Species diversity and endemism in the Daphnia of Argentina: a genetic investigation

Although the temperate regions of South America are known to have a diverse daphniid fauna, there has been no genetic evaluation of the existing taxonomic system or of the affinities between the North and South American faunas. The present study analyses mitochondrial DNA sequences and allozyme variation to investigate species diversity in 176 Daphnia populations from Argentina. This work established the presence of at least 15 species in Argentina, six of which are either undescribed or are currently misidentified and two of which represent range extensions of North American taxa. Eleven of the Argentine species appear endemic to South America, while the remaining four also occur in North America. In the latter cases, the close genetic similarity between populations from North and South America indicates the recent exchange of propagules between the continents. While biological interactions and habitat availability have undoubtedly contributed to the observed species distributions, chance dispersal has apparently played a dominant role in structuring large-scale biogeographical patterns in this genus and probably in other passively-dispersed organisms.  © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2004, 140 , 171−205.     

Mitochondrial DNA phylogeny of the woodpecker genus Veniliornis (Picidae, Picinae) and related genera implies convergent evolution of plumage patterns

The woodpecker genus Veniliornis comprises 12 species, all restricted to the New World tropics. The seemingly distantly related genus Picoides is broadly distributed in Eurasia and North America with two putative species, P. lignarius and P. mixtus , occurring in South America. The two genera are clearly distinct with respect to general plumage colouration and patterning as well as habitat utilization and thus traditionally have been placed in different tribes. Phylogenetic analyses of mtDNA sequences from the COI and cyt b genes indicated that both genera are reciprocally paraphyletic. The two South American species of Picoides belong to a clade comprising most species of Veniliornis , but V. fumigatus of Central and north-western South America belongs to a clade comprising species of Picoides . The mtDNA tree also indicated that Veniliornis is not closely related to the genus Piculus, as is implicit in current classifications. Misclassifications involving Veniliornis at both the generic and tribal levels appear to result from convergent evolution of plumage traits in specific forest types. We infer that the common ancestor of Veniliornis entered South America approximately at the time the Isthmus of Panama was formed, and diversification within South America was rapid.  © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2006, 87 , 611–624.     

A new species of Ornithogalum (Liliaceae) from South Anatolia, Turkey

Ornithogalum chetikianum Uysal, Ertugrul & Dural sp. nov. (Liliaceae) is described and illustrated from Anatolia, Turkey. The species grows on alpine steppe and stony places in Bozkır (C4 Konya province) in South Anatolia. It is closely related to O. nutans L. and O. demirizianum Malyer & M.Koyuncu, an endemic confined to South Anatolia. Diagnostic morphological characters are discussed. Notes are also presented on the ecology, biogeography and conservation status of the new species.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 148 , 501–504.     

Phylogeny of South American Bufo (Anura: Bufonidae) inferred from combined evidence

Despite the considerable research that has focused on the evolutionary relationships and biogeography of the genus Bufo, an evolutionary synthesis of the entire group has not yet emerged. In the present study, almost 4 kb of DNA sequence data from mitochondrial (12S, tRNA^Val, and 16S) and nuclear (POMC; Rag-1) genes, and 83 characters from morphology were analysed to infer a phylogeny of South American toads. Phylogenies were reconstructed with parsimony and maximum likelihood and Bayesian model-based methods. The results of the analysis of morphological data support the hypothesis that within Bufo , some skull characters (e.g. frontoparietal width), correlated with the amount of cranial ossification, are prone to homoplasy. Unique and unreversed morphological synapomorphies are presented that can be used to diagnose recognized species groups of South American toads. The results of all phylogenetic analyses support the monophyly of most species groups of South American Bufo . In most DNA-only and combined analyses, the South American (minus the B. guttatus and part of the ' B. spinulosus ' groups), North American, Central American, and African lineages form generally well-supported clades: ((((((((South America) (North America + Central America)) Eurasia) Africa) Eurasia) South America) West Indies) South America). This result confirms and extends prior studies recovering South American Bufo as polyphyletic. The biogeographical results indicate that: (1) The origin of Bufo predates the fragmentation of Gondwana; (2) Central and North American species compose the sister group to a large, 'derived' clade of South American Bufo ; and (3) Eurasian species form the sister group to the New World clade.  © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2006, 146 , 407–452.     

