Phylogenetic Relationships of Species of the Genus Kluyveromyces van der Walt (Saccharomycetaceae) Deduced from the Partial Sequences of 18S and 26S Ribosomal RNAs

In order to clarify the phylogenetic relationships of the species classified in the genus Kluyveromyces (Saccharomycetaceae), three partial base sequences of 18S and 26S rRNAs of eighteen strains were determined. The regions determined of the strains corresponded to positions 1451 through 1618 (168 bases) of 18S rRNA and to positions 1611 through 1835 (225 bases) and 493 through 622 (130 bases) of a strain (IFO 2376) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The analyses of the partial base sequences suggested that the genus Kluyveromyces is phylogenetically heterogeneous, ranging from the strains that are quite close to the strain of S. cerevisiae to the strains that are distinct enough to be classified in genera separate from the genus Saccharomyces. From our sequence data, we concluded that the extent of the genus Kluyveromyces should be restricted to only one species, K. polysporus, the type species of the genus. Kluyveromyces phaffii was also distinct enough to deserve another genus. Kluyveromyces cellobiovorus was not close to any of the strains of Kluyveromyces species examined, and should be excluded from the genus. Most of the strains of the species examined were fairly close to the strain of S. cerevisiae.     

A mini review on the antimicrobial peptides isolated from the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hylarana</Emphasis> (Amphibia: Anura) with a proposed nomenclature for amphibian skin peptides

Hylarana is a well established frog genus coming under the family Ranidae. An increasing number of antimicrobial peptides have been isolated and characterized from the skin of frogs of this genus. This review covers the antimicrobial peptides reported so far from the frogs of Hylarana genus and to propose a consistent system of nomenclature for amphibian skin peptides. Multiple sequence alignment of the skin peptides from Hylarana genus has grouped them into six peptide families, and three bioactive peptides. Existing nomenclature of amphibian antimicrobial peptides is species centered with no implication to the genus which can lead to disparities, when frogs with same species name belonging to different genus have to be named. As per the proposed system the peptide should have the parent peptide name (e.g. Brevinin-1) followed by two uppercase letter of the genus, if two genera begin with the same letter–first letter should be the same followed by an appropriate second letter (e.g. HU for Huia and HM for Humenerana). This is succeeded by species name in lower case-orthologous peptides from different species may be characterized by the initial letter of that species, when two species begin with the same initial letter, second letter should be used appropriately (e.g. HLat for Hylarana aurata and HLan for Hylarana aurantiaca). Paralogs belonging to the same peptide family are assigned by numbers.     

A New Approach to Separate the Genus Photobacterium from Vibrio with RFLP Patterns by HhaI Digestion of PCR-Amplified 16S rDNA

A new approach to separate members of the genus Photobacterium from the genus Vibrio with RFLP (Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism) patterns by HhaI digestion of PCR-amplified 16S rDNA was developed in the present study. It was clearly shown that these patterns of the genus Photobacterium were unique and distinguishable from Vibrio species. This method is very simple and does not need other supporting procedures, such as Southern transfer and probe hybridization. It can be applied not only to luminous species, but also to non-luminous Photobacterium spp. This result promises a rapid tool to distinguish the genus Photobacterium from Vibrio and should be useful in routine identification system. Received: 21 July 1997 / Accepted: 26 August 1997     

Molecular phylogeny of Alnus (Betulaceae), inferred from nuclear ribosomal DNA ITS sequences

