Mitochondrial DNA diversification among the subspecies of the Silver and Kalij Pheasants, Lophura nycthemera and L. leucomelanos, Phasianidae

The taxonomic status of the pheasant superspecies Lophura leucomelanos and Lophura nycthemera has been unclear since 1948. Molecular techniques provided the opportunity to clarify the situation. Using sequences of mitochondrial DNA (800 nucleotides from the D-loop, plus 400 from the cyt b ) from 49 specimens belonging to 10 subspecies (plus two outgroups), we constructed a phylogeny of the subspecies of L. nycthemera and L. leucomelanos . Our data support the monophyly of both species. L. l. lineata and L. l. crawfurdi belong to L. leucomelanos and not to L. nycthemera (suggested by other authors). Our data also confirm a northern locality of origin (Central Buthan) for L. l. moffitti , and have clarified the relationships between subspecies within each species: there are three groups within L. leucomelanos and two within L. nycthemera .     

江西武夷山雉科鸟类研究初报

2004年9月～2008年5月对江西武夷山国家级自然保护区的雉类资源进行了调查,查明区内分布有白眉山鹧鸪、灰胸竹鸡、黄腹角雉、白鹇、勺鸡、雉鸡、白颈长尾雉等雉科鸟类,隶属于7属7种,分别占我国雉类属、种数量的33.3%和12.7%.较常见的种类有灰胸竹鸡、白鹇和黄腹角雉.并对有关物种的生境利用特点、生物学特征和灾害性天气对其分布的影响等进行了初步分析.     

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.     

Genetic characterization of hybridization between the New Zealand everlastings Helichrysum lanceolatum and Anaphalioides bellidioides (Asteraceae: Gnaphalieae)

Intergeneric hybridization between the endemic New Zealand species Helichrysum lanceolatum and Anaphalioides bellidioides (Asteraceae: Gnaphalieae) at two Banks Peninsula populations was investigated by DNA sequencing and amplified fragment length polymorphism fingerprinting. Crosses in both directions have contributed to the generation of the F1 hybrids, but in the study season hybridization was far more common with H. lanceolatum as the maternal parent. F1 hybrids have reduced, but considerable, fertility and seed collected from them includes back-crosses. Two hybrid plants sampled from the wild appear to be back-crosses to H. lanceolatum. Despite back-crossing, introgression was not demonstrated and is at most limited in scope. These results also corroborate important roles for small population size and rarity in the formation of hybrid lineages in New Zealand's everlastings.  © 2007 Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Journal compilation © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 154 , 89–98.     

Evolution of mosaic hybrid zone between invasive and endemic species of Cyprinidae through space and time

Hybridization phenomena can be considered in different ways. Hybridization studies can be used to elucidate some aspects of speciation and adaptation. However, hybridization may be a threat to endemic species. Here, we studied bidirectional introgression between two sympatric species of Cyprinidae: Chondrostoma toxostoma toxostoma and C. nasus nasus . Analysis of morphology, allozymes and mtDNA sequences revealed that the hybridization between these two cyprinids takes different forms in the same river. The mosaic hybrid zone (so called because of the absence of a simple cline) appeared to be partitioned due to the proportions of the two species along a spatial scale. The proportion of each hybrid group in this zone was unstable over a 5-year period. We propose various protection/conservation states for the C. t. toxostoma populations based on the level of introgressive hybridization and the genetic structure of both species in 'pure' populations.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 85 , 135–155.     

Morphological and molecular evidence of natural hybridization between two distantly related Rhododendron species from the Sino-Himalaya

Rhododendron (Ericaceae) is a large woody genus in which hybridization may play an important role in evolution and speciation, particularly in the Sino-Himalayan region, where many interfertile species often occur sympatrically. Natural hybridization between Rhododendron delavayi Franch. (=  R. arboreum ssp. delavayi ) and Rhododendron decorum Franch., which belong to different subsections of subgenus Hymenanthes, was investigated. Material of R. delavayi and R. decorum and their putative hybrids was collected from the wild. On the basis of morphology, chloroplast DNA, nuclear ribosomal DNA, and AFLP profiles, hybrids and parental species were identified. Hybridization occurred in both directions, but was asymmetrical, with R. delavayi as the major maternal parent in the hybrid zone. Most of the hybrids possessed intermediate phenotypes, and amongst the 15 hybrids detected were six F1s, two F2s, one first-generation backcross to R. delavayi , and two first-generation backcrosses to R. decorum . This indicates that, if Rhododendron underwent rapid radiation in this region, it did so in spite of permeable species barriers.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 156 , 119–129.     

