Bathycamptus eckmani gen. et spec. nov. (Copepoda,Harpacticoida) with a review of the taxonomic status of certain other deepwater harpacticoids

Bathycamptus eckmani gen. et spec. nov., which is associated with mudballs produced by the. cirratulid Tharyx luticastellus, is described from bathyal muds in San Diego Trough, off California. ?Heteropsyllus minutus Wells from the Haden Ground, Scotland is considered to be its closest relative and is placed in the same genus. The genera Bathycamptus and Psammocamptus Mielke are regarded as sister groups on the basis of the shared sexual dimorphism shown by P3-P4. Relationships with other marine Canthocamptidae are discussed, and a re-evaluation of the genus Hemimesochra Sars is made. It is concluded that this genus should encompass only the type species H. clavularis Sars. ?Leimia dubia Wells and H. nympha Por are transferred to the new genus Boreolimella, which is closely related to Bathycamptus but not to Leimia Willey. The genus Perucamptus gen. nov. is established to include H. rapiens Becker and shows no clear relationship with the other genera. H. trisetosa Coull is assigned to Caroliiaicola gen. nov., which is regarded as being an advanced member of the Paranannopidae. H. secunda Wells is recognised as belonging to Mesopsyllus Por; whilst H. nixe Por is considered the type species of a new genus Pusillargillus.     

A new Eastern Asian Hycleus and key to the Chinese species of the phaleratus group (Coleoptera,Meloidae, Mylabrini)

A new species of Hycleus belonging to the phaleratus group, and close to Hycleus phaleratus, is described. The new species, Hycleus marcipoli, is distributed in China (Gansu and Taiwan), Laos, and northern Thailand. A key to the Chinese species of this group is presented.     

On the validity of Epeorella Ulmer, 1939 (Ephemeroptera,Heptageniidae) with general considerations on the Heptageniidae of the Sunda Islands

The type material of Epeorella borneonia Ulmer, 1939, the sole species of the genus Epeorella Ulmer, 1939 is reinvestigated and a lectotype (male imago) is designated. Based on several morphological structures, the synonymy with Epeorus Eaton, 1881 (Rhithrogeninae) is rejected. Epeorella stat. prop., known only at the winged stages, belongs to the subfamily Ecdyonurinae, and is a probable endemic of the island of Borneo. The newly erected genus Darthus Webb & McCafferty, 2007, also endemic to Borneo and only known by one species at the nymphal stage, is shown to be a junior subjective synonym of Epeorella. The new combination Epeorella vadora (Webb & McCafferty, 2007) is proposed for the species. The distribution of known heptageniid species from the Sunda Islands is discussed.     

Comments on the genus Aphilenia weise in Reitter, 1889 (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Eumolpinae), with a description of a new species from Russia

A review of species of the genus Aphilenia is given. The genera Aphilenia and Atomyria are transferred from the tribe Bromiini to the tribe Nodinini. A new species, Aphilenia astakhovi sp. n. from Russia (Astrakhan Prov.), is described. Aphilenia interrupta var. unicolor Rtt. is upgraded to a species and is transferred to the subgenus Pseudaphilenia Lop. Aphilenia hauseri Wse. is a new synonym of A. unicolor Rtt.; A. inornata Chen is transferred to the genus Chloropterus.     

On the distribution and synonymy of some indo-malayan species of the chrysomelid genus Pagria Lefèvre, 1884 (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae: Eumolpinae)

Pagria pseudograta sp. n. from Sri Lanka is described. Pagria flavopustulata and all its synonyms (Nodostoma kanaraense Jac., P. flavopustulata ab. bicolor Wse., P. signata grandis Chûjô, P. signata var. innotata Pic, and P. nodieri Pic) are placed to synonyms of P. grata Baly. Also, Nodostoma fulvipes Baly with the replacement name N. xanthopus Har., P. vignaphila Bry., and P. aeneicollis Lef. are synonymized with this species. Pagria bipunctata Lef. is placed to synonymy with P. signata (Motsch.). Nodostoma concolor Motsch. is transferred to the genus Pagria. Pagria laevifrons Jac., P. aenescens Jac. and P. recticollis Pic are transferred to the genus Cleoporus Lef. Pagria pallidicolor Pic is transferred to the genus Basilepta Baly. The drawings of the aedeagi of P. pseudograta sp. n. and P. ceylonica Pic are given. The distribution of a number of species is clarified.     

