Saccharomycopsis crataegensis,a new heterothallic yeast

A new species,Saccharomycopsis crataegensis, is described. The species is heterothallic and forms ellipsoidal ascospores with a single median longitudinal ledge. Strains of the species were isolated from grapes and hawthorne fruit obtained in Peoria, Illinois U.S.A. A comparison was made betweenS. crataegensis andS. vini, which included new strains of the latter species from hawthorne fruit.     

A revision of the genus Sclerosperma (Arecaceae)

Summary  A taxonomic revision of the palm genus Sclerosperma (Arecaceae) is presented. Three species are recognised: S. mannii H. Wendl., which is relatively widespread from Liberia to the Democratic Republic of Congo; S. walkeri A. Chev., which is apparently confined to the interior of Gabon and a band along the Congo River; and S. profiziana, a new species previously considered conspecific to S. mannii that is found in southwest Ghana, Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola. The taxonomic history, morphology, distribution and conservation status of the genus and each species are discussed.     

New species of the genus Salganea (Blattaria, Blaberidae, Panesthiinae) from Myanmar, with molecular phylogenetic analyses and notes on social structure

A new species of the genus Salganea is described from Mount Victoria, Chin State, Myanmar under the name of Salganea matsumotoi sp. nov. Morphological investigation suggests that this species belongs to the S. nigrita species group. The inferred molecular phylogenetic tree indicates that S. matsumotoi is most closely related to the taxa S. incerta, S. taiwanensis, S. gressiti and S. esakii, distributed in Thailand, Taiwan and Japan, all of which belong to the S. nigrita species group. Social structural data suggest that this species is subsocial, and in contrast to other studied species in the genus, potentially has more than one reproductive episode.     

Phylogenetic relationship of Alexandrium tamiyavanichii (Dinophyceae) to other Alexandrium species based on ribosomal RNA gene sequences

The phylogenetic relationship of the thecate PSP-toxin producing dinoflagellate Alexandrium tamiyavanichii Balech to other species of Alexandrium was studied based on nucleotide sequences of the ITS1, ITS2, 5.8S, 18S and 28S subunits of the ribosomal RNA gene. These are the first such sequences available for A. tamiyavanichii, which is one of the producers of paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins in tropical waters. Based on the nucleotide sequences of the 28S, 18S and 5.8S subunits of the rRNA gene, A. tamiyavanichii grouped together with A. tamarense, A. catenella and A. fundyense. More interestingly, A. tamiyavanichii was most closely affiliated to A. tamarense isolates from Thailand. This result reaffirmed conclusions from previous studies that, for the A. tamarense/fundyense/catenella species complex, geographical origin rather than morphology seems to determine genetic relatedness. Results of this study also suggest that A. tamiyavanichii most probably belongs to the same species complex. Ribosomal RNA gene sequences do not separate the PSP toxin producing from the non-producing species of Alexandrium.     

Cytogenetics and evolution of Simulium ornatipes skuse (Diptera:Simuliidae) I. Sibling speciation

Larval populations of the morphologically distinct species Simulium ornatipes and S. neornatipes and a subspecies of the former, S. ornatipes norfolkense, were analysed using polytene chromosome cytology. Fixed inversion differences, distinct differentiated sex chromosomes and unique arrays of chromosomal polymorphisms reveal two sibling species, S. ornatipes A and B, within S. ornatipes, and two, S. neornatipes 1 and 2, within S. neornatipes. Chromosomally S. ornatipes norfolkense is similar to S. ornatipes A. An unprecedented level of shared inversion polymorphism is shown by S. ornatipes A and B indicating a very close relationship between them. While it may be postulated that such a situation has arisen by independent origin of the shared inversions within each species, or by introgression of these rearrangements between the two species, it is concluded that the shared polymorphisms in fact originate from a common ancestor. Within the four chromosomally defined species, differentiated sex chromosome systems occur which may involve any of the three chromosome pairs. Simulium ornatipes A is particularly interesting because there are indications that it may be polymorphic for differentiated sex chromosomes on two different elements and that it may also share a sex chromosome marker with S. ornatipes B, a unique situation in the Simuliidae. The evolution of sex chromosome systems in the four species is compared with that of other Simulids and its intimate connection with speciation emphasised. Finally the data on fixed inversions, differentiated sex chromosomes and shared polymorphisms is used to construct a phylogeny of the four species outlining their patterns of speciation.     

