The origin and taxonomic position of the Crimean endemic <Emphasis Type="Italic">Agrodiaetus pjushtchi</Emphasis> (Lepidoptera,Lycaenidae) based on the data on karyology,ecology, and molecular phylogenetics

The geographic ranges, karyotypes, ecological preferences, and mitochondrial DNA polymorphism were analyzed to reveal the origin and taxonomic position of Agrodiaetus pljushtchi and related species of A. damone species group. According to the data obtained, the common ancestor of these species originated in Asia Minor in Late Pliocene, 1.2–1.8 million years ago. In Early Pleistocene (0.8–1.2 million years ago), a representative of this group migrated into the Crimea and gave rise to A. pljushtchi. Another branch originated from the common ancestor, which migrated into Central Asia and Siberia and gave rise to a variety of partly sympatric taxa. Recently, representatives of the Central Asian — Siberian lineage occupied Eastern Europe and approached the area of A. pljushtchi but did not overlap with it. The karyotype n = 67 is an apomorphy of the A. damone species complex. However, this karyotype is not species-specific and cannot be used to differentiate taxa within the complex. The similarity of karyotypes is thus not sufficient to consider A. pljushtchi and A. damone as conspecific taxa. The natural history data support the isolated position of A. pljushtchi, and phylogenetic analysis shows that A. pljushtchi and A. damone are not closely related.     

Mammals in Last 30 to 7 ka Interval (Late Pleistocene-Early Holocene) in Southern Uruguay (Santa Lucía River Basin): Last Occurrences,Climate, and Biogeography

Fossiliferous Quaternary sedimentary beds in the Santa Lucía Basin (southern Uruguay) are potentially useful for the study of the last occurrences of extinct taxa, as well as the environmental and climatic patterns in the late Pleistocene to the early Holocene. They have provided a chronological framework (AMS ¹⁴C and Optically Stimulated Luminescence dates), a mammalian diversity and interpretations of last occurrence, the climatic-environmental setting, and some associated biogeographic processes. The ages produced encompass the last 30 to 7 ka interval (latest Pleistocene-early Holocene). The mammalian assemblage (36 genera, 24 species) includes typical South American late Pleistocene mammals, extinct species of extant genera, and some extant species that still exist elsewhere on the continent. The preservation pattern includes articulated and semi-articulated skeletons of large and small mammals. The presence in the southern Uruguayan Pampean area of some mammals currently inhabiting Patagonia, northwest and central Argentina (Dolichotis, Galea, Microcavia, Chaetophractus, Lagostomus, and Vicugna) is explained by the predominance of open areas and cold climates associated with the Last Glacial Maximum. The mammalian record depicts local extinctions or shifting ranges occurring in latest Pleistocene or early Holocene. The sedimentary chronological framework and taphonomic features suggest the persistence into the early Holocene of Eutatus seguini, Morenelaphus brachyceros, Equus neogeus, Hemiauchenia sp., Lama sp., and Vicugna sp. Glyptodon and Glossotherium seem to persist at least to the latest Pleistocene. This pattern can substantiate the hypothesis that some megafauna and large mammals persisted for some millennia alongside people with extinction occurring before, during, and after human colonization.     

How Many Species,Taxa, or Lineages of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cebus albifrons</Emphasis> (Platyrrhini,Primates) Inhabit Ecuador? Insights from Mitogenomics

A first step in protecting groups of similarly structured organisms is to place them into discrete taxa. Molecular genetics and phylogeny allow us to rebuild the evolutionary history of these taxa. The Neotropics has roughly 34% of Earth’s primate diversity. However, the systematics of Neotropical primates is complex and controversial. The untufted (gracile) capuchins are traditionally classified as four species: Cebus albifrons, C. capucinus, C. olivaceus, and C. kaapori. Of these, Cebus albifrons has confusing intraspecific systematics with a large number of fragmented and isolated populations throughout its geographical distribution, and up to 13 morphological subspecies. The number of taxa of this species in Ecuador, some areas of northern and eastern Colombia, and Trinidad Island is particularly debated. Primatologists have defined two taxa of C. albifrons in Ecuador: a trans-Andean population: C. a. aequatorialis (or C. aequatorialis) and a cis-Andean population: C. a. yuracus (or C. yuracus). To better understand the systematics of this species, we sequenced the mitogenomes of 136 Cebus albifrons, two Cebus olivaceus, and one Cebus kaapori. Our phylogenetic analyses revealed at least nine significantly different haplogroups of C. albifrons in Ecuador, four of which contained exemplars from both the trans-Andean Pacific Ecuador and the cis-Andean Ecuadorian Amazon. The splits of these Ecuadorian haplogroups, and the initial diversification within them, occurred during the Middle to Late Pliocene and the beginning of the Pleistocene. Individuals we analyzed from Vichada Department in eastern Colombia were genetically distinct from other groups of C. albifrons, agreeing with morphological studies which consider it a full subspecies (C. a. albifrons). Phylogenetic analyses showed two different gracile capuchin taxa on Trinidad Island: C. a. trininatis and C. o. brunneus. We conclude that a large portion of the gracile capuchin taxa form a unique species with a complex of populations and subspecies. The species has conserved its reproductive integrity by repeated episodes of reticulation and high levels of gene flow.     

