New 1.5 million-year-old Homo erectus maxilla from Sangiran (Central Java, Indonesia)

Sangiran (Solo Basin, Central Java, Indonesia) is the singular Homo erectus fossil locale for Early Pleistocene Southeast Asia. Sangiran is the source for more than 80 specimens in deposits with ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages of 1.51-0.9 Ma. In April 2001, we recovered a H. erectus left maxilla fragment (preserving P³- M²) from the Sangiran site of Bapang. The find spot lies at the base of the Bapang Formation type section in cemented gravelly sands traditionally called the Grenzbank Zone. Two meters above the find spot, pumice hornblende has produced an ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age of 1.51 ± 0.08 Ma. With the addition of Bpg 2001.04, Sangiran now has five H. erectus maxillae. We compare the new maxilla with homologs representing Sangiran H. erectus, Zhoukoudian H. erectus, Western H. erectus (pooled African and Georgian specimens), and Homo habilis. Greatest contrast is with the Zhoukoudian maxillae, which appear to exhibit a derived pattern of premolar-molar relationships compared to Western and Sangiran H. erectus. The dental patterns suggest distinct demic origins for the earlier H. erectus populations represented at Sangiran and the later population represented at Zhoukoudian. These two east Asian populations, separated by 5000 km and nearly 800 k.yr., may have had separate origins from different African/west Eurasian populations.     

Brief communication: two human fossil deciduous molars from the Sangiran dome (Java, Indonesia): outer and inner morphology

Currently, the human deciduous dental record from the Pleistocene deposits of the Sangiran Dome, Java, consists of only eight specimens. Here we report two deciduous crowns collected near the village of Pucung. While their precise geo-chronological context remains unknown, a provenance from the Early-Middle Pleistocene Kabuh Formation, or from the Early Pleistocene "Grenzbank Zone," is very likely. These isolated specimens consist of an upper first molar (PCG.1) and a lower second molar (PCG.2). Taxonomic discrimination of the Indonesian tooth record is difficult because of the convergence in crown size and appearance between Pongo and Homo. Accordingly, as PCG.2 still bears a concretion masking most of its features, we coupled the outer analysis of the two specimens with an investigation of their inner morphology. In addition to external characteristics, virtual imaging and quantitative assessment of inner morphology and tissue proportions support an attribution to the taxon Homo, and we preliminary allocate both specimens toH. erectus.     

Evidence for anaerobic metabolism in the larval tiger beetle, Phaeoxantha klugii (Col. Cicindelidae) from a Central Amazonian floodplain (Brazil)

Abstract. The tiger beetle, Phaeoxantha klugii Chaudoir, survives the annual inundation period in Central Amazonian floodplains as a third‐instar larvae submerged in the soil at approximately 29 °C for up to 3.5 months. Previous studies showed an exceptional anoxia resistance in these larvae and this study investigates whether they perform anaerobiosis. Larvae collected in the field were exposed to a pure nitrogen atmosphere for 0–9 days in the laboratory. The content of lactate, alanine, free sugars and glycogen is analysed in surviving larvae. Lactate and alanine contents rise during anoxia from around 1.5 and 7 to 6–14 and 15–22 µmol g^?1 fresh mass, respectively, providing evidence for anaerobic metabolism. Both compounds show a steep increase during the first 12 h and a tendency to rise further with increasing duration of anoxic conditions, indicating a significant metabolic depression within the first day. Content of free sugars and glycogen varies greatly between individuals and ranges from 0.08–2.5 and 0.05–2.9 mg g^?1 fresh mass, respectively. Whether glycogen is used as metabolic substrate for anaerobiosis could not be verified. The findings for free sugars indicate that larvae apparently maintain the ability to regulate the level of glucose and/or trehalose even after 9 days of anoxia.     

A New Species of Theloderma Tschudi, 1838 (Amphibia: Rhacoporidae) from Central Java Allied to T. horridum (Boulenger, 1903)

Species diversity of the genus Theloderma has been extensively studied in recent decades,with the majority of newly described species hailing from the Indochina region.We describe anew species of mediumsized Theloderma based on molecular and morphological evidence from lowland forest in the southern part of Central Java Province,Indonesia,that is highly similar to and considered cryptic within the T.horridum group.A phylogenetic approach shows that this population is a distinct genetic lineage a...     

Novel Phosphoinositides in Barley Aleurone Cells (Additional Evidence for the Presence of Phosphatidyl-scyllo-Inositol)

A novel isomer of phosphatidylinositol that differs in the structure of the head group was detected in barley (Hordeum vulgare cv Himalaya) seeds. In this paper we describe our efforts to elucidate the structure of the novel isomer. Evidence from a variety of techniques, including chemical modification of in vivo 32Pi- and myo-[3H]inositol-labeled compounds, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis, in vivo incorporation of scyllo-[3H]inositol, and enzymatic studies that suggest that the structure is phosphatidylscyllo-inositol (scyllo-PI), is presented. The use of microwave energy to significantly enhance the slow rate of hydrolysis of phosphoinositides is described. The presence of scyllo-PI can be easily overlooked by the methods commonly employed; therefore, experimental considerations important for the detection of scyllo-PI are discussed.     