The application of chloroplast DNA clones in identifying maternal donors for polyploid species of Stylosanthes

Organelle inheritance is strictly maternal for most plant species. This property makes organelle DNAs ideal material for identifying the maternal parents of polyploid species. A chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) clone from Stylosanthes was identified. Together with rice cpDNA clones, it was used in identifying putative maternal donors for polyploid Stylosanthes species. Of 15 taxa for which 2 or more accessions each were analysed, intra-taxon cpDNA variation was only identified within the diploid species S. viscosa. Of the nine basal diploid genomes identified, results from the cpDNA probes strongly suggested that Genome A1 is the maternal donor to S. aff. hamata, S. scabra, S. aff. scabra, S. sericeiceps and S. tuberculata and that it may also be the maternal donor to the hexaploid S. erecta; Genome C is the maternal donor to S. sp. A, S. mexicana, S. subsericea and S. sundaica; Genome E is the maternal donor to S. capitata. The maternal donor to S. fruticosa is likely to be Genome B3, and that to S. ingrata is likely to be Genome A1. The maternal donor to S. sympodialis, although similar to those of S. sp. genotypes, may not be included amongst the diploid taxa analysed in this study. The fact that none of the polyploid genotypes produced cpDNA fragments from more than one of their respective progenitors indicated that cpDNA in Stylosanthes is strictly maternally inherited. Received: 17 September 1999 / Accepted: 20 April 2000     

Molecular and morphological characterization of the Achnanthidium minutissimum complex (Bacillariophyta) in Petuniabukta (Spitsbergen,High Arctic) including the description of A. digitatum sp. nov.

Recent morphology-based investigations of freshwater Arctic diatoms suggest that many species remain to be discovered, reflecting a unique polar flora. During a survey of the freshwater diatom flora of northern Billefjorden, including the Petuniabukta fjord region (Spitsbergen), several morphodemes belonging to the Achnanthidium minutissimum species complex were recorded. Molecular phylogenies based on rbcL, 28S and 18S sequences, including single cells from Canada and strains from Marion Island (sub-Antarctica) and GenBank revealed the presence of 12 distinct A. minutissimum complex lineages, of which three contained strains from Spitsbergen. One Arctic lineage is described as a new species. Achnanthidium digitatum sp. nov. is morphologically characterized by narrow, linear to only slightly lanceolate valves and usually two areolae per stria. The two remaining Arctic lineages are in need of a more complete morphological and molecular comparison with other representatives of the A. minutissimum complex to clarify their taxonomic identity. It is argued that implementation of molecular data in the taxonomy of Achnanthidium will be essential to solve the taxonomic problems associated with this group, eventually resulting in a better understanding of the biogeography and niche differentiation of different species belonging to the A. minutissimum complex. Ideally, this should be based on more variable genes than the currently widely used 18S, which does not have a species level resolution in the A. minutissimum complex.     

