DNA‐based phylogeny of the marine genus Heterodrilus (Annelida,Clitellata, Naididae)

Heterodrilus is a group of marine Naididae, common worldwide in subtropical and tropical areas, and unique among the oligochaetes by their tridentate chaetae. The phylogenetic relationships within the group are assessed from the nuclear 18S rDNA gene, and the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and 16S rDNA genes. Sequence data were obtained from 16 Heterodrilus species and 13 out‐group taxa; 48 sequences are new for this study. The data were analysed by Bayesian inference. Monophyly of the genus is corroborated by the resulting tree, with Heterodrilus ersei (a taxon representing a small group of species with aberrant male genitalia) proposed to be outside all other sampled species. Although earlier regarded as a member of the subfamily Rhyacodrilinae, both molecular and morphological data seem to support that Heterodrilus is closely related to Phallodrilinae. However, the results are not conclusive as to whether the genus is the sister group of, or a group nested inside, or separate from this latter subfamily. The studied sample of species suggests at least two major clades in Heterodrilus with different geographical distributions, in one of the clades, most species are from the Indo‐West Pacific Ocean, while in the other, the majority are from the Western Atlantic Ocean. Morphological characters traditionally used in Heterodrilus taxonomy are optimized on the phylogenetic tree, revealing a high degree of homoplasy.     

Drachiella liaoii sp. nov., a new member of the Schizoserideae (Delesseriaceae,Rhodophyta) from Taiwan and the Philippines

A new member of Delesseriaceae (Ceramiales, Rhodophyta) is described from Southern Taiwan and the Philippines. On the basis of comparative vegetative and reproductive morphology, and phylogenetic analysis inferred from nuclear-encoded large-subunit ribosomal DNA sequences (LSU rDNA), we conclude that it belongs in the genus Drachiella, tribe Schizoserideae, subfamily Phycodryoideae. The new taxon shares with other Drachiella species the absence of macro- and microscopic veins; diffuse growth by marginal and intercalary meristematic cells; a polystromatic, lobed thallus; abundance of rhizoidal marginal proliferations used for attachment; convoluted plastids in surface cells; abundant secondary pit connections among adjacent vegetative cells; large intercellular spaces between surface cells; procarps confined to the upper side of the thallus, circular in outline, consisting of a supporting cell bearing a strongly curved carpogonial branch and two sterile groups that remain undivided; vertical division of gonimoblast initial from auxiliary cell, and unilateral, monopodial branching of gonimoblasts; and mature cystocarps with a massive candelabrum-like fusion cell of fused gonimoblasts bearing carposporangia in branched chains. It is distinguished from the other members of the genus by thalli that consist of extensive tangled mats of prostrate and overlapping decumbent blades, procarps confined to the upper side of the thallus, and the lack of basal stalks or stipes. Whereas the Schizoserideae is predominantly a Southern Ocean tribe, one of the tribe's four genera, Drachiella, was known only from the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean. We herein report the first record of the genus for the Indo-Pacific Ocean, and describe Drachiella liaoii, sp. nov., as a fourth species in the genus.     

Siliceous scales of filose-amoebae (Pompholyxophryidae,Rotosphaerida) from deep Southern Ocean sediments,including first records for the Southern Hemisphere

The world of protists remains largely unexplored. A thorough electron-microscopic investigation of a few microlitres of deep-sea sediment from 2,964 m water depth near the South Sandwich Islands (Southern Ocean) revealed siliceous scales of filose-amoeba protist species, two of which have not been reported previously from Antarctica or from elsewhere in the Southern Hemisphere. However, all the species are known from other oceans and, in one case, from freshwater habitats. The Antarctic protistan scales belong to four species of filose amoebae: Pinaciophora fluviatilis Greef 1869, Pinaciophora denticulata Thomsen 1978, Pinaciophora multicosta Thomsen 1978 and Rabdiaster reticulata (Thomsen 1979) Mikrjukov 1999 nov. comb. Our study shows that (1) none of the species has been recorded from the Australasian biogeograpical region, (2) Pinaciophora multicosta and Rabdiaster reticulata are new records for the Southern Ocean and for the Southern Hemisphere as a whole, (3) prior to this investigation, Pinaciophora multicosta had been reported once only, from the Baltic Sea (Europe). These results highlight the problem of undersampling in the study of the global distribution of protists.     

