叶蝉科昆虫分子系统发育的研究进展

从基因组DNA的提取、研究的基因片段、PCR引物选用、扩增条件以及叶蝉科不同阶元的分子系统发育分析等方面,综述叶蝉科(半翅目:叶蝉科)昆虫分子系统发育的研究进展。目前角顶叶蝉类的研究成果相对较多,大叶蝉亚科次之,其余类群的研究较少或无。线粒体基因与核基因序列联合分析以及线粒体全序列分析以及基因序列与形态数据相结合分析,分子鉴定叶蝉与共生菌之间的协同进化的研究,将是叶蝉分子系统学未来发展的主要研究手段。     

Central European Strigeidae Railliet, 1919 (Trematoda: Strigeidida): Molecular and comparative morphological analysis suggests the reclassification of Parastrigea robusta Szidat, 1928 into Strigea Abildgaard, 1790

Strigeidae Railliet, 1919 are digenean parasites of birds and mammals that are characteristic by their cup-shaped forebody and bilobed holdfast organ. Despite that the family is taxonomically unsettled, particularly due to a very limited number of visible autapomorphic identification features, molecular phylogenetics have never been applied to analyze the relationships among European members of Strigeidae except for the genus Ichthyocotylurus. Here, we analyze the Strigeidae found during the examination of Czech birds performed from 1962 to 2017, and we provide comparative measurements and host spectra, including prevalence and intensity; we also provide and analyze sequences of four DNA loci of 12 of the Strigeidae species. We suggest the reclassification of Parastrigea robusta Szidat, 1928 as Strigea robusta (Szidat, 1928) Heneberg and Sitko, 2018 comb. n. The genera Strigea Abildgaard, 1790 and Parastrigea Szidat, 1928 appear paraphyletic, and morphological diagnostic features of genera within Strigeini Dubois, 1936 are invalid. The mute swan Cygnus olor hosts two Cotylurus spp., Cotylurus syrius Dubois, 1934 and a second species with molecular identification features shared in part with Cotylurus cornutus (Rudolphi, 1808) and Cotylurus gallinulae Lutz, 1928. New host records are provided for seven species. Analyses of non-European genera of the Strigeidae are needed to provide an updated key to Strigeini.     

Origin and Evolution of Feather Mites (Astigmata)

Feather mites are highly specialized plumage and skin ectoparasites that are variously adapted for inhabiting certain microhabitats on a bird's body. Different feather mite taxa of higher (familial) rank adapted to the same microhabitats display similar main morphological adaptations even if they are rather distantly related to one another. Hypotheses on the evolution of general adaptations in morphology of feather mites during colonization and establishment in different microhabitats are presented. According to recent data, feather mites are a paraphyletic group consisting of three superfamilies: Analgoidea, Pterolichoidea and Freyanoidea. We present our view on the general feather mite phylogeny course at the familial rank for the Analgoidea by means of cladistic analysis. Co-speciation of parasites with their hosts is postulated as a main factor driving feather mite evolution. Examples are given of non-coevolutionary events, for example recolonization from one host species onto another, extinction and multiple speciation.     

The Impact of Molecular Methods on the Systematics of Angiosperms

A comparison is made between the systematics of selected orders and families based on morphology and other “classical” characters on the one hand, and the results of molecular methods on the other hand. It can be shown that taxa defined by a broad array of characters from morphology, anatomy, embryology and phytochemistry usually are confirmed by molecular results. On the other hand a family like the Saxifragaceae s.l. delimited solely on the basis of floral morphology has been shown to be grossly polyphyletic. Some quite surprising results of the molecular analyses usually agree with some embryological or phytochemical characters, and sometimes even with characters of vegetative morphology and anatomy. As a special case “unequal ancient splits” are discussed, where one clade contains few genera and species usually retaining many primitive characters, and the other shows great diversity and contains the more advanced members.     

Intergeneric phylogenetic relationships in catfishes of the Loricariinae (Siluriformes: Loricariidae), with the description of Fonchiiloricaria nanodon: a new genus and species from Peru

Recent investigations in the upper Río Huallaga in Peru revealed the presence of an intriguing species of the Loricariinae. To characterize and place this species within the evolutionary tree of the subfamily, a molecular phylogeny of this group was inferred based on the 12S and 16S mitochondrial genes and the nuclear gene F-reticulon4. The phylogeny indicated that this distinctive species was a member of the subtribe Loricariina. Given its phylogenetic placement, and its unusual morphology, this species is described as a new genus and new species of Loricariinae: Fonchiiloricaria nanodon. This new taxon is diagnosed by usually possessing one to three premaxillary teeth that are greatly reduced; lips with globular papillae on the surface; the distal margin of lower lip bearing short, triangular filaments; the premaxilla greatly reduced; the abdomen completely covered by plates, with the plates between lateral abdominal plates small and rhombic; a caudal fin with 14 rays; the orbital notch absent; five lateral series of plates; dorsal-fin spinelet absent; preanal plate present, large and solid, and of irregular, polygonal shape, the caudal peduncle becoming more compressed posteriorly for the last seven to 10 plates.     