Comparative ecology of Ostracoda (Crustacea) in two rheocrene springs (Bolu,Turkey)

A total of ten taxa belonging to the class Ostracoda of the Crustacea (Darwinula stevensoni, Candona neglecta, Cypria ophthalmica, Ilyocypris bradyi, Prionocypris zenkeri, Herpetocypris chevreuxi, Psychrodromus olivaceus, Heterocypris incongruens, Scottia pseudobrowniana, Eucypris sp.) were collected from two rheocrene Darwinula stevensoni springs (Çetin Bey and Çaygökp?nar springs) on 15 separate occasions between November 2002 and November 2004. Almost all of the species identified exhibit cosmopolitan distributions – at least in the Holarctic region. The presence of Scottia pseudobrowniana represents the second recording of this species in the ostracod fauna of Turkey. The dominant taxa in both springs was Cy. ophthalmica, I. bradyi, Pr. zenkeri and Ca. neglecta. Correlation analyses suggested a significant positive relationship in relative abundance between I. bradyi, Pr. zenkeri and Cy. ophthalmica. Species composition differed significantly between the upper and lower study sites for each spring, but differences could not be detected between sites at the same elevation across sites. Environmental tolerance index (ETI) values suggest that species with high optima and tolerance ranges show cosmopolitan characteristics.     

Ecogeographical Variation in Skull Shape of South-American Canids: Abiotic or Biotic Processes?

Species morphological changes can be mutually influenced by environmental or biotic factors, such as competition. South American canids represent a quite recent radiation of taxa that evolved forms very disparate in phenotype, ecology and behaviour. Today, in the central part of South America there is one dominant large species (the maned wolf, Chrysocyon brachyurus) that directly influence sympatric smaller taxa via interspecific killing. Further south, three species of similar sized foxes (Lycalopex spp.) share the same habitats. Such unique combination of taxa and geographic distribution makes South American dogs an ideal group to test for the simultaneous impact of climate and competition on phenotypic variation. Using geometric morphometrics, we quantified skull size and shape of 431 specimens belonging to the eight extant South American canid species: Atelocynus microtis, Cerdocyon thous, Ch. brachyurus, Lycalopex culpaeus, L. griseus, L. gymnocercus, L. vetulus and Speothos venaticus. South American canids are significantly different in both skull size and shape. The hypercarnivorous bush dog is mostly distinct in shape from all the other taxa while a degree of overlap in shape—but not size—occurs between species of the genus Lycalopex. Both climate and competition impacts interspecific morphological variation. We identified climatic adaptations as the main driving force of diversification for the South American canids. Competition has a lower degree of impact on their skull morphology although it might have played a role in the past, when canid community was richer in morphotypes.     

Surface–sediment diatom assemblages of the urban ponds of St. Petersburg,Russia

The diatom assemblages of the surface sediments have been studied in 53 urban ponds and lakes of St. Petersburg for the first time. In total, 350 species and infraspecific taxa have been registered; the species of Achnanthidium, Cocconeis, Cyclostephanos, Cyclotella, Gomphonema, Lemnicola, Navicula, Nitzschia, and Stephanodiscus genera were the most common. The wide distribution of small centric planktonic taxa, Cyclostephanos dubius, C. invisitatus, Cyclotella pseudostelligera, Stephanodiscus hantzschii, and S. minutulus, is preconditioned by the depletion of dissolved silica, which is a result of the high phosphorus load. The high abundance of macrophytes in the shallowest sites favors the dominance of epiphytic Fragilaria, Staurosira, and Staurosirella taxa. Bottom-living diatoms in the shallow eutrophic and hypereutrophic urban ponds are light-limited; this is a result of either macrophytes or phytoplankton development. Alkaliphilous and alkalibiontic species prevail among the pH-indicative species, while eutraphentic and hypereutraphentic diatoms, as well as those thriving in a wide range of trophic conditions, dominate over other trophic groups. The β- and α-mesosaprobic species are the most common saprobity-indicative taxa.     