Historical biogeography of Hexabathynella , a cosmopolitan genus of groundwater Syncarida (Crustacea, Bathynellacea, Parabathynellidae)

Hexabathynella is the only cosmopolitan genus of the order Bathynellacea (Crustacea). The known species number 18, found in Europe (9), Africa (1), South America (2), North America (3) and Australia and New Zealand (3). Phylogenetic analysis suggests that the least derived species are those from South America and the most derived those from the Iberian Peninsula, North America and Australia. The five species with the most plesiomorphic characters occur in salt or brackish water, which supports a marine origin for the genus. Phylogenetic and biogeographical analyses suggest that the distribution of the genus can be explained by dispersion and a double vicariant biogeographical model based on plate tectonics and the evolution of the Tethys during the Mesozoic and Cenozoic.  © 2003 The Linnean Society of London . Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2003, 78 , 457–466.     

A new species of Selaginella from Hainan Island, China, with a key to the Hainan species

Selaginella hainanensis X.C.Zhang & Noot. sp. nov. , a new species from Hainan Island, South China, is described and illustrated. Diagnostic notes and a key to the species distributed in Hainan are also provided.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 148 , 323–327.     

Hymenaea mexicana sp. nov. (Leguminosae: Caesalpinioideae) from Mexican amber indicates Old World connections

Hymenaea mexicana sp. nov. is described in amber originating from mines of Chiapas, Mexico. The species is characterized by clawed showy petals with cordate bases and glabrous, verrucose ovaries with long hirsute hairs at their bases and margins on one side. This species is closely related to the extinct Hymenaea protera from Dominican amber, and together with it, is placed in the primitive section Trachylobium of the genus Hymenaea in the caesalpinoid legumes. The closest extant species to H. mexicana is H. verrucosa , a relict surviving in East Africa. These results challenge previous views that Mexican amber was produced by the South American species H. courbaril – H. intermedia , which belong to the advanced section of the genus.  © 2002 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2002, 139 , 125–132.     

Phyllanthus section Choretropsis (Euphorbiaceae) in Brazil

Section Choretropsis genus Phyllanthus (Euphorbiaceae) is formed by plants whose branches are modified into phylloclades. Despite the suitable characteristics of phylloclades within the Phyllanthus genus, the systematics of these species are poorly understood. Morphological data are presented here to allow future revision of this taxonomic group. The section is represented by nine species distributed in South America, eight of them endemic to Brazil. Our taxonomic studies distinguish the species and propose the synonymization of nine varieties of P. klotzschianus and two varieties of P. flagelliformis based on vegetative and reproductive characters. The diversity of branching and the morphology of phylloclades are discussed.  © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2006, 150 , 131–164.     

Phylogeny and biogeography of Crinum L. (Amaryllidaceae) inferred from nuclear and limited plastid non-coding DNA sequences

The genus Crinum L. is the only pantropical genus of the Amaryllidaceae. Phylogenetic and biogeographical analyses of nrDNA ITS and plastid trnL-F sequences for all continental groups of the genus Crinum and related African genera are presented, with the genus Amaryllis used as outgroup. ITS indicates that C. baumii is more closely related to Ammocharis and Cybistetes than to Crinum sensu stricto . Three clades are resolved in Crinum s.s. One unites a monophyletic American group with tropical and North African species. The second includes all southern African species and the Australian endemic C. flaccidum . The third includes monophyletic Madagascar, Australasian and Sino-Himalayan clades, with southern African species. The trnL-F phylogeny resolves an American and an Asian/Madagscar clade, and confirms the relationship of C. flaccidum with species endemic to southern Africa. The salverform, actinomorphic perianths of subg. Crinum appear to have evolved several times in the genus from ancestors with zygomorphic perianths (subg. Codonocrinum ), thus neither subgenus is monophyletic. Biogeographical analyses place the origin of Crinum in southern Africa, as the region is optimized at all ancestral nodes in the tree topology, and in basal interior nodes of all but one of the major clades. The genus underwent three major waves of radiation corresponding to the three main clades resolved in our trees. Two entries into Australia for the genus are indicated, as are separate Sino-Himalayan and Australasian dispersal events.  © 2003 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2003, 141 , 349–363.     

