Two unusual species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Physalacria</Emphasis> (Basidiomycetes,Agaricales) collected in New Zealand and Papua New Guinea during mycological expeditions by the National Science Museum,Tokyo

Two unusual species of Physalacria from New Zealand and Papua New Guinea are described and illustrated. Physalacria pseudotropica from South Island in New Zealand and P. tropica from Papua New Guinea are recorded for the first time.     

The Leiognathus splendens complex (Perciformes: Leiognathidae) with the description of a new species, Leiognathus kupanensis Kimura and Peristiwady

Taxonomic analysis of a group of morphologically similar ponyfishes (Perciformes: Leiognathidae) establishes the Leiognathus splendens complex comprising four valid species: L. jonesi James, 1971, widely distributed in the Indo-West Pacific, from Mauritius to Papua New Guinea, north to Hainan I. (China), and south to Brisbane, Australia; L. kupanensis sp. nov., currently known only from Kupang, Timor, Indonesia; L. rapsoni Munro, 1964, currently known only from India, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea, and L. splendens Cuvier, 1829, widely distributed in the eastern Indian and western Pacific oceans, from India to Papua New Guinea, and from southern Japan to northern Australia. The L. splendens complex can be defined by the following combination of characters: body depth 42–60% of standard length; mouth protruding downward; slender, minute teeth uniserially on jaws; lower margin of orbit above the horizontal through the gape when mouth closed; breast almost completely scaled; lateral line complete, and a dark blotch on top of spinous dorsal fin. Diagnostic characters of the members are as follows: L. jonesi—anterior dorsolateral body surface with a semicircular naked area on nape, and a paler dark blotch on spinous dorsal fin; L. kupanensis—anterior dorsolateral body surface widely naked; L. rapsoni—cheek scaled; L. splendens—anterior dorsolateral body surface completely scaled and a jet black blotch on spinous dorsal fin.     

Reproductive Isolation Among Geographical Populations of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Drosophila Bipectinata</Emphasis> Duda (Diptera,Drosophilidae) with Recognition of Three Subspecies

Among D. bipectinata Duda, 1923, three subspecies, bipectinata from Southeast Asia (SEA) and Okinawa (OKN), szentivanii stat. nov. from Papua New Guinea (PNG) (Mather & Dobzhansky, 1962) and pacificiae ssp. nov. from South Pacific Ocean (SPO), are recognized. The external morphology of the reproductive organs and the numbers of teeth per row in the sex combs are different between the three subspecies. Furthermore, the sterility of hybrid males between strains from the different regions confirms the subspecies status of each population from SEA, PNG and SPO, together with different gene arrangements in the geographical populations. Although males of the strains from OKN (Okinawa), the northernmost population, show significant differences in the number of teeth of sex combs from males of SEA (Southeast Asia) strains, hybrid males between them are fertile.     

A new Philocheras species (Decapoda,Crangonidae) from Hansa Bay,Papua New Guinea

A new species of crangonid shrimp, Philocheras wilkinsae (Decapoda, Crangonidae) is described from Hansa Bay, Madang Province, Papua New Guinea. The new species belongs to the japonicus group, and can be distinguished from the other members of this group by carapace dentition and carination. The pleopod structure is unique in the genus.     

Phage-typing ofSalmonella weltevreden based on lysogeny II. Epidemiological usefulness of the system and geographical distribution of its phage-types

Nine hundred and forty-six strains ofSalmonella weltevreden isolated in different states of India during 1958–1974 and 124 strains from Australia, Burma, Holland, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam during 1953–1971 were phagetyped according to the phage-typing scheme described in the first part of this paper (Sood and Basu, 1977). The epidemiological incidence and geographical distribution of phage-types ofSalmonella weltevreden were studied. All the phage-types were present in India, the predominant phage-types being b, d and i. Phage-type g was isolated exclusively from India. All the 14 strains from Hawaii belonged to phage-type i. Phage-type h was the most predominant phage-type in Vietnam. The 15 strains isolated from Papua New Guinea in 1965, which were supposed to have originated from a single source, belonged to 3 phage-types. Except these cultures all the available epidemiologically related strains were of uniform phage-types — a finding which establishes the epidemiological validity of the scheme.     