Assessing the distribution and conservation status of a long-horned beetle with species distribution models

Data shortfalls on species distribution affect species differently, but it is frequent among insects. Species distribution models (SDMs) are important tools to fill biogeographic deficits and provide support for practical conservation actions, particularly for cryptic or hard to survey species. We employed SDMs to evaluate one such species, the long-horned beetle (Macrodontia cervicornis), listed as ‘vulnerable’ in the IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species. Given new distributional data for this species, we applied three different SDMs to: (1) provide the first assessment of this species’ distribution and potential dispersal routes; (2) evaluate the effectiveness of the current South American protected areas system for its conservation; and (3) discuss its potential distribution, as well as historical, biogeographical, and taxonomic issues related to it. Our models reached fair True Skilled Statistics values (TSS > 0.5), with the core area for M. cervicornis located in the Amazon forest, although suitable areas were also predicted along the Atlantic forest. Areas in the dry diagonal South American corridor (dry biomes of Cerrado, Caatinga, and Pampas) in South America were not predicted as suitable. The preference of M. cervicornis for humid areas with high temperatures may guarantee a better physiological control for dehydration, considering that large insects are more affected by water loss. In general, approximately 15 % of the distribution of M. cervicornis is in humid protected areas. The disconnected distribution of the long-horned beetle may be an indication of the existence of cryptic species under the same classification. We suggest that similar studies with other insect groups (e.g. butterflies, bees) should be conducted to properly assess their distributions, conservation status, and responses to hot-humid gradients throughout South America.     

Taxonomic delimitation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fulvifomes robiniae</Emphasis> (Hymenochaetales,Basidiomycota) and related species in America: <Emphasis Type="Italic">F. squamosus</Emphasis> sp. nov.

Morphological revision of Fulvifomes robiniae, as well as phylogenetic inferences based on nITS and nLSU markers, indicated that the species has a narrower concept in its morphology and distribution. Other morphologically related taxa arise from this taxonomic approach. Fulvifomes cedrelae is not accepted as a synonym of F. robiniae, and Fulvifomes squamosus sp. nov. is described as new based on Peruvian specimens. Based on morphology, phylogenetic relationships and host distributions, the taxonomic implication for the genus and other related taxa are discussed.     

Malcofaunal Diversity of Chilika Lake,Odisha, India

Investigation during the period of 3 years from 2007 to 2010 on the malacofauna of Chilika lake revealed the occurrence of 126 molluscan taxa belonging to 56 families, 18 orders of three classes in the bottom sediment. Of these 61 species belonged to Bivalvia, 64 species belonged to Gastropoda and one species belonged to Polyplacophora. Maximum Bivalvia and Gastropoda taxa were found in the outer channel region of the lake. The dominating species were Crassostrea cuttackensis, Saccostrea cucullata, Brachidontes undulatus, Meretrix meretrix among bivalves and Cerethideopsilla cingulata, Bullia vittata, Nassarious stolatus, Indothias lacera, Natica tigrina, Turritella attenuata were from the gastropods. Occurrence of a large number of marine taxa is most probably associated with the opening of new lagoon during 1st August 2008.     

Novel palmicolous taxa within Pleosporales: multigene phylogeny and taxonomic circumscription

Palm fungi are highly diverse in the tropical regions of Asia. Recent investigations on these palmicolous fungi have led to the collection of astrosphaeriella-like taxa from Calamus, Caryota, and Licuala species in Thailand (Chiang Rai and Narathiwat provinces) and southwest China (Yunnan Province). This study characterizes fungal taxa, which are new to science, based on morphological examination and concatenated DNA sequence data, to infer their familial relationships. Morphological comparisons reveal six new species, viz. Astrosphaeriellopsis caryotae, Fissuroma calami, F. caryotae, Neoastrosphaeriella sribooniensis, Pithomyces caryotae, and P. licualae.Their similarities and differences to other extant species are discussed. The phylogenetic results indicate that all of these new taxa belong to Aigialaceae and Astrosphaeriellaceae (Pleosporales) and support their establishment. Astrosphaeriellopsis is assigned to Astrosphaeriellaceae and the family is amended in order to accommodate both coelomycetous and hyphomycetous asexual morphs. A generic key is presented for Astrosphaeriellaceae to delimit Astrosphaeriella, Astrosphaeriellopsis, Pteridiospora, and Pithomyces. Asexual morph connections of Pithomyces caryotae and P. licualae are established from axenic cultures derived from single ascospores. DNA-based sequence data supports the establishment of our new species; however, the affinities of Astrosphaeriella tornata to other Astrosphaeriella and Pithomyces species are unclear and warrant further investigations with increased taxon sampling.     