Phylogenetics of Tribe Collabieae (Orchidaceae,Epidendroideae) Based on Four Chloroplast Genes with Morphological Appraisal

Collabieae (Orchidaceae) is a long neglected tribe with confusing tribal and generic delimitation and little-understood phylogenetic relationships. Using plastid matK, psaB, rbcL, and trnH-psbA DNA sequences and morphological evidence, the phylogenetic relationships within the tribe Collabieae were assessed as a basis for revising their tribal and generic delimitation. Collabieae (including the previously misplaced mycoheterotrophic Risleya) is supported as monophyletic and nested within a superclade that also includes Epidendreae, Podochileae, Cymbidieae and Vandeae. Risleya is nested in Collabiinae and sister to Chrysoglossum, a relationship which, despite their great vegetative differences, is supported by floral characters. Ania is a distinct genus supported by both morphological and molecular evidence, while redefined Tainia includes Nephelaphyllum and Mischobulbum. Calanthe is paraphyletic and consists four clades; the genera Gastrorchis, Phaius and Cephalantheropsis should be subsumed within Calanthe. Calanthe sect. Ghiesbreghtia is nested within sect. Calanthe, to which the disputed Calanthe delavayi belongs as well. Our results indicate that, in Collabieae, habit evolved from being epiphytic to terrestrial.     

A new species of Isoperla (Insecta,Plecoptera) from the Karawanken,with considerations on the Southern Limestone Alps as centers of endemism

A new species of the genus Isoperla (Plecoptera, Perlodidae), belonging to the oxylepis species-group is described, and the male mating call is characterized. Its range falls within a small region of the Southern Limestone Alps which is well known to be one endemism-centre of aquatic insects.     

Energy transfer in reconstituted peridinin-chlorophyll-protein complexes: ensemble and single-molecule spectroscopy studies

We combine ensemble and single-molecule spectroscopy to gain insight into the energy transfer between chlorophylls (Chls) in peridinin-chlorophyll-protein (PCP) complexes reconstituted with Chl a, Chl b, as well as both Chl a and Chl b. The main focus is the heterochlorophyllous system (Chl a/b-N-PCP), and reference information essential to interpret experimental observations is obtained from homochlorophyllous complexes. Energy transfer between Chls in Chl a/b-N-PCP takes place from Chl b to Chl a and also from Chl a to Chl b with comparable Förster energy transfer rates of 0.0324 and 0.0215 ps⁻¹, respectively. Monte Carlo simulations yield the ratio of 39:61 for the excitation distribution between Chl a and Chl b, which is larger than the equilibrium distribution of 34:66. An average Chl a/Chl b fluorescence intensity ratio of 66:34 is measured, however, for single Chl a/b-N-PCP complexes excited into the peridinin (Per) absorption. This difference is attributed to almost three times more efficient energy transfer from Per to Chl a than to Chl b. The results indicate also that due to bilateral energy transfer, the Chl system equilibrates only partially during the excited state lifetimes.     

Phylogeny of the Augochlora clade with the description of four new species (Hymenoptera,Apoidea)

The Augochlora clade includes four genera: Augochlora Smith, Augochlorella Sandhouse, Ceratalictus Moure, and Pereirapis Moure. This is one of the richest and most widespread groups of Augochlorini bees. There are about 150 species, which occur from Argentina to Canada. The species of Augochlora clade are considered solitary to facultatively social, except Ceratalictus for which nothing is known. Wood nesting behavior arose once in the clade, in Augochlora sensu strictu. The objective of this study is to describe four new species and to present a revised phylogenetic analysis of the Augochlora clade for the placement of these species. The morphological matrix comprised 77 characters and 42 terminals, and resulted in two most parsimonious trees. The monophyly of the Augochlora clade is corroborated. Ceratalictus and Pereirapis are considered as sister groups and Ceratalictus inflexus sp. nov. came as sister to other species of Ceratalictus. Augochlora and Augochlorella are monophyletic and sister groups. Both extant subgenera of Augochlora were corroborated as monophyletic. Augochlorella comis is considered as sister group to the rest of Augochlorella species. All Augochlorella new species described belong to the Augochlorella ephyra group. Augochlorella kelliae sp. nov. is phylogenetically related to Augochlorella una. Augochlorella procliva sp. nov. and Augochlorella mavricera sp. nov. constitute a clade with Augochlorella acarinata. Including the new species, Augochlorella has 19 species and Ceratalictus 11 species. A revised key for species of Augochlorella and Ceratalictus is also presented in the Supplementary Information.     

Status of Exosphaeroma amplicauda (Stimpson, 1857), E. aphrodita (Boone, 1923) and description of three new species (Crustacea,Isopoda, Sphaeromatidae) from the north-eastern Pacific

Exosphaeroma amplicauda (Stimpson, 1857) from the west coast of North America is reviewed and redescribed and revealed to be a group of closely related species. A neotype is designated and the species redescribed based on the neotype and topotypic specimens. Exosphaeroma amplicauda is known only from the coast of California, at Marin, Sonoma and San Mateo Counties. Exosphaeroma aphrodita (Boone, 1923), type locality La Jolla, California and previously considered nomen dubium is taken out of synonymy and re-validated. A further three species: Exosphaeroma paydenae sp. n., Exosphaeroma russellhansoni sp. n., and Exosphaeroma pentcheffi sp. n. are described herein. Sphaeroma octonctum Richardson, 1899 is placed into junior synonymy with Exosphaeroma amplicauda. A key to the Pacific West Coast Exosphaeroma is provided.     