Contributions to the Cladocera fauna from Papua New Guinea

Twenty-eight taxa of the Cladocera are identified in collections from Papua New Guinea, 17 being new records for New Guinea, bringing the total number of Cladocera taxa reported for this region to 39. Most of the taxa are circumtropical. One species (Sarsilatona papuana) is endemic to Papua New Guinea and northern Australia. The species list includes two species that are normally listed as Holarctic:Alonella nana andAlona rustica. Widespread genera such asDaphnia, Pleuroxus, Disparalona, Acroperus were strikingly absent from the Papua New Guinean material.     

Microsatellite Loci of the Cattle Tick Boophilus Microplus (Acari: Ixodidae)

This brief communication reports the identification of microsatellite loci in the economically important tick species Boophilus microplus. The data are potentially useful in distinguishing different strains of B. microplus. Eight polymorphic loci were isolated in larvae, male and female adults analysed individually from 12 field isolates and laboratory strains from Australia (n = 8), Brazil, Mexico, Papua New Guinea and Zimbabwe. Nucleotide sequencing of alleles at these microsatellite loci revealed that non-repeat bases interrupted dinucleotide and tetranucleotide repeats in some loci. Loci with non-repeat bases interrupting them were shorter compared with loci that were not interrupted. Thus the presence of non-repeat bases in a repeated sequence seems to constrain the evolution of additional repeats by slip-strand misparing at these loci.     

A new biological function of Shiitake mushroom,Lentinula edodes, in a myco-heterotrophic orchid,Erythrorchis ochobiensis

The biological function ofLentinula edodes in a myco-heterotrophic orchid,Erythrorchis ochobiensis was examined, using one local variant each from Japan (JPN), Papua New Guinea (PNG) and New Zealand (NZ). All variants induced seed germination: PNG and NZ isolates were effective at 25°C and JPN isolate showed the highest germination rate at 30°C. Germinated seeds developed into plants and formed normal endomycorrhizas. Hence, it is concluded thatL. edodes has a perfect symbiotic potential withE. ochobiensis, though it has not been observed in the root of the orchid in the field.     

Human polyomavirus JC variants in Papua New Guinea and Guam reflect ancient population settlement and viral evolution

The peopling of the Pacific was a complex sequence of events that is best reconstructed by reconciling insights from various disciplines. Here we analyze the human polyomavirus JC (JCV) in Highlanders of Papua New Guinea (PNG), in Austronesian-speaking Tolai people on the island of New Britain, and in nearby non-Austronesian-speaking Baining people. We also characterize JCV from the Chamorro of Guam, a Micronesian population. All JCV strains from PNG and Guam fall within the broad Asian group previously defined in the VP1 gene as Type 2 or Type 7, but the PNG strains were distinct from both genotypes. Among the Chamorro JCV samples, 8 strains (Guam-1) were like the Type 7 strains found in Southeast Asia, while nine strains (Guam-2) were distinct from both the mainland strains and most PNG strains. We identified three JCV variants within Papua New Guinea (PNG-1, PNG-2 and PNG-3), but none of the Southeast Asian (Type 7) strains. PNG-1 strains were present in all three populations (Highlanders and the Baining and Tolai of New Britain), but PNG-2 strains were restricted to the Highlanders. Their relative lack of DNA sequence variation suggests that they arose comparatively recently. The single PNG-3 strain, identified in an Austronesian-speaking Tolai individual, was closely related to the Chamorro variants (Guam-2), consistent with a common Austronesian ancestor. In PNG-2 variants a complex regulatory region mutation inserts a duplication into a nearby deletion, a change reminiscent of those seen in the brains of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy patients. This is the first instance of a complex JCV rearrangement circulating in a human population.     

