middle Famennian period was analyzed in a section located at the Baltica margin across the annulata event. Some morphological changes may be related to the deposition of the corresponding black shales, but the main feature is a heterogeneity of the populations, which can be split into two morphological types. Latest Famennian conodonts from another North Gondwanan section show only minor shape changes during this time interval, which is environmentally stable prior to the global Hangenberg event. Based on synthetic shape variations across the whole period an morphological trend towards narrower elements is observed. This morphological change happens step-wise in response to global events. The amplitude of the shape shift is proportionally related to the extend of the successive Late Devonian global events.     

Morphological types of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in roots of understory plants in Japanese deciduous broadleaved forests

Morphological types of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in roots of understorey plants were examined in three different Japanese deciduous broadleaved forests. In total, 43 species belonging to 33 genera from 27 families were examined for the morphological types of AM. The number of flowering plant species having Paris-type AM was greater than those having Arum-type AM in each plot. This tendency was more prominent in herbaceous plants than woody plants with nine species having Paris-type associations among ten herbaceous plant species examined. Therefore, it is suggested from the ecological point of view that Paris-type associations could be advantageous for the herbaceous understorey plants growing slowly in these environments. The influence of plant identity on the morphological types of AM was also discussed by arranging the plants examined with the morphological types in a current plant phylogeny scheme. In this study, some new records on the morphological types of AM in some new plant families were obtained including the first report of a typical Arum-type AM in gymnosperms.     

Relative position of the cheirogaleidae in strepsirhine phylogeny: A comparison of morphological and molecular methods and results

An examination of previous morphological and molecular studies of strepsirhine systematics suggests a conflict between the two types of data. Cladistic analyses of morphological data have indicated that the Malagasy primate family Cheirogaleidae is the sister taxon of the Afro-Asian lorisiforms and that together, cheirogaleids and lorisiforms comprise a monophyletic clade that excludes the Malagasy lemuriforms. Molecular studies, on the other hand, have consistently found that cheirogaleids and lemuriforms together are monophyletic to the exclusion of lorisiforms. Both types of studies, however, have suffered from methodological weaknesses: the morphological studies looked at too few characters and the molecular studies looked at too few taxa. This study examines a large and diverse morphological data set as well as molecular data from a comprehensive sample of strepsirhine taxa. The data sets are considered independently and jointly. When they are analyzed independently, the morphological data give weak support, and the molecular data strong support, to the hypothesis of Malagasy primate monophyly. When the two data sets are combined in a single analysis, the results are decisive. The “total evidence” approach yields compelling support to the hypothesis that cheirogaleids and remaining Malagasy lemuriforms comprise a monophyletic assemblage that excludes lorisiforms. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Essential‐Oil Variability in a Collection of Ocimum basilicum L. (Basil) Cultivars

Ocimum basilicum L. (Lamiaceae) is an aromatic plant of great tradition in the Mediterranean area. Its economic importance is growing up determining an expansion of cultivation. This paper evaluated the morphological traits, the chemical profiles, and antibacterial activity of 21 cultivars of basil belonging to ?Genovese?, ?Napoletano?, and ?Purple basil? types. The cultivars were characterized by different growth rate and morphological traits. The chemical composition of the oils analyzed by GC and GC/MS analysis, supported by the PCA analysis, underlined the strong influence of chemotype. It is noteworthy that estragole, never present in Genovese and purple basil types, occurred in Napoletano type. The high presence of eugenol, methyl eugenol, and linalool in the majority of cultivars, belonging both to Genovese and to Napoletano types was registered. Of great interest resulted the composition of the purple basil ?Opal?. All the samples tested exhibited similar antibiotic profiles with moderate antibacterial activity. The results enhanced the importance of determination of essential‐oil profile in the selection of cultivars characterized by diverse morphological traits and are useful for different purposes.     

Distribution of different cell types within the rat thymus in the neonatal period of life

Summary This study attempted to define reciprocal positions of cell types within the thymus. Random or non-random contacts between specific cell types were analyzed by means of graph theory. For analysis, thymus blocks were sectioned serially and, then, thymus cells were categorized into types, based on morphological criteria. The distribution of individual cell types within the cortex, cortico-medullary zone and medulla was presented in form of a map. In the analysis, three types of epithelial cell, characteristic of each thymus zone, macrophages, Langerhans-like cells and lymphocytes were found in non-random relations to one another. Moreover, characteristic groups of cells associated with one another were also demonstrated.This study was supported by the Polish Academy of Sciences     

青岛耐冬山茶的多样性 (Ⅱ)——居群的遗传多样性分析

采用等位酶电泳技术,检测了青岛近海岛屿--长门岩岛、大管岛和浙江普陀山的天然山茶居群的遗传状况,并与青岛植物园和杭州植物园的栽培山茶居群作了比较。分析结果表明：青岛近海岛屿山茶居群内的遗传多样性水平较高,每个位点的等位基因平均数为2.3,多态位点比率为83.3%,平均观察杂合度与期望杂合度分别为0.245及0.320,这个结果可以为青岛耐冬山茶的保护提供依据。为了探讨形态分化与等位酶变异之间的关系,对山茶居群内一些形态特殊类型的酶谱作了比较。     