Latest Oligocene through early middle Miocene diatom biostratigraphy of the eastern tropical Pacific

Study of DSDP Sites 71, 77, and 495 has allowed the development of a refined diatom biostratigraphy for the latest Oligocene through early middle Miocene of the eastern tropical Pacific which is well correlated to the low-latitude zonations for planktonic foraminifers, coccoliths, and radiolarians. Six zones and 7 subzones are proposed, and correlation with high-latitude diatoms zonations for the North Pacific, the Norwegian Sea, and the Southern Ocean is suggested by the discovery of selected diatoms in these tropical sediments which were previously thought to be restricted to high latitudes. Six new species and one new variety of diatoms which are stratigraphically useful are proposed: Actinocyclus hajosiae, n. sp., A. radionovae, n. sp., Coscinodiscus blysmos, n. sp., C. praenodulifer, n. sp., Craspedodiscus rydei, n. sp., Thalassiosira bukryi, n. sp., and Coscinodiscus lewisianus var. robustus n. var.     

Evolution of corallivory in the gastropod genus Drupella

Although muricid gastropods in the genus Drupella are well-known consumers of Indo-Pacific corals, their evolutionary and ecological history is unclear, as is their relationship to the apparently facultative coral-feeder Ergalatax margariticola, which has been reported to feed upon corals in Hong Kong. We use a well resolved molecular phylogeny (reconstructed from one nuclear and two mitochondrial genes) to show that the monophyletic genus Drupella falls into the muricid subfamily Ergalataxinae and that the genus includes ‘E. margariticola’, which is composed of two cryptic species. We show that genetic structure within the here reassigned ‘Drupella margariticola’ species complex does not relate to feeding mode, but instead seems to correspond to broad patterns of habitat ecology found in other gastropod taxa. Our analyses suggest that Drupella originated in the late Miocene (approximately 9.6 Ma) and diversified approximately 5.0 Ma, much later than the appearance of modern coral reefs in the early Cenozoic. Thus, it is possible that corallivory in Drupella evolved in response to the major expansion and reorganization of reefs that took place in the early Miocene.     

A new species of Ainudrilus (Tubificidae) from South Georgia,and other subantarctic freshwater oligochaetes

The freshwater oligochaetes of the subantarctic islands are reviewed and new records are given. Ainudrilus dartnalli sp.n. (subfamily Rhyacodrilinae) is described from freshwater sites on South Georgia (South Atlantic Ocean). It differs from the closely related, southwest Australian, A. nharna Pinder & Brinkhurst, by its longer clitellum, the longer upper teeth of its ventral somatic chaetae, its straighter and fewer penial chaetae, and by the proportions of its spermathecae. Range extensions are given for two widespread naidids, Nais variabilis Piguet and N. communis Piguet, from the Falkland Islands (S. Atlantic). Moreover, new material of N. elinguis Müller is recorded from Macquarie Island (Southern Ocean, SW of New Zealand).     

Molecular phylogeny of the fishes traditionally referred to Cyprinini sensu stricto (Teleostei: Cypriniformes)

