A robust molecular phylogeny of the Tricladida (Platyhelminthes: Seriata) with a discussion on morphological synapomorphies.

The suborder Tricladida (Platyhelminthes: Turbellaria, Seriata) comprises most well-known species of free-living flatworms. Four infraorders are recognized: (i) the Maricola (marine planarians); (ii) the Cavernicola (a group of primarily cavernicolan planarians); (iii) the Paludicola (freshwater planarians); and (iv) the Terricola (land planarians). The phylogenetic relationships among these infraorders have been analysed using morphological characters, but they remain uncertain. Here we analyse the phylogeny and classification of the Tricladida, with additional, independent, molecular data from complete sequences of 18S rDNA and 18S rRNA. We use maximum parsimony and neighbour-joining methods and the characterization of a unique gene duplication event involving the Terricola and the dugesiids to reconstruct the phylogeny. The results show that the Maricola is monophyletic and is the primitive sister group to the rest of the Tricladida (the Paludicola plus the Terricola). The Paludicola are paraphyletic since the Terricola and one paludicolan family, the Dugesiidae, share a more recent common ancestor than the dugesiids with other paludicolans (dendrocoelids and planariids). A reassessment of morphological evidence may confirm the apparent redundancy of the existing infraorders Paludicola and Terricola. In the meantime, we suggest replacing the Paludicola and Terricola with a new clade, the Continenticola, which comprises the families Dugesiidae, Planariidae, Dendrocoelidae and the Terricola.     

Molecular phylogeny of land and freshwater planarians (Tricladida, Platyhelminthes): from freshwater to land and back

The suborder Tricladida (phylum Platyhelminthes) comprises the well-known free-living flatworms, taxonomically grouped into three infraorders according to their ecology: Maricola (marine planarians), Paludicola (freshwater planarians), and Terricola (land planarians). Molecular analyses have demonstrated that the Paludicola are paraphyletic, the Terricola being the sister group of one of the three paludicolan families, the Dugesiidae. However, neither 18S rDNA nor COI based trees have been able to resolve the relationships among species of Terricola and Dugesiidae, particularly the monophyly of Terricola. Here, we present new molecular data including sequences of nuclear genes (18S rDNA, 28S rDNA) and a mitochondrial gene (COI) of a wider sample of dugesiid and terricolan species. The new sequences have been analyzed, together with those previously obtained, in independent and concatenated analyses using maximum likelihood and bayesian methods. The results show that, although some parts of the trees remain poorly resolved, they support a monophyletic origin for Terricola followed by a likely return of some species to freshwater habitats. Relationships within the monophyletic group of Dugesiidae are clearly resolved, and relationships among some terricolan subfamilies are also clearly established and point to the need for a thorough revision of Terricola taxonomy.     

The nervous system of Tricladida. IV. Neuroanatomy of Planaria torva (Paludicola,Planaridae): an immunocytochemical study

Characters of the nervous system have scarcely been used in consideration of the phylogenetic relationships of the Tricladida. In order to contribute characters toward this end, we studied the nervous system of Planaria torva with immunocytochemical methods and we compare the results with what is known of nervous system structure in other triclads. Antisera against four neuroactive substances were used: neuropeptide F (NPF), RFamide, GYIRFamide, and serotonin (5-HT). All four substances showed positive immunoreactions throughout the nervous system; and the patterns of distribution of the first three were similar, while 5-HT showed a distinct distribution. The organization of these nervous system elements in Planariidae and Dendrocoelidae resembles that of the Maricola but differs from that of the Dugesiidae. The results support the hypotheses that the Paludicola is a more advanced taxon than the Maricola and that the Planariidae and Dendrocoelidae together are a sister group of the Dugesiidae. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Origin and Evolution of Paralogous rRNA Gene Clusters Within the Flatworm Family Dugesiidae (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida)