Characterization of population structure from the mitochondrial DNA vis‐à‐vis language and geography in Papua New Guinea

Situated along a corridor linking the Asian continent with the outer islands of the Pacific, Papua New Guinea has long played a key role in understanding the initial peopling of Oceania. The vast diversity in languages and unique geographical environments in the region have been central to the debates on human migration and the degree of interaction between the Pleistocene settlers and newer migrants. To better understand the role of Papua New Guinea in shaping the region's prehistory, we sequenced the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region of three populations, a total of 94 individuals, located in the East Sepik Province of Papua New Guinea. We analyzed these samples with a large data set of Oceania populations to examine the role of geography and language in shaping population structure within New Guinea and between the region and Island Melanesia. Our results from median‐joining networks, star‐cluster age estimates, and population genetic analyses show that while highland New Guinea populations seem to be the oldest settlers, there has been significant gene flow within New Guinea with little influence from geography or language. The highest genetic division is between Papuan speakers of New Guinea versus East Papuan speakers located outside of mainland New Guinea. Our study supports the weak language barriers to genetic structuring among populations in close contact and highlights the complexity of understanding the genetic histories of Papua New Guinea in association with language and geography. Am J Phys Anthropol 142:613–624, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Bats Without Borders: Long-Distance Movements and Implications for Disease Risk Management

Fruit bats of the genus Pteropus (commonly known as flying-foxes) are the natural hosts of several recently emerged zoonotic viruses of animal and human health significance in Australia and Asia, including Hendra and Nipah viruses. Satellite telemetry was used on nine flying-foxes of three species (Pteropus alecto n = 5, P. vampyrus n = 2, and P. neohibernicus n = 2) to determine the scale and pattern of their long-distance movements and their potential to transfer these viruses between countries in the region. The animals were captured and released from six different locations in Australia, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, and Timor-Leste. Their movements were recorded for a median of 120 (range, 47–342) days with a median total distance travelled of 393 (range, 76–3011) km per individual. Pteropus alecto individuals were observed to move between Australia and Papua New Guinea (Western Province) on four occasions, between Papua New Guinea (Western Province) and Indonesia (Papua) on ten occasions, and to traverse Torres Strait on two occasions. Pteropus vampyrus was observed to move between Timor-Leste and Indonesia (West Timor) on one occasion. These findings expand upon the current literature on the potential for transfer of zoonotic viruses by flying-foxes between countries and have implications for disease risk management and for the conservation management of flying-fox populations in Australia, New Guinea, and the Lesser Sunda Islands.     

The Strongylophthalmyiidae (Diptera) of Papua New Guinea,with descriptions of five new species and a world checklist

Eight species of the Strongylophthalmyiidae are reported from Papua New Guinea. Of these, five species (Strongylophthalmyia gigantica sp. nov., S. papuana sp. nov., S. rubella sp. nov., S. sedlaceki sp. nov. and S. shatalkini sp. nov.) are described as new to science. Strongylophthalmyia puncticollis Frey is recorded for the first time from Papua New Guinea. Faunistic remarks, a key to the species of the Strongylophthalmyia in Papua New Guinea and a world checklist are provided.     

Genetic and phylogenetic analyses of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I variants from Melanesians with an without spastic myelopathy

Molecular variants of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) have been isolated recently from lifelong residents of remote Melanesian populations, including a Solomon Islander with tropical spastic paraparesis/HTLV-I-associated myelopathy (TSP/HAM) or HTLV-I myeloneuropathy. To clarify the genetic heterogeneity and molecular epidemiology of disease-associated strains of HTLV-I, we enzymatically amplified, then directly sequenced representative regions of thegag, pol, env, andpX genes of HTLV-I strains from Melanesians with and without TSP/HAM, and aligned and compared these sequences with those of HTLV-I strains from patients with TSP/HAM or adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma and from asymptomatic carriers from widely separated and culturally disparate populations. Overall, the HTLV-I variant from the Solomon Islander with TSP/HAM, like HTLV-I strains from asymptomatically infected Melanesians, diverged by approx 7% from cosmopolitan HTLV-I strain. No disease-specific viral sequences were found. Gene phylogenies, as determined by the unweighted pair-goup method of assortment and by the maximum parsimony method, indicated that the Melanesian and cosmopolitan strains of HTLV-I have evolved along separate geographically dependent lineages, one comprised of HTLV-I strains from Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, and the other composed of virus strains from Japan, India, the Caribbean, Polynesia, the Americas, and Africa. The total absence of nonhuman primates in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands precludes any possibility that the Melanesian HTLV-I strains have evolved recently from the simian homolog of HTLV-I.     