Genetic Variation of Sesleria albicans Kit. ex Schultes (Poaceae): Lack of Evidence for Glacial Relict Endemism in Central Europe

Abstract: The populations of Sesleria albicans Kit. ex Schultes in central Europe are supposed to be glacial relicts. The genetic structure of these populations can provide evidence for the reliability of this hypothesis, since a distinct geographical clustering of populations and high levels of interpopulational genetic variation can be expected in the case of relict endemism. In the study presented here, we used Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis to describe the genetic structure of 25 Sesleria albicans populations from west and central Germany, southwest Germany and the Alps. In the RAPD analysis 344 fragments could be amplified, of which 95.9 % were polymorphic. The percentage of polymorphic bands per population ranged from 29.7 % to 56.7 % and correlated significantly with population size, indicating a higher level of inbreeding in small and isolated populations. An analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed that 61.22 % of the variation resided within populations, whereas 34.25 % was found among populations within regions and only 4.53 % among regions. Genetic distance among populations (φ_ST) varied between 0.63 and 0.13, and in a Neighbour-Joining dendrogram based on the genetic distances between the investigated individuals, all populations could be discriminated from each other. The populations from the northern and southern Alps were clearly separated from the central European populations. These, however, did not form geographic clusters. Considering these results, Sesleria albicans showed a high level of intra- but only a low level of interpopulational genetic variation and very weak regional differentiation. The genetic pattern detected in this study, therefore, gives no evidence for glacial relict endemism of Sesleria albicans in central Europe.     

Additional Notes on a Chrysosplenium L. (Saxifragaceae) from Anhui,China

A new variety Chrysosplenium japonicum var. cuneifolium from Anhui, China, is described, and the species Chrysosplenium delavayi is found new to Anhui. The genusChrysosplenium L. of Anhui is additionally recounted.     

Evidence for Frozen-Niche Variation in a Cosmopolitan Parthenogenetic Soil Mite Species (Acari,Oribatida)

Parthenogenetic lineages may colonize marginal areas of the range of related sexual species or coexist with sexual species in the same habitat. Frozen-Niche-Variation and General-Purpose-Genotype are two hypotheses suggesting that competition and interclonal selection result in parthenogenetic populations being either genetically diverse or rather homogeneous. The cosmopolitan parthenogenetic oribatid mite Oppiella nova has a broad ecological phenotype and is omnipresent in a variety of habitats. Morphological variation in body size is prominent in this species and suggests adaptation to distinct environmental conditions. We investigated genetic variance and body size of five independent forest - grassland ecotones. Forests and grasslands were inhabited by distinct genetic lineages with transitional habitats being colonized by both genetic lineages from forest and grassland. Notably, individuals of grasslands were significantly larger than individuals in forests. These differences indicate the presence of specialized genetic lineages specifically adapted to either forests or grasslands which coexist in transitional habitats. Molecular clock estimates suggest that forest and grassland lineages separated 16-6 million years ago, indicating long-term persistence of these lineages in their respective habitat. Long-term persistence, and morphological and genetic divergence imply that drift and environmental factors result in the evolution of distinct parthenogenetic lineages resembling evolution in sexual species. This suggests that parthenogenetic reproduction is not an evolutionary dead end.     

Additional Notes on the Begonia Sect. Petermannia (Begoniaceae) from China

Begonia pellionioides YM. Shui & WH. Chen, a new species of the genus Begonia L. (sect. Petermannia (Klotzsch) A. DC., Begoniaceae), is described and illustrated. The new species is endemic to limestone areas in Southeastern Yunnan Province, China, and is most similar to Begonia hainanensis Chun & F. Chun but distinguished by its more elongated leaves with cuneate base and acuminate to caudate apex, tepals adaxially with spiny hairs and sharply triangular capsule wings with truncate superior margin. Besides, the unknown flower morphology of previously published Begonia sublongipes YM. Shui in Begonia sect. Petermannia is described.     

On the Validity of the Genus Cochlidiosperma Reichenb. (Scrophulariaceae) as Supported by Additional Palynological Evidence

The pollen grains of Cochlidiosperma (Veronica) hederifolia and C. (Veronica) cymbalaria were examined under SEM and TEM. They differ vastly from those of all the others in Veronica (sensu Elenevskij, 1977, 1978). The taxonomic relationship between the group and the other Veronica spp. is discussed with respect to both gross morphology and pollen characters. Justification for the restoration of the genus as a valid taxon is argued and, finally, a number of new combinations are proposed. The group under consideration was sometimes treated as a separate genus but more often given different ranks in the genus Veronica, which has been a controversial group as to its concept and subdivision. No detail discussion has been made before on the relationship between the group and Veronica. Main purpose of the present mork is to examine pollen morphology and gross morphology of the group and to discussits relationship with Veronica.     

The NAD(P)H:flavin oxidoreductase from Escherichia coli. Evidence for a new mode of binding for reduced pyridine nucleotides.

