Origin of the Genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Homo</Emphasis>

The origin of the genus Homo in Africa signals the beginning of the shift from increasingly bipedal apes to primitive, large-brained, stone tool-making, meat-eaters that traveled far and wide. This early part of the human genus is represented by three species: Homo habilis, Homo rudolfensis, and Homo erectus. H. habilis is known for retaining primitive features that link it to australopiths and for being the first stone tool makers. Little is known about H. rudolfensis except that it had a relatively large brain and large teeth compared to H. habilis and that it overlapped in time and space with other early Homo. Our understanding of the paleobiology and evolution of the larger-brained H. erectus is enhanced due to its rich fossil record. H. erectus was the first obligate, fully committed biped, and with a body adapted for modern striding locomotion, it was also the first in the human lineage to disperse outside of Africa. The early members of the genus Homo are the first to tip the scale from the more apish side of our evolutionary history toward the more human one.     

Re‐evaluation of the taxonomic status of Hackelochloa (Poaceae) based on anatomical and phenetic analyses

Hackelochloa is a pantropical genus of plant in the Poaceae, in which only two species have been included, H. granularis and H. porifera. Despite several morphological differences, notably the more prominent sculpturing of the lower glume and the larger dimensions of several quantitative traits, H. porifera has been reduced to the synonymy of H. granularis. Moreover, the status of the genus itself has been questioned, with a regional revision of the genus proposing inclusion of its members in the genus Mnesithea. In the present study, we investigated a range of morphological and anatomical attributes to assess critically the generic delimitation between Hackelochloa and Mnesithea. In clustering analysis, H. granularis, H. porifera and Mnesithea species were clearly resolved as three distinct groups with an R‐value of 0.98114. Likewise, three clusters representing these taxonomic units were revealed using principal component analysis (PCA), with the first two principal components highlighting key qualitative and quantitative characters. Scanning electron microscopy was used to reveal different patterns of sculpturing on the lower glumes in the two putative species and the ecological significance of these differences is inferred. The outline of leaf transverse sections, presence of parenchymatous tissue in the midrib region, number of adjacent bundles and number of chlorenchyma layers in the culm were also found to be diagnostic anatomical characters. This study supports the recognition of H. porifera as distinct from H. granularis and provides evidence that the genus Hackelochloa should be maintained.     

The status of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Harveya alba</Emphasis> (Orobanchaceae)

Originally described within Harveya, H. alba Hepper was transferred to Alectra, and nearly accommodated in its own monotypic genus. Recently published phylogenetic analyses support the placement of this species within Harveya as originally suggested by Hepper. The transfer is made here, and Harveya wysockiana is synonymised with H. alba.     

Phylogenetic analysis of smelts (Osmeridae) based on the variation of cytochrome <Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis> gene

Putative phylogenetic relationships between all smelt species inhabiting Russian waters were studied using RFLP and the data on divergence between nucleotide sequences of the mitochondrial gene encoding cytochrome b. All types of phylogenetic trees (NJ, MP, and Bayesian) displayed stable clustering into isolated groups corresponding to the division of the subfamily Osmerinae into three genera, Mallotus, Osmerus, and Hypomesus. It was demonstrated that the Mallotus phylum was the first to diverge from a hypothetical common ancestor of the smelts. Later, it divided into two clusters corresponding to the modern subspecies Mallotus villosus villosus and M. v. catervarius. The phylum of the genus Osmerus diverged later than the genus Mallotus and also divided into two clusters, one including O. mordax of the Pacific (Sea of Japan) and Arctic (Kara and Barents Seas) basins and the other, anadromous and resident ecotypes of the O. eperlanus from the Baltic Sea basin. The smelts of the genus Hypomesus is the youngest phylogenetic group among the taxa studied; it forms three individual clusters matching the species H. olidus, H. nipponensis, and H. japonicus. The proposed phylogenetic hypothesis is discussed from the standpoint of its compliance with the phylogenetic constructions based on the external morphological and osteological traits.     