Characterization of Charr Chromosomes Using Fluorescence in Situ Hybridization

The chromosomal locations of several families of tandem repetitive DNA sequences and the 5S rDNA were determined using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in the five North American charr species: Salvelinus namaycush, S. fontinalis, S. alpinus, S. malma, and S. confluentus. The pattern of hybridization of three centromeric repetitive sequences previously isolated from S. namaycush and S. alpinus was unique in each species. Dual-color FISH experiments showed that in several species many of the centromeres had the EcoRI-DraI family in addition to either the AluI-RsaI type A or type B families. The EcoRI-DraI family which was found only at the centromeres of acrocentric chromosomes in S. namaycush, S. fontinalis and S. malma was also found at centromeres of selected metacentrics in S. alpinus (one pair) and S. confluentus (four pairs) whose chromosomes have undergone additional centric fusions compared to the other species. The locations of 5S rDNA sequences were different in each species except for the two most closely related (S. alpinus and S. malma). Two whole-arm chromosome paint probes, one specific for the short and the other for the long arm of the lake charr sex chromosomes, hybridize to the same chromosome pair in all species. Results with other paint probes suggest that independent centric fusions have occurred in S. alpinus and S. confluentus which is consistent with the phylogenetic tree obtained previously for Salvelinus with cytogenetic and DNA data.     

Differential utilization of space and food by the inshore rockfishes (Scorpaenidae: Sebastes) of Carmel Bay,California

Synopsis Six rockfish species were found to be common in the Carmel Bay kelp forests. Five of these occupy spatial zones that are more or less distinct from one another. Three species (S. atrovirens, S. chrysomelas, and S. carnatus) occupy species-specific spatial zones while two others (S. serranoides and S. melanops), although spatially distinct from each other, occupy zones that overlap completely with a sixth species, S. mystinus. Food overlap values (PSI) indicate that S. mystinus has low competitive overlap with all other species, and hence can coexist with two species using the same habitat. Dietary arrays reflect the distinct spatial zones occupied by most of the rockfishes. Structural characteristics associated with feeding (maxillary, intestine, and gill raker length) suggest that these species are differentially adapted in regard to feeding morphology. The coexistence of these rockfishes appears to be the result of the partitioning of food and space resources, rather than the result of stochastic events which appear to be important in the structuring of some coral-reef fish communities. S. mystinus juveniles represent a major trophic link between adult piscivores and the planktonic organisms upon which the juveniles feed. A sustained crash in S. mystinus numbers might have a negative effect on abundance of kelp forest piscivorous species.     

Speciation process of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salvia isensis</Emphasis> (Lamiaceae), a species endemic to serpentine areas in the Ise-Tokai district,Japan, from the viewpoint of the contradictory phylogenetic trees generated from chloroplast and nuclear DNA

To understand the speciation process of Salvia isensis (Lamiaceae), a species endemic to a special environment (serpentine areas in the Ise-Tokai district, central Honshu, Japan), chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) and nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) were employed to analyze the phylogenetic relationships of S. isensis with related species in Japan. Allozymic polymorphisms were also used to analyze genetic relationships among Salvia species. A contradiction in the phylogenetic positions of species studied was detected when phylogenetic trees were constructed using cpDNA or nrDNA, i.e., S. isensis was a sister to the other species in phylogenetic trees generated from cpDNA, while S. japonica was a sister to the other species in the case of nrDNA. Genetic relationships between Salvia species estimated from allozymic polymorphisms did not contradict to the topology for nrDNA. Using the present results, the speciation process of S. isensis is discussed with regard to introgressive gene exchanges between related species. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Allamanda calcicola</Emphasis> (Apocynaceae), an overlooked new species from limestone outcrops in the States of Minas Gerais and Bahia,Brazil

Summary   Allamanda calcicola Souza-Silva & Rapini, an overlooked new species endemic to the limestone outcrops along the S?o Francisco River Basin, in south-western Bahia and northern Minas Gerais, Brazil, is described and illustrated. It was confused with A. martii and A. schottii, two species from eastern Brazil, which (along with A. polyantha) form a different complex of closely related species. However, A. calcicola is more closely related to A. puberula, another species from the semi-arid region of Brazil.     