The NAD(P)H:flavin oxidoreductase from Escherichia coli, named Fre, is a monomer of 26.2 kDa that catalyzes the reduction of free flavins using NADPH or NADH as electron donor. The enzyme does not contain any prosthetic group but accommodates both the reduced pyridine nucleotide and the flavin in a ternary complex prior to oxidoreduction. The specificity of the flavin reductase for the pyridine nucleotide was studied by steady-state kinetics using a variety of NADP analogs. Both the nicotinamide ring and the adenosine part of the substrate molecule have been found to be important for binding to the polypeptide chain. However, in the case of NADPH, the 2'-phosphate group destabilized almost completely the interaction with the adenosine moiety. Moreover, NADPH and NMNH are very good substrates for the flavin reductase, and we have shown that both these molecules bind to the enzyme almost exclusively by the nicotinamide ring. This provides evidence that the flavin reductase exhibits a unique mode for recognition of the reduced pyridine nucleotide. In addition, we have shown that the flavin reductase selectively transfers the pro-R hydrogen from the C-4 position of the nicotinamide ring and is therefore classified as an A-side-specific enzyme.     

Melanostigma bellingshauseni sp. n. (Zoarcidae): a New Pelagic Eelpout from Large Depths in the Central Part of the Kerguelen Plateau (Southern Ocean)

Journal of Ichthyology - A new species Melanostigma bellingshauseni sp. n. is described from large depths (1000−1010 m) in the central part of the Kerguelen plateau (the Indian Ocean sector...     

De Novo Transcriptome Analysis of Two Seahorse Species (Hippocampus erectus and H. mohnikei) and the Development of Molecular Markers for Population Genetics

Seahorse conservation has been performed utilizing various strategies for many decades, and the deeper understanding of genomic information is necessary to more efficiently protect the germplasm resources of seahorse species. However, little genetic information about seahorses currently exists in the public databases. In this study, high-throughput RNA sequencing for two seahorse species, Hippocampus erectus and H. mohnikei, was carried out, and de novo assembly generated 37,506 unigenes for H. erectus and 36,113 unigenes for H. mohnikei. Among them, 17,338 (46.23%) unigenes for H. erectus and 17,900 (49.57%) for H. mohnikei were successfully annotated based on the information available from the public databases. Through comparing the unigenes of two seahorse species, 7,802 candidate orthologous genes were identified and 5,268 genes among them could be annotated. In addition, gene ontology analysis of two species was similarly performed on biological processes, cellular components, and molecular functions. Twenty-four and twenty-one unigenes in H. erectus and H. mohnikei were annotated in the biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids pathways, and both seahorses lacked the Δ12 and Δ15 desaturases. Total of 8,992 and 9,116 SSR loci were obtained from H. erectus and H. mohnikei unigenes, respectively. Dozens of SSR were developed and then applied to assess the population genetic diversity, as well as cross-amplified in a related species, H. trimaculatus. The H_O and H_E values of the tested populations for H. erectus, H. mohnikei, and H. trimaculatus were medium. These resources would facilitate the conservation of the species through a better understanding of the genomics and comparative genome analysis within the Hippocampus genus.     

Homologous sucrose synthase genes in barley (Hordeum vulgare) are located in chromosomes 7H (syn. 1) and 2H. Evidence for a gene translocation?

The chromosomal location of the two types of sucrose synthase genes, Ss1 and Ss2, has been investigated in barley by Southern blot analysis of wheat-barley addition lines using non-cross-hybridizing-specific probes corresponding to the C-terminal regions of their respective cDNA clones (congruent to 250 bp). The Ss1 gene, whose cDNA of 2,667 bp has been entirely sequenced, is located in the beta-arm of chromosome 7H (syn. 1), while that corresponding to the homologous Ss2 is in the short arm of 2H, suggesting the existence of a translocation event between these two chromosomes in cultivated barley after an initial gene duplication and divergent evolution.     

Yoraperla altaica,a New Species of Peltoperlidae (Plecoptera) from East Kazakhstan (Central Asia)

A new species of peltoperlid, Yoraperla altaica sp. n., from East Kazakhstan is described as adult male, adult female, mature nymph and egg stages. The new species is compared with related congeneric species.     

Variation and taxonomy in Hordeum depressum and in the H. brachyantherum complex (Poaceae)

The variation pattern in the perennial Hordeum brachyantherum complex and in the annual H. depressum are described. The diploid form of H. brachyantherum s. lat., endemic to California in USA, previously recognized as a separate species is here treated as a subspecies ( H. brachyantherum ssp. californicum ). Despite its restricted distribution it shows a considerable variation and overlap in morphology with the tetraploid ssp. brachyantherum , and no unambiguous determination based on morphology between the two tax a is possible. The tetraploid cytotype has a large distribution area in western North America and easternmost Asia and a very wide morphological variation. It has also a small disjunct distribution area in easternmost Canada. A single hexaploid population from California is referred to ssp. brachyantherum .     

Variation of Otolith Structure in Amur Sleeper Perccottus glenii (Odontobutidae) Populations from Central Russia

Journal of Ichthyology - Development of annual increments on the otoliths (sagittae) of Amur sleeper Perccottus glenii, as well as the sagitta shape and bilateral asymmetry, is analyzed in the...