Genome analysis of species in the genus Hystrix (Triticeae; Poaceae)

Genomic in situ hybridisation (GISH) and Southern genomic hybridisation were applied in order to gain further knowledge regarding generic delimitation of the genus Hystrix as well as to clarify the genomes of the Hystrix species H. patula, H. longearistata, H. coreana, H. duthiei and H. komarovii. The hybridisation intensity of different genomic probes was compared among the Hystrix species and with other Triticeae species. The Southern- and GISH results confirm that H. patula contains the StH genome and show that H. komarovii most likely has a variant of this StH genome. The other Hystrix species under study, i.e. H. longearistata, H. coreana and H. duthiei, contain an Ns basic genome, and most probably two variants of this basic genome, Ns ¹ Ns ² . The genus Hystrix is thus not a monophyletic group of species.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Psychroflexus lacisalsi</Emphasis> sp. nov., a moderate halophilic bacterium isolated from a hypersaline lake (Hunazoko-Ike) in Antarctica

A novel Gram-negative, aerobic, moderate halophilic, and psychrotolerant bacterium, designated as strain H7^T, was isolated from a hypersaline lake located in Skarvsnes, Antarctica. Cells were filaments with varying lengths. Coccoid bodies developed in old cultures. Growth occurred with 0.5–15% (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 5.8–7.0%), at pH 6.0–10.0 (optimum, pH 7.0–8.0), and at 10–28°C (optimum, 25°C). The strain had a G+C content of 34.9 mol%, which is within the range of 32–36 mol% reported for the genus Psychroflexus. Chemotaxonomic data (major respiratory quinone: MK-6; major fatty acids: aC_15:0, iC_16:0 3-OH, and aC_{15: 1} A) supported the classification of strain H7^T within the genus Psychroflexus. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain H7^T should be assigned to the genus Psychroflexus and has a homology with Psychroflexus salinarum (98.2%), P. sediminis (96.1%), P. torquis (95.2%), P. tropicus (95.8%), and P. gondwanense (92.2%). Strain H7 is not identified as P. salinarum because that DNA-DNA hybridization data were 8.5% between strain H7^T and P. salinarum. The combination of phylogenetic analysis, DNA-DNA hybridization data, phenotypic characteristics, and chemotaxonomic differences supported the view that strain H7^T represents a novel species of the genus Psychroflexus. The name Psychroflexus lacisalsi is proposed, and the type strain is H7^T (=JCM 16231^T =KACC 14089^T).     

Macrocarpones,novel metabolites from stromata of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hypoxylon macrocarpum</Emphasis>, and new evidence on the chemotaxonomy of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hypoxylon</Emphasis> species

Several species of the genus Hypoxylon (Xylariaceae) were studied for morphological characters and HPLC-based secondary metabolite profiles. It was confirmed that Hypoxylon is divided into two groups of species, containing either Mitorubrin type azaphilones or binaphthyls, respectively, as main metabolites. In Hypoxylon species of the latter group, some metabolites that are known from the allied genus Daldinia (i.e., Daldinal A in H. fuscum and Daldinin C in H. fuscopurpureum), were encountered for the first time. Moreover, three novel aromatic polyketides, for which the trivial names Macrocarpones A, B and C are proposed, were isolated from ascostromata of Hypoxylon macrocarpum and identified by high resolution mass spectrometry and 2D-NMR spectroscopy. Orsellinic Acid was also identified from ascostromata of H. howeianum and detected by HPLC-MS and HPLC-UV/Vis fingerprinting methodology in H. fragiforme and H. rubiginosum, but not in other examined Hypoxylon species. Due to these studies, H. fuscopurpureum sensu Y.-M. Ju & J.D. Rogers 1996 was identified as a new record for Germany.     