High species richness and genetic diversity of the genus Caloglossa (Delesseriaceae,Rhodophyta) in New Ireland,Papua New Guinea

Distribution patterns and genetic diversity of Caloglossa species have been studied in various regions but are still poorly understood around the tropical western Pacific where many marine organisms show high species richness. We explored the diversity of Caloglossa species in New Ireland, Papua New Guinea using morphological and genetic analyses. Seven species of Caloglossa (C. adhaerens, C. leprieurii, C. ogasawaraensis, C. bengalensis, C. postiae, C. saigonensis and C. vieillardii) were collected from eight sites; the latter four species are new records in Papua New Guinea. All specimens collected were cultured to compare their morphology under the same culture condition. Reproductive structures of gametophytes and/or sporophytes were described for the first time in some species from these collections. In C. leprieurii, gall‐like structure appeared in most gametophyte strains but not in tetrasporophytes. Such galls were produced from wing cells, and spermatangia and/or procarps were formed on many galls. The LSU rDNA and rbcL analyses revealed high intraspecific diversity in many species although the number of samples was limited and the sampling sites were within 200 km. We revealed high species richness and intraspecific genetic variation in Papua New Guinea, suggesting a hot spot for the diversity of Caloglossa.     

Biology of theParasponia-Bradyrhizobium symbiosis

Parasponia remains the only non-legume known to nodulate withRhizobium/Bradyrhizobium. It is a pioneer plant that is capable of rapid growth and fixing large quantities of nitrogen. In addition to its high agronomic potential, the symbiosis offers the scientist the unique opportunity of studying differences at the molecular level of both partners, and to investigate any possible extension of the symbiosis to other non-legumes of importance. Haemoglobin has been found in the nodule tissue ofParasponia and other nodulated non-legumes and the gene for it has been found and expressed in non-nodulating plants such asTrema tomentosa andCeltis australis. Bradyrhizobium strains isolated from species ofParasponia growing in Papua New Guinea form a group that are more specific in their host requirements thanBradyrhizobium strains from tropical legumes from the same area. They do not effectively nodulate (except CP283) tropical legumes, andParasponia is not readily nodulated withRhizobium andBradyrhizobium strains from legumes. The effectiveness of the symbiosis is influenced by host species, theBradyrhizobium strain and the environment.Parasponia andersonii forms a more effective symbiosis than the other species tested. In competition studies with strains from legumes, isolates fromParasponia always dominate in nodules onParasponia.     

牛紏吴茱萸柄锈菌新种

本文描述了采自海南省琼中县牛紏吴茱萸Evodia trichotoma (Lour.) Pierre(芸香科)上的柄锈菌一新种——Puccinia evodiae-trichotomae J. -y. Zhuang。本种与巴布亚一新几内亚产的吴茱萸Evodia sp.上的另一种柄锈菌Puccinia evodiae Cumm.略近似,但冬孢子堆裸露呈垫状,而后者则深埋于病瘿中。冬孢子形状与大小和后者相仿,然而少数孢子可长达60μm,顶壁有时略增厚,颜色很浅或近几色。镜下可见一些孢子已萌发,推测可能属无眠冬孢型。芸香科植物上的柄锈菌目前仅知10种,本种特征与它们均不相同,故鉴定为新种。本新种模式标本保藏在中国科学院微生物研究所真菌标本室。     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Elaeocarpus</Emphasis> for <Emphasis Type="Italic">Flora Malesiana</Emphasis>: new taxa and understanding in the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ganitrus</Emphasis> group

The Ganitrus group of Elaeocarpus L. (incl. Elaeocarpus Sect. Ptilanthus Schltr.) as found in Malesia is examined and some understanding reached. The group is more complex and speciose in eastern Malesia, especially in Papuasia (with the Philippines, Sulawesi and Maluku somewhat less rich) than in western and central Malesia. E. angustifolius Blume (syn. E. ganitrus & E. sphaericus auctt. mult.) — the source of the ornamental beads known as rudraksha of eastern commerce, from which malas or rosaries are made — is considered to be very variable in Malesia and probably varies further in the extremes of its range; outside Malesia the Ganitrus group is represented by ‘E. angustifolius s.l.’ only. The following species are recognised: E. altisectus Schltr. with a new subsp. carrii Coode from New Guinea; E. angustifolius Blume; E. avium Coode sp. nov. from New Guinea; E. buderi Coode; E. dolichostylus Schltr. with E. chloranthus treated as var. chloranthus (A. C. Sm.) Coode from New Guinea, with a new var. elliptifolius Coode from the Talaud/Sangihe Is. and a new var. hentyi Coode (replacing and re-interpreting subsp. collinus Coode) from New Guinea; E. fulvus Elmer; E. kaniensis Schltr.; E. ornatus Coode sp. nov. from New Guinea; E. osiae Coode sp. nov. from Bougainville I.; E. ptilanthus Schltr.; E. ramiflorus Merr. and E. trichopetalus Merr. & Quisumb. — a total of 12 species although the last two are perhaps not truly distinct from E. angustifolius. The stone sculpturing is discussed and some useful characters revealed. Attention is drawn to a collection from mid-altitude in Papua New Guinea, inadequately known but probably a new species in this group.     