Analysis of the 18S rDNA sequences of five species of the family Dugesiidae (phylum Platyhelminthes, suborder Tricladida, infraorder Paludicola) and eight species belonging to families Dendrocoelidae and Planaridae and to the infraorder Maricola showed that members of the family Dugesiidae have two types of 18S rDNA genes, while the rest of the species have only one. The duplication event also affected the ITS-1, 5.8S, ITS-2 region and probably the 28S gene. The mean divergence value between the type I and the type II sequences is 9% and type II 18S rDNA genes are evolving 2.3 times more rapidly than type I. The evolutionary rates of type I and type II genes were calibrated from biogeographical data, and an approximate date for the duplication event of 80–120 million years ago was calculated. The type II gene was shown, by RT-PCR, to be transcribed in adult individuals of Schmidtea polychroa, though at very low levels. This result, together with the fact that most of the functionally important positions for small-subunit rRNA in prokaryotes have been conserved, indicates that the type II gene is probably functional. Received: 24 March 1998 / Accepted: 17 March 1999     

The historical biogeography of Apsilochorema (Trichoptera,Hydrobiosidae) revised,following molecular studies

The genus Apsilochorema Ulmer, 1907 is unique in the family Hydrobiosidae Ulmer, being widely distributed in the Palaearctic, Oriental and Australian Regions. All other 49 genera in the family, except the New World Atopsyche Banks, 1905, are confined to a single biogeographical Region. This unique distribution has independently stimulated researchers to formulate competing hypotheses about the biogeographical history of the genus. Molecular sequence data from mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) and nuclear cadherin (CAD) genes of Apsilochorema species from the Oriental and Australian areas were analysed phylogenetically. The results retain a monophyletic Apsilochorema, which forms the sistergroup to the other genera in the subfamily Apsilochorematinae. The results from the biogeographical analyses dispute the earlier assumptions of an Oriental or northern Gondwana origin for the genus, revealing unambiguously an initial Australian radiation of the ancestral Apsilochorema with a subsequent dispersal into the Oriental Region. All but one of the Apsilochorema species occurring on the Pacific islands had an Oriental ancestor. The exception is the sistergroup to the New Caledonian species, which is found in both Australia and Oriental Regions. The molecular dating analysis, using a relaxed clock model, indicates that the genus Apsilochorema is about 36.4 MY old and that it dispersed from Australia into the Oriental Region about 28.3 Ma. It also gives an estimate of the approximate ages of the dispersals into New Caledonia to about 15.3 Ma; to the Solomon Islands at about 16.2 Ma; to the Fiji Islands at about 16.1 Ma; and to the Vanuatu Islands at about 5.4 Ma.     

Two new genera and two new species of Mantophasmatodea (Insecta, Polyneoptera) from Namibia

Two new species and two new genera (Pachyphasma, Striatophasma) of Mantophasmatodea are described from Namibia. Pachyphasma brandbergense is endemic to the Brandberg massif; Striatophasma occupies an extensive area south of the region inhabited by Mantophasma. Phylogenetic analyses (see Predel et al. in press) suggest a sistergroup relationship of Striatophasma and the South African Austrophasmatidae.     

Quasimodoana, a new Holarctic genus of eucoiline wasps (Hymenoptera, Cynipoidea, Figitidae), with a phylogenetic analysis of related genera

Abstract.  A new Holarctic genus, Quasimodoana gen.n. is described for the Palearctic eucoiline wasp Eucoila decipiens Förster, 1869, as Quasimodoana decipiens comb.n. A lectotype is designated for this species. A new North American species is described here as Quasimodoana gibba sp.n. As the new genus has similarities with several eucoiline genera, belonging to two related but distinct lineages, a phylogenetic analysis was carried out, based on 83 morphological characters. The two lineages included in the analysis are referred to here under the tribal names of Eucoilini and Trichoplastini stat.nov. We discuss reasons for adopting available tribal names (rather than 'informal genus groups'), and Trichoplastini is removed from synonymy with Eucoilini. The phylogenetic analysis places Quasimodoana unambiguously within Eucoilini, as a sistergroup to the Trybliographa complex. However, there is only weak support for the monophyly of Eucoilini and for the hypothesized sistergroup relationship between Eucoilini and Trichoplastini.     