Molecular evidence for taxonomy of Rhacophorus appendiculatus and Kurixalus species from northern Vietnam,with comments on systematics of Kurixalus and Gracixalus (Anura: Rhacophoridae)

Phylogeny of Rhacophoridae is constructed using two mitochondrial (12S rRNA and 16S rRNA) and two nuclear (tyrosinase and Rag-1) genes in an attempt to test for the taxonomic status of Rhacophorus appendiculatus and Kurixalus species from Tam Dao. All phylogenetic analyses demonstrate that specimens from Tam Dao are nested in Kurixalus bisacculus, indicating that they belong to K. bisacculus. R. appendiculatus is closer to genus Kurixalus than to other genera with strong support values. In combination with morphological evidence, it is suggested that R. appendiculatus should be placed in Kurixalus. Kurixalus verrucosus is not related to Kurixalus appendiculatus and it is the sister taxon to the clade of K. bisacculus and Kurixalus odontotarsus, which rejects that K. verrucosus is a synonym of K. appendiculatus. The genus Kurixalus needs redefinition by clear synapomorphic characters, and generic status of Kurixalus ananjevae deserves further examination.     

Revision of the subgenus Orthoscymnus Canepari of Scymnus Kugelann (Coleoptera,Coccinellidae), with descriptions of four new species

The subgenus Orthoscymnus Canepari, 1997 of Scymnus Kugelann, 1794 is herein revised. Seven species of the Orthoscymnus fauna are recognized, of which four species, Scymnus (Orthoscymnus) jilongicus sp. n., Scymnus (Orthoscymnus) paradoxus sp. n., Scymnus (Orthoscymnus) crispatus sp. n. and Scymnus (Orthoscymnus) duomaculatus sp. n., are described as new to science. Scymnus (Orthoscymnus) rhododendri Canepari is recorded from China for the first time. Scymnus (Pullus) robustibasalis Yu is transferred to the subgenus Orthoscymnus (comb. n.). All species are diagnosed, described and illustrated, and distributions are provided for each species. A key to the species is included.     

Rediscovery of Eremobittacus spinulatus Byers (Mecoptera,Bittacidae) in Mexico,with description of the female and comments on sexual dimorphism and potential mimicry

The female of Eremobittacus spinulatus Byers, 1997 is described for the first time. A key to the two species known of this genus endemic to Mexico is provided, and species distribution is illustrated. A case is made for adults of Eremobittacus to be sexually dimorphic, which appears to be an exceptional occurrence in Bittacidae. It is claimed that Eremobittacus spinulatus habitus has a wasp-like appearance, which may potentially depict a case of mimicry.     

Metabolic and physical control of cell elongation rate: in vivo studies in nitella

Several levels of control of elongation rate are revealed through the detailed study of responses of the Nitella internode to abrupt shifts in turgor. The immediate response, which apparently reflects the physical state of the cell, is approximately described by the equation r = (P — Y)m where r is rate, P is pressure, Y is the wall's yielding threshold, and m is related to the wall's apparent fluidity (reciprocal viscosity). Because P and Y are in the range 5 to 6 atmospheres, and (P — Y) is roughly 0.2 atmosphere, elongation rate is initially extremely sensitive to changes in P. A small step-down in turgor (0.7 atmosphere) stops growth, and a similar rise greatly accelerates it. These initial responses are, however, soon (15 minutes) compensated by changes in Y. An apparent metabolism-dependent reaction (azide-sensitive) lowers Y; strain hardening (azide-insensitive) raises it. These two opposing processes, acting on Y, serve as a governor on (P — Y), tending to maintain it at a given value despite changes in P. This ability to compensate is itself a function of turgor. Turgor step-downs are less and less well compensated, leading to lower rate, as turgor falls from 5 atmospheres to about 2 atmospheres where growth appears not to resume. This is the lowest attainable yield value, Y₁. The turgor dependency of compensation reflects a turgor requirement of the Y-lowering (“wall-softening”) process. Thus the relation between steady state, r_s, and turgor is an indirect one, derived from time-dependent alterations of the cell wall. This relationship superficially resembles the instantaneously valid one in that, roughly, r_s = (P — Y₁)m_s. Y₁ and m_s, however, have much lower values than Y and m. The duality of the elongation rate versus turgor relation and the prominent role of Y in regulating rate are the major features of growth control in Nitella.