The nuclear ITS region of 19 species of Alnus was amplified and sequenced. The inferred molecular phylogeny shows that all species of the genus Alnus form a monophyletic group close to Betula and that the fundamental dichotomy within the genus lies between the subgenera Alnaster and Gymnothyrsus, sensu Murai (1964). The subgenus Alnaster appears to be basal in the genus, based on archaism of morphological features, and branching close to the root of the trees due to low ITS divergence from genus Betula. The monophyly of the section Clethropsis is not supported by the present data: Alnus nepalensis is positioned in the subgenus Gymnothyrsus, away from A. nitida and A. maritima. Surprisingly, A. formosana sect. Japonicae is closely tied to A. maritima sect. Clethropsis, with which it shares few morphological traits, and is separate from A. japonica sect. Japonicae with which it shares many traits. An increase in substitution rate is noted in the group comprising A. formosana, A. maritima and A. nitida relative to the rest of the genus, which appears to have had, on the average, a very slow mutation rate. Alnus glutinosa, the designated type for the genus, appears to be representative of the genus both for morphological characters and evolutionary rate. North-East Asia is comforted in its position of origin of the genus since not only does it have the highest number of species and representatives in all deep branching lineages, there are also fewer transcontinental migrations when a North-East Asian ancestor is postulated than when a North American ancestor is postulated.     

Molecular phylogenetic relationships of China Seas groupers based on cytochrome <Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis> gene fragment sequences

The classification and evolutionary relationships are important issues in the study of the groupers. Cytochrome b gene fragment of twenty-eight grouper species within six genera of subfamily Epinephelinae was amplified using PCR techniques and the sequences were analyzed to derive the phylogenetic relationships of the groupers from the China Seas. Genetic information indexes, including Kimura-2 parameter genetic distance and T _S/T _V ratios, were generated by using a variety of biology softwares. With Niphon spinosus, Pagrus major and Pagrus auriga as the designated outgroups, phylogenetic trees, which invoke additional homologous sequences of other Epinephelus fishes from GenBank, were constructed based on the neighbor-joining (NJ), maximum-parsimony (MP), maximum-likelihood (ML) and minimum-evolution (ME) methods. Several conclusions were drawn from the DNA sequences analysis: (1) genus Plectropomus, which was early diverged, is the most primitive group in the subfamily Epinephelinae; (2) genus Variola is more closely related to genus Cephalopolis than the other four genera; (3) genus Cephalopolis is a monophyletic group and more primitive than genus Epinephelus; (4) Promicrops lanceolatus and Cromileptes altivelis should be included in genus Epinephelus; (5) there exist two sister groups in genus Epinephelus.     

ANATOMICALLY PRESERVED SEED CONES OF THE PINACEAE FROM THE EARLY CRETACEOUS OF VIRGINIA

A collection of anatomically preserved conifer cones from the Early Cretaceous of Virginia contains two new species of the extinct pinaceous genus Pityostrobus. Superficially, the fossil cones resemble those of modern species of Picea. However, the fossils reveal such a peculiar mixture of anatomical features that they cannot be assigned to any extant genus of the Pinaceae. One of the new species, Pityostrobus hueberi, is most comparable with Pityostrobus corneti Alvin from the Early Cretaceous of Belgium. Pityostrobus virginiana, the other new species, differs from all other members of the genus in only slight—but nonetheless significant—attributes. Pityostrobus hueberi and P. virginiana are the first species of this genus to be reported from Early Cretaceous sediments of the North American Atlantic Coastal Plain. As such, they increase our knowledge of the structural variation exhibited by ancient members of the Pinaceae.     

A STUDY ON MINDARUS KOCH IN CHINA WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW SPECIES AND NEW SUBSPECIES (HOMOPTERA: MIN-DARIDAE)*

Abstract This paper deals with the genus Mindam Koch from China. The phylogeny of the genus is discussed. M. keteleerifoliae is regarded as the most advanced species, M. obliquus and M. piceasuc-tus are more advanced than M. abietinus, M. japonicus and M. victoria. The origin centre of the genus may be in Europe and the differentiation centre of the genus may be in Hengduan Mountains Region of China. Geological distribution of the genus shows island-shaped pattern. Five species from China was described in this paper, including one new species, M. piceasuctus Zhang and Qiao, one new subspecies, M. abietinus triprimesensori Zhang and Qiao and one newly recorded species, M. abietinus abietinus Koch 1856. A key to the Chinese species of Mindarus is given. The specimens of five species from China are deposited in the Institute of Zoology, Academia Sinica.     