Testing the monophyly of the New Zealand and Australian endemic family Conoesucidae Ross based on combined molecular and morphological data (Insecta: Trichoptera: Sericostomatoidea)

Conoesucidae (Trichoptera, Insecta) are restricted to SE Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand. The family includes 42 described species in 12 genera, and each genus is endemic to either New Zealand or Australia. Although monophyly has been previously assumed, no morphological characters have been proposed to represent synapomorphies for the group. We collected molecular data from two mitochondrial genes (16S and cytochrome oxidase I), one nuclear gene (elongation factor 1-α) (2237–2277 bp in total), and 12 morphological characters to produce the first phylogeny of the family. We combined the molecular and morphological characters and performed both a maximum parsimony analysis and a Bayesian analysis to test the monophyly of the family, and to hypothesize the phylogeny among its genera. The parsimony analysis revealed a single most parsimonious tree with Conoesucidae being a monophyletic taxon and sistergroup to the Calocidae. The Bayesian inference produced a distribution of trees, the consensus of which is supported with posterior probabilities of 100% for 15 out of 22 possible ingroup clades including the most basal branch of the family, indicating strong support for a monophyletic Conoesucidae. The most parsimonious tree and the tree from the Bayesian analysis were identical except that the ingroup genus Pycnocentria changed position by jumping to a neighbouring clade. Based on the assumption that the ancestral conoesucid species was present on both New Zealand and Australia, a biogeographical analysis using the dispersal-vicariance criteria demonstrated that one or two (depending on which of the two phylogenetic reconstructions were applied) sympatric speciation events took place on New Zealand prior to a single, late dispersal from New Zealand to Australia.     

Phylogenetic relationships of the genus Dugesia (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Paludicola)

A phylogenetic analysis was performed on the genera and subgenera within the freshwater triclad family Dugesiidae, based on 19 terminal taxa and 17 morphological characters. The phylogenetic tree proposed has length of 27 steps and consistency index of 0.66. This phylogenetic hypothesis implies that the current genus Dugesia is paraphyletic and that its subgenera Girardia, Schmidiea and Dugesia S.S. should be elevated to the rank of genus. The genera Cura, Spathula and Neppia are presumed monophyletic by default because the database was unable to provide autapomorphies for any of these genera. The genera Dugesia S.S. and Neppia share sistergroup relationship. Several characters are discussed which were previously considered to be of phylogenetic importance but were not included in the present analysis. It is emphasized that sensory organs form potentially useful set of phylogenetic characters for the Dugesiidae.     

The role of the atrial diverticulum in the copulatory apparatus of the terrestrial flatworm Platydemus manokwari de Beauchamp (Tricladida: Terricola)

Diverticula are present in the copulatory organs of many species of the Terricola. In some species these structures are copulatory bursae or resorptive vesicles. The function of diverticula present in the copulatory organs in species of Dolichoplana and Platydemus (Rhynchodemidae), in Australoplana (Geoplanidae) and in some other caenoplaninid genera has been an enigma. From histochemical and other investigations of the ventro-posterior copulatory diverticulum in Platydemus manokwari de Beauchamp, it is evident that this structure is neither a copulatory bursa, resorptive vesicle nor a uterus. It is an adhesive gland producing a viscid, collagen-like fibrous glycoprotein derived from two secretory elements present in the gland. The secretion is expelled during cocoon laying to adhere the cocoon onto the substratum. The diverticulum appears late in the development of the copulatory organs, and is present when the gonopore is patent; this has implications for the taxonomy of platydemid flatworms. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

鲤亚科鱼类的系统发育

鲤亚科是由原始的鲃亚科派生的一个单源群,因此,把鲤亚科各属筛选出的性状与纪亚科的相应性状比较,以确定其性质,即该性状为祖征,还是为离征。经比较,发现25项性状在鲤亚科的5个属中呈镶嵌分布。根据性状的镶嵌分布情况和简约性原则,推导出鲤亚科的属间系统发育分支图。以往的观点认为,鲃鲤属与原鲤属的关系较近。现在系统发育关系分析的结果与此全然不同,原鲤属与鲤属的关系较近,而纪鲤属在鲤亚科内是较早分化出的一支,与亚科内其他4个属的关系相对较远。最后,依化石资料分析了鲤亚科的分化时间。     