Classification and phylogenetic relationships of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hymenochaete</Emphasis> and allied genera of the Hymenochaetales,inferred from rDNA sequence data and nuclear behaviour of vegetative mycelium

Based on nuclear rDNA sequences of 18 species of the corticioid genus Hymenochaete, one species of the stipitate Stipitochaete, two species of the hydnoid Hydnochaete, one species of the hydnoid Asterodon, two species of the cyclolamellate to poroid Cyclomyces, two species of the cyclolamellate to poroid Coltricia and 11 more species of the poroid Hymenochaetales, we examined the position of Hymenochaete within the Hymenochaetales, the infrageneric structure of Hymenochaete, and the relationships between Hymenochaete, Stipitochaete, Hydnochaete, Cyclomyces and Coltricia. In addition, the nuclear behaviour of the vegetative mycelium was studied for 10 selected taxa of Hymenochaete and one taxon of Hydnochaete. Hymenochaete appears to be polyphyletic, and a new genus, Pseudochaete, is proposed to accommodate the holocoenocytic H. tabacina, which is more closely related to the poroid Hymenochaetales, Onnia and Porodaedalea. The splitting of Hymenochaete into four anatomically distinct sections is not supported by our data. Stipitochaete is not a separate genus. Hydnochaete duportii and H. japonica, as well as Cyclomyces fuscus and C. tabacinus are not distinctly separated and are suggested to be transferred to Hymenochaete.     

Plicatrium visayanensis new species (Digenea: Hemiuridae) from Hydrophis ornatus (Serpentes: Hydrophiidae) from the Visayan Sea,Philippines

Bush A. O. and Holmes J. C. 1984. Plicatrium visayanensis new species (Digenea: Hemiuridae) from Hydrophis ornatus (Serpentes: Hydrophiidae) from the Visayan Sea, Philippines. International Journal for Parasitology14: 35–38. A new species of hemiurid is described from a sea snake. The diagnosis of the genus Plicatrium is emended.     

RFLP analysis of cpDNA in the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hypericum</Emphasis>

The chloroplast DNA of 43 species including 16 sections from the genus Hypericum was studied by PCR-RFLP analysis. The PCR-amplified products of four cpDNA regions, trnC-trnD, psbC-trnS, trnL-trnF and rbcL were digested with four restriction endonucleases. A high level of interspecific variation was detected while intraspecific diversity was not observed. The resulting parsimony analysis indicated the monophyletic assemblage of the sections Androsaemum, Olympia, Drosocarpium and Trigynobrathys. Monophyly of Hypericum is weakly supported, but close relationships of H. perforatum and H. maculatum are indicated. The members of Ascyreia are weakly resolved, but clustering of H. kouytchense and H. oblongifolium is well supported, however, H. reptans is nested with Olympia. CpDNA profiles and the positions on the parsimony tree indicate that the chloroplast donor among the putative parents of the hybrid species H. ×inodorum is H. androsaemum.     

Two new species of the ground-beetle genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Harpalus</Emphasis> Latr. (Coleoptera,Carabidae) from Turkey and China

Two new species of the genus Harpalus Latreille, 1802 are described: H. stevensi sp. n. from China (Sichuan) and H. dudkoi sp. n. from Turkey (Adana). Both species belong to the nominotypical subgenus and are included in the tardus species-group.     

Morphological and molecular studies of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hyphodermella</Emphasis> in the Western Mediterranean area

The genus Hyphodermella was studied based on material from the western Mediterranean area (France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Morocco) where the following three species have been recognized: H. corrugata (Fr.) J. Erikss. & Ryvarden, widely distributed, H. densa Melo & Hjortstam, only known from Portugal, and H. rosae (Bres.) Nakasone described from Italy. Twenty-one new ITS nrDNA sequences from these species, including the holotype collection of H. rosae and the paratype of H. densa, were aligned with one obtained from GenBank. The molecular results show that these collections are distributed in two highly supported monophyletic clades: one corresponds to H. corrugata, and the other one with H. densa and H. rosae collections. Morphological studies, including the type collections of the three taxa, show significant differences between the clades if we take into account the size of basidia and spores. The present study confirms H. corrugata as an independent species of H. rosae and H. densa, and that H. densa and H. rosae are conspecific; consequently, H. densa is a synonym of H. rosae. This last species is widely distributed in the Mediterranean area (France, Italy, Spain and Portugal) and as frequent as H. corrugata. Comments are offered on sequencing the barcode from types and well-annotated specimens.     

