Changes in the taxonomic diversity of the reef fish community of San José Island, Gulf of California, Mexico

Although San José Island is considered one of the most important islands in the lower Gulf of California due to its commercial fishing activities, few studies have evaluated their fish taxonomic diversity. The aim of this study was to determine the variation in the taxonomic diversity of the conspicuous fish community in eight locations around San José Island from March 2001 to February 2002. We assessed the changes in the diversity of rocky reef fish based on the taxonomic distances between species, using Fisher’s alpha diversity index, average taxonomic distinctiveness (AvTD Δ+), and taxonomic distinctiveness (Δ*). Visual censuses were conducted in 48 transects consisting of 100?×?5?m quadrants (500?m² sampling area) at an average depth of 5?m, from 09:00 to 16:00. A total of 26,608 fishes belonging to 112 species and 76 genera were found. The index of relative abundance was used to determine the most important species, which were in order of abundance: Abudefduf troschelii, Thalassoma lucasanum, Stegastes rectifraenum, Mulloidichthys dentatus, Chromis atrilobata, Lutjanus argentiventris, and Scarus ghobban. According to Fisher’s alpha diversity index, the highest diversity of species was found in July and the lowest in February. The indices of Δ+ and Δ* indicated significant temporal and spatial differences.     

Middle gaspé limestones communities on the forillon Peninsula,Quebec, Canada (Siegenian,Lower Devonian)

Lower Devonian quiet-water marine benthic communities were examined to determine what parameters of community structure are maintained from locality to locality. The preserved elements of the communities are dominated by brachiopods. Each community has a characteristic taxonomic composition and diversity. From stratigraphically lowest to highest the communities include the newly proposed Dawsonelloides Community which has relatively low diversity, and is strongly dominated by a single species. The Beachia Community is less strongly dominated by a single species. The newly proposed Leptostrophia Community is very strongly dominated by a single species; less common species are rare or absent in the other communities. The Plicoplasia Community is slightly less diverse than the preceeding two communities, but unlike them has six species which dominate one or more collections and are commonly found in reduced abundance in the other collections. The gradual change in taxonomic composition and structure from one community to adjacent communities coupled with the similar structure of diversity and dominance within particular communities suggest that these characteristics are time-averaged and primary structural features of the communities.     

THE USE OF METABOLIC DATA IN LICHENOLOGY AT THE SPECIES AND SUBSPECIFIC LEVELS

The different views on the taxonomic use of chemical characters in lichenology are reviewed using the opposing opinions of W. L. Culberson and Rogers and the somewhat intermediate position of Hawksworth as examples. The differing significance of secondary metabolites is illustrated with two examples in the genusLecanora. InL. campestrisand similar species, the chemistry has been useful to differentiate morphologically similar species, which subsequently were found to differ in minute anatomical differences as well. However, inL. caesiorubella, a remarkable chemical variation can be observed that is not correlated with other differences and is thus interpreted as intraspecific variation. Ana posteriorivaluation of the taxonomic significance of metabolic data is preferred.     

Para-aminophenylalanine in vigna: Possible taxonomic and ecological significance as a seed defence against bruchids

Seeds of eight wild species and varieties from Vigna subgenera Plectotropis and Vigna were screened for the non-protein amino acid p-aminophenylalanine (PAPA), previously reported to have a restricted taxonomic distribution and to be a growth inhibitor of Escherichia coli. The compound was detected in five wild species and its distribution found to have taxonomic value for assessing members of Plectotropis and intrageneric links with other taxa. Although quantitative variation in PAPA was detected between species and also between varieties of V. vexillata, toxicity tests confirmed that the levels detected in all accessions were sufficient for PAPA to be an important component of resistance against two important pest bruchids of Vigna and Phaseolus crops. The taxonomic and ecological significance of these findings is discussed.     