Die Gattung Bathydoris Bergh, 1884 (Gnathodoridacea) im phylogenetischen System der Nudibranchia (Opisthobranchia, Gastropoda)

The genus Bathydoris Bergh, 1884 (Gnathodoridacea) in the phylogenetic system of the Nudibranchia (Opisthobranchiu, Gastropoda) The position of the genus Bathydoris Bergh, 1884 in the phylogenetic system of the Nudibranchia is discussed. Doridoxa Bergh, 1900, a genus which is assigned to the taxon Gnathodoridacea together with the genus Bathydoris, is taken out from this taxon, lacking snapomorphies. Doridoxa is considered to be a sister grou of the Euctenidiacea, with the transrormation of the right digestive gland into a caecum as the only synaomorphy with the latter. The Gnathodoridacea with the one enus Bathydoris is removed from the taxon Doridacea and considered to be the sister group or the latter. Gnathodoridacea and Doridacea form the taxon Euctenidiacea with the synapomorphy “dorsomedial position of anus and nephroproct”.     

Kritische Revision der „Thlaspi”︁-Arten Europas,Afrikas und Vorderasiens I. Geschichte,Morphologie und Chorologie

In the general introduction of a taxonomical revision of the genus Thlaspi L. from Europa, the Near East and Africa — a conspectus of the species till now comprised within this genus has already been published — a historical survey of the genus Thlaspi is given. Morphological resp. anatomical characters have been judged. The structure of the seedtesta inter alia exhibited a different pattern which proved to be valuable for differentiation. In Thlaspi s. str. this pattern revealed to be well distinguishable from all the other Thlaspi-species hitherto put in this genus; thus showing Thlaspi s. str. a species-complex of its own. The characteristical differences of the numerous species out of the Thlaspi s. str.-complex allow further separation of different genera, so that the hitherto existing genus Thlaspi has been found to be a mosaic of different genera. The degree of their closer or wider relationship, however, could be investigated after extensive studies in different genera of the Brassicaceae (Cruciferae). A subordination of these complexes of closer relationship as subgenera of the genus Thlaspi is impossible, because the morphological and anatomical differences are too great. A persistency in the hitherto scope of a heterogenous genus Thlaspi is considered unreasonable and would encourage a greater humping of many genera within the family Brassicaceae which are well separated till now. This would not reflect the natural conditions. Additional figures of fruits and seedtestas of different species support this view. Finally the geographical distribution of the several genera has been described which in Noccaea Moench shows shortly the wide extension of this genus throughout northern Asia and the extratropical America.     

Phylogeny of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Litsea</Emphasis> and related genera (Laureae-Lauraceae) based on analysis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">rpb2</Emphasis> gene sequences

The relationship between Litsea and related genera is currently unclear. Previous molecular studies on these taxa using cpDNA and nrITS were unable to produce well-resolved phylogenetic trees. In this study, we explored the potential of the rpb2 gene as a source of molecular information to better resolve the phylogenetic analysis. Although rpb2 was believed to be a single-copy gene, our cloning results showed that most species examined possessed several copies of these sequences. However, the genetic distance among copies from any one species was low, and these copies always formed monophyletic groups in our molecular trees. Our phylogenetic analyses of rpb2 data resulted in better resolved tree topologies compared to those based on cpDNA or nrITS data. Our results show that monophyly of the genus Litsea is supported only for section Litsea. As a genus, Litsea was shown to be polyphyletic. The genera Actinodaphne and Neolitsea were resolved as monophyletic groups in all analyses. They were also shown to be sisters and closer to the genus Lindera than to the genus Litsea. Our results also revealed that the genus Lindera is not a monophyletic group.     

