Eccremidium (Ditrichaceae) new to South America

Abstract

The occurrence of Eccremidium, a rare pygmy moss, in Brazil, South America, is reported. Though it is conspecific with the recently described E. floridanum Crum the differences are highlighted for a better understanding of the variable nature of the species and its relationship with the Australian and South African E. exiguum.     

A new endemic lineage of the Andean frog genus Telmatobius (Anura,Telmatobiidae) from the western slopes of the central Andes

The amphibian genus Telmatobius is a diverse group of species that inhabits the Andes. This study analysed the phylogenetic relationships of 19 species described from the central Andes of Chile and Bolivia, and 12 undescribed populations of Chile. A molecular phylogeny based on mitochondrial DNA 16S and cytochrome b shows that the Chilean species belong to three groups: (1) the Telmatobius marmoratus group, widespread in the Chilean and Bolivian Altiplano; (2) the Telmatobius hintoni group, including the species Telmatobius philippii, Telmatobius fronteriensis, and Telmatobius huayra, occurring in the south‐western Altiplano of Chile and Bolivia, and (3) the Telmatobius zapahuirensis group, a new clade which also includes Telmatobius chusmisensis, Telmatobius dankoi, and Telmatobius vilamensis, restricted to western slopes of the Andes, and which was recovered as more closely related to the T. hintoni group than the T. marmoratus group. The divergence times between clades were traced to the late Pleistocene. The molecular phylogeny also confirmed that the groups of the Altiplano and western Andes slopes form a clade separated from the species that inhabit the eastern Andes (Telmatobius verrucosus and Telmatobius bolivianus groups), supporting the forest origin of the Altiplano groups proposed by several previous authors. © 2014 The Linnean Society of London     

Interspecific competition between the polyembryonic wasp Copidosoma floridanum and the gregarious endoparasitoid Glyptapanteles pallipes

We examined interspecific competition between the egg-larval polyembryonic parasitoid Copidosoma floridanum (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) and the gregarious larval endoparasitoid Glyptapanteles pallipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Approximately 72% of multiparasitized Acanthoplusia agnata (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) produced C. floridanum adults, 14% produced G. pallipes adults, and 14% died without producing any parasitoids. Development was delayed and the rate of weight gain was reduced in multiparasitized hosts that produced C. floridanum compared with singly-parasitized hosts. In contrast, only weight was reduced in multiparasitized hosts that produced G. pallipes adults. Compared with single parasitism, the brood size of wasps emerging from multiparasitized hosts was reduced in both species. The percentage of hosts containing precocious larvae of C. floridanum, which are considered to be soldiers, did not increase in response to parasitization by G. pallipes. However, developmental cessation and death of G. pallipes eggs and larvae may be closely related to the number of coexisting precocious larvae.     

Molecular phylogeny of the diverse parasitoid wasp genus Ophion Fabricius (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Ophioninae)

Ophion Fabricius is a diverse genus of nocturnal ichneumonid wasps (Insecta: Hymenoptera) that is particularly species‐rich in temperate areas, yet has received little taxonomic attention in the Holarctic region, where most species occur. While there have been some attempts to divide Ophion into monophyletic species groups, the vast majority of species have been lumped into a single, paraphyletic group, the O. luteus species group, which is defined only by the lack of characters specific to the other groups. The challenging morphology of this large catch‐all group has limited attempts to subdivide it, and no phylogenetic hypothesis has been proposed for the genus as a whole. In this study, we use DNA sequence data [28S ribosomal RNA (28S), cytochrome oxidase 1 (COI) and internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2)] to present the first molecular phylogeny of Ophion. We also describe the secondary structure of ITS2 for the first time in Ichneumonidae, and explore its implications for phylogeny estimation. We define 13 species groups, nine of which were previously considered part of the O. luteus species group s.l. The included species groups are the O. minutus, O. areolaris, O. scutellaris, O. flavidus, O. parvulus, O. slossonae, O. nigrovarius, O. pteridis, O. luteus s.s., and O. obscuratus species groups, along with three groups lacking described species (Species group 1, New Zealand group, Madagascar group). This study provides a framework for future studies of this diverse and morphologically challenging genus.     