云南绿汁江鱼类的形态特征及其适应意义

绿汁江的鱼类大致可分为侧扁型,圆筒型和平扁型三种类型。在各种类型中,鱼体上又有不同的形态结构产生。以形态－功能－适应三位一体分析法为指导原则,探讨和阐述了鱼类的形态结构与栖息环境的相互关系。     

The Middle Ear--Morphological Types in Amphibians and Reptiles

The middle ear regions of reptiles and amphibians frequentlyare grouped into morphological types on the basis of structuralresemblances. The arrays of animals resulting from such a groupinghave a fair degree of taxonomic continuity. The types in mostinstances include a "central" pattern, presumed to be primitive,and modifications that are considered to have been derived fromthe "central" type by evolutionary processes. Some understandingof phylogeny, thus, is a necessary precursor to the formationof the groups. This raises problems when, as is often the case,the groups based on ear structures are used as a basis for phylogeneticinterpretations. Among reptiles the theropsid-sauropsid caseis the best known. The principal morphological types are described and discussed.The middle ear, as a sound-transmitting apparatus and in itsassociations with the masticatory apparatus, is highly susceptibleto adaptive modifications. Some morphological types, such asthose in archosaurs and labyrinthodonts, are quite stable. Othersshow marked evolutionary diversity. The middle ear structures,hence, appear quite useful as phylogenetic indicators withinmorphological types but less so when relationships between typesare considered.     

An elaboration of the evolutionary morphological basis for the systematics of the Plathelminthes

Compared with Hennig's phylogenetical systematics which has as its aim the retracing of genealogical relations between taxonomic groups, evolutionary morphological systematics is equally justified. Classifications of basic plans, morphological types, and morphofunctional systems of organisms serve as the foundation of evolutionary morphological systems. They are constructed on the basis of thorough understanding and further iteration of morphological transformation in phylogenetical branches based on the constructional pecularities of the morphofunctional systems. The evolutionary morphological approach in systematics is important especially for elaborating macrosystems dealing with vastly divergant groups where it is impossible to trace their real genealogy. The general principles of evolutionary morphological systematics are considered. A variant of the classification system of the Plathelminthes is suggested.     

青岛耐冬山茶的多样性（Ⅱ）

采用等位酶电泳技术,检测了青岛近海岛屿———长门岩岛、大管岛和浙江普陀山的天然山茶居群的遗传状况,并与青岛植物园和杭州植物园的栽培山茶居群作了比较。分析结果表明：青岛近海岛屿山茶居群内的遗传多样性水平较高,每个位点的等位基因平均数为２３,多态位点比率为８３３％,平均观察杂合度与期望杂合度分别为０２４５及０３２０,这个结果可以为青岛耐冬山茶的保护提供依据。为了探讨形态分化与等位酶变异之间的关系,对山茶居群内一些形态特殊类型的酶谱作了比较     

Bone “Awls” and Utilized Antler Tines From Arnold Research Cave, 23Cy64, Missouri

Abstract

Bone awls and utilized antler tines from Arnold Research Cave in central Missouri were microscopically examined to determine the type, location, and orientation of wear on them. It is assumed that similar wear patterns indicate similar use and, conversely, dissimilar wear patterns indicate divergent use. The awls were first divided into morphological types as proposed by Kidder (1932). The wear patterns on the awls were then compared both on members within a single morphological type and on members in different morphological types. It is concluded: (1) awls within a single morphological type may exhibit evidence of divergent use, and (2) members of different morphological types may exhibit evidence of similar use. Since the antler tines are morphologically similar, they are classified on the basis of wear patterns. Four different patterns of striations and the presence of abrasion on the distal end indicates there are five classes of antler tine tools in the sample     

Mammalian phylogeny: comparison of morphological and molecular results

In an attempt to resolve the "bushy" part at the root of the eutherian tree, 182 nondental morphological characters from 100 species (79 extant and 21 extinct; 98 mammalian and 2 nonmammalian) were analyzed using two maximum-parsimony tree-building algorithms. Parallel analyses of 2,258 pairwise immunodiffusion comparisons with chicken antisera on 101 mammalian species and of amino acid sequence data of alpha and beta hemoglobins and other published protein sequences were also carried out. The morphological and molecular phylogenies agree in depicting the infraclass Eutheria as consisting of five major clades (thus resolving part of the "bush"). Rates of evolution were also found to be similar in the two types of phylogenies.     