Integrated Taxonomy Reveals Hidden Diversity in Northern Australian Fishes: A New Species of Seamoth (Genus Pegasus)

Fishes are one of the most intensively studied marine taxonomic groups yet cryptic species are still being discovered. An integrated taxonomic approach is used herein to delineate and describe a new cryptic seamoth (genus Pegasus) from what was previously a wide-ranging species. Preliminary mitochondrial DNA barcoding indicated possible speciation in Pegasus volitans specimens collected in surveys of the Torres Strait and Great Barrier Reef off Queensland in Australia. Morphological and meristic investigations found key differences in a number of characters between P. volitans and the new species, P. tetrabelos. Further mt DNA barcoding of both the COI and the slower mutating 16S genes of additional specimens provided strong support for two separate species. Pegasus tetrabelos and P. volitans are sympatric in northern Australia and were frequently caught together in trawls at the same depths.     

Hamamelose and its derivatives as chemotaxonomic markers in the genus Primula

About 550 species of vascular plants as well as a few mosses were checked for the occurrence of hamamelose, the corresponding alcohol hamamelitol and a galactoside of the latter, clusianose. Hamamelose was found in most of the species investigated. It provides therefore no useful character for chemotaxonomic purposes. Hamamelitol, however, could only be detected in the genus Primula and was therefore more useful. Small amounts of hamamelitol were found in the leaves of species from the subgenera Auganthus, Aleuritia and Auricula but not from Primula and Sphondylia. Clusianose and large amounts of hamamelitol are produced by species of 4 subsections of the section Auricula, but not by species of the subsections Auricula and Erythrodrosum. A taxonomic separation of the two latter from the 4 former subsections is suggested. The taxonomic position of Primula allionii should be reconsidered, since neither clusianose nor hamamelitol could be demonstrated in this species, whereas the other species of the subsection Rhopsidium do contain these carbohydrates.     

Phenotypes of Phosphoglucose isomerase,phosphoglucose mutase and general protein in some freshwater molluscs from Basrah,Iraq

Electrophoretic variants of phosphoglucose isomerase (EC.5.3.1.9) and phosphoglucose mutase (EC.2.7.5.1) have been studied in eight species of freshwater molluscs. Two phenotypes of phosphoglucose isomerase were observed in Melanopsis nodosa and one phenotype was observed in the rest of the species. One phenotype of phosphoglucose mutase was observed in all the species of molluscs studied. Phosphoglucose isomerase is inferred to be a dimer encoded at a single polymorphic locus in Melanoides nodosa. There are two alleles at this locus. Phosphoglucose mutase is inferred to be a monomer encoded at a single monomorphic locus in all species. The electrophoretic analysis revealed that phosphoglucose isomerase enzyme cannot be considered a good taxonomic criterion to differentiate the different members of the six families studied but, on the other hand, it is considered a good taxonomic criterion to differentiate Melanopsis nodosa and Theodoxus jordani. Phosphoglucose mutase is considered a good taxonomic criterion to differentiate the family Melanidae from the remaining five families studied. General protein can be considered a good taxonomic criterion to differentiate the family Corbicullidae from Melanidae, Viviparidae and Neritidae but, on the other hand, it seems to be a less useful taxonomic criterion to differentiate between the Viviparidae and Neritidae.     

Systematic relevance of seed coat anatomy in the European heathers (Ericeae, Ericaceae)

The anatomy of the seed coat of the European species of tribe Ericeae (Calluna, Daboecia and Erica) of the Ericaceae family was studied, and the taxonomic importance of their characters was analyzed. The seed coat is mostly formed by a one-cell layer with thick, pitted inner walls and thin outer walls that collapse at maturity over the inner walls. The cell junctions are either raised with anticlinal walls up to four times the height of the periclinal walls or are not raised with similar values for the height of both the anticlinal and periclinal walls. Three main cell junction types were found and described. The thickness of the inner walls is variable, but there is a large overlap among the results for different species. Calluna vulgaris is the only species with no pits, and E. multiflora has a pitted pattern on its inner walls, which is distinctive from the rest of the species. Our main results agree with the external seed morphology, and valuable new data were obtained for certain groups such as the E. cinerea-E. terminalis or the E. scoparia complex. The similarities that are found in seed coat characters are not in accordance with the classical taxonomic delimitation of infrageneric groups within Erica.     