Molecular phylogeny and taxonomy of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tanacetum</Emphasis> L. (Compositae,Anthemideae) inferred from nrDNA ITS and cpDNA <Emphasis Type="Italic">trn</Emphasis>H–<Emphasis Type="Italic">psb</Emphasis>A sequence variation

The genus Tanacetum L. consists of around 160 species of the Compositae-Anthemideae. It holds a crucial position for understanding the phylogeny of the tribe and its subtribal and generic classification. The present study focuses on the phylogenetic relationships of the species and aims at a discussion of the infrageneric classification and boundaries of the genus. Sequence information from a nuclear [nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) internal transcribed spacer (ITS)] and a chloroplast marker [chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) trnH–psbA] was used to infer the phylogeny of Tanacetum and many representatives of closely related genera. Bayesian inference methods were used for the phylogenetic reconstructions based on a combined dataset including both sequence and indel information. Contrasting the high morphological diversity in the genus, sequence divergence among Tanacetum representatives included was found to be very low, leading to unresolved phylogenetic relationships within the genus. Nevertheless, the generic separation of Tanacetum from other members of subtribe Anthemidinae (i.e., Anthemis, Archanthemis, Cota, Nananthea, and Tripleurospermum) emerges, while other, presently accepted genera are found nested in Tanacetum (i.e., Gonospermum, Lugoa, and Xylanthemum). Finally, the phylogenetic independence of the SW European T. microphyllum from the rest of Tanacetum and the other genera of Anthemidinae is found to receive strong support and is also backed by its morphological uniqueness. The new genus Vogtia Oberpr. et Sonboli is described to accommodate Tanacetum microphyllum and the closely related species T. annuum. The sinking of Gonospermum, Lugoa, and Xylanthemum into a broadly circumscribed genus Tanacetum is proposed until more stable phylogenetic reconstructions based on more and more variable molecular markers are possible. Concerning the infrageneric classification of Tanacetum, the phylogeny does not support the separation of the white- and red-rayed species (the former genus Pyrethrum) from the discoid, disciform, or yellow-rayed ones (i.e., Tanacetum in the strict sense) at any infrageneric rank. The hypothesis by Tzvelev (1961) that the yellow-rayed representatives may have evolved from disciform ancestors receives little support.     

Phylogenetic evidence for multiple invasions and speciation in caves: the Australian planthopper genus Solonaima (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Cixiidae)

Abstract. The Australian genus Solonaima comprises thirteen described plus two undescribed species. Six are cavernicolous, obligate or not, and are found in different caves. The phylogeny presented here confirms the monophyly of the genus. This phylogeny was compared with the estimate obtained using the method of Marques and Gnaspini, who recommend coding characters susceptible to parallelism differently from the others. Further comparison was made with a cladogram derived from the matrix from which such characters susceptible to parallelism were withdrawn. Scenarios concerning historical invasions of caves were tested using phylogenetic inference. The most-parsimonious hypothesis proposed four invasions of the caves, within two of which a diversification of species took place.     

Species Concepts in the Cylindrocladium floridanum and Cy. spathiphylli Complexes (Hypocreaceae) Based on Multi-allelic Sequence Data, Sexual Compatibility and Morphology