Yang, L., Mayden, R. L., Sado, T., He, S., Saitoh, K. & Miya, M. (2010). Molecular phylogeny of the fishes traditionally referred to Cyprinini sensu stricto (Teleostei: Cypriniformes). —Zoologica Scripta, 39, 527–550. Carps (e.g. Koi) of the genus Cyprinus and Crucian carps (e.g. Goldfish) of the genus Carassius are among the most popular freshwater fishes around the world. However, their phylogenetic positions within the subfamily Cyprininae, relationships with their allies (e.g. Procypris, Carassioides), and the monophyly of the group formed by them and their allies, which is referred as the tribe Cyprinini sensu stricto, are far from clear. Historically, the Cyprinini was defined by different people according to whether a cyprinine fish possessed a spinous anal‐fin ray (or anal spine), the spine was serrated or not, and occasionally, the number of branched dorsal‐fin rays. Some definitions were established without providing any diagnostic characters. In this study, we investigated the monophyly of the tribe Cyprinini sensu stricto, based on four different historical definitions, and explored the phylogenetic relationships of these members in the subfamily Cyprininae. Using five mitochondrial genes as markers, both maximum‐likelihood and Bayesian trees were constructed using the optimal partitioning strategy. Both analyses successfully resolved a monophyletic Cyprininae and recovered seven major clades from this subfamily. The diagnosis limiting the tribe Cyprinini sensu stricto to four genera, Cyprinus, Carassius, Carassioides and Procypris, received most support. We propose that only those cyprinines that possess a serrated anal spine and have no <10 branched dorsal‐fin rays should be considered members of this tribe. Cyprinini is sister to the Sinocyclocheilus clade, a group traditionally considered a barbin, and together they form the ‘Cyprinini‐Sinocyclocheilus’ clade. Procypris forms the basal clade of the Cyprinini, whereas species of Carassius and Carassioides locate at the top.     

Phylogenetic relationships in the subfamily Psychodinae (Diptera,Psychodidae)

Espíndola, A., Buerki, S., Jacquier, A., Je?ek, J. & Alvarez, N. (2012). Phylogenetic relationships in the subfamily Psychodinae (Diptera, Psychodidae). —Zoologica Scripta, 41, 489–498. Thanks to recent advances in molecular systematics, our knowledge of phylogenetic relationships within the order Diptera has dramatically improved. However, relationships at lower taxonomic levels remain poorly investigated in several neglected groups, such as the highly diversified moth‐fly subfamily Psychodinae (Lower Diptera), which occurs in numerous terrestrial ecosystems. In this study, we aimed to understand the phylogenetic relationships among 52 Palearctic taxa from all currently known Palearctic tribes and subtribes of this subfamily, based on mitochondrial DNA. Our results demonstrate that in light of the classical systematics of Psychodinae, none of the tribes sensu Je?ek or sensu Vaillant is monophyletic, whereas at least five of the 12 sampled genera were not monophyletic. The results presented in this study provide a valuable backbone for future work aiming at identifying morphological synapomorphies to propose a new tribal classification.     

Skates and rays (Elasmobranchii,Batomorphii) from the Eocene La Meseta and Submeseta formations,Seymour Island,Antarctica

Abstract

Eocene deposits of the famous La Meseta Formation of Seymour Island, Antarctic Peninsula, yielded the most diverse Paleogene fossil elasmobranch association of the Southern Hemisphere. In this assemblage, sharks clearly dominate the fauna, whereas batoids are very rare components. Herein, we describe two new taxa of cold water tolerant skates, Marambioraja leiostemma gen. et sp. nov., and Mesetaraja maleficapelli gen. et sp. nov., two new species of the genus Raja, Raja amphitrita sp. nov. and Raja manitaria sp. nov., as well as remains of warm water adapted myliobatiforms. It is, however, not possible to unambiguously assign these remains either to Myliobatidae or Rhinopteridae, or to any specific genus. Previously reported remains of Raja/Bathyraja sp. are assigned to the new described species Raja manitaria sp. nov. The biogeographic distribution of extant and extinct rays and skates clearly shows that both groups are more widely distributed today than in the past, and additionally seem to have been more diverse in the Northern than the Southern Hemisphere. The occurrence, albeit rare of isolated teeth of skates (Rajidae) and rays (Myliobatidae) in the La Meseta Formation representes a minimum age constraint for their first appearance in the Southern Ocean.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:E507D86C-FFEC-4047-A337-AE77606BB1A6     