A new species of Clivia (Amaryllidaceae) endemic to the Pondoland Centre of Endemism, South Africa

Clivia robusta B.G. Murray, Ran, de Lange, Hammett, Truter et Swanevelder sp. nov. (Amaryllidaceae) is a tubular, pendulous-flowered Clivia species, restricted to the Pondoland Centre of Endemism, South Africa. The unique morphology, distribution, karyotype and molecular fingerprint distinguish it from all other pendulous-flowered species in the genus.  © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2004, 146 , 369–374.     

Monophyly and phylogenetic placement of the spider genus Labulla Simon, 1884 (Araneae, Linyphiidae) and description of the new genus Pecado

The genus Labulla Simon is circumscribed in phylogenetic terms to include the species Labulla thoracica (Wider), L. flahaulti Simon and L. machadoi sp. nov. The genital anatomy of the genus is described in detail and the taxonomy of the genus is reviewed. The monophyly of Labulla is supported by numerous morphological apomorphies of the male palp and female epigynum. Based on a cladistic analysis, a new genus, Pecado gen. nov. , is erected to place Labulla impudica Denis, from Northern Africa. Lepthyphantes insularis Saito and ' Labulla ' nepula Tikader, both formerly included in Labulla , are not congeneric with the type species of Labulla .  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 143 , 359–404.     

Cytotypes of Andropogon gerardii Vitman (Poaceae): fertility and reproduction of aneuploids

In many North American prairies, populations of Andropogon gerardii Vitman (Poaceae) are composed of hexaploid and enneaploid cytotypes (2 n  = 60, 90), with intermediates occurring occasionally. Under controlled pollination, the two common cytotypes can be crossed, producing progeny with a range of chromosome numbers. In an investigation of fertility and compatibilities of intermediate cytotypes, individuals with chromosome numbers between 60 and 90 were crossed with each other, with the 2 n  = 60 and 90 cytotypes, and with South American Andropogon species having 60 chromosomes. Regardless of cytotype, all A. gerardii plants had some fertility and virtually all crosses produced seeds. Cytotype is only partially predictive of fertility. Inter-specific hybrids between A. gerardii and South American hexaploid species were vigorous but sterile. Gene flow in natural A. gerardii populations of mixed cytotype probably involves plants of all cytotypes.  © 2003 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2003, 141 , 95–103.     

Development, phylogeny, and taxonomy of Bostrycapulus (Caenogastropoda: Calyptraeidae), an ancient cryptic radiation

Calyptraeid gastropods are well know for the taxonomic difficulties caused by their simple, phenotypically variable shells. In this paper I demonstrate that what was previously considered to be a single species, Crepidula aculeata , is an ancient (3–15 Myr) cryptic species complex made up of at least eight species, and that this group should be placed in the genus Bostrycapulus . Despite the difficulty in finding diagnostic adult shell and anatomical features upon which species can be unambiguously identified, DNA sequences, protoconch morphology, embryonic morphology and developmental characters clearly differentiate these eight species. A single species with direct development and nurse eggs is present in the South Atlantic, and a species with planktotrophic development occurs in the equatorial Pacific. The species from Japan, Australia, Florida, the Pacific coasts of Mexico and Central America, and the Cape Verde Islands all have direct development. Most of these species are separated by > 15% divergence in COI sequence data. The fossil record of Bostrycapulus goes back to the Miocene, which agrees with genetic estimates of divergences within the genus ranging from 3 to 15 Mya. Surprisingly, these ancient species differ only slightly in morphology from each other and genetic differentiation does not correlate with geographical distance. I revise the genus Bostrycapulus on the basis of differences in adult morphology, embryonic morphology, mode of development, protoconch morphology, and DNA sequence data. I also describe four new species ( B. pritzkeri sp. nov., B. odites sp. nov., B. latebrus sp. nov. and B. urraca sp. nov. ) and remove three others ( B. gravispinosus , B. calyptraeformis , and B.  cf. tegulicius ) from synonymy with B. aculeatus .  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 144 , 75−101.     