Molecular phylogenetics of the burrowing crayfish genus Fallicambarus (Decapoda: Cambaridae)

Ainscough, B.J., Breinholt, J.W., Robison, H.W. & Crandall, K.A. (2013). Molecular phylogenetics of the burrowing crayfish genus Fallicambarus (Decapoda: Cambaridae). —Zoologica Scripta, 42, 306–316. The crayfish genus Fallicambarus contains 19 species of primary burrowing freshwater crayfish divided into two distinct subgenera. We test current hypotheses of the phylogenetic relationships among species within the genus as well as the monophyly of the genus. Our study samples all 19 species for five gene regions (both nuclear and mitochondrial) to estimate a robust phylogenetic hypothesis for the genus. We show that the genus is not a monophyletic group. The subgenus Creaserinus does fall out as a monophyletic group, but distinct from the subgenus Fallicambarus. The subgenus Fallicambarus appears to be monophyletic with the exception of the species Procambarus (Tenuicambarus) tenuis, which falls in the midst of this subgenus suggesting that it might be better classified as a Fallicambarus species. We also show that the species Fallicambarus fodiens is a species complex with distinct evolutionary lineages that are regionalized to different geographic areas.     

3. NOTES ON OSPREY,EGYPTIAN COOSE AND SPECKLED PICEON

Rich, P. V. &; Walker, C. A. 1983. A new genus of Miocene flamingo from East Africa. Ostrich 54:95-104.

Study of fossil flamingo (Phoenicopteridae) remains from the Miocene of East Africa suggests that a new genus, Leakeyornis, should be recognized to include Phoenicopterus aethiopicus Harrison &; Walker 1976. Osteologically this new genus is a mosaic between the three genera of living flamingoes, clearly distinct from all fossil forms, and possibly most closely related to Phoeniconaias, the Lesser Flamingo of East Africa.     

Molecular phylogeny and biogeography of Honey‐buzzards (genera Pernis and Henicopernis)

A partial sequence of the cytb gene (382 bp) was amplified and sequenced from 35 individuals (mainly museum specimens) of the genus Pernis representing all valid taxa (10) and two taxa (P. p. gurneyi, P. p. japonicus) with questionable validity as well as representatives of the Old World Perninae, namely Henicopernis and Aviceda, to assess their relationships to the genus Pernis. Furthermore, Gypaetus barbatus, Neophron percnopterus, and Buteo buteo were included as outgroup taxa. In the trees derived from the sequence data, Aviceda represents the sister group of the genus Pernis. The genus Henicopernis and the Old World vultures Gypaetus andNeophron appear rather distantly related to Pernis. Within the genus Pernis, two of the described species (Pernis apivorus, Pernis ptilorhyncus) form monophyletic groups, whereas the relationships of the two clades representing three subspecies of Pernis celebensis are still uncertain. Although this study is based on comparatively short DNA‐sections, the trees deduced from these sequences can be considered as a first approach for inferring the phylogenetic relationships of the genus Pernis and related genera and for addressing questions concerning the evolutionary history, biogeography, and systematics of this group.     

Molecular phylogenetic relationships of China Seas groupers based on cytochrome b gene fragment sequences

The classification and evolutionary relationships are important issues in the study of the groupers. Cytochrome b gene fragment of twenty-eight grouper species within six genera of subfamily Epinephelinae was amplified using PCR techniques and the sequences were analyzed to derive the phylogenetic relationships of the groupers from the China Seas. Genetic information indexes, including Kimura-2 parameter genetic distance and T _S/T _V ratios, were generated by using a variety of biology softwares. With Niphon spinosus, Pagrus major and Pagrus auriga as the designated outgroups, phylogenetic trees, which invoke additional homologous sequences of other Epinephelus fishes from GenBank, were constructed based on the neighbor-joining (NJ), maximum-parsimony (MP), maximum-likelihood (ML) and minimum-evolution (ME) methods. Several conclusions were drawn from the DNA sequences analysis: (1) genus Plectropomus, which was early diverged, is the most primitive group in the subfamily Epinephelinae; (2) genus Variola is more closely related to genus Cephalopolis than the other four genera; (3) genus Cephalopolis is a monophyletic group and more primitive than genus Epinephelus; (4) Promicrops lanceolatus and Cromileptes altivelis should be included in genus Epinephelus; (5) there exist two sister groups in genus Epinephelus. These authors contributed equally to this work.