Molecular taxonomy and species delimitation in Andean Schistocerca (Orthoptera: Acrididae)

The acridian genus Schistocerca comprises about 50 species which are endemic to the New World, except the Old World locust S. gregaria. Their morphological identification is rendered difficult by phase polyphenism, geographical overlap due to migrations or swarming, the difficulty to easily differentiate genitalia and the occurrence of interspecific hybrids. The three species reported from Peru include the swarming species S. interrita, a pest that can be recognized only by taxonomists. We show that it can be unambiguously identified using a mitochondrial DNA fragment known to have barcoding properties in this genus. We used several methods to delimitate Peruvian species. While S. interrita and S. pallens were well characterized, S. piceifrons peruviana was split into several taxa by a phylogeny-based method, whereas a combination of population genetics methods led one to identify only the three nominal species. A tentative reconstruction of the species history shows that several populations of S. piceifrons peruviana have recently increased in number, while exchanging some migrants, whereas an isolated population at the northern margin of the species range is substantially differentiated while exchanging no migrants with the others. This complex history has resulted in an atypical lineage pattern that appears to have confounded the standard assumptions underlying available species delimitation methods. Because of its behavioral property which tends to keep it panmictic, the identification of the swarming S. interrita remained unaffected.     

Population dynamics of a Sonneratia caseolaris stand in the Lam River estuary of Vietnam: a restoration perspective

Species composition, age distribution, and their relationship with land height from the datum line (LH) of the Sonneratia caseolaris stand, which grows in the Lam River estuary in Vietnam, were surveyed to obtain fundamental knowledge that aimed at contributing to mangrove restoration. The data gathered on the sandbar consists of three mangrove species and one mangrove associate species, with one non-mangrove species, and were divided into three communities. In terms of the age distribution of the S. caseolaris–Aegiceras corniculatum community, the tree-phase densities for both species are lower than those exhibited by younger phases. In its succession, the seedlings of S. caseolaris and A. corniculatum are primarily recruited at the mean tide level (MWL) in the early stages. Then, A. corniculatum expands to the lower tide zone primarily on mud flat bare land. For both species, full irradiance on the bare land in the low tide zone below MWL is crucial for growth, but S. caseolaris, which propagates by releasing small seeds, can barely survive in the low tide zone because its seeds are easily flushed away. In contrast, A. corniculatum, which propagates using crypto-viviparous seedlings, has a higher survival rate in the low tide zone. As a result, the LH of seedlings of A. corniculatum distribution is significantly lower than that of the distribution of S. caseolaris trees (p?<?0.05). It is important to provide appropriate environmental conditions for forest restoration in order to promote succession. The findings from the current study on population dynamics related to LH and tidal conditions are expected to be applied to platforms for S. caseolaris stands and mangrove restoration.

     

Studies in Heterobasidiomycetes,Part 38*)Sphacelotheca polygoni-persicariae G. Demi & Oberw. spec. nov.

A new species, Sphacelotheca polygoni-persicariae, parasitizing the ovaries of Polygonum persicaria L. is described. This smut, collected several times in Madeira, Portugal, differs from other species of that genus, by its host plant and the reticulated teliospore ornamentation. On the basis of the morphological and ultrastructural characters of S. polygoni-persicariae, in connection with some recently published data on siderophore formation and 5S ribosomal RNA sequences it can be assumed that 1) members of the genus Sphacelotheca are separated from typical Ustilago species of Poaceae, 2) Sphacelotheca is restricted to species parasitizing Polygonaceae, and 3) species of Sphacelotheca and Microhotryum as well as those Ustilago species which parasitize in the flowers of Polygonaceae are closely related.     

广西兰科植物二新记录属

该文报道了广西兰科(Orchidaceae) 2个新记录属,即鹿角兰属(Pomatocalpa Breda)和独花兰属(Changnienia S. S. Chien)。鹿角兰属植物共有13种,中国分布有2种,广西首次记录到该属的台湾鹿角兰[Pomatocalpa undulatum (Lindley) J. J. Smith subsp. acuminatum (Rolfe) S. WatthanaS. W. Chung];独花兰属为单种属,仅独花兰(Changnienia amoena S. S. Chien) 1种,该种为中国特有种,广西首次记录。该文还提供了新记录属和种的形态描述和图片。     

Population dynamics of Spalgis epius (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae), a candidate biocontrol agent of mealybugs and its interaction with mealybug-attendant ants