Phylogenetic relationships of the ubiquitous coral reef crab subfamily Chlorodiellinae (Decapoda,Brachyura, Xanthidae)

The xanthid subfamily Chlorodiellinae is one of the most ubiquitous coral reef crab taxa in the Indo‐West Pacific region. Many species are common in coral rubble and rocky shores from Hawaii to eastern Africa, often dominating reef cryptofauna in terms of biomass. Phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial (COX1, 12S rRNA and 16S rRNA) and nuclear (histone H3) gene sequences of 202 specimens indicate that the Chlorodiellinae is polyphyletic as presently defined. Three genera, Pilodius, Cyclodius and Chlorodiella, and two previously undescribed lineages were recovered as a well‐supported clade. In combination with morphological data, the subfamily is redefined and restricted to this clade. Two new genera, Soliella gen. n., and Luniella gen. n., are described based on features of the carapace, male thoracic sternum and male gonopods. The remaining chlorodielline genera and members of the Etisinae, a subfamily with supposedly close morphological affinities to the Chlorodiellinae, were recovered at various positions throughout the xanthid phylogeny, although with relatively low support values. These results reiterate the unresolved status of xanthid subfamilial relationships, but nevertheless provide progress for xanthid systematics.     

Phylogenetic relationships of subfamilies and circumscription of tribes in the family Hesperiidae (Lepidoptera: Hesperioidea)

A comprehensive tribal‐level classification for the world’s subfamilies of Hesperiidae, the skipper butterflies, is proposed for the first time. Phylogenetic relationships between tribes and subfamilies are inferred using DNA sequence data from three gene regions (cytochrome oxidase subunit I‐subunit II, elongation factor‐1α and wingless). Monophyly of the family is strongly supported, as are some of the traditionally recognized subfamilies, with the following relationships: (Coeliadinae + (“Pyrginae” + (Heteropterinae + (Trapezitinae + Hesperiinae)))). The subfamily Pyrginae of contemporary authors was recovered as a paraphyletic grade of taxa. The formerly recognized subfamily Pyrrhopyginae, although monophyletic, is downgraded to a tribe of the “Pyrginae”. The former subfamily Megathyminae is an infra‐tribal group of the Hesperiinae. The Australian endemic Euschemon rafflesia is a hesperiid, possibly related to “Pyrginae” (Eudamini). Most of the traditionally recognized groups and subgroups of genera currently employed to partition the subfamilies of the Hesperiidae are not monophyletic. We recognize eight pyrgine and six hesperiine tribes, including the new tribe Moncini. © The Willi Hennig Society 2008.     

Boreascotia megavesicula n. g., n. sp. (Digenea: Hemiuridae: Lecithochiriinae) in the nototheniid fish Lepidonotothen macrophthalma (Norman) from the sub-Antarctic Atlantic

Boreascotia megavesicula n. g., n. sp. is described from the intestine of the fish Lepidonotothen macrophthalma from the North Scotia Ridge, Sub-Antarctic, Atlantic Ocean. The new genus has an ecsoma, placing it in the family Hemiuridae, and a distinct prostatic vesicle, placing it in the subfamily Lecithochiriinae, but is distinct from the other members of the subfamily in having an elongate, tubular seminal vesicle, which reaches well into the hindbody and overlaps the anterior testis.     