A skeleton‐less sponge of Caribbean mangroves: invasive or undescribed?

Recent surveys of sponges occurring on Caribbean mangrove roots demonstrated the presence of a skeleton‐less sponge of the genus Halisarca, very similar in its morphology to the temperate H. dujardinii. This study evaluated the possibility that the mangrove sponge was actually H. dujardinii that had been introduced into the Caribbean mangroves. Detailed histology revealed differences between the mangrove sponge and H. dujardinii in cuticle thickness, and in characteristics of the choanocytes, spherulous, and granular cells. Also, phylogenetic reconstruction and genetic distance estimates based on cytochrome oxidase I gene sequences clearly differentiated the mangrove Halisarca sp. from H. dujardinii. Therefore, we rejected the hypothesis of the invasion of H. dujardinii, recognizing instead the mangrove Halisarca sp. as a new species and naming it H. restingaensis sp. nov. Estimated levels of genetic variation in the ribosomal internal transcribed spacers indicated that populations of H. restingaensis sp. nov. are highly differentiated between Venezuela and Panama (F_st=0.71). This level of population differentiation is consistent with the short larval competence period that is common in members of the genus Halisarca.     

Characters of the lateral-line system and their use in taxonomy of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Paralichthys,Hippoglossina</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lioglossina</Emphasis> (Paralichthyidae,Pleuronectiformes)

A morphological study of eight species of Paralichthys, two species of Hippoglossina, and Lioglossina tetrophthalma, has revealed head lateral-line canal topography differences of taxonomic value. In species of Paralichthys, segment of the supraorbital canal in nasale of the blind side is connected with other canals and canaliculi are ramified, whereas in species of Hippoglossina this segment is not connected and canaliculi are not ramified. These different character states corroborate the generic distinction between Paralichthys and Hippoglossina. The connection of the supraorbital canal in nasale of the blind side with other canals and ramified canaliculi found in L. tetrophthalma and P. oblongus are against regarding them as Hippoglossina species. It appears necessary to restore the monotypic genus Lioglossina and to place P. oblongus in the genus Paralichthys until new morphological or molecular data are obtained. Paralichthys species vary in the degree of ramification of canaliculi, presence or absence of infraorbital canal segment in the lacrimale of the ocular side and posterior line of CST. Differences in lateral-line canal topography of H. macrops and H. bollmani were not found.     

New species of mites (Acari: Astigmata: Heterocoptidae) from the Australian and Oriental regions,with a description of the female of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Uvallicoptes peeteri</Emphasis> Haitlinger, 1999

Heterocoptes lombokensis sp. n. from Lombok, Bali and Java (Indonesia), H. sumatrensis sp. n. from Sumatra (Indonesia), H. samueli sp. n. from Australia, H. barbarae sp. n. from New Britain Islands (Papua New Guinea), H. marcellae sp. n. from Sulawesi (Indonesia) and Nolaecoptes tanahloticus sp. n. from Bali (Indonesia) are described. The female of Uvallicoptes peeteri Haitlinger, 1999 is described and new records for this species are given. Males and females of the genus Heterocoptes are keyed.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Desmosorus</Emphasis>, a new rust genus (Uredinales)

Uredo behnickiana (syn. Hemileia americana and H. oncidii) is known on orchids of the genera Cattleya, Epidendrum, Laelia, Lophiaris and Oncidium. Previously, only the uredinial stages of these fungi have been described. The telial stage of the rust species was found for the first time on Oncidium marshallianum. Because of a unique combination of morphological characters the fungus could not be assigned to Hemileia or any other known rust genus. Desmosorus is proposed, therefore, as a new genus with Desmosorus oncidii as the single known species. Desmosorus is characterised by (1) suprastomatal sori on which the spores are formed at the ends of branched hyphae, by (2) subglobose to ovoid, echinulate urediniospores with a smooth patch around the hilum and by (3) thin-walled, oblong elliptical to cylindrical teliospores with a rounded apex.