Molecular and morphological evidence for a new species from South Africa: Carex rainbowii (Cyperaceae)

Carex rainbowii (Cariceae, Cyperaceae), a new species from the Drakensberg mountains (KwaZulu-Natal province), is described and illustrated. It was found in the shady understory of the Afromontane forest in the Cathedral Peak area. An additional, nearby population was also identified based on previously collected herbarium material. Morphological and molecular (cpDNA 5′trnK intron and nrDNA ITS and ETS sequences) data were used to evaluate the taxonomic status of these populations and shed light on their systematic placement. Our data strongly support their taxonomic identity and inclusion in Carex sect. Sylvaticae. The new species can be readily distinguished from other related taxa mainly by the frequently androgynecandrous terminal spike, dense female spikes, hyaline glumes, as well as by some quantitative features. This finding implies a considerable biogeographic disjunction from the mainly Eurasian-North African range of the remaining species of sect. Sylvaticae, a pattern also found in the related sections Ceratocystis, Rhynchocystis and Spirostachyae. Comments are provided on previous misidentifications of C. rainbowii as the closely related Carex sylvatica. Data pertinent to the conservation status of the species are provided.     

Morphology of Submerged Growth of Streptomycetes as a Taxonomic Aid: I. Morphological Development of Streptomyces aureofaciens in Agitated Liquid Media

In a study of the submerged growth morphology of 145 different streptomycetes in A C Broth, the species Streptomyces aureofaciens was observed to represent an unusual type. It was characterized by profuse mycelial segmentation, transformation of disarticulated fragments of segmented mycelium into chains of thickened arthrospores, and formation of filiform appendages on the arthrosporic cells giving an insectival appearance to these elements. This unusual morphology was determined to be a consistent feature in 110 strains of S. aureofaciens studied, hence suggesting a useful taxonomic aid in identification of this species. Preliminary studies of multiple strains of many different Streptomyces species indicate that other useful taxonomic features based on morphology of submerged growth are found in a significantly large part of the genus.     

Cycad collicles (“leaflet nodules”)

The presence of small knobs/nodules found on the adaxial leaflet surface of some Encephalartos species was investigated in 134 cycad species of nine genera. The knobs, referred to as collicles, were found to be the result of connecting mucilage canal ‘bridges’ over vascular bundles, connecting mucilage canals situated between adjacent parallel vascular bundles. Collicles were found on some Encephalartos species only and not always on all individuals of the same species. The possible taxonomic value of these collicles is discussed.     

The chironomid midge Dicrotendipes sp. afr. (Diptera, Chironomidae) from the Republic of South Africa

The taxonomic position of the chironomid midge Dicrotendipes sp. afr. from the Republic of South Africa, earlier considered within the genus Glyptotendipes Kieffer (Petrova and Zhirov, 2010), is specified. The morphological characteristics of its larvae and features of its polytene chromosomes are analyzed in comparison with those of the known Dicrotendipes species. Data on inversion polymorphism are presented. In morphological characteristics, the species studied was found to be the closest to Dicrotendipes septemmaculatus Becker, 1908.     

Filamentous fungi in the epibiosis of the scallop Mizuhopecten yessoensis (Bivalvia) in Peter the Great Bay, Sea of Japan

This study considers the taxonomic composition of filamentous fungi in the epibiosis on the shell of the Yesso scallop Mizuhopecten yessoensis (Jay, 1856) (Bivalvia), which were collected in open waters of Peter the Great Bay, Sea of Japan. The taxonomic composition was found to include ten species of filamentous fungi, nine of which were identified. The revealed species belong to six genera, viz., Aspergillus, Aphanocladium, Cladosporium, Penicillium, Phialophorophoma, and Eurotium.     

Cystotheca tjibodensis (Erysiphaceae,Ascomycota): rediscovery in Java after 90 years and first finding of anamorph

Cystotheca tjibodensis, formerly known as Lanomyces tjibodensis (Perisporiales), is a fungus found in 1920 in Indonesia. This species, hitherto only known from its type collection, is now regarded as belonging to the Erysiphales. However, molecular data are still required to verify the taxonomic affinity. In March 2011, we rediscovered this fungus at Cibodas Botanical Garden, Java. Detailed characterizations of this tropical powdery mildew are reported in this study based on morphological and molecular examinations. The anamorph of this species that was not found in the type specimen is also reported in this study.