Examination of subfamilial phylogeny in Bromeliaceae using comparative sequencing of the plastid locus ndhF

Parsimony analysis of 31 sequences of the chloroplast locus ndhF was used to address questions of subfamilial phylogeny in Bromeliaceae. Results presented here are congruent with those from chloroplast DNA restriction site analysis in recognizing a clade containing Bromelioideae and Pitcairnioideae, and in resolving Tillandsioideae near the base of the family. Placements of several taxonomically difficult genera (e.g., Glomeropitcairnia and Navia) corroborate those of traditional treatments; however, these data suggest that Brocchinia (Pitcairnioideae) is the sister group to the remainder of Bromeliaceae. Further evidence for the paraphyly of Pitcairnioideae includes the resolution of Puya as the sister group to Bromelioideae. Implications for taxonomic realignment at the subfamily level are considered.     

Diversity of free-living ‘naked’ amoeboid organisms

Amoeboid organisms are phylogenetically diverse, some being more closely related to plants or metazoans than to each other. Amoeboid organisms are ecologically successful, having been isolated on all continents, including Antarctica, as well as being the main predators controlling bacterial populations in soil. The classification of these organisms has historically relied upon morphological characteristics. The application of electron microscopy, comparison of enzymic profiles after electrophoretic separation, and analysis of nucleic acid fractions have provided reliable bases for classifying amoeboid organisms. The extent of diversity of these organisms has been recognized, as methods to detect, culture, characterize and identify them has increased. It is reasonable to anticipate that the current 40 000 species of protists will increase substantially as amoeboid organisms are cultivated from poorly accessible niches and from extreme environs.     

Food resources of shrimp-eating cichlid fishes in Lake Tanganyika

Species, size composition, and diurnal variation in abundance of shrimp (Atyidae) were examined and compared with food habits of 14 species of shrimp-eating cichlids in Lake Tanganyika. In the daytime when the cichlids foraged actively, only one species of shrimp, Limnocaridina latipes, was present on rock surfaces. Eleven of the 14 species of shrimp-eaters examined preyed mainly on L. latipes; the shrimp-eaters foraging only on rock surfaces preyed exclusively on L. latipes, whereas shrimp-eaters also taking foods from the interstices between or under stones and debris preyed on various species of shrimp. Although three kinds of shrimp-eaters, each with a unique prey catching technique and preferred shrimp size, were recognized, all shrimp-eaters preyed on shrimp of greatly overlapping sizes. This fact confirms that partitioning of food resources takes place via different capturing techniques. Moreover, the utilization of the same food resource in a different manner may promote group foraging in some shrimp-eaters, because the shrimp is a suitable animal to hunt in groups and is a quickly renewable food of potential abundance.     

Comprehensive gene and taxon coverage elucidates radiation patterns in moths and butterflies

Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) represent one of the most diverse animals groups. Yet, the phylogeny of advanced ditrysian Lepidoptera, accounting for about 99 per cent of lepidopteran species, has remained largely unresolved. We report a rigorous and comprehensive analysis of lepidopteran affinities. We performed phylogenetic analyses of 350 taxa representing nearly 90 per cent of lepidopteran families. We found Ditrysia to be a monophyletic taxon with the clade Tischerioidea + Palaephatoidea being the sister group of it. No support for the monophyly of the proposed major internested ditrysian clades, Apoditrysia, Obtectomera and Macrolepidoptera, was found as currently defined, but each of these is supported with some modification. The monophyly or near-monophyly of most previously identified lepidopteran superfamilies is reinforced, but several species-rich superfamilies were found to be para- or polyphyletic. Butterflies were found to be more closely related to ‘microlepidopteran’ groups of moths rather than the clade Macrolepidoptera, where they have traditionally been placed. There is support for the monophyly of Macrolepidoptera when butterflies and Calliduloidea are excluded. The data suggest that the generally short diverging nodes between major groupings in basal non-tineoid Ditrysia are owing to their rapid radiation, presumably in correlation with the radiation of flowering plants.     

关于节肢动物系统分类与进化的分子佐证

从分子系统学方面就了肢动物系统进化及高级阶元分类研究中争论的关键问题进行比较分析。综述了该领域所取得的新进展,着重从分子水平来探讨节肢动物的起源与进化。     

Naturalists, Molecular Biologists, and the Challenges of Molecular Evolution

Biologists and historians often present natural history and molecular biology as distinct, perhaps conflicting, fields in biological research. Such accounts, although supported by abundant evidence, overlook important areas of overlap between these areas. Focusing upon examples drawn particularly from systematics and molecular evolution, I argue that naturalists and molecular biologists often share questions, methods, and forms of explanation. Acknowledging these interdisciplinary efforts provides a more balanced account of the development of biology during the post-World War II era. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.