Molecular diversification of salamanders of the tropical American genus Bolitoglossa (Caudata: Plethodontidae) and its evolutionary and biogeographical implications

The largest genus of salamanders, Bolitoglossa (Plethodontidae), is widespread in tropical America, where it occurs in diverse habitats and elevations, from high elevation grasslands to lowland rain forest . It has the most extensive geographical range of any salamander genus. While most species occur in Middle America, it ranges throughout most of tropical South America as well. Phylogenetic analysis of 1196 bp of two mitochondrial genes (cytochrome b , 16S RNA) from 55 species offers strong support for the monophyly of the genus and sorts the species into a number of clades. Taking into account morphology, distribution, general ecology, and prior systematic and taxonomic studies, we recognize seven subgenera, four of them new: Bolitoglossa Duméril, Bibron et Duméril, 1854, Eladinea Miranda Ribeiro, 1937, Magnadigita Taylor, 1944, Mayamandra , Nanotriton , Oaxakia and Pachymandra . All South American and some lower Middle American species are included in a single well -supported clade, Eladinea . At the species level our analyses uncover the existence of large genetic diversity within morphologically homogeneous taxa. We propose the new combination: B. (Eladinea) paraensis (Unterstein, 1930) stat. nov. , for Brazilian salamanders previously included under B. altamazonica . We evaluate evidence for the multiple colonization of the tropical lowlands by morphologically derived species groups. South America was invaded by members of one clade, Eladinea , which we infer to have dispersed to South America prior to closure of the Panamanian Portal. Despite the relatively long history of salamanders in South America, that continent now accounts for a relatively small proportion of the lineages and species of neotropical salamanders.  © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2004, 81 , 325–346.     

On the synonymy of Delamarella Chappuis and Latiremus Božić (Copepoda, Harpacticoida, Latiremidae), including the description of D. obscura sp. nov. from the Black Sea

A new species of Delamarella Chappuis, 1954 (Copepoda, Harpacticoida, Latiremidae), D. obscura sp. nov. , is described from sandy beaches along the western Black Sea coast of Turkey, using both light and scanning electron microscopy. Additional morphological observations of the closely related D. galateae Cottarelli, 1971 are presented, based on topotype material from Sardinia and newly collected specimens from mainland Italy. Previous records of D. karamani Petkovski, 1957 from the Bulgarian Black Sea coast are based on misidentifications and should be attributed to D. obscura sp. nov. All three species are morphologically similar, and criteria based on meristic and ornamentation characters are provided to distinguish them. Examination of copepodid V ♂ intermoult stages provided new insights into the morphology of the highly transformed P4 exopod of the adult male and its homology with reference to the female. A reassessment of the generic distinctiveness of Delamarella and the monotypic genus Latiremus Božić, 1969 revealed that morphological criteria, traditionally employed to separate both genera, are all essentially unsound and based on erroneous reports in the literature. Consequently, Latiremus is relegated to a junior synonym of the type genus, leaving Delamarella and Arbutifera Huys & Kunz, 1988 as the only remaining valid genera in the family.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 145 , 263–281.     

Morphological phylogenetics of Puya subgenus Puya (Bromeliaceae)

Puya , a large genus mostly from South America, has been taxonomically divided into two subgenera: Puyopsis and Puya. The latter includes only eight species distributed mainly in Chile, extending to Argentina, Bolivia, and Peru. The species of subgenus Puya are recognized by the presence of a sterile apex of the inflorescence branches, whereas those of subgenus Puyopsis have fertile flowers all along the branches. The objectives of this article were to determine whether this diagnostic character was synapomorphic for subgenus Puya , and to explore the relationships between its species. Parsimony analyses were performed for 43 taxa and 93 morphological characters, 87 of which were discrete and six continuous. In the analysis that included all characters, a single most parsimonious tree was found that supported subgenus Puya by two synapomorphic character states, including the diagnostic character of a sterile inflorescence branch apex and a blooming pattern in which flowers open gradually from base to apex. The trees were better supported when the continuous characters were included. Further studies are suggested to resolve the infrageneric classification of Puya and the relationships of the species belonging to subgenus Puya .  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 156 , 93–110.