Molecular taxonomy of five species of microfungi on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Alnus</Emphasis> spp. from Italy

Five new fungal taxa found on Alnus, a valuable timber tree widely distributed in Europe, are described using morphology and multigene phylogenetic analyses. The new Dothideomycetes, Helminthosporium italicum, Dothiorella guttulata, and Prosthemium alni, and Sordariomycetes, Ditopella aseptatospora and Cryptosporella alni-cordatae, are compared with similar taxa and the differences are discussed.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cortinarius</Emphasis> sect. <Emphasis Type="Italic">Riederi</Emphasis>: taxonomy and phylogeny of the new section with European and North American distribution

Cortinarius is one of the most species-rich genera of mushroom-forming fungi. Based on phylogenetic and morphological evidence, Cortinarius, sect. Riederi, is introduced at sectional level (= subsect. Riederi sensu Brandrud & Melot). The taxonomy, phylogeny, ecology and distribution of not only mainly European but also including some North American taxa of this section are treated, which includes nine species and two varieties. Of these, three taxa are described as new (C. burlinghamiae, C. pallidoriederi and C. argenteolilacinus var. dovrensis). The sect. Riederi species possess morphological features similar to Phlegmacium group(s) and forms a phylogenetically isolated lineage, with no supported affinity to other phlegmacioid groups. Three taxa are known from both Europe and North America, two species are known only from North America and five only from Europe. Altogether, eight of the ten taxa are associated with conifers or northern (boreal-subalpine) deciduous trees (Betula spp.). Only two species occur in more temperate forests (Fagus forests), and no species have so far been found in thermophilous Quercus forests     

Molecular analyses of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ficus erecta</Emphasis> and its allies within the subsection <Emphasis Type="Italic">Frutescentiae</Emphasis> (Moraceae)

Ficus (Moraceae) is a keystone group in tropical and subtropical forests with remarkable diversity of species and taxonomical challenges as a consequence of fig–pollinator coevolution. Ficus subsect. Frutescentiae includes about 30 species that are predominantly shrubs or small trees with Terminalia branching. Many of these species are difficult to delimit morphologically, and the group includes a tangle of uncertain taxa and incorrectly applied names. We conducted a phylogenetic analysis with internal and external transcribed spacer data (ITS and ETS) and data from 18 polymorphic microsatellite loci to evaluate the species status of the most perplexing members of this subsection. The results confirm the monophyly of subsect. Frutescentiae, with F. pedunculosa as sister to the rest. The F. erecta complex comprises approximately 17 taxa: F. erecta, F. abelii, F. boninsimae, F. nishimurae, F. iidaiana, F. gasparriniana var. laceratifolia, F. gasparriniana var. viridescens, F. pyriformis, F. stenophylla, F. fusuiensis, F. fengkaiensis, F. sinociliata, F. tannoensis, F. vaccinioides, F. formosana, F. pandurata, and F. periptera. The last five of these were supported as good species, while the others were not well supported by the present evidence. Evidence also supported the status of the non-F. erecta complex species including. F. pedunculosa, F. ischnopoda, F. heteromorpha, and F. variolosa. Ficus filicauda and F. neriifolia are possibly conspecific. The species status of F. potingensis should be restored and it should be treated as a member of section Eriosycea. Identification of the remaining taxa (F. gasparriniana var. esquirolii, F. ruyuanensis, F. daimingshanensis, F. chapaensis, F. changii, F. trivia, and F. tuphapensis) and their relationships to the F. erecta complex were not clarified. As a whole, only ten species in this subsection are confirmed, one is excluded, one is synonymous, and the others are either unresolved or short of samples. There appears to be a consistent genetic background among these unresolved groups, which suggests that repeated hybridization (as a result of pollinator host shifts) has filled up the interspecific gaps during the fig–pollinator coevolution process.     