Much attention has recently been devoted to the delimitation of species units in Cylindrocladium(Cy.). In this regard the present study focuses on the taxa within the unresolved Cy. floridanum and Cy. spathiphylli species complexes. Maximum parsimony analyses of DNA sequences of ITS, β-tubulin and histone regions of rRNA genes, and mating experiments revealed a geographically isolated species of Cylindrocladium in the Cy. spathiphylli(teleomorph:Calonectria spathiphylli) species complex.Cy. pseudospathiphylli sp. nov. (teleomorph:Ca. pseudospathiphylli sp. nov.) is described as a new phylogenetic, biological and morphological species. It is distinguished from Cy. spathiphylli by being homothallic, having smaller macroconidia, and distinct DNA sequences of β-tubulin and histone genes. Similarly, parsimony analysis of a combined data set also indicated several phylogenetic species to exist within Cy. floridanum(teleomorph:Ca. kyotensis). Based on differences in vesicle morphology and conidium dimensions, the Canadian population of Cy. floridanum, formerly known as Cy. floridanum Group 2, is described as Cy. canadense sp. nov., while a further collection from Hawaii is described as Cy. pacificum sp. nov.     

Phylogeny of the genus Pythium and description of new genera

Phylogeny of the genus Pythium is analyzed based on sequences of the large subunit ribosomal DNA D1/D2 region and cytochrome oxidase II gene region of Pythium isolates and comprehensive species of related taxa belonging to the Oomycetes. The phylogenetic trees show that the genus Pythium is a highly divergent group and divided into five well- or moderately supported monophyletic clades. Each clade is characterized by sporangial morphology such as globose, ovoid, elongated, or filamentous shapes. Based on phylogeny and morphology, the genus Pythium (s. str.) is emended, and four new genera, Ovatisporangium, Globisporangium, Elongisporangium, and Pilasporangium, are described and segregated from Pythium s. lato.     

Contribution à la connaissance des Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera : Chalcidoidea) du Maroc,nouvelles données et comparaison avec la faune d’Afrique du Nord

Au Maroc, la famille des Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera : Chalcidoidea) compte actuellement 46 espèces. Six genres (Acerophagus Smith, 1880, Cerchysiella Girault, 1914, Cheiloneurus Westwood, 1833, Copidosoma Ratzeburg, 1844, Epitetracnemus Girault, 1915, Tineophoctonus Ashmead, 1900) et sept espèces [Cheiloneurus elegans (Dalman, 1820), Copidosoma floridanum (Ashmead, 1900), Epitetracnemus intersectus (Fonscolombe, 1832), Habrolepis pascuorum Mercet, 1921, Metaphycus melanostomatus (Timberlake, 1916), Metaphycus castaneus (Mercet, 1921) et Tineophoctonus armatus (Ashmead, 1888)] sont signalés pour la première fois de ce pays. Les échantillonnages ont été réalisés dans trois stations d’étude au sein de la subéraie de la Maâmora au cours de deux années successives (juin 2012 à avril 2014).     

Phylogenetic relationships of Mexican minnows of the genus Notropis (Actinopterygii, Cyprinidae)

We conducted phylogenetic analyses based on complete mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequences among southern and central Mexican cyprinid species, included in the genera Notropis and Hybopsis. In addition 15 northern species of the genera Notropis and Hybopsis were included in the analyses in order to place the Mexican species into a larger phylogenetic framework. The phylogenetic relationships supported the existence of five major clades: (1) including species of the subgenus Alburnops of the genus Notropis plus N. shumardi; (2) species of the subgenus Notropis; (3) species of the genus Hybopsis; (4) species of the N. texanus + N. volucellus species group of the genus Notropis; (5) Mexican endemic species of the genus Notropis plus the genus Yuriria. Previous phylogenetic inferences based on morphological characters resolved the Mexican minnows analysed as N. sallaei, N. calientis, N. boucardi and Y. alta, non‐monophyletic. According to our cytochrome b evidence all Mexican minnows of the genera Notropis and Yuriria formed a monophyletic group with respect to the northern species of the genera Notropis and Hybopsis. Within the Mexican clade, three well‐supported clades were identified: the first included the closely related species N. moralesi and N. boucardi, which occur in three independent drainages of south Mexico; the second consisted of two different lineages, N. imeldae and an undescribed species of Notropis, inhabiting two independent drainages of south Mexico; the third comprised two central Mexican Notropis species (N. calientis and N. sallaei) and the Y. alta populations. Based on this study and pending a more extensive taxonomic revision of the genus Notropis, we adopt the conservative criterion of considering all Notropis species from southern and central Mexico examined, including Y. alta, as belonging to the genus Notropis. © 2003 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2003, 80 , 323–337.     