Spalgis epius is an economically important hemipterophagous butterfly. Detailed information on the population dynamics, natural enemies, and prey range of S. epius and its association with mealybug-attendant ant species is lacking. Three years of field studies conducted at Bangalore University campus, Bengaluru, India on these aspects indicated that the population density of S. epius was greatest from June to December and least from February to May in the low land region. S. epius survived on eight prey species, which were present in different months, of which Phenacoccus indicus was recorded as a prey of S. epius for the first time. Different prey species occurred on 12 species of host plants. The occurrence of S. epius was negatively correlated with temperature and positively correlated with relative humidity and prey populations. Six mealybug-attendant ant species were associated with the larvae of S. epius. The seven general predators of S. epius adults were recorded. Knowledge on the population dynamics and a prey range of S. epius and its interaction with mealybug-attendant ant species could be helpful to using this predator as a major biocontrol agent of various species of mealybugs. This study contributed to our understanding of the population dynamics of a hemipterophagous butterfly.     

A global molecular phylogeny of 147 periwinkle species (Gastropoda,Littorininae)

Reid, D. G., Dyal, P. & Williams, S.T. (2012) A global molecular phylogeny of 147 periwinkle species (Gastropoda, Littorininae). —Zoologica Scripta, 41, 125–136. Complete species‐level molecular phylogenies have been published for several genera of Littorinidae (e.g. Echinolittorina, Littoraria). Here we add new sequence data from three genes (28S rRNA, 12S rRNA, cytochrome oxidase c subunit I) for single specimens of an additional 24 species, to make a data set of 147 (97%) of the 152 recognized species of the subfamily Littorininae. This three‐gene data set is analysed to produce a phylogenetic hypothesis for the subfamily, which includes the first complete species‐level phylogeny of the genus Peasiella and the first three‐gene phylogeny of all Littorina species. The non‐planktotrophic species of Littorina have previously been classified together (as subgenus Neritrema), implying a single origin of this developmental mode. Tests of this hypothesis with the new data are inconclusive, and resolution is not improved in a tree constructed from five genes (adding previously published sequences of 16S rRNA and cytochrome b). Using available fossils for calibration we generate a BEAST chronogram, which emphasizes that the radiation of Littorina is more recent than that of other littorinine genera. A database is provided, listing all known species of Littorininae, with their distributions, development, ecology and gene sequences, as a tool for future evolutionary studies of this model group.     

DEVELOPMENTAL STUDIES IN SMILAX (LILIACEAE). I. ORGANOGRAPHY AND THE SHOOT APEX

The ontogeny of the shoot and the tendril-bearing leaf was studied in four species of Smilax which differ considerably in growth habit. Growth is indeterminate in S. bona-nox, S. rotundifolia, S. laurifolia and determinate in S. pumila. Shoot apical organization in all four species is consistent with the tunica-corpus concept. The number of tunica layers varies from 2 in S. bona-nox, S. pumila, and S. rotundifolia to 3 (2–4) in S. laurifolia. A primary thickening meristem was observed in 5. laurifolia. Shoot tip abortion involving a cessation of vegetative growth resembling that found in many woody plants occurs in S. pumila. Even though there are distinct differences in growth habit, vigor, and anatomy, the four species share many developmental similarities. Hence, subtle changes in apical ontogeny may be associated with marked differences in habit.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Sinningia lutea</Emphasis> (Gesneriaceae), a new species from Southern Brazil

Sinningia lutea (Gesneriaceae) is described and illustrated as a new species from the Pampa Biome, in Southern Brazil. In the literature, this species has hitherto been confused with S. allagophylla from which it can be easily separated using a set of floral and vegetative features (especially corolla color and size and leaf shape). An artificial key to separate S. lutea from S. allagophylla and S. curtiflora (another sympatric species, with some morphological similarities) is presented. Some ecological remarks on the differential distribution of S. lutea and S. allagophylla are also made.