Trophodynamics of Southern Ocean pteropods on the southern Kerguelen Plateau

Pteropods are a group of small marine gastropods that are highly sensitive to multiple stressors associated with climate change. Their trophic ecology is not well studied, with most research having focused primarily on the effects of ocean acidification on their fragile, aragonite shells. Stable isotopes analysis coupled with isotope‐based Bayesian niche metrics is useful for characterizing the trophic structure of biological assemblages. These approaches have not been implemented for pteropod assemblages. We used isotope‐based Bayesian niche metrics to investigate the trophic relationships of three co‐occurring pteropod species, with distinct feeding behaviors, sampled from the Southern Kerguelen Plateau area in the Indian Sector of the Southern Ocean—a biologically and economically important but poorly studied region. Two of these species were gymnosomes (shell‐less pteropods), which are traditionally regarded as specialist predators on other pteropods, and the third species was a thecosome (shelled pteropod), which are typically generalist omnivores. For each species, we aimed to understand (a) variability and overlap among isotopic niches; and (b) whether there was a relationship between body size and trophic position. Observed isotopic niche areas were broadest for gymnosomes, especially Clione limacina antarctica, whose observed isotopic niche area was wider than expected on both δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N value axes. We also found that trophic position significantly increased with increasing body length for Spongiobranchaea australis. We found no indication of a dietary shift toward increased trophic position with increasing body size for Clio pyramidata f. sulcata. Trophic positions ranged from 2.8 to 3.5, revealing an assemblage composed of both primary and secondary consumer behaviors. This study provides a comprehensive comparative analysis on trophodynamics in Southern Ocean pteropod species, and supports previous studies using gut content, fatty acid and stable isotope analyses. Combined, our results illustrate differences in intraspecific trophic behavior that may be attributed to differential feeding strategies at species level.     

Hansenomysis anaramosae n. sp., a new suprabenthic mysid (Crustacea: Mysidacea: Petalophthalmidae) from the Bellingshausen Sea (Southern Ocean)

A new petalophthalmid mysid, Hansenomysis anaramosae n. sp., is described from specimens sampled with a suprabenthic sled in the Bellingshausen Sea (Southern Ocean). Hansenomysis anaramosae is clearly distinguishable from its closest congener, H. angusticauda Tattersall, by the carapace sculpturing, the rostrum produced into a spine-like process, the shape and armature of the antennal scale, eyeplate, and telson. This new species is the fourth Hansenomysis species described from the Southern Ocean. A key to these Antarctic species is presented.     

Growth and distribution patterns of Roseobacter/Rhodobacter, SAR11, and Bacteroidetes lineages in the Southern Ocean

Roseobacter/Rhodobacter and SAR11, affiliated with Alphaproteobacteria, and the phylum Bacteroidetes constitute a large proportion of marine planktonic bacteria, but information about their growth and distribution patterns in the Southern Ocean is scarce. The aim of the present study is to determine patterns in the biomass and productivity of Roseobacter/Rhodobacter, SAR11, and Bacteroidetes groups along the steep temperature, salinity, and organic matter gradients in the Southern Ocean by using catalyzed reporter deposition-fluorescence in situ hybridization and bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) immunocytochemistry FISH. We found that Roseobacter/Rhodobacter, SAR11, and Bacteroidetes are prominent contributors to total bacterial biomass and production. SAR11 bacteria were the predominant lineage, but their biomass was low in the coldest regions. In contrast, the biomasses of Roseobacter/Rhodobacter and Bacteroidetes lineages were positively correlated with organic matter concentrations. The Roseobacter/Rhodobacter had the highest proportion of BrdU-positive (i.e., actively growing) cells among the three phylotypes at all stations, despite their low abundance. The relative contribution of Bacteroidetes to the total bacterial productivity (number of active cells) was negatively correlated with temperature. These results suggest that the growth and distribution patterns of Roseobacter/Rhodobacter, SAR11, and Bacteroidetes were determined by different environmental gradients (e.g., organic matter concentrations or temperature) in the Southern Ocean.     