A phylogenetic analysis of the Illiciaceae based on sequences of internal transcribed spacers (ITS) of nuclear ribosomal DNA

Sequences of the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) of nuclear ribosomal DNA were determined for 15 species ofIllicium (Illiciaceae) to examine phylogenetic relationships. The ITS trees show a major dichotomy between the two North American species (I. floridanum andI. parviflorum) and the remaining east Asian species. This suggests that the existing division between two sections (sect.Illicium and sect.Cymbostemon) ofIllicium based on tepal characters in unnatural. The ITS phylogeny shows congruence with palynology: of the species examined, the three species (I. angustisepalum, I. anisatum andI. fargesii) from sect.Illicium that possess trizonocolpate pollen consistently form a clade, although nesting within a clade consisting of the species of sect.Cymbostemon, which generally have trisyncolpate pollen. The low ITS sequence divergence and the close relationship among east Asian species suggest a recent diversification of this group of species or an unusual slowdown of sequence mutations.     

Evolutionary history of tree squirrels (Rodentia,Sciurini) based on multilocus phylogeny reconstruction

Pe?nerová, P. & Martínková, N. (2012). Evolutionary history of tree squirrels (Rodentia, Sciurini) based on multilocus phylogeny reconstruction. —Zoologica Scripta, 41, 211–219. Tree squirrels of the tribe Sciurini represent a group with unresolved phylogenetic relationships in gene trees. We used partial sequences of mitochondrial genes for 12S rRNA, 16S rRNA, cytochrome b and d‐loop, and nuclear irbp, c‐myc exon 2 and 3 and rag1 genes to reconstruct phylogenetic relationships within the tribe, maximizing the number of analysed species. Bayesian inference analysis of the concatenated sequences revealed common trends that were similar to those retrieved with supertree reconstruction. We confirmed congruence between phylogeny and zoogeography. The first group that diverged from a common ancestor was genus Tamiasciurus, followed by Palaearctic Sciurus and Indomalayan Rheithrosciurus macrotis. Nearctic and Neotropical Sciurus species formed a monophyletic group that included Microsciurus and Syntheosciurus. Neotropical Sciurini were monophyletic with a putative exception of Syntheosciurus brochus that was included in a polychotomy with Nearctic Sciurus in supertree analyses. Our data indicate that Sciurini tree squirrels originated in the northern hemisphere and ancestors of contemporary taxa attained their current distribution through overland colonization from the nearest continent rather than through trans‐Pacific dispersal.     

Molecular phylogeny of the family Tephritidae (Insecta: Diptera): New insight from combined analysis of the mitochondrial 12S, 16S,and COII genes

The phylogeny of the family Tephritidae (Diptera: Tephritidae) was reconstructed from mitochondrial 12S, 16S, and COII gene fragments using 87 species, including 79 tephritid and 8 outgroup species. Minimum evolution and Bayesian trees suggested the following phylogenetic relationships: (1) A sister group relationship between Ortalotrypeta and Tachinisca, and their basal phylogenetic position within Tephritidae; (2) a sister group relationship between the tribe Acanthonevrini and Phytalmiini; (3) monophyly of Plioreocepta, Taomyia and an undescribed new genus, and their sister group relationship with the subfamily Tephritinae; (4) a possible sister group relationship of Cephalophysa and Adramini; and (5) reconfirmation of monophyly for Trypetini, Carpomyini, Tephritinae, and Dacinae. The combination of 12S, 16S, and COII data enabled resolution of phylogenetic relationships among the higher taxa of Tephritidae.     