Studies of the incidence, severity and distribution of false rust (Synchytrium psophocarpi), leaf spot (Pseudocercospora psophocarpi) and powdery mildew (Oidium sp.) on winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus) in Papua New Guinea

The incidence, severity and distribution of false rust, (Synchytrium psophocarpi), leaf spot (Pseudocercospora psophocarpi) and powdery mildew (Oidium sp.) on winged beans (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus) were evaluated on pure lines and mixed stands grown in Papua New Guinea between 1976 and 1978. Almost all of the 148 pure lines were susceptible to false rust and leaf spot and the incidence of these diseases increased with plant age. Standard area diagrams were superior to disease keys in evaluating disease severity. Levels of false rust on 10 promising agronomic lines differed according to the locality where the lines were grown. Two Thai lines showed resistance to false rust but P. scandens was immune to false rust and leaf spot. Surveys of 51 sites containing mixed stands of winged beans in the Eastern Highlands, Western Highlands, East New Britain, East Sepik, Madang and Morobe Provinces of Papua New Guinea indicated that leaf spot and false rust were present in both the wet and dry seasons and the apparent absence of disease was probably due to time and size of samples. The diseases appeared to be present in all the traditional winged bean growing areas of Papua New Guinea. It was difficult to obtain evidence of differences in palatability of tissues infected with false rust. The value of surveys and disease assessment in relation to evaluation of crop losses of winged bean caused by these pathogens and selection for resistance is discussed.     

Caprellids (Crustacea: Amphipoda) from Papua New Guinea,with the description of a new species

This is the first study of caprellid amphipods from the coast of Papua New Guinea. Several collections from Madang Lagoon (north) and Bootless Bay (south) have been studied. Seven species in seven genera are recorded, of which Pseudoproto papua sp. nov. is described as new to science. The genus Pseudoproto Mayer, 1903 has consisted, so far, of only one species, Pseudoproto fallax Mayer, 1903. Although only a single male has been found of Pseudoproto papua sp. nov., differences in antennae, mouthparts, gnathopod 2 and pereopods 3 and 4 have revealed that it represents a new species of Pseudoproto. Lateral view figures of all species, together with a key to species level for the Caprellidea from Papua New Guinea are also included. Communicated by H.-D. Franke     

The Mount Kare Python and His Gold: Totemism and Ecology in the Papua New Guinea Highlands

Lying between the Huli and Paiela peoples of the Papua New Guinea highlands, Mt. Kare, the site of a gold rush from 1988 to 1990, presently inspires millenarian speculations about an imminent cosmic revolution. Mt. Kare was traditionally a ritual site where pigs were sacrificed to Taiyundika, a totemic python, to promote the fertility of plant, animal, and human species. Today it is where gold is mined in pursuit of unprecedented riches and millenarian transformations. Although sacrifices are no longer conducted at Mt. Kare, the python still has some salience for Paielas, who consider the gold to be the flesh of the totemic python. Blending Christianity with traditional cosmology, Paielas interpret the finding of the gold as a millenarian sign. As an ancestral figure who guarantees the continuing fertility of the earth in exchange for pork sacrifices, the python stands at the core of Paiela constructions of nature and humanity's position within it. Paiela totemism is explored for what it can teach us about an indigenous symbolic ecology and how "local knowledge" or a "cognized model" can inflect capital-intensive resource development at a time of ostensible globalization. The ecology of Mt. Kare gold mining must be sensitive to intercultural processes and how global flows (of ideologies, technologies, and capital) are mediated by vernacular constructions. [Papua New Guinea, mining, totemism, symbolic ecology, place]