A new species of Valantia (Rubiaceae) from Spain

A new species of Valantia , V. lainzii Devesa & Ortega-Olivencia, endemic to the coastal zone of Granada (southern Spain) is described. The species recalls V. muralis L. in its general aspect, and V. deltoidea Brullo in the type of fructiferous body.  © 2003 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2003, 143 , 331–335.     

利用红外相机技术对九连山国家级自然保护区兽类和鸟类资源的初步调查

九连山国家级自然保护区是我国中亚热带与南亚热带常绿阔叶林的过渡地带,动植物种类丰富多样。为进一步掌握该保护区野生动物资源现状,我们于2014年11月至2015年7月在保护区布设了31个红外相机监测点,对大中型兽类和林下活动鸟类进行了初步摸底调查。相机累计工作4 692个捕获日,共获得有动物的独立有效照片3 341张,鉴定出鸟兽物种共10目16科33种（兽类12种,鸟类21种）。属于国家Ⅱ级重点保护动物有斑灵狸（Prionodon pardicolor）、白鹇（Lophura nycthemera）和灰脸鵟鹰（Butastur indicus）等。兽类以赤腹松鼠（Callosciurus erythraeus）、白腹鼠种类（Niviventer rats）、小泡巨鼠（Leopoldamys edwardsi）和倭松鼠（Tamiops maritimus）等物种的相对丰富度指数较高。相对丰富度指数较高的鸟类物种依次为白鹇、紫啸鸫（Myophonus caeruleus）和黑领噪鹛（Garrulax pectoralis）等。结合以往记录,灰头绿啄木鸟（Picus canus）、乌灰鸫（Turdus cardis）、绿翅金鸠（Chalcophaps indica）、白眉鸫（Turdus obscurus）和白冠燕尾（Enicurus leschenaulti）等为保护区的鸟类新记录种。本研究的调查结果为进一步在九连山自然保护区开展鸟兽资源的长期监测奠定了基础。     

Thuja sutchuenensis: a rediscovered species of the Cupressaceae

After more than a century, the only conifer species listed as being extinct in the wild (EW) by IUCN-SSC has been rediscovered in the Dabashan Mountains of central China. The history, taxonomy, ecology and conservation of Thuja sutchuenensis are described, and illustrations, based on both the earliest and latest collection of botanical material of this tree, are provided. The taxonomic context of this rare species is discussed.  © 2002 The Linnean Society of London , Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2002, 139 , 305–310.     

Electrophoretic characterization of Amaranthus L. seed proteins and its systematic implications

The seed protein profiles of 11 Amaranthus taxa (Amaranthaceae) from Spain were studied. These profiles were evaluated as a chemical character to clarify the taxonomic complexity in the genus. Tricine-sodium dodecylsulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) profiles of the Amaranthus seed proteins studied showed a range of peptides varying from 64 to 12 kDa, with a larger number of protein bands observed between 25.1 and 12 kDa. For the taxonomic study, 14 bands, some of them subdivided into several isoforms, were considered. The similarity analysis based on the SDS-PAGE profile is a useful character for the discrimination of species in Amaranthus , except for A. cruentus and A. hypochondriacus , for which a hybrid population was found. © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 155 , 57–63.     

Genetic evidence for introgression between domestic pigs and wild boars (Sus scrofa) in Belgium and Luxembourg: a comparative approach with multiple marker systems

Hybridization between wild species and their domestic relatives can be an important conservation and management problem. Genetic purity of the wild species is desirable per se and the phenomenon can have unpredictable evolutionary consequences. Declining European wild boar populations were frequently restocked with farmed wild boars that sometimes had been crossed with domestic pigs. We used simple polymerase chain reaction‐based diagnostic tests to detect the presence of mitochondrial DNA and coat colour alleles of domestic origin in wild boars from Belgium, Luxembourg, and western Germany. Microsatellite genotypes were used to test for genetic admixture between the wild boars and domestic pigs. Although almost one‐third of all Luxembourg wild boars carried Asian mitochondrial DNA haplotypes originating from domestic pigs, microsatellite‐based clustering only identified four putatively admixed individuals in Luxembourg. By contrast, clustering identified wild boar × domestic hybrids in most sampling locations in Belgium. We interpret these results as evidence of releases of hybrid captive‐reared wild boars. Our results emphasize the need (if working with classical markers) to use different systems to obtain an understanding as to whether hybridization between wild and domestic relatives might have affected the genetic make‐up of a local population. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2013, 110 , 104–115.     