A new Antarctic association: the case of the hydroid Sarsia medelae (new sp.) associated with gorgonians

Sarsia medelae sp. nov. is described and illustrated from material collected in the Weddell Sea during the R/V Polarstern cruises ANT XVII/3 (April 2000) and in the Ross Sea during the R/V Italica cruise XIX (March 2004). The specimens have always been observed in association with several gorgonians of genera Thouarella sp., Primnoisis sp., and Notisis sp. The polyps of Sarsia medelae are considered as mesobiont of the gorgonian host with a non-parasitic relationship. It is the first time that this kind of association, which is so far only known from the Indian and Pacific Ocean, is reported in the Southern Ocean. This finding is discussed in the framework of the hypothesis that a part of Antarctic fauna has its origin in species dating back to before the Cretaceous period, because this kind of association between a hydroid and a gorgonian host being only known in the actual Antarctic shelf and in regions belonging to the previous Thethys areas.An erratum to this article can be found at     

Tantulocarida (Crustacea) from the Southern Ocean deep sea,and the description of three new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tantulacus</Emphasis> Huys,Andersen &; Kristensen, 1992

During the expedition ANT XIX/3 meiofauna samples were collected from the German research vessel Polarstern near the Shackleton Fracture Zone. During sorting of the samples 86 tantulus larvae were found. Extensive examination of the larvae revealed a high diversity of tantulocaridans in the Southern Ocean deep sea (33 species). A remarkable proportion of these were new species of Tantulacus Huys, Andersen & Kristensen, 1992. The present paper reports the discovery of three new Antarctic tantulocarids which are referred to Tantulacus. The affiliation of T. longispinosus n. sp., T. karolae n. sp. and T. dieteri n. sp. to Tantulacus is straightforward: all representatives of the Tantulocarida are characterised by the presence of 1-2 slender setae on the endopod of the second to fifth thoracopods, but in none of the hitherto described genera, other than Tantulacus, are these elements modified. Tantulacus hoegi Huys, Andersen & Kristensen, 1992 and the three new species share the possession of a distal rigid spine on the endopod of the second to fifth thoracopods as a synapomorphy and thus can be readily distinguished from other tantulocaridans. This is the first record of free-living sediment-inhabiting tantulus larvae from this area, although this probably reflects the degree of undersampling.     

A cladistic analysis of Erythracarinae (Acarina: Prostigmata: Anystidae), with the description of a new genus

A cladistic analysis of sixty erythracarine species is presented and used to justify recent nomenclatorial changes to the classification of erythracarine genera. Erythracarinae is redescribed, and a new diagnosis for the subfamily and a key to the included genera are presented. Neotarsolarcus is recognized as a junior synonym of Tarsolarkus, which is recorded for the first time from North America. A new genus, Pedidromus, with six new species (P. agitatus sp.n. P. curiosus sp.n., P. durongensis sp.n., P. peliculus sp.n., P. pilotrix sp.n., P. velox sp.n.) is described.     

Miocene diatom biostratigraphy at ODP Sites 689, 690, 1088, 1092 (Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean)

Four ODP sites located between 64°S and 41°S in the eastern Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean were investigated to refine the Miocene diatom biostratigraphic zonation tied to the geomagnetic chronology. The Miocene diatom stratigraphy from two sites located on Maud Rise (ODP Leg 113) is revised considering the progress in diatom biostratigraphic research, diatom taxonomy and magnetostratigraphic age assignment during the past 10 years. A new diatom zonation was erected for Site 1092 (ODP Leg 177) located on Meteor Rise integrating a magnetostratigraphic interpretation of the shipboard data. This zonation was also applied to Site 1088 (ODP Leg 177) located on Astrid Ridge. The study is focused to Middle and Upper Miocene sequences. It reveals latitudinal differentiations in stratigraphic species ranges and species occurrence pattern that are related to latitudinal differences in surface water masses reflecting the climatic development of the Antarctic cryosphere. Considering the latitudinal differences two stratigraphic zonations are proposed that are applicable to the northern and southern zone of the Southern Ocean, respectively. The southern Southern Ocean Miocene diatom biostratigraphic zonation consists of 16 zones in which 11 represent new or modified zones. The northern biostratigraphic zonation contains 10 diatom zones allowing a stratigraphic resolution in the range of 0.2–2 Myr. This paper also includes the taxonomic transfer of seven Miocene diatom taxa from genus Nitzschia Hassal to Fragilariopsis Hustedt.