Molecular systematics of the Philippine forest skinks (Squamata: Scincidae: Sphenomorphus): testing morphological hypotheses of interspecific relationships

Skinks of the genus Sphenomorphus are the most diverse clade of squamates in the Philippine Archipelago. Morphological examination of these species has defined six phenotypic groups that are commonly used in characterizations of taxonomic hypotheses. We used a molecular phylogeny based on four mitochondrial and two nuclear genes to assess the group's biogeographical history in the archipelago and examine the phylogenetic validity of the currently recognized Philippine species groups. We re‐examined traditional characters used to define species groups and used multivariate statistics to quantitatively evaluate group structure in morphometric space. Clustering analyses of phenotypic similarity indicate that some (but not all) members of previously defined species groups are phenotypically most similar to other members of the same group. However, when species group membership was mapped on our partitioned Bayesian phylogenetic hypothesis, only one species group corresponds to a clade; all other species group arrangements are strongly rejected by our phylogeny. Our results demonstrate that (1) previously recognized species group relationships were misled by phenotypic convergence; (2) Sphenomorphus is widely paraphyletic; and (3) multiple lineages have independently invaded the Philippines. Based on this new perspective on the phylogenetic relationships of Philippine Sphenomorphus, we revise the archipelago's diverse assemblage of species at the generic level, and resurrect and/or expand four previously recognized genera, and describe two new genera to accommodate the diversity of Philippine skinks of the Sphenomorphus group. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 163 , 1217–1243.     

Phylogenetic analyses of Tolpis Adans. (Asteraceae) reveal patterns of adaptive radiation,multiple colonization and interspecific hybridization

The plant genus Tolpis (Asteraceae) has been the subject of several investigations on the evolution of oceanic island plants. Its insular species were utilized in studies of artificial hybrid fertility, testing the validity of Baker’s law, the application of DNA barcodes, and the phylogenetic utility of inter‐simple sequence repeat markers. Despite this considerable interest in Tolpis, little is known about its phylogenetic history. Past investigations were unable to resolve most of the interspecific relationships, especially within the Canary Islands, where the genus is particularly diverse. Incomplete taxon sampling, the use of ambiguous outgroups and the limited utility of slowly evolving chloroplast DNA markers precluded detailed reconstructions. The present investigation presents a comprehensive molecular phylogeny of Tolpis. By utilizing highly variable nuclear DNA markers and a comprehensive taxon set, we have resolved the majority of interspecific relationships in the genus. Evaluations of competing tree topologies and ancestral area reconstructions complemented the analyses. Our results highlight the presence of three dominant mechanisms of island plant evolution—island colonization, adaptive radiation and interspecific hybridization—in Tolpis: (i) the extant distribution of the genus is the result of two independent colonization pathways, (ii) Tolpis has colonized at least one archipelago multiple times, (iii) the present insular diversity is the product of adaptive radiation, (iv) potential hybridization was detected between species now inhabiting different islands and archipelagoes, indicating sympatric historical distributions, and (v) several undescribed species await taxonomic recognition.     

中国紫金牛属的分支分类学研究

基于60个形态学性状,对中国广义报春花科（Primulaceae s.l.）紫金牛属（Ardisia）90个分类群的系统发育关系运用分支分析方法进行了分析。采用最简约性分析得到了100个同等简约树。50%多数规则一致树的分支结构与以前建立的紫金牛亚属划分系统基本一致。外类群酸藤子属、铁仔属、密花树属聚在分支树的最基部,紫金牛属为一单系类群。形态分支树的一致性指数和保持性指数和各分支内部支持率均较低,只在种与变种或亚种之间获得较高的支持率。高木亚属、腋序亚属、短序亚属、顶序亚属处于分支树较为基部的位置,推测这四个亚属的类群在紫金牛属中较为原始;圆齿亚属和锯齿亚属共同组成一大支,二者亲缘关系紧密,推测这两个亚属为该属中最为进化的类群。结合形态学对属内系统发育关系进行了讨论和推测了一些性状的演化趋势,以期为分类修订提供依据。