Relation between climatic fluctuation and morphological variability in Microtus (Terricola) grafi (Arvicolinae, Rodentia) from Bacho Kiro (Bulgaria, Upper Pleistocene)

Morphological variability within the species Microtus (Terricola) grafi is investigated in relation to the parameters of time and climate. Microtus (Terricola) grafi has been described from the Upper Pleistocene cave of Bacho Kiro (Bulgaria), which has yielded numerous teeth from several levels reflecting climatic fluctuations. The first lower molars are analyzed by 23 biometric variables so as to quantify tooth shape and its variation with time and climate. This morphological analysis reveals a number of shape indexes reflecting whether an individual lived in warm or cold conditions. The most significant result is that individuals living in warm conditions exhibit the more primitive feature of having a less tilted pitymyan rhombus.     

Molecular phylogeny of the fungus gnat tribe Exechiini (Mycetophilidae, Diptera)

The phylogenetic relationships within the fungus gnat tribe Exechiini have been left unattended for many years. Recent studies have not shed much light on the intergeneric relationship within the tribe. Here the first attempt to resolve the phylogeny of the tribe Exechiini using molecular markers is presented. The nuclear 18S and the mitochondrial 16S, and cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) genes were successfully sequenced for 20 species representing 15 Exechiini genera and five outgroup genera. Bayesian, maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood analyses revealed basically congruent tree topologies and the monophyly of Exechiini, including the genus Cordyla , is confirmed. The molecular data corroborate previous morphological studies in several aspects. Cordyla is found in a basal clade together with Brachypeza , Pseudorymosia and Stigmatomeria . The splitting of the genera Allodiopsis s.l. and Brevicornu s.l. as well as the sistergroup relationship of Exechia and Exechiopsis is also supported. The limited phylogenetic information provided by morphological characters is mirrored in the limited resolution of the molecular markers used in this study. Short internal and long-terminal branches obtained may indicate a rapid radiation of the Exechiini genera during a short evolutionary period.     

四川巴利螨属二新种（蜱螨亚纲：虱螯螨科）

本文描述贮藏食品上的重庆巴利螨两新种,Ｐａｒｄｌｙｃｕｓｃｈｏｎｇｑｉｎｇｅｎｓｉｓｓｐ．ｎｏｖ。和长巴利螨,Ｐａｒａｌｙｃｕｓ ｌｏｎｇｉｏｒｎｏｖ。     

Evolutionary history of two allopatric Terricola species (Arvicolinae, Rodentia) from molecular, morphological, and palaeontological data

To investigate the phylogenetic and phylogeographical relationships of arvicolines, we use several Western European ground voles. More particularly, our study is focused on Microtus ( Terricola ) savii and M. ( T. ) pyrenaicus . These two allopatric species are usually considered as having originated from the same ancestor, possibly M . ( T. ) mariaclaudiae . We propose molecular and morphological approaches: nucleotidic data from the mitochondrial cytochrome b and 12S rRNA genes and global morphological analyses from the first lower molar. Four other Terricola species ( multiplex , lusitanicus , duodecimcostatus , subterraneus ) were added to the data set for both analyses, and two other vole species ( Clethrionomys glareolus and Chionomys nivalis ) as outgroup to the molecular analysis, and five fossil populations to the morphological one. Palaeontological data are also widely taken into account. Both molecular and morphological analyses indicate that intra- Terricola relationships reflect the present-day geographical distribution of our data set species. Our results show that M. ( T. ) savii and M. ( T. ) pyrenaicus are from separate speciation events leading to two different biogeographical groups, respectively the Alpine–Italian group and the French–Iberian group, the latter being much more homogeneous. These speciation events could be related to Quaternary climatic changes, which induced southward migration, leading first to M. ( T. ) savii and second to M. ( T. ) pyrenaicus . The classical hypothesis of a geographical speciation for these two taxa from M. ( T. ) mariaclaudiae is invalid. However, the morphological data suggest a potential phylogenetic relationship between M. ( T. ) mariaclaudiae (ancestor) and M. ( T. ) pyrenaicus (descendant).  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 93 , 309–323.     