Histological types of polypoid cutaneous melanoma II

The aim of this study was to ascertain which histological types of melanoma can clinically and morphologically appear as polypoid melanomas. In 645 cases of primary cutaneous melanoma we have analyzed criteria for diagnosis of polypoid cutaneous melanoma and afterwards we have analyzed growth phase in each polypoid melanoma, histological type of atypical melanocytes, the number of epidermal ridges which are occupied by atypical melanocytes, and distribution according to age, sex and location, as well as the disease free survival. According to the criteria for polypoid melanomas we have found 147 (22.8%) polypoid cutaneous melanomas. Analyzing the growth phases, histological types of atypical melanocytes and the number of affected epidermal ridges in the group of polypoid melanomas we have ascertained 2 (1.4%) ALMs, 4 (2.8%) LMMs, 42 (28.6%) SSMs and 99 (67.2%) NMs. Our conclusion is that polypoid cutaneous melanomas are morphological forms of various histological melanoma types (ALM, LMM, SSM and NM) and they can all display polypoid morphological form. Polypoid cutaneous melanomas are most often of nodular histological type.     

蚜虫对杨属植物不同寄生部位的形态适应(英文)

为了明确取食相同植物不同部位和营不同虫瘿的蚜虫是否存在形态适应,论文以取食杨属Populus植物的10种蚜虫为研究对象,基于蚜虫喙末端、各足跗节和爪的形态测量数据,对122个克隆的形态变异通过一般的统计描述、典型变量分析(canonical variates analysis,CVA)以及聚类分析等方法进行了研究。结果显示,不同的蚜虫克隆间形态特征存在分异,与不同的虫瘿类型和取食部位相关。3个典型变量分析明显地区分了形成虫瘿和不形成虫瘿的蚜虫克隆,在叶片上形成真虫瘿和伪虫瘿的克隆以及不产生虫瘿的克隆,并形成明显的克隆簇。而用于分析的形态学特征,如喙末端、跗节和爪的测量值,其一般统计描述的差异也支持这些区分。蚜虫自然种群不同克隆簇的区分很好地对应了不同的取食部位和不同的虫瘿类型,且各簇的形态特征体现了各自的特点,表明了蚜虫对杨属植物已经形成了良好的形态适应。同时,也初步讨论了不同蚜虫克隆簇形态适应产生的原因。并建议在基于形态特征探讨昆虫的系统发育关系和进行传统分类时,必须考虑昆虫形态特征的适应性;在深入研究昆虫与寄主植物相互之间关系时,需要将各种形态特征综合考虑并关注其它的影响因素。     

THE CYTO-ECOLOGY OF FOUR SPECIES OF TRILLIUM FROM WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA

The major center of variability in the genus Trillium occurs in the southern Appalachian mountains of the eastern United States. The karyotypic variation existing within T. cuneatum Raf., T. grandiflorum (Michx.) Salisb., T. erectum L., and T. gleasoni Fern., the four most abundant Trillium species in western North Carolina, was analyzed and compared with the variation in gross morphology and the ecological associations of the respective species. The number of types of each kind of chromosome (A-E), as exhibited following “nucleic acid starvation” by cold treatment, varied widely from species to species. Chromosome types varied within each species and within populations in the numbers, sizes, and positions of euchromatic and heterochromatic segments. No 10-chromosome karyotype and only one 5-chromosome complement was found to be duplicated in any two plants which belonged to different species. Trillium cuneatum with eight chromosome types was morphologically stable and occurred in a limited geographic area. Trillium gleasoni, characteristically adapted to elevations near 2,000 feet, contained 32 chromosome types and exhibited a high morphological variability. Trillium erectum (25 types) and T. grandiflorum (23 types) were also intermediate in morphological variability. These two species had the widest geographical range. Karyotypes were analyzed from pure stands of each of the four species and for each species from mixed stands of two or more of the species growing in close association. These Trillium species are maintaining a high level of karyotypic and gross morphological variability within comparatively limited geographical areas. None of the observed karyotypes in any species is likely to have arisen by recent interspecific hybridization. The composite karyotype of each species could be used as an aid to classification in the genus Trillium.     

Natural hybridization and hybrid zones between Quercus crassifolia and Quercus crassipes (Fagaceae) in Mexico: morphological and molecular evidence

Hybrid zones provide interesting systems to study genetic and ecological interaction between different species. The correct identification of hybrids is necessary to understand the evolutionary process involved in hybridization. An oak species complex occurring in Mexico formed by two parental species, Quercus crassifolia H. & B. and Q. crassipes H. & B., and their putative hybrid species, Q. dysophylla, was analyzed with molecular markers (random amplified polymorphic DNA [RAPDs]) and morphological tools in seven hybrid zones (10 trees per taxa in each hybrid zone) and two pure sites for each parental species (20 trees per site). We tested whether geographic proximity of hybrid plants to the allopatric site of a parental species increases its morphological and genetic similarity with its parent. Seventeen morphological traits were measured in 8700 leaves from 290 trees. Total DNA of 250 individuals was analyzed with six diagnostic RAPD primers. Quercus crassifolia differed significantly from Q. crassipes in all the examined characters. Molecular markers and morphological characters were highly coincident and support the hypothesis of hybridization in this complex, although both species remain distinct in mixed stands. Clusters and a hybrid index (for molecular and morphological data) showed that individuals from the same parental species were more similar among themselves than to putative hybrids, indicating occasional hybridization with segregation in hybrid types or backcrossing to parents. Evidence does not indicate a unidirectional pattern of gene flow.