Phylogeographical structure inferred from cpDNA sequence variation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Zygophyllum xanthoxylon</Emphasis> across north-west China

Zygophyllum xanthoxylon, a desert species, displaying a broad east–west continuous distribution pattern in arid Northwestern China, can be considered as a model species to investigate the biogeographical history of this region. We sequenced two chloroplast DNA spacers (psbK-psbI and rpl32-trnL) in 226 individuals from 31 populations to explore the phylogeographical structure. Median-joining network was constructed and analysis of AMOVA, SMOVA, neutrality tests and distribution analysis were used to examine genetic structure and potential range expansion. Using species distribution modeling, the geographical distribution of Z. xanthoxylon was modeled during the present and at the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). Among 26 haplotypes, one was widely distributed, but most was restricted to either the eastern or western region. The populations with the highest levels of haplotype diversity were found in the Tianshan Mountains and its surroundings in the west, and the Helan Mountains and Alxa Plateau in the east. AMOVA and SAMOVA showed that over all populations, the species lacks phylogeographical structure, which is speculated to be the result of its specific biology. Neutrality tests and mismatch distribution analysis support past range expansions of the species. Comparing the current distribution to those cold and dry conditions in LGM, Z. xanthoxylon had a shrunken and more fragmented range during LGM. Based on the evidences from phylogeographical patterns, distribution of genetic variability, and paleodistribution modeling, Z. xanthoxylon is speculated most likely to have originated from the east and migrated westward via the Hexi Corridor.     

Comparative analysis of complete chloroplast genome sequences of two subtropical trees, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phoebe sheareri</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phoebe omeiensis</Emphasis> (Lauraceae)

Phoebe is an economically important genus from the family Lauraceae. It is widely distributed in tropical and subtropical Asia, but systematics of the genus is unclear, and currently there is no species-level phylogeny. Here, we determined the complete chloroplast genome sequences of two species with long-range PCR and next genome sequencing technologies, and identified mutation sites and highly variable regions. These highly variable sites were used to reconstruct the phylogeny. The plastomes of Phoebe sheareri and P. omeiensis were 152, 876, and 152, 855 bp, respectively. Comparative genomic analysis indicated that there are 222 mutation sites including 146 substitutions, 73 indels, and 3 microinversions in both plastomes. Fifty-six single-nucleotide changes were identified in gene-coding regions, and 45 microsatellite sites were found for use in species identification. Fourteen divergence hotspots of 38 variable regions were located. Phylogeny was reconstructed using a Bayesian and maximum likelihood approach for 12 Phoebe species and other five related Lauraceae based on 15 of the highly variable regions including accD-psaI, atpB-rbcL, ndhC-trnV, ndhF-rpl32, petA-psbJ, psaA, psbA-trnH, rbcL, rps8-rpl14, rps16-trnQ, rpl32-trnL, trnC-petN, trnL-trnF, trnS-trnG, and ycf1 indicated that variability in the chloroplast regions proposed as variable is enough to detect divergence events among 12 taxa of Phoebe, and that maybe also useful to help to elucidate further relationships among other taxa of the genus.     

New and little known orthopteroid insects (polyneoptera) from fossil resins: Communication 2

New taxa of the suborder Blattina (order Dictyoptera), possibly belonging to the family Corydiidae (Erucoblatta semicaeca gen. et sp. nov., Miocene; Proholocompsa gen. nov., Eocene; and Holocompsa nigra sp. nov. and H. abbreviata sp. nov., Miocene) and belonging to the family Ectobiidae (Plectoptera electrina sp. nov., Miocene; Agrabtoblatta symmetrica gen. et sp. nov. and ?Symploce rete sp. nov., Pleistocene) are described. The taxonomic position of the enigmatic genus Raphidiomimula Grimaldi et Ross from the Upper Cretaceous is discussed.     

Genome size and ploidy level among wild and cultivated <Emphasis Type="Italic">Prunus</Emphasis> taxa in Slovakia

2C DNA content and ploidy level variation of Prunus spinosa and closely related taxa together with Prunus domestica L. and Prunus insititia L. was studied in Slovakia. The aim of the study was to define genome sizes and find differences between closely related taxa within Prunus spinosa sensu lato mentioned in previous works. According to our results, investigated taxa can be divided into three groups according to ploidy level: Prunus spinosa, Prunus dasyphylla, Prunus ×fruticans, Prunus ×dominii and Prunus ×schurii are tetraploids, Prunus ×fechtneri is pentaploid, and P. domestica and P. insititia are hexaploids. Genome size differences within tetraploid taxa were relatively small (Prunus spinosa: 1.40?±?0.02, P. ×domini: 1.44?±?0.01, P. ×fruticans: 1.48?±?0.02, P. ×schurii: 1.44?±?0.02), but statistically significant. Although further research is needed, it seems that the concept of several taxa as product of hybridization between P. spinosa and cultivated plum species has been supported by our study.