Divergent and reticulate processes in evolution of Ethiopian Lophuromys flavopunctatus species complex: evidence from mitochondrial and nuclear DNA differentiation patterns

Molecular study of mitochondrial and nuclear genes and cytogenetic analysis were performed to examine possible patterns of speciation in the diverse Lophuromys flavopunctatus species complex of Ethiopia. Phylogenetic analysis of mtDNA data resulted in an unresolved bush of ten deeply diverged haplotype groups corresponding to potential species either well supported by various types of character or 'cryptic'. The cytogenetic analysis showed representatives of five of these mtDNA lineages to share an identical karyotype (2 n  = 70, NFa = 84), that has not been found previously in Ethiopia. One of them, L.  cf.  sikapusi , being a member of the L. flavopunctatus species complex, demonstrates remarkable morphological similarity to representatives of another species complex, L. sikapusi s.l ., which might be considered as a result of convergent evolution in analogous environments. Analysis of RAPD data suggests that at least two mtDNA types might have been subject to interspecific transfer due to hybridization. In the case of two sympatric haplotypes of L. brunneus we may assume that the contemporary pattern of variation between them can be explained by relatively recent hybridization with another distinct species, L. flavopunctatus . The formation of two groups belonging to distinct mitochondrial lineages within northern populations could be associated with more complex processes including ancient hybridization.  © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2004, 83 , 301–316.     

Molecular and morphological characterization of Crataegus L. species (Rosaceae) in southern Syria

The systematics of the genus Crataegus (Rosaceae) have been considered problematic owing to the fact that hybridization, introgression, polyploidy and apomixis may occur in this genus. A study of the Crataegus species from the Arab mountains, Sweida Province, Syria, has been undertaken based on both plastid DNA sequences ( trn L- trn F, psb A- trn H) and morphological data. In the investigated region, three morphologically distinguishable Crataegus species: C. azarolus var. aronia L., C.  ×  sinaica Boiss. ssp. sinaica and C. monogyna var. monogyna Jacq. were investigated. Crataegus azarolus can be clearly distinguished morphologically from C. monogyna by the colour, size and structure of fruits, the number of pyrenes, the flowering and ripening time, the density of thorns, the tree shape and also the leaf shape. According to our morphological data, in Syria, C.  ×  sinaica is variable and could represent a hybrid of C. azarolus  ×  C. monogyna ; the cpDNA sequence analysis showed sequences corresponding to C. monogyna as the plausible mother of the hybrid.  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 153 , 255–263.     

A palynological study of the genus Mentha L. (Lamiaceae)

The pollen morphology and exine structure of 10 Mentha L . species were investigated using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The pollen grains of all 11 species were hexazonocolpate with granular membranes and a circular amb, varying in shape from prolate-spheroidal to suboblate. Different colpus shapes were recognized in M . ×  dumetorum . The exine was bireticulate in section Pulegium , and reticulate in section Menthae . A correlation was found between pollen size and chromosome number. The results indicate that the pollen characters of the genus Mentha are valuable for taxonomic applications and may be useful for classification.  © 2008 Uludag University. Journal compilation © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 157 , 141–154.     

Genome organization in diploid hybrid species of Argyranthemum (Asteraceae) in the Canary Islands

Two diploid species of hybrid origin, Argyranthemum lemsii and A. sundingii , have been described from different valleys in the Anaga peninsula, north-east Tenerife. They have previously been shown to originate from hybridization between the same parental species, the montane A. broussonetii and the coastal A. frutescens , A. broussonetii being the chloroplast donor in one valley and A. frutescens in the other. The specific status of the two hybrid species has been questioned. In this study we used karyotype analysis, FISH, and GISH to address the question of multiple diploid hybrid speciation. GISH did not discriminate clearly between the parental genomes, but differential labelling was observed in separate hybrid populations, indicating different chromosomal rearrangements in different valleys. Small karyotype differences and local loss of rDNA were also observed. Thus separate origins of the same hybrid combination in different valleys in Tenerife have been verified. Our results add some support to the recognition of two species of hybrid origin, but the case serves to illustrate some of the many problems connected with the species concept in plants.  © 2003 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2003, 141 , 491–501.