Chromosome numbers, sex determining systems, and patterns of the C-heterochromatin distribution in 13 species of lace bugs (Heteroptera, Tingidae).

The karyotypes, sex chromosome systems, and male meiotic patterns in 13 species belonging to 10 genera of the family Tingidae were studied. Data on eleven species, one subgenus, and 5 genera are presented for the first time, and the chromosome formula of Acalypta parvula is revised. Karyotypes of all species included six pairs of autosomes. Most of the species displayed an XY sex chromosome system, in four species, belonging to genera of Acalypta and Kalama, the X0 system was found. Male meiosis is chiasmatic for autosomes. Sex chromosomes are achiasmatic and undergo pre-reductional meiosis. Using C-banding technique, for the first time constitutive heterochromatin was localized on chromosomes in all the species studied. The heterochromatin was found either in telomeres or in some species in interstitial locations, evidencing that a quite substantial redistribution of chromosome material within chromosomes might occur without fragmentations or fusions. In two species, a supernumerary (B) chromosome was found. In addition, the male reproductive system of four species was examined and the number of testicular follicles was determined as two per testis.     

安徽马鞍山地区蝶类资源调查及区系分析

2003~2006年对安徽省马鞍山地区蝶类资源进行调查,经鉴定有69种,隶属于8科50属,分别为凤蝶科6属13种,绢蝶科1属1种,粉蝶科5属7种,眼蝶科4属9种,蛱蝶科10属15种,喙蝶科1属1种,灰蝶科13属14种,弄蝶科8属9种。马鞍山地区蝶类在中国动物地理区划中有20个区系型,以华中-华北区系型所占比例最高,计10种,占14.49%;其次为华中区特有种为9种,占13.14%;马鞍山地区蝶类区系主要以华中区区系为主体。     

Phylogenetic systematics of leaffishes (Teleostei: Polycentridae,Nandidae)

The Asian (nandid) and Afro‐Neotropical (polycentrid) leaffishes represent two superficially similar, but historically poorly diagnosed families – a situation resulting in a convoluted systematic history. Here, and including for the first time in a molecular study all leaffish genera, we generate a hypothesis of the phylogenetic history of both groups. We analyse a multilocus molecular data set encompassing 257 acanthomorph taxa, carry out a survey and assessment of selected osteological characters for the polycentrid leaffishes and also provide a reanalysis of previously published morphological data. Our results confirm: (1) that the Polycentridae and Nandidae are only remotely related, and hence, the classic leaffishes are diphyletic; (2) that the Polycentridae is monophyletic, with new skeletal synapomorphies being congruent with molecular data in placing the enigmatic Afronandus – a taxon that thus far has never been included in any molecular study – as sistergroup to the remaining genera; (3) the monophyly of the Nandidae + Badidae and their inclusion into a larger monophyletic group – along with the Pristolepididae, Anabantoidei and Channoidei – comprising the Labyrinthici sensu Rosen & Patterson. We also review the morphological and molecular evidence for both the conflicting placement of Pristolepis and the putative sistergroup relationship between the labyrinth fishes (Anabantoidei) and snakeheads (Channoidei).     

The use of wild edible plants in western and central Anatolia (Turkey)

In this study, 121 wild edible plants used as food in Anatolia were surveyed to determine the plant parts used and their detailed preparation methods. The results of this study show that the plants may be boiled, fried in fat, and eaten raw or as rolled vegetables. They may also be consumed as pickles, fruits, sweets and spices, and drunk as cold and hot drinks. Thirty species (8 genera) were identified as belonging to the Lamiaceae family, 15 species (15 genera) belong to the Asteraceae family, 13 species (5 genera) belong to the Rosaceae family, 8 species (7 genera) belong to the Brassicaceae family, 6 species (3 genera) belong to the Orchidaceae family and 5 species (5 genera) belong to the Apiaceae family. The genera represented by the highest number of species in the study are as follows:Sideritis L. is represented by 13 species, Origanum L. by 7 species,Rubus L. by 5 species,Thymus L. by 4